This Week at St Faith’s

Children’s Mental Health Week

This week we have marked Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme, ‘This Is My Place’, focuses on children feeling safe, valued and able to belong. Throughout the week, pupils have spent time in assemblies, Tutor periods, reflection activities and PSHCE lessons exploring this theme, considering the ideas of belonging, connection and wellbeing.

In the Year 7 and 8 assembly on Monday, Mr Critchley invited pupils to reflect on what the word ‘belonging’ means. There were many thoughtful responses, including ‘belonging in a community’, ‘having a purpose’ and ‘knowing where you fit in’. Pupils discussed how belonging includes emotional safety, participation and recognition.

The group also considered practical ways to support mental health, including spending time with friends and speaking to trusted adults about feelings. The importance of authenticity and self-compassion was emphasised — recognising that everyone makes mistakes and that being overly critical of oneself can be unhelpful.

Kindness is the first of our core values at St Faith’s, and acts of kindness are recognised through the awarding of Kindness Certificates. I continue to be impressed by the many quiet and thoughtful ways in which our pupils support one another and show consideration in daily school life.

At the end of the assembly, pupils were invited to choose one action for the week that might support someone around them — perhaps sitting with someone new at lunchtime or checking in with someone who seemed quieter than usual.

Today, ahead of half-term and Valentine’s Day, we took time as a school community to reflect on the themes of love, belonging and connection, recognising and remembering loved ones who are near, as well as those who may be further away or no longer with us. As part of the day, pupils were welcome to wear heart-themed accessories or items in red, white, or pink, such as socks, hats, scarves, hair clips, or scrunchies.

A group of students in red and black striped blazers sit facing a screen in a school hall, while a man stands near the front. The screen displays the text “THIS IS MY PLACE” and a prompt about belonging.

A man in a suit speaks to a seated group of children in red-striped uniforms, with a large projector screen behind him displaying “WELCOME” and “This Is My Place” in a school assembly setting.

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Mobius Strips

Continuing the theme of love, belonging and connection….

Mr Mageean writes, “To fit in with the Heart theme of today, we’ve been doing some work on exploring patterns with paper folding puzzles and investigating Mobius strips (named after the famous 19^th Century mathematician, Alfred Mobius). Some of the pupils were able to enjoy the wonders of creating two individual hearts with one of the problems, yet there were a magical few pupils that managed to find their hearts inter-twined!…how very fitting for Valentine’s day!”

Three children in red and black striped blazers hold paper shapes—a heart, a square, and a loop—in front of a classroom screen displaying a maths pattern lesson. They are smiling and standing side by side.

Three students wearing red-and-black striped blazers sit at a classroom desk making paper crafts with yellow and red paper strips. Two students work together, whilst a third student creates his own design.

Four smiling students in matching red-and-black striped blazers sit at desks, holding geometric shapes made of sticks and connectors around their faces in a classroom decorated with colourful artwork.

A boy in a red and black striped blazer stands in a classroom, smiling as he holds up a paper Möbius strip and a pair of scissors. A whiteboard and a screen with text about the Möbius strip are visible behind him.

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Liverpool Music Trip

On Wednesday morning, 48 pupils from Years 6, 7 and 8 set off on an exciting musical adventure to Liverpool. The itinerary was packed with enriching experiences, including a Royal Liver Buildings 360 Tour, a guided visit to The British Music Experience, rehearsals at Liverpool Parish Church, and an evening concert in the same venue. Today, they will have had the privilege of performing a special concert at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, bringing joy to patients and staff alike. The afternoon features a Lunchtime Concert in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral and after more rehearsals, they will sing the Evensong Service in the Cathedral. Saturday will see our group of musicians complete their trip with a ‘Ferry across the Mersey’ and a visit to the Museum of Liverpool, before heading home just after lunch. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences after half-term.

A group of thirteen smiling teenagers pose together indoors in front of a lit-up, decorative background with patterned windows and brick walls. One teen at the back waves excitedly. Everyone appears happy and cheerful.

A stone church with a tall clock tower stands among modern office buildings in a city at dusk, with windows lit and streets visible below.

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Suffolk Speech and Drama Festival

Mrs McGregor writes,
“Some of our St Faith’s Speech and Drama pupils entered the Suffolk Speech and Drama festival last weekend at Culford School. St Faith’s entered a wide variety of categories and did brilliantly with many achieving Merits in their classes. One of our Year 8 pupils won first prize in their Solo Acting Class. All our pupils showed bravery and skill, whilst the adjudicator, Jenny Thornton, also gave us a masterclass in public speaking. A really successful festival and I felt very proud of all who entered. Thanks go to the Speech and Drama team and the parents for their unwavering support of Speech and Drama within the curriculum.”

Private Peaceful

Mrs Scott writes,
“This term some of our Year 8 Cohort are reading Michael Morpurgo’s moving wartime book Private Peaceful. The pupils have been using different writing techniques as part of their learning.

You can read examples of the children’s work in the sidebar: The first examples are very powerful Psalms, written to illustrate the demanding and difficult time Mrs Peaceful is having, raising her three boys. The second pieces of work are fairytales. Here, the pupils were asked to imagine and write stories that could be told to the character ‘Big Joe’ as bedtime stories.” I hope you enjoy reading these different styles of writing.

Year 7 Science

Mrs Pritchard writes,
“This week, our Year 7 students had an electrifying experience exploring static electricity using a Van de Graaff generator. They learned how the transfer of electrons between insulators can lead to that familiar “zap” of static charge. The demonstration certainly sparked plenty of curiosity and excitement as students saw science in action!”

A woman stands beside a Van de Graaff generator on a lab bench in a classroom, smiling. The room has large windows showing green grass and trees outside.

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Eco Committee and Art Club

In any given school week at St Faith’s, there are always numerous examples of how the children across the age ranges help each other to work on very varied projects. The Eco Committee have been growing broad beans from seed and this week have enjoyed planting the baby plants with Pre Prep pupils. We look forward to the catering team using the harvest when ready!

Meanwhile, in Art Club this term, the children have completed their dot pictures before moving on to leaf decorations. Judging by the photographs, there may well be some Mother’s Day surprises in the making.

A group of schoolchildren in red and black striped blazers and red jumpers poses and smiles outdoors near a fence, with some standing on the grass and others on a blue plastic object. Trees and buildings are in the background.

Two children in red shirts proudly hold up their colourful paintings, both featuring bright, pointillist-style landscapes with blue skies, green grass, and trees. The children are smiling in an art classroom.

Four young children in red school uniforms smile and hold potted plants inside a glasshouse, with classmates and colourful posters visible in the background.

Two children in red pinafores proudly hold up their colourful pointillist paintings of a landscape with trees, water, and hills. They are smiling, standing in a classroom with art supplies and a large screen behind them.

A group of smiling schoolgirls, some in striped blazers, gather around a painted tyre planter outdoors, holding gardening tools and plants, preparing to plant seedlings together.

Two children in red tabards proudly hold up their colourful pointillism artwork of landscapes, featuring bright skies, green hills, and blue water, in an art classroom setting.

A group of smiling children in school uniforms and wellies sit and stand on a wooden bench outdoors, holding small potted plants. Trees and a wooden fence are in the background.

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Academic Extension (AcE) Day

On Tuesday, pupils in Years 3-8 stepped away from their usual timetables to engage in Academic Extension (AcE) Day – a highlight of the term designed to enrich learning beyond the traditional curriculum.

Year 3 pupils began their day by exploring Little St Mary’s Church in Cambridge to deepen their understanding of Christian worship. They then brought their learning to life by designing ‘shoebox churches’ in class. The afternoon introduced them to new sports, with pupils enjoying the opportunity to try their hand at netball and touch rugby.

For Year 4, the focus was on Latino Day, where pupils expanded their Spanish vocabulary, bringing the vibrant music, food, and culture of Spain to life. One of the highlights of the day was making (and eating) their own Arepas, and the children especially enjoyed learning and singing Spanish songs. In the afternoon, after a spot of litter- picking around the grounds, pupils continued to focus on sustainability planning and designing their ideas for upcycling an old piece of equipment.

Building on their Humanities lessons, Year 5 explored Middle Eastern culture, starting with a visit to Cambridge Central Mosque, which offered insight into Islamic traditions, art and architecture. Back at school, they experimented with intricate geometric designs and took the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between faith and art across cultures.

Year 6 pupils took to the stage, refining their performances for The Lion King Jr. The day offered an extended and welcome opportunity to work on their songs, dialogue and movement sequence for the show. Tickets are now live for the show and the pupils’ dedication and energy promise that this will be an unmissable event!

Meanwhile, Year 7 delved into Cambridge’s history on a local area study day, with expert-led sessions on the Fenlands and an interactive exploration of local artefacts.

Year 8 pupils took their first steps in career exploration, listening to inspiring talks from parents in different professions and engaging in workshops on teamwork, problem-solving, and the evolving role of technology in the workplace. The afternoon saw them honing their debating and public speaking skills, developing confidence and critical thinking.

These experiences are central to our commitment to a broad and stimulating education, ensuring pupils are challenged, engaged, and inspired. As well as building experience in teamwork and leadership skills, AcE days also provide an exciting preview of our full Enrichment week (E-week) in the summer term.

A man in clerical clothing talks to a group of young children in red and black jackets inside a church, standing in front of an ornate green altar with stained glass windows in the background.

Three children in a classroom proudly hold handmade dioramas of rooms with detailed floors, furniture, and decorations, each created from cardboard and craft materials. They are smiling and wearing matching school uniforms.

Three young girls in dark hoodies sit in a wooden pew, reading from green hymn books. They appear to be singing or reading aloud in a church or chapel. A sign reading “TOMB” hangs on the wall behind them.

Split-image: On the left, a boy with curly hair plays table tennis indoors. On the right, two boys wearing sports bibs play with a blue netball on an indoor court, both smiling and running.

Five children in sportswear are playing in a gymnasium. Two kids in green and blue bibs stand cheering on a bench, whilst another in an orange bib holds a ball facing them. Two more kids smile beside the bench.

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Five schoolchildren in uniforms and striped ties are standing at a table, focused on kneading and rolling dough during a cookery activity in a classroom.

Two children in red and black striped blazers and ties sit indoors, smiling, each wearing a white chef's hat. One hat reads La mejor cocinera. Classroom desks and books are visible in the background.

Two schoolchildren in uniform and chef hats smile while preparing dough in a classroom kitchen. One boy holds dough near bowls, while a girl rolls dough with a rolling pin on a blue mat. Cooking ingredients are on the table.

Two young girls in school uniforms smile as they mix dough in a bowl with gloved hands in a classroom, whilst other children work in the background.

Two children in school uniforms and striped ties smile whilst shaping dough at a table with rolling pins, plates, and cheese. One wears a chef’s hat. Blue chairs are stacked by large windows showing grass outside.

Three schoolchildren in uniform sit at desks covered with newspapers and art supplies, decorating chef hats. Two smile at the camera while working, and one wears a finished chef hat, also smiling, in a classroom setting.

Children in red and black striped blazers sit at desks and work on crafts; a girl smiles whilst holding a small, decorated bottle in a classroom setting.

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A woman speaks to a group of children seated on the floor inside a mosque. The children wear matching red and black jackets with “St Faith’s” written on the back. Ornate wooden decor and a lectern are visible in the background.

A group of students in red and black jackets, labelled St Faiths, gather around an adult giving instructions outdoors near a brick building and a tree.

A collage showing children learning about Hajj: one girl stands by a pillar in a classroom, a geometric pattern poster and instructions, and children holding passports, smiling and celebrating.

Two young boys in red jackets kneel on the ground outside, looking closely at a map or sheet together. A paper with the word “Safa” is beside them on the pavement. Shrubs and a building are in the background.

Two children sit at a table in a classroom, each holding up a colourful, hand-drawn square artwork featuring symmetrical, mandala-like patterns. Both are smiling and appear pleased with their creations.

Two smiling girls hold up colourful, geometric art pieces in a classroom, while a smiling boy in another classroom shows a similar vibrant, patterned artwork. Art supplies and paper are visible on the tables.

Two children each hold up colourful geometric artwork on square paper, smiling at the camera in an art classroom filled with supplies and bright natural light from large windows.

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A child wearing a theatrical mask and holding a staff performs in front of an audience, surrounded by other children in colourful outfits, in a school gymnasium with wooden plaques on the wall behind them.

A child in a red and black shirt performs a dance pose indoors, wearing a yellow bird mask and scarf. Several chairs and a brown stage prop are visible in the background.

A group of children dressed in casual clothes and animal headpieces laugh and perform energetically indoors, in front of wooden honour boards and empty chairs. Some children are seated, while others stand or kneel, enjoying the activity.

A child wearing a yellow lion mask and costume performs with arms outstretched in a school play. Other children in similar costumes and props are visible in the background.

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A group of sixteen schoolchildren and two adults, dressed warmly in coats and scarves, stand and kneel on cobbles in front of a historic stone building with an arched doorway and bicycles in the background.

A group of students with rucksacks gather and talk in front of a large, historic stone building with tall windows and a tower, likely on a university campus. Leafless trees and cloudy sky are in the background.

A group of students sits listening to two adults speaking in a wood-panelled hall with large portraits and stained glass windows. The room has high ceilings and Gothic architectural details.

A student sits at a desk using a desktop computer, viewing a map application with satellite imagery in a classroom setting.

A group of schoolchildren sit on red chairs in a classroom, focused on writing on clipboards with pencils. They appear engaged in their activity, wearing dark sports kits.

Old black-and-white photographs on a grey surface, showing people at work, with vintage tools including a long-handled hammer and a large metal spade resting on top of the photos.

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Four children sit round a table, focused on drawing and colouring together with felt-tips on white paper. The atmosphere appears collaborative and creative.

A group of boys sit around a table in a classroom, talking. One boy in a black jacket looks at another boy wearing a red shirt with St Faith’s printed on the back. Other pupils are in the background.

Three boys in school uniforms sit at a table, focused on tablet devices with attached keyboards. Two boys discuss something on a tablet whilst the third listens, all appearing engaged in a classroom setting.

Three students sit at a table using tablet devices. Two girls, one in a red jacket and the other in a black hoodie, focus on their screens and talk, whilst a third student works on a tablet in the foreground.

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Life Education Lessons

As part of our Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) scheme of work, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Life Education Centre have been visiting St Faith’s for two weeks from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 13th February.

A key aspect of our philosophy and practice in all areas of PSHCE relates to pupils developing their understanding about the human body in order to make healthy choices. Over the two weeks, each class from Preschool to Year 6, has attended a lesson appropriate in length and content to the children’s age.

A number of our Year 8 pupils, including a recently appointed PSHCE Prefect, spoke with some of our Year 4 pupils, to find out what they had learnt from their Life Education lessons. They described how the different choices we can make can impact upon our health. For example, when asked what advice they could give to someone who is trying to lead a healthy life, they answered that, ‘regular exercise, eating fruit and vegetables and going to bed on time’ are all good choices. When asked what their favourite part of the lesson was, they agreed that it was sharing their good advice with Harold the Giraffe!

A woman stands in a classroom holding two signs labelled Physical Health and Mental Health, with a display board and red chairs visible in the background.

Two girls in matching red, black, and white striped blazers and ties sit and talk on red chairs in a classroom setting. They appear to be engaged in conversation.

A large digital screen displays the words Life Education Friends in yellow text against a blue background in a classroom setting.

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U12 Boys’ Hockey County Cup

Mr Johnson writes,
“After the Under 13 boys brilliant achievements in the County Cup and IAPS tournaments last week, it was time for the Under 12 boys to try and emulate their efforts in their age group of The County Cup. At the same venue, Cambridge University Athletics and Hockey ground, the Under 12 boys, fully prepared by Mrs Thompson, were straight into the action with a contest against King’s College School. The St Faith’s boys dominated the game, giving us a valuable opportunity to rest some legs and get the full squad very much involved early on, knowing that they had a long day ahead of them. The result, a very solid 3-0 victory, and a great start punctuated by some wonderfully well drilled short corner routines that they have recently been polishing during their training sessions. Straight after this fixture was a game against the Stephen Perse Foundation, where once again, we achieved a victory, with a 6-0 margin. Then again, boys were in full flow with an exceptional 3-0 win against Saffron Walden County High School. This set the scene for a very tense encounter, which ended up being the equivalent of a final against The Perse Upper, as they had beaten all of their opponents by a similar scorelines in their previous games.

The Perse dominated the early exchanges with some high quality ‘D’ penetrations, and ferocious shots on target, that were very well stopped by our goalkeeper. After about the twelfth minute, in a seventeen-minute game, the St Faith’s boys really started to show what they were made of, raised their game, and scored a very well worked goal, after a drive down the right side of the pitch that was skilfully finished off after a rebounding ball popped away from their goalkeeper and tucked away. With us leading 1-0, with five minutes or so if the game remaining, The Perse needed to work through their gears in order get back into the contest, which they duly did. The Perse scored two exceptionally clinical goals in quick succession, both rippling into the top corner of the goal, leaving St Faith’s boys chasing the game during the dying moments. The final score was 3-1 to The Perse, who were very worthy victors. The good news is that both the County Champions and the Runners Up qualify for the East area Finals on Friday 20th March, in Ipswich.

Our U12 boys, now join our U13 boys – who secured their place last week. Both of these teams will be very excited in their preparations for this prestigious event and wish them all the very best of luck. A huge thank you to all the parents for their support and for the dedication of their coaches Mr and Mrs Thompson on this very successful afternoon!”

A youth hockey team and their coaches pose in front of a goal, smiling. The players wear red shirts and medals, while the coaches wear black jackets. One player in a green shirt lies in front holding a hockey stick.

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U11 Girls’ IAPS Regional Netball

Mrs Fordham writes,
“The U11 girls showed tremendous character and determination at the IAPS Netball competition on Monday. It proved to be a challenging day, with the team facing several strong opponents in the pool stages. Despite the tough competition, the girls’ attitude, work rate and positivity were exceptional throughout, and they approached each match with resilience and team spirit.

Although they secured just one win in the pool, their performances earned them a place in the Bowl final, where they faced King’s Ely. Saving their best netball for the final match of the day, the girls worked superbly together, showcasing excellent movement, pressure in defence and composure in attack. Their efforts were rewarded with a well‑deserved victory, earning them the Bowl title. A fantastic effort from all involved. Well done, girls!”

Girls’ House Netball

On Thursday morning, it was the turn of the Year 3 and 4 girls to take to the netball courts for their House matches. Thank you as always to parents for supporting their children as they enjoy the many sports opportunities available to them at St Faith’s. The remaining House matches will all take place after half-term and we will report on them more fully once they are all completed.
We do hope you enjoy this selection of photos from the Year 3 and 4 matches.

Two young girls play netball outdoors; one prepares to shoot while holding a blue ball, and the other stands nearby wearing a bib, ready to receive a pass. Both are focused and active on the court.

A young girl wearing a green waistcoat and red jacket holds a blue netball, preparing to shoot, while other children in sports kit play around her on an outdoor court.

Two photos show young girls playing netball on an outdoor court. In both images, girls in sports bibs are holding a netball, whilst teammates and opponents defend or prepare to pass. Everyone looks focused and active.

A smiling young girl in a green sports vest holding a blue netball stands on an outdoor court. She looks at the camera, and another child's arm is visible at the edge of the image.

A young girl with a red hair bobble holds a blue netball, preparing to throw. She wears a black top and a pink bib with the letter A on an outdoor court.

A young girl wearing a green bib with a C defends with raised arms during a netball match, facing an opponent holding a blue ball. Another child in a red bib is visible in the background on an outdoor court.

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ISGA 4 piece Boys’ Nationals and ISGA 5 piece Girls’ Nationals

Mrs North writes,
“On Saturday 7th February and Sunday 8th February parents and pupils from St Faith’s converged at Haberdasher’s Boys’ School in Elstree for Independent Schools National Gymnastics. Our parents helped with manning the door on both mornings, and kindly provided chocolate for our hamper donations for the raffle. One lucky boy actually chose a St Faith’s hamper when his raffle ticket was selected, so I think our contribution was well received!

The boys’ teams showed real control and skill, with one of the boys performing his very first round off back handspring on an unsprung floor. In the Under 9 boys’ team our youngest competitor hailed from Year 2, and performed with composure and pride. In each age group our teams finished a creditable 2^nd. In the Under 9s one of our pupils narrowly missed gold by 0.3, taking silver with another year in this age group to achieve champion status. In the Under 11s we had a 4^th placing and a gold. In the Under 13s we especially wish to thank our two boys who moved up an age group to support their fellow Fidelian. One of those two boys finished individual 6^th, another finished 4^th and the other pupil was crowned champion.

On Sunday our Under 10 girls arrived, determined to demonstrate flair and artistry. A number of them had new vaults to showcase and for one of them, it was her first National event. We were so impressed with their efforts and despite a very tough field we felt their 12^th place finish as a team was well deserved.

Our final team of the day was the Under 13 girls’ team. All 6 girls are currently in Year 8 and have all demonstrated a great work ethic, leadership and dedication throughout the school year. The Under 13 age group was brimming with talent and club gymnasts, many of whom train more than 20 hours per week. Nevertheless, our team dug deep, performing to the very best of their abilities. Their group sneaked into the medals in a fantastic 6^th place and the team finished 10^th which gives St Faith’s automatic qualification for 2027. Mr North and Miss Butler worked incredibly hard all weekend and were very complimentary about the attitude and behaviour of all our pupils. The school flag was flying high and with dignity at this prestigious event.”

A group of ten young gymnasts, wearing matching black athletic trousers and black, white, and red leotards, stand together indoors on a gymnastics mat, smiling at the camera.

A gymnastics coach stands and gestures while talking to a group of young gymnasts sitting on the floor in a gym, all wearing black leotards with red bows in their hair. Colourful mats and gym equipment are in the background.

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And Finally…

As we reach the half-term break, there has been much to reflect on and much to celebrate across the school. Whether pupils are returning from Liverpool, preparing for Bikeability training next week, Years 5-7 (Levels 1 & 2) on Monday and Tuesday and Years 6-8 (Level 3) on Friday.) or simply enjoying a change of pace and scene, I wish you all a restful and enjoyable half-term.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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