College Life Summer 2024 by St Edmund's College and Prep

College Life

Unforgettable India trip

Students had an experience of a lifetime visiting schools who are far less fortunate than us and donating stationery and planting trees in the school grounds

HPL Award

We are proud to announce official accreditation as a HPL World Class School

Enrichment Week

The end of term was bursting with activity in the last week, with trips, sports and problem solving

Colour Run

Students tackled obstacles and were covered in clouds of colour in support of Cancer Research

Welcome to this edition of College Life.

They say that a school which is standing still is a school which is moving backwards. I do not think anyone could ever claim that St Edmund’s ever stands still! There seems to be something exciting and often new happening almost every day, thanks to the commitment and joie de vivre of our pupils and staff. Education – and Catholic education in particular – is about so much more than just the academic. It is about bringing together the academic with the spiritual, the pastoral and the co-curricular in order to form young men and women who will go on to live their lives for others and make the world a better place. As you will see from this edition, our current Edmundians are doing just that.

Matthew Mostyn, HEADMASTER

Colour Run

A kaleidoscope of colour swept through St Edmund's College & Prep School, on Thursday 13th June, as students participated in a charity Colour Run in support of Cancer Research UK. The lively and vibrant event is a highlight in the school’s ongoing charity fundraising efforts, which have already generated more than £13k for the charity during this academic year.

As students tackled an obstacle course in the historic school grounds, they were showered from head to toe with clouds of coloured powders. The enthusiasm and sportsmanship on display throughout the event created a memorable spectacle, with student’s white tshirts covered in a rainbow of colours by the finishing line.

The Colour Run is part of St Edmund’s Charity Week, which features a variety of fundraising activities for students and staff to enjoy. Highlights include competitive football and hockey matches, sponsored car washes, a talent show, the popular ‘soak the teacher’ event and other student-led activities such as bake and pizza sales. Proceeds from the Colour Run will add to the total already raised to date.

British Schools Golf National Finals

A huge congratulations to the boys that competed in the British Schools Golf National Finals. We finished 4th on nett and gross competitions!

Well done to Francis, Lewis, Ronnie and Marcus.

BSA Photography Senior runner-up

We are pleased to announce that Isabelle O has been awarded Senior Category runner-up in the Boarding Schools Association Photography Competition 2024. This is a fantastic achievement –congratulations!

Introducing our new Marketing Manager

Well hello everyone! I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting a some of you at Exhibition Day, a lovely day spent at the College, with lovely company!

Having joined St Ed’s in late May, I’m definitely getting an introduction into the school and school life at it’s best – the peaceful, calm, cool buildings during the May half term break, the energy filled, frenetic pace of end of school year, and the slightly more fun-filled exuberance of the summer clubs who have joined us over the summer break.

With a varied background in print, school product catalogues and generalist marketing, but being new to education, I’m enjoying the new environment, learning about academic structure and meeting a lot of new people both in and around the school, along with our outside contacts. It has been a very large learning curve in the last three months for sure!

I look forward to meeting many of you at future events, please do feel free to say hi if we haven’t been introduced, and you can always reach us on marketing@stedmundscollege.org

Headmaster’s Book

Congratulations 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:

Zavier Sh (8 Pole)

Isabelle L (12 Douglass)

Florence B (8 Douglass)

Concettina M (8 Talbot)

Ellena K (8 Talbot)

Tristan O-F (7 Challoner)

Rosie W (12 Poynter)

Anna B (12 Pole)

Erin M (12 Challoner)

Zara D (12 Talbot)

Inès F (12 Douglass)

Megan Sr (10 Douglass)

Jessica B (10 Douglass)

Liam S (8 Pole)

William S (9 Douglass)

Charlie B (8 Challoner)

Finn Cr (8 Talbot)

Andreas E (8 Talbot)

Patrick R (7 Challoner)

Henry S (7 Douglass)

Holden M (7 Challoner)

Wesley C (7 Talbot)

Samuel O (7 Talbot)

Isla McP (8 Challoner)

Dubem A (8 Douglass)

Ethan F (7 Talbot)

Cosimo C (10 Pole)

Samuel Q (7 Talbot)

Max C (8 Pole)

Amelia J (10 Challoner)

Isabelle L (12 Douglass)

Hemjyot K (8 Douglass)

Representing SEC at MUN 2024

History

Achieving B2 Level in Cambridge English Exam

English

Making a speech at the Talbot House Dinner

Reaching 100 HPLs (by the end of the Easter term)

History

Supporting the A Level Drama students

Helping with GCSE Drama

Reaching 100 HPLs by the end of the Lent term

Learning BSL for his DofE Bronze

Volunteering to read and help during morning prayers

English

Representing the College on Open Day

English

Creating a Pentecost Poem

Devotion to the Chaplaincy

Writing about putting his faith into action

History

German

English

Shaving his head for Charity Week

Singing during Prize Giving

Flute playing during Prize Giving

IELTS examination

Carnegie Reading Challenge

Year 13 Leavers

Here are some wonderful photographs from our Rhetoric Leavers Day celebrations. We wish all our departing students the very best in their future endeavours, whether you’re heading to university, taking a gap year to travel, or starting an apprenticeship.

We can’t wait to hear all about your next adventures, so do stay in touch!

Don’t forget to join our alumni community, simply sign up using the QR code.

The sun was shining as we welcomed just over 30 dogs to the College this year for our Annual Charity Dog Show. Once again the dog show was a resounding success as students and staff brought in their dogs to College to compete in different categories including the popular Agility, Waggiest Tail and Cutest Puppy. Owners showcased their dogs' talents and unique qualities in front of our judges Mrs Holt and Mrs Shepherd and hundreds of spectators. There were several popular breeds such as the beautiful Black Labrador Retriever and the energetic and playful Cockapoo and a few lesser-known breeds like the Glen of Imaal terrier cross and an Lhasa Apso called Forest Gump!

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy as attendees cheered on their favourite furry

Annual charity dog show

contestants and enjoyed voting in the Student Choice round. We loved seeing our Best in Show 2023, Cookie, the calm gentle St Bernard, returning to the College with her new puppy sibling Pepper! This was our most successful year for Veterans - our oldest contestant was 12 year old Betsie. Everyone wanted to stroke tiny Bluey-Bear the Teacup Pomeranian! Woody the Miniature Dachshund wowed everyone by winning the Waggiest Tail with a record breaking 122 wags in 30 seconds!!

All our first place winners gathered in the Main Arena for our final round and after some careful consideration, the judges crowned Toffee as the Best in Show, 2024. Along with her owners, Luca and Thea, Toffee was awarded the Howell Cup. Well done Toffee!

We also thank those who donated prizes to our Tombola especially Chloe from 'The Dog House Ware' for donating a free groom for a lucky pooch.

Not only did the event raise significant funds for the Glanfield Group Charity, which takes children with disabilities and life limiting illnesses to Lourdes on a pilgrimage holiday, but it also brought the community

Poetry leavers day

together, fostering a sense of unity and compassion.

Our Winners were:

Handsomest Boy -1st Harvey (Jamie S), 2nd Doug (Charlie W), 3rd Woody (Noah B)

Best Veteran 1st Betsie (Heidi B), 2nd Zoe (Harry E), 3rd Forest Gump (Samuel P)

Gorgeous Girl (Jnr) -1st Bella (Laylah H), 2nd Fudge (Mrs Marrinan), 3rd Mila (Alex H)

Gorgeous Girl -Joint 1st Toffee (Luca Y) and Hoover (Jessica B), 2nd Clemmie (Mr Mostyn), 3rd Cookie (Maisie J)

Best Trick -1st Rocco (Fabien J), 2nd Wheeler (Bea and Freddie G), 3rd Pepper (Maisie J)

Cutest Puppy -Joint 1st Princess Coco (Grace S-A) and Bluey-Bear (Florence F), 2nd Apollo (Amelie C), 3rd Frida (Jeremy M)

Waggiest Tail -1st Woody (Noah B), 2nd Dexter (James H), 3rd Harvey (Jamie S)

Agility -1st Frida (Mr Manning), 2nd Pepper (Maisie J), 3rd Marley (Ava-Elise S)

Student Choice - Lucy (Emilia-Jane N)

Look

This year, we bid farewell to our Poetry class of 2024. The students spent the day signing each other's tops and saying their goodbyes to friends and teachers. We look forward to welcoming many familiar faces back for Rhetoric at the beginning of Michaelmas term.

out for the new rounds for 2025 soon!

Best in Show = Toffee (Luca and Thea Y)

unforgettable trip to An India

The students on the India trip have arrived home safe and well, having had an experience of a lifetime. A big thank you to Mr Hounsell for organising an unforgettable trip and of course to resident tour guide Mr Mohana.

The trip saw the students visit Bannerghatta National Park where they experienced a jungle safari and were privileged to have sightings of the leopard.

We visited Priyadarshini School in Gangasandra where the students once again played and served lunch to those who are far less privileged than us, as well as donating stationary to the students and planting trees for shade in the grounds of the school.

It was a first time visit to Bishop Cotton Girls' School where our day started with an introduction at morning assembly and the presentation of garlands. Followed by a welcome from the school band, prayers said in the school church and a cultural show put on by the students. The girls then served us lunch, that they had also helped to prepare and following the feast we were thankful to girls for decorating our hands with henna.

The trip was finished with a visit to Mysore to see the palace illuminations and Mr Mohana's village of Sosale. On our travels we were also privileged to see the production of sugars taking place and bricks being made.

It is wonderful to sit back and reflect on what has been an incredible musical term, with so much to celebrate. There is always a wonderful buzz around the department, which is flourishing.Across the year, pupils have been involved in over 21 concerts! At St Edmund’s College music is for all!

Music St Edmund’s... at Thanksgiving choir service

with first class professionals and participate in workshops and perform in summer festivals.

On Friday evening, a packed church was treated to an extraordinary feast of music, performed by musicians from St Edmund’s College. The eclectic programme meant there was something for everyone and included movements from concertos, sonatas, beautiful choral pieces, classical and music theatre songs and all rounded off with Ken Burton’s stunning arrangement of “Every time I feel the Spirit”.

Buntingford live!

Buntingford Live! is a local organisation that organises local live events for the community. It is run by an expert team of volunteers who give so much to the local community. They provide a wide ranging annual programme but most importantly give countless opportunities for young musicians to perform. In an age where the arts is always under threat, this is something to be truly celebrated, supported and preserved. They are committed to celebrating the arts in its widest sense in Buntingford.

“We're All About Live! Live! is a really important focus for us. We want to promote LIVE! events throughout the year in Buntingford, not just the summer” says a representative from the organisation. "In respect of music, we have run a Battle of the Bands Competition with finalists selected from schools and colleges from all over Hertfordshire.We have also given pupils from Freman College and Edwinstree Middle School, the chance to experience working

Headmaster, Matthew Mostyn said: "Music at St Edmund’s is particularly strong at the moment and we are blessed with some exceptionally talented musicians. It was lovely to see them perform to such a packed and appreciative audience on Friday. Being at the heart of this wonderful local community means a great deal to us, and having the opportunity to be a part of tremendous local initiatives such as Buntingford Live! is a real joy."

The Rev'd Kirsty Wainwright said: "St Mary the Virgin Church, Westmill were delighted to welcome local students from St Edmund’s College for a spring evening concert with their Director of Music,Andrew O'Brien. The church was full, both with families supporting their children who were performing but equally, many people from Westmill and the surrounding area. The students were brilliant. The range and quality of their performance is a testament to the many hours they dedicate to music. We were mesmerised and hope the evening gave them a muchdeserved affirming boost. They truly deserve it. It is great to have Buntingford Live! to organise such events both as opportunities for the students to perform and the fabulous musical experience for us, the audience. We hope they will return again in the future!"

On the 2nd May the college held a service of thanksgiving for the choir. Across the year, the choir are involved in some 20+ services and concerts. They give so much to the life of the college, and we are so grateful for their service and commitment. The choir were awarded ties and badges, and the long serving Rhetoric II choristers were awarded special gifts by the headmaster. The service was rounded off with a beautiful anthem and followed by tea and cake to celebrate Mr Benhams 60th birthday.

Rush Hour

The Rush Hour Concert series has been a great new addition to the musical life of the college. There were no less than five this term featuring some 60 or more musicians. They have welcomed musicians of all levels to play in a warm and supportive environment.

For some of our musicians it was the first time they had performed in a proper recital.

Aldeburgh music trip

It was an uplifting and invigorating trip. We visited Snape Maltings, walked along the coast and then went to a tour and lecture at the Red House led by Dr. Christopher Hilton.

We saw various items from the archive, including a draft of Wilfred Owen's poem "Anthem for the doomed youth" (which was given to the composer by Wilfred's brother) and the original manuscript of "Winterwords".

Recitals

Pupils then gave a beautiful recital in the library using Britten's own piano; a place where some of the world's greatest players and singers have rehearsed or performed. We also went to various galleries and visited lots of the sculptures dotted around Aldeburgh and Snape.

On Tuesday night, the students went to see a production of "Come from far away". Recently off the West End and currently touring the UK, this new production was simply outstanding and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The term began with an outstanding Music Scholars' Concert, which showcased some of the remarkable talent we have at St Ed's in the Myers Room. Our Scholars demonstrated confidence and focus throughout some extensive and challenging repertoire; both parents and staff were proud of the hard work they had put into preparing their pieces and in working diligently to continue to refine and develop technique and style. The Scholars remain role models in what it is to fully develop these High Performance Learning skills and attributes #HPL Hardworking #HPL Empathetic, Confident

This term also saw the launch of our Rush Hour Concerts. These are concerts in which all pupils are able to sign up and offer a solo or ensemble piece; it is a really positive expression of pupils being encouraged to have a go, demonstrate confidence, and share a genuine enjoyment of music. Their participation in the Rush Hour Concerts fosters the St Edmund’s ethos of contributing to the musical life of St Edmund’s College and the community as a whole. Pupils experience the importance of sharing their talents, hard work and enthusiasm and importantly learn and gain confidence from each other. #HPL Hardworking, Practice, Perseverance, #HPL Empathetic, Confident, Collaborative.

Students

in Cape Town receive sports kit donation

The end of term was bursting with activity in the last week: mega SUPs, high ropes, problem solving, trips to the zoo and making films to name a few.

Students in Elements to Syntax who chose to stay in College during the final week were kept active with a variety of trips to ESSA watersports venue, The Edge and Whipsnade.

Grammar and Syntax students had the opportunity to play football whilst learning different languages and the Problem Solving Company kept our minds and bodies busy.

An excellent way to end the year, having fun with friends.

Film Making

The Elements and Syntax students put their filmmaking skills to the test with the One Day Film Company. They learned the essentials:

•Film History: from the early days of film to the latest in special effects

•Fight Choreography: analysing classic fight scenes then filming their own roundhouse punch

•Camera: learning to film like a pro, and tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes

•Screenwriting: learning the 3 things every good script needs, how to create memorable characters (and make us care)

Then is was time for the 10 Shot Challenge: pupils worked in groups to create silent films of up to 2 minutes based on a classic narrative (eg. ’Someone is kidnapped, an attempted rescue’). Once complete, they held the 2024 St Edmund's Oscars: the judges (Young Film Academy representatives) took their seats for the premiere’s, to decide who would win Best Motion Picture, Best Performance and Best Technical Achievement.

Thanks to the generosity of the College community, students in Ikasi, Cape

have received a new shipment of kits, equipment, boots, and clothes. Organised by Mr Cunnah, this initiative relies on donations from staff and students to provide essential resources to those in need.

Photos of the students with their new supplies highlight the impact of these donations. A massive thank you to Mr Cunnah who is also organising another shipment, which will be sent in September!

Town,

Exam results and destinations 2024

Building on the sustained success of recent years, St Edmund’s’ reputation for delivering consistent academic excellence goes from strength to strength, with pupils securing an admirable collection of grades in 2024 public examinations.

GCSE

This year, 95% of results were awarded 9–4 (A*–C) grades, with 44% of results achieving the top 9–7 (A*–A) mark – a record for St Edmund’s outside of the Covid years, when non-exam grades rose across the board nationally. There were also a number of students that scored ‘Straight As’.

A Level

45% of St Edmund’s students taking A Levels scored at least one A* or A grade, with 22% of total results achieving the prized A*–A bracket. Overall, 79% of exams taken earned A*–C grades.

Medical Society

95%

A Level

9-4 grades (A*-C grade) GCSE 79% A*-C grades

Again, a number of pupils achieved ‘straight As’. Around one third of leavers gained admission to prestigious Russell Group universities, and St Edmund’s pupils will now go on to take up places at leading UK universities such as Leeds, Nottingham, Durham and York.

Two students will make the journey to colleges in North America, one of whom has secured a double scholarship at Colorado State University that will enable her to pursue her academic studies alongside top-level sporting ambitions. Another pupil, a talented violinist, will take up musical studies at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Outside of ‘traditional’ further education destinations, a much sought-after degree apprenticeship at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) awaits one successful pupil heading straight to the workplace.

Our thriving Medical Society meets every Friday. It is open to students in Syntax and above. The aim is to support and inform those students considering applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or allied health professions such as physiotherapy, nursing or dental nursing. We have had sessions on manual dexterity, wider reading and the UCAT. Where possible we invite in OEs to talk to us about their experiences of all aspects of becoming a health professional and life once qualified. The ability to draw on the rich pool of OE talent is much valued. Our most recent talk was from an outgoing Rhetorician about how to craft your application to make the best of your profile – an art in itself. Students make use of external agencies such as Medic Mentor and Medic Portal to access a variety of resources and opportunities. This has allowed them to use a variety of virtual work experience to add to any in-person experience and volunteering.

University of Herts statement workshop

Rhetoric I had a great Personal Statement workshop at the University of Hertfordshire recently. They worked hard alongside their peers to create their first draft. Great progress was made!

Well done to all of the students.

Combined Cadet Force

Army Section Summer Camp

This year the Army Section took 30 Cadets from both the College and Goff’s to Beckingham Camp in Lincolnshire.

Run by the Regional Cadet Training Team, the camp saw the Cadets rotate through 4 full days of training focused on developing military skills, live firing on the ranges, a 24-hour field exercise and a day of adventurous training. With early mornings and long days, the week provided Cadets with plenty of opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills across the full range of activities that are open to them through the Cadet experience. The feedback at the end of the week was wholly positive and particular highlights included a paintball race to the dulcet tones of AC/DC, fighting through woods to rescue a downed US pilot, a covert patrol to RV with a secret agent and testing their heads for heights with the Leap of Faith at the top of a pole in the climbing centre.

The Cadets were a credit to the contingent and the Regional training team were full of praise with both their skills and how they had worked together throughout the week.

CCF - first aid competition

Two teams of senior cadets, entered the East of England CCF Regional First Aid Competition at Bassingbourn Barracks on Saturday18th May.

They successfully competed against many other CCFs within the region and came away winning the competition, bringing back a 1st and 3rd place.

We want to congratulate all involved for their hard work, time and effort in preparing for and participating in this competition.

Alongside the team competition, all cadets were assessed individually, and our team leaders, Bella V and Pippa W, excelled, with Bella taking 1st place and Pippa placing 2nd, against all participating CCF cadets.

We are incredibly proud of all involved for their commitment and well-deserved success, and grateful to our CCF volunteers, Under Officer David May and Pilot Officer Laura Mills for giving of their time to prepare our cadets so well for this prestigious competition.

The winning team has been invited to represent the East of England in the National First Aid Competition in Holcombe Moor, later in the year and we wish them the best of luck.

RAF Summer Camp

Cadets from our CCF (RAF Section) enjoyed a fantastic week at RAF Spadeadam this summer.They were stretched and challenged with a busy week of activities, including a day’s fieldcraft exercise with RAF Regt personnel, a day of water sports, a visit to RAF Boulmer (where they had rare access to the bunker to see first-hand the 24/7 air surveillance and control systems), and culminating in an inter-flight continuity drill competition, set to their choice of music! They experienced life at RAF Spadeadam, meeting with a variety of personnel in different roles, and getting some hands-on experience of the various activities and responsibilities of the different sections working at the station, and even managed to fit in a quick walk of Hadrian’s Wall! The cadets worked incredibly hard, developing many of the skills they have learnt throughout their time in CCF, including leadership, teamwork, and military skills, and most of all had a fun and rewarding experience.

CCF Dinner

Our Rhetoric II Cadets celebrated their successful cadet careers in true military style with a formal Mess dinner, attended by the Headmaster, Contingent Commander, Officers and SSI. They enjoyed fantastic food, formal toasts, speeches and presentations.

All have achieved so much during their time with the CCF, which has stretched and challenged them in many ways.

They will be greatly missed, and we look forward to hearing about their further successes in life. We wish them all the very best in their endeavours.

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are an important devotion during Lent and several staff and students gathered each week to reflect on Jesus final journey.

Students were invited to pray at the Stations of the Cross on Friday lunchtimes. Each week a different student led the prayers and reflections.

Exam Prayer

In the run up to exams those sitting public exams were offered our examination prayer card.

Dear Lord,

I want to do my best to fulfil the potential you have given me. Help me

·To stay calm

· To keep things in perspective and be content with the best I can do on the day.

· To look out for my friends who need a bit of encouragement, and

· To always remember that the real test is how closely I can follow in your ways.

Amen

Faith in Action Award

9 students have completed the Faith In Action Award. 4 Bronze, 3 Silver and 2 Gold. They have been a wonderful group to work with and they have really enjoyed the practical activities such as studying Laudato Si and litter picking locally, writing a set of prayers on the stations of the cross and organising Red Wednesday. Each student for assessment submits an annotated scrapbook showing what they have done and also a final piece.

This year our final pieces included a piece of music reflecting the students journey of faith, a wonderful piece of artwork on Leadership, a poem and some essays.

A decade of the rosary

During May a group of students and staff met each Friday to pray a decade of the rosary.

Attendance was rather better than the last few years. There were lots of offers from the students to lead the prayers.

Community Service

Community Service continues with 25 students from Syntax - Rhetoric visiting homes each week. We visit 2 homes for the elderly and one for people with severe mental health issues.

Rhetoric 2 Leavers Mass

Rhetoric 2 were joined by a number of their parents for a Mass to celebrate their time at the College. It was an uplifting Mass and wonderful to hear the students singing so strongly.

Bronze Industrial Cadets

A team of 7 Rudiments students took on the Bronze Industrial Cadets Award. This is a national qualification run by EDT (Engineering Development Trust) that allows students to work in a team on a STEM based project. They were matched with two mentors from GSK in Ware and chose to work on a project called 'My School as an Island'. They worked successfully as a team to design various parts of their island ensuring that they considered where they would get their energy from, how they would deal with any waste produced and what forms of transport would be needed on their island. They produced a written report about their island and a display board to show their findings. They enjoyed designing the different aspects and used all their skills including STEM, creativity, resilience and empathy.

As part of the Award they visited GSK to see the global production line of tablets and inhalers. They were also invited back to GSK for a presentation event with a panel of assessors from GSK. They confidently took part in this and answered questions from the panel about their island design. After the presentations they were set a STEM challenge to design and build a rollercoaster followed by a pizza lunch and presentations of awards from EDT. They were runners up for the Innovation Award but narrowly missed out due to some tough competition from another school. Overall, the team learnt a lot through the whole process about themselves and their journey in the world of STEM and many of them are looking forward to taking part in the Silver Industrial Cadets Award!

A visit to Costa Rica

The Biology Adventure Tour to Costa Rica did not disappoint. During the trip we explored the amazing rainforest and learnt all about both the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

We also spent time visiting cultural sites and ended the tour with some adventurous hanging bridges and enthralling zip lining experience in the cloud forests of Monteverde.

High Performance Learning...

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.

HPL World Class School Award

We are proud to announce our admission to the Fellowship and Global Community of HPL Schools, following our official accreditation as a High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School. This very significant achievement reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to delivering academic excellence

The HPL World Class School Award is a prestigious, globally recognised academic award bestowed upon educational institutions at the forefront of educational thinking. The accreditation indicates that a school has adopted the HPL philosophy and language framework, transforming its teaching culture to achieve the very best outcomes for all students.

HPL’s framework explicitly teaches children the cognitive skills, values, attributes and attitudes adopted by High Performers. Based on extensive research across cognitive psychology, neuroscience and teaching methodology, it optimises learning opportunities, individual support and personal motivation.

HPL works on the principle that every child can learn the tools of High Performance and equips

pupils with the skills and mindset necessary for success, both in their academic endeavours and in their lives beyond the classroom. It demands the very best quality practice from all teaching staff and ensures high expectations for every child.

After delivering the keynote speech at a dinner held in Windsor for the Heads of newly involved HPL Schools, Matthew Mostyn, Headmaster at St Edmund’s College & Prep School, said: “We are thrilled to be recognised as a HPL World Class School. This is the culmination of a rigorous two-year application and accreditation process, and I would like to thank everyone involved in getting us to this point. The support and commitment of parents, as well as the hard work of our Governors, the Leadership Team and every member of our staff are what has made this possible.

This prestigious academic accreditation reaffirms our commitment to providing a

transformative educational experience at St Edmund’s – one that empowers students to reach their full potential and become confident, global citizens who are equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

As well as consistently improving outcomes for students, High Performance Learning is known to bring significant benefits for parents and teaching staff alike. This new status for St Edmund’s unlocks access to global competition opportunities for our pupils, world class training for our teachers and a powerful network of educators worldwide. This is a significant milestone, and one that puts us in an elite class of schools worldwide.”

Exhibition Day on June 22nd 2024 was filled with exciting activities and events. The day began with Prizegiving in Butler Hall, followed by a drink’s reception for the prize winners and their families.

Despite some early concerns about rain during the morning's Prizegiving, the skies cleared by the afternoon, and the day turned out beautifully. In the afternoon, the atmosphere was fantastic with funfair rides, an ice cream van, food trucks, inflatable football, and various other attractions.

Attendees varied in age from our nursery students up to our alumni and students grandparents. There were live music performances, including some songs from the Made in Dagenham Production. A highlight of the day was the staff versus students cricket match, where the students claimed victory. It was lovely to see everyone who attended, and we hope to see you all at Exhibition Day next year!

The Carnegie Award Medal

St Edmund’s Book Club took on the challenge to take part in the national “shadowing scheme” for the Carnegie Award Medal for Writing. The Carnegie award is given each year for ‘the most outstanding book for children and young people’, published in the previous year. Students across the country read the shortlist at the same time as the real judges. The shortlist of eight books was announced in March. Since then, the Book Club members have been frantically reading as many books as possible before the winner was announced in June.

The highlight of taking part in the Carnegie Medal shadowing scheme is our annual trip to attend an inter-school book discussion. This year, we went to Hockerill College where students had the chance to meet and chat to readers from six other schools in the Bishop’s Stortford and East Herts area.

The students were offered drinks and snacks on arrival and given the chance to vote for their favourite book. They were mixed into groups so they could discuss the Carnegie books. While the votes were counted, they took part in some fun quizzes and even a poetry challenge! The votes were counted and the students’ favourite book on the day was ‘Crossing the Line’ by Tia Fisher. The official Carnegie Medal winner was announced the next day: ‘The Boy Lost in the Maze’ by Joseph Coelho.

Back at school, Book Club members agreed that it had been a valuable experience to try some different authors and read books they might not normally choose. Some students were inspired to read more of the titles after the event and are looking forward to taking part next year..

Personal Health Week

This year, Personal Health Week offered students a diverse range of activities aimed at enhancing their understanding of personal well-being. Throughout the week, students actively participated in activities designed to promote health awareness and knowledge.

One of the highlights of the week was the opportunity for students to measure their own blood glucose levels and heart rates. These hands-on activities provided invaluable insights into basic health monitoring, empowering students with practical skills for maintaining their well-being.

In addition to these interactive sessions, students engaged in informative presentations covering crucial topics such as diabetes management and the impact of drugs on health. Overall, Personal Health Week proved to be both informative and impactful, equipping students with essential knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health.

A busy term for A Level German students

Our A Level classes in German have enjoyed several extra-curricular opportunities so far this year, which have really brought the syllabus to life and given them plenty of chances to practise speaking German. In January we all spent a German A Level Study Day at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London, meeting other A Level students and hearing talks from a variety of teachers and university lecturers.

Rhet 1 students had a Teams lesson to link up with speaking buddies from our Partner school in Germany. They now communicate regularly with each other in structured sessions discussing the respective topics of study for A Level (all in German) and Abitur (all in English). A win-win situation made possible by modern technology!

Students had a unique opportunity to engage in the curriculum from a different standpoint. They had a Teams discussion with Herr Dr and Frau Dr Wagener (former university lecturers from Potsdam), who had lived and worked in the GDR and were able to relate first hand about life and conditions there, as well as both the joys and difficulties of adapting to life in a reunified Germany. Following this, Herr Rerutko arranged a similar Zoom with Frau Pia Ridley, who is currently working as Integration Manager with refugees arriving in Germany. She explained why migrants are coming to Germany, how they are supported and what effect this has had on society. This was a fascinating insight into today’s Germany for our Rhetoricians and augmented what they had learnt in class. Our students prepared questions for each of these sessions and were complimented on both their excellent German and their confidence in conversing with people they had not met before. They appreciated learning from experts in the field and found it excellent preparation for the speaking examinations. We are very grateful to our friends in Germany for giving up their time and sharing their expertise. We will definitely do this again!

Cultural Diversity Day

Students celebrated Culture and Diversity Day, commemorating the various cultures and ethnicities present in our diverse school community. Students dressed up in their traditional attire or national football shirts to represent the countries of their heritage. Throughout the day, students and staff had the opportunity to participate in numerous workshops and events such as international food tasting stalls, origami, calligraphy, face painting, an Africa drum circle, and a world culture-themed scavenger hunt for the Elements and Rudiments. The day was a success, enabling students to explore and appreciate the beauty of different cultures from around the world.

The recent centenary

Battlefields trip to Ypres

Our IGCSE historians embarked on a 2-day Battlefields trip to Ypres where they learnt about the nature of trench warfare and the sacrifices made, especially among our OEs, during the Great War.

We visited the Menin Gate, Tyne Cot and Sanctuary Wood as well as the Cloth Hall in Ypres.A prayer was offered for the OEs commemorated on the Menin Gate including Captain Charles de la Pasture (OE 1890-92), Henry Hussey (OE 1886-89) and Osmund Lewis (OE 1886-88). A wreath was also laid at the grave of Lance Corporal Bernard Hosey (OE 1912-13).

Rhetoric 1 mentor Year 5 in JASS program

JASS (the Junior Awards Scheme for Schools) is a progressive learning program for young people aimed at recognising a wider range of achievements, similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

JASS develops the whole individual through recognition in four key areas — regular physical activity (Get Active, Stay Active), exploration of a personal interest (My Interests), involvement in the community or environment (Me and My World), and completing an outdoor adventure.

The levels are designed so participants advance through them with increasing commitment, learning, and challenge. Several students from Rhetoric 1 have been mentoring a group of Year 5 students through the JASS program since January. Now, they have the opportunity to celebrate all their hard work with pupils being awarded individual certificates.

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College Sport Play more, play better Cricket

As the weather warms and the nights get longer, the Trinity Term has been full of memorable moments for our sporting teams. From the cricket field to the football pitch, the athletes at St Edmund's College have demonstrated skill, resilience, and team spirit.

Girls Football

The U15 girls football team showed great promise this term, starting with a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Haileybury, where goals from Maia, Olachi, and Ruby gave St Edmund's a commanding lead before a late comeback from the opposition. The U14s had a successful season, beginning with a 4-1 victory over Forest School, thanks to standout performances from Sophia and Charlotte in goal. The U12s enjoyed a fantastic start, with Sienna P leading the team to a 4-0 win over Chigwell, and they capped off the term with a hard-fought win against Forest School, demonstrating teamwork and determination throughout the season. The girls football teams showed immense progress this trinity term, blending skill and teamwork to secure a series of impressive results.

Manchester Sports Tour

The U15 cricket team showed resilience in challenging conditions, starting the term with a hard-fought win against Ashlyn’s School, where captain Oliver led the way with a brilliant half-century. Their match against Bancroft’s saw another stellar performance from Oliver, whose unbeaten 89 secured victory after disciplined bowling from James limited the opposition. The U14s had a tough term, with Harry and Aran shining with the ball, though batting inconsistencies held the team back. The U12s started strong with a win, thanks to contributions from Toby, Ronnie, and Harry, but faced a strong Bancroft's side later in the term, leaving room for improvement in their batting. Overall, the teams showed determination and promise across all year groups, building a strong foundation for future success.

The Manchester Sports Tour was a tremendous success, offering a perfect balance of high-level training, exciting activities, and competitive matches. From July1st to July 4th, our students participated in intensive 90-minute training sessions across basketball, cricket, and netball, guided by professional coaches from Manchester's top clubs. The highlight was a match against local opposition, where our teams showcased the skills they developed throughout the week. The Basketball team managed to secure a win as did the girls during their netball match. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t in our favour for cricket as a downpour on match day meant that the fixture could not be played. Beyond the training sessions, the tour included memorable visits to iconic venues like the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford Cricket Ground, alongside fun activities such as ten-pin bowling, laser tag, and an exhilarating day at Alton Towers. Students returned home with unforgettable experiences, new skills, and great memories of the tour.

Golf

The St Edmund's golf team enjoyed an incredible term of success, reaching three national team finals. In the ISGA Match Play tournament at the Players Club in Bristol, the team faced a challenging course and opponents from across the country. They ultimately finished third in the finals with Ronnie S carding the lowest round of the tournament. The English schools National Finals at Woodhall Spa is a fantastic environment to nurture our golfers and again Marcus A-K, Ronnie S and Alfie A applied themselves brilliantly to finish fourth overall in the country. We hope to build on this years, unprecedented success with a new partnership with Whitehills Golf Course, where over 50 students will be able to practice each week.

Athletics

The trinity term saw our athletics teams compete at a high level across both the county and national levels, beginning with the U15 boys making it to the Plate Finals Day in the County League, a great achievement for the school. The Lee Valley Schools Pentathlon brought further success, with KK O and Elijah E dominating their respective U13 and U15 categories to secure first place. Our Under 15 boys reached the regional final of the English Schools competition for the first time, with each athlete delivering outstanding performances. At the County Championship Finals, Zachary W (Hurdles) and KK O (200M) both earned silver medals, showcasing their talent with second place finishes in their events. Overall, it was a fantastic season filled with new milestones and outstanding individual and team performances.

Sports Day

This year’s Sports Day was nothing short of spectacular, with athletes across all year groups smashing school records and delivering outstanding performances. The atmosphere was electric as students competed in a range of events, from sprints and relays to long jump and javelin. Standout moments included a record-breaking 200m sprint by KK Omidiji, where the crowd erupted as the new fastest time was set, and tug of war where houses went back and forth, working in unison to become champions! Throughout the day, the competition between the houses was fierce, but it was House Poynter who emerged victorious, showcasing exceptional teamwork and athleticism across all events and year groups. Their triumph was sealed with a thrilling win in the final relay, cementing their place as Sports Day champions.

Public Speaking Competition

All Bounds pupils were entered for a public speaking competition. They performed, read or delivered their chosen piece during the Heats in classrooms. From these, ten finalists were selected, two from each House from each year group. There was much anticipation as they performed in front of an audience of their peers, and a judging panel of teachers in the Butler Hall.

The standard was high with competitors conveying the mood and meaning of their extract by altering the tone, volume, and pace of their delivery. The purpose of the Heats was to give pupils the experience of speaking in front of an audience; the purpose of the Final was to allow them to enjoy exemplar performances.

Grammar

1st place: Caspar D

2nd place: Daisy F

3rd place: Ben K and Dileep S

Rudiments

1st place: Liam S

2nd place: David C

3rd place: Finn C

Winners were invited to sign the Headmaster's Book.

Literary Festival

We were delighted to host our Literary Festival 2024. We ran our first festival last year and found it was a great way to inspire our pupils and whole community with a love of reading and to think about what they might like to read for pleasure in the up coming summer holiday. Importantly, the Literary Festival provides opportunities for ages 3 to 18 and includes a range of sessions from Performance Poetry through to small seminars on specific books or author experiences.

At the start of the week, we held an assembly for pupils to launch the Literary Festival and the St Edmund’s College Summer Reading Challenge. Mrs Noble and a group of Rhetoricians talked about the power of reading and what the science tells us of its impact on the brain and neural development. Most importantly the Rhetoricians talked about who or what inspired them to read and why they were grateful as A Level students that they were practised readers. They were able to share that reading is for everyone and that you need to find your way with what interests you. This is important as it is the practice and habit of reading which means the brain can build better fluency in language and expression, as well as widen vocabulary and the ability to absorb and comprehend knowledge. Without this regular practice, it is possible to read a chapter or an article from a journal and not remember or absorb any of what you have just read!

Elements

1st place: Zachary W

2nd place:Joseph B

3rd place: Phoebe W

Old Hall Green, Ware, Hertfordshire SG111DS Telephone 01920 821504 www.stedmundscollege.org