Ofsted's interim assessment
Ofsted have written to all parents to explain that their interim assessment shows that the school's performance has been sustained and as a result they will defer its next full inspection. The next full inspection, therefore, will not take place any earlier than 1 September 2011.
Please use this link to open a new window to read the full letter from Ofsted.
Posted 20h July 2010
Does your family qualify for a free laptop computer?
If your child is in years 3 to 9 attending school full time and :-
They recieve Free School Meals
Or
You receive income support, Job seekers allowance, Child tax credit
Or
Your family income is less than £16,040
You may qualify!
For an application pack telephone 0333 2001004
Maximum of one grant per household.
Posted 20th May 2010.
Mock Election Results 2010.
The votes have been cast and counted and this is how the students voted in each of the constituencies.
Breakdown of Results
| | Y7 | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | Taylor Davies | 73 | 42 |
| Labour | Alex Garderton | 25 | 14.4 |
| Conservative | George Kaminski | 74 | 42.5 |
| | Spoilt | 2 | 1.1 |
| | | 174 | |
| | Y8 | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | Jonty Farmer | 100 | 67.1 |
| Labour | Hayden Holden Davies | 16 | 10.7 |
| Conservative | Oliver McCoy | 28 | 18.8 |
| | Spoilt | 5 | 3.4 |
| | | 149 | |
| | Y9 | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | Lauren Allpress | 73 | 47.4 |
| Labour | Erin Softley | 13 | 8.4 |
| Conservative | Lottie Birch | 65 | 42.2 |
| | Spoilt | 3 | 1.9 |
| | | 154 | |
| | KS4 | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | Chris Wallbanks | 127 | 42.3 |
| Labour | Anabelle Ryell | 49 | 16.3 |
| Conservative | Aaron Dry | 113 | 37.7 |
| | Spoilt | 11 | 3.7 |
| | | 300 | |
| Overall | Votes | % |
| Liberal Democrats | 373 | 48 |
| Labour | 103 | 13.3 |
| Conservative | 280 | 36 |
| Spoilt | 21 | 2.7 |
| | 777 | |
The winning party voted by students of Sir Graham Balfour School is the Liberal Democrats.
Congratulations to the Liberal Democrats and well done to everyone who took part in this project.
Posted 6th May 2010
Meeting an Author!.
On Tuesday 13th July we welcomed John Malam to our school.
John Malam has been a full-time author since 1994 and he mainly writes Non-Fiction Books.
John came in to work with Year 8 students and they had a very busy and successful day learning about producing non-fiction books and the different roles within the team that produce them. He talked to students about the journey of a children's non-fiction book, from the first idea to the finished pages. He explained who does what, when, how, and why.
Students involved in the two Workshops worked in teams of four (author, editor, illustrator, designer) around an activity worksheet. The end result was a 16-page A4 non-fiction book.
Students and staff involved with John's vist said how much they had enjoyed the day.
For more information about John Malam please visit http://www.johnmalam.co.uk/
Posted 14th July 2010
Young Teen Fiction Award 2010 Result.
Brigands M.C. by Robert Muchamore was announced as the winner of the Young Teen Fiction Award 2010 at the Staffordshire County Showground on Tuesday 6th July.
In 2nd place was Angel Cake by Cathy Cassidy
In 3rd place was Grass by Catherine MacPhail
Posted 14th July 2010
YTF Reading Champion
One of our students has done so well with her involvement in our Reading Club and reading for the YTF award that she deserved a little extra recognition. Shabnam Shariff has been awarded Reading Champion Status and as such will be invited to act as an advocate for YTF more widely.
Shabnam has read at least 23 of the fiction books eligible for the 2010 YTF award and has written a detailed review for each of them. In addition she has created a beautiful drawing of one of her favourite characters for display at the YTF ceremony. She has attended every Reading Club meeting and her love of books and reading shines through when she talks about her ‘latest reads’. She makes a very worthy YTF Champion.”
In addition to obtaining Reading Champion Status Shabnam is also our Reading Club Student of the Year 2010 and has agreed to direct the activities of our reading club from this September.
Shabnam is pictured is being presented with her awards by John Malam, Author.
Posted 14th July 2010
GCSE Results.
GCSE Results will be available in school between 11am and 12 noon on Tuesday 24th August.
Posted 10th May 2010
Summer Term Dates.
The Summer Term begins on Monday 19th April 2010.
School will be closed on Monday 3rd May 2010.
Half Term Holiday - Monday 31st May to Friday 7th June 2010.
Term ends at 12:30pm on Friday 23rd July 2010.
Posted 27th April 2010
.STOP PRESS! School Uniform
Over the Summer Holidays School Uniform can be purchased either:
Directly from School on either 24th August or 6th September between 12noon and 2pm.
OR
NCA Embroidery and Printing,
Unit E,
Boons Industrial Estate,
Derrington Lane,
Stafford
ST18 9NQ.
Directions - A518 Stafford to Derrington (under M6 motorway bridge), turn right sign posted Derrington (follow signs auto reclaim), follow the road 500 yards Boons Industrial Estate on the right directly ahead as you drive in.
Their opening times are;
Monday & Tuesday 10am – 5.30pm
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday & Friday 10am – 5.30pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
Updated 22nd July 2010.
During Term-Time the following arrangements will apply:
The new school uniform range will be displayed in school each Wednesday 3.30pm-5.00pm.
Different sized samples will be available to try on and orders can be taken via the school as from Wednesday 5th May. Orders placed will be sent through to the company; garments will be available in school between 10-14 days after the order has been placed (the turn-around will reduce in due course).
After extensive testing by a group of parents, we are confident that garments will be of significantly better quality than those available in the recent past.
Should the above arrangement be inconvenient for you in terms of the times of opening, you may wish to visit our supplier, NCA Embroidery and Printing, directly. They have premises at Unit E, Boons Industrial Estate, Derrington Lane, Stafford ST18 9NQ. Directions - A518 Stafford to Derrington (under M6 motorway bridge), turn right sign posted Derrington (follow signs auto reclaim), follow the road 500 yards Boons Industrial Estate on the right directly ahead as you drive in.
Their opening times are;
Monday & Tuesday 10am – 5.30pm
Wednesday CLOSED (open at school)
Thursday & Friday 10am – 5.30pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm
During July and August late opening will be offered and we will provide details as soon as we know.
Payment can be made by cash or cheque in school and chip and pin facility is also available if visiting the premises.
Payment in full will be required at the time of ordering.
Any queries about uniform should be made to Mrs Hartley or Miss Stoves at school who will be happy to help.
Posted 27th April 2010.