Weekly email – 22 May 2026

A message from Mrs Rothenburg

I have to give another shout out to our Year 11 students who are now over halfway through their GCSE exams and continuing to impress us with their commitment to revision and exams. A big ‘thank you’ also goes to all the teachers who have created such valuable masterclasses. Our students are really appreciating them as they head towards their exams. Keep up the great work over the half-term break Year 11s, but don’t forget to make sure you enjoy some well-earned downtime too!

We’re really looking forward to taking part in the York Pride parade once again on Saturday 30 May. For those wishing to join us, please take a look below for further details.

After the half-term break, we’re looking forward to the next in our series of transition events for Year 6 pupils and their families. The event, on Thursday 4 June, will have a PE focus for the children, whilst parents/carers will meet with staff for a presentation and an opportunity to ask any questions they may have.

I hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable half-term break, which looks like it is going to be filled with sunshine – at last! We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday 1 June for an ‘A’ Week.

Kavina Rothenburg
Principal

Dates for your diary

• Friday 22 May: School closes for half-term break
• Monday 1 June: School reopens after half-term break
• Thursday 4 June: Moving to Millthorpe – PE event
• 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 – Science
Conversation starters
The week after the half-term break (w/c 1 June) is Revision Week for the upcoming Block 3 Standard Assessment Piece (SAP). Students will complete their assessment during w/c 8 June.

Classes have been studying a variety of topics in Block 3: Rocks, Reproduction and Energy. Can students name examples of igneous or metamorphic rocks? Can students name the eight stores of energy? Reproduction is always a topic that elicits lots of great questions – can students give two changes that occur in both genders during puberty. Can students describe what fertilisation is?

All Year 7 Science lessons are uploaded to the Year 7 Science Google classroom. All Year 7 students have Weekly Science Homework to complete on Sparx Science – this is due every Thursday at 9am! The next Sparx Science for Year 7 is due on Thursday 4 June.

Year 8 – Global
Conversation starters

• French: Students have completed their Year 8 modules, and have now been revising what they have been learning this year. They are now moving on to exam skills in preparation for their assessments, which will take place in the first or second week back after half term. Specific dates will be given in lessons, or you can check Google Classroom. Can your child talk about what they watch, what they have visited in Paris or where they live in French?
• Computing: This week, students have been revising for their assessment about images and sound. What is a pixel? What is a sample rate? What is colour depth? What is resolution?

Year 9 – Humanities
Conversation starters

• History: We have been studying the US Civil Rights Movement. Ask your child whether Martin Luther King should be remembered as the man who won civil rights – or is it a bit more complicated than that?
• Geography: What conflicts occur in glacial environments? What is the future of tourism in the Alps?
• RE: Students are starting their new unit on religious buildings. The key question, that is woven through the unit, is about whether religious buildings should be sold and the money given to feed the starving.

Year 10 – Performance
Conversation starters

• Drama: Students are working hard perfecting their performances of two scenes from Willy Russell’s popular play ‘Blood Brothers’, ready for their performance PPE – please do continue to help them rehearse at home.
• PE: Students have been working hard in their core PE lessons on athletics, basketball and badminton. GCSE PE students have been developing their sprinting techniques in the 100m.
• Music: Students are well underway with their free choice composition – they’re creating pieces in a really eclectic mix of styles!

Year 11 – Creative
Conversation starters

• Food and Nutrition: Students are revising for their final written exam on 11 June. There are Masterclasses on 8 June and in the morning before the exam on 11 June. All revision resources are on Google Classroom for students to revise independently.
• For all other Creative subjects, internal and external assessments are now complete. Well done for all your hard work and the very best of luck for your remaining exams!

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.

Student voice – Year 9 meetings

As part of our commitment to meet every child in school on a one-to-one basis this year, our Year 9 students will be meeting with members of the Senior Leadership Team and our Inclusion Team after the half-term break.

From 1-12 June every child in Year 9 will have a short meeting during which they will have the opportunity to discuss some of the following:

• What is the best thing about Millthorpe?
• What would you change about Millthorpe?
• Do you feel safe in school?
• Who is your trusted adult?
• What enrichment are you part of? Is there any enrichment activity that you would like to see at Millthorpe?

We want to ensure that every child has a voice, and we greatly value the feedback these meetings provide as it helps us continually improve.

Popular musical to hit the Millthorpe stage!

It is with great pleasure that I can now announce that our musical production in December 2026 will be… Disney’s Frozen Jr! I am so excited to see where our students and staff will take this much-loved tale of sisters, ice, and singing and dancing snowmen – we are going to have such fun with this one!!

Performances will take place on the evenings of 15, 16 and 17 December – please save the dates – and students involved will need to be available for rehearsals Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays after school through the Autumn Term.

Students from any year group are welcome to audition to be involved in the production. Those auditioning will need to select and prepare a song from ‘Frozen’ (one verse and chorus minimum, performed to a backing track on YouTube) which they will perform for staff involved in the production in a ‘closed’ audition after half term. Exact dates and times of auditions for each year group will follow after half term – please keep an eye on the weekly emails for more details. Students may audition a specific song for a part they would like to be considered for or simply audition any song from ‘Frozen’ if they would just like to audition to be part of the larger ensemble on stage.

If any students would like to know more or have any specific questions please ask them to come and speak to me. Otherwise, please get practising over this half-term break everyone – we can’t wait to ‘Let It Go… ‘! 

Mrs Sladen

Readathon

Thank you to those parents and carers who have already sponsored their child(ren) for our Readathon. The money raised will help provide books for children in hospital, while also supporting the purchase of new books for the Millthorpe school library.

We hope that our students in Years 7-9 have already begun their reading and started to collect sponsorship. The half-term break provides a fantastic opportunity for more reading, so please encourage your child to pick up a book. The Readathon ends on Friday 5 June, so there’s just two weeks left to read, read, read!

If your child has lost their sponsorship cards, spares can be found in the library. A reminder that if students in Year 10 or 11 would like to be involved, they can – they just need to collect a sponsorship card from the library.

Thank you for your help and support for encouraging your child to take part in this programme and for any donations you are able to make.

Any donations they receive can be paid in through this link.

York Pride – Saturday 30 May 2026

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!

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.

‘Listen Up!’ wins a Special Achievement Award

We’re delighted that the book ‘Listen Up!’ by Christina Gabbitas, has won a Special Achievement Award from the directors at The People’s Book Prize. This is very special to everyone at Millthorpe as three of our ex-students not only had their poem/rap published in the book, but the title of their rap also became the name of the book. They also won second place in a national competition. In addition, around 30 students also worked with Mr Baybutt to write a poem, which is also published in the book.

‘Listen Up!’ is a compilation of 45 poems by young people, published by Christina Gabbitas, the author and campaigner against county lines and knife crime. Her vision has united creativity, safeguarding literature with lived reality, and education with prevention.

Through sustained partnerships with police forces in North Yorkshire, Humberside and beyond, Christina has helped deliver workshops in schools, including Millthorpe, warning children about exploitation and criminal grooming, using storytelling and poetry as tools of protection and hope.

A copy of the book can be found in the school library if anyone would like to take a look. Well done to everyone involved!

GCSE Latin and Astronomy courses available through ISSP

GCSE Latin
York ISSP is offering the opportunity for some students to study for a Latin GCSE. This is a two-year course, starting in Year 9 (September 2026). Sessions will take place after school and, as last year this course was full, this year they hope to run classes at Bootham, St Peter’s and All Saints School. The exact days and times will be confirmed once school timetables are finalised but are likely to be Tuesdays at All Saints/Bootham School and Thursdays at St Peter’s School.

The course will prepare students to sit the Eduqas GCSE in Latin at the end of Year 10. Students will explore both the language and literature of ancient Rome, developing a deeper understanding of Roman civilisation, its culture, society, and political life.

Please note that students would ideally have a strong ability in modern foreign languages and/or maths.

If your child is currently in Year 8 and would like to be considered for a place (each school is allocated a set number of places), please email Miss Watts for a letter.

GCSE Astronomy
York ISSP is also offering the opportunity to study Astronomy. During the two-year course, studied throughout Years 10 and 11, students will work towards the Pearson Edexcel GCSE in Astronomy. This qualification helps students understand the movements of celestial bodies in our solar system and explore many of the patterns observed in both the day and night skies. It also follows the remarkable journey of how scientists, from ancient times to the present day, have used imagination, measurement, and scientific methods to investigate the universe.

Please note: GCSE Astronomy is a demanding course, taught at a fast pace. It is not suitable for students who are simply looking to increase their number of GCSEs, or who have been encouraged to take it without genuine interest. However, it is a fantastic opportunity for students with a true passion for space and science, and the self-discipline to work independently.

If your child is currently in Year 9 and would like to be considered for a place (each school is allocated a set number of places), please email Miss Watts for a letter.

For both Latin and Astronomy, students will be invited to sit an online aptitude test designed to help us assess their suitability for the course. There is a cost of £260 for each programme to cover the cost of tuition.

Job of the Week – Transport Planner

Transport Planners are responsible for managing and improving transport systems for both individual passengers and goods. They must consider a wide range of issues including climate change, the economy, safety and efficiency of the systems. They are required to use mathematical and statistical analysis when designing and interpreting new transport systems.

Most transport planners will be graduates in subjects such as engineering, mathematics and operations management. It is also possible to train as an apprentice at Level 3 and Level 6.

Watch this video for more information about becoming a Transport Planner.

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.

At a time when our Year 11 students are digging deep, in the midst of their GCSE exams and our Year 10s are preparing for their PPEs next month, we wanted to highlight the importance of looking after your wellbeing. This week’s talk from Judith Batchelar OBE, Deputy Chair, The Environment Agency, Honorary President, British Nutrition Foundation & Former Director of Brand at Sainsbury’s looks at ‘How Food Shapes Your Health and Wellbeing’.

What you eat has a powerful impact on how you feel, think, and live. Join Judith, Honorary President of the British Nutrition Foundation, for an engaging session exploring the connection between food, health, and wellbeing.

With over 40 years of experience in the food and drink industry, Judith shares insights into how our diets influence both personal health and the wider world. You will discover practical ideas, industry perspectives, and inspiring lessons from her career. It is perfect for students interested in nutrition, sustainability, and making healthier choices every day.

Just click the image below to view.

SEND Central in May/June

SEND CENTRAL is York’s Family Hub that specialises in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) where families can seek advice and information about what’s available in York when they have children and young people (age from 0 to 25) who have additional needs.

Please take a look at the SEND Central website for details of events and sessions taking place this month.

Here are a few highlights that might be of interest – no booking required:

• Theres an event in the school holidays on 27 May from 10.30am-1.30pm led by Think Together that’s a creative opportunity for young people and a drop in for parents and carers.
•  Check the timetable for the Monday Morning Wellbeing in Mind regular workshop for children and young people and their carers who are home educated.
•  Every Wednesday morning during term time there is a SEND pre school play group.

The following events take place next month:

Friday 5 June 2026 10-11.30am: SEND CENTRAL at Tang Hall Explore Library
SEND Central will be holding a pop-up at Tang Hall Explore Library with the SEND Hub Manager, a member of Parent Carer Forum York and an NHS transitions nurse. Please pop and see us if you would like to discuss anything around SEND.

Wednesday 10 June 10-11.30am: Understanding Autism and how to refer for an assessment in CAMHS
This workshop features identifying common characteristics of Autism and how to access an autism assessment with specialist CAMHS. We will provide information and resources to inform support strategies and adjustments to manage support needs that can present with Autism. We would recommend this workshop for parents/carers considering an autism assessment or if their child has been recently diagnosed to help support understanding.

Thursday 11 June 11am-12pm: Wellbeing workshop for parents and carers of children and young people who have SEND
A wellbeing workshop led by Ashley Watson who is leading in good mental health for carers from the CVS. This session invites parents and carers to explore the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Through interactive activities and discussion, we will explore small, practical actions that can support our wellbeing. This is a safe space to reflect, recharge, and reimagine what wellbeing looks like.

Wednesday 17 June 10-11.30am: Introduction to Anxiety for Parents and Carers
A workshop for parents/carers to learn about anxiety and how it can present in young people. This will include advice on how to manage symptoms of anxiety and information about local services.

Wednesday 24 June 10-11.30am: Understanding ADHD and how to refer for an assessment in CAMHS
This workshop features identifying common characteristics of ADHD and how to access an ADHD assessment with specialist CAMHS services. We will provide information and resources to inform support strategies and adjustments to manage support needs. We would recommend this workshop for parents/carers considering an ADHD assessment or if their child has been recently diagnosed to help support understanding.

Friday 26 June 12-1pm: A Multi Agency Preparation for Adulthood Drop In
SEND CENTRAL is hosting a multi-agency drop-in that consists of The City of York Specialist Learning & Employment Adviser (SLEA) Team offering a drop-in around support and pathways that may be available for young people Post-16 in York, a Preparation for Adulthood Social worker representative from the Disabled Children’s Service and Adults Social Care and our NHS Transitions Nurse.

Tuesday 30 June 1- 2pm: Barriers to school attendance
An information session led by the Educational Psychology Team around understanding barriers to school attendance and how to support your child or young person when they are experiencing significant barriers to school engagement. No need to book just come along. If the weather is nice we may hold this workshop in our outdoor space.

York Mini and Junior Runs

Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All takes place on Sunday 2 August, and in addition to the York 10k, this year there will also be a Mini Run and Junior York Run.

The Mini Run is a 1.5km route around York Racecourse and is open to everyone aged between 3-8. Participants must run with a parent or guardian. The event starts at 12pm.

The Junior Run is a 2.5km route around the Knavesmire and is open to everyone aged between 9-14. Participants do not have to run with a parent or guardian. The event also starts at 12pm.

Further information can be found here.

Working with Young People: Positive Handling & Physical Intervention

This Positive Handling course is designed to equip individuals with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to safely manage challenging behaviour in a respectful, lawful, and proportionate way, focusing on de-escalation, communication, and preventative strategies.

Full course details, including how to enrol, are available here.

The course is free for those who live within the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, earn less than £35k a year, and have not studied any previous tailored learning courses with us. The full cost for the course for those not exempt is £125.00.

Please note: Students can only do one tailored learning course regardless of the discipline.

 

#WakeUpWednesday – MineCraft

Minecraft remains hugely popular with young players, offering creative freedom and social interaction. This Wake Up Wednesday guide explores how features like public servers, in-game chat and multiplayer modes can introduce risks, including contact with strangers, exposure to inappropriate behaviour and privacy concerns linked to independent server hosting.

It also highlights issues such as griefing, in-game spending and potentially addictive gameplay loops. With clear, actionable advice, the guide helps parents and educators set boundaries, choose safer settings and support children in enjoying Minecraft responsibly while staying protected online.

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.