Selby High School

Highlights from 2008 - 2009

• 69% of students gain 5 A*-C GCSE grades
• The school was awarded a Leading Aspect Award for Community Cohesion in recognition of our work in linking the school to the community through the arts.
• Trips arranged for 5 Star students to Alton Towers, the cinema and bowling etc whilst 4 Star students were treated to films in the school hall with free refreshments as a reward for all of their hard work and efforts.
• The Walker Centenary Pitch, the multi-use games area, was officially opened by Gareth Ellis of Leeds Rhino’s and Great Britain Rugby League and Ann Walker, former Head of PE.
• Students continue to work with Age Concern in respect of the assisted shopping scheme at Tesco each Friday and helping at the Drax Lunch Club every Monday and Tuesday.  On the basis of this work, Age Concern has received a grant to develop this valuable inter-generational work.
• Danielle Brown and Naomi Gandy chosen to represent the school on the Girls Active programme to raise women’s participation in sport and met Dame Kelly Holmes.
• Year 9 students undertake fast track GCSEs in English, mathematics, science and RE two years early.
• Famous Author "Helena Pielichaty" visits LRC.
• 26 students were presented with their Duke of Edinburgh Award in Selby Abbey; 10 received the Silver award and 16 the Bronze.
• 50 Yr9 students visited the WW1 Battlefield of Belgium and France.
• Our solar power transport team won 2nd place in the plane category, our Dragon Tamers won 1st and 2nd place for their energy saving ideas and Jonty Aveyard won 1st prize for KS4 in the Resistant Materials category.
• 176 Year 10 students successfully took part in the work experience programme in May 2009.
• 32 Year 11 students successfully completed the Drivewise course which was organised by the Police and Fire and Rescue Service.  The course dealt with attitudes towards driving and the consequences associated with traffic accidents.
• Prison – Me No Way: This important Crime Awareness day took place in May for all Year 9 students.  The students took part in a number of workshops dealing with crime and the consequences of breaking the law.
• The Maths Department took 30 Year 8 students to the WOW Academy at Bradford College, where the students experienced motion capture animation, film and game making and photo manipulation.
• 60 Y9 and 10 Gifted and Talented students went to York University for Hands on Science Day July 2009.
• LRC launches new “Book Buddies” reading club and celebrate European Day with a Euro breakfast.
• LRC celebrate the National Year of Reading, Roald Dahl Day, National Poetry Day and National Children’s Book Week.
• Childcare students celebrate National Year of Reading with parents, toddlers and guests from Selby Public Library in the LRC.
• The school continued to celebrate its centenary year with a September Old Girls Reunion Day, followed by a whole school photograph showing all 1000 students plus staff in one image to mark the occasion.
• 40 students worked for 4 days at the end of the summer holidays to boost their art and dance skills at a summer university organised at the school.
• Through the school’s arts status the school has offered a range of free arts workshops for primary school students and toddlers during each of the half term holidays from kite and mask making to egg decorating and card making.
• The arts linked with the Voices Foundation to offer singing training- with ‘Melody Monkey’ training packs for over 30 local primary schools and nurseries.
• The Song for Peace day is now embedded as an annual event in the school’s calendar as for the 3rd year running students were asked to think about those areas in the world where war disrupts normality joining schools across the country in singing the ‘Song for Peace’.
• Yr 6 Arts Mornings during September and October saw over 300 Yr 6 students visit the school to engage in arts workshops.
• A celebration of the arts with the annual ‘Hi and Bye’ Concert to welcome new students to the school and say goodbye to those students who left the school in the July.
• The school engaged in the Aspire project phase 2 allowing Yr 7, 8 and 9 students to attend selection and then performance rehearsal workshops with the internationally renowned Rambert Dance Company. This experience resulted in a unique and inspirational performance at Ripon Cathedral in May.
• Students extended their dance skills working with local dance artist Booma.
• Primary school staff were able to sign up for free professional development workshops in teaching singing hosted by the school and run by Vocal Force.
• SHS developed a Junior Singing Squad team with students trained how to teach singing. Theses students then went to Selby Abbey Primary School to teach   Year 5 children. The same students taught during the summer Year 5 primary arts mornings and will be mentors for the new junior squad in September.
• Another annual ‘Wear it Pink & Blue Day’ in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness and Prostate Cancer Research was a great success with over £1000 raised from a non-uniform day plus sponsored events , cakes sales and raffles.
• Selby High School hosted the area Lions Peace Poster competition. Three SHS students were selected to go through to the regional finals.
• The arts status offered local primary and secondary school staff free after-school Samba Band workshops to boost their skills and confidence.
• The Big Sing  Guinness book of records attempt saw Year 8  students joining forces with schools across the country, at a set time, to sing ‘You Gotta Be’ in support of the national anti-bullying campaign.
• Selby Wonderland Lantern Parade in Selby Town Centre.
• RE and science departments worked together for a day based around a touring theatre company, exploring the moral, spiritual and scientific approach to stem cell research.