Admissions to Marden High School

10th October 2013J Morris

We are receiving a lot of parental interest in gaining pupil places for September, 2015 and we would like to confirm that we welcome applications to all year groups from the whole of North Tyneside.

If you are still deciding about your choice of secondary school for your child, you are welcome to phone 0191 2006357 to arrange a visit to  experience our learning environment  at first hand. Just ask for Jonathan Morris, Headteacher, or Annie Davidson, Head of Support Services.

For more information about admissions, click here.

Early Entry for GCSE Exams: Update

2nd October 2013J Morris

You might know from press reports that the government has suddenly introduced restrictions to early entry for GCSE examinations with immediate effect. In short, the government is opposed to students taking their examinations before the end of year 11.

This means that all secondary schools are being compelled to rethink policy and practice with regard to times of entry. We at Marden have given careful thought to this matter and it looks as if we will still be entering a very substantial number of students for GCSE English and maths this November, provided they are well on course to meet their target grades. If students are not ready to take these exams, we will be delaying their English and/or maths entries until the summer.

Open Evening Success

26th September 2013J Morris

Many thanks to the hundreds of people who came to  our open evening for prospective parents on Wednesday September 25th. It was attended by visitors from all over North Tyneside who made it clear that we are their school of first choice.

Hockey Victory!

26th September 2013J Morris

Marden’s U16 hockey team were victorious in the  North Tyneside Schools tournament on 25/09/13. Well done Miss Allison and the team!

Everyone Needs Feedback

6th July 2013J Morris

There’s an educational guru from New Zealand called Professor Hattie. He must be one of the most influential educationists in the world and his research is respected across the political spectrum. One of his key findings is the huge value of giving learners constructive feedback so that they are clear about what they’ve done well, what they need to improve and how to reach their target. Hattie has found that this kind of response from teachers is much more powerful in enhancing learning than many of the other strategies schools use – it has more impact than  homework, for example. Hattie’s findings have confirmed that there needs to be a regular individual dialogue between teachers and students, orally and in writing. This approach, often called Assessment for Learning or AFL, can produce great benefits  in terms of improving teacher/pupil relationships and motivating learners to be more reflective and autonomous.

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Marden Mindfulness Live On Prime Time TV!

9th April 2013J Morris

Assistant Headteacher, Alison Abbott, on what it was like to speak to the nation live on BBC Breakfast:

 

AA on tv

 

My mind is still full of mindfulness.

This time last week I was recovering from the national TV experience, and being on the BBC breakfast programme in Manchester was definitely an experience. The producers organised all travel and accommodation. All I had to do was be there at 7.20 am. Oh, and explain what mindfulness means to us and our students in front of 8 million viewers…

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On Every Desk A Book

24th February 2013J Morris

I must tell you about Valentine’s Day.

Not that I’m a great fan of what has become yet another money spinner for the greetings card industry, although in the dark days of February we all need something to cheer ourselves up.

What I want to say is that February 14th, 2013 at Marden turned out to be a happy and memorable occasion, thanks to Alison Abbott, Hailey Eastlake,the school cabinet and, as it turned out, lots of other people.

So what happened?

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League Table Success

27th January 2013J Morris

We are proud to announce that the recently published government league tables of secondary schools place Marden High School in the top 20 state maintained schools in the North East as measured by the proportion of students gaining 5+ A*-C GCSE grades including English and Mathematics.