Thank you to all parents/carers and students who attended Year 12 Family Consultation Day this week.  There was a real buzz in the room, with tutors absolutely glowing about the conversation they were able to have with parents/carers and students.  Thank you for your continued support, it means so much as we work together for the wellbeing and progress of our young people.

On Friday 14 November, staff took part in an Inset day featuring bespoke training from two expert practitioners. Rae Pears, founder of Girlhood Reclaimed, spoke on challenging misogynistic narratives. Hannah Hall, a national behaviour specialist, delivered training on supporting students with ADHD and SEMH needs. Feedback from staff was very positive, and we will work hard to embed related strategies into our daily practice.

Thursday 20 November 2025 saw the return of Rae Pears, Director and Founder of Girlhood Reclaimed.  Rae delivers 5 outstanding assemblies to Years 7-11 looking at dismantling misogyny and sexist attitudes.  Students were queuing up to speak with Rae after each session and their response was amazing! 

Thank you for attending the KS3 Parent Information Event.  Attached is the presentation from the evening which is also available on the school website via the KS3 Parent Information Site Portal which can be accessed under the parent/carers section of the school website under Parent Information Events. The video will also be uploaded soon. Parents will be notified as soon as this has been uploaded.  

Here is the link to the Portal.

Year 7 trip to Christmas Carol: Thursday 27 November. We will be leaving the school site at 1.05pm. Students will need a packed lunch and a drink. Students can bring cash to purchase an ice cream. The show finishes at 4.30pm and students will be dismissed from the Theatre. 

Year 8 trip to Christmas Carol: Thursday 27 November. We will be leaving the school site at 1.05pm. Students can bring snacks and a drink. Students can bring cash to purchase an ice cream. The show finishes at 4.30pm and students will be dismissed from the Theatre. 

Year 9 continue to set a fantastic example for the rest of the school with their maturity and excellent behaviour.

We were also fortunate enough to hear a fantastic assembly by a local organisation called Girlhood Reclaimed. This assembly is kicking off our work around misogyny and sexism across the school and is giving  real momentum to the work that needs to be done around this. 

The assembly was really well received and we look forward to putting the ideas discussed into practice.

Year 10 are settled academically and working well, so now is a great time to build their confidence and soft skills through extra-curricular activities. Many students already attend clubs, but we would love to see even more take part. Please encourage your child to try a new club or activity. Even one a week can make a real difference to their growth and enjoyment of school.

This week, we have continued with the launch of our Shout Out initiative, which aims to celebrate students for their hard work and positive contributions. Students have the chance to receive a ""shout out"" from their tutor and at the end of two weeks, students are entered into a raffle to earn a chocolate reward. We are excited to announce that we have already had a winner in this initiative, congratulations to a student in 11EM for their outstanding efforts!

I have been continually impressed with Year 11's enthusiasm and engagement, particularly in relation to their mock exam results. Many students are showing a strong ambition to improve for the upcoming mocks in February, which is fantastic to see.

I would also like to remind you of the importance of Period 6 attendance. These sessions are a valuable opportunity for students to go into greater detail on specific topics and receive additional support as they prepare for their final exams. It is crucial that all students make the most of this time to ensure they are fully prepared.

Best wishes

Mr Arnold

Year 12 students have their Futures Conference period 1 and 2 on Wednesday 26 November. This session is invaluable for students making their Post 16 plans.

Date: Wednesday 26 November and Thursday 27 November.

Venue: A109/Main Hall 

Time: 6:30pm

This week sees the PA Winter Sharing evenings take place. Come along to Dance, Drama and Music performances from students from across the school.

Tickets are available on wisepay: 

£2 - Open Concession

£3 - Standard

£5 - Pay It Forward

Please kindly remind your child/children to collect any food made in Food Science lessons.  Recently more items have been left behind, leading to food waste and extra ingredient or packaging costs.  Students are encouraged to take their food home to share their learning.  We can store items safely overnight, when they accidently fail to remember, to collect the next day but space is limited.  Thank you for your continued support.  We hope you get to see and taste their delicious creations!

Next week we are delighted to hold our House Assemblies, a special opportunity to celebrate our students and recognise those who have truly lived up to our new House mottos.  These assemblies highlight the hard work, kindness and commitment shown across our school community.  We look forward to rewarding students for their achievements and celebrating the positive spirit that each House brings.

Thanks to the generosity of our amazing staff and students, we managed to raise a massive £253.38 during our bake sale this week.  As SLT kindly covered the cost of the Pain Au Chocolates that were sold, every single penny has been donated to Sudan's emergency appeal. Thank you so much to everyone who supported and donated towards this cause.

Mrs Ahmad and Mrs Forbes

Miss Madge and the Gamma student leaders will be selling Christmas messages in the Hub on Tuesday 25 November  and Wednesday 26 November.  Each message will be attached to a candy cane and delivered around the school. Students will need to bring in money to take part and send a lovely festive message.  All money raised will go to Bristol and Weston’s Hospital Charity, helping support the amazing work they do.

We are excited to share an opportunity for young people aged 11-16 to join The Ardagh Youth Nature Project, run in partnership with OTR (Off The Record) and Action for Conservation.

This programme is designed to be a gentle and supportive space, focusing on improving mental health, building social connections, and developing a positive connection with nature.

Key Information:

Who: Young people aged 11–16.

What: A hands-on project designing and implementing a nature initiative at The Ardagh.

When: Starting Thursday, 22nd January 2026.

Time: Thursday evenings, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (sessions are fortnightly/irregular).

Location: The Ardagh (starting indoors, moving outdoors).

Dates for Your Diary:

The first scheduled dates are: Jan 22nd; Feb 5th, 12th, 26th; March 12th, 26th; April 23rd; and May 7th.

Please contact Ms Sweetland on nicky.s@otrbristol.org.uk with any questions.

For further information please click here and sign up.

• Term 1 Monday 1 September 2025 to Friday 24 October 2025

• Term 2 Monday 3 November 2025 to Friday 19 December 2025

• Term 3 Monday 5 January 2026 to Friday 13 February 2026

• Term 4 Monday 23 February 2026 to Thursday 2 April 2026

• Term 5 Monday 20 April 2026 to Friday 22 May 2026

• Term 6 Monday 1 June 2026 to Friday 17 July 2026

• Monday 1 September 2025

• Friday 26 September 2025

• Friday 14 November 2025

• Monday 30 March 2026

• Monday 20 April 2026