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This Week at St Faith’s
Sustainability Day: Learning to Protect Our Planet
This week, our school united to reflect on what it means to live sustainably. During Monday’s assembly, pupils shared thoughtful definitions of sustainability, describing it as “avoiding using too many resources,” “being eco-friendly,” and “looking after our planet.” Mr Burt, Mr Wood, as well as Ms Armstrong from Chartwells, presented some striking facts about food waste in the UK, highlighting that a third of all food produced is wasted—enough to fill Wembley Stadium eight times over. Alarmingly, food waste is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally.
At St Faith’s, we are committed to making a difference. Since introducing the Winnow food waste tracking system in 2017, we have reduced our kitchen waste by 58%. This year, we are working to lower our daily average plate waste from 23kg to 20kg. Simple steps such as not asking for large portions that we cannot finish, and choosing foods with lower carbon emissions, identified by A or B carbon labels, are helping us to reach this target.
As part of our new Green Wyvern Award, introduced this term, pupils can now work towards bronze, silver, and gold certificates by completing sustainability-focused activities. It was a tremendous pleasure to present the first four bronze certificates at assembly, and I look forward to awarding more at our Colours assembly later this term.
Sustainability in the Classrooms
Sustainability Day inspired a wealth of creative and thoughtful activities across the school. In Years 3 and 4, pupils explored the problem of plastic pollution through the book The Underwater Cleaning Spree, writing dialogue from the perspectives of sea creatures. They then put their engineering skills to the test, designing innovative contraptions to help clean up the oceans. In maths, they worked with large numbers to understand the scale of plastic waste globally, before coming together to start a collaborative and ambitious art project—a striking under-the-sea scene created entirely from recycled materials.
In Year 5, one English class took a unique approach to sustainability, imagining how it might impact the world of Narnia. Through this imaginative exercise, pupils combined storytelling with their grammar knowledge of modal verbs, producing creative and thoughtful pieces that highlighted both the responsibilities of living sustainably—even in a magical land. You can read a selection of the pupils’ responses in the sidebar.
In further Eco-news Mrs Hudson writes, “As Spring has started to emerge, it has been a wonderfully busy time for the Eco-Committee. The Pre Prep Eco-Committee have been busy practicing ‘Guerilla Gardening’, planting seed bombs throughout the site. They also enjoyed spotting signs of new life in the garden as they explored the best places to sprinkle some seeds! Everyone, from Pre Prep to Year 8, enjoyed making Pine Cone Bird Feeders, which have been spread throughout the Nature Garden for our feathered friends. There has also been some recycling, as Years 5 to 8 transformed egg cartons into daffodil hearts, ready to turn into Mother’s Day cards at our upcoming Easter Wellbeing Day. It truly has been a hive of activity!”
It has been wonderful to see all our pupils so engaged in protecting the environment this week, bringing sustainability to life through both learning and action.
Foundation Bus Trips and Local Area Walk
Beyond Sustainability Day, classrooms across the school have alive with activity. In Foundation, children embarked on Park and Ride bus trips, retracing the routes taken by Fitz and Will in the Cambridge Cats stories. This immersive experience supported their topic A World of Stories, connecting their learning to the real world.
Year 1 Visit to The Leys Chapel
In Year 1, pupils enjoyed a visit to The Leys Chapel as part of their PHSE and RE lessons. Miss Hendry writes, “We looked for different parts of the chapel such as the pews and the organ, learnt about the difference between the lectern and the pulpit, and looked for symbols of the Christian faith. Many thanks to the parents who accompanied us.”
Year 2 Spaceship Workshop
Year 2 pupils embarked on a spaceship workshop this week and Mrs Clarke writes, “On Wednesday afternoon, Year 2 children were given the wonderful opportunity to participate in a special workshop led by Mrs Hayes-Thakore. The children were given the chance to train like astronauts, and it turns out they all had what it takes! They embarked on an exciting mission to Mars, learning about life on the Red Planet and aboard the International Space Station, as well as the challenges astronauts face. Activities included a fitness test, rock excavation, and completing tasks while wearing space gloves – that was a challenge! It was a most enjoyable and educational afternoon, and we are very grateful to Mrs Hayes-Thakore for sharing her time and expertise with us.”
In the classrooms
Our most senior pupils have had a very busy and industrious week. Year 6 continue their rehearsals for their upcoming production of Shrek Jr., while Year 8 started their English lessons with quick punctuation refreshers. In Year 7, library sessions sparked lively discussions about different literary genres, encouraging pupils to explore new types of storytelling.
In Music our Year 5 pupils have been exploring the evolution of popular music in Britain, starting with Glenn Miller’s Big Band era, moving through the rise of rock and roll, and experiencing the revival of Big Band music with contemporary singers like Robbie Williams and Michael Bublé. Interestingly, many of the pupils were unfamiliar with Take That! Additionally, some classes have begun learning East Coast Swing dancing from the 1940s, bringing a very lively element to their lessons!
Our Year 7 pupils have been tracing the history of Western Classical Music, from the grandeur of opera to the captivating world of musicals. They have journeyed from the works of Monteverdi to the enchanting compositions of Lionel Bart. This week, they have been enthusiastically singing through most of the numbers from Bart’s masterpiece, Oliver!
A Night of Musical Magic at St Faith’s
Mr Gorick writes, “On Monday evening, the Britten Recital Room was filled with a buzz of excitement as young singers gathered for a highly anticipated singing recital. The event was emotionally charged, with pupils sharing their performances to a well-packed audience. A highlight of the evening was a special performance by Mr Symons, who treated us to a rendition of “Bui Doi” from the musical Miss Saigon, most ably accompanied by Ms Elcome.
It was heartwarming to see so many singing pupils from different age groups participating. The number of pupils taking singing lessons at St Faith’s has more than trebled in the last three years, a testament to the growing interest in the school.
Singing offers numerous benefits beyond just musical enjoyment. It allows for emotional expression, providing an outlet for feelings and helping to reduce stress. Additionally, singing promotes vocal health, as it encourages proper breathing techniques and strengthens the vocal folds. It also fosters confidence and self-esteem, as pupils perform in front of an audience.
The growth of interest in singing at St Faith’s is tremendously exciting, and it is wonderful to witness the talent of our pupils flourishing on the concert platform. We look forward to many more events in the future, celebrating the joy and benefits of singing.”
Year 6 IAPS Boys’ National Hockey Finals
Mr Thompson writes, “On Monday our U11 A boys’ team travelled to Framlingham School to compete in the IAPS National Finals. Expectation was high having had a fantastic season thus far, but the standard across the country at this age group is extremely strong.
We were in a tough pool with Dulwich College, St George’s Weybridge, Felsted and King’s College, Taunton. Despite a nervous start our boys sailed through the pool scoring 10 and conceding just 2. The highlight being a 4-1 win against last year’s winners, St George’s Weybridge.
Onwards to the quarter final where we faced an energetic St Peter’s York team. St Faith’s continued to display a fast-flowing style which overwhelmed the opposition and saw us win 3-0. The semi-finals had us facing the favourites, The Perse whilst Millfield School played St George’s.
The standard of hockey, both individually and collectively was outstanding across both semi-finals with any of the four teams having the ability to be crowned champions! The Perse and Millfield School were victorious which meant we would face St George’s again for the bronze medal. This proved to be a game too far, despite dominating and creating numerous chances, we went on to lose on penalties.
However to be 4th in the country is an incredible achievement with an amazing group of boys who are only going to get better!
We would also like to congratulate The Perse who deservedly went on to become Champions and the St Faith’s parents for being so supportive not only on the day, but for the whole season.”
Netball News
Mrs Shaw writes, “Last Friday, the U13A girls’ netball team travelled to Ipswich to compete in the IAPS Regional Tournament. It was an eventful day of great netball. The girls performed well as a team, playing some of their best netball all season. They showed passion and determination on the court, working hard for one another. They should be proud of their performances and their achievement of reaching the quarter-finals.
They have come a long way since Year 7 as a team, and I am proud to see how much they have progressed over the last couple of years as their coach. They are talented athletes on the netball court.”
Mrs Fordham writes, “The U12A Netball team travelled down to Millfield School on Wednesday evening, ready to compete in the highly anticipated Netball National Finals. The weather on the day was cold but sunny, perfect conditions for a competitive day of sport.
The tournament was structured into four groups, with St Faith’s drawn in a tough pool. The girls gave their all in each match, but unfortunately, results didn’t go their way in the group stage:
St Faith’s vs Heath Mount: Lost 1-10
St Faith’s vs Godstowe: Lost 3-6
St Faith’s vs Highgate School: Lost 1-2
St Faith’s vs King’s College Taunton: Lost 5-6
Despite the tough results, the team’s resilience and determination remained evident throughout, and they progressed to the Bowl semi-final, where they were set to face Hazelgrove.
In what was their best performance of the day, St Faith’s fought hard against Hazelgrove. At full time, the score was tied 7-7, sending the match into an intense four-minute period of extra time. The team held their nerve, and in a thrilling finish, they clinched a 10-8 victory, securing their place in the Bowl final.
In the final, the girls faced a strong Taunton School side. Despite their best efforts, they were defeated 1-6. However, the team should be incredibly proud of the way they performed and represented St Faith’s throughout the day.
The resilience and sportsmanship shown by the girls were exceptional. While the results didn’t go as hoped, they should be immensely proud of their efforts and how they conducted themselves, both on and off the court. Their determination and commitment to each match were clear to see, and they can hold their heads high as they return from this prestigious competition. Thank you to parents and staff for your support of this valuable away fixture.”
Our Year 6 girls have also been working hard in their Games lessons, learning 7-a-side netball ahead of next year. They played an exciting fixture on Wednesday against King’s College School in their first 7-a-side netball match as a team, with plenty of great netball on display at Latham Road. Years 3, 4, and 5 also recently enjoyed competing in their second round of Netball House matches. This round gave us some even closer matches, and the overall results can be found in the sidebar of this newsletter.
University Lent Bumps
Miss Kennerley writes, “We went to watch the University Lent Bumps to see where our pupils could find themselves in a few years’ time. The children enjoyed learning about the unique bumps races and how to identify each college by the colour of their kit, blades, and registration code on their boat, and were able to watch 2 divisions of racing. They were lucky enough to be able to get a close view of the starting cannons and the official explained how they worked – similar to a starting pistol used in athletics but much louder!”
BSGA Milano Trio National Gymnastics Finals
Three teams from St Faith’s qualified at regionals to represent the East of England at the Milano Trios National Finals in Stoke-on-Trent, which were held on Friday and Saturday 7th and 8th March.
The U14 boys finished 3rd. The under 11 mixed trio also finished 3rd and the U11 boys narrowly missed bronze medals, finishing in 4th place, 0.5 behind the 3rd placed team.
All gymnasts were incredibly well behaved throughout the weekend and were really positive ambassadors for the school.
Filming for the St Faith’s Website
On Tuesday, we welcomed Mr Tomic back to school to capture new footage for our website. This latest project will showcase a ‘pupil journey’, narrated by two of our Year 7 pupils, offering prospective families a glimpse into life at St Faith’s. We look forward to sharing the finished video next term.
Pre Prep Open Morning
A reminder that our Pre Prep Open Morning will take place on Saturday, 26th April, from 10:00-12:00. This event offers families the chance to explore the school, meet staff and pupils, and take part in hands-on activities. Our Year 8 pupils will lead the tours, sharing their experiences and insights into life at St Faith’s. Families can register to attend at: https://www.stfaiths.co.uk/admissions/open-mornings
And Finally…
Returning to Mrs Clarke’s words after the Year 2 space workshop “It turns out they all had what it takes!” Whether tackling environmental challenges, stepping onto the concert platform, or competing at a national level, our pupils continue to show us that they ‘have what it takes’ in all their activities and endeavours.
Looking ahead, we are excited to see the Year 6’s hard work come to life on stage in the coming weeks. Please also remember that next Saturday, 22nd April, we come together for the St Faith’s Parents Association Easter Community and Wellbeing Day — a wonderful chance to enjoy the season with family and friends.
With all best wishes,
Crispin Hyde-Dunn