Weekly Update โ 19 September 2025
Early Closure – we will be closing early on Wednesday 24 September, with students leaving after lunch and a brief tutor time at 1.20pm.
Reminder – see this letter from senior students regarding the MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday 26 September.
Careers Fair: Open query to Parents and local businesses – if there are any parents who work for a business that could offer advice for school leavers, possibly a route for qualifications or apprenticeships, and are free to attend as a stallholder at our Careers Fair on 30 September, please complete this form. Invitations and booking links for Year 10 and Year 11 students have been sent out by Ms Wayman.
Home-learning Club: this club runs between 3:00 and 4:30 every day in the following locations:
Monday – IT2
Tuesday – IT2
Wednesday – Study Unit
Thursday – Study Unit
Friday – IT2
Students do not need to make a prior booking or sign-up in advance and there is no cost attached to using this facility. Children can attend as and when they wish to do so, enjoy computer access with staff on hand to help mediate their learning and negotiate their home-learning tasks.
This is a particularly good resource for some of our newer students who may be struggling to manage their time, access digital platforms or for those who are reluctant to work at home and like to concentrate on completing school-related work at school.
We hope to see lots of students using this facility.
College Open Eventsfor Year 11 students – the updated list can be found here. This is a busy term so check the college websites for details of booking places in advance if required.
Library: Click here for our usual Library news and Books of the Week.
The latest Clubs list (at lunch time and after school) can be found here. This link updates regularly as changes are made, so check the page on the website (Students/Clubs) for the latest version.
Social Media: We are writing to make you aware of a deeply distressing incident that has recently circulated widely on social media platforms. Graphic videos depicting the murder of Charlie Kirk have been shared across WhatsApp groups, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other platforms. Despite efforts by social media companies to remove or restrict access to this content, many children and young people may have already been exposed to it.
We understand that this kind of content can be extremely upsetting and may have a significant emotional impact on those who view it. It is vital that we work together to safeguard our children from harmful online material and support them if they have been affected.
We kindly ask all parents and carers to:
- Monitor your childโs social media use and talk to them about what they are seeing online.
- Encourage open conversations about any upsetting content they may have come across.
- Remind them not to share or engage with graphic or violent videos, even if others are doing so.
Social Media Age Restrictions
As a reminder, most social media platforms have minimum age requirements:
- TikTok โ 13+
- Instagram โ 13+
- Snapchat โ 13+
- X (formerly Twitter) โ 13+
- Facebook โ 13+
- YouTube โ 13+ (YouTube Kids is available for younger users)
- WhatsApp โ 16+ in the UK and EU (13+ in some other regions)
These age limits are in place to help protect children from inappropriate content and interactions. We encourage you to check your childโs accounts and ensure they are using platforms appropriate for their age.
If your child has seen the video or is feeling distressed in any way, please encourage them to speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team or visit HQ in the first instance. We are here to provide support and ensure their wellbeing.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school community safe and supported.
See our Community Notices here.