School Letters Home
Meadow High School
Royal Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB8 3QU
Telephone: (01895) 443310
Email: meadow@meadowschool.co.uk
Website: www.meadowhighschool.org
Headteacher: Mrs Jenny Rigby
Deputy Headteachers: Miss M Taylor (PW2)
Miss A Willis (PW1)
Please find below the latest school letters home. Scroll down to check. If you would like to read the letter in a different language, please use the "Translate" button at the top of this website.
SCHOOL LETTERS HOME
Autumn Term 2025
Letter to Whole School re Attendance
Friday, 19th September 2025
Dear Parent/Carer,
A warm welcome to the start of the 2025-26 school year. We hope that you and your families have had a restful summer break. We would like to begin by thanking all our families who have consistently supported good school attendance. Your commitment ensures your children benefit fully from school life at Meadow. We know that pupils with good attendance tend to enjoy better wellbeing and achieve more in school than those who frequently miss days. Excellent attendance gives children the best chance to thrive-in their learning, their friendships, and ultimately their life chances beyond Meadow High School. Young people only have a total of 2660 days in formal education and by the time they reach Meadow High School, 50% of these have gone. It is vital that we maximise the days they have left in order for all the students to leave with the knowledge, skills and character to contribute and influence the communities they will be part of when they leave.
Why Attendance Is So Important: Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s wellbeing, achievement, and wider development. Being in school every day helps them stay on track academically and keeps them engaged with their teachers and friends. It also helps build good habits like punctuality and responsibility that will serve them throughout life. In short, everyday counts. Even a few days of absence can quickly add up and significantly impact learning. Thank you again to all parents/carers who send their children to school consistently – your support makes a huge difference, and we celebrate those students who achieved high attendance last year.
Government’s Attendance Expectations: You may be aware that the Department for Education (DfE) introduced a new National Framework for school attendance and penalty notices, effective from 19th August 2024. This is designed to improve consistency across England in how schools and local authorities respond to absences.
Please note the key changes:
- Rolling 3-Year Tracking of Absence: Unauthorised absences are now tracked on a cumulative three-year basis. If a child has 10 or more unauthorised sessions (equivalent to 5 full school days) within any 10-week period, schools must consider issuing a fine. Importantly, any penalty notices or unauthorised holiday from last school year will carry forward under the new rules.
- Higher Fines & Escalation for Term-Time Holidays: The fine for unauthorised school absence (such as an unapproved term-time holiday) has increased for the first time since 2012. From August 2024, each penalty notice is £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28days. If a second fine is issued for the same child within a 3-year period, it will automatically be at the higher £160 rate with no reduced amount. There is also a limit of two fines in any three-year period per parent for the same child. After that (i.e. a third offence), schools can no longer issue a penalty notice-instead, authorities will move to other legal interventions such as parenting orders or prosecution in court. In court, parents could face much steeper fines (up to £2,500) or other sanctions, so it’s crucial to avoid reaching this stage. Please also be aware that by law Headteachers cannot grant any leave for family holidays during term time except in truly exceptional circumstances. The process for requesting exceptional leave is attached to this letter.
We understand that these Government rules may sound strict. Please remember that our aim is always to support families and avoid fines wherever possible. Our priority is to work in partnership with parents so that issues can be addressed early and you are never put in a position of facing a penalty unnecessarily.
Meadow High School follows a clear, supportive process to promote good attendance. We continually monitor pupil’s attendance and our first response is support, not punishment. School staff (Form Tutors, Heads of Year or the Attendance Officer) will reach out to discuss any challenges you or your child are facing. We will offer advice and can arrange supportive face-to-face meetings to identify and address any issues, and put in place help to improve attendance.
Please note that this supportive, staged approach applies to all students across Meadow High School. Good attendance is just as critical for an 11-year-old in Year 7, just starting their secondary school journey, as it is for a 17-year-old in sixth form. The law requires regular attendance and we would like to help instil good habits and provide support right from the start of Year 7 and to continue that through post-16 education.
In summary, we are committed to working with you to ensure your child attends school regularly, and to navigate any difficulties together. The new Government measure are there to underpin the importance of attendance, but our focus remains on encouragement and support. We will continue to recognise and celebrate good attendance. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact your school – we are here to help.
Thank you for your ongoing support in this matter. By reinforcing the value of education through good attendance, you are opening the door to a brighter future for your child. Let’s continue to work in partnership and make sure every student can achieve their full potential.
Yours sincerely,
Toni Kelliher Graham Cunningham
Attendance Officer Headteacher
Letter to Sixth Form - 16-19 Bursary
14th September 2025
16-19 Bursary Fund 2025-2026
The 16-19 Bursary Fund was set up by the Government to help support young people in education between the ages of 16 and 19.
To be eligible to receive a bursary in the 2025-2026 academic year, the young person must be aged under 19 at the start of the academic year in which they start their programme of study.
To qualify the pupil has to meet one of the following criteria:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right
If your child qualifies, please return the attached application form, along with evidence setting out the benefit to which he/she is entitled.
Please return to the school office ASAP.
The pupil must hold a current bank/building society account, as money has to be paid direct to them.
Successful applicants will be notified in writing, outlining arrangements for payment.
If you require any more information, please contact me.
Thank you.
Keri Walsh
Safeguarding Lead
Letter to Pathway 1 - Self Care Interventions
15th September 2025
Dear Parent/Carer,
I am delighted to share that this academic year we will be offering Pathway 1 pupils the opportunity to participate in a self-care intervention.
The intervention will be led by our hairdressing teacher Mrs Lee. The intervention will offer pupils support in the following areas:
- Familiarise students with the equipment they can use for self-care and hygiene.
- De sensitising to a salon environment; with hair dryer noise, music and a controlled working salon sitting at a backwash
- Hair brushing, washing and or/ cutting
- Filing nails and manicures
- Making a cup of tea/coffee
- How to use a washing machine
If you would be interested in your child being considered for the intervention please return the slip below. Please note that there will be a phone call triage following an expression of interest and places will be allocated in accordance to need and suitable peer groupings.
Yours faithfully,
Hayley O’Neill
Assistant Headteacher of Inclusion and Pastoral
Letter to Class 9GM - Swimming
10th September 2025
Re: Swimming Lessons for year 9 students.
Dear Parents / Carers,
Starting on Tuesday the 16th September, your child will be having their swimming lessons on a Tuesday period 4 and 5, instead of PE so will not need their PE kit but will need their swimming kit. These lessons are conducted off site and students will be taken there via school mini bus. Swimming lessons will run every Tuesday. Their last lesson will be on Tuesday 18th November 2025.
They will need to bring:
- Swimming trunks / costume (no bikinis)
- A towel
- Goggles if required
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Yours Sincerely,
Miss C Sojka
(Swim Teacher)
Letter to Whole School from Mr Cunningham
8 September 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
I am excited about being the Headteacher of Meadow High School. It has been an incredibly busy start to the new school year, but I wanted to take time to write to you to tell you a little bit about the things we will be working on together in the short term and over the rest of the year. I also wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and introduce myself to you.
Before joining Meadow High School, I worked at Longdean School, a large mainstream Secondary School in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire for 18 years. Longdean attracted a large number of students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, with over 100 having an EHCP. The opportunity to work in a school that focuses solely on these students was the main attraction of joining Meadow High School and my first few days here have already confirmed it was the right choice to make. I have managed to get a good feel for the school and I have met and spent time with lots of students and staff. There is a really positive buzz around the school and the staff all work tirelessly for the students who attend. Their hard work has ensured that Meadow High School is a very good place to work and to learn. The students I have spoken to all feel safe, enjoy being in school and work very hard in order to learn and develop important life skills. We are fortunate to have a fantastic learning environment and the new building, opened this term has added to this, as will the new site at Northwood Road, where works will be commencing shortly.
My aim is to make sure that whatever your child is interested in and enjoy, they will have an excellent experience of it at Meadow High School, whether this is in the classroom or outside of it on trips and visits, or through extra-curricular clubs. Over the first few weeks of term, we will all be focusing on ensuring that all students are getting the basics right and are back in the routine of being at school after the summer break. We want students to be on time, look smart, work hard and are kind to all members of our community. To that end, I am requesting the support of all parents and carers in ensuring they get their children to school on time and that they are wearing a uniform in line with our dress code. Can they also remind students that they should not be using mobile devices in school unless they are in the Sixth Form and then only at break and lunch. As a staff we will be making sure lessons start smoothly and that activities are relevant and purposeful.
I will spend a lot of my first half-term listening to what staff, students, parents and Governors say to me about how we can improve Meadow High even further. This feedback will form the basis of our priorities and School Improvement Plan for the year ahead. I will shortly be sending you all a survey to complete to assist in this process and I will arrange some slots for parents to meet me in person to share their thoughts on how we can improve the school further.
Apart from my job at Meadow High School I have lots of other interests. I have been married to my wife Alex for 25 years and I have two sons, Tom and Matthew. I really enjoy watching rugby, and I am a supporter of Wasps, having played for them when I was younger. I also coach a junior rugby team, enjoy reading and going to the theatre and concerts. I am a fan of espionage stories and biographies. I also enjoy history books and books on leadership.
I hope this letter gives you a brief introduction to me and my aims for the school in the future. Young people only have a total of 2660 days in formal education and by the time they reach Meadow High School 50% of these have gone. It is vital that we maximise the days they have left in order for all the students to leave with the knowledge, skills and character to contribute and influence the communities they will be part of when they leave. You have my word that I will always place students at the centre of the decisions I make at Meadow High School and that all the staff will work tirelessly on their behalf.
I look forward to working in partnership with you over the days, weeks and months ahead.
Yours sincerely
Mr Cunningham
Headteacher
Letter to Whole School - Jeans for Genes
Celebrating 30 Years
Dear Parents / Carers,
Meadow High School will be taking part in Jeans for Genes day 2025 on Monday 22nd September to celebrate 30 years of Jeans for Genes Foundation.
1 in 25 children in the UK are living with a genetic condition, therefore we will be fundraising by hosting a Non-Uniform Day and encouraging everyone to dress top to toe in their best denim!
If you would like to support this fundraising event, you can donate directly via the Jeans for Genes website.
https://www.jeansforgenes.org/pay-in-your-money
Thank you for your support
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs A Mistry
AHT Workforce Development
Letter to Pathway 1 - KS3 and KS4 - Out in the Community
15th September 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
As part of the Pathway 1 curriculum, pupils participate in a lesson titled "Out in the Community." The aim of these sessions is to help pupils develop the skills necessary for travelling safely, engaging with local facilities, and applying their classroom learning to real-life situations.
To facilitate these valuable learning experiences, we kindly request a voluntary contribution each term to support a class fund. This fund will be used to cover the costs associated with the trips and facilitate the purchasing of a small item or refreshment. Outings may include visits to local parks, cafés, libraries, garden centres, leisure facilities, and more.
Contribution options of £5, £10, or £15 are available via ParentPay. This request will be made each term to ensure the continuation of these enriching opportunities.
Any surplus funds remaining at the end of the academic year will be used to support a larger class trip.
We greatly appreciate your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Faye Bonnar
Assistant Head Teacher Pathway 1
Letter to selected students - dance kit
11th September 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
Dance Lessons
Your child is taking Dance this term as part of the Performing Arts carousal. It will be every Wednesday.
For this lesson, they will require a dance kit they will need to bring each week to take part.
We would suggest suitable clothing would be their PE kit or similar such as:
- Jogging bottoms or leggings
- T-shirt (plain)
- Trainers
- Water bottle
Students will have time to change in and out of their kit within lessons.
Thank you for your support,
Yours sincerely,
Miss Kalia
Dance Lead
Letter to Pathway 1 - Sixth Form - Swimming Lessons
9th September 2025
Dear Parents/Carers,
As part of Duke of Edinburgh lessons, some pupils in Pathway 1 6th Form will be having swimming lessons starting on 12th September 2025.
Pupils will travel via minibus to Chalfont Leisure Centre and be taught by a qualified swim instructor. Members of Meadow staff will also support in the water. Swimming will occur each Friday. Pupils will require suitable swim wear, a towel and any other personal preferences when swimming such as googles. I also suggest sending in an extra snack and drink as swimming can make you hungry.
Yours sincerely,
Faye Bonnar
Assistant Head Teacher Pathway 1
Letter to Class 7NK - Swimming
10th September 2025
Re: Swimming Lessons for year 7 students
Dear Parents / Carers,
Starting on Tuesday 16th September your child will be having their swimming lessons every Tuesday period 2 and 3, instead of PE.
These lessons are conducted off site and students will be taken there via school mini bus. Swimming lessons will be taken by a teacher from Meadow who is qualified to teach swimming lessons. They will run until the end of the Autumn term (Christmas holidays).
They will need to bring:
- Swimming trunks / costume (no bikinis)
- A towel
- Goggles if required
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Yours Sincerely,
Ms C Sojka
(Swim Teacher)
Letter to Class 8CS - Swimming
10th September 2025
Re: Swimming Lessons for year 8 students.
Dear Parents / Carers,
Starting on Thursday the 18th September your child will be having their swimming lessons on a Thursday period 4 and 5, instead of PE. They will not need their PE kit but will need their swimming kit. These lessons are conducted off site and students will be transported there via school mini bus. These lessons will run until October half term. They will then have another block of swimming in the Spring Term.
They will need to bring:
- Swimming trunks / costume (no bikinis)
- A towel
- Goggles if required
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Yours Sincerely,
Ms C Sojka
(Swim Teacher)
Letter to Class 9GM - Swimming
10th September 2025
Re: Swimming Lessons for year 9 students.
Dear Parents / Carers,
Starting on Tuesday the 16th September, your child will be having their swimming lessons on a Tuesday period 4 and 5, instead of PE so will not need their PE kit but will need their swimming kit. These lessons are conducted off site and students will be taken there via school mini bus. Swimming lessons will run every Tuesday. Their last lesson will be on Tuesday 18th November 2025.
They will need to bring:
- Swimming trunks / costume (no bikinis)
- A towel
- Goggles if required
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Yours Sincerely,
Miss C Sojka
(Swim Teacher)