It has been another busy and successful week at The Hamble School! Our Year 7 and Year 10 Boys football teams both celebrated fantastic wins, showcasing great skill, teamwork, and determination on the pitch. In the classroom, learning has been thriving with productive lessons across all year groups, reflecting the hard work and dedication of both students and staff.
For Mental Health Day, staff came together for a reflective Tea and Talk session, supporting wellbeing and fostering a positive school community. We also welcomed prospective families for our Open Morning, giving visitors the chance to explore the school and experience our vibrant learning environment first-hand.
Looking ahead, we are excited for next week’s Year 11 Achieving Excellence Evening, providing students and Parents/ Carers with practical study strategies ahead of the mock exams. We also encourage students in Years 7 to 9 to purchase their tickets for the Autumn Disco via Scopay — a great opportunity to celebrate and have fun with friends.
It’s been a week full of achievements, collaboration, and positive energy — and there’s plenty to look forward to in the week ahead!
Next week is WEEK 1
Events w/b Monday 13 October 2025
Year 7 & 8 CAT Testing all week continues
Year 9 Review Assessment Week
Tuesday 14 October
Year 11 Achieving Excellence Evening – 5:30pm in the Main Hall
Wednesday 15 October 2025
DofE Launch Parents Evening – 5:30pm in the Main Hall
Thursday 2 October
Open Morning for Year 6 students and their Parents/ Carers
Future Dates
Monday 20 October 2025
Year 11 English Literature Mock Exam
Tuesday 21 October
Year 11 PSHCRE day
Parent Forum
Wednesday 22 October
Year 11 Work Experience
Autumn PTA Disco – Year 7-9. Please purchase tickets on Scopay
Thursday 23 October
Open Morning
Year 8 Battlefields Trip
Friday 24 October
INSED Day – The School is closed to students
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.
Assembly and Tutor Programme theme of the week: Student Leadership Award
This week students in Years 7-9 will have their Student Leadership Award launch for 2025-26.
The Student Leadership Award (SLA) is an innovative way of recognising students’ leadership skills and the impact they have in the classroom, across the school and in the wider community.
Across The Hamble School, students of all ages are engaged in exciting and challenging activities. Whilst many of these carry recognition in their own right, the SLA and skills of leadership encompass all activities students are engaged in. We know that when students have a voice, leadership has a real impact.
We have identified ten key skills that young people need to be successful leaders, and grouped them into three core themes:
- Developing myself
- Contributing to my community
- Working with others
These skills and themes are grouped into a self-assessment framework, to reflect The Hamble School’s values of, ‘We care, We aim high and We learn and Achieve together’.
Students assess themselves against this framework and then actively seek opportunities to advance themselves and gather evidence to showcase their new skills in a portfolio.
Students can work towards the SLA at three levels: Stage 1, 2 and 3, with increasing degrees of challenge and commitment required to reach the highest stages. Students will need, in a similar way to the Duke of Edinburgh Award, to demonstrate these skills for a more prolonged timeframe and at a greater depth as the stages progress.
Some examples of activities that could be assessed for stage 1 are:
- Attending a club
- Helping to plan or organise an activity (perhaps tutor activity – shoebox appeal)
- Taking part in discussions – expressing your ideas regularly in tutor-time or other activities
- Regularly attending an event or club
- Behaving well in school ATLs on 2 reports Grade 3 or better
- Being able to demonstrate new skills learnt and using them to help others.
- Supporting your community – helping people, volunteering, school council, cyber ambassadors etc.
- Being part of a school team, regularly working well with others
- Presenting to an audience – presenting to tutor group, in assemblies, presenting to your class
- Setting yourself goals and reflecting on progress – in planners.
Unlike other awards, students peer assess each other’s portfolios as well as being internally moderated, ensuring the process both reinforces and rewards meaningful student leadership.
As well as the prestige of accreditation, the process that students go through in becoming accredited is of great benefit. This process encourages students to:
- Critically self-reflect on their own skills as leaders
- Work collaboratively to plan how they will meet the criteria and evidence it
- Organise and structure their evidence
- Peer assess others’ work against criteria
- Aspire to take on increasingly challenging leadership responsibilities.
Many of the skills students use in this process, reinforce key learning competences in the classroom. The award itself can provide valuable evidence of students’ all-round achievements when applying for colleges, universities or jobs.
Open Mornings and Secondary School Applications – Deadline 31 October 2025
Choosing the right secondary school is an important decision for families, and we have been delighted to welcome so many Year 6 students and their Parents/ Carers to our recent Open Mornings here at The Hamble School. Feedback from visitors has been extremely positive, with many commenting on the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the enthusiasm of our students and staff.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Year 10 Transition Prefects, who have done an outstanding job supporting these events. Their confidence, maturity and pride in the school have shone through as they guided visitors around and shared their experiences of life at The Hamble School.
There are still a few Open Mornings available for families who have not yet had the chance to visit. These provide an excellent opportunity to see the school in action, meet staff and students, and get a real sense of our community and values.
We would also like to remind Parents/ Carers with children in Year 6 that applications for September 2026 entry must be submitted by Thursday 31 October 2025. All the information you need about our admissions process, including links to the Hampshire County Council application form and details of our admissions criteria, can be found on the Admissions pages of our school website.
If you have not yet booked a place on one of our remaining Open Mornings or would like to find out more about admissions, please visit: www.thehambleschool.co.uk/admissions
We look forward to welcoming more families over the coming weeks and thank everyone who has already visited for their kind words and support.
Phase 3 Transition – Primary school lunch and learning visit
We are delighted to announce our upcoming Phase 3 Transition event, designed to help our Year 7s feel even more settled and supported in their new school environment. This week we have visits from St Monica Primary School on Wednesday 15 October as well as Hightown Primary School and Townhill Junior School on Thursday 16 October.
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 are actively working 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.
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award – Year 10 Launch Meeting
We are excited to invite Parents/ Carers of Year 10 students to our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Launch Meeting this Wednesday 15 October, 5:30–6:00pm.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a nationally recognised programme that encourages young people to develop independence, resilience, and a sense of adventure. The Bronze Award involves four key sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and an Expedition. Students choose their own activities for each section, allowing them to explore new interests, give back to their community, and build valuable life skills.
Taking part in DofE is a fantastic opportunity for students to grow in confidence, work as part of a team, and stand out to future employers, colleges, and universities.
At the launch meeting, we’ll provide an overview of the programme, key dates, costs, and how students can get started. There will also be time for questions.
If you plan to attend and have not signed up yet, please let us know by completing the short form here: https://forms.office.com/e/E6Ac7qXtYa
We look forward to seeing you there and supporting your child on this exciting journey!
Rotary Shoebox Appeal and Competition
A reminder and a plea for all Rotary Shoeboxes to be put together and brought into school by Friday 17 October. You do not need to provide a shoebox yourself as we have a large selection of the Rotary Shoeboxes provided already. This also means you do not need to add a monetary donation Sellotape to the outside as the official Rotary Shoeboxes have already had this factored in.
If you have an queries about what would be suitable to add to your shoebox, please check the image below.
All students who get involved putting together a shoebox for this very worthy cause will receive reward points that will go towards their House totals as part of the House Competition.
Students can either bring in a few items for the boxes or put together a whole shoebox. Boxes can be collected for your child’s tutor.
Thank you for helping The Hamble School support children who are some of the most disadvantaged in Europe.
Travelling Responsibly on the Train
As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining strong relationships within our local community, we would like to remind all students about the importance of travelling responsibly when using the train to and from The Hamble School.
We are very proud that the vast majority of our students conduct themselves in an exemplary manner while travelling. They show respect to other passengers, behave appropriately on platforms and trains, and represent The Hamble School with maturity and consideration. This positive behaviour is often recognised and appreciated by members of the public and railway staff, and we thank those students for consistently upholding our school values beyond the school gates.
However, we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that all passengers must have a valid ticket for every journey. Travelling without a ticket is against railway regulations and can result in fines or further action. We therefore ask students to ensure they allow sufficient time to purchase a ticket before boarding, and to make use of any available student or railcard discounts where appropriate.
In addition, we ask that students continue to be mindful of their behaviour while waiting on platforms and during journeys. Keeping noise to a minimum, showing courtesy to others, and following instructions from rail staff all contribute to a safe and pleasant environment for everyone.
We would also ask Parents/ Carers to discuss this message with their children if they travel by public transport. Reinforcing these expectations at home helps ensure that all students understand the importance of behaving responsibly and representing The Hamble School positively in the wider community.
By continuing to travel with respect, responsibility and integrity, our students help to maintain The Hamble School’s excellent reputation within the local area.
Mental Health
Last week The Hamble School joined people around the world in recognising World Mental Health Day. This is an important opportunity to raise awareness, encourage open conversations, and remind everyone that looking after our mental health is just as vital as looking after our physical health.
To mark the occasion, staff took part in a special “Tea and Talk” event, creating a space to connect, share experiences, and support one another. These informal conversations are a valuable reminder that taking a few moments to check in with colleagues or friends can make a big difference to wellbeing.
In addition, staff hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, which provides vital help to individuals and families affected by cancer. Through the generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who took part — from bakers to tea-pourers to donators — an impressive £160 was raised.
The day was a wonderful example of our school community coming together to promote both mental health awareness and charitable giving. Thank you to all staff who contributed, supported and participated — your kindness and teamwork truly embody The Hamble School’s values.
An Important Few Weeks for Year 11
The next few weeks are a crucial period for our Year 11 students as they prepare for their Mock Exams. There are a lot of events put in place to support their progress and set the foundation for confident performances in their mock exams and beyond.
Key Dates for Year 11:
- w/c 13 October– PR1 emailed home
- w/c 13 October– Revision and Study Skills in Tutor Time and lessons
- Tuesday 14 October– Study Skills AEE
- Monday 20 October – English Literature Mock Exam
- Tuesday 21 October– PSHCRE Day
- 3 November– Mock Exams begin (Practical and Speaking exams
- 10 November– Mock Exams continue (Written subjects)
Over the coming weeks, students will also receive revision packs and materials to help them plan and organise their study effectively. Starting revision early is essential — little and often makes a big difference. Building regular study habits now will help reduce stress later and ensure students feel fully prepared for their mock exams.
Next week, students will be completing three exam preparation sessions during tutor time on: Developing Study Habits, Writing Revision Timetables and Using Resources Effectively. These sessions have been designed to enable your child to be as successful as possible in their upcoming mocks and help them make as much progress as possible over this period.
We encourage all Parents/ Carers to discuss revision routines at home and to refer to the Curriculum Booklet available on The Hamble School website: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/curriculum-overview/, which outlines the topics and skills students should be focusing on in each subject.
Please do ensure that your son/ daughter has a quiet place to study and revise and has a revision guide for each subject. Many are available to order on Scopay. If you have any financial worries about purchasing the guides, please email general@thehambleschool.co.uk and mark FAO Mrs Emmett-Callaghan.
By making the most of the support available and starting early, Year 11 students can approach their mocks with confidence and set themselves up for success in their final exams.
All sessions completed in tutor this week, will be added to the School website so you can continue to have learning conversations with your son/ daughter regarding study skills, revision techniques, revision habits and how they are completing revision as independent learners at home.
The Year 11 Mock Exams are fast approaching, with the first paper – English Literature – taking place on Monday 20 October. This marks an important milestone for our students as they begin to put into practice everything they have learned so far.
A reminder that to support this, we are holding our Year 11 Study Skills Achieving Excellence Evening on Tuesday 14 October, from 5:30pm to 7:15pm, starting in the Main Hall.
This evening has been designed to provide both students and Parents/ Carers with practical study strategies to help students make greater progress in their upcoming mock exams. Sessions will cover how to revise effectively, manage time well and stay motivated throughout the exam period.
If you have not already done so, please register your attendance using the form below: https://forms.office.com/e/yE61wr4TjG
All students and Parents/ Carers who attend the evening will also receive a copy of the full Mock Exam Timetable, helping families to plan revision schedules effectively.
In addition, there will be a PSHCRE Day dedicated to Study Skills and Wellbeing on Tuesday 21 October, where students will explore how to balance revision with positive mental health and self-care.
We strongly encourage all Year 11 students and their families to take advantage of these opportunities — together, they will help ensure that every student feels confident, prepared, and ready to achieve their best in the upcoming mock exams and beyond.
Aim High: Your Future Starts Now!
Year 7 has continued to make an excellent start to their journey at The Hamble School. Over the next 5 years we will help them to discover their passions, develop their skills, and shape their future.
A message from the Careers Team to Year 7…
Year 7, it might feel early to think about jobs and careers, but the dreams you start forming now can grow into real opportunities later on.
At The Hamble School, we believe every student has the potential to achieve great things. Having high aspirations means setting yourself big goals and believing you can reach them — even if it takes time, effort, and determination. Maybe you dream of being a doctor, an architect, a scientist, a professional athlete, a marine biologist, a fashion designer, or even the next great inventor! Whatever your dream is, it begins with believing that you can make it happen.
Every subject you study is helping you take steps towards that future. English strengthens your communication, maths builds logical thinking, science fuels your curiosity, and PE teaches teamwork and resilience. Your creativity, kindness, and problem-solving skills are just as important — they are what make you stand out.
This week, we are asking every Year 7 student to think about their future career — something they would love to do when they are older — and to commit that dream to paper. You will write it down and make it something that inspires you every time they see it. You might be surprised at how your goals grow and change over time, but writing it down is the first step towards making it real.
So, aim high, work hard, and believe in yourself. The future might seem a long way off, but it truly starts with the choices you make today.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Uniform Support
On occasion we need to lend uniform to students due to an emergency. We always welcome donations of pre-loved school trousers and skirts in a good condition of all sizes in addition to blazers and PE tops. Any donations can be dropped into the main reception and would be gratefully received.
We are also able to support with providing some uniform items to those families who may be experiencing financial hardship. If you would like to request support, please complete the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/YEPRzbG8pT
Safeguarding Knowledge Booster: The Importance of Sleep for Children and Teens
Why Sleep Matters: Sleep isn’t just about rest—it’s vital for your child’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development. A consistent sleep routine helps children regulate their emotions, concentrate better in school, and build resilience.
Key Benefits of Good Sleep:
- Improved Learning & Memory: Sleep strengthens brain connections, helping children retain what they learn.
- Better Mood & Behaviour: Well-rested children are less irritable and more emotionally balanced.
- Stronger Immune System: Sleep helps the body fight off illness and recover more quickly.
- Reduced Risk Online: Tired children are more vulnerable to risky online behaviour and poor decision-making.
Recommended Sleep Durations:
- Ages 6–12: 9–12 hours per night
- Ages 13–18: 8–10 hours per night
Signs Your Child May Be Sleep-Deprived:
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Mood swings or increased anxiety
- Struggling to concentrate or complete homework
- Falling asleep during the day or in class
Tips for Supporting Healthy Sleep:
- Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time—even on weekends
- Limit screen time at least 1 hour before bed
- Create a calming bedtime routine (reading, warm bath, quiet time)
- Ensure their sleep environment is cool, quiet, and comfortable
Safeguarding Link: Children who are sleep-deprived may be more vulnerable to online exploitation, peer pressure, and mental health challenges. Prioritising sleep is a simple but powerful way to protect their wellbeing.
Important Safeguarding Notice: Children’s “Spy” Books
You may have seen in the press or from local Primary schools this week that there has been a recent issue affecting some popular children’s books by Andrew Cope, including the Spy Dogs, Spy Cats, and Spy Pups series.
Some editions of these books include a printed web address at the back. This link used to go to the author’s website, but the domain is no longer under his control. It has since been taken over by another party and now leads to inappropriate adult content.
The publisher, Puffin, has paused sales and distribution of the books and is working with schools, libraries, and retailers to remove copies from circulation. They have stressed that the website has no connection to the author or publisher.
- If your child has any Spy Dog, Spy Cator Spy Pups books at home, please check the back for website links and make sure they do not try to visit the site.
- It is safe for children to continue reading the stories themselves — the concern is only with the outdated link.
- We recommend talking with your child about the importance of not following web addresses in books without checking with an adult first.
Food Management Survey
The Waste Management Team at Hampshire County Council, in partnership with the Hampshire Food Alliance, are inviting residents to take part in a short survey on food and cooking habits.
This survey aims to better understand how food is used and prepared in Hampshire homes. The findings will help shape future work around access to food and sustainability across the county.
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and will close on Sunday 19 October at 11:59pm. You can complete it here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/ow-food-management-2025
By sharing this survey with our school community, we hope to help Hampshire County Council reach as many households as possible and ensure a broad, accurate representation of families across the area.
This project links closely with Smart Living, Hampshire County Council’s waste prevention initiative, which helps residents find practical ways to save money and reduce waste while helping the environment. The Smart Living website provides free information and tools to support households in managing food more effectively.
To find out more, visit: www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/smartliving
If you have any questions, please contact: Waste.Prevention@hants.gov.uk
Year 7 Football
On Tuesday, our Year 7 boys extended their fine run of form with a thrilling 2-1 home victory — making it three wins from three!
With six debutants in a much-changed squad, the team showed incredible spirit and determination. From the first whistle, they took control of the game, battling hard across the pitch and earning a well-deserved 2-0 lead thanks to sharp finishes from Henry K and Harry S.
Our goalkeeper was in sensational form, pulling off a string of outstanding saves to keep the opposition at bay. Although the visitors managed to sneak in a late goal, our boys held firm under pressure to secure another vital win and keep their momentum rolling!
Man of the Match: Charlie M — a rock in defence and a true leader on the pitch.
Squad: Vakaris, Reggie, Charlie M, Henry K, Jake D, Harry S, Damian, Rohan, Beau D, Dylan P, Ben C, Mason N
On Thursday, The Hamble School faced Glenmoor Academy in an exciting National Cup tie. We started strongly, creating an early chance that was well saved by the opposition keeper. However, we went behind shortly after, conceding a own goal from a header 20 yards out.
Despite the setback, the team stayed composed, handling the pressure well as Glenmoor created some good chances of their own. Midway through the second half, Henry K bravely threw himself in and was taken out just inside the box, earning a penalty. Henry calmly converted, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.
We played some excellent football in the second half and were unlucky not to find a winner. The match finished 1-1, sending the teams to a penalty shoot-out. Both keepers were outstanding, taking the shoot-out to sudden death. Henry scored to give us a chance to win, and Vakaris stood firm with a superb parry save to clinch victory.
Man of the Match: Deservedly given to Vakaris for his three excellent penalty saves.
Well done to the whole squad — onto the next round!
Squad: Vakaris, Reggie, Tommy, Jaxon, Henry K, Jake, Charlie, Henry H, Tyler, Leo, Arthur
Celebrating Achievements
The students listed below achieved the most reward points this week – Well done to you!
- Year 7 – Aiden P 7-8
- Year 8 – Zoe G 8-1
- Year 9 – Amy R 9-6
- Year 10 – Bonnie S 10-8
- Year 11 – Peyton H 11-6
