ASSISTANT HEAD

Dear Parents,

I hope that you are all looking forward to your summer holidays and want to thank you for your support this year.

Recently I asked parents to complete a survey on the current MELS provision.

The key takeaways were as follows:

1 There were mixed priorities but Physical and Mental Health was the front runner for Year 7, 8 and 9. Study Skills took the lead in Year 10.

2 Many parents suggested that the dangers of Social Media and Digital Safety should have an increased focus.

Since these results the pastoral team have worked on developing suggested changes to the Physical and Mental Health unit and those proposed changes were presented to parents who attended the MELS working party on the 21st June.

Thank you so much to those who attended, your comments and feedback have already helped shape discussions that I have had with the pastoral and senior leadership teams. I am looking forward to implementing some of your suggestions on this topic and getting these changes ready for the 2024/25 academic year.

The Parent MELS working party also had some great suggestions for Social Media and Digital Safety which will be a focus of MELS in the early stages of next year. Within these lessons we discuss:

Digital Safety: for example age ratings, dangers of certain apps, legal implications of sharing images

Online Bullying: definition, scenario examples and consequences

Influencers: The danger of unrealistic life and body image on both boys and girls

For parents we are looking at ways to communicate solutions to some of your concerns, rather than simply highlighting the problem. This could include identifying dangerous apps and providing information on screening and safety tools through video demos. Thank you to those at the working party that suggested this, your feedback on the recent sessions was extremely helpful for future planning.

In regards to parent comments on inclusivity and anti-discrimination, this is something that we chose to focus on this academic year and I am pleased to let you know that new lessons and resources will be used from August. I hope that by educating our children more on subjects such as discrimination we will in time see a positive impact on their understanding, empathy, kindness and inclusivity. Our Secondary teachers have also recently been involved in training on how to facilitate these types of conversations by setting up a safe, respectful and reflective space that allows all children to contribute. On top of this we have partnered with a company that is providing our staff with access to videos from psychology experts as well as a huge library of peer videos on topics such as bullying and discrimination. Hearing the information from students their own age we hope will engage them more in these discussions.

Missemmahand Head Of Year 7

As we come to the end of an incredible school year, it's important to reflect on the remarkable journey our Year 7 students have had.

We couldn't be prouder of how they have wholeheartedly embraced the numerous opportunities presented to them in secondary school. Whether it was representing the school in sports teams, showcasing their talents in musical productions, or participating in fierce house competitions, our Year 7 students have consistently demonstrated their dedication and enthusiasm. It's truly inspiring to witness their growth and maturity throughout their first year in secondary school. We look forward to seeing their continued progress in the years to come.

We are thrilled to announce that rehearsals for our highly anticipated school production of 'Oliver!' have officially begun.

The air is buzzing with excitement as our talented Year 7 students showcase their immense skills and passion. Amongst them, we are incredibly proud of Sam Boucher, who is representing Year 7 and has secured the lead role of Oliver. With Sam's exceptional talent and dedication, we are confident that this production will be nothing short of extraordinary. Stay tuned for more updates on this spectacular event next year!

This term has been filled with spirited house competitions, showcasing the diverse talents of our students. From welly wanging to drama, debate and pictionary, our students have enthusiastically participated and brought their competitive spirits to the forefront.

We are especially proud of our Year 7 representatives who fearlessly took on the challenge of representing BSAK in the Spelling Bee, where we welcomed students from other schools to compete. Their dedication and determination were truly remarkable.

Congratulations to all our students for their fantastic involvement in these events, fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition throughout the term.

Year 7 had the privilege to visit The Louvre museum this May for the ‘Arts and Emotions’ tour. The day provided an enriching experience, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of art and cultural heritage and we were very proud of the work they produced during the day.

Sport

Despite the scorching heat, this term has been an exceptional one for sports at our school. Our Year 7 boys and KS3 girls had a fantastic opportunity to showcase their leadership skills and sportsmanship in the internal football leagues, where they formed their own 6-a-side teams.

The enthusiasm and teamwork displayed were truly commendable. Additionally, we witnessed thrilling matches in KS3 boys and girls basketball, as well as an exciting boys vs. girls netball game. It has been a joy to witness our students' passion and dedication to sports, and we are immensely proud of their achievements this term.

Well done to all our talented athletes!

A massive well done to our Year 7 award winners at this year's Secondary awards: