9th January 2026
HEADLINES
By James Saunders
WELCOME BACK Welcome back to a new term and a new year. I hope that, like me, you have all had a restful break and have entered the new year with a refreshed zest and enthusiasm. The autumn term is always the most gruelling. It was certainly a busy term. This is my first headlines of the year and the first for a number of weeks. I would like to start off by thanking Mr Munro and the rest of the Honywood team for covering things for me in my absence whilst I recovered from my op. I have certainly missed being in school over the past month and a half. I would also like to thank the many learners who sent me caring messages. It has been great to get back into classrooms this week.
half term will end by saying farewell to our skiers for the half term break. Welcome back everyone. Let’s get stuck into another great term. Have a great weekend. James Saunders
TEACHING AWARDS The 2026 Pearson National Teaching Awards are open to every school across the UK. The awards were established by Lord Puttnam CBE in 1998 and are managed by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity. The vision of the charThis half term is going to speed by rather quickly. ity is to recognise and celebrate the work and We already have only five more weeks to go and impact of schools, teachers and colleges across then another five weeks to take us to Easter. If the UK. If ever there is a time to recognise the the autumn was about running the marathon, hard work of our school staff, now is the time. the spring term is about short sprints. With little Click here to access a youtube link highlighting time we have a lot to do. C11s are entering the last year’s awards - https://www.youtube.com/ final phase of their education before they begin watch?v=yFri1BI7cDg their exams - in fact a few courses have already had some of their official assessments. C10s For Schools who take part, entering the awards will be using this term to prepare for their mock has a really positive impact on the wider staff exams. C8s will be preparing to choose their gcse and school community, far beyond the individual subjects nominated. Please do take this opportunity to thank someone. You can nominate them here: Looking ahead over the next five weeks we have https://www.teachingawards.com/2026-categoMade training; Box Clever Macbeth performance; ries/ Jack Petchey awards evening; Book Fayre; C11 Whole cohort photo; residentials visits to Europe The entry process has been simplified this year to and a trip to Walsingham Abbey. make it even easier to enter. We will also welcome families into school for Now let’s all switch off for the weekend. Stay C11 and C7 Parents evening and for information warm and dry. evenings for the Disneyland and Ski trips. The