However, we like to plan ahead, and I fully know that this also makes things easier for families as well. So here in the middle of winter is our launch of the Curriculum Enhancement Days in 2026…

Curriculum Enrichment Days (Years 7-10)

These three days in the summer term are when we offer students learning outside the normal curriculum, and outside the typical classroom experience. The days out will have some form of link to the curriculum. These might include visiting a place of worship or a location of historical importance, or groups of professional actors visiting school to perform a GCSE play. Other activities are more physical, involving character-building tasks that develop students’ resilience.

The three days in the summer term are intended to broaden our students’ curriculum understanding, as well as develop their wider skills. From this afternoon, each student in Years 7-10 will have a video for their year group made available on Frog. This video explains more about the activities for each year group as well as where each group is going.

Please watch the video on Frog and start to talk to your child about what will be happening next summer.

Year 12 – information regarding the Year 12 enrichment days will be released to students during their tutor time on Tuesday morning.

As a school, we are making a contribution to the cost for each student. We have negotiated with the venues for entry prices that are lower than our families would be able to get. In addition, the school is making a contribution to the cost of these three days of activities, meaning that families do not have to cover the full costs.

On the MCAS (My Child At School) app we use for payments at Greenshaw, you will see the cost for your child, and payment options to stagger the cost over several instalments. If you have any questions about the trips and activities, please contact our team at enrichmentdays@greenshaw.co.uk

More detailed information regarding these events will be sent to families by separate letter.

PE lessons – outdoors in the winter

As the winter weather starts to set in, it is important that students are dressed appropriately for their outside PE lessons.

Students are advised to wear a plain black base layer or long-sleeved top under their PE t-shirt, with either their school jumper or PE fleece on top. The PE trousers/leggings are also advised.

If your child only has PE shorts, they are permitted to wear plain black leggings underneath these on PE days. Depending on the activity being taught, gloves may also be allowed, which their class teacher will make them aware of. Miss Graham, our Head of PE, assures me that the lessons are very active to keep students warm in this colder spell of weather.

The Greenshaw Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Every Christmas we do something to support local community groups. This year we will be participating in a shoebox appeal. Each tutor group will put together a shoe box-sized parcel that the School Council will deliver to local places that would really benefit from a little bit of Christmas cheer. These will include local nursing homes and the children's ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Belmont.

There will be a more detailed letter on Monday, giving students and families plenty of time if there are things that you could contribute to this great activity.

Support with education around vaping

I would like to thank you for following our Home School Agreement, taking steps to ensure your child does not carry prohibited items, such as vapes, on site. 

In the spirit of sharing local information with you as parents and carers, there have been some incidents in Sutton where students have been taken seriously ill due to vaping. More widely, when vapes that had been confiscated by 38 secondary schools were analysed, 17% of them contained synthetic cannabinoids, sometimes known as ‘spice’. This substance can have significant side effects.

Public Health and the Met Police have collaborated to create the Sutton Vaping Protocol, which we have adopted. We will always prioritise the health and wellbeing of any student who carries or uses a vape, but we will also issue serious sanctions, including suspensions where appropriate.  

In PSHE lessons, students are educated on the health risks associated with vapes, and they are reminded that it is illegal for vapes to be sold to anyone under 18. It is also illegal to purchase a vape for anyone under 18. You will find information on this and other safeguarding matters on our school website under ‘Care & Support – Safeguarding Notices’.

Students of the week

Congratulations goes to our stars of the week listed below for maintaining their commitment, focus and sense of drive. Well done to one and all!

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	6th Form
Elijah E	Quist	Aron / Lanre	Schamma	Victoria	tbc

Mr N House, Headteacher