Principal's Weekly Update
Hello everyone,
We are bringing you this week’s update from sunny Uxbridge High School! Even though we are indoors, the school has been full of energy and positivity over the past few days.
This week, I will be focusing on three key themes:
- Our Sixth Form Students
- Poetry and Well-being
- Year 9 Taster Sessions and External Visitors
Sixth Form – Role Models for the School
Our Sixth Form students have been fantastic ambassadors for the school this week in many ways. We welcomed external visitors from Oakwood, Northwood and Guru Nanak School, as well as an external advisor, who visited to support our school improvement priorities for this academic year.
They were extremely complimentary about the school, but in particular, they were highly impressed by our sixth form students. They spoke to our sixth form leadership team, Year 12 students interested in leadership, and other sixth formers across the school. The students expressed great pride in our school’s culture and vision, showing enthusiasm for promoting high aspirations and ambitions amongst younger students.
Year 9 Taster Sessions – Preparing for Key Stage 4
Linking to this, our Year 9 students took part in taster sessions on Monday, which were designed to help them explore new subjects as they prepare to build their Key Stage 4 curriculum. Mr Jignesh Patel, Head of Social Sciences, was involved in these sessions, and our sixth form students played a key role in delivering them.
They shared their experiences of subjects that Year 9 students may not have encountered yet—such as sociology and psychology—to help them make informed choices. We want our students to feel a sense of ownership over their subject choices, working in partnership with parents and the school. The aim is to get them fully engaged and prepared for the increasing independent study required at Key Stage 4.
Poetry and Well-being – Expressing Thoughts Through Words
This week, we have also focused on poetry and well-being, led by Miss Griffin in assemblies. The idea was to help students explore how poetry can be a powerful tool for expressing emotions and experiences.
I recently read Maya Angelou’s poem "Phenomenal Woman", which made me reflect on its relevance to International Women’s Day. During that week, we saw several Maya Angelou quotes, which inspired discussions about how expressing feelings through poetry and writing can positively impact well-being.
Students have been encouraged to write their poetry or personal reflections. If you can, please encourage them at home—it’s a great way for them to process emotions and build confidence in self-expression.
A Message from Mr Patel – Bringing Sociology to Life
"Hi, I’m Mr Patel, Head of Social Sciences, which includes sociology and psychology. We have been working hard to bring these subjects to life in the real world, as they are not typically introduced before Year 10.
One of our biggest challenges is helping students relate to sociology and understand its real-world applications. To support this, we have been running enrichment clubs, including ‘CSI Sociology’—a forensic and homicide investigation program that helps students explore law, criminology, and related fields.”
Looking Ahead
We have a busy schedule ahead, with more enrichment activities, trips, and events planned. Thank you, as always, for your continued support in encouraging our students to aim high and get involved in all the opportunities available.
Wishing you all a fantastic weekend—see you next week for another update!
Best regards,
Louisa Seymour
Principal, Uxbridge High School