NewsletterJuly 2025

Dear all stakeholders of The Suthers School,

I can’t believe I am actually writing the final message of this academic year.

It has been a fantastic year which has flown by due to the wide range of opportunities our students have had on offer.

We pride ourselves in developing character; the character of our students which will stand out in later life and will truly support every individual to be the very best version of themselves.

Work Hard; Be Kind is our Nova Education Trust mantra, and we have certainly seen this demonstrated by our students inside and outside of the classroom this year.

We are extremely proud of how our students have engaged in sharing their work with the leadership team during Suthers Spotlight; students have received numerous Golden Tickets for their participation in lessons, events and for their compassionate support for their peers. All of this contributes to what makes The Suthers School a special place to learn and work.

A recent student voice panel with our CEO, Ash Rahman, shared how happy they were at the school and that they loved the varied enrichment opportunities the school has to offer. In addition, they were grateful for the support from staff if they need someone to talk to and the counseling provision we have in place if needed. It was amazing to listen to our students articulate their learning and share what they would like to see improve to support them to learn better in school; their clear articulation was a credit to Suthers but also to you as their parents and carers. Regular student voice also helps us to improve our standards and expectations as well as the quality of teaching and learning. We will continue to do more of this in the new academic year. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers who completed our Edurio survey and provided feedback both positive and constructive feedback. I will provide you with an outline of positives and areas of development in September/October once I have the full set of results.

This end of year newsletter is full of all the wonderful things our staff and students have been involved in this term and we are very proud of them all. Please take time to read through at your leisure.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who is part of our school community or who has supported us over the years. Thank you to all staff for your dedication and commitment ensuring our students get the very best provision and support needed. Without staff going above and beyond the additional trips and events wouldn’t be able to happen. 

A warm thank you to our students for demonstrating The Suthers Way the majority of the time and being polite and respectful to each other day in day out.

Finally, I would like to share my sincere gratitude to you, parents and carers, for continuing to support the positive direction of the school and providing the feedback needed to continue to make this school a truly special place to be.

I wish you all a great summer break and I hope you spend well-deserved time with friends and family.

We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday 1st September 2025 for an 8.25am start.

Best wishes,

Nic

To keep up to date with events in school next term please click here

Celebrating Proud Learning Moments

This summer term, we’ve launched an exciting new initiative to celebrate our students' proudest learning moments. Every Friday, students are invited to share a piece of work they’re particularly proud of with staff.

It’s been truly inspiring to see how confidently and thoughtfully students have explained why their work matters to them, embodying our Torch Values in the process. The enthusiasm has been overwhelming—with a steady stream of students eagerly lining up to showcase their achievements.

This simple yet powerful tradition is already making a big impact, and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow!

Collaborative Teaching and Learning Development

Throughout the year, during key teaching and learning focus periods, staff have been working together to support continuous professional development, all with the aim of improving outcomes for our students. By regularly sharing best practices, we’ve fostered a culture of collaboration and reflection.

Below is a snapshot from an internal online newsletter, where staff contributions highlight the impact of recent training sessions and the sharing of effective strategies from across the school.

It’s been fantastic to see the positive effect of this work in classrooms, with students making deeper connections in their learning thanks to the consistency and shared approaches adopted by staff.

Building Independent Learners

Over the past year, we’ve continued to focus on how best to prepare students for their formal assessments at Key Stage 4. This has included exploring effective revision strategies and beginning to introduce key revision concepts to students lower down in Key Stage 3, laying the foundation early for strong study habits.

We’ve already seen fantastic examples of independent learning at home from our KS4 students, some of which are showcased in the photos. Looking ahead, we’re excited to build on this momentum by encouraging similar habits in younger year groups.

From September, students will be supported in developing their independent study skills through teacher guidance and the introduction of new study folders. Our aim is to continue nurturing a culture of self-motivation and resilience, equipping students with the tools they need to succeed not only in their exams but also in their future learning journeys.

Year 7 Getting the Gold

On Saturday 5th July, one of our year 7 students, Jason, attended the Activity Alliance National Junior Para Athletics Championships at Coventry and earned 4 gold medals for taking part in 100m, 400m, 800m and long jump. He also achieved new PBs in 800m, 100m and Long jump. 

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

The Duke of Edinburgh Award here at Suthers has just completed it's 5th year, so far we have had 97 students achieve the Bronze Award and 32 Silver. This year we have had 24 Bronze participants and 8 Silver, combined they will have completed 1027 hours of volunteering! Expeditions took place in Leicestershire for Bronze and Derbyshire for Silver, and we were lucky over all 4 weekends with the weather. Our students are always well praised by our expedition provider, Karos, for their impeccable behaviour, willingness to take part and tenacity, and from a school point of view they represent us in the best of ways, and I couldn't be more proud.

We also have an excellent rate of those who start their DofE journey to those who achieve the award. We will be ready to start again next year with a new cohort of Bronze and Silver participants. Look out for our introduction evening in October that will combine with our presentation of awards. Finally a massive thank you from me, this is my first year as the manager and the help and support I have received from participants, parents/carers and fellow staff has been phenomenal, it really is a team effort!

Miss R Humber.

Lincoln Castle Trip 

 This term, a group of Year 7s who have shown excellent attitude and enthusiasm in History were taken to Lincoln Castle. We had a fantastic day exploring the 1000-year Medieval walls, the transformation of the castle when used as a prison in the Victorian period (including a lot of dressing up!) and we had the opportunity to look at the 800-year-old document, the Magna Carta. Afterwards, we enjoyed the beautiful weather by having a picnic in the castle courtyard. All students interacted with the day brilliantly, each one showing "The Suthers Way" as we consolidated learning from their first year in secondary school History! 

Year 11 Prom

This year saw the prom move to a new venue at Newark Showground. It was the largest turn-out yet for both students and staff. 

There were some spectacular arrivals, with many family and friends on hand to watch students arrive in sports cars, go-carts, lorry cabs, the school bus and even on horseback!

Finally everyone was gathered and after the mandatory group photo we moved indoors. The dance floor was full all night long, with students and the occasional teacher dancing the night away.  

This year we were able to book a photoboth for the evening, and this proved a very popular addition. 

The sweet table was also a hit, and was pretty much demolished on the night. What little remained has been a welcome addition to the staff room this week. 

A massive thank you to all the staff involved in planning and arranging the night, to our Student Prom Committee for their ideas and input and to all our Y11 students for making it such a memorable evening.

PE Updates

Y10 Leader Event at Christ Church CofE Primary

 Miss Berrington and some Y10 Sport Studies students got invited to a local primary school to help assist and run their Sports Day. The girls had various roles, such as starting off the race, being at the finish line, recording scores and the important role, giving out stickers! The students represented the school brilliantly and had so much fun doing so!

YMCA Nottinghamshire Schools Athletics.

Back in May, we attended our first ever Athletics competition as a school at the YMCA. We competed against local schools within the area in events such as, 100m, 200m, Discus, Shot Put, High Jump and Long Jump. To say this was our first event, the students outdid themselves. We even found some hidden talent from most students. We set new school records, and most importantly had a great day!

Sports Day

 On Wednesday 16th July, we held our FIRST EVER traditional sports day. Excitement had been building for weeks, and all students have been practicing and tactically planning their teams to give themselves the best chance to win. The day started out with 300m and 200m events, which were ran incredibly, as well as our MUGA Olympics happening at the same time. MUGA Olympics included events such as Egg and Spoon, Netball Shooting, Penalty Shootout and the hotly anticipated Welly Wanging. On the MC were Mrs. Parkin and Mr. Case, who did an incredible job and had the crowd going from the very beginning! We then started on our 100m races, and our relay races. These were run incredibly well, with the Y9 Girls Relay being a highlight and so close! The day finished with the ultimate Staff Race and staff Tug of War. Congratulations to Miss Berrington, Mr. Barnard and Mr. Lynas for your Gold Medal positions.

Final results were accumulated by the Math’s Team, who did an amazing job. Results were announced in our rewards assemblies. Big congratulations to Tutor Groups C, who came out on top overall for the two days! Well Done to Tutor Groups R, who came out on top on the Inter Tutor Day.

Suthers English Reading and Best Reading Journal Awards

This week, we held our very first Suthers English Reading and Best Reading Journal Awards, celebrating the enthusiasm and dedication of our pupils to reading.

The event was a huge success, with trophies and certificates presented to our outstanding readers, followed by a celebratory spread of homemade cakes and refreshments enjoyed by pupils and staff.

A lucky dip prize draw added to the excitement, with an Amazon Kindle, kindly donated, awarded to Jethro.

Congratulations to all our award winners:

Year 9: Livi and Tyler

Year 8: Ophelia, Rohulla and Aisha

Year 7: Myah, Gabi, Layla, Jethro and Kyeron

Well done to all – we are incredibly proud of your efforts, and we look forward to seeing even more pupils inspired by reading in the future.

Year 10 Engineering- Lincoln College Visit- Taster Day

On Thursday 5th June we took some of our year 10 Engineering students to Lincoln College University to look at Level 2 & 3 Engineering courses. The day was a great success, giving impartial advice and guidance about a range of courses in the Engineering industry. The day consisted of a range of taster sessions where our students engaged in activities in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Clinical Herbalism. We had a tour of the college and looked at Degree apprenticeships in this field. As can be seen from the photographs below this proved to be an insightful and informative day.

Year 10 Engineering ASI Trip- Taster Day

On Thursday 3rd July we took the remaining year 10 Engineering students who couldn’t go to the Lincoln college Open day to ASI. ( Air and Space Institute). This gave students impartial knowledge and guidance about level 2 & 3 Engineering courses in the aviation industry, both Civil and the armed forces. (RAF) Students had a tour of the campus and attended a presentation informing them of the courses on offer. They were also informed about the possible careers and the successes of past students. (We recognised one of our own Suthers students who is now training to be a civil pilot in Spain!) The highlight of the day was having a tour of the Airbus aeroplane, looking at all aspects from ground crew, cabin crew and obviously how the plane operates in the cabin!

Duxford Imperial War Museum

On Friday the 18th of July we took 40 Suthers students from year 8 and 9 to the Duxford Imperial War Museum. This was a joint trip organised by the History and Technology department to initially inform students about the heritage of Balderton Airfield (operational during World War 2 and used to test Sir Frank Whittle’s jet engine!) This also supported the year 9 History curriculum where students had studied a unit about World War 2 earlier in the year. Students got to see a range of aeroplanes from different decades and also learned how the aeroplanes are refurbished and made suitable for the museum. Some students also got to listen to the experiences of a Javelin fighter pilot. We had a fantastic day and were lucky enough to see the Spitfire fly above our heads! …literally!

Sailing Club

This term as seen the resurgence of the Suthers School Sailing club. We have a small, dedicated group of students who have continued to work towards their next RYA level certificate in dinghy sailing. We sail on a Tuesday afternoon at North Hykeham Sailing club and have lessons delivered by the Lincoln District Sailing Association. We’ve had some fantastic conditions and students have made excellent progress sailing independently in Picos (a single-handed sailing dinghy) We will continue with the club in the new academic year, but also take 10 year 11 Sports Studies students who will complete sailing sessions as part of their CNAT qualification. We look forward to next year!

Monday 14 - Friday 18 July saw over 100 of our Y10 students take part in a week of work experience.  As a school we strive to meet the Gatsby benchmarks that demonstrates our commitment to excellent careers provision.  Work experience allows us to meet Benchmark 5 (Encounters with Employers and Employees) and Benchmark 6 (Experience of Workplaces).

Our students completed work experience in a wide variety of workplaces including Primary Schools; Dog Groomers; Football Academies; Caterpillar; RWE; the National Civil War Museum and many other places across Nottinghamshire and even in Scotland!  The success of our work experience programme is dependent on the support of all the employers who have offered time; guidance and opportunities to our students and we are tremendously grateful to all those who helped to facilitate this week.

The students have returned to school positive about their experience and focussed on their futures.  In the early part of Y11, students will be starting to apply for their post-16 pathways and so this experience will hopefully have helped them to develop a better idea of their future plans and a greater understanding of their skills and competences.

Some of the feedback we have had from employers has been fantastic:

"Your students have been fantastic, a real credit to your school, nothing has been too much trouble, and they have thrown themselves into everything we have asked them to do! They have been very polite, organised, friendly , great with the children and the teachers have said how incredibly helpful they have been "

" the lads have been great, really got stuck in. Working in the office with me has opened up their eyes to see what goes on behind the scenes. , they were confident, polite, got involved, had good rapport with the children as well as the coaches .. well done lads !"

"C has been amazing, very polite, punctual, especially as each day was a super early start (7.30am) and she's been very enthusiastic."

"the girls have been great - some of the best work experience students we have had this year. All were punctual, polite, and super helpful with the children in different year groups. Suthers should be very proud of them."

We are immensely proud of our students for embracing the opportunities presented to them and look forward to supporting them as they approach the final stages of their time at the Suthers School

As some of you will know, Mr Goffe and I took the Gardening enrichment group to the Lincolnshire Show on the 18th and 19th June, to take part in the Schools Challenge. While we didn't win, the group were up against 73 other schools, and did very well against some seasoned competition (some schools with multiple teams!). The students were articulate, friendly, organised and showed great leadership, ensuring the stall was manned at all times. They also managed to make some sales and raise some extra money for the garden!

We are incredibly proud of them, especially as the event involved a presentation about the garden to two judges from the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. They are also now well trained in getting as much free stuff from event stalls as they possibly can - expect fans, water bottles and a ridiculous number of pens and badges! 

Gardening Club

As a gardening club, we are coming to the end of our first full year of enrichment at school, and it has been a bumpy ride! We started sculpting our garden in June last year, although the design process started long before that, and the months up to Christmas involved a lot of digging out, constructing a tyre wall, removing copious amounts of weeds and emptying and moving the raised beds (which were full of clay and rubble).

Thanks to British Sugar Topsoil, we received 20 tonnes of soil to use in the garden, and January began with filling the beds with usable earth to grow our plants. Since then, we have successfully cultivated carrots, cabbages, courgettes, potatoes, tomatoes and chard – some of which has been used in both our food technology lessons with Mr Goffe and in the school lunches! Some has unfortunately been lost to the local rabbit population, but we are finding humane ways to manage this where we can.

In June, we took our current gardening crew to the Lincolnshire Show, where they showed a lot of courage and skill in presenting our school garden to judges from the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. We were able to sell some of our wildflower seeds and lavender bags, making money to improve the garden as we move into the next school year, and the students developed their communication skills throughout the two days, both with the judges and the other schools taking part.

As we move into the autumn term, we will be looking to build further on what we have and apply for further funding for the next phase of our garden – the sensory and learning areas. We are being supported by the Lincolnshire Co-op Community Champion scheme, specifically at the Hawtonville store – if you use this store, please use your blue tokens to help us receive funding towards our project!

Mrs S Chewings.

The Suthers Way Card - New for 2025-26

All students will be issued with a Suthers Way Card on 1st September 2025. The expectation is for this to be with them in school every day. Students will consider this as part of the basic expectations we have, in the same way we expect them to wear full uniform and come to school prepared with basic equipment in a suitable school bag.

The card has two key functions; we want to be able to regularly and consistently praise students for doing the right thing; and we want to be able to challenge, with clarity, students when their actions fall below our high standards and expectations.

Visitors will often comment on how incredibly polite our students are, they will reference how articulate they can be and how it is clear they respect and uphold the schools TORCH values. We want to recognise and celebrate this, and we believe that you, as parents and carers, would want this recognising too.

Whilst encouraging students to do the right thing we must educate around what we do not want to see. The card will be used to address the following issues: incorrect uniform or uniform not being worn correctly, a lack of basic equipment, poor corridor conduct, littering, eating and drinking in the wrong places, bringing energy drinks into school, mobile phones and the use of derogatory language.

The card will allow for 3 positive entries to be made and 3 negatives. When either section is full the card will be swapped for a new one. A golden ticket will be issued when a card is completed with 3 positives and an after-school detention will be issued should 3 negative entries be made. Should a student fail to have their card with them in school or decide not to present it when asked, an after-school detention will also be issued. The detention will be 30 minutes in duration and you will of course be notified.

Cards will be checked daily by tutors and any entries will be discussed. All tutors and staff will positively frame conversations and support students by explaining clearly why an entry is being made.

C2’s for corridor conduct will no longer exist. Consequences will remain as a classroom strategy only.

We know you will welcome this new approach in ensuring that all aspects of the school day are disruption free and the school environment is always pleasant for all.

I am thrilled to share with you the exciting events that have been taking place at our school recently. On 2nd and 3rd July, we had the pleasure of welcoming 151 Year 6 students for their two-day transition programme. This experience provided our future Suthers students with a taste of secondary school life and an opportunity to familiarise themselves with our vibrant learning environment.

During their visit, our enthusiastic Year 6 guests immersed themselves in a variety of engaging lessons. They had the chance to explore the world of Food Technology, conduct fascinating experiments in Science, participate in energetic PE sessions, and delve into captivating problem-solving activities in Maths with our dedicated team of staff. These taster sessions not only showcased the diverse curriculum we offer but also allowed the students to experience the dynamic and interactive nature of learning at The Suthers School.

In addition to subject-specific lessons, the transition days included informative sessions led by key members of our staff. Miss Allen, Miss Hall and I had the pleasure of introducing the students to various aspects of school life. We discussed the numerous ways they can actively contribute to our school community through their voice and leadership. It was truly inspiring to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to become part of The Suthers School family.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the transition days was witnessing our Year 6 visitors embracing 'The Suthers Way'. Their positive attitudes, willingness to engage, and respect for our school ethos were truly commendable. It fills me with pride to know that these young individuals are already embodying the values we hold dear at our school.

The success of these transition days extends beyond the classroom. We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic feedback we've received from parents and carers. Many have shared how supported they and their children felt throughout the entire process. This positive response reinforces our commitment to ensuring a smooth and welcoming transition for all our incoming students and their families.

As we look ahead, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the official start of the new school year. We eagerly await the 1st September when our Year 6 students will formally join us as full-fledged members of The Suthers School. The energy, curiosity, and potential they bring will undoubtedly enrich our school community.

Thank you to everyone involved in making these transition days a resounding success. Your dedication and hard work have laid a strong foundation for our new students' journey at The Suthers School.

Mrs Chewings Fundraising

5th July saw an early start for me, on the road to South Wales at 4am (after year 11 prom!) for the Gower Macmillan Mighty Hike. Despite a rainy, muddy start, the day brightened up quite nicely, even if the terrain got a lot more difficult! The Gower coastline is beautiful, but unforgiving,

with lots of drops and climbs in the coastal path and scrambling up and down rocks (I definitely hadn’t prepared for that!). I had been injured in the weeks before the walk, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me – I completed the 14.6 miles in 6hrs 32mins, a bit slower than expected but an enjoyable day. After a trip to the medical tent at the finish line, I was ready for a good meal and lots of sleep! My fundraising total has now reached £1120 for Macmillan, a charity that has supported many of my family members through the minefield of a cancer diagnosis. Watch this space for my next challenge – maybe on a flatter route next time!

Miss Luckhurst was out also on the 5th July walking and raising money for Parkinsons.

Young Lives vs Cancer - Mr Shivas

So far I have managed to run roughly 180km since starting my challenge at May half term.  Unfortunately I am struggling with an injury at present which is limiting the mileage somewhat!  I had hoped to run 400km by the end of August but depending on my injury I may need to push it back til the end of September!

I have completed 2 of the 3 challenges.  In June I raced a 5k race every night for 5 consecutive nights.  I also completed the Round Sheffield Run - a c.25km race around Sheffield.

My next long run will be the Newark Half Marathon in August.

It has been great to raise awareness of a great charity and show my support to Aiden and his family.

Young Lives Vs Cancer - Whole School

Our final charity event of the term took place this week and involved all year groups completing a charity Fun Run with all proceeds going to our chosen charity Young Lives v Cancer. As you can see, we raised just over £1000!

As you are aware, we have been raising money following the diagnosis of one of our Year 11 students earlier this term. Events have included, cakes sales, a Year 10 V 11 football match, staff running for charity outside of school and culminated in the 3k/5k Charity run this week.

We are delighted to announce that in total, we have now raised over £3500, a fantastic amount of money for a very worthy cause.

Please see below for a message from Aiden's mum, that was shared with the school yesterday afternoon.

"Absolutely incredible. I hope everyone feels very proud of themselves for helping such an amazing cause and had lots of fun too.

Well done Suthers. The Suthers Way at its finest.

A Big Thank You to The Friends of Suthers School!

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to The Friends of Suthers School for hosting a fantastic Quiz Night on Wednesday 16th July. It was a brilliant evening filled with fun, friendly competition, and community spirit. Everyone who took part had a wonderful time, and we’re delighted to share that the event raised an impressive £166.91 to support our school.

Events like these not only bring us together but also contribute directly to enhancing the learning experience of our students. We’re incredibly grateful to The Friends of Suthers School for their continued support and enthusiasm.

If you’d like to get involved and help make a difference to your child’s school journey, The Friends of Suthers School are always looking for new members. Keep an eye out for details about the next meeting, coming up in September, or feel free to contact twootton@suthersschool.co.uk to find out more.

Together, we can make great things happen!

The Big Summer Guide

Welcome to your ultimate guide to sun, fun and local adventures in Newark and Sherwood!

Get ready for a summer packed with fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories! Whether you're looking for free family events, creative things to do at home, or ways to explore the great outdoors, The Big Summer Guide has you covered.

We wanted to bring the community together and help families make the most of their summer so we have collated all of the fantastic activities and resources we have on offer across the district.

Inside this guide, you’ll find:

 Free local events for all ages – from Music Walks in the park, a fun VR Digibus experience and our Chop and Chat sessions!

 At-home activities like baking, DIY seed bombs, and nature scavenger hunts.

 Hidden gems to explore across Newark and Sherwood – perfect for picnics, play, and mini adventures.

So grab your sunhat, round up the family, and dive into a summer of discovery, creativity, and community spirit. Let’s make this the best summer yet – right here in Newark and Sherwood!

Available from the end of July ready for the summer holidays! Keep an eye out on our socials on where to pick up your physical copy and where you’ll be able to find a copy of our E-Brochure!

Cognition Team Training Overview Autumn 2025 to February half term 2026

Please click here details of the Cognition & Learning Team training offer for Autumn 25 and up to February half term 26. Booking is via the links on the overview.

Also attached is a flyer for a parent event on 17th November (morning- online) about Dyslexia, which we would be grateful if you would circulate to any parents who may be interested.

MHST Webinar Sessions

Please click here for details on the MHST Webinar.

Nottinghamshire Holiday and Activities and Food

Please click here for the HAF flyer

To access support please be aware of the following agencies:

·                     Samaritans :  Contact Us | Samaritans or call 116 123 (open 24/7)

·                     Mind  :  Home - Mind or call  0300 123 3393 (9am- 6pm Monday to Friday)

·                     The Mix  : The Mix - Essential support for under 25s or call 0808 808 4994

·                     Childline :  Childline | Childline or call 0800 1111 (open 24/7)

·                     Nottinghamshire Police : Home | Nottinghamshire Police or call 101

·                     Kooth : Home - Kooth  - register for free.

·                     Be U Notts : Be U Support | Free Mental Health Service for Children and Young People​ or call 0115 708 0008

·                     Young Minds: YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds  or Text YM to 85258 (open 24/7)

Any urgent safeguarding concerns should be directed to the MASH team on 0300 500 80 90 

Or by email mash.safeguarding@nottscc.gov.uk