West Craven High School

Today, our Year 11 students had the exciting opportunity to watch a live theatre performance of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in school. The production was arranged to support students with their GCSE English Literature studies and provided a fantastic opportunity to see the well-known story brought to life on stage. Originally written by Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde explores powerful themes such as duality, good versus evil and the complexities of human nature. Seeing the characters and key moments performed live helped students deepen their understanding of the text, its themes and the dramatic tension within the story. Experiencing the story through theatre allows students to engage with the narrative in a different and memorable way, helping them visualise important scenes and better interpret the language and character motivations they study in class. Performances like this are a valuable part of preparing for GCSE examinations, as they help reinforce knowledge and build confidence in analysing the text. The production was thoroughly enjoyed by our Year 11 students and provided another engaging opportunity to support their learning as they continue preparing for their upcoming GCSE English Literature exams.

Out of School Achievement! A huge well done to Abel (Year 7) who competed at the ITFU Midlands Open Championships on 15th March. Abel put in an outstanding performance and came away with two bronze medals! He achieved: Bronze in Patterns, competing in a strong group of 14 competitors Bronze in Sparring, showing great skill and determination Fantastic work, Abel we're incredibly proud of your dedication and success!

This Week's Parent Newsletter is Now Available! Our latest Parents' Weekly Newsletter is now live and ready to read. Take a look at some of the fantastic activities and opportunities our students have been involved in this week. In this edition: Celebrating British Science Week Our Macbeth on Stage performance supporting Year 11 GCSE studies Students cooking up delicious pancakes Year 8's Defence of the Planet activity at Nelson and Colne College Highlights from our wonderful Easter Concert A look back at the Pendle Education Trust Careers Day Important pastoral updates for Year 8 It's been another busy and exciting week across the school! Read the full newsletter here: https://www.westcraven.co.uk/page/?title=Parent+E%2DBulletin&pid=103

Our Year 8s = Future Planet Protectors! A huge well done to our amazing Year 8 students who took part in the Defenders of the Planet Stretch & Challenge Day at Nelson & Colne College! They explored climate change, biodiversity, fast fashion, and sustainability, then created incredible campaign ideas to help protect our planet. Their creativity, teamwork, and confidence during presentations were outstanding. We're so proud of how they represented our school!

Bringing Shakespeare to Life: Macbeth for Year 11 On Wednesday 11th March, during lessons four and five, our Year 11 students were treated to an incredible inschool live performance of Macbeth. This special event supported their GCSE English Literature studies and brought Shakespeare's world vividly to life right before their eyes. Watching the play performed on stage helped students connect more deeply with the characters, themes and dramatic moments they've been exploring in class. Seeing key scenes acted out made the language, relationships and plot clearer and even more memorable. Experiences like this are invaluable as students prepare for their GCSE examshelping them visualise the play, understand Shakespeare's language with more confidence and recall important moments and quotations. A huge well done to everyone involved in making this happen. It was a fantastic experience and a brilliant way to support our Year 11s as they continue their revision journey!

British Science Week: Life Cycles Up Close! Our classrooms have been bursting with excitement this British Science Week thanks to some very special new arrivals... fresh frog spawn in every class! Over the weekend, the warm indoor conditions worked their magic, and students arrived to find that the frog spawn had already begun to hatch. Now, tiny tadpoles are wriggling around their tanks giving pupils a realtime look at one of nature's most incredible transformations. Meanwhile, the frog spawn in our school pond is developing more slowly, offering a brilliant chance for students to compare habitats and explore how temperature and environment affect growth. It's handson science at its best! Over the next few weeks, our young scientists will continue to observe the tadpoles as they grow, change, and eventually develop their front legs a key moment before they're gently acclimatised to life in the outdoor pond. British Science Week is all about sparking curiosity, and what better way than watching a full amphibian life cycle unfold right before our eyes? Stay tuned for updates as our tadpoles continue their exciting journey!

TONIGHT!! Easter Concert – You're Invited! We are delighted to invite all parents, carers, and families to our West Craven High School Easter Concert on Wednesday 11th March, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. This special event will feature a wonderful programme of live performances from our talented students, who have been working hard to prepare an exciting mix of musical pieces. From beautiful vocals to impressive instrumental work, it's set to be an uplifting celebration of their creativity and dedication. Free entry – no tickets needed! Simply come along, find a seat, and enjoy an hour of fantastic music. We encourage you to bring family and friends to support our young performers - your presence truly makes the evening memorable for them. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this joyful event together

Our Latest School Newsletter is Now Available! Our newest newsletter for parents and carers is now live and includes lots of important updates and celebrations from across the school, including: Stars of the Week Information about Year 9 Options and our new options page on the website for parents and carers A curriculum update from the Computing department Our school lunch survey – we'd love your feedback Details about our upcoming Easter Concert on 11 March Year 7 pastoral updates Information about our new Spring Term 2 Extra Curricular Clubs Click the link below to read the full newsletter and find out more about what's happening across the school. https://www.westcraven.co.uk/page/?title=Parent+E%2DBulletin&pid=103

Year 9 Options – Information for Parents & Carers We're pleased to share that our Year 9 Options page is now live on the school website! This dedicated area has everything students and families need as they begin thinking about Key Stage 4 course choices. Over the coming weeks, Year 9 students will be choosing the subjects they'd like to study in Years 10 and 11 an exciting step that helps shape their future pathway. Selecting subjects that reflect their strengths, interests, and aspirations can make a real difference to their success in Year 11 and beyond. On the Year 9 Options page, you'll find: A full Year 9 Options Presentation The 2026 Options Handbook with detailed course information Pathway letters explaining each route Options forms for students to complete their choices We encourage all parents and carers to explore this information together with their child and talk through the different opportunities available , every student's journey is unique, and we're here to support them in making the choices that are right for them. View the Options Page here: https://www.westcraven.co.uk/page/?title=Year+9+Options+2026%2D27&pid=154 If you have any questions about the process, please get in touch with the school. We're here to help every step of the way.

We are pleased to share details of our Spring Term 2 extracurricular programme, which offers a wide range of lunchtime and after-school clubs designed to enrich students' learning and support their personal development. This half-term, students can take part in a variety of activities including Homework Support Club, Stage Door Drama Group, Volleyball, Imogen's Dance School, Band Club, and many more. These opportunities give students the chance to develop new skills, explore their interests, and build confidence outside the classroom. All students who attend extracurricular activities will receive positive points on ClassCharts, recognising their commitment and participation. In addition, students who regularly attend clubs throughout the term will be awarded a certificate at the end of the term to celebrate their involvement. We encourage all students to get involved and make the most of the fantastic opportunities available. https://www.westcraven.co.uk/page/?title=Extra%2Dcurricular&pid=68

Tell Us About Your Out-of-School Achievements! We know that our students are achieving fantastic things outside of school, and we'd love to celebrate these successes with our community. Whether it's competing in a national competition, raising money for charity, completing a first Parkrun, or any other achievement big or small – we want to hear about it! Please share your news by emailing jevetts@pendleeducationtrust.co.uk and we will feature your stories in our weekly e-bulletin.