Updates from NLS
Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this update finds you well and you are looking forward to the Easter break…
It has been an excellent term once more here at NLS. There is lots to celebrate of an academic kind but also much to share in terms of the wider achievements of our terrific students. It remains a great privilege to be Head of Sixth Form and a real pleasure to share what follows.
As we reach the end of this short, yet eventful term, it is a great opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the progress Year 11 students are making. With all mocks exams now complete, students have experienced a mock-GCSE Results day, along with the recent Year 11 Subject Evening, students are fully focused on their final GCSE assessments and exams, and will have a clear understanding of the progress they have made, as well as where they can still improve.
It was great to see so many of you at the Subject Evening on Monday. I hope you found it beneficial to receive feedback on how your child is doing, and what they can do to improve. To support students with their revision and exam preparation, I’d like to remind you of when after-school sessions are available to Year 11 students (3:20 – 4:00pm):
Despite this term being a relatively short term, it has been extremely eventful nonetheless. The conduct of students during the February RE mock exam was outstanding with very positive feedback being provided by our exam invigilators. This is really pleasing to hear as excellent behaviour during the exam season will provide students every possible chance of doing their best. It was also really pleasing to hear how Year 10 students conducted and applied themselves during the Careers Fair in January, where students had the opportunity to engage with around 30 external education and employer providers. This will hopefully have given students some guidance around their post-16 options by becoming aware of local colleges, sixth form, and training providers.
In addition to the controlled assessments and coursework currently being undertaken in a range of GCSE subjects, students have also had opportunities to experience broader themes relating to personal development and wider opportunities such as the recent Loudmouth Production students attended. As part of our PSHE programme and the current topics of online safety and healthy relationships, Year 10 students saw a theatre production this half term called ‘Calling It Out’ by Loudmouth Theatre productions. The programme uses drama, followed by discussion workshops to help students develop their understanding of harmful sexual behaviours, sexual harassment and assault.
What a term it has been. The past 10 weeks have been busy yet exciting and included the Year 9 Revision Evening, Parents Evening, Options, a CIAEG event, College Quiz and Sport Activities, Rewards Assembly and Celebration Event and the launch of three trips.
It is important to recognise that we have reached a milestone in our journey at NLS. Students have spent a significant amount of time contemplating which subjects they would like to choose as part of the options process. Ms Foy, Tutors and the Data Team have worked arduously to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Students have had the opportunity to enjoy taster sessions in Business Studies and Health and Social Care, along with information regarding Travel & Tourism in Geography lessons, to provide an insight into the curriculum, structure and expectations for each of these subjects.
It is always a good time for students to reflect on what has gone well and what they would like to improve on further in Year 9 as they move on to study their GCSEs. Students have been provided with opportunities to complete a series of activities in tutor time centred around their recent data report, identifying what they need to do in order to raise their attainment and make positive steps in demonstrating those CORE values.
As we reach the end of this short ten-week, yet eventful term, it is a great opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the progress our Year 8 students are making. It is also an opportune moment to share with you some of the things they have been doing since January.
Dear Parents/Carers,
What a great term it has been for Year 7. Its really lovely to reflect on the continued progress and growing maturity of Year 7 and wonderful to see so many students getting involved in extra-curriculum events and student leadership opportunities.
It was fantastic to see and meet so many parents and carers who were able to attend the first Year 7 Subject Evening in January.
What a fantastic term it has been for Year 7. It has been a real privilege watching them settle into NLS life, forge new friendships and start their journey to become young adults.
As I write my final parent bulletin of my time at North Leamington School it has been a great opportunity to reflect on not just this term but the past year and a half with a fantastic group of young people. This term has been long and action packed and it has been wonderful to see so many students engaging positively in and out of the classroom over the last four months.
In Year 9 we pride ourselves on offering a balance between a pursuit for academic excellence alongside personalised pastoral care, ensuring that our students take all opportunities to support their happiness and wellbeing. Year 9 is a very special year for students. With skills and understanding in place from year 7 and 8, this is the year when choice and independence become increasingly important in their learning journey. The continuation of developing their intellectual character from experiences both inside and outside the classroom is vital, and as such a variety of opportunities are made available to the students. We are so very proud of Year 9s who are a fantastic calibre of students that are intrinsically motivated, charismatic and superb leaders. They epitomise what the character and culture of school really is, demonstrating our CORE values every day.
Year 10 students have had a fantastic first term displaying an impressive and pleasing attitude towards their learning. It has been great to see students adapt to the increasing demands of their KS4 subjects.
As we reach the end of another eventful half-term, it is a great opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the progress Year 11 students are making. With two sets of mock exams under their belts, along with Year 11 Subject Evening, and the recent release of Data 1, students will have a clear idea of the progress they are making and where they can continue to improve. It has also been great to see a wide range of students engaging positively with all aspects of school life, including students taking part in the Winter Music Concert, our Remembrance Service, extra-curricular clubs, as well as attending charity events such as NLS Does X Factor.
I hope this update finds you well and also well-prepared for the imminent festive season!
It has been an excellent term once more here at NLS. We are delighted to have had official confirmation of the phenomenal outcomes had by our outgoing Year 13 (Top 7% nationally for attainment, for example) as well as some other truly tremendous whole-school headlines that I am sure Mr Lowdell will share with you elsewhere.