Report Your Child’s Absence | Report A Concern | Staff Recognition | Update Details

The Hamble School

Email

general@thehambleschool.co.uk

Phone

023 8045 2105

Weekly Message – 8 May 2026

As we move further into the exam season, we would like to begin by congratulating our Year 11 students on the strong start they have made. Well done to those who have already completed their Art Exam, undertaken MFL speaking assessments, and sat their first written exam in Drama. Their preparation and resilience are already evident and we are very proud of the commitment they are showing.

There has also been much to celebrate beyond the exam hall. Thank you to Mrs Bowman and her team for organising a fantastic trip to Matilda at the Mayflower—an experience that our students thoroughly enjoyed. We are also grateful to Mrs Turner, Mrs Holden and their team for delivering a brilliant Careers Fair for Years 9 and 10, providing invaluable inspiration and guidance for future pathways. In addition, thank you to Mrs Barkshire for arranging an excellent Royal Navy Careers trip for Year 10, offering a unique and engaging insight into career opportunities.

Our thanks also go to all Year 10 Parents/ Carers who attended the recent Parents’ Evening. Your support and engagement play a vital role in students’ success and it was wonderful to see such strong attendance.

Looking ahead, next week brings the start of the core written examinations for Year 11, and we wish all students the very best as they continue to demonstrate their hard work. Alongside this, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is also in full swing, with practice walks taking place this weekend and next. We wish all participants an enjoyable and successful experience.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

 

Next week is WEEK 1

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.

78-Weekly Message Question
Does your child know what to do to support their well-being?

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 11 May

Monday 11 May

Year 11 English Literature Exam – AM

Year 11 Business Studies Exam – PM

Tuesday 12 May

Year 11 Religious Studies Exam – PM

Year 11 Polish Speaking Exam

Year 11 Science – Biology Exam – PM

Wednesday 13 May

Year 11 Geography Exam – AM

Year 11 Computer Science Exam – PM

Thursday 14 May

Year 11 Maths Paper 1 (non- calculator) Exam – AM

Friday 15 May

Year 11 History Exam – AM

Year 11 Polish Speaking Exam

 

Future Dates W/B 18 May 2026

Year 11 GCSE Exams:

Monday 18 May – Science – Chemistry AM, Media Studies PM

Tuesday 19 May – English Literature AM, Computer Science PM

Wednesday 20 May – French AM, Religious Studies PM

Thursday 21 May – English Language AM, Business Studies PM

Friday 22 May – Physical Education GCSE AM, Health & Fitness NCFE PM

Friday 22 May – School closes at 3pm for half term.

 

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

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week we are placing a clear focus on something that underpins every aspect of students’ success: their wellbeing. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, our work is designed to move beyond simply raising awareness and instead encourage students to take meaningful, practical steps in looking after themselves.

In assemblies, we are exploring the theme of “Take Action.” We want students to understand that wellbeing is not something that passively happens to them—it is something they can actively support through their daily habits, choices and routines. At the same time, we are carefully reinforcing an important message: experiencing a range of emotions, including stress, worry or low mood at times, is entirely normal and does not necessarily indicate a mental health difficulty. Learning to navigate these feelings is a vital part of growing up.

Developing resilience is key. We are encouraging students to recognise that whilst support is always available, they also have a role to play in proactively managing their own wellbeing. This includes small, consistent actions such as:

  • Moving: understanding the strong link between physical activity and improved mood
  • Connecting: spending time with friends, family or trusted adults
  • Switching off: managing screen time and reducing the impact of constant digital input

We also believe it is important to work in partnership with parents and carers in promoting a balanced and constructive understanding of mental health. While we take all concerns seriously and support students fully, it is equally important that young people learn coping strategies and build resilience, rather than feeling that discomfort or challenge automatically signals a deeper problem.

By working together, we can ensure that students feel supported, empowered and equipped not only to understand their wellbeing, but to actively look after it.

 

Personal Development: Resilience and Anxiety

Our Tutor Programme this week dives deeper into the mechanics of “Taking Action,” with a specific focus on resilience and anxiety. We know that the modern world can feel high-pressure, so we are equipping students with a toolkit to navigate those feelings rather than being overwhelmed by them.

What we are covering in Tutor Time

Topic Focus Area Strategy Taught
Resilience Learning to “bounce back” from setbacks. Shifting from a “fixed” mindset to a “growth” mindset—viewing mistakes as data, not defeats.
Anxiety Understanding the physical and mental signs of stress. The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique to help quieten a racing mind in the moment.
Building Support Identifying “Your Circle.” Identifying which staff members and external resources are available when things feel heavy.

 

How You Can Help at Home

We know that sometimes asking a teenager “How are you?” is met with a shrug or a “fine.” To mirror what we are doing in school, try focusing on action-oriented questions this week:

  • “What’s one thing you did today that made you feel a bit more relaxed?”
  • “If you’re feeling a bit stressed about [exam/social thing], what’s the first small step we can take together to fix it?”

Building resilience is a team effort. By aligning what happens in the classroom with conversations at home, we can help our students realise that while anxiety is a natural part of life, it doesn’t have to be the pilot.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our community healthy, both in mind and body. If you are interested in this topic, the knowledge booster below will provide you with more information.

 

Parent Safeguarding Knowledge Booster: Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week (11 -17 May 2026) is a national campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation, running each year to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage meaningful action around Mental Health for children, young people and adults.

This year’s theme highlights the small, positive steps we can all take to look after our own Mental Health and to support the wellbeing of others.

Why Mental Health Awareness Week matters

Children and young people experience a wide range of emotions as they grow and develop. Feeling stressed, worried or low at times is a normal part of life; however, some students may need extra support to manage their Mental Health.

National guidance is clear that promoting positive Mental Health and well-being:

  • supports attendance and engagement in learning
  • helps young people develop resilience and coping strategies
  • reduces risk by encouraging early identification and support

Mental Health Awareness Week provides a shared opportunity for schools, families and communities to talk openly about well-being and to model healthy attitudes so that children become more resilience and developing a range of coping mechanisms.

How Parents/ Carers can take action at home

Small actions at home make a significant difference. Mental health organisations emphasise that regular, open conversations help young people feel safe and supported.

You can support your child by:

  • Talking openly about feelings and reassuring them that all emotions are valid
  • Listening without judgement, even when worries feel minor
  • Encouraging routine, rest, physical activity and social connection
  • Noticing changes in behaviour, mood, sleep or school attendance

These everyday actions reflect the core message of Mental Health Awareness Week: mental wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility.

When to seek additional support

Please contact the school if you notice:

  • ongoing anxiety, low mood or withdrawal
  • significant changes in behaviour or emotional regulation
  • increasing school‑related worry or avoidance
  • your child expressing feelings of distress or overwhelm

Seeking help early is a protective safeguarding step and allows the right support to be put in place promptly.

Support available

We take a whole‑school approach to Mental Health and well-being, in line with Department for Education guidance; Mental Health Awareness Week is part of this ongoing commitment.

Our website https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/student-wellbeing-resources/

includes a dedicated Student Wellbeing Resources section, bringing together information and support on Mental Health and emotional well-being, online safety, bereavement, counselling services and community support. Families can also find links to trusted external services, including NHS CAMHS courses and advice sessions for Parents/Carers. We encourage students and families to use these resources and to contact the school if they have any concerns about wellbeing or mental health.

Our safeguarding commitment:

Supporting students’ Mental Health is a key part of our safeguarding responsibility. Mental Health Awareness Week gives us a timely opportunity to remind families that you are not alone and that concerns will always be listened to and taken seriously.

If you have any worries about your child’s Mental Health or wellbeing, please contact the school so we can work together to provide support.

To support families further, we have included links to a number of high-quality, free online courses and resources designed to help Parents/Carers support their teenagers’ wellbeing, while also promoting independence and resilience:

These resources offer practical, accessible ways for Parents/Carers to build their own understanding and support their children in developing strong, lifelong habits for wellbeing.

 

Student Success: Liam’s Charity Football Match

We are incredibly proud of Year 11 student Liam T, who recently organised a charity football match in support of Maggie’s Centres. Through his initiative, determination and leadership, Liam brought together fellow Year 11 students and members of the wider community to take part in a fantastic event for a very worthy cause.

Thanks to the generosity and support of everyone involved, an outstanding £1,760 was raised. This is a remarkable achievement and reflects the strong sense of community and compassion shown by our students. Earlier this week, Liam and his friends had the privilege of presenting the donation to Maggie’s Centres, making the success of the event even more meaningful.

We are absolutely delighted to share that Liam’s hard work has also been recognised by Hamble Parish Council, where he was awarded the Community Recognition Award for Young People at the annual Community Award Ceremony. This recognition is thoroughly deserved, and we are incredibly proud of Liam and all that he has achieved.

Liam’s efforts are an excellent example of the positive impact our students can have beyond the classroom. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and thank everyone who contributed to making the event such a success.

 

Rewards Trips

We are very excited to launch our upcoming rewards trips and recognise the fantastic effort so many of our students have shown this year. Mr Clark-Lyons is currently busy finalising the exciting opportunities for students who have reached, or are projected to reach, 2000+ reward points.

All information regarding these trips has now been sent home to Parents/ Carers of qualifying students. If you were expecting to receive this information and have not yet done so, or if you have any questions, please contact us via general@thehambleschool.co.uk marking your email for the attention of Mr Clark-Lyons.

 

 

Mock Interview Day – Seeking Volunteers

We are excited to be hosting our Year 10 Mock Interview Day on Thursday 4 June, and we are currently seeking volunteers to support this valuable event. The day provides students with a fantastic opportunity to experience a real interview setting, helping them to build confidence and develop essential skills for college, apprenticeships and future employment. Thank you to those Parents/ Carers who have already signed up to help, we are also asking you to share this with family and friends who may be able to help. Volunteers do not need to be professional interviewers—just willing to give their time and offer supportive feedback to our students. Further information, including how to sign up, can be found above: https://forms.office.com/e/q57K4Dg6bq

 

Year 10 to Year 11 Transition

During the week beginning 1 June, our Year 10 students will take part in a dedicated Transition Week as they prepare for the important step into Year 11. Throughout the week, students will engage in our Achieving Excellence Programme, designed to develop effective revision skills that will directly support them in their upcoming Year 10 examinations and beyond.

The week will be action-packed, beginning with a launch assembly and including a range of key events. Students will take part in our Mock Interview Day, helping them to think about their future pathways and build confidence in professional settings. There will also be a celebration at the end of the week to recognise their efforts and achievements.

A key highlight will be the evening for Parents/ Carers and students on 4 June. This is a vital event in preparing both students and families for the demands of Year 11, and attendance is strongly encouraged. Please save the date and ensure you sign up, as this partnership between school and home is crucial in supporting student success: https://forms.office.com/e/XrSNdereqS

 

Year 11 Update

Our Year 11 students are now fully immersed in the exam period, and we continue to be impressed by the maturity and focus they are showing. A reminder that English Literature revision will be taking place in the Skills Centre this Sunday from 9:30am–12:30pm—all students are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend.

Students must ensure they are bringing their Top-Up and Warm-Up booklets into school every day, as these form a key part of their preparation and support. In addition, from Monday, our Year 11 Breakfast Revision Room (SC06) will be open every morning from 8:00am, providing a calm and focused space to revise before the school day begins.

If your child requires any additional support during the exam period, please do not hesitate to contact us via general@thehambleschool.co.uk , marking your email FAO your child’s tutor, who will liaise with the relevant member of staff.

To support students in maintaining a healthy balance, there will be no Tuesday/Thursday after-school interventions during this period, allowing students time to rest and revise at home. However, there is no study leave in place. When students are not in Top-Ups, Warm-Ups or examinations, they are expected to attend lessons as normal. As subject exams are completed, teachers will use lesson time to support revision for remaining subjects.

We are also very much looking forward to celebrating our Year 11 students at the Leavers’ Assembly on Monday 29 June. This date was confirmed earlier in the year and we were no aware of the Itchen College welcome event. We have liaised with Itchen College, who have adjusted their arrangements to ensure students are able to attend both. Students should attend the assembly in full school uniform and are encouraged to bring a spare shirt for signing, as this will be their final opportunity to be in school in uniform with their peers.

Finally, please note that in the weekly communication sent home, we have included a letter from Youth Impact for Year 11.

 

The Hamble School Festival

We are excited to announce The Hamble School Festival, a fantastic community event taking place on Wednesday 15 July from 6:00pm–8:00pm. This end-of-term celebration is a wonderful opportunity to bring our school and wider community together for an enjoyable and memorable evening.

There will be a wide range of activities and entertainment on offer, including sport, music, drama, dance performances, crafts, an art exhibition, stalls and plenty of fun activities for all ages. We will also have performance spaces and stages across the site, providing a great platform for showcasing student talent, alongside opportunities for local groups and organisations to promote what they do.

Tickets will be available from next week, and we encourage all families to come along and be part of what promises to be a brilliant evening.

We are currently looking for organisations, businesses and community groups to run stalls or activities. This could include local clubs, charities, craft stalls, games, food vendors or small businesses—anything that would add to the vibrant festival atmosphere. If you are selling products or making a profit, we kindly ask for a £10 contribution to the PTA.

Please do share this opportunity with family, friends and the wider community. If you would like to run a stall or activity, you can sign up here:
https://forms.office.com/e/YaPkKrVk2W

 

Whole School Production

Rehearsals for our production of High School Musical are now in full swing, and it has been fantastic to see the energy, commitment and talent from all students involved. The cast and crew are working incredibly hard to bring the show together, and we are very excited to share it with you. Tickets will go on sale after half term, and we encourage families to secure theirs early. A reminder that performances will take place on 8 and 9 July—we look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a brilliant production.

 

Lockdown Procedures

The recent lockdown practice was carried out very successfully, and we were pleased with how sensibly and calmly students responded throughout the drill. To ensure we are fully prepared in all scenarios, we will be conducting an additional lockdown practice during lunchtime this week. Students will be reminded of the procedures during tutor time so that they are clear on expectations and confident in how to respond.

 

Celebrating Achievements

We would like to warmly congratulate several of our students on their success in this year’s Rotary Young Photographer competition, which celebrates creativity, technical skill and the ability to capture a powerful response to a given theme.

David B. achieved an outstanding second place in the intermediate category, producing a high-quality landscape photograph that beautifully reflected the theme ‘Happiness in Nature’. Luanna-Grace G. also deserves recognition for securing third place in the same category, with an impressive close-up image that demonstrated both creativity and attention to detail.

In addition, Sofia B. and Sebastian T. should be highly commended for being shortlisted in this competitive event. Both students produced high-quality photographs that thoughtfully responded to the theme and showcased their growing artistic talent.

These achievements are a testament to the dedication, creativity and perseverance of our students. Taking part in competitions of this calibre requires confidence, commitment and a willingness to challenge themselves, and we are incredibly proud of all four students for representing the school so positively.

The students listed below achieved the most reward points this week – Well done to you!

  • Year 7 – Beatrix B 7-9
  • Year 8 – Zoe G 8-1
  • Year 9 – Cohen S 9-2
  • Year 10 – Bella J 10-4
  • Year 11 – Leoni B 11-7

 

Staff Recognition Reminder

At The Hamble School, we are incredibly proud of the dedication, care and professionalism shown by our staff every day. From supporting students in lessons to going above and beyond outside the classroom, our team works tirelessly to ensure all students are able to achieve their best and feel supported throughout their time with us.

As a reminder, we have a dedicated Staff Recognition page where parents and carers can share their appreciation. We know that much of what staff do can go unseen, but it has a significant impact on students’ experiences and success.

If there is a member of staff who you feel has gone above and beyond, whether through their support, encouragement or commitment, we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to submit a nomination using the link below:

https://www.thehambleschool.co.uk/staff-recognition/

Thank you for helping us to recognise and celebrate the fantastic work of our staff.