Friday 20th June

Co-headteachers’ welcome

In a world where uncertainty and challenge seem ever-present, from global instability to the rising cost of living here at home, it is more important than ever to hold fast to the values that guide us. At our school, we remain deeply committed to building a community rooted in kindness, respect, wisdom, and above all, hope. These values are not only spoken but lived each day through the way we support one another, challenge ourselves, and strive for excellence. They form the heart of our work as we continue to educate the whole student, nurturing character, ambition, and resilience alongside academic achievement.This means not only striving for academic excellence but also equipping our young people with the character, resilience and employability skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. Enrichment plays a key part in this, and we are proud of the many opportunities we offer to develop students beyond the classroom.

In the coming weeks, students will be engaged in a wide variety of experiences that reflect this ethos. Our Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition sets off on 30th June, with the Bronze award group following on 11th July, both offering young people the chance to build independence, teamwork and determination in a truly memorable way. There really is something for everyone: from our vibrant Art Exhibition to a competitive chess competition in the Larch, and a musical treat for Year 5 who attended a concert at the Barbican. Year 2 are enjoying a cultural adventure of their own with a trip to Windsor Castle, while our athletes are preparing for the district finals – the Larch competing on 26th June and our secondary phase following on 27th. What a fantastic and varied run-in to the end of term we have in store!

As mentioned in our last newsletter, our transition programme is now in full swing, and we are proud of the thoughtful, inclusive approach we take to welcoming new students and families into our community. In early years, nursery visits and one-to-one meetings with parents are already underway. These meetings are a vital part of our transition process, they allow us to begin building strong, trusting relationships with families from the very start and to ensure we understand each child’s individual needs and strengths. It also gives us the opportunity to share our high expectations and the nurturing support we offer, helping every child feel confident, secure and excited about starting their learning journey with us.

For our incoming Year 7s, preparations have been extensive and purposeful. We have already visited all of our feeder primary schools, provided tailored group tours, and hosted a SEND parent coffee morning, all designed to support both students and families through this important step. On 2nd July, we are delighted to be welcoming our new Year 7 parents into school for an evening of information and connection. While these transition activities take considerable time and coordination, the long-term value is immeasurable: students arrive in September already feeling part of the school, ready to engage and succeed from day one. It’s all part of our commitment to ensuring that every student feels known, supported, and set up to thrive.

We have also launched our Year 12 transition programme, beginning with a dynamic taster day for our future sixth formers. Students had the opportunity to sample A Level and BTEC lessons in their chosen subjects, meet their new teachers, and hear more about our outstanding enrichment programme. They also got a first look at our exciting plans to enhance the sixth form area, a space designed to balance focused study with opportunities to socialise, relax and collaborate. Our vision is clear: to create a sixth form experience where students are inspired to work hard, play hard, and leave us not only with excellent academic outcomes but also with the confidence, independence and ambition to take their next steps with pride.

And finally, please make sure our two much-loved community events are firmly in your diary. Saffron Sounds promises to be a truly uplifting celebration of our all-through musical talent, featuring performances from students across all phases as well as our exceptional adult choir, a showcase of creativity, collaboration and sheer talent. Hot on its heels is our Slice of Summer fête on the 12th July, a vibrant and joyful occasion that’s always superbly organised and warmly attended by families, friends and staff. Both events are a testament to the strength of our school community and a perfect way to mark the final stretch of what has been an inspiring and successful academic year.

Message to year 11 students

Dear Year 11 Students,

Congratulations on completing your GCSE exams!!!!! Wow, what a significant milestone you’ve reached! Over the past few months, I have watched you face the challenges of revision, the pressure of exams, and the determination to succeed with great pride. Your resilience and hard work have truly been inspiring. I couldn’t be more proud.

As you move on, I want to take a moment to say goodbye and to wish each of you the very best for your future. Whether you are continuing your education at Simon Balle or somewhere new, starting an apprenticeship, or exploring new paths, remember that this is just the beginning of many exciting opportunities ahead.

Thank you for all the effort, energy, and positivity you have brought to Year 11. You have been a remarkable year group, and I am confident you will continue to achieve great things.

Be kind to yourselves and others and embrace whatever comes next with confidence.

Good luck and take care.

Miss Green, Head of Year 11

Year 5 Barbican Trip

On Thursday 19th June, Year 5 ventured into central London and attended a school’s concert presented by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre.  The concert taught the children about the genre of the concerto and how this was a musical conversation between a soloist and the orchestra.  The presenter explained this in detail, with many examples from the musicians and we also heard from an amazing young pianist who performed as soloist.

The children had learned two participation songs in preparation and it was incredible to see them all singing in full voice along with a professional orchestra.  Other than the fact that all trains back to Hertford East were cancelled upon our arrival at Liverpool Street Station(!), the day went smoothly and the children represented the school outstandingly throughout.

Online Safety

This week’s free #WakeUpWednesday guide explores the Nintendo Switch 2, covering how its new features – from GameChat to a plug-in camera – could affect children’s privacy, spending, and screen time: guide to nintendo-switch-2

Y4 Hokusai mixed media Art workshop

The art and Design Team had a great time teaching year 4 monoprinting inspired by Hokusai ‘The Great wave’   . We created some beautiful monoprints which will then be added to a cardboard relief sculpture.  These will be on display at the Art and Design exhibition at the slice of summer.

Library News

Author visit

The author John Patrick Green came to visit years 2, 3, 4 and 5 on Friday 20th June and he spoke about his inspirational journey to becoming a graphic novel writer which started when he was in school, age 9. He then gave a master class on how to draw cartoons including his very own alligator characters from his InvestiGators series. 

Before his talk, John Patrick Green met Ollie, year 8, and presented him with a trophy to congratulate him for his winning an author visit to the school when he entered the book review writing competition last year.

Thank you to the Book Nook bookshop in Ware for helping to make John’s visit happen.

Year 6 visit to the secondary school library

Year 6 students have recently visited the secondary school library to learn about all the library clubs and activities they can get involved in and all the ways in which they can get rewarded for reading when they start secondary school in September. Well done to Samuel and Banu in year 8 and Lorcan and Alex in year 7 for your excellent presentations to the year 6 classes!

Speakers’ Corner

We have already had many fantastic Speakers’ Corner presentations this term and we have more lined up before the end of term. Well done to Henry, Vivienne, Alice, Kieran, Eva, Nadia, Jake and Lorcan for your engaging presentations.

Thank you also to Mr Poley who did a really informative presentation on the Cold War and the race to the moon.

Speakers’ Corner takes place in the secondary library at lunchtime on Thursdays. If you would like to do a Speakers’ Corner next term, please speak to Miss Iles.

Y5 Victoria Villasana Art Textiles workshop

Year 5 had great fun during an Art Textiles workshop this week. We started off with a photo shoot and then used the photos to heat transfer our head shots onto bags. Mrs Fish taught us different embroidery techniques, and we used Victoria Villasana as inspiration to embroider into the images on our bags.

Please click here for our latest Career Opportunity blog

A FANTASTIC SIXTH FORM INDUCTION DAY!

It was wonderful to see so many students ready to embrace the challenges ahead, eager to get involved in the wide range of opportunities on offer and committed to growing into the next stage of their academic journey.

Throughout the day, students explored the ethos and culture of Simon Balle Sixth Form, attended taster lessons in their chosen subjects, and spent time in our dedicated Sixth Form Learning Centre with current students, who provided tours and answered questions.

After break, teamwork challenges set by the Sixth Form team brought students together, and it was inspiring to see how quickly those from different schools felt welcomed by our community and threw themselves into the enrichment activities.

We can’t wait to celebrate your success on GCSE Results Day in August. Thank you for your enthusiasm, energy and brilliance today – we’re excited to work with you all in September.

Y3 Egyptian Day

Year 3 had a fantastic time during our Egyptian Day, diving into the wonders of Ancient Egypt with a range of hands-on activities. Thank you to Lisa from History Off The Page for making the day so memorable. Pupils made their own perfume and designed beautiful cartouches as well as many other practical tasks. A huge thank you to our amazing parent helpers and all of the Year 3 families for the children’s amazing costumes. In the afternoon, the children showcased their acting talents by performing Egyptian myths, including the story of Isis and Osiris and the thrilling tale of the wax crocodile. A truly unforgettable day of history, creativity and fun!

Donations wanted

If your child (Y11 or Y13) has come to the end of their exams, please could we ask that if they have any revision guides for any of their subjects that they no longer need, that they please bring them into school. There is a box in The Elm reception area  for them to put any revision guides they wish to donate.  Later we will offer these to current students to help them prepare for their exams next year.  We have found in the past that students really appreciate this support. 

We are also looking for any old items of primary or secondary school uniform that can be reused by other families. This can also be left at the Elm reception area.

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 Community NHS Trust Newsletters

Please find attached the Summer Term newsletters from the school nursing team:

Newsletter Primary 2025 29.05.25 SUMMER

Newsletter 2025 Teen 29.05.25 SUMMER

Supporting Links – Parent & Carer support

This term we have held two face to face workshops for our parents and carers, which have been well attended and appreciated. A huge thank you to supporting links for the fantastic delivery and for the engagement of our parents and carers. Please can I remind you that if you book on these sessions, it is so important you attend or give notice if you are unable too. We had long waiting lists for both sessions and a number of parents / carers did not attend or cancelled last minute. We will look to put on more sessions in the next academic year but in the meantime please see attached the workshops that are on offer online in the Autumn term. 

Thanks 

Mr Pooley

Supporting Links Course Brochure Autumn 25

Y3 Gaudi mosaic workshop

We are looking forward to working with year 3 next week on the final part of their Gaudi workshop. Following on from their stained glass resin windows we will be adding to our Gaudi garden. This is currently an uninviting space within the Creative Arts area that could be used as a learning environment. We would like this area to become a wash of glass mosaics that will stand a lifetime of learning alongside natural forms of plants and shrubs that our students can use for observational drawing and photography. 

If you would like to support this project or have connections with garden design, planting or artificial grass we would welcome your support.  If you would like to make a small donation towards the long standing Gaudi garden please donate here https://www.goodhub.com/go/simon-balle-art-development

Art and Design Exhibition

We are always in awe of the incredible talent our students show throughout the year in our all- through school. To celebrate all our students’ achievements we will be hosting our summer exhibition again this year and we welcome you to visit on the 12th July 12-4 alongside the Slice of Summer. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the exhibition on Monday 14th July during the school day.

Travel to school

We have updated the Travel Plan section of our website to include information relating to public transport. There are links to local transport operators and information about cost-effective tickets that you can purchase. Please see also this information from Arriva: Direct Debit Student poster

Parent Staff Association

Experience Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight!

Join us for a magical evening with Lumos Live and enjoy a Fleetwood Mac candlelight concert at the beautiful All Saints Church, Hertford on Saturday 28th June. Choose from two performance times: 7–8pm or 9–10pm.

By purchasing your tickets through our affiliate link, you’ll be supporting fundraising for the PSA, at no extra cost to you!

Get your tickets here.

Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and atmosphere!

Larch Frozen Friday

The summer term welcomes the return of Frozen Fridays. After school each Friday, kind volunteers set up a pop up ice cream shop in the Larch playground.  All items are £1. This year, proceeds will go towards supporting the Larch Computing fundraising initiative.  Please support Frozen Fridays if you can, by purchasing an ice cream or filing a volunteer slot. https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Here’s the list of dates and which year group will be running each sale:

• 27th June – Year 3. (Full)
• 4th July – Year 2. (Full)
• 11th July – Year 1. (Full)
• 17th July – (Thursday) Reception. 1 volunteer needed.

Thank you so much for your support — we can’t wait for a summer of Frozen Fridays!

Slice of Summer – Saturday 12th July, 12-4pm – Volunteers Needed!

We have filled 71 of 174 volunteer slots and need your help to fill more!

We’re looking for enthusiastic helpers from both phases of the school to support the Slice of Summer on Saturday 12th July (12–4pm). Whether you can spare an hour or more, we’d love your help running stalls, setting up, clearing away, or simply keeping the fun flowing. No experience needed, just a willingness to get involved and be part of our fantastic day.

To help with planning, choirs and dance groups from both phases will be performing at 1.15pm and 2.15pm.

Thank you for your support. volunteersignup.org/EQRA7

Inflatables offer

This year, we are offering £10 wristbands that give the user unlimited use of the inflatables during the Slice of Summer.  We have a limited number of wristbands available.  To purchase, or find out more, please visit the PSA website.

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 23rd June: Sixth form induction day
• Mon 23rd June: Y12 History trip to Berlin
• Fri 27th June: District Athletics
• Fri 27th June: Foreign Language Friday Food Fiesta
• Wed 2nd July:  Author visit with Stewart Foster in the secondary library
• Sun 6th July: Saffron Hall
• Fri 11th July: Larch Summer Accessory Day
• Sat 12th July: Slice of Summer

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 13th June

Co-headteachers’ welcome

We hope that all had a restful half term, and that the start to Summer 2 has been an exciting one. As Year 9 begin their GCSE preferences, public exams continue in Year 11 and Year 13, and enrichment from trips to music and sports is plentiful across the all-through school, it has certainly been a busy fortnight. We are looking forward to sharing achievements and success with parents, including, for example, with the Year 4 multiplication check (brilliant results to share) and the Year 1 phonics screening expectations check (equally brilliant progress and achievements which stand our young people in great stead for their ongoing learning journey).

With one foot very firmly in the here and now, it is an exciting time for all in team music. For our individual instrumentalists and singers, many – in fact 130 in total – are busy preparing for Trinity exams. This is an exceptionally high number, the most we have had in one month! As part of this, we have 5 students taking diplomas (normally expected to be a standard achieved at University, even for the most talented of musicians) – good luck to them all. Please do gently nag and positively encourage as parents the daily practice we know will lead to success. Performances for team music in the coming weeks include: Rock Gig at the Corn Exchange (12 bands); Years 2 and 3 strings and choirs (over 80 musicians!); Slice of Summer choir performances; and, of course, the much anticipated tour to Ghent. Saffron Hall has been in many, many families calendars since the extravaganza of July 2024 – and this year, we guarantee, will not disappoint – with 750+ of our school community contributing – no spoilers here! Music really is thriving at Simon Balle All-through School, and, as such, it is a great time to be introducing our music aptitude admissions rule for Year 7 2026-2027. Please read all information on our website here – please do share on neighbours, friends, families and more, including those living in the wider villages for whom this admissions rule will apply. 

We have one foot too in the exciting world of transition, with very young people preparing to join us in Reception; Year 6 – both Larch graduates and new joiners from across our primary feeder schools – joining us in Year 7; Year 11 considering their sixth form pathways; and all of our wonderful 1600 students preparing for changes as they journey on to the next year. We pride ourselves on high levels of support and information aplenty to anticipate and look forward to the multitude of opportunities to come. Staff are exceptionally busy now visiting nurseries and primary schools, speaking and meeting 1:1 with parents and students, and planning staffing and groupings, to enable flourishing for all, academically and holistically. For those in the Larch, a staffing letter will follow next week so that you have clarity to support children in preparing for transition day on Thursday 10th July – a very exciting day in our calendar! It is always a privilege to prepare to support the growth of all, and to welcome new families and students at every phase – thank you in anticipation for your ongoing engagement with us. Please remember: strong schools, supportive homes: together we care, together they thrive. 

Finally, and certainly most importantly, this week more than ever, we have felt the strength of our incredibly special Simon Balle community. At the heart of this are our shared values, especially kindness and compassion, which shape everything we do and stand for. Please may we thank you all – students, staff, parents/carers, and governors/trustees – for your overwhelming support. In these most challenging times, our community has shown not only resilience but a deep, unwavering care for one another. May that powerful sense of belonging to Simon Balle, and the values that unite us, remain of the utmost importance to us all – in the best of times and in those, like now, that are poignant beyond words. It is always a privilege to walk with you all.

Reception’s Trip to Hertfordshire Zoo

On Thursday 5th June, Reception went on a trip to Hertfordshire Zoo. Despite the weather forecast for rain, spirits were high and the children were excited to get onto the double decker coach! This term we are learning all about Animals, so this was going to be the perfect way to start our topic. When we arrived, we split into our groups and began exploring the Zoo. Some highlights from the children were; being squirted with water by the dinosaur, seeing the lions being fed, learning about the giant tortoise and of course having a picnic lunch! 

We were so proud of the children who demonstrated so many of our school values. They were responsible as they were walking around the enclosures and staying with their group and showed respect to all. There was so much kindness observed as the children looked after each other. They showed courage to ask good questions to the Zoo Keeper’s to help extend their understanding. We had a great trip and are excited to continue our learning about Animals back at school this half term. 

Visit of Josh Dean MP

Students across the all-through school were recently given a unique glimpse into the world of politics during a visit from local MP for Hertford and Stortford, Josh Dean. Speaking to a range of students throughout the day, and responding to a variety of pre-prepared questions from the a level politics class, Mr Dean offered an engaging and thoughtful look at life in Westminster, drawing on his personal journey from young political activist to elected representative.

The Q&A session was both informative and inspiring, with students taking the opportunity to ask well-informed, probing questions on topical issues from the war in Gaza to the question of lowering the voting age for general elections. Mr Dean also discussed the daily realities of parliamentary work, highlighting his work on the modernisation committee in trying to make politics more inclusive, accessible and reflective of modern Britain.

We were delighted that Mr Dean could also attend both a KS2 assembly and a session of our school parliament, during which students reported on the work they have undertaken this year and the changes to school life that they have overseen.

Mr Dean shared his views on the importance of democratic education in schools, stressing that understanding how democracy functions is vital for the next generation of voters and leaders. He also spoke candidly about how political parties evolve in response to public opinion and election results, offering real-world examples of how adaptability and reflection are key to political success.

Students left each of the sessions with a deeper understanding of the political process and a renewed interest in civic engagement. We are grateful to Mr Dean for his time and insight, and we hope to welcome him back in the future.

BMX Champion Visit to The Larch!

On Monday 2nd June, The Larch was thrilled to welcome Mike Mullen — a six-time BMX halfpipe champion and former World Master Champion.

The day began with an inspiring and action-packed assembly, where Mike shared the story of his BMX journey. He amazed everyone with a thrilling demonstration, including a spectacular 360° spin!

Later in the day, Year 5 had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a workshop led by Mike. The children used ramps, stood on the bike frames, and even challenged themselves to ride without holding the handlebars! They learned and practiced a range of tricks, each one helping them build confidence and coordination.

We were incredibly proud of how the pupils showed courage, determination, and resilience throughout the session — well done, Year 5 and a huge thank you to Mike!

Attendance

We are really pleased to share that our school has yet again been recognised for our excellent attendance levels, this time during the Spring Term.

Reporting on-the-day absences – The Arbor App

Our school attendance is excellent but there can be illnesses and other legitimate reasons for absence from school. Whilst many parents call or email us to report these absences, our preferred method of notification is by use of the Arbor app. Please see the following images which show you how you can do this. We thank parents in advance for using this method which will save valuable time for our admin staff.

Science

National Scientific Thinking Challenge

Year 10 recently took part in the annual National Scientific Thinking Challenge, which saw over 15000 students entered nationally.

From our entries:

• 10% achieved a Gold award
• 7% achieved a Silver award.
• A further 14% achieved a Bronze award.

We had over 100 entries and all students who took part have a participation award which will be shared with students in the coming weeks.

We, as a Science department, could not be prouder of their successes. Well done Year 10.

Online Safety

This week’s free #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks down the key safety concerns around generative AI tools and offers expert advice for keeping young users safe. From encouraging critical thinking to safeguarding their privacy, find out how to help children use AI safely and smartly generative-ai-safety-guide

Hertfordshire Clean Air Day – Thursday 19th June 2025

It’s really important to keep our air clean, so children’s lungs can develop and grow properly.

We all know the health benefits of walking so please help us to reduce congestion, by supporting children being more active and lower carbon emissions on this year’s Clean Air Day.

We would like to encourage all our pupils to try and walk, cycle or scoot to school. If it is not possible to walk all the way, then it would be great if you could park 10 minutes away from school and walk or scoot on the last part of your journey.

If you do drive to school, please do not to leave your cars idling or “ticking over”, especially near schools and even consider leaving the car at home at least once a week.

We appreciate all your support for a healthier future.

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

Welcome to the Hertfordshire SEND News bulletin – May 2025.

Read SEND News here

In this issue: 

• Electric Motorbike Youth Work project (ages 12-16 in Three Rivers area)
• Weekly drop-in SEND chat and play sessions across Hertfordshire (ages 0-5)
• Inclusive United – making sport truly inclusive! (ages 16+)
• Free ‘Get September Ready’ sessions for young people in year 11 (ages 16+)
• Mental health support for young people in Hertfordshire (all ages)
• Events

Please let us know if you have any problems viewing this e-newsletter or if you have any articles to contribute to the next edition by emailing sendnews@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Library News

New comfy seating

The new comfy seating for reading in the secondary library has been well-received! In addition to the library sofa and arm chairs, we now have additional soft seat chairs that provide more space for students to read in comfort. 

Get Rewarded for Reading award 2024-2025

Well done to Beane house who won the Get Rewarded for Reading award 2024-2025! The trophy will be presented in the end of year assemblies.

Old London Road parking permits

The Old London Road car park is an ideal site for dropping and collecting students. It is only an 11 minute walk from the school, and parking there significantly reduces congestion on Mangrove Road. Old London Road is also far more accessible than Mangrove Road, making it better for those parents that need to drive.

For younger students that need escorting to school East Herts District Council operate a scheme whereby you can extend the 30 mins free parking to an hour, giving parents plenty of time to walk up to school and then back to the car. If you would be interested in applying for one of these permits, please speak to Mrs Harding in the Larch office.

Please click here to read the Careers Opportunities Blog 

Parent Staff Association

Experience Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight!

Join us for a magical evening with Lumos Live and enjoy a Fleetwood Mac candlelight concert at the beautiful All Saints Church, Hertford on Saturday 28th June. Choose from two performance times: 7–8pm or 9–10pm.

By purchasing your tickets through our affiliate link, you’ll be supporting fundraising for the PSA, at no extra cost to you!

Get your tickets here.

Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and atmosphere!

Larch Frozen Friday

The summer term welcomes the return of Frozen Fridays. After school each Friday, kind volunteers set up a pop up ice cream shop in the Larch playground.  All items are £1. This year, proceeds will go towards supporting the Larch Computing fundraising initiative.  Please support Frozen Fridays if you can, by purchasing an ice cream or filing a volunteer slot. https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Here’s the list of dates and which year group will be running each sale:

• 13th June – Year 5. (Full).
• 20th June – Year 4. 1 volunteer needed.
• 27th June – Year 3. (Full)
• 4th July – Year 2. (Full)
• 11th July – Year 1. (Full)
• 17th July – (Thursday) Reception. 1 volunteer needed.

Thank you so much for your support — we can’t wait for a summer of Frozen Fridays!

Slice of Summer – Saturday 12th July, 12-4pm – Volunteers Needed!

We have filled 71 of 174 volunteer slots and need your help to fill more!

We’re looking for enthusiastic helpers from both phases of the school to support the Slice of Summer on Saturday 12th July (12–4pm). Whether you can spare an hour or more, we’d love your help running stalls, setting up, clearing away, or simply keeping the fun flowing. No experience needed, just a willingness to get involved and be part of our fantastic day.

To help with planning, choirs and dance groups from both phases will be performing at 1.15pm and 2.15pm.

Thank you for your support. volunteersignup.org/EQRA7

Inflatables offer

This year, we are offering £10 wristbands that give the user unlimited use of the inflatables during the Slice of Summer.  We have a limited number of wristbands available.  To purchase, or find out more, please visit the PSA website.

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 16th June: Y10 exam period starts
• Thurs 19th June: Y5 Barbican trip
• Thurs 19th June: Herts clean air day
• Fri 20th June: Author visit with John Patrick Green in the Larch
• Mon 23rd June: Sixth form induction day
• Mon 23rd June: Y12 History trip to Berlin
• Fri 27th June: District Athletics
• Fri 27th June: Foreign Language Friday Food Fiesta
• Wed 2nd July:  Author visit with Stewart Foster in the secondary library
• Sun 6th July: Saffron Hall
• Fri 11th July: Larch Summer Accessory Day
• Sat 12th July: Slice of Summer

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 16th May

Co-headteachers’ welcome

As the sunshine finally arrives, so too does the excitement and energy of exam season across our all-through school. From Key Stage 2 assessments to GCSEs, A-Levels, and vocational qualifications, students at every stage are working with determination, resilience and pride.

It is also heartening to see the strength of relationships between staff and students during this time. From revision breakfasts to one-to-one sessions and focused lessons, the dedication and care of our staff shine through. These moments reflect the shared commitment to helping each student achieve their very best.

This period marks not only the culmination of academic effort but also a time of celebration. Our GCSE and A-Level students began their formal exams following special leavers’ assemblies, speeches, and awards, recognising their achievements and contributions during their time at Simon Balle. These memorable occasions were captured in group photos, offering a snapshot of the journeys they’ve taken with us.

Year 11 marked the occasion with a celebratory trip to Ninja Warrior and tenpin bowling — a well-deserved reward for their hard work. Meanwhile, Year 13 celebrated in spectacular style, donning film and TV-themed costumes for their fancy dress day, followed by a silent disco. The creativity on display was exceptional , even our staff got into the spirit with costumes of their own. I even climbed into the loft and found an astronaut costume!

Our younger students in Year 6, who have shown great maturity throughout their SATs, are also looking forward to their own celebration with a residential trip to Sheringham, where they will no doubt make lasting memories, strengthen friendships, and develop their independence as they prepare to enter the next phase of their education. Adding to the excitement, on 16th May they were treated to the fantastic Wonderstruck rocket show — an inspiring and energetic display that brought science to life and left students wide-eyed with enthusiasm.

At Simon Balle, we are immensely proud of all our students as they prepare for their next steps, whether that be the transition to our secondary phase, further study in our Sixth Form or college, or beyond. This is a time to reflect, to celebrate, and to look ahead with optimism. We wish all our students the very best during this exam season and in the exciting chapters that lie ahead.

This week, we’ve also had the privilege of observing our Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in action across all key stages, from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5. At Simon Balle, we are deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of teachers, ensuring that the quality of teaching across our all-through school remains exceptional. Each ECT is supported by a dedicated and experienced mentor, meeting weekly to reflect, guide and refine practice. This mentoring is complemented by a comprehensive programme of teaching and learning focus events. It has been a real pleasure to visit lessons and witness the thoughtful planning, strong subject knowledge, purposeful vocabulary, and skilful scaffolding in place. Even more inspiring is speaking to students about their learning, aspirations, and the impact their teachers are having. Teaching is a profession rooted in continual growth and reflection, and it is wonderful to see our new teachers already excelling in their journey. With outstanding facilities, including our new sports hall and modern languages block, we remain committed to providing the very best learning environment, powered by excellent teaching.

This same commitment to high standards and community voice is reflected in other areas of school life. We are pleased to share that Accent has been successful in retaining the catering contract, following a highly competitive process involving eight strong bidders. Over the coming months, they will be investing more than £100,000 into the catering service to enhance the quality and variety of food, improve dining environments, and refine the overall service experience. To ensure this investment reflects the needs and preferences of our community, surveys will be sent to parents, carers, and students to gather feedback on what is working well and what could be improved. We encourage everyone to take part, as these insights will play a key role in shaping the future of our catering provision. This survey also marks the start of a broader programme of engagement with students and families throughout the lifetime of the contract, and we look forward to working closely together to deliver a service that truly meets expectations.

We are always looking for ways to improve how we communicate and support our community. Recent additions to our school website include new pages on artificial intelligence, created for both students and parents/carers, complete with informative videos to foster curiosity and understanding. We’ve also launched a dedicated wellbeing and mental health section, offering practical resources and support. We hope these additions are not only informative but also reflect our continued commitment to a school community rooted in care, innovation, and ambition.

Exciting Times in PE – Our New Sports Hall is Open!

We are thrilled to announce that our brand-new sports hall is now open and already buzzing with activity! It’s been fantastic to see a wide range of extra-curricular clubs making full use of the impressive new facility, offering our students even more opportunities to get active and try something new. Here is the link to the Sporting extra curricular timetable for this term: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/sport/secondary-sport/

During the week beginning 12th May, all secondary students will take part in taster sessions during their PE lessons. These sessions will give students the chance to explore new sports and enjoy the fantastic space and equipment the new hall provides.

The excitement continues in the week beginning 19th May, when our Larch students will take centre stage for their primary inter-house competition. All children will get the chance to experience and compete in a variety of fun, inclusive events using the brand-new facility. with the use of our new adjustable basketball hoops; perfect for all age groups and ability levels.

Looking ahead to the week beginning 19th June, we’re launching the secondary inter-house basketball competition. This event will showcase our students’ skills and house spirit in the lead up to sports day.

It’s an exciting time for PE at Simon Balle, and we can’t wait to see our students continue to thrive in their new sporting home!

County League Athletics

As the summer term began we started our annual county league athletics competition. Round 1 took place at Wodson Park athletics track and we had over 70 students representing the school from years 7-10. This event also included a few Simon Balle records being broken in the 100m and 200m.

The students have demonstrated fantastic resilience and commitment to the competition so far. This has helped each age group maintain an excellent position in the table against all other schools in the county; with the yr 7&8 girls in 10th place, the yr 7&8 boys in 1st place, the yr 9&10 girls in 7th place, and yr 9&10 boys in 8th place. All with a great chance of making it through into the final.

We wish all athletes the best of luck for our next rounds taking place on Monday 19th May, Tuesday 3rd June, and Wednesday 11th June.

Walk to School Week 19th – 23rd May 2025

We are excited to be taking part in Walk to School Week this May.

We all know the health benefits of walking so please help us this week to reduce congestion by supporting children in being more active and help reduce lower carbon emissions during this Walk to School Week.

We would like to encourage all our pupils to try and walk, cycle or scoot to school during this week. If it’s not possible to walk all the way, then it would be great if you could park 10 minutes away from school and walk or scoot the last part of your journey.

Each primary class will have a poster featuring a map of Hertfordshire and aim take a ‘virtual’ walk around Hertfordshire. Every time a pupil travels sustainably, a dot can be coloured in.

Following on from Walk to School Week, we will be supporting Clean Air Day on Thursday 19th June 2025, more information closer to the date.

This #WakeUpWednesday safety-on-the-road guide contains some excellent advice and reminders for students, and is particularly relevant to the those younger ones getting to ready to start walking on their own.

Old London Road parking permits

The Old London Road car park is an ideal site for dropping and collecting students. It is only an 11 minute walk from the school, and parking there significantly reduces congestion on Mangrove Road. Old London Road is also far more accessible than Mangrove Road, making it better for those parents that need to drive.

For younger students that need escorting to school East Herts District Council operate a scheme whereby you can extend the 30 mins free parking to an hour, giving parents plenty of time to walk up to school and then back to the car. If you would be interested in applying for one of these permits, please speak to Mrs Harding in the Larch office.

Please click here to read our latest Careers Opportunities Blog, which includes: 

• Apprenticeship support for parents/ carers
• Marine Biology/Conservation virtual work experience
• AI Meets Banking Brilliance – Explore Your Future with Lloyds Banking Group

Larch Open Classrooms

As we near the end of the academic year, we would like to invite children to show their parents and carers their books from this year and their new classroom for September 2025. Specific dates and timings for this opportunity will be: 

• Phase 1 & 2 (EYFS, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4): Wednesday 9th July 3.20pm – 4.15pm.
• Phase 3 (Year 5 and Year 6): Wednesday 16th July 3.20pm – 4.15pm.

Year 11 “Celebration day”

The Year 11’s celebrated their time here at Simon Balle last Friday with a fantastic celebration day. It began with an emotional and memorable award assembly where the students showed genuine joy for others and celebrated each individual award with cheers and applause, the support in the room was electric and so touching. The year 11’s then received their hoodies and yearbooks and postcards with messages of support from staff whilst signing each other’s shirts. A few students then went off to Stevenage for a competitive but friendly game of bowling and the rest to Chelmsford to prove themselves in Ninja Warrior. The afternoon was such fun and full of smiles and laughter. It was such a special day and fond memories were both recollected and made. 

Year 11 are a fantastic group of young people, who I wish the best of luck to over the coming weeks. Now is the time to show everyone what I know you can all do. 

Go smash it Year 11

Miss J Green

The UKMT Junior Maths Challenge.

On Thursday 1st of May, we had our largest entry into The UKMT Junior Maths Challenge to date, with over 330 students from year 7 and 8 taking part.  

This isn’t the arithmetic or algebra you remember from school, but a whole step up in mathematical and critical thinking.  With a big smile on their face, students reported that it was the hardest challenge they had ever faced.  Watching them take part made us very proud.  Especially the resilience shown, with most working right up to the end determined to work out just one more answer.  

Fancy a go?   

• Here’s the questions     UKMT Junior
• And the video solutions  UKMT Junior Ans 

Science

This week, Year 10 students had the opportunity to take part in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge. Designed by university academics, this challenge offers an excellent way to test and encourage deep thinking skills within STEM-related contexts. 

We are now awaiting the results and certificates will be awarded to the top-performing students in recognition of their outstanding achievement. 

We look forward to celebrating their success once the outcomes are released.

Y13 Chemistry

Our Year 13 Chemistry students recently visited the University of Hertfordshire to attend talks on a range of analytical techniques, including NMR, ICP-OES, Mass Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography, and Infrared Spectroscopy. Students also had the opportunity to bring along their own synthesised Aspirin samples for analysis. It was an excellent day and a fantastic opportunity to deepen their understanding and experience real-world applications of their studies. A big thank you to the university for hosting us and providing such an inspiring experience.

Library News

Y9 timetable change

From Monday 2nd June Y9 will be starting their GCSE courses. The timetable has been rewritten to allow the students to have three hours per week in their chosen subjects: this head start on their GCSE courses helps to refocus them in the summer term and adds valuable time to learn new content and skills. Students should check their Arbor timetables carefully as they are likely to have lessons on completely different days.

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

The Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer provides information about services and support that are available within Hertfordshire.

Please find attached the latest DSPL3 newsletter for parents and carers DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – Summer 1

Wellbeing & Mental Health @ Simon Balle All-through school

https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/wellbeing-and-mental-health/

Welcome to our wellbeing area where we aim to provide our school community up to date information about mental health support and wellbeing resources. Our Mental Health School lead is Mr Pooley who can be contacted on pooleyj@simonballe.herts.sch.uk     

Next week we are planning a series of activities across the school to allow our students to connect and be active. We will also be using our wellbeing platform, bounce together, to gain an insight through surveys into students wellbeing. 

A message from The Herts Haven Café: 

The Herts Haven Cafe is a free drop-in space where young people (10-18 years old) can come for support and guidance with their emotional well-being. No referral is needed; our trained staff provide a safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental environment for young people to share their concerns and feel listened to.

Alongside being a sensory-friendly, playful, and creative space, we offer practical help for a diverse range of needs. If we feel that a young person may benefit from further support, we are well-equipped to signpost other services that could meet their requirements.

You can find us at Herts Haven Cafe in The Wellbeing Centre, The Warehouse, 14 New Road, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 7BS. 

We are currently open every Wednesday, 3.30 pm – 6.30 pm, so it is ideal for an after-school visit. Parents/guardians are welcome to accompany their child during the session if they wish to.

Bullseye for Year 12! 

Last week we launched our exciting new darts themed project supported by Harrows Darts with a thrilling Year 12 Darts Competition! The sports hall turned into an arena of focus, accuracy, and friendly rivalry as students took aim for glory. From bullseyes to bounce-outs, it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, teamwork, and sporting spirit on display.

This is just the start of our darts journey – Harrows will be supporting us with equipment and expertise as we grow this exciting new sport in school. Whether it’s at lunchtime or after school, we’re aiming high!

Huge thanks to Harrows for backing this brilliant initiative and well done to all the competitors – the future of school darts starts here! 

Parent Staff Association

Experience Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight!

Join us for a magical evening with Lumos Live and enjoy a Fleetwood Mac candlelight concert at the beautiful All Saints Church, Hertford on Saturday 28th June. Choose from two performance times: 7–8pm or 9–10pm.

By purchasing your tickets through our affiliate link, you’ll be supporting fundraising for the PSA, at no extra cost to you!

Get your tickets here.

Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and atmosphere!

Larch Frozen Friday

We’re excited to announce that Frozen Fridays will be returning to Larch soon. To make sure the sales can go ahead each week, we’ll need 4 volunteers each Friday.  We would love to be able to offer Frozen Friday to the children that attend Explorers too.  Are you available at 4.30pm on Fridays? Please sign up below!

While the sale is open to all of Larch, we kindly ask that families help out when it’s their year group’s turn to run the sale. Of course, if you’re happy to volunteer for other year groups as well, that would be wonderful too!

Here’s the list of dates and which year group will be running each sale:

https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

• 6th June – Year 6. 3 volunteers needed
• 13th June – Year 5. 3 volunteers needed.
• 20th June – Year 4. 4 volunteers needed.
• 27th June – Year 3 (full)
• 4th July – Year 2. 3 volunteers needed.
• 11th July – Year 1. 2 volunteers needed.
• 18th July – Reception @ 12pm, last day of school year. 4 volunteers needed.

Thank you so much for your support — we can’t wait for a summer of Frozen Fridays!

Slice of Summer – Saturday 12th July, 12-4pm – Volunteers Needed!

Calling all Larch families. We need just 4 volunteers per year group to run games this year. Can you help? Our VolunteerSignUp link is now open!

• Reception Game, Hook-a-duck – (FULL)
• Year 1 Game, Captain Hook’s Rings – (1 of 3 filled)
• Year 2 Game, Buried Treasure – (2 of 3 filled)
• Year 3 Game, Teddy Tombola – (FULL)
• Year 4 Game, Splat-the-rat – (1 of 4 filled)
• Year 5 Game, Human Fruit Machine (1 of 4 filled)
• Year 6 Game, Nerf Fruit Splat (0 of 4 filled)

Secondary families, we need you too! Can you help run the bar, candy floss, admissions desk?

Secondary students, can you help to serve ice cream or run the Boba Bar or inflatable archery?

Sign up to a volunteer slot BEFORE Friday 2nd May to benefit from FREE entry and FREE tokens to redeem anywhere at the fair, on PSA operated areas. 1 token per volunteer, per slot.

This offer is open to all staff, parents, carers and students of the all-through community.

Inflatables offer

This year, we are offering £10 wristbands that give the user unlimited use of the inflatables during the Slice of Summer.  We have a limited number of wristbands available.  To purchase, or find out more, please visit the PSA website.

Hertford Children’s Choir

Hertford Children’s Choir is a choir led by Rachel and Sam Chaplin for anyone aged 8-13* who loves singing and wants to develop their musicianship. Rehearsals are on Fridays 5.30-6.45pm at St Andrew’s Church Hertford and there are termly performances.

www.tinyurl.com/hertfordchildrenschoir

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 19th May: Walk to School Week
• Mon 19th May: Y6 Sheringham Information eve (6pm)
• Mon 2nd June: Y5 BMX day
• Mon 2nd June: Y8 Colchester Zoo trip
• Mon 2nd June: Y9 timetable changes
• Thurs 5th June: Reception trip to Hertfordshire Zoo
• Mon 9th June: Y12 threshold exams

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 2nd May

Co-headteachers’ welcome

Welcome back to the summer term at Simon Balle All-Through School. We hope you all had a restful, sunny and enjoyable break. Whether your child is continuing their journey with us in Reception, preparing for their final steps in Sixth Form, or any year in between, we are excited to begin this new term together. As ever, a new term brings fresh opportunities, renewed energy, and the chance to continue building on the brilliant progress we’ve made so far this year, academically and holistically. And what a first fortnight we have had!

The Elm Sports Centre at Simon Balle All-through School 

We are thrilled to announce the official opening of our brand-new sports hall—a milestone that has been decades in the making! This incredible facility reflects the ambition, patience, and dedication of our entire school community. 

At our official opening ceremony for Simon Balle on Wednesday, we extended heartfelt thanks to everyone involved: from the leadership of our CFO Haydn Walsh to our site and finance teams, our Edutech and marketing staff, our professional partners – architects and builders – and of course our dedicated staff and wonderful students. More than just a building, this space represents our belief in young people and our commitment to investing in their future: here, we are truly creating tomorrow’s citizens today. 

Our ribbon-cutting ceremony was both moving and motivating as excited students gathered both outside our new building and in classrooms across the all-through school – with a live-stream ensuring that 1600 students and 200 staff could take part. The atmosphere was magical as everyone joined, both for the speeches and for the symbolic moment of the opening itself. As students saw the sports hall itself for the very first time, staff were struck by their incredible awe and wonder. 

At the time of writing we cannot wait to share this space with you all – parents/carers, interested hirers, people of Hertford and more – at our community open evening. Exciting times ahead for certain! 

Please do keep an eye our social media channels for updates and information a-plenty, as well the dedicated pages on our Simon Balle website. 

However, for now, we’d like to leave you with a summary of speeches made in our opening ceremony by our wonderful PE leaders, Miss Newman and Mrs Riddle, who, together with their teams, have such an inspirational vision for the Elm Sports Centre and our students across the all-through at Simon Balle. 

Speaking as Head of PE- this space is more than just a new building. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance the school’s PE curriculum, develop our extra-curricular provision, raise the standard of sports at Simon Balle as well as providing the opportunity for student personal growth. The Elm Sports Centre will be a place where students will try new sports, build confidence, and maybe discover a talent or passion they didn’t even know they had. Whether it’s handball, badminton, basketball, or something completely new – this sports hall opens up so many more opportunities for everyone. We want all our students to enjoy being active, to challenge themselves, and to have fun doing it. We also want to raise the profile of sport – to push performance, build strong teams and individuals, and show the district, county and national leagues what Simon Balle can do in sport. My vision is that sport and physical activity will be the heartbeat of Simon Balle. From lessons to clubs to fixtures, this sports hall will be buzzing with energy, ambition, and team spirit. I can not wait to see what we can achieve. 

This space is for all of you, whether you’re here to try something new, make new friends, or simply enjoy moving your body. We’ve designed it to be a place where everyone feels included, where every child can thrive no matter their ability or background. Sport teaches us so many important lessons, teamwork, perseverance, and the joy of achieving something together. We hope that this sports hall will inspire you to keep pushing your limits, supporting each other, and having fun. In the Larch we also believe the Elm Sports Centre will be a place for inspiration. Perhaps one day, a future Olympian will say it all began right here in our sports hall. Or maybe, more quietly, but just as powerfully, one of you will discover the joy of being part of a team, the thrill of doing something you never thought you could do, or the quiet pride in setting a goal and reaching it. Let’s celebrate this wonderful new chapter, and remember, this is your space. Make it your own and enjoy every moment!

A spotlight on learning

It seems important to begin any new term with a simple focus on the joy of learning in the classroom. After all, it is this way that our 1600 students spend 5 hours a day, 25 hours a week. It is always hard as a parent/carer to imagine just how this looks, so we will try to provide a window into just a few examples here … 

• Reception are enjoying their important outdoor learning in this wonderful weather. At the time of my visit, the trim trail was providing the perfect vehicle for children to practise and perfect their gross motor skills – from balancing to strengthening their core muscles on the monkey bars. We know that refined gross motor skills lead to controlled fine motor skills so all of this feeds into writing and drawing back in the classroom, as well as the great fun being had!
• In Year 2, the quality of art work, with a focus on Henri Rousseau’s tiger, is off the scale! With no two pieces the same, creativity and expression in abundance and developed skills shown in sketching and work with colour, Year 2 are rightly proud of their outcomes. 
• Year 4 are rapidly approaching their statutory multiplication tables check. When I visited the ethos of high expectations and pride from the students was tangible. The data will, we have no doubt, speak for itself as each child’s progress is just so evident. Talking to our mathematics colleagues across the all-through, there is no underestimating the importance of rapid recall for number facts – our students are building a firm foundation from which they can spring forward. Thank you for your continued parental support, not just in Year 4 but in year groups across the Larch, with TTRS, numbots, arithmetic practice and more!
• Whilst Year 6 are, of course, very busy preparing for their important SATs, at the time of my visit I was greeted with energy and enthusiasm for their computing curriculum where they are currently learning how to code using micro:bits. The students’ technical proficiency is impressive, and we are delighted that the breadth and enjoyment of our curriculum continues – it is, quite deliberately, never narrowed. 
• I visited Year 8 lessons, ready with my ‘good news’ notes to celebrate both dedication to revision – including within PRE for their Hinduism Dharma unit – and ongoing ambition in reading within Accelerated Reader. I was struck by the way that all students were taking such responsibility for their learning, developing metacognitive skills and using time effectively and productively.
• It is always a privilege to visit students of all ages within lessons within our art rotation. Whether in textiles, photography, art or Design Technology, what is striking is the calm ethos where each individual is pleased to share their learning journey. During this visit, a number of Year 12 students took their time to take me through their thinking, explaining their vision and plans for current projects with excitement. I am always in awe of their creativity and dedication. 
• And finally, Year 11 are, of course, at the beginning of their important public exams. When I visited them in science, they were having great fun with bingo – recalling important vocabulary linked to electrical circuits, checking on definitions, showing discipline in their studies yet in an active and engaging way. We wish all of our students the very best as they navigate this exam season – we continue to be here to support them all, every step of the way.

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

The Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer provides information about services and support that are available within Hertfordshire.

Simon Balle’s Got Talent 2025

Over 40 students from the Secondary phase took part in our second ever talent show. We had the pleasure of seeing dance, drama, different musical acts and comedy. It was a pleasure and a joy to see students stepping out of their comfort zones and performing. It took much deliberation from our judges to decide on who would win!

• 1st place – The Y9 singing trio – Orla, Erin and Lola
• 2nd place – Y12 rock band – Lucy, Luca, Ben, Lewis and Merry
• 3rd place – Y10 drama – Martina, Sylvie, Elizabeth and Aidan
• Prize for courage and originality – Kieran (Y9, comedy) and Lottie (Y9 singer/pianist)
• Audience vote – Y9 rock band ‘The Fishmongers’ – Jude, Alfie, Tymon, Josh and Lachlan

Congratulations to all of the winners and for all of the entrants!

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunities blog

Science

The Science department is pleased to announce that Bors from Y11 has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Big Bang Competition for his exceptional project on Bloom AI. We are extremely proud of his achievement and we wish him every success in the upcoming finals.

Walk to School Week 19th – 23rd May 2025

We are excited to be taking part in Walk to School Week this May.

We all know the health benefits of walking so please help us this week to reduce congestion by supporting children in being more active and help reduce lower carbon emissions during this Walk to School Week.

We would like to encourage all our pupils to try and walk, cycle or scoot to school during this week. If it’s not possible to walk all the way, then it would be great if you could park 10 minutes away from school and walk or scoot the last part of your journey.

Each class will have a poster of featuring a map of Hertfordshire and aim take a‘virtual’ walk around Hertfordshire. Every time a pupil travels sustainably, adot can be coloured in.

Following on from Walk to School Week, we will be supporting Clean Air Day on Thursday 19th June 2025, more information closer to the date.

This #WakeUpWednesday safety-on-the-road guide contains some excellent advice and reminders for students, and is particularly relevant to the those younger ones getting to ready to start walking on their own.

Car Park and entrance to the school

With the work on the sports hall and car park now complete, we will be reinstating the barriers at the entrance to the school site. As with the majority of schools in the country, we have restricted vehicle access to our car park in order to keep students safe.

The barriers will close at 0810 and remain closed until 1545. Parents are welcome to drive through and drop students before 0810, but please remember that this is on a no-waiting basis. Between 0810 and 1545 only those with special access passes will be permitted to enter the car park.

Unless a special access pass has been granted, students should not be driven to or from the school site. To avoid accidents, congestion and inconvenience to our neighbours, we ask that parents do not drop students outside the gates, on Mangrove Road itself or in neighbouring streets. The Old London Road car park beside the fire station is an 11 minute walk and is a far more appropriate location for dropping and collecting.

If you are visiting the school for any reason, please note that the secondary reception is moving to the sports hall.

Parent Staff Association

Larch Frozen Friday

We’re excited to announce that Frozen Fridays will be returning to Larch soon. To make sure the sales can go ahead each week, we’ll need 4 volunteers each Friday.  While the sale is open to all of Larch, we kindly ask that families help out when it’s their year group’s turn to run the sale. Of course, if you’re happy to volunteer for other year groups as well, that would be wonderful too!  Here’s the list of dates and which year group will be running each sale:

https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

• 6th June – Year 6
• 13th June – Year 5
• 20th June – Year 4
• 27th June – Year 3
• 4th July – Year 2
• 11th July – Year 1
• 18th July – Reception @ 12pm, last day of school year

Thank you so much for your support — we can’t wait for a summer of Frozen Fridays!

Slice of Summer – Saturday 12th July, 12-4pm – Volunteers Needed!

Calling all Larch families. We need just 4 volunteers per year group to run games this year. Can you help? Our VolunteerSignUp link is now open!

• Reception Game, Hook-a-duck – (FULL)
• Year 1 Game, Captain Hook’s Rings – (1 of 3 filled)
• Year 2 Game, Buried Treasure – (2 of 3 filled)
• Year 3 Game, Teddy Tombola – (FULL)
• Year 4 Game, Splat-the-rat – (1 of 4 filled)
• Year 5 Game, Human Fruit Machine (1 of 4 filled)
• Year 6 Game, Nerf Fruit Splat (0 of 4 filled)

Secondary families, we need you too! Can you help run the bar, candy floss, admissions desk?

Secondary students, can you help to serve ice cream or run the Boba Bar or inflatable archery?

Sign up to a volunteer slot BEFORE Friday 2nd May to benefit from FREE entry and FREE tokens to redeem anywhere at the fair, on PSA operated areas. 1 token per volunteer, per slot.

This offer is open to all staff, parents, carers and students of the all-through community.

Inflatables offer

This year, we are offering £10 wristbands that give the user unlimited use of the inflatables during the Slice of Summer.  We have a limited number of wristbands available.  To purchase, or find out more, please visit the PSA website.

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 5th May: Bank Holiday
• Tues 6th May: Y8 assessments start
• Wed 7th May: Public exams start
• Mon 19th May: Walk to School Week
• Mon 2nd June: Y5 BMX day
• Thurs 5th June: Reception trip to Hertfordshire Zoo

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 4th April

Co-headteachers’ welcome

As we reach the end of the spring term, the sunshine and warmer days are a welcome sign of the season ahead. It has been a dynamic and enriching term across our all-through school, filled with learning, adventure, and memorable experiences. From the excitement of the Year 5/6 sports hall finals to the incredible talent on display at Big Band Evening, from UCAS Evening in Year 12 to Year 3’s hands-on visit to Pizza Express, and from intense chess tournaments to the GCSE geography field trip to Walton-on-the-Naze, there has been no shortage of opportunities for our students to shine. Alongside these, a multitude of consultation evenings have provided invaluable moments for reflection and growth. It has truly been a term to celebrate and enjoy!

Among the many highlights, I was fortunate to attend the Model United Nations at Haileybury College, where our Sixth Form students showcased their diplomacy, critical thinking and public speaking skills on a global stage. In international politics, the ability to listen, compromise, and show compassion is essential for fostering meaningful dialogue and resolving global challenges, skills our students demonstrated with confidence and maturity. Engaging in thoughtful debates on pressing global issues, they impressed with their ability to collaborate, negotiate, and present well-reasoned arguments. This prestigious event allowed them to challenge themselves, broaden their perspectives, and gain invaluable experience in leadership and diplomacy. We are immensely proud of their enthusiasm, commitment, and the confidence they displayed in representing our school. Well done to all involved!

At school level, our Year 12 students took part in the selection process for our school presidents, demonstrating their leadership qualities in an inspiring and thoughtful way. As part of this, they were asked to present an object that represented the values and ethos of our school. Their choices were both creative and deeply symbolic, ranging from a bouquet, a controller to a friendship bracelet, a printer, and even a jigsaw piece, each carrying a meaningful message. This was followed by interviews, where their confidence, depth of insight, and leadership skills truly shone, a proud moment for all involved.

As we look ahead, our Year 6, Year 11, and Year 13 students are preparing for their public exams, an important milestone in their academic journey. These assessments are not just a measure of knowledge but also a test of independence, motivation, and self-discipline. While our staff provide expert guidance, challenge, and support, success ultimately rests in each student’s hands. Their dedication, responsibility, and willingness to engage in revision sessions and independent study will be key. With families playing a vital role in creating a supportive environment, this is a time for students to take ownership of their future, drawing on the resilience and wisdom they have developed throughout their school years.

Finally, we want to take a moment to thank our students, staff, and families for their dedication and hard work throughout this busy and rewarding term. The energy, enthusiasm, and commitment shown across all year groups have been truly inspiring, and it has been wonderful to see our school community thrive in so many different areas. As well as this, excitement builds for the summer term, which promises new opportunities and experiences, and perhaps most significantly, the grand opening of our state-of-the-art, multi-million pound sports centre. If you’re intending to join us for the community event (4-6pm, Thursday 1st May), please let us know by completing this short Google Form. You can support our ongoing  fundraising by participating in the Buy a Brick campaign, or by contributing to our charity giving page.

We hope that the upcoming break provides everyone with a well-deserved opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend time with loved ones. Whether revising for exams, pursuing personal interests, or simply enjoying the longer days, we encourage all our students to find a balance between productivity and relaxation. Wishing you all a happy, restful, and enjoyable Easter break!

Changes to the front of the school, and a reminder about punctuality

As we near the completion of the building work on the sports centre we wanted to highlight some important information relating to both the opening of the building, and some changes that will occur as a result.

• The main school reception will be moving to the sports centre. Visitors to the site will enter here, rather than buzzing in at the canteen gate and walking through the playground.
• The car park barriers will be back in action: they will close at 0810 and open again at 1545. After 0810 students should be dropped elsewhere and should walk up to the school.
• The road by the swimming pool will continue to be a one-way route from the car park to the staff-only car park and back out onto Mangrove Road
• Students must be on site by 0835. At this time the pedestrian gates and the rear gates will be locked. Students arriving after 0835 must enter through the new reception area, where they will be recorded as arriving late
• If a student is late through no fault of their own their parent/carer should email the office to absolve them of responsibility

Y10 Geography field trip

The sun was shining, the ranging poles and clipboards were packed, ready for the annual GCSE Geography field trip to Walton-on-the-Naze! Last week, 90 GCSE geography students completed their compulsory fieldwork which they will be examined on in their final summer exams. The students completed coastal fieldwork techniques such as beach profiles, groyne surveys and field sketches to assess whether or not the coastal management is successful in preventing coastal erosion. After being refuelled by lunch, the geographers embarked on their urban fieldwork looking at how the quality of life varies around Walton-on-the-Naze. The students completed a traffic count and an environmental quality survey at 10 different sites so that they can compare their results back at school. All the students worked incredibly hard, speaking like geographers and demonstrating geography in action!

Football

This year has been an outstanding one for football across all year groups, with every team showing great commitment, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the season. We’re incredibly proud of the progress and achievements made across the board – well done to all players and coaches involved!

Special Congratulations to the Year 5/6, Year 8 and Year 11!

Our Year 5/6 team has done incredibly well to reach the Hope Cup Final – a fantastic achievement that reflects their hard work and passion for the game. We can’t wait to see them in action!

• Thursday 24th April with a 4pm kick of time at Richard Hale

A big well done to our Year 8 team who have made it all the way to the County Plate Final! The details are as follows:

• Thursday 24th April at 5:15pm, with the match taking place at Harvesters FC.

Not to be outdone, our Year 11 team has had an exceptional season, reaching two finals:

• District Cup Final on Tuesday 29th April at 3:00pm at Hertford Town FC
• County Plate Final on Wednesday 7th May kicking off at 7:30pm at Harpenden Town FC

Please come and support the teams if you can.

Music News!

Enjoy our latest news here from Incredible exam results, to videos of amazing events and much more!

Pizza Express trip

On Thursday, Robins class had an exciting visit to the Pizza Express kitchens. During this immersive learning opportunity, they explored the fundamental ingredients used in pizza making before getting hands-on with crafting their own pizzas.

A very big thank you to the Pizza Express Hertford team for providing such a wonderful experience, it was certainly a day to remember for Robins!

Model United Nations

Last week, twenty three Simon Balle students attended the Haileybury Model United Nations conference.  Below is Kayla’s account of the conference:

This weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend one of the largest Model United Nations conferences in the country, with about 900 participants.

I was assigned to represent the Maldives in the Human Rights II Committee. Each committee had a set of topics to research in depth and I chose to research freedom of speech in conflict zones.  After months of preparation and research, I developed a resolution proposing measures to protect journalists, artists, and scholars from targeted killings, which have increased in recent years. This process strengthened my ability to conduct independent research and draw well-supported conclusions.

The first day of MUN consisted of both informal and formal lobbying within our committees to gain signatories for our resolutions. This experience helped me develop negotiation skills, as I had to persuade delegates to support my resolution. On the second day, each delegation presented its policy statement, providing insight into their stance on the topics. We then moved into debating resolutions, where selected delegates presented their proposals. I delivered a two-minute speech in favor of a resolution, highlighting key areas that were well thought out and effectively addressed. This experience helped me develop my public speaking skills and boosted my confidence in articulating my thoughts and ideas.

Overall, this event was fantastic and I hope to participate in Haileybury MUN 2026.

Computing in the Larch

As the Larch has developed and grown, so has the Computing curriculum. We are lucky at Simon Balle to have access to a wide range of technology such as Chromebooks, iPads, and Beebots, kept up to date and in great condition with the support from our Edutech team. 

Through a range of activities, children develop their digital skills and understanding of technology,  exploring coding, programming and problem-solving in interactive ways. Alongside this, they take part in unplugged activities to deepen their understanding of key computing concepts without screens. They also learn about important topics such as how the school network works, all following the Teach Computing curriculum resources. These lessons help build confidence, creativity and critical thinking in the digital world. 

In addition to our Computing curriculum, the chromebooks are used widely throughout the Larch with children researching different topics, typing work in written lessons, practising their times tables on websites such as Times Tables Rockstar, filling in questionnaires or having a go at interactive quizzes. Every time they enter the digital world, we see them applying their Computing skills across the curriculum.

8R Visit to McMullen’s Brewery

On Thursday 27th March it was the turn for 8R to visit McMullen’s as part of our careers program. They were given a tour of the brewery from two of McMullen’s brewers who explained the brewing process as they went round. Starting with the dry area where the students could taste different malted barleys and smell the hops. They moved on to the laboratory and mill room where students learned more about the science that comes into brewing. In the ‘Brewhouse’ they saw the large stainless steel vessels used in the brewing, with explanations of the use of each and the effect on the flavours of the beer. The last stage is the area where the casks and kegs are returned, washed and filled for transportation to the McMullen Pubs.

The other half of the visit students have a presentation on the hospitality industry from the Training and Development Chefs. They learned about the vast range of opportunities in this sector and about some roles they may not have even thought about and how skills learned can be useful in life (such as cooking) as well as the portability of the skills to anywhere in the world. All the students were a credit to Simon Balle in their engagement and behaviour.

Blog

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunities blog which has a range of opportunities for parents/carers Y11/12 and 13 students, including:

• Choices Magazine for Parents/ Carers of children who are wishing to pursue an apprenticeship
• Virtual work experience in law and accounting

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

The DSPL3 (Delivering Specialist Provision Locally) parent newsletter is attached here: DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – Spring 2.pdf

Details of additional support for neurodiversity can be found on the Local Offer using the following link. Neurodiversity Support 

‘Introduction to the SEND Local Offer website’ – Local Authority webinar

The Local Offer website lets parents, young people and professionals know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them. There is so much more than that, too.

A friendly face from the Local Offer team will take you through what’s on the website and how you can use it to find the right services and support.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

Tuesday 29 April 8pm – 9pm Register to join this webinar

TCS Mini Marathon

At the end of April Mr Joyce and Miss Davison will be taking on the iconic London Marathon. To celebrate and promote the marathon, TCS Mini Marathon in schools encourages thousands of children to run, jog, walk or wheel the 2 miles. We have signed up as a school and will be hosting our own mini marathon on Thursday 24th April across the All Through School.Year 8, 9 and 10 will be taking part outside of their normal PE lessons, therefore will need to attend school in their Simon Balle PE Kit. Year 5, 7 and 11 will be taking part during their PE lessons so will be expected to come into school in their school uniform and get changed into the Simon Balle PE kit during their PE lesson as normal. We would welcome your support with this by encouraging all students to take part with enthusiasm and excitement, it is a great opportunity to be active with friends and staff.

Y11 Drama GCSE Scripted Performance exam

The Year 11 Drama students did a fantastic job presenting their GCSE scripted exam performances on Tuesday 25th March. The visiting examiner and a 30 strong audience were treated to a mature, intense and powerful interpretation from the play “My Mother said I never should” as well as a comedic and ‘spiritual’ performance of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit”.   A third performance of two contrasting extracts from Willy Russell’s “Blood brothers” encapsulated both a comedic, energetic and playful presentation of Mickey Johnstone and Edward Lyons age 7, followed by an intense confrontation 20 years later where the brothers’ connection comes to an abrupt end.

The students did so well and should be as proud of themselves as we are of them.

Miss Green & Mrs Rooke

Library News

National Reading Champions Quiz

On Monday 31st March, the following 8 students represented the school in the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire regional heat of the National Reading Champions Quiz. They were competing against 18 other teams from schools across the county. They did a brilliant job and won the participation prize (a £25 book voucher to spend on books for the library). Well done team Simon Balle! 

• Zoe – year 9 
• Lucas – year 8 
• Isabella – year 8 
• Samuel – year 8 
• David – year 7 
• Alice – year 7 
• Dominic – year 6 
• Isabella – year 6

Rewards Trip

Well done to Dany, Aaron, Harrison, Santi, Noah, James, Archie, Renae, Seraphina, Alison, James, Toby, Oliver, James, Samuel and Connor who were selected to go to the Festival of Literature at Bishop’s Stortford College as a reward for their efforts with Accelerated Reader and Get Rewarded for Reading. On the trip we met the author Lucy Strange.

Simon Balle’s Got Talent 2025

We are pleased to inform you that tickets for Simon Balle’s Got Talent 2025 are now available for purchase on the parent portal. The show is on Monday 28th April between 6-8pm in the secondary hall. The tickets are £3, and all proceeds will be donated to the charity Herts Mind. Please come along and support our students who are performing! To purchase tickets, go to the parent portal, go to Make a Booking, then Music Events. Please select SBAS Talent Show. You will receive an email confirmation of your purchased tickets. Many thanks!

Parent Staff Association

My Nametags

Lost property is constantly being found from both phases of the school.  Items that are named are more likely to be returned to their owner. When you order name labels via My Nametags and enter our school ID (37273), My Nametags will pay the PSA commission.  This is a great way to minimise lost property while fundraising at the same time!

Spring Meeting – Tuesday 29th April, 7pm

Join us for our first meeting as a new committee. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Head to the secondary library for 7pm where we will be reviewing recent fundraisers and discussing upcoming events such as the Slice of Summer and exciting plans for the autumn term. We look forward to meeting you.  Register your attendance via this link: volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Slice of Summer

Inflatables offer

This year, we are offering £10 wristbands that give the user unlimited use of the inflatables during the Slice of Summer.  We have a limited number of wristbands available.  To purchase, or find out more, please visit the PSA website.

Volunteers

Calling all Larch families  we need just 4 volunteers per year group to run games this year. Can you help? Our VolunteerSignUp link is now open!

• Reception Game, Hook-a-duck
• Year 1 Game, Captain Hook’s Rings
• Year 2 Game, Buried Treasure
• Year 3 Game, Teddy Tombola (watch out for a donation request!)
• Year 4 Game, Splat-the-rat
• Year 5 Game, Human Fruit Machine
• Year 6 Game, Nerf Fruit Splat

Secondary students, can you help to serve ice cream or run the Boba Bar or inflatable archery?

Secondary families, we need you too! Can you help run the bar, candy floss, bottle tombola or admissions desk?

Sign up to a volunteer slot BEFORE Friday 2nd May to benefit from FREE entry and FREE tokens to redeem anywhere at the fair, on PSA operated areas. 1 token per volunteer, per slot.

This offer is open to all staff, parents, carers and students of the all-through community. Housepoints will be rewarded for sign ups and completion of your volunteering slot.

Raffle

We are still looking for raffle prize donations.  Can you help?  Have you a star prize ready to donate? Last year, our star prize was a Whitstable Holiday Home stay!

If you have any unwanted gifts or new items that you would be happy to donate, we would be incredibly grateful. Or, if you run a business and would like to contribute a product or service, we would love to showcase your generosity!

Every donation helps us raise valuable funds for the school, and we truly appreciate your support.

We are aiming to open our Summer Raffle ticket sales via our website after the Easter break.

psa@simonballepsa.org.uk

Stallholders

If you are interested in taking a pitch at this year’s summer fair, please register on our Stallholder Register and we will be in touch if you can offer something that we do not already have.

All Saints Church Easter Trail

Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes where kids can eat free during the various UK 2025 school holidays.

Legends Tennis offer

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/LegendsTennisCentre/Coaching/Book/0fd82ff4-8575-4458-8f0d-1ced8b6a48bf

Dates for your diary

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

• Tues 22nd April: INSET day (no students on site)
• Wed 23rd Apr: Summer term starts
• Thurs 24th Apr: Mini Marathon
• Mon 28th Apr: SBAS talent show
• Mon 28th Apr: Y7 assessments start
• Thurs 1st May: Elm Sport Centre community event, 4-6pm
• Tues 6th May: Y8 assessments start
• Wed 7th May: Public exams start

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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