Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your family are well as we move towards the half-term holidays at the end of next week. The focus of February’s update letter includes information on:

• Standards and expectations reminders: Mobile phones, headphones and uniform

• February half-term revision sessions for Y11/13

• Y9 Subject Parents’ Evening and GCSE Options information

• Safeguarding in the community: Soho Safe Haven Project

• Ramadan at Holyhead: Advance information

Key upcoming dates and events in February

• Year 9 Subject Parents’ Evening (plus Options Information talks) is on Thursday 12th February from 4-7pm. 

• Holyhead Sixth Form external interviews begin from Monday 9th February.

• We break up for the February half-term on Friday 13th February at 3.15pm and return to school again on Monday 23rd February at 8.40am.

• Y11/13 Half-Term Revision sessions will take place in school from Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th February.

Standards and expectations: Mobile phones, headphones and uniform

The use of mobile phones in school has been shown to negatively affect learning and impact on student wellbeing, and the Department for Education supports restrictions on their use.  Holyhead, like many schools nationally, operates a full ban on mobile phone use during the school day.  While we understand that many parents want their child to carry a phone for emergencies, phones must remain out of sight and switched off at all times on the school site.  If a phone is seen or used, it will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day.

Students are also not allowed to wear headphones or earphones.  These must be kept in pockets or bags from arrival in the morning until leaving in the afternoon.  Any headphones or earphones seen will also be confiscated.

If your child needs to contact you in an emergency, they can do so through a school phone after speaking to a member of staff.  If you need to reach your child during the day, please call the school reception, and their Head of Year or another staff member will pass on the message.  We regularly remind students of these expectations to help them take responsibility for their behaviour and to support a positive learning environment for everyone.

Maintaining high uniform standards is another important part of creating such a learning environment at Holyhead. We ask for your support in ensuring your child arrives each day in full, correct uniform, including appropriate footwear and any required equipment.  If students arrive wearing incorrect uniform without a valid reason, they may be asked to borrow items or parents may be contacted.  These expectations help all students present themselves well and contribute to a calm and purposeful school atmosphere.

We would greatly appreciate your support in helping us to reinforce these messages with your children.

February half-term Revision sessions: Year 11 and Year 13

We will be running a programme of revision and coursework sessions over the half-term holidays for Year 11 and 13 students from Monday 16th - Tuesday 17th February.  Students involved will receive consent letters and we ask that these are signed by parents/carers and returned by students before we break up for half-term. 

Year 9 GCSE Options: Supporting students and parents/carers 

At this point in the school year we begin the process of Year 9 students selecting their GCSE options subjects that they will study in Year 10 and 11.  This will involve providing a range of information and guidance to make well informed decisions ahead of the deadline which comes at the end of the Spring term.  This information will involve:

• A GCSE Options launch assembly for students.

• GCSE style ‘taster’ lessons in subjects during the week beginning Monday 2nd March.

• A GCSE Options Information presentation for parents/carers on Thursday 12th February during the Y9 Subject Parents’ Evening where parents/carers will be able to book a slot for a 20 minute presentation on the GCSE Options process from Mrs Denny and Mr Bowen followed by the opportunity to ask questions.  The presentations will take place hourly in the Library at 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. 

• The 2026 GCSE Options handbook which includes key information on all of the subjects available.

Attendance to the Year 9 Subject Parents’ Evening is of immense importance as part of this process as well as having the opportunity to speak directly to teachers about your child’s progress through the year so far.

Safeguarding support in the community: Soho Safe Haven Project

As part of our work with West Midlands Police, we want to ensure all families are aware of the Soho Safe Haven Project.  This initiative, run with local businesses along Soho Road, aims to help students feel safer when travelling to and from school.  Any shop or business displaying the Soho Safe Haven poster has committed to offering a safe space to students who feel unsafe, and to helping them contact school, parents, or the police if needed.  We will also be sharing this information with students so they know where to go for support on their journey if it is ever needed.

Ramadan at Holyhead: Advance information on plans ahead of the holy month

The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin during February half-term, and highlights the importance of family, charity, empathy and gratitude.  Our team is again working hard to provide very clear guidance on how observance of all aspects of Ramadan by students can be balanced alongside learning and upholding high expectations when in school, as well as balancing revision needs.

Ramadan continues through the second half-term, and we will write to all families about our plans and communication on how we will operate the school on the day of Eid al-Fitr which is currently forecast to take place around Thursday 19th/Friday 20th March, and as has been the case in previous years there will likely be the need for two year groups to be educated remotely at home as a result of the high number of staff members who would also be observing this very special day. 

As ever, I thank you for your time in reading this letter and wish you and your family good health and fortune for the weeks ahead, including a peaceful half-term to come.

Yours faithfully,

Mr D Knox
Principal