Weekly email – 2 May 2025

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

In Careers activities this week, our Year 8 students enjoyed a fantastic Trading Game opportunity thanks to our friends at NYBEP. Once again, it was wonderful to hear from our guests how respectful and engaged our students were.

Congratulations and a huge thank you to our Year 9 Reading Mentors who have been involved in training this week and are now ready to support our Year 7 and 8 students develop their reading. Another group of students who have been amazing this week is our Year 8 Restorative Peer Mentors who presented to colleagues in our staff training on Wednesday. We were all so proud of their passion for helping others, and their maturity and confidence really shone through. You can read more about this below.

Yesterday, we held the first in our series of transition events for Year 6 pupils and their families. It was lovely to welcome our new cohort into school and see the students having a great time making new friends and getting involved in PE activities. Thank you to everyone who came along and to our Student Leaders, Restorative Peer Mentors and school band for supporting the event. Further information about this and our upcoming transition events can be found below.

Thank you to all the families who joined me this week for a coffee, a chat, and a guided tour during the school day. It’s always a pleasure to welcome visitors while lessons are in full swing, offering a real glimpse into daily life at Millthorpe. I’m incredibly proud to showcase the fantastic work our dedicated staff are doing and to highlight just how wonderful our students are.

Congratulations to those students who came along to Principal’s Breakfast this morning, including Ruby, Oscar, Nadia, Ewan, Henry and Milo. It was lovely to chat with you all – keep up the great work!

A reminder that school will be closed on Monday 5 May for the May Day Bank Holiday, reopening on Tuesday 6 May as normal.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and we’ll see everyone next week for a ‘B’ Week.

Kavina Rothenburg
Acting Principal

What is my child learning at the moment?

Please see below to find out what your child has been learning this week in order to have productive discussions about their education:

Year 7 – Creative
Conversation starters

• Fine Art: Year 7 have almost finished painting their African inspired masks. We have been impressed with the effort they invested in developing blending and fading skills with acrylic paint. We will then start our final Year 7 project ‘Art & Issues – Endangered Animals’ project. Students will study the screen print series of endangered animals created by Andy Warhol in the 1980s, research their favourite endangered animal as a starting point for a colourful personal mixed media study. Looking at Andy Warhol’s animal-themed screen prints with your child would be great preparation.
• Design Technology: Students move onto their final discipline of the year on Monday 5 May, continuing to develop their practical skills and knowledge of materials and processes with their learning all based around the theme of sustainability.

Year 8 – English
Conversation starters
Year 8 have begun their new unit on Conflict with an exploration of poetry, focusing in particular on World War 1 war poetry. Propaganda and jingoism, shell shock and conditions in the trenches: ask your child what they know about these contextual and historical factors in relation to WW1 poetry.

Year 9 – Maths
Conversation starters
Describe Pythagoras’ Theorem to someone at home – can you show how it works with a diagram, and explain when you should use it? Some right-angled triangles have whole number side length. These are known as Pythagorean triples (for example 3, 4, 5), can you find any more?

Year 10 – Science
Conversation starters
Triple Science students are continuing their studies of Biology Unit 4 Bioenergetics, Chemistry Unit 5 Energy Changes and Physics Unit 4. Combined Science students are continuing their studies of Biology Unit 4 Bioenergetics, Chemistry Unit 5 Energy Changes and Physics Unit 4. Can students recall the word equation for photosynthesis? Can students write out the Reactivity Series starting with the most to the least reactive. Can students describe Beta radiation?

All Year 10 Science lessons for both Triple and Combined Science are uploaded to the respective Google Classrooms.

Year 11 – Global
Conversation starters

• Computing: We’ve been using our feedback sheets to identify areas of revision and focusing on past paper exam questions. In the closing weeks before the exams start we’ll re-cover some of the more challenging programming techniques.
• MFL: Students have just completed their real GCSE speaking exams. We’re now moving on to recapping the three main themes, and focusing on exam techniques for listening, reading and writing. Can they confidently write in three tenses at Foundation tier, and up to seven tenses at Higher?

We hope that you will find this information useful when talking to your child about their learning. Additionally, you might want to take a look at the curriculum section of our website which has lots more information about what your child will be learning over the academic year.

School Day 2025 update

During the consultation, our students requested a ‘rehearsal’ of the new school day and enrichment arrangements so that they could get used to the changes and ease any anxieties they may have before the summer break. We think this is an excellent idea, and propose to move to the new timings for the final week of the summer term (14-18 July). The Autumn term enrichment offer will also be in place for this week. A reminder of the new school day timings is here.

The next event in our enhanced transition programme focuses on Design and Technology and takes place after school on Thursday 22 May. We’re really excited to welcome everyone back into school for this event later this month.

If our new families would like to take a tour of the school, please do keep your eye on the weekly email over the next few weeks as we will advertise dates here. And if you have any questions regarding your child’s transition to Millthorpe, please email: transition25@millthorpe.elt.org.uk

Getting to know us

We know that parents/carers can sometimes feel less connected with school life once their child has moved from primary to secondary school, so to help bridge that gap, we have created staff profiles for each member of our Senior Leadership Team. These will help you to put faces to names and to get to know the Millthorpe team a little better.

You can find out more about SLT here and and we’ll soon be sharing even more staff profiles for you to explore!

Millthorpe bags £1440 from Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme

We’re delighted to announce that Millthorpe School came first in the recent vote for a Tesco Stronger Starts grant!

We have been awarded an incredible £1440 which will be used to purchase much-needed new mats to use in PE lessons and after-school clubs to support gymnastics, keep fit, yoga, dance and other activities to improve students’ health, fitness and mental wellbeing. The new equipment will also be available to community groups to use at evening and weekends.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for our project by dropping their blue tokens in the box when they shopped at Tesco over the last few months. You got us over the line!

To find out more about the Stronger Starts scheme, please visit https://www.tescoplc.com/strongerstarts

Restorative Peer Mentors present at staff CPD session

Six of our Year 8 Restorative Peer Mentors were brave enough to present to teaching staff during their CPD session on Wednesday after school.

The students created, planned and delivered a presentation about their roles, the training they have completed and what support they are able to offer younger students. They even did a role play to give an example of what a restorative meeting looks like. Some of our staff were keen to employ the mentors to implement the process in their own homes!

This was another fantastic opportunity which our Year 8s took in their stride and thrived at. Well done to them all!

Blazers

Although the forecast remains quite sunny, as temperatures have returned to something more typical for early May, students will be expected to wear blazers as normal from next Tuesday.

Prom outfits for sale

Thanks to generous donations from previous students, we have a large collection of Prom outfits, from dresses to suits, available for hire for a very small fee. Your child (and you if you wish) are invited to come to the Main Hall 3.30-4.15pm on Friday 9 May to browse the collection and secure an outfit rather than paying a fortune for a brand new one. There will also be space to try on some of these outfits.

The Year 11 Prom has always been a memorable way to celebrate the end of a student’s time at Millthorpe and to reward their hard work and effort after their exams. We hope that your child will be able to attend this enjoyable event.

Year 11 Prom

A reminder that the remainder of the Prom payment is due by 4 May please.

UKMT Intermediate Challenge success

Congratulations to Lewis and Alex in Year 9 and Noah in Year 10 who recently took part in the latest round of the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge – a national competition for talented young mathematicians.

Back in February, the boys all achieved Gold Awards in the Intermediate Maths Challenge and their high scores saw them invited through to the next round, the Grey and Pink Kangaroos.

All three students performed brilliantly – just to get through to this round in the first place is an incredible achievement, but to come away with further certificates is fantastic!

In the Grey Kangaroo (Year 9), Lewis achieved a Gold Award, with a score of 130 and Alex scored 101 points to achieve a Bronze Award. The thresholds are: Gold – 115+, Silver – 102-114 and Bronze – 87-101.

In the Pink Kangaroo (Year 10), Noah scored 73 to bag a Bronze Award. The thresholds at this level are: Gold – 90+, Silver – 78-89 and Bronze – 63-77.

Well done to them all!

Sofia takes to the stage

Year 7 pupil, Sofia (pictured right), appeared as a sprite in the world premiere of a classic Ukrainian drama at the York International Shakespeare Festival last weekend. ‘There’s No Clock in the Forest’ billed as ‘a gentle collision’ of the Ukrainian play Mavka – also known as the Forest Song – with texts from Shakespeare, celebrates the natural world, explores exile, mythology and environmental change. The play was performed by York-based D:Space theatre company made up of displaced Ukrainian actors.

The York International Shakespeare Festival runs until 4 May.

Well done Sofia!

SEN and Safeguarding news from Excel Learning Trust

Every month, Sue Wight, Director of SEN and Safeguarding at Excel Learning Trust circulates tips and advice regarding SEN and safeguarding to parents/carers.

The April SEN and Safeguarding newsletter can be found here.

Parent Carer Forum

To find out more about events and support available from the Parent Carer Forum, please take a look at their latest newsletter here.

Rowntree Park Tennis Club news

A free junior club night at Rowntree Park Tennis Club will take place every Thursday during May and June. There will be a free girls’ session each week from 4.00-5.00pm and then a mixed session for boys and girls from 5.00-6.00pm. Please email jIptenniscoaching@gmail.com for further details.

Job of the Week – Zoologist

Zoologists study animals and their behaviour, physiology, anatomy and evolution, and how all of these factors affect the environment. They work both inside laboratories and outside doing field work, and usually specialise in a particular species. They can work with reptiles, mammals, birds and even fossil remains. You would usually need a degree in Zoology or Biology to get a job as a Zoologist.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Zoologist.

Speakers for Schools – inspirational talks

Each week, as part of our careers and aspiration-raising programme, we are featuring a talk from Speakers for Schools.

Earlier this week it was National Superhero Day, so today we are featuring a talk by science superhero, Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England.

As a science superhero, Sue uses her brainpower to keep us healthy. Sue talks about how stem cells work like tiny repair kits in our bodies, and how cool science gadgets help doctors save lives as well as all of the different STEM careers in the NHS. Get ready for an exciting peek into the world of science and healthcare!

Just click the image below to view.

Green Vets open day

Green Vets is a small independent veterinary practice who are keen to help local students interested in the veterinary or vet nursing profession. They are holding an open day at 71 Green Lane, York, YO24 3DJ on Monday 26 May which will give visitors the unique opportunity to have a look behind the scenes and meet their staff.

#WakeUpWednesday – 10 top tips to keep young people safe on the roads

Traffic-related incidents are a major risk for young pedestrians and cyclists which is why it’s so important to equip children with the skills they need to stay safe. At Millthorpe School, we frequently remind students about staying safe as they travel to and from school, and at all times. Staff are on duty on the gates every day and whilst we remind students about keeping safe, we do occasionally see students putting themselves at risk such as focussing on their mobile phones rather than looking for traffic, wearing two headphones which makes listening out for traffic (especially electric cars) tricky, and very rarely, cycling in a way that is unsafe.

A reminder of our expectations for those cycling to and from school:

• Wear a helmet to cycle to and from school. The vast majority of students do this so this is now an established “norm”.
• Bring a suitable cycle lock to secure your bike in one of the bike sheds available.
• Check that your bike is in good working order – especially that your brakes are working properly and tires are fully inflated.
• Do not cycle on the school site – walk your bike to the exit gate.
• If leaving via the rear gate onto Philadelphia Terrace, either turn left out of the rear gate or walk your bike down the hill to the bottom where you reach Albemarle Road. Check for traffic before safely continuing your journey.
• If leaving via the front gate, check for traffic before getting on your bike on Nunthorpe Avenue, and stop at the junction with Scarcroft Road to check for traffic before safely continuing your journey. Use the pedestrian crossing at Scarcroft Park.
• If leaving via the side gate, check for traffic both ways before cycling home.
• If cycling with friends in a group, be safe and sensible. Focus on the road and traffic, avoiding conversations, and ensuring that you are keeping close to the kerb to allow traffic to pass safely.
• Always cycle sensibly. Avoid “pulling wheelies” or having passengers on your handlebars or the seat (known by the students as “croggying”). Look out for traffic and pedestrians and never take risks.

Additionally, the attached guide explores essential, easy-to-teach habits that help children build lifelong road safety awareness. From spotting quieter electric vehicles to crossing safely at designated points, the latest guide from the National College is packed with tips to keep young road users visible, vigilant and secure.

Please take a look and discuss this with your child(ren).

Online support for students and parents

We wanted to remind you about our online support app called Padlet, which is a directory of support available for students and parents.

Padlet signposts the user to a range of websites and resources, providing support and advice relating to mental health, exam stress, online safety, self care, managing emotions, young carers, family support and more.

You can visit the Padlets by scanning the QR codes or clicking the links below.

Visit the Parent Padlet
Visit the Student Padlet

Safeguarding

If you have significant concerns for the welfare of a child, in addition to being able to contact Mrs Cole, Mrs Cooper or Mr Beever during school hours by emailing safeguarding@millthorpe.southbank.academy, you may wish to make direct contact with the York MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) on T: 01904 551900, option 3. They operate an out-of-hours service so concerns can be raised with them at any time.