NewsletterMay 2024

It is important that safeguarding never stops and parents continue to receive support throughout the Academic year.  Mrs Gray, Designated Safeguarding Lead, is available for any safeguarding concerns or queries via email (kgray@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk).  

We would like to remind parents of the following agencies that are also available should you have any concerns:

BASE 51:

BASE 51 is a young person's charity supporting 11-25 year olds in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. They have the following services available:

• Counselling for 10-25 year olds - both free and low-cost
• Outburst LGBTQIA+ group
• Youth Club
• Young Leaders Programme
• The Studios @ Base 51 recording studio

For further information please visit their website: https://www.base51.org/

Be U Notts:

Be U Notts is an accessible early intervention service that is easy to navigate; providing timely access to advice, guidance and support for children and young people, families and partners.  Be U Notts delivers: community drop-in sessions; 1-1 therapeutic support; group sessions; online and virtual support; and self harm support.

For further information please click on the link which will take you straight to their website: https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/nottinghamshire/be-u-notts-service/

Ask Lion:

Click on the following link to find out what support is available in Nottingham: https://www.asklion.co.uk/kb5/nottingham/directory/home.page

KOOTH:

KOOTH is a safe, confidential and non-stigmatised way for children and young people to receive free counselling, advice and support online.  Staff are fully trained and qualified counsellors, available Monday to Friday from 12pm until 10pm each night and weekends from 6pm to 10pm.  

For further information please click on the link which will take you straight to their website: https://www.kooth.com/

ACT Early (Prevent Radicalisation):

Early intervention for people who are worried about someone close who is expressing extreme views or hatred.  

For further information please click on the link which will take you direct to the website: https://actearly.uk/

Fearless (Part of Crimestoppers):

Fearless gives young people the power to report a crime 100% anonymously.

For further information please click on the link which will take you direct to the website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless

Mrs Gray - Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral)

For the first time since Covid, our big Art exhibition is back! This will take place in the school hall on Monday the 8th July between 3pm and 7pm. It will showcase all the work from our GCSE and A level students, as well as some chosen work by other year groups.

We look forward to welcoming many of you there - everyone is welcome.

Mrs Wilken - Head of Art

In order to support your ongoing conversations at home, we wanted to summarise what your students will be covering next half term in Personal Development lessons.

Y7

• Mental Health and Self Esteem
• Gaming and Gambling
• Domestic Violence
• Sun and Water Safety

Y8

• Self Esteem and Body Image and Body Shaming
• Extremism and Radicalisation
• Domestic Violence
• Sun and Water Safety

Y9

• Vaping and Laughing Gas
• Domestic Violence
• Micro-aggressions and Racism
• Writing CV
• Child Criminal Exploitation
• Water Safety

Y10

• RPE this half term
• Human Rights and Social Justice
• Religious Freedom
• Racism
• Sexism
• Homophobia

Mrs Wilken and Mrs Inglis - Heads of Personal Development

Educate Against Hate

On Friday 19 April, Beth Shalom visited Nottingham Free School and delivered a workshop to our Year 10 students designed to 'educate against hate'. This workshop looked at many issues including dangerous stereotypes, biased media, what hate speech looks like and how we can challenge it.

Eight students were then chosen to have a truly transformative experience on Friday 26 April at the National Holocaust Centre where they did further work on challenging hate and met Holocaust survivor Martin Stern. The organiser of the visit said they were the best behaved school there, the most engaged and that they asked great questions. It was clear they all understood the privilege it was to be part of the trip. The student are now excited to start working on their new roles as ambassadors in school.

Palestine-Israel Forum

On the 18 April 2024 NFS had a fundraiser for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We’d like to thank everyone for their support as we successfully raised £823.02, the most our school has ever made. A huge thank you to all the students and staff who brought in delightful cakes and desserts for our bake sale. The money has been donated to Red Crescent in Egypt.

On the 25 April 2024 we had a visit from two guest speakers to tell us about their experiences of living in Israel and in The West Bank.  Both our speakers are dedicated to working for peace based in the belief that all human beings are equal and deserving of respect and safety. 

They really did us proud.

Mrs Wilken and Mrs Inglis - Heads of Personal Development

Well done to the Year 7 and 8 pupils that took part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. Congratulations to those that received a bronze, silver or gold award.

Miss Wignall - Teacher of Maths

Macbeth by Nottingham Free School
at Magdalen College, Oxford University, 28th March 2024
appraised by Tom Barker

Congratulations Nottingham Free School for your fantastic reimagining of Macbeth as part of the Spring 24 Shakespeare Schools Festival. It was a thrilling night of theatre, and I’d like to shine a spotlight on some aspects I really loved.

What a dramatic, atmospheric and beautifully theatrical telling of Macbeth! From the fantastic opening, you took the audience on an intriguing journey. I so enjoyed the opening image of Macbeth literally being operated by the witches, a lovely device which you came back to throughout the piece. It felt clear that you were establishing your play in a world where supernatural forces were not just at large, but in charge.

Each actor commited to the performance with brilliant energy and professionalism. Not only did everyone have comfort and confidence with the language but you also delivered it with clarity and nuance. Shakespeare wrote these words over 400 years ago but you found such reverence and passion in your delivery that they could have been your own organic thoughts.The chemistry and relationships between characters were built so well, each moving through the story with intent and motivation. I thought this was particularly poignant at the end, with Banquo helping Macbeth up off of the stage – we were reminded that, although they had both met grizzly ends, they were old friends. You showed a real respect for the human stories at the heart of this play.

You made strong stylistic choices for this production which were well executed and very effective. The strong all-black costuming created a simple but stylish aesthetic that really allowed your acting to shine, putting the story at the heart of the performance. You were all dedicated to maintaining atmosphere and the world of your play, making sure that any moment you were onstage you were fully immersed in the scene. The banquet scene was a particularly brilliant example of this. Through attentive listening, mysterious whispering and a palpable sense of paranoia, as an ensemble you guided us through the inner turmoil of Macbeth and made sure we felt every moment of his insecurity.

This was a marvellous Macbeth told with pace and enthusiasm from a committed cast!

We’re thrilled to have reimagined Shakespeare with you this year and have loved being with you on your journey from classroom to stage. We can’t wait to work with Nottingham Free School again in the next Festival!

Led by Year 12 Vice-President, Wayne Ncube, Student Leaders raised awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of The Congo this week. Activities our student leaders completed were:

• Student-led tutor time presentations that detailed the history of the crisis
• Sweet Sale on Friday 24 May, during lunchtimes, with all money donated to savethechildren.org. 
  • We raised just over £78! A great community effort.

Mr Tomasevic - Assistant Headteacher

A reminder to parents and carers to have regular dialogue about online safety.  The NSPCC have a plethora of information to support parents.  Please click the following link, which will take you straight to their website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/social-media/

Mrs Gray - Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral)

Well done to the Year 10 Athletics Students, who competed at the recent Nottingham City Schools’ Athletics Tournament. A great team effort; with notable performances from Chris Adey (1st in 400m) and Will Loverseed (1st in Shot). Special mention to Anna Barrett for a well-ran 1500m race.

Miss Singleton - Head of PE

Students have been working really hard on this year's school musical, School of Rock. Tickets will be made available after the half term break from student reception.

Tickets will be

• £4 for adults 
• £3 for children
• £2 for NFS pupils.

The show will take place on Tuesday 16th July and Wednesday 17th July at 6pm-8pm. We hope to see you there.

Miss Wilson - Head of Music

We are proud to say that nearly 100% of our young people went out on a work experience placement this week. 

Thank you to the parents, school staff and community for making this happen. Staff have been in touch with the employers over the three days they were out and we have had overwhelming praise for the attitude, manners, and work ethic of our lovely students.   We look forward to hearing more about their experiences once we are back after half term.

Some of our Year 9 and 10 students attended a day's work experience with the construction firm, GF Tomlinson, who put on a tour of the building site at Sherwood Observatory and oversaw an afternoon's project in which the young people had to create a design and pitch their ideas to some of the managers.

Mrs Barret - Careers Coordinator