Blatant advertising!

I hope that everyone had a good week last week during the half term break. We were blessed with some nice weather for at least some of the time which was a welcome surprise. It’s been good to get back into the swing of things this week though.

Anyway, enough of the chat. This blog is just really a shameless plug for the annual school production taking place next week, Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th November. A great cast and crew of students are putting on the ‘Collected Grimm Tales’, a magical performance of some of the most well known and beloved fairy tales. It promises to be a great show!

Tickets are still available via the school website here, and are very reasonably priced for what is always a high quality evening. All proceeds are ploughed straight back into the Arts at MHS and so even if your child isnt in this year’s performance, buying a ticket could well directly benefit them in school.

I’ll be there on Friday evening, I hope to see as many of you there as possible too.

Have a great weekend,

Joe Barker

Thank you!

Before I start today – shameless advertising for this year’s main school production of ‘Grimm Tales’ with shows on 6th, 7th and 8th November. Grimm Tales tickets are available here!

It’s the final day of the first half term of the year, which is a good time to say thank you and well done to everyone who attends our school, works within it or supports it from the outside. I’m always grateful for the fact that I work here at MHS, and feel especially privileged to play my part as the headteacher of such a fantastic school. The hard work of the students and staff always fills me with pride, and in particular the very strong relationships that can be seen between students and staff. We are very much ‘in this together’ and that makes me smile.

That mutual respect and togetherness came to the fore on Tuesday afternoon when, unexpectedly, an air ambulance landed literally yards away from the art classrooms in Bradshaw building. As it happens, the air ambulance wasn’t actually needed and it left before the end of the day. The noise though was tremendous, and you can excuse adults and children alike being somewhat distracted from their lessons as it landed and took off. However, walking round classes in Bradshaw building that afternoon, the maturity and focus on show from the students was phenomenal. I wandered into English, Maths and Geography lessons and saw students working away, expertly being guided by their teachers as if nothing was happening outside. The respect shown by the students for those involved in dealing with the incident was also lovely to see.

On that, and as parents and carers know from our messages, we will not be sharing any further details of the accident that occurred. I would though like to say a huge thank you to all those many parents who contacted us with messages of support – both for the calm and professional way the situation was handled, and for understanding why it would be wholly inappropriate to share further details. For those who remain concerned, please be reassured that everyone is safe, there are no ongoing issues and it is very much a case of ‘business as usual’. As a final word, social media and the internet has made rumour and gossip much more powerful than it used to be. All I would say is that what you may have heard is almost certainly not true.

Have a great week,

Joe Barker

Reminder – Our term dates this Christmas

I’m using my blog today to confirm the term dates for the end of December this year, and the start of term in 2025. After a consultation earlier this calendar year, we changed the holiday dates slightly compared to Stockport Local Authority. So that everyone knows what to expect, the details are as follows:

1) The last day that students will be in school this December will be Friday 20th December. Students will be leaving site after the end of period 3 that day, at 12.20pm

2) The first day back in 2025 will be Monday 6th January. This will be a full normal day in school, starting at 8.30am prompt.

We’ll remind everyone again nearer the time.

Have a great weekend,

Joe Barker

Family Fund

The following information is via The Council For Disabled Children.

Family Fund gives grants to families on a low income for items they may not otherwise be able to afford. 
To decide if your family is eligible for a grant, Family Fund looks at your income and the impact of disability on your child. To find out more, and apply for a grant, please click here. 

Family Fund also recently joined some of the families they’ve supported to see their daily lives and witness their day-to-day challenges. They also got to share the moments of joy made possible by the grants that their generous donors make happen. Watch the video here

The art of communication

The Ancient Greeks had a thing for public speaking. They used to teach it in school, as in fact so did the Romans after them, and then so too did European schools and Universities. ‘Rhetoric’ was a standard subject in English schools until the early 1900s, as the leaders of those schools believed it was important to teach young people how to put their views across in an engaging and persuasive manner. I don’t know why, but rhetoric (or ‘Public Speaking’ as it is now called) fell off the curriculum in the 20th century, with the result that it is now often named as people’s biggest fear. Being asked to speak in public fills most people with dread.

At MHS, we believe that learning to communicate through speech, as well as through British Sign Language, is very important. Unlike schools of the past we have many many more subjects to fit into the timetable, and so sadly there isn’t the space for actual rhetoric lessons. But that hasn’t stopped us, and once a year now we take students through the ‘Journey of Communication’. This is a two hour programme each year, supported by short refreshers each term, that help students to communicate with more confidence and skill. Whether it’s pitching 30 second adverts for made up products to their class, resolving conflict through the careful choice of words or learning to sign using BSL, students in Years 7-10 spent some time on Wednesday this week honing their skills. Not only that, but Year 10 will soon have the chance to practice their interview skills with real life business people and then get feedback on how well they did.

We don’t assume that all teachers are perfect either, and last year we did some fascinating work with a voice coach to help make our lessons as clear and interesting as possible. I do quite a bit of public speaking myself whether in lessons, assembly or speaking to staff and parents, and I can say that I found my time with the voice coach some of the best CPD I have ever had.

In a world where teenagers can pretty much share all their wants and needs via their mobile phones, never has it been more important for us to promote the art of communication.

Have a great weekend,

Joe Barker

MHS presents Collected Grimm Tales!

Marple Hall School presents Collected Grimm Tales, an enchanting and darkly magical journey through some of the most beloved stories from the Brothers Grimm, adapted by celebrated poet Carol Ann Duffy and brilliantly dramatised by Tim Supple. This captivating production brings to life classic tales, filled with danger, adventure, and wonder, that have enchanted audiences for generations.

The adaptation blends the timeless essence of these tales with a modern theatrical twist, revealing the hidden darkness and morality woven into each story. Audiences will be immersed in an imaginative world of shadows, suspense, and heartwarming moments, brought to life through vivid storytelling, creative staging, and the talent of Marple Hall’s students. Expect a performance that is as haunting as it is beautiful—a true celebration of the enduring power of fairytales.

This amateur production of “Collected Grimm Tales” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

Buy your tickets here
FIND US
Marple Hall School
Hill Top Drive
Marple
Stockport SK6 6LB Headteacher: Mr Joe Barker
CONTACT US
Tel: 0161 427 7966
Fax: 0161 426 0931
Email: info@marplehall.stockport.sch.uk
Safeguarding: safeguarding@marplehall.stockport.sch.uk