Mathematics Teacher - required for January 2021
As a Maths teacher, you will be committed to delivering high quality learning experiences for all students that will inspire them to achieve the best of their ability.
We are therefore looking to appoint a committed and dynamic practitioner who can join an otherwise fully staffed team to deliver inspirational lessons across all aspects of the Maths curriculum and support our aim to be a great school.
Full or part-time considered.
For further information, please download:
- Advert - Maths Teacher - January 2021 Start
- Letter to Applicants
- Job Description - Classroom Teacher
- The Maths Faculty at Birchwood
Closing Date – 23rd November 2020
Interviews – 27th November 2020
Virtual Open Evening 2020
We welcome you to view our virtual Open Evening which goes live on Thursday 1 October at 4:00pm and will remain live until the deadline for school applications on Saturday 31 October.
The link will be added to the home page of the website and the main menu (under "Home") once the virtual Open Evening goes live.
Our MFL Bitmoji Classroom!
Welcome to our Year 6 Transition virtual classroom! Click on our faces, posters, items in the bookshelf etc & discover the world of MFL at Birchwood High School.
Click here to explore the MFL Bitmoji Classroom!
Letter from the Principal - Tuesday 1 September
Dear Student / Parent
A quick update – I hope you have had time to read the information I sent out last week regarding the return to full-time schooling. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our 240 new Year 7 students and 140 Year 12 students on Friday, with other year groups being phased in from 7th September.
You may have picked up in the media that the DfE sent out information on Friday regarding ‘levels of restrictions’ to allow for regional or local lockdowns, if required. Bishop’s Stortford is currently a low risk area for Covid-19 transmission and our plans fully comply with Tier 1 requirements. If the risk increases, we will be informed by the DfE to move a different Tier of operation. In summary these are set out below:
Tier 1 – low risk Covid-19 infection rates – continue as present – all students in school
Tier 2 – Rota model introduced with the possibility of a two week on / two week off programme for different year groups. On-line work will be set for children working at home with Key Worker & Vulnerable Students in school full-time
Tier 3 - Key Worker & Vulnerable Students in full-time / all other year groups working from home / selected Year Groups may be required to attend as determined by DfE
Tier 4 - Key Worker & Vulnerable Students full-time only – all other students work on-line.
I sincerely hope that the risk continues to be low in our area and that we can get on with re-starting our students’ education in a school environment. If things change, we will let you know in due course.
Dr Chris Ingate
Principal
Press Release - GCSE Results 2020
After all the political turmoil, 236 Year 11 students received their long-awaited GCSE levels this morning to smiles and jubilation.
Principal, Dr Ingate, said “I was so relieved to hear that the government had decided to do a U Turn and base these results on teacher assessed levels. Last week’s A-level fiasco has also been addressed and we are in the process of re-sending these students their up-dated grades. I was delighted to see so many happy and successful boys and girls. At Birchwood, I was so impressed with the professional and accurate way our teachers worked to give each student the best-fit GCSE level for each subject they studied. There was rigorous moderation and standardization. No one should feel that Year 11 students have got off lightly. They worked incredibly hard for the last 3 years and were preparing for their public exams as schools were closed due to Covid-19. I know that many were upset by this at the time, but hopefully today has gone a long way to redress their sense of achievement. We have seen record Sixth Form uptake for students wishing to study A-Level or Level-3 BTEC. Students moving on to FE College or apprenticeships also have the qualifications to do so."
Mr. Herbert, Head of Year 11 said “I feel privileged to have been able to work with such a fantastic set of students over the past 5 years. I have witnessed the hard work, enthusiasm and drive to succeed in so many, as well as the kind, polite and caring behaviour they demonstrated every day. I am exceptionally proud of every single one them and I wish them all the very best as they embrace the next stage of their education.”
Sixth Form Exam Results 2020 - Press Release
Amongst the backdrop of uncertainty, lockdown and long-awaited results, 120 Birchwood High’s A-Level and Level 3 BTEC students were overjoyed and relieved to receive some excellent grades meaning that everyone moving onto Higher Education, would be able to progress successfully.
Dr. Ingate commented “This cohort of A-Level Students gave a lot to the school and it was a shame to see their final year cut short in March. Nevertheless, it was super to see them again this morning and to wish them the very best with their futures.”. Mr. Torrance, Head of Sixth Form added, “I am very proud of this year group, they are a real reflection of the Birchwood Community and so many of worked incredibly hard during their time with us and ensuring that they made a real impact along the way! During lockdown what has impressed me most is how they have shown a real sense of maturity and resilience that will enrich them for many years to come, I wish them all the very best in their next steps.” The school reported that most grades were in line with their teacher’s assessments – and particularly strong at the A/A* level. The school has shared their teacher’s assessments with the students to help anyone who wished to appeal.
Plans for the return to school in September 2020
Please download the plans as of 14 July 2020. These are subject to change should this be required by changes to Government Guidance after this date:
Dr Ingate's Blog - week beginning 6 July 2020
Dear Parents / Carers
Following the announcement by the government that all children should return to full-time education in September, next week I will write to you with further details - having just taught an on-line lesson with my Year 7 class, I know that many students are really keen to get back in the Autumn.
In general, we will be planning to run a ‘normal’ curriculum with a full range of subjects for all 1400 students – we are just working on the details around improving general guidance including hygiene and student movement around the school site. One thing you may want to start considering is transport – if your child travels by bus, they will have to wear a face mask and we would be keen to see students walking or cycling to school if they are able to in line with our focus on reducing our school’s carbon footprint.
We have also agreed on a more staggered approach to allow students to return in a more phased manner to ensure that everyone is ready and prepared for the ‘new normal.’ I thought it would be helpful if you had these dates:
| Wed 2nd September | Staff training days | |
| Thurs 3rd September | ||
| Friday 4th September | Student Induction Day 1 | Year 7 / 12 only |
| Monday 7th September | Student Induction Day 2 | Year 7/ 12 /13 only |
| Tuesday 8th September | Student induction day 3 | Year 7 / 11 / 12 / 13 only |
| Wednesday 9th September | All Year Groups return |
For the rest of this term, we are continuing to set on-line lessons and facilitate 1:1 meetings in school for all our students – we have had some Year 12 students in school for lessons but have decided against putting on a more formal timetable of lessons this term for 3 main reasons:
- There is no requirement to do so – we have weighed up the risk of Covid-19 infection in Hertfordshire and felt that brining too many students into school in June was too great a risk.
- We felt it was more important to see all our students 1:1 with their parents and expand on-line lessons
- Students have told us that they were coping well with the current measures and want to return properly in September
As a quick reminder, here are the planned events for July and August.
Timescale and events
| Date | Event | Detail |
| Fri 3rd July | Year 10 1:1 | |
| Mon 6th July | Year 9 1:1 | General Academic Review meeting with Form Tutors |
| Tue 7th July | Year 9 1:1
Year 12 Virtual Induction Day |
Further information for Year 11 applying for Sixth Form place |
| Weds 8th July | Year 7 1:1 | General Academic Review meeting with Form Tutors |
| Thurs 9th July | Year 7 1:1 | |
| Fri 10th July | Catch Up Day | |
| Mon 13th July | ||
| Tue 14th July | Year 6/7 1:1
2-7pm |
1:1 meetings with new tutors and tours of school |
| Weds 15th July | Year 8 1:1 | General Academic Review meeting with Form Tutors |
| Thurs 16th July | Year 8 1:1 | |
| Fri 17th July | End of term | |
| Wed 19th August | GCSE Download | |
| Thurs 20th August | GCSE Results | Post 16 / Sixth Form confirmation |
Take care and keep safe
Yours sincerely
Dr Chris Ingate
Principal