Weekly email – 6 June 2025

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

Tomorrow (Saturday 7 June), we will once again be taking part in the annual York Pride parade. If any students or families would like to join us, please see below for further information.

Have a lovely weekend and we’ll see everyone back in school on Monday for a ‘B’ Week.

Kavina Rothenburg
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 – Global
Conversation starters

• Computing: Students have started looking at computer-controlled systems. What are computer-controlled systems? Why do we use computer-controlled systems? What are the advantages?
• French: Students have just finished the topic of hobbies and are starting to revise for their end of year assessments. Can they talk about what they like to do in their free time in French?

Year 8 – Humanities
Conversation starters

• History: Were all women in the 19th Century victims? We learned why it was hard to be a woman at this time, but also why women, like the Matchgirls, protested to improve their conditions.
• RE: Year 8 are starting their new unit on Sikh beliefs and will be finding out how and why the religion started.
• Geography: What was the Darkside of Chocolate documentary about? How does fairtrade benefit people in developing countries?

Year 9 – Performance
Conversation starters

• Drama: Students are coming to the end of their ‘Noughts and Crosses’ scripted drama unit and preparing for both their theory written assessment and practical performance assessment of a scene from the play – we can’t wait to see what they can do!
• Music: Students are concluding their KS3 music lessons with a free choice project in which they independently research, rehearse and perform a piece of their choosing.
• PE: Students have been developing their skills in athletics and tennis during the first part of the summer term. Students have since moved onto tennis, cricket, rounders and athletics getting ready for Sports Day in July.

Year 10 – Creative
Conversation starters

• Food Preparation and Nutrition: Students are completing their learning about food science by learning about short gluten chains in pastry and emulsification and are then moving onto a unit about food choice and the reasons why people have such diverse diets.
• Graphics and 3D: Students are working hard on their Component 1. They are exploring the work of their first chosen artist/designer and are showing that they can use a broad range of techniques in their work. Your child should have taken at least one set of photos for their primary research based on their theme, but they can continue to take more photos to use for inspiration as the course continues. Please encourage them to do so if you find yourselves out and about. Students will be producing a piece in the style of their artist and linking to their theme in their PPE.
• Child Development: RO57 Topic Area 3 – Postnatal Checks. Key question: What checks are carried out in the first five days after birth and why? Key vocabulary and quiz to check understanding.
• Fine Art: Fine Art students continue to develop a personal response based around ‘Objects, Memories & Identity’ initially creating a series of observational object studies which relate to the special person chosen. A range of mixed media artists have been researched. Students will explore media and techniques and create an artist copy in preparation for the five-hour PPE on 12 June. Students will review their development work before creating a multi-layered, mixed media personal response. We are delighted with the exciting, individual nature of their responses so far! Sketchbook work for the previous stage of the ‘Identity’ project will be completed before the summer so that students can focus on the initial research for their second coursework project before September. Please look out for the Year 10 into 11 Summer Holiday Task on Google Classroom Assignments in July.
• Engineering: Students have just received their Unit 1 Coursework theme (home craft roller). This is a very important time on the Engineering course – everything we do from now on counts towards students’ final qualifications. The Unit 1 Coursework alone is worth 40% of the students’ final grade. Please ask students about the theme, ask them to show you what they are making and show you the Google Slides folder they are creating as evidence. All resources are on Google Classroom and you can see their work developing from home.

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.

Enrichment opportunities 2025-26

We believe that in addition to receiving a strong academic education, students should have access to a wide range of clubs and experiences that could spark new interests, hobbies or friendships as well as having a positive impact on students’ personal development, health and wellbeing. As you are aware, at the start of the new school year in September, our school day timings will change, incorporating enrichment activities at the end of each day.

Next week, we will be sharing the exciting enrichment opportunities available to your child during the first term of the 2025–26 academic year. Students will be given full details about how to sign up in form time and assemblies.

The attached letter provides further information about enrichment opportunities. Please do contact us if you have any further queries.

School day timings rehearsal

A reminder that we will be trying out the new timings of the school day in the last week of the summer term. As stated above, next week we will be sharing details of the enrichment activities on offer and we hope that there will be something for everyone to enjoy. We understand that this is a change during the year and some families may have plans in place, so please let us know if you would like us to supervise your child until the normal finish time of 3.15pm on any nights that they are not doing a club or activity for that final week.

Year 11 – Last compulsory day, Monday 9 June

As we approach the final week of GCSE exams I would like to say a huge well done to all Year 11s. They have conducted themselves throughout the exam and revision period with maturity and positivity. On Monday 9 June after their Biology exam, students will sign out unless they have GCSE Sports Studies and revision followed by the exam that afternoon.

After 9 June, Year 11 will only need to return for the timetabled wraparound sessions and any remaining exams. It is important that all students are still available for the contingency days (as shown on the timetable) in case of an emergency.

All students must sign in and out at main reception for any revision sessions after 9 June.

We will be in touch again to remind you of the arrangements for Results Day.

Mrs Armitage
Vice Principal

York Pride – Saturday 7 June 2025

Millthorpe has a long and indeed proud tradition of supporting York Pride, which celebrates diversity and the LGBT+ community. Alongside other schools and organisations from across the city, staff will be marching with a Millthorpe banner to the event site on the Knavesmire. Students and their families are very welcome to join us or show their support along the route. Schools and colleges have been asked to assemble on Church Street (near St Sampson’s Church) from about 11.30am – look for the Millthorpe banner.

More details and the route can be found on the York Pride website.

Please note that any students attending do so in an individual capacity and the school can’t take any responsibility for them. We recommend that everyone is suitably equipped with decent footwear, weather-appropriate clothing and snacks and drinks to keep them going.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Staff profiles

Thank you for all the positive feedback about our staff profiles of our Senior Leadership Team. We hope these have helped you get to know the people behind the names and titles just a little better.

We have now launched profiles of our wonderful Progress Leaders who work with each year group to monitor and support the academic progress and overall development of students. You can find out more about them here.

September trip to Flamingo Land or Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Following student feedback, we will be running our annual trips in September. The students love these trips, but they felt the queues were too long in July, especially at Flamingo Land, and they also felt it would be nice for the new Year 7 students to come along.

Key Stage 3 Readathon

Earlier this week we launched ‘Readathon’ with all students in Key Stage 3 (KS3).

A reminder that from 9-27 June, your child will be encouraged to read as much as they can, and be sponsored for doing so. Full details, including how you and friends/family can sponsor your child, are available on the attached letter and you can also view a video below:

We hope that your child is excited and motivated to begin this challenge. Not only will they be raising money for a worthy cause, but they will also be enhancing their own reading skills.

Donations of uniform needed for our Eco Laundry

Millthorpe’s Eco Laundry provides affordable items of uniform, all of which are clean and in excellent condition. We are however running low on stock again of uniform of all sizes so please do let us have any items which your child has grown out of.

A special plea goes to our outgoing Year 11 students to donate their uniform and PE kits when they leave school. We will also gratefully receive any donations of revision guides.

Donations can be brought into the School Office any weekday between 8.00am-4.00pm, and we will also be organising a big collection of items at the Year 11 Leavers Assembly on Tuesday 24 June.

Year 9 Graduation Ceremony – A Milestone Celebration

A reminder to parents/carers of children in Year 9 that we will soon host our first-ever Year 9 Graduation Ceremony. Taking place on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 June, this special event will mark a significant milestone for our Year 9 students as they transition from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. Miss Boyd has previously shared details of this ceremony with Year 9 students in assembly.

Athletics news

Over the last few weeks it has been wonderful to see so many students attending Athletics Club on a Monday to practise for the athletics season.

Yesterday we hosted the first round of the York Schools Athletics with All Saints and The Mount in attendance. We managed to battle through the elements and there were some outstanding performances from our athletes in Years 7 and 8.

All students demonstrated our values perfectly and some of the standout performances were as follows:

Year 7

• Oliver C came first in the 1200m with a brilliant time of 4.31secs and has qualified for the semi-finals at York University.
• Karam S came first in the 200m with an impressive time of 32.7secs. Isaac N came second with a close 33.0secs. Both students have qualified for the semi-finals.
• The Year 7 relay team came first with a time of 62.90secs and have qualified for the semi-finals.
• Esme L smashed the 200m with a fantastic time of 27.8secs to finish in first place and progress to the semi-finals. That is a hugely impressive time and we cannot wait to see her next performance at York University.
• There was also a remarkable performance from Georgia C in the 800m recording a time of 2mins 58secs coming in first place and qualifying for the semi-finals.

Year 8
Our Year 8 girls athletics team were in fine form and have started the season off well.

• Rosa B won the long jump with her best jump of 4.02m to progress to the semi-finals closely followed by Anna H who recorded a jump of 3.67m to progress to the next round.
• Imogen B performed well in the high jump clearing the 1.25m bar and progressing to the semi-finals.
• Immy B won the 100m with an impressive time of 14.06secs and came first in the javelin with a huge throw of 19.33m. Rosa Boxall was a close second in the 100m with an equally impressive time of 14.92 secs.
• Rosie D came first in the 800m with a time of 2mins 42secs.
• Marianne L came first in the 1500m with a time of 5mins 30secs.

All of the girls have performed incredibly well and have done themselves and the school proud. They have trained really hard over the winter months and it is paying off on the track.

The standout performances for the Year 8 boys were as follows:

• Theo J came second in the 1500m to progress to the semi-finals.
• Henry S came second in the 300m with a time of 50.47secs to progress to the semi-finals.

Dates for your diaries:

• Semi-finals: Tuesday 17 June at York University athletics track 1.00-5.00pm.
• Finals Day: Tuesday 24 June at York University athletics track 1.00-5.00pm.

For both events, students will be transported to York University via coach. Letters will be coming out next week.

York College Drama students inspire Millthorpians in dynamic workshop

On Monday we were visited by students and staff from the Drama department at York College, who came into school to work with our Year 10 Drama students.

The York College students performed a section of their devised physical theatre show ‘Hashtags and Embers’ and then worked with our students on a scripted drama workshop.

At the end of the session our students performed extracts of the show. There was also an opportunity for a Q&A session with the York College students and their Programme Leader of Acting, Shannon Collins.

Mrs Sladen, Head of Performance at Millthorpe, said “We had such a great time! Our students were absolutely brilliant – they worked really hard and learned so much. Huge thanks to Shannon and the York College students for visiting us and sharing their performance with us. They were all amazing and we can’t wait to work with them again in the future.”

Year 9-10 cricketers compete in North Yorkshire Cup

The Year 9-10 cricket team gave an excellent account of themselves on Tuesday in their North Yorkshire Cup game at Ripon Grammar School. Playing against an excellent Ripon squad, the team scored fewer runs than they would have liked despite valuable contributions from Oscar and Ash, and subsequently lost the match. However, the team learnt a lot from facing such strong opposition – particularly that lots of padding is needed when dealing with fast bowlers on green wickets!

Well done to everyone who took part.

Prom photos

A reminder to parents/carers of Year 11 students – any prepaid prom photos must be paid for on ParentPay today please.

Design Technology contribution

A polite reminder that the annual Design Technology (DT) contribution for students in Years 7 to 10 is now overdue. This request was initially sent to parents/carers in September 2024 and, while we’ve received contributions from many families, we are still waiting on a number of outstanding payments.

The annual contribution, which is set at a fixed amount, is essential in helping us continue to provide a creative and practical curriculum for all students. If you have not yet had the chance to make the payment, we would be very grateful if you could do so via ParentPay at your earliest convenience. Every contribution goes a long way in supporting the learning and creativity of our students. Thank you.

Year 7 Bolton Abbey trip

A reminder to parents/carers of children in Year 7, that consent should be given and payment made on ParentPay by 20 June please, ahead of the trip on 4 July. Full details about the trip can be found here.

National ‘Thank a Teacher’ Day – Wednesday 18 June 2025

National ‘Thank a Teacher’ Day is celebrated on 18 June. We know that many students, parents and carers are really grateful for the effort that our staff in school go to on a regular basis to provide the best school experience possible. If you would like to send a thank you card directly to the member of staff, totally free of charge, please complete the brief form available here.

Please remember that whilst it is entitled ‘Thank a Teacher’, messages of thanks can be passed on to any adult in school whether they be TAs, admin, support staff, pastoral and inclusion, site staff, lunchtime supervisors, cleaners and so on.

It would be lovely for lots of our colleagues to be recognised by students and/or their families this way, so please do take the 2-3 minutes to send a card if you can and would like to.

We will continue to provide students with the chance to send an appreciation card to a member of staff in school, as we do at the end of every term, in July, but this is another way for the efforts of our hard-working staff to be recognised and celebrated. Thank you.

Sam to take on St Leonard’s Wolds Walk

On 14 June, Sam Walton in Year 8 is taking part in the St Leonard’s Wolds Walk, to raise funds for the hospice who support his Grandpop through the Hospice’s Carer Support Service.

You can read the story which appeared in The Press earlier this week here or if you would like to donate, please visit Sam’s GoFundMe page.

Fantasy Football – the results

Another year of Premier League football is over, and it is time to announce the winners of the Millthorpe Masters mini-league in FPL.

Job of the Week – Dentist

Dentists work to prevent and protect our teeth and mouths from decay, infection and damage. They can work in a variety of different areas, for example in the Armed Forces, in the community, in hospitals and also in dental practices. They are also responsible for educating their patients on correct oral hygiene. You must have a Dentistry degree to become a dentist.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Dentist.

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.

As this week is Volunteers Week, we thought this talk – A Deep Dive into Volunteering and Charity Work With Tom Wright, CEO, Guide Dogs – would be of interest.

You will embark on a journey into the heart of volunteering and charity work with Tom who has years of dedicated service to various charities and stands as a beacon of inspiration for those looking to make a difference in society.

Under Tom’s leadership, Guide Dogs has flourished, providing invaluable support to those in need. But his commitment extends beyond this role. Throughout his career, Tom has been a vocal advocate for the voluntary sector, emphasising its crucial role in uplifting and supporting communities.

In this virtual broadcast, Tom delves deep into his career trajectory, shedding light on the challenges and rewards of working in the charitable sector. He offers a unique perspective on the importance of volunteering, highlighting how individual contributions can lead to collective societal benefits.

For those aspiring to contribute to the world of charity or seeking to understand the intricacies of the voluntary sector, Tom’s insights are invaluable. His dedication, passion, and leadership serve as a testament to the transformative power of charity work.

Join us as we explore the world of volunteering and charity through the lens of Tom Wright, and discover the profound impact one can make in the lives of many.

Just click the image below to view.

York College – upcoming events

The following events are taking place at York College over the coming months. All are optional, but great opportunities for young people to increase their familiarity with the college, meet key people and ask any questions.

• The last Open Evening of the academic year takes place on Thursday 19 June from 5.30-8.00pm.
• There is an event for all applicants on Tuesday 24 June from 3.00-6.00pm called WelcomeFest.
• On Friday 27 June from 2.00-4.00pm there is an enhanced transition event specifically for new starters with SEND and their parents/carers.
• On Tuesday 29 July and Tuesday 5 August from 10.00am-3.00pm, there will be an enhanced transition drop-in event called ‘Getting Sorted’ for those students who may be feeling particularly anxious about moving to college. Learning Support staff will be available, as well as other Student Services like funding, transport and wellbeing.

Further information can be found on the York College website.

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.

Signposting event for parents/carers new to the SEND journey

The Parent Carer Forum (PCF) are to host a Signposting Event for parents/carers who are new to the SEND journey. This informal online meeting will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 6.30pm, when PCF colleagues will guide you through useful websites, look at the Local Offer, Raise, Third Sector Offer and their own website.

To request a joining link, please email Mary at connect@pcfyork.co.uk.

Supporting Positive Cyber Choices for Young People

The Cyber Choices programme has been designed by the National Crime Agency to help young people understand the difference between legal and illegal online activity. With the rise of digital skills among children, it’s important to guide their curiosity toward safe and legal pathways in computing.

The programme provides advice on how to spot early signs of risky behaviour, understand the Computer Misuse Act, and access fun, legal ways to develop cyber skills including coding clubs, competitions, and government initiatives. By supporting your child’s interest in tech, you can help steer them towards exciting and rewarding careers in the growing cyber security industry.

Visit www.cyberchoices.uk for more information and resources.

Cyber Switch Up competition

Cyber Switch Up is a digital and cyber skills competition aimed at students aged 11-18 years in the Yorkshire and Humber region. It is free to participate in the online qualifier round – a series of short exercises/puzzles on digital and cyber themes – which can be completed in school or at home.

The highest performing participants will be invited to compete at the in-person finals event on 25 November 2025 at The University of Hull.

Full information can be found here.

Make Space (for Girls) project

The ‘Make Space’ in Rowntree Park project focuses on reducing the drop off of park use as girls enter their teenage years. Parks have numerous benefits for physical and mental health and it’s important that girls, and women, are able to access and make the most of the opportunities which parks offer.

Please take a look below for information about the Make Space Festival. A good number of Millthorpe students have attended past events and some students are helping support with their Duke of Edinburgh volunteer hours.

The brochure of free events can be accessed here.

#WakeUpWednesday – The Ofcom Media Report 2025

79% of 3-17-year-olds now have a social media profile and many include public photos. Ofcom’s 2025 report reveals young people’s increasing use of online spaces.

The latest Media Use and Attitudes Report from Ofcom is essential reading for parents. The National College’s new #WakeUpWednesday guide pulls out the key findings – from live streaming and gaming, to screen time and safety lessons in school.

With children navigating digital spaces from ever-younger ages, staying informed is crucial. This guide provides an update on the latest trends, activities and behaviours of children and young people online, identifying risks so that schools and families better understand where to focus preventive measures and support. Please take a look.

#WakeUpWednesday – A Guide to Emojis

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when it comes to emojis, that’s often true. But in the wrong context, these innocent-seeming icons can take on a whole new meaning, sometimes hinting at things that aren’t as light-hearted as they appear.

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks down some of the slang and symbols young people use online and explains how some could be masking real issues, from bullying and exclusion to harmful behaviours. With The National College’s handy cheat sheet and top tips, adults can keep pace with this ever-changing digital language. Please take a look and watch out for these when checking your child’s devices.

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.