Newsletters

Dear families and friends,

What a term it has been, and it has come to a crescendo for me by having the privilege of sitting on the front row of The Forum, in Bath, on Wednesday evening watching, with pride, Sophie Radwell (Yr12) and Casey Tanner (Yr10) compering for the 20th West Wilts Dance Festival. This is a 3-night event with many schools across the county performing our group JoG students performed their piece with confidence and style at such a large and packed venue.  Lexi Malcomson (Yr7) is also compering at such a young age.  The school has been so well represented at such a large event by all students involved including those who have supported backstage as well.  Many thanks to Miss Ayling for co-ordinating our students, and I am sure her report will provide further details of the event and those involved.  What a great way to end the term.

Since our last newsletter, you will have noted on our social media sites the continuing range of support and experiences our students and families can access through this wonderful school.  Period 6 revision sessions, science live trips for Year 10, maths and English masterclasses for Year 11 followed by face-to-face subject evening and parent/guardian exam support drop-in afternoon at Tesco's community room, both of which were very well attended.  We are so grateful for the positive comments about our staff, the information shared and the resources provided.  As a partnership, we will continue to do all we can to ensure our students are ready for the summer exams.  I am sure this will also be the case tonight as we host our Year 13 subject evening.

Our students also enjoyed and benefited from our careers fair.  The business representatives stated how impressed they were with the scale of the event and how well our students behaved and engaged with them.  The students particularly loved the fire engine and the super car that were on show!  Thanks to Mr Francis and Mr Perraton for organising this event that provided useful insight for our students and will help steer their future vocational pathways. 

The experiences continued with the range of sports fixtures and the big reveal of the next school show, High School Musical! Reality of bygone days were appreciated by our students who visited the historic Shepton Mallet prison, organised by Ms Martin and then those who braved a very soggy Dartmoor realised the challenge they have taken on as they begin their conditioning for the Ten Tors event.  The dedication year-on-year of Mr Gray and Mrs Brooks cannot be overlooked.

This school truly provides a wealth of opportunities that shape our young people as a whole.  But first and foremost, we are a school and the education the students receive day-in day-out is something I am proud of.  Thank you to all my staff for their efforts in delivering excellent learning opportunities in all subjects.

I do hope all our students have a restful break. There are opportunities for our Year 11 students to attend valuable revision and coursework sessions during next week.  

Can I request that families check that their children have all the equipment they require in their pencil cases (a list is on our website) and that their uniform is as we expect including polishable black shoes, not canvass. As ever, if there are families that have any challenges arranging equipment or uniform please do contact their Year group pastoral team and we will support where we can.

Have a good break everyone.

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Mr Rhodes

On Saturday, 7th February, the Ten Tors training hike at Cheddar Gorge took place. The sideways rain and drizzle barely relented during the day, and all students had come with their full weekend rucksacks. The paths were slippery and muddy, and there were puddles and ankle-deep mud on several occasions as we traversed the southern ridge of Cheddar Gorge before heading north into the Mendips and summiting the boggy Beacon Batch, and then dropping west towards Compton Martin, Ubley, and West Harptree.

The hills and mud took their toll on the muscles, and by sunset, some were starting to fade. In fairness to the weather, we had some clear blue skies at times, and the views from the high points were mostly pretty good—Chew Valley Lake, Blagdon Lake, and the air traffic from Bristol Airport made for an interesting backdrop. Everyone completed their routes, the navigation was mostly top-notch (45s??), and it seemed a relatively enjoyable day for all. As always, a huge thanks to Mrs. Brooks for helping out and showcasing her arts and crafts skills in testing circumstances.

Year 9 RE Trip to Shepton Mallet Prison

On the 2^nd and 3^rd of February, 96 Year 9 students took part in an unforgettable trip to Shepton Mallet Prison, where they explored the fascinating history of one of Britain’s oldest prisons. During a guided tour, students learned about the prison’s past and gained insight into what life was like for inmates and officers alike.

One of the highlights of the visit was seeing the gallows, which prompted thoughtful discussion about historical justice, how the prison system has evolved over time and the pros and cons of the death penalty. Students also enjoyed putting their teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test in a cell escape room challenge, working together to crack clues and secure their “release.”

Throughout the day, our students were excellent representatives of the school—engaged, respectful, and curious. Staff at the venue commented positively on their behaviour, and we are very proud of the maturity they demonstrated during this memorable experience.

A special thanks also to Miss Lewis, Mrs Poole, Mrs Rossiter, Mr Gray and Mr Little for accompanying students across the two days.

Celebrating an Outstanding Performance

A huge well done to the following pupils who represented the school so beautifully on stage this week. Their hard work, dedication, and confidence were clear for all to see, and we are incredibly proud of the performance they delivered.

Each of these students overcame nerves, behaved impeccably, and committed themselves fully to rehearsals since October half term. Their effort and teamwork resulted in a fantastic show that truly reflected the spirit and talent of our school community.

Performers:

• Lily Blackwell 

• Iris Cunningham

• Megan Edgington

• Isobel Emuss

• Ava Hall

• Georgina Higgs

• Caitlynne Lane

• Lilah Mundy

• Joanne Mutandiro

• Isla Paddock Blagdon

• Eliza Ritson

• Tilly Thomas

• Poppie Grace Woolmer

We would also like to give an honourable mention to those who worked hard behind the scenes to help the event run smoothly: Sienna Dennison and Tarla Beavan.

Finally, a special thank you to our fantastic comperes, Sophie Radwell and Casey Tanner, who represented the school with confidence and professionalism while introducing the acts and keeping the show running seamlessly.

Professional photographs will be shared soon, but in the meantime, please enjoy a little snap below. Well done to everyone involved in such a memorable event!

Year 12 Spanish Trip to Bath University

Our Year 12 Spanish students recently enjoyed a very successful and memorable trip to Bath University. The visit provided a valuable insight into how languages can be studied and used in the future, helping students to think more confidently about university options and careers involving languages.

The trip was not only academically rewarding but also a wonderful social experience. Students had the opportunity to meet and talk with other young people who share an interest in languages, and many came away having made new friends.

One student shared their experience:

“Cuando fuimos a Bath pensé que iba a ser un desastre, pero estuvo bien. El viaje en minibús fue divertido y las actividades de team building me ayudaron a ganar confianza. Aunque soy tímido en este tipo de eventos, salí de mi zona de confort para responder preguntas cuando el resto estaba en silencio. Muchos otros chicos eran simpáticos y, aunque estábamos allí para probar el idioma en la universidad, me encontré charlando con todo el mundo sobre las actividades y la escuela.”

We are very proud of how our students represented the school, and we look forward to more opportunities like this in the future.

Supporting Dorothy House: A Wonderful Achievement

We are delighted to share that, following the funds raised at our Christmas concert, we have recently donated £100 to Dorothy House, a truly remarkable local charity. This contribution adds to the incredible support our school community has provided over the years, bringing the total donated to over £4,000!

Dorothy House does amazing work, providing care and support to those who need it most, and we are proud to play a small part in helping their mission. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the concert and helped make this donation possible. Your generosity continues to make a real difference in our community.