Spring Term News - Update

1st April 2010


Dear Parents

Spring Term News-Update

New School
Although the council planning committee approved consent to build the new school as long ago as July 2008 this was subject to what is called a Section 106 legal agreement and certain conditions attached to the planning consent. Consequently the school has been in negotiations with the council since that date over the precise format of the agreement. After many months of negotiations we hoped that we had reached agreement last December. Unfortunately, the Charity Commission object to several of the clauses within the draft agreement and consequently we have had to renegotiate these to find a term of agreement acceptable to both the council and the Charity Commission.

It is all incredibly frustrating. The discussions have mostly centred on the use of Gad’s Hill Place itself. There has been little concern about the actual new school. The council’s main concerns are to ensure that a viable visitor’s centre is established when the school eventually vacates the old building. The pace of our negotiations has not been helped by the ponderous nature of dealing with a bureaucratic local government. It was not unusual for the school solicitor to send documents off to the Gravesham council and for us to wait months for only to hear nothing. Enquiries then revealed that the person working on the case had been taken off the case but not replaced, or that the papers had been sitting in someone’s in-tray untouched! Consequently our plans to commence construction of the new school delayed.

That said; negotiations are back on track and in their final stages once more. I am hoping that the formalities are completed within the next couple of months. Once that has happened we will send out tender documents to a number of construction companies inviting them to bid for the contract to build the new school. All being well construction should commence later this summer. Fingers crossed!

School Developments
In the meantime although we are waiting for the new school there are still a good number of improvements happening on our existing site. When children and parents return after Easter for the Summer term they should find our new and extended Jungle Gym. We are having a new triple-tower construction as well as several other activities for the younger children. There will also be a mini obstacle course, more challenging activities, for our older children and the CCF.

During the Summer we shall be creating two additional temporary classrooms near the pavilion, hopefully to coincide with the construction of the new school. These classrooms will help alleviate any conflict for space caused by the new school being built. With the new classrooms will also come additional toilets, changing and storage facilities.

The IT department will be busy over the next few months as they develop and introduce intranet version 2.0. The school is expanding the use of IT, we have recently installed a fibre-optic cable, to enable better access of the intranet as well as files and folders from home (or elsewhere). Much more information will become available via the school network for pupils, staff and parents.

Behind the scenes and much less obviously major improvements are being put in place to raise the standards of teaching and learning. New buildings and equipment are easy to see however it is very difficult for parents (or pupils) to appreciate what goes on to ensure that we continue to provide a first class quality of education for your children. As parents will know we already have a detailed system of pupil assessment and monitoring. We are also designing and putting in place systems to better monitor the quality of children’s learning and also to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching in the classroom. These systems will also rely heavily on the use of IT to enable data to be analysed and compared. There will be a lot more observation of lessons, checking of pupils work and assessment of teachers planning. All this is to ensure that everything that happens here is of the highest quality and so that our pupils can make good progress and reach their potential.

School Fees
Attached with this letter is a document setting out the tuition fees and other expenses for the next academic year. In setting the fees for next year the Governors are mindful of the current economic situation and have set a fee increase of 5.5%.

Mrs Gunnill
Mrs Gunnill is going to be leading by example in the next few weeks. Not content just with teaching our children PE she is herself going to be running in the Brighton marathon and doing so in aid of Cancer Research charity and in memory of Jennie Marsh, our late Head of Kindergarten and Juniors and who passed away on 16th May 2009. Mrs Gunnill would be delighted if parents would be willing to sponsor her efforts for this very good cause. Details can be found at http://www.runningsponsorme.org/juliagunnill.

Golf Lessons
I am hoping to arrange for pupils to receive golf lessons at Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club during the Summer term. Lessons will take place each week one evening after school (hopefully a Tuesday evening - but to be confirmed). Pupils will be taken by school minibus to RCPGC at 4.15pm for a 4.30pm start. The lessons will last one hour and parents should collect their children at RCPGC at 5.30pm. The cost has yet to be confirmed for a package of eight - ten lessons. As a guide when we did this a couple of years ago it came to £80 for eight lessons. All equipment will be provided. No specialist clothing or equipment is required at this stage. If you would like your child to join in please complete the attached form and return it to the School Office or e-mail the office at information@gadshillschool.org. Once we are able to confirm numbers, time and dates as well as the cost we will circulate this information to those who have expressed an interest to enable parents/pupils to confirm their desire to join in.

Ski Holiday – January 2011
I am seeking to establish interest in a school ski expedition early in 2011. We propose departing school on Sunday 2nd January 2011, travelling with the school coach to Sallanches in the French Alps. This is a small town in the valley below the resort of Megeve. We would use this as a base and it would enable us to explore and experience several nearby ski resorts during the four days of skiing including St Gervais, Megeve, Combloux, and possibly Chamonix. We would return to the UK on Friday 7th. I would estimate the cost in region of £550. If you are interested in your child joining the expedition please complete and return the attached form to the school office (or e-mail). This does not commit anyone, but enables us to identify the level of interest. Once we have an idea of numbers then we can firm up costs and the itinerary. We would then circulate the more definitive information, perhaps via a briefing one evening after school at which stage we’d invite pupils to confirm their intention to join the expedition with a deposit.

Staff News
Mrs Michelle Lilleyman leaves us at the end of this term to join her husband on a posting to Australia, we wish them well. Our new K2 Form Tutor, Mrs Lucy Holgate will be taking over K2 at the start of the second half of the Summer term. In the interim period Ms McPherson will oversee the teaching of K2. Mrs Holgate is a graduate of the University of Warwick and joins us from Hillcrest Grammar School, Stockport.

I mentioned earlier that we are improving the way in which we monitor the quality of our teaching and learning. Both Mr Bertwistle and Mrs Elkins have done excellent jobs as Head of Geography and French respectfully. However they are both members of the school management team and heavily involved in the monitoring process. They both recognise that trying to do that as well as manage a subject department is a very difficult job. Consequently they are both relinquishing their departmental responsibilities and we are appointing a new Head of Geography and a Head of French (see below). Mr Bertwistle and Mrs Elkins will continue to teach their subjects but not to the same extent.

With effect from the start of the new academic year we will be joined by Mrs Stephanie Burke as Teacher of Geography and Mr Paul Savage as Head of French. Mrs Burke is a graduate of the University of Wales and joins us from Sandwich Technology School. Mr Savage is a graduate of the University of Bristol and joins us from Bexley Grammar School.

Mrs Carole Grimes leaves us as our teacher of J3 and Junior French at the end of the Summer term. We wish her well and thank her for all that she has done here at Gad’s Hill. We hope to announce her successor early in the Summer term.

Summer Uniform
The children must return to school on Monday 26th April in summer uniform. As a reminder:

All Kindergarten & Junior Girls wear summer dresses, blazer (+ cardigan, if cold), short white socks and boater.

All Kindergarten & Junior Boys wear shorts, beige short socks, short sleeved shirt, school tie, blazer (+ pullover if cold) and school cap.

There are fewer changes for the Seniors with the girls wearing short white socks or plain, neutral tights. Both boys and girls wear short sleeve shirts in place of long sleeve shirts. Cardigans or pullovers may be worn if the weather is cold.

All pupils must continue to wear school blazers to and from school.

Pupils must continue to wear the school, colours, scholars or prefects tie. With the exception of girls in the Kindergarten & Juniors who will be wearing a summer dress.

Forthcoming Events
Please make a note in your diary. In most cases a letter giving more details of the event will circulate nearer the time for the parents of those children involved.
• CCF C2C Cycle Expedition Briefing
for selected cadets & Parents 4.30pm Wed 28th April
 Class Photographs Tues 18th May
 BTEC Concert Wed 19th May
 Study leave (U5) From Thurs 20th May
 Family Fun Day (Houses event) Sat 22nd May
 CCF C2C Cycle Expedition Sun 30th – Thurs 3rd June
 Half Term Mon 31st May – Fri 4th June
 L5th Work Experience week w/c Mon 7th June
 CCF Field day (L4–L5) Wed 9th June
 Beatty Bazaar Sat 19th June
 Headmaster’s Question Time Wed 23rd June
 KG Activity Week w/c Mon 28th June
 KG Sports Day 2pm, Mon 28th June
 Junior Sports Day 2pm, Tues 29th June
 Senior Sports Day 2pm Wed 30th June
 Induction Day Thurs, 1st July
 Shell visit to Boulogne Fri 2nd – Mon 5th July
 CCF Annual Camp, Wathgill Sat 3rd July – Sat 10th July
 Junior School Activity Week w/c Mon 5th July
 Removes trip to
Le Chateau du Broutel, France Mon 5th – Fri 9th July
 Senior School Activity Days w/c Mon 12th July
 Kindergarten Prize Giving 6pm Wed 14th July, Royal Dockyard Church
 Junior Prize Giving 6pm Thurs 15th July, Royal Dockyard Church
 Senior School Prom 7-10pm Thurs 15th July
 KG Ball 4-6pm Fri 16th July
 Senior Prize Giving 7pm Fri 16th July, Royal Dockyard Church
 Junior School Ball 7-9pm Fri 16th July
 Summer Ball (Adults & Leavers) 7.30pm Sat 17th July

Congratulations…………..
Charlotte Ellis, L4K and Rebecca Morley, ShG on winning the 10th annual Spring Music Festival. Senior Best Girl went to Holly Crowter, L4K and Best Boy to Tommylee Wellard, ShG. Overall KG and Junior winner was Lorelle Le Grove, J4. KG and Junior Best Girl went to Olivia Thompson, ReB and Best Boy Robert Hunt, ReB. The trophies were kindly donated by Lord and Lady Brighouse and Mr and Mrs Hunt. The Band of the Royal Engineers award for ‘The Most Outstanding Performance Award’ went to the Chamber Choir.

I trust you will all have a pleasant Easter holiday. I look forward to seeing all of our pupils again on Monday 26th April.

Yours sincerely







Ski Holiday – 2nd – 7th January 2011
Sallanches, French Alps

I would be interested in my child .......................................................... Form .............. joining the skiing expedition to Sallanches in the French Alps in January 2011.
I would like further information in due course. I understand that this is an expression of interest at this stage.

Parents Signature: ............................................ Date: .....................................................


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Golf Lessons
Rochester & Cobham Golf Club

I would be interested in my child .....................................
Form ....... having golf lessons after school at R&CGC. I look forward to receiving further information.

Parents Signature: ...................................Date: ..........................................