Staff and Year 9 and 10 students formed a guard of honour for our Year 11 students on the day of their final exam, lining the route from the exam hall, along the front path, and out to the school gates, applauding and cheering as the students left Orchard Park for the final time. It was a lovely send-off to mark the end of an important chapter and celebrate their dedication and hard work. We look forward to celebrating with many of them at prom and again on GCSE results day, Thursday 21st August 2025. A reminder to our Year 11 families to please complete the feedback survey linked in this week’s Year 11 bulletin: we really value your feedback.

Miss Walsh and Miss Coupland also led our Year 10 into Year 11 transition event. Thank you to all the families who attended: what a turnout! The key information shared, along with the parent/carer Year 11 transition guide, has been sent via email. From Monday, our current Year 10 students will officially become Year 11 at Orchard Park and will have access to our full Key Stage 4 provision. As part of this transition, their school day will extend to 3:40pm to include period 6. An assembly will be held on Monday morning to formally welcome them to their final year and provide important information ahead of the upcoming Pre-Public Examinations, which begin on Thursday.

Congratulations to Gabby and Jahmal who have both been selected to represent Surrey at this year’s English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in July. A huge achievement and we wish them the best of luck.

Next week we celebrate our culture week. Our community loves celebrating their diversity and we really value the joy and learning the week brings. There will be many activities happening, most significantly culture day on Wednesday, which allows children to wear:

• Full cultural dress
• A sports kits that represents an international team (not a league team)
• Clothing in the colours of their national flag.

Students must only wear one of the three options above or their full and correct school uniform. Our usual rules regarding nails and make-up remain the same. Ms Ruby will send further details. My thanks to our Equality Club (a tremendous group of young people) for initially launching and now continuing to organise the celebration.

Ms C Moran, Headteacher