Weekly Newsletter
15 October 2026
Don’t miss our Victorian Festival at Cheney on Thursday 22nd October!
The Rumble Museum is delighted to announce its Victorian Festival—including the first ever Ferris Wheel at Cheney!
The festival will include a wide range of performances, stalls, activities and workshops themed on the Victorian era, and aimed at all ages. Highlights include a Blacksmith Forge, Walking Forest Suffragettes, Penny Farthings and Victorian Magic Shows. There will be a number of local museums and organisations, as well as creative activities and stalls run by Cheney’s Museum Council students.
Date: Thursday 22nd October
Timings: 3:30 – 5:30pm (opens at 3pm for Cheney students)
There will be three repeated Victorian Magic Shows at 3:05pm, 4pm, and 5pm.
The event is free and aimed at all ages. To book places, please fill in this form.
Please email lro@cheneyschool.org with any questions.
Please note that the school will close at 1:30pm on Friday 23rd October, which is the last day of term.
Friday 23rd October will be a non-uniform day to collect money for the British Red Cross. Students may wear their own clothes for the day. If they are able to donate (the suggested amount is £1—or whatever they can afford), then members of the school’s Charity Committee will be on the morning gate, ready to accept donations by cash or card. If you would prefer to donate in advance, please do so using the link here. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
Non-School Uniform Day Donation to the British Red Cross
Monday 2nd November is an INSET day, so school is closed to students. Students should be back in school for 8:25am on Tuesday 3rd November.
Years 7-11 lnfluenza vaccinations
10th November 2026: Years 7, 8 and 9
11th November 2026: Years 10 and 11
This letter about the flu vaccinations from the School Aged Immunisation Service will soon be emailed home. It is also available on the school website here: https://www.cheneyschool.org/1204/immunisations
Please complete the consent form here at least one full school day before the vaccination session, whether you want your child to have the flu vaccine or not. After this deadline, the online system will close and you will not be able to submit a form.
Parking around school
Unfortunately, we have had complaints of drivers stopping on the zig zag lines on Gipsy Lane, nearly knocking a cyclist off their bike. Drivers should not be stopping in these lines. Please respect the highway code and our community if you drive children to school.
Opportunities to come into school
We have some new dates for opportunities to come into school for a tour or joining various year groups in the library at exciting author talks! Find out more and register here.
Year 7 Parents’ Evening with a display of students work and a talk from Mr Pavey—TONIGHT, Thursday 15th October
We look forward to seeing the Year 7 parents tonight. Entrance is through the Student Reception on Gipsy Lane (NOT the Visitor Reception). The students’ work will be on display in BR block and Mr Pavey will be giving an informal chat to parents at 5:30pm in the library. Cheney Friends will also be running a second hand uniform sale.
Year 7 relationships and sex education in term 2, Nov-Dec 2026
This letter was sent home to parents last week. There is a parental/carer right to withdraw students from certain sex education lessons taught in term 2. However, we strongly discourage this, as we consider these lessons essential for keeping young people healthy and safe. If you would like to withdraw your child from sex education lessons, please contact rbown@cheneyschool.org who would need to know the name of your child. You will then be invited to attend a meeting at Cheney with a member of the leadership team to discuss this withdrawal. Students will only be withdrawn after such a meeting. For withdrawal of Year 7 students in 2026/2027 this meeting must occur before the end of Friday 13 November 2026.
Cheney Cadets
Years 10 and 11 – T Levels Week Parent and Carer webinar: Understanding T Levels, Tuesday 20th October 2026, 18:30–19:15
As National T Levels Week 2026 approaches, register here for a dedicated webinar for parents and carers to understand T Levels; including what they involve, how they differ from other post-16 options, and the progression opportunities they can lead to. David Scott, T Levels lead at the Department for Education will join, along with parent Victoria, who will share her experience of T Levels from a parents’ perspective.
Please register even if you are unable to attend on the day, as all registrants will receive access to the webinar recording and slides afterwards.
Years 10, 11 and 12 – Online talks for parents and carers interested in finding out more about university in general and the University of Oxford
The Trinity College Access team is offering two talks that will be of interest to parents and carers of students in Years 10, 11 and 12.
Session 1, Monday 2 November at 6pm-7:30pm
For Families – A guide to university will be particularly useful for those who did not attend university themselves or who feel they would appreciate updated general university information and guidance.
Session 2, Thursday 5 November at 6pm-7:30pm
For Families – A guide to the University of Oxford will be of interest to parents and carers wanting to hear specifically about the University of Oxford and the application process.
Parents and carers will explore: the benefits and costs of going to university and/or the University of Oxford; effective ways they can support their child’s application; and build confidence and knowledge about their supporting role.
Includes live Q&A with current undergraduates at Oxford.
Both sessions are online via Teams. Parents can register directly here: Registration form to book both or their preferred option. Registration is open until 48 hrs prior to each session.
Upcoming Events
Latest News
School News
Rumble Breakfast Talks
Our Rumble Breakfast Talks re-start in November on the theme of astronomy, to celebrate our forthcoming astronomy mural!
The talks are open to all year groups, delivered by experts, and held every Thursday from 8:30am to 9am. There is no need to go to tutor time first – we will register you at the talk. You can sign up here and the schedule is below!
| 5th November | John Allen, University of Oxford | “Where are the aliens?” |
| 12th November | Lana Alabbasi, University of Oxford | “When Black Holes Collide: Listening to the Universe” |
| 19th November | Professor Suzanne Aigrain, University of Oxford | “Exoplanets: looking for life among the stars” |
| 26th November | Professor Mike Lockwood, University of Reading | “Aurora – very beautiful, but a sign of trouble ahead?” |
Greek and Latin Speaking Workshop
We were excited to welcome Luke Ranieri, a Greek and Latin speaking expert, to the Classics Centre this week to speak to our Year Nine and Sixth Form Latinists about the pleasures and advantages of spoken Latin and Greek.
He conducted most of the workshop in Greek and Latin, introducing everyone to a range of simple commands and nouns by getting them on their feet and moving around the room, opening and shutting doors and picking up books. He explained that young children learn these sorts of simple commands first, and this sort of approach to spoken Latin and Greek is very effective as well as enjoyable. He encouraged everyone to keep a diary or label their room to help them become more familiar with words – we’ll be sharing our efforts – in Latin! – in the coming lessons.
Thank you to Luke for a very interesting workshop and for getting us all to sing ‘if you’re happy and you know it’ in ancient Greek at the end – ἰού!
Classics Cafe Special Event: Oread launch, Saturday 14th November, 2-4pm at the Classics Centre
We are holding a special classics cafe at our classics centre for Oread, a new novel which blends sci-fi, ancient Roman religion and utopian/dystopian fiction. It is the sequel to Hamadryad, but can be read as a standalone novel.
There will be activities, refreshments, prompts for writing, and a reading! Email lro@cheneyschool.org if you’d like to drop in!
Cheney School Lottery
We started the Cheney school lottery over 2 years ago and it has been a great way for us to raise funds for Cheney projects. So far we have raised more than £4,000 through the lottery. The lottery offers the flexibility for people to commit to buying regular weekly tickets or to buy tickets as and when they can. If you are a lottery supporter, thank you for helping us achieve this! If you are not and would like to join in the fun, please sign up here: www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/cheney-school
NEU Oxfordshire at the Oxford Green Fair Sunday 25th October
NEU Oxfordshire will be running a stall at the Oxford Green Fair on Sunday 25th October 10:30-16:00 at the Oxford Town Hall. This will be to promote the Stop School Cuts and Free School Meals for All campaigns. If you would be interested in helping the stall, please email NEU Workplace Representative George Buchanan gbu@cheneyschool.org
Creation Theatre Half-Term Workshops
Find out what’s on locally, including The Headington Partnership newsletter.
