Events Coming Up
JUNE
23rd - 3rd July Year 10 Mock Exams
23rd - 27th Kinda Week
23rd Year 8 Chalke History Trip
24th Brockenhurst Taster Day
25th Transition evening
25th Wildground Moving up day
25th Art Day – Beaulieu and Waterside School
26th - 5th July Rwanda Trip
30th Art Day – Marchwood Junior School
JULY
1st Wimbledon Trip
1st Year 11 Prom
1st Art Day – Blackfield Primary
2nd Art Day – Blackfield Primary
3rd Moving Up Day
4th Moving Up Day
Message from the Leadership Team
Dear Noadswood Families,
We continue to have loads of highlights and achievements to share that reflect the spirit and dedication of our school community.
Firstly, you may be aware that AFC Bournemouth is set to release a five-part documentary focusing on the journey of their academy players, highlighting their development and experiences within the club. Among the featured players is Alfie from Year 10, showcasing the talent and potential in the academy. It was super meeting him for a chat a couple of weeks ago, to hear about his skills and successes in football, and also to hear how humble he is about leadership, and what it means to look after a team.
I am thrilled to give a huge cheer and warmest congratulations to the talented students and adults who have brought the enchanting tale of "Beauty and the Beast" to life this week. The performances have been spectacular so far – I have been to two of them, sadly missing one for a meeting last night, but I will be back tonight, really sad for it to be the final time I will see such incredible talent and teamwork for this year! I know everyone feels the same way.
The story itself teaches us valuable lessons about love, acceptance, and looking beyond appearances—messages that resonate deeply in our everyday lives, and how brilliantly have your children conveyed it all to us! My huge thanks to Mr Watkins, Mrs Smith and Miss Costa, as well as everyone behind the scenes and in the tech crew. It would be nothing without you all.
A big thank you to all our students and staff who participated in our first Arts Day of the year with Orchard Junior School! It was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 5 pupils to experience a taste of life at Noadswood, bridging the gap between schools, fostering relationships, and inspiring our younger students. For our students, it was a chance to demonstrate leadership, share their talents, and support their peers. We can’t wait to welcome more schools next week!
My choir did us proud at the Pride and Ambition in the Waterside event on Monday, when Year 9 and 7 students from Applemore and Noadswood celebrated together the work they have done on a peer mentoring project this term, helping everyone to be brain best! We rocked out our two songs, but I would like to pay tribute to Applemore’s brave soloist, Maddy, who also performed here in our hall. Our students whooped and cheered at her bravery and talent, off her home turf as well.
You’ll read in our ‘Awesome Alumni’ section that the Creative Arts have been a big part of what makes Noadswood so special for years. We cannot thank all colleagues and parents and carers involved enough – I am proud to do my bit to be part of the team as well.
My third personal highlight this week, beyond the show and welcoming Applemore here, was, without a doubt, Year 11 Leavers’ Day, which Mrs Way, Year 11 Leader, writes about below. I looked round the hall and I remembered so many positive, fun, engaging, brilliant encounters with them all; I was also reminded of the genuine positive vibe they have created here, even when things have gone wrong or been difficult. I will miss them hugely.
We would also like to congratulate our Year 10 students on their excellent approach to their formal mock exams. Your hard work and focus have not gone unnoticed, at a tiring and hot time of year. These assessments are a crucial part of your academic journey, important practice now for what lies ahead, and so we are proud of the effort you have put in.
As the Summer term marches on, we know that uniforms can be outgrown or need replacing. Please do remember we have both supermarket and Skool Kit vouchers available. These are not means tested and are for anyone that might benefit. Please reach out to your child's year team and we can happily arrange delivery for you.
By the time you read next week’s newsletter, our trip to Rwanda will have started –how bloomin’ exciting! In the end, the indomitable Dr Shaw, Trip Leader, and the magnificent Mr Pike are joined by our experienced adventurer and medical guru, Mr Giles on this trip with 13 of Y10’s finest, rather than me, but I will be here, daily, maybe even hourly cheering them on from home. I can’t wait to share with you ongoing plans with our friends over in Rwanda, as well as to hear about all the incredible times our students and staff will have on this inaugural visit.
Rwanda is just one of the many activities at home and away we have between now and the end of term – this week had so many things to review and celebrate, it was almost impossible to recall them all! It’s time to lock and load on the calendars and for me to be thankful for all everyone is doing, and to you for your efforts in getting all the children where they need to be at the right times!
Thank you for your ongoing support, partnership, challenge and involvement in our school community. Together, we really are doing great things and dealing with the difficult ones.
Best wishes,
Kathryn Marshall and the Noadswood Leadership Team
🌞 Summer Uniform Reminder 🌞
As the warmer weather continues, we’d like to remind parents and students of our summer uniform expectations:
✅ Shirt or blouse (with or without a tie)
✅ School skirt of an appropriate length
✅ Tailored school shorts or trousers
✅ Leather-style school shoes
👕 PE kit is not permitted under any circumstances as daily uniform.
In hot weather, we strongly encourage students to choose shorts or skirts instead of trousers to stay cool, and to:
💧 Bring a bottle of water
🧴 Apply sun cream before school
Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain high standards while keeping students safe and comfortable.
Leavers’ Day – Class of 2025
Wednesday saw the official end of the GCSE exams for Year 11. They have worked so hard and approached their exams with maturity and a positive attitude. As has become the tradition, Year 11 enjoyed their Leavers’ Event after the last exam; shirts were signed, selfies were taken and then we celebrated the last 5 years with a special assembly. It has been an absolute privilege to be their Year Leader for the last 3 years, and I am very proud of them all. I look forward to seeing most of them at Prom in 2 weeks and eagerly anticipate their Results Day in August.
Wishing all of Year 11 the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Mrs Way – Year Leader for Year 11
Active Travel Ambassadors - Cycle to School Week
What a week we have picked for more students to travel to school by bike, the weather has been on our side this week. A BIG well done to all those students who took part and told us the distances they travel to school every day. They have tallied up a whopping 196.06 Miles on their wheels this week. I know both Orchard Infant and Junior schools have had their students out on their scooters this week as well. Students who cycled for 5 days were treated to a ‘bikers’ breakfast to say well done?
All prize winners will be notified next week and prizes handed out. The House winner was Wilverley with students cycling a total of 84.02 miles to school this week. Well done to them all.
Student Voice – Have your say on ‘Wear Something Different Days’
The student voice group have put a questionnaire together to get the views of all children in school on their feelings over our ‘Wear something Different Days’ and if they would like them to continue next year. Although this plays a big part in our fundraising efforts for different projects around the school, we are aware that not all students like wearing non-uniform and that there could be added pressures financially on families. An email will be sent to all students next week with a link for them to complete and to be as honest as they can. This survey is completely anonymous.
The group are currently looking at different ways to fundraise so that we can continue our work to create an outdoor library and sheltered quiet area. Our next big fundraising event will welcome back for its second year the Christmas Themed Craft Fayre. More details about the event will be shared in the coming weeks, so if you would be interested in having a stall at this event please contact events@noadswood.hants.sch.uk
Kindness Week
Mrs Loveday has been in assemblies this week (and will see Year 7 on Monday 23rd) to launch our Summer Kindness week. We run a Kindness Week every term, each time with a slightly different focus. You might recall from Spring term that students in Years 7 and 8 made some kindness pledges around things they were going to actively do over the coming weeks and months. This term, we’re asking students to reflect on how they think kindly about themselves and others. So often, we can have thoughts that are not particularly kind, useful or helpful to ourselves and those around us and we know, don’t we, that those thoughts can then impact our day to day experiences. Mrs Loveday has been asking us to think about our intentions, the care we need to show and the importance of working together. We’re going to be building a kindness wall over the coming weeks, asking students to think and then write something kind about another person. More to follow on that one next week!
Awesome Alumni
I'm Creative Director for a Decorating and Interior Design company in the New Forest. I paint interiors of residential homes, do colour consultations for clients, in charge of our social media and manage a small team on site.
One of my favourite subjects at school was Art with Mr Wilkinson, he also became my tutor in year 9 when the school switched to mixed year tutor groups and began the house system. He was very inspirational and encouraged my love of art, it then led to the choices I took at college and on further to university where I studied Interior Design. I was very glad to have had a teacher like him. I also enjoyed drama with Ms Costa, who was my original tutor, her classes helped to build my confidence and that only continued to grow through my life. I still think back fondly to these two teachers who hugely shaped my life without me even realising at the time. I'm very grateful to them both.