What an incredible week we’ve had at The Hamble School! Last week was filled with memorable experiences that truly showcased the strength and spirit of our community.
On Monday the Year 9 and 10 Iceland Trip returned to the UK. Both students and staff reported that was nothing short of spectacular. Students were able to witness breath-taking sights such as the geysers, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and the stunning Northern Lights. It was an unforgettable opportunity for them to explore geography in action and create lifelong memories.
On Tuesday, we were thrilled to welcome so many families to the Collaborative Concert at 5:00pm, where our students performed alongside local primary schools. Later that evening, The Hamble School Concert was another highlight. We were also delighted to welcome the Mayor of Eastleigh and Mayoress, making it a truly special occasion.
The PE department arranged a fantastic trip to St Mary’s Stadium, where students had the chance to see the England Lionesses in action—a truly inspiring experience for all involved.
On Wednesday, we hosted a Parent Coffee Morning, which was a wonderful opportunity to connect and share ideas. Parents/ Carers expressed that they would love more coffee mornings in 2026, and we’re delighted to confirm that these will be arranged.
Thursday brought another proud moment as we welcomed back so many of our Year 12 students to collect their exam certificates. A huge thank you to Emma Westmacott, who delivered an inspiring keynote speech to mark the occasion.
Finally, on Friday, we celebrated our Grandparents Event, which was heart-warming to see. Relatives enjoyed quality time with their grandchildren through craft activities and listening to the choir—a truly special day for everyone.
Looking ahead, this week’s highlight will be our Christmas Lunches, available on Tuesday 9, Wednesday 10, and Thursday 11 December. Payments can be made via Scopay, and please note the deadline is 9:00am on Monday morning.
And don’t forget—Friday is Christmas Jumper Day! Students can join in the festive fun by wearing a Christmas jumper and donating £1 to Save the Children or bringing a non-perishable item for our food bank.
Thank you for your continued support in making Hamble School such a vibrant and caring community. We look forward to another fantastic week ahead!
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.
Curriculum Information
You said that you would like more in depth information about curriculum areas. So once a fortnight we will now showcase a department and share a video about what students are learning. This week we will focus on Business Studies.
Curriculum Introduction: Business Studies
Events w/b Monday 8 December 2025
Tuesday 9 December
GCSE Dance NEA Duet Trio recording day
Christmas Lunch
Wednesday 10 December
Christmas Lunch
BFG Christmas Meet Up – Period 5
Thursday 11 December
Christmas Lunch
Friday 12 December
Christmas Jumper Day
Future Dates
Tuesday 16 December
Year 7 and 8 Panto Kings Theatre – Further communication will be sent this week
Wednesday 17 December
Community Carols – Sign up here: Community Carols – Wednesday 17 December – 3:30pm – Fill in form
Thursday 18 December
Care Home Christmas Craft Afternoon
Friday 19 December
Last Day of Term – Early Closure 1:00pm
Theme of the Week: Careers
This week in assemblies and Personal Development sessions during tutor time, students will be exploring the wide range of careers available within the Hamble community. By looking at local employers in areas such as engineering, hospitality, finance, and environmental protection, students will discover how their skills and interests can connect to real opportunities close to home. These sessions encourage students to think about future pathways and understand how local businesses play a vital role in shaping our community.
We are proud to provide these opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and start planning for exciting futures.
Here are five thoughtful questions Parents/ Carers can ask students about careers to spark meaningful conversations at home:
- What subjects do you enjoy most, and how might they connect to different careers?
- Can you think of a job where you could use your favourite skills or hobbies?
- What kind of work environment do you think you’d enjoy—office, outdoors, creative space, or something else?
- Have you heard about any careers recently that sound interesting? What appeals to you about them?
- If you could shadow someone in a job for a day, who would it be and why?
Funding Opportunity – A message from the Headteacher of King Edward VI School Sixth Form
Ahead of our application deadline in mid-February, I wanted to highlight a fantastic opportunity for a young person with potential in Biology/Chemistry to join KES on a full Bursary Award in the Sixth Form. The EPA Cephalosporin Fund, a trust established in memory of former KES pupil and noted Biochemist Sir Edward Abraham, provides a Bursary each year for a pupil joining Sixth Form from the state sector.
The EPA Sixth Form Bursary Award covers 100% of school fees, and extra costs like lunches, laptop and trips are also funded. Candidates need to have a household income below £46,000 and be planning to study Biology or Chemistry at A Level to apply. I have attached more information about this Bursary and our other Sixth Form financial support here.
Whilst entries for our overall bursary programme are very competitive, in the Sixth Form applicants’ chances are higher. So if you do know any families who might wish to apply for this unique opportunity, please ask them to email admissions@kes.school for more detail. We would love to hear from them.
Celebrating Success and Student Voice
Every Friday, our Headteacher, Miss Cambridge, hosts Hot Chocolate Friday—a special opportunity for students to meet with her, enjoy a warm drink and share their thoughts.
Students are nominated by their Progress Leaders for achieving excellent things during the week. This is not only a celebration of their hard work and positive attitude but also a chance for them to provide valuable student voice to help shape our school community.
Congratulations to all those who have been nominated —we’re proud of you!
Celebrating Our Staff: Weekly Recognition
At The Hamble School, we are proud to celebrate the incredible hard work and dedication of our staff. Every week, we present Staff Recognition—a special way to acknowledge those who go above and beyond for our students and school community.
How does it work?
Parents/ Carers, students and members of the community can nominate staff by using the Staff Recognition button on our school website: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/staff-recognition/ Your nominations allow us to share messages of appreciation and recognise the outstanding efforts of our team.
Last week’s highlights
We were delighted to see so many nominations for our Creative Arts Team, who received postcards in recognition of their creativity and commitment. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in your messages!
Your turn:
Before the end of term, we encourage you to nominate as many staff members as you can. Whether it’s for inspiring lessons, extra support or simply making a difference—your words mean so much to our staff.
Let’s continue to celebrate the people who make The Hamble School such a special place!
Support
As we approach the festive season, we understand that Christmas can bring additional financial pressures for families. As part of our safeguarding commitment, we want to ensure every family feels supported.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, we encourage you to reach out to us in confidence. We can signpost you to support such as:
- Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme: Hampshire County Council is now inviting eligible families to sign up to free school holiday activities over the upcoming winter holidays, as part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme. For this winter, all children who have applied for, and are in receipt of, benefit-related free school meals (FSM) need to register with the council. By registering you will receive a unique HAF booking code that can be used to book places with any of our activity providers. By registering you will receive a unique HAF booking code that can be used to book places with any of our activity providers. To register use the following link: https://shorturl.at/tbGzP If you have already received a HAF booking code, you do not need to re-register. Simply use your existing unique code to book directly with a provider. Please see below details of sites delivering HAF schemes in your local area over the winter holiday period. To find our more information and book places, please use the link here: https://shorturl.at/BRvJi Here you can search for activities and contact local providers directly to sign up to schemes. To find out more about the HAF Programme visit the connect4communities website. For queries, please email connect4communities@hants.gov.uk in the first instance.
- Food Bank: The Food Bank will be open in the Skills Centre on Thursday 18 December at 3:15pm-4:15pm. If you wish to collect items from us, please can come onto site via the Satchell Lane entrance, turn right into the Skills Centre Car Park and use the door from the car park to go straight into the first classroom on the right. Our Student and Family Support Officers will be very happy to help you. If you cannot attend on this day/ time but would to reserve some food, you can complete the form here: Community Initiatives – Fill in form and we will make sure we save some for you.
- Free School Meals – If you think you may be eligible, please visit our website here: https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/food-and-drink/
- Hampshire support: Hampshire County Council also provides a wide range of help through the connect4communities programme, including the Household Support Fund, community pantries, and holiday activity schemes. Find Hampshire projects and support here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/childrenandfamilies/connectforcommunities/supportforfamilies
Your child’s wellbeing is our priority, and we are here to help without judgment. If you would like to discuss any concerns, please contact your child’s Progress Leader at general@thehambleschool.co.uk
Thank you for working with us to keep our school community safe and supported this Christmas.
Exciting News: New School Meal Provider from January 2026
We are pleased to announce that from January 2026, our school meal provision will be managed by Chartwells, who will be taking over from Hampshire Education Catering. Chartwells is a well-established provider known for delivering high-quality, nutritious meals to schools across the country.
What will this mean for our students?
- A varied menu with a three-week rotation, ensuring plenty of choice and balanced options.
- Grab-and-go selections available from our food pods and deli for those who prefer quick and convenient meals.
- An extensive breakfast menu to start the day right.
We are committed to maintaining excellent standards and providing meals that students enjoy while supporting healthy eating habits.
What’s next?
Look out for next week’s Weekly Message, where we will share full details of the menus and pricing so you know exactly what will be on offer for your child in January.
Thank you for your continued support as we make this exciting transition.
Bike Registration
The local Police are going to be running bike registration sessions after Christmas. Please keep an eye out for dates in the new year or use the QR code on the poster to find out more information.
The Inclusion Team
This section is all about our Inclusion Team and the vital work they do to support students across the school. Each week, we will shine a spotlight on a different aspect of their role. This week, we are focusing on ELSA – Emotional Literacy Support Assistant – and how this support helps our students thrive emotionally and socially.
The Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) plays a vital role in supporting the emotional wellbeing of students within a school setting. ELSAs work with children to help them understand and manage their feelings, develop resilience, and build positive relationships. Through structured sessions, they focus on areas such as self-esteem, social skills, managing emotions, and coping strategies for everyday challenges. The aim is to empower children with the tools they need to navigate their emotions effectively and thrive both academically and socially.
It is important to note that ELSA is not a crisis intervention service. While they provide ongoing emotional support and guidance, they are not trained to handle emergency situations or acute mental health crises. If a child is in crisis or at risk of harm, immediate action must be taken by referring to the school’s safeguarding procedures and involving appropriate professionals, such as designated safeguarding leads or external agencies. ELSA support complements these processes by offering preventative and developmental emotional support, rather than emergency care.
Celebrating Achievements
The students listed below achieved the most reward points this week – Well done to you!
- Year 7 – Sofia B 7-4
- Year 8 – Jake S 8-6
- Year 9 – Elizabeth S 9-8
- Year 10 – Saksham S 10-2
- Year 11 – Scarlett W 11-4
