Blog week ending 22nd July

As we come to the end of another academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on our shared successes and to outline key developments for the next academic year.

This has been a year of exceptional change for Stone Lodge School and I would like to take the time to thank you for your kind words of encouragement and I am looking forward to meeting many more of you face to face in September at the Welcome Evenings.

Please see below for dates and times:

Year 11 – 8 September – 6-6.45pm

Year 9 – 9 September – 6-6.45pm

Year 8 – 10 September – 6-6.45pm

Year 10 – 11 September – 6-6.45pm

Year 13 – 15 September – 6-6:45pm

Year 7 – 18 September – 4:30–7:30pm (includes Meet the Form Tutor)

Our students have demonstrated great determination and character in their learning, in enrichment activities, and in the wider life of the school. Whether it has been academic progress, creative and sporting accomplishments, or leadership within the school community, their efforts have made us immensely proud. Our LBC week was incredibly successful, and we have received excellent feedback from the many visitors to the school and the members of the wider community who met our students on their trip and visits. Our students have been wonderful ambassadors for Stone Lodge.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to all parents and carers for your continued partnership and support—it remains fundamental to everything we do. We were pleased to welcome parents and carers to the first meeting of our newly formed Parent Advisory Council. The meeting provided an open and constructive space for discussion, with a shared commitment to strengthening the relationship between families and the school.

Key Discussions:

1. Communication and Social Media:
A significant part of the meeting focused on concerns around communication between school and home. Parents/Carers shared that delays in responses from the school have, at times, led to frustration. It was acknowledged that this has contributed to some negative and upsetting comments being shared on social media, which do not always reflect the wider work of the school community. There was a shared understanding that improving communication must be a key priority, and the school is committed to working together with parents/carers to find constructive solutions.

2. Reporting on Student Progress:
The issue of how student progress is reported was also raised, noting a need for more clarity, consistency, and timeliness. The school recognises that this is a vital area and is already reviewing current systems. This will remain a key topic for discussion in future meetings.

3. School Development Priorities 2025–26:
I shared the school’s development priorities for the upcoming academic year. These include:

• Improving communication with families;
• Enhancing how student progress is reported;
• Raising student outcomes and supporting academic progress;
• Achieving greater consistency in teaching and behaviour expectations across the school.

In September the council will elect a Chair and also recruit representatives from the new Year 7 families who are joining the school. A regular schedule of meetings will be published at the start of the school year. I would like to thank all those who attended for their thoughtful contributions, honesty, and commitment to working together in the best interests of our students. We look forward to building a positive, proactive partnership between home and school through the Parent Advisory Council.

As we prepare for the new academic year, I would like to share a number of important updates that are being introduced from September 2025.

Changes to the School Day. In order to further support learning and personal development, there will be a slight reduction to break and lunch times. This adjustment has allowed us to introduce four structured tutor-time sessions each week, tailored by key stage:

• Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) will engage in a shared reading programme designed to build fluency, strengthen vocabulary, and foster a love of reading.
• Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11) will benefit from subject-specific intervention sessions to provide targeted academic support in preparation for GCSE examinations.
• Sixth Form students will have access to individual mentoring sessions, offering academic guidance and support with university applications, apprenticeships, and career pathways.

Student Voice and New Initiatives. In response to feedback gathered through student voice, we will be trialling several further changes:

• Students will be permitted to wear one plain silver or gold stud earring (without gems) in each lower ear lobe. This is a trial, and we will review it as the year progresses.
• We are introducing a new rewards system whereby students can earn achievement badges after reaching key milestones in their house points total.
• Additional spaces will be available during social times, and we will continue to expand enrichment opportunities aligned with student interests.

Attendance, Punctuality, and Safeguarding. In line with our commitment to safeguarding and high expectations, we ask all families to take note of the following:

• Morning line-up begins promptly at 8.40am. To ensure a calm and punctual start, all students are expected to be on site by 8.35am at the latest. School gates will close at 8.40am, and any student arriving after this time will be recorded as late.
• Should a student need to leave the school site during the day, a ‘Permission to Leave’ form must be completed. We request that families provide a minimum of three working days’ notice for any medical appointments, along with supporting evidence (e.g., appointment letter or confirmation text).

Equipment and Daily Expectations. To support consistency and learning in the classroom, all students will be issued with their own mini whiteboard, pen, and eraser in September. These must be brought to school each day. In addition, all students will require a green pen, as feedback and corrections will be completed using this colour going forward.

Home Learning. We are making improvements to the way homework is set at Key Stage 3. From September, we will replace knowledge organisers with retrieval-style home learning tasks, set by subject teachers mainly on online platforms. These tasks are designed to support long-term memory and recall, helping students to become more independent and resilient learners. Further information on this, and other key expectations, will be shared at our Welcome Evenings in September. All home learning will be detailed on the Parent Arbor App and will start from Monday 15 September. In Years 10-13, students will be issued homework by their class teachers, and this will be recorded on Arbor. Their homework may start earlier depending on the course.

I’m delighted share photos and news from our exciting Learning Beyond the Classroom series—an enriching programme of trips and activities designed to extend our students’ learning far beyond the walls of the school. These dynamic experiences offer valuable opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, curiosity, and real-world understanding. Whether exploring nature, engaging in cultural visits, or participating in hands-on workshops, students gain confidence, broaden their perspectives, and build lifelong memories.

We’re proud to offer experiences that not only complement our curriculum but also inspire a deeper love of learning. A selection of which feature below.

Now & Then Sessions. Thank you to Year 9 student Poppy A for the below report.

LBC week is all about gaining experiences and skills by going to various places or learning useful skills such as communication, public speaking and a general knowledge of the world. Now and then was a history and geography based week, with the first day focusing on world war 1; on Monday, the students went on a trip to various cemeteries and memorials in Ypres, Belgium and learned not only of the battles that took place there but also the stories of the cemeteries themselves (the financial state of Germany at the time, the missing soldiers on both sides and the burial traditions and beliefs for each soldier).

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the focus shifted to a mix of geography and history: dinosaurs. They recreated fossils on bits of dough and learned about how they were created. The pupils also researched and presented information on various types of dinosaurs, talking about habitats, diets, time periods and body structures. This showed off and developed researching and public speaking skills in front of peers.

On Thursday students were given the opportunity to go to either the Imperial war museum or the science museum. While the majority went to the war museum, the rest went to the science museum (myself included), while I cannot speak for my peers or those who went to the war museum for certain, to me, all the students coming back from the museums seemed to have had an enjoyable time.

Friday was the final day of LBC week, students ended the week with learning about tectonic plates, layers of the earth, and volcanos using ice cream and crackers. Students also got to design and make their own t-shirts featuring dinosaurs and puns that they can take home

Overall, the students had a brilliant time and learned a lot about history and the world around us.

On Monday 50 students left Stone Lodge excited for their trip to Paris. It was a long travel day but we eventually made it to the hotel and enjoyed dinner before heading to bed ready to explore the city in the morning. Our Tuesday started with a river boat cruise down the Seine, admiring some of the tourist attractions along the way. We then walked to get some instagram worthy pictures by the Eiffel Tower before boarding the coach to head to the Arc de Triomphe. Mr Dunscombe gave his best tour guide impression pointing out different monuments along the way. We then headed to the Sacre Coer and had some shopping time before heading inside and seeing the beauty of the stained-glass windows. We then headed to the Montparnasse Tower and went up to the 57th floor to get a panoramic view of the city of love. 

The third day was our Disney day! Miss Rutt was one of the most excited! We started off in Disney Studios Park where students rode Tower of Terror, Iron Man Flight Force, Crush’s Coaster and Remy’s Adventure! After lunch we then headed over to the Disneyland Park and nearly all of Stone Lodge headed straight to Hyperspace Mountain! A lot of photos were taken in front of the castle, and students rode Indiana and The Temple of Peril, Big Thunder Mountain and many more! Mrs Wenham and Miss Anderson were haunted by the spirits in Phantom Manor (much to the entertainment of Miss Rutt) and Mr Naidu had fun on the teacups! After the fireworks Mr Dunscombe’s height came in handy and we all followed Pua the pig which got us back to the coach safely! 

After we packed up from the hotel we headed to Disney Village and made our souvenir purchases! The most impressive purchase has to be the Mickey toaster and waffle maker! We then left the magic of Disney and headed to Dunkirk to get the ferry. We got back to England just in time for Miss Rutt’s commentary of extra time and penalties for the Lionesses quarter final match and we celebrated their win with a rendition of Sweet Caroline! 

Well done to all the students who attended the trip. Your behaviour meant that the trip was smooth sailing, and everyone came home with the best memories!

Students that travelled to Barcelona took in all the sites and experiences that this vibrant Spanish city has to offer! We walked the iconic street, La Rambla and visited the incredible Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudi which was 140 years in the construction! We spent plenty of time cooling off in our hotel pool as well as an invigorating visit to PortAventura theme park and Ferrari World. Students practiced their Spanish in shops, negotiating great prices on souvenirs!

The Mash-Up group spent a brilliant week trying their hand at a huge range of new and traditional skills creating unique pieces to remind them of their amazing week! Sessions included, Stone Masonry, teambuilding, Careers Workshop, Drama workshop, Enterprise project, creative workshops .. and inflatables!!

Our Fashionistas put on the most incredible end of week Fashion show! Students upcycled, remodelled and designed their own clothes and accessories ready for their MET Gala Ball catwalk debut. The style theme was ‘A Love Letter to Hollywood’ – fashion through the film lens’. And they certainly delivered!

Year 10 students travelled to Berlin for a whirlwind tour of incredibly moving historic sites as well as enjoying a walking graffiti art tour, bowling, shopping (using their German vocabulary to secure their souvenirs!) and great dining! Pictured below Gedenkstatte Sachsenhausen memorial centre, which was one of the biggest concentration camps on German territory as well as the DDR museum, and the amazing views from the architecturally important Berlin TV Tower.

Year 8 & 9 PGL Adventure to Little Canada, Isle of Wight. Our recent trip to Little Canada on the Isle of Wight was a fantastic experience for our Year 8 and 9 students. Organised and led by Miss Haynes and Mr Bailey, the PGL residential focused on stepping out of comfort zones, building confidence and developing teamwork in a fun, supportive environment. From high ropes and kayaking to zip lines and problem-solving challenges, students threw themselves into every activity with enthusiasm and resilience. It was a joy to see them encourage one another, grow in independence and discover new strengths.

An amazing time was had by all – a trip full of laughter, learning and unforgettable memories!

The Business Group enjoyed a range of in-school activities as well as a trip to the Olympic Park. Students excelled in their Enterprise task … designing, making and marketing a range of fab items they sold around school raising money for local charities! Well done!

Our budding Film makers and directors had a culture packed time exploring back-stage props and scripts at Harry Potter World as well as a visit to the National Theatre and a film script workshop!

The final House Point Golden Ticket draw has been completed – Congratulations to the below students who each win a £10 Amazon voucher!

Matthew 10F- Edison

Hollie B 9F- Hawking

Izzy C 9C- Johnson

Matthew R 8H- Seacole

SL6 Year 12 travelled to Alton Towers for two days of thrill-seeking (and pizza!)

Library Update. It’s been a whirlwind few weeks in our school library! With book recalls, new orders, and processing incoming titles, things are buzzing. Amidst the chaos, we’ve had some fantastic moments to share:

– We explored the ancient Chinese invention of paper and its impact on the world.

– We journeyed through the history of books, from clay tablets to codices and beyond.

– This week, we were thrilled to have author Struan Murray join us virtually! He shared insights into his epic fantasy novel “Dragonborn,” including plot, characters, and his writing inspirations. Our students even got to unleash their creativity and draw a dragon from his book.

As we wrap up the year, don’t forget to return any outstanding library books. We’re looking forward to seeing you all in September! Happy reading!”

Looking for summer holiday activity? Calibre Audio’s 

Inclusive Voices writing competition is back, and everyone can enter!  

Inclusive Voices short story competition is a celebration of creativity, accessibility, and diverse storytelling. 

Whether you love to write poetry or prose, entries are welcome from all ages and abilities.

Prizes for first, second and third place in each category and entry is FREE! You have until 5pm on 5th September 2025 to get your entry in.  Good luck!

Mrs Nguyen

Huge congratulations to Sammy H who competed in the WUKF World Karate Championships in Malmö, Sweden. Sammy attends North Kent Martial Arts where he not only works hard training five days a week, but also helps to coach younger students. 

Sammy was selected for this year’s World Championships through Karate England by qualifying at a number of WUKF national competitions. 

Sammy had a tough week and fought hard to come away with the following amazing haul of medals:

Individual Kumite Silver Medalists 🥈

Team Kumite Gold Medalist (world champion)🥇

Team Kumite Rotation Silver Medalist🥈

Team Kata Bronze Medalist🥉

As you can imagine we are all so proud of Sammy and his achievements and are looking forward to seeing what he can achieve at the next big event. 

Congratulations to Emmarose who competed at the prestigious Dance World Cup winning a Bronze medal with her group Junior 10 in the Folklore category and going on to win a Gold Medal in the large team category! How brilliant, well done!

Today we say ‘goodbye’ to four members of our teaching staff, please join me in thanking them for their dedication and care, I, and our students are so grateful for everything you have contributed to our school – Mrs Artmann, Mr Adenekan, Miss Arklie and Mrs Jackson, we wish you all the best in your new endeavours.

Thank you once again to all our families for your support throughout this academic year. We are proud of all that our students have achieved and look forward to building on this success in the new term. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer break and look forward to welcoming students back in September for another purposeful and inspiring year.

Best wishes,

Catherine Cusick

Headteacher