Headteacher's Message

It has been a very successful week for Waldegrave on the sports front and I want to congratulate all our pupils who took part in the Senior Borough Sports event at St Mary’s University on Wednesday. Our team did very well with 11 medals and our Year 7 team taking second place for overall girls team performance across the whole of the Richmond Borough. A very well done to them all and to captain Daisy G, 9EDA, for their efforts. I urge you all to read the Sports Fixtures section to see our full list of results and photos from the event.

The week has not all been about sport and on Monday our Year 12 Physics students took a fascinating trip to Imperial College where they learned about studying the subject at University as well as taking a look at the projects first year undergraduates are working on.

On Tuesday we welcomed in our new parents for a Year 6 Induction Evening where we outlined the induction process ahead of their young people joining our community in September. This event was very well attended and it was lovely to meet all the new parents.

Our English students in Year 12 went to Keats House on Wednesday to learn about this incredible poet’s life. It was a fascinating trip which will have brought his poetry to life as they studied one of the key texts from their curriculum.

The Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh pupils who had already completed their practice assessment last week headed to Ashdown Forest in Sussex on Thursday. I am pleased to say they braved the British Summer weather with smiles on their faces and have completed their final expedition today. Well done to them all and we wish better weather for our second group heading out on their practice next week!

We finished the week with a few different inspiring careers events for students. On Thursday our Year 10s had a post-16 options evening which was led by Mr Bannister our Head of Sixth Form. The event covered both A-levels, apprenticeships and other alternatives for further education. Our Year 12s also had the opportunity to attend a World Of Work Conference, with seven students attending this event at Birkberk University to consider a variety of career options. Finally today we had an excellent speaker from University College London come in to speak to students from across the school about the healthcare sector and also studying at UCL. This talk was another of our Working Lunch series, where pupils are invited to bring their lunch to the main hall at lunchtime to listen to a careers focused talk. Thank you so much to Ishana Atkinson for coming in and sharing her knowledge with us.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend,

Ms E Tongue

Key School Dates

Monday 15 June – Friday 19 June Year 10 Year 10 Assessments
Wednesday 17 June Year 11 Sixth Form Taster Day
Wednesday 17 June Year 12 Theatre Trip: The ‘P’ Word
Thursday 18 June Year 13 Leavers Assembly from 4pm
Thursday 18 June – Friday 19 June Year 7 Parent Tours
Thursday 18 June – Friday 19 June Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh, Bronze, Training Expedition

Year Group Messages

Year 7

This week Year 7 experienced a really informative assembly, led by Mr Allen, this was about LGBT+ science heroes for Pride Month.

Pupils have had the opportunity to take part in a new Philosophy Club that started this week and they have been selecting their representatives for the Interhouse Rounders tournament that is going to be played – weather permitting – after school next Wednesday. It has been a very busy week again for Year 7!

On Wednesday Secondary Borough Sports took place at St Mary’s University.The Year 7 team achieved a number of successes which you can read more about, alongside other match results from this week, in the Sports Fixtures section below.

The top three on the epraise student leaderboard has seen a slight change in placings. This week we have in 3rd place Alice J 7FBO, in joint 2nd place Orla S & Ruzgar C 7SRI & 1st place is still Annabelle H, 7PRE who is closing in on the 250 epraise milestone! Well done to Brooke B & Ellen B who have both now achieved 200 epraise points! We have a growing number of other students who are fast approaching 200 epraise points, we will celebrate these students soon.

The epraise tutor group leaderboard sees 7PRE move back to the top spot, 7SRI are now in 2nd and 7FBO move up to 3rd place this week. Well done to everyone who has earned epraise this week for hard work and demonstrating our school values: enjoy, achieve and empower.

Year 7 are very much looking forward to giving parents a tour of the school ahead of the Year 8 information mornings taking place on 19 and 26 June. Please see the letter that was sent out last week for more information.

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Interhouse Rounders tournament that takes place next Wednesday after School.

Have a lovely week!

Mrs Bashford-Hynes, Head of Year 7

Year 8

Well done to the Year 7/8 Cricket team who took on Turing House School on Friday last week after the match was re-arranged following the turbulent weather. Read more about this and other sports fixtures, including our successes at the Borough Sports Event on Wednesday, in the Sports Fixtures section below.

This Monday Mr Allen hosted a Pride Month Assembly highlighting the life’s work of extraordinary scientists who were also members of the LGBT community, the students were very inspired by their acts of bravery and they left thinking about what they can do to support each other.

On Monday many of our Year 8s went to a rugby workshop organised and hosted at the Harlequins Stadium, Twickenham Stoop. The students engaged enthusiastically with a presentation on women’s health, with a particular focus on menstrual health and its impact on sports participation and performance. The session explored how hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle can affect energy levels, motivation, strength, recovery, and overall well being.

Students discussed practical strategies for managing these effects, including nutrition, hydration, sleep, training adaptations, and open communication with coaches and support networks. The presentation encouraged greater awareness and understanding of women’s health in sport, helping to break down stigma and promote confidence in managing menstrual health while remaining physically active.

Following the presentation, students took part in a non-competitive touch rugby tournament on the main pitch at Harlequins. This provided a fantastic opportunity for students to experience playing on a professional rugby pitch while developing and applying key rugby skills such as passing, catching, spatial awareness, communication, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure.

The emphasis was on participation, enjoyment, and skill development rather than competition, allowing all students to engage confidently and support one another throughout the activities. Students demonstrated excellent teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship.

As the final totals are being added up, the students are continuing to push for their epraise prizes this term. The top point scorers this week are: Emilia B, ESU with an incredible 26 points!!!, followed by Sophia A, PFO and Anastasia DM, PFO. Can PCO be knocked off the top spot before the end of term? Only time will tell!

Next week we have lots going on in school with Year 10 starting their mock exams, while the GCSE and A-Level exams are still in full swing.

A reminder to look at the Life Skills letter sent on Tuesday 9 about the exciting activities planned for Year 8 on our next Drop Down Day. To support the school in funding the running of this day we would welcome a voluntary donation of £5.00 from families. If you would like to make a donation, this can be done through your Parentpay account. Please ensure you complete the self defence forms by Friday 26 June.

Have a great week!

Ms M Rook, Head of Year 8

Year 9

It has been another positive week for our Year 9s. In form time this week Year 9 have been researching the history of the LGTQ+ community, exploring ways in which we can be respectful and supportive of people who identify as LGBTQ+ and help them to understand how to stand up to discrimination. This follows a very insightful and engaging assembly delivered by Mr Allen celebrating Pride Month. He highlighted the incredible contributions of inspirational LGBTQ+ figures in the world of science. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect on inclusivity and the power of diversity in innovation.

This week our fabulous Year 9 rugby players engaged enthusiastically in a presentation on women’s health at Twickenham Stoop, home of the Harlequins. The workshop had a particular focus on menstrual health and its impact on sports participation and performance. Following the presentation the students took part in a non-competitive touch rugby tournament on the pitch. Well done must go to Emily, Anna, Lina, Denise, Lucy for demonstrating excellent teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship!

It was wonderful to see so many Year 9 students putting themselves forward for the Borough Sports athletics event which took place at the St Mary’s University track. See the Sports Fixtures section below with the results from this event.

Our top epraise form this week is 9PIR with 3113 points – keep up the great work! The top three Year 9 students this week are India B, 9EDA with 28 points, Lucy L, 9PIR with 15 points and Eva C, 9EBA on 14 points! A great effort and well done to all of our students who are demonstrating the enjoy, achieve and empower aspects of school life.

Finally well done to our first cohort of Year 9 students to complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh final assessment today, trekking through Ashdown Forest. Next week our second group will do their practice assessment in the Surrey Hills and I am sure their friends will have plenty of tips and advice to share.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs N Lyddon

Year 10

First, congratulations to all of our newly appointed Year 10 Prefects. Leadership plays a vital role in our school community and securing these roles is a massive achievement for our pupils. These positions allow our students to act as role models, drive positive change, and develop essential life skills like communication and responsibility.

The Head Girl hustings officially began this week and I want to congratulate all of our House Captains who stepped forward to run for this ultimate leadership position. The speeches delivered this week were absolutely outstanding, showcasing immense maturity, confidence, and vision for the school.

We have had a very busy couple of weeks extending learning outside the classroom with various trips.
Geography Fieldwork: Thank you to all students for their excellent conduct during Tuesday’s fieldwork trip, and to parents for supporting the logistics.
Drama Trip: Last week’s theatre excursion to see War Horse was a fantastic success. The students were an exemplary audience and gained brilliant insights for their studies.

A crucial reminder that the Year 10 exams begin next week. These assessments are vital for measuring progress and practicing formal exam regulations. Please support your young person at home during this stressful week by ensuring they maintain a quiet study space, get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and balance revision with well-deserved breaks. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mrs O Mortimer

Health & Wellbeing

This week is Carers Week and we want to raise the profile of young carers, as well as encourage donations to our partners at Richmond Carers Centre. Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. The theme for Carers Week 2026 is Building Carer Friendly Communities.

A Young Carer is a person under 18 years of age who helps to look after a family member (this might be a parent, a sibling or any other family member) who is disabled, physically or mentally ill, or has a substance misuse problem. Caring can involve physical or emotional care or taking responsibility for someone’s safety or wellbeing. The level of responsibility assumed by a young carer is often disproportionate to their age and at a level beyond simply ‘helping out’ with jobs at home, which is a normal part of growing up. If you think your child may be a young carer please contact their head of year, so that we can ensure we are supporting them at school.

Richmond Carers Centre provides one to one support for young carers and also runs a school holiday respite programme for young carers who are registered with them, every half term and during school holidays. Activities include: workshops, day trips, sports, creative pursuits, outdoor activities and experience activities – such as AirKix skydiving. Holiday Respite Programme activities are sent to registered young carers in the weeks before they begin and are very popular, so advance booking is required. To book a space, call 020 8867 2383 or email on: info@richmondcarers.org

To make a donation to support Richmond Carers’ Centre to provide these opportunities for young carers, click here.

Ms S Moore, Director of Wellbeing

Sports Fixtures

Well done to the Year 7/8 Cricket Team who took on Turing House School on Friday last week after the match was re-arranged following the turbulent weather. The team won by 30 runs to 11! Well done to the whole team and Jessie C, 8SON, who was named by the players as the Batter of match.

Unfortunately, the weather struck again with both rounders on Monday and the U13 RSSP Cricket Tournament on Thursday cancelled. These will hopefully be rearranged later in the term.

On Wednesday the Secondary Borough Sports athletics event took place at St Mary’s University. We had a team of over 40 pupils taking part which was fantastic, as we always love to see students involving themselves in school activities beyond the classroom. Daisy G, 9EDA, was our proud team captain, who took silver in the Year 9 1500m, and led them to a number of successes.

We are incredibly proud of all the pupils who took part. Year 7 took silver in the overall girls team for the borough, this was hard won with a number of excellent performances from across the Year group but there were some stand out performances which deserve a mention:
Borough Champion, Hurdles: Luna B, 7EVA
Borough Champion, 200m: Lou Lou R, 7EHA
Borough Champions, 4x100m Relay: Luna B, 7EVA, Rhea S, 7EVA, Tabitha T, 7PRE and Lou Lou R, 7EHA
Borough Silver Medal, Javelin: Zinnia W, 7SRI

Students from across the school also placed in the events as follows:
Year 8 Borough Champion, Hurdles: Hannah R, 8FLY
Year 10 Borough Champion, High Jump: Harper M, 10SSR
Year 9 Borough Silver Medal, 1500m: Daisy G, 9EDA
Year 10 Borough Silver Medal, 200m: Abigail BL, 10EMU
Year 8 Fifth place, 100m: Sofia B, 8PFO

Well done to all our athletes and players this week!

 

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