It has been a mixed week for year 11, with their exams continuing in earnest but also having their leavers assembly. It was a very emotional event for some (Mr Williams!), as it is the culmination of five years worth of hard work and investment. These five years have been different to those experienced by decades of previous Year 11s and I am proud of how they have risen to each of the challenges that they have faced and approached them with maturity and resilience.  Please continue to remind the students that they do need to be in full uniform for their exams and ensure that they are on time. We are still here to support them so please do contact us and remind them that they can do the same if they do have concerns or questions. 

This week you will have received the notification of our consultation to merge with HISP MAT.  I would like to reassure you that this is being done with the best interests of the current and future students at the heart of it. I want the opportunities and experience that all students who attend an Isle of Wight Education school to be the best that they can have. They deserve it. We feel that this provides the opportunity to further develop the journey that we have started. Please remember there is a parent/carer FAQs document, which may answer many of your questions/concerns, this can be found on our website here. If you have a comment that you would like to contribute, please do complete the consultation form which can be found here.  This can be a concern but can also be a message of positive support, both are important to know. If you have questions or would like to discuss your concerns then please email, anna.mursell@iwef.org.uk who can arrange a phone call with me. This may then help inform a representation you may wish to make. 

Many parents/carers are asking about the return to school in September. The following dates are now set.  Thursday 1 September, Friday 2 September and Monday, 5 September are development days.  Tuesday 6 September is the first day back for what will be Year 7 and Year 11, Wednesday 7 September, all year groups return to school.

From Tuesday 21 June we will be pushing a bit harder on late students. In each half term, any student who is late three or more times will receive an after school detention of one hour that day. We are trying to remind students of the need for good habits.

As a reminder, this Monday 20 June is our reassigned Bank Holiday in lieu on the Queen’s Jubilee. Therefore, we will be closed to all students except Year 11 who are sitting exams. Work will not be set as it is effectively a Bank Holiday. As communicated, the buses for Year 11 will run as normal, both before and after school. Please continue to allow time for the one way system that will still be in place on Monday morning. 

We look forward to welcoming all other students back on Tuesday, in full school uniform and ready to learn. 

Enjoy the Festival if you are going, if not then enjoy your weekend and some sunshine. 

I am pleased to say that Year 11 continue to be taking their exams seriously. Parents/carers will have received a letter today with details about their leavers assembly and final day of teaching. I would like to stress again here how important it is that they remain focused until their last exam, particularly after their leavers assembly. Arriving on time is essential, so please ensure that they allow extra time for travel if traffic is likely to be busy. Students should continue to contact their subject teachers with any questions or requests for support if they need it. 

Some of our students had the honour of performing at Osborne House on Tuesday evening with students from Carisbrooke College and a number of Island Primary Schools at the Junior Prom, celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. All of the performances were fantastic, showcasing some exceptional talent. The students had clearly worked very hard and they should be proud of themselves for their performances; we are very proud of them. 

Thank you to all of the Year 8 parents/carers who took part in Parents’ Evening this week. These events are always important as they offer the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress. Year 7 parents/carers will be receiving a letter in the next couple of weeks with links to book appointments regarding your children. 

Year 10 trial exams are w/c 27 June. Students will receive information from their year team over the next couple of weeks and will also have a message about exam logistics, protocol and behavioural expectations explained in assembly the week before. We will be treating these as an opportunity for the Year 10 students to experience the same exam conditions that their Year 11 peers are currently working to. 

A copy of the letter previously sent to parents/carers regarding Friday 16 June and Monday 20 June can be found here. Please use this link to access traffic relating to the IW Festival. The one way system will be in place from 10 am on Wednesday 15 June 2022 until 4 pm on Monday 20 June 2022. 

Finally, a plea from me about the car park/bus loop at the end of the school day. It is exceptionally busy with lots of students, cars and buses. Please drive slowly and be extra aware when manoeuvring of the potential hazards. This is for your protection and that of our pedestrians. 

I hope you have a good weekend. 

Welcome to the final blog post of this half term.

Yesterday, I had the honour of being one of the judges for our Year 10 Isle of Wight Education Federation Business Innovation Challenge. The students had been tasked with researching the breakfast market and then designing and creating a product which they felt could have a place in the market. There was a large variety of ideas on offer including smoothies, one of which was a full English breakfast smoothie(!), breakfast/protein bars, modified versions of cereals including some using locally sourced produce, some ethically manufactured and a new concept butter utensil for making hard butter easier to spread on toast. The students had obviously all worked extremely hard in their groups to produce these products and were very brave in showcasing them and explaining their reasonings to a group of staff and external industry professionals. 

Year 11 are another week into their GCSE exams. Please continue to encourage them to use half term to both revise and recharge, so that they give themselves the very best opportunities when they return. It is vital that the students are on time to these, so please also encourage them to take advantage of the free breakfast offer in the canteen on the morning of their exams. Details of the Year 11 Leavers assembly will be shared after the half term break. As always the full details regarding exams can be found on our website, linked here.

Letters regarding Year 8 virtual Parents’ Evening on Wednesday, 8 June, have now been shared so please do book your appointments.

Please make sure that you are familiar with the plans for the IW Festival weekend. The letter that has been sent to parents/carers can be found here.

We return on Monday, 6 June and I will expect to see all students arriving on time, in full school uniform, with their equipment, ready to learn.

I hope you have a lovely extended Bank Holiday weekend when it arrives.

The whole of Year 11 sat the first of their English, maths and science papers, amongst some of the options subjects this week. They have all done remarkably well, showed maturity and respect for each other. I would urge you to encourage them to continue to focus on their revision and maintain the good routines that they have started. Revision sessions are still running in school and breakfast is being offered to students who have morning exams, every day in the canteen from 7.45am. We are aware that parents and students are contacting the staff in the year office if they have worries or concerns and I encourage you and them to continue to do this.

Our Year 7 ‘Tempest’ literacy event has been successful this week, a more detailed write up will follow. I would like to thank the students for embracing this activity and the staff for their leadership of this exciting week long event. It has been an innovative way of exploring a play by an author whose writings remain timeless in their themes, 400 years on.

Year 10 will be having a trial exam week after the Year 11 GCSE season has finished, which will be w/c 27 June. We would encourage all year 10 students to prepare for these, as it will be a good opportunity for them to experience exam conditions in exam venues and then have the chance to review their progress and understanding from the feedback they subsequently receive.

Some of our students are going to have the fantastic opportunity to take part in a Platinum Jubilee Junior Proms event at Osborne House on the evening of Tuesday 7 June. Further details will be shared via our social media sites.

Year 8 parents/carers, please look out for the Parents’ Evening letter, and book appointments to discuss your child’s progress.

I hope you have a good weekend.