Headteacher’s Challenge Clubs this term promise to be a highlight. Students yesterday chose from 18 different options, from which they will have 2 every week for the

next half term: Golf, Cricket, Fashion, Chinese Film, Bugsy Malone rehearsals, Art, Mindfulness, TfL Entrepreneurs, Creative writing, Carnegie Shadowing, Science, Rock Band, Environmental, Tennis, Athletics, Netball, Spanish Film, Stretch and Challenge. The clubs are grouped into 4; Sports, Community, Arts and Innovator, and the more different groups of clubs they participate in, the higher the level of Headteacher’s Challenge they will be eligible for at the end of term. House Events also form part of the Headteacher's Challenge, and this week Malala House won a tense netball final against Ali House.

Although it is only the first week back at school, rehearsals are in full swing for our inaugural end of year musical, ‘Bugsy Malone’. Performances will be on 13 and 14^th July, with booking details available nearer the time. We will also host our first summer concert, on 29^th June, featuring music and art works in an informal ‘prom’ style atmosphere with refreshments. Before then students are looking forward to their activities week, which will see the whole year group off timetable during the week beginning 15^th May. They will have a range of enrichment activities, trips and House Events that bring life to the motto ‘Inspiring Learning’.

As well as all this, students have been enjoying their usual range of lessons. Assessments took place this week in Maths and Science, and after teacher assessment and students' own reflections, they will be sent home for families to see too. Progress data puts us ahead of expectations compared to student starting points, which is very pleasing indeed. Student Government are being consulted about the timing of their end of year exams, and these dates will be published shortly.  

Today sees the last of our first, first week of term. I don’t know where the time has gone. Support staff advertisements are currently on our website to join our growing team in September to provide first class service to our students. If you are interested in being part of our local success story, please do send in an application before the deadline of 27^th April. Here is a link to the Staff Recruitment area of the school website, with more candidate information: http://www.pinnerhighschool.co.uk/page/Default.asp?pid=3&action=saved

So much going on, so little time left this term! Girls Netball runners-up in the borough championships, the inaugural Maths Challenge, Science Week with fire and primary schools, as well as positive recruitment news, and an invitation to speak at 'The Education Show'. All in a week!

Our girls had a brilliant time on their first outing at a local netball tournament as one of twelve competing teams. They came second only to North London Collegiate School, and impressed everyone with their skills and sportsmanship. The team are coached by Mrs Pacey, who was as delighted as the returning team at the end of the competition. We hosted our own Maths Challenge for students in Year 5 last week, giving the most able mathematicians in local primary schools a taste of secondary school maths. Teams from West Lodge, Cannon Lane, Reddiford and St. John Fisher battled it out, with Reddiford emerging victorious. Pinner High School students were on hand to host and facilitate the event, which they did very effectively. Our students were also involved in leading Science Week water rocket launches for the children of West Lodge Primary School, who came here last week as part of the week of events. Pinner High School students also experimented with methane bubbles during lunch time, with incendiary results as the photo on our social media account shows (full risk assessment in place!)

Our first international trip returned at the weekend, from a week's skiing in Austria. The group had a great time in the mountains with the students and staff of Nower Hill High School improving their technique on the slopes. They had some fresh snow during the week, and some sunshine too. We are busy planning our next trip for 2018! 

The House Event this week was a Dragon's Den competition judged by Ms. Edens, our Travel Planner from Harrow Council. She listened to bids about heat sensors to avoid traffic accidents, an app to tell a bus driver you were in the area, but decided 'Globike' was the winner, for increasing the visibility of cyclists in the dark. Ms Edens noted the detailed research that had taken place, and the strong emphasis on safety in all of the bids. Congratulations to Bannister House on another House Event victory.

Homework Club this week was a practical activity to engage the students in planning for next year. Each form was asked to submit a proposal locating classrooms and offices from September as we gain an additional 7 classrooms on two new corridors next year, when we will have Year 7 and 8. Discussion was very passionate, and the plans submitted were perceptive and helpful. They will certainly inform the future development of the school.

Before the holidays we had our most recent 'Coffee and Chat', an informal occasion for parents to come and talk about school life and things that are going well, or need our attention. The event was very useful, positive and well attended. The notes are on our website for reference. The next event is on Tuesday 28th March at 2.30pm. We are holding an Information Evening on Wednesday 1st March to talk about assessments, as GCSEs will all be graded 9-1 by the time that our trailblazers take their exams. We'll also have an update on core curriculum subjects from the Heads of English, Maths and Science.

Next week families will find out if they have been lucky enough to be offered a place with us in September. Those that are will then be invited to come and visit us again on either 6th March at 4.30pm or 8th March at 7.00pm. We had an overwhelming 790 applications, and I am excited  to meet our second year group!

Celebrations for Chinese New Year dominated last week. Students really enjoyed Kung Fu with the visiting Grand master and learnt some impressive moves. The House Event was a Chinese scavenger hunt, food technology lessons enabled students to cook Sweet and Sour Chicken, and our caterers provided a themed lunch too. My thanks to Mr. Fang for all his efforts welcoming the Year of the Rooster.

We also welcomed boys from John Lyons school for some very enjoyable badminton matches, and had some early athletics trials too. Auditions are well underway for our summer production of 'Bugsy Malone'. Interest in this is brilliant, and I look forward to seeing the final cast list. I am sure many families are looking forward to the half term break. School finishes at normal time on Friday, and reopens on Tuesday 21st February for a full day.

Positive recruitment news with which to start the week; three teachers have already been appointed from very competitive fields to join our staff from September. Further interviews are still taking place for the remaining posts. I am delighted that the quality of applicants remains so high in what is a challenging recruitment climate in many schools. Administrative and support staff posts will be advertised after half term. Do keep an eye on the Staff Recruitment page of our website.

Further success to report in the local cross country competition, hosted in the impressive grounds of Harrow School. Our highest placed runner is a reserve for the borough team, which is a excellent result.

The 'Lip synch' House Event took place last week; a very memorable competition as you can see from the picture above! Each form chose a performance from their group to represent them in front of the whole school. 7BX emerged victorious in dramatic style. 

In assembly students enjoyed the premiere of the new Pinner High School film. Please click on this link to our Youtube Channel to view Pinner High School: the movie! It gives a great insight into life at the school, and my thanks to everyone involved.

As well as recruiting staff for our growing school, we are also looking for more Governors to join the local Governing Body. Governors provide strategic oversight of the school, and are very important members of our community. If you would like to find out more, please read the information pack below where you will also find an Expression of Interest (EoI) form, or don't hesitate to contact the school.