Welcome Back
Thank you for your support in ensuring all students had a strong start to the academic year. Students have transitioned back to school life maturely. It has been an excellent first week. The staff team are very much looking forward to watching our students develop their confidence and prove to themselves what is possible this academic year.
Uniform reminders
As always, we appreciate your continued support with ensuring all students attend school with excellent uniform.
A reminder that our uniform requirements are outlined on the school website here: https://www.meacentral.org.uk/students-and-parents/uniform
Some students have arrived back at school with a new piercing; these are not allowed. We appreciate your support to ensure these are removed.
House competition
Voices for humanity: Inspiring change through compassion and action
We are excited to launch this half term’s main house competition – House oracy!
This will be launched in next Friday’s House assembly, and all the details of how your child can participate will be included.
Students will participate in a competition to write a persuasive speech to inspire change via humanitarian causes and celebrate some of the brilliant work that has been done across the world.
Each house will have a different humanitarian theme to write about:
Civitas-citizenship and justice:
Focus on civic responsibility, justice, and human rights.
Suggested topics: access to education, refugee support, child labour, prison reform, or environmental justice.
Auxilium - aid and relief:
Focus on emergency aid and medical or humanitarian relief in crisis zones.
Suggested topics: disaster response, international aid organisations (e.g., or food and water security.
Simul - unity and solidarity:
Focus on global unity, grassroots movements, and the power of collective action.
Suggested topics: community-led projects, social movements, fair trade, or youth activism
There are lots of house points up for grabs and this is a fantastic opportunity for your child to learn more about the good work that humanitarian groups do, as well as practising vital literacy skills.
The final will be held on Tuesday 21st September from 3.15-4.00pm and we would be delighted to invite parents of all finalists to attend and watch their child perform their speeches to a live audience. Save the date in your diary and we will be in touch if you child gets through to the final.
In next week’s newsletter, we will tell you all about our mini-house competition in our local community.
Language and Literacy
At MEA Central, we are a school that reads. We are excited to open our library doors again this year to all students. The library has established itself as a place of calm, discovery and research since its opening 18 months ago and we look forward to inviting all Year 7 English classes for an induction lesson next week. As part of school equipment, your child should always carry a reading book and read this book for at least one hour per week. You can support your child by discussing their hobbies and interests, for example, sport, music, etc. to help them find reading linked to the topic area.
This year, we will have a renewed focus on our students’ handwriting. Research tells us that attention to careful and precise handwriting will improve a child’s learning of new concepts. The beginning of the year is great opportunity to reestablish good practice with your child through their retrieval homework in their red book. Students will be rewarded for their excellent handwriting in the coming weeks!
Student Health
Please be reminded that students should not carry medication in their blazer or school bag. If your child requires the administration of medication during the school day, including paracetamol, this should be signed in via main reception and stored securely in the school medical suite.
If you have informed the school that your child has Asthma, we want to ensure we are fully prepared to support their health and safety while they are in our care.
To help us better understand and manage your child's Asthma, we kindly request that you provide the school with a copy of your child's Personal Asthma Action Plan (sometimes referred to as an Asthma Care Plan). This plan is typically formulated during your child’s Annual Asthma Review appointment with the GP or Asthma Specialist Nurse, especially if your child receives hospital-based care for their Asthma.
If you do not currently have a copy of the Asthma Action Plan, we suggest contacting your GP practice or specialist nurse to request one. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping your child safe and supported. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Head of Year Messages |
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Year 7 – Ms. S Bryan Dear Parents and Carers, What a fantastic first week it has been for our new Year 7s! I am delighted to say how wonderfully they have settled into life at MEA Central. They have approached their lessons, routines and new friendships with such positivity and enthusiasm, we are incredibly proud of the way they are already contributing to our school community. My name is Ms Bryan and I am the Assistant Vice Principal with oversight of Year 7. Working alongside me is our dedicated Pastoral Manager, Ms Costello. We are here to support your child every step of the way throughout their journey at MEA Central. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if needed: We would also like to warmly invite you to our Year 7 Welcome Event on Monday 16th September, 3:30pm–5:00pm. This will be a chance to meet staff, hear more about how your child will be supported, and celebrate the start of their journey with us. A letter with full details will follow shortly. A quick reminder that Arbor is our key platform for parents and carers. Through Arbor, you can:
We are thrilled to welcome you and your child to MEA Central. This is the start of an exciting five-year journey together and I look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure your child thrives academically, socially, and personally. Warm regards, Ms Bryan and Ms Costello Assistant Vice Principal – Year 7 |
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Year 8 – Ms. C Gates
Welcome back, Class of 2029! It has been a pleasure to welcome Year 8 back to MEA Central this week. They have returned to school in such a beautiful manner—exceeding expectations with their scholarly uniform, positive attitude and high standards. The year group have adapted well and it’s been brilliant to see them already demonstrating excellent scholarly habits in lessons and around school. Year 8 is a pivotal year. Having had the opportunity to settle into secondary school last year, the focus now is on developing confidence, maturity and independence. This is the time when we see our scholar’s building resilience and taking greater ownership of their learning. Your teachers, form tutors and support staff are excited to work with you, promote our school values and make Year 8 the best year yet. Please can I remind all parents and carers to ensure your child is fully equipped each day to put 100% into their learning. This includes black and red pens, planner, knowledge organiser, red book—and importantly, a calculator. Being prepared helps students make the most of every lesson and continue building towards their fantastic futures. Let’s keep the momentum going! Ms Gates |
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Year 9 – Mx Umpierrez A warm welcome back to the Class of 2028.
I am delighted to take over Year 9 as their Head of Year after two years of growing together; I cannot wait for what the year ahead will bring to all of us. Our Year 9s have returned to school in a beautiful manner, going beyond all expectations and living by all our school values from day one of their transition into their last year in KS3.
Our cohort’s attendance has always been exemplary, and we are excited to improve this as we move through one of the most important years in their high school journey, a year where they will choose their KS4 options, creating the foundation of their fantastic futures and, by doing so, getting one step closer to their independence.
Lastly, can we please remind you all, parents and carers, to ensure your child is equipped and wearing the correct uniform each day, to be able to place all their attention onto their learning as soon as they walk into the building.
Thanks for your continued support.
Mx D. Umpierrez |
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Year 10 – Mr C Blackburn It has been wonderful to welcome our Year 10 students back this week after the summer break. Their return has brought a renewed sense of energy and purpose to the school and we could not be prouder of how they have stepped into the new academic year. This week, our whole-school focus has been on orientation, standards and routines: an ideal opportunity for Year 10 to demonstrate the excellent scholarly habits they have developed. As role models in Key Stage 4, they have truly risen to the occasion. The maturity, manners and respect shown by the year group have been outstanding. We are also excited to launch our work experience and careers programme earlier this year. It is a fantastic chance for students to start thinking about their futures and explore opportunities beyond the classroom. Finally, we are very much looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming parents’ event later this half term. Your continued support means so much and we are eager to share all the brilliant things your children have been achieving. All the best, Mr Blackburn & Miss Kreszentia |
Year 11 – Mr J Roper
Welcome back Y11 and what a fantastic return the year group have made!
We have used the last three days to ensure that the year group have all the
necessary information to be as successful as possible this year.
The information received included the students' timetable and planner - these are both essential tools for the year group to record all relevant communications (messages and homework) given to them. The biggest change for the year group is the removal of morning 'Line up'. This will help to prepare the pupils for their transition to college/further education. However, for this to be successful your child needs to be punctual to school in the morning and on entry to school make their way straight to their form rooms.
Both Ms Renshaw and I are really excited for the year ahead and what this fantastic group of young people can achieve... thank you for your ongoing support.
Mr Roper & Ms Renshaw