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🎄Christmas Blog - End of Term 1!

By Mr Keep
I want to start this blog by saying how proud I am of each and every Year 11 student. Although I’ve only been with the cohort for one term, the students have shown exceptional camaraderie, grit, and determination and they are genuinely kind and supportive of each other. It has been a privilege to get to know your child as they progress through this exciting year.

I also want to thank parents for your ongoing support - this partnership makes such a difference and allows us to focus on what matters most: helping students succeed.

📊 Mock Exam Results & Feedback

This week, students attended an important event where they received their mock exam results.
Miss Ball and Mr Cooper spoke about:
  • How far students have come since September
  • How to interpret their results and manage feelings around them
  • The journey ahead and how feedback can drive improvement
After this, students collected their results from the exams team - just as they will in August. There was a real sense of excitement and buzz as students shared their results with peers, tutors and teaching staff.
What parents received:
  • You will have received your child’s results via email on Thursday morning
  • The report includes grades, Attitude to Learning (AtL) scores, and key indicators to help you understand progress
Next steps:
  • Use this information to identify strengths and areas for improvement
  • Encourage your child to reflect on feedback and set realistic goals for the spring term
  • Attend parents’ evening (further information below) with your child on Thursday 15th January.
  • Teachers will continue to provide targeted support in lessons

📝 Parents’ Evening

  • Date: Thursday 15 January, 16:00–19:00 (on site and face-to-face)
  • Booking: Opens Monday 5 January via parents-booking.co.uk
  • A letter will be sent with instructions on how to log in and book appointments
We recommend students attend with parents to discuss progress and next steps. If you need help with booking, please contact the Year 11 Office.

🎄 Christmas Assembly

Our final Year 11 assembly was a fantastic celebration of the term! Highlights included:
  • The infamous ‘Twynham’ 12 Days of Christmas. We had a challenge against the two Heads of Year, Miss Douthett led the 'Odds' and Mr Keep led the 'Evens'. The 'Odds' were more in tune but the 'Evens' bought the noise. It was declared by Miss Ball a tie!
  • Staff Christmas Video singing 'Merry Christmas Everybody'
  • Year 11 Christmas Challenge where students and staff took part in quizes and skill challenges throughout the day to earn points for their tutor group.
  • 'Passport to Prom' raffle winners were announced - congratulations to Luke K and Summer C who earned their tickets!
  • A huge shout-out to the 100 students nominated as 'Heroes' (Here, every day, ready to learn and organised) by their teachers for exceptional effort each day. They have received a small something from me in tutor time this morning.
Students embraced the festive spirit with Christmas hats, jumpers, and house colours - it was a brilliant way to end the term on a high note.

🗓️ First Week Back

Escape Line Assembly will take place during Period 3 on Tuesday 6 January, replacing the usual Tuesday morning assembly

👋 Farewell & Thank You

A special thank you to Mr McGill, who is leaving for a promotion elsewhere. His support for Year 11, both as a tutor and teacher, has been invaluable. He will be greatly missed, and we wish him every success in his new role. We will be welcoming Mr Waite and Miss Budworth, expert Science teachers, to our tutor team in the new term.

✅ Staying Safe Over the Christmas Break

Please remind your child of these key safety tips:

Stay Connected

  • Keep in touch with family and trusted friends
  • If going out, let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back

Online Safety

  • Never share personal details or passwords
  • Be cautious about new online friends - people aren’t always who they say they are
  • Report anything uncomfortable to a trusted adult

Personal Safety

  • Meet friends in public places and plan your route home
  • Avoid risky dares or challenges - your safety matters more than likes or views

If You Need Help

  • Speak to a parent, carer, or trusted adult
  • Call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk for confidential support
  • In an emergency, dial 999

Look Out for Others

  • Check in on friends who might be feeling lonely or struggling
  • Be kind - Christmas can be hard for some people

🎅 A Final Christmas Message

As we head into the Christmas break, this is a time for rest, relaxation, and connection with family and friends. Encourage your child to take a real break, recharge and enjoy the festive season.
When we return in January, we begin the final stretch - just 70 school days remain until the summer exams. With focus and consistency, these weeks can make all the difference.

Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you and your family a safe, happy, and restful Christmas.

See you in January! 🌟

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