Thinking About Next Steps?

Attention Yr 10 and 11 students - Oaklands College is holding a series of Open Days, giving you the perfect chance to explore your options after GCSEs.

Go along to meet staff, tour the facilities, and find out more about the wide range of courses, apprenticeships, and opportunities available. Whether you’re interested in A-Levels, vocational courses, or hands-on training, Oaklands has plenty of options for all.

Check out the poster for more information on timings, locations and dates.

Ms C Eady

SUPPORTING LINKS

Free Workshops for Parents & Carers of Children with ASD/ADHD

Are you a parent or carer in Hertfordshire with a child aged 2-25 who has suspected or diagnosed Autistic Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Supporting Links is offering FREE online workshops this Autumn 2025, funded by Hertfordshire County Council’s Targeted Parenting Fund.

These workshops provide practical strategies and support for navigating common challenges.

Responding to Anger (Workshop SL781)

• When: Tuesday 23rd September, 9:30AM - 11:15AM
• What you'll learn: How to identify healthy and unhealthy anger, spot early signs, understand triggers and use techniques to de-escalate angry and aggressive behaviour. Learn how to respond to your child in meltdown while keeping everyone safe.
• Book via Eventbrite (see flyer for link and contact information)

The Teenage Years (Workshop SL782)

• When: Monday 13th October, 7:30PM - 9:15PM
• What you'll learn: The impact of teenage brain development on children with ASD/ADHD. Discover strategies for reducing conflict, agreeing on appropriate boundaries, teaching risk assessment and helping teens develop independence.
• Book via Eventbrite: (see flyer for link and contact information)

Tech Use (Workshop SL783)

• When: Monday 10th November, 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM
• What you'll learn: Practical advice on online safety, helping your child switch off devices, supporting behaviour difficulties during play and understanding the effects of using devices as rewards or consequences. Learn to help children regulate their own device use.
• Book via Eventbrite: (see flyer for link and contact information)

School Avoidance (Workshop SL784)

• When: Monday, November 24th, 7:30 PM - 9:15 PM
• What you'll learn: What Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is and if your child is experiencing it. Explore common causes and triggers, how EBSA affects your family, practical steps to support your child and yourself, and how to work effectively with your school.
• Book via Eventbrite: School Avoidance Workshop

Don't miss out on these valuable opportunities to gain insights and support!

Follow Supporting Links on social media for updates or get in touch: info@supportinglinks.co.uk, https://www.supportinglinks.co.uk/

Ms M Morris

Free Parenting Courses This Autumn from Supporting Links.

Are you a parent or carer living in Hertfordshire? Supporting Links is offering a range of FREE 6-week online courses this Autumn Term 2025, funded by Hertfordshire County Council’s Targeted Parenting Fund. These courses are designed to equip you with valuable strategies and insights to support your children through various stages and challenges.

Booking is essential. Further information and links can be found in the flyer. To check eligibility and book your place, please quote the Course ID and contact Supporting Links on 07512 709556 or bookings@supportinglinks.co.uk.

Talking Anger in Teens (Children aged 11-19)                  

Learn to understand anger in young people and yourself, develop strategies to handle it, recognise early signs, reduce conflict and encourage positive behaviour.

• Online Course ID 775: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:30 PM (4th November – 9th December)

Talking Anxiety in Teens (Children aged 11-19)

Gain understanding of why young people and adults experience anxiety. Develop strategies to manage anxiety within your family, recognise early signs, reduce stress and encourage resilient behaviour.

• Online Course ID 776: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:30 PM (16th September – 21st October)

Talking Teens (Children aged 12-19)

Explore the physical and emotional changes of the teen brain and how they affect behaviour. Learn to maintain relationships through good communication, understand risk-taking behaviour (drugs, alcohol, gang culture) and negotiate to reduce conflict.

• Online Course ID 778: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (16th September  – 21st October)
• Online Course ID 777: Thursdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (6th November – 11th December)

Talking Additional Needs (Children aged 2-19, with any additional need - no diagnosis required)

Understand your child's behaviour, develop effective strategies, reduce conflict, improve emotional regulation, explore sensory needs, increase resilience and manage different family needs.

• Online Course ID 770: Wednesdays, 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Face to Face Course ID 771: Wednesdays, 7PM - 9PM (5th November – 10th December) Reddings Family Centre, Bushey, WD23 3PE

Talking Families (Children aged 0-12)

Receive tips on managing challenging behaviour with consistency, encouraging positive behaviour, building self-esteem, setting boundaries, responding to tantrums, and developing strong parent/child relationships.

• Online Course ID 774: Wednesdays, 8PM - 9:30PM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Online Course ID 772: Thursdays, 9:45AM - 11:15 AM (18th September – 23rd October(
• Online Course ID 773: Tuesdays, 8PM - 9:30PM (4th November – 9th December)

Talking Dads (Dads & Male Carers of Children aged 0-19)

Improve listening and communication skills, foster a healthy dad-child relationship, learn effective strategies for anger and conflict, enforce boundaries and be the dad you want to be.

• Online Course ID 779: Wednesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Online Course ID 780: Wednesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (5th November – 10th December)

Ms M Morris

The LRC has a fantastic range of fiction and non-fiction books for students to borrow. Please take the book you wish to borrow to one of the library desks where a librarian will issue it to you. If students are not sure what to read or can’t find a specific book, our friendly librarians are always on hand to help.

Year 7 students will soon be receiving a library induction and will be shown how to search and reserve books via the Accessit Learning Resource Centre tab on MySandstorm.

Students are welcome to use the LRC at break and lunch for quiet reading.

Well done to Owen H, 7T, and Katie P, 7H, who were the first students to borrow books on Tuesday!

Ms E Critchley

Welcome to Culinera.

We are delighted to announce that our school restaurant has a brand new provider, Culinera, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them on board.

The restaurant has been completely re-vamped to offer students, staff, and visitors a fresh, vibrant dining experience. Culinera’s talented teams hand-make food on site each day, ensuring quality, variety, and great taste.

Students can now enjoy a wide range of freshly prepared hot and cold options, including WOW main courses, stretched sourdough pizzas, hot pots, fruit pots, and layered desserts. There are also plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and free-from options to cater for everyone.

The restaurant will be open at  break and lunchtime, with a choice of hot and cold meal deals, snacks, and breakfast items available. Students entitled to Free School Meals will continue to enjoy two items at lunchtime (excluding two cakes).

Our Sixth Form students can also look forward to an all-day offer, featuring speciality coffee, deli-style service, and main meals designed to suit busy schedules.

Culinera has exciting plans to make each outlet shine, so stay tuned for more updates - for more information on menu's and deals, please check out their newsletter here.

Mrs T Dowling

A huge welcome to all the new year 7's and congratulations on completing your first week at secondary school.

HOUSE POINTS

And we're off... Elgar takes an early lead as we start the new school year. Let's see how long they can stay up there! Last years results are here as a reminder for you all, so everyone make sure you get involved and support your House.

1. Elgar 652
2. Shakespeare 453
3. Newton 391

Special mentions this week:  

• I Muriuki (7E) - (18) – Most points this week
• K Zmuda (9S)- 11 - Highest scoring students outside of year 7's
• M Smith (12HE) 5 - highest scoring sixth former

Mr D Keenleyside

Dance Company Auditions

Challenge yourself, be brave and come along to our dance company auditions next week. You never know until you go! 

Tuxedo Dance Company (Hip Hop) - Monday 8th September 5.30-7.30pm, DC1 (If successful, rehearsals will be 5.30-7pm weekly). All years and genders welcome. 

Sandringham Youth Contemporary Dance (SYCD) - Tuesday 9th September 5-7pm, DC1 (if successful, rehearsals will be 5-6.30pm weekly). Y10-13 only, all genders welcome. 

TripleEdge (Contemporary) - Thursday 11th September 3.15-4.45pm, DC1 (if successful, rehearsals will be 3.15-4.30pm weekly in DC2). Y7-9 only, all genders welcome. 

Ms A Davies

Students are invited to an exciting Agricultural Careers Day, offering a chance to explore the wide range of opportunities in this vital industry.

See poster attached for details on time and location.

For more information, contact: hertsyfc@hertsshow.com

Ms C Eady

Yr 7 STEM Club starts on Tuesday! 

Are you ready to build, experiment, and discover? 

Get ready to ignite your imagination and unleash your inner inventor at Yr 7 STEM Club! Join us every Tuesday after school in I2 to dive into a world of science, technology, engineering, and maths.

We'll be getting hands-on with exciting projects like:

• Building and launching mini-rockets 
• Constructing amazing bridges from spaghetti 
• Programming your own video games 
• Solving real-world puzzles with cool tech 

Whether you're a curious chemist, a budding engineer, or just love to figure out how things work, STEM Club is the place for you. Come learn new skills, make new friends, and have a blast.

Sign up on SOCS to secure your spot.

Ms K Cooper

A reminder that there will be several Open Morning Tours happening in the school throughout September.

• Tuesday 9th
• Friday 12th 
• Monday 15th
• Wednesday 17th 
• Thursday 18th 

These will run between 9 - 10:30am so please make sure you are welcoming if you see any of these taking place.

If anyone would like to book into one of these tours, please call 01727 799564 to book your slot.

Mrs T Dowling

Lives Not Knives Awareness Event

Join Hertfordshire Constabulary’s CCE Prevention and Diversion Team on Wednesday 8th and Monday 27th October 2025, 2 - 4pm at The Council Chambers, Welwyn Garden City for an eye-opening event tackling knife crime and serious violence.

Hear inspirational speakers with real-life experience and learn about the impact of violence on young people and communities.

• Free event – booking is essential: Eventbrite link here
• Ages 13+ (must attend with a parent, guardian, or professional)
• Please arrive early for security checks
• Public parking nearby

Be inspired. Be informed. 

Mrs T Dowling

We’re Hiring!

Come and be part of our fantastic team here at Sandringham. We’re currently looking for:

- Student Services Administrator  

- Assistant Operations & Lettings Manager 

If you, or anyone you know would like to be part of our passionate and dedicated team, please visit here for more information and to apply.

Mrs T Dowling

Congratulations Yr 11 & Yr 13

We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Yr 11 and Yr 13 students in their recent exam results. After years of dedication, resilience, and hard work, our students have once again achieved brilliant results that reflect not only their academic ability but also their commitment and determination.

These results are a testament to the effort put in by students, the support of their families, and the guidance of our dedicated staff. Whether moving on to Sixth Form, university, apprenticeships, or the world of work, we are incredibly proud of the paths our young people are choosing and the bright futures that lie ahead.

To all our Yr 11 and 13 students, congratulations on your success. You are a credit to our school, and we look forward to hearing all about your next exciting steps.

Mrs T Dowling

We are looking forward to seeing many of you next Friday for the Peak District Trip Information Evening which will be followed by the Welcome BBQ, organised by FO$S, in the Main Hall.

5:30pm – Information Evening – A Half, Sandpit Theatre

6:00pm – Information Evening – B Half, Sandpit Theatre

6:00pm onwards – Welcome BBQ – Main Hall

Information Evening

The information evening is expected to be around 30 minutes long and we have split it into two sessions, for each half of the year. It would be good if students and their adults could both attend. For those unable to make it, the slides and letter will be posted on the website by Monday.

Ahead of the evening, please could all students attending fill out the following Google Form by Sunday 7th September to provide their meal choices and sizes for t-shirts: https://forms.gle/gnJY8LofgGHaJQLbA .

We would also ask again to ensure that the OV7A consent form has been completed, as we will not be able to take the students away without it: https://forms.gle/UbAkEWhe8CVy4ePv7

If you haven’t already made your payment through ParentPay, the payment deadline is today.   

Many thanks for all your support in making this such an enjoyable trip for our Year 7s.

Welcome BBQ

Organised by FO$S, Friends of Sandringham School PTA, our Year 7 Welcome BBQ is a great way for new Year 7 students and their adults to meet each other early on in the term.

Tickets for the Welcome BBQ are £4.50 per person, which includes a hot dog, and can be purchased through ParentPay. Drinks are available to purchase on the night.

Look out for your house flags to find your class!

Ms F Batten

Dance Clubs are back starting next week Monday 8th September  

We can't wait to welcome all students to the dance studios.

You need to sign up on SOCS on a first come first served basis.

Bring a friend, come along and try out new styles - Timetable attached for you to see what's on.

Ms A Davies

Dance uniform shop is OPEN

Have a look at our dance uniform on offer.

It is first come first served for sizes so get in quickly!

Come to the dance office in A block to purchase.

Ms A Davies

The Puzzle of the Week is a Mathematics challenge run weekly. This week's puzzle is shown above. For every entry you will receive 1 house point, if you answer correctly you will win 2 house points and if you are the fastest person to answer the puzzle correctly then you will win 5 house points!  To enter, simply scan the QR code and fill out the google form.  Good luck! Why not play at home and see who is the quickest to get the answer?

Mr J Richardson

The Book of the Week is by an author who is firmly establishing himself as a writer of humorous and heartwarming books and who is not afraid to tackle issues such as toxic masculinity and peer pressure. His books will be enjoyed by all, but are particularly suitable for students who might not ordinarily love reading! 

King of Nothing, by Nathanael Lessore.

Anton and his friends are the kings of Year 9.

They're used to ruling the school and Anton wears the crown. The other kids run away when he's about but that's the way he wants it - he's got a reputation to live up to after all.

So when he gets into serious trouble at school, he doesn't really care, but his mum most definitely does. She decides it's time for Anton to make some new friends and join the Happy Campers, a local activity group. Anton would quite literally rather do anything else, especially when he finds out Matthew, the biggest loser in school, is also a member.

But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton's life, Anton figures maybe this kid is worth a shot. Teaching him some game is the least Anton can do to repay the debt.

As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important. Does he want ruling the school to be his crowning glory or should he set his sights on better things?

 

Ms S Thomas

A is for… acquiesce [verb]

French: acquiescer

German: zustimmen

Spanish: asentir

Thinking Question:  Which two European languages are most closely related to English?

Ms F Baikie

A is for… acquiesce [verb]

Definition: Accept something reluctantly but without protest

Example: Sara acquiesced in his decision

Synonyms: Comply, Concur, Conform

Antonyms: Deny, Oppose, Reject

Etymology: From Latin ad- (‘to’) + quiescere (‘to rest’ or ‘to be quiet’)

Ms A Wiggett

Following on the success of the smash-hit ‘Bugsy Malone’, Limitless Productions, returns to The SandPit Theatre this Halloween, with a brand newfull-scale musical.

One of the darkest musicals ever written,Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the unsettling tale of a Victorian-era barber who returns home to London after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who ruined his life. When revenge eludes him, Sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race. Perhaps composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s most perfect score,Sweeney Todd is lush, operatic, and full of soaring beauty, pitch-black comedy and stunning terror.

Featuring a sizeable cast, full scale set and immersion throughout, this classic musical thriller is not to be missed.

The Sandpit Team

Join the students from Cassana Performance Academy as they bring the story of “Matilda” to life in this much-loved musical.

Become captivated as Matilda finds strength in her unique powers and unites the children against Miss Trunchbull!

Get your tickets here.

The Sandpit Team