Weekly News

for week ending Friday, 26 June 2026.

Head Teacher Message

Dear Parents and Carers

As we reach the end of the week, we are all looking ahead with great excitement to Horizons Week, which begins next week. This is a new addition to our school calendar, and it promises to be an inspiring and enriching experience for all our students.

Horizons Week is designed to broaden our students’ horizons, giving them opportunities to develop important character virtues and employability skills, helping to prepare them for the world beyond school. It is a chance for our young people to think differently, challenge themselves, and engage in learning that builds confidence, resilience, creativity, and collaboration.

During the week, students will continue to attend their regular timetabled lessons. However, staff have carefully planned learning around engaging themes that encourage deeper thinking and creativity across all subjects. Each year group will explore a different focus:

Year 7 – Our Planet and Beyond
Year 8 – Global Cultures
Year 9 – Aim Higher

General News

Newquay 2026

Year 9 students enjoyed their actioned packed weekends in Newquay this month, experiencing surfing, body boarding, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, coasteering and more!

Thank you to all of the students and staff who helped make these weekends so memorable. And a very special thank you to Mrs Ealden, as this was her last trip after being in charge of our Newquay trips for the last 15 years. On behalf of the hundreds of staff members and thousands of children who you’ve led on this trip, thank you Mrs Ealden!

Geography field trip to Borth

I wanted to take a moment to share some positive reflections on our recent Year 13 Geography field trip to Borth that I had the pleasure to lead.

Over the course of three days, students fully immersed themselves in coastal fieldwork, demonstrating both enthusiasm and maturity throughout. They engaged in a range of data collection techniques, including beach profiling, sediment analysis, wave counts and Environmental Quality Index (EQI) surveys. It was fantastic to see them applying their classroom knowledge so confidently in a real-world setting, working collaboratively and supporting one another as they refined their investigative skills.

Year 7 watch Orchestra of the Swan

Year 7 students watched the live rehearsal of Orchestra of the Swan’s 30th Anniversary Concert at Warwick Hall this week. Thank you to the Music department for organising this event, it was a great experience for all.

Three Peaks Challenge

Three of our Year 13 students, George, Joe and Matt are completing the Three Peaks Challenge (climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours) to raise money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation. Here is the link to their Just Giving page if you would like to make a donation.

Announcements

Year 11 prom plea

Due to the extreme heat (34°C+ at the venue), we had to make the incredibly difficult decision to reschedule our Year 11 prom this week to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.

As you can imagine, this has left many of our amazing Year 11 students feeling disappointed – they have been looking forward to this milestone for so long.

We are now working hard to make the rescheduled prom on Wednesday 1 July even more special – and this is where our wonderful community comes in.

Water safety

As the hot weather conitnues, we remind students of the danger of swimming in open water.

The river in St Nicholas Park is particularly popular with young people for swimming and jumping off the bridge.

Please could you discuss the danger of swimming in open water with your young person, and highlight the risks involved in this activity, which include:

The shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water
Lack of safety equipment and increased difficulty for rescue
The height of the fall or jump if tombstoning
The depth of the water – this changes and is unpredictable
Underwater objects and hazards may not be visible
Obstacles or other people in the water
Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
Uneven banks and riverbeds
Water quality, e.g. toxic algae blooms and industrial/agricultural pollution

Events

Helping Hands charity looking for Junior Wolf Runners

The charity Helping Hands are looking for young people aged 7 to 17 to fundraise for them by taking part in the Junior Wolf Run in Leamington on Sunday 13 September. They will cover the cost of the run ticket for anyone taking part who pledges to fundraise.

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Free maths club for students entering Years 7 to 10

We Solve Problems (an educational charity) invites children entering Years 7 to 10 in September to apply for their free, in-person Maths Circles, held weekly at the University of Warwick.

Maths Circles are training sessions that promote the art of problem-solving and structured thinking. Students who love figuring out puzzles will thrive there, regardless of their current proficiency with the standard school curriculum.

Beyond developing their skills, this is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to experience learning on a real university campus, guided by professional mathematicians and students from the University of Warwick.

To subscribe for updates on the September 2026 intake you can pre-register now by filling in the short form here. More information can be found on the We Solve Problems website here.