Friday 16^th January  2026

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Values and Rise

The focus this week has been on integrity and respect. At Newport High School we define respect as being kind, polite and empathetic. Assemblies this week have explored this theme and have looked at how we can show respect to our environment through taking care, not littering and not causing deliberate damage.

Littering not only harms the environment and wildlife but also creates practical challenges within our school community. Plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, and discarded items often attract seagulls and pigeons, which bring further hygiene concerns.

At school, we actively support the message of recycling and responsible waste disposal by raising awareness with pupils. Unfortunately, litter left in the canteen and yard at lunchtime means we must pay for additional cleaning, which is an unnecessary cost that could be avoided. Parents can help by reinforcing these values at home—encourage children to use bins, carry reusable containers, and participate in recycling. Together, we can maintain a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.

 

Tips for Parents and Students:

• Always use bins and recycling facilities both at home and school.
• Pack lunches in reusable containers to reduce waste.
• Talk to children about why littering harms the environment and attracts pests.
• Encourage participation in recycling programs and eco-friendly initiatives.
• Lead by example—show that you care about keeping spaces clean.

 

Literacy success at Newport High School

Three of our Year 11 students entered a Young Writers competition back in October 2025. For the competition, they had to write a poem inspired by dreams and aspirations. We recently heard back from the Young Writers team saying that they would love to publish our students' work in a poetry anthology the company are producing, called "I Have a Dream - Teen Voices". This is a phenomenal achievement and we are very proud of Brook-Lynne, Rhion and Michalina for this achievement.

A copy of the book will be in the school library after it is published in March 2026.

 

Progress on our new Rugby Pitch

We are excited to share that work on our new rugby pitch is moving forward and remains on schedule, despite some challenging weather before the Christmas break.

 

What’s Completed So Far:

• Protective membrane installed and sealed
• Stone base imported
• Main drainage and manholes finished

 

Currently Underway:

• Installing 3m fence posts
• Laying kerbs

Next Steps:

• Preparing floodlight bases
• Adding ducting

 

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.

 

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 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. 19^th March 2026
2. 23^rd April 2026
3. 18^th June 2026

 

In-person Parental Forum

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

1. 20^th March 2026
2. 15^th May 2026
3. 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-person in March please email info@newporthigh.co.uk with parental forum in the title and the date of the forum, making it clear if you wish to attend the on-line or in -person session.

 

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

• 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 February half-term on Friday 13^th February and students will return to school on Monday 23^rd February 2026.

Monday 2^nd March is an INSET day when school will be closed to students for staff training.

 

I would like to thank you all for your continued support.

 

With kind regards

 

Mrs Lee