Summer 2026

10 july – NEWSLETTER

EDITION 72

Head’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to our penultimate newsletter of the year.

This week, our Year 12s visited the University of Bath, which was a fantastic opportunity for them to see what the next step in their education could look like. In other news, our Year 10s went on a fascinating trip to Berlin, where they further developed their knowledge for their History GCSE.

Tim Fox
Headteacher

‘THE BIG FUTURE’ CHILDREN’S SURVEY

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, would like all children and young people from across the country to take part in ‘The Big Picture’ Children’s survey. She would like to’ hear from children in every school and college, in every community, across the country. So that students’ experiences, views, and aspirations can help shape future policy.

At a time of significant change for children and young people, it is more important than ever that their views are reflected in policy making. Through this survey, Dame Rachel de Souza can take the voices of our students directly to the centre of government.

Please work with your child to fill out the survey linked below.

The Children’s Survey

OPEN SEASON

Open MORNING – 9:20-10:00am

Tuesday, 29 September
Tuesday, 6 October
Wednesday, 7 October

Open Evening – 5:00-7:00pm

Wednesday, 30 September

Sixth Form Success

a taste of sixth form

It was fantastic seeing so many of the Year 10s and their families at the Sixth Form Showcase/BBQ last week and getting to introduce them to a part of the school they hadn’t seen before. The Sixth Form centre would like to thank everyone who came along and hopes to see them soon.

The taster day was also a huge success with Year 10s getting to experience new subjects and forms of learning. It was a great opportunity to see what life might be like after GCSEs and to spend some time around their Sixth Form peers.

staying on track in geography

This week, some of our Year 12s went to Kings Cross to complete fieldwork tasks for their A-level. It was a wonderful opportunity to get out of the classroom and continue learning in the real world.

During my time at Kings Cross, I completed my fieldwork tasks such as doing an EQS where I took into consideration the physical wellbeing, noise pollution, and population of the sites I visited. This helped me tally up scores of each site to determine which area benefited the most from the regeneration. Towards the end of my fieldwork, I conducted questionnaires where I asked people what changes they’ve noticed in Kings Cross throughout their time living there.

– Zakaria / Year 12

year 12s see what’s next

As part of Progression Week, last Wednesday, the Year 12 cohort braved the heat wave in order to journey up to the University of Bath!

Thanks to our tour guides, we circled through lecture halls, sports facilities and went past the student accommodation – really capturing the atmosphere of the Uni. We had our own Q&A session with the event leaders, where they gave us a holistic overview of university life from work placements in the 3rd year to the range of societies you could join!

The blistering heat wouldn’t stop us from exploring the city centre and strolling through the streets of Bath in small groups, enjoying ice cream, sushi, fudge or pizza, right next to the historic Roman Baths! Shout out to Mr Langdon and Ms Colse who accompanied us – thanks, we had a blast!!

– Amelie / Year 12

Trips and Enrichment Activities

year 10 were off to berlin

Last week, the History students travelled to Berlin on an educational trip. Throughout our visit, we explored a range of sites that helped us better understand what we’ve been learning about Weimar and Nazi Germany. We also visited places linked to topics we will study next year, such as the Cold War, giving us a good introduction to what we’ll be learning.

During the trip, we visited several memorable locations. One was the remains of the Berlin Wall, which highlighted the impact that political conflict had on everyday people. Another favourite was the Spy Museum, where we not only learned about spies throughout history but also enjoyed interactive activities, including laser mazes, dressing up as spies, and even trying a lie detector test. The place that had the biggest impact on me was Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, where we gained a deeper understanding of the experiences of those imprisoned there and the extent of their suffering.

One of the highlights of the trip was spending time with friends and creating unforgettable memories together. Whether it was doing the Silent Disco Walking Tour together or simply chatting while exploring the city, the trip helped strengthen existing friendships and build new ones.

Thank you to the teachers who organised the trip and helped make it such an enjoyable and memorable experience for all of us. – Ela, Year 10

going to find a wealth of knowledge

On the 7th of July, Year 10 and 12 economists visited the Bank of England Museum. On this trip we discovered the interesting history about the Bank of England and it’s role in the country. The museum displays old bank notes, coins, gold bars and how the Bank has developed over time. After having time to look around, we were invited to a talk we learnt about Monetary Policy and how it is used to control inflation and promote economic stability.

– Ayesha / Year 12

uPCOMING Trips

sign up on Arbor Today so you don’t miss out

We have some fantastic trips lined up. Scroll through the carousel below to see what’s in store for each Key Stage.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ HFS Rewards ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Attendance

Here are top performing forms for attendance last week:

Top Forms for Attendance
Year 7: 7/Helen Sharman – 97.54%
Year 8: 8/Margaret Atwood – 97.58%
Year 9: 9/Helen Keller – 97.79%
Year 10: 10/Mae Jemison – 98.49%
Sixth Form: 12/Amelia Earhart – 96.67%

Merit Awards

Congratulations to all students who achieved merit milestones last week.

240 Merits
BOARD OF GOVERNERS MERIT

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Year 7: Livia, Myia, Phoebe, Violet, and Ruqayyah
Year 8: Emma
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500 Merits
Commitment to Learning
Merit
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Year 7: Lilla and Abigail
Year 8: Hafsah
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Students of the week

This academic year, we have introduced ‘Students of the Week’ to recognise individuals who have demonstrated excellent commitment to learning and the community. Here are the successful students from last week:

Year 7
7/Chimamanda Adichie – Charlotte
7/ Frida Kahlo – Amélie
7/ Helen Sharman – Zara
7/Junko Tabei – Martha
7/Winona LaDuke – Eliza and Teayanna

Year 8
8/Jane Goodall – Olimpia
8/Marie Curie – Eshaal
8/Serena Williams – Grace

Year 9
9/Barbara Hepworth – Nailah
9/Katherine Johnson – Anna
9/Wangari Maathai – Ella, Kardelen. and Nayehare

Year 10
10/Jacqueline Du Pré – Destiny
10/Kadambini Ganguly – Keira and Matina

Our Parent Community

Bright Futures Outreach timetable

We know that being a parent is not always easy and that all families need extra help at some stage as children grow up. This might be because your housing situation is difficult, or you are hoping to get into work or training. A relationship may have broken down or someone
close to you has gone to prison. Your teenager’s behaviour might be challenging at home or at
school. You may have growing debts, or you may be at risk of losing your home – Bright Futures

Bright Futures has resources and opportunities to help.