Successful Careers and Pathways Fair

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Last Friday, we welcomed colleges, universities and employers to our Careers and Pathways Fair, supporting pupils and students in Years 10 to 13. It was a brilliant opportunity for them to explore future options and chat with employers and some apprentices from a range of industries. Our pupils and students left inspired and informed about the many routes available after school.

Year 11 trip to the V&A

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Year 11 GCSE Art and Textiles pupils visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and Hyde Park last week to develop ideas for their Order and Disorder project. GCSE Art and Textiles focuses on creating personal and meaningful responses and pupils were thoroughly engaged, taking photos and sketching relevant subjects right from the start. Even on the train journey, many were drawing and capturing images through the windows. Well done to all our Year 11 creatives!

Year 10 Investigate Cells

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Over the past few lessons, Year 10 pupils have been deepening their understanding of cells. They learnt to identify key features of both animal and plant cells and had the opportunity to create their own slides. Using light microscopes, they observed their samples and practised scientific drawing and analysis, developing both their practical skills and biological knowledge.

GCSE and A Level Drama National Theatre Tour

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Our GCSE and A Level Drama pupils and students enjoyed a rare opportunity to go backstage at the National Theatre and explore the inner workings of this world-famous venue. They toured all three stages, the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman, while performances were being preset ahead of their evening shows.

The tour included fascinating discussions about the history of the building, the influence of its Artistic Directors and the complex interplay of staging, lighting, acoustics and the many roles that bring a production to life. They visited the costume and set design departments, discovering interesting details about wigs and stage props along the way. It was a truly inspiring experience, offering an insider’s view of one of the most distinctive theatres in Europe.

Make Me A Medic Day

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A group of our Year 12 students attended the Make Me a Medic day at Ibstock Place School. The event offered valuable insights into pursuing a career in medicine through a series of interactive workshops. Students took part in sessions on medical ethics, a Q&A with practising doctors and advice on writing personal statements. They also prepared for the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) and practised MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) scenarios, both key parts of the medical school application process. It was an inspiring and practical day, leaving our students better informed and motivated about their future pathways in medicine.

Angel is a Published Author

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We are absolutely delighted to celebrate the success of Angel S in Year 9, who has become a published author! Her remarkable journey, living with sickle cell disease, was recently featured in this BBC News article. Angel’s creativity and perseverance have brought her story to a wider audience, inspiring both pupils and staff. ‘My Blood, Your Blood’, co-written with Laura Henry -Allain, raises awareness of sickle cell disease and encourages blood donations within black communities. We could not be prouder of Angel’s dedication, courage and talent. Congratulations, Angel!

Kingston Area Lay Conference

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Last Saturday, Saint Cecilia’s hosted the inaugural Kingston Area Lay Conference, led by the Bishop of Kingston and Vicar of St Barnabas Church. Over 200 lay members of churches in the Episcopal area attended workshops themed around sustainability and confident faith in a changing world. The keynote speech was delivered by the Rt Revd. and the Rt Hon. the Lord Williams of Oystermouth (Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury) who encouraged and reminded lay members to be confident in God, His promises and faithfulness.