As we head into the final stretch of the school year, the atmosphere is electric. The leaderboard is still shifting, the points are piling up, and every student’s contribution is making a difference. Here is everything you need to know about where we stand in the race for the prestigious House Cup.

The current Leader is Nightingale 

How the Winner is Decided

Remember, winning the House Cup isn’t just about one big event; it’s about consistency and character across the board. We determine the winner by looking at:

• Most Recognitions: those extra house points earned for hard work, kindness, and going above and beyond.
• Least Consequences: demonstrating discipline and respect in our daily school life.
• Inter-House Competitions: success in our scheduled seasonal events.

Recent Victories

It has been a busy few months, and several houses have already secured major wins to boost their totals:

Shoutout: A huge well done to everyone who participated in the Wheel & Walk Initiative. This event tracked which students chose to walk or ride their bikes to school, proving that our houses care just as much about the environment as they do about the trophy!

Coming Up This Term

There are still plenty of points up for grabs! If your house is currently trailing, don’t lose heart these upcoming events could change everything:

• House Rounders: get your bats ready for some teamwork on the field.
• Armstrong House Writing Competition: a chance for our poets and storytellers to shine.
• House Quiz of the Year: put your general knowledge to the ultimate test.
• Sports Day: the grand finale where speed, strength, and spirit collide!

Keep pushing, keep earning those recognitions, and let’s see which house will be lifting the cup at the end of the term.

Good luck to all houses!

Mrs Stockwell – Head of House 

Our 2026 Easter China trip was an unforgettable journey that took a group of our dedicated Mandarin students across to three remarkable cities – Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou over 10 days. From the dazzling skyline and cutting-edge innovation of Shanghai to the timeless beauty of Suzhou’s classical gardens and the serene landscapes of Hangzhou’s West Lake, students experienced a country that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly modern and forward-looking . Highlights included visiting a local Chinese school, engaging with students their own age, exploring tea fields and taking in panoramic views of the city from the 11th floor of the Shanghai Tower. Students also had the exciting opportunity to experience China’s high-speed rail for the first time, travelling from Hangzhou back to Shanghai. What would have been a seven-hour journey by coach was completed in just one hour, leaving many students amazed by the speed, efficiency, and advanced infrastructure.

Year 12 students: GSK Summer Holidays STEM Work Experience – applications now open!
GSK are pleased to share the details about a fantastic opportunity to apply for their Stevenage STEM Work Experience event which year 12 students may have an interest in.

They are running an on-site work experience this year from 27th July to the 30th July 2026.  The application process for year 12 students is now open.

https://forms.office.com/r/RX7d3amuBr – Link for applications.

Year 12 & 13 students Uptree: UK’s Intelligence Agencies, Virtual Insight Session – Wednesday 13th May

The UK Intelligence Agencies, MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, work together to keep the country safe. Their highly trained staff use cutting edge techniques to uncover and stop plans to harm our people, buildings and computer systems, both in the UK and around the world. National: UK’s Intelligence Agencies, Virtual Insight Session | Event at Uptree

• Introduction to the UK’s Intelligence Agencies
• Overview of the Intelligent Services
• Insight into the wide range of roles within the Intelligence Agencies
• Understanding the security clearance process
• Top tips for the application and interview stages

This event is for Year 12 and 13, college and gap year  students with an interest in STEM, looking for Early Careers opportunities e.g. apprenticeships, junior development programmes etc.

 Next Steps:

• Register for this online event using your Uptree account. If you do not have an Uptree account, register here.
• There are only 200 spaces available for this event so apply as soon as possible.