Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
We are three weeks into the autumn term, and the warm weather continues to make it feel as though summer isn’t quite ready to leave us. We were all delighted to welcome Mrs Kennedy back to school on Tuesday after several weeks of rest and keeping her leg elevated. She is now sporting a rather substantial boot to support her foot and is mastering the art of getting around on crutches. Most importantly, it is wonderful to have her back with us, and we wish her continued progress and a smooth recovery over the coming weeks.
Last week, we were pleased to welcome our Year 11 parents and guardians to our Parents’ Information Evening. We had a fantastic turnout, and the evening provided a valuable opportunity to hear about upcoming events, the support parents can offer throughout this important year, and to meet members of our Sixth Form team. A special thank you also goes to Isabelle and Jasmine, who are now in the Sixth Form and were able to share their own Key Stage 4 experiences. Their reflections offered valuable reassurance to parents, as well as some helpful insight into navigating Year 11 and the transition into Sixth Form.
Our thanks go to Mr Mirams, Head of Year 11, Mrs Smith, Assistant Headteacher and Mrs Thomas, Head of Sixth Form, for facilitating such an informative and helpful evening.
For anyone who was unable to attend or would simply like a reminder of the information shared, the presentation slides are available on the school website (Letters and Announcements | The Holt School.)
Our Year 7 students are settling in extremely well. Understandably, there were a few nerves at the very beginning, with one of their biggest worries being finding their way around the school site. However, having now completed a full cycle of their two-week timetable, they are becoming increasingly confident in navigating their way around. Along the way, they have also experienced the kindness and support that characterise our Holt community, with students and staff always on hand to offer a friendly face and point them in the right direction when needed. It is lovely to see them growing in confidence and beginning to feel at home.
Our Year 7 students also enjoyed their first trip to Ufton Court, which was a great success. Their form tutors swapped their usual school attire for something a little more comfortable and joined them for the day, alongside colleagues from our Student Support and Learning Link teams. Led by the wonderfully enthusiastic Ufton Court staff, the students threw themselves into a range of activities and challenges. There was plenty of teamwork and problem-solving, as well as some friendly competition.
Mrs Izod-Martin wrote: On Tuesday 15th September, our Year 7 students travelled to Ufton Court for a day of outdoor education focussed on teambuilding. This is always a popular trip that we aim to run at the beginning of Year 7 to help to nurture new friendships, build a culture of inclusivity, and to encourage a smooth transition. It is a brilliant opportunity for students to get to know staff outside of an everyday classroom too. Students enjoyed playing games in the woods; traversing on skateboards to net balls in teams; and hurling catapults at targets (and teachers!!). A massive thank you to our year 7 tutor team and supporting staff for a day of genuine laughter and fun.
A huge thank you goes to Mrs Izod-Martin, our Head of Year 7, for coordinating the day, to Mrs Woodward, our Off-Site Activities Administrator and to all the tutors and support staff who gave their time and energy to make the trip such a success. It was wonderful to see our Year 7s embracing the experience with such enthusiasm, and I know it will be one of many happy memories they will carry with them throughout their time at The Holt.
This week, we have begun welcoming prospective students and their families to our open mornings, which will continue over the coming weeks. These visits provide an opportunity to hear from our co-headteachers, tour the school, and get a real sense of our community. Our Year 11 prefects have been playing an important role, acting as guides and sharing their experiences of school life with our visitors. We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and maturity they have shown; they are fantastic ambassadors for our school and reflect the very best of our community.
One of my roles is to oversee attendance across our school, and I am pleased that we have made such a positive start to the year.
I would like to encourage you to continue supporting your daughters by ensuring that they attend school every day wherever possible. We recognise that there will be days when they may not feel 100%, but helping them to overcome some of the barriers they may be experiencing can make a real difference to their attendance, learning and wellbeing. For example, if your daughter is experiencing period pain or the early symptoms of a cold but is otherwise well enough to attend, please remember that we are here to support her. We are happy to hold appropriate over-the-counter medication for students, in line with our school procedures, and being in school can often provide a welcome distraction from minor discomfort.
Thank you for your continued support in helping your daughters develop positive attendance habits. We have had a fantastic start to the year; let’s keep up the excellent attendance!
The next stop on our journey through the autumn term is our Harvest Festival, which we are very much looking forward to. Students have been bringing in produce, and preparations are well underway. I won’t give too much away just yet though – I’ll leave you to read all about it in next week’s blog.
Nozi Connor
Assistant Head Teacher