Headteacher's Update 2 May 2025

Dear Parents and Carers

The weather has certainly helped this week, and it has been lovely to sit on the field with our young people and watch them enjoying a rare moment of Derbyshire sunshine. This is where we see the positive impact of no phone use, as our young people talk and play games on the field. We also enjoyed HVAFF on Saturday, where our PTFA raised funds to support the school with its wider activities. It is always really lovely to work alongside members of our wider community and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the kitchen on Saturday. I would like to thank everyone who helped and support this event, especially Matt Heason and other members of our PTFA.

This week our formal GCSEs have started with speaking assessments and the art exam. Staff have been impressed with how students have conducted themselves in these moments. The wait for the start of the official exams feels particularly long this year and we have reminded Year 11 about the need to keep up the high expectations of themselves over the coming weeks to help ensure success.

Our netball teams have been busy this week representing us in the High Peak netball tournament and other local competitions and more is shared about this below.

Change to PE Uniform for September 2025

Our uniform is straight forward and has just three compulsory branded items, a navy polo shirt and sweatshirt and a PE polo shirt. The current white polo shirt worn for PE is a cotton t-shirt which can be hot & uncomfortable for students to wear in the summer, it is not a practical colour to keep clean and they soon become discoloured.

From September, we will be changing the PE tops to the images shown below. These items are polyester technical tops, they are durable and more appropriate for sports activities. As they are black, they should also last longer and be easier to keep clean. The t-shirt will remain a compulsory item; however, parents will have the option to purchase the jumper if they choose to do so. Students can continue to wear these with black shorts or tracksuit bottoms and can wear a plain black warm layer.

The current PE t-shirts will be phased out, incoming Year 7 will only have the option to buy the new items, and current students will buy the new items when replacing their current PE kit.

Compulsory Item - £12.49 - £13.49 Optional Item - £17.99 - £19.99

What’s going on in school:

It has been a week full of netball! Year 7 netballers travelled across to New Mills school for their first ever High Peak Netball Tournament. HVC hosted Y10 teams from other schools on Wednesday this week, whilst Years 8 and 9 travelled to Chapel school on Thursday evening. Well done to all who took part and played so well in the heat! Training for netball has finished for the rest of the year BUT Wednesday nights will be tennis training. See below for more information.

Girls Tennis Coaching – Wednesdays after school - Starting on Wednesday 7^th May, we will be offering free tennis coaching for girls in conjunction with Bamford Tennis Club. The first two sessions will be held at HVC, with the initial session being led by an LTA qualified coach. Sessions on 21^st May, 4^th June and 11^th June will take place at Bamford tennis club – transport there will be provided (school minibus). Students MUST attend the first 2 session at HVC to be eligible for a place at Bamford thereafter. There is a sign-up sheet in PE for anyone wishing to attend.

Date: (Wednesdays)	Location	Transport
7 May / 14 May	HVC	n/a
21 May	Bamford Tennis Club	Transport provided to and from venue (school mini bus)
28 May	No session - Half term
4 & 11 June	Bamford Tennis club

Careers Fair

Our annual Careers Fair is taking place on Friday 11 July 2025 (afternoon only). Building on last year's success, we are keen to hear from any parents who would like to hold a stall and promote their employer or industry to our young people. If you would like to volunteer, or if you have any useful contacts, please email our school careers adviser, Geraldine: gbrannelly@chorustrust.org

Uniform donations

Any donations of second-hand uniform, particularly smaller sizes, are gratefully received in school. We are now only able to accept items with the new logo on them. Thank you.