Published September 8, 2023
Dear parent/carer,
Firstly, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to the families of our new Year 7 cohort and also all of the new starters across all years! I’d also like to welcome back all our families to the new school year. I hope that you had wonderful summers with your nearest and dearest and that everyone is refreshed and recharged ready to tackle the new academic year.
It’s been a very hot start to the new school year! Temperatures in the late 20s and even pushing 30 one day have been handled admirably by the pupils and staff alike. It’s absolutely typical that the traditional summer temperatures deserted us for the summer break only to return for the first week back at school! I’m glad to say that next week looks much cooler and as such we will revert back to blazers from Monday onwards.
Aside from the weather, we’ve been delighted with the start that has been made across school. This week we have been lining pupils up at the start of the school day and we’re pleased to say that uniforms have been excellent – long may that continue! First lessons have been completed an there is a very positive vibe and buzz around the classrooms in school. We’ve also had our first KS3 house competition today (KS Benchball) and school photos for Year 7 and Year 9!
Year 7
Mrs Blake, Director of Learning for Year 7 is delighted with the start that Year 7 have made. They look very smart and have settled into school life very well and are looking very happy as part of our community!
If your child in Year 7 is struggling to login to Satchel One please do not worry – we will run workshops next week to help them to login.
Year 11 Mocks
Next week, Year 11 begin their mock exams. These will last for two weeks and will be held mainly in the school hall. These exams will be an excellent experience for Year 11 as they prepare for the most important year of their school lives to date. Today, Year 11 had an assembly with Miss Ryder (exams officer), Mr Brown (Director of Learning) and me to go through the expectations and procedures of public exams. Their attitude in the assembly, and also throughout this first week, has been excellent. They certainly seemed switched on and eager to do their best! They have also been given their personalised mock exam timetable which indicates timings and locations for their exams. If your child has access arrangements these have been catered for on the timetable.
Following the exams, towards the end of the half term, we will be holding a mock exams results reveal evening. Parents and pupils will be invited to attend school to receive their results (these will not be given out in lesson time) replicating the experience that they will have in August with the real results. During this evening, we will also be outlining the Year 11 programme for the year and how we, as a school, will do all we can to support you and your child through this very important, and sometimes stressful, year.
Year 9 Options
Before Christmas, Year 9 will be making their options choices for GCSE. Currently, Mr McGuiness is working hard on the potential bandings and curriculum offering and will be in touch with Year 9 next week regarding a survey on options subjects to determine which subjects are likely to be the most popular. He will also be in touch with parents regarding the options process and we will be hosting an evening on Thurs 21st September to explain the process.
Satchel One Logins
If your child has forgotten their Satchel One login details they can use the Microsoft Office sign in option. Please see the attached for screen shots on how to do so.
Car Park
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that parents should not be driving into the school car park to drop off or pick up their children from school. You will have noticed that the car park is very congested with school buses and taxis and as such there is not the capacity for us to also be able to have a pick-up / drop-off zone. Please make arrangements to pick-up and drop-off away from the school site to ease congestion not only in the car park but also on the road outside of school
Extra-Curricular PE Clubs
This half term’s extra-curricular PE clubs are as follows:
- Tuesday after school: Yr7&8 Football Club
- Wednesday after school: Yr7-11 Girls Rugby, Yr10&11 boys rugby
- Thursday after school: Yr9&10 Football Club
- Friday after school: Yr9,10 & 11 Basketball Club, GCSE PE revision
Coming up this term:
- Weds 20th Sept: Open Day & Evening
- Thurs 21st Sept: Options Process and Year 9 Information Evening
- Mon 25th-Weds 27th Sept – Yr7, 8 & 10 Information Evenings
- Fri 6th Oct – Yr7 House Party
- Thurs 12th Oct – Yr11 mock results reveal session and Information Evening
Have a lovely weekend!
Mr Rooney
