This month, we took part in activities for Children’s Mental Health Week. 

With this year’s theme, “This Is Our Place”, we focused on sustaining a school community where every student feels a sense of belonging. Throughout the week, tutor sessions completed a range of mental health activities designed to encourage reflection, open conversations and positive wellbeing strategies.

We also hosted an Extra-Curricular Activities Fair in the Sports Hall for all year groups, giving students the opportunity to explore clubs, discover new hobbies and ultimately find their place within our wider school community.

Members of our Senior Student Leadership Team and our Year 12 Prefects shared important messages about mental health in a special video, which you can watch here: Children’s Mental Health Week Video

Together, we strive to build a safe, supportive environment where everyone feels seen, heard and valued.

78 Sixth Form students kicked off the half-term break with a three-day trip to Disneyland Paris. 

Packed full of rides, their favourite Disney characters and a spectacular firework display, the trip was one they will remember for many years to come!

"Disneyland Paris was an exceptional trip, we had so much fun, and it was a perfect way to relax after a week of PPEs. We would highly recommend the trip. It was an exciting weekend, and we made lots of memories. We really appreciate all of the effort from Mr and Mrs Jessop that went into planning it."

Anya and Jessie, Year 13

Sixth Form students held their first fundraiser in aid of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Staff and Sixth Formers were invited to dress in outfits inspired by what they wanted to be when they were younger.

The lower school students were invited to buy a tasty treat from the bake sale, and to pie one of our brave volunteer teachers!

Well done to everyone who took part and for helping to raise almost £400 for the charity.

It has been a very busy month of February in Key Stage 3.

The Year 7 football team has just started their 2026 campaign, getting through to the semi-final of the 5-a-side cup where, unfortunately, they were beaten.

In the County Cup, they have progressed through to the 3^rd round, which is great to hear.

The Football League starts in early March, and we are hoping for a Top 3 finish – come on the Year 7 boys.

Before half-term, the KS3 Team, along with Mr Coulson & Ms Jones, spent a week undertaking Learning Walks to observe how Year 7 were engaging with their learning, and we were very impressed with how most pupils were really trying to engage with their learning, which was great to see.

In Year 8, the Options process is now well under way.

We also had the Year 8 Interim/Spring Reports sent home to give a current snapshot of Engagement with Learning and Progress within the H/I/F Band.

This was followed by the Year 8 Parents’ Evening, with a good uptake of parents making appointments with subject teachers to discuss progress in subjects but also ask about potential Option choices.

Several Year 8 pupils attended the History Department’s ‘Classics for All’ trip to Reading University, where they took part in a hieroglyphics workshop, an A.I. workshop and then, making their own precious jewels.  They also had a tour of the campus. What an experience for these young Historians.

Congratulations to the two Tutor Groups, 7-KCA and 8-RFA who both topped the leader board for the most number of House Points (HPs) awarded in February, so far, for their year group.

• 7-KCA have been awarded a massive 480 HPs.
• 8-RFA have been awarded a very impressive 305 HPs.

Well done to each and every member of those Tutor Groups and keep trying to earn even more HPs.

The average number of HPs awarded across the 20 Tutor Groups in KS3 was 243 HPs, which is brilliant to see, so everyone in KS3 – keep trying to earn those all-important HPs.

Remember, every HP awarded helps towards the House Competition!

As always, thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring your children are fully equipped for school and in the correct school uniform, arrive on time and for your time spent ensuring all homework is completed to the best of their ability. It is very much appreciated.

Mr Rayner and the KS3 Team

February is a quick month in school, but we have still managed to pack a lot into Key Stage 4. Students have embraced our whole school approach to litter picking – we hope that it helps students not only give something back to the school environment but think more carefully about looking after the school site and having the confidence to call out their peers who drop litter.

In the last week of the half-term, it was great to see so many visiting the extra-curricular fair and actively involved in Children's Mental Health Week. Walking round the tutor groups on the last day of term and seeing the variety of wellbeing tasks students were completing with their tutors made me realise what a brilliant relationship students have with their tutors and what a fabulous group of young people we have at LHS.

Year 9 have been busy getting stuck into their GCSEs and I cannot believe they are now 6 months into their courses. The Food and Nutrition group have been busy making bird cakes and Year 9 students were lucky enough to see Risking it All from theatre production company 2engage, which was to raise awareness of illegal vaping, criminal exploitation and cannabis use in young people.

Year 10 are now more than halfway through their GCSEs and should be acting on the feedback from their January PPEs as well as completing coursework which, for many courses, was due in on Friday 13 February. Year 10 Drama students participated in a devising workshop and our Citizenship students in a Q&A session with local MP Olivia Bailey.

For Year 11 the focus is now very much on preparing for GSCEs, and they had their final set of PPEs in the weeks before and after half-term. We are incredibly proud of how well they have conducted themselves in the exams and how reflective they have been on what they need to do to achieve their best in the final exams. With only five weeks in Term 4, this is going to be a quick term for us all, and I urge all Key Stage 4 students to make the most of the learning with excellent attendance and punctuality to lessons, as well as working hard in and out of lessons, as well as enjoying their extra-curricular activities to aid relaxation.

Mrs Rayner and the KS4 Team