This week we hosted Kate Hilpern from the Good School’s Guide and once fully edited, I will share with you her final piece on the school. Kate spent time talking with parents, students and myself during her time with us and has produced a comprehensive and marketable document on our school. Whilst we await the final version, here is her closing summary:
‘A school on a journey and under dynamic new leadership. Long known for its family feel and nurturing ethos, this community school is now improving in just about every other way imaginable – clubs, trips, teaching and learning, to name a few. ‘These are exciting times,’ said a parent.’
Always seeking external validation for the work we are undertaking, Tuesday 25th sees our first Peer Review at the school. We have a team of 4 well-respected colleagues joining us from the Deputy CEO of the River Learning Trust, the CEO of the Ridgeway Education Trust, the Headteacher of Didcot Girls School and our own Support and Challenge Partner. Each have been given a key strand of the school life to focus on which will help guide and inform our future school development plans. A hugely exciting day for us all.
Y10 Work Experience
Next week, our Y10 cohort go out on their work experience and between them, have managed to access a wide and varied range of employers. From working with estate agents and engineers, in primary schools and with plumbers, with solicitors and in sports, we hope that wherever their placement they will gain from their experiences and learn more about the sort of future employment that will most suit them. We wish them every success and as staff, look forward to visiting as many of them as we are able to!
Mr J Morland, Assistant Headteacher
Y10 Head Student Interviews
It has been a real highlight of this past week to have been involved in interviewing our Y10 students who have applied to be Head Students for the year ahead. Of 39 Student Leaders, we had 19 video applications for the role of Head Student and after much discussion, made a shortlist of 12 of them to take through to the final stage. Mrs Lindley, Mr Thomas and myself have been hugely impressed by the ways in which they have presented their ideas and the level of ambition that they are already showing in stepping up to seek more responsibility. After what will inevitably be another hugely difficult decision, we hope to be able to announce the names of our Head Students when the Y10 cohort return from their week experience in the week after next.
Mr J Morland, Assistant Headteacher
Last Day – Early Closure
Please be mindful that school will be closing at 12:20pm, Friday 19th July. The bus companies have been made aware and the majority of the bus companies can do the early pick up, however, the Stagecoach cannot accommodate an early run, therefore, for the families of students who use the Stagecoach service, please can you make arrangements to collect your child from school. Parents/carers of children who use the shared bus, a separate letter will be sent to you via ParentMail. There will also be an early break/lunch giving your child an opportunity to have a meal before they go home.
Our termly newsletter is here to ensure you always have great book recommendations. We’re eager to hear about what you're currently reading and would love your suggestions for future editions. Share your ideas with any staff member or the English Department. Happy reading!
We are excited to share that over this weekend, a dedicated team of staff from Cirencester Kingshill School will be taking on the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge! This challenging event is not just about the physical effort but also about raising funds for a cause close to our hearts—The Brain Tumour Charity.
The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading organization dedicated to brain tumour research and support. Their work is crucial in saving and improving lives, finding new treatments, and providing the highest level of support for those affected. They are committed to driving urgent change and making a real difference, because when someone is diagnosed with a brain tumour, a cure cannot wait.
We invite you to support our incredible staff by supporting them on the sidelines or by making a donation, no matter how small, to help us reach our fundraising goal. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated by the entire school community. To donate, please click here.
Thank you for your support and encouragement as we take on this challenge for a worthy cause.
Y10 Bristol Photography
On Wednesday 5th June we took 32 Year 10 GCSE Photography students to Bristol.
The Aim of the trip was to enable students to take photographs in response to one of the three design briefs set as their Mock Exam. The themes were, Groups, Places and Spaces and Fragmentation.
An added bonus to our trip was the opportunity to see filming in progress on Park Street which appeared to be a period Drama – there was speculation that it was the new Hercule Poirot film – it was very exciting, we saw several vintage cars and actors dressed in period costume along with an extensive film crew.
We had a very busy day starting down at the docks working our way up to the cathedral and Park Street. We stopped for lunch at St Nicholas Market and then headed onto Nelson Street and then Stokes Croft to see a wide range of impressive graffiti including an early Banksy. We finished off at Cabot Circus to photograph the interesting architecture in glorious sunshine.
Primary School Visit
On Tuesday, 18th June, Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Stone had the pleasure of visiting Cirencester Primary School. During their visit, they engaged two Year 6 classes with an exciting and interactive lesson on tessellations. The students enthusiastically participated, exploring the fascinating patterns and mathematical concepts behind tessellations.
In addition to the lesson, Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Stone took the time to address any questions the students had about transitioning to Kingshill School in September. They provided valuable insights and reassurances to help ease any concerns and build excitement for the upcoming school year. Overall, the visit was a wonderful opportunity to connect with future students and make their introduction to Kingshill School a positive and memorable experience.
Matilda
A reminder to get your tickets for our school production of Matilda. Click here to book your tickets. You won’t want to miss it!
U15 County Cricket Cup
Our U15 cricket team, supported by Mr Thomas, enjoyed an exciting run in this season’s County Cricket Cup competition. They beat Chipping Campden School comprehensively in Round 1, with our players showing superb responsibility in the field. They proceeded to beat Newent School in the Quarter Final, winning by 22 runs. Unfortunately, their winning streak ended in the Semi Final against Sir Thomas Rich’s School. Our players should take great pride in their fielding in the extremely wet and windy conditions, but unfortunately, they faced excellent bowling and weren’t able to chase down the opposing team’s total of 122 runs. Our focus now turns to retaining our unbeaten District record that stretches for 3 years.
South-West School Inter Counties Athletics Championships
It was a very long and eventful day at the South-West School Inter-Counties Athletic Championships held on 15th June. Our dedicated team left Exeter, filled with pride and excitement over the fantastic performances of our athletes, Mary and Harry.
Mary gave an outstanding performance, competing with incredible determination and achieving a new personal best of 12.16 meters in her event. This remarkable effort earned her second place in the South-West region, and we are thrilled to announce that Mary has qualified for the Nationals. Her hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and we couldn’t be more proud.
Harry also competed with 100% effort, demonstrating his commitment and athletic prowess. He completed the 1500m in 4 minutes and 32.91 seconds. Well done!
Year 9 District Rounders Tournament
The summer term has delivered some very unseasonable weather which has hampered many of our planned summer fixtures. Our Year 9 Rounders team were, therefore, very excited to have the opportunity to represent Kingshill in the District Rounders tournament this week. There was some excellent batting and fielding on show throughout the afternoon from all teams and although our girls were not able to come away with a winning title, Mrs Hussey was pleased to be able to give them the opportunity to finally show off the skills they have been developing in both lessons and at club this past term. Well done to all the girls who played!
District Athletics Competition
On Tuesday 18th June, Mr Patching, Miss Brown, Mrs See and Mrs Jones took 39 pupils in Years 7-10 to the annual District Athletics competition at the Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham. Our athletes competed against those from 12 other schools in the district and produced some fantastic individual and team results. The PE staff who supported them throughout the day were extremely proud of the Sporting Spirit and Kingshill STEPs abundantly on show. Behaviour from all our students was exemplary, the support and encouragement they showed each other across all the year groups was a joy to watch. Congratulations to every single one of these amazing students for the commitment shown to the team and for representing Kingshill School with such maturity and confidence.
Parent Trustee Vacancy – Register Your Interest
This is a reminder to register your interest in becoming a parent trustee. Make a difference in our school community by sharing your skills, insights, and passion to help shape the greater futures of our Kingshill School students. Click here to learn more about the role of a parent trustee. Register by emailing atalevinukuleka@cirencesterkingshill.gloucs.sch.uk.
Pre-Loved Uniform Sale
Don't miss our final pre-loved uniform sale of the school year! Join us on 27th June from 4:30 to 5:30pm to find great deals on gently used uniforms. It's the perfect opportunity to stock up for the next school year.
Friends of Kingshill would appreciate any help with either set up or during the sale. If you can assist during this time, please sign up by clicking here.
See you there!
Closing Remarks
Over the last few weeks, I have spent time meeting and greeting prospective parents in our local primary schools. I am filled with great pride as I hear repeated back to me the wonderful Good News stories about our brilliant students and staff. I cannot thank the staff enough for embracing our adventure this year or the students for being such superb ambassadors. A day spent at Cirencester Kingshill always raises a smile.
Have a fabulous weekend and we wish our Y10 students the very best as they embark on their work experience adventure next week.
