It has been a fantastic half-term for our Year 9 cohort, filled with learning, new experiences, and growth opportunities. Students have embraced the chance to meet new people and build stronger relationships with their tutors and other staff members, creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere throughout the school.

We have been especially impressed with the way the vast majority of Year 9 students have taken advantage of our extracurricular activities. From sports to creative arts, many have made the most of these opportunities to explore new interests and develop their skills. Some students have even requested to start their own clubs, which is wonderful to see and highlights their enthusiasm and initiative.

In the classroom, independent learning tasks have been a key focus, and students have been rising to the challenge. Philosophy and Ethics set a particularly engaging task, asking students to create a poster, booklet, or other creative project to share information about Anne Frank. The results were truly impressive, with students displaying both creativity and depth of understanding. One standout effort came from Amelia B, who went above and beyond by creating a replica of the attic where Anne Frank hid, complete with an accompanying sound clip to bring the experience to life. It was an inspiring piece of work that showed great dedication, and we want to congratulate Amelia, along with all the students who put in the extra effort to produce such outstanding work.

We have also had the opportunity to celebrate students who have received the most praise points and those who have made outstanding contributions to the school and beyond by organising a series of praise breakfasts throughout the half-term. These events have been a great way to recognise and reward the positive efforts of our students.
 

Additionally, a number of our Year 9 students have achieved success in county or regional squads, including Bailey P, Zak K, and Tommy H-S for football, and Holly W, Lyla H, and Leane K for netball. The Year 9 netball team has had a strong start to the season, winning 2 out of 2 games. Well done to everyone involved!

We also want to celebrate Francesca R, who participated in the national final of the dance competition “Can You Dance” at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool with Gifford Dance Academy. Francesca and the team competed in the senior section of the regional heat in June in Nottingham and earned a place in the final with their lyrical routine. Congratulations Fran!

A special mention goes to Jack S, who will be representing his golf club at the All England Final in Kent during the half-term holiday. We wish Jack the best of luck in this exciting opportunity!

During our form times and assemblies, students have been learning more about our school values, particularly respect, empathy, and determination. These values are central to our community, and it has been great to see students embracing them. In our PSHE sessions during tutor time, we have explored important topics like healthy relationships, being assertive, conflict resolution, county lines, and substance abuse, ensuring that students have the knowledge and skills to navigate challenges both inside and outside of school.

We have also been fortunate to have the Student Leadership Team visit form classes to deliver excellent team-building activities. These sessions not only helped students develop resilience but also highlighted the key members of their teams, fostering a stronger sense of community and cooperation amongst students.

We are also pleased that the vast majority of students have met our high uniform and behaviour expectations. This has contributed to the positive atmosphere around the school, and we hope that students will continue to uphold these standards as we move into the next half-term.

Well done to all Year 9 students for a brilliant half-term. We are excited to see what the next half-term brings and look forward to even more successes and achievements! Have a great week!

As we approach the half-term break, I would like to take this opportunity to say how pleased I am with how well Year 10 students have settled into the new academic year. It has been encouraging to see how engaged they are with their subjects, especially as they navigate their GCSE options. 

I would like to remind parents and students about the importance of adhering to our uniform policy. It is essential that all students come to school in the correct uniform. Please ensure that your child is fully compliant with the uniform guidelines, and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact their form tutor to discuss. 

We are seeing a slight increase in students arriving late for lessons. To help improve this, students who receive two or more late marks within a cycle will be placed on a punctuality report card. Your support in reinforcing the importance of punctuality would be really appreciated. 

From expeditions to science museums, through digging deeper into history at work, all the way to focusing on the future, Year 11 has had an intense first term back! As we approach the break, it is important to reflect on the current achievements but also to prepare for the challenges ahead.

We are only 4 weeks away now from the first wave of mocks, and our revision sessions after school are in full swing. It is important though, that students find a balance. Both academic and mental preparation are key, but ensuring we still find time to engage in the activities that make us happy and who we are is still integral. Yes, the pressure is mounting, but this time will not last forever. 

As the Wise Gandalf once said, "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us".