Message from the Headteacher, Mr C Richards:
Thank you to everyone who attended the year 11 parents’ evening this week. Hopefully families found it useful to discuss their child’s progress towards their terminal exams and have come away with good strategies to optimise their child’s success in partnership with the school. As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please do contact your child’s Head of Year. Our Year 11s are also looking forward to their mock interviews next week as part of our Careers Information Advice and Guidance programme.
Although we were due to run the CATs tests for year 7 this week, we have had to postpone them to early in the new year and dates will be shared with you in due course. A good deal of our year 11 Art & Photography mock exams have been completed this week and we are excited to see the finished work.
Looking further ahead, make sure you put our Winter Concert date in your diary (12th December at 5.30pm) and remember that your children will be leaving between 12.15 and 12.30pm 20th December (the last day of term) returning promptly for an 8.30 start 6th January in the new year.
Dates for your diary
| 11th December | Year 11 GCSE Food Mock NEA Year 12 Science Trip to LGC Laboratory Year 9 Brunel University STEM taster day Dr Bike (Free bike servicing all day) |
| 12th December | Winter music concert 5.30pm GCSE & A level Graphics Mock Exam → 13/12/24 (16/12 for A level) Year 12 History Trip to the British Museum Christmas Markets Trip to Paris Year 12 Business & Economics Trip to the Bank of England |
| 17th December | Y11 Eduqas Drama Conference Year 12/13 Trip to Winter Wonderland Year 7 Rewards Trip (3.30 – 6pm) |
| 18th December | Year 7 Pantomime Trip to Lyric Theatre Year 11 GCSE Food Mock NEA 2 |
| 20th December | Year 11 Psychology Trip to the Twist Museum End of term. KS3 Dismissed at 12.15pm; KS4 & 5 dismissed by 12.30pm |
| 6th January, 2025 | All return for the start of the new term. (In tutor rooms by 8.30am). |
| 7th January | Year 13 Mock Exams → 17th January |
| 9th January | Provisional date for HPV and Teenage Booster vaccinations (TBC) GCSE resit results |
| 10th January | PSHE: Online Safety for Y7 – 11 Year 11 Chemistry Drop-down day |
| 13th January | Year 10, 12 & 13 D&T Trip to the Design Museum |
| 14th January | Year 11B Geography Field Trip to Olympic Park |
| 15th January | Year 11C Geography Field Trip to Olympic Park |
| 16th January | Year 8 Parents’ Evening Spanish Trip to BFI |
| 22nd January | Challenge Partners Visit → 24th January |
| 24th January | India Trip → 1st February |
Other key dates for the year can be found on our website. Next year’s confirmed dates are also available now.
Year 8 Trip to the Natural History Museum – 27 November 2024
Year 8 students embarked on an exciting trip to the Natural History Museum to take part in a “Save the Planet” challenge at the end of last week. The day began with an opportunity to explore the museum’s awe-inspiring galleries, filled with fascinating exhibits and discoveries. For many students, this was their first visit to such a renowned and iconic institution, making it an unforgettable experience.
The workshop kicked off with an engaging presentation on the impact humans have on the planet. The presenter posed thought-provoking questions encouraging students to reflect on the kind of world they want to live in. This set the stage for the highlight of the workshop: a hands-on activity where students designed their ideal planet using Lego.
The task challenged students to think deeply and creatively, using teamwork, problem-solving skills, and innovation to plan and build their imagined ecosystems. It also encouraged them to embrace diversity and appreciate differing perspectives.
Working against the clock, students crafted imaginative and thoughtful planet ecosystems, each showcasing a wide range of brilliant ideas. The students impressed everyone with their confidence as they presented their models, explaining how their creations represented diverse and sustainable ecosystems.
The session concluded with a powerful discussion about how various industries and roles—scientists, engineers, construction workers, sustainable fashion designers, social media influencers, and policymakers—can collaborate to create a sustainable future. This inspiring message reinforced the importance of collective action in shaping a better planet.
The trip was a fantastic blend of learning, creativity, and inspiration, leaving students motivated to think critically about the world around them and their role in its future.
Citizens UK – West London Training
Mrs S Virdi, Head of Year 12 and Mrs S Malik, PSHE lead, along with some Year 12 students attended Citizens UK, West London introduction to Community Organising Training on Tuesday 3rd Dec 24, at Southall Community College.
This training was focused on how to have one to one conversations and how to network with others in the community. Organisation and listening skills were honed as well as learning how to join forces and make alliances to tackle issues affecting us in Southall.
PSHE Curriculum
KS4 and KS5 students attended a thought-provoking assembly this week on Healthy Relationships and Sexual Harassment.
The session highlighted the importance of mutual respect, consent, and effective communication in relationships. It also helped students understand how to recognise and address inappropriate behaviour, empowering them to make informed and positive choices.
Parents and carers are encouraged to continue these conversations at home to reinforce these essential messages.
- Success! Villiers School has won the Gold Award in the TfL Travel for Life school programme which promotes sustainable travel. Congratulations to everyone involved in the fantastic activities organised last year.
- Let’s Ride Southall – Dr Bike, a free bike repair service, is taking place at the school on Wednesday 11th December. Please bring your bikes to the bike sheds and leave them unlocked. The mechanics will carry out a service and minor repairs.
- School Grounds Litter Pick took place at lunchtime last Tuesday. A big thank you to all the 25 children who volunteered and collected 2.3kg of litter. They will get a motivation log for taking part in this.
- Good news! Villiers School has been selected for the Tesco Stronger Starts Grant Competition. Look out for it and VOTE at all the Tesco supermarkets in the area from mid-January. If we get the most votes, we win £1500 to install a fantastic new rain planter box in the school grounds.
- Get involved in the Jolly Christmas Jumper Swap on 7th December at Acton Market.
- The Eco Warriors Club is moving to lunchtime on Wednesdays in the meeting room in the O building (near welfare). The pupils are going to join forces with student leadership team and sixth formers to work on a project related to fast fashion while gaining wider skills such as presenting, collaborating, team building and project management. The project will be entered into Ealing Borough ‘Big Green Idea’ competition with the chance to win a £1000 prize for the school. Everyone is welcome to join the Eco-Warriors club.
- Acton Reduce and Recycle hub wants you to make a difference this Christmas by donating to help others. It’s on Saturday 7 December from 10 am to 3pm. This Christmas, give back and embrace sustainability with the Acton Market Reduce and Recycle Hub! Click Here
Southall – Your Town, Your Vote
Have a say in our local community and vote for your key priority for Southall. The priority with the most votes will receive a significant investment over the next twelve months, so it is important to have your say. Through the link, there are also chances to sign up for a range of volunteering opportunities so that you can support your local community too.
Managing Conflict – Online Parenting Workshop
Ealing Parenting Service will be running a 2 hour online workshop on Managing Conflict on Tuesday 10th December from 10am-12pm. The workshop will be run by Chris Kolade and will be held live via Microsoft Teams. The session is not pre-recorded and will not be available after the session.
Parents can register their attendance by sending an email to parentingserviceadmin@ealing.gov.uk with their full name, email and mobile number. The link to join will be sent a day before the workshop by email.
Kinship – Opportunities for Kinship Families at School
Ealing Family Support Network
- Young Ealing Foundation Parent Carer Champions– YEF Parent Carer Champions are parents who have participated in training to support in their own parenting journey and are ready to share helpful strategies and can connect families with a community of peer support. Parents can be referred directly for support and they will be matched with a mentor. There are many mentors who speak community languages. Parents will be offered a face to face meeting with their mentor who can offer a listening ear, support, and signposting. You can watch a video about the project here: Ealing Parent Carer Champion Network (short). A flyer with more details and how to refer is available on the Padlet here.
- FREE Digital Skills Courses– Learn My Way offer access to a huge range of online courses supporting people to become more digitally literate. Topics include: Using email; Safety and security online; Spending money online; Working with office programs; Employment and work and Managing your health online. Find out more at their website: Learn My Way | Develop Your Digital Skills
- Silent Disco for YP with Additional Needs– Ealing Mencap & the Youth Social Network are holding a FREE silent disco this Saturday 7th December for young people with additional needs. Click here for the flyer.
- Online CAMHS Workshops for Parents & Carers Link workers from West London NHS Trust in conjunction with the Education Skills and Development Group (ESDEG) are running an online session for parents and carers on How to Refer Your Child to CAMHS. The session will include activities, a Q&A on mental health and wellbeing and information on services in Ealing. The session is particularly targeted at Global Majority communities to try and help overcome potential barriers to seeking help. Click here for the flyer.
- Buttle Trust – Grants for Families– Buttle UK is a charity dedicated to helping children and young people in crisis in the UK: those living in financial hardship and dealing with multiple challenging social issues. They make grants directly to children and young people who are facing a range of complex issues. They are tailored to their particular needs, in order to prevent them from falling further into crisis and help them to transform their lives. The grants pay for a range of items and costs, many of which are those we would expect any child growing up in the UK to have, but which their parents or carers cannot afford. Examples could include: travel to school or college, IT equipment for education, clothing. To find out more and apply for a family in need visit the Buttle Trust Website.
- FREE Data SIMS from O2– Like a foodbank but for mobile data, the National Databank provides free mobile SIM cards for people who can’t access the internet. Families can go to any O2 Store and ask for the National Databank and they will be given a SIM card as well as help to set it up. Read more here: National Databank | Free Mobile Data, Minutes & Calls. There are O2 Stores in Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Harrow, Uxbridge and Hounslow. You can find the fill list here: Store locator | O2 UK | Find Your Nearest O2 Store
PE Extra Curricular Timetable
Please take a look at the timetable below offering extra curricular activities to all children.
Years 11 and 13 Interventions Timetable
Please find attached the schedule for our whole-school intervention sessions, which began this week and will continue until Thursday, December 19th.
You can check your child’s Google Classroom to see which sessions they have been invited to attend. We strongly encourage your child to participate in these sessions, as our teachers will be focusing on targeted topics and exam practice.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sustainability Survey for all Parents and Carers
Parents/carers, please spend 2 minutes completing this very short 6-question survey to help us understand what sustainability means to the school community. https://forms.office.com/e/A4FA236CFb
(We’ll be asking you again at the end of the Summer Term to see whether there have been any changes.)
Villiers Diner – Week 1 Menu ( Monday 9th Dec – Friday 13th Dec)
Christmas Lunch Menu- (12 Dec 2024)
EGFL – Ealing Grid For Learning
Kids go free at Trailfinders Rugby Club double header on Saturday 14 December 2024
Penalty Noice for Unauthorised absences
A reminder to families that following the new guidance around school attendance that came into effect from September, new absence fine rates and thresholds at which penalty notices can be considered are now in place. If a family take their children out of school without authorisation for 5 or more days (which do not have too be consecutive) in a 10-week period, they will be liable to receive a penalty notice from Ealing. This can also include poor punctuality to school without an acceptable reason. Currently, the amount payable under a penalty notice is £160 per parent/carer, which reduces to £80 if paid within 21 days. If a further 5 days of absence occur, parents will be liable for a second penalty notice of £160 per parent per child with no reduction. If the penalty notice remains unpaid after 28 days, the Local Authority will consider a prosecution in the Magistrates Court.
Please note that penalty notices are issued per parent/carer per family so a family of two parents and two children will receive 4 penalty notices. Further absence could also result in prosecution.
We encourage all our families to notify us of any pupil absence, and for every day they are absent as well. You can report student absences or lateness by calling Ms Gough, our Attendance officer, on either 0208 8138001 or 020 8867 9077, or by emailing studentabsence@villiers.ealing.sch.uk
For Sixth Form Absences – please contact Ms Boliya, our sixth form administrator, on 020 8813 8001 (extension 1478) or email sboliya@villiers.ealing.sch.uk
Cash Payments
We are a cashless school and families can pay for school meals, stationery, trips and clubs via ParentPay. You can top up your ParentPay account from a bank account or by using a debit/credit card. If you do not have a valid bank account or debit/credit card, please email info@villiers.ealing.sch.uk. We will set up a PayPoint account, so you can make payments using cash.
Detention Information
In order to support your child’s learning and keep standards high, we have introduced a new centralised teacher detention. This means that if a student’s behaviour has not improved after several reminders, they will have to sit a 40-minute detention after school.
We want to ensure that communication is made, so an automatic email will be sent to you, and students will sit the detention the next day, giving you 24 hours’ notice.
Please do remind your child about this and if you do have any queries about how we can best support your child, please do contact their Head of Year.
Contacting Staff
A reminder that if you need to contact staff at school, please use the contact page on our school website to make sure you get through to the right person: https://www.villiers.ealing.sch.uk/contact
If you are reporting lateness or absence, please check the details on this page: https://www.villiers.ealing.sch.uk/key-information/my-child-is-going-to-be-absentlate
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
Don’t forget to follow Villiers High School on social media.