Christmas Hamper Appeal

This term, Year 10 have shown incredible generosity and compassion by contributing non-perishable items to create hampers for those in need. Each tutor group decided the charity, or individual, they felt would most benefit from receiving these hampers within the community. The students approached this with thoughtfulness and care, demonstrating empathy and a strong sense of community. Their efforts will undoubtedly make a difference to the lives of others and I am proud of their willingness to support those in need. This act of kindness not only reflects their maturity but also highlights the values we aim to foster in all our students. Well done, Year 10!

Year 10 embraced the festive spirit in full force by wearing their Christmas jumpers on Friday 13 to raise money for Save the Children. The array of colourful jumpers brightened school and reflected the students’ enthusiasm for supporting a worthy cause. Thank you for your generous donations. Their participation  brought a sense of fun to the day and showcased their commitment to making a positive impact in the wider community.

Tutor Curriculum

This half term we have held a series of tutor group competitions, including a whole school attendance competition, with Binswood being the overall winners. Well done to 10BW1 and 10BW2.

The noticeboards have been exemplary, with all noticeboards having our CORE messages included, as well more personable items such as birthdays, baby photos, information about the tutor group e.g. hobbies, favourite subjects etc.

The students have engaged well with the curriculum this term, centering around Anti-bullying, Careers, Digital Literacy and International Schools. We also had our first College Fortnight of the year this half term. Students in Years 7-13 attended a College assembly in which we shared our College moto, celebrated our successes and also identified what we can collectively to improve particular key school priorities.

Rewards

I am delighted to share some fantastic news about the achievements of our Year 10 students this term. Together, they have earned over 50,000 reward points—the highest total we’ve ever achieved during this time period. This incredible milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and high standards that our students consistently demonstrate every day.

The majority of our students have been awarded R2s for Excellence, recognising their commitment to upholding those "world-class basics" both in and out of lessons. It is inspiring to see so many of our young people striving for excellence and setting such a positive example.

In addition to this remarkable accomplishment, I am immensely proud to report that Year 10 has received the lowest number of consequences as a year group. This achievement highlights the respect, responsibility, and positive behaviour shown by our students, reflecting the values we all strive to instil.

A reminder if students do need additional support, our school library is open until 5pm each day (apart from Friday). Here they will have access to books, a computer but importantly a Teaching Assistant is there to help. This is a fantastic resource that will allow your child to complete their home learning in a calm and supportive learning environment.   

Top 10 Students with the highest reward points

The battle for first place between Nadia , Alex, Mason and Jasmine has been ongoing since the start of term. However, Nadia has managed to hold the title for the past three weeks, which is a real accomplishment. This term’s top 10 students are listed below. These points are significantly higher than last years totals, which shows that our year 10s are rightfully being recognised for their CORE values.

Achievement

Academic achievement describes academic outcomes that indicate the extent to which a student has achieved their learning goals and therefore exceeding their target grades. This demonstrates the capabilities and potential these students have to exceed their target grades.

Attainment

Well done to those Year 10 students who completed their bronze DofE last year and were presented with their certificate at the Duke Of Edinburgh awards evening in November.  Its great to see many are continuing with the Silver award this year.  

Calendar -Upcoming Events

NYC Trip - Not long now…. Just a gentle reminder to send a copy of your child’s passport and ESTA as soon as possible. I understand that some parents/carers have recently made a new application therefore, please send over these details when you receive them. You can apply for an ESTA online through the official US government website: ESTA

The application process requires:

• A valid passport.
• Travel and personal details.
• Payment of the application fee (approximately $21 USD).
• The address of where we are staying is:
  West Side YMCA
  5 West 63^rd Street
  New York
  NY 10023
  Phone Number – 212-912-2600

Once approved, the ESTA will remain valid for two years.

If your child does not hold a British passport, please investigate the visa requirements specific to their nationality. It is the responsibility of parents/carers to ensure the appropriate visa is obtained well in advance of the trip. If you require guidance, or anticipate any issues, please let us know as soon as possible.

There will be a parent/carer meeting regarding the NYC Trip on Thursday, 16 January 2025, at 17:00 in the school theatre. This will be an opportunity to go over all details and address any final questions.

Year 10 Parents Evening will take place on Monday 3 March.

Year 10 Support and Revision Evening. On Wednesday 2 April we will be holding a revision evening led by our Senior Assistant Headteacher, Matt Atkins. This will provide insight into revision strategies that can be implemented to support your child in all core subjects, including RE. Subject Leads will also be there to share their expertise on how students can overcome the challenges and approaches they can take to make year 11 as stress-free as possible. Further information will be sent nearer the time.

 

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support this important academic term. I hope that you feel your child has been given the guidance and support to achieve, but more importantly, to enjoy school life. I look forward to catching up with you all at the various school events next term. Have a fantastic Christmas.

Kind regards
Mr Royle
Year 10 Lead