Principal’s Update
Published: Fri 30 January 2026Dear Parent/Carers,
Students have made a strong start to 2026, particularly our sixth form students, who have worked hard to complete their UCAS applications and who are now receiving offers to an exciting range of courses.
The Spring assessment timetable will be available on our website from Monday 2nd February. Please take time and go through this so students are fully prepared for their mock exams and assessments which will begin immediately after half term.
Observing Ramadan
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of 18 February 2026. We recognise that many of our Muslim students may observe fasting during this period, leading up to the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
If your child will be fasting during Ramadan (19 February to 20 March 2026), please complete the form available on My Child At School (MCAS) so that we can organise lunchtime efficiently. Thank you to all parents and carers who have already done this.
Additional Studies
Additional Studies sessions have resumed for all students. Please note the finish times:
· Years 9, 10 and 11 finish at 4:30pm on Tuesdays
· Years 7, 8 and 11 finish at 4:30pm on Wednesdays
Attendance is mandatory for all students. These sessions are especially important for Year 11 students, as they support their exam preparation.
Work-Related Learning Trips & Events:
We pride ourselves on the rich range of opportunities we provide for students which let them know about possible careers and show them the world of work. In just the last two weeks, the following have taken place:
- Year 11 Geography students took a field trip to the Essex coast at as part of their studies.
- Year 10 students attended an Insight Day at Snapchat HQ and learnt about roles within the company, met with the staff from Advertising and Trust & Safety teams and created their own Snap lens.
- Guest speakers from Morgan Stanley and BlackRock visited the school to speak with our sixth form students about career pathways, the workplace, and accessing different industries.
- Year 9 students visited The London College of Fashion to learn about sustainable fashion practices.
Next week, students in Year 8 & 9 will be involved in online careers coaching sessions with employers so that they can begin to think about where their education might take them.
UKMT Maths Challenge
Over 150 year 9, 10 and 11 students took part in the UKMT maths challenge this week, challenging themselves to solve some tricky maths problems and see how they measure up against their peers nationally and internationally. We look forward to receiving the results to see how many bronze, silver and gold certificates they achieved.
Parent Consultation:
Please see here a letter from the Deputy Mayor for Children’s Services and Young People, Deputy Mayor Bramble, inviting parents and carers to an online livestream session on the Council’s education priorities and the development of the Hackney Education Alternative Learning Service (HEALs). As Consultant Headteacher for SEND at Hackney Education, I have been working with the team there to develop this service and we are very keen to get your feedback and input.
Dates for your diary:
Monday 2nd February 2026 –student principal interviews
Wednesday 11th February 2026 – Ramadan sign up deadline
Thursday 12th February 2026 – Sixth form external applicant deadline