It has been another busy week in school which included our Year 7 Tutor parent evening. This is an opportunity for parents to come into school, meet their child’s tutor and to discuss the start to the academic year. I have been very impressed by our new Year 7s and how well they have settled into life at Severn Vale School. It was pleasing to speak to parents and hear from them how successful they feel the start to the year has been.  

This week also saw the first visit to the Slimbridge Wetland Centre as part of the For the Love of Nature project.  Organised by the WWT, a small group of Year 9 and 10 students spent the day exploring the wetlands, observing wildlife and taking part in a range of creative workshops. The experience gave students the opportunity to connect with nature, develop new creative skills and gather first-hand inspiration for their own artistic work. The students gained so much from the day, building their creativity and confidence through a variety of engaging activities. It was fantastic to see them fully involved, embracing new experiences and stepping outside their comfort zones. The enthusiasm and positivity shown throughout the visit were wonderful to see. We are excited to see their work continue to develop over the remaining project visits.

Last weekend 93 pupils and 12 staff headed down to Westward Ho for our annual residential weekend at Skern Lodge. The students took part in a variety of activities: surfing, rafting, high ropes, climbing, tunnels, archery, pool Olympics and a night walk, where we saw an incredible sunset, some curious bats and lots of sheep. It was a delight to watch our young people overcome fears, support each other and have fun together. Highlights included those who managed to stand up surfing, slides at rafting, making the Leap of Faith at high ropes, fastest up the climbing tower…..blindfolded(!!) and Mr Tudor politely pushing Mr Higgs into the river.  If you would like to be a part of next year’s trip, the dates are Fri 24 -Sun 26 Sept 2027. We will advertise the trip in January 2027, so keep an eye out for the emails.

Next Thursday lunchtime will see Mr Brown, Mr Constable and George Ashworth (Year 9) going head-to-head on the rowing machines over a gruelling 2km challenge! This fantastic event is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Mr Brown is extremely confident, Mr Constable is quietly going about his business, and George rows for Gloucester Rowing Club, so I know who I am putting my money on! As part of the event, we will be raising money for a charity that is very close to our hearts, Meningitis Now.  If you are able to, please consider making a donation to this wonderful charity, which raises vital awareness of meningitis and provides invaluable support to individuals and families during incredibly difficult times. To do that, click here. 

Our girls U16 football team played at home versus The Crypt this week in the first round of the ESFA Cup. A great team performance saw the girls earn a convincing 5-2. The girls definitely grew into the game with some excellent second half goals. Players of the match went to Lily for her attacking and Scarlett for her excellent defending. 

As always, I end with my weekly reminder about Free School Meals eligibility. From the 2026 - 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