Headteacher’s Update
Dear Families
We have had a wonderful end to our week this week with our Culture Day. There have been so many interesting activities that have taken place over the course of the day and it has been great to see our students representing their cultures so well with some wonderful traditional dress and a vast array of flags on display from all over the world. The reason we do this cultural day has a foundation in education. Culture Day brings together students and staff to celebrate their unique heritages, promoting an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and represented. It helps students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diversity there is in school and in society. It enables people to share and be proud of their heritage. I have seen students today standing in front of their peers discussing where their families originate from and the links they have with the rest of the world. It has been a great day! There is some information in this update about what has been happening in lessons today, as well as some images of the day. We have had Henna and Mehndi Design competitions in our Study Centre and well as a Fashion Show this afternoon!
The week has been positive, we have had another Tutor Evening in school last night with Year 10 parents meeting their child’s new tutor. The next evening is on November 20th and is for Year 9 Parents. Your child’s tutor is an important part of their life in school and we encourage you to come into school to meet them and discuss the progress that is being made.
Our assemblies this week have focussed on the Theme of Remembrance. Our Humanities Department led these assemblies this week.
It was a time to reflect and remember those that have lost their lives in conflicts all across the world. As part of this assembly we read a poem to the students that we hope made them understand the difficulty of those that are involved in conflict and the impact it can have on so many peoples’ lives.
Poem ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Culture Day
Below is a summary of what students have been doing in school today.
| Subject | Culture in Curriculum |
| English | KS3: Speech writing lessons on ‘Why I Am Proud To Be Me’- exploring ideas about culture, identity and pride.
Year 10: Creative writing on celebratory feasts from different cultures, inspired by the Christmas feasts described in A Christmas Carol. Students will be asked to focus on their own cultures and celebratory food that they look forward to throughout the year for special occasions. |
| MFL | French: La Toussaint, celebrated on Saturday 1st November
Spanish: Día de los Muertos, celebrated on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November As these festivals are celebrated at the appropriate time of year to coincide with Culture Day, we have decided that students will explore these festivals in lessons. In Spanish lessons, students will learn about: Ofrendas Calaveras The significance of marigolds Celebratory activities such as the sharing of pan de muerto. In French lessons, students will learn about: The Toussaint tradition of Chrysanthemums Typical Toussaint foods Celebratory activities to honour La Toussaint |
| Computer Science and Business Studies | CS: we will be linking OCR J277 topics 1.2 (Data Representation) and 1.3 (Networks) to a global theme by exploring how computing connects cultures worldwide. Beginning with a quick discussion on how different countries use technology and how Unicode allows computers to represent global languages and emojis.
Students will also take part in a short “Computing Around the World” quiz covering ASCII vs Unicode, internet access, and global innovators in computing. Lastly, groups will design a simple concept for an app that promotes cultural exchange, explaining how data would be represented and transmitted across networks. BS: explore business leaders from different cultures and social impact |
| DTA | Art
KS4 Students will be researching and responding to the work of South West Artist Georgia O’Keeffe and Native American artist John Niato. Highlighting Inuit culture, connections to animals and the natural world in their vivid paintings. Resistant Materials Students will take part in a culture and buildings styles and then complete a quiz about building designs in different cultures. The quiz will form a guess on what culture the buildings are from and a class discussion on why certain building are designed the way they are through culture and religion. Food 7 Sausage rolls Students will complete an activity around spices and herbs from around the world They will complete a sensory test to see if they can detect the herb or spice just from a sense of smell Students will have a sausage roll practical and will be able to give their sausage rolls a cultural twist by using a selection of herbs/spices from around the world within the meat or pastry element of their sausage rolls |
| Maths | In Maths, students will be completing various tasks including:
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| Science | Year 7 and 8- who am I?
Exploring how characteristics are determined by our environment and inheritance
Y9 and 10- Exploring how women have contributed to scientific discoveries over time |
| Humanities | Humanities will build on the theme of ‘Your humanities’.
Exploring diverse family links from across the world. Session then will get students to look at Family tree and connections to different places, mapping their links across the world. |
| Media Studies | Year 10: Exploring stereotypes and representation in sports journalism (particularly international football tournaments- World Cup, Euros etc). Students will then use Canva to create an inspirational marketing poster for a national team of their choice to encourage cultural pride and support for a team for the 2026 World Cup.
Year 11: Starter activities focussing on stereotypes and counter-stereotypes in media advertising (inspired by World Cup coverage from 2022 and the upcoming one in 2026). |
| Performing Arts | Year 9 Drama – Students will consider how the play “DNA” reflects contemporary British culture, societal anxieties, and moral questions. This helps us to reflect on the world as it is and question how it could be better.
Year 8 Drama – Students will explore silent comedy as an example of drama as a universal culture. Silent Comedy relies on physical expression (mime, gesture, body language) rather than spoken words, making it accessible across different linguistic cultures. Year 10 Drama – Students will investigate the big question: How did the play Macbeth reflect the culture of the people who watched it? Macbeth is a Jacobean cultural artefact because it taps into the specific fears, beliefs, and political climate of 1606 England. They will explore key aspects of Jacobean culture and consider how audiences would have reacted to these at the time. |
With best wishes
Mr S Greiff
Join Our Eco Club!
Mondays | 3:15–4:00 PM | Lab 3
Are you passionate about protecting the planet? Do you want to make a real difference in our school community? Then come join the Eco Club, meeting every Monday after school in Lab 3 from 3:15 to 4:00 PM!
Our Eco Club is all about taking action to help the environment—both at school and beyond. Members work together on exciting projects like recycling initiatives, energy-saving campaigns, and creating green spaces around school. It’s a great way to share ideas, learn new ways to care for the Earth, and meet other students who care about sustainability.
No experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm and creativity! Together, we can make our school a greener, cleaner place for everyone.
🌱 Let’s go green, one Monday at a time!
Science Club Continues Every Monday!
Don’t forget — Science Club is still running every Monday! It’s a great opportunity discover new ideas and have fun with fellow science enthusiasts. We’re always looking for new students to join the group, so if you’re curious and creative, come along — we’d love to see some new faces!
Year 11 – Post 16 and careers
Please continue to ensure your that students have updated their PS16 profile. Students should also have completed a personal statement and this should be on PS16 (they can edit this going forwards). Please note that Mr Croucher sent an announcement via class charts on Friday 31st October that expands on all of this.
The Year 11 pastoral team will continue share appointments with tutors for Year 11 students’ 1-1 careers advice session during school time. This will be with a fully qualified careers guide. Some students will have these in October and others will have them in November and December. This appointment will help you think more about your future and of course your Post 16 options too
Sparx Maths Student of the Week
We’re delighted to celebrate this week’s Sparx Maths Student of the Week! This recognition is awarded to Raheem of 10.5 who has shown outstanding effort, determination, and commitment to their independent learning on Sparx. Their hard work not only strengthens their mathematical skills but also sets a fantastic example for their peers. Well done – we are very proud of their achievement!
Preloved School Uniform Sale
We’re delighted to offer preloved school uniform items for sale — a great way to save money and support sustainability!
A price list is below for your reference. If you’d like to purchase any items, please email us at
📧 Preloveduniform@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk with the items and sizes you require.
We also gladly accept donations of clean, gently used uniform. Donations can be dropped off at school reception at any time.
Please follow this link to view the school uniform requirments Uniform – Manor High School – Oadby
Thank you for helping us make school life more affordable and eco-friendly!
Safeguarding Update
Next week is Anti-Bullying Week and to celebrate we will be holding assemblies for each year group and running follow up tutor activities on Wellbeing Wednesday. We will also be running a house competition for students to design an Anti-Bullying poster, so please encourage your child to enter!
The link below is a support pack for parents who may have questions about bullying and how to support their child. As always if you have any questions, please contact your child’s form tutor.
Parent and Carer Pack – Anti-Bullying Week 2025 – A4
The NHS Mental Health Service Team are now accepting self-referrals. Previously, referrals could only be made by school staff.
Please have a look at the information below that has been sent through by the team, regarding support for your child and the referral process.
Please see the attached document produced by the NHS Mental Health Service Team. Here, you will find some useful resources and signposting – Self Help Resources & Mental Health Support
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