Recently, we were delighted to host pupils from Spain at the school. Experiences such as these enrich cultural capital and enable our young people to develop confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the wider world. It was particularly encouraging to hear pupils reflecting on the Information evening for the upcoming Paris trip and how these opportunities build momentum, aspiration and ambition for future international experiences. We have also welcomed a North Korean defector who spoke powerfully to the school about his life story and experiences, offering pupils a profound insight into resilience, freedom and global awareness.
Creativity has also been proudly celebrated through the GCSE Art examinations, which showcased exceptional talent and originality. In an increasingly digital world, creativity remains vitally important. Research from the World Economic Forum places creativity among the top three skills required for jobs of the future, highlighting its importance for long-term success.
Music continues to flourish with the outstanding Night of the Musicals performance. Pupils are to be congratulated on this significant step forward in the musical direction of the school. Music plays a powerful role in wellbeing, supporting confidence, focus and emotional health.
As we are reminded in scripture, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” – Psalm 96:1
Enjoy the sunshine.
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Summer Term
APRIL
- Tuesday 21 April – Paris Trip Information Evening commencing at 5.30 pm
- Wednesday 22 April – GCSE Art EXAM – 2 Days (Friday for extra time)
- Thursday 23rd April –
- Pupil Parliament Meeting
- Year 10 Food technology pupils – Meat & Fish Workshop
- A Night at The Musicals – Performances & Showcase (6 pm – 7.30 pm). All parents/carers and community welcome to join
- Friday 24 April –
- Vincent House Day
- Year 10 BTEC Creative Media NEA
- North Korean Defector Speaking to Key Stage 4 History pupils and History Club
- Monday 27 April –
- Year 11 NEA Drama Rehearsal
- Launch of End of Year Exams & Revision Booklets (End of Year Exams are after May Half-term)
- Wednesday 29 April –
- GCSE Year 11 MFL Speaking Exams
- Year 7 & 8 Kintbury Retreat
- Thursday 30 April –
- Year 11 BTEC Creative Media NEA (All Day)
- Year 10 Parents Evening ( 4.30 – 7.00 pm)
- Friday 1 May – Young Enterprise Visit
- Tuesday 5 May –
- Governors Open Week
- 4th Carousel change for Enrichment Groups
- Wednesday 6 May – Year 10 Creative Media NEA (All day)
- Thursday 7 May – Theatre Trip – Matilda
- Friday 8 May – Year 11 GCSE Exams Commence
- Monday 11 May – Chaplaincy Assembly / Liturgy – Ascension & Pentecost
- Wednesday 13 May – Pupil Parliament Meeting
- Thursday 14 May – Mass – Ascension of the Lord (9.30 am – all welcome)
- Saturday 16 May – Mini-Marathon for local primary schools
- Monday 18 May – Maths & Physics Week begins
- Thursday 21 May – Paris Trip (returns on 23 May)
- Friday 22nd May –
- Half-Term begins at 3.30 pm
- Year 11 Flexi-Leave begins
In School Next Week
MONDAY 27 APRIL
- P3 & P4 Drama Mock
- Lunch time: Yr10 Duke of Edinburgh Training Sessions, PE WIN Session
- Brilliant Club continues with 7 G+T pupils from Yr10
- Sociology WIN
TUESDAY 28 APRIL
- Reading Intervention – Yr7
- Assembly – Yr9&10 End of Year Exams – RRO
- Lunch: Athletics (field), SolidWorks Club Rm30, History Club, KS3 Games (Maths Club) Room 14
- School nurse drop-ins
- After School: Tennis (courts), HW Club (Rm28)
WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL
- Assembly – Yr7&8 End of Year Exams – RRO
- Kintbury Retreat (Yr7&8)
- Yr11 MFL Speaking Exams
- Reading Intervention – Yr9
- History Revision – Weds Lunchtime
- Lunch: Chaplaincy Team Rm25, Raquet Sports (Hall), Environmental and Gardening Club, Lunch- Room 8. All years welcome!
- After School – Rounders club
THURSDAY 30 APRIL
- Reading Intervention – Yr10
- Pupil Parliament Meeting – Thurs
- Yr11 BTEC Creative Media (all day)
- UKMT Junior Maths Challenge – Good Luck 7Ma1 and 8Ma1
- Lunch: Inclusivity Alliance Rm23
- After School: Technicians Club. Cricket Club (Hall), Warhammer/Painting/Modelling club
- Lunch: Room 21 will be open if any pupils have their own embroidery/cross stitch/crochet/knitting project that they want to bring along
- Year 10 Parents Evening – click here to make your appointments: https://saintjosephs.schoolcloud.co.uk/
FRIDAY 1 MAY
- Assembly – Yr11 Resilience & Exams
- Chaplaincy Team to Exeter House
- Julia Abbott – Young Enterprise Visit
- Area Sports at SWGS (all day)
- KS4 debate club
For our current programme of weekly co-curricular clubs, click the button below to go to our Co-curricular page.
As we move deeper into the summer term, our focus across the school is firmly on preparation, progress and ensuring pupils feel confident and well supported for the assessments ahead.
End of Year Assessment Focus
Planning is well underway for our Key Stage 3 End of Year Assessments and Year 10 Summer Mock Exams, both of which will take place after the May halfterm.
Detailed timetables and assessment plans will be released in due course, allowing families and pupils plenty of time to prepare.
Departments are currently putting together revision booklets to support pupils with focused and structured preparation for their forthcoming assessments. To complement this, next week’s assemblies will be dedicated to exploring what effective revision and preparation looks like, helping pupils develop strong habits in advance of the exam period.
Year 11 – Calm, Focused and Ready
Year 11 continue to show a mature and positive approach as they enter the final weeks before GCSE examinations. The Year 11 study room is now open every lunchtime, providing a quiet and purposeful space for independent revision and smallgroup support.
The recent English Walking Talking Mock was a great success, supporting pupils with exam technique, timings and confidence. Feedback from staff and pupils has been extremely positive.
The WIN programme continues to run alongside subject interventions, and details of our May halfterm revision clinics will be shared shortly. In addition, we will be introducing a structured revision programme where pupils will receive an hour with their teachers immediately prior to specific exams, allowing for focused revision and final reassurance.
Final NEA submissions are now also in full swing, with pupils approaching these demands with real maturity and conscientiousness. The overall feel within the year group is one of quiet confidence and positivity—an excellent mindset to carry through the next eight weeks.
Year 10 – Reflecting and Looking Ahead
Year 10 Academic Review Week last week was a great success, offering pupils and staff valuable time to reflect on progress, set targets and plan strategically for the forthcoming mock examinations in June.
We also look forward to welcoming families into school for Year 10 Parents’ Evening on Thursday (4:30–7:00pm) in the school hall, where these conversations can continue. Please click here to make your appointments: https://saintjosephs.schoolcloud.co.uk/
Year 9 Options Update
Year 9 Options blocks are now confirmed, and we are delighted that:
- 95% of pupils have secured all of their preferred option choices
- The remaining pupils have secured two preferences and one reserve
Meetings are ongoing this week with pupils to discuss reserve choices, and letters will be sent to parents shortly to confirm final allocations.
UKMT Junior Maths Challenge
Good luck to our Year 7 and Year 8 mathematicians taking part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge next Thursday.
For pupils in 7Ma1 and 8Ma1, we are pleased to share free preparation webinars on Wednesday 29th April, offered by our partners at Parallel, a charity founded by bestselling science writer Simon Singh. Parallel aims to increase both the number and diversity of excellent mathematicians, and we are proud to be supporting this opportunity. https://parallel.org.uk
Gifted & Talented Provision
Our learning walks this week have focused on the stretch and challenge provided for our Gifted and Talented pupils. Visits across a range of subjects and year groups highlighted strong practice already in place. We also used the time to have thoughtful conversations with pupils about their learning and progress. The outcomes of these walks and conversations will help to shape the future direction of our G&T provision as we continue to refine and strengthen this area.
In this week’s Careers Newsletter…
This edition of the Careers Newsletter highlights a wide range of opportunities for students exploring future pathways, with a strong focus on green careers, apprenticeships, T Levels, and technical education. Students can get involved in Earth Day 2026 activities, explore the Green Careers Hub, and attend a Green Sector Apprenticeships webinar to learn about climate-positive career options.
There is also support for parents through a British Army insight session and guidance around post-16 options, including T Levels, apprenticeships, and Higher Technical Qualifications.
Creative students can join the Talk 2 Dan Bitesize workshops, while FuturesForAll’s “YouthTube” offers inspiring real-life career stories and advice.
Employer and university spotlights this week feature Buzzacott Early Careers and the University of East London, alongside the Job of the Week: Ethnographer.
Deepfakes and generative AI – what parents should know
Deepfakes are a form of artificial intelligence that can create convincing but fake video or audio content, making it appear that someone has said or done something they never did. The two main types are video deepfakes, which change a person’s face or body, and audio deepfakes, which clone voices, and these are often combined to create misleading content. While some deepfakes are made as jokes or entertainment, they can easily spread misinformation and cause confusion. Children and young people may find it difficult to tell what is real, especially as these tools become more advanced and widely available. Deepfakes can also be used for cyberbullying, harassment or reputation damage, including creating content intended to embarrass, intimidate or coerce others. Staying informed and having regular conversations with children can help them think critically and stay safer online. [internetmatters.org]
Advice and guidance for parents from Internet
Advice and guidance for parents from Internet Matters:
- How to protect children from deepfakes [internetmatters.org]
- Deepfakes: Parents’ guide [flipsnack.com]
- How to help children use AI safely [youtube.com]
As always if you have concerns linked to the above topic please contact safeguarding@sjcs.org.uk to speak with a member of the safeguarding team
