Parent/Carer Notices for all Year Groups
13th February 2026
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
As the term draws to a close, I want to celebrate some fantastic highlights and aspirational hard work from each of our year groups:
Year 7: Year 7 students are at the mid-way point of their first year in secondary school, and are continuing to make an impressive and enthusiastic start, demonstrating great engagement with their lessons and the College community.
Year 8: An impressive 190 Year 8 students earned over ten Aspiration achievement points this term, the highest number in the whole College!
Year 9: Student, parent, and teacher feedback has indicated that Year 9 met their important Assessment Week with maturity, diligence, a strong work ethic, and a real ‘get on with it’ attitude!
Year 10: We’ve seen a really significant reduction in behaviour points across Year 10. This impact is a direct result of parental partnership and very positive work by students across the year group. A particular well done to the individual Year 10 Champions who have consistently demonstrated Uckfield Qualities.
Year 11: We were delighted with the high number of Year 11s who earned their invitation to the ‘Flashcard Fiesta’ to celebrate their preparations for the Trial Exams. The conduct of the year group as a whole, has been exceptional, demonstrating a clear drive to fulfill their own high expectations of themselves.
Year 12: Over 90% of Year 12 have been out on work experience placements this week, and we have already received some great feedback from employers:
‘We have thoroughly enjoyed having ‘I’ with us this week. ‘I’ has demonstrated outstanding attendance and punctuality throughout the week with us, she has been consistently reliable … even turning up 10 minutes before the time we asked her to arrive.’
‘A has been an outstanding and enthusiastic student who has fitted in excellently. I have no doubt she would make an excellent doctor.’
Year 13: Students have been working hard, developing and following their revision plans for their upcoming exams. They have also been engaging with the wider College community, listening to Year 7 students reading aloud each week and being supportive, encouraging role models to them.
To top it all, we had an uplifting and highly enjoyable concert this week at ‘Lights, Camera, Cabaret’ with some truly stellar individual and group performances (photos below).
It has been an industrious and successful term, and we are all incredibly proud of the hard work and resilience shown by all of our brilliant students. Wishing you an enjoyable week ahead.
Best wishes,
Sara Marshallsay
February Half Term Notice
The College is now closed for the February half term holiday and we are unable to respond to emails or submit routine information to external services or organisations during this period. If you are concerned about the safety of a young person please do the following:
In an emergency please call 999
Otherwise information from Children’s Services is available via this link:
https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/children-families/report-a-concern-child
SPOA Single Point of Advice team 01323 464222
If a young person is looking for support this link offers a range of guidance:
http://www.uckfield.college/170/mental-health-and-emotional-well-being-for-students
The College re-opens for staff and students on Monday 23rd February 2026. We are looking forward to welcoming students back in good time to start their first lesson at 9.00am.
Important: Safe Parking Practices Near Uckfield College
We have seen an increase in students being dropped off and collected by parents who are driving onto the College site. This means that the driveway is very busy with traffic at the beginning and end of the College day.
Ensuring the safety of our students and other pedestrians is of utmost importance to us.
We ask parents/carers to kindly not drive down the Drive to drop students off or pick them up please, unless there is an agreed medical reason for doing this. With very large numbers of young people arriving and leaving at the same time, we respectfully ask that everyone plays their part in reducing the number of unnecessary vehicles in the area at these times by dropping off students a little way away .
We understand the challenges of College drop-offs and pick-ups and appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for our community.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Training Exercise at Uckfield College Thursday 19th February - reminder
On Thursday 19th February, during half term, the Fire Service will be using our site to conduct a training exercise. As part of this exercise, you may see a significant number of emergency vehicles and fire service personnel on the College grounds and in the surrounding area.
Please do not be alarmed if you see or hear of emergency services at the College on this day; there is no cause for concern.
We are proud to support our local emergency services by providing a space for them to practise vital life-saving skills. To ensure the exercise is as realistic as possible for the participants, the full details of the scenario are being kept confidential until the day.
The College will be closed to students as usual for the half-term holiday, and the exercise will be completed well before we reopen for the new term.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue have released an Advance Notice regarding the exercise, which you can read here.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Supporting Punctuality - Simon Webster
To further support our continued drive towards improving punctuality, we have been working with the local Tesco Express on Browns Lane.Â
Â
Â
Following recent discussions regarding student arrival times, Tesco have agreed to support our initiative and will no longer serve students that are in school uniform after 8.45am during term time. The restriction does not apply if a student is accompanied by an adult, nor does it apply after the College day ends. This measure is aimed at ensuring that students are not delayed and arrive at the school in time for the start of the school day.Â
Â
Â
Many thanks for your ongoing support in ensuring that your children arrive promptly and ready to learn.
Uniform Consistency Y7-11 - Beth Brown - reminder
We believe that our uniform plays a vital role in building a sense of belonging and personal excellence so it is important for you to be aware that we will be refining how we manage uniform consistency starting after the half-term break.
From the start of the new half-term, students observed wearing their uniform incorrectly will be issued a break-time detention. Staff will log these instances directly onto Arbor. We therefore encourage students to check their Arbor calendars regularly to stay informed of any scheduled detentions.Â
Students who wear their uniform correctly—as the vast majority of our students do—will be unaffected by these changes as they will not receive a uniform sanction. Â
Thank you for your continued support.
National Theatre Connections performance - 9th March
New for this Term: The ‘Read to Rise’ Book List
Our College librarian has curated an exciting new reading collection called ‘Read to Rise’, specifically designed to grow a culture of aspiration among our students.
The ‘Read to Rise’ campaign is focused on encouraging students to look forward and outward. By engaging with these hand-picked titles, students are challenged to think bigger, explore new perspectives, and set ambitious goals for their future.
- Broadening Horizons: Each book has been chosen to spark curiosity about the world, high-level academic concepts, and diverse career paths.
- Encouraging Ambition: The collection features stories of enterprise and achievement to inspire students to reach for outstanding outcomes in all areas of their lives.
- Building Confidence: Reading widely beyond the curriculum helps students develop the knowledge and self-belief to feel confident in their future aspirations.
We encourage you to talk to your child about the list and perhaps choose a title to explore together. You can find the full ‘Read to Rise’ selection on the college website and in the library.
Let’s work together to inspire the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and achievers!
                                   
New Super Curricular club! NFL Flag Football!
Essential Online Safety
Easy Fundraising for Uckfield College
LGBT+ History Month 2026
This February, Uckfield College will be celebrating LGBT+ History month with a host of activities that students can engage with to learn about LGBT people who have influenced and shaped our times. We will be providing learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom, as well as holding some activities at lunchtimes.Â
We will also be raising money for AllSorts Charity based in Brighton. The charity supports young people in Sussex who are LGBT+ and they also provide training and education workshops to create a more inclusive and safer environment for LGBT+ people.
We will also be putting on a film evening in the school Theatre where students are invited to watch the film, ‘The Imitation Game’ (age rating 12) If you would like to watch a trailer please click here. The film will be shown on Wednesday 25th February from 3.30pm-5.00pm. If you give permission for your child to attend, please purchase a ticket on Parent Pay for £1.50 (proceeds going to AllSorts charity).
Please click here to see the schedule of the activities on during LGBT+ History Month
If you require any more information, please contact Will Roney, Curriculum Lead, Life Learning w.roney@uckfield.college or Daniel Bedford, Curriculum Lead Computing d.beford@uckfield.college
Winter Wonder Competition
Bus Travel - Freedom Ticket Price Increase
We have been advised that the weekly Freedom Ticket from Compass in East Sussex will increase from Monday 16th February.
Â
Due to changes in funding through the East Sussex County Council Bus Service Improvement Plan, the weekly Freedom Ticket in East Sussex will increase in price from £15.00 to £20.00 per week.
Highly Recommended! Taming the Worries Online Workshop - Tuesday 24th February - reminder
Art of the Week
We are incredibly proud of the focus and creativity displayed in the Art Department this week. Each Year 7 student has painted a vibrant portrait inspired by the work of artist Bisa Butler.
Which colour combination is your favourite?
Photo of the Week
This week, more fantastic creativity and experimentation from our year 11s, who are getting stuck into their chosen exam starting point!
This piece is from Daisy, who has been using mixed media elements in her work. Great work Daisy!
Did You Know?
Year 7 Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Thursday 5th March – Year 7 Parents’ Evening for all Year 7 parents/carers (in College,in person) 4.30pm – 7.30pm
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Hove Lagoon Enrichment Week 2026
An exciting opportunity for Year 7 students to join the Hove Lagoon activities during Enrichment Week 2026.
Parents' Evening Booking System - Martin Bradley
The Year 7 Parents’ Evening is on Thursday 5th March starting at 4.30pm and finishing at 7.30pm. This will be held as live, face to face meetings in College which can be booked using the School Cloud system.
Some staff who do not work on Wednesdays will hold their appointments remotely on Tuesday 3rd March or Wednesday 4th March between 4.30pm and 7.30pm
Parents will be able to book appointments from Tuesday 24th February at 7.30am to Tuesday 3rd March at 10pm . This information sheet gives details of how to book an appointment..
Immersive Cycle Training
During the week beginning the 23rd February, all Year 7 students will get the opportunity to participate in East Sussex County Council’s Immersive Cycle Training.
The sessions are based on virtual training and last 60 minutes.
Year 8 Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Hove Lagoon - Enrichment Week 2026
Year 9 Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Tuesday 28th April – The Big Futures Show
WWI Battlefields Trip - Enrichment Week July 2026
The History Department will be running a WWI Battlefields Trip in 2026 and this is open to all current Year 9 students. We will be visiting battle sites in both Belgium and Northern France and the trip offers students a unique chance to take part in the global commemoration of the Great War. It will be of particular interest to those taking GCSE History, as it coincides with the unit of study on the Western Front where we specifically examine the trenches, weapons and difficulties faced in the war. Year 10 Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Year 11 Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Monday 23rd – Friday 27th February – Year 11 Trial Exams continue
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Notice from the Science Department - Y11 revision
We are excited to announce that from Monday 16th March all Year 11 Combined Science students will begin a six week bespoke revision program. Other schools which have followed a similar programme have reported a one grade increase in attainment as a result of this, and we found the process very productive last year.
Over the course of the programme, they will have a week of lessons on each of: Biology paper 1, Biology paper 2, Chemistry paper 1, Chemistry paper 2, Physics paper 1 and Physics paper 2. The content for each paper will be delivered by a specialist pair of teachers.
The lessons will focus on enabling students to prepare for a specific paper effectively, looking at key concepts, exam technique and required practicals. These will be active, task driven lessons with minimal aspects of teacher-delivered information, allowing teachers to support as necessary across the class.
Students will have the timetable in advance to enable them to revise the content prior to the lessons using the Study Support Guide and revision homework set on Century (Monday to Monday, normal expectations: minimum 70% average score or 60 mins completed time each week)
You can support your students by encouraging them to use the time to revise and complete the tasks set on Century in preparation for the following week.
Please see the attached document for full timetables and details on revision sessions
A message from Action Your Potential - Andrew Wright (AWP)
Apprenticeship Open Day Wednesday 18th February - Steve Willis Training
We are pleased to invite Year 11 learners and parents to our upcoming Open Day at our Burgess Hill Centre, located at:
Sheddingdean Industrial Estate
Burgess Hill
RH15 8QY
Our Open Days are a great opportunity for learners to come down and have a look around the centre, meet our trainers, and find out more about the courses and support we offer. It’s an informal chance to ask questions, see the facilities, and get a feel for what learning with us is like.
Open Day Date and Time:
- Wednesday 18th February 2026 – 3.00pm to 7.00pm
Learners are welcome to drop in at any time during these sessions.
To help us manage numbers, please ask learners to scan the QR code on the attached poster or use the link below to sign up for an Open Day.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Burgess Hill Centre
Sixth Form Notices
Key Dates
Monday 23rd February – First Day of Term for students
Thursday 26th February – Sixth Form Parents’ Evening (remote) 4.30 – 7.30pm
Thursday 5th March – World Book Day
Monday 9th March – Connections Macbeth Performance 6pm
Thursday 26th March – Ten Pin Bowling at Brighton Marina, 4.30 – 9pm
Thursday 16th April – Year 12 UCAS Higher Education and Apprenticeship Convention at Brighton Centre
Thursday 23rd April – Year 12 Preparation for Higher Education Evening, 6pm
Reporting Absences and Resolving N Codes for Absences
For 6th form absences we ask that you enter the relevant information on Arbor on the morning of the day of the absence.
In the event that this was not possible and you need to inform us retrospectively of the reason for an absence, please email our pastoral leader, Jessie Palmer (j.palmer@uckfield.college) with the relevant information.
At the present time, it is not possible to provide this information retrospectively through Arbor.
Parents' Evening Booking System - Martin Bradley
The Year 12 and 13 Parents’ Evening is on Thursday 26th February starting at 4.30pm and finishing at 7.30pm. This will be held as remote, online meetings, which can be booked using the School Cloud system.
Some staff who do not work on Thursdays will hold their appointments remotely on Tuesday 24th February or Wednesday 25th February between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.
Parents/carers will be able to book appointments from Tuesday 10th February at 7.30am to Monday 23rd February at 10pm. This information sheet gives details of how to book an appointment.
Sixth Form Social Event: Ten Pin Bowling at Brighton Marina Thursday 26th March 2026 - 4.30pm to 9pm
Our next 6th Form social trip this academic year is to the Hollywood Bowl at Brighton Marina on Thursday 26th March. The evening will consist of two games of tenpin bowling and the ability to enjoy the various dining outlets in the Marina.
The trip is available to all 6th Form students, however, there are limited spaces available due to the capacity of the Hollywood Bowl, so places are likely to go very quickly.
For full details please see the attached letter.
Year 12 UCAS Higher Education and Apprenticeship Exhibition - Thursday 16th April 2026
In addition to our Information Evening, we have arranged a visit to the UCAS Higher Education and Apprenticeship Convention at the Brighton Centre on Thursday 16th April.
The purpose of this annual conference is to give your child an introduction to Higher Education and other options after Year 13. The conference planners aim to have over 100 exhibitors, including university admission staff, careers advisors, apprenticeship providers, sponsorship organisations and Gap Year staff.
Please see the full letter here
Year 12 Preparation for Higher Education Evening Thursday 23rd April, 6pm to 7.15pm in the Theatre
As part of our programme aimed at informing your child about their Higher Education or gap year options, we have arranged a Higher Education Information Evening at College on Thursday 23rd April 2026, for both students and parents. The 6th Form Team and a representative from the University of Sussex will talk through the UCAS process and the reasons why students might wish to consider Higher Education. The talk will start promptly at 6.00pm. This is a most important, valuable and informative evening for both you and your child, and attendance is encouraged.Â
If you are intending to join us for the evening, we would be grateful if you could complete the attached Google Form in order to give us an indication of numbers. Â
Explore thousands of Higher and Degree Apprenticeship vacancies
Explore 1,600+ Higher and Degree apprenticeships in the January 2026 edition of the Higher & Degree Vacancy listing.
Discover vacancy details from over 65+ employers, including:
- Vacancy locations
- Salary information
- Direct application links
Download the Higher & Degree listing in PDF format below or find out more about the listing, who it is for and how to best use it in our FAQs.
The next edition of the Higher & Degree Listing is due for release in April 2026. Register here to be one of the first to receive it!