As the end of term approaches, I would like to thank you all for your support throughout this very busy term; as always, it is greatly appreciated. It has been amazing to see our Year 11 and 13 students successfully sit their exams and we wish them well for their results in August.
Please remember that we are here to work in partnership with you to ensure that your child achieves their full potential. I would be grateful if you could complete the attached parental survey on your views regarding the school. The survey can be found here.
During next academic year I will be undertaking my unpaid sabbatical which will allow me to progress my PhD research in Ocean Science. The school will be led by Mr Chauhan and Mrs McDougall as Co-Head Teachers in my absence. We have been leading the school together for the last 7 years, and as two extremely experienced Deputy Heads we are very lucky to have them. I am grateful to them both and to our governors for making this year of research possible for me, and I am sure the school will go from strength to strength under their leadership.
The year has been extremely busy and some key highlights this half-term have included:
- Transition days for our new Year 7 and 12 intakes
- Enrichment trips to Drayton Manor
- Year 11 and 13 proms
- Operation Wallacea expedition to Honduras
- Germany music tour
- Key stage 3 end of year awards ceremony at St Anne’s
- 200 Club rewards celebration
- Duke of Edinburgh expeditions
- County cricket tournaments
End of term arrangements
School closes for the summer break on Friday 19th July 2024 at 12.00pm. We will re-open on Tuesday 3rd September to Year 7 and Sixth Form students only and the rest of the school will return on Wednesday 4th September 2024. Students are expected to be on-site for no later than 8.35am. The school does have a Teacher Training on Monday 2nd September 2024. Student timetables will be available on Satchel One from 1st September 2024.
Mental health and wellbeing
The summer holidays can be a time to relax, recharge and take a break. However, young people may struggle with the loss of structure and not seeing their friends every day. It’s important that students look after their mental wellbeing during the break. The summer can also be a great time to develop good self-care habits, so that when term starts again, you have techniques you can turn to in stressful times. Please find links to resources that contain activities and guidance to help support and boost mental wellbeing over the summer and beyond.
Further information is available for parents to support their child’s mental health through young minds. They offer tailored information, advice and support to parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person’s mental health. You can speak to them over the phone, or chat to online.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline
Importance of attending school
We would like to thank all parents for the support you have given to encourage your son/ daughter to be in school every day, we have shared how important this is for both academic and social reasons and know how hard families are working to achieve the best attendance possible.
We do need to make you aware that there is new guidance due to come in to place over the summer that will set out a new national threshold for penalty notices.
A single consistent national level for when a penalty notice must be considered of 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) for any unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. The 10-week period may span different terms or school years. For example, 2 sessions of unauthorised absence in the summer term and a further 8 within the autumn term.
An increase to the rate of a penalty notice from £120 to £160 if paid within 28 days and £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days. If a second penalty notice is issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, the notice will be charged at the higher rate of £160 with no option for this second offence to be discharged at the lower rate of £80.
School uniform
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. Please note that piercings (one pair of studs can be worn) and ‘jeggings/jeans’ are not permitted and students will be asked to remove/change accordingly.
Key Dates for the new term:
- 16th-18th September – Year 7 Frank Chapman visits
- 17th September – Open evening for prospective Year 7 students
- 18th September – Year 11 interview preparation day
- 25th September – Year 7 information evening
- 27th September – Year 11 mock interview day
- 1st October – Sixth Form Open Evening & Year 7 to 11 nasal flu vaccinations
- 8th October – Parent/Carer mental health workshop
- 10th October – Year 9 & 10 information evening
- 16th-18th October – Year 10 Personal Development Days
- 23rd October – Year 8 information evening
- 25th October – TED Day/School breaks up for half-term
- 4th November – School re-opens
- 5th November – Year 11 Trial exams commence
- 27th November – TED Day
- 12th December – Year 11 trial exam results day & Parents evening
- 20th December – School breaks for the Christmas holidays
On behalf of the staff and Governors at The Bewdley School, I wish you all a restful summer break.
Mr D Hadley-Pryce
Head Teacher