Hello, and welcome to this week’s Wildern Weekly.

 

As the festive season approaches and another term draws to a close, we wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

It has been a truly wonderful term filled with so many opportunities from the School Production of Legally Blonde, to all the numerous trips that have been on offer as well as some fantastic learning experiences such as having moon rocks in school.

 

This would not happen without our fabulous staff working tirelessly behind the scenes to organise such events; the sheer number and the depth and breadth of these extra and co-curricular experiences has been once more impressive.

We have been consistently impressed by the enthusiasm and thirst for learning that our students have displayed since the beginning of this academic year. The introduction of our R&R room has played a significant role in supporting this, ensuring improvements in classrooms, corridors, and around the school. External visitors and our students themselves have remarked upon the positive impact of this initiative.

 

We deeply appreciate your continued support and partnership in your child's education. The strong community we have at Wildern is something we are incredibly grateful for.

 

We wish you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming our students back in the new year, refreshed and ready for more adventures.

We are always interested in hearing from everyone in our community about the things we are doing well and the things we perhaps need to improve. As part of our quality assurance processes we regularly speak to students in school about their experience but we also want to hear from Parents. 

 

Here is a link to our short Autumn term survey which is focussing on Behaviour. There are just 7 questions which can be answered in as little as a minute, but also offer you the opportunity to expand on your answers if you would like us to know more. We are asking all parents to complete this by Friday 20th December. The results of this will be shared with you in the new year.

House totals

Whilst Sovereign are still leading, Jubilee are catching up, with Driscoll not far behind. Bedford, Alba and Paxton are almost level pegging. It's going to be exciting watching this competition as we move into the Spring term.

 

The Basics Bank collection is a Gold House event, meaning the house with the most contributions will get the most points for their house total. See below for details of days for collections.

 

Whole School

Friday 13 December Christmas Jumper Day

Monday 16 December Week A

Friday 20 December Last day of term, school closes at 12:30pm

-

Monday 6 January 2025 Week B - term starts

Monday 13 January Week A

 

Year 7

Tuesday 17 December Jack & Beanstalk project trip

Year 8

No key dates for year 8

Year 9

Thursday 16 January Parents evening (face to face)

Year 10

Friday 10 January Solomons Theatre workshops for EL

Saturday 18 January DoE practice walk

Year 11

Thursday 19 December Practice exam results day

 

As we draw near to the end of term, our student leaders have been very busy organising a number of charitable Christmas events and bringing lovely festive spirit! 

 

As part of our 'Thank You Thursdays' a team of prefects were up bright and early to serve hot drinks to staff on their way into work as a way of saying 'Thank you!' for all of their hard work. 

 

This week our House Captains have been donning their house strawberries and with a team of prefects advertising and encouraging participation in both Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children and the Basics Bank donations for Southampton City Mission. The Basics Bank is a House competition, so we will be announcing the winners next week once the donations are all in. Tutor groups have also been set a 100 item per group, so we're excited to see who has reached it! 

The Basics Bank appeal has been superbly organised by our Rights Respecting Community Focus Group - this group includes student leaders from a variety of year groups. They have done an excellent job! 

 

Also, our Mindset Builders Focus Group have been busy preparing for the final day of term when we have our very first Pyjama Day raising money for MIND. These student leaders suggested and developed the idea and submitted their proposal to the Senior Leadership team who then approved the event - it's great to see student voice working so positively to make a difference for others. 

 

Our student leaders are such an important part of our school, bringing lots of positivity and joy, which is exactly what we need at this time of year. Merry Christmas one and all! 

Thank you also to B&Q who gifted us a Christmas tree this year.

We have been working as a school on using the science behind how students learn to support them with their thinking in lessons. Here are some top tips with how you can do this at home too. 

It has been a very busy term in our Careers department which you can read more about in our termly newsletter here. There have been many events taking place including

• Year 11 Parents Information Evening
• Year 10 Experience of a Workplace Parents information evening
• Year 11 College Assembly week
• Year 10 and 11 Careers Fair
• SEND parents Careers evening
• Year 11 Careers advice appointments taking place

But Careers education at Wildern doesn't just take place in Year 10 and 11, students have career opportunities from the start in Year 7 and in every year that they are with us. We feel that this approach is important to build their knowledge and understanding of the opportunities available post 16.

 

Next term, Year 8 will have the opportunity to meet with various employers to get an insight into different career worlds and support them in their pathway decisions. Year 7 will have a Dragons Den style day as well to start them thinking about employability skills and Year 9 will take part in a work skills day. Support for Year 11 with applications and careers advice will continue and Year 10 will be looking at CVs in preparation for their practice interviews after Easter.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the 2024 BERA Public Engagement and Impact Award is the initiative, #BeeWell: Making Young People’s Wellbeing Everybody’s Business, led by the University of Manchester. This exceptional project exemplifies the transformative power of research and public engagement in addressing the wellbeing of young people.

 

#BeeWell is an innovative research programme that integrates academic expertise with youth-led initiatives to ensure that young people’s wellbeing becomes a shared responsibility. Through its annual survey, co-designed with young people aged 12-15, the project assesses the key domains and drivers of wellbeing. Its reach is impressive, with over 85,000 young people from nearly 300 secondary schools across 14 local authorities having participated so far.

 

The impact of #BeeWell is vast and varied, demonstrating its commitment to both academic excellence and community impact:

• Youth-Centered Engagement: From a Youth Steering Group to the Young Researchers programme, the project has empowered young people to take the lead in shaping research priorities and actions.
• Collaborative Change: The project has directly influenced policies and practices in schools, local authorities, and partner organizations, fostering innovative solutions such as youth-led community projects and social prescribing programmes.
• Strategic Impact: Insights from #BeeWell have informed key strategies at both local and national levels, advancing the wellbeing agenda across Greater Manchester and beyond.

Led by Professor Neil Humphrey and a dedicated team from the University of Manchester, #BeeWell is an example of how research can move beyond the academic sphere to create tangible benefits for communities. Please join us in congratulating the #BeeWell team for their outstanding contribution to the field of educational research and public engagement. Their work not only enhances our understanding of young people’s wellbeing but also inspires a collective effort to create a brighter future for the next generation.

 

To learn more about this initiative, visit the #BeeWell website or follow their updates on social media using #BeeWell.

 

#BeeWell Wednesday - Newsletter, December 2024

We have been asked to let you know that Shirley Dale Dentist are accepting new NHS patients. They are committed to providing quality healthcare, and they are pleased to offer our services to support the health and wellbeing of local families. Should any parents or staff wish to register, they would be happy to assist with the registration process or provide further details.

Address: Shirley Dale Dental , 44 Dale road, Southampton, SO16 6QL

Contact: 0280773461

Email Id: shirleydale.pm@southcliffdentalgroup.com

AWE Nuclear Security Technologies still has some apprenticeship opportunities open for roles starting in August 2025, anyone interested should visit the website: Apprenticeships – AWE for further information.

 

Start your career with an employer who genuinely wants to invest in you and work with you to develop your potential.

You will have the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, gaining knowledge, skills and behaviours that will enable you to have a world-class future.

 

Our apprenticeships, vary from Level 3 Advanced to Level 6 Batchelors Degree covering a broad spectrum of skills: from Engineering to Project Management. Regardless of your chosen path, from day one you will be on a programme that develops not just your technical capability, but also the skills required to be successful in your future roles.

 

You will receive 1-2-1 support and training that will provide you with both the knowledge and understanding of the role and also the work placements, giving you the opportunity to develop whilst in the role.

BAE are hosting a webinar in National Apprenticeships Week, where students/teachers/parents can join to find out what apprenticeships are available and how they might go about applying to apprenticeships within BAE Systems Submarines.

 

Monday 10th February 5:30pm – 6:30pm

BAE Systems Higher/Degree Apprenticeship Insights Webinar

Click to book FREE ticket

The contents of the 1-hour long webinar are as follows:

• Short Presentation on "What Higher/Degree Apprenticeships are available at BAE Systems & How to Apply"
• Interactive Q&A Session to ask any & all of your questions to Early Careers Colleagues & Apprentices
• Break Out Rooms where attendees can choose to listen to a talk about how an apprentice got into their role, you can choose from the following:
• Project Management
• Data Analysis
• Engineering

This will be running whilst our apprenticeship application window is LIVE, so will be the perfect opportunity to gain some more insights prior to applying.

It is open to all age groups and is completely FREE to attend.

 

T Levels are helping young people gain the skills, confidence and connections they need for success. They are 2-year courses designed for learners 16-19, offering a blend of classroom learning and practical experience. Taken after GCSEs and broadly equivalent to 3 A Levels, T Levels were developed with leading employers so that students gain the skills needed in the workplace.

 

With over 20 subjects available, including digital, engineering and construction, each T Level includes a substantial industry placement, giving students practical experience in their chosen field.

 

EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES HERE

Here is our updated Autumn term Co-Curricular timetable of activities.

Monday 16th December

Year 9 Boys Football vs Hamble School - Round 5 of the National Cup

Monday 9th - December

U16 Girls Football won 2-1 against Oasis Academy Mayfield 

 

Tuesday 10th December

U16 Boys Basketball lost to Wyvern College

 

U14 Girls Netball won the Southampton District Netball tournament. Winning all their games. The girls were presented medals in assembly this week. We are really proud of all their hard work on and off the courts. 

Please see the menus for our festive hot food options for next week which will be available at both break 1 and 2 to the following years on these days:

• Monday - Year 11
• Tuesday - Year 10
• Wednesday - Year 9
• Thursday - Year 8 and 7
• Friday - all years, break 1 only

In the main servery, there will be the following options, with vegetarian alternatives available:

Monday - Chilli & rice

Tuesday - Curry

Wednesday - Pizza

Thursday - Fish & Chips

 

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

Top Tips to Stay Safe on New Devices 

 

Whether you’re an internet newbie or a pro at surfing the web, it’s always important to keep online safety in mind. We’ve pulled together a list of top tips to make it easier for you to protect yourself and your devices in the digital world - helping you steer clear of hazards like misleading information and vicious viruses. There’s never a bad time to refresh your internet safety knowledge, but it’s an especially smart thing to do before you start using any shiny new devices!

In the guide, you'll find tips such as double-checking your news sources, taking breaks from being online and not sharing personal information.

Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts

 

Follow us on social media:

Wildern School

Wildern Lane

Hedge End

Southampton

Hampshire

SO30 4EJ

 

01489 783473

 

#WeAreWildern