It is a particular privilege to begin this academic year as Headteacher, and I am enormously proud of the school and the young people we serve.
A very warm welcome to all our parents and carers, and especially to those whose children are joining the school for the first time. We are delighted to have you as part of the Mountbatten community.
Our relationship with you is more important than ever as we navigate the challenges facing young people in the modern world. If you have a concern or an issue that you would like to discuss, your child’s form tutor should normally be your first port of call. We want to resolve problems quickly, openly and in partnership with you.
Many of you will know our mantra: ‘Every Child Deserves Disruption-Free Learning.’ This has been remarkably successful. Staff, students and visitors consistently comment on the calm and purposeful learning environment in our classrooms, where students can make the most of every minute of every lesson. We trust that, in choosing Mountbatten, parents support this approach and the high expectations that underpin it.
As all parents will be aware, there has also been a significant change to our policy on smartphones. Put simply, smartphones are not allowed in school. If a smartphone is seen or heard, it will be confiscated and returned only after the student has completed an after-school detention, held each Friday. Our arrangements for confiscating and returning phones are fully compliant with the law. We have chosen Friday for the detention so that, in the hopefully very rare occasions when a smartphone is brought to school and confiscated, it can be returned following satisfactory completion of the detention, without the need for the student to wait until the following week.
Please help us to uphold this standard. Bringing a smartphone into school creates an unnecessary temptation for students and can lead to confrontation between home, school and child. We would much rather avoid that situation altogether.
Three models of ‘brick’ phone are permitted, but these must not be seen or heard anywhere on the school premises and be kept switched off, in their school bag. This includes the period before registration and after dismissal. The sanction for these phones is less severe than for a smartphone, but I would ask parents to help us by not texting or calling their child during school hours. This removes the temptation for them to check their phone and makes it much easier for us to maintain the environment we want for everyone.
The direction of travel on smartphones and social media is becoming increasingly clear, both through recent developments in the technology industry and through legislation in the UK. We are proud that The Mountbatten School is taking a lead on this issue and, most importantly, putting the interests of our students first.
Our expectations are high because our ambitions for our students are equally high. We want every young person who comes through Mountbatten to leave us with the knowledge, confidence, character and opportunities to make the most of their lives. We cannot do that alone. The strongest schools are built on a strong partnership between students, parents/carers and staff, and I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
Click here to see what's on next week:
Monday 7 September
Nothing advised
Tuesday 8 September
Nothing advised
Wednesday 9 September
Nothing advised
Thursday 10 September
Nothing advised
Friday 11 September
Nothing advised
INSET Days for 2026/27
Monday 19 October 2026*
Tuesday 20 October 2026*
Wednesday 21 October 2026*
Friday 12 February 2027
Friday 2 July 2027
*adjoining October half-term
Every effort is made to ensure these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes.
REMINDER: Free School Meals Update – 2026
Please click the button below to view a letter regarding an update on Free School Meals eligibility.
From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, the eligibility rules for Free School Meals will be expanded significantly. All households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to apply for Free School Meals, as the current income threshold of £7,400 will be removed. If you do not submit an application using the link in the letter, your child will not be able to receive Free School Meals through the school.
Please see the Extra-Curricular Timetable from our PE Department:
Year 7 Parents/Carers
A very warm welcome to our new Year 7 parents and carers. It has been a real pleasure to see how well Year 7 have settled into their new school this week. As mentioned at our New Intake Evening back in July, this is a reminder that we will host drop-in sessions to help you with our digital systems which parents use to support their child. The dates are as follows:
Wednesday 9 September – 3.30pm
Friday 11 September – 11.30am
Thursday 17 September – 8.30am
Each session will last approximately 30 minutes. If you would like to attend a session and haven’t yet signed up, please complete the Google form below, to allow us to plan the events accurately, and we will confirm bookings next week. Each session is a repeat, so please only sign up for one, if you wish to attend.
Huge congratulations to the Mountbatten Music Academy Choir, who have been invited to sing in the Royal Albert Hall on the 10 November in the Music for Youth School Prom!
This is as a result of their excellent performance in Birmingham in July, and is a testament to their hard work and professionalism. Tickets are available on the Royal Albert Hall website and more information will be available for students who performed in Birmingham very soon.
Badminton Tournament
University of Southampton Life Lab Researcher Programme
Young people involved in this programme will develop the skills and confidence to carry out their own research project, examining issues that matter to them and their community.
They will work with decision-makers to turn the recommendations they have identified from their research into action.
Applicants must be between 14 and 18 years old and should feel comfortable travelling to the sessions, held in-person at LifeLab, Southampton General Hospital. Sessions will be on Wednesday evenings, 5.00pm-7.00pm, starting Wednesday 14 October 2026. Travel arrangements can be made for those who need support.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young people who feel their voices are often overlooked and are looking for an opportunity to speak out about the matters that mean most to them, their peers and their wider community. They will be supported by research professionals throughout and will develop valuable research, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Application form link: https://bit.ly/NxtGenApplicationForm. The deadline for applying is Wednesday 16 September 2026, 11.59 pm, and interviews will be held on Wednesday 30 September 2026, 5.00pm-7.00pm, at LifeLab.
We do welcome alternative forms of answers to some of the questions in the application form (videos, PowerPoint etc.), should a written form not be preferred.
Click the drop-down menus below to find out more about updates in the Careers Department and different careers opportunities coming up for our students.
Save the Date: Year 10 and 11 Careers Fair
We would like to invite students and their parents/carers to our annual Careers Fair on Thursday 17 September, 6.00pm - 8.00pm. In attendance are colleges, Higher Education and training providers, as well as local employers. There will be an apprenticeship presentation for parents/carers only at 6.15pm. A letter with further information about the careers provision for the school year will be sent out next week.
Year 11 Insight into Law
On Wednesday 16 September, 5.00pm – 7.00pm, Young Professionals are hosting their biggest legal careers event of the year with 12 international law firms — including all five Magic Circle firms — plus The University of Law.
What students can expect:
A meaningful encounter with employers — practising solicitors from leading firms talking honestly about their work and their routes in.
Clear routes explained — solicitor apprenticeships, training contracts, holiday schemes and work experience, including the options that don't require a law degree.
Interactive breakout workshops with individual firms — commercial awareness, application and interview practice, and case-study exercises.
A live Q&A with a panel of industry experts — students ask, lawyers answer.
A certificate of attendance — evidence for CVs, personal statements and applications.
Our Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) programme is delivered by form tutors who know their students well, creating a safe and supportive environment for exploring sensitive topics. This familiar relationship enables open dialogue and builds trust, allowing students to engage more confidently with challenging subject matter.
At the heart of our programme is an oracy-based methodology that prioritises discussion, debate and collaborative exploration. Rather than simply receiving information, students are encouraged to express their thoughts and questions in a supportive environment while listening respectfully to diverse viewpoints and experiences. They engage in meaningful dialogue with peers and their form tutor, developing confidence in articulating their ideas and concerns whilst practising essential communication skills that will serve them throughout life.
Our approach fosters critical thinking skills by encouraging students to question assumptions and examine different perspectives. They learn to analyse information from multiple sources and viewpoints, considering the complexity of real-world situations and relationships. Students develop skills in evaluating the consequences of different choices and behaviours while reflecting thoughtfully on their own values and beliefs.
Through structured discussions and collaborative activities, students develop respect for diversity in all its forms, including different backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyles. Students learn to disagree respectfully while maintaining positive relationships and become aware of their own biases, recognising the importance of remaining open-minded.
Our five-year programme follows a progressive and spiral curriculum structure from Year 7 to Year 11, with topics revisited at increasing levels of complexity and maturity. This approach ensures that students build upon prior learning while developing deeper understanding as they mature.
This comprehensive approach ensures our students develop not only knowledge and understanding, but also the communication skills, emotional intelligence and respect for others that will serve them well as they navigate their relationships and make important life decisions.
RSHE Autumn Dates
Year 7
This term, Year 7 will be looking at how to deal with startingsecondary school, dealing with change and how to grow self-confidence. They will also explore how friendships may change, form and develop as well as how communication is a valuable tool to manage friendships. This progresses on to looking at what it means to show empathy, compassion and care. How to have a healthy lifestyle and making good choices about diet, energy drinks and other substances is discussed as well as the importance of good sleep hygiene and links to positive wellbeing.
Year 8
Year 8 start the term by identifying their personal strengths and achievements. They will then explore personal safety and move on to looking at the meaning of discrimination and prejudice, including misogyny and misandry, and what protective characteristics are. October will bring discussions about Black History Month and the impact of stereotypes on individuals and communities. This leads into exploring what healthy relationships look like, how to recognise unhealthy relationships and establishing healthy boundaries and consent.
Year 9
Year 9 will be looking at what a healthy relationship is and how to recognise the features of them. They will explore the meaning of commitment within a range of different relationships and dynamics including exploring families, marriage and changes within relationships and families. Healthy lifestyles, positive mental health and wellbeing and positive self-esteem will be discussed and the impact of the digital world on these factors will finish the term. Students will also participate in an emergency aid workshop.
Year 10
Year 10 will be discussing the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing and the actions that can support this including how to reframe negative thinking and have a mindful outlook. Discussions will then focus on healthy lifestyles and changes that occur during adolescence.
Year 11
Year 11 will be exploring the importance of sleep and managing pressure and emotions, including in exams. This leads into a unit on healthy lifestyles, medical choices, substance abuse and body adjustments. Challenging stereotypes and discussing the changes in the voting system and politics will prepare students for the future as well as a practical workshop in emergency aid to give up to date first aid experience.
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.
Please note all calls both to and from the school are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
🍂🎃 October Half Term Camp at The Mountbatten School 🎃🍂
For Years 1 – Year 7
Our October Holiday Camp is now open for bookings!
With a fantastic mix of activities, games, challenges and plenty of opportunities to make new friends our camp is the perfect way to keep children entertained, active and having fun throughout the school break!
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT
📅Book by 25th September and use code MBEARLY10 to save on your booking!
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Secure your child’s place today and make this October half term one to remember!
