Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildern Weekly. My name is Miss Wiley and I am the Director of Learning for Creative Arts.

 

As we move through an exciting and busy term, we’re delighted to share some key upcoming events that reflect the creativity, talent, and spirit of our school community.

 

We’re thrilled to announce that our 2025 school production will be Aladdin. This much-loved musical promises to be a magical experience for everyone involved. Auditions will take place on Thursday 22 May, and we encourage students from across the school to take part — whether on stage, behind the scenes, or supporting in other creative roles.

 

We’re also pleased to confirm that our annual Colours Celebration will take place on Monday 7 July. This is our opportunity to recognise students who have made outstanding contributions to the Creative Arts and PE. Applications have been sent to students via the Student Wildern Weekly, and the deadline for submission is Monday 19 May.

Looking ahead, we are preparing for this year’s A Day to Create, which will be held on Friday 18 July. This special event gives our students the opportunity to develop a project or piece of work that fosters creativity and instils a sense of pride in their community. It’s a day that truly reflects the values of collaboration, imagination, and student voice.

 

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. We look forward to celebrating these events with you and continuing to provide opportunities that inspire and empower our students.

Whole School

Monday 19 May Week B

Wednesday 21 May National Numeracy Day

Thursday 22 May Parent information evening: E-Safety

Friday 23 May Last Day of term

Monday 26 May - Friday 30 May Half Term

Monday 2 June  Week A

Thursday 19 June Summer Music Concert

Friday 20 June  Inset Day - School closed for students

Year 7

          Thursday 5 June Legoland Trip

          Thursday 12 June Virtual Parents Evening

Year 8

           Thursday 5 June Legoland Trip

Year 9

No Key Dates

Year 10

Wednesday 4 + Thursday 5 June Hengistbury Head Trip

Monday 9 + Tuesday 10 June Hengistbury Head Trip

School Uniform 

 

At Wildern School, we pride ourselves on our high standards, reflected in our inclusive and de-gendered Uniform. We ask parents to partner with us by ensuring their child arrives at school in the correct uniform.

 

Please see attached information with regards to Skoolkit uniform pricing for 2025/26 including their summer discount.

School Site Improvements

 

Our site improvement projects still continue. This half term sees the development of the block 6 area, especially the IT areas upstairs. This is an exciting development and will give us an improved suite of IT classroom environments.

 

Whilst the team are working in the area, students will see contractors in full PPE suits as they carry out the necessary works to ensure the area is safely updated. There is no need to worry, this is all routine and good practice and has been the case in every other area of the school. We look forward to seeing the finished area at the end of the summer term.

Paultons Park Trip 2025 FAQ's

 

Please click here for our live FAQ's - which will be regularly updated with questions we have received from parents.

Romsey Relay - PAPYRUS - Prevention of Young Suicide

 

This weekend - Sunday 18 May - Team Wildern are joining the Romsey Relay Marathon tackling the 26.2 mile course with our teams of staff and students!

 

We're fundraising for Papyrus, a charity doing critical work preventing young suicide - the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK. Every year up to 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide.

 

Please support us and them! Your donations will help save lives! Our Just Giving page is here

Parent Information Evening

 

No letters for Year 7 

Year 8 - Legoland Trip - Thursday 5 June 2025

The Science department would like to offer your child the opportunity to visit Legoland, Windsor. The trip includes entry to Legoland and a 60 minute workshop, focusing on the energy and forces around rollercoasters.  Sign up on Parent Pay - Deadline is TODAY Friday 16 May 2025

Year 8 - Chromebook Scheme (September 2025)

Please see attached letter with all the information, benefits and sign up information with regards to the Chromebook Scheme for September 2025 when your child is in Year 9. Deadline is Monday 2 June 2025

No letters for Year 9 

No letters for Year 10

No letters for Year 11

As part of the UK Parliament's education programme, our prefect team were able to enjoy a 45 minute online video call with Barroness Garden of Frognal, one of the deputy speakers of the House of Lords! 

 

The Learn with the Lord's scheme enables schools to quiz a member of the House of Lords all about their role, the House of Lords, and any related aspects of parliament.

 

Today, our students asked pertinent questions of things like daily routines and responsibilities, rewarding and challenging aspects of the role, agreeing with opposing parties, the most important qualities of leaders, whether young people should get involved in politics and, if so, how, and of course, the most important question about her favourite flavour of ice-cream. 

 

The session was honest, insightful, engaging and very down to earth, and our prefect team seems to have benefited a lot from it, including myself and Mrs Oakley too! It's has been a privilege to have been able to add this experience to the student leadership training of the 2025-26 Prefect team.

This week, 60 Year 9 & 10 pupils were lucky to be able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine at Kew Gardens.

 

Pupils were set off on a workshop where they were investigating the adaptations of different plants and why they are best suited to the conditions that they live in. 

 

During their time at Kew, pupils were able to explore the world of a desert, the rainforest, enter a giant man-made vibrating beehive and those who were brave enough, did the tree top walk that gave spectacular views across London. 

 

Next week, we are celebrating National Numeracy day on Wednesday 21 May. This is to raise awareness of the importance of numbers in our everyday lives, encouraging everyone to improve their numeracy skills, no matter their age or ability.

 

This year, the focus is on finance. 

 

Get involved and work together with your child to explore the world of money management and finance, whilst earning house points along the way by entering this short quiz, which will remain open until Friday 23 May.    

 

For more information with regards to National Numeracy day please click here  

Last week, as part of our student leadership training, the Head Students and Senior Prefects visited the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier at the Royal Navy base in Portsmouth. We have worked more closely with the Navy providing leadership insights and opportunities, and this trip enabled us to visit one of the largest vessels in the country and see how it functions and how leaders in this environment contribute to it successfully operating. 

 

It was an excellent visit and hopefully an inspiring one for our student leaders.  The Royal Navy do a fantastic job protecting others and providing life-saving assistance across the world.  We had a blast!

Mental Health is Everything

 

If you do one thing this Mental Health Awareness Week, think of this post. It might help someone feel less alone.

When someone is going through a tough time, asking for help can feel really hard – but that’s often when they need support the most.

Here are 5 simple, thoughtful ways to show you care...

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR BUDDING YOUNG CHEFS

Starting Tuesday 9 Sept – 14 Oct 2025 - 6 weeks Inclusive

 

Hospitality and Catering is one of the fastest growing, exciting and ever changing industries providing many different job opportunities. The Junior Chef Programme is a six week course designed for years 9, 10 & 11 to give them an insight into the professional cookery experience within the Hospitality & Catering industry.

 

The programme will help develop confidence, communication and cookery skills as well as encouraging them to use their creative flair. On completion of the course your child will receive a College Attendance Certificate at a ceremony where they will prepare a three course meal.

 

Click here for more information and to book.

Friday 9 May - Here is a photo of the students who took part in the athletics friendly at Winchester Athletics Track.

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 Lego Fortnite

 

Fortnite is a game well-known for its popularity with younger players, as well as its many different modes and expansions intended to keep the experience fresh for long-time fans. One such addition has been LEGO Fortnite – a kind of “survival mode” where players take control of LEGO characters, craft tools, and build structures in a manner similar to the toy set of the same name. 

 

While the content of LEGO Fortnite has been rated as suitable for children of 7 and older in the UK, it – like any online game – carries inherent safety concerns. For this reason, parents and educators should consider keeping themselves apprised of any potential dangers posed to children who enjoy this title.

 

Our free guide offers plenty of insight into the most prominent risks associated with this title, and lets you know how to ensure children can safely enjoy their time with this expansion.

Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts

 

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Wildern School

Wildern Lane

Hedge End

Southampton

Hampshire

SO30 4EJ

 

01489 783473

 

#WeAreWildern