It’s amazing how much you can squeeze into five weeks! The pupils have all been involved in such a wide range of activities and continue to broaden their knowledge outside of the classroom as they do within it. Tennis and athletics clubs are in full swing and are very well attended, but the highlight of our sporting term has been our very first trophy. The Year 7 boys won a hard fought game 3-2 over Walton High to win the MK Schools Final. We know that it is the first of many.

Our links with Slated Row continue to develop and we were very pleased that their headteacher, Miss Baines, was able to give an excellent assembly on what makes us unique. Slated Row pupils really enjoy using our facilities and our Junior Sports Leaders are working really well with their Sports Leaders in developing community links and participation. We are also very proud to have hosted the MK Ability Games recently where over 100 local primary school children demonstrated their amazing skills and abilities.

The curriculum evening was well attended recently and we shared some useful guidance and ideas on how to revise and support the pupils in English, Maths and Science. Presentations are on the website and will be useful for the forthcoming Year 7 exams.

The pupils also took part in our first Open University lecture on Robotics and Lego. They are becoming used to lecture-style teaching and we also trialled our first Lead Lesson to the whole cohort on the Tudors as they began the topic.

Fourteen pupils attended Oxford University Keble and Balliol colleges to get a taste of what university life might be like. They were amazed by the colleges and facilities, and handling live cockroaches at the Natural History Museum was particularly memorable.

We also hosted the final MK Futures event and our pupils worked with MK Councillors to help plan future celebrations and events as Milton Keynes grows. As always, they had some super ideas for the council to consider.

Two further parents’ evenings were well attended with many parents interested in the launch of the ClassCharts parent and pupil apps. This helps you monitor positive and negative behaviour points, but also see what homework has been set and how you can support.

We have also recently consulted with parents, pupils and staff on the proposal to extend the school day. The consultation closed on 20th May and the decision has now gone to governors. We will let you know soon after half-term the outcome.

The final few staff members are being recruited at the moment, and we will need two teaching assistants and a finance and office administrator. If there is someone you know who may be interested, please ask them to look at our website for further details.

Our final half term of the year will, of course, be another busy one, particularly as we prepare for the new cohorts of pupils who will join us in September. We are very excited about having two new year groups and our current pupils moving into Year 8 and Year 4. We can’t quite believe how quickly it has gone!

Have a super half-term.

James Pilgrim
Headteacher