As we approach the final few days of the academic year, it is hard to believe just how much we have packed into this week. From celebrations and rewards to sporting success, community events and memorable experiences beyond the classroom, it has been a week that has truly showcased everything that makes The Hamble School such a special place.
Over the past few days, we have enjoyed film reward events, an incredible Sports Day filled with determination, teamwork and house spirit, our Proud Friday Roadshow celebrating our future Year 7 students in local primary schools, a fantastic community festival, our Whole School Awards Evening, a BBQ and activity afternoon for students achieving over 2,000 positive points, and our Headteacher’s Celebration for those students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and achievement throughout the year. Alongside this, trips and visits have continued to provide valuable opportunities and unforgettable experiences beyond the classroom.
What has made all of these events truly special has been our students. Throughout the week, they have represented The Hamble School with pride, enthusiasm, kindness and maturity. Whether competing on the sports field, supporting friends, welcoming visitors or celebrating the success of others, they have been outstanding ambassadors for our school community.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible staff. Their dedication, energy and commitment are what make weeks like this possible. Behind every event, visit, celebration and opportunity are countless hours of planning, organisation and support. The experiences our students enjoy are only possible because of the passion and commitment shown by our staff every day.
Finally, thank you to our Parents/ Carers for your continued support throughout the year. Your encouragement, positivity and the many messages of appreciation and staff recognitions you have taken the time to send are hugely valued and greatly appreciated by the whole team.
With just two and a half days remaining before the summer holidays, we are looking forward to finishing another fantastic year in true Hamble style and celebrating everything our students, staff and wider community have achieved together.
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 20 July 2026
Monday 20 July
Year 9 Rewards Trip
Tuesday 21 July
Year 10 Rewards Trip
KS3 2000 Points BBQ and Activity Afternoon
Wednesday 22 July
2000 Points Assemblies
Drama Club production for Hamble Early Years
Celebration Assemblies
Last Day of the Summer Term – School closes at 1pm for students
Future Dates
Monday 17 August – Friday 21 August
Year 6 to 7 Summer School
Thursday 20 August
GCSE Results Day
Tuesday 1 September
INSED Day – School closed to students
Wednesday 2 September
All students start school at 8:25am
Letters
Please read the letters sent home and available on our letters page: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/letters-to-parents/
Theme of the Week – Celebration
This week, we will continue our celebrations with a virtual assembly on Wednesday, where we will take the opportunity to reflect on another successful year at The Hamble School. The assembly will highlight many of the achievements, experiences and milestones that have made this year so memorable, whilst celebrating the successes of our students across all aspects of school life. It will be a fitting opportunity to recognise the hard work, resilience, talent and commitment that have been demonstrated by so many members of our school community throughout the year.
Introducing Our Student Leadership Team for 2026-27
Following a highly competitive selection process, we are delighted to introduce our Student Leadership Team for the 2026-27 academic year.
These students have demonstrated exceptional commitment to our school values and impressed during the application and interview process with their leadership qualities, ambition and desire to make a positive difference to our school community.
Our Student Leadership Team for 2026-27 is:
- Adrian R – Head Boy
- Molly H – Head Girl
- Theodore C – Deputy Head Boy
- Oliver B – Deputy Head Boy
- Ruby K – Deputy Head Girl
- Eva P – Deputy Head Girl
- Freya W – Deputy Head Girl
Over the coming year, our Student Leadership Team will play an important role in representing the student body, supporting school events, contributing to school improvement initiatives and acting as ambassadors for The Hamble School both within school and across the wider community.
We congratulate Adrian, Molly, Theodore, Oliver, Ruby, Eva and Freya on their appointments and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make throughout the year ahead. We are confident that they will lead with pride, integrity and enthusiasm and continue to be excellent role models for their peers.
Year 9 Rewards Trip – Reminders
A reminder to all Year 9 students and families that the Chessington World of Adventures Rewards Trip will take place on Monday 20 July. Students should arrive at school by 7:30am ready for an 8:00am departure. It is important that students arrive promptly so that registers and final checks can be completed before departure.
Students may wear appropriate non-uniform clothing suitable for a school trip and the weather conditions. Clothing should be comfortable, practical and appropriate for a school visit. We ask that students dress modestly, with no exposed midriffs, and ensure that clothing is suitable for a day spent representing The Hamble School. Normal school jewellery rules will apply. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle, sun cream, a hat and suitable clothing for any changes in the weather throughout the day.
Chessington is a cashless attraction, so students wishing to purchase food or drinks during the day will need access to a bank card or mobile payment method. Students are also welcome to bring their own packed lunch, and packed lunches will be provided for those eligible for Free School Meals.
For safety reasons, students must remain in groups of at least three at all times and attend both scheduled check-in points during the day. Students are permitted to bring mobile phones and are encouraged to bring a portable charger or power bank.
The park closes at 5:00pm, with an expected return to school at approximately 6:30pm, although this may be affected by traffic conditions. Parents and carers are asked to ensure that students know their arrangements for getting home once we return to school.
We are looking forward to celebrating another fantastic year with our Year 9 students and hope they enjoy this well-deserved reward.
Year 10 Rewards Trip – Reminders
A reminder to all Year 10 students and families that the Thorpe Park Rewards Trip will take place on Tuesday 21 July. Students should arrive at school no later than 7:30am to allow time for registers and final checks before the coaches depart promptly at 8:00am.
Students may wear non-uniform; however, clothing must be appropriate for a school trip and suitable for the weather conditions. We ask that students dress modestly and sensibly, with no exposed shoulders or midriffs, and ensure that their clothing is suitable for representing The Hamble School in a public setting. Normal school jewellery rules apply. Students are also advised to bring a refillable water bottle, sun cream, a hat and appropriate clothing for any changes in the weather.
Thorpe Park is a predominantly cashless venue, so students wishing to purchase food, drinks or other items during the day will need access to a bank card, contactless payment method, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Students are welcome to bring their own food and packed lunches will be provided for students eligible for Free School Meals.
Students may bring mobile phones and are strongly encouraged to bring a portable charger or power bank. For safety reasons, students must remain in groups of at least three at all times and attend both scheduled check-ins during the day.
Students must return to the designated meeting point by 4:30pm, with departure from the park at 5:00pm. We expect to return to The Hamble School at approximately 6:30pm, although traffic conditions may affect this time. Please ensure your child knows their arrangements for getting home from school once we return. We will provide updates on social media where appropriate.
We hope all students enjoy this well-earned reward and a fantastic day celebrating the end of another successful year.
PTA Thank You and Summer Raffle
The raffle has now been drawn, with an incredible 931 tickets sold.
All prize winners have been contacted and informed about prize collection arrangements.
A huge thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and supported the raffle. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all the local organisations and businesses that generously donated prizes. Your support has helped make the raffle such a success.
Finally, thank you to our fantastic PTA for organising and running the raffle. Their hard work and commitment behind the scenes are greatly appreciated and make a significant contribution to supporting opportunities for our students.
Student Leadership Opportunities 2026-27
Applications are now open for our Student Leadership Teams for the 2026-2027 academic year. These roles provide a fantastic opportunity for students to make a real difference to school life, support their peers and community, and develop valuable leadership, communication and teamwork skills.
Students can apply for one or more of the following leadership roles:
- Anti-Bullying Ambassadors (Years 7-10)
- Cyber Ambassadors (Years 7-10)
- Student Support Ambassadors (Years 9-10 only)
- Transition Prefects (Year 9 only)
- Community Ambassadors (Years 7-10)
- Eco-Ambassadors (Years 7-10)
Whether you are passionate about promoting kindness and inclusion, supporting student wellbeing, helping younger students settle into secondary school, representing the school at community events, championing environmental sustainability or developing cyber awareness, there is a role to suit a wide range of interests and skills. These leadership opportunities allow students to have a genuine impact on school life while developing confidence, organisation, teamwork and public speaking skills.,
Applications for these roles should be submitted using the form below by Monday 14 September:
https://forms.office.com/e/3w7c1cYBF1
Students who are already part of one of these leadership teams and would like to continue next year should still complete the form, simply indicating that they wish to continue in 2026-2027.
House Leadership Opportunities
As we begin planning for another exciting year of House events and competitions, we are delighted to welcome our newly appointed House Prefects, Nathanial W and Jessica W.
Applications are also now open for our House Captain positions for 2026-2027. House Captains play a key role in leading their Houses throughout the year, helping to organise competitions, promote participation, support House events and encourage House spirit across the school. They act as role models for younger students and work closely with House staff to help shape the House programme.
Applications for House Captain positions are available via Class Charts and must be submitted by Wednesday 2 September. Interviews will take place during the following week, with Nathanial and Jessica joining staff as part of the interview panel.
The Autumn Term is already shaping up to be another action-packed one, with a range of competitions, events and opportunities planned. We look forward to welcoming our new student leaders and seeing the fresh ideas, enthusiasm and commitment they will bring to our school community.
Parent Forum Update
Thank you to everyone who attended our most recent Parent Forum. We greatly value the time that parents and carers give to engage with the school and share their thoughts, ideas and feedback. Open, constructive dialogue is an important part of our partnership with families and helps us to continue improving the experiences and opportunities we provide for students.
We firmly believe that strong communication between home and school is essential. By working together in a positive and constructive way, we can ensure that conversations remain focused on achieving the very best outcomes for our students and school community.
Our final Parent Forum of the year focused on understanding the role of the Governing Board. Parents/ Carers heard about how governors support and challenge school leaders, help shape the strategic direction of the school, monitor important areas such as student achievement, attendance, behaviour and safeguarding, and ensure that school resources are used effectively for the benefit of students. We also discussed the distinction between strategic governance and the operational day-to-day running of the school, as well as the important role governors play in supporting the school’s priorities and future development.
The session also highlighted the importance of partnership between students, staff, governors and families. We discussed the many ways in which Parents/ Carers support the school, including encouraging strong attendance, supporting learning at home, engaging positively with school communications and providing constructive feedback.
As we look ahead to next year, we are keen to continue developing our Parent Forum programme and ensure it provides an opportunity to discuss key themes, learn more about aspects of school life and work together to strengthen our partnership.
To help us plan next year’s programme, we would be grateful if Parents/ Carers could complete the feedback form below. Your views will help us identify the topics and areas of school life that you would like to learn more about during future Parent Forum events.
Parent Forum 2026-2027 – Fill in form
Thank you once again for your continued support and engagement throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming even more parents and carers to our Parent Forum events during 2026-27.
Staff Recognition
As we approach the end of another busy and successful year, we would like to take a moment to recognise the extraordinary commitment, care and dedication shown by our staff every day.
The wellbeing of our staff is incredibly important to us. Behind every lesson, club, trip, intervention, event and achievement are colleagues who give their time, energy and expertise to support our students and help them succeed. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, its impact is felt across our school community.
We know that a kind word, a message of thanks or recognition of a member of staff’s efforts can make a real difference. Positive feedback from parents and carers is always greatly appreciated and is regularly shared with colleagues. As we prepare to finish for the summer break, we would love to be able to share as many messages of appreciation as possible with our staff team.
If there is a member of staff who has made a difference to your child this year, supported your family, gone above and beyond, or simply deserves recognition for their hard work and dedication, please consider completing our Staff Recognition form:
https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/staff-recognition/
Thank you for your continued support throughout the year and for helping us celebrate the incredible people who make The Hamble School such a special place to learn and work.
How Do I Revise?
At The Hamble School, we pride ourselves on academic excellence and strive to ensure that every student is supported to achieve their very best and become a lifelong learner. Learning is about more than success in examinations; it is about valuing intellectual growth, developing independence and taking responsibility for personal progress.
Next academic year, we will be launching our new Achieving Excellence Programme for students in all year groups. This programme is based on a research-informed study skills curriculum developed in-house by our Raising Standards Team. The curriculum will be delivered through both our tutor programme and subject lessons, ensuring students regularly develop and practise effective learning strategies across a range of subjects.
Our aim is for every student to be able to confidently answer the question, “How do I revise?” Through explicit teaching of study skills, students will learn strategies that support independence, resilience and responsibility for their own learning. By embedding these skills throughout every year group, we believe our students will become increasingly confident and effective learners, fully prepared for the demands of Key Stage 4 and beyond.
To help students gain the maximum benefit from the Achieving Excellence Programme, parental support will play an important role. We therefore invite parents and carers to take part in a complementary three-part course designed to mirror and reinforce the learning taking place in school.
Each module will introduce the key study skills and revision techniques that students will be focusing on throughout the programme, with content tailored to the needs of each year group. Sessions will also provide opportunities for parents, carers and students to explore and practise these strategies together where appropriate.
As the programme has been designed as a learning journey, we strongly encourage families to attend all three modules.
| Year Group | Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3 |
| Year 7 | 5:00pm Monday 7 September 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 23 March 2027 |
| Year 8 | 5:00pm Monday 21 September 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 23 March 2027 |
| Year 9 | 5:00pm Monday 14 September 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 23 March 2027 |
| Year 10 | 5:00pm Tuesday 15 September 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 10 November 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 25 May 2027 |
| Year 11 | 5:00pm Tuesday 8 September 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 13 October 2026 | 5:30pm Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
All sessions will begin in the Main Hall.
To register for the course, please use the appropriate link below:
- Year 7: https://forms.office.com/e/jVjVqys31Z
- Year 8: https://forms.office.com/e/hFxztbiBCi
- Year 9: https://forms.office.com/e/aXuvtXBWMw
- Year 10: https://forms.office.com/e/Q5fvE7XKn5
- Year 11: https://forms.office.com/e/GwjV5uz24e
We look forward to working in partnership with parents, carers and students as we launch this exciting new programme and continue our commitment to helping every student achieve excellence.
Barcelona 2027
Due to a number of students no longer being able to attend, we have a small number of places available on our Spanish trip to Barcelona in March 2027.
These places are only available to students who are currently in Year 8 and who will be studying Spanish as one of their option subjects from September when they enter Year 9.
This is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience Spanish culture, develop their language skills and enjoy a range of educational and cultural visits in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities.
If you would like to secure one of these final places for your son or daughter, please email general@thehambleschool.co.uk with the subject line FAO: Mrs Thompson to register your interest. We will then make arrangements for the initial deposit of £100 to be paid before the end of term.
Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage interested families to contact us as soon as possible.
Summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme – Bookings Now Open
We are pleased to share that bookings are now open for Hampshire’s Summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. The programme provides fully funded holiday activities and healthy meals for children and young people who receive benefit-related Free School Meals (FSM), as well as other vulnerable children identified by the local authority as benefiting from the scheme.
The HAF programme offers a wide range of engaging activities throughout the summer holidays, helping young people to stay active, socialise with friends, learn new skills and enjoy healthy meals in a safe and supportive environment.
How to Book
Step 1 – Search for local HAF schemes
Visit the Hampshire County Council HAF booking page to browse and book activities in your area:
Activities can be filtered by:
- Location
- Age group
- Activity provider
- Scheme type
Please note that some schemes do not operate every day, so families should carefully check dates and times before booking.
Step 2 – Prepare for your session
Before attending, please check any information provided by the activity organiser regarding clothing, equipment or other items your child may need to bring. If you book a place, please ensure your child attends wherever possible, as unused places may prevent other families from benefiting from the programme.
Further Information
Frequently Asked Questions can be found here:
For any additional enquiries, families can contact the HAF Team directly at:
connect4communities@hants.gov.uk Please use the subject line FAO HAF when emailing.
We encourage eligible families to explore the opportunities available and take advantage of the fantastic range of activities on offer this summer.
Looking Ahead to September: Uniform Reminder
While we still have a few days left of this academic year, we know that many families will use the summer holidays to purchase new uniform and prepare for September.
To help avoid any unnecessary expense or changes at the start of term, we encourage Parents/ Carers to take a few minutes to review our Uniform Policy before purchasing any new items. The policy includes details regarding uniform, footwear, jewellery, hairstyles, make-up, PE kit and equipment expectations.
Our uniform standards remain an important part of fostering pride in our school community and ensuring that students are ready to learn from the moment they arrive each day. We appreciate the support that families provide in helping us maintain these high standards.
The full Uniform Policy can be accessed here:
https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Uniform-Policy-March-2027.pdf
Thank you for your support, and we hope that by sharing this information now, families can prepare for September well in advance and enjoy a relaxing summer break.
Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility from September 2026
We have been asked to share important information regarding upcoming changes to Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility.
From September 2026, all households receiving Universal Credit may be eligible for Free School Meals. Eligibility will be divided into two categories based on household income:
- Targeted Free School Meals– for households receiving Universal Credit with an annual income below £7,400.
- Expanded Free School Meals– for households receiving Universal Credit with an annual income above £7,400.
All families are required to submit a new application to confirm their eligibility under the new criteria, even if their child currently receives Free School Meals. We encourage all parents and carers who receive Universal Credit to check their eligibility and apply.
Applications can be made through the Hampshire County Council portal:
Free School Meals Application Portal
https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/hants
Please note that children eligible under the expanded criteria will begin receiving Free School Meals from September 2026.
For further information, please visit the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
If you have any questions, please contact us via general@thehambleschool.co.uk and mark as FSM in the subject line.
