Christmas
Wel come
One of the many joys of leading a school is the palpable sense of excitement at this time of year – linked to the festive period, of course, but also to a sense of otherness and something special about to take place.
The Christmas Term, as it is known at St Jo’s, also brings many tangible moments of togetherness, through our curriculum, extra-curricular, events, trips and visits. We have since September run 23 trips and 87 weekly clubs, across the school. Our fabulous 38th National Schools Rugby Festival was an obvious example of our community - past, present and future - coming together, in this case through the medium of sport.
Other occasions when we gather as a community have included our dignified and respectful Remembrance Service and beautiful, traditional candle-lit Carol Service. These events provide opportunities for our children and young people to experience and understand tradition, respect and a sense of spirituality through our community.
I want to finish by thanking the staff of the College for their hard work and tremendous support this academic term, ensuring all pupils at St Joseph’s receive an excellent all-round education.
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and joyful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Danielle Clarke (Mrs) Principal
A Word from Mrs Searle
As we near the end of a busy term, and with Christmas just around the corner, it is a wonderful time to reflect on our journey together. What a joy it is to greet the children each morning as they come into school, full of energy and enthusiasm. Their smiles, laughter and conversation are a constant reminder of why we are here.
The term has been filled with engaging lessons and classroom activities, school trips and visitors coming in. After our many sporting events and musical performances, the children have certainly earned a well-deserved break.
One of the standout moments of this term was our delightful nativity performance by our youngest children. It was heartwarming to see their confidence shine on stage. Equally memorable was our carol service, led by our older pupils, which created a wonderful atmosphere of celebration and community.
Speaking of community, it was truly a pleasure to welcome our grandparents for breakfast recently. We have also enjoyed our first ever Family Bingo Evening. It was wonderful sharing stories and laughter over a meal. It’s these moments that enrich our community and strengthen our bonds.
I cannot end without extending my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff. Their commitment, creativity and passion for education is what makes our school such a special place.
I wish all our families a wonderful festive season. I hope you all have time to rest, relax and recharge.
Dianne Searle (Mrs) Head of Prep School
Irish Weave Their Magic Across the Festival Weekend
The 38th Annual St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival will go down as one of the most remarkable in its history, writes Angus Savage (NextGenXV: www.nextgenxv.com @nextgenxv)
For the first time, the event opened on a Friday thanks to the new U15 Festival, which saw the group stages take place ahead of the finals on Saturday 19 October, when the U18 competition got underway.
Dublin’s St Michael’s College became the first ever U15 champions, and from the outset of the U18 competition it became clear that a potential double was on – and a bit of Festival history; no Irish side had won the Festival since their great rivals Blackrock College in 2000.
Irish, and in particular Leinster, schools’ rugby has had a huge amount of positive press in recent years
and it quickly became apparent why as St Michael’s set the tournament alight with a series of brilliant performances built on a structure and an intensity unparalleled by anything on this side of the Irish Sea as they stormed to victory.
That is not to say that others did not impress, and there was a real feather in the cap for Scottish school rugby too with Strathallan School knocking reigning champions Kirkham Grammar School into the Bowl late on the opening day.
Kirkham responded superbly - going through the second day unbeaten to secure the Bowl title, with Denstone
College taking home the Shield competition.
Eight-time St Joseph’s Festival champions Millfield School meanwhile took home the Plate competition, after an intense final with Hampton School, which saw one of the great moments of the weekend at its conclusion as both sides joined together arm in arm at the end.
In the De La Salle Trophy competition, Brighton College gave St Michael’s the toughest test of all, but eventually lost their semi-final and finished up fourth behind an impressive Wellington College side, who had lost their semi-final to RGS High Wycombe. For RGS, the 1999 champions, it was an impressive second final in a row. However, there was little that they could do in the final against a St Michael’s College side that was simply a class above the field, typified by their captain Dylan McNeice and the Nick Duncombe Player of the Tournament, Evan Black.
There was joy for the hosts, too, in St Joseph’s College claiming the Try of the Tournament through second row Jack Lawrence after two days in which the Suffolk side impressed in the face of stern opposition to finish seventh overall.
Thirty-eight years on, the St Joseph’s Festival remains one of the jewels in the crown of the schools’ rugby calendar, and with the success of the new U15 Festival as well, it looks set to only get bigger and better again. Event organiser, Mrs Lucy Self, added, ‘Collaboration is always key to a successful Festival and the College wishes to thank all sponsors – including headline sponsor NSX - and the entire St Jo’s community (staff, governors, students, parents and friends) for getting behind it.’
Brilliance in the Creative Arts, now and to come
There’s no end of excitement in the Creative and Performing Arts Faculty as the countdown to our next musical is already underway. Save the date for Aladdin: June 24 to 27, when St Jo’s will return to the scene of many past productions, the Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge.
Christmas 2024 has been a bumper term for the Arts, with workshops, excursions, experiences and concerts across the board. We’re proud to announce that our school has renewed its Artsmark Gold Award, affirming St Jo’s commitment to high-quality arts education.
Ciaran Ford from The Paper Birds theatre company ran a workshop for our GCSE and A-level Drama students in which pupils devised short pieces based on the theme of climate change. They developed skills in character, plot and verbatim theatre and will be using their techniques in their drama assessments later in the school year.
Our GCSE and A-level Drama and Dance students headed to London for a theatre residential trip. They participated in workshops at the famous Pineapple Studios, working with cast members and core dancers from the two shows they would see, Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall and Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Closer to home, New Wolsey Theatre hosted our students for a workshop and a chance to meet cast members of Footloose. Some also watched the production - and danced along. All had a wonderful time playing fun drama icebreakers and building still-frame scenes before learning choreography fit for the stage. A wonderful experience all round. Students from Years 7 to 11 have been creating some fab-u-lous numbers in Musical Theatre Club, including working on a song from Beetlejuice. Our Year 7 class has been exploring the play Matilda and devised some delightfully creative physical theatre to recreate ‘the chokey’!
Our Year 3 and 4 pupils have taken their Stave House Level 1 exams with The London College of Music. For this they learned to read and play music using the characters who live in Stave House. Many of the pupils achieved Distinctions, showing their skills on piano, electric guitar and violin. Well done to all who took part. An audience of parents and friends joined us for the Autumn Concert and heard excellent performances on a range of instruments.
The art and textiles studios are always busy and it is a great pleasure to see the original and captivating work being created almost daily. Our Lower Sixth Art students thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the Expressionist exhibition at Tate Modern, London, with over 130 works by the pioneering Blue Rider group, including Kandinsky, Münter, and Werefkin. Will we see their bold use of colour, light and movement reflected in the work of our Sixth Form artists?
‘In Napoli beside the sea…’
Students savour a slice of Neapolitan geography, history and dolce vita The trip began beneath the city on the Naples Underground Tour, exploring the vast labyrinth of tunnels and subterranean chambers dating back to 2,500 years. An expert local guide highlighted Greek temples, Roman theatres and markets, ancient aqueducts and Second World War air-raid shelters.
A second guided tour followed, this time of tourism hotspot, Sorrento, taking in the central square, Piazza Tasso, the Parco Villa Fiorentina, the cathedral and the views from the cliffs across the Bay of Naples. Geographical highlights included the deep ravine on Via Fuorimura, leading inland from Piazza Tasso. The valley dates from the colossal eruption of Campi Flegrei 35,000 years ago which covered the Sorrento area in tuff, creating the plateau on which the town now sits. As it cooled, the rock contracted and great clefts were formed.
After breakfast on the Sunday, the party collected packed lunches and met the tour manager ready for another day of activities, beginning with the Valley of Hell trek! An experienced Englishspeaking volcanologist led the group through the valley between Mount Vesuvius and Mount Somma. The entire trek passes through pine forests, a paved route, a dirt road and finally a steep slope. Vesuvius, the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted in the past 100 years, behaved herself for the visit. Created by the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, the volcano is closely monitored by volcanologists, ensuring the safety of residents living on its slopes; an excellent example of hazard management. Having achieved the summit area, the students were joined by an Alpine guide, who showed them the main crater, and explained the volcano’s geography and its relationship with the surrounding area.
The third day of the tour saw the party visit the Amalfi coast, where the village of Positano, nestling in steep cliffs, is an iconic landmark, with its narrow streets of picturesque pastel-coloured houses. A short coastal photo opportunity allowed everyone to savour the glorious vista of Positano and the sea, surrounded by the famous winding road.
Amalfi itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a playground of the rich and famous since the 1920s. Our geographers saw stunning
villas perching on the steep slopes with glorious views out to sea. Sitting on an alluvial fan at the mouth of a gull eyed river course, Amalfi is surrounded by cliffs eroded from calcareous dolomitic rock, a form of limestone. In and around the town, there is evidence of the long-term instability of karst scenery (such as collapsed caves) and the techniques used at a local level to manage risk for residents and visitors.
The town offered another wonderful cathedral, renowned for its beautiful exterior, and a small public beach. Then it was on to Amalfi harbour to embark on a scenic journey along the coast to Salerno There were impressive views of steep cliffs and other coast erosion features. Appetites had been sharpened appropriately for an evening of pizza making. Students prepared their pizzas from dough to toppings, under the guidance of a master pizzaiolo.
The following day was dedicated to Herculaneum and Pompeii. Archaeological guides provided outstanding commentary on the ruins via headsets. Herculaneum was heavily impacted by the same eruption that destroyed Pompeii. Whilst Pompeii was a commercial hub, Herculaneum was a wealthy Roman town with many fine residential villas. Buried by pyroclastic and hot mud flow, which became tufa, numerous artefacts were preserved and can still be seen today.
The guide introduced students to highlights of the settlement and provided an insight into Roman life. Very few places on Earth can illustrate the destruction caused by a large volcanic eruption as well as Pompeii, buried in 79 AD and preserved for all to see. The tour included the ruins of the Forum, temples, villas, the gladiatorial arena, theatre and bathhouses.
Ace Performance in Schools’ Mace Competition
We were thrilled to host the first round of the English-Speaking Union Schools’ Mace at the College for the first time. It was inspiring to see students engaging with challenging topics and showcasing their talent for public speaking and critical thinking.
This is the oldest and most prestigious debating competition for students across the UK, and we were delighted with the success of the St Joseph’s College team. We are looking forward to Round 2 which will take place in January 2025.
Equipping Our Students with Skills They Can Bank On
Nobody wants children to grow up too fast, but we make every effort to ensure they are as well prepared as can be for what their future life will hold. Three events this term saw our students gazing into the future a little and making plans.
The LifeSkills team from Barclays Bank ran valuable sessions for our Year 11s. Only a few years from now most of these students will be joining the workforce and the tips they’ve picked up on CV writing and job interviews will stand them in good stead.
For those students whose sporting prowess is such that they are considering applying to American universities for sports scholarships, the team from SIXTEEN93 Sports Management had a wealth of useful details to share with student-athletes in Year 11 and Upper and Lower Sixth.
A spokesman for the company said, ‘It was a pleasure to be able to showcase this opportunity to the current students of St Joseph’s and we look forward to growing our connection and helping to support their talented athletes with this pathway!’
Whatever level their sporting prowess, all Year 11 students are currently contemplating examinations to come. They and their parents turned out in such excellent numbers for a Revision Evening that there was standing room only.
Valuable advice was delivered by Head of Year Mr Briffa, Deputy Principal Mr Cinnamond, Head of Mathematics, Miss Rolls, Head of English, Mrs Hosking-Burtle, and Mrs Frost, Director of Digital Learning. Attendees gained essential tips, strategies and tools to maximise their revision for the forthcoming GCSE exams.
Miss Rachel Lloyd
Teacher of English and Spanish/Head of Year
I joined St Joseph’s in September after 15 years’ teaching in the maintained sector. I began my career as a Languages teacher in Yorkshire, but I have since held leadership positions in London, Kent and Suffolk. This has included overseeing Literacy, Inclusion, Pastoral Care, Teaching and Learning, and Special Educational Needs. I am passionate about removing barriers and ensuring that all students are supported to achieve their full potential.
As Head of Year 7, I am immensely proud of all the students who have started Senior School this year; their contributions and achievements to date have been outstanding. It has been a pleasure to have started alongside them and to have seen how well they have settled in. Our celebration assemblies always overrun!
This term, I have particularly enjoyed teaching English and Spanish to students in the Senior School. I have been very fortunate to spend time living in and travelling to Spain, but my passion for languages stems beyond a good holiday!
Underpinning my vision in the classroom is a quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian philosopher, who stated that, “The limits of my language means the limits of my world.” Whether writing creatively in English, reading and studying texts, or discussing culture in the Hispanic World, I am keen for students to learn more than just ‘words’. The power of language in shaping our thoughts; allowing us to communicate and comprehend one another; and broadening our world-view is critical, from the sports field to the classroom and beyond!
Outside of St Joseph’s, I spend a lot of time with my three young children, which keeps me on my toes! Having grown up in Ipswich, I enjoy taking my children to places I visited as a child and spending days out in Suffolk. On the rare occasion that I have time to myself, my favourite hobby is to go swimming.
Senior Sport
Netball
This term has been a fantastic one for netball, with cup fixtures across all age groups keeping our teams busy. A major highlight was our Under 14 team being crowned Suffolk County Champions, going unbeaten and progressing to Regionals — a huge milestone. Two teams made it to the County Finals, and we’ve seen more girls committing to strength and conditioning sessions to enhance their game. Saturday training sessions had a great turnout, reflecting the players’ commitment. A special moment was our First Team playing a match against former St Joseph’s students on the eve of the Rugby Festival — a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the school’s netball legacy. Next term, we’re excited for more fixtures and the fourth Annual National Festival!
Cricket
It has been an extremely successful first term in the cricket programme with an increase in small group coaching sessions and extremely positive engagement from large numbers of students. There has been an impressive amount of dedication and determination shown by students of all ages to improve their game. We are looking forward to seeing their continued development into next term as we continue to increase the level of training sessions in anticipation of the summer term, when the students will see the rewards for their hard work.
Rugby
Throughout this first term, the rugby programme has reached new heights with enhanced fixture schedules against the top tier of schools across the country, increased development time on the pitch and a wider-reaching rugby festival that continues to showcase the College to the UK. We have celebrated an increased number of players selected for academies, in addition to the highlight of three students signing professional contracts, one making his Championship men’s debut whilst still studying. Within the local community, our Rugby Development project has delivered high quality coaching to over 400 students at 15 primary and secondary schools, as part of a project to improve local playing opportunities and boost participation, whilst also driving and promoting College recruitment.
Football
The U18 girls have progressed to the English National last 16 and the Independent Schools National Cup Quarter Finals, while the U18 boys have also reached the English National last 16 and the Independent Schools National Shield Quarter Finals. The U15 boys have advanced to the Independent Schools National Trophy Quarter Finals. Additionally, the U12, U14 and U15 boys, along with the U13 and U15 girls, have successfully made it to the third round of the English Schools National Cup. A special U12 showcase fixture under the lights against Felixstowe Football Club is scheduled, continuing our tradition of playing community fixtures against grassroots teams. Since September, over 200 players have represented the football programme across boys’ and girls’ squads, with plans to introduce more development fixtures starting in January. Notably, four players from the U18 girls’ team have been selected for the Independent Schools National Representative team.
A Joined Up Journey to Literacy
Our Prep children have been working hard on their reading and handwriting, helped on their way by imaginative lessons and highly engaging texts. Year 1 and Reception children, for example, enjoyed a wonderful session creating a shared story and mapping it to help them become storytellers.
The girls and boys of Year 2 have been reading Jim and the Beanstalk by Raymond Briggs. A warm-hearted retelling of the tale made famous by Jim’s predecessor, Jack, the story showcases the importance of friendship, problem-solving and kindness.
Year 2 discussed what they thought would happen next in the story, based on what they already knew. They practised their handwriting by writing down their predictions. They also had fun becoming the giant who was befriended by Jim and provided by him with glasses, teeth and a wig.
Year 3 authors have been writing their own fiction, inspired by the beguiling Leon and the Place Between. This book is based on a trip to the circus so the children have used their imaginations to describe the magic of the big top.
The Year 4 class has been learning about conjunctions and forming sentences inspired by Tar Beach. Written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold, an American author, artist and activist, the book’s title refers to the rooftop of the protagonist’s Harlem apartment building, from which Cassie Louise learns to fly.
The children of Year 5 and Year 6 enjoyed an online author workshop with Jamie Littler, illustrator and author of the Arkspire and Frostheart trilogies. His latest book, Order of Misfits, is a fantasy adventure set in a giant city ruled by sorcerers, with towers for the rich and powerful. The children engaged in a draw-along and listened to how Jamie became an author. He generously shared his secrets and tips.
A Popularity Spike for Hedgehogs
Prickly issues have been grasped by Year 3 and 4 in their Outdoor Learning. Inspired by the popular children’s book, The Hodgeheg, the pupils eagerly welcomed a representative from Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who gave a talk on hedgehogs, their habitats and what we can do to help keep them safe. Our Prep pupils have also been demonstrating their compassion in Engineering by designing and building hedgehog houses to keep the little critters safe and snug during the winter months.
There have been further adventures in Engineering for Year 3 led by Mr Scott. The students were shown images of famous tall buildings and challenged to build the tallest but most stable structure with spaghetti, marshmallows and playdough.
Year 6 Students Rise to the Challenge
As our pupils near the end of their Prep School years, they take new challenges in their stride. They were all ears when our Stretch and Challenge Coordinator, Dr Rice, brought the art of debating to the Prep. The pupils were first asked to choose their favourite sweets with a partner and were then challenged to convince each other which was best. Then, in teams, they were tasked with debating the age-old conundrum: Are dogs better than cats? The session incorporated debate team captains, opposition and proposition, learnt rebuttals and the delivery of opening and closing arguments. Parents might need to sharpen up their own debating skills as a result!
More expertise was offered by the Director of Performing Arts, Mrs Ross, and our A-level Drama students, who led an Oracy workshop for Year 6 pupils. The workshop looked at the most important ways to engage an audience and the students responded so well that the group will return next term to support the class with their history presentations.
Some of our Year 6 mathematics wizards have delved further into the beautiful world of numbers by enjoying masterclass sessions with Mr Davies, from the Maths Department. On one amazing morning Year 6 as a whole went up to Senior School for a taste of things to come. They launched rockets in Engineering, created still images in Creative and Performing Arts, and developed design skills in IT. Magic for them and magic for us!
Some things never change and dissection is as popular as ever! Year 6 students have been captivated by their Senior School Science lessons; never more than an eye dissection, as they dived into the fascinating topic of light.
Steadily growing into their full potential
As the end of term approaches, we reflect on a remarkable period for Prep School sport, when the focus has been on mastering the basics to develop the whole child. Our pupils have embraced opportunities to build resilience, enhance teamwork and grow both physically and mentally.
From representing the school in the ISA Girls’ Football Tournament to the U11 Rugby team competing in the National Schools Rugby Festival, our pupils have risen to the challenge, demonstrating exceptional dedication. The U11 girls have refined their skills in pre-season matches, while our U9 teams enjoyed a range of fixtures, showcasing their progress in sport.
A highlight of the term has been our Prep Festival Week, which saw Year 3 and above thrive in a fun-filled yet competitive environment. Pupils demonstrated significant growth in their physical abilities and mental strength, embodying the values of sportsmanship.
PE lessons have focused on developing gymnastics and fundamental movement skills, with younger pupils exploring these skills on apparatus, laying a strong foundation for their future physical development. Across the board, pupils have been encouraged to strive for their full potential, and we are immensely proud of the progress they have made.
As we break for Christmas, we celebrate their achievements and look forward to more success in the new year.
Mr Daniel Rogers
Manager
Facilities
Throughout my working life I have held positions within a multitude of industries, including Housing, international IT Recruitment and Leisure. I had my first taste of Facilities working as a Property Manager for just under three years, when I focussed on the maintenance of all properties we managed within Dulwich and Battersea.
One of my main passions in life is health and fitness, so, after a move from Housing, I worked my way up to management within the Fitness industry, taking on sole responsibility for Health & Safety alongside the maintenance of sites.
My most recent role before St Jo’s was Group Operations Manager for three leisure centres for Tendring District Council. This included keeping all sites at the highest possible standards with regards to facilities and cleanliness, alongside designing and implementing quality systems & Health & Safety procedures to ensure that requirements and best practice guidance were applied and kept up to date. I enjoyed many aspects of working within the Leisure industry but after five years I wanted to move away from the sales and sports development aspects that come with the job and focus on my passion, Facilities alongside Health & Safety.
‘Where ambition meets opportunity’ - our ethos is one of the main reasons I was eager to join the team at St Joseph’s College. I am an extremely ambitious person with a passion for bettering myself and those around me. I feel extremely lucky to be able to improve the experience of both our students and staff through providing a safe environment whilst improving our facilities on campus.
I manage an incredible team of Caretakers and Housekeepers, who continue to surprise me with their motivation and values, and I look forward to consistently expanding on not only my own knowledge of Facilities and Health & Safety but also their’s, so that we can continue to create the best possible environment for our students to thrive.
Outside of work, my hobbies include fitness, football and most importantly spending time with my family - my wife, Lauren, and our baby boy, Luca, who arrived at half-term – and friends.
Sixth Form Scientists Earn Accolades
During National Biology Week, we celebrated Team Biology. Earlier this year, our incredible Upper Sixth students participated in the 2024 Intermediate Biology Olympiad, organised by UKBC. Our students achieved sterling outcomes, with Tom, Xanthé, Hannah and Nicholas being awarded Silver Certificates.
Meanwhile, over in the chemistry laboratory, Deputy Head Girl Liana was celebrating a Copper award in the 2024 Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, run by Cambridge University.
Making Ecology a Priority
Our new Eco-Schools group, which meets on Monday evenings, has been busy collecting and spreading seed as part of a drive towards greater biodiversity. The campaign has already seen the planting of fruit and silver birch trees and the creation of additional pollinator-friendly areas to attract more bees and butterflies to the campus.
We are all working conscientiously to conserve energy by turning off lights and sockets when they are not required and we are trying hard not to waste water.
With the help of the College’s caterer, Thomas Franks, we have entered The Great Food Waste Challenge, and have also begun promoting the Plant30 initiative, which advises a diet incorporating 30 plants (fruit, vegetables, seeds, grains and spices) each week.
Heading up the Eco-Schools project are Mr Rowland, Miss Lim and Mrs Willis.
Eyes Down for a Full House
We’re a sociable lot and we have had plenty of opportunities this term to come together in social settings.
Our bingo evening, for example, generously arranged by parents and Mrs Gardiner, raised money for the Prep Sensory Garden, and was a massive success thanks to you all - a wonderful way to spend a Saturday evening.
We had the joy of welcoming our Prep pupils’ grandparents to a special breakfast at the College. It was heartwarming to see generations coming together, swapping stories and laughter over a shared meal.
OB Reunions: Home and Away
In our continuing effort to refine our offering to alumni, we have held two reunions this term - one at the College on the Friday of the Rugby Festival and one in London. We have had some very positive feedback, but also some pointers on how we could make these events even better. Not allowing the dust to settle, we have already scheduled another central London event for 5 March, venue to be decided. Our guests at Moorgate said they would have appreciated more notice. It has been wonderful to make personal contact with Old Birkfeldians and their own social networks have been boosted as well. Thank you to all OBs and members of staff who turned out to set those memories whirring.
Bringing Boules to School
European Day of Languages was celebrated with a special assembly and fun activities in form time for Years 7 to 9. These included House competitions in pétanque and language quizzes, which saw students out of their seats and hunting for clues in the MFL block! Year 9 and 10 linguists practised for a National Language Competition for GCHQ.
Recognising Our Place in the Wider World
In assemblies, both in the Chapel and other spaces around the campus, we come together to mark important occasions and to share milestone moments. This term, this has included our Service of Remembrance, when we honoured the courage, sacrifice and service of those who have stood up for our freedom. At the 11th hour, we paused for two minutes’ silence to remember them.
Our guest speakers, Lt Colonel Kevin Fitchett MBE and Former Staff Sergeant Lee Soper, delivered moving speeches.
Prep pupils led our Harvest Assembly and asked us to reflect on the many blessings we can take for granted and to express our gratitude for the
abundance of food on our tables. Together we thanked the farmers and all those involved in the food industry for ensuring we have nourishing meals to enjoy.
World Animal Day was marked with a special Pet Assembly. Playful puppies, curious cats, colourful parrots, friendly tortoises and fascinating lizards behaved beautifully, demonstrating the joy our companion animals bring into our lives.
Among many inspiring stories related in assembly this term, was that of Sixth Formers Annabel and Sophia, who travelled to Costa Rica to volunteer at a local school.
We’ve been upping the comfort factor for our Boarders
We are thrilled about the significant improvements made to our boarding houses this summer. These updates include fresh carpets, new paint and modern kitchen facilities. We are incredibly proud of the progress and the enhanced environment we now offer our young people. The Goldrood games room, in particular, looks fantastic!
Our boarding community continues to flourish. Earlier this term, we had the privilege of hosting two groups of Spanish students. These young people from Spanish schools had a wonderful time living and learning alongside our students. We were delighted to take them on excursions to Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe, where they experienced local attractions and activities.
Sports remain a cornerstone of our boarding experience. We are always delighted to see our young people taking advantage of our facilities each evening, participating in netball, football, rugby and basketball.
We organise a fun activity in the boarding house every Friday evening, often involving creative pursuits, such as crafts and games. These social gatherings foster a sense of community and provide a safe space for our students to enjoy each other’s company. Recent activities have included bingo, quizzes, karaoke, and, of course, Halloween pumpkin decorating.
We’re excited to see what the future holds for our boarding community. We remain committed to providing a supportive, stimulating and enjoyable environment for all our students.
We believe that our students will continue to thrive and achieve great things, both inside and outside of the classroom. We are committed to providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed.
As the festive season approaches, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May the holiday season bring joy, peace and prosperity to you and your loved ones.
Mr Sim Head of Boarding
ATTENDANCE
Good attendance plays an essential part in ensuring our students fulfil their potential in areas of school life and has a positive impact on student wellbeing.
96%
Current School Attendance
✓STUDENTS WHOSE ATTENDANCE IS GOOD
• Make better progress and have a better understanding of lessons
• Achieve better results
• Are more settled, supporting wellbeing
• Sustain friendships
1YEAR MISSED
✗ STUDENTS WHOSE ATTENDANCE IS POOR
• Get behind with work which impacts on confidence
• Achieve lower grades than their potential indicates
• Find it more difficult to maintain friendships
• Can feel nervous about attending school
Nationally, pupils who did not achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2019 had an overall absence rate of 4.7% over the key stage.
If a student’s attendance is below expectations for their entire school career, they will have missed over one year of education! 91.1% attendance = missing 17 days/85 lessons of school in one year.
Missing 17 days a year also means dropping 1 GCSE grade (on average).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Support your child to feel positive about school
• Contact the College to discuss any difficulties as soon as they arise so that a support plan can be implemented
• Maintain communication and provide reasons for absence each day
• Where possible book medical and dental appointments outside of school time
• Ensure your child arrives punctually for the legal register at 8:30am