As we reach the end of the first term, I would like to thank you for your continued support in ensuring that we maintain our high standards of behaviour and reinforce high expectations.

The school holidays tend to be a time when new items of uniform and equipment are purchased and I would also like to take this opportunity to clarify our expectations at Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form. You will find our uniform guidelines attached to this letter. These expectations are also communicated on the school’s website and in the Parent and Carer Handbook. Please take the time to read the attached guidelines, especially if you are planning to purchase any new items of uniform for your son/daughter. I would ask you to note in particular the guidance about hair colour, trousers, skirts and shoes. I would reinforce that hoodies are not to be worn in school and do not constitute a coat.

The school reserves the right to make the final decision regarding whether an item of uniform meets the school’s guidelines. If you are at all unsure, we would encourage you to contact us for clarification. Please also be sure to check the guidelines before allowing your son/daughter to have body piercings.

I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you of a change to the uniform cards. From January 2012, the card will be a P.U.R.E. card and will be used to record lateness to lessons (P for Punctuality), uniform infringements (U, as before) and failure to bring the required equipment to a lesson (R.E. for Required Equipment). Six infringements in any one term will result in a P.U.R.E. detention, which are after school on Fridays. Please encourage your child to have no signatures on their card at all as we reward students with clean cards on a half-termly basis.

Thank you again for your support in these matters. The wearing of full school uniform and the responsibility of coming to school fully equipped are both integral parts of the school ethos which promotes positive attitudes, high standards and a sense of personal pride.

On behalf of Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form, I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and remind you that term starts on 3 January 2012.

Key Stage 4 Presentation Evening, Staff Departures, Notley's Got Talent and much more!

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The evening of Monday 12 December certainly was a night to remember.  Ten schools in the Braintree area attended the presentation of medallions to their Achievement Award winners, including three Leader Awards for staff.

Lee Thompson, the Jack Petchey compère, kicked off the evening and got the audience in the mood to have fun and celebrate a night of performances and presentations.  Guests included Inspector Neil Murray from Essex Police and the Paralympic medallist and guest speaker, Danny Crates, who presented the awards to winners.  The seven student winners from our school included:

• Alex Douglas
• Riley Baker
• Ben Turley
• Mia Shearwood
• Charlie Ward
• Alicia Andrews
• Hannah West

Twenty-three members of the winners’ families attended to join in the celebrations and proudly saw their sons and daughters receive their medallions.  Six members of the Senior Leadership Team also attended to join in the fun.  Three schools had staff who had achieved Leader Awards, including from our school, Jacqui Smith.  She received an ‘Outstanding Leadership’ certificate and medallion and much to her surprise and delight, also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers and some kind words from Simon Thompson, Headteacher.  Jacqui said ‘it’s a really lovely way to end my teaching career as I retire’.

Each school provided entertainment, with the Notley Cheerleaders Team performing a two minute piece after Danny Crates’ speech.  There were some notable performances from Hedingham School and Alec Hunter Humanities College in particular, whose students entertained everyone with a brilliant dance routine and amazing singing.

The evening certainly was a celebration of the wide ranging achievements of all the student winners.  To quote Jack Petchey himself – “Presentation events such as this provide a real opportunity to highlight the positive contribution being made by young people in schools, youth groups and communities across the area.  In these days of obsessive media coverage of the negative, this is no bad thing.  Achievement comes in many forms and this evening celebrates and acknowledges the range and diversity of those individual developments”.  Jack Petchey Awards are given to young people who make a wholehearted, unselfish and dedicated contribution to their club, school or community.  Congratulations must go to our seven winners this year and we look forward to the continuing success of this wonderful scheme in our school in the coming years.

Correction to previous press:  Hannah West was incorrectly reported as being 8th in the world in her age and class of Karate, when in fact she is 7th in the world.  How great is that?!

On Monday 05 December 2011 a group of lovely year 8 students welcomed over 40 elderly people from the local area to their Christmas party.  Residents from Bradbury House, Abbyfields, Great Bradfords House, Fern Lodge, Kilkee Lodge and the Old Deanery were treated to performances of singing, dancing, piano playing, poems and carols by the dedicated year 8 students.

A huge buffet was donated by various members of staff with Mrs. Edge and Mrs. Glynn helping to serve tea and coffee.

Presents and cards were given to the guests who also were lucky to have a visit from Santa!

A huge thank you goes to Mrs. Shipton for organizing the event, all the staff that cooked and donated food, Mrs. Glynn and Mrs. Edge for their excellent tea making skills, Miss Spenceley for her entertainment skills and to the year 8 students for their performances, time and help. 

The PE faculty at Notley have designed their own website dedicated to the school's talented students in sport. The website highlights some of our students and the sports or activities in which they complete.

Although all of the students on the website are classed as being talented in their chosen sport, we as a faculty have categorised these students further by using the participation pyramid as a guide. The categories are elite, performance, participation and foundation. Each category contains a description as to why that student has been placed there. Each student has a photo and a brief summary of their sporting achievements.

You will also find on the website, information about all of the PE faculty including pictures and sporting biographies of what the staff currently take part in, or used to in some instances! Hopefully you will enjoy the website and join us in celebrating some of the sporting stars of the future!

Click here to visit sport notley!