Principal’s Message for Week B, wb 10th March 2025
We celebrated an exciting World Book Day this week where teachers came in costumes as character by genre and our students took part in reading and activities through their form session, lessons and the library. The assembly focused on how reading can be used to support our wellbeing and manage stress and students were asked to pledge to do one of six things for World Book Day:
Reading together and discussing reading when your child is in secondary school continues to improve their language development, socio-emotional skills and supports their learning across the curriculum. Thank you for your continued encouragement with supporting your child with reading.
Masked Teacher - Attendance Challenge
To promote excellent attendance to school and just for some fun towards the end of the Spring term, we are launching a 'Masked Teacher' attendance challenge. Students will be guessing who the 'Masked Teacher' is each week for their chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher, and each day they attend school on time, they will receive a clue as to who the teacher behind the mask is. For students to enter they must attend school daily on time - as simple as that!
House Art Competition
We are thrilled to announce our House Art Competition, taking place this half term with the theme of Spirituality. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore and express their thoughts on spirituality through art, particularly meaningful as many of our students observe Ramadan during this time.
Students will participate in dedicated form time sessions to create artwork for a special display in the school library, with additional lunchtime workshops for those who wish to contribute further.
We encourage all students to get involved, and we look forward to seeing their creativity and mindfulness shine through their artistic contributi
This coming week, all our students will be celebrating British Science Week. This year’s theme is 'Adapt and Change'.
KS3 students will be exploring this theme in their lessons throughout the week. They will learn about how different animals are adapted to their environment for survival. They will then be carrying out their own practical investigation to determine why penguins huddle to protect themselves from the cold Antarctic winters. The final stage of the scientific process will be students analysing and evaluating their results and applying them to predict the changes we may see in animal behaviour as changes to the climate occur.
Aditionally, year 7 and 8 pupils will have a form time session on “Smashing Stereotypes in Science”. They will watch clips from three scientists from diverse backgrounds who are excelling in their individual fields. We hope this inspires all MEA Central students to become scientists in the future!
Celebrating MEA Central Hijab Day
As part of our Women’s History Month celebrations, we are proud to recognise MEA Central Hijab Day in school. This day is an opportunity to celebrate freedom of choice, cultural diversity, and understanding.
On Friday 14th March, students who choose to wear a hijab will be allowed to do so in a colour or pattern of their choice. This small but meaningful change highlights the significance of self-expression and respect for different cultures.
We encourage all students to take part in discussions about the importance of the hijab for many women around the world and to learn more about the experiences of those who wear it.
Adventure Day 3rd April 2025
Adventure Day is on 3rd April 2025 will be our annual “Adventure Day”. We are very excited for the wonderful events we have planned!
Safeguarding
Support for young people
Please see a link for young people to access support during their exam periods.
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/exam-stress/
https://explore.kooth.com/the-exam-stress-collection/
Support for parents
Kooth is offering parents the opportunity to join an online event around neurodivergent young people and how they can best be supported.
The dates are
Register your interest here:
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Head of Year Messages |
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Year 7 – Ms. C Gates Year 7 have continued their strong start to the term, and I am so proud of their focus and enthusiasm. Ramadan Mubarak to all our scholars and families who are observing. It is a time of reflection, kindness, and community, and I know many of our students will be showing these values both in and out of school.
This week, House Art has been launched, giving students a fantastic opportunity to showcase their creativity and demonstrate the value of participation. I encourage all Year 7 scholars to get involved—whether through painting, drawing, or other artistic expressions, this is a great way to contribute to their House and try something new.
Attendance remains a key focus, as every day in school is a step closer to their fantastic future. Being in school every day ensures that students don’t miss out on valuable lessons and experiences that help them succeed. A huge well done to 7Duffy, who currently has the best attendance of the half term—let’s see which form can challenge them for the top spot! |
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Year 8 – Ms. Bryan
I’d like to start by extending a huge thank you to all the students who took part in the teach first filming session this week. Your enthusiasm and dedication were fantastic to see, and you represented Year 8 brilliantly. Well done! Another highlight this week was World Book Day, which was a tremendous success. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging in activities and celebrating the joy of reading. A reminder that Year 8 are welcome to visit our school library at lunch time. Let's keep that reading spirit alive! Finally, a quick reminder about the importance of using your student planner. It’s not just a tool for recording homework but also a great way to communicate between home and school. Please ensure you’re making the most of it to stay organised and keep in touch with your teachers. Keep up the great work, Year 8!
Ms Bryan and Mx Umpierrez |
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Year 9 – Mr C Blackburn I have been so impressed with students' engagement in their options. It is excellent to see how many students have already confirmed their choices. Just a reminder the deadline is Friday the 21st of March. I have also had some fantastic conversations with students about Ramadan and fasting, the year group have conducted themselves so well.
Attendance and punctuality are crucial to success at school. The year group will be working in forms to achieve the best punctuality to lessons, the most successful form will be rewarded with a free lunch provided by school. A shoutout to 9Naidu who are currently in the lead. Please can you ensure you child is aware of this competition. A massive congratulations to the students below who achieved 'Scholars Of The Week' in form. Postcards have been sent home.
Have a great week,
Mr Blackburn and Mr Roberts |
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Year 10 – Mr J Roper This week I wanted to share some key information with you regarding Year 10:
Pupil Progress and Reflection: The pupils continue to work exceptionally hard, demonstrating great dedication and effort. This week we have concentrated on Review Week; the pupils have all engaged in meaningful reflection on their Progress Exam scores. You will have received these scores along with a completed reflection sheet from your child. This sheet includes their self-set targets, which will guide their future learning and development.
Work Experience: Work experience is fast approaching, and the pupils listened attentively during an assembly presented by 'Our Futures.' As a reminder, all pupils need to ensure they have contacted their placement to confirm their attendance and reintroduce themselves. This proactive step is crucial for a smooth and successful work experience.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mr Roper & Ms Renshaw |
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Year 11 – Mr J Rooza
I want to take a moment to say how incredibly proud I am of Year 11. This first week of progress exams has been brilliant. Our students have shown exceptional dedication, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. They are proving just what fantastic scholars they are, and I have no doubt their hard work will pay off.
As we move into the final week of exams, I must stress the importance of attendance. These exams are the last chance to practise under exam conditions and receive detailed feedback from teachers before the real thing. Every lesson, every question, and every piece of feedback counts. Missing even a single day means missing out on vital preparation that could in the summer.
Punctuality is just as crucial. Being late may seem like a small issue, but those lost minutes add up quickly. Five minutes late every day equates to over three full days of learning lost over a school year. With so little time left, we need every second to count. Poor attendance and punctuality can still impact college places, so please ensure you are in school on time, every day.
That being said, let’s finish this exam period on a high! Keep up the fantastic effort, maintain your focus, and continue showing just how capable you all are.
Mr Rooza & Mrs Costello
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