Dear Parents and Carers,

This week did not go quite as expected, as many of you will already be aware. At the start of the school day on Thursday, it became clear that we had a limited water supply on site. After investigating, we discovered that this was due to an underground leak caused by a fractured pipe. As the leak was not visible above ground, it took some time to identify the issue fully.

Unfortunately, this meant that we were unable to keep learners on site safely, and the decision was made to close the school for the remainder of the day. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your understanding and support during what was a challenging situation. Thanks to the cooperation of our entire school community, learners were able to leave the site safely and efficiently.

We are pleased to report that the issue was resolved by the end of the school day. We will now be reviewing our processes to see what we can learn from this experience and to ensure we are as prepared as possible for any future incidents. And, on a positive note, it certainly reminds us how much we are looking forward to our new school building!

It has been wonderful to see our Gold and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh learners out on their expeditions this week. These experiences provide such valuable opportunities for personal growth, resilience and teamwork, and it is always a pleasure to see our learners embracing these challenges. Mr Rutter, Director of Key Stage 4, visited the Bronze award learners during the evening and was delighted to report that they were having a fantastic time, enjoying a mix of football, sunbathing and well-earned relaxation after a day of walking. He commented on the truly positive and supportive atmosphere at the campsite, which is a real credit to our learners.

This week has also marked the start of the external examination period. I have been very impressed with the way our Year 11 learners have conducted themselves in the build-up to their exams. They have shown maturity, focus and a strong sense of responsibility, and this positive attitude has continued as they have begun their examinations. We are very proud of the way they are approaching this important time and wish them every success in the weeks ahead.

As you are aware, we have been running an attendance initiative this term, and it has already led to an improvement in overall school attendance. We greatly appreciate your continued support in ensuring that every young person is in school as much as possible.

Regular attendance has a significant impact on the outcomes learners achieve, as well as supporting their wellbeing. Being in school consistently also helps learners to build and maintain strong, lasting friendships, which are such an important part of their school experience.

As we approach the bank holiday weekend, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable break. We look forward to welcoming our learners back to school on Tuesday, refreshed and ready for the week ahead.

With very best wishes,

Mr L Cummins