Newsletters

9 October 2026

Weekly Updates from the Leadership Team

Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of this half-term. The last six weeks have gone so quickly.

This week, we were delighted to welcome our Year 11 parents and carers into school for an informative session covering the key dates for the remainder of the academic year, effective revision techniques and exam expectations.  The evening also provided important guidance on next steps and future pathways, including a presentation from Mr Williams, Head of Year 12 at our post-16 provisions, The Island VI Form.  Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of this half-term. The last six weeks have gone so quickly.  The main messages were that there is still time, it is not too late – but that extra effort and/or any changes in approach to learning have to start now! Additionally, getting into good revision habits now will pay dividends. The VI Form Open Evening is Thursday 12 November 2026 - 5-8pm. Please have a look at the website for details. 

Next week, on Thursday 15 October, it is the turn of Year 7 parents/carers to come in for the Year 7 Tutor Evening and the first week back will see the opportunity for Year 10 parents/carers to come in and discuss how students are settling into the key stage 4 subjects. 

This week we had the honour of attending official showings of the Creative Islands, 'Can you hear us?' series of videos created by a handful of Isle of Wight schools. The 'Unheard' Medina College entry opened proceedings and was just as impactful this time as it was when it was shown at the school those few months ago. We would like to once again extend our thanks to everyone who was involved in supporting our students to create this piece. We are so proud of them. If you have not seen it, then there are opportunities to see all the films that the school children created across the Island, all with very different themes and viewpoints, but all as important as each other. The poster is available later in the newsletter.

Please can we all ensure that students remain focused and meet our expectations next week as we head to the half-term break. Please remember that Monday 2 November is a school Development Day, so students will return on Tuesday 3rd November.  

Have a lovely weekend!

Mrs Paul, Mrs Mursell and Mrs Sandiford

Executive Headteacher and Co-Heads of School

We are delighted to share that a group of our Year 10 and 11 students will be performing at an event this Sunday 11 October from 5pm - 6.30pm at GG's in Newport led by Mr Winsor.

The students will be performing as part of an orchestra, as well as showcasing an original song they have written during their Songwriting workshops.  It's a fantastic opportunity for them to share their creativity, hard work and talent with an audience.

Tickets are completely free!  If you'd like to come along and support the students, booking is necessary using this link. More information on this can be found here. 

⚽ Year 9 Boys Football 

Our Year 9s welcomed Lift Ryde last Tuesday afternoon for a closely contested game, played in great spirit. Lift Ryde took an early lead to make it 1–0, but Medina responded brilliantly with a terrific side-foot volley from Owen, which flew into the top corner! 

The winning goal came from Alfie C, who found the net on his birthday to secure all three points for Medina! Well played, lads! 

⚽ Year 8 Boys Football

The Year 8 boys had two fixtures last week, starting with a tough game against last year's winners, Lift Ryde, on Monday. The boys showed great determination and gave it everything, but ultimately came up against the better side on the day.

They bounced back brilliantly on Thursday, producing another determined display to secure a 3–2 victory against Cowes!  

A Harvest of kindness!

Over the course of the week, pupils at Medina College attended assemblies delivered by Ms. Drake (SENDCo) and Mr. Binfield (Associate Leader) focusing on Harvest. The assemblies highlighted the vital importance of agriculture to the Isle of Wight, showcasing what is produced across the island as well as locally on our own Medina College Agriculture plot.

In addition to our Harvest assemblies, families across both Medina College and the VI Form Campus have donated generously to support the Pan Community Larder. These donations were delivered to the larder today, and we are extremely grateful for your generosity in supporting such a wonderful local initiative.

Furthermore, our recent non-uniform day raised significant funds towards establishing our new chicken flock on the Agriculture plot.

Thank you for your continued support with these initiatives, which directly aid our local community and help us enrich our unique agricultural provision here on the island.

Annual Flu Vaccination Programme 

All children are eligible to receive the flu vaccine. Parents and carers are sent a link to the online consent form between September and November, ahead of the school vaccination session.
The vaccine is usually given as a nasal spray. For children who cannot have the nasal spray due to medical or religious reasons, a porcine-free injectable vaccine is available. Details about how to request this are included on the electronic consent form.  Why should I get my child vaccinated? Flu is a highly infectious illness that children can catch and spread easily. For many children, the flu can be very unpleasant and may lead to complications such as ear infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia. In some cases, it can result in serious illness requiring hospital treatment.
Vaccinating your child not only helps protect them from the flu but also reduces the spread of the virus to others who may be more vulnerable to serious illness, including babies, pregnant women, older adults, and those with long-term health conditions.  What if my child misses their school vaccination session? If you provide consent for your child to receive the flu vaccine, and they are absent on the day of the school session, you will automatically receive an email inviting you to book an appointment at a local community clinic, ensuring your child still has the opportunity to be vaccinated.  It's not too late to complete the consent form. Even if your child's school vaccination session has already taken place, submitting a form now will allow you to book an appointment at a local community clinic.
For contact details and further information about the School Aged Immunisation Service and the vaccination programmes offered, please visit the page here.: 
 

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