News from MCS

It's another action-packed week here at MCS in our first week back after the break. Rehearsals continue for the Lower School Production - see below for how to buy your tickets, which are selling out very fast indeed. We, of course, continue with the summer exam season, and we are so proud of all our exam students for working with such fortitude and resolution. Meanwhile, we are preparing to welcome our Year 7 cohort of 2023, as they prepare to make the step up from primary to secondary school. It's such an exciting moment for us as well as for them - we can't wait for them to join our school community. Croeso, pawb! 

As well as these 'big ticket' items that occupy our time and take up a significant part of our focus, it is often the everyday interactions that bring us joy in our daily work. For example, I have just come back from a lunch duty in our food hall, where topics discussed with Year 10 students covered blazers, diversity at school, sunshine versus shade, and my own general sartorial choices. My favourite quote was "Sir, I'm so proud of you!" , regarding summer uniform - a magnificently magisterial comment on a sunny Friday afternoon.

All the best for a restful weekend.

Hugo Hutchison
Headteacher

The National Schools Regatta is the Uk's Junior rowing event of the season, with 5000 athletes aged 14 to 18. 

Year 11 student, George Coates, competed in the J16 double for Hartpury College and University Boat Club and won silver (out of 38).

George was invited to trials last February, aged 14, and has trained and raced with Hartpury College's U18 squad. He has been a successful member of their squad for the last 12 months, and is going to continue this while studying his A' levels at Hartpury in September.

Well done George.
 

Year 8 student, Phoebe Bambridge, competed for MCS Equine Team (as an individual) at the Hickstead NSEA National Championships over the Bank Holiday weekend.  The Saturday jumping event saw Phoebe come 10th out of 49 but the main jumping event on Monday (which Phoebe had worked so hard to qualify for) was a triumph for her, when she came 8th out of 128 jumping.

Phoebe (and Mac) were both so nervous but held it together when it mattered most. 

Phoebe has been riding since she was seven but only competing in the last six months. Her horse, Mac, is her first horse.  She has only owned him for nine months, but they have worked so hard together. They have actually only competed in five shows as a team and have won some of them. It’s an amazing achievement in such a short time. 

Phoebe has had lessons weekly and, six weeks before the show, started having two lessons a week. She has been completely dedicated and both she and Mac have worked so hard together.

She is so proud to have won for her School and County - and her family are very proud of Phoebe. It really is a dream come true for her.

Good work, Phoebe.

Congratulations to Max Swayne for winning the 18U Grade 4 Doubles with his partner, Matthias, down in Devon.

Max also came 3^rd in the 18U Grade 4 South Wales County Championships held in Cardiff and rounded it off by winning his place in the ‘Road To Wimbledon 14U Competition’ at Usk.

Congratulations, Max.

Emilia Cherry (10AH) recently took part in Cheltenham Festival for Performing Arts with the Gloucester-based TwoCan Youth Theatre, of which she is a member.  

A group of around twenty actors performed their own creative story about The Windrush Generation and the piece was enthusiastically received by the audience and Adjudicators.  

Emilia was delighted to have performed at this prestigious Festival and thrilled to be awarded second place in their category.  

Bravo Emilia!

Tickets are now available for the Lower School production of Matilda Jr which takes place at MCS from Monday 10th July - Thursday 13 July.

Please use the link below to book your ticket:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/monmouth-comprehensive-school

Like to see a taster of our production at Raglan Music Festival this weekend? 

You might like to come up to the street party at 12.30pm this Sunday to see a Matilda performance from a selection of our cast.  See you there!
 

Careers support and information for parents and carers

We work closely with Careers Wales, who are committed to ensuring that parents and carers are empowered and suitably prepared to support their child in their career planning.   

To help achieve this, they have dedicated information for parents, guardians, and carers on their website.  

Their all-age Working Wales service can also help parents and carers with their own career and employment needs, offering support to get into work, change careers and access free training.

Have your say on proposed future changes to Home to School Transport   

Monmouthshire County Council is seeking residents’ views on proposed changes to its home to school transport policy for the 2024/2025 academic year. The consultation will run until Monday 26^th June, 2023.

The Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2014, places a statutory duty on local authorities to provide home to school transport where children and young people meet the eligibility criteria. Each year local authorities are required to review their Transport Policy and consult on any changes to the existing arrangements. While Monmouthshire has not sought to make any significant changes to its Transport Policy, amendments have been proposed to make its operational practices clearer and more transparent for parents, learners, and other stakeholders. The Council would like your views on its future Transport Policy so that it can ensure it is considering all viewpoints.

The consultation runs until 5pm on Monday 26^th June and requests your views on the proposed Transport Policy and specifically to the key changes suggested on the categories below:

• Transport hierarchy, reflecting the Welsh Government’s Llwybr Newydd Transport Strategy, which includes Active Travel, public transport, dedicated home to school transport, and ‘feeder transport’.
• Provision of transport to Faith schools.
• Learners with dual residences.
• Learners with additional learning needs.
• Assessing a school’s suitability.
• Available walking routes.

The proposed Transport Policy is available as a separate document or can be viewed on School Transport - Monmouthshire. A hard copy of the document is also available, please contact the Council’s passenger transport team on 01633 644777 or alternatively email them on passengertransportunit@monmouthshire.gov.uk to request a copy.

The details and online survey can be found on Home to school transport 24/25 consultation - Monmouthshire or alternatively if you would like a hard copy survey these are available at any of the Community Hubs or by request by calling 01633 644777 or emailing passengertransportunit@monmouthshire.gov.uk . If you have any specific questions regarding the consultation please also contact passengertransportunit@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Responses to this consultation will help to inform the Transport Policy before it is considered by Cabinet in September 2023. The adopted policy and any changes will come into effect in September 2024 and apply to all learners accessing home to school transport. This will ensure that parents of learners commencing primary or secondary education in 2024 will be aware of the Transport Policy and eligibility criteria before submitting applications for their preferred school.