The Archbishop Lanfranc School

This school year began in the best possible way with our highest ever GCSE examination results.  The level of improvement achieved, which placed us in the twenty most improved schools in London, served only to create even greater pressure on pupils and staff to make further progress this year.  This has led to a fantastic level of input for year 11, not only from our own staff but also through a range of projects sponsored by London Challenge.

It is especially gratifying that, against this background of absolute determination to reach our examination targets, the range of extra-curricular activities has increased in both scope and quality.  You can read elsewhere on our website of the achievements of individuals, groups and teams of our pupils across a very wide range of endeavour; you can also find details of the expansion of trips and residentials.

Pupils, parents and governors should be grateful that we have teaching and support staff who are not only experts in their own field but who are also committed to providing our boys and girls with the richest educational and whole life experiences possible.

The completion of the 3g pitch has added a whole new dimension to what we can offer on the sporting front.  It will not only be a great asset for our pupils but also for the wider community.  We have been able to use it as an incentive to others to offer us the use of facilities to which we currently have no access; more of this in the new school year.

The biggest disappointment of the year has been the government’s recent decision to stop the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.  To read some reaction to this news, follow this link:

thisiscroydontoday.co.uk 

I very much stand by the principle that people are more important than buildings.  We do however deserve a better environment for our pupils, their teachers and other members of our community.  I remain hopeful that when the government announces its new methodology for allocating money to capital projects we shall be near the top of the list.  There will be a new school on our site; it is pleasing to note the support for this from local politicians and the most senior officers of the council.

There are some staffing changes for the new school year:

Staff leaving

Congratulations to Ms Anderson, Mr Appleby, Ms Barton and Ms Fox who have used the experience and expertise they have gained in their relatively short time with us to secure attractive teaching posts both here and abroad.

Ms Appleby joined us as a newly qualified teacher of science in September 1999.  She has since then been a highly valued member of staff who has contributed quietly but efficiently and effectively to progress made in the science department.  She has been an excellent tutor and also helped in securing the services of Mr Appleby who trained with us as a maths teacher!

Ms O’Mahoney has been head of humanities for the past eight years.  During this time she has led the department to great success.  She is highly organised, determined and committed to achieving the very best standards for pupils.  GCSE results across the department have consistently been amongst the very highest in the school as she has imbued those around her with the same resolve to accept nothing but the best.

Ms O’Mahoney is going to use her considerable knowledge, experience and practical expertise to help develop new teachers through the Teach First programme.  She has had preparation for this role through the mentoring and other guidance she has successfully offered to several cohorts of Teach First trainees here.

Ms Andrews joined us in 1999 as an experienced teacher of textiles.  She rapidly demonstrated tremendous teaching ability and the knack of getting the very best in terms of work and behaviour from the full range of our pupils.

When an assistant year co-ordinator post became available in September 2000, Ms Andrews was an obvious choice.  She fulfilled this role so successfully that she was promoted to year coordinator in September 2004.  She led her year group with energy, wisdom and compassion to last summer’s best ever examination results.

Unfortunately, after a long struggle, Ms Andrews has been compelled to take early retirement on ill-health grounds.  It is terribly sad that she has had to give up the work she loved so much and in which she was so gifted.

Ms Andrews’s overall contribution to school life and her special personal qualities guaranteed that she earned the respect and admiration of pupils and colleagues alike.  I am sure you will join me in wishing her the very best for her future health and happiness.

I should like to pass on my gratitude for the significant contribution that all our leavers have made to our school.  I am sure their careers will continue to blossom.

Staff joining

Year coordinators for 2010-2011

I hope you have a peaceful and enjoyable summer break.