It’s been a really strong start back for half term two at York High School, with students returning after the break full of energy and enthusiasm for the challenges ahead. We have been reflecting and preparing for the theme of remembrance this week and students have responded with a sense of engagement and respect which this significant event deserves.
It has been lovely to recognise our students’ work through the Excellence Every Day awards each Wednesday. The number of students gaining this reward is growing week on week which is lovely to see.
Have a great weekend!
Gavin Kumar
Principal
Wednesday 13 November
Exam Stress Session for Year 11
Wednesday 13 November
Year 9 – YOLO performance and workshop
Thursday 12 December
Festive Showcase – save the date!
On Wednesday this week, our students in Years 10 and 11 had an assembly from NYBEP all about apprenticeships. They learned about the different levels available, and where to find out more information.
Please encourage your child(ren) to look at the government apprenticeship website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
With the amount of litter around the school site increasing, we looked to our student body to create positive messages about anti-littering.
The calibre of entries to our anti-littering competition was excellent and we were delighted to present a ‘Gold Award’ to Millie B in Year 7 for her exceptional analysis of the impact of littering.
Congratulations also go to Jesse in Year 7 for his wonderful design which will be going up around school, and to all the students who participated. Twenty stamps are coming to each of you next week!
On Thursday 24 October at 11.30pm, 40 Year 10 and 11 students gathered at school to kick off our biennial Battlefields trip.
Across the course of three days, we explored a variety of trench systems, cemeteries, and places of significance during the First World War at sites across Belgium and the Somme. Our students were wonderful, and we are delighted to share some photographs with you in this weekly update. All students who went on the trip will have access to the photos taken by the start of next week.
We have a rather large collection of wellies left – please send your child to the main hall on Monday morning to collect if they are missing a pair!
Thank you to Miss Donkin, Mr Walker and Mrs James for giving up the start of their half-term break to staff this trip.
Rewards this week go to April, Jules, Elsie, Layla, Ursula, Evelyn, Annie, Liv, Alex, Haryar, Jemima, Ashden, Harley and Brooke. Well done everyone!
With the upcoming Armistice Day next Monday, assemblies this week have focused on the theme of remembrance and students have also reflected on why remembrance is important in form time.
When you finish Year 11 at York High, you need to enter further education, training or complete an apprenticeship.
There are a variety of colleges which you could explore:
On Wednesday 13 November, Year 9 will be off timetable for a performance of YOLO by An Invisible Man theatre company, led by Stephen Burke. This play will cover themes including: peer pressure, underage drinking, teenage pregnancy, and abusive relationships.
For more information, please contact Miss Bettney.
GCSE Drama Workshop
On Wednesday, we welcomed Xolani from Pilot Theatre, former Assistant Director and movement coach for the original production of Noughts and Crosses, which is our set text for Drama.
Xolani delivered a fantastic two-hour workshop with our GCSE students focusing on staging, characterisation and movement. Students showed excellent levels of participation and found it very helpful for their upcoming mocks.
GCSE Drama Devised Exam
The devised exam for our Year 11 GCSE Drama students is on Tuesday 12 November in the Drama Studio. This comprises 40% of their GCSE final mark. Good luck to all our Drama students and thank you to Dylan in Year 9 for being our lightning and sound manager for the day.
Our pilot scheme for clarinet Music Medals starts on Friday form time. Parents and students should have received an email.
I look forward to sharing the progress of our seven clarinettists!
– Mrs Lancaster
A note of praise from the English team to the Year 11 pupils for their excellent attitude in starting transactional writing this week. They have worked hard to craft persuasive arguments in preparation for this skill in their exams.
– Mr Kiernan
We are running various extracurricular activities for children in Years 5 and 6, including Photoshop, football, coding clubs and more.
Parents/carers can find more information and register their child’s interest here.
If you have any problems accessing the link, or if you have any questions, please email reception@yorkhigh.elt.org.uk with the subject ‘Year 5/6 clubs’.
Date for your diaries! The Festive Showcase, complete with staff panto, will be on Thursday 12 December at 6.00pm. Keep an eye out for tickets.
Last year this was a sell-out event, so be sure to order your tickets when they are released.
This is the official York High School (UK) Facebook Page - LIKE this page to stay up to date
✨ What a fabulous first week back! ✨
It has been fantastic to welcome our students back and see them looking so smart, settled and eager to learn. 📚👏
There has been such a positive atmosphere around school, and it’s been brilliant to see our students embracing the start of a new academic year with enthusiasm and pride.
A huge thank you to our incredible staff for making the first week such a success. 💙
We’ve got a great year ahead of us — this is going to be a brilliant one! 🌟
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🎉GCSE Results Day 2026🎉
We have come to the end of our social media coverage for Results Day 2026.
A massive well done to all our Year 11 students.
Whatever your results were we know you all worked really hard to get where you are, and have all show tremendous resilience over the past 5 years.
The staff at York High School are extremely proud of all of you!
We know that you are all capable of amazing things, whatever the future holds for you.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026
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🎉GCSE Results Day 2026🎉
French
A historic day for the French department with record breaking results!
Over 82% of students achieved at least a grade 4 and nearly 30% achieved a Grade 7 or above!
A special congratulations to Lucy P, Ethan R, Isobel S who all achieved Grade 9’s. Lucy S, Thomas W, Robyn K and Evie B for achieving a Grade 8.
The French department would like to say a special congratulations to Paisley T-C for the huge amounts of effort she demonstrated throughout her French studies. You should be very proud of the results you achieved!
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