Issue 1114: 6th March 2026

  • HEADLINES

Red v Blue (School Wars)

Further to the email we sent at the start of this week, I wanted to confirm that that we are very aware of recent reports about so-called “school wars” or the red-v-blue social media trend circulating among some young people in Essex.

I want to reassure parents and carers that we are monitoring the situation closely and remain in regular communication with other local schools. We are also liaising with the Police where appropriate to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils and students.

Please rest assured that we will continue to address any concerns promptly as the safety and wellbeing of our pupils and students is always at the forefront of all that we do.

Beauty and the Beast

We are all very much looking forward to the upcoming performances of Beauty and the Beast next Tuesday and Wednesday.  The pupils have been working exceptionally hard and are very excited to have the opportunity to showcase all their talents.

It would be great if as many people as possible could come and show their support.  You can purchase tickets online via Scopay or, subject to availability, on the night for cash!

The cost is £8 for an individual ticket, or £25 for four people.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the performance starts at 7pm.  Good luck to everyone involved.

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.

Water Bottles

In order to help minimise disruption to learning and ensure pupils remain safe and supervised during lessons, we are introducing a small change to our routines around filling water bottles.

From now on, pupils will not be allowed to leave lessons to fill up water bottles during lesson time.  Frequent trips out of lessons interrupt learning and mean that pupils are not under the direct supervision of staff during these times.

We encourage pupils to arrive at school with a filled water bottle where possible and to refill them at break and lunchtime.  Exceptions will be made where pupils ask in Period 2, or if Year 8/9 pupils ask in Period 5, because it is a longer time from their last break, although this will always be at the discretion of the teacher as they can judge the most suitable time for a pupil to briefly leave the lesson.

Thank you for your support in helping us to maintain a calm, safe and focused learning environment for all pupils and students.

Google Family Link

For children with Android devices, Google Family Link is a good way for parents/carers to set up restrictions.  Internet Matters have released a YouTube video showing how to set up Google Family Link to customise content and set screen time restrictions:

How to set up Google Family Link | Internet Matters

Apple Family Sharing

Apple family sharing allows parents to manage child Apple Accounts, restrict content, track locations via “Find My,” and approve app purchases. It is a solution for managing Apple devices.

How to set up Apple Family Sharing | Internet Matters

And Finally….

Have a nice weekend.

Kian P Shines at Essex Age Championships

Year 7 student Kian P delivered an outstanding performance at the Essex Age Championships, a prestigious competition featuring more than 30 swimming clubs from across the county.

Kian achieved a number of impressive personal bests during the event and brought home an excellent medal haul of 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, along with four additional finalist medals.

His success in the pool continues beyond the county level. Kian is currently ranked 4th in Britain for the 50m Breaststroke in his age group, an exceptional achievement that highlights his dedication and talent in the sport.

Kian now looks ahead to the Regional Championships in April and May, where he will proudly represent Essex against the best swimmers in the region.

Congratulations to Kian on this fantastic achievement, and we wish him the very best of luck in the upcoming regional competitions!

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

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