From the Headteacher

My congratulations to the Year 11 and Year 13 students who completed their summer examinations this week. I do hope that they will now enjoy the summer ahead and a well-deserved break.

This week we are launching our ‘New to You’ initiative, a facility where we hope to be able to provide recycled uniform, sports kit, and educational resources. Please do read my letter about how you can make donations and then, once we have built up a stock, how items can be purchased from the school shop.

We are also spending the final few weeks before the summer, showing our Year 7-10 students how they can demonstrate pride in their work, with a reminder about the 8 top tips for presenting work. We ask our parent/carers to support this drive by checking exercise books at home, and we thank you for your support. More details are below.

Euan Ferguson

Learning

Here are eight ways for students to take pride in their learning:

  • Use a black or blue pen for writing.
  • Use a sharp pencil for sketches, drawings, diagrams and graphs.
  • Use a ruler for underlining and drawing straight lines.
  • All work should have a title (underlined) and a date.
  • Cross out mistakes with a single neat line.
  • Keep all work free of doodles and scribbles.
  • Secure all loose sheets in the correct place in your book.
  • Use all the space in your book to avoid wasting paper.

Safeguarding Updates

Health officials reported this week that the virus that causes polio has been detected in sewage samples in London, meaning that the virus has come from human waste. Whilst the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says that the risk to health is low, they also urge parents/carers to ensure that their children have been fully immunised against the disease.

It is a parent/carer’s responsibility to ensure that their child has had the full set of vaccinations, including the routine booster at age 14. In the recent immunisations at school, a significant number of students did not get their booster jab, so you are now advised to contact your GP to arrange full protection from this debilitating disease.

If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of your or another child, please email the safeguarding team at safeguarding@isleworthsyon.org.

Staffing

We have just advertised two posts in the local press. We are seeking a new Administrator and a new non-residential Caretaker to join our excellent team of support staff. Further details can be found on the ‘Vacancies’ page.

Word of the Week

The word of the week for next week is “potential“.

Free School Meals

HAF Programme

Students in Years 7-11 who are in receipt of free school meals can attend free holiday activities this summer. You can read about the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and see some answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Vouchers are available from the school. Please request a voucher by emailing school@isleworthsyon.org.

Expansion

The government recently extended free school meal eligibility to children living in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum thresholds of income. Should you have become eligible for free school meals, please apply via the London Borough of Hounslow. 

News

Year 11 Leavers Assembly

Having completed their final GCSE exam on Thursday 23 June, we celebrated the end of the school year with our Year 11 students in a special assembly the same morning. The students enjoyed reminders of the past with photo and video montages of their time in school, from day one in Year 7, through various school events, sporting activities and arts performances. 

Prizes were awarded to various worthy students for excellence over five years of schooling, but, as ever the biggest cheer was for the top form, won on this occasion by 11Sh who had collated the best team record. 

We wish all of our students the very best for a well-deserved summer break and look forward to seeing them on results day in August, before starting sixth form studies in September.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

We were delighted that the scheme’s Head Office have awarded the school an extended licence to run the award scheme in school for the next three years. As the only local school licenced to run all three levels – bronze, silver and gold – this is a real testament to the organisation and leadership of the staff coordinating the scheme.  

As part of the awards, students are required to undertake some voluntary activities. Over the past year, the students contributed over 400 hours of volunteering, equating to nearly £2,000 of social capital.

Well done to all those involved.

Photography Competition – Isleworth Society

This year, many students across Years 7-11 entered a local photography competition organised by the Isleworth Society. Students submitted photographs in a number of categories including ‘people communities and businesses’ and ‘hidden history’. 14 students have made the judge’s shortlist, with the Awards Evening taking place next week. All the nominated photographs are on display in Isleworth Public Hall (South Street) on Thursday 30 June between 3.15pm and 5.15pm. This event is open to the general public so please do attend if you can to support our boys. Click the image above to see the full flyer.

Food Pantry Delivery

Last week saw the culmination of our summer term charity drive – collecting foodstuffs and other important items for a local food pantry on the Ivybridge estate. Several students accompanied Ms Shukla to the foodbank this week to deliver several car-loads of items, and the pantry team was very grateful. We thank the school community for their generosity – during a cost-of-living crisis, these items will be incredibly helpful for those in need.