Principal’s Weekly Post – Week 28

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been another productive and energetic week at York High School. As we head into the weekend, I wanted to share a few important updates and highlights.

A huge thank you to all of our Year 7 parents and carers for your fantastic attendance at Parents’ Evening this week. It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout and to have the opportunity to discuss your children’s progress as they settle into their journey at York High School. Strong partnerships between home and school are what help our students truly thrive.

We have a vital request regarding our disabled parking bays. Please do not park in the designated disabled bays unless you have a valid disabled parking display badge. Several members of our school community require the use of these specific spaces for accessibility. Ensuring these parking spaces remain available for those who need them is a matter of safety and respect for everyone.

Finally, excitement is really building for our Year 7 Residential to Carlton Lodge taking place next week. This outward bound experience is a fantastic opportunity for our students to step outside their comfort zones, build resilience, and strengthen their friendships through outdoor adventure. Whether they are tackling the high ropes, kayaking, or working together on team challenges, we know they will return with memories to last a lifetime. 

Warmly,

Gavin Kumar
Principal

Year 9 Mock Interviews

On Thursday 23 April, Year 9 pupils  engaged in mock interviews conducted by students from the University of York. This linked directly to a writing unit in English, where students have looked at how to structure a personal statement.

Year 10 – Talk The Talk

On Friday 1 May, Year 10 will be off timetable all day for a ‘Talk the Talk’ Learning Experience Day. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to develop oracy skills in a safe and positive environment, with workshops delivered by highly trained facilitators. Students will largely be in their English groups, with their rooms confirmed in form time next week.

This is a really excellent experience that we’re delighted to bring to students for the first time this year, and is fully funded by The Place, as a useful step to support Year 10 ahead of their English spoken language exams. Please encourage your child to engage fully with their workshops next Friday.

Word of the Week

This week, our Word of the Week is ‘evaluate’.

RAS Achievers

Well done to this week’s RAS Achievers, Annie, Olly and Arthur, nominated by colleagues in our Computing department.

Excel Student Pledge launches with Years 7-10

This week, we were delighted to launch our Excel Student Pledge with students in Years 7 to 10. These are ten extra-curricular opportunities we believe that all students are entitled to at York High School.

Year 10 and 11 students – York College opportunity

York College has their final open event of the academic year on Wednesday 29 April, 5:30-7:30pm. This is a great chance for any Year 11s who are still unsure as to their next steps, or for those with further questions about courses they have applied for, to come along and speak to tutors. It is also a perfect time for Year 10s to visit the College and get a feel for all the opportunities available.

York College will also be doing something new and offering drop-in activities and demonstrations across the curriculum areas during this Open Event, including Mock Sentencing in our new Moot Court, Engineering Mechatronic System Demonstrations, Print Making and Jewellery Master Classes, and Performances by our Acting students.

You can register here.

Dates for Open Events next academic year are available below:

Tuesday 6 October 2026 – 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Saturday 7 November 2026 – 10.00am – 12.30pm
Thursday 19 November 2026 – 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Wednesday 17 February 2027 – 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Thursday 29 April 2027 – 5.30pm – 7.30pm

‘Getting Sorted’ at York College

The Wellbeing Team at York College is offering drop-in sessions for any students anxious or worried about starting at York College in September. The ‘Getting Sorted’ events are running on:

• Tuesday 28 July
• Wednesday 5 August

There’s no need to pre-book and it’s a great opportunity for students to go along at any point between 10am and 3pm on these dates to find out more and ask any questions they may have.

Year 10 Careers appointments

If parents and carers would like to attend a careers appointment with their child, this can be arranged. Please contact Miss Bettney via email at v.bettney@yorkhigh.elt.org.uk to organise an appointment.

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.