Welcome to this week's newsletter
It has been another busy and positive week in school, with a number of important events that really demonstrate the strength of our community. This week we welcomed Ofsted back for a monitoring visit to review the progress we have made since their last inspection. I would like to thank both our staff and our students for being so “on it” during the two days they were with us. Their conduct, focus and pride in progress the school has made were clear to see and commented on by the inspectors. They saw many positive developments across the school and recognised the progress we have made. They also gave us some clear areas to continue to focus on as we move forward. It is worth remembering that it has only been 13 school weeks since their previous visit, yet they were already able to see the impact of the work taking place. They were also positive about the action plans we have put in place to drive the next stage of our improvement journey. We were very well supported during the visit by colleagues from Meridian Trust and Nene Education Trust. Their presence highlights the strong support network we have around us as a school and reflects the collaborative work taking place ahead of our expected transfer to Meridian later this year. The letter and outcome of this visit will be released at some point during Term 5, after Easter. On Thursday evening we held our Year 9 Preferences Evening, which was extremely well attended, with over 80% of students and families joining us. It was fantastic to see staff speaking so enthusiastically about their subjects and students asking such thoughtful questions. Events like this help ensure students can make informed decisions about what can sometimes feel like difficult choices ahead of the 6 May deadline. It is important that our students know they are well supported and that they are not alone in making these decisions. Our Year 11 geographers have visited Hunstanton today for their fieldwork, which is a vital part of their preparation for the summer examinations. We were hoping the beautiful weather from earlier in the week would continue, although it looks like they may have a slightly cloudier day by the seaside! Finally, I am crunching the numbers today to see whether students have earned a Mufti Day next Friday. To achieve this, they needed to meet all of the following targets in at least 5 out of the last 6 weeks:
- Over 92% whole-school attendance
- Over 3000 REACH points awarded
- Over 60% of students receiving no sanctions
- A Sparx completion rate above 80%
I will be letting students know early next week whether they have been successful in their quest. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Adam Crawte, Principal
Literacy focus
During tutor time, students are introduced to two words per week that feature on a list of 500 words that will help to improve academic progress and writing. These are known as 'powerful words'. They are words that feature in academic texts and may appear in exam questions or other documents useful in school. However, they are also used in texts in the real world and will improve our students' understanding of any reading they encounter. Next week the two powerful words are amendment (a change made to an original, usually a document or statement) and induced (brought about or caused; not spontaneous). It would be great if you could talk to your child(ren) about these words or use them at home. We also teach students an idiom each week, which is a phrase commonly used in speech that students may not understand. This week the idiom is 'rule of thumb', meaning a method of judging a situation or condition that is not exact but is based on experience.
Why attendance matters
Every lesson builds on the one before it. When students attend regularly, they keep up with learning, feel more confident in lessons, and build strong relationships with staff and friends. Even small amounts of absence can quickly add up, which is why we encourage families to aim for excellent attendance wherever possible. If your child is absent from school, please contact us as soon as possible on the first day of absence. This can be via the attendance officer on 01933 627020 or via email on attendance@manor.school It is also possible to record same-day absences on the Parent Portal and Arbor App. Once submitted, school staff will then approve or reject the absence, and if approved the absence will be visible in the attendance tab of your child's profile. For more information, please visit our website.
Meningitis information
Following the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent, we have been asked by the North Northamptonshire Council's Public Health department to share the below information and advice.
Year 11 Easter intervention
We are holding the following intervention sessions during the Easter break to support Year 11 students with their exam preparation:
- Maths: Tuesday 7 April, 10am-1pm
- English: Wednesday 8 April, 12-3pm
Sports results
Football Our Year 7 boys' team took part in a triangular fixture this week against Ferrers School and Weavers Academy, showing great determination and attitude throughout both matches. The first game against a strong Ferrers side proved challenging. The team went into half-time 6–0 down, but showed excellent resilience in the second half. Captain Kai D led by example, scoring a long-range strike to secure a 1–0 second-half “win,” although the final result ended 6–1 to Ferrers. In the second match against Weavers, the boys started brightly and took an early lead once again through Kai D. They battled hard for the remainder of the game, demonstrating teamwork and commitment, but were ultimately defeated 3–1. All of the boys involved should be extremely proud of their attitude and performance across both fixtures. A special mention goes to goalkeeper Mason W who made a number of sensational saves.
The Year 8 boys’ football team also played two competitive fixtures against Weavers and Ferrers. The boys started strongly in their first game against Ferrers School, winning convincingly 3–0. They showed great excellence across the pitch, from the goalkeeper through to the striker, demonstrating strong teamwork and determination throughout the match. In the second game against Weavers Academy, the boys battled hard and fought until the very end. Despite a determined performance, they sadly conceded a last-minute goal, resulting in a narrow 2–1 defeat. A special shoutout goes to Thomas C, who stepped up to play in goal and showed real determination and commitment to do his best for the team. Kaiden W also deserves recognition for taking on the role of captain and controlling the tempo of the game from the back, while Jude impressed with some excellent goal scoring. Well done to all the boys who took part - you should be very proud of yourselves.
On Wednesday our U15 girls' football team travelled to Huxlow for their semifinal cup game and came away victorious with a 2-0 win, seeing them into the final on Tuesday 21 April. We had to adapt our initial plans due to Huxlow having a smaller team then expected, but all the girls conducted themselves with grace and understanding, which was demonstrative of what wonderful team spirit they have. We played a shortened cup game where Manor dominated the possession, with Olivia M and Poppie E scoring our goals. Then, to ensure all the girls were able to play having travelled, we went on to play a friendly with all players from both sides mixed together which was a lovely way to end the afternoon, made especially better by the glorious sunshine!
This now means both our U14 and U15 girls' football teams will compete for the district cup, as well as our Year 9 boys and KS4 boys too! All games will be played at Raunds Town FC after Easter where supporters are welcome. Dates of the finals:
- Thursday 16 April: U14 girls, 3:30pm KO
- Tuesday 21 April: U15 girls, 3:30pm KO; Year 9 boys, 4:45pm KO
- Thursday 23 April: KS4 boys, 4:45pm KO
Netball Our Year 7 girls’ netball team travelled to Ferrers School this week to face Weavers and Ferrers in two competitive fixtures. Manor showed great excellence, determination, and teamwork throughout both matches. In the first game against Ferrers, the girls battled hard and secured a well-deserved 4–2 victory. Carrying this momentum into their second match, they continued to show resilience and skill, earning another close win of 4–3 against Weavers. A special mention goes to Sienna who was outstanding in goal keeper, demonstrating strong defensive skills and excellent awareness throughout both games. Abi was also impeccable with her shooting, remaining calm under pressure, while Georgie C secured her first goal for Manor - a fantastic achievement. Well done to all the girls who took part. You have done Manor and yourselves proud.
Extra-curricular timetable
Careers and further education
Teaching degree apprenticeships talk We have a visitor coming to Manor School on Wednesday 15 April to deliver a careers talk on teaching degree apprenticeships. Interested students in Years 11-13 need to email careers@manor.school to reserve a place. Places will be issued on a first come first served basis.
Property careers residential An opportunity for Year 12 students to attend a four day, fully funded summer School at the University of Reading to learn about a career in property. Date: 14-17 July 2026 Venue: University of Reading Who: Year 12 students considering a career in property – either through university or through an apprenticeship Cost: Nothing - all food, accommodation and travel costs are covered How to apply: Applications close on Sunday 19 April - visit the website to apply