Year 11 Celebration

On Friday 22 May, we celebrated the end of Year 11 as our students attended their final classes of secondary school. This year group entered Sheldon just as lockdown was lifting. They endured COVID testing throughout their first year, but also enjoyed the return to normalcy as they headed to Year 7 Camp and began attending school trips again. We’ve seen their talents emerge on stage, on the field and in the classroom. We’ve shared each other’s company on trips to Thorpe Park, Wild Place, Bristol Hippodrome, Berlin and more. And we’ve continued to be amused by Mrs Oxley’s extensive inflatable costume collection!

We were very impressed by all of the creativity of the customised school shirts the students prepared for the traditional shirt signing. Many of you clearly picked up a few skills in your art and DT lessons. After lunch, the year group attended an extended tutor time and one final assembly in the Hall with Mr Merriman, Mr Bowen and Mrs Oxley. We were entertained by final performances by our talented singers and musicians, as well as the video produced by all of the Year 11 tutors. There was laughter, a few tears and plenty of prizes to hand out.

This year, it’s not only the students transitioning to a new phase of their life. After many decades as an English teacher at Sheldon, Mr Merriman is retiring. The assembly last Friday was also his last appearance at the Sheldon podium spinning the wheel for prizes. It was an emotional farewell for an educator that has been at the heart of the Sheldon community for so many years. As a thank you, he was presented with a painting that contained all of the finger prints and names of his final Sheldon year group.

All of our Year 11 students are now on study leave. They will only need to attend school for their exams, but are welcome to use our Library as a study space if needed. We’d like to wish them best of luck with their final weeks of exams and in their future endeavours.

We’re looking forward to welcoming many of you to Sheldon Sixth Form as you continue your post-16 education with us. All Sheldon students are provisionally accepted to the Sixth Form. If you have not already submitted your application, you can do so here.

Don’t forget to join the Sixth Form Induction Days on 6 & 7 July to meet your new tutor and get a taste of Sixth Form life.