19th September 2025

Weekly Letter 19.09.2025

Friday 19th September 2025 

Dear Parent/Carers,

Reflections from this week:

I would like to begin by congratulating the students who have been appointed as our new student leaders. These young people have shown exceptional commitment, maturity, and a desire to represent their peers and our academy with pride. Their leadership will be instrumental in shaping the student experience at NUSA this year, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will have.

Our staff have also been hard at work this week, engaging in professional development focused on enhancing classroom practice. A key area of focus has been the use of mini-whiteboards to support deep cognitive engagement. This technique allows teachers to systematically check for understanding and recall, while also providing students with a safe, low-stakes way to explore and share their thinking. It’s a powerful tool that supports all learners and helps us ensure that no student is left behind in their learning journey.

Uniform Standards – A Shared Commitment

Thank you once again for your continued support in upholding our uniform standards. We know that uniform is more than just clothing—it is a symbol of belonging, pride, and readiness to learn. When students wear their uniform correctly, they are showing that they are part of something bigger than themselves: a community that values professionalism, equity, and high expectations.

We understand that there may be occasional challenges, and we are always here to support students and families. Our uniform shop is available for any student who needs help, and we will always approach uniform conversations with kindness and discretion. However, I must also gently reaffirm my role as Headteacher to set and uphold the standards that help create a calm, focused, and aspirational environment for all. This includes expectations such as blazers being worn in the building and outdoor coats being removed upon entry. These routines are not arbitrary—they are rooted in research and best practice, and they help students transition into a mindset that is ready for learning.

Our expectations are clear, fair, and consistently applied. We thank you for your continued support in helping us build a school culture that values pride, professionalism, and purpose.

Looking Ahead: Year 6 Open Evening

Next week, we are excited to welcome prospective students and their families to our Year 6 Open Evening on Wednesday 24th September from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. This is a key event in our calendar and a wonderful opportunity to showcase our facilities, our staff, and most importantly, our students. It is a chance for us to demonstrate the pride we have in our school and to support families as they make an important decision about their child’s future. I know our current students will be excellent ambassadors, and I thank them in advance for their involvement.

KS4 Parental Engagement

Please note that on the 9th October 14:00pm – 16:00pm there will be an engagement event for all parents and carers of students in yr10 and yr11. More information will be shared closer to the date.

Advance Notice: Additional INSET Day – Monday 1st December

I would also like to give you advance notice of an additional INSET day that has been added to the calendar on Monday 1st December. The Nova Education Trust has sought and received permission from trustees to provide this extra day of training for all staff across the trust, including here at NUSA.

This day will be used to complete essential statutory training in areas such as Safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR, and online security. In addition, it will provide valuable time for staff to further develop their assessment practices, particularly in Key Stage 3. Accurate assessment is vital to understanding each student’s learning needs and ensuring they are fully prepared for the demands of Key Stage 4 and their GCSEs. We appreciate your understanding and support in enabling us to continue improving the quality of education we provide.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support. We are committed to working with you to ensure that every child at NUSA has the best possible experience and the best possible chance of success.

With Gratitude,

 

Carl Elder

Headteacher

Complaints Process Reminder:

If you have a concern or issue, we encourage you to raise it at the earliest opportunity with the person most directly involved. Often, problems can be resolved quickly and informally through open and respectful communication. Wherever possible, please provide clear details about the matter, including dates, times, and any relevant background information. If you are unsure who to contact, our school office will be happy to guide you. Typically, we recommend contacting your childs form tutor or Head of Year unless the matter relates to a particular lesson or subject where the Head of Department will be the best person to assist.

If we are unable to resolve the issue informally in the first instance, you will need to follow the complaints process which can be accessed via our website via this link.

For Stage One of our formal complaints process, please raise your concern with your childs tutor, Head of Year or Pastoral Manager or contact complaints@nusa.org.uk

Coming Up

Flu Vaccination 2025
If you would like your child to receive the flu vaccine in school this year, please follow this link to complete the online consent form. If you wish to decline, please use the same link to complete the ‘No Consent’ form.

 

https://nhsImms.azurewebsites.net/session/c3233f0e

 

The vaccinations will take place at your child’s school on the 12/11/2025. The link will close on the 29/10/2025. If your child has already had the Flu vaccine elsewhere since Sept 2025, please disregard this message. If you have any problems accessing the link, please telephone 0333 3583 397 option 4, option 2.