Dear parents and carers
As I draft my final letter of 2024, I am searching for my Christmas jumper ready for Friday 20th and reflecting on the action-packed term we have just had as well as the week we have planned.
There has been a multitude of extra-curricular events and activities in which our students have participated, both on the school site and within the wider community, with the range of opportunities being wider than I have ever known.
I recently met with a student voice group who shared their feeling that even more was needed. I listened then researched, comparing our offer to that available at other schools. Perins offer far exceeded that of any comparable local state school, so I asked what in particular they thought we were missing. Bearing in mind that this term, in addition to regular school activities there were opportunities in sub aqua, archery, equestrianism, martial arts chess …. the list goes on. The students said, “we do have some events already running in this activity, but we want to see more golf matches”, only at Perins!
Our annual Christmas concert last night (Monday 16th) was an amazing experience which attracted so many attendees and with such a queue that extra seating was added to accommodate numbers. There were still a handful who had to stand, as we reached capacity in the Church. A long-serving member of staff shared that this was the best Christmas concert she had ever attended.
As we strive to make Perins the best school it can possibly be, we first look to take steps to ensure our school is better than it ever has been. Our staff are increasing efforts to recognise the achievements of all our young people, acknowledging what they do well and rewarding those demonstrating the Perins Values. Perins House Champions are delivering celebration assemblies this week which are themselves a high energy recognition of student successes.
It is so pleasing to hear more positive feedback about our school from the parents and children who visit Perins and tour the school before then applying to join us. This term we have had a notable rise in the number of in-year joiners; students who have not been satisfied with the school allocated to them at the beginning of the academic year and are wanting to change, or just wanting to return to Perins, as in the words of one of the parents “the grass isn’t greener”. There is a marked increase in the number of appeals from families who want a place at our school, but to whom we can no longer offer a place as the year group they wish to join is full.
You will be pleased to hear that the security fences and gates have now been completed and ahead of schedule. This has made possible a deliveries and accessible gate entrance by Pound Hill with the general entrance at the Jacklyn’s Lane end of the school. Students will now have to be sharper arriving at school on time with gates locking 0840 prompt from January. The number one New Years resolution is to develop that life skill of being on time. We also remind you that for safety there is no parent vehicle entry permitted via The Avenue and that students must be dropped-off and picked up at the Jacklyn’s end of the site.
Many students are looking forward to Christmas lunch which will be served on Wednesday 18th. This tradition is being carried on by our new catering partner Caterlink.
Some of you have kindly offered seasonal gifts to staff. The Perins MAT policy on gifts prescribes that these must be small tokens of gratitude with a value limit of £20, and gifts cannot be in the form of any cash/ gift cards. Staff need to receive approval from the Executive Headteacher to receive gifts of any higher value.
I hope you all have a wonderful break over the festive season, and I look forward to seeing all our students back with renewed vigour to take on the challenges set before us in 2025!
Merry Christmas
Mark Nevola
Head of School Perins
