Freddie's Focus
For Parents & Carers
- Issue 144
- December 5, 2025
Freddie's Focus
For Parents & Carers
- Issue 144
- December 5, 2025
Message from the Headteacher
Dear Parents & Carers,
A huge well done to all of Year 11 on their first week of mock examinations – their focus has been extremely positive, and we hope they learn valuable lessons from the process. Whilst we want all students to do well in these exams it is important to remember that grades are not everything at this stage – mocks are primarily about identifying gaps in knowledge and learning from mistakes in preparation for the real examinations in Summer. In the coming weeks, staff will be guiding students through the steep learning curve that comes out of the mock exam process. You will have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teachers at the Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 22nd January.
We have launched this week our Christmas Hamper appeal which supports so many vulnerable families in our community. All donations are gratefully received.
The roll out of YONDR pouches to all year groups is now complete which now makes us a mobile free school. I would like to thank all parents for your support with this important initiative.
As the dark nights and mornings are upon us, it is more important than ever to make sure that you encourage your child to attend school every day. Just one day of absence means 5 missed lessons, as well as lost time spent with friends and doing extra–curricular activities.
Thank-you for your continued support.
Mr Davies
Message from the Headteacher
Dear Parents & Carers,
A huge well done to all of Year 11 on their first week of mock examinations – their focus has been extremely positive, and we hope they learn valuable lessons from the process. Whilst we want all students to do well in these exams it is important to remember that grades are not everything at this stage – mocks are primarily about identifying gaps in knowledge and learning from mistakes in preparation for the real examinations in Summer. In the coming weeks, staff will be guiding students through the steep learning curve that comes out of the mock exam process. You will have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teachers at the Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 22nd January.
We have launched this week our Christmas Hamper appeal which supports so many vulnerable families in our community. All donations are gratefully received.
The roll out of YONDR pouches to all year groups is now complete which now makes us a mobile free school. I would like to thank all parents for your support with this important initiative.
As the dark nights and mornings are upon us, it is more important than ever to make sure that you encourage your child to attend school every day. Just one day of absence means 5 missed lessons, as well as lost time spent with friends and doing extra–curricular activities.
Thank-you for your continued support.
Mr Davies
Things to celebrate
- Last Friday a group of our IT students went to London on residential trip which focussed on the use of IT in society and business. A wonderful experience was had by all.
- This week our Year 11 students have begun their mock exams. These exams will run for two weeks. We are incredibly proud of the way in which they have conducted themselves so far.
- Last week our Year 11 students donated chocolate for the Forgotten Members Dementia Group Christmas Stocking Appeal run by the Union Arms in Tyldesley. The amount collected was outstanding and will make a huge difference to the group.
- Year 10 Art & Design students visited The Whitworth and Manchester Museum on Tuesday engaging in artwork to inspire their current projects.
- Sporting Success this week
We are always excited to learn of any sporting successes outside of school so we can celebrate the student’s achievements. Please email Mr Gregory with any information so we can share with everyone on Freddie’s Focus – gregoryi@flhs.wigan.sch.uk
Sporting Success this week
We are always excited to learn of any sporting successes outside of school so we can celebrate the student’s achievements. Please email Mr Gregory with any information so we can share with everyone on Freddie’s Focus – gregoryi@flhs.wigan.sch.uk
School Reminders
This week we have added new revision materials for our Y10 and Y11 students in the Develop My Knowledge > Subject Specific Revision section for English Literature, DT, Catering, Construction, Sports Studies, and Business Studies, Geography, History and Religious Studies!
School Reminders
This week we have added new revision materials for our Y10 and Y11 students in the Develop My Knowledge > Subject Specific Revision section for English Literature, DT, Catering, Construction, Sports Studies, and Business Studies, Geography, History and Religious Studies!
What we do at Freddie's and why we do it
Self-Evaluation week
Over the course of the academic year, we provide an opportunity for our students to reflect on their learning, achievements, and areas for improvement. This is called our ‘Self-Evaluation’, and it will take place next week. We want all of our students to take ownership of their learning journey and to be able to reflect on what is going well and their next steps. We also ask students to consider any pieces of work that they are most proud of in preparation for their end of year ‘Student-Led Conference’. Please discuss the importance of this week with your child.
Year 7 to Year 10
100 HoY Mug/Earphones/Water Bottle/Skip the queue pass
175 MTA Power Bank/Skip the queue pass/Calculator/£5 Amazon voucher
250 MTA £10 Amazon voucher/Skip the queue pass
350 PDA £15 Amazon voucher/Skip the queue pass
Year 11
100 HoY £5 Amazon voucher/£5 off Prom
150 MTA £10 Amazon voucher/£10 off Prom
200 PDA £15 Amazon voucher/£15 off Prom
How to support your child to become an independent learner
At Freddie’s we set six specific types of homework to broaden, consolidate and enhance learning. All homework is set on ‘Satchel One’. Below are the types of homework that you child can expect:
Applications that we use for learning
The following applications are used by our students during their time at FLHS to aid their learning. You can learn more about them below.
Microsoft Office
Did you know that your child can access Microsoft Office at home for free? As a student at Fred Longworth High School, your child is allowed to download a fully working free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use on their computer, smartphone and tablet whilst they are a student at our school. Click on the button below to learn more.
Satchel:One
Satchel:One is the school online learning platform for students and is the parental portal for all information related to your child’s overall progress within school. You can keep track of your child’s homework using Satchel:One. It is advisable to remind your child to get into the habit of checking their homework on Satchel:One regularly. Relying upon notifications is not the right approach and we advise students to turn off notifications so that they are not disturbed by them.
GCSEPod
GCSEPod is an online study platform and is the perfect resource to help your child learn, retain and recall all the information they need to achieve their GCSE goals. GCSEPod provides 3-5 minute bursts of audio-visual, teacher written learning which can help to reinforce and consolidate key GCSE topics covered in lessons. Experts read and explain everything clearly including all the right facts, quotes, keywords, dates and diagrams on screen. GCSEPod is only available to students in Year 10 and Year 11.
Homework Club
Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday to Thursday where they can complete work in a quiet environment with staff on hand to support them, and computers for online quizzes and research.
Homework Intervention
If your child is not meeting deadlines or completing homework to the best of their ability, their teachers and/or Head of Year will refer them to our homework intervention group. Parents/ carers will receive a letter notifying you and to explain the night that your child will be required and for how long. This is a supportive intervention which is used to get students back on track with homework if they are struggling in this area.
Attendance
We want to do all we can to support your child to be in school every day and ask that you support this important message from home, encouraging your child to avoid missing curriculum content through absence. Here is a breakdown of the absences for the following attendance percentages:
Thank you for your continued support with attendance.
Please encourage your child to be in school every day.
Can we please remind all our parents and carers to use the correct channels of communication should they wish to raise a concern or question. Your continued support is invaluable to us.
Belonging, Engaging, Succeeding Together.
Can we please remind all our parents and carers to use the correct channels of communication should they wish to raise a concern or question. Your continued support is invaluable to us.