Firstly, a huge congratulations to our Year 11 students who have now completed their GCSE examinations. This is a significant milestone, and we are incredibly proud of their commitment and resilience throughout the exam season. We now look forward to celebrating their achievements with upcoming events including the Leavers’ Assembly, Prom and Results Day. Further details will be shared with families separately.
Attention now turns to our Year 10 students, who have made a positive start to their own exam period. We wish them every success in the weeks ahead and remind all students of the importance of being fully prepared, including bringing the correct equipment to each exam.
It has also been a busy and exciting week for our wider school community. On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome our new Year 7 cohort for their Induction Evening ahead of joining us in September. Students heard from Esme in Year 11, current Year 7 students, Mrs Emmett-Callaghan (Progress Leader), and Miss Cambridge (Headteacher), before meeting their tutors and exploring the many opportunities available at The Hamble School. Thank you to all the students and Transition Prefects who supported the smooth running of the evening.
On Wednesday, we marked National Thank a Teacher Day. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate staff for special recognition—your appreciation means a great deal.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all Parents/ Carers who attended our recent Parent Forum on AI and Cyber Security. It was fantastic to see more people joining us, particularly as this was our first online forum. The higher attendance suggests that this format is more accessible for families, and we will therefore be continuing with online sessions moving forward. We are also pleased to invite you to our next Parent Forum, hosted by our Governors, on Monday 13 July at 6pm. If you would like to attend, please sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/wkS22G7WQi
We are delighted to share some wonderful news about our school community. The Hamble School has received national recognition for its inclusive approach, including two prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards and the Hampshire ARC Silver Award. This reflects our strong commitment to ensuring every student feels safe, valued and able to thrive.
As highlighted in the press, we are particularly proud that our inclusion work has been recognised, and that we are the first secondary school in Hampshire to receive the ARC Silver Award.
You can read more about this fantastic achievement here:
👉 The Hamble School receives recognition for inclusivity
A huge thank you to our students, families and staff whose dedication makes our school such a special and supportive place.
Congratulations to our Modern Foreign Languages students, who have won the University of Southampton Spelling Bee for the second year running—a superb accomplishment.
Looking ahead to next week, Year 10 exams continue, the Year 9 Paris trip departs, and students will begin Duke of Edinburgh activities and College Taster Days, starting with Barton Peveril.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Next week is WEEK 2
Question of the Week
Please select your answer in the form below, all fields marked * are required and to help prevent SPAM this form is protected by Google reCaptcha v3.
Each week we will ask Parents/Carers a question in the Weekly Message – this will either be about a topic we are focussing on or an aspect of our school improvement plan. We would appreciate it if everyone answers it when reading the Weekly Message.
Events w/b Monday 22 June
Monday 22 June
Year 10 Science Exam – P1&2
Year 10 Maths Exam – P3&4
Year 10 Drama Exam – P5
Tuesday 23 June
Year 10 English Exam – P1&2
Year 10 Geography Exam – P3&4
Year 10 Statistics Exam – P5
Wednesday 24 June
Year 10 Food Preparation and Nutrition Exam – P1&2
Year 10 Religious Studies Exam – P3&4
Year 10 PE Exam – P5
Year 6 Transition Parent Consultation Evening
Thursday 25 June
Year 10 Spanish Exam – P1&2
Year 10 French Exam – P3&4
Year 10 NCFE Health & Fitness Exam – P5
Year 6 Transition Parent Consultation Evening
Year 9 MFL Trip to Paris – Departs
Friday 26 June
Year 10 DofE Expedition 1
Year 10 Barton College Taster Day
Future Dates w/b 22 June 2026
29 June – INSED Day – The school is closed to students
29 June – Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly – Details will be sent separately
30 June – Year 6 Induction Day
01 July – Year 6 Induction Day
02 July – Itchen College Taster Day
03 July – DofE Expedition 2
Letters
Please read the letters sent home and available on our letters page: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/letters-to-parents/
Assembly and Tutor Personal Development Programme: Emphasising Kindness in Our Community
At The Hamble School, we constantly strive to cultivate an environment where every student feels safe, valued, and included. This upcoming week, our student-led Anti-Bullying Ambassadors are taking centre stage to lead our school assemblies and Personal Development tutor sessions, focusing entirely on a vital and universal theme: Kindness.
Student-Led Assemblies & Tutor Sessions:
We believe student voice is one of our most powerful tools for positive change. The upcoming assemblies have been organized and will be delivered directly by our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. Furthermore, our ambassadors have designed the curriculum for this week’s Personal Development tutor sessions, ensuring the content is relatable, engaging, and peer-driven.
The theme of these sessions will explore “The Kindness Boomerang Effect” and the concept of “Paying it Forward”. Students will explore:
- The Origin of Kindness: Learning how the historical roots of the word relate to treating others as “kin” or family.
- The Science behind a Smile: Discussing how small, unprompted gestures trigger a natural release of oxytocin, which helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost happiness—meaning kindness returns to the giver, too!
- The “THINK” Framework: Encouraging students to reflect before they speak, write, or post online by asking: Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?
The Random Acts of Kindness Challenge
During tutor time, students will be asked to create a Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) list in their school planners. Their goal will be to write down and complete 10 small, selfless gestures by the end of the school year. These include simple but impactful actions like:
- Offering a genuine, thoughtful compliment to a peer.
- Writing an anonymous note of encouragement to brighten someone’s day.
- Helping a teacher, class partner, or younger student.
- Tidying up or picking up litter without being asked.
A Challenge for Home: We encourage you to speak with your child this week about what they’ve learned. Ask them about their RAK list and challenge them to complete a daily random act of kindness at home or within the local community!
Support and Getting Involved
Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors work incredibly hard to support our school’s core values: “We Care, We Aim High, We Learn and Achieve Together.” As a reminder, if your child ever needs support or wants to get involved, the Ambassadors provide several resources:
- Weekly Drop-by Clinic: Every Wednesday at lunchtime in the Student Hub.
- Join the Team: Students interested in becoming an Anti-Bullying Ambassador can join the weekly meetings held in S2 every Week 2 Friday at lunchtime.
- Reporting Concerns: Students can report any bullying or pastoral concerns via the school website (thehambleschool.co.uk/report-concerns), by dropping a note in the Worry Box located in Tokyo block (opposite T1), or by emailing staysafe@thehambleschool.co.uk.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making kindness a daily practice both inside and outside the classroom.
Safeguarding Focus: Water Safety Reminder
Over the last few weeks, we have been focusing with students on the importance of water safety. With very warm weather forecast next week, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind families of some key messages to help keep our young people safe.
Recent national incidents have shown how quickly situations around open water can become dangerous. Rivers, lakes, canals and other open water areas may look calm and inviting, particularly in hot weather, but they can present serious and often hidden risks.
Why this reminder is important
As temperatures rise, children and teenagers are more likely to spend time near water. However:
- Most drowning incidents involving young people are preventable
- 88% happen without adult supervision
- The majority take place in inland waterways such as rivers and lakes
- The highest risk period is May to August
This makes it especially important that we continue reinforcing safety messages at home and in school.
Key Messages to Share at Home
We encourage all parents and carers to take a few moments to speak with their child about how to stay safe around water. Even strong swimmers can be affected by:
- Cold water shock
- Strong or hidden currents
- Uneven or unstable ground
- Submerged hazards
Essential Water Safety Advice
Please remind your child of the following:
- Open water is very different from a swimming pool
- Never enter water alone or without supervision
- Only swim in safe, designated areas such as lifeguarded beaches or pools
- Avoid risk-taking or peer pressure
- If you fall into water, try to “Float to Live” – lie on your back, stay calm and control breathing
- In an emergency:
- Call 999 immediately
- Do not enter the water to rescue someone
- Throw something that floats instead
Working Together
Having regular conversations about these risks can make a real difference. By continuing to reinforce these messages, particularly during periods of warm weather, we can help our young people make safer choices and reduce the risk of accidents.
Thank you for your continued support in helping to keep our students safe.
Hot Weather Guidance for Next Week
With the weather forecast predicting high temperatures next week, we would like to make a few temporary adjustments to support students’ comfort during the school day.
Blazers will not be required next week. Jumpers are already optional but should not be worn instead of blazers. We also strongly advise that students do not wear them during this period to help stay cool.
Students are permitted to wear Hamble branded shorts in line with the school uniform policy. As shared in our previous Weekly Message on 29 May 2026, these are currently available from £5 via Skoolkit:
https://skoolkit.co.uk/school-uniform/41/view/8042
It is important that students come to school prepared for the heat. They should bring a water bottle large enough to last for up to two hours in lessons. There are plenty of water fountains available around the school site, which students can use to refill before school, at break time, lunchtime, and after school.
We also recommend that students apply sunscreen before leaving home in the morning to help protect themselves during the day.
Thank you for your support in helping ensure students remain comfortable during the warmer weather.
Arc Silver Pathway Award
Following an external review of our work, we are extremely proud to announce that The Hamble School has been awarded the ARC Silver Pathway Award by Hampshire Virtual School. Michelle Nye, Headteacher of Hampshire Virtual School, said:
“We are delighted to say that, from all the work you are doing and your case study, you are now awarded the Silver Pathway Award – congratulations, we are really thrilled!”
What is ARC?
The Attachment Research Community (ARC) is a national organisation that supports schools in developing attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches to education. Its aim is to ensure that schools prioritise strong relationships, emotional wellbeing, and inclusion so that all young people can thrive. Research shows that a relational, attachment-aware approach benefits all students and is particularly important for those who may be vulnerable or have faced challenges.
What does the Silver Award mean?
The ARC Pathway recognises a school’s journey from Bronze to Silver to Gold, celebrating how well attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches are embedded across the school.
Achieving the Silver Award recognises that we have:
- Embedded relational and inclusive practices across the school
- Taken meaningful action to improve outcomes for students
- Evidenced this work through a detailed case study
This award reflects the commitment of our staff to creating a school environment where every young person feels safe, understood, and supported to succeed.
What this means for your child
At The Hamble School, this approach means that we:
- Prioritise strong, positive relationships between staff and students
- Focus on emotional wellbeing alongside academic achievement
- Work closely with families and external agencies to support every child
We are incredibly proud of this recognition, which reflects our ongoing commitment to providing an inclusive, supportive, and high-quality education for all our students.
School Hamper Competition – Summer Raffle
We are excited to launch our School Hamper Competition as part of our Summer Raffle!
This will be a Tutor and House Competition, so we are encouraging all students to get involved and help their group create the best hamper possible.
Students are asked to bring in donations on Tuesday 30 June. Suggested items include:
- Chocolates and sweets
- Posh soft drinks
- New toiletry sets
- Candles
- Gift sets
All contributions will go towards creating fantastic hampers for the raffle, so every item makes a difference!
Prizes will be awarded for the best tutor/house hampers—so let’s get competitive and creative!
Tickets to win these wonderful hampers will be sold at the High School Musical show and Festival.
Thank you in advance for your support.
The Hamble School Festival
Plans for The Hamble School Festival are going strong. We have confirmed with the Creative Arts Team an exciting programme of drama, dance, and music performances for the evening.
There will also be the annual Art Exhibition in the Drama Studio, alongside a variety of attractions, including food trucks, stalls (from face painting to brownies), sports competitions, a raffle, and our first ever ‘Soak a Teacher’.
Tickets are now available via TicketSource, and everyone is welcome to join us for what promises to be a fantastic community event.
Achieving Excellence Programme: Continuing to make progress between now and the end of the academic year
One of the most important things a student can do to ensure they are fully prepared for the next academic year is to make sure their subject knowledge from the previous year is secure. By using the methods, study skills, techniques, and resources they have explored this year, students should aim to ensure their subject knowledge is thorough, with no gaps.
If students are unsure about new content being taught, they should practise the techniques discussed this year to further their understanding of the topic. Remember, your class teacher is always available if you have any further questions.
How Parents/ Carers can help
There are several ways in which you can help your child make better progress. We recommend having conversations about study skills and techniques by asking probing questions to delve deeper into your child’s learning.
We encourage you to discuss homework, including the content covered and the level to which it has been completed. Homework is a very effective form of retrieval practice and, when completed properly, can significantly benefit knowledge retention and progress.
Sometimes, parents/carers may feel reluctant to ask their child about their learning for fear of not knowing the topic themselves. However, this should be welcomed as a starting point for a conversation, allowing your child to expand their knowledge. Through ‘elaboration’, students can break a topic down into smaller, more manageable chunks of information. This helps them develop a deeper understanding by explaining ideas in more detail.
Work Experience Update
Please ensure all own placement forms have been handed to Mrs Turner by Wednesday 1 July. This will allow EBP time to process them over the summer.
If you have applied through the system for your placement, please remember to check back for confirmation from EBP. Once confirmed, you will need to call the employer to introduce yourself and confirm details such as what time you need to arrive and what you need to wear.
If you need any help with this, please come and see Mrs Turner in T3 at lunchtime.
Reward Trips
The payment deadline for all reward trips has now passed and no more payments can be taken. Information on trips will be sent to all Parents/ Carers who have made payment within the next two weeks. Any remaining queries need to be sent to general@thehambleschool.co.uk
Uniform Support
This year, we have supported over 60 families with uniform for their children. Requests for uniform support are now closed and will be reopened as soon as we have an update on any future funding.
If you have any items of uniform in good condition that you are able to donate to our pre-loved supply, we would be very grateful if these could be dropped off at reception. We are especially keen to receive donations of:
- Blazers
• Shoes
• Ties
• PE tops
• Black school trousers
• Skirts
New York Trip – Final opportunity to reserve a place
In the next couple of weeks we will be sending out letters with further information about our trip to New York in October 2027. This trip is open to any students currently in Years 7 and 8. If you would like your child to attend the trip, please complete the form: Business Studies and Drama Trip to New York October 2027 – Fill in form
Please see further details below:
We will be running a trip to New York for 40 students from 21 October 2027 to 25 October 2027. Details are:
- Depart on Thursday 21 October
- Return on Monday 25 October
- 5 days/4 nights (including overnight flight on way home)
- Price £1850 (subject to change due to flight costs)
- Students will need to bring their own spending money
The trip includes:
- Return flights on British Airways from London Heathrow
- All coach transfers
- 4 nights’ accommodation at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown – please note that the rooms are double rooms with queen sized beds and so students will be expected to share with a peer of the same sex and age
- Dinner, bed and breakfast
- 1 drink per meal
- A Broadway show
- Harbour cruise to see the Statue of Liberty
- Wall Street tour and trading game
- Hershey’s educational tour
- 9 11 memorials
- Central Park
- Hershey’s Chocolate World Educational Tour
- Highline
- Macys Department Store
- Times Square
Please note that the activities may be subject to change and prices may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Students travelling must have an e-passport (has a symbol of a camera on the front) and parents/carers must apply for an ESTA for their child via the internet. This is an additional cost not covered within the trip payment.
To express an interest in this trip, please complete the form below by the end of Thursday 25 June 2026.
Rewards
The students listed below achieved the most reward points this week – Well done to you!
- Year 7 – Toby D 7-9
- Year 8 – Myla O 8-8
- Year 9 – Jack T 9-6
- Year 10 – Isal I 10-6
- Year 11 – Jasmin K 11-1
