We are currently being inspected by Ofsted. Please click the links below to view a letter informing parents and carers of our Ofsted Inspection & the second link is to a survey which we would encourage you to complete before 3pm on Tuesday 28th November.
Letter - https://buff.ly/3ZWokq7
Survey - https://buff.ly/3Gkdcu4
There's still time for your students to register for the Apprenticeship Accelerator! 98% of students who attended last year's event said they would attend in the future:
“The event really helped me get a grasp on what doing an apprenticeship is like.” - Previous attendee
Broadcast live online from 5pm on Thursday 30th November, it's essential viewing for any year 10-13 student who would like to hear from current apprentices and the UK's best apprenticeship employers.
Please see the attached event guide for further details and how to register.
Sign up link: https://apprenticeshipaccelerator.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/?dm_i=7BMZ,4Y9G,1QDMBE,K2G0,1
Blacon high school supports the mental health of young people with the wellbeing hub from teen tips.
Blacon High School have subscribed, for a year in the first instance, to The Wellbeing Hub. We encourage all of our Parents and Carers to sign up for free to this new website and all our students will also have an account, automatically being registered with their school email. The Wellbeing Hub offers you a wealth of information regarding Mental Health and Wellbeing, including;
Introductory video - https://teentips.co.uk/club/
Any requirements to use the further paid services are NOT covered in your Blacon High School subscription.
Please find below links to The Wellbeing Hub across several Social Media platforms so you can follow them and be aware of the weekly new content.
https://twitter.com/WellbeingHubTT
https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeinghubteentips/?hl=en-gb
https://www.facebook.com/TheWellbeingHubTeenTipsLtd
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wellbeing-hub-teen-tips/
Hi,
Well what a busy few weeks it’s been. It’s hard to find the time to keep up with everything. We are already well into the second half term and, with Christmas looming, we also need to remember that mock exams are also on the horizon.
Apart from that, there is, as always, a lot to share and celebrate so here goes…
Remembrance Assembly
On such an important occasion, Blacon High School joined schools across the nation in paying respect to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight to ensure freedom and democracy for all of us.
We held a very moving assembly with readings and poems delivered by members of the Student Leadership Team and members of the Student Parliament. ‘The Last Post’ was played by a representative of the Cheshire Wind Band before the school observed two minutes silence at 11.00am.
The assembly was live-streamed to all classrooms; a fitting and solemn tribute to all who have served.
Link to Remembrance Assembly: https://youtube.com/live/GaYwHXaBOvw
Lest we forget!
Whole School Celebration Evening – 9th November 2023
This is always one of the loveliest events in the school calendar and this year was no exception.
The Hall was filled to the rafters with parents, carers and family members, who were joined by staff, Governors and, our Guest of Honour for the evening, Sheila Little – the Lord Mayor of Chester.
As always, lots of students across all year groups were rewarded for their efforts during the academic year 2022-23. At Blacon High School, we are acutely aware that success looks very different for some students, so awards also acknowledge effort and contribution in addition to those who achieve the highest grades.
The event culminates with the main awards of the evening, which are presented to Year 11s whose journey with Blacon High School came to a close when they left us after their GCSEs in July.
This year’s winners were:
Outstanding Contribution to School Award – Isobel Giles
Headteacher’s Award – Josh Graham
Blacon Spitrit Award – Lillie Shannon
Governors’ Award – Elsie Byrne
The Lilian Young Award – Summer Quinn
Summer is one of several Blacon High School students who have been successful in securing fully-funded bursary places at some of the country’s top independent schools in recent years. Summer, who is now studying for her A’ levels at Gordonstoun, which is one of the most prestigious schools in the world, sent a video message to share on the evening, thanking the school for the award and relating some of her experience at Gordonstoun so far. Well done Summer.
A huge thanks from us goes to everyone who attended the event and helped to make the evening a real ‘celebration,’ and massive congratulations, of course, goes to all of our prize-winners for the academic year of 2022-23.
MP Sam Dixon visits Blacon High School – 3rd November 2023
Sam Dixon MBE is a Labour MP who serves as Member of Parliament for the City of Chester. Before she was an MP, between 2015 and 2019, Sam Dixon was the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
During her visit, Sam met with Harvey Hunt and Annie-Mae Barlow, members of the Student Leadership Team, staff and governors. She was also introduced to staff from our twinned school, the Vasil Levsky High School in Karlovo, Bulgaria, who were here on the English leg of the ever popular student exchange programme that we run from Blacon High School each year.
After a tour of the school, Sam chatted too Hayden and Billy, two members of our Student Parliament from Year 9, who shared what life at Blacon High School is really like, along with their aspirations for the future.
On her tour of the school, Sam visited many classrooms across a range of subject areas and was very impressed with the level of learning she witnessed and the calm atmosphere.
I’m certain that Sam Dixon will be an advocate for our school. We look forward to developing an ongoing relationship with her, and welcoming her back into school in the coming months and years.
Maths Information Evening
Head of Maths, Mr Slade, along with the whole Maths team, was delighted with attendance at the Maths Information Evening for Year 11 at the end of October, which was a huge success. There was a great turn out from parents, carers and students. Members of the Maths team delivered a workshop for parents and carers, and offered strategies to support their children to revise effectively at home. Those who joined us on the evening were also able to purchase revision materials.
I’m sure that the early start with revision will support some excellent outcomes in the GCSEs.
Mr Slade forgot to take any photos of the event so offered one of himself instead; I’ll leave it to you to judge J
Army Engagement Team Visit
Here are some images from the day the Army Engagement Team visited our CCF (Combined Cadet Force) at Blacon High School earlier in the term. They brought a range of their equipment on to the school site for cadets to get their hands on. They also gave a talk about the pros and cons of opting for a career in the military.
Well done and congratulations to all those who take part in our fantastic CCF; being a cadet offers amazing opportunities throughout the year.
If anyone is interested in joining the Combined Cadet Force at Blacon High School, please contact Mr Jones via the school admin’ office.
And finally…
This is, as always, only a small snapshot of the huge list of events, trips and reasons for celebration that we enjoy as part of the Blacon High School community.
This week saw the return leg of the student exchange programme when our friends and colleagues from the Vasil Levsky High School in Karlovo joined us for a fun-packed, six-day itinerary. Also, we hosted a Swedish drama group who worked closely with students in their Drama lessons. I will share details and photos of both in our next blog.
Take care and have a restful weekend.
We come together on this day, 11th November, each year, to remember all those who served their country in wars both past and present.
We remember all those who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, those who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us the freedoms we enjoy today. We remember those who have served in more recent conflicts such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those in the currents conflict in Ukraine and Gaza, along with all those who have been affected by war.
We take time today out of our busy lives to mark this day, when at 11.00am on the 11th November, 1918, 105 years ago, the guns fell silent on the Western Front after four years of continuous warfare. We called the First World War, the Great War, the war to end all wars. Unfortunately, history tells us that the lessons of the First World War have not been learned.
Today, we remember all those who continue to give their lives in the fight for freedom and democracy, and we will do the same each year, joining millions of people around the world, to remember.
Link to Remembrance Assembly: https://youtube.com/live/GaYwHXaBOvw