NewsletterOctober 2023

Parents/Carers Said:

“We are concerned with the ongoing parking outside school, plus the traffic speed and incredibly dangerous Hucknall Road crossing.” 

Nottingham Free School Did:

Student Leaders, along with Dr Simpson and Mr Tomasevic, now do a morning traffic safety duty.  You will spot us in our hi-vis vests and holding safety signs. Building on previous discussions with the City Council, Nottingham Free School are going to contact the local authority again to explore further safety measures that can be put in place.  

Mr J Tomasevic - Assistant Headteacher

Cannabis Edible gummies circulating in Nottingham

There have been increasing concerns regarding Cannabis Edible Gummies being circulated within Nottingham City.  In addition, there are concerns that they are being sold on snapchat.  Below is a picture of the types of Cannabis Edibles being sold;

The advice for parents is to be extra vigilant on social media sites, especially Snapchat.  In addition, please make yourself aware of cannabis edibles and talk to your child if you have any concerns, and contact the safeguarding team at school. 

Online Safety

We are asking parents to check any whatsapp groups/messages with other NFS students to ensure that all children are being safe and kind.  We do advise that children are not part of large group chats with other NFS students, and that parents should check on a regular basis.

Illegal Vapes & Vapes Being Sold to Children in the Local Area

There have been increasing concerns that some shops are selling vapes to children.  It is illegal to sell vapes to children who are under 18.  If you discover that shops are selling vapes to children, please report the shop to the police who will then investigate this.

Tackling Knife Crime in Nottinghamshire

For the next 4 weeks, Nottinghamshire Police are running a campaign to raise awareness of knife crime.  The focus is to encourage people to report a crime anonymously.  There are various posters being displayed in Nottingham City Centre plus on social media.  To support this awareness initiative across the city, Nottingham Free School will be conducting safeguarding assemblies on Monday 6th November to inform students of the Nottingham City Campaign.

Mrs Gray - Deputy Headteacher

At the start of October, forty four Year 10 and 11 Art GCSE students took a trip down to Oxford to visit the Natural History Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum - both owned by the University of Oxford. The Pitt Rivers museum comprises of three floors of artifacts from around the world, created by various cultures. Ranging from musical instruments, to jewellery, games, religious statues, celebratory dress as well as masks, the list was quite extensive.

The students explored the museums and created drawings from the exhibits, finding items that related to their chosen themes to strengthen their coursework. Some students were thrilled to find exhibits from their own cultures and backgrounds, making their experience more personal. The students created some wonderful work and we were very proud of them as they represented Nottingham Free School proudly.

Mrs S Wilken - Head of Art and Personal Development

 

Reading Passports

This term, we have introduced Reading Passports for Years 7, 8 and 9. The Reading Passport is to encourage students to read texts of their own choice and develop a sense of reading for pleasure. Students have time to read during DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) each day but this will be most beneficial if students are engaging in reading at home as well.

The Reading Passport is compulsory for all students in Key Stage 3 and aims for each student to read one book per half term (totalling six books a year). There is also the opportunity for students to read more than the recommended six, with recognition and rewards for those who reach twelve or eighteen books. 

Miss James - Literacy Lead

 

Year 11 Macbeth Trip

At the start of October, Year 11 students travelled to London to watch a live performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Globe theatre. Prior to the performance, they enjoyed a tour of London by the Thames led by our very own Mr Eyers. Our students were then immersed into the Shakespearean theatre experience as 'groundlings' and, lucky for us, the sun was shining. 

Ms Dirrane - Associate Assistant Headteacher and Head of English

An amazing achievement for Samuel Edwards in Year 9, winning a bronze medal at the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Junior Olympiad. The opportunity for the Olympiad was earned for incredible performance in the UKMT Junior challenge, where Samuel placed among the top 200 across the country.

Well done Samuel, we are so proud of you.

Miss J Carter - Head of Maths

Personal Development Curriculum

In order to support conversations at home we wanted to let you know what your students will be covering next half term.

Y7

• Puberty and relationships

Y8

• Mental Health, self-harm and suicidal thoughts
• Healthy Relationships

Y9

• First Aid
• Mental Health
• Eating Disorders
• Internet Safety
• FGM HBV and forced marriage

Y10

Religion Philosophy and Ethics this half term: Christian Beliefs and Teachings

Y11

Religion Philosophy and Ethics this half term: Wealth and Poverty

Personal Development PD Enrich Lessons

We have just had our first half term of PD enrich lessons. Year 7, 8 and 9 will change activities again in January.

Personal Development Reactive Resources this Half Term

Palestine and Israel

Due to the tensions rising in Palestine and Israel we felt it was important to create some resources to help educate our students about the history and also support our community in this difficult time. These were delivered in tutor time and we have asked students to come forward if they would like to be part of a forum to discuss further.

Mrs Inglis and Mrs Wilken - Heads of Personal Development

Thank you so much for your support with the bake sale. We raised £358.36 for Macmillan Unicef Morrocan Earthquake appeal and British Red Cross Libya appeal. Our next charity project is the reverse advent calendar. We will ask tutor groups to bring in food bank items in the run up to the Christmas break. These can include dried food items, household/human cleaning products, sanitary products and baby-related items such as nappies and wipes. We will be taking donations to The Trussell Trust food bank in Daybrook at the end of term.

Mrs Inglis and Mrs Wilken - Heads of Personal Development

On National Poetry Day, Years 7 – 9 had the opportunity to either write a poem on the theme of Refuge or a poem about themselves. The English department, as always, have been so impressed with the creativity and maturity of our students. Below is a poem written by a very talented Year 8 student.

Miss Furlong - Lead Teacher of English

Life is not only lived in refuge

Life is far wilder than that

Refuge

a sharp word tainted by politician’s tongue

Refuge

a small alcove in a twisted churning sea of your mind

Refuge

a comforting lull of words washing through your head

Refuge

is not always a home

home is a choice

and it is not their choice to make

Sometimes it is yours

Sometimes it is you that seeks refuge

in the arms of a stranger

in a crackling heart

something it is not your hand to take it in your hand to offer

let it be you

that opens your door wide

to the ones that seek shelter

to the lost

to the twisted

to the broken

let it become something beautiful

something more

an intangible symphony crooning, revelling in its heart in

your heart let the refuge swell and rise in crashing

waves let yourself care for the ones that have lost

let them care for you

because home is a choice

let your choice become something more.

On Friday 20 October, students and staff proudly wore non-uniform to celebrate Wear Red Day 23. Students donated money to wear the non-uniform, with all proceeds being sent directly to the Show Racism The Red Card organisation. We raised an amazing £310.32.

A huge thank you to our Equality and Diversity Student Leaders, who helped organise this event. 

Mr Tomasevic - Assistant Headteacher

All parents/carers of students in years 7-11 have been sent an email regarding upcoming flu immunisations.

This year, the NHS is extending its provision to include ALL students in year groups 7 through 11. IntraHealth is providing this service on behalf of the NHS, and they will be attending Nottingham Free School on Tuesday 21 November 2023. 

Please complete the consent form on the link below stating if you wish your child to receive the flu vaccination or if you wish to refuse the flu vaccination: 

https://nhsImms.azurewebsites.net/session/93fad840 

Please note that the link will close on Tuesday 14 November 2023. 

If you experience difficulties with the online form, please contact IntraHealth directly on 0333 358 3397 (option 4) no later than Tuesday 14 November 2023 to provide verbal consent to the nursing team.

Miss Dunthorne - Business and Operations Manager

Year 11 careers day - 19th September 

We welcomed volunteers from a range or professions - medical, law, RAF, quantity surveying, engineering, finance, architecture - all of whom delivered talks to our year 11, 12 and 13 students.  A massive thank you to all these volunteers for inspiring our young people.   Nottingham College, Confetti and ASK apprenticeships also visited .

A reminder to year 11 parents and students - please consider attending post-16 open evenings this term at local colleges and sixth forms.

Year 9 - NHS careers presentation. 

This informative and entertaining session was brought to Nottingham Free School by an energetic acting group plus representatives from the NHS.  

Year 9 Ada Lovelace Day Trip - 10th October

15 Nottingham Free School girls attended this fabulous day aimed at inspiring girls into STEM careers. The students attended a day of activities engaging pupils with science through talks and hands-on activities.  They found the day interesting and engaging, meeting several local female scientists and were a credit to the school.

Mrs Barrett - Head of Careers