Headteacher’s Update - December 2025

Dear Parents & Carers,

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, I would like to take a moment to reflect on all that we have achieved together as a school community, and to thank you for your continued support.

We have had the most festive week to lead the students into the Christmas seasons. From Christmas concerts, Staff Christmas video, Christmas Jumper Day and the great Christmas dinner finishing with our end of term Christmas Whole School Assembly. There are not many secondary schools that come together as a whole but it is one of the most treasured parts of the year.

This term has been full of energy, opportunity and growth. We were delighted to welcome our new Year 7 cohort, who have settled into secondary school life with confidence and enthusiasm. From the very start, they embraced new challenges, particularly during their residential team building trip. It has been a pleasure to see how quickly they have become part of our school family.

Across the school, students have enjoyed a rich and varied range of experiences beyond the classroom. Our Year 8 visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour brought English to life in an unforgettable way, while Year 9 enjoyed their festive visit to the Lille Christmas Markets, immersing themselves in French language and culture and returning with many happy memories. Year 10 students represented the school at the BBC Good Food Show, gaining valuable insight into the hospitality and food industries, and our Year 7 students enjoyed creative and cultural opportunities through their Art trip to the Arty Crafty Sheep Shed and a much-loved pantomime visit. We are also proud that students are once again taking part in Bucks Orchestra For All, continuing to develop their musical skills and representing the school beyond the classroom.

We also marked some important milestones this term. Our first KS4 and staff celebration evening was a very proud occasion, recognising success, hard work and perseverance. Year 11 students approached their mock examinations with maturity and determination, showing real integrity in their preparation and conduct.

Alongside student achievements, we have been pleased to welcome new colleagues to our community. Miss Tomblin, Mrs Hobbs, Mrs Grant and Mr McPartlan have all joined our SEND team as Learning Support Assistants. They have already made a positive impact, and we are grateful for the care, expertise and dedication they bring to their roles.

We were hit in the latter part of this term with staff and student illness, and we see now in the news that the winter bugs are certainly taking their toll on surgeries and hospitals. We know the impact of staff absence on the students, and we always aim to minimise it but the staff team are no more immune than anyone else. We have increased our cover provision to remove the reliance on external supply.  We are also forward to welcoming Ms Hamilton, our new Cover Manager, and Miss Williams, Cover Supervisor, who will be joining the team in January to provide consistency and support during teacher absences.

This final week of term has been filled with festive events that truly capture the spirit of our school community. The Senior Citizens’ Christmas Tea Party, supported by our cadets and enhanced by performances from our talented young musicians, was a heart-warming celebration of empathy and community connection. The GCSE Music concert showcased the dedication and talent of our GCSE musicians, while the Winter Concert brought together performers from across the school, highlighting creativity, confidence and collaboration. These events are an important part of school life, giving students opportunities to perform, to serve others and to celebrate success together, and I would like to thank everyone who supported them.

As we look beyond the school gates, the world continues to present challenges and uncertainty. In these times, our school values remain more important than ever. The resilience our students show, and the empathy they demonstrate towards others give us great confidence for the future.

I hope the coming weeks provide time for rest, reflection and festivities. On behalf of everyone at the school, I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for the opportunities the new term will bring.

Best wishes

Mr Murphy and all the team at STFS.