News

Monday 15th September 2025

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Welcome to our newsletter for the third week of the autumn term 2025.

It’s Week A so whole school assemblies are taking place. These are being led by Mr Bates (Deputy Headteacher) and Mr Marks (Independent Learning Co-ordinator) and focus on the theme of powerful knowledge and independent learning.

Thank you for your support with our enhanced policy regarding mobile phones and a reminder that these also apply to smart watches too. Our rule of ‘see it, hear it, lose it’ will be applied consistently across all year groups with the device being confiscated for 5 working days and the student concerned being issued with community service on the day of confiscation. Smart phones are banned for year7. If a student in this year group has one it will be confiscated until the half-term break. During the course of this week staff will be conducting random checks on students to ensure compliance with our expectations. Please support your child in ensuring that they are compliant. Devices must be switched off for the duration of the school day and placed in the student’s school bag. 

A significant change that has taken place at the start of this term has been the implementation of a new management information system (MIS) for the whole school. This has been a large task with preparations for the switch being undertaken from January 2025 onwards. Our new system is called Bromcom and replaces SIMS. Details of the MCAS (My Child at School) App will be shared with families during the course of this term. As with any change of this scale there have been some teething issues, but I am pleased to report that these are being acted upon swiftly.

Finally, a reminder that all students begin the term with 100% attendance and they should aim to maintain this for as long as possible. Our school target is that all students should have at least 96% attendance by the end of the school year. Please support your child with this. Even one day missed has a detrimental impact on their learning and achievement. Punctuality is equally important. Students must be on-site by 8.30am ready for Registration at 8.40am. Registers close at 9.10am and after that a student is marked absent for the morning with a ‘U’ code. Please make sure that this doesn’t happen to your child/children.

Future dates

Wednesday 24th September	Open Evening - school ends at 12.30pm
Thursday 25th September	INSET Day - school closed for students

With best wishes for the week ahead,

Stephen Davis

Headteacher

 

Examinations for pupils in years 7 to 9

Year 8 and Year 9 students are currently preparing for their upcoming examinations, which begin next week for Year 8 and in the week commencing 29th September for Year 9. Year 7 will sit their first round of examinations in March. To support students in transferring knowledge into their long-term memory, all subjects have now published knowledge organisers. These provide clear summaries of the key content students should revise and can be accessed via the Subject Pages.

 

How to support you child with safe use of mobile phones

As mobile phones become an everyday part of life, it’s important to understand how they may affect your child’s health, learning, and development.

Potential Negative Impacts	Tips for Healthy Phone Use
1. Mental Health Excessive screen time and social media can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Phone use before bed often causes poor sleep and insomnia.	Set Clear Boundaries Use parental controls. Create tech-free times (e.g., during meals, homework, bedtime).
2. Learning and Concentration Phones can interrupt focus, lower academic performance, and lead to shortened attention spans.	Be a Role Model Practice healthy phone habits yourself.
3. Cyberbullying & Online Risks  Children are at risk of cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to inappropriate content. Social media can increase peer pressure and risky behaviour. Many children develop addiction-like behaviour toward their phones, leading to irritability and withdrawal.	Encourage Other Activities Promote outdoor play, hobbies, and reading. Encourage your child to take part in enrichment activities in school at lunchtimes and after school
4. Physical Health Overuse can lead to eye strain, neck pain, headaches, and a sedentary lifestyle.	Teach Online Safety/ Monitor and trust Talk about cyberbullying, privacy, and respectful behaviour online.
5. Social and Emotional Development Too much screen time may hurt communication skills and real-world relationships.	Establish Tech-Free Zones Keep phones out of bedrooms and family spaces. For example, not allowing phones at the dinner table.

 

Why School Attendance Matters

• Academic Success: Students who attend school regularly do better academically. Students are more likely to achieve grade 5 or above in English and Maths at GCSE if they have an attendance of 96% and above.
• Builds Habits: Regular attendance teaches responsibility, punctuality, and self-discipline.
• Staying Connected: Children who are frequently absent miss out on classroom discussions, social connections, and activities.
• Reduces Stress: Missing school means catching up on work, which can create unnecessary pressure. Missing just 2 days a month adds up to 18 days a year. That’s nearly a full month of lost learning. Students who miss 10% or more of school are more likely to fall behind and struggle to catch up.

Attendance Affects More Than Grades

• It builds confidence and social skills.
• It helps children feel part of a community.
• It prepares them for future responsibilities at college or work.

What Parents Can Do

• Establish a routine: Set regular bedtimes and morning schedules.
• Avoid unnecessary absences: Schedule vacations or doctor visits outside school hours when possible.
• Stay involved: Know your child’s schedule and talk about school daily.
• Talk to the school: If your child has a health issue, anxiety, or other challenges, work with teachers early
• Email absence / WhatsApp/ call to keep us updated or call to let us know why your child is absent

What to Say to Your Child

• “Your learning is important. I want you to try and go to school and see how you feel.”
• “We go to school every day unless you are truly sick.”
• “When you miss school, you miss out.”