We recognise that sometimes unexpected situations arise during the holidays, and although school may be closed, support is still available for students and parents/carers.

To help during this period, we have created a list of free support services that can offer guidance, someone to talk to, or practical assistance when it is needed most. These organisations remain accessible throughout the holidays and are there to ensure that no one feels without help.

Please take care during the break.

Food & Essentials Support

• Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme – Free holiday clubs with meals for children on benefits‑related free school meals (usually up to 4 sessions per holiday).
• Royal Greenwich Holiday Food & Fun – Free meals and activities across Woolwich, Plumstead, Eltham and Thamesmead (including SEND-friendly provision).
• Trussell Trust Food Banks – Emergency food parcels available nationwide.
• Family Action FOOD Clubs – Affordable food boxes and holiday support.

Mental Health & Emotional Support

• Childline – Free, confidential support for under‑19s (0800 1111).
• Shout – Text CONNECT to 85258 for free 24/7 support.
• Kooth – Free, anonymous online mental health support.
• ThinkNinja App – NHS-supported wellbeing app for ages 10–18 (access may vary locally).
• Samaritans – 24/7 emotional support (116 123).
• Papyrus HOPELINE247 – Suicide prevention for young people (0800 068 4141).
• NHS Mental Health Crisis Line – Call 111 and select Option 2.
• YoungMinds – Advice and support for young people and parents.

Family & Parenting Support

• Family Hubs & Start for Life
• FamilyLine (Family Action)
• YoungMinds Parent Helpline (0808 802 5544)
• Parenting Smart (Place2Be)
• Mind – School holiday wellbeing support
• Family Lives
• Action for Children
• Barnardo’s
• NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000)

Online Safety & Protection

• CEOP – Report online grooming or abuse.
• Thinkuknow – Advice, videos and resources for children, parents and carers on staying safe online.

The month of May marks Local History Month, and our History Department would like to thank our school community in advance for supporting this initiative as we bring local history to life across the school.

To celebrate, Miss Tuckwell has created a ‘Slide‑A‑Day’ PowerPoint, designed to be shared during form time throughout May. Each slide highlights a significant local historical event linked to that date, encouraging students to read, discuss and deepen their understanding of the history of the area they call home.

For example, Friday 1st May explores how workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich formed a football team known as Dial Square. This team later became Royal Arsenal, then Woolwich Arsenal, before eventually moving to north London and becoming the club we know today as Arsenal FC.

Our aim this month is not only to build historical knowledge, but also to inspire students and their families to engage more actively with the rich history within our local community.

The final slide in the presentation invites students to reflect and share:

• their favourite local place, event or historical site

• a recommendation for others

• and why it holds personal meaning for them

We look forward to celebrating Local History Month together and shining a spotlight on the stories that shape our community.

Our Spring 2026 Trust Newsletter Is Here!

We are delighted to share the latest edition of the PolyMAT Trust Newsletter (Issue 6) - a celebration of our people, our values, and the incredible work taking place across our schools this term.

This issue explores our Trust-wide theme of resilience, reflected in everything from our inaugural PolyMAT Conference, to the inspiring activities taking place in classrooms, to the achievements and community spirit shown across each of our schools.

This edition includes:

• Highlights from the first ever PolyMAT Conference, bringing together over 500 colleagues
• Insights from each headteacher on how resilience is lived and nurtured in their school
• Free support services and activities available to families over the spring break
• A celebration of our 200th YouTube video milestone
• Updates, achievements and stories from across our Poly Family

As always, this newsletter reflects the CARE and UNITY that sit at the heart of our Trust and drive our shared vision of Success for Everyone.

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Read the full Spring 2026 edition now

We are delighted to offer students the opportunity to take part in a cultural and educational visit to Madrid, Spain, organised in partnership with EiL Travel. This trip will allow students to experience Spanish culture, history and language first-hand while exploring one of Europe’s most vibrant capital cities.

Throughout the visit, students will participate in a variety of organised cultural and educational activities designed to enrich their understanding of Spanish life and support their language learning.

Planned activities are:

• Madrid City Walking Tour – Guided exploration of Madrid’s historic centre and major landmarks.
•  Museo del Prado – View masterpieces by famous Spanish artists Velázquez and Goya.
• Madrid Royal Palace – Explore Spain’s grand royal residence and learn royal history.
•  Mercado de San Miguel – Discover traditional Spanish foods in a historic market.
•  Flamenco Performance – Experience traditional Spanish music, dance and cultural performance.
•  Parque de Atracciones Theme Park – Enjoy rides and attractions at Madrid’s famous theme park.
• Parque del Retiro – Relax in Madrid’s historic park with gardens and monuments.

In addition to these visits, students will be encouraged to practise their Spanish in real-life situations throughout the trip, helping to build confidence in communication and cultural understanding.

The educational benefits for this visit are to support students’ learning by:

• Developing confidence using Spanish in authentic situations.
•  Increasing cultural awareness and understanding of Spain.
• Supporting classroom learning through real-world experiences.
• Encouraging independence, teamwork and responsibility.

All activities will be supervised by school staff, and students will be expected to maintain high standards of behaviour throughout the visit.

The total cost of the trip is £650. This includes travel, accommodation, breakfast, dinner, planned activities and supervision.

Further details, including payment, travel arrangements, accommodation information and a detailed itinerary will follow in due course.

Please ask your son to collect a letter from Miss Kamberaj if he is interested in going on this trip.

Yours sincerely,

Miss A Kamberaj

MFL Teacher (Head of Languages)

Calling All Young Writers! 
Our 2026 500 Words Competition is officially open – and this year’s theme is “The Unexpected.”

Let your imagination run wild over the Easter break!
There will be 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes, so get those creative ideas flowing.

Deadline: Friday 24th April 2026
Send entries to: Mrs Hawgood - DHawgood@woolwichpolyboys.co.uk

I’ll be checking emails throughout the holiday and cannot wait to read your brilliant stories!

Happy writing! 

On Friday 6th March, thirty‑four Year 8 students were rewarded for their exceptional effort and enthusiasm in History with a fantastic trip to Hampton Court Palace. The day offered a unique blend of hands‑on learning, historical exploration, and plenty of opportunities for students to immerse themselves in one of England’s most iconic Tudor and Stuart landmarks.

Students began their visit with an interactive workshop on the Religious Rollercoaster, a lively session charting the dramatic religious transformations that swept across England from the reign of Henry VII to Elizabeth I. Through active participation, roleplay, and guided investigation by costumed staff, pupils explored how rapidly the country’s faith shifted under different monarchs, and why these changes mattered to ordinary people at the time. Following the workshop, students stepped into the palace itself, wandering through its famously atmospheric and allegedly haunted corridors.

A highlight for many was sitting inside the magnificent Great Hall, where they learned about Henry VIII’s stunning tapestries and the carved wooden ‘eavesdroppers’ hidden high above - silent reminders that no Tudor conversation was ever truly private. The group also explored the State Apartments of William III, viewing his bedrooms and impressive military collections, before venturing into the vast Tudor kitchens to discover how food was prepared on a royal scale.

The visit ended with students testing their navigation skills in the palace gardens and maze, with more than a few getting temporarily (and joyfully) lost among the hedges. Throughout the day, staff at the Palace commented on how knowledgeable, curious, and engaged the students were. This was especially impressive given that the Religious Rollercoaster is a topic they will study in greater depth later this year.

Their behaviour was excellent, and they were a credit to the school. This was a richly rewarding experience for all involved, and the accompanying photos capture just a glimpse of the enthusiasm and wonder shown by our Year 8 historians.