Shameless advertising time for two upcoming events courtesy of MHS. Firstly, we have the annual summer ‘Spark Night’ taking place on Tuesday 14th July. More than a concert, this is a varied event with all sorts of creativity on offer and the perfect way experience a little of what ‘Spark’ means to MHS. Use the QR code below to get your tickets for £6.

Secondly, EARLY WARNING here of the next full school production, which next academic year will be Mary Poppins. Our school productions are always fantastic occasions and this is already looking like it will be a belter. Performances will be on October 13th, 14th and 15th 2026, and details on how to buy tickets will be released soon. Just £8 for a great night out!

Finally, well done to the Year 11 and Year 9 exam students for their determination and dedication to date. Still a lot of hard work to do, but just know that we are all very proud of you.

Have a great half term,

Joe Barker

This week has marked an important milestone, as our Year 11 students begin the main block of their GCSE examinations.

What has stood out most to me has been their attitude. There is a calm sense of purpose around the year group; a quiet determination to do their best, to support one another, and to keep going. They have approached this challenge with maturity, resilience and real commitment, and we are very proud of them. Of course qualifications are important, but they are not the ‘be all and end all’. At MHS we are not just preparing students for exams, we are hoping to instill the values of the Marple Hall Spirit to last a lifetime.

Supporting at Home

For parents and carers, this can be an intense time too. The most helpful support is often the simplest: providing a calm, reassuring presence, encouraging good routines (sleep, food and breaks), and being ready to listen when needed. It is also important to remember that feeling nervous is entirely normal, and can even help young people to stay focused.

For further practical advice, the NHS offers clear guidance for families. I hope it helps a little.

• Help your child beat exam stress

We wish all of our Year 11 students – and our Year 9 MFL, food and art students – every success in the weeks ahead.

Best wishes,

Joe

A focus on homework for this week’s blog.

In my humble opinion after 25 years in education (!), homework really matters. It helps pupils practise learning, build independence and develop habits that will serve them well beyond school. Learning doesn’t stop at the end of the day, and we expect homework to be completed consistently and thoughtfully. To this end, thank you to every parent and carer who does their bit and makes sure their children complete their homework on time.

I want to particularly recognise students working towards public examinations who are not only completing set homework, but also engaging in ‘additional learning’ too such as revisiting content, practising exam questions and attending extra sessions. This discretionary effort reflects real determination and readiness, and it will make a meaningful difference.

At the same time, our approach to ‘normal’ homework must reflect the Marple Hall Spirit.

For most pupils, high expectations mean completing homework fully and on time, and we will continue to hold students to account when that does not happen. However for some pupils, particularly those with specific needs, completion within the same timeframe can be genuinely difficult, even when they have additional support and are trying very hard. Where such a student works for the full amount of time set, gives their best effort, and this is communicated by home to the teacher via email or a note on the work, that effort will always be recognised and no sanction will be given. This is not about lowering standards; it is about acting with integrity, fairness and respect.

This is important because we value effort as well as outcome. We believe that trying hard, even when learning is tough, is an achievement in itself. Above all, we want pupils to feel encouraged to keep going, to feel that they belong, and to be supported to try their best the next time and the time after that too. As Miss Gregory often says to students, high standards and kindness go hand in hand. We do no favours by letting students off and lowering our expectations, but equally we do not sanction pupils for barriers they cannot control.

I hope that this clarifies our approach and thanks again for your support,

Best wishes

Joe Barker