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05/02/25

It's Year 9 Options Evening tomorrow (Thursday 6 Feb). The schedule for arrival is included in the accompanying picture. #optionsevening pic.twitter.com/rVhqp6VoJs— Valley Park School () February 5, 2025

04/02/25

Tired of dull weekends? Want to try something exciting and meet a whole new group of people? Why not try a taster session at Leeds and Kingswood Explorers? pic.twitter.com/sS0TaJLly7— Valley Park School () February 4, 2025

03/02/25

The week ahead: It's Children’s Mental Health Week. On Tues, Year 9 & 11 have immunisations; Year 7 visits Herstmonceux Observatory. On Wed, there's a trip to the Marlowe Theatre for Dear Evan Hanson. Thurs is Year 9 Options Evening (5.30pm - 8pm) pic.twitter.com/4NYIIvNRSH— Valley Park School () February 3, 2025

03/02/25

Our second hand uniform shop (SHUSH) will be open for business on Year 9 Options Evening, which takes place on Thursday 6 February at 5.30pm to 8pm. pic.twitter.com/f9Y1f1A7MQ— Valley Park School () February 3, 2025

02/02/25

Candlemas is a Christian festival that commemorates a young Jesus being presented at the temple for the first time. It was also the day when the year’s supply of candles was brought to the church to be blessed.#religiousfestivalscalendar pic.twitter.com/bqdfhz5q7k— Valley Park School () February 2, 2025

01/02/25

Imbolc, (immolk), is a pagan celebration symbolizing the transition from winter to spring, marking increased daylight. It honors Brigid, the goddess of inspiration, creativity, healing, and poetry. Historically, it was a time to reaffirm life and prepare for the harvest. pic.twitter.com/BG1gEfnZtF— Valley Park School () February 1, 2025

31/01/25

House Points update...#wearevalleypark#ambition pic.twitter.com/0qseq5RLNA— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

31/01/25

We need good condition donations for our Second Hand Uniform Shop! For more information, please visit the Uniform page on our website.#wearevalleypark#SHUSH pic.twitter.com/3lZgJryXoE— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

31/01/25

We have some more Sixth Form Open Morning Tours coming up on Wednesday February 12 and Friday February 14 at 8.45am. Visit our website to book a place: https://t.co/58lYerhh35 pic.twitter.com/I2SAloIU6n— Valley Park School () January 31, 2025

30/01/25

A gentle reminder to those of you who have received an invitation to Year 9 Options Evening, but who have not yet responded. Please could you complete the online form to confirm or decline your attendance? https://t.co/l6uCwAkTKh pic.twitter.com/XMo4RuuuKr— Valley Park School () January 30, 2025

30/01/25

A free Well-Being conference, run by , is taking place at Valley Park School on Thursday 13 February 2025 between 2pm and 6pm. Book your tickets at https://t.co/aynD862pZq pic.twitter.com/UTFe8geS92— Valley Park School () January 30, 2025

29/01/25

pic.twitter.com/CH3QpW1L5a— Valley Park School () January 29, 2025

29/01/25

This celebration of the new year on the lunisolar Calendar is one of the most important holidays in many cultures. It is a largely secular holiday but includes cultural rituals that derive from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as from ancient myths and folk traditions. pic.twitter.com/4uYPjiwOAI— Valley Park School () January 29, 2025

28/01/25

pic.twitter.com/l6hjeCu1Mn— Valley Park School () January 28, 2025

27/01/25

pic.twitter.com/E2xbvQZ5vH— Valley Park School () January 27, 2025

26/01/25

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/8RDVQlqCNR— Valley Park School () January 26, 2025

24/01/25

Mrs Austin took her year 12 Performing Arts students on a trip to university and they took part in a workshop leading to a performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Students had the best day! https://t.co/wLtGt8JDh6 pic.twitter.com/fPRvBmYhBt— Valley Park School () January 24, 2025

24/01/25

The Immunisation Service will visit the school soon for TdIPV and MenACWY vaccinations for Year 9, with catch-up for Years 10 & 11. Consent or decline by the deadline via https://t.co/547b1JMlbN or call 0300 123 5205 with questions. pic.twitter.com/5xD6amRBBG— Valley Park School () January 24, 2025

20/01/25

Art scholars enjoyed a workshop with a Chinese New Year theme on Friday. These pieces will be displayed at the newly adopted Maidstone East railway station, highlighting our students' talent to the community! pic.twitter.com/rK4qth0aMN— Valley Park School () January 20, 2025

20/01/25

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE for the Valley Park Music Showcase, featuring Sixth Form musicians. Year 13 students are performing for their exam "Rehearsal Skills and Live Performance" and would be delighted if you attended to support them. pic.twitter.com/xNGd0cf9aV— Valley Park School () January 20, 2025

20/01/25

Keira & Max placed third among 900 entries in a national STEM competition after winning the regional heat. Their determination and teamwork made them excellent ambassadors for Valley Park School, showcasing ambition, respect, and kindness. https://t.co/4BlVDFIa3T pic.twitter.com/KOce2aXQmc— Valley Park School () January 20, 2025

19/01/25

If a student’s attendance at the end of Term 2 was below 90% this means that they have missed at least 6 days or 30 hours of learning across the school year.#everylessoncounts pic.twitter.com/uCcogI9UyY— Valley Park School () January 19, 2025

16/01/25

Tickets will soon be available for the Valley Park Music Showcase, featuring Sixth Form musicians. Year 13 students are performing for their exam "Rehearsal Skills and Live Performance" and would be delighted if you attended to support them. pic.twitter.com/ABrwAKlC3P— Valley Park School () January 16, 2025

14/01/25

Happy 2025! Welcome back; we’re well under way and back in the swing of things. Wishing good luck to all year 11s with their mocks and of course, all those students sitting January exams. #moodyimage#mockexams pic.twitter.com/mcGn3cGfLI— Valley Park School () January 14, 2025

13/01/25

Mock exams are here... and some real ones, too! For Monday 13 January 2025.#wearevalleypark#mockexams pic.twitter.com/sI7FEv3nQb— Valley Park School () January 13, 2025

Blog

Posted on: March 23rd 2020

Ghost Light

What is a ghost light - do you know?  

It's an electric light, usually a plain bulb mounted in a wire cage and atop a portable light stand and it is left burning on the stage of a theatre when it is unoccupied.  

It is - quite literally - a beacon of light in the otherwise pitch darkness.  

Practically-speaking this is a safety device, stopping anyone who strays on-stage from falling into the orchestra pit, or tripping over the invisible set pieces.  

For the superstitious in the theatre community, it provides an opportunity for the thespian ghosts to play!  

And for those, like myself - who love a strong metaphor - the ghost light is a defiant message that says "we have temporarily vacated the stage but we will be back."

What a metaphor for our time.

This past week has been unprecedented for our community, but what a community it has made us, and what a support we must continue to be for one another in the indeterminate weeks ahead.

To our staff and to our students; you have been incredible in the face of adversity this week, supporting one another in the face of uncertainty and fear.  

I daresay we haven't got everything right but, my goodness, we have tried.

Not one of us will ever forget Friday afternoon when those of us who were still in school bade farewell to the students who left our site.  

No one will forget the gate being closed.  

Driving out of the gate, not knowing when we return, will be one of those events that I remember for the rest of my days.

On Monday, when we embark on our Virtual School journey and we open our hubs for key workers' children, we will start to learn new things about ourselves.  

We will have a temporary new beginning as we learn online and forge new communication links in spite of our physical separation.  

It doesn't feel very positive right now, but we will be making history.

Two framed pictures were delivered to school on Friday afternoon.

Poignantly, this was after the buildings had become more or less deserted.  

They were the year group photos that were taken for years 11 and 13 on 9th March.  

The last thing I did before leaving the school at closing time was to have the pictures hung.  

Defiantly. 

Right behind the Reception doors.  

They are our ghost light.

We have temporarily vacated the school but we WILL be back.

Look after yourselves, stay safe and keep in touch.

MH Title