Headteacher's Letter 05.03.2026

Dear families,

With Lent and Ramadan well under way, this is a time for prayers and family gatherings.  At school, the second half of the Lent Term has so far been extremely busy. The Year 9 options process is underway, Year 11 completed their mock examinations and there have been a number of trips both national and international. In addition, as we approach the start of the summer term, our Year 11 and 13 students will soon be taking their examinations. This is a time for focus and hard work to ensure the success that our students so thoroughly deserve.

She Is Seen Festival – A Celebration of Empowerment

This week we are celebrating our annual She Is Seen Festival, dedicated to empowering girls and supporting their confidence, ambition and wellbeing.

Students are taking part in a range of workshops and talks throughout the week. Year 8 and 9 girls are joining creative writing sessions with an author, focusing on finding their voice and expressing their ideas with confidence. Year 7 students are attending sessions on periods and hormones to ensure they have clear, factual information about their health. We are also hosting a talk on endometriosis to raise awareness and understanding of women’s health issues.

Across the week, students will hear from a number of inspiring female professionals working in areas such as law, medicine, media and public service. These sessions give students the opportunity to ask questions, hear real career journeys and explore what is possible for their own futures. Our Year 12 students interested in medicine are also taking part in a specialist workshop to support their applications and next steps.

The She Is Seen Festival is an important part of our wider work on female empowerment. It helps ensure that our girls feel confident, informed and ambitious about what they can achieve—and that they know their voices matter.

Examinations – Years 11 + 13

Supporting students as they prepare for their GCSE and A Level examinations remains a very high priority for us. Examinations begin in May, and the coming months are a crucial period for focused revision and consistent preparation. Strong exam results are achieved through sustained effort over time.

Students should aim to treat most days outside of school as structured study time. As a general guide, around six to seven hours of focused revision across weekend days and during school holidays can be appropriate for students aiming for strong grades. For example, in GCSE Modern Languages, vocabulary and grammar require daily practice. Short, regular sessions of 30 minutes or more — returning to the same words and structures — are far more effective than last-minute revision.

We strongly encourage students to follow a clear revision timetable and to make full use of the support sessions running in school. Structured preparation, regular breaks and consistent effort will make a significant difference. Revision guidance can be found on the school website HERE together with a blank revision planner which students can download and use HERE.

The exam timetable contains a contingency day on 24^th June 2026. Students remain available at this time. This session would be used in the unlikely event that an exam had to be moved nationally because it could not take place when planned. Please be aware that your child could be required to sit an examination on this day. 

Turing Scheme – International Visits

Earlier this term, students had the opportunity to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Kololi, The Gambia as part of our Turing Scheme programme. Both visits provided valuable opportunities for students to broaden their global perspectives, develop independence and adaptability, and build meaningful international partnerships.

We are incredibly proud of the maturity, curiosity and respect our students demonstrated throughout these visits. They were excellent ambassadors for the school and embraced every opportunity to learn.

These projects are made possible through funding from the Turing Scheme, which enables us to widen access to international experiences, particularly for disadvantaged students. We are grateful for this support and look forward to continuing this work to provide further life-changing opportunities for our students.

World Book Day

This week, we mark World Book Day with a fantastic celebration of reading and storytelling. Staff and students are taking part in a range of activities in the school library, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere that highlights the joy and importance of books. It is wonderful to see so many members of our school community coming together to share their enthusiasm for reading.

While World Book Day provides a special focus, we are committed to promoting reading throughout the year. Reading expands knowledge, strengthens imagination and develops essential skills such as critical thinking and communication. We continue to encourage all students to read regularly and to make the most of the rich range of texts available to them both in school and at home.

Our New Year 7 Cohort – September 2026

Monday 2^nd March was National Offer Day, an important milestone for Year 6 pupils and their families across the country. As in previous years, Stepney All Saints remains highly popular and oversubscribed, reflecting the confidence families continue to place in our academic standards, pastoral care and wider personal development offer. Our new cohort will include both younger siblings of current students and many families joining the SASS community for the first time.

Over the coming months, we will begin our structured transition programme to ensure that students feel confident, supported and ready to start secondary school. This programme includes liaison with primary schools, transition events and opportunities for students to become familiar with staff, routines and expectations.

We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students and supporting them as they begin their journey at Stepney All Saints in September.

Key Dates and Events

This is also a busy time with a number of dates in diary for the coming weeks as follows:

• Academic Review Day: Friday 13^th March
• Eid Closure – Possible date: Thursday 19^th March (to be confirmed)
• Year 10 Examinations: From Tuesday 14^th April.

The full set of term dates for the academic year are available on our website – click HERE.

To remain up-to-date on what is happening in school, click HERE for our latest news articles and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram @StepneyAS for a wealth of content from students and staff.

As always, thank you for your continued support and please do get in touch if there is any aspect of our provision that you would like to discuss.

Warm regards,