Greenford High School Parent Portal - Parent Connect

Friday 9th May 2025

From the Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope everyone had a lovely long weekend with the bank holiday. Students have returned refreshed and focused and we now move rapidly towards the rest of exams for Year 11 and Year 13, and you will find lots of tips for managing this often stressful period in the information below.

As ever, if you need any support or have anything you wish to discuss, please speak to your child's Head of Year.

Mrs M Pye

Headteacher

Coping with exam stress

As many of our pupils prepare for their summer exams, it’s completely normal to feel stressed, but the most important thing is to manage this stress in a healthy way.

One of the best ways to deal with stress is through effective time management - break your revision into smaller, manageable tasks and setting realistic goals each day. Make sure to take regular breaks to avoid burnout: even a short walk or deep breathing exercises can help clear your mind and reduce tension.

Lastly, do not hesitate to talk to someone - a teacher or the year team, friend, or family member about how you are feeling. We are extremely lucky at Greenford to have such an extensive support network that all pupils feel they can openly talk about how they are feeling when times become challenging. As we head into exam season, sometimes just sharing your thoughts can make a huge difference. Remember it’s okay to feel stressed, but managing it well can help you stay focused and perform at your best.

Importance of staying active during exams

It's also essential to get enough sleep, eat well, and stay active, as physical health plays a big role in mental well-being. Staying active is crucial for both physical health and mental performance. Regular exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, helping improve concentration, memory, and mood—all essential for effective studying. Physical activity also reduces stress and anxiety, providing a healthy outlet for the pressure that often comes with exams. Even short breaks for a walk or some stretching can refresh the mind and enhance productivity, making your study time more efficient and less overwhelming.

Year 12 Higher Education Fair

Last week, GHS delivered the Year 12 Higher Education and Futures Fair – it was the biggest careers event we have run here at Greenford with over 45 universities and employers present. 235 students benefitted from the opportunity to talk to universities and apprenticeship providers on site at Greenford. Well done to Mr Hasley, Head of Media and Careers, and Miss Rodway, our Connexions Officer, as well as the Year 12 Pastoral Team for making this event such a success. This really does make us proud of all the work that we do to support our students.

Student quotes

“I loved it, I’ve got so much stuff! I’m learning so much and have a list of open days to attend. I spoke to Southbank, Roehampton, Derby, Aston, Birkbeck, Nottingham and I still want to speak to Essex!” Antonia, 12G

“It was really informative – I found out lots of things I didn’t know before. I spoke to the police, army, Richmond American university and the University of Football Business. I want to do something to do with economics and finance in the future.” Yahye Abdi, 12J

“It was good – I found out more information about different universities and when undergraduate open days are. I spoke to King’s College and will be going to their open day in June. I want to be a children’s nurse in the future, so I plan to go to university and then get a job.” Yashal, 12G

“It was very good. I learned a lot about the universities and what grades you need, how long the courses are and what you do at uni.” Nathai, 12J

“I think it was great. I got the chance to talk to a lot of interesting people. There was a wide selection of universities and apprenticeships. I mainly spoke to universities as I’m interested in becoming a teacher. My favourite stall was the University of Derby today.” Dennis, 12E

“I came prepared with questions, and they told me the skills and everything I needed to do. They said the most important thing for the career or degree you choose is to show passion and that will make you stand out and help you get the grades you need. I’m hoping for a degree apprenticeship – possibly with British Airways or Amazon. But I also really liked Sussex University as they have a major and minor option, so I could study Law and International Relations.” Sandeep, 12G

Greenford High School Joins Gifford Primary School to Celebrate International Day

A lovely quote from the head teacher:

'I just wanted to send a huge thank you to you and the talented pupils from Greenford High for the fantastic performances at our International Fair yesterday. The Dhol Club and the Bhangra dancer were absolutely amazing - they brought such energy, colour and joy to the event and really made it a celebration to remember.

Thank you so much for working with us to organise everything and making it possible, especially during such a busy time with exams and other commitments. We really appreciate the time, effort and enthusiasm that went into it and we hope to invite you in again next academic year.

Please do pass on our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the pupils involved. They were a real credit to your school.'

Extra-Curricular Activities

At Greenford High School, we believe it is not just the academic achievement of our students that makes them successful. The softer skills play a huge part in shaping our students’ character and support their progress. As part of our student development programme, we have worked extremely hard in providing our students with opportunities to develop these skills. We are pleased to share with you our summer term extracurricular timetable to empower students to select activities that enrich their experiences.
Please encourage your child to try at least one activity so they can build on their skills. All activities take place on the school site (you will be informed where tournaments take place outside this) and are led by experienced staff. Please remind your child that they must inform you when they are attending an activity.
We look forward to seeing your child attend these activities this term.

Aim Higher London: Year 8 Workshop

As part of our student development programme, last week year 8s took part in a workshop to inspire them about their future.

Our partners at Aim Higher London were very impressed with the students' responses and questions. Well done year 8!

Strategies that could help....

We all know growing up can present us with challenges and, as a parent, there is no manual that we can follow to be the 'perfect parent'- there is no such thing!

Parent Voice: Parents who attended our coffee morning said that they welcomed advice on how they can support their teenagers, so we will be sharing ideas that could help families: