Friday 23rd October
Co-headteachers’ welcome
With October half term just around the corner, this newsletter is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate with you all. I think we are all feeling the change in light and temperature and weather, yet there is so much to share!
Firstly, thank you for your connection with us as parents/carers. It has been a privilege to welcome so many parents into school this week with Year 10 student consultation evening on Monday, and all Larch year groups on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our partnership can be very clearly shown by attendance with 95%+ of Year 10 parents giving us your valued time, and 98%+ of Larch parents too. It has been a strategic decision to move to all in-person student consultation evenings this year (rather than online platforms), following parental feedback as to how much this is valued, so thank you for your positive feedback. We know that being able to engage with learning in student exercise books in the Larch brings a great shared insight into achievements, and I personally enjoyed catching up with so many of you. In the secondary phase, there was an incredible buzz of conversation as teachers reached out to each one of you across the breadth and ambition of the curriculum. Thank you for your feedback as to how well this innovative approach is working.
More details are below, but an enormous thank you for your responses on our Parent / Carer survey. With over 350 responses so far, we are grateful for your time and your valued views. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to respond, there is still time to have your say. Please complete the survey here.
Secondly, it is an important time of the year to celebrate enrichment at Simon Balle All-through School. There is so much to write about from sporting achievements (football, netball, rugby, cross country – of every age) to Year 9 geography volcanoes; from drama rehearsals in Year 6 Macbeth to the secondary phase preparing for Alice in Wonderland; from creative arts awards to exciting library competitions. In particular, we would like to thank students, parents/carers and staff with a celebration of trips in this newsletter. A trip brings so much to the student experience – an extension of academic learning, a cultural experience in which to understand the world, and a wonderful social opportunity in which to gain confidence and have fun. Our Year 9 students were incredible ambassadors as always in the last fortnight, representing our school with tremendous maturity, respect and curiosity as they explored the historic First World War battlefields around Ypres. At the time of writing, two further incredibly exciting trips are about to launch: our Year 8 and 9 Sports Tour leaves for Porto, and our sixth form business / economics and art trip is off to New York. We are indebted to our Simon Balle staff for giving so willingly of their time including across half term; to our students, thank you for making us so proud as you show such engagement and enthusiasm in every opportunity you are offered.
It is difficult to believe that our new Reception, Year 7 and Year 12 cohorts joined us only 8 weeks ago. Now is the time to really reflect on the impact of all of our transition arrangements and we are so grateful to you all for your comments in our connection with you. For example,
“I just wanted to take the opportunity to say how incredibly happy xxx is at Simon Balle. He genuinely seems to be thriving, and it has been so lovely to see how quickly he has settled in and how much he is enjoying sixth form life.
The teachers have been absolutely amazing, and I have already received a really positive phone call home, which was such a lovely touch and very much appreciated. He has been made to feel so welcome from day one, and he genuinely loves being part of the Simon Balle community.
I really wanted to pass on my heartfelt thanks to every member of the sixth form team and all of his teachers. The care, enthusiasm and positivity that you have shown him have made such a difference, and as a parent, it is wonderful to know that he is somewhere he feels so happy, supported and valued.
We honestly could not have made a better choice of school, and I am so grateful to everyone who has helped make his start such a positive experience.“
It is always a privilege to welcome prospective parents and students to our school and this year has been no exception. Sixth form open evening was exceptionally busy with over 500 families visiting to see how Simon Balle can provide: academic pathways and success (with over 28 subjects offered); more than just great A levels with an incredible personal development programme; and support to achieve ambitious and diverse destinations. All of this is highly evident with our wonderful sixth form cohort now as EPQ projects are launching, enrichment (from support in the Larch, to learning about law, to financial literacy) is well underway and an incredible work ethic is seen in silent study in period one every day.
All that remains is to wish you all a very happy and restful half term. After a very well deserved break there is so much to follow in Autumn 2 so we hope that you will all return with a readiness to learn and excitement for all that we can offer. This ranges from our traditional all-through Remembrance ceremony to concerts a-plenty including with our traditional carol services; from an innovative PSA Festive Light Show (please see below) to the important excellence of learning in the classroom in every subject and phase. Thank you, as always, for your partnership.
Mr L. Brown – incredible service to Simon Balle
Art & Design news
Creative Arts Digital Suite
We are incredibly grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for their grant of £58,500 to the Art Department, which will significantly enhance our students’ digital arts learning experience.
Thanks to this funding, we have successfully refurbished one of our Design Technology rooms. The space now features a brand-new suite of desktop computers, giving students direct access to industry-standard software. This includes the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite (Photoshop, Premiere, Animate, and InDesign) alongside TechSoft 2D Design for CAD. We have also installed a large interactive drawing tablet, allowing students to sketch and design directly into these creative programs.
These cutting-edge tools will vitalise the curriculum across KS4 and KS5, equipping our students with the technical skills they need for university and future careers in the creative industries. We look forward to seeing some truly exciting results from our students as we move through the academic year.
House Photography competition
We are excited to launch our House Photography Competition for the Autumn term!
This term, we are challenging our students to capture the beauty of the season through a camera lens. The competition is split into two distinct categories:
- Secondary Students (KS3–KS5): ‘The Golden Hour’
Students are tasked with capturing the magical, warm light just after sunrise or right before sunset, showcasing how it transforms the world around them. - Larch Students (Primary): ‘Autumn Aesthetics’
Our younger photographers are invited to focus on the vibrant, beautiful autumnal colors that define this time of year, from rich gold and orange leaves to seasonal nature.
Points will be awarded to the winning entries to go toward the overall House leaderboard. Please send entries to ledsterh@simonballe.herts.sch.uk by Friday 6th November. We cannot wait to see the creativity, unique angles, and artistic talent our students display this term.
October Arts Award
Congratulations to Joshua in year 7 for gaining Artist of the month for October. Joshua earned this recognition through his wonderful watercolour fish painting. He brilliantly put his knowledge of the colour wheel into practice, perfectly balancing the vibrant washes with intricate black mark-making on top.
Library News
Author meet and mash-up
On Monday 12th October we were delighted to welcome the author Alice Hemming to the secondary library. Alice kindly ran a mash-up event during which students had the opportunity to chat to Alice and create a collage of ideas before producing their own short poems.
During the mash-up we launched the inter-house poetry writing competition. The theme for the poetry competition is ‘wonder’.
Parent / Carer survey
A huge thank you to everyone who has completed our Parent / Carer survey so far – we’ve received over 350 responses! Reading your feedback and comments has been so insightful, and once the survey closes, we will share with you any areas for development. As a quick reminder, please remember to include your child’s name so we can directly answer any specific questions or queries you may have.
Your voice matters: Help us to help your child Achieve, Belong & Thrive – it takes just 3–5 minutes
Deadline: Thursday 5th November 2026
Thank you for your ongoing support!
A huge well done to our Mathematicians
Some of our fantastic Maths and Further Maths students sat their ESAT and TMUA exams this week. They have put in a huge amount of effort over the past year, attending weekly ‘Next steps in Maths’ sessions with Mrs Bennett to master quick, effective ways to solve highly complex problems. As a department, we are incredibly proud of their dedication and achievement, and we wish them the best of luck as they await their results. These challenging exams are a crucial stepping stone in their university applications to universities such as Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, UCL and LSE.
“Next Steps in Maths has been a valuable opportunity for me to develop my arithmetic and problem solving skills practising under strict timed conditions. It has been great to also help my algebraic manipulation, complementing my A-Level Maths studies.“ – Dominic Y13
“Thank you so much for organising Next Steps in Maths club. We appreciate this support so much” – Kannas and Bethany Y13
More to Experience – Year 6
What an exciting and action-packed week it has been for our Year 6 students as they immersed themselves in life in our secondary phase during their fantastic ‘More to Experience’ week! Working alongside our secondary teaching specialists, students embraced a wonderful range of new opportunities, exploring the exciting facilities, subjects and experiences that await them as they progress into Year 7.
From dissecting hearts in the science laboratories and showcasing their creativity in the drama studio to experiencing secondary PE lessons, discovering new reads and exploring everything our secondary library has to offer, there was something to inspire everyone! Students also put their culinary skills to the test in Food Technology, creating their very own flavoured tortilla chips to take home and enjoy.
The excitement continued with a fantastic Sports Development morning alongside the Hertford and Ware Sports Partnership, providing another brilliant opportunity for students to develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy working together.
Throughout the week, it was wonderful to see our Year 6 students approaching every new challenge with such enthusiasm, curiosity and determination, making the most of everything on offer.
This valuable experience marks an important milestone in our carefully planned transition programme, which is designed to support every child throughout their journey from primary to secondary education. By building familiarity, nurturing friendships and encouraging independence, we aim to ensure every student begins Year 7 feeling confident, supported and excited for the opportunities ahead!
Exploring College Opportunities
Our Year 8, 9, 10 and 11 students had the opportunity to hear from local colleges, Oaklands College and Hertford Regional College (HRC), who came in to talk about the different options available to them after school.
The talks covered college courses, apprenticeships, entry requirements and what life at college is like. Students also learned about the different routes into careers and how college can help them develop new skills and interests.
These sessions help our students understand the choices available to them, think about their future goals and feel more confident about making decisions for life after Year 11.
SEND
If you would like to speak to a member of the SEND team, a virtual appointment of up to 15 minutes can be made using the following link: Virtual SEND Team Appointments
Statutory Admissions Consultation 2028-2029
Simon Balle All-through School is consulting on the proposed admissions arrangements for the school year 2028/29 and is seeking responses from parent/carers, schools and community groups.
The proposed changes are:
- Changing the definition of Children of Staff to a person who has a permanent contract of employment with the Trust Board of the Laurel Education Trust.
- No longer admitting over the school’s published admission number when a single twin/multiple birth child is allocated a place and the other twin/multiple birth child has applied but not been allocated.
The consultation period runs from 12 October – 22 November 2026. Please send your comments regarding the proposals to the school direct at admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk
Hertfordshire County Council is also running a consultation on the proposed admissions arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for the school year 2028/29 and is seeking responses from parent/carers, schools and community groups.
HCC’s proposed changes are: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/consultations/schools/school-admission-arrangements-for-2028-29.aspx
- To reduce the published admission number (PAN) at five community primary schools.
- Retain the remainder of the county council’s existing admission arrangements for 2028/29, including PANs, Relevant Areas and schemes of coordination.
The consultation period runs until 22 November 2026. Please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions2028 for more information and to respond online.
Parent Staff Association
Frost Fair Laser Show – Kings Group Sponsored boards
Kings Group is one of our sponsors for this year’s Festive Light Show on 5th December. For every board displayed at an address, the PSA will receive £10. Complete this short form if you are able to display a board at a given address: https://forms.gle/Z2TNKDQ7p76jvVSV8
£50 will be given to the class or form with the most sign ups by Friday 30th October. This incentive is open to both primary and secondary phases. The £50 reward must be spent on items, equipment or activities that will directly benefit the students of the winning class or form.
If your company is able to sponsor this event, please get in touch by half term so that we can include your artwork on our printed material.
Stallholders wanted
We are looking for a number of stallholders to make our Festive Light Show special. This year, all pitches are just £15 to reflect a shorter winter event and will be outside. We encourage you to wrap up warm, bring a weighted gazebo and for an added touch of magic, why not bring some battery operated lights to decorate your pitch. If you are interested in making a booking, please email us with what you plan to offer so that we can check existing bookings: psa@simonballepsa.org.uk
Festive Light Show tickets
This year, we will not be hosting a Frost Fair. We are trying something new and exciting. The Festive Light Show will be a shorter, outdoor event featuring a stunning light show by Horizon. More information here. Early Bird tickets are available NOW on the PSA website. Adults – £7, Children (primary aged) – £3 and Students (secondary and 6th Form) – £5. Book before the end of October to take advantage of this price. Please consider filling a volunteer slot, you will not miss the show, Sign up here.
Joules Outlet Sale – 20th November
On Friday 20th November, the Joules Outlet team will return, setting up a pop up shop in the Larch Hall. This is a fantastic Christmas shopping opportunity where you will find something for everyone all at bargain prices. Save up to 70% off high street prices. Sale preview tickets are £8 and will allow early entry at 6pm into the sale room. General sale tickets are just £6, doors open at 6.30pm.
Tickets available on our website. Please share with friends and family, we need to sell 150 tickets in order for this event to be successful.
We are also looking for volunteers for this event. Free entry and early access to all of our helpers! Volunteer here.
Larch Christmas Cards
It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas! A very big thank you to Larch staff for helping the children come up with Christmas card designs. Their artwork has been sent off to IQ Cards who have made personalised order forms featuring your child’s work. If you wish to order any products with your child’s work on, you can order directly with IQ Cards, see order form for information. The deadline for all orders is 10th November with the delivery expected to reach school around the long weekend.
Example order form.
Other notices
Please take a moment to read this Halloween letter for parents from the Neighbourhood Policing Team
Hertford Library has a number of free/paid for activities that happen after school: Autumn Clubs
HPCI Annual Parent Carer Survey (2026) – closing date 1 November
Herts Parent Carer Involvement exists to represent the views of the parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire. We are an independent parent-led organisation, who work alongside Hertfordshire health, education and social care services, to help focus the decision makers on improving services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
We have recently launched our 2026 annual survey, to find out more about what families in Hertfordshire are experiencing. We want to know what works and what doesn’t, so that we can make sure we are concentrating on the areas that matter most to the families you support.
The survey is open until 1 November and the information we gain is vital. It will help us prioritise our work and importantly, give us more data to back up what we are saying to the education, health and social care systems that we engage with.
The more families who take part in our survey, the more powerful our voices become. We don’t just want to hear from families where children have a formal diagnosis; we want to know how the system works for all families, at all stages in the process.
To complete the survey, families need to click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HPCISurvey2026
There is also a shorter version for families who would find that easier. You can find the shorter survey here.
Dates for your diary
A full calendar of events can be viewed on the school website.
- Mon 26th Oct: Half term
- Mon 2nd Nov: Autumn 2 starts – all students back in school
- Mon 2nd Nov: Y9 and Y12 assessment weeks start
- Tues 3rd Nov: Y13 Geography trip departs
- Wed 11th Nov: Y8 student consultation evening
- Thurs 12th Nov: GCSE drama trip to BEAM
- Fri 13th Nov: Y13 Science and MFL trips
- Fri 13th Nov: PSA disco
- Mon 16th Nov: Y7 assessment week starts
- Tues 17th Nov: Y11 sixth form experience day
- Fri 20th Nov: Y10 ELSA careers day