The News 27 February 2026
School News
Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents, Our pupils have returned refreshed and in fine form from their 2 week half-term break. Year 13 have gone straight back into their second set of mock examinations; these will stand them in good stead for the real things and provide good feedback on what the students need to do before the summer public examinations. It is lovely to have extension opportunities outside of the curriculum for our pupils. This evening we welcome back OA Will Gibson (D20) to share his experiences of professional acting. In addition to Schola Mass this evening and Abbey Mass on Sunday, our excellent Schola Cantorum will be performing Evensong with Ripon Cathedral Choir on Sunday. It is strange to have started the second half of term with Lent having already begun. I spoke to the school in Assembly before half-term to introduce the concept of Lent being something joyful - as St Benedict underlines in his rule. I left half-term with inspiration from our Year 9 Faith in Action group who put together a lovely Lenten collection as a focus for reflection and actions during Lent. Fr Ambrose is providing lots of opportunity for spiritual nourishment too as we prepare for Easter. In Lent we will also focus on Lenten Disconnect to Reconnect Days where we will aim to be as tech free as possible (both staff and pupils). Finally, I am grateful for the hard work of Matt Glendon Doyle in putting together our annual Pastoral Care Conference which takes place on Wednesday 11th March; this will attract outstanding guest speakers on a wide variety of areas of pastoral cares and will be attended by colleagues from a broad range of schools both locally and nationally. Best wishes,
Jon
SHAC Rock
A brilliant evening at our annual SHAC Rock last weekend, our annual student-led fundraiser for Mary’s Meals, a charity that serves a nutritious daily meal to some of the world's poorest children. Students from every Senior House took to the stage to perform their favourite hits having formed their own bands, rehearsed independently, and led the organisation of the entire event themselves. A great range of music and genres, from Ice Ice Baby performed by Maggie (11M) and Mollie (13M) to A Horse With No Name by Ben (13CT), Archie (13J), Wilf (13H) and Ron (11J), this year’s festival demonstrated the breadth of talent and musical confidence of our students.
More - SHAC Rock
Geography Trip to London
Year 12 A level Geography students recently spent a day investigating the regeneration of the area around King's Cross in London and gathering data for their coursework. Putting theory into practice, students carried out a range of fieldwork techniques including ‘ideal high street’ assessments, clone town/home town surveys and questionnaires, analysing how urban change shapes communities, businesses and public spaces.
It was an excellent trip and really helped the students to develop their analytical skills, confidence in data collection, and a deeper understanding of the real-world challenges facing modern cities.
Year 7 & 8 Maths Trip to Wetherby Racecourse
A day at Wetherby Racecourse gave Year 7 and 8 pupils the opportunity to apply their mathematical thinking in the real world. Using trundle wheels, analysing race cards, and calculating measurements across the site, pupils discovered how maths shapes every aspect of race day operations. From estimating the capacity of the parade ring to converting between units, learning became active and memorable. Applying academic skills in real-world environments helps students to appreciate their school subjects more and understand their importance.
Senior Cricket Scholars visit Headingley Stadium
As part of our new and ongoing partnership with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, a handful of our Senior Cricket Scholars enjoyed a fantastic visit to Headingley Stadium on Wednesday. The day began with a training session in the indoor centre, giving pupils the opportunity to experience elite-level facilities first-hand. After lunch in the East Stand, the group were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, culminating in the rare privilege of stepping out onto the pitch, accompanied by the groundsman, to learn more about pitch preparation and matchday standards. Our sincere thanks go to Yorkshire County Cricket Club for their warm hospitality and for offering such valuable insight into the professional game. It was a brilliant trip and a wonderful opportunity for our students as this exciting partnership continues to develop.
Art Trip to Tate Modern
Our Year 13 Art students recently travelled to London for an inspiring visit to Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Exploring world-class collections, they gathered photographic research, made sketches and reflected on artistic styles and curatorial approaches to support their A Level coursework. The trip provided invaluable context for their projects, while a River Bus journey along the Thames offered a memorable way to take in the capital. They returned to the Valley tired but energised - sketchbooks full and creativity well and truly sparked.
Design Technology Trip to Nissan in Sunderland
A recent visit to Nissan's manufacturing plant in Sunderland allowed Year 12 Design & Technology and Computing students to see modern engineering in action.
From quality control and computer-controlled manufacturing systems to large-scale assembly lines and Kaizen practices, they witnessed classroom learning being translated into industrial production. Beginning with an extraordinary 5,400-ton press (4 storeys high and 4 storeys deep!), they followed the journey from raw steel to automated welding and painting, right through to final calibration and quality checks.
This fascinating trip brought STEM subjects to life and gave students a valuable insight into global industry and future career pathways.
The News 27 February 2026
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Transcript
The News 27 February 2026
School News
Message from the Headmaster
Dear Parents, Our pupils have returned refreshed and in fine form from their 2 week half-term break. Year 13 have gone straight back into their second set of mock examinations; these will stand them in good stead for the real things and provide good feedback on what the students need to do before the summer public examinations. It is lovely to have extension opportunities outside of the curriculum for our pupils. This evening we welcome back OA Will Gibson (D20) to share his experiences of professional acting. In addition to Schola Mass this evening and Abbey Mass on Sunday, our excellent Schola Cantorum will be performing Evensong with Ripon Cathedral Choir on Sunday. It is strange to have started the second half of term with Lent having already begun. I spoke to the school in Assembly before half-term to introduce the concept of Lent being something joyful - as St Benedict underlines in his rule. I left half-term with inspiration from our Year 9 Faith in Action group who put together a lovely Lenten collection as a focus for reflection and actions during Lent. Fr Ambrose is providing lots of opportunity for spiritual nourishment too as we prepare for Easter. In Lent we will also focus on Lenten Disconnect to Reconnect Days where we will aim to be as tech free as possible (both staff and pupils). Finally, I am grateful for the hard work of Matt Glendon Doyle in putting together our annual Pastoral Care Conference which takes place on Wednesday 11th March; this will attract outstanding guest speakers on a wide variety of areas of pastoral cares and will be attended by colleagues from a broad range of schools both locally and nationally. Best wishes, Jon
SHAC Rock
A brilliant evening at our annual SHAC Rock last weekend, our annual student-led fundraiser for Mary’s Meals, a charity that serves a nutritious daily meal to some of the world's poorest children. Students from every Senior House took to the stage to perform their favourite hits having formed their own bands, rehearsed independently, and led the organisation of the entire event themselves. A great range of music and genres, from Ice Ice Baby performed by Maggie (11M) and Mollie (13M) to A Horse With No Name by Ben (13CT), Archie (13J), Wilf (13H) and Ron (11J), this year’s festival demonstrated the breadth of talent and musical confidence of our students.
More - SHAC Rock
Geography Trip to London
Year 12 A level Geography students recently spent a day investigating the regeneration of the area around King's Cross in London and gathering data for their coursework. Putting theory into practice, students carried out a range of fieldwork techniques including ‘ideal high street’ assessments, clone town/home town surveys and questionnaires, analysing how urban change shapes communities, businesses and public spaces. It was an excellent trip and really helped the students to develop their analytical skills, confidence in data collection, and a deeper understanding of the real-world challenges facing modern cities.
Year 7 & 8 Maths Trip to Wetherby Racecourse
A day at Wetherby Racecourse gave Year 7 and 8 pupils the opportunity to apply their mathematical thinking in the real world. Using trundle wheels, analysing race cards, and calculating measurements across the site, pupils discovered how maths shapes every aspect of race day operations. From estimating the capacity of the parade ring to converting between units, learning became active and memorable. Applying academic skills in real-world environments helps students to appreciate their school subjects more and understand their importance.
Senior Cricket Scholars visit Headingley Stadium
As part of our new and ongoing partnership with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, a handful of our Senior Cricket Scholars enjoyed a fantastic visit to Headingley Stadium on Wednesday. The day began with a training session in the indoor centre, giving pupils the opportunity to experience elite-level facilities first-hand. After lunch in the East Stand, the group were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, culminating in the rare privilege of stepping out onto the pitch, accompanied by the groundsman, to learn more about pitch preparation and matchday standards. Our sincere thanks go to Yorkshire County Cricket Club for their warm hospitality and for offering such valuable insight into the professional game. It was a brilliant trip and a wonderful opportunity for our students as this exciting partnership continues to develop.
Art Trip to Tate Modern
Our Year 13 Art students recently travelled to London for an inspiring visit to Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Exploring world-class collections, they gathered photographic research, made sketches and reflected on artistic styles and curatorial approaches to support their A Level coursework. The trip provided invaluable context for their projects, while a River Bus journey along the Thames offered a memorable way to take in the capital. They returned to the Valley tired but energised - sketchbooks full and creativity well and truly sparked.
Design Technology Trip to Nissan in Sunderland
A recent visit to Nissan's manufacturing plant in Sunderland allowed Year 12 Design & Technology and Computing students to see modern engineering in action. From quality control and computer-controlled manufacturing systems to large-scale assembly lines and Kaizen practices, they witnessed classroom learning being translated into industrial production. Beginning with an extraordinary 5,400-ton press (4 storeys high and 4 storeys deep!), they followed the journey from raw steel to automated welding and painting, right through to final calibration and quality checks. This fascinating trip brought STEM subjects to life and gave students a valuable insight into global industry and future career pathways.