This week we have spoken to students about managing stress as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Staff in school have been working on our school's healthy minds initiative and these assemblies enabled us to share some key insights about anxiety and stress. Mrs Petts talked to students about the power of belonging to a community and the power of building connections. We will be developing these connections to make them stronger as we relaunch our interhouse competitions with students after half term. 

Meanwhile, Year 7 and 8 students have been showing the best of themselves in their assessment weeks: they have shown resilience through the challenges of revision and in their assessment lessons. Year 9 are next: their assessments begin after half term and their tutors will help them to put into practice the strategies from our healthy minds assemblies. And, reaching the end of their journey with us, Year 11 have done a fantastic job of their first full week of GCSE exams. We know how hard they have been working and how hard they continue to work: they deserve every success. Next week will be emotional as we celebrate their time with us in their Leavers Assembly on Friday. 

What’s going on in school:

• Our KS4 boys got an opportunity to play basketball against Chapel school last week. It was a super game and quite close during the first quarter. The second quarter saw HVC run away with the points. Chapel re-grouped in the third and fourth quarter and pulled back on the scoreline but were unable to overturn the final result - HVC 69 Chapel 51. Well done to all involved. 

• Netball Season 2024/25 – The netball season has come to a close for this year and we are really pleased with the success that we have had. We had representations in EVERY year group with at least two teams representing Hope Valley at all the High Peak tournaments in 4 out of 5 year groups. We have finished every single tournament as competition runners up (2nd place silver medallist), except for our Y7s who finished in 3^rd place. Ms Astbury is super proud of all the hard work and achievements. Training will resume in September 2025, and we are hopeful that with good attendance we can turn the silver medals into gold. Thanks to all the young people who took part. We are looking forward to rounders training after school on Thursdays.

Changes to Y9 English Curriculum

To maximise the full two years available for studying the AQA GCSE in English Literature, we have reviewed the English curriculum and made changes to the final half-term of Year 9. Students will now be introduced to selected poems from the Power and Conflict anthology and will explore the plot and characters of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. To support this, revision guides, workbooks, and core texts are available to purchase via ParentPay, enabling students to begin their transition through pre-learning and revision over the summer. Orders will close on Monday 2nd June 2025. For clarity, students will not move into their GCSE classes until September. 

Year 11 Prom

The Year 11 Prom is taking place at the Maynard in Grindleford on Monday 30 June 2025. Y11 students who are attending this event should collect their entry ticket from reception next week. Entry will only be possible with a ticket.

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.

Job Vacancies

We are recruiting for cleaners to join our site team and an admin assistant to join our busy admin team. For more information, please see our website: Hope Valley College - Vacancies

Nut Allergies

A reminder that nuts should not be brought into school. Please refrain from including items that may contain nuts in packed lunches or snacks. Could we also ask you to be vigilant with cosmetic products that may also contain nuts. We have a number of students in school who suffer from nut allergies. Thank you in advance.

 

Dates for Your Diary

Friday 23 May – Y11 leavers assembly, break for half term

Monday 2 June – return to school

Saturday 28 June – Music & Mayhem PTFA event

Thursday 3 July – Y6 Transition Day

Friday 11 July – Careers Fair

w/c 14 July – Y10 Work Experience week

Wednesday 23 July – Break for summer

Thank you for reading our communication. Here are some helpful email addresses, should you need to contact us:

• attendance@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to report a child’s absence
• enquiries@hopevalley.chorustrust.org for general enquiries
• pastoral@hopevalley.chorustrust.org for any issue with a child’s wellbeing
• headteacher@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to contact the Headteacher
• safeguarding@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to report safeguarding concerns. If a child or any young person is in imminent danger, then please report this to the police.
• ptfahv@hopevalley.chorustrust.org to contact the PTFA

Kind regards

	Debbie Petts Headteacher T: 01433 620555 W: www.hopevalley.chorustrust.org Hope Valley College, Castleton Road, Hope, Derbyshire S33 6SD