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

• 

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 

 

Santa Delivering Presents

Santa made a very special visit to The Polygon School to deliver Christmas gifts to our students! 🎅🎁

The excitement was infectious as students greeted him with smiles and laughter, and it was wonderful to see the joy on their faces as they received their gifts.

A huge thank you to DEOS for making this magical moment possible your generosity and support have made the start of Christmas truly unforgettable for our school community.

We wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! 🎄✨

3NA does Xmas....

Its beginning to look a lot like  Xmas.... 

It was lovely just before our Xmas break in 2025, to spend an afternoon celebrating with all the boys in 3NA, the day after our Xmas class trip to Millbrook Bowling and for laser quest.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all involved with 3NA

4PR Christmas

 

Christmas 4PR

Christmas arrived to 4PR and the pupils did a great job in setting the table, serving food and drinks, and celebrating the day in good spirits. 

There was a visit from the Polygon Santa and a good time was had by all, as you can see.

Christmas at Shirley Swimming Pool

 We had so much fun this morning with our Christmas-themed swimming session! 🎄🏊‍♂️

Check out the photos of students decorating Christmas trees and the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh to deliver presents!

All the students have worked incredibly hard on their swimming this term, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements with ASA certificates in the New Year.

A BIG thank you, as always, to the amazing staff at Shirley Swimming Pool, who welcome us every Thursday.  We can’t wait to be back in 2026!

Christmas Pop Up Shop 2025

The 2025 Pop-Up Shop was another great success and showcased our commitment to sustainability and being an Eco School. This much-loved tradition brings so much festive joy to our school community. We always love the fashion shows around the school and seeing students so proud of their new looks!

Thank you to everyone for your contributions; we couldn’t do this without you.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

Year 7 Oracy - CBeebies Bedtime Stories

 As part of their Oracy lessons, Year 7 pupils have been practising reading stories aloud to younger children. They have focused carefully on developing their expression, fluency and tone to engage their audience.

As a Christmas treat for younger siblings within our school community, two Year 7 pupils were brave enough to record these short clips. A huge well done to them, and Merry Christmas to all our families and wider school community. 🎄

Physical Education At The Polygon School

 This term we are testing the boys' fitness and exercise skills. Once a week KS3 and KS4 pupils will be taking part in an indoor fitness circuit. This will teach the boys to use their: Co-ordination, Balance and Muscular Endurance.

This is an opportunity to work hard in just a matter of seconds, whilst also learning how to set up equipment and clearing away each station at the end of the circuits. Teaching the boys discipline and confidence!

Swimming Autumn Term

As part of our Cross-Curricular PE, PSHE, and Personal Development programme, all students at The Polygon School have the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons.

At The Polygon School, we believe every young person should have the chance to learn to swim and develop vital water safety awareness skills.

We’re proud to have a strong partnership with a small, family-run pool in Shirley, where we hold weekly, hour-long sessions every Thursday. Each class enjoys at least one half-term block of swimming, focusing on building water confidence, improving swimming technique, and working towards ASA Swimming Awards.

As a school, we’re passionate about ensuring every pupil can access this essential life skill — therefore, swimming is fully funded by the school as part of our curriculum.

Autumn Term Highlights

During Autumn 1, 4PR and 3GR completed a seven-week swimming course.

Students made fantastic progress, particularly in Backstroke, focusing on improving arm entry flexibility and learning to use their hands as paddles to generate propulsion through the water. It was brilliant to see KS4 students linking their practical learning to Science (forces) and GCSE PE theory.

Confidence in the deep end also grew enormously, our two non-swimmers made exceptional progress, bravely entering the water with aids and gradually becoming more independent each week.

Students also demonstrated outstanding oracy skills, coaching and instructing one another — fantastic evidence towards our Voice 21 Autumn Challenge!

A huge well done to Callum for swimming an incredible 1000 meters — a truly remarkable achievement!

Links to PSHE statutory curriculum 

Swimming plays a vital role in our PSHE curriculum and supports the outcomes of the 2026 PSHE Framework, including:

• Understanding the benefits of physical activity for mental wellbeing and happiness.

• Learning how to overcome anxiety and barriers to participation through coping strategies and confidence-building.

• Recognising the importance of personal hygiene.

• Understanding that physical activity promotes wellbeing and helps manage stress.

• Exploring the characteristics of a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight and understanding the risks of inactivity.

• Learning to identify and manage risk and stay safe around water, including following the Water Safety Code.

• Recognising and managing peer influence in relation to personal safety.

• Developing lifesaving skills, including how to administer CPR.

Looking Ahead

We can’t wait to welcome 4NT and 3NA to the pool this half term!
Please remember to bring shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops/sliders, even if you’re not swimming, so you can still take part in the water safety elements of the sessions.