It is always great to welcome students and staff back after a school holiday. What has struck me is how polite and socially skilled our students are.When I talk to them at break or in the lunch queue and I ask them how their break was, the most frequent response this week has been to say something positive about their own holiday and then ask how mine was. As a school, we work really hard to model positive social interactions with our students, and it is a delight that so many of our teenagers are caring and interested in others. While we do our bit as a school, it is certainly a tribute to all of you as families, so thank you for sending us such great young people.

Sports tour of Holland – unbeaten!

For one group of students and staff, the second week of the holiday was not spent with their families but in Holland, practising and playing matches against local opposition. Over the course of five days, students from Years 8 to 11 took part in a packed programme combining high-quality sport, cultural experiences, and team-building activities.

There were masterclass football and netball training sessions to develop their skills, teamwork, and tactical understanding. These sessions were complemented by a series of competitive fixtures against local Dutch opposition. The students performed exceptionally well, achieving a 100% winning record across all matches – a testament to their dedication, preparation, and sportsmanship. 

As well as the sporting schedule, the tour also included a range of exciting excursions. Students enjoyed activities such as tobogganing and laser tag, which provided a fun and relaxed environment to bond with teammates and create lasting memories. A particular highlight of the trip was a behind-the-scenes stadium tour of Philips Stadium, home of PSV Eindhoven. 

Thank you to the staff who gave up part of their holiday. Thanks also to our students who presented Greenshaw with pride and demonstrated excellent behaviour throughout. I know that they returned with a wealth of new experiences and achievements.

Sutton Schools Council – Wednesday 15th April

This week, Carew Academy hosted the second Sutton Schools Council meeting of the academic year, bringing together students from local schools to discuss key issues affecting young people.

Our student representatives were Matthew (Year 9), Abisola (Year 10) and Nafissa (Year 12), who participated confidently, with Nafissa also supporting as a chair alongside peers from other schools. Discussions focused on improving support for students reporting racism, strengthening school communication and trust in EDI and safeguarding systems, and improving safety when travelling to and from school, including ideas such as better CCTV, clearer bus driver responsibilities, staff presence at key locations, and a student travel reporting app. Well done to the three Greenshaw representatives who were superb.

Summer term enrichment activities – payment reminder

We are pleased that again this year we will be offering an exciting range of compulsory enrichment activities at the end of term for Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. These experiences will extend learning beyond the classroom, giving students the opportunity to develop new skills, broaden their knowledge, and take part in valuable, memorable experiences.

These activities will take place over three days and include all travel and trip expenses, ensuring that students can fully engage in each opportunity provided.

This is a reminder that the final payment for these activities is now overdue. We kindly ask that any outstanding amounts are paid via your MCAS account, under the 'Trips' section, by Friday 1st May. Thank you for your continued support in enabling these enriching opportunities for our students. We are all really looking forward to the trips, activities and various visits.

Students of the week

Well done to each of the students below for being nominated this week. I look forward to hearing about each of their achievements and the contributions that they have made to the school.

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	6th Form
Anna-Nicole	Sana, Asia	Akash	Abisola	Libby	Yllart, Indie, Bavan

Wishing you all a restful and sunny weekend.

Mr N House, Headteacher