I hope that you have all had a good week and that you are beginning to enjoy the festive spirit that is creeping in, especially with the beautiful Christmas lights around the village. I think it’s safe to say that Christmas preparations are well and truly underway and mince pies and Heroes tubs are fully justifiable.
The remaining weeks of the term will be busy. Our Year 11 students are currently preparing for their speaking mock exams, which take place next week. These are an important part of their assessment, and we want to ensure they have the best possible environment in which to complete them. Please remind your child to continue to prepare thoroughly, as this practice will help them feel more confident in their final exams next year. If you are struggling for stocking fillers, cue cards always come in handy!
Looking ahead, both Year 11 and Year 13 students will soon be sitting their mock exams after the Christmas break. Now is the time to make sure that revision is well underway. Over the Christmas holiday, we encourage all students to set aside regular time for focused study. We know it’s tempting to relax and enjoy the holiday season, but the mocks are fast approaching, and consistent revision over the holidays can make a huge difference to exam performance. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, please remind them that support is available from teachers, and we are here to help with study strategies and advice.
This term is a long one, and it’s easy to start feeling tired. However, I cannot stress enough how important regular school attendance is, particularly during these crucial months leading up to exams. Studies show that students who attend school regularly are significantly more likely to achieve their best results. Students in our current Y12, who had over 95% attendance during Y11, achieved on average a grade higher in their GCSEs than their peers, whose attendance fell below 90%. Please encourage your child to come to school every day, even if they are feeling slightly under the weather. We understand that illness happens, but we always advise that students come in if they can.
I must kindly ask that parents and carers continue to be mindful of where they park during school drop-off and pick-up times. We have had some concerns raised about parking too close to the school entrance, which can create traffic congestion and make it difficult for our pupils to cross safely. Please consider using areas further away from the school for drop-off, allowing for smoother flow and ensuring safety for all. Your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated.
A reminder that the school production Shrek will take place on December 10th, 11th and 12th. The students have been working incredibly hard in rehearsals, and progress is going smoothly. The cast and crew are working really hard, and we are all looking forward to sharing the performance with you. Tickets for the show are still available. If you haven’t already purchased yours, we encourage you to do so soon to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased through ParentPay. The cost is £8 for adults, concessions £5. If you do not have a ParentPay account, contact the finance team to pay by credit card.
If you would like to help out with school productions or any aspect of school, we always welcome volunteers. Please access our volunteer policy on the website or contact the school directly and we will talk you through our volunteer process.
On Thursday 5th December we will be celebrating the successes of last year’s Y11. This is always a lovely occasion. Apologies for the admin hiccup that meant emails to some students who are not in sixth form did not get through. This has been rectified now.
It would be great to see you at our Christmas Tea, Toast and Talk on Wednesday 18th December (8:00am-9:15am) for a catch-up with a mince pie. Please do try to come along.
As always, thank you for your continued support and whatever your plans, have a lovely weekend.
“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have the same amount of hours per day that were given to Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci and Albert Einstein.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
