Houlton School

01/09/2026

We had a great training day today embedding our new policies as well as and looking at how we improve outcomes for all. 🙌
Staff are feeling energised and excited about the year ahead and are looking forward to welcoming students back tomorrow.

01/09/2026

Important Policy Update: Mobile Phones at Houlton School 📲📲📲

Starting tomorrow, Houlton School is enforcing a strict mobile phone policy to foster a focused, distraction-free learning environment for all students.

What You Need to Know:
Phone Pouches: Students who have purchased a phone pouch will receive theirs tomorrow during registration. All mobile phones must be secured inside these pouches for the duration of the school day.

Alternative Option: If a student has not purchased a phone pouch, they are not permitted to bring a mobile phone onto school grounds under any circumstances.

School Policy & Compliance: In line with national guidance and our school rules, keeping classrooms phone-free is mandatory for all students.

Thank you for your cooperation in supporting our school community, encouraging face-to-face social interaction, and helping our students focus on learning.

For full details on our mobile phone policy or to purchase a pouch, please visit www.houltonschool.co.uk.

01/09/2026

A polite reminder that before students return please remind yourself of the new uniform policy below ⬇️

01/09/2026

👋 A Warm Welcome to Houlton School! 🏫
It’s the start of a new school year, and we are absolutely delighted to see so many new faces joining our online community! If you are a new parent, carer, or student at Houlton School, a massive welcome to you all.
We have noticed a wonderful increase in our followers, and we want to ensure you get the very most out of this page. This is our key platform for keeping you in the loop, and you can expect us to share all sorts of things, including:
📰 School News & Updates: The latest stories and important announcements.
📸 Student Success & Events: A window into the vibrant life of our school and photos of student achievements.
🎓 Parent & Carer Support: Information on upcoming workshops, courses, and helpful resources.
📅 Calendar Highlights: Key dates, whole-school events, and local signposting.
🤝 Community Connection: Promoting opportunities and events in the wider Houlton and Rugby community.
We are so proud of our school and our community, and we believe it’s best when shared. If you find our updates useful, please share this page with other Houlton parents and carers. Let's build our network together!
Thank you for being part of the Houlton School family. We look forward to a successful and inspiring year ahead.

31/08/2026

28/08/2026

Let’s talk about it… does giving your child privacy mean you shouldn’t check their phone? 📱

We talk a lot about respecting our children’s privacy as they get older and rightly so. But privacy doesn’t have to mean their phone becomes a completely closed-off space that we’re suddenly not allowed to ask about, touch or take an interest in.

In fact, one of the best things we can do is make that involvement feel normal from the beginning.

📱 Pick up their phone occasionally.

💬 Ask, “Who are you messaging?” in exactly the same way you might ask who they were talking to after school.

🎮 Ask who they’re gaming with.

😂 Let them show you the ridiculous video everyone’s talking about.

👀 Take an interest in what’s happening in the group chat when everything is going well, not just when there’s a problem.

If the only time you ever ask to see their phone is when you’re suspicious, worried or angry, it’s very quickly going to feel like an investigation. And that’s when the shutters can come down.

This doesn’t mean constantly checking up on them or removing every bit of privacy as they grow.

It’s about establishing something much simpler:

Their online life is part of their life and it’s OK for you to take an interest in it.

And be open about why.

Your job as their parent is to keep them safe. There may be times when something worries you and you need to know a little more about what’s happening on their device.

That conversation is much easier if openness around their phone has always been part of your relationship.

Make openness normal before there’s a problem.

28/08/2026

🌟 Celebrating Our Team: A Summer of Hard Work! 🌟

While our campus has been quieter during the summer break, our staff have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure Houlton School is completely ready for the new academic year.

We want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone on our team who has dedicated their time and energy over the holidays.

It has been a busy and transformative summer across our whole community.

Among the many highlights, we have been:
✅ Preparing for Our Youngest Learners: Getting our new primary school ready to welcome its very first cohort of Reception pupils.
✅ Celebrating GCSE Success: Marking the achievements of our students and guiding them through Sixth Form enrolment.
✅ Upgrading Campus Facilities: Unpacking brand-new Sixth Form furniture and completing a full refectory overhaul to enhance student spaces.
✅ Boosting Campus Safety & Tech: Installing phone magnets for our upcoming phone pouch initiative, upgrading IT systems, and refurbishing our gates and car park—complemented by Urban & Civic’s new ‘School Zone’ parking project.

Beyond these exciting physical updates, our team has been deeply focused on curriculum planning, safeguarding reviews, admissions preparations, and professional development.

So much of this effort happens quietly in the background, but it sets the foundation for everything we achieve together.
Transforming and maintaining a school site takes an immense effort, and we couldn't be more proud of what our team has accomplished.

Thank you to every member of staff for your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm—we can't wait to start the term!

28/08/2026

Back to school details for the start of term 🎒

We hope you’ve had a fantastic summer break! As we prepare for the new school year, please review the return schedule for Wednesday, 2nd September.

Arrival times are staggered by year group, so please ensure your child arrives at their specific start time shown in the poster.

We have sent out a more detailed letter via EduLink yesterday. Please check your emails.

We can't wait to see everyone back and ready to learn! ✨

27/08/2026

Looking for a flexible, impactful way to complete your Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Volunteering section this term?

Following a successful first cohort of 20 young people on their Youth Advisory Panel, a national charity is now recruiting for their Autumn 2026 cohort!
This opportunity is ideal for students in Years 9, 10, 11, and 12 who want to make a difference from home.

Why Join?
* 100% Free & Fully Remote: Complete your volunteer hours flexibly from anywhere.
* Make Your Voice Heard: Share your views on gaming, gambling harms, and the digital world to help shape real national charity work.
* Build Valuable Skills: Develop key experience in communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.
* Official Recognition: Receive a certificate of attendance to upload directly to your eDofE record.
Age Requirement: 13–17 years old

Spaces are limited for the upcoming autumn cohort, so get your application in early to secure your spot!

Do you have an interest in the digital world? Keen to gain experience by volunteering with a national charity and shaping real change? Join the Ygam Youth Advisory Panel and make your voice heard! As a panel member, you’ll: Share your views on how gaming and gambling can affect young people Help s...