“Every Student Thriving”
“Every Student Thriving”
Wow ... what a stunning term! A new 'Culture Day' established, a new Sports Day format, work experience, focus week, induction for Year 6 and Year 12, work experience, D of E expeditions, Awards evening, exams - the list is seemingly endless. All of these experiences coalesce together to form what is the John Colet community spirit and embody our holistic philosophy. It has been fabulous to see our students engaging proactively, acting as ambassadors and demonstrating leadership qualities throughout such a busy term. One student commented to me that she felt that Sports Day had given her some 'quality memories for life!'. Who could ask for more?
As is usual for this time of year we also begin to look at how the school will evolve in September and one notable change, amongst many, will be the introduction of Milo our own PAT dog . Milo is a fully trained PAT dog and after the excellent success of the use of PAT dogs in school we have decided to pilot this full-time.
<-- MILO!
It just remains for me to wish you all a restful break and I hope that you manage to create some memorable moments with family and friends during the summer break.
Have a good one!
From September 2025 mobiles phones policy update: This is an area of interesting contention. Last year we moved to a ‘gate to gate’ system. The students responded to this incredibly well. Nearly all major issues were reduced. Next year we will go one step further and require that phones are off and in bags as well. Young people need to learn to be disciplined and the vast majority of our students are excellent. I therefore feel that those students who are self-disciplined should be acknowledged and respected as they will follow the rules. It is now about ensuring the very small percentage of students who are left learn to ‘switch off and bag up’.
During school hours, should you need to contact your child please telephone the School Office and we will get a message to them. Alternatively if a student needs to contact their parent/carer they should go to the Student Support office or School Office to ask them to contact home on the students behalf.
Unfortunately, at times parents try to contact students directly which causes their phone to go off during lessons - this results in the student having their phone confiscated as per our school policy and it will be a parent/carer that will have to pick the mobile phone up from the School Office. If you are unable to collect the phone please arrange for a family member, or responsible adult to collect it on your behalf. Students will not be able to pick up their phone themselves under any circumstance. A number of students have raised the issue of having to use their phone to pay for transport home. If this is the case the student needs to come and speak to the School Office. We will arrange for a loan which will need to be reimbursed the next day.
As we come to the end of another busy year, it is a good time to set out our expectations for next year.
All students should be at school all day, every day, unless they are too unwell to attend. If your child is experiencing mild symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, hay fever, period pain or feeling tired, please send them to school as these are not valid reasons for absence. Students can access medical support in school, and you will be contacted if they need to be sent home.
We know some students struggle to attend school or access lessons due to feelings of anxiety, stress or worry. If this is the case, please contact their form tutor or head of year in the first instance. Keeping your child at home does not help them in these cases and we ask that you send them in to school and let us know so we can offer support.
Your child only needs to remain at home if they have been sick or had diarrhoea caused by a bug, and in these cases we ask that they remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode. Please report any absences via the Arbor parent before 9.00am on every day of absence.
We ask that medical and other appointments are made outside of the school day. Where students need to leave for essential appointments during school hours, please notify us via the Arbor parent app and send proof of appointment to attendance@johncolet.co.uk. We will only be able to authorise the absence once we have received this.
All students should be on the school site by 8.27am to ensure they can reach their tutor group by 8.30am for registration. As well as attendance, we place great importance on punctuality and expect all students to be in school for registration so please encourage them to allow plenty of time for their journey. Students arriving to school after 8.30am will receive a C1 on each occasion, escalating to a C3 after school detention should they be late twice in a calendar week. Other sanctions will be considered for persistent lateness.
We are unable to authorise term time leave. Should you remove your child from school for a holiday, this will be recorded as unauthorised absence and may result in a fine being issued by the Local Authority. Please be aware that these restrictions also cover most absences, such as family birthdays, visiting relations or travelling for weekend breaks.
Where attendance drops too low, school is required by law to take additional action. We will contact you by telephone, email or letter and will invite you to meetings at school if necessary. We will work with you to support you in improving your child's attendance through our attendance process, but will refer to the Local Authority who may issue Notice to Improve letters or issue Fixed Penalty Notices as necessary.
We know that good attendance is vital to ensure students have the opportunity to achieve their very best, fully engage in extra curricular activities and develop life skills and friendships. We hope you all have a restful summer break and look forward to seeing all students in September.
With kind regards
Di Bull and Natalie Preece, the Attendance Team
On 5th November 2024 in Wharf Road, Wendover a member of the public was taken ill. Some passers by ran into the school asking to borrow a defibrillator. Our Student Medical Officer sprung into action, grabbed the defibrillator and without a second thought offered to assist. When Miss Shervell arrived at the scene she immediately started chest compressions. Her bravery and courage did not go unnoticed, even by the emergency services at the scene. For this valiant event a local Police Officer nominated Miss Shervell to receive an LCU Commander's Commendation by Thames Valley Police.
Year 11 Prom was an incredible event. The Year 11s arrived at Waddesdon village hall looking their absolute best! There was food and dancing with a photo booth too. It was a wonderful event and the Year 11s all danced the night away. They were a credit to John Colet School.
Remember that vehicles should not be driven onto campus unless you are authorised to do so by the school office. Please park and walk. Unauthorised drivers are increasing the risk of accident by significantly adding to the volume of traffic.
If authorised to do so, parents should drop-off directly in front of reception. Please do not use the parking bays for drop-off. The car-park directly in front of school is for staff vehicles only.
Please also be reminded that vehicle engines should be switched off when dropping off, or waiting for students to come out of school. Idling causes air pollution which is harmful to the school community.
Do you know of any one who would like to join the John Colet School. We have a vacancy for a Cover Supervisor.
Full Job Description is available on the John Colet School website.
Our Year 12 students enjoyed a taster day at The University of Hertfordshire, where they attended lectures on a wide range of subjects and found out more about student life.
A small group of students attended the Confident Futures Skills show which was held at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium. The students got to try driving a virtual digger as well as meeting employers and higher/ further education providers.
A group of our year 10 students were invited to visit Somerville College to find out more about studying at Oxford. The students had a campus tour, lunch in the dining hall and a very interesting and informative presentation about research for new medicines.
We were pleased to welcome several guest speakers this half term including Group Captain Davies, OBE who came to talk to our Year 12s and Year 8s about his role in Operation Morlop, being in charge of decontaminating Salisbury after the Novichok attack. Two great presentations and lots of questions from our students.
We also had a talk from Dr Whiston from Oxford University and Dr Alex Carter from Cambridge University debating the role of ethics in AI. The debate was hosted by Andy Kind and recorded for the Unbelievable Podcast series. Great questions from our year 12 students.
Mrs Sinacore has begun planning for next year with some activities and guest speakers already arranged. If you would like to come and speak to our students or know someone who would please email tsinacore@johncolet.co.uk. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has completed an apprenticeship or can talk about roles in construction, law, plumbing and heating, marketing and finance.
During Focus Week we had over 220 students from year 10 and 12 out on work experience placements. Our students spent a week working with a wide variety of employers in many locations and sectors. We have been really pleased to receive very positive feedback about our students and many students enjoyed their placements, some being offered part jobs and apprenticeship opportunities once they have left us.
The following students received excellent feedback from employers and staff who visited them and are our WEX Stars:
Thomas, Shaan , Oskar, Natalie, Tara, Charlie, Alfred, Georgie, Tais, Ashton, William, Alfie, Emily, Louis , Lily V, Sharavan, Lilian.
A group of students recently visited the World's End Blue Diamond Garden Centre to spend our Gardening Vouchers. Thank you to Karen, the plant manager and her team for all their help with selecting suitable plants and the donation of bedding plants. Our Year 7 Gardening Club members then planted up a range of plants outside the Maths block to brighten up the space and attract pollinators.
Mrs Pearcey and Mrs Sinacore recently took a group of students that have been helping with the school garden throughout the term to RHS Wisley. The students took part in a workshop to help improve diversity around the school site and enjoyed touring the gardens.
It was a pleasure to be able to accompany 50 Year 7s on their trip to Mendip during their very first Focus Week here at John Colet. Their behaviour and overall attitude was amazing, and it was incredible to see so much resilience and personal challenges being overcome. That includes students who were afraid of heights climbing the sheer rock face of a disused quarry, and students who were afraid of water building rafts and throwing themselves off of a pontoon into a river!
The reports from back at school also spoke of great behaviour on both the day trips and the in-school activities, and made me very proud to be Year 7’s Head of Year.
Looking at R-Points,
A huge well done to everyone who took part in Sports Day. Your energy, teamwork, and house spirit were fantastic to see, and it was a real highlight of the term. Whether you competed or cheered on your friends, you showed what being part of a supportive and respectful school community looks like.
Thank you as well to all the students and families who joined us at Awards Evening. It was a pleasure to celebrate the successes of so many of you. This year, my top picks go to Ellie-Mae Richardson and Freddie Green. My runners-up were John Spiller and Ella Atkinson, I’d also like to give honourable mentions to Adam Bella, Peter Cheung, William Brown, Ben Massa, Ashria Bhashkaran, Amelia Francis, and Jasmine Richardson, you’ve all stood out for your efforts, kindness, growth and commitment. Choosing just a few students this year was incredibly difficult, as so many of you have made meaningful improvements and worked hard to be your best selves. That in itself is something worth celebrating.
Thank you, Year 8, for your resilience, your progress, and your positivity. Enjoy a well-earned rest over the summer. We look forward to seeing you back in September, ready for new challenges and fresh opportunities.
Have a safe and happy summer break. You’ve earned it!
It was wonderful to see students so engaged in their Focus Week activities. Those who visited Cornwall received glowing feedback from staff, and Miss Davies kindly shared some fantastic photos.
Reports from both day trips and in-school activities highlighted excellent behaviour, and I felt incredibly proud to be Head of Year 9.
A special congratulations to Jessica Gomez-Gomez, the only Year 9 student to rank in the school’s top 15. Well done also to 9Z for topping the year group with an impressive 1,889 R points.
It’s hard to believe our Year 9 students have already completed their first year of GCSEs. I encourage everyone to use the summer break to reflect on the year’s highs and lows—and return refreshed, ready to continue their journey.
Well done to the Year 10 cohort on their efforts during their work experience. Receiving so many emails regarding their hard work, resilience and ‘can do’ attitude filled me with pride.
This term we said goodbye to Year 11s, they attended our Leavers Assembly which was a really joyous and emotional event. The students listened to speeches from their tutors and then all took part in shirt signing.
They proved how well they can scrub up at Year 11 Prom and we all had a brilliant time. Year 11, I am so proud of you all and will miss you dearly
A big ‘well done!’ to our Year 12 students who completed their work experience week last week. Tha vast majority were on physical placements and others working on virtual opportunities, usually because they have already completed an in-person placement (e.g. with the NHS) earlier in the year. Employed feedback about our cohort has been great to hear and the Year 12 students have learned new skills and enjoyed new experiences in the workplace. Thank you to Mrs Sinacore for her excellent management of the Work Experience programme in school.
The average number of R points per students in Year 12 is currently 24. The top student, Ollie D has 69 points!
Here are some photos of our time spent with Pathway Ponies. We had time with the ponies engaging in activities such as making and undertaking obstacle courses, mindfulness and grooming.
Four of our students went to Florida for the Grand Nationals Cheerleading competition. The entry to the nationals was through qualification only. The girls came top in their division at a Major International competition which then made them qualify to the Grand Nationals. The success highlights their dedication and hard work of the girls and their teams at this level. These girls came joint winners out of 157 teams that competed.
This term has been filled with exciting cricket action for Years 7 to 10, with JCS enjoying remarkable winning streaks. It’s been fantastic to witness the progress of our teams not just in their collective performance, but also in the development of individual players across all year groups. Keep it up cricket crew!
This term our Sports Leaders have helped run several events such as Cricket tournaments, Wendover Junior School sports day and Little Acorns sports day. The days would not have been so enjoyable, well organised and inclusive if it wasn't for our leaders.
After a successful football season for both the year 8 boys A team and year 9 boys team which saw both sides reach the final of their league, the two sides came up against each other in an inter school friendly fixture. The year 9 team came out on top, winning 4-1 but the year 8s took the goal of the day after a 30 yard screamer from Charlie. Despite the year 9 win, the game was concluded with penalties after both sides suffered defeats this way in their finals.
The afternoon was a great celebration with both teams already looking forward to next season.
John Colet School Sports Day was a fantastic success, with students taking part with energy, enthusiasm, and excellent sportsmanship. The Wycombe Wanderers mascot made an appearance to say hello and cheer everyone on, adding to the fun atmosphere. Students were recognised for their efforts with certificates, and the overall winning year groups and houses proudly took home trophies. A big well done to all the students for their hard work and outstanding behaviour throughout the day, and a huge thank you to all the staff who helped set up, run events, supervise, and organise such a brilliant day. It was amazing to see the whole JCS community come together and celebrate sport and teamwork.
Well done to all our athletes who competed in the District athletics event. A particular congratulations to the winners of their events below;
Alfie - Year 7 Javelin
Noah - Year 7 75m Hurdles
Ruby - Year 7 100m
Lola - Year 8 75m Hurdles
Grace - Year 10 Discus
Overall results
Year 7 boys - 4th
Year 7 girls - 10th
Year 8 boys - 5th
Year 8 girls - 8th
Year 9 boys - 8th
Year 9 girls - 8th
Year 10 boys - 4th
Year 10 girls - 7th
Overall boys - 6th
Overall girls - 7th
JCS Overall mixed gender schools - 5th
During the last week of term our Year 7 students launched into an exciting STEM project that saw them building pressure rockets and programming Microbits also to track its acceleration. This hands-on experience wasn't just fun—it was a chance to develop real-world skills in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
They were given a range of tools while working together with a small team to code, build and test a rocket. In the coding sessions, they used Micro:bits to develop logical thinking, programming skills. The project also highlighted essential skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity, and resilience. Students supported one another, shared ideas, and learned how to bounce back from failed launches with determination and a growth mindset. More photographs of the day can be found on the Design and Technology Departments Instagram - @john_colet_school_dt
It was a day full of learning, laughter, and lift-offs—proof that when it comes to learning, the sky’s not the limit… it’s just the beginning!
Many of the launched rockets managed to at least get off the ground, using pressurised water. (Mr Brand and Ms Williams both got soaked as they supported the launches.) Team 5 achieved the highest launch so far!
On Friday 11th July some staff and students held a 12 Hour Ultimate Frisbee challenge. All donations went to REFUGE which is a charity that helps victims of domestic violence. The team raised £645.85. Well done to all that took place. ,
Here is the website if you would like to have a look - https://refuge.org.uk/
Year 7 had an amazing time in Mendip. They all took part in various activities such as raft building, archery, nerf wars, rock climbing and abseiling. We saw lots of students overcome many fears and they all did so well at attempting all the activities. The students were all absolutely lovely and their behaviour was phenomenal. The staff on site all complimented the students on their resilience and courage.
The children had a fun and educational time at Whipsnade Zoo. They saw a variety of animals and they have expressed learning new skills, for example patience, whilst waiting for the animals to come out and photography skills.
During Focus Week, our Year 7s got stuck into a fun mix of activities all about growth and resilience. They showed great energy and teamwork in dodgeball, tackled tricky orienteering routes using their map skills, and took on the challenge of BMXing with Mike! Whether they were racing around on bikes or finding their way through the course, the students pushed themselves, supported each other, and built confidence along the way.
For Focus Week, Year 7 had a Programming Day - they researched Computer Science innovators such as Tim Berners-Lee, Linus Torvalds, Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace. The students had the chance to spend some time engaging with practical coding using science experiments, coding challenges and coding the CuteBots (photographed). They were all super engaged and a lot of fun was had exploring a side of Computing we don't normally get to get stuck into. One of the most exciting aspects of the day was the CodeNinjas - the sensei team were absolutely fantastic! The CodeNinja session was led by Sensei Robert, Sensei Mahira, Sensei Soriaya and Sensei Charles who all worked with our Year 7s to help them to produce a computer game which they could take home with them (look out for their QR code leaflets, parents!). Our teachers had fun as well because they got stuck in with the tasks - it was great to see some of the teachers making computer games as well!
We are super grateful to the CodeNinjas for supporting our day with this free session and would like to invite parents to take advantage of the offer to attend the CodeNinja's Aylesbury based Dojo for summer camp activities. Friends and family of the John Colet School are able to get a free session for both students aged 7 to 14, and for ages 5 to 6. If you are interested, please check out the CodeNinja leaflet or ask your child for a leaflet from their Computing teacher.
Over 70% of the students surveyed have told us that the CodeNinja session was 4+ stars. Overwhelmingly, many of our students wished for more time in the sessions because they got to explore new aspects of coding.
One student wrote: "I did Code Ninjas, Microbit, Cutebot, a poster about a significant figure in IT and the farmbot and AI comic book work. I enjoyed the poster work because I could be creative and the Code Ninjas work because I liked the game and the programming. I have learned how to use the Cutebots and I have learned about Sir Tim Berners-Lee. I have also learned about Code Ninjas. I have really enjoyed Programming Day and it has been supremely appreciated by me."
Another noted: "I think my favourite activity would be the code ninja game because I found it very interesting and somewhat challenging. It was also very new to me as I've never done anything like that before. I also really liked how customisable it was and how much freedom there was. I have also never been a big fan of coding therefore I would never choose to do it but after this day I feel I find it much more enjoyable!"
Another student said: "I took part in all of the challenges and my favourite was code ninja. I learnt how to customize and learnt that coding reads from the list down. All the staff helped me if I was stuck too. I even managed to code my very own cutebot to spin, which I didn't think I could do."
One more quote from our fantastic year 7s which really captures why we have a Programming day: "I was able to expand my skills in coding and use cutebots which I could not do before and really enjoyed learning how to do this."
I'd really like to extend my thanks to CodeNinjas, to the staff who were supporting and the students for participating in the Programming Day 2025 - the Computing department look forward to next year! Keep coding!
Today Year 8 spent a very windy day fencing, axe throwing, and climbing both a climbing wall and Jacob's Ladder. We finished the day toasting marshmallows on a campfire.
Year 8s PGL adventures continue on Wednesday. We have shot each other in archery tag. We have built rafts and watched them fall apart. All played golf with frisbees. We climbed to the top of a pole together with 'All aboard'. There has also been an opportunity to replenish sugar supplies in PGL's shop before finishing the day with a quiz.
Thursday at PGL saw students quickly descend from height with some abseiling and even quicker with “Quick Jump”. Safely on the ground, we did some rifle shooting. We also learnt some survival skills including shelter building which we almost had to put into action for real after Mrs Marshall and Mrs Collins’ tent attempted to blow away! We finished our final full day at PGL with a Silent disco.
On the final day of PGL, Year 8s all had a chance to shoot at each other again, this time with lasers rather than with a bow and arrow. We all had a go at canoeing too, with some people deciding that the weather was warm enough that it was worth capsizing their boat for a quick dip!
As part of the Festival of Sports, our Year 8s took part in a variety of fun and active sessions, including cricket, orienteering, and end ball. They enjoyed mixing things up by using different equipment like Frisbees, howlers, and netballs to keep the games exciting and fresh. The students showed great energy, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout the day. It was a great chance for everyone to try new things, stay active, and have a lot of fun together.
On a sunny day filled with excitement and adventure, our Year 9 students took on the ultimate outdoor challenge at Go Ape! The much-anticipated trip saw students pushing their limits and working together in an action-packed day of high ropes, teamwork, and unforgettable memories.
The day began with the Treetop Adventure Plus, a thrilling course featuring more than 20 high ropes crossings spread over two loops, including wobbly bridges, swinging platforms, and the ever-popular tree-to-tree zip wire. Students tackled each obstacle with determination and confidence, encouraging one another as they climbed higher and braved the elements.
Some groups took on the additional challenge of a 5km woodland walk, enjoying the natural surroundings and showing great resilience and teamwork along the way.
A highlight of the day was Baboonzled, Go Ape’s giant outdoor board game. This unique activity challenged students both mentally and physically, as they raced against the clock to complete a variety of tasks. With just one hour to collect as many points as possible, teams had to think strategically, communicate effectively, and support one another through a fast-paced mix of puzzles and physical challenges.
Throughout the entire day, the attitudes and behaviour of our Year 9 students were exemplary. They represented the school with pride, showing enthusiasm, respect, and kindness from start to finish.
A special thank you to all the staff who supported the trip. Your encouragement, guidance, and good humour helped make the day a fantastic success.
Science Chick Project Takes Flight!
This year’s Science Chick Project was met with huge excitement from our students, even before it began! With news spreading early that the project was returning, anticipation built quickly.
We received 10 eggs, and by Wednesday, 9 chicks successfully hatched, 7 girls and 2 boys! Chick #10 was the first to make its grand entrance, followed by Chick #8 and Chick #7. A live webcam captured the entire process, giving students the chance to observe the hatching in real-time and share updates with the group.
The chicks were lovingly named Georgia, Rachet, Dazai, Wing, Quaver, and more, and quickly became part of the group. By Friday, students were ready to apply their scientific skills, recording data such as mass, height, wingspan, and even favourite food choices over the course of the week.
The bond between students and chicks grew stronger each day, with many treating the chicks as their own. After two incredible weeks of care, learning, and laughter, it was time to say goodbye. The chicks were rehomed in a safe, happy place, leaving our students with unforgettable memories and a deeper love for science.
Mrs Strachan Harvey
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Using those leftover burger buns from a barbecue. Pan- fry some sweet brioche buns in butter to crisp and golden. Serve as a decadent dessert sandwich with your favourite ice cream.
If your circumstances have changed recently and you think you are eligible for free school meals please get in touch via pupilpremium@johncolet.co.uk and we can complete a simple check for you.
We have numerous items of unnamed lost property including coats, shoes, trainers, water bottles and food tech containers/equipment. If you are missing any items, please ask your child to visit Student Welfare Officer's office. All unclaimed items will be donated to charity at the end of term.
Please can I ask that your child's name is put on everything. Thank you.