The Year 7 Students recently returned from an exhilarating and highly successful residential trip to Manor Adventure, and we couldn’t be prouder of the resilience, teamwork, and sheer enthusiasm they displayed throughout the trip.

The students were faced with a packed itinerary of challenging outdoor activities, designed to test their comfort zones and encourage collaboration. From the moment they arrived, they embraced every opportunity with a fantastic ‘can-do’ attitude, demonstrating maturity beyond their years.

The true highlight of the trip was watching the students rise magnificently to every physical and mental challenge presented to them.

• Vertical Heights: The Climbing Walls saw nervous anticipation turn into triumphant cheers as pupils pushed past their perceived limits, with many reaching the very top!

• Water Warriors: On the water, students learned to manoeuvre in sync during Canoeing and Kayaking; many who started out hesitantly ended the session paddling confidently.

• Underground Explorers: The Caving Activity was a brilliant lesson in trust and communication. Navigating the dark, tight spaces required pupils to guide and encourage each other, proving they could face their fears head-on.

• Teamwork Triumphs: The Obstacle Course and Low Ropes sessions were a masterclass in teamwork. They quickly realised that these tasks were impossible to complete alone, relying on strategy, encouragement, and physical support from their peers to succeed.

 Student Voices: The Verdict is In!

The best feedback comes directly from the Students themselves. We were delighted by the positive response to the week, perfectly summed up by the following students:

• ‘Incredible trip. I was never bored and all the activities were an amazing experience and I am really glad I did it.’ James S

• ‘I had the best getaway with friends!’ Anna W

• ‘It was brilliant, I loved and enjoyed every single one of the activities.’ Devan P

• ‘I loved the caving, and the way the instructors all made sure we had the best time.’ Felicity R

• ‘My favourite thing about Manor was the climbing wall, it was really fun and the instructors were very nice.’ Hannah C

A huge thank you must go to all the teachers and support staff who attended the residential. Your energy, encouragement, and willingness to participate alongside the students truly made this a memorable and successful experience for Year 7.

Beyond the adrenaline rush, the pupils gained invaluable transferable skills. They developed stronger communication, built genuine trust in their classmates, and discovered a new level of self-belief.

A huge well done once again to all the pupils for their outstanding behaviour, positive attitude, and for truly embodying the school spirit. They didn’t just attend the trip; they conquered it!

Congratulations to our Year 13 students who have started submitting their UCAS applications! We are thrilled to see so many students applying for exciting and aspirational courses at a wide range of prestigious universities.

Those applying to Oxbridge and for dentistry have already had their applications submitted, with the final deadline for all applications at the end of November.

Good luck to all Year 13s as they continue this important step towards their future!

Find out more about the UCAS process here: Choose your future | UCAS

On Wednesday 22nd October, Alison Moore from the University of Hertfordshire visited KWS to deliver a presentation on Degree Apprenticeships to students in Years 12 and 13.

It was an insightful and engaging session that provided students with valuable information about Degree Apprenticeships — an increasingly popular post-18 pathway for those finishing sixth form. Alison explained how these programmes allow students to earn a salary while gaining a university-level qualification, combining academic study with practical, hands-on experience in the workplace.

Well done to all the sixth formers who attended, and a big thank you to Alison for joining us and sharing such useful insights about this exciting route into higher education and employment.

We’ve had a fascinating collection of new books arrive in our library recently, donated by the Chinese Embassy, including some that are bilingual. Many of them feature wonderful works of art, there are some poetry books, and an absolutely beautiful book about the giant panda, which will likely become a firm favourite in the library; the photos of the pandas in their natural environment are stunning. 

These books were donated to us because there is a link between China and a citizen of Harpenden. George Hogg was born in Harpenden in 1915, and studied at St George’s School. During the second Sino-Japanese war, in 1944, he led 66 orphaned boys 700km across a mountain range to safety in the Gansu province. Much of the journey was completed on foot through snow-covered mountain passes.

In China, he is now regarded as a friend of the country, and in his memory we have been gifted these lovely books. The 66 young boys were saved, but George himself came to quite a sad end. Having heroically rescued the boys, he hurt his toe whilst playing basketball with them. The wound became infected and he died. Legend has it that as he lay dying of a stubbed toe, the boys sang him the nursery rhymes and poems that he had taught them. Maybe some of those very poems are in the books we now have on offer in the library…

Also this week, in our wonderful library, we are celebrating Diwali. We have a display of books connected to Diwali, including one written by the family of one of our teachers – Mrs Rauniyar; so do drop in and have a search through to see if one appeals!