Friday 30th January

Co-headteachers’ welcome

There is nothing more important within our Simon Balle community than all we do to support our young people to feel safe and to belong. We know that where this is achieved – which, of course, is aspired to for 100% of our students and their families – young people have the very best of opportunities to achieve and to thrive, academically and holistically, and to be prepared as ‘tomorrow’s citizens’, ready to be successful in the next stage of their education and lives when they leave us. We invest in our positive, calm and unique culture and ethos at Simon Balle each and every day, because together – students, families, staff and leaders, governors and trustees – we are best equipped to support and challenge our young people to be the best they can be. We make no apologies for having high expectations, always supported in a multitude of ways. 

An important part of this is in our ongoing work to proactively promote a culture in which bullying is never accepted, and indeed, always addressed. You will have seen a letter from Mr Pooley in the autumn term whereby this year we are using the ‘United Against Bullying School Alliance’ to underpin our analysis and actions. A huge thank you to you all, as surveys in the autumn term have had a very high return rate – this ensures that our understanding of student experiences are accurate, and that we can target our next steps – as we are never complacent – with precision. More will follow in a standalone letter, but we would like to celebrate the following headlines here: 

• 200 responses from parents/carers, sharing that 91% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is safe at school; 85% of parents feeling that their child truly belongs with us; 85% of parents knowing how to report any bullying concerns. 
• 110 responses from staff (teaching and support staff), sharing that 98% of staff agree or strongly agree that students have a sense of belonging with us, 99% that students feel safe. 95% feel confident in understanding how to prevent and respond to bullying. 
• 761 responses from students, Years 5 – 13. 86% say that they always get on well with their teachers; 87% say that there is never any physical bullying; 91% say that they are never treated meanly online. 

We are always open to learning and to improving, thus we commit ourselves to: 

• Further and clear communication with parents in relation to how we strategically define bullying and our approach to educating and dealing with bullying. 
• Whole-school assemblies, Spring term 2026, to support students in fully understanding our restorative practice and communication: for example, with the defined stages in place to support both victims and perpetrators. 

In particular, please do support us with our upcoming Children’s Mental Health week! We are raising vital funds for Herts Mind Network, ensuring that mental health support is available to everyone in our local community. Our theme – 12 -reminds us that we don’t need to fix everything at once. Whether it’s 12 minutes of mindfulness, 12 reps of an exercise, or checking in on a friend at 12 o’clock, small efforts added together make a huge difference. Much more to follow in terms of our specific plans!

A huge thank you for everything you all contribute to ensuring that Simon Balle is a happy and safe environment for all of our young people. Our partnership between home and school is so valued. When students belong and thrive, the world is opened to them in relation to academic, and ambitious, possibilities of every kind.

Year 9 Preferences

It was wonderful to see so many families on Wednesday for the Year 9 Preferences evening. The rooms were buzzing with excitement,  there were lots of great questions being asked and the teachers were delighted to share their passion for their subjects. It was encouraging to see the year group thinking seriously about their futures, considering careers and looking ahead to the next stage of their education.

Next Steps: Please ensure you complete your forms following your guided pathway. If you have any questions regarding the process, or the pathway you are guided to, please email: y9preferences@simonballe.herts.sch.uk

You can also view the Preference Information Booklet 2025/26 and the assembly presentation slides on the Year 9 Google Classroom or click the following link to see just the information booklet: Year 9 Preference Booklet 2025/26

Submission Process To ensure all choices are entered correctly, I need to check the forms personally with each student. Therefore:

• Forms must be handed directly to me (Miss J Green) in my office.
• Please do not hand forms to form tutors or other staff.
• I am available before school, at break, lunch, or after school.

Deadline: Monday 23rd February (This is the first day back after half term).

You are also welcome to hand your form in any time before this date. Any necessary follow-up meetings regarding preferences will be arranged in March.

Thank you,

Miss J Green 

Head of Year 9

Staffing

We are writing to inform parents and carers across our all-through community that we are delighted to welcome Mrs Patrick, who will be joining us as SENCo from the start of the Summer Term 2026. Mrs Patrick is an experienced SENCo, having worked both within school settings and the Local Authority, and we are very much looking forward to her becoming part of our Simon Balle All-through team welcoming her breadth of knowledge and expertise in this important area of school life. 

As many of you in our Larch community will already be aware, Mrs Raven, Primary SENCo, will be going on maternity leave at the end of this half term. She will return next academic year further reinforcing and widening the expertise in our all-through SEND team once again.

Over the course of this week, Miss Mizon, Assistant Headteacher, and Mrs Raven, Larch SENCo, will be in contact with parents of children with SEND in our Larch community to organise meeting times with Mrs Patrick. They will also share details of an upcoming coffee morning where parents will have the opportunity to meet members of our all-through SEND team, including Mrs Patrick.

We look forward to welcoming Mrs Patrick to our Simon Balle All-through community and wish Mrs Raven the very best with her forthcoming maternity leave.

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunities blog, which includes: 

• Government Social Research: 2026 degree apprenticeships
• Buzzacott: 2026 accountancy and business apprenticeships
• Virtual work experience with Google

SEND

If you would like to speak to a member of our all-through SEND team, please schedule a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes by using the following link: Virtual SEND Team Appointments

Big Schools’ Birdwatch

On Monday 26th January, a team of secondary school students took part in the Big Schools’ Birdwatch which is a nationwide research project that helps the RSPB to monitor how British wildlife is doing throughout the country.

We observed the wildlife on the school playground, school field and woodland. We saw a variety of common species such as the blue tit, robin, black-headed gull, carrion crow and jackdaw. We also saw some more unusual birds such as the song thrush, redwing and pied wagtail. Two grey squirrels were spotted chasing each other around a tree and we enjoyed seeing a fresh white carpet of snowdrops in the woodland. 

Our results were submitted to the RSPB to be added to their national data. Well done to the birdwatching team!

Calling our Larch bakers!

The House Leaders are launching a Valentine baking competition. Please bake a Valentine treat, take a photo of it and email your photo to Ms Cannon. The winners will be announced in the House Leader assembly after half term. The deadline to enter is Monday 23rd February. Please email your photos (with your child’s name and class) to: cannonh@simonballe.herts.sch.uk. Many thanks and good luck!

Please enjoy our Musical News 8 – so much to celebrate!

Harry Potter Quiz

We have the annual Harry Potter quiz for secondary school students in the secondary library on Thursday 12th February.

Larch Wet Play Games

We always aim for the children to go outside during break and lunch, however in particularly poor weather conditions children spend time in their classrooms to play with their friends. If you have any spare games at home that you would be happy to donate for children to use during indoor play, please drop them to the Larch office. Please ensure any games dropped off have all parts, are in good condition and do not have any electrical parts requiring batteries. This could include card games such as Uno and Top Trumps, Lego and other traditional board games that can be played at tables.

Parent Staff Association

Spring Music events – bar support needed

Spring is a busy time for the secondary music community with the Concert Orchestra’s Music Prom on 13th March followed by Big Band on 14th and in April the Brass and Wind evening on 25th.

The PSA likes to support these wonderful evenings by running a licensed bar.  Are you able to help? Sign up here.

Annual General Meeting advanced notice: 18th March

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 AGM on Wednesday 18th March in the secondary library, meeting at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Good attendance at the AGM is important because it ensures decisions represent the wider all-through community and that we can meet our legal requirements. The more people who attend, the stronger and more democratic our 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.volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Dates for your diary

A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.

• W/b 2nd Feb: Y10 assessment week
• Wed 4th and Thurs 5th Feb: Y11 pathway meetings
• Wed 4th Feb: Y11 performance clinic
• Fri 6th Feb: Y10 ELSA careers day
• Mon 16th – Fri 20th Feb: Half term holiday
• Thurs 26th Feb: Y13 student consultation evening (in person)
• Mon 2nd Mar: Y11 core mocks start
• Wed 4th Mar: Y13 student consultation evening (in person)

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead 

Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)

Friday 16th January

Co-headteachers’ welcome

As we set our New Year resolutions, I will admit to being personally guilty of seeing them falter by mid-January. Reflecting on why, it is usually because the goals were unmanageable or lacked a concrete plan. In education, we often speak of clarity and consistency; sustainable progress is built on realistic steps and a clear sense of purpose—values we strive to model for our students every day.

With the new term underway, our oldest students have now submitted their UCAS applications. While a milestone, this is only one of several vital pathways we support. The apprenticeship route continues to grow rapidly, offering exceptional opportunities across diverse industries. We are proud of our local reputation for excellence in apprenticeship guidance, recently highlighted when our Assistant Headteacher was invited to speak at a national event on the expanding landscape of vocational opportunities.

Careers education remains a cornerstone of our all-through curriculum. Recent highlights range from a live court trial experience for the Sixth Form to a series of visits from industry leaders. This term, our focus is to embed career links into every subject, helping students understand not only what they are learning, but why it matters in the professional world.

Underpinning these achievements is a culture of aspiration, confidence, and leadership. A unique strength of our all-through setting is the way older students mentor their younger peers. As Robert Ingersoll wrote, “We rise by lifting others.” This ethos is visible daily, and we are working to further embed leadership opportunities across all year groups via the School Parliament.

As we settle into the term, I wish everyone a purposeful start to 2026—one built not on grand resolutions, but on the small, meaningful steps that move us forward together.

Celebrating Our INSET Day: Strengthening Our Community and Practice

Our whole-school INSET day on Monday 5th January was a valuable opportunity for staff to come together, reflect, learn and grow in preparation for the Spring Term. Warmly welcomed by Senior Leaders who set the tone by leading a meaningful session on our school’s culture and ethos, we took this INSET Day as an opportunity as a staff team to remember the values and expectations that unite our community and support every child to thrive in a positive, inclusive environment.

Following this, colleagues participated in the first of two training sessions delivered by Trauma Informed UK. A trauma-informed approach recognises that many children experience stressful or harmful life events that can affect behaviour, wellbeing and learning. A trauma-informed school seeks to support all pupils by prioritising strong, trusting relationships, emotional safety and compassionate responses over punitive measures. These approaches are grounded in research from psychology, neuroscience and education and aim to promote healthier school cultures where every child and adult feels valued and understood.

The training emphasised how vital it is for all staff to continue to understand the impact of trauma, to use relational skills and to contribute to a supportive culture where children can feel safe, connected and ready to learn. It also highlighted the importance of supporting staff wellbeing as part of a holistic approach to school life.

Later in the day, staff worked in their departments and phases to review the Autumn Term, share reflections, and set clear aspirations and action plans for the Spring Term. These focused discussions ensured that our ongoing development is purposeful and closely aligned with our school development priorities.

We’d like to share our thanks to all staff for their engagement and dedication as we saw yet another example of how their ongoing engagement and commitment to professional growth benefits our whole community.

United Against Bullying – Survey Update

Thank you to everyone who completed the United Against Bullying survey before Christmas. We received an excellent level of engagement, with over 200 responses from parents and carers, 700+ from students, and 150 from staff.

Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us better understand our community’s experiences and in shaping an action plan to ensure every student feels that they belong and are safe at school.

We will be sharing further information shortly, including clear guidance on how to report bullying concerns and our whole-school approach to preventing and responding to bullying.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a positive and inclusive school environment.

Preference timeline for Year 9 students and parents

W/C 19th January 2025 – Subject leads to present information about their subject to students during drop down sessions in the hall 

Monday 26th January – Preference letters to be sent to all Year 9’s stating their pathway in advance of preference evening 

Wednesday 28th January – Year 9 Preference evening starting at 6pm. Presentation in the main hall followed by a ‘Preference fayre’ at which all departments will be present. 

Monday 23rd February  – Deadline for preferences to be submitted (please note this is the first day back to school after the half term break)

Early March onwards  – SLT interviews to be conducted

PE and Sport

New Year, New Goals – Get Active This January!

January is the perfect time for a fresh start and a great opportunity to embrace a more active lifestyle! At Simon Balle, we’re encouraging all students to make a New Year’s Resolution to move more – whether that’s joining a new club, being active with friends at lunch time, or taking part in one of our fantastic extra-curricular sports activities.

Our extra-curricular programme offers something for everyone – from competitive team sports to recreational clubs designed simply for fun and wellbeing. Taking part in physical activity not only improves fitness, but also boosts confidence, reduces stress, and helps build friendships across the school.

Here is our jam packed extra curricular programme for this half term: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/sport/secondary-sport/

Let’s make 2026 the year we all choose to move more, feel better, and live healthier!

London Mavericks Netball Masterclass 

Last half term our most talented netballers from Years 8–10 were given a fantastic opportunity to take part in an exclusive netball masterclass led by London Mavericks. The session provided an inspiring insight into the high-performance environment of elite netball and challenged our students to take their game to the next level.

The focus of the masterclass was on attacking play, specifically dominant drives and creating effective space on court. From the very first drill, the intensity was high, with students demonstrating great energy, teamwork and determination. It was fantastic to see how quickly they were able to apply new skills and concepts into match play scenarios, a real testament to their coachability and commitment.

Coach Amy was extremely impressed with the standard of play and the level of talent across all three year groups. She praised the players’ work ethic, willingness to learn, and enthusiasm throughout the session.

Opportunities like this are invaluable for our students, allowing them to experience professional-level coaching and develop both their technical and tactical understanding of the game.

A huge thank you goes to Coach Amy and the London Mavericks for delivering such an engaging and high-quality session. We can’t wait to see how our students continue to build on what they learned as the season progresses. We are looking forward to the Netball Super League returning in the new year and aim to get tickets to watch some of London Mavericks’ games!

Feedback from the Cricket Master class

Before Christmas students were lucky enough to have some master class sessions from Coach Becky who is part of the Hertfordshire cricket set up and is an amazing advocate for girls cricket. 

Year 7, 8 & 9 were all given an hour session which helped develop their bowling and batting skills. The girls were given some new tactical ideas and some great new drills that we can continue to use in lessons. The students were engaged, focused and competitive and Becky was so impressed with how they developed throughout the session. 

At the end of the day the PE staff were lucky enough to have a CPD session with Becky on how we can develop our cricket knowledge and skills making for a fantastic scheme of work in the summer term. 

Festive Badminton

The secondary phase got into the festive spirit the week before the holiday with our first ever Festive Badminton event and what a brilliant way to end the term!

Over 130 students took part across the secondary bringing plenty of energy, smiles and festive cheer. From homemade T-shirts and creative christmas outfits to some seriously impressive badminton skills.

Huge well done to everyone who got involved and an extra shout out to our winners:

• Year 7 winners: Dominic K and Oscar G
• Year 8 winners: Rowan M and Bradley P
• Year 9 and 10 winners: Tom S and Mason K 
• Sixth form and Staff: Miss Newman and Mr Goodwin

Art news

Creative Arts Digital Suite Grant

We are delighted to announce that our school has been awarded a substantial grant from the Wolfson Foundation to create a state-of-the-art Digital Arts Suite, marking a major step forward in enhancing creative learning for our students.

This innovative new space will provide students with access to industry-standard technology, specialist software, and high-quality digital resources—empowering them to explore a range of digital skills and techniques. The suite will support both GCSE and A-Level pathways, enabling young artists to develop advanced technical skills, refine their creative voice, and build portfolios that reflect real-world practice in the creative industries.

The grant forms part of our wider commitment to expanding opportunities in the arts and ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape. With the new Digital Arts Suite, students will benefit from enriched lessons, greater independence in their creative projects, and increased exposure to contemporary digital arts processes.

We look forward to opening the space next year and celebrating the extraordinary work our students will create. This project represents not only a major enhancement to our arts curriculum, but also a vibrant new hub for imagination, innovation, and creative discovery.

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to contribute to civil society by supporting high-quality projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.

Since it was established in 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded over £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to around 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.

Subway Arts

We’re thrilled to welcome back the Subway Art Project, supported by Cllr. Rachel Carter and Hertfordshire County Council. This year’s display features a selection of artwork submitted by 2025 GCSE Art students from Hertford’s secondary schools. We are incredibly proud of the three students whose pieces have been chosen for exhibition in the London Road Subway—a space many of our students walk through each day on their way to school. A celebration of aspiration, community, and pride.

Life Drawing Workshop

Last friday our 6th form art students participated  in a  life drawing workshop which was a valuable and eye-opening experience for them.  It allowed them to develop their observational skills, improve their understanding of human anatomy, and work more confidently with proportion and form. The session encouraged focus, accuracy, and creative risk-taking, as well as respect for the professional studio environment. Overall, the workshop enhanced their artistic ability and gave them a deeper appreciation of drawing from life, which they can apply to future coursework and creative projects.

History

We’re pleased to share that Isabella, Year 12, has been offered a place on the Cambridge Higher Aspirations Scheme (CHAS) for 2025–2026. Following a highly competitive selection process, with nearly 1,500 applicants for just over 300 spots, Isabella secured a position on the programme and will be undertaking a series of supervisions in History including a residential placement. 

Congratulations to Isabella on this outstanding achievement!

Drama

A busy end of term in the drama department with a GCSE visit to Alexandra Palace to watch A Christmas Carol, Year 10’s performed their own piece of devised theatre for a year 3 audience and we took 42 Drama Club members (and  our sixth form leaders) to see the Beauty and the Beast pantomime at the Beam Theatre. A festive and theatrical end to term!

Simon Balle Business @ The Frost Fair

This year saw a fantastic presence from the Business Department at the Frost Fair—our strongest yet and a real testament to the subject’s growing popularity. Students from the Year 7 Make £5 Grow enrichment programme and Year 12 CTEC Business course showcased an impressive range of activities and products, all of which had been thoughtfully planned and professionally delivered.

Collectively, our business students raised approximately £380 for the PSA. But far more important than the final figure was the experience: developing confidence, embracing enterprise, and learning what it truly means to think like an entrepreneur. It was inspiring to watch students throw themselves into the challenge—showing the initiative, enthusiasm and resilience that every successful businessperson needs. Many were even applying pricing strategies on the spot, responding to demand and working hard to attract customers throughout the day.

In the months leading up to the event, students developed and refined their ideas, created marketing materials, and forecasted their costs, revenue and profit. Along the way, they gained invaluable skills in teamwork, communication and problem solving. Perhaps the biggest compliment of all came from a Year 7 student who asked, “Can we do it again in Year 8?” Well… you never know!

SEND

If you would like to speak to a member of the SEND team, please schedule a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes by using the following link: Virtual SEND Team Appointments

Hertfordshire Local offer – SEND Strategy 2026 – 2029 Consultation Link and Feedback opportunity

The latest DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – Autumn 2 is attached including details of their upcoming coffee mornings. 

Safety advice from the Fire Brigade

Please see the attached advice from the Fire Brigade about staying safe around frozen water.

THE DANGERS OF FROZEN WATER

Click here for our latest Careers Opportunity blog which includes:

• Hospitality opportunities 
• Law opportunities 
• Cyber & Cryptography event

Parent Staff Association

Spring Music events – bar support needed

Spring is a busy time for the secondary music community with the Concert Orchestra’s Music Prom on 13th March followed by Big Band on 14th and in April the Brass and Wind evening on 25th.

The PSA likes to support these wonderful evenings by running a licensed bar.  Are you able to help? Sign up here.

Annual General Meeting advanced notice

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 AGM during the spring term, please look out for more information. 

Good attendance at the AGM is important because it ensures decisions represent the wider all-through community and that we can meet our legal requirements. The more people who attend, the stronger and more democratic our 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.volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Dates for your diary

A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.

• W/b 19th Jan: Y8 assessment week
• Tues 20th Jan: Young Voices
• Wed 21st Jan: Y11 student consultation evening (face to face)
• Tues 27th – Fri 30th Jan: Y10 Business Studies trip
• Wed 28th Jan: Y9 preferences evening
• W/b 2nd Feb: Y10 assessment week
• Wed 4th and Thurs 5th Feb: Y11 pathway meetings
• Wed 4th Feb: Y11 performance clinic
• Fri 6th Feb: Y10 ELSA careers day

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead 

Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)

Friday 5th December

Co-headteachers’ welcome

After our traditional Simon Balle long weekend, we do hope that all are a little rested as we embrace all that December has to offer! It is a month where so much takes place in our community. Firstly, academically, we are so proud of Year 9, Year 7, and year groups across the Larch, with assessment windows being completed as I write. We are deeply proud of the ways in which our students show wisdom and resilience – of every age! Equally we continue to be proud of our home-school partnership, which we value so greatly. Year 9 parents will have now received summary reports (via Arbor); and with each assessment window we work hard to communicate with parents/carers in relation to attainment (the raw score achieved), progress (in relation to targets set from starting points) and attitudes to learning (the most crucial indicator for success!). At the time of writing, we wish Year 11 every success in their mock exams. We recognise their unwavering commitment as a year group to attending revision sessions across this term, and their aspiration at our recent Experience Day as they prepare for sixth form studies. Good luck!

In every month of our school year, it is our privilege as co-headteachers to view school life holistically. Sometimes it is a challenge with so much taking place! From the perspective of enrichment, it has been a fortnight to recognise, truly, the breadth and depth of what our students are not only offered, but from which they engage and thrive. In the Sixth Form, we know that our enrichment offer of ‘more than just great A levels’ is quite unique, and the mock interviews that took place for all last week provided invaluable experiences, thanks to our wider Simon Balle parent and local community as expert volunteers. Equally, our Year 6 students performing Macbeth at BEAM was an incredible achievement across the year group: the professionalism in managing such a stage; the collaboration across all; the skills in language, oracy, music and drama; the learning which is almost impossible to quantify related to not just confidence but also English and therefore the whole curriculum! 

Please do continue to visit our Simon Balle webpages and social media in relation to both music and sport. We are delighted that both participation levels and a myriad of achievements would make it impossible to adequately summarise these here. Where we are absolutely clear is that there is a direct link, proven in national research, between the highest possible levels of student attendance; together with belonging in enrichment (in any form from any sport or music or art or drama or chess or reading or STEM or more!); which leads in turn to happiness and achievement. Please do stay very closely in touch with our pastoral leads – class teachers and form tutors – as we aspire for 100% of our students to belong to our special community. 

As I wrote above, December promises so much. Our Frost Fair on Saturday 6th December will be an afternoon of community celebration. We are so grateful to our PSA for their tireless work to raise crucial funds for our school whilst putting the community at the heart of all that we do – choirs, stalls, Christmas fun for all ages, our business students in KS4/5 showcasing their learning, and much, much more. Please do join us and support us! Christmas events beyond this are reflective of our wonderful community and we look forward to sharing these with you – whether your involvement is in a child participating in our Reception Nativity; to reading or performing in one (or more) of our four Carol Services; to our events to fundraise on Christmas jumper day; to our local charitable giving with Year 4 and Year 12 combined in our annual tradition with a Santa dash, contributions to local food banks … and more – thank you! 

This special season represents so much for us at Simon Balle. Wisdom in learning remains central to all that we do, and our staff are focussed here in every lesson to ensure that excellent teaching and learning are the core of what we offer. Yet through the above we hope we have given just a small insight into how we shape ‘Creating tomorrow’s citizens today’ – giving, committing to school life and embracing opportunities. 

Although it feels a little early to do so, this newsletter will be the last of this calendar year – therefore may we take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas, together with a joyful New Year in which we hope to continue to provide every young person with an education in which they can achieve and thrive. We thank you, each and every one of you, for your partnership in our educational journey.

Christmas is coming…

Christmas Dinner 2025

This year’s Christmas Dinner will be on Tuesday 16th December for secondary students, and Wednesday 17th December for primary students. The window for purchasing tickets has now closed. Secondary students will not be able to purchase any other food or drink at break or lunch on Tuesday 16th December, so students not having Christmas lunch will need to bring food with them (they will be able to sit with their friends in the hall at lunch). All students will need to bring a drink or bottle with them.

Carol Services 2025

Don’t forget the upcoming Carol Services – details can be found here:

Secondary Carol Service – Monday 15th December (Secondary)

Larch Carol Service – Tuesday 16th December (Primary)

Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day

• We’re taking part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 11th December! By pulling on our Christmassy knits and donating, we’ll be supporting children in the UK and around the world to keep safe, healthy, and learning. We’ll be helping them fight for the future they deserve. Just click here to donate £2 (or more if you’re feeling generous…) and it will go straight to Save the Children. The money we raise could go towards some amazing things like:
• £2 could buy a packet of seeds for a family in Kenya to grow their own food, after drought has killed their crops.
• £8 could buy a blanket to keep a child in Ukraine warm through winter.
• £15 could pay for two weeks of super-powered peanut paste to help a child beat hunger.
• £20 could buy enough supermarket vouchers for two children in the UK.
• £40 could provide a family in Gaza with a Baby Kit to give them the items they need to provide basic care to their infant.

Book Flood

Sixth Form Christmas Appeal – Donations for Hertford, Ware & District Food Bank

As we approach the festive season, Year 12 students and the Sixth Form team are launching our annual Christmas Appeal in support of the Hertford, Ware and District Food Bank. Christmas is a time traditionally associated with warmth, generosity and community; however, for many families it can also be a period of additional financial pressure and uncertainty. By donating, we can help ensure that local individuals and families facing hardship are supported with essential food and household items during this particularly challenging time.

Your contributions—whether big or small—will make a genuine difference. The food bank provides vital support to those experiencing food insecurity, helping to alleviate immediate need and offering families some comfort during the holiday season.

How to Donate

Students can donate by bringing items into school and placing them in the designated Food Bank Collection Boxes located in:

• The Sixth Form Learning Centre
  
• The Secondary Student Reception
  
• The Larch Main Reception

We warmly encourage every member of our school community to take part in this meaningful initiative. Your support will help us provide a brighter Christmas for local families who may otherwise struggle at this time of year.

The final collection date is Tuesday 16th December, after which the donations will be delivered to the Hertford, Ware and District Food Bank.

https://www.trussell.org.uk/

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us make a positive difference in our community.

If you or someone you know is struggling and would like a referral to the Hertford and District Foodbank, please see the flyer, or contact contact Tania Noxon on noxont@simonballe.herts.sch.uk or 01992 410400 ext 236.: 

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, please use this Booking link.

Musical News

There is so much to celebrate – fabulous concerts, student exam success, assembly performances and more! Please read all about it here

Team Music

United Against Bullying survey  

As previously communicated we are proud to have signed up to the UAB programme through the Anti-Bullying Alliance. As part of this programme, we will be gathering stakeholder feedback. Please could I ask you to complete this short survey (7 questions) by Friday, 12th December.parent & carer questionnaire link is here.

Science

We’re pleased to share that Dominic, Year 12, has been offered a place on the Cambridge Higher Aspirations Scheme (CHAS) for 2025–2026. Following a highly competitive selection process, with nearly 1,500 applicants for just over 300 spots, Dominic secured a position on the programme and will be undertaking a series of supervisions in Natural Sciences.

Congratulations to Dominic on this outstanding achievement!

 

 

Digital Dialogue

Year 12 student Grace: A-level Politics students recently had our first chance to interact with people involved in the US political system through the Digital Dialogue programme. We had the opportunity to participate in an online session with two ex-members of Congress (one Republican and one Democrat), learning from their valuable thoughts and experiences and enriching our understanding of the US political system.

Visit from Liberal Democrat secretary

The proposal to lower the voting age in general elections to 16 has made it even more important to ensure our young people are well-informed and engaged citizens. To that end, Freddie Jewitt, secretary of the East Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat Party, came into school in November to deliver a thorough and interactive session which gave all Year 12 students an overview of local and national politics. The session covered topics such as the democratic process, what local politics is responsible for and how this linked to the bigger picture nationally, and gave students an opportunity to ask questions about issues that mattered to them.

Politics conference

To round off a busy month for our Sixth Form politics students, 25 Year 12 and 13s attended the PolEconUK conference in Westminster in late November, with a range of high-profile speakers that included Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle. The conference gave students an opportunity to listen and ask questions to prominent political figures, some of whom had served at the heart of government in recent years, and showcased a range of views about contemporary issues.

English Literature A Level trip to ‘Othello’

The English Department were very fortunate to get secure tickets for the performance  of Year 13 set text ‘Othello’, starring a celebrated cast of David Harewood, Toby Jones and Caitlin Fitzgerald at The Theatre Royal in Haymarket. The performances and  directorial choices generated a lot of discussion, raising questions about the interpretation of the text and some highly controversial cutting of the play at the end. 

It is always helpful to see as many productions as possible and this reading of the text, with older characters playing the lead roles, put a whole fresh slant on how we might interpret the tragedy of ‘Othello’. As always, it was a privilege to spend time with our students whose behaviour and engagement are unfailingly impeccable.

Travel to school

Can we once again remind parents to respect the signage relating to parking both on the school site and in the surrounding roads. East Herts District council are happy for students to be dropped at the London Road car park (next to the fire station), and have a free permit system in place for parents/carers of younger students who could not walk unaccompanied. Dropping and collecting from London Road is faster for parents/carers as you avoid the congestion in Mangrove Road, and by reducing the volume of traffic you are making it safer for students walking to and from the school.

There are several roads and estates in the immediate area (such as Balls Park) which are private and enforce residents-only restrictions. The yellow lines, zigzags and no entry signs on the White Lodge entrance are in place to make the roads and pavements safe for all users. We would expect parents and carers to exhibit the same Simon Balle values that we ask of the students when interacting with our neighbours.

Changes to National Rail timetables

For those students who travel into Hertford North or Hertford East, please be aware that the timetables are changing on Sunday 14th December.  Please check https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/ for details as some of the changes are significant – you won’t want to miss your train on Monday 15th December!

Parent Staff Association

6th December – Frost Fair, 1.30-5.30pm

We are looking forward to welcoming you to tomorrow’s Frost Fair and wish to thank you for supporting this wonderful event.  From bottle donations, volunteering, purchasing raffle tickets, signing up to a King’s Group sponsorship board, teaching and learning songs and dances – we couldn’t do it without you.

We are looking to offer something a little different next winter – watch this space!

Frost Fair Flyer

Carol Services – helpers needed

Traditionally, the PSA hand out hot mulled wine, mince pies and shortbread at the primary and secondary Carol Concert. If you are able to help serve, please sign up here.

We also feature at the Music Department’s concerts throughout the year, where we offer a licensed bar.  These are ticketed events but volunteers receive complimentary entry.  If you are able to help – please take a look at the upcoming concerts and sign up to slot, or two!

Dates for your diary

A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.

• Sat 6th Dec: Frost Fair
• Thurs 11th Dec: Christmas jumper day
• Mon 15th Dec: Secondary Carol Service
• Tues 16th Dec: Secondary Christmas lunch
• Tues 16th Dec: Larch Carol Service
• Wed 17th Dec: Larch Christmas lunch
• Fri 19th Dec: early finish for all students (12.15pm)
• Mon 5th Jan: INSET day – no students in school
• Tues 6th Jan: all students return to school
• Tues 6th Jan: Y13 mock exams start
• Wed 14th Jan: Y12 student consultation evening (virtual)
• Wed 21st Jan: Y11 student consultation evening (face to face)

Wishing you all the best for the festive period

Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)