WAelcome to the St Chris Spring Roundup
A selection of news and activities from across the School
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Literacy Festival Celebrates Reading and Creativity
We celebrated reading, writing and the power of literature this Spring with our Senior School Literacy Festival Week.
Students took part in the first of several creative workshops, giving them the opportunity to explore creative writing and experiment with language and poetry.
On Tuesday, the Bow Books Book Fair arrived in the Social Library. Students from different year groups visited throughout the day to browse and purchase books, while break and lunchtime sessions allowed the whole school community to take part. More than 100 students left with a new book, either beginning a new reading journey or adding to their already growing collections, which was wonderful to see. Another poetry workshop took place later in the day, continuing the week's focus on creative expression.
Wednesday featured the much-anticipated Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) event, where students paused their usual activities to spend time enjoying a book in lessons across the day. The day also included a Literature Lens Workshop for Lower Sixth (Year 12) students, encouraging deeper discussion and analysis of literary texts.
Thursday brought celebrations for World Book Day for both Junior and Senior School, with staff and students encouraged to dress up as their favourite book characters. It was lovely to see so many creative and fun costume choices, with a large number of students dressing up to celebrate their favourite books and characters.
We hosted a Books for Breakfast event in the Junior School, where families joined us in the morning to share stories together. The school was filled with wonderful costumes and the joy of reading, creating a warm and memorable start to World Book Day.
During Company Time, Senior School students participated in book-themed activities, and another poetry workshop took place for a different group of students.
We were delighted to welcome author Catherine Wilkins, who visited D Group (Year 6), E Group (Year 5) and F Group (Year 4). She shared extracts from her book Cafe Chaos and spoke about the fascinating journey from the first spark of an idea through to publication. The children listened brilliantly, asked thoughtful questions and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the characters brought to life.
The festival concluded on Friday with a Morning Talk reviewing the week and sharing highlights from the workshops. At lunchtime, students visited the Pre-Loved Book Fair in the Social Library, where books were sold for £1 each, with all proceeds going to charity, voted for by students.
Garden City Gambit: St Chris Hosts Robotics Competition
In January, St Chris built on its strong tradition and national standing in robotics and proudly hosted our second annual VEX Robotics competition, The Garden City Gambit.
The event was organised and led by Sixth Form robotics students whose commitment and hard work before, during and after the day ensured everything ran seamlessly. The competition welcomed 24 teams in the VEX IQ category and 32 teams in the V5 category, with around 300 competitors, supporters and spectators coming through our doors across the day.
Our own St Chris teams were also in action and, as the season reached its climax later in the term, the St Chris Icicles, made up of pupils Years 8 to 10, travelled to Telford to compete in the two-day VEXV5 National Finals. Our older team, the Snowflakes, didn't compete this year (having won every accolade going, including representing the UK at the international tournament in Dallas) but the Icicles were joined by Snowflake team member Thomas Robb (Year 13) who volunteered at the event as a referee.
The competition was extremely tough with 80 teams competing from around the UK but the St Chris team showed great resilience, impressing the judges with their knowledge and passion and connecting with lots of other robotics enthusiasts. Although the Icicles didn't come away with any trophies this year, plans are already underway for the new season and our older students are training those in the younger year groups to embed robotics excellence at St Chris for the years to come.
Creative Careers Evening
In January, St Chris was delighted to welcome more than 40 creative practitioners to our Creative Careers Evening, bringing together expertise from across the arts and creative industries. The range of disciplines represented was broad and inspiring, spanning architecture and interior design, film production, social content creation, photography, fashion, costume and textiles, music, animation and VFX, illustration and graphics, publishing, writing and journalism, fine art, and the performing arts.
We were honoured to welcome broadcaster and podcaster Olly Mann as our keynote speaker, alongside an impressive group of industry professionals including actors Jason Watkins and Mark Bazeley, novelist Isabelle Schuler, Greg Burne, Managing Director of Big Active, creative directors Carl Burgess and Wendy Benstead, shoe designer Rupert Sanderson, and social content creator Jack Hyslop, among many others. Each brought honesty, generosity and first-hand insight into what it really means to build a career in the creative world.
The evening was a valuable opportunity not only for St Chris students, but also for students and families from a large number of local secondary schools and home school settings. Conversations throughout the event opened doors to possibilities that some young people may not previously have considered. Students and parents were able to ask thoughtful questions, make meaningful connections and receive practical advice from those actively working in creative fields today.
Sporting Achievements
It has been a fantastic year for sport at St Chris, with pupils across both Junior and Senior Schools demonstrating enthusiasm, resilience and a genuine love of participation. Our inclusive approach continues to ensure that every pupil feels encouraged to get involved, develop confidence and enjoy being active.
In the Junior School, pupils have shown great teamwork and determination. The U11 football team delivered an excellent 4–0 win against Stonehill, while the U10s impressed with a 2–2 draw against an older side, working collaboratively in challenging conditions. In netball, the U11 C team took part in their first festival, showing fantastic sportsmanship and progress across closely contested matches. It has been wonderful to see pupils supporting one another and embracing new challenges with such positivity.
Senior School sport has also gone from strength to strength. Our football teams enjoyed a number of notable successes across the year groups, and we pay special tribute to our Year 11 and Sixth Form leavers, many of whom have represented the school for many years with commitment and pride.
In swimming, pupils continue to excel, with Isla Conway selected to represent North Herts and now competing at county level, and Emily Carter achieving the honour of representing Great Britain in underwater hockey. Golfers represented the school admirably at the Herts Schools Championships, while netball teams across all age groups demonstrated resilience, teamwork and great potential, supported by our dedicated Sixth Form sports leaders.
Rugby has seen excellent progress, with pupils developing confidence and skill in competitive fixtures, and basketball has been a standout success, with the Year 8 team winning their league and others achieving strong finishes. The programme continues to flourish, with St Chris now recognised as one of the leading basketball schools in the district.
Above all, we are proud of the warm, supportive sporting culture at St Chris, where pupils of all abilities are encouraged to take part, challenge themselves and enjoy being part of a team. We look forward to building on this success in the summer term.
St Chris Musicians Celebrated
It was a highly successful weekend in January for the St Chris Music Department, with seven Year 12 students taking part in the Hitchin Priory Rotary Club Finals at Benslow Music in Hitchin. The competition is open to Year 12 students from across North Hertfordshire and follows a rigorous selection process, including an application, references, interview and audition, before finalists are chosen. The evening showcased an impressive standard of musicianship, and St Chris students performed with confidence and maturity throughout. We were delighted to come away with three of the four available prizes, including second place in the instrumental category, second place in the vocal category, and first place in the vocal category. All prize winners received a certificate and a cheque to support their continued musical studies.
The Junior School enjoyed a wonderful evening of music in March, showcasing the talents of our young musicians from Year 1 through to Year 6. Students performed a range of pieces, including Für Elise, the Harry Potter theme tune, and Naughty from Matilda, demonstrating both technical skills and confidence. It was a delight to see the children supporting and celebrating each other’s performances, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere. Everyone left feeling inspired, and we look forward to another music-filled evening in the summer term.
Towards the end of the spring term Senior School students took part in a Jazz & World Music Ensemble at Club 85 in Hitchin, raising money for charity. A huge well done to all our students and staff who performed alongside the UK's Afrobeat Ambassador, Dele Sosimi and master percussionist and singer Afla Sackey, for what was a brilliant night of music.
Junior School Spring Topics: Cross-Curricular Learning
The spring term was full of exciting, hands-on learning across the Junior School, with each year group immersing themselves in a rich topic that brought lessons to life across English, history, geography, art and science. A real highlight was the wide range of trips and experiences to help spark curiosity and enrich the curriculum.
- Reception explored the question Where are we?, learning about their location in Letchworth through map-making and early geography skills, as well as looking beyond Earth to space and planets while building their phonics, reading and maths skills.
- Year 1 travelled back in time with their topic, Toys – Past and Present. They shared their favourite toys, explored toys from their family history and considered how materials and designs have changed over time, including thinking about sustainability and how toys can be more environmentally friendly. A highlight was designing and making their own puppets, taking them through the full process from concept to creation. They also enjoyed an exciting trip to London’s Southbank to visit the Paddington Experience to bring their learning to life.
- Year 2 H Group became Great Explorers, learning about significant adventurers from around the world and comparing life in the past to today. A highlight of their term was a visit to Apsley Lock, where the students demonstrated fantastic teamwork and enthusiasm as they helped steer the boat, worked the lock, sang together and even took part in litter picking. They also enjoyed spotting local wildlife, including a swan’s nest!
- Year 3 stepped into the past with The Celts, discovering what life was like in Britain more than 2,000 years ago. They explored roundhouses, hillforts and daily life, wrote their own Celtic myths and created traditional patterns. Students visited Celtic Harmony, where they experienced this period of history first-hand.
- Year 4 focused on China, learning about the Shang Dynasty alongside the country’s geography, economy, art and inventions. A standout experience was their trip to Hobbledown, where they took part in a habitats and adaptations workshop and impressed leaders with their knowledge and enthusiasm.
- Year 5 explored Incredible India, discovering its diverse geography, climate and rich cultural history. They learned about ancient civilisations, religions and artistic traditions, and celebrated the festival of Holi together - enjoying the bright colours and themes of joy, renewal and community.
- Year 6 investigated Migration, tracing the many groups who have shaped Britain’s history, from Anglo-Saxons to Tudors. Their learning was brought vividly to life through a fantastic residential trip to York, with highlights including the Jorvik Viking Centre, York’s Chocolate Story, the National Railway Museum, Whitby beach and a range of engaging workshops and activities.
The Great St Chris Bake Off Final
The Great St Chris Bake Off Final took place this term, with a magical fantasy and fairytale theme setting the scene for an afternoon of creativity and concentration. Teams arrived well prepared and worked tirelessly for over two hours to bake and decorate their imaginative creations. The Vege Centre (our cookery centre) was filled with laughter, excitement, and the occasional moment of mild panic when cakes refused to cool in time. Competitors from Year 7 to Year 11 took part, and every entry was beautifully presented and just as enjoyable to eat.
With an exceptionally high standard across the board, the judging panel faced a very difficult decision. After the final scores were tallied, Year 11 were crowned winners with their Jack and the Beanstalk–themed marble chocolate cake. Congratulations to all involved; the level of skill, teamwork, and creativity on display was a joy to see.
Welwyn Drama Festival
In February, two St Chris Senior School drama groups took part in the Welwyn Drama Festival, performing original plays written by members of staff Connor Vincent and Emma Roskilly. Both groups represented the school brilliantly, showing creativity, confidence and real commitment to their performances.
Our Senior entry, Reboot, written by Emma Roskilly and performed by students in Years 11 to 13, was awarded the 2nd Place Trophy in the Senior Category. In addition, one of our students received an Acting Excellence Award for his performance. Our Junior entry, Speak As You Will, written by Connor Vincent and performed by students in Years 7–10, also received recognition, with another student winning the Judge’s Achievement Award. Both productions were performed again in the School Theatre in March for the school community to attend.
ISI Success for St Chris
This term we were able to share details of our recent inspection. This showed that St Chris has "met all standards" following its most recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), carried out in September 2025.
While ISI no longer provides single-word judgements, the report provides a detailed and affirming picture of a school rooted in strong relationships, thoughtful leadership and a clear commitment to the wellbeing and development of every pupil. It reflects the commitment of our staff, leadership team and governors, the thoughtful feedback from parents, and the open, engaging conversations inspectors held with our pupils.
Inspectors describe St Chris as a “supportive and collaborative environment where pupils feel at ease and are encouraged to thrive personally and academically.” They highlight the distinctive St Chris ethos that places the individual at the centre of school life, fostering self-confidence, mutual respect and a strong sense of belonging.
Wellbeing, Pastoral Care and Safeguarding
The report strongly affirms the approach St Chris takes towards pupil wellbeing. Inspectors recognise leaders’ clear commitment to pupils’ physical and mental health, including investment in pastoral facilities, wellbeing tracking systems and a restorative approach to behaviour management.
Safeguarding is described as a clear strength, with leaders and governors working in close partnership to create a culture of vigilance and care. Pupils report feeling safe and confident about who to approach with concerns, and inspectors highlight robust safer recruitment, effective training and strong systems for managing risk, both on site and beyond.
Life Beyond the Classroom
Inspectors also note the value of the school’s co-curricular and community-focused provision. The ‘Opps’ programme, outdoor learning, animal care and opportunities for leadership and service are highlighted as helping pupils develop independence, empathy and social responsibility. Pupils are described as confident, respectful and engaged, benefiting from meaningful opportunities to learn alongside and from one another across age groups.
Full Report
We encourage families to read the report in full by clicking the link below.
Faith Week in the Junior School
Faith Week in the Junior School was an enriching experience for all students from Nursery to Year 6 this term.
Across the week, each year group explored different faiths and worldviews through a wide range of hands-on activities, visits and reflection, all centred around values such as kindness, respect, peace and community.
Our youngest students in the Nursery began the week with a mindful meditation walk, using their senses to explore the world around them and noticing the signs of spring. They reflected on how taking quiet moments can help us feel calm and centred.
Reception built on this with a sensory walk linked to the story Under the Bodhi Tree, where they listened carefully to the sounds around them and made connections to mindfulness and reflection.
In Years 1 and 2, the students visited a local church, where they explored key features such as the altar, font and stained-glass windows. They learned more about Christian beliefs and values, listened to stories and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, asking thoughtful questions and reflecting on what they saw.
Year 3 had an engaging visit to a synagogue, where they brought their learning about Judaism to life. They took part in role-play linked to Shabbat, explored the features of the synagogue and learned about the care and craftsmanship involved in creating Torah scrolls. Their curiosity and confidence really shone through.
Year 4 visited a gurdwara, where they learned about Sikh beliefs, worship and the importance of equality and service. They showed great respect throughout and particularly enjoyed the opportunity to take part in the traditions of the gurdwara.
Year 5 explored Hinduism both in school and on a visit to a temple. They learned about festivals, deities and artefacts, and rounded off their week by celebrating Holi together - embracing the joy, colour and symbolism of the festival in the spring sunshine.
Finally, Year 6 focused on Islam, taking part in a carousel of activities to deepen their understanding of the Five Pillars. Their discussions were thoughtful and reflective, showing real maturity as they considered the importance of faith in people’s daily lives.
We have been incredibly proud of the curiosity, enthusiasm and respect shown by all our students and Faith Week was a wonderful opportunity to bring learning to life and to celebrate the diversity of beliefs in our world.
Recycled Fashion Show
This Spring we celebrated our 30th Annual Inter-School Recycled Fashion Show, a much-loved event at St Chris. With this year’s theme, Alternate Realities, the Theatre was filled with extraordinary creations as students brought futuristic worlds, imagined landscapes and bold characters to life through costumes made entirely from recycled and repurposed materials.
Schools taking part included The Highfield School, Knights Templar School, Meppershall Academy, Muswell Hill Primary School, Sawston Village College, Whitehill Junior School, and of course St Chris. The creativity and ingenuity on display were remarkable, with designers transforming everyday materials into striking wearable artworks for the live catwalk.
The evening was brought to life by fantastic live musicians and all profits from the event will go to the charity Village Women Dream, supporting Cambodian women working towards financial independence.
This year we were also delighted to support two student photographers who captured thousands of photographs from the evening while balancing their A Level studies.
A huge thank you to everyone who designed costumes, helped create them, performed, organised, judged and supported the show. It was a fantastic celebration of imagination, collaboration and sustainable design.
Boarding: Activity Programme
It was a busy term in the boarding house with a full programme of weekend and evening activities. At St Chris, students can board as Full Boarders, Weekly Boarders (Sunday to Friday) or they can Flexi Board up to three nights per week. It's a great way for students to throw themselves fully into the life of our school and the boarding house is like a home from home full of laughter, fun and great friendships. Some of the activities that took place last term included:
Cultural visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor
The boarders visited Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford, where they enjoyed a guided tour of the temple, explored the peaceful grounds, and fed the resident cows. The visit was rounded off with a shared Indian lunch, offering a chance to relax and reflect on a memorable day together.
A taste of France
Following their Indian experience, our boarding students "travelled" to France through food with a relaxed French feast. The evening menu featured carefully prepared charcuterie boards, rich boeuf bourguignon, classic tarte tatin and freshly made crêpes. There was a wonderful sense of togetherness in the kitchen, with students fully absorbed in the process and clearly proud of what they created - and even happier to sit down and eat their creations together afterwards. Everything was cooked to a high standard, but special guest judges Joe and Sue awarded top honours to Blaise, Aubert and Luca.
An Escape Room Challenge
On a Saturday trip, the boarders enjoyed a visit to an Escape Room. Working together under time pressure, students were challenged to solve puzzles, think creatively, and communicate clearly as a team. The experience proved to be an excellent team-building opportunity, encouraging collaboration, problem-solving, and plenty of shared laughter along the way. It was a thoroughly enjoyable outing and a great example of boarding life beyond the classroom.
Visit to Audley End
Our Full Boarders went to Audley End House in Saffron Walden - highlights included exploring the historic grandeur of the Jacobean mansion and meeting the friendly horses in the Victorian stableblock.
Enjoying the festivities at Thriplow Daffodil Festival...
This annual event is now firmly in the boarders' calendar and much fun was had eating hot dogs the same size as some of our Year 7 boarders, before students bravely tested their balance on a huge adult-sized seesaw! Unfortunately no-one was brave enough to join in with the Morris Dancing workshop but maybe next year!
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening
In February, we hosted our second annual Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebration. The event brought together students, staff and families to recognise the dedication and achievement of our participants.
We were privileged to welcome record-breaking adventurer Alex Staniforth, who shared his powerful story of resilience. He spoke candidly about how embracing the outdoors and setting ambitious goals enabled him to overcome significant physical and mental health challenges, offering an inspiring message to everyone present.
This was followed by an excellent address from Year 13 student Art Quelch, who had completed his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Gold Award was launched at St Chris last year by Emma Buckett, and since then our students have shown remarkable commitment in completing its demanding sections. Art has completed all five elements in an exceptionally short timeframe and will travel to Buckingham Palace later this year to receive his award.
The evening concluded with the presentation of awards to our 2025 Duke of Edinburgh’s cohort. We are proud to celebrate 24 students who achieved their Bronze Award and seven who successfully completed their Silver Award.
Spring Has Sprung in Arunwood
With spring finally here after a long, wet winter, the Arunwood site is full of life again. Our chickens, ducks and turkeys are laying well, and alpacas Jochi, Diablo and Chester are happily grazing as the grass returns - and our daffodil maze has come to life. It’s been an exciting year of growth, especially with the launch of our Animal Care BTEC. With it came some fantastic new arrivals: Echo the leopard gecko, Dave the corn snake, Manfred the mantis (now fully winged after his final moult!), and three yet-to-be-named hermit crabs.
Over winter, we also welcomed two Kune Kune pigs, Frazzles and Crackles, rehomed from a local family. They’ve settled in brilliantly and have quickly become firm favourites with our students. On the note of new arrivals, we were happy to welcome Tilly, a pretty texel guinea pig - and after a careful introductory period, she and our remaining guinea, Barley, have become firm friends.
A recent highlight saw two IV Group (Year 10) students rescue a small bird after it was clipped by traffic. They brought it to Arunwood, where it was cared for before being successfully released back into the wild the following day - a brilliant example of compassion in action.
