It has been another busy week for our students, with field trips taking our students as far afield as Vietnam! Elsewhere, our Eco Committee members improved their understanding of different recycling practices and our Sports Leaders umpired a regional netball finals series. I’m pleased to share further details with you below.

Xin chào, Vietnam!

We are committed to providing a truly international learning experience for all of our students,  fostering intercultural understanding and respect for others. Towards the end of last week, a cohort of our students travelled to Vietnam to stay with the families from our Vietnamese partner school.

They have had a fantastic time living and learning alongside their Vietnamese peers and have also enjoyed a series of culturally enriching trips to sites of historical significant and natural beauty. As well as spending time in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and the ancient city of Bat Trang, the students were able to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay. Our teachers who accompanied the students on the trip have reported how impactful the students have found the experience and I look forward to hearing more from then when they return to the College next week.

Student-led environmental initiatives

As mentioned in my previous blog posts, our Eco Committee has been working hard to build further upon the College’s commitments to sustainability. They have already implemented a number of practices that have helped to reduce waste and carbon emissions at the College, and increased biodiversity on our grounds through launching ‘No Mow May’.

Last week, the Committee travelled to Waterbeach to bolster their understanding of what happens to our rubbish when it leaves our site. They visited the Thalia Waste Management Centre, where they learnt more about the different recycling practices that occur on the site and completed a series of quizzes and interactive learning sessions about waste management. Upon returning to the College, it has been clear to see the impact of the trip, as three members of the Committee have already presented at a staff briefing on what the College can do to reduce waste and energy consumption.

U13 girls’ football successes

Our under 13 girls’ football team have enjoyed a fantastic season of football and have displayed exceptional sporting prowess and teamwork throughout. This season, they took part in the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) Girls U13 Schools Cup, and their talent saw them make it all the way to the quarter finals of the nationwide competition! Enroute to the quarter final, our team recorded resounding 11-0 and 8-0 victories against strong opposition and, on Wednesday, our girls took to the field to play against Bullers Wood School. Despite displaying fantastic teamwork and resilience, our team was narrowly defeated on the day. Regardless of the result, I am incredibly proud of them and would like to congratulate them on their journey to the cup quarter finals.

Leading by example

Continuing the sporting theme, our sports leaders recently supported with the delivery of the South Cambs School Sport Partnership’s Bee Netball finals. The A Team finals were held at the College and our leaders umpired each of the games between the top 12 teams from across South Cambridgeshire. Our students were commended for their professionalism and for refereeing each game fairly, and received plaudits from members of the other schools. Congratulations and thank you to them for representing the College in such a positive light and helping to inspire the next generation of Netball enthusiasts.

Year 10 Progress Evening – thank you for joining us!

I am a strong advocate of building and maintaining strong parent/teacher relationships as they support the development of our students, both academically and personally. On Wednesday evening, it was a joy to welcome parents and carers of our Year 10 students to the College for their Progress Evening. It was fantastic to bare witness to, and engage in, many positive conversations ahead of the upcoming Year 10 examinations and I’d like to thank all who attended.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Finally, this week is Mental Health Awareness Week; a reminder for us to reflect upon the importance of looking after our mental health. I am proud that, as a College, we have been awarded the prestigious Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health, which recognises the value that we place on supporting the wellbeing of both students and staff. Through the College students are able to access a range of mental health support initiatives, including, in-house mentoring, access to a family support worker, YMCA counselling and support and more. We are also proud of our balanced International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which through our iCAS programme, allows students to choose an area or activity to study for their own pleasure during the school day. This helps to strike a balance between academic learning and learning for enjoyment.

If you are ever concerned about your child’s mental health, please do reach out. A member of our team will always strive to provide access to the right kind of support. Contact us via and we will get back to you within 48 hours.