News & Events

Thinking of choosing Parkside as your child's secondary school? Join us for an open evening on Monday 26 September 2022 between 5.00pm - 7.00pm.

Presentations will take place in the hall at 5.00pm and 6.00pm.

Dear Parents, Carers and Pupils

It is with great sadness that I write this short tribute to Her Majesty the Queen after the news of her passing yesterday. She was an incredibly inspirational lady and dedicated her life to serving others with over 70 years on the throne. The Jubilee celebrations in June demonstrated how much she meant to so many people, which must have been wonderful for her. She had a wry sense of humour, and this was evident in the James Bond sequence for the London Olympics in 2012. Many of us will also remember fondly the Paddington Bear moment from the Jubilee celebrations.

Queen Elizabeth II embodied our core values, particularly integrity. It is evident how much she was loved as head of her own family. At this time our thoughts and prayers are very much with them and all who have recently lost a loved one.

I know this will be a sad time for many in our school community but know we are working with pupils to understand, make sense of and perhaps most importantly learn from the example Queen Elizabeth II has set. We began this during mentor time this morning, and will continue with assemblies next week.

I’d like to end with this quote from a 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth, from her broadcast to the children of the Commonwealth in October 1940: “And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place”.

Best wishes,

Ben Riggott

Headteacher

Thinking of choosing Parkside as your child's secondary school? Join us for an open evening on Monday 25 September 2023 between 5.00pm - 7.00pm. Click here for more information.

School Update 9 September 2022

Thank you for your support in making the start of term so positive.

Our slightly staggered start worked brilliantly, and enabled us to spend some time with each year group before they made their way around school and into lessons. This was of course particularly helpful for Year 7, who benefitted hugely from being the only year group in school on Monday.

Pupils have responded brilliantly to three important sets of adjustments we have made for this year. The first concerns expectations for behaviour in lessons. Following extensive discussions with pupils, parents, staff and other groups, we have made small but significant changes in this area that are being applied consistently across the school and will make a real difference. Details of those expectations can be seen in the poster below.

We have also adjusted the school's rewards (also known as commendations) and consequences systems, so that they too are applied consistently and connect with our expectations. Commendations for meeting or surpassing expectations include text messages and email certificates home, weekly staff commendations in the same vein as Star of the Week, and termly rewards including vouchers and experiences. Whilst we are recording details of any behaviour that does not meet our expectations, throughout this week and next we are not issuing detentions for what we consider to be lower-level issues. This gives our pupils time to learn and adapt to the new systems, before they are applied in full.

The final set of changes concerns movement around our largest building, A-Block. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the increase in pupil numbers in recent years has led to difficulty in navigating the corridors of a building designed for approximately 40% of the people now using it! We have therefore introduced a simple (and well signposted) one-way system within the block, which has already made a marked difference.

Next week the School Update will be back, with details of activities and events of the week, and perhaps most importantly details of pupils who have received staff commendations during the first two weeks of the year.

Extreme Heat warning Letter - 17 July