Dear Parents and Carers
I could not have been prouder of our entire founding cohort over this last week as they started their GCSE Exam Season. They are impeccably well-prepared and are able to enter the exam hall proud and calm - knowing that there is little more that most of them could have done to prepare for the occasion. Please continue to encourage and support them over the remaining exam weeks and remind them that this coming half-term is not a holiday for them - but should be used to carefully prepare for their remaining papers.
The half-term break runs from 25th to 29th May. We look forward to seeing all pupils return at the normal time on Monday 1st June. School will be open for Y11 pupils from Tuesday to Friday of half-term. Subject specialist teachers will be there to support pupils with their revision. We strongly encourage all Y11 pupils to attend.
For those who are celebrating Eid over the half-term we wish you "Eid Mubarak".
Once we come back at the start of June our exams will be just around the corner. KS3 Exams will run from 16-19 June. KS4 Exams will run from 22-26 June. Timetables and content lists will be shared with pupils this week. Please encourage them to start revising over the half-term break.
Please note that the final day of the year will be Friday 17th July. Please ensure that your child attends all the way through to the end of term so that they don't miss any lessons and that they can take part in the community building and celebrations at the end of the year. Unauthorised absence at the end of year will result in enforcement action.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of the weekend.
Mr Neuberger
This Week's Highlights
STEM club had a great time using ray boxes this week, learning about the law of reflection. Special shout out Sirine who was flying through the tasks and even volunteered to help set up the fiddly ray boxes for other students! That's the Soane spirit!
Our Year 9 artists have been blowing Ms Richards' mind this week with their amazing self portraits! So much hard work and detail has gone into these beautiful artworks - see if you can spot who's who....
Notices
End of Year Trips
We are delighted to confirm our whole-school trips for the end of this academic year.
At the end of each academic year, all Soane students go on two trips to celebrate the successes of the year, provide opportunities to build culture, and develop teamwork and perseverance. This is an important time of the year for our school community – your child must be in attendance on these days.
Year 7 - Go Ape & West London Tour
Year 8 - West Wittering Beach & River Walk
Year 9 - Thorpe Lakes Watersports & East London Tour
Year 10 - Gripped London & Whitstable (Geography students) / Khalsa Jatha Gurdwara (Non-Geography students)
Years 7 - 9 will be out on trips Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th July. They will have their annual Sports Day on Thursday 16th July at Twyford Sports Ground.
Year 10 will be out on trips Tuesday 14th & Thursday 16th July.
They will have their annual Sports Day on Weds 15th July at Twyford Sports Ground.
A letter has been emailed with full details, including costs. We require additional consent for Go Ape, West Wittering, and Gripped - please complete the form linked in the letter. Exact timings of each day and further details will be sent closer to the time. Let the office know if you have any questions.
Foyles Young Poets Award
This week, the English department are launching an exciting new writing competition, open to anyone age 11-17. The Foyles Young Poets Award is an international poetry competition and an excellent opportunity for any young person to accelerate their writing career. The Award has kick-started the career of some of today’s most exciting new voices, such as Sarah Howe, Jay Bernard, Helen Mort, Richard Osmond, Caroline Bird, Phoebe Stuckes and many more poets from across the world. With entries from over 10,000 young people last year from across the UK and worldwide, it is the largest competition of its kind, and its importance is widely attested.
Top 15 winners will see their poem published in an anthology as well as being supported with a talent and mentorship programme and receiving a bag of poetry books and goodies. Many former winners have gone on to publish work with major publishing houses such as Faber & Faber, Carcanet and Chatto & Windus and won prestigious competitions including the Ted Hughes Award, Forward Prizes and the T.S. Eliot Prize.
To support your child who may be interested in taking part, encourage them to write a poem on any theme, in any style and come along to the writing workshop happening afterschool on Wednesday 1st July for feedback and tips. Submissions can be made online and by the final deadline of 31st July.
Full details here: https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/
Coins for Change
Every year millions of pounds of foreign currency sit unused in people's homes. Most can't be exchanged because it's too low in value or a mix of currencies.
Coins for Change is a social enterprise which provides an easy way for the school community to turn spare coins and notes into real impact.
A collection tin is in reception for parents and carers to donate their spare change. There will also by a tin at the Second Hand Uniform Sale in July. We are kindly requesting that students do not bring in money for donations.
Please see more details below.