Friday 27th June 2025

From the Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the term races by, we look forward to our annual events such as Sports Day, International Day and lots of trips. We are also excited that so many Year 10 students are engaged in work experience this year.

I wanted to draw your attention to some slight changes in our 2025-2026 term dates, beginning in September 2025, which you can view in our website but also at the bottom of this newsletter. In summary,

1) Prospective Parents' Open Evening has changed to 18th September 2025, 5pm-8pm.

2) Thursday 4th September 2025 will run as a full induction day for Year 7 and Year 12 , and all other year groups will come in to school for a short session (30-45 mins) with form tutors to collect their timetables, establish where their form room is, meet their tutors and have a short check in. More information will follow about the specifics around this.

3) We have moved the usual October INSET day to Monday 3rd November 2025, which is the first day back after the October half term.

Mrs M Pye

Headteacher

Sun Safety

A message from Mr Balu:

As we approach the warmer part of the summer term, I wanted to write and tell you about some of the things you can do to ensure your child is safe in the sun. Whilst we recognise that some sun is good for us, sun safety is an important health and safety issue.

Children spend almost half their childhood at school, with a great deal of time spent outdoors. During the warmer months of the year children are exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) from the sun, the majority of which is when penetration is strongest (between 11am and 3pm). Without adequate protection, a child's skin can easily burn. As a school, we have shaded and indoor areas for students to stay under during hot days so that they can get away from the sun.

Please support us by providing:

Providing your child with a reusable water bottle, which can be filled at home before arriving at school. They can also fill their water bottle up at break and lunchtime from the fountains around the school.

Applying sun cream before school. Students can reapply this themselves at break and lunch if they wish. Sunscreen should be applied that is factor 30+, to all exposed parts of the body not forgetting ears, shoulders, necks, and noses.

Water is the best drink for your child so please encourage them to drink this, rather than high sugar drinks. You will have seen from my previous letters, that energy drinks are very dangerous for children under the age of 16 and we do not allow students to drink them.

St Mary’s Summer School

Our lovely year 9s attended St Mary’s Summer school where they had a university experience they will never forget!

They worked in teams to complete a team-building challenge, which fostered creativity, teamwork and public speaking skills. Other activities students got involved in included:

Subject tasters (different subjects to explore at university).
A tour and engaging activities with Strawberry Hill House.
Extracurricular activities including a silent disco.

Greenford Read:

Ms Williams writes:

I was so impressed with the Year 7 students who attended the Greenford Read event last week

All demonstrated excellent oracy skills: they stood up to address the whole group and when they disagreed, they did it respectfully. We had mature discussion about LGBTQ+, and also about gang culture, both issues which appear in the story.

International Week: Monday 7th July to Thursday 10th July

This celebratory week, hosted annually at Greenford High School, is an opportunity to embrace, empower and celebrate the diversity we have within our school community.

On Thursday 10th July, your child will be able to wear clothing appropriate to their cultural/national background. Prior to the event, mainly during tutor time, students will be involved in international quizzes. There will also be a priority for lessons to be delivered with a difference, incorporating different cultures, languages and role models. Throughout International Week, there will be celebratory events running across the school. These include a world cinema afternoon, an exclusive Greek drama performance, an Art Exhibition, a break-time concert, a cultural catwalk and varied canteen food.

At Greenford High School, we are very proud to have a demographic of students from a variety of different backgrounds and, as such, we are a politically impartial environment with all cultures and beliefs celebrated with respect. Our five character traits consist of responsibility, resilience, courage, compassion and community.

For more details, please see a letter sent by Mr Dhinsda on Tuesday.

Keeping our students safe:

When collecting your child of visiting Greenford, please can we ask that you park safely so that students and our local community can access the pavements. Parking on the pavement means that our students and local residents have to walk in the road, which is dangerous:

Celebrating our students:

Jagat Singh in Year 9 makes us proud; so many achievements:

Active Member of Ealing Team C: Jagat is an active member of Ealing Team C, participating in the Thames Valley Championship. His commitment and skill have greatly contributed to the team's success. They stood 4^th this year against the strongest clubs of London.
Winner at Alperton School Competition: Jagat won a chess competition organised by the World Tamil Chess Organisation at Alperton School. This victory highlights his exceptional talent and dedication to the game.
Winner of U1550 Ealing championship: Jagat won yearly summer tournament for second year in row in 2023-24 he won U1250 this year 2024-25 he is champion for U1550 this is most prestigious and oldest club tournament in Ealing organised by Ealing chess club every year. This is full standard 3 hour game and tournament is played during summer (July-September).

Please do let us know if your child has achieved anything outside of school. We are so proud of all our students' achievements both in and out of school.

You can email: aphull@greenford.ealing.sch.uk with a brief description and a picture of your child so we can celebrate this in our community.

We are delighted to be delivering in Ealing the Summer 2025 Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme!

The HAF programme provides funded holiday provision, including healthy food and enriching activities, for children and young people in school years from reception to year 11 who reside in or attend school in the London Borough of Ealing and are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM), or who are vulnerable and would benefit from a HAF place.

Summer 2025 HAF

Throughout Ealing, HAF provisions will be offering a wide range of funded activities, as well as a healthy meal. Eligible Children and young people can attend for a maximum of 16 days over the summer school holiday. Ealing’s Summer HAF programme will run from Monday 28 July - Friday 29 August 2025.

Vulnerable Children and Young People: Applications Open Monday 16 June 2025

We are able to offer a limited number of HAF places to some vulnerable children and young people who would benefit from attending HAF provision but are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.

Professionals who are working with families who they feel would benefit will need to complete an online referral application form to apply for them to be able to access the Summer HAF programme. Please complete a separate form for each child you are referring.

Applications open on Monday 16 June at 9am and will close on Thursday 28 August at 12 noon. We advise that you complete the application as soon as possible to be able to secure the child or young person’s eligibility and book a HAF provider placement. Please note that vulnerable places should not be used for childcare.

Promote to Eligible Families: New Booking System Goes Live Wednesday 2 July 2025

Eligible families (those in receipt of benefits-related free school meals) will receive a HAF postcard from schools, along with an email with booking details, over the coming weeks. If you are working with an eligible family, please encourage them to book their HAF place.

Our activity providers’ booking information and FAQ’s will be available through the ‘Book an Activity’ tile on our webpage.

Further Information

To read more about Ealing’s HAF programme, please have a look at our webpages: www.EalingHAF.org.uk.