Plans for a new co-educational comprehensive school in Rushden have been evolving for some time.

Now these plans are coming to life. We should like to bring you up to date with them.

The First Step, in January, was the appointment of the headteacher, Mrs. Catherine M. Fields

Mrs. Fields is a graduate of Liverpool University and has a broad educational experience. She has taught in both single-sex and co-educational schools. She comes to Rushden after four years as head of an 11-16 comprehensive school in Manchester, but most of her career has been in 11 -18 schools.

She is committed to comprehensive education and this, of course, entails working to provide the best opportunities and the highest quality of education for all students, at every stage of their schooling &

The second Step was the appointment of deputy headteachers, which took place in May. These are people known to the community and, most reassuringly, to the students of the two existing schools. Their commitment and expertise will contribute greatly to the quality and stability of the new school. They are:

Miss Ros Catlin, Mrs Enid Cooper, Mr David Rogers and Mr Tom Samain.

By the end of the summer term all senior appointments will be complete. This will enable us to refine our plans for the school, in preparation for September 1991.

Your Questions Answered:

Parents are anxious to know where students will be accommodated during 1991-1992 while the building programme is being completed.

During that year, both Chichele and Pemberton sites will be in use. This will ensure sufficient space to house students comfortably and safely.

NO STUDENT BELOW THE SIXTH FORM WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL BETWEEN THE TWO SITES FOR THEIR LESSONS.

Full details of these plans will be published before the end of this term - a full year in advance of the opening of the new school.

So what will Rushden School Offer?

* Exceptional learning facilities resulting from an investment of over £4 million.

* Merger of two existing schools, taking the best practice from each. The staffs of the two schools have a history of working together for the good of the students; the highly successful Rushden Sixth Form being a recent example of this.

* A guarantee that courses begun by students will continue, uninterrupted by the building programme.

* Commitment to providing an education of the highest possible quality.

* Determination to raise both the expectations and achievements of students in Rushden.

* A welcome to all members of the community who are interested in our school, and wish to become involved in its life and work.

A school of which Rushden can be proud.

We are interested in having your opinion and comment. If you have either thoughts to offer or questions to ask, please do not hesitate to contact any of the following:

Mrs Fields
Mrs Cooper at Chichele School
Mr Rogers at Pemberton School

18th September 1992

Dear Parents,

We are very pleased to inform you that on Wednesday, 30th September 1992, in the afternoon, the new Rushden School will be declared "open" in a ceremony attended by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent in company with the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the County.

This is obviously a special occasion for our school and we are planning to include as many students as possible in the afternoon's proceedings.  As far as possible we intend to keep this as a normal working day but we are planning to finish classes at approximately 3 p.m. in order to allow greater student involvement with the Opening Ceremony which begins at this time.  We shall assemble numbers of those students who are not directly involved with the Duke's route around the school in the Hall and, weather permitting, in the large open area adjacent to the Hall.  We have arranged for a loud speaker system to be installed so that those outside will be able to hear the proceedings.

Very regrettably, because of the number of official guests and students involved on site for this afternoon, we shall not be able to invite any of our parents to join us in school on this occasion.

Lunchtime arrangements will be reorganised in order to make the school ready for this Royal visit.  School meals, will be available in the dining room between 12 midday and 1.00 p.m. on this day.  We have made some alterations to the afternoon's class organisation in order to fit in with the Duke of Kent's visit.

Following the departure of the Duke of Kent at 3.15 p.m., we shall dismiss students from school and ask that you make any necessary arrangements for their early arrival home.

Students who normally use the School Bus services will be arriving home at the usual time.  We shall accommodate these students in school until their transport arrives.

We are sorry that we cannot ask you to join us. There will be a great deal of publicity generated by this Royal visit to our school through which you will be informed of events.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine M. Fields, Headteacher.