A message from Mrs Rothenburg
This week, our wonderful Year 11 students have completed their GCSE exams and we couldn’t be prouder of them. They’ve shown incredible dedication, putting in countless hours of revision, both at home and during our school sessions. We’re now looking forward to Prom on Monday 23 June and Prom Breakfast and Leavers Assembly on Tuesday 24 June when we can give them the send-off they deserve.
It’s been a busy week for our Year 10s who have done a fantastic job so far with their PPEs – keep up the great work everyone!
Our Year 9 students have enjoyed a fantastic, sun-filled few days at Carlton Lodge this week. Staff were incredibly proud to see the teamwork, courage, and kindness the students displayed throughout the trip. A big thank you to the staff who generously gave their time to make this experience possible.
On Tuesday, we welcomed Year 5 pupils from fellow Trust school, Scarcroft Primary, to Millthorpe, to take part in practical Science workshops in our labs. It was lovely to see them so excited and enthusiastic as they had a go at some experiments and begin to get a bit of a feel for what it’s like to be in secondary school.
Our Year 7s enjoyed their walking tours around our wonderful city, seeing it in a new light and learning loads of interesting historical facts.
Huge congratulations to all those who took part in the semi-finals of the York Schools Athletics competition at York University earlier this week, particularly those who qualified for the finals. You can read more below.
Thank you to all those people who took the time to acknowledge their teachers by sending a virtual card on National Thank a Teacher Day earlier this week. It meant a great deal to them to be appreciated in this way.
Next week we’re looking forward to our Year 9 Graduations, marking a significant milestone for our students as they transition from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. We’re also excited to see some of our students perform at Excel Learning Trust’s annual ArtsFest at Central Hall, York University on Wednesday 25 June. The Millthorpe Band, dancers and cast of Matilda will join others from across the Trust in a celebration of the arts, with the highlight of the evening being a mass finale performance of You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray. Good luck to everyone involved. You can find out how to get tickets below.
Have a lovely weekend in the sunshine and we’ll see everyone back in school on Monday for a ‘B’ Week.
With best wishes,
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 – Performance
Conversation starters
- Drama: Students are ending the year by exploring scenes from William Shakespeare’s much-loved play ‘Romeo and Juliet’, focussing on Shakespeare’s use of language and presentation of a range of complex relationships – please do use any of your own knowledge of the play to spark up a conversation around the topic!
- Music: Students are beginning to bring together their analysis and playing skills learned this year by applying it to repertoire from a variety of genres including pop, world and classical music.
- PE: Students are changing activities this week so moving onto tennis, softball, rounders and athletics. A reminder to students that they can still attend extracurricular clubs!
Year 8 – Creative
Conversation starters
- Design Technology: Students are in their final rotation of the year, furthering their learning about how design can be inspired by culture or learning recipes and cooking techniques from around the world. Students are also completing their standard assessed pieces – they do not need to do any preparation outside of lessons for these.
- Fine Art: Year 8 are creating exciting collaged personal responses for the ‘Art & Science’ / Insect Art project. It is wonderful to see how students are refining their craft skills and applying colour theory knowledge to their collages. Looking out for and discussing current news articles about UK insects would support your child’s classroom-based learning about the importance of insects to our ecosystems and how environmental changes are impacting on insects.
Year 9 – English
Conversation starters
Year 9 are enjoying carrying on with their study of the classic Steinbeck novella, Of Mice and Men. With its challenging themes and ideas, discussion and exploration of this text is an ideal preparation for GCSE study next year. Ask your child about what they have learned about life in 1930’s America.
Year 10 – Maths
Conversation starters
What is a ‘quadratic equation’? What options do we have to solve a quadratic equation? Can you use your calculator effectively to help you achieve this?
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.
GCSE Results Day
We would like to commend and congratulate our Year 11 students on their impeccable conduct and stamina throughout the exam period. With exams now complete, it is time for them to enjoy the long and well-earned summer break!
Looking ahead, Results Day takes place on Thursday 21 August. On the day, students can come into school to collect their results or if this is not possible, arrangements can be made for someone else to collect their results or they can be emailed. This letter contains the full information about Results Day, how to deal with remarks and results queries, and certificates.
Uniform donations
Another little 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 and Prom Breakfast next week.
Year 7 SLT meetings
As part of our commitment to gathering feedback and in particular student voice, members of SLT will be meeting every student in Year 7 before the end of term.
Each student will have a meeting to review their first year at Millthorpe. We’d love to hear what they enjoyed most about Millthorpe, as well as any suggestions for how we could make it even better. Students will also be asked for any advice they have for the new Year 7s joining us in September.
We are really looking forward to meeting every student and hearing what they have to say.
Lockdown preparation
Next week in form time, we will be letting students know about what we do if we have an emergency lockdown in school because of an external threat, such as an intruder in or near school. This will take place on Wednesday for students in Years 7, 8 and 10 and on Friday for Year 9.
We’ll talk about why we have a lockdown procedure and when we might use it. We’ll also let them know the signal for a lockdown and what they are expected to do when it sounds. This includes not using mobile phones during an emergency and explaining why that is so important.
At the end of form time, we’ll sound the lockdown signal (ten short blasts on the school bell) so they are familiar with it. We will also explain that we will be practising lockdown regularly (once a year) just like we do with fire drills. We will reassure them that emergency situations are thankfully very rare but, just as with fires, we need to be prepared if the worst were to happen, as well as explaining that all schools are expected to have lockdown arrangements and practise them regularly and this isn’t in response to anything in particular.
If you have any questions or concerns, including if you think your child may find such discussions difficult, please contact the school.
Key Stage 3 Readathon – last week!
Next week is the last week of our KS3 Readathon. We hope your child is enjoying taking part and reading as much as they can.
As of 18 June, we have raised £177 which is a great start, but our previous highest total is £909. We know that many parents/carers and wider friends and family will be waiting to see how their child(ren) has done before donating, but we would really like to beat this previous total and surpass £1000 if at all possible. Please donate if you can.
Full details, including how you and friends/family can sponsor your child, are available on the attached letter.
Charity Day
On Friday 11 July our Student Leaders are organising a Charity Day.
After a whole-school vote, this year’s chosen charity is Save the Children – a brilliant organisation that supports children in need around the world. Our Student Leaders have been working hard to plan fun and meaningful fundraising activities, and we’re looking forward to seeing the whole school community get involved!
Please have a read of the attached document to see how you can get involved in the lead up to the day and on the day itself.
Summer Concert
Our Summer Concert will be held on Tuesday 15 July and promises to be a lovely celebratory event featuring our school ensembles and solo performances. Tickets are available on ParentPay. We’d love to see you there!
Year 10 Geography trip to Hornsea
A reminder to parents/carers of Year 10 Geography students, that payment should be made and consent given for your child to attend the Hornsea trip, on ParentPay please, by 29 June.
Payments for Flamingo Land or Yorkshire Wildlife Park
A reminder that the deadline for payments for Flamingo Land or Yorkshire Wildlife Park should be made on ParentPay by Wednesday 2 July please. (If you have a child in Year 6 who will be joining us in September, we will ask you to pay for their trip then.)
Millthorpians compete at York Schools Athletics semi-finals
This week, some of our athletes competed in the semi-finals of the York Schools Athletics competition at York University, with many qualifying for the finals on Tuesday 24 June.
There were so many excellent performances, but a special mention goes to Esme L in Year 7 for an incredible 200m time of 26.0 seconds.
Other notable winners were: Rosie D (Year 8) in the 800m, Marianne L (Year 8) in the 1500m, Ruby L (Year 10) in the 300m, Immy B (Year 8) in the 100m, Alice B (Year 10) in the 200m, Finley T (Year 10) in the 100m and Drew O (Year 10) in the 100m.
All of the above students qualified for the finals, alongside Ash GS, Finley T, Georgia C, Imogen B, Isabella RK, Jacob L, Jordan M, Mollie N, Oliver AC, Oliver C, Oliver R and Rosa B.
Well done to all those who took part!
ArtsFest 2025
Just one week to go until ArtsFest2025: Music from the Movies, and the excitement is building for our unforgettable evening of music, dance, and theatre featuring our incredibly talented students!
This is a reminder that ticket sales for ArtsFest2025 will close promptly at 9:00am on Tuesday, 24 June. To avoid disappointment, please ensure you purchase your tickets before this deadline.
Important: Tickets will NOT be available to buy on the night of the event.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday 25 June
- Venue: Central Hall, University of York
- Doors Open: 5:00pm | Show Starts: 6:00pm (please be seated by 5:45pm)
- Tickets: £6.50 via Eventbrite – ArtsFest2025: Music from the Movies
Parking is available at Campus South and Campus Central (free after 6:00pm – max charge one hour). Please note, seats are unallocated, so arrive early to get the best spot!
Don’t miss out on this fantastic show! We can’t wait to see you there.
Best wishes,
Excel Learning Trust
Job of the Week – Furniture Designer
Furniture designers produce designs for furniture to be sold in a variety of ways. Some designers also produce the items and often work closely with other designers and makers. Some furniture will be designed as one-off, bespoke pieces, whilst others will be made in large quantities. Some people take an apprenticeship or traineeship route into becoming a designer.
Watch this video for more information about becoming an Epidemiologist.
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.
On Monday, it was World Refill Day, a global day of action dedicated to inspiring a reuse revolution across the world and reducing single use plastics, so we thought this talk was very apt!
Below, Peer and Former Leader of the Green Party, Baroness Natalie Bennett, talks with KS3 and S1-2 students about the environment and what we can do to reduce plastic usage and waste.
Just click the image below to view.
Askham Bryan College – Open Day and Results Day
Open Day
Askham Bryan College is holding its final open day of the year on Saturday 21 June across all of its sites – York, Middlesbrough, Wakefield, Saltaire and Gateshead. It is open to anyone wanting to explore their options – further information can be found here.
Results Day
The Enquiries Team at Askham Bryan will be on hand on Results Day and during Results Week to support any learners still exploring their options. They can be contacted by email at: Enquiries@Askham-bryan.ac.uk
Wildlife Park – free entry for Year 11s on Results Day!
The College is inviting students (plus a guest) to free entry at the Askham Bryan Wildlife Park on 21 August — just show results on entry! You can go and meet the Scottish wildcats, poison dart frogs and the adorable new baby meerkats, and chat with our team about course options.
Make Space York Festival – Free Events for Girls in June
This June, York’s parks will host the Make Space York Festival – a series of free events and activities for girls aged 10-18, with some sessions also open to those 8+ and some suitable for women too.
- 21-22 June at Homestead Park
Homestead Park Festival: Here is Hope
‘Here is Hope’ is a free, two-day celebration open to all, taking place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July – please note, the dates shared in last week’s email were incorrect.
Homestead Park will come alive with music, creativity, connection, and nature. The festival brings together artists, musicians, and changemakers to share joyful experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Visit the festival website to find out more.
#WakeUpWednesday – YouTube Kids
YouTube Kids is designed to be the safer cousin of the regular YouTube app; however, built-in risks continue to pose concerns. From targeted advertising to addictive design, there’s more going on behind the scenes than many realise. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide breaks it all down.
Whether it’s inappropriate content slipping past filters or tech-savvy kids bypassing parental settings, YouTube Kids still needs careful oversight. The National College’s guide provides clear, easy-to-follow tips to help adults keep young users protected while still enjoying their favourite videos. 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 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.
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