Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Here is an account of the events over the last week!
Last Thursday, Year 11 celebrated the end of their GCSEs and five years of being together at The Holt with their prom.
Mrs Connor, their Head of Year since Year 7 wrote
Last Thursday, we welcomed Year 11 to the Coppid Beach Hotel in Bracknell for their joint Holt/Forest Prom, and what a fantastic evening it was!
Students began arriving just after 6pm in stunning gowns and some very impressive vehicles. It was a wonderful celebration of their time at The Holt and the strong friendships they have built over the past five years. Congratulations to Evie P, who was voted Prom Queen, as well as to all of the belles who were nominated for their beautiful dresses. I know Miss Howard had a very difficult job choosing her winner!
The dance floor was buzzing right until the very end, and the DJ certainly had his work cut out persuading everyone it was time to leave. This memorable evening would not have been possible without the dedication of the Year 11 tutor team. A special thank you goes to Mrs Barrington, who led the organisation of the prom, ensuring every detail reflected the chosen theme, Paris by Night. From the beautiful decorations to the thoughtful addition of spa slippers for some tired feet; she made sure the evening was one to remember.
A big thank you also goes to Mrs Hedley-Bosworth, our student support link, for all of her help, as well as to Miss Hurry, Miss Goldschmitt and Miss Howard for supporting the set up and clear up and thank you to all of the staff who gave up their evening to celebrate with our students after a long and hot day at school.
Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all of our parents. We have been on this journey together for the past five years, and I have been overwhelmed by the support, kindness, and gratitude you have shown throughout. Together, we have navigated the highs and the lows, and it has been my absolute privilege to be part of your daughters’ journey.
This truly marks the end of an era for all of us. I am incredibly proud of every single one of the girls and wish them a wonderful, well deserved summer break, along with a set of results of which they can be truly proud.
A huge thanks to Mrs Connor for her constant encouragement, her high standards and her care of the whole year group over the last five years.
Señora Díaz, Teacher of Spanish and international coordinator welcomed six Chinese teachers. She wrote
Last week we welcomed six wonderful teachers from the Guizhou province of China. This school placement at The Holt was part of a professional course through the Global Academy at the University of Reading. The teachers spent two days observing lessons across a variety of subject areas, often commenting on the creativity, critical thinking and motivation to learn amongst our students. We then had the privilege to experience some of their teaching where they taught us everything from Mandarin, Calligraphy, Music, Dance and paper cutting. Our students were excited to learn about so much from another culture and the amazing teachers commented on how grateful they were to have such a worthwhile experience with ‘warm support and active involvement’: ‘we have gained a full insight into your school’s teaching philosophy as well as the British education system’.
We are grateful to Señora Díaz for also leading a primary project with Miss Brown where Year 9 and10 students were leading linguists at St Pauls and St.Cecilias. Señora Díaz reported
Over the past two weeks, 13 of our Year 9 and Year 10 students have taken on the role of Leading Linguists, planning and delivering French and Spanish lessons to Year 6 pupils in two of our partner primary schools.
The project gave our students the opportunity to develop their leadership, communication and organisational skills while supporting younger pupils as they begin their journey into language learning and prepare for the transition to secondary school. Through careful planning, teamwork and enthusiastic delivery, our students created engaging and interactive lessons that were thoroughly enjoyed by the Year 6 classes.
Reflecting on the experience, Muse Tang, Year 10, commented:
“I feel very fortunate to have been chosen as one of the pupils from the Spanish side to visit the primary school and teach the Year 6 pupils. It was a really valuable experience, and I am grateful to have been involved. What I learnt most from this project was how important preparation, confidence and clear communication are when teaching younger pupils. Seeing the Year 6 pupils take part so enthusiastically made the experience even more meaningful, especially knowing that it may also help them feel more comfortable with their transition to secondary school. This opportunity has helped me grow in confidence and has given me an experience I can be proud of. It has also given me a meaningful experience that I can reflect on in the future.”
Perhaps the greatest measure of the project’s success is the impact it had on our own students. One participant shared that the experience confirmed that teaching is the career they would like to pursue in the future – a wonderful testament to the inspiration and confidence the project has fostered.
We are incredibly proud of all of our Leading Linguists for representing the school with such maturity, enthusiasm and professionalism. They have been exceptional role models and ambassadors for language learning, and we look forward to seeing this project continue to grow in the years ahead.
Year 12 Geographers have been on a three-day residential to Swanage for their NEA fieldwork. Mr Marrison, Head of Geography wrote
Year 12 Geography students recently visited Swanage to collect essential data for the non-examined assessment (NEA) component of their A-Level course. They investigated the sand dune system and explored the human geography of Swanage, gathering primary data to support their individual research projects. The weather was glorious, although a few students returned slightly pink! Ice creams enjoyed on the sea wall were a definite highlight, while the sparkling sea looked incredibly tempting despite swimming being off limits. Students found the fieldwork both invaluable and rewarding, although mentally and physically demanding. Today, they begin writing up their NEA investigations.
On Monday, Year 11 were back in school after The Prom for their sixth form induction day. Mrs Thomas, Deputy Head of Sixth Form wrote
Our Year 11 into Year 12 Induction Day was a fantastic opportunity to welcome our new Sixth Form students and give them a taste of life at Holt Sixth. Throughout the day, students got involved in three exciting skills sessions: Powered by You, which encouraged independent learning; Task Master, where they put their problem-solving skills to the test; and a fun Murder Mystery challenge that developed their critical thinking – all key skills for success at A Level and beyond. They also enjoyed an informal Q&A with our outgoing Year 13 students, who shared their experiences, offered advice, and answered all those burning questions about Sixth Form life. Subject teachers were on hand at course information stalls to chat about A Level subjects and explain the bridging work available on the Holt Sixth website to help students prepare over the summer. There was plenty of time to meet new people, enjoy a delicious free BBQ lunch, and start building friendships before September. It was a brilliant day, full of smiles, enthusiasm and excitement for the journey ahead!
On Tuesday the PE department held their annual Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Thank you so much to Mrs Bolton and Mrs Barrington, Heads of PE, for orgnaising and the PE department for everything they do throughout the year. The opportunities they create for our students is exceptional. Mrs Bolton wrote
Thank you to the students, parents and staff who joined us on Tuesday evening to celebrate a brilliant year of sport at our Sports Personality evening. Congratulations to all who were invited and the award winners. We were fortunate to be joined by former student Abi Miller who delivered a motivating speech on balancing her international sporting career with her role in the Royal Army Medical Services.
Once again, thank you to all of the parents for their support of the PE Department throughout the year.
Thanks to everyone involved in these events.
Best wishes
Anne Kennedy
Co-Headteacher