This week in our school community: 7 March 2025

"We've celebrated another World Book Day with some fantastic costumes on display. "  

There has been a buzz about being in school this week, not only helped by the sunnier weather but also because so much has been going on. We've celebrated another World Book Day with some fantastic costumes on display. Some of our Senior Leadership Team dressed up as Jane Austen characters in acknowledgment of her 250th birthday! Well done to everyone who got creative and made an effort to take part in the fun.

Lent has started with a beautiful reflective liturgy for the whole school on Wednesday. Thank you to Mr Robinson for providing moments of stillness and contemplation for us to examine our relationship with God and with others in the community. Thanks also to Ms John, our musicians, our student and staff readers and ministers who distributed ashes, all putting their faith into action by serving so well at our Ash Wednesday liturgy.

We love celebrating success so, congratulations  to Romero House who remain top of the charts in our House Point competition - recent House Tug of War events have now been added to the totals but Romero are still striving ahead. Congratulations to the top individual performers and top tutor groups - see Mr Robinson's write-up for more details. Keep working hard and collecting points for showing wonderful manners, trying your best and being a respectful, responsible, aspirational and virtuous member of our school family.

It's also been National Careers Week and tutors have delivered exciting sessions with students from Years 7 through to our sixth form. Students engaged in thinking about career opportunities and the world of work while considering the steps needed to get to their desired goal. 

It was good to see so many Year 11 students and their families attend an important GCSE information evening on Thursday. Thank you to Mrs Hillier-Brown, our new Assistant Head Teaching and Learning, and Miss Handley, Exams Officer, for coordinating the event. The key message is that if you work hard and attend school, the chances of success are much greater. Best of luck to Year 11 Dance and Food Tech students who begin their practical exams next week.

Last week the History department took sixth form students to visit The Tower of London and the stars of the trip were Zyad M and Sammy G-C for amazing contributions in the workshop. See Mrs Sarbatta's full write-up and photos to get a sense of what the students got up to on this enriching visit. The stars of the Rome pilgrimage were Tom C (Year 13) who asked lots of questions, got involved, showed interest and was always polite and kind, especially listening respectfully to the tour guides, as well as  Zara D'S and Nora K (Year 11) for being so kind, inclusive and making the effort with everyone – both in our school and when representing the school at Colle De Salle, a Lasallian school in Rome which all of Year 11 had the pleasure to visit. 

Please add Tuesday 11 March to your diary because it is the next PTFA Coffee and Cake session from 3:30-4pm in the Reading Room - all are very welcome. Our focus will be on behaviour and pastoral care; we are reviewing our Behaviour for Excellence policy and would love to hear your thoughts to feed into this policy. If you cannot make it but would like to share your views on the Behaviour for Excellence policy, please email Mr Jaggon. A copy is available in our 'Key Information' section of the website.

To reflect on National Careers Week, I will leave you with this prayer:

Heavenly Father,

As I stand at the crossroads of important decisions,

I seek Your guidance to lead me along the best path.

Illuminate the options before me and help me discern

which best align with my skills and Your plan for my life.

Instill in me the grace to choose wisely

and the courage to step forward in faith, 

even when the way is not always clear.

May your peace fill my heart when I make decisions,

ensuring that my choices bring glory to Your name

and serve others for the common good.

Amen.

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher