Our Ref: DK/jh/gltr/dec 25

4th December 2025

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your family are well and you find December’s update letter of help to you. The focus of the final monthly update letter of 2025 is on:

• Key dates and events – December 2025/January 2026
• A personal update on my own circumstances 
• The upcoming Parents’ Evenings and delayed start for Staff CPD in December
• Key details on the end of the Autumn term/start of the Spring term in January 2026
• Charity work and cultural celebrations in the final weeks of term along with information, support and advice on the cost of living from Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council.

Key dates and events for your calendar – December 2025/January 2026

• Thursday 4th December: Y11 Subject Parents’ Evening 4-7pm
• Tuesday 9th December: Staff CPD - Delayed start for students (Gates open at 10am for a 10.25am start)
• Tuesday 9th December: Maths Mastermind finals from 3.45pm in the Library
• Thursday 11th December: Y13 Subject Parents’ Evening 4-6pm
• Friday 19th December: End of Autumn Term
  • Heritage Clothing/Christmas Jumper day
  • Students to be dismissed at 12 noon
• Monday 5th January: Staff CPD Day – school is closed to students
• Tuesday 6th January: Spring term for students starts at 11.30am
• Wednesday 21st January: Staff CPD - Delayed start for students (Gates open at 10am for a 10.25am start)
• Thursday 22nd January: Y7 Subject Parents’ Evening 4-7pm

A personal update

I wanted to take the opportunity to inform you as to my own circumstances and how this impacts on the day-to-day management of the school. During the October half-term holidays, my 7-year-old son was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and underwent extensive surgery to remove a brain tumour. He will require significant ongoing treatment and being there for him now and in the weeks ahead must be my key priority. As a result, Mrs Reddy and Mrs Banger have taken on the day-to-day running of the school, supported by the Senior Leadership Team and Mr Ian Mellor, the CRST Director of Education and a very experienced Headteacher himself. I remain in day-to-day contact, and am keen to return to work as soon as we feel it is appropriate for my son, but I wanted to be transparent in letting you know that now is not the right time. The school is in the safest of hands whilst I support my son through the next stage of his treatment.

Upcoming Parents’ Evenings - December

Parents/carers of students in Y11/13 will be receiving their child’s first set of Academic Profiles before the Christmas holidays with those for students in Y7/8/10 being sent out in January. The key dates to look out for with Parents’ Evenings this side of Christmas are below:

• There is a Year 11 Subject Parents’ Evening on Thursday 4th December from 4-7pm. 
• Year 13 Subject Parents’ Evening - Thursday 11th December from 4-6pm 

Parents/carers will be able to book their appointments for these evenings with subject teachers from this week via Arbor as normal, and we look forward to continuing to work together to best support your child through this highly important year in their education. 

Changes to normal arrangements: Delayed start on Tuesday 9th December  - Staff CPD 

As previously communicated earlier in the year, there are five delayed starts through the school year due to Teaching & Learning CPD sessions for the Embedding Formative Assessment programme, addressing areas for improvement that were from the Ofsted Report. There is a balance with the remaining sessions being after school.

The second of these delayed starts is on Tuesday 9th December. As on all of these occasions, students should arrive from 10:10am for a Period 2 start with all students being on site for 10.25am. Breakfast Club will run as normal for students on site from 10:10am.

End of Autumn term / Start of Spring term arrangements

We break up for the holidays on Friday 19th December at 12 noon. Students will attend Periods 1 and 2 as normal and those students who are eligible for Free School Meals will be able to collect lunch before leaving on the day.

Students will be returning to school after the holidays on Tuesday 6th January for an 11:30am start as teaching staff will be holding the Year 7/8/10 Curriculum Review meetings in the morning before the return of the students. 

Cost of living support and guidance

As we do at this time of year where finances can often come under additional strain, we wanted to highlight the information that is available from Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council. Both of our local authority websites provide links to advice and support on a range of topics including Benefits and Money Advice, Energy Efficiency and Food Support amongst others.  

For families living in Birmingham, please check out the Cost of Living Support section of the Birmingham City Council website that also includes the Help In Brum leaflet (this is available in 11 different languages on the website) which provides links to specific agencies and charities that provide practical support. For families living in our neighbouring area of Sandwell, please see the Supporting Sandwell section of the council’s website for further information.  

Cultural celebrations and Charity Week: Monday 15th to Friday 19th December

The final couple of weeks of the term as always will see a range of activities designed to provide students with the opportunity to work together to support a number of charities, causes and the wider community with our annual theme of ‘Kindness and Community’.  It is also a time of celebrating the achievements of students in our end of term Awards Assemblies, and the talent within the school through performance opportunities.

Holyhead’s annual Food Drive is once again being led by Miss Khatun, this time in association with Brushstrokes Community Project. We are asking for donations of any items of non-perishable food or drink as well as hygiene products and toiletries, if staff, families and students wish to and can. Donations can be made at the school reception or to Miss Khatun and the collection will end on Wednesday 17th December with all proceeds going directly to the Brushstrokes Community Project. If it is more convenient to make a financial contribution to support this cause, you can do so via the Go Fund Me page that has been set up by Miss Khatun and donations can be made until Friday 12th December. 

The school’s Charity Committee will also be working to raise money alongside the other CRST schools again this year for our nominated charity which is Birmingham Children's Hospital, with a target of raising £20,000 together. This is an exceptionally important cause which I now have first-hand experience of. The amazing work that Birmingham Children’s Hospital does (they treat 90,000 children every year and do an amazing job in supporting families at what is often the most difficult period in their lives), deserves every bit of support we can give to them as a school community.

Other events running through the week from Monday 15th - Friday 19th December:

• Food - The traditional Christmas Meal will be served during lunch on Wednesday 17th December.
• Music - We will be having staff and student volunteers singing Christmas carols during break time, and we will release the annual Holyhead Christmas Single which this year has a 1980s theme. We will also be hosting the first ever Holyhead X-Factor finals which will take place on Friday 19th December following on from a round of auditions in early December.
• Dress code - Heritage related items (national colours/dress/flags/cultural clothing) / Christmas jumpers are optional for students and staff to wear on Friday 19th December.  There will be no leisurewear items (jeans/hoodies/caps/tracksuits) accepted as heritage clothing, so these must not be worn to school. Students who do not wish to, or cannot attend in heritage clothing or Christmas jumpers should attend in normal school uniform.

I thank you again for your time in reading this letter and ask you to look out for the Autumn Term Pulse Magazine and the Holyhead Christmas Single for 2025 which will be released to you at the end of term via Arbor and the school’s social media platforms.

In the meantime please allow me on behalf of everyone at Holyhead to wish you and your families well, and good health and fortune over the next few weeks. We wish a very Merry Christmas to all who will be celebrating and a Happy New Year to everyone! 

Yours faithfully,

Mr D Knox
Principal
         
 

Our Ref: DK/jh/gltr/Oct 25    

1st October 2025

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your family are well. In October’s monthly update letter, I’ll provide some key reminders and other important details for the month ahead including:

• Reminder = Key dates for the Autumn term: Sixth Form Open Evening and Meet the Tutor Afternoon
• Y11/13 Mock Exams in October / November
• Changes to normal arrangements in October: Delayed start on Wed 15th October & Diwali planning
• Safeguarding support - What’s on the website to help keep children safe?
• Black History Month 2025 - Themes and Celebrations
• Key dates for the remainder of the month up to half-term

Early finish/delayed start for Sixth Form Open Evening - Thursday 2nd/Friday 3rd October
On Thursday 2nd October we will be hosting our Sixth Form Open Evening from 5.30 - 7.30pm, a vitally important event for the community with Year 11 students looking ahead to their Post-16 options. 

As in previous years we have finished earlier in the day to enable staff to set up for the evening, and we will do so again this year.  Students will leave at 2:30pm on Thursday 2nd October, with additional homework set by Period 4 lesson teachers. With many students and staff involved late into the evening, we will have a delayed start to school on Friday 3rd October, with students arriving by 10.25am ready for a Period 2 start.

Y11/13 Autumn Mock Exams: Monday 13th October - Friday 7th November
The start of November sees a very important set of Mock Exams for Y11/13 students in preparation for their external exams later in the year. Students are receiving specific revision materials from their subjects as well as guidance to aid their revision work ahead of these exams, so it would be greatly appreciated if you could support them by checking on whether they are following a revision timetable and by generally asking what they are doing to revise.

Changes to normal School Operations: Delayed start on Wednesday 15th October
There will be five delayed starts this school year due to Teaching & Learning CPD sessions for the Embedding Formative Assessment programme, addressing areas for improvement that were from the Ofsted Report. There is a balance with the remaining sessions taking place after school.

The first delayed start is on Wednesday 15th October. Students should arrive from 10:10am for a Period 2 start with all students being on site for 10.25am. Breakfast Club will run as normal for students on site from 10:10am.

Year 11 students must arrive at the usual time for their GCSE Maths Mock Exam at 8:45am.

Diwali/Bandi Chorr Divas at Holyhead: Impact on school arrangements
We are proud of our rich diversity and we celebrate heritage and culture together as a community. The festival of Diwali/Bandi Chhor Divas is one of these many events. For those celebrating on Monday 20th October and Tuesday 21st October, it marks the beginning of a new year.

For the first time in a number of years it will be celebrated in term time and as many staff and students will be observing the festival, normal school operations will be affected, similar to what is experienced annually for Eid celebrations. More specific information will be sent in a separate letter later in the week, but for clarity this will involve Year 12 and 13 students learning from home on Monday 20th October due to the planned staff absence.

Parental Engagement: Meet the Tutor Afternoon - Wednesday 22nd October
As mentioned in our September update, we will hold a ‘Meet the Tutor Afternoon’ on Wednesday 22nd October, 2–6pm, replacing previous year-group-specific Parental Engagement Evenings.

Parents/carers can book a 5-minute appointment via Arbor to meet their child’s Form Tutor and discuss their start to the year. Meetings will take place in and around the Sports Hall allowing easy access for families.

Information stands will be available in the Dining Hall, offering guidance on Careers, Enrichment, Arbor, and Parent Pay, along with refreshments. Heads of Year and Vice Principals will be present in year group zones, and QR codes will link to the 2025–26 Parent Guide Booklet and Parent Survey.

To accommodate the event, students will be dismissed at 1:15pm after Period 3. Free School Meal lunches will be available for collection. We look forward to seeing as many parents as possible during the afternoon/early evening.

Safeguarding information: How can you and your child access support?
When students feel worried - whether about social media or other issues - they should always speak to a trusted staff member, such as their Form Tutor or Head of Year. Students can also report concerns via the Holyhead Helpline, accessible through the Student Portal. Reports can be made anonymously or named and are monitored by DSLs and Vice Principals for prompt response.

Parents should contact their child’s Head of Year, especially regarding social media or peer relationship concerns. Contact details and safeguarding resources are available on the school website.

The monthly Safeguarding Bulletin produced by our Senior Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Beale, offers guidance on online safety and current issues affecting young people. October’s edition covers the topic of children’s mental health in advance of World Mental Health Day on the 10th October. We encourage parents to explore both this and past editions – knowledge is power when it comes to keeping children safe!

Safety Searches in School: Ensuring and maintaining a safe learning environment for all
One of the most important features of the Ofsted Report was the clear statement that pupils feel safe and happy at Holyhead. An essential action we take to maintain a safe learning environment is our continued approach in conducting periodic safety searches for prohibited items such as illegal substances, vapes, and weapons. These searches are a standard practice in schools nationwide, reflecting growing concerns around knife crime and vaping, helping to reassure students that such items should not be seen in school and will never be tolerated.

Searches are carried out respectfully and professionally by trained staff. They involve checking bags, coats, and blazers, as well as scans using metal detecting wands with no physical contact.

We combine education through PSHE with proactive measures like searches to ensure all students feel safe and supported. The feedback from students continues to tell us that they appreciate these actions and understand the importance of them.

Black History Month at Holyhead
This October, Holyhead School will celebrate Black History Month with a focus on the national theme: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride” - honouring Black heritage, resilience, and achievement.

Our curriculum continues to reflect our ‘Teach What Matters’ approach, rooted in our Handsworth community and global in perspective. Teachers will continue to highlight ‘hidden heroes’ from diverse backgrounds and celebrate cultural richness throughout the year, not just the month of October.

We’ll also host our annual celebration event on Thursday 23rd October from 4:00–5:30pm, where students and families can enjoy cultural and educational activities. More details will follow soon.

Summary of key dates and events in October at Holyhead:

• Sixth Form Open Evening – Thursday 2nd October from 5:30 - 7:30pm (Early finish for all students at 2.30pm on Thursday; Delayed start at 10.25am on Friday 3rd October)
• Y11/13 Autumn Mock Exams take place from Monday 13th October to Friday 7th November
• Year 7 Faculty Enrichment Session 2 takes place on Monday 13th October from 3.30-4.30pm
• Delayed start at 10.25am on Wednesday 15th October for Teaching Staff CPD on Ofsted areas for improvement focused on the Embedding Formative Assessment programme (Y11 students to arrive at normal time for their GCSE Maths Mock exam at 8.45am)
• Diwali is on Monday 20th October with Sixth Form students in Year 12 and 13 learning from home due to the extent of staff absence for religious observance.
• We will break up for the October half-term holidays at 3.15pm on Friday 24th October, returning to school at 8.40am on Monday 3rd November.

May I once again wish you and your family good health and fortune over the coming days and weeks, and send advance best wishes to all of our families who will be celebrating Diwali/Bandi Chorr Divas later in October.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Knox
Principal
 

Our Ref: DK/jh/gltr/Sept 25    

2nd September 2025

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your family are well and that it has been a good summer break for all. I’m very pleased to write to you at the start of this school year, and in this slightly longer letter than normal I’ll provide some key reminders on the start of term along with other important details for the month ahead.

In this letter we will cover the following in more detail:

• Update on the 2025 GCSE/A Level results 
• Reminder: Arrangements for the start of term - Wednesday 3rd / Thursday 4th September
• Reminder: Changes to Catering prices for 2025-26
• Reminder: Community support - Preloved uniform
• Key dates for the Autumn term: Meet the Tutor Afternoon and Y6/Sixth Form Open Evenings
• Head of Year updates 2025-26
• Appendix = Key dates for Parents/Carers 2025-26

There have once again been some very pleasing results for students and the school as a whole over the summer with the A Level/Level 3 qualifications and GCSE. Whilst DfE Performance Measure information isn’t available until later in the Autumn term for GCSE exams and the Spring Term for A Levels/Level 3 exams, we’re pleased to report that there have been a number of improvements on results from 2024 and again in comparison with the last set of exam results before the pandemic in 2019. 

Most importantly, there were lots of happy students with the grades they needed to secure places on courses or with employers. You may have seen information about the results in the local media, but we’re delighted to confirm that two of our Year 13 leavers will also be reading Medicine at the University of Birmingham and Aston University. This is a major achievement, the latest in a line of Holyhead students to gain a place on a Medicine degree and something that all of us in the school community should take great pride in!

Arrangements for the start of term: A staggered return on Wed 3rd / Thurs 4th Sept

A reminder that following on from the Staff CPD days we will be bringing students back to school using a staggered approach from Wednesday 3rd September to Thursday 4th September. This will ensure all year groups have an extended Tutor period before they begin normal lessons on Thursday 4th September.

Wednesday 3rd September: Y7/12 only from 11:30am
Students in Years 7 and Year 12 will arrive at 11:30am for an induction day with their Form Tutors.

Thursday 4th September: All students will arrive for 8.40am

• Years 8-11 and Year 13 students arrive for an 8:40am start with Tutor time and a return assembly.
• Students in Year 7/12 will also arrive for an 8.40am start with an extended Tutor period.
• All students will have normal timetabled lessons from Period 2 at 10:40am after break time.

Reminder: Changes to catering prices from September 2025
As was reported in the news over the summer, food costs unfortunately continue to rise, impacting inflation. As in previous years, we’ve carefully reviewed the situation to minimise the impact on meal prices.

Due to supplier costs and inflation, we’re unable to freeze all prices for next year. From 3rd September 2025, the meal deal will increase from £2.65 to £2.75 per day. However, many other items will remain unchanged. We’re taking a targeted approach, avoiding increases on healthier options where possible.

Our prices remain lower than other schools in the Trust and are benchmarked locally. If costs fall, we’ll reflect this in future pricing. Our Breakfast Club provision remains free and available to all from 8:15am, so please encourage your child to arrive early and make use of the option for a positive start to the day!

Preloved uniform - can you help by donating?
As we get ready to return after the summer holidays, it’s a good time to remind about our Preloved Uniform system which is designed to support families in the school community. If your child has any items of school uniform that they have outgrown or you are going to replace, please could you donate it to the school and it can be dry cleaned ready for a new owner. The generosity of our families continues to help us to support others so if you do have any donations to make, these can be handed in to the School Reception or students can give them to their Form Tutor. 

The items that can be donated are blazers, ties, black jumpers, black trousers, black skirts, white school shirts or blouses and PE kit items. Thank you again for your continued generosity and support towards others!

Parental Engagement: Meet the Tutor Afternoon - Wednesday 22nd October
Following on from last year, we will be increasing opportunities for parents and carers to have a more active involvement in the life of the school. Having reviewed feedback from parents and staff alike, we have taken the decision to move away from the individual year group Parental Information evenings that we have run for the last 3 years to an afternoon where all parents are able to have an appointment with their child’s Form Tutor in October.

The ‘Meet the Tutor’ afternoon will involve an opportunity to meet your child’s Form Tutor for a 5 minute appointment to discuss how they have settled in at the start of the year as well as to continue to build this important relationship.

Key dates for September/October: Early finishes for Y6 and Sixth Form Open Evenings

On Thursday 25th September we will be having our Y6 Open Evening from 5.30 - 7.30pm, a vitally important event for the community with many families deciding where to send their children to secondary school. 

As in previous years we have finished earlier in the day to enable staff to set up for the evening, and we will be doing so again this year.  Students will leave at 2:30pm on Thursday 25th September, with additional homework set by Period 4 lesson teachers. With a large number of students and staff involved late into the evening we will be having a delayed start to school on Friday 26th September, with students arriving by 10.25am ready for a Period 2 start.

We will follow the exact same arrangements on Thursday 2nd October which is our Sixth Form Open Evening with a delayed start again at 10:25am on Friday 3rd October.

Head of Year updates 2025-26
With Ms Jeffers returning from maternity leave, we have made some changes to Heads of Year for the upcoming year. Ms Jeffers will return to working with Year 10 who she was Head of Year for in Y7/8, and this in turn means that Mr Cain will be moving back to work with Year 11 (who he worked with in Y9) and will be supported by Miss Garawal who stepped up as maternity cover to look after the year group in 2024-25. The Meet The Tutor afternoon will be a great opportunity for parents to get to know your child’s new Head of Year, and you can be assured that they are in excellent hands!

A reminder of the Heads of Year and Year Group Vice Principals is below:

As ever I am extremely grateful for your time and support in reading this letter, and look forward to the return of the students later this week.  May I wish you and your family good health and fortune over the coming days and weeks.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Knox
Principal