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NEWS LETTER – EASTER 2015
Dear Parents
Please find enclosed information regarding our work over the last term.
I am delighted to say that we have not been in the position whereby, as in previous years, we have had to close due to weather or heating failures etc. The work
that was recently undertaken by the Local Authority on our heating and on our
windows, which will be completed now in the Summer, has clearly had an impact. The building is warmer, better insulated and the electrics and boilers more
efficient. The weather has been kind.
We will be striving in the Summer to improve and upgrade our ICT systems and
in particular our network to make them more efficient. We are introducing
greater technological means of communicating with your good selves through
an App which can be downloaded on to students’ phones and then to your
phones. We hope in this way that we can get information to you more speedily
and more efficiently. Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.
The term has also seen some fantastic achievements by our students not only in
sport but in the Arts and also in Engineering where our relationship with Hargreaves Engineering of Bury has developed into a scheme whereby they have
adopted us and we are undertaking a GCSE Construction Course which is very
dynamic in terms of its use of ICT in Construction. Those students who have
chosen this will have a most exciting and interesting opportunity.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family an enjoyable
break, I hope those in Year 11 will make use of the time to begin detailed
revision in preparation for their exams because you will find they will soon be
upon us.
C.J. Trees
HEADTEACHER
Bolton Children’s Fiction
Award 2015
Pupils from Key Stage Three took part in the Bolton Children’s Book Awards.
The aim was to get us interested in different genres of books that we wouldn’t
usually pick off the shelf. We got to explore the different genres of books from
Sci-Fi to Fantasy. This experience over all made me interested in books I would
not usually read.
We were all assigned to read these books and to explain why we enjoyed each
book. We also explored writing poetry. Overall I think reading the books you
wouldn’t usually read was fun and really enjoyable and really helped with my
English school work.
Zara Mustafa 8C
World Book Day! A celebration of characters and plots, twists and turns anything and everything literary! The staff and pupils of PHS celebrated
World Book Day in style by dressing up as their favourite literary characters.
Down the corridors and in classrooms could be spotted Red Riding Hood,
Fantastic Mr Fox, Gandalf, Sherlock Holmes, an Oompa Loompa and many
other amazing characters. The Maths department was taken over by the
characters from Alice in Wonderland. Pupils completed a ‘Guess the Character’ quiz and were nominated by fellow pupils in a best dressed competition.
Well done to all involved!
Throughout my time at Philips I went on numerous trips to Hargreaves to be shown
around and given an insight into how the company is run. In my final year, I was then
given the opportunity to apply for an apprenticeship as a CAD Draughtsman within
the company with other pupils within my year. For this, I had to produce a CV and a
cover letter for the company then attend an interview in which I was successful
enough to be offered a place.
Since leaving Philips in June 2014, I started a 4-year apprenticeship at Hargreaves
Ductwork Ltd. During this apprenticeship I will gain a level 3 and level 4 Diplomas in
Building Services by attending college 1 day a week. I will then get the opportunity to
do a foundation degree and a full degree if the company is happy with the work I am
producing.
After only working at the company for 6 months I have gained numerous skills and
taken on responsibilities within the company. I have also done work that will be used
on nuclear sites around the UK and have people that rely on me for work being
done. One of the biggest benefits about doing an apprenticeship is that I earn over
£12,000 per annum whilst doing the qualifications that I want to do. I’m also gaining
vital work experience that will work in my favour if I am to apply for another job.
Earning money is allowing me to become more independent and not having to rely
on my parents if I want to buy anything. It is also allowing me to save for the future
and appreciate the value of money.
Personally I think apprenticeships are the way forward and I cannot see any reason
why someone wouldn’t want to do one whether it is within the building services industry or not. What I am doing at the moment is what I would be doing at college
apart from the fact that I’m earning money and work experience in the same
amount of time. At the end of my apprenticeship I will be offered a full time job
within Hargreaves and if at that point I don’t want to carry on working within the
company I will always have my work experience which will help me join another
company.
Joshua Jackson
The UK Youth Parliament Election took place on
Thursday 26th February to enable young people
aged 11 – 19 in Bury to decide on who should be
their youth representative within Youth Parliament.
There were 4,904 votes cast between 9am and
3pm on Thursday 26 February. Bilal Qureshi of
Parrenthorn High School received the highest
number of votes and has been awarded the role
of Member of Youth Parliament for Bury with a
period of office of 2 years. His deputies, with the
next two highest number of votes, were announced as Emily Branney of St Monica’s R.C High School and Nathan
Hughes of Holy Cross College.
Bilal Qureshi will represent Bury in the UK Youth Parliament at a local
level, at a regional level and at a national level, including later in the
year, attending the House of Commons to participate in debates within
Youth Parliament.
Hoping that some of you were inspired to stand as candidates, representing Philips High School, in the next election.
Mrs Tachauer
30 year 9 pupils were recently privileged
to be involved in the Holocaust Education
Learning Programme.
Their first visit to the Manchester Jewish
Museum gave them an insight into Jewish
life for the Manchester community before
WW2 which would have been similar to
Jewish people living all over Europe pre1939.
Pupils were introduced to the Holocaust
and through interactive displays and researched the stories of a Holocaust survivor and the Jewish children that fled Germany on the Kinder transport. (Trains hurriedly filled with children from Germany
and occupied Europe, to escape the Nazi
regime at the beginning of WW2).
Pupils completed a museum trail at the
Imperial War museum, allowing them further opportunities to explore the rise of the
Nazi regime. Following this there was a
Lodz ghetto workshop, where a range of
sources were explored and pupils constructed displays on life in this ghetto.
In the afternoon pupils were honoured to spend time with the adult children of Holocaust survivors, where they listened with interest to harrowing stories from the parents’ experiences.
The final session back at school investigated anti-Jewish legislation in Germany
and how these laws must have made
young Jewish children feel. Pupils explored children’s drawings and poems
from Terezin (renamed Theresienstadt by
the Nazis) and then designed their own art
work depicting life in the ghettos. This art
work will be displayed at Event City on
April 15th at the Manchester Holocaust
Remembrance service.
Photographs and art work were then
studied to investigate Nazi propaganda
and Pupils subsequently designed bags
depicting their learning journey. These
are now displayed on the top corridor.
A big thank-you to everyone involved in
this memorable, engaging and thoughtprovoking experience.
Mrs Tachauer
During our time as head boy and head girl, we have had the privilege of being
part of the Holocaust Memorial Service that is held every year at the Radcliffe
Civic Suite. Many schools in the Bury area take part in it every year. We attended our first rehearsal back in October at St Gabriel’s High School where we met
everyone and were then briefed on what we had to do. We also heard many
horrific stories on what the survivors had to go through and their sad experiences such as losing many of their family members as a result of the Holocaust.
In the next three months we attended more rehearsals where we practised our
lines and made sure that the night would run smoothly. The Holocaust Memorial service was held in January where it was all presented by the Mayoress.
Attending the evening was a Holocaust survivor called Mayer Hersch. Our job
was to tell his story explaining how he had lived through the terrible conditions
of the concentration camps and how only he and his brother survived it from
his family. There were also dance and drama performances from Bury College
and Holy Cross. Taking part in the Holocaust memorial service was a great experience as we were given the chance to meet so many amazing people and hear
about the things that they have experienced and what they have had to go
through in their lifetime.
Catrin Williams and Jakob Ward
Year 8 Pupil Voice Feedback
The teachers are helping me work towards
reaching my targets.
I can check my progress tracker and my
teacher answers any
questions I have .
Positive comments in my book
such as, ‘Great work’, ‘Keep up
the good work’ makes me feel
good!
In form we have the superstar board. If you do well
and get no negatives in a
week, you get a sweet. This
is awesome!
I wish some teachers would focus
more on the pupils who want to
learn, rather than the rude and noisy
pupils.
Teachers praise me for doing well. They tell me to
keep it up and write good
comments - that makes me
feel proud about myself.
Philips High sponsors Gifpraise
School Complex Ghana 2015
During the February half term, Mr Sykes and Mrs Bailey visited Gifpraise
School Complex, New Tafo, Ghana.
Prior to the visit, Philips High Year 11 Prefects and students raised monies to
sponsor students at Gifpraise School Complex who were at risk of being unable
to continue their education due to family unable to pay the education fees.
Sarah Killackey, Lizzie Pasquell, Chloe
ANDREW NYAMEKYE, 12 yrs, lives with
Fleming, Natalie Proszek & Natalie
his mum and 9yr old sister. Andrew said
Schofield - sold hot chocolate with
“I never thought I could complete my
marshmellows to fund Andrew’s school
basic education… may God richly bless you
fees until July 2016
and make you great”
Jade Hutchinson, Emily Entwistle &
EMMANUEL DELUS, 15yrs, lives with his
Celine Bowker raised monies by doing a
tuck shop to fund Emmanuel’s school fees
until July 2016
mum, younger brother and sister. Emmanuel said “I appreciate what you have
done…thank you…I promise to give out the
best in me”.
Jake Bacon, Philip Orton, Jamie Nickisson, Connor Lewis, Chloe Ashton, Arianne Dowell, Colin Sigee Henseler had a
cake bake sale to pay for Charles’ school
CHARLIES OPOKU, 13yrs, lives with mum and
younger sister (teacher at Gifpraise helps pay for
her school fees) . Charles said “thank you… with-
fees until July 2016
Jakob Ward, Georgia Gardner, Charlotte Cheadle, Caitlin Knight, Kirsty
Franklin, Poppy Baron sold doughnuts
to pay for Precious education until July
2016
Taylor McCrae, Chloe Haigh, Caitlin Horrocks,
Emilia Glancy, Danielle Hamilton had a Tombola raffle to pay for Camila’s education until
July 2016
out this my studies was always hanging since I
have to stay out of class because of school fees”.
PRECIOUS TWUMASI, 12 yrs, lives
with mum and two brothers. Precious
dreams of being a doctor. Precious said
“I thank you for what you have done
for me….I am very grateful”
CAMILA AWUAH, 9 yrs, lives with family
members. Camila said “I will like to ex-
press my gratitude to you for paying my
fees. I am grateful. May god richly bless
you”.
Natasha Szpak and Taaniya Ali had a tuck shop
YVETTE ACHEAMPONG 13yrs (middle
in school to pay for Yvette’s education until July
left) and her twin Yvonne live with
2016 (also paid for her medical fees for her injured arm)
their aunt.
Yvette said “We want to
thank you with all our hearts. May the
almighty God bless you for your good
deeds you have done for me. We promise to make good use of this”
Lucy Butterworth, Catrin Williams, Alacia
Tweedale, Abbie Haworth, Annie Lee
YVONNE ACHEAMPONG 13yrs
Partington, Harisah Ahmad, Subira Ulett-
(middle right) and her twin Yvette live
Yvonne said “I am
Mayers, Renee Bradley & Charlotte Comer
with their aunt.
sold marshmellows/strawberries with melt-
grateful to receive the scholarship, to
ed chocolate to pay for Yvonne’s education
admit, that was our happiest day”
until July 2016
Zak Afzal, Farid Saraei, Karl Mueller, Jack
Morris, Kelvin Wang, Myles Brockless,
Naqeeb Ahmed, Charlie Peak sold doughnuts
to pay for Francis edcuation until July 2016
FRANCIS SAKYIAMEH, 14yrs (second left)
lives with his mum, 2 brothers, 1 sister,
gran and grandad. Francis dreams of being
a doctor. Francis said “I thank you and
your families for thinking about my life… I
met you in my life, I didn’t think that
what has happened will happen”.
Philips High will endeavour to continue raising funds enabling sponsored Ghana
students to continue their education.
Any Company and/or person can sponsor a child to have an education living
in New Tafo, –
school fees approx £100 to £150 per year
for details contact Mrs Bailey at Philip High School, Higher Lane, Whitefield,
Manchester, M45 8HD [email protected]
Special thanks to the 2014-2015 Year 11 Prefects at Philips High
Hate Crime Conference
A group of year 10 pupils (Ben Cropper, Keeley Collinge, Lee Norris and Jack Torbitt) participated in Bury’s first hate crime conference at the Elizabethan Suite in Bury on Friday 13th
February. The day involved interactive workshops focussed on tackling hate crimes due to
disability, race, sexual orientation and alternative sub cultures and how we can work together as a community to celebrate diversity and reduce hate crime. The pupils were given
real life perspectives of hate crimes, hearing people with learning disabilities and how bullying and abuse has affected their lives. Sylvia, the mum of Sophie Lancaster, beaten to
death for her ‘gothic’ looks gave an emotional and thought provoking presentation about
the circumstances surrounding the death and the impact this has had on family and
friends. She also spoke of the charity, The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, focussed on creating respect for and understanding of subcultures in our community. The pupils will be
speaking to the school council about the day, highlighting the negative impact of hate
crime and how to report it. We are also going to work as a team to further develop the
school’s ethos, to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity. The pupils were a credit to
the school.
Mrs Tachauer
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
This year the school council’s main objective has been to improve our school environment
and we decided that one thing that has been on the council agenda for many a year is that
our school has nothing in the yard and we wanted to change that. We decided to try and
get some benches in the yard. On 19th March we organised a non-uniform day to raise
funds, on that day we raised £572 and then Mrs Soesan (The school bursar) said that she
would double that figure so we had £1150 to spend on the benches. We have just ordered
7 benches to go into the yard area of the school and hopefully they will be installed during
the Easter holidays.
Thank-you to the school council for organising the fundraising, Mrs Soesan for purchasing
and to all of you for donating towards this project.
By Jakob Ward 11C
‘Elec-tricks’
A fun, hands-on Electronic Engineering Workshop with Dr
Sam Illingworth and Dr Lisa Simmons
Held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester,
on Wednesday 18 March 2015-03-31
We had a good day, leaving school at 8.45 going on the Met into Manchester.
Firstly we did an interactive quiz on our smart phones, answering questions about engineering.
We took part in a range of activities,
learning about circuit board components. There were six tables, each
had a ‘secret-ingredient’ to add to
our printed circuit board.
We learned how to correctly use
capacitors, switches, diodes, batteries and printed circuit boards. I
enjoyed soldering the most, it was
very competitive seeing who could
be the neatest.
After lunch we spoke to people about their
jobs and careers, it was interesting. The one
I remembered most was a Nuclear Scientist.
We talked to Engineers, Physicists, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers. We also
spoke to university students. We noticed that
there were many women who did Physics
and Engineering. We need more people to
get involved with science and engineering.
We also made a ‘solar-powered’ car, although not
much sun in Manchester, and raced it against the
other schools. Ours didn’t do so well but it was
much better than being in a classroom, we learned
loads. The visit helped us understand why Maths
and Physics are so important in engineering, and it
was fun.
Report written by Year8 pupils Erin Lyden, Kian Monaghan and
Zara Mustafa
Homework Club
Mon– Thursday
3.20-4.45
School Library
ARE YOU LATE?
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Satisfactory
Poor
100%
98-99%
96-97%
95%
Below 95%
1st Bell
Registration
Late
Unauthorised Late

8.45am
8.50am
8.51 – 9.20am
After 9.20am
If you arrive after 8.55am you MUST
sign in the late register at Reception.
Attendance affects Achievement

If you arrive after 9.20am this is an unauthorised late and you MUST provide
a note from your parent/guardian.
ABSENCE PROCEDURES
If your child is absent from school you are required to notify school BEFORE 8.30am. Please read the following
guidelines.
On the first day of absence you should inform school by leaving a message for the attendance officer via the
voicemail system which operates 7 days a week 24 hours a day. This call will ONLY authorise for this day.
If your child is absent for more than one day you must either inform school in the same way on a daily basis or
give an estimated date or return.
On your child returning to school you should provide written evidence of the absence. This should include the
following: DATE OF LETTER
CHILD’S FULL NAME
CHILD’S FORM GROUP
DATE (S) OF ABSENCES
REASON FOR ABSENCE
YOUR SIGNATURE
It is IMPERATIVE that you include all the above information. Failure to supply this information will render the
letter void and absences will be unauthorised.
Unfortunately, the office cannot
provide change to pupils for dinner
money etc.
Please send your child with the correct money for their data print account or lunch card.
Have you recently:
Moved house?
Got a new mobile?
Missed school text alerts or letters?
Please update your contact details by email
[email protected] or by letter sent in with your child.
USE OF THE SCHOOL OFFICE PHONE
The School Office is a very busy place and it is the intention and purpose of everyone employed
there, to provide effective communication between parents and school and to be as helpful as
possible. However, there are times when the goodwill of our office colleagues is put under considerable pressure. This is often at break and at lunchtime, owing to the fact that pupils who
forget equipment/kit and other items, use the office as a means of communicating with home.
We are now monitoring this situation and I regret to say that where pupils are forgetting things
we will not give them the benefit of using school phones, in order to hopefully, teach them to get
themselves better organised.
Equally, it is important that the office staff are not too distracted from the tasks that they perform
daily by requests to pass on information that would be better agreed at home regarding meeting pupils after school as this takes them away from their post.
I would seek your support and help in this matter and thank you in anticipation.
If you're aged 11 to 16 you need an igo pass to
pay the concessionary fare on buses in Greater
Manchester. Application forms can be downloaded from the following link www.tfgm.com/igo.
Year 8 Parents Information Evening Feedback
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100% agree or strongly agree that your child is enjoying their experience
at Philips
100% agree or strongly agree that your child feels safe at Philips
98% agree or strongly agree that your child is aware of their targets & progress needed in all subjects
100% agree or strongly agree that Parents Evening is useful in ascertaining your child’s progress
96% agrees or strongly agree that you are kept well informed of your
child’s progress
100% agree or strongly agree that the school expects high standards of
work
100% agree or strongly agree that the school expects high standards of
behaviour from all pupils
91% agree or strongly agree that there are a good range of activities and
trips offered by the school
98% agree or strongly agree that the response to concerns is prompt
Thank you for all your feedback. After parents’ evenings I shall
continue to update you, using the school newsletter, on how
we have responded to your suggestions. Please keep filling in
the feedback sheets, as we find them most useful.
H. Ashall
Deputy Head Teacher.
DETENTIONS
As many parents will be aware, the Government Rules regarding detentions have changed in a move designed to assist schools with regard to disciplinary matters.
The vast majority of our pupils are co-operative as are the vast majority of our parents. Generally when
detentions are given it is to do with failure to undertake homework, other behaviours often receive a different response.
We are all acutely aware of the fact that detentions could impose dangers to pupils but the new regulations do not require us to give advance notice and in some cases the behaviours necessitate such a measure. We will however try to be understanding with regard to these matters but equally we would ask
parents to be understanding and to realise that some of these rules are not of our making. The cooperation of parents is, as always, most welcome and we are grateful for it. We will review the situation
after Christmas and I will write to you accordingly.
C.J. Trees
MOBILE
PHONES
School Policy:
Pupils seen using mobile phones during school hours will have them confiscated.
A letter will be sent to the pupil’s home address via Royal Mail.
On receipt of the letter Parents/ Carers can collect their child’s mobile phone from
school - You MUST bring the letter to school with proof of I/D
(No letter = No phone)
Parents/ Carers are required to sign to confirm receipt/collection of phone.
Please Note: Repeat offenders will be referred to Mr Trees
PUPIL ADVICE:
 Keep your mobile switched OFF and OUT OF SIGHT.
 Hand your mobile in at Reception for safe keeping and collect at the end of each day.
No Excuses accepted!
Watches in Examinations
Rather like fashion, technology continues to create problems for us in examinations. All pupils should
be aware that the use of phones is not permitted in exams and the school takes the trouble to safeguard
phones during the exams.
In addition, a new generation of watches is now on the market, these are called Databank Watches and
I would like to advise you that should your son or daughter bring such a watch into an exam we would
find it necessary to take care of it for the duration of the exam.
Therefore, in order that exams can start quickly and smoothly I would be grateful if such watches were
not brought into school for exams or indeed, at any time.
Thanking you again in anticipation.
C.J. Trees
Headteacher
PUPILS HEALTH & SAFETY
How you can help
There are just short of 900 pupils coming in to Philips High School every day. The pedestrian entrances and vehicle entrances are limited and it would help us if parents only bring cars on to the premises as and when is absolutely necessary.
Simply dropping of a child to ease the amount of walking they have to do is not sufficient.
We also have a problem with neighbours who use the school as a short cut and I have to say that they present an even
greater risk to the health and safety of your children.
I am therefore proposing, through a grant that I have received, to be installing gates and fences in parts of the school to
prevent access from unknown persons and also to restrict vehicular access. I trust that all parents understand the necessity
for this in this day and age, regrettable though it is and would simply emphasise that unless your journey into the school is
really necessary would you please avoid coming on to the premises with your car.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Mr C J Trees
Headteacher
Safeguarding School Rules
Appointments
Years 7-9:

All pupils must be collected from reception by a parent / carer or responsible adult aged over 18
years.

A letter or appointment card to be handed in at reception when signing out.
Years 10 & 11:

Pupils are allowed to make their own way to appointments if they have a letter of authorisation from
a parent / carer or a phone call has been received by office staff (letters must be handed in at reception and either copied or kept as confirmation evidence)
Unwell Pupils
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Head Of Year must authorise pupils to go home (unless medical emergency).
All pupils to be collected from reception by a parent / carer or responsible adult over 18 years.
Depending on the nature of illness some pupils are allowed to be sent home via taxi if the parent /
carer requests – Head Of Year must authorise that this is ok.
Having qualified for the Greater Manchester Schools Tournament by winning the Bury
Schools qualifying competition the Year 9 Basketball Team went on to win a bronze medal, becoming the first school team to achieve this success. The Year 9 team have since
gone on to win the Bury Schools League with a maximum 40 points out of 40 and then
beat Parrenthorn by 15 points in the play-off final.
The growing success of the school basketball is also due in part to the number of boys
now playing in the sport for All Leagues at weekends. This weekend the Philips Year 7/8
team lost in the semi-final of their play-offs to a team called Grasshoppers whose best
player was also a Philips High School Pupil. In the Year 9/10 age group the Wizards beat
the Storm in a closely fought match, with at times 9 of the 10 players on court Philips
High School pupils. Over 40 boys have played this season at weekends.
A number of the boys were also playing for Bury, Oldham, Rossendale and Manchester
Magic in the National Leagues. Special mention for Josh McLaughlin finished top scorer
for the season for Bury in the National League by 100 points.
We are hoping that we can in the future emulate this success with the girls. We have
forged a new link with a brand new Netball Club called Philips DNA Netball Club. The club
have a new kit in the school colours so girls will be able to buy a club kit and wear it in
school lessons. The club have just completed their first season and the Year 7/8 team
have won the league title from a number of more established clubs. Some of our girls
have already joined the club but we would like girls to train with the club, at Philips High
School, on the following evenings;
Monday 5:30pm—7:00pm
Wednesday 5:30pm—7:00pm
The Year 9 Hockey team finished 3rd in the Hockey League and the Year 8 Football team
last week reached the semi-finals of the Bury Schools Competition. Other age groups are
still going on.
The Year 7 Girls Football team finished runners-up in the Bury Schools 5-a-side competition.
Mr G Davies
Manchester Magic
Basketball
Congratulations to Noah Togo who was selected
for The Manchester Magic U13s to take part in a
Basketball Tournament in Ireland hosted by Sligo
All Stars. The Magic U13s flew out on Friday 27th
February, the lads practised at 3pm before their
warm up game against Sligo All Stars U14s. The
team were successful and brought the trophy
home to Manchester.
PHILIPS HIGH SCHOOL
CALENDAR DETAILS FOR 2014-2015
KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
Wednesday 1 April
Tuesday 28 April
Tues 5- Fri 15 May
Mon 18 May - Fri 5 June
Mon 11 - Fri 22 May
Tuesday 30 June
Wednesday 1 July
Wednesday 1 July
Friday 17 July
Year 10 Parents Evening
Year 7 Parents Evening
Year 9 Internal SATS/Ass Period
Year 10 Internal Assessments Period
Year 7 & 8 Assessment Period
Induction Evening
Induction Day
Year 11 Prom
End of School Year
Please Note – See separate timetables on the School Website for
Exam Dates, Controlled Assessments and summer GCSE
Examinations.
Produced and Edited by Mrs L Waring