Welcome to the academies weekly newsletter, rounding up the events of the past week and keeping you informed of coming events and information to support you and your daughter in school and beyond.

This week we have:

• We started off the week celebrating uniqueness with odd socks day!
• Marked Remembrance Day on Tuesday
• Sharing our Ofsted Snapshot & Parent Guide – 2025
• Year 7 Football Champions
• Sixth Form Open Evening success
• Pyjama Day for Children in Need
• A HPL focus on Flexible Thinking
• What Parents and Educators need to know about AI-generated videos

We hope you enjoy reading this weeks news.

We kicked off Anti-Bullying Week with a splash of colour and creativity for Odd Socks Day! Our school community came together to celebrate individuality and kindness in the most vibrant way possible.

🧦 From bold colours to animal prints, stripes and stars, students and staff showed off their wildest pairs to celebrate individuality and remind us all that being different is something to be proud of.

📸 Take a look at some of the fantastic photos from today – the socks were loud, proud, and full of personality!

We paused to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve. At KEVI HWGA, we reflected on the importance of peace, unity, and gratitude.
“Lest we forget.”

Check out our Remembrance display in reception!

Following our positive Ofsted inspection in March 2025, Ofsted has introduced a new inspection framework. We’ve attached a short summary so you can see what’s changed and why it matters.

Key changes include:

• No single overall grade – each area is graded separately.
• New report cards coming November 2025.
• A clearer 5-point grading scale and separate safeguarding judgment.

Please take a moment to read the attached document. It explains what Ofsted looks for and how we continue to build a strong, safe, and exciting school community.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Our incredible Year 7 football team lit up the pitch at the Aston Schools Football Tournament last night, and we couldn’t be prouder. These talented young athletes showcased skill, determination, and team spirit in every match — and the results speak for themselves.

Match Results:

• HWGA 1 – 0 Aston Manor (⚽ Zubaida)
• HWGA 1 – 0 St Paul’s Girls (⚽ Maleeha)
• HWGA 3 – 0 Broadway (⚽ Savannah x3)

Final:

• HWGA 2 – 1 Handsworth Grammar (⚽ Savannah x2)

Three straight wins without conceding a single goal? Phenomenal. That dominant group stage performance earned us a spot in the final against KE Girls Grammar School. Despite going 1–0 down just six minutes in, our squad kept their heads high. With just one minute left on the clock, they equalised — and then Savannah sealed the win in extra time with a stunning second goal!

🌟 What an Amazing Sixth Form Open Evening! 🌟

Our Sixth Form Open Evening was absolutely buzzing with excitement! Year 11 students explored a wide range of Post-16 courses and got hands-on with fantastic interactive activities from our departments.

A huge thank you to all the students and families who attended and brought such enthusiasm and energy to the event. Your curiosity and engagement truly made the evening special.

We also want to give a big thank you to our incredible staff for their hard work and creativity in showcasing what our Sixth Form has to offer.

A special mention to our successful pop-up clothing shop, offering pre-loved clothes – a brilliant initiative that was well received by everyone!

We can’t wait to welcome many of you into our Sixth Form community! 💫

🌟 Pyjama Day for Children in Need 🌟

Today our school was filled with brilliant, comfy pyjamas, slippers, blankets and teddies as students and staff came together to support Children in Need! 🐻✨

A huge thank you to Mrs Fox and Miss Zhao for organising the fantastic Toy Sale and for creating the adorable Pudsey Bear badges, which were a big hit and helped raise even more funds for this amazing cause. 💛

We also had a delicious food sale at lunch, which was enjoyed by everyone and added to the success of the day. 🍰🥪

It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved and showing their support in such a fun and cosy way. Together, we’ve made a real difference! 🙌

Absence disrupts the education of the individual pupil and the whole class. Are you aware those children who do not attend regularly:

• do not achieve well in exams
• find it difficult to maintain friendships
• are more likely to become involved in crime
• miss out on opportunities in further education and the world of work?

Please be advised that term-time holidays are very unlikely to be approved. If families ignore this the absence will be unauthorised and you will be at risk of receiving a £160 Fixed Penalty Notice per parent on your return.

Last term, 36 parents have received Penalty Notices for taking students on unauthorised leave in term time.

Please note that, Birmingham City Council strongly discourages pupil leave of absence during term time. The expectation is that such leave would only be authorised in the most exceptional circumstance.

Please ensure that leave is taken in the school holidays only.

Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life.

• 5 minutes late every day means around 3 ½ days of education are missed
• a score of 90% in a test would be a good result but 90% attendance means that a child
• will have missed around 100 lessons over a school year.

The majority of our students are on time to school every day. Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring that your daughter attends school on time every day. Lesson 1 begins promptly at 8:45am, which means that your daughter needs to be in her seat waiting for the register to be taken by 08:40am.

Students who are late, without a valid reason, will sit in a 30 minute after school detention on the same day.

The only method for reporting your child’s absence is now through the Arbor Parent Portal App.

Using the Arbor Parent Portal App is quick and easy, and it is now our preferred way for parents to communicate absence reasons to the school.

For step-by-step instructions on how to report an absence, please visit our online guide.

Benefits of the Arbor Parent Portal App:

• Update student/parent details
• Top up dinner money
• Sign up for trips and clubs
• Check your child’s attendance
• Access school reports
• and now reporting absences

Additionally, our new school app, KEVI Handsworth Wood Girls (via Reach More
Parents), will be our primary platform for sharing school-related updates and information.

Please note that the absence reporting feature will no longer be available on other
platforms, and we will no longer monitor absences reported via Studybugs, even if you still have access to it.

Thank you for your cooperation.

• 19th November – Y9 Parents’ Evening
• 3rd December – Y11 Parents’ Evening
• 16th December – Chai and Chat from 15:30 – 16:30
• Term ends: Friday 19 December 2025

• 17th November – Geography Trip – Birmingham City Centre
• 19th November – Y9 Parents’ Evening
• 1st December – Y7 end of term movie afternoon
• 3rd December – Y9 end of term movie afternoon
• 3rd December – Y11 Parents’ Evening
• 4th December – Y10 end of term movie afternoon
• 5th December – Y11 end of term movie afternoon
• 8th December – Y12 & Y13 end of term movie morning
• 8th December – Y8 end of term movie afternoon
• 9th December – Personal Development Day
• 11th December – KS4 Performing Arts Theatre Trip
• 16th December – Chai and Chat from 15:30 – 16:30
• 17th December – Winter Talent Show

Please see information about how young people and families can access support for mental health through Pause. There is also information about events and workshops that are available.

Here are some practical tips to help stay grounded and healthy for teens:

1. Prioritise Sleep   8–10 hours of sleep each night. A consistent bedtime and reduced screen time before bed can dramatically improve mood, focus, and energy.
2. Move Your Body   Regular physical activity—whether it’s dancing, walking, or team sports-releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress.
3. Eat Smart   A balanced diet rich in fruits, veggies, and Omega-3s supports brain function and emotional wellbeing. Skip the ultra-processed snacks when possible.
4. Talk It Out   Open communication with trusted adults or friends helps feel heard and supported. Listening without judgment is key.
5. Practice Mindfulness  Simple techniques like deep breathing, journaling, or yoga can help manage anxiety and build emotional resilience.
6. Build Positive Connections   Strong friendships and supportive relationships are vital. Join clubs or groups that align with your interests.
7. Manage Screen Time -Set boundaries that work for you-
   1. Create a daily screen schedule that includes breaks
   2. Use timers or app limits to avoid endless scrolling
   3. Keep screens out of bedrooms to protect sleep
8. Know When to Ask for Help   Mental health matters. If a you feel overwhelmed, support is available—whether through school counsellors, helplines, or trusted adult

Sleep Matters – Tips

• A consistent bedtime—even on weekends
• A wind-down routine (no phones 30 minutes before bed)
• A cool, quiet sleep environment

• Keep windows closed during high pollen days
• Shower and change clothes after being outdoors
• Use antihistamines as advised by a GP or pharmacist

• Drink 6–8 glasses of water daily
• Eat fibre-rich foods (whole grains, fruits, veg)
• Stay active to support gut health

• Practice breathing exercises or mindfulness
• Break tasks into manageable chunks
• Reach out to a trusted adult or school nurse

• Gentle cleansing twice daily
• Avoiding harsh scrubs or picking at skin
• Seeking medical advice for persistent or painful acne

• School nurses can advise on immunisation schedules
• Any health concerns can be raised with the school nurse/First Aid team.

Advice to Parents – School Age Immunisation Service has been published by the NHS to help you to understand the immunisations your daughter will be offered at school.

We know how challenging it can be to balance all the demands parents and carers have to cope with. That’s why NSPCC have put together some tips to help. All children need boundaries and discipline, and this guide helps you develop what works for you and your child.

If your family is in need of any support for any of the following issues –

• money advice,
• special educational needs,
• disability,
• food,
• housing,
• parenting groups,
• relationships,
• sexual health & family planning,
• under 5’s support,
• bereavement,
• mental health,
• leisure activities,
• physical health
• & much more.

Please see download the family action leaflet here.

Our Healthy Lifestyle Checklist:

• Exercise – 60 minutes a day
• Hydration – Drink 2 litres of water a day
• Nutrition – Eat a balanced Diet
• Sleep – 8-10 hours a night

Please find a range of helpful medical factsheets put together by the School’s First Aid Medical Lead.

If you would like to see these factsheets in an alternative language, please get in touch.

We use the High Performance Learning philosophy and framework in our school. This means that we believe that all the students can be high performers, and we teach with these expectations in mind.

Using the research-based High Performance Learning approach helps us to systematically build the cognitive competencies that lead a young person to thrive in school and in later life.

We embed the HPL philosophy throughout our school. We never tell our students they cannot achieve; it is just they are not doing it yet but with practice and persevere it will happen.

You can support your child with developing the High Performance Learning skills at home.

There are 30 skills which are broken down into the two categories of Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics (ACPs) and Values, Attitudes and Attributes (VAAs). These help students how to think, and how to behave.

HWGA will be sharing a some HPL key competencies (VAAS & ACPs) strategies with you weekly.

Using the HPL framework at home will help you to enhance your child’s academic
achievement and personal development.

Home Challenge:

• Quiz your child on the ACPs and VAAs. How may of each can they remember?
• Ask them to quiz you? Can you beat your child?
• Select 3 VAAs and ACPs at random. Can your child tell you what they mean?

Not there yet? Repeat the challenge – can you both beat your previous attempt?

✓ Create a scenario which has several different approaches/solutions – discuss which one is best and why?

✓ Research someone who has invented something – find out how they adjusted and tweaked their invention to produce their final product.  E.g., Dyson who had thousands of prototypes before arriving at the finished product.

✓ Ask your child to tell you about a book/computer game/ board game/activity/story that they have read/played/taken part in that has meant they have had to make decisions about which path/route to take.  Ask them to explain why they made that decision above another one – what was their rationale/thinking?

✓ Ask your child to reflect on something new they have learnt recently (about anything) and then present their learning in 2 very different formats such as a diary entry Vs an artefact, an essay Vs an image.

✓ Talk to your child about learning requiring us to sometimes abandon ideas and that it is ok to approach learning in different ways or to start again. The importance of being open to a range of possible solutions to a problem or challenge enables us to think more broadly about our learning and in turn, possible solutions.

QUESTIONS:

• Do you have a concern that a student is being physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected?
• Has a child/young person made a disclosure to you?
• Are you concerned that a student could be living in a private fostering arrangement?

REMEMBER:

• Please do not ask the student leading questions
• You must report concerns relating to FGM,CSE, FM, HBV and Prevent
• Do not ask children to remove items of clothing and do not ask them to write anything down or sign anything you have written
• Allegations against staff MUST be referred directly to the Headteacher (or to the Chair of Governors if about the Head)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Safeguarding Team will gather all of the information, link with multiple agencies and the decision will be made whether a referral to Children’s Services or an Early Help Assessment (or other action) needs to be made. Any information the Safeguarding Team are able to share with you will be shared. If you have any questions or a ‘gut feeling’, then please do not hesitate to seek advice and support from the Safeguarding Team.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about AI generated videos

AI can now generate realistic looking videos that are almost impossible to distinguish from genuine content. From hoax news to abusive deepfakes, these synthetic clips can mislead, manipulate and even harm. As AI tools become more advanced, and more accessible, young people are increasingly at risk of encountering fake but convincing footage online. This #WakeUpWednesday guide unpacks the dangers of AI-generated videos, from the emotional impact of fake distressing content to the potential for impersonation and bullying. With practical tips to help young users spot deepfakes and navigate online spaces with confidence, this guide is an essential read for parents and educators navigating this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

• All students must wear jumpers.
• Skirts if worn should be black and pleated.
• Hoodies are not permitted in school.
• The school uniform consists of a jumper, a white revere blouse, and a black skirt or trousers.

Students are not permitted to wear trainers unless medically required to do so School shoes should be below the ankle.

Boots should only be worn in severe weather (snow).

Jackets/coats should be plain and Hoodies should not be worn in school.

• No nail polish/ false nails
• Make-up if worn should be natural looking
• False eyelashes are not permitted in schoo
• Pins are not allowed to be used for headscarves. Please use a safer style fastening to secure headscarves.

Jewellery:

• One stud in each ear
• One small nose stud – not a ring
• No rings,
• No bracelets – unless for religious purposes
• No necklaces.

We collect preloved but good quality uniform throughout the year. If you would like to donate preloved items, please bring them to the School reception.

if you would like to receive preloved items for your child, please contact the pastoral team at pastoralteam@hwga.org.uk

We are now using the Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service in School. If you think that your child may be entitled to Free School Meals, please complete a ‘New Application’ on the following link: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/birmingham

Just registering your child for Free School Meals means that the School gets extra funding – register now to make sure we don’t miss out!

Get notifications on your phone by using the King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls App available in your phones app store to download today.

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