Thursday 29 September 2016

Open Evening a great success!

Thank you to everyone who visited us on Open Evening last night!  We had a record number of people through the doors, with lots of lovely comments about Townsend!  A big thank you to all students and parents who also helped on the night, as well as to additional help from governors and especially the teachers for all their hard work too!

If you didn't manage to attend open evening but would like to book your visit to Townsend for one of the Head's tours, please contact the school office on 01727 853047

Wednesday 28 September 2016

Hertfordshire Model and Engineering Exhibition last weekend

On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September the Hertfordshire Model and Engineering Society held its annual exhibition at Townsend School.

The exhibition was very well attended and was also visited by the Major of St Albans on the Sunday.

Active displays over the weekend included:
Flights by drones, planes, helicopters and a hot air balloon.
An extensive large truck city display, numerous train and Mecarno exhibits, remote boat display on a constructed artificial pond and many other active and static displays too many to list.

It was a really good weekend supported by both local and regional exhibitors

Tuesday 27 September 2016

Open evening tomorrow night 6pm

If you are a parent of a year 6 student, or know any parents of students, please do pass on the details of our Open Evening, which takes place tomorrow starting at 6:00pm.  This is a great opportunity to see what life at Townsend is like, and hear from our Headteacher about out ethos and values within school.  Our students act as guides to show you all around school, with any particular areas you would like to see shown to you first!

For more information please enquire at our school office on 01727 853047 and we look forward to seeing lots of parents and prospective students tomorrow night!

European languages day

Yesterday Townsend celebrated European Languages day!  At the initiative of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September.

On the occasion of the day, a range of events are organised across Europe: activities for and with children, television and radio programmes, language classes and conferences. National authorities and the various partners are given a free hand to organise activities. 

Townsend students were all given a quiz and crossword during form times which they had fun completing!



Monday 26 September 2016

Open Evening this Wednesday

If you are a parent of a year 6 student, or know any parents of students, please do pass on the details of our Open Evening, this Wednesday starting at 6:00pm.  This is a great opportunity to see what life at Townsend is like, and hear from our Headteacher about out ethos and values within school.  Our students act as guides to show you all around school, with any particular areas you would like to see shown to you first!

For more information please enquire at our school office on 01727 853047 and we look forward to seeing lots of parents and prospective students on Wednesday!

Sports fixtures results from this week

Year 10 boys basketball team had a fantastic start to the year, winning 39-30 in a strong team performance against St Albans Boys School. 

Year 9 girls netball team had their first match against STAGS on Wednesday, with new faces to the team and a great enthusiasm to improve their games, with extra lunch time and after school practice sessions, the girls fought well and saw some great improvements throughout the game, losing 16-7 against a strong STAGS team. 

Thursday saw Townsend host the district cross country, a gruelling long run in and around the school grounds and local fields. Some great performances from individual runners in all age groups, with some top 10 finishes and a third place from Stella in Year 7. 

Congratulation to all players involved in any of the matches this week, and those who are attending our lunchtime and afterschool sports extra-curricular clubs to improve their skills! Please encourage your child to get involved if they haven’t already! Students should look at the board in the PE corridor for dates and times of clubs. 

Next weeks matches: 
Year 10 Boys Basketball – Monday 26th September @ Samuel Ryder 
District cross country - Thursday 29th September @ Nicholas Breakspear School 

Wednesday 21 September 2016

OPEN EVENING WEDNESDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2016

This is a crucial evening for the school and we are always grateful for support from so many students and parents/carers. The school closes at 12.30 on this day and dedicated school buses collect students at 12.30. Other students will need to make their way home as you direct. 

Students will be asked by teachers next week if they can help out on the evening and this may impact on parents for supporting with transport arrangements - thank you in advance for this! We are hoping all Year 8 students will assume guiding roles and students from other year groups will volunteer to help out with subject areas. 

We are also looking for parent/carer support for our Open Evening – please contact the school office if you are able to help. This will involve talking to prospective students and parent/carers at various strategic points around the school, promoting Friends (PTA) Activities, answering questions from a Parent/Carer point of view, and issuing refreshments to student guides in the small canteen. Year 7 parent/carers – we know many are new but you too would be very welcome as our most recent ambassadors for Townsend. 
Many thanks in anticipation 
Ian Graham - Open Evening Coordinator 

Monday 19 September 2016

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO PARENTMAIL – ACTION REQUIRED

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO PARENTMAIL – ACTION REQUIRED 
We are upgrading to the new enhanced ParentMail software on Monday 19th September 
To continue to use ParentMail all you need to do is verify your account. Sometime soon after 19th September you will be sent an email from ParentMail, when you receive this please just follow the instructions below. If you have both a mobile number and an email address registered on your account, you will receive a registration invitation by text and email. You can decide which way you register – but you will only need to register once. 
Email registration - Please click on the link from the email and follow the verification process. You will again be asked to enter some details, answer a security question to verify who you are and to set a password for your account. 
Mobile registration - Please click on the link from the text message and follow the verification process. You will be asked to enter some details, answer a security question to verify who you are and to set a password for your account. 
Please be assured that ParentMail is registered with the Information Commissioner and guarantees that all information you provide will be kept private and will not be passed on to any other organisation. If you have any issues or queries with the process please contact Mrs Sawyer in the school office.

Sixth Form Induction evening tonight

Don't forget the sixth form induction parents evening is taking place tonight starting at 7:00pm at the school!

Friday 16 September 2016

Open Evening

We are currently looking for parent/carer support for our Open Evening – please contact the school office if you are able to help. This will involve talking to prospective students and parent/carers at various points around the school, promoting PTA activities, answering questions from a Parent/Carer point of view, and issuing refreshments to student guides in the small canteen. Year 7 parent/carers – we know many are new but you too would be very welcome as our most recent ambassadors for Townsend. 
Many thanks in anticipation 
Ian Graham - Open Evening Coordinator 

Thursday 15 September 2016

YEAR 11 2015/2016 GCSE EXAMAINATION RESULTS

YEAR 11 2015/2016 GCSE EXAMAINATION RESULTS 
I thought it would be nice to send you a final message as Director of Learning for year 11. The last five years has been such a wonderful journey and it has been great to see your children develop academically and socially throughout those years. Thank you parents/carers for all the support you have given us over the years. I am sure, like me you feel immensely proud of the fantastic results achieved by your children. I am so pleased to see so many of them stayed here at Townsend Sixth Form where they will continue to receive the same care and support and so doubt, the same great outcome , at the end of year 13. I wish you all the very best. 
Mrs Maguire and the Year 11 Team. 

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Abbey Service 2pm tomorrow

Our first Cathedral Service of the year is tomorrow at 2pm in the St Albans Abbey.  Please ensure students have a reading book with them for the day, and arrange with parents where they are being picked up/meeting after the service finishes at 3:00pm, as students will need to make their own way home after this.

Tuesday 13 September 2016

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND

WORSHIP AT TOWNSEND 
Our value focus for September is Respect “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” Luke 6:31. Our values for each month will be shared in daily worship sessions. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their meanings with a particular reference to how we lead our everyday lives. 

Monday 12 September 2016

School Shop Open Tuesdays and Thursdays

The school shop is open every Tuesday and Thursday break time for all students to purchase stationery and school supplies at extremely low prices.  Sixth former students will be opening up from tomorrow, pop along to see what you can buy in there.




Friday 9 September 2016

Our press release for fantastic GCSE results this year

Students at Townsend School achieved ‘best ever’ GCSE results this year with 84% of students achieving 5 or more A*- C. A third of all pupils achieved at least 5 A* or A grades and nearly two thirds of the grades achieved were A*- B grades. 

Headteacher Mr Andrew Wellbeloved commented that “We are absolutely delighted with attainment of this group, however it is also extremely pleasing to see the progress of all learners achieving much higher grades than previous national indicators. Ensuring that all learners achieve better than expected progress is an avowed aim of the school and these results show what can be accomplished when you have excellent and conscientious students, supported by a fantastic team of teachers. To achieve our best ever results is a pleasing end to another year of consistent effort by everyone at Townsend.” 

Thursday 8 September 2016

Welcome back!

Welcome back to all students, we hope you had a lovely summer holiday and are feeling refreshed to enter the next year of school!

Welcome also to new students in Year 7 and new students across the year groups who are joining Townsend this year!