Big News: Sunday Times Comprehensive School of the Year! 

There has been lots going on this week in College, but by far the most exciting news to share is that we have been named as both the Comprehensive School of the Year 2025 and Comprehensive School of the Year in East Anglia 2025 in this year’s Sunday Times Parent Power schools guide. This is the fourth time since 2020 that we have won the regional award, but it is the first time that we have been awarded the coveted national prize! The news has broken online this morning, and the College will feature in this Sunday’s supplement in the national newspaper.  

The Award recognises the academic achievements of our pupils in both their GCSEs and IB programmes last year, but also acknowledges the wider work that the College does in providing students with a unique, IB education. We are very proud that our academic successes have been recognised, but that our commitment to education in the broadest sense, providing students with rich experiences and promoting their wellbeing and wider achievement, is also celebrated.  

None of what we do would be possible without our amazing body of staff, and the incredible pupils who make up the College community. This is definitely a much-deserved celebration of them! 

Year 7 Progress Evening 

It was lovely to welcome our year 7 parents and carers in for the first Progress Evening of the academic year. As always, the turnout of families was exceptionally strong, and teaching staff thoroughly enjoyed meeting parents and carers for the first time and sharing some of the work that the students have produced in the first units of the Middle Years Programme (MYP). It was also lovely for our senior leadership team to chat informally to families throughout the evening. We look forward to welcoming Year 11 students and their parents/carers next week! 

Carol Service: St Andrew’s Church 

Last night was our first Lessons and Carols service at St Andrew’s Church in the village. Over 60 students and nearly 20 staff, along with many parents, carers, and family members, joined together for a traditional service (with an IVC twist!). There were a variety of readings, hymns and musical pieces shared. It was a lovely evening, and we hope that thanks to the work of Ms Macleod and our music department, that it will become a regular feature on the IVC calendar. 

Group 4 Project: IB Diploma Programme 

This week has also been a busy week over in the sixth form, with the Group 4 (Sciences) Collaborative Project taking place. This is a very important part of the IB Diploma Programme, with students from across the sciences working together on a scientific or technological topic, with the aim of “encouraging an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method”. This exciting process is unique to the IBDP, and gives students the chance to work collaboratively and to present their work as part of a fair at the end of the day.  

Exciting Dance Updates 

We were delighted to hear that year 11 student and talented dancer, Daisy G., won the Under 16 UK solo gold medal at the UK Street Dance Championships last Saturday. We are so proud!  

Back in College, our IB dancers have been filming their duets this week, part of their final submissions. They also received some fantastic news, as they have got through a rigorous application and selection process to perform one of their pieces at the U. Dance East festival in March. The piece was created by one of our dance teachers, Amy Holly, and will be performed as You, Me and the Rest of the World at Dance East on Saturday 22 March 2025. If this performance goes well, they have the chance of being selected to perform at Sadlers Wells East at the National Festival in July!