Accessibility Tools

Main School Reception : 01327 350284

It was such a shame that Sponne musicians were unable to perform in the annual Spring Concert to showcase all the work that had been going on in ensemble practices in terms 3 and 4.

The school closure and restrictions also meant that the recital evening, showcasing the examination performances of our yr 13 students, and also the regional qualification round of Music for Youth were also unable to take place as scheduled.

We very much hope that we will be able to reschedule our recital evening and spring concert (even if it ends up being an Autumn one!) so that we can give those musicians leaving us this year  a proper musical send off! With regard to Music for Youth, with two weeks of rehearsal still to go we hastily put together some recorded entries for our groups.

In the meantime, musicians please still Keep Practicing!

We hope you and your child are getting used to the Google Suite platform, in particular Classroom which our teaching staff are using to set and collect work during this time of school closures.

G-Suite How to Guide has been updated today (24th March 2020) to address some of the common issues students have been having with regards to finding work, completing work online and handing work in.

We would like to highlight there is no requirement for students to be printing out work, the work is designed to manage work electronically.

Should a student be required to hand-draw or write up a piece of work, it can be photographed, uploaded to drive and then added on classroom - instructions for this are included in the linked guide.

We would also like to request that students do not email work to teachers, because tasks are being monitored through Assignments on Classroom.

Thank you for your patience with the Classroom platform, and questions you may have, can be directed to the Google Coordinator, Scott Cornelius; scornelius@sponne.org.uk

There is also some useful advice for parents, from Thinkuknow, with regards to keeping your child safe online, while they are off school.

How to support your child if they are feeling anxious about coronavirus

It’s understandable for children and adults to feel concerned or anxious about this virus and it is natural for parents to want to support and protect their children. You might do this in many different ways – giving them a hug, playing a game or having a chat. The most important thing is for your child to know that you are there for them, ready to help them if things get hard. We hope these tips help you support your child at this time.

  1. Talk to your child about what is going on. You could start by asking them what they have heard about coronavirus.
  2. Try to answer their questions and reassure them in an age appropriate manner. Remember, you do not need to know all the answers, but talking can help them feel calm.
  3. Explain to your child that it is natural to worry sometimes and everyone does it. This feeling, like all feelings, will come and go.
  4. Don’t try to shield your child from the news, as it’s likely they will find out somehow from school, being online or from friends.
  5. Be aware that your child will often copy your behaviour, so if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you may need to limit how much you express this in front of them.
  6. Reassure your child that it is unlikely they will get seriously ill, and if they do feel ill you will look after them. Your child might be concerned about who will look after you if you catch the virus. Let them know the kind of support you have as an adult so that they don’t feel they need to worry about you.
  7. Give some practical tips to your child about how they can look after themselves. For example, show them how to wash their hands properly, and remind them when they should be doing it.
  8. Keep as many regular routines as possible, so that your child feels safe and that things are stable.
  9. Spend time doing a fun activity with your child (e.g. reading, playing, painting, cooking) to help reassure them and reduce their anxiety. This is also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’. For activities ideas, visit our starting a conversation with your child guide.
  10. Encourage your child to think about the things they can do to make themselves feel safer and less worried. Help them find things that distract or relax them.
  11. Be aware that your child may want more close contact with you at this time and feel anxious about separation. Try to provide this support whenever possible.
  12. Remember to look after yourself too. If you are feeling worried, or anxious about coronavirus, talk to someone you trust who can listen and support you.

Helplines and Resources

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger

  • Provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • If you need urgent help text YM to 85258.
  • All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
  • Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.

Parents Helpline

  • Our Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25.
  • Call our free helpline for confidential, expert advice on 0808 802 5544.
  • Available Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 4pm- available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Out of our operating hours, you can contact the Parent Helpline via our online contact form.

Childline

The Mix

  • Information, support and listening for people under 25.
  • Phone 0808 808 4994 (24 hours).
  • Get support online.

Samaritans

  • 24 hour confidential listening and support for anyone who needs it. (Adults included.)
  • jo@samaritans.org
  • Phone 116 123 (24 hours).
Futsal has been on the enhancement timetable at Sponne School, since 2018, when we were granted a starter pack, including goals and futsal balls.
 
Fast forward to February 2020, and students across all year groups have had many opportunities to attend futsal sessions, and even compete in Schools Games events (most recently our U15s boys, winning the Level 2 School Games Event).  Some students have even taken to watching futsal fixtures, such as the FA National Futsal Series.
 
This month, we were pleased to receive delivery of an exclusive Pokémon futsal bundle pack, as part of the The FA Pokémon Youth Futsal Programme.  This bundle includes a whole host of amazing Futsal related products. From Futsal balls, to Pokémon bibs, flat disc markers and Pokémon progress cards where students can track their Futsal skills.
 
Year 7 students were the first group to make use of this kit, during their after school enhancement session.
 
Students may also be interested in the training resources available as part of this programme, from https://www.mastertheball.com/  
 
For further information about futsal, please speak to Mr. Trusler or Mr. Cornelius. And don't forget to follow our social media feeds; @SponnePE and @SponneFootball
 
2020 02 13 Year 7 Futsal Enhancement Pokemon Kit 12 2020 02 13 Year 7 Futsal Enhancement Pokemon Kit 12
2020 02 13 Year 7 Futsal Enhancement Pokemon Kit 12 2020 02 13 Year 7 Futsal Enhancement Pokemon Kit 12 2020 02 13 Year 7 Futsal Enhancement Pokemon Kit 12

Earlier this term, we competed in the Level 2 School Games Futsal, which was hosted at Sponne School.  The competition involved; Moulton, EWS North, EWS South, Magdalen, Parker and ourselves.

We were placed into a pool A.  We played EWS South in the opening fixture, a game of which we dominated. It finished 4-1, goals from Henry M, Ed L & Max K.

Our next match was against Parker, where we knew we needed at least a draw to progress, but a win to guarantee it.  We ended up winning 4-2, again dominating most of the game despite conceding 2 late goals. This meant we went through to the Games Final!

In the final, we faced Magdalen, the pool B winners.  We went into the game determined to be solid at the back, and not to concede.  It worked as we played defensively and kept a clean sheet in the first half as it ended 1-0, we scored another early in the second before they clawed themselves back into the game with 2 late goals. The final whistle blew, and onto penalties.  It was the most bizarre shootout, requiring four rounds to determine the winner. It came down to the keepers in the end, as our keeper saved one and scored his own penalty to make us the winners.

We look forward to representing the school in the Winter School Games, to be held in Kettering on Friday 28th February 2020!

Lewis S, 10SLB

2020 01 13 Y10 School Games Futsal 02

2020 01 13 Y10 School Games Futsal 02

The weekend (25/26 Jan) saw Freya in Grasgerhen, Germany for her first two Junior FIS Snowboardcross races.  The race was huge - both in competitor numbers (190!) and course size as it had been built for a Europa Cup event a few weeks earlier.  After a course inspection with their coach the team worked on their plans for their races and had one practice run and one qualifying run with Freya achieving a time of 1 min 14 down the race track, placing 39th.  Sunday it was the same routine with course inspection and planning what to work on following the racing on Saturday, again due to the size of the field, they had one practice run ahead of their qualifying run and Freya shaved a massive 15.18 seconds off her time completing the course in 58.82 seconds placing 34th. Freya (and us, and her coach) were really pleased with her results and her positive approach to her first FIS events

IMG 20200127 WA0015IMG 20200127 WA0007

Never in a million years did we ever think we’d make it this far, considering 2 and ½ years ago in Year 7 regionals was unheard of. Before it seemed like it was only open to private schools but we were the ones to change that. After a hard battle through hail and miserable storms we took the crown of the County Cup to move on to the U14s regional competition in January. With 4 games ahead of us in the group stages we needed a win in order for us to get to the semi-finals, we were in for a fight. The atmosphere was so different to any other tournament we’d been to before - everything was quite unsmiling and despite all the excitement you could tell the nerves were kicking in. Being the first state school in so many years to have got to this point we really had a point to prove. 

The number of girls all with the same passion in such a small space was really quite cool. We were all there for the same reason but our team was just different, and I felt so privileged to be the captain, especially since there was a chance I wouldn’t have been able to play earlier in the season. The 10 of us, which ended up being 8 by the end due to injury, endured everything possible from intense nail checks to hiding under blankets to warm up, but looking back we really wouldn’t have it any other way. For most of us, it was the first time we had done something like this that was constantly stop start - the countless number of warm ups proved to be a pretty big shock to the system, but we were not prepared to settle for anything other than our absolute best. After a tense first few games we took the spot in the semi-finals following an overall win of our pool. The semi-finals saw us lose a key player to an ankle injury and a battle to obtain the title but we just weren’t in the position to win the game leaving us a contender in the 3rd/4th playoff against a team we had already drawn against earlier. Despite no longer having the opportunity to get to nationals, we had done ourselves proud. It was a tough match and it had been a long day. But we had left our mark, done our job, placed an unbelievable 4th in East Midlands, and had accomplished something we never even dreamed of doing. 

Lily Hancock, Netball Captain. 9ANS

U14 Reginal Netball Finals

Congratulations to our equestrian team who finished 1st at the Bloxham Arena Eventer Challenge last weekend.

The team included:-

Jess Ross
Rose Vella
Faye Ogborne
Annabelle Ross
Kitty Gibbins (individual competitor)

Well done to all riders representing Sponne. We look forward to hearing about more success in the future.

Horse1

Horse2

On the 7th December Jeremy Gundle and Matthew Ward travelled to the olympic velodrome in London to participate in the British Rowing Indoor Championships. After winning both of his heats , Jeremy went on to finish with the silver medal in the 4 minute row ( covering 1164m and missing out on Gold by only 2m!) and bronze in the 500m row ( 1min 34s) again missing out on silver by 0.1 s and gold by 0.4s! Matthew competed valiantly,(despite a heavy cold) finishing a very creditable 26th in the 4minute row. An excellent achievement for both boys!
BRIC 2019 Y9 4 min race Silver Medal BRIC 2019 Y9 4 min race Silver Medal BRIC 2019 Y9 4 min race Silver Medal BRIC 2019 Y9 4 min race Silver Medal

2019 GCSE & A Level certificates GCSE certificates from June 2019 will be available for collection from Monday 9th December.

Please come to Student Services between 8.30am & 4pm A Level certificates from June 2019 will be available from Monday 16th December.

PLEASE NOTE If you are unable to collect your certificates in person please email certificates@sponne.org.uk with the name of the person who is collecting them on your behalf. We are unable to post out certificates

Contact Us

Sponne School,
Brackley Road, Towcester,
Northamptonshire
NN12 6DJ

Tel: 01327 350284

Sponne School
Tove Learning Trust Logo
GUTP Website Logo
Swan Teaching School