Dear parents and carers, 

Welcome to the new academic year. 

We have had an extremely busy and exciting first day back at Holmleigh Park High School. The students looked incredibly professional in our new uniform, so I’d like to start by thanking you for ensuring they all looked brilliant. 

I have enjoyed meeting most of the school in assemblies, and have been talking about our new values: “Work hard, be kind, take responsibility.” These values will be at the core of the school as we move forward this year. 

We have had a busy summer, with both Year 11 and Sixth Form students receiving their results. There were a number of excellent individual performances, and with some hard work from Year 11 and 13 I am confident results this year will be much improved. I am very confident that, with the support of the Greenshaw Learning Trust, we will get there. You may already be aware of Henley Bank and Five Acres, who both joined Greenshaw two years ago. Their results were well above the national average this year. Their results would have placed them in the top ten schools in Gloucestershire last year, and higher than any other non-selective schools. It is my ambition for Holmleigh Park to join them there. 

Homework is a key part of this. Students spend only a small fraction of their time in school each year, so what they do at home makes a huge difference. We launched our new homework policy today, and I encourage you to read this on our website. 

Another priority for me is how we communicate to parents. I am aware that many of you raised this as an issue at the initial Greenshaw consultation meetings, and I am aware that not all of you received the texts which should have been sent out regarding the start of term. I am very keen to simplify communication, and I would be grateful if you could spare two minutes to complete this survey: https://forms.gle/tn89HxY52QNZEab18 

Finally, please can you also note that the kitchen will remain closed tomorrow. We are working around the clock to reopen it, and we will contact you to confirm when it is open. In the meantime, please do continue to provide your child with a packed lunch; we will provide sandwiches, fruit and water to all students who receive Free School Meals. 

I will write to you again at the end of our first week, and I look forward to meeting you. 

Yours faithfully, 

Patrick Farmbrough 

Headteacher