Senior School

Extracts from the Principal's Foundation Day Report 2010

During 2009-10, our students were given opportunities to listen to world authorities: Professor David Cook of Oxford and Harvard Universities addressed the sixth form on medical ethics, and Dr Peter Vardy of London University spoke to GCSE students about the ethics of science and technology and the concept of a just war. The visit of Kim Phuc, subject of the most iconographic image of the Twentieth Century and a UNESCO Ambassador for Peace, was uplifting and inspirational. Miss Kim told her moving story and spoke to our pupils about love, compassion and forgiveness. It was the most important lesson any young person will have in their time at this school.

Academic results were again very pleasing. There was 100% pass rate at A level, excluding General Studies, and over 60% of the results were at A*, A and B grades. Seven students achieved four or more A grades and the vast majority gained places at their first choice university. University destinations included Oxford, the London School of Economics, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle Universities. Nearly half of the GCSE results were at the top level, with 47% of the grades awarded being at A* and A. Thirteen pupils achieved the clean sweep of A*s and As in every subject. The results in English and Science were particularly pleasing: there was a 93% pass rate from A* to C in English and 97% pass rate from A* to C in the Science subjects. Five subjects enjoyed 100% pass rates from A* to C grades.

In sport, there were hockey and rugby tours to Barcelona, Newcastle and Cardiff: The 1st XV squad and the 1st X1 toured New Zealand. In 2011 there will be a cricket & netball tour to Barbados. Our pupils were selected for England U16, North U18, and Lancashire at U20 & U18 levels. 18 girls represented Lancashire and one went through to the final stages for selection by England at U16 level. The achievements of our elite sportsmen reflect the fact that they play and are coached at a high level, our full time staff being supported by club coaches in rugby, hockey, netball, athletics, cricket and tennis. Our teams punch well above their weight on the local circuit. The Juniors Football team won both the cup and the league of local primary schools. The Junior girls were runners up in the local netball competition.

In music we were entertained by the Swing Band, by Soul Patrol, by barbershops, soloists, ensembles and the Concert Orchestra. Cabaret and the Amnesty International Concert brought new stars to the stage. The Service of Nine lessons and Carols at St Cuthbert's confirmed the excellent quality of singing at the school. If this was in any doubt, the Choir won the Blackpool Gazette's School Choir competition with is spirited version of Jingle Bells. House Music and Drama competitions involved senior students working with younger ones. In drama, we enjoyed a raucous Midsummer Night's Dream and a lively, colourful send up of the vampire story in the musical Dracula Spectacular.

In outdoor education, the Duke of Edinburgh award continues to attract large numbers of pupils from Bronze to Gold. I am very encouraged that so many of my colleagues are keen to help Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and activities. The Award, so valued by universities and employers and so good for the personal development of young people in promoting leadership, teamwork, perseverance and service, would not run without the willingness of teachers to give up their time at weekends and in the holidays. Over the summer there were two Gold expeditions to the Highlands and Snowdonia, a climbing expedition to the Yorkshire Dales and a mountain biking trip to the Alps. There was a skiing trip to Canada in Easter and an exchange with our partner school in Germany in July.

On the Development front, the Sixth Form Centre was given a complete renewal and sixth form students now enjoy facilities that far outshine those in other schools. In science, the Junior Biology Lab was refitted and a Physics lab was refurbished over the summer with the help of a grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The Reception and Dining Room were redesigned and improved and we also have very exciting plans for a multi-purpose dance, drama and exercise studio and for the development of our sports complex. A new school website was completed in September; the Art Department had a new kiln and is now producing outstanding ceramics, the DT Department received a new laser cutter through the gift of the Parents Association. The school also received a grant from the Government for its Early Years outdoor resources.