Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Earlier today, we held our traditional Remembrance service. We were delighted to welcome Father Sam from St Pauls, and George Brown from Arborfield British Legion as guests to help us mark this occasion.
Due to the weather, we couldn’t hold our service outside, so we didn’t have the poignant back drop of the beautiful ceramic poppies adorning the lawn. Instead, the Year 7 students gathered in the main hall to hear Father Sam reflect on the theme of the British Legion for Remembrance 2026, that “when somebody serves, their family serves too”. In these times, we are reminded by Harry Patch, the last surviving trench combat soldier of the First World War, that “irrespective of the uniforms we wore, we were all victims. Mrs Kennedy told her own family story from the prospective of a German family losing a loved war in the war.
Charlotte, Lindy and Georgia read beautifully and Lily played the Last Post ahead of the two minute silence which was observed by the whole school.
Thank you Mrs Smith for organising this event.
On Sunday evening, thirteen of our Year 10 students, Mme Amye and Miss Armit arrived back from the French leg of the latest French exchange with their partners in St Thomas school, in Roncq, near Lille. A great time was had by all. Mme Amye kept us up to date for the duration with what they had been up to and some great pictures. She said just after their arrival:
After a smooth journey and a delicious canteen lunch, the girls immersed themselves in French school life. In groups of three, they joined maths lessons taught in English and French lessons, before collaborating with their French partners to prepare activities for the evening.
The evening gathering was a wonderful celebration of friendship, bringing students and host families together. The girls sang along to French and English songs, then both groups shared presentations reflecting on their time together in March. It was a particularly moving moment, reminding everyone of the friendships formed through the exchange.
Families also enjoyed a card game prepared by the girls and a delicious spread of homemade food. The time flew by, with plenty of conversation, laughter and shared memories. A warm welcome and a memorable start to our stay!
Our second day in France was packed with discovery, teamwork and French in action! Students began with a Goose Chase quest around Roncq and its surroundings. Working in groups of three, they visited the post office, town hall, church and local shops, gathering information, taking photos and recording short conversations in French. Everyone enthusiastically embraced the challenge!
Next, we explored La Source, a cultural space where young people can discover different subjects. Its astronomy photography exhibition sparked plenty of curiosity, particularly among our space enthusiasts.
A walk to Les Trois Brasseurs gave everyone an appetite for some delicious regional specialities, which the students loved. After a little free time for shopping, we rounded off the day with an energetic laser game, pairing up and putting teamwork into practice once again.
A fantastic day of language, culture and friendship, with plenty of laughter along the way!
Over the weekend, our French exchange ended with a memorable weekend spent with host families. From museums, theme parks and town visits to restaurant meals, the girls enjoyed discovering French life beyond the classroom. Some also met up with fellow exchange students for trampoline fun and pizza parties!
Saying goodbye was emotional for students and host families alike, reflecting the friendships formed throughout this wonderful adventure. A heartfelt thank you to our hosts for their warmth and generosity. We now look forward to welcoming the French pen pals of our third exchange cohort in March 2027!
I would like to thank Mme Amye for her perseverance organising this trip- it has not been easy given the increased security measures and last-minute changes she had to make to the itinerary as a result of the student protests in Lille.
Last week, the geography dept led their annual Year 10 local field work to Wokingham. Mr Marrison reported:
On the 3rd and 5th November, during Periods 1 and 2, our Year 10 Geography students visited Wokingham town centre for a hands-on fieldwork expedition.
The focus of the trip was to collect primary data on local traffic and pedestrian flows. This fieldwork is a vital component of their studies, directly fulfilling the GCSE AQA course requirement for students to conduct data collection within a human geography environment.
Equipped with clipboards and tally sheets, the students monitored various busy intersections and walkways across the town centre. Despite the brisk morning weather, the group worked efficiently to gather accurate, real-world data. Back in the classroom, they will now begin analysing their findings to investigate urban patterns, connectivity, and pedestrian safety.
Thank you to all the staff who accompanied the trip and well done to Year 10 for representing the school so brilliantly in the local community!
Of course it was only right that the staff on the trip had to gather in Costa Coffee so the students knew where to find them!
Thank you Mr Marrison for organising this trip.
Finally, it is good news for Year 13 as they finish this series of PPEs. Well done to you- you deserve a nice break this weekend. Year 11 are almost there with one English PPE to go!
Katie Pearce
Co- Headteacher