Respect is a key value, not just at MRC but also in the wider community. The way we treat each other is incredibly important and we must all seek to treat each other the way in which we want to be treated ourselves. We must also remember to respect individual differences in school. I am always very proud of the way you treat and support each other; it is one of the things I think sets our school apart.

Every day, I see our students students working together and supporting one another. We care about all the students in the College and we work together to make MRC a better place to learn, grow and make friendships every day. I would like to ask all our students to reflect on how we can make the school even better so that every day is better than the day before. We will achieve this when we all try harder every day to be the best we can be and I'd like to ask all students to focus on this this week. We say 'we do what it takes for as long as it takes' and this applies to supporting one another as much as it does to classwork. 

Last year, we raised just over £1000 for this great cause. This year, we raised over £1200, which is a fantastic achievement. As part of our 'Respect' value, students have been learning in tutor time and assemblies about how the money they donated will make a real difference to disadvantaged young people across the country. I see our students, your children, regularly supporting and helping each other in College. I am proud that they also want to support others on a national level and this is part of our ethos at the College as we  develop students' sense of community. I was also pleased to receive an email from a member of the public about how one of our Year 7 students assisted a member of the public this week; we have great students at MRC. 

On Wednesday last week (8th November) Gillian Keegan, our local MP, came to visit the College. Gillian has a wealth of experience having worked in industry for many years prior to being elected to Parliament. During her visit, she taught a Year 10 business class and also led a session with our scholars group, giving information about her background also taking questions from students. 

We are moving swiftly towards the end of term and another school year is nearly over. I am currently working with all leaders in the College on our improvement priorities for next year to make sure that we build upon the high expectations we are embedding. We will have a team of ‘Lead Practitioners’ next year to help improve the quality of teaching across the College.

The GCSE exams are now over and I am very pleased with the attitude our Year 11 students showed towards these exams. Their attendance was excellent and they appeared to be reasonably unfazed by most of the exams. I look forward to sharing their successes in the summer. 

It was a pleasure to go to the Gilbert Hannam service this morning with our Year 11 and 13 students. Their behaviour was exemplary on the way to and from the College with members of the public commenting to me that they are great ambassadors for the College. 

Expectations of students’ behaviour, work and effort are much higher and I can see a tangible difference to learning and progress in every lesson I visit. We will maintain our focus on this area as this is now part of our everyday practice. 

In addition to expecting more from students in lessons, leaders and teachers in College are working to make sure that the level of challenge is high in every lesson too. This means that each lesson has one challenging learning objective, which is aimed at the most able students in every group. We are also catering for every student through making sure activities are appropriately differentiated for all. Our drive, though, is that all students must be challenged to achieve their personal best and we will only accept their very best work.