Students would have recently completed assessments within different subjects, which will support teachers in identifying both areas of strength and areas for further development. This information is reflected in Data 2, which is now available on Go4Schools. Next half-term, students will be given time to reflect on their progress, analyse their results, and set clear targets as they move into the final term of the academic year. 

The 30 Year 7 students with the highest number of reward points this spring term celebrated their fantastic achievements at the termly rewards event, enjoying freshly baked cupcakes—huge congratulations to them all!

It has also been fantastic to see so many students getting involved in extracurricular activities and performances. In particular, their enthusiasm and commitment within Dance, PE, Drama, and Music has been wonderful to see, and they should be very proud of their contributions.

We continue to be incredibly proud of the way Year 9 conduct themselves. Their smart uniform, positive interactions with each other and staff, and commitment to the World Class Basics are a testament to their growing maturity. They are truly developing into thoughtful, responsible contributors to our school environment.

This term has been full of memorable whole-school events. We celebrated Red Nose Day with a bake sale, raising funds for vital charities – so many wonderful cakes were made and shared; well done to all!

We also held a highly engaging ‘Chat and Learn’ session on World Epilepsy Day on 26 March, which was very well attended. Additionally, from 16 to 27 March, we celebrated Autism Awareness, exploring the importance of neurodiversity and understanding that everyone’s brain works differently. These events have not only educated our students but have also helped foster a caring and inclusive school community.

Our Celebration for World Book Day was a huge success, with staff going all out to bring stories to life—especially favourites like Treasure Island and The Hunger Games—creating a truly exciting and memorable experience for our students!

The release of Data 2 has provided us with an insightful overview of our students' progress, and I am delighted to report that a significant number of Year 10 students are exceeding their target grades. This is a testament to their work ethic, maturity, and commitment to their subjects. Year 10 continues to be a year group with high aspirations, determined to reach their future destinations. Their dedication to academic success is truly commendable, and I encourage all students to maintain this momentum as we move forward. 

We celebrated with the 30 students in Year 10 with the most reward point at our Reward Event on Monday when we marked their amazing achievements with freshly baked cupcakes—huge congratulations to each of them!

Throughout the term, students have demonstrated excellent engagement in lessons and have made the most of additional revision opportunities after school. Their positive attitude, resilience, and growing maturity have been particularly evident during this demanding period.

Now that mock examinations have concluded and the recent Subject Evening has taken place, students have a clearer picture of their progress so far, as well as the areas they need to prioritise moving forward.

It was a pleasure to welcome so many parents and carers to the Subject Evening on Monday . We hope the discussions were helpful in supporting your child’s preparation and next steps.

Tier 1-3– Year 12 Students

We were really proud of how students in Year 12 responded to the support in place as we introduced them to our Tier 1-3 support system last term. We also appreciated the parental support and recognition that this is about help rather than hindrance and wanting the best for your children. With the emphasis very much on support (the academic and pastoral as well as the subject-specific and the more holistic), it’s been heartening to see students recognising this and being so actively involved in taking a lead on their learning and future successes. With Data 2 and Mock Results in, whether students are supported as a Tier 1, 2 or 3 student has been reviewed and suitable communications with students and parents had. Please recall the below…

The majority of students are working terrifically well – as individuals and collaboratively. Our aim is to ensure that every student experiences success and have as many choices as possible in the future.

Charity and Community

We were really pleased to receive recognition from the Salvation Army for our recent fundraising efforts – see below. We dovetail with the main school on charity and community events but complement this with some Sixth Form-specific initiatives.

This fundraising was a direct result of excellent student leadership initiative and the quiz and sports-event (based on College lines) which was so well-organised and so-well received by Year 12 and Year 13 alike.

March 16 saw our Culture Day and this proved to be another community success – with students representing a range of the different heritages which help make our Sixth Form a diverse and vibrant place. In particular, students shared their culinary heritage with others and raised nearly £100 in to the bargain - with UNICEF the beneficiaries of Student Leadership efforts.

We are also so pleased with the number of students who are involved in the Gold DoE programme. As you know from previous, this involves all sorts of developmental opportunities and some 40 Year 12 have this week headed off on their Gold Training Expedition. We will update with pictures and a write-up on their return.

Finally, we were pleased to be a part of the school’s commitment to charity in the recent Red Nose Day events. It was lovely to see so many so actively involved in what has become over the years a huge national dedication to helping some of the most needful.

Tier 1-3 Launch – Year 12

We are really proud of how students in Year 12 have responded to the support in place as we have introduced them to our Tier 1-3 support system this term. With the emphasis very much on support (the academic and pastoral as well as the subject-specific and the more holistic), it’s been great to see and hear such positive responses to the programme as we look to ensure all students can enjoy the kinds of success which will bear them in great stead for the future.

It has been a demanding half term, particularly with the completion of the most recent round of mock examinations during the final two weeks. I am extremely proud of the maturity, resilience and determination students demonstrated throughout this period. The results from the December mocks have provided valuable insight into students’ strengths and highlighted areas where further focus is needed as we move closer to the GCSE examinations this summer. Importantly, these results have enabled staff and students to work collaboratively to refine revision strategies and set clear, achievable targets for improvement.

To further support students’ preparation, we held a Mock Results Day designed to mirror the experience of GCSE results day in August. This was an invaluable opportunity for students to experience the emotions that accompany results day and to practise responding positively and proactively. Students approached this event with impressive maturity, engaging thoughtfully with feedback and next steps, which will undoubtedly support them as they continue their exam preparation.

It was fantastic to see so very many of you at our Year 8 Subject Evening in January, both those parents and carers that I had appointments with and those who I was able to see informally. Subject evening is a key date in the Year 8 calendar, as a vital opportunity for parents and carers, and the students themselves, to get feedback on exactly what steps need to be taken to make even more progress. I was really proud of the maturity displayed by those students present, and I want to thank all parents and carers for your continued, unerring support of your children.

The first full term is drawing to a close (having zipped by in something of a flash!) and we are delighted that our Sixth Form continues to be a dynamic, thriving community. It is a Sixth Form community characterised by diligent, committed students who are always challenging themselves to achieve the best results and to securing high-quality future destinations.

Perhaps most importantly, it is a community where there is always attention firmly on charity, community, others. This Parent Bulletin update hopefully offers a flavour of all this…

Before anything else, I want to express just how incredibly proud we are of our Year 11 cohort. Their resilience, determination and maturity throughout an intense mock exam process has been outstanding. They have demonstrated focus, perseverance and a real willingness to push themselves, and this attitude will serve them exceptionally well as we move into the most important phase of the year.

It has also been wonderful to see so many students engaging positively with all aspects of school life. This term, students have contributed to the Winter Music Concert, played key roles in our Remembrance Service, taken part in extra-curricular clubs, and supported charity events including World Mental Health Day and Christmas Jumper Day. Their enthusiasm and community spirit have been clear to see.

A particular highlight this term has been the successful completion of their first subject assessments. Students approached these with real dedication—attending after-school support sessions, producing detailed revision materials, and seeking timely feedback from their teachers. Their hard work is already paying off, and we are excited to see this momentum continue.  You’ll have seen the data sheets available on Go4Schools.

Across the term, Year 10 continued to demonstrate our CORE values—Commitment, Opportunity, Respect, and Excellence—through their attitude to learning, behaviour around school, and the example they set for younger students. It is a privilege to work with such a motivated and supportive year group.

We continue to be incredibly proud of the way that Year 9 conduct themselves. Their uniform, their interactions with each other and staff as well as their commitment to the World Class Basics is testament their ever-growing maturity. They really are developing into the most amazing young citizens.

Remembrance

Each year we gather as a school community to mark the extraordinary sacrifice shown down the years by members of the country and members of this very school. It is always a solemn and moving event and Year 8 were exemplary for the course of this occasion.

Odd Socks - Supporting Anti-Bullying Week

As part of Anti-Bullying Week, Year 8 embraced Odd-Socks Day in November. It was brilliant to see how many Year 8s took part in this really important event which followed tutor time sessions during the week when students discussed this year's theme Power for Good and were reminded who they can speak to at school if they have any concerns.

Music Concert

Well done to all those who took part in our The Winter Music Concert on Wednesday 3 December. It was lovely to see Year 8 students taking part and showcasing their wonderful musical talents. 

Charity Events

This half term is always one that holds Charity and Community at its heart. I would like to thank all of the Year 8 students and their families for their involvement in our festive charity drives.

Each year at North Leamington School we support the annual Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children and also Christmas Hamper Collections.

This year has been a great success and I know from being in and out of tutor groups just how much effort and care has been shown by all of Year 8. Tutor groups have put a great deal of thought into selecting people and places in the community most in need, which is a real testament to the empathy of the cohort.

Tutor Time Curriculum

This term’s Tutor Time Curriculum has seen the tutor groups cover a wide range of topics. From Digital Literacy, to Anti Bullying Week, to Careers sessions: we believe that our Tutor Time Curriculum greatly enhances the provision that we have in school and contributes to fostering and developing your child into well-rounded, knowledgeable members of society.

With this half term’s publishing of Data 1 students were also supported by their Form Tutors to reflect on their progress and achievements, and set targets to work on going forwards. This is our Student Self Reflection Review, and it forms a valuable part of teaching the students to be reflective about their performance in school. 
Year 8 were also given the opportunity to be presented to by a group of International Leaders that we have in school, including one of our very own Year 8s! This was our Fair Trade Assembly, run exclusively by student leaders. It must have taken a great deal of confidence to deliver an Assembly to 240 Year 8s, and they did fabulously. The student leaders were expert at engaging Year 8 to answer their questions and get involved. There were certainly plenty of volunteers for the chocolate tasting!  Once again, well done to Year 8 on their engagement in Tutor Time.

With the recent release of Data 1, students now have a clear sense of how their hard work is being recognised. It has also been fantastic to see so many students engaging positively with all aspects of school life, from performing in the Winter Music Concert and contributing to our Remembrance Service, to joining extra-curricular clubs and supporting charity events such as World Mental Health Day and Christmas Jumper Day. You can read more about these events in our Latest News section on the website.

This ongoing success is testimony to the culture of our terrific Sixth Form and a reflection of the on-going collaboration between staff, students and parents.

Our existing Sixth Form cohort has proven to be a terrific one and we are sure that they will be likewise very successful in their endeavours. We are more popular than ever and believe this is due to the fantastic academic outcomes but also the wider support and experience we offer – which is what this Parent Bulletin looks to illustrate and celebrate. What is so important is that all of your children’s achievements are done so in the wider context of their being safe, happy and confident young adults who so clearly care for their wider community.

They are a credit to themselves, the school and you, their parents and carers.

Our Year 11s continue to demonstrate our CORE Values of Commitment, Opportunity, Respect, and Excellence every single day. Whether in lessons, around the school site, or during wider school events, they are setting a brilliant example for the rest of the school community.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication Year 9 students have shown throughout the first half of the autumn term. They have embraced the challenges of this pivotal stage in their education with resilience and a strong commitment to their studies.

As always, we value the close partnership with parents and carers, working together to ensure every student has the support and opportunities they need to become the very best version of themselves.

It has been another superb term in the NLS Sixth Form – with many events illustrating why it is such a privilege to work with your terrific children. Read on…

Future Pathways Launch

Wednesday June 18, saw a terrific Future Pathways Launch Event for our current Year 12. This tied in neatly with the Work Experience opportunities as, as suggested below, quality work experience is so central to applications for university, employment, apprenticeships.

The purpose of this event was to equip students with better understanding as to what is available to them post-18. This can be crucial in terms of information, advice and guidance (I.A.G.) but also in terms of raising aspirations and incentivising. While the launch is steered towards UCAS and university applications (because that is what the vast majority of our students choose to go on to do), we recognise that this route is not the only Future Pathway. So, we offer I.A.G. on:

• University and UCAS
• Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships
• Employment – including the uniformed and armed services
• Gap years

There is also attention paid to specific applications. For example, to high demand organisations (Oxbridge) or subjects (e.g. medicine, dentistry, veterinary science) as well as those which are more niche (conservatoires) or popular (law) – nearly all of these have an early entry deadline of October and most of them will require additional entrance examinations or processes which students and parents need to be aware of and to take a lead on researching and organising.

This current year with Year 13, we have students planning to go to both Oxford and Cambridge (which is terrific) but we are delighted that a range of universities are represented as well as a range of alternatives - including prestigious apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.

We know Year 12 will be likewise successful with their planning (like their Year 13 peers) and are sure they will make the most of all this IAG as they enter what is a very exciting time considering future pathways!