Year 7 Update - Summer 1

I am incredibly proud of how Year 7 have approached their first year at secondary school. They have navigated the transition from primary school with maturity, resilience and a growing sense of confidence, quickly establishing themselves as valued members of our school community. Adjusting to a new environment is no small task, yet they have successfully adapted to moving between lessons, organising themselves independently, and working with a wide range of teachers across a diverse curriculum.

Alongside this, it has been fantastic to see their development both academically and personally. Many students have made strong progress in their learning, building new knowledge and skills across a broad range of subjects, while also growing in independence, responsibility and self-belief. It has been equally pleasing to see their confidence flourish as they learn to take on new challenges, work with greater resilience, and develop positive relationships with both staff and their peers.

Celebration Awards Evening

It was a real delight to see so many Year 7 students recognised at our Celebration Awards Evening for their outstanding achievements and contributions. In the lead-up to the event, all staff were asked to identify and nominate students who had demonstrated exceptional effort in the classroom, as well as those who had made a positive impact on the wider school community. It was a privilege to celebrate their success and to recognise the following winners:

Our Celebration Evening news item on the website has fuller details of the evening with all award winners and pictures. Celebration Evening 2026 on Website.

Attendance World Cup

As part of the NLS Attendance World Cup initiative, students took part in an exciting whole-year group competition designed to celebrate and promote excellent attendance.

Following an initial group stage, tutor groups competed for vital points based on their weekly attendance, with the highest-performing groups progressing to the knockout rounds. The competition grew increasingly competitive as successful tutor groups advanced through the quarterfinals and semi-finals, leading to a closely contested final between Tutor X and Tutor Y.

The winners of the Year 7 NLS Attendance World Cup 2026 are -xxxxx. Congratulations to the champions on their outstanding attendance performance and well done to all students who contributed to their tutor group’s efforts throughout the competition.

To celebrate their achievement, the winning tutor group were rewarded with a well-deserved tutor time pizza party, recognising their consistency, commitment, and excellent attendance across the term.

I would also like to recognise the commitment of every tutor group involved. This initiative has highlighted the importance of strong attendance and the positive impact it has on student progress and achievement.

Sports Day 2026

Congratulations to all of our Year 7 students for making this year's Sports Day such a fantastic success, and a special well done to XXX College for securing the overall victory. Throughout the day, Year 7 students represented themselves and their colleges with enthusiasm, determination and exemplary behaviour. The vast majority of students took part in the morning's sporting activities, with many also competing in the afternoon athletics sprint events and the ever-popular tug of war, all contributing valuable points towards their college totals.

While the competition was fierce, it was especially pleasing to see so many examples of outstanding sportsmanship, honesty and encouragement between students from different colleges. The way our Year 7 students supported one another and competed in the right spirit was a real credit to the year group.

Position	College	Points
1
2
3
4
5

Whilst XXX College claimed the overall title, below is a breakdown of the Year 7 Sports Day results:

Year 7 Sports Day 2026 Breakdown

Sport	Winners	Runners Up
Football
Dodgeball
Rounders
Netball
Tennis
100m Sprint (Male)
100m Sprint (Female)
200m Sprint (Male)
200m Sprint (Female)
4 x 100m Relay (Male)
4 x 100m Relay (Female)
Tug of War
Staff Relay Race

Music and Drama Production

Congratulations to those that recently took part in the VIBE Drama production of The Girl Who Loved Books, inspired by Roald Dahl's Matilda. The cast and delivered a fantastic performance, showcasing their creativity, confidence and hard work.

Congratulations also to those that took part in our Summer Music Concert on July 7. It was lovely see year 7 students involved and showcasing their talents

Tutor Time – Summer 2

This half term, our Tutor Time programme has continued to support students' personal development through a range of engaging and informative sessions. Students explored Pride Month, celebrating diversity, inclusion and the importance of being respectful allies to others. They also developed their understanding of using websites and QR codes through Digital Literacy sessions. As part of our PSHE curriculum, students completed our Body Confidence unit, covering topics such as the emotional and physical changes experienced during puberty, the influence of peers, and the importance of looking after their mental health and wellbeing. These sessions have encouraged thoughtful discussion and helped equip students with valuable knowledge and life skills.

Rewards - End of Year Assembly

In our End of Year Celebration Assembly, we were delighted to recognise the achievements and successes of our Year 7 students from the Summer Term. The following students received certificates in recognition of their continued effort, progress, and positive contributions to school life throughout the term:

Achievement

The following students have been recognised for their outstanding progress, working above their target grades across a range of subjects.

Tutor Commendation

Year 7 Summer Rewards Event

We rounded off the term with a fantastic Rewards Event, celebrating the 30 students who earned the highest number of reward points throughout the term. The morning was filled with fun as students enjoyed a range of exciting activities, including an inflatable assault course, sumo wrestling and an inflatable duel. It was a wonderful way to recognise their hard work, positive attitude and commitment. Well done to everyone who achieved this fantastic reward!

Year 7 Maths Bee

During the final week of term, our Year 7 students took part in the Year 7 Maths Bee, working collaboratively with other students from across their college to tackle a range of exciting mathematical challenges. It was fantastic to see such excellent engagement, teamwork and positive attitudes throughout the event, with students demonstrating resilience and problem-solving skills as they competed. Congratulations to XXX College, who were crowned this year's Maths Bee champions. Well done to everyone who took part!

Online Safety

A reminder our school website contains a variety of online safety information within the Safeguarding tab, we added the July Online Safety Newsletter has been added to the website and contains the latest online safety advice, covering new social media restrictions for under-16s, the risks of apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Zangi, and practical guidance on keeping children safe online.

Student Leadership

I would like to extend a huge thank you and well done to all of our Year 7 Student Leaders who have given their time and energy to support staff, departments and the wider school community throughout the year. Whether serving as Transition Leaders, Eco Leaders or Subject Leaders, your enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to help have made a genuine difference. You have been outstanding ambassadors for Year 7, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you have contributed.

Looking ahead to next year, there will be even more opportunities for students to take on leadership roles. These include Student Ambassadors, supporting whole-school events such as Open Evening and giving tours to prospective families, Eco Leaders, and International Schools Leaders. The students below have already been appointed to these positions. However, if any other Year 7 students would still like to get involved, please speak to Mr Butler as soon as possible.

As we come to the end of another fantastic year, I would like to congratulate all of our Year 7 students on everything they have achieved. They have adapted brilliantly to life at NLS, embraced new opportunities and grown in confidence throughout their first year. They have become excellent role models for our new Year 7 students joining us in September, and they should be incredibly proud of all they have accomplished. I hope you all have a wonderful, well-deserved summer break, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in September for another successful year.