12th November 2021

Headteacher Message

Mr McConaghie Headteacher

It was a privilege to spend Thursday evening with the Class of 2021 who returnedto Ashton on Mersey School for the first time since their GCSE results day.

It was a joyful event supported by music from Millie Stakes on the piano andChennika Keegan singing solo. Whilst every pupil received recognition for theirGCSE achievements there were a whole host of special awards including thefollowing recipients:

• Rotary Club of Sale Youth Merit Award Shaun Begley-Jones• Attendance Awards Nicole Chinnery, Betty Helyar,

Kate London, Alice Medley &Thomas Shepard

• Governors’ Award Zeeshan Khan• The School Achievement Award Mischa Scheerhout• The Head Girl Award Kate London• The Head Boy Award Zeeshan Khan

Next Thursday will see our Sixth Form Open Event. Please come along and seewhat post 16 provision should look like and the breadth of provision on offer hereat Ashton on Mersey.

Assistant Headteacher – Mr Kavanagh

AOM Christmas Markets

Preparations are in full swing for our Christmas Markets onThursday 2nd December, 6pm-8pm. We are delighted to haveconfirmed some great stall holders and there will be a widerange of gifts, beauty products, accessories and cakes availablefor sale. There’ll also be mince pies, mulled wine and hotchocolate as well as the raffle, tombola stalls and muchmore. Some of our talented musicians will be entertaining us onthe night and getting us into the festive mood!

If you would like to donate a raffle prize, please drop it atreception or get in touch with Kate Griffin atkategriffin@aom.trafford.sch.uk or on 0161 973 1179 ext*2271.

Hello to all parents, carers and pupils – it is nice to be able to give you an update onschool life from my position of Deputy Headteacher.

I wrote a few weeks ago about my remit as Deputy: Teaching & Learning, Curriculumdevelopment and overseeing Humanities, Science and IT Support. Part of thisresponsibility is to quality assure lessons and how teachers give feedback to ourpupils. We run a comprehensive schedule of quality assurance including: fortnightlylesson visits to check on standards; half termly year group drop-ins to focus onchallenge and engagement; every department area takes part in a detaileddepartmental review where every member of staff is observed and a full scrutiny andsample of work is looked at; we also conduct reverse parents evenings where pupilsdisplay all their books and teachers come to have a look at the work completed acrossa range of subjects. We do this to ensure the very highest standards in our classroomsand to make sure that the very best provision is experienced by every pupil, in everysubject, in every classroom.

In addition to this, we also run training and development for our teachers. This term we have delivered trainingon using metacognitive techniques in lessons, refreshers on cognitive development and technical training on usingGoogle suite for education. Our next training event will focus on using research to review our curriculum at KS3. Afurther project which is ongoing this year is the diversification of the curriculum. We have set up a steering groupwith the remit of auditing and reviewing our curriculum offer to ensure that it truly represents our local schoolcommunity and modern Britain. This is an exciting development which we hope will prepare all of pupils for like inan increasingly multicultural and diverse society.

One of the other areas I hope to develop this year is a more open school. This has been restricted for the last 2years for obvious reason however, I am keen to host some parent and carer open school events this year. This iswhere interested parties would be welcome in school on a normal day and take part in activities such as: lessonvisits; back to school lesson experience; parent workshops. Looking forward to meeting some of you at one ofthese events in the New Year!

Humanities

The Humanities faculty have been very impressed with pupils’ homework in recent weeks with examples of Year8 Development Research tasks and Globalisation posters in Geography. In Year 9 pupils have been given the taskto produce accounts linked to ‘Titanic’, Year 8 work on Tudors which is on display in room 60.

In terms of some of our extra-curricular offerings, History Club with Miss Leggett has become a big hit amongstour pupils. Every week on a Tuesday after school, students have been meeting to discuss and discover topicswhich we do not have the chance to cover in their timetabled History lessons. The current topic which the clubhave been exploring is the September 11th Attacks on the USA. Pupils have come together to watchdocumentaries, hear first-hand accounts of survivors and discuss the historical causes and consequences of theevent. It has been brilliant to see such a keen interest in History outside of lesson!

Geography Club with Mrs Air and Miss Horridge has seen great number attending on a Wednesday lunchtime inroom 56, with pupils discussing current issues such as the Climate Change conference in Glasgow, to leading theactivities with pupils keen to understand more about the issues surrounding human trafficking.

Mr EbbrellHead of Humanities

Business Studies Extra-Curricular Sessions

Tuesdays 8:00am–8:30am & 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Tech Award in Enterprise

Wednesdays: 8:00am–8:30am & 3:00pm–4:00pm

Tech Award in Enterprise and GCSE

Thursdays 8:00am – 8:30am

Tech Award in Enterprise and GCSE

All sessions are held in room 52.

Opportunities to work on coursework catch-up

and revision will be available.

The Courses

Pupils will get either 1 GCSE graded between 9-1 forGCSE Business Studies or 1 GCSE graded betweenDistinction* - Pass for Tech Award in Enterprise.

The GCSE Business course is assessed via two writtenexaminations taken at the end of Year 11.

The Tech Award in Enterprise course is assessed viatwo components of coursework and one exam.

A reminder that revision guides for both courses areavailable to purchase from the Business staff. If youwould like a revision guide, please ask your child torequest one from their teacher in lessons.

GCSE Business – What is your child doing now?

Year 11 – Theme 2: Building a Business. Pupilsare developing and applying quantitative skillsrelevant to business, including using andinterpreting data. We have completed topic 1,Growing the Business and are moving onto topic2, Making Marketing Decisions.

Year 10 – Theme 1 Investigating a SmallBusiness. Pupils are getting to know andunderstand business concepts, businessterminology, business objectives, the integratednature of business activity and the impact ofbusiness on individuals and wider society. Topic1, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship is completeand we are now moving onto topic 2, Spotting aBusiness Opportunity.

Tech Award – What is your child doing now?

Year 11 – Component 2: Planning for and Pitchingan Enterprise Activity. Pupils will be reflectivethrough pitching an idea for an enterprise activitythat allows learners to reflect on their owncommunication skills and the viability of theirenterprise activity following feedback

Year 10 – Component 1: Exploring Enterprises.Pupils are developing the core knowledge andunderstanding, including the range of enterprisesand the key features and factors that contribute toan enterprise’s level of success.

Year 8 Newsletter

Mr Evans, Pupil Support Manager

Year 8 have started back to school well this half term, arriving on time eachday. We have noticed a dip in attendance in Year 8 in comparison to therest of the school, please ensure that your child attends school each day.

Miss Roberts (Head of Year 8)Mr Evans (Pupil Support Manager)

Miss Roberts, Head of Year 8

Planners and equipment notices

• Pupil planners must besigned each week by aparent or carer as well as thepupil

• Your child must be readingfor at least 3 intervals eachweek for 30 minutes. Oncethey have completed thisallocated reading time, theplanner must be signed torecognise completion of thisactivity.

• Pupils to continue to arrivebefore 8:30am on theplayground.

• Pupils to continue to bringtheir planner, pencil caseand reading to school eachday.

• Pupils will receive a spellingtest each Monday duringform time

• If planners are not signed,pupils will stay on Tuesdaynight after school for 30minutes.

Who to contact?

Please contact your child’s form

tutor for any issues in the first

instance.

Follow us on Twitter

@year8aom

Wispa Wednesday!

Each Wednesday a class is visited and a pupil is nominated by

their class teacher for OUTSTANDING behaviour and a Wispa is

awarded.

There will be a Wispa raffle at Christmas in which all of the

Wispa Winners will be entered into a Christmas draw.

Attendance Form League

Year 8 forms have been competing against each other this term

in a bid to win a rewards breakfast. As it stands 8ELL are top of

the leadership board, closely followed by 8DMG. It is all still to

play for. Who will win our Half Term 1 Form League?

Pumpkin Perspective

Competition

During the Half Term

holidays, I tasked 8M2 to a

descriptive writing task. Well

done to the following

winners:

1st: George Plant

2nd: Claudia Wright

3rd: Layla White

4th: Ella Kavanagh Gray

Praise Postcards

Well done to the following

pupils who have received

praise postcards:

1. Amelia Emmerson2. Yu Xuan Qiu3. Rahul Dennah4. Liam Tarry5. Queen Sandy6. Theo Bunting7. Beth Guscott8. Anabelle Toop9. Mustafa Sultan10. Avid Shinebayar11. Poppy Allen12. Kayden Nelson13. Samuel Darwin14. Connie Pearson

Ashton Reading Mentor Scheme

The Ashton Reading Mentor Scheme (ARMS) starts next week. This involves our Year10 pupils buddying up with our year 7 pupils to provide support them with theirreading and guide their book choices. The Year 10 pupils have received their mentortraining and are really excited to meet their mentees. Many of the pupils taking parthad a reading mentor when they were in Year 7 and want to provide a younger pupilwith the guidance and encouragement that was so valuable to them

Our ‘River Readers’ book club met after school a couple of weeks ago to chat abouttheir favourite books and pick a book to read as a group. The book they chose is ‘TheGirls I’ve Been’ by Tess Sharpe – a gripping, twisty thriller about a girl with multipleidentities. The members of the books club have been reading the book in their owntime and will meet up again next Tuesday after school to share their opinions on the

book and choose a new one to read.

To celebrate Black History Month in October we ran a reading initiative called Book Bingo. We presented pupilswith a bingo square containing nine books written by BAME authors. If pupils read at least three of the books andpassed their quizzes on Accelerated Reader, they received a prize. ‘Long Way Down’ by Jason Reynolds provedextremely popular with our year 9 pupils.

National Poetry Day was on the 7th October. Pupils were given the opportunity to enter a competition to write apoem based around this year’s theme: change. The entries have now been judged and shortlisted pupils will beinvited to Ashton on Mersey’s first ever Poetry Slam where they will compete to be crowned the winner. May thebest poet win!

Cultural Calendar

This half term sees the launch of our cultural calendar. This calendar will run annually allowing us to cometogether as a school community to celebrate or reflect on a range of different events. Last half term was anexcellent start with us celebrating Black History Month and International Day of Languages. This half term wehave a number of different events that we will recognise in different ways. Diwali on the 4th November wasmarked by a form time activity which included a video of a Hindu family describing how they celebrate at thistime of year. It prompted some excellent discussion in form time and pupils who celebrate Diwali where able toshare their own experiences. We will do this throughout the year for a range of other religious festivals.

This week we have had two main cultural events running Maths Week and World Kindness Day on the 13th

November. Pupils have completed a range of form time activities for both of these events including a form timekindness bingo to promote random acts of kindness around school. We have also had our RemembranceAssembly this year delivered by Mr Norton. Thanks to all of those who contributed to the Poppy Appeal this year.More exciting cultural events to come in the coming weeks and months.

PE Extra-curricular

This week PE launched the new extra-curricular timetable which welcomed basketball for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.Fixtures will be up and coming to please keep and eye on SatchelOne for more information!

We had an impressive turn out for Year 10 OCR revision on Tuesday night. A reminder that Mr Jackson, MissPlumb and Mrs Lawson will be running a revision session on Tuesday evenings, please see the timetable for theclassroom information.

Fixtures & results:

Year 8B netball team playing in their first league night this week and they successfully beat Sale High 4-0 and 6-1,beat ACA 5-1 and Urmston Grammar School 1-0. POTM was Leilaini S.

Sixth Form Scholars achieved an impressive win vs FC United. They beat the team 7-1! This now allows them toprogress to the next round of the National Cup. Goal scorers were Josh W x 4, Omar J, Henry B, Sam T and MOMwas Josh W. Well done to everyone involved and good luck in the next round.

Year 9 boys football team beat Trinity School 4-2 in the Nation Cup. MOTM was Dan B!

Year 7A boys football team unfortunately lost out on a narrow lose 3-2, they did however come back from a 3-0score. Great determination and resilience was demonstrated.

Year 8A boys team won 5-1 in their cup game. Goals from Andrew S and Luca S who scored 4 and receivedMOTM!

Year 8A netball came second in their first league night this week. They drew against ACA 4-4, drew against BTH 1-1 and won against North Cestrian 3-1. Brilliant effort from everyone involved.

Next week the year 7 A and B team have their first league night fixtures all the details are on SatchelOne. There isalso a Year 7 girls football match vs Sale Grammar so please check all of the information for that!

Year 11 Afterschool RevisionWe are continuing to run after school revision in preparation for the Year 11 mocks that will be starting on the22nd Nov. Well done to the year group as the current turnout for the revision sessions have been excellent, withan attendance of 717 since we returned after half term. Although the sessions are completely voluntary, we stillwant to encourage all pupils to attend as there will be specific content and skills covered that will be required forthe mocks and their GCSE exams in 2022.

Star of the week

Olivia Rowland, Year 7 – Olivia voluntarily offered to work with someone who was on their own and supported them throughout the lesson. Mr Harper

Masom Jamalpour, Kieran Turnbull, Tyler Lyons and Jonathan Peak, Year 7 – Amazing volunteering for the Poppy Appeal. Mr Norton

Kekeli Zoiku and Lola Richardson, Year 7 – Excellent work on a faculty trip. Mrs Speakman

Krishna Kumar, Bailey Thorpe, Alex Iftakher & Ruby Burchell, Year 8 - Excellent work on a faculty trip. Mrs Speakman

Zoe Catlow, Year 8 – Excellent quality of work in Art. Miss Cockayne

Shona Ternent, Year 8 – Outstanding homework for English. Mrs Speakman

Elodie Galvin, Year 8 – Outstanding exam results in Maths. Mr Sowden

Abi Frazer, Year 9 – For supporting a friend who was being picked on and reporting to staff who were able to deal with it. Mrs Warburton

Dylan Miller, Year 9 - Excellent work on a faculty trip. Mrs Speakman

Jensen Mellor, Year 9 – Hard working and conscientious attitude in English. Mrs Packwood

Emily Keelan, Year 9 – Fantastic Art work, a love of learning and extra independent Art work. Miss Livesey

Isabella Gruarin, Year 10 – Extremely kind and helpful to a young pupil. This was commented on by her peers. Mr Holbrook

Leena Ahmed, Year 10 – Positive attitude to learning in MFL. Mrs Esgaio

Archer Garstone, Year 10 – Excellent work on a faculty trip. Mrs Speakman

Jacob Porter, Year 11 – Preparation towards upcoming exams in MFL. Mrs McSweeney

Francesca Clarke, Year 11 – Contribution to class discussion in Business Studies. Mr Pryce

Jack Boal, Year 11 – Outstanding exam results in Maths. Mr Sowden

Jennifer Basten, Year 10 – Hard work and effort in Psychology. Mrs Doleman

Yusuf Ahmed, Year 10 – Positive attitude to learning in MFL. Ms Ruiz

Rhys Palmer, Year 10 – Outstanding exam results in Science. Mr Morgan

Tyler Oldham, Year 11 – Hardworking and conscientious attitude in MFL. Mr Loynd

Hannah Prolze, Year 11 – Excellent work ethic in MFL. Mr Kay