Welcome from Mr Perry

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is always a highlight of the year to welcome in the new Year 7s and our new cohort are great.  They arrived looking immaculate, full of enthusiasm, excitement albeit with a few nerves and are settling well.  Whenever I see our Year 7s they are polite and friendly and I have really enjoyed watching them settle into Aylesford School. The feedback from the staff is that everybody is enjoying teaching them too.  Even more so are our reception children who are tackling school with a great deal of energy and confidence which is great to see.  

Also last Thursday we welcomed back our Year 11s, admittedly they displayed slightly less enthusiasm than the Year 7s or reception children in response to our friendly greetings, it was more monosyllabic grunts expressed through bone crunching yawns that left me fearing for dislocated jaws.  However, once awake, our Year 11s have settled quickly, understanding that every minute counts and responding well to the pressure year 11 brings.  As we get into our stride we will increasingly discuss with the Year 11s and their families interventions, careers advice, post-16 applications and key dates - all this information will be following in the next few days and weeks.

As always, it has been a lot of fun welcoming back all our students, in all years, and we are looking forward to a year where we embed and develop further the school improvement initiatives started last term.  Thank you for your ongoing support.

Best wishes,

Mr Perry

Year 11 Geography fieldwork trip to Carding Mill Valley

Last week, on their first two days back in school!, our Year 11 geographers finally embarked on their physical fieldwork trip.

We would like to thank parents and carers for their understanding following the postponement of the trip during the summer due to extremely high temperatures.

As part of their GCSE Geography course, pupils are required to participate in a river study, which forms the basis of questions in their Paper 2 examination.

In preparation for the trip, they have learnt all about sampling, data types, river measuring methods, and risk assessing activities.

During the trip, they put this knowledge into practice, hiking through the valley to collect data on both the valley and the river itself. 

Pupils fully embraced the challenge, entering the river to measure its speed, depth, width, and gradient. Their enthusiasm and determination were evident throughout the day.

This week, back in school, pupils have been analysing their results using a range of graphs and statistical techniques to determine whether their findings support or challenge their hypothesis regarding flood risk in the town of Church Stretton.

 

Free School Meals

Free Schools Meals are now available to many more families

Did you know that if your family is in receipt of Universal Credit, you can apply for a free school meal for your child? Your income no longer matters.

Your child could be eligible if your family is in receipt of any of the following:

• Universal Credit

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Guarantee element of Pension Credit

Apply now: Apply for free school meals (FSM) - https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fsm

 

Reading for Pleasure: 20 Minutes Can Make a Difference

Reading for just 20 minutes a day can make a real difference. It builds vocabulary, strengthens communication and supports learning across every subject — not just English.

But reading is about more than academic success. A good book can spark imagination, make us laugh, broaden our understanding of others and provide a valuable break from screens.

Find something you enjoy — novels, comics, magazines, biographies, sports books or graphic novels — and read more of it!

 How can parents and carers help?

Encourage regular reading, talk about what your child is reading and let them see you enjoying reading too.

Instead of “Have you done your reading?”, try:

• “What are you reading at the moment?”

• “Would you recommend it?”

• “What happened next?”

20 minutes of reading today can make a difference tomorrow.

 

Great News -New Singing Teacher at Aylesford - Lessons Now Available

Is your child passionate about singing? Do they love performing at home or hope to take GCSE Music in the future?

Singing is a wonderful way to build confidence, develop musicianship, and be part of a thriving school community.

We are delighted to offer 30‑minute singing lessons at £19.50. If your child would prefer to learn with friends, group lessons are available, and the cost can be shared between participating pupils.

If you would like to express interest or ask any questions, please contact Miss Edds at edds.h@aylesfordschool.org.uk.

Families wishing to proceed will receive a contract to confirm lesson arrangements.

Extra-Curricular PE Opportunities

 

 

 

Do you have what it takes to be a Parent Governor?

Are you passionate about education and the wellbeing of all children?

We currently have a vacancy for a Parent Governor on the School’s Governing Body, and we would very much welcome applications from members of our parent community.

Parent Governors play a crucial role in supporting the strategic leadership of the school. This is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the continued development and success of our school.

Further information about the role, along with the application form, can be found in the message sent to your Synergy account.

Please submit your application by Friday 25 September 2026.

Vacancies

We are seeking enthusiastic and conscientious Lunchtime Supervisors to support pupils and students during the lunchtime period across both our Primary and Secondary phases. Please visit our staff vacancies page for further details.