Dance, exams and feedback

Welcome back to MHS after half term, I hope you all had a good week. We kicked off the new half term with the annual Dance Show, a wonderful reminder of what our students can achieve when talent, hard work and joy come together. Every performer on stage brought energy, commitment and a real sense of teamwork – students from our school, those from other schools and even some MHS Alumni too. These events don’t just happen, of course, and I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to Miss Griffies and her brilliant team. Their dedication, creativity and countless hours behind the scenes gave our young people a platform to express themselves and feel proud, and that matters enormously.

Looking ahead, next week marks the start of the Year 10 trial exams. For many students this will be their first taste of the pressure and rhythm of a formal exam season, and I know that can feel daunting. But I also know how capable they are, with the vast majority of them having already tasted success in Year 9. My message to Year 10 is simple: take a breath, do your best, and trust what you’ve learned. We believe in you, and we’re right behind you.

Finally, a little word about the Year 11 Trial exam season which concluded before the break. In assembly on Friday we explained to the students that they shouldn’t expect their exam papers to be handed back immediately in every subject. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that the students are keen to know how they did and what they need to do to improve – it says a lot about them and the school – but some subjects take longer to mark than others. It’s great to see students in Maths and other subjects getting papers back pretty much straight away, but as a full signed up member of the ‘takes-ages-to-mark’ gang like History, English and others, I’d appeal to students to just be a little patient!

Have a great weekend,

Joe Barker

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