Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the final weeks of this academic year, I am delighted to share with you the remarkable achievements and exciting developments that have taken place across our school community.
We recently welcomed our future Year 7 pupils during our Year 6 Induction Day on 1 July, where primary school pupils who will be joining us in September 2025 had the opportunity to experience life at Baylis Court School. Similarly, our Year 12 Induction Day on Friday provided prospective Sixth Form students with valuable insights into the opportunities that await them in our post-16 provision.
Our pupils have embraced numerous educational opportunities beyond the classroom. Year 7 pupils thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Winchester Science Centre, whilst ten Year 10 pupils participated in a Chemistry trip to Imperial College London, an excellent preparation for their future A-level studies. Our Year 12 English A-level students experienced the literary world come alive during their visit to London Coliseum for a performance of The Great Gatsby.
The Year 11 Prom at Pinewood Hotel was a truly memorable evening where our pupils celebrated the completion of their examinations in style. The pupils looked absolutely wonderful and danced the night away, marking the end of an important chapter in their educational journey. Whilst we miss their presence in school, we eagerly anticipate celebrating with them again on GCSE results day on Thursday, 21 August 2025.
Year 13 students and their families are warmly welcomed to A Level Results day on Thursday, 14 August. Staff are working hard to ensure an enjoyable morning for all.
I am particularly proud to celebrate our Year 7 district rounders team, where nine pupils participated and achieved an impressive third place finish—a testament to their dedication and sporting excellence.
Looking ahead, I would like to inform you of several important upcoming events. On 7 July, Year 12 pupils will be attending Reading University to gain valuable insights into university life and explore their next step options. Additionally, Year 8 pupils will embark on their enrichment trip, where they will develop resilience, teamwork, and forge a deeper connection with the natural world whilst having tremendous fun.
I am particularly excited about Sports Day on Wednesday 9 July, where all pupils will participate either as competitors or enthusiastic spectators. Pupils should attend school in their PE kit but must remember to bring their school books and equipment for lessons when not participating in sporting activities. Please ensure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather conditions and a refillable water bottle.
Finally, given the continuing warm weather, blazers will remain optional this week if your child is comfortable in their school shirt. However, please ensure they wear their year group badge to facilitate prompt access to the Dining Room at lunchtime.
Mrs MacInnes
Principal
Helping young people stay safe on smartphones and online
In light of the recent series shown on Netflix - Adolescence and the need to educate young people about the pressures and the content they can view online, Kooth are offering parents and carers this 30 minute webinar covering how you can encourage them to think about how they spend their time on social media platforms and how they can get help to deal with similar situations that they may find themselves in.
The webinar will cover:
- Young people online
- Social media, the law, the pros and cons
- Smartphone safety
- What parents can do to support their children
- How our platforms can help
Free Period Products
If any pupil would like to collect some free period products, please contact your Head of Learning or Mrs Bounds directly. We have a large selection of different products, now including reusables such as Modi Bodi washable period underwear, Washable/reusable pads and menstrual cups.
I’m delighted to share that one of our students, Mahnoor Usmaan 8C, has achieved “Elitist” status, in the top 80–95th percentile of all participants. In the International Maths challenge, “Elitists” are considered high performers, and “Champions” (those in the top 5%) are recognised as the highest performers and winners.
Mahnoor has also been invited to participate in the final round of the Two-Round Open Challenge.
Well done to Mahnoor.
On Monday our Year 7 Pupils set off on an exciting trip to the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. The visit began with a jaw-dropping planetarium show. Students soared through space, zooming past planets and stars, and even imagined what it would be like to become astronauts for a day. For many, it was their first time seeing the universe in such a spectacular, 360-degree way, an experience we won’t forget.
In the live science show, students explored how humans and animals hear sound. They were amazed to try hearing like different animals such as a cat or an elephant! They watched in awe as the presenter demonstrated the Rijke Tube. A special metal pipe that uses heat from a flame to create sound waves. When held upright after being heated, it let out a surprising and spooky humming sound.
The interactive exhibits were a hands-on science playground. Students tested scientific theories, played with illusions, and tackled puzzles. They discovered how light a can of beans would feel on Mercury and how heavy it would feel on the sun from the gravity; how pulleys can make lifting themselves easier, and how air pressure can launch rockets. But the all-time favourite? The hilarious and mind-bending Ames Room, where students appeared to grow and shrink depending on where they stood. The trip was a blast from start to finish, full of fun, facts, and the kind of wow moments that make science unforgettable. Even the heat couldn’t hold us back from a truly stellar day!
The pupils represented Baylis Court School with pride, showing excellent behaviour from start to finish.
Well done to Year 9 who showcased their sewing skills in DT this week when making hair scrunchies!
Diary Dates
- Monday 7 July- Year 12 visit to Reading University
- Monday 7 July- Year 8 Enrichment Trip
- Wednesday 9 July- Sports Day
- Friday 11 July- Globe Players come to Baylis for year 10
- Monday 14 July- Community day
- Monday 14 July- Art Showcase
- Tuesday 15 July- Year 7 Enrichment Trip
- Wednesday 16 July- Year 12 Enrichment Trip
- Wednesday 16 July- Year 9 Enrichment Trip
- Thursday 17 July- Year 10 Enrichment Trip
- Thursday 17 July- DofE Bronze Assessment
- Friday 18 July- Last Day of School (early finish- time TBC)
Co Curricular Timetable
New Bespoke Computer Science Club – Now Open!
We’re excited to launch a new Computer Science Club open to all pupils from Years 7 to 11! This bespoke club is designed around you – bring your questions, ideas, or topics you’d like help with, and get guidance in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Every Wednesday during Lunchtime(1:30 to 2:00)
Careers in…History
At Baylis we offer the AQA GCSE History and A level course. History GCSE helps provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to study other post 16 subjects such as politics, law, psychology and sociology, English literature or classics.
After studying History, you may wish to study History at university or combine it with another subject of interest. Many students who wish to work in law as either a barrister or solicitor will study History first then go onto do a law conversion course.
Many history graduates also use their degrees to start their careers in journalism, heritage politics and international relations.
Skills
Below is a list of transferable skills developed in Dance that can be applied to all careers:
- Forming well-reasoned balanced arguments
- Team work
- Organisation
- Analysing & evaluating
- Identifying the causes and consequences of events
- Professionalism
- Identifying trends over short and long periods of time
Careers Options: Historian, professor, teacher, solicitor, Politician, archivist, curator, journalist, Academic librarian, Archaeologist, Civil Service, Human resources, Marketing and many more!
This pupil was brave enough to share her speech with her peers as a work in progress and ask for feedback so that she could improve, and I would like everyone to appreciate her finished project. Well done Areebah!
Littering
Littering should be stopped due to the way the planet is being treated plus the stench on the roads if people keep on littering you're going to have a dirty and unhealthy planet you can even become sick do you want that?
You could get illnesses like a flu a cough , headache, or even a virus
Credits:
Created with images by Hide_Studio - "Beautiful Fireworks on the sky background." • Hide_Studio - "Beautiful Fireworks on the sky background."