Diversity Day 2026

 

Despite the heat it was amazing to see the whole staff team and pupils out in the sunshine smiling, dancing, enjoying ice poles, and playing with bubbles and just being united after break today. We are so proud of our school community everyday but today was special! 

We had a lovely speech given to us from our lovely Headteacher Mr penfold, which detailed what Diversity Day means to The Polygon and highlighted how important it is to accept others. 

Diversity day is about celebrating the amazing diversity in our school community and celebrating all the wonderful complexities of people that make us individuals. The rainbow flag may represent the LGBTQ+ community but pride is so much more. Pride celebrates all types of diversity. All races, religions, disabilities, genders, identities and socio-economic backgrounds. 

Pride is a celebration of love 

Pride is a celebration of acceptance 

Pride is a celebration of kindness

All people have the right to be treated equally and be respected no matter what background they come from and that is what Pride is a celebration of.

Our staff team are so proud of our pupils!

Enjoy the sunshine!    

ASDAN PSHE: Engagement Pathways

PSHE: Emotional Wellbeing

Pupils on the Engagement Pathway have been working through the PSHE Short Course ASDAN award. This has been quite successful through this year, with clear structure and easy to follow activities to support the learning content.

 

Module 1 of this course is Emotional Wellbeing. The aim of this module is to develop young people’s understanding of emotional wellbeing and mental health. It provides opportunities to learn about, and practise, strategies that recognise and support good emotional wellbeing.

 

Firstly, we learned about how being connected to others can improve emotional wellbeing and we explored how we can practice this in our own day to day lives. Pupils created posters on what activities could support improved mental wellbeing.

Next, we focused on common types of mental ill health, where pupils were given space to research different issues and learn more about illnesses which they may or may not have heard about before. Pupils did some great writing pieces about what they learned.

Following on from this, the pupils completed some work around recognising the early signs of poor mental health, and we created checklists on what we signs we can look for in ourselves and other people.

Finally, we looked at activities that can promote positive emotional wellbeing. We explored physical exercise, time outdoors, community participation and volunteering. Pupils were given the choice to then create a short film or a poster of their research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police and Crime Commissioners Awards

Last night Mrs Foster and Mr Betlem got dressed up and took two of our KS4 students to attend the Police and Crime Commissioner Awards. We were joined by Professor Donna Peberdy and Fergus Mclean from Solent University and the Screening Sexual Violence project.

                         

We were all invited following our nomination in the Partnership Working category for our film Now Your Turn. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the collaboration behind the project and the important message the film shares. Unfortunately Wayne K, also an integral partner in the project, wasn’t able to join us on the evening, but we continue to keep him updated and involved. It was a proud moment to represent the partnership and the young people who helped bring this project to life.

If you havent seen our film yet check it out through the Screening Sexual Violence resource. Link below. 

https://screeningsexualviolence.com/now-your-turn/

We enjoyed a lovely meal in the Hiltons Beefy’s Lord Botham Restaurant before walking the red carpet, checking our coats and heading into the awards ceremony with our complimentary J2Os!

Although we didn’t come away with the winner’s glass trophy this time, we are incredibly proud of the nomination and look forward to receiving our certificate. The two KS4 students who attended were fantastic ambassadors for the school, and we had a wonderful evening filled with lots of laughs and the great company of Donna and Fergus. The evening was rounded off perfectly with a sneaky McDonald’s ice cream on the way home (thank you Mr Betlem!).

We are so proud of our students!

Yellow Door - Star Project Sessions WK1.

Communication and Healthy Relationships

This week in PSHE we were introduced to Jess from the Star Project. The focus of the lesson was learning how to communicate respectfully and thinking about how our communication affects others.

To start the lesson, we introduced ourselves and then played an icebreaker activity involving Lego. In this activity we had to give and follow instructions to build something out of Lego, which tested how clearly we could communicate and how well we could listen.

During the activity there were moments where people felt frustrated or impatient, especially when the instructions weren’t very clear or when several people were talking at once. It showed how important clear communication is. Sometimes it was difficult to trust the instructions because we couldn’t always see what the other person was trying to describe, so we had to rely on listening carefully.

Some people may have felt rushed during the task because others wanted to finish quickly. When someone made a mistake, they might have felt judged even if no one meant to make them feel that way. It also became clear that when one person had most of the control in the activity, it could feel unfair or frustrating for others who didn’t get as much of a chance to contribute.

Later in the lesson we discussed “red flags” and “green flags” in relationships. A key point was that power in a healthy relationship should be equal. Both people should respect each other and make decisions together.

We also talked about trust. For example, going through your partner’s phone is not healthy because relationships should be based on trust and respect for each other’s privacy. Another topic we discussed was time spent together. Spending time with a partner is important, but it is also healthy to have your own friends, hobbies, and interests.

Finally, we talked about personal choices, such as clothing. It isn’t okay for someone to control what their partner wears. People should be able to make their own choices and express themselves.

Overall, the lesson helped us understand how important respectful communication, trust, and equality are in healthy relationships.

We have three more sessions with Jess where we will explore different topics for both KS3 and KS4 students. If anyone has any questions about our work with Yellow Door or PSHE in school please email or call Mrs Foster.

No Limits Visit: Exploring Drugs and Their Effects

This week, KS4 students took part in a No Limits workshop focused on drug awareness, health, and safety. The session encouraged open discussion, questions, and learning in a safe, non-judgemental environment.

Exploring the Drugs Box

Students explored the Drugs Box, which helps explain different classes of drugs and how they affect the body. A key focus was understanding the risks of illegal drugs, particularly how mixing drugs with alcohol can greatly increase the risk of serious harm.

Health, Safety, and the Law

The session also covered important health and legal information, including:

• Why it’s safe to be honest with healthcare workers about drug use
• The legal consequences of carrying, making, or supplying illegal drugs
• Short-term and long-term health effects of substances such as alcohol, nicotine, ketamine, and steroids
• The dangers of sharing needles and the risk of serious infections
• What to do in an emergency, including if someone passes out due to alcohol

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Interactive Kahoot Quiz

To check understanding, students took part in an interactive Kahoot quiz. Questions covered topics such as vaping, mixing substances, recognising risk, and knowing when and how to get help. The quiz encouraged engagement while reinforcing key safety messages.

Why Do People Use Substances?

An important part of the discussion explored why people may use drugs or substances. Students shared thoughtful ideas, including:

• Curiosity and peer pressure
• Social reasons or boredom
• Mental health and coping with stress
• Wanting to fit in or look a certain way
• Influence from social media or celebrities
• Performance enhancement
• Addiction or habit

This helped students understand that substance use often has complex reasons, and that support and education are essential.

The Winners! 

Key Takeaway

The No Limits Visit helped students build knowledge, ask questions, and develop skills to make safer, informed choices. The session reinforced the message that help is always available and that understanding the risks can protect both ourselves and others.

We thank the No Limits team for delivering another engaging and informative session.

Thank you Gerson, Sal and Emma!

Careers Spotlight: Learning About Youth Work with No Limits KS4

As part of our PSHE and careers learning, students recently took part in a session led by No Limits, a local organisation that supports young people across our community. The session helped students understand both the role of youth workers and the real-life challenges young people may face, while also highlighting youth work as a possible career pathway.

Real Stories: Becoming a Youth Worker

The session began with Gerson and Emma sharing their personal journeys into youth work. Students heard about:

• What inspired them to work with young people

• The skills and qualities needed for the role

• How youth work can make a positive difference in young people’s lives

This helped students see youth work as a real, achievable career, rooted in empathy, communication, and community support.

What is No Limits?

Students explored who No Limits are and the services they offer to young people. This included viewing an animated video explaining:

• How young people can access support

• The different services available

• How No Limits works alongside schools and communities

Students were also guided through the No Limits website to better understand how young people can seek help when they need it.

Understanding the Role of a Youth Worker

Students learned that youth workers:

• Listen, rather than lecture

• Help young people think through their choices

• Share clear, honest, age-appropriate information

• Support young people to stay safe

• Take action if someone is at risk (safeguarding)

A key message throughout the session was that the focus of youth work is support, not punishment, helping young people feel heard and empowered to make safer choices.

What is Detached Youth Work?

The session introduced students to detached youth work, which involves youth workers meeting young people in their own communities, such as parks or local spaces, rather than expecting them to attend a building-based service.

Students discussed why this approach can be effective and how it helps reach young people who may not otherwise seek support.

Exploring Risks Young People May Face

Through discussion, students identified challenges young people can experience in the community, including:

• Drugs and understanding their consequences

• Personal safety and environmental risks (such as poor street lighting)

• Peer pressure

• Mental health challenges

• Difficulties finding employment

• Money and financial pressures

These conversations helped students reflect on risk, safety, and support, and understand where trusted adults and services can help.

Creative Activity: Designing the Perfect Youth Service

To finish the session, students took part in a creative activity where they designed their ideal youth service. This encouraged them to think about:

• What young people need to feel safe and supported

• What services would be helpful

• How youth workers could best engage with young people

This activity developed teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing learning from the session.

Why This Matters

Sessions like this support students’:

• PSHE learning around health, wellbeing, and safety

• Careers education by showcasing real-world roles

• Understanding of support services available to them

• Confidence to seek help when needed

We are grateful to No Limits for providing such an engaging and informative session and for helping students understand both the support available to them and the people who work to keep young people safe.

No Limits KS4 Session 2

This week, students took part in their second workshop delivered by No Limits. 

The session supports the PSHE curriculum (2026), particularly the Health and Wellbeing and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) strands, with a focus on drugs, alcohol, vaping, and risk-taking behaviours.

The workshop focused on harm reduction, enabling students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make safe, informed, and responsible choices.

PSHE curriculum links:

Health and Wellbeing

• Understanding how substance use can affect physical and mental health

• Recognising how risk increases with quantity and mixing of substances

• Identifying short- and long-term health risks associated with drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and vaping

• Developing strategies to reduce harm and prioritise personal safety and wellbeing

Living in the Wider World

• Evaluating risk and understanding consequences of choices

• Building decision-making skills in real-life scenarios

Learning activities included:

Activity: Mixing Substances – Risk Ladder (Low to High Risk)
Students explored how different substances present varying levels of risk, including:

• Nicotine pouches

• Caffeine

• Alcohol

• Vaping

• Prescribed substances

• Unknown substances

Key learning points reinforced that:

• Risk increases with the amount used

• Risk increases when substances are mixed

• Unknown substances carry significantly higher risk

Steroids and Needle Use (Health Education)

• Understanding the impact of steroids on hormones and muscle development

• Awareness of long-term risks such as heart disease, liver damage, hormonal imbalance (e.g. acne, swelling), canver and mood changes (including ‘roid rage’)

• Understanding risks linked to needle use, including infection, HIV, hepatitis, and scarring

This session supports students in developing health literacy, risk awareness, and protective behaviours, as outlined in the PSHE curriculum (2026).

                                                                   

Any questions please call Mrs Foster or use information above to contact No Limits. 

PSHE – Vaping Awareness

 

Year 8 students have taken part in some fantastic discussions around vaping and its health, financial, and environmental impacts. As a starter to the topic, students watched the Jordan North documentary, which sparked thoughtful and mature conversations.

Using LifeLab resources, students explored their own ideas and viewpoints, developing strong oracy skills as they debated key issues and organised their arguments effectively. All lessons fully adhere to the new 2025 PSHE curriculum.

One Year 8 group asked for the documentary link so they could watch it again at home with parents or carers:

👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xj1p/jordan-north-the-truth-about-vaping 

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Foster.

No Limits KS4 - Drugs Education

 No Limits Organisation Visit - Session 1. 

This week, students took part in an engaging workshop led by the No Limits organisation, focusing on drugs, alcohol, vaping, and making informed choices.

The session included discussions on energy drinks, their ingredients, legal age limits (16+), and health impacts. Students also learned that speaking honestly to a healthcare professional is confidential and will not get them into trouble unless there is a safeguarding concern.

Key topics included the risks of mixing drugs and alcohol, vaping and nicotine addiction, and the health effects of substances such as alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and ketamine. Students explored drug classifications, the ABC law model, and took part in interactive group activities.

Group discussions highlighted the short- and long-term effects of alcohol and nicotine, including mental health, physical health, cancer risks, and social pressures, as well as the serious risks linked to ketamine use. The real-life financial cost of drug habits was also explored.

Future sessions will cover quitting strategies, healthy alternatives, performance-enhancing drugs, illegal THC vapes, safer choices, and support.

A big thank you to Gerson, Sal and Emma for the engaging sessions today. 

All sessions adhere to the new 2025 PSHE curriculum. 

Any questions please speak to Mrs Foster or contact No Limits.

nolimitshelp.org.uk