Welcome

Welcome to our new online newsletter. This newsletter has a mobile friendly view for you to enjoy all of the action at Uffculme School on the go, as well as for us to trial videos as part of the publication, and of course being so much better for the environment.

Firstly, I’d like to say an incredibly fond farewell to Mr Roberts, our fantastic Deputy Headteacher who has spent the last 3 decades fighting for exceptional outcomes at Uffculme School, as he retires. Anyone who has had the pleasure of working with Mr Roberts; as a parent, student or member of staff, will know that he is completely devoted to enriching the lives of young people. He has contributed so much more than the academic outcomes of Year 11 including; the organisation of the Year 11 ski trip, Activities Week, careers, being an advocate for our Looked After Children and of course dedicated coaching of rugby teams to great success. We will miss Mr Roberts incredibly and we are very grateful he will be staying on in a Governance capacity to continue to drive Uffculme School forward.

We have had a wonderful term and I am so very grateful to work at Uffculme School. We have had some of my favourite events including the phenomenon that is House Music. Across the lunchtimes we had fierce fought battles for solos, bands and House choirs performing to a packed-out Venue with Yondercott winning overall. We also had an action-packed Anti Bullying week including lunchtime events such as ‘The Masked Teacher’ and ‘Dress to Impress’ where the anti-bullying ambassadors raised £1,500 for their project to develop a space in school for students to go for support and guidance from anti bullying ambassadors and the wellbeing ambassadors. The student leadership at Uffculme School continues to thrive and you will read more about our student leadership offer in this edition.

The annual craft fair was also a resounding success, despite the weather, with the PTFA raising important funds that go back into the school to support individual projects in the departments. Last year they supported the purchase of our DJ equipment (and so much more!) and our students’ Beat Lounge sessions have been superb! Please do see the photo gallery to see just how inspiring and exciting these courses have been.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank all of the incredible staff at Uffculme for all of the extra that they do. Our participation data is through the roof and between department trips and clubs, fixtures, outdoor education, residentials, performances, revision sessions, after school clubs, theatre performances, charity events…the list is endless…our students really get a fantastic deal.

This year has started with a flourish. Year 7 have been fully involved and shown that they are here to make a positive name for themselves. They have gained over 2,000 credits this term so far with an average of over 97% attendance – giving themselves every opportunity to gain new knowledge, experience new opportunities at school. We asked them to attend clubs and over 94% have taken up this opportunity. We ask for at least one club; many are doing more than 5 a week!

Our brand new Year 7 classes start their term with Team Building activities and we were impressed with how successfully and kindly they worked together. This is an incredibly strong year group full of enthusiasm, kindness and talent! Reflecting on their successes and highlights from the year so far, students are keen to share some of their favourite moments from being part of the Uffculme community.

Year 7 have thrown themselves headfirst into trying new clubs and activities including Dance, Drama, Media club, Choir, Science club, Soul Band and many have also become anti bullying ambassadors. Here is what Year 7 have had to say about the new opportunities:

Mr Lane has been so proud that 7 Lane have been throwing themselves into every possible opportunity at Uffculme school, whether that has been sports fixtures, house music rehearsals, castle building competitions and Halloween baking, to name but a few. They have become a real team already and become part of the wider house of Bridwell. The tutor group has recently reflected upon what they have found the most exciting parts about transferring to a secondary school and why is it so much better / different to a primary school.

“All the clubs are really inspiring to do, and I am looking forward to doing even more exciting things in the future at school.” Orla
“Uffculme is so different as there are so many opportunities to take up; I have been part of Art club, languages and loads of house competitions such as creating the anti -bullying poster.” Rosie
“Uffculme is so great, because of the sporting opportunities that it provides.” Teddy
“At Uffculme, we get to do lots of practicals (like cooking) and Uffculme provides lots of sports clubs, like dance club, which I love.” Rose
“At Uffculme, you can earn lots of different badges for all different subjects. I aim to get at least 4 this year.” Izzy

Lots of the Year 7 students have been sharing their favourite lessons and it is clear that so many lessons have been a huge hit. We have loved hearing about their favourite lessons and a few of our favourites are captured here.

After a busy and enjoyable first half term Miss Dodd wanted to share some of her tutor group reflections on the changes that they have been through since transitioning to Uffculme School.

“I have found having different teachers really exciting as it gives me a chance to experience different teaching” Amber
“Uffculme School offers students so many opportunities such as clubs, events, trips, and much more” Ruby
“The most exciting part of school is the science lessons with practical experiments!” Patrick
“I have really enjoyed all the sporting opportunities and clubs. I am also enjoying the responsibility and sense of freedom that is a new feeling” Jacob
“The main thing I have enjoyed is meeting new people and making new friends” Lochy

I know that the Year group will continue to involve themselves further in the lessons and wider enrichment on offer at Uffculme School. Well done on a fabulous first term Year 7!

Miss Bartlett, Head of Y7

Year 8 on the French Cycling Trip (Year 7 Activities Week 2025)

Having spent the last 4 years with a group of students who I knew incredibly well, it has been a half term of learning over two hundred new names: quite the challenge! I consider myself incredibly fortunate that Miss Bartlett handed over such a talented and conscientious group of students. They certainly appear to have bought into the ethos of our school and are happy to take advantage of the opportunities on offer. During our assembly, on day one this year, I made it clear that we should all be aspiring to learn from our inevitable errors and look to make improvements each day.

I’m doing my best to get into many lessons as possible to see the year group at work, and I have been thoroughly impressed with what I have witnessed so far. From what I have seen we have a fabulous group of individuals who look set to work hard, play hard and generally get stuck in to any activity or challenge set before them.

We’ve seen examples of ‘getting stuck in’ in several areas, the sports field has seen strong performances for both the boys and girls football teams, rugby victories to celebrate as well as netball success. Cross Country and Badminton have also seen some incredible performances from Year 8 students. We have also just launched the Inter Tutor Contest which is an opportunity for the students to win prizes whilst pitting their wits against adversaries from other groups.

The students are currently preparing for participating in the House Choir competition and there has been a strong take up by Year 8; I cannot wait to see what the teams have created when the competition arrives in the next couple of weeks. Creativity is not a skill that the year group are lacking in as I had the pleasure of joining the African drumming workshop with some groups and the talent on show by most(!) was something else. On top of this, I have observed the design and creation of board games by the students in Year 8, I also got to smell, but sadly not taste, some of the Thai Curry produced by our students too.

From what I have seen thus far, Year 8 are putting the building blocks in place to truly excel during their time at Uffculme and make every success of their school days, I really can’t wait to see what students of such a high calibre can achieve.

Year 8 Aspire

The Aspire programme was launched for Year 8 students with a Communication and Presentation workshop. Students participated in sessions involving voice projection, debating skills and sign language! Following these sessions, students were then asked to present on a topic of their choice, either individually or in groups. Topics included ‘is a jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit’ , ‘meat vs vegetarianism’ and ‘December is the best month of the year’. These are clearly very important topics and students used the skills they learnt in the previous sessions to deliver very effective and engaging presentations!

Mr Burt, Head of Year 8

Year 9 have had a fantastic start back to school this term. This is a big year for the students as they will begin to think about the options they want to pursue into Key Stage 4. Additionally, students will be doing assessments throughout the year to build towards their final Key Stage 3 grade. It’s been great to see how well the year group have approached their first term and the effort being put in across all subjects.

One of Uffculme’s greatest strengths is the wide range of extracurricular activities provided at lunch and after school. There is a clear correlation between involvement in these activities and overall enjoyment at school, as well as a link with academic outcomes. Happily, we have seen a huge number of students taking part in extracurricular activities this term. 91% of the year group have engaged in some extracurricular activity since September and nearly three quarters of the year group have maintained this for at least five sessions – a phenomenal turn out. Please do keep encouraging your children to take advantage of the opportunities provided.

Year 9 on Beach Camp (Year 8 Activities Week 2025)

This term has also seen students representing the school in a number of sporting activities, including rugby, hockey, football, basketball, and netball to name a few. A record number of students have also signed up for and been accepted into the prestigious JSLA program – a huge achievement for those involved.

Separately, a number of Year 9 students have been involved with the weekly School of Rock rehearsals. The show takes place in February 2026 and is set to be a spectacle of musicianship, drama and dance. Don’t forget to get your tickets when they go on sale!

Finally, I have been very proud to see students engaging with leadership roles available to them including STEM leaders, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, Reading Mentors and many others. These roles prepare students brilliantly for leadership positions later on, both in school and beyond. Just next year we will be looking to the year group to apply for the Senior Council and the positions of Head Girl and Boy and their deputies ready for when they move into Year 11.

With so much going on for the year group and so many seizing every opportunity available to them, I have no doubt that they will continue to show themselves in an excellent light and look forward to watching them as they work through the year.

Mr Hagan, Head of Year 9

The year started positively with pupils engaging brilliantly with their new GCSE subject choices.

The Key Stage 4 information evening was a fantastic opportunity for parents to gain practical tips on revision strategies and give parents advice on how they can best support their child during the examination period.

Year 10 have once again fully engaged in the amazing extra -curricular programme that Uffculme School has on offer. We had an incredible 100 pupils that took part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and hope to see a large number of them take on the challenge of the Silver Award. Ten Tors training is well underway with expeditions taking place on Dartmoor. Vast numbers have signed up for the Geography trip to Iceland and shortly the Year 11 ski trip will be launched to the year group.

Year 10 on Paris trip (Year 9 Activities Week 2025)

Year 10 students have been supporting pupils in the year groups through peer mentoring and peer reading. We have also had a strong engagement with the year group supporting with the Eco council, school council and bullying ambassadors.

House points have been hotly contested with events such as Cross Country, House Music and the Maths challenge.

Pupils will soon be applying to departments and staff for Prefect roles which is a privileged position among many departments. This responsibility is excellent for college applications along with Work Experience placements which are now in the final stages of application. I have been really impressed with how mature the pupils have been with their Work Experience applications and some have secured some very exciting placements for July.

With the mock RE and English exams just around the corner I would like to take this opportunity to wish all pupils the best of luck and I trust they will apply themselves sensibly to their studies and work with their teachers to achieve their very best.

Mrs Lyne-Ley, Head of Year 10

Year 11 have made an excellent start to the term. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many lessons already, and it’s been fantastic to see the focus and commitment students are showing towards their studies. With some subjects working on NEA tasks and others preparing for mock and final exams, it’s crucial that students give their best effort in every subject.

Recently, the year group has benefited from visits by local colleges during assemblies, as well as drop-in sessions on Wednesdays. These opportunities have been invaluable in helping students explore their options for post-16 education. We encourage all students to begin their college applications now to maximize their chances of securing the places they want. Remember, students can apply to multiple colleges and should keep an open mind about future pathways.

Attendance remains a key priority as we approach the important exam season. Lesson attendance and opting in to the revision sessions kindly put on by staff in the Spring term will be crucial to future success. I urge all students to plan their revision time well, to focus in every lesson and make efforts to raise their attendance as high as possible. Research from 2024 shows that students with attendance below 90% typically achieved lower grades than expected. At 75–80%, progress dropped by nearly a whole grade, and at 65–70%, by around a grade and a half. Every day in school truly makes a difference.

As ever at Uffculme opportunities outside of the classroom have been boundless and the Year group have fully committed as they have over the past four years. Highlights have been the completion of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, Peer mentoring the younger members of the school and becoming anti-bullying ambassadors. 140 of the year group are about to embark on a trip of a lifetime to Austria on the School ski trip. It has been wonderful to see students embracing extracurricular activities. Sports teams are thriving, the cast of ‘School of Rock are rehearsing twice a week, lunch clubs are buzzing, and the Senior Council are making an excellent contribution to improving pupils' experiences while at Uffculme.

Year 11 across a range of Summer and Autumn term activities

I look forward to supporting every pupil in their final two terms of secondary school and am confident they will meet and exceed all our expectations.

Mr Heard, Head of Year 11

Our Year 7 classes have made an excellent start to their artistic journey at Uffculme, exploring some of the formal fundamentals of creating works of art, such as line, shape, and form. Having begun the term with drawing exercises, they have gone on to produce outstanding homework pieces inspired by the sculptor Peter Randall-Page. They are now developing their sculpting skills by making clay tiles in the style of a South African ceramicist, Jane du Rand. We look forward to showcasing these soon.

Year 8 have been refining their historical knowledge by focusing on an art movement that wanted to break from traditional depictions of still life: Cubism. Through studying the works of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, they have explored both Analytical and Synthetic Cubism, producing their own interpretations using oil pastels and monochromatic colour schemes. This project has challenged their drawings, composition and design skills alongside developing their understanding of how art movements evolve. They are now translating their designs to work that is three-dimensional, using cardboard to build up relief sculptures.

For Year 9, the first half of the autumn term has revolved around the development of perspective and architectural drawing. Inspired by the intricate cityscapes of Stephen Wiltshire and the atmospheric watercolours of John Piper - particularly his depictions of Bath’s bombed buildings during the Blitz. Students have produced mixed media work and are currently finishing off their final pieces for this project. We have had many beautiful homework’s from this year group that we wanted to show off in the newsletter.

Year 9 homwork stephen wiltshire copy.jpeg

Year 10, now fully immersed in their GCSE studies, began the term with an inspiring trip to Cornwall. Visiting Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum gave students the opportunity to see art up close. Pupils took part in an evening sea shanty workshop and a morning sand sculpture task, then on the way home we stopped in at the Eden Project to gather drawings, photos and ideas for their current flora and fauna-themed coursework. In the classroom we have looked at the work of Piet Mondrian, focusing on his earlier work before his move into pure abstraction. Many of his paintings were inspired by trees and flowers as he developed his own expressive and abstracted style.

Year 11 have now completed their two-day mock exams, producing final pieces that reflect the individuality and skill they have developed over the last four years. Some made large-scale bold paintings, others intricate mixed media drawings and one pupil created a geometric Modroc sculpture. These projects mark an important milestone as they prepare for their final GCSE assessments after the Christmas break.

Beyond the classroom, our extra-curricular activities have bought into the festive spirit. Our KS3 Art Club have been busy painting angels for a local nativity trail. They were inspired by the gold patterning of Gustav Klimt’s paintings. Pupils are also busy working on entries for our annual Christmas card competition, and we look forward to sharing their designs soon.

Our Year 10 and 11 art students embarked on a fantastic journey to the beautiful coastal town of St Ives – always a beautiful place. We arrived and were straight into the art with half the group visiting the Tate Modern and the other experiencing Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden. Plenty of opportunity at both for sketching, photography and inspiration. We then enjoyed the all-important lunch break with pasties, ice creams and more, most importantly steering clear of the seagulls. In the afternoon the students swapped venues, saw more of the town before checking in to our accommodation. The evening bought pizzas and the opportunity to write and perform sea Shanties led by “The Melodies of Cornwall”. We finished with an evening walk before bed. The second day started with sand sculptures before heading to the Eden project for an inspirational visit. A very busy and artistic two days.

Year 11 Geography Field Trip:
Exploring Regeneration at Bristol Harbourside

As part of their preparation for Paper 3 of the Geography GCSE, this year’s cohort of Year 11 students took part in the annual human geography field trip to Bristol Harbourside, continuing our tradition of experiencing one of the UK’s most dynamic urban regeneration projects.

The day kicked off with a guided boat tour around the harbourside, offering students a fresh vantage point on the area’s evolution. From the water, they observed the striking blend of historic dockside buildings and sleek modern developments. Many of the old warehouses have been transformed into stylish apartments, buzzing cafes, and creative workspaces (some students suspect I navigate by coffee shop location!). Our guide shared fascinating insights -including the surprising fact that the original plans once proposed the M32 motorway slicing right through the Harbourside!

After the boat tour, students split into groups to gather data at key locations including Millennium Square, Wapping Wharf, and the redeveloped gas works site. They assessed environmental quality, land use, and the availability of services and amenities—critical evidence for answering their fieldwork enquiry question.

No Harbourside trip would be complete without a visit to Za Za Bazaar. Students rounded off the day with a celebratory meal, enjoying the vibrant setting and global cuisine - a fitting reward after a busy morning of exploration and analysis.

This year’s trip was another resounding success, deepening students’ understanding of urban regeneration and giving them the tools to critically evaluate its impacts. The data they collected will be central to their exam responses, and the experience has undoubtedly strengthened their geographical skills and confidence.

This year’s house writing competition was all about new beginnings. In their English lessons, pupils were asked to write about a new start, a new hobby, a new future, a new place – whatever took their imagination! As always, there was a brilliant range of ideas and interpretations – which made judging and selecting the winning entries especially difficult.

Entries included evocative descriptions of new days and new seasons, exciting accounts of new hobbies and achievements – and even a description of Dr Who’s regeneration. Well done to all who entered!

The overall winner went to an entry that was thought-provoking and intriguing. Upon first reading, the piece seemed to have little to do with new beginnings, but cleverly, this student turns the reader’s expectations upside down and imagines an ending becoming something new…even if it did mean the demise of humankind! Congratulations to Theo I-H in 9 Wood who takes the win for Craddock.

Y9 Gold Award and Winner of the Cameron Cup for writing 2025 - Theo I-H

The signs only came when it was too late. It couldn’t be stopped; at least it would be quick. We knew that our time was coming near its end. The meteor was closing in and all we could so was spend our last moments wisely. Some people embraced, while others cried and screamed. Yet it all fell silent as the meteor hit. Scientists were too slow to discover it. Years after this tragic event unfolded, the earth began to heal: global warming slowed, pollution decreased, and new life was soon to emerge. Sometimes, the worst things lead to the best…
The gold, silver, and bronze winners, as well as runners-up, can also be enjoyed below:
Sam G - Y7 Gold Award
As I woke up underwater, I found myself kicking around. I quickly swam up to the surface, water filling my lungs. Then I splashed up to the surface, letting the sun warm my face. I looked around for any signs of land. “Nope,” I said calmly. Well, I can't tread water forever, so… I swam north because that’s the way the clouds were going. As I swam, I saw a thing in the distance that looked like a hill.
“Land!” I shouted. I swam as fast as I could. “Finally!” I kissed the ground—half happy, half sad.
James K - Y7 Silver Award
The atmosphere was electric: the clatter of boots, the tactics of our coach and the hum of adrenaline shooting through my veins. The new season was like a ripe piece of fruit, yet bitter; the new season was not going to be a walk in the park. My thoughts were spinning away when my friend Rohan said, “Are you ready”. I simply replied saying, ”yes thanks”. However, my insides were protesting throwing snowballs of nerves at me (well, that’s what it felt like). I took a deep inhale and stepped out onto the damp grass. Then the whistle blew!
Lauren R -Y7 Bronze award
My collar was uneven, my tie lopsided. The uniform, crisp, clean, and fresh, felt uncomfortable to wear. I stepped outside into the chilly morning air, filling my lungs. The sun beamed, warming me. Feeling anxious, the sight of my old primary school friends made me excited. The bus screeched and stopped before me. Stepping onto the bus, I sighed—thrilling! Stumbling down the aisle, I found an empty seat. The bus twitched forward and we were off! Terror filled me, clouding my mind. The chatter grew louder. When we turned the corner, the majestic school stood before me. At last!
Eli L-Y - Y8 Bronze award
Your new chapter starts now. You’ve moved house, unfamiliar with the new environment. The house is empty and you have a gut-twisting feeling about this house – an unsettling feeling. But what though? You feel as if this is the start of something horrible: depressing, uncomfortable and drained of potential. This doesn’t feel right for you. But now you know that since this is a new beginning, you should make the most out of it. Adapt to what you don’t like and make it fine for yourself. This is your life – your only one – your best one. Make it happen.
Izzy C -Y8 Gold Award
It's a new beginning!
Time moves slow.
Sapphire colour sky brings joy,
And we remember those who have passed.
New beginnings, start of a new life.
Even better starts.
Why do we live? Why do we breathe?
Begin to stumble, begin to fall.
Establish how to read, create a new story.
Get going on a new adventure.
Initiate, begin, set-off.
New days dawn.
New days pass.
I embark on a new journey.
Negotiate a time and place, somewhere high and dry.
Go and live your dream.
Start: launch? Set out! Reach. Then face the challenge ahead of you.
With great pride.
Kimberly C - Y8 Bronze Award
It was the night before my plane ride, and yet I was still sitting next to my sister, who was thankfully sleeping peacefully in a bed that made her frail body look even smaller. As I drifted off into my thoughts to the sound of hospital machines beeping around us, I felt a tinge of guilt. I felt like I was abandoning her—just like our egotistical parents who had coldly disregarded us to go “find themselves.” Remembering all this was meant to make me despair, but instead, it gave me a newfound resolve to strive for a brighter future.
Amber M - Y9 Silver Award
The crown of his head peaked over the sombre horizon. Hazy dredges of light flittered across the Earth. The sun warily began to rise. His light tiptoed down through canopies of trees beginning to make the tarmac roads simmer.
Dawn lazed about, stewing in the streets, unperturbed and unheard by the people still asleep. Soon - but begrudgingly – they began to awake.
Floods of people left their homes, coffee in their wake. The streets began to buzz gleefully; the Earth came alive. The sun’s privacy became fleeting. However, he did not mind, for all the uttered “Good mornings!” were definitely worthwhile.
James F - Y9 Bronze Award
A stem sprouted out of the floating mud. It stood alone in a field that was once full of life but now lay dormant. The stem (which had now sprouted leaves upon its fine edges) stood in solitude amongst the long rolling fields, all seemingly devoid of life. The silence that lay around it was oddly deafening; the land that stood around it could - to be fair – be likened to a graveyard of lost souls. Petals shades of scarlet unfurled themselves into a beautifully vibrant plant, in contrast to what lay around it. Here, in Flanders Fields, a poppy had blossomed.
George B - Y9 Bronze Award
A blank page. That’s all it was. Anyone else would see a boring old piece of plain paper. But – to me – it was anything I wanted it to be: fantasy worlds filled with dragons and magic or sci-fi wars fought in space. When I put my pen to paper, anything was possible. I had an infinite number of possibilities waiting at my fingertips. So, was it really a blank page? No: it was an endless source of creativity and imagination. An eternal stream of ideas flowed out of the page flooding my mind with stories waiting to be written.

Runners Up - receiving 10 house points each:

Year 7 - Edie P, Eliza D, Paddy M, Isla D, Teddy S, Niamh M, Mille W, Robert M, Elliot C, Lillian P, Reuben P, Amelia H

Year 8 - Lily B, Mabel D, Archie A, Charlie H, Megan M, Jess L, Evie A, Ollie V, Mia W, James H, Zoe G, Rosie P, Mille P, Jack V, Tom L-Y, Ruby C

Year 9 - Mollie J, Lilly G, Jack D, Darcy C, Alfie C, Xinen H, Liberty J, Mya L, Rhiannon W, Freya B, Isla VH, Elli C, Libby C, Seth D, Autumn J, Amber S, Megan B, Arthur R, Evie F, Phoebe E, Darren L, Jazmin D, Maisie S, Arthur M

Uff Writes

Below is a sample from the first termly Uff Writes Anthology. It is a chance to celebrate all the talented writers we have here at Uffculme School. The anthology has been advertised, collated and designed entirely by our student editorial team and, I think you'll agree, they've done brilliantly. There are some beautiful pieces of writing and illustrations to accompany. 

All entries will receive 10 house points and there are hard-copies of the anthology in the trays of published students' and editors' tutors.

Year 7 students showed incredible imagination and skill in this year’s Castle Building Competition! From towering fortresses made of recyclable materials to intricate designs crafted from clay, nature, and even gingerbread and cake, the entries were as creative as they were impressive.

Using everything from cans and cardboard to twigs and icing, students brought history to life with their unique interpretations of medieval castles. The judges were amazed by the level of detail, effort, and originality on display.

Well done to everyone who took part — your creativity and hard work truly made this a castle competition to remember! 

What is Christian Union?

It is an informal gathering to discuss the bible and a place to feel comfortable asking questions in relation to God, Jesus or the bible. It is for those wishing to develop their understanding of Jesus, share their thoughts and learn more of Jesus’ teachings.

We have discussed a variety of topics this term ranging from dinosaurs to hell. We have learnt a lot from each other and have been able to consider others’ views as well as being able to consolidate our own opinions.

All are welcome to join and discuss with us on Thursdays at 2pm in P6.

Rev. Ben Maynard and Mrs Statton

Dance has thrived this half term. The new Years 7s have taken to dance with enthusiasm and energy. Year 8 students proven their commitment again and have begun their Christmas dance. Year 9s have been wonderful, many helping with the younger years after school as well as choreographing and learning their own pieces. Year 10 students have started their GCSE Dance course with excitement as well as brilliant motivation. Furthermore, lots of them are giving up their free time to act as leaders to the years below. It is fantastic to see their confidence growing by the week. Finally, Year 11 students have completed 30% of their practical GCSE exam in the for of Trios and Set Phrases. They have also commenced their choreography pieces with a combined total of 85 Year 8, 9 and 10 students participating in their dances. I couldn’t be prouder of how seriously they are taking their studies and how hard they work. We have not stopped and around 100 students are so excited to perform three dance Winterfest!
Miss Mitir and Miss Roberts

The focus of the Eco Council for this year is to earn the school it’s Green Flag award. This is continued on from the efforts of last year. The flag is awarded through a group called Eco Schools.

So far, the Eco Council have completed an environmental review of the school, this has helped us to understand which areas we need to work on, for us this year they are: Marine, Litter and Biodiversity. We will now create an action plan to ensure we take action to help improve our three highlighted areas of need.

We will continue to help reduce our waste by recycling pens. These boxes can be found in classrooms and for staff in their staff rooms. Please help to reduce waste and keep recycling your old pens.

To highlight the impact of Fast Fashion to the environment the Eco Council led an assembly to all Year groups, they highlighted the effects that buying clothing and only wearing it once or twice has on the environment.

85% textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated

92 million tonnes of clothes sent to landfill every year (enough to fill the Empire State Building 1.5 times a day)
The carbon footprint of clothes bought in the UK every minute is equivalent to driving around the world 6 times

The clothing industry is the 2nd largest consumer of water and fresh water polluter in the world with 2,700 litres used to make one T-shirt.

BUT, there are ways YOU can help!

Buy less – Why do you want it?

Think before you buy – Do you need it? Do you love it?

Research your shop or shop second hand – What is it made from?

Wash less and wash cold
Donate or sell
The Eco Council ran a Christmas Jumper swap again this year to give everyone the opportunity to donate their Christmas jumper and swap it for a different one – reducing their environmental impact and gaining a new Christmas jumper for the season.
Mrs Statton and the Eco Council

House Competitions Heat Up in Term One!

What an incredible start to the year! Term One has seen a record-breaking number of students getting involved in our House Competitions, and the energy across the school has been electric. From science quizzes to sports challenges, creative writing to art contests, every subject has stepped up to deliver a fantastic range of events. A huge thank you goes to our dedicated staff, who have gone above and beyond to make these competitions possible.

Newly appointed Year 10 House Captains are as follows:

Bridwell: Eowyn P, Ruan T

Craddock: Harriett F, Archie F

Gaddon: Imogen L, Eliot P

Yondercott: Olivia B, Harrison K

This year, we’ve introduced several brand-new competitions alongside our much-loved classics, giving everyone even more opportunities to showcase their talents. And speaking of classics, a special mention must go to the Music Department for hosting the unbelievable and prestigious House Music Competition—a highlight of the term for many, with an overall win for Yondercott this year!

The race for the House Cup is tighter than ever. An update on the current standings will be revealed on the dining hall screens after Christmas, so keep your eyes peeled! The competition is fierce—will anyone be able to take the House Cup from Bridwell’s grasp? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the passion and participation this term have been nothing short of inspiring.

Keep competing, keep supporting, and let’s make Term Two even bigger!

Mr Phillips

House Music Competition

A hard-fought battle of the four houses of Uffculme School resulted in a spectacular triumph for the once down-on-their-luck house, Yondercott.  Through three rounds of mellifluous majesty, the houses waged musical war - each house putting forward their top players in the hope of getting their ribbons on the coveted cup. This year was not only the best in terms of musical calibre, it was also the best attended in the auditorium.  A packed house each day enjoyed performances the quality of which is rarely seen outside of the Albert Hall.

Group winner - Yondercott

Solo winner - Bridwell

Choir winner - Gaddon

Most auditions - Yondercott

Most in the choir - Craddock

Most in the audience - tied Bridwell & Craddock

FINAL RESULTS

Yondercott - 2014
Gaddon - 1831
Bridwell - 1830
Craddock - 1745

Finally, one more huge thanks to everyone for supporting house music through auditions, judging, supervising the audience, singing in the choirs, organising bands, sorting accessories/props, and everything else.  House Music returns again in 2026!

Inter-School Debating Competition:
Round 1

Two inexperienced, but enthusiastic teams journeyed to Blundell’s for round 1 of the inaugural Inter-School Debating Competition. The competition has 3 rounds across the 3 terms of the school year. Blundell’s hosted first, Uffculme will host round 2 in March and Wellington will host round 3 in June.

All teams had two weeks to prepare their responses and practise their performances. Our first motion was topical: This house would abolish the monarchy and establish a republic, whilst the second was more challenging: This house believes that artists should be free to offend.

Both the teams from Blundell’s and Wellington School were seasoned debaters. The Wellington team had competed at the ESU debating competition the day before. Despite our nerves, both teams did us proud. They performed eloquently, denied points of interest with confidence and answered questions from the audience knowledgeably. This time Blundell’s were victorious, but Flora did receive a highly commended certificate for her spirited question answering!

We feel more confident in what is expected of us for next time and were given useful advice from the judges on how to score more highly in the next round.

Thank you to Councillor Natasha Bradshaw for accepting the role as judge on behalf of Uffculme School.

Well Done and thank you to all team members: Flora C, Ethan S, Jagoda K, Beth M, Libby C, Brooke M, Anna A and Anna S.

KS3 Touch typing progress update

At the start of every ICT lesson, KS3 students spend 10 minutes practicing their touch typing skills. Once each half term we also measure their wpm (words per minute) score. Here are the averages for each year group. Why not ask you child what their wpm score is?

Yr 7: 21.1 wpm

Yr 8: 29.1 wpm

Yr 9: 32.8 wpm

As a bonus, from November, all Y9 students are being encouraged to cover their hands whilst touch typing in order to improve their speed and accuracy. They cover their hands with an official "ICT towel" - do ask your child how they are getting on with this.

As ever, the website we use is called 'Typing Club' and is public access so students can get onto this website from home too.

We extend a very warm welcome to all new students this term and especially to those joining us in Year 7. They are making an excellent start as library users, borrowing books and playing Chess, Uno and Scrabble at break and lunchtimes. Again, this year we have been fortunate to receive significant funding from the PTFA which enables us to provide a new fiction book for all Year 7 students through the BookBuzz scheme. We hope students enjoy their new books and that this will support their reading for pleasure journey at Uffculme School.

This term we have been focusing on expanding our KS4 stock and are in the process of creating a new area within the library for Year 10 & 11 students. There will be a wide range of young adult fiction and nonfiction books which we hope will encourage students to expand their reading fluency and wider reading experience.

The library celebrated Black History Month in October with a very successful House Quiz. 31 tutor groups took part, with 9 Steele, 10 Maddicks and 11Kemp correctly answering all questions to win maximum points for their Houses.

Mrs Davies

We celebrated European Day of Languages back in September with tutor groups competing in a languages quiz for house points – 10 Duncan and 10 Maddicks were victorious!

Year 7 students were given a languages ‘passport’ and had a week to complete language-related activities for different school subjects, with all entries awarded house points. Craddock came out on top!

Students were also encouraged to answer the register in a different language and at lunchtime we did a treasure hunt around the Languages department, finding out facts along the way, from the origins of different words to discovering what well-known people from other countries became famous for.

Languages Club
During the first half of the autumn term we watched the film ‘Encanto’, which is set in Colombia, in Spanish, whilst learning some vocabulary to talk about family members and their characteristics.
This half term we are about to start learning some Italian with teacher, Mr Paronuzzi – this will definitely also involve sampling some Italian food!

Christmas Card Competition
This half term students are being encouraged to mix their language skills with their creativity and design a Christmas card which celebrates the language and traditions of another country. Watch this space for the results!

Languages Badges
This year we are introducing bronze, silver and gold badges for Languages, with something to work towards across the year groups. Around 10 students have already achieved the bronze and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new badge!

Mrs Embley

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Our Year 7 students have made an impressive start to the year, developing both theory and practical skills and knowledge with real enthusiasm. Most recently they have made some wonderful Crumbles and Scones, taking great pride in their finished products and learning. Well done Year 7!

Take a look below at some of the thoughtful reflections our Year 7 students have shared about their learning in the subject so far:

Year 8 and 9
Our Year 8 and 9 students have shown great dedication so far this term. Year 8 have most recently produced some excellent Cheesecakes, Bread Rolls and Pizzas, demonstrating growing confidence in their practical skills. Year 9 have been expanding their knowledge of sauces, cake-making and pastry-making. They have recently impressed us with their Swiss Rolls and Sausage Rolls. Well done to all students for their hard work and creativity!

Key Stage 4

GCSE Year 10

Year 10 have been focusing on learning new skills and dishes in line with the Food and Nutrition GCSE specification. They are a wonderful bunch of students who are so enthusiastic and willing to learn both practically and theoretically. Some example dishes made have been lasagne, scotch eggs, chicken pie, chickpea curry and egg custard tarts. During their theory lessons they have been looking at what a balanced diet should look like, proteins, fats and nutritional needs for different age groups as well as learning how to create effective revision resources to use. Well done Year 10! Miss Mitir

GCSE Year 11

Year 11 have been busy working hard on their first Non-Exam Assessment Task looking at the functional and chemical properties of ingredients and applying their Food Science knowledge to practical investigations. They are continuing to work outside the lesson time to prepare for their upcoming mock exam too. Well done for all your hard work so far Year 11!

Hospitality and Catering - Year 10

Year 10 Hospitality and Catering have made a fantastic start to their course. They are all super keen to cook and started off the course showing their skills and what they enjoy making with their Own Choice practical. This was followed by developing their skills making puff pastry and using it to make sausage plaits. The groups were then challenged to make panna cotta and present it with some shortbread and coulis. They groups excelled and showed some amazing presentation techniques. We ended the half term with some eggsperiments, understanding the functions of eggs in different recipes and how versatile an egg can be. For their theory we have been looking at Food Safety and understanding how food can cause ill health.

The second half of the term we turn to developing our knowledge on nutrition. Working alongside this we are making pasta, chicken ballotine and chocolate roulade. To extend their skills using the knife we will be practicing different knife cuts with vegetables e.g. brunoise, carre and julienne. Good luck Year 10.

Year 11

Year 11 Hospitality and Catering are consolidating the information they have learnt in Year 10 and implemented this into various theory and practical tasks. They are preparing for their Unit 2 coursework by completing a mock piece of coursework and have practised various high-level dishes to enhance their skills. They continue to work on their theory knowledge in preparation for their Unit 1 mock exam. The students are all keen to do well and perform to the best of their abilities. Keep up the good work Year 11.
Mrs Statton

House Competitions

We had a fantastic and creative effort from students this term for the Halloween Bakes competition with a number of impressively spooky entries. Thank you to all students who took part and a big well done to Bridwell who gained the most House Points overall!

I am very proud to say that the extracurricular uptake has been superb this year: an incredibly busy term packed with cup competitions, central venue tournaments and friendlies. I would like to thank the PE department and countless other staff for their continual commitment to delivering these wonderful opportunities and driving the culture of the school. 

Football
The football season is well under way, and we are very pleased to say that our entry into national competitions is the biggest it has ever been for both Girls and Boys football. All year groups have been training weekly and we are seeing the result of this in the team’s performances. The uptake for all year groups has been so strong this year that every year group has run both A and B teams already participating in friendly fixtures.

Highlight performances so far this year include the Year 7 boy’s dominant, possession-based display in a 5-1 victory against Court Fields and an excellent 4-3 victory against Exmouth in the National Cup. The team are proving to be an exceptional squad allowing us plenty of rotation and the selection of A and B team fixtures. We eagerly await their season starting in both the East Devon and County cup competitions from January.

Girls Football
The girls have been out in action, playing in cup matches and friendly fixtures this term. There have been some strong performances across all the age groups with players of all ability levels having games in intra and inter school fixtures. We have had new players joining most squads which has been a great addition to the teams, and we have welcomed all the year 7s out to the pitch. The U13 girls have survived the longest in the cup - with Exmouth to play in the next round. Good luck girls! A big thank you must also go to the year 9 sports leaders girls who have been out supporting the lunchtime 7 & 8 club!
Mr Lane and Mrs Melia

Hockey
It has been a fantastic start to the hockey season. Both our U14 and U16 teams opened with strong wins against Wellington School’s B/C sides. The U13A and U13B teams played Kings Ottery, with the A team narrowly edged out in a close match, while the B team secured a well-deserved victory. Both teams then went on to record further wins against Wellington’s B/C sides – an excellent achievement from all involved.

In addition, our U14, U13 and U12 teams have enjoyed friendly fixtures against Maynard’s, and the U13s also represented the school at the U13 In2Hockey Tournament hosted by Blundell’s School. We now look ahead to the U16s’ East Devon Tournament later in the Autumn term, where we wish them the very best of luck.
Miss Roberts

Rugby
The Year 7 rugby team have started off excellently getting used to contact rugby. They have had seven games against local state and private schools where they have now started to identify individual positions and gain confidence in the tackle area. Mr Roberts (wanting to leave a legacy!) has coached them magnificently, and I know the boys will join me in thanking him massively for all the hours he has put in to supporting them with their rugby.

The Year 8 Rugby team has been lacking in numbers, but the regular 16 who have turned up each week have improved massively, Mr Hodson has coached the team brilliantly and they have developed their rucking and passing. They have played in the East Devon Central venue tournaments and competed very well with a couple of strong wins under their belts.

The Year 9 team narrowly lost their first round Exeter & East Devon cup game, but have not looked back since then being undefeated for the rest of the term. A great 52-24 victory over Wellington School was the highlight where the boys showed their attacking skills and played some expansive rugby in tough conditions.

The Year 10 team have had a fantastic Autumn term of Rugby unfortunately they narrowly lost to Plymouth College in the Devon cup. This led to them entering the plate competition. There were some brilliant performances, beating Colyton Grammar School and narrowly losing to Wellington School. They now find themselves in the National plate competition where they will face Mount Kelly School.

The Year 11 team have a strong number of club rugby players and have proven a very physical side. Mr Preece has coached the side and forged good links with local clubs, with the aim that the boys will continue to enjoy rugby post' Uffculme School. Good wins over Kings Taunton and Blundells B team have been the highlights and the sides are now focussing on rugby 7s. They have received successful entry into the National competition at Rosslyn Park on 24th March, along with our Under 14s boys' team and for the first time our Under 16s Girls' team. We wish the boys and girls the best of luck in the world’s largest rugby competition.

Girls Rugby is now in full swing and the Under 16s have fixtures booked in against Clyst Vale, Honiton and Colyton Grammar School. Several of the girls have been attending training sessions at Blundells school where they have joined with other girls from Mid Devon schools to gain some valuable experience in contact rugby. Girls' rugby will feature in some PE lessons after Christmas and lunchtime girls' rugby clubs will be available for all ages.
Mr Heard

Cross Country
There is always a great buzz in the Autumn term about cross country. Some students love it and thrive off the challenge, some students find it more challenging, but most dig in and do their best - developing their endurance, mental capacity and normally surprising themselves with what they can achieve. The final cross-country lesson always is the house run - where all students are trying to get points for their house.

We have also had a fantastic start to the competitions season. Year 7 boys have a very strong group of runners, with lots of depth in their talent - they have won both the Sidmouth race and the East Devon Championship round at Bicton as a team. The year 7 girls were second at Sidmouth and had a good outing at Bicton - with many of the girls having their first representation for the school. At the Bicton round the year 8/9 boys, 10/11 boys, 8/9 girls and 10/11 girls all came 2nd - well done to everyone who took part. A number of students qualified to the Exeter V East Devon event, and we wish them luck in this round and hopefully the following rounds for those who make it through to represent the county.

We also entered teams into the cross-country cup, where having depth in a team is really important. The junior boys qualified into the South West round held at Leweston School. They ran an incredible race - competing against some of the top running schools in the South West to finish in 4th place overall. Well done to Ted Williams, Tristian Alers-Hankey, Fred Hayes, Robert Melia, Reuben Pharaoh, Eddie Molony.
Mr Phillips and Mrs Melia

Netball
Our netball teams have been showing fantastic skill and determination this term! The players have demonstrated great teamwork and resilience in both training and matches, with several impressive wins under their belt. We’re proud of the effort and sportsmanship shown by every player—keep up the amazing work into next term.  We would like to share that the Year 7 netball squad has had a fantastic start to the season, with incredible commitment to training both at lunchtime and after school. Their hard work has paid off, as they secured impressive wins in their first fixtures against Clyst Vale and Kings. We’re excited to see what they can achieve next as they prepare for lots more fixtures and East Devon tournament in the spring term. Well done, Year 7 - keep up the great effort! 

Congratulations to our U14 netball team, who have won all their East Devon league matches so far and have been crowned East Devon Champions after winning the round-robin tournament at Kings School! It was a fantastic team effort, with strong defensive play and calm, controlled attacking moves securing their victory. Special recognition goes to Heidi Robertson, who was named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding ability to control the game and confidently bring the ball through the court. They consequently have qualified for the County tournament. Well done to the whole squad—what an achievement! 

Looking ahead, the East Devon League will begin during the spring term for our Year 8 and Year 10 teams, as they prepare for tournaments in March. With such enthusiasm and dedication across all year groups, it promises to be an exciting season for Uffculme netball! 

The U16 netball team delivered an outstanding performance at the East Devon tournament. They dominated their pool, winning all their games, and progressed to the semi-final against Exmouth. After a nail-biting win, they faced Colyton in the final. Despite having beaten Colyton earlier in the pool stage, the team narrowly missed out on first place with an 8–7 loss, finishing second overall. This fantastic effort means they qualified for the County round of the National Schools Competition. They showed incredible composure and skill throughout the tournament, playing calmly against tough competition. Their hard work paid off with an impressive sixth-place finish in Devon. Well done to all involved! 
Mrs Goldman and Mrs Lyne-ley

Basketball
Basketball at Uffculme School is going from strength to strength, with more students than ever before getting involved across all year groups. It has been fantastic to see the courts full of energy throughout the term, and the enthusiasm from our new Year 7 cohort has been especially encouraging. They are a particularly talented group, and their early promise means the future of Uffculme basketball looks very bright indeed.

Both boys and girls have embraced the sport this year, and our newly established girls-only basketball club has been a remarkable success. Participation among girls has grown significantly, and the confidence and skill development on display each week has been outstanding.

We have enjoyed a busy fixtures schedule, competing regularly at both U14 and U16 levels, with plenty more matches for all year groups already lined up for next term. Our teams have shown commitment, teamwork and resilience in every game, and several players have delivered standout performances.

A special mention must go to Ruan T (Year 10) and Gilbert H (Year 11) for their exceptional contributions to the Boys’ U16 team. Their leadership and consistency have been instrumental throughout the season. Equally impressive have been Imogen L (Year 10) and Rosanna B (Year 9), whose performances for the Girls’ U16 team have set a fantastic example for less experienced players.

Looking ahead, next term brings the much-anticipated House Basketball Competition. With the level of talent and determination we’ve seen so far this year, it promises to be a fiercely contested and highly enjoyable event. Thank you to all players, parents, and staff for their support. We are excited to see what the next term holds as Uffculme basketball starts to flourish.
Mr Phillips and Mr Addy

Year 9 Sports Leaders Programme Update

This year, we’re excited to be trialing a new approach for our Year 9 Sports Leaders programme. After receiving an incredible number of applications, we’ve welcomed two cohorts of enthusiastic leaders!

Our first group has had a busy and rewarding term supporting major primary school sports events. They’ve helped run multi-skills afternoons at Uffculme, assisted with CVSA orienteering and cross-country at Killerton, and contributed to basketball and netball tournaments. In class, they’ve also been learning about all aspects of leadership—from different leadership styles to how to deliver activities effectively.

To give them even more opportunities to develop their leadership skills, we’ve encouraged sports leaders to get involved with lunchtime and after-school clubs. This has been a fantastic addition to the programme and a great way for them to gain hands-on experience.
Mr Phillips

Blood Brothers

Year 10 and Year 11 GCSE Drama

In September our GCSE Drama students enjoyed a captivating trip to the Barnstaple Theatre this week, to see a live performance of Blood Brothers, the iconic play by Willy Russell.

The visit was part of their curriculum studies, offering pupils a chance to experience professional theatre firsthand and deepen their understanding of the play’s themes, staging, and emotional impact. For many, it was their first time seeing Blood Brothers performed live.

“The energy on stage was incredible,” said one Year 11 student. “It really helped me connect with the characters and understand the story in a whole new way.”

Teachers praised the production for its powerful performances and authentic portrayal of working-class life in Liverpool, which ties directly into the students’ exam preparation.

‘School of Rock’ Hits All the Right Notes Ahead of Opening Night!

Excitement is building as rehearsals for this year’s school production, School of Rock, are rocking along at full volume! With students belting out tunes, perfecting choreography, and fine-tuning their instruments, the show is shaping up to be a high-energy spectacle that’s not to be missed: from backstage crew to lead roles, everyone’s bringing their A-game.

And here’s the news you’ve been waiting for: Tickets go on sale Monday 5th January via Eventbrite. So, mark your calendars, warm up your vocal cords, and get ready to rock—because School of Rock is coming, and it’s louder than ever!

The Woman in Black

GCSE Students took a spine-tingling journey into the world of suspense and storytelling during their recent GCSE Drama trip to see The Woman in Black at Theatre Royal Plymouth.

The haunting production, known for its chilling atmosphere and clever stagecraft, offered students a masterclass in tension, minimalism, and theatrical magic. From eerie sound effects to sudden shocks, the show kept everyone on edge—and gave plenty of inspiration for their own drama work.

“It was terrifying in the best way,” said one Year 11 student. “I’ve never seen a play use lighting and silence so effectively. It’s made me think differently about how to build suspense on stage.”

The visit also sparked lively discussions back at school, with students analysing character development, staging choices, and the psychological impact of live theatre.

With exams approaching, this ghostly encounter has left a lasting impression—and maybe a few lingering chills.

Year 10 Monologues

In October our Year 10 GCSE Drama students took to the stage for their very first public performance—an original showcase of self-written monologues.

Each student crafted and performed a unique piece, drawing on personal experiences, social issues, and imaginative storytelling. The result? A moving, thought-provoking collection of voices that left the audience inspired and impressed.

“The honesty and creativity were incredible,” said one parent. “You could feel the emotion in every word.”

From raw vulnerability to sharp humour, the performances demonstrated not only acting talent but a deep understanding of character, voice, and dramatic structure. Teachers praised the students’ courage and commitment, noting how the project helped build confidence and refine key GCSE skills

Year 7/8 Drama Club

Year 7 and 8 Drama Club, run by Mrs Duncan, is on Monday lunchtimes in the Main Studio.  It's an amazing club as we do fun games and activities throughout the time we are there and usually get to work in groups.  For the first two weeks we played games like Splat to get everyone involved and laughing.  There are usually about 40 students in the room.  Aoife is our Year 11 leader of the club and she is always helpful if you need anything, and she runs many of the games and activities.  My friends and I always look forward to Drama Club - it's a great start to the week!

By Lily H – Year 7

Being part of Drama Club gives us the opportunity to enhance our acting skills and have the best time with lovely people.  I love having the opportunity to take part in the school shows, which showcase our hard work, made whilst having the best time.  There is nothing more fun than putting on different personas and getting into character.  The highlight so far is having the chance to take part in WinteFest this term.  I'm really looking forward to performing!

By Isla A – Year 7

Year 9 students were transported back in time this week when World War One expert Sam Sommerfield visited the school to share his vast knowledge of the Great War. In an engaging and hands-on session, students explored life in the trenches and learned about the experiences of soldiers over a century ago.

One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity for students to handle genuine artefacts from the First World War, including a 303 Lee-Enfield rifle — the standard issue weapon for British troops — and shrapnel balls recovered from the battlefields. These rare objects brought history vividly to life, helping students connect classroom learning to the real human stories behind the conflict.

Mr. Sommerfield’s passion and expertise made the session both educational and memorable. Year 9 left with a deeper understanding of the courage and hardship faced by those who fought in the war, and a renewed appreciation for the importance of remembering their sacrifices.

Year 11 GCSE History Trip to London

In September, our Year 11 History students embarked on an exciting educational journey to London, exploring some of the city's most iconic historical landmarks. The trip was designed to bring classroom learning to life and deepen students' understanding of key historical themes and provide for support for their GCSE’s.

Day 1 began at the Tower of London, where students explored the medieval fortress and learned about its role in British history—from royal residence to prison and execution site. Highlights included viewing the Crown Jewels and hearing stories of infamous prisoners.

Students then visited The Golden Hinde, a full-scale reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s famous ship. Climbing aboard, they discovered what life was like for Elizabethan sailors and the significance of Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe.

After a morning of exploration, we stopped at Borough Market, where students enjoyed a variety of international cuisines and soaked up the vibrant atmosphere of one of London’s oldest food markets.

The day concluded with a gripping Jack the Ripper walking tour through the streets of Whitechapel. Guided by an expert, students retraced the steps of the infamous Victorian killer, learning about the social conditions of the time and how the crimes shocked and shaped public attitudes toward policing and urban life.

On day 2, we ventured into the eerie depths of the London Dungeons, where immersive exhibits and live actors brought to life the darker side of London’s past, including plague, torture, and the Great Fire. It was a thrilling way to experience history firsthand.

Then we had a tour which explored the historical evolution of crime and justice in Britain, with stories of infamous criminals, dramatic trials, and the changing face of law enforcement in and around St Paul’s Cathedral.

The day concluded with a visit to Covent Garden, where students had time to relax, watch street performers, and reflect on the day’s adventures in a historic setting that blends culture, commerce, and entertainment.

It was a fantastic trip that brought history to life and gave students a deeper appreciation for the stories that shaped our nation.

A Creative Start to the New School Year in Textiles

It’s been an exciting start to the new school year, with students across Key Stage 3 diving into a wide range of new skills and creative techniques. From printing and batik to mastering the sewing machine, every year group has embraced the hands-on learning that Textiles has to offer.

Year 7 have begun their collaborative bunting project based on the theme “All About Me”. Once completed, this colourful display will be showcased around the school for everyone to enjoy.

Year 8 are experimenting with repeat patterns and transfer printing, exploring how designs can be developed and applied in different ways.

Year 9 have been working on culturally inspired bag designs, taking influence from Indian and Mexican art. They have also been introduced to smart materials—such as thermochromic pigments—and how these exciting technologies can be used in product design.

GCSE Textiles

Our new Year 10 GCSE cohort has made a fantastic start, building on their existing skills while exploring the theme “Natural Forms”. Students have been developing their presentation techniques, generating design ideas, and experimenting with a variety of processes as they begin preparing for their coursework.

Halloween Fun

The annual Day of the Dead mask competition was, as always, extremely popular. With so many creative entries, judging was particularly challenging this year. To celebrate the students’ talents, we introduced two award categories: Creativity and Skill.

Skill

1st place Isla VH 9Stone Gaddon - 40 house points 

2nd place Phoebe K 8 Roberts, Craddock - 30 house points

3rd place Bells S 9 Maitrise, Bridwell - 20 house points 

Creativity:

1st Place Lily H, 7Harbour – 40 house points

2nd Holly J, 7 Lane, Bridwell – 30 house points

3rd Amelie M, 7 McGuigan, Gaddon – 20 house points

Here’s what some of our students had to say about their lessons this term.

We’ve had a fantastic start to the Autumn term in Science! Our Open Evening was a huge success, with a packed schedule of exciting demonstrations and hands-on practical’s run by our growing cohort of STEM Leaders. They truly shone, showcasing their skills and enthusiasm, and wowed the prospective Year 6 pupils who we hope will join us next year.

This term has also been busy with Science Clubs for Years 7 and 8, led by Mrs Davies and Dr Glanville. Pupils have enjoyed a range of fun, seasonal experiments including Halloween Slime, Creeping Elf, Firework Colours, and Bath Bomb Making. Many students have proudly earned their Science Club badges by completing the six-week challenge.

We ended the term by congratulating last year’s STEM Leaders on successfully achieving their qualification and introducing the STEM Leaders Award to our new Year 8 cohort. Any Year 8 students interested in becoming a STEM Leader please speak to Ms Legg for more details.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch our Spring Competitions for Years 7 and 8, giving pupils the chance to earn the coveted Gold Science Badge. Themes include:

Building a model of a cell

Researching a famous scientist

Writing a science book review

Keep an eye out for more information on these competitions and the activities planned for Science Week in Spring, led by Mr Baker. Highlights will include the return of the Planetarium Dome, where Year 7 and 8 students will explore fascinating topics such as the human body and evolution.

At the start of this academic year, our Duke of Edinburgh participants set out on exciting journeys to test their resilience, teamwork, and navigation skills.

Bronze Expedition – Culm Valley
Our Bronze groups embarked on a two-day, one-night adventure through the beautiful Culm Valley. With rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, the teams worked hard to navigate their routes, carry all their essentials, and camp overnight. Despite the challenges, and the odd weather warning, spirits were high, and everyone demonstrated fantastic determination and cooperation, with everyone passing this section of the Award.

Silver Expedition – The Quantocks
Meanwhile, our Silver participants headed to the stunning Quantock Hills for a three-day, two-night expedition. This longer challenge demanded even greater stamina and planning. From navigating rugged and open terrain to setting up camp after a full day’s hike, the students showed impressive perseverance and teamwork throughout. I'm sure this was helped with a campfire and marshmallows at the end of each day. The sense of achievement at the finish line in Wiveliscombe was truly inspiring!

Both expeditions were a brilliant start to the year, and we are incredibly proud of all our students for their commitment and enthusiasm. These experiences not only build outdoor skills but also foster confidence, independence, and lifelong memories.

Well done to everyone involved!

Mr Harbour and Mrs Purrington

It’s been a busy term in the RE department! We’re so please with how our new Year 7 cohort have settled in. They are an inquisitive, conscientious and creation bunch of young people. We only had to mention the coveted RE badge and we had students getting arty and poetic. We have been so impressed with the range of ‘Where is God?’ projects, just a few are pictured below. We’re looking forward to getting into assembly and awarding an impressive number of badges in January.

This term we also introduced our new Year 8 RE badge. This is awarded to students who regularly attend the RE book club. This term we have been reading The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder. The book is divided into 24 chapters which help us unravel the wonder of a mysterious advent calendar. We have had 3 very committed members; Noah , Leon M and Taylor G. I have thoroughly enjoyed Monday lunchtimes listening to a wide range of Wise men voices, philosophical musings and heartfelt giggles.

Drumming workshop

October the 16th and 17th saw James from Drum Devon return and treat our year 8 students and GCSE Musicians to some fantastic West African Drumming workshops. Each group had an hour of expert tuition from James including call and response, syncopated polyrhythms, and then creating an entire band including Dun Duns Agogo bells and shekeres. We look forward to welcoming James back next year.

Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra

On the 7th of November we hosted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for their annual GCSE Music concert. We were joined by many other schools and their GCSE Music students. Patrick, who presents the concerts, explained the pieces in detail and analysed them live to help students understand the concepts and techniques being used in them. The live performances are absolutely breath-taking. This year, we were asked to provide a performer for the iconic ‘Defying Gravity’ and Darcy H 11 Davies did us so proud. She got the chance to rehearse and then perform alongside the orchestra to a packed Venue.

“ IT was very surreal performing with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. It was an amazing experience and I’m very glad that I got chosen to perform with them. Thank you to the GCSE Music classes for supporting me in the performance and cheering loudly.” - Darcy H

DJ couses

The DJ courses, run by the Cameron Mills group, have been continuing this term and the students are absolutely thriving! From creating DJ names, curating mixes, and adding effects – these guys have it sorted. The Beat Lounge where graduates of the course can showcase their skills is on the 8th December.

There are still some spaces for the courses starting in January and February. Please email Miss Lihou for more information. lihouj@uffculmeschool.bep.ac

AND – we have some shiny new decks of our own that are being used by the course and were debuted and Open evening and the Craft Fair. Thanks to the PTFA for funding such a wonderful opportunity for our students. These are the Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 model and we have Rekordbox installed on some computers in Ms3 for students to start curating their own playlists and mixing.

The decks will be moved into a practice room to allow for more ‘serious’ practice and development of skills in the new year.

Our DJs can be spotted at the Craft Fair and the year 7 disco!

Miss Lihou

Design & Technology: A Busy Autumn Term
This term has been packed with exciting developments in Design and Technology! At Key Stage 4, we now offer four subjects, including our new Technical Award in Construction and the Built Environment, which has been a big hit. Students have explored health and safety, met industry professionals, and even crafted window frames in the workshop.

We’ve also reintroduced GCSE Art Textiles, with Year 10 students creating stunning designs. Engineering students have been hard at work on major projects, supported by our dedicated staff and technicians, while GCSE Design and Technology pupils are preparing for their practical builds in January.

Key Stage 3 has been equally busy. Year 7 have mastered CAD skills and crafted pencil boxes, while Year 8 tackled bridge-building challenges, programmed robots, and designed Memphis-inspired clocks. Year 9 continued with popular lamp projects and explored metalwork and sustainability through new design tasks.

A huge thank you to our team and the PTFA for their support—what a fantastic term of creativity and innovation! If you are ever in school, pop down to Paige block and come and see what we are doing, you will always be welcome.

Mr Murray, Head of Design and Technology

Preparation for Adult Life

It has been a busy but fantastic term for our students and their Preparation for Adult Life (PAL) curriculum.

Year 7: Settling In and Working as a Team

To support our Year 7 pupils as they transition to secondary school, we begin the PAL curriculum by exploring what it means to be part of a team. Students have taken part in a range of teambuilding activities—both in the classroom and outdoors—with Mr Eve and their tutors. Since halfterm, they have been learning about values and how these connect to our school community, to one another, and to the way we speak and behave both in and out of school.

Years 8 and 9: A Broad and Balanced Carousel

Students in Years 8 and 9 follow a carousel of activities covering a wide range of topics. Over the two years, they rotate through all PAL subjects, building the knowledge and skills needed to make sensible, safe choices both now and in later life.
In September, we sent letters to all parents and carers outlining the curriculum content, which is organised into three key areas:

Staying Healthy (physically and mentally)

Living in the Wider World

Relationships

This is a spiral, age appropriate curriculum, and full details are available on our school website.

As part of the Year 8 Democracy carousel, students were fortunate to take part in a mock trial led by local magistrates. All Year 8 students will have the opportunity to attend these sessions during the year.

Key Stage 4: Preparing for Life Beyond School

Our PAL curriculum continues into KS4, balancing essential age appropriate content with private study time to support students preparing for mock exams.

Both Year 10 and Year 11 students have taken part in sessions delivered by an external organisation, It Happens, focusing on relationships and consent. For Year 11, this was extended in an age appropriate way to include discussions around relationships and intimacy. Many students found these sessions valuable—despite some understandable awkwardness!

Year 10 have also explored democracy and voting, and both year groups will continue this learning in the spring term as we look more closely at AI, algorithms and recognising harmful online content.

In October, Year 10 students attended a Gambling Awareness workshop, where they learned about how gambling appears both online and in person. With the rise of online platforms, advertising, shopping features, and sports promotions, it is vital that young people understand the risks and know how to stay safe.

Using Your Voice

PAL lessons also reinforce our schoolwide focus on Using Your Voice—encouraging students to speak up for others with kindness and respect. You can read more about this campaign in the separate article included in this newsletter.

A Safe Space for Important Conversations

The PAL curriculum provides a safe and supportive space for students to discuss topics that matter to their wellbeing and happiness, both now and in the future. We recognise that some issues, such as online behaviour and bullying, cannot be solved instantly. That is why we revisit these themes throughout a student’s time at Uffculme, supported by assemblies and whole school campaigns

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Careers Curriculum Update – Autumn 2024

This term has been an exciting and important one for our Careers curriculum. While we continue to support all students from Year 7 to Year 11, the focus has naturally been on our Year 10 and 11 students as they prepare for college applications and begin making decisions about Key Stage 5.

Here are some of the key careers activities that have taken place this term:

Assemblies for Years 7–11

All students have taken part in assemblies exploring change and choices, helping them think about their future pathways and the skills they will need as they move through school and beyond.

Employer Talks and Workshops

Students have had the opportunity to hear from a range of employers across different industries. These optional sessions allow students with specific interests to gain deeper insight into potential career paths.
This term, we were delighted to welcome:

Supacat – Engineering

Business sector speakers

Into Film – Creative careers behind the camera

Construction – Mr Peerce organised a construction careers workshop for all KS4 students

These talks will continue with different employers and industries throughout the spring term. We have already organised a talk with NHS contact in the specific area of radiography, a professional Sports Physiotherapist and more!

Post16 Evening

Over 25 post16 providers attended our annual event, giving KS4 students and their families the chance to explore a wide range of opportunities available after Year 11. It was fantastic to see so many students engaging with colleges, training providers, and apprenticeship pathways.

Personal Careers Guidance

Our careers adviser, Sally Trump, has been meeting with all Year 11 students for one-to-one guidance sessions. She is now beginning meetings with Year 10 students to support their early planning and decision making.

Year 10 Work Experience Launch

In July 2025 we launched the Year 10 Work Experience Week for July 2026. As of early December 2025, 90 students have already secured placements for this compulsory and highly valuable week. Work experience gives students a first-hand understanding of the world of work and helps them explore areas they may wish to pursue in the future.

It has been a busy and productive term, and we look forward to sharing more careers updates as the year continues.

New opportunity for Year 9 - Empowering girls programme

This term, we launched The Empowering Girls Programme, an initiative designed to support and inspire our Year 9 female students as they build confidence, develop leadership skills, and recognise their strengths.

As part of this programme we are fortunate that ten local volunteers have generously given their time, from various business backgrounds, to act as business mentors for ten of our year 9 students. Over six weeks, each student takes part in weekly one-to-one sessions with their business mentor, exploring topics such as positive self-esteem, communication, healthy friendships and setting personal goals.

These sessions provide a supportive space for students to share experiences, ask questions, and develop important life skills.

The programme will continue into the spring term with a new group of Year 9 students, offering further opportunities for our young people to grow in confidence and ambition. We look forward to seeing the ongoing positive impact this work brings to our students.

Hi, I’m Jess L and I am this year’s Head Girl. I hope to support and encourage everyone and bring a positive change to our school this year.

I love sport, and I am involved in many of the school’s teams, for example basketball, athletics, cross country and hockey. Outside of school, I love going climbing and being outdoors. At school, I have been a STEM leader, a Sports Leader, a House Captain and am currently a Peer Mentor, a member of the Christian Union and Chair of the Interact Committee, where we raise money for charities. These are just a few of the opportunities I have taken part in at Uffculme, and I am grateful for all of them. 

My aims as Head Girl are to encourage students to take part in extracurricular activities, of which there are a wide range. I would also like to help all students feel listened to and comfortable during their time at school. As the Senior Council, we are already working (alongside the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors) on creating a safe space for students to go to at lunch times, and we have set up an email address so students can contact us. We promise to listen to and act on any suggestions or requests. 

The email address is uff-seniorstudentcouncil@uffculmeschool.bep.ac

Look forward to hearing from you!

Jess.

Hello. I’m Sam, and I am this year’s Head Boy. In this role, I, along with Jess, lead the Senior Council in making decisions and changes that positively impact students here at our school.

Outside of this role, I enjoy running, reading, writing, football and rugby. My favourite subjects are Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History and Engineering. I often help out at running club, which runs (quite literally) every Friday, where a host of students of all abilities go for a jog offsite.

Don’t hesitate to say ‘Hi’ if you see me around school.

My name is Lucy H, and I am delighted to be Deputy Head Girl at Uffculme School. I am a friendly and approachable person that just wants the best out of everyone by supporting students that need someone to talk to or making school a safe environment for everyone, which we are already working on as a Senior Council. I really enjoy being in the netball team at school because I get to represent Uffculme School and play in a team which is encouraging and supportive. This academic year, I am looking forward to being involved with the school production, School of Rock which has made me love being able to act and create a character. 

 My name is Rocco B and I am Deputy Head Boy at Uffculme School. My main passion in life is rugby. I captain my school and club team which has helped me gain lots of confidence as well as help with leadership skills. Having these skills has allowed me to become a much more approachable person who students can always talk to around school about any problems they may have. I also have a massive passion for music. Whilst I don’t play any instruments, listening to music is a great way to block out stress and focus on things that are important. 

Senior Council

Uffculme's Senior Council have been incredibly busy this term, rounding off the calendar year with an assembly about the importance of kindness.

All Senior Councillors have been trained as Peer Mentors and Anti-bullying Ambassadors to aid younger students. They have supported whole school events such as the Clubs Fair, Anti-bullying Week, House Music, the Craft Fair and Hello Yellow, as well as planning assemblies and engaging with lunch duties in the Dining Hall. They have been working alongside the Anti-bullying Ambassadors to create a Safe Space for students at Uffculme, as well as reviewing current school policies regarding non-uniform days.

Coming up next term, planning for the Year 11 prom will commence, as will planning for the Senior Council's own whole school event, so watch this space.

Mrs Groves, Student Leadership Coordinator, would like to offer a huge thank you to the Senior Council for their enthusiasm so far this year. We are very much looking forward to what is to come over the next few months

Termly Newsletter, Autumn 2025

Welcome

Year 8 Aspire

Year 11 Geography Field Trip:
Exploring Regeneration at Bristol Harbourside

Y9 Gold Award and Winner of the Cameron Cup for writing 2025 - Theo I-H

Runners Up - receiving 10 house points each:

Uff Writes

What is Christian Union?

House Competitions Heat Up in Term One!

House Music Competition

Inter-School Debating Competition:
Round 1

KS3 Touch typing progress update

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

House Competitions

Year 9 Sports Leaders Programme Update

Blood Brothers

‘School of Rock’ Hits All the Right Notes Ahead of Opening Night!

The Woman in Black

Year 10 Monologues

Year 7/8 Drama Club

Year 11 GCSE History Trip to London

A Creative Start to the New School Year in Textiles

GCSE Textiles

Halloween Fun

Skill

Creativity:

Drumming workshop

Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra

DJ couses

New opportunity for Year 9 - Empowering girls programme

Uffculme School

Part of Blackdown Education Partnership

Safeguarding

Termly Newsletter, Autumn 2025

Welcome

Year 8 Aspire

Year 11 Geography Field Trip: Exploring Regeneration at Bristol Harbourside

Y9 Gold Award and Winner of the Cameron Cup for writing 2025 - Theo I-H

Runners Up - receiving 10 house points each:

Uff Writes

What is Christian Union?

House Competitions Heat Up in Term One!

House Music Competition

Inter-School Debating Competition: Round 1

KS3 Touch typing progress update

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

House Competitions

Year 9 Sports Leaders Programme Update

Blood Brothers

‘School of Rock’ Hits All the Right Notes Ahead of Opening Night!

The Woman in Black

Year 10 Monologues

Year 7/8 Drama Club

Year 11 GCSE History Trip to London

A Creative Start to the New School Year in Textiles

GCSE Textiles

Halloween Fun

Skill

Creativity:

Drumming workshop

Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra

DJ couses

New opportunity for Year 9 - Empowering girls programme

Uffculme School

Part of Blackdown Education Partnership

Safeguarding

Year 11 Geography Field Trip:
Exploring Regeneration at Bristol Harbourside

Inter-School Debating Competition:
Round 1