Message from the Headteacher, Ms A Sharma:
As we come to the end of another extraordinary academic year, I reflect back with immense pride. After six years as the Headteacher of Villiers High School, it is with a heavy heart that I write my final bulletin message to you. There is much that I shall miss about this school but most of all, my interactions with the fantastic students. We can all be really proud of Villiers High School, not only for what has been achieved but also how we have supported one another through the ongoing challenges. We have worked together to ensure that we focus on doing everything possible to maintain the highest standards of education, both academically and for your child’s personal development too. It has been a real joy to have served such a great community.
I wish all students the very best for their future and I hope you have a relaxing summer break.
Year 9 Trip to Paccar Scout Camp
Year 9 students visited the Paccar Scout Camp, as their end of year reward trip.
Gurdwara visit
Students from Year 8 R.E. with Ms Fida visited the local Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha – Southall. They observed the prayer hall where they saw the Guru Granth Sahib being read by the Granthi and experienced the Langar, a free kitchen where vegetarian food is prepared and served.
Books for teens
Links to the best books for teens:
https://imaginationsoup.net/summer-reading-list-for-kids/
https://www.readbrightly.com/summer-books-for-growing-readers/
https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201219/libraries/3204/summer_reading_challenge_2023
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/100-books-of-summer-for-teens-ya/_/N-2qxg
Theatre trip
The Year 10 GCSE cohort paid their last visit of the year to the theatre to see the phenomenal return of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman. This is the first performance of the play in twenty years and the first run of the show in the West End. The students also got a chance to experience some free time around Leicester Square and even saw the preparations being made for the new Barbie film. We look forward to many more trips next academic year.
Sixth form
All parents of sixth form students for 2023 – 24 are invited to the following Parents’ Evening in September. Please add this date to your diary. More details to follow nearer the time.
DT- career options
Year 8 students got the opportunity to explore careers in creative fields through workshops catered to introduce the students to the exciting world of Design and Technology. Through interactive activities, discussions and hands-on projects, students gained a deeper understanding of various careers, discovered their interests, and explored the skills required for success in food technology, graphic design and the fashion industry. The workshops aimed to inspire and empower young minds to consider future pathways in Design and Technology. Thank you to Bulletproof, University of West Ealing and Julia Om’Lamb for making the time to work with our students.
Nakuru, Kenya trip
Please enjoy watching this 10-minute video created by Anshwal 12L documenting our 6th form students trip to Nakuru, Kenya.
Maths workshop
The maths department held a workshop for thirty Year 5 North Primary School pupils. The workshop aimed to, among other things, nurture young minds. Pupils took part in various mathematical problem-solving tasks with a little help from our amazing Year 8 students; Azfer 8C, Janussa 8S, Nethra 8H, Nilavan 8H, Rithvik 8H, Yousef 8G and Zakaria 8G. Pupils had the opportunity to explore and learn about Traversability, the Euler path, Euler circuit and some mathematics behind the theories. They were taught how traversability can be applied to real-life scenarios.
The pupils participated with great enthusiasm, showed huge resilience and demonstrated a good understanding of some concepts, which may be quite challenging to young students of their age. They learnt that, ‘in life it is not about where things are, but what is important is how they are connected’. The session was a success, with pupils giving very positive feedback about their experience.
Debate Mate
Well done to the Debate Mate students for participating in the final of the Novice Debate Mate League at Imperial College London. They were all incredibly articulate with inventive ideas and should be really proud of themselves.
ReSET project by University College London
Please read the attached for details regarding the ReSET project.
DT competition winner
Year 10 work experience
Year 10 students recently experienced the world of work when they completed their Work Experience placements. This experience is important as it allows students to spend a period of time outside the classroom learning about a particular job or area of work, providing students with an invaluable insight into the world of work. Students are given the opportunity to develop and show evidence of vital skills, such as self-confidence, communication, independence and a variety of others, depending on the placement. It also helps students to form the outline of a future career path that they might like to consider or choose. More importantly, it helps to build a foundation relationship with a local employer and possibly make a lasting impression.
Students worked in a variety of settings, from accounting firms, hospital settings, retail, early years care and primary schools, opticians, law firms and pharmacies. They experienced a variety of different roles and responsibilities, from planning and delivering sports sessions, sorting invoices, visiting different construction sites, working in the office, speaking to and serving customers, and completing scans of customers eyes before their consultation.
When we contacted the placements the vast majority of them were exceptionally happy with how polite and hard working the students were. Feedback comments included:
“They are thriving in the work place, arriving on time, completing the tasks the manager has given them.”
“They have been amazing, very pro-active and helped with the children’s learning. I would have them in my class anytime.”
“They have been so impressive that they have been nominated for Worker of the Week.”
We are very proud at how brilliant they all were on their placements, for conducting themselves in an exemplary way and for representing Villiers High School in such a positive manner.
Science holiday homework
NHS- summer vaccination catch-up
As we approach schools breaking up for the summer, the NHS will be arranging summer catch-up session for students who have missed their vaccinations during term time. Please find the attached letter for more information. If you have any further questions, please contact your GP surgery or the number provided in the letter.
September start
All Year 7 and 12 students will be starting on Monday 4th September and need to be on site by 8.30am. All other year groups will be starting back Tuesday 5th September and will need to be in their tutor rooms by 8.30am, so must have entered the site well before this in full uniform having removed any non-uniform items and headphones. The new entrance gate in the mornings will be gate 6 on Villiers Road. All pupils who arrive after 8.27am will be sent to gate 2 (the main pedestrian gate on Boyd Avenue). FREE breakfast club for all pupils starts at 7.45am in the canteen. At the end of the day, Year 7 students only will leave by gate 3 (nearest to Southall Park) and other year groups will leave through gate 1. (Sixth form may leave through the turnstiles). Pupils are not permitted to walk through Southall Park for their own safety.
Equipment
It is expected that pupils will bring with them the following items of stationery on a daily basis:
Planners (provided on the first day); a reading book (which may be borrowed from the school library); a pencil case with stationery inside including: a blue/ black pen, a green pen, a pencil, a ruler, highlighters, a rubber, a sharpener, a compass, a protractor, a calculator, a glue stick, a water bottle (all pupils have received one with Villiers branding, but you may bring your own if you wish).
Uniform for September 2023
Over the Summer holidays, many of your families will be buying new items of uniform for you. We would strongly encourage you to check our school website’s “Key parental information” section and visit uniform to make sure that items you are purchasing are in line with our uniform policy. For example, we do not allow you to wear trainers, only black, polishable shoes. The school jumper is optional but the blazer is compulsory (NB you are able to buy a plain navy blue blazer and purchase a logo to sew or iron on). Long-sleeved t-shirts under short-sleeved shirts are also not acceptable. There is information on acceptable haircuts, jewellery and make-up too. We have sourced our providers to make sure that prices are affordable, competitive and give details on our website. If you have any questions, please see your Head of Year.
Guidebook
We have compiled a helpful guidebook for parents and students at Villiers, containing valuable information about external organisations that offer support and guidance. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Silva or Mr. M Abdulrahman (Parent Ambassadors ) via phone: 020 8813 8001, ext. 1016.
Summer activities
Places where kids eat free during the summer holidays
Ealing summer holidays activities and food (HAF) programme
Mobile phones
As of September, 2023 smart phones and headphones (including in-ear and AirPods) will not be allowed to be used on the school site by students from Year 7 – 11. Sixth formers will be allowed to use these items only in their dedicated areas (6D1 and 6D2) if given permission by the staff in there and not elsewhere on the school site. This is to support students with concentration, increasing opportunities to develop social skills, high quality play and oracy, as a method of avoiding cyber-bullying and to prevent loss or theft. If you wish your child to have a mobile phone with them on the way to or from school, this is fine. Non smart phones are often cheaper and more durable e.g. this example from Tesco. These phones should be switched off during the day and kept in bags. AirPods or headphones may be used on the way too and from school, but need to be put away before reaching the school gate. Should these items be seen (NB not necessarily in use) within the school gates, they will be confiscated and parents (not pupils) are welcome to collect them at the end of the week from 3.45pm. If the incident happens on a Friday, then the items may be collected the following Friday. If you wish to discuss this or have any further feedback, please contact crichards@villiers.ealing.sch.uk
Key Forthcoming Dates
Get in Touch
If you have any suggestions on how to improve the school further or any concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email: info@villiers.ealing.sch.uk