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Our recent Carol Service always signals the beginning of the festive season for me, and this year was no exception. The performances from our students created a truly joyful and festive atmosphere, setting the tone for the weeks ahead. Alongside the Winter Festival, these events not only highlighted the musical talent within our school but also brought our wider community together.
Christmas is a time when we celebrate the many talents at Little Heath, something clearly reflected in the entries for this year’s Christmas card competition. Choosing a winner from such a high standard of artwork was no easy task, but congratulations go to this year’s winner, Melissa in Year 8 (Stirling House).
This year also saw a record turnout at our Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party, with 140 guests attending. The Sixth Form Social Committee, supported by Miss Gardner, did a fantastic job in organising a wonderful afternoon. They created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and we have been delighted by the many messages of thanks received in praise of our Sixth Formers. We are extremely proud of this valued community event and of the students who make it so special for our guests.
I wish you all the very best for the holiday period.
Mr David Ramsden
Headteacher
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Calendar dates for the next month can be found below.
For information on Term Dates, please click here.
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| Date* |
Event |
| Friday 19 December |
TERM ENDS 1pm finish
Please note, there will be NO school buses at the end of the day |
| Monday 22 December – Friday 2 January |
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS |
| Monday 5 January |
TERM BEGINS |
| Wednesday 7 January |
January Exams Begin
Year 8 Trip to Matilda |
| Monday 12 January |
Year 8 Options
Information Evening for Parents
Year 10 PPEs begin |
| Tuesday 13 January |
Year 12 Making Competitive Applications
Information Evening for Parents |
| Friday 16 January |
Year 13 PPEs begin |
| Thursday 22 January |
Year 8 Parents' Evening |
| Monday 26 January |
Year 10 Practical PPEs |
| Tuesday 27 January |
KS4 Parliament Tour |
| Wednesday 28 January |
Year 12 Geography Trip to Reading
Intermediate Maths Challenge |
| Thursday 29 January |
Year 8 Classics for All |
| Friday 30 January |
Year 12 Staying Safe at Night
Sixth Form Trip to Disneyland, Paris |
| *Dates may be subject to change. Correct at time of publication. |
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Winter Festival and the Christmas Carol Service
Our students from Years 7–13 put on a fantastic Winter Festival this year, with confident compères, brilliant instrumental performances, powerful solo and group singing, and some truly stunning choir moments.
The talent on display was outstanding, and we are so proud of how much work and enthusiasm went into every performance.
Well done to all the student musicians and singers, and the Christian Union who have put together a fabulous programme for this year's Carol Concert at Tilehurst Methodist Church.
Thank you to everyone this evening who contributed towards our collection for Daisy's Dream and a huge thank you to our fantastic Music Department for all of their hard work.
We would also like to once again thank everyone at Tilehurst Methodist Church for welcoming us for another year.
Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumper Day
Students celebrated the festive season together at our annual Christmas lunch. Key Stage 3 and 4 students' Christmas lunch coincided with our whole school Christmas Jumper Day! A special thank you goes to members of our Student Senior Leadership Team and Year 12 Prefects, whose hard work and enthusiasm as helpers made the event even more special.
This year, we decided to swap out the usual crackers for Santa hats which went down an absolute treat with our students! We wanted to reduce waste and to offer a more sustainable option that students can reuse. Any hats that were not taken will be used at the Christmas lunch again next year.
Our Sixth Form students also enjoyed a Christmas lunch in the café area, served by the wonderful Sixth Form Team.
Thanks to Culinera for serving 100s of dinners over two days, and for all the staff who helped out!
Senior Citizens Christmas Party
On Tuesday 16 December, we welcomed Senior Citizens from the local community into the school for our Annual Afternoon Tea Party. This year was the biggest ever with 145 guests!
It was lots of fun planning this event and seeing it all come together on the day was amazing. The day involved food & drinks, raffles, bingo, a performance from Soul Choir, and a fantastic violin performance from one of our year 13's Sofia. We even included dancing to end the day!
A huge thank you to local businesses, the public, and of course, staff and students at Little Heath School for all the support. This year’s event was a huge hit, and it was so lovely to see the guests having such a wonderful time, and an afternoon full of laughter and smiles. We hope everyone who came enjoyed themselves!
We have since been down to a local food bank to donate any food that was left from the day. We also visited Stoneham Grove Care Home Residents and dropped off any boxes of chocolates that were left over.
Thank you to the following companies for their generous donations to our raffle and bingo prizes:
- Asda
- Bella Italia
- Berkshire Meat Traders
- Boots
- Core Connexions
- Cozze
- Crumbs
- Dunelm
- Englefield Garden Centre
- Henry Street Garden Centre
- Kingdom Coffee
- Lemon Plaice
- Lush
- M&S
- PR Motors
- Salon 16
- Tesco
- The Kurl Salon
- Warings Bakery
- Waitrose
We wish you all a very merry Christmas, and best wishes for the new year!
Emily
Little Heath Y13 Social Committee
Work has begun on our nature project this term thanks to funding from Mend the Gap.
Once complete, the area will enhance the learning experience of our students by providing a sheltered outdoor learning space that will be surrounded by nature, the opportunity to grow and cook food outside, to observe and increase biodiversity, and to focus on wellbeing.
###INSERT LATEST PICS###
The area has been in development following an EPQ project by one of our ex-Year 13 students, Beth. The generous donation from Mend the Gap has enabled us to bring Beth's vision to life, enabling her to leave a lasting legacy!
###INSERT LINK TO BETH'S PODCAST###
 We look forward to showing you the progress over the next few months.
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The Senior Citizens Party is a Little Heath legacy, and one we are so proud of!
At this time of year, while so many of us are celebrating Christmas with friends and family, many people over the age of 65 can experience loneliness.
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Please watch this year's Christmas video, and perhaps it will inspire you to look out for an elderly relative or neighbour this holiday period.
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Christmas Message from Mr Linz
As we come to the end of the calendar year, we would like to recognise and thank the many students from across the school who have been involved in Student Leadership activities throughout the year. Their commitment, enthusiasm and willingness to contribute their time and ideas have played a vital role in shaping and strengthening our school community.
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Students have been involved in a wide range of opportunities, including focus groups, SMILE, Year Councils, our full School Council, the Eco Committee, Year 12 Reading Buddies and the Student Senior Leadership Team (SSLT). Our Year 8 Ambassadors have been outstanding in the support they have provided at Reception and within Student Support, demonstrating enthusiasm, reliability and kindness. We are also grateful to our Sixth Form students who gave their time to support Year 11 and Year 13 Parents’ Evenings. A significant number of students from across the school also volunteered at both our Year 7 Open Evening and Sixth Form Open Evening, where they excelled in welcoming visitors, sharing their experiences and representing the school with confidence and pride.
We are extremely grateful for the positivity, enthusiasm and professionalism shown by students in meetings, in their collaborative work with peers and when representing the school at events. Miss Gardner, Mrs Skeete and I would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the SSLT for their dedication, leadership and energy throughout this term.
We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many acts of kindness shown by our students over recent months. Whether through a welcoming smile, a kind word offered at the right moment, a thoughtful check-in with a friend or a quiet act of support, these small gestures have had a meaningful impact on individuals and, of course, on our wider school community. It has been heartening to see students consistently looking out for one another, offering encouragement and demonstrating empathy. We are incredibly proud of the compassion our students show, and it has been a true privilege to witness them, each and every day, sharing their kindness and brightening the lives of others.
Mr Linz 🙂
Student Wellbeing Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Watch Mr Linz's end of term video here: Mr Linz - Support over Christmas
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For more of our latest news, follow us on social media or view the latest news articles on our website.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram @LHSReading
@littleheathreading on YouTube
Search for Little Heath School on LinkedIn
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 | 11 Dec 2025 £15,000 Mend the Gap funding to develop outdoor learning and wellbeing facilities. |
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Reading every day is one of the simplest and most powerful habits children can develop. Daily reading strengthens the brain, expands vocabulary, boosts imagination, and improves focus — all while helping children to build empathy and confidence.
Each month, we will be recommending books for students in each key stage. Have a look at our December recommendations here…
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KS3 book recommendation
'The Miracle on Ebenezer Street' by Catherine Doyle
George is visiting the Christmas fair with his Nana when he discovers a strange little shop selling magical items. Marley's Christmas Curiosities – strictly for children, and no adults allowed – is packed with carol-singing birds, jolly-making jam and belligerent bath bombs. Yet, right at the back of the shop, George finds a snow globe that contains a memory from his own life – when his mum was still alive.
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That night, George and his Christmas-hating dad are taken on an adventure – with the help of the snow globe – to Christmas past, present and future. Will George's dad finally understand what life would look like with no Christmas? And can the whole family begin to feel joy again?
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KS4 book recommendation
'The Silent Stars Go'
by Sally Nicholls
Three years ago, Margot’s life was turned upside down when her fiancé, Harry, went missing in action on the Western Front. Worse, she was left with a devastating secret which threatened to ruin her life and destroy the reputation of her family. As a respectable vicar’s daughter, Margot has had to guard that secret with great care ever since, no matter how much pain it causes her.
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Now it’s Christmas 1919, and Margot’s family is gathering back home in the vicarage for the first time since the end of the Great War. And miraculously, Harry has returned, hoping to see Margot and rekindle their romance. Can Margot ever reveal the shocking truth to the only man she has ever loved?
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KS5 book recommendation
'Advent'
by Gunnar Gunnarsson
Every winter, in the days leading up to Christmas, Benedikt walks into the snowy mountains of Iceland to rescue sheep lost in the blizzards.
With his dog and his ram by his side, traversing wild snowstorms and crystalline nights, fuelled by endless cups of hot coffee, Benedikt dedicates himself to helping other living beings in need. It is midwinter in the harshest of landscapes, but this is a place of deep belonging and peace – brutal and remorseless yet irresistible and indispensable. It is also a time of peace, filled with the anticipation of that special time of year – the days before Christmas: Advent.
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Cosy up and read a Christmas story together!
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Books2School Competition
Thanks to everyone who donated books to our Books2School House competition. The winners were:
1st place – Stirling
2nd place – Arundel
3rd place – Warwick
4th place – Conway
The English department will be using the donated books to set up a 'Book Swap' library in the new year, alongside a 'Snacks and Stories' club for students who would like a quiet space to come and read.
We would always welcome book donations to the library. Students hand them to their English teacher.
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We love to celebrate student successes and passions both in and outside school. If you know of a student who has excelled, pursued a passion, or gone above and beyond, we'd love to hear from you.
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House Christmas Card Competition Winners
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Thank you to everyone who entered the House Christmas Card Competition this year. We had some outstanding entries!
Mr Ramsden judged the competition, and the winners are…
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1st PLACE – Melissa W, Year 8, STIRLING
2nd PLACE – Ariella BA, Year 7, WARWICK
3rd PLACE – Levi W, Year 8, ARUNDEL
4th PLACE – Sierra W, Year 10, CONWAY
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Winning Designs for each House
ARUNDEL
- 1st Levi W, Year 8
- 2nd Danuta Z, Year 7
- 3rd Mila W, Year 7
CONWAY
- 1st Sierra W, Year 10
- 2nd Annabelle T, Year 8
- 3rd Sachita D, Year 8
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STIRLING
- 1st Melissa W, Year 8
- 2nd Jasper G, Year 7
- 3rd Abigail T, Year 7
WARWICK
- 1st Ariella BA, Year 7
- 2nd Zhi Chen L, Year 8
- 3rd Orlaith D, Year 7
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Highly Commended
- Martyna L, Year 7, CONWAY
- Rasmeen S, Year 8, CONWAY
- Amelia A, Year 7, STIRLING
- Lilla D, Year 7, STIRLING
- Sanjana V, Year 7, STIRLING
- Amelia M, Year 7 WARWICK
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Year 7 Geography Rainforest Competition
We received a large number of fantastic entries, which made judging very difficult this time! Year 7s were asked to create a poster, model or a diorama to represent the rainforest. We wanted to see the layers of the rainforest, including animals, birds and insects.
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The winners are:
1st Place – Alex S (Stirling)
2nd Place – Martyna L (Conway)
3rd Place – Duane W (Warwick)
4th Place – Liam M (Arundel)
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Maxim named as European Regional Champion in Global Science Competition
Huge congratulations to Year 12 student, Maxim, who made it through to the final 30 in a global youth science competition. Despite his relentless efforts to get through the Popular Vote round this month, he sadly didn't make it through to the final, but has been named as the European Regional Champion!
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Maxim worked tirelessly on his campaign to reach out to local and national media for votes, making it onto the radio at BBC Berkshire and as a feature on BBC South Today evening news. He also achieved social media posts by Professor Lucie Green, presenter of 'The Sky at Night' and British European Space Agency astronaut, Tim Peake!
Click here to see the results of all Maxim's efforts on his YouTube page: Maxim's YouTube. Thank you to everyone who liked and shared his video.
Maxim is now even more determined to get further in the competition next year, and is already working on his next video. Watch this Space...!
Visit the Breakthrough website here: Breakthrough Junior Challenge - Winners
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BBOWT Young Volunteer Award
Year 9, Amelia, has won an award for her environmental work with the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.
Amelia has a passion for nature and has been volunteering with the charity for some time. She was nominated earlier this year by the leader of the Teen Rangers group at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre and officially received her award this month.
Amelia is an active member of the Eco-Committee, and we are so proud of her achievements!
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Reading Schools 5-a-side Tournament Winners!
Huge congratulations to our Year 11 boys football team who, this week, were crowned champions of the Reading Schools 5-a-side tournament!
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Amazing teamwork, we are so proud of you!
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DECEMBER: Sports Fixture Results
- 2/12 - Y11 Boys Football County Cup Round 1 Sandhurst School 2 v 3 LHS
- 2/12 Y7 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament LHS 1 v 1 Highdown
- 2/12 Y7 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament LHS 4 v 0 Maiden Erleigh Reading
- 2/12 Y7 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament LHS 2 v 0 Willink
- 2/12 Y7 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament LHS 4 v 5 Reading Boys (lost on penalties)
- 4/12 - Y7 Girls League Football LHS 2 v 0 The Wren
- 4/12 - Y7 Girls League Football LHS 0 v 0 Rivers
- 4/12 - Y7 Girls League Football LHS 1 v 4 Bohunt B Team
- 5/12 - Y11 Boys Football ESFA National Cup - Round 4 Brighton Hill Community School 4 v 1 LHS
- 10/12 - Y7 Basketball local league Blessed Hugh Farringdon 36 v 21 LHS
- 15/12 - Y9 Boys Football County Cup Round 1 Sandhurst School 0 v 8 LHS
- 16/12 - Y11 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament Bohunt 0 v LHS 1
- 16/12 - Y11 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament Willink 1 v 0 LHS
- 16/12 - Y11 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament Hartland High 0 v 2 LHS
- 16/12 - Y11 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament Theale 1 v 1 LHS (won 4-3 on penalties)
- 16/12 - Y11 5-a-side Boys Football Tournament Maiden Erleigh Reading 0 v 1 LHS - WINNERS of Reading Schools 5-a-side Tournament
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We are a school with a strong sense of community.
Please read the notices and event information from the local area below.
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Community Events & Activities
SULHAMPSTEAD CRICKET CLUB
Try Cricket in 2026
MNR Coaching have teamed up with Sulhamstead Cricket Club to provide an opportunity to get into cricket in 2026. This opportunity is open to both current SUCC members and new cricketers looking to have a go at the game from Year 1 to Year 10.
To find out more, and to attend one of their free taster sessions, take a look at their information leaflet here: Sulhamstead Cricket Club
Or click here: Sulhamstead Cricket Club Winter Nets | MNR Coaching
FREE KICKS FOOTBALL SESSIONS
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Tilehurst Parish Council has teamed up with Berkshire Youth and Reading FC Community Trust to offer free football sessions at Cotswold Sports Centre for Years 7 to 9.
The sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00pm - 5:00pm.
Information leaflet here: Free Kicks Sessions - Y7 Y8
Book onto the Tuesday session here: Kicks Session - Tuesday
Book onto the Thursday session here: Kicks Session - Thursday
12 DAYS WILD
The Wildlife Trust
Looking to engage with nature over the holiday period? Take part in the Wildlife Trust's 12 Days Wild: 12 Days Wild | The Wildlife Trusts
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Little Heath School
Little Heath Road
Tilehurst, Reading
Berkshire RG31 5TY
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