As we end the first week of GCSE and A Level exams, I am very proud of all members of our school. For the students in Years 11 and 13, I have total respect for their efforts and huge input into their exams. Similarly, the staff have offered huge amounts of time on additional lessons and extra input (often after school, hosting large online revision sessions) that have been very well received.

I would also want all families to know that students of non-exam years have been so courteous in the ways they have moved around the exam spaces. As our playgrounds are reduced by the builders’ hoarding, students lining up for exams are closer than usual to other year groups when moving to lessons. Our students not going into an exam have noticeably lowered their voices, and given real respect to their older peers. This has been all the more remarkable in a week that has seen sun, rain and heavy hail showers that students have continued to show respect for others, at an important phase in their school lives.

Whole School Council meeting

Earlier this week, my office was taken over by the Whole School Council, coming together to share feedback from each individual year council. Each year group has its own council, with two members from each tutor group. These in turn feed into the Whole School Council, and these notes are shared with me as the headteacher and other staff and students, as relevant to the matters discussed.

This week I have been told how students are particularly enjoying the ‘Turn and Talk’ parts of lessons, when they discuss an idea with a learning partner. They said they would like more of this in their learning. They also said how much they enjoyed the Fun Friday events (more about this later on) and how it felt that this had encouraged them to attend school on the last day of the week more often.

Street Doctors Workshop

We were delighted to be able to offer over 140 students the chance to train up in lifesaving first aid skills. The sessions focused on practical, hands-on training for real-life emergencies. Through interactive demonstrations, discussions and scenario-based activities, students practised how to call an ambulance, control blood loss and support a range of medical situations.

The training went beyond the practical aspects of first aid. StreetDoctors also explored mental health and decision-making under pressure, helping students understand how stress and fear can influence reactions in emergency situations. The combination of science-based explanations, myth-busting, and practical exercises ensured students left feeling informed, confident, and prepared to step in and help if ever faced with a critical situation.

By welcoming StreetDoctors into the school, we continue to build on our PSHE knowledge and understanding to provide students with important life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. The workshop has built resilience, awareness, and confidence, empowering young people to support and protect others within the communities.

End of year summative assessments – Year 7, 8, 9

After half term, students will sit assessments in each of their subjects during the week commencing 8th June for Year 9 and the cycle commencing 15th June for Year 7 and 8. The purpose of these is to assess their learning over the course of the year and will allow us to see progress against our end of year expectations. These papers will consist of multiple choice questions, short response questions and extended response questions. These papers will be taken during normal timetabled lessons in that week. Test scores will be shared with you as part of the end of year reports. Information on these assessments has been shared with the students on their Assessment Page on FROG. 

It is Fun Friday today… so staff played volleyball against students 

In the mixed weather today, we moved our volleyball competition indoors, and there was a fierce round of matches where students won far more than they lost. Several members of staff will have had tricky conversations with their tutor groups this afternoon about how they played so poorly, but I am sure the grown ups allowed our students to win… maybe?

Above is a photo from last week’s Fun Friday ‘beat the keeper’ event. Students won tickets at the gate for attendance and punctuality and this meant they got a chance to beat the staff goalkeeper. 

It is important to note that students from our Whole School Council said that they like our school when it feels ‘like a family’ and we ‘make it feel like a community’. We continue to work super hard on improving our educational experience in the classroom, and also outside of it, and I’m delighted that Fun Fridays are enjoyed by our students.

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
Kate	Kunsang	Mark, Bonnie	Shayne	Marisol	Zahra M, Sameeha, Aalia W, Archana, Stanley, Hannah, Maryama

 

Mr N House, Headteacher