College Life Lent Term 2023

College Life

Legally Blonde

College production of the same show as seen on Broadway and the West End. Brought to life by our live band - read the full report inside...

High LearningPerformance (HPL)

All you need to know.

Talbot Centenary Dinner

We look back and celebrate 100 years of claret and gold

Canada Trip

58 pupils went on a trip to Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada over Easter - Cornelia S tells us all about it.

Hello!!

I thought this edition of College life would be the perfect opportunity to introduce myself! My name is Ellen Clemo

(pronounced Cleeemo!) and I am the new Marketing Manager here at St Edmund’s College & Prep. Graduating with a degree in Business Management with Marketing I have spent the last six years working within a Marketing environment and am delighted that I can now bring my skills and expertise to our wonderful school.

I have now been at the College for a full term and what a packed term it has been with Open Days, the Careers Fair, working with the Prep School to help them with Tiger Club and a new Nursery book which is coming soon. It was so much fun collaborating with the team on our College production of Legally Blonde which I hope many of you came to watch. I have enjoyed getting to know the students, staff, and parents at both the College and the Prep and a big project that I am currently working on is the redesign of the school website, making it much more user friendly and easier to navigate.

I find creating the content for College Life particularly enjoyable and I hope you find the features and news interesting and informative. Make sure you are following our social media accounts to keep informed of all our news and updates from the College & Prep.

Facebook: @StEdmundsCollegeandPrep @stedmundscollegealumni

Instagram: @StEdmundsCollegeandPrep @alumnistedmunds

Twitter: @StEdmundsWare and @StEdmundsPrep @Alumniedmunds

LinkedIn: stedmundscollegeandprep

Welcome to this edition of College Life.

Our College Mission Cross reminds us that we aim to provide A Christ-Centred Education, reflecting The Scholarship of St Edmund, Education for the Whole Person, never forgetting our Catholic Heritage and our responsibility to Home and the Wider Community

In this edition of College Life you will find examples of all of this, and also the joy and wonder which I hope our pupils are experiencing every day. As I write, the Trinity Term has just begun, the exam season is looming and hard work is underway. But the sun is shining, the pupils are smiling and the place is buzzing. It is a pleasure to share some of this with you in the pages and links which follow.

Matthew Mostyn, HEADMASTER

6th form talks - Sleep & goals

Our Rhetoric students benefited from an inspiring talk from the experts at YouHQ, a life coaching company. YouHQ visited St Edmund’s College to provide students with advice on how to set and reach realistic goals and how to manage their time and energy.

At such a crucial time for our students with revision and exams, YouHQ were able to help the students dealing with the many elements involved with mental health at this time of year, including sleep, stress and so on. They provided advice on how to establish good sleeping habits and how to ensure that their sleep isn't disturbed, whilst also going into detail on how to deal with stress, tools to use and methods to reduce it.

We are very grateful to YouHQ for taking the time to inspire our students and for their commitment to helping them reach their goals, whilst also relaying how important sleep is physically, mentally and academically.

Computer Science lessons...

St Edmund’s College was delighted to welcome back former student Jonathan, who left the school in 2020 to study computer science at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Jonathan returned to the College recently to teach a double lesson on object-oriented programming to both Poetry and Rhetoric 1 students. The students were excited to learn from someone who had recently been in their shoes and to hear about his experience at university. They were enthusiastic and engaged throughout the lesson, and it was clear that Jonathan’s enthusiasm for computer science had been passed on.

St Edmund's College celebrated International Women's Day by putting together a powerful video featuring some of the amazing female staff and students at the College.

The video was narrated by our Head Girl, Whitney, and featured her own written word, asking the question 'What is the point of International Women’s Day?'. Whitney's moving words discussed the importance of women, highlighted some inspiring female leaders and celebrated the achievements of women in the College and beyond.

The video was met with an overwhelmingly positive response and was widely praised as an inspirational piece of work. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Whitney for her hard work in creating this wonderful video which will be used to inspire and empower generations of women to come. You can watch the video using the link below. https:/bit.ly/42202v6

Grammar students also spent time during their P7 activities working on a project for International Women's Day, where they had to choose a woman who has inspired them with their impact in the community (or world) in a positive way. They then had to write about their contributions to society and why they found the women so inspirational. Some great work was produced including pieces on Marie Curie and Serena Williams.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial day was on 27th January. The theme this year was “ordinary people” and students were invited to put their fingerprint onto an outline of the College crest thereby recognising the need for ordinary people to stand up for justice.

Religious theme inspires art...

One of our religious themes for this term has been The Homeless. One of our talented students Anastasiia B who had to flee the Ukraine due to the war, and came to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine Assistance Programme, has created a drawing depicting the homelessness in Ukraine as a result of the current war. We are truly amazed and moved by her work!

Headmaster’s Book

Huge Congratulations goes to all of the pupils listed below who were invited to sign the Headmaster’s Book as recognition for their outstanding work during the past term:

Zoe C 7 Talbot

Scarlet G 11 Poynter

Caspar D 8 Challoner

William Br 7 Poynter

Tajvar B 7 Poynter

Sarah M 7 Poynter

Jaden T 9 Challoner

Oliver G 8 Pole

Jessica B 9 Douglass

Olivia Z 10 Challoner

Anastasiia B 10 Challoner

Jessica B 9 Douglass

Bethany C 12 Poynter

George K 12 Pole

George K 12 Pole

Liam S7 Pole

Ellena K 7 Talbot

Florence B 7 Douglass

Maisie J 7 Poynter

William S 8 Douglass

Uzo E 9 Pole

Luca M (9 Pole)

Megan C (9 Pole)

Aran A (8 Pole)

Zak J (10 Talbot)

Gabrielle D (7 Poynter)

Sarah M (7 Poynter)

History

English

Mathematics, Geography & History

Raising money for charity

Raising money for charity

English

Edmundian Spirit

Geography

English

Geography

English & creating a poster for Chapel prayers

English

Helping with the sleepout

Helping with the sleepout

Public School Fencing Competition

Creating a Pentecost Poem in RE &

Creating a World Book Day Jam Jar

Creating a Pentecost Poem in RE

Creating a World Book Day Jam Jar

Creating a World Book Day Jam Jar

Mathematics

English

English

Mathematics

English

Faith in Action

Science

English & writing a poem about Pentecost

Morocco trip

Easter Egg Collection

French Exchange

French teachers from the Institution St Jean in Douai paid a visit to St Edmund's College to meet with the Poetry pupils and talk about the possibility of setting up an email exchange and student visits.

Both schools are excited about the prospect of this international exchange and hope to be able to work together to make it a reality. The teachers from Douai were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the pupils at St Edmund's, and hope to be able to welcome some of them to their school soon.

The Institution St Jean in Douai already have an extensive international programme, with students from all over the world visiting the school and experiencing their unique French culture. St Edmund's College are looking forward to the possibility of becoming part of this programme, as they believe it will be a great experience for their students.

The two schools will be continuing to work together to make this exchange programme a reality and look forward to the day when pupils from both schools get to experience the unique cultures of each other's countries. With this exchange programme, both schools are hoping to build lasting relationships that will help to grow their international connections.

At the end of the Michaelmas Term, 30 students and staff left the snow and ice behind at Old Hall Green and headed for the sunshine in Morocco.

From snakes in Marrakesh, camel rides into the Sahara, plate tectonics in the Atlas Mountains, starry nights camping in the sand dunes, playing football with village boys and tagines... we did and loved everything. We will be back!

Malachi in Rhetoric 1 arranged to collect Easter Eggs for children that are living in refuges as a result of domestic violence. It was lovely to see students bringing in the eggs for donation. Well done to Malachi for organising this.

24 Poetry and Rhetoric students recently visited the CERN research facility near Geneva, the famous centre for particle physics research and the home of the Large Hadron Collider.

physics.

They were treated to a tour that included the control room of the incredible ATLAS detector (part of the LHC), where the Higg’s Boson was first detected, and the CERN Data Centre, which handles mind-boggling quantities of data from the LHC.

Blessed with some fabulous Spring weather allowing them to take in the stunning views of Mt Blanc and the Jura mountains.

CAREERS FAIR 2023

It was an absolute delight to see so many exhibitors at our Careers Fair on the 10 March. We are extremely grateful to all the parents, alumni, universities, and employers that gave up their time to share their expertise with our students, travelling from as far away as Lancaster, Stirling and Strathclyde. The day started with a series of talks on a range of careers including the military, financial services, STEM and NHS careers, and the diverse range of courses available at university.

It was pleasing to see our students making the most of the opportunity to attend talks and to visit the Careers Fair in the afternoon. For the first year, Elements and Rudiments had the opportunity to attend, and many students made the most of this fantastic opportunity. The exhibitors were full of praise for the mature and enthusiastic way our students conducted themselves throughout the day. We look forward to hosting an even bigger event next year!

Bradley

Snell

, Head of Careers

The students learnt about the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang, what the scientists and engineers do at the CERN research facility, and how CERN has contributed to the world far beyond the realms of

Talbot Centenary Dinner

100 years of claret and gold

Talbot House was founded in 1922 as one of the three original houses at the College (alongside Challoner and Douglass).

Named after Bishop James Talbot, it was initially located in the area currently occupied by the staff common room and ground floor IT room, and had its own common room, dining room and boarding accommodation. Whilst the location within the school has changed, it has always been at the very heart of College Life and has seen over 2,500 students embracing the claret and gold, winning the Grand House Challenge 22 times along the way.

The House Dinner this term was a focal point for celebrations and following a wonderful dinner, parents joined for postdinner entertainment with music from Raiden Z, Gonzalo T and another rendition of the House Song and speeches from the Elements tutor group and House Captain, Joshua C reflecting on his experiences of all things Talbot.

In the last week of term, we have also seen the first of the centenary daffodils and tulips that students planted behind the crucifix start to flower, which will leave a longer lasting reminder of our first 100 years.

Ski Trip to Canada

On the last Wednesday before we broke up for Easter, Mr Jones and his team took a group of 58 pupils to Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. The flight from Heathrow went smoothly and soon enough we were on the coaches heading to our hotel. I can only assume it was a pleasant journey as I, along with others, fell asleep shortly after leaving.

Upon arriving at the hotel at 19:30 Canadian time, we sorted out into the rooms we would be staying and had a small walk to a quaint, local restaurant for a late dinner. We had a very early start the next day in order to eat breakfast, sort out kit and find our ski groups.

The next few days began with an early morning ski down to breakfast, often spotting deer on the way, and were then filled with lots of skiing with our instructors and teachers. We were kept very busy in the evenings with activities such as a water park, doing a treasure hunt, laser tag and escape rooms. The skiing here was amazing as we covered many routes and had a chance to learn 360 degree turns, ski jumps and navigating our way through thick glades on double black diamond runs. Throughout our time on the mountain, we definitely experienced almost every weather condition possible. One day we had to be kitted out with ‘trendy’ waterproof ponchos to battle the rain and there was a blizzard where we couldn’t see 5 metres in front of us! We were also hit with extremely cold temperatures where our coats and hair were frozen solid!

On Sunday the weather was glorious and we took a scenic

stroll to Mass in the town of Tremblant. The church was situated by the lake which looked stunning as it was frozen solid with a fresh covering of snow. The Canadian priest kindly gave three pupils the opportunity to do a reading in English and the rest of the service was delivered in French. It was nice to see Mass being done differently and the community were really welcoming.

For our last night, we had a pizza party arranged by our reps which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. This was followed by a quiz set up by Mr Adams which had questions about the teachers in the trip and facts about the area alongside a music round. The winners were the ‘Dino Nuggies’ of which I was a team member and we won a big bag of sweets.

On the final day we visited an outlet shopping mall for some retail therapy before continuing on to the airport to catch our overnight flight back to the UK.

Overall, I can say that we have had a fantastic trip and an amazing time skiing on the mountain. We are very grateful to the teachers who have come with us and have looked after us wonderfully.

By Cornelia S.

I knew choosing to direct and produce Legally Blonde was going to be a huge challenge, not only in terms of the size of the show but the complexities and detail in dance, acting and singing technique it involves. I have no regrets, it was incredible! My second year of directing the College Production here, I know the level of talent we have at St Edmund’s, equalled with the level of maturity and intelligence. A true celebration of the level of rounded education offered here at St Edmund’s.

In September, after a challenging two day audition process in front of a panel of three, Legally Blonde was cast. Each young actor played and suited their characters perfectly, every performer bringing their own personality and intelligence to the show. I have to personally congratulate and celebrate Bella who played the role of Elle, this role is famous for its difficulty and detail, Bella was cool throughout. What this show asks of Elle is not only a high level of vocal technique but a deeper understanding of what it means to be Elle, her story, how to stand up for what you believe in. Bella not only did this but brought a whole new layer to the character. A magical performance, a moment that I hope she and the rest of the cast will never forget.

This Legally Blonde was not the school version,this was the same show as seen on Broadway and the West End.

A show that celebrates believing in who you are and trusting the choices you make.

Brought to life by our live band, directed by the inspiring Musical Director Nick who gave the cast a level of confidence like never seen before. The choreography by our very own Josie McMeechan was incredible to highlight one number specifically “Whipped Into Shape”, lead by the amazingly talented Qmarlah was quite literally breathtaking. No changes were made to make this easier, “Whipped” was high intensity live skipping and singing. The level of fitness required to pull this off is incredible. Have a go, “If you wanna get fit, you gotta get whipped”.

Bringing theatre back to the grounds of St Edmund’s has been my focus since I started the role of Head of Musical Theatre. This comes with many challenges but is all made easier by the truly amazing faculty. I have to personally thank the marketing department for pulling off such perfect front of house displays, posters and even hospitality. The ground staff and porters for quite literally moving goal posts to make sure I have somewhere to store set and props. All members of staff who support our cast and creative team in the whole rehearsal process, it's this empathy and passion for the school and students that allows us to produce such shows at home. A real family feel, Thank you!

Thomas Veasey Head of Musical Theatre

Stations of the Cross

Traditionally Catholic pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent. It is a time to reflect on Jesus’ final journey.

A small group of staff and students met together each Friday. Some weeks students led the reflections and other weeks staff.

Flame 23 was held in Wembley Arena. 10,000 young people came together from all over England and Wales, some even travelling from Ireland.

The theme was “Rise Up” and throughout the day there were speakers, drama and music including Christian rap. The day ended with Carinal Nichols leading Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

14 Students attended and had a wonderful day . One student described it as a mix between Church and a party and another as the best day he’s had all year.

Charity Week

This year the chosen beneficiary of our concerted fundraising efforts was Bakhita House, which is run by Caritas. It helps women who are victims of human trafficking.

We were delighted to welcome Deacon Adrian Cullen to the College to tell us all about the work Bakhita House does, and how they are helping trafficked women with the safety and support they need to begin the recovery process.

Charity Week always has a great atmosphere full of excitement, enthusiasm and determination. There were lots of events including the always popular splat the teacher, staff hockey and football matches, as well as various stalls selling all sorts of food, glitter tattoos and more, all culminating in a wonderful Talent Show.

We are extremely proud to say that through everyone’s efforts we raised over £9,000 for this most deserving of causes.

Well done and thank you to everyone involved.

Fairtrade

The FIA students produced a display on “Endangered foods” namely coffee, bananas and chocolate. These items are endangered due to climate change. The students, dressed as bananas, and ran a Fairtrade Quiz, helping students to reflect on the issues involved. Their prize was a selection of Fairtrade Chocolate.

Retreat Week

In February we welcomed NET back to the College to run our retreats. The retreats were very successful with a nice mix of games, drama, small group work and prayer. The group were inspirational and helped students to reflect on and articulate their faith.

Purple Ribbons

Lent is a season of penitence and preparation, and therefore all students were offered a purple ribbon to wear as a gentle reminder of the season of Lent as they go about their daily life at College.

Lent Prayer Bands

Focusing on Lenten prayer students were encouraged to commit to praying for five people. To help them to remember they were given a prayer bracelet with five knots, one to represent each person they are praying for.

Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday we marked the start of Lent by celebrating Mass with the imposition of the Ashes.

The Rhetoric students who were commissioned at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception were extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion helped with distribution of Ashes. It was wonderful to see the dignity and reverence with which they carry out their role.

High Performance Learning...

What is High Performance Learning?

Global Educator, writer and influencer Deborah Eyre developed High Performance Learning as a philosophy and language framework, rooted in aspiration and achievement for all.

St Edmund’s College and Prep adopt the High Performance Learning philosophy and language. The HPL philosophy believes that we can teach students to be more intelligent and that we should not assume a fixed level of intelligence; there is ‘Room at the Top for more’.

High Performance Learning is a pedagogical language framework which informs language for learning, feedback and assessment for both pupils and teachers at St Edmund’s College. It ensures that pupils have a clear understanding of the tools they need to achieve more highly in a particular area, and that learning is a journey of improvement over time and not a fixed point of success or failure which remains with them.

How can I support my child to understand and practice the characteristics of High Performance?

• Talk to them about what they did to achieve any HPL Rewards they receive.

• Read through the St Edmund’s College Learner posters and pick out some that you could reinforce at home - the characteristics of Hardworking, Agile and Empathetic are good places to start.

• Help them to see failure as part of learning, this helps build resilience and perseverance.

• Keep an open mind with reading, if habits are hard to develop; include magazine subscriptions, cartoon books and audio books in the mix.

STEM Subjects

Mr Jed Allen, PhD student from Nottingham University delivering a session about Academic Research in STEM subjects to Rhetoric 1 Science students.

Visit to Tate Britain

Our Year 11, Poetry students visited Tate Britain to gather artist research for their Examination Project, with the aim of practising High Performance Learning through 'Creating' and 'Meta-thinking'.

Language Leaders Award

Planning, preparing and delivering German and Spanish lessons to Form 5 and 6 at the Prep school. They all demonstrate excellent skills in strategy planning, self-regulation and leadership.

#EveryoneCan Madrid Trip

In February, 88 of our students set off on a 2023 tour to the home of Real Madrid. The four day tour included visits to the training facility, stadium, and participation in international fixtures and mass. Upon arrival, the students met their two local reps, Sergio and Luis, and were given Real Madrid kits for training, ready for their first tournament.

Creative Poems

Pupils in Elements have been writing their own Poems in response to subject of Pentecost

Pentecost

Creative Maths

Luca D in Rhetoric 2 Further Maths proving a result for a tangent line to a hyperbola. In Maths, we require fluent thinking to design an original proof and we need flexible thinking to decide when to abandon a strategy and develop a new one.

Maths is sometimes not considered a creative subject, since we need to first learn the basic skills to allow us to later construct original proofs. However, Maths becomes a subject where creativity is essential for both A-level and University level Maths and beyond.

The Industrial Cadets Bronze award

All of the students worked really hard during our Online Launch Event. They met their mentors from GlaxoSmithKline, and will be working toward Bronze Award.

Jesus now laying in his death bed, ‘They never knew him’, that’s what the disciples said, Jesus’ love disappearing in their hearts, Splitting their trust into many small parts, Scared of what they did to him, So, they hid and lived their lives differently, Very selfish, almost as bad as a sin, But God still loved them unconditionally,

But then the Holy Spirit came down from above, Filling their hearts with irreplaceable loves, Sounding like wind in their ears, And replacing all their fears

Looking like flames and fire, Giving them the strength, they needed, It filled what they desire, And what they really pleaded, Now standing strong, They had the courage to preach, What was there all along, What they needed to teach

Finally, the church has regained its strength, And can speak the word of the lord, Peace is to full length, God’s message has been restored!

After this, the group explored Madrid's city centre, taking in its architecture and shopping for souvenirs. On game day, six teams faced off against local clubs, with Grammar and Syntax emerging victorious in the final fixture. The tour concluded with a mass held at Parroquia de San Dámaso, conducted in Spanish.

Music St Edmund’s... at ABRSM examination

Spring Concert

Towards the end of another action packed term, it was a delight to see many of you at the Spring Concert. The orchestra opened the evening with a performance of Abba’s Mama Mia. There were superb solos, the student led rock bands played brilliantly (and loudly!), the Jazz Band continue to thrive and Cantores and Schola sang a variety of great pieces. It was fabulous to see pupils of every age and stage playing and singing at a high level and, most importantly, enjoying themselves doing so.

Each term there are usually about a dozen pupils who take an ABRSM examination. The Michaelmas term must have been a record as on one day alone over 100 pupils took (and passed!) an exam. Every pupil in Elements was entered as a class for the Initial Choral Examination. The Cantores Chamber Choir took the Advanced Examination and passed with Merit. Alice King took her violin diploma and many pupils took their first ever test. In the Lent term there were two days of examinations and Alice King took her Viola Diploma (passing with Merit) and Noah Czajkowski passed his Grade 8 piano with distinction.

It is our aim to provide a variety of performance opportunities for all pupils. There are regular informal concerts which help pupils to feel comfortable in the lead up to exams and large events like the Michaelmas and Lent concerts. Recently we have had Music and LAMDA showcases which have been a lovely opportunity to see the fantastic work that our students are doing in their lessons. There has also been great success in LAMDA examinations this term.

Celebrating Christian Unity

Following the tremendous singing at the Carol Services, the Choirs returned from their well deserved Christmas break to sing in a wonderful event; a joint service celebrating Christian Unity at Felsted School.

The joint choirs sounded tremendous in Dyson’s Magnificat, Vaughn William’s Let all the World in Every Corner Sing and Stopford’s Ave Maria.

House Music Competition

In February St Edmund's College held its annual House Music event, with the theme 'Locations'. Each House was encouraged to be as creative as possible in their interpretation of the theme, with different groups taking on different styles and genres.

The competition was fierce, with Challoner House taking on a piano solo of 'New York', Douglass House performing 'Waka Waka', Pole House performing a medley of 'Shallow', 'West Virginia', and 'Take Me Home', and Talbot House performing a piano solo of 'We Don't Talk About Bruno'. However, it was Poynter House who won the competition, performing a medley of 'Around the World'.

It was the first time in 30 years that Poynter House had won the competition, and the students were ecstatic to receive the trophy. The event was a great success, with students from all Houses taking part and showing their appreciation for each other's work. It was a great demonstration of the talent and creativity of the students at St Edmund's College.

Horse Box Business

A group of Elements and Rudiments students recently started an ambitious Period 7 business enterprise activity.

The vision: to convert a horse trailer into a Coffee/Snack bar which can be rolled out and used at College events and fixtures. In addition, the challenge is to upcycle as much as possible with the conversion to ensure it is as environmentally friendly as possible. It is early days and there is lots of work to be done but watch this space for updates and further news!!!

Sleep Out

The German Exchange

14 German students accompanied by two teachers from the Arnold-Janssen Gymnsium came to visit their St Edmund’s partners.

We welcomed them with an English afternoon tea but with pancakes too, as it was Shrove Tuesday. Our students were very pleased to be able to show their German friends their homes and school. They enjoyed a packed programme with days out in London and Cambridge, where they were joined by their St Edmund’s partners for an online scavenger hunt around all the key sights and lunch together. On Thursday the Germans accompanied their partners to lessons, which was a totally different experience for them. They were surprised by the longer school day, amazed by our beautiful buildings and somewhat sceptical about the school uniform and the amount of prep! Some German students had the added experience of life in Boarding, which seemed to suit them very well.

St Edmund’s students commented on the benefits of the exchange: “It really helped us develop our speaking and comprehension skills for German and apply our learning into real life. It helped us make friends from other cultures and improve our confidence in new situations”.

The sleepout took place on a cold snowy Friday in March. The students spent the evening discussing issues of homelessness and watching a documentary about homelessness amongst teenagers in Brighton. The evening ended with a candlelit prayer service.

We then settled down on the Chapel floor to try to get some sleep. In the morning we prayed together and the students reflected on their experience and wrote prayers for the homeless.

Science back to School event!

Our Science Week was packed full of exciting activities for our curious young scientists. From the Science Fair to Kings College Medical School and CERN trip, our students had plenty of opportunities to explore science and mathematics. In the staff room, staff members participated in challenges, while in classes, certain subjects made use of Science in the classrooms, including English with morse code and electrical circuits, and French studying the solar system.

Part of the week including the Science back to school evening where we invited parents to the College in the science lab, just as their children would. This informal and enjoyable evening presented some of the topics that their children are studying, in both Science and Mathematics, and gave them the opportunity to take part in some interesting experiments and activities.

One parent said of the event, "Oh my word Mike and I had such a brilliant time last night with the 'back to school' sessions. What a fabulous idea, incredible spread of food and drink - although I was slightly perturbed by drinking from a test tube and started to wonder what it had been used for previously!!!!! We thoroughly enjoyed your Biology double act which was fabulous”.

New York, New York

Over February half term, a group of rhetoricians embarked on a trip to New York City, visiting as many sights as we could fit into one week. Located just a minute’s walk from Times square, our hotel was the perfect place from which to explore the city. Some of the highlights included: a boat tour around the city to see the Statue of Liberty; a tour of the financial district; watching a musical on Broadway; going to Madison Square Gardens to see an NBA game; ice skating in central park; and even climbing to the very top of the Rockefeller center to experience astonishing views of the whole city.

As well as this fantastic sightseeing, we were also given some very educational and thought-provoking opportunities. Spending a whole morning in the 9/11 museum, we learnt so much about this horrific event and the effect it had (and still has) - not only in the US - but around the world. We were also given a tour of the United Nations Headquarters, informing us about how this great organization was formed and its purpose. It was truly incredible to be in the halls where some of history’s most influential figures have changed the world for the better.

To relax our bodies and minds we went for a Sunday’s mass in the majestic St Patrick’s Cathedral, and during our free time we were given the freedom to explore for ourselves and visited China town and Little Italy for a multicultural food experience. It was a really eye-opening trip in many ways and I don’t think that any of us will ever forget it.

Noah C Rhetoric I – Douglass House

Busy Term for CCF

In February, the College hosted a training weekend with 40 Cadets from St Edmund’s Army and RAF sections, Goff’s and John Warner taking part in 2 days of Skill at Arms and leadership training.

In March, 25 Cadets from the College’s Army Section braved temperatures close to zero on Exercise Spring Forward. Designed to develop and test their fieldcraft skills, Cadets took part in a series of fighting and recce patrols during the day and night, sleeping under their shelters. It was a challenging weekend particularly with the weather, and excellent training for those looking forward to representing competing in Ex Cadet Cambrian Patrol, a national CCF competition in the Brecon Beacons this summer.

Alongside this, the RAF section have also managed several gliding trips with Cadets enjoying the opportunity to take to the skies.

Geography Field Trip

In February our Rhetoric 1 students went on a Geography field trip to Scarborough, Kirby Grindenvale. The trip aimed to provide the students with the opportunity to explore the geographical features of the area and to gather data that could be used to help them as they write their Non-Examined Assessment, a 4,000 word independent piece of Geographical research.

During their trip, the students had the chance to investigate the local environment and its features, such as urban microclimates, changing places and urban deprivation, coastal erosion and management, and carbon cycling in different ecosystems. They also enjoyed the beauty of Scarborough, counting pebbles and taking in the fresh sea air. We found the students have come away with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will serve them well when writing their independent research.

Whipsnade Zoo Workshops

In February our Rhetoric 2 Biologists and Psychologists went to Whipsnade Zoo to take part in some course specific educational workshops. Whipsnade Safari park, part of the same Zoological Trust as London Zoo (ZSL), is situated high up on Dunstable Downs with wide open enclosures for the animals and beautiful views across the Chiltern Hills.

The first educational session aimed at A-Level Biology students started exploring how zoos have changed over the last two centuries to allow them to truly appreciate the role of the modern zoo. The students discovered more about how zoos work to protect wildlife, not only in situ but also ex situ, in various places around the world, allowing them

ultimately to bring species back from the brink of extinction. This reinforced what they have already studied about zoos engaging in scientific research, captive breeding programs, reintroduction programs and education of the public.

Secondly, the A-Level Psychologists, took part in a hands-on Chimpanzee Behaviour Case Study to explore some of the reasons why we consider some animals as 'intelligent' and others as 'non-intelligent'. The students were able to gain first-hand experience at carrying out a 'real-time' sampling using an ethogram. They also gained an appreciation of the benefits to welfare of 'operant conditioning' at the zoo so handlers are able to safely carry out medical check ups with minimal stress to the animals.

Of course, it was also important to have some time to explore and see all of the other animals in the zoo. Highlights included the tiny baby Asian elephant called Nang Phaya and the playful Wolverines enjoying the early February sunshine!

Author Visits

We were delighted to welcome Matt Oldfield, author of the hugely popular football biographies for 9-13 year olds, to our school. Mr Oldfield spent the day speaking to students about his books, offering advice and insight into the world of writing. He also visited a class to give them the skills and tools to write their own novel, assisting them with pointers on how to start a story line.

The students were thrilled to have the chance to meet Mr Oldfield and learn more about the craft of writing about footballers. Many said they found his stories of writing success to be inspiring and motivating.

Boys Sport Elements

The Elements team had a good term, enjoying fine wins against Richard Hale, Wellingborough and Dame Alice Owen. The side played some delightful football, with great energy, enthusiasm and dedication. There were some outstanding performances this term and an enjoyable penalty shoot out victory against St Columba's in the last fixture of the season.

Rudiments

The season began with an excellent cup run, which sadly ended in the Quarter Final stages. However, there were some enthralling victories against Sandringham, Richard Hale, Wellingborough and Dame Alice Owens. The students thoroughly enjoyed the football term and played some excellent football in fixtures.

Grammar

The Grammar students began the season with an early second round exit in the cup to Verulum School. However, the side bounced back from defeat and recorded some outstanding results against Forest, Sandringham, UCS and Haileybury. However, the notable result of the season was against Wellingborough where the team won 8-0. An excellent term of Football. Well done.

Syntax

We also welcomed the best-selling author Christopher Edge to St Edmund’s College. Edge’s latest book, “Escape Room,” is a thrilling mystery novel that has been well-received by both young adults and adults alike. Mr Edge interacted with the students, talking to them about his book and the creative process of writing, and encouraged them to pursue their own creative endeavors. He then proceeded to demonstrate one of the “escape rooms” from his book. He showed the students how the room operates and answered any questions they had about the structure. The students were enthralled by the demonstration and were eager to attempt the challenge themselves.

After his talk the students had the opportunity to ask him questions about his work and then get their books signed. The visit was a truly memorable experience for the students, and one they will not soon forget.

The Syntax side enjoyed some high scoring football matches this term. The team provided excellent football for the supporters. As they approach senior football next year, it is exciting to see what the squad are capable of in the future. Recorded wins against Richard Hale, Wellingborough, Brooke House, Sandringham and Dame Alice Owens were the highlights of the season.

Seniors

The Senior side made continued improvements this term, despite absences through injury. They displayed excellent leadership, and teamwork in all fixtures. The performance against Brooke House was an excellent performance which highlighted what the side are capable of when on form. Some exciting draws against Bancrofts and Bishop’s Stortford High School were highlights of the season.

Academic Reading

We held meetings with Academic Scholars and High Achievers from Grammar and Syntax to discuss the importance of academic reading for their personal development. The discussion started with a simple question: 'why do we need books?'

At the end of discussion, the students were tasked with choosing a book which would best support their academic progress. Each student picked one book and has a few weeks to read it and then complete a Student Book Review. There will be a follow up meeting afterwards to see how they got on.

A fantastic term of Girls Sport...

It has been an action-packed term for the girls, with over 65 fixtures planned across the term, whether this be in local area, down to Aldershot or up to Liverpool the girls have been outstanding.

The U12C team has worked tirelessly as a team this season which has resulted in four out of five victories, in what has been some thrilling fixtures where we have pipped the opposition to the win.

The U12A team has also demonstrated their dominance this season with five victories, with their most noticeable performance against Chigwell winning 25-3.

The U13A team have been a credit to the College this season. They are County Plate Champions where they beat Royal Masonic School for Girls in the final 40-5. A great performance from the whole squad, who continued to push themselves until the final whistle despite a convincing victory. This achievement was not to overshadow their performance in the Independent Schools Netball Competition where they have reached the plate final to face Birkenhead School up in Liverpool. Having left school on a Thursday afternoon to play on the Friday, the game was abandoned during the third quarter due to the court conditions, we look forward to replaying the fixture at the start of the Trinity Term. The U13B team had an excellent performance against Queenswood, where they were victorious by 25-0. An outstanding performance to be able to keep the opposition to a goal less score. This was followed by an exceptionally tense and well fought game at Forest school, where the team pulled together in the final quarter to win 11-8.

The U14s have had some exceptionally close contested games this season and as a result lost two fixtures by one goal. A standout performance was against Dame Alice Owens Schools where the team won 17-12.

The U15s have had a difficult season but finished the season in an excellent battle against Chigwell school. The last quarter saw the team make an impressive come back to be one goal behind at the final whistle. A game where time got away from the team, thirty more seconds and the victory could have been ours.

The senior team have had great fun this season and new friendships have been formed from Poetry to Rhetoric 2. Having won the first game in the Independent Schools Netball Competition against Stamford school 32-17 the season was looking promising. However, a second round defeat stopped the winning ways for the team. Across the season the girls had some exceptionally close performances losing to Brentwood by a goal, Forest by three goals and the same for SWCHS.

We thank all the girls for their commitment, good humour and positive netball term. We look forward to seeing you all go from strength to strength as you move through the College.

Fencing Competition

We attended the annual Public School Fencing Competition, which took place in North London.

Students from public schools all over the country had gathered to demonstrate their skills in the sport and 87 were taking part in the senior boys foil category. The competition was an exciting event to watch and the standard of fencing was high. George, one of the competitors, managed to put in a strong performance and narrowly missed out on progressing further, finishing in 26th place. All the competitors of all levels should be proud of their performance at the event. George especially can be proud of his 26th place finish in such a tough field. The Public School Fencing Competition was a great success and all those who attended or took part can be commended for their efforts. The competitors demonstrated a great level of skill and dedication and it was a thrilling event to watch.