Welcome to the latest edition of the Parent/ Carer Bulletin.

Year 9 Work Experience Encounter Day - Tuesday 2nd December

As of September 2025 the government have instructed that learners in Year 7 must undertake 25 hours of workplace experiences by the time they finish Year 9. These experiences are, currently, planned to take place at in school events hosted by external providers. As such, Tuesday just gone saw our first Workplace Experience Encounter in school for our Year 9 Y band. 

Encirc Glass, who manufacture glass containers ranging from Coca-Cola, J2O and Britvic glass bottles to Doritos salsa dip jars, presented our 9Y cohort with a challenge around sustainability and making better use of waste materials that the company produce. 

Working in teams the learners showed fantastic effort and creativity as they developed their teamwork, communication, leadership, oracy, collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving skills throughout the day. This culminated in at least two members of each team presenting their team's ideas via a presentation to the 150 or so other learners, teachers and guests in the hall. Those that spoke did so eloquently with purpose, and with some well timed humour too.  The presenters received special recognition from myself, and our guests, due to the quality of their delivery on a topic they knew little about only a few hours prior. Their confidence and skill to do so was very impressive. 9X will take on a similar challenge in the new year from Encirc, before both halves of the year take on their second Work Experience Encounter with Urenco later in the school year. 

Year 7 Trip Review: Dick Whittington Pantomime – Thursday 4th December

Our Year 7 learners had a truly unforgettable afternoon at Willston Hall as they enjoyed Dick Whittington, performed by Tip Top Productions. 251 excited learners, along with their form tutors , embraced the full panto experience from the moment the curtain went up.

Learners represented the school with maturity, enthusiasm and pride, fully engaging with every moment of the performance. From singing along at the top of their voices to joining in with the classic call-and-response jokes, our learners threw themselves into the spirit of the show. A particular highlight was the sheer delight on their faces when the cast brought out the water guns!

This trip offered an enriching cultural opportunity, giving learners the chance to experience a traditional British pantomime and all the familiar features that generations have enjoyed: slapstick humour, audience participation, larger-than-life characters and plenty of cheerful silliness.

We would like to extend our thanks to the staff who organised the visit and to the parents and carers for supporting this event. It was a joyful afternoon, and one we know our Year 7 learners will remember for years to come.

Upcoming Christmas Celebration Concert - Thursday 18th December

You will see in our forthcoming events below that we have our Christmas Celebration Concert on Thursday the 18th of December. This year we have the pleasure of hosting the event at St Columba's Church, and we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to celebrate with us.

With very best wishes,

Mr L Cummins

Headteacher