We hope that you and your families have enjoyed the summer break. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our students back to The Hamble School on Wednesday 2 September 2026.
As we prepare for the start of term, we would be grateful if you could take a few moments to read the information below and support us in ensuring that every student returns ready to learn and achieve. Strong partnerships between home and school are fundamental to our success, and your support plays a vital role in helping us maintain high standards and a positive learning environment for all.
Thank you for your continued support of The Hamble School. Together, we can ensure that every young person feels safe, valued, included and inspired to achieve their very best.
We look forward to welcoming all students back and wish you a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer holiday.
Attendance, Punctuality and Expectations
At The Hamble School, we want every student to make the most of every opportunity available to them. Excellent attendance and punctuality are key factors in academic success and personal development.
Please ensure that your child arrives at school in good time each day (at the tutor room by 8:25am) and is ready for learning. Registration begins promptly each morning, and students who arrive late miss important information and valuable learning time.
We also ask Parents/ Carers to support the school’s expectations regarding behaviour, homework and preparedness for learning. Students should arrive each day with the correct equipment and subject-specific resources required for their lessons.
We are proud of the positive culture within our school community and appreciate the support families provide when we need to reinforce expectations. Working together allows us to help young people develop responsibility and resilience.
Uniform Expectations
Our school uniform promotes a sense of belonging and pride in The Hamble School community. We ask all families to ensure that students attend school in the correct uniform and present themselves smartly at all times.
Key points from our Uniform Policy include:
- Students must wear the full school uniform at all times, including when travelling to and from school.
- Shirts should be tucked in and the top button fastened, with the school clip-on tie worn correctly.
- Blazers are compulsory and should be worn appropriately with sleeves down.
- Only plain black formal school shoes are permitted. Trainers, canvas shoes and sports-style footwear are not acceptable.
- Skirts must be the approved Thornton skirt worn at knee length and not rolled up.
- Hair should be of a natural colour and style appropriate for school. Extreme hairstyles, shaved patterns and brightly coloured hair accessories are not permitted.
- Jewellery is limited to one pair of small stud earrings and a wristwatch. Smart watches, retainers and additional piercings are not permitted.
- False nails, coloured nail varnish, false eyelashes and excessive make-up are not allowed. In Years 7-9, make-up is not permitted.
- Hoodies, sweatshirts and tracksuit tops should not be worn under blazers or around the school site.
- Students should bring the correct equipment every day, including pens, pencils, ruler, calculator and water bottle.
Please take a few moments over the next week to check uniform. The full Uniform Policy can be viewed on our website here: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/uniform/
We appreciate your support in ensuring students meet these expectations from the start of term.
Equipment Expectations
Being fully equipped for learning is one of the simplest ways students can set themselves up for success. Arriving prepared helps students engage confidently in lessons, develop positive learning habits and make the most of every opportunity in school.
All students are expected to bring the following equipment to school every day:
- School planner – These are provided free of charge at the start of every term
- Two black or blue pens
- Pencil
- Coloured pens
- Green pen
- Purple pen
- Highlighter
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Sharpener
- Glue stick
- Pair of compasses
- Protractor
- Scientific calculator (Casio ClassWiz fx-83GTX recommended)
- Water bottle
- Hamble School zip wallet (Year 7 will be provided with a wallet and replacement wallets are available for all other year groups via Scopay for 75p)
Students are also required to have a suitable school bag, ideally a rucksack, that is large enough to carry books, equipment and PE kit safely throughout the day.
Taking a few moments before the start of term to check and replenish equipment can make a significant difference to a student’s organisation and readiness to learn. We ask Parents/ Carers to support us by ensuring their child arrives at school each day with the equipment they need to participate fully in all lessons.
For full details of our equipment expectations, along with information about uniform, PE kit and school bags, please visit our website: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/uniform/
First Day of Term
Ahead of the start of term, students should check the tutor group list below and make a note of their tutor room before arriving at school. Year 7 should line up in the Exams Area (the place they did on Induction Day) and their tutors will meet them.
During registration and Period 1, students will remain with their tutor until 10:00am. This extended tutor session will provide an important opportunity for students to settle back into school, receive their planner and timetable, review school routines and expectations, receive reminders about attendance, punctuality, uniform, equipment, rewards, wellbeing support, safeguarding procedures and our school values of Achieving Excellence Together. Students will then follow their normal timetable for the remainder of the day. Please note that PE kit is not required on the first day of term, so students should attend in full school uniform only.
Mobile Phones and Smart Watches
As we begin the new academic year, we would also like to remind families of our expectations regarding mobile phones and smart watches.
Statutory guidance from the Government from 1 September 2026 states that all schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default, with any alternative arrangements being by exception only.
Whilst we recognise that many students carry a mobile phone for use when travelling to and from school, mobile phones and smart watches must not be used during the school day. At The Hamble School, devices must be switched off and stored in bags from the first bell at 8:25am until the final bell at 3:00pm (or at the end of detentions). This expectation supports a calm, focused learning environment and helps students engage fully with their education and with one another.
Research and national guidance continue to highlight the benefits of reducing access to mobile phones during the school day, including improved concentration, fewer distractions, stronger face-to-face relationships and enhanced wellbeing. We therefore ask all Parents/ Carers to support the school’s approach and discuss these expectations with their child before the start of term.
Students should be aware that if a mobile phone or smart watch is seen by a member of staff, including where it is visible through clothing or an outline can be seen in a pocket, it will be confiscated. Repeated breaches will result in additional sanctions and may lead to students being required to hand their device in each day for a period determined by the Headteacher. Parents/ Carers are asked not to contact students directly during the school day. If there is an urgent need to get a message to your child, please contact the school office and we will ensure the message is passed on promptly.
We will continue to review our procedures in line with Department for Education guidance and emerging best practice to ensure that our approach supports the learning, safety and wellbeing of every student.
Thank you for your continued support. By working together, we can help our young people develop positive digital habits and ensure that their focus throughout the school day remains on learning, personal development and success.
Staffing Updates
We are delighted to welcome a number of new colleagues to The Hamble School this term and look forward to the expertise and enthusiasm they will bring to our community.
- Miss Cole – Teacher of IT and Business Studies
- Mr Farmer – Teacher of Maths
- Mr Harris – Creative Arts and Technology Technician
- Miss Hayes – Teacher of Dance and PE
- Mrs Henderson – Teacher of Design & Technology
- Miss Keith – School Inclusion Administration Support
- Miss Kirk – Teacher of Physical Education
- Miss Lee – Teacher of English
- Miss Merrell – Teacher of Geography
- Miss Morgan – Teacher of Science
- Miss Newbold – Teacher of Maths
- Miss Norman – Teacher of Humanities
- Miss Pitman-Kisbee – Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages
- Miss Roberts – Student Support Officer
- Mrs Stallard – Head of Religious Studies
- Mr Weight – Site Assistant
- Mrs Yates – Raising Standards Leader
We also congratulate members of our existing team who have taken on new leadership responsibilities within the school. These appointments will continue to strengthen teaching, learning and pastoral support across all year groups.
- Mr Bateman – Associate Assistant Headteacher
- Mrs Cameron – Student Engagement Coordinator
- Mr Finch – Assistant Head of Science
- Mr Jackson – Assistant Head of English
- Mr Jadav – School Inclusion Officer
- Mrs Johnson – Specialist Teacher, Autism Resourced Provision
- Miss King – Assistant Head of English
- Mr Leonard-Rendell – Head of Mathematics
We wish them every success in their new positions and thank them for their continued commitment to supporting our students and wider school community.
Extracurricular Opportunities
We are proud of the extensive programme of extracurricular activities available to students. Clubs, sports teams, performing arts opportunities and enrichment activities will begin shortly after the start of term.
Participation in extracurricular activities helps students develop confidence, friendships and valuable life skills. Information regarding clubs and activities will be published during the first week of term.
Achieving Excellence Programme
At The Hamble School, we believe that ‘Achieving Excellence’ is about more than success in examinations. It is about developing independent, resilient learners who understand how to learn effectively and take responsibility for their own progress.
To support this vision, we are launching our new-look Achieving Excellence Programme for all students from Year 7 to Year 11. Developed by our Raising
Class Charts
We would like to remind all Parents/ Carers and students about the importance of regularly using Class Charts, our online platform for homework, behaviour, achievements and attendance.
Students are expected to log in to Class Charts every day to check for homework, review important updates and monitor their progress. We also ask Parents/ Carers to check Class Charts daily so that they can support their child with homework completion, celebrate successes and remain informed about their child’s school experience.
For families of students in Years 8 to 11, existing usernames and passwords will continue to work and no further action is required. Year 7 students and their Parents/ Carers will receive their login details by email during the first week of term.
Regular use of Class Charts helps to strengthen the partnership between home and school and supports students in developing the organisation, independence and responsibility needed to achieve their very best.
Benedict’s Law
We are required to ask Parents/ Carers to ensure that information relating to allergies is kept up to date. If your child has an allergy that requires the use of an Adrenaline Auto-Injector (AAI), such as an EpiPen, and you have not already informed us, please complete the following form: Severe Allergy Requiring Adrenaline Auto-Injector – Fill in form
Existing Medical Conditions
From September, we will be communicating with Parents/ Carers regarding medical matters through Medical Tracker. This system does not require the download of an app, as all communication is sent securely via email.
If your child has an ongoing medical condition and you have not already completed a medical information form, please do so using the link below:
Medical Tracker – Medical Information Collection Form – Fill in form
If you would like to discuss your child’s medical needs, please contact the Student Welfare Service by emailing general@thehambleschool.co.uk FAO SWS.
Medication
If your child requires regular medication in school, it is essential that you provide sufficient medication to ensure they do not run out during the school day. All medication brought into school must:
- Be delivered to Reception by a parent or carer.
- Be accompanied by a completed Parent Permission to Administer Medication form.
- Be supplied in its original packaging, or be accompanied by a photograph of the original packaging.
- Be in date, with the expiry date clearly visible on the packaging or photograph.
- Be prescribed in the name of the child only.
Further information, including medication forms, can be found on our website:
https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/medical-information/
Thank you for your support in helping us to keep our medical records accurate and to ensure we can meet the health needs of all students safely.
PSHCRE Provision
As we begin the new academic year, we would like to remind Parents/ Carers about our PSHCRE provision. Students have a PSHCRE lesson every fortnight, which complements our tutor-time Personal Development programme. The curriculum is also carefully coordinated with learning in other subject areas, including Science and Mathematics, ensuring that students receive a consistent and well-rounded approach to their personal, social, health, careers and religious education.
Throughout the year, we also hold collapsed timetable PSHCRE days, which provide opportunities for students to explore key topics in greater depth through a range of activities, workshops and discussions. Parents and carers are asked to keep an eye on the Weekly Message for information about these days and any arrangements that may affect students.
During Autumn Term 1, our theme is Health, with each year group exploring age-appropriate topics:
- Year 7: Healthy Lifestyles
- Year 8: Tobacco, Vaping and Alcohol
- Year 9: Drugs and the Law
- Year 10: Gangs and Related Issues
- Year 11: Sleep, Stress and Personal Health
We look forward to continuing to support students in developing the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to make informed, responsible and healthy choices, both now and in the future.
