This Week at St Faith’s

The Parable of the Pencil – Inspired by the Life of Mother Teresa

In Tuesday’s assembly, I invited pupils to reflect on the life of a remarkable woman: Mother Teresa, also known since 2016 as St Teresa of Kolkata. Born in Albania in 1910, she dedicated her life to serving others, travelling to India as a young woman and choosing to live among the poorest communities. With little more than a white-and-blue sari and tireless determination, she began caring for those who were sick, lonely or without a home. Her work grew into the Missionaries of Charity, whose members continue her mission of compassion today.

Mother Teresa’s kindness became known around the world, and in 1979 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet she described herself very simply: “I am a little pencil in the hand of God.” This image inspired the story I shared with pupils — The Parable of the Pencil — a gentle reminder of how each of us can make a positive difference.

In the parable, a pencil maker offers five pieces of advice to every new pencil:

You can do wonderful things, but only when guided by a steady hand. Just as pencils need guidance, we thrive when we listen to those who help us — parents, teachers, friends and, for some, faith.

You will make mistakes, but they can be corrected. Like a pencil’s eraser, we can learn from errors, say sorry, and try again.

What matters most is inside. A pencil’s graphite gives it purpose, just as our inner qualities — kindness, empathy, and integrity — define who we truly are.

Sharpening can be uncomfortable but helps us grow. Challenges in life shape us, helping us become stronger and more resilient.

Wherever you go, you leave a mark. Each day, through our words and actions, we leave impressions on others. We can choose to leave marks of friendship, encouragement, and care.

Mother Teresa lived these lessons beautifully, doing “small things with great love”. One person helped at a time, she left lasting marks on the world.

Pupils were encouraged to remember this the next time they pick up a pencil — in Art, Maths, Science or English — and to think about the kind of marks they are choosing to leave in school, at home, and beyond.

The assembly concluded with a prayer attributed to Mother Teresa, asking for guidance in spreading kindness wherever we go.

A projected photograph shows a group of women and children standing together while a woman dressed in a white sari with a blue border speaks to them and holds papers. The background is a brick-walled room.

A man in a suit stands at a lectern, looking down at his notes. A projector and laptop are placed on a small table in front of him. The background is a beige brick wall with a sign labelled B.

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Year 7 & 8 Assembly

Mrs Davies writes,

“Monday’s Year 7 & 8 assembly focused on the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics, exploring what we can learn from these events. The key messages were:

Celebrating one another’s success: We looked at how rivals come together to celebrate the ways they push each other to achieve new heights. For example, in the Men’s Big Air Final, rather than being disappointed after being moved from Silver to Bronze, the Austrian athlete actively celebrated with the Gold medallist, congratulating him on the skill he had shown.
Responding to disappointment: We spoke about Charlotte Bankes, who on 13th February finished 9th in the individual Snowboard Cross, despite entering as a medal hopeful. She felt disappointed and felt she had let others down. However, just two days later, on 15th February, she was celebrating winning Gold in the Snowboard Cross doubles event.
Framing setbacks: We discussed disappointment more broadly, particularly the message from one of the final slides—asking whether a setback is “the end of the story” or an opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately helping us reach new heights.

At the end of the assembly, we also touched on the use of AI. The key message to the children was that relying on AI can rob pupils of the essential thinking process that helps them learn.”

IAPS Debating Competition

On Wednesday, we were delighted to host the inaugural IAPS Regional Debating Competition here at St Faith’s. Twelve schools from across East Anglia took part, including two St Faith’s teams.

Two motions were debated. The first — ‘This house believes competition does more harm than good’ — was prepared in advance, while the second — ‘This house believes that the UK should follow the Australian model and ban social media for the under 16s’ — was prepared on the day.

The visiting judges were highly impressed by the high standard of debate and the clarity with which pupils articulated their ideas. It was a close contest, and St Mary’s School lifted the cup and will now progress to the national final at Merchant Taylors’ School.

A group of children and adults sit in rows of chairs at an indoor event, while a man in a suit stands and speaks at a lectern in the background. Some attendees are holding papers and listening attentively.

Two students in red and black striped blazers stand in a classroom, smiling and talking. One holds cards while the other looks ahead. A large monitor and colourful noticeboard are visible in the background.

A woman in a patterned dress stands and gestures while speaking to a seated group, holding papers. Another woman sits nearby. Colourful artwork is displayed in the background.

Five boys wearing red and black striped blazers and ties stand together smiling, with arms round each other in a brightly lit room with a decorated backdrop and a large yellow and orange circular prop.

Three smiling students in red, black, and white striped blazers and red ties stand together indoors, arms round each other, posing for a photo in a school setting.

A group of schoolchildren in uniform, including a boy smiling brightly in the centre, stand together indoors. One boy in a striped blazer is eating, whilst others look on and chat.

Two students in red and black striped blazers sit at a desk with papers, attentively listening to another pupil whose back faces the camera in a classroom setting.

A group of students wearing red and black striped blazers stand together indoors, with one blond boy facing forwards and the others turned away from the camera. A colourful, abstract background is visible behind them.

Two students in red-striped blazers sit at a table, facing forward, with three adults seated in the foreground and backs to the camera. A bright, circular artwork hangs on a beige wall behind them.

A man in a suit stands at the front of a room, gesturing as he presents to a seated audience. A large screen displays content behind him, and people sit facing him, listening attentively.

Five school children in red and black striped blazers sit at a table, facing an audience. They appear to be participating in an event or panel, with some smiling and others looking attentive.

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Celebrating Outstanding ABRSM Success at St Faith’s

Mr Gorick writes,

“This Lent Term has been an exceptional one for music at St Faith’s, with 31 ABRSM exams completed, a notably high number for this stage of the year and a clear reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment shown by our young musicians.

The results were particularly impressive: pupils achieved 5 Distinctions and 15 Merits, with the remaining candidates also passing successfully. For context, ABRSM awards Distinction for scores of 86% and above, Merit for 80% and above, and a Pass from 66%. These demanding thresholds underline the level of skill and preparation required, and they make our pupils’ achievements all the more commendable.

Among the successes were two outstanding Grade 7 exams, a level of performance broadly comparable to AS‑Level standard in terms of technical command, musical understanding, and expressive depth. Reaching this stage requires years of dedication, resilience, and a genuine love of music.

These results highlight not only the hard work of individual pupils but also the consistently high standard of music‑making at St Faith’s, where our vibrant musical culture continues to flourish.

We congratulate every pupil who took an exam this term, whether it was their very first or one of the final steps toward the highest grades. Their accomplishments enrich the musical life of the school and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”

Sounds of China: Year 5 Experience the Guzheng

Mr Gorick writes,

“This week, as our Class Concert series enters its fourth week, some of our Year 5 pupils were treated to a captivating performance on the Guzheng. Families familiar with Chinese classical music will know this beautiful Chinese zither and its distinctive, shimmering sound.

At St Faith’s, we are committed to celebrating musical traditions from around the world, and it was a real delight to hear the Guzheng played so confidently by one of our talented young musicians. Experiences like this not only enrich our musical life but also broaden our pupils’ appreciation of global cultures.”

Two schoolgirls in uniform are in a music classroom; one is seated playing a guzheng (Chinese string instrument) whilst the other stands nearby, both appearing engaged in conversation.

A student in a grey school uniform plays a guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument, in a classroom with musical equipment in the background.

A student plays a stringed musical instrument while classmates in red-and-black striped blazers sit in a semicircle watching. A Brazilian flag and posters decorate the classroom wall in the background.

Two schoolgirls in uniform stand by a large wooden guzheng instrument in a classroom. One girl is playing whilst the other watches. Music stands, percussion instruments, and posters are visible in the background.

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Lent Term Tea-Time Singers’ Recital

Mr Symons writes,

“Thursday’s Lent Tea-Time Singers’ Recital was a wonderful celebration of singing at St Faith’s. Parents, pupils and staff filled the Britten Recital Room in support of these talented musicians.

The programme brought together singers from Year 3 through to Year 8, representing every stage of development. Some pupils have been working on their voices for several years, while others only began lessons a few months ago. What united them all was a shared sense of commitment, courage and joy in performance. You could see it in their smiles as they finished, a quiet pride in their own progress.

We heard a wide variety of repertoire, thoughtfully prepared and performed with real musical intention. For some, this recital formed part of their preparation for forthcoming exams; for others, it was an opportunity to step forward, build confidence, and share something they love. In every case, the standard of singing was striking, and a real testament to the culture of music-making here at St Faith’s.

It was particularly heartening to see the level of focus and support amongst the pupils themselves. Performing can be a daunting experience, yet each singer rose to the occasion with poise and generosity, creating an atmosphere that was both encouraging and inspiring.

My thanks go to all the pupils who performed so beautifully, and to my colleagues for their continued support of singing across the school. Ms Quinn and I take such joy in helping our young singers prepare for these opportunities; seeing the pride with which they received their applause was truly heartwarming. Events like these remind us of the breadth and quality of musical life at St Faith’s, and of the important role singing plays in building confidence, discipline and joy. Many of those singers were back in action the following morning at the Senior Voices rehearsal, showing just how much pupils at St Faith’s value the opportunity to sing.

If you have a young singer at home who would like to begin lessons and to join this growing community of singing excellence, please join the waiting list here.

It is exciting that this recital showcased only a fraction of the vocal talent that we have here at St Faith’s. We are greatly looking forward to our Summer Term recital, when we will no doubt hear more wonderful performances.”

A group of children in red and black striped uniforms stand in a row performing in a classroom decorated with bunting. Adults are seated and watching them. Photos and instruments are displayed on the walls.

A young girl in a red and black striped blazer speaks at a lectern in a classroom, addressing an audience. A projection screen and photos are visible in the background.

A boy in a red and black striped blazer stands in front of a microphone and music stand, holding sheets of paper, whilst speaking to an audience in a classroom with a large photo displayed behind him.

A student in a red and black striped blazer stands and speaks or sings in front of an audience in a classroom, with a noticeboard and a large screen in the background.

A boy in a red and black striped blazer stands and speaks in front of an audience in a classroom, with a group photo displayed on a screen behind him.

A young girl stands and speaks in front of an audience in a classroom, with a group photo displayed on a large screen behind her. Several adults are seated, listening attentively.

A young girl speaks at a lectern in a classroom while an audience of adults sits and applauds. Behind her, a large group photo is displayed on a screen and colourful classroom materials fill the room.

A girl in a red and black striped blazer stands at a lectern speaking to an audience. Several people are seated and clapping, and a noticeboard labelled Steel Pans is visible in the background.

A group of adults and children sit on folding chairs, watching a speaker in a red-striped blazer in a decorated classroom. Bunting hangs overhead, and a screen displays a photo behind the speaker. Musical instruments are visible.

A young girl stands and speaks in front of an audience in a classroom. She faces the seated crowd, whilst a screen displays a group photo and a noticeboard is visible in the background.

A girl in a striped blazer is singing or speaking at a music stand in a classroom, with several people seated and watching her. A colourful display board labelled Steel Pans is visible behind her.

A boy in a red and black striped blazer stands in front of a laptop and microphone, giving a presentation to a classroom. A group photo is displayed on a screen behind him.

A young child in a black tracksuit stands smiling at the front of a classroom, speaking to an audience. Behind the child is a large screen displaying a group photo of children outdoors.

A young boy wearing a red and black striped blazer reads from a lectern in a classroom, addressing an audience. People sit facing him, and a screen with a group photo is visible in the background.

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Fun with Maths Activity

Mrs Davidson writes,

“In the Wednesday Fun with Maths activity children enjoyed a game of NumberQuash. Pupils were kept on their toes, combining fast mental maths with a good deal of tactical thinking. It got quite competitive as the children ‘stole’ quashes from each other or blocked play!”

A group of schoolchildren in red and black striped blazers participate in a classroom activity, working together with colourful geometric shapes and cards spread on the tables.

Six students in red and black striped blazers sit around two tables, working with colourful geometric shapes and cards. Open books and boxes are on the table, and a whiteboard and colourful shelves are in the background.

Five boys in red striped blazers sit and stand around a classroom table, working with colourful geometric shapes and cards, likely engaged in a maths or logic activity. The room has blue chairs and shelves in the background.

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Art Fun

Mrs Scott writes,

“In the Art Fun activity, the children have been painting their interpretations of spring lambs and sheep; some are of spring days and some snowy evenings. It has been lovely to see pupils developing their ideas in different ways, with each piece reflecting a personal response to the theme.”

A drawing of fluffy sheep with black faces scattered on a green field under a purple night sky with stars and two yellow shooting stars in the top right-hand corner.

Two watercolour paintings: the left shows white sheep in a blue and purple landscape; the right shows white sheep in a pink and purple field. Both have abstract, dreamy backgrounds and scattered sheep shapes.

A simple drawing shows sheep with white bodies and black faces grazing on a bright green field with rolling hills, under a blue sky. Two birds fly in the distance.

A child’s drawing of a green field with many black-and-white sheep under a blue sky with a yellow sun. The sheep are scattered across the field, and simple lines represent grass and hooves.

Four watercolour paintings of grassy and purple fields, each with small white sheep scattered across the landscape against blue, green, and purple backgrounds, arranged on a blue surface.

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Year 1 Visit The Whipple Museum

Miss Hendry writes,

“On Wednesday, Year 1 went on a trip to the Whipple Museum. The children enjoyed exploring the extraordinary collection of historical scientific instruments, including Charles Darwin’s microscope, various orreries and astrolabes, and Miss Hendry’s favourite, models of horses’ teeth. As the purpose of the trip was to support our current science topic, the human body, the children also had two taught sessions. The first was finding out about various organs and bones – an activity in which they especially enjoyed collaborating to rebuild a body. They then learnt about different senses through experiments such as hearing through their fingers, tricking their eyes with a range of optical illusions and trying to find out which class was the loudest (they were all pretty similar)!”

A woman shows a large ear model to a group of young children seated round a table in a museum or classroom. The table is covered with science kits and learning materials. The children watch her attentively.

A woman crouches next to a young boy in a red jumper as they look at a display case with an antique mechanical object in a museum. Another child in red is visible in the background.

Two young children in red school uniforms smile whilst holding up X-ray images—one of a chest with ribs and the other of a hand—during an educational activity in a classroom setting.

Two photos: On the left, young children in red uniforms play with musical instruments and a zoetrope indoors. On the right, the same group sits on sunny outdoor steps, eating lunch and talking together.

A young girl with a red and white outfit looks at a museum display case containing model teeth and artificial fruit. Informational plaques and other exhibits are visible behind the glass.

Three young children in red jumpers interact with a human anatomy model in one image and closely examine a museum display, including a globe, in another.

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Pre Prep School Council

Mrs Clarke writes,

“The Pre Prep School Council met this week and continued their focus on enhancing the playground experience. They discussed a variety of games that can be enjoyed by all children and created a long list to share with our playground supervisors. They decided that the list of games should be displayed in the playground, and the School Council reps will be available to support their peers in learning and playing these games – helping to ensure that everyone stays active, engaged, happy, and included.”

A group of young children in red jumpers and plaid skirts or trousers pose outdoors in two rows, smiling and sitting or standing on a sunny day.

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Playground Committee

Mrs North writes,

“The Year 3 and 4 Playground Committee are arranging a Fun Run on School House field after school on Friday 24th April to coincide with the London Marathon on 26th April. The event will start at 3:40pm. Year 3 and 4 pupils who wish to take part will need to sign up in advance and will need to bring in £2. All participants will be able to wear their PE kit on this occasion on the day. Parents are invited to spectate, and members of Year 2 are being offered the opportunity to run a shorter route if they would like to join in. The route for Year 2 will not exceed 800m and the route for Year 3 and 4 will be approximately 1 mile. We hope that the focus on running may inspire your whole family over the Easter holidays and you might feel keen to run in rural areas near you or perhaps on the British beaches near the East of England.

The emphasis is on taking part and raising money to buy some new Playground equipment for Year 3 and 4. The equipment purchased will also benefit Year 2 as they spend increased time in the Year 3 and 4 play area over the coming weeks.

The Playground Committee chose this event themselves, they will put up posters next week and will visit their designated class to advertise the event. They will also collect the money ahead of the event, noting who has handed in their entry fee and they will also be taking responsibility for handing in the money to the bursary. Every participant will receive a certificate of recognition. It might even be that preparing for this event ignites a real passion for running ahead of our forthcoming athletics season!”

British Science Week

Mrs Pritchard writes,

“On Tuesday, the Science Department hosted a lively lunchtime session of hands‑on practical activities to celebrate British Science Week. Pupils from Years 3–6 were invited to take part, and the event proved incredibly popular, with around 70 enthusiastic young scientists joining us over the course of the session. The opportunity to use a Bunsen burner was, unsurprisingly, a major attraction, particularly for our excited Year 3 and 4 pupils.

During the session, pupils rotated through a range of activities, including conducting flame tests, building an electromagnet and testing substances to determine whether they were acids or alkalis. We were exceptionally well supported by our fantastic STEM Prefects who demonstrated calmness, maturity and leadership far beyond their years. Their guidance ensured the session ran smoothly and safely, and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.

We look forward to developing and expanding this event even further next year as part of our ongoing commitment to making science exciting, accessible and inspiring for all pupils.”

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This week in Science

Mrs Pritchard writes,

Year 5

Year 5 have continued their exciting journey through their Acids and Alkalis topic.

Pupils began by evaluating the effectiveness of different types of indicator papers, applying this knowledge to a real‑world context, exploring how indicators are used outside the laboratory to support scientific decision‑making. They also investigated the viscosities of a range of liquids, discovering how thickness and flow rate can affect the way substances behave. Combining this with universal indicator led to a particularly eye‑catching experiment, where pupils created the optical illusion of a rainbow by carefully layering coloured solutions of different densities. They also put their scientific skills to excellent use in support of the Eco‑Committee. They analysed soil samples from around the school grounds to determine pH levels and help decide the most suitable location for planting a new magnolia tree.

Year 6

Year 6 have been delving into the relationship between the food we eat and the impact it can have on our bodies and have explored how different dietary choices can be linked to long‑term health conditions, developing a deeper understanding of why balanced nutrition is so important. They have also been learning how to interpret food labels, examining the information provided on packaging to make informed decisions about sugar, fat and salt content. They then carried out a series of practical investigations to test for the presence of starch and fat in a range of food substances. Using iodine solution and the grease‑spot test, they observed clear visual changes that revealed the nutritional components hidden within familiar foods.

Year 7

Year 7 have been applying their understanding of mixtures in imaginative and practical ways, exploring how separation techniques can be used in real‑world scenarios. Pupils were tasked with deciding how they might preserve food if they found themselves stranded, surrounded by shark‑infested waters and limited resources. This creative context encouraged them to think scientifically, using their knowledge of evaporation, filtration and dissolving to propose effective solutions. Pupils also carried out practical investigations to explore why salt may be added to food and why roads are gritted with salt mixtures in icy conditions, linking real world applications to experimental data.

Year 8

Year 8 have risen impressively to the challenge of exploring some GCSE‑level physics, taking on the complex concept of moments and applying it through hands‑on practical work and using this to derive the appropriate equation. Through a series of structured investigations, pupils examined how to determine whether an object is in equilibrium by calculating the clockwise and anticlockwise moments acting on a lever. Using masses, metre rulers and pivot points, they collected accurate measurements and applied mathematical reasoning to test whether the forces balanced, thus strengthening their understanding of the physics involved and drawing evidence‑based conclusions.

A student in a red and black striped blazer and safety glasses works at a lab table with test tubes, whilst other similarly dressed students work in the background.

Four boys wearing striped blazers, ties, and safety goggles are enthusiastically conducting a science experiment with test tubes in a brightly lit classroom. One boy uses a pipette whilst others watch and smile.

Two boys in school uniforms and safety goggles observe a test tube containing coloured liquid in a science lab, with red and white walls and lab equipment in the background.

Two students in red and black striped blazers and safety goggles conduct a science experiment together in a classroom, with other pupils and a teacher visible in the background.

Students in red and black striped blazers and safety goggles conducting science experiments in a classroom, one girl handling a test tube, three boys working together at a laboratory table.

Two students in red and black striped blazers and safety goggles work on a science experiment; one holds up a test tube with a yellow-red liquid, whilst the other observes and holds a worksheet.

Two girls in red and black striped blazers and safety goggles conduct a science experiment in a classroom, mixing substances in test tubes at a lab bench.

Three boys in striped blazers and safety goggles conduct a science experiment in a classroom, looking intently at test tubes, with one boy appearing surprised or excited by the results.

Students in red and black striped blazers conduct science experiments. On the left, two students examine a beaker together. On the right, a teacher shows a test tube to students gathered around a lab table.

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Year 3 & 4 House Hockey

Mr Mageean writes,

“It was fabulous to see so many parents on the sidelines to support the Year 3 Boys playing in their two rounds of House Hockey matches. The boys participated in small-sided 3v3 matches which promote their involvement, increase their touches on the ball and their ability to move into space on the pitch. We’ve been very proud of the progress made by the boys this term: dribbling skills have greatly improved whilst a number of the boys have also been mastering the ‘jab-tackle’ when defending too.”

Mrs Thompson writes,

“The Year 4 boys had a surprise visit at their House matches from Old Fidelian and current England/GB Hockey international hockey player, Katie Curtis. Katie has just returned from the World Cup qualifier in India. Having won the tournament, the team will now compete in the World Cup in Holland and Belgium this summer.
After umpiring one of the matches, Katie spoke warmly about her happy memories of her time at St Faith’s. We are delighted that some of our pupils will be travelling to London during Enrichment Week to watch Katie and another Old Fidelian, Tess Howard, compete against Spain in the FIH Pro League.”

A woman signs hockey sticks held by a group of children gathered round her on an outdoor artificial pitch. The kids are dressed casually and appear excited.

Children in blue uniforms play hockey on an outdoor pitch. Two boys compete for the ball in the foreground, while other children, a goalkeeper, and a coach watch in the background near the goal.

Two women stand smiling on a sports pitch, one holding a hockey stick, while four children in blue shirts and black shorts face them, appearing to engage in conversation or greeting. Tennis courts and houses are visible in the background.

Four children are playing hockey on a green pitch. Three are competing for the ball whilst one child stands in the background observing. All are wearing coloured bibs and holding hockey sticks. Trees and a fence are visible behind them.

A group of children in sports kit, some in yellow shirts and others in blue or green, pose and smile with a woman in a black jacket on a hockey pitch, holding hockey sticks and giving thumbs up.

Children in green and yellow tops play hockey on an outdoor pitch, while a few adults watch from the touchline. Trees and houses are visible in the background.

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BSGA Floor and Vault Regionals, Chelmsford

Mrs North writes,

“Last Sunday, 25 gymnasts represented St Faith’s at the British Schools East Region Floor and Vault Gymnastics Competition. It was the first time that we entered girls’ teams in this highly competitive event, which is open to every single school in the East of England. We challenged a couple of girls to demonstrate their new skills for the first time and they were delighted with their ability to complete the challenge successfully. The Under 13 girls finished a creditable 7^th. In other groups, there were medal-winning performances. Our Under 13 mixed team finished 2^nd and our Under 11 girls finished 2^nd, much to our delight. Despite fielding three much younger boys our Under 11 boys finished 1^st, 3 points ahead of 2^nd place and our Under 11 mixed team finished a full five points ahead of all opposition to take gold medals. As a result, teams from St Faith’s have secured places at National Floor and Vault Finals in Stoke on 2^nd May. We also extend our pride, respect and thanks to the boys from Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 who competed at Regionals, demonstrating excellent control, polished skills and a great attitude. This promises much, going forward in future years.”

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U13 Boys’ Hockey East Regional Finals

Mr Thompson writes,

“On a gusty and windy day last Friday, our under 13 boys travelled to Ipswich to compete in the East of England Regional Finals. It was an incredibly high standard throughout the day where two of the top four national finalists at the IAPS were competing. The top two of each pool, which consisted of six teams, would qualify for the semi-finals.

The boys continued to exceed all expectations winning 4 of the 5 pool games, scoring 11 and conceding 4. The only loss came against Framlingham 3-1 who are the current National Champions.

The semi-final was eventually lost to Bishop’s Stortford College on penalty shuffles in what was a very tense game. The team had given everything all day and had run out of energy, so it was with great relief that the organisers decided both semi-final losers would finish joint third!!

What an amazing season this group have had in what is their last year at St Faith’s. Fantastic ambassadors for the school and an absolute pleasure to work with. Both Mr Johnson and I left Ipswich feeling very proud.”

Continuing the theme of hockey, we wish the very best of luck today to our Year 6 and Year 7 Boys, competing in the IAPS National Hockey Finals and the East Regional Finals respectively.

Eight boys in red shirts and black shorts pose together in front of a hockey goal on a pitch, with one wearing goalkeeper kit lying in front. They are smiling and holding hockey sticks.

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Tea-time Speech and Drama Recitals

Miss Tucker writes,

“Last Friday afternoon a selection of Speech and Drama pupils were able to share the results of their hard work with proud parents and supporters in both Ashburton Hall and the Drama Studio.

Pupils have started work this term exploring Acting, as well as Verse and Prose speaking. The children were full of confidence as they took on roles of a Trainee Wizard, Sir Gawain, Mole and Rat, the Ugly Stepsisters and a lost girl in the woods.

Pupils are working diligently towards their New Era Academy examinations which take place in the summer term.”

Mrs Evans writes,

“It was a delight to see the children perform at the Speech and Drama recital on Friday. There was a wide variety on show including monologue and duologue scenes, poetry and public speaking. We saw Vikings teaching younger Vikings, footballers arguing over the fairness of penalties, the beauty of discovering a buttercup in an old diary as well as ideas for a trip to Disneyland – all in the name of drama of course!

It is so wonderful to see how the children are growing in confidence and developing strong skills for presenting work to an audience, as they continue to prepare for their New Era exams in the summer term.”

A young girl in a school uniform stands holding a bagel, beside a folding chair, performing in front of a large painted backdrop in what appears to be a school play or theatre setting.

A boy wearing glasses, a black tracksuit, and blue trainers stands in a classroom, speaking or presenting. Behind him are a blackboard and a colourful wall poster with cartoon illustrations.

A woman stands beside a young girl who is reading from a paper on a stage with a decorated backdrop. The woman watches attentively, while the girl wears a white shirt and navy trousers.

A young girl in a striped shirt sits on a folding chair with her arms crossed and eyes closed, next to a wicker basket, on a wooden floor in a large indoor room with a covered piano in the background.

A girl in a grey jumper, black skirt, and knee-high socks stands on a wooden floor in a performance space with a piano, barrel, and colourful panels in the background.

Two children in school uniforms stand indoors near a red noticeboard with drawings and photos. The boy looks left, while the girl smiles and holds her hand to her mouth. There are green emergency exit signs above them.

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A New Home for St Faith’s Trees

Nestled in the Eco Garden behind the Early Years classrooms, many of you may have seen the young saplings which were growing there. They were originally planted and cultivated by the Eco Committee to be donated as a gift to the wider community, once the trees were established. We are very excited to be able to share the news that they now have a new home.

Once removed from St Faith’s at the beginning of the year, they were planted last week. They are now part of a new woodland of which approximately 25 volunteers planted 1500 (with another 500 to go) at ARB Estates, Horseheath. The trees are placed sporadically within this and will form a focal point of the development.

This is the start of a new project called ‘Wildroots’, whose mission is to create a legacy for accessible education which allows children to learn freely outside of the traditional classroom setting. We are extremely grateful to Mrs Burrett for facilitating this project.

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SFPA Easter Community Day

Last Saturday, bathed in spring sunshine, we hosted the SFPA Easter Community Day. We welcomed current families, new families joining us in September, and familiar faces from the Cultivating Change team.

Activities included seed planting, Mother’s Day gift-making led by the Eco Committee, and plant sales for the garden. The ever-popular Easter egg hunt returned, alongside yoga sessions delivered by Mrs Walker. It was truly an event for the whole family.

Thank you to all who supported this annual community event — we look forward to next year’s. We hope you enjoy this selection of photos from the day.

Six people smile at the camera, four dressed in colourful vegetable costumes (lettuce, tomato, broccoli, and aubergine), and two in grey hoodies, standing outdoors on a sunny day.

A group of children work together in a garden, digging and planting seedlings in a raised garden bed surrounded by grass and a wooden fence.

A group of children and adults gather around a table outdoors, engaging in a gardening activity. One person is dressed in a purple aubergine costume, helping the children. It's a sunny day in a garden setting.

A person in a large white bunny costume with blue eyes, pink ears, and a patterned waistcoat smiles and waves outside, with a brick building and another person in the background.

Children gathered around a table outside, drawing and colouring animal faces on paper masks. The table is filled with art supplies, wooden slices, felt-tip pens, and jars of seeds. Adults stand nearby, supervising the activity.

Children and adults gather around a table outdoors, engaged in arts, crafts, and gardening activities on a sunny day. The table holds colourful supplies, papers, and plants, while people interact and work together in a grassy area.

A smiling girl in a green costume stands behind trays of seedlings at an outdoor table, next to a Cultivating Change banner promoting gardening for mental health and community wellbeing.

Children and adults gather outside on a sunny day, making crafts at tables covered with art supplies. Some adults supervise, whilst others stand nearby. A building with solar panels is in the background.

Four people stand outdoors; two women in hoodies, a person in a white Easter bunny costume, and a smiling teenage boy. They pose together on a sunny day with a garden and wooden fence in the background.

Two women smile at an outdoor craft table with children who are drawing and colouring. Art supplies are spread out on the table, and the group is gathered in front of a modern wooden building on a sunny day.

Two people wearing large, colourful vegetable costumes—one as a green broccoli and the other as a purple aubergine—walk on grass outside a building, smiling and holding signs.

Two girls stand behind a table outdoors with jars, papers, and handmade crafts for sale. They are smiling, and sunlight casts shadows on the wooden wall behind them. A window displays more items inside.

A group of adults and children stand by an outdoor table decorated with flowers and craft items, staffed by two women wearing bunny ear headbands and high-visibility vests, in a park setting.

Two people dressed as a pea pod and a tomato stand behind a table of seedlings at a Cultivating Change stall, smiling in the sunlight. Banners and information about the organisation are displayed beside them.

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And Finally…

Looking ahead to next week, we look forward to Year 6’s performances of The Lion King on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

It has been a full week, and Mother Teresa’s image of the pencil, in all its simplicity, has remained with us. I wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable weekend.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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