Newsletter 10 25/26

6th March 2026David Ayres

Friday 6th March

Co-headteachers’ welcome

As many of you will have seen through multiple media sources, the government launched their White Paper on Monday 23rd 2026, last week. We wanted to begin this newsletter welcome with assurance that at Simon Balle All-through School, and indeed across our Laurel Education Trust, we remain outward-facing as leaders; research-informed in relation to our thinking, policy and practice; innovative in the short, medium and longer term planning; and, most importantly, child-centred in all that we do. 

As we read, think, reflect and discuss all that is topical (within and beyond Simon Balle), it is always important to consider who we are in our special all-through community and what resonates with the national picture. Reassuringly, there is much indeed that strikes us from the white paper: 

  • ‘Our ambition for high-quality education therefore starts in the early years, where the foundations of future success are laid.’ 
  • As an all-through school, we could not agree more. We continue to invest in strong foundations for every child. 
  • ‘Schools’ curricula must be rich and broad, building every child’s knowledge and their skills so our young people step into a world of change confident in their ability to shape it.’ 
  • Our academic and pastoral pathways at Simon Balle are reflective of our 14 year journey of education, progressive and sequential, planned with depth, breadth and care. We are, as always, committed to ‘creating tomorrow’s citizens today.’
  • ‘Children attending school every day and participating actively once there.’
  • Our commitment is to support every young person to belong, achieve and thrive. Our staff team continue to work tirelessly to ensure that opportunities are in abundance. We know that when young people attend daily, and let us know if and when there are barriers we can support with, we are in the best possible position to offer irresistible learning and wonderful enrichment. 
  • ‘Parents taking an active role in supporting their children’s learning at home, believing again that their children’s success in school is their work and achievement too’. 
  • As we begin to consider transition once again, with secondary school allocations announced on Monday of this week, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you all just how much we value your partnership. Thank you. 
  • ‘The children in our classrooms today are the inventors, artists, creators, engineers, scientists, partners and parents of tomorrow. They will shape our country’s future – not just our economy, but our society. As they emerge from our schools, we need not just young people fit for the world of work, but engaged, responsible citizens ready to shape our country as we head towards the 22nd century.’
  • We could not agree more. Many of you (if not all) will recognise this wording from our vision and values at Simon Balle, shared in our open days, our curriculum aims, our strategic careers programme (ages 4 – 18), and indeed embedded into the holistic education we are proud to offer. 

As a forward thinking school, it is not by chance that so much resonates between what we firmly believe and daily live out, and the white paper’s stated aims.There is, of course, much to learn from the white paper in its totality and it is a privilege to lead and learn at this exciting time, whether related to the breadth of the curriculum, our continued passion for an inclusive education for all, or our willingness to understand more about changes to finance nationally – where we are keen to benefit from changes, being always on the front foot of what is to come!

Yet, as co-headteachers, we were privileged (once again!) to walk our all-through school this week, always focussed on the highest quality of teaching and learning at its core. To give you just a window into one period, we saw:

Yet, as co-headteachers, we were privileged (once again) to walk our all-through school this week, always focussed on the highest quality of teaching and learning at its core. This, we can be sure, will not change! To give you just a window into one period, we saw:

  • Our sixth formers as role models, across Simon Balle. Whether learning independently in the sixth form centre, or across art or science, preparing for A level music recitals (at the time of writing!), or with their discipline in lessons, from film (cinematography techniques) to physics, we are delighted that our sixth formers set such a high bar – our Larch students, weekly, aspire to their standards!
  • A love of reading. In Year 7 Accelerated Reader, to Year 9 study of ‘Salt to the Sea (Ruta Sepetys), it is evident how quality texts underpin our curricula. From reading aloud with fluency and passion to the importance of precise questioning to support sophisticated student comprehension and inference, it was clear across our English department and library that every young person is engaged in deep thinking, inspired by literature to compose creative outputs and motivated to self- assess and to improve. 
  • Active learners were seen in abundance, with teachers avoiding the temptation to over-talk, and instead engaging young people in meaningful tasks where they can apply their thinking. For example, geographers in Year 8 were grappling with country comparisons, using live data from the human development index, GNI per capita, life expectancy and more. Simultaneously, Year 7 scientists were engaged in scientific evidence discussions: how can they prove that the ‘disappearance’ of sugar in water is not a magic trick?!
  • We know that the precision of vocabulary shared by teachers is crucial to student understanding, and this too was evident across a range of subjects, from psychology (Year 10)- where students were challenged to apply key terms to case studies and theories, explaining their learning in each – to Art rotation in Year 7 where the language of ‘isometric crafting’ in DT and to a knowledge and skill-rich base in food technology were also causing great pondering and discussion. 
  • As we reached the Larch, our KS2 students were benefitting from the improved Spring weather this week, with a great array of active lunchtime options available – from a new tag rugby lunchtime league to creative gymnastics to farm leaders and much more. 

Finally, of course, we are always in awe of our students showing such dedication to their academic learning. In both Year 6 mock SATs and Year 11 core mock GCSEs, the same determination to succeed and reflection on next steps has been a privilege to see.

Over the past few weeks, students across the school have taken part in a range of engaging and purposeful careers activities designed to broaden their horizons, build employability skills and raise aspirations.

Year 9 students participated in Tesco’s “Store of the Future” project, spending a full day exploring the wide range of roles within Tesco Property, including location planning, planning and development, assets and estate, retail partners, and maintenance, energy and engineering. The day focused on developing key employability skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and confidence. Students worked collaboratively to design their own store of the future and delivered presentations at the end of the day, applying what they had learned. Engagement throughout the day was excellent, with students demonstrating creativity, professionalism and confidence.

During National Apprenticeship Week, students across all year groups explored apprenticeship pathways in age-appropriate ways. Form time sessions focused on understanding what apprenticeships are, the different levels available and how students can explore opportunities further. At Key Stages 4 and 5, lessons included subject-specific discussions to help students see how apprenticeships link directly to their curriculum subjects and future careers. Sixth Form students also attended talks from current apprentices and alumni, including representatives from Roche and GSK, as well as a Civil Engineering apprentice, gaining valuable first-hand insight into apprenticeship routes and workplace experiences.

As part of National Careers Week, students took part in structured activities using the Unifrog careers platform. Students in Years 7 to 9 completed careers interest quizzes, explored suggested career pathways and began linking their school subjects to future employment opportunities. Students in Years 10 and 11 researched specific careers of interest, explored both university and apprenticeship routes and considered the skills and qualifications required. Sixth Form students researched realistic post-18 options, compared higher education and apprenticeship pathways and identified clear next steps such as applications, open days and work experience. Throughout the week, students also engaged with a Virtual Careers Fair.

In addition, Sixth Form students were able to sign up for a series of careers awareness workshops with employers and alumni, including Deloitte, Business and Trade careers in government, industrial design professionals, Rosenblatt Law and Heyne Tillett Steel. These sessions provided further insight into a wide range of professional sectors and career pathways.

These activities reflect our continued commitment to providing high-quality, meaningful careers education that equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their futures.

We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all parents/carers who have generously offered Year 12 work experience placements. Your support is hugely appreciated and makes a significant difference to the opportunities we are able to provide. Work experience plays a vital role in helping students develop workplace skills, build confidence, gain real insight into professional environments and make more informed decisions about their future pathways. We are extremely grateful for your continued support in enriching our students’ career development.

Larch- Year 1 and 3 Home Learning showcase

Before half term, Year 1 and Year 3 held their half termly home learning showcase. The children went between the classrooms to look at and celebrate each other’s work. It was a pleasure to see the children sharing their work and excited to talk about how they completed their tasks.

Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to talk about and share their brilliant home learning projects last term. Our young artists explored the work of Henry Moore, creating their own impressive sculptures inspired by his bold shapes and forms. Others designed eye-catching mini world travel posters, showing wonderful creativity and imagination. Well done to everyone for their hard work and brilliant effort at home. It has been wonderful to see their excitement as they shared their projects, inspiring one another with imaginative ideas and celebrating each other’s achievements with big smiles.

Year 3 demonstrated fantastic efforts in their projects and maturity during the showcase, giving each other feedback and positive comments. Children wowed us with wonderful volcano models which we erupted (see social media), striking pieces of art linked to volcanoes and Georgia O’Keefe’s flowers, posters about the Seder plate and videos of light and shadow experiments. It was clear to see how proud they were of their hard work and dedication. We cannot wait for the next showcase!

Year 6 Mock SATs week

A huge well done to all our students for the fantastic effort and determination shown during this week’s mock SATs. We are incredibly proud of the focus, resilience and positive attitudes demonstrated in every classroom. These assessments are an important step in preparing for the real thing and the hard work you’ve put in has not gone unnoticed. Keep up the great work—you are all making wonderful progress!

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, please use the following Booking link.

DSPL3 (Delivering Specialist Provision Locally):

DSPL3 has coffee mornings coming up. 

  • Wednesday 18th March 2025 (10-11:30am) at St. Catherine’s in Ware
  • Wednesday 10th June 2025 (10-11:30am) venue TBC

This is a relaxed and friendly space where people could come for advice, support and a listening ear over a drink and a cake.

Library news

World Book Day Week

In the Larch, we celebrated the true meaning of World Book Day – reading for pleasure! On Tuesday, children across the Larch spent the day exploring our exciting book swap, where every child had the opportunity to browse a wide range of stories and non-fiction texts and choose a book to take home and keep. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm as pupils carefully selected texts that sparked their interest! Before half term, all children received World Book Day tokens, which they can use to choose a free book from their local bookshop, further encouraging a love of reading beyond school (more information here). Throughout the week, children also enjoyed reading together across year groups; for example, our Year 6 pupils shared stories with children in EYFS, modelling fluent reading and helping to inspire our youngest learners with their confidence and expression. We were also proud to host assemblies led by our Year 12 House Captains for KS2 and by our Larch librarians for KS1, who spoke passionately about recommended books, a book quiz and the joy that reading can bring. Each class in the Larch already benefits from a weekly visit to our well-stocked Larch library and many of our Year 5/6 children have joined our virtual Phase 3 Book club where they can recommend books to each other! Daily reading is vital in developing vocabulary, imagination and confidence, and we greatly appreciate your support in encouraging your child to read regularly at home and showing interest in the books they choose!

In the secondary school library we celebrated World Book Day with World Book Day Bingo. Well done to the winners!

Take a look at these recommended reads, as chosen by our students through the Get Rewarded for Reading scheme.

National Reading Champions Quiz

On Wednesday 4th March, 8 students in years 7 to 9 represented the school in the cross regional heat of the Senior National Reading Champions Quiz. They were competing against teams from schools across the country. They did a brilliant job! Well done to the whole team.

Reward trip to the annual Festival of Literature at Bishop’s Stortford College

On Friday 13th February, students in years 7 and 8 went to Bishop’s Stortford College for the annual Festival of Literature as a reward for their excellent effort with their reading and participation in library events. We met the award winning author Nathanael Lessore and heard from him about the writing process, his experiences of being an author, and the life stories that have inspired him to write. He also gave us a sneak preview of his new book. Well done to all of our students who attended the trip. They were a great representation for our school. Congratulations in particular to Clara who won the prize for asking the best question!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the current leaderboard for Get Rewarded for Reading:

Informed – our student-led magazine

Please take a moment to read the latest edition of the student-led magazine, Informed. Lots of professional hard work has gone into this and the editorial team are really proud of how it’s turned out.

https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/community/student-leadership/informed-magazine/

Dance festival

On the evening of Monday 2nd March, a talented group of 20 Year 6 students took to the stage for this year’s Dance Festival, themed At the Movies. The event brought together schools from across our sports partnership for a fantastic celebration of performance, creativity and teamwork.

After endless hours of rehearsal led by the incredibly talented Mrs Cox, our pupils delivered a show-stopping routine to Beat It by Michael Jackson from Thriller. Their incredible choreography captured the energy and drama of the iconic track, showcasing not only their dancing ability but also their dedication and commitment.

Moreover, the performance was packed with precision, confidence and outstanding team spirit. Every dancer played their part, supporting one another on stage and performing with enthusiasm from start to finish whilst their amazing costumes added to the impact, helping to bring the theme to life and creating a real sense of occasion under the stage lights.

For those lucky enough to be there in the audience, we know they would agree that the cheers and applause at the end were a testament to the hard work and passion shown by every single performer on the night. We are already excited for what next year will bring!

Strive & Thrive and Aspire & Achieve home learning support sessions

As part of our commitment to providing the best support for our students, we are continuing to offer our home learning support sessions in the form of Strive & Thrive for our students in Years 7-9 and our Aspire & Achieve for students in years 10 and 11.

These sessions offer fantastic opportunities for our students to complete revision or home learning in a calm environment in order to build confidence, develop positive study habits and encourage independent organisation skills.

Strive & Thrive (years 7-9) takes place Monday to Thursday 3:15pm – 4:15pm in G1.

Aspire & Achieve (years 10 and 11) takes place Wednesdays 3:15pm – 4:15pm in the 6th form learning centre.

All students who attend will be recognised with house points and we hope to see many more attending as this term continues.

FREE Courses for Parents

Bookings is now open for these Summer Term Courses.

All of the information and flyers can be found on the supporting links website: https://www.supportinglinks.co.uk/whatson.html

These are all funded by Herts County Council so are free for parents to attend.

Year 4 Crowned Rapid Fire Cricket Champions

Our Year 4 cricketers enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of sport as they took part in the Year 3/4 Rapid Fire Cricket competition and we are thrilled to share that they finished the event as overall winners!

Throughout the competition, the team demonstrated excellent teamwork, determination and resilience. Every player contributed, showing growing confidence with both bat and ball and supporting one another brilliantly in the field. Their positive attitude and sportsmanship were a credit to the school.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr Moses for preparing and supporting the team of Secondary Sports Leaders who hosted such a well-organised and enjoyable event. The pupils represented our school superbly and should be extremely proud of their achievement.

Congratulations to all involved on a wonderful all-through sporting success!

Trip to see Hamilton

History and politics students from Year 12 and 13 had the opportunity to watch a production of the acclaimed musical Hamilton in London’s West End, as part of their study of the United States’ constitution, federalism and the historical context of the 18th century. The show was phenomenal, and students were excited to spot references to events and concepts that they had studied, as well as getting the chance to experience one of the world’s most celebrated theatre productions. Maisie in Year 12 said “it was a masterpiece!”, and “awesome, wow” was the verdict from Lily.

Mobile Phone Expectations

We are writing to share a summary of our updated expectations regarding mobile phones. These rules are designed to ensure our school remains a safe, focused, and respectful environment for everyone.

Our core expectation is simple: from 8:40 am until the end of the school day, students’ mobile phones must be Not Seen, Not Heard, Turned Off, and In Bags.

  • Phones must be kept off and at the bottom of bags (or in a zipped pocket) to remove distractions, reduce incidents of bullying, and keep everyone focused on learning.
  • Sixth Form: Sixth Form students are allowed to use their phones only during Break and Lunch, and strictly within the Sixth Form Common Room. Phones must not be visible in corridors, the canteen, or anywhere else on the school site.
  • Consequences: If a phone is seen or heard, it will be confiscated immediately. Students or parents/carers will need to collect it at the end of the day. Persistent infringements or refusal to hand over the phone will result in further interventions.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us uphold these expectations so that our students are ready to learn.

Parent Staff Association

18th March – Annual General Meeting

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 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:.volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Larch Frozen Friday Organiser – 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 both after school and at 4.45pm for after Explorers.  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 can 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

Talks at All Saints

There are a series of upcoming talks at All Saints which students and their families may enjoy. They would certainly hit A level science, politics, PE and sociology type courses but will be interesting to all.

  • 8 March Prof Russell Cowburn – Faith in Science
  • 15 March Josh Dean MP – Faith in Politics
  • 22 March Mark Russell OBE (CEO of The Children’s Society) – Faith in a Good Childhood

Hertford and Ware District Foodbank

During the next few weeks as we approach Easter, Hertford and Ware District Foodbank are putting out a special plea for donations of Easter Eggs, as well as the usual groceries, so that they can make Easter a little more special for their clients. If you are planning to make any donations for Easter, they ask that any Easter eggs be delivered to either Foodbank
outlet by 13th March. They are still providing emergency food parcels for very large numbers of local people who are in crisis, including many children. None of this would be possible without the continuing generosity of local people and the support of local
schools, churches and businesses.

Donations can also be left at both of our front offices (Larch and Elm Sports Centre).

Dates for your diary

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

  • Mon 9th – Wed 11th Mar: Y11 core mocks continue
  • Mon 9th – Fri 20th Mar: Larch assessments
  • Fri 13th Mar: Music Prom (Concert Orchestra & Chorus)
  • Sat 14th Mar: Big Band evening
  • w/b Mon 16th Mar: Y12 Work Experience
  • Mon 16th and Tues 17th Mar: Y10 Geography field trips
  • Wed 18th Mar: PSA AGM
  • Thurs 19th Mar: Primary girls’ district football
  • Fri 20th Mar: Model United Nations Conference
  • w/b Mon 23rd Mar: Music exams (Y4-13)
  • Fri 27th Mar: end of term (early finish – 12.15pm)

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead 

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

Musical News 9 – February 2026

13th February 2026Heather Morgan

Welcome from the Director of Music

The past couple of weeks have been a time of celebration. Of excellent exam results (and so many of them) and an amazing Brass concert last night. Our aim is to have high expectations and musical pathways, but to inspire and ensure musicians love their music.

Next half term we have so many performances to look forward to celebrating our musicians. These take hours of rehearsal and planning, bringing our school and musical community together in quite a unique way.

Simon Balle Music is amazing. Thank you to everyone who is part of it. By working together, amazing musical experiences are created!

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Celebrating our Musical Curriculum

KS2 Curriculum

Year 3 have been making their own 4-beat rhythm compositions, using crotchets, quavers and minims. They have also enjoyed watching excerpts from the show ‘Stomp,’ which demonstrates how rhythm can be found in the most unlikely places!

 

KS4 Curriculum

Year 11 have started the exciting process of recording their ensemble performances. Our rock and pop musicians have been working on a Bryan Adams tune, whilst our wind and brass players have been rehearsing a variety of styles, from trumpet quartets to sax ensembles. 

Composition deadlines are fast approaching for Years 11 & 13, with the next step being remastering and polishing their pieces, alongside their important written accounts and logs.

Celebrating your Musicians

Exam Success

Trinity Exams

64 students took Trinity Music Exams last week, and we are delighted that 90% students achieved a Merit or Distinction. To achieve such a high standard is simply incredible.
Students have worked hard to get to this stage, and it truly paid off - the results speak for themselves! There were also a handful of students who had more than one exam last week, they worked hard to prepare for both! We are so proud of our young musicians!
Congratulations to all exam candidates! You can find all results by clicking on the logos!

Music Medals

Congratulations to the following students who have passed their music medals!

Piano 

  • Ariana for passing her Copper Music Medal
  • Ethan for passing his Silver Music Medal

Saxophone

  • Izaak for passing his Copper Music Medal

 

Larch Star Assembly Performances

Each Thursday, as part of the KS2 Celebration Assembly, musicians perform to their peers. Congratulations to the following performers!

Clarinet: 

  • Emme, 
  • Heidi, 
  • Queenie, 
  • Isabelle 
  • Juliette

Cello: 

  • James
  • Jacob
  • Finlay
  • Ethan

All-through Brass Celebration

Well done to all the Simon Balle and Mill Mead students who have put in so much work to creating fabulous music! A special shout out to the soloists of the evening, Poppy, May and Lincoln!

Thank you to Mr D Taylor and Mr Peach for the bespoke arrangements and the work to get the students to this standard, it is truly incredible!

Enjoy the audios here!

Newsletter 9 25/26

13th February 2026David Ayres

Friday 13th February

Co-headteachers’ welcome

Although this half term has been relatively short, it has certainly been packed with learning, enrichment, and opportunity. Over the past week, many of us have enjoyed the welcome distraction of the Winter Olympics, with its extraordinary range of events showcasing fitness, courage, resilience, and determination, qualities we strive to nurture in our students every day. In the midst of the grey winter weather, it has been a real tonic and a timely reminder of what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. And, of course, for those less inclined towards the Olympics, the Six Nations has provided plenty of excitement and inspiration of its own.

These values of resilience, aspiration, and teamwork are not confined to the sporting arena; they underpin our daily work as a school community. The Simon Balle Experience continues to reflect our commitment to creating ‘tomorrow’s citizens today’.From Reception through to Sixth Form, students benefit from a carefully sequenced journey that blends academic rigour with enrichment, leadership, service, and personal development. Each year group builds upon the last, growing in independence, curiosity, and confidence, supported by a rich programme of sport, music, student leadership, trips, cultural experiences, and community engagement. Whether preparing our youngest pupils to begin their learning journey or guiding our Year 13 students towards university, apprenticeships, and employment, we remain focused on nurturing reflective, outward-looking young people who are ready to contribute positively to the wider world. If you would like to read further here is the link to the website. 

A particular strength of our all-through model is the way these values are lived out across year groups. Students regularly work together, supporting and learning from one another. We see this powerfully through cross-year tutoring and mentoring, from Year 11 students supporting Year 7, to our Sixth Form working with Reception pupils. In the coming weeks, Year 12 students will begin mentoring Year 9, alongside Year 11, sharing valuable lessons learned about tackling GCSE courses and achieving strong outcomes. These experiences build aspiration and belonging, while allowing younger students to benefit from the wisdom, encouragement, and perspective of their older peers. This culture of collaboration is something we are immensely proud of and continues to strengthen our whole school community.

That same emphasis on curiosity, reflection, and personal growth is also evident in our academic enrichment programmes. I have had the real privilege of running the Mini EPQ with our Year 7 students each week, alongside Mr Truman and Mr Peters. Together, we have supported students in refining their titles, developing research skills, and thinking critically about bias, reliability, and different types of sources. They have also been guided through planning, time management, and structuring extended writing effectively. We are now turning our attention to speaking skills, exploring the traits of confident and impactful speakers, an area we are particularly passionate about nurturing through assemblies, speeches, and wider school opportunities.

It has been a joy to deliver the Mini EPQ in Year 7 while also mentoring our Year 12 students through their full EPQ. Current projects range from shark survival to the formation of political parties in the eighteenth century, highlighting the breadth of curiosity and intellectual ambition we encourage. It is a hugely rewarding part of my role and a wonderful reflection of the culture of enquiry and aspiration that runs through our school.

Sixth Form

Congratulations to Isabella on being accepted onto the Oxford University Floreat Scheme for Humanities. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work, dedication, and academic potential. We are incredibly proud and wish them every success as they take this exciting next step.

Larch Writing

We have been incredibly proud of the high standards of writing produced by children across the Larch this half term. Recent changes to our writing curriculum, including updates to year-group texts, have encouraged pupils to be even more ambitious, making thoughtful and deliberate language choices in their work. It has been a joy to see imaginative ideas woven throughout their writing, clearly inspired by the high-quality books they are reading. From newspaper reports to balanced arguments, pupils are demonstrating growing confidence across a wide range of writing styles and we could not be more impressed with the progress they are making.

Transcription (Handwriting)

This term, following guidance from ‘The Writing Framework’ we are introducing a new handwriting scheme in the Larch.  The aim is to give children a clear and consistent approach to letter formation, joins and presentation, so that handwriting becomes fluent and automatic.  Learning to write is a bit like learning a musical instrument and can bring a sense of pride and satisfaction when taught in a structured, supported way that allows skills to become secure over time.   When the basics are practised regularly and embedded, children are more able to focus on the composition of their ideas;  expression and creativity. By teaching handwriting in small, structured steps the scheme supports all pupils, including those who find writing physically or cognitively challenging, and helps children build confidence and pride in their written work as they move through school.

Working with Middleton to receive specialist CPD about Early Writing

Recently, staff from Simon Balle attended highly engaging training at Middleton Specialist Setting, focused on the development of pre-writing skills and the crucial stepping stones to early writing. The training was designed to support our youngest students and learners who experience difficulties with writing, offering practical strategies that can be embedded into everyday classroom practice.

The session explored a wide range of fun, effective approaches to early writing development, placing a strong emphasis on building the physical, sensory and cognitive foundations children need before they are ready to write. From developing fine motor control to strengthening mark-making and early communication, the ideas shared were both accessible and immediately transferable to our own setting.

We are incredibly grateful to the team at Middleton for their expertise, guidance and support. The training was not only informative but genuinely inspiring, and staff have already enjoyed implementing many of the strategies across our Larch community. These approaches are helping us to further support our learners with confidence, creativity and enjoyment as they develop their early writing skills.

Year 8 Solve it-Resolve it Workshop- Miss Gibson

As part of our ongoing PSHE programme, on Tuesday 24th February, Year 8 students will be participating in workshops led by Herts Young Homeless on conflict resolution. The aims of the workshop are for students to be able to: 

  • Identify the effects of their behaviour when in conflict.
  • Understand factors that can affect communication when in conflict.
  • Identify a positive change they could make when in conflict

ELSA – Get Work Ready Careers Day

On Friday, 6th February, our Year 10 students enjoyed a fantastic enrichment day delivered by ELSA Next Generation. The event was designed to simulate a corporate “recruitment carousel,” comprising six distinct workshops aimed at building employability skills.

Sessions included “Tower Building” with ELSA, “Product for Innovation” with Bowmer and Kirkland, the “Balloon Chair” challenge with Lovell, “Financing your Future” with Sarah-Jane Rutt., and a “Your Community” workshop facilitated by Susannah Parry.

A special thanks goes to the Simon Balle parents and carers who supported the vital “Interview Practice” sessions. Students were incredibly grateful for this first taste of a formal interview; while many found it more daunting than anticipated, the feedback they received was invaluable for their future careers.

Overall, the day pushed students to think about their teamworking, leadership and communication skills. We are proud of the engagement Year 10 demonstrated and confident that the experience has prepared them to better present themselves and work effectively towards their future endeavours.

Click the logo for Musical News 9 features the celebration of student success: Trinity exam results,  Assembly performances, along with the Brass Celebration audios, and finally an insight into KS2 and 4 Music Curriculum! Enjoy.
Thank you for your continued support – have a wonderful half term!

Library News

Harry Potter Quiz

We held our annual Harry Potter Quiz on Thursday 12th February. It was an excellent turnout with 64 participants. Well done to the runners up Noah, Jake, Holly, Riley, Mr Poley and Mr Dear and congratulations to the winners Thomas and David.

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

DSPL3 (Delivering Specialist Provision Locally) is holding a coffee morning in Ware and has asked for details to be shared. 

The Spring newsletter for DSPL3 can be found here DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – Spring 1.pdf. This includes a short survey to help the Local Authority understand the impact of the work and support of DSPL3 in your area along with details about upcoming courses.

Community Bench Competition

Learn with the Lords

The A-level Politics students recently took part in an online Learn with the Lords session –  

Last Friday we got the opportunity to ask questions to Baroness Pitkeathley, a member of the House of Lords. She answered very honestly and in depth for all of our questions and this experience definitely enriched our understanding of how the House of Lords works and how it should work in future.

Science

On 28th January 2026, 36 KS5 chemistry students took part in the UK Chemistry Olympiad, a prestigious competition designed to challenge and inspire young scientists. The Olympiad encourages students to push beyond the curriculum, developing critical problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and the ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

 The students performed incredibly well, and we are now awaiting the release of their certificates.

Absences

Please use the Leave of Absence form for holidays, sporting events and medical appointments longer than 1 day.

Use the email address Admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk for daily absences, medical appointments, general enquiries and questions.

Parent Staff Association

10th March – Annual General Meeting

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 10th 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 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.

volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Larch Frozen Friday Organiser – 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 both after school and at 4.45pm for after Explorers.  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 can 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 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: Y7 student consultation evening (in person)
  • Mon 16th and Tues 17th Mar: Y10 Geography field trips
  • Wed 18th Mar: PSA AGM
  • Fri 20th Mar: Model United Nations Conference

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead 

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

Musical News 8 – January 2026

30th January 2026Heather Morgan

Welcome from the Director of Music

We are moving into the assessment windows of exams, performances and achievements. A week of Trinity exams next week and at the end of term. Our annual Prom featuring the Concert Orchestra, choirs and chorus is in March, next to the amazing Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band.

Exams should be a reason for celebration - I can do this, look what I have achieved. Of course, they take preparation and focus, but so does so much in life!

Good luck to everyone next week in the exams, and in the future with preparation and practice. This is all part of being a lifelong musician.

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Celebrating our Musical Curriculum

KS1 Curriculum

Year 1 have been continuing their understanding of pulse through songs, games and movement. Year 2 are learning how to play songs we have learnt on the glockenspiel and starting to look at notes on the stave. Year 3 have been writing their own rhythm compositions, and performing them on untuned percussion instruments. 

 

KS3 Curriculum

Year 7 have been hard at work in the practice rooms each week, putting together group performances of ‘Blowing in the Wind’. They have been learning the chord progression on a mixture of ukuleles and keyboards, with one drummer in each group helping to keep everyone in time. 

 

Similarly, Year 9 are building upon their ensemble experience, learning to play the reggae track ‘One Love’ in bands. On a mixture of electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard and drums, they have been enjoying the challenge of learning more advanced instrumental techniques and aiming for strong polished performances.

Celebrating your Musicians

Exam Success

Congratulations to the following students who have passed their music medals!

Piano

  • Heidi for passing her Bronze piano Music Medal with Excellence

 

Trombone

  • Elliot for passing his Copper Music Medal on Trombone

 

Clarinet 

  • Juliette for passing her Bronze Music Medal with excellence
  • Ruairi for passing his Bronze Music Medal 
  • Heidi for passing her Bronze Music Medal with excellence
  • Emmeline for passing her Bronze Music Medal
  • Isabelle for passing her Bronze Music Medal with excellence

Larch Star Assembly Performances

Each Thursday, as part of the KS2 Celebration Assembly, musicians perform to their peers. Congratulations to the following performers!

Clarinet: 

  • Gabriel
  • Lucas
  • Isabelle
  • Bonny

Violin: 

  • Olivia
  • William
  • Sofia

 

 

 

Team Music Awards - January 2026

We are excited to announce our Monthly Team Music Award. Teachers across the department nominate students along with a reason - this could be for a number of reasons. 

The Team Music Award ensures students are recognised and celebrated within the context of their musical learning as achievements look different for everyone! 

Congratulations to our January winners!

Student Reason
Laney Brilliant flute playing in every lesson.   Working at grade four level after a very short time and showing huge potential on the instrument.
 

Sophie

  

For always being prepared for lessons. Her hard work has resulted in excellent fluency with notation reading and she has made fast progress learning the pieces for her Initial violin exam
 

Iris

  

For always working so hard in her lessons and at home, and for her consistently positive attitude towards her learning and orchestral playing.
 

James 

  

For really trying hard each week at home and in his cello lesson.
 

Olivia 

  

For coming back after Christmas with such a positive attitude to her piano learning which has really paid off in her practice at home and playing.

 

 

 

Vocal Recital

Well done to everyone who performed at this week's Vocal Recital, showing great confidence and musicality.

It was fantastic to showcase the performances to families and friends.

 

Newsletter 8 25/26

30th January 2026David Ayres

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)

Musical News 7 – January 2026

23rd January 2026Heather Morgan

Inspiring the next generation

This week we have been full on with our primary work. This is so important, for our primary musicians are the next generation! Every July when Year 13 leave, we are asked how we keep things alive and moving. Here is one example!

Bringing musicians from the primary phases of Simon Balle and Mill Mead together on Tuesday was amazing. I had heard so much about the Young Voices experience at the O2, so it was fantastic to finally take part. Months of organisation and so many rehearsals culminated in such a memorable experience, both for the musicians and families who attended. Such energy in performance, even at the end of a long day. The musicians were utterly fabulous, respectful and so well behaved  - a total credit to our schools and families. Thank you to everyone who has emailed in about the experience!

Music is so much part of our schools and the Laurel Education Trust. With Simon Balle Year 13 musicians about to perform their final recitals, it all has to start somewhere - being inspired at such a young age.

Mark Taylor

Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Young Voices

On Tuesday, Mill Mead and Simon Balle’s Year 4, 5 & 6 Choirs performed at the O2 as part of the Young Voices experience. 

The day consisted of rehearsals and an evening concert with over 8000 other students from all over! 

Throughout the course of the day, all of our students behaved so well, and their enthusiasm was unwavering, despite the fact it was a long day! Such fun was had and memories were made for students and staff alike! 

This was such a rewarding day for all involved, and a reminder to us of how incredible our students are! 

As staff members who attended, we are so unbelievably proud. Well done to all!

 

 

Celebrating our Musical Curriculum

KS2 Curriculum

Year 4 have started looking at the fascinating rhythms of traditional West African music! They have been playing complex rhythmic patterns on djembes and conga drums, learning about call and response. 

Later in the term they will move on to look at Indian Classical music; composing on Soundtrap using Raga scales, using Indian instruments such as sitars, tanpuras and tablas.

KS4 Curriculum

Our GCSE musicians continue to work hard on their coursework - year 10 are focusing on their free compositions, whilst year 11 are preparing for their performance recordings. Busy but exciting times!

Celebrating your Musicians

Music Medal & Exam Success

Congratulations to the students who have been working hard at exams!

Music Medals

Šimon for passing his Bronze Music Medal on Cello! 

Larch Star Assembly Performances

Each Wednesday, as part of the KS2 Celebration Assembly, musicians perform to their peers. Congratulations to the following performers!

Piano

  • Roux
  • Heidi
  • Ethan

 

What's On

There are so many upcoming Spring Term events to be excited about, please read all about them here:

What’s On

Career Opportunities 38

19th January 2026Ciaran Prendergast

Opportunities from universities and employers

Please note: some of these opportunities link to the student side of Unifrog. Once you’ve clicked on the link, you need to click ‘Open the link as a student’ to access the webpage.

🔍 Government Social Research: 2026 degree apprenticeships
The Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme is a four‑year paid apprenticeship, combining real-world experience with a fully-funded BA degree at the University of Kent. Apprentices contribute to evidence‑based analysis that helps shape national policy on society, behaviour, and public services. The programme builds practical research, data, and analytical skills, and offers a valuable pathway into professional social research careers. Applications open 13 Jan. Share with your students (deadline: 8 Feb)

💼 Buzzacott: 2026 accountancy and business apprenticeships
Buzzacott’s apprenticeship programmes offer students the opportunity to earn while they learn, gaining professional qualifications alongside real workplace experience. Apprentices work across specialist teams including Charity & Not-for-Profit, Corporate Assurance, and Business Services, supporting a wide range of organisations. With structured mentoring, paid study leave, and clear progression routes, Buzzacott provides a strong foundation for students considering careers in accountancy and business. Early applications are advised. Share with your students

Newsletter 7 25/26

16th January 2026David Ayres

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)

Career Opportunities 37

13th January 2026Ciaran Prendergast

 

Hospitality Opportunities

FuturesForAll are working in partnership with the Savoy Education Trust to offer an extensive programme of free, remote Hospitality, Food and Events work experience opportunities for students aged 14–19.

Chef’s Taster: Red Carnation Hotel Collection – 1-Day Remote Insight

Perfect as a first step into hospitality, this one-day remote insight gives students a genuine taste of working in hotels, without any long commitment. Delivered by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a family-owned group running luxury boutique hotels across the UK, Ireland, South Africa and Switzerland, students will explore what careers in hotels and hospitality really look like, from food, events and front-of-house to housekeeping, marketing and management. The experience is interactive rather than passive, with behind-the-scenes hotel tours, staff sharing real career journeys, team challenges and activities that build communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Date: 11th March 2026
Time: 9:00 – 13:00
Age range: 14-19
Application deadline: 11th February 2026
Apply here: https://finder.futuresforall.org/opportunity-detail/BA72E194-4D73-4C50-3B4D-08DE2CDC0F80

Hearty Main: Food & Hospitality Careers – 2-Day Remote Work Experience

In partnership with Food Allergy Aware Ltd (CLOSING SOON!)

This two-day remote experience is ideal for students who are curious about where a career in food or hospitality could take them and want to understand the industry beyond the obvious, with the added and timely lens of food allergies and safety. Students will hear directly from senior professionals including a Head Chef, VP of Sales, CEO, Consultant and Food Safety Officer, gaining honest insight into career journeys, progression routes and the realities of working in a fast-paced and highly regulated sector.

Dates: 10th – 11th  February 2026
Time: 10:00 -14:00
Age range: 14–19
Application deadline: 20th January 2026

Apply here: https://finder.futuresforall.org/opportunity-detail/B84807C4-2FFD-46B6-0144-08DE2363587C

Careers Week Special: “Order Up! Your Future in Hospitality Awaits!” – White Horse Inn

Running during National Careers Week, this two-day remote experience offers students the chance to explore hospitality through a real-world lens. Delivered by the White Horse Inn, students will hear from industry professionals, learn what it takes to get started, discover progression routes, and take part in a practical project that brings the industry to life. A certificate is included, making this a strong addition to CVs and applications.

Dates: 4th – 5th  March 2026
Time: 9:00 – 14:00
Age range: 14 – 19
Application deadline: 4th February 2026
Apply here: https://finder.futuresforall.org/opportunity-detail/E8685F78-B6A7-4781-68BD-08DE12D7EDC5

Alongside these highlights, students can access a wide range of other remote experiences across hospitality operations, hotels, events planning, marketing and customer service.  View the full menu here: SAVOY EDUCATION TRUST HOSPITALITY MENU

Chef’s Special: LIVE Remote Broadcast – My Career as a Chef: Deliciously Dyslexic

With Nick Jayne, Private Chef

We are also running a free live remote broadcast with Nick Jayne, a private chef who shares his powerful and honest journey into the food and hospitality industry. Nick talks openly about navigating education and work with dyslexia, and how passion, resilience and creativity helped him build a successful career. From running a thriving private chef business and collaborating with top restaurants, to developing recipes and becoming an author with the release of his book Deliciously Dyslexic, this session offers a refreshing and relatable perspective on success.

Students will explore how challenges can become strengths, how to identify what they do brilliantly, and how to carve out an individual and rewarding career path in food and hospitality. Particularly powerful for students who don’t see themselves reflected in traditional career stories.

Our Live Broadcasts are a perfect option for any younger participants as they are suitable for students ages 11-19.

Register here:
https://www.futuresforall.org/upcoming-broadcasts/my-career-as-a-chef%3A-deliciously-dyslexic

Not sure how our Live Broadcasts work? Click here to learn more.

 

Exploring Law Course: Studying Law at University

Aspiring law students are invited to join our free online course:

This online course has been developed by the University’s Faculty of Law to help students decide whether law is the right course for them.

They’ll learn the basics of law, explore fascinating issues in depth, develop key skills, and hear first-hand from university law students and inspirational figures from the world of law. Free enrolment gives access to the course for six weeks.

There are six weekly modules, and to get the most out of the course, students should aim to spend around 4 hours on each module.

Students can access the Exploring Law course for free for a period of six weeks. This free enrolment window is sufficient for students to complete the course.

Although FutureLearn (the platform hosting the course) describes this as “limited access”, students will enjoy the full course experience during their six-week free enrolment and they will be supported throughout that time by our course facilitators.

https://www.law.cam.ac.uk/access-outreach/exploring-law-course-studying-law-university

 

Cyber & Cryptography event with Lloyds Banking Group

We have an exclusive virtual Cyber & Cryptography event with Lloyds Banking Group this year for students to join. If you have a passion for AI, technology or cyber, then this event is for you!

Lloyds Banking Group is one of the world’s biggest financial services companies, with over 30 million digital customers. This makes LBG one of the industry’s most prominent players, and they want you to be part of their business via one of their student programmes.

At this event, they will share with you what it’s like to work at the bank in their tech divisions, how their teams are driving change on a global scale, and the routes into the bank that are open to you.

You will also get a certificate of completion once the event finishes, which you can use on your LinkedIn profiles and CVs.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LBG_Jan26

 

Insight to A&O Shearman In-Person Event – London, Y13 Students

Wednesday 28th January – 5:00pm – 7:30pm

Work for one of the Worlds Elite Law Firms

We’re excited to invite you to an exclusive opportunity with one of the most prestigious law firms in the world— A&O Shearman! If you’re a Year 13 student with an interest in commercial law, this event is for you.

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday 28th January
Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm- (Please arrive from 4.30PM for registration for a 5PM prompt start)
Location: London- One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD

Why Attend?
At this in person event, you’ll get a unique chance to dive deep into the world of

A&O Shearman, one of the world’s elite law firms. Known for their innovation and expertise, A&O Shearman has been at the forefront of the legal industry for decades. They handle some of the most complex and high-profile cases globally, working with top-tier clients from every industry. This is your chance to hear directly from professionals who have shaped their careers at one of the most influential firms in the world.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Career Opportunities: Discover what it’s like to work at the firm, and gain an insight into the solicitor apprenticeship programme that can kickstart your legal career.
  • Workshops: Commercial Awareness Legal Workshops
  • Hear about the distinct differences that set A&O Shearman apart from other global law firms
  • Exclusive Networking: Gain access to legal experts and discover how you can stand out in the competitive world of law.

This is an unmissable opportunity to learn what sets A&O Shearman apart, and how you can become part of one of the world’s most respected law firms. Secure your spot today as spaces are limited and get ready to take your first step toward a future in law.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AO_Shearman_Jan26

Musical News 6 – December 2025

18th December 2025Heather Morgan

Welcome from the Director of Music

Across the Laurel Education Trust, music has been thriving. Simon Balle Music leads the work and our passion for inspiring students through music has reached a new audience at Mill Mead. It is wonderful that so many are part of Team Music in both our schools. This newsletter celebrates music across the Trust and across our musical community, so that we can all share what our students are achieving and that the youngest can see and hear what they could achieve in the future - inspiring the next musical generation.

On behalf of Simon Balle Music, Merry Christmas and thank you for your support and working with us. We are amazing musical schools and an amazing musical community!

Mark Taylor

Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Celebrating our Musical Curriculum

KS1 Curriculum

The children in KS1 have been practicing our Carols for the service at the church next week. We have been focusing on projecting our voices, learning the words off by heart and how to stand when performing. The children are very excited, and I’m sure their singing will be a moving part of the service.

KS2 Curriculum

Year 4 have been exploring the wonderful world of Musical Theatre! They have sung a variety of songs from shows such as The Sound of Music, Oliver! and Cats, developing their voices and singing in split parts. 

Year 6 have been looking at the Romantic Era of orchestral music, delving into the magic of story telling through music. As part of this topic, they have sequenced in 3 parts to ‘Morning Mood’ by Grieg onto Soundtrap, challenging their keyboard playing skills and knowledge of music technology.

KS5 Curriculum

Years 12 & 13 have been hard at work with their compositions. Year 12 are currently working on their ‘free’ compositions, meaning they choose their own style to compose in; they have been very creative with their initial ideas, and are now developing their melodies. Year 13 are working on their Western Classical compositions this year, meaning they have to compose in a specific orchestral style, which is a real challenge. They have come up with some fantastic ideas so far, and are working on structuring them into historically accurate classical works. 

Celebrating your Musicians

Music Medal & Exam Success

Congratulations to the students who have been working hard at exams!

Trinity

Holly C for completing her Grade 6 Jazz Saxophone exam with Merit. 

Holly W for completing her Grade 6 Jazz Saxophone exam with Distinction.

 

Music Medals

Mimi & Ella for passing their Bronze Violin Music Medal. 

Havannah for passing her Copper Piano Music Medal. 

Olivia, Emmie and Ethan for passing their Cello Music Medal with Excellence.

Larch Star Assembly Performances

Each Wednesday, as part of the KS2 Celebration Assembly, musicians perform to their peers. Congratulations to the following performers!

Cello

  • Arwen
  • Seb
  • Oliver
  • Austin

 

Team Music Awards - December 2025

We are excited to announce our Monthly Team Music Award. Teachers across the department nominate students along with a reason - this could be for a number of reasons. 

The Team Music Award ensures students are recognised and celebrated within the context of their musical learning as achievements look different for everyone! 

Congratulations to our December winners!

Student  Reason 
James For designing and building an excellent trumpet table/display stand for his GCSE DT practical exam, which now lives in P9!
Lilia For her rendition for Lucky To Be Me, appearing as soloist with the Brass Ensemble in the Wind and Brass Evening in November
Ethan  For consistently coming to his piano lesson well prepared each week.
George  For working hard in the transition from reading coloured notation to actually reading music. Well done.
Dante  For working so hard at home in between lessons and showing such enthusiasm for learning new things. 
Alfie  For showing consistent dedication to his practice and musical development, and for his mature attitude to learning. He has also shown excellent teamwork and leadership skills in Rockschool. Fabulous contribution!
Laney  Has taken up the Saxophone this term and has done extremely well so far, working very hard in between lessons. 
Arwen  Arwen has made huge progress technically in her cello playing in recent months.
Alexander For making outstanding progress as a piano beginner with plenty of practice, inquisitive questions and a brilliant mature attitude to learning. 
Emily For demonstrating excellent effort and enthusiasm at the piano, and making exceptional progress! Well done
George For demonstrating an excellent attitude in lessons this term.
Phoenix  For excellent work in piano lessons this term. 
Daniella  Amazing progress through to grade four level.  Fantastic attitude and enthusiasm for learning.  Massive potential with your flute playing.
Emily  For superb progress towards taking your grade four exam.  Prepared for all lessons with a great attitude.  Great commitment to your flute playing
Samuel You have made such fabulous progress over the last couple of terms.  The potential in your playing is fabulous and I hope you keep the practice at the level it is currently at
Ruby For a fantastic solo of Once in Royal David’s City at the Secondary Carol Services. Well done!

 

Carol Services

Our school community came together for our wonderful Carol Services at All Saint’s Church this week. All who took part were fabulous and represented the school so well. It was inspiring to be part of these annual events, reflecting on how special it is to be part of Simon Balle All-through School.

Our amazing Music Ambassadors were an incredible team not only helping set up and pack down, but support our youngest musicians at the Larch Services. Team Music really is unique!

Do have a listen to the recordings and revisit the festive performances.

 

 

Team Music at Mill Mead

This term, Simon Balle Music has begun working with everyone at Mill Mead Primary School as part of the Laurel Education Trust. It has been lovely to work together and create as many musical opportunities as possible. 37% of Mill Mead students are learning an instrument - this is incredible! 

Mrs Nunn has been leading the curriculum teaching.  She writes:

Reception and Y1 have been busy learning about pulse through songs and movement, and recognising high and low notes. We have also been learning how music can tell a story, without needing to use words.

Y2 and Y3 have been learning to play songs on the glockenspiel, and we have started to discuss how notes can be presented on the page.

Y4 has had a great term being introduced to the violin and cello, learning to play a variety of pieces using the open strings. They have also been introduced to simple notation, including pitch and rhythm.

Y5 and Y6 have spent the term working really hard learning brass instruments, which culminated in a wonderful performance of pieces including ‘I Feel Good’ and ‘Jingle Bells.’

The recordings for the Brass performances can be found here:

All year groups should feel so proud of the wonderful progress they have made in their music this term. 

Last Sunday, the Mill Mead choir went with Miss Hill to the United Reform Church to sing as part of one of their services. Thank you to Miss Hill for all her support for Team Music Mill Mead!

Fife writes: We sang lots of Christmas songs and it was really fun. 

Honor writes: I really enjoyed singing the different songs with the choir and the church - they even gave us biscuits  at the end. I’m really excited to go back next year. 

Darcey writes: I really enjoyed it because we had lovely songs and the funny actions to go with them. I really want to go back next year.

 

Well done to everyone at Mill Mead - see you in January!

In January the Mill Mead Choir will be joining the Simon Balle Larch choir at the O2 for the Young Voices event. We are all really looking forward to it!

Please can everyone rehearse the songs over the Christmas break!