February Half Term Letter

As we come to the end of the first half term of 2024, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to your child’s progress and wider personal development. Although this half term has been only five weeks, for many of our pupils they are entering the most challenging phase of their education thus far.   

As you know, our half-term ended today. The students will return to school on Monday 19th of February 2024 at the usual time of 8:45am. Please note the INSET day that was originally scheduled for the 19th of February 2024 is no longer taking place, so we expect all pupils in school when we reopen on Monday the 19th . 

Mock Exams – January 2024 

Even though this half term has been the shortest of the school year, thus far, as a school we have packed a lot of activities into the past five weeks. For example, our year 11 pupils and year 13 pupils have undertaken their mock examinations as part of their preparations for their final exams this summer. All pupils have now received the outcomes from their mock exams and for many of our pupils, the outcomes of the mocks have demonstrated some real promise. The key now is for all pupils to reflect on the outcomes of the exams and take the positive actions to secure their best grades. As a school, we will be putting interventions in place for pupils across year 11 immediately after half term, as well as interventions and supported study periods for our year 13 pupils. Each pupil will receive a revision timetable each week that identifies what interventions they will need to attend. We would like you to discuss the outcomes of the mock exams with your child, ensuring that we are working together to help them achieve their very best in the summer. We are determined for all of our pupils to fulfil their potential (and beyond), and we thank you in advance for your support.  

Year 8 Options 

This week, our year 8 pupils took part in the school’s Options Evening. This is where parents, carers and their children met their child’s teachers to discuss their progress. Additionally, staff and members of our wonderful student leadership team were available to discuss the wide spread of subjects on offer for all pupils to undertake in year 9. This is an exciting time for our pupils as they get to choose subjects that they enjoy alongside our core curriculum of mathematics, English, science and P.E.  The evening attendance was extremely high (more than 90%) and the evening was both engaging and informative. The final date for submission of options is Friday 8 March 2024, therefore giving parents and carers plenty of time to discuss the various pathways on offer. If you have any queries about the curriculum offer relating to the options, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school, or check the details on our school website on the ‘Options’ page.  

Student Leadership 

We are extremely proud of the relaunch of our prefects at the school. Our young student leaders, which consists of more than 100 pupils from year 7 to year 13, take an active and supportive part in our school, sharing the opinions of their peers with leaders in the school through student leadership meetings about the curriculum, behaviour, teaching and learning, safeguarding, as well as our extended curriculum. Our young leaders also support events and carry out break duties. We are proud of our prefects and look forward to seeing their continued support of the development of our school.  

Parent View 

Thank you to those who contributed to our Parent View survey which was recently sent out to give parents and carers the opportunity to tell us what you think of our school, such as: how happy your child is at our school; how our school manages bullying or challenging behaviour and how we support your child if they have any special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Overall, views of the school from the survey demonstrated that you are happy with what we do at Heath Park and that your child feels safe at our school. One concern that was raised is regarding communication. With that in mind, I would like to direct you to our school website where we have a rich variety of information regarding our school curriculum, our personal development programmes, safeguarding, student services, SEND support and our enrichment activities. However, I appreciate that some of you may want the opportunity to communicate with us, outside of parents’ evenings. Therefore, over the next term, I (Mr. Rollins), will be providing opportunities for you to book a one-to-one meeting with me for 15 minutes in what will be known as the ‘Heath Park Parent Surgeries.’ There will be numerous dates for you book those meetings with me – the dates for these meetings with a link to book will be sent out to you in the first week of the next half term (week beginning 19 February 2024). I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible as we work together to bring out the best in your children.  

Key dates for your diary (Spring Term & Summer Term 2024): 

Please note the updated dates for your diary for the rest of the school year (in bold). 

Spring Term 

• Monday 19 February 2024 – Start of Half Term 2 of Spring Term. 
• Thursday 22 February 2024 – Year 9 Parents Evening. 

• Monday 26 February 2024 – Central Sixth Form Parents Evening (online).  
• Thursday 7 March 2024 – Year 11 Parents Evening (2)  
• Thursday 21 March 2024 – Year 7 Parents Evening. 
• Friday 22 March 2024 – End of Spring Term.
  

Summer Term 

• Monday 8 April 2024 – Start of the Summer Term. 
• Thursday 19 April 2024 – Year 12 Parents’ Evening. 
• Monday 6 May 2024 – May Bank Holiday.  
• Friday 24 May 2024 – End of Summer Half Term 1. 
• Monday 3 June 2024 – Start of Half Term 2 of Summer Term.  
• Thursday 20 June 2024 – Year 6 into Year 7 Transition Evening. 
• Friday 19 July 2024 – End of Summer Term.