Welcome to Wildern Weekly.

My name is Mr Zealander and I am the Director of Learning for PE. I joined Wildern in January and in the short space of time I have had to get to know students, I have been so impressed by the talents, commitment and aspirations of the students at our school.

 

This year has seen a large number of successful sporting achievements in a broad range of sports. Our girls and boys football teams enjoyed excellent seasons, with the Year 11s winning the Southampton Schools District League and Cup. Our U14 boys basketball team were crowned Southampton and District Schools Plate winners.

 

Our U15 girls and boys athletics teams reached the semi-finals of the Hampshire School Track Knock-out competition. They competed and held their own against some of the highest fee paying schools in Hampshire. Do take the time to read later in this edition about the achievements of two of our up and coming athletics stars who have qualified as the best in their field in Hampshire.

 

Whilst success is important and celebrated, my strong ethos is that PE and sport must be for everybody! We must all understand the importance of living a healthy active lifestyle and have opportunities to compete, make mistakes, show resilience, make new friends and enjoy being active. Whether that be for fun with friends or at the top level, the benefits extend beyond years at Wildern and provide a proven foundation for success academically.

On Monday this week we celebrated those students who achieved their half and full colours. This is an award system that recognises students who show commitment to the PE department by attending co-curricular activities, leading young people in sport and representing the school throughout their time at Wildern. We were delighted to award over 30 students with badges and ties in recognition of students giving up their time and energy to represent Wildern. I would love to award double the amount next year.

 

Next week we are excited to host our Sports Day! We're proud of how we've blended an inclusive morning of participation-focused activities with the traditional athletics afternoon, and students report a really positive experience every year. School records are still kept - which some of you may hold - and students are always very motivated to try and get their name in the record books. This year, we are introducing Pickleball to the event - a really enjoyable and accessible short tennis game.

 

Finally, please do encourage your children to be active over the summer holiday, especially when the weather is favourable. There are a number of local sports clubs running summer coaching sessions and camps as well as the usual programme put on by Wildern Leisure Centre, including Pickleball courts available for hire if you would also like to try a new sport.

Whole School

Monday 14 July Week A

Friday 18 July - A Day to Create

Monday 21 July Week B

Tuesday 22 July - Last Day of Term - School Closes at 12.30pm

 

Monday 1 September - Inset Day: School closed to students

Tuesday 2 September - Inset Day: School closed to students

Wednesday 3 September - Year 7 start, Year 11 Study Skills, Year 8-11 Meeting Me appointments

Thursday 4 September - Year 7 in, Year 11 Study Skills, Year 8-11 Meeting Me appointments

Friday 5 September - All students in school

Monday 8 September - Week B

Year 7 + Year 8

          Wednesday 16 July - Paultons Park Trip

          Thursday 17 July - Sports Day

Year 9 

Wednesday 16 July - Sports Day

Thursday 17 July - Paultons Park Trip

Year 10 

             Wednesday 16 July - Sports Day

             Thursday 17 July - Paultons Park Trip

             Thursday 21 August - Statistic Results from 11am

Year 11

            Thursday 21 August - GCSE Results from 10am from the Dart

 

Uniform next week

We can confirm that next week the weather forecast is cooler and all students will return to full school uniform on Monday 14th July. 

With our Sports days and visit to Paultons Park on Wednesday and Thursday students will be spending more time outside. Please ensure your child has a refillable water bottle, suncream and a hat if needed.

 

End of term Quiz

We are excited to invite all students and their families to attend our Wildern end of term Summer Quiz on Monday 21st July 2025, 5.45pm - 8.30pm. Tickets cost £6.00 pp including food and there will be a Summer buffet picnic extravaganza. 
We will not be selling drinks so you will be able to bring your own, which can include wine and beer! Sign up on Parent Pay by 17thy July.

Music Lessons - September 2025

If your child is interested in learning an instrument or in having singing lessons in September 2025, please see this google form for information and to sign up. 

Thursday 25 September - Open Evening

5.30pm - 7.30pm

For information & to book your space click here

Friday 3 October - Open Morning

9.45am - 10.45am

For information & to book your space click here

Monday 13 October - Open Morning

9.45am - 10.45am

For information & to book your space click here

No letters for Year 7 or 8.

No letters for Year 9 or 10.

Results Day

The link below is a copy of The Parents Guide to Results Day 2025. It is designed to help you feel informed, calm and confident on Results Day.   The Parent's Guide to GCSE results

On Thursday, July 3rd, Wildern School presented its Summer Showcase at The Berry Theatre. Students from Years 7, 8, 9, and 10 dedicated themselves to creating inspiring and powerful choreographies since the Easter holidays.

 

These performances included GCSE classwork, extra-curricular clubs, student-led creations and contributions from external and internal dance companies. The commitment and talent demonstrated by these students are a credit to our school and consistently bring pride to the Dance Department.  

On Tuesday 8 July, Year 9 and 10 students took part in the KS4 Wildern Music Festival in the Berry Theatre.

 

It was a fantastic day and students worked hard on their performances. Congratulations to all those who took part. The winners in each category were as follows:

 

Year 9 Soloist (Instrumental)
1st Place- Francesca L 9D1 (Piano)
2nd Place- Sophia L 9B2 (Piano)
3rd Place- Evie D 9S1 (Guitar)

 

Year 9 Soloist (Voice)
1st Place- Milly H 9B2
2nd Place- Isabella C 9P1
3rd Place- Rosa M-W 9P1

On Friday 25 July, enforcement of the Online Safety Act’s Children’s Codes will come into effect. The enforcement of the codes marks a major shift in how children will experience the online world.

 

Tech companies will have to design their platforms with children’s safety in mind and will need to provide more protection against harmful content like self-harm, eating disorders, pornography, and online grooming. They will also need to implement stronger age checks to keep children away from age-inappropriate sites and content.

 

Ofcom, the UK's online safety regulator, will be able to penalise and fine platforms that do not comply with the new codes.

 

More information on the changes is available on Ofcom’s parents' explainer page.

Great success in the Hampshire Athletics Championships on Tuesday!

 

Josiah P - New to shot putt this year and already the third best U14 shot putter in Hampshire - threw 11.03m, only 30cm short of 1st place.  While  Jonah C achieve a fantastic 2nd place in the U14 800m, beating his own PB by 4 seconds and running 2:11.8.  Well done!!

Southampton Football Club has welcomed its latest scholarship intake as 12 youngsters have signed ahead of the 2025/26 season.

 

The latest cohort consists of two players that have risen up through the system all the way from the pre-Academy, several more recent signings, and two brand new additions who will join the Under-18s set-up. This includes one of our Wildern Students!

 

Centre-back Lewis D has been at the club the longest out of the group, having joined in the pre-Academy in the Under-7s age group.

 

A "calm and composed" centre-back, he has also received accolades off the pitch as he picked up the Julie Batchelor Award for Academic Endeavour last season. We all wish Lewis (11A2) the best of luck throughout his scholarship.

Please see the menu for our hot food options for next week.

 

The main school meal deals are £3.20 which is in line with all Hampshire schools. In a meal deal, students can get one of the meal choices below with a bottle of plain water and a cookie or piece of fruit.

• either of the hot meal options,
• a jacket potato,
• a pasta pot,
• a chicken or beef burger,
• a salad pot (from the salad bar)

We encourage all families to use the free school meals eligibility checker, which can be found here, to determine if they qualify for this entitlement. 

 

Please remember, we can adapt the majority of meals to any dietary needs if we know in advance (your child can speak to kitchen staff by visiting the kitchen before 8:30am that day). Main A/B vegetarian options are always available - just ask Dan and his team.

 

* correct at time of sending, but may be subject to change

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about AI- Enabled Scams

 

AI isn’t just transforming the way we learn and work, it’s also reshaping the tactics scammers use online. From generating convincing phishing emails to fabricating influencer videos, criminals are using AI to make their scams more convincing than ever. Young people, who often embrace new tech quickly, can be especially vulnerable. 

 

This guide highlights several AI-enabled dangers – including romance scams, deepfake audio and video impersonations, and fake job offers – and explains how to spot and report them. With clear tips for verifying content, thinking critically, and using trusted platforms, it’s essential reading for parents and educators to help young people stay one step ahead of the scammers.

Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts

 

Follow us on social media:

Wildern School

Wildern Lane

Hedge End

Southampton

Hampshire

SO30 4EJ

 

01489 783473

 

#WeAreWildern