This Week at St Faith’s

Baroque and Brass Brilliance at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Mr Gorick writes,

“In the stunning surroundings of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, an appreciative audience of members of the public warmly received a remarkable lunchtime concert by pupils from St Faith’s. This special event marked a first for St Faith’s, with just two ensembles—the Purcell Ensemble and The Fidelian Brass Ensemble—providing the entire programme, stretching pupils’ performance stamina and focus.

The concert featured a rich selection of Baroque music, including works by Purcell and Vivaldi, alongside some lighter pieces. A particular highlight was Mr Sedgwick’s solo performance in Purcell’s Sonata in D, which captivated the audience and his pupils.

Mr Gorick expressed his delight at the opportunity to perform on a ‘real’ chamber organ, generously lent to the school by the cathedral. The authenticity of the instrument added a unique depth to the performance and was a rare treat for both performers and listeners alike. Pupils showed great technical skill and musicality, performing challenging repertoire with confidence. One audience member remarked that the standard of playing was “exceptionally high and thoroughly enjoyable,” reflecting the strength of music at St Faith’s.

To celebrate, pupils enjoyed afternoon tea and cake at Harriet’s Tea Rooms—a sweet end to a memorable day.”

St Edmundsbury Concert Rehearsal

View of a grand cathedral interior with tall stone arches, ornate ceiling, large stained glass windows, and an altar adorned with candles and decorative cloths.

A group of young musicians in red and black striped uniforms play string instruments and stand by a wooden organ inside a large, ornate church with tall columns and stained glass windows.

A man plays an organ while three girls in matching red and black striped blazers play violins behind him, performing together in a well-lit indoor setting. Sheet music is visible on the organ.

A music conductor leads young musicians in red and black striped uniforms playing string instruments inside a grand church with tall columns and wooden pews.

Three musicians perform in a church: one plays an organ, another a trumpet, and the third a violin. The church interior features stone columns and lit candles in the background.

Two young musicians in red and black striped blazers play violins inside a church, focused on their performance, with blurred candles and pillars in the background.

Two children in red and black striped blazers play violins together in a church or hall, reading sheet music from a stand. Empty chairs and stone pillars are visible in the background.

A man with a beard plays an organ in a church, raising his right hand with one finger pointed upward. The church interior is decorated with candles and an altar in the background.

A young girl wearing a red and black striped blazer plays the violin in a church or cathedral, with blurred altar and candles in the background.

Two children wearing red and black striped blazers play cellos side by side in a church or chapel, focused on sheet music in front of them. Wooden pews and soft sunlight fill the background.

A young girl with glasses and curly hair, wearing a red and black striped blazer, plays the violin indoors alongside another person. The background features ornate wooden chairs and a blurred interior setting.

A young girl with brown hair in a ponytail plays a cello, wearing a red, black, and white striped blazer, with a wooden organ in the background.

A young person in a red and black striped blazer plays the flute indoors, focusing intently on the instrument. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the musician.

A boy wearing a red and black striped blazer and tie plays the cello, focusing intently. He is seated indoors on a wooden chair with sheet music in front of him.

A young girl in a red and black striped blazer plays the violin in a church, reading sheet music from a stand. The church interior is softly lit with blurred religious decorations in the background.

A conductor leads three young musicians, two playing cellos and one playing a flute, inside a church with stained glass windows and wooden pews. The students wear matching striped blazers.

A close-up of the front of a wooden pipe organ, showing shiny metal organ pipes arranged in rows and decorative woodwork. The floor beneath is made of square, multicolored tiles.

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Year 1 Woodland Walk

Miss Hendry writes,

“Year 1 enjoyed a sunny walk along Vicar’s brook on Monday to support our work on English. We enjoyed looking for different colours, trying to spot any mini-beasts and we stopped for a snack under the trees. Thank you to our amazing parent helpers, whose assistance is invaluable on all our trips!”

A group of young children in checkered uniforms and red hats sit on the ground in a wooded area, having a picnic or snack, with backpacks and lunch items around them. An adult stands in the background.

A child in a plaid dress and red hat walks along a sunlit, narrow path surrounded by tall green plants, with more children in similar outfits visible behind her.

A child wearing a red hat, plaid shirt, and backpack reaches toward green plants outdoors, surrounded by lush vegetation.

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Buddy Sessions

On Monday our Year 8 prefects led very enjoyable buddy sessions with the younger pupils. These popular play sessions take place outside on the school grounds, encouraging leadership in our older pupils and fostering cooperation among our younger children. As always, the younger pupils are expected to ‘be their best selves’ by listening carefully and following the instructions from their buddies. Year 8 pupils plan and prepare carefully for these sessions, mindful that they are important role models to the younger children. In return, the younger pupils are expected to be as attentive as they would be with their teachers.

A group of smiling students in red shirts stand together outside on a sunny day, with a brick building and large windows in the background.

A group of children wearing red uniforms stand outside a school building. Two boys hold sheets of paper, while others listen closely. One boy wears a red and black striped blazer. It appears to be a sunny day.

A group of children wearing red and black uniforms stand in a circle outside on grass, clapping and playing a game, while others sit nearby under the shade of trees by a school building.

A group of children wearing red, black, and yellow sports uniforms are gathered on a grassy field. Some are standing while others sit in a circle, with a brick building and running tracks visible in the background.

A group of children sits and stands on a grassy sports field. Two boys stand on the track, one wearing a red shirt and the other a black-and-red striped shirt. Several seated children raise their hands, and all wear casual sports clothes.

A group of children on a grassy field; some are standing, some are sitting. One boy in a red shirt points ahead while others watch. The seated children wear yellow shirts. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.

A group of children are gathered on a grassy field. Three kids stand while others, wearing yellow shirts, sit on the grass in small groups, listening and talking to each other. Trees and buildings are in the background.

A group of school children in red uniforms are gathered outside on a sunny day, with some sitting on the grass and others standing. Buildings and more children playing are visible in the background.

A group of children sit and stand on a grassy field near a large brick building. Most are wearing red or black sports uniforms, and some are talking while others listen. The weather is sunny with clear skies.

A group of schoolchildren in red uniforms gather outdoors on a sunny day, some sitting or lying on the grass and pavement, while others stand nearby. A brick school building and playground are visible in the background.

A group of children in school uniforms gather on a grassy running track. Some are standing and talking while others sit or kneel on the grass, appearing to listen. Trees and a playground are visible in the background.

A group of schoolchildren in red uniforms sit and stand in a circle on grass, some stretching out their legs, while one boy stands in the center. In the background, a basketball court and school buildings are visible.

A group of children wearing red and black sports uniforms are gathered on a grassy field, some standing and some sitting, with trees and a building in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A group of children in yellow and red sports uniforms stand on a grassy track, some with arms raised, while two adults supervise under a partly cloudy sky. Trees and a playground are visible in the background.

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Year 4 Parent Forum

On Tuesday evening we welcomed parents of Year 4 pupils to an information evening about the transition from Year 4 into Year 5. Our excellent Year 8 tour guides showed families around the buildings in the central part of the school, so that parents could see the classrooms in which their children will be taught when they move up to Year 5 in September. The tours were followed by a staff presentation in Ashburton Hall which covered academic and pastoral matters. We hope our Year 4 parents found this event informative and helpful ahead of next academic year.

Year 7 CREST Awards

Mrs Pritchard writes,

“Our Year 7’s have been working hard to earn their CREST Awards and have fully engaged in independent tasks and activities, ranging from carrying out investigations on the efficacy of soap on handwashing to researching the impact of handwashing on the spread of diseases. The pupils have also been designing tasks and activities to encourage younger children to wash their hands regularly. We were fortunate enough to be able to test some of their nursery rhymes and ideas with our enthusiastic Year 4 classes. Everyone was very impressed with the level of effort and thought that had gone into the research and the Year 4’s were thrilled to take part in a real-life investigation!”

Four students in school uniforms stand in a classroom holding papers, while a teacher in a green shirt gives instructions. Shelves with colorful folders and windows can be seen in the background.

A group of schoolchildren in red and black uniforms chat and interact in a bright classroom, while a teacher stands at the back. Desks have assorted books, folders, and pencil cases on them.

A group of girls in school uniforms stand together in a classroom, engaged in conversation. Some look curious and thoughtful, while others listen attentively. Shelves, classroom displays, and a window are visible in the background.

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Skellig – Imitative Writing

Mrs Switsur writes,

“Based on their book study of Skellig by David Almond, some of our Year 7 pupils have been writing descriptions of a unique moment where secrecy is stressed. Pupils had to open their description of the incident with the words: ‘Stay very still,’ he whispered. ‘Stay very quiet. Just watch.’ Their closing sentence was also from the novel – ‘Tell nobody,’ he whispered. In the sidebar you can read a selection of the special moments that the pupils have imagined – based on an anecdote in the novel.”

Summer Book Fair

The return of the Summer Book Fair has brought an extra buzz of excitement to the Library this week. Miss Johnson has been discussing the Book Fair during library sessions, and Pre Prep pupils have also visited – sometimes after school, accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Year 7 and 8 Pupil Librarians were on hand to help pupils choose their books, and please see some photographs taken from the Year 3 visit to the Book Fair on Thursday. It has been a lovely way to foster reading enthusiasm as we head into summer.
The commission we earn from the Book Fair will be put towards sending out ‘book boxes’ to neighbouring primary schools and also to Makukhanye School during the bi-annual visit during the Easter holidays in 2026. Thank you so much to parents for your support of this final library event of the school year.

Two children stand smiling in front of bookshelves at a book fair, each holding a colorful book. A sign above reads Read Alone. A third child sits reading in the background. Books are displayed all around.

Two children in school uniforms are in a colorful bookstore or library. One child stands on a step holding books and smiling, while another sits in front of bookshelves. A large Welcome to Reading sign is visible above them.

A smiling young boy wearing glasses and a black hoodie holds up two books, Bunny vs Monkey and Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, in a colorful classroom with other children and bright decorations in the background.

Three smiling children stand indoors, each holding a book. Other children, facing away, are in the background. The setting appears to be a classroom with colorful posters and decorations on the walls.

Three children stand in a library, smiling and holding up colorful books, including Harry Potter Origami and Dog Man. Books and cheerful bunting decorate the background.

Two girls in school uniforms stand smiling in a classroom, each holding colorful books and bookmarks. Other students and classroom decorations are visible in the background.

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School Council and Eco Committee BBQ

Mrs Hudson writes,

“This week we celebrated the work of pupils on the School Council, Eco Committee and helpers in the School Garden. A BBQ was enjoyed together, followed by an interactive Eco Scavenger Hunt competition. The wonderful projects that these committees undertake are testament to the pupils’ hard-work and dedication to their roles and responsibilities. After a busy and constructive year of volunteering, pupils really enjoyed the opportunity to come together and celebrate!”

A group of children and a few adults pose and smile for a photo outdoors in front of a wooden gazebo, surrounded by trees and greenery. Most of the children wear sports uniforms in red, black, and white.

A group of schoolchildren sit around tables eating food from paper plates. Some are smiling and talking, while a woman stands nearby, interacting with them. The children wear school uniforms. Photos are displayed on the wall.

A group of young girls in school uniforms sit around a table, smiling and talking. Some are wearing red jackets and one has a red cap. They have empty plates, cups, and snacks on the table. One girl stands holding napkins.

Six boys sit at a wooden table in a room, smiling and eating ice cream from small cups with spoons. They wear red and blue jackets, and there is a window in the background letting in natural light.

Eight smiling children sit around a table enjoying a meal together. They wear colorful sports uniforms and look toward the camera, with plates, cups, and food in front of them in a bright indoor setting.

A colorful poster titled St Faiths Eco Scavenger Hunt displays eight categories: clean air, saving energy, welcoming wildlife, saving water, green energy, less waste, enjoying nature, and your team, each with images and brief descriptions.

A colorful scavenger hunt poster with eight eco-themed categories, each with a photo: clean air, saving energy, welcoming wildlife, saving water, green energy, less waste, enjoying nature, and your team.

A colorful scavenger hunt poster with eight eco-themed tasks, each in a colored box with a photo and description, such as saving energy, welcoming wildlife, and enjoying nature, for St Faiths Eco Scavenger Hunt.

A colorful poster for St Faiths Eco Scavenger Hunt with eight sections highlighting clean air, saving energy, welcoming wildlife, saving water, green energy, less waste, enjoying nature, and your eco-friendly team.

An eco scavenger hunt poster with colored boxes showing: clean air, saving energy, welcoming wildlife, saving water, green energy, less waste, enjoying nature, and a group posing as an eco-friendly team.

A colorful poster titled “St Faith’s Eco Scavenger Hunt” with eight boxes, each showing a title, description, and a related photo about eco-friendly actions like saving energy, saving water, and enjoying nature.

A colorful poster titled St Faiths Eco Scavenger Hunt with eight sections on eco-friendly themes, featuring photos of nature, switches, wildlife habitats, students, and team groups, each with brief sustainability tips.

Two children in red sports jackets stand outdoors. The boy on the right holds a tablet displaying colorful app icons. Other people and bicycles are visible in the background. The scene appears to be at a school or community event.

Three children in school uniforms pose in front of a wooden fence and large tree. The child in the middle holds a tablet displaying colorful graphics. All are smiling outdoors, with greenery and more people in the background.

Three smiling girls stand outdoors near a wooden bench, with two of them holding a tablet displaying a colorful screen. They are dressed in school uniforms and sportswear, with a grassy field in the background.

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Year 8 Charity Challenge

As reported in last week’s newsletter, the Year 8 pupils who are taking part in this year’s Charity Challenge, continue their entrepreneurial drive to generate a profit for their team businesses. Tuesday saw a lively scene in Ashburton Courtyard as fundraising pupils ran many and varied stalls, drawing crowds of eager customers. We look forward to announcing the winning endeavour soon and the final sum of money raised for the chosen charities.

Three boys in matching red and black striped blazers stand behind a table with paper cups and a jug of pink drink at an outdoor school event, with other students and tables visible in the background.

A group of students in red and black striped blazers stand around a table with cups and drinks outside at school, talking and serving refreshments. Other students mingle in the background.

A group of school children in red uniforms gather around a table outside, selling or buying items. Some are smiling and handling coins, with greenery and school buildings in the background.

Two students stand behind a table with cupcakes and a tin outside at a school event. Other students in uniforms are sitting or walking around in the background near benches and trees.

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Origami Club

Origami Club is thriving. In Japanese culture, origami is deeply symbolic, often reflecting elements of the natural world such as animals and plants. This week, pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 have enjoyed making origami mice during their after-school activity.

Five young children in red uniforms sit and stand around a yellow table, folding colorful paper for an activity in a bright classroom with large windows in the background.

Two young girls in plaid uniforms smile and hold up paper origami creations in a colorful classroom, with art supplies and projects visible in the background.

Three young girls in plaid school uniforms sit at a yellow table, folding colorful paper for an art project in a classroom decorated with student artwork.

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Midlands Independent Schools Gymnastics Association (MISGA) Championships

Mrs North writes,

“On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May, a remarkable 68 pupils from St Faith’s represented the school at the Midlands Independent Schools Gymnastics Association championships.

Everyone had worked hard to prepare for the big day and for around a dozen pupils, this was to be their very first competitive experience.

Everyone performed with confidence and poise and acquitted themselves in marvellous style.

We were absolutely delighted to capture team gold in all events on the Saturday. The U7 Boys, U9 Boys, U11 Boys, U7 Girls, U8 Girls, U9 N2s and the U10 Advanced Girls all took 1st place with individual champion honours achieved in all year groups from Years 2 to 6 inclusive.

On Sunday, the excellent performances continued. We took team silver in U9 Advanced Girls, Open Boys, Under 11 N2, Open Girls’ ‘B’ and U11 Advanced Girls. We gained team bronze in Open Girls’ ‘A’.

These championships are always relaxed and friendly – and we are very much looking forward to hosting our ‘S’ Club Invitational at St Faith’s on 8th June.”

Three young boys in matching gymnastics uniforms sit on a gym floor. The boy in the middle wears glasses and has his arms around the other two. They are smiling and posing together in a gymnasium.

Three young male gymnasts wearing medals and matching uniforms stand together on a purple mat next to a 2nd place sign at an indoor gymnastics competition, with a banner and sports hall in the background.

A young girl in a red jacket stands on a purple floor holding decorated cardboard cutouts of the number 5 and a planet with a ring. A gymnastics-themed banner is behind her.

Seven young girls wearing red jackets and medals pose and smile together on a purple gymnasium floor with a SGA gymnastics banner and sports equipment in the background. A 2 sign is in front of them.

Six young girls in red jackets pose and smile on a purple gymnastics mat, with medals around their necks. A sign behind them reads MISGA. A card with the number 2 is placed in front of the group.

Six young boys in gymnastics uniforms stand on a purple mat in a gym, smiling and wearing medals. One boy kneels in front holding a score card, while another stands holding a large trophy shield above his head.

Six young boys in gymnastics uniforms stand on a podium with medals around their necks. Two MISGA banners are visible behind them in a gymnasium setting, with a purple mat covering the floor.

Four young girls in gymnastics leotards stand smiling, each holding a decorated sign with the numbers 55, 56, 58, and 57, featuring various designs like shells, planets, and stars. They are indoors against a brick wall.

A group of children in red jackets pose on a purple gym mat, holding trophies, certificates, and medals. They are smiling and appear to be celebrating at a gymnastics event in a sports hall.

Four young boys in gymnastics uniforms stand on a purple mat, smiling and holding a shield trophy. They all wear multiple medals. A sign with “1” and an ISGA gymnastics banner are visible in the background.

Three young boys stand barefoot on a purple gym mat, wearing red jackets and medals. The boy in the center holds a silver trophy plate on the first-place podium. Two banners with gymnasts and MISGA logos are visible behind them.

Six young girls in red jackets stand on a purple gymnastics mat, smiling and holding trophies and medals. A 1 marker and a MISGA gymnastics association banner are visible behind them.

Four young boys are sitting on a bench against a white wall, smiling. They are wearing matching sleeveless gymnastics uniforms with a red, black, and white design and black shorts.

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Boys and Girls U11 IAPS Cricket tournaments

Mr Clayton-Smith writes:

U11 Girls’ IAPS Cricket

“On the last day of the half term the U11 Girls travelled to Framingham Prep for their IAPS A group of ten girls in white cricket uniforms pose together on a grassy cricket field, smiling at the camera. Some girls are holding cricket bats and wearing red caps. Trees and clouds are visible in the background. competition. The improving standard of girls’ cricket is very clear to see, and each year this festival becomes more and more competitive. The girls played four games throughout the day and impressed their coach Mr Caven with accurate bowling, dynamic fielding and a mixture or powerful batting and quick singles.” Our ‘player of the day’ was recognised for her improvement with bat and five wickets with the ball throughout the competition!

U11 Boys’ IAPS Cricket

A group of ten boys in red and black striped blazers, white trousers, and red caps pose on a cricket field with bats, smiling for the camera on a cloudy day. “In the last week leading up to half term, eight of the U11 Boys cricket team travelled to Merchant Taylors School for their regional IAPS competition. It was a long and eventful day of cricket, where the boys came up against a number of strong cricketing schools in an area renowned for producing top class cricketers. The boys played to the very best of their abilities, representing the school in excellent fashion. With several games played throughout the day the boys got better with each game and undoubtedly came away as better cricketers. Thank you to Mr Johnson for accompanying the boys on the day and for your support and guidance in helping them improve and enjoy the experience.”

Sport this weekend

There is a busy sporting weekend ahead and we take this opportunity to wish all of our pupils the very best of luck as they represent St Faith’s and endeavour to ‘be their best selves’. St Faith’s will be represented at the National IAPS swimming finals at the London Acquatics Centre, the Cambridge Chess Megafinal at Perse Upper School and of course here in our own Sports Hall for the S Club Invitational Gymnastics. Thank you to the staff who make these events possible, as well as the many parents who I know will be supporting their children, as well as the wider St Faith’s community.

Racing at Lotus

Mrs Oxborough writes,

“On Saturday 24th May the “Goblins” enjoyed their first race of the season at Lotus in Norfolk. The forecast had been for a mixture of wind, race and sunshine; fortunately the Goblins enjoyed a dry race day. The children were a credit to St Faith’s, requiring very little support from the adults as they organised themselves to make sure they were in the right place at the right time.

Whilst we were disappointed not to win any of the racing events, we were delighted to win Best Bodywork for our cars – a testament to the children’s creativity and teamwork. The Goblins have definitely been inspired by this award and we are already planning how we can improve our performances. Notably, one of our cars came 4th in the Drag race and another 4th in the Slalom, which resulted in two of our cars being placed joint 6th overall, a superb achievement and plenty to build upon.

Other highlights included three of our pupils having the opportunity to drive the Lotus test track for the sprint race and St Faith’s entering the oldest driver – the grandmother of one of our pupils – for the 12+ Sprint race.

Many thanks to Mr Johnson for driving us, Mr Hasell for his excellent technical support, Mrs Hughes-Morgan for looking after the teams, and for the parents, grandparents and siblings who came to support us.

We are all really looking forward to our next race at Ford Dunton.”

And Finally…

I wonder if there is anywhere else but St Faith’s where a weekly newsletter could begin in a cathedral, end on a Lotus test track, and feature origami mice, gymnastic medals, fundraising, mini-beasts and scientific handwashing experiments in between. It has certainly been a busy week and I wish you all a peaceful and relaxing weekend.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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