Welcome to this week's newsletter
Another busy week at Manor draws to a close and the term is flying by. We are very much into exam season. It has been great talking to our Year 11 and Year 13 students, who are taking a very mature approach to their exams. I have seen more flash cards and past papers this week than I care to mention. The focus is incredible and I wish them all good luck. The hard work will increase their chances of doing well. The exam season is long and they need to pace themselves, balancing that hard work with exercise and social time away from it, to keep them fresh and maintain their stamina. A healthy diet and keeping hydrated are also very important. Using the time now to make sure they have the right equipment (and spares) will save stress later on. Staff are available for students to speak to, and exam booster sessions are there to support students with exam content. I am confident that the current exam groups are making the right choices and preparation - good luck to them in the coming weeks.
Thursday was a day where our school community joined together with people around the world to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. As the years pass, it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain the link with a world that, when I was growing up, seemed very close. I had grandparents who served around the world or were supporting the the war effort on the Home Front in the Second World War. As I grew up, they would frequently tell me what life was like and what a relief the end of the war was to people in Britain. This relief was shared across Europe, where Nazi occupation had closely impacted the lives of millions. It is important that we maintain the memory of the people who gave so much, so that we could experience the freedoms we have today. I was incredibly proud of the Year 7 students who represented the school at Raunds Town Hall to see the VE Day union flag raised. We also had students singing at the VE Day Street Party in the Town Square later in the day, once again showing off the high standards that Manor School students set.
Our Year 12 drama students got to experience some West End magic this week by going to see the musical Hamilton. Speaking to some of the students who went, they had an inspirational experience that allowed them to see a high-quality production in action. Thank you to Miss Downie for organising the trip and giving them the opportunity to visit London as well.
Finally, our selection process for our new Head Students draws to a close this week. The final shortlisted candidates have provided presentations about themselves that all students have seen. Alongside this, they have been involved in a group discussion, led by our current Head Students, around sixth form dress code. This was observed by Miss Collier and me. The standard of our final six is very high. Our current Head Students have set a great precedent for next year's successful candidates - the handover process will begin soon and they have a lot of knowledge to pass on. Good luck to our final six - they have worked really hard to reach this stage.
Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing our students back next week.
Adam Crawte, Principal
Year 11 exam timetable
We will be sharing an overview of the following week's exam timetable both in the newsletter and on social media throughout the exam season. Students are to attend their normal lessons unless there is an exam (colour coded as orange) or booster session (colour coded as blue) for their subjects.
The latest version of the overall exam/booster timetable can be downloaded via the following link:
Buying exam papers
It's very important that students know not to buy exam papers online. Whether they’re real or fake, they will not help them and could result in strict penalties and loss of their qualifications.
Please see the JCQ information for candidates on the use of social media in relation to exams.
Year 11 uniform
As our Year 11 students complete their exams and prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives, we kindly ask for your support in donating any uniform items they no longer need (especially ties) once they have completed their final exam. These donations will greatly benefit younger students who may need assistance with uniform requirements.
Thank you for your consideration and continued support.
Healthy minds blog
We have created a new blog to keep parents/carers up to date with the various provisions in place to support healthy minds in school and beyond. The first two editions are linked below.
Apprenticeships advice
Is your child considering an apprenticeship as their next step? Choices magazine is the ultimate parent and carer guide to apprenticeships and technical education, and is completely free of charge. Find this month’s edition here and sign up to receive it each month, direct to your inbox.
Community opportunities
Upcoming Raunds events
Half term sport festivals
Credits:
Created with images by Phushutter - "Close up young woman hands holding credit card." • pachaileknettip - "Human Head and Red Heart inside brain shape over white wood background. Symbol for falling or being in love, liking, emotions and affection Concept with copy space." • Tierney - "Idea arrows with young woman looking upwards on a gray background"