Headteacher’s Comment – April 2019

The second term of the academic year comes to a close and I just can’t believe how quickly it has gone by. It only feels like yesterday that we were covered in glitter and celebrating Christmas and now we are not far away from eating mountains of chocolate!

There has recently been lots of disheartening news nationally with the funding crisis and the situation with Brexit, but that does not deter from what we achieve and continue to achieve at Osborne. We have had an amazing term with so many things to celebrate. Ofsted was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we do well and I think you will agree it was very well celebrated in their outcome letter. I cannot thank you enough for the positives comments and support you have given to ensure that Osborne continues to go from strength to strength. Rubik’s Cube went to the regional finals of Music for Youth and we are now awaiting the results to see if we can attend the Royal Albert Hall for a second time. The engagement with London Irish Rugby club has enabled our pupils to experience championship rugby first hand and pupils thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to sing on the pitch for their St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Well done and thank you to those parents who attended and supported the day.

The second Osborne Film Festival took place; there were so many of us we had to have the larger cinema! I think you will agree pupils delighted in the red carpet and thoroughly enjoyed showcasing their films. Two pupils attended the Battlefields Tour and learnt so much about WWI and what it meant to remember those who had fallen. We will be running this again next year for anyone in Year 9 who may be interested; it is decided through a competition. We have continued with our curriculum theme days and only this week we had Science Day which was enjoyed by all. The Army have also visited this term and once again, we celebrated World Book Day and Red Nose Day. Please take a look at all the reports and photographs on our website.

I think one of the highlights for the term is securing our new provision at Kings’ School for our most able academic students in year 10 and 11 from September 2019. It will be a great opportunity to develop their confidence and ability to socially engage with their mainstream peers in preparation for their move to college once they leave Osborne School.

Our young people continue to amaze me every day with their achievements. They have all worked extremely well, with those in the final years concentrating hard on their accreditation. I am sure you will join me in wishing them well with the outcomes.

I hope you agree that we have had a very successful term. I am sure you are all looking forward to a well-deserved break, I know the staff are. That just leaves me to say thank you to you all, members of FOS for their continued efforts to fund raise, Governors for their support in everything we do and to the staff for their hard work and commitment.

Have a great holiday everyone and I look forward to welcoming you all back for the summer term on Tuesday 23 April.

Sonia White, Headteacher