NewsletterHalf Term 6 Parent Newsletter

~ 25th July 2025 ~

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Following another successful academic year, I am writing to you to explain a change to the school day finish time from September 2025, reflect on some superb achievements we can celebrate together, recognise those staff leaving us and thank key stakeholders of Nottingham Free School (NFS).

From September 2025, please note that NFS is moving to a school day finish time of 2:45pm, Monday-Friday, for all children. I hope this change simplifies the school timetable for all children and their families.

As a community, we can be incredibly proud of our exceptional student attendance, placing NFS in the top 5% of schools nationally. This is a remarkable accomplishment. This statistic simply serves to highlight the wonderful working partnership that NFS has with our families, to ensure all children attend every day and reach their potential.

As a learning community, we have enjoyed several unforgettable moments this school year. A personal highlight for me was Culture Day 2025. On this day, our students and staff came together to share and celebrate the rich diversity within our school community. Special events, such as Culture Day and Sports Day, truly highlight the unity, respect and pride that define NFS.

At the end of this school year, we say farewell to several members of staff. Miss Carter (Head of Maths) is leaving NFS this summer, having secured work in a school closer to her home. Mr Binstead (Teacher of Music and History) is also departing NFS, to take up a new position in another Nottingham City school. Both these members of staff have provided our children with countless educational opportunities and leave a legacy of positive relationships.

As an aside, Mr Cleveley has taken the decision to no longer be Head of Sixth Form, to focus on his role as Teacher of English and embrace a new responsibility of University Applications Lead. I will take this opportunity to publicly thank Mr. Cleveley for his incredible leadership of the NFS Sixth Form, since its inception in 2019. Mr Tomasevic (Assistant Headteacher) will be our new Head of Sixth Form from September.

Additionally, I wish to recognise the tireless efforts of the entire NFS staff (teaching and non-teaching). Their hard work, professionalism and care have been central to supporting our students to grow in confidence, develop their character, and strive to be the best versions of themselves.

Finally, I’d like to wish your child and you a safe, restful and happy summer. Thank you once again for being such an important part of the Nottingham Free School community.

We look forward to reconnecting with you in September.

Yours faithfully, 

Dr J Simpson

  • A Level Results Day for Year 13s- Thursday 14 August (9-9:30am)
  • GCSE Results Day for Year 11s- Thursday 21 August (9-10am) 
  • First day back for Year 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 students  - TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER!
  • First day back for NEW Year 7 and 12 students - MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER! 

Year 10 Apprenticeship Workshop - Students were coached on apprenticeship facts and misconceptions, to support them make choices after GCSEs and A Levels.  

Year 9 Geography - Students have been learning about the importance of our oceans, threats oceans face and solutions for reducing plastic waste. Students worked in groups to learn this and then presented their findings. 

Year 7 DT - Student created maze games inspired by De Stijl and Art Deco.

Year 8 DT -  Students have produced with Miss Cockayne. Students have developed the skills of creating lap joints, mitre joints and assembly methods. 

 

 

Last week, Nottingham Free School received a parcel from the National Literacy Trust containing a number of poetry anthologies with published poems from young people across the UK. We wish to congratulate our Year 9 students (listed below) who are now published poets! This competition was fierce, and we are so proud that our students' ambition and courage in sharing their thoughts and ideas through poetry. 

  • Kornel K 
  • Marlow G
  • Mikaela V 
  • Elijah C 
  • Abraham O-N
  • Mya R
  • Isabella C
  • Benjamin-James T
  • Henry S

There’s lots you can do in and around Nottingham over the summer with lots of links to Geography!

Ecosystems

Visit one of our many parks – Attenborough Nature Reserve, Gedling Country Park, Sherwood Forest, Lambley Dumbles, Nottingham Arboretum, Highfields Park, Wollaton Park, Forst Recreation Ground – with chance to experience our native ecosystems, see a range of wildlife, and how the environment is being conserved. There is a solar farm at Gedling Country Park too. Highfields Park is also home to a boating lake, mini-golf and Lakeside Arts centre, which has many events and workshops over the summer.

There are many events at Sherwood Forest, including Notts Day Festival and Outdoor Cinema events.

You could visit city farm animals at Stonebridge City Farm

You could visit local gardens such as Bulwell Forest Garden or Hungerhill Allotments. You could get involved in some citizen science projects, such as butterfly counting in your garden or park, or online activities such as penguin or walrus counting – Google “Walrus from Space”!

You could make your own bird feeder, plant flowers or food crops in your garden, or make a bug hotel. Go outside at dusk and you may even spot some bats! Nottingham has got nearly all of the UK’s bat species!

Population, urbanisation, tertiary industry

Take a walk around Nottingham city centre and learn about its history. Can you find all the Watson Fothergill buildings for example? You could visit Nottingham Castle, the Galleries of Justice or Nottingham Contemporary to learn about our city.

You could visit the Nottingham Industrial Museum in Wollaton Park to learn about how our industries in the city have changed over time

Weather and climate

You could become a BBC Weather Watcher and report on our local weather conditions. You could set up your own weather station and make your own anemometer – just like we did in Geography in Year 7!

Renewable Energy

You could explore the use of wind energy at Green’s Windmill and Science Centre (free entry) and try different experiments. You could visit the solar farm in Gedling Country Park.

 

As the school year finishes, it is important that safeguarding our children and our supporting  families continues during the summer break.  The following Designated Safeguarding Leads will be contactable over the summer via email:

Mrs Susan Seymour - Safeguarding Officer (sseymour@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk)

Dr Jo Simpson - Head Teacher (jsimpson@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk)

We would like to remind parents of the following agencies that are available to them during the holidays should you have any concerns:

BASE 51:

BASE 51 is a young person's charity supporting 11-25 year olds in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. They have the following services available:

  • Counselling for 10-25 year olds - both free and low-cost
  • Outburst LGBTQIA+ group
  • Youth Club
  • Young Leaders Programme
  • The Studios @ Base 51 recording studio

For further information please visit their website: https://www.base51.org/

Be U Notts:

Be U Notts is an accessible early intervention service that is easy to navigate; providing timely access to advice, guidance and support for children and young people, families and partners.  Be U Notts delivers: community drop-in sessions; 1-1 therapeutic support; group sessions; online and virtual support; and self harm support.

For further information please click on the link which will take you straight to their website: https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/nottinghamshire/be-u-notts-service/

Ask Lion:

Click on the following link to find out what support is available in Nottingham: https://www.asklion.co.uk/kb5/nottingham/directory/home.page

KOOTH:

KOOTH is a safe, confidential and non-stigmatised way for children and young people to receive free counselling, advice and support online.  Staff are fully trained and qualified counsellors, available Monday to Friday from 12pm until 10pm each night and weekends from 6pm to 10pm.  

For further information please click on the link which will take you straight to their website: https://www.kooth.com/

ACT Early (Prevent Radicalisation):

Early intervention for people who are worried about someone close who is expressing extreme views or hatred.  

For further information please click on the link which will take you direct to the website: https://actearly.uk/

Fearless (Part of Crimestoppers):

Fearless gives young people the power to report a crime 100% anonymously.

For further information please click on the link which will take you direct to the website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless