Reading is one of the most powerful habits a young person can develop.

Recent research from the University of Cambridge highlights links between reading for pleasure and improved attention, memory, wellbeing and academic achievement. The evidence suggests that reading doesn’t just help students learn, it helps support healthy brain development too. You can read more about the research here: Reading for pleasure – and for better health.

The good news is that it doesn’t really matter what young people read. Novels, biographies, graphic novels, magazines, sports articles or books about their favourite hobby all count. The important thing is developing the habit and finding enjoyment in it. That’s why we talk about reading so much at MHS. We always knew it worked, and the recent research from Cambridge just underlines the fact.

Reading is just one of many ways our students can broaden their horizons beyond the classroom. Our new Extra-Curricular Programme for Autumn 2026 offers a huge range of opportunities for students to develop new skills, pursue their interests and make new friends. The offer is well worth looking at, as are the innovative ‘digital discoveries’ – there are SO MANY to have a go at.

My challenge this week is a simple one: pick up a book, join a club, and give something new a try. You might be surprised where it leads.

Best wishes

Joe Barker

As usual I write my Open Evening blog before going home after the event, in moment of calm after a hectic few hours.

What a fantastic evening.

Tonight, Marple Hall was filled with prospective students and their families, with packed halls, busy classrooms and a real sense of excitement throughout the school. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming and full of energy from start to finish. My thanks go to all the staff who worked so hard to make the evening a success. They represented Marple Hall brilliantly and helped show who we are so positively.

What made the evening extra special, however, was our students. An incredible 184 student helpers gave up their time to support the event, welcoming visitors, leading tours, answering questions and sharing their experiences of school life. They were exceptional ambassadors and a real credit to themselves, their families and our school. As I walked around the building, I heard countless comments about how polite, confident and friendly our students were. Those qualities cannot be captured in a brochure or a presentation. They are what visitors experience when they walk through our doors.

It was a privilege to be able to speak to well over a thousand people in our school hall over the three talks, following from a superb teaser from the ‘Mary Poppins’ cast. Not only that, but it was an honour to share the stage with Penny and Toby, Head girl and Head boy respectively. They spoke with such maturity, passion and enthusiasm, I could not have been more proud.

For families considering their next step, I hope tonight provided a genuine glimpse of our school: a place full of opportunity, ambition and kindness.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a memorable evening. What a school community we have.

Have a good weekend when it comes

Joe Barker

In this modern world with ever-changing technology, I quite like the fact that in schools at least we still value the humble pen. A pen is required for most students to access the learning in lessons, and by using a pen we have the best chance of knowing if a student’s work is actually their own and not that of a machine.

For as long as I can remember we have expected students to have a pen with them for every classroom based lesson, and students should be given a ‘strike’ if they don’t have one. However, it had become clear that in recent months the application of this rule had gone a bit fuzzy. Teachers, for all the right reasons, were lending out or giving pens whenever needed and not always issuing strikes. Although well intentioned and understandable in the moment, this generosity has some negative consequences. Firstly it brings in an element of unfairness. It’s not fair if my teacher gives me a strike for forgetting my pen, but my friend’s teacher lets them off. Secondly, if we just keep on giving out pens, then what are we communicating to the students? Maybe that being organised and ready to learn doesn’t matter – and that worries me. Finally, we are not the kind of school which can afford to hand out thousands of pens each year. We do support some families who need equipment and that’s right and proper, but it’s not sustainable in the long term to issues pens to hundreds of kids every day forever.

So, this year, I asked staff to be consistent with the ‘pen rule’. By all means lend pens if a child needs one in a lesson, but issue the strike to go with it. We also communicated to students a different way of looking at this issue. Rather than bring one pen that might go missing, the message is to bring THREE pens to school. ‘One to use, one to lose and one to lend‘. Don’t get me wrong, all that students absolutely have to do is to have a working pen when they need it – we are not checking that they have three – but the message to bring three seems to have really landed. My colleagues tell me that the starts to lessons this term have been transformed. No more chorus of ‘can I have a pen please miss‘ in the first five minutes. Just well organised students cracking on. So, parents and carers, please can you support this new mantra? Three pens is the way forward. One to use. One to lose. One to lend.

Secondly this week I’d just like to draw your attention to a lovely project that our students in Elements took part in last summer, working with a local ‘Marple Men in Sheds’ group to create a new garden area. Supported by Oliver’s Dragons and Wire Fence Supplies, the students and volunteers have done a great job. You can see some pictures of the work taking place here.

Wishing you all a great weekend,

Joe Barker

It has been a real pleasure to welcome students back to Marple Hall this week. Across yesterday and today I had the opportunity to meet with all five year groups in their first assemblies of the new term, and I left every one of them feeling optimistic about the months ahead. Each year group was fantastic. There was a calmness, maturity and attentiveness in every assembly that made a strong first impression. What struck me most, however, was the quiet determination I could see on so many faces. There seemed to be a shared sense of purpose as students settled back into school routines, ready to learn and make the most of the opportunities ahead of them.

As a headteacher, there is something incredibly energising about knowing that we have so many young people who are committed to their learning and determined to do their best. It is a privilege to work alongside them, and their attitude this week gives me great confidence for the term ahead.

The start of a new school year also brings new colleagues to our community, and I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the staff who have joined Marple Hall this term. We are delighted to have them with us and I know they will quickly become valued members of our school.

Here’s to a positive and rewarding term ahead.

Best wishes,

Joe Barker
Headteacher