Weekly email – 9 January 2026

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

With best wishes,

Kavina Rothenburg
Principal

Dates for your diary

• Tuesday 13 January: Careers Fair
• Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 January: Post-16 Taster Days
• Monday 19 January – Friday 6 February: Year 11 PPEs
• Wednesday 11 February: School closes for half-term break
• Monday 23 February: School reopens after half-term break

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:

• Computing: What is the Internet? How do IP addresses work? What is a DNS server? How does hosting a website work?
• French: We are moving on to our next topic of ‘School’. Can your child name some school subjects in French and talk about if they enjoy them?
• German: We will shortly be moving on to our next topic and discussing festivals. Can your child name some festivals in German and talk about how they are celebrated?

• History: Whilst we have paused our study of Elizabethan England due to the forthcoming PPEs, you could ask your child how Elizabeth used a variety of skills to control her Privy Council and Parliament, including patronage, privileges, bullying tactics and charm. The PPE will focus on Britain: Health and the People and all students have received a GCSE Rubric to assist with their revision. They should focus on surgery and anatomy, treatment of disease, and public health, as well as ensuring that they have clear examples of how the seven big factors (war, role of the individual, government, science and technology, communication, religion and superstition, and chance/luck) led to significant improvements in the field of medicine across the 1,000-year study. GCSE History students should also revise America’s increased involvement in the Vietnam War, and be prepared for answering a 12-mark question analysing the usefulness of two sources, when taken together, in studying the Vietnam War.
• RE: We are starting to learn our third theme for Paper 2 which is Crime and Punishment and we are focusing on more Muslim attitudes towards this to ensure students keep revising the Muslim beliefs, teachings and practices from Year 10. So far, we have looked at what Crime and Punishment means and how we can link that to what is good and evil. We will then be focusing on reasons people may commit crimes, different types of punishment in the UK and around the world, the aims of punishment, how we should treat criminals, different attitudes towards the Death Penalty, and finally forgiveness and what that could mean to others and whether we should always forgive people. For PPEs, please revise everything for Paper 1 Islam. We will do some revision lessons before the PPE too.
• Geography: We have paused our curriculum learning to focus on revision for the PPEs. The students will be receiving revision lessons from their teachers based on the needs of the class. A good question to ask Geography students may be “What topics are in your PPE for Geography?” or “What topics do you need to study the most before your PPE?”

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.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards Celebration Evening

Yesterday evening we gathered to celebrate the success of those students who have completed their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards. It was wonderful to see so many students who have been ambitious and taken on the challenge. The students have worked incredibly hard to achieve this award and were all excellent throughout. They worked well in their expedition teams, treating everyone fairly, when at times due to tiredness and the cold, it would have been easy to give up. It was a real pleasure to see them undertaking this award outside of school in their own time and we look forward to seeing them complete further DofE Awards in the future.

In a couple of weeks, we will launch the DofE Award to Year 9 students and it would be great to see many of them taking a step out of their comfort zone and demonstrating their excellence in completing this accolade.

Ramadan 2026

We are aware that the Holy Month of Ramadan begins on 17/18 February and want to ensure that our Muslim students are supported during this important time. If your child intends to observe Ramadan in any way, please can you complete this very short Google Form.

All students will receive a Culture Curriculum session during Form Time to explain Ramadan, and how students not observing it can support any peers and friends who are.

Year 11 Pre Public Examinations – January 2026

A reminder that our Year 11s will sit their Pre Public Examinations, which are an integral part of preparing students for their GCSE exams. The PPE exam period will take place from Monday 19 January to Friday 6 February. These exams are designed to mirror the structure and expectations of the final GCSE examinations, providing students with valuable experience under formal exam conditions.

To find out more about the PPEs and view the timetable, please take a look at our website.

Attendance matters

Following the release of the DfE’s report ‘Why Attendance Matters‘ in August 2025, at roughly the same time the Children’s Commissioner for England published her report ‘Why attendance remains my priority‘, each week we will share extracts from these so parents are aware of the national attendance picture.

Children’s Commissioner extract 1: Non Attendance Spikes in Year 7  
“Children understand the importance of being at school. Thousands of the children I have spoken to in my four years as Children’s Commissioner have told me about the value of their teachers, the things they like studying and the things they want to do after school. In my first major survey as Commissioner, The Big Ask, this generation of children told me that being in school and getting a good education was an overwhelming priority, especially in the wake of the Covid pandemic. 

That has not changed – it has been a theme running throughout my work with children since that first survey. That’s one of the reasons why it’s also my overwhelming priority. School attendance is still not back to where it was prior to the pandemic. That’s a worry for me because – as children themselves would attest – school is a unique, valuable component of childhood. It is an institution which illuminates children’s lives not just with education and learning, but with social skills, new experiences and activities, and to make friendships.  

What immediately becomes obvious is the spike in absence in Year 7. Children at the end of Year 6 missed 5.9% of school, broadly comparable to the absence rate across all of primary education. At the start of Year 7, the absence rate was slightly lower, at 5.8%; however, by the Spring term, the absence rate of children in Year 7 had skyrocketed to 7.2%, before raising even further to 8.0% in Summer at the end of Year 7, and never recovering over the remainder of secondary education. This implies that school disengagement starts approximately mid-way through Year 7. 

Fundamentally, 17.8% of pupils are currently persistently absent – roughly 1 in 6.ix That is absolutely unacceptable. Not only must we do better but, as the pre-pandemic figures show, doing better is unmistakably achievable.”

We’d love to work together so that your child can be in every day, absorbing every minute of education on offer each week. Please contact the Attendance Team if you want to discuss support around increasing your child’s attendance.

Snowy scenes at Science Club

Before the Christmas break, our Science Club regulars had great fun creating snow using conditioner and bicarbonate of soda. There was enough to create a lovely wintry scene during the session!

Assembly Shout Outs

This week’s Assembly Shout Outs are from our colleagues in Maths and recognise individual students or groups and how they have demonstrated one of our core values. This week’s shout outs, which were shared in form time as assemblies were postponed, go to:

Miss Tucker

• Year 9: Emie Atkinson-Smith for her dedication to achieving her best, using every lesson to the full and articulating her ideas in sound mathematical language.
• Year 10: Billy Heathwood for fantastic attention to detail, application of his knowledge to new contexts and commitment to excellence.

Mr Tebbs

The following students for consistent effort and enthusiasm and always striving for excellence:

• Year 7: Isla B
• Year 8: Esme L
• Year 9: Ryan W
• Year 10: Maddison S
• Year 11: Izzy S

Mr Butler

• Year 8: George BD for being focused in lessons, working hard and always getting on to the extension tasks.
• Year 9: Noah W for his consistent effort and enthusiasm in maths.
• Year 11: Jessica P for being focused in lessons, working hard and always getting on to the extension tasks.

Mr Hebden

The following students for always being focused in lessons, working hard and to the best of their ability:

• Year 8: Haleemah A
• Year 9: Georgia P
• Year 10: Archie W

Mr Daunt

• Year 7: Hamza A for making an amazing start in our maths class.
• Year 8: Amelia W for her enthusiasm in lessons, trying to get the most out of every lesson and working to the best of her ability.
• Year 9: Amelia I for her hard work in lessons, working hard to finish all the questions each lesson.
• Year 10: all of 10y1 for pushing themselves in every lesson, you always impress me with your perseverance and determination.
• Year 11: Arwen T for her hard work and dedication through the last term, always pushing herself and looking to go the extra mile.

Miss Rhodes

• Year 8: Kane T for being super every single maths lesson – constantly trying his hardest and pushing himself to the challenge questions.
• Year 9: George P for always working hard and being focused throughout.
• Year 10: Freya T for always trying to the best of her ability and constantly being focused.
• Year 11: Imogen W for constantly trying and asking questions when not sure.

Miss Lansdall

• Year 7: Sabi U for always trying his best in lessons and contributing towards every lesson.
• Year 8: Elsie H, for always challenging herself and working hard in every lesson.
• Year 9: Ethan C, for always working hard in lessons and remaining focused to complete as much of the work as he can.

Mr Anguige

• Year 8: Scarlett CA for always working hard in maths and remaining focused.
• Year 9: George K for his hard work in maths, even going so far as to get extra questions to do at home after maths lessons.
• Year 10: Edith C for her consistent effort and perseverance in maths.
• Year 11: Nadia L for her commitment to improving her maths through past paper practice at home.

Please note that a small number of other students received shout outs but due to permissions we are unable to publish their names – well done to them too!

Get involved – youth-led environmental conference

Rachael Maskell MP and her team are inviting students to help shape an exciting new conference on the environment, designed by young people, for young people in our city.

The event is still in the early planning stages and they are keen to hear from students who would like to be involved in developing the ideas and structure. Current plans include a speaker, workshop activities, and a pledge session in which city leaders (including Rachael Maskell) will be asked to commit to promises asked by our young attendees.

Anyone interested should contact Cora Lancashire, Parliamentary Assistant, Office of Rachael Maskell by email: cora.lancashire@parliament.uk.

Job of the Week – Detective

Detectives are police officers who work on serious crime cases, such as homicides, drugs, fraud, cybercrime and many other types of crime. Those wishing to move into detective roles will need to undertake additional training whilst also demonstrating other important and crucial skills. Many detectives begin their career as a police officer. It is also possible for graduates with a 2:2 or above to enter the Police Now Detective Programme which can provide a direct pathway into this specific role.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Detective.

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 -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.

As our new Student Leaders step into their new roles here at Millthorpe, we thought we’d share this inspirational talk from Captain Polly Marsh and Mountaineer and Veteran Garth Miller, as they talk about their life experiences and how it has led them to be better leaders. From techniques to tales from our speakers, this broadcast will inspire you about leadership.

Just click the image below to view.

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.

Free parent webinar: Emotional Regulation & Behaviour

CAYP Psychology is hosting a free parent webinar taking place on Tuesday 13 January, 8.00 – 9.00pm, called Big Feelings and Big Reactions: Making Sense of Your Child’s Behaviour. It will be delivered by Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of CAYP Psychology, Dr Daniel Weisberg. It is designed primarily for parents but is also highly relevant for professionals working with children and young people.

To find out more and sign up, please take a look at the attached pdf or visit: https://www.cayp.co.uk/event-details/janwebinar

#WakeUpWednesday – Essential Online Safety

This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide offers clear, supportive guidance to help parents and educators feel more confident in navigating the online world with children and young people. It looks at how everyday conversations, simple boundaries, and a bit of digital awareness can make a real difference to young people’s online experiences.

It also explores how parents and educators can create an environment where children feel comfortable asking for help when something online unsettles them. By highlighting the importance of safe and healthy internet usage, these tips provide a grounded starting point for anyone supporting young people’s digital lives.

Please take a look.

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.