We hope you and your family have had a restful and enjoyable half term break. Our latest school newsletter was published over the holiday, so if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, we encourage you to take a look for important updates, achievements and upcoming events. It is available to download here: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/newsletter/
A reminder that all students are due back in school on Monday 3 November at 8:30am. Please take some time over the weekend to ensure that your child is fully prepared for the new half term — this includes checking that they have the correct uniform, equipment and any necessary supplies ready for the week ahead. All the information can be found here: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/uniform/ You can also use the Class Charts Parents App to check their timetable.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back and starting another positive and productive half term together.
Next week is WEEK 1
Events w/b Monday 3 November 2025
House Assemblies – All week
Monday 3 November
Year 11 Art Practical Mock Exam
Tuesday 4 November
Year 11 Language Speaking Exams
Year 11 Photography Practical Exam
Year 7-11 Nasal Flu Vaccinations for those students who have consent from Parents/ Carers
Year 11 Intervention afterschool
Wednesday 5 November
Year 11 Language Speaking Exams
Year 11 NCFE Exam
Year 7-11 Nasal Flu Vaccinations for those students who have consent from Parents/ Carers
Thursday 6 November
Year 11 Language Speaking Exams
Year 11 Dance Filming
Year 11 Intervention afterschool
Friday 7 November
Year 11 Sparsholt College Assembly
Year 11 Language Speaking Exams
Year 11 BTEC Music Assessment .
Future Dates
Monday 10 November – Year 11 Mock Written Exams begin
Tuesday 11 November – Remembrance Commemorations. Students are welcome to wear Cadet, Scouting, Guiding or other organisation uniforms. All other student must wear school uniform.
Thursday 13 November – Year 10 Achieving Excellence Evening.
Assembly and Tutor Programme Theme of the Week: House Pride
Next week, our students will enjoy their first ‘House-Themed’ week of the academic year, focusing on community, competition and celebrating diversity within their Houses.
House Assembly Update
Our weekly assembly will be an exciting one, featuring the much-anticipated first House Assembly update. Students will hear about the current standings in the House Point competition—the cumulative total for Lords, Twickenham, Wembley and Wimbledon Houses. The rivalry is already heating up!
We will also celebrate the recent sporting success in the House Football competition, acknowledging the winners and the great sportsmanship shown by all participants. Finally, we will look ahead at the calendar of upcoming House competitions, from academic challenges to creative pursuits, ensuring every student has an opportunity to contribute to their House’s success. This is a fantastic chance to foster school spirit and healthy competition.
Tutor Time: The Power of Diversity
The theme will be continued in tutor time, where the focus shifts to a more personal and reflective level. Students will explore the diversity that exists within their House and what this means for their wider school community.
We will discuss how the different backgrounds, interests and skills of every student contribute to making their House stronger and the school richer. Understanding and appreciating this diversity is crucial for developing the empathy, tolerance and open-mindedness necessary for success both at school and in later life. We believe a diverse community is a strong community and celebrating it is key to building a supportive and inclusive school environment.
We encourage you to ask your child about their House point total and what they learned about diversity within their House next week!
Safeguarding Booster: Supporting Mental Health During Exams
As we approach the Year 11 Mock exam period, it is important to remember that while exams can be a valuable opportunity to show learning and progress, they can also be a source of stress and anxiety for some students. At The Hamble School, we are committed to supporting every young person’s mental health and wellbeing during this time.
Please take a moment to remind students that it’s completely normal to feel nervous before exams — what matters is how they manage these feelings. Encourage them to:
- Talk to someone if they are feeling overwhelmed — this could be a parent/ carer, teacher, tutor, or member of the pastoral team.
- Take regular breaks while revising and maintain a healthy routine with plenty of sleep, balanced meals, and physical activity.
- Use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, listening to music, or spending time outdoors.
- Keep perspective — exams are important, but they don’t define their worth or future success.
If you have any concerns about your child’s mental health, please don’t hesitate to contact the school. Our safeguarding and pastoral teams are here to help, listen, and provide support or signpost to external services if needed.
Together, we can ensure that all our students feel safe, supported and confident as they approach their exams.
Co-opted Governors
Before half term, our Chair of Governors shared a letter inviting applications for new Co-opted Governors to join The Hamble School’s Governing Body. We are now reminding our community that the deadline for applications is Wednesday 5 November.
Co-opted Governors play a vital role in supporting the school to ensure we continue to provide the best possible education for our students. To make sure we have the right balance of skills, experience and perspectives on the board, we are specifically looking for applications from members of the wider community rather than current or prospective Parents/ Carers.
We would really appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with family, friends, or colleagues who may be interested in making a positive contribution to the school and community.
Being a school governor is a rewarding way to use your professional expertise and community spirit to make a real difference in young people’s education. Please advise anyone who is interested to complete the form here: Co-opted Governor – Expression of Interest
Applications close on Wednesday 5 November — we look forward to hearing from those who are keen to help shape The Hamble School’s future.
Year 7 & 8 Swimming Lessons
This half term, students in the following classes will be taking part in swimming lessons as part of their PE rotation: 7A/PE2, 7B/PE2, 7C/PE2, 8A/PE4, and 8B/PE4.
Swimming is an important life skill and an exciting part of our PE curriculum. Please ensure your child comes prepared for their swimming lessons with the appropriate kit:
Swimwear requirements:
- A one-piece swimsuit or
- A one-piece swim outfit with long sleeves and legs (please note that wetsuits are not permitted) or
- Swimming trunks or tight-fitted shorts above the knee or
- Cycling shorts may be worn with swimsuits if preferred.
Other essentials:
- A swimming hat for students with long hair, to help keep hair out of the eyes and mouth and to stay dry
- A towel
- A separate bag for wet clothes and towel
- A hairbrush, if needed
Parents/ Carers of students in these classes will receive a personal email in the coming days confirming which lessons are swimming and which are standard PE sessions.
We also kindly ask for a £5 voluntary contribution towards the cost of swimming lessons. This represents a significant reduction compared to private swimming sessions, and as swimming is such an important life skill, your support is greatly appreciated. Contributions can be made via Scopay from Monday.
Remembrance – Tuesday 11 November
On Tuesday 11 November, The Hamble School will hold a special Remembrance Assembly to commemorate those who have served and sacrificed in conflicts past and present. This important event will give students and staff the opportunity to come together to reflect and pay their respects.
As part of the commemoration, there will also be a special art installation created by our students to mark the occasion and express our school community’s gratitude and remembrance.
Students who are members of Cadets, Scouts, Guides or other uniformed organisations are warmly encouraged to wear their organisation uniforms for the day. All other students should attend in their full school uniform as normal.
We look forward to marking this significant day together as a school community.
Children in Need – Friday 14 November
A reminder that it’s that time of year again – a chance to fundraise for a really important charity who do amazing work!
In the week of 10-14 November, students can bring any spare change/coins etc into school to hand in to their tutor envelope. The envelopes will be collected and emptied into containers for each House (Lords, Twickenham, Wembley and Wimbledon) as part of our House competition. All money will then be used in our fantastic temporary Pudsey Coin Sculpture that will be designed on Friday 14 November and then donated directly to Children in Need. Please support this cause by donating any change you may have.
We know that families are ever-more using contactless payments and therefore may not have cash available. In the weekly message for the week of 10-14 November we will add the ability to donate money through Scopay.
On Friday 14 November at lunchtime, we will also have various stalls running in the hall where students can take part in competitions and challenges to win prizes. Entry costs for the different challenges cost from 10p/20p up to 50p. If your child would like to take part then please do support them with donating any money for this fantastic cause.
Phase 3 Transition – Primary school lunch and learning visits
Our Phase 3 Transition Primary School Lunch and Learning visits conclude this week. This week we have visits from Netley Abbey Junior School, Hamble Primary School and Hightown Primary School. We have also requested whether Valentine Primary, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary and Ludlow Junior Schools are able to visit on this day as well (as they were unable to make the original date they had signed up for, at the last minute).
Throughout this part of Transition, we have invited staff from all our feeder and non-feeder primary schools to visit us for a unique afternoon. The visiting staff members, who taught our current Year 7 students, will be spending a lunchtime with their ex-students. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the students to reconnect with a familiar face and share their experiences of secondary school so far. Following this, the primary school staff will get to see their former students in action during a Period 5 lesson, offering them a first-hand look at their progress and learning journey.
We have actively worked to get as many schools involved as possible to make this a truly successful event. This event is a testament to the strong community ties we are building and our commitment to ensuring a smooth and happy transition for every student.
Thank You…
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the Rotary Shoebox Appeal — we are delighted to share that 121 boxes have been sent off! Your generosity will make a real difference to children and families this Christmas.
We would also like to say a big thank you to the PTA for organising such a fantastic Autumn Disco. The event was a great success and thanks to their hard work (and your support!), they have now funded new Maths and PE equipment for the school.
Keep an eye out for details of the PTA’s upcoming Christmas events — they have some exciting plans in store!
Exciting News!
If you follow us on Social Media you will know that we are announcing some exciting news next week. Please continue to read the Weekly Message and sign up to our Facebook/ X page for more information…
Year 11 Update
The Mock Exam timetable is available on the school website https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/examination-information/ , so please check it carefully and make sure you know the dates and times of all your exams.
Good luck with your revision, and remember — preparation and positivity go a long way!
