Principal's Weekly Update
Hello, Uxbridge High School community,
Welcome to this week’s vlog. As always, we have three themes to share.
- The first theme is the wider opportunities we provide our students.
- The second theme is how we are bringing our curriculum to life.
- The third theme and the reason Miss Latunji-Jones, Head of Year 11, is joining us is to discuss that final push in preparing both Year 11 and Year 13 students for their exams.
Wider opportunities
You may have just heard from our wonderful students who took part in Brain Play. They’ve spoken about their experience, and if you’re a regular viewer, you’ll know they first performed in front of parents at school. Then, last Thursday, they had the opportunity to perform at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. They were brilliant, and I know some of our parents attended and were just as impressed.
It was a fantastic opportunity that really showcased their talents and represented Uxbridge High School so well. We want both parents and students to get involved in everything we offer outside of the daily curriculum, whether that's our Tuesday enrichment or other activities that add real value to our students' experiences.
Bringing our curriculum to life
In line with that, behind us you’ll see a brand-new memorial that has been installed in the school. It’s another example of how we try to bring learning and values to life. Students have already commented on how impactful and inspiring it is. Some of our key messages, like "being brilliant at the basics," are displayed prominently to keep those values visible and motivating.
Thank you to Mr Baines for designing it. This is just one example of the extracurricular passion he brings to the school, and it complements the rest of our murals and value-based branding around the site. Please come and have a look when you’re next in school.
Our final theme this week is Year 11. We've been updating you regularly, but I’ve asked Miss Latunji-Jones to speak directly to you as Head of Year 11, to share her reflections on their preparation and some final advice as we approach the exams.
A message from Miss Latunji-Jones:
I'd like to start by saying a huge thank you to all the parents and carers of Year 11 students. Your support this year, last year, and throughout their time at Uxbridge High School has been so appreciated.
In our weekly assemblies, I often tell them they’re on an Olympic journey. Now, they are nearing the finish line. We just need to give them that final push.
We’ve done a lot of work over the past few weeks and months to get them ready, not only in lessons with their fantastic teachers, but also through after-school interventions and targeted support during form time. These sessions focus on English, Maths, Science, or a key vocational subject they need to strengthen.
Now that exams are underway, here are a few practical tips to make sure they’re fully supported:
- Make sure they eat breakfast. We offer breakfast in the sixth form area from 7:45 to 8:15, but if they miss that, please encourage them to eat at home.
- Ensure they get enough sleep. Late-night revision can feel productive, but sleep is vital. Aim for eight hours.
- Punctuality matters. Students must arrive by 8:15, or 7:45 if they’re coming for breakfast. Being on time helps avoid stress before exams.
- Be fully equipped. They should have all necessary exam tools, and also be in full, correct uniform.
- Check they have their exam timetable. It’s tailored for each student. Ask them: When is your exam? Do you know where it is? Having this clear will help them feel confident and prepared.
Finally, thank you again for your support. And a big thank you to all the teachers and Year 11 staff. We have a lot to celebrate with Year 11 at the end of the year, including the Golden Laurels Assembly, shirt signing, and of course, the Year 11 Prom, which I’m very excited about.
Final Words
I’m excited for all those celebrations too. You've been sent information about them already, but if you have any questions, please reach out to Miss Jones or our finance team, especially about prom payments.
As for Year 13, they’re also in the middle of exams. They’ve done this before, so they have more experience, but the same principles apply. We want to make sure they feel supported and ready.
Next week, I’ll be talking more about our summer events. As I mentioned, wider opportunities are a real unique feature of Uxbridge High School, and I want to keep families informed about everything happening.
Finally, you may have seen my message this week regarding the shelter-in drill we held last Friday. If you have any questions about that, don’t hesitate to contact the school.
For now, as always, we wish you a lovely weekend.
We’ll see you same time, same place next week.