A message from Mrs Rothenburg
Congratulations to all those students who took part in the York Athletics Championships competition this week and represented the school so brilliantly. Everyone who took part should be very proud. All the very best to those who qualified for the finals on Tuesday 23 June – we’ll be cheering you on!
It was great to welcome Dramatic Theatre CIC into school this week as part of our Careers programme. Through theatre pieces, they explored the variety of careers available within the construction industry with students from across various year groups who had opted to join the event. You can read more about this below.
Following the multiple tragic deaths reported during the recent heatwave, Miss Boyd delivered an assembly to all students this week on the importance of water safety and staying safe around open water during the summer months. We encourage all parents/carers to take a moment to read the guidance provided by the RNLI and discuss it with their child(ren). Understanding the risks and knowing how to stay safe can help prevent accidents and ensure everyone enjoys the summer safely.
Year 11s have been incredible throughout the GCSE period and are definitely on the home straight, with just a few exams to come next week. We are super proud of how they have conducted themselves not just throughout the exam period, but also during the whole year, so we are really looking forward to celebrating with them next week at their Prom and Leavers Assembly.
A reminder to Year 11s and their families that we’d love to receive donations of any pieces of uniform and PE kit for our Eco Laundry. Donations can either be dropped off at the main office between 8.00am-4.00pm, or there will be a collection point at the Leavers Assembly.
Next week, Year 9s head off to Carlton Lodge for their outward bounds residential trip. It promises to be a fantastic trip with many opportunities to try something different, make new friends and of course, have lots of fun. Those Year 9 students remaining in school have been given their plan for the two days.
Lastly, congratulations to those students who were invited to Principal’s Breakfast this morning, including Sam, Shirley, Abigail, Nik, Annabelle, Sofia, Mia, Jacob, Toby and James. Keep up the great work everyone!
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. We look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday for an ‘A’ Week.
With best wishes,
Kavina Rothenburg
Principal
Dates for your diary
- Monday 15 June: Year 10 PPEs start
- Tuesday 16 June: SEND Review Evening
- Thursday 18 June: Year 11 Prom
- Friday 19 June: Prom Breakfast
- Wednesday 24 June: Year 9 Graduation
- Friday 17 July – School closes for summer 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:
Year 7 – Humanities
Conversation starters
- History: This term we have been studying the ideas that mattered to Medieval people in order to understand how they viewed the world. Your child will have learned about Medieval beliefs on heaven, hell and purgatory. They’ve also started to learn about the Reformation of the church and its impact on how church services were held, how churches looked and the closure of the monasteries. Ask your child to tell you the story of the York woman Margaret Clitherow and why she was killed.
- Geography: What are the impacts of an ageing population? What graph helps us to identify the population of a country?
- RE: Students are looking at the difficulties that teenage believers might face whilst practicing their religion in the UK.
Year 8 – Performance
Conversation starters
- Drama: Students are preparing for their upcoming Theatre History written theory and practical performance assessments. Please ask them to share their ideas with you – they are very creative!
- Music: Students are applying their understanding of pop music by using the key devices we have studied to write a song.
- PE: Students have moved onto new activities this week. The girls are learning new skills in rounders and tennis and the boys are learning new skills in cricket and softball.
Year 9 – Creative
Conversation starters
- Design Technology: Students are now in their final time block of the year, continuing to learn about innovations and emerging technologies in Design, Engineering and Food. We look forward to seeing many of our current Year 9s in our GCSE subjects next year and wish all students good luck in their GCSEs whichever options they have chosen.
- Fine Art: Following in-depth Banksy studies and the creation of stencils, Year 9 are developing a personal response to the ‘Art & Issues’ project. Asking your child about their choice of contemporary issue would support their research and development of ideas. Suggested issues included mental health, environment, cost of living, homelessness, body image, gender equality, LGBTQ+, Pride, feminism, #Metoo, women’s rights, politics, anti-racism, islamophobia, unity, displacement/refugee, inclusivity, black lives matter, poverty, inequality, anti-war/peace and animal rights.
Year 10 – English
Conversation starters
Students are busy revising in lessons and at home for their upcoming PPEs – any support with quote learning would be greatly appreciated! Students will sit a full language paper and a literature exam that will cover the modern text and conflict poetry. Ask your child if they can tell you what the ‘War Four’ poems are, and if they know any quotes from them.
Year 11 – Maths
Conversation starters
Congratulations – our Year 11s have finished their Maths GCSE course! We wish them all good luck with their remaining exams next week.
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.
‘Constructing Futures’ workshop
As part of a new project this year, we are working on developing students’ awareness of jobs in construction and on the railways as these are key employers in our city.
Today, a group of thirty students took part in a ‘Constructing Futures’ workshop delivered by Dramatic Theatre CIC. Students were informed about the workshop several weeks ago, and those interested in careers such as bricklaying, electrical work, plumbing, or engineering were encouraged to register.
The Dramatic Theatre team – Jack, Emilio, Erin and Jon – engaged students with a realistic, informed exploration of expectations whilst on a construction site, as well as delving into apprenticeship opportunities for those students who prefer a more ‘hands-on’ approach to learning.
Through a combination of live actor-led scenarios and discussion, the pupils explored what construction apprenticeships are, the realities of workplace expectations and behaviours, the competitive nature of recruitment and how high-quality apprenticeships (up to degree level) can lead to rewarding sustainable careers. Our students were thoroughly engaged, answering lots of questions, and even becoming part of the actor-led scenarios.
Students will also soon have the opportunity to meet professionals currently working in these industries, taking part in small-group sessions to gain a realistic insight into the day-to-day nature of these careers.
Flamingo Land and Yorkshire Wildlife Park trips
A reminder that these exciting trips are taking place on 30 September 2026 and are available to all students. Please confirm your child’s place on ParentPay by selecting the appropriate payment option: ‘Pay full amount’ for Flamingo Land (£42 or £32 for Pupil Premium); or for Yorkshire Wildlife Park, ‘Choose payment amount’ and then add £24 (£14 for Pupil Premium students). Remember to click your consent as well.
Please pay in full by 3 July. If you need to spread the cost, you can add funds to the Parent Account at any time and then use this balance to pay in full once you have enough credit. We can’t accept part payments against the actual trip item. If you have any concerns about meeting the cost of the trip or any other queries, please contact the school.
Year 9 Sparx Science
The next Sparx Science homework for Year 9 has been adjusted due to some students going on a residential trip to Carlton Lodge. This assignment went live on Thursday 11 June and is due on Thursday 25 June at 9am (instead of the usual deadline of 18 June). As always, our expectation is 100% completion. We want to support all students by ensuring they complete work away from the classroom – helping them develop independence, build study skills, and take control of their learning.
REACH ‘Opening Doors’
Congratulations to all the Key Stage 3 students who completed the REACH ‘Opening Doors’ workshops this week! And a special thank you to the students who gave feedback at the Student Forum on Friday. We look forward to sharing more information and photographs taken during the workshops in the summer edition of the Millthorpe Messenger.
On the theme of celebrating creativity, it was wonderful to see so many Millthorpe students, parents and carers visiting the REACH ‘Opening Doors’ creative exhibition last Saturday at York St John University. Thank you for your support! We really enjoyed celebrating the workshop outcomes of our students and having the opportunity to see the amazing opportunities on offer at the National Saturday Art Club (NSAC).
There will be another opportunity to see the REACH ‘Opening Doors’ outcomes as part of AcombFest in July. As part of the festival, there will be an art exhibition featuring REACH ‘Opening Doors‘ at Acomb Methodist Church on Sunday 5 July (times TBC in next week’s email). You can see the festival programme here.
Creative opportunities
We have had some enquiries about how to apply for the National Saturday Art Club.
Clubs currently run at three venues in York: York College, York Art Gallery and York St John University. You can register interest here.
Frozen auditions – sign up now!
We’re really excited that our Christmas production this year will be Frozen Jr! To take part students will need to be available for rehearsals Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays after school through the Autumn Term and for the evening performances on 15, 16 and 17 December.
Auditions will take place, by appointment, throughout the day on Monday 6 July. Students have until Friday 26 June to sign up for an audition, after which allocated audition times will be published.
To sign up for an audition, students must complete this Google Form.
For the auditions, students must choose a song from Frozen Jr and prepare to sing a minimum of a verse and a chorus from this, to a backing track played through YouTube, to Mrs Sladen and Ms Longbottom in a ‘closed’ audition. There will be an opportunity in the audition to discuss whether or not you wish to be considered for a solo, group or ensemble performance and any specific roles you have in mind.
For further information please speak to Mrs Sladen.
Prom photos
A reminder to parents/carers of Year 11 students – any prepaid prom photos must be paid for on ParentPay by Sunday 14 June at the latest please. We will not be able to take cash on the night.
National ‘Thank a Teacher’ Day – Wednesday 17 June 2026
National ‘Thank a Teacher’ Day is celebrated on 17 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 in this way, so please do take the time to send a card if you can.
Full details of how to ‘Thank a Teacher’ can be found here.
Job of the Week – Web Designer
Web designers plan, create and code web pages, determining the style and overall look of the website for their customers’ requirements. They are responsible for testing websites at different stages throughout the production to ensure that all aspects work on different devices. They must also ensure that all designs meet legal requirements such as accessibility standards, freedom of information and privacy. It is not always necessary to have a formal qualification.
Watch this video for more information about becoming a Web Designer.
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 last Friday was World Environment Day, this week we wanted to bring you this talk from the Infrastructure Industry Foundation: ‘World Environment Day Special: Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Infrastructure.’
This talk explores how the infrastructure investment industry is tackling one of the most urgent challenges of our time: driving sustainability through the assets we own and manage every day. From green energy transitions to responsible stewardship of real-world assets, the speakers share how investors are putting sustainability at the heart of decision-making and what that means for the careers of tomorrow.
Just click the image below to view.
Parent Carer Forum York
To find out more about events and support available from the Parent Carer Forum, please take a look at their latest newsletter here.
York ISSP opportunities
York ISSP is offering the following opportunities:
German GCSE: for those who will be in Years 9, 10 and 12 in September 2026. Read the letter.
Greek ICCG Course: for those who will be in Year 11 and 12 in September 2026. Read the letter.
The deadline for sign up is 3 July.
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.
York Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Read to the Beat – volunteers needed
Explore Libraries are delivering the Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Read to the Beat across its libraries from 11 July-12 September and they need young volunteers to help them deliver it!
They need volunteers aged 13-25 to help sign primary school aged children up to the challenge, hand out their rewards and talk to the children about the books they have read this summer. Full training will be given.
They would also like volunteers to help out with their busy summer programme of activities, mainly aimed at 4-11 year olds, by welcoming families to the libraries and signing them in to the event.
Volunteering requirements are flexible to fit around holidays and personal commitments, but ideally volunteers will be able to volunteer half a day week throughout the summer.
To register your interest or to find out more, please contact Lyndsay Glover, Service Developer: Children, Young People & Schools Email: lyndsay.glover@exploreyork.org.uk
Webinar – careers in construction
Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub is hosting a webinar on Tuesday 16 June from 6.00-7.00pm, called ‘Build Your Future: Construction Careers’.
You can find out more and register here.
Help support setting York’s Mental health action plan for young people
Decision makers in York are writing a new mental health action plan for children and young people. They want young people’s honest opinions – what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. They are holding a workshop giving young people chance to speak directly to the people who make the decisions.
The event will be held on Wednesday 1 July, from 4:00-7:00pm at the Priory Street Centre, York, and is open to any young person aged 11+ who wants to have an impact on York’s mental health action plan.
On the day there will be small group chats about mental health support in York, you can share your ideas with decision makers, vote on priorities and actions and tell us what would make the biggest difference.
Participants will be paid for their time, travel expenses will be reimbursed and refreshments will be available.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Ben or Chris at: Ben.Hutchinson@Yorkcvs.org.uk / christopher.klays@nhs.net.
EMBRACE SUMMER – 3-8 August 2026
This summer, Education Together is running an international activity programme based at Bootham School. They have 44 young people joining them from Germany and are offering local students the chance to take part too. You can sign up for six days of adventure, right here in York, filled with fun, challenge, discovery and global connections.
This is open to anyone currently in Years 7 to 11 and costs just £45 for the full week. You can find the full information here and register here.
‘Our Planet, Our Future’ conference
Rachael Maskell MP and her team are hosting a youth environment conference – Our Planet, Our Future – on Saturday 20 June at the National STEM Learning Centre, University of York.
Designed by and for young people, this conference will include a range of workshops, talks and a political panel where young people will get to put the skills they have learnt through the day into practice.
This conference is designed to cater for pupils in Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, but all are welcome! Parents and carers are welcome too.
The event is completely free, and lunch options will be provided.
Please click here for tickets.
OSCAR’s Inflatable 5K
OSCAR’s Inflatable 5K challenge takes place on 26 September 2026 at Elvington Airfield. This is a fantastic, family-friendly event that combines fun, teamwork and fundraising for local families affected by childhood brain tumours.
You can find full details, along with a short video showing the event, at Inflatable 5k – OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity.
The Make Space Festival – June 2026
The Make Space Festival is back this June, bringing two weekends of free activities for teenage girls in York’s parks.
- 13 & 14 June – Rowntree Park
- 20 & 21 June – Homestead Park
The festival offers a wide range of sessions including sports and movement, arts and crafts, nature connection, social awareness and much more.
Aimed primarily at girls aged 10-18, the festival is designed to be relaxed, welcoming and inclusive. The festival is part of the Make Space York project, which works to ensure parks feel safe, inclusive and welcoming for teenage girls.
You can view the full programme here – some sessions are book in advance and others are drop in on the days.
End of year shows at York College & University Centre
York College & University Centre’s School of Art is hosting two events over the next couple of weeks showcasing the work of its Further and Higher Education students.
The Creative show
Explore the work created by Art & Design A Level, UAL Art & Design (Levels 1-3) Foundation and Access to HE: Art & Design students.
When: Thursday 11 – Wednesday 17 June, excluding Saturday and Sunday – 9.00am-4.30pm
Where: York College & University Centre, Sim Balk Lane, York YO23 2BB
Visitors to the College should check-in at the Welcome Desk on arrival.
York College & University Centre Degree show
This event will showcase the work produced by students from the following programmes:
- BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice
- BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Garment Technology
- BA (Hons) Film Production & Professional Practice
- BA (Hons) Graphic & Communication Design
- BA (Hons) Media Make-up, Special Effects & Hair Design
When: Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 June, 10.00am-4.00pm
Where: The Spurriergate Centre, St Michael’s Church, Spurriergate, York, YO1 9QR
York and North Yorkshire Youth Commission Inclusivity & Discrimination Survey
The York and North Yorkshire Youth Commission Inclusivity & Discrimination Survey has been co-designed with Youth Commission members, and forms part of the Youth Commission’s Big Conversation peer-to-peer research, allowing young people aged 10-25 across York and North Yorkshire to have a voice on key Police, Fire and Crime Issues.
The survey is fully anonymous, and all responses will support the creation of young person-designed recommendations for change for the Deputy Mayor for Policing Fire and Crime, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and wider partners.
Click here to complete the survey. The deadline is 14 August.
#WakeUpWednesday – What parents and educators need to know about sports betting online
Sports betting has become increasingly visible across apps, websites, social platforms and sports coverage, making it easier for young people to encounter gambling messages before they are old enough to take part legally. This Wake Up Wednesday guide explores how betting content can appear through adverts, influencers, tipsters, friends, gaming spaces and even adult accounts.
It also highlights the risks of impulsive spending, chasing losses, ‘free bet’ offers and the way gambling can become normalised around sport. With practical advice on starting calm conversations, spotting warning signs, setting safer digital boundaries and finding support, the guide helps parents and educators approach the topic with confidence.
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.
