Weekly Message 267 – 6 June 2025
6th June 2025
History Trip to Normandy
Welcome back after the half-term break and here we are beginning the last half term of this academic year.
The second half of the Summer Term is always a busy one; with transition days for our new Year 7 intake, Sports Day, Celebration Day, and Awards Evenings to name but a few activities.
Assemblies this week have focussed pupils on standards and expectations. We have reminded them of the position regarding mobile phones/smart devices and that this includes the time when pupils make their way off site at the end of the day. If a pupil is seen taking out or using a mobile phone/smart device as they leave the school site, it will be confiscated. We ask parents to reinforce this message at home to avoid disappointment.
Year 11 continue with their exams which conclude on 18 June (there is a contingency day calendared for 25 June if the exam boards determine that this is needed). This is an intense time for the pupils, but they continue to rise to the challenge as they tick off each exam on their timetable.
Year 10 Internal Exams are also underway, and pupils have been exceptional, with the invigilators complimenting them on their response to the formality of sitting an exam. Pupils are having the experience of sitting a formal exam and the marking and feedback will inform classroom teaching and revision ahead of the final exams next year. We wish all our pupils the very best of luck.
African Adventures Charity Foundation – final donations needed by Friday 13 June 2025
Thanks to the outstanding fundraising efforts of our Year 10 pupils and the wider school community, so far, we have raised an incredible £9,007.00 for the African Adventures Charity Foundation. This will be shared among the three schools we will be working with in Nakuru this July and will fund projects aimed at significantly enhancing the lives and education of the children.
We are still receiving donations from the non-uniform day in March, which is fantastic. However, to ensure that all funds can be transferred to the charity in time for the upcoming projects, we kindly ask that any final donations are received by Friday 13 June 2025.
Thank you once again for your continued generosity and support. The money raised will make a truly meaningful difference in the lives of the children we are going to work with.
History trip to Normandy
During the May half term, we took 45 pupils to Normandy to explore D-Day sites and experience French Culture.
Pupils visited Pegasus Bridge, a crucial site captured by British paratroopers in the early hours of D-Day and tasted some quintessential French dishes in the form of frogs’ legs and snails!! We also visited a traditional French market in Bayeux and the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Pupils spent time exploring D-Day sites, starting in Arromanches where the 360 Cinema overlooks the remnants of the Mulberry Harbours, still there 81 years after they were used and visited a German Gun Battery, part of the Nazi’s formidable Atlantic Wall. A visit to the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach, gave pupils a moment to reflect and fully appreciate the scale of the sacrifice that was required to ensure D-Day was a success.
At the British Memorial near Gold Beach pupils laid a wreath on behalf of the Cams Hill School Community in remembrance of the cost of war. It was a very thought-provoking trip with pupils engaging brilliantly in the topics under discussion.
Year 7 Boys’ Football
The Year 7 boys’ football team had their District Cup Final yesterday. The boys lost 3-0 to the county champions Brookfield in a closely fought game. The score was 1-0 until the last two minutes, when we got caught on the counterattack after pushing for that vital goal. The boys put in a strong performance and were unlucky to not get an equaliser.
Pride Month
First week of Pride month and to celebrate we have sent out an activity for the whole school to join in with.
Write an Acrostic of “How does Pride link to love?”
We have had some great responses.
Here are a few that tutor groups have come up with. Well done all and thank you for participating. These are fabulous!
Proud to be pride
Respected
In love
Doing the things we love
Everyone included
People love you
Ready for anything
Individual
Deeper meaning
Equality
Proud to be yourself
Respectful to others
Individual personalities
Don’t be afraid to be yourself
Everyone is unique in their own way
Proud to be you
Respect yourself and others
Individuality
Dignity in your choices and thoughts
Expression
Proud
Respect yourself
Ignore haters
Decide who you are
Exceptional no matter what
Perseverance
Representation
Independence
Defiance
Expression
Pretty on the inside and out
Ready to express myself
In any way I choose
Developing my true self
Encourage Equality
Maths Countdown
Young Carers
At Cams Hill School we are aware that some pupils are Young Carers and may experience difficulties in their education because of their caring role.
A Young Carer is a child under 18 who regularly helps to look after a family member or friend who is disabled, ill, has a mental health condition or an addiction problem.
Children may engage in:
- Practical tasks (cooking, housework and shopping)
- Physical care (lifting or helping someone use the stairs)
- Personal care (dressing, washing, helping with toilet needs)
- Managing the family budget (collecting benefits and prescriptions)
- Managing medication
- Looking after younger siblings
- Helping someone communicate
Cams Hill School can support Young Carers. If you, or a family member, need support, please contact either Miss Allen or the Head of Year. All contact will be treated with the strictest confidence.
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Emojis
Below is a link to information from The National College on what parents and educators need to know about emojis.
what-parents-educators-need-to-know-about-emojis
Menu w/c 9 June 2025
Ice cream milkshakes will be served Thursday lunchtime, and we will be continuing with the Friday BBQs.
Pupils should keep an eye out for our melted cheese and ham croissants ‘Croissant au Jambon Fromage’ during morning break.
Whole School Letters Published This Half Term
Below is a list of letters emailed to all parents/carers this half term together with the date and time they were sent. If you are unable to find any of the communications, please email office@camshill.com and we can send you a further copy.
Consultation on Proposed Catchment Area Changes – sent 5/6/25 1605
Parent Governor Vacancy – sent 4/6/25 1605
Fundraising for African Adventures Charity – sent 3/6/25 1602
Uniform and Punctuality – sent 27/5/25 1354
Statistics
Positive Behaviour Points Averages per Pupil for This Week
Year 7 6.13 points
Year 8 5.61 points
Year 9 4.21 points
Year 10 2.82 points (Year 10 exams)
Attendance
This week – 93.5%
Same week last year – 93.3%
MathsWatch and Educake
These are two online resources that we expect pupils to be accessing routinely with homework set by teachers and independently to support their progress in Maths, Science, and other subjects. We ask parents/carers to check in with their child to see whether they are accessing these resources routinely and to encourage the best use of them.
If there are issues with access, please bring this to the school’s attention as soon as possible so that we can help.
MathsWatch
Average number of questions answered per pupil this week
Year 7 5.5 questions
Year 8 15.8 questions
Year 9 8.0 questions
Year 10 21.6 questions
Highest Number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 27 questions
Year 8 68 questions
Year 9 43 questions
Year 10 76 questions
Over 50% in Maths Homework
Year 7 69%
Year 8 38%
Year 9 55%
Year 10 25%
Over 75% in Maths Homework
Year 7 55%
Year 8 27%
Year 9 31%
Year 10 14%
100% in Maths Homework
Year 7 34% *
Year 8 11%
Year 9 3%
Year 10 3%
GCSE Exam dates for the diary
Year 11
Wednesday 11 June – GCSE Maths Paper 3 (calculator)
Year 10 (10X1, 10Y1 and 10Z1 only)
Friday 13 June – GCSE Statistics Paper 2 (calculator)
Year 10 End of Year Exams
Tuesday 10 June – Paper 1B (non-calculator), 45 minutes
Thursday 19 June – Paper 2 (calculator), 90 minutes
End of Year Assessments
Year 8 – w/c 9 June – calculator paper
Year 9 – w/c 16 June – type tbc
Year 7 -w/c 23 June – type tbc
Calculators and other equipment for sale
Casio fx-83GT scientific calculators can be bought via Scopay and collected from the Finance Office. Prices of these and other items for sale are shown below:
Casio fx-83GT scientific calculator- £9.00
Pre-packed pencil case – £2.50
Pair of compasses – 29p
Protractor – 9p
100 blank flashcards – £1.00
A range of GCSE Maths revision materials for KS4 use – See Scopay for details
Educake – Science
Average number of questions answered per pupil this week
Year 7 10 questions
Year 8 29 questions
Year 9 38 questions
Year 10 90 questions
Year 11 22 questions
Highest number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 620 questions
Year 8 281 questions
Year 9 156 questions
Year 10 638 questions
Year 11 606 questions
