Newsletter

February 2010

Dear Parents,

You will no doubt be aware of recent debate in the media about school league tables and educational standards and it might be helpful for you to know my views on this matter.

League tables for schools were introduced in the early 1990s in an attempt to make schools more accountable for the results of their pupils in public examinations. Over the years, different newspapers and the Government have developed their own league tables, using different criteria to rank schools. A variety of different tariffs is used for vocational qualifications. This has led to unhelpful, misleading and confusing comparisons. League tables are not fulfilling their original purpose.

Many of the highest performing independent schools, notably Eton and St Paul's, have boycotted league tables, citing both the "nonsensical" equal weighting given to A levels and vocational qualifications and the fact that IGCSEs cannot be included, as reasons for the boycott. The fact that we are now offering IGCSE Science, which we believe is better preparation for Science in the Sixth Form, will count against us in Government league tables. Also the method used in some league tables to convert IB points to A level points is inaccurate and unintelligible and disadvantages schools offering the IB.

An additional concern for us is that league tables pay no attention to the number of pupils taking examinations. As one of the oldest and largest independent schools in the country, we are pleased that we are able to educate over 150 pupils every year, most of whom live in or around Brentwood. Cutting our intake by half would still make us the largest Independent School in the area, and would secure us a place in the top 50 schools in the UK in every league table, but we would not have the benefits which come from size; the best teachers, excellent facilities, a broad curriculum, a great variety of activities and the International Baccalaureate. We would also not have the benefit of teaching some terrific children.

Government value added league tables attempt to be more discerning by taking into account the characteristics of a school's intake, but research has labelled these tables as "largely meaningless or extremely misleading" and highlighted the "spurious nature of any ranking exercise".

The league table with most integrity, although not without flaws, is the Financial Times league table. This table places us in the top 1% of schools in the UK, with our closest independent school competitor over 200 places behind, and nearest maintained sector school in Brentwood over 600 places behind.

To sum up, I am proud of the academic achievements of all our pupils but am concerned that their achievements are not recognised because of the way league tables are compiled. The achievement of our top 100 pupils compares favourably with the standards of the top 100 pupils in any school in the country. Given the potential for misunderstanding generated by this lack of clarity, I question the value of our participation in league tables, especially those designed specifically to boost the relative performance of schools in the maintained sector.

I would be interested in hearing your views on this, so please do not hesitate to contact me.

I would like to draw the following matters to your attention:

•1. Outstanding Boarding

The school's boarding provision was recently inspected by OFSTED who classed it as "outstanding" in every respect. Brentwood is the first Senior Boarding School in Essex to be awarded this coveted designation. The inspector particularly liked our self-critical and open approach and relentless drive for improvement. He was impressed by the very positive impact the older pupils had on the younger pupils and our extensive programme of activities for boarders.

This confirms the findings of our last Inspection Report of February 2008 which rated the quality of pastoral care in the whole school as outstanding.

•2. Careers Convention for Pupils and Parents of 4^th - 6^th Form

On Wednesday 17th March the school will be hosting the annual Careers Convention. I would like to invite you and your child to this event. It will be taking place from 1830 to 2030 in the Courage Hall. Parents and pupils from the Fourth year to Upper Sixth are all invited to attend. There is no doubt that events of this nature help pupils to develop clear goals which lead to better examination results and about one hundred professionals from many walks of life, many of them former pupils, are giving their time freely to assist our current pupils. Pupils are reminded that on this occasion they should wear school uniform. I do encourage you to attend.

•3. Plagiarism

Plagiarism can take many forms. It includes copying another pupil's work, taking sections of text from a book or from the internet and passing it off as one's own work. Furthermore, copying work from another pupil is plagiarism and allowing work to be copied is classed as collusion.

Plagiarism is a very serious matter in schools and universities. At university plagiarism can result in a student being removed from their course and expelled from the university. At school when an examination board discovers plagiarism this can lead to the cancellation of a pupil's examination grade and the withdrawal of that pupil from all other subjects taken with that examination board.

Plagiarism is a very serious matter. Examination Boards require teachers to scrutinise coursework and to confirm its authenticity. When a teacher believes that coursework has been plagiarised the following action will be taken.

a. The teacher will confer with the Head of Department/Head of Faculty or another subject specialist to review the work and parents will be informed.
b. The pupil may be required to attend a viva meeting at which the teacher will ask questions to check the pupil's understanding of the work. The pupil, together with the Head of Year or Form Tutor will normally be present.
c. The pupil may be required to bring into school all of their source materials and/or have access to the internet in order to redo the coursework under staff supervision.
d. In cases of serious plagiarism the Headmaster may require the pupil to be withdrawn from the examination.

I will see any pupil found to be involved in plagiarism because plagiarism of any sort adversely affects the reputation of the school.

•4. Field Day

Our termly Field Day will take place on Tuesday 16th March. First Years will be travelling to Canterbury, Second Year boys will go on an Art Trip and Second Year girls will take part in Life Skills during the morning and Games in the afternoon. The Third Years will visit World War I sites.

Pupils in the CCF and CSU will be expected to attend their activity. Those Fifth formers who currently attend private study on a Friday afternoon will be expected to attend school on this day where they will be supervised.

Full details of all activities will be provided to pupils after half term.

•5. Third Year CCF/CSU Options

All pupils in the Third Year have been granted their first choice option and, for those in the CCF, details will be published shortly providing information about the collection of uniforms.

FOBS Outgrown Uniform Sales

These will be held on Monday 22^nd February and Monday 1^st, 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd March at 1615 in the Memorial Hall.

•7. Pupil Achievements

Once again it is a pleasure to report extraordinary pupil achievements since the last newsletter in December.

Our swimmers won the District Championships. This is a reflection of their intensive training throughout the year. Our swimmers start to train shortly after 0630 for three days a week and swim for an hour before a hearty breakfast in the dining hall. They thoroughly deserve their success.

Rebecca O'Neill finished third in her race in the Essex Schools Cross Country Championships and has subsequently been selected for Essex to run in the Inter-Counties race and the English Schools National Championships in Manchester.

The Under 15 Rugby team has qualified for the Essex Cup semi finals.

The Under 15 Football team will be playing Repton in the final of the Independent Schools' Cup which will be played at Burton Albion F.C. on Thursday 4^th March.

Joby Quinn, the 1^st XI captain, is playing for the Under 18 ISFA National Team.

Jaspar Reid is playing for the Under 16 ISFA National Team.

Austin Lipman is playing for the Under 14 ISFA National Team.

Danielle Staunton plays Water Polo for the Great Britain Under 23 team.

Laurie Collins won "Best Speaker" in the District Junior Public Speaking Competition. Tobias Trojan won "Best Speaker" in the District Senior Section.

Christopher Moore received the Bishops' Chorister Award, Silver Standard and Miles Russell the Bishops' Senior Chorister Award. Both boys sing in the St Thomas's Church choir.

•8. Forthcoming Events

I am looking forward with great anticipation to several events before Easter:

The Chamber Concert will take place in the Memorial Hall on Tuesday 2^nd March at 1930.

Rehearsals for this term's production of Romeo and Juliet are well underway. A cast of 30 third and fourth year pupils will be performing a modern version of Shakespeare's tragedy on Thursday 11^th, Friday 12 and Saturday 13^th March. The Drama department is keen for lots of people to come and see the production and promises it will be accessible for an audience of all ages. Tickets are on sale now.

On Thursday 18^th March there is an Orchestral Concert in Brentwood Cathedral at 1930.

On Monday 22^nd,Tuesday 23^rd and Wednesday 24^th March the Dance Showcase takes place in the Memorial Hall.

I look forward to seeing all the pupils again on Monday 22nd February.

With very best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

D I Davies

Newsletter - 12th February 2010