Welcome to this week's newsletter
The recent wet weather has brought a damp feeling to the site, and while we are hoping for some sunshine soon, the forecast for next week is unfortunately not very promising. However, this has certainly not dampened the spirits of our hard-working students – particularly our Year 11s. I began the week by leading a Year 11 assembly focused on rewards and incentives as we move towards the next set of trial exams after the half-term break, and ultimately the final examinations in the summer. To help motivate students during this demanding year, we have introduced additional opportunities for them to earn points by doing the basics right and by pushing themselves above and beyond expectations. Points can be awarded for familiar achievements such as Student of the Lesson, but also for attending intervention sessions, maintaining high attendance, and achieving a full week with no sanctions. Our aim is to keep students motivated, recognise the hard work of every individual, and reward those who consistently do the right things. As students know, points mean prizes, and there is a range of rewards on offer for those who continue to demonstrate our REACH values. This commitment was evident at the English after-school intervention session on Tuesday, where a large number of students filled the LRC to work through An Inspector Calls with the English team. Similar intervention sessions are running most mornings and after school across a range of subjects, all designed to support Year 11 students in making the vital improvements that will positively impact their final grades and outcomes. Alongside this, following discussions with the Student Council, I have agreed to a whole-school mufti day on Friday 27 March. To unlock this, students will need to meet specific whole-school targets for attendance and REACH Points. These targets are based on levels that have already been achieved earlier in the academic year, making them challenging but realistic. The mufti day will also provide an opportunity to raise money for a good cause. Further details will be shared by Mrs Parker closer to the date. I would like to thank the Student Council for representing students’ views so effectively and for helping to agree these targets. This week, we were delighted to welcome a number of local primary schools to Manor for sports competitions. It was a proud moment to see our Sports Leaders supporting and helping to organise the events. Feedback from visiting schools is always extremely positive, particularly about the professionalism and leadership shown by our students. They are a real asset to our school and play a vital role in ensuring these events run smoothly. Finally, congratulations to our U15 girls’ football team who played twice this week. They secured a league win on Tuesday but were narrowly defeated on penalties in their cup match on Thursday. Both matches were played in torrential rain, and Miss Hustwait praised the team for their effort, resilience and determination throughout. The girls never gave up and showed our REACH values brilliantly on the pitch – well done to all involved. Have a good, restful weekend.
Adam Crawte, Principal
RSPB Big School Birdwatch
Following a Discovering Local Wildlife assembly, Year 8 students Arya H and Jayden M were inspired to take part in the RSPB Big School Birdwatch on Tuesday. The national event involves recording bird species seen over one hour, with the data used by the RSPB to monitor bird population trends over time. During their watch, Arya and Jayden recorded an impressive 25 different species around the school grounds. Familiar garden birds such as robin, house sparrow and blackbird were seen alongside larger and more vocal species including jackdaw. Regular sights included 35 starlings and 25 black-headed gulls, while winter visitors such as redwing and fieldfare added seasonal interest. A variety of finches and tits were also spotted, including chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, blue tit, great tit and long-tailed tit. One of the highlights of the afternoon was seeing red kites soaring overhead, their distinctive silhouettes circling above the school and adding a real sense of excitement to the survey.
Apprenticeships webinar
Next week is National Apprenticeship Week 2026. To help you to talk about apprenticeships with your child(ren), there is a free webinar for parents/carers taking place on Monday 9 February, 6:30-7:30pm. For information and to register, click here.
Year 11 Prom
Sports news
Girls' football Manor U15 girls edged out a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Ferrers on Tuesday in truly awful conditions, with rain and hail lashing down throughout the game. The pitch was extremely wet and slippery, making it a tough surface for both sides, but credit must go to the players who showed real determination and resilience from start to finish. Despite the conditions, Manor started brightly and opened the scoring through Olivia M after some wonderful link-up play, who finished calmly to give Manor the lead. Emily M soon added a second, showing great composure to lob the onrushing goalkeeper. Just before half time, Olivia struck again, scoring her second of the match from a very tight angle to give Manor a 3–0 advantage at the break. Ferrers responded strongly after half-time and were rewarded with two goals of their own, setting up a tense finish. Both teams continued to create chances, but the scoreline could have been much higher if not for the outstanding efforts of both goalkeepers, who made a number of fine saves in difficult conditions. Right at the very last second, Emily M almost sealed the game in dramatic fashion, her long-range effort crashing against the corner of the crossbar. The final whistle soon followed, confirming a 3–2 win for Manor. Overall, it was an excellent game between two good sides who showed great spirit and perseverance despite the dismal weather conditions. A big thank you also goes to the three Year 10 boys — Harrison, Jack and Harry — who volunteered their time to officiate the match. * * * On Thursday our U16 girls travelled to Wollaston for the District Cup semi-final, where once again the team had to battle not only their opponents but some truly awful weather conditions for the second time this week. The Wollaston pitch is extremely open, and the bitterly cold wind combined with persistent rain made for a tough afternoon for everyone involved. The first half finished goalless, largely thanks to an excellent performance from the Wollaston goalkeeper. The conditions made it difficult for either side to play fluid football, with much of the game being reduced to long balls and aerial battles rather than the passing football Manor are known for. After a slight change in formation at half time, Manor pressed higher up the pitch and began to take control of the game. The pressure told, with Mia B, Lexi Y, Amelie B and Poppie E all going close as Manor looked the more dangerous and dominant side throughout the second half. Despite the chances created, neither team could find the breakthrough and the match ended 0–0. The semi-final was then decided by the dreaded penalty shoot-out. In what is undoubtedly the cruellest way to lose, Manor were edged out 5–4 on penalties, despite having been the stronger side over the course of the game. After enduring such harsh conditions and putting in such a committed performance, the girls can be incredibly proud of their effort, attitude and resilience. Team: Lily A, Summer S, Isla R, Darcie B, Olivia M, Lexi Y, Poppie E, Mia B, Alanna B, and Amelie B (also a shout out to Darcy C and No 1 fan Mr Malden who came along to support!)
Sports leaders On Wednesday, our Year 8 Sports Leaders supported a primary school sports hall athletics event. Following an initial mix-up with event timings, the students demonstrated impressive maturity and adaptability when they were required to be split into two groups, with one group supporting the morning event and the other the afternoon event. Sports hall athletics events are extremely busy and demand that students think on their feet, follow instructions carefully, and work accurately with timings and measurements, while also remaining supportive and encouraging to participants. Throughout the day, our Sports Leaders rose to these challenges exceptionally well. As ever, the students who took on the Sports Leader role conducted themselves impeccably and were a real credit to the school. Particular thanks go to Prince W, Grayson T, Sofia M, Ciaran B, Emily C, Hannah H, Ettie Y, Jack T, Zac A, Kaiden W, Owen P, Thomas C, Alexander W, Alexandra H and Callum C for their outstanding efforts. Additional thanks must also be given to the Year 8 and Year 9 students who sacrificed their PE lesson on this day to provide further support. Their willingness to help ensured the event ran smoothly and successfully. * * * Our leaders were back in action on Thursday, where Manor supported our NSport colleagues by hosting a primary basketball event with six Manor leaders having volunteered their time to aid the smooth running of the competition. Miss Harvey from NSport commented again how professional and mature our students were which is always lovely to hear and makes us exceptionally proud. Once again a thank you to James EY, Harley F, Grayson T, Owen P, Emily M and our only Year 7 volunteer Kai D.
Extra-curricular timetable
Careers and further education
Young Inspirers Programme We are delighted to confirm that we have invited a panel of young professionals to Manor School to share their career journeys to date. All Year 9 students will attend an assembly on Wednesday 25 February where they will receive information on the following:
- An introduction to vocational learning/apprenticeships
- Apprentice career journeys
- Decision making
- The importance of research
- Developing a network of support
- Preparing for work/preparing for the workplace
- Application processes
The event will be delivered in school over the course of 1 hour. The event will involve students participating in a Q & A session, providing them with the freedom to ask their own questions. In preparation for the event, students will participate in an introductory session. During the course of the session, students will receive information about each volunteer, including their name, job title, vocational pathway, employer, etc. Students will also be provided with a brief overview of vocational pathways and be encouraged to consider what questions they would like to find the answers to. Should you wish to find out more about vocational career pathways, please click here. We look forward to introducing your child to this pathway. This forms part of our commitment to the delivery of the wider Careers Education Programme at Manor School, ensuring students receive information on all available post-16/18 pathways, enabling them to make informed decisions for their future.
Job of the week
Apprenticeship vacancies