Round Square Launch and Build Your Brand!
This week in assembly, we launched Saint Felix as a Round Square school to our students. Both Mr Grigg and I have previously worked in schools that were members of this organisation, and we were able to talk directly about the potential benefits for the students and the whole community. Round Square joins together like-minded schools that share the same ethos and ideology with an explicit emphasis on creating connections based on the IDEALS that form their six core principles. They stand for Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service, thus fitting very neatly with the curriculum that we have created and the co-curricular opportunities that we want our students to experience.
Nearly 300 schools are members of Round Square across every continent, and they represent over 50 countries creating a strong, supportive, and collaborative community that shares good practice and creates amazing opportunities for young adults to explore the world by interacting with their peers across the globe. For our students, they can become part of the committee leading on our involvement in Round Square; they can participate in the Zoom Postcard scheme and Subject Labs globally via online technology or join in with the service and adventure activities as well as the conferences where the schools come together to debate and participate in the global problems of the day. A wonderful chance to become involved in an incredibly well-respected organisation; to find out a more, please watch this video.
I am passionate that every student builds their brand during their time at Saint Felix so that they have a myriad of skills, qualities and characteristics that will serve them well once they go on to university, apprenticeships, or their future careers. Both the school values and learner profile have been either chosen (by the community) or designed to help our students to develop these traits over a period of time, backed up by the nature of the curriculum, the Saint Felix Diploma, and the co-curricular activities that we offer. In addition, and of vital importance and significance, we are boosting our Careers and HE provision to ensure that all of our students receive the information, advice, and guidance that they require to make well-informed choices as they go through their educational journey and eventually into the workplace. The Saint Felix Careers Newsletter (Careers Newsletter) outlines and puts together some of the areas that your sons and daughters can explore over the course of this year, and I would urge you to sit down and go through this with them to find out what might pique their interest and enable them to follow their passions. I would like to highlight Degree Apprenticeships (The Sixth Formers’ Guide to Degree Apprenticeships) which have only grown and grown over the last decade, providing students with the fantastic chance to both study at university whilst beginning their career opportunities; perhaps most significantly, they will finish their degree with no debts having been paid throughout by the employer (Amazon, Astra Zeneca, BBC, Diageo, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, PwC, Rolls Royce and Unilever are just some prominent examples) and with an increased chance of securing a job with that company or one that is similar. Also included within the newsletter are articles and information related to UCAS applications and writing the new style personal statement, work experience and other activities that will enhance their brand. Mr Grimmer (agrimmer@stfelix.co.uk) is leading on this area and will continue to build this webpage with more information, advice, guidance, and opportunities. He is also planning how we will mark National Careers Week which will take place from March 2nd to the 7th next term. If any of you would like to help support this week with either a short talk at the school or a workplace visit, please do contact Mr Grimmer as it would be wonderful for our students to hear about a variety of different career opportunities.
Yesterday, we had our whole school photograph with the sun shining and the grounds looking resplendent. It was such a happy occasion to see the whole school community gathered together with smiles and laughter aplenty before the serious business of ensuring a photo that we will all be proud of. The final version should be ready for you to order after half-term but here is a small sneak preview taken after the main event! And today, despite the slightly less glorious weather, we had an excellent Open Morning where there was a real buzz about Saint Felix and as ever, our students were the most wonderful guides and ambassadors for the school.
In other news, the 1st XI were clinical in their 5-1 victory over Ipswich High, showing real teamwork and talent across the pitch; a huge thanks to Jude W-K for his excellent photos of the game! Our Under 15 squad came 3rd in the North Suffolk Pickleball Tournament, missing out by one point on getting to the final. The Under 14 Girls played with great determination in the North Suffolk Football tournament, drawing one game and losing the other two, with Amelia L scoring in her first ever competitive match. Meanwhile in Badminton, the Under 16 and Under 14 Girls won their National Cup Round 2 matches against Coopers Company and Coburn School and will therefore progress through to the next round. Well done to every student who has represented the school in a busy week, and I am delighted that the new Netball match kit will have arrived in time for their next match before half-term, and with a Junior Football kit and Athletics & Cross-Country vests on their way, we will very much look the part as well!
And finally, having celebrated European Languages Day last week, I was delighted to give a certificate and book token to our quiz winner, Kekeli K. We are fortunate to have so many different languages represented at Saint Felix, and we remain passionate about promoting and supporting students who wish to study in this area so that we can buck the national trends of declining numbers taking these subjects at both GCSE and A Level. And a huge shout out to the staff winner, my very own PA, Cat Tansley!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Matthew Oakman
Head