Weekly Message 272 – 11 July 2025
11th July 2025
Local Artist Mark Kellett creates mural with Year 10 pupils at Cams Hill School
This year has been full of achievement, growth, and collective effort. We have seen pupils rise to academic challenges, demonstrate kindness and maturity in their relationships, and engage in wider school life with enthusiasm and pride. It is the time of year where we celebrate all these qualities as we edge closer to the end of what has been an exceptional year at Cams Hill School.
We remind parents and carers that school closes for the Summer holiday on Tuesday 22 July 2025 at 1230.
Thank you to the parents and carers of Year 10 pupils who were able to come into school and meet with subject teachers at the Parents’ Evening on Tuesday and for your feedback that help us to shape the school as we continue to develop.
Summer Concert
Last Friday we held our Summer Concert outdoors in the warm evening sunshine. The concert featured our ensembles of Show Choir, Concert Band and Soul Band, alongside our rock bands Draft, Greenish and Mood Swing. We also showcased many of our talented soloists, who sang or played whilst being accompanied by many of our talented young musicians. We also had the return of some of our former pupils to perform as Soul Band ’24. Well done to all of our talented musicians that took part.
Soul Band at Wicor EcoFayre
It has been a busy week for our Soul Band. On Saturday 5 July, they were invited to perform at the annual EcoFayre held at Wicor Primary School. They followed performances by young singers at Wicor Primary School and a local band. Despite the damp weather, Soul Band acquitted themselves as brilliantly as always.
Soul Band Collaboration with Redlands Primary School
On Monday 7 July and Tuesday 8 July, Soul Band collaborated with pupils from Redlands Primary School. Soul Band taught the younger pupils the Tina Turner classic, ‘Proud Mary’ and performed a set to the pupils and staff, joined by their musicians for ‘Proud Mary’. Soul Band were not only excellent performers, but excellent teachers for this event.
Guinness World RecordsTM Success
Further to our previous message on this – we did it! Together, we smashed the Guinness World Records™ title for the largest cookery lesson (in multiple venues) and we are record breakers! The final numbers were as follows:
10,515 cooks, across 6 continents and 42 countries helped smash the record.
What a fantastic achievement. Well done team and thank you for taking part. We could not have contributed to this record without your commitment, enthusiasm, cookery skills and love for food. You are all record breakers!
Local Artist Mark Kellett creates mural with Year 10 pupils at Cams Hill School
Cams Hill School recently welcomed local artist Mark Kellett for an exciting mural project with our Year 10 Graphics pupils. Known for his maze-inspired spray paint art, Mark worked with pupils to design and paint a striking new mural that brings colour and meaning to one of the school’s outdoor spaces.
The project followed a series of workshops last year and combined Mark’s signature style with ideas developed by the pupils, resulting in a visually dynamic and thought-provoking piece of artwork. One design, focused on mental health, particularly stood out as Mark shared on Instagram:
“After a handful of workshops last year, we created the mural this week. One design really caught my eye… the droplets falling and rising surrounding the head resonated with me. Sometimes you have to take the lows to appreciate the highs in life.”
Each pupil contributed their own unique droplet design, forming a powerful and personal piece of art. Mark added:
“I loved working with the students to create their individual droplets, and I won’t forget the appreciation from everyone at break time, shouting over some kudos! Thanks again to the art department team for having me — and thanks to all the students that helped me!”
We are incredibly proud of our Year 10 pupils for their creativity, collaboration, and professionalism throughout the project. A huge thank you to Mark for his guidance, inspiration, and continued support of the arts at Cams Hill School.
Be sure to check out the mural next time you visit, it’s more than just a piece of art; it’s a celebration of pupil voice, mental health awareness, and the power of creative expression. You can also see how the work unfolded on Mark’s Instagram page markkellettart
Year 10 Art, Graphics, Photography & Drama pupils enjoy magical trip to Warner Bros. Studios
Last week, Year 10 Art, Graphics, Photography, and Drama pupils embarked on an unforgettable trip to Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, the home of the world-famous Harry Potter films. The visit was a resounding success, offering pupils a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and creativity involved in large-scale film production.
From the moment they stepped into the Great Hall to walking along Diagon Alley, pupils were immersed in the magical world of filmmaking. For our budding artists, the detailed sets, intricate costumes, and striking visual effects served as powerful inspiration for their portfolios.
Drama pupils were equally enthralled, gaining valuable insights into character development, green screen effects, and the importance of storytelling through visual elements. Interactive displays allowed pupils to explore how actors prepare for scenes, how special effects are layered in post-production, and how set design contributes to the overall mood and impact of a performance.
Pupils also had the chance to speak with studio staff and interactors about careers in the arts, receiving practical advice and plenty of encouragement to pursue their creative passions.
Mrs Oswald-Cutler reflected on the experience: “It was incredible to see our pupils so inspired. The trip really does highlight the importance of the creative industries and demonstrates how those skills come to life in the real world.”
Well done to all who attended, we cannot wait to see how your experience influences your next creations!
Year 10 Praise and Rewards Afternoon
This week it was Year 10 pupils turn to enjoy a well-earnt afternoon off timetable to celebrate a successful year. Our top 90 pupils were invited to attend a Year 10 picnic on the field with Mrs Fields and Mrs Whitelam, whilst indulging in pizza and lawn games! Lots of pizza eating (despite Mr Dickinson dropping a whole one), chilling out and chats were had. Well done to our gold standard for being brilliant.
Year 10 Taster Days at City of Portsmouth College and Fareham College
There have been two recent taster days for Year 10 pupils.
The first taster day was at City of Portsmouth College on Tuesday 1 July. Pupils had the opportunity to pick either A-Levels or vocational subjects to explore in more detail. Those choosing vocational had two sessions and those looking at A-Levels were able to experience four different subjects. Speaking to pupils, they enjoyed the day and found it beneficial in supporting them with their post-16 options, opening their eyes to the variety of study options available.
The second taster day was at Fareham College/CEMAST on Wednesday this week. Pupils tried out two vocational subjects which included hands on practical activities. They were then given a tour and a presentation on T-levels and apprenticeships. The feedback from pupils was extremely positive.
Thank you to both colleges for opening their doors and hosting our pupils.
Year 5 MasterClasses
On Monday 7 July, we welcomed Year 5 pupils from Red Barn, Wicor, and Northern Junior School. They took part in exciting masterclasses exploring subjects across the humanities, languages, and creative arts. The sessions sparked curiosity, boosted confidence, and offered a valuable introduction to secondary learning. Pupils engaged enthusiastically, showcasing creativity and teamwork while forming early connections with staff and making new friends. It was a fantastic experience! Our Year 9 buddies who supported the pupils on the day were a credit to the school, and feedback from primary staff was overwhelmingly positive.
Hampshire Athletics Final
Pupils performed incredibly well in the Hampshire Athletics finals this week. Everyone gave their all and competed impressively against the best athletes for their age groups across Hampshire. A few stand out performances must be mentioned.
F Scanlon placed 3rd overall in the 80m sprint.
A Williams placed 4th overall in the 80m sprint.
J Devonshire placed 5th in the 200m final
C Hunter placed 3rd overall in the Shot Putt
L Moorman placed 2nd overall in the Shot Putt.
HUGE congratulations have to go to A Grady who placed 1st in the 150m sprint and is now Hampshire champion!!
Staff Cook Club
Our final Cook Club of the year took place this week and brought a taste of Italy to the food room with a delicious homemade tortellini dish. The pasta pockets were prepared from scratch and filled with a rich, savoury blend of ricotta, spinach, and Parmesan cheese with a hint of basil and nutmeg – a true comfort food classic.
From kneading the dough to folding each parcel by hand, staff embraced the spirit of Italian cooking: fresh ingredients and simple techniques. A perfect dish for sharing, served with a splash of olive oil, fresh basil and black pepper. Delizioso!
Menu w/c 14 July 2025
NEW menu Week 3 (BBQ Wednesday)
We will be offering a BBQ during lunch on Wednesday Celebration Day (pupils should buy their tickets at the till as usual).
There may be some changes to the menu next week as we use up stock in preparation for the new menu; however, we will try to keep these changes to a minimum.
The Online Safety Act 2023 in Force from 25 July 2025
The Online Safety Act 2023 introduces stronger protections for children online, including a legal requirement for all pornography sites accessed in the UK to have effective age verification in place by 25 July 2025. Major sites have agreed to comply using tools such as facial age estimation and ID checks. Ofcom will enforce this duty and can fine or block services that fail to meet the standard.
The Act also requires platforms to carry out risk assessments, apply age-appropriate controls, and remove illegal content such as child sexual abuse material, grooming, and incitement to violence. Platforms must now consider how their design, including algorithms, anonymity, and livestreaming, may expose users to harm. Schools should ensure staff are aware of these changes and review how online safety is addressed through curriculum and safeguarding procedures.
In addition to age verification, the Act introduces new criminal offences. These include cyberflashing, epilepsy trolling, and encouraging or assisting serious self-harm, which are now illegal even if done anonymously. It is also a crime to share deepfake pornography or send false information with intent to harm. Laws on non-consensual intimate images have been strengthened to cover threats to share, and images altered using AI.
You can find out more of the Ofcom website here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/parents
The Internet Matters website has a useful article here:
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.
Parent Governor Elections – sent 11/7/25 0942
Food price increases – sent 10/7/25 1210
Celebration Day – sent 7/7/25 1211
Uniform for the rest of this term – sent 6/7/25 1513
Detection Dogs Visit – sent 3/7/25 1452
Mixed Netball and Tag Rugby Tournament – sent 2/7/25 1038
Uniform w/c 30 June 2025 – sent 29/6 1842
Sports Day – sent 25/6/25 – 1456
Communication Strategies – sent 25/6/25 – 1148
Food Donation Drive – sent 20/6/25 – 1508
Adjustment of Uniform due to Hot Weather – sent 19/6/25 1605
Sports Day – Thursday 26 June 2025 – sent 19/6/25 1236
Summer Concert – sent 18/6/25 0814
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 5.35 points
Year 8 3.26 points
Year 9 2.37 points
Year 10 2.03 points
Attendance
This week – 92%
Same week last year – 91%
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 4.5 questions
Year 8 10.2 questions
Year 9 2.9 questions
Year 10 6.8 questions
Highest Number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 30 questions
Year 8 30 questions
Year 9 31 questions
Year 10 49 questions
Over 50% in Maths Homework
Year 7 67%
Year 8 50%
Year 9 43%
Year 10 40%
Over 75% in Maths Homework
Year 7 59% *
Year 8 32%
Year 9 31%
Year 10 27%
100% in Maths Homework
Year 7 26% *
Year 8 12%
Year 9 12%
Year 10 6%
*For example, this figure means 26% of Year 7 got 100% in their homework tasks.
Figures in green indicate maintaining or an increase from last week.
Not all Maths homework is set on MathsWatch, which is likely to affect the averages.
Maths Homework Club is open to all Years on Wednesdays in ICT2 until 4pm.
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