Weekly Bulletin – Week 2

It has been lovely to see Year 7 settling in so well at the start of their Waldegrave journey. They had a productive and fun time on their induction day, getting to know their form tutor and meeting their form prefects who took them on a tour of the school to refresh memories following the induction day in July. We set each tutor group a fun treasure hunt challenge to complete in groups, navigating the school grounds with a map and finding the hidden letters to rearrange into a word they will hear very often throughout their time at Waldegrave – KINDNESS. They had a very busy day and definitely looked tired at the end of it!

Pupils are now getting to know their daily routines, using their maps to find their way to each classroom and experiencing new lessons. They have also had the opportunity to meet and make new friends!

Well done Year 7 you are all doing very well, the Year 7 team is very impressed with behaviour and your attitude. Students have also begun to earn epraise points in lessons and from next week I will be sharing details of their achievements. Keep up the good work!

Lunchtime and afterschool clubs will be starting from next week and we would like to encourage Year 7 to get involved and maybe try something new as this is another way of them earning praise points. All the information can be found on tutor group google classrooms. Drama club does require students to sign up in the library before it starts next Tuesday. Students will then be notified if they have a place at this club.

Auditions are also taking place for the school play Friday after school, we wish any year 7 students auditioning good luck.

A reminder of the dates for the upcoming Thames Young Mariners trips:
Monday 14 September – 7FBI & 7EWI
Wednesday 16 September – 7STH & 7PFO
Monday 21 September – 7FKV & 7EHO
Wednesday 23 September – 7SDE & 7PGO

Students had an assembly on Wednesday this week about this exciting trip covering all the key information and answering any questions they have. A letter has also been sent via email with information for parents/carers. I am sure Year 7 are very much looking forward to this exciting day trip and we look forward to sharing their experiences in the forthcoming bulletins.

If your child has achieved an award/level or grade in a particular extra-curricular area, then we always love to hear about it and want to celebrate with them. If you wish to share an achievement with us then please email ks3@waldegravesch.org with the subject line FAO Ms Bashford-Hynes (then add the students name/form and topic).

This week the photography department has launched our annual wildlife photography competition. To take part students are encouraged to take a picture of the wildlife around them using either their phones or a camera. Entries must be submitted by the 6 November to wildlifephotographer@waldegravesch.org

The selected photos will feature in the Waldegrave Wildlife Calendar and the winners will be treated to a trip to the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition at the Natural History Museum!

Lastly please note school photos are taking place on 21 and 22 September. We would appreciate your support in ensuring pupils are wearing correct uniform, our full uniform guidance can be found on our website here.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mrs Bashford-Hynes, Head of Year 7

Welcome back! Year 8 has had a wonderful first full week back in school. They have started the school year with positivity and excellent engagement which has been lovely to see.

This academic year, all our Year 8 students will have the opportunity to spend one day being a ‘student receptionist’. The information has been relayed to them via our tutor programme and we have a rota system in place which avoids disruption of any learning. This is a great opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills and confidence, whilst experiencing aspects of the role within a school environment. 8EHA have made a wonderful start on these duties this week.

In her welcome back assembly for International Literacy Day, Ms Tongue highlighted the transformative power of reading by sharing the inspiring story of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library. She reminded students that literacy is not just an academic skill; it is the ultimate foundation for curiosity, critical thinking and lifelong learning. Ms Tongue reminded students of our core values – Enjoy, Achieve, Empower – encouraging students to find joy in reading, aim high in their personal literacy goals and use the knowledge they gain to empower both themselves and others in the year ahead.

The ePraise tally is off and running! Well done to 8FKI and 8EAL, who have already made a steady start on earning their ePraise rewards this term. Keep up the great work!

If your child has achieved an award/level or grade in a particular extra-curricular area, then we always love to hear about it and want to celebrate with them. If you wish to share an achievement with us then please email ks3@waldegravesch.org with the subject line FAO Ms Ansell (then add the students name/form and topic).

This week the photography department has launched our annual wildlife photography competition. To take part students are encouraged to take a picture of the wildlife around them using either their phones or a camera. Entries must be submitted by the 6 November to wildlifephotographer@waldegravesch.org

The selected photos will feature in the Waldegrave Wildlife Calendar and the winners will be treated to a trip to the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition at the Natural History Museum!

Lastly, you should have now received communication regarding the Blackout initiative. Please ensure you have informed the school which of the following three options your child will be following:
-A smartphone with the Blackout app installed
-A brick phone
-No phone

Here’s to a great start filled with exciting challenges, new friendships, and lots of learning. Have a lovely weekend!

Ms N Ansell, Head of Year 8

It has been wonderful to welcome back Year 9 to Waldegrave as they enter their final year of KS3. Students have started the term really positively and seem incredibly determined to do well and make the most of this year.

It’s been heartwarming to see so many of our Year 9 students supporting the new Year 7 arrivals. Whether it’s helping them find their classrooms when they’re lost or simply offering a friendly smile, their kindness and welcoming attitude have made a real difference.

This week in tutor time, the Year 9 tutor groups selected which book they would be reading for their ‘Read with Me’ form times. We have a wide variety of young adult books available to them so hopefully everyone can enjoy reading together in a calm and relaxed tutor time.

If your child has achieved an award/level or grade in a particular extra-curricular area, then we always love to hear about it and want to celebrate with them. If you wish to share an achievement with us then please email ks3@waldegravesch.org with the subject line FAO Ms Wood (then add the students name/form and topic).

This week the photography department has launched our annual wildlife photography competition. To take part students are encouraged to take a picture of the wildlife around them using either their phones or a camera. Entries must be submitted by the 6 November to wildlifephotographer@waldegravesch.org

The selected photos will feature in the Waldegrave Wildlife Calendar and the winners will be treated to a trip to the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition at the Natural History Museum!

A reminder that students should be coming to school wearing the correct uniform, which includes not having fake nails, eyelashes or dyed hair. We appreciate your support at home in ensuring pupils are adhering to our uniform policy by wearing the correct uniform and removing unnecessary make-up and accessories. Our full uniform policy can be found on the uniform page on our website here.

Thank you in advance for your support of Year 9 at home, they have already made a great start.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mrs H Porteous & Ms G Wood, Heads of Year 9

We want to extend a very warm welcome back to our Year 10s. As a pastoral team we have loved seeing them back in school and really taking on their start to Key Stage 4 with pride. This week I know students have been making positive starts in their new GCSE lessons and we are very happy to hear from teachers that students have now settled back into calm, focused learning.

Following a great start to the year we will continue to focus on getting back into good routines in terms of punctuality, attendance and uniform. I want to say well done to all our students for adhering to the uniform policy and parents for supporting us with this.

Well done to all our Year 10s who have been taking part in their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award final assessment over the past two days. I am sure they will all come home exhausted but proud of their achievement. I look forward to hearing from them next week about their adventures!

Congratulations to Lisa B, 10SHU, who sat the Japanese GCSE outside of school in the summer term and has achieved a grade 9. This is fantastic news – you should be very proud, well done!

If your child has achieved an award/level or grade in a particular extra-curricular area, then we always love to hear about it and want to celebrate with them. If you wish to share an achievement with us then please email ks4@waldegravesch.org with the subject line FAO Mrs Lyddon (then add the students name/form and topic).

Our extra curricular clubs will be up and running in the next couple of weeks for this term. Please tell your child/ren to keep a look out for the Google Classroom post, the full calendar of activities are also available to view on our website here. We really encourage as many students to participate in a club as possible. We know that with GCSEs underway, students often find it hard to balance their hobbies but we as a team, know the value of ‘switching’ off from school and engaging in something fun and enjoyable!

This week the photography department has launched our annual wildlife photography competition. To take part students are encouraged to take a picture of the wildlife around them using either their phones or a camera. Entries must be submitted by the 6 November to wildlifephotographer@waldegravesch.org

The selected photos will feature in the Waldegrave Wildlife Calendar and the winners will be treated to a trip to the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition at the Natural History Museum!

Next week we will have the final set of school photographs for our cohort. Please can we ask that you help support us upholding the uniform policy and minimal makeup/accessories. Please see full details of our uniform policy on our website.

We hope they have another fabulous week ahead.

Ms N Lyddon, Head of Year 10

I want to start by celebrating the incredible start our students have made this week. Walking around the corridors and visiting classrooms, I have been deeply impressed by the focus, maturity, and positive energy on display. The transition into their final year of GCSEs has been seamless, and the standard of uniform and readiness to learn has set a fantastic tone for the months ahead.

In our welcome assembly this week, we spoke about the concept of “closing the negative loop.” It is very easy during a high-stakes year to fall into habits of self-doubt, overthinking, or focusing on setbacks. We discussed breaking those cycles immediately and shifting our collective focus toward positivity and success. Year 11 is undoubtedly demanding but by celebrating small wins, maintaining a growth mindset and supporting one another, every single student in this year group can achieve their goals.

To ensure this success, we must emphasize the critical importance of attendance and punctuality. With November’s mock exams approaching, every single lesson counts. Missing even a few days of school, or arriving late to morning registration, creates gaps in knowledge that are difficult to fill. We expect all students to aim for 100% attendance and to be in their form rooms on time every morning, ready to maximize their learning potential.

Please note the mock exams will take place at the end of the Autumn half term break on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November. All Year 11 pupils are expected to attend these exams.

Further information about Year 11 will be shared with parents and carers at our upcoming Key Information Evening on Tuesday 15 September, 5-6 pm. This session will outline the key milestones for the year ahead, provide practical revision strategies, and explain how we can work together to support your child through their GCSEs. I do hope to see you all at this event.

This week the photography department has launched our annual wildlife photography competition. To take part students are encouraged to take a picture of the wildlife around them using either their phones or a camera. Entries must be submitted by the 6 November to wildlifephotographer@waldegravesch.org

The selected photos will feature in the Waldegrave Wildlife Calendar and the winners will be treated to a trip to the Wildlife Photographers Exhibition at the Natural History Museum!

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this vital year together.

Warm regards,

Mrs O Mortimer, Head of Year 11