Issue 1090: 4th July 2025

  • HEADLINES

The Weather this Week

I appreciate that the weather was unseasonably warm at the start of the week and that there were requests to relax our school Uniform Policy and allow pupils and students to wear their PE kit.

Given that the heatwave was forecast to be short lived, we made the decision not to lower our standards of dress as experience has taught us that there is a correlation with the deterioration of behaviour when such changes are made.  This is the main reason why we no longer have non-school uniform days.

Furthermore, we have, in the past had to address pupils who push the boundaries and wear completely in appropriate clothing for a school environment.

With a few weeks to go we will keep the weather forecast under review and inform you should we decision to make any short-term modifications to our policy.

Updating Personal Details

If you have recently changed any personal contact details including your phone numbers, postal address and/or your email, please can you let Pupil Services have this information.

This will allow us to guarantee that we have the most up-to-date details on our database, which in turn will mean that we can ensure effective communication with you on whole school matters, on an individual basis and in the case of emergency.

Please email any new contact information to us via pupilservices@sweynepark.com.

 

Year 11 Prom

Last night our Year 11 pupils celebrated the end of their exams at their Prom at the Rayleigh Club.  I know that all of the Year Team who went along thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with our Year 11 pupils in a relaxing and beautifully decorated environment.

The staff at the venue were incredibly impressed with the maturity and respect that the pupils demonstrated and could not believe how clean and tidy the function room was at the end of the evening! 

 

While it was lovely to have the chance to mark the end of their Key Stage 4 journey, I really do hope that we will see many of our Year 11s back with us in September in our Sixth Form.

We are delighted to share just a small selection of the photos from the event and if you would like to see some more, please do visit our Facebook page. 

 

And Finally

Have a lovely weekend.

Festival of Literacy: A Day of Inspiration at Sweyne Park

Last Thursday, Sweyne Park School had the privilege of welcoming Year 5 pupils from Glebe, Downhall, and St Nicholas Primary Schools for a spectacular Festival of Literacy.

The event was filled with creativity, inspiration, and a genuine love for reading and writing!

The day began with a special talk from the talented and successful author, Lisa Williamson. Lisa, known for her popular Young Adult novels, has recently released several titles in her B.I.G.G. School series, with the fifth book set for release this September.

These books offer a humorous and empathetic look at the challenges faced by Year 7 pupils in secondary school, and are loved by readers for their relatable characters and realistic themes.

Lisa shared her personal journey with the pupils, revealing how she went from being a shy child who created stories in her mind to becoming an author. Before she found her true passion for writing, Lisa had a career as a professional actor.

She spoke openly about the ups and downs of her career and how her love for storytelling eventually led her back to writing.

Our budding authors were then treated to an exciting Q&A session where Lisa answered some brilliant questions from the primary school pupils. Ashling and Ravi, two keen participants, won a fantastic prize: their names will be featured as characters in Lisa’s next B.I.G.G. School book, which is currently in the works!

Ashling asked Lisa what advice she would give to her main characters, and Lisa responded with some wise words:

To Lola (Best Friends Forever): “Don’t ever change.”

To Daniel (Double Drama): “Don’t worry about what other people may think.”

To Astrid (Secret Crush): “You do you! Having faith to be yourself.”

To A.J. (Scaredy-Cat): “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared – it’s about facing your fears.”

 

Ravi asked Lisa who her best friend was, and Lisa shared how lucky she is to have several close friends, to whom she dedicates her books.

After the talk, Lisa kindly signed copies of her books, which Waterstones, Southend, had generously provided at a discounted price, giving the students a lasting memory of the event.

The excitement continued with a series of rotating workshops designed to further spark the pupils’ creativity. Pupils from Glebe Primary took part in three inspiring sessions: a writing workshop with Lisa herself, an English workshop led by Mrs. Waghorn on how to structure a story, and a fun Drama workshop with Miss White.

It was an inspiring and energetic morning that truly ignited the pupils’ imaginations. Everyone agreed: the Festival of Literacy was a huge success, and a fun-filled day to remember!

We can’t wait for the next opportunity to celebrate reading and writing with our local schools!

What do you do when you're not in school?

We would love to hear about your hobbies, interests and achievements...

If you have any stories and/or photos that you would like to share, please contact us at pupilservices@sweynepark.com

Catering tariff for September

Due to increases in food costs, minimum wage, and national insurance contributions, please click here to view the updated catering tariff for September, which will come into effect from 1st September 2025
The meal deal option always offers the best value in terms of cost and nutrition.
The cost of healthier foods such as fruit, vegetables and mineral water are protected to promote healthy choices with those items having no price increase compared to the more unhealthy items.
If you would like to check your eligibility for free school meals (FSM), please follow the link below:-
https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/free-school-meals
September 2025 Price Tariff

Next week, the Caterlink menu will be ‘Week 2’.

Click here to see the menu.

Xcel Hockey Summer Camp 2025

Join XCel Hockey for two exciting days of field hockey fun and skill-building!

📅 Dates: Thursday 28th & Friday 29th August 09am – 3pm
📍 Location: Warners Bridge, Park SS2 5RE

This camp is open to outfield players of all abilities, aged 8–15 years. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to sharpen your skills, our expert coaches will guide you every step of the way.

➡️ Find out more and register at: Home | Xcel Hockey Coaching

Spaces are limited – don’t miss out!

We have a thriving Youth section at the club which takes children from 11 to 16 years old. We are an England Athletics affiliated club with all of the appropriate safeguarding procedures and policies in place. You can see some basic details regarding our Youth section at BRC Youths – Benfleet Running Club.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)
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Home Energy Advice

Important e-scooter information for schools and parents