Headmistress' Introduction

Dear Parents, Carers, and Students

Welcome back! 

Before the Easter break, some of our students participated in some wonderful trips including the German Exchange, French exchange, the Young Enterprise Company Showcase and to see Hamilton. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the students, staff, and parents whose hard work and support made this opportunity possible.

This week also marked the start of our formal assessment period for Year 10. As we transition into the main external exam season, I want to emphasise the vital importance of balance. While revision is important, prioritising rest, time outdoors, and moments with friends and family is essential for wellbeing. We will be reinforcing this message of self-care with our students throughout the coming weeks.

As always, we remain dedicated to supporting every member of our school community. If you need any assistance or guidance, please feel free to reach out to Form Tutors, Heads of Year, or the School Office at any time.

Sport

Badminton

On Tuesday evening, we played a series of friendly doubles matches against Dr Challoner's High School. The final score ending 12-4 to DCHS. Well done to everyone for a fantastic effort on court!  

Mrs Colclough

PE Technician 

KS3 Exam Week

An update about a new initiative we will be introducing to our school's academic calendar: a dedicated KS3 exam week. This has come about through discussions with our Curriculum Development Group and is designed to significantly enhance your daughter’s learning journey and prepare them even more effectively for their future.

Our primary goal with the exam week is to provide students with a focused and authentic experience of formal assessments, mirroring the structure of external examinations like GCSEs and A Levels. This dedicated period will offer several key benefits:

• Enhanced Revision Skills: It will encourage students to engage in comprehensive, cross-curricular revision, helping them develop crucial study habits and time management skills.

• Exam Practice: Students will gain invaluable experience in a formal exam environment, learning to manage pressure, focus for sustained periods, and refine their exam techniques, building confidence for future public examinations.

• Improved Assessment Integrity: By conducting longer, supervised assessments for the entire cohort simultaneously, we can significantly reduce opportunities for academic malpractice, including the unauthorised use of AI tools, ensuring the validity of results.  We can also include longer assessments to give students an opportunity to practise extended writing.

• More Focused Learning Time: Consolidating assessments into a specific week will free up valuable lesson time during the rest of the term for deeper teaching, practical work, and skill development, reducing interruptions for both students and teachers.

The exam week will take place in the week beginning 8 June.  It will involve three days of assessments for Year 7 (Tuesday - Thursday) & Year 8 (Monday - Wednesday) and four days for Year 9 (Monday - Thursday).  During this period, regular lessons will be suspended, and students will follow a structured timetable of examinations.

We believe this initiative will be a significant step forward for our students, and your support at home will be invaluable. You can help by:

• Encouraging a Positive Mindset: Reassure your child that this is a learning experience designed to help them grow.

• Supporting Revision Routines: Help them establish a balanced revision schedule that includes breaks and adequate rest.

• Providing a Conducive Study Environment: Ensure they have a quiet space where they can focus without distractions.

Please note that due to the nature of assessment in some subjects (eg in practical lessons), not all subjects will be included in the timetable and they will be assessed in different ways across the term.  Students will get advice on how they can best prepare and what support will be available to them in Upgrade sessions in school.

We are confident that the introduction of a dedicated exam period will be a highly beneficial addition to our school community, fostering greater academic rigour and equipping our students with essential skills for their future success.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your daughter’s education.

Caroline Wilkes (Deputy Headteacher - Curriculum)

Online sessions from Unifrog for parents/carers

What else is out there? Post-18 options you might not have considered

Tuesday 21 April 17:30 - 18:15 - sign up here to attend

Join this webinar to find out more about alternative post-18 options after school or college. Discover more about what apprenticeships involve and how to find them, degree options that don’t rely on traditional exams, and university courses offering global experience. 

How university builds career-ready skills

Monday 27 April 18:30 - 19:15 - sign up here to attend

Join Sheffield Hallam University to explore how a university degree can strengthen your child’s future job prospects. This session will look at the specific benefits a degree offers – from industry placements and professional networks to consultancy opportunities, wider career options, and stronger long-term earning potential.

M Sutton
Next Steps and Careers Lead 

How to Support Your Child During External Exam Season

InvestIN is offering an online session, 'How to Support Your Child During Exam Season', on Wednesday 29 April. The session will focus on recognising signs of stress and burnout, how to support practical revision techniques and creating a supportive environment at home.

Further information about this and other InvestIN webinars for parents/carers is here.

M Sutton
Next Steps and Careers Lead 

Help Your Daughter Navigate the Online World: Developing Critical Thinking Skills

In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever for young people to question the content they consume online. Recent data shows that 32% of children aged 8–17 have encountered worrying or nasty content online in the past year. Furthermore, even older teenagers are feeling less confident in their ability to distinguish what is real from what is fake online.

As parents, you play a vital role in helping your daughters develop the critical thinking skills needed to stay safe. Here is how you can start the conversation:

1. Question the Source 

Encourage your daughter to think about the motives behind what she sees. For example, if a celebrity or influencer promotes a product, is it because they truly use it, or are they being paid to advertise it?.

2. Recognise Reliable Information 

Discuss how to spot "fake news" or extremist content. Helping them understand that not everything they see is true is the first step in protecting them from being influenced by harmful or misleading information.

3. Think Before Acting 

Talk through different online scenarios together. If they see an offensive post or a "funny" meme that is actually hurtful, do they know how to respond?. Remind them that their online actions can have real-world implications and, in some cases, could even be breaking the law.

Useful Resources for Parents:

• LGfL Critical Thinking Resources: Explore practical scenarios and take a "Critical Thinking Quiz" with your daughter at believe.lgfl.net. You can also find advice on how to help children recognize extremist behavior at goingtoofar.lgfl.net.

• Childnet Reliability Guide: For more tips on helping your child decide what to trust online, visit Childnet’s Reliability Online guide.

By having these open discussions, you can help your daughter become a more confident and resilient internet user.

Mrs S McNally
Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead and DDSL 

With thanks, as ever, for your support, and wishing all a lovely weekend,

Marieke Forster