Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move further into this academic year, I am constantly reminded of what makes the Mascalls community so unique. This past week has been a whirlwind of activity across the academy, particularly with our co-curricular engagement. It has been a pleasure to see trips taking place across a number of different year groups, and I was especially proud to hear that our students were commended by members of the public for their conduct on the Othello trip and the visit to the Emirates Stadium. Whether exploring the arts or world-class sporting venues, our students continue to be excellent ambassadors for the academy.

In addition to our current students' successes, this week also saw National Offer Day for the 2026 cohort. We are pleased to say that our numbers continue to rise, and we have seen a significant uplift in Mascalls being the first choice for local families. This morning, we have already welcomed some of those families to visit the academy once again to see us in action, and it is always a privilege to show prospective families the purposeful learning environment we provide here.

I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to our Year 9 parents and carers for their support this week. We were delighted to see such a fantastic turnout for our Options Information Evening; in fact, it was the largest attendance we have ever had for this event. It was wonderful to see so many families engaging with the process as our students begin to make these important decisions about their future pathways.

I am also absolutely delighted to share some fantastic news regarding our rewards system. We strive to foster a culture of excellence and kindness, and the data suggests our students are rising to the challenge. The number of MasStar awards being given to students for their exceptional contributions continues to increase, and the same can be said for our Golden Tickets. Most impressively, our MYP reward points are almost double the numbers recorded at this same point last year, which is a wonderful reflection of how our students are embracing the IB Middle Years Programme.

In terms of other areas of concern for parents and students, the wellbeing of our young people remains our absolute priority. I am pleased to report that we have a third less reports of bullying this academic year compared to this point last year. This is a significant trend that we believe is due to our robust reporting systems and proactive culture. Students are well aware that they can report any concerns to their advisor or their College pastoral teams in person. We also have a dedicated online reporting system where any reports are picked up by our trained staff who are specifically equipped to handle these matters. Furthermore, the continual work of our anti-bullying ambassadors is successfully raising the profile of the academy as a space where bullying will not be tolerated.

With the welcome appearance of the sun this week, I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a reminder regarding our uniform expectations. We take great pride in our appearance at Mascalls, and maintaining these high standards is a vital part of our academy identity. Recently, we have noticed a small number of girls reverting to wearing knee-high socks; please may I remind parents and students that knee-high socks are not permitted and skirts must not be rolled. Additionally, while jumpers are optional if students find themselves too warm wearing both layers, blazers must be worn at all times.

Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing these values and expectations at home. It is a pleasure to see our students thriving both in their studies and as kind, principled members of our community.

Yours faithfully,

Jo Brooks -  Principal