Welcome to St Mark’s
Scheduled in-service day on Friday 12 February
Following the enforced closure of the school on 7, 8 and 9 January, due to adverse weather conditions and a very unsafe site, I have decided to postpone the in-service day for staff scheduled for Friday, 12 February, 2010 the day before this coming half-term break.
After consultation with the Senior Management Team and all Heads of Department it was felt that ‘reclaiming’ a day of teaching and learning for all pupils was important. However, in-service training is an important aspect of the teaching and LSA calendar. Therefore, I have also decided to nominate 3 March, 2010 as an extended in-service afternoon for the teaching and support staff at St Mark’s. Thus, no lunch will be provided on 3 March, 2010 and lessons will finish at 1.30 pm after period 4 but children receiving free School Meals will be able to use their dinner tickets at break-time. Would you please make appropriate arrangements for your children to travel home safely? I will ensure the relevant contracted bus companies are informed.
In summary:
1. Friday, 12 February, 2010 - all pupils in school 8.50 am to 3.30 pm
- In-service day postponed for staff.
2. Wednesday, 3 March, 2010 - all pupils in school 8.50 am to 1.30 pm
- In-service afternoon for staff 2.30 pm to 6.15 pm.
Car Park Congestion Issues
There have been an increasing number of difficult situations before and after school in the car park at the front of the school. This is caused by some parents collecting their children and blocking the transport for wheelchair students at the school and sports teams leaving which then backs up traffic into Tripton Road. This is particularly difficult at the end of school.
The front car park is further congested by the building works (January to August, 2010) at the rear of the school which has resulted in more cars being parked in the front. It is a similar situation for cars parked in Tripton Road on the school side, some of which block access to residents’ property, and also cars parking across the entrance to the cycle track which students have complained about at the School Council Meeting.
Therefore, due notice is given that the front gates to the school will be closed to unnecessary traffic before and after school from Monday, 22 February, 2010 for 15 minutes prior to and following the school day. I am sorry to have to do this but the actions of a minority of thoughtless parents are creating dangerous and chaotic situations likely to cause a serious accident to a child at St Mark’s. To ease the congestion outside the school at dismissal, the School Council has also suggested that parents, who are able to, consider delaying picking up children until 3.35 pm or 3.40 pm or meet children further away from the school site.
I do hope you will consider these options, bearing in mind the safety of all the children.
David Brunwin
Headteacher
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Dates to Remember
| Tuesday 12 January | Music School enrolment and first session of the term | |
| Thursday 28 January | 5-7pm | Year 9 Parents’ Evening |
| Friday 29 January | Deadline internal applications to 6th Form September 2010 | |
| Friday 5 February | Deadline external applications to 6th Form September 2010 | |
| Thursday 11 February | 5-7pm | Year 7 Parents’ Evening |
| Friday 12 February | Normal School Day | |
| Wednesday 3 March | School Finishes 1:30pm |
Headlines – December 2009
There are a lot of excited young people in school at the moment as we approach the Christmas break. The Advent Services of Reconciliation and the presence of the Advent Wreath in Reception, remind us it is time to prepare for this wondrous festival, and the Carol Service, which was held at Holy Cross church this week, and the display of the Nativity Crib in school have certainly got us in the mood for celebrating.
In the midst of these busy times we were saddened to hear of the death of Mr Tony O’Shea, the founding Headteacher of St Mark’s. Having retired in 1982 he moved to Abergavenny in Wales where he spent many happy years enjoying country life. He had a fall on 28 November and was taken to hospital where he died on 1 December, aged 89 years.
Many parents who are ex-pupils, and friends of the school will remember him; we ask that you keep him, and his family, in your prayers. It is intended to celebrate Mass in his memory in January and hope that ex-pupils and their parents who knew him will be able to attend.
This year’s Open Days, earlier in the term, were very well attended and resulted in a healthy number of applications for Year 7 September 2010 with 350+ requests for 160 places; St Mark’s remains a very popular choice for families. The Governor’s Admissions Panel met in December and, using the published criteria, determined the offer of places and the waiting list. Families will be informed of their offer on March 1st 2010 by the local authority. The 6th Form Evening was very busy and applicants are reminded the closing date for internal applications is January 29th 2010 and externals by 5th February 2010.
I remind parents and students that we close early on Friday 18 December at 12.30pm; there will be no canteen facilities at lunchtime but it will be open at morning break, when free school meal tickets can be used. The first day of the new term is Monday 4 January 2010. It only remains for me to wish all students, staff and parents and very happy and peaceful Christmas.
David Brunwin
Headteacher
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School History and Information
The school was established in 1965, opening one block initially and completing its second phase of building in 1974. A new purpose-built Sixth Form Centre was opened by Bishop Thomas in July, 2003, and a Business and Enterprise Centre in October, 2004.
The site occupies some 12 acres within walking distance of Harlow Town Centre. The school now comprises four main blocks, around its central focus of the School Chapel with its garden, linked together via walkways, access corridors and a central square.
The Main Block comprises a large Assembly Hall and Stage opening on to the School Chapel; adjoining this are the school’s two dining rooms and fully furnished serveries and kitchens, operating at both lunch and break times. This same block houses the entrance foyer, administrative offices, Library, English and Learning Support departments as well as the school’s Gym and Multi Gym, Religious Studies and Modern Foreign Languages departments. A new ‘Business and Enterprise Centre’ was completed in July, 2005 and will begin operation in September, 2005.
Alongside the Main Block is the Technology department containing three D & T workshops, a further computer-networked Design room, two Art Studios, the Food & Textiles Technology department (a fully-equipped kitchen and a Textiles room) and two main ICT suites, with 20 multi-media stations. The Design and Technology area was extensively refurbished in October 1996 and the Food Technology area will be refitted and refurbished this Autumn. A purpose-built Drama Studio was completed in July, 2001.
The third block contains the Mathematics and Science departments, with six laboratories, greenhouse and two further ICT networks within the suite of four further Maths’ classrooms; History, Geography and Sociology rooms are situated above.
The fourth block houses the school’s Sports Hall, changing-rooms and the Music department, consisting of two very large classrooms and a series of practice/individual tuition rooms. A large social area exists outside the Sports Hall plus two small tuition rooms and the offices of the Deputy Head, Heads of Upper and Lower Schools, Head of Sixth Form and Head of P E.
There are three hardcore areas providing tennis/netball, hockey areas as well as a large playing field. Additionally, St Mark’s has attractive grounds planted with trees and flowering shrubs throughout, for the use of all pupils.
A targeted Capital Bid has been submitted via the LEA and the DfES for £3.3 million pounds to improve resources and the learning environments in Science, Maths, the Sixth Form, and Music as well as providing a new Learning Resources Centre.
Arranging a Visit
General enquiries concerning admission are welcomed. Parents may telephone or write to the school requesting an appointment. Open Days for parents and prospective pupils and Sixth Form students are held during the Autumn and Summer terms. In the Autumn Term, the school stages an Open Day and Evening when all Departments of the school mount displays of pupils’ work and departmental resources; curriculum information is made available, and pupils are actively engaged in both presentation and organisation. All staff are present and pupils are available to answer any parents’ questions. Members of the Friends of St Mark’s also attend and are pleased to help with information and discussion. Parents may visit the school at any mutually convenient time but particularly during the Autumn Term (please see enclosed for details).
Admissions Criteria
St Mark’s, as a voluntary aided school, is controlled by the Governors who constitute its admissions authority. The Governors exercise their responsibility and right to admit pupils to the school. Supplementary Information Forms should be completed and returned to the school as soon as an application for admission has been made.
The Governors will give preference in each of the following categories to those who desire a Catholic education first and foremost for their child. (This means that the Governors will give preference, in each category, to those families whose choices placed above St Mark’s are all Catholic schools.)
Applications are also positively welcomed from committed Christians of other traditions and/or committed followers of other faiths.
Where applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be applied in the order set out below, to decide which children to admit:
- Catholic children attending a Catholic primary school or non-Catholic primary school in the catchment area, with those living closest to the school, as measured by the shortest safe walking route, being accorded the highest priority;
- non-Catholic children attending a Catholic primary school in the catchment area; with those living closest to the school, as measured by the shortest safe walking route, being accorded the highest priority;
- Catholic children from elsewhere who cannot reasonably attend another Catholic school nearer their home, with priority being given to those who have the furthest to travel to the nearest alternative Catholic school;
- children of committed Christians of other traditions or committed adherents of other faiths, whose application is supported by a minister or religious leader;
- other children whose parents wish them to continue their education in a Catholic secondary school environment, with those living closest to the school, as measured by the shortest safe walking distance, being accorded the highest priority.
Please Note:
- Those who will have a brother or sister in the school at the time of admission shall have preference in the categories in which they fall.
- ‘Looked after children’ shall also have preference in the categories in which they fall.