In this week's Roundup:
Head Student's Welcome | The Week Ahead | Key Term Dates | Noticeboard | Photo of the Week
Nursery & Junior | Senior & Sixth Form | Submit a Story
A message from
Rich Jones, Head.
I didn’t take a great deal when one of my parents passed away. A collection of family members divvying out stuff seemed a bit odd, a bit weird and, frankly, far too uncomfortable for me. I was also acutely aware that the things of my mum’s that I wanted would hold little interest for anyone else. So quietly I took eight things – essentially, my mum’s cookbooks.
She loved to cook, she was excellent at it, and we bonded over many a pan of soup, a stew and the odd spanakopita. So, I have those tattered, gnarled, and sticky Rick Stein, Keith Floyd and Elizabeth David books in my equally gnarled kitchen. However, the thing I love most about them is that they are all adorned with my mother’s comments, suggestions, and reprimands regarding specific recipes.
My mum, a 4-foot-11 Scouse tidal wave, was not shy with her views and ideas. I get to see them even now. “Ridiculous, doesn’t need half as much salt.” “Far too much liquid, use less next time.” “Works better without too much tomato.” And the occasional, simply, “Stupid.”
They were ostensibly notes to herself, but quite often they read like criticism levelled directly at Mr Floyd. They never cease to make me smile as I look at her increasingly irate penmanship and think of her. In a strange way, they make the books far more useful too. They contain the recipe, certainly, but also the experience of someone who had actually cooked it, got it wrong, changed it, had tried again and then decided that Keith Floyd didn’t know what he was talking about.
It got me thinking about cookbooks and whether they will exist in years to come. TikTok, BBC Good Food and AI will instantly resolve almost any query, cooking disaster or potential issue with a difficult sauce. Perhaps the handwritten cookbook will become another of those sepia-toned objects we become nostalgic about.
Mum was often asked by friends and family how to make this, cook that or create something else, and the house phone would regularly be occupied with someone seeking advice. There was rarely an absolute answer. It would be “try a bit less of that”, “you could use this instead”, or “I wouldn’t bother with that bit”. There was knowledge, certainly, but there was also conversation.
Now, I suppose, we can simply go online and get an answer to almost everything. And that is incredibly useful. But answers and advice are not quite the same thing. Solutions and experience aren’t quite the same thing either. Perhaps in our determination to find the quickest and most accurate answer, we risk losing a little of the creativity, conversation and, importantly, the good mistakes along the way.
That got me thinking about the soft launch of our new Alumni Network, with the well-attended and fiercely fought football tournament last week. One of the strongest avenues I want the network to develop is careers. We have begun to build a new network of alumni, young and old, who can advise, support and mentor our current students, and perhaps offer training, work experience or simply an honest conversation about the industries in which they work.
The careers landscape is changing extraordinarily quickly. Some traditional roles are disappearing or evolving, while jobs that barely existed a decade ago are becoming established professions. At precisely this moment, it feels particularly valuable for our students to be able to tap into the knowledge and experience of people actually doing those jobs.
What can they tell them? What would they do differently? What qualifications really matter? What does the glossy careers website leave out? What is changing in their industry right now? And, perhaps most importantly, who else might they know who could help?
Of course, just like with recipes, the temptation to secure all that knowledge through AI is obvious. It is quick, endlessly available, and increasingly sophisticated. But is asking a machine about a career quite the same as sitting opposite someone who has actually done it? Someone who can say, “Actually, the industry is crying out for X, Y or Z,” or “I made exactly that mistake when I was 19,” or, wonderfully, “I know someone you should talk to.”
Technology gives us extraordinary access to information, from recipes to careers advice. But information is not quite the same as wisdom, and neither is it the same as connection.
At St Chris we will always see the absolute value of engagement, relationships, curiosity and enquiry, without always trying to rush towards the ‘correct answer’. In many ways, surely that is what education is: not simply knowing the answer, but developing the confidence to question it, adapt it, test it and occasionally scribble “stupid” next to it in the margin.
We need balance in all things. Technology can make our lives easier and open doors that were previously closed but treating it as the be-all and end-all would be a mistake. Sometimes you need the instant answer. Sometimes you need somebody who has been there before.
For vocations, as for lasagnes, the recipe will only get you so far.
And, for the record, one pint of stock was more than enough.
Welcome to the Animal Loft
The Animal Loft is open, and students are enjoying making the most of it. Created over the summer across two adjoining classrooms in the Junior School, it gives students from across St Chris space to learn about our animals and put that learning into practice.
As well as Junior School lessons, Senior School students use the Loft for their Key Stage 3 Environmental Studies lessons. Students studying the BTEC Level 2 in Animal Care also use the space as part of their course.
Our small companion animals and reptiles have settled into the Loft, while the alpacas and chickens are exploring their new home in the garden behind Arunfield. Lessons are under way, and it has been wonderful to see students getting to know the animals and their new learning environment.
We’re very grateful to our Estates team for all their work to make this possible, especially during a particularly hot summer.
LAMDA Exam Success
Congratulations to everyone who took a LAMDA examination this year. Across 110 exam entries, 92% achieved a Distinction and 8% a Merit, reflecting the preparation and commitment pupils brought to their performances.
We were also delighted to recognise the highest-scoring pupils and runners-up in Acting, Musical Theatre and Speaking in Public. Well done to everyone who took part, and thank you to the staff who supported them.
If you are interested in finding out more about starting LAMDA lessons at St Chris follow the links below:
Find out about LAMDA in the Junior School
Find out about LAMDA in the Senior School
Alumni Return for an Evening of Football
It was lovely to welcome around 40 former students back to St Chris on Friday for our alumni vs students football evening. Alumni played against current students and one another in a round-robin tournament, with the winning team scoring late goals to take the lead. Congratulations to them, and thank you to everyone who took part.
After the football, we gathered for a BBQ and enjoyed the chance to catch up. We hope this will be the first of many opportunities to bring former students together.
Reconnect with St Chris via the Alumni Network
We have relaunched the St Chris Alumni Network to help former students stay in touch with one another and the school. If you’re a former student, or are related to one, please visit our alumni page to join the Network and hear about future events. Parents and carers who know St Chris alumni are warmly invited to pass the link on.
To join the Network, former students can visit our website and complete our short form to share their details, interests and communication preferences:
Join the St Chris Alumni Network
Connect on LinkedIn
They can also join our St Chris Alumni Network LinkedIn Group to connect with other former students and hear about careers and professional opportunities:
Please note that joining the LinkedIn Group does not automatically add anyone to our email list, so we encourage former students to complete the form too. Thank you for helping us reconnect with the people who have shaped St Chris over the years.
Join the LinkedIn Alumni Group
Follow St Chris School on LinkedIn
Junior School Eco Councillors Take Action!
Our Eco Councillors have been busy making a difference! Their very first action was to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into a litter pick i
n the Junior School playground.
The team collected lots of rubbish, with plastic wrappers making up most of what they found. This gave us plenty to think about. Where does our rubbish come from? How can we reduce the amount we use? And, most importantly, how can we all play our part in keeping our school grounds clean and green?
Cllr Leah had a great idea - why not remind everyone at Wednesday’s Morning Talk? So, Leah, Lucy and Imogen took to the stage to share a simple but important message:
“At break time, everyone please remember to put your litter in the playground bin!”
It might sound like a small action, but small actions can make a big difference when we all work together. By picking up litter, encouraging others to use the bins and thinking about how we can reduce waste, our Eco Councillors are helping to make our school a cleaner, greener place.
And there’s an even bigger reason why this matters. We are incredibly proud to be a Green Flag Eco-School, and we want to continue to show that we deserve that Green Flag!
The Eco-Schools programme is all about pupil-led action; giving our students the opportunity to identify environmental issues, come up with ideas and make positive changes in their school and community. Litter is one of the Eco-Schools topics, so our Eco Councillors are already making a fantastic contribution to our Eco-Schools journey.
Our Green Flag is something we need to keep working towards and maintaining, and that means keeping the momentum going throughout the year. From litter picking and reducing waste to finding new ways to look after our school and our planet, every action counts.
A huge well done to our Eco Councillors for getting us off to such a positive start! We can't wait to see what they decide to tackle next.
Senior School Lunchtime Clubs
Please find below details of lunchtime clubs taking place in the Senior School and Sixth Form this term
Notices
Whole School
Parents' Circle AGM and Quiz Night
Friday 9 October
The Parents' Circle warmly invites all parents to their first meeting this Academic Year:
Their AGM will start at 6:30pm, at which a new Chair will be voted in. This will be followed at 7.00pm by a fun and informal Quiz and Rich Jones will - again - act as Quiz Master!
Venue: Social Library (in the Senior School - come to the Main Reception to sign in).
Nibbles and refreshments will be provided. A licensed pay bar will also be available.
Tickets for the quiz are free but please book.
There will be six people to a team and teams will be assembled on the night.
Please do book your place via My School Portal (under Calendar) by Monday 5 October so we can ensure we have enough refreshments for everyone.
If you have any questions about the AGM, please do contact the Parents' Circle at: parentscircle@stchris.co.uk
Big Future Survey
We have been asked to share a questionnaire with our students from Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England.
This has been shared with students via email. Please do encourage your child to engage with this opportunity for Student Voice.
You can find more information about The Big Future Survey here: The Big Future | Children's Commissioner for England
Could You Help Inspire Our Students?
Humanities Futures
Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 6.00pm
We are looking for volunteers for Humanities Futures: Exploring Degrees, Careers and Opportunities, our first careers event of the year for students in Years 10–13 (IV Group to Upper Sixth) from St Chris and local schools.
Did you study a humanities subject at university, follow a related career path, or work for an organisation offering relevant apprenticeships? We would love to hear from you.
We welcome current university students, recent graduates and experienced professionals, particularly those working in archaeology, culture and heritage, education, the Civil Service, policy, planning, law, journalism, academia, publishing, charities, political research, marketing and public relations.
The evening will feature small-group panel workshops, giving students opportunities to ask questions and explore where subjects such as English, Geography, History, Philosophy and Politics could take them. We are also seeking a keynote speaker.
To offer your support, please email Lizzie Hedderson.
If you cannot join us in November but would like to help at a future event, please save these dates:
- Wednesday 24 February 2027: Senior School Careers Fair
- Friday 28 May 2027: Mock Interview Day
Thank you for helping our students explore their next steps.
Recycled Fashion Show: Materials Wanted!
Students have chosen Lost in Translation as the theme for this year’s Recycled Fashion Show. Our student designers are beginning to develop their ideas and would welcome unusual recycled or unwanted materials to incorporate into their creations.
We would be grateful for donations of:
- Old spectacles or glasses
- Sea glass
- Flip-flops
- Old or broken watches, clocks or cogs
- Old fairy lights
Please bring any donations to Main Reception.
Other unusual materials are welcome too. If you have something you think could inspire one of our designers, please send it in. Thank you for helping students turn unwanted items into imaginative fashion!
Wellbeing Update
Sign Up for the Wellbeing Hub
At St Chris, we’re proud to empower our staff and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people through The Wellbeing Hub — an online platform offering expert guidance and practical resources.
Parents and guardians are warmly invited to log in using the email address you use for school communications via the button below. Once signed up, you'll find a wide range of support at your fingertips — including podcasts, online courses, live events, and Q&A sessions with leading professionals in the field.
Thursday 1 October: Topical content: Menopause Awareness month
Podcast and blog: Busting menopause myths by Dr Shilpa McQuillan, Clinical Lead and Director of the Berkshire Menopause Clinic in Henley
Early Years & Junior School
Open Classrooms in the Junior School
This year, we are excited to introduce Open Classrooms in the Junior School. These informal drop-in sessions give parents and carers the opportunity to spend time in their child’s classroom, look through and share their work, enjoy refreshments and a chat with staff and other parents.
Open Classrooms will run from 8:30-9:30am, and you are welcome to drop in at any point during that time. Class teachers will contact families with the specific dates for their class.
- Autumn Term: H and G Group
- Spring Term: E and D Group
- Summer Term: Early Years and J and F Group
We look forward to welcoming you into school and celebrating the children’s learning together. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s class teacher or email Marcia Bonanni.
Senior School & Sixth Form
Year 11 (V Group) Careers Guidance
Every V Group student will have an individual careers guidance meeting this year. These meetings will take place during the school day and give students time to explore their interests, discuss education and career options, and begin a personal Action Plan for their next steps.
Before their appointment, students will be asked to complete a short Microsoft Form about their interests and questions. Please encourage your child to complete it in advance. Families will receive the appointment time during the week before the meeting.
Lizzie Hedderson has written to V Group families with further details, including how meeting recordings will be used and the option to decline recording. If you have any questions, please contact Lizzie at lizzie.hedderson@stchris.co.uk.
Careers Newsletter
Edition #3
Languages and Where They Can Take You
This week’s Careers Newsletter explores how studying languages can open doors to different careers. To mark the European Day of Languages, students can try a vocabulary game, hear from someone working in international development and explore careers that use a second language. The featured career is dialect coach, showing how language skills can also play a part in film, television and theatre.
The edition includes opportunities in photography, creative writing, science and law, alongside a guide to studying in Canada.
- Could you inspire our students? We are looking for parents and friends of St Chris who studied humanities to share their degree and career journeys at our Humanities Careers Event on the evening of 3 November 2026. To get involved, please contact lizzie.hedderson@stchris.co.uk.
Read the full Careers Newsletter here for further details and links to the opportunities featured.
Mee
Next Week
Nursery & Junior School
- Tuesday 29 September: G Group (Year 3) Trip to the National Gallery
- Wednesday 30 September: D Group (Year 6) Trip to the Imperial War Museum
Senior School & Sixth Form
WEEK B Timetable
- Tuesday 29 September: Senior School Meet the Head Event (Open Day) 1100-1300
- Wednesday 30 September: Piano Recital in Theatre
- Sunday 4 October: Standalone 10K
Autumn Term Diary
| Monday 5 October | J Group (Year 1) Trip to Wimpole Estate |
| Tuesday 6 October |
H Group (Year 2) Trip to Hitchin British Schools Museum Governors' Meeting |
| Wednesday 7 October | Philosophy & Film Screening 1 |
| Thursday 8 October | Sixth Form Information Evening |
| Friday 9 October |
G Group (Year 3) Trip to Anglesey Abbey TBC II Group (Year 8) HPV Vaccinations III Group (Year 9) DTP/MenACWY Vaccinations Parents' Circle AGM & Quiz Night |
| Monday 12 October |
E Group (Year 5) Trip to National Space Centre I Group (Year 7) Parents' Consultation |
| Tuesday 13 October | UCAS Creative Conference |
| Wednesday 14 October |
Flu Vaccinations Junior School Parents' Consultation |
| Thursday 15 October | Governors' Meeting |
| Monday 19 - Friday 30 October |
Half term holiday |
| Sunday 25 - Thursday 29 October | Sports Residential Trip to Salou, Spain |
| Thursday 29 October | Senior School Musical Rehearsal |
| Friday 30 October | Senior School Musical Rehearsal |
| Tuesday 3 November | Senior School Careers Event: Humanities |
| Wednesday 4 November |
Meet the Head (Senior School Admissions Event) 1100-1300 II Group (Year 8) and Sixth Form History Trip to Docklands |
| Friday 6 November | ESSA Primary Swimming Gala |
| Saturday 7 November |
Senior School 3D Design Saturday SHED Senior School Musical Technical Rehearsal 1 |
| Monday 9 November |
Lower Sixth (Year 12) Art Trip IV Group (Year 10) Parents' Consultation |
| Tuesday 10 November |
Meet the Head (Senior School Admissions Event) Sixth Form Psychology 'Brain Day' District Cross Country |
| Wednesday 11 November |
Remembrance Day Governors' Meeting |
| Thursday 12 November | III Group (Year 9) Gothic Tales Performance |
| Sunday 15 November | Senior School Musical Technical Rehearsal 2 |
| Monday 16 November |
Senior School Musical Dress Rehearsal A Level Psychology Trip |
| Tuesday 17 November |
Senior School Musical Dress Rehearsal Junior School Open House Flu vaccination catch up |
| Thursday 19 November |
Junior School Book Fair Senior School Musical Performance 1 |
| Friday 20 November |
Junior School Book Fair Senior School Musical Performance 2 |
| Saturday 21 November |
Senior School Musical Performance 3 (matinee) Senior School Musical Performance 4 (evening) |
| Monday 23 November |
Junior School Book Fair A Level Politics Trip V Group (Year 11) Practical Mock Exams |
| Tuesday 24 November |
Junior School Book Fair V Group (Year 11) Practical Mock Exams |
| Wednesday 25 November |
Junior School Book Fair V Group (Year 11) Practical Mock Exams Governors' Meeting |
| Thursday 26 November |
Early Years Nativity 1 V Group (Year 11) Practical Mock Exams GCSE Options Information Evening |
| Friday 27 November |
Early Years Nativity 2 V Group (Year 11) Practical Mock Exams |
| Monday 30 November | V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams |
| Tuesday 1 December |
V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Music Recitals Evening |
| Wednesday 2 December |
V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Senior School Great Debate Philosophy & Film Screening 2 |
| Thursday 3 December |
V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Senior School Christmas Discos |
| Friday 4 December |
Junior School Christmas Fair V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Upper Sixth (Year 13) Practical Drama Exam |
| Monday 7 December | V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams |
| Tuesday 8 December |
II Group (Year 8) Pantomine Trip Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Senior School Christmas Concert |
| Wednesday 9 December |
Junior School Christmas Lunch V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Junior School Christmas Gathering 1 |
| Thursday 10 December |
V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams Junior School Christmas Gathering 2 |
| Friday 11 December | V Group (Year 11) GCSE Mock Exams 1200 noon Last day of Autumn term |
Early Years & Junior
It has been another action-packed week in the Junior School, with students learning through creativity, curiosity, collaboration and plenty of hands-on experiences. Here are some highlights from the last week...
🌿 In Forest School, students across the Junior School made the most of the sunshine, building fires and cooking popcorn while revisiting important fire safety skills. Our Early Years students also embraced outdoor learning through den building, climbing, digging, cycling, and exploring water and sand. H Group (Year 2) worked together to create camps and dens, while F Group (Year 4) brought their Egyptian learning to life through imaginative play.
🔬 In Science, J Group (Year 1) explored sight through colour investigations and mixing. D Group (Year 6) investigated refraction using prisms and coloured lenses, and enjoyed a creative sun-printing extension activity to explore how sunlight affects different materials. Students made predictions, tested ideas, and drew conclusions from their observations. E Group (Year 5) explored how shadows change throughout the day, measuring their lengths to deepen their understanding of the Sun’s apparent movement and day and night.
🎨 In Art & Creativity, J Group (Year 1) experimented with different paints and brush techniques, exploring the effects created by different materials. G Group (Year 3) took inspiration from David Hockney, experimenting with colour and shades to represent light in paintings of UK landmarks.
📚 In English, F Group (Year 4) explored how writers create vivid settings, using expanded noun phrases, adjectives and adverbs to bring descriptions to life. Meanwhile, H Group (Year 2) have been having fun creating some wonderfully silly compound sentences!
🔢 In Maths, J Group (Year 1) have been taking a practical approach to maths, exploring which number is one more or one less than a given number. Hands-on activities helped students build confidence with number relationships and develop their mathematical reasoning.
💬 Wellbeing & Peace One Day, H Group (Year 2) explored different emotions in PSHE, while G Group (Year 3) developed their conflict-resolution skills, thinking about empathy, communication and kindness. J Group (Year 1) showed great resilience during a 25-minute Peace One Day nature walk, while E Group (Year 5) marked the occasion by writing, producing and performing an original song.
A week full of learning, laughter and discovery - with students developing confidence, creativity, resilience and a growing understanding of the world around them.
Senior & Sixth Form
A Lively Start for the Debating Club
The new IV-V Group (Years 10 and 11) and Sixth Form Debating Club met for the first time on Tuesday lunchtime. Students began with a scratch debate on the motion: “This house believes that protecting free speech is more important than preventing hate.”
There were thoughtful arguments on both sides. By the end, the group had reached an unexpected point of agreement: fully achieving either aim might be impossible, and might not be desirable. It gave everyone plenty to think about.
Next week, four students will take part in a prepared debate on the motion: “This house would remove trial by jury for certain cases.”
All IV, V and Sixth Form students are welcome, whether they would like to speak or simply listen and find out more. Debating (taking part and observing) is a chance to practise reasoning, listening and public speaking while exploring difficult questions respectfully.
Debate Club takes place on Tuesday at 1.15pm in H2 (History Department) and is for students in Year 10 (IV Group) and above - please do encourage your child to attend.
Senior Basketball Opens the Season with a Win
Our Senior Basketball team got the new fixture season off to a brilliant start on Wednesday afternoon with a 52–21 win over local rivals Fearnhill.
With several changes to the side that reached last year’s District Final, the boys worked together throughout the match and delivered an excellent team performance. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Boarders Explore Royston Cave
Last weekend, our boarders took a trip to Royston Cave. Hidden beneath the town centre, the man-made cave is carved into the chalk and its walls are covered with figures and symbols in a medieval style. No one knows for certain why it was created, which gave the group plenty to wonder about as they explored.
One carving was particularly fitting for a St Chris outing: St Christopher, the patron saint of travellers. Lena, Jacob and Sam stopped for a photo in front of it before heading back to school.
Year 10 English: Decoding Mr Birling
IV Group (Year 10) students took a hands-on approach to An Inspector Calls this week. Working in teams, they used letter tiles to build and connect analytical words and ideas about Arthur Birling’s character.
The activity sparked lively discussion as students considered what Birling says and does, and what Priestley might want the audience to think of him. Well done to everyone for their thoughtful contributions and teamwork.
