NEWSLETTER
Winter Half Term 2025
|
|
|
HEADTEACHER'S WELCOME
Dear Students, Parents and Carers,
I do hope you enjoy our festive edition newsletter, it contains important updates and a celebration of what our amazing students have been up to. You will find details of our student leadership handover, a key moment in our annual calendar where we reflect on what a difference the outgoing teams have made and the ambitions and plans that the new teams have.
Our annual awards presentation was a huge hit, with students collecting their hard-won examination certificates and a chance to celebrate the special awards and trophy winners. We were all treated to an inspirational and uplifting speech from our guest of honour, Naomi Agbobli. Naomi served on the Head Student Team in 2021 making an important and lasting contribution. We are so grateful to Naomi for taking the time to return to Plymouth High to share her learning and life journey with us all.
Our 2025 Drama Festival was great fun with students across all the Houses working collaboratively to produce many memorable performances. Festivals are often a highlight of school life and this most recent one was no exception.
I do hope everyone has enjoyed the Christmas tree outside the Annex building on North Hill and we are grateful to our friends at B&Q Plymouth for their kind donation.
Do read on to find out more about the amazing achievements of our very talented young people, they really are the reason our school is so special.
I wish you all a very happy and relaxing holiday and look forward to welcoming our students back for the Spring term on Monday 5th January 2026.
Very best wishes,
Simon Underdown
|
|
|
Student News & Achievements
|
|
 |
17 Dec 2025
We are pleased to share the achievements of some students at our Celebration Assembly earlier this year.
|
 |
02 Dec 2025
We are delighted to reveal the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.
|
 |
21 Nov 2025
Ruby, a talented Year 11 student, has been passionate about singing and performing since she was 3 years old and attends a local performing arts outside of school where she nurtures her love for musical theatre.
Her dedication has led to incredible achievements, including most recently win...
|
 |
14 Nov 2025
Suzie, Year 10, has been working hard on her performance and public speaking skills this year. She has successfully gained a level 4 in LAMDA in both Public Speaking and Verse and Pros. This incorporated learning poems by heart to perform to judges and writing speeches to perform. She gained a...
|
 |
13 Nov 2025
Congratulations to Sylvie and Lily for qualifying to represent Devon in Hockey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 Dec 2025
Earlier this term, our Year 12 and 13 Art students enjoyed an exceptional opportunity to take part in a workshop hosted by practising artist Jo Beer, a full-time oil painter based in Cornwall.
|
05 Dec 2025
In November, Year 12 and 13 A Level art students embarked on an unforgettable trip to London for a magical day of art appreciation. Despite the rain, spirits were high as the group strolled across the Thames, passing the iconic Shard on their way to the stunning Tate Modern. Students were thrilled t...
|
|
|
|
Our annual House Drama Festival brought colour, creativity, and a touch of theatrical chaos to the stage this week as students from all year groups showcased their talents under this year’s exciting theme: Heroes and Villains.
From Macbeth to Star Wars, Harry Potter to The Grinch, our Houses delivered a wonderful variety of monologues, duets, and ensemble pieces. The performances were imaginative, expressive, and full of personality, highlighting the incredible dramatic talent within our school community.
We were treated to a rich tapestry of interpretations including a courtroom showdown, a delightful sequence involving the Kendall mascot torn between angels and devils, and many cleverly linked scenes that demonstrated both teamwork and creativity. With students even producing programmes for their performances, the professionalism and attention to detail truly impressed the judging panel.
One of the standout moments of the Festival was seeing so many Year 7 students stepping onto the stage with confidence and enthusiasm. Performing not only in front of their peers, but also students from Years 8 through 13, they demonstrated remarkable bravery and stage presence. Their energy brought something special to the Festival and set a brilliant example for future years.
The standard across all Houses was exceptionally high, making the judges’ decision incredibly difficult. Every performance brought something unique, clever staging, expressive character work, bold choices, and plenty of humour.
But in the end, there could only be one winner...
Latimer
Latimer delivered a standout performance that left a lasting impression - who could forget Daisy G’s unforgettable portrayal of an American president?
The House’s creativity, commitment, and cohesive storytelling earned them a well deserved victory.
Well done to all students from all Houses who took part, and a final well done to Latimer.
|
|
|
|
We are in the early stages of planning an exciting school trip to Iceland for curriculum enrichment week 2027. The trip will be open to students with a keen interest in Geography from Year 8 onwards. Students can go to A07 in school to see Mrs Nicol-Boyle, the trip leader, to find out more.
|
|
|
Student librarians
We are excited to announce the recruitment of our new Student Librarians, who are now supporting the library during break and lunchtime. These dedicated volunteers will help with supervising the library desk, shelving books, organising displays, assisting fellow students and keeping our reading spaces welcoming for everyone.
|
|
Reading achievements
After finishing a book from our school library, students are encouraged to write a short review, to help others discover great new reads.
This term, two students have reached impressive milestones. Mimi, 7T has read and reviewed 10 library books, earning 5 achievement points, a certificate, and a house badge. Belle, 7T has gone even further, completing 25 book reviews and receiving 10 achievement points, a certificate, and a silver badge.
These are outstanding accomplishments for the very first term. Well done to both students.
|
|
Black History Month (October)
In the library, we aim to offer a diverse collection of engaging books that celebrate Black history and experiences, broaden perspectives, and inspire all readers.
|
|
Anti-bullying week (November)
The theme this year was ‘Power for Good,’ encouraging young people to recognise and use their individual power to speak up, support others and promote kindness to help stop bullying. Our display included a variety of fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels, giving students of all ages the chance to find a story or guide that speaks to them.
|
|
|
“Beyoncé or Brontë"
We love a good competition in the library - especially when there are House points up for grabs! In November, we hosted our fun “Beyoncé or Brontë?” display, where students put their literary and musical knowledge to the test. The challenge was simple - guess whether each quote came from one of Beyoncé’s songs or from a novel by the Brontë sisters. It was a mix of modern pop and classic literature, and students had a great time trying to tell the difference. The House with the most entries was Kendall who earned 28 House points.
|
|
Elf on the Bookshelf
Ebeneezer the Elf was back on one of our bookshelves again, leaving clues as to the book he had been reading. There were some old classics and some books that are popular in the library today. House points were awarded for each guess and a winner was picked each day. Overall, Latimer earned the most house points for this activity.
|
|
Advent challenge
We brought back our Library Advent Challenge this year, with a new activity revealed each day. Students enjoyed everything from crosswords and acrostic poems to the popular ‘Name the Christmas Song from the Lyrics’ challenge. There were plenty of House points for the taking and Temple took the lead with an impressive number of entries!
|
|
Christmas craft
At the time of writing, we’re busy planning for our Christmas craft session. We’re looking forward to making some Christmas decorations using old, damaged books that would otherwise have been thrown away.
|
|
Stationery shop
We have a small stationery shop in the library and we’re pleased to announce that parents are now able to pay for items on ArborPay via the school app. Once paid for, the items can be collected from the library.
Recently, some of our prices have slightly increased due to higher costs from our suppliers. As a non-profit shop, we always aim to keep prices as low as possible and only adjust them when absolutely necessary. Our goal is simply to cover costs and to continue to provide affordable stationery for everyone.
|
|
Lost books
We would like to remind everyone that library books are the responsibility of the borrower and should be returned on time and in good condition. If a book is lost or damaged, we ask that it is replaced or a contribution is made towards a new book. Early next term, we will be conducting a routine stock check, including contacting borrowers regarding outstanding loans. We appreciate your support with this and for helping us maintain a well-stocked, accessible library for everyone.
|
|
|
|
Head Student Team and Earth Alliance
|
|
|
We would like to take a moment to thank our outgoing 2025 Head Student Team for their incredible dedication and leadership. Throughout their tenure, they have worked diligently to represent the student voice, lead initiatives, and embody the values of our school. You can read what they had to say about their experience as HST here in our Latest News!
Looking ahead, we are very excited to welcome our incoming 2026 Head Student Team - Ellen, Catarina, Zara and Beatrice. This is the start of an important journey - one that calls for responsibility, creativity, and the ability to inspire others. We have every confidence that they will rise to the challenge and continue to be outstanding role models for our student body.
Be sure to explore the main HST page on our website in the new year for full introductions and updates from our 2026 team!
The Earth Alliance team have also completed their handover and you can read the final message from our outgoing team (and hear about their sock monkey project) here. Thank you, Evelyn and William for your dedication and hard work - and welcome to Caitlin and Kyla! We look forward to seeing what you have in store.
|
|
|
|
GCSE and A Level Awards Presentation Evening
|
|
 |
19 Dec 2025
Annual awards presentation evening with guest speaker, Naomi Agbobli.
|
|
|
|
At PHSG, our House Competitions run throughout the entire calendar year, from January to December, giving every student the opportunity to contribute to the success of their House. The programme is designed to celebrate the diverse strengths and interests of our students, ensuring that there is something for everyone.
Across the year, students take part in a wide variety of events, including our major Festivals - Music, Gym and Dance, and Drama - as well as Sports Day, the Swimming Gala, library quizzes, Christmas card design, Earth Alliance bug hotel challenge, and many, many more. Academic elements such as achievement points and the attendance cup also contribute to the overall standings, rewarding effort, commitment, and consistency.
We actively encourage all students to participate in at least one event, quiz, or challenge. With such a broad range spanning the creativity of our art competitions to the sportsmanship of inter-House netball and rowing, we aim to ensure that every interest, talent, and passion is recognised and celebrated. The spirit of the House system is one of inclusion, belonging, and teamwork, and it has been wonderful to see students of all ages getting involved.
This year’s competition was incredibly close, with all houses demonstrating outstanding commitment and enthusiasm. The energy, effort and pride shown across the school have made 2025 another memorable and exciting year of friendly rivalry.
In the autumn term alone, we have seen the following outcomes:?
- House boards – Kendall
- Bug Hotels – Anthony
- House assemblies - Latimer
- Inter-House Rowing - Latimer
- Library – Temple
- 'TWTW' news board – Temple
- Achievement points - Temple
We are delighted to announce that the overall winners of this year’s House Competition are KENDALL. Their consistent participation, determination, and strong performances across a wide range of events secured them the top spot. A huge well done to all Kendall students, and congratulations to every student who took part in making this year's competition such a success.
|
|
It's officially Christmas!
|
|
 |
14 Dec 2025
This week, KS3 students enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch in true festive style!
|
|
|
).png) |
11 Dec 2025
Have you seen our beautiful Christmas tree bringing festive cheer to North Hill? We are extremely grateful to B&Q Crownhill for their generous donation of the tree and accessories, helping us spread joy in our local community.
|
|
|
 |
14 Dec 2025
"The best yet"
|
|
|
National Year of Reading 2026
|
|
2026 has been designated as the National Year of Reading, and we are thrilled to embrace this opportunity to make reading a central part of our school and community life. Reading is not just an academic skill - it is the foundation for learning, creativity, and wellbeing.
Why Reading Matters
Reading improves vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. It opens doors to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives. Beyond education, reading supports mental health by reducing stress and providing a sense of calm and escape.
How We Can Promote Reading Together
Reading is most powerful when it becomes a shared experience between school, home, and the wider community. Here are some ideas to encourage reading:
- Join the “26 Reads in 2026” Challenge: Read one book every fortnight -students, parents, and staff together! We’ll share book lists and tips to keep you motivated.
- Create a Reading Space at Home: A cosy corner with books can make reading inviting.
- Read Aloud or Share Stories: Even older students benefit from hearing stories and discussing them.
- Explore Different Formats: Audiobooks, e-books, magazines, and graphic novels can spark interest.
- Connect Reading to Interests: Sports, music, science, or fantasy - help your child find books that match their passions.
- Visit Libraries and Bookshops: Make reading a social activity by exploring new titles together.
- Celebrate Progress: Share what you’re reading as a family and encourage students to recommend books to friends.
Let’s make 2026 a year where reading brings us closer as a school and community.
Thank you for supporting this initiative and helping every child discover the joy and benefits of reading.
Follow the link below for some initial information on this, and 'watch this space' for further reading-related opportunities for students (and their parent's/ carer's) next year:
GO ALL IN | National Year of Reading 2026
|
|
|
Saving money AND the planet!
Our "pop up" secondhand uniform shop was a great success this term. With uniform pieces on sale for between £3 - £5, our students made the most of the items available.
Items were FREE if students brought uniform to swap, and also free for pupil premium students.
Over 65 students came to buy and swap uniform, raising a very impressive £390!
|
|
|
Student & Class of the Week
|
|
 |
19 Dec 2025
Students of the week: Melita, Year 9 and Jessica, Year 8 for helping the site team to de-rig after this week's Award Ceremony. Nominated by Mr T Moreira and Miss E Pinnock.
Group of the week: Ristha, Temi, Daisy, Suzy, Lottie, Lily, Emma, Izzy and Isabel for being amazingly he...
|
 |
16 Dec 2025
Student of the week: Mimi, Year 10 for showing true resilience and determination in returning to school life as fully as practicable following illness. Nominated by Mrs Banks.
And Harriet, Year 10 for encouraging the students to use learning modes like 'considerate collab...
|
 |
05 Dec 2025
Student of the week: Charlotte, Year 10 for excellent work in her Chemistry mock exam. Nominated by Mrs Hatfield.
Class of the week: 9B English for their fabulous group work for Journey's End. Nominated by Miss Taylor.
|
 |
01 Dec 2025
Student of the week: Eva A, Year 7 for always going above and beyond to help other students in her textiles lessons. Nominated by Mrs Brown.
Class of the week: 11P2 Physics for putting in a great effort in their mock exams and for their progression in techniques. Nominated b...
|
 |
28 Nov 2025
Student of the week: Oribim, Year 10 for her positive work ethic with frequent, insightful contributions to class discussion in English lessons.
Class of the week: 10P English for 'Showing Up' and applying themselves so assiduously to their first assessments. Responding to...
|
 |
19 Nov 2025
Student of the week: Rashaud, Year 13, and Tabitha Year 13. ''Their amazing presentations during Sixth Form open evening - top drawer!'' Nominated by Mr Jenkins
Class of the week: 8D Geography. ''The most amazing biome-in-a-box projects hande...
|
 |
07 Nov 2025
Student of the week: Mary, Year 10. ''For showing a mature attitude and communicating effectively.'' Nominated by Mrs Gill
Class of the week: 8B Geography. ''The most amazing biome-in-a-box projects handed in this year. Mrs NB has been blown away...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Many of our families make use of the bus service to and from school that DHSB manage. PHSG students are very welcome to apply for seats on the DHSB buses and there are new routes opening all the time. Please see the information in the flyer here for routes and prices.
Parents and carers can also contact Mr Ewan Grewal at ewan@ridetandem.co.uk for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kooth, a mental health platform, have provided information and support for families over the Christmas and New Year period. Please click here for more information, and you can view their opening times here.
|
|
|
HOME SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Students may contact staff if they have queries, firstly by visiting them in their department area, and only contacting them using school email system if they really can’t see them in person.
Parents may wish to contact staff. The following outlines what the Headteacher regards as important considerations regarding home/school communication, particularly by email:
¨ All communication must respect the dignity of the recipient.
¨ Within 48 hours: receipt of an email will be acknowledged by school either by the person contacted, or the most appropriate person able to deal with the issue (term time only, not after 5pm nor over a weekend).
¨ Within 5 working days: school will provide a response to the email by telephone or in writing, or e-mail. This may include informing the sender that more time is required to provide a full response. If this is the case, staff should indicate a time frame for a response.
¨ Staff will not be expected to monitor or respond to emails outside their normal working hours (nor at weekends and published school holidays).
Whilst this is extremely rare, if a member of staff receives an e-mail or call which is of an aggressive tone, sets unreasonable demands or could otherwise be interpreted as harassing, they will refer this to a senior line manager in the school, who will decide if consideration needs to be given to dealing with further communication under our Complaints Policy.
|
|
PARKING
Out of respect for our neighbours and for health and safety reasons there is NO PARKING on the school site or for collecting/dropping off students on the double yellow lines outside our school gates.
|
|
STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
For safety reasons if your daughter has to leave school during the school day, and you are unable to collect her, she must have a note in her planner with clear instructions that you give permission for her to leave unaccompanied. Without your express instructions to this effect we will not allow any students to leave school unless they are collected by an adult from reception.
|
NUT ALLERGY
Please be aware that we have students who are severely allergic to nuts and we would, therefore, appreciate where possible that you try to avoid putting nuts into packed lunches.
Although we are not going completely nut free, we have stopped selling packets of nuts as snacks in the canteen to try to reduce the risk to them and appreciate your support.
|
|
SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE SAFETY
Our Children are spending more and more time on their mobile phones. Making them aware of the dangers of social media, and protecting them from these dangers can be very challenging. These are some of the better known sites that pose risks to children—are they on your child’s phone home screen?
To help safeguard your child please regularly take the time to talk to them about the way they use their social media apps:
Do they always know who they are engaging with?
Do they share their passwords?
Do they feel comfortable with what they are seeing and doing?
Do they feel pressure from “friends” to do/say things they don’t want to?
For more information please regarding online safety, please visit our website: www.phsg.org/
|
|
|
|
5th January: First day of Spring term
5th - 21st January: Year 13 mock exams
22nd & 29th January: Year 9 Parents Evening (appointment only)
23rd January: Year 11 options deadline
5th February: Year 9 options deadline
|
|
|
Calendar Term Dates 2025-2026
Term
|
Starts
|
Ends
|
|
One
|
3rd September (Year 7 & 12 only)
4th September (All Year Groups)
|
16th October
|
| Autumn Half Term |
20th October |
31st October |
|
Two
|
4th November
|
19th December
|
| Christmas Holidays |
22nd December |
2nd January |
|
Three
|
5th January
|
13th February
|
| Spring Half term |
16th February |
20th February |
|
Four
|
23rd February
|
2nd April
|
| Easter Holidays |
3rd April |
17th April |
|
Five
|
20th April
|
22nd May
|
| Summer Half term |
25th May |
29th May |
|
Six
|
1st June
|
17th July
|
| Summer Holidays |
20th July |
2nd September (Year 7 & 12 only)
3rd September (All Year Groups)
|
|
Curriculum Enrichment Week
6th July - 10th July
Non Pupil Days 2025-2026
1st September
2nd September
17th October
3rd November
4th May 2026 (Bank Holiday)
20th July 2026
21st July 2026
|
|
|
