College notices

Getting in touch with Swanmore

Calm Swan Sessions - discover your creativity and find your calm! 

Encourage your child to attend a peaceful mid-week breather with Calm Swan Sessions! 🦢✨

Does your Year 7 or 8 pupil need a break from the hustle of the school day? We’re offering a welcoming, low-pressure space every Tuesday lunchtime where they can unwind, de-stress, and get creative.

Why encourage them to come along?

Zero Pressure: This isn’t a lesson - there are no grades and no experience is needed.
Mental Wellbeing: It’s a therapeutic space designed to help pupils manage stress and express themselves freely.
Creative Freedom: Whether they want to learn new techniques or just doodle and chat, it’s all about discovery.

The Details:

📍 Where: Room R02

⏰ When: Tuesdays @ 12:40 pm

📅 Upcoming Dates: September 15, 22, 29 | October 6,13,20. 

Help them find their "calm" this term. We’d love to see them there! 

Post-16 Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11 can visit local colleges and sixth forms this autumn to explore courses, facilities and post-16 options. Click on each event below for more information, including times and booking details.

At a glance

• Barton Peveril Sixth Form College: 23 and 24 September
• HSDC: 30 September, 06 October and 07 November
• Itchen Sixth Form College: Open Events, dates and booking information available online
• Peter Symonds College: 30 September and 01 October
• Richard Taunton Sixth Form College: 30 September and 13 October
• South Hampshire College Group: 13, 15 and 21 October and 10 November
• St Vincent College: 19 September and 22 October

SEND – new booking system for parents/carers

We are currently trialling a new booking system for SEND pupil meetings. If you wish to arrange a meeting with the SEND Team or the SENCo, please use the booking link below.

SEND Parent/Carer Meetings | Book

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you wish to book an Annual Review meeting, you will have received separate communication regarding this process.

Is your family in receipt of Universal Credit?

If your household receives Universal Credit, your child may be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). Government guidance estimates this saves families around £500 per year per child. Under the new two-tier system, pupils qualifying for Targeted FSM (household income of £7,400 or less per year) also secure Pupil Premium support.

Daily meal allowances are accessed discreetly using our secure thumbprint system - exactly like all other pupils - giving full access to our complete food range at breakfast, break, and lunch in the Swan Café and other food outlets.

If your child is not currently receiving FSM and you believe they may be eligible, you can check their eligibility using Hampshire County Council's online portal. All applications are handled with strict confidentiality. Please check your eligibility or submit an application online as soon as possible by visiting Hampshire's portal - click here to open. 

If you need any support or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team at pp-help@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk.

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Year 7

There are no specific College items for Year 7 only.

Year 8

There are no specific College items for Year 8 only.

Year 9

There are no specific College items for Year 9 only.

Year 10

There are no specific College items for Year 10 only.

Year 11

HSDC Elevate Enrichment Programme

Year 11 pupils preparing for post-16 study can now explore Elevate, HSDC’s newly launched extra-curricular and enrichment offer designed to support studies and future progression.

 

 

The Seven Elevate Strands:

•  Be Active: Sports, fitness, and physical health.

• Be Aspirational: University, career, and progression support.

• Be Creative: Arts, music, and performance.

• Be Entrepreneurial: Business, leadership, and enterprise.

• Be Healthy: Mental health and personal well-being.

• Be Technical: Hands-on, practical skill-building.

• Be Inv olved: Volunteering, community action, and student voice.

More Information:

• Read the full brochure: Elevate | Explore Our Enrichment Programme at HSDC

 

Sparsholt College: Year 11 Open Event

Registrations are now open for Year 11 pupils to attend Sparsholt College’s upcoming Open Event. This event provides an opportunity to tour the campus and explore specific subject areas for post-16 study.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 03 October 2026

• Time: 9:30am – 2pm (Exact arrival and end times depend on individual tour bookings)

• Location: Sparsholt College, Winchester

How to Register: To attend, pupils must register online in advance and book specific tours for the subject areas they wish to view. Slots fill up quickly, so early booking is recommended.

• Book online: Sparsholt College Open Event | Eventbrite

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Next week’s events

Monday, 14 September 2026

• Y10 Boys Football vs. Mountbatten (A)

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

• No fixtures/events

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

• Y11 Boys Football vs. Wyvern (H)

Thursday, 17 September 2026

• Y10 - HMS Prince of Wales trip
• Y10 Boys Football vs. St George (H)
• U14 Basketball vs. Woodlands (H)

Friday, 18 September 2026

• No fixtures/events

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Community notices

The University of Oxford outreach

Crescendo Programme

What? Oriel College’s Crescendo Programme is a series of outreach events aimed at Year 10 to 13 state school pupils in the United Kingdom who are interested in studying Music at university. This programme is run in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Music Faculty.

Between September and November, the programme will consist of a series of online sessions introducing new topics of Music scholarship and study skills, presented by academics and researchers at the university. Pupils are not expected to have prior knowledge of the topics. Curiosity about the study of Music is all they need!

Year 12 pupils who participate in the online sessions will also be invited to take part in an essay writing component, producing a 1,000 word piece on one of the session topics. Pupils will then have the opportunity to discuss their work in an online ‘tutorial’ to get a taste of Oxford’s unique teaching style.

Who? State school pupils in Years 10 to 13

When? 24 September, 08 October, 22 October, 05 November and 12 November, all 5pm to 6pm

Where? Online

Deadline? Sign up closes for the online sessions at 9am on the day before each session (Years 10 to 13). Applications for the essay writing component close at 9am on 02 November (Year 12 only). Tutorial work should be submitted by 01 December (Year 12 only).

Find out more and sign up on the Oriel College website using the link below:

Oriel College | Crescendo programme

 

Centre for Personalised Medicine Art Competition

What? The Oxford Centre for Personalised Medicine is asking young people in Years 7 to 9 to create art about talking to family about health and genetics. Sometimes, personalised medicine involves tests that find strong genetic risk factors that might run in families. For example, a person with a heart problem might have tests to explore why this happened, and this might show they have a genetic risk factor that made them much more likely to have heart problems.

Entrants can make a drawing, a painting, a collage or a sculpture. Anything goes as long as it is something you can take a photo of. Every entrant gets a certificate, and there are cash prizes for the best artworks. Group entries as well as individual entries are welcomed.

Who? Pupils in Years 7 to 9

Deadline? 29 January 2027

CPM | Art competition

The University of Cambridge outreach

Churchill College Webinars

Churchill College is holding free online live presentations and question and answer sessions for prospective applicants, covering aspects of the Cambridge admissions process.

The webinars run on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 4.30pm to 5.30pm via Zoom.

The webinars are aimed at prospective applicants in Years 11 to 13 but teachers, parents and supporters are welcome to join as well.

Please see the Churchill College website for the full schedule of webinars.

Live attendance is encouraged, as the sessions are not recorded and materials cannot be sent out afterwards.

To sign up, please complete the online form.

Deadline: 9am on the day of the webinar you wish to attend. The link for each webinar will be sent on the day it is due to take place.

Student Voices Webinars

This event includes two online webinars covering key information and answering important questions about Higher Education, Cambridge and university preparation. The second session will be a question and answer panel with current undergraduate students who are part of the College’s JCR, which is similar to a school council.

When?

Monday, 26 October, 5pm to 6pm: Introduction to Higher Education and Cambridge

Wednesday, 28 October, 5pm to 6pm: Question and answer session with current students

Who?

This event is for any Year 11 pupil in England currently attending a state maintained school.

Pupils from under-represented or marginalised backgrounds are particularly encouraged to attend. This could include pupils who:

• are care experienced or have caring responsibilities
• have been eligible for Free School Meals in the past six years
• are estranged from close family members
• live in an area of low progression to Higher Education
• live in an area of high deprivation
• are from an under-represented ethnic group

Find more information on the Fitzwilliam College website.

Paid research opportunity for pupils aged 14 to 18

LifeLab at the University of Southampton is looking for young people aged 14 to 18 to join its NxtGen Researcher Programme.

Participants will be employed by the University of Southampton and paid £13.45 per hour while developing their own research project about an issue that matters to them and their community. Working alongside research professionals and decision makers, they will build valuable research, communication and critical thinking skills.

Sessions take place predominantly on Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm at LifeLab, Southampton General Hospital, starting Wed 14 Oct 2026. Support with travel can be provided if needed.

Applications close Wed 16 Sep 2026 at 11.59pm.

Apply for the NxtGen Researcher Programme

Find out more about LifeLab and the programme

Barton Peveril Sixth Form College: Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their parents/carers, are invited to attend the upcoming Open Events at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College to explore post-16 study options.

Event Details:

• Dates: Wednesday, 23 Sep and Thursday, 24 Sep 2026
• Location: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College
• Cost: Free, ticket required
• Ticket Availability: All tickets for the Open Events are now sold out. Pupils who were unable to secure a ticket are still welcome to attend, but will not be able to park on site. Ticket numbers have been limited to manage the number of vehicles on site safely.

What to Expect:

• Tour the campus facilities and experience the college atmosphere.
• Research all courses on offer and QXTRAs (enrichment activities).
• Speak directly with current pupils and teachers.

Parking and Accessibility: Parking is provided on the college field. Please consider vehicle size and ground conditions. Blue Badge holders must display their badge at all times. Email marketing@barton.ac.uk in advance if accessible parking support is required.

Booking Tickets: Please book as soon as possible to secure the final remaining time slot: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College event tickets from TicketSource.

HSDC Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their parents/carers, are invited to attend upcoming Open Events across HSDC’s campuses to explore courses, tour facilities and speak with staff.

Event Dates and Times:

Havant Campus:

• Wed 30 Sep 2026: 5pm to 8pm
• Sat 07 Nov 2026: 10am to 1pm

South Downs Campus:

• Tue 06 Oct 2026: 5pm to 8pm
• Sat 07 Nov 2026: 10am to 1pm

How to Attend:

• For further details, please check their website: HSDC Events Calendar
• There is no need to book.

Itchen Sixth Form College: Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, alongside their parents/carers, are invited to attend the upcoming Open Events at Itchen Sixth Form College to explore post-16 study options, tour the campus and meet subject teachers and current pupils.

Event Details:

• Location: Itchen Sixth Form College, Southampton
• Format: Campus tours, course presentations and enrichment guidance
• Cost: Free

What to Expect:

• Explore the full range of A Level, Vocational and T Level courses on offer.
• Discover extracurricular enrichment opportunities, sports academies and pupil support services.
• Tour the specialist subject facilities and modern campus grounds.
• Speak directly with teaching staff and pupil ambassadors about college life.

Booking Information: Advance registration is recommended to secure entry and receive updates ahead of the event.

• Book online: Itchen Sixth Form College

Peter Symonds College: Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their families, are invited to discover their future options at the upcoming Peter Symonds College Open Evenings. These events offer an ideal opportunity to visit the campus, speak with subject tutors and get a feel for college life.

Event Details:

• Dates: Wed 30 Sep and Thu 01 Oct 2026
• Time: 5.30pm to 8.30pm
• Location: Peter Symonds College, Winchester

What to Expect:

• Explore the full range of courses and qualifications on offer.
• Speak directly with subject tutors and current pupils.
• Tour the college campus and specialist facilities.

Booking Information: Places must be booked in advance. Registration opens next week via the college website.

• Book online: Open Evening: Peter Symonds College

Richard Taunton Sixth Form College: Open Evenings

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their parents/carers, are invited to attend the upcoming Open Evenings at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College. These events offer a chance to explore the campus, find out about available courses and meet current staff and pupils.

Event Dates and Times:

• Wed 30 Sep 2026: 6pm to 8pm
• Tue 13 Oct 2026: 6pm to 8pm

Individual Tours: If any pupils are unable to make these dates or require extra assistance attending open events, 1:1 college tours can be arranged upon request. Please contact marketing@lighthouselearningtrust.ac.uk.

How to Book and Access Prospectus: Advance booking is recommended, and digital prospectuses are available online.

• Book online: Open Events: Richard Taunton Sixth Form College

South Hampshire College Group: Autumn Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, alongside their parents/carers, are invited to attend the autumn Open Events across the South Hampshire College Group (SHCG). These events cover Eastleigh College, Fareham College, Southampton College and the specialist CEMAST and CETC campuses.

Event Dates and Locations:

• Eastleigh College: Tue 13 Oct 2026, 5pm to 7pm
• Fareham College: Thu 15 Oct 2026, 5pm to 7pm
• Southampton College: Wed 21 Oct 2026, 5pm to 7pm
• CEMAST and CETC, Lee on the Solent: Tue 10 Nov 2026, 5pm to 7pm

What to Expect:

• Explore technical, vocational, A Level, T Level and apprenticeship options.
• Tour industry standard workshops, practical learning spaces and campus facilities.
• Meet subject lecturers and get expert advice on course applications and pupil support.

Booking Information: Advance registration is recommended.

• Book online: South Hampshire College Group Events

St Vincent College: Open Events

Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their parents/carers, are invited to attend the upcoming Open Events at St Vincent College in Gosport. These events offer a chance to explore the campus, find out about available courses and meet current staff and pupils.

Event Dates and Times:

• Sat 19 Sep 2026, Summerfest and Open Event: 10am to 2pm
• Thu 22 Oct 2026: 5pm to 7pm

Individual Tours: If any pupils are unable to make these dates or require extra assistance attending open events, 1:1 college tours can be arranged upon request. Please contact marketing@lighthouselearningtrust.ac.uk.

How to Book and Access Prospectus: Advance booking is recommended, and digital prospectuses are available online via the college website.

• Book online: Open Events: St Vincent College

Please note that any external clubs / events / organisations that are advertised here are not endorsed by or directly affiliated with Swanmore College in any way.