23 May 2025
Dear parents and carers,
As we reach the end of another busy half term, I would like to offer my congratulations and encouragement to our Year 11 students now roughly halfway through their exam series, and to our Year 2 company members in the SPACE as they tie up the last pieces of their final assessment. Everyone at Monkton Wood is exceptionally proud of the hard work and commitment shown by our senior students and wishes them well for their last few weeks of testing.
In this letter:
· Outdoor and Adventurous Education – Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh
· Key dates for the term ahead
· Ofsted
Outdoor and Adventurous Education
It has been a terrific term for the Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award students, who have been practicing their camp craft skills in school and then completing their practice expedition over the last weekend. We received so much complimentary feedback from members of the public sharing campgrounds and hiking trails about the behaviour and attitudes of our students. We are also grateful to the thirteen members of Monkton Wood staff who volunteered to accompany groups over the weekend. Please do see our social media accounts on Facebook and X to see the photographs.
Two weekends ago, our Year 10 Ten Tors Team completed the famously grueling Ten Tors Challenge, crossing the finish line in coloured hats and matching tutus. We are immensely proud of this exceptional achievement and grateful to the staff who have supported our team on a comprehensive and challenging training schedule.
Key Dates for the Term Ahead
· The first day back after the half term break is Monday 02 June 2025. We are looking forward to welcoming all students back at 8.45am as usual.
· Year 10 parents’ evening is on Thursday 12 June between 4.00 and 7.00pm.
· The week commencing 30 June 2025 is work experience week for Year 10, as well as Transition Week for our new Year 7 starters.
· The academy will be closed to students on Friday 04 July and Monday 07 July, for our Summer Conference and final INSET staff training days of the year.
· We are hoping for fine weather for our planned Sports Day on 11 July 2025.
· The last day of the school year is Tuesday 22 July 2025. (Please note that this is one day earlier than some other local schools). We anticipate closing slightly early on this last day and will confirm arrangements a little nearer to the time.
Ofsted
You will be aware that we were inspected by a team of three Ofsted inspectors on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This inspection was an ‘ungraded’ inspection under Section 8 of the Education Act 2005. The inspection team spoke very highly of the approximately 125 students that they met with over their two days with us, saying that they were “universally polite and positive participants” in the process, speaking with confidence and clarity about their experiences in school. As it was an ungraded inspection, we will not receive a full written report. However, we will receive an outcome letter within the next month or so and are looking forward to sharing it with you.
Wishing all our students and families a restful and relaxing half-term break.
Yours faithfully,
Hannah Jones
Principal
