Year 9

Welcome to the Year 9 information page - 

Weekly Newsletter - 15 10 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another busy and positive week for Year 9, and it has been great to see pupils continuing to demonstrate our Oakwood values of Ambition, Belonging and Character in so many different ways.

This week, Miss Harding enjoyed visiting Miss Jardim's Drama lesson, where pupils were studying Blood Brothers. Pupils took part in a range of practical activities exploring the characters, themes and key moments from the play. A special mention goes to Hayden and Max, whose brilliant use of accents during their performance helped bring the scene to life and impressed everyone watching. The quality of discussion and performance work on display was excellent, and it was wonderful to see pupils developing both their confidence and understanding of the text. A photograph from the lesson can be found below.

Across the school this week, pupils have also been thinking about their future pathways and the opportunities that different subjects can open up. Teachers have been discussing careers linked to their subjects and highlighting the valuable skills pupils develop through their studies. It has been great to hear so many thoughtful conversations about future aspirations, with pupils showing real ambition as they explored different career routes and considered what they might like to do in the years ahead.

We would also like to remind families that the Duke of Edinburgh Award sign-up deadline is Friday 16th October. The award provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop new skills, take part in volunteering, improve their physical fitness and experience an expedition with their peers. Further information, including a QR code for registration, can be found below. If pupils or families have any questions, Miss Benwell will be happy to help.

As part of our preparations for Anti-Bullying Week, which begins on 16th November, pupils have been discussing an important question during tutor time: "What is the best way to prevent bullying?" They have explored a range of ideas, including restorative practice, learning how to resolve conflicts, appropriate consequences for bullying and providing a wider range of social activities at break and lunchtime. Pupils have also shared their own suggestions and have contributed thoughtfully to the discussion. It has been encouraging to see them thinking carefully about how everyone can play a part in creating a positive and supportive school community.

As we come to the end of a busy and successful half term, we would like to thank Year 9 pupils for their hard work, positive attitudes and commitment to school life. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved both in and out of the classroom and look forward to celebrating even more successes after the break.

We hope that all pupils and their families have a wonderful and restful half-term break and return refreshed and ready for another successful term.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding

Weekly Newsletters - 08 10 2026

It has been another positive week for Year 9, and it has been great to see so many pupils continuing to demonstrate our Oakwood values of Ambition, Belonging and Character both in lessons and around the school.

Staff have been impressed by the attitude Year 9 pupils have shown towards their learning this week. Across a range of subjects, pupils have been working hard, getting involved in class discussions and showing resilience when faced with challenging tasks. It is encouraging to see so many pupils taking pride in their work and making the most of the opportunities available to them.

Mr O'Malley has been particularly pleased with the effort and enthusiasm shown by his Year 9 English class. Pupils have been working hard in lessons, contributing thoughtful ideas and producing some excellent pieces of work. It has been great to see their confidence continuing to grow, and we have included photographs of some of their work below.

Rehearsals for this year's production of Bugsy Malone are also well underway. Pupils involved in the show have been showing real commitment as they prepare for the performance, giving up their time and working together positively. We are looking forward to seeing their hard work come together over the coming months.

During tutor time this week, pupils have been learning about peer pressure. They have explored what peer pressure is, how it can affect people's decisions and the different forms it can take. Pupils have also reflected on how peer pressure may impact individuals and discussed ways of making positive choices. It has been pleasing to see pupils engaging sensibly with such an important topic.

We would also like to make families aware of our upcoming Bike Amnesty Event, taking place on Thursday 12th November in partnership with the Surrey Bike Bank. Families are invited to donate unwanted bikes that are still in good condition, including both adult and junior sizes. The bikes will be refurbished and donated free of charge to members of the community who need them most. Donations can be dropped off at Main Reception on the morning of the event, and we hope many families will be able to support this fantastic initiative.

We are also delighted to celebrate the number of achievement points earned by Year 9 so far this year. As of 6th October, the year group has achieved over 32,000 reward points, which is a fantastic reflection of the effort, attitude and contributions pupils are making across the school. A special mention goes to 9OMA, who currently lead the year group with an impressive 3,643 reward points.

As we move further into the term, we look forward to seeing Year 9 continue to build on the excellent start they have made. We are very proud of all that they have achieved so far and look forward to celebrating many more successes in the weeks ahead.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding

Weekly Newsletter - 01 10 2026

It has been another positive week for Year 9, with pupils continuing to show our Oakwood values of Ambition, Belonging and Character in different ways.

This week, Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding have been impressed by the hard work taking place in lessons across the year group. In particular, pupils in Mr Owens' History classes have shown excellent focus and enthusiasm for their learning. This week, pupils have been studying weapons used during the First World War, developing their understanding of how new technology and weaponry changed the nature of warfare. They have been contributing thoughtfully to lessons, asking questions and challenging themselves to deepen their understanding. It has been great to see so many pupils approaching their work with such a positive attitude.

Miss Harding also had the opportunity to visit both German and Spanish lessons this week and was delighted by what she saw. In Spanish, pupils were learning about different film genres and discussing activities people enjoy in their free time, such as playing football and watching films. Pupils were working with excellent concentration, showing real commitment to their learning and engaging confidently with new vocabulary and speaking tasks. The effort and focus on display were a credit to the year group.

We have included photographs of some of the excellent work produced in History, German and Spanish below so that you can see the high standards Year 9 pupils are achieving in their lessons.

We have also been pleased to see so many Year 9 pupils volunteering to support our Open Evening for Year 5 and Year 6 families. Whether acting as tour guides or helping within departments, pupils have shown great pride in our school and a willingness to give back to the Oakwood community. Their enthusiasm for getting involved is a fantastic example of Belonging, and they were excellent ambassadors for the school.

This week's assembly was delivered by Mr Shilling, who spoke to pupils about the difference between equality and equity. He encouraged pupils to think about the importance of treating others with kindness, fairness and respect, while recognising that people may need different types of support to achieve the same outcomes. The assembly provided an important reminder of how we can all contribute to creating a positive and inclusive community, both in and out of school.

Staff have also commented on how well Year 9 pupils are representing themselves around the school. Their polite manner, positive attitude and responsible behaviour continue to make a strong impression and help create a welcoming environment for everyone. We have been particularly impressed with how maturely pupils have conducted themselves this week and the positive example they are setting for younger students.

We are very proud of the way Year 9 pupils continue to embrace opportunities, support one another and work hard in their lessons. We look forward to celebrating even more successes in the weeks ahead.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Mr O’Malley and Miss Harding

Click Here for a download of the presentation from the Parents Information evening

Weekly Newsletter - 23 09 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another fantastic week for Year 9, with pupils continuing to demonstrate our Oakwood values of ambition, belonging and character in a wide range of ways.

We are delighted to celebrate the success of those pupils who auditioned for this year's school production of Bugsy Malone. Auditioning takes confidence and commitment, and we are incredibly proud of every pupil who put themselves forward.

Congratulations to Archie S, George M, Jasmine D, Zuzanna B, Mya E, Sophia C, Taylor H, Evie M, Kayla M, Lily G, Mya K, Robert L, Eliza B and Sophia B, who were successful in securing roles in the production. We look forward to seeing them shine, either supporting the performance or on stage, and are excited to watch the production take shape over the coming months. Their willingness to embrace new opportunities is a wonderful example of ambition and courage.

This week, we would also like to recognise Oliver C for an exceptional contribution outside of school. Oliver volunteered several hours of his own time to create a series of videos for World Patient Safety Day at Croydon Health Services. Using his computing skills, he edited the footage, added subtitles to make the content more accessible and incorporated background music to produce professional-quality resources. The videos were later shared by the communications team and uploaded to the Trust intranet for staff training and development. We are incredibly proud of Oliver for using his talents to support others and for demonstrating such outstanding character and community spirit.  See the screenshot of the video here but if you would like to see the whole video please go to Croydon Health Services on Instagram.

In lessons, Year 9 pupils continue to impress staff with their effort and positive attitudes towards learning. Teachers have commented on the resilience and determination being shown across the year group as pupils continue to challenge themselves and strive for success. A special mention goes to Miss Dornan's PE class, where pupils have been working exceptionally hard during their Hyrox sessions. Tabitha R and Annalise M have particularly stood out through their positivity and determination, setting an excellent example for their peers.

One of the most pleasing aspects of this term so far has been the sense of belonging that continues to grow across the year group. Whether through sport, performing arts, academic achievement or contributions to the wider community, Year 9 pupils are making the most of the opportunities available to them and showing what it means to be part of the Oakwood community.

We are incredibly proud of everything Year 9 have achieved this week and look forward to celebrating many more successes throughout the year.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding

Weekly Newsletter - 17 09 2026

Year 9 have continued to make a positive start to the term, and it has been great to see so many pupils demonstrating our Oakwood values of Ambition, Belonging and Character on a daily basis.

We have been particularly pleased with the improvements in uniform standards across the year group. Pupils are taking increasing pride in their appearance and are arriving at school ready to learn. These improvements reflect the maturity and sense of responsibility that we are seeing from many members of Year 9.

During tutor time this week, pupils have been learning about democracy and the importance of having their voices heard. Forms explored a number of charitable causes before taking part in a Student Voice vote to decide which charity Oakwood will support this year. It was encouraging to see pupils engaging positively with the process and understanding how democratic decisions are made within a community.

Reading remains a key part of tutor time, and it has been wonderful to see pupils continuing to engage with their tutor reading book. One of the highlights of the week was a visit to 9VSI, where Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding joined the form during their reading session. Pupils were focused, engaged and showed excellent attitudes to learning throughout the session, creating a calm and purposeful atmosphere.

Alongside this, staff have been impressed by the effort and commitment shown by Year 9 pupils in lessons. We have seen pupils asking thoughtful questions, contributing confidently to class discussions and demonstrating resilience when faced with challenging tasks. Their positive approach to learning is helping them make a strong start to the year. We have given some examples of this brilliant work below.

In terms of ambition, our Year 9 pupils have demonstrated their ambitions for the future, with over 150 Year 8s and 9s having their poems published in the Young Writers ‘I Have A Dream’ collections. Pictures of both books are below, and we also have copies in Reception and the Study Centre for those wanting to read them.

We are also delighted to celebrate the positive choices being made by Year 9 pupils. Since the start of term, the year group has earned an impressive 11,366 reward points as at 15^th September. This achievement reflects the effort and positive contributions pupils are making both in lessons and around the school.

As the term progresses, we look forward to seeing Year 9 continue to grow in confidence, build on their successes and further develop their ambition, character and sense of belonging. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Mr O'Malley and Miss Harding

Weekly Newsletter - 10 09 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a brilliant start it has been for Year 9!

Year 9 have come into this year with a refreshed sense of responsibility for their own learning which is evident in their conduct around school. Pupils have been building relationships with their new teachers and have already started asking questions about their options for GCSE. We are impressed by the aspiration of these pupils in ensuring they are making the right choices for their futures!

The Year 9s have also been supporting the new Year 7 pupils with their sense of belonging at Oakwood by kindly helping them find their lessons. We are so proud of the kindness the Year 9s have shown during this changeover period.

Mr O’Malley and Miss Harding have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Year 9 around the school in lessons and in tutor time. We have seen brilliant reading during tutor time with pupils engaging well with their new tutor reading book 'Crossing the Line'. We have also seen this meaningful engagement in their lessons, with a particular favourite being 9YH2’s Geography lesson in which they were learning all about food chains with one pupil quickly concluding that the chains always end with humans!

Additionally, Year 9 has also started the year strong by working well on improving their uniform and attendance. They look very smart in their new uniforms and are representing the school well.

We are looking forward to hearing about all the extracurricular activities that pupils will get involved in this term with many clubs being available for them to try. The list for clubs available this term is on student notices and has been shown to pupils during tutor time. We can’t wait to hear what they will achieve!

We are looking forward to working with all parents and carers this year to support all pupils in Year 9 to build their ambition and character and ensure they have a sense of belonging here at Oakwood.

We have a Year 9 information evening coming up on the 16^th of September 2026 in which parents/carers can ask any questions they have, but in the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch of you have any queries or need any support.

Best wishes,

Mr O’Malley and Miss Harding