Fun Learning Clubs NOW ON!

Are you in year 4, 5 or 6?

Try one of our new clubs - Mon-Thurs 3.45-4.45pm

St. Michael’s sends a speaker to the House of Commons

Mrs M Williams, St Michael’s Director of English, was recently invited to a Parliamentary Reception on the subject of children’s reading by Sharon Hodgson MP, the Shadow Minister for Education. This Forum was held at The House of Commons. In conjunction with Renaissance Reading, Ms Hodgson assembled a powerful list of enthusiastic delegates from across the UK to receive Professor Keith Topping’s innovative research findings into what 21st century children like to read. His independent study, undertaken at the School of Education at the University of Dundee, was presented for the first time at the meeting. It is the fifth consecutive report his team has compiled, providing detailed information into what children are actually reading. Using Accelerated Reader software, the reading quiz habits of children across the UK were captured and tabulated for discussion and review.

Mrs Williams was able to contribute data to the meeting since our Reading to Learn programme is now in its second year; our high achieving readers (those defined as reading books at two or more years above their chronological age) illuminated the discussion of the need for challenge in the reading diet. Using the Accelerated Reader programme at St Michael’s, we are able to track and monitor the reading patterns of our young people and to offer advice and support in selecting challenging fiction and non-fiction.

Shakespeare Primary Workshop Day 4th February 2013

An opportunity to work with an actor trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company does not come along every day! I know it sounds too good to be true but more than 30 Year 5 pupils from our local primaries and staff participated in a full day of improvised ensemble work on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with Virginia Grainger. The school hall rang to the sounds of ‘Ill met by moonlight!’

Miss Grainger created a theatrical ensemble using inspiring, transferable, practical drama-workshop ideas. Some primary colleagues were able to attend that training and we know they will adapt their practice as a result. The green world of the forest was brought to life and the pupils were able to give convincing, confident performances. We hope that many of them will choose to join us as students in Year 7.

Bill Esterson MP visits St Michael's

Local MP Bill Esterson visited St Michael’s and toured the site, talking to staff and pupils. He was especially impressed with the 3d learning suite and the well-spoken pupils.

We are looking forward to a trip to the Houses of Parliament!

NEW St Michael’s School Bus Service – ‘SM1’

We are happy to announce that after lengthy negotiations we have successfully secured a school bus service to and from our school, commencing Tuesday 8th January 2013 (Monday 7th January 2013 is an INSET day and students are not in school on this day).

The service provider is Peoplebus and the bus ‘SM1’ will begin the journey from Netherton, Bootle, Seaforth, Waterloo and Crosby, arriving at St Michael’s at 8.30. The exact routes are given below and route times can be found on the reverse of this letter. The charge to the students will be at a subsidised cost of £1.00 per journey. The service will initially run for two terms and continuation is subject to take up.

The bus will use all recognised bus stops along the route, but I would ask that you advise your child that it is imperative that they put their hand out so the driver is fully aware that they want to board the bus.

For more information please see our School Bus page

St Michael’s entertains at National Conference!

Two of our outstanding 6th formers, Holly and Sarah, provided the musical entertainment for delegates at the prestigious Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) National Conference at the ACC arena in Liverpool. Hundreds of headteachers from all over the UK and some from other countries attended to hear lectures from top speakers in education. Our students were specially selected through an audition process and received many lovely comments from delegates at the conference and certainly have put St Michael’s on the map!