Attendance - The Winning Streak

We are extremely proud of how well Year 7 students have participated in our Winning Streak competition this half term. An outstanding number of students have achieved 100% attendance, and as shown in the graph below, there has been a significant improvement of the attendance of the whole school compared to the same time last year. Students have responded incredibly well, and the results reflect the collective effort across the school. An enormous well done to all our students, tutors and families for their continued commitment and support — thank you for helping make this such a success!

 

Student Leadership

Student leadership continues to be an important part of Year 7 life, and students are already being given opportunities to develop these skills by supporting the delivery of elements of the tutor time curriculum. After half term, we will also be inviting Year 7 students to apply to become Transition Leaders. Transition Leaders play a key role in supporting our transition events for Year 6 students who will be joining NLS in September 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity for Year 7 students to support younger pupils and, for some, to re-engage with their previous primary school. Your child may remember how valuable the support from Transition Leaders was when they themselves joined NLS and may be keen to take on this responsibility. Students can apply via the link set as a Homework task on Go4Schools, with the deadline being Friday 27 February 2026.

In addition, as part of our International School status, we are seeking Year 7 students who are interested in Eco Leader roles which will involve leading initiatives that support both our school and the local community. If your child would like to be involved, please register their interest with Mrs Harding at rharding@northleamington.co.uk by the first Monday back after half term (Monday 23 February ) with a few lines on why they would be a good Eco leader.

Tutor Time

During tutor time this half term, Year 7 students have engaged extremely well in our tutor time curriculum, approaching sessions with maturity and enthusiasm. In PSHE tutor time sessions, students explored the topic of Gaming and its impact on health and well-being, taking part in discussions that showed a growing awareness of balance, habits and self-care.

The half term concluded with a number of sessions linked to important national themes. As part of our Careers Curriculum and National Apprenticeship Week, students developed their understanding of what apprenticeships are, the wide range of sectors in which they are available, and the qualifications needed to access them. Parents and carers can find information about apprenticeships in the Future Pathways section in the Careers area on the school website.

Students also took part in sessions linked to Children’s Mental Health Week, which this year focused on the theme “This is My Place”. These sessions encouraged students to reflect on friendships and belonging, and to consider how positive relationships can support their overall health and well-being.

Assemblies this half term have further supported students’ personal development. We began with a Happy New Year assembly led by our Headteacher, Mr Lowdell, as we approached the mid-point of the academic year. This was followed by an assembly from Deputy Headteacher, Ms Foy, which provided students with important information about target grades. The half term concluded with an assembly focused on resilience, particularly in relation to assessments, and strategies for managing negative emotions. Students responded well throughout, showing thoughtful engagement with the key messages shared.

Looking ahead to next half term, the tutor time curriculum will continue to be varied and engaging, with sessions focusing on Digital Literacy, our International Schools Project, World Book Day, and further learning as part of our Careers Curriculum.

Reward Points

Reward Points continue to play an important role in students’ daily life at school, and Year 7 have shown, week after week, that they truly embody our CORE values of Commitment, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence. Students have also been able to earn additional weekly Reward Points through our Winning Streak initiative, which recognised excellent attendance. I am delighted to share that Year 7 have accumulated a truly outstanding number of Reward Points this half term – the most in the school out of all year groups, and more than any other previous Year 7 cohort – every student should feel incredibly proud of this achievement. There is a real sense of healthy competition both within and between tutor groups, and it is clear that Year 7 care deeply about their Reward Points and about doing well in school. A huge well done to all of our Year 7s so far; with one more half term remaining, there is still plenty of time to earn points towards an invitation to the Spring Rewards event next half term.

As a year group, Year 7 have been exceptionally strong in accumulating Reward Points. Below are the top 10 highest reward earners this half term, all of whom should feel extremely proud of their efforts.

Online Safety Newsletter

Our February Online Safety newsletter has been published on the website on the Safeguarding tab – Online Safety  - and you can also read it here Online Safety Newsletter - February. It includes information on the AI image generator and moderator tools that are widely available, Tik Tok and an article on screen time and resilience.

In addition we have added a newsletter to the website with information  based around Safer Internet Day which was celebrated on 10 February, you can also read it here Safer Internet Day Newsletter.

Year 7 Residential Trip – Whitemoor Lakes

We are delighted so many Year 7 students are able to attend the upcoming Whitemoor Lakes residential trip, taking place from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April. We are very much looking forward to what promises to be a memorable and enriching experience for students. On the day of departure, students will remain in school for tutor time and we will leave school until after this. For those students who are not attending the trip, alternative arrangements will be in place during tutor time and Period 5 to ensure they are appropriately supported.

Please also note the date for your diary: the Year 7 Whitemoor Lakes Parent/Carer Information Evening will take place on Tuesday 14 April 2026, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. During this evening, we will share finer details about the trip, including an example itinerary and kit list. Information regarding sleeping arrangements will also be shared with students in the coming weeks. Finally, a gentle reminder that the payment deadline is Friday 6 March 2026.

As we come to the end of this half term, I remain incredibly impressed and proud of the positive contributions Year 7 students continue to make and the enthusiasm they show for school life at NLS. I would like to wish all students and their families a restful, well-earned and enjoyable half term break.

Mr Butler
Year 7 Lead