On Monday 13^th December, a packed school hall of 450 parents, students, staff and guests enjoyed the annual Presentation Evening. Guest of Honour Martin Salter MP congratulated the school and handed out GCSE, GNVQ and A Level certificates to students, many of whom had returned from University for the event. The school’s chairman of governors Mr Tony Hampton presided over the evening and added his congratulations to the staff, parents and students on a very successful year.

Martin Salter was welcomed not only as the MP for Reading West but also as neighbour of the school because he lives in Theale.

This has been a record year for the 1400 pupil community school and Headteacher Chris Gittins outlined the exam successes. One statistic not quoted in performance tables is the 38 students who gained 5 or more GCSE grades at A* or A. At both GCSE and A level pass rates and points scores were the highest on record for the 5^th successive year and Mr Gittins congratulated the students, staff and parents all of whom worked in partnership to achieve the results

In a plea to have the achievements of all students recognised, he said

"I spoke last year about my concern over our national habit of devaluing the other GCSE grades than those above C; turning GCSE into a pass fail exam that it was never intended to be. It seems to me to be getting worse. Some reports this year were even quoting school A-C passes at A level, as if other grades don’t count. This just doesn’t happen to the same extent in other countries. For example in America the achievements of high school graduates are celebrated equally whatever their level of exam pass. So I believe we can be justifiably proud of all those who achieved GCSE and A level results at whatever grade because they represent their best achievement to date."

In looking forward to the millennium Mr Gittins encouraged students to make full use of new ways of learning through the Information Superhighway. Lessons are benefiting from 165 computers connected to the Internet last year as a major development for the school which was one of the first schools nationally to receive extra government funding for Technology. The school is unique in the country for having then received extra support for Arts education. The School’s website is already one of the largest school sites in the country.

He illustrated the pace of technological development by comparing one of the key events of the last century with a recent Christmas present. He said

"Some of the papers have been running polls and creating reports of how we remember the last century. The Apollo moon landing is topping many of these lists. In the 60’s people were overawed by the technological achievement of getting a man to the moon and back. Yet the total computing power of the Apollo spacecraft is nowadays out performed by even a Furby; a toy which has 4 times the computing capability (and that was last year’s Christmas present!). The pace of technological innovation is truly staggering and will undoubtedly accelerate into the next Millennium."(Mr. Gittins's speech in full.)

In his speech Martin Salter congratulated the students and staff. He said:

"This is my fourth visit to Theale Green Community School which is one of the most impressive schools in the area. The Community School, Arts and Information Technology developments which have been pioneered here are particularly praiseworthy. The school’s popularity is richly deserved and I’m very pleased to be here as you celebrate another very successful year"