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Summer Issue July 2002
Comments from Andrew Carter, Acting Head
This was to have been my last contribution to the Newsletter in my capacity
as Acting Headteacher. However, events have rather overtaken me and I shall now
be carrying on in my current role until the end of next term. This is because Mr
Chris Gittins has been asked to continue and develop his work at the Department
for Education and Science. He has been involved in developing training materials
for teachers designed to help them to manage student behaviour in some very
challenging school situations. He has now been asked to set up and then direct a
National Programme for Behaviour Management in schools. It is a tremendous
honour and a compliment to Mr Gittins's knowledge and experience in this field;
he will be taking on a truly challenging and prestigious role. The School
Governors are now setting out on the daunting task of finding a worthy
replacement. It will not be easy for them to find someone with the same
vision, energy and commitment that Mr Gittins has brought to the running
of Theale Green for the last seventeen years. They are looking for someone
with the qualities needed to take the school forward in the 21st Century.
The selection process will be thorough and rigorous and we are expecting
the new headteacher to take over in January. In the meantime, the school
that the new head will be taking over continues to expand and grow. Work
has begun on the next phase of our building development, continuing the
improvements started last summer, when the enlarged block for the English
and Learning Development Departments was completed. This summer, the three
top floor science laboratories are being brought up to the standard of the
rest which have been refurbished in recent years. We shall be starting
next term with eleven state-of-the-art labs. A
further four new classrooms, including an ICT centre, will be created out of the
existing dining area, along with new staff bases for Modern Studies and
Languages. The kitchen is being re-equipped and the present Sixth Form Centre
will provide a new, larger dining hall. The Sixth Form will move to new purpose
designed accommodation. These building developments are an acknowledgement of Theale's increased student numbers following from the school's continued
popularity. The project is also a reflection of our careful resource management
- we have long practice at making a little go a very long way. |