Welcome to this week's newsletter
We are one week closer to the half term break in the term that keeps on going. I can see that many members of our community are looking forward to the holiday and a chance to reset before we go again in November and December. Therefore, still seeing students work hard, smile and be polite is a great feeling.
We had a great turn out at our Year 7 Settling in Evening and it was lovely to meet some new parents/carers and discuss the first term at Manor. Year 7 have made a great start here and this is down to their focus and positivity in lessons and the clear direction from Mrs Downie and the Year 7 team. Their standards are high, and the year group are meeting them.
I have been into a number of assemblies this week and heard Mr Carter talk about getting fully involved in lessons and what teachers are doing in lessons to help this. He has shared his presentation in this newsletter so that you can see what has been discussed.
I also used this as an opportunity to check student uniform and for the majority of students, standards are high. A small number of students have been identified as not wearing the correct shoes (less than 50 so far). This is normally because they have obvious sports brand markings (Nike Swoosh or Adidas Three Stripes for example). As I wrote in my letters before the year started, school shoes should be polishable leather (or leather looking) with no obvious sports brand markings. If there is a medical or other reason for students not wearing correct shoes, you should speak to your child's progress leader, who will provide a uniform pass. For medical reasons, a doctor's letter will be required. Students have been reminded to correct their shoes and I will be rechecking after the half term break.
We will be having a lockdown practice on Thursday morning during tutor time. The slides in the video below will be shared with students before it happens, and Mrs Radd has narrated it here for the benefit of parents/carers.
Have a very relaxing weekend and I will look forward to our students returning next week.
Adam Crawte, Interim Principal
Mental health support
We are very fortunate as a school to be supported by the Mental Health Support Team (MHST). To ensure we are providing the best possible outcomes for our students we ask that parents/carers and students kindly complete the surveys linked below:
The survey assesses your understanding of the current mental health needs within your child's school, what is already in place to support those needs, as well as areas you feel need additional support. Your responses will be an important tool to improve mental health provision in our school.
How students learn
In assemblies with Mr Carter this week, students have been 'Learning how to learn'. Throughout the year, students will be taught how they learn and what they should be doing to maximise their learning potential.
Please take some time to go over the assembly slides with your child. You can watch the accompanying video here.
Through the newsletter, and at consultation evenings, information will be provided to enable you to support your child's learning at home.
Art & Design Technology apron
We would like to politely remind you of the importance of a technology apron. This enables students to stay safe, hygienically clean and protects school uniform throughout practical lessons. As part of the uniform policy students who do not bring and wear an apron during a practical lesson will receive a sanction.
Aprons are required for every Art & Design Technology lesson. They include:
- Art
- Food & Nutrition
- Graphics
- Resistant Materials
If students do not have their aprons ready for the lesson they will receive a lunch time detention in line with our uniform policy. Ideally the apron should be navy blue, however any plain colour (with no logos or markings) will be sufficient.
This will take effect from the start of November 2024.
We thank you for continued support.
Mr Cousins and Miss Ireland, Curriculum Leaders for Art & Design Technology
Camping donations wanted
The Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award is now up and running in school, with after-school sessions held every Monday.
If you have any camping/walking equipment that you no longer use, we would love to rehome it and use it for the school's Duke of Edinburgh Award for future years. Any items from the following list would be very helpful:
- Tents
- Roll mats
- Sleeping bags
- Waterproof coats/trousers
- Large rucksacks
- Camping cutlery and Trangia stoves
Please could any donations be dropped off at reception. Thank you for your generosity.
Year 7 evening feedback
We were delighted to welcome parents and carers into school on Thursday evening to discuss the progress of our Year 7 cohort. We have drawn together some of the Frequently Asked Questions with responses below.
Setting for Year 7
- English – All groups are mixed ability.
- Maths – Students are set across three classes in each band according to prior attainment and baseline tests.
- Science - One set group and two mixed ability groups in each band. These are set based on KS2 attainment. All groups will be taught the same content on a three-topic rotation and any set group changes based on progress being made would happen at the end of the first rotation, in February.
Arbor homework
Thank you to the parents/carers who voiced their concerns around the functionality of Arbor for the setting of homework. We have added an agenda item to our next Senior Leadership meeting to discuss this. For other Arbor issues, we have found that viewing Arbor on a desktop (or on your smartphone browser) reduces the number of usability issues.
Lockers
We are completing the process of updating lockers following our renovations. There will be an announcement regarding Year 7 hiring lockers very soon. Please check the newsletter for updates.
Communication to the school
Information around communication and ways to contact the school was in the newsletter dated 27 September. Please follow the link for clarification on how to contact us.
Flu vaccinations for Year 7
We will send out a vaccination schedule in the newsletter next week.
Price list for the canteen
A menu and price list for the canteen can be found on our website. Please follow the link.
Making good choices
On Wednesday our Year 9 students spent the day attending a variety of sessions about the causes and consequences of crime, all delivered by the fantastic team from Prison! Me! No Way!
The crime and safety awareness day saw students hearing from a former prisoner about the choices they made that resulted in their sentence and the consequences of having been convicted. They also learnt about county lines, knife crime and the court process, and got to experience what prison life is like by going inside a replica jail cell. The day additionally included an introduction to first aid from a British Red Cross volunteer.
It was great to see students fully engaging in each session by respectfully listening to the guest speakers, offering their own views and asking inquisitive questions. We hope that what they have learnt will help enable them to make the right choices.
Sports results
Our Year 9 netball team were in action this week and got off to a great start with a 3-2 win against Weavers, followed by a 3-3 draw against Ferrers. Unfortunately the Year 10 team lost both of their matches against Ferrers and Weavers but they should still be proud of their performance.
This week the U13 girls football team played the last of their district league games, taking on Huxlow and Wollaston. With a few injuries this week we were able to give some of our Year 7s an opportunity to play, allowing them to get some practice in ahead of their cup game after half term. We drew the first game against Huxlow with Mia B scoring our goal. Emily M and Maisy B also came close to scoring, but we will take the point as this was a well played even game. The second game was lost in the last few minutes of the second half which was a shame as the girls had put in a valiant effort to get something from this game. We will now wait to see the final league table to see where we came and will share this in next week's newsletter. The next girls games will be after half term with the Year 8/9 girls playing on the Tuesday at home against Bishop Stopford in the county cup, and the Year 7 girls also playing at home on the Thursday against NSG in their county cup tie. Our girls football club will continue to run every Thursday so please encourage your child if this is something they are interested in.
After a stead start to the season with a 4-4 draw against Wrenn, our U15 boys football team has gone on to win three of their last four games. In week 2 we were beaten 1-0 by Sir Christopher Hatton but then went onto win 2-1 against Rushden. Week 3 saw two further games against Weavers and Ferrers which resulted in two really great wins, with the final scores being 3-1 and 2-0 respectively. The work rate from each and every one of the players was amazing and a fundamental reason for both victories. The team really were a credit to the school and to come away with two wins against two good teams was just great! This puts us in a strong league position as we enter the final week of fixtures when we see games against Wollaston and Huxlow.
Extra-curricular timetable
Please note that hockey club will not be taking place on Friday 25 October.
Community opportunities
Junior Parkrun
CV/personal statement webinar
Christmas at Chester House Estate
Christmas is now officially launched at Chester House Estate and they have lots of exciting events and activities to offer families. See their website for details.