Friday 8th May
Co-headteachers’ welcome
It has been a genuine privilege to be part of the recent leaving celebrations for both Year 11 and Year 13. Year 13 marked the occasion in style with their fantastic film and television themed fancy dress, followed swiftly by a silent disco, while Year 11 enjoyed a brilliant afternoon of sports, a photo booth, karaoke and an array of inflatables, a truly memorable send-off for both year groups.
What was particularly moving were the speeches from form tutors, Heads of Year and the Senior Leadership Team. It was a powerful reminder of just how well our staff know our students. The depth of understanding, the strength of relationships and the trust that has been built over many years were clear to see. There was a real sense of pride in each individual and in the journeys they have taken during their time at the school. The videos and photos shared during the events brought a real sense of that journey, capturing moments and memories that will stay with them for many years to come.
As our students now move into the exam season, we wish them every success. We are incredibly proud of them and want them to know that we remain here to support them, whether that is through guidance, encouragement, a final tutorial or simply reassurance when it is needed most.
These celebrations also serve as a powerful reminder of the academic journey our students undertake as they move into post-16 education. The vast majority of our students choose to continue their studies in our highly successful Sixth Form, where they consistently make strong progress and achieve outcomes that compare very favourably with schools across the county. Our provision is designed to support students in meeting the increased academic demands of A Level study, while maintaining high expectations and a culture of scholarship. We are continually reviewing and evolving our post-16 curriculum and are proud of the breadth of subjects available to our students. This year, we have introduced Criminology to our offer, an engaging and thought-provoking course, further enriched by a programme of external speakers already planned to enhance students’ learning experience.
This current Year 13 cohort has been an excellent example of this in practice. Alongside their wider contributions to Sixth Form life, they have demonstrated a clear commitment to their studies, balancing enrichment and leadership opportunities with sustained academic focus. Their approach reflects the independence, resilience and intellectual engagement required to succeed at this level.
As they move on to university, apprenticeships and employment, we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and the way they have contributed to the culture of the Sixth Form. Their departure also highlights the growing importance of our alumni network. It is always a pleasure to welcome former students back into school to share their experiences and provide guidance through careers talks and mentoring. Seeing past students return to inspire the next generation is a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the lasting impact of a Sixth Form education here.
Parents often ask about the key differences between GCSE and A Level study. Whilst the academic challenge undoubtedly increases, a significant shift is the level of independence required. This is something we deliberately teach and nurture, ensuring students develop the confidence to take ownership of their learning. Alongside this, we place great emphasis on the development of ‘soft skills’, communication, resilience, organisation and collaboration, which are so highly valued by employers and universities alike.
As an all-through school, these milestones are reflected across every phase. Alongside these celebrations, our Year 6 pupils are preparing for their SATs next week. They have worked incredibly hard and we are confident they will approach the week with determination and success. They also have their forthcoming trip to Sheringham to look forward to, a wonderful and well-deserved reward for all their efforts, rooted in the ambition and breadth of our all-through curriculum with geography fieldwork in which to engage as well as many social opportunities to enjoy.
Wishing all of our community every success in their upcoming public examinations.
Please click here for our latest Careers Opportunities Blog, which includes:
- Unifrog webinars for writing personal statements and searching Universities
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Careers in Education
Phase 1 Round Up
Reception and Year 1 have had a busy and engaging term. Reception pupils have made the most of the warmer weather by spending lots of time in their outdoor environment, where they have been developing both fine and gross motor skills through a wide range of hands-on activities. They are now beginning to focus on understanding the world, with exciting opportunities to plant, explore, and investigate insects and animals. The children have also impressed staff with some fantastic writing inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk, which they proudly shared with Mrs Kirk. Meanwhile, Year 1 have continued to build on their phonics knowledge as they prepare for the Phonics Screening Check beginning on 8th June. They have been practising all of their Phase 5 sounds, adding sound buttons to both real and nonsense words, and working hard to develop their blending skills. They continue their reading journey this year, showing great progress in their confidence, fluency and comprehension, and it has been fantastic to see their growing enthusiasm for reading.
Science
This week, over 100 Year 10 students took part in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge, an impressive show of curiosity, resilience, and analytical skill.
The National Scientific Thinking Challenge is designed to stretch students beyond the standard curriculum, encouraging them to apply logic, problem-solving, and critical thinking to a range of engaging scientific scenarios. Rather than testing recall, it focuses on how students think, rewarding creativity, reasoning, and the ability to interpret unfamiliar information.
It was fantastic to see such a strong level of participation, with students embracing the challenge and demonstrating a real enthusiasm for scientific thinking.
Certificates will be distributed in due course, well done to everyone who took part!
SEND
If you would like to speak to a member of the SEND team, you can book a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes with a member of the SEND team using the following booking link: Booking link
Transition work by the SEND team is underway ahead of new pupils joining the school in September. Staff have already started conversations with feeder schools as part of enhanced transitions.
A link to the latest DSPL3 parent newsletter can be found here.
Year 2: Mountfitchet Castle
Year 2 pupils had a truly unforgettable day exploring Mountfitchet Castle. From the moment they stepped through the gates, the children were immersed in the sights, sounds, and stories of a Norman village, sparking curiosity and excitement at every turn. They enjoyed seeing the animals on site, handling replica artifacts and learning how people lived over 900 years ago. The experience brought their classroom learning to life in a meaningful and engaging way and it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm. We are incredibly proud of how they represented the school and know this memorable trip will stay with them for a long time.
Disney quiz results
Well done to everyone who participated in the Disney quiz on Thursday 30th April!
Congratulations to Miss Wren and Mrs Freeth who were the overall winners, with a very high score!
The student leaderboard:
- 1st: Martin 11B and Elizabeth 11B
- 2nd: Ella 9R and Jasmine 9R
- 3rd: Aidan 11R
Well done!
$CoMmEntÚ
Miss Baker completing the London Marathon
I’m delighted to share that I recently completed the London Marathon—my very first marathon! It was an amazing and unforgettable day, though also incredibly tough, especially in the heat.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone for your support along the way. I’m so grateful to those who have already donated—it really means a lot. I’ll include my donation link below, and if anyone else is able to contribute before I send all the money to Macmillan Cancer Support, I would be incredibly appreciative.
Drama Trip to Blood Brothers at the Beam
On Wednesday 6th May, Year 20 9 and 10 students enjoyed a visit to see the acclaimed musical Blood Brothers at the BEAM theatre. The performance captivated students from start to finish, with many praising the powerful acting, emotional storyline and memorable musical numbers.
The trip provided a wonderful opportunity for students to experience live theatre and deepen their appreciation of performance and drama beyond the classroom. Throughout the evening, students were fully engaged and represented the school exceptionally well, demonstrating maturity and enthusiasm throughout the visit.
Following the performance, excited conversations could be heard in the foyer, with students describing the show as “incredible”, “inspiring” and “amazing”. It was clear that the production left a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
Larch preloved uniform sale – Monday 11th May
We hope to have a Larch preloved uniform sale after school, opposite the swimming pool block, provided that there are enough volunteers to help. Please sign up via our volunteer link if you are able to assist: https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY Thank you!
PSA
13th May, 7pm – Annual General Meeting (rescheduled)
An AGM (Annual General Meeting) is a meeting held once a year where we come together to review what has happened over the past year, including finances, reports, and key decisions. It is also a chance to elect committee members and discuss plans for the year ahead. We plan to hold our rescheduled AGM on Wednesday 13th May in the secondary library, meeting at 7pm as we did not have enough attendees to hold our AGM in March.
Good attendance at the AGM is important because it ensures decisions represent the wider membership and that the organisation can meet its legal requirements. The more people who attend, the stronger and more democratic the organisation becomes. Please consider attending our AGM, even if you do not wish to be elected as a committee member. We need a minimum number of attendees in order for the AGM to proceed.
Register your interest via the sign up link.
Larch Frozen Friday – Summer term
Each year, after the May half term, Larch families look forward to an ice cream sale after school, every Friday. We are looking for one or two people that are willing to take on the role of Frozen Friday Organiser. You will be responsible for ordering and organising stock each week.
We also need a number of volunteers to manage the weekly sales after school. If you are able to help, please complete the sign up sheet as soon as you can so that we can see if the sales are able to go ahead again this year.
Organisers and helpers will be shown what to do, if you are new to helping with this. Thank you in advance – without your help, we are unable to offer Frozen Friday.
https://volunteersignup.org/WT7KY
Dates for your diary
A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.
- Mon 11th May: Y6 SATs week
- Mon 11th May: Y8 assessment period begins
- Mon 18th May: Y12 threshold exam period begins
- Mon 18th May: Larch class photos
- Mon 18th May: Larch student consultation evenings throughout the week
- Mon 1st June: Y10 Art and design practicals start
- Fri 5th June: larch Spurs workshop
- Tues 9th June: Y8 Spain trip
- Sun 14th June: Y12 Biology residential departs
- Thurs 18th June: Y8 science trip
- Thurs 18th June: Sports presentaion evening
- Fri 19th June: Wonderstruck event for Y6
Wishing you all the best for the week ahead
Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)
