Carisbrooke College Parent Portal - Carisbrooke College Weekly Updates

Welcome back to the summer term. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable Easter break and that students are returning refreshed and ready for the busy weeks ahead.

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all parents and carers for your support regarding the worrying TikTok videos that circulated recently. Following our email sent on Wednesday, we appreciate the swift and sensible way in which families engaged with us on this matter. We have now identified some of the individuals involved and I am pleased to report that several of the videos have been taken down. While situations like this can be concerning, they also provide an important opportunity to reinforce with our young people the need to act responsibly and thoughtfully online. Your partnership in supporting these messages at home is invaluable.

It has been a busy and productive start to the term across the school. On Tuesday, our Year 11 students gathered for their group photograph, a significant milestone as they approach the final stage of their secondary school journey. It was wonderful to see them together, marking the culmination of their time with us. These photographs will be available to purchase in due course, and we will share further details with families shortly.

This week has also seen students completing their Mandarin speaking exams, demonstrating great focus and preparation. Looking ahead, next week marks the beginning of the final Art examinations for Year 11. We are now very much in the examination season and I would encourage all students to make the most of the support available, whether that be speaking to subject teachers, attending revision sessions, or seeking guidance from pastoral staff. We are here to support every student to achieve their very best.

Beyond the classroom, on Friday we had Platform One come into school for a Careers workshop performance. Thank you to Mrs Peckham for organising this event. Next week, a group of students will attend the Construction Roadshow for Girls at Sandown Bay. This is a fantastic chance to explore career pathways in a sector where female representation continues to grow, and we look forward to hearing about their experiences.

A reminder that Year 7 Parents’ Evening will take place on Thursday. These evenings are an important opportunity to discuss progress, celebrate successes and identify next steps. If you have not yet booked your appointments, please do so via the Arbor App. Should you experience any difficulties with the booking system, our reception team will be very happy to assist you.

And finally, the sad news that the school had to digest this week has been difficult for us all. I have been incredibly proud of the way our students have responded; with maturity, kindness and genuine support for one another and for staff. At times like these, the strength of our school is very evident. We are currently working on ways in which we can appropriately commemorate Pete, and we will share these ideas with you once they have been finalised. I would also like to thank all our staff, the MHST team and our School Pastors for the care and support they have provided to students during this time. We have pulled together exceptionally well.

As always, thank you for your continued support of the school. It makes a real difference to the success and wellbeing of our students.

I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Natalie Sheppard
Headteacher

Transferring to Secondary School – New Year 7’s from September

The deadline for transport applications to be submitted for students transferring to Secondary School is 1^st May 2026. To make an application please visit our website https://www.iow.gov.uk/article/2418/Apply-for-home-to-school-transport.

Transport for eligible children, whose applications were received on time in line with the dates above, will be allocated to transport by the end of August, and Parents/Carers will be notified about those arrangements via email. For a small number of cases who may require complex transport arrangements, these may not be able to start in September and parents/carers will be notified if this is the case.

Applications received after the deadline will be treated as ‘late applications’ and can only be reviewed after all on-time applications have been processed. For the families of eligible children who apply late, this means that transport may not be in place for the start of the school term in September and may not be available for the first school term. During this time transport arrangements including costs will be parents responsibility.

Students already receiving transport (excluding Post 16 students)

Students from Year 7 -11 who already receive school transport do not need to do anything unless their circumstances have changed, or if transport has been specifically agreed for a set period of time. For example, if you have moved home or school, you will need to reapply for transport by the relevant deadline. If your child is in year 11, their eligibility for free transport will cease at the end of the current academic year and you will need to explore alternative transport arrangements for your child’s post-16 education or training, even if your child will continue to attend the same setting.

On the first day of term, students who are travelling on a contracted bus service will be able to travel without a valid ticket providing they are in school uniform. Bus passes will be sent to the school to be distributed to students on their first day.

Post 16 Students with an EHCP

Post 16 learners are required to apply for transport each academic year and each academic year the local authority is required to consult on the arrangements for the next school year. The policy for the 2026/2027 academic year is now available online and any application received will be processed in line with this policy.

The application deadline is 1^st May and applications can be completed online at https://www.iow.gov.uk/article/2419/Travel-assistance-for-post-16-students

Transport for eligible learners, whose applications were received on time in line with the dates above, will be allocated to transport by the end of August, and Parent/Carers/Learners will be notified about those arrangements via email. For a small number of cases who may require complex transport arrangements, these may not be able to start in September and parents/carers will be notified if this is the case.

Applications received after the deadline will be treated as ‘late applications’ and can only be reviewed after all on-time applications have been processed. For the families of eligible learners who apply late, this means that transport may not be in place for the start of the school term in September and may not be available for the first school term. During this time transport arrangements including costs will be parents responsibility.

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Carisbrooke College Weekly Updates – Friday 17 April 2026

17 April 2026

Weekly Updates from Carisbrooke College

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