Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you’ve had a positive week.
I wanted to take a moment to share some wonderful highlights and important notices from our school.
This week, our Year 11 pupils truly shone during their Mock Interviews. They demonstrated exceptional maturity, independence, and clarity about their future plans. The interview panel was genuinely impressed by their confidence and strong communication skills. I couldn't be prouder of how our pupils represented themselves and our school.
We recently held our final consultation evening for Year 11, and I'm grateful for the fantastic turnout from parents and carers. It's remarkable to think that this incredible group of young people only have one term left with us. While it's hard to imagine life without them, I'm confident they will go on to achieve extraordinary things in the world.
I want to address an issue that has come to our attention regarding pupil attire. We've noticed a new fashion, where a small number of girls are wearing fluffy socks over their tights in a range of bright colours. In the main most pupils are wearing them to keep their feet warm. Unfortunately, some are wearing them to conceal vapes. Vaping is a challenge all secondary schools are currently facing, given its addictive nature and accessibility in society. We are committed to addressing this through multiple approaches:
I've spoken with pupils about our dress code, emphasising that only plain black or white socks are permitted. We will need to adapt our uniform policy to make it clear that fluffy socks aren’t permitted, only black or white plain socks. I appreciate this sounds trivial, but we need to put mitigations in place to tackle vaping. I've also reminded them about our expectations regarding false lashes, acrylic nails, and skirt length. We appreciate parental support in maintaining these standards.
I want to address attendance once again. We managed to achieve national standards this week for two days. However, we continue to have concerns about a small group of pupils' attendance levels. It is crucial that we work together to ensure pupils attend as regularly as possible. Low attendance can significantly impact both academic outcomes and personal development. If you need support, please do get in contact with Mrs Collins. The attendance team will do all they can to support you and your child.
On a celebratory note, I'm thrilled to share some incredible news about our alumni. Jack Freeman and Josie Bull, from our Class of 2024, have both been offered places to study science at Oxford University Colleges. After working incredibly hard to achieve outstanding GCSE results, they are now set to continue their academic journey at Oxford University Colleges next year. Their achievement is truly remarkable, and we are immensely proud of them.
Congratulations to our Year 7 Netball team who played their first match this week, beating John Hanson 3-0. A great start to the year. Well done to the squad!
Congratulations to Castiel G for winning Kick Boxer of the Year at his club, an awesome achievement.
Our magnificent pupils who attend the equally magnificent ‘Judo Company’ fought at the Southern Area British Schools Championships last week. The team all fought brilliantly, special mention to Georgia B and Elizabeth M for winning Gold and to Benji M and Pippa S for winning Silver. The Squad will now go onto compete at the British School Championships, such an exciting opportunity for them all. Good luck!
As ever, please do get in touch with office@danebury.hispmat.org if you have any pupil successes outside of school. We love hearing about them and celebrating within the school community.
We’ve had an advert out for a mini-bus driver for a few weeks now. Please do ask around and pass on any contacts who might be interested. This would suit someone who has recently retired and is happy to give up an hour in the morning and late afternoon. I’m doing most of the runs at the moment. Although it’s a lovely way to start the day, I really need a permeant driver to provide this service. The pupils travelling on this route are brilliant company and hugely respectful, full training will be provided.
Our Spring Term Club timetable has been shared, along with the Year 11 Revision Timetable. We can provide a free mini-bus service on a Tuesday and Thursday back to Andover to remove any barriers to attending clubs. Please do remind your child about this and get in touch with office@danebury.hispmat.org if you’d like to book a space on the bus.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Have a lovely weekend.
Nicky Goodridge
Head Teacher
