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:

• 📺 Important Information About BBC iPlayer on School Devices
• Children’s Commissioner guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives 📱 
• 🏀 KS3 Basketball Success
• 📅 Y13 Parents’ Evening
• Support with School Attendance issues
• What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Roblox 💻
• A HPL focus on Practice

We hope you enjoy reading this weeks news.

Some students are accessing BBC iPlayer on their school devices, both in school and at home.

Please be aware of the following:

• Students are permitted to watch BBC iPlayer during break and lunch while in school.
• School is fully covered by its own TV licence, so use of BBC iPlayer on school premises is allowed.
• At home, families must have a valid TV licence to use BBC iPlayer, even if the student is watching on a school-owned device.
• Watching BBC iPlayer or live TV without a TV licence goes against TV Licensing regulations and may lead to penalties.

We are sharing this information to support all families, including those who may not be familiar with TV licence requirements.

For more details, please visit: www.tvlicensing.co.uk 

The Children’s Commissioner has put together a fantastic guide for parents and carers. At around 26 pages it goes into a lot of depth including:

• Screen time
• When bad things happen
• Artificial intelligence
• Conversation starters
• Actions to take checklist

Our KS3 team delivered an outstanding performance on Monday, securing a well‑deserved win in their fixture against Broadway. It was a closely contested and highly engaging match, with both teams demonstrating determination and resilience right up to the final whistle.

A standout moment came in the 4th quarter, when Maria scored a decisive last‑minute basket, sealing the victory for our team – an exceptional finish to an exciting game.

Beyond the result, this fixture was a brilliant example of teamwork and sisterhood in action. Our students supported one another throughout, communicated effectively on court, and demonstrated the unity, encouragement, and mutual respect that underpin our culture. Their collective effort reflects the strong relationships and collaborative spirit we strive to foster across the academy.

Well done to all students involved for their hard work, skill, sportsmanship, and commitment to uplifting one another. A fantastic achievement from our KS3 team! 👏

📣 Year 13 Parents’ Evening
📅 Wednesday 28th January
✅ Book your appointments via Arbor & Parking will be off-site – please plan accordingly.
Entry via Church Lane only – there will be no access through the back gate on the evening.

👋 We look forward to seeing you!

Please find these two helpful guides to support families whose children may be struggling with school attendance due to emotional, medical, or wellbeing needs.

📄 What’s included:

• Emotionally Based School Non‑Attendance (EBSNA) Parent Leaflet – explains the signs of emotionally based school avoidance, why it can happen, and practical steps you can take to support your child.
• Section 19 Parents’ Guide – outlines what support is available when a child cannot attend school for health reasons, how the process works, and what parents and schools can expect.

These documents are designed to help you understand the support pathways available and to reassure you that you’re not alone.

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or wellbeing, please contact the school—we’re here to help. 💛

Roblox is hugely popular with children, offering millions of user-created games and social experiences. This #WakeUpWednesday guide explains how the platform differs from traditional video games, and why its scale, self-rating system and automated moderation can expose young users to inappropriate content or unsafe interactions. 

Aimed at parents and educators, the guide explores concerns including online communication, in-game spending and compulsive play. It also shares practical advice on parental controls, limiting chat and encouraging open conversations, helping adults support children to enjoy Roblox more safely and responsibly. 

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.

• 28th January – Y13 Parents’ Evening
• 4th Feb – Y9 Pathways Evening
• 9th Feb – Y9 Pathways Taster Day
• 9th Feb – Chai and Chat
• Term ends: Friday 13th February

• 4th Feb – Y9 Pathways Evening
• 5th Feb – KS5 Trip to Cadbury World
• 5th Feb – Brilliant Club Graduation Event
• 9th Feb – Y9 Physics Big Quiz UOB
• 9th Feb- Chai and Chat
• 10th Feb – STEM Women Apprenticeship Careers Event

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?

✓ To encourage your child to practice give them small incremental goals to aim for e.g., practice writing the opening line to this paragraph until you are completely happy with it, practice two bars of a piece of music before you move on.

✓ Discuss/show them examples of those who have achieved great things through deliberate practice.

✓ Talk about your own experiences of practice and how you approached this.

✓ Plan time for practice. The deliberate intention of practice will ensure that we are available for it! We want it to become part of our routine.

✓ Discuss with your child the importance of practicing the things that we are not good at – this is of course how practice works. It is all too easy to practice the things that we are good at. In this way we get better at those things and move forward confidently.

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.

• 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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