On 20/10/25 30 Year 9 students from across the three sites attended the New Scientist Live 2025 Expo. Travelling on the Elizabeth Line students experienced a bit of what it was like to commute to a place of work. They were able to tour the venue and speak with dozens of industry professionals and scientists from all types of STEM. They attended talks/demos with exciting explosions and a cannon or two! (Perfectly safe!), along with learning about how magicians actually trick our brains.  They were able to complete competitions and learn about many exciting careers in STEM from people working in them right now. As an added bonus they received many free things, including stationary, bags and even T-shirts. Many students expressed how much they enjoyed the day with one student reporting ‘we learned when we got there and had fun’. Well done to all our Year 9s who attended for representing the school is such a positive light.

The U16 girls travelled away to Leventhorpe School in Sawbridgeworth yesterday. They battled up hill in the first half of the game and were glad to have the downhill in the second half. Zoe Freeman managed to convert all eight of our try's, even some right on the touchline. Try's were scored by Shola (her first one), Belange, Joan (x2), Blessing, Keziah, Eureka and Natasha. Making the final score 19-56 to our girls. Leventhorpe chose Belange as our back of the match and Joanna as our forward. Coaches player went to Arba for her relentless tackling and rucking and Captains player went to Keziah.

On Friday 17 th October our year 13 history cohort visited Hampton Court Palace, the home of many key characters from their A-level such as Cardinal Wolsey and even Henry VIII himself. The students were first able to explore the palace, from kitchens to chapel, wardrobe room to the 'Room of Great Easement' (also known as the toilet), and everything in between. They even had time to run a quick Privy Council meeting!  After their time exploring the students participated in a workshop led by an expert on Hampton Court Palace on the topic of the English Reformation. It had been clear all day that our students are well-versed in everything Tudor, a clear result of their exceptional hard work over year 12, but during this workshop they really impressed everyone. There was no question they could not answer, and yet they had their own questions about what they had seen as they still wanted to know more. Some of the highlights from our year 13 students included the magnificent tapestries, the 'eaves droppers' ensuring nobody spoke badly about the King and arguably the most popular story, that the ghost of Catherine Howard still haunts the halls.

On October the 9 th , 40 of our most able Mathematicians took part in the UKMT Senior challenge. The challenge is a national competition where our students get to compete with the best Mathematicians in the country. The challenge has students utilise their mathematical reasoning and fluency in using the basic mathematical techniques learned from school to solve unique and interesting questions and challenges on the paper. The problems on the Senior Mathematical Challenge promote critical thinking skills, often making pupils apply their knowledge in unfamiliar ways in order to solve a problem. Our results have just come in and we had 19 Bronze awards, 8 Silver awards and 1 Gold award. A special mention to Nelson M for achieving the highest in the school and achieving a Gold award and Muhammad (Rayyan) HB for the 2 nd highest in the school and achieving a Silver award. Nelson will have the opportunity to go into the follow-on Kangaroo round for the elite Mathematicians in the country.

An Unforgettable Adventure: Our First Ever Trip to China On 19th July, 58 excited students and staff embarked on an incredible journey — our school’s first-ever trip to China! After a long flight, we touched down in Beijing, where tired faces quickly turned into smiles of excitement and anticipation. From there, we travelled to Tianjin, our home for the week, and settled into the welcoming campus of Tianjin Normal University. Our first day was spent exploring the university grounds and getting to know our surroundings — a perfect start to what would become an unforgettable adventure. Over the next six days, our students immersed themselves in Chinese culture, language, and tradition, alongside new friends from both China and the USA. Each day offered a blend of learning and discovery, and the energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm from everyone were truly inspiring. Some of the many highlights included: Martial Arts Training, where students learned the discipline and skill behind this ancient practice. A fascinating visit to the National Maritime Museum of China, exploring the country’s proud naval history. Creative Chinese Art workshops, full of colour and imagination. A trip to the picturesque Yangliuqing Ancient Town, offering a window into China’s traditional culture. A lively Traditional Dragon Dance, which brought music, rhythm, and joy to the group. Exploring the China Stone Park and Tianjin Ancient Cultural Street, where students experienced local crafts, flavours, and history first-hand. The children also had the opportunity to explore a traditional Chinese market — a truly sensory experience! They were captivated by the sights, sounds, and aromas that filled the bustling stalls. Many were fascinated by the variety of local delicacies on offer, and a few brave students (and even some teachers!) decided to sample them. This was a fantastic learning experience that opened everyone’s eyes to the richness of Chinese culture and the many differences — and similarities — that make our world so wonderfully diverse. After our incredible week in Tianjin, we made our way back to Beijing for the final leg of our journey. There, we explored some of China’s most iconic landmarks, including the majestic Temple of Heaven and the world-famous Tiananmen Square. Standing in these historic places was a truly awe-inspiring moment for everyone.

Under-16 Athletics Well done to the boys U16 Indoor Athletics squad who made it through the heats to reach the final of the indoor Athletics final at the national centre at Lee Valley. There was some outstanding individual performances and when combined together it saw us finish 4 th in an impressive field of schools from the South East of England. Well done to all. Mr Goyette 6th Form boys football The U18 boys team have finished the half term with 2 excellent wins over local rivals All Saints and Eastbrook. They have scored an impressive 15 goals over the 2 games. They currently sit top of the borough league and play an Essex cup second round game away to St Thomas More the first week back after half term. The attendance to training and the enthusiasm has been excellent all half term. Well done and keep it up gents.

What an amazing start to the term with nearly 50 year 7 students competing in their first rugby festival of the season. All teams performed really well and there was some outstanding sportsmanship on the pitch. Our friends, Grays Convent School and Riverside, gave us some great competition! Stay tuned for our next rugby festival in November! Miss Robbins & Mr Pruce

This year, our Vision and Voices students are entering the final stage of their three-year journey with the project. On Wednesday, they kicked off the year with their first trip — a visit to the National Gallery — where they focused on developing their oracy skills, particularly through exploratory talk.  From start to finish, the students were outstanding. They demonstrated impressive knowledge and understanding built over the past two years of the project. One student even shared, "This was my favourite trip to the gallery yet."

On Wednesday 1 st October 2025, Mr Hamill Careers Director, led a 100 year 11 students from all 3 sites to experience a BARKING COLLEGE TASTER DAY, with each student experiencing 4 vocational courses/workshops each from NVQ Levels 1 to 3. Barking and Dagenham College is the largest college in East London offering up to 146 varied vocational course and apprenticeship opportunities for students wishing to follow a more practical vocational route in their career. Experiencing 4 varied workshops allowed them to experience great insight into 4 professions first hand and to use the facilities on offer and meet the teaching staff. The day proved extremely rewarding for all involved and really helped in vital career opportunity awareness.