23 October Dear Parents

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1 23 October 2015 Durham High School for Girls Farewell Hall South Road Durham DH1 3TB Tel Fax Lynne Renwick Headmistress Dear Parents The academic year has started extremely well and I am pleased to report that all our girls are working very hard, spurred on no doubt by the excellent examination results obtained by DHSfG in the Summer of Last year s Sixth Formers achieved a superb set of results (63% at A*/A and 88% at A*-B) making us the top performing independent school in the northeast in the Daily Telegraph League Table. At AS, 53% of grades achieved were at Grade A and 70% at A-B (please note the A* is not awarded at AS and AS results are not published in league tables). At GCSE, with 74% of grades achieved at A*/A and 91% at A*-B, we were second in the Daily Telegraph League Table, closely behind RGS Newcastle who were second to us at A level. I have enclosed copies of the tables as I am sure you will be interested in them. Once again these results endorse the fact that DHSfG is indeed one of the leading girls schools in the country. Please find below the destinations of the girls who left DHSfG in Summer 2015: Apprenticeship with Virgin Money Kingston University University of Edinburgh University of Bath University of Oxford, Keble College University of Central Lancashire University of London, King's College University of Kent University of St Andrews University of Southampton Norwich University of the Arts University of Kent University of Oxford, Pembroke College Newcastle College Newcastle College University of Oxford, Merton College University of Leeds University of Edinburgh Biological Sciences (Foundation) Psychology Mathematics Physics Musical Theatre Classics Anthropology English Graphic Arts Politics Games Art and Design Modern Languages and Cultures Psychology and Law Japanese Art and Design (Foundation) Chemical Engineering with Honours in Sustainable Engineering Modern Languages and Cultures BTEC, Children and Young People General Engineering Classics Radiography Biomedical Sciences Politics Theology and Religion

2 University of Leeds Cultural and Media Studies Harper Adams University Rural Environment and Land Management Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity University of Cambridge, Queens College English Literature Leeds Beckett University Psychology Brighton and Sussex Medical School University of Bath Mathematics University of London, Royal Holloway Management with Marketing University of Hull University of East Anglia University of Cambridge, Jesus College English Sheffield Hallam University Business and Marketing Year 11 have been issued with a new publication entitled Countdown to Sixth Form prior to the Sixth Form Open Evening which takes place on Thursday 26 November from pm. When girls join Senior House in Year 7, we see this as a seven year journey from post primary to pre-university. Indeed all the research shows that students who continue in the same environment achieve higher grades than those who change school at this point. The girls definitely benefit from the personal attention they receive by staff who know their strengths and weaknesses and can address them in order that they achieve the best results possible and have a fantastic experience at the same time. Our girls do brilliantly at obtaining university offers and succeeding in winning a place at their first choice university. You will have seen by the list above we have an excellent percentage of girls winning Oxbridge places, is also very popular and the list of red-brick universities is impressive, reading like an A-Z. From my experience here and previously in Abingdon, in medium sized independent girls day schools we do not face any prejudice by admissions tutors in fact just the opposite! I receive letters all the time from them telling me about our successful alumnae, hoping we will send more girls of this calibre. (Merton College, Oxford October 2015). In September, many new girls joined at all stages and they have settled in extremely well, making a good start to their High School education. School Polices and Documentation I would like to draw to your attention that it is a legal requirement that schools make available for parents the following policies on their website: Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy; Complaints Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Health and Safety Policy and First Aid Policy. You will in fact find that many of our policies are available on the website or, if you prefer, on request from the School Office for example: Admissions Policy; Behaviour, Rewards and Sanctions Policy (which includes the policy on exclusions); Learning Support Policy (which includes provision for pupils with statements and for whom English is an additional language); Curriculum Policy and School Visits Policy. Likewise, examination results from the previous academic year and the number of formal complaints received in the previous school year, are also available on request. Questionnaire You may recall that I sent out a parental questionnaire in order to hear your views about the school. I will be sending out another questionnaire after the half term break and I hope you will be happy to complete it once again.

3 Junior House Once again girls in Junior House thrilled us with their creative and wonderful culinary skills at the recent Bake-Off when we welcomed back to DHSfG, Miss Pickering, as judge. I was delighted to be asked to present the certificates to the girls with Mrs Anderson in a recent assembly. The girls are not only crafty cooks but they also raised 500 for charity. Well done Junior House! I spent a wonderful hour with Mrs Smith and Year 4 last week being interviewed by the girls about my time spent living in Peru in the 1980s. I was very impressed with the quality of their project work and presentations on South America. I am looking forward to reading the class book they are currently compiling. Cyber-Safety Talk In a bid to raise awareness amongst parents of how the School promotes internet and cybersafety, we are holding a Cyber-Safety Workshop on Wednesday 18 November between 6.00pm and 7.00pm. DC Dave Sampson s talk is entitled What Price Reputation? It will help you to protect and monitor the digital footprint of your daughter now and in the future. All parents are welcome, regardless of whether their daughter is in Junior or Senior House. Weekly Lunches This term I am having lunch with small groups of girls in Year 11 and have so far very much enjoyed hearing about their experience of school life. I am looking forward to meeting with other year groups in subsequent terms. Staff This academic year, as I mentioned in my July end of term letter, we have had a number of new staff joining the High School in both Junior and Senior House. Before term began on 2 nd September we held a New Staff Induction, led by SMT to familiarise new staff with School procedures. Both myself and Mrs Anderson have embarked on a programme of lesson observations and have very much enjoyed the lessons we have seen so far. You may remember that last Spring Term SMT carried out a Work Scrutiny in the different Key Stages, we will be doing so once again, in order to ensure consistency in marking across subjects from November onwards. Mrs Val Dyson, Director of Music has announced her retirement at the end of the academic year in July 2016 after 30 years of dedicated service at the High School. The standard of music in this school is second to none and that is thanks to Mrs Dyson s dedication, energy and leadership. We will be advertising for a new Director of Music after Christmas and hope to make an appointment before Easter in order to take up post in September A date for your diary: on Monday 9 November, the Choir, conducted by Mrs Dyson, will be singing Evensong in Durham Cathedral. It is always one of my favourite events in the school calendar and I would strongly recommend that you come along as you will be in for a treat! Congratulations to Miss Adrienne Richmond on her recent appointment to the Headship of the Mount School in York from 1 January The Mount is a 3-18 boarding school for girls in the heart of York and we wish Miss Richmond every success. Earlier this week we appointed Mr Lars Fox who will join the staff at the High School in January 2016 to take over Miss Richmond s duties. Mr Fox worked for 14 years at Central Newcastle High School for Girls and more recently in a school in Germany and we look forward to welcoming him next term. Sad News Captain Michael Hill, who had been a loyal member of the Governing Body for the last ten years and was about to retire at the next Governors Meeting in November (you may recall he was thanked by Mrs Cummings, Chair of Governors, at Speech Day earlier this term), sadly passed away following a major stoke at the beginning of October.

4 Mrs Verona Carter who had worked as part of the Catering Team for the last five years, sadly passed away after a short illness this October. I am sure she was known to many of you, always cheerful she will be remembered fondly by staff, girls, parents and friends of DHSfG. Parents and Friends Association It was lovely to welcome a number of new parents to the recent Parents and Friends Meeting. The next event in their calendar is the Christmas Fayre, which will take place in the Sports Hall on Friday 27 November from pm. Traffic Disruption on South Road, Durham Please be advised that a new gas main is being installed on South Road (near the new housing development) during half term and the week following. This may cause traffic delays and disruption to your journey to and from school. Forthcoming Foreign Trips Iceland (Sunday 25 October Friday 6 November 2015) when girls will be accompanied by Mrs Woodland, Mr Priest, Mrs Durcan and Miss Richmond. Ski Trip to Italy (Monday 14 December 20 December 2015) when girls will be accompanied by Mrs Slane, Mrs Lowes, Miss Schofield, Mrs Clarke and Mrs Thompson. Wishing you all an enjoyable half term break and I look forward to seeing you at a forthcoming event. Best wishes Mrs Lynne Renwick Headmistress A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No Registered Office: Farewell Hall, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TB Registered Charity No

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