Dear ALS Community,
Next week marks the final official week of the school year for Years 11 and 13. This is always a bittersweet experience in a school. Whilst it is exciting to see young people move to next stage of their education and hear their hopes and aspirations for the future, there is also a sense of sadness. For some of our eldest pupils, we’ve known them since they were in our Junior School and they’re now preparing for University and to begin their adult lives. Whilst we will be very proud to look towards our Year 13s future achievement at university, in their careers and beyond, the school community will also very much miss them. For Year 11, whilst next week is their last in school working towards their GCSEs, they will return after half-term for a two week induction period for their Sixth Form studies so our pupils can hit the ground running in September on their A Level or BTEC courses.
For next week, our mantra comes from Dedicas: be ready to put in the work that isn’t seen. Normally, Year 11 and 13 will be revising ready for their examinations and putting in hours of work that isn’t seen until results day. For this year, with examinations cancelled, Year 11 and 13 have shown exceptional dedication to keep improving their portfolios of evidence to help them secure their best grade. For once, the work that goes in to successful GCSE and A Level qualifications can be seen and I have to champion the attitude of the pupils at ALS preparing for GCSEs and A Levels. They have been exemplary.
Today, our Year 10 prefects have received a letter from me inviting them to apply for the position of Head Prefect. A copy of the letter can be found here if you’d be interested to see what it takes to be Head Prefect at ALS! Our Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect represent the very best that ALS has to offer and, as such, it is a prestigious pupil leadership position that we take great care to appoint. As we’ve more than doubled in size since I first took up the Headship of ALS, I’ve had cause to interview and appoint a lot of people in that time but the appointment of the Head Prefect is always the most challenging. Good luck to all of the pupils who apply.
Earlier this term, Kasper in Year 4 won a National writing competition for his story of ‘Sin de Fella’ to be included as part of the Wonder with Grimm national theatre tour. Click here to read more about it. Heartbreak Productions will be in Leamington Spa performing Wonder with Grimm on Friday 11th June at 18:30 in Jephson Gardens and have offered discounted tickets at £10 per person to the ALS community. To find out a little more about the production and to book tickets click here. To book tickets for the performance, select school tickets and then use the code ALS10 at the checkout for the discounted price. We are very much looking forward to seeing a pupil’s story brought to life on the stage this summer and hope you will join us to see it to.
Coming up in the second half of this term:
- w/c Monday 7th June: Year 11 two week Sixth Form induction
- w/c Monday 21st June: Trip Week (inc. Rockley)
- Wednesday 30th June: Year 7 settling in session 1
- Thursday 1st July: Year 7 settling in session 2
- Friday 2nd July: Sports Day & End of Year Celebration BBQ
I’d like to draw particular attention to Sports Day and the BBQ that follows. As our main event to close the year, I would be grateful if as many parents as possible could find the time to attend the event to support the children competing in sports and then to support the school community at the BBQ. Here’s hoping for some good weather!
Have a good weekend.
Best wishes,
David Preston | Headteacher
