Headteacher's Message
This Wednesday we held our first Drop Down Day of the academic year, with students across the school off timetable for the day and taking part in various enrichment activities. My thanks not only to all the staff who made this day such a success but also to nearly 60 guest speakers from our parents and wider community who came to speak to our pupils about options and career choices. This day would not have been so memorable without the time and effort you all put in.
Year 7 learned about theatre production and the wide range of highly skilled professionals required to put on a live performance before venturing off to the Lyceum Theatre in the heart of London’s West End to see the matinee performance of The Lion King!
Year 8 took part in an African Culture Day where they explored the music and art of cultures from across this continent through drama and dance, as well as taking part in jewellery making and a quiz.
Years 9, 10 and 11 were more focused on skills and options for their GCSEs. Year 9 took part in an options taster session day, Year 10 participated in the Jack Petchey Speak Out workshops in support of the oracy requirement for English GCSE while Year 11 learned about study skills and wellbeing ahead of their exams next summer.
Year 12 also took part in Drop Down Day with taster lectures to help with university course selection as well as a speed networking careers event.
It was not only students who had the opportunity to learn something new on Wednesday as we invited Year 11 parents to join us at Waldegrave for a parent presentation regarding exam revision and study from educational consultant, Michele Miller. As ever she was inspirational and I am sure students and parents took a lot away from these sessions.
Today we took part in the Macmillan Coffee Morning with our House Captains leading each of our school houses in selling fantastic home bakes at break and lunch time today. Together they whisked up a storm and raised a fantastic £2,524 for this very worthy cause. Thank you so much to all the students and staff who made this event such a joyous event, as well as to all the parents and carers who helped bake at home! The donation pot on Parentpay is still open until Monday and it would be wonderful to creep those funds raised for the UK’s leading cancer support charity a little higher.
Finally, a reminder that next Thursday, 15 October, there will be a late start to the school day following the Sixth form Open evening and to accommodate the Year 10 information morning for families with the pastoral team.
Students across the school and Sixth Form will have all their normal timetabled lessons but the day will be compressed, with lesson timings adjusted to accommodate this. Students should arrive on site from 10.15am ready and prepared for their lessons on that day. Registration will take place in form rooms at 10.30am.
On Wednesday, we had our first Drop Down Day for this academic year, which was hugely successful. During the first part of the day, Mr Bannister spoke to all Year 12 students about a number of post-18 options, which included them applying to go to University, applying for a degree apprenticeship, a gap year or general employment. The slides he went over with the students have already been shared with them. We also hosted a number of professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, who the students had the opportunity to speak to during the second part of the day. During the third part of the day, a large number of our Year 12 Maths students, took part in the annual Senior Maths Challenge. This was a 90-minute problem-solving competition for students aged 16-18, which is run nationally by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust. Also, today we had our annual McMillan Coffee Morning. Well done to all students who baked and sold cakes in their attempt to gather some money for this really worthy cause!
It was so lovely to see so many Year 13s at the Macmillan coffee morning today having both baked and bought some delicious cakes.
This 
We had a week of netball and rugby in sports. Our Year 10/11 Netball team was out on Wednesday against Lift Richmond Park Academy on Wednesday and on Thursday against Christ’s School. These were closely fought matches but unfortunately stolen at the last minute by strong opponents. The team showed great resilience but couldn’t gain back their lead in the final quarter of these games. Player of the match was taken by Daphne E, 11EFR on Wednesday, followed by Jasmine C, 10SHU on Thursday.
