Principals Weekly Update

Hello and welcome to this week’s vlog update.

As always, we are focusing on three key themes:

• Equality and Diversity, and how they shape belonging at our school

• Safety and Wellbeing

• Looking to the Future – transitions across key stages

Equality, Diversity and Belonging

Last week, we heard from two of our fantastic Year 9 students, who spoke about their Sports Day experience and what belonging means to them. That message resonated, and we are continuing the theme this week.

At Uxbridge High School, we strive to ensure that every student feels a strong sense of belonging. That means celebrating the rich diversity within our community, culture, religion, race, gender identity, and more, while also recognising what unites us.

Belonging is not about fitting in; it is about feeling accepted for who you are. We want students to feel proud of their identities and comfortable expressing them, and equally proud to be part of the wider Uxbridge High School family.

As part of that, we marked Eid last week, though it fell on the same day the vlog was released and wasn’t included at the time. So, a heartfelt belated Eid Mubarak to all of our Muslim students, families, and staff. We hope you had a joyful celebration.

We are also taking time this month to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this week, we welcomed diversity role models into school to work with Years 8, 9 and 10. These sessions were incredibly powerful and will be followed up in lessons and across the wider curriculum.

Creating a truly inclusive environment means doing the work, not just during Pride month, but year-round, to ensure every student feels seen, valued and safe.

Safety and Wellbeing

Our second theme this week is safety and wellbeing, closely linked to belonging.

We know students thrive when they feel safe, supported, and happy in school. That is why we regularly ask both parents and students for feedback on how we are doing in this area. A new survey is going live today alongside this vlog, and we would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to share your thoughts.

One key area we are exploring in the survey is online safety and smartphone use. This continues to be a hot topic across the country. At Uxbridge High School, we have had a mobile-free school environment since 201 '15, and we are proud of how that supports focus, wellbeing, and face-to-face interactions.

But as technology evolves, we want to hear from you about how we can do even more to protect and support our young people in both the physical and digital worlds.

Looking to the Future: Transitions

The final theme this week is looking ahead, especially when it comes to key transitions throughout school life.

For Year 11 and Year 13 students, exam season is nearly over, and we are so proud of how they have approached this important time. These students are preparing for the next chapter, whether that’s sixth form, apprenticeships, university or the world of work.

For others in our community, transitions are coming too. Our new Year 7 students will begin their journey at Uxbridge High School in September, and we are looking forward to welcoming them through a well-planned transition programme.

Year 9 students will move into Key Stage 4, and we are inviting parents and students to join us on 27th June for the final part of that transition. You should have received a letter with full details, including different arrangements for each year group, so please do take a look and reach out with any questions.

We also have upcoming events for Year 10 as they prepare for Year 11 and Year 11 students transitioning into Sixth Form, including a dedicated transition day.

To our Year 13 families, thank you for your support over the years. It has been a privilege to be part of your child’s journey.

Thank a Teacher Day – 18th June

Next Tuesday is Thank a Teacher Day, and as always, we are marking it at Uxbridge High School.

This is a moment when students write messages of appreciation to our staff, teachers and support teams alike. It is a chance to acknowledge the many ways adults in the school make a difference every day.

Students love this tradition, and staff always value the kind words. We are also giving parents and members of the wider community the opportunity to get involved—there will be a link shared alongside this vlog where you can send your message of thanks.

Thank you, as ever, for your continued support. Please complete the wellbeing and safety survey, and feel free to send a Thank a Teacher message if you’d like to.

Thank a Teacher Day: Send a "Thank You" card to an amazing teacher today!
School Survey: https://participate.schoolsurveys.com/zqedGeHUHgLhHMBL

Have a great weekend.

Take care,
Uxbridge High School