Announcement

Dear Parents and Carers,  

The 15 weeks of this long Autumn term have been busy, cheerful and ultimately very productive. In class, learning has never looked so prominent and sharp and new staff have settled in really well to the SBS community. Clear, bright skies today mark an upbeat finish to Term 2 with festive spirit in the air and both staff and students full of excitement for the break, and everything that this particular time of year brings.  

Please find below …  

A few key dates for your diary for 2024 …  

• Wednesday 17^th January – Year 8 Options Parents’ Information Evening  
• Wednesday 24^th January – Year 11 Parent Conference Evening  
• Wednesday 31^st January – Year 7 Parents’ Information Evening  

An update on staffing movement ahead of January 2024. 

We say goodbye to …  

• Mrs Bowers, Deputy Headteacher and teacher of English and Maths and my first appointment to the leadership team in May 2019, begins her first Headship at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge in the New Year 
• Mrs Chenery, Deputy Inclusion Coordinator in Learning Support for 14 years moves on in January to work in a local primary setting. 
• Mrs Lawson, teacher of Art and Head of Photography since 2010, takes up a role in the Primary Sector  
• Miss Powell, teacher of Maths from this September, returns to her home school in Essex 
• Mr Reynolds, Teacher of Maths and Computer Science and Head of Year 10 since 2017, takes up a position in a leadership team in Reading as a pastoral Assistant Headteacher 
• Mr Stainthorp, Teacher of Science and Deputy Head of Year 8 since 2020, travels to the southern hemisphere and takes up a teaching position in New Zealand 

We welcome to SBS in January 2024 …  

• Mrs Lister as an experienced Assistant Headteacher and teacher of Modern Foreign Languages with responsibility for Inclusion  
• Ms Kumagi returns to SBS as RET Head of Food Technology  
• Miss Paris joins us from Jamaica in Computer Science and will tutor 10CSV 
• Miss Reynell begins her SBS career in Art and Photography and will support Year 8 and Mr Heley pastorally and tutor 8DRS 
• Miss Robinson also joins us from Jamaica in the Maths Department and picks up leadership of 7MPO 
• Mrs Thatcher is a Teacher of Science and Biology Lead for SBS and the Didcot 6^th Form and will tutor 12.1  
• Mr Tylden is a Teacher of Science and Chemistry specialist  

I would also like to congratulate Miss Vince on her promotion to Head of Science, hence her stepping away from her Form Group 10 CSV and update you that in the interim, following Mr Reynolds departure, that Mrs Tottman will take on the leadership of Year 10 from January. Her charisma, domain expertise and energised leadership will be of huge impact after the cohort say farewell to their long-term talisman and champion, Mr Reynolds. Additionally, I am pleased to update that Mrs Smith will support Mr Herniman in post as Deputy Head of Year 9.  

Given the scope of these changes, all staff and students will have a new timetable in January, the new calendar year will have a very September start-up feel for the St Birinus School community.  

I genuinely look forward to it.  

New faces arriving in the school will always be exciting and I am sure the energy and optimism that comes with the New Year will see us make a great start to 2024. That said, everyone deserves and now needs a break. The ambition and drive that underpins the powerful momentum of this school needs to replenish and there is no better way to do that than with family and friends over the festive period.  

I wish you all a very happy and restful Christmas and New Year and very much look forward to seeing students back on campus on Tuesday 9^th January 2024 at 8.45am after we recalibrate as a staff group on the INSET Day on the Monday.  

Best wishes

Mr Manning
Headteacher