Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Last week, we were delighted to celebrate two of our teachers, Mrs Bolton and Mrs Diaz, who completed the 2025 London Marathon! Both crossed the finish line proud of their times and achievements — and they were keen to share their reflections.
Mrs Bolton shared:
“Running the London Marathon was an absolute privilege and one of the best experiences of my life. My training and fundraising journey began with The Holt Fun Run and continued with many cold, dark 6 a.m. runs through winter. Race day itself was a hot one, but thanks to the incredible support crew cheering me on, I kept going — and the medal made it all worthwhile! I’m delighted to hear so many students talking about watching the marathon or cheering for loved ones and feeling inspired to take part one day. A huge thank you to The Holt community for helping me raise nearly £6,000 for Breast Cancer Now.”
Mrs Diaz added:
“Although I once said I’d never do a marathon, I was lucky to be picked in the London ballot. It was an incredible, intense, yet wonderful experience. By mile 19, the heat made things tough, but with the amazing support of family, friends, and the crowd, I reminded myself why I was running. It was inspiring to see so many people running for great causes. I was proud to raise money for the Reading Learning Community Centre, where the mother of two of our students is the manager. I can’t wait to see how they’ll use the funds to support refugee and migrant women. The Holt students have been so encouraging throughout, and I’ve even used the marathon as an analogy with Year 11 — reminding them that, little by little, mile by mile, they will get there.”
This brings us neatly to our Year 11 students, who are reaching the finish line of their own marathon: GCSEs! Today marked their last day before study leave, and we celebrated with our traditional leaving events.
The day began with the leavers’ assembly, carefully planned by the students and their Head of Year Mrs Priddy. She welcomed everyone to this bittersweet occasion, reflecting on the journey Year 11 has taken. The assembly was a heartwarming mix of thanks to tutors and support staff, nostalgic memories, performances, and the 2025 leavers’ awards.
The students also gave a heartfelt thank-you to Mrs Priddy, their Head of Year since Year 7. In her closing speech, she said:
“As we bid farewell, it’s important to acknowledge the strong educational foundation you’ve built here. Education is not just about facts and figures — it’s about curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. I’ve always admired your eagerness to understand the world beyond the ‘Wokingham bubble.’ Success isn’t measured only by grades or titles, but by pursuing your passions and making a positive impact on others. You’ve left a wonderful mark at The Holt — from prefect duties, charity events, sports competitions, and harvest deliveries to your conduct in the exam hall. You’ve shown resilience and determination while having fun along the way.”
After the assembly, students enjoyed ice cream on the sunny field — always a highlight — followed by the much-loved tradition of shirt signing, with both students and staff enthusiastically joining in.
It was wonderful to see our students in such high spirits. They’ve completed language orals, 10-hour art exams, drama and PE practicals, and submitted NEAs — and now, after a brief moment of well-earned celebration, the public exams are about to begin. Many students will be back on Thursday for their drama exam — in full uniform! They’ve been preparing for this for over two years, and now they’re into the final stretch of vital revision and practice.
As Mrs Diaz said: Little by little, mile by mile, you will get there.
We wish them every success.
Meanwhile, Year 12 and Year 10 have just completed their PPEs, Year 12 students are out on work experience, Year 7s are buzzing with excitement for Rushall Farm, and Year 13’s last day — with its legendary fancy dress — is coming up on Friday. I’m sure there will be plenty to share about that in next week’s blog!
Mrs Smith
Assistant Headteacher