Principal's Weekly Update

Hello and welcome to this week’s vlog!

I hope you and all our young people had a fantastic break. As always, we are going to focus on three key themes:

1. Enrichment – the power of connections;

2. Student Safety – how we are going above and beyond;

3. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

We are filming today from the FLC (Flexible Learning Centre), where you can see some of our incredible students hard at work in the background. I am also joined by Mrs Erasmus, who will talk more about inclusion and support.

Enrichment – the power of connections

Enrichment is back in full swing this half-term, and I could not be prouder of the program at Uxbridge High School.

Over the break, I was lucky enough to go abroad on holiday. Whilst I was away, I stayed at a really active resort with a 50-meter swimming pool, where I saw young people aged 11 to 18 participating in a high-level swim camp. What struck me most was not just their athletic ability—it was the way they were building connections with one another.

That reminded me of what we are creating with our enrichment program. Whether it is sports, music, arts, clubs, or societies, these activities are about more than just learning a skill; they help students form friendships, develop teamwork, and grow in confidence.

We know that after the challenges of the last few years, mental health is a big concern for young people. Many have become more insular, spending time on their phones or playing online games, and struggling to build real-life relationships. That is why enrichment is so important—it is an opportunity for students to connect with new people, learn from each other, and develop skills that will serve them for life.

Thank you to all our families for supporting this initiative. Your feedback has been amazing, and we love hearing how much students enjoy these sessions. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please do share them with us!

Student Safety – our top priority

With recent high-profile cases involving teenagers, we know how important it is to ensure that every young person at Uxbridge High School feels safe, supported, and protected. As the principal, I take this responsibility extremely seriously.

Alongside this vlog, you will receive a letter outlining the additional steps we are taking to enhance student safety. Some of these measures include:

• Strengthening our safeguarding policies;

• Working closely with parents and carers to ensure students are supported both in and out of school;

• Increasing our focus on student well-being.

We appreciate your continued support in reinforcing these policies. Together, we can create a safe environment where every young person thrives.
 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – celebrating every student

Finally, I want to touch on EDI, which remains at the heart of everything we do.

Before half-term, we celebrated LGBTQ+ history month, and now, as we move into March, we are focusing on Women’s History month. This is just one example of how we ensure all protected characteristics are recognised and valued equally.

It is vital that our students learn about history, representation, and inclusivity—not just to understand the past, but to build a better, more equal future.

If you would like to learn more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, you can find our EDI statement on the school website. It outlines the work we are doing now, as well as our plans for the future. We would love to hear your feedback!

And now, I will hand over to Mrs Erasmus, who will talk more about the incredible work happening in inclusion and student support.

 

Inclusion & Student Support

Hi, I am Amanda Erasmus, the SENDCo and Designated Safeguarding Lead here at Uxbridge High School.

We are currently filming in the FLC, which is a space we are deeply passionate about. Here, we provide a range of inclusion and support services for students, including:

• Mental health support – helping students manage anxiety and social challenges;

• Academic interventions – extra help for students who need it;

• Special Educational Needs (SEND) support – tailored strategies to help all students succeed;

• Attendance support – assisting students who may struggle to come into school regularly.

We also run a ‘Nurture Group’ for Year 7 students, offering a safe space to build confidence and settle into secondary school life.

Our Pastoral and SEND teams work closely together, so if you ever have any concerns about your child’s well-being or learning needs, please email us at parents@uhs.org or speak to a Guidance Leader—we are here to help!

 

Final Thoughts & Exciting Events

Thank you, Mrs Erasmus! Hopefully, that gives you a clear insight into the extra support we offer here at Uxbridge High School.

Before we wrap up, I want to highlight just a few exciting things already happening this week:

• Year 10 students are currently out on an amazing trip to Borough Market.
• International Women’s Month assemblies are already underway.

This is what makes Uxbridge High School special; everything we do is connected, whether it’s enrichment, inclusion, student support, or celebrating diversity.

As always, thank you for your continued support. Have a wonderful weekend, and I will see you back here same time, same place next week!

Best regards,

Ms Seymour