As Head of Upper School, I love working with our Year 10 and 11 students and the fantastic team of staff supporting them. Over this half term, we have been so impressed with the mature manner Year 11 undertook during their mock exams. They have worked hard and as we approach the end of term many staff and students are feeling pretty tired! At Easter, I am reminded of the song so many of us sang at Primary School at this time of year - Little Donkey. I often tell my classes that his was a fine example of what to do when feeling exhausted, just keep plodding on! Not particularly cutting edge research but a gentle reminder that quiet hard work will always pay off in the long run.
Last Friday, it was World Sleep Day, with one of the key messages to us all was that ‘sleep is a pillar of human health’. With two secondary school aged children of my own, I am aware of how staying up late is appealing to them, just as it was to me! It was a gentle nudge for us to sit down as a family, review our situation and have a conversation about the importance of healthy sleep patterns for us all. One of the facts that jumped out at me was: ‘if you haven’t slept, your ability to learn new things could drop by up to 40%.' Combine this with the feeling of wellbeing we all experience after a good night’s sleep. I can recommend the World Sleep Day website, which has some really helpful guidance as well as Teen Sleep Hub.
As you read this, I am away with a group of Year 10 History students exploring Berlin. We are all very excited to be going. Having done the trip before, I know what a great time we are going to have and how it will enrich the students' understanding of the History they are studying.
Good luck to all of Year 10 on work experience next week. It’s okay to have a few nerves… you are going to be brilliant!
Click here to see what's on next week:
Monday 27 March
Science Department - Y Band Year 7 Winchester Science Centre Trip, 9.15am - 3.00pm
Netball League on the Mountbatten MUGA, 4.00pm - 5.00pm
Tuesday 28 March
Nothing advised
Wednesday 29 March
Science Department - X Band Year 7 Winchester Science Centre Trip, 9.15am - 3.00pm
Music Department - Mountbatten Music Academy Community Concert in the Lantern Theatre, 7.30pm
Thursday 30 March
Year 11 Parents' Evening (Online) 4.15pm - 7.15pm
Friday 31 March
Nothing advised
INSET Days for 2022/23
Monday 19 June 2023
Friday 21 July 2023
Every effort is made to ensure these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes
Cashless Catering Daily Limits
There are daily limits on students' cashless catering accounts. These are determined by parents when their child starts at Mountbatten.
Canteen staff have to be strict on the reinforcement of students' daily accounts.
If you wish to increase/decrease your child's daily limit, please email the Kitcheninforming them of the change you wish to make.
U16 National Hockey Final
Congratulations to Toby R 11EHK who has reached the U16 National Hockey final with his club Trojans Hockey Club. They beat Repton 6-3 at the weekend to book their place in the National Final. Well done, Toby and team!
Podcast Club: Solent Radio
On Wednesday 22 March, the students below from the podcast club took part in a special recording by Solent Radio. They were asked to be part of the 'Rings-a-bell' phone in game. Students had to come up with clever clues for answers to questions.
If you would like to hear them, the breakfast show will be playing their clips every morning on the week of 24 April.
Zunayrah R 8IHS
Lara W 8IHS
Rachael J 8IHS
Rebecca M 7MJS
Isaac T 9JLR
Free Paediatric First Aid Courses in Summer Term
Hampshire Libraries are offering free* paediatric first aid courses this Summer Term. These courses are aimed at Hampshire residents aged 19+. For more information and to book, click the button below.
*Free tuition, optional certification available at a cost.
Ava B 7IBR has achieved Piano Beginner Stage 1 with Distinction.
Click the drop-down menus below to find out more about different careers opportunities coming up for our students.
Year 10 Work Experience
We wish all our Year 10 students a wonderful week at their workplace and look forward to hearing about their experiences.
Year 11 College Application Deadlines
As a reminder, please see the application deadlines below:
31 March*: City College, Eastleigh, Itchen, Richard Taunton, Sparsholt and Totton College
*Recommended deadline as courses can fill up fast.
Year 10/Year 11 College Open Events
We advise that Year 10 students start looking around the various colleges to see what they have to offer. Open Events are a good opportunity to speak to staff and students about the facilities and course content, and to get a feel for the college.
29 March: Fareham College (5.00pm – 7.00pm)
29 March: City College Southampton (4.00pm – 7.00pm)
Top Tip
Wednesday 22 March 2023 was World Water Day. Water is such a vital resource and has been in the news recently as governments across the world grow concerned over water stress in the future. You can find out more about this on the UN-Water Website.
We can also try a few of the actions below!
RSHE (Relationships, Sex, & Health Education) is taught by Tutors to their Tutor Group once a week. Tutors deliver discussion based lessons which allows our students to explore a range of topics to effectively prepare our young people for success in the modern world with the knowledge, understanding and desire to keep themselves safe, happy, healthy, respectful and tolerant. Our aim is to empower them with the resilience and confidence to make a difference to their own and others’ future.
Year 7
This half-term Year 7 have been looking at how to lead healthy lifestyles by considering what health and fitness is before identifying the need for good food, sleep and exercise habits. Students have also explored the impacts of energy drinks and caffeine based drinks on health and fitness and the law.
Students have just started to look at the body’s physical changes during puberty and this will continue after half-term. They will then move onto the importance of sleep and the benefits of good sleep hygiene. The half-term will then finish with a look at how the virtual world can impact how you feel about yourself and what behaviours are and are not appropriate online.
Year 8
This half-term Year 8 have been exploring the benefits of healthy lifestyles and good physical health as well as how to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing when using social media. Media bias and different media sources has also been covered so we can encourage students to consider what influences they may be exposed to and how they can start to consider the validity of information.
Next half-term Year 8 are looking at mental health and wellbeing and different ways of coping or managing their feelings and emotions. They are encouraged to identify what strategies they respond positively to and why self-care is important.
Year 9
Year 9 started the New Year considering what supports healthy living and how they can lead a healthy lifestyle. They have then considered what body image is and how this can be influenced and affected by internal and external factors. This then led onto covering mental health and wellbeing. Year 9 have explored what mental health is, what the different stages of mental health are and what strategies can support good mental health and wellbeing.
Next half-term Year 9 move onto completing a practical workshop on Emergency First Aid. The students who demonstrate a good practical understanding of the emergency aid will be certificated through St John’s Ambulance. This half-term also includes the topic of consent and how to avoid assumptions as well as freedom and capacity to consent. The law around consent and intimate relationships is shared with students also.
Year 10
Year 10 started the term with a recap on healthy living and positive lifestyle choices.
They then went on to identify what a role model is and how this can support personal progress and decision-making. This then led into exploring the impacts of drug and alcohol use. This will continue into the next half-term before they start to prepare for their work experience placements.
Year 11
Year 11 recapped healthy living before moving onto some practical emergency aid training. Students who engaged well with the sessions and demonstrated good practical understanding of CPR will be certificated by St John’s ambulance.
Students have also explored contraception and sexual health. The different methods of contraception and their efficacy have provided to ensure students are as informed. Students have been signposted to some external agencies that offer support. Youth In Romsey offer support and guidance and information can be found on their website, where details of further services can also be found, as well as what they offer.
Next half-term, students will prepare for mock exams and then revisit consent, explore coercion and consider risky behaviours.
Should your child wish to seek support in 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.
Childline also offer a range of support and resources.
Part of the healthy living topics include discussing the need for good sleep habits. Support with teenage sleep can be found at Teen Sleep Hub which is part of The Sleep Charity.
To support with children’s mental health and wellbeing please visit Place2Be's Website.
Activity Camps - Mountbatten School & Barton Peveril
Personal Best Education is holding Activity Camps during the course of the Easter Holidays. Children will take part in a range of engaging activities including; sports, team building, creative design, personal development, arts & crafts and much more.
Free spaces available for children in receipt of free school meals and includes a hot lunch.
For paying customers, places can be booked per day or at a discounted rate for four day bookings. Additionally, we accept childcare vouchers.
Spaces are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis.
Mountbatten School
Monday 3 April - Thursday 6 April
Tuesday 11 April - Friday 14 April
Times: 8.30am - 4.30pm
Barton Peveril College
Monday 3 April - Thursday 6 April
Tuesday 11 April - Friday 14 April
Times: 9.00am - 3.00pm
Absolute Tennis - Easter Camps at Mountbatten School
Absolute Tennis is pleased to confirm junior and adult courses are available over the upcoming holidays. Parents can book individual days or the full course for a discounted rate.
Louie P 8SFN
Olly N 7CBN
Amber B 8IPY/ESY
Amelia W 7AWS
Isabelle M 8YDS/AVE
