The first full week of the academic year is complete. I continue to be really impressed with the start to the new academic year that the overwhelming majority of students have made. They have certainly hit the ground running and are showing a really positive attitude to learning in their lessons. It is a real pleasure to walk around the school and to visit classrooms to see the calm and purposeful environment that is evident.

We have had an excellent week in terms of attendance, with data for Severn Vale running well above the national average. It is really encouraging to see attendance running at such high levels, and it would be fantastic to see this sustained across the term and the academic year. We know high levels of attendance provide a great foundation for academic success. We also know that high attendance is good for socialisation and wellbeing. Thank you for your support in ensuring your child attends every day they can.

At Severn Vale, we place great value on enrichment across the school. We are working hard to expand our provision to develop a whole-school Enrichment Programme. This week has seen the launch of some of our more traditional clubs, alongside several new opportunities that have evolved from student feedback and staff enthusiasm for offering exciting experiences. Next week, details of the wide range of enrichment opportunities available at lunchtime and after school will be shared with students and parents. Please encourage your child to attend and take full advantage of the fantastic enrichment opportunities on offer.

I was delighted to hear about further Judo success for Year 10 student Maddison Troke. She recently competed in the English Closed Championship in London. Maddison won 6 out of her 7 fights, gaining herself a well-earned bronze medal and automatic selection to train with the English national squad. This also means she will be offered the opportunity to travel abroad with the England team to take part in international competitions throughout the next year. What an amazing effort Maddison.

On Thursday 17 September we will be holding our Open Evening for students looking to join the school in September 2027. The evening will run from 6.00 – 8.00pm. I am proud of our school and believe we have a compelling offer for prospective parents and students. The standout feature of the event is having so many of our students  helping out; last year this was over ¼ of the student body! Visitors always comment on what a wonderful job they  do,  and I know that will be the case once again this year. The details of how you give consent to your child  helping out on the evening have been sent separately. 

As always, I end with my weekly reminder about Free School Meals eligibility. From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, eligibility is being expanded to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. This widens the scope of eligibility and means many more families should now qualify. Please do check the updated information, which can also be found here, to see if that includes you.  

I do hope you have a great weekend.  

Regards  

Richard Johnson 

Headteacher