Principal’s Weekly Post – Week 27

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back. It has been an absolute pleasure to see our school community return with such energy and focus. As we dive into the summer term, I wanted to share a few important updates and reflections on the week ahead.

First and foremost, I would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our students, staff, parents and carers. Your support and preparation over the break have ensured a smooth and positive transition into our final term of the academic year. The atmosphere around the school this week has been fantastic, and it is wonderful to see our students engaging so well with their learning from day one.

With the change in term, I know many of you are looking ahead to the warmer months. Regarding summer uniform:

• Students should continue to wear their standard school uniform for the time being.
• The shift to summer uniform will happen once the warm weather continues consistently.
• We will monitor the forecasts closely and communicate the official start date to all families via our usual channels as soon as the decision is made.

A vital reminder for our Year 7 parents and carers: our Parents’ Evening is scheduled for next Wednesday, 22 April, 3.30-6.30pm. This is a key opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. We look forward to seeing many of you there to celebrate the achievements of our youngest year group.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making York High School a vibrant place to learn. I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable weekend.

Warmly,

Gavin Kumar
Principal

Word of the Week

This week we have launched our ‘Word of the Week’ project in school. We have visited assemblies, classrooms and even the cafeteria trying to remind pupils of the importance of understanding key words. It has been brilliant to see so many pupils using the word of the week in their work. This week’s word ‘retirement’ has also linked very closely to the work Year 9 have completed on their personal statements and applications for the future. We have covered how long our working life can be before retirement!

Next week, the word of the week is ‘professional’, which is again closely associated with future ambitions. We look forward to seeing the pupils continue to engage with this and build up their knowledge for the world after YHS!

Excel Staff Recognition Awards – Parent Link

Our Excel Staff Recognition Awards will be held in July 2026, when we will celebrate the exceptional contributions of staff across our Trust. One of the award categories is ‘Excelling Through Parent Recognition’, so we are extending our nomination process for this category to parents and carers. 

Complete the nomination form HERE and help us honour those who go above and beyond! There’s no limit on the number of nominations you can submit – you just need to submit your nominee’s name, the school they work at and the reason for your nomination.

If you have any questions regarding this form or the staff awards, please contact k.dent@elt.org.uk. 

Apprenticeship vacancies

York College is currently advertising a number of apprenticeship vacancies which can be seen on the attached pdf. Each vacancy has a hyperlink to the Apprenticeship Service website, where you will find full job details and where you can submit your application.

A note on closing dates: vacancies often close earlier than the stated date, so if you are interested, please make sure you apply as soon as you can.

You can also read the attached guidance on how to write a strong application to ensure the best chance of success.

Community Cupboard

Our school is committed to helping those in need through our community cupboard, ensuring that every student and family has access to essential food/household items. Donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated, as they help us continue to support the local community.

If you or someone you know needs any support, please contact Aimee a.stewart@yorkhigh.elt.org.uk or Emma e.masterman@yorkhigh.elt.org.uk, or pop into main reception.

All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality.