It is hard to believe that we are in the penultimate week of the half-term. As you will be aware, next week is our last week of the half-term and school will close to learners at the normal time on Friday 23rd October. School re-opens on Monday 2nd November 2026.
As we approach the end of our first half-term, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on what has been a busy and productive start to the academic year. Since September, there has been a great deal taking place across the school, and I have been particularly pleased with the positive manner in which our learners have approached their studies and the wider opportunities available to them. The beginning of any academic year is an important time for establishing expectations, developing good routines and setting the standards that will underpin success in the months ahead. It has been encouraging to see so many of our learners responding positively to these expectations and demonstrating a commitment to their learning and personal development.
Alongside the important work taking place in classrooms every day, our wider programme of educational experiences continues to be an important part of school life. Most recently, our visits to Belgium and Iceland have been particularly successful, providing learners with valuable opportunities to broaden their understanding of the world and experience learning beyond the classroom. I have been delighted to hear such positive feedback about the conduct and attitudes of those who took part. Our learners represented the school exceptionally well, and I would like to thank the colleagues involved for the considerable time and effort required to organise and deliver these opportunities.
As we look towards the next half-term, our attention also turns to the important decisions facing our Year 11 learners. We are looking forward to welcoming them and their families to our Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday at 5.30pm. This will provide an opportunity to learn more about the courses, support and wider opportunities available within our Sixth Form. We recognise the importance of helping young people make informed decisions about their futures, and I hope that as many of our Year 11 families as possible will join us for the evening.
Finally, I would like to thank parents and carers for their continued support throughout the first half-term. A successful school relies on a strong partnership between home and school, particularly in maintaining high expectations around attendance, punctuality, behaviour and attitudes to learning. These remain central to our work and to ensuring that every learner is given the best possible opportunity to succeed. I am grateful to our staff for their continued commitment and to our learners for the contribution they make to our school community each day. There is much to be positive about as we move forward, and we remain focused on maintaining high standards and securing the best possible outcomes for all our young people.
