Regents Review Autumn 2025 26

REGENTS PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

AUTUMN 2025

Remembrance Day See page 3

Hot 50 Fun

Student Achievement

Team Up

Science Club

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Page 3

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

WELCOME Headteacher’s Welcome

Regents Park is a truly special place all year round and as we reach the end of the autumn term, it feels even more remarkable with so much to celebrate. This week has been full of joy as we celebrated many student achievements: from student ethos badges being awarded, to our lively reward assemblies, along with our traditional Hot 50 event! I have just completed positive phone calls to our top achievement point winners across all year groups. Our rewards culture is a vital part of what makes Regents Park so special, showcasing the pride our students take in being part of this community. Year 11 have experienced their mock GCSE results day and our IAG morning will take place early next term, giving them a valuable chance to reflect and set focused targets for their final term with us. With college and apprenticeship interviews well underway, we wish all Year 11 students the very best as they prepare for their next steps. Our autumn term Regents Review captures the vibrant life of our school community. From winning competitions and going on inspiring trips, to celebrating digital leadership and observing a moving Armistice Day, from exciting raffles to the pride we take in learning and progress - it has been a busy and rewarding

term. Central to all this are our hardworking staff and amazing students who live our values of respect, pride, creativity, and challenge every day. This term, we bid farewell to Mrs Meeghan, Miss Donovan and Mr Farnden, who have shared their expertise with students over the years. We wish them all the best as they move on to new opportunities. At the same time, we look forward to welcoming new colleagues in January with Miss Botha joining our DT team. I am confident she will receive the warm Regents Park acknowledge the incredible efforts of our staff behind the scenes, who have been working tirelessly to ensure a smooth and successful transition as we prepare to join United Learning in January. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support during this exciting period of change. Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your continued support and wish you all a peaceful and joyful festive holiday. I look forward to another successful year ahead in 2026 at Regents Park Community College. welcome from both staff and students. As the term closes, I would also like to

Mrs S Barnes Headteacher

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Christmas Trolley Appeal

Calling all ex students! We would love to hear from our ex students to see what you have all been up to! Please contact us if you would like to be part of our growing alumni community at info@regentspark.southampton.sch.uk

Due to previous success, RPCC, once again, promoted the Christmas trolley appeal. We would like to thank everyone who has helped to support this.

Remembrance Day On the eleventh hour, staff and students observed a two minute silence. As is tradition, Mr Barron played ‘The Last Post’ to mark the occasion. Our students proudly wore their poppies to honour those who have served and sacrificed. Our catering team also prepared special Remembrance Day–themed cakes for students to enjoy.

Student Achievement Highlight We are proud to celebrate Ava in Year 7, for her outstanding commitment and success in boxing. Ava has been training and competing for two and a half years, taking part in events across Hull, Manchester, London and Southampton. During this time, she has earned multiple awards, reflecting her dedication, resilience and passion for the sport. In this photo, Ava is proudly displaying her achievements and holding her trophy from a skills bout. Well done Ava! Keep up the fantastic work.

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GENERAL NEWS Curriculum

and social care, BTEC sport, computer science and much, much more. To get the complete list, parents and students will need to attend the Year 9 Options Evening! Year 10s have already completed 20% of their KS4 curriculum with many students enjoying subjects not as available in KS3, as well as those core subjects which raise the challenge at GCSE level, such as English, maths and science. While Year 10s are still in the early stages of their courses, Year 11s are racing to the finish line. They have just completed mock GCSE assessments and these will inform any changes needed to curriculum planning, revision and interventions. With the end of Year 11 in sight, their attention will also turn to post 16, with Year 11s investigating the curriculum choices at colleges. Year 7s have adapted to learning in secondary school and moving from one curriculum area to another for subject specific resources and facilities. Over this term, students will have faced assessments in specific subjects and resulting set changes have already happened in maths and will now be extended to other subjects too. Sets are reviewed regularly to ensure that any progress is recognised and likewise where students struggle, appropriate support is put in place. Year 8s are halfway through KS3. They are lucky to still be experiencing a broad, balanced and full KS3 curriculum. This not only incorporates all subjects, but also the different disciplines within subjects. So, for example in DT, Year 8 students have rotations through the different disciplines from food technology to graphic design and PE students experience different sports and physical activities including swimming in the school pool. It is important that Year 8 embrace this wide learning and enjoy the opportunity to study such a breadth of subjects. In addition to their formal curriculum, Regents Park students also have a range of opportunities, as part of our extracurricular offer. This is both within and outside of the classroom. For example, a huge number of students are now involved in Duke of Edinburgh. After last year’s great success

As you will be aware, as from January, we will be joining United Learning. One of the many benefits of being part of such an academy chain is the amount of curriculum support a school gets. For example, schemes of work, resources and assessments are all provided to the school to adapt for learners. This means much of the curriculum is under review and curriculum areas are phasing in aspects of the United Learning curriculum over the year. Once we have formally joined, we will be able to access all resources and of course, update information shared with parents. Hot off the press is the Government’s response to the curriculum and assessment review. There are proposed changes to the National Curriculum, KS4 options and even allocated time for GCSE examinations. These are still to be confirmed, but we have already begun considering how this could affect our students, their curriculum offer and ultimately their progress. Having the backing of an academy chain will help here too. United Learning will provide guidance and advice for their schools in order to ensure they meet Government requirements and get the best for their children. As we move towards 2026 and the second term of this academic year, plans are underway for Year 9 options. There is a Year 9 Parents’ Evening where parents can get subject specific updates on their child’s progress and how they can improve. This is a critical parents’ evening as Year 9 forms the foundations for KS4 studies and it is important to identify gaps before students start GCSEs. This understanding of their children’s skills and abilities can also support when making choices about KS4 options. Shortly after, there is a Year 9 Options Evening, where the choices for this cohort will be revealed. This important evening will showcase the broad and balanced KS4 curriculum on offer, as well as explaining course content, links to post 16 and necessary skills for courses. At Regents Park, the KS4 offer for Year 9 is likely to include business studies, sociology, 3D design, photography, health

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GENERAL NEWS with the ‘Higher Project Qualification’, even more of our most able students in Year 10 will be offered the chance to complete this qualification. The PE curriculum includes sports leadership skills and qualifications and in maths the most able students are entered for further maths. This rich Safeguarding The new academic year always starts with safeguarding training for all staff. This includes any national developments, local issues and reminders about our school procedures. It is made clear that although we have over 20 DSLs, that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

curriculum offer means our students experience real learning, gain the qualifications they need and have many opportunities to add to their college or job applications with a wide range of experiences, additional qualifications and certificates.

The important topic of child-on-child sexual abuse is also covered during these assemblies and it is made clear to students about what is unacceptable behaviour and could be categorised as sexual abuse. This is an important message to make sure students know how to protect themselves as well as others. Smoothwall is our online monitoring system. This blocks staff and students from looking at any content deemed inappropriate. When a student – or member of staff – gets ‘smoothwalled’ an alert is sent to the Lead DSL and the Pastoral Assistant Headteacher, who then investigate. Most often the searches are innocent and linked to classroom learning, but where they are not, students are spoken to and sanctioned or supported according to the nature of the alert. Parents are also updated. The online world continues to be one of the greatest dangers for children and this is one of the more frequent safeguarding concerns we deal with.

Staff training on safeguarding is regular and in different forms throughout the year. A weekly bulletin is emailed round, which includes things like issues in the press, advice from the Local Authority safeguarding team or just reminders about school policy. In addition to this, each training day has a ‘safeguarding snapshot’ and we also use an online platform called SSSCPD for training on different safeguarding themes. Of course, the lead DSL and some of the deputies, attend other training with the Local Authority and participate in government online seminars and workshops. Students’ first safeguarding assembly followed a similar structure. They were reminded of the DSL team and also that they can go to any member of staff in school to report a concern. The assemblies were adapted for year groups with Year 7 being introduced to some key RPCC values and expectations around their own safety and conduct towards others.

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If you have any concerns regarding the safeguarding of a child, please contact one of the DSLs.

Online safety is so important as it can give predators quick and easy access to children. It is also how some students can bully and abuse others. In school we have preventative education through assemblies, PSHE and other lessons and we deal with issues once they arise, but parents need to take online safety seriously too. Please check your children’s settings and what they are accessing. Make sure they are not posting content which makes them vulnerable or that they are not in communication with people that they don’t know, but also check that their own online conduct towards others is respectful and not harmful. A big congratulations to all our students who have demonstrated excellent uniform standards throughout this year. It has been fantastic to see students taking pride in their appearance, wearing the correct uniform every day and representing Regents Park Community College with maturity and respect. As we move forward into 2026, we encourage everyone to keep up these high standards. Uniform is an important part of our school identity, helping to promote equality, readiness for learning and a calm, focused environment across the site. With the colder weather approaching, please remember to dress appropriately for the season. Coats are strongly recommended for travelling to and from school and during break and lunchtime outdoors. Once inside the building, blazers must remain on at all times - they will help you stay warm and continue to meet our expectations. Excellent Uniform Standards

Thank you to all students for your ongoing effort and pride in your uniform. Let’s carry these excellent habits forward into the new year.

Bounce Back in 2026 At Regents Park Community College, we talk a lot about “bounce back” and “bounce-back ability” - and for good reason! These values sit at the heart of what it means to grow, succeed

and keep moving forward, no matter the challenges you face. As we approach 2026, it’s the perfect time to remind every student that even if this year hasn’t been your best start, next year can be completely different. A new year means a fresh

opportunity to reset, refocus and rise to your potential. Bouncing back doesn’t mean being perfect. It means showing: • Resilience when things feel tough • Determination to improve day by day

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• Commitment to your learning • Respect for yourself and those around you • Hard work even when you don’t feel like it Every student has the ability to change their path, turn things around and prove what they’re

truly capable of. Whether it’s improving attendance, boosting achievement points, or showing a more positive attitude in lessons, 2026 can be the year you transform your journey. So as we head into the new year, remember our key message: minimum attendance improvement target – part of an urgent drive to restore absence to pre-pandemic levels, as part of it’s ‘plan for change’. Here at RPCC, we increased our attendance by 2.9% - but were still below the national average. However, with 1 in 3 schools failing to improve, the Department for Education has set out a roadmap for every school to double down on it’s efforts to support students back to class, as research shows the importance of every day in school for children’s opportunity in life and future earnings. Every school will be issued with AI-powered minimum attendance improvement targets, to ensure children are in school and ready to achieve. The attendance baseline improvement expectation (ABIE) will be based on schools’ circumstances - including location, students needs

bounce back. Show your ‘bounce back-ability’. Your story isn’t written yet - you decide what happens next.

Attendance Matters

and deprivation. The department is also using AI and data to give more support to schools to meet the minimum expectations, by linking them up with high performing schools with similar circumstances. These top schools will be identified within each school’s ABIE report. This comes alongside 36 new attendance and behaviour hubs, which will offer direct one-to one support reaching tens of thousands of students across hundreds of schools, as wider sharing of best practice through events and open days. Mr Whatley has already visited one of these hubs and is continuing to work with various schools to identify how we can improve our attendance. How Attendance Impacts Grades Here is an example of how poor attendance impacts grades for the same student (based upon real GCSE analysis):

At RPCC we expect students to attend every lesson, every day. Good attendance is important because: • Statistics show a significant, direct link between under achievement and absence below 95% (absence of 10 school days or 20 sessions). • Regular attenders make better progress, both socially and academically. • Regular attenders find school routines enable them to build relationships, succeed and enjoy school life. • Regular attenders find learning more satisfying. • Regular attenders have greater success transferring from primary to secondary

school and into further education and higher education, employment or training.

Please visit www. regentsparkcollege.org.uk/ attendance/ for all your attendance needs or queries. Government’s Plan The Education Secretary has set every school an individual

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GENERAL NEWS What we are doing to help As well as our usual breakfast club to support students coming in on time, we have started a new prize draw. For each week a student has 100% attendance, they will automatically be entered into a prize draw. There is a prize for a student in each year group, every term. Just for coming in as they are supposed to! Please do not worry if your child has an ongoing medical need or alternative provision – we’ve thought of that as well. Whilst you are now being shown the official attendance figures each week (according to what we have to report to the DfE), our pastoral team are monitoring attendance and entering everyone we feel is attending all they can, so no one

misses out if they are doing what is expected. As we’re nearly at the end of another term, the next set of winners will be drawn soon! Remember 90% attendance = • 10% absence • Classified by the government as “persistent absence” • A day off every 2 weeks • A month off school each year • 114 missed lessons Please ensure that wherever possible, your child comes into school. The welfare officer will help determine if they are not fit to stay in school and can monitor students as necessary. Here are some great resources to support excellent attendance and manage

the seasonal illnesses: • Education Hub Blog: Reducing the spread of illness this winter: Seven steps to healthier schools and higher school attendance https://tinyurl.com/4zfnmamp • NHS Guidance for Parents: Is my child too ill for school? https://tinyurl.com/2pvyt596 • Preventing and Controlling Infections Guidance: advice on vaccination, ventilation, and good respiratory hygiene. https://tinyurl.com/yeyr33an • A–Z of Managing Infectious Diseases : Practical guidance on managing specific illnesses. https://tinyurl.com/yjcwakhy Remember, if students aren’t in school - they’re missing out!

HOT 50 Fun A huge well done to all students who made it into the HOT 50 this term - the first celebration of the year! Selection was based on excellent attendance, strong achievement points and a consistently positive attitude to learning in every lesson. These students have shown real commitment to our school values and it was brilliant to see their hard work recognised. The event itself was a fantastic occasion, with half of the school taking part in an afternoon of inflatable fun and activities. Students enjoyed everything from assault courses and dance machines to the ever-popular rodeo reindeer, creating a brilliant atmosphere across the school. As we move forward into the next term, remember - the points have now been reset. It’s a completely clean slate and every student has the chance to make it into the next HOT 50 event at Easter. Keep attending, keep achieving and keep demonstrating the attitude and effort that make our school proud.

Good luck and let’s make the next HOT 50 even bigger!

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Library It has been a very busy start to the new school year, with all of Year 7 visiting the library to find out how to use the resources and to borrow some of our amazing books. During the last few weeks of this term, Year 8 students visited the library during tutor time to focus on ‘reading for pleasure’. Reading is at the heart of everything we do at RPCC, so it is very important that every student is given the chance to borrow the books and use the library resources. Over 200 new books have been added to the library this term, hopefully there is something to engage even the most reluctant readers. Spotlight Shelves We have celebrated some of the following events with a range of colourful displays: Non Fiction November, National Poetry Day, Black History Month, Dyslexia Awareness Week, Diwali, Anti Bullying Week and Remembrance Day. We also learned about Banned Books Week and students were shocked to discover the reasons why some of their favourite books have been censored around the world.

Library Clubs Students have also been enjoying break and lunchtimes in the library with lovely craft activities and board games, which have created some wonderful social interactions. We have also had some very competitive games at Chess Club on Thursdays after school and students have been attending Homework Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, to get a head start on their home learning. Students are welcome to attend these clubs, just turn up in the library or pop in to see the librarian for more information. Dyslexia Support Group Our dyslexia support group continues to meet once a week and our students are progressing and growing in confidence. It has been fantastic to see them supporting each other and we are very proud of the way they have applied themselves. Paired Reading Sessions We have continued our paired reading sessions in the library on Friday mornings, with Year 8 students reading with other students from Year 9 or 10. It has been wonderful to see the progress made by our students and their confidence is growing every week. Well done to everyone involved.

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Online Resources We have some fantastic online resources which are FREE for students to borrow via Google Classroom. Please do make use of these, there are over 1,700 e-books on the e-platform, which includes audio books and the text can be changed to help students with visual impairments. The books can also be read to you or be translated into many other languages, so that families can read together, which is a lovely activity. https://regents-park.wheelers.co/ Students have also been given access to ‘The Day’, which is a fantastic online newspaper, students can find this on the student landing page and it is a great way to keep up with current events, enabling them to have a wider view of the world they live in and understand the issues being discussed. Student URL: www.theday.co.uk/?id=3B348D80 2CF0-4B11-8589-E6CC55028AB2

Struggle with Reading? If you, or someone you know is struggling with reading, you can get help from the ReadEasy scheme. You can also help others with their reading journey by volunteering with them. Find out more here: https://readeasy.org.uk/ how-can-we-help-you/.

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Year 7 As we come to the end of our first term, we want to express how incredibly proud we are of our Year 7 students and the way they have settled into life at Regents Park Community College. Transitioning into secondary school is a big step and our students have embraced the challenge with maturity, enthusiasm and resilience. It has been wonderful to see them engaging so positively with their learning. Many students have already earned ethos badges, reflecting their commitment, positive attitude and the values we uphold as a school. These achievements are well deserved and we look forward to celebrating many more successes as the year continues.

As we head into the Christmas break, we want to wish all our students and their families a restful, joyful holiday. Thank you for your continued support throughout the term. We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back in January for the spring term. Please note that after the holiday, there will be a renewed focus on uniform. We appreciate your support in ensuring students return in full, correct uniform so they can start the new term with confidence and pride. Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and a happy new year. Mr Sinclair & Mrs Jarvis Head of Year 7 & Head of Year 7 Support

Year 8 The first term of the 2025-26 school year has been a positive and encouraging one for Year 8. As a year group, students have shown clear maturity and a growing commitment to our school ethos of Respect, Pride, Creativity and Challenge and our year group mantra of ‘all hands in, be the best version of you.’ Overall behaviour in Year 8 has been mainly positive, with many students demonstrating respect through considerate interactions with peers and staff. Their polite conduct around the school, along with their cooperative attitude during assemblies and tutor time, reflects the strong community spirit developing within the year group. Year 8 students continue to show pride in the way they present themselves and represent the school. This has been seen

in their willingness to take responsibility, support younger students and contribute positively to the wider school environment. Creativity has emerged in the many times students engage with clubs, activities and events. Whether through sport, after school or lunchtime clubs, Year 8s have embraced opportunities to express themselves and try new things. Challenge has been another standout theme. Many students have shown resilience, determination and a readiness to step outside their comfort zones. Whether trying a new club, taking on our new leadership roles, or striving to improve their conduct, Year 8 have taken positive steps forward. Participation in extracurricular activities has grown this term and it has been a pleasure

to see students building new friendships, developing confidence and bringing energy to the school community. Events such as the Into University days and year group activities have highlighted their teamwork and enthusiasm. Year 8 have made a strong, values-driven start to the school year. With their mostly positive behaviour, increasing maturity and commitment to our ethos, they are well placed to continue building on this progress in the spring term. Well done to all in Year 8 for a successful first term. Myself and Mr Phillips would like wish you a restful Christmas holidays, whilst you charge your batteries ready for January. We’d like to thank all parents, carers and students for working so well with us. We really feel the school-parent partnerships are growing and we both cannot

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Mrs Wales & Head of Year 8 & Mr Phillips Head of Year 8 Support

wait to continue building on this in 2026 to get the best out of your child and watch them grow physically, emotionally and academically.

As always, if you require any support in the new year please contact us and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Year 9 Year 9 students have had a busy and rewarding term. They’ve worked with the Saints Foundation, explored new subjects such as photography and taken on the role of reading mentors to support younger pupils. Looking ahead, this year brings the exciting opportunity for them to choose their GCSE Year 10 I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Year 10 students on a very positive first term. They have made a strong start to their GCSE courses and most students have settled well into their subjects and adapted to the increased expectations of Key Stage 4. We have been particularly pleased with the maturity shown by the majority of the year group, both in lessons and around the school. Many students are beginning to take greater responsibility for their learning, which is an encouraging sign as we move through this important stage of their education. We would also like to thank you for your continued support, particularly with uniform and behaviour. Year 11 As we approach the end of the first term, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on Year 11’s hard work, achievements and the impressive progress they have made so far. With their final GCSE year well underway, every step they take now plays a crucial role in preparing them for the exams ahead. This term, we’ve seen exceptional growth across the

subjects. Conversations with students about their options and future aspirations have been inspiring and we are proud of the enthusiasm they are showing as they prepare for the next stage of their journey. Miss Cole & Mr Grant Head of Year 9 & Head of Year 9 Support We do, however, need to address a significant increase in lateness to lessons, which is not acceptable. Arriving late means students are missing valuable learning time and disrupting not only their own progress but also the learning of others. This is particularly concerning at GCSE level, where every minute of lesson time is important. Punctuality is an essential life skill and something that is not accepted in the real world and we expect all students to arrive to lessons on time, ready to learn. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to working closely with you as the year progresses. Mrs Mouland & Mrs Blakely Head of Year 10 & Head of Year 10 Support year group. Many Year 11 students have shown real determination - whether it’s tackling challenging topics in maths and science, strengthening their writing skills in English, or demonstrating increasing confidence and maturity in their practical subjects. Their commitment to learning has been fantastic and they should be proud of the effort they’ve put in.

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We also want to celebrate how well Year 11 performed in their first set of mock exams. Their results reflect the hard work they have invested so far and the experience has helped many students understand what they can achieve with consistent focus. It’s been encouraging to see students take their feedback seriously and begin planning their next steps with renewed motivation. A key part of their success this term has also come from the support they receive at home. Encouragement, routines and a calm space to revise all make a huge difference. We deeply appreciate the ongoing communication, guidance and reassurance families provide. Working together - school, students and home - helps create the strong foundations they need for success. I am incredibly proud of the progress Year 11 have made this term and I am excited to see what they will continue to achieve as we move towards exam season. Their effort, resilience and positivity have been inspiring. As we look ahead to next term, it’s important to remember that the final stretch of Year 11 will bring both challenges and opportunities. Staying focused, maintaining strong study habits and dedicating regular time to home learning - at least an hour a day, will make a significant difference. Online platforms such as Carousel Learning and Sparx Maths will continue to support their revision and deepen their understanding. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following pupils for having zero behaviour points. Abid Jessica Alice Jessica Alicja Joseph Amelia Julia Ashley Kinti Ayush Koyna Bella Lillie Ben Lilly Bradley Lily

Charlie

Luyanda Maisie Mariam Mitchell Monica Nadia Nadia Olivia Oskar Payton Sophie Stanley Subasna Ruby Marta

Chloe

Cliff

Colleen

Diana Dylan

Elif

Eliza Ella Enis Ewa

George

Georgia-Rose

Harry Holly

Ianis

Tate

Isla

Tawana

Iwan Jacob

Tia

Tim

Jake

Zaine

Jasmina Jasmine

Zaki

Zane

Jax

I wish all our students and their families a restful, enjoyable break. Keep up the fantastic work, Year 11. The best is still to come! Mr McIntyre & Miss Moore Head of Year 11 & Head of Year 11 Support

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Student Leadership

SLQ focuses on faculty leaders and ambassadors in Years 7–10, recognising outstanding leadership in a wide range of subjects and school areas. Typically, five pupils per subject or school-wide group, such as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, are selected to take part. The programme runs through structured leadership sessions led by interns, with one session each half term focusing on teamwork and communication, resilience, problem-solving and reflection. Students then put their skills into practice by planning and running school clubs, mini projects, events, or delivering presentations and assemblies to peers. Their progress is recorded in a Leadership Portfolio, which includes signed achievements, project plans, photos, and feedback from teachers and peers.

The SLQ is awarded at three levels: • Bronze for completing all programme requirements. • Silver for exceeding

Shines at RPCC Student leadership is flourishing at Regents Park Community College, with students making a real impact across the school. PE leaders have been taking charge in lessons, digital leaders recently delivered a presentation at assembly and our library leaders are now fully operational, supporting reading and learning. There’s even more exciting activity planned after Christmas, as other student leader groups begin their initiatives. This term also saw the launch of the new Student Leadership Qualification (SLQ), designed to build on RPCC’s strong tradition of student leadership. Unlike Year 11 Student Ambassadors or the College Council, the

expectations and contributing across multiple areas. leadership, innovation and influence across the school.

• Gold for outstanding

Achievements will be formally recognised with certificates at a celebration assembly and SLQ recipients will receive priority consideration for future leadership opportunities, including roles such as Head Student or Prefect. With so many students actively taking responsibility and leading their peers, RPCC continues to demonstrate that strong student leadership is at the heart of school life.

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Year 11 Intervention & Exam Update Year 11 have shown fantastic effort in their recent mock exams. Students approached the exams with focus and determination, following JCQ regulations carefully remembering not to bring notes, phones, or smartwatches into the exam rooms. We are proud of their commitment and look forward to seeing them continue this focus after the Christmas break, as they prepare for their next mocks. This term also saw the launch of a new Year 11 rewards system to encourage attendance at after school intervention sessions.

Long-term rewards: • Complete revision cards to earn £2 off your prom ticket • Up to six cards can be completed, prior to their formal GCSE exams Short-term rewards: • Attend all seven sessions in a two week period to enter a raffle during assembly • Prizes include bonus cookie tickets and a ‘golden ticket’ for 50% off a prom ticket or a £10 Amazon voucher. The revised intervention timetable means no subjects clash, allowing students to access full support across the curriculum. By linking consistent attendance to rewards, the system aims

to motivate students, boost engagement and support success. We can’t wait to see Year 11 back after the Christmas break, ready to take full advantage of intervention sessions and continue their exam preparation. Take a look at our latest clubs and classes poster at the end of this newsletter.

Celebrating Teaching & Learning @ RPCC This term has

and using that information to help them move forward. Unlike tests that simply measure what students know, formative assessment is an ongoing conversation between teachers and learners. It happens in the moment, guides our teaching and empowers students to take ownership of their own progress. What Happened During the Week? Throughout Innovative Teaching Week, teachers across all departments showcased creative and effective formative assessment strategies: • Real-time feedback in action - Teachers used techniques such as hinge questions to check understanding throughout lessons, allowing them to adjust their teaching on the spot • Student voice - Learners were encouraged to self-assess their understanding using traffic light systems and reflection prompts, helping them become more aware of their own learning needs. • Questioning for depth - Teachers focused on asking hinge questions that probe understanding, rather than just checking for correct answers, creating classrooms where thinking is visible and valued.

seen remarkable developments in how we support our students’ learning journey and we’re

proud to share some of the highlights with you. Innovative Teaching Week 1 2025/6: The Power of Formative Assessment Opening doors to deeper understanding! This year’s first of two Innovative Teaching Weeks placed formative assessment at the heart of everything we do. The theme: “It’s all about formative assessment” captured our commitment to checking understanding, adapting teaching and ensuring every student makes progress in every lesson. What is Formative Assessment? Formative assessment is about understanding where students are in their learning journey

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GENERAL NEWS

How the Planner System Works? • Essential equipment - The planner is part of the core equipment every RPCC student must have with them every single day. It’s as important as their pen and their positive attitude. • Daily routine - Students are expected to have their planner out on their desk every lesson, ready to record home learning and note important information. • Weekly check-ins - Every week, tutors review planners with students, checking that home learning has been recorded and completed. This regular touchpoint helps identify any issues early and celebrates successes. • Parent partnership - Parents are asked to sign the planner weekly, creating a vital three-way conversation between student, school and home. This simple signature shows students that their learning matters and helps parents stay informed. • Recognition and accountability - The planner system includes both rewards and consequences. Students receive recognition for consistent use, while those who forget their planner or don’t record homework receive negative points, reinforcing the importance of responsibility. The Impact on Learning? The results speak for themselves. Students who use their planners consistently are better organised, submit home learning on time more reliably, and develop stronger independent learning skills. They learn to plan ahead, manage their time and take ownership of their responsibilities. One Year 7 student shared: “ At first I found it hard to remember my planner, but now it’s automatic. I like being able to look ahead and see what’s coming up. It helps me feel more in control .” A Year 8 parent commented: “ The weekly signature ritual has become a lovely moment to check in with my daughter about her week. I can see what she’s working on and celebrate her achievements. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference .” Thank you to all our students, staff and families for your continued commitment to excellence in teaching and learning at RPCC.

• Live polls and digital tools - technology brought formative assessment to life, with instant feedback helping teachers see the whole class picture at a glance. Why Does This Matter? Formative assessment closes the gap between where students are and where they need to be. When teachers check understanding frequently and students know how to improve, learning accelerates. This approach builds confidence, encourages resilience and ensures no student is left behind. As one teacher reflected: “Innovative Teaching Week reminded us that assessment isn’t something we do TO students, it’s something we do WITH them. When students understand their own learning, they become powerful agents of their own success.” Looking Forward The strategies explored during Innovative Teaching Week 1 are now embedded in our everyday practice. Every lesson at RPCC is an opportunity for formative assessment, every interaction a chance to move learning forward. We’re committed to continuing this work, ensuring our teaching remains responsive, reflective and focused on what matters most - student progress. Home Learning Planners: Building Independence in Years 7 and 8 Our home learning planners have become an essential tool for our youngest students, helping them develop the organisational skills and

independent learning habits that will serve them throughout their

education and beyond. Why Planners Matter?

Starting secondary school is a significant transition. Students move from having one teacher to many, from one classroom to navigating a whole school, from

simple home learning tasks to managing multiple subjects and deadlines. The home learning planner is designed to support students through this transition, providing structure, accountability and a vital communication link between school and home.

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

Mathematics DEPARTMENTAL NEWS Raising Awareness & Engagement Maths in Real Life Lessons In a recent maths lesson, a disengaged Year 10 student said, when challenged: “ When am I going to use this anyway? I want to be a nurse, you don’t need maths to do that!”. The teacher knew that the NHS states that you need a grade 4 (C grade equivalent) GCSE in maths to become a nurse for the NHS - this requirement is part of the entry criteria for most nursing programs and is essential for demonstrating numeracy and literacy skills necessary for a nursing role. In the next lesson, the teacher presented the class with some real situations and activities that nurses are facing and required to do:

Further Maths We are very proud of our Year 11 students who attend the further maths sessions every Wednesday.

As we know, further maths can provide a competitive edge in university applications, especially for maths-related courses. Maths Week 2025 We have celebrated Maths Week England, for a second year in a row. From 15th November - 23rd November, students had taken part in fun activities, puzzles and projects during their maths lessons. A maths corner was set up in the library with different maths related books for students to discover the joy of mathematics.

Students who had previously been indifferent or sceptical, became genuinely interested, realising that maths wasn’t just a subject they had to get through, but a vital skill they would actually need in the future.

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

English Team Up This term, 20 of our Year 7 students have had the privilege of working with educational charity Team Up, who provide high-quality literacy tutoring in small groups. The 11 week programme has truly exceptional proven outcomes for those students lucky enough to be involved. Team Up’s latest data shows students make 8 months’ progress over the three months of their programme – whereas students without tuition progress on average by three months!

We are currently at the half way point in the project. Our students have been a credit to the school, coming back for an hour after school on a Monday and applying themselves super-hard during the sessions. Keep it up Year 7!

Paired Reading This term our tutor time paired reading initiative, that supports the reading of Year 8 students, has gone from strength to strength. This year we have a dedicated group of wonderful keen Year 9 and Year 10 students who are reading 1-1 or in small groups with a carefully selected Year 8 students, with the aim of improving reading engagement. Held during tutor times on Friday mornings, our paired reading group are enjoying the chance to read to each other in our calm and welcoming library, supported by our librarian Ms Wooldridge.

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

The Day In an exciting development for Regents Park, all teachers now have access to The Day, a website resource that

provides daily current affairs articles that enhance literacy and critical thinking for our students. Designed to inspire comprehension through rich texts, The Day offers an exciting range of activities linked to our curriculum, such as comprehension quizzes, discussion topics, writing tasks and vocabulary definitions. Students’ learning will be enhanced both in lessons and during tutor times.

Science

the science behind holly growth, create bath bomb gifts and solve a Christmas cookie mystery. It’s going to be a sparkling finish to an amazing term!

Science Club This term in science club, it has been packed with thrills, chills and plenty of experiments! We kicked things off with a Halloween-themed spooky science club, where we explored static electricity using the Van de Graaff generator, whipped up gruesome jelly worms and discovered the magic of spooky light through chemiluminescence. Our potion-making skills were put to the test with bubbling brews like elephant’s toothpaste and even puking pumpkins! Next came bonfire night, where we asked the burning question: “can you cook an egg with a sparkler?” (spoiler - it’s harder than it sounds!) We also got creative by writing with fire to make fiery artwork. As the festive season approached, we turned to a Christmas theme. We investigated diffusion and chromatography using sweets like Skittles, Smarties and M&Ms and crafted light-up Christmas cards to spread some science cheer. And we’re not done yet! Coming up, we’ll uncover

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

LifeLab We were delighted to return to LifeLab with two Year 9 groups, during the last weeks of this term. Lifelab is a purpose-built facility at the centre of Southampton General Hospital, run by the University of Southampton. Students had the chance to take part in a range of hands-on activities, giving them a valuable insight into the science behind health messages. Research shows that habits formed as teenagers tend to last, so it’s a perfect time for us to talk about the importance of looking after their health. A healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes in later life. This approach aims to make science more accessible and brings it to life. It will hopefully also inspire our students to consider future careers in healthcare, science and medicine. Open Evening in the Science Department Open Evening in science was a great success with the annual opportunity to showcase some of the more hands on and visual experiments. We had an excellent team of student helpers this year, that really helped to bring the evening to life. Many of these students have gone on to become Science Leaders for the remainder of the year.

KS3 Science It has been another busy yet enjoyable term within science, with plenty to celebrate from across all year groups. Our revamped Key Stage 3 curriculum is proving to be a success. Year 7 students have made a great start to science and have been enjoying a range of dynamic, hands on lessons, designed to spark both curiosity and build strong foundations for their future learning in science. There have been lots of great experiments, demos and practicals over this last term. One of my favourites was the thermite reaction. Looking to the Future The department has recently secured funding from The Big Bang, this will allow us to bring specialist science activities and providers into school. We are currently exploring a range of exciting options and look forward to launching these enrichment opportunities in the summer term. We were fortunate enough to bid for development money and secure funding for an incubator. This piece of equipment is a great addition to our resources allowing us to take biology practicals to another level. Science Leaders Our dedicated team of student Science Leaders has launched, as part of a wider school initiative. Their roles will include helping to develop British Science Week projects, assisting with science club and encouraging younger students to get involved in STEM activities. With so much enthusiasm across the department and opportunities in the pipeline, we are excited for what the rest of the year will bring and look forward to sharing this with you. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

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The Regents Review Autumn 2025

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

Year 11 Science For our Year 11 students, the focus this last half term has largely been on preparing for their mock exams. They have now completed their first set of mock exams and are already looking ahead to the next round. To support revision, students have been provided with science knowledge organisers and retrieval planners - a whole school strategy that is proving an invaluable tool both in class and at home. After school science revision runs every other Friday afternoon, numbers have been excellent this term, however if you know your child is not attending, please can you encourage them to do so, as this is a valuable way for students to close knowledge gaps and improve their attainment.

Creative Arts & DT Year 7 Textiles

Year 7s are learning about fundamental key skills in textiles, such as sewing a button, back stitch and running stitch. They have applied these new skills by creating their own Junk Monsters inspired by Jon Burgerman. Year 8 Textiles Year 8s are learning to develop their fundamental key skills in textiles, such as applique and using the sewing machine. They are applying these new skills by creating their own wall hanging with pockets inspired by the artform of monograms.

Year 7 Art Year 7 have been exploring a new range of

techniques including tonal drawing and watercolour, inspired by one of Southampton’s most historical buildings, The Bargate. Students have been studying colour theory to understand complementary, harmonious, warm and cold colours.

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