Being Upstanders, Not Bystanders
At St. Joseph’s, our mission is to ensure every child feels safe, valued and respected. Rooted in Gospel values, we believe we must do more than observe the world around us; we must actively stand up for what is right.
As artificial intelligence continues to expand and social media can blur what is considered acceptable, children are increasingly exposed to behaviours that do not reflect our values. Physical, verbal, racial or misogynistic actions or language must always be challenged, as unaddressed behaviour risks becoming normalised. As educators and parents, we share a responsibility to challenge behaviour that does not align with our values, both in school and in society.
This is also about self-reflection. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us to look first at our own actions before judging others. In Matthew 7:3–5, He speaks of the plank in our own eye before the speck in another’s, prompting us to ask whether we are truly living out Gospel values in our words, actions and choices.
This week, Mr McGuinness has led assemblies focused on standards and challenging unacceptable behaviour. Our Heads of School have spoken with pupils through Pupil Parliament, reinforcing a shared understanding that society must continue to change for the better. There is no place in our school for behaviour that undermines dignity, respect or kindness.
While St. Joseph’s remains a safe and caring environment, we continue to reinforce high standards. Mr McGuiness and I work closely with pupils and parents where support is most needed, offering guidance to help young people learn from mistakes, grow and make positive choices so everyone feels safe.
Thank you for your continued support in nurturing a community where everyone feels loved, valued and confident to speak out. By being upstanders rather than bystanders, we can help our children grow into compassionate, responsible and respectful adults.
Have a lovely weekend.
To see more updates and pictures throughout the week, make sure to follow us on social media.
Spring Term 1
FEBRUARY
- 11th and 12th – Year 10 Synagogue Trip
- 12th – Options Evening Market Place (Year 9), 5:30pm
- 26th – Year 9 Parents’ Evening, 4:30pm
MARCH
- 3rd – Year 10 Mock Interview Day
- 5th – World Book Day
- 10th & 11th – Year 11 Food NEA
- 11th – Year 8 & 9 Trip to Portsmouth Aquarium
- 13th – Non-Uniform Day & The Big Sleep
- 17th – Year 8 HPV Immunisations
- 25th – Year 9 & 11 Trip to see ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
In School Next Week
ASSEMBLIES
- Prefect Process – Miss Snook for Yr9 & 10 (Monday)
- Chaplaincy – Lent (Tues–Thurs)
- Head Student Process – Miss Snook for Yr10 (Friday)
MONDAY 9th FEBRUARY
TUESDAY 10th FEBRUARY
- Year 7 Football @ Sarum Academy
WEDNESDAY 11th FEBRUARY
- School nurse drop-ins
- Area Board Youth Panel – P5
- Year 8 & 10 Netball @ Trafalgar
THURSDAY 12th FEBRUARY
- Chaplaincy Team to St Osmund’s
- Lenten Confessions & voluntary mass in the Chapel
- 10V & 10T CV writing workshop – P5, Rm28 & Rm30
FRIDAY 13th FEBRUARY
- Year 11 Football vs Sarum Academy
- FINISH FOR FEBRUARY HALF TERM
For our current programme of weekly co-curricular clubs, click the button below to go to our Co-curricular page.
Last week was a joyful and collaborative one for our chaplaincy. We visited St Osmund’s Primary School, where our newly formed chaplaincy group worked alongside their chaplains and pupils from St Joseph’s to plan a shared assembly. This was a wonderful example of partnership, shared faith, and young people leading with creativity and purpose.
Stefan, Year 8, said: “When we went to St Osmund’s Primary School last week, I was assigned to help out Year 2 kids with reading and writing. After helping a few students with punctuation, I went around my old school to see what has changed in the last two years. After that, it was time to jump on the bus and go back to school. It was a nice visit and a very productive one. I was happy to help.”
Our pupils – Edward, Noel, Elsie, and Oliver – worked hard to prepare thoughtful assemblies on Lent, focusing on generosity, encouragement, and living out our faith through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. They will also encourage pupils to take part in small acts of kindness over half term, including contributing to our Lenten food collection on our return.
As in previous years, our Lenten focus will support Salisbury Food Bank, and we hope to exceed our Advent donations. Parents are warmly encouraged to send in at least one non‑perishable item, as every contribution makes a real difference. This will also be shared in my letter home.
We also visited Exeter House for the first time using our new chaplaincy rota. Chaplains supported pupils in classrooms and around the school, and it was moving to see how much the pupils had missed our regular visits. Thomas in Y10V spoke warmly about supporting a pupil with learning to tell the time, which was a pleasure to witness.
Finally, we held a positive chaplaincy meeting with Year 11 and key school chaplains. Exciting developments include a new system to recognise pupils who live out our core values, with public celebration in school. We also discussed plans for the chapel, including new stained‑glass‑style window prints to enhance the prayerful space, alongside final preparations for our Lenten assembly.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I wish you and your families a blessed weekend.
Year 11 February Half Term Revision Clinics
- Week Commencing 9th February – Mock Results Report home (pupils will receive their results as and when the papers are marked but we will collate this information and send it to you so that you as parents have the grades all on one page).
- The programme for February Half Term Revision Clinics is below. To reserve a place on the sessions please click here: February Half Term Revision Clinic
Year 11 parents, please do not forget that there are 5 videos that you can watch on our website to help you throughout this year and in particular with your knowledge of revision strategies and how to help – these can be found on the following page of our website: sjcs.org.uk/resources
The final summer GCSE exam timetable can also be found here.
Year 9 Options Process
Next Thursday 12th February we will be hosting our Options Evening Marketplace where pupils and parents can find out more about each subject from our specialist teachers. The evening will start at 5:30pm and there will be a talk from Mr Higgins, followed by the opportunity to speak with Heads of Department about their KS4 courses, what is covered in the curriculum, what trips are planned and what doors can be opened by studying the different subjects
On the first Thursday after half term, we will also be hosting the Year 9 parents evening – this evening will be an excellent opportunity to have final discussions about subjects that your child is considering for GCSE before making their final decisions in March.
Year 7 & 8 Reports
Teachers of Years 7 & 8 are currently working on the progress reports for the classes they teach. The reports, once processed, will be distributed in the first week back after the February half term. They will include:
- An age-related expectations grade
- A progress grade (how the child is performing against their target grades)
- An attitude to learning grade (their effort, application and focus)
We’re very much looking forward to sharing these new look reports with you and are confident that they will give you valuable updates on how your child is progressing at school.
Young Carers
There is now a dedicated email address for young carers to use to enable discreet communication with us and also for staff/parents to contact us with any concerns or issues: youngcarers@sjcs.org.uk
There is also a new board in the canteen with lots more useful information for young carers.
Academic Review Weeks Coming Up
Following the success of the Year 9 Academic Review week earlier this half term, after the half term break, we will be running three Academic Review weeks for Yr11, Yr7 and Yr 8.
- Yr11 will be 2nd (week commencing 23rd Feb – after their mock results are collated)
- Yr7 3rd (week commencing 2nd March – one week after AP1 reports sent home)
- Yr8 4th (week commencing 9th March – two weeks after AP1 reports sent home)
As part of these weeks, each child in the year group having a 10 minute one-to-one meeting held by Form Tutor, Head of Year, SENCO or member of SLT to discuss recent reports sent home, school involvement and target setting.
The rationale for these meetings is simple – they provide:
- Opportunities for pupil voice and exploring what works / what doesn’t work for individual pupils – an opportunity to gain awareness of barriers to learning and also extra-curricular activities
- Opportunities to build relationships and have one-to-one sessions with each pupil based on their school attainment and experiences
- Opportunities to discuss academic achievement and progress and set targets for the year ahead
In this week’s edition of the Careers Newsletter…
- Free online Apprenticeship Fair (9–13 Feb 2026) plus employer sessions covering tech, consulting, finance and apprenticeships
- Virtual work experience and career guidance in architecture, construction and beyond
- Resources to strengthen university applications, including some pathways that can lead to in‑person placements
- …and more!
Keeping Children Safe and Kind in Group Chats
As many of our students use messaging apps such as WhatsApp to stay connected, we want to remind families of the importance of helping young people navigate these spaces responsibly. Group chats can be fun and supportive, but they can also become places where unkind comments escalate quickly. What some may call ‘banter’ can feel hurtful or isolating to others and may, at times, cross the line into bullying.
It is important to remember that anything typed in a chat can be screenshot, saved, or shared. A message sent in a moment of frustration can have a lasting impact on someone else’s wellbeing, and on your child’s digital footprint.
We encourage parents and carers to speak regularly with their children about the chats they are part of:
- Who they are talking to
- How they are speaking to others
- How messages they see or send make them feel
These simple check-ins help keep online spaces positive and safe, and remind young people of the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect, both in person and online.
Thank you for working with us to support the wellbeing of all our students.
Risks of Exploitation Through Gaming Chats – Understanding CSE and CCE
Online gaming is a huge part of many children’s lives. Most games now include built‑in chat features such as voice chat, private messaging, and online friend requests. While gaming can be enjoyable and social, it is important to be aware that some individuals use gaming platforms to build trust with young people and exploit them.
How Exploitation Can Occur in Gaming
- Building friendships or trust
- Offering rewards such as virtual items, game currency, or tips
- Moving conversations from in‑game chats to private messaging apps
- Asking for personal information
- Introducing unsafe behaviour
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Child Sexual Exploitation happens when someone manipulates, pressures, or tricks a child into sexual activity in exchange for something (attention, gifts, in‑game items, or status). In gaming environments this may include:
- Requests for images
- Moving to private video or chat platforms
- Attempts to build a “special relationship”
- Using guilt or threats
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
Child Criminal Exploitation involves manipulating a young person into taking part in criminal activity. In gaming, this may include:
- Sharing account details
- Offering payment for illegal activity
- Involving the child in hacking or scamming
- Using threats or blackmail
Signs a Child Might Be Experiencing Exploitation
- Secretive behaviour about gaming
- Sudden possession of in‑game items
- Mood changes after gaming
- Using external apps for communication
- Late‑night or private gaming
- Anxiety when unable to access devices
How Parents and Carers Can Support Children
- Talk openly about online friends.
- Use privacy settings and safety features.
- Agree family rules around gaming.
- Stay calm and supportive.
- Report concerns early.
