Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Last week was the week of transition…Year 6 were in school on Wednesday to feel a sense of what coming to the Holt in September will be like, their parents attended a Welcome Evening on Thursday where we shared our vision for their daughters, gave some tips in encouraging independence and getting the most out of school. Our head girl and deputy head girl also gave an insight into being Holt girls…they delivered a reassuring message to the parents!
Year 11 were also back in school having just finished their GCSE exams for the sixth form induction day. Mrs Thomas, Deputy Head of Sixth Form wrote
We were delighted to welcome our Year 11 students to the Holt Sixth Year 12 Induction Day. Throughout the day, students took part in three engaging sessions designed to equip them with key skills for A Level success. In ‘Powered by You’, they explored the importance of independent learning, before turning detectives in a murder mystery that highlighted critical thinking skills. They also took on the challenge of Sixth Form Taskmaster, where problem solving was the key to success. Later, students had the opportunity to relax and socialise, choosing between a fun quiz or board games with old and new friends. The day ended with a delicious BBQ, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming our new Year 12 cohort in September.
We look forward to welcoming new Year 6 and new Year 12 in September and we wish all of them a well-deserved break over the summer. Year 11 have worked so hard over the last two years to prep for their GCSEs!
Year 11 get another shout out; their Prom, with the delightful boys from The Forest, was on Friday in the nightclub at The Coppid Beech Hotel. As always, our girls looked amazing and they held their own in the mosh pit on the dancefloor!! They all left happy at 10.30pm …some going off to parties … not sure if parents quite knew what they had agreed too!! The Holt and Forest Year 11 were lovely – so grateful for the organising and they made us proud! Thanks to all the staff who showed up….they looked amazing too!
Thank you so much to Mrs Priddy and Mrs Welch for organising and our best wishes to Mrs Priddy, who is unwell so couldn’t make it to the Prom. We missed you!
The annual summer concert was held last Wednesday. Mr Gray wrote
The summer concert showcased a wonderful selection of pieces that our ensembles have been preparing over the summer term. The programme featured performances from the school orchestra, Holt Singers, and two newly established groups: the Year 9 band and the Showstoppers musical theatre ensemble. All students gave excellent performances, and it was a pleasure to welcome some of our Year 11 students back to join us having finished exams.
Next Wednesday is the Grand Final of the Holt Young Musician of the Year 2025. This year we received over 110 entries, and we are now down to the final 12. The standard throughout the second-round concerts has been very high, and we’re looking forward to some excellent performances in the final. Two external judges will be joining us to select the winner. Tickets can be purchased through TicketSource: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-holt-school/t-vvrqnmk. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a great event.
Last Friday, Year 8 took part in a cross-curricular Languages day, celebrating other subjects through the lens of the Hispanic and Francophonie world. A huge thanks to Mrs Diaz, who organised the day and to the staff in the languages, drama, music and food departments – it was truly a cross curricular day. Mrs Diaz wrote
The day involved a whole range of exciting activities hosted by different departments, including Hispanic and French Drama and Dance, Mexican Art, Flamenco Music, and a Festivals focused Master Chef Competition led by our wonderful Food Technology Team. Lilia Tawfik, Language Prefect who supported the day with Shruthi and Victoria, her prefect colleagues explained: ‘across all lessons the students seemed to be really enthusiastic about what they were doing, taking up the challenges and really immersing themselves in the languages even if they would have found it difficult sometimes which showed a really positive attitude towards languages across the whole year group. When we went to see different lessons, we were really impressed by their efforts and their openness to learn about the different cultures’.
We were really impressed with how Year 8 embraced the experience and relished the opportunities to use French and Spanish to showcase learning in other subjects. Bravo, felicidades Year 8!
Mrs Kennedy
Co-Headteacher