Dear Families

As the weather continues to improve, we are delighted to share that our students have been able to fully utilise the vast expanse of our school's field during lunchtime hours. This has provided them with ample opportunities for physical activity and outdoor exercise!

Turning our attention to the academic front, we are proud to announce that the GCSE examinations have commenced this week. The first full cohort exam took place today, and our students conducted themselves with utmost excellence and resilience. Their diligent preparation and unwavering commitment have been truly commendable, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to them for making a strong start. We are sure it will continue.

While we embrace the warmer weather, it is imperative that our students continue to adhere to the school's uniform policy - Manor High School - Uniform. We kindly request your support in ensuring that your children leave home or the car wearing the correct school uniform. However, should the weather become unseasonably hot, we will certainly make the necessary adjustments to ensure their comfort and well-being.

It is with great pleasure that we announce some staffing changes within the school. We have appointed Fiona Ager as our full-time Assistant Headteacher with SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) responsibilities. Mrs Ager brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of SEND leadership, in both primary and secondary schools. Due to the long-term absence of the previous SENDCO, Mrs. Mehta (who has now left the school), there are a few areas that Fiona is bringing us back up to speed with. We kindly request your patience and understanding during this transition period.

Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Mr. Croucher has assumed the role of Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead. Many of you will know Mr Croucher already, with extensive pastoral experience, having worked on Senior Leadership Teams in two schools, Mr. Croucher is well-equipped to oversee the development and implementation of robust safeguarding practises. He will be supported by our Operational Safeguarding Lead, Mrs. Ghani, who will handle day-to-day matters, allowing Mr. Croucher to maintain a strategic oversight of safeguarding over time. Additionally, we have several other trained Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) within our school, ensuring a comprehensive support system for our students' well-being. 

Mr S Greiff

Year 11 students have made a fantastic start to their exams this week. Students have demonstrated our core values of excellence, inspiration, resilience, and respect. These were the key messages we shared during weekly assemblies, with our final assembly focussed on respect.

For us, respect is based around recognition and celebration of the many cultures which make up Manor High School. The majority of our students have families from all around the world and this brings with it a cultural richness which benefits us all. The common link is respect for learning and for education. We are proud of the cultures and values which combine to create the Manor High culture of learning and excellence.

Students know the importance of respecting peers, staff, the community, learning opportunities, and the support they are receiving. We do not want GCSEs to be the missing piece of their jigsaw when they open their result's envelope on 22^nd August 2024. We reinforced the importance of students taking up every opportunity to learn, including demonstrating respect for the changes we have made.

One initiative we implement each year for Year 11 includes a support session before their exam. It is important students attend the planned sessions on time and make use of every minute. On Thursday 9^th May, students had additional sessions in drama and science to help them prepare for exams. It was great to see students focused and engaged in learning.

Today, we had our first full cohort exam in Biology. We are very proud of how well students were prepared, in full uniform, and with the right equipment. As a treat and a well done, all Year 11 students were given an ice-lolly and an extended break straight after their exam, which was well received! We are aware of the pressures students feel and very much care about their wellbeing. We hope this momentum continues.

We want to do all we can to support students during their exams. These are some of the support initiatives we have put in place:

• Exam timetable – shared with students. Please check your child has received this and all stated information is correct. Please inform your child’s tutor, who will look into any questions you may have.

• Exam support sessions – we have revised the school timetable for Year 11 to spend some time with their subject teachers directly before their exam. All students have received details and a printed version of the changes made. It is important students follow the changes that are in place.

• Interventions – afterschool targeted intervention sessions are continuing. Please do make sure your child attends as requested by their subject teacher. We are planning some additional Saturday and May half-term sessions. This will be communicated directly by subject teachers to you. We will be providing a snack and a drink to keep energy levels going!

• Revision resources – we have invested in many printed revision resource packs, including past exam papers, and your child’s teachers will have provided these. Please encourage your child to use the resources and seek support from their teachers should they need to.

• Study space and support – study centre remains open every day till 5.30pm. Students are welcome to use this for independent or group study, and staff will be available to support and answer questions. 

• Pastoral care – House Managers continue to provide pastoral care to all students, but are available for students who need any additional TLC or support.

• Furthermore, we have planned the following initiatives to maximise every opportunity for Year 11. This will begin on Monday 13^th May:

• SLT support clinics – students can drop into the Drama Studio at the end of each day to talk to a member of the Senior Leadership Team should they have any apprehensions or questions about their exams, or they can simply come and talk about how they are getting on.
• Revision breakfast – research has shown a direct link between nutrition and focus in studies. We will be hosting breakfast for all Year 11 students every day of their exams. Students will be able to choose from a selection of items up to the value of £2.00. This will be free of charge and will be served between 8am and 8.30am.

Lastly, we share with you study skills that you may find useful when talking to your child about revision. Some of the strategies include:

• Structured Revision Timetable: Allocate specific time slots for each subject or topic to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Active Recall Techniques: Engage in active recall methods such as flashcards, summarising key points, and teaching concepts to others to reinforce memory retention.
• Past Papers Practise: Regularly attempt past exam papers to familiarise yourself with the format, time constraints, and types of questions likely to be asked.
• Study Groups: Collaborate with peers for group revision sessions to discuss challenging topics, share knowledge, and test each other's understanding.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep to support cognitive function and overall well-being during the revision period.
• Utilise Technology: Explore educational apps, online resources, and interactive platforms to supplement traditional study methods and enhance learning.

We want to take this opportunity to wish all our Year 11 students the best of wishes in their exams. Thank you as always for your continued home-school partnership and support.

Please do contact us should you have any questions or require guidance on how to further support your child during the exam period.

Mr Karavadra

 Loughborough Amherst School still has some bursaries and school assisted places available for students next year (current year 11 at MHS) and there are also opportunities for the future too, so current Year 10.

Information from Loughborough Amherst School: We offer Sixth Form-specific scholarships, namely The Tilsley Sixth Form Scholarship, The Harry Humber Sixth Form Music Scholarship and the Sir Thomas White Trust Scholarship for Sixth Form.  Although we are approaching the tail-end of the admissions cycle for September intake, there are still opportunities available, and we would be delighted to consider any students who would be appropriate. Please see attached links in respect of the Tilsley and Harry Humber scholarships.  We would be more than happy to co-ordinate a group visit for suitable students if  appropriate.  

Harry Humber Scholarship (lsf.org)

The Tilsley Sixth Form Scholarship – Loughborough Amherst School (lsf.org)

General Music Scholarships are also available and an overview of all the financial support available to families interested in joining Amherst can be found here.

Here are the standings as we approach the end of term:

1. Watermead
2. Bradgate
3. Knighton
4. Clarendon

Keep up the great work everyone!

HOW TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL

Your child’s tutor, also known as their trusted adult, is often your first point of contact. However, the following emails are also useful for parents to know:

• General enquiries:  admin@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• Exam enquiries:  exams@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• Finance and School Gateway enquiries:  finance@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• School bus enquiries:  buspass@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• SEND enquiries:  send@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk 

If you are not sure who to contact, please refer to our Who to Contact flow chart on our Contact Us page.