Welcome to this week's newsletter
As I sit and write this, looking out at the wind and rain, it feels a long way from the dry weather we were fortunate to have on Tuesday for our Remembrance Ceremony at 11am. There are very few occasions when we can gather as an entire school, and as expected, our students showed their respect in a calm and dignified manner, giving the occasion the gravitas it deserves. Many of those who gave their lives in the defence of freedom were a similar age, or only slightly older than our students. It was a credit to our young people that they displayed two of our REACH values — Empathy and Humanity — as they honoured their memory and acknowledged the sacrifice of those who paid the ultimate price.
Also on Tuesday, student representatives from Years 7 to 10 attended the Raunds Town Council Armistice Day Service at the Town Hall. The event was well supported by the local community and other schools within Nene Education Trust. Attendees were warmly welcomed by Councillor Helen Howell, followed by a prayer led by Reverend Neil Bullen of St Peter’s Church. The service concluded with a moving rendition of The Last Post before the town’s flag was raised. A special mention goes to Archie in Year 11, who had the honour of serving as the flag bearer for the occasion. Archie represented both Manor School and the town with pride.
On Sunday, I was privileged to take part in the Remembrance parade in Raunds, laying a wreath as a reminder of how much we owe to those who served our country. It was also heartening to see so many Manor students proudly representing their organisations — from Guides and Scouts to Army Cadets. This event also saw Archie serving as one of the main flag bearers during the ceremony at the war memorial. Ms Johnson has also been leading assemblies this week on Remembrance, giving us all a chance to reflect on the actions and sacrifices of others.
On Monday, our students represented us at the Music for Youth event in Birmingham. It’s a long day with a late finish, but I know they showed true Manor spirit and were a credit to our school community. Thank you to Mrs Jarvis and Miss Bishop for supporting them with this wonderful opportunity.
Let’s hope for better weather this weekend. I hope it brings rest and peace for you all.
Adam Crawte, Principal
Trial exams
Year 11 and 13 students will be sitting their trial exams over the next two weeks. You can download the timetables via our website.
Proms performance
Well done to our singers in Year 7 and 8 who performed at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 10 November. This performance was part of the Creative Project at the Music For Youth Proms, and the students were absolutely fantastic! They performed with confidence and enthusiasm, and were so proud to be able to perform at such a prestigious venue.
Music concerts
On Thursday 4 December, we will be hosting our annual Christmas Concert. It is set to be a wonderful evening showcasing the musical talents of our students. The concert will begin at 6pm in the Main Hall, and tickets can be purchased here. We’re also thrilled to announce that Fallen Mavericks, a legendary band from Manor School, are returning for a special fundraising concert. This promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with incredible music, energy, and nostalgia. We can’t wait to welcome them back! The concert will take place on Thursday 18 December in the Main Hall at 7pm, and tickets can be purchased here.
Sporting success
Following our recent celebration of Year 9 student George M's tournament success, we are proud to say that another of our students has also recently been victorious in kickboxing. Congratulations go to fellow Year 9 student Phoebe C who won both a gold and bronze medal at the ISKA British Open World qualifier on Sunday 9 November, meaning that she has qualified to fight abroad in the World Championships next year. Well done!
We would also like to share the following social media post that praises the referee work of Olivia M in Year 10. It is fantastic to see the work of young match officials recognised, and we wish Olivia continued success in her role.
We love hearing about our students' achievements outside of school. If you have any stories you would like to share in our newsletter, please email enquiries@manor.school
Hockey opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity for students to watch both England's men and women hockey teams to play in the Hockey Pro League in June. The event is taking place on Wednesday 24 June, with the women's game at 11:30am vs Spain and the men's game at 1:30pm vs Pakistan. There are 15 spaces available and the cost will be approximately £15 per ticket.
Interested students must let Miss Hustwait know by Friday 21 November.
Carol concert
Students from across all Nene Education Trust schools are joining together for a Christmas carol concert on Wednesday 3 December. Click here to book tickets.
Library competitions
Our school librarian is currently running three competitions/challenges which students can enter to win various prizes. Please see details below, and encourage your child(ren) to take part if they have not yet done so.
Sports results
We have seen many of our football teams in action this week, and so have a bumper-length roundup of fixtures to share with you.
Our U14 girls travelled to Wollaston School on Thursday 6 November for their District Cup quarter final, facing a tough challenge before the match had even begun. With a few late dropouts, Manor arrived with just nine players — meaning every girl knew she’d be playing a full game and working extra hard. In the spirit of fairness, Wollaston kindly agreed to play with ten, and the match took place on their brand-new pitch, which was in outstanding condition and a pleasure to play on. The first half was a highly competitive affair, with both sides showing excellent skill and determination. Manor’s goalkeeper, Lily A, made a series of crucial saves to keep the score level, while her opposite number at Wollaston produced some fine stops of her own. Despite Manor’s resilience, the deadlock was broken late in the half when a Wollaston corner caused chaos in the box and was unfortunately deflected into the Manor net off one of our own players. Trailing 1–0 at the break, the team regrouped and adjusted their formation, with Emily M moving up front and four players across midfield. The change had an immediate impact, with Emily equalising just minutes into the second half. That goal sparked real confidence and energy across the team, who began to dominate possession and move the ball superbly around the pitch. Emily went on to complete her hat-trick with two more well-taken goals, before some brilliant link-up play between Lexi Y, Olivia F, and Maisy B saw Maisy slot home a deserved fourth. The final score was 4-1 to Manor. The game was played with great competitiveness but also fantastic spirit, especially as many of the girls knew one another from both schools. It was a wonderful showcase of teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship. Manor now progress to the semi-finals — congratulations to all the players on a fantastic team performance!
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Our U16 girls travelled to Latimer on Monday 10 November and, despite another show of resilience, were beaten and knocked out of the County Cup. Despite the loss, we still had our stand out moments - Alanna hitting a shot in the volley that went agonisingly wide, Summer and Isla showing a solid performance in defence, Amelie taking charge in goal, and Olivia showing pace down the right wing, wriggling though a number of challenges. The team is now looking forward to the District Cup campaign and league games after Christmas.
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Also in action were our U13 girls who did Manor proud with two fantastic performances on the pitch. In their first match against Wrenn, the girls showed outstanding teamwork, skill, and determination, securing an impressive 5–0 victory. Every player gave their all, setting the tone for the day with confidence and energy. The second game against Wellingborough was a real battle from start to finish. The girls dug deep, defended brilliantly, and showed incredible resilience to claim a hard-fought 1–0 win. A huge well done to all the players for their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship — you represented Manor brilliantly!
In a hard-fought encounter against a strong Hatton side, our U13 boys put in an outstanding display of determination and teamwork, narrowly losing 3–2 after an intense and entertaining match. From the first whistle, both teams battled for control, with our side showing great spirit and resilience throughout. Despite going behind early, the boys responded brilliantly with some slick passing and clever movement off the ball. Caden M was instrumental in midfield, breaking up play and driving the team forward with energy and composure. Prince W impressed with his pace and skill down the wing, constantly threatening the Hatton defence and creating several key chances. Meanwhile, Noah H gave a tireless performance at the back, making crucial tackles and showing real leadership under pressure. Both of our goals came from well-worked team moves that showcased the progress this group has made — a sign of the hard work being done in training. Although the result didn’t go our way, every player should be proud of their effort and attitude. A narrow defeat, but plenty of positives to take into the next fixture.
Extra-curricular timetable
Community opportunities
Raunds Christmas market
Join the local community on Sunday 30 November from 2pm to 7pm for the Raunds Christmas market and light switch-on. Santa's parade will leave the Town Hall at 2:45pm, followed by live entertainment from 3pm. The square will be home to fair rides, a petting farm, Big Heroes for Little Heroes, and a variety of craft and food stalls. The lights will be switched on at 6pm.