News Posts

Dear Families,

We are incredibly proud of all the students who took part in our Performing Arts Spring Showcase on Thursday evening. It was fantastic to see over 150 students from across all year groups displaying their talents in Music, Dance, and Drama. We were blown away by the quality and standard of work produced!

A huge thank you also goes to our student volunteers who supported the Front of House, welcomed families, and served refreshments during the interval. We also recognise the hard work of our backstage crew, who ensured everyone was in the right place at the right time and managed the stage transitions seamlessly. We look forward to seeing more from our students over the next few months!

B Block Update:

Since my last update, there has been significant progress behind the scenes regarding B Block. We can now confirm that the scope of the repairs is too substantial to complete while lessons continue in the building. As a result, we are moving forward with a temporary classroom solution to accommodate our students, aiming for this to be in place for the September start.

This is a major undertaking for our team. To ensure a smooth transition, we will be:

• Constructing 22 temporary classrooms.
• Creating a temporary canteen and possibly a kitchen area.
• Setting up four temporary dedicated IT suites.
• Creating new temporary toilet areas for students.

The entirety of B Block will be cleared of all resources (equipment, furniture, and books), as it is likely we will be utilising this temporary layout for up to 12 months. Following the government's recent commitment to school rebuilding, we have already contacted our local MP, Gen Kitchen, to see if we can be included in the initial programme of works. We have even submitted an application to DIY SOS to see if they can support our repair efforts!

I will continue to provide updates as we progress and look forward to sharing the plans for our temporary school layout very soon.

Social Action Squad (SAS):

Our SAS have been busy again this week, supporting several events in the community. Students helped run a local coffee morning and visited our friends at the Beeches Care Home on Thursday. It is wonderful to read the lovely feedback we receive from these visits; we know how much our students enjoy giving back and demonstrating our value SERVE. Keep up the great work!

Eco Updates:

The Eco Team has had a productive half term and has put together a special newsletter to showcase their achievements. Please click the link here to view the fantastic work they have done!

We hope you all have a wonderful half term break. We look forward to seeing all students back in school on Monday, 23rd February at 8:25 am, ready for the morning line-up. Next term is packed with exciting opportunities, and we can’t wait to get started.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. J. Firth

Principal

Dear Families,

As we approach the end of the half term, we have lots still to look forward to. A group of Sixth Form students are visiting India next week to complete some important charity work with our partner charity, Salt of the Earth. On Thursday, we look forward to the Performing Arts Showcase, starting at 7pm! Please don’t forget to book your tickets online! Half term ends on Friday 13th February at 3pm, and students return to school on Monday 23rd February.

Behaviour and Expectations Update:

Mr Smith wrote to all families earlier this week to outline the changes we are making after the half term to our behaviour policy. These changes are designed to provide greater clarity for students and parents, supporting staff to dedicate more time to high-quality teaching whilst not lowering our high expectations. The introduction of a tariff system means that students are given opportunities to reflect on their behaviour before a formal sanction is triggered.

We believe that these steps will foster a more positive school culture where students take greater responsibility for their actions.

Year 11 Mocks:

Year 11 students will commence their next round of mock exams after the half term break. This is a vital chance to rehearse examination protocols, finalise access arrangements, and celebrate the progress students are making as they work towards their final exams in the summer term. As shared last week, several subjects have already started their final examinations this week, and we are extremely proud of their conduct and work produced. Timetables for students will be published via Bromcom and students will be able to see their exam timetable by logging into their personal accounts.

Attendance Reminder:

We all know that attendance is crucial to a child’s success, but we also acknowledge that there are times where students are too unwell to come into school. Where your child is going to be absent from school, please make sure you contact the school before 8:15am by calling 01933 350391, and selecting option 1. Alternatively, please email . Please make sure you provide your child’s name, year group, and reason in your message.

Year 9 Options Evening:

It was brilliant to meet so many of you at the year 9 progress evening on Thursday and to hear all the positive feedback from you regarding our video newsletters and the work we are doing in school. Our next important event is on Thursday 12th March, where students will be given the opportunity to come and talk to teachers about the options process. There will be three talks with the Principal for you to choose from which will explain the process, and provide you with an overview of how we are approaching the options process this year. We are excited to share some exciting changes to our curriculum approach this year, and we look forward to seeing you all there. Details to register for the event will be shared via social media, or by scanning the QR code below: