Newsletter
May 11th 2009

Nov 2009 (pdf

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) 11th May 2009

‘Swine ‘Flu’
I know this has been a source of concern for us all. At school all staff have been briefed in line with advice from The Health Protection Agency. We continue to be vigilant, but sensitive to the needs of students if they do become ill.

Advice remains that individuals returning from affected areas who become unwell within seven days of their return, or individuals who have been in contact with a confirmed or probable case of swine flu who are exhibiting symptoms, should stay at home and contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Individuals will be assessed and, if necessary, testing and treatment will be provided. Any students who develop flu-like symptoms should remain at home until they are fully recovered. If a student becomes unwell while at school we will insist they are collected by a parent or carer as soon as possible. We also urge you to let us know if you have any concerns about the health of your child.

The Health Protection Agency has issued “frequently asked questions” on its website www.hpa.org.uk. You can contact the Health Protection Agency on 0208 812 7850 (out of hours 0208 390 4008).

We continue to remind staff and students of the need for good infection control.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and use a tissue whenever possible
• Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
• Maintain good basic hygiene, for example wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
• Clean hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product
• Stay at home if you have symptoms to reduce the spread of infection.
In addition an information leaflet has been circulated by the NHS to all homes in the UK.

If you have any concerns do contact the school via Carol Maytum on
0208 665 8623 or by e-mail cmaytum@brit.croydon.sch.uk

If we need to urgently communicate with all parents, we will use Groupcall (see later in this letter) and on the website www.brit.croydon.sch.uk

Update on building works
I am pleased to say that we have been informed that work is due to finish on the new building in late July, which means that we will be able to plan on moving the dance studios and music rooms from the main building to the new building for the new academic year. This, in turn, will allow us to start on the internal remodelling work in the main building. The library is to move up to the area of the current dance studios and open access area and will increase in size by about 50%, the canteen will expand into the current library to provide substantially more room, and the music rooms will be turned into a lecture theatre. This work is due to start on 22 June; the canteen will be finished by the start of the new academic year, but the two other projects are likely to continue until the October holiday. This means that catering facilities will be limited for the last five weeks of next term, with service restricted to sandwiches and paninis from the kiosk, and there will be a restricted temporary library service in a smaller room next to the Obie Theatre (Room 010) for Terms 5 and 1.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the British Record Industry Trust (our sponsors) for providing the contribution which has allowed us to unlock Government funding for this project.

Insuring personal possessions
As you will know, the school does not accept responsibility for the safekeeping of students' (or staff's) personal possessions. We have enquired about obtaining insurance to cover this but have been told that it cannot be provided because: (i) we do not know the value of all the articles which could potentially be involved, and (ii) we do not have an insurable interest in these items. It is, therefore, each student's (and staff member's) responsibility to insure and safeguard their property. We provide lockers in school for personal belongings, but we do find that items which could have been left in the lockers sometimes go missing having been left unattended in an insecure location such as a classroom or dressing room instead. We also sometimes find that valuable items such as musical instruments are not adequately insured. All Risks cover for individual valuable items can generally easily be added to a household contents policy. Without this cover, these items are not only not insured in school, but also (and more riskily) they are not covered in transit nor in any other venue which they might be taken to.

Groupcall
During the last mailing we mentioned the trial of a different form of electronic communication, including text messages and text-to-speech voice with parents. I am pleased to say that the trial of this messaging system with parents has been a real success. This type of contact has allowed us to instantly inform parents of student absence and issue important reminders, whilst facilitating the same immediate response from parents. Its effective use will only occur if we hold the correct information on our database. Therefore if you do make any changes to your contact details please email these to dataupdate@brit.croydon.sch.uk or ask your son or daughter to hand these in at reception. It is vital that this information is correct, as it would form the basis of our first contact in case of any incident. We are now sending this letter by e-mail, on the website and on paper, but in future if this trial is successful this may be delivered solely by electronic communication.

Thank you
Once again, thank you very much for all the support you have given the School this term. The best of luck to all our students who are taking examinations in the next few weeks.

Yours sincerely
Nick Williams
Principal

3 March 2009

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

Thank you Once again a big thank you for all the support you have given your child and the School this term. The first day of Term 4 is Monday 16th March.

Getting ‘real time’ information from the school.
For some time now, the school has been looking at a range of products that allow better communication with parents by using modern communication technologies. We hope they will enhance rather than replace existing systems of communication. The school makes active use of the web through its site and we have collected email addresses for some time. We have now set up trials that make use of email, SMS messaging to mobile phones and online record systems viewed by password protected web pages. However, it has become clear to us that email addresses and mobile phone numbers may change faster than house addresses and that if our new systems are to be helpful to you, we need to make sure our database of records is accurate. We hope to be able to invite you to use these new systems later on during this school year so in the meantime we would be very grateful if you can email us a mobile phone contact number and email address so that we can add to (or update) our records. Please send this to dataupdate@brit.croydon.sch.uk. Can you please make it clear who you are by quoting your full name and address and the name, year and tutor group of your son or daughter.

If you do not have access to email but do have a mobile phone then could you please let us know its number by letter addressed to Student Services.

Use of student images on our website and for publicity
Our website now contains a lot of photographs and films featuring students. We assume that a student attending a school such as ours would expect that their picture could be used in this way, but if you do not wish your child to be identified then could you please let the School know by e-mail (admin@brit.croydon.sch.uk). Given the particular nature of the institution we also often host film crews and photographers working for a range of accredited organisations. Generally if a student provides a significant contribution to a programme or printed article then we will contact you, but again if you would object to your child’s name or voice being used in such a way then we would like to know. Rest assured we closely vet all agencies and organisations who work with the School.

Major media opportunities this term have included features on BBC Radio 2 and a programme about Adele broadcast on CBS in America that featured the School. In the coming term we are hosting visits from BBC Radio 5 Live and from GMTV.

Year 11
We would like to thank those parents of Year 11 students who were able to come to the re-scheduled Parents Consultation Evening and hope it was a useful opportunity for discussion.

Year 11 students have approximately eight weeks before their exam period starts. There may be last pieces of coursework to complete or improve over this holiday period, to submit early in Term 4, but parents could now support their daughters and sons by encouraging them to begin a steady and planned programme of revision from this point. This will help to reduce any last minute stress. In Term 4 students will be given further guidance in their PPD lessons and by subject staff on good revision techniques. There will also be some subject specific revision sessions available in lunch hours or after school which will benefit many students.

Newsletter
Please find enclosed a copy of our regular newsletter. If you would like to make a contribution, for example you may want to write about a show you have seen involving BRIT School students or about something you think may be of interest to our community, please contact Blythe Williams at the following e-mail address: bwilliam@brit.croydon.sch.uk

Yours sincerely
Nick Williams
Principal

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Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

A particular welcome to new parents to the School. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the coming months at performances and other parental events. We have made an excellent start to the new academic year, with all Strands showing very healthy recruitment after our usual challenges with up to 4 students chasing every place.

Examination Results
This year we again improved on our previous best at both Key Stages 4 and Post 16. Congratulations to all the students who fully deserve their success.

KS4
• 99% of Year 11 students achieved 5+ A*-C GCSE grades or their equivalent.
• IN BTEC Strand subjects 72% of students achieved the new D* grade, reserved nationally for exceptional students, with everyone achieving at least a Merit. Last year 79% achieved a distinction, this year 89% achieved a D/D*.
• The headline figure of 64% of students achieving 5 + A* - C including English and Maths is impressive, up by 10% on last year, with both Maths (54% ? 68%) and English (82% ? 87%) showing significant improvement.
• The new Science First Certificate allowed 98% of students to achieve the 2 A* - C equivalent, with 23% achieving D*.
• Overall the percentage of students achieving the very highest grades in GCSE rose well, with 42% passing at A* - B compared to 32% last year.
• As a result of all the above, the average point score rose to a massive 577, compared to 504 last year.

Post 16
• Presently 99% of BTEC students have completed, with 98% achieving at Merit of Distinction (95% last year), with 85% at Distinction (77% last year).
• 175 students out of 255 Year 13 students achieved DDD, equivalent to 3 grade A’s.
• The A2 pass rate was 99% (97% last year) with 90% at A – C (76% last year) and 70% at A – B (41% last year). The overall point score for Year 13 students is 370 up from 359 last year, which puts the School in the top 1% nationally for non-selective state schools.
• The Year 14 Arts Management course grew last year with the addition of the theatre ‘Bridge’ and Film options. 19 students completed the course with 84% at Distinction (46% in 2007).

Attendance

KS4
Attendance was slightly up for the year at 94.2% (93.6% in 2007).
Post 16
At Post 16 attendance continued to be excellent, although with a slight fall on last year, 93.8% compared to 94.9%. These are very high percentages compared to Post 16 attendance in other institutions.

Progression
47% of students progressed to higher education, with the great majority of other leavers finding work in the creative industries. 34 have returned to our Year 14 arts management course, including a number joining our ‘Bridge’ theatre company, some training as film makers and others gaining extended work experience in music companies and relevant placements.

Building Work
1. We returned this term to a significant hole in the ground, which is the site
of our new Music and Dance block. These two departments will be re-located into these areas along with a number of other classrooms and rehearsal spaces. The building is due to open in September 2009.
2. Space vacated in the main building will allow for the development of a
new enlarged library and study area on the first floor; a lecture theatre and viewing area, with adjacent digital editing, sound recording a DVD authoring facilities; a much larger canteen and social area. In addition we will be upgrading and enlarging a number of other facilities.
3. Over the summer we upgraded student toilets in the East Wing, which has
been appreciated by students, and improved our accessibility arrangements throughout.
4. Another building project is due to be completed at the beginning of Term. This is the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Unit, a partnership project with Nordoff-Robbins and The BRIT Trust. This will provide therapy services for people of all ages in the community. Many of our students have already shown a keen interest in music therapy.
5. Selhurst High School for Boys closed in the summer and we have been in
discussions with Croydon Council and the DCSF about future use of the site. We have immediately felt the benefit of access to the sports field and Astroturf. We are working with other local organisations, including Crystal Palace FC to ensure the best year-round use of these facilities. I will keep you up-dated concerning any other developments on the site.

Sky diving for the School
George Walters, a Year 11 student, will be undertaking a sky dive to celebrate his 16th birthday, and he has decided to use it as a way of raising money for the School. George is a Visual Arts & Design student, so any money that he raises will go towards improving the digital arts in that department.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

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20th December 2007
Click here to catch up on BRIT school successes, performances, former student news and much more.

Dear Parent(s) / Guardian (s)

Thank you for all your support during these first two terms of the academic year. It's been a very busy time for all.  There has been a wide range of performances in the Obie and the smaller theatres across the School culminating last week in Musical Theatre's performances of Carousel.  Year 11's have also completed their mock examinations in the last week of term and we finished with a visit from ex-student Leona Lewis who was able to pop into a number of classrooms and meet with students and staff. 

Next term starts with the Theatre Department's common ground season in the Obie Theatre with a host of different performances for all ages. In  February the Music and the Dance departments will be performing in the Obie and of course there will be a  wide range of other performance opportunities in our smaller theatres.  More detailed information will be available from the first day of term via our box office and we will also post this on our website.

Our ambitious plans for the School are now unfolding and I attach for your interest a summary of our capital building project.  We hope to start work early this coming summer with it all being ready in September 2009.  If you would like further information on this or anything else about the School I will be at the next PTA meeting on Tuesday 29th January at 6.30 pm at School.

May I wish you all a happy holiday and a prosperous new year.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

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Thank you for all your support over the last year. This has been an exciting time for the School with an extraordinary range of activities, culminating in the last week with yet another spectacular Festival supported by lots of parents and friends of the School.

Changes
You may remember that last summer we were negotiating with the DfES to secure some structural and financial changes. As a result of these negotiations we have secured a more equitable budget and funding for a capital works programme which starts this summer with the refurbishment of the Science Department. All three rooms are being refitted with state of the art Science facilities including one being converted into an ICT suite.

We have an ambitious plan to create an additional building which will house the Music and Dance departments and a number of other new classrooms. The spaces which will be liberated in the Main Building will be devoted to a wide range of digital arts facilities, a larger Library and study area, a lecture theatre and more social space for Post 16 students and a range of digital arts facilities. We hope this programme of works will be completed within the next two years.

In addition we will be making other improvements to our facilities as we go along including refurbishing the toilets, introducing a wide range of new ICT digital media equipment and making other changes which our previously stringent financial constraints have prevented us from tackling. When we have gained planning approval for this ambitious programme we will provide opportunities for members of the School community to look at the plans. In the meantime, we have been consulting with the student council, staff and governors.

As a result of these changes we will continue to expand our curriculum to provide further opportunities for students to reflect the changes in the creative industries. As you will no doubt be aware, we have made of number of changes already for example a greater range of Additional Studies at Post 16 and a greater choice at KS4. We have also expanded our year 14 offer to include Theatre and Film courses alongside our existing offer.

Staffing
The School is fully staffed for the coming year and there have been very few changes in the workforce. Our biggest loss is Tony Castro, Director of Music, who after four years of excellent service to the School has decided to resume his freelance career in Musical Theatre and to work as an Education Consultant. Tony has achieved great things in the department and we wish him all the best for the future.

Liz Penney has been appointed the new Director of Music and Declan Cunningham has been appointed as the new Assistant Director of Music.

Harry Poole, Director of Visual Arts and Design, is taking a year’s secondment to study for an MA and Alice Everest (previously Brotherhood) will be the Acting Director. We are also welcoming a number of new teachers to the school as follows :

Visual Arts and Design
Alex Clark Teacher and Acting Assistant Director
Zoe Maksymiw

English
Rachel Penn

Music
Heather Malcomson

Catering Price Increases
Our catering prices will rise in the new academic year to offset increases in raw material prices. Individual items (eg sandwiches) will increase by 5p, and cooked meals will increase by 10p to £2.05 (£1.85 for the vegetarian option). Food prices (particularly grain, potatoes and dairy products) have become very volatile in recent months, even without the possible effects of recent floods. We hope that we will not have to increase our prices again within the coming academic year, but that will depend on a slowing of the recent rate of increase in raw material prices.

Beginning of Term
Years 10, 11, 12 start on Wednesday 29th August at the normal time
Years 13 and 14 start on Monday 3rd September

I hope you have a good holiday and I will write to you in the new academic year with information about our examination results and the progression routes of our leavers.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

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Dear Parents/Guardians

We would like to thank all of you who have replied to the parent questionnaire that we sent out last term. Although we only received an 8% return your responses have told us many interesting things that we are going to reflect and act upon. The overall impression you have given us is that you are proud that your son/daughter is studying at The BRIT School. Many of you have talked about how it has transformed them in a positive way, given them confidence and made them more focused in their studies.

The questionnaire responses tell us that:

85% of parents feel that overall the school is excellent/good
91% of parents feel that teaching and learning is excellent/ good
83% of parents feel that the standard of homework is excellent/good
93% of parents feel that the standard of support and care for their child is excellent/good
80% of parents feel that the communication between school and home is excellent/good.
98% of parents feel that their son/daughter is happy here.

Your views have given us a number of key points to consider.

Student evaluation. You have requested that we ask for the opinions and views of the students in a more cohesive and structured way. We have asked all subjects and strands to progress with students’ evaluations and questionnaires. Many parts of the school already do this and it has been proved to be an invaluable part of the school process.

Reporting to parents. Some parents have asked us to review how we feedback to parents about their child’s progress. We have met with the staff to discuss this and we are creating strategies to respond with feedback more often and at more appropriate times of the year.

Quick responses to parent enquiries. Following the parent questionnaire we have now asked staff to respond to parent letters, phone calls and e-mails within a 48 hour period. At particular times of the year this will put a strain on staff but we will endeavour to stick to this commitment.

Additional Studies. The additional studies that post 16 students undertake have always been important to the school and our good results indicate how important they are to the students as well. We will continue our review of this part of the school ensuring that everyone involved acknowledges their importance and significance. This includes increasing the range of subjects in the future.

Core subjects at GCSE. In recent years we have made considerable progress in the School’s focus on core subjects at GCSE (English, Science and Mathematics). We will continue to do this.

Security. In recent years the school has invested in security with a considerable increase in CCTV, a developing relationship with the local police and workshops with Victim Support. We are committed to continuing this review and are considering the security of the site in light of our recent funding increase from the DFES.

Toilets. Students and parents have commented on how they would like the school to improve the toilet facilities. We are putting into place immediate steps to improve facilities and in the next 18 months we will be investing a significant sum to improve our toilets.

Where possible we have responded to individual concerns and have spoken to subject leaders about comments that are directly related to them. We are very open to receive more of your opinions and views so please feel free to write in.

Your sincerely   

Nick Williams  
Principal

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Examination Results
The School has had another year of notable success, with our Year 11’s, 13’s and 14’s matching the very high standards of recent years. 93% of students at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved 5 + A* - C grades in GCSEs and their vocational equivalents. This was our first year with all students taking the BTEC First Diploma and 91% achieved a Merit or Distinction, with 60% at Distinction. At Post-16, 93% of students achieved Merit or Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma, 77% at Distinction, equivalent to 3 grade A’s at A Level. Our AVCE results in Art and Design and Media were equally impressive, with 100% pass rate, and in Art all passing with A and B grades. In AS and A2 we had a record entry level and a 99% pass rate at A2. These successes translated into student success in higher education, where 130 students gained places in University through UCAS, with more moving on to vocational schools or industry-related employment.

We continue to be very proud of our many ex-students who are attracting attention in the creative industries. During the summer, the success of The Kooks, The Feeling, Amy Winehouse, Imogen Heap and Katie Melua all gave us pride, alongside increasing numbers of actors, dancers, artists, film makers, radio DJs and the many working in marketing, web design and all other aspects of the industry. We will continue to feature stories of ex-students in our newsletter and on the website.

The Website
Our website is a great source of information about the School. I particularly recommend ‘Project 195’, which creates a photo blog in which photographs of the life of the School are taken for every one of the 195 days of the academic year. Last week’s pictures include the music shows and a farewell to the much-loved Dan Clark.

With the increased use of images of students on the site, I again repeat the request to inform me if you do not wish your child’s image to appear in this medium. Rest assured the quality of the content is closely monitored.

Personal Safety
I have enclosed a leaflet with this mailing which provides helpful advice on personal safety. The School continues to work closely with the local police to ensure student safety in the vicinity. If you have any concerns, do contact Andrew Marsh (Post 16), Lloyd Marshall (Pre 16) or myself at the School. click here for further details.

I look forward to seeing you at the events in the new term. In the meantime we welcome any feedback about our work.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

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29th July 2006:
The latest school Newsletter (July 2006) is downloadable here. 2.5Mb pdf file

19th December 2005:

The Christmas Newsletter is an 8 page special sent out as a paper publication to all parents.

The complete document is downloadable here as a PDF file. Download here (2.23Mb)

Introduction
Welcome to BRIT News, which offers some of the highlights of a very busy few months in the School, including a glimpse of our performances and visitors to the School. We are particularly proud of the level of our students’ commitment to social issues here and across the world. If you would like to contribute to future newsletters or have any particular comments on this one, please contact us at bwilliam@brit.croydon.sch.uk

Seeing such a range of activity makes me realise what a breathtaking institution this is and I am sure that staff and students have earned their holiday.

May I wish you the best of festive cheer!

Nick Williams
Principal

Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s)

Although the term has been relatively short, it has as ever been lively and enjoyable.

Examination Results
We started the term with excellent news about our examination results. At Key Stage 4 95% of last year’s Year 11 students achieved 5+ A* - C grades. A number of subjects marked significant increases on previous years, including English, French, German, mathematics, sociology and religious education. Our first group of musical theatre students achieved very well, with 81% achieving at Distinction level in their BTEC First Diploma.

At Post-16, 71% of all passes in our BTEC National performing arts qualifications were at Distinction level. In AVCE media and art and design the great majority achieving the highest grades, with two art students adjudged to be in the top 10 in the country. We achieved a 100% pass rate in A2, with 85% at A – C.

These are our best set of results to date. Congratulations to all the students. A record number of students progressed to University and Vocational School.

During the summer the DfES acknowledged our marvellous progress in recent years and has designated us as a ‘High Performing Specialist School’.

Attendance and Punctuality
Last year the School recorded very good levels of attendance (94.5% in Key Stage 4). The introduction of electronic registration is helping us to track attendance more closely particularly at Post 16. We continue to urge you to support the School in this regard by always letting us know if your child is away on the first day of absence. Also, please respect the School’s policy on holidays and do not take these during our term time.

Television programme ‘BRIT School’
Last Sunday, CBBC broadcast the first episode of ‘BRIT School’, which follows the life of the School from last January to July. If you were able to watch it we hope its portrayal rang true with your own child’s experience. It will be running for 10 weeks.

Shows and events
We have again enjoyed a series of excellent performances this term, culminating in the last week with a Music Concert of great creativity. We look forward to many more shows in all Strand areas leading up to Christmas.

Personal safety
We continue to give students advice about safety on their journeys to and from school. If they are travelling by train, we encourage them to walk to Selhurst train station via The Crescent and then along the main road. This advice is particularly important after dark, when poorly-lit Dagnall Park can be unsafe. Students should reduce the risk of crime by keeping valuables, including mobile phones and personal stereos, out of site as they walk along. Wherever possible it is best to travel with others.

Health & fitness
In order to promote alternatives to traditional crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks, the school has introduced a new vending machine in the East Wing which sells healthier options such as low-fat crisps, apple crisps, Frusli bars, flavoured water and milkshakes. The machine is on free loan currently, and we will be able to keep it on free loan as long as it takes enough money. Current sales are almost up to this level, so we are hopeful that we will be able to continue with this initiative. Coincidentally, the National Schools Partnership, through which the school receives some income by promoting “green” initiatives such as recycling ink cartridges and mobile phones, has supplied us with a leaflet to encourage health and fitness for young people. This leaflet is aimed at Key Stage 4 students, and so is included in mailings for Years 10 and 11.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

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20th May2005

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

We have completed a very busy term, with a record number of events in our various theatres and spaces. Year 11 students started their study leave after Celebration Evening and are embarked on their examinations. Year 13 students are completing outstanding Strand portfolios and many are taking written examinations in a range of subjects. We wish them all well, whether they are returning to Year 12 or Year 14.

Term 5 will provide Year 10 and 12 students with a chance to participate in a range of opportunities including our Queen Elizabeth Hall/Fairfield Halls concerts, Festival Week and Year 10 Work Based learning.

There is one project I would like to highlight which is a project to create a memorial mosaic for Solja Mortensen, a Year 10 Visual Arts and Design strand student who was tragically killed in a road accident last New Year’s Eve. Solja was a wonderful creative student and is deeply missed by all who knew her. The Year 10 Visual Arts students are making a mosaic during Term 5 to be sited in the school as a tribute to her memory. Anyone who would like to make a donation towards the memorial, please send a cheque to The BRIT School marked with SOLJA MORTENSEN MEMORIAL on the back. We are also looking for donations of plain tiles, a range of colours, mirrored tiles and glass beads (can be broken) which could help in the creation of the mosaic.

Security
The large number of events open to the public always raises concerns about site security and this year we have had a number or worries, including people attempting to gain admission to shows without tickets or just attempting to enter the building to cause a nuisance. In addition we have been working with the police to reduce the incidence of mobile phone theft in the immediate neighbourhood. As a result, there has been an increased police presence on the site and the surrounding area, leading to several arrests.

We continue to remind students about precautions they should take to reduce the chance of being a victim of crime, including avoiding poorly-lit paths, travelling with others, keeping valuables hidden and reporting any incidents. In addition I would like to add the following in relation to the School site :
• at the end of late night shows, students who are waiting for a lift should remain inside the building; if you are collecting your son or daughter could you please ensure that you pick them up promptly, so that our hard-working site staff are not left waiting for one or two people to be collected, as has sometimes happened
• students must not invite friends on-site and must ask any visitors to report to reception; likewise, if you come to the School for a meeting could you please ensure that you go to Reception first to book in, even if you know where you are going.
• when attending shows students must never pass on tickets to others, particularly strangers – this includes allowing others to gain entry with used tickets after an interval
If any student acts recklessly in regard to the last two points this will constitute a serious breach of their student agreement.

Borrowing Technical Equipment
We allow students to borrow technical equipment for use both within and outside the School. There have been a couple of occasions recently where equipment has gone missing because it was put down and forgotten. These losses are covered by our insurance, but there is a £250 excess on our policy, so the School ends up out-of-pocket. From the start of Term 5, if equipment booked out by a student is lost because it is left unattended in an insecure place (which includes within classrooms in the School) we reserve the right to charge the student and his/her parents for the excess. Acceptance of this responsibility will be a specific condition of the loan of all equipment.

Key Employability Skills workshop.
Year 10 students have a Key Employability workshop on the morning of Wednesday 8th June as part of their preparation for work experience. Please contact Tim Goodall, the School Careers Adviser, if you would be willing to volunteer to help at one of these workshops alongside on of our teachers.

Finally, can I thank you for all your support for the School, particularly to those of you whose child is leaving – I do hope you continue to stay in touch. Our website provides an excellent service in giving up-to-date information on our activities and the achievements of ex-students.

With best wishes

Nick Williams
Principal

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Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

We have had another busy and successful term, with a wide range of performances, including the extensive ‘common ground’ Theatre season; the Visual Arts and Design exhibition; Year 12 Music and Musical Theatre concerts and ’Challenging the Gods’ a 3-night Dance production. As ever these performances have received superb support from students, staff and parents. The Governors’ Annual Report to Parents was very well-supported with many excellent questions.

The new term starts on Monday 21st March for Key Stage 4 students, with Year 10’s working a shorter day until 2.45 pm and Year 11’s as normal. Post-16 students re-start on Tuesday 22nd March (unless separate arrangements have been made by individual Strands). Students will also be off for the Easter weekend (Thursday 24th to Monday 28th March inclusive).

A note for any Post 16 students who are living away from home – please ensure that the School has a term-time address and telephone number. Information should be given to Student Services. Also a general appeal to all - if any information that we hold has changed please inform us through the same route.

Yours sincerely

Nick Williams
Principal

Dear Student and Parents/Guardians

Code of Conduct on the Use of Copyright Material

The purpose of this letter is to remind you of The BRIT School’s policy on the use of copyright material on The BRIT School’s computers, networks and media.

Unless you have the copyright owner’s permission, transmitting copyright material (including over the internet), and copying such material in any way other than for legitimate academic or personal use, is illegal and can expose you and The BRIT School to civil and criminal liability under the copyright law. This applies to all types of copyright material, including music, films, software and other literary and artistic works.

Staff and students therefore must not put illicit copies of copyright material on computers, networks or media owned by The BRIT School. Nor should they put copyright material on the internet without permission from the copyright owner, or engage in activities such as peer-to-peer file indexing or transmissions that are likely to promote or lead to infringements of the copyright in this material.

The BRIT School’s detailed policy on the use of copyright material, which includes possible disciplinary actions for failure to abide by this policy, is attached. I, as Compliance Officer am charged with ensuring compliance with this policy and, if necessary, removing unauthorised items.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Yours faithfully

Richard Elliott
Company Secretary

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‘ S I T T I N G O N T H E F U T U R E ’
Your own personalised seat within the ‘Obie’ Theatre

Whether you are an ex-student, governor, parent, teacher, rock star or music industry executive, this is your chance to have an ever-lasting relationship with The BRIT School. For only £100 you can name your own seat (with inscribed plaque) and visually show that you are a lifetime supporter of the work of The BRIT School.

The School opened its doors in September 1991 with over 750 students using its main performance area every year. For those of you who are familiar with the School, the seating in the theatre is retractable so that the space is flexible and can be used as a physical training area or when at dreaded exam time, a bigger hall is needed.

The seats within the ‘Obie’ theatre have seen over twelve years of activity. Last year alone there were over 40 performances of 14 different shows. In addition, the theatre has been used for a wide range of non-performance events; from Open Evenings, BPI AGMs, to use by local businesses and community groups including Neighbourhood Watch and Croydon Schools Music Festival.

As a valued supporter of the School your donation would go to refurbishing the seat and having a plaque inscribed (you are allowed up to 26 letters/spaces). You can pledge your seat to someone in particular ie on behalf of a particular artist, or maybe in memory of someone dear to you. If you are an ex-student, there is no better lasting opportunity of thanking the establishment that set you on your chosen career path.

Please fill out the form below and return with a cheque payable to ‘The BRIT School’ to Richard Elliott, Finance Director, The BRIT School, 60 The Crescent, Croydon CR0 2HN.

Thank you for your support. Without your enthusiasm and generosity the School would not be the centre of excellence it is today. It is a beacon for young people to give them every opportunity to succeed in a creative industry.

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