Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to this week’s blog update. As we continue to build momentum this term, I want to celebrate some wonderful highlights across our community and share some important thoughts on our shared commitment to your children's education.
A Great Moment This Week: Parent Voice & Baseline Feedback
Our core value for this half-term is 'courage'. As a school leader, courage means reflecting honestly on the impact of our work, actively listening to our community, and using feedback to continually raise standards.
I have been delighted to receive over 100 responses to our Start of Year Parent Survey. Reading through your comments gives us invaluable insight into how we can support our young people and their families even better. A stand-out headline from the initial data is that more than 96% of parents agree or strongly agree that the school maintains high standards for learning, personal responsibility, and behaviour.
Our parent surveys remain open until Friday 25 September, so if you haven't yet had the chance, please take 3 to 4 minutes to share your views via the links below:
Year 7 Start of Year Parent Survey
Year 8 Start of Year Parent Survey
Year 9 Start of Year Parent Survey
Year 10 Start of Year Parent Survey
Year 11 Start of Year Parent Survey
As a quick reminder, you can also access our full Subject Curriculum Journeys and our Extra curricular timetable on the school website.
A Thought from the Head: The Power of Community & Industry Partnerships
Education thrives when we build strong, meaningful partnerships beyond the classroom. As the South Coast Music Partnership Lead School for the Isle of Wight and through our work with Creative Island’s Cultural Leadership Programme, we have established vibrant connections across our region.
These partnerships allow our students to learn alongside world-class professionals and higher education leaders – including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Platform One, and the University of Southampton. From hosting our first 'Battle of the Bands' with local music industry judges to collaborating on Island-wide initiatives like the 'Dark Skies' music project, our young people see themselves as active contributors to our cultural community.
Crucially, partnership working does not only enrich personal development; it directly fuels academic excellence. By sharing expertise, refining our curriculum, and moderating standards with peer schools, our music students achieved the highest results in the school this summer – ranking 1st nationally, placing our music outcomes in the top 1% of schools in the country!
Looking Ahead: Valuing Every Place & Partnering for Attendance
Finally, I want to take a moment to reflect on our strong reputation across the Island. Families are choosing Carisbrooke College because of the high standards, relational care, and academic ambition they see here every day. Thank you to so many of you who actively recommend our school to neighbours, friends, and the wider community – your endorsement is the highest compliment we can receive.
Because demand for places at Carisbrooke College is exceptionally high, we ask that places here lead to a shared commitment: every single school day counts. We know that attendance is nuanced. For some of our families – particularly those navigating complex SEND needs, health conditions, or transitional challenges – attending school every day can be a significant hurdle. Please know that we see you, we understand, and we are committed to working alongside you with care, flexibility, and compassion. You will always find our team ready to listen and support.
However, where absence is within a family's control – such as taking discretionary term-time holidays or taking days off for avoidable reasons – we ask you to reflect on the impact. Missing weeks of school creates direct gaps in learning and momentum that are very difficult to bridge.
If your family is facing genuine barriers to attendance, please reach out to our pastoral team so we can help. And if your child is able to be here, please help us protect their education by ensuring they are in school, on time, every single day.
Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and commitment.
Warmest regards,
Natalie Sheppard
Headteacher, Carisbrooke College
