Friday 24th April
Co-headteachers’ welcome
We do hope that everyone had a restful and happy Easter break. The sunshine certainly seemed to help, as we enjoy longer days, bluebells a-plenty and so much to look forward to across the summer term at Simon Balle All-through School.
The focus of our newsletter introduction this fortnight is on leadership and governance. Firstly, on behalf of all leaders, governors and trustees, we wanted to thank you all. It is genuinely a privilege and pleasure to lead within such a special community; one where we have a shared belief in the importance of high academic expectations, yet where we daily live out there being no tension with a holistic education which nurtures every individual, and focuses on all that we can do to ensure every young person from ages 4 – 18 belongs, achieves and thrives. Mr Moss and I are always exceptionally grateful to be working with such committed and passionate leaders: whether from the breadth of expertise of our trustees, to the local link roles of our dedicated governing body, or to academic and pastoral leaders at every level, so valued, within Simon Balle.
A spotlight this fortnight firstly on a new and very significant appointment! Grace Mizon, from September 2026, will be Head of the Larch, in a slightly altered structure for us as a senior leadership team. As we know you all know (and certainly we all know!), Miss Mizon is an incredible leader who we are delighted to have appointed from a strong field. Miss Mizon will remain as an all-through senior leader, whilst also taking on this new role in order to ensure clarity and consistency in our large and thriving primary phase, working together with our primary leadership team, valued staff across the Larch, and, of course, all senior leaders.
A very warm welcome also to Mrs Patrick, who has joined us as an experienced and expert primary SENCO to join our large and collaborative all-through SEND team. Mrs Patrick is working closely with Miss Wood, Miss Mizon and Mrs Kirk, and, when she returns, looks forward to job sharing with Mrs Raven. Mrs Patrick is already enjoying getting to know our wonderful students and beginning to meet parents, particularly in our primary phase, and supporting those in transition to Year 7. Please do say hello!
As many of you may know, governance of any school requires an incredible commitment to values, vision, strategy and a dedicated, critical and supportive partnership with senior leaders. Mr Moss and I want to give an enormous shout out here to all of our governors and trustees – not least our outgoing chair of governors Mr Adam Cooper who has provided us with the very best support: always professional, offering unsurpassed knowledge and skills, consistently giving confidence to all. Please let us remember that the time, guidance and expertise governors and trustees give is always as valued volunteers. Please do refer to the letter sent by Mrs Sarah Mansfield – our new chair of the local governing body – sent separately on Wednesday of this week and linked here; we would be very keen indeed to hear from interested parties where explicitly related to areas that will complement our existing skilled and highly motivated governing body board. Please do reach out to us and offer to give back in a wonderfully rewarding way to our very special all-through community.
As leaders, governors and trustees – both experienced and new – we are proud to serve our community, always with our motivation firmly set on every student, ‘creating tomorrow’s citizens today.’
INSET Day – Monday 13th April 2026
On Monday 13th April, we welcomed staff back for Summer Term with a highly productive INSET Day, focused on strengthening our shared vision and preparing for the next phase of our school improvement journey. The day began with a warm welcome and an opportunity for staff to reflect through a staff survey, ensuring all voices continue to shape our direction.
A key focus of the day was training on Ofsted’s Renewed Education Inspection Framework. Senior leaders led a series of sessions exploring what this means for our school, with particular emphasis on understanding our aims in supporting all learners through a strong academic focus. Discussions around “Strong Foundations” in bespoke sessions about EYFS, KS3 and Sixth Form reinforced the importance of consistency, high expectations and age and stage appropriate inclusive practice across all phases of our all-through school.
Staff also took part in practical updates, including training on the new phone system, as well as valuable time in pastoral and team meetings to strengthen communication and collaboration across the school as we begin our final term for this academic year!
As always, safeguarding remained a central priority, with dedicated training on filtering and monitoring systems in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education led by Mr Brown, our Designated Safeguarding Lead. This session highlighted the importance of vigilance in maintaining a safe digital environment for students, while also recognising the role of safeguarding in supporting staff wellbeing and professional responsibility.
The day concluded with time in departments, teams and year groups, enabling staff to embed key messages and plan collaboratively. Overall, the INSET Day reflected our collective commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all learners within our ambitious and inclusive all-through community.
Ski Trip
This year’s ski trip, in the Easter holidays, to Bormio was an outstanding success, blessed with brilliant sunshine and perfect snow conditions throughout. The students were a credit to the school, acting as exceptional ambassadors both on and off the slopes, demonstrating enthusiasm, resilience, and excellent teamwork. Over the course of the trip, their skiing developed significantly, supported by modern ski technology and fantastic teaching from the ski school, all contributing to faster progression and greater confidence. Beyond the slopes, students also experienced the rich cultural heritage of Bormio, a historic alpine town often regarded as a cultural gem of the region, where Italian traditions, cuisine, and community added depth and meaning to the trip.
Phase 2 Trips – back with an exciting start to term!
This term has already been filled with exciting and memorable experiences for our pupils in Phase 2. Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic trip to Pizza Express, where they had the opportunity to make their own pizzas while having lots of fun in a real restaurant setting. Meanwhile, Year 2 stepped back in time during their visit to Mountfitchet Castle, exploring the historic site and discovering what life was like in the past while making connections with their history unit on castles. Back at school, Year 4 took part in an engaging Roman workshop led by Off The Page. Dressed up in costumes, the children fully immersed themselves in the activities, bringing history to life in a truly enjoyable way. Thank you to our families for the fantastic costumes and support on the day. Year 3 are looking forward to their workshop, linked to Ancient Egypt, later this term.
Chemistry
The UK Chemistry Olympiad is a prestigious and challenging competition that encourages students with a passion for chemistry to extend their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom. Aimed mainly at Year 13 students, it provides an excellent opportunity to develop problem-solving abilities, think creatively, and apply learning to real-world situations.
We are delighted to share this year’s strong results across Key Stage 5. An impressive 77% of Year 13 students achieved certification, reflecting both their hard work and commitment in their final year of study. In addition, 60% of Year 12 students were also awarded certificates, demonstrating great promise and enthusiasm for the subject.
These results are a testament to the students’ dedication and their willingness to embrace a challenging academic opportunity. Well done to all who took part.
University of Hertfordshire visit
Our Year 13 Chemistry students had the fantastic opportunity to visit the University of Hertfordshire, where they explored a range of advanced analytical techniques used in real-world scientific research.
From gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to infrared (IR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), students gained valuable insight into how chemists identify and analyse substances. As part of the experience, they even brought along their own synthesised samples of Aspirin, made in our school labs, to be analysed using these sophisticated instruments.
They represented the school brilliantly throughout the visit and embraced the experience with enthusiasm and curiosity. Thank you to the University of Hertfordshire for providing such an engaging and informative opportunity.
Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunities Blog, which includes:
- Unifrog webinars for writing personal statements and searching Universities
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Careers in Education
SEND
If you would like to speak to a member of the SEND team, you can book a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes with a member of the SEND team using the following booking link: Booking link
The school transport team have contacted the school to make us aware regarding a current Hertfordshire County Council consultation on proposed changes to the opening times of council-run day services and the way transport is used to support adults attending these services (the ‘Consultation’). Details of this are below along with a link to respond to the consultation:
Why are we sharing this with you?
The Consultation is not specifically about SEND transport to schools and colleges, and for the avoidance of doubt SEND transport is not part of the Consultation. However, the proposals in relation to the day services opening times and council transport arrangements could mean that, in future, some families experience a change in the type of vehicle used for their young person’s/child’s journey and we wanted to bring this possibility to your attention.
What is being proposed?
To change adults’ day service opening times and alter the timing of transport for day services. These changes would enable the council to make better use of our internal fleet by also using these vehicles to take children with SEND to school / college, where this is appropriate, and then transport adults to day services.
If these proposals go ahead, there would be no change to school start or finish times, and there will be no change to our SEND transport policy or your young person’s/child’s transport eligibility. However, a small number of young people/children may experience a change in the type of vehicle used, for example, moving from a car or people carrier to a larger shared vehicle such as a minibus, if this is appropriate to their needs. A change to your young person’s/child’s vehicle could also happen at any time currently without consultation which is why we are not including SEND transport in the Consultation.
We understand that transport is an important part of your child’s daily routine, and we want to reassure you that no immediate changes are planned. We will always prioritise getting children to school safely and on time in transport appropriate to their needs and confirm that children and adults will not travel together
The Consultation is open from 19 March to 13 May 2026.
Full details are available here: Day services opening times and council transport arrangements consultation | Hertfordshire County Council
Feedback from the Consultation will be presented to councillors at Cabinet on 15 July 2026 who will make the final decision. If it is agreed that the proposals will go ahead, the changes will be implemented from April 2027.
London Marathon – Supporting Miss Baker
I’m excited to share that this year I will be taking on the challenge of running the London Marathon in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Macmillan is an incredible charity that provides vital care and support to people affected by cancer, helping them navigate one of the most difficult times in their lives. This cause is very important to me, and I’m proud to be running to help raise funds for their essential work.
I have now completed 16 weeks of training in preparation for the marathon, and I’m looking forward to the big day.
If you are able to support me, I would be extremely grateful for any donation, no matter how small. Every contribution will go directly towards helping Macmillan continue the amazing work they do.
If you would like to donate, please visit my fundraising page here: marathon fundraising link.
Thank you so much for your support!
Library news
Speakers’ Corner
Well done to Samuel, Charlotte, Kieran, Jacob, Yuko, Mikeyla, Lucy and Emily for their informative and engaging Speakers’ Corner talks during the last term. Thanks to these speakers, we learnt how to play Dungeons and Dragons and how to write a script, explored the history of boy bands and the musical artist Yeolokre, gained new knowledge about WW1 and an unusual species called tenrecs, and recapped the past year in the news.
Speakers’ Corner takes place in the secondary library at lunchtime on Thursdays. If you would like to do a Speakers’ Corner next term, please speak to Mrs Stock.
KS3 Writing and Grammar Project
In September, we launched the KS3 Writing and Grammar Project. The project aims to maximise opportunities for consolidating understanding of grammar and also for more writing experiences across the key stage.
At the start of the academic year, our Year 7 students completed a spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) assessment. The results were carefully analysed in order to create a report to inform the English team of trends and priorities for teaching and therefore areas of study closely matched to students’ needs. This has been woven into classroom lessons within the units of study and there have also been specific linked home learning tasks set.
Also, as part of the project, students in KS3 are regularly completing ‘quick writes’ in class. These short activities encourage students to respond promptly to a stimulus. Each task has a grammar focus and is typically linked to the unit being studied. Students are also now completing a half-termly ‘free write’ in which a writing challenge is set and students are encouraged to respond with creativity and independence
Students are also becoming increasingly familiar with our writing ‘non-negotiables’. These are being referred to regularly in lessons and students each have a copy in their English book. Here is a copy of the non-negotiables, should you wish to print it and refer to it when supporting with homework tasks.
During multiple recent opportunities for student voice, we have been delighted with the feedback from students about the new initiatives. The students we met unanimously agreed that the ‘quick writes’ and ‘free writes’ have a positive impact on their learning. We are now considering options for how to further celebrate this work, as some students suggested that they would like more of a chance to share their writing. Comments from students included:
‘I am now more ambitious and try to do more than I would usually do’
‘You get to express yourself and it can be any genre’
‘I absolutely love a ‘free write’
‘They allow me to think outside of the box’
‘They help me get better – a free write helped me calm down and I had longer to think about what I was writing.’
‘Free writes are stress free.’
We look forward to sharing more news as we continue to embed the project initiatives into KS3. Thank you for your continued support.
New phone system
Over the Easter break, we upgraded our school phone system to make communication with families smoother and more efficient.
When you call, you’ll now hear a new welcome message.
- Press 1 to report an all-through absence (Larch, Secondary, or Sixth Form) and leave a message. Please clearly state your child’s name, year group, and reason for absence.
- To speak directly with the Larch, select the relevant option.
- Alternatively, stay on the line to speak with the Secondary office.
Thank you for your continued support as we improve our systems.
PSA
13th May, 7pm – Annual General Meeting (rescheduled)
An AGM (Annual General Meeting) is a meeting held once a year where we come together to review what has happened over the past year, including finances, reports, and key decisions. It is also a chance to elect committee members and discuss plans for the year ahead. We plan to hold our rescheduled AGM on Wednesday 13th May in the secondary library, meeting at 7pm as we did not have enough attendees to hold our AGM in March.
Good attendance at the AGM is important because it ensures decisions represent the wider membership and that the organisation can meet its legal requirements. The more people who attend, the stronger and more democratic the organisation becomes. Please consider attending our AGM, even if you do not wish to be elected as a committee member. We need a minimum number of attendees in order for the AGM to proceed.
Register your interest via the sign up link.
Larch Frozen Friday – Summer term
Each year, after the May half term, Larch families look forward to an ice cream sale after school, every Friday. We are looking for one or two people that are willing to take on the role of Frozen Friday Organiser. You will be responsible for ordering and organising stock each week.
We also need a number of volunteers to manage the weekly sales after school. If you are able to help, please complete the sign up sheet as soon as you can so that we can see if the sales are able to go ahead again this year.
Organisers and helpers will be shown what to do, if you are new to helping with this. Thank you in advance – without your help, we are unable to offer Frozen Friday.
https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY
Dates for your diary
A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.
- Mon 27th Apr: Y9 assessment period begins
- Mon 4th May: Bank holiday
- Wed 6th to Fri 8th May: Y7 residential trip
- Thurs 7th May: Public examinations start
- Mon 11th May: Y6 SATs week
- Mon 11th May: Y8 assessment period begins
- Mon 18th May: Y12 threshold exam period begins
- Mon 18th May: Larch class photos
- Mon 18th May: Larch student consultation evenings throughout the week
Wishing you all the best for the week ahead
Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)
