Student notices...released every Monday.

Year 9 Notices

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Monday 15th December

£20 Challenge Update: The Empire Building Begins!

The Business and Enterprise Department is thrilled to announce the successful selection of the first winner of the £20 Challenge!

This winning team has already started work on building their business empire. More details about this team and their exciting venture will follow soon!

However....the competition heats up! 🔥

We received a phenomenal 58 fully formed well designed business plans some with large teams of students working collaboratively on each one — a massive congratulations to everyone who demonstrated their entrepreneurial spirit and submitted an entry!

From this strong field, we simply couldn't ignore three other outstanding business proposals that also made a very strong case for the investment.

We have therefore decided to narrow the competition down to 3 more top proposals and are now exploring the exciting idea of extending the investment to two businesses instead of just one!

Next Steps: Proof of Concept

To help us make the final decision between these three other proposals, we are now looking for a "proof of concept" from these contenders to showcase an example of their products. This has now been requested so theses teams know who they are!!

Once product samples have been handed in; focus groups and feedback sessions will be organized in order to gather the final data needed to make a decision so stay tuned for the announcement of a potential second investment opportunity and the final winning business (or businesses) of the £20 Challenge 2025/26!!!

Thank you, Business and Enterprise Dept.

Monday 8th December

Arbizer Fitness Training

Fight off the new year blues and the Christmas potbelly, by joining the Arbizer fitness class. On Tuesday’s 3.15 - 4.00, in the Assembly Hall, Mr Pizer and Mr Arbuthnot will be running a Fitness class. Initially, the exercises will be body weight, and it is an opportunity for you to test and build your fitness. Can you stick the pace for a half term? The whole spring term?

Come along and challenge yourself. Be prepared to be exhausted!!

Monday 1st December

Attention Oxford Inspire Scholars

Oxbridge Scholars Club sessions starts this week. Sessions begin this Wednesday, 3.00–5.00pm. Sessions will be Wednesday Week A moving forward.

The room will be emailed out on the day as it will depend on what the topic is.

Please bring snacks and water.

If anyone is interested in joining, there are still spaces available. You can find further information here, and you are welcome to email Ms Fitzgerald to find out more.

Ms Fitzgerald😀

We have been inundated!!! The £20 Challenge submissions are IN!

We asked you to come up with a brilliant business idea using £20 investment from us (which we managed to find down the back of the sofa in the staff room) and you didn't just meet the challenge — you practically launched a mini-startup frenzy!

Over 50 fantastic business ideas have landed on our desks, most with large groups of students involved in each team. We hope your first board meetings didn't end in arguments over who gets to keep the profits!!!

Now our hard work begins...The Business Department will be locking themselves in a room, fuelled by questionable snacks, to meticulously sort through all your incredible submissions and select the final, ultimate winner!

Stay tuned—you'll hear from us soon! (And yes, we'll try to stop ourselves from stealing your ideas and getting rich :))

Good luck!

The Business Department

Monday 24th November

Naked Truth: Porn What's the big deal? Assembly

Today you will attend an assembly during Period 1 led by The Naked Truth Project (also known as NT). The session will focus on pornography education, looking at how online content can influence the way young people think about relationships and behaviour.

Who are The Naked Truth Project?

NT is a UK charity that works with schools across the country. Their team delivers sessions that are age-appropriate, informative and non-judgemental, using videos, stories, interactive activities and research to help students think clearly and confidently about the topic.

What will the session cover?

The assembly is titled “Porn: What’s the Big Deal?”. It will explore:

How pornography can give unrealistic or unhealthy ideas about relationships.
How it can affect mental wellbeing, confidence, expectations and body image.
The wider issues in the porn industry, including exploitation.
How to think critically about what you see online, understand consent, and know where to get help if you ever feel unsure or concerned.

Why are we doing this?

As part of Relationships & Sex education and our wider curriculum, we want to support you in understanding healthy relationships, consent and online safety. This assembly is designed to give you helpful information and space to think.

Anything else to know?

The assembly will be delivered by trained NT educators, not your usual teachers.
The content is designed to be respectful, supportive and appropriate for your age group.
A separate notice has gone to parents/carers with additional information.

If you have any worries or questions before or after the session, please speak to your Tutor, Community Team, or any trusted adult in school.

Ms Easton.

Monday 17th November

GCSE PE (Mock week)

Don't forget- this week's classrooms for PE lessons are listed below:

Thursday P5

Miss Sloan- G3
Mr Gentry - I2
Mr Kelly - B2
Mrs Finley - S2

Miss Sloan.

Monday 10th November

GCSE PE - Classrooms for practical lessons

Practical lessons will be theory-based for the next two weeks due to Year 11 mock examinations. Please go to the following classrooms:

Tuesday P4:

Miss Sloan- E12

Mr Gentry - S8

Mr Kelly - MFL3

Mrs Finley - S5

Next week:

Thursday P5

Miss Sloan- G3

Mr Gentry - I2

Mr Kelly - B2

Mrs Finley - S2

Miss Sloan.

2026 Ski Trip - One place available!

There is still one place available on the 2026 ski trip. To find out more about the trip please speak to or email Ms Brooker.

Monday 3rd November

Options Changes

Please be aware that the options change window has now closed. Any existing requests will be processed but no more change requests will be considered. We hope you continue to enjoy studying your chosen subjects. Mr Atwell.

As the weather gets colder… ❄️

A few updates about break and lunch now that the fields are closed for the winter months.

It is important that all students watch the update featuring the Senior Team below, which outlines the expectations for when the fields are closed. You can find the full rules for break and lunch at any time on the Break & Lunch page if you need a reminder. It is each student’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with these rules and expectations.

Please note some minor changes to the rooming for the quiet spaces. Board games are now available in the quiet space. Remember to sign in via the QR codes displayed in the rooms. You can find the updated rooming here or at any time on the Rooming page.

The 3G Pitch is now open on selected days – see the details below. This information can also be found at any time on the Rooming page. Remember to bring the correct footwear!

Ms Fitzgerald

Monday 20th October

Ski Trip Launching for 2027

Watch the video to find out more!

Option Subject Change Window

I hope you are continuing to enjoy your option subjects in Year 9.

A reminder that the change window closes straight after half term.

From November, you will no longer be allowed to change your option subjects, as most subjects will be starting GCSE content from then, and the amount of catch up work would become un-manageable.

It is usual to sometimes find some of your lessons / subjects challenging - if this is the case for you at any point please do speak to your teachers moving forwards and they will do their best to support you.

Thank you, Mr Atwell.

Monday 13th October

Two spaces have become available on the New York Performing Arts Trip, taking place during Enrichment Week, from Monday 6th July to Friday 10th July 2026!

This unforgettable trip costs £1,895, which includes:

🎭 Breakfast and dinner each day

🎬 A Broadway show

🎤 A professional performing arts workshop

🎥 A set production tour

✨ Plus lots of other exciting activities in New York City!

If you’re passionate about performing arts and would love to experience the energy and excitement of New York, don’t miss this opportunity. Please let me know by Friday 17th October if you would like to go on the trip or get your parents/carers to me: elelliott@wardenpark.co.uk

Mrs Lelliott-Boase, Trip Leader

Monday 6th October

Love Reading? Love Books? Meet the Authors!

Become a book critic and share your thoughts and opinions on the five shortlisted books from the Southern Schools Book Awards. You will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony in February, where the winner will be announced. At the event, you will hear authors discuss what inspires them to write and where their ideas come from. You will also be able to use your free book token to purchase a new book of your choice and have it signed by the author.

Speak to or email Mrs Targett in the Library to get signed up and start reading! stargett2@wardenpark.co.uk

Two Spaces available on the NASA trip to Orlando in February half term 2026!

If you are interested in this trip, please see this webpage here which has all of the details. Please speak to your parents/carers tonight if you would like to go on this trip. Details about cost were sent out in last week's newsletter as the payment plan to join the trip at this time is slightly different to the one advertised on the webpage. Please let me know by tomorrow if you would like to go on the trip or get your parents/carers to me: dwheeler@wardenpark.co.uk

Miss Wheeler☀️

Clubs

Your tutor will now read through all of the clubs available for this Autumn term (up until Xmas holidays). We would like all students to attend a school club this year. Remember that attending clubs is not just an opportunity to make new friends but is also valid experience to write about on college applications and to talk about at college interviews. Which one will you try? Click the links below to review what's on offer!

Ms Wheeler

Monday 29th September

Character Enrichment Week Residentials 2026

A gentle reminder that you need to get your parents/carers to sign up for residential trips by this Wednesday.

To view information about our residential trips, please see the Enrichment Trips App on your iPad.

Reminder Oxford Inspire Scholars meeting this week!

Don’t forget we have an introductory meeting this Wednesday during tutor time. Please let your tutor know and meet in MFL1 at the start of tutor on Wednesday morning.

Monday 22nd September

STEM Challenge

Calling all budding engineers! This year's Mid Sussex STEM challenge is to build a train powered by potential energy. I am looking for a team of 6-8 students to take part in the challenge against other local schools. You will have until June for designing, building and testing your train before the big competition day where you will pit your train against what the other teams have built. The link below has some more information about last years challenge so you can see what you have to look forward to.

Interested? Come to I3 on Weds 24th of September for more information - Ms O'Brien

Break & Lunch Update- Fast Passes Remain Paused

Thank you for your patience!

Monday 15th September

Character Enrichment week trips 2026

Please be aware that trips are being launched in assemblies this week. If you are not present in an assembly, you will miss the launch of the trip. To ensure you have all the details, please make sure that you and your parents/carers read the newsletter this Friday, as it will include information about all the trips being launched this week.

As a guide:

Year 7 will have a residential
Year 8 will have a residential to PGL in Liddington.
Year 9 will have the opportunity to go to Amsterdam, France, or Spain (MFL trips are for MFL students only), or Poland.

If you are not in assembly for any reason, please make sure your parents/carers read the newsletter, which will be emailed out as usual this Friday, so you do not miss out on these opportunities.

Thank you,

Ms Wheeler

Break & Lunch Update- Fast Passes

Whilst we manage the queues and the new food etc we have paused fast pass use at break and lunch. We will confirm procedures for fast pass use in the Years 9 -11 area next week. Please join the regular queue for this week please.

Thank you, Ms Fitzgerald.

Monday 8th September

Options Change Window

Welcome back, and I hope you have really enjoyed starting your new timetables! Please give all of your new option subjects time, but if you would like to request to change any of your option subjects, the change request form is now open again until the end of October half term. You can access the request form ,by visiting the options website- changing options page. Link at the end of this message.

Please make sure that if you request to change, you are sure, as once you move to a new subject it is unlikely that you will be able to change back.

Subjects with limited availability:

Please note that there is extremely limited space for the subjects listed below.

Child Development
Computer Science
Business
History
Raise
Spanish

Oversubscribed Subjects:

Please note that the following subjects are oversubscribed and so you would need to join a waitlist if you wanted to switch to any of these.

Food preparation and nutrition
French
Media
DT - RM
Dance

Click here to access the options website.

Many thanks, Mr Atwell.

Course Information is available here. Late application forms are available below.

Break & Lunch Updates & Reminders for years 9 -11!

Year 11 VIP Area at lunch 1: We are pleased to announce that during Lunch 1 the mezzanine area will be solely available to Year 11 students. We are awaiting some new furniture, but we want this space to be enjoyed as a privilege for our senior students. It is important that the very highest standards of behaviour are displayed, as students may be asked to leave the area if these expectations are not met.

Note, break and during lunch 2, the mezzanine is a quiet space. Students seated up here must be quiet to enable others students to enjoy their lunch in this area.

Bags in the Dining Hall: To ensure the dining hall is more comfortable for everyone, bags are not permitted at break or lunch. The only exception will be in cases of extreme adverse weather, and staff will advise you when this applies. This will help avoid bags becoming wet from heavy rain.

Queues: Please ensure you do not block the main entryways when queueing for Parkes. Wait for staff to tell you when to move forward or enter the servery area.

At lunchtime, please note:

Hot meals (street food) are served on the left.
Deli (grab and go) is served on the right.
Please choose the most appropriate queue for your selection.

The Quiet Space during Lunch 1 is open from today. Please remember it is a quiet space – you must sign in using the QR code, and board games are available. The rooms can be found here. Be sure to look at Week B for today!

Finally, the water fountains for Key Stage 4 are located just outside the entrance to the toilets by Ferguson.

If you have any queries about expectations at break and lunch, please do come and find me, I am usually in the dining hall.

Ms Fitzgerald.

Royal Air Force Cadets

The Air Cadets, officially known as the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), is one of the UK's premier youth organisations, backed by the Royal Air Force.

At 172 Haywards Heath Squadron, we help our young people:

● Build confidence and self discipline

● Develop teamwork and leadership skills

● Stay active and engaged in a safe environment

● Gain recognised qualifications to enhance your CV

● Learn valuable STEM and life skills

YOU’RE INVITED! Come and See What We Do!

When: Thursday 18th September 19:30−21:30. Meet our current cadets, take part in activities and explore our facility.

Register your interest by scanning the QR code in this link; Recruitment Brochure. (Don't forget you can use a QR code on an iPad by taking a screenshot and then accessing the link via the screenshot).

Interested in a career in the NHS?

The NHS offers young people the opportunity to engage in work experience just 3 times per year, and these opportunities are always highly in demand. If you are interested, please see the link below;

NHS Work Experience Opportunities

Mrs Targett.

Monday 8th September

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