Issue 1099: 17th October 2025 – Sweyne Park School

HEADLINES

Rewards

We were delighted to welcome a number of pupils in non-uniform today as a reward for a high number of positive points gained for showing a “Ready, Respectful, Safe” attitude to learning and within the wider school community.

While we understand that some pupils were disappointed, especially those who were near the cut-off point, we will provide future opportunities to recognise all of our pupils who shine.

Next half-term, we will similarly reward pupils who consistently meet out expectations around attitude, behaviour, attendance and wider contributions.

These decisions will be based on next half-term only, so all pupils have equal opportunity to access this reward.

Important Safeguarding Notice: Children’s “Spy” Books

We want to make you aware of a recent issue affecting some popular children’s books by Andrew Cope, including the Spy Dogs, Spy Cats, and Spy Pups series.

Some editions of these books include a printed web address at the back. This link used to go to the author’s website, but the domain is no longer under his control. It has since been taken over by another party and now leads to inappropriate adult content.

The publisher, Puffin, has paused sales and distribution of the books and is working with schools, libraries, and retailers to remove copies from circulation. They have stressed that the website has no connection to the author or publisher.

What this means for you:

If your child has any Spy Dog, Spy Cator Spy Pups books at home, please check the back for website links and make sure they do not try to visit the site.
It is safe for children to continue reading the stories themselves — the concern is only with the outdated link.
We recommend talking with your child about the importance of not following web addresses in books without checking with an adult first.

We will continue to share updates from the publisher as more information becomes available.

Contacting Us….

As of Monday 3^rd November we will be introducing a new automated phone system to help streamline enquiries and ensure all calls are directed to the right team as efficiently as possible.

From the first day back after the half-term break, when you call our main reception on 01268 784721, you will hear a short message with three options:

Pupil Absence – for reporting pupil/student absences or attendance matters. (Alternatively, you can continue to call our absence line directly on 01268 780293)
Pupil Services – for medical, uniform, and general pupil support enquiries.
Main Office – for all other enquiries or to be connected to the appropriate member of staff.

Our dedicated Reception team will still be available — by choosing option 3 — to help with queries and continue providing the excellent support and service that our school community has come to expect.

Halloween Fun

As Halloween approaches, we hope all our pupils and students enjoy a fun and safe evening. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with friends and family, but please can I take the opportunity to remind everyone to be considerate of others.

Please ensure that children are respectful during their trick-or-treating and avoid actions that might frighten or upset elderly or vulnerable members of our community. Happy Halloween!

And Finally…..

I hope you all enjoy the two-week break and enjoy spending time with family and friends. We will look forward to welcoming our pupils and students back to school at the usual time of 8.35am on Monday 3^rd November.

Halloween in the Library

There has been much discussion in the Library this week with our Banned Books Week display.

Our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running! click here to browse the latest books and order online.

For every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 20p in Scholastic Rewards.
Please place your order online by November 3rd, 2025.

Road to Reading – The Reading Agency
A little reading can go a long way. It connects us, sparks curiosity, boosts self-esteem, and supports mental…
readingagency.org.uk

Learn More

Bookbuzz 2025: meet the authors and the books: video

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We are dedicated to getting children reading. Each year we reach 3.9 million children across the UK with books, resources and support to help develop a love of reading.

Learn More

Brooke entered the Foyles Young Poet of the Year award

Brooke entered the Foyles Young Poet of the Year award, alongside 28,000 other applicants and she made it into the top 85!

On Wednesday 15th October, she attended the celebration ceremony at the British Library in London, where she met other young poets, attended poetry workshops and received her certificate alongside a poetry goodie bag.

Her poem will also be published in the 2025 Young Poet of the Year Anthology which will be published later on this year!

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

Click here to see the menu.

Year 7 Basketball Debut – Tuesday 30th September

Tuesday marked a special milestone for our Year 7 pupils as they took part in their very first basketball game, facing Eastwood – a school known for its strong sporting tradition and basketball success. Despite the final score not going in our favour, the team showed incredible growth, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the match.

Their dedication to improving each week has been nothing short of inspiring, and it truly showed on the court. The players demonstrated a deeper understanding of the game, stronger teamwork, and a noticeable boost in confidence.

Man of the Match went to Fin B, who impressed with his skill, determination, and leadership.

What stood out most was the team’s attitude. They never gave up, and they embodied our values of being Ready, Respectful, and Safe. Opposition staff praised our pupils for their excellent behaviour, respectful communication, and high standards throughout the game.

This was more than just a match – it was the beginning of a journey. We’re incredibly proud of how far they’ve come already and excited to see where their basketball journey takes them next.