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:
- An Exciting Time for Year 9 ✨
- Children’s Mental Health Week 💛
- West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership February Activity 👮🏾
- School Attendance Award 🏆
- 10 Top Tips for Parents and Educators: Fostering a Sense of Belonging
- A HPL focus on Seeing Alternative Perspectives
We hope you enjoy reading this weeks news.
An Exciting Time for Year 9
There is a real buzz around school as they begin exploring their curriculum pathways and preparing for the transition into Key Stage 4. Over the past few weeks, students have been immersed in a rich programme designed to help them make confident, informed decisions about their next steps.
From focused assemblies to an engaging pathways day, every opportunity has been created to support students in understanding the wide range of subjects and routes available to them. Staff have been delivering guidance, sharing insights, and opening doors to new possibilities – ensuring each student feels equipped to choose a pathway that reflects their strengths, interests, and future aspirations.
This period marks a significant milestone in their school journey, and the enthusiasm across the year group is clear. With the right information, encouragement, and support, our Year 9 students are stepping into this next stage with excitement and purpose.
Children’s Mental Health Week 💛
It has been a truly uplifting and engaging experience for our school community. Running from the 9th to the 15th of February, the week offered a rich variety of activities designed to promote wellbeing, encourage mindfulness, and highlight the importance of kindness and positive mental health.
Throughout the week, students took part in themed activities during break, lunch, and form time. Highlights included mindful colouring sessions in the LRC, the online Kindness Challenge, and the Wellbeing Wisdom Challenge, which provided thoughtful prompts and guidance on the Student Zone. Monday’s brightly coloured Accessory Fundraiser created a cheerful start to the week, with students proudly showing their support.
Form tutors also led daily wellbeing‑focused activities, from mindfulness exercises to gratitude reflections, all supported by assemblies centred on mental health awareness.
Across the school, additional features helped keep the focus on wellbeing. Students enjoyed a new book display created by Miss Orton, PSHE lessons dedicated to mental health themes, and the launch of a new Mental Health First Aider poster designed by Ms Mahmood. The week wrapped up on a high with a well‑received student‑led bake sale.
Children’s Mental Health Week has reinforced the importance of supporting one another, celebrating positivity, and continuing to nurture a safe, caring environment for all our students.
West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership Activity
West Midlands Police and the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership are running a month of activity throughout February to better understand and support the needs of parents and carers across our region.
As part of this, they are inviting families to:
📝 Take Part in the Parents & Carers Survey
Your views will help shape future services linked to safety, violence prevention and the support available to children, young people and families.
📲 Please scan the QR code in the image to complete the consultation.
🎉 Attend the Wolverhampton Parents & Carers Event
A free, family‑friendly day with activities such as rock‑climbing, arts & crafts, face‑painting, music and dance sessions, food stalls and keynote speakers.
It’s also a chance to share your experiences and explore how support for parents and carers can be improved.
📅 Wednesday 18th February 2026
⏰ 10am – 3pm
📍 The Way Youth Zone, School St, Wolverhampton, WV3 0NR
For more information on either the survey or the event, please contact: vrp@westmidlands.police.uk
School Attendance Award 🏆
🎉 We’re proud to share some fantastic news! 🎉
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy has been awarded the FFT National School Attendance Award for the Autumn Term 2025/26 ⭐⭐⭐
This award places us in the top 25% of similar FFT secondary schools across England for attendance — a brilliant achievement that reflects the hard work of our students, families, and staff.
👏 Thank you to all our parents and carers for your continued support in helping students maintain excellent attendance. Every day in school truly makes a difference!
Let’s keep up the great work throughout the year! 💛📚
10 Top Tips for Parents and Educators: Fostering a Sense of Belonging
Feeling a sense of belonging plays a vital role in children’s wellbeing, confidence and gives them the ability to thrive, both academically and emotionally. This Wake Up Wednesday guide explores why belonging matters and how small, everyday interactions can make a meaningful difference in helping children feel accepted and included.
Offering ten practical, easy-to-apply tips, the guide supports parents and educators in building positive relationships, celebrating individuality and fostering inclusive cultures at home and in school. Featuring information on language choices, emotional validation and shared decision-making, this edition of #WakeUpWednesday highlights simple ways to strengthen connection and nurture a genuine sense of togetherness.
Did you know?
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?
Term Time Holidays
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.
Every minute counts
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.
- Term ends: Friday 13th February
- Term starts: Monday 23rd February
- 25th March – Y10 Parents’ Evening
- 5th March – Access Project – University of Manchester
- 10th March – KS5 RS Candle Conference Coventry Cathedral
- 18th March – Y10 Parents’ Evening
- 23rd March – Y10 Urban Fieldwork Investigation
- 25th March – Humanities London Trip
- 27th March – Guest Speaker for GCSE & A-level Business – Ahmed Farooq
Mental health support for young people and families
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.


Navigating adolescence can be a rollercoaster, physically, emotionally, and socially.
Here are some practical tips to help stay grounded and healthy for teens:
- 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.
- Move Your Body Regular physical activity—whether it’s dancing, walking, or team sports-releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress.
- 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.
- Talk It Out Open communication with trusted adults or friends helps feel heard and supported. Listening without judgment is key.
- Practice Mindfulness Simple techniques like deep breathing, journaling, or yoga can help manage anxiety and build emotional resilience.
- Build Positive Connections Strong friendships and supportive relationships are vital. Join clubs or groups that align with your interests.
- Manage Screen Time -Set boundaries that work for you-
- Create a daily screen schedule that includes breaks
- Use timers or app limits to avoid endless scrolling
- Keep screens out of bedrooms to protect sleep
- 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

- 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.
Positive parenting
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
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.
Healthy Lifestyle
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
Medical Factsheets
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.


This Weeks Focus... Seeing Alternative Perspectives
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?
Top Tips on... Seeing Alternative Perspectives
✓ Conversations that encourage an alternative view. Point out that it may not be your own personal view but how could someone else view the same situation differently?
✓ Imagine being a reporter asking questions to understand someone’s point of view on an issue.
✓ Consider a current news issue – how could the same issue be viewed in different ways? Be deliberately challenging to see how well alternative perspectives can be explained.
✓ Discuss the importance of taking on the views of others – why should we do this? Consider ‘life situations’ where this is vital.
✓ Ask about subjects they study that explore alternative perspectives. Can they provide specific examples and what does this skill bring to their understanding?
Safeguarding Guidance
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.
A reminder about the Academy uniform expectations
- 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.
Preloved Uniforms
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
Our current canteen menu:
Free School Meals
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!
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls App
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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