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Message from the Headteacher, Mr Richards
A couple of weeks before the Easter break (18th and 19th March), you’ll remember we had an inspection from Ofsted. This morning, we received the final report which makes it clear that the school has taken effective action to maintain its very high standards. For context, we received an ‘ungraded’ inspection which checks that schools which were previously judged as good or outstanding are maintaining those previously high standards. Ofsted also no longer gives an overall grade in its inspections so, I am delighted to say, the school has received the very best outcome possible. I am enormously proud of the students, staff, governors and whole school community who have made this happen. The report will be published on the inspectorate’s website in the next five days so we will give you the link in our next bulletin.
With exams just around the corner, it’s a comfort to know that we have time to take stock with another bank holiday on Monday (don’t send your children to school, please, as we will not be open!). Next week we have a visit from the Heritage school, Kolkata, our GCSE written exams begin and year 9s will be visiting the Natural History museum. We will also be running our Head student interviews and deadlines for applications to Ms Qadri is Tuesday.
Thank you to all families who attended our year 10 parents’ evening. If you missed out and would like some further information, please contact Mr Nandi.
Yr 12s and ‘The Urban Hack‘
Thirty Year 12 students were invited to the University of West London to attend a service design programme called ‘The Urban Hack ‘. This gives the students an opportunity to create their own innovation projects to generate solutions for challenges affecting their community, such as climate change, housing and the cost-of-living crisis.
Year 12s spent three days learning different skills and developing the confidence to be change-makers in their local area. The organiser said, “What a brilliant group of young people; they were a pleasure to work with!” VHS will be hosting the graduation ceremony on Wednesday 14th May.
French & Spanish Spelling Bee – London Regional Final
Congratulations to Acelynn 8R, Maninder 9S, Shawn 9L, and Harvee 8E who will be representing Villiers at the London Regional Translation Bee competition at the Frances Beardsley Academy on Thursday 15th May. The competition challenges students to translate sentences and words accurately in 3 tenses, improving their vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and memory in French or Spanish. Students will have one minute to translate as many sentences as possible from English into French or Spanish. They will be competing against students from schools across London. The judges will be looking for speed as well as accuracy and excellent pronunciation. In 2023, a student from Villiers came first in the London Regional competition and went on to come third in the national competition. Anything is possible if you work really hard and practise every day!
All students have a chance to participate in the competition during their languages class at the start of Year 8. The competition format provides a fun and interactive way for students to learn and practise language skills, making it more enjoyable than traditional ‘rote learning’ methods. Learning a foreign language and engaging in activities like the Translation Bee can broaden students’ understanding of different cultures and perspectives. Participating in the competition can boost students’ confidence in their language abilities and motivate them to continue learning and practising. Students develop transferable skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication, which are valuable in many areas of life and can be used in other subjects. The skills gained through the competition, such as translation and grammatical manipulation, are valuable for success in future GCSEs and beyond, as well as in various career paths. Winners of the London competition will then have the chance to compete nationally at Cambridge University in July.
Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather
Victory in Europe Day- 80th Anniversary
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) on 8th May. It is an opportunity for the nation to come together to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War generation from across the UK and Commonwealth, through a series of national and local events and activities.
At Villiers, to honour and commemorate those Second World War veterans from both home and abroad, we will share some of the stories and experiences they had, along with the impact it has had on the modern world. We will also explore how Southall celebrated in 1945.
For ideas on what you and your family could do to celebrate VE Day 80, please click here.
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