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Term 2 - 21 November 2025
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Dear Parent/Carer
It has been wonderful to see our Sixth Form students leading the way this term, presenting thoughtful and inspiring assemblies for Anti-Bullying Week, our Remembrance commemorations, and to mark Young Carers' Week. Their contributions have been a real credit to the school community – you can read more about these events below.
As the weather turns colder, we’d like to remind parents that a surprising number of students are coming to school without coats. Please encourage your child to dress appropriately for the season so they can stay warm and comfortable throughout the day.
A big thank you to Year 9 parents for your engagement at this week’s Parents’ Evening. We really value these opportunities to connect and discuss progress. Please also note that a separate face-to-face Options Evening is scheduled for the Spring Term – you’ll find the date in the school calendar.
Finally, we’re looking forward to the online Parents’ Evening for Year 13 next week, which will provide an important chance to discuss next steps as students prepare for their final months with us.
Thank you for your continued support, and enjoy the rest of this newsletter.
Mrs J Smith
Headteacher
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Anti Bullying week at KSHS
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Last week our school came together to recognise the annual Anti-Bullying Week through a series of activities.
The week began on Monday 10th or ‘Odd Socks Day’ when students and staff proudly wore odd socks to celebrate individuality and embrace the differences that make each of us unique! The socks were a cheerful reminder that everyone should feel free to be themselves.
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Throughout the week, our Sixth Form students, including the dedicated Wellbeing Ambassadors, led impactful assemblies for all year groups. Their messages focused on kindness, empathy, and the power every person has to make school a safer, more supportive place. Thank you to our fantastic sixth form presenters for delivering these valuable presentations and being such important role models to our younger pupils!
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In form times, students also took part in discussions about key themes linked to bullying. For Key Stage Three these included how to recognise bullying behaviours, who to talk to if they need help, and the wide-reaching impact bullying can have on individuals and the community. Our Key Stage Four students explored how “banter” can sometimes cross a line and reflected on the long-term consequences for those who engage in bullying if their behaviour doesn’t change, for example how bullying behaviours in youth could relate to abusive behaviours in relationships later in life.
The week served as an important reminder that standing up to bullying is a shared responsibility and we all have power within us to help foster the anti-bullying culture in our community; well done to all of our students for responding to this topic with thoughtfulness and respect for one another.
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Winterlight Art Installation at The Hub
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Students and staff have been working with our art technician, artist Emily Cartwright, on a beautiful window installation which has just gone on display at The Hub, Sleaford.
The work was commissioned by The Hub as part of their Winterlight celebrations. The team asked for something that could hang in the window of the cafe over the festive period, inspired by the season and using a black and white theme. The resulting installation is inspired by the poem "The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy, which was suggested by subject leader for English Mr Cassidy.
The poem has some beautiful descriptions of dark, wintery views such as 'when frost was spectre-grey' and 'the tangled bine-stems scored the sky like strings of broken lyres' which were used to inspire a set of silver birch trees drawn by the students with charcoal on long strips of paper. Both students and staff also created some monoprints using images of brambles and frost to inspire patterns made with black ink on white fabric.
To illustrate the main theme of the poem, a thrush which appears and breaks the gloom with his 'carolings of such ecstatic sound', we made white origami birds which were strung together to hang down the window. To finish off the installation, Miss Cartwright cut lines from the poem out of black paper. These are suspended with the birds so that they gently move in the air flow.
The artwork was designed to be lit from multiple sources so that it looks equally good viewed from inside or outside, in both natural daylight and artificial evening light. You can find some images and video footage of the work on our Instagram page. Be sure to pop over to The Hub next time you are in Sleaford from now until January to see the work for yourself.
The Art Department
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Library and Literacy News
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Throughout November our library is highlighting the fantastic range of non-fiction books we have for our students to browse and borrow from.
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Why is reading non-fiction important- here is what the National Literacy Trust has to say....
As our research demonstrates, providing pupils with the opportunity to read and explore non-fiction plays a vital role in helping them to learn about their world, as well as fostering reading for pleasure. It is therefore essential that pupils have access to a high-quality and engaging non-fiction collection.
The Library/Learning Resource Centre at KSHS provides our students with the opportunity to access and explore our engaging non-fiction collection; constantly updated to underpin the curriculum and to foster a reading for pleasure culture. Choosing a book that connects to a favourite topic or hobby is a fantastic way to read around our subjects and interests. Books remain vital and highly reliable sources of data that undergo a thorough editorial process that meticulously fact checks prior to publication.
But why choose a book when we have Artificial Intelligence at our fingertips- well here is what Artificial Intelligence has to say...
Advantages of books
- Deep understanding: Books allow for deep, reflective learning where you can internalise concepts and build mental frameworks.
- Improved skills: Reading is proven to improve long-term focus, memory, patience, and critical thinking skills.
- Emotional and artistic connection: Books offer emotional connection, imagination, and artistry that AI currently cannot replicate.
- Reduced cognitive dependency: Relying less on AI can prevent cognitive decline and weaken critical thinking skills over time.
Have you seen the new library Padlet? What's on in the Library is a fantastic place on the library page of the school website that provides students with lots of interesting information about reading, authors, libraries and more.
Launch the library Padlet from the QR code
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Coming soon.......
During December the library will be holding lunchtime Christmas crafting sessions. If upcycling old books and learning some origami skills is your thing- then watch out for the announcement of these popular festive sessions.
Library Live Lounge. Back by popular demand- our music/library collaboration will be taking place once more. Come along and support this fantastic pop-up event and who knows- there may even be a Christmas singalong!
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English and Personal Development Update
We wish Ms Natley all the best as she heads off on maternity leave next week. Mrs Jackson, also in the English department, returns from her maternity leave in late January to pick up Ms Natley's classes. In the interim we are delighted that Key Stage 3 English lessons will be covered by Mrs Langley and that Mrs Gibson (Learning Resource Centre Manager) will oversee the organisation of the Personal Development curriculum.
Ms Natley's two Year 10 classes will be taught by Mrs Smith (Headteacher) and Mrs Stokes (Assistant Headteacher) and Mr Cassidy until Mrs Jackson's return. Any enquiries please contact Mr Cassidy, Subject Leader for English via our enquiries email.
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This week our school came together to honour Young Carers’ Rights Day, recognising the incredible contributions made by young people who help support family members at home. As part of the day, we were privileged to hear from Liv, one of our Sixth Form students, who volunteered to deliver an assembly to our Key Stage 3 students.
Liv spoke about experiences as a young carer—what the role involves, the challenges it can bring, and the important life skills it helps develop. Key Stage 3 pupils were encouraged to consider how being a young carer can build resilience, empathy, and a strong sense of appreciation for the support offered by friends, school, and the wider community.
We would like to remind students that our Young Carers Club runs on Friday lunchtimes in The Hub. It offers a supportive space to connect, relax, and seek advice. If you have any questions or think your child might benefit from joining, please speak to Mrs Banks.
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Inter girls Cross County team
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Olivia -
Inter girls bronze medal winner
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Cross Country
Well done to the 30 students across Years 7 to 11 who competed in the KSSA Cross Country competition. All gave a fantastic effort to run in the conditions at Belton Country estate. 7 students came in the top 20 of their race and will go through to the next round to be held at Burghley Park, Stamford, date tbc.
Congratulations to Olivia in Year 10 who came 3rd in the Inter Girls race and was presented with a bronze medal.
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Year 7 Cross Country team
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Junior Cross Country team
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Following on from Anti-Bullying Week, we would like to continue supporting our students in feeling safe, confident and respected both in school and at home. This week, we are sharing guidance for parents and carers on how you can help your child develop independence, confidence and the skills to speak up if something is worrying them. If your child does have any worries which you feel need sharing with school, then please do encourage your young person to talk to our Sixth Form Wellbeing Ambassadors, Sixth Form Peer Mentors, Form Tutors, Heads of Year, the Safeguarding team, or any adult that they trust in school. Alternatively, please email the school enquiries email address and it will be directed to the relevant member of staff.
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Please take a look at the poster below, which provides practical suggestions on how to support your child with managing friendships, dealing with challenges and knowing how to access help when needed. By working together, we can help our young people feel empowered, understood and able to make positive decisions.
Thank you for your support.
Mrs A Kopsidas
Assistant Headteacher – Behaviour and Culture
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Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum (LPCF) - Study skills and revision strategies
A free online workshop for secondary-aged students with SEND and their parents, who are registered with LPCF. Siblings WITH OR WITHOUT SEND are also welcome to attend. This is aimed at young people with SEND preparing for GCSEs or A-Levels/secondary students who would like ideas on how to better retain and organise learning
Study Skills 2026
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LPCF-Effective communication
As a parent of a child with additional needs, you may attend many meetings with various service providers and agencies. Whether these events run well, or otherwise, the experience and outcomes of any meeting can be greatly improved through effective communication. This Effective Communication Workshop is designed to enable you to: feel more confident in a range of situations, get your thoughts and feelings across effectively and more easily, give and receive effective feedback, handle potentially ‘sticky’ conversations well, understand human behaviour and apply this understanding practically and reduce stress and drains on time and energy
pjtj_2025-26juggling_the_joys.pdf
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FACE December Timetable
Face Family Advice was set up to help parents whose child is experiencing SEND related or wellbeing concerns. With the stresses and strains of modern life, our children and young adults have never been under more pressure. We aim to offer advice, tips and support to parents who want to get the best out of their family relationships and need new tools to do that. (see poster below)
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British Dyslexia Association Assessment Bursaries
Thanks to the fantastic support of Theo Paphitis and the Ryman team, a new round of bursaries is now available. This round of bursaries is aimed at supporting young people, aged 12-21 years old, from low-income households across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please check eligibility and requirements before making an application, and if you require more information, contact Mrs K Brown SENCo.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news/new-dyslexia-assessment-bursaries-available-for-young-people
Mrs K Brown – SENCo
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Christmas is coming...........
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