As we approach the end of this term, we would like to thank you for all your continued support as we work together as a school, raising standards and transforming our young people’s lives.

Due to the hard work, dedication and resilience of our staff and students, there have been so many amazing events that have taken place since September.

Our Year 7 intake have made an excellent start to their secondary schooling; building new friendships, settling into their form groups, involving themselves in new experiences and clubs, developing new skills and settling into life as secondary school students.  Year 11 students have shown great maturity and resilience and have recently undertaken their mock examinations. Year 12 and 13 students are due to have their exams shortly after the Christmas break and we wish them well. Year 9 students have been trialling different option subjects with the aim of confirming preferences in January 2024.

Some other key highlights since the start of this academic year have included:

  • Economics trip to London visiting the London Stock Exchange and Chelsea Football Club
  • Year 7 students took part in team building exercise at The Frank Chapman Centre
  • Year 12 student workshops for Russell Group university entry
  • Mathematics Olympiad for Girls
  • Year 11 Interview Day where 30+ employers engaged with students preparing them with mock interviews and CV writing
  • Excess of 25 afterschool enrichment activities every week
  • Foodbank appeal and the Year 7 & 8 Rudolph Run
  • Wellbeing showcase – over 20 different organisations in school talking to students face-to-face
  • Cadbury World Trip for Business Studies/Economics
  • Anti-Bullying week
  • Odd Socks Day
  • Loudmouth Theatre Company delivering the ‘Calling it Out – harmful sexual behaviours’ programme to Year 9 Students
  • Black History Month activities
  • Classics and Latin trip to the British Museum and Year 11 Geography trip to Birmingham and the Sea Life Centre
  • Dragons Den competition for Year 9 Business in conjunction with Severn Valley Business Group
  • Shoe Box Charity Appeal
  • Year 8 theatre trip to London to see Matilda & a Year 11-13 Trip to the RSC to see Macbeth

The House System & Rewards

This half term saw the re-launch of our House system together with a brand-new rewards system. We now have our 6 Heads of House from Year 12 as well as 30 elected house captains and 30 elected Sports House Captains from Years 7-11 who will help us run the House system. There will be regular House competitions running which you can see on Satchel  One.

To date, we have already had our chemistry week poster competition, shoe box appeal, food bank competition and Christmas card competition to name just a few. This week we have launched our film making competition for students to get involved in over the Christmas break. As well as the competitions, we have our new rewards system. Students are now rewarded for going above and beyond to demonstrate the Bewdley Values. The totals at the end of the first term are Severn with 545, Baldwin with 650 and Ribbesford in the lead with 992.

End of term arrangements

School closes for the Christmas and New Year break on Friday 22nd December at 12.00pm.  Students who are eligible for free school meals can pick up a packed lunch from the school canteen.

These last 2 days of term will be non-uniform ‘Christmas Jumper’ days. Students will be asked to make a £1 charitable donation to our nominated charities – Kemp Hospice, Forest Dog Rescue and CrackerJacks Children’s Trust (to be paid via www.ipayimpact.co.uk).

8.50        Lesson 1
9.40        Changeover
9.45        Lesson 2
10.35      Break
10.55     Lesson 3
11.40     Tutor
12.00     End of school

A reminder that school reopens at 8.40am for all students on Tuesday 9th January 2024 (Monday 8th January is a teacher training day).

Students should check their timetables, on Satchel One, from 1 January onwards as there have been some staffing and room changes which take effect on 9th January.

Mental health and wellbeing over the festive period

The festive season can be a time of joy and spending time with loved ones but it can also be a stressful and lonely period. During this time, it is important to try to remember to look after your mental health and wellbeing.

It is important that you keep well and healthy, keep active, you share your feelings and thoughts and most importantly; you ask for help if you feel overwhelmed.  Support agencies over this period can be accessed here.

Excellent Learning habits

The Bewdley School is committed to promoting and developing the moral values and ethos as a school.  Our school moto “We fly with our own wings” applies to both students and staff.  We expect the school community to ensure they are Ready, Respectful and Safe by living the school values.

We expect all students to adhere to the school’s “non-negotiables”:

  • arrive to lesson on time
  • complete all classwork to the best of their ability
  • complete all homework
  • bring and use their Knowledge Organiser
  • wear the school uniform in full and with pride
  • bring a fully equipped pencil case with the following equipment to every lesson – at least 2 black/blue pens, green pen, purple pen, pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, calculator, ruler, highlighter, colouring pencils, scissors, glue stick, compass, protractor
  • students to put their hands up to ask/answer questions

We thank you in advance for your support in ensuring your child arrives to school “Ready to Learn”.

School uniform

With the New Year fast approaching, please can I take this opportunity to ask you to reinforce the standards of uniform that are expected at The Bewdley School. We recognise the increasing cost of uniform and we continue to support by making uniform available to all students when appropriate.  Staff will be checking students’ uniform upon arrival at school each day.  Should students arrive to school with the incorrect uniform, they will be provided with uniform which they will be expected to wear and return at the end of the school day.  Each student then has the opportunity to ensure the rest of their day can be a positive experience, focused purely on their learning.  Our uniform expectations can be found here.

End of Term Christmas Video

It’s that time of year again, as we get ready to close our doors for the festive break. We’ve had an action-packed term with so many opportunities where our students have continued to live the Bewdley Values.

To celebrate the end of term and spread a bit of festive cheer, our staff have yet again put on their outfits, practiced their lines and in many cases hired a stunt double!

Christmas Video 2023 (the link will go live on 22nd December 2023 at 11.45am)

The Autumn term always feels very long, and the layout of the school year has meant that this one has been particularly long at 15 school weeks. Although the school day may seem short to parents and carers, it is extremely intense for students and staff alike, and at this time of year when all are very tired, illnesses are on the increase. As we end the term on winters turning point, with the shortest day at 7 hours, 39 minutes and 29 seconds, we can look forward to longer and brighter days in the New Year. We wish you all a happy, restful and relaxing Christmas holiday, and we look forward to seeing our students all safely back at school in the New Year, on Tuesday 9th January 2024.


Written by The Bewdley School | Published on 21st December 2023