Dear Parent \ Guardian

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the progress the Uniform Working Party and the school, is making towards the introduction and implementation of a new Prestatyn High school uniform.
Over the past few months the working party has met several times to discuss, review and design the new school uniform. The working party was made up of a range of stakeholders from a cross section of our community including Staff, Parents, Pupils, Governors and local uniform suppliers. A decision was made to have two alternative uniforms so that pupils and parents can vote on their preferred option.

It is my great delight to announce that the two final designs of the uniform have now been decided upon. Shortly after the Easter break there will be a further parental and pupil meeting to decide between the two possible uniforms that have been selected for your consideration.

The uniform working party has worked closely with the uniform suppliers so that the uniform is of high quality and very affordable. The meeting after Easter break is the first opportunity to share the design of the uniforms as the suppliers have had to wait for the manufacturers to produce the garments.

Important Information

• The governing body have given a commitment to help reduce the cost of the uniform for Year 11 pupils as they will only be expected to wear the uniform for one year.
• In order to further support families, the Governing Body have agreed that financial support would be available for children that are in receipt of Free School Meals as at May 1st 2018.
• Details on what contribution the school will make to the above and how to access this support will be presented at the meeting after Easter.
• In addition, for pupils who will be in Year 7 in September 2018, parents may be entitled to receive a grant towards the cost of their school uniform which is provided by Denbighshire County Council.

Next Steps

• A meeting after Easter break will be arranged to display the two possible uniform options that the Working Party have recommended. A decision will be made at this meeting to select the new Prestatyn High uniform. The date of the meeting will be arranged as soon as the garments arrive.
• Assemblies for all pupils will then take place to share this information.

Any other questions, including how to go about purchasing the new uniform will be addressed at this meeting.
I look forward to seeing you at the meeting after Easter break.

With Kind Regards

Neil Foley – B.Sc. MA.
Pennaeth Headteacher

Jo Newell
Vice Chair of Governors
Uniform Committee Chair

Download this parent letter
Uniform ltr – March 2018

Team HAMMERHEAD
Winners of the fastest car in the 2018 North Wales regional F1 in Schools final entry class.

AR Parent Letter

All pupils in Years 7 and 8 at Prestatyn High School are enrolled in Accelerated Reader as part of our whole-­‐school literacy improvement plan. Accelerated Reader is an online computer program that monitors pupils’ independent reading practice and progress. Pupils take online reading tests (STAR tests) four times during the school year. These tests assess pupils’ reading skills and identify the level that they should read at for optimal development. Pupils then choose books at their own level, using the colour-­‐coded system, and read them during directed time in school and at home. When they finish reading books, pupils take short quizzes on the computer. Passing a quiz indicates that the pupil has understood what has been read.

Pupils in Years 7 and 8 are required to carry a suitable Accelerated Reader book in their school bag every day. They are directed to complete silent, focused reading during registration sessions at least three times per week and during dedicated lesson time for up to one hour each week. In addition to this, group tutors will set Accelerated Reader homework, expecting pupils to read for a minimum of ten minutes each day at home. This will be monitored through pupils’ “engaged time” on Accelerated Reader, which calculates the approximate time spent reading per day based upon the length and complexity of the books that pupils pass quizzes on. If using the directed reading time productively, pupils should be able to maintain the expected 20 minutes of engaged time per day that they need to achieve if they wish to be invited to participate in year group trips in the summer term.

Pupils can log on to Accelerated Reader through the link on the school website at any time, allowing them to check their progress and to search for new books that they might enjoy within their identified reading range. Reading quizzes can be accessed between 8am and 5pm on school days.

As with all aspects of their education, your support for Accelerated Reader is vital to your son’s/daughter’s success. I hope that you will encourage them with their reading and celebrate
success with them as they improve and progress.

PHS – School will be closed Tues 27th Feb Due to severe weather conditions and insufficient levels of staffing.

THE Welsh Government have released ratings showing how schools are performing. The system aims to provide support and resources to improve the school system and raise standards and performance in Wales.
A coloured support category is given for each primary, middle and secondary school.

Colours for band gradings include green, yellow, amber and red.

The colour shows the level of support the Welsh Government and the four school improvement consortia think each school needs with the best performing schools ranked green. This year, for the first time, instead of just looking at areas such as performance, including GCSE results, schools are judged on wider issues including wellbeing and the quality of teaching and learning.

PHS Yellow band grading

“PHS has worked tirelessly to improve in all areas and this has been acknowledged by the school moving from Amber to Yellow.”

Neil Foley – Prestatyn High School Headteacher

With most schools in Wales and England seeing their GCSE results decline, the results at Prestatyn High have improved significantly. Pupils achieving a A*-C in English language have risen by 20% to 69% which is unprecedented and is a real sign that the changes we are making are having a big impact on improving the life chances our young people.

Download the guide here:
Red Envelope PPT_2018