Blog week ending 5th February
Choosing the Path Ahead. This week marks an important milestone for many of our students as they begin shaping the next stage of their educational journey. Our Year 9s are exploring their GCSE option choices, weighing up their interests, strengths and ambitions as they consider which subjects will carry them into Key Stage 4. At the same time, our Sixth Formers are looking even further ahead, reflecting on their aspirations and deciding what their next steps might be whether that’s university, apprenticeships, employment or a different pathway entirely. Every year group has taken part in Careers Assemblies from specialist speakers in either HR, Engineering, Accountancy or Finance.
Making these decisions can feel exciting, empowering and, at times, a little daunting. What matters most is that students make choices that genuinely reflect who they are and who they hope to become. Good decisions come from curiosity, honest self‑reflection and a willingness to explore possibilities. We encourage students to ask questions, seek advice, and think about what motivates them, not just what they feel they “should” do.
Across the school, tutors, subject teachers and careers staff are on hand to offer guidance and help students navigate their options with confidence. This is a moment to be open‑minded, to think big, and to recognise that every choice is a step toward building a future that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
We’re proud of the thoughtful way our students are approaching these conversations, and we look forward to supporting them as they take these important next steps.
In addition, Mrs Waghorn and her team are delivering a series of sessions during Year 10 and 11 subject interventions to support exam preparation ‘Managing Exam Wellbeing’ with coping and confidence workshops.
All Options resources to support students make their GCSE subjects can be found on our website, please do take the time to read through the Options Booklet to support discussions as they make their choices. The Options Presentation Mr Naylor shared during our Options Evening can be viewed on our website here
Introducing Ms Ward, Teacher of Philosophy & Ethics and Sociology, and Acting Head of Year 8. We are delighted to welcome Ms Ward to our school community as our new Teacher of Philosophy & Ethics and Sociology. Alongside her teaching role, she will also be acting as Head of Year 8 during Ms Anderson’s maternity leave. Ms Ward brings a wealth of experience as both a classroom teacher and pastoral leader, having previously held Head of Year positions in London and overseas. Her approach to education is rooted in compassion, high expectations, and a deep commitment to the wellbeing of every young person in her care.
“I am dedicated to the care of our young people. I place equal focus on academic learning and whole-child wellbeing, ensuring a holistic approach to students’ learning and wider personal development.”
In this week’s featured lesson, Ms Ward’s Year 8 students explored key concepts within Catholicism focusing particularly on the idea of purgatory. Students engaged in thoughtful discussion around the theme of second chances, offering mature and reflective viewpoints. Their contributions demonstrated empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to consider perspectives beyond their own.
We are thrilled to have Ms Ward as part of our team and are excited to see the energy and expertise she is already bringing to Year 8.
Miss Haynes’ Year 8 English students are currently reading Shakespeare’s historical tragedy, Julius Caesar. In the lesson featured below, students are exploring the theme of omens and warnings in the text that suggest supernatural intervention or fate. Miss Haynes was impressed by students’ engagement and contributions to class discussion.
Year 9 Drama and Theatre students are currently working on a scripted comedy piece titled Bouncers. As part of this assessment, students are exploring how comedy can be created through choral movement and choral speech. Using exaggerated physicality, vocal expression and precise timing, students are developing parodies of everyday situations that audiences will recognise. A strong focus is placed on ensemble work, as students must move, speak and react together to create clear and effective comedic moments.
Through this unit, students are building confidence in performance, strengthening their collaboration skills and gaining a deeper understanding of how humour is constructed on stage. The assessment allows students to apply script interpretation, physical theatre techniques and teamwork to bring comedy to life for an audience.
As part of our KS3 Drama curriculum, Year 7 students explore Macbeth while Year 8 study Romeo and Juliet. Pictured are classes applying stage combat techniques to their texts, allowing students to make safe, informed choices in both rehearsal and performance while bringing Shakespeare’s plays vividly to life.
Careers Update. Throughout this week, we were delighted to welcome a range of employers into school to speak with our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students. As part of our careers programme, these visitors share insights into their working lives and answer both pre-prepared student questions and those asked during the sessions.
These encounters give students a fantastic opportunity to start thinking about the world of work, the different sectors available, and the various pathways they can take to progress within an industry. It is never too early to begin these conversations and to encourage students to explore what they may like to pursue as a career when they leave school.
A huge thank you to our wonderful employers for taking the time to visit us this week!
Geraldine Brampah & Paul Anderson from Endeavour MAT
Kerry Farwell-Stacey from ER production
Micheal Edison – Odiase from KMPG
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9-15 February.
Unifrog Virtual Apprenticeships Fair. This event is free for all students and ideal for Years 10 to13. Students can connect with a huge range of employers and are welcome to drop in for just one or two sessions, or stay for the full fair. Expert advice will be available on how to find the right apprenticeship and apply successfully in live sessions with top employers including the BBC, Aldi, and Unilever. Click here to sign up Apprenticeship Fair. The North Kent Apprenticeship Event is being held at nearby Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy this year, details in the below poster.
To explore a wealth of online resources and view current apprenticeship vacancies click here
NEW PTA Event – Everyone is welcome! Either create your own team or join one .. everyone is welcome! To sign up please fill in the form here PTA Quiz Night
For full details see the poster below.
Next PTA meeting: Wednesday 11th March 6.30pm-7.30pm – We look forward to seeing as many of you as are able to attend!
The PTA will be serving teas and coffees at Year 7 and Year 13 Parents’ evening – but currently only accepting cash.
If you or your place of work would be able to make a donation to our raffle – we would be very grateful!
Our PTA offers a pre-loved uniform shop – please fill in the form with your request. Pre Loved uniform – Fill out form
Parent/Carer – new item available for purchaser on iPay. For any students who have misplaced their mini whiteboard that were issued in September, parents/carers can purchase replacement packs on iPay. Once purchased, your child can collect them from Student Services during break or lunchtimes.
Letters Home – copies of recent letters home can be viewed on our website here
Library update: Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 in the library ‘Bridging Generations’ lesson. Last week our students took part in a powerful exploration of history and legacy of the Holocaust. The 2026 theme, ‘Bridging Generations’, highlighted the importance of sharing stories and lessons from the past.
It was a stark reminder that we all have a role in remembering the past and should actively engage with it through learning and listening: if possible, to people who lived through the events. Our students learned that the Holocaust didn’t discriminate by age: children, adults and the elderly experienced suffering in different ways. We watched a BBC Newsround historical video explaining the Holocaust followed 
by a BBC recording from last year featuring our Trust Sixth Form students visiting Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum in Poland. “I can’t believe that this was allowed to happen” one of the students said. The students shared the impact of their visit to the museum on them and explained why remembering the victims mattered. We also listened to their reflection on what they have learned and how they were going to educate others on their experiences.
An important part of the lesson was meeting Jan, a Polish Holocaust survivor who came to live in the UK after WWII. He was the only survivor from his family and imprisoned as a very young child in a Nazi concentration camp. Jan shared his story of survival, hope and resilience with his teen granddaughters: Alice and Emily. His experiences reminded us of the importance of empathy, understanding, and bridging generations to ensure such atrocities never happen again. Some of the student also listened to the first chapter of “Fritz and Kurt” by Jeremy Dronfield – the extraordinary true story of two Jewish brothers in the Holocaust.
Forthcoming Dates;
Year 13 Careers Advisor one-to-one meetings – 9 February
Years 7, 8 & 9 Reports home – 11 February
Year 13 Mock Results assembly & Reports home – 12 February
Years 7 & 13 Parents’ Evening – 12 February 4-7pm
Last Day of Term 3 – 13 February
First Day of Term 4 – Tuesday 24 February
Year 11 Careers post 16 one-to-one meetings –commence 25 February
Year 11 Drama GCSE exam – 26 February
PTA Event, Family Quiz Night – 26 February – details to follow
Year 11 GCSE Food Preparation & Nutritian exam – commences 3 March
Best wishes,
Catherine Cusick
Headteacher
