11 December 2025
Swan Bites is our weekly college bulletin for parents/carers – it is published every Thursday.
We welcome any feedback or comments via: enquiries@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk
College Notices
Non-Uniform Day – Wednesday, 17 December 2025
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a Non-Uniform Day on Wednesday, 17 December.
This year, we will be supporting three very special charities: Mountbatten Hospice, the Courage Foundation, and the Saints Foundation. These charities have been chosen because our very own Mr Baillie, is raising money for them in his role as the Lord Mayor of Southampton, and we are delighted to support his fundraising efforts as a school community.
We kindly ask pupils and staff to bring a donation of £1 on the day or pay on Scopay before the day to help us raise as much as possible for these important causes.
Thank you for your support and generosity.
Christmas Jumpers or Christmassy Accessories - Friday, 19 December 2025
To celebrate the last day of term, we are inviting all staff and pupils to get into the festive spirit on Friday, 19 December. Everyone is welcome to wear a Christmas Jumper (instead of their school jumper) or a festive accessory.
Please note: Apart from the festive item, standard school uniform rules apply.
🎄 Christmas Lunches and Food Service Next Week 🎄
Next week we are celebrating the festive season with our College Christmas Lunches!
Christmas Lunch Schedule:
For pupils who have booked a Christmas lunch, the service times are as follows:
- Monday, 15 December: Year 10 (12.20 pm)
- Tuesday, 16 December: Year 11 (12.20 pm)
- Wednesday, 17 December: Year 9 (12.20 pm)
- Thursday, 18 December: Year 8 (12.20 pm)
- Friday, 19 December: Year 7 (11.40 am)
Important: Food Service Arrangements for All Other Pupils
To allow our catering team to serve the Christmas meals, the main food counters will not be open during the lunch hour next week.
Instead, we are running an extended menu during Morning Break service. If your child is not having a Christmas lunch (or wishes to buy extra snacks), please remind them to purchase their food during break time.
- A larger menu will be available at break time to ensure there is plenty of choice.
- This applies to all pupils, including those in receipt of Free School Meals.
Early Finish - Friday, 19 December 2025
The College will close early on Friday, 19 December 2025, with pupils leaving site at 12:40 pm. Our transport operators have been informed and will be on site to collect pupils at this time. Please note that any pupils who travel on the 649 Stagecoach public bus service will need to make alternative arrangements for getting home early, as Stagecoach are unable to amend the collection time from 3.00 pm to 12.40 pm.
PE Department Football Trip
We are pleased to announce an exciting upcoming trip for our keen footballers in KS3!
Who is eligible? This trip is initially open to all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 who have attended either the girls' or boys' football club this term.
When? The trip is currently scheduled for Saturday, 28 February 2026. (Please note: This date may change to Sunday, 01 March due to TV broadcasting schedules).
How to book: Letters have already been sent to the families of eligible pupils. There are 46 places available for this trip. Please check your emails for full details on the destination and how to secure a place. Completed contracts and medical forms, and deposit for the trip must be returned by 09:00 on Monday, 15 December.
If you have any questions, please see Mr Andrews or contact him: PE-help@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk
Celebrating Attendance
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, it became impossible to celebrate attendance as absences were forced upon us. We want attendance to be something to celebrate and which pupils, parents and guardians can be proud of and help celebrate alongside us. Here are some of the ways we are currently celebrating attendance at Swanmore:
- Postcards home.
- Tutor conversations and mentoring in School, celebrating when attendance has improved.
- Daily attendance ICC from tutors with 5 extra ICC points for a full week of attendance.
- Weekly tutor competition with the winning tutor receiving 5 ICC points.
- Recognition during termly Celebration Assemblies.
- Bonus attendance raffles during the Year, including the '5 days of Christmas' - please see the announcement on ClassCharts.
It is never too late to start celebrating attendance wins. As always, if you have any questions or need any support with attendance, please reach out to us using the Pastoral Year-help email addresses: /contact-us
Art Department Clubs Update
There are some changes to the regular after-school Art Clubs next week:
- Tuesday, 16 December: GCSE Art/Photography/Textiles Open Session – running as usual
- Wednesday, 17 December: Y11 GCSE Art and Photography – running as usual
- Thursday, 18 December: GCSE Art/Photography/Textiles Open Session and KS3 Art Club – neither are running next week, but will be back in January
Important: Road Closures Affecting School Journeys (January 2026)
Please be aware of significant roadworks taking place at the start of the Spring Term which may affect your journey to and from College.
When? Monday, 05 January – Sunday, 25 January 2026.
Where? The 4-way junction of Hill Pound / Droxford Road / Chapel Road / Mislingford Road in Swanmore.
Essential gas main replacement works will be taking place, requiring the junction to be closed 24/7. There will be no direct through vehicle access from any of the four directions during this period. Diversions will be in place. Please plan your journey to and from school carefully and allow extra time.
Year 7
There are no specific items for Year 7 only.
Year 8
There are no specific items for Year 8 only.
Year 9
There are no specific items for Year 9 only.
Year 10
There are no specific items for Year 10 only.
Year 11
There are no specific items for Year 11 only.
Next Week’s Events
Monday, 15 December 2025
- Year 10 Christmas lunch
- Year 11 Mock Speaking Exams MFL
- U12 and U13 Netball vs. Thornden (H)
- Year 10/11 Girls' Football vs. Thornden (H)
Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Year 7 Charity Christmas Showcase
- Year 11 Mock Speaking Exams MFL
- Year 11 Christmas lunch
- Year 10 Sports Leaders - Years 5 and 6 Basketball - Sports Hall 15:30-17:00
- U16 Girls' Volleyball at Winchester College
- Year 8 Boys' Football vs. Crestwood (H)
Wednesday, 17 December 2025
- Non-Uniform Day
- Year 11 Mock Speaking Exams MFL
- Year 9 Christmas lunch
- U14 and U16 Girls' Netball vs. Thornden (A)
- Year 7 Sports Hall Athletics at Perins
Thursday, 18 December 2025
- Year 11 Mock Speaking Exams MFL
- Year 8 Christmas lunch
Friday, 19 December 2025
- Wear a Christmas Jumper or a Christmassy accessory
- Year 11 Mock Speaking Exams MFL
- Year 7 Christmas lunch
- Early finish: 12:40
Community Notices
Music Production Online (January - July 2026)
Hampshire Music Service are delighted to be able to offer places on our next intake of Music Production Online Provision. This course is offered to all Years 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 pupils across the county that dream of creating music, regardless of abilities and musical background.
What are the benefits of Music Production Online?
- Make your home a music studio
- Write and record your own music online
- Expert tuition from Hampshire Music Service staff
- Flexible learning outside of the school day
- Clear progression routes through learning, including Hampshire Music Service certificates of achievement
Pupils learn how to develop their sequencing, recording and editing skills. Our course is a great insight into the world of creating music for your child to enjoy and to nurture creativity skills.
A minimum of 20 lessons over the Spring and Summer School terms, which are an hour in length each.
Further details, as well as a video demo are accessible below.
https://musicproduction.hantsmusic.org.uk/about/
The session cost for the Spring and Summer terms is £70 per term, and sessions will be on a Thursday from 4.30pm (weekly commitment required and sign-up is for the two terms).
Please sign up by using the link below - places are limited and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Music Production Online Provision - January 2026 - July 2026 – Fill in form
Christmas Activities with Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council are pleased to announce their wide range of activities for children and their families to keep everyone entertained, including a visit to see Father Christmas! They have a programme of history and art workshops that cover everything from fun family walking tours to hands-on workshops and all-day wrap-around care. Workshops are engaging, accessible and designed to promote family learning.
Event Highlights:
- Father Christmas at Tudor House: A special visit in the Banqueting Hall, including a craft activity and a sweet treat. Available on selected dates between 06–22 December (£25).
- Holiday Club (SeaCity Museum): "Culture Club for Kids" offers full-day care (9 am–4 pm) for ages 6½–12. The theme is Polar Bears and Penguins on 22 and 23 December (£35/day or £60 for both).
-
Creative Workshops:
- 21 December: Table Decorations for all ages at SeaCity - £18
- 22 December: Art School Plus (Paint, Draw and Breathe) for ages 11–16 at the Art Gallery - £26
- 23 December: 'Gonk O'Clock' (5+) at the Art Gallery - £6.50
- 23 December: Christmas at Hogwarts (7+) at Tudor House - £12
- 02 January: Penguin Print Thank You Cards (4+) at the Art Gallery - £8
- 02 January: Discover Titanic at SeaCity - £8
How to Book:
For full times, prices, and booking, please visit the joint page or specific venue websites:
- Christmas Holiday Activities 2025
- seacitymuseum.co.uk
- tudorhouseandgarden.com
- southamptoncityartgallery.com
Please see the attached flyer for further details.
Learn to Swim with Fareham Nomads Swimming Club - Spaces Available Now!
Fareham Nomads Swimming Club currently has spaces available for their swimming programmes. Whether your child is looking to learn a new skill or join a competitive squad, the club offers a friendly and social environment to develop their potential.
Learn to Swim (Ages 4+):
Following the Swim England 'Learn to Swim' Programme (Stages 1–7), qualified teachers help children develop safety awareness, stroke technique, and confidence in the water. Unlike many other settings, Nomads offer the opportunity to swim twice a week.
Venues: Classes are held at Fareham Leisure Centre.
Free Trial: You can arrange a free trial now.
Competitive and Fitness:
There are pathways into competitive squads for under 18s, as well as 'Masters' squads for adults wishing to compete or simply keep fit.
Venues: Fareham Leisure Centre, West Hill Park School, Holly Hill Leisure Centre, and the Mountbatten Centre.
How to Book:
For more information or to secure a space, please contact the club directly via email: enquiries@farehamnomads.co.uk
Please see the attached flyer for further details on specific swim stages.
The University of Oxford - Events for All Ages
We are delighted to share a wide range of outreach opportunities from the University of Oxford. Whether your child is interested in STEM, the Arts, or Entrepreneurship, there is something to inspire them.
The events below range from creative competitions for Years 7–9 to residential trips and academic taster days for Years 10–11.
Please click on the headings below to expand the details for each opportunity.
Uncover Engineering - Y10
What? Uncover Engineering is a residential programme run by Oxford University that gives year 10 students the opportunity to explore engineering and learn more about the real-world application of the maths, physics and other sciences taught in school. It is also a chance to experience university life by living in an Oxford College. Students will stay in Oxford for 3 nights. The days will be filled with engineering-focused activities and workshops organised by the Department of Engineering Science. In the evenings we have arranged recreational activities and social opportunities with other like-minded future engineers. You’ll also find out about life at Oxford and living in a college (including a formal dinner!). On the final day, we hope that your parents and carers will join us to learn more about studying Engineering Science at a competitive university.
Who? The first programme is aimed at UK-based year 10 state-school students of any gender who are of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage. The second programme is aimed at UK-based year 10 state school girls.
When? Uncover for Black African and Caribbean heritage students – 30th March- 2nd April 2026
Uncover for Girls – 7th-10th April 2026
Where? Oxford
Deadline? Wednesday 31st December 2025
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/uncover-engineering-application-form-2026
Bright Matter: Women and Non-Binary People In STEM - Y11
What? Bright Matter is a programme for women and non-binary students in Year 11 and 12 who are interested in studying STEM subjects at university. Bright Matter is run jointly by St Hilda’s, St Anne’s, St Catherine’s, Magdalen, Mansfield, Oriel, and University Colleges, Oxford. Bright Matter aims to broaden students’ interests in STEM fields, introduce them to STEM at Oxford, and provide a space for them to network and engage with others.
The course consists of 15 online sessions introducing each subject area. Each session will include a presentation about studying that subject at Oxford and a twenty-minute academic taster session. Each online session will run 16:30-17:30. Students who attend at least one of our online sessions will be invited to register their interest in attending an academic taster day at one of the colleges that helps run Bright Matter.
Who? Year 11s and 12s who identify as female or non-binary from UK state schools
When? Applying to Oxford / Launch — Tuesday 7th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Biochemistry — Wednesday 8th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Biology — Tuesday 13th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Biomedical Sciences — Wednesday 14th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Chemistry — Thursday 15th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Computer Science — Tuesday 20th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Earth Sciences — Wednesday 21st January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Engineering — Thursday 22nd January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Human Sciences — Tuesday 27th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Materials Science — Wednesday 28th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Mathematics — Thursday 29th January 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Medicine — Tuesday 3rd February 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Physics — Wednesday 4th February 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Psychology — Thursday 5th February 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Philosophy of Science — Tuesday 10th February 2026 (16:30-17:30)
Where? Online. Academic taster days will take place in Oxford in the Spring and Summer.
Deadline? Students can register for the talks at any point before they take place
Oxford Materials Science Open Days (in person and online) - Y11
What? Experience what it's like to study Materials Science at Oxford for the day! At our annual Materials Science Open Days, you will get the chance to experience what studying Materials Science at Oxford is like. You will gain insight into the subject through taster lectures and workshop sessions, along with a feel for Oxford itself with tours of both the department and an Oxford college.
Who? Prospective students in Year 11 & 12
When? 17th & 18th February 2026, 17th & 18th March 2026, ONLINE 20th February 2026
Where? Department of Materials, University of Oxford
https://www.materials.ox.ac.uk/materials-science-open-days Booking essential
The Tower Poetry Competition - Y11
What? The Tower Poetry Competition offers the UK’s most valuable prize for young poets. The competition is free to enter and it is open to students between 16 and 18 years of age who are educated in the UK. The poet who writes the single best poem on the theme receives £5,000. There will be a second prize of £3,000, and a third prize of £1,500. Along with these, there will be ten runners up, who will each receive £500. The top three winners will also be offered a place on the Tower Poetry Summer School. The 2026 Competition is now open. The theme is 'A Riddle'.
Who? Students between 16 and 18 years of age who are educated in the UK.
Deadline? Thursday 19th February 2026
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/tower-poetry/enter-tower-poetry-competition
Solving Global Challenges Poster Competition - Y11
What? The question you are asked to answer is “What global challenge would you solve with entrepreneurship and how?” We welcome submissions in one of three strands: Medical & Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities. Through this competition we aim to encourage reflection, creativity, and problem solving in tackling what you think is a world challenge at the moment. Selected successful participants and one supporter will be invited to attend a day at the Oxford Edge and Christ Church on Tuesday 10 March to celebrate their achievement, present their posters, and learn more about entrepreneurship and undergraduate study at Oxford.
Who? The competition is for UK pupils from state-maintained schools in Year 11 or 12.
Deadline? Monday 5th January 2026
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/college/outreach/solving-global-challenges-poster-competition
Centre for Personalised Medicine Art Competition - Y7-Y9
What? The Oxford Centre for Personalised Medicine is asking young people in Years 7-9 to create art about the meaning of ‘personalised medicine’. Personalised medicine means different things to different people. Often scientists and clinicians mean using lots of things you can measure about a person to work out how best to treat their illness or keep them healthy. In everyday life, people often think of personalised medicine as healthcare that really takes note of the person and what they might be going through. There is no single right answer, and we want to hear about what ‘personalised medicine’ means to your students.
Entrants can make a drawing, a painting, a collage, a sculpture – anything goes as long as it’s something you can take a photo of. Every entrant gets a certificate, and there are cash prizes for the best artworks. We welcome group entries as well as individual entries. So far, we’ve displayed some of the best artworks from previous years of the competition in the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, the Centre for Human Genetics, and St Anne’s College in Oxford
Who? Year 7-9
Deadline? Friday 30th January
Particle Physics New Year Lecture | University of Oxford Department of Physics - Parents, Carers and Pupils
What? Join us for the Particle Physics New Year Lecture, hosted by Professor Daniela Bortoletto, Head of Particle Physics, in the Martin Wood Lecture Theatre at the Department of Physics in Oxford and online via Zoom. This year’s distinguished guest speaker is Professor Lindley Winslow (MIT), who will deliver the lecture 'New Year, New Horizons: Advancing the Axion Dark-Matter Frontier.' Following the talk, you are invited to join a round-table discussion, 'Frontiers of Dark Matter Research', featuring Professor Winslow and Oxford experts including Professors Jocelyn Monroe and Kimberly Palladino.
Who? General public
When? 24th January 2026
Where? In Oxford or online
Deadline? 17th January 2026
https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/particle-physics-new-year-lecture
Meon Valley Food Bank Donations
Thank you for your continued support.
We will be open next Monday between 10 am and 12 pm to receive food donations.
Food can also be dropped off at the following places:
- Bishops Waltham - Sainsbury's, Co-op, St Peters Church and the Jubilee Hall in Little Shore Lane
- Curdridge - St Peter's Church
- Upham - Blessed Mary Church
- Wickham - the Co-op and the Community Centre
- Park Gate - Robinson Reade Estate Agents
The items we require for the coming week are:
- Squash
- Cup a Soups
- Crackers
- Quick Pasta
- Kitchen Towel
This is the last week we will be open before Christmas. Tuesday, 16 December is the last day we will be open, as the floor in the Community Centre is being replaced over the Christmas period. We will reopen on Monday, 05 January 2026.
Dick Whittington Pantomime - Bishops Waltham
The Bishop’s Waltham Festival team is delighted to present this year's pantomime, Dick Whittington! It promises to be a fantastic festive treat for the family.
- When: Saturday, 13 December 2025
- Time: Doors: 1:30 pm, Performance: 2:00 pm
- Venue: Jubilee Hall, Little Shore Lane, Bishop's Waltham.
- Tickets: £14.00 (Adults) / £10.00 (Children 3-17 years - Under 3s free) / £44 (Family x 4 - max. 2 adults) / £30 (Family x 3 - 1 adult)
How to Book: Tickets are available now via the Festival website: www.bwfestival.art or in person from Best Wishes (Brook St.) or Willlow's Pet Supplies (High St.) Bishops Waltham.
Please note that any external clubs / events that are advertised here are not endorsed by or directly affiliated with Swanmore College in any way.