17 October 2025 - Letter to Parents

17th October 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had a busy week at Orchard, beginning with Bristol Youth Talks finals on Monday, netball games against Oasis Brightstowe, Key Stage 4 rugby against Trinity and on Thursday, Interhouse Dodgeball. We’ve had Mock Interviews with Year 10 involving members of the business community and Realising Talent sessions with employers and Year 11 students.

Key Dates

There are some important dates to be aware of this term. From September we have Parent & Carer Information Evenings arranged for each year group. Please make sure you put these dates in your diary.

Year 10 Mock Exam Information Evening – Wednesday 20th May 6.00 - 7.00pm   

Year 11 Mock Exam Information Evening – Wednesday 12th November 6.00-7.00pm 

These special information evenings are a welcome to the year from school staff, and a presentation to give you an overview of the year, an understanding of the learning and academic assessments that are happening, the reports you will receive, opportunities for trips and visits, clubs and advice with managing the wellbeing and mental health of young people in this age group. Staff are on hand to answer questions afterwards and ensure you feel confident with aspects such as home learning, access to laptops/resources, any support with free school meals or hardship fund applications. We look forward to seeing you. Please note that teachers are not present at these Information Evenings. The opportunity to find out about your child’s progress in each subject is at Parent Subject Consultation Evenings.

Parent Subject Consultation Evenings

The dates for these through the year are as follows:

Year 7 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 23rd April 3.30 – 7pm  

Year 8 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 11th December 3.30 – 7pm   

Year 9 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 19th March 3.30 – 7pm  

Year 10 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 27th November 3.30 – 7pm  

Year 11 Parent Subject Consultation Evening – Thursday 6th November and Thursday 12th February 3.30 – 7pm  

Please also note the following date: 

Year 9 Options Evening – Thursday 26th February 6 – 7.30pm  

To help parents and children decide together which options subjects/GCSEs they might choose to take over the next two years in school.  

Teaching and Learning/Curriculum

Next week marks the last week of term. In lessons, students will be completing retrieval (recall) quizzes covering the key content. We also want to remind you that you should be receiving a weekly e-mailed homework report, from Teams. If there are concerns with this, please contact Mr Grafton via info@orchard.tila.school, writing FAO Mr Grafton in

the subject line, or your child’s Head of Year.

Safeguarding

With the evenings becoming dark as we head into winter, please be mindful of where your children spend their evenings. Spending time in the dark at parks can put them in danger. It is always wise to track location on their phones in addition to checking who they have social contact with on their phones.

Safeguarding in the Half term Break

School is closed to all staff during the half term break and staff will not see e-mails or messages, so therefore if support is needed for young people during the week off, please use these services:

- 999 in an emergency

- 101 for non-urgent contact with emergency services

- 111 for non-urgent health matters

- Call the Samaritans – 116123

- Off the Record (www.otrbristol.org.uk) - mental health services

- Brook (www.brook.org.uk) - sexual health services

- Call ‘Mind’ on 03001233393 – mental health charity

- Call Childline on 08001111

Any Whisper reports will be read and actioned by staff after the half term break. Whisper should not be used for any urgent safeguarding matters nor to resolve community matters – please contact the appropriate service above.

Uniform

Our uniform code aims to:

Help students feel equal to others and not left out

Encourage students to wear their uniform with pride

Create a sense of belonging to the school community through a common dress code

Enable students to feel that they are a valued member of the school community irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religion or socio-economic background

Please ensure students wear the correct uniform every day including blazer and appropriate black footwear. A reminder that due to Health and Safety reasons, body piercings are not permitted except one small stud or sleeper in each year. Yondr pouches are required to be brought into school every day with the phone placed inside the pouch.

For a full list of uniform expectations, please see here on the school website. Please note, we will be sanctioning incorrect uniform from Week 2 next term, after issuing reminders for it to be corrected this week and in Week 1 after half term, to give you time in the next fortnight to resolve any matters. Remember that you can draw on the Hardship Fund, where eligible, too, via the link here: Hardship_Fund_Application_Form_Jul21__1_.docx

Clubs – Term 1

Please remember to encourage your child to sign up to one of our brilliant lunchtime or after school clubs. They’re a great way for them to meet new friends, learn new skills and make lasting memories. Our weekly Sports Fixtures are advertised in advance in tutor notices as well as being displayed at the entrance to the sports hall.

Orchard School - Clubs and Enrichment

Attendance

A big shout out to Year 7 tutor groups 7B2, 7W1 and 7B1 for topping last week’s attendance leaderboard. Well done to all students for keeping going during a long term. Thanks and a big well done to parents and carers too; we know that it is often a team effort getting children into school every day and we really do appreciate all of your efforts and support.

Belonging

Our Tutor Notices is inundated with exciting clubs, competitions and opportunities every day; there is so much going on in school to get involved with. As a special end of term treat, our House Champions are putting on extra House competitions and events next week. Students can look forward to; bean bag toss, student Taskmaster, tug of war, bingo and shoot the hoop to name just a few. These will take place during lunchtimes and after school next week. Students who take part will also collect be able to collect a raffle ticket and be in with a chance of winning an Amazon voucher. Each time a child enters or participates, they will get a raffle ticket so the more they get involved, the greater the chance of winning the star prize!

Character Competition – Reminder

A gentle reminder about the very lovely Humanities competition for students in Year 7 and 8 – please do encourage them to participate, as they could win an afternoon tea with two family members! All details are on the poster below.

School Library

We know that reading underpins future success for students, as well as being highly effective at supporting their wellbeing, in particular in reducing stress. Reading happens across our whole curriculum; we support students in developing their reading skills, and we encourage all students to read for interest and pleasure in their own time. The library is figuratively and literally the heart of Orchard School, where all students are welcome to visit at lunchtime, borrow books to take home, take part in library lessons across KS3, and receive support during Homework Club which runs after school every day till 4pm. This term we have reviewed our reading rewards system so that we can celebrate more students than ever for their efforts and achievements in reading, and next week we will be holding a Film and Popcorn Party for all Term 1 winners on Thursday 23rd October during pm tutor time. We regularly host visiting authors or livestream virtual author events to inspire students in their reading, too; this term with Tia Fisher for a group of Year 9 students.

This week we have launched BookBuzz, our yearly scheme through which we gift a free book to each Year 7 student: their personal choice from a range of sixteen amazing and diverse titles. Additionally, we have met with a newly created group of student Reading Ambassadors who have given us many valuable ideas and insights into how we can continue to support students’ reading journeys in their preferred ways. If you would like further information on Orchard’s reading strategy, or hints and tips on how to encourage your child with reading, please see the Orchard School - Library & Reading section of our website.

Community Events

With the half term break coming up, there are many different holiday club options running around Bristol for school age children. Read this holiday clubs list for some ideas!

Lockleaze Sports Centre is hosting a Halloween Kids’ Disco on Thursday 30th October, 4pm- 6pm. Click here to find out more.

For other Halloween-themed events coming up, see Visit Bristol.

We have been marking Black History Month with assemblies, special signs on each classroom door celebrating notable Black women and men, and through our Tutor Programme. Bristol City Council has compiled information on the various Black History Month events still taking place around the city, here.

Finally, a gentle reminder that next Friday, 24th October, is the last day of Term 1 before the half term break. Students return to school for Term 2 after the break on Tuesday 4th November, as Monday 3rd November is a training day for staff. You can view all future term dates here: Orchard School - Term Dates & School Day. You can also always check whether it is Week A or B, to support with bag packing of the right equipment for the next day, here: Orchard School - Week A/Week B Checker.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

With best wishes, 

Mel Sweet, Headteacher