There has been a lot of media coverage this week about school attendance, including strong criticism from LBC’s Nick Ferrari, who compares changing attitudes here with other parts of the world.
Attendance rates nationally are much lower than they were pre-pandemic and there are a greater number of students who fall in to the category of ‘persistently absent’ – missing more than 10% of school (1 school day per fortnight) and ’severely absent’ – missing more than 50% of school days. Further, more students are missing school on Fridays and in the last week of a term.
It is important to remember that:
A Friday missed a fortnight, is a tenth of the school year
The last week of term is at least 8% of the term
Evidence shows that even small amounts of absence from school can have a significant impact not only on academic outcomes, but also on overall student wellbeing.
A reminder of the stark facts:
Poor attendance has a dramatic relationship with GCSE results. While 78% of all children who were rarely absent in both years passed at least 5 GCSEs including English and maths, only 36% of children who were persistently absent in both years and just 5% of children who were severely absent in both years reached this same standard.
When students’ attendance improves, the likelihood of achieving qualifications at the end of school increases significantly. More than half (54%) of students who were persistently absent in Year 10 and then rarely absent in Year 11 passed at least 5 GCSEs including English and Maths, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years.
Please support your child and support the school to support your child. Every lesson of every day of every week impacts on student progress and outcomes.
Road Safety
We would like remind parents and carers who are collecting their child that there are other children who are on foot or on bikes to be vigilant as we have many children leaving site at the end of the day. Last night, a child was knocked from their cycle and the driver did not stop.
If your child cycles to school, please ensure they have and wear a cycle helmet and understand the importance of road safety.
Parents and carers should not be picking their child up on site and should use the lane outside school.
School Canteen
Today the canteen had an issue with the oven and extractor fan. Engineers were called out to assess this and we have been informed that replacements are needed. At this stage, they cannot give us a definite date for completion of this work. Until the repairs are done, we are still able to offer a food service at both break times, offering cold food and drinks. Our thanks go to the catering service who managed to provide a service to the children in challenging circumstances today. We hope to have the faulty equipment replaced by the end of next week. Thank you for your understanding.
Well done and congratulations
We would like to say huge well done to Oscar L 9VGN, who had the opportunity to visit a school (children aged 6 - 16) in the Czech Republic and spend a morning in a class of Year 8 students over the Christmas holidays.
Oscar created a PowerPoint presentation by himself, containing facts about Christmas. He prepared it with care and a suitable language for his audience, highlighting unusual words for his audience. Oscar answered questions at the end of the presentation.
Congratulations, Oscar - for having the confidence to deliver the presentation, not only to children your own age, but in another country!
Click here to see what's on next week:
Monday 15 January
Music Department - GCSE Music Year 11 Performers' Concert in the Lantern Theatre, 7.00pm - approx. 8.30pm
PE Department - Year 9 Football vs Kings School (away), 3.00pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 16 January
PE Department - Year 10 Rugby vs Court Moor (away), 1.00pm - 5.30pm
PE Department - Year 8 Indoor Athletics at Mountbatten, 3.30pm - 6.00pm
Wednesday 17 January
PE Department - Year 11 Basketball vs Crestwood (home) 3.30pm - 5.00pm
PE Department - Year 10 Football vs Westgate (home) 3.30pm - 5.00pm
Thursday 18 January
PE Department - Year 8 Football vs Henry Beaufort (away) 3.00pm - 5.30pm
Friday 19 January
PE Department - Year 11 Boys' Football vs Toynee (home) 3.30pm - 5.00pm
INSET Days for 2023/24
Monday 19 February 2024
Tuesday 18 June 2024
Every effort is made to ensure these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes.
REMINDER: Music Grade Exams
We would like to remind parents and students that it is really important to let us know when they receive the results of their grade exams.
Please send either the original certificate for us to copy, or your own copy (a photo will do), so that we can keep a record of each student’s achievements.
For students passing grade 6-8, this is particularly important, as these grades are Level 3 qualifications, meaning that they count as A Level equivalents. They also carry UCAS points for university entrance. Schools need to include these when reporting GCSE results at the end of each academic year.
It was lovely to see so many parent and carers at the Options Evening last night. Just a reminder that parents/carers will have received an email this morning informing them that Year 9 Options is now open.
All information from the Options Evening held last night can be found here.
We would like to remind you that music tuition fees for the Spring Term 2024 are now due. Please could you check your Scopay account to check the amount and make your payment.
Fees for the Spring term are £95.00, with the exception of piano tuition which is £120.00 (if your child is eligible for Pupil Premium, please be aware that Pupil Premium discounts will be applied to their accounts soon).
Congratulations to the following students for levelling up on Sparx Maths!
Level 1
Ben G 8SGY
Zac S 11DSS
Level 2
Alice A 8AWS
Evangeline C-E 8AWS
Daisy H 8AWS
Evan S 8AWS
Heidi C 8EGY
Alice C 8SGY
Ava P 8SGY
Imogen F 9OWS
Ben G 9OWS
Fin L 9RLE
Sophia A 9RMN
Maddy M 9YDS/EGE
Erika P 10AWE/RAR
Simon L 10JLR/MSD
Eloise G 10LJS
Emily R 10LJS
Kamil S 10PWR
Callum P 10TRN
Level 3
Becca N 8DDY
Eva McC 9IHS
Airah S 10BHT/CFT
Level 5
Connor P 10JLR/MSD
British Maths Olympiad 2023
Congratulations to Kenneth H 11COY/SDN on his performance in the British Maths Olympiad 2023 Round 1 and for qualifying for the follow-on round. Only 100 students are invited to sit the second round across the whole country. Good luck on 24 January!
Geography Department
Geography Stars
Ellis S 7TAS
Jasmine T 8MJS/JHR
Alfie G 8LHK/EPK
Matthew B 9JFR
Blossom N S 10HCS
Shaun N 10HCS
Samuel R 11TLS
MFL Department
MFL Stars
Katherine O 7TAS
Rebecca M 8SGY
Ollie R 9IHS
Matt S 9YDS/EGE
Marlee-Ann C 10BHT/CFT
Elsa H 10HCS
Matthew W 11DSS
Science Department
Super Scientists
Eiza U 7JSL
Joe H 8ADY
Izabela S 8DCR/BCY
Jessica T 9RMN
Kieran K 10LJS
Samuel N 10AOR
Mara C 11HDE
Thomas G 11DSS
Joe S 11DSS
Max S 11COY/SDN
PE Department
Successful Trial - Netball Academy
Congratulations to Caitlin J 9JBY who has been selected to join Surrey Storm U15 Netball Academy, after a very successful trial at the weekend. Well done, Caitlin!
Fixture Results
Year 7 Boys' Football: Mountbatten School won 1-0 against Thornden School. This puts them into the District Cup Semi-Final!
Music Department
Drum Kit Exam
James M 8EGY has passed Percussion Academy Drum Kit Grade 1 with Distinction.
Callum P 10TRN has passed Percussion Academy Drum Kit Grade 4 with Distinction
Click the drop-down menus below to find out more about different careers opportunities coming up for our students.
Year 9 to 11 Bournemouth University Summer Residential
BU Summer Residentials offer a fully funded experience, including all accommodation, meals and a wide range of activities. This immersive opportunity allows students to sample the complete university lifestyle. The programme is primarily aimed towards young people from areas with low participation in higher education (university), students from low socio-economic backgrounds, young people in care, and students with special educational needs. The application deadline is Wednesday 17 April. Please click here to find out more.
Student Finance – a complete guide for parents
The University of Portsmouth is hosting a webinar which aims to support parents with knowledge on how to support their child with their journey into university. The session will explore all aspects of student finance. Please click here to register.
From King Edward VI Sixth Form
KES are always keen to welcome new students into the Sixth Form. They also have a generous Bursary and Scholarship scheme, details of which can be found here: Sixth Form Scholarships & Bursaries (kes.school). The closing date for the current Year 11 students to apply to us is 5 February 2024.
You are invited to visit King Edward school for a tour and coffee / lunch with the Admissions Team and the Head; if this is something you would be interested in, please contact the Admissions Team - Mrs Emma Sheppard, Mrs Vicki Mixer and Miss Lou Marchment – at registrar@kes.hants.sch.uk or on the direct line which is 023 8079 9216.
Barton Peveril College application deadline
The deadline is on 19 January. No late applications will be considered.
Year 10 & Year 11 College Open Events
3 February: Sparsholt College
Click on the tabs below to find out what each year group is exploring in RSHE this term!
Year 7
This half-term, Year 7 will be exploring how to lead healthy lifestyles by considering what health and fitness is before identifying the need for good food, sleep and exercise habits. Students will also explore the impacts of energy drinks and caffeine-based drinks on health and fitness and the law around the sale and consumption of some products. Students will also consider how oral hygiene is important and how lifestyle can affect teeth and gums. Vaping will also be explored, providing students with the opportunity to consider the law, recent guidance and the worrying effects of using E-cigarettes.
Year 8
This half-term, Year 8 will be exploring healthy lifestyles and good physical health, as well as how to maintain emotional wellbeing and self-worth, when using social media. Media bias and different media sources will also be covered, so we can encourage students to consider what influences they may be exposed to and what the reliability and validity of different news sources are.
Year 9
Year 9 will begin the new year by considering what supports healthy living and how to lead a healthy lifestyle at this age. This also includes how to maintain positive mental health and self-worth when using social media. Students will consider how their own self-perception and internet use may be linked and correlated. Students will participate in some basic First Aid training looking at CPR and the recovery position, as well as the use of an AED.
Year 10
Year 10 wil kick-start the new term with a recap on healthy living and positive lifestyle choices. Students will be given the opportunity to identify which strategies suit them best when finding relaxation techniques. This then leads into exploring the impacts of drug and alcohol use. Students will consider their current understanding and perceptions of various substances, explore how to manage the risks associated with their use and how to keep themselves and others safe as well as where to seek advice and information in the future. The influences of gang culture and county lines will also be explored.
Year 11
Year 11 will start the term exploring different stereotypes and ways to challenge them. They will identify what their core values are and how to consider those of others. Students will look at how people identify and explore how they respect the decisions of others. They will also explore why some teenagers are likely to partake in risky behaviours.
Should your child wish to seek support related to any of these topics or about anything else that is worrying them, please advise them to speak to their form tutor in the first instance or request some support from our Student Support Team by completing the Student Support form on the student area of the school website.
We have our reporting system 'TootToot' where students can report anonymously or with their name.
Road Safety
School Canteen
Well done and congratulations 
Music Tuition - Spring Term
.jpg)
.jpg)
Molly W 8DDY
Alice A 8AWS
Connor P 10JLR/MSD
Congratulations to Kenneth H 11COY/SDN on his performance in the British Maths Olympiad 2023 Round 1 and for qualifying for the follow-on round. Only 100 students are invited to sit the second round across the whole country. Good luck on 24 January!
Ellis S 7TAS
Katherine O 7TAS
Eiza U 7JSL
