Welcome Letter

TO:  PARENTS / CARERS  OF  ALL  YEAR  8  STUDENTS

February 2026

Dear Parents / Carers,

At Sponne, students follow a 5-year curriculum plan and receive a broad and interesting programme of study. We will now be building on the rich curriculum at KS3 and over this term your child will be asked to make a preference about which subjects they would like to study in KS4, where choices are offered.

The booklet on this site sets out which pathways are available and contains details of all the subjects that students will be following in accordance with the demands of the National Curriculum and the school’s own curriculum policies.  Personal, Social and Health Education lessons have already been used to focus students’ minds on the issues to consider when selecting courses alongside careers information, support from their form tutors and they have had an assembly outlining the process to them.

All students are asked to submit their Google Pathway Preference Form by Thursday 19th March 2026. The school will do its utmost to meet all requests, subject to staffing and resources as well as the choices being appropriate for long term career aspirations.

Following your Progress Evening on Tuesday 10th or Thursday 26th February, there will be a KS4 Pathways Evening on Thursday 5th March 2026 to which Year 8 students and their parents/carers will have the further opportunity to speak to subject teachers about subjects at Key Stage 4 (more details to follow).  You may find it helpful to reference the relevant subject information when speaking to staff about the qualifications they offer and please see the subject films that are also available on this school website for further guidance.  After the pathways evening, a google pathways form will become available for completion in the KS4 pathways google classroom (all year 8 students have access to this).

With your support, we hope to ensure that your child will make appropriate and positive choices, whilst establishing high expectations for the future.  If you require any further details or assistance, please feel free to contact either Ms Bhakta or Miss Machon.

Yours faithfully

Ms L Bhakta Miss Machon

Assistant  Headteacher Head of Year  8