Friday 19^th December 2025

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Values and Rise

The focus this week has been on commitment and safety. At Newport High School we define being safe as being responsible, sensible and considerate.  

As you will be aware, we have recently seen an increase in vandalism and damage to our toilet facilities. This is disappointing, especially as the situation had previously improved. While we know this behaviour is caused by a small number of individuals, it affects the whole school community. The vast majority of our students act responsibly and with integrity, and we thank them for continuing to do so.

We are reviewing the situation and will take firm action against anyone found deliberately damaging school property. Parents and carers will also be charged for the cost of repairs, as school funds cannot be diverted to cover unnecessary damage. Every pound spent on repairs is money taken away from things that benefit students—such as trips, rewards, and improvements to the school environment.

Please help us by reinforcing this important message at home. Together, we can maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

 

Parking and road safety

We have recently received concerns from local residents about parking around the school, particularly on the Foxglove Meadows and Heol Senni estates. Residents have reported issues such as blocked access, cars parked on kerbs and yellow-lined curbs, and congestion that could prevent emergency vehicles from getting through.

Please remember:

• Do not park in private estates such as Foxglove Meadows or Heol Senni
• Do not block driveways, kerbs, or access routes—this is dangerous and inconsiderate
• Avoid parking on yellow lines or in a way that restricts traffic flow

We understand that parking near the school is challenging, especially during busy times and events, as we have very limited parking. However, it is essential that we all work together to keep our community safe and respectful.

 

What you can do:

• Use legal on-street parking where permitted and park considerately.
• If possible, walk to school or park further away and walk the last part of the journey.
• For events, consider using alternative parking.

We will continue to remind families about this in future communications, and we are exploring ways to share a calendar of school events with local residents so they can plan ahead.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain good relationships with our neighbours and ensuring the safety of everyone in our community.

 

Influence of social media

Recently, we’ve seen social media trends encouraging young people to take part in risky or anti-social behaviour, often disguised as “challenges.” These activities can lead to unnecessary risks and highlight the influence online platforms can have on decision-making.

Social media is a big part of young people’s lives, but it can expose them to unsafe content and peer pressure. We encourage parents and carers to have open conversations with their children about what they encounter online and to set clear boundaries for safe use.

For practical advice and support, visit Hwb’s Keeping Safe Online resources or the NSPCC’s online safety guidance. These sites offer tips on managing privacy settings, recognising harmful trends, and starting positive discussions about online safety.

By working together, we can help children enjoy the benefits of technology while staying safe and making responsible choices.

 

Heart of Newport

I would like to say a huge thank you to the Heart of Newport Ministry Area for their extremely generous support in helping us to provide gifts for some of our families. We are so grateful for their support each year.

 

Mobile Phone Policy Reminder

To maintain a focused and respectful learning environment, mobile phones are not permitted anywhere on the school site, including outside during break and lunchtime. From the moment students enter the building until they leave, phones must remain switched off and stored in their bags. This also applies to AirPods, headphones, and similar devices.

If a student is seen with a phone out—whether in use or not—it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Repeated incidents will result in further action and an alternative arrangement being put in place.

This policy has had a hugely positive impact, particularly during social times, and supports research showing the risks of excessive screen time. If a student needs to make an emergency call, they can visit the Wellbeing Hub, where Pastoral Support will assist.

Thank you for supporting this approach, which helps create a safe and distraction-free environment for all.

 

Start of the school day is 8.45am

The school doors open every day at 8.40am ready for the start of the school day at 8:45 am. We start every day with either form time or an assembly. This is a vital start to the school day during which important information is shared, such as details of events, changes to school systems and information about exams. Form Tutors should always be a first point of contact for students if they have any queries. I would like all our parents and carers to help support a punctual start to the day by reinforcing the importance of being at school every day, on time and ready to learn.

 

Equipment

Just a reminder that we are running our stationery shop – the Stationery Stop – every day from behind Hafen.

 

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.

We are trying to develop the support section on our website to include all relevant information about poverty in one place. This section can be found on the main menu of the website under Financial Support.

 

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

Thank you to the many parents and carers who continue to support our school uniform expectations. We are proud that the vast majority of students arrive each day looking smart and ready to learn.

Our uniform is designed to be simple, affordable, and accessible. It includes:

• Plain black shoes or trainers and black socks
• A white shirt and school tie
• Skirts of an appropriate length and tailored trousers or shorts
  Please note: sports shorts, leggings, and similar items are not permitted.

Cardigans, jumpers, and blazers are optional. Families may choose a plain black V-neck jumper or cardigan without a logo, or purchase Newport High branded knitwear or sweatshirts.

We also offer a selection of pre-loved uniform items for anyone who would like to access them. If you experience any difficulty obtaining uniform, please contact your child’s Form Tutor.

Jewellery should be minimal—one pair of small stud earrings and one ring. A single nose stud is allowed (not hoops or sleepers). Headwear worn for religious reasons should be plain black. Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable, and hair should be of a natural colour.

Finally, for safety reasons, certain items must never be brought to school. These include aerosol sprays (including deodorants), cigarettes or e-cigarettes, matches, lighters, sharp objects, glass bottles, chewing gum, and fizzy or energy drinks. This also applies to any illegal or age-inappropriate items.

Thank you for working with us to maintain high standards and a safe environment for all.

 

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

A huge thanks to our parents and carers who have supported with our parental forums. 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. 8^th January 2026
2. 19^th March 2026
3. 23^rd April 2026
4. 18^th June 2026

 

In-person Parental Forum

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

1. 16^th January 2026
2. 20^th March 2026
3. 15^th May 2026
4. 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 January 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 8^th January 2026 or the in-person Forum on Friday 16^th January 2026.  

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

 

Inset days and term dates – 2025/2026

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

• Monday 2^nd March 2026
• Friday 26^th June 2026
• Monday 29^th June 2026
• Monday 20^th July 2026

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 the Christmas holidays today, Friday 19th December and return for the start of the Spring term on Monday 5th January 2025.

 

I would like to thank you all for your continued support and wish our families a safe, happy and peaceful Christmas. I look forward to working with you all in 2026.

 

With kind regards

 

Mrs Lee