Chestnut NewsDate: 20 Dec 2018 Issue No: 82

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER

Dear Parents and Carers

As we reach the end of the Autumn Term I would like to thank staff, students, parents and governors for their contribution to the school over the past term. It has been an incredibly eventful term with much to celebrate. It was lovely to see so many staff and students at the Christmas concert last night. The quality of the performances was exceptional. Well done to everyone involved.

On behalf of all of the staff, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. The first day of the Spring Term for students will be Tuesday 8th January 2019.

Best wishes for the festive season.

Christian Kingsley, Headteacher

Safeguarding Your child’s safety is of paramount concern to us. If you have any concerns over the personal development, behaviour or welfare of your child or any other child within Chestnut Grove Academy that cannot be resolved by the child’s teacher, tutor or RSL, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Ms Jackson on 0208 772 2510 or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mikayla Jolley on 0208 772 2545. Should either of these be unavailable and you have an urgent safeguarding concern, please ask for the other Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Mr Buchanan (KS3), Ms Verber (KS4) or Mr Taylor (KS5).

Students are expected to attend the Academy every day with the expectation that each student should achieve a minimum 95% attendance.

Sickness:If for any reason a student will be absent then Parents/Carers are requested to phone the Attendance Officer (Ms Ramsay on 0208 673 8737 option 1) before 08:30 on the first day of absence. If the absence is for more than one day, you will need to phone the school each day of the sickness. A doctor’s note will be required after three days absence.

Lateness:Morning registration starts at 8.45am. Students arriving after 8.45am will not be admitted through the main gate and will be asked to sign in at reception. Students will be marked late by the attendance officer and parents will receive a text informing them that the student has a same day detention to make up the number of minutes late. Students who are late and have a note from their Parent/Carer explaining the lateness, should report directly to the Attendance Officer before going to class. Students who arrive after 10am with no parental explanation are considered absent and are recorded as such on the Academy roll.

Appointments:The Attendance Officer should be alerted to appointments attended during the school day, by a note in your child’s planner, which should also be accompanied by the appointment letter or copy of the confirmation text received.

Please do not call, email or text the school if your child needs to leave school early for an appointment as their note will suffice. This note must be authorised by your child’s RSL (Raising Standards Leader) before they can leave.

Ms Ramsay, Attendance Officer

ATTENDANCE

LOST PROPERTY

Any lost property that is found on the school site is held in the main school office (e.g. winter jackets, PE kits etc). Students can come and take a look at the end of the school day, if they have recently lost something as all items will be removed at the end of term. A reminder to parents to please label their child’s belongings, as it will be returned to the student if found.

School Office Team

MY CHILD AT SCHOOL - UPDATE

www.mychildatschool.com

The MCAS App is now fully launched, if you have not yet installed the App it is very easy to do and gives you fast easy access to your child’s data. If you are using the App we have started to use push notifications with important updates from the school. These will for the people who have the App replace the text messages.To download the App please search for “mychildatschool” or “MCAS” on the apple app store or the google play store.

We are also moving to emails for certain messages like, no homework or PE kit, if you have changed your email address or have never received an email from the school please email the address below and we will update our records.

The website will of course still be an important part of our MCAS system, but with most people having smart phones we feel the app will give you faster access to your child’s activity’s at school.

For the website go to www.mychildatschool.comIf you are struggling to get access to My Child at School or need your user name and password then please email:- MCAS@chestnutgrove.wandsworth.sch.uk

As with last year all student reports are only being uploaded to MCAS, you will not receive a paper copy of a report, this is allowing us to significantly reduce down the printing we do by around 14000 less prints a year and the environmental and cost impacts this has. If you would prefer to receive your child’s report by paper then please email the address above and we will add you to the paper mailing list.

ALL YEAR 9 STUDENTS

Year 9 will be receiving their Final School Booster (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio) immunisation on 16th January, 2019. Consent forms will be posted to parents. Please could you ensure the forms are completed and returned to the school promptly at the start of term.

Sheila PayenOffice Manager

On Thursday 13th December our fantastic Year 12 and Year 13 BTEC Performing Arts cohort performed two pieces as part of their Unit 2 assessment.

Our evening began with Year 13 performing an abridged version of the play ‘Find Me’ by Olwen Wymark, exploring the complex issues around child mental health and the way this was dealt with in the 1970s. Students were required to use a variety of techniques including; performing multiple characters, using physical theatre and performing ‘in the round’. They performed with flair and provided a thought-provoking and, in some parts, disturbing portrayal of the real life story of Verity Taylor and her family members. Congratulations to our Year 13 cohort on such a successful performance!

PERFORMING ARTS

After a short reset of the stage area, our Year 12s took to the stage to perform a dance-based piece which explored the 5 stages of grief. This included some beautiful and sad moments as our students portrayed the way that grief affects our lives. This, predominantly devised, piece documented the painful and slow process of moving into a new phase of life without your loved one by your side and the audience was really engaged with the performers every step of the way. An exceptional first performance Year 12, well done!

Thank you to Sam for the tech, Ms Atkinson for performing with Year 12 (as a sub for a student) and Ms Verber and Ms Merritt for their direction.

Ms Durban & the Performing Arts Team

Chestnut Grove v Ashcroft - Match Report - 12th December 2018: Chestnut 6 - 2 Ashcroft - Men against boys

Leading in to Chestnut’s first game of the season, spirits were high and the players were confident of picking up three points in a convincing manner, which proved to be exactly what unfolded at Ashcroft’s home turf. Despite Ashcroft’s feeble attempt to dampen team spirit by arriving to the ground 15 minutes late, forcing the Chestnut squad to wait outside the ground for them to unlock it, the team were still able to produce the free flowing, expansive football that Manchester City would have been proud of. Emerging from the game with a 6-2 victory has given Chestnut the confidence and spirit to continue on and give themselves the best possible chance to pick up 3 points at every game.

An unfortunate and naive start from Chestnut saw us 2-0 down within the first 10 minutes, however, this was more as a result of poor decision making from the goalkeeper for the first goal and a lack of closing down from the defence for the second, rather than a show of footballing quality from Ashcroft. After this, Chestnut really picked up the pressure and were hitting Ashcroft with multiple waves of attacks leading up to half time. Just when it looked like Chestnut were going to finish the half without scoring, Yousuf Boutouili was able to get on the end of an inch perfect through ball from the midfield and punish the goalkeeper from close in. This resulted in the half time result being 2-1 to Ashcroft.

After a quality half time team talk from the coach Mr Hallsworth and the captain Ibrahim Sabriye, we came out for the second half ready to tear Ashcroft apart and come away with the win, and to say we did exactly that would be an understatement. A goal from the captain, Ibrahim, shortly after the commencement of the second half saw Chestnut pull level. At this point Ashcroft’s fear was as obvious as Jose Mourinho’s decline, and Chestnut smelt this fear, and took Ashcroft to the cleaners. Another goal from Yousuf, this time a beautiful header, that actually lobbed their keeper, highlighting the quality of the header, put Chestnut in to the lead. Up until this point the second half had been completely dominated by Chestnut Grove, however over the next few minutes Ashcroft had a chance to equalise the game. As their left winger drifted in and passed to the centre forward on the edge of the box, danger looked imminent. As he went to fire the ball towards the net, one of our midfielders took him down on the edge of the box. The free kick was hit with curve and venom over the Chestnut wall, but as it spun towards the roof of the net, the goalkeeper, Rhys Nagle, jumped at full stretch to make a magnificent save to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner. The poor corner then allowed Chestnut to regain

PE DEPARTMENT

EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS CLUB AND STUDENT COUNCIL

This term, the Year 7 and 8 Equality and Human Rights Club have been meeting on Wednesday mornings. They have been given tutorials on lots of issues relating to equality from our Sixth Form students, Fatima and Mia, on the #MeToo movement and the Grenfell disaster and how it relates to racism. Scarlett, Rhani, Cora, Zoe, Eliza and Rowan led a presentation on period poverty. From a survey of 1000 girls in the UK, it was found that 14% of girls have had to borrow sanitary products from a friend and 12% have had to improvise or do with makeshift sanitary products due to affordability issues. The girls raised over £100 from cake sales and collected huge amounts of sanitary products for the school. Johanna, Lucy, Siofra and Ivana also helped to make posters to put in every single toilet in the school to make sure that all students who need it know that the products are available. Many of the products have also been supplied for free as part of the Always campaign.

possession and once again apply the pressure on to Ashcroft, this pressure climaxed with Ibrahim, the team captain, drifting in from the right wing on to his left foot, and beautifully caressing the ball in to the top left corner from outside the box in such a way that it made Neymar look average, leaving the keeper flat footed and with a look of astonishment on his face due to the pure quality of the goal that had just been scored, it was capped off with a poor man’s Mbappe celebration to mock the opposition.

After this, Chestnut had a 4-2 lead, and were looking to extend it, however, before that happened, they had some defending to do. At the halfway point of the second half, Chestnut gave away an identical free kick to the one that occurred not long before. Once again hit with venom and power, but once again the keeper Nagle was equal to it and made another blinding save to deny Ashcroft once again. Only a few minutes later, Ashcroft’s right winger was able to drift in the centre once again and this time perfectly struck the ball towards the goal, curling towards the top right corner, very reminiscent of Ibrahim’s goal earlier in the half, however, yet again the keeper Rhys Nagle dove towards the ball at full stretch and got a strong left hand to the ball the once again deny Ashcroft in a style that David De Gea would have applauded. This save put Ashcroft’s spirit down the drain and allowed Chestnut to then add 2 more goals to the score line courtesy of Yousuf, putting his tally for the day up to 4 goals and overall a performance that can only be described as perfection, earning him a very deserved Man Of The Match award at the end of the game.

To summarise the first game of the season for Chestnut Grove, it was a display of beautiful attacking football, amazing defending for the majority of the game that allowed us to gain a very comprehensive 6-2 win. We now look forward to our next game of the season.

Rhys Nagle (13 Hepworth)

Eleni, Siofra, Lucy, Ivana and Johanna are also raising money for Cancer Research over the next year. They will be taking part in a sponsored walk called the Shine Night Marathon. To take part in the walk, each student has to raise a minimum of £260. They have been to local shops to get sponsorship, such as Brother Marcus, and have raised £105 from teachers so far. They will be running a talent show for teachers and students next term! Our Year 7 and 8 group have also been collecting presents for the Met campaign. Each year, the Met collect presents for young people who might not otherwise receive them. In addition, students collected many items for the food bank.

Our Year 9+ Equality and Human Rights Group have also been running some great projects this term. One Year 9 group decided to organise a competition to design and make baubles for their ‘Equalitree’ campaign. They asked students in Years 7-9 to design baubles that celebrated equality. The winning designs were turned into festive equality baubles that decorated the Christmas tree that stood in reception. One of our groups has also begun a sign language course. Started by Doris, in Year 10, students of all ages are invited to take part in an online sign course. If you are interested, the course costs £12.99 and details can be obtained from Ms Taylor.

THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION’S PEER EDUCATION PROJECT

This term, Year 7 have been participating in the Mental Health Foundation’s “Peer Education Project”. This has involved twelve of our Sixth Form students teaching Year 7 about mental health and how we can look after our well-being. The Peer Educators have taught three sessions this term, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Year 7 and being mental health ambassadors. Feedback from students, tutors, and parents about the project has been overwhelmingly positive. Here are some pictures of our students in action!

Ms Holmes

Finally, Student Council arranged a Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day to raise money for the charity. Many members of the school took part, each donating £1 and wearing their Christmas jumper to raise money for children in need.

Equality and Human Rights Club is open to all on Tuesday tutor time (Years 9+) and Wednesday (Years 7 and 8). Student Council takes place on Thursday during tutor time and students are elected at the beginning of the year by their year group.

Ms Taylor

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR THOSE IN NEED

7 Hepworth have been hard at work in form time making Christmas cards for those most in need this winter time. The cards will be distributed at a local ‘Crisis at Christmas’ meal for the homeless. The Christmas jumpers last Friday made our workshop extra festive. Well done 7 Hepworth!

Ms Houston

INTERNATIONAL AWARD FROM THE BRITISH COUNCIL

On Wednesday 5th December I was invited to the Houses of Parliament to receive Chestnut Grove’s certificate for achieving the full international award from the British Council this year. I made the lengthy application over the course of 2018 and the feedback from the British Council on our curriculum and the global opportunities we provide for our students was extremely positive.

Myself and a number of other primary and secondary teachers from all over the country were greeted by Ciarán Devane, the British Council Chief Executive and the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Both congratulated us on our international work so far but reminded us how important it is that we continue to develop and expand this curriculum.

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of

In history at KS3 we are now using stretch assessments each term to stretch and challenge some of our most able and enthusiastic students. It is clear that over the last few years some of our students are so knowledgeable about history, and have such excellent literacy that they can take on an additional challenge. It is also notable that some of our students work hard at KS3 and improve so much that they also deserve a chance to stretch themselves in their assessments.

Our year 7s were the first to try these new stretch papers. There were many happy faces when they found out they had made Expected Progress or Above Expected Progress in what was essentially an abridged GCSE paper. I would also like to make it clear that when students do sit the stretch papers it is likely their percentages might be lower than if they had sat the core paper. This is nothing to worry about, the simple fact that the paper is harder means that a lower percent on the stretch paper is equivalent to a high percentage on the core paper. Students and parents need to focus on whether they were EP or AEP, and be proud of their achievement.

I have included some comments from our Year 7s about these new stretch papers which reveals how keen they are to make the most of their education!

How did you feel when you were given the stretch paper for your history assessment? ‘I felt happy that I will get challenged’ ‘I felt happy because I knew I was probably intelligent enough to answer the questions’ ‘I felt proud that I was able to do it but I also felt nervous’

Did the stretch paper challenge you in your historical knowledge and writing? ‘Yes because I had to remember’ ‘Yes it did challenge me and I feel more knowledgeable’ ‘It challenged the quality of my writing’

Thinking about your assessment marks (remember you had GCSE questions) are you proud of what you achieved? ‘I am very proud of what I did because I worked very hard’ ‘I am very proud of myself that I achieved high marks’ ‘Of course I am proud! AEP is always something to be proud of’

Year 8 and 9 have just sat their assessments, and some were given the challenge of the stretch paper. The history department looks forward to seeing what they have achieved!

Ms Adams, Head of History

schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work.

Congratulations to all the staff and students at Chestnut Grove for their hard work in achieving this!

Ms Gerrard, Languages Teacher

HISTORY

FRIENDS OF CHESTNUT GROVEEasyfundraisingWe have raised £795 so far using this scheme and there is absolutely no cost to you! Please consider signing up to activate it for all your online shopping (Christmas presents, groceries, holidays, insurance, fashion, home, garden and more). Once you have done so you will only need to click on the automatic pop-up whenever you browse these sites. The link is: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/chestnutgroveacademy

Dates for your diaryOur annual quiz night will be held on Thursday 28th March 2019. This is open to all parents and Sixth Formers. There will be more info to come but please save the date.

Our next PTA meeting will be on Tuesday 29th January at 6.30pm. All parents welcome.

May we take this opportunity to wish all Chestnut Grove teachers, parents and students a very happy holiday. We look forward to seeing you again in 2019.

General emails to friendsofchestnutgrove@gmail.com Follow us on our Facebook page Friends of Chestnut Grove.

Our next PTA meeting will be on Tuesday 29th January at 6.30pm. All parents welcome.

General emails to friendsofchestnutgrove@gmail.com Follow us on our Facebook page Friends of Chestnut Grove.

CHESTNUT21

A huge thank you for all of your support over the last year once again! We have continued to achieve great things thanks to the generosity of parents, staff and the community and the outstanding efforts of the Friends of Chestnut Grove.

We hope all of the students are enjoying the new outside area at the school, and we hope to do a lot more in 2019. We already have plans for a kitchen garden and orchard - as well as £25,000 secured from a trust towards a Green-Roofed Canopy which will provide a space for students to eat outside, come rain or shine! We will continue to fundraise for the canopy in 2019 so please watch this space!

With festive greetings and thanks,

Sharon Noble, Development Manager

HEAD’S COMMENDATIONS

Headteacher’s commendations are given for students demonstrating the PROUD ethos, either through behaviour or exceptional pieces of work. Any student can be nominated by their teacher. Students who receive a commendation get a certificate from the Headteacher and also receive 100 PROUD points. The following students have received commendations in the past fortnight:

ScienceCharlotte KellySoukie Lloyd Grace Allen Dele Oyeyele Cerys Kanuik Felix Papa

YEAR TEAMS

YEAR 7

It was fantastic to see such a high turn-out at Parents’ Evening last week. I have been given a list of students’ parents that have not logged on to the free app MCAS (My Child at School). The app contains information regarding attendance: punctuality, positive and negative behaviour logs and importantly your child’s Year 7 report. Tutors will be making contact regarding the app, please inform them if you have any queries. If you need any help to log in you just need to email: MCAS@chestnutgrove.wandsworth.sch.uk

I have been amazed yet again by more Year 7 students receiving headteacher’s commendations. Take a look at these excellent models of cells made by Year 7 for their science homework.

I hope you enjoyed last night’s Winter Concert. I thought the previous newsletter was the final one for 2018... however I was incorrect so again - Wishing you all a safe, happy, restful relaxing and fun festive season and a happy new year.

Ms FletcherRaising Standards Leader Year 7

YEAR 8

It’s incredible to see how quickly this school year is going past! Last week, as a new incentive, we started a new competition in Year 8 for students with the most PROUD Points.

With the names of the top 20 students with the most PROUD points over the last week, we randomly selected a student to be the first winner of a lunchtime fast pass (with a plus one!) and a £10 Sainsbury’s gift card. The winner was...

LUKAS BRAYSHAW of 8 Da Vinci! I was Delighted to see Lukas win as not only does he work hard for himself but since Year 7, Lukas has been a student who selflessly supports others in their learning. Well done Lukas!

Mr O’Keeffe, Raising Standards Leader Year 8

YEAR 9 What a term! The longest and darkest term has now passed and it’s time for a truly well-deserved rest. Throughout the term students have truly shown their resilience with their studies and have teken part in a huge number of clubs including equality club, student leadership, brilliant club, FBB, music clubs and Leanne’s Amazing Medics. What fantastic opportunities for all our students!

Last week I visited the English department where the whole year group were studying ‘A Christmas Carol’. I was blown away with the amazing oracy and written skills the students were showing. One class were reading parts of the text aloud with Ms Ryley, whisking me to the dank corners of 1800s London. Both Ms Bracken and Mr Cheesebrough’s classes were evaluating and discussing the different meanings and connotations from the text. I was left gobsmacked and envious of the students and went straight to Ms Robinson, Head of English to tell her how great the classes were!

Before I close for 2018, I would like to remind all students that all junk food is banned from the school. Christmas and the following period often brings lots of treats, however these should not be brought into school.

I wish everyone a fabulous holiday and I hope you all enjoy this well-deserved break following your first set of Year 9 tests.

Mr StokesRaising Standards Leader Year 9

YEAR 10

Year 10 Parents’ Evening: Thursday 10th January 2019!

Please ensure you record the date for Year 10 Parents’ Evening on your brand new calendars as the most important date for the New Year. Attendance is crucial to support your child’s development and progression through their first GCSE school year. I am looking forward to seeing you all there. As I teach a Year 10 Geography GCSE class I will primarily be meeting parents of this class, but if you wish to discuss anything at all please do not hesitate to take a seat and I’ll be more than happy to catch up with you.

Work experience - Reminder of key dates The year 10 work experience dates are 8th-19th July 2019.The deadline for students to hand in their own placement forms and make their placement choices online is 31st January 2019.To download these forms, parents and students can visit: http://www.chestnutgrove.wandsworth.sch.uk/Academic

Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the New Year celebrations!

Mr McCarthyRaising Standards Leader Year 10

YEAR 11

Thank you very much for all your support over the past few weeks whilst the students have been completing their mock exams. Now is the time for them to enjoy a well-earned rest (possibly with a little bit of revision...)

The tutor team and I hope these holidays rejuvenate students, teachers and parents alike so that we can all return with renewed energy and enthusiasm in January.

Take care and Happy Holidays.

Ms Striesow

Raising Standards Leader Year 11

Football News

Congratulations to the Chestnut Grove Academy sixth form football team who decisively beat Ashcroft Academy 6-2 on 12th December 2018 at Ashcroft’s home ground.

Man of the match was Yousuf Boutouili scoring four goals in this epic encounter, which initially saw Chestnut Grove go two goals down early on before rising to the challenge. Boutoulli was ably supported by team captain Ibrahim Sabriye, who scored two goals.

This was the true test of resilience and shows the strength in depth of our squad.

Well done to all who participated - tenacity and guile in abundance!

Sixth Form Society News - Part 1

Congratulations to Akhera Williams for organising a fantastic Sixth Form Society discussion with London Young Poet Laureate (2016) and director/film maker and ‘Dazed’ top 100 youth influencers (2018), Caleb Femi.

Femi spoke engagingly and students responded in kind, discussing a range of topics sensitively and passionately. He discussed his background, career to date and personal experiences openly, with students probing him about what drives him to write poetry.

Well done Akhera.

Sixth Form Society News - Part 2

Congratulations to Tanisha Patel for organising a brilliant Sixth Form Society discussion with Page Shepherd, TV producer at Blink Films UK, and Alice Naylor. Senior Associate for Osborne Clarke LLP.

The discussion focused on the gender pay gap and assembled students were treated to an informed and reasoned argument as to why this inequality must be challenged and stopped.

Though gender pay inequality is nothing new, the mood surrounding this sensitive topic nationally is reaching fever pitch, which Shepherd and Naylor warning of the stifling and demotivating effect such as practice will inevitably have on younger generations who must not tolerate it any longer.

Well done Tanisha for skilfully chairing this empowering discussion.

Christmas Jumper Day

Well done to the Sixth Form students who helped to organise Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 14th December to raise money to Save the Children. £138 has been raised so far!

SIXTH FORM

Record breaking application numbers for Chestnut Grove Sixth Form

I’m delighted to inform parents of the sheer volume of applications received for places starting in September 2019.

The deadline for equal consideration of a place within our open access sixth form was Friday 14th December, and at time of writing the figures are as follows:

• Applications received from our internal Year 11 cohort of students = 121 students (representing 81% of the 150 students on roll in Year 11)

• Applications received from external students who currently attend other schools and colleges = 147 students

(Total = 268 applicants for September 2019)

It is likely that many of our applicants will have applied to multiple schools and colleges, so there cannot at this stage, be any certainty about final numbers yet, but I’m encouraged that the sixth form at Chestnut Grove appears to be the place of choice locally, with a growing reputation for academic excellence.

And with A level and BTEC level 3 value-added scores often significantly above average, as confirmed by the recently released L3VA data, why not?

To secure your place for next year please make sure you apply now. Interviews will take place during February 2019.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

Mr Taylor, Head of Sixth Form