Weekly Newsletter
8 October 2026
Don’t read this!
If you actually obey an instruction not to read something, what’s wrong with you?
You may have seen reports in the news in recent months about books being removed from shelves not only in the Southern states of the USA, but even in Manchester, apparently after an AI trawl of ‘inappropriate’ content. This is a thing which sends a chill down my spine, and needs to be subverted at all costs.
What better way of subverting overly prim censorship than using a government grant? All schools got a small pot of money earlier this term to encourage reading for pleasure, so we’re going to spend it all on banned books. There will be a new spinny thing in the library soon covered in dire warnings and prohibitions, full of highly dangerous books that your children absolutely won’t be allowed to look at, let alone read or borrow, for fear of corrupting them with independent thoughts (‘apple anyone?’ says the snake). Mrs F’s first draft of the prohibited section is shown in the photo; for an extra eyeful of irony, note the copy of 1984.
Long live government-funded samizdat! Let’s subvert the Index Librorum Prohibitorum! Except for all those books with too much sex. They’re still banned, because we’re English, and the moral centre of gravity of the teaching profession is fixed in around 1910. It would be inappropriate.
NB: You can take a look at the display in the library at the Cheney Friends meeting tonight!
TONIGHT! Thursday 8th October at 6:30pm
Please do come along to the school library, for the first Cheney Friends meeting of the year! Cheney Friends is Cheney’s Parent Teacher Association, and is a great way to meet other Cheney parents and get involved in school life. We keep meetings short and light-hearted; we laugh a lot, eat more chocolate digestives than we probably should, and don’t pretend to know everything—we simply give things a go. Whether you have lots of time to give or can just help out occasionally, the committee would love to see you.
Refreshments available!
Our last open mornings take place next week:
Tuesday 13th October, 9-10:30, tour at 9am, presentation at 9:45am
Thursday 15th October, 9:30-11am for parents of children with SEND
Year 7 Parents’ Evening with a display of students work and a talk from Mr Pavey—NEXT Thursday 15th October
We look forward to seeing the Year 7 parents at Parents Evening. Instructions on how to book were emailed home last Thursday when the bookings went live on SchoolCloud. 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 will soon be emailed home.
Year 8 – Oxford Athletic (based at Swan School) looking for players
Cheney Cadets— To celebrate National Cadet Week, the new Cheney CCF page is now online via the schools Extra Curricular Activities page.
Cadets meet after school on Mondays between 15:45-17:30.
Year 9 and 10 students can sign up for 2026-27 here: https://forms.gle/Xjgo1g8Xd4zTJff66
or find out more by visiting Ms Ametorwodufia in F3 or Mr Jethwa in R2.
For all enquiries about Cheney School CCF, please email ccf@cheneyschool.org
Upcoming Events
Latest News
School News
National Lottery Funding for new Sculpture Trail
The Rumble Museum has been awarded £11, 500 by the National Lottery Fund to create a new Sculpture Trail at Cheney featuring three sculptures previously on display at the Eden Project.
The sculptures each represent a different way in which buildings impact the environment. They were designed as part of a BBC documentary by Roger Harrabin, and are being generously donated to the Rumble Museum and Cheney School.
As part of the project, we will be installing the sculptures, creating a trail, and holding a launch event. Watch this space for further developments!
Read more about the Museum Project Trip to the Radcliffe Observatory
Victorian Fest! Thursday 22nd October
We are delighted to announce our Victorian Festival – including a Ferris Wheel!
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.
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.
Talk: “Virgil and the Dido Legend” by Professor Bruno Currie, Thursday 15th October, 3–4pm
We are delighted that Professor Bruno Currie from the University of Oxford’s Classics Faculty will be visiting the Iris Classics Centre on Thursday 15th October, 3–4pm, to speak on “Virgil and the Dido Legend”.
This talk will be particularly suitable for sixth formers studying Latin and Classical Civilisation, but all are warmly welcome.
Please email lro@cheneyschool.org to book places.
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
East Oxford Parent Power, Tuesday 13th October, Rose Hill Community Centre, 6-8pm
Free Parent Live: Walking on Eggshells, Tuesday 13th October, 12:00pm, Online
Some days everything seems manageable. Other days, the smallest thing can lead to tears, anger, shutting down or a reaction you didn’t see coming.
Do you find yourself watching your child’s mood, choosing your words carefully or wondering which version of your child you’re going to get?
Join Positive Parenting Coach and former Deputy Headteacher Anisa Lewis for a free 30-minute online Live exploring what might be happening underneath those big and unpredictable emotions, and practical ways to respond without the whole family feeling as though they’re walking on eggshells.
Can’t join live? Register anyway and you’ll receive the replay.
Book your free place: anisalewis.as.me/LivewithAnisa
Find out what’s on locally, including The Headington Partnership newsletter.
