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General Information
Dear Parents 11th December 2007
As we approach the Christmas holidays I thought I would write to update you on the latest merger news.
Staffing
We are delighted to announce that we have now completed the vast majority of staff appointments and I am in a position to confirm that the following positions have been offered and accepted.
Deputy Heads : Mr Chris Buckley & Mrs Denise Bowring
Director of Studies : Miss Helen Utridge
Head of Pre Prep : Mrs Jill Walters
Head of Early Years (Nursery) : to be appointed
Marketing/Registry/Boarding Adviser : Mrs Karen Ramsay
Subject Coordinators :
Science : Miss Paula Bushby
English : Mrs Kay Cousins
Languages : Mrs Stéphanie Ingram
Art : Mr Simon Mellor
Maths : Mr Andrew McKay
PE : Mrs Jill Brierly
Learning Support : Mrs Sue Lupton
Music : Mrs Wendy Blunn
Subject Teachers :
Latin & RS : Mrs Stephanie Starkey
PE : Mr Gareth McComb
Geography : Mr Andrew Forecast
History : Mrs Meriel Williams Davey
Science : Mr Andrew Davey
Music : Mrs Lesley Hunter
Class Teachers :
Mrs Anna Carmichael
Mrs Karen Mountain
Mrs Claire Whitehead
Pre-Prep Class Teachers :
Mr Tim Jones
Mrs Gillian Hancock
Miss Justina Cameron
Mrs Sarah Chappell
Miss Claire Richardson
Early Years Staff :
Mrs Jannette Starkey
Mrs Pippa Henry
Mrs Alex Girling
Miss Rachel Powell
Miss Kirsten Ellerby
Mrs Pam Hill
Mrs Vivienne Withnall
Mrs Izzy Wren
Head’s Secretary : Mrs Sue Pickett
School Secretary : Mrs Geraldine Bateman
Maintenance : Mr Ricky James
Groundsman : Mr Mark Eveleigh
Gardener : Mr Tom Battersby
Unfortunately it has not been possible to fit in the interviews for Houseparent, Head of Humanities, D & T, Head Matron, Matrons and Classroom Assistants. It is hoped these will be completed during the first week of next term.
The Governors, Karen and myself, are delighted with the way the staff team has developed and I am sure you will want to join me in passing our congratulations to all of those appointed so far.
Minibus Transport
Thank you very much for your completed questionnaires and verbal comments. We have now had the opportunity to analyse these questionnaires and are able to announce details of the proposed transport arrangements commencing September 08, as follows.
There will be a shuttle bus service between Malvern College and The Downs, Malvern College Prep, which will be free of charge. There will be two buses available in the morning, the first leaving at 8.05 am from the College, and the second at 8.20 am
Other bus routes as follows :
Morning routes from September 08
1. Pershore, Defford, Lower Strensham, Upton upon Severn, Welland, Wells Road, Malvern College
2. Eckington, Bredons Norton, Bredon, Tewkesbury, Longdon, Heath Manor, Upton upon Severn, Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Guarlford, Malvern College.
3. Ombersley, M5 junction 6, M5 junction 7, Kempsey, St John’s, Powick, Malvern Link, Malvern College
4. Ross on Wye, Newent, Dymock, Prestons Cross, Ledbury, Colwall, TDMCP, Malvern College
5. Hereford, Lugwardine, Bartestree, Stoke Edith, Tarrington, Trumpet, Ledbury, TDMCP, Malvern College
6. Bredenbury, Bromyard, Knightwick, Suckley, Stiffords Bridge, Leigh Sinton, Grit Lane, Malvern College
For the routes terminating at the College, pupils will transfer onto the free shuttle service to TDMCP
Evening routes – will cover most of the main morning pick up points over 5 routes
Please confirm with the Transport Manager, Mr Martin Wheeler, on 01684 581608 or mgw@malcol.org if you have a serious interest in using one of the above routes, morning and/or evening, to allow appropriate staffing to be arranged for September 08.
Transport Opportunity
There are currently surplus places on the existing Malvern College minibus services and these are being made available to Downs’ parents for the next two terms. A copy of the existing routes is attached (for Downs parents), and if you are interested in your child travelling by minibus after Christmas, please contact the Transport Manager, Mr Martin Wheeler, on 01684 581608 or mgw@malcol.org who will make the necessary arrangements.
Building Works
Work is well advanced on the senior classroom block and we anticipate this will be open for use during the third week of January. Work has started this week on the senior toilet block and completion is again due during the third week of January. The first stage of the boarding house redevelopment has also commenced this week and we expect staged completion of the boarding house during the next 6 months, with the final stage completed in late July.
Planning
All consultations have now taken place concerning the Brockhill Road junction and the sports development, and an application has now been submitted. We are hopeful this permission will now go through with the minimum of difficulty, which would allow us to commence the sports hall building in early March. We now have final approval for the pre prep classrooms and await final approval for playground and astro; we are hopeful that both of these projects will commence in February with completion date of early April.
Bursarial Services
From January bursarial services for The Downs and Malvern College Prep parents, as well as for the new school, will be handled by:
Finance Bursar Mrs Alison Walford 01684 581643 amw@malcol.org
Financial Accountant Mr Ian Gearey 01684 581626 ipg@malcol.org
Fees Accountant Mrs Sue Chadwick 01684 581513 sjc2@malcol.org
For the first two weeks of next term, there will be the opportunity to speak to one of the bursarial team at The Downs each day between 8.30 am and 10.00 am in the current Bursar’s office.
Year 7
This is an important time for the Year 7 pupils in both schools and over the last 3 weeks, staff from both schools have met to liaise over the Year 7 & 8 Common Entrance curriculum to ensure that both sets of pupils have reached the same stage at the end of Year 7. This is obviously essential to avoid any work being repeated or inadvertently omitted during the changeover period. We will, of course, keep you informed as to the results of these talks, which have, so far, gone extremely well.
Social Evenings
You will notice in both schools’ calendars a series of year group social meetings to be held at The Downs during the early part of next term. This will be wonderful opportunity for parents to meet with each other and members of staff and we would like to extend a very warm welcome to anyone who wishes to attend. Whilst we will be running these evenings by year group, please do feel free to come along to the ‘wrong’ event, should you find you are unable to attend your particular year group meeting.
Team Kits
We are currently in the process of redesigning the team sports kits for September 08. If any parent would like to sponsor a kit, or knows of a company that would be interested in doing so, please contact Alastair Ramsay at the earliest opportunity.
General
Now that the staff team is becoming more established, there have been a number of very useful meetings, which have allowed us to start planning in more detail the way ahead for September and as and when we make final decisions, these will be communicated to you in further merger newsletters.
‘Friends’ Report
There was a very pleasant meeting of the Friends of MCP and The Downs two weeks ago and some useful informal discussions took place about the way the two groups work. This was a convivial evening and I am confident that during the course of the next two terms, these two groups will come together to ensure that in September that we have an active parents’ association in place to support the new school.
I would like to finish this letter by thanking all those parents who have taken the time to visit us over the last term and for the extremely positive and warm comments that you have extended to Karen and myself.
We are very much looking forward to September 08 but in the interim, I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all an extremely relaxing and happy Christmas with your families.
Yours sincerely
A P Ramsay
Headmaster
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