Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to update you on the recent events at Littleover Community School; provide some key messages for this academic year, and to inform you about the important dates for this term.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank our students, staff and families for such a positive start to the term. I have been incredibly impressed with the way our students have returned to school. From the very first day, they have demonstrated maturity, pride and a strong commitment to our school values.
Across the school, our fortnightly focus of ‘Always Prepared’ from The LCS Way has been reinforced in assemblies, tutor time and learning related activities. As such, students are clear about the expectations regarding punctually, having the correct equipment, and the importance of wearing the correct uniform smartly. At Littleover, we are always looking to Improve our standards and so we will continue to emphasise the importance of always being prepared and ask parents and carers to support with those messages at home, particularly in relation to students arriving on site for 8:35am so they can be at tutor time for 8:40am and avoid being allocated negatives due to lateness.
Our Year 7 and 12 students need a particular mention because the efforts shown by the students in those year groups, during a period of significant transition for them, has been exceptional. As they have navigated a new environment, new systems and new expectations, they have done so with a determination that has been wonderful to observe.
We may have only been back nine school days, but students have had assemblies on The LCS Way, Stamina, completed fire drills and a lockdown information briefing. Our Sixth Form team hosted a Parent Information evening for the parents of students who are new to LCS, and this was really well attended. Plus, our PE department have already been out at fixtures with our students this week, so we are back into the swing of things.
Looking forward, we have our Year 6 Open Evening on Tuesday 22nd September (5pm-6:45pm), and it has been incredible to note the number of our students who have wanted to volunteer to be ambassadors for the school. There is also a Post-16 Options Information Evening for parents on Thursday 24th September (6:30pm until 8pm) and this will be delivered through our Careers team, with the aim of providing information, advice and guidance for parents of Year 11 students about the Post 16 education, training and apprenticeship landscape. Over the next fortnight, during assemblies and tutor time, The LCS Way will move to focus on the importance of honesty and Mr Goodhead, our Deputy Headteacher for Behaviour and Attendance and our Heads of Year (details below) will deliver the assemblies and tutors will deliver activities on this aspect of school life. Rather excitingly, our Year 8 students will be eligible for the Golden Ticket initiative; this will celebrate students who are contributing to an aspect of The LCS Way in a significant way. Each year group will have the opportunity to participate in this initiative over the term as we build and broaden our rewards offer.
We are also excited to be hosting our Languages Week, where a range of activities will be on offer for students to celebrate cultural diversity, build global connections and spark a life-long love of languages. Our Duke of Edinburgh programme starts up again with some of our students working towards their bronze qualification on the 27th of September. Finally, our Year 11 students will be out on their work experience placements during the week beginning the 28th of September. We would ask parents and carers to be actively speaking to students about the demands of the world of work and helping them get ready to make an excellent impression by being on time, proactive and enthusiastic throughout their placements. For the small group of students who have not secured a work experience placement, they should attend school as normal during the week of the 28th of September.
Key Information
As many of our parents and carers will know, the parking on Pastures Hill before and afterschool is incredibly busy. I have previously requested that parents and carers take additional care when parking and moving back onto the road. We have had several near misses, particularly afterschool, since the beginning of term, where cars have come into close and potentially dangerous contact with each other. Please be cautious when parking and driving outside of the school. Ideally, parents and carers would arrange a parking place away from the entrance of the school to reduce the pressure on this route. We have lots of students who arrive and leave the school from the Pastures Hill entrance, and I want them to be able to do so safety, so please drive and park with consideration.
Littleover Community School continues to be a mobile-phone free school and as such students should not have their mobile phones with them, unless this has been agreed due to exceptional circumstances with your child’s Head of Year or the Medical Officer. Students who are found to have their mobile phone or students who are seen using their mobile phone on the way to and from school will have them confiscated. For any student who does this more than once, parental or carer collection before 4:15pm on school days will be required. Please see our Inclusion, Relationship and Behaviour Policy, page 15 for more details. Many thanks to those parents who support the school in keeping LCS a phone-free school.
At Littleover Community School, we know how important it is for students to attend well and this message has also been reiterated to students via Mrs C Spalding’s assemblies on stamina as students were shown the relationship between excellent attendance (97%-100%) and achievement (average GCSE grade a 7 or above*). It is important that students are maintaining high levels of attendance, not only to support achievement, but also because it contributes towards students achieving the bronze, silver and gold levels in their Personal Development Passports and Portfolios. *GCSE 2026 LCS Outcomes and Attendance.
Key Dates and Contact Information
Tuesday 22nd Sept 5pm-6:45pm. - Year 6 Open Evening
Thursday 24th Sept 6:30pm-8pm. - Post 16 Parent Information Evening
Thursday 8th Oct 5:45pm-7:30pm - Post 16 Open Evening
Friday 23rd Oct - INSET
Thursday 5th Nov 4:15pm-6:45pm - Year 11 Parents’ Evening on School Cloud
Thursday 19th Nov 4:15pm- 6:45pm - Year 7 Settling in Evening
Friday 27th Nov Common Closure day- INSET
Thursday 3rd December 4:15pm-6:45pm - Year 13 Parents’ Evening on School Cloud
