A Life-Changing journey: Our 2026 China Trip

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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.

A particularly powerful aspect of the trip was seeing Mandarin come to life beyond the classroom. Students were able to use their language skills in real, meaningful contexts, whether ordering food, interacting with local people, or navigating daily life, which gave them a strong sense of achievement and independence. Many commented on how rewarding it felt to be able to communicate and connect, and how much more immersive their experience was as a result. It was clear that learning Mandarin had opened doors for them, and several students expressed how fortunate they felt to have had the opportunity to study such a globally significant language, recognising the unique advantages it offers for future travel, study, and career pathways.

The impact of the trip has been truly profound, many students returned inspired, with some already expressing a desire to revisit China during a gap year or even consider living and working there in the future. It was, without doubt, a life-changing experience – one that broadened perspectives, built confidence, and brought language learning vividly to life. So powerful was the experience that students and staff members described it as ‘one of the best school trips’ they have ever been part of.

Miss Hu

New York Trip with Sixth Form

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While many enjoyed a quiet break at home, our Sixth Form students swapped the classroom for the lively streets of New York City during the Easter holiday.
The city skyline was impressive, but our students truly stood out. They were attentive in the subway and showed real maturity at the 9/11 Memorial. Their excellent behaviour made us proud and helped make the trip a great success.
Our students brought their lessons to life by experiencing them first hand:
  • The Financial District: our walking tour of Wall Street offered a close look at how global finance operates.
  • The United Nations: students interested in politics and history visited the halls where international relations happen and gained a new perspective on global cooperation.
  • The 9/11 Memorial: this was likely the most moving part of the trip. Seeing our students quietly reflect by the memorial pools was very touching.
We rode the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty up close, then enjoyed a stunning night time view from the top of the Empire State Building. Watching the city lights come on was an unforgettable experience for everyone.
The trip was not just about studying. We enjoyed a Broadway production of The Great Gatsby, which brought the Roaring Twenties to life with its lively choreography and dazzling costumes.
No trip to New York is complete without experiencing the local lifestyle. Between sightseeing, students enjoyed classic dining spots and some well-deserved free time:
  • Iconic Eats: we soaked up the classic New York atmosphere at Bond 45, the famous TickTock Diner, and the lively Hard Rock Cafe.
  • Retail Therapy: students explored everything from the big stores on 5th Avenue to unique shops in Midtown, moving around the city with confidence.
And finally, a big thank you to the staff who gave up their Easter break to help make the trip smooth, and to the students for making our first New York trip so enjoyable. A truly memorable journey, with fantastic individuals.

Upcoming Careers Events

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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.

 

World Book Night in the Library

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Whilst we’re sure everyone has heard of World Book Day, World Book Night is probably a less well known event. Following hot on the heels of World Book Day, World Book Night was held on Thursday 23rd April, and shifted the focus to adult reading. It encouraged everyone to join in with a special reading hour between 7 and 8pm, and was particularly well supported this year as part of the National Year of Reading. There were many suggestions as to how adults could incorporate some reading into their evenings, including participating in a book group, listening to an audiobook whilst completing one of the many evening tasks we all have to get through, reading to the children at bedtime, or just carving out an hour to indulge in reading for pleasure. Dressing up as a favourite book character wasn’t required, although there’s no doubt that some will have taken a World Book Night as the perfect excuse to don their Harry Potter robes or their shiny red Dorothy shoes! Here in the KWS library we celebrated by inviting all the staff to come and visit us to peruse our CPD (continuing professional development) texts, our adult fiction section, and to look over our print stock related to their subject. And we also reminded them about the staff book swap spinner we have in the staff room. If you missed taking part on Thursday 23rd, then any night is a good night to find some escapism with a good book.

District Gym and Dance Display

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KWS Gymnastics and Trampolining Squad, along with the KWS Dance Company, attended the District Gym and Dance Display hosted by St Albans High School on Monday this week. It was a fantastic evening that brought together students from across the district to perform and showcase the work they have been developing throughout the year.

We were delighted to see both our Junior and Senior dance teams perform their competition routines, alongside performances from our gymnastics and trampolining squad, who presented both a trampoline routine and a floor routine. All students represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating great skill, commitment, and enthusiasm. Staff were incredibly proud of their performances and the way they conducted themselves throughout the event.

Miss Patterson

Careers fair at Sir John Lawes

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KWSixth year 12 students enjoyed a really beneficial afternoon attending the careers fair at Sir John Lawes school. They had the opportunity to engage with a range of employers from Microsoft to Hertfordshire Police. This is a key stepping stone in their research towards their future after KWSixth. A big thank you to Sir John Lawes for organising the event.

Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award

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A huge well done to our year 12 students who have successfully completed the IDEA course as part of their enrichment programme. IDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) is an international award winning programme which helps demonstrate and enhance digital and employability skills. Eight students successfully completed the course.
Here is Aaron proudly showcasing his certificate.

Library – Book Awards Club

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One of the regular offerings by the library is the Book Awards Club which runs each Wednesday lunchtime. Members of the group shadow the Trinity School Book Award (TSBA) and The Carnegies; reading the nominated books, sharing our thoughts on what we’ve read, taking part in activities connected to the books, and writing reviews and creative responses based on the books. Most excitingly, after much discussion, we vote for our favourite book.
This year the members of the group were lucky enough to attend the ceremony for the TSBA awards, in London. It was an exciting event and everyone had a fantastic evening. We got to meet some of the authors and lots of other school book clubs, and we had a great time talking about books, creative writing and our favourite authors.
If any students are thinking of signing up then now is the ideal time. With the TSBA concluded, we begin again with The Carnegies! Feel free to sign up on SOCS, or come and have a chat with Mrs Yates next time you’re in the library. If you’d like to take a look at the winners and the shortlisted books for these awards then head over to their websites for more information.

Two exciting events for our Trampoline Squad

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This past week saw two exciting events for our KWS Trampoline Squad. First our National Trampoline Finals in Derby for our qualifiers. Every single one of them did their absolute best, setting themselves personal goals to achieve and they smashed them all. Our Year 7 boys team, Dylan G, Theo V and Archie D, pulled out a magnificent team effort winning gold in the team event, making them the National Champions for years 7-9. Well done to you all.

Secondly we had the pleasure of showing off our skills at the District Gymnastics and Dance Display at STAHS on Monday. We took 16 of the team and performed a wonderful set of Trampoline routines as well as a very lively trampette and tumble routine. With over 300 spectators in close quarters this was quite daunting but, as always, they all performed brilliantly. We are so very proud of you all.

KWS Dance Company- The Great Big Dance Off 2026

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This week, the KWS Dance Company competed in the annual Great Big Dance Off 2026, performing to a large and enthusiastic audience and showcasing an exceptional standard of talent and dedication.

The Junior team delivered a powerful contemporary-commercial fusion piece titled The Dead Dance, earning an impressive 3rd place. They narrowly missed out on a place in the finals by just five points – a remarkable achievement in such a competitive field.

The Senior team also performed brilliantly with their contemporary piece Angel in Hell, placing 8th in a much larger KS4/5 category. Across both teams, scores were outstanding, with judges awarding top marks of 10 for categories including crowd appeal and technique.

Miss Patterson is incredibly proud of all the students, who have worked tirelessly to perfect their routines. This competition marks a particularly special moment for some of our Year 11 students, who were the founding members of the KWS Dance Company. It has been wonderful to see their growth and commitment over the years.

We look forward to competing again next year!

Miss Patterson

Upcoming Events

May

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June

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thu04jun4:30 pm7:30 pmY10 Parents Eve - GLJ

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Trust Information

Harpenden Secondary Education Trust

Company Number: 09238779
Registered in England and Wales
Registered Address: Katherine Warington School, Lower Luton Road, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 5FH

Chair Of Trustees: Jenny Howarth, j.howarth@kwschool.co.uk

Contact Us

Katherine Warington School,
Lower Luton Road,
Harpenden,
Hertfordshire,
AL5 5FH

Telephone: 01582 314777
admin@kwschool.co.uk