On the horizon

The General Election

The announcement this week will have pricked your ears and turned your attention to the manifestos of the various political parties - and the issue of VAT on independent school fees would have been of concern.  

As you would expect, the Governing Board and Senior Leadership Team have been discussing the matter at length for well over a year, with reliable modelling and analysis from the School Finance Director, Mrs Suzanne Parrott.   

I will provide a non-sugarcoated factual brief for parents over the coming week for your attention and consideration.

Just to remind you that the law (the Independent Schools Standards Regulations in our case) prohibits the promotion of partisan political views in teaching. Cransley will take reasonable steps to ensure that, where political issues are brought to pupils’ attention at school or school extra-curricular activities, there is a balanced presentation of opposing views.

That’s not to say that we cannot discuss political decisions with you from a business point of view and I will encourage that in due course.

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Year 11 Pupils

Year 11 and GCSE 

Our amazing Year 11s are in the midst of their GCSEs currently - many having just finished a brutal week of six exams in five days, and are due another similar week after half term.

If you don’t know the group already, I pay a little tribute to our Y11s - The Fruits of our Labour - together with a few comments on the intensity of the exam season.

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Foundation Events

Cransley Midsummer Ball

Now, before this week, perhaps the only meaningful decision you had to make was whether you attended The Afternoon Tea or The Midsummer Ball, or even both, on Wednesday 26th June and the Saturday 29th June respectively.  We approach the busiest time for our Foundation and our fantastic volunteers have been planning these events for several months and deserve our attention and support.

We have a professional celebrity compère with television presenter Jenny Powell leading the Midsummer Ball and running the fundraising auction.  Together with a great band and great company, it will be a truly fabulous evening.

If you are a little unsure about attending your first Ball, don't worry - do get in touch with me and I will be delighted to welcome you to the event and host a table of newcomers. With our celebrity guest, and despite being a daddy of one the Year 11 leavers for the first time, I am at your disposal.

To be honest, I cannot wait for the Afternoon tea. It is a wonderful event with a variety of stalls, discussions on well-being and mental and physical health, cosmetic solutions, musical performances, clothing and fashion, fine food and drinks.  I will, of course pop in, enticed by the heavily-scented air and soothing tones, try a few deep-pore treatments and retinol peptide Q15a-19 Cetaphil nutritional Regenerist micro sculpting cream skin treatments, enjoy a small macaroon and leave the rest to the lion-heart James Hulme to be host and compère.

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Estate developments

Cransley’s Little Chefs

The construction of our new Food Nutrition and Technology Kitchen will be finally underway next week with ground preparation and delivery of the new £200,000 modular extension to our Science and Technology Building.  The kitchen will be equipped with nine workstations and a range of culinary tools, resources and equipment, supporting all of our pupils - and those from other settings - in developing this most vital of life-skills. We might even arrange some adult culinary masterclasses!

You will also see the groundwork for our new sustainable Junior Community Farm and growing garden, with a new outdoor shelter and shed being constructed subtly alongside.  The project, which Mr Morris will soon formally unveil, is a vital part of the Junior School’s development, providing: 

• daily, immersive cross-curricular learning opportunities for all pupils in the Junior School;

• wider opportunities for Senior School pupils to develop practical and social skills;

• seasonal produce for the School kitchen to use;

• a social focal point for families to engage with;

• opportunities for urban schools to access outdoor education.

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Staffing

You may be aware that our superb Design and Technology teacher Mr Guinness will be leaving this summer.  Our resident Lego Genius and self-titled ‘Brick Consultant’ (with over 44,000 world-wide Instagram followers), will be developing his role with the brilliant bricks away from school, with commissions and workshops. We wish him every success in this.  

Indeed Mr Guinness developed the design and technology provision at Cransley from scratch.  It simply was not taught before he arrived and he has not only embedded a much-enjoyed subject into the timetable as a discrete subject and a cross- and extra-curricular aid across the school, such as the ‘F1 in Schools’ competition, but designed the bespoke, tooled and resourced a new studio in our Science and Technology Centre.  We have a lot to thank Mr G for and he will be sorely missed.

I am delighted to say that a new DT teacher has been found and recruited, subject to contract, and I will reveal further details in due course.

Part of our negotiation with the new member of the Cransley team is their willingness to support the development of ‘Cransley School Racing’, a new Motorsport Karting Club for girls and boys from Year 8 onwards, to be held at weekends throughout the new academic year.  Many of you will know that I have been very keen to develop this in recent years, and a new collaboration with the Speedworks Motorsport team in their new HQ, is very much in the offing.

Watch this space.

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I wish you all a wonderful mid-term break.

Teachers and operational staff will be pressing on with annual reports and end of year preparations, and I look forward to seeing pupils back on Monday 3 June.

Richard Pollock

Headteacher

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Dates for the diary

3 June - School reopens

20 June - Sports Day and Picnic (9.30am Juniors, 1pm Seniors)

21 June - Reserve Sports Day

26 June - Cransley Foundation Afternoon Tea

29 June - Cransley Midsummer Ball

3 July - Prize Giving Ceremonies (2pm Juniors, 6.30pm Seniors) Refreshments on the Back lawn afterwards

4 July - End of Academic Year, 12pm

31 August - CransleyFest 2024

3 September - School opens for the Autumn term

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The fruits of our labour - Year 11

Cransley School

Last week’s Y11 Final Assembly was a moving and memorable event as our eldest pupils began their Study Leave - indeed only a day before their first GCSE - with the sharing of awards, recollections and aspirations.

How quickly it comes around.  This particular cohort was a group of six pupils in Year 2 when I joined Cransley to lead the Junior School in 2014.   I am delighted to say that they have flourished ever since - despite my presence - and truly personify the development of the School through that time.  

Their number has grown steadily.  Characters, all, and each treading their own path.  Most walking confidently, some faltering, some mis-stepping, some overstriding - but all of them given our best possible care, guidance and attention.  

Their range of abilities and personalities demonstrates what Cransley truly does best:

One could argue that it is easy enough to teach clever children. However it requires specialist talent to teach a section of particular need, and then true experts to be able to teach all of them - all abilities and all needs - and still to have each one meet to even exceed their capability. My colleagues are brilliantly equipped with this expertise.

I wish them every success in what is likely to be the most intense period so far in their young lives and we will do all we can to ensure that success.  Focussed and supportive revision sessions have continued in School and all pupils are expected to attend. Staff are always available to query, to clarify and to care.

It is worth the parents of pupils in other year groups noting that intensity. 

Our pupils will endure five or more exams in five days twice this term, often with two on the same day. Many with over 20 two-hour exams between now and the 19th of June.  So much of our role is ensuring that the ‘biting-point’ between nerves and anxiety is maintained; so pupils are excitedly ready but not overwhelmed.

We still accept this means of assessment without question; partly because exams are the only efficient way of vaguely standardising a child’s ability in a subject, and partly to maintain an accountability for schools and pupils against an arbitrarily-set national benchmark.  A benchmark which changes depending on how many pupils actually get each grade.

For example last year, the Department for Education simply raised the grade boundaries collectively across all subject, regardless of how well the pupils did, so that it was harder to get the higher grades.  They didn’t make the questions more difficult, just the number of marks required.  A crude analogy is that it is like extending the 100m sprint by another 5 metres but keeping the world record the same just because sprinters were all getting faster.

Let’s be honest: that's why grades were converted from letters (A,B,C) to numbers (9-1), so they can be entered into a spreadsheet and could therefore be manipulated into statistics.

These children are not numbers however.  We known them for so long; noticed the normal and abnormal and nurtured each one. The fruits of our labour.

Next year brings a variety of pathways: those staying close at Sir John Deane’s and Priestley Sixth Form Colleges, others edging further afield to Reaseheath College, to Stonyhurst College and Myerscough College (with both pupils on elite sporting pathways) and one entering straight into the workplace with an apprenticeship and training from a Michelin-starred chef’s cookery academy.

I cannot help having paternal care for each, as well as my own - whether they have wanted it or not, and acknowledge every young person for the joy, fun, character and challenge of the last years. 

All parents should hope that their children grow to be like these.

Richard Pollock

Headteacher (and Y11 parent)

PS If you wish to have a lovely night out in the company of our Year 11 pupils, staff and other guests, please do consider our Midsummer Ball on the 29th June.  Tickets cost £75 which includes food and great entertainment.  If you are unsure about attending such an event for the first time, I would be delighted to host a table, introduce you to new friends and set up a most enjoyable night.  Do let me know through the Office.

Why Punctuality and Attendance Matter

Here at Cransley School we pride ourselves for being a launchpad for young minds, equipping them with knowledge and skills for future success. Regular attendance and punctuality are crucial ingredients in maximising this learning journey.

Every day missed at school creates a gap in a child's understanding. Missing key introductions to new topics, important classroom discussions, or even announcements about assignments can disrupt their learning rhythm. Frequent absences can lead to a domino effect, creating knowledge gaps that become increasingly difficult to bridge as the curriculum progresses.

Punctuality goes hand-in-hand with building strong work ethic and time management skills. Arriving on time demonstrates respect for teachers and their peers, fostering a positive learning environment for everyone. It also teaches the valuable lesson of being accountable and reliable, traits highly sought after in future endeavours.

In the professional world, deadlines and schedules are crucial. Pupils who understand the importance of punctuality and attendance in school are better prepared to adapt to the demands of the workplace. They learn to prioritise tasks, manage their time effectively, and meet deadlines consistently.

Regular attendance and punctuality benefit everyone in the classroom. When pupils are present and engaged, teachers can dedicate their time to teaching and supporting the entire class effectively. Additionally, a consistent learning environment fosters a sense of community and belonging which can be vital for a child's social and emotional development.

Ensuring good attendance and punctuality requires a collaborative effort. Open communication between parents, teachers, and pupils is key. Parents can establish consistent routines, prioritise healthy sleep schedules, and ensure their children are prepared for school each day. Here at Cransley School we create a welcoming and engaging environment that motivates pupils to attend and participate actively.

By prioritising punctuality and attendance, we at Cransley School are empowering young individuals to reach their full potential, both within the walls of the classroom and beyond. Remember, every day in school is an opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. We must work together to ensure every pupil shows up and seizes their moment.

Mrs J Pargeter

Assistant Headteacher, Pastoral Lead and DSL