Here is Douglas Blackledge's latest missive on the Furness Academy web site which MC2 are still managing to make a pigs ear of.
13th November 2009
We are at the end of our 9th week so it's still very early days for Furness Academy but already there is much to celebrate and lots of reassurance and positive feedback that I can offer to parents, students and the wider community.
In the last two weeks we have received a full day visit from colleagues at the DCSF and we have had our second visit from our National Challenge Advisor. It is fair to say that both visits went really well and that all concerned left with a very positive view of what has been achieved to date.
Other important visitors have included John Hutton MP and John Woodcock (Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Barrow) which illustrates just how much focus and attention we continue to receive. This is something I welcome as it gives me the opportunity to show our students and their achievements off to influential people in the town and further afield, which can only be helpful to them in the long term.
I was delighted to hear from Mr Hutton that our good start, alongside Furness Academy students' growing reputation, was already known to him. This was further endorsed recently when I spoke to 'Furness Enterprise' in a meeting at Furness College. My presentation "Furness Academy - A Brighter Future" illustrated our journey to date and laid down some of our plans and aspirations for the future.
I received lots of messages of good will and support from the County and Borough Councillors and Furness Community Business Leaders that were present. Again I anticipate that this will help our learners in the future as they come to benefit from the positive image and reputation that they are creating around the town.
Two fantastic student events and achievements to report on are the appointment of our senior prefects and the performance of our Year 11 Netball Team who have just become COUNTY CHAMPIONS!
On Tuesday 3rd November Mr Gill (VP and Head of North Site), Mr Wilson (VP and Head of South Site) and myself had the pleasure and challenge of interviewing for and selecting our Head Boys/Girls. I say pleasure because it was such a delight to meet and listen to 8 wonderfully articulate, confident, considerate and engaging young ambassadors of the academy, and I say challenge because the competition was so strong that any of those shortlisted by their peers could have been appointed.
It was terrible, therefore, to have to disappoint those that were not selected, but that said, we must still celebrate the appointments of:
Rogan Devlin (Head Boy - North Site);
Catherine Higgins (Head Girl - North Site);
Alex Danson (Head Boy - South Site);
Nyomi Woodend (Head Girl - South Site).
Well done!
Our Year 11 Netballers have just become COUNTY CHAMPIONS in a hotly contested finals event at Keswick School and you will be able to read more about their success elsewhere on the website. Suffice to say that after finishing as very creditable runners-up to Chetwynde in the Furness Schools qualifying round in early October, our girls renewed their rivalry with the same team in the final and this time emerged victorious.
Big thanks are due to Catherine Amison (PE South Site) and Penny Pearce (PE North Site) for their coaching, umpiring and commitment to the girls' cause and most of all big CONGRATULATIONS are due to the girls themselves who forever will be listed in our Roll of Honours as the first ever County Champions of Furness Academy (full squad names will appear with the match report).
Back to academic matters, Year 11s are taking their mock exams at the moment. This is a very important year for them and I would want to reassure them and their parents/carers that we are very focussed on trying to ensure that they receive the best possible learning experiences here at the academy as we strive in genuine partnership to help them to achieve their personal best in their GCSE exams next summer.
Good luck to you all but please remember: THE HARDER YOU WORK THE LUCKIER YOU GET!
Finally, I must publicly acknowledge the wonderful efforts of the academy staff. Like the students, the staff of the three predecessor schools have come together as one and they are quickly becoming the key drivers of the academy's transformational aspirations. They work hard on behalf of the students and will continually strive to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their PERSONAL BEST.
Kindest regards,
Douglas Blackledge
We are at the end of our 9th week so it's still very early days for Furness Academy but already there is much to celebrate and lots of reassurance and positive feedback that I can offer to parents, students and the wider community.
In the last two weeks we have received a full day visit from colleagues at the DCSF and we have had our second visit from our National Challenge Advisor. It is fair to say that both visits went really well and that all concerned left with a very positive view of what has been achieved to date.
Other important visitors have included John Hutton MP and John Woodcock (Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Barrow) which illustrates just how much focus and attention we continue to receive. This is something I welcome as it gives me the opportunity to show our students and their achievements off to influential people in the town and further afield, which can only be helpful to them in the long term.
I was delighted to hear from Mr Hutton that our good start, alongside Furness Academy students' growing reputation, was already known to him. This was further endorsed recently when I spoke to 'Furness Enterprise' in a meeting at Furness College. My presentation "Furness Academy - A Brighter Future" illustrated our journey to date and laid down some of our plans and aspirations for the future.
I received lots of messages of good will and support from the County and Borough Councillors and Furness Community Business Leaders that were present. Again I anticipate that this will help our learners in the future as they come to benefit from the positive image and reputation that they are creating around the town.
Two fantastic student events and achievements to report on are the appointment of our senior prefects and the performance of our Year 11 Netball Team who have just become COUNTY CHAMPIONS!
On Tuesday 3rd November Mr Gill (VP and Head of North Site), Mr Wilson (VP and Head of South Site) and myself had the pleasure and challenge of interviewing for and selecting our Head Boys/Girls. I say pleasure because it was such a delight to meet and listen to 8 wonderfully articulate, confident, considerate and engaging young ambassadors of the academy, and I say challenge because the competition was so strong that any of those shortlisted by their peers could have been appointed.
It was terrible, therefore, to have to disappoint those that were not selected, but that said, we must still celebrate the appointments of:
Rogan Devlin (Head Boy - North Site);
Catherine Higgins (Head Girl - North Site);
Alex Danson (Head Boy - South Site);
Nyomi Woodend (Head Girl - South Site).
Well done!
Our Year 11 Netballers have just become COUNTY CHAMPIONS in a hotly contested finals event at Keswick School and you will be able to read more about their success elsewhere on the website. Suffice to say that after finishing as very creditable runners-up to Chetwynde in the Furness Schools qualifying round in early October, our girls renewed their rivalry with the same team in the final and this time emerged victorious.
Big thanks are due to Catherine Amison (PE South Site) and Penny Pearce (PE North Site) for their coaching, umpiring and commitment to the girls' cause and most of all big CONGRATULATIONS are due to the girls themselves who forever will be listed in our Roll of Honours as the first ever County Champions of Furness Academy (full squad names will appear with the match report).
Back to academic matters, Year 11s are taking their mock exams at the moment. This is a very important year for them and I would want to reassure them and their parents/carers that we are very focussed on trying to ensure that they receive the best possible learning experiences here at the academy as we strive in genuine partnership to help them to achieve their personal best in their GCSE exams next summer.
Good luck to you all but please remember: THE HARDER YOU WORK THE LUCKIER YOU GET!
Finally, I must publicly acknowledge the wonderful efforts of the academy staff. Like the students, the staff of the three predecessor schools have come together as one and they are quickly becoming the key drivers of the academy's transformational aspirations. They work hard on behalf of the students and will continually strive to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their PERSONAL BEST.
Kindest regards,
Douglas Blackledge
THE HARDER YOU WORK THE LUCKIER YOU GET!
What does that mean? Basically, if you work hard, you have a better CHANCE of winning a better grade?
This man is on £135,000 (plus £65,000 bonus) and he comes out with 'tosh' like this - god help the kids!
Just a few picky points.
Head boys and girls were not chosen by their peers, they applied for the positions. They were not voted for by their peers as the website said they would be either.
Some year 11's are doing science GCSE's this week.
Why are they doing the mocks at the same time and not after?
Why have two inset days been right before these exams and
why do they keep having extended form periods that are in valuable lesson time on the run up to these exams.
TALK ABOUT NEEDING LUCK, THEY NEED MORE THAN LUCK!!
Idiot
Hutton simply knows a photo opportunity when he sees one and Woodcock believes if he can get is face in the Mail every day between now and the election we might all vote for him.
Why didn't Mr Blackledge give his presentation to parents and pupils not those who think of themselves as the great and the good?
Who on earth are the Furness Community Business Leaders?
I've never heard of them and my business is based in Furness and has been for years.
Not picky at all.
From the Furness Academy web site.
The Head Boy and Head Girl of Furness Academy will be the main link between the Student Council and the Principal. They will play a major role in making the ‘student voice’ heard and ensuring it works effectively.
They will represent Furness Academy’s students at important events, and will be an example of the values and ethos of the Academy to other students and to the wider public.
The Head Students will be elected by the students, and will begin their roles in September 2009.
Yet again the management of this school get away with saying one thing whilst doing another. There are now two head boys and two head girls!
I have to redo my last statement. Apparently all those who applied to be Head Boys/Girls were then shortlisted by the '20? or so' prefects/peers. ie they voted for who they liked best. Then they were interviewed and chosen by the Head/vice Heads.
Not quite as I said but not quite as the website said or Dougy either.
I believe One position had no competition, so a bit of artistic license there by Doug if true.
Wait for it...assistant Head Boys/Girls next.