This Week at St Faith’s

To Dream of Olympic Gold

In this week’s school assembly, Mrs Hughes-Morgan offered an inspiring reminder of what can be achieved through courage, determination, and belief. The children were captivated by the story of Ben Hunt-Davis, a member of the GB Men’s Eight rowing team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the two years leading up to the Games, the crew had never won a medal. Their target was audacious: Olympic gold. To achieve this, they needed to complete the Olympic course in just 5.5 minutes—a time that, at the outset, they simply could not reach.

The transformation of the team came not through focusing on the outcome, but by adopting a set of Performance Principles that shaped every aspect of their work together.

Focus on what is important

Focus on performance, in order to get results

Work together effectively

We learned how this mindset of continuous improvement and purposeful action, transformed their training, their teamwork, and ultimately, their destiny. By embracing these commitments, the rowers progressed from a team that regularly finished seventh, to Olympic champions. In Sydney, they crossed the finish line first and Olympic gold was theirs. Their “crazy goal” had become reality.

We then reflected on how we might ask ourselves similar questions at St Faith’s. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, in art, drama, music and in our friendships:

What are we aiming to achieve?

What are we doing well?

What are our next steps?

We anticipated that when we channel our energy into what we can control, our effort, our choices, and our attitude, we can open the door to remarkable achievements. Who knows what goals we might reach if we continue asking the right questions?

A large group of students in red and black striped uniforms sit on the floor of a school hall, watching a presentation on a screen, while teachers and staff look on from the sides.

A woman stands at a podium speaking to a large group of students seated in an auditorium, with images and Olympic logos projected on a screen behind her.

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Quiz Club National Championships

Continuing the theme of mindsets focused on improvement and purposeful action, Mrs Hughes-Morgan congratulated the Quiz Team on their performance at the Quiz Club General Knowledge National Championships. The final, held on the very last day of the Summer term, took place in the august setting of the Examination Schools building of the University of Oxford. Whilst many of us were celebrating prize winners and bidding a fond farewell to our Year 8 leavers, four of our pupils were tackling some exceptionally demanding general knowledge questions. The pupils came a very creditable 10th place, out of 34 teams and we congratulate them warmly on this considerable achievement.

We are very proud of their performance, and look forward to seeing more pupils taking up the opportunity to join Quiz Club. This activity is open to all children in Years 3-6 and pupils can speak to Miss Dow in the first instance if they would like to know more.

Four children in red and black striped blazers stand smiling beside an adult in a blue shirt, in front of a screen displaying quiz scores for various school teams.

Four smiling children in red and black striped blazers sit at a table with a tablet and water bottle. More children and adults are seated and standing in the background, suggesting a school event or competition.

A woman in a blue and white dress stands smiling with four children in red and black striped blazers, two boys and one girl in shorts, one boy in long pants, in front of a stone wall.

Four children stand in front of a stone wall, all wearing matching red and black striped blazers, white shirts, striped ties, and black shorts or skirt, smiling at the camera.

Four children in red and black striped blazers sit at a table, smiling at the camera, in a large hall set up for a quiz competition. The screen behind them reads “Quiz Club” with other children seated at tables.

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The Artwork of Stephen Wiltshire

Mrs Clarke writes,
“In Year 2 this week, the children explored the incredible artwork of Stephen Wiltshire, the artist known for his detailed cityscapes drawn entirely from memory. His life story and talent inspired the children, who then created their own city skyline. With our current topic being “Paddington in London”, children included some important London landmarks and really enjoyed adding Paddington Bear to their artwork.”

Two hand-drawn cityscapes on white paper, featuring famous London landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye, and skyscrapers. Each drawing includes a small sticker of Paddington Bear at the bottom right corner.

A pencil drawing titled My cityscape of London by Erica features London landmarks, including the London Eye and the Gherkin, with tall buildings. A small Paddington Bear sticker is in the bottom left corner.

A childs black-and-white drawing of Londons cityscape features tall buildings, the London Eye, the Gherkin, and various rooftops. The title My cityscape of London and the name Alby are written at the top.

Four pencil sketches of cityscapes, each featuring a large Ferris wheel, clock towers, and various buildings. Each drawing has a small blue cartoon sticker in the bottom left area. The papers are laid on a green surface.

A child’s drawing of London features the London Eye, Big Ben, tall buildings labeled “10 cases and 2 hotels,” and a small Paddington Bear figurine in front. There are clouds and the title “My cityscape of London” at the top.

A child’s pencil drawing of London landmarks, including Big Ben, The Shard, the London Eye, and Nelson’s Column, with labeled trees and buildings. A Paddington Bear sticker is in the center. Title: My Cityscape of London!! by Cayo.

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Roald Dahl Story Day

Miss Johnson writes,
“Roald Dahl Story Day is an annual, global celebration held on 13^th September, marking the birthday of the popular British author Roald Dahl. The day is dedicated to his imaginative stories, characters, and worlds, encouraging people, especially children, to engage with his books through activities like reading, dressing-up, themed events, and creative projects. On Friday, one of our pupil librarians took some lovely photos of pupils enjoying activities and quizzes in the library.
Catering also celebrated the day be serving an incredible Roald Dahl themed menu including; BFG ‘Mud Burgers’, ‘Snozzcumbers’ and Bruce Bogtrotter Chocolate Cake from the book Matilda.”

Children in school uniforms work and read in a colorful library, with bookshelves, tables covered in worksheets and markers, and a sign announcing Roald Dahl Day. Some students are standing, others are seated and drawing.

Three children in red and black striped uniforms sit at a round table in a library, writing on worksheets with pencils. Bookshelves filled with colorful books line the background.

Children in red and black striped uniforms read books in a colorful library section labeled Younger Readers, surrounded by shelves of books, decorations, and natural light from large windows.

Children are gathered around tables in a colorful classroom or library, engaging in group activities and coloring. Books are displayed on the tables, and cheerful decorations and banners hang around the room.

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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. This week, it was a great pleasure to welcome parents to our Meet the Tutor and Introduction to the School Year evenings. These occasions are designed to provide both guidance and reassurance as families and children begin the new academic year.

I hope that those who attended found the sessions informative and useful. The slides from all presentations are available on My School Portal (MSP) for all parents who would like to revisit them.

St Faith’s Parents’ Association (SFPA) Coffee Mornings

 The St Faith’s Parents’ Association (SFPA) plays a vital role in the life of our school community. The SFPA is made up of parent volunteers, who generously give their time to organising a wide variety of social and fundraising events. This term’s highlights include the popular Scavenger Hunt for the younger children, Fireworks Night in November, and the Christmas Fair in December. For ticketed events such as Fireworks Night, we advise early booking to avoid disappointment, as such events often sell out quickly.

In addition, the SFPA coffee mornings provide an informal and hospitable opportunity for parents, both new and longstanding, to meet over a hot drink and some delicious pastries. The dates are advertised in the school calendar, and they are usually timed to coincide with the Breakfast Club for that year group.

On Thursday, it was a pleasure to welcome so many Year 1 and 2 parents. Earlier today, there was a very special welcome to some of our new families, across several year groups. I do hope that you are beginning to feel very much part of our community and that your children are settling happily into their new routines and developing new friendships too.

A group of people stands on a grassy area near a brick building. A man in a suit and a woman in a yellow vest are addressing the group, while others watch and listen. Trees and a path are visible in the background.

A group of people standing outdoors in a park-like setting, listening to a person in a yellow safety vest speaking. Trees and a wooden gazebo are visible in the background.

A group of people stands outside on grass, listening to a man in a suit speaking. Some are casually dressed, and one person wears a safety vest. Trees and a wooden shelter are in the background.

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Old Fidelian (OF) Barbecue

As reported in the previous newsletter, last Friday marked our annual OF (Old Fidelian) Barbecue.

Held in the Headmaster’s Garden, the event was a great opportunity for over 40 former pupils and staff to catch-up with old friends and to share stories about their time at the school. We were extremely thankful that the weather remained sunny and warm for the evening, as we welcomed Old Fidelians who had been at St Faith’s from as long ago as the 1950s, right up to those who left only a couple of years ago.

Our catering team provided everyone with a delicious meal and many guests took time to enjoy looking at a selection of memorabilia from the St Faith’s archives, including photographs of pupils in their Southfield dormitory (now of course home to Pre Prep), as well as a photo album dedicated to the visit of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh when he came to open Ashburton Hall in 1999.
There are more photos of the event on the Old Fidelian Facebook page Old Fidelians – St Faith’s School, Cambridge.

A woman and a man sit at an outdoor table, engaged in conversation. The woman wears a patterned blouse and leather jacket; the man wears a dark button-up shirt. Greenery and a tent structure are visible in the background.

Close-up of several small custard tarts with golden-brown tops arranged on white plates, placed on a light blue surface. The focus is on the tart in the foreground, with others blurred in the background.

Two chefs in white uniforms stand behind a buffet table outdoors. One chef presents sliced bread, while the other gestures with his hands. Plates and food trays are arranged on the table in front of them.

A group of people sit at a long table outdoors, engaged in conversation. One man in the center gestures with his hands while talking to another man in a suit. Plates and drinks are on the red tablecloth in front of them.

A man in a blue shirt and a woman in a patterned coat hold drinks and watch a chef prepare food at an outdoor gathering, with other people and greenery in the background.

Two older men stand outdoors at a social gathering. One wears glasses, a gray blazer, and holds a plate; the other, in a tan jacket and patterned shirt, looks downward. People and greenery are blurred in the background.

A man in a red sweater smiles at an outdoor gathering, surrounded by other people engaged in conversation. Some hold drinks, and theres a blurred background of brick buildings and greenery.

A man and woman in business attire laugh together at an outdoor event, with other people mingling in the background. The man wears a dark suit and name tag; the woman’s face is turned away. A red tent is visible behind them.

Three people stand on grass in a garden, engaged in conversation. Two wear dark tops and pants, one wears a blazer, and the other has light hair and grey pants. Bushes and trees fill the background.

A group of people dressed in business or smart casual attire converse outdoors at a garden event, holding drinks. Trees and hedges are visible in the background, with a few people standing further away.

Three men stand and chat, one laughing, near a red tent labeled St Faiths at an outdoor event. Empty chairs and tables are visible in the background on a grassy lawn.

Two men converse outdoors; one in a red sweater holding a glass, the other in a suit and striped tie gesturing seriously. Blurred greenery and a brick building are in the background.

A woman holding a drink laughs while talking to a man in a suit at an outdoor social gathering, with other people conversing in the background.

Two men in jackets stand outdoors at a social event, holding drinks and talking. Several other people are mingling in the background, and greenery surrounds the group.

A chef in a white uniform and blue gloves smiles while holding a plate outdoors. Other people in semi-formal attire stand nearby, with greenery and a table with drinks in the background.

A man in an orange sweater stands outdoors with his hands in his pockets, facing a woman with blonde hair wearing a black top. They appear to be having a conversation in a garden setting.

An elderly man in a suit and plaid tie sits outdoors at a table with a red tablecloth, holding onto a chair. An empty wine glass is on the table, and the background shows grass and a wooden fence.

An older woman and man, both smiling, stand outdoors holding wine glasses. The woman wears a light blue jacket, and the man wears a navy blazer over a striped shirt. Both have name tags. Greenery and a building are in the background.

A framed menu on a stand displays the BBQ event details, including mains, sides, and dessert options, with Lodestone House at the bottom. The background is slightly blurred grass.

Four adults stand outdoors under a canopy, looking at books and photographs on a table. Each holds a glass of wine, engaged and smiling, with pink tents and greenery visible in the background.

A group of people sit around a red table outdoors under a canopy, talking and drinking. Bottles, glasses, and napkins are on the table, and greenery is visible in the background.

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St Faith’s Parents’ Association (SFPA) and OF Committee Meetings

Events such as the OF Barbecue, Fireworks Night, the Summer Party, and Old Fidelian Sports fixtures depend greatly on the dedication of our volunteers, both parents and former pupils. We are very fortunate to have so many who generously give their time, some of whom volunteer for both the SFPA and OF committees.

The two committees hold their meetings at the beginning of each term, and on Tuesday we were delighted to welcome two new members to the Old Fidelian Committee, both of whom are also current parents.

Please do contact sfpa@stfaiths.co.uk, or marketing@stfaiths.co.uk if you are interested in finding out more about the work of the committees – I warmly encourage you to get involved.

Nine people stand indoors in a row, smiling at the camera. They are dressed in a mix of business and casual attire, with a table and red chairs in front of them. Windows let in natural light from the left.

A woman in a green floral dress smiles while talking with two men, one in a suit, in a bright room with large windows. Other people stand nearby in the background.

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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, as you will have seen on our banners displayed outside school.

This event is predominantly for families who wish to join St Faith’s in Years 3 to 7 in September 2026, however we will also be happy to welcome families who are looking ahead to 2027, or even 2028 entry. If you have friends or colleagues who may be interested in joining our community, please do encourage them to sign up via our website: Open Mornings – St Faith’s Cambridge . Early registration is strongly advised.

And Finally…

It has been a busy and energising week—from Olympic-sized ambition in assembly to Paddington Bear appearing in Year 2 artwork. The action continues on Saturday when we welcome the hockey team from Kent College to Latham Road, for our longstanding annual Year 6 fixture. After such a lively week, I do hope the weekend also brings moments of calm and the opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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