Another very busy week in College, with some of our biggest exams taking place across years 11 and 13, and lots in between for our younger students! 

VE Day Celebration 

A late entry for the blog, last week to celebrate VE Day our History department held a celebration across lunchtime. The students were invited to pop in to learn about VE day but also to remember those soldiers from Histon and Impington who did not return from the fighting in the Second World War. 

There were lots of delicious cakes baked by members of the history department, popular WW2 songs playing, bunting and flags, WW2 newspapers and magazines (some of these actually dating from the war years), lots of information on rationing, air raids and life during WW2 and many photographs of the VE celebrations. Lots of pupils also sewed a felt poppy and dedicated it to a local soldier. The pupils were full of questions and had stories to tell about members of their own families during WW2! 

Year 10 Progress Evening 

Thank you to our staff and to the many year 10 families who attended the Progress Evening on Wednesday. It was an important milestone in the GCSE programme for our year 10 students, who are busy preparing for their summer exams. We hope that it was a useful and constructive evening, and a chance to review progress and next steps. 

Trips to the Globe 

This week, year 8 went ‘en masse’ across two days to visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, to participate in a Live Action workshop on the theme of Much Ado about Nothing, to experience the theatre and work with professional actors, as well as to have a tour of the theatre. The students had a truly wonderful time, and we are very grateful to the English department, especially Miss Haque, for the military level of planning that has gone into taking so many students! 

Japan Exchange 

Mrs Turner left for Japan on Tuesday with our group of students participating in the Hakuhodo Foundation’s 15th Japanese Language Exchange Programme. As part of the trip, our students will be mixing with others from across the world, and spending time experiencing culture, schooling and daily life in Japan. We look forward to hearing all about it! 

Geography Field Trip: Year 12 

On Monday our year 12 geographers began their Internal Assessment (IA) fieldwork in central Cambridge. Starting at the Princess Diana Memorial on Christ’s Pieces, they spent the day working as a group, walking along pre-defined transects spanning out of Cambridge city centre and collecting data for their inquiry into the potential urban decline of the city. 

Cambridge Literary Festival Trip 

On Tuesday evening, Mx Studholme took our Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) students to the Cambridge Literary Festival, to listen to Robert Macfarlane discuss his book, ‘Is a River Alive?’. In ESS students learn about the many different interactions between rivers and societies, and the ways that humans both harm and protect rivers. In his discussion, Robert Macfarlane argued that rivers should be classified as living beings in both imagination and law, to give rivers greater protection from exploitation and harm. It was a fascinating talk and a brilliant opportunity to think more deeply about the topics on the ESS curriculum. 

Firebreak: Cottenham Fire Station 

This week a group of KS3 students spent the week at Cottenham Fire Station on their ‘Firebreak’ course, designed to develop self-esteem, citizenship and teamwork skills, and to work towards Unit Award Scheme certificates in CPR and Basic Life Support, Basic Firefighting Skills and Active Citizenship. I have the privilege of watching their Pass Out Parade this afternoon at the Fire Station, to see them show off everything they have learned! 

Speakers Trust visit 

On Tuesday we had a visit by the trainer from the Speakers Trust, an organisation which provides expert trainers that help people improve their communication skills. They work to enable young people’s voices to be heard and become confident communicators whatever their background. Their expert trainer came in and worked with a group of our year 10s in preparation for the first round of the competition where IVC will send two students to the regional finals. 

Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award 

This week saw 121 of our year 9s participate in their first overnight expedition to the Stow Longa/Grafham Water area. They had lovely weather for it and a very successful expedition, and we are incredibly grateful for the staff giving up their evening to support them.