It has been a very positive week in school. We have had lots of sporting activity with the Year 7 netball and the Year 9 sports leaders running an amazing primary basketball competition. Year 10 were given support to find their work experience placement and it has been really interesting listening to some of their ambitions for the future. Year 9 have started their journey towards their GCSEs with the options process and we have launched Study for Success with our Year 11s to support them to achieve the best outcomes in the coming months. There is a positive focus on academic work alongside the wider offer we have in school, and I am so pleased that so many students take part in the wider offer.

What’s going on in school?

• Our Y7 girls’ netball teams went across to Chapel High School to play their first competitive fixture. The weather was a tad chilly, but it did not dampen their spirits and whilst they lost both matches, it was a huge learning curve against one of our toughest competitive schools. Netball training will resume in February, and take place every Wednesday, and hopefully the weather will be a little better. We would like to encourage all our Year 7s to opt into the regular training.

 

• This term sees the return of our popular interhouse rowing competition. The format is very inclusive with teams of eight rowing to see who can row the furthest distance in eight minutes. Simple... but not quite! The individual rower needs to change over every thirty seconds adding to the need for slick teamwork... think Formula One teams changing a tyre. Kinder have already completed their competition and Mam Tor, Win Hill and Lose Hill are still to row. 

 

Year 9 Options Process

Parents and carers are invited in school on Thursday January 29 for our Options Evening. Information about this evening has been sent by email. A reminder that students have been sent a pre-options interview questionnaire which needs to be completed by Monday 19 January.

Y11 Mock Exams

The Y11 mock exams will run from Monday 2 February to Friday 6 February. Please see the link to the timetable below. Students will be handed their personal statement of entry nearer the time. Exam pencil cases can be purchased from Parentpay and collected from Reception. Hope Valley College - Examinations

Year 9, 8 and 7 Science Winter Exams.

Over the coming weeks students are expected to revise for an exam to be sat as follows.

Year 9 week beginning 19 January.

Year 8 week beginning 26 January

Year 7 week beginning 2 February

The exams will be on the topics studied so far in this academic year. The lists for these topics are in the front of students' exercise books. Knowledge organisers which summarise the topics will be available in Arbor. 

Y10 Subject Evening – Monday 9 February

The Year 10 Subject Evening will take place in school on Monday 9 February. This is an opportunity to talk to teachers about progress, attainment and attitudes to learning. Details about how to book appointments will be shared with parents and carers of students in Year 10 shortly.

Attendance

Thank you for your support in ensuring your young person is in school following the snow last week. As a school we continue to be significantly below the national average for attendance. We are grateful for your support in this matter as we know that our young people have access to lots of opportunities when they are in school and also perform better than the national average when their attendance is in line with the national average.

 

Dates for Your Diary

Thursday 29 January – Y9 GCSE Options Evening

Monday 9 February – Y10 Subject Evening

Wednesday 11 February – Y11 Geography Fieldtrip

Thursday 12 February – Y9 Preferences form deadline

Friday 13 February – Break for Half term

Monday 23 February – INSET day – school closed to students

Wednesday 11 March – CRY screening for Y10 and Y11 students

Monday 23 March – Y7 Subject Evening

Friday 27 March – Break for Easter

 

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