Weekly Message 301 – 8 May 2026
8th May 2026
Year 7 Geography Trip to River Hamble
As we come to the end of another busy and successful week, we have also reached an important milestone for our Year 11 pupils. This week, we held our Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly and barbecue, providing an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements, memories and contributions of this year group during their time with us. It was wonderful to come together to reflect on their journey through the school. A huge thank you also goes to the families supporting behind the scenes. We know this can be a demanding time for you too, and the encouragement, patience and support you provide at home really does make a difference.
This term we also focus on transition and preparing to welcome our new Year 6 pupils ready for September, and this always makes us reflect on how far our current Year 7 pupils have come in their first year at secondary school. Since September, they have grown in confidence and settled into school routines, and it has been great to see them getting involved in lessons, trips and wider school life with increasing confidence. We are in no doubt that they will set a positive example and help support the next intake as they settle into school life.
Looking ahead to next week, we will be hosting the HPV vaccination programme in school, alongside our Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition, which promises to be another valuable opportunity for pupils to develop teamwork, independence and resilience outside the classroom.
We also look forward to the Year 8 Pupil Progress Evening on 19 May, which will take place online between 1500 and 1900. A letter containing further information was sent home on 23 April. Booking for the first five appointment slots opened on 28 April, with bookings for the remaining appointments opening at 1900 on 12 May.
Art and Geography Trip to Barcelona
On Friday 1 May 2026, 37 Year 10 pupils studying Art, Graphics, Photography, or Spanish set off on a trip to Barcelona, a city renowned for its rich culture and heritage.
The trip was packed with unforgettable experiences, including visits to museums and cathedrals, sightseeing and shopping, and the chance to ride some of the most thrilling rollercoasters at one of Europe’s largest theme parks. Of course, there were also plenty of opportunities for pupils to practise speaking Spanish throughout the visit.
Pupils captured the energy and atmosphere of La Rambla through photography, while also taking in the remarkable architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Salvador Dalí during visits to Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Girona and Figueres. For many pupils, the highlight of the trip was the guided tour inside the Sagrada Família, which left everyone in awe. As Benji commented, “I’ve never felt so small.”
The pupils were exceptional throughout the trip. For some, it was their first experience of travelling abroad, flying on a plane, being away from family, or even riding a rollercoaster. Although the weather was changeable, much like the UK, spirits remained high throughout. Mr Rodriguez, our MFL teacher, proved to be the perfect tour guide, sharing fascinating insights into the culture and heritage of the city as we travelled around Barcelona.
Barcelona never fails to impress, and once again our pupils returned home with lasting memories, new experiences, and an outstanding collection of photographs to add to their portfolios.
Dance Club Performance – Charity Football Match – Fareham Town Football Club
Some members of the after-school dance club performed before the game at Fareham Town Football Club’s charity match on Sunday in aid of The Rainbow Centre. It was a lovely afternoon, and the pupils danced beautifully in the sunshine.
Geography Year 7 Trips to River Hamble
Year 7 braved the cold waters of the Hamble to learn about river systems last week. We had an enjoyable few days and the pupils conducted themselves well, some wading in mud and water in the name of Geography! Pupils took turns with various equipment to measure discharge, water clarity and river size at four points along its length, all to answer the question “How does a river change as it goes downstream?” It was fantastic to see pupils applying their classroom learning in a real-world setting, showing enthusiasm, teamwork and resilience throughout the fieldwork experience.
Noughts and Crosses
On Wednesday evening, we took 40 pupils to see Noughts & Crosses at the Mayflower MAST Studios. The pupils were excellent representatives of the school throughout the visit, demonstrating maturity, courtesy and genuine engagement with the performance. The production provided a powerful and thought-provoking experience, giving pupils the opportunity to reflect on its important themes while further enriching their appreciation of live theatre.
Life Skills Kitchen Group
This week, we are delighted to highlight the fantastic progress of our new Life Skills Kitchen Group. This small group of pupils has been taking part in practical cooking sessions designed to build confidence, independence, and essential life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Our focus is simple but important: preparing real food from scratch, with no ultra-processed ingredients. Pupils are learning how to handle fresh ingredients, follow recipes, and develop an understanding of healthy, balanced meals and discover that cooking can be both enjoyable and rewarding.
On the menu this week were homemade quesadillas, made entirely from scratch. Pupils prepared their own fillings and explored flavour combinations, with some opting for a super spicy twist! Alongside this, they made breaded chicken goujons, learning key techniques such as coating and cooking safely.
It has been a great start and wonderful to see pupils growing in confidence, supporting one another, and taking pride in what they have created. These sessions are not only about cooking but about developing independence, teamwork, and resilience, skills that will help them thrive in everyday life.
We look forward to sharing more of their culinary successes in the coming weeks.
Sports Results
Year 9 boys’ football drew 1-1 with Henry Cort
Years 7/8 girls won against Crofton 6-0
Year 9 Athletics – girls finished 6th out of 11 schools
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.
How to access Arbor if the App Isn’t working (sent 1/5/26 at 1700)
Menu – w/c 11 May 2026
Statistics
Positive Behaviour Points Averages per Pupil for This Week
Year 7 – 3.21 points
Year 8 – 2.74 points
Year 9 – 2.68 points
Year 10 – 1.23 points
Attendance
This week – 92.4%
Same week last year – 94.2%
Sparx 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.
Sparx – Maths
Over 50% in Maths Homework
Year 7 68%
Year 8 53%
Year 9 Revision week for test
Year 10 51%
Over 75% in Maths Homework
Year 7 68%
Year 8 51%
Year 9 Revision week for tests
Year 10 33%
100% in Maths Homework
Year 7 61%
Year 8 39%
Year 9 revision week for test
Year 10 17%
*For example, this figure means 61% of Year 7 got 100% in their homework tasks.
Figures in green indicate maintaining or an increase from last time.
Year 11 are working independently with revision homework.
Maths Homework Support is open to all Years on Wednesdays in ICT2 until 4pm.
Next In-Class Maths Assessment
Year 10 – Year 10 exams – date to be confirmed
Year 9 – calculator test – date to be confirmed
Year 8 – calculator test – date to be confirmed
Year 7 – non-calculator test – date to be confirmed
Calculators and other equipment for sale
Casio fx-85GT cw+ scientific calculators can be bought via Arbor and collected from the Finance Office. Prices of these and other items for sale are shown below:
Casio fx-85GT CW+ scientific calculator- £11.08
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 Arbor for details
Educake – Science
Percentage of Questions Answered Correctly This Week
Year 7 66%
Year 8 81%
Year 9 75%
Year 10 73%
Year 11 76%
Highest number of questions answered by one pupil this week
Year 7 168 questions
Year 8 78 questions
Year 9 140 questions
Year 10 220 questions
Year 11 435 questions