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Headline News
7th March 2008
Dear Parents
I write to pass on the latest information about the merger.
Staffing
We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Mr Richard Smith to the post of Technology and IT Coordinator. Mr Smith joins our new school from Malvern College, where he has spent the last eight years first as Teacher of Technology and latterly as Head of Design and Technology.
At the current time, we are unable to announce any further staff appointments. This is due to the on-going negotiations and appeals under the TUPE regulations. We are hopeful that in our end of term letter we will be able to bring you further news on staffing.
We are fully committed to offering Speech & Drama provision in the new school and negotiations are currently underway with a member of staff to provide this on a visiting teacher basis as is currently the case with our visiting music teachers. We will, of course, give you full details as soon as contractual arrangements allow.
Minibus Transport
I would like to remind you of the mini bus arrangements for next year and would urge you to contact Martin Wheeler on 01684 581608 or mgw@malcol.org if you wish to make use of the service, as some routes are getting quite heavily subscribed, particularly the free shuttle services. We have laid on extra places for the shuttle services and have arranged for an additional return shuttle at 3.35 pm to cover the end of the Pre-Prep day and a 5.00 pm shuttle for the end of the Prep School day. Current details are 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 three buses available in the morning, the first leaving at 8.05 am from the College, and two further ones at 8.20 am
• Other bus routes as follows
Daily Transport 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. The return bus service to Ross will leave The Downs site at 5.00pm as it is used entirely by Prep School pupils.
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 available in the Boys Hall for Downs parents, and if you are interested in your child travelling by minibus, please contact the Transport Manager, Mr Martin Wheeler, on 01684 581608 or mgw@malcol.org, who will make the necessary arrangements.
Building Works
All building works are currently on schedule. Work is complete on the senior classroom block and this is now open for use. The senior toilet block is also complete and in use. Work has commenced on the Pre Prep building and due to the very favourable weather this building is now one week ahead of schedule. The first phase of the boarding house redevelopment is now complete and as I write this letter, beds are being moved into it to temporarily house girls boarding thus allowing work to start on Phase 2 on Monday 10th March, again ahead of schedule. Work is due to commence on senior playground and astro on March 25th with completion due towards 1st June.
Planning
The planning consent for the new Sports Hall build goes to Committee on 12th March.
Bursarial Services
A reminder that bursarial services for The Downs and Malvern College Prep parents, as well as for the new school, are being managed by :
Finance Bursar Mrs Alison Walford 01684581643 amw@malcol.org
Financial Accountant Mr Ian Gearey 01684 581626 ipg@malcol.org
Fees Accountant Mrs Sue Chadwick 01684 581513 sjc2@malcol.org
Groups/Packs
Currently MCP operate a system of eight ‘Groups’ and The Downs operates with three ‘Packs’. After discussions with both pupils and staff, it has been decided that from September the school will operate with four Houses, the names of which will be chosen by the children in the early part of next term. The four Houses will allow for enough pupils to select teams for competitions without mixing Houses, but will be small enough to allow for an efficient vertically organised pastoral system.
Social Evenings
Thank you to all those who attended the social evenings which went extremely well and I hope were enjoyed by all. There will be other events organised for next term so please keep a close eye on school calendars, noticeboards and newsletters.
Boarding Information Evening
There will be a boarding information presentation on Sunday 13th April at 7.00 pm at The Downs. This evening will give parents the opportunity to look around the new boarding facilities as well as meet Boarding House staff and ask questions about life in a modern boarding school. This presentation will be of interest to parents of all boarders, whether they be full time or infrequent flexi-boarders. Invitations will be sent with our end of term newsletter.
Team Kits
We are currently in the process of redesigning the team sports kits for September ‘08. We have had two offers of sponsorship for the team kits and should any parent wish to sponsor a kit, or knows of a company that would be interested in doing so, please contact me at the earliest opportunity.
School Day
I attach an outline of the school day for September for your information. Please note that there are different start and finish times for Early Years, Pre-Prep and Prep. We have designed the day to be as flexible as possible in all age groups and some changes have been necessary to both sets of school hours. If the new school hours will present you with any difficulties, please do feel free to contact me or Peter Moody to discuss the problems.
Holiday Clubs
Holiday clubs will operate as normal in both schools for the Easter holiday.
Details of what can be provided over the summer holiday will be clear early next term. Parents of Downs’ pupils should be aware that places are available with Mini Malvern over the forthcoming holiday. Please contact Jill Walters for further details.
We are confident that Holiday Clubs will be offered in all holidays from September.
After-School Care
You will notice from the attached school day sheets that there is comprehensive and flexible after school care for younger children, to accommodate working parents and those of you who have children in different sections of the school.
General
The Governors are working on the final touches to next year’s budget and an announcement will be made concerning fees from September 2008 towards the end of this term. We will also, at this time, be issuing a new school/parent contract to allow you to formally sign up to the new school for September.
Pupils from both schools have continued to meet during this half term and events such as the Joint School Council, joint hockey and netball practices as well as visits to The Downs have gone extremely well and without fail pupils have been enthusiastic and excited about these contacts. The combined school’s hockey side performed extremely well at the Padfield Trophy at Dean Close where they finished third, competing against some very large and well established hockey schools.
The Year 7 joint drama session of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was very successful with children from both schools enjoying an excellent workshop at The Downs. The two groups of children mixed extremely well and there were numerous requests for a similar event to be repeated later in the term. We will obviously look into opportunities for this to happen.
Summer Uniform (girls)
The junior girls’ summer uniform (Years 3-6) for the new school is the same as the current MCP summer uniform. These dresses are available new from Schooltogs (please check the style for Pre Prep and Early Years) or from the Malvern College Second Hand Shop. If you would like to visit the second hand shop please contact Lesley-Ann Davies on 01684 581511. For Downs parents the Downs dresses are acceptable for next term and will, as usual, be available from the Downs’ school shop.
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.
Yours sincerely
A P Ramsay
Headmaster
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