This week, we have been celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week. To show our support, students wore green ribbon stickers (thank you to Esme, Amelia and Jess for supporting on the gate this week). Students received an assembly from Mr Clarke and Ms Turner which delivered key messages on the importance of community and how to access support for mental health in and out of school. We took part in Wear It Green Day when everyone was encouraged to wear something green. The STAR also hosted mindfulness activities which included a chalk mural, positive affirmations and a bake sale. A huge thank you to Sam and Esme for supporting behind the scenes. If you would like to know more about mental health and how you can support your child, then please visit the Young Minds website for more information. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Mr Headley and Miss Goodwin took 25 of our Year 8 students to the Croydon Schools Athletics on Monday. A special shout out to the following students for their performance: Year 8 girls’ relay (Shalika, Nylah, Sienna P and Lily); Kate – bronze in the 300m race; Kody – gold in the high jump; Tymon – silver in the 100m race; Nial – silver in the 300m race.

Year 10 students on our Excellence Pathway visited King's College London (KCL) University on Wednesday for the first of three workshops on Success for Digital Futures. Students heard from KCL academics and PhD students, learning about the history and future of digital technology. All the workshops are interactive and will introduce digital skills, coding and programmes such as Python and artificial intelligence to the students.

This week, another group of Year 10 students took part in the second virtual work experience offer as part of the Into Tech programme. This was also an employer-led virtual insight day session with the MET Office. The students explored how the MET Office uses technology in the development, delivery of the weather forecast and evaluation of Education Outreach. The students learnt how the MET Office ensures effective communication, which is vital to their work, discovered different education and career pathways and took part in a number of interactive activities. Thank you to Mr Afriyie for organising these opportunities.

Our Personal Development newsletters for the summer term are available to download from our website. These explain the PSHE, assembly topics, Character Education and careers provision for your child this term.

Finally, thank you to our Year 7 families for a lovely parents’ evening: great attendance and lots of really positive and productive conversations.

Ms C Moran, Headteacher