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)

Friday 21st March

Co-headteachers’ welcome

It has, quite simply, been a magnificent and magical March to date! Whilst our classrooms from Reception to Year 13 remain a-buzz with the joy of learning across our broad and ambitious curriculum, it is our privilege and pleasure to be writing to you in this newsletter with a spotlight on three subjects: science, music and PE. Please do look forward to future newsletters placing a similar spotlight on other areas – we have so much that we are proud to share with you all. 

Last week was British Science Week, and, at Simon Balle All-through School, it was a week full of enrichment and experiences to remember. Whether your passion is chemistry, biology or physics, or all three, there was so much to engage our budding scientists. To give just a flavour, the explosive nature of ‘Fizz Whizz Bang’ inspired all; rat dissections were both informative and intriguing for many; the Great Science Bake off added a fantastic twist to enrich student experiences; and Bernoulli’s principle was simply off the scale (you will have to ask the students and/or google for yourself!). Quizzes and species hunts, amidst the usual busy and thriving science department lessons, made this a week to remember. Particular thanks are offered to our science ambassadors in the sixth form: they had a starring role in generating engagement and interest across Simon Balle, including excellent work supporting Year 6-8 enrichment after school on Wednesday. How fortunate we are to be a part of an all-through school where STEM is prioritised, where academic achievements in science are simply outstanding, and where enrichment in weeks like this ensure that science is fun, relevant and meaningful for every student. Thank you team science!

It is tricky to do justice in words to the exceptional opportunities and experiences in Team Music this fortnight (and always). Their musical newsletter is linked below and we encourage you to visit this for not only more information, but also recordings, videos, sound-bites, photographs and a great window into music at Simon Balle All-through School. We are so proud of our musical community which is thriving, inclusive and always innovative. An incredible ⅓ of our whole school are learning an instrument; statistics like this exceed the national comparison by an unbelievable margin. Recent highlights include our Larch celebration concert on Wednesday with 130 Larch musicians involved. 130! We are so appreciative of parental support which leads to committed musicians (from strings to wind/brass to large choirs of every age) so clearly enjoying music-making at such a high standard. We must never take this for granted! Our unique all-through school of course leads to experiences and concerts a-plenty where young look up to older peers. Many, many students and their families will attest to the joy of the concert in school last Saturday. Inspired by a disco prom at the Royal Albert Hall last summer (yes, you read that right!), team music reached standards arguably higher than ever before! A transformation of the secondary hall with professional lighting and disco balls inspired musicians to perform a concert off the scale from ambition, vision and collaboration – strings, singing, rhythm section and wind/brass. At Simon Balle, Mr Taylor and his team are always seeking new ideas and new ways to inspire – we are so appreciative and know that this is just so unique! We are looking forward next to the Celebration of Wind and Brass – entitled ‘Postcards – Travels from across the world’, and we wish good luck to the 56 musicians who have a music exam in 2 weeks time. All of the above is achieved through commitment – staff, young people, and you all as their families – please keep ‘nagging’ for practice as, with this, great things happen here, every day.

You will not have missed the excitement building as our sports hall nears completion. The Elm Sports Centre at Simon Balle All-through School will open very soon, and the state of the art facilities will benefit every one of our young people from Reception – Year 13. Please look out for communication related to the experiences on offer as we launch and build. In the meantime, PE at Simon Balle All-through School is alive and thriving! We cannot do justice to the breadth of sports nor student achievements in just a summary here but daily opportunities are leading to students representing Simon Balle with pride, demonstrating our values, and showcasing advanced sports skills. Just a flavour includes Year 7 district netball success; Year 11 footballers securing a spot in the district finals; Year 8 through to the semi-final football county plate and netballers winning in their district netball tournament; Years 5/6 footballers on Wednesday went through to the final of the Hope Cup for the third year in a row whilst simultaneously the Year 7 team were victorious in their semis heading into the final too; and amongst this all we have had Years 3 – 6 athletes at district athletics, preparing for Larch cross country, and all following incredible secondary trips out following the Years 8 and 9 sports tour in Spain and the ski trip at half term! Wow!

Exciting Learning Across the Larch!

Our students have been engaged in fantastic learning experiences this term! Year 6 has been working hard on their mock SATs, putting their knowledge to the test, while Year 5 has continued their inspiring careers talks, welcoming parents from our community to share their experiences. Year 4 has been learning about apartheid with guest speakers, linked to Journey to Jo’burg, and aiming high for a perfect 25/25 in their times tables. Year 3 has been busy with food technology at Pizza Express and honing their journalism skills by reporting on The Iron Man, who has been spotted munching on the village’s cars! Year 2 is focused on improving their reading, eager to explore new texts, and Year 1 has been out and about searching for signs of spring as part of their science lessons—enjoying welly walks in the sunshine. Meanwhile, Reception has been getting creative, exploring How to Catch a Star and coming up with their own beautifully illustrated “how-to” books. So much to celebrate!

On the pastoral side, we’re excited to introduce new Drawing and Talking Therapy sessions, helping students explore and understand their emotions in a supportive setting.

And finally, our dedicated staff have also been working hard on progress reports, ready to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our students with parents as we wrap up the Spring term!

Thank you Simon Balle. To students, families, staff, and governors/trustees, we are proud to lead this exceptionally positive school with an environment and ethos where a sense of belonging is shown above and whereby great things happen each and every day. 

Music

We are delighted to share our Music Newsletter with you, featuring Big Band Evening, incredible exam results & much much more! 

Please click Team Music to read!

Year 8 MFL Trip to Málaga and Granada

Our Year 8 students had an unforgettable time on their trip to Málaga and Granada, where they immersed themselves in Spanish language and culture. Highlights of the visit included a paella cooking class, a language lesson, and a guided tour of the breathtaking Alhambra Palace and the historic city of Granada. Students also enjoyed an energetic flamenco lesson, embracing the rhythm and passion of this traditional dance. Despite a few rain showers, they made the most of every opportunity to practise their Spanish in real-life situations. They were a credit to the school, demonstrating enthusiasm, curiosity, and excellent behaviour throughout the trip. ¡Bien hecho, Year 8!

Sports Tour 2025 Malaga

The PE department took 105 students on a Sports Tour to Malaga at the beginning of March. We had 4 boys football teams, 2 girls football teams and 3 netball teams. The football teams received training sessions delivered by Malaga FC Academy coaches and Netball training was delivered by a professional coach. 

Netball

The netball squad put on an excellent display during the sports tour, showing great skill, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout. From the first training session, the coach was impressed by the girls’ attitude and work ethic, highlighting their politeness and dedication. The focus was on ball skills and moving onto the ball, followed by team practice for the evening matches.

That evening, we traveled to Gibraltar to face strong local teams. The B and C teams showed outstanding determination, developing as a squad, while the A team narrowly lost by one goal, fueling their motivation for the next day. Despite the rain disrupting our schedule, the team adapted brilliantly, taking part in a gym session and recovery swim (which felt like an ice bath!). They also bonded through team-building activities, creating their own team names and netball chants.

Returning to Gibraltar for the final matches, the teams displayed tenacity and versatility, implementing tactics and strategies effectively. Competing against established club teams was a challenge, especially with limited time together, but the players stepped up in both attack and defense. The A team finished with a fantastic win by five goals.

Every player was a credit to the school, demonstrating teamwork, resilience, and a passion for the game. Well done to all!

Football

The sports tour was an unforgettable experience for our 82 footballers, providing them with the opportunity to test themselves against strong Spanish club sides. The trip commenced with a visit to a top-tier training venue, where each team was introduced to their professional coach, who would lead their training sessions throughout their stay in Marbella. During an intensive two-hour coaching masterclass, players honed their skills in isolated drills, semi-competitive scenarios, and fully competitive match situations.

On the first evening, each team faced their Spanish counterparts at various high-quality pitches—some of the finest the students had ever played on, with many remarking, “These are the nicest pitches I have ever seen.” The matches provided a valuable learning experience, demonstrating the physical and tactical demands of Spanish football. Despite the challenge, all teams showcased resilience and adaptability, with the Year 9A team securing our first international victory with a well-earned 3-1 win.

Day two saw us return to the training venue, where each pro coach had tailored personalized training programs based on their team’s performance from the previous night’s matches. This strategic approach played a key role in improving each team’s performance in their second round of games. As the teams grew in confidence, their teamwork flourished, resulting in excellent linking play and well-placed goals—even against opponents significantly larger than them. A standout moment came from the Girls’ B team, whose determination and grit held their Spanish opponents to a 1-1 draw before securing victory in a tense penalty shootout, marking our second international win.

Overall, the tour was a remarkable experience, fostering skill development, teamwork, and resilience. The players returned home with valuable lessons, unforgettable memories, and a sense of pride in their achievements on the international stage.

We also had the chance to visit Marbella town for some shopping and explored the local area including the beach. We also went on a Dolphin Cruise in Gibraltar on which we were very lucky to see dolphins swimming in their natural environment! We also had some fun bowling and enjoyed a Sports Tour Presentation Ceremony during our last evening in which we celebrated lots of success across the week. 

We would like to say how proud we were of all of our students and how behaviour was impeccable throughout the week. I’d also like to extend a huge thank you to the staff who helped to make the tour a memorable one for our students. These are: Miss Newman, Miss Baker, Miss Quinton, Mrs Dovey, Mr Moses, Mr Morgan, Mr Rouse, Mr Goodwin, Mr Dear and Mr King. 

Mrs Castle – Tour Leader

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunity blog which includes opportunities for:

Science

Year 7L created amazing models of specialised cells as part of their unit on Cells.  There was a lovely variety from both plant and animal cells being made! Students were tasked with this for homework and to use materials at home along with information such as adaptations and functions for their specialised cell.

Larch Spurs coaching session

We are delighted to be welcoming Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to run some sessions with children in KS1 and KS2 in the next coming weeks and to inspire our children. Spurs have asked us to send out the below leaflets ahead of the sessions with them.

Next Gen Spurs info flyer

Library News

Simon Balle’s Got Talent 2025 – auditions and date of the show

Mr Dear, Miss Rooke and Ms Cannon are holding auditions for students between years 7-12 to audition for the talent show – the auditions will be held in Mr Dear’s classroom (Q1) on Wednesday 26th March. All are welcome to audition!

The new date for the talent show is Monday 28th April – more details to follow!

SEND

Virtual Appointments

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

SEND – Exams & Revision

For additional information, support and guidance for students in preparation for exams and during exams – please click on the Youngminds link below:

Youngminds – SEND Exam/Revision Tips

Courses for Parents and Carers

Details of courses that may be of interest to parents can be found here Courses & Training Parents – Mar.docx

Parent Staff Association

Spring Meeting – Tuesday 29th April, 7pm

Join us for our first meeting as a new committee.  Get to know our new team: Co-chairs – Leah Wood and Chloe Merrick,  Treasurer – Mike Cohen and interim Secretary – Hayley Fairbrother. 

Everyone is welcome, you do not have to be a committee member 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 autumn plans. We look forward to meeting you.

Register your attendance via this link: volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

Spring Meet 

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

Volunteers

Our all-through VolunteerSignUp link is now open!

Each Larch year group is being invited to run a game, that’s only four volunteers per year!

Secondary phase students and families – we need your help too.  Take a look to see how you can get involved.

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 a PSA operated area. 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.

Raffle

We need your help to make our Raffle a big success! 

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

Dates for your diary

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

• Fri 21st – Sun 23rd Mar: Model United Nations conference
• Tues 25th Mar: Y12 UCAS trip
• Wed 26th Mar: Rock Gig
• Thurs 27th Mar: Y7 student consultation evening
• Tuesday 1st Apr: Y8 student consultation evening
• Wed 2nd – Fri 4th Apr: Y7 Bawdsey Manor trip
• Friday 4th April term ends (normal school day)
• Tues 22nd April: INSET day (no students on site)
• Wed 23rd Apr: Summer term starts
• Mon 28th Apr: SBAS talent show

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 7th March

Co-headteachers’ welcome

We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing half-term break. It is wonderful to hear stories of progress from the slopes as students and staff return from the half-term ski trip, with many making in just one week the kind of progress that would take me five! This week, our students embarked on the sports tour, and next week, Year 8 will head to Spain to practice their Spanish language skills and immerse themselves in the local culture. This week too we welcomed Year 7 parents to prepare for the ever-popular PGL trip to Bawdsey Manor; exciting times for all. We take great pride in the wide range of opportunities we provide, from sport, art, music, and drama to enriching academic experiences, such as our Year 13 Psychology students visiting a mental health hospital and museum, where they engaged with two excellent speakers.

Beyond these experiences, it is the voice of our students that truly shapes our school. The primary phase held a fantastic book swap this week, and it was truly uplifting to hear the excitement as students carefully chose their books, discussed ones they had already read, and eagerly recommended favourites to each other. The buzz and passion for reading were incredible, reflecting exactly the kind of enthusiasm we hope to inspire in all our students. This same enthusiasm extends to the way our students influence and help shape their school environment.

At Simon Balle All-through School, students are at the heart of everything we do, and their voices play a crucial role in shaping our agenda and future direction. We are passionate about ensuring that the student voice is meaningful and results in real change. Recent consultations have included:

• A wellbeing survey focusing on resilience and mental health, working in collaboration with the Mental Health Support Team (MHST).
• School Parliament discussions on artificial intelligence, computing in the curriculum, and lunchtime club offerings.
• A previous School Parliament decision to remove Generation Juice in favour of bottled drinks, alongside the introduction of an Ecovend bottle recycling bank.
• A counter-bullying survey conducted across all year groups.
• A safeguarding health check, reviewing key areas such as staff-student relationships, corridors, unstructured time, queues, changing rooms, and toilets.
• The promotion of our ‘Tell Us’ app in response to student feedback, leading to posters around the school and a dedicated assembly.
• Ongoing discussions with our primary students about their rewards system in the primary phase.
• MCR Volunteering & Mentoring Scheme: 76 students are actively involved in our MCR (volunteering mentoring scheme). Student Feedback showed:
  • 95% of students felt their mentor improved their confidence.
  • 98% of students reported that their mentor encouraged them to be the best version of themselves.

These examples highlight the power of student voice in shaping our school community. From the experiences they have outside the classroom to the changes they influence within it, our students play an active role in shaping their school experience. Their voice is not only heard but acted upon, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that every student feels valued and empowered.

It is a testament to our students, staff, and school community that we continue to be a top choice for those moving from Year 6 to Year 7. This year, not only did we have 653 students apply for a place at our school, but 100% of those who were allocated had Simon Balle All-through School as their first choice. This reflects the strong reputation of our school, the exceptional opportunities we provide, and the inspiring environment our students help create every day.

Ski Trip

An Unforgettable Ski Trip!

Our recent ski trip was nothing short of spectacular! From the moment we arrived in the breathtaking mountains of Bormio in Italy , our students embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, determination, and a fantastic attitude. Whether they were beginners finding their balance on the slopes or advanced skiers pushing themselves to conquer steeper runs, each student demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage. It was inspiring to see them embody our school values, supporting one another, stepping out of their comfort zones, and celebrating their progress along the way.

We were also incredibly fortunate with the conditions—crisp mountain air, bright blue skies, and perfectly groomed slopes made for an unforgettable experience. The stunning scenery and excellent snow created the ideal environment for learning and fun. Beyond skiing, students showed teamwork and camaraderie, making new friendships and creating lasting memories. It was a week filled with achievement, adventure, and plenty of laughter. Well done to all the students for their fantastic efforts—you made the school proud!

Anyone who is interested in next year’s trip please keep an eye out for the information that will be sent in the next few weeks.

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunity blog which includes opportunities for:

• Lloyds Banking Group
• Insight into BDO (world’s 5th largest accountancy firm)
• Samsung live virtual careers lesson

Step into the NHS Competition

We are excited to share that Simon Balle All-through School will be taking part in the Step into the NHS competition for KS2 and KS3 pupils! This fun and inspiring challenge will encourage the students to discover the wide range of careers within the NHS, helping them discover jobs they might not have considered before. National winners will receive prizes, and their work will be showcased in their local community. Further details for KS2 and KS3 competitions will be emailed to parents.

Attendance Update

We want to thank parents and carers for ensuring that students attend school as much as possible. Whilst there will always be illnesses which will require time off, building up resilience in our young people is so important. We know the strong links to both increased attainment and wellbeing that strong attendance can have. There has been a small drop off in attendance since Christmas but hopefully in line with the better weather recently we will see this rise again as we head towards the summer term. 

Please see the following table for an update on attendance across our all-through school.

Please note that there has been a small amendment to the attendance policy so that we fall in line with DfE guidance of submitting fixed penalty notices for persistently absent students. Our rate of persistent absence (students who attend less than 90% of the time) is significantly stronger than the national average with 10% compared to national averages of 18.6% and we hope to move towards single figures in the next term.

World Book Day

The recent Book Swap and Paired Reading initiatives for World Book Day were a resounding success, fostering a deeper sense of community and enthusiasm for reading throughout the school. The Book Swap, which saw students from Reception to Year 6 exchanging books, was a hit as children eagerly brought in their favorite stories to share and discover new ones. It was heartwarming to see so many books being donated and enjoyed by others, giving students a chance to refresh their reading collections while encouraging a love for literature. The event not only allowed for a fun exchange of books but also promoted sustainability by reusing and recycling literature within the school.

In addition, the Paired Reading sessions between different year groups were incredibly beneficial for all involved. The older students took on the role of mentors, reading with and to their younger peers, helping to boost their confidence and reading skills. These sessions also helped to create lasting bonds between different year groups, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment across the school. Both initiatives have proven to be excellent ways of encouraging reading, building relationships, and creating a vibrant school community, and we look forward to seeing even more success in the future!

Library News

Science

The Science department is thrilled to announce a special competition category focused on improving the health of indoor air!

The scientists from UCL need your creativity and insight! We invite you to come up with a new idea or invention aimed at enhancing air quality in indoor public spaces – like classrooms, libraries, cafés, or cinemas. Consider whether the air in your chosen space is healthy and clean. What changes can you propose to make it better?

Further details have been emailed to all students in year 7-13.

Music

We are delighted to share our Music Newsletter with you! Please click Team Music to read!

Primary Uniform

Thank you for your continued support with children coming into school with the correct uniform. Some reminders:

• Jewellery: One pair of stud earrings only
• Plain black school shoes- no trainers. 
• Bottle green hair accessories only- no other colour
• Plain green tights or plain green or white socks
• Moderate hairstyles, e.g. no shaved lines

Further uniform information on our website

Writing in the Larch

The recent changes to our writing curriculum, particularly the introduction of new literary canon texts, have sparked a renewed enthusiasm for writing across all year groups. By incorporating a diverse range of classic and contemporary texts, students are not only gaining exposure to rich, high-quality literature, but they are also drawing inspiration from these works to improve their own writing. The texts have prompted deeper discussions in class, encouraging critical thinking and enhancing vocabulary, while sparking creativity in student writing. As a result, we’ve seen significant improvements in both the quality and originality of students’ work. The enthusiasm for storytelling and self-expression is more evident than ever, with students showing greater confidence in crafting their own pieces and a growing appreciation for the power of language. The impact of these changes has been incredibly positive, with many students demonstrating impressive progress in their writing skills.

SEND

Virtual Appointments

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

SEND – Exams & Revision

For additional information, support and guidance for students in preparation for exams and during exams – please click on the Youngminds link below:

Youngminds – SEND Exam/Revision Tips

Hertfordshire County Council SEND News

Please use the link below for information on Hertfordshire’s Local Offer, events and News

Hertfordshire’s Local Offer – SEND News

DSPL3 News

DSPL3 have collated a list of upcoming courses for parents and carers.  

Courses & Training Parents – Feb

Hertfordshire County Council is creating a new plan to support children and young people over the next 5 years. By answering the questions in this survey, you can tell HCC what you think is important to help them decide what to focus on.

Complete the survey – open until 16 March. 

If you have any questions or need the survey in an alternative format please contact: p&d.team@hertfordshire.

Parent Staff Association

Spring Meeting – Wednesday 29th April, 7pm

When you attend a Simon Balle Parent Staff Association (PSA) meeting, you can expect a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere. It’s a great opportunity to meet the new committee, hear about upcoming events, and share ideas on how we can support the school community. Whether you’re a regular attendee or new to the PSA, this is the perfect time to get involved! It’s also a fantastic way to build a relationship with the school, meet other parents and staff, and gain insight into the day-to-day operations of Simon Balle. No commitment is required—just come along, see what we do, and find out how you can help in whichever way suits you. Head to the secondary library for 7pm. We look forward to meeting you!

Register your attendance via this link: volunteersignup.org/WT7KY

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

Can your company sponsor our summer fair? We would love to hear from you.

Are you able to donate a star prize to our Summer Raffle? Please get in touch!

Would you like to be a stallholder? Register your interest via our Stallholder Register.

Are you keen for this event to be a success? Join our Volunteer Database and we will be in touch with an opportunity.

Have you got an idea?  Tell us more!

sliceofsummer@simonballepsa.org.uk

Thank you

We recently supported the Music Department’s incredible Big Band night.  We would like to extend our thanks to Leah, Lou, Kate, Sarah and Alix for giving up their time to organise and run the bar.

Can you support the bar at an upcoming music event? Volunteer today!

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 10th Mar: Y11 core mocks start
• Mon 10th Mar: Y9 assessments start
• Mon 10th Mar: Y8 MFL trip to spain departs
• Mon 10th Mar: Y12 work experience week starts
• Wed 12th Mar: Y12 performance clinic
• Sat 15th Mar: Singing and Strings event
• Wed 19th and Thurs 20th Mar: Y10 Geog field trips
• Fri 21st – Sun 23rd Mar: Model United Nations conference
• Mon 24th Mar: SBAS talent show
• Tues 25th Mar: Y12 UCAS trip
• Wed 26th Mar: Rock Gig
• Thurs 27th Mar: Y7 student consultation evening

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 14th February

Co-headteachers’ welcome

Perhaps Mr Moss and I are repetitive when we say this, but it has been an unprecedentedly busy, yet very positive, fortnight. Despite the winter weather, we are incredibly grateful for ongoing parental partnership which has related to trips away and in planning/preparation, many of which are written about below; the Year 9 preferences process; Year 11 parents’ evening and performance clinic meetings; music concerts from Year 3 woodwind starters to Big Band; and a series of very muddy sports matches with students of all ages representing Simon Balle. Thank you for all! 

The main purpose of our welcome this week relates to the power of role models within our all-through school. There are simply countless examples where younger students look up to older and the influence of peers provides something very special indeed. What is particularly magical is that activities where students of differing ages come together is so clearly of mutual benefit to both leader and learner. Here are a few examples to illustrate and celebrate and to thank all:

• Year 9 boys refereeing for our Years 5/6 Hope Cup football where we are through to the next round! Both boys on Friday clearly remember taking part in this competition themselves (as do we!) and are pleased to give back. Thank you Jack and Dylan. 
• Headteacher awards monthly where students of all ages come together and listen with patience to the varied reasons for nominations, across academic and community endeavours. Older students delight in younger achievements; younger children look up in awe to their future opportunities. It is a very special ethos for us as co-headteachers. 
• Music rehearsals almost daily where sixth form ambassadors kneel at the feet of beginner musicians, pointing out note by note and providing reassuring smiles. Our Larch strings and wind/brass are so well supported by playing alongside those with experience, and student voice tells us that hearing performances from the secondary ensembles provides great inspiration for the need to keep up that all-important practice!
• All-through parliament meetings, chaired by our sixth form presidents, are an excellent model of democracy in action. All ages from Year 5 up have a voice, and respect and listening skills are shown with consistency by all. Learning from the younger students is tangible as they practise oracy skills, note taking and more. Decisions made reflect our community from age 4 all the way to 18.
• The impact of tutoring and mentoring is highly evident at Simon Balle. At multiple times across the week, seeing 1:1 relationships blossom is inspiring indeed. Peers explaining tricky content to one another can often achieve that ‘lightbulb moment’, and confidence being developed through those that have recently known how it feels to revise and prepare for exams is so powerful too. Friday morning is a special time in the week when the Larch is flooded by sixth formers wanting to give back, demonstrating advanced skills in supporting across the curriculum and pastorally too. With consistency, our younger learners love reading to sixth formers, and are delighted when they support out at break time or within sports. 

This list is in no way exhaustive! Indeed, the curriculum itself is designed to build in leadership responsibilities, including, for example, KS3 and KS4 PE. Year 12 students have been advising Year 11 on the best ways to think about subject choices for their sixth form studies, and just a few years below, Year 9 have benefitted from the views of those already in KS4. Our student leaders at all ages are valued. And, coming up soon with World Book Day we know that within the Larch Years 4, 5 and 6 will be looked up to by Reception and Year 1 – the love of reading shared and enjoyed. 

It seemed a good opportunity to shine a spotlight on the wonderful way that our students help one another. Collaboration such as this is undoubtedly a valued part of developing as tomorrow’s citizens and one in which we as staff are grateful and proud of all. 

As we head into half term, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all they continue to give. Whatever half term brings, from our ski trip off this afternoon to continued academic studies for many, we hope that all will find time to rest and to enjoy time with loved ones. Please do come back ready for an exciting Spring 2!

Celebrating academic success

There is always a delay in the official reports of academic success from the previous academic year as the national picture builds and checking exercises take place. So, whilst the summer of 2024 feels a long time ago, it is apt indeed that with the publication this month of all attainment and progress data, across five phases of our all-through school, that we do not miss the opportunity to celebrate. Our academic results are outstanding indeed. 

• 95% of children achieving the expected standard in the national phonics screening check in Year 1 – significantly above national (93rd percentile)
• 75% of children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics in KS2 SATs – significantly above national (80th percentile)
• Progress 8 – GCSE – + 0.45 – significantly above the national (83rd percentile) (this is mirrored for a wide range of categories across P8 and across individual subject areas)
• A level Average Points Score (APS) – significantly above national (92nd percentile)

Of course such results only happen with the consistency of exceptional learning in every year group and as contributed to by every student, family, staff member and leader. A huge thank you to all, and let us continue with exciting steps towards our 2025 results. We are proud of all that has been achieved, with the highest of aspirations for every member of our community. 

Music aptitude consultation outcome

Year 11 Sixth Form Experience Day

On Wednesday 5th February, our Year 11 students took part in our Sixth Form Experience Day, designed to give them a real insight into life as a Sixth Form student. Instead of their usual GCSE lessons, students immersed themselves in the Sixth Form environment, helping them make informed decisions about their next steps.

Throughout the day, students attended three Sixth Form lessons, experiencing a variety of engaging and challenging sessions. Highlights included a chemistry escape room, creating a sports brand in BTEC Sport, and exploring general election manifestos in Politics, among many other exciting activities.

They also learned about our enrichment programme, with current Sixth Formers sharing their experiences and the wide range of opportunities available beyond the classroom. Additionally, students received guidance on finalising their subject choices, ensuring they feel confident in their next steps.

This was a fantastic opportunity for Year 11s to experience the Sixth Form community firsthand, and we hope it has inspired them as they plan for the future.

Year 11 Next Steps Day – Preparing for the Future

On the same day, a group of our Year 11 students recently took part in Next Steps Day, an invaluable opportunity to explore their post-16 options and gain the skills needed for their future pathways. Whether they are considering further education, apprenticeships, or employment, the day was designed to provide them with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions.

Students attended CV writing workshops, where they learned how to create a strong and professional CV to stand out to future employers. They also took part in apprenticeship sessions, gaining insight into the exciting opportunities available outside of traditional A Levels.

A highlight of the day was the college visits to Oaklands College in St Albans and Welwyn Garden City, where students explored the fantastic courses and facilities on offer. Additionally, we welcomed VLUK, who delivered an engaging talk on their specialist sports, business, and creative courses.

Click here for our latest Careers opportunity blog, including:

• Webinars for students interested in Law, Marketing, Media
• PwC Virtual Experience Day
• Warner Bros Apprenticeship virtual event
• Opportunities from employers and universities
• Apprenticeships and Work Experience in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths

In partnership with our local Careers Hub our school is participating in the annual Hertfordshire Parent/Carer Apprenticeships and Technical Education Pathways Survey. It doesn’t matter whether you have strong views or have little knowledge of apprenticeships to be able to complete this survey. Some of you may have completed previous years surveys – some questions have been added or slightly amended since last year. All completed surveys are completely anonymous, and responses will be collated directly by Amazing Apprenticeships who have been commissioned to complete the survey across Hertfordshire. If we receive more than 50 responses our school will receive its own individual report which will be incredibly helpful for us in planning future careers activity for both students and parent/carers. Please click here to complete the survey (it should take approx 5 minutes to complete): Parent/Carer Apprenticeships and Technical Education Pathways Survey.

National Apprenticeship Week 2025

From 10th to 14th February, we will be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, with this year’s theme, ‘Skills for Life’, highlighting how apprenticeships help individuals develop valuable skills for their careers and enable employers to build a future-ready workforce.

Throughout the week, students will take part in a variety of activities during form time, using resources from Amazing Apprenticeships, and will explore different apprenticeship opportunities within their subject lessons.

We are also delighted to welcome back two former Simon Balle students who are currently in their first year of degree apprenticeships at Barclays and BCAL Consulting. They will be speaking to Year 12 and Year 13 students about their experiences and the degree apprenticeship process.

For parents and carers who would like to explore apprenticeships further, here are some useful resources:

Simon Balle Apprenticeships Hub: Visit here
Amazing Apprenticeships Parent and Carer Hub: Click here
Choice Magazine (January 2025 Edition): Read here

Apprenticeships offer a fantastic pathway into a wide range of careers—be sure to get involved and find out more!

Business Convention 2025 – Disneyland Paris

165 of our Y10 & Y11 GCSE Business students had a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris. The students attended and were so engaged in the Business convention, which gave an insight into how Disney operates and markets its brand. We were also treated to an inspirational talk on how to make a Business a success. 

Students got to make the most of the magic that comes with Disney, demonstrating resilience on the rides and taking in some amazing shows. We also got to visit Paris and take in the sights on a boat cruise, ending at the lit up Eifel tower. The students were an absolute credit to the school and made some great memories with their friends.

Sustainability Studies

As one of their rotation subjects, years 7 and 8 study ‘Sustainability studies’ for 10 weeks with Mr Dear or Miss Gibson. Year 8 look at the wider world, and how as a global community we can work together towards a more sustainable and green planet. Project work includes creating a sustainable clothing brand with research into different materials and production practices, and creating a menu for a ‘sustainable restaurant’, avoiding ingredients and food items that have a negative impact on the environment. 

Year 7 look closer to home, collecting data on how we as a school community can become more sustainable. This work has proven to be massively successful and beneficial to the school, as the litter pick data has highlighted patterns and trends and informed decisions on bin placement around the site. As part of this research, year 7 student David had the opportunity to interview our CFO Mr Walsh on how we are working towards being as sustainable as possible. Some questions included:

“How do you make sure that the school uses energy efficiently?”

“All of our new buildings are being equipped with technology and architectural features that work towards being more sustainable. Our new MFL building and incoming Sports Hall have both been designed with sustainability in mind, with air-flow technology in place to regulate air circulation and temperature control. We also have a large number of solar panels which generate electricity, although we are constantly looking for ways to improve our efficiency and environmental impact”

“How does the school manage recycling?”

“We have recently added several more bin stores around the school which house both general waste and recycling wheelie bins. These additions have decreased the amount of waste we send for incineration, as we have made it as easy as possible for everyone on site to find recycling points. We are now able to recycle far more of our waste, whilst we also manage our food waste in a responsible manner, sending our waste food to be turned into natural bio-fuel. We also try where possible to reuse rather than recycle – as part of a ‘circular economy’, we look to move on items such as furniture and clothing to new homes as well as accepting second-hand equipment and furniture to give them a new lease of life, rather than sending perfectly usable items to landfill.”

It’s fantastic to see our students so engaged in attempting to make our school environment a  cleaner and greener place, and it’s exciting to think about all the future developments on our school site as we move towards a sustainable future.

Pedal for purpose 

As part of Children’s Mental health week we decided to cycle for the charity, Mind Hertfordshire network. Our students and staff showed fantastic resilience and kept the static bikes moving from 10am to 4.30pm, covering a total of 185 miles across the 3 bikes. 

Thank you to Everyone Active and the Mind Hertfordshire network team for your support on the day. We not only have started to raise vital funds that will be doubled but also raised awareness of this wonderful charity. If you would like to support and donate then please follow this link https://12milesfor12charities2025.heroes.help/campaigns/Simon-Balle-School

Library news

Another busy few weeks in the library with:

• Newsday Tuesday on Tuesday 4th February.
• Book Battles on Wednesday 5th February.
• Foreign Language Friday on Friday 7th February.
• Our annual Harry Potter Quiz on Thursday 13th February. 
• The library rewards trip to the Bishop’s Stortford College Festival of Literature on Friday 14th February.

Newsday Tuesday

Newsday Tuesday takes place in the secondary school library on the first Tuesday of the month. This month we looked at what’s coming in the year ahead, and we discussed issues such as fake news and the aftermath of natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires.

Book Battles

Book Battles takes place in the secondary school library on the first Wednesday of the month. So far this year we have used our general knowledge to play Scattergories and our speaking and performance skills to sell our favourite books to the audience.

The Harry Potter Quiz

Simon Balle’s Got Talent 2025 – date for the diary!

Following on from the success of the secondary talent show last year, our Y12 House Leaders are organising another talent show! The date for this year’s secondary show is Monday 24th March, 6-8pm. Tickets will be available to purchase before the show soon!

Community and Kindness at Simon Balle

We are excited to launch a new school community and kindness project as Simon Balle All-through School. The initiative will be organised by a team of  student ambassadors from years 5-9 and overseen by a team of Year 12s. The team will be organising various events to promote kindness and strengthen community both within the school and in the wider community.   

Our first project called Simon Balle in Bloom is aimed at creating a beautiful and green space for our students to enjoy. To bring this vision to life, we kindly ask for your support in donating plants and pots and other gardening equipment, please see the attached poster for more details. Your contributions will help us foster a love for nature, teach students about plant care, and create a welcoming environment for everyone. Whether it’s a small potted plant or a larger decorative pot, every donation will make a difference. If you’re able to contribute we will be running the donation for the weeks commencing 24th February and 3rd of March; students will be informed on where to drop donations . Thank you for your generosity and support!

Kind regards,

The community and Kindness Team

School Nursing Newsletter

Please find attached the Winter Term newsletter from the school nursing team

Newsletter 2025 Teen final 05 02 25 (003)

Supporting Links – Parenting workshops

We are pleased to announce that we are working closely with supporting links to provide parents and carers with a variety of workshops. In the Summer term we have organised some face to face sessions but in the meantime, I have attached the following flyers:

• 1 hour Bitesize workshops
• Workshops for parents of children with suspected or diagnosed ASD and/or ADHD.

 Please see the attached flyer with courses for you to sign up to if appropriate.

Supporting Links ASD & ADHD Workshops Spring2025 (1)

Supporting Links UNIVERSAL workshops BITESIZE programme 2025

Carpark

During half term the contractors will be working on another section of the car park. This will mean that the section between the entrance and exit gates will be closed and fenced off. This means that the number of spaces will be reduced again, and we will be restricted to using the exit gate as our only means of entering and exiting the car park. Extra vigilance will be required by all users of the site. 

We remind you that only those granted access to the car park should be driving onto our site: all other drop-offs and pick-ups should be conducted from an alternative location, such as the London Road car park near the fire station. Adding unnecessary extra vehicles to the car park and failure to follow signage (like the no entry signs by the White Lodge) increases the risk of accidents. We are also concerned that at times staff are being prevented from accessing the car park when they arrive for work: access routes (including gates to the staff car park) should not be blocked at any time.

Lost property

If any primary or secondary student has misplaced an item of clothing or equipment, please encourage them to pop into the school office to have a look through our extensive collection of lost property. This is also a good time to remind you to make sure that everything is labeled with the student’s name.

PSA News 

The PSA held its AGM and committee meeting last week that was really well attended. We celebrated the amazing events, initiatives and phenomenal monies raised by the PSA last year. We are so fortunate to have such hard working, passionate and dedicated volunteers that make such a positive impact on our community. 

We want to say thank you to Jo Duggan and Ruth Wing who have stepped down as co-chairs. Your service and commitment has been inspirational and you leave the PSA in a position of strength. Both were awarded Spirit of Simon Balle Awards for consistently demonstrating our school values. We would also like to thank Laura Pearson and James Curtis for their incredible commitment and service to the PSA. 

We are pleased to announce that Chloe Merrick and Leah Wood are the new Co-chairs and Mike Cohen is the new Treasurer.  Hayley Fairbrother has also volunteered for the role of  Secretary. Thank you to all who have filled the positions and for the PSA for your continued support and effort. As you are all members of the PSA please do look out for opportunities to volunteer or support.

Dates for your diary

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

• Monday 24th Feb: start of Spring 2 term
• Thursday 27th Feb: staff and sixth form quiz afternoon
• Saturday 1st Mar: Secondary Big Band evening
• Monday 3rd Mar: Sports Tour departs (Y8/9)
• Tues 4th Mar: Y13 student consultation evening
• Mon 10th Mar: Y11 core mocks start
• Mon 10th Mar: Y9 assessments start
• Mon 10th Mar: Y8 MFL trip to spain departs
• Mon 10th Mar: Y12 work experience week starts

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 31st January

Co-headteachers’ welcome

As the cold and wet weather continues to remind us that winter is well and truly here, it’s heartening to see the energy and enthusiasm shining through in our all-through school. Despite the grey skies outside, our students and staff have been busy with a wealth of exciting activities and exceptional learning taking place in every corner of the school. From creative projects and inspiring lessons to extracurricular opportunities and community events, the atmosphere across our school remains vibrant and full of promise. It’s a reminder that even during the chilliest months, there’s so much warmth and positivity to celebrate in our school community.

Our new sports hall is taking shape beautifully and remains on schedule for completion. Last week, we had the privilege of visiting the site, donning our hard hats and high-vis jackets. Stepping inside, we were struck by just how spacious it felt. The framework for the reception, office space, and storage areas is already in place, and the sports hall itself is even more expansive than we imagined. Standing there, it was easy to picture the wide variety of sports that will take place, including netball, basketball, badminton, cricket, circuit training, and more.

This facility promises to be a top-quality venue for exercise, competition, and, most importantly, enjoyment for our students and the wider community. As headteachers, we feel incredibly fortunate to be leading our school during such an exciting period of growth and progress. This new sports hall will be a hub of activity, promoting physical well-being and community spirit for years to come.

Following our recent mock exams, students across our all-through school are now receiving their papers back. This is an important opportunity for reflection, as it allows them to identify their strengths and pinpoint areas where they can focus their efforts. As the philosopher Plutarch wisely said, “To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.” Just as in sport, music, art, and drama, there is no shortcut to improvement—progress requires a combination of expert guidance from our dedicated teachers and the commitment of hard work from our students. 

With summer exams on the horizon, every student is aiming for significant improvement, whether that’s moving from a Key Stage 2 score of 100 to 105, achieving a jump from a Grade 5 to 7 at GCSE, or progressing from a B to an A* at A-Level. To support this journey, we strongly encourage students to take full advantage of the incredible resources available, including our lunch and after-school revision sessions, as well as the focused booster programmes in Year 6. These opportunities provide invaluable support to ensure all students are fully prepared and confident for the challenges ahead. We also recognise the important role parents play in creating a positive and focused home environment for revision and home learning. Encouraging consistent routines, providing a quiet space, and offering gentle guidance can make a significant difference in how students engage with their studies. Your involvement, whether through discussing topics, helping with time management, or simply offering words of encouragement, fosters confidence and a love of learning. Thank you for your ongoing partnership in your child’s education!

Continuing with the theme of resilience and positivity during these colder weeks, our assemblies last week focused on the idea of ‘Setting the Standard.’ This theme challenged students to push beyond their perceived limits in learning, to uphold our core values in all areas of school life, and to demonstrate exemplary conduct within the wider community. Time and again, our students amaze us with their commitment, kindness, and the way they carry themselves every day. They truly embody the high standards we set as a school, making us proud of the incredible young people they are becoming.

Click here for our latest Careers opportunity blog, including:

• Dunelm Apprenticeships – Now open
• Generation Welwyn Careers Fair

Musical News – January 2025

A fantastic month of music to kick off 2025 with so many exciting events coming up this term! Please read all about the Woodwind Starters’ Celebration, Piano Recital, Music Medal success and all of the upcoming events here: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/musical-news-january-2025/

Enrichment timetable

Click here for the latest enrichment clubs on offer at Simon Balle All-through School

Sport and PE

Sport in the Larch

With the evenings gradually becoming lighter the Hope Cup football and Evans Trophy for netball competitions have begun. Last Thursday the footballers played Priors Wood Primary School in the Hope Cup competition winning 5-1 and as a result getting through to the next round. The children showed all of our school’s values and showed so much sportsmanship working as a team. We were also delighted to have two children from Year 9 who started playing football themselves in the Larch referee the match showing how they have continued their sporting and leadership journeys. Well done to all that were involved! The netball competition will start next week with the first match against St John the Baptist and the football will continue with the next match against Ponsbourne.

Wodson Park Badminton Offer

Badminton coaching offer: Wodson Park £10 x 4 Weeks

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):

The DSPL newsletter for parents can be found here DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – January.pdf

A note from DSPL3:

We held our first ever DSPL3 Parent Coffee Morning on 13th November at Priors Wood School in Ware. It was open to all parents/carers of children with SEND (with or without diagnosis). We had a great turnout with over 25 people in attendance which was a mix of parents and professionals

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

Our next dates are as follows (Venues yet to be confirmed)

• Wednesday 19th March 2025 (10-11:30am)
• Wednesday 11th June 2025 (10-11:30am)

Thank you to all those who attended, we can’t wait to chat again soon.

Science

One of our Sixth form Biology students took part in the Cambridge Biology Challenge, and her essay was recognised as highly commended. She focused on “The Winter Microbiome” and examined how seasonal changes impact gut health. Through her research, she discovered the remarkable adaptability of the gut microbiome – a complex community of billions of microorganisms that play a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and overall health. She found that reintroducing traditional winter diets, which are rich in prebiotics and probiotics, could enhance resilience and tackle modern health challenges such as autoimmune diseases. This investigation not only deepened her appreciation for the microbial world but also sparked an interest in developing innovative solutions for health and sustainability in the future. We, in the Science department, are very proud of her. 

You can read the essay by clicking here

Young Science Writer Award 2025

Students in Year 10 and 11 are invited to enter the Young Science Writer Award 2025, an exciting opportunity for all budding writers and science enthusiasts! Information has been emailed to all students in these year groups.

For more information please visit: https://www.absw.org.uk/pages/yswa-2024-apply

Larch Pastoral Provision roundup – What’s on offer in the Larch?

With Children’s Mental Health week being celebrated across the All-through next week, this is a great opportunity to share the many interventions, clubs, therapies and activities the children take part in across the Larch all week to ensure they are looking after themselves and their mental health. From nurture clubs, wellbeing clubs, to Lego therapies and drawing therapies, PSHE learning and regulation support in classes. We are creating a safe and understanding environment for our pupils to continue to thrive and develop. These are one to one, whole class, small group and are changing and adapting to suit the individual needs of our pupils. 

We are very fortunate to have the support of the Mental Health Service Team visiting the Larch each Tuesday to work with a large group of pupils completing different activities that support them in developing self esteem, self confidence and self belief. The children have responded so positively to this that staff are offering nurture clubs at lunchtimes for children. This is a place for children to come and further develop an understanding of themselves and their emotions in a safe and secure environment, through activities that are focused and inviting.

The East Herts Mental Health Support Team (MHST) will be delivering a ‘Parent Online Safety Workshop’ at Hollybush Primary School. You can read more about it here: Holly Bush Online Safety parents info.docx

Library News

The Big Schools’ Birdwatch

On Tuesday 21st 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 great variety of species including some more unusual birds such as a great spotted woodpecker, a kestrel, and some redwing. 

Our results have been submitted to the RSPB to add to their national data. Well done to the birdwatching team!

Hertfordshire’s Families First

Please find attached information from both Family Lives and Families First regarding workshops, groups and helpful advice and support.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/familiesfirst

Families First A4 Website Poster (003) Spring Term 2025 Groups (2) Spring 2025 Workshops

PSA

Rescheduled AGM

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 4th February, 7pm for a 7.15pm start.If you are able to spare half an hour, please do call in.  You are not committing to anything by attending, we simply need a good turn out in order to go ahead with the AGM. Our scheduled AGM was previously cancelled as we did not have enough attendees to meet quorum.

After the AGM, we will continue with a committee meeting.  At this point, you are welcome to stay or leave.

Please use this link to indicate if you can attend the AGM.

You can also use the same link to sign up to other events, such as bar support for music events in March.

Your PSA needs you:  We are looking for a new Chair – or two people to be Co-chairs!

The Chair holds a unique position overseeing the PSA. It does not mean that you have to organise or attend events (although you can!). The Chair role involves activities such as liaising with school, working with the PSA Treasurer and Secretary, managing the constitution and Charity Commission obligations, and so on.  

If this role interests you, please contact us on psa@simonballepsa.org.uk expressing your interest and sharing your contact details. We will arrange for you to meet the current co-Chairs and learn more about the role. And if you decide to get involved, the current co-Chairs will be on hand to support you as much or as little as you want them to.

The PSA raises thousands of pounds each year for our school. Everyone parent/guardian is automatically a member of the PSA and is welcome to attend meetings and get involved as much or as little as they wish. We cannot function long-term without a Chair so please, please consider getting involved.

Thank you

The PSA Committee

Slice of Summer – Save the date!

The Slice of Summer will take place on Saturday 12th July, 12-4pm. 

We are looking for someone to help us organise the bar this year. Are you able to apply for the bar license and be present throughout the event? Can you set up the bar area on the day? Please get in touch before half term if this is something that you can help with.

psa@simonballepsa.org.uk

Please save the date and watch out for more information and volunteering opportunities.

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 3rd Feb: Y8 assessments start
• Wed 5th Feb: Sixth form experience day for Y11
• Wed 5th Feb: Y9 Preferences Evening
• Thurs 6th Feb: Y11 Performance Clinic
• Friday 7th: Y10 ELSA careers day
• Tues 11th and Thurs 13th Feb: Y11 Sixth Form pathways meetings
• Thurs 13th Feb: Y13 Performance Clinic
• Friday 14th Feb: Library trip to Bishop’s Stortford College
• Friday 14th Feb: Ski trip departs
• Monday 24th Feb: start of Spring 2 term

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead

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

Friday 17th January

Co-headteachers’ welcome

Wishing a very Happy New Year to all of our families at Simon Balle. For those who we have not yet had a chance to see in person over this first fortnight of 2025, we wish students and families a fulfilling and successful term and year ahead. 

We have spent as much time as possible in classrooms across our all-through in this important and productive first two weeks of term. And so, it is apt to be writing to you all about the joy of learning. For many, January is a time of making resolutions, so for us at Simon Balle it is the perfect time to be supporting our wonderful young people to be prepared to embrace new challenges, intellectually and holistically. As you all know, we make no apologies at all for being a school that will always have high academic expectations of every student – for this is how we reach goals we thought may not be possible, and how we move with confidence into uncharted waters. Through our newsletters and social media, we always work hard to celebrate exciting enrichment opportunities – trips and clubs and sport and music and student leadership and more… However, it is worth remembering that sometimes – in fact often – magic happens in ordinary classrooms where extraordinary staff support extraordinary students to learn. The joy of learning might not always give us a ‘wow’ photograph, and yet we know that education has the power to transform lives. The moment where a child suddenly realises that they understand; a time where they relate this new learning to that which has gone before; the connection between teacher and student where they both show a deep appreciation for the subject studied; the dialogue between students as they grapple with fascinating concepts… All of this we have had the privilege of witnessing already in 2025, from age 4 to 18 and within all parts of the broad and ambitious curriculum we are proud to lead. 

Whilst we cannot possibly give examples from everywhere, a ‘window’ into what takes place daily at Simon Balle may be helpful. At just one point this week, Mr Moss and I delved into Year 9 students categorising the reasons for Germany’s loss in WW1, followed by Year 11 business students understanding the advantages and disadvantages of batch production. A number of our Year 13 students are busy preparing for Oxbridge interviews, to whom we wish the very best of luck, and, not far away, Reception are learning all about ‘People who help us’ – they are looking forward to a parent doctor and firefighter coming to visit them (thank you!) and their writing is showing such promise as they work to apply their phonic sounds to words and now across a whole sentence. We experienced engagement in wonderful literature as we moved around the all-through site, including Year 6 who are simultaneously developing their understanding of history together with reading comprehension and application of skills to writing through their study of Now or Never by Bali Rai. Years 10 and 13 are showing such a commitment to their exams, with great collaboration in motivated pairs as they prepare for speaking and listening; and walks through the maths and science corridors demonstrated such persistence of KS3 and 4 students with retrieval of key vocabulary and its application to questions to start every lesson based on securing knowledge and then moving forward. As we start this new calendar year, it is important to once again emphasise the significance of partnership between home and school, for we know that nurturing this partnership is how our young people can, and do, thrive. From a teaching and learning perspective, please do use the curriculum page on our website – it is always kept up to date so that we all have a shared sense of purpose, and granular information of what is taught and how this is progressive so that students build their knowledge on prior content. Assessment information has and is being shared with almost all year groups now, from Larch end of term data to Year 11 and Year 13 mocks. We value the insight gleaned from these ‘check-in’ points, and we hope that parents/carers with children in Years 7 – 9 will particularly benefit from a clearer and transparent KS3 assessment system launched this year. If you have not already had the chance to do so, please visit the assessment page on our website where a video should help with any questions you have in interpreting your child’s current data. Assessment is used as a launch point into ‘what next’ so we look forward to connecting with you all and together sharing the very highest of aspirations of all that our students can achieve and will become in 2025 and beyond!

Phase 1 – People Who Help Us

In Reception this half term, we have begun our new Topic focused on ‘People Who Help Us’. Starting off with inspiration from the book ‘Real Life Superheroes’ by Julia Seal, the children have enjoyed learning more about different jobs and roles within the community and how they help us, from doctors to vets, from cleaners to postal workers, from hairdressers to dentists! We are privileged to be welcoming a number of volunteers to come in and speak to the children about their roles over the next few weeks. Thank you so much to Melvin who visited earlier this week to share all about his role as a firefighter! The children absolutely loved learning all about the work of a firefighter and even got to see real equipment and uniform – which Miss Ponder even tried on!

If you are interested in volunteering, and could give around 30 minutes to an hour of your time to meet and share with the children about your work, please get in touch with Mrs Philip, Phase 1 Leader philipc@simonballe.herts.sch.uk. 

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

Families Feeling Safe has funding from HCC to run workshops which are free to attend and open to all parents in Hertfordshire. The first workshop ‘All Feelings Matter’ can help parents and carers learn more about:

• Why all feelings matter for everyone.
• How feelings, thoughts, and behaviour link together.
• Recognising physical and emotional feelings, including anxiety and anger.
• Ways to support healthy emotional development.
• The stress response system and ‘3-Part Brain’ concept.
• The importance of feelings and the Protective Behaviours process.

Details of how to join the session are on the attached link All feelings matter workshop.pdf

PE and Sport at Simon Balle

Please find the updated extracurricular timetable for this term on the Sport Simon Balle website: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/sport/secondary-sport/

The opportunity for Excellence Scheme

The Opportunity for Excellence Scheme is now open to any of your students who compete at a minimum county standard in a sport, they would be eligible to apply for this scheme to receive a free gym membership at either John Warner or Laura Trott Leisure Centre for the year.

See link to apply: Apply for the Opportunities for Excellence scheme | Location – Borough of Broxbourne Council

If you would like any further information please email Miss E Newman newmane@simonballe.herts.sch.uk 

Badminton festival

We hope you enjoyed the schools badminton festival at Chauncy Secondary School – It would be amazing if you feel inspired to take up badminton and we have a selection of sessions across Hertfordshire all offering the first 4 weeks for just £10. You can register here:- https://nationalbadminton.org.uk/locations/hertfordshire/

Click here for our latest Careers opportunity blog, including:

• The Hertfordshire Virtual Careers Fair for parents and carers
• Generation Welwyn Hatfield 2025
• Unifrog – Virtual Apprenticeship Fair
• EDF Apprenticeships – NOW OPEN
• Opportunities from employers and universities 
• Links for Y13 students looking to apply for Apprenticeships at GSK, Amazon, Mercedes and many more

Sociology Conference

Last Thursday our Y12 Sociologists attended the annual A Level Sociology Conference at UCL. It was exciting for the students to hear about contemporary sociological research and to engage with Q&A sessions with the research leads. This introduction to research methods has set them up nicely for the next unit they will be studying.

BEAM Theatre

My name is Amy and I am the Participation Coordinator at Herts Inclusive Theatre. 

I am writing to let you know that HIT are bringing Power Up East to BEAM in Hertford at the end of January and we would love to welcome you!

Power Up delivers free drama workshops for young adults, weekly from Jan-March, culminating in a celebratory event at the end. Using theatre, games and creativity, the workshops will explore empowerment, independence, advocacy, representation and communication. 

Working with experienced inclusive drama practitioners, the workshops will offer opportunity to build confidence, make friends and most importantly, have fun.

• Fee: Free!
• Ages: 16+
• Time: 2-3:30pm
• Date: Wednesdays, 29th Jan 2025-26th March 2025 (Dates Inclusive) 
• Locations: Social One, BEAM, Hertford

For more information and to book, please visit our Pebble bookings here. If you need support in booking your place, contact me at the office on 01727 22 1414 or by email at amy@hit-theatre.org.uk

Building works and car park

The work on the sports hall has resumed following the Christmas break, and everything continues to be on schedule. The cladding should be appearing over the next month, but most of the activity is now taking place inside.

Students may have noticed that some damage was done to the entrance barrier by one of the delivery lorries. Whilst we are waiting for the repairs to be carried out, we ask you to respect the system that was put in place to restrict access to the carpark: cars driving quickly through the site, or parking and maneuvering carelessly, puts our students and staff in danger. Only those with an access pass should be driving onto the site. Students should be encouraged to walk to the Old London Road car park to be picked up: this is a much safer and far less congested place to wait.

Children’s Mental health week 3-9 Feb

We have a number of assemblies and activities taking place during this week that fit in with the campaign’s focus of Know yourself, Grow yourself. 

There will be a live performance by the up-and-coming boyband “Absnt Mind,” complemented by a thought-provoking discussion on Mental Health, Body Image, Cyber Bullying, and an engaging Q&A session for your students. 

On Wednesday 5th Feb students in PE lessons, staff and any student that would like to be involved will be taking part in ‘Pedal for purpose’. Everyone active has kindly sent us three static bikes for us to take part in this challenge and keep the bikes going from 9.00 – 4.00pm to cover as many miles as possible. In doing this we hope to raise money for Herts Mind Network. If  you are able to donate please follow the link 

https://12milesfor12charities2025.heroes.help/campaigns/Simon-Balle-School

Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services

Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) system wants to understand what parents and carers need when they are faced with supporting their child or young person’s poor emotional wellbeing.

It can be difficult to understand why they might be experiencing low moods, anxiety or self-harming behaviours, how to cope as a family, or knowing the strategies that could help at home. In preparation for commissioning a new service, we want to make sure parents and carers feel supported, have professionals and peers to speak to and share experiences with, all while knowing they are far from alone.

Complete the survey here

The survey will be open until Sunday 26 January 2025

Parent Staff Association

Larch UV Discos

Based on previous feedback, we are offering two UV Discos for Larch children this year.  Please refer to email for detailed information.

Friday 17th January, 4.30-5.30pm for Years 1, 2 and 3.

Friday 24th January, 4.30-5.30pm for Years 4, 5 and 6.

To book tickets for the Year 1, 2 and 3 UV Disco on Friday 17th January, please click here.  Ticket sales will close on 12th January, or when tickets sell out – whichever comes first.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

To book tickets for the Year 4, 5 and 6 UV Disco on Friday 24th January, please click here. Ticket sales will close on 19th January, or when tickets sell out – whichever comes first.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

Rescheduled AGM – 4/2/25

Our Annual General Meeting was previously cancelled as we did not have enough attendees to meet quorum.

We have rescheduled the AGM for Tuesday 4th February, 7pm for a 7.15pm start.  Please do attend if you can, we really need as much support as we can get.  You are not committing to anything by attending, we simply need a good turn out in order to go ahead with the AGM.

After the AGM, we will continue with a committee meeting.  At this point, you are welcome to stay or leave.

Please use this link to indicate if you can attend the AGM.

You can also use the same link to sign up to other events, such as Big Band bar support in March.

My Name Tags

There is a large volume of unnamed lost property in both phases of the school.  Named items are easier to locate and return to their owner.

When you order name labels via My Name Tags with our school ID 37273, commission will be paid to the PSA and lost property will decrease!

Dates for your diary

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

• Fri 17th Jan: Larch UV party (Y1-3)
• Tues 21st Jan: Art trip (Tate and V&A)
• Wed 22nd Jan: Y11 student consultation evening
• Fri 24th Jan: Larch UV party (Y4-6)
• Tues 28th-Fri 31st Jan: GCSE Business studies trip (Y10 and Y11)
• Mon 3rd Feb: Y8 assessments start
• Wed 5th Feb: Sixth form experience day for Y11
• Wed 5th Feb: Y9 Preferences Evening

Wishing you a Happy New Year

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

Friday 13th December

Co-headteachers’ welcome

December is a time of giving, and this spirit has been a shining feature of our school throughout the month. From supporting the local food bank to engaging in meaningful work within the community, our students and staff have exemplified generosity and care for others. A special highlight has been our Year 12 and Year 4 students taking part in a Santa Dash to raise funds for Herts Young Homeless, showing incredible dedication to supporting a vital cause. Equally inspiring was our Christmas Jumper Competition in aid of Save the Children, which combined fun and purpose in the best possible way. The fantastic array of colourful, creative, and quirky jumpers brought festive cheer to the school while reminding us of the importance of helping those in need. It has been heartening to see the Simon Balle community come together with such energy and kindness during this season of giving.

The Christmas Frost Fair on the 7th December was a true triumph, bringing our school community together in festive celebration despite the challenging weather. The event was alive with the buzz of activity, featuring an array of stalls, delicious food and drink, and outstanding singing and dance performances. It was wonderful  to see our Sixth Formers and Year 7 students showcasing their entrepreneurial flair by running their own stalls, demonstrating creativity and teamwork. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible PSA, school staff and the many volunteers who made this event possible. Your dedication and hard work ensured the success of this whole-school celebration, which truly embodied the Christmas spirit. We are so proud of everyone who contributed to this joyous occasion!

As we approach the final week of term, excitement is building for two cherished traditions: our Christmas lunch and the school Christmas Carol Concert. These events are the perfect way to celebrate the season and reflect on an incredible term. From academic achievements to social milestones, our students and staff have worked tirelessly and accomplished so much. It has been a term full of growth, success, and community spirit, and we look forward to ending it on a high note with these festive celebrations. 

We wish everyone a fantastic Christmas and New Year and we look forward to welcoming you all back in January!

Christmas events

Christmas is in full swing now…

Reception Nativity

We are immensely proud of our Reception children as they have performed their Nativity show this week! Not only did they perform to their families at the main performance on Thursday, but they have also had audiences from the Larch and Busy Lizzies earlier in the week to watch our dress rehearsals. They have all worked so hard on learning the songs and their lines and we hope all our attendees enjoyed the show. Well done! 

Christmas dinner – Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th Dec

Christmas dinner will be taking place next week (Secondary on Tuesday, Primary on Wednesday). Secondary students please take not: there will be no other food on sale on Tuesday, either at break or lunch. Students are advised to bring a snack for break and anyone that hasn’t bought a ticket for Christmas dinner will need to bring a packed lunch. You can read the full text of the Christmas Dinner letter here: 2024 Christmas Dinner letter

Christmas Jumper Day and Santa Dash 

Thank you to everyone that supported yesterday’s fundraising activities. The donation pages are still open if you still want to contribute.

Christmas Jumper – Save the Children – £1278.00

Simon Balle All-through School  – Christmas Jumper Day – https://christmas.savethechildren.org.uk/fundraising/cjd240013979?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=dssb-email

Santa Dash – Herts Young Homeless – £546.00

https://www.justgiving.com/page/simon-balle-1701254185708?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Carol Service

The annual Simon Balle Carol Services are taking place during the last week of term: 

• Monday 16th December, 7pm – Secondary Carol Service
• Tuesday 17th December, 6pm – Larch Carol Service

The PSA will serve refreshments before each service. If you are able to volunteer with the serving of refreshments, please sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY 

We ask all our music families to donate a box of mince pies or a packet of shortbread, these should be brought to the music office any day this week.

In addition to the two evening carol services, there will be two daytime services for the students to attend. On Tuesday Y7, 8 and 12 will be walking down to the Church in the morning, and on Wednesday the Larch students will be doing the same. Please ensure that students bring a coat so that they are suitably dressed for the weather.

Jólabókaflóð (Book Flood) – On 18th December the secondary library will be hosting the annual Book Flood festival. See the poster below for more details.

Herts and District food bank collection

Thank you so much for all of your generous donations for the Herts and District food bank. Our House Leaders have really embraced our Simon Balle values and have been diligently collecting the items from the Larch and the Secondary phases. Thank you again!

Food Bank support

Should you find yourself in difficulty over the festive season please do not hesitate to contact noxont@simonballe.herts.sch.uk where we can support you through our local food banks. Please ensure you get in touch before the end of term.

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 using the following Booking link.

On the links below are details of workshops available to all parents and carers living in Herts. 

Supporting Links BITESIZE programme 2025

Supporting Links ASD & ADHD Workshops Spring2025

Supporting Links Course Brochure Spring 25

Places can be booked directly by parents and carers by following this link and are free. Bitesize Parenting for parents in Herts | Eventbrite

The Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer

The Local Offer is a guide for families, providing information on special educational needs and disabilities services available throughout Hertfordshire for eligible individuals. 

Please use the link for further information The Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer 

For the latest Hertfordshire SEND news, highlights and information, please use the following link: The Latest SEND News from Hertfordshire.gov.uk where you can also register to receive regular SEND updates. 

DSPL3 Newsletter for Parents – Autumn 2

Library News

Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunity blog

PE News

With over a week to go, there are still lots going on in PE, including Inter-house Sport taking place this week and many more fixtures over the next 4-5 days. We will be publishing our sports blog on Wednesday which will include the final Inter House Football results as well as detailed reports on all fixtures and results so far in December. The December Sports Blog will be available on the front page on Wednesday as well as by going to the following link –  Sports Blog

Keeping safe this Christmas

Please take a moment to read the two latest online safety guides for parents, and the Fire Service Winter Safety newsletter.

what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-ipads

What parents and carers need to know about whatsapp

EAST HERTS & BROXBOURNE Winter Safety

Statutory Admissions Consultation 2026/2027

In accordance with the requirements of the Department of Education’s School Admissions Code 2021, Simon Balle All-through School is consulting on the proposed admissions arrangements for the school year 2026/2027 and is seeking responses from parents/carers, schools and community groups.

The proposed changes are:

1.       Adding Rule 6 Musical Aptitude Test.

The reasons for the consultation are:

1. Music, both academically and in extensive enrichment provision, is a unique strength at Simon Balle All-through School
2. Not every school can offer the same breadth and depth of musical opportunities
3. Young people showing musical aptitude, living in Hertford, Hertford Heath and the priority areas, are being offered the chance to commit and belong to our musical community, growing as advanced musicians.

The proposed admission arrangements can be found on the school website (https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/admissions/secondary-admissions/).

The consultation period will run for 6 weeks commencing 9th December 2024 and closing on 20th January 2025. 

Responses to these arrangements are invited and should be submitted to Mrs M Salter, Admissions Officer by email: admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk or by post to the school address: Simon Balle All-through School, Mangrove Road, Hertford, SG13 8AJ by 20th January 2025.

The Governing Body will then consider all the responses before determining the final admission arrangements by Friday 28th February 2025.

Parent Staff Association

Frost Fair

The weather didn’t dampen spirits on Saturday’s Frost Fair. Hundreds of visitors came to enjoy the atmosphere and make this all-through event memorable.

We would like to extend our thanks to all that made this a success, from performers to student helpers, to our bank of volunteers. 

Kings Group and Edwins generously sponsored us. Thirteen Artisan Bakery cooked our giant pigs in blankets. Accent supplied helping hands and trays of cookies which the children enjoyed decorating.

This incredible community event simply could not happen without you.

All raffle winners have now been contacted and have until we break up for Christmas to collect prizes. Uncollected items after this time will be assumed unwanted and will get redistributed.

During the Frost Fair, sadly a visitor lost an opal pendant.  This highly sentimental item is dearly missed.  Please check bags and belongings, just in case it may have got caught up.  Please contact the PSA or school should you find it, we would love to be able to reunite this with its owner.

Larch UV Party

We are excited to bring back the much loved after school UV Parties to Larch in January 2025. Save the date!

• Friday 17th for years 1, 2 and 3.
• Friday 24th for years 4, 5 and 6.

More information to follow.

In order for this to go ahead, we need a good number of helpers to serve drinks, apply UV paint and tattoos (no tattoos on faces please).

If you are interested in registering to become a volunteer for our events, please complete this short form: https://forms.gle/7BjT4wbLhHrWuh2d8

Providing we have enough volunteers, tickets will go live on 6th January, via our website.  Spaces will be limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Lumos Live – Coldplay by Candlelight

Calling all Coldplay fans!

Lumos Live presents: A Coldplay Candlelight Experience at All Saints Church, Hertford, on Saturday 11th January 2025 at 7pm. Lasting around an hour, you will enjoy many Coldplay favourites performed by a string trio. Book via our link for a portion of your ticket sale to be donated to Simon Balle PSA: https://fatso.ma/0Zzm

Coldplay by Candlelight

Dates for your diary

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

• Mon 16th Dec: Secondary Carol Service, All Saints Church, 7pm
• Tues 17th Dec: Secondary Christmas dinner
• Tues 17th Dec: Larch Carol Service, All Saints Church, 6pm
• Wed 18th Dec: Larch Christmas dinner
• Friday 20th Dec: Last day of term, early finish
• Monday 6th Jan: Term starts for everyone
• Mon 6th Jan: Y13 mock exams start
• Tues 7th Jan: Y10 mid year assessments start
• Thurs 16th Jan: Y11 mock results day

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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