Dear Parents
Welcome to the new school year. Many of you will have seen the recent editions of the local press which detailed the school’s examination performance this year.
Our GCSE results were the best collective achievement to date, with 72% achieving 5 or more A* - C and 66% A* - C including Mathematics and English. 37% of grades were A* and A and 30% achieved the Gifted and Talented performance measure of 3 or more grades at A* – A. Well done and congratulations to all our last year’s Year 11 students.
It has been a pleasure to welcome back more than 120 students into our Year 12. We look forward to working with them all to achieve success in 2009 and 2010.
At A-Level the pass rate was once again almost 100% and the number of A and B grades has increased. All our A-Level students have secured their chosen progression route to further their studies/experience. We wish them every success.
Early indications are that last year’s Year 9 students achieved well in their SATs but, due to the delays in marking and providing results to schools, the results are still very provisional.
As a result of this ‘significant achievement’ the DCSF has informed us that we meet the performance criteria and standard for re-designation as a Specialist Technology College and our funding will, therefore, continue to develop as a Phase 3 Technology College.
Once again, whilst we are delighted with these very high standards of achievement, we have taken on board the constructive suggestions for further improvement from our recent Ofsted report and produced a detailed 3 Year Improvement Plan. A summary of this can be found on our website. We look forward to an even more successful 2008-2009.
Finally, throughout the course of the academic year, we try to provide students with many additional opportunities outside of the curriculum through various fund-raising events, raffles, etc. Attached to this letter is a slip regarding the Friends of Rainford High School Education Fund, which we would be grateful for a contribution towards. If you are a UK tax payer, please tick the Gift Aid box which will enable us to re-claim an additional 28p for every £1.00 donated. Any money that parents can donate will be much appreciated and effectively used for the direct benefit of the students, following approval from the Student School Council.
Yours sincerely
Ruth Halsall
Principal