Dear Parents and Carers,

Although it has been a shorter four-day week, it has once again been a busy and productive one here at Upton-by-Chester High School. The energy and enthusiasm of our learners and staff continue to shine through in all areas of school life.

I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to our Year 12 learners who have successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their resilience, teamwork, and determination. The Gold Award is a significant challenge, and they should all be very proud of their efforts. It is also fantastic to see such strong participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme across both Year 12 and Year 10 – a clear sign of the ambition and commitment within our school community.

This week has also seen the start of the GCSE and A-Level examinations.  We are here to support our young people through this exam season to ensure that they are as successful as they can be.  We appreciate your support in ensuring that learners attend all the focus sessions before their examinations and any revision sessions which staff are offering.  We know that these do make a huge difference to the success of learners. 

Today we are saying goodbye to our Year 13 learners.  It is always an emotional end to their seven years (for most learners) with us.  They really are a fantastic group of young people, and we wish them the very best for their future.   While they are starting their study leave, we are here to make sure that they continue to get as much support as they need and lessons will continue to take place for each subject until all exams for that subject have taken place. 

We are also pleased to share a brief update on the progress of our school rebuild. We anticipate that a planning application for the new building will be submitted in the near future. This is an exciting step forward in our journey, and we look forward to keeping you informed as things progress.

Looking ahead to next week, we are excited to host our annual Art Exhibition after school, which will showcase the impressive work of our A-Level learners. It promises to be a fantastic celebration of creativity and talent, and we encourage you to come along and enjoy the exhibition.

With very best wishes,

Mr L Cummins

Information Coffee Morning for SEND Parents and Carers

Join us for a relaxed and friendly Coffee Morning at SPACE! This is a perfect opportunity for parents and carers to connect, share experiences, and enjoy a cuppa together.

- Date: 16 May 2025

- Time: 10am till 12pm

- There will be plenty of information and resources on hand to support you and your family, including advice on services by below organisations.

Whether you're new to SPACE or a familiar face, we’d love to see you there! 

- Live!, providing information about their after school and holiday clubs!

- Disability Positive, find out about their services and their youth club Buzz!

- Choices SEND Youth Project, an exciting youth club in town who provide personal care too!

- Early Help Navigators

- A Trainee Educational Psychologist

- A SPACE volunteer with lots of knowledge about DLA forms

- Pine Yoga, explaining about their Yoga and Mindfulness sessions for parents & carers supporting people in finding balance, peace & strength and a sense of calm amidst the chaos.

- Parent Carer Forum, who are able to signpost parents & carers to lots of other useful organisations.

No need to book—just drop in! Kids welcome too.