WELCOME TO SIMON BALLE, YEAR 7!
Today marked the exciting beginning of a brand-new chapter for our new Year 7 students as they joined the Simon Balle community.

It was a fantastic first day, filled with introductions, an exciting Enrichment Fair and their first few lessons. We loved ...seeing everyone settling in, exploring their new surroundings and beginning to get to know the people who will be part of their journey.

And, of course, you all looked incredibly smart in your new Simon Balle uniforms!

We hope you’ve had a fantastic first day and that you’re already beginning to feel at home.

At Simon Balle, belonging matters. It’s about being part of something bigger, building friendships, supporting one another and growing together. Today was just the beginning of what we hope will be an amazing journey.

Welcome to Simon Balle, Year 7. We’re so pleased to have you with us!

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool

WELCOME BACK
We’re delighted to have opened our gates and begun a brand-new academic year at Simon Balle All-through School.

Yesterday, our staff came together for a day of training, focusing on what matters most: building a strong school culture, fostering a true sense of belonging ...and making every single day at school absolutely unmissable.

Today, it was wonderful to welcome our Reception, Year 7, Year 12 and Year 13 students back into school. It has been fantastic to see our school community come back to life and to welcome so many new faces.

Tomorrow, Thursday: all year groups return to school.

Whether you’re feeling excited, nervous or a mixture of both, that’s completely normal. Starting a new academic year or taking the next step in your journey is a big moment, but you’re not doing it alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead. We’re ready for it!

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool

OPEN DAY | BOOK YOUR CO-HEADTEACHERS' SPEECH
Our All-through Open Day is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to welcoming prospective Reception and Year 7 students and their families to Simon Balle on Saturday 26th September, 08:30-12:30.

Come and explore both our ...Primary and Secondary phases, meet our staff and students, discover our curriculum and enrichment opportunities, and experience what makes Simon Balle such a special place to learn.

NEW: Booking is now open for our Co-Headteachers' speeches.

Our Co-Headteachers, Mrs Rachel Kirk and Mr Michael Moss, will give presentations throughout the morning, providing an opportunity to hear more about our vision, values and approach to education.

Speech times:
• Secondary: 09:00
• Primary: 09:45
• Secondary: 10:30
• Secondary: 11:15

The speeches are free, but spaces are limited, so please book a ticket for each person attending who requires a seat.

BOOK YOUR SPEECH TICKET:
Book your Co-Headteachers' Speech
https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/annual-gala-6399

No booking is required to attend the Open Day itself.

Saturday 26th September 2026
08:30-12:30

We look forward to welcoming you to Simon Balle.

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool

PARENT SURVEY FEEDBACK
One of the best ways to understand how well we are doing, and to help shape our next steps, is through the feedback we receive from our stakeholders.

We are delighted to share that, in our recent Parent Survey, over 90% of parents agreed that their children are ...happy at Simon Balle, with 45% strongly agreeing.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and plays an important role in helping us celebrate what is working well while continuing to improve the experience we provide for all our students and families.

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool

YEAR 7 SUMMER SCHOOL
What a fantastic three days it has been welcoming our new Year 7 students to Simon Balle All-through School.

An incredible 96% of our new Year 7 cohort joined us for Summer School, making this one of our most successful Summer Schools yet.

Across the three... days, students have enjoyed a fantastic programme combining high-quality academic activities, pastoral support and a wide range of enrichment opportunities. From exploring new subjects and getting to know their teachers, to working together, trying new activities and making new friends, our new students have already begun to experience what makes Simon Balle special.

Most importantly, our students have been brilliant. They have thrown themselves into activities, engaged positively with staff and one another, and shown us exactly what they can achieve when given the opportunity.

Summer School has been about much more than simply preparing for September. It has been an opportunity to build relationships, establish expectations and create a real sense of belonging before the new school year begins.

We cannot wait to welcome our new Year 7 students back in September and continue the journey together.

A huge thank you to all of the staff who gave their time, energy, enthusiasm and care to make the three days such a success.

Year 7, you have made an amazing start. We are looking forward to seeing what you achieve.

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK
It has been an honour to be a part of the Simon Balle community.

Despite only being a student at Simon Balle for the past 2 years, my Sixth form experience will hold some of the fondest memories of my academic life. At the beginning of year 12, I believed that ...joining a new school would be extremely intimidating. However, the overwhelming kindness, support, and attentiveness from both students and staff allowed me to develop into the most confident, determined, and joyful version of myself, who I had not yet met. I can only thank Simon Balle for giving me the opportunity to flourish both personally, and academically, with the ability to challenge myself, and take on obstacles that I did not believe I was capable of.

Year 13 was a particularly memorable year, with a sense of community and togetherness among my peers in a very stressful time in our lives. Whether it was running together in the colour run, teaming up for our sixth form quiz, or contemplating how to structure our coursework during free periods, the students at Simon Balle were what really made it special.

As one of the student presidents involved in delivering speeches to young people and parents, I don’t think that any of my speeches can capture just how much Simon Balle has done for me. I am only grateful to have been able to call myself a representative, and give back to the school by getting involved in everything and anything I possibly could.

Thank you to all the amazing staff who have supported me through this journey, and to those I never had the chance to meet. I will be forever jealous of the next students representing our sixth form, and wish you all the best in your academic journeys.

Thank you and good luck!

Tahlia
Student President
2025-2026