Many thanks for your emails and cards wishing the school well in this week’s Ofsted inspection. Thank you too to those of you who completed Parent View to express your feelings. The Lead Inspector said that he has only seen such a raft of effusive comments from parents of a small village primary school and never from a large secondary school. It was truly humbling to see such a wealth of support from the community.
The inspection was an ‘ungraded’ inspection which is to see if the school remains ‘Good’. I am not allowed to share the outcome of the inspection until the final report is published in late February/early March. Suffice to say that I shall be sleeping soundly.
As you know, Ofsted has attracted much media attention in the wake of Ruth Perry’s suicide. I think it’s important to share with you all that, as Headmaster, I was treated with care, courtesy and respect throughout the inspection, as were my colleagues.
Again, my heartfelt thanks to you all for your support and good wishes. Your children did you proud as parents, and they did their school proud too.
Mr B Marshall - Head of Lower School
Over the next two weeks, Heads of Year and the Senior Leadership Team will be celebrating student success with hot chocolate and pastries during tutor time. This is a fantastic way to end each half-term, with the Head of Year deciding on the criteria (progress, behaviour, attitude to learning, attendance that half-term) that they would like to celebrate.
Hot Chocolate & Pastries
Epraise
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you about the excellent online tool for parents, students and staff called epraise. Not only does it allow us to share students’ success, but you can also track other positive interventions as well as demerits and detentions. I have included a link below to the parent section of the school website where you will find a more detailed guide on how to use epraise.
INSET Days for 2023/24 Monday 19 February 2024 Tuesday 18 June 2024
Every effort is made to ensure these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes
Chinese New Year Celebrations
At Mountbatten, we take pride in being part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP).
On Wednesday, our Year 9 MEP students embarked on an enriching cultural trip to Oxford. The day began with Chinese cultural workshops at Oxford Brookes University Confucius Institute, where students had a delightful time painting their own panda fans, practising animal Tai Chi and experiencing the art of a Chinese Tea Ceremony. The joy was shared with MEP students from Bayhouse and Brune Park, adding to the sense of camaraderie.
In the afternoon, our students visited Brasenose and Balliol college, two prestigious colleges at the University of Oxford where they explored academic opportunities. As they strolled through the beautiful campus, it was particularly encouraging for our Year 9 MEP students to discover that acceptance at Oxford is not limited to extraordinary intelligence or affluent backgrounds. Learning that 70% of the Oxford undergraduates come from state secondary schools serves as an inspiring reminder. The key lies in finding one’s passion and working hard for it, a valuable insight for our Year 9s as they make their GCSE option choices!
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes University for hosting the enriching cultural workshops; as well as the excellent tour guides at Brasenose and Balliol, for the informative and enjoyable tours at the University of Oxford. Many thanks to all who contributed to making this a memorable and educational experience for all involved.
Measles - National Incident
You may have seen the news regarding the rise in cases of measles in London and the large outbreaks in the West Midlands.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now declared a national incident in order to focus on actions to limit the spread. Further outbreaks of measles will spread to other towns and cities unless urgent action is taken to increase Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in areas at greatest risk. Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life changing complications.
Please find below information on what to do if you think your child has measles and when to keep them off school.
If you have any questions, or are unsure if your child has had the MMR vaccination, please call the Immunisation Team on 02382 318754.
Congratulations to the following students for levelling up on Sparx Maths!
Level 1
Lola P 10PWR
Level 2
Lilly M 8ADY
Bessie I 8AWS
Nicolas M 8DCR/BCY
Luca C 8EGY
Jess P 8EGY
Paul B 8HHN
Zunayrah R 9IHS
Basma K 9OWS
Liam C 9RGY/JGO
Ava M 9RLE
Alica M 9RMN
Lizzie R 9YDS/EGE
Eddie S 9YDS/EGE
Ava B 10AWE/RAR
Daniel P 10AWE/RAR
Toby P 10BHT/CFT
Tilly T 10HCS
Kieran K 10LJS
Nissi P 10LJS
Harry A 10PWR
Hannah P 10SBS
Level 5
George H 9JFR
Level 7
Ella C 9JBY
Geography Department
Geography Stars
Nila F 7ESY/GWT
Emily E 7MAZ
Ida R 7LAD/AGN
Taran V 7TDN
Alice A 8AWS
Abhishek A 9RGY/JLE
Umar T 10PWR
MFL Department
MFL Stars
Jake H 7TAS
Filippos A 8EGY
Neveah H 8HHN
Ava M 9RLE
Lily C 9VGN
Adam H 10AWE/RAR
George R 10AOR
Kate V 11RLR/SOE
Toby S 11RLR/SOE
Science Department
Super Scientists
Mason Y 7JAD
Jacob R 7JAD
Freya H 7MAZ
Charlotte H 7JAD
Eliza J 7JAD
Matilda T 8LHK/EPK
Jessica T 9RMN
Matthew K 10BHT/CFT
Bethan T 11RCS
Jacob M 11RCS
Music Department
ABRSM Music Theory
Mia P 10SBS has passed ABRSM Music Theory Grade 5 with distinction.
ABRSM Flute
Lewis C 11PSN has passed ABRSM Flute Grade 6 with merit.
Piano
Ellie V 9RMN has passed Piano Beginner Stage 1 with distinction.
Click the drop-down menus below to find out more about different careers opportunities coming up for our students.
Fully Funded Work Experience Opportunities
Please click here to discover exciting opportunities for students to get involved in work experience. Led by Speakers for Schools.
Year 11 Sparsholt College Live Online Q&A Session for Students and Parents
Join us this National Apprenticeship Week for a Live Q&A session dedicated to parents and students hosted by our Apprenticeships Manager, Helen Mitchell and Senior Apprenticeship Liaison Officer, James Clements. Find out more about apprenticeships with Sparsholt College Group (Sparsholt Campus, Andover Campus and University Centre Sparsholt) and get all your questions answered.
Specsavers have put together a virtual programme to showcase some of the careers available in the company. Students will be working through eight modules covering key functions such as HR, Marketing, Finance and Technology across our Support Offices and one module on store-focused careers.
Participants will take part in interactive activities and tasks to check their understanding and keep them engaged throughout. They can also hear from people across the business via pre-recorded webinars and immerse themselves in the office via an interactive tour of the F6 Support Office.At the end of the Virtual Work Experience, participants will receive a certificate of completion which they can share on LinkedIn and add to their CV. See flyer for more information.
Click on the tabs below to find out what each year group is exploring in RSHE this term!
Year 7
This half-term, Year 7 will be exploring how to lead healthy lifestyles by considering what health and fitness is before identifying the need for good food, sleep and exercise habits. Students will also explore the impacts of energy drinks and caffeine-based drinks on health and fitness and the law around the sale and consumption of some products. Students will also consider how oral hygiene is important and how lifestyle can affect teeth and gums. Vaping will also be explored, providing students with the opportunity to consider the law, recent guidance and the worrying effects of using E-cigarettes.
Year 8
This half-term, Year 8 will be exploring healthy lifestyles and good physical health, as well as how to maintain emotional wellbeing and self-worth, when using social media. Media bias and different media sources will also be covered, so we can encourage students to consider what influences they may be exposed to and what the reliability and validity of different news sources are.
Year 9
Year 9 will begin the new year by considering what supports healthy living and how to lead a healthy lifestyle at this age. This also includes how to maintain positive mental health and self-worth when using social media. Students will consider how their own self-perception and internet use may be linked and correlated. Students will participate in some basic First Aid training looking at CPR and the recovery position, as well as the use of an AED.
Year 10
Year 10 will kick-start the new term with a recap on healthy living and positive lifestyle choices. Students will be given the opportunity to identify which strategies suit them best when finding relaxation techniques. This then leads into exploring the impacts of drug and alcohol use. Students will consider their current understanding and perceptions of various substances, explore how to manage the risks associated with their use and how to keep themselves and others safe as well as where to seek advice and information in the future. The influences of gang culture and county lines will also be explored.
Year 11
Year 11 will start the term exploring different stereotypes and ways to challenge them. They will identify what their core values are and how to consider those of others. Students will look at how people identify and explore how they respect the decisions of others. They will also explore why some teenagers are likely to partake in risky behaviours.
Should your child wish to seek support related to any of these topics or about anything else that is worrying them, please advise them to speak to their form tutor in the first instance or request some support from our Student Support Team by completing the Student Support form on the student area of the school website.
We have our reporting system 'TootToot' where students can report anonymously or with their name.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn British Sign Language and embark on a journey of communication, inclusivity, and personal growth with Personal Best Education! Starting on Wednesday 21 February.
A message from Mr Portas...
At Mountbatten, we take pride in being part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP).
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes University for hosting the enriching cultural workshops; as well as the excellent tour guides at Brasenose and Balliol, for the informative and enjoyable tours at the University of Oxford. Many thanks to all who contributed to making this a memorable and educational experience for all involved.
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Ava P 8SGY
Nila F 7ESY/GWT
Jake H 7TAS
Mason Y 7JAD
