Newsletter 10.07.2026

Department Highlights from Last Term

Celebrating Success and Rewarding Our Students

This has been an incredibly positive term at Manor High School and we are delighted to celebrate the fantastic efforts of our students.

Recognising and celebrating success is an important part of our school culture. This term, around 500 students have enjoyed reward experiences including trips to Alton Towers, Hollywood Bowl and our hugely popular Inflatables Experience. We are also looking forward to welcoming another group of students to our final Inflatables reward event next Thursday.

It has been a pleasure to see the excitement, enthusiasm and pride our students have shown during these events. They have worked hard to earn these opportunities and thoroughly deserve the recognition.

Alongside these larger rewards, we have continued our weekly 100% attendance prize draws, with students receiving shopping vouchers as a reward for their excellent attendance and commitment to learning.

Our Reward Store has also proved extremely popular this year, with over 200 students choosing rewards that matter to them. From vouchers and stationery to queue jump passes, revision guides and many other items, students have been able to exchange their reward points for prizes they genuinely value.

Importantly, many of these rewards have been shaped by feedback from our Form Representatives and the excellent work of our Student Leadership Team, ensuring that our reward system continues to reflect what motivates and celebrates our students.

A huge thank you to all our students for making this such a successful term. We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved and look forward to celebrating even more success in the year ahead.

English

We are incredibly proud of the effort shown by our students with Sparx Reader this academic year. We launched the programme during the summer term of the 2024/25 academic year, and students have engaged brilliantly this year. Students in KS3 have read an average of 8 books each over the year, and as a school we have read an astonishing 113,848,575 words! This shows an excellent dedication to developing reading skills. Continue the fantastic work!

Welcoming Brookside for an Article Writing Workshop

The month of June in the English department saw a class of Year 5 students from Brookside visit Manor High for an article writing workshop. Envisioning themselves as successful in the future, the students wrote some excellent articles about all their (future) achievements, based on their current goals and ambitions. Throughout the entirety of the session, the students were enthusiastic, respectful and thoroughly absorbed in the workshop; we hope to welcome them back one day as Manor High students!

Attached are some images of their beautiful articles.

MFL

Barcelona trip 2026

In June, the Modern Languages department took 40 Year 9 and 10 students to explore the magnificent city of Barcelona for 4 days. Students were based in the beautiful coastal town of Tossa de Mar where they had the opportunity to visit the ancient castle, dip their toes in the Mediterranean Sea and purchase souvenirs in the many local shops each evening. Students enjoyed a full day excursion to Barcelona where they wandered up Las Ramblas to Plaça de Catalunya, visited Poble Espanyol for a Paella cookery workshop, enjoyed a boat trip around the harbour, appreciated Gaudí’s architecture at Parc Güell and La Sagrada Familia cathedral and sampled delicious tapas in the evening at an authentic Spanish restaurant at the top of Las Ramblas. The following day, students had a full day at Lloret de Mar’s WaterWorld water park where there were plenty of rides for the thrill seekers in the group and a variety of pools to choose from for students who wished to relax in the sunshine or play some volleyball with friends. Students and staff alike had the most wonderful time, and all students were incredible ambassadors for the school, receiving compliments wherever we went.

The Modern Languages department is looking forward to launching our Nice 2027 visit in September/October 2026 – watch this space for more details!

European Day of Languages

It was an exciting week in Modern Languages as we celebrated the European Day of Languages on Thursday 26th September.

The week started with a tutor time House Competition for Years 8 to 11 and a French breakfast and quiz in the hall for 210 Year 7 students who enjoyed croissants, pains au chocolat and crêpes whilst answering trivia questions on French language and culture.

At lunchtime, our wonderful catering team also prepared two delicious Spanish and French dishes for the lunchtime menu, albóndigas and ratatouille as well as tacos inspired by Mexican cuisine from the wider Spanish speaking world. The meals went down a treat with staff and students alike!

Spanish theatre production for Year 8 & 9 students by Onatti Productions

In March, nearly 300 Year 8 and 9 Spanish students had the opportunity to watch Un Ensayo Desastroso by Onatti Productions, the tale of a disastrous rehearsal of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The play was performed by Spanish native speakers and aimed at students of 13-16 years learning Spanish as a foreign language. There was lots of audience participation by our wonderful students and the play was enjoyed by all!

French theatre production for Year 8 & 9 students by Onatti Productions

Later in the month, we again welcomed the fantastic Onatti Productions to Manor High School, whose Spanish native speaker actors had performed for our students earlier in the year.

This time, it was the turn of over 200 Year 8 and 9 French students to watch a performance of RSVP by two native French speakers, the tale of Léo and Théo, the ultimate “YOLO” couple!

There was again lots of audience participation and students thoroughly enjoyed the performance!

PE

Our Year 10 Sport Studies students recently enjoyed a fantastic kayaking trip to Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre. The weather was perfect, with glorious sunshine and warm temperatures throughout the day. All students participated enthusiastically, developing their kayaking skills and demonstrating excellent teamwork and determination on the water. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow during the session and there were some truly fantastic kayakers among the group. A great day was had by all, and the students were a credit to the school.

Year 7 Football

After a year full of success, the Year 7 boys football team enjoyed their day in the Seagrave spotlight against Lutterworth College in the County Cup Final. Both teams were unbeaten going into the game, but with the majority of the crowd supporting Manor the boys were loving the atmosphere and couldn’t wait to get started. The game was frantic from the outset, chances at either end, but it was Manor who struck the first blow. Excellent pressing from the front 3 gave us transition possession high up the field and from just outside the box Noah managed to beat the keeper with a lovely finish into the roof of the net. This stirred the Lutterworth team who went on the attack. The rest of the half was a rear guard operation from Manor, with some last ditch tackles and excellent saves until just before the break the equaliser was found. The second half started like the first finished and Lutterworth deservedly took the lead. The Manor bench was emptied and caution was thrown to the wind. Several chances were created and with just a couple of minutes left, a scramble in the box had their keeper diving full length to push the ball onto the bar. Unfortunately, from the resultant break out Manor were exposed and Lutterworth took full advantage to seal the game 3 -1.

The Manor boys left it all on the pitch, with the resilience shown off the charts. Clearly disappointed with the final result, the whole squad should look back at the great memories from the season and the victories claimed. The cheers received as we exited the pitch were a sign of how proud all the parents and PE staff were of the team.

Athletics

14 Manor students qualified this year for the County Finals held at Loughborough University. As it seems to be every year on finals day, the weather proved horrid with driving wind and rain from start to finish. Despite this, all finalists performed superbly against the best athletes from all around Leicestershire and Rutland. Charlie took bronze in the Year 10 long jump and Kodi (Year 7) a bronze in the 800m. But the standout star of the show for Manor was Rosie (Year 7) who triumphed winning an inspirational gold in the shot put.

Performing Arts

Our Performing Arts Summer Showcase took place last week. This was a fantastic combination of music and drama items produced by our extra-curricular groups – Drama Club, Manor Voices and Orchestra. The performance involved over sixty students, and we are very proud of the hard work, teamwork and commitment students have displayed throughout the year. It is especially wonderful to see students from all year groups working together to create and perform, making friends along the way. All of our students shone, but special mention should go to our Year 7 students, who have done brilliantly in their first year with us – providing a full brass section in the orchestra and some stunning vocal and drama performances.

Students performed a full run through of the showcase to Years 4 and 5 from Brookside Primary during the afternoon and then gave another wonderful performance to parents and families in the evening. The Showcase was a final opportunity to say farewell to some of our Year 11 performers, who have been such valued members of the performing arts family over the years. A big thank you to Eliza, Ebru and Evelyn for performing beautiful solos; to Eddie for performing and managing backstage, and finally to Alex for setting and operating the lighting.

Many thanks to all parents, carers and families who have supported productions and performances this year. This week’s showcase was a real testament to the importance of the arts and giving all of our students the chance to shine.

Music Grades and Achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have instrumental lessons in school and have taken exams in the Spring and Summer terms.

Ya Han Yang – Grade 8 Violin; accepted into Chethams College of Music.

Tilly Semeraro – Grade 4 Cornet

Arlo Lanham – Grade 3 Drum Kit

Jakob Kirkby – Grade 3 Drum Kit

Clara Brewster – Grade 3 Flute

Aidan Chester – Grade 3 Clarinet

Henry Dampney – Grade 2 Piano

Daisy Dyer – Grade 2 Piano

Yusra Jussab – Grade 1 Violin

Amaraah Vindhani – Grade 1 Violin

Khadija Wheeler – Grade 1 Piano

DTA

It has been a fantastic final term for Design Technology, Art and Food Technology. Students have successfully completed their major practical projects, including creating ceramic pots in Design Technology, accompanied by handcrafted wooden stands made using traditional joints, hand tools and woodworking techniques, while Art students produced expressive clay faces.

This term also included inspiring trips to London, where students visited the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery before enjoying sketching activities around Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.

We celebrated students’ achievements at our End of Year Exhibition. Due to its popularity, the exhibition was held over two evenings, welcoming almost 400 visitors. Alongside showcasing outstanding GCSE work, we introduced Key Stage 3 awards and invited pupils from Oak Trust primary schools to exhibit their artwork, making it a wonderful celebration of creativity across the trust.

It has been a brilliant way to end the academic year, and we are incredibly proud of everything our students have achieved.

Maths

Another Successful Year in Mathematics

As we reach the end of another busy and successful academic year, the Mathematics Department would like to celebrate the hard work, achievements and enthusiasm shown by our students across all year groups. It has been wonderful to see so many students engaging positively with mathematics both inside and outside the classroom.

Farewell and Good Luck to Year 11

A huge congratulations to all of our Year 11 students who have now completed their GCSE Mathematics examinations. Throughout the year, students have demonstrated tremendous hard work, determination and resilience as they prepared for this important milestone.

We have been particularly impressed by the excellent levels of engagement shown in lessons, intervention sessions and revision activities. The commitment displayed by so many students has been outstanding, and they should be incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.

We would like to thank our Year 11 cohort for their efforts and positive attitude throughout their time at Manor High School. We now look forward to celebrating with them again when results are released later this summer and wish them every success for the future.

UK Mathematics Trust Challenges

This year, many of our students took part in the highly regarded UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Challenges, providing an opportunity for them to stretch their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Pink Kangaroo Success

Congratulations to our Year 10 students who achieved success in the UKMT Pink Kangaroo competition:

• Zacharia P – Bronze Award
• Zeainab S – Qualification
• Aarun G – Qualification

These achievements reflect a high level of mathematical reasoning and determination.

Junior Mathematical Challenge

A number of our Year 7 and Year 8 students participated in the Junior Mathematical Challenge in April, with many securing certificates and progressing to the Junior Kangaroo competition in June.

Sparx Maths

Student engagement with Sparx Maths has continued to be a real strength this year. Regular completion of homework and independent practice has helped many students develop confidence and fluency in key mathematical skills.

To recognise students’ efforts, we have continued our weekly celebrations through:

• Student of the Week certificates
• Tutor Group of the Week awards

The enthusiasm shown by students in completing their weekly tasks has been excellent, and we thank both students and families for their continued support in promoting effective independent learning.

Looking Ahead

As another successful year comes to an end, the Mathematics Department would like to thank all of our students, families and staff for their continued support. We are immensely proud of the effort, commitment and achievements shown across the department and look forward to building on this success in the year ahead.

We wish everyone a restful summer break and look forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready for another exciting year of mathematical success.

Science

It has been another busy and exciting year for the Science Department at Manor High School!

We began the year with a fantastic trip to the University of Cambridge, where our Year 10 and 11 students attended the Physics at Work event. They explored a wide range of careers in physics and engineering while taking part in inspiring talks and interactive activities. Our Key Stage 3 students also enjoyed a visit to the Science Live theatre show, where they experienced science brought to life through exciting demonstrations.

A visit from ZooLab gave our students the opportunity to get hands-on with a variety of fascinating animals, including tarantulas, snakes and cockroaches. They discovered how nature inspires engineers and scientists through the exciting world of biomimicry.

During British Science Week, students embraced a range of activities. They entered the official national poster competition and took part in a series of live web chats with working scientists, learning about the many exciting career opportunities available in STEM.

More recently, we were delighted to welcome our feeder primary schools to Manor High School for an engaging science show delivered in partnership with BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force. The interactive presentation explored the amazing materials that surround us and how science and engineering shape our everyday lives.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly our unforgettable trip to Iceland. Fifty students experienced some of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders, including the famous Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, the Friðheimar tomato greenhouse, and the immersive FlyOver Iceland experience. The trip provided a unique opportunity to witness the incredible power of geology, renewable energy and environmental science first-hand, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

We are incredibly proud of our students’ enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the year and look forward to another exciting year of scientific discovery ahead!

Excellence in Triple Science

Over the last 2 years, our Year 11 triple science students have demonstrated outstanding commitment, resilience and enthusiasm throughout all 3 science disciplines. They have consistently produced high-quality work and developed both their practical and analytical skills, whilst learning about the real-life applications of these scientific concepts. The science department have been excited to hear that many students have chosen a science subject to study at A-level, reflecting both their passion for science and the positive experiences they’ve had in their science lessons. We are sure that the dedication they have shown preparing for their PPEs and final summer exams will result in excellent progress and achievements. They should all be incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished over the last 2 years and we wish them every success for their future studies!

SEND Department Update

As we come to the end of another successful term, we are delighted to share some of the wonderful achievements and enriching experiences our SEND students have been involved in this year. It has been fantastic to see students growing in confidence, developing new skills, and embracing opportunities both within and beyond the classroom.

Celebrating Progress and Achievement

We are incredibly proud of the outstanding effort and progress made by our handwriting intervention students in Year 7. Through dedication, perseverance, and hard work, they have made significant improvements in their handwriting skills. It has been a pleasure to witness their development, and we congratulate them on all they have achieved.

Our reading intervention students in Key Stage 3 have also demonstrated excellent enthusiasm and commitment throughout their sessions. Their engagement, confidence, and enjoyment of reading have grown considerably, and it has been wonderful to see their increasing passion for learning. We are proud of their achievements and encourage them to continue their reading journey.

Travel Training and Developing Independence

A particular highlight this term has been our eight-week Travel Training programme. Students visited a variety of locations across Oadby, including Woodland Grange Primary School, Beauchamp College, Lidl, Coombe Park, The Grange, and Severn Pharmacy. These experiences provided valuable opportunities for students to develop essential life skills, build confidence, and become more independent when navigating their local community.

As part of the programme, students participated in bus role-play activities, taking on the roles of both passengers and drivers. These sessions helped students develop an understanding of appropriate behaviour when using public transport, including showing respect to others, practising patience, maintaining personal space, communicating politely, and understanding transport etiquette.

Mr Hings also assessed students’ independence while travelling by bus, focusing on important practical skills such as purchasing tickets and recognising when to leave the bus. It has been wonderful to see the progress students have made and the positive impact this programme has had on their confidence and independence. We were especially proud to celebrate those students who successfully completed their Travel Training Passports and achieved a Gold Achievement Award in recognition of their excellent efforts.

Celebrating Young Writers

Our talented young writers have continued to showcase their creativity through a range of writing competitions throughout the year. We are thrilled that one of our students Poppy had their work published as part of a national poetry competition an outstanding achievement that reflects both talent and dedication.

Students have also taken part in the Stranger Sagas competition and a creative writing challenge entitled Wanted, where they were challenged to produce an engaging 100-word piece of writing. We continue to submit entries and look forward to celebrating further successes in the future.

SEMH Successes

This year’s Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) interventions have now concluded, and we are extremely proud of the progress made by all participating students. Whether supporting students through examination pressures or helping them develop social and emotional skills, the interventions have provided valuable opportunities for growth and personal development.

Year 7 and 8 students took part in the Talk about intervention, exploring topics such as managing teenage pressures, handling stress, being assertive, resolving disagreements, and offering apologies. Through role-play activities and discussions, students developed important communication and social skills whilst enjoying a variety of engaging and often humorous scenarios.

Our Year 8 students also participated in the SMART Moves Resilience intervention. Through interactive activities, puzzles, and discussions, students explored strategies for building resilience and maintaining positive wellbeing. One memorable session focused on the importance of humour and laughter, while another used practical activity to demonstrate how sharing worries can help reduce stress and improve emotional wellbeing. Students showed excellent engagement throughout and developed a deeper understanding of the importance of seeking support when facing challenges.

Year 9 students successfully completed the Connect & Thrive friendship intervention. Their enthusiasm, participation, and willingness to work together made the sessions both enjoyable and productive. It was especially heartening to see students warmly welcoming new members into their groups and demonstrating kindness, empathy, and teamwork throughout the programme.

For Years 10 and 11, much of the focus this year has been on supporting students through examination pressures. Through mentoring sessions, students explored revision techniques, study planning, wellbeing strategies, and ways to manage stress effectively. We have been incredibly impressed by the resilience shown by our students as they faced the challenges of their PPEs and GCSE examinations.

We would like to pay particular tribute to our Year 11 students, who showed tremendous determination, maturity, and perseverance throughout their final year at Manor. As they move on to the next stage of their education and future careers, we wish them every success and look forward to hearing about their achievements in the years ahead.

Reward Trip to Alton Towers

During the final weeks of term, members of the SEND team were delighted to accompany students on their reward trip to Alton Towers. The day was filled with excitement, laughter, and unforgettable experiences. Students demonstrated remarkable courage as they tackled a variety of thrilling rides, while staff also found themselves stepping well outside their comfort zones!

Most importantly, we were immensely proud of the way our students represented the school throughout the visit. They consistently demonstrated our core values of Respect, Resilience, Inspiration, and Excellence, making the day a tremendous success for everyone involved.

Looking Ahead

As the academic year draws to a close, students who have participated in SEMH interventions will receive a Certificate of Achievement alongside a small reward in recognition of their hard work, resilience, commitment, and personal growth.

We are incredibly proud of all our SEND students and everything they have achieved this year. Their determination, kindness, and willingness to embrace new challenges have been inspiring to witness, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue their journeys next year.

We would like to thank all our families for their continued support and partnership throughout the year. We wish you all a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break, and we look forward to welcoming our students back in the new academic year.

🌟 Have a wonderful summer from everyone in the SEND Department! 🌟

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Panjabi Language Classes

From September 2026 Panjabi language classes will be available in Oadby.  The classes will take place in the evenings, are open to children aged 5+ and cater for all abilities, from complete beginners through to GCSE and A-Level preparation. Students will have the opportunity to develop their speaking, reading and writing skills in Panjabi in a supportive and engaging learning environment.

SEND Dept
T: 0116 2729791 (or 0116 2714941 ext. 791)
E: SEND@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk

Lead Operational DSL & Senior Mental Health Lead Ashma Ghani
T: 0116 2729760 (or 0116 2714941 ext. 760)
E: AGhani@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk