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Message from the Headteacher, Mr Richards
Welcome back! We hope you’ve had a good half-term break and that the return to school this week hasn’t been too much of a shock to the system. Whilst we were very disappointed with the NEU’s response to our work with them, we are very grateful to families, particularly of those with children in year 9, for bearing with us. We will continue to put pupils’ education and wellbeing first. I will add a copy below of the message I sent out via Arbor on Wednesday afternoon in case you missed it. To remediate the disruption to learning pupils have faced, we will be removing the occasional day Monday 30th November (so all pupils and staff will be in school) and school will finish at the 3.30pm 18th December, rather than the usual lunchtime finish.
Last month we carried out a range of activities to celebrate black history month and this month we are focused on islamophobia awareness which will include assemblies, workshops and activities for all pupils.
Years 8, 9 & 12 have started their in-class assessments to give both teachers and pupils an idea of their areas of strength and where further focus is needed. Year 7s have visited the Winton Gallery in the Science museum today. Next week is quite busy with a number of trips and visits including the Shakespeare schools festival and year 11 Geography fieldwork.
Finally, Happy Diwali to all celebrating over the next few days!
Arbor Message from Headteacher sent Wednesday afternoon
Before half-term, I mentioned in the family bulletin that we were continuing discussions with the NEU with the aim of preventing further strike action.
In yesterday’s meeting, they agreed that a great deal of progress had been made on all items discussed to date. They had agreed to remove a number of items from their list on the ballot paper but then asked us to double the pay protection for the allowances of ten members of staff affected by the TLR (teaching and learning responsibility) restructure. Given that pay protection is a nationally set structure, it is not within our remit as a local authority school to do this. No other school would be able to do this either, so it is an impossible demand to satisfy. We suggested a number of alternative ways the affected members of staff could earn the TLR they were awarded previously, for example by taking on different additional responsibilities. We also noted with them that the pay policy (which is reviewed annually) will be consulted on and that staff have the opportunity to suggest amendments going forward. This was not enough for them and is their only sticking point.
As a consequence, the NEU representatives have decided that strike action will continue. We had already planned ahead to ensure as many pupils would be able to be in school and learning as possible and so for 5th November, all pupils will be in except for year 9 who will learn online. At the moment, the NEU has posted 12th and 13th November as other strike dates, but we will update you on this nearer the time.
We are extremely grateful for your forbearance as we continue to look for resolutions making sure your children’s education and wellbeing are at the forefront of our decision making.
Please do share any exciting achievements or success your child has outside of school with me so we can celebrate that here too. I’m aware we have a number of superb musicians, sportspeople and entrepreneurs in our midst and we don’t always get to hear about the incredible things they’re doing beyond the classroom. My email is headteacher@villiers.ealing.sch.uk
Tips for Success from ex year 11 grade 9 pupil
Y11 French students had a special guest joining them for one of their half term Intervention sessions. Yousef, who attained grade 9 in all 10 of his subjects at Villiers last year, including French, came back to share his strategies for success with the group.
He said that for him it was essential to have a routine, and he made a daily schedule for revision, this time last year. However, he was flexible within that routine, so that all subjects were covered, and focus could be switched to prioritise working on improving targeted areas, following on from specific feedback from his teachers. When he got home and before starting he would reflect every day on where he needed to focus his attention. In this way he was able to do equally well in all of his subjects. He said that it was vital to not just to read through feedback but to act on it. He always re-did & re-submitted his French speaking & writing work after feedback, for example, to make sure he kept on improving.
Yousef shared the resources that he found most useful but stressed the importance of trying out different methods and using the ones which work best for you as an individual. He found writing things out over and over until he remembered them worked best for him, but also used flashcards for some subjects, as well as various useful websites and apps.
Yousef answered pupils’ many questions patiently and thoughtfully, such as how not to reach burnt out. Answering this, he stressed the role that mental motivation plays. It is all in the mind, he said! Yousef started out by doing an hour a day’s work after school, but this increased nearer to exams. Once, in the midst of his GCSEs, just before his Physics paper, he felt he could not do any more. However, he told himself that he could, and he is living proof that his positive self motivating attitude paid off.
Yousef also finds time to do volunteering at the weekend. He is now studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths, whilst teaching himself piano & keeping up his French. He plans to go into Dentistry or Medicine.
The Year 11 GCSE French pupils all found his advice & tips really useful. Aishlyn said that Yousef’s presentation was insightful & helpful & it was motivational to see the progress that he made.
Thank you for your time, Yousef, and all the very best in the future.
Year 12 Mathematicians trip to Oxford
Some of our Year 12 mathematicians spent the day in Oxford at St John’s College, one of the largest and most prestigious colleges of the University of Oxford. They loved having a tour of the campus and learning about what it is like to study there. Most importantly, they felt inspired and confident to potentially apply in the future. The St John’s College Access day helped them gain a better understanding of the application process, what course is most suitable for them, and how to start preparing for university applications from now by building super-curriculas. Nonetheless, the highlight for many of them was the Maths Workshop led by Dr James Munro where they explored the magic of calculators.
Hallowe’en scene competition
Basim and Aarav in year 7 really got into the Hallowe’en spirit before half-term and made these amazing creations which they shared with their Computer Science class 23rd October. The class was both amazed and scared, but everyone was hugely impressed with the effort that went into creating both of these very impressive designs. Well done, both!
First Family Forum – Monday 16th November
We would like to invite you to the 1st Family Forum of the academic year, taking place on Monday 16th November, 5pm to 6pm. It will take place in the Theatre, with anyone attending entering the school from Gate 6 on Villiers Road. If you would like to attend, please complete the questionnaire on this link. We look forward to seeing you on Monday 16th November.
Enrichment timetable 2026
We are pleased to share our 2026 Enrichment Timetable. All enrichment clubs have now started and are proving very popular, with many filling up quickly.
We encourage pupils and families to review the timetable and sign up for any clubs of interest as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Enrichment activities provide excellent opportunities for pupils to develop new skills, pursue their interests, and get involved in school life.
Planning for Punctuality
Dear Parents/Carers,
Arriving at school on time gives students the best possible start to their day. Being punctual ensures pupils do not miss crucial morning instructions or learning activities, helps them settle into the school routine without anxiety, and instils valuable lifelong habits.
We appreciate that morning commutes can sometimes be unpredictable. To help you plan your journey and avoid unexpected delays, we have attached the latest updates in the local area to support your child plan their journey to school.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping your child arrive safely and on time each day.
Free School Meals – Eligibility
As the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals have changed this year, you may wish to check whether your child is now eligible. Please use the link below to access the Local Authority’s eligibility checker. (click here)
Term Dates 2026-2027 and Provisional Dates 2027-2028
Please find attached term dates for 2026-2027 and also, provisional dates for 2027 – 2028. These are also on our website under Key Parental Information > Term Dates.
Arbor Parent App
Dear Parents and Carers, you will have received information about the Arbor Parent App via SMS and email. Please could you complete the declaration form before logging in, and then follow the instructions provided to get started with the app.
If you have any questions or require support, please do not hesitate to contact us at arbor@villiers.ealing.sch.uk.
Alumni
Are you a former student of Villiers, or do you know someone who is? We have partnered with leading social mobility charity Future First to set up our Alumni. We would like as many of our former students to join the Alumni and the National Network of Alumni to, if possible, give something back to the current and future students of Villiers High School. Please click here to register.
School Dinner Menu
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