25th October 2024

Dear Parent/Carer

I hope you and your family are well. This end-of-half-term letter provides an update on:

• Important Mock Exams for Years 11 and 13 at the start of the next half-term.
• A key cultural celebration for the school community with Diwali/Bandi Chhor Divas taking place during the half-term break. 

We have also included the letter from Chief Superintendent Richard North of West Midlands Police with advice for parents and students on safety and expectations in the community, especially relevant as we move into the darker nights of November with the clocks going back this weekend.

Y11/13 Autumn Mock Exams: Monday 4th - Friday 15th November

The start of November sees a critical set of Mock Exams for Y11/13 students in preparation for their external exams later in the year. Students will be 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.

Diwali/Bandi Chorr Divas at Holyhead

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 Thursday 31st October and                     Friday 1st November, it marks the beginning of a new year.

There will be a number of events and activities open to all students in the week after half-term, including performances from our fantastic student group Holyhead Di Shaan who did the school proud at the Diwali Mela at Victoria Park on Sunday 20th October., and a special themed lunch on Thursday 7th November.

Key upcoming events/dates coming up in November

• Year 11 and Year 13 Mock Exams take place from Monday 4th - Friday 15th November.
• School is closed to students on Friday 22nd November as it is a Central Region Schools Trust CPD day.

I send wishes of joy and happiness from everyone at Holyhead to all families who will be celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas on Thursday 31st October / Friday 1st November. 

Thank you again for reading this letter and wish you and your families well over the half-term break. If you read on further you will find a joint letter on safety and expectations from West Midlands Police and Principals of all schools to be sent to parents at this time of year.

I will write to you again with the November monthly update letter on our return to school on Monday 4th November.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Knox
Principal

Safety Reminders from West Midlands Police

With the darker nights fast approaching, students must be reminded what we, as a school community, expect of them in terms of behaviour. 

Parents/carers and students should already be aware that as part of our safeguarding arrangements, the school has a two-way information-sharing agreement with West Midlands Police, and we are active members of the local Police & Schools Panel.  This joint approach helps us to intervene early to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour involving our students and provide support and up-to-date safety messages.

In partnership with the police, we would also like to remind our students about the following: -

Anti-social behaviour:
Halloween can be a scary time for people who don’t like surprises or callers at their door. Think about how your actions and behaviour affect others; elderly and vulnerable people may be frightened by ‘trick or treat’ – only approach houses that have been decorated for the occasion, as they are potentially inviting callers to the door.

Personal Safety:

• Be aware of your surroundings, take care of friends and family members and keep valuables (such as smartphones/watches/headphones) out of public view whenever possible.
   
• For Apple devices parents/carers can activate ‘Find My’ which includes Activation Lock – A feature that is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if it’s ever lost or stolen. Activation Lock turns on automatically when you turn on ‘Find My’ on your device – more details on this feature are available here: Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad - Apple Support - Google has ‘ Find my Device’ & Android manufacturers also offer similar location apps (Samsung have ‘Find’ for example) these can be found on the Google ‘Play store’.
   
• Don’t drink alcohol, or take illegal drugs or unknown substances; they can have a big impact on your health and safety, behaviour, and your ability to do well at school and enjoy other interests and activities. They can also be addictive, have unpredictable side effects and could even have fatal consequences - Information is available at www.talktofrank.com

Social Media:
Don’t allow your use of social media to put you at risk of grooming, exploitation, or regret in future.  Use social media positively and avoid being negative about anyone online as comments/actions may be traced back to you and you will be held accountable.

Weapons in public places:
Carrying a knife or other weapon will get you a criminal record which can have life-long effects on travel and job prospects.  Those who carry knives are also much more likely to be injured by them. Don’t take BB Guns, Gel Blasters/Guns, or any other real-looking toy guns into public spaces as these can cause alarm to the public - which could receive a Police Firearms response.

Off-road bikes: 
These can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission. Don’t risk your life and prospects illegally riding these on the road.

E-Scooters:
In the UK, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a provisional or full driving licence to ride a hire E-scooters. A privately owned e-scooter can only be used in a private place with the landowner’s permission; they are illegal to use on roads or public places.

Crossing the road:
It’s important to take care of how we cross the road, especially when so many young people wear Airpods or similar earphones and use phones. Please be aware of your surroundings and use available crossings to ensure your safety when crossing busy roads.

Remember the company you keep:
If your friend breaks the law, your association with that person may have legal consequences for you, which could be very serious – even if you weren’t the one directly responsible.

If a student is in a position where they need help, they should talk to an adult they trust.  Crimes can be reported directly to the police via 101; alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org. If a crime is taking place or a life is in danger, call 999 immediately.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Knox                                                 Richard North
Principal                                                   Chief Superintendent
                                                                   Birmingham Local Policing Area
                                                                   West Midlands Police