A massive thank you to Kingsmead students and their parents/carers for generously supporting the non-uniform day held in school on Friday 4 March. An amazing £1,255.52 was raised for the International Red Cross, supporting their appeal for funds to aid the ever-growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Year 8 attendees of Kingsmead’s lunchtime basketball club had the opportunity to take part in a Basketball Development day on Wednesday 12 January, organised by SASP (Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership). The event, for Somerset schools, was run by basketball coaches from both Taunton Tigers and Richard Huish College, and incorporated a morning coaching session and game play during the afternoon for the students.

Students and staff enjoyed a non-school uniform day on Friday 11 November to help raise funds for this year’s BBC Children in Need. Year 7 students also held their own additional activities to support the day – skipping and ball bouncing games at lunchtime (how many skips and ball bounces can you do in 30 seconds?) and an art competition. Monies raised will be announced in due course.

During the October half-term break Kingsmead Year 11 student Evan Smalldon was selected to play rugby for the Bristol Bears Academy in their game against the Worcester Warriors, which was held at the Sixways Premiership Stadium in Worcester. Despite the Bears losing the game on this occasion it was a great team debut for Evan – well done!

Mr Williams and Mrs Judith Jackson, our Chair of Governors, welcomed new Year 7 students officially to Kingsmead at a special assembly on Friday 10 September. The Year 7 cohort were challenged to make the most of every opportunity and to become the very best that they can be over the next 5 years and were invited onto the stage to hand in their triangle of partnership agreement. The triangle of partnership is the lynch pin formed between school, students and parents/carers to support students to make the best possible choices during their time in secondary school.

Today, Kingsmead Year 11 students have received their GCSE results. This year, results were determined by teachers based on evidence of attainment from in-class assessments.

Kingsmead School’s Year 11 students dressed up and arrived in style to their leavers’ prom on Friday 23 July, held at Oake Manor Golf Club. It may have taken place a little later than originally planned but it was definitely worth the wait! – students made their grand entrances to the cheers and waves of family and friends in all manner of styles. After photos on the red carpet the students enjoyed a 3-course meal, disco and photo-booth inside the venue with their classmates and teachers. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and a proud send-off for the year group.

Kingsmead was pleased to welcome Richard Huish College’s Music on Tour to school on Tuesday 29 June for a lunchtime of open-air music on the playing field. Students from the college (including one of our own past students) entertained with some great singing and instrumentals. Well done also to our Year 8 music students who joined in with a song.

During the week commencing Monday 7 June, Year 10 Geography classes visited Exmoor National Park to conduct their physical geography fieldwork element for their GCSE studies. This project involves them studying a river - Horner Water, and looking at the changes to the river from Horner Wood to Bossington. The students took measurements of the width, depth, velocity, wetted perimeter and bedload sizes. They also took photos and completed field sketches for their studies.

It was the end of an era for our Year 11 students who spent their last full day in school on Friday 28 May. The students enjoyed a special lunchtime and final assembly in celebration of their time at Kingsmead. The year group will now focus on a transition programme of Post-16 education activities until the end of the summer term. We look forward to seeing them all again at their Prom night!