Friday 11th July

Co-headteachers’ welcome

In this final newsletter of the academic year, it is a great privilege to reflect upon an exceptionally positive year at Simon Balle. We are so grateful to every single one of our students and parents/carers for all that you have done to contribute to our community, academically and holistically. As Co-headteachers it has been brilliant to lead and to attend just so many events at this time in which our young people truly shine – from sports presentation evening to Larch and secondary sports days; from the Saffron hall music extravaganza to transition parent events at Year 7 and Reception. At the time of writing we eagerly look forward to the Slice of Summer on Saturday, our all-through Art exhibition across the weekend, and our formal awards ceremony on Monday 14th July. From class celebrations to assemblies and within all of these events, our aim is that every student ends the year with a great sense of pride and achievement. 

Student outcomes at every key stage will be celebrated at appropriate points from here, with the primary phase outcomes released first. And what a week it has been with the release of our KS2 SATs results, which are exceptional. Our web page will be updated in due course with all details, but some highlights are shared here: 

• The percentage of students achieving at age-related expectations in reading, writing and mathematics combined is 84% (the national average was 61% last year)
• The percentage of students achieving at greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined is 31% (the national average was 8% last year)
• The average scaled score achieved at Simon Balle this year is 110 in maths and 110 in reading (the national average was 104 in maths and 105 in reading last year) – this means that our average achievement is at a greater depth level
• In maths, 96.9% of students achieved age-related expectations, with 42.2% achieving at greater depth
• In reading, 90.6% of students achieved age-related expectations, with 54.7% achieving at greater depth

A huge well done to all of our Year 6 students who are receiving their SATs results this week. We all look forward to celebrating with, and supporting, our students receiving GCSE and A level results this summer. 

All that remains is for Mr Moss and I to wish you all a wonderful summer break when we get there. As exciting a year as this has been, we recognise the need for our whole community to rest, spend time with loved ones and recharge, ready to go again in September 2025! As ever, we must thank you all for your continued support and partnership. 

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

A note from the Governors and the Trust

As we come to the end of another busy year, it has been wonderful to witness the tremendous amount of work happening at Simon Balle. In our roles it is a privilege to understand the profound impact that Simon Balle has on so many young people. The Trust and Governing Body are always impressed by the numerous initiatives and the extra effort made to ensure our curriculum is accessible to all, and that there is something here for every student.

The Trust and Governing Body closely monitor the progress students make across various categories, and we are pleased to report that student data continues to be strong. This success is not possible without your support, for which we are extremely grateful!

Maintaining existing spaces fit for purpose for school life is a constant challenge. There is much to do in keeping everything shipshape, and this couldn’t happen without the dedicated efforts of Michael Tweed and the site team. It has been fantastic this year to see the new, long-awaited sports hall come to life in the form of the Elm Sports Centre. This facility has received great community feedback and will be an asset for the school and wider community for many years to come. 

Given the recent news about the funding challenges faced by schools, we want to reassure you that, although we face similar challenges, we are managing the school (and wider trust) within the limits of the funding we receive. We are reassured by the student progress data, information on interventions and impact, student voice, parent voice, and incidental conversations within the community that the school represents fantastic value for money. To put this in context, we receive very roughly 30% of what a fee-paying school would (stressing this is NOT our aspiration), yet the school delivers exceptional results, pastoral support, and extracurricular enrichment. Attention is given to ensure that each and every child can engage in school life and thrive here.

As the year closes, we are excited to embark on a new chapter by welcoming Mill Mead School into the Trust at the beginning of next year. This offers advantages to both schools in terms of curriculum breadth and the ability to make our funding go further.

As we look forward to the new academic year, we remain committed to providing the best possible education and support for all our students. Thank you once again for your continued support, invaluable to our school community. We wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer break.

Mrs Jo Brown (Chair of Trustees), Mr Adam Cooper (Chair of Simon Balle governing body) and Mr Will Davies (Vice chair of both the Trust Board and Simon Balle governing body)

Welcome to Year 7: ​ready to ​grow, ​ready to ​belong, ​ready to ​shine.

As always, it has been a real joy to engage in the Year 6 into Year 7 transition process as we prepare to welcome the latest cohort into our secondary community. Our transition programme is both thorough and personal with every feeder primary visited and staff taking time to speak with each student to ensure we fully understand the needs, passions and strengths of everyone.  For us, transition is not a day, a week, or even a month – it’s an 18-month launchpad for the next seven years and beyond. 

As you can tell, we take great pride in ensuring we do our very best at such a significant milestone in their educational journey, and it has been especially exciting to see the strong sporting interest, deep reading culture and musical talent already shining through. Indeed, the enthusiasm, curiosity, and kindness already shown by the students have been heartening and we are confident they will thrive in their new environment. This warm welcome extends to our families too – we were delighted to see such a strong turnout at the Welcome Evening last week. It was a wonderful sign of the commitment from home, and we know just how vital that home-school partnership is in supporting every child’s success. 

​With transition day just around the corner​ next Thursday and over 90% of ​students signed up for our summer school, engagement is already incredibly high​ and there is plenty on offer before September. ​​This includes the range of activities on our transition webpage, which includes key information for parents and a wide range of resources to support a smooth and positive start. 

​We​ are proud to walk alongside our new students and families as they begin this exciting new chapter​ and look forward to welcoming you all fully in September.

Welcoming our youngest new children to begin their 14 year journey!

We were delighted to welcome our new Reception children and their families to our school community during our recent Transition Day. It was a joy to see the children exploring their new environment with curiosity and enthusiasm, meeting their teachers, and beginning to build relationships with their new classmates. The day was carefully planned to help the children feel safe, supported, and excited about starting school, and their smiles and laughter throughout the visit were a wonderful sign of things to come.

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and carers who attended the reception welcome information meeting. Family involvement and interest play a vital role in helping children settle into school life, and we greatly value the home school partnership. We’ve received lots of positive feedback, with many parents commenting on the warm, welcoming atmosphere and how confident their children felt after the visit. We’re so pleased with how smoothly the transition has begun and look forward to an exciting and successful year ahead as we begin this journey together.

Sports Presentation Evening

Our Sports Presentation Evening was a fantastic occasion to come together and celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements of our students over the past academic year. The evening was a true reflection of the passion, dedication, and talent that runs throughout Simon Balle as an all-through school.

From individual accomplishments to team successes, we recognised students who have not only excelled in performance but also shown commitment, leadership, and sportsmanship throughout the year. The variety of sports represented on the evening highlights the diverse opportunities available at Simon Balle, and the breadth of talent we are fortunate to have across all age groups.

With participation in a wide range of leagues and competitions, our students have continually risen to the challenge and represented the school with pride. Their success is a credit to their hard work and the continued support from staff, families, and our wider school community.

Thank you to everyone who made the evening such a memorable event. We are excited to see what the next year of sport will bring.

Please scan this QR code to read our Sport Review of the year

Year 12 history and politics trip to Berlin

The recent Year 12 trip to Berlin was an enriching and memorable experience for all involved, offering students an unparalleled insight into Germany’s complex political and historical landscape. Over four days, students explored key sites as part of a curated and expert-led tour that deepened their understanding of the country’s 20th-century history.

Highlights included a thought-provoking visit to the Stasi Prison, where students learned about life under East Germany’s secret police and the chilling extent of state surveillance. At the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie and the documentation centre on Bernauer Straße, they saw the extent and impact of the Berlin Wall, the symbol of a divided city, country and continent for almost three decades.

The group also toured the Reichstag, seat of the German parliament, gaining an appreciation for modern German democracy while standing in a building steeped in historical significance. The virtual reality experience at the Fernsehturm offered an immersive perspective on Berlin’s transformation, past and present, and a guided tour around Sachsenhausen concentration camp brought home the cruelty and savagery of crimes committed during the Third Reich.

Throughout the trip, students engaged with the key themes of German history—from the democratic experiments of the Weimar Republic, through the horrors of the Nazi regime, to the tensions and tragedies of the Cold War. Our tour guide Frank was able to take students to lesser-known sites as well as infamous landmarks of historical significance, forcing them to think deeply about the nature of totalitarianism, democracy, and the physical and psychological impact of a century of turmoil on a city and its inhabitants.

Y6 Sheringham trip

Year 6 recently enjoyed an exciting and enriching residential trip to Sheringham, where they deepened their understanding of coastal geography in a hands-on and memorable way. The trip, closely tied to their Geography curriculum, began with an engaging coastal management lesson delivered by our very own resident Geographer, Mr Ayres. Pupils then put their knowledge into action through a creative longshore drift sand art competition and an imaginative sandcastle building challenge, incorporating real-world coastal defence features.

We were particularly impressed by the high standard of field sketching on the first day, as well as the teamwork and enthusiasm shown when measuring groynes along the shoreline and competing in the evening quiz. It was a fantastic way to celebrate their final weeks in Year 6 – full of learning, laughter, and lasting memories.

Y3 Gaudi mosaic workshop

Year 3 were very excited about the prospect of their Gaudi work being on display well after they leave Simon Balle in year 13. Wrens and Robins really enjoyed their workshop creating our collaborative piece for the Gaudi garden that they worked out will take over 10 years to complete. Reminiscent of Sagrada Familia, each mosaic piece being completed by year 3 students will create.

Catering Update and Summer Works

Thank you very much to everyone who has already responded to the catering questionnaire. Your feedback is extremely important and conversations have begun in earnest on how we can adjust our service to implement as many of your suggestions as possible. If you haven’t completed the questionnaire yet and would like your voice to be heard, the Google form is still open and can be accessed on the link at the bottom of this segment.

We are very excited to announce that during the summer holidays over £100,000 will be invested in the all-through school’s catering infrastructure: from new ovens to deliver a wider menu, to a complete refurbishment of the secondary canteen and cafe, to a brand new outdoor catering kiosk. All of the improvements and renovations are based on requests from parents and students and we can’t wait to re-open in September.

This is only the first step in the transformation of the catering provision at Simon Balle and we will continue to liaise with students, parents and staff in the new year through questionnaires and working groups to further refine and finesse the offer and ensure the continual improvement of the provision.

Link to the parent questionnaire

Please click here for our latest Careers Blog

Apprenticeship Information Evening – Year 12

On Tuesday evening, we welcomed students and parents to our Apprenticeship Information Evening – a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the wide range of apprenticeship options available after sixth form.

The evening began with a presentation covering what apprenticeships are, the different levels on offer, how they compare to university, and how to search and apply. We were also delighted to welcome a parent of a former student currently completing a degree apprenticeship, who gave invaluable insight into how families can support their children through the process.

In the second half of the evening, four of our amazing alumni returned to share their experiences of life on a higher or degree apprenticeship. From engineering to finance and digital roles, they spoke honestly about their journeys and answered questions from current students and parents. The evening also featured a mini apprenticeship fair, giving attendees the chance to talk one-to-one with the alumni and gain first-hand advice.

The event was incredibly well received, and we are proud to be supporting students in exploring all their options and taking confident steps towards their futures.

Year 9 Team Building with the Royal Navy Attract Team – Wednesday, 9 July

On Wednesday 9 July, Year 9 welcomed the Royal Navy Attract Team for some, hour‑long team‑building workshops. After a lively icebreaker to warm everyone up, students were grouped into teams of 3–5 and challenged to build a tower using a kit—to meet some fixed criteria (6 foot tall, free standing and the wheels at the top).

It was brilliant to see the students working together with the variety of towers that emerged, some wobbling, others impressively stable.

This activity brought the Royal Navy’s core values of communication, respect, discipline, and teamwork into sharp focus:

• Effective communication – each plan had to be shared clearly and adapted to finish the build in time.
• Respect for every idea – the importance of listening and adapting not just shouting down other peoples ideas.
• Discipline and problem‑solving came into play when towers began to wobble, requiring quick thinking and change in design.

All the students stayed fully engaged throughout, visibly supporting one another and showing encouraging teamwork. Beyond the fun and competition, participants gained a stronger understanding of how the Royal Navy operates in the contemporary world—revealing that leadership isn’t just about command, but also about collaboration, adaptability, and valuing diverse perspectives.

Well done to everyone involved—and special thanks to the Royal Navy Attract Team for bringing these valuable skills to life!

Slice of Summer and Art Exhibition tomorrow

The wait is over! Tomorrow (Saturday 12th July) is our annual summer fundraising event and art exhibition.

National Schools Chess Championships

On 24th June, Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Glover accompanied four children from the Larch – Angus, Oscar, Orson and Alec to the Primary Team Chess Challenge 2024/25 (part of the National Schools Chess Championships). The team qualified for this National Final, held at Nottingham University, having won a regional tournament hosted at SBAS back in March.

The standard of chess at the tournament was astonishing – there were teams from many of the top schools in the country, with players who had reached the finals of the individual British Championships, one team with a FIDE Master, another coached by weekly visits from a Grandmaster etc. etc.! The children competed brilliantly and gave their very best, gaining a few well-earned wins and always modelling incredible sportsmanship, respect and resilience. A unique and memorable experience we hope they will treasure.

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.

Have your say on SEND in Hertfordshire – a message from the Hertfordshire SEND Partnership:

Hertfordshire’s SEND Summit is taking place this September, and we want to ensure that the voices of families are at the heart of it. Your experiences and ideas will help shape the event and our future SEND Strategy.

The survey includes questions about your experiences of SEND – both to highlight what is working and what requires further improvement, what you think should be discussed at the summit, and what changes would make the biggest difference to your family.

Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey and share your views.

Your feedback will help us improve support for children and young people with SEND across the county. Thank you for being part of this important conversation.”

Library News

Results of the Short Story Writing Competition

Well done to everyone who entered the writing competition. We received an excellent number of entries and we were very impressed with everyone’s imagination and creativity! All entries were marked anonymously.

Well done to the runners-up: 

• Rafael 7B
• Charlotte 8A

Congratulations to the winners: 

• Noah G 7N
• Megan  7M
• Charlie 5 Mallards
• Isla 7A

Author visit

The author, Stewart Foster, came to visit years 6, 7, 8 and 9 on Wednesday 2nd July and he spoke about his inspiration behind the stories in his books including some unexpected and rewarding friendships along the way.

Speakers’ Corner

Well done to Lorcan, Bowen, Rafael, Alex, Austin and Yuko for finishing off the term with your entertaining and informative Speakers’ Corner presentations on Dr Who, ducks, and Star Wars.

Foreign Language Friday Food Fiesta

For the last Foreign Language Friday of the year we held our celebratory food fiesta. Students had the opportunity to try different food from Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Japan and they ordered the food in the 5 different languages. Mrs Everett’s delicious homemade Italian pasta salad was a particular highlight!

Larch staffing changes

As we come to the end of a fantastic academic year, we would like to make you aware of some changes. Mrs Brewer will be leaving us to pursue an exciting new career, and Miss Ross is off to university in September – we thank them both for everything they have done and wish them the very best of luck in their new adventures. Looking ahead to September, we’re delighted that Miss Preshous will be joining our new Badgers class as a full-time Teaching Assistant. She has already spent time getting to know the children and will be a wonderful addition to the team. Miss Muir will also be joining us in the office and will be supporting in Rabbits class at times as well. Although Mr Leonard will no longer be part of our KS2 Explorers team, he will begin his teacher training to become a PE teacher right here at our school, and Mrs Pedder will also be starting her teacher training with us in September. We’re very excited to support them both as they begin their journeys into teaching.

Open morning

We are looking forward to holding our annual open day on Saturday 20th September. We expect all secondary students to attend school on the morning to act as guides or helpers in departments. We also invite all Year 5 (current Y4) students to be on site. Students will either be conducting parent tours in the Larch, or helping in Larch classrooms. Some children will additionally be involved in music or sport – we will write to you separately if this is the case. We will send a Google Form in September to confirm if your child is available to support.

Full details will be sent out early in September.

• Saturday 20th September 0830-1230: All-through Open Morning 
• Wednesday 8th October 1730-1930 – Sixth Form Open Evening
• Wednesday 26th November 0900-1015- Primary Open Morning

Summer Holiday Workshops at the Herts Haven Cafe

Dates for your diary

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

• Sat 12th July: Slice of Summer
• Tues 15th July: House reward trip
• Wed 16th July: Y7 PRE and Y12 Parliament trips
• Thurs 17th July: Music tour departs
• Fri 18th July: last day of term (early finish – 1210)
• Thurs 14th Aug: KS5 results day
• Thurs 21st Aug: KS4 results day
• Tues 2nd Sep: First day for reception (half day), Y7 and Y12 (new applicants). Academic review day for Y13
• Wed 27th – Fri 29th Aug: Summer school
• Wed 3rd Sep: All years in school. Individual photos for Y7, 9, 11 and new Y12
• Thurs 4th Sep: group photos for Y7, 11 and 13
• Fri 5th Sep: individual photos for Larch
• Wed 10th Sep: Y12 expectations evening
• Wed 10th – Fri 12th Sep: Y5 trip
• Sat 20th Sep 0830-1230: All-through Open Morning

Wishing you all the best for the summer holidays

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