Message from the Executive Principal, Alastair O'Connor
It has been an amazing start to this new academic year, and as we reach the end of our first half term I wanted to share some messages with you.
On behalf of the Senior Leadership Team I would like to welcome our new Year 7 and Year 12 students and their parents/carers to Charnwood College . We are extremely happy with the way they have settled in.
Our Year 11's have started the year with a very positive attitude. Attendance at our GCSE booster sessions has been Outstanding.
We are delighted that more and more students are attending well each year at Charnwood College , becoming more independent in their studies and enjoying more and more opportunities through our broadening horizons programme.
I am delighted to announce that Mrs Tracey Rowe has been promoted from Head of School to Principal of Charnwood College.
Tracey has been a key part of our school community since 2019, initially joining as Vice Principal before stepping into the role of Head of School. Over the past few years, she has played a pivotal role in transforming the culture of the school, raising standards in behaviour and attitudes, and fostering a positive and respectful environment for both students and staff.
Most recently, Tracey has led a focused drive on improving attendance, resulting in Charnwood College now sitting above the national average—with figures continuing to rise. Her commitment to the wellbeing and success of every student is clear, and we are excited to see her vision continue to shape the future of our school.
We wish Mrs Rowe every success in her new role and look forward to the next chapter under her leadership.
Music in the Spotlight – Our Year 7 Students Shine Bright!
Wednesday 8th October – A night to remember
On Wednesday 8th October, the school hall came alive with the sound of music as over 100 enthusiastic Year 7 students took to the stage for an unforgettable evening of performances. Each tutor group prepared and delivered a unique item, showcasing not only their musical talents but also their teamwork, creativity, and confidence.
A special congratulations goes to our brave and brilliant Year 7 soloists, who performed with professionalism and poise in front of an audience of over 350 people—an impressive feat for any performer, let alone those so early in their secondary school journey!
The concert concluded with a show-stopping Motown Medley, sung by all participating students and accompanied by a live band made up of older students and our dedicated music staff. It was a true celebration of collaboration across year groups and a joyful end to a spectacular evening.
This event also marked a new focus on student leadership. Our newly formed Year 8 Stage Crew worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly, and the evening was confidently compered by students from Years 10 to 12, who brought charm and clarity to the night’s proceedings.
A huge thank you to all the students, staff, and families who supported the concert. We are proud of the talent, teamwork, and leadership shown by everyone involved. The future of music at Charnwood College is certainly bright!
Supporting the Musical Journey of our Local Primary Schools
At Charnwood College, we believe in nurturing the musical potential of every student right from the start. Our goal is to provide opportunities for local primary school pupils to begin—and continue—their musical journeys, whether that’s through learning an instrument, singing in a choir, or experiencing live music performances. Through the #charnwoodmusicpathways initiative, we ensure that every pupil, regardless of age or experience, has access to the support and inspiration they need to discover their musical talents.
In September, two of our local primary schools, Robert Bakewell and Stonebow Primary, were treated to a special visit from the Hathern Band. The pupils enjoyed a wonderful performance, where they were able to hear a variety of brass instruments in action. Even more exciting, the students had the chance to try out some of the instruments for themselves—a hands-on experience that sparked excitement and curiosity about the world of music.
We are incredibly grateful to Hathern Band for their generosity in visiting our local schools and sharing their passion for music with the next generation. This is just one example of the incredible support we receive from local music organisations, and we look forward to future visits and collaborations that will continue to inspire and empower young musicians in our community.
Thank you to Hathern Band, and to all of our partners, for helping make these experiences possible. We can’t wait to see how our #CharnwoodMusicPathways continues to grow and inspire!
Excellence Evening
On Wednesday 10th September we celebrated with students who had achieved academic excellence over the past year. Parents and Governors were also invited to the event which took place in the Jim Shahi Hall.
The evening, allowed us to shine a spotlight on the academic excellence of our students – those who have stood out, who have pushed themselves, and who have shown what it means to truly be a Charnwood Scholar.
Congratulations to all our award winners.
Loughborough University Degree Show Trip
Year 10 and Year 12 Art students has a wonderful opportunity to visit Loughborough University to look at the amazing Degree show work of Fine Art and Textiles and Fashion.
Students were excited to see such a range of creative and unusual works of art and how they could use this to inspire their own work.
One student said how they had enjoyed the trip seeing a wide variety of artwork and sculptures and how unique it all was. Another student said they loved the University and could recognise some of the techniques they are taught in art lessons such as shading and mark making. They loved the variety of colours and techniques and liked the work that was interactive because it was fun.
Personal Development and Wider Opportunities across the school!
We were delighted to be selected as one of only 100 schools across the country to receive a special suite of Taskmaster challenges through the Taskmaster Education Club 100 initiative.
Our Year 8 students rose to the occasion—popping balloons, building bridges, and demonstrating fantastic teamwork and problem-solving skills along the way.
This half term also saw our first Personal Development Drop Down Day, which focused on community and responsibility. In preparation for Anti-Bullying Week students explored what it means to create a safe and respectful school environment. We were so impressed by their thoughtful ideas and enthusiasm that we are wanting to bring the winning idea from 9T2’s community project competition to life—well done, 9T2!
For our older students, the year began with a purposeful induction for Year 12. This included exploring British values, discussing the importance of being positive role models, and sharing essential internet safety guidance. In addition, our RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) sessions with Wayne Stevenson have now taken place for Sixth Form, with every year group set to take part in sessions throughout the academic year.
It has been inspiring to see students across all year groups engaging so thoughtfully in these opportunities. We look forward to building on this fantastic start as the year continues.
Year 11 and Booster Sessions
We are incredibly proud of how well our Year 11 students have started the academic year. Each morning, they have shown real commitment by attending their additional booster sessions and making the most of every opportunity to prepare for their upcoming exams. Attendance at the after-school boosters on Mondays and Tuesdays has also been outstanding — together, students have already completed an amazing 62,400 extra minutes of learning! Their dedication and positive attitude are setting a fantastic example for the rest of the school. Keep it up, Year 11!
DofE Bronze Award
As we are stating our second year of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme , last year’s students have been working hard towards completing their Bronze Award.
Over the past 12 months, our students have been volunteering at a variety of local organisations, making a real difference in our community. They've stayed physically active through a wide range of activities, including dance, netball, football, and basketball, among others. For their skills section, they’ve taken on everything from baking and playing musical instruments to gardening—demonstrating both creativity and commitment.
One of the most memorable parts of the award has been the expedition. Students carried all their essentials for a two-day hike, navigated using maps, cooked their meals on Trangias, and worked closely as a team. It was a challenging but unforgettable experience, full of teamwork, resilience, and lifelong memories.
This year we are adding the Sliver Award to our programme for those in year 10 that have completed their Bronze
#Ambition #Aspiration #Respect #Expression #Courage
High School Music Update – School Musical Rehearsals in Full Swing!
We are well and truly in the midst of preparations for our much-anticipated school musical, which will take place on 4th, 5th, and 6th February. Excitement is building as over 100 students are involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, working hard to bring this year’s production to life.
Rehearsals are in full swing, taking place every Wednesday after school and during Enrichment sessions. After the October half-term, we will also be adding Thursday after-school rehearsals to ensure we’re performance-ready.
It’s not just the performers who are busy — students and staff from across the school are coming together to support with costumes, props, set design, and backstage crew roles. It’s a true team effort and a fantastic example of creativity and collaboration within our school community.
Tickets will go on sale in December, so keep an eye out for more information — you won’t want to miss this spectacular show
Charnwood College Dance Show
After the half term break we will be announcing the dates of this year’s Charnwood College Dance Show.
The show will feature talented dancers from Years 7, 10, and 11, along with contributions from students in other year groups. They have all been working incredibly hard in rehearsals, and we are very proud of the creativity, energy, and commitment they have shown.
We’d love for you to come along, support our students, and enjoy an evening of fantastic performances. Tickets: Adults: £4 Concessions: £2
Tickets will be available via MCAS. All proceeds will help fund future Performing Arts events at Charnwood College.
We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for supporting the arts at Charnwood!
#Expression
Celebrating Student Leadership at Charnwood college:
As the academic year progresses, we take a moment to reflect on the outstanding contributions of our outgoing student leadership team. Over the past year, these dedicated students have been instrumental in supporting a wide range of school events, acting as ambassadors for the college and giving up their time to help build a positive school community.
Their responsibilities extended well beyond the school gates—they met with representatives from our Trust as well as interviewing new appointed members of staff. Their professionalism and passion have left a lasting impact, and we thank them for their service.
As their tenure draws to a close, a new chapter begins. Our aspiring new student leaders have presented to their form groups, impressing their peers with their vision, commitment, and enthusiasm. Voting has now closed, and we look forward to announcing the results shortly.
The new team will step into their roles just in time for one of the most important events in our school calendar—the Remembrance Day service. They will take a leading role in organising and delivering this occasion, marking the beginning of what promises to be another successful year of student leadership.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the months ahead.
Year 11 Sports Studies students make a splash and scale the heights at the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre.
Starting the day with fabulous weather and some nervous participants, the Year 11 CNAT Sports Studies class headed for the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre. To meet the assessment criteria of ‘Demonstrate appropriate skills in outdoor activities’ students demonstrated safe practice and development of skills in kayaking. The students worked hard, and appeared to have fun, when showing off their kayaking skills whilst demonstrating safe practice, communication skills, decision-making skills and problem-solving skills, identifying and clarifying any issues and team-working skills. All of these elements contribute to their final grade in their Cambridge Nationals qualification.
In order to support the students’ understanding of single-pitch rock climbing, they showed great resilience, aspiration and respect, encouraging each other to achieve their individual high point on the rock climbing wall, whilst working as a team to ensure each climber’s safety.
The kayaking and climbing instructors were full of praise for effort and attitude of our students. Loads of fabulous success and only a little swimming!
Charnwood College is a Reading School
We are ALL Readers
Reading is for YOU!
Sparking Students’ Passion for Reading with Sparx Reader.
Over the last 18 months, we have introduced and embedded an enhanced Charnwood College culture of reading amongst our student community through the use of the Sparx Reader app. This platform makes reading accessible to all students as Sparx Reader works on any device, so students can access over 4000 books from practically anywhere, at any time. Our highest achieving reader, for the second year running, Arran Pull (18000+ SRP) achieves much of his reading in the car, using his mobile phone on journeys to numerous afterschool activities.
Students can personalise their experience of reading, by making choices of texts from topics that interest and engage them. Therefore, every student's experience of reading, and the homework tasks that they take part in, are tailored to their personal needs.
Sparx Reader can also make students' reading visible, they can view their own achievements and watch their Sparx Reader Points build up in real time. Parents can be assured that their children are reading suitable books, are challenged on their understanding of a text in a supportive manner and can learn new vocabulary as they progress through their reading, at their own pace.
Teachers are able to monitor students' success with their reading, recognise patterns in students' understanding and ensure students are offered suitable opportunities for support with their reading should they need it. We are using powerful insights offered by Sparx Reader to start conversations with students about their reading that will have real impact on their learning over time.
This term we particularly celebrate the reading success of the following students, who are all the highest achievers in their year group:
Homework Success at Charnwood College
We’re delighted to share that it’s been an excellent start to the academic year for homework across all year groups at Charnwood College. Our Year 7 students have made a fantastic transition into secondary school life, confidently navigating new systems and logging onto Bromcom to access their homework tasks. They’ve also begun using our online learning platforms—Sparx Maths, Sparx Reader, and Seneca Learning—with great enthusiasm and independence.
Students in Years 8 to 13 continue to demonstrate a strong work ethic and a clear understanding of the importance of homework in supporting their progress. Research shows that students who regularly complete homework using platforms like ours make up to six months more progress than their peers who do not—so it’s a huge win for our learners who are engaging consistently.
We’re incredibly proud to be leading the way across the Trust in several homework-related metrics, and we’re frequently top of the leaderboard for Seneca Learning compared to other schools in Leicestershire. This is a testament to the commitment of our students and the support of our staff and families.
Maths – Sparx Maths
Students have answered 130,632 questions so far this year, with 1312 hours of learning done already with a bonus of 50 students improving their efficiency with times tables so far this year. The school completion has increased by at least 5% every single week since the start of term. The highest performing, and most improved year group so far is year 11! Special mention to the highest XP earners at sparx this academic year so far:
English – Sparx Reader
Students in Charnwood College have completed a staggering 974 hours of careful reading in Sparx Reader, this term alone, and completed 505 books between them! The average time spent on reading each week is 2 hours and a large majority of readers have Good to Excellent Accuracy scores. Our highest achieving Tutor Group are Mr Bland’s and Miss Simandi’s 7T2 who together have completed 91 hours of careful reading on Sparx and have amassed a whopping 55,646 Sparx Reader Points between them – Congratulations to all of the 7T2 team of readers! Our highest individual achievers are below, prepare to be blown away!
Science – Seneca Learning
Nearly 600 students have accessed Seneca since the start of term and they have studied for over 760 hours achieving an average score of 77%!
Particular praise goes to 10 Science 1, who are regularly achieving 100% completion of their Biology, Chemistry and Physics homework which shows true dedication.
Our Y11 students have completed over 5400 learning sessions so far this term. In every week we have been at the top of all the secondary schools in the Trust for the number of study sessions completed. This shows how motivated our Y11 students are to achieving success in their upcoming trial exams.
Charnwood College Hosting of the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge (SMC) – 9th October 2025
A huge congratulations to all our Year 11, 12, and 13 students who took part in the Senior Maths Challenge! We had 40 students across these year groups comprising all of year 12 and 13 and over 10% of our year 11!
Their enthusiasm, resilience, and intellectual curiosity are truly commendable. Tackling complex problems under pressure is no small feat, and their willingness to rise to the challenge reflects a deep commitment to learning and a genuine passion for mathematics. Whether students earned a certificate or simply enjoyed the experience, they have demonstrated the kind of critical thinking and perseverance that will serve them well in any future endeavour. We’re incredibly proud of you—keep pushing boundaries and embracing the joy of problem-solving!
Sports Leadership
What an incredible start to the term it has been for our Sport Leaders Programme! Over the past half term, we have welcomed 950 pupils to take part in a fantastic range of primary school sporting events. From the excitement of Kurling and Boccia, to the energy of Football, Small Schools Football, and Girls’ Football, and the teamwork shown in Handball, Table Tennis, and Cross Country — our leaders have been at the heart of it all!
These events not only provided opportunities for primary pupils to develop their skills and love of sport, but also gave our young sport leaders the chance to step up, take responsibility, and put their training into action.
This term has seen a record-breaking 65 new Sport Leaders joining our programme — our biggest cohort yet! Throughout our leadership club, they have been learning the fundamental skills needed to become confident event hosts, including teamwork, communication, organisation, and problem-solving.
It has been amazing to see their confidence grow each week, as they prepared to deliver and lead their first primary events of the year. The professionalism, enthusiasm, and care they have shown has made a huge difference to every event we’ve hosted.
Leadership spotlight
This half term’s Spotlight Leader goes to Troy! Troy, you have truly exemplified what it means to be a Sport Leader. From the very first event, your dedication, maturity, and initiative have stood out. You have supported pupils with injuries, checked in to see if staff needed any help throughout the day, and led with confidence and accuracy during events. We’ve had so many school staff come forward to tell us how incredible you are, and we couldn’t agree more. You are a role model to your peers, and we’re so proud of the example you’ve set. Keep up the fantastic work, Troy!
#strong community
CHRISTMAS BISCUIT RECIPES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
We would like to invite our families at Charnwood College to contribute to our New Recipe Book including a wide variety of Christmas Biscuit Recipes from different cultures and countries.
The Recipe book will be used to support our students broadening their modern languages education.
Please forward your recipes to office@charnwoodcollege.org
Revision guides
In preparation for the upcoming mock examinations, we are pleased to share that the recommended GCSE revision guides selected by our subject teachers are now available to purchase via MCAS. These high-quality resources are designed to support students’ independent study and revision at home. To purchase, simply visit the School Shop section on MCAS.
Mental Health Awareness Day at Our School
Thank you to all those at Charnwood college who came together to celebrate World Mental Health Day by wearing yellow to show your support for positive wellbeing and the importance of talking about mental health. The school was filled with bright smiles and sunshine as students and staff joined in to raise awareness and spread kindness. We captured some fantastic photos of everyone getting involved — Great to see all those who took part and helped make the day such a success!
Personal Development and Wellbeing Officer
We are pleased to introduce Mrs Mortimer Plester as Charnwood College’s new Personal Development and Wellbeing Officer. This important role has been created to strengthen the support available to our students, particularly in the areas of medical care, mental health, and personal wellbeing.
Mrs Mortimer-Plester will be a key point of contact for students who are feeling unwell or in need of first aid assistance during the school day. She will also work closely with those managing ongoing medical conditions, ensuring they receive the care and understanding they need to stay safe and engaged in their learning.
In addition to physical health support, Mrs Plester will provide guidance and a safe space for students experiencing mental health challenges, helping them build resilience and confidence.
The core aim of this role is to reduce the impact of lost learning hours—whether due to illness, emotional distress, or other personal challenges—and to help students re-engage with their education. By doing so, we hope to promote improved academic achievement and ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
We are confident that Mrs Mortimer-Plester’s presence will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, and we encourage anyone who feels they may benefit from her support to reach out.
Work experience
As part of our Personal Development Programme, our Year 11 and Year 13 students have been out on work experience from 13th – 17th October. Students have taken part in a wide range of fantastic placements, including roles in education, retail, finance, and medicine, gaining valuable insight into the world of work. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences and reading their work experience diaries when they return after half term.
Good Luck in Your Mock Exams!
We’d like to wish all our Year 11 and Year 13 students the very best of luck in their upcoming mock exams, taking place from Monday 3rd November to Friday 21st November.
These exams are an important opportunity to show how far you’ve come, identify areas for growth, and build confidence ahead of your final assessments. We know how hard you’ve been working, and we’re incredibly proud of your dedication and resilience.
Remember to stay focused, pace yourselves, and use all the support and resources available to you. You've got this!
Good luck—we believe in you!
Welcome to Our New Staff at Charnwood College
As we begin a new academic year, we’re delighted to welcome a fantastic group of new staff members who have already made a brilliant start and settled in well at Charnwood College. Their energy, expertise, and enthusiasm are already making a positive impact across the school, and we’re excited to introduce them to our wider community. We’re proud to have such a dedicated and talented group of professionals joining our team.
Miss Gregory joins us as a teacher of Sociology, Psychology, and Religious Studies, and is also taking on the important role of Head of Year 7, supporting our newest students as they transition into secondary school life.
Mrs Arrowsmith-Bates brings her passion for the humanities as a teacher of History, Geography, and RS, and is also our new Head of Year 9, helping guide students through a key stage in their learning journey.
Mr Ayres is our new Head of Maths and Computing Faculty, leading the department with vision and expertise. He is also a Year 11 tutor, supporting students as they prepare for their GCSEs.
Mr Gillard is our new Head of Geography, a Year 9 tutor, and is also lending his talents to support our musical production—a wonderful example of cross-curricular collaboration.
Mrs Ingram joins the Science department and is also a Year 10 tutor, helping students explore the wonders of the scientific world.
Miss Gale brings her expertise to our PE department and is supporting our sixth form as a Year 12 tutor, promoting health, wellbeing, and resilience.
Miss Godrich is a new addition to our English department and is also a Year 10 tutor, helping students develop their analytical and writing skills.
Mr Bland joins us as a Music teacher and Year 7 tutor, inspiring creativity and musical talent across the school.
Mr Asad joins the maths team and is also a Year 7 tutor, helping students build strong foundations in numeracy and confidence in their learning.
Miss Petrie is training as a History teacher and is already making a great contribution to the department. She is also supporting a Year 9 tutor group, bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm.
Dates for the Diary
- 27th Oct- Year 7 and 9 Key assessment starts
- 3rd Nov- Year 11 and 13 Mock exams start
- 5th Nov- Sixth form open evening
- 10th Nov-Anti Bullying week
- 10th Nov- Year 10- RSE drop down day
- 11th Nov- Armistice Day- Remembrance service
- 17th Nov- Road Safety Week
- 11th Dec- Sixth form parents evening
- 15th and 17th Dec- Carol Concert- Emmanuel Church
Credits:
Created with images by Romolo Tavani - "Autumn Table - Orange Leaves And Wooden Plank At Sunset In Forest" • STOATPHOTO - "Unlock Your Potential concep. The meeting at the white office table." • Who is Danny - "Startup and business concept" • Rachel - "hiker in the mountains" • Ginkgo - "Dramatic red theater curtain bathed in spotlight, evoking anticipation and grandeur on stage" • sirawut - "blurred concert lighting and bokeh on stage with wooden floor" • Prostock-studio - "Blue paper boat leading among white ships" • Rara - "books in colored covers swirl on a blue background, copy space" • Atlas - "Stack of books against blue background, space for text" • fuzzbones - "Homework text on green board" • Dusan Kostic - "kids soccer team" • Stacy - "Wooden and colored figures representing diversity and inclusion" • A - "Text sign showing Revision. Business photo text action of revising over someone like auditing or accounting Ballpoints pens blank colored speech bubble sticky notes wooden background" • O - "World mental health day green ribbon awareness on gradient background. Green Ribbon, Mental Health Awareness Symbol, Environmental Awareness Emblem - Multiple Cause Support Campaign" • Muhammad - "Hand holding mental wellbeing icons showing emotional health and cognitive function" • magele-picture - "Rethinking the future " • Atlas - "Inscription Are you ready for exams? and stationary on yellow background, top view" • Dzmitry - "Hello and welcome symbol. Concept words Hello and welcome on wooden blocks. Beautiful grey background. Business hello and welcome concept. Copy space." • Liudmyla - "'Save the date' words on a modern board on a white wooden background, top view. Overhead, from above, flat lay. Close-up."