News from Key Stage 4 - June 2019

Celia Tedd, Head of Key Stage 4, writes: 'The Key Stage 4 pastoral team spent a wild 24 hours with the year 9s on the Bushcraft trip at Cornbury Woods. The group enjoyed a fantastic mixture of activities, including cooking over a campfire they had made themselves, survival first aid and, most intrepid of all, building their own shelters from tauplins and foraged wood, which an impressive number of girls chose to sleep in overnight. It was a truly memorable trip, and a great way to get ready for the challenges of Key Stage 4 next year. Well done to the year 10s for their hard work in the school examinations, and we continue to wish the year 11s well as their GCSEs draw to a close.'

News from Key Stage 4 - May 2019

Celia Tedd, Head of Key Stage 4, writes: 'There were tears of excitement, anticipation and farewell as we wished the Year 11s good luck, following their final day of lessons. Amelia took us on a trip down memory lane with her awesome video of highlights from the last 5 years, reminding us why we are so proud of each and every member of the Year group. Their GCSE examinations are now well underway. Year 11s, we know you will excel. Go and show those examiners what you are made of!'

News from Key Stage 4 - March 2019

Celia Tedd, Head of Key Stage 4, writes: ‘Natasha Devon’s inspiring talks to pupils and parents, as part of our Festival of Wellbeing, reminded us all of the importance of life outside the classroom. As part of her insight into anxiety and stress, Natasha invited us all to think about the following three important questions: What do you do to relax? What is your creative outlet? What is your exercise? We are so lucky to be part of a community that sees creativity, exercise and variety as important elements of wellbeing, and makes space and time for these throughout the school week. 

Year 10 in particular have been great ambassadors for the school’s creative side this month. Our actors kept us laughing and guessing in equal measure in The Hampstead Murder Mystery, the middle school play joint with Warwick School. It is hard to know where to start in singling out memorable performances, such was the strength of the cast, but Maud, Purdy, Anna, Emma, Taryn and Grace in particular brought plenty of rich humour to the play. The week before we had been treated to the Dance Evening, themed around New Beginnings. Huge credit must go here to Laura, Amber, Lauren, who performed incredible solos which they had choreographed themselves.'

News from Key Stage 4 - February 2019

Celia Tedd, Head of Key Stage 4, writes: ‘The year 11s handled two weeks of mock GCSE exams with resilience and ambition, and are to be congratulated on the progress they have shown in their work towards their GCSEs. The Year 10 girls, with the luxury of time on their side, have embarked on a new ‘Create Project' which invites them to delve deep into topics of their own choosing. The ideas thrown up so far have been utterly inspirational, from analysis of prisons in the developing world to the viability of growing human organs in lab conditions, from special effects makeup to mockumentary script-writing. Dr Seal and I have been wowed by the girls’ range of interests and the spark that they have shown in researching their ideas. The finished projects promise to be mature, quirky and sophisticated, and we cannot wait to see them.’