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As we come to the end of a very busy first half term, I would like to begin by saying a huge well done to our Year 11 students, who have made such a positive start to their PPEs. I would also like to remind our Year 11 families that our Sixth Form Open Evening will be taking place next month, on Thursday 6 November, and I warmly encourage students to come along to explore the wide range of courses and enrichment opportunities available.
One of the student leadership opportunities offered by our Sixth Form is the chance to be part of our Student Senior Leadership and Prefect Team. This month we appointed our Year 12 prefects, who have already begun to take on their leadership responsibilities. They will be excellent role models for younger students and will play an important role in supporting school life over the year ahead.
October is also the month in which we acknowledge World Mental Health Day, which serves as an important reminder that emotional wellbeing is just as vital as academic success. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where students feel able to talk openly, seek help when they need it, and learn healthy strategies for managing stress. Raising awareness in school helps to remind us all to look after ourselves and one another.
There has also been plenty to celebrate outside the classroom, with some fantastic sporting achievements across a number of year groups. From team victories to individual successes, you can read more about these in this month’s Student Spotlight section.
Finally, as an English teacher myself, I am delighted to introduce a new feature in the monthly newsletter. Reading every day is one of the most powerful ways students can strengthen their knowledge, broaden their vocabulary, and develop the confidence and fluency needed for strong writing skills. Each month we will be sharing book recommendations for each key stage, which we hope will inspire students — and perhaps help them discover a new favourite book.
Thank you for your continued support. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable half term break.
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 |
| Monday 27 October -Friday 31 October |
October Half Term |
| Monday 3 November |
INSET Day |
| Tuesday 4 November |
Year 11 PPEs continue |
| Wednesday 5 November |
Year 10 Travel & Tourism Trip
Thorpe Park
November External Examinations begin |
| Thursday 6 November |
Year 12 & Year 13 History Trip
Westminster Abbey & National Archives
Sixth Form Open Evening
5:30pm - 7:45pm
Book online: SF Open Evening Online Booking Form |
| Friday 7 November |
Turn Tilehurst Red Trip |
| Monday 10 November |
Anti Bullying Week |
| Tuesday 11 November |
Little Recyclers Clothing Collection
Whole School House Competition
Please donate clothing as follows: Items We Accept – The Little Recyclers |
| Wednesday 12 November |
Year 12 & Year 13 Food Trip
Reading College
GCSE Music Performance Evening |
| Thursday 13 November |
Year 12 Politics Trip
Climate Conference, Holme Grange School
Year 10 CV Workshops
E-Safety Information Evening for Parents/Carers |
| Friday 14 November |
Year 7 Singing Competition
Year 11 & Year 13
The Oddballs Foundation Talk |
| Tuesday 18 November |
Year 9 & Year 10 Careers in the Creative Arts
Year 12 Climate Conference Trip
Reading Council Chambers |
| Wednesday 19 November |
Year 10, Y11 & Y13 Construction & Engineering Assemblies |
| Thursday 20 November |
Year 11 & Year 13
AWE Careers Assemblies |
| Tuesday 25 November |
Year 11 Mock Results Day
Year 7–11 Flu Immunisations |
| Wednesday 26 November |
KS4/KS5 Drama Trip
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton |
| Thursday 27 November |
Winter Festival |
| Friday 28 November |
Talk by Entrepreneur Farouk Braimoh, RWRK
Enterprise & Marketing, Textiles and Eco-Committee Students |
| *Dates may be subject to change. Correct at time of publication. |
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This month, we welcomed the Education Business Partnership into school, along with local Business Ambassadors from a range of industries, to work with our Year 7 students. They worked in teams, putting their imagination and engineering skills to the test to create their own Cardboard City.
 As well as discovering the varied jobs and roles involved in creating a city, students had to consider a wide range of amenities to design a liveable and vibrant community that meets the needs and preferences of its residents. As they built their creations, they considered not only the wants and needs of their city dwellers, but also sustainability, incorporating solar panels, wind turbines and recycling points. All students and Business Ambassadors then voted for the best design. Congratulations to the team from 7MAH and their Magical Town of Mystery, who took first place!
The Year 7s thoroughly enjoyed the day, with 85% saying they found it a valuable experience. Student comments included:
“It was fun, especially the engineering. It was fun to problem-solve, like how to fix a mistake.”
“An exciting, challenging and enjoyable experience.”
The workshop also helped students to develop their teamwork and communication skills, particularly when working with peers they may not usually collaborate with. One participant said, “The workshop made me feel comfortable with other people I didn’t know.”
Thank you to EBP and everyone who helped to make this such an interesting and worthwhile day for our Year 7s.
YEAR 8 FINANCIAL AWARENESS WORKSHOP
Year 8 students took part in an extremely valuable Financial Awareness Workshop this month.
Financial education is increasingly recognised as a fundamental life skill, vital for promoting children and young people’s financial resilience and wellbeing. Attitudes towards money are formed early in life, often by the age of seven, and these early habits significantly influence a person’s ability to manage their finances into adulthood.
It is never too early to learn the value of money: how much things cost, how to plan and budget, salary expectations for different career paths, and what you need to earn to fund your preferred lifestyle. We are grateful to the Education Business Partnership and their business volunteers for running this important session with our Year 8s.
YEAR 10 CHARLIE'S PROMISE
We have been fortunate to welcome Martin Cosser, from Charlie’s Promise, into school several times to talk to both students and parents about knife crime.
Charlie’s Promise is a charity created in memory of Martin’s son, Charlie, who sadly lost his life to knife crime in 2023. Charlie was 17 years old and was not involved in any criminal behaviour.
Martin's assembly is powerful, honest, and hard-hitting, encouraging students and staff to reflect on the question: “What would we do?”
One of our parents commented on the Charlie's Promise Facebook page:
"My daughter came home and talked in great detail about Charlie and your assembly. You also talked in my son's assembly a previous year. We all sat and discussed how awful it was and what they would now do if put in a similar situation. I honestly don’t think this conversation would of been brought up had they not of both heard your talk. Thank you for sharing your story. You and Charlie’s promise have made a huge impact on so many lives."
Students also took this opportunity to present Martin with a cheque for £400 from money raised by the Year 10 ASDAN group last term. The group held a stall at Sports Day selling drinks, snacks, and a lucky dip, and also organised a raffle. They raised £800 in total, donating £400 to Charlie's Promise and £400 to Daisy's Dream, a charity that supports children and young people facing bereavement—helping them prepare for a loss or navigate life after losing someone important.
We do not have a knife crime issue at Little Heath School, but we are committed to working to protect our young people from becoming victims of knife and weapon-related crime through education, information, and intervention. Over the last year, students from Year 10 through to Year 13, along with a number of parents and staff, have attended Martin’s assembly.
DESTINATIONS EXPO 2025
Newbury College Careers & Higher Education Fair
This month, Year 11 attended Destination Expo – the region’s largest interactive careers fair for students. Held across the Newbury College campus, the Expo provided a dynamic and engaging environment where young people could connect directly with professionals, gain insights into various industries, and discover the many routes available to them after school.
PPEs
It has been a busy end of term for Year 11 as they started their written PPEs on Monday 20 October, with at least one paper in every subject, giving students a flavour of what the real exams will be like in summer 2026. I have been so impressed with the mature way they have approached preparation, with many increasing their work rate in Year 11, and their conduct in the exams has been fantastic. The exams will resume after half term.
We are holding a mock GCSE results day on Tuesday 25 November – this will allow students to experience the highs and lows of opening that envelope to exam results. Undoubtedly, there will be success mixed with disappointment for some. The important thing is that all students use their results as a springboard for consistent improvement throughout the year, acting on feedback from teachers and reflecting on how they approached the PPEs.
The most successful GCSE students tend to have the following in common:
- They work hard in lessons and at home.
- They are organised.
- They are proactive in utilising feedback.
- They maintain a positive mindset when things don’t go as planned, rather than giving up.
- They attend school regularly and are punctual to lessons, maximising their learning time.
We wish Year 11 the best of luck in the remaining exams and remind them to use the advice from the Time To Talk extended assembly to help manage stress levels.
Mrs Rayner
Assistant Head - KS4
Well done to all our Year 12 students who applied for a role as prefect this term. We had some strong applications and have appointed some excellent students, who we are sure will make a great impact in their specialist areas.
Wihelmina, David, Flossie, Phoebe, and Trisha will focus on Curriculum and Extra-Curricular activities.
Priyanjali, Aiden, Zimra, Kurinji, Jasmai, Katherine, and Khushi form the Diversity group and will work on cultural initiatives and competitions throughout the year, as well as running Cultures Day and the Cultural Celebration Evening event.
Hadassah, Ayat, Riley, Harshini, and Zimal will focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing, helping to support students, getting involved in mental health events, and supporting Mr Linz, our Student Wellbeing Lead.
Ibraheem, Hannah, Lottie, Manreet, and Pasang will deal with Climate Awareness and Sustainability. They will work closely with the Eco-Committee students, help with school eco projects, deliver awareness assemblies, and run sessions with the Year 7s at their Eco Day in July.
Alicia, Amera, Hannah and Tahirah will focus on the School Community.
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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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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. Take a look at our October recommendations here…
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KS3 book recommendation
'King of Nothing'
by Nathanael Lessore
Anton is the king of Year 9. He's the “bad boy” of his South London secondary school, feared and respected partly because his dad is in prison. But when his mum makes him join the Happy Campers, a local activity group, he ends up making friends with Matthew, the biggest loser in school. Anton begins to question his life, not least the misogynistic banter of his best friend, who is obsessed with a particularly sexist podcast.
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KS4 book recommendation
'Play' by Luke Palmer
Four boys grow up together at school, itching to get out of their small town. They play games, scoring points off each other—anything to pass the time until they’re free. Matthew slips into his imagination, Luc pushes his body to the limit, and Johnny… well, who knows what Johnny’s up to. But when Mark starts running errands for his older brother’s mysterious associate, he thinks he’s found the best game of all.
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KS5 book recommendation
'Glasgow Boys'
by Margaret McDonald
Against all odds, 18-year-old Finlay has begun his nursing degree at Glasgow University, but coming straight from the care system means he has no support network. How can he focus on essays, placements, and basic survival, let alone stop himself from falling in love? Meanwhile, 17-year-old Banjo is trying to settle into his new foster family and finish high school, but his anger and fear keep threatening his future.
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Three years ago, Finlay and Banjo were as close as brothers—until they stopped speaking. To hold on to the people they love, they must learn to forgive each other and, most importantly, themselves.
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LHS Students Launch Young Enterprise Company
A group of 12 ambitious students has officially launched their very own business as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme.
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The initiative gives students the chance to set up and run a real company, taking responsibility for everything from product development and marketing to finance and sales.
The Little Heath team will now begin their entrepreneurial journey, working together to turn their ideas into a trading business. Through the programme, they will gain first-hand experience of the challenges and rewards of running a company, developing key skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving.
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The launch marks the start of an exciting year ahead, with the students eager to showcase their creativity, innovation, and business acumen. We look forward to sharing their progress throughout the year.
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World Mental Health Day
10 October 2025
On this day, we set up a stall in prominent locations of the school to raise awareness about World Mental Health Day. We included activities to create fortune tellers that had them do mindfulness actions, writing on signposts about how they contribute to their mental health and wellbeing, and doing mindfulness colouring.
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We also had a suggestion box which students were able to give suggestions of what we can do to continue supporting students throughout their years at school. Through this activity we learned how students ranging across all year groups would handle any mental health/wellbeing problems they run into while at school.
Emily & Aaron, Year 13
Senior Student Leadership Team - Mental Health & Wellbeing
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Financial Times Student Advocate Programme
Congratulations to Aqsa and Brian in Year 12 for their successful application to the Financial Times Student Advocate Programme.
Advocates complete short, purposeful tasks that help them build leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills while representing student perspectives to the FT.
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They also promote the value of trusted news to peers and teachers, becoming informed voices within their school communities.
By taking part, students not only shape how the FT engages with young readers—they also grow as leaders, collaborators, and communicators, gaining experience that supports future academic or career goals.
We look forward to hearing more about their role over the next few months. Well done!
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Cheerleading Success for Sienna (Year 10)
Congratulations to Sienna who has been selected as one of the athlete's taking part in The Open Championships in Florida next April, with her cheerleading team, Sapphire - one of Platinum Artemis Studios senior teams.
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Despite only joining last October, Sienna has become a core member of the team due to her amazing stunts and tumble work gained through her gymnastics. The team recently won a regional competition and their high score gave them this incredible opportunity to compete in the USA. The Open Championship Series creates a platform where every athlete and team can celebrate their love for the sport. It aims to honour the journey, the team spirit, and the community behind cheerleading.
We are so proud of what Sienna has achieved in the last year, and we look forward to more news following the team's performance next April.
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Berkshire Schools Golf Association Team Championship
October saw our very first golf competition at Sonning Golf Club.
Six students from Years 9, 10, and 11 were selected to take part in the Championship event.
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The group formed two teams of three, with the best two Stableford scores on each hole counting towards the team total.
All students played brilliantly, with Sidney (Y10), Harry (Y9), and Harry (Y10) coming 2nd overall!
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Finlay (Y11), Lennon (Y11), and Olly (Y9) also had a strong finish, coming 7th.
Well done, team! We look forward to more golf success in the future.
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West Berkshire U16 Boys Badminton
Well done to our U16 boys badminton teams at this month’s West Berkshire competition!
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The A team played brilliantly, finishing runners-up in the A League, missing out on the top spot by just one game. Meanwhile, the B and C teams dominated their leagues, winning comfortably.
Fantastic effort from all our players – we can’t wait to see more success on the court!
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Rugby Fixtures
We have had mixed results in the rugby fixtures this month, but what has been consistent is the hard work and attitude of the team.
Year 7 have played well and enjoyed the games – for many, it was their first ever rugby match. They made lots of brilliant tackles and scored a few tries. Well done, Year 7!
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Year 9 boys showed resilience, determination, and teamwork throughout their match against Piggott School. Despite losing the game, they never fell out with one another or let their heads go down. They continued to make strong tackles and were rewarded with a try at the end of the game.
In their match against Willink, they delivered a fantastic performance, resulting in a draw. The team showed excellent cohesion, with David providing strong leadership, structure, and decision-making from the scrum, and Tom demonstrating great leadership as captain. Mr Hanham was hugely impressed with their defensive commitment. Well done, Year 9!
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Year 7 & Year 8
House Cross Country
Well done to all our Year 7 and Year 8 students for taking part in our recent House Cross Country Competition, led by our PE Department.
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Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who took part!
The results were:
- 1st Place - Arundel
- 2nd Place - Warwick
- 3rd Place - Conway
- 4th Place - Stirling
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OCTOBER: Sports Fixture Results
- 02/10 - U13 Rugby Piggott School 35-5 LHS
- 06/10 - Berkshire Schools Golf Association Team Championships, 2nd and 7th place
- 07/10 - Year 7 Rugby Piggott School 6-1 LHS
- 07/10 - Year 7 Rugby Waingel's 1-4 LHS
- 07/10 - Year 9 Rugby LHS 7-45 Piggott School
- 08/10 - Year 11 ESFA National Football Competition: Round 2 Piggott School 0-3 LHS
- 08/10 - Year 8 U13 National Cup Football LHS 2-0 Highdown
- 08/10 - U16 Boys' Badminton LHS v Park House (see above article)
- 09/10 - Year 8 U13 Rugby LHS 0-35 BSW
- 09/10 - Year 8 U13 Rugby LHS 0-35 RBS
- 09/10 - Year 8 Girls' Football Bohunt, Wokingham 1-0 LHS
- 13/10 - Year 8 U13 Rugby Forrest 8-0 LHS
- 13/10 - Year 8 U13 Rugby Highdown 4-0 LHS
- 14/10 - Year 9 U15 Rugby Willink 12-12 LHS
- 14/10 - Year 7 Rugby LHS 6-0 Maiden Erleigh Wokingham
- 14/10 - Year 7 Rugby LHS 5-3 St Crispins
- 16/10 - Year 8 The Berkshire Schools Festival U13 Rugby - drew one game and lost five
- 16/10 - Girls' Football Year 8 0-2 Year 9
- 16/10 - Year 8 Girls' Football LHS 1-0 Highdown
- 16/10 - Year 9 Girls' Football LHS 2-0 Highdown
- 21/10 - Year 7 Rugby LHS 5-2 Reading Boys
- 21/10 - Year 7 Rugby LHS 7-1 Bohunt School Wokingham
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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
HALF TERM ACTIVITIES
Dolphin Centre, Pangbourne
The Dolphin Centre are offering some some great value, local half-term activity options next week. They aim to make their clubs and sessions as accessible as possible, and they believe these options offer fantastic fun without being a financial burden.
Their main half-term offerings are:
Halloween Holiday Clubs
Engaging activities for children throughout the week. Don't let these spook-tacular spots vanish! Includes...
- Climbing
- Archery
- Canoeing (river dependent!)
- Fire lighting
- First Aid
- Wicked Halloween Crafts
- and more!
Holiday Club details:
- Children aged 7-11 years
- 10:00-15:30 (Lunch provided) for just £20pp
Holiday Hangout details:
- Youth aged 11-17 years (Year 7+)
- 12.00-16.00 (Lunch provided) JUST £5pp
Booking Link: Online booking
Halloween Family Paddle
Join us for our annual Family Halloween Paddle, a ghoulishly good time on the water perfect for brave souls of all ages.
As twilight falls, we'll launch our canoes and paddle down the Thames under the light of the Moon. Keep your eyes peeled for phantom reflections and the chilling sounds of the autumn woods... it's the perfect mix of thrilling adventure and family fun!
Details:
- Date: Wednesday 29 October
- Time: Meet at 6:00pm
- Location: The Dolphin Centre, RG8 7DA
- Cost: £6 pp (£20 families of 4-6)
- Free to AD volunteers & 50% off for PPC members
- Costumes are strongly encouraged & there are prizes to be won! (Just make sure they're safe for paddling!)
Contact for Jade to book your place: jade@adventuredolphin.co.uk
READING FC
School & Grassroots Discounted Tickets
You have been invited to Reading Football Club’s first School & Grassroots Fixture of 2025-26!
When?
Reading vs Rotherham United
Saturday 22nd November, 3pm kick off
Where?
Select Car Leasing Stadium
How to qualify for the discount and confirm your attendance?
To redeem, please click below and enter the following unique coupon code: #LittleHeath in the basket once you have logged in and selected your tickets which will be discounted to the below prices:
13 and Under: £1
17 and Under: £5
18 to 24: £10
65 and over: £10
Adult: £15
Buy tickets here: Select Tickets for Reading V Rotherham United: Reading FC Ticketing
Important! This offer applies to tickets in the Eamonn Dolan Stand blocks and Y19/Y20 of the Sir John Madejski Stand. Coupon codes are valid up until 4 hours before kick-off.
Great prizes to be won for your School!
Select your School here to cast your vote and be in with a chance to win one of a number of great prizes! There will also be prizes for the groups who sell the most tickets, so get the word out to be in with a chance of winning fantastic items and experiences.
If you have any questions about this offer, or would like to remove yourself from the mailng list or update your contact details, please email sales@readingfc.co.uk or call 0118 968 1313.
Come on URRRZZ!!
WEST BERKSHIRE CRICKET ACADEMY
Performance Sports Group
Performance Sports Group have run successful Cricket Academies for boys and girls for many years at various venues around Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. They have just expanded their Academy Programme into West Berkshire, using the facilities at Theale Green School (RG7 5DA) as a venue.
JUNIOR ACADEMY (6 -10 YEAR OLDS)
The Junior Cricket Academy is perfect for beginners (as well as more experienced new players) looking to move onto hard ball cricket. They introduce and enhance the fundamental skills of batting, bowling, fielding, wicket keeping and game play.
SENIOR ACADEMY (11 – 15 YEAR OLDS)
The Senior Cricket Academy helps take the experienced player’s game to a new level, through a blend of 1-2-1 coaching, masterclasses, small group activities and pressure training.
The new West Berkshire Cricket Academy will be led by Peter Higginbottom, who is an ECB Level 3 Cricket Coach, supported by ECB Level 2 coaches who will at times lead on the evening, directed by Peter's session planning.
Academy Sessions will run on the following Sundays: 2/11, 9/11, 16/11, 23/11, 30/11, 7/12 and 14/12. The cost of the course will be £105 for a 7-week block.
To book, please follow the link below:
West Berkshire Yr 2-5 & Yr 6-10 Autumn Cricket Academy – Performance Sports Group
Big Feelings, Brave Mind is being held in Tilehurst on Friday 31 October and welcomes families who'd love to learn together, helping their child understand and manage feelings about tricky things!
BOOK NOW for the half term event: Events | Mindful Brain
Please see the flyer for more information: Workshop for families - Anxiety and connection
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Little Heath School
Little Heath Road
Tilehurst, Reading
Berkshire RG31 5TY
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