Dear Parent/Carer
I hope this email finds you and your family well? I wanted to get in contact as we reach the Easter holidays to celebrate another fantastic half term in school and update you on some key areas of school life:
Attendance - “Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow”
Thank you for your support ensuring your child attends school every day. Our attendance as a school remains lower than usual and we continue to have a big push with students to remind them that attending every day matters so much for their long-term success in school.
Please can we also remind you that to report your child’s (in Years 7 – 11) absence, please telephone 01535 632 861 and select option 1. Please note that this is now the only way parents / carers can report a student absence.
When calling, please clearly state the following information:
- Your parental responsibility
- Your child’s full name
- Your child’s coaching group
- The reason for your child’s absence.
Apex Collaborative Trust
Work with our partner schools in the trust has continued this term with lots of events taking place including our first collaborative sports events, trust primary schools attending the South Craven primary festival events and numerous CPD and development opportunities for our staff. This work will continue into the summer term.
Standards
The half term has been another real success - effort levels in class, behaviour during social times and punctuality to lessons have all been excellent. Our key statistics are so positive with 447,947 merits awarded for outstanding work and only 27,816 behaviour sanctions since September.
Please ensure that you have signed up to the ClassCharts parent app to see your child’s merits and behaviour record as well as picking up important information about fixtures, in-house events, and to give consent for trips. The ClassCharts Parent app can be downloaded from the app store on Apple or Android, or you can login online at https://www.classcharts.com/parent/login. For login/password/registration problems, please contact ITSupport@southcraven.org with your name, your child’s name and your child’s Date of Birth.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion student leadership team has been busy creating artwork to display around the school, celebrating the richness of our differences. After Easter, these students will also lead assemblies to raise awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion. Some members of our community had the opportunity to meet our ambassadors when they visited local businesses to mark Random Acts of Kindness Day. We hope this inspires a ripple effect, with kindness continuing to spread throughout the community.
Your views are vital in helping us create an environment where every student can thrive. If you would like to contribute or offer feedback, please contact Mrs Crowther - c.crowther@southcraven.org
National Careers Week
During National Careers Week, students were introduced to a wide range of career pathways across all subjects. There is extensive support and guidance available to help them plan their next steps, whether that involves entering the world of work, going to university, pursuing an apprenticeship, or taking a gap year. Students can visit Mrs Burton in the Careers Hub, and parents/carers are also welcome to book an appointment for additional support in guiding their child’s future choices.
Meet the Teacher Events
Our recent Meet the Teacher and Parents’ Consultation events have been busy and successful events, and, as always, I want to thank parents for their support and the positive feedback we’ve received. We are looking forward to welcoming Year 7 parents into school to meet their child’s subject teachers and coach on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
Car Parking
We are, once again, asking our parents to be considerate to other members of the public whilst collecting their children from school. I have had contact from residents on South View, who have asked me to pass on the following message:
Please ensure that you do not block other residents drives or park on private roads whilst collecting students and that you do not park in the Cross Hills Group Practice and The Brace Place car parks when picking students up at the end of the school day.
Please can we also remind parents, that to ensure student safety, if they are dropping their children off at school, that they must drive round and stop on the bus circle and not stop on the small roundabout.
Spring Photography Competition
As a trust, we are holding a Spring photography competition. Students are invited to capture a photograph inspired by the theme of Spring. Entries need to be emailed to enquiries@apex-trust.org by Tuesday 14 April. Please see our social media pages for more information
This is me! This is South Craven
As well as our many thriving sport teams, numerous after school and lunchtime revision sessions and activity clubs, we have also offered the following:
- Students performed their version of The Winter's Tale at Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Leeds Playhouse
- Our Dance troupe performed a “Dance Around the World” themed performance in Disneyland Paris. The routine featured a variety of styles, including hip hop, Bollywood, salsa, and carnival.
- Visit from Leeds Trinity University where our Year 11 students learnt about Higher Education to help them make informed decisions on their futures.
- Year 12 students met with staff from Oxbridge to learn about university applications, the tutorial system and student life
- We celebrated British Science week – where students explored careers in Science and the Science faculty visited local primary schools
- Staff and students got involved in World Book Day activities – many members of staff dressed up and students took part in a 'Makes and Bakes' competition
- Year 12 Geography trip to London investigated the impact of urban areas on the water and carbon cycles through the Wetland Wildlife Trust
- Visit from OddBalls Foundation to Sixth Form students to raise awareness on testicular cancer
- Year 10 trip to Science Live! at Bradford, students listened to a range of influential scientists including Professor Robert Winston
- Spring Music Showcase - students from across the school impressed the audience with a diverse programme of musical performances. The event also featured our 2026 Red Kite Battle of the Bands winners, who have earned a two-day recording studio session.
- Staff and students took part in a HYROX Competition to raise money for charity.
- Our competitive dance group 'Storm' competed in their first dance competition 'Northern schools dance competition'. They are due to compete again in the 'Great big dance off' in Warrington on the 21 April. We wish them the best of luck!
PE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southcravenpe/
Performing Arts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scsperformingarts/
Next Half Term
School closes today at 3:05pm and reopens to all students on Monday 13 April. Next half term will be busy as always with various events to look forward to including:
- Wednesday 15 April – Year 7 parents’ information / meet the teacher event – 4pm – 7:30pm
- Wednesday 22 April – Year 6 information evening, where parents of students who are starting with us in September are invited to learn more about the school
- Week Commencing 27 April – Year 10 work experience week
- Thursday 30 April – Year 13 Graduation
- Friday 1 May – Year 13 Prom
- Monday 4 May – Bank Holiday – school is closed to all staff and students.
- Tuesday 5 May – Year 11 study programme begins – further details will be sent to Year 11 parents closer to the time.
And Finally,
As always, I want to thank parents for their strong support of the school, and I hope you have a great Easter. Please get in touch if you have any feedback about any aspect of school life
All the best,
Martyn Hill
Headteacher
