An Enhanced Curriculum in 2011
From September 2011, pupils in Year 9 may choose to study French and/or Latin, thus adding further breadth to the curriculum. French will also become an option at GCSE next year. This is in addition to the introduction last year of Graphic Communication as a GCSE option, Additional Maths AS in Year 11 and Design Technology in Years 8 and 9. This year, over half our Year 11 pupils are taking separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs (Triple Science).
These additions to the curriculum enable our brightest pupils to study a range of challenging academic subjects, whilst our more creative pupils have the opportunity to study a range of creative subjects including two Art GCSEs - Fine Art and Graphic Communication.
Excellent GCSE Results
Pupils at Thames had every reason to smile whilst opening their GCSE results as every student achieved their predicted GCSE grades or better. 85% of students gained 5 or more A*-C grades, with 66% of grades attained A*-B, compared to a national average of 44.9%.
The school maintained its high standard in Art with 40% of grades A* and 60% A*-A. Two pupils achieved 100% in their Art GCSE - Beth Greeves in Graphics, in which she designed Olympic stamps in a mock commercial brief for Royal Mail. Shannon Bills also attained 100% in her Fine Art GCSE. The school did particularly well in drama with 5 pupils attaining the LAMDA Grade 6 Acting Award (a Level 3 qualification), all with Merit. In History 54% of pupils achieved A*-A grades, in Personal Finance 60%, in English Literature 47% and 42% in Additional Science.
Amy Eckleben who attained her LAMDA Grade 6 Acting Award with Merit as well as 3A*s, 4As and 3Bs (1.5 grades above her predictions) was delighted: “My results are better than I expected. I can’t thank the Thames teachers enough for believing in me! They have taught me so much and inspired me never to give up!”
Another pupil who achieved outstanding results was Johanna Smith who gained an A in Additional Maths (an AS qualification) as well as 3 A*s, 6As, 1B and 1C. Chris Gouro attained an average 2 grades above his predictions – a fantastic achievement - and Ross Montgomerie 1 A*, 4As, 3Bs and 1C, 1.7 grades higher than his predictions.
The focused teaching, individual attention and personal encouragement provided at Thames, makes a real difference in enabling pupils to reach their full potential.
Stephen Holsgrove PhD, Executive Head, comments: “At Thames whether a student is capable of achieving all A*grades and beyond or finds academic study more of a challenge, our aim is to develop each individual to ensure they reach their full potential – without putting them off study! What we are looking to achieve in individuals is more than just exceptional GCSE results, we also care about and support our pupils overall development during the early teenage years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Thames, parents and pupils for their hard work, motivation and support. This year’s results bring the schools average grades over four years to 92% 5A*-C and 72% A*-C including English and Maths.”
“As in previous years we will continue our support of our leavers going forward, assisting them in making their final college choices and ensuring each takes the best future educational route they can.“
Thames Wins National Award
We are delighted that Thames Christian College has won the Good Schools' Guide Personal Finance Award for 2011 in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. This means that Thames has achieved the best GCSE results in Personal Finance of any independent school in England in 2009 and 2010.
This is the second year that we have won this award in the boys' category, and the first year for the girls. Our Year 10 class have just completed their Personal Finance course and 69% of the class have gained A*/A grades, so we are hopeful that next year we will win the award for a third year.
In 2009 Thames was awarded the Good School's Guide GCSE Fine Art Award in the boys' and girls' categories and again in 2010 in the boys' category.
Yes, Prime Minister
Pupils in the Debating Club were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament for a debate on the House of Lords Reform. As well as a tour of the Houses of Parliament and Chambers, they met Lord Bassam of Brighton, Labour Chief Whip, and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Labour Leader of the Opposition in the Lords. They had the opportunity to learn how you become a member of the Shadow Cabinet, debated with them and witnessed Question Time. This has provided much inspiration and fuelled their love of politics and debating.
In other clubs last term, pupils made props and costumes for the end of term production, investigated the innards of various organisms—plants, fish and small animals—in the Dissection Club, and learnt about SCUBA and conservation in the Marine Conservation Club.
Tribute to Charlotte Leatherbarrow
The Thames Christian College community, pupils, staff, parents and governors would like to pay tribute to Charlotte Leatherbarrow, beloved sister of one of our year 10 pupils and daughter of one of our governors, who was tragically killed in a road accident on 17th March. Charlotte was known to many of our pupils. A beautiful young girl, full of life and love and a ray of sunshine to all whom she met, not to mention an outstanding dancer who was also currently performing at the West End musical, Billy Elliot. Charlotte will be sadly missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.
Thames in Top 100 London Schools
Thames was placed in the Daily Telegraph Top 100 London Schools based on 82% of our pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades including Maths and English last year. We were also ranked third in the Borough of Wandsworth. "This news was a great start to 2011," said Stephen Holsgrove, Executive Head.
Art Curriculum Redesigned
This term we have redesigned the Art curriculum to incorporate Design Technology as well as enable pupils to take two Art GCSEs.
Due to popular demand, Design Technology has been added to the curriculum in Years 8 and 9. Each class is split into two to study either Woodwork or Textiles. The focus of both these courses is two fold - pupils learn how to develop their ideas and thinking skills by working to a brief and learn practical skills that can be applied later in life, using handtools in Woodwork and sewing machines in Textiles.
For the first time we are running a double art GCSE. Five Year 11 pupils are taking a GCSE in Graphic Communication alongside Fine Art. The Graphics element is being taught by Steve Trimm, a creative director from the advertising industry who has worked with many big brands including Pringle, BA, Nokia and Links. Steve is acting as both tutor and client. He set four commercial briefs from which pupils have chosen one to develop for the duration of this term. At the end of term the students will pitch their ideas to him in the style of a real client presentation.
Dave Adkins, Deputy Head and Head of Art at Thames comments: “We are always looking for ways to improve and extend the Art curriculum offered at Thames. Hopefully the pupils will perform a little better than 'The Apprentice' contestants at real life business pitches! This is a great way for pupils to sample what an actual career would be like in Graphic and to provide them with invaluable work experience.”
Viva L'Espana
In October, 30 pupils took the opportunity to improve their Spanish on an exciting trip to Club Hispanico in Malaga, Spain. The week involved nine hours of intensive Spanish lessons, a salsa class, a tour of Malaga and a trip to the historic Alhambra in Granada.
For the duration of the trip the students were encouraged to speak Spanish for the majority of the time and to sample the Spanish culture.
Francisca Anastasi, who accompanied the trip, commented: “We all had a fantastic time, the pupils got to immerse themselves in Spanish culture and experience the language first hand. I have noticed a marked improvement in their progress as a result. They are much more confident speakers. It was also a lot of fun and an opportunity for students to spend time together, away from home, in a new environment. I think they have learned a lot from the experience as a whole.”
What the pupils thought:
Yonnatan : “The Spanish teachers were excellent and had a great sense of humour, we got to speak lots of Spanish on the trip in formal lessons and our free time.”
Jasmine: “The locals were very friendly and encouraged us to speak Spanish. They were very helpful and spoke slowly so that we could pick up what they were saying. The trip just wasn’t quite long enough, before we knew it we arrived back in England - in the cold, wet and dark!”
Amy : “The trip was very organised and we got to do lots of sight-seeing but we also had time to relax by the pool, do some market shopping and have fun on the beach.”
Cherelle: “I really liked the Spanish classes, the teachers took the time to explain everything in a meaningful way so that we could then go out and practise what we had learned in our free time.”
Matthew: “We had a really lovely time and got to sample real Spanish life.”
Outstanding Ofsted Report
Our Ofsted inspection in May has highlighted the school's progression with both pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and their behaviour, judged as outstanding. The inspector also recognised the English, Art, Science, Literacy and ICT provision to be outstanding. As you may know, the assessment criteria has been tightened greatly since our last report and schools that were judged outstanding two or three years ago, are now only achieving good. In all other areas we were judged good, and we met all the statutory regulations, which is only achieved by a minority of small independent schools. The inspection process was a very positive one for us as a school and we are making sure that we continue to improve and progress to outstanding in all areas.
The Pressure Cooker of Teenage Life
Key Stage 3 pupils took part in 'The Pressure Cooker', a workshop about the pressures on teenagers to become adult too quickly. Run by Riding Lights Theatre Company, the workshop covered the influences of the media and fashion industry, how to cope with material and spiritual aspirations and find the strength and confidence to be happy with ourselves and accept others as they are. The workshop provided a creative combination of performance by the actors, interactive exercises, practical workshop and discussion.
