Parent Bulletin - October 2026

Upcoming Events

Remembrance Day
All Day
11
November
Y7 Kick Start / Meet the Form Tutor 3.30pm - 5.30pm
All Day
12
November
Children in Need
All Day
13
November
Careers Fair
All Day
17
November
STEMdrones - Year 9
All Day
27
November
Y11 Mock Exams
All Day
from 30 Nov until 09 Dec
30
November
Y10 Mock Trial Competition
All Day
05
December
Y7 Pantomime - LBT
All Day
07
December
Y7 & Y8 Reports
All Day
08
December
KS4 Awards Evening 6.30pm - 8.30pm
All Day
15
December
Y9 & Y10 Reports
All Day
16
December

Reminders & Messages

Communication with School

The first point of contact for parents for any questions/concerns, should be your child's form tutor (except when reporting absence). You can also get in touch with your child's Head of Year: 

Year 7 - Miss L Moxom

Year 8 - Mr C Lee

Year 9 - Miss C Simpson

Year 10 - Miss K Murray

Year 11 - Mr A Douglas

If you need to speak to a member of staff urgently, please contact school reception on 01484 463366.

October Half Term

School closes on Thursday 22nd October and reopens Monday 2nd November. 

Works to School Field

We are pleased that work has now begun on the installation of a fence around the school field adjacent to Douglas Avenue. We understand that this field has been used informally by members of the local community, and we appreciate that changes to access may be disappointing for some residents. However, the field forms part of the Royds Hall site and is school property rather than public land.

The fencing is being installed to provide a secure and dedicated space for our students, enabling us to use the field safely throughout the school day for PE lessons and other educational activities. This will support the delivery of the full PE curriculum and ensure that all students can benefit from regular access to outdoor learning and recreation in a safe environment.

We value our positive relationship with the local community and appreciate residents' understanding as we make these improvements to support the education, safety and wellbeing of our young people.

Character Curriculum

This year, we are excited to launch our new Character Curriculum, a whole-school programme designed to explicitly teach and promote the key character traits that help young people succeed both in school and beyond. The programme aligns closely with our school values of 'Valuing People, Supporting Personal Best', helping students develop the attitudes, behaviours and personal qualities needed to support others while striving to achieve their own potential.

Throughout their time at school, students will develop fourteen character traits that build progressively from Year 7 to Year 11. During this academic year, all Key Stage 3 students will focus on Manners, Listening and Effort, while all Key Stage 4 students will explore Confidence, Resilience and Personal Excellence. These foundation traits will be delivered through form-time activities, assemblies, discussion of real-life scenarios, personal goal setting and regular reflection.

We are also keen to celebrate students who demonstrate excellent character. Staff will award Character Stickers linked to each term's focus trait, alongside recognition through rewards assemblies and our weekly bulletin. Parents and carers can support the programme by encouraging positive engagement in form time and involvement in extracurricular, enrichment and leadership opportunities that help develop these important qualities. A letter explaining the Character Curriculum in further detail has been sent to parents/carers.

Could Your Child Be a Young Carer?

A young carer is a child or young person who helps to look after someone in their family who has an illness, disability, mental health difficulty, or problems with alcohol or drugs.

Caring can take many forms. A young person might help with household tasks, look after siblings, provide emotional support, help someone get around, or take on additional responsibilities that other young people their age may not have.

Caring responsibilities can sometimes affect a young person's wellbeing, attendance, friendships, homework, or ability to concentrate in school.

Mrs Ali, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, supports all of our young carers at Royds Hall. If you think your child may be a young carer, please get in touch either by telephone or email Mrs Ali – rehana.ali@sharemat.co.uk We can listen and discuss what support might be helpful.

For more information about Young Carers please go to Young carers | Barnardo's

Kinship Care

Informal kinship care is when a child lives with and is cared for by someone they already know and trust, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling or family friend, rather than their parent. This may happen for a variety of reasons, including family illness, difficult circumstances or when a parent is temporarily unable to provide care.

If you think this applies to your situation, please get in touch with your child’s Head of Year or the school safeguarding team who can offer support and advice.

For more information about Kinship Care please go to Get help and advice from our Kinship Advice Team

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Facebook: Royds Hall

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Introduction to New Staff

Mrs R Ali, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

I join Royds Hall as the new Deputy Safeguarding Lead. I have recently moved to Huddersfield from Lancashire so new home, job and town all at once! I have worked as a Pastoral manager and Safeguarding lead for a number of years and find supporting young people and families extremely rewarding. In my spare time, I run a Women's group encouraging wellbeing and also volunteer as a Scout leader at weekends. I love reading and being out in nature. I look forward to being part of the Royds Hall family. 

 

Mrs K Flynn, Head of Creative Arts

Hello! I’m Mrs Flynn and I’m really excited to have joined Royds Hall as Head of Creative Arts. I have been teaching Art, Design & Technology and Food for 26 years and still love seeing students take an idea, develop new skills and turn it into something they are genuinely proud of. I’m particularly passionate about 3D Design and all things creative, practical and hands-on. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, getting outdoors and, unsurprisingly, I’m nearly always designing, making or planning something! I’m really looking forward to getting to know all our students and developing Creative Arts at Royds Hall.

 

Mr J Stelling, Teacher of Geography

Hi! My name is Mr Stelling and I'm the newest geography teacher at Royds Hall, and I teach some history too. I was lucky enough to train at Royds last year so I'm a familiar face to most students but I'm enjoying meeting lots of new students as well. Outside of work, I enjoy to read, go for long walks and go to (and usually lose) pub quizzes.

 

Mr S Haley, Teacher of PE and Cover

Hello, I am Mr Haley and I am one of the new additions to the Royds Hall team. My role at Royds Hall is Teacher of PE and Cover, which means I have the opportunity to work with many of our students across a wide range of subjects.

Before joining Royds Hall, I worked in primary schools as both a sports coach and a learning mentor. I first arrived at Royds Hall in January for my second teacher training placement, so I am already familiar with the school and its community.Outside of school, I am a huge Huddersfield Town fan and try to attend as many matches as possible. I also enjoy taking my dogs for walks and exploring new places whenever I can.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the Royds Hall family and look forward to working with our students and their families.

 

Miss J Burnand-Martin, Teacher of Art

I started out my creative journey by completing a Degree in Fine Art, where I specialised in ceramics. After finishing my degree, I have worked as a SEND Support Assistant, and Freelance Artist for a variety of different Art Charities, including working with children, disabled adults, and refugees. Before finally,  becoming an Art Teacher. Outside of school I make and sell my own ceramics, enjoy walking in the countryside, and cooking and gardening. I hope that my passion for Art and all things creative can inspire the wonderful students at Royds Hall. 

 

Miss A O'Reilly, Educational Teaching Assistant (ARP)

Hi, I'm Miss O'Reilly! I am so excited to be part of the ARP team and work with the students at Royds Hall. I have a BA in Fine Art and previously worked as a peer support worker in a women's mental health service, where I taught art to adults.  When I'm not at school, I love to go swimming and spend time with my cats.

Student News

Student Leadership Updates

It has been a great start to the year for our Student Leadership Team at Royds Hall!

Our Year 11 Senior students have now begun their leadership duties around school, acting as positive role models and supporting our wider school community. We have also had lots of interest from Years 8–11 in our leadership roles and are now in the final stages of allocating positions.

Our Year 7 students are also about to receive their first leadership role at Royds Hall, giving them an exciting opportunity to get involved and make a difference from the start of their journey with us.

Looking ahead, our Year 10 students will be supporting the Year 11 Parents' Evening, followed by a group of senior students helping with tours at our Opening Evening the week after.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm our students have shown and look forward to seeing their leadership continue to grow throughout the year.

Bridlington Fieldwork

Our Year 11 Geography students had a brilliant fieldwork trip to Bridlington this half term. 

They completed a map survey of the area and measured the groynes on the beach, discussing whether they felt the erosion prevention methods were working. 

 

 

 

 

Extra-Curricular

Please find details below of our exciting Extra-Curricular programme for next half-term. There are lots of new clubs for students to try and students can alternate clubs that run at the same time. For more information, students should speak to the member of staff running the club.

The Year 7 Residential Adventure! Bushcraft 2027

We are delighted to announce the launch of our exciting Year 7 residential trip. Our annual three-day, two-night camping adventure will give students the opportunity to explore the great outdoors, develop practical bushcraft skills and take part in a range of exciting challenges. Last year, students took part in activities including fire lighting, shelter building, navigation, campfire cooking, wilderness first aid, and team challenges, all led by experienced instructors. We are planning for Bushcraft 2027 to be even bigger and better! 

We recognise that a residential trip is an important milestone for many families, particularly for students experiencing an overnight stay away from home for the first time, especially when sleeping under the stars! Alongside the excitement of outdoor activities and bushcraft challenges, the trip will help students develop greater independence, confidence and resilience, while strengthening friendships and learning the importance of teamwork and supporting others.

We hope this experience will be something students look back on fondly for years to come, returning with new skills, stronger relationships and a real sense of achievement. The trip will take place in June 2027 and details of the trip have been shared with all Year 7 students this week.  Further information, including price and payment plans, will be shared with parents and carers in due course.

Mr Bardsmith

Events this Half Term... 

Show Racism the Red Card

Anime Club

Geography Club

STEMbiotics Workshop

Maths Study Day at Leeds Trinity University

Year 8 Doe Park

 

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Curriculum Plans and Spotlights can be viewed here:

 Royds Hall, A SHARE Academy - Curriculum Plans

Contacting School

Contact from parents is always welcomed. Please see below the different ways you can contact us. 

General Enquiries

Telephone - 01484 463366

Email - royds.office@sharemat.co.uk

Attendance

Email - royds.attendance@sharemat.co.uk 

Telephone - 01484 463366, press Option 1

 

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