Friday 21st November
Co-headteachers’ welcome
As we head into the long-awaited and well-deserved extended weekend, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on just how much learning and skill development has taken place during this busy autumn term. From our youngest learners taking their first confident steps in new routines to our older students deepening their understanding and preparing for the next stages of their education, the sense of purpose and progress across our school has been wonderful to see.
Last week, I had the pleasure of giving a tour to Sue Collins, CEO of the Alliance Schools Trust. Welcoming external visitors always provides a valuable opportunity for fresh perspective and feedback on our all-through community. Sue spoke warmly about the calm, purposeful learning she observed across the school and was struck by the politeness and respect shown, both towards staff and between students. One of the highlights was visiting the music department, where we saw Year 4 pupils learning enthusiastically right alongside Year 13 students. The only possible downside was that I may have joined in a little too enthusiastically with the singing lesson!
That same sense of focus, respect and engagement was evident again this week during a learning walk, where it was wonderful to see our curriculum in action across so many subjects. In English, students were exploring Where the Sky Falls and Brighton Rock, focusing on building paragraphs through stems, vocabulary, and structure, while next door Year 10 were analysing model answers with real focus. In French, Year 8 students were identifying missing details in sentences and practising their spoken language with growing confidence. Over in maths, Year 7 were rounding to powers of ten and working on place value with decimals, showing great concentration and perseverance. In history, Year 9 examined the causes of the First World War and how these were interconnected, engaging in thoughtful discussion about which event was the true ‘trigger’. In the Larch, a phonics learning walk across all Reception groups showed the incredible progress made in both reading and writing from only 2 months ago. That love of reading was highly evident in Year 5, where every child, at the time of my visit, was deeply engaged in accelerated reader chosen texts – just at the right level to motivate and to challenge.
As Co-Headteachers, it is a real joy to walk around and witness the skill of our teachers and the curiosity, effort, and love of learning shown by our students. The level of challenge and ‘hard thinking’ we see in classrooms reflects our shared ambition for every learner. That ambition is reflected in our outcomes too: in 2023/24, Simon Balle All-through School A-Level students made the most progress of any school in the entire county and this year, we’ve beaten even those exceptional figures. Our Year 11 students have also just completed their taster day, exploring post-16 subjects and college life, another important step in raising aspirations and helping them plan for exciting futures ahead.
I always enjoy taking time to listen to our School Parliament and to see the superb leadership shown by our Sixth Form Presidents, as they chair discussions and make decisions that genuinely shape our school. From naming our old gym ‘The Mangrove’ to voting on the new food pod, now up and running and helping to ease the queues at lunch and break, their ideas are thoughtful, practical, and full of pride in our community. Students are currently choosing this year’s charities and sharing ideas on how to further improve our facilities, including the toilets! I’m beginning to think our School Parliament could give Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet a real run for their money.
Student voice is such an important part of who we are; it helps us understand what life at Simon Balle feels like for our young students and how we can continue to move forward together. Over the coming weeks, as Co-Headteachers, we will be speaking to a wide range of students about every aspect of school life, getting “back to basics” to celebrate what we do well and to identify the next steps in our journey. Alongside this, we are proud to be working with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to ensure that our culture of kindness and respect remains central to everything we do. Our annual feedback is consistently positive, but we also welcome external perspectives to help us make sure that no stone is left unturned in our shared goal of providing a happy, safe, and thriving school for all.
To conclude this newsletter, it feels fitting to reflect on how our community came together for a truly poignant Remembrance Service, centred on the theme ‘Hope for a Peaceful Future’. It was deeply moving to hear so many of our young people take part in readings — from our youngest pupils to our sixth formers, each speaking with such composure, respect, and empathy. The music provided by our wonderful Music Department added great depth to the occasion, and the courageous playing of The Last Post by one of our talented students created a powerful moment of stillness across the whole school. It was a reminder of the strength of our community, the importance of remembrance, and our shared hope for a kinder, more peaceful world.
PE updates
Updated Extra-Curricular Programme
Our updated extra-curricular sports programme for this half term is now live! We have a wide range of clubs running before school, at lunchtime, and after school which are open to all students, whether for performance or participation. Everyone is welcome to get involved, stay active, and enjoy the many physical, mental, and social benefits of regular exercise.
Please find attached the link to the extra curricular timetable: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/sport/
Dance Workshops
This week, students from across both the Primary and Secondary phases took part in our exciting dance workshops – Primary on Monday 10th November and Secondary on Wednesday 12th November. It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved, showing creativity, teamwork, and talent across all year groups. We were delighted to welcome professional external coaches who led the sessions, inspiring our young dancers to express themselves and develop their confidence through movement.
For our Primary students, the workshop served as a fantastic taster ahead of the Primary Dance Festival taking place in the spring term. For our Secondary students, it was a great opportunity to be inspired and to consider showcasing their talents in Simon Balle’s Got Talent later in the year.
Upcoming Netball Masterclass
We are thrilled to announce that our talented netball athletes will soon have the opportunity to take part in a special Netball Masterclass, led by a coach from the London Mavericks. This session will provide an incredible chance for our players to develop their skills, learn from an elite-level coach, and continue their sporting journey with inspiration and enthusiasm.
Christmas is coming…
Christmas Dinner 2025
This year’s Christmas Dinner will be on Tuesday 16th December for secondary students, and Wednesday 17th December for primary students. Christmas Dinner will be available to purchase via ‘Parent Portal’ between 17th November and 1st December. Please navigate to the ‘School Shop’ – Catering – Christmas Dinner Sec or Prim 25- add to basket – Pay.
This year the cost of tickets will be £4.75 for secondary students and £4.50 for primary students. there will be no other food available to purchase at break or lunch on Tuesday 16th December.
Full details are in the letter sent to parents last week
Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day
- We’re taking part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 12 December! By pulling on our Christmassy knits and donating, we’ll be supporting children in the UK and around the world to keep safe, healthy, and learning. We’ll be helping them fight for the future they deserve. Just click here to donate £2 (or more if you’re feeling generous…) and it will go straight to Save the Children. The money we raise could go towards some amazing things like:
- £2 could buy a packet of seeds for a family in Kenya to grow their own food, after drought has killed their crops.
- £8 could buy a blanket to keep a child in Ukraine warm through winter.
- £15 could pay for two weeks of super-powered peanut paste to help a child beat hunger.
- £20 could buy enough supermarket vouchers for two children in the UK.
- £40 could provide a family in Gaza with a Baby Kit to give them the items they need to provide basic care to their infant.
Book Flood
Musical News 4
There is so much to celebrate – student exam success, assembly performances and concert success. Please read all about it here
Team Music
Online safety
Please take a moment to read through these smartphone safety guides.
Online Safety Handout (iPhone)
Online Safety Handout (Android)
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, please use this Booking link.
So far this term the SEND team have met with parents of Year 8 and 10 students as part of consultation evenings to reflect on the start of term and Year 11 about as part of assessment clinics at the end of the Summer term. These conversations have been really useful to speak about adjustments in place for students and celebrate progress.
Secondary Dinners Only – Parentpay – Helpful Tips to Manage your Account
Parent Staff Association
For a full round-up of news from the PSA, please click here to see their newsletter.
2nd December – Larch Bring a Bottle Day
Larch families are invited to make a bottle donation on Tuesday 2nd December, to support the Frost Fair. In exchange, children may wear ONE festive accessory with their uniform. This may be a hair accessory, festive hat, jumper, socks. Please note, this is NOT a non uniform day. Accessories only please. Bottles (alcoholic, soft drinks, beauty products and more) may be dropped off at collection points in the playground and by the Larch office. Please ensure donations are in date and sealed.
W/C 1st December – Year 7 House Hampers
To support the Frost Fair, Year 7 are invited to bring in items in their House colour to make up a hamper during form time, to represent their form. These will then be entered into our fabulous Winter Raffle.
There is a form prize for best hamper.
6th December – Frost Fair
Frost Fair 25 will take place on Saturday 6th December with a new time of 1.30-5.30pm.
We hope to share some exciting news with you soon so watch this space!
In the meantime, please take a look at the volunteer sign up link and help us to fill the slots! To help with planning, we can share the timings for the Larch dance and choir performances as follows: Dance 2pm and 3.30pm. Y2/3 choir 2.30pm and Y4-6 4pm
After having to cancel some of the areas last year due to not having enough volunteers, we are making a plea for help. We really need your help this year to make it a successful and enjoyable event for all.
Thank you in advance, we appreciate each and every offer of support. Please share this link with classes/forms/friends…
Dates for your diary
A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.
- Mon 24th Nov: Y11 creative mocks begin
- Mon 24th Nov: A level politics conference
- Fri 28th Nov and Mon 1st Dec: Occasional days – school closed
- Tues 2nd Dec: Y11 mock exams
- Wed 3rd to Fri 5th Dec: Y12 Geography trip
- Thurs 4th Dec: Y9 student consultation evening
- Sat 6th Dec: Frost Fair
- Thurs 11th Dec: Christmas jumper day
- Mon 15th Dec: Secondary Carol Service
- Tues 16th Dec: Secondary Christmas lunch (tickets on sale now)
- Tues 16th Dec: Larch Carol Service
- Wed 17th Dec: larch Christmas lunch (tickets on sale now)
Wishing you all the best for the week ahead
Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss (Co-headteachers)
