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