We are delighted to welcome you to this week’s newsletter! Inside, you will find updates and information on a range of exciting and important topics including, Dudley Young Health Champions Conference, Anti-Bullying Week 2025, Free SEN Boxing Sessions, Social Media Kindness Day,  Children in Need, World Culture Day and the latest from the Rivers News Team.

 

 

This week we proudly took part in Anti-Bullying Week, joining thousands of schools across the country to raise awareness and show our support for kindness, respect, and inclusion.

To kick off the week, staff and pupils wore odd socks — a fun and colourful way to celebrate what makes each of us unique. The message behind Odd Socks Day is simple: everyone is different, and that’s something to be proud of!

As a SEN school, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. Our pupils come from a wide range of backgrounds, needs, and communities, and we are incredibly proud of how they support and celebrate one another. At our school, we believe that understanding and acceptance are key to building a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

This week has been a reminder that small acts of kindness make a big difference — and that together, we can continue to make our school a place where everyone feels they belong.

 

 

 

Social Media Kindness Day 2025: Spreading Positivity Online and Beyond

At our school, we were proud to take part in Social Media Kindness Day 2025, a national campaign that reminds us all of the importance of being kind online. In a world where so much of our communication takes place through screens, this day serves as a powerful reminder that our words and actions — both online and offline — can have a lasting impact.

In school we explore the theme of kindness and digital responsibility through RSHE lessons, parental workshops, and home–school conversations. Our Young Persons Officer has also delivered and continues to deliver engaging talks on the importance of showing kindness online and the effects that negative online behaviour can have — not just on others, but also on our own mental and physical wellbeing.

We continue to promote positive online behaviour by encouraging pupils to think before they post, use social media responsibly, and seek help whenever they feel worried or upset about something they’ve seen or experienced online.

In school, every child knows they can speak to any trusted adult about concerns related to social media. They also know that the Safe and Wellbeing Hub Team are always available to listen, support, and guide them.

Together, we’re helping our pupils build a safer, kinder online community — one message at a time.

For more information about Social Media Kindness Day, please visit: www.socialmediakindnessday.com/about-smkd

 

BoxClever Mentoring – Engaging Young People Through Non-Contact Boxing

We are excited to share information about BoxClever Mentoring, a fantastic initiative run by Craig Jones. This service provides mentoring for children and young people using non-contact boxing as a way to engage, build confidence, and support personal development.

BoxClever is aimed at, but not limited to, children and young people with SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) difficulties. The programme focuses on improving the wellbeing, resilience, and confidence of every young person it supports, helping them to achieve their potential both inside and outside of school.

Sessions are free to attend and run every Thursday from 6:00–7:00 PM at Westminster School, for children aged 10 years and above.

For more information and to stay updated on activities, please follow BoxClever on social media by scanning the QR code below or searching @BOXCLEVERCJ 

 

Children in Need 2025: Supporting a Cause That Puts Children First

This week, our school proudly supported BBC Children in Need 2025 — a charity that has been making a difference in young people’s lives for generations. This long-standing and much-loved charity works tirelessly to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their background or circumstance.

At our school, we share the same child-centred approach that Children in Need champions. Everything we do focuses on understanding and meeting the individual needs of our pupils, supporting their wellbeing, and helping them reach their full potential. It’s a cause that truly reflects our own ethos of care, inclusion, and compassion.

We encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about this fantastic charity and the incredible work it continues to do for children and families across the UK. If you are able to support or donate, even in a small way, it can make a big difference to a child’s life.

You can find out more — and see how you can get involved — by visiting:
 www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk

Together, we can help make a positive change — one child at a time.

 

  

 

World Culture Day 2025: Celebrating India in All Its Colour and Magic

This term, our school celebrated World Culture Day, and the country of focus was India. It was a truly immersive and magical experience for our pupils and staff, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore the rich traditions, flavours, and sounds of this incredible country.

The day was filled with excitement as children and staff alike tasted native Indian foods, including the nation’s favourite dish in Britain — chicken tikka masala! Pupils also enjoyed learning key Hindi phrases, listening to vibrant Indian music, and discovering fascinating facts about India’s culture and heritage.

Events like World Culture Day are about much more than just fun — they open children’s minds to the incredible diversity of the world. For many pupils, this is a rare opportunity to experience a culture they may not normally encounter, helping to remove ignorance and challenge stigma. By learning about and celebrating different cultures, our children grow in understanding, empathy, and respect for others.

It was a wonderful day, full of curiosity, laughter, and learning, and a reminder of how embracing diversity enriches our school community.

 

 

7T23 Parental Woodland Engagement Session

Last week, our 7T23 class enjoyed a fantastic woodland engagement session with their parents. It was wonderful to see families working alongside their children, exploring the outdoors, and taking part in hands-on activities together.

Sessions like these are more than just fun — they help to strengthen home–school relationships and provide opportunities for parents to engage directly with their child’s learning in a meaningful way. Activities in natural settings also support communication, teamwork, confidence, and wellbeing, showing just how beneficial these experiences are for both children and families.

We are so grateful to all the parents who joined us and look forward to hosting more woodland sessions in the future

 

 

Rivers News team 

 

 

Welcome back to another fantastic edition of Phase News at Sutton School! 
We are so happy to see that our Rivers  pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 have settled back in brilliantly. Everyone has shown determination, resilience and followed our school motto: Safe, Happy, Learning Towards Independence. 

Here’s what we’ve been up to so far in these amazing first few weeks... 

9R1 

9R1 have settled into Rivers Phase amazingly well and are already showing real confidence and determination. They have made great progress in every subject – especially during Library time! Lots of pupils have been volunteering to help clean and organise the library, which will go towards their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

We are incredibly proud of 9R1 for being brilliant role models for the younger years. We can’t wait to see them grow even more over the next few weeks! 

9R2 

9R2 have also made a great start and have shown fantastic resilience while settling in. In Life Skills, they made hot chocolate independently, and in Maths they played brilliant place value dice games. During Duke of Edinburgh, they learnt how to play dominoes as part of building teamwork and strategy skills. 

We are very proud of 9R2 and know they will do amazingly well as they work towards their qualifications. Keep it up, 9R2! 

10R1 

10R1 have had a strong and focused start. In English they have been reading Boy in the Tower, exploring plot and character and in Maths they have been preparing ahead for their GCSE and Functional Skills exams. During Pathways, they have been learning about Responding to an Incident, and in Core Studies they have been exploring what romantic relationships are in a mature and thoughtful way. 

A brilliant week from 10R1! 

10R2 

10R2 have also done fantastically. In English, they have been exploring The Boy in the Tower and have practised recounting the story confidently. They have started researching real job opportunities linked to their pathway, which will support their future qualifications and careers. In Maths they have been working on fractions through interactive learning and have already made great progress. 

We’re very excited to see how much 10R2 achieve this year! 

11R1 

11R1 have had an incredible start. They visited Brierley Hill Fire Station to learn about fire safety and firefighter equipment. They now know what to do in an emergency and were fully engaged throughout the visit. They began the year with 100% attendance, which is amazing! 

We are excited to see Year 11 rise to every challenge ahead as they prepare for their GCSEs. Keep up the excellent work, 11R1! 

11R2 

They have been working really hard in all of their lessons and have shown brilliant focus since the start of term. In Art, they have produced some amazing work inspired by Andy Warhol, exploring Pop Art and developing their own creative styles. 

During their Motor Vehicle Studies pathway, they have been learning how to use tools safely and professionally, showing great maturity and responsibility in a workshop environment. 

We are really proud of 11R2 and the fantastic effort they are putting into their learning! 

Special Fact of the Week: Did you know? You are approximately one centimetre taller in the morning than at night because your spine decompresses while you sleep.  

This has been the Sutton News Team. 
We’ll be back soon with more updates — visit our school website and join us for what is sure to be a remarkable and memorable year!