Search this Site:

Back
Home This Week at St Faith’s
Posted on: 5 September, 2025
Four young girls in matching red shirts and plaid skirts stand on a rope bridge, holding hands and smiling at an outdoor playground under a partly cloudy sky.

Useful Links

Academic
    The Arts
      Pastoral
        Pre Prep
        Sport
          Other
          Download PDF
          Share:

          This Week at St Faith’s

          Welcome back

          It is great a pleasure to welcome back our families on the first day of term, including all our new pupils. This year we have a total of 68 new pupils across all year groups joining the St Faith’s community, and we are enjoying helping them settle in as smoothly as possible. There will always be a friendly face to point someone in the right direction for their next lesson, to explain when to go into lunch, or where to store a games bag. This time of year is new for everyone as pupils find their way around new classrooms and timetables. Please do encourage your children to ask for help if they need it, whether that be from their teacher, a member of the support staff, their friends, or one of our more senior pupils, who will always be happy to help.

          Three smiling girls sit on a low brick wall. The girl in the center wears a black skirt, red blazer, and red tie, hugging the two girls on either side who wear casual sports clothes in green and blue shirts.
          A young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes smiles slightly while holding colorful plastic building blocks. She is wearing a red sweater and is outdoors, with a blurred background.
          A group of students walk along a brick path. Most wear red, black, and white striped blazers; one boy in a blue polo shirt is gently guided by another student. Bushes and trees line the walkway.
          Three young girls in red tops and plaid skirts are outside by a tree; two are standing on the ground, smiling at the camera, while the third girl climbs the tree and looks down at them.
          Four young children in red school uniforms are outdoors. Two children in front are smiling, with one giving thumbs up. Another child stands behind them, and a fourth child stands further back, looking toward the camera.
          Two young girls wearing red school uniforms smile at the camera. They have light brown hair, and one has her hair in a braid. The background is softly lit and appears to be an indoor setting, possibly a classroom.
          1 / 1

          School Assembly

          The new academic year at St Faith’s School began with warmth, reflection and a powerful message during the first school assembly, setting the tone for a term built upon our school’s three core values: Kindness, Community, and Excellence.

          I welcomed our returning pupils and those joining the St Faith’s community for the first time, celebrating the start of a journey filled with learning, growth, and life-long friendships. The assembly, held in Ashburton Hall for Years 2 to 8, was inspired by the familiar characters of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. It might be a traditional children’s story, but it beautifully illustrates to adults and children alike the richness arising from different personalities and the importance of caring for one another.

          Each character from the Hundred Acre Wood was used to highlight different traits that children may see in themselves and their peers – from Pooh’s gentle curiosity and steadfast loyalty, to Piglet’s quiet bravery, and Eeyore’s thoughtful intelligence, and from Owl’s wisdom to Kanga’s kindness and Tigger’s boundless energy. Together, they remind us that every group of friends benefits from a range of personalities, and every child brings something unique to our community.

          The theme of life-long friendship resonated throughout the assembly, reminding pupils that the relationships they build at St Faith’s are not only important now, but can last a lifetime. We also considered the importance of showing kindness in everyday actions, supporting one another through challenges, and striving for excellence — not just academically, but in our character.

          We resolved to be our best selves, to look out for one another throughout the academic year, with a particular emphasis on the 3 R’s: “Respect for myself, Respect for others and Responsibility for all of our actions”.

          1 / 1

          Year 8 Prefect Tie Presentation

          At the start of the school year, I have the happy privilege of conferring prefect status on our Year 8 pupils. On Wednesday morning, I presented each Year 8 pupil with their distinctive red tie and lapel badge. The prefect role is a very important one at St Faith’s and offers all the Year 8 children new opportunities for leadership and responsibility, such as buddying, supporting and mentoring the younger pupils. Further roles for our prefects will be introduced later this term.

          With the theme of ‘being our best selves’ carried through from Reception to Year 8, we look to our prefects to be excellent role models to the younger children. I am grateful to the families of all our Year 8 pupils for their ongoing support with this message at home.

          A man in a suit shakes hands with a boy in a red and black striped blazer, while two other boys in similar blazers stand in line. The man holds a tie and awards are on a table nearby in a hall with wooden plaques on the wall.
          A group of students in striped blazers and uniforms sit on chairs, focusing on tying red neckties, with some students more advanced than others.
          A schoolgirl in a striped blazer receives an award from a man in a suit, while another man organizes items on a table in a hall with honors boards on the wall.
          A boy in a red and black striped blazer receives an award from a man in a blue suit and glasses during a ceremony in a hall with wooden floors and plaques on the wall.
          1 / 1

          First Days of School

          As always, the first day of term offers some wonderful memories and photo opportunities as the children rekindle their friendships and enjoy being back together. For one group of children in particular, Thursday was a very memorable day as the Reception children arrived for their very first day of school at St Faith’s. Accompanied by their parents and greeted by their teachers and the wider Early Years team, we wished them all a fun-filled first two days and we are confident that they will be excited at the prospect of returning to school on Monday!

          We do hope that you enjoy this ‘snapshot’ of activities around the school in the first few days of term.

          A group of young children wearing red polo shirts and black shorts sit together outdoors, smiling and looking at the camera. Wooden playground equipment is visible in the background.
          A young boy in a white shirt runs toward the camera, carrying a backpack and jacket, with other children and adults in the background near bikes and a school gate.
          A family walks together on a path marked with yellow lines. Two adults and two children are in the foreground, while other people and a cyclist are visible in the background. Trees and greenery surround the area.
          A man and a young girl walk together outdoors near parked bicycles. The girl wears a black jacket and white sneakers, while the man wears a dark jacket and blue jeans. Trees and fallen leaves are visible in the background.
          Several adults and children gather in a park. Two children in red uniforms walk past bicycles, while adults stand nearby, some holding bags and jackets. Trees and greenery surround the group.
          A group of adults and children, some wearing red coats and backpacks, walk together outside a building with wooden walls and a small playground area.
          Two young girls sit at a table in a classroom, drawing on colored paper with crayons and markers. One girl looks at the camera and smiles, while the other focuses on her drawing. Both wear red tops.
          A young child with curly red hair hugs an adult from behind as another child stands nearby; a woman in a red dress stands in the background near a door.
          A young boy in a red polo shirt and dark shorts smiles while playing outside on green artificial grass, with a metal fence and pavement in the background.
          A group of children in school uniforms stand and walk outside a large, old brick school building with arched windows, a red door, and signs reading “Southfield Primary School.” The ground is wet, suggesting recent rain.
          1 / 1

          House Assemblies

          Following the first whole school assembly on Wednesday, house assemblies have also been held this week.

          Mrs North writes about Latham’s theme at the beginning of term:

          “We are off to a great start this year. The house assembly theme was ‘I wish you more’. After hearing a story, all Latham tutors and Year 8 prefects added a wish to the appropriately Latham coloured ‘WISH’. We talked about trying to be all the things that had been wished for us, as well as ‘Being Our Best Selves’. We also recognised that we may sometimes fall short and sometimes forget.”

          Year 2 Team Flags

          Mrs Clarke writes:

          “Year 2 have started to form strong group bonds this week – our hope and aim being that every child will feel seen and valued. We have discussed collaboration, mutual respect, and will encourage positive class identity. Each Year 2 class have designed their own team flag that represents our shared values.”

          A collage of children’s colorful drawings with positive words like “Never Give Up,” “Respect,” “Happiness,” “Responsible,” “Resilience,” “Focus,” “Love,” “Be Happy,” and rainbows, hearts, and clouds.

          Rugby School Poetry Competition

          Ms Morris writes:

          “We are delighted to share that four of our talented Year 6 writers were recognised in the prestigious national Rugby School Poetry Competition. The pupils’ work was praised for its creativity and originality, with one pupil achieving a fantastic third place overall.

          At the end of term, certificates and a beautiful book for the third place winner were presented by our visiting author, making for a very special celebration. The winners will now be attending a celebratory day at Rugby School later this month, where they will take part in creative writing workshops and enjoy a special programme with other young poets.

          We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to sharing more after their visit.”

          Meet the Tutors and Introduction to the School Year

          At St Faith’s we value greatly the support that we receive from our parents in building and maintaining the partnership between home and school. Our ‘Meet the Tutor’ and ‘Introduction to the School Year’ evenings are part of this process, as we help parents and their children navigate the new school year. This week I greatly enjoyed meeting families in Years 1-3 and 5 & 6 and I do hope that the evening was helpful and informative for you all.

          Old Fidelian Barbecue

          This evening, our annual OF (Old Fidelian) BBQ will be held in the Headmaster’s Garden. It is a happy opportunity for former pupils to catch-up with old friends and to share stories about their time at the school. For some of our guests, they remember St Faith’s as an all-boys’ boarding school, for some it has been a more recent experience – after the school became a co-educational day school.

          We also look forward to being joined by members of the current and former teaching staff – and of course it is just possible that some of our former teachers will be reunited with their former pupils!

          Prep Open Morning, Tuesday 21st October

          As we look forward to the term ahead, our next Open Morning event will be held on Tuesday, 21st October. The eagle-eyed amongst you will already have seen our banners displayed outside school. Although the event is predominantly for families who wish to join St Faith’s in Years 3 to 7 in September 2026, we will also welcome families who are looking ahead to 2027, or even 2028 entry.

          I warmly encourage you to invite friends and colleagues who are interested in considering our St Faith’s community for their children – they can sign-up via our website, Open Mornings – St Faith’s Cambridge and early registration is recommended.

          And Finally…

          As the first week of term draws to a close, I do hope that all our families have enjoyed settling back into school life, from the excitement of our new Reception children, to the leadership shown by our new prefects. September always carries the feeling of a fresh chapter, much like the first page of a brand new exercise book – full of possibility. I do hope the weekend brings you a chance to pause, enjoy these early days of autumn, and look forward to the term ahead.

          With all best wishes,

          Crispin Hyde-Dunn

          Admissions

          Admissions

           Make an Enquiry

          Make an Enquiry

          Meet The Head

          Meet The Head

          3-7 Years

          Pre Prep

          7-13 Years

          Prep