Tuesday 7th September will be the start of the new school term at the Secondary School. All the staff are back to school now making preparation for the year ahead. We look forward to welcoming you all on Tuesday.

Many congratulations to all those who were involved in Noye's Fludde at the very end of last term. Before you come back into school, please would you all have a really good look at home for some missing music? We are still missing two copies of the Recorder part and one copy of the Violin 3 part. If these are not found and returned to the hire company they will charge us replacement costs.

Bring them back to Miss Kennedy in the senior music room as soon as possible, no questions asked!
Thank you

School is very nearly out for summer. I would like to wish you all a relaxing and safe summer holiday. As you may know, from September I will return to the classroom full-time and relinquish the temporary post I held as Director of Studies. I will not therefore be involved in school matters at the same level and you should contact Mr Michael Bardsley, the new secondary Head, in instances where previously you may have contacted myself.

See you in September....

I feel sure that you are well aware that the Netherlands play in the World Cup Final in S.Africa on Sunday, and we hope for an excellent game and the result which you are hoping for, whatever your nationality.
Irrespective of the result, a ceremony is planned on the Museumplein on Tuesday July 13. In addition, if the match goes to the Netherlands, a Tuesday victory parade will be held along the canals. In any event, there will be considerable traffic disruption.
Timings have not yet been announced but we are forewarning you now of a possible change on Tuesday. We want to avoid closing the school for the whole day, and the evening performance of Noye's Fludde in the Fred.Roeskestraat will take place unless there is a major problem.
We will know more on Monday morning and will inform all parents that day of our proposal for the celebration day.

Best wishes meanwhile for a memorable weekend.

John Light

Dear Parents

As the academic year draws to a close - I would like your support in ensuring that all school books are returned to school. It may be that a student has 'forgotten' about certain books lying in the far corners of their bedroom and they may now feel it is 'too late' to return the said books.

On a serious note, missing books are a real problem in terms of cost and I can assure you that all books returned will be received with no fear of repercussions.

Please ask your children to return all school books as soon as possible. We would be most grateful.

Summertime it may be...but school is still in and it has been a busy few weeks all round. The York and Barcelona trips have been and gone and a good time was had by all. The final exams took place last week and the whole examination period was a great success. This week, our school choir is in Wales and we wish them the best of luck in the competition. Let's hope they are not the only team that will be bringing home a cup!

Friday 16th July we finish for the summer holidays at 12pm. The day will be a non uniform day...or morning rather. We ask that all lockers be left unlocked and the contents emptied and taken home. Unfortunately, any lockers that do remain locked will be 'unlocked' and the contents discarded over the summer period. Please urge your child to perhaps start emptying their lockers of non essential items as soon as possible.

On Tuesday 15th June, there will be information meetings for those pupils (and parents of course) who are attending either the York or Barcelona residential trips. This will be an opportunity to find out more detailed information about the specific activities that are planned on each trip and for you to ask any questions connected to any aspect of the visits.

The meetings will take place between 4.10 and 5.00pm and you will be directed to the rooms upon arrival. I look forward to seeing you on the day.

As you will be well aware, the trip week has been scheduled for the 21st - 25th June. This year our trips are to Barcelona and historic York in the UK. Year 7 will join Year 6 for the annual camping trip.

For those secondary pupils not attending trips (here I refer to Years 7 - 10 only) there will be alternative arrangements organised in school. It is expected that your child attend school that week if they are not attending a trip.

If indeed, there are any reasons why your child will not be in school that week then I would ask you to notify the school ASAP and also complete the necessary request forms available at reception. This will avoid any unauthorized absences being recorded on your child's attendance record.

Thank you.

'Mr Thorniley, there is an Exams Inspector from Cambridge in reception for you'.

Not a sentence one wishes to hear at 8.45 in the morning. However, last Wednesday, we did indeed have an unexpected visit by Cambridge university who visit their exam centres to see if schools are complying with their regulations.

After the inspector witnessed the beginning and ending of an IGCSE exam - I was then questioned about possible scenarios involving exams and what we would do in those situations.

At the end of his visit, the Inspector handed me the report that was graded as 'completely satisfactory' - the 'highest' grade on the form. We can be proud that we have these high standards at BSA and I wanted to pass on the details of this event as parents are often not informed of such visits.