Principals Weekly Update
Year 8, Rewards, and Black History Month at Uxbridge High
This week, principal Louisa Seymour shared her vlog from inside a lively Year 8 geography lesson, celebrating the progress of Year 8 students, outlining the school’s reward strategy, and joining staff in marking the beginning of Black History Month.
Spotlight on Year 8
Ms Seymour praised Year 8 students for the maturity and leadership they have shown since moving up from being the youngest year group in the school.
“Year 8 have been wonderful role models for our new Year 7s,” she said. “They have helped them settle in, shown them routines, and supported them around school. Already, they feel much more mature than they did a year ago, and I am so impressed with the progress they have made.”
During the geography lesson, students demonstrated independence in their learning, allowing the teacher to move around the room and provide targeted feedback.
Parents are reminded that Year 8 Parents’ Evening will take place on Wednesday, 16th October, providing an opportunity to hear directly from teachers about the excellent progress students are making.
Recognising Achievement: Rewards
The vlog also focused on the school’s reward strategy, which ranges from everyday recognition in assemblies and principal’s postcards to larger events such as reward trips and the Golden Everyone Rewards Evening.
This year’s Golden Everyone event, taking place on Thursday, 9 October, will celebrate students who achieved at the very highest level in their subjects and year groups during the last academic year.
“Rewarding students is hugely important to me,” Ms Seymour explained. “While the Golden Everyone celebrates those at the very top, all of our regular rewards motivate students along the way. It’s about recognising hard work, effort, and our star behaviours so that every young person feels valued and inspired to achieve their best.”
Standing Firm in Power and Pride: Black History Month
The third theme of this week’s vlog was introduced by Ms Latunji-Jones, who spoke about the start of Black History Month.
Marking the occasion with assemblies across year groups, Ms Latunji-Jones highlighted this year’s theme: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.”
“The key message has been about questioning what power and pride mean to us personally,” she said. “We have been sharing the stories of Black figures throughout history to show how their resilience can inspire us to act with pride in our own lives. The discussions have been powerful, and I hope every student has taken something away from them.”
Ms Seymour echoed the importance of these conversations, noting how they connect directly to the school’s values.
“As a school, we are incredibly inclusive,” she said. “We celebrate diversity and encourage students to bring their true selves daily. Black History Month gives us a chance to highlight these themes even further, and I’m proud of how our community engages with them.”
Looking Ahead
With Year 8 setting an excellent example, rewards recognising success at every level, and important discussions around Black History Month shaping school culture, Uxbridge High continues to build on a strong and inclusive start to the year.
Thank you as always for your support. We look forward to sharing more next week at the same time and in the same place.