Weekly email – 10 October 2025

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. We’ll be back in school on Monday for an ‘A’ Week.

Kavina Rothenburg
Principal

Dates for your diary

• Wednesday 22 October: School closes for half-term break
• Monday 3 November: School reopens after half-term break
• Wednesday 5 November: YOLO Year 9 Workshop to support PD
• Tuesday 11 November: Remembrance Day
• Wednesday 19 November: Year 8 Progress Evening

What is my child learning at the moment?

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

Year 7 – Humanities
Conversation starters

• History: Students are being introduced to the way historians find out about the past and beginning their study of the History of York. In the next few weeks ask your child what York was like under Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking rule. They will also have a knowledge test at the end of this unit so please ask to see their knowledge organiser and help them with their revision.
• Geography: How do you find a four-figure grid reference? How do you find a six-figure grid reference?
• RE: If God is omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent, why is there suffering and evil in the world?

Year 8 – Performance
Conversation starters

• Drama: Students are reading the play ‘Our Day Out’ by Willy Russell and exploring how actors use the Acting Tools to present different characters on stage, particularly focussing on use of voice – please do ask them for a demonstration of their best Scouse accent!
• Music: This term students have been learning to play the keyboard, looking at how to play two hands together and how to read treble and bass clefs.
• PE: Students have completed their new activities this week, so the girls have been developing their skills and match play in netball and football and the boys have been developing their skills and match play in badminton. Mr Nicholson’s classes have been developing their rolls, jumps and balances and putting them into a routine in gymnastics.

Year 9 – Creative
Conversation starter

• Food Preparation and Nutrition: Students have been learning about innovations in the food industry and are now building on their knowledge of nutrition and learning which specific nutrients teenagers should be avoiding or including in their diets. They are also cooking some fantastic, balanced meals to help them obtain the necessary nutrients to become healthy individuals.
• Product Design: students are currently working using the textiles techniques of tie and dye and stencilling to design and make their Funky Chicken doorstop. Their designs are based on the Memphis Design movement and include lots of interesting colours and patterns. They are looking fabulous so far.
• Art: Students are at the research stage of the Monster Pot/Creative Journey project. They are working hard to gather potential design features by recording clay monsters by James De Rosso, sea creatures and insects. The next step is to re-visit Year 7 clay modelling skills and design the pot they would like to make after October half term.

Year 10 – English
Conversation starters
Students are continuing with their study of the modern text for their Literature GCSE. This week they have also got back their first SAP (Standardised Assessment Piece) and were guided through feedback by their class teacher so they know areas of strength and areas for development in the future.

Year 11 – Maths
Conversation starters
Students are manipulating shapes using transformations. What information do you need to know if you want to do a rotation, reflection, enlargement or translation? Which of these transformations produce congruent images? Which are similar? What restrictions will give you an invariant point or line?

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.

Attendance and punctuality reminder

At Millthorpe School, we are committed to high standards of attendance and punctuality for all of our students. We thank the overwhelming majority of parents/carers and students who share this commitment.

We understand that occasionally, young people are unable to come into school for very valid reasons. As we have previously stated, if a young person is a little worried or anxious, or slightly under the weather, we ask that you ensure that they come into school and try to attend so that they benefit from everything that school has to offer.

If your child is unable to attend school, please contact us by 8.30am to inform us of your child’s absence and the reason for this absence. Please call the School Office on 01904 686400 or if you are unable to call you can email attendance@millthorpe.elt.org.uk.

If we do not hear from you, our Progress Leaders or Attendance Team will need to contact you to ascertain the reason as we must account for every child’s absence.

Please also note that government stipulations state that a young person is recorded as absent for the morning session (half a day) if they arrive after the morning register closes. This means that all students must be on the school site and registered by 9am. If your child arrives after 9am without a valid reason, this becomes an unauthorised absence. We really want to avoid this so please speak to your child(ren) if their punctuality is an issue.

Thank you for your support.

Millthorpe Remembers – 2025 Edition

As we approach 11 November, Mrs Price, Ms Longbottom, Mr Ferguson and Mr Baybutt are turning their attention to marking Remembrance Day and this year, we are hoping it will be the most special yet.

How can you help?
Led by Mrs Price, we are planning to create a sea of poppies along the main drive into school. In order to do this, we need donations of clean plastic bottles. These need to be water or soft drink bottles (please rinse them first) but not milk bottles. After half term, Mrs Price will offer students the chance to make and paint a poppy and then plant it along the main drive in the build up to Remembrance Day. Rather than adding any water or soft drink bottles to your usual recycling bins at home, please send them into school with your child, from Monday, where they can place them in clearly labelled recycling bins in the dining hall.

We hope that our display will look something like this:

In the lead up to Remembrance Day, Mr Ferguson will lead assemblies for all students so that they understand the purpose of remembrance and ensuring that we never forget.

On 11 November, supported by Ms Longbottom, several students will sound The Last Post at various points around school as our community falls silent to remember those who have been affected by, and continue to be affected by war and conflict.

We have a special guest visiting Millthorpe School on this day but we want to keep this under wraps for now!

Thank you for any support and donations of plastic bottles that you are able to offer.

Hello Yellow – World Mental Health Day

Our Restorative Peer Mentors would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated to this cause and to everyone who raised awareness of mental health and Young Minds by wearing something yellow today. It was great to see so many people taking part. To date we have raised a fantastic £316.

Anyone still wishing to donate can do so via ParentPay until Monday morning.

Hair colour

As you may know, our policy has always been that hair should be of a natural colour and style and the vast majority of our students abide by this. Recently, a small number of students have arrived at school having dyed their hair in what are clearly not natural colours. We’re confident that being transparent with parents and students means that this minor concern will quickly disappear allowing staff and students to focus on learning. If your child currently has hair dyed a colour that isn’t natural, we ask that this be rectified for Monday 13 October. Many thanks for your continued support.

Student Leadership opportunities

This week, the current Year 11 Student Leaders delivered the assemblies, explaining to the school the importance of leadership, what their role has been at school, and encouraging students to get involved in the many opportunities Millthorpe has to offer. They were particularly excited to announce that applications are now open for Year 10s to apply to be Student Leaders for 2026.

For any Year 10 who would like to apply to be a Student Leader for 2026, please make sure you complete your application form and hand it in to the office or directly to Mr Sloan by Friday 7 November. Interviews will take place during next half-term.

Spare copies of the application form can be obtained from the School Office.

Year 9 trip to Carlton Lodge

We are delighted to confirm that the annual Year 9 residential trip to Carlton Lodge outdoor activity centre will be taking place on Monday 15-Tuesday 16 June 2026. The cost is expected to be around £205 per student (reduced for Pupil Premium/Free School Meals students).

Students will learn more about the trip in an upcoming assembly at which point you will be able to secure your child’s place by paying a deposit via ParentPay.

Enrichment – netball and girls football

After half term, (w/c 3 November), Year 9/10 and 11 netball is moving to a Tuesday (due to the need for an indoor space after half term) and Year 9/10 and 11 girls football is moving to Monday night after school.

SYSTRA engineers inspire Year 10 students

This week we welcomed four employees from SYSTRA, a Civil Engineering firm into school to talk to our Year 10 students about what Civil Engineering entails and also apprenticeship and other routes into the sector.

Owen, Chloe, Caleb and Andy each took the students through their individual journeys to where they are now, the different routes into their career, as all four were different, and what their job entails. They also gave examples of projects that they had worked on. They also discussed gender stereotypes in the workplace and how Chloe felt as a female in the industry. Our guests then did a Q&A with the students, who were asking about AI in the workplace, and the impact it has had.

We are hugely grateful to the SYSTRA team who have given our Year 10s lots of food for thought about a potential career in civil engineering.

Ex-Millthorpian inspires students with career talk

Today we welcomed Aidan Doherty back to school. Aidan is an alumnus of the school and offered to come back and talk about his career to date as a Degree Apprentice – Nuclear Engineer at BAE Systems Submarines. Aidan talked to students about his career pathway since leaving Millthorpe and answered lots of great questions.

Thank you so much to Aidan for giving up his time to inspire our students.

Job of the Week – Recycling Officer

If you are interested in sustainability and waste reduction, then this job might be for you. Recycling Officers are responsible for managing local recycling schemes and encouraging households and businesses to recycle more. They may also be involved in education and teaching programmes and schemes to encourage recycling from a young age. A degree is usually not needed as employers tend to focus more on personal qualities and interests in the environment as well as relevant experience.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Recycling Officer.

Futures for All – inspirational talks

Futures for All (previously Speakers for Schools) is an incredible social mobility charity which empowers state-educated young people by opening doors to life-changing opportunities. In addition to their work experience programme, Futures for All also regularly broadcast live inspirational talks which are recorded and then hosted on their website.

Each week, as part of our careers and aspiration-raising programme, we will feature one of their talks. As today is World Mental Health Day, we wanted to share this talk from Dr Radha Modgil, NHS GP, Broadcaster & Campaigner for Wellbeing – A Deep Drive Into Mental Health And Tools To Help. When the talk was broadcast live, Dr Radha answered submitted questions from listeners so have a listen – it will help you to understand yourself more, and make decisions living from your truth, as well as dealing with setbacks along the way. Above all, it will also help you not feel so alone in your struggles.

Just click the image below to view.

 

Post-16 open events

All Saints Sixth Form
All Saints Open Evening is Wednesday 19 November. You will need to prebook a talk with the Headteacher: https://allsaintsyork.npcat.org.uk/sixth-form/sixth-form-admissions/

Fulford School Sixth Form
Fulford School’s Sixth Form Open Evening is Thursday 20 November, 6.00 – 8.00pm

To book your place, please use the link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/fulford-school

Askham Bryan College 
Askham Bryan College has a series of open events throughout this term.

• Monday 13 October – Sport and Public Uniformed Services
• Saturday 18 October – Open Morning
• Tuesday 21 October – Foundation Learning Taster Event
• Saturday 29 November – Open Morning
• Tuesday 16 December – Foundation Taster Event

For more information, have a look at their website.

Huntington School Sixth Form
Huntington School’s Open Evening is Tuesday 11 November 2025. Register via this link.

Joseph Rowntree School Sixth Form
Joseph Rowntree School is on Tuesday 18 November 2025.

York College
York College is hosting a number of Open Events during the 2025-26 academic year, as follows:

• Tuesday 7 October 2025, 5.30pm – 8.00pm
• Saturday 8 November 2025, 10.00am – 12.30pm
• Thursday 20 November 2025, 5.30pm – 8.00pm
• Thursday 12 February 2026, 5.30pm – 8.00pm
• Wednesday 29 April 2026, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

For more information, please visit the York College website.

All Saints Sixth Form Taster Day

All Saints Sixth Form will be holding a Taster Day for prospective students on 13 January 2026.

To help you choose your A Level or BTEC options, All Saints will give you a ‘taste’ of the subjects you are considering, so you can find out if you’re likely to enjoy them and find them interesting.

The programme lets you experience four different subjects as well as spend time in a Sixth Form tutor group. You’ll also have an opportunity to speak with their current Sixth Formers to get a first-hand account of what it’s like to study at our Sixth Form.

For detailed information about the available subjects, please visit the school website.

Programme outline

• 8.40 – 9.00am: Welcome talk by Head of Sixth Form and meet the Sixth Form Team
• 9.00 – 9.55am: Tutor Time: Meet your Form Tutor and other prospective students, chat to current All Saints Sixth Formers
• 9.55 – 10.55am: Taster Lesson – Option Choice 1
• 10.55 – 11.10am: Morning Break – Refreshments in the hall and meet other students
• 11.10am – 12.10pm: Taster Lesson – Option Choice 2
• 12.10 – 1.00pm: Lunch
• 1.00 – 2.00pm: Taster Lesson – Option Choice 3
• 2.00 – 2.15pm: Afternoon Break – free time
• 2.15 – 3.15pm: Taster Lesson – Option Choice 4
• 3.15pm: End of Taster Day

How to apply
To apply you should complete the online application by 4.00pm on Wednesday 17 December. Your place and the selections you have made will be confirmed by no later than Wednesday 9 January 2026. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Sixth Form team at 6fenquiries@allsaintsyork.npcat.org.uk.

York College Year 11 Taster Days

Bookings for York College’s Year 11 Taster Days on 13 and 15 January 2026 are now open.

These days provide a fantastic opportunity for Year 11 students to try some of the subjects they are interested in, as well as get a feel for College life. Students should choose one of the days to attend.

Further information about Open Events and Taster Days can be found here and bookings should be made using the links below:

• Tuesday 13 January 2026
• Thursday 15 January 2026

Before booking a Taster Day, please read all the supporting information about what is on offer, and how to book which is all detailed on the booking web pages.

Whilst bookings can be made on any device, we would recommend using a tablet or computer to view the booking screens more clearly.

Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and the deadline for all bookings is Sunday 23 November. It is not possible to book after this date.

Applications to St Peter’s Sixth Form

The application deadline for St Peter’s Sixth Form is 31 October. Further information can be found here and the application form is available here.

Apprenticeship vacancies

York College is currently advertising a number of apprenticeship vacancies which can be seen on the attached pdf. Each vacancy has a hyperlink to the Apprenticeship Service website, where you will find full job details and where you can submit your application.

A note on closing dates: vacancies often close earlier than the stated date, so if you are interested, please make sure you apply as soon as you can.

You can also read the attached guidance on how to write a strong application to ensure the best chance of success.

Other apprenticeships are available and can be accessed through the Careers section of your child’s Google Classroom.

Preparing for Adulthood opportunities event

This event is for anyone in Year 9 or above with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities and their parents/carers. It aims to inspire them about post-16 options and employment.

Exhibitors include education providers, employers, City of York Council and other support services, such as DWP. There will also be sessions on Supported Internships and until 5.30pm, VR activities in agriculture and animal tasks.

The event will be held from 3.30-6.30pm on Tuesday 14 October 2025 at Askham Bryan College.

You can book your place on Eventbrite, however, this is not compulsory.

Exciting Opportunity: Become a Committee Member for Inspire Alternative Provision

Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and making a difference in their education? Excel Learning Trust’s alternative provision, Inspire Academy, is looking for dedicated and committed individuals to join its first-ever academy committee (a sub-committee of the trust board).

Further details about this opportunity and how to apply, can be found here.

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 Mr Beever, Miss Gater or your child’s Progress Leader during school hours by emailing safeguarding@millthorpe.elt.org.uk, you may wish to make direct contact with 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. In a mental health emergency, please call York CAMHS Crisis Team on 08000516171.