Secondary Parents' Bulletin 05.11.26
Executive Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful half-term break. It is a pleasure to welcome everyone back as we begin the second half of the Autumn Term.
As many of our families prepare to celebrate Diwali and Govardhan Puja, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all those observing these important festivals. May this special time bring happiness, peace, prosperity and the opportunity to spend meaningful time with family and loved ones.
I would also like to provide some clarification regarding our Govardhan Puja school closure day. The school's closure date was determined and published over a year ago using the festival information available at that time. Whilst we understand that the date for Govardhan Puja has subsequently moved to Tuesday 10th November (in Indian time zone), UK celebrations are planned for Monday 9th November. The school is unfortunately not in a position to alter its published closure arrangements. Therefore, the school closure day will remain on Monday 9th November as previously communicated. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
A reminder also that the school will be closed on Friday 6th November for an INSET Day. Our staff will be focusing on their further development of Spiritual Insight, and we are delighted to be joined by Nitesh Gor, whose expertise will support our ongoing work in developing the distinctive character and ethos of our school.
Looking ahead, we have an exciting and important term planned. Key events include:
School Improvement Board reviews for both the Primary and Secondary phases.
Secondary Celebration of Achievement Awards Event, recognising the accomplishments and contributions of our students.
Secondary trip to see Leicester Riders.
Year 7 trip to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Secondary Music Showcase, providing an opportunity to celebrate the talents of our young musicians.
A range of Primary Christmas events for pupils and families.
Our whole-school Christmas Jumper Day, bringing our all-through community together in festive spirit.
Alongside these events, the senior leadership team will continue to focus on ensuring that the school is fully prepared for inspection. As we are within the current Ofsted inspection window, we anticipate that an inspection is likely to take place during the Spring Term. Our focus remains firmly on providing an exceptional education for every pupil, strengthening outcomes across the school, and continuing the journey of improvement that our community has worked hard to achieve together.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to working in partnership with you throughout this term and sharing many successes and celebrations in the weeks ahead.
With best wishes
Miss V Bardsley
Head of Secondary's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
A warm welcome back to the Autumn 2 half term. I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful break and had the opportunity to spend quality time together.
I would like to begin by thanking Mrs Bridgmohun and all staff who contributed to making our recent Diwali Festival Day such a memorable success. The day provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Diwali and it was fantastic to see so many students engaging enthusiastically in the activities and learning experiences on offer. The vibrant colours, traditions, and sense of togetherness created a truly special atmosphere across the school, reflecting the diversity and inclusivity that we value so highly.
Our Year 10 and Year 11 students also enjoyed a fantastic educational visit this week to watch a live performance of A Christmas Carol. Experiences such as these bring learning to life and help deepen students' understanding of the texts they study in the classroom. We are grateful to Mrs Bali who planned and organised the enrichment opportunity ensuring that our students were able to benefit from this enriching opportunity. Thank you to our wonderful PTFA for supporting this event so that all our KS4 students can watch this production in our school.
This half term is set to be another exciting and productive one. Alongside our continued focus on high-quality teaching and learning, students will be taking part in a range of important events and activities, including Spanish speaking mock examinations, flu vaccination sessions, Year 11 Parents' Evening, Trust educational visits, Christmas Jumper Day, and our first Music Showcase. These opportunities play an important role in enriching students' experiences, celebrating their talents, and supporting their academic success.
A reminder that our Annual Celebration Awards Evening will take place on Thursday 26th November at 5.00pm. This special event recognises the achievements, commitment, and successes of our current students and Year 11 Class of 2026. Invites will be sent to parents of nominated students in due course. We look forward to celebrating with students and their families and acknowledging the hard work that has contributed to their success.
Finally, I would like to wish you and your families a very happy Diwali. May this festival of lights bring happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity to your homes.
Warm regards
Ms N Kholia
Mapping Creativity - Parent & Carer survey
As part of our Avanti Arts Project, we would like to offer our Parent and Carer community the opportunity to offer their thoughts and opinions on creativity within education.
Calendar Updates
Friday 6th November: INSET staff training day ( School closed for students )
Monday 9th November: Diwali & Govardhan Puja (School Closed)
Thursday 12th November: Flu Vaccinations
Friday 13th November: Shrila Prabhupada disappearance day
Department / Student Updates
Diwali – The Festival of Lights
A Little Light, a Lot of Heart
There was so much to treasure in our secondary Diwali and Govardhan celebrations: students leading kirtan, colourful traditional clothes, the energy of Garba and moments of quiet devotion. Together, they made a beautiful day of celebrating our faith and sharing its joy. At the heart of it all were Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, beautifully dressed in Their new outfits, with the altar lovingly decorated with fruits, flowers and diyas. Students created rangoli, enjoyed dramatic storytelling of the Ramayana and tested their knowledge through lively Kahoot quizzes. Hearing our young people lead the singing of Krishna’s holy names was especially meaningful: they were helping bring our school’s spiritual heritage to life.
Each sacred story offered something to carry beyond the celebrations. Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, welcomed with rows of lamps, reminds us to welcome goodness into our lives. His integrity, Sita’s courage and Hanuman’s devoted service encourage our children to do what is right, persevere through difficulty and help others without expecting recognition.
Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to shelter the people and animals of Vrindavan reveals His loving protection. It also invites us to consider whose shelter we can become - by standing beside someone who feels alone, offering help or caring for the natural world. During our Kartik lamp offerings, we remembered Mother Yashoda trying to bind mischievous young Krishna with rope. Every length remained too short until, moved by her loving effort, Krishna allowed Himself to be bound. Known as Damodara, He teaches us through this tender pastime that even the unlimited Lord is won over by love.
As Krishna says: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.” — Bhagavad-gita 9.26
For a young person, there is something reassuring here: an offering need not be grand to be precious. A small lamp, a sincere prayer or time given kindly can hold great meaning. And, of course, no festival is complete without a feast! Paneer, samosas, chutneys, pickles, salad, naan, biryani, raita and much more brought everyone together around a shared meal. Rooted in our ISKCON and Vaishnava tradition, the day welcomed students of every faith and background, with each person’s beliefs respected. Through creativity, music, reflection and food, everyone had a way to connect and belong.
Thank you to everyone who made these moments possible. These are experiences we hope our children will remember: being trusted to lead, having something worthwhile to offer and feeling part of a caring community.
Wishing all our families a happy Diwali, whether you celebrate or share in our school’s joy. May this be a time to draw closer to those we love and bring light into someone’s life through kindness, generosity and care.
Hare Krishna!
Year 10 and 11 ‘A Christmas Carol’ Production
On Wednesday 4th November, the Avanti Fields English Department proudly hosted live performances of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ for our Year 10 and Year 11 students by the Dickens Theatre Company. This unforgettable experience brought the GCSE text to life, transforming the classroom page into a dynamic, immersive theatrical world.
Students had the rare opportunity to understand the text in a diverse way. The performances not only deepened their understanding of key themes and characters but also boosted their confidence and enthusiasm as they prepare for their GCSE examinations.
It was an inspiring day that showcased our commitment to enriching learning through memorable, high‑quality experiences. Thank you to our PTFA for generously funding this invaluable experience and for their continued dedication to championing the Arts within our school community.
Spanish Updates
El flamenco - El Rincón Hispano #5
Edition 5 of our Avanti Fields Spanish cultural poster is out!
In this edition, find out about...
El flamenco
iOlé! - Bravo! / Well done!
Flamenco is an artistic expression that fuses singing, dancing, and guitar playing. It was born in Andalusia, in the south of Spain, and is included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. It is an exciting tradition because it expresses very intense emotions.
See the poster to find out more...
🎄 Avanti Fields Joint Christmas Card Fundraising Project
This Christmas, our Avanti Fields Primary and Secondary schools are joining together for a special fundraising project! Pupils are invited to create their own Christmas artwork on A4 paper, which can then be turned into personalised Christmas cards and other gifts featuring their own designs.
To take part, simply visit mycardproject.com/order, enter the code MCP6WQ, upload the child's artwork and share the link with friends and family so they can purchase cards and other items featuring the pupil's design. Please note that artwork must be uploaded and orders placed before November.
A percentage of the proceeds will be donated back to the schools. The Secondary School will use its share to support our chosen charities: The Local Goshalla, Action for Children and The Global Hindu Federation, while the Primary School will use its proceeds towards their chosen charity. This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to showcase their creativity while helping to raise money for our schools and wider community.
Poppies Designing and sale
Parents & Carers resources - Autumn term
PTFA Events
Laughter Show with Dr Vyas
🤣 SHE’S BACK! 🎤
After last year’s FULL HOUSE, Dr. Vyas is back with a brand-new show packed with ALL-NEW JOKES!
Get ready for a brilliant night of laughter, fun and unforgettable moments — you won’t want to miss this one!
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW:
Last year was a sell-out, so don’t leave it too late!
Dr Vyas will have you laughing all the way home!
Shree Hanuman Chalisa
Avanti Fields PTFA warmly invites all parents, pupils, families and members of the wider community to join us for our annual Shree Hanuman Chalisa at Avanti Fields School.
The event will take place on Saturday 21st November from 12 noon until 2pm, followed by prasad for everyone attending.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together for an afternoon of bhakti, prayer, reflection and togetherness.
To help us plan the catering and avoid unnecessary prasad wastage, please register your attendance using the QR code on the poster or through TicketSource:
We are also currently raising funds towards a school minibus. Anyone wishing to support the fundraising can contact the PTFA at avantifieldsptfa@gmail.com.
We look forward to welcoming families from across the school and community.
Avanti Fields PTFA
School Lettings Events
Kaashi Arts and Aradhana Arts present
✨ Shraddhanjali - A Musical Offering ✨A special afternoon of Indian Classical Music & Dance, honouring the legacy of Pandit Sharda Sahai Ji and Pandit Ram Shankar Sahai Ji of the Banares Gharana of Tabla. Featuring Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Indian Classical Vocal and Esraj by eminent Guest artists plus Tabla and Kathak performances by students of Sanju Sahai and Jaymini Sahai. Music. Dance. Rhythm. Remembrance.
DATE: Sunday 15th November 2026
TIME: 14:00
VENUE: Avanti Fields, Leicester
For more information , please use the links below:
Whatsapp admin : +44 7515 800 877
