Inspection of Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College by Ofsted

We have just told your child’s school that we will inspect it on 19 to 20 June 2013. The lead inspector will be Ms Lisa Fraser. We are writing to you because we would like to know what you think about the school. Please take a few minutes to read the leaflet which came with this letter (link below). It explains why we inspect schools, and what happens during an inspection.

School Inspections – A Guide for Parents

Your views about the school are important to us

If you are a registered parent or carer of a pupil at the school (including pupils on sick leave or who are temporarily excluded), you can tell us your views about the school by completing Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, at: www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk

Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 aspects of your child’s school, including the progress made by your child, the quality of teaching, dealing with bullying and poor behaviour.
The inspectors will use the online survey responses when inspecting your child’s school.

To register your views, you will need to provide your email address, which will be held securely. It will not be used for any purpose other than providing access to the online survey. Neither schools nor Ofsted will have access to any email addresses.

Please complete the online survey by 11 am on 19 June 2013 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection. Should you wish to provide written comments these should be sent to the school in a sealed envelope, marked confidential and addressed to the inspection team.

Speaking to an inspector

If you are unable to complete the online survey, it may be possible to speak to an inspector during the inspection, for instance at the start of the school day, or to pass on messages to the inspectors if you are unable to speak to them in person. Inspection administrators will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. If concerns are raised about child protection, we may have to pass the information we receive to social services or the police. You can contact the administrators on 01695 566 857. Inspectors will be pleased to receive your comments, but cannot deal with complaints about individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the online survey.

Yours faithfully

Mr James Kinsman

As well as completing the survey, you can use Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, at any time during the school year to give Ofsted your opinion of your child’s school. You can also use Parent View to see survey results for schools across England. Visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

Dear Parent or Carer

Inspection of Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College by Ofsted

We have just told your child’s school that we will inspect it on 19 to 20 June 2013. The lead inspector will be Ms Lisa Fraser. We are writing to you because we would like to know what you think about the school. Please take a few minutes to read the leaflet which came with this letter (link below). It explains why we inspect schools, and what happens during an inspection.

School Inspections – A Guide for Parents

Your views about the school are important to us

If you are a registered parent or carer of a pupil at the school (including pupils on sick leave or who are temporarily excluded), you can tell us your views about the school by completing Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, at: www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk

Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 aspects of your child’s school, including the progress made by your child, the quality of teaching, dealing with bullying and poor behaviour.
The inspectors will use the online survey responses when inspecting your child’s school.

To register your views, you will need to provide your email address, which will be held securely. It will not be used for any purpose other than providing access to the online survey. Neither schools nor Ofsted will have access to any email addresses.

Please complete the online survey by 11 am on 19 June 2013 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection. Should you wish to provide written comments these should be sent to the school in a sealed envelope, marked confidential and addressed to the inspection team.

Speaking to an inspector

If you are unable to complete the online survey, it may be possible to speak to an inspector during the inspection, for instance at the start of the school day, or to pass on messages to the inspectors if you are unable to speak to them in person. Inspection administrators will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. If concerns are raised about child protection, we may have to pass the information we receive to social services or the police. You can contact the administrators on 01695 566 857. Inspectors will be pleased to receive your comments, but cannot deal with complaints about individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the online survey.

Yours faithfully

Mr James Kinsman

As well as completing the survey, you can use Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, at any time during the school year to give Ofsted your opinion of your child’s school. You can also use Parent View to see survey results for schools across England. Visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

An Outstanding School with an Outstanding Future

Teacher of Science (MPS)

We are an 11-18 College with 1006 pupils on roll. In September 2011 we opened our new Sixth Form in a £6.5m building to add Post 16 excellence to our already outstanding achievements. The school is rapidly expanding because of its overwhelming popularity and we are appointing a number of people to our excellent school.

The starting date for this position is 1st September 2013. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious and hard working person to develop their career in a forward thinking school with exceptional standards of achievement and care. Ofsted judged our school as Outstanding in every area and since then we have embarked on a programme to make ourselves an exceptional educational provider.

We are looking for the following:

• Inspiration, energy and passion about pupils’ learning
• An excellent classroom practitioner
• Aspirations to future career development
• Willing to make a contribution to the future development to our Sixth Form
• Has high standards of appearance, professional conduct and expectations of staff and pupils

We can offer:

You can download the Application Form in PDF format here if you don’t have a word processing package installed.

An Outstanding School with an Outstanding Future

Teacher of Art (MPS)

We are an 11-18 College with 1006 pupils on roll. In September 2011 we opened our new Sixth Form in a £6.5m building to add Post 16 excellence to our already outstanding achievements. The school is rapidly expanding because of its overwhelming popularity and we are appointing a number of people to our excellent school.

The starting date for this position is 1st September 2013. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious and hard working person to develop their career in a forward thinking school with exceptional standards of achievement and care. Ofsted judged our school as Outstanding in every area and since then we have embarked on a programme to make ourselves an exceptional educational provider.

We are looking for the following:

• Inspiration, energy and passion about pupils’ learning
• An excellent classroom practitioner
• Aspirations to future career development
• Willing to make a contribution to the future development to our Sixth Form
• Has high standards of appearance, professional conduct and expectations of staff and pupils

We can offer:

You can download the Application Form in PDF format here if you don’t have a word processing package installed.

Changes to 709 & 748 Bus Collection Times

We have been informed by Greater Manchester Transport that the departure time for the 709 & 748 School Bus from Altrincham Leisure Centre after school has been changed. These changes will start from Monday 3rd June 2013 and the new pick-up time will be 3.15 p.m.

If your child uses the 709 or 748 bus service, can you please ensure that they are aware of the new time change although they have been informed by their Form Tutor.

For information, please find the revised timetable at the link below.

Revised School Bus Timetable

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Miss R Cross
Assistant Headteacher
Pastoral Care & Guidance

Dear Parent / Carer,

Changes to 709 & 748 Bus Collection Times

We have been informed by Greater Manchester Transport that the departure time for the 709 & 748 School Bus from Altrincham Leisure Centre after school has been changed. These changes will start from Monday 3rd June 2013 and the new pick-up time will be 3.15 p.m.

If your child uses the 709 or 748 bus service, can you please ensure that they are aware of the new time change although they have been informed by their Form Tutor.

For information, please find the revised timetable at the link below.

Revised School Bus Timetable

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Miss R Cross
Assistant Headteacher
Pastoral Care & Guidance

An Outstanding School with an Outstanding Future

Teacher of A Level Biology (MPS)
Part-time - 10 hours approximately

We are an 11-18 College with 1006 pupils on roll. In September 2011 we opened our new Sixth Form in a £6.5m building to add Post 16 excellence to our already outstanding achievements. The school is rapidly expanding because of its overwhelming popularity and we are appointing a number of people to our excellent school.

The starting date for this position is 1st September 2013. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious and hard working person to develop their career in a forward thinking school with exceptional standards of achievement and care. Ofsted judged our school as Outstanding in every area and since then we have embarked on a programme to make ourselves an exceptional educational provider.

We are looking for the following:

• Inspiration, energy and passion about pupils’ learning
• An excellent classroom practitioner
• Aspirations to future career development
• Willing to make a contribution to the future development to our Sixth Form
• Has high standards of appearance, professional conduct and expectations of staff and pupils

We can offer:

You can download the Application Form in PDF format here if you don’t have a word processing package installed.

An Outstanding School with an Outstanding Future seeks a Teacher of Mathematics (MPS).

We are an 11-18 College with 1006 pupils on roll. In September 2011 we opened our new Sixth Form in a £6.5m building to add Post 16 excellence to our already outstanding achievements. The school is rapidly expanding because of its overwhelming popularity and we are appointing a number of people to our excellent school.

The starting date for this position is 1st September 2013. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious and hard working person to develop their career in a forward thinking school with exceptional standards of achievement and care. Ofsted judged our school as Outstanding in every area and since then we have embarked on a programme to make ourselves an exceptional educational provider.

We are looking for the following:

• Inspiration, energy and passion about pupils’ learning
• An excellent classroom practitioner
• Aspirations to future career development
• Willing to make a contribution to the future development to our Sixth Form
• Has high standards of appearance, professional conduct and expectations of staff and pupils

We can offer:

You can download the Application Form in PDF format here if you don’t have a word processing package installed.

The Eiffel Tower

On the 23rd March 2013 we went to France. If I were to describe the trip in three words they would be; unforgettable, experience and amazing!

We did so many things in France including going to the World War II cemeteries, which left us speechless because of the amount of soldiers fighting for their countries who died.

We went to the 360 degree cinema in Arromanches and watched a film about World War II.  This was followed by a rather tasty visit of a Chocolate Shop.

On the Tuesday we travelled to Paris to go to Disneyland which was magical and on the last day we went to the Tour Montparnasse and went on the highest floor and saw the whole of Paris. It was so stunning.

Disneyland, Paris

France was an amazing experience and I made so many good friends!  I recommend going to anybody because it was brilliant and I promise you will truly love it!

Written by a pupil in Year 10

Dear Parent/Carer

In response to recent consultation with parents and carers we have decided to reduce the minimum amount to top up your child’s account from £15.00 to £10.00 with immediate effect.  Can I still encourage you to use the cashless system to pay for your child’s lunch and other items.  The main benefits are outlined below:

• You can manage your child’s daily catering spend limit. Currently set at £4, this amount can be easily changed by telephone or by emailing your child’s name and daily spend limit to the email address shown to the right of this text.
• If you give your child cash you can check online when the money goes on the catering account and also look at what they are spending the money on
• Convenient way of paying for school meals, music lessons or trips. No more looking for change every morning
• Discourages the misuse of dinner money through spending in shops outside the school grounds
• The College promotes healthy eating through its catering service
• Queues at the revaluation machine have reduced significantly with ‘notes only’, giving the pupils more time to enjoy their break and lunch
• Automatic free meal allocation, allows the pupils on the system to remain anonymous
• Reduces bullying and the risk of losing dinner money
• From September a recurring payment service called FuturePay will become available. This enables the College to make online arrangements with parents, like Standing Orders and Direct Debits, by debiting funds from their card details on a regular basis. Further details will be posted on the College website during the Summer Term 2013.

Please contact the school if you require any help.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

J Cornally
Headteacher