Admissions information for students wishing to join Lady Manners School Sixth Form in September 2021 is now available at www.ladymanners.net/sixthform. Current circumstances mean that we are unable to run our usual Sixth Form Open Evening, so we have moved the information online. Our website now contains videos from the Sixth Form leadership team, students and staff. Further videos also supplement the information in our online prospectus with further details about each of the 26 academic and vocational subjects that we offer for study. It you are considering post-16 studies, please visit Lady Manners School Sixth Form online at www.ladymanners.net/sixthform.

Every year, we take part in the Book Trust's Book Buzz reading programme. This enables each Year 7 student to choose a book from a choice of 17 titles to keep, for free. The books are carefully selected by a panel of experts to ensure quality, suitability and to encourage reading for pleasure. They cover a range of genres from non-fiction through to fast-paced page-turners. Over the last week, our books have been distributed to their new Year 7 owners during their English lessons. We hope they enjoy reading them and, when they've finished, they can choose their next read – be it fact or fiction – from the 15,000 resources available in our school library.

Today, staff and students at Lady Manners School remembered those who gave their lives for their country in war. Students in school watched a specially recorded assembly of remembrance this morning during form time. The video included the reading of a roll of honour of Lady Manners School students who died in the World Wars. They learned the story of one of the former students, John Knowles, who died during the First World War. The whole school then fell silent at 11am as students and staff spent a minute in silent reflection. Our reflections about remembrance have been assisted by the poignant display of poppies on the windows of 7G's form room. Thank you, 7G.

Tomorrow is the deadline for applications for secondary school places. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students next September. In the meantime there is plenty of information on our website at www.ladymanners.net/admissions to help them to get to know their new school.

Year 8 students were treated to a snack during their Food Technology lesson on this, the last day of term. The students were learning about the production processes involved in making crisps. As part of the lesson they learned that, according to crisp folklore, George Crum, who was a black American chef and restaurant owner, is said to have played a central part in the invention and popularisation of the 'Saratoga Chip', now known in the UK as crisps. It was fitting that the students enjoyed a pack of their own Saratoga chips as they watched a video about the mass production of crisps. During our celebration of Black History Month, students and staff have learned of many of the outstanding contributions of people of African and Caribbean descent, across all aspects of the curriculum. The assembly videos featuring special guests talking about their experiences and challenges that have been watched by all students have had an especially big impact. We'd like to thank all those who have helped us to recognise Black History Month.

Saturday 31 October is the deadline for applications for secondary school places. There are videos, resources and plenty of information on our website at www.ladymanners.net/admissions to help students and parents with this important decision. We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students next September.