Newsletters

If your child is ill during the school day

If your child is taken ill during the school day they should firstly report this to their teacher who will authorise them to go to the medical needs office where they will be assessed by a qualified first aider.  Parents will be notified immediately if their child requires to go home or in the case of an emergency, an ambulance may be called and parents will be notified.  It is important that students follow these procedures and do not phone home themselves.

If parents turn up without being contacted by med bay and take their child home the child's absence will be recorded as unauthorised.

Dropping off & collecting students

We kindly remind parents and carers when dropping off and collecting students to avoid parking on the roads around the school.

We are aware that the roads become very busy during these times but for the safety of pedestrians please make sure vehicles are not mounting the pavements. 

Parking is available both in the front and back car parks:

• Front car park – For those who need to collect their child promptly at the bell, please use the front car park as a “drive-through” system. Park to the left-hand side and, once your child arrives, pull out to allow other cars to move forward.  This can also be used to drop off of that beginning of the school day too.
• Back car park – For those who are able to wait a little longer until the buses have departed, we ask that you use the back car park. This is the safest option and there is always ample parking available.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to keep the school site safe and accessible for everyone.

Updated policies

The following policies have been updated and ratified by Governors.

• Whistleblowing Policy
• Relationships and Sex Education Policy
• Admissions Policy
• ICT Acceptable Use Policy (AHS Students)
• ICT Acceptable Use Policy (Staff/Governors/Visitors)
• Online Safety
• Safeguarding Policy Incorporating Child Protection
• Complaints Procedure
• Policy for Children in Care and Previously Looked After
• Search, Screening and Confiscation Policy
• AI Policy
• Young Carers Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Health and Safety Policy – Our Commitments Statement

These updates can be found under the policies section of our website Policies & Documents - Aylsham High School

Check out our Instagram page

Aylsham High School Instagram page

January 2026 timetable changes

To balance the number of lessons across the year, the following groups will rotate lessons at Christmas.   Students will be issued with new timetables next week ready for when we return in January.

Year 9 – geography and history lessons

Some groups currently have:

2 geography and 3 history lessons – this will swap to 3 geography and 2 history

3 geography and 2 history lessons – this will swap to 2 geography and 3 history

Year 10 and 11 – English humanities and maths humanities (option day groups)

Some groups currently have:

2 English and 3 maths – this will swap to 3 English and 2 maths

3 English and 2 maths – this will swap to 2 English and 3 maths

School Reports

The following school reports have recently been shared via SIMS Parent and SIMS Student:

Year 11:

• Autumn report – subject version
• Autumn report – student/families  (updated to include tutor report)
• Autumn report – reference version (includes tutor report)
• Autumn report – individual subject report (core and option subjects)
• End of year 24-25 report for year 10

Year 10:

• Autumn report – for option subject
• Autumn report – individual subject report (option subject)
• End of year 24-25 report for year 9
• Autumn report – updated to include core subjects
• Autumn report – individual subject report (updated to include core subjects)

Year 9:

• Autumn report – for option subject
• Autumn report – individual subject report (option subject)
• End of year 24-25 report for year 8
• Autumn report – updated to include core subjects
• Autumn report – individual subject report (updated to include core subjects)

Year 8:

• End of year 24-25 report for year 7
• Autumn report will be shared shortly – we will send a ParentMail email when these are available

Year 7:

• Autumn report will be shared shortly – we will send a ParentMail email when these are available

Please ensure that you read your child’s report on SIMS Parent and then complete the parent/carer feedback form which can be found in the report letter.

If you have any issues with accessing SIMS Parent or your child’s report, please email our SIMS Parent team simsparent@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk.

SIMS Student

Students have access to SIMS Student using their school alf.education email address. 

To get support with SIMS Student, students can see their computing teacher or Mrs Cooke in the STAR office at break or lunch time.  They are also able to visit room 34 at break or lunch.

For more information about SIMS Student, please see the SIMS Student page on the school website under the students tab.

https://www.aylshamhigh.com/ahssimsstudent

SIMS Parent

All parents/carers with parental responsibility are able to access SIMS Parent once registered. 

To get support with SIMS Parent, parents/carers can email simsparent@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk.

For more information about SIMS Parent including guidance on how to register, access SIMS Parent and about the information being shared with you, please see the SIMS Parent page on the school website under the parents & carers tab.

https://www.aylshamhigh.com/ahssimsparent

Options information for 2026-27

All students in years 8, 9 and 10 will be asked to make option choices in the new year.  In preparation for this, and to support students with making their choices, Mr Brockington, Mr Ravasse and Mr Sweatman will be holding assemblies after half term to explain the options process for each of the year groups.

Assemblies for Nov/Dec 2025

Date	Time	Year	Place
Monday 10th November 2025 (wk 2)	P2 and tutor time	8	Main hall
Thursday 20th November 2025 (wk 1)	Tutor time	9	Sports hall
Thursday 4th December 2025 (wk 1)	Tutor time	10	Sports hall
Thursday 18th December 2025 (wk 1)	Tutor time	8	Sports hall

Assemblies for Jan 2026

Date	Time	Year	Place
Thursday 15th January 2026 (wk 1)	Tutor time	9 & 10	Sports hall
Thursday 29th January 2026 (wk 1)	Tutor time	8	Sports hall

If any student is absent from an assembly they can speak with their tutor for further information about options. Students are also welcome to come to the star office, at break or lunchtimes, where staff can answer any questions that they may have regarding this process. 

Our options evening will be held ‘virtually’ on Wednesday 14th January 2026; all information will be made available on the school website and we will share further information on how to ‘attend’ the virtual event nearer the time. There will be departmental information presented here so that students can make informed choices about which subjects they may wish to take. There will also be an options booklet, with all course information, along with full careers information and advice available. We will be producing a video playlist, regarding the option subjects available, on the school’s Youtube channel for families to watch. This will include a short video from each subject we have on offer.

Our options process will be offered via SIMS Options online which is accessed via SIMS Parent and/or SIMS Student.  Students will need to select their option choices via SIMS Options and save them before the deadline of the 13^th February 2026.  Teachers and form tutors will be available to offer support and guidance to students whilst they are making their options choices.  Parents/carers will be asked to confirm their approval of options via SIMS Parent also by this date.

Further information on the option process will be sent out in January with full details on how to access, and select, options choices via the SIMS online system.

Please note the following information regarding choices:

Students will need to make one choice for each remaining year they have left in school. This means that year 8 students will make three choices, year 9 students two choices and year 10 students one choice. Year 9 students will also need to make a decision about geography and history for their two-year pathway.

It is essential that students think carefully about their selections as we will use these choices to plan their future curriculum. Whilst we will do our best to accommodate everyone, changes later on may limit what we can offer. Students should also be aware that it will not be possible to place all year 8 and year 9 students in their first-choice option.

We have a small number of subjects that are only offered to students who are following specific ‘pathways’. Students may only select subjects from the lists in their pathway listed in SIMS.  Further information will be given in the options letters and assemblies.

We ask that year 10 students select a ‘reserve’ option, in case a clash is created by their other choices.

We are unable to guarantee that all options will run; final decisions can only be made once options choices have been completed.  If a decision is made not to offer an option subject any student who has selected this course will be asked to make a further choice and will be supported with this decision. 

Options process dates for January/February 2026

Date	Details
November/December/January	Year 8, 9 and 10 students will have options assemblies to explain the options process and how students make their choices via SIMS Student.
Tuesday 6 January	Option letters shared with families of year 8-10 students
Tuesday 6 January	Options website page and YouTube playlists updated
Wednesday 7 January 4pm	SchoolCloud opens for options evening appointments for year 8 students and families. Appointments only need to be made if students and families have questions after reading/watching the information shared
Wednesday 14 January 12pm	SchoolCloud closes for appointments for year 8 families
Wednesday 14 January	Virtual options evening 6-8pm – year 8 families who have booked appointments to attend virtually. An email is sent from SchoolCloud an hour before the event detailing your booked appointments.
Thursday 15 January 4pm	SIMS Options online opens for year 8, 9 and 10 students and families Students can make their choices from this time Parents/Carers can approve their child’s options by ticking the parental approval box in SIMS Parent Message sent to students via SIMS Student and parents/carers via ParentMail to let them know SIMS Options online is open for choices
Between: Thursday 15 January and Friday 13 February	Colleagues supporting students and families with choosing options Students can select choices in SIMS Options and parents/carers can confirm approval via SIMS Parent (not through SIMS Student).
Friday 6 February	Reminder will be sent to students and families to select their options
Friday 13 February	Reminder will be sent to students and families that today is deadline day
Deadline for options is Friday 13th February 2026 Students’ option choices will then be processed from this time on.  If students wish to make changes to their options they must ask parents/carers to email astonestreet@aylshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk or come to the Star office at break or lunch time.
Students’ options choices will be confirmed, via email, approximately early May 2026.

Please note that, whilst we will work to these dates, they may be subject to change. Thank you.

Clubs for students

To view all clubs please click here

Year 11s Help you choose 

Students have now received their log ins for Help you Choose.  Please could you encourage your child to add college placements. They need a plan A and a plan B.

Year 10s Work Experience placements Please could you encourage your child to add their work experience placement to their Unifrog accounts

Miss Wiseman and Mrs Wiseman are both in room 38 at lunchtimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays to guide and support students if they would like any help.

Virtual Work Experience

Amazing opportunities on this link for virtual work experience all on line certification at the end of completing!

https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/future-creators-wanted-virtual-work-experience-with-thales/WEXP-00487

Year 11 Post-16 Applications

If your child has not yet applied to a college or sixth form for next year, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible. Some providers have application deadlines, and places may fill up quickly.

If your child is considering an apprenticeship, please be aware that apprenticeship vacancies often open springtime (2026). If your child is wanting an apprenticeship, they will need to apply to college as a Plan B.

If your child is unsure about what to apply for or would like support with the process, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to discuss options and help guide them through their next steps. Alternatively, your child can come and see me in room 38 on a Tuesday or Thursday lunchtime.

It is very important that every student submits an application for post-16 education. We strongly recommend that all students consider both a first choice (Plan A) and an alternative option (Plan B).

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with Miss Wiseman (Guidance Advisor and Careers Co-Ordinator).

Institution	Deadline / Date
CCN	Open until course is full (Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as some courses can fill up quickly.)
Easton College	Open until course is full (Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as some courses can fill up quickly.)
Hellesdon Sixth Form	Open until course is full (Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as some courses can fill up quickly.)
Notre Dame	18 December 2025 at 4pm
Paston College	Open until course is full (Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as some courses, particularly A-Levels, can fill up quickly.)
Reepham College	5 December 2025
Sheringham	19 December 2025
SIN & Jac	31 March 2026
UTCN	2 December 2025
Wymondham	30 November 2025

TACT (Families)

Please click here to view upcoming courses and events organised by our Family Learning team.  

FREE Workshops available to book.  Please click on the link above to get booked onto the courses

Start Date: Monday 12th January 6pm - 8pm

Venue: Aylsham High School

Cost: £10 non-refundable fee each half term.  Remaining fees are free if your annual income is below £25,000 or you receive benefits, otherwise, the course fee is £153.

Booking: Places are limited, booking is required. 

Here is the link to book:

Booking: Adult Counselling Skills Level 1 Course

Details:  A free 4-week course for parents/carers whose children are suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorders or have just been diagnosed with ASD. This course is delivered by ASD Helping Hands and will cover the following:  What is Autism? Understanding and managing behaviour. Autism and the sensory world and supporting communication.

Start Date: Wednesday 21st January 12.45pm - 2.15pm

Venue: Aylsham High School.

Here is the link to book:

Just Diagnosed - 4 week course

Booking link: SEND Café Tuesday 27th January 2026

We would like to invite parents/carers to join Mr Sweatman and Mrs Heys for an opportunity to learn about SEND provision in place for students with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities at Aylsham High School.   This session will focus on Option Pathways and Exam Dispensation.

Please book to let us know you are coming in advance using the link provided to a Google form; however, if anyone expresses an interest and encounters difficulties, please contact:

Monica: mharding@ayshamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk   text: 07780 887348.

British Sign Language Introductory 6-Week Course

We are offering this course in partnership with East Coast College.

Details: 6 weeks (term time only) 2 hours per week. 

Start Date: Monday 2nd February 6pm - 8pm

Venue: Aylsham High School

Cost: £10 non-refundable fee each half term.  

Booking: Places are limited, booking is required. 

Here is the link to book: British Sign Language Introductory Course

To view our current vacancies please click here