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As this term comes to an end, we are already focused on the final term ahead, when GCSE and A-level exams will begin for Year 11 and 13, and Year 8 graduation work will be underway.
However, we must take the time to revisit the highlights of this past month, one of which was our annual Student Voice Conference. This year, we welcomed Olivia Bailey MP who opened the event and answered students' questions. The Conference always provides a unique platform for students to share their ideas, opinions, and suggestions on how we can improve our school. The conference is an important reminder of the value of involving students in the decision-making process. It’s not just about gathering feedback – it’s about truly listening to their perspectives and empowering them to contribute to the direction of our school. From improving student well-being to making our school more sustainable, the ideas generated at this conference will play a key role in shaping our future actions.
In recent months, our commitment to climate action has strengthened, focusing on educating and engaging students in creating a more sustainable school. This month, the Eco-Committee joined children from Springfield Primary School during their ‘Fresh Air Friday’ session; and on-site, we organised litter-picking activities as part of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign - the Great Big School Clean. Additionally, our Year 8 students explored land management and its crucial role in enhancing biodiversity through an engaging session with the Education Business Partnership and BioCap, key contributors to the Sulham Estate’s biodiversity project. This partnership has provided a valuable opportunity for students to bridge classroom learning with real-world environmental initiatives happening within our community.
Finally, this month, our students have embraced new challenges by participating in debating competitions, creating films for a nationwide history project, competing in the Young Magistrates competition, and engaging in various House competitions. We are incredibly proud to see them stepping out of their comfort zones, showcasing their talents, and striving for success. You can read more in this month's newsletter below.
I hope you have a restful Easter break.
Mr David Ramsden
Headteacher
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Calendar dates for the next month can be found below.
For information on Term Dates, please click here.
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| Date* |
Event |
| Monday 31 March |
Y12 Kife Crime talk
Charlie's Promise |
| Tuesday 1 April |
Cultural Celebration Evening |
| Thursday 3 April |
Cultures Day - Non-Uniform Day |
| Friday 4 April |
Y11 Give Something Back Day
End of Term - 1pm finish |
Monday 7 April
Tuesday 22 April |
Easter Holidays |
| Wednesday 23 April |
Term Starts
Battlefields Trip meeting for Parents/Carers |
| Thursday 24 April |
Y7 Parents' Evening |
| Monday 28 April |
Y8 HPV Vaccine
Y13 Last Day in School |
| Tuesday 29 April |
Recycled Clothing Collection
The Little Recyclers - what we accept |
| *Dates may be subject to change. Correct at time of publication. |
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This month, we held our 16th Little Heath School Student Voice Conference. This event has now been an annual fixture in the school calendar and is integral to the inner workings of our school.
Our students are at the heart of everything we do at Little Heath. We recognise that they have opinions and ideas about the things that happen at school and about what they’d like to see. We value their thoughts and welcome their suggestions.
The process of 'Student Voice' is about allowing pupils to express these ideas and the conference is designed to give a cross-section of our students from all year groups the opportunity to work with others and discuss key issues, and to give their input and ideas.
Our conference was attended by nearly 100 students and this year featured a Q&A session with Olivia Bailey MP, workshops on 'Behaviour and Pride' in the school, 'Wellbeing and Respecting Others', 'Solving the Litter Problem', 'Teaching and Learning', as well as lunch with members of our governing body.
 The sessions resulted in some fabulous suggestions and thought-provoking discussions. Issues discussed at the conference and matters arising will be fed back in various ways, and will feed into strategic work related to these key areas.
We know there will be many positive changes for the benefit of all our students which will have come from the discussions in the workshops.
Well done to all the students who took part and shared their views and ideas.
Thank you also to the Governors who gave up their time to join us and to the staff and Sixth Form leaders who lead the sessions.
HENRY ON TOUR - HISTORY PROJECT
The History Department has been working on an exciting teacher fellowship project in partnership with the Historical Association and Henry on Tour. Henry on Tour is a current historical research project which is seeking to map the royal progresses of Henry VIII for the first time. As part of this project, history students from Years 7-9 have been investigating the visits Henry VIII made to Reading. This has never been covered in any detail before in historical literature!
They have visited Royal Berkshire Archives, Reading Museum and Reading Abbey Ruins, carrying out the historical research themselves. They have made some amazing discoveries which have been documented on video and will be made into a series of three films to share with with the project partners, and other history students across the country!
The very first video is complete and shows the beginning of our historical investigations at the archives! You can watch the film on our YouTube channel here: LHS YouTube - History Squad Investigates...Archives!
Litter across the Little Heath site is an ongoing battle, and we are always looking for ways to work with the students to improve the situation to make it a better environment for everyone.
 As part of the Keep Britain Tidy 'Great Big School Clean' initiative this month, we invited students to represent their House in an epic battle of the bags! Over 60 students had 45 minutes to speed clean their way to House victory, by collecting as much litter from the school site as possible.
 It was a fierce battle between the four Houses, with two full cages of litter being collected, but CONWAY was crowned the Trash Dash champions.
This is just the first of many new initiatives to tackle our litter problem...watch this space for more! And if you have any ideas, please get in touch.
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For more of our latest news, follow us on social media or view the latest news articles on our website.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram @LHSReading
@littleheathreading on YouTube
Search for Little Heath School on LinkedIn
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Year 9 Young Magistrates Competition
Well done to the year 9 Young Magistrates team who competed brilliantly at Reading Crown court this month. They represented the school really well and did themselves proud with their performance. Unfortunately, they did not make it to the regional final, but they performed brilliantly on the day!
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Springfield's 'Fresh Air Friday'
Students from the Eco-Committee and the Year 12 Sustainability Prefect team joined the Year 1 children at Springfield Primary School for their 'Fresh Air Friday' session. They helped the children to restock their bug hotel, as well as litter picking and planting a wildflower area.
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We also gifted them two hedgehog houses made by our Year 7 students and loaned them our wildlife camera to see what animals and birds are visiting their copse.
We look forward to welcoming both Year 1 and 2 classes when they visit Little Heath next week to help us complete a litter pick of the field as part of the Great Big School Clean.
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NADAS Debate Competition
Well done to Year 12 students, Amy and Callum, and Aaron, in Year 13, who took part in the Newbury & District Agricultural Society debate competition this week. They put in lots of hard work to prepare for the debate, which was on Artificial Intelligence in agriculture. They had to speak for a total of 15 minutes on the subject. They were very close to winning, but ultimately came in second place to Kennet School. All three students represented the school fantastically, and we are so proud of them!
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Year 8 Geography Volcano competition
Congratulations to the winners of the Year 8 Volcano Making Competition. The creativity, effort, and geographic knowledge truly erupted with excellence!
Well done on crafting such explosive and impressive volcanoes. The winners were:
1st Place - Rowan H 8DJO - STIRLING
2nd Place - Mia E 8TJA - ARUNDEL
Sadly we didn't have entries from all four Houses.
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MARCH: Sports Fixture Results
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 9 - 1 Holyport, (02/03)
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 1 - 0 Willink, (04/03)
- U14's Boys Football, Little Heath 2 - 1 Highdown, (04/03)
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 4 - 0 Theale Green, (04/03)
- U12's Netball, Little Heath 0 - 5 Reading Girls, (04/03)
- U12's Netball, Little Heath 1 - 13 Kendrick, (04/03)
- U15's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 0 - 0 Highdown, (05/03)
- U13's Netball, Little Heath 14 - 8 Prospect, (05/03)
- U13's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 4 - 2 Highdown, (06/03)
- U16's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 2 - 3 Highdown, (06/03)
- U14's Netball, Little Heath 31 - 1 The Wren, (06/03)
- U12's Boys County Cup Football, Little Heath 1 - 1 Binfield, Win by Penalty's, (10/03)
- U12's Boys SOCS League Football, Little Heath 5 - 0 Prospect, (11/03)
- U12's Boys SOCS League Football, Little Heath 2 - 0 Denefield, (11/03)
- U12's Netball, Little Heath 3 - 12 Denefield, (11/03)
- U12's Netball, Little Heath 1 - 11 Blessed Hugh Faringdon, (11/03)
- U13's Netball, Little Heath 3 - 20 Blessed Hugh Faringdon, (12/03)
- U15's Boys Basketball, Little Heath 37 - 36 The Wren, (12/03)
- U14's Netball, Little Heath 8 - 25 Highdown, (13/03)
- U14's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 6 - 0 The Willink, (18/03)
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 2 - 0 Blessed Hugh Faringdon, (18/03)
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 2 - 0 River Acadamy, (18/03)
- U13's Netball League, Little Heath 4 - 14 Denefield, (19/03)
- U16's Basketball, Little Heath 55 - 51 LVS Ascot, (20/03)
- U14's Basketball, Little Heath 36 - 31 LVS Ascot, (20/03)
- U12's County Cup Football, Little Heath 7 - 0 Cox Green, (24/03)
- U14's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 1- 1 Maiden Erlegh Reading, (25/03)
- U12's SOCS League Football 1 - 2 Highdown, (25/03)
- U12's SOCS League Football 2 - 0 The Wren, (25/03)
- U13's Netball, Little Heath vs Denefield, Loss, (26/03)
- U15's SOCS League Football 0 - 2 Theale Green (26/03)
- U12's Boys Football, Little Heath 3 - 1 St Barts, (26/03)
- U13's SOCS League Football, Little Heath 3 - 4 Prospect, (27/03)
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We are a school with a strong sense of community.
Please read the notices and event information from the local area below.
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Community Events & Activities
GREENFEST 2025 - Saturday 5 April
Join us for a day filled with eco-friendly fun and activities at St Bartholomew's School. Get ready to learn about sustainability, participate in workshops, and connect with like-minded individuals. From sustainable food vendors to music, there's something for everyone at GreenFest 2025. Don't miss out on this opportunity to celebrate and promote a greener future! Find out more here: Greenfest 2025
HOLIDAY CLUB & HOLIDAY HANGOUT
Adventure Dolphin, Pangbourne
Berkshire Youth and Adventure Dolphin are offering a Holiday Club (for ages 8-11 years old) and a FREE Holiday Hangout 'drop-in' sessions for secondary age children over the Easter holidays. For more details, see the posters below or email jade@adventuredolphin.co.uk.
MUSIC THEORY COURSE
Berkshire Music Trust will be running a three-day music theory course and refresher day to prepare students for the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam. The course will be held on 8-10 April 2025 with a refresher session on 3 June.
It is ideal for students who have taken Grade 4 or 5 practical exams and are now preparing to take the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam.
All details about the course can be found here: https://www.berksmusictrust.org.uk/insights-events/events/music-theory-grade-5-course-april/
Here is the direct booking link if you wish to book a place: https://ukberkshire.speedadmin.dk/registration?signupSchoolID=1114#/Course/453/0/3978/1114
BIG FEELINGS, BRAVE MINDS
A family workshop on the Brain & Body!
Katie Purdy, Founder of Mindful Brain, brings you this invaluable fun, interactive workshop for families (children aged 6-12yrs)! A fun workshop designed to help families understand how the brain and body reacts to tricky situations and what to do to stay calm and confident.
What’s in Store?
- Brain Science Made Simple: Meet your amygdala (your brain’s alarm system) and your prefrontal cortex (your brain’s smart decision-maker)
- Connection Games: Strengthen the brain’s self-regulation skills through fun, interactive play.
- Creative Calm Kit: Start building a personal toolkit of calming resources to use at home.
- Mindfulness & Breathwork: Learn simple, powerful techniques to manage big feelings in the moment.
- Parent & Child Bonding: Work together to build resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation.
This workshop is perfect for families who want to help their children navigate challenges with courage and calm - all while having fun together!
Friday 18 April 2025, 9.30am - 11.30am
Birch Copse School, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5LN
Limited Spots Available – Reserve Yours Today!
BOOK HERE: Mindful Brain
- £35 per pair (1 adult & 1 child (aged 6-12yrs)
- £7 per additional child
- £9 per additional adult
Adult with a max of 3 children. Children are not permitted without an adult.
Katie Purdy
Founder of Mindful Brain
'Empowering Children to Live Happy Lives'
Download the flyer, here: Mindful Brain: Big Feelings, Brave Mind
PURLEY ON THAMES TENNIS CLUB OPEN DAY
Purley on Thames Tennis Club Open Day is on Sunday 11 May 2025 from 2pm-4pm. Everyone welcome - all ages and abilities.
Find our more here: Purley on Thames Tennis Club Open Day flyer
FIRST DAYS CHILDREN'S CHARITY EVENTS
First Days Children’s Charity supports children and families in the Wokingham, Bracknell and Reading areas with school uniform and essentials they need to be confident and thrive. They have a number of fundraising events coming up:
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Little Heath School
Little Heath Road
Tilehurst, Reading
Berkshire RG31 5TY
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