The Mountbatten School Parent Portal - Newsletter 6 September 2024

Mr A Portas - Headmaster

Whilst the rain certainly hasn’t been welcome this week, it has been a pleasure to welcome the students back to school and the start of the new academic year. Our new Year 7 children have been a credit to their school and their families, showing lovely manners and dressed smartly in their uniforms wearing them with pride. My heartfelt thanks go to all the parents and carers who have made sure that their children have started the new academic year in the correct uniform and equipped for their lessons. It makes such a difference and helps our young people have real pride in themselves and their work: valuable qualities for the workplace.

The school site has seen some changes over the summer holidays. The new building at the front of the school is now complete. It houses the new reception, medical room and admin and finance staff. In the next few weeks, the fencing and gating at the front of school will be finished too. This work has been undertaken so that we can have a single point of entry, thereby creating a gated community during the school day to enhance the safety of the students. When you arrive on the school site, reception is now by the main vehicle entrance. If you need to collect your child during the school day, then please report to reception and your child will meet you there.

The start of the new term is always like New Year – full of resolutions and an opportunity to change, do things differently and, hopefully, better. One of the most effective ways to bring about your child’s success is to create clear, simple routines: not an easy task when parenting a teenager! I make no apologies for repeating that research has shown that during adolescence, teenagers need between 9 and 9.5 hours of sleep yet, on average, they get about 7 hours. Sadly, for some youngsters, their sleep is interrupted by their friends messaging them during the night which then leads to fatigue, irritability and a lack of concentration during the day. As a parent/carer, if you can help your child to get into good sleep habits and make the bedroom a mobile phone free zone, then you’ll be creating positive wellbeing for your child.

As you can imagine, it was a joy to celebrate with last year’s Year 11 students on Results Day two weeks ago. The Class of 2024 achieved the best results that the school has seen and those results reflected their hard work and effort over the last five years as well as the hard work and support from their parents, carers and families. A sincere thank you to the many parents and carers who contacted the school and staff to express their thanks for the support given to their child during their time in the school.

Naturally, we want to create the enabling conditions in school to ensure that all of our students benefit from an environment where they can learn and succeed. I’m sure that you will agree that if all of our young people follow these simple steps, then success will follow:

I always try my hardest and learn to the best of my ability.

I take responsibility for my learning and the learning of others, allowing everyone to learn without disruption.

I always do as I am asked, the first time I am asked.

I show kindness and respect to others, their opinions and their personal space.

I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.

I take pride in the presentation of all my work.

I always have the correct equipment and wear my uniform correctly.

I have good manners.

We very much value your support in helping our young people to be the very best that they can be so that they enjoy the success they deserve to move on to the next stage of their lives. I hope that the new school year brings much happiness and great achievement to our young people.