Principal's Weekly Update
Uxbridge High School Weekly Vlog
A Sunny Spring Update from School Life
Hello, Uxbridge High School community, welcome to this week’s vlog, on what is a truly glorious sunny day here at school.
As always, we have got three key themes to share with you this week:
- The London Marathon and Mini Marathon
- The importance of staying hydrated in warm weather
- A reminder about mobile phone expectations
London Marathon & Mini Marathon – Celebrating Community and Achievement
We are kicking off this week by recognising the fantastic efforts of several of our students who recently took part in the Mini London Marathon last Saturday. It was a brilliant day showcasing athletic talent, determination, resilience, and community spirit.
In addition to our students, two members of staff, Mr Heslin and Mr Futhela, completed the main London Marathon on Sunday. Their achievement, alongside that of our students, made it a powerful weekend for the entire Uxbridge High School community.
Many of our Key Stage 3 students have also been running the equivalent mini-marathon distance during PE lessons this week, further contributing to this whole-school effort.
I would like to give a special mention to Harley, who won his wave at the Mini Marathon. Not only did he win, but he also led his group with the official lead bike and placed extremely high overall out of more than 18,000 runners, an outstanding accomplishment.
But just as with the main London Marathon, the spirit of the event is not about winning; it's about taking part, doing your best and supporting others. That spirit reflects our school values: kindness, effort, mutual respect and striving for excellence.
These students, and our staff, were fantastic ambassadors for Uxbridge High School. Thank you to the parents who supported them and helped make these achievements possible.
Warm Weather – A Reminder to Stay Hydrated
After last week’s gloomy skies, we have enjoyed some beautiful sunshine this week. With that in mind, we would like to remind students to bring a refillable water bottle to school.
Please encourage them to top up their bottles during break and lunch rather than during lesson time so they can stay hydrated without missing learning.
Looking ahead to next week, the forecast is for slightly more typical spring temperatures but still bright and pleasant. If we do face any extremes, we will be in touch to advise on any temporary adjustments needed.
Mobile Phones – Reinforcing Expectations
Finally, a reminder about mobile phone use in school.
There has been significant discussion in the media recently about young people and the impact of mobile phone use, particularly in school settings. We have always had a clear stance at Uxbridge High School: mobile phones must be switched off and kept in students' bags throughout the school day.
While most students follow this rule consistently, we need to ensure that all students do. Otherwise, we may be forced to consider a full ban on mobile phones on school premises, something we would prefer to avoid.
We understand that many parents value the ability to contact their child before and after school. However, during the school day, students have access to staff if they need help contacting home, and you can always reach the school if needed.
Please continue to support us by reinforcing this rule at home. It plays a crucial part in ensuring a calm and safe learning environment for all students.
A Final Thought – Standing Together as a School Community
You may notice I’m wearing red today. Some of our students, Harley and Cody in particular, will know why. Without being divisive, I simply want to say this: at Uxbridge High School, we believe no one should walk alone.
Community, support and shared values are what make us stronger, especially in times of challenge. Our young people are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s by working together with staff, students and families that we help them achieve their best.
Thank you, as always, for your support. I hope the sun stays with us for the bank holiday weekend. Have a lovely break, and we look forward to seeing you next week.