The Weekly Window - Friday 16th May 2025
Friday 16th May 2025
This week: Athletics success, sports review, OM photography news, upcoming dates.
16th May 2025
Welcome to the Weekly Window! As public exams continue, it’s been great to see pupils approach them with focus and maturity. Elsewhere in school, there’s been strong athletics success at county level, rehearsals will be underway for the Junior Drama Picnic, and younger pupils are preparing for DofE and the Junior Netball Tour. We’re also proud to share an update from one of our Old Margaretians, whose A-Level photography work has been selected for an international exhibition.
Have a great weekend.
Update from the Head
We are in full exam season currently and I am impressed to see the girls focused and taking the exams in their stride. Younger girls continue to enjoy a busy and active term. The QM YI-III Junior Netball tour heads off for the weekend, whilst Year IV girls will be taking part in their practice expedition for Bronze Duke of Edinburgh. DofE is another fantastic opportunity to develop a holistic set of lifelong skills and attitudes through the commitment, organisation, independence and teamwork required to successfully complete the award, through the four sections Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this good weather continues for their night under canvas.
On another note, as part of our annual review and development planning for next year, we are considering our approach to technology. Social media and technology play a hugely important role in today’s world and are a fantastic tool. There is no doubt that digital technology and social media are part of life today and will be central to tomorrow’s world. Our role as a school is to support students in learning to use social media responsibly, to manage its influence and to keep a critical perspective on what it brings. There can be a fine line between social media as a tool for good, and its potential to do significant harm. Increasingly schools are pulling back on access to technology, recognising that teenagers are still of an age where they are developing their ability to regulate their usage and to manage the impact of screen time and social media influence.
There is a wealth of articles on the benefits of a digital detox. You may find this article ‘Rest and Recharge With These Tips for Social Media Detoxing’ interesting for starters. In addition, I would recommend a Channel 4 documentary called ‘Swiped’ where a school banned smartphone use with a group of Year 8 pupils. The pupils reported improvements in their sleep, reduced anxiety and enhanced social interactions as just some of the benefits of a smartphone ban. Access to technology at QM is limited, but the nature of social media is 24/7 and can be very hard to regulate. During the second half of term we plan to work with the girls to trial a time-limited digital detox to help them experience the benefits as part of our policy review on access to digital technology at different stages of the school.
Sports Review
Yorkshire success, strong tennis results, and promising athletics performances
Nattida brought home a silver medal from the Yorkshire Athletics Championships last weekend, while our tennis teams enjoyed a mix of competitive fixtures and victories across all year groups. There were standout results in athletics too, with multiple pupils qualifying for the next round of competition.
Gardening Club: First Harvest for the Kitchen
There’s been plenty of activity in the school garden this week, with our first harvest of radishes and lettuce now making their way into the school kitchens. The beds are filling up quickly – green pumpkins were planted out yesterday, and the sweetcorn, courgettes and tomatoes will follow tomorrow. Berries are ripening well, and we hope to begin harvesting them soon. Keep an eye out for fresh herbs, which are already being used in daily school meals.
Enrichment at QM
Weekend Boarding Activities
Weekend boarding continues to offer a varied mix of activities, from impressive skills on the track and the pool table, to creative culinary moments!
Reminder: RSVP for the Summer Ball
A reminder for Sixth Form parents that RSVPs for the Queen Margaret’s Summer Ball 2025 close on Tuesday 27th May!
Join us on Saturday 5th July in the Garden Marquee for an evening of celebration, dining and entertainment, including a three-course meal, live music, and dancing.
If you haven’t yet confirmed your attendance, please RSVP by the deadline to secure your place.
You're Invited: Junior Drama Picnic
Parents of pupils in Years I–III are warmly invited to this year’s Junior Drama Picnic, taking place on the final Friday of term. Join us for an afternoon of entertainment from our talented junior performers, along with delicious food and (we hope!) some summer sunshine.
Please bring a blanket – we’ll provide everything else.
Friday 27 June
12:00–14:30
Queen Margaret’s School Grounds
To help us with planning, please RSVP by Sunday 15 June using the link below.
Please note: pupils in Years I, II & III will be involved in preparations earlier in the week, with rehearsals taking place as follows:
Tech rehearsal: Wednesday 25 June (Periods 1 & 2)
Dress rehearsal: Thursday 26 June (Periods 1, 2 & 3)
We look forward to welcoming you.
Naples Trip: April 2026
We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic opportunity for girls currently in Years II to LVI – a school trip to Naples, Italy in April 2026!
This unforgettable experience will include standing on the edge of Mount Vesuvius, exploring the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and enjoying some hands-on Italian culture with a pizza-making workshop on a traditional farm.
It’s the only international trip planned for next academic year, so early expressions of interest are strongly encouraged.
Full details have been shared in a letter - please check your email or the Parent Portal.
Register your interest by Monday 26 May
Deposit of £150 due by Monday 2 June
For any questions, please contact Mrs Fiona Whittle at fwhittle@queenmargarets.com.
Spaces are limited – don’t miss out!
Contact Mrs Whittle
Parents & Daughters Tennis - Save the Date
We’re looking forward to welcoming families to this year’s Parents & Daughters Tennis Tournament on Saturday 7th June, with play starting at 13:00.
A highlight of the summer calendar, this friendly event promises an afternoon of light-hearted doubles matches and great company. No experience required, it’s all about taking part and enjoying time together on court!
RSVP forms will be shared soon – we hope you’ll join us!
Pau’s Work Selected for US Exhibition
We’re delighted to share some exciting news from former student Pau, who is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Photography and Creative Industries.
One of Pau’s photographs - taken during A-Level Photography at QM - has been selected for exhibition at the Decode Gallery in Tucson, Arizona, as part of their upcoming showcase themed ‘BLUE’, opening on 7th June.
Pau studied photography at QM under the guidance of Simon Hill, President of the Royal Photographic Society and Photography Teacher at QM. Pau credits Simon as a mentor whose support and teaching played a key role in inspiring her to pursue photography further.
Congratulations to Pau on this international recognition - we look forward to seeing what comes next in her creative journey!
Attendance at QM
Our Summer Term attendance to date stands at 95.8%, an encouraging rise from the Spring Term. Attendance last week also remained strong at 94.0%, reflecting continued commitment to learning in the final weeks of the school year.
Research from the Department for Education highlights just how important attendance is, particularly in the senior years:
“The link is even stronger at secondary school. Year 11 pupils with near-perfect attendance are almost twice as likely to achieve grade 5 in English and Maths GCSE, compared to similar pupils attending 90–95% of the time. In other words, missing just 10 extra days a year reduces the likelihood of achieving these grades by around 50%.”
Thank you to all pupils, families and staff for supporting excellent attendance throughout the year.
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The Week Ahead
Saturday 17 May
All Day – Junior Netball Tour (selected students from Years I–III)
All Day – Open Day
All Day – Week Q
10:00 – Practice Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition (Year IV)
13:00 – Internal Doubles Tennis Competition (U12 & U13)
13:30 – Tennis Fixtures vs Ampleforth College (U18A, U14A, U13A)
(U18B, U15A, U12A matches cancelled)19:00 – Sixth Form Movie Night
19:00 – Warwick: Trampoline Park
19:00 – Winnie’s: Bubble Tea Night
Sunday 18 May
All Day – Junior Netball Tour continues (Years I–III)
Until 16:00 – Practice Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition (Year IV)
All Day – Week M
11:00 – House Chapel
11:30–13:00 – Brunch (Main Dining Room)
13:00 – Hall House Community Weekend (All Years)
17:15–18:15 – Supper (Main Dining Room)
Monday 19 May
All Day – A Level and GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All Day – Week M
08:30 – Assembly (Chapman Theatre)
15:30 – Tennis Fixture: U13B vs Joseph Rowntree School
Tuesday 20 May
All Day – A Level and GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All Day – Week M
09:00–16:50 – LVI Fine Art & Photography Examinations (Art Dept)
14:00 – Tennis Fixture: U15B vs Driffield School
Wednesday 21 May
All Day – A Level and GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All Day – Week M
08:30 – Tutor Time
Thursday 22 May
All Day – A Level and GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All Day – Governors' Pastoral Committee (Times TBC)
All Day – Week M
09:00–16:50 – LVI Textiles & Graphics Examinations (Art Dept)
09:00–16:50 – Year IV Fine Art Examination (Art Dept)
Friday 23 May
All Day – A Level and GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All Day – Week M
08:30 – Morning Prayer (St Margaret’s Chapel)
09:00–12:00 – LVI Art Examinations (for students taking more than one Art subject)
09:00–12:00 – Year IV Textiles Examination (Art Dept)
11:00–12:00 – Pre-loved Uniform Shop open
12:10 – Half Term begins