Friday 3^rd October 2025

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Values and Rise

The focus this week has been on commitment and respect.  By being respectful we want all our students to be kind, polite and empathetic.

 

KS4 Welcome Evenings

A huge thank you to all the Parents and Carers who attended our Year 10 Welcome Evening on Monday. This was a very well attended event and I am extremely grateful to all our families for their support.

 

On-line support

I would encourage all parents and carers of students in Years 10 or 11 to spend some time exploring the Welsh Government Power Up site on Hwb.

This contains lots of valuable information and GCSE revision support for students and their parents/carers. Please click on the link to access this really helpful resource.

 Power Up - Hwb

 

New Rugby Pitch

As you know, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government and Sport Wales, our school will soon be home to a brand new 3G rugby pitch. The work for this will start on Monday 6^th October.

This is a huge boost for our school and local community. The new all-weather pitch means our students can train and play rugby all year round, helping even more young people enjoy sport in a safe and professional environment.

As one of only 16 Rugby Academies in Wales, our school already has a strong reputation for rugby. This new facility will help us build on our success and offer even more opportunities for students to take part, improve their skills, and stay active.

 

We would like to thank the Welsh Government and Sport Wales for supporting this amazing project and also recognise the support from the Welsh Rugby Union and Newport City Council in helping to make this dream a reality. It is a big step forward for the future of sport at our school and in the wider community.

 

Reducing the impact of poverty on attainment

Our number one whole school priority this year is to reduce the impact of poverty on student attainment. We have a new section on our website under the main menu called Financial Support.

It is important that anyone entitled to access Free School Meals benefits from this financial support. This can also include access to uniform and equipment grants.

 

Free School Meals

We are aware that many of our families may be entitled to Free School Meals but are not claiming this additional financial support. You can check if you are entitled to Free School Meals at www.newport.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-meals/free-school-meals

If you are not in receipt of Free School Meals but think you are eligible and would like any help in accessing, please let us know so we can support.

Families who are eligible for Free School Meals can also apply for additional help with other school costs including school uniform. You can find out more at https://www.newport.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-meals/free-school-meals

Accessing your entitlement to Free School Meals also helps us as a school because part of our funding depends upon how many families in our community access this support.

 

Uniform and equipment

Part of being ready to learn is being in the correct uniform with a bag. I would like to thank the vast majority of parents who have supported our school uniform rules and I am delighted that so many of our students have started the school year in correct uniform, looking smart and ready to learn.

Our uniform is extremely affordable and accessible. It consists of plain black shoes/trainers, black socks, white shirt and the school tie. Skirts must be of appropriate length and trousers or shorts should be tailored fit. Students are not allowed to wear sports shorts or leggings to school.  

Cardigans, jumpers and blazers are optional and you may choose to wear a plain black knitted v neck jumper or cardigan without the logo, or purchase the Newport High branded jumper, sweatshirt or cardigan.

We have a range of ‘pre-loved’ school uniform at school which is available for anyone who would like to access it. If any family has a specific problem with getting hold of school uniform, please contact your child’s Form Tutor in the first instance. Jewellery is limited to one pair of small stud earrings and one ring. Students are allowed to wear a nose stud but please note that this has to be a stud and not a sleeper style or any other style. Any headwear, worn for religious reasons, should be of a plain black material. Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable and hair should be of a natural colour.

Items that are potentially harmful to any member of our school community should not be brought to school. For example, aerosol cans including deodorants, cigarettes (e-cigarettes), matches and lighters, any sharp or blade like objects, glass bottles, chewing gum and fizzy drinks, including energy drinks. This rule includes all items which are illegal to possess or carry, or inappropriate for the age of your child.

 

Students should come to school equipped to learn with an appropriate school bag. They need a pencil case and basic equipment, including their own pen. If students have any issues, they are encouraged to visit our new Stationery Stop to buy or borrow the equipment they need for the day.

 

New Stationery Stop

I am delighted to inform you of a new initiative that Ms Milton has launched which is currently being led by students in Year 7 – our stationery stop. This is a new venture that enables students to purchase basic equipment from school or borrow equipment for the day. The stationery stop is open every morning for any students that wish to buy or borrow equipment.

Being equipped and ready to learn is an essential skill for all students to develop. We hope that by introducing this initiative we will help students to become more independent which support the RISE culture we are trying to develop across the school.

The new Stationery Stop will;

• Promote Independence: Pupils take responsibility for being equipped, reducing reliance on staff for basic items.
• Encourage Resourcefulness: Provides a solution when items are forgotten, fostering problem-solving and resilience.
• Support Equity: Ensures all pupils have access to essential tools, promoting fairness, equality and inclusion.
• Contribute to a Positive Culture: Reinforces expectations around being equipped and respect for learning environments.
• Provide Merit Incentives: Pupils can earn merits for responsible use, helping peers, or contributing to the running of the stop.
• Offer Rental Option: Items can be borrowed for the day, offering a flexible, low-cost solution for temporary needs with merits awarded for returning rented items.
• Support Pupil Leadership: Managed by students, the stop offers opportunities for leadership, enterprise, and real-world responsibility.

 

Mobile Phones - on site, out of sight.

We do not allow the use of mobile phones anywhere in school, including outside during break and lunchtime.  This means that, from the time that students enter the building until they leave, they are not allowed to use their mobile phones. This includes wearing air pods or headphones which are also not allowed.

If students wish to bring a phone to school, it must be switched off and kept in their bag. It is really important that all students have a school bag with them so that they can securely store their mobile phone along with their other equipment during the day.

If students are seen with their mobile phone out, whether they are using them or not, it will need to be handed in for them to collect at the end of the day. If this happens frequently then an alternative plan will need to be put in place.

Not allowing mobile phones in school has had an overwhelmingly positive impact, especially at break and lunchtime. Research has clearly identified the potential harm too much screen time, including phones, can do. If any student needs to make an emergency call, they can go to the Wellbeing Hub where Pastoral Support will be able to help.

 

Working Together for Success

We are fully aware that the support of parents and carers is vital to the success of our students. As we begin this new school year, we want to work closely with you to ensure that your child has the best possible experience at Newport High School.

Throughout the year, we will keep you informed about your child's progress, school events, and any important updates. We also encourage open communication with our staff. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us - info@newporthigh.co.uk.

 

Headteacher Parental Forums

Many thanks to the parents and carers who attended our first in person parental forum today.

Working closely with our families is an essential element of school improvement. It is important that I listen to the views of parents and carers as this enables me to reflect on our work and drive improvement. To support this, we are continuing to run both our on-line Parental Forum and our in-person Parental Forums.

These sessions enable parents and carers to meet with me to share their views about what is working well and what could be improved. These are not parent/student meetings to discuss specific queries about individual students but an opportunity to discuss broader issues related to our school.

We run two versions – an online session later in the afternoon and an in—person session in the school. I hope, that by offering different options, it makes it easier for parents and carers to attend.

 

On-line Parental Forums

These take place via Teams at 5pm on a Thursday on these dates;

1. 20^th November2025
2. 8^th January 2026
3. 19^th March 2026
4. 23^rd April 2026
5. 18^th June 2026

 

In-person Parental Forum

These take place in school at 10am on a Friday on these dates;

1. 21^st November 2025
2. 16^th January 2026
3. 20^th March 2026
4. 15^th May 2026
5. 19^th June 2026

 

Places at both forums are limited and if a session is full, we will endeavour to allocate you a space at the next meeting.

 

If you would like to attend the next on-line or in-person forum taking place in November please email info@newporthigh.co.uk with parental forum in the title and please make it clear if you wish to attend the on-line forum on Thursday 20^th November or the in-person Forum on Friday 21^st November.

 

I look forward to getting to know more of our families through these important events.

 

Social Media

Please can I urge all parents who have an issue or concern about school to contact us directly to discuss. This will give us the opportunity to try to resolve the issue.

If you have any concerns, please email us on: info@newporthigh.co.uk

 

Newport residents survey

Newport City Council are asking all residents to complete the Living in Newport survey. This can be accessed by scanning the QR code or clicking on the link.

 

Inset days and term dates – 2025/2026

The agreed Inset days, when school will be closed for students for staff training this year are:

• Monday 1^st September 2025
• Monday 24^th November 2025
• Monday 2^nd March 2026
• Friday 26^th June 2026
• Monday 29^th June 2026
• Monday 20^th July 2026

Autumn Term

• Starts Monday 1^st September 2025
• Half-Term - Monday 27^th October 2025 to Friday 31^st October 2025
• Ends Friday 19^th December 2025

Spring Term

• Starts Monday 5^th January 2026
• Half-term – Monday 16^th February 2026 to Friday 20^th February 2026
• Ends Friday 27^th March 2027

Summer Term

• Monday 13^th April 2026 
• Half-term – Monday 25^TH May 2026 to Friday 29^th May 2026
• Ends Monday 20^th July 2026. Please note this is an INSET day so the last day for student in school will be Friday 17^th July 2026.

 

We break up for October half-term on Friday 24th October, returning to school on Monday 3rd November. We then finish for the Christmas holidays on Friday 19th December and return for the start of the Spring term on Monday 5th January 2025.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support.

With kind regards

Mrs Lee