Mon 8th Dec | Head of School Letter
It was an incredible week last week with three sell-out shows from our students for the school's production of High School Musical! After months of preparation, the cast and crew delivered three outstanding performances.
It is safe to say that for three nights, PA3 was transformed into East High, and every member of the audience joined in to be All in This Together. The success of this spectacular show belongs to every single person involved:
The Phenomenal Cast: Around 100 students participated and their talent, energy, and dedication brought the characters to life. They proved that Wildcats can Bop to the Top! A very special congratulations goes to Maggie who took over the role of Gabriela at very short notice, from an unwell Evie. Evie did an amazing job pushing through Wednesday and Thursday’s performances despite feeling ill, but was not well enough to complete Friday’s show. Maggie learnt she was going on stage part way through period 4 on Friday afternoon, and had just an hour and half to rehearse with James, Chloe and Neo. Super well done Maggie!
The Incredible Techie Crew: Working seamlessly behind the scenes, the student crew ensured that the lighting, sound, and stage management were flawless. Their skill kept the show running, proving that the silent roles are just as key as the performers.
Family Support: Thank you for your support as families of cast and crew, for your support throughout the rehearsal process, from after-school pickups to weekend rehearsals. Thank you!
Teacher Supporters: Thank you to the many staff members who volunteered their time and energy to support the students before and during the show week, selling refreshments. Mr Knightley supported the backstage crew throughout. Thank you!
The biggest thanks goes to our three incredible Performing Arts teachers: Miss Mayhew, Mrs. Pinto, and Mrs. Holmes. Their energy, encouragement, and sheer enthusiasm were the driving force behind the entire production. We especially appreciate their dedication to the arts, managing to direct and produce such a huge show while simultaneously teaching their own classes, including GCSE and A Level teaching, throughout the term.
Beyond the sold-out performances and super choreography, the true success of High School Musical lies in watching our students blossom and grow throughout the rehearsal period and in the performances. Within the cast and crew, there were students from Year 7 who have been part of the community for just 13 weeks, all the way up to our experienced Year 13 students who are getting closer to the end of their seven years here. It is a privilege to witness the diverse community that forms around a major production. This collaboration has seen new friendships forged across year groups, and helped every participant develop a sense of belonging within the school community, regardless of age or experience, uniting them in the best possible way. I am exceptionally proud of how all the students achieved this success, demonstrating Healthy Relationships and embodying the core values of our school's 6Cs throughout every rehearsal and performance. Their teamwork, respect, and commitment were evident every time the curtain went up; these extracurricular activities are so important for a young person’s personal development and life skills.
Annual Christmas Food Bank Collection
Thank you very much for the very generous donations for this year’s foodbank collection to support those in need during the holidays.
KidsOut Giving Tree
Our staff are again contributing to the annual Giving Tree campaign, organised by Mrs. Pinto. As a staff, we support the KidsOut charity and their Giving Tree initiative. Instead of a traditional Secret Santa, staff members are invited to purchase a brand-new toy for a child who has fled domestic abuse and is living in a refuge. These children often receive very little or nothing at all at Christmas. Thanks to the support of contributors like our team, last year The Giving Tree gifted over 73,000 brand-new toys, with 51,070 going to children in refuge and 22,199 going to other disadvantaged children (for example, those with disabilities or young carers).
If you would like to make a donation - there is an online shop where you can choose where your donation goes. - https://kidsout.org.uk/shop/
NHS Mental Health Webinars
Current data shows that approximately one in ten children (ages 5–16) have a diagnosable mental health condition. The Bucks Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is dedicated to addressing this need by providing targeted, early intervention. The MHST works directly with our school, offering evidence-based therapeutic support to young people and parents for common challenges like anxiety and low mood. As part of their commitment to our community, the MHST will be running five more online webinars in 2026. Following the success of last term’s sessions, which saw over 130 parents attend, these new sessions are designed to equip parents with vital knowledge and strategies for supporting their children's emotional wellbeing.
- Monday 12th January: Exam Stress
- Monday 26th January: Awareness and understanding of eating disorders
- Tuesday 10th February: Understanding childhood development and behaviour
- Monday 9th March: Understanding Low mood
- Monday 9th March: Understanding adolescent development and behaviour
To sign up, please use the QR codes shared with this letter. If you believe your child would benefit from direct support from the MHST, please contact your child's Head of Year or Miss Coyne in TEAM Hub who can discuss the referral process with you.
Family Learning Workshops
The Bucks Family Learning team runs a series of free, online courses and workshops across Buckinghamshire, designed to empower you with the knowledge and resources needed to support your children. These courses offer practical skills and resources, helping to build your confidence in supporting your children at home, especially concerning their wellbeing (for students in Years 7 to Year 11). Workshops and courses being offered in January include:
- Wednesday 14th Jan - 11th Feb 7pm-9pm Five-week Mental Health/Wellbeing course
- Wednesday 14th Jan 9:30am-11:30am ADHD Support
- Monday 19th Jan 7pm-9pm online Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
For full details on course content, dates, times, and instructions on how to sign up, please refer to the leaflet attached to this letter. Family Learning - Buckinghamshire
Sparx Maths Independent Learning
The running totals for the entire school are a testament to the hard work put in across all year groups. Collectively, our students have answered an incredible 582,569 questions correctly and dedicated a staggering 6,630 hours to independent study on Sparx. This week, there are several groups with outstanding achievements:
- Highest Completion Rate: 7y/Ma2 have the highest completion rate across the school.
- Highest Improvement: 11wy/Ma7 demonstrated the highest improvement this week, demonstrating their commitment to fully preparing for their exams.
- Highest Average XP: 7w/Ma3 earned the highest average XP, reflecting outstanding consistency in answering questions correctly on the first attempt.
The overall completion rates for the compulsory independent learning remain high, demonstrating excellent student commitment to improving their knowledge and understanding:
- Year 7 leads the way with an impressive 91% completion rate.
- Year 8 achieved 82%.
- Year 9 achieved 79%.
- Year 10 achieved 75%.
- Year 11 achieved 65%.
We encourage all students to continue to aim for 100% completion each week to ensure consistent knowledge retrieval and skill development.
Sports Report
It has been a spectacular week on the pitches and courts, showcasing incredible talent, teamwork, and resilience from our student athletes. Our U13 Girls Football team kicked off the week with an amazing 10-1 victory against St. Helens and St. Katherine's. The entire team played brilliantly, with goals scored by Rose B. (1), Lydia J. (1), Rosie T. (1), Aria B. (2), and a phenomenal five goals from Eve N, who was deservedly named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance.
The winning streak continued for our boys' teams: the U16 Boys secured an impressive 9-2 win against Buckingham School in their football fixture and the U18 Boys followed suit with a strong performance, defeating John Hampden 6-2.
The Year 10 Girls faced a tough challenge in their netball fixture against AVA, ultimately losing 19-7. Despite having a diminished team and relying on two fantastic Year 9 students to play up, the team showed tremendous determination and fighting spirit throughout the game. Mrs. Savage was incredibly proud of Elsie-Jane B. (Year 9) for stepping up to the challenge and delivering such a committed performance, naming her the well-deserved Player of the Match! Well done to the entire squad for the resilience and fighting spirit they showed throughout the match.
Assemblies
This week our assemblies are focusing on this subject, and the United Nations theme for 2025: Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials. Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10th December 1948 and sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The UDHR is a global blueprint for international, national, and local laws and policies.
The theme of Human Rights Day this year has been planned to address the current period of turbulence and unpredictability, where people may feel a growing sense of insecurity and disaffection. The campaign’s goal is to reaffirm the enduring value of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity. The United Nations wants people to re-engage by showing how these principles shape our daily lives, often in ways we may not always notice. Their message is clear: too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials we rely on every day. These rights—such as dignity, fairness, and mutual respect—are the foundational building blocks of our school’s Healthy Relationships, ensuring every member of our community feels valued and secure; human rights are positive, essential, and attainable for everyone.
Year 10, 11 and 13 The Berlin Holocaust Trip Parent Meeting on Thursday 11th at 6pm in the main hall.
Year 12 and 13 NHS Developing yourself outside the classroom talk is taking place on Friday.
Year 12 Psychology students are off to ZSL Whipsnade this week to investigate animal behaviour as part of their A-Level.
Year 11 Good luck to all GCSE French and German students taking their speaking mock exams this week.
Year 10 GCSE Drama students will participate in a Blood Brothers workshop on Thursday.
Have a wonderful week; thank you, as always, for your support.
Best wishes,
Louise Baldwin
Head of School