22 Sep 2026
24 September 2026
Breakfast club reminder
Breakfast Club is open to all pupils every school day from 7.30am to 8.20am in S08 and the adjoining Reading Room.
Pupils are welcome to bring and eat their own breakfast until 8.10am, or use the time to catch up on reading or homework, with Chromebooks and iPads available.
There’s no need to sign up – just come along!
Richard Taunton Sixth Form College: Upcoming Open Evening
Pupils in Years 10 and 11, along with their parents and carers, are reminded that the first Open Evening of the academic year at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College is taking place next week.
This event offers an ideal opportunity to tour the campus, discover the wide range of post-16 courses on offer, and meet subject teachers and current students.
Event Details:
-
Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
-
Time: 6pm – 8pm
-
Location: Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, Southampton
What to Expect:
-
Explore the campus facilities and modern learning spaces.
-
Speak directly with expert teachers and current students about course options.
-
Get advice on subject choices, entry requirements, and college life.
Individual Tours & Assistance: If pupils are unable to attend or require additional support during open events, 1:1 college tours can be arranged upon request.
Booking & Prospectus: Advance booking is recommended, and digital prospectuses can be viewed online.
-
Book online: Open Events - Richard Taunton Sixth Form College
Open Mornings
Know someone considering Swanmore College?
Do you have friends or family with a child approaching secondary school? Please help us spread the word about our upcoming Viewing Mornings.
Our Viewing Mornings are a great opportunity for prospective pupils and their families to visit Swanmore during a normal College day, see lessons taking place and get a feel for everyday life at Swanmore.
Upcoming Viewing Mornings:
Monday, 05 October 2026 to Friday, 09 October 2026
Start time: 9am
No booking is required – simply come along.
If you know someone who is currently considering their secondary school options, please share our Viewing Morning dates with them. We look forward to welcoming them to Swanmore!
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, all eligible pupils receive Free School Meals, but eligibility for Pupil Premium support depends on household income:
- Pupils from households with an annual income of £7,400 or less who qualify for Targeted FSM will also be eligible for Pupil Premium support.
- Pupils who qualify for Expanded FSM because of the wider eligibility criteria will receive Free School Meals, but this will not make them eligible for Pupil Premium support. However, pupils who have previously qualified for Pupil Premium may continue to receive support under the six-year eligibility period (Ever 6).
Daily meal allowances are accessed discreetly using our secure thumbprint system – exactly like all other pupils – giving full access to our 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.
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.
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
Mock Exams
Mock exams will be running next week. You can view the timetable for exams on this website by clicking here.
Next week’s events
Monday, 28 September 2026
- Y10 Boys Football vs. Toynbee (A)
- Y7 Boys Football vs. Perins (H)
- Y11 Mock exams
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
- Year 10 Sports Leaders – primary school Cross Country event at Swanmore
- Year 11 Mock exams
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
- Y11 Boys Football vs. Court Moor (A)
- Y9 Boys Ruby vs. Petersfield (H)
- Year 11 Mock exams
Thursday, 01 October 2026
- Y8 Boys Football vs. Kings (A)
- Y9 and Y10/Y11 Netball vs. Kings (H)
- U14 Basketball vs. Cantell (H)
- Year 11 Mock exams
Friday, 02 October 2026
- U16 Girls Handball at Petersfield (A)
- Year 11 Mock exams
Community notices
Calling all aspiring cellists!
Pupils have the opportunity to learn to play the cello with fully funded tuition and free instrument hire for a whole year.
Friendly beginner sessions will introduce pupils to the cello, with the opportunity to perform as part of the Winchester Area Schools Orchestras later in the year.
Free taster sessions
- Wednesday, 30 September
- Wednesday, 07 October
- Wednesday, 14 October
Time: 4.30pm–5pm
Place: The Beacon Art Centre, Henry Beaufort School
No previous experience is needed – pupils can simply come along and give it a try.
The full course will begin in November 2026 and run for the rest of the academic year.
To find out more, email music.service@hants.gov.uk. To sign up for a free taster session, please use the link below:
Sign up for a taster session
Hampshire Schools Individual Golf Championships 2026
Year 7–10 pupils have the opportunity to take part in the Hampshire Schools Individual Golf Championships 2026 this October.
The event is open to pupils who are members of a golf club and have a handicap and CDH number. There is a £30 entry fee per golfer.
Please note that this is not a College-run event, so parents/carers will be responsible for their child on the day and Swanmore staff will not be in attendance.
To take part, please complete the entry form and return it to Mr Bampton at pe-help@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk by Friday, 02 October 2026.
Allied Healthcare Virtual Work Experience (Years 10–13)
Pupils in Years 10 to 13 who are considering a future career in healthcare are invited to participate in the upcoming NHS Allied Healthcare Virtual Work Experience session hosted by Allied Health Mentor.
Event Details:
-
Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026
-
Time: 9am – 5pm
-
Location: Online Virtual Session
-
Cost: £10 per session (covers administrative and technological costs)
Focus Area:
-
Pain Management and Mental Health
Relevant Healthcare Careers: This session is tailored for pupils interested in Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Radiography, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Speech and Language Therapy, and Pharmacy.
What to Expect:
-
Follow two patients from initial presentation through to recovery to see how multidisciplinary NHS teams work together.
-
Interact directly with practicing healthcare professionals throughout the day.
-
Receive an official Work Experience Certificate upon completing attendance on the day, which can be used as evidence for UCAS applications and personal statements.
-
Students who complete the full 5-month monthly programme will also receive a Highly Commended Reference.
Booking & Registration: Pupils must register individually online to receive their virtual access portal links.
-
For more information and to register online: NHS Healthcare Careers Virtual Work Experience - Allied Healthcare Mentor
Wake Up Wednesday
Each week, we’ll be sharing a guide from The National College’s Wake Up Wednesday series, providing parents and carers with practical information and advice on topics affecting children and young people.
The guides cover a range of areas, including online safety, mental health and wellbeing, helping families stay informed and supporting conversations at home.
This week’s guide looks at skin betting and the risks associated with gambling using virtual in-game items.
Click on the accordion title below to read this edition. The link to the PDF version is at the bottom.
Wake Up Wednesday - Skin betting
What parents and educators need to know about skin betting
What are the risks?
'Skin betting' is the term used when players gamble using virtual in-game items, such as weapon 'skins' or character cosmetics. Although these items appear purely decorative, some can hold significant real-world value. Research suggests that children as young as 13 have engaged in this type of betting, often on sites with limited age checks or safeguards, blurring the line between gaming and gambling.
Unregulated platforms
Skin gambling typically takes place on third-party websites that are not licensed or regulated. These platforms often lack age verification, making them easily accessible to children. By linking their gaming accounts, users can deposit skins, place bets, and withdraw winnings as cash or higher-value items - often without adults being aware these activities are happening.
Social status pressure
In games such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS) and Fortnite, rare skins can act as status symbols. Young players may feel the pressure to own high-value items to fit in with peers. This can lead them to take risks - such as using gambling sites - to obtain desirable skins, similar to how branded goods can influence behaviour offline.
Real-world value
Skins may look like simple cosmetic upgrades to in-game items and characters, but some are worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds. They can be traded or sold on online marketplaces, meaning they function much like real money. When young people bet with skins, they are risking items of genuine financial value, even if no physical cash is exchanged directly.
Limited oversight
Skin betting can take place both in-game and on external websites that parents and educators may not be familiar with. Because skin betting does not always resemble traditional gambling, it can go unnoticed until significant losses have occurred, in both items or money.
Influencer promotion
Some gaming influencers and streamers have promoted skin betting sites in their content. This can make the behaviour appear normal or even desirable, potentially encouraging younger audiences to engage in these activities without fully understanding the risks involved.
Gateway behaviours
Skin betting mirrors many aspects of traditional gambling, including chance-based outcomes, reward systems and excitement. Early exposure to these mechanics can normalise betting behaviours before children and young people even reach legal gambling age. Research indicates that this may increase the likelihood of developing unhealthy habits later, particularly if early wins create a false sense of control or skill.
Advice for parents and educators
Understand in-game items
Familiarise yourself with the games young people are playing and learn whether they include tradable or sellable items. Titles like CS and Rust are known for skin marketplaces, but similar systems are increasingly common across games.
Look for warning signs
Be alert to changes in behaviour, such as secrecy around gaming, a strong focus on acquiring specific skins, or a sudden loss of in-game items. These could indicate involvement in skin gambling and provide an opportunity to start a conversation about it.
Discuss value and risk
Help children and young people understand that cosmetic items like skins can carry real-world value. Explain that losing them through betting is comparable to losing money, therefore reinforcing the connection between in-game actions and real financial consequences.
Use controls and safeguards
Make use of parental controls and platform settings to restrict trading, purchases, and access to external websites. Where possible, disable marketplace features on games and monitor young people's account activity to reduce the risk of unauthorised transactions.
Meet our expert
Nathan David is Head of Foundation and Programme Lead for Esports Coaching at the University Campus of Esports.
Bubba Gaeddert is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Events at the University Campus of Esports, as well as President and Co-Founder of the Videogames and Esports Foundation.
See full reference list on our website.
#WakeUpWednesday
www.thenationalcollege
Users of this guide do so at their own discretion. No liability is entered into. Current as of the date of release: 15.07.2026.
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.
Weekly News Roundup
The latest stories from around the College
