NEWSLETTER
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Principal's Message for Week A, wb 11th Stand out.
May 2026
Enrichment
Following our Passport to Possibilities event last week, we are pleased to see a big increase in students attending enrichment activities. Well done to all those who have taken part !
Research shows that enrichment supports both stronger academic outcomes and improved wellbeing. In their recent proposals, the government has pledged to introduce enrichment entitlement for all children. We are proud that this is something students at MEA Central already benefit from.
We still have places available in our two STEM enrichment sessions, and we encourage any budding medics or
Maximising Participation: Limiting appointments in the school day
Every lesson matters. Being in school each day gives students the opportunity to participate fully in learning, build confidence, strengthen relationships with peers and staff, and benefit from the routines and experiences that support both academic and pe rsonal development. Recently, we have seen a significant increase in students being collected early from school, particularly during the afternoon. In many cases, this means students lose up to 50% of their daily attendance mark, which can quickly impact their progress and attainment.
We recognise that medical and dental appointments are sometimes necessary during the school day. However, where possible, arranging routine or non-urgent appointments outside school hours can help minimise disruption to learning and ensure students do not miss important teaching, practical work, discussions, and collaborative activities that are difficult to replicate later.
Even missing part of the afternoon can have a significant impact on learning over time. Research shows a strong link between attendance and outcomes at GCSE. Students with around 90% attendance are significantly less likely to achieve five or more Grade 4+ GCSEs than students with 95% attendance.
Where an appointment during the school day is unavoidable, we encourage students to attend school before or after the appointment wherever possible so they can continue to benefit from the day's learning. Please provide the school with evidence of the appointment, such as an appointment card, letter, or text confirmation, so that the absence can be authorised.
Where the school identifies a recurring pattern of medical appointments or missed learning during the school day, families may be contacted by the Senior Access and Engagement Team to discuss how we can work together to reduce the impact on learning and participation. In these circumstances, future absences linked to appointments may only be authorised where they have been agreed in advance.
MEA Central Skyline Team
If your child has additional needs or is accessing an intervention in school, they are supported by the Skyline Team. For more information, please read our SEN Information Report, which is in the Key Information section of our website: SEN D-l nformation-Report-2025-26. pdf
Our team attends all key parent events, so please come and say hello!
Please contact the Skyline team directly if you have any questions, or would like to book a meeting with Ms. Earle, the SENCo: skylineadmin@meacentral.org.uk
If you require help and support for your child, please access Manchester's Local Offer website: Manchester Local Offer
The website features a 'Family Friend booklet' which is a free resource providing vital local support, activities, and advice for families, covering things like childcare, school uniform help, health tips, food vouchers, crisis support, and free school meals/transport: Family Friend booklet I Manchester City Council
We raised over f50 for that National Autistic Society at our bake sale in Quiet Club last week. The students had a great time and Ms Donker's baking was a hit as usual!
National
Autistic
Society
FSM Eligibility
We are delighted to inform you that from September 2026 there will be a change to Free School Meals (FSM) eligibility. All parents and carers in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible to apply for FSM. To access this, all families will need to complete the online FSM eligibility checker nearer to the time. Please note that even if your child is currently in receipt of FSM, you will still need to reapply under the new criteria. We will share further guidance and instructions with parents and carers closer to September to support with the application process.
Year 9 Weekly update
Dear all,
All of Year 9 have had a wonderful Review Week and it's been amazing to see the engagement during lessons continues after Big Test season. Your child would have spent this week going through common errors made in their Big Tests and correcting these during their lessons. We encourage all parents and carers to have conversations with their children about how these lessons have gone and to remind them that learning from mistakes and feedback from teachers is essential to make academic progress.
This week our Heads of House have launched the Shakespeare House Competition which will take place during Summer 2. This is a perfect opportunity for your child to take part in an exciting new competition in school; in order to support their Houses, they just need to speak to their Heads of House or to the Year 9 team directly.
To finish our newsletter message this week, we wanted to praise those scholars who were excellent last week during our Insight to Work Day in school:
Habiba (9H)
Yusra (9R)
Bahia (9M)
Zain K (9N)
Sami (9M)
Zakaria K (9N)
Yaqub (9M)
The engagement with the sessions throughout the day was great, but these 7 scholars truly stood out with their Participation during the sessions. Thanks for showing our visitors, and all your peers, how a true MEA Central scholar does it!
Have a nice weekend.
Mx Umpierrez and Mx Eastwood
Year 7 Ms. S Bryan/Mrs.K Park
As we approach the May half-term break, I would like to share a few key updates for Year 7 families.
The week commencing 18th May will be a focused Revision Week, where teachers will support students in consolidating their learning and preparing for upcoming assessments. All revision materials will be provided in lessons and uploaded to the Parent Portal to support independent study at home.
Our Big Test Week will commence on Monday 1st June, during the first week back after the holiday. We are looking forward to seeing the progress students have made and all that they have learned this year so far. These assessments also help teachers and leaders plan the next steps in the curriculum to best support every student.
Attendance remains a key priority. We firmly believe that high attendance is the catalyst for success in school, and we appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child attends every day and arrives on time.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Year 8 — Ms. C Gates
Firstly, congratulations to Year 8 for completing their Big
Tests with such resilience and focus. I have been incredibly impressed with the attitude shown throughout the assessment period. We now look forward to the next part of the assessment cycle in the coming weeks, where students will have the opportunity to review their work and act on feedback to continue making progress. This part of the
assessment cycle is particularly important as we begin thinking about the transition into Year 9 and continue building strong foundations for future success.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in school life this term. Our co-curriculum offer continues to be a real strength, and it is not too late to sign up to a club and take part. This week also saw the launch of House Shakespeare, giving students another fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the value of participation, build confidence, and contribute to their house.
Attendance has been fantasticduring Revision Week and Big Test Week and we would like to say thank you for your continued support. Let's keep this momentum going as we move into the final weeks of term. A special shoutout to 8Heaney, 8Eliot, 8Duffy and 8Naidu, who were all in the top 10 forms across the school for attendance.
Ms Gates and Mr Chowdhury
Year 10 have continued to make an excellent start to the summer term, and this half term remains a crucial step-up towards Year 11. This is the most important term for building the habits, confidence and independence students need to be fully prepared for next year. Well done to the year group for the strong, mature start they have made so far.
This week, students took part in an in-school Careers Day, and I was extremely impressed with their engagement and professionalism throughout. The first session was particularly strong, with students exploring budgeting for the future and considering different career pathways available to them. Students also focused on answering questions using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result), which helps them respond clearly, confidently and accurately without straying from the question. This skill is invaluable for interviews, college applications and future employment. The day also included Learn2Earn, a Careers Fair with local businesses, mock interviews, and an exploration of four post-16 pathways.
A vital reminder for all students to check their email and respond to the link sent out last week. This task is an essential part of college applications and must be completed to a high standard. Completing this properly now will support students greatly as they move closer to post-16 choices, and it is important that this is prioritised.
Our focus this half term continues to be preparing Year 10 for the transition into Year 11, ensuring they are organised, reflective and ready for the demands ahead.
Thank you for your continued support and well done again to Year 10 for another great week.
Year 11 — MrJ Roper
Next week marks the culmination of our pupils' hard work and dedication over the past five years with us at MEA Central, as their full GCSE examination timetables commence. The first examination will be English Literature on Monday 11th May at 9:00am.
Our pupils have worked exceptionally hard throughout the year and have approached this final phase with focus, resilience and determination. As a result, they have put themselves in a very strong position leading into the exam period and staff are extremely proud of their commitment and attitude.
All pupils have now been issued with their individual exam timetables. It is essential that they arrive at school each day knowingtheir allocated seat number, as this will help ensure exams begin promptly and calmly. On each exam day myself an Ms Renshaw will be present to welcome them into the exams and help with any last-minute issues or problems.
Please note that pupils will receive a weekly timetable throughout the exam period. These timetables will include sessions specifically relevant to each pupil; for example, some Period 6 lessons may be replaced with pre -exam preparation sessions where appropriate.
Top 5 Tips for Exam Preparation
1. Plan revision wisely — short, focused revision sessions are more effective than long periods without breaks.
2. Know the exam logistics — check start times, rooms and seat numbers in advance to reduce stress.
3. Practise under exam conditions — timed practice papers build confidence and improve technique.
4. Look after your wellbeing — get plenty of sleep, eat well and take breaks to recharge.
5. Stay positive — trust the work you have done and approach each exam one step at a time.
We wish all pupils the very best of luck as they begin their examinations and encourage them to believe in themselves and the preparation they have completed.
All the best of Luck,
Mr Roper & Ms Renshaw