Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Important Road Safety Concern
Following on from the email sent to parents and carers on 21st November where concerns were raised about road safety, illegal parking and traffic congestion outside the school, it has come to my attention that some parents using the Kent bound A2, from London to Bexleyheath, have been allowing their children to alight from cars on the A2 slip road.

On Wednesday morning, with heavier than normal traffic due to an accident, our staff witnessed students being let out of parents’ cars whilst still on the motorway. Not only is this illegal but also extremely dangerous and we implore parents to keep their child safely in the car until they are able to exit vehicles on local roads, away from the school.  We must make parents aware that any further incidents will be reported to our local Police partners.

Today we received a complaint from one of our neighbours who lives at the back entrance to school- he was unable to enter his driveway or the road leading up to it as so many parents/ carers had blocked his access.  Please could parents/ carers be considerate and not park in the residential area behind school.  

Support for students
Recent political comments in the news may have understandably unsettled some members of our community. We are committed to being a safe, respectful and supportive environment for every young person. Please do not hesitate to reach out if your child needs additional support. Our pastoral and wellbeing teams are here to listen and help.

Advance notice – early finish
As the end of term draws closer, we would like to advise parents and carers that the term will end on Thursday 18th December with an early finish.  Student dismissal will be staggered in year groups at approximately 1.00- 1.30pm but we will confirm specific timings and details with you in due course.  Please note that bus companies are being advised and also note that there will be limited service of hot and cold food on this day due to a shortened lunch break.

Important dates to note:

Thursday 11th December - Christmas Jumper Day – students are invited to wear Christmas jumpers with their usual school uniform

Thursday 18th December - Non-School Uniform Day;  Last day of term and early finish

FREE Wellbeing and Mental Health Courses
Blackfen Community Library and their new Youth Lead, Kaley Hancock, are running courses and drop in sessions for young people. As you are aware, there is a growing crisis regarding youth mental health, and their goal is to provide early intervention skills to help prevent more serious challenges later in life.

They are offering two distinct, 6-week courses:

• Strength (for boys aged 11-15):  Starting Wednesday 28th January - Focuses on equipping participants with essential skills in communication, emotional regulation, creating healthy habits, building resilience, and fostering positive self-worth.
• Shine (for girls aged 11-15): Starting Thursday 29^th January - Covers the same vital early skills to support emotional development and confidence.

Additionally, they run a regular youth drop-in session called "The Hub," which takes place every other Friday for students in school years 7-11. This provides a crucial, safe environment where young people can simply relax, hang out, and have fun. They have a dedicated team of DBS-checked adult volunteers present to offer support and listen, all within a fun and no-pressure setting.  All their events and courses are completely free of charge and are led by our experienced youth team – please see the attached flyers for more information >> Strength  |  Shine  |  The HUB

Kind regards,

Miss H Mitchem
Deputy Headteacher