Friday, 9th December 2011

Dear Parents and Carers,

WE ARE AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL - AGAIN!!!
As you probably know already, on Wednesday and Thursday we were inspected by OFSTED, the Government agency that visits schools and grades them on the quality of education they provide for students.

QK was graded as Outstanding (Grade 1) overall and in virtually every area – 83% of lessons were judged good/outstanding. This is an absolutely fantastic achievement for all of us at the school – the staff, the students and you, the parents. A big thank you to those students and parents who were interviewed by the inspectors and were able to talk so articulately about how much the school means to them.

The Lead Inspector Mr Peter Gale was incredibly impressed by the work that we do at QK to support students, both academically and pastorally (the care and guidance that they receive here.) He said, ‘’It was a privilege to be at this school‘’ adding that his experience at QK had made him want to be a Headteacher in a school just like QK. He had never been in a school where the ethos was so clearly about Every Child Matters.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at QK for their continuing hard work and commitment to the school and students – we are lucky to have them!

Our annual Winter Concert took place last night. The evening was a huge success, with a range of performances from students across the school being enjoyed in very festive surroundings! Students receiving instrumental tuition at school performed a range of pieces on the piano, trombone, flute, violin guitar drums, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and various woodwind instruments. Many thanks to all the parents who attended, giving magnificent support to the students and the Music Department staff. Special thanks to Ms Stevens, Ms Young, Mr Perkins and all the peripatetic instrumental teachers who worked so hard to make the evening a success.

Many students also have public exams in January such as Science and Math. I hope that they will be working hard over the Christmas break to make sure they are fully prepared.

A reminder that normal school operates for all other students next week until Friday when, as usual, students will leave school earlier after the fun of the Staff Christmas Pantomime!

This will be the final QK News of 2011 so I would like to take this opportunity to wish all students and parents a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year.

School starts again for students on Monday 9th January.

Jo Shuter, CBE
Headteacher