A big welcome back to everyone after the half-term break. I hope you all had a chance to rest and recharge for the half term ahead. We’re continuing to keep Mondays as predictable as possible, starting the week with Form Tutors so they can check in with pupils after the break or weekend. Assemblies now take place on Tuesdays, and yesterday we were treated to a thought-provoking and informative assembly on Black History Month, led by Miss Peters and a number of pupils. We learned about its history and evolution, along with some notable figures from recent history. The pupils also gave a great account of their favourite musical artists and the ‘Sound of Black History’.
Yesterday also saw the start of the Year 11 mock exams, and the pupils did incredibly well on their first day. We know mocks can be a stressful and worrying time, so please remember that Form Tutors and the pastoral team are here to help and support pupils whenever they need it. Mocks are just that: a practice run, not the real thing. Their primary purpose is not to generate a predicted grade, but to give pupils experience of the atmosphere and procedures of an exam, help them become familiar with the papers and work out how to use their time effectively. In many ways, a low score can be just as useful as a high one: it helps pupils and staff identify common errors and misconceptions, then use these to shape future learning and revision. Mock results do contribute to predicted grades, but they are only one piece of the puzzle, alongside pupils’ efforts throughout their GCSE courses. This means some pupils may find their predicted grades are higher—or, in rare cases, lower—than their mock results. We wish everyone all the best for their remaining mocks and look forward to discussing next steps with parents at parents’ evening on 30 November.
In other news, I was very excited to see the Hollygirt name across the side of a bus on Monday evening, having strolled down King Street I happened to spot it and ran back up to take a picture! Thank you to the parents and pupils who have supported this campaign and the one on social media directly with testimonial comments, and to those who have interacted with posts – it all helps to boost our message and keep the school strong.
Ever Onward and Upward
Ms Purdy
