July 2024

Newsletter – July 2024

Welcome to our first Verulam newsletter in an updated format and my first as Headteacher of Verulam School. I am very proud to be appointed to lead this excellent school, and the newsletter will give you a flavour of the vibrant academic community that we have at Verulam.

When you have come in to meet me, you have talked about communication being an area to work on, and that some parents/carers felt that they wanted to know more about what was going on. You also mentioned that you preferred a quick read in a news magazine style that worked well on a mobile device, as opposed to the more formal termly newsletters and ‘focus on’ particular subjects.

Our aim is to issue this newsletter roughly twice per half term and to give a broader picture of school life than our social media that is more regularly updated for sports and trips. This edition is a pilot before relaunching in September, so we would be grateful to have your feedback on this.

It’s been a busy term, but we are now fully staffed and Ofsted inspection now successfully concluded. See elsewhere in this edition for more on plans for September, with everything from a renewed commitment to environmental sustainability to the school improvement plan and changes ahead on assessment.

I was delighted to hear that Steve Reed OBE, a past-pupil of Verulam, has been appointed to the new cabinet as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Steve is testament to where a great state education can get you in life!

Mr Moane
Headteacher

Trips & Visits

Year 8 Dorset Residential Trip

In early May, Year 8 embarked on their residential trip to Dorset in a tented village in Dorset near Corfe Castle. We arrived to wet weather but it didn’t stop the team building games organised for us. The weather for the rest if the trip was warm and sunny and each day we rotated on different activities. Stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking in a small lake a short walk away ended up with the boys “waffling” their boards and trying to defeat the instructors to see who ended up wet. Others did tag archery, playing several games including Capture the Flag and Medic using bows and arrows trying to “shoot” each other to eliminate their opponents. Others did Target Sports with rifle shooting and axe throwing. Some were incredibly accurate with quite a few bullseyes! The favourite activity was coasteering down at Dancing Ledge. Scrambling along rocks into a cave and jumping into the sea from several high ledges. On Wednesday everyone went to the water park to play on the inflatables and do the mud run and there was lots of mud! The last day was a walk to the beach for a paddle before setting off home.

Mr Knowles

British Library Year 12 History Visit

Earlier this term, Year 12 historians took part in an exciting A Level history day-trip opportunity at the British Library. As part of the History A Level India and the Road to Independence course, Year 12 participated in a bespoke workshop at the British Library, including a tour and chance to see the famous African and Asian Studies Reading Room. The workshop was delivered by Hedley Sutton, the Reference Leader of the African and Asian Studies Reading Room, and included handling documents and official primary material from 1914-1947; opportunities like this are rare and usually only available to University academics (not students) over 18 years old!

The British Library is the national library of the UK and is one of the largest libraries in the world, estimated to contain 200 million items from many countries, including the Magna Carta and handwritten Beatles lyrics amongst its some 400 miles of shelving.

During the object handling workshop, students handled items with the upmost care while completing a booklet that asked various questions about the material presented. Some of the documents included:

A government top secret handwritten letter from Gandhi during the Quit India movement of September 1942;
Parliamentary questions and replies and reports on demonstrations, rioting and police action, arrests, trials and judgements passed from the Salt Satyagraha of 1930;
A telegram outlining the resolutions passed from Motilal Nehru, the leader of the Indian National Congress in December 1919 about the Amritsar Massacre. These resolutions presented Congress in disagreement and in political rebellion against the Raj for the atrocities caused in the Sikh holy city.

The students were ambassadors for the History department and were able to gain an invaluable experience of how history is shaped through the traces that are left behind.

Mr Pettitt

Computer Science Trip to The University of Hertfordshire’s Festival of Ideas

An intrepid group of Year 10 and Year 12 Computer Science students went off to explore the University of Hertfordshire’s Festival of Ideas. It was an excellent opportunity for the students to visit a university on their doorstep to see what it is all about!

Some highlights of the trip included time in the Art department looking at all the amazing creations from fashion, adaptive fashion technology, to a variety of ultra-realistic film props. My favourite was a final year student’s project where he created a realistic suit of Elvish fantasy armour. Students also interacted with a range of future technology being used and developed at the university. This included robotic self-navigating cars and talking robotic models, artificial intelligence use in generating Minecraft worlds, a F1 driving simulator and a 3D training model developed by the Engineering department to simulate a nuclear power station.

We ended the day listening to a panel debate on the environmental impact of satellite technology. The number and unpredictability of active and defunct satellites along with huge amounts of space debris are causing significant issues with any tech company wanting to put new satellites into Earth’s orbit. We listened to how international communities are working together to put in place stricter guidelines and how two different companies are creating new technology to fit satellites with refuelling ports and retrofitting defunct satellites so they can be brought back to life.

Mr Schalker

Year 7 Lake District Trip

Year 7 students recently returned from an unforgettable residential trip to the Lake District, and we’re delighted to report that it went brilliantly. The weather was excellent, allowing the students to fully enjoy a range of exciting activities. It rained on the journey there, and started again as we got on the coach to return. It’s amazing what a positive mentality can do!

From refreshing mountain hikes and thrilling abseiling to captivating canoeing and invigorating Ghyll Scrambling, each day was packed with adventure. Evenings were equally enjoyable, with activities such as football in the park, Bushcraft, a visit to a private cinema screening (we were the local Co-Op’s best customers!), and a special treat from a pizza van serving delicious homemade pizzas to send us on our way with full tummies.

The students’ enthusiasm and willingness to embrace every challenge were praiseworthy, showcasing their courage, resilience, and team spirit. The boys behaved impeccably, making us incredibly proud. Their respectful and considerate manners were praised by all, and they represented Verulam and their families admirably. The friendships they strengthened and amazing new skills they learned during this trip will certainly have a lasting impact. This trip made a remarkable end to Year 7, and we look forward to many more opportunities for our students to thrive and create wonderful memories in the future. You can see more pictures on our dedicated Instagram verulamlakes2024 https://www.instagram.com/verulamlakes2024

Mr Holding

Paris 2024

On 30th April 2024, 35 year 9 and 10 students with 4 members of staff left Verulam at 5.30 in the morning for a great 4-day adventure to the beautiful and busy capital of Paris. After a long coach journey and being amazed to see the coach going on a train to cross the Channel, the students’ first stop was the Sacré Coeur Basilica situated on a mound: quite a lot of steps to climb but well worth seeing the art work inside as well as the mosaics. We then explored the picturesque artists’ quarter in Montmartre with its narrow streets and accordion playing. Fantastique!

The following day was spent at the Asterix theme park in the sunshine and in a very pleasant heat where the students had a great time and year 10 managed to break the record of how many times someone can go on the same ride! The next day was spent visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Stade de France and visiting Paris from the river Seine on a Bateau Mouche. On the last day before coming home, we managed to visit the Louvre which hosts the Mona Lisa and to walk up the Champs-Elysées and we saw the Arc-de-Triomphe. What an amazing four days!

Mrs Herrington

Year 11 End of Year trip: Paintballing

Rather than opting for a traditional prom, the Year 11 students celebrated the end of their exams and their time at Verulam with a paintballing trip on the 25th of June. The event took place at Delta Force in Hemel Hempstead and saw a great turnout, with both students and staff participating enthusiastically. The weather was perfect for paintballing, adding to the overall enjoyment of the day.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the students for their tremendous efforts during the GCSE exams. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off. I am incredibly proud of how they have matured over the years and how they carry themselves with such poise and confidence. It has been a joy to watch them grow, and I look forward to seeing all the wonderful things they will achieve in the future.

Miss Daya

Curriculum Enrichment

STEAM club takes flight

After 4 months of meticulous engineering and planning, Verulam’s STEAM club headed to Bushy Park to take part in the NGL Water Rockets challenge along with 44 other schools.
Students were keen to showcase their ideas and engineering skills and with some 3D printed fins (that needed to be filled down due to the points potentially being a hazard). Lots of gleeful faces after the first rockets were fired at the targets, even the ones that fell short on the first attempt.

STEAM is all about trial and error and lots of adjustments led to bigger successes in the second and third round. The final round encouraged the team to protect an egg within their rockets, with success for most of the teams involved.

With lots of adjustments made to rockets and launchers due to some technical difficulties, the students scored many wins (including longest time in the air, consistent points scoring and longest time for a sticker to be in the air).

All in all, a fantastic day spent in the sun, with plenty of ideas for next year and a couple of trophies to parade for this amazing STEAM adventure with clear links established with NGL for next year to come in and work with the school.

Mr Greaves

Duke of Edinburgh

Over 3 weekends in late April and May some 70 year 10s undertook their bronze expedition for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This consisted of two days walking for approximately 6-7 hours each carrying all that was needed for the two days. In addition, they had to navigate round some of Hertfordshire’s loveliest countryside.

The weather was generally kind and allowed the boys to enjoy their time as much as possible when carrying a big rucksack and knowing you’re sleeping in a tent that night! All boys worked well in their groups to ensure they got to our campsite in the daylight – some took the scenic route to do so but that’s all to the good.

Since returning, 95% of students have now completed the bronze and will be receiving their awards shortly. It is now time to move onto the silver for these boys in the Autumn term whilst 30 year 11/12s undertake their gold expedition in July which will involve walking the 160km long distance path along the South Downs Way (this also involves the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest!) Good luck all!

Mr Toley

Sports Round-Up

Within lessons this term, the boys have been taught tennis, rounders, athletics, cricket, and golf at Verulam Golf Club. The boys have absolutely loved these activities, and we are very grateful to Club Pro Grant Neal for coaching them.

The PE department would like to express our gratitude to the school PTA for purchasing pickleball rackets and balls, which we will be using in our after-school club on Tuesdays.

Fixture-wise, this term started with the year 8 football team winning the County Plate final with a 4-1 victory over Ridgeway at the County Ground. Since then it has been very busy with cricket and athletics competitions. We have seen notable success in athletics this year. Oscar N in Year 10 broke a 50-year-old 800m record at the District Championships and earned automatic entry into the England Schools. Tom BD in Year 8 came second in the County Championships and qualified for the Ireland Championships. Nico in Year 8 won three medals at the District Championships. Additionally, Michael Barrett and George Rowson won County Gold medals.

Verulympics 2024: A Week of Athletic Excellence

This year’s Verulympics was an all-week extravaganza, with sporting events taking place from Monday to Thursday and culminating in the all-day athletics and tug-of-war event at Westminster Lodge on Friday. The weather throughout the week was glorious, and the boys excelled in various sports, including badminton, swimming, beach volleyball, duathlon, table tennis, tennis, and golf.

The Friday event at Westminster Lodge was particularly notable, with five school records being broken:

Isaac GD broke the Year 8 1500m record.
Eddie Johnson shattered the Year 10 triple jump record.
Oscar N set a new record for the Year 10 1500m.
Noah S broke the Year 8 hurdles record.
Max B set a new benchmark in the Year 9 high jump.

Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding performances, and special recognition to York for emerging as the overall winners of Verulympics 2024.

Mr Errington

Curriculum News

Reading Fluency Project

Over the last year, numerous boys have had the opportunity to complete the Herts for Learning Reading Fluency Project. This develops word recognition skills, reading comprehension of texts, and confidence to read out loud. Reading is an important life skill and allows greater progress in all subjects, not just English. Our programme is delivered in small groups which allows our boys to gain confidence. This term has been fantastic and the boys should be proud of their achievement. All our boys that completed the programme passed the STAR reader test and improved their reading age by a minimum of 2 years! To recognise their achievement, they have been awarded certificates, LoR’s, gold book badges and, most importantly, a sweet treat for their amazing work! Well done!

Mr Pettitt

Robotics have landed at Verulam!

Robotics have landed at Verulam! This half term has seen our Year 7’s delve into the world of physical programming. We have invested funding, given

to us through training a PGCE student last year, to purchase a small number of ‘tanks’. These tanks are programmed by our students on computers, downloaded into our micro:bit boards and loaded into our tanks! Students can then see their code come to life in a very real and physical way.

Students have already mastered moving and turning the tanks, with some already racing against each other. Students have then learned about ultrasonic sensors and how they can detect how far away objects are. The tanks were then programmed to stop before hitting objects and further programmed to be able to turn away from obstacles and carry on moving.

We will next be looking at how light sensors on the underneath of the tank can be used to follow any dark line, allowing them to move along any pathway that has been laid out.
Future plans will be for students to complete a series of robotics challenges to see who is the greatest! We have applied for some PTA funding for an AI attachment called a Huskylens which will allow us to incorporate AI to control the tank through facial and object recognition. Hopefully we will be successful in our bid and can add this exciting element to our curriculum.

Mr Schalker

Verulam Alumni Updates

A massive congratulations from all at Verulam to former student Seb Ferdinand, who has penned his first professional contract with Arsenal Football Club this week. Seb played an integral role in his year group achieving unprecedented County/District success while at the school; we are so proud to see his continued success after years of hard work. Well done, Seb!

Former Verulam student Steve Reed OBE was recently appointed to the new Labour cabinet as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He was elected as the MP for Streatham and Croydon North and as Secretary of State has overall responsibility for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He has specific responsibilities for budget, international relations and senior appointments.

Eco News

At Verulam, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and sustainability. We believe that educating our students about the importance of protecting our planet is essential to ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. We are also proud of our efforts to reduce our ecological footprint through various sustainable practices across the school site including recent developments as follows:

EcoSchools Green flag status achieved
Solar panels now provide 60-70% of the school’s electricity needs during the summer months
Electric minibus being leased in September with EV charger points being installed over the summer

Staffing Updates

Happy retirement x 3!

It was so long ago, not many can remember the day that Mr Freakley arrived at Verulam as Deputy Headteacher. His start was marked by a change in Headteacher on his first day followed by ‘the fire’ a few weeks later. Since then, he showed himself to be the most professional of professionals and his impact on hundreds of students and staff alike has been incomparable.

Mr Freakley’s work ensured curriculum plans were always in place and assessed accurately so students always knew what progress was needed to be made. This was then translated into students, particularly at KS4, achieving some outstanding results allowing them to progress to the next stages of their education or work. Along with this, his work on options and timetabling allowed the school to grow and develop greatly.

Some of the boys will undoubtedly remember Mr Freakley for his ability to wax lyrical about his beloved Stoke FC and the many victories they have had. Many a time this was used to get students back on track and diffuse a situation without the other party knowing how or why they were suddenly back doing their work or the ask required of them!

To say he will be missed is an understatement – Mr Freakley has been a beacon for any to follow, through thick and thin, over the last 16 years and he will leave a hole in the school that will take many years to fill. Thank you for all your time, enjoy a very well earned retirement.

Mr Toley

As Verulam School bids farewell to two stalwarts of our community, we reflect on the immense contributions of Mr Smyth and Mr Skipper. Their combined 37 years of dedicated service has left an indelible mark on the lives of students and staff alike.

Mr D. Smyth, our esteemed librarian, has served Verulam School with unwavering dedication for 21 years. Mr Smyth retires this week. His passion for books and learning has transformed our library into a sanctuary of knowledge. Mr Smyth’s tireless efforts to foster a love for reading among students have not gone unnoticed, especially with his help on the Extended Project Qualification. From meticulously curating our library collection to helping students with their academic endeavours, Mr Smyth has been the cornerstone of our library. His invaluable guidance has inspired countless students to explore the vast realms of literature, nurturing a culture of avid readers within our school.

Mr R. Skipper, an exceptional English teacher and former Head of Sixth Form, also retires after 16 years of exemplary service at the end of the academic year. Mr Skipper’s commitment to excellence in education and his unwavering support for his students have made him a beloved figure at Verulam. As an English teacher, he has ignited a passion for literature in his students, encouraging them to think critically and express themselves eloquently. His tenure as Head of Sixth Form was marked by his dedication to student success, providing guidance and mentorship that has helped shape the futures of many young minds. Mr Skipper’s influence extends beyond the classroom, as his wisdom, kindness, but most importantly his witty humour, have left a lasting impression on all who have had the privilege of knowing him.

To honor their remarkable service, Verulam School is proud to introduce the “Skipper-Smyth Reading Award.” This annual award will be bestowed upon one student at the end of each year who demonstrates outstanding academic efforts and a passion for reading throughout the school year. This prestigious accolade will serve as a lasting tribute to Mr Smyth and Mr Skipper, celebrating their legacy and inspiring future generations to pursue academic excellence and a love for literature.

Mr Smyth and Mr Skipper, your contributions have been invaluable, and your presence will be deeply missed. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for enriching the Verulam community. We wish you both a fulfilling and joyous retirement.

Mr Pettitt

At the end of the Summer term we will also say goodbye to the following staff as they move on to new challenges:

Mr Jamali – Science

Mr Austen – Business Studies

Mrs Mitchell – English

Ms Nicholls – Social Sciences

Miss Davey – English

Mr MacKenzie – Drama

Mr Greaves – Science

Miss Wilson – English

Mr Stiffin – Pastoral

Mr Reeves – TA

Mrs Crichton – Science

Mr Hagos – Science

Mrs McDonnell – Geography

We wish each of them the very best for the future and hope they will stay in touch. We are delighted that from September, we will be joined by 16 new members of staff.

Events & Celebrations

Summer Showcase

Bringing the year to a close, the Creative Arts team showcased some talented students with their Summer Showcase evening on Tuesday 5th July.

Kicking off the proceedings was the Chamber Orchestra with Third Chorale from St John Passion and they finished the first half with the traditional folk song – Londonderry Air – perhaps a nod to our new Headteacher? A splendid recital of The Imperial March began the second half with an unexpected guest: Darth Vader himself!!!

Representing the Music department were the GCSE group, split into two bands: The Verulam Jazz Men and the Verulam Allegro group. The Verulam Allegro men rocked the evening with their repertoire of Vida La Vida – Coldplay and Somewhere Only We Know By Keane. Leading the band was Sam R singing, with guitars from Joe E and Matthew C, Gabriel FL playing acoustic guitar, accompanying them with drums was Matthias MK.
The Verulam Jazz Men group consisted of Oliver M on drums, Raul P on Piano, Arthur R on Saxophone, Jacky P playing the trombone, Joseph G on electric guitar & Reuben C on Clarinet. Like the Jazz Men, they played two songs: The Return of the Prodigal Son and Watermelon Man. Considering this is the first time the groups have played live together, they sounded professional and bought the Summer sound to Verulam throughout the evening.

Representing the Drama department with an excellent excerpt from Macbeth: Matthew D and Cyrus M including a sword fight! Elliot McM performed a monologue and our very own Mr Mackenzie as Baldrick in the poignant Blackadder sketch: Goodbyeee from Blackadder goes forth. He was accompanied by the GCSE Drama students: Zack M, Aiden C, Evan T and Ollie B. The rich range of talent on show made us laugh, titter, smile and feel sorrow. Performances made all the more relevant by recent World events.

Who could forget our solo performers: Dill D singing and dancing, Lewis G – a fabulous example of a self taught Verulam man of rock, Archie H or Dominic Gale, giving us one last performance of Somewhere over the Rainbow and of course, the tremendous Sam R with Skyfall.

Verulam is rich in talent and no words can convey the courage and bravery that these students demonstrated. Each performance was carefully rehearsed with hours of practice and polishing. Hard work does not go unrewarded and tonight’s students deserve all the praise for their fabulous show!

If you didn’t make it this year, do come along next Summer.

Mrs Tomlin

Farewell to Year 13: Celebrating 7 (or 2) Years of Growth and Achievement

As the academic year draws to a close, we find ourselves at a poignant crossroads. On a lovely summer evening in the staff garden, we said goodbye to Year 13 with canapes and a few speeches from the School Captain Billy Jobson, Vice Captain Aaron Lota, Mr Base & Mr Moane.

Our Year 13 students, who have been with us for up to seven turbulent years, disrupted by Covid, are preparing to embark on the next exciting chapter of their lives: university, apprenticeships or employment. While we are sad to see them go, we are immensely proud of their achievements and the young adults they have become.

Throughout their time here, Year 13 has consistently exemplified the core values of our school: Excellence, Character & Respect; becoming Role Models. From their first days in Year 7, filled with anticipation and nerves, to their final exam, they have grown not only academically but also personally. Their journey has been marked by hard work, determination, and commitment.

As they leave us to pursue higher education, we are confident that they are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Their chosen universities and employment routes are as diverse as their aspirations, ranging from prestigious institutions to renowned international universities. Each student leaves with a unique story, a testament to their individuality and the personalised support they have received from our staff.

To the parents and families of our Year 13 students, thank you for your unwavering support and trust in our school. Your partnership has been invaluable in shaping these incredible young people.

As we bid farewell to Year 13, we do so with a mix of sadness and pride. Sadness, because we will miss their presence and contributions. Pride, because we know they are ready to make their mark on the world. Congratulations, Year 13. We are excited to see all that you will achieve in the years to come.

Mr Base

A New Beginning: Induction Lessons for Sixth Formers

Just a few days after the GCSE Exams concluded, we were delighted to welcome our incoming sixth form students to our school. This is an exciting time, filled with new opportunities, challenges, and experiences that will shape their future. The induction lessons are designed to help the transition smoothly into this next phase of your educational journey.

The Sixth Form marks a significant step up from the previous years of schooling. They will now have more autonomy and responsibility, with the freedom to tailor your studies to your interests and career aspirations. From choosing your A-level and BTEC subjects to understanding the expectations of sixth form life, these initial lessons are crucial in setting the tone for the next two years.

One of the key components of the induction process is the chance to meet new teachers and 50+ new students at Verulam. Building strong relationships with your tutors and peers is essential for a supportive and enriching Sixth Form experience.

Understanding what is expected in the Sixth Form is vital to success. Induction lessons covered the academic and behavioural standards required to be Role Models to younger years.

Starting Sixth Form can be overwhelming, so the induction lessons introduced students to the various support systems in place. Whether it’s academic assistance, mental health support, or career guidance, the Sixth Form Team are here to help you every step of the way.

Welcome aboard, Year 12 Class of September 2024!

Mr Base

PTA Thanks

At Verulam we are incredibly lucky to have a wonderful community of parents and carers who give up their time and energy to support the school raising funds, running events and organising the second hand uniform sales and lottery on behalf of the PTA. This term alone they have supported the school at numerous events such as Verulympics and our Transition Evenings, welcoming our new students with open arms. They have also organised a fabulous quiz night, raising several thousand pounds in the process.

We have been particularly grateful for the funding that has been donated this term including a donation supporting the new electric minibus and allowing us to support a variety of departments through staff funding bids. These have included the following:

Table tennis, indoor football goals and gym equipment for PE
Visualisers and 2 x 3D Printers for Technology
AI Lenses for Computer Science
A2 light box for Art

We were also incredibly grateful to receive items donated via the Giving Tree at the quiz night including display items for Food Tech, foreign language games for MFL, pickleball sets for PE and mugs for the staff room. We’d like to say an enormous thank you to the small but dedicated team of volunteers that work so hard to make all of this happen!

The PTA can only continue to run events and raise all important funds for the school with your support so please do get involved and keep you eye out for exciting news coming soon regarding upcoming events and activities for September onwards.

September 2024

Newsletter – September 2024

A warm welcome or welcome back to Verulam families for the first newsletter of the year! We were delighted by the results achieved by our students in the summer public exams and my first duty is to give them the congratulations they deserve.

I’d like to recognise our new year 7 and year 12 students who have settled into school remarkably well and everyone has commented on how engaged, polite and eager to learn they are. They have embraced school life, from finishing second in the year 7 district ‘mob race’ to taking part in our Engaging Minds lectures, including Richard Wilson from ‘Stop Funding Hate’. I’m delighted to welcome so many female students to our sixth form, where the co-educational ethos really enriches lessons.

Our other year groups are also prospering, including success for the senior football team and the nomination of prefects and house captains in year 11. Year 10 have made a strong start to their GCSE journey. The new canteen service delivered by Culinera has been very popular as food quality and quantity are markedly improved. We will soon have elections to the school council (during UK Parliament week) and our first house charity drive is to support the St Albans and District Foodbank, the FEED project based at the Vineyard church. We will be asking for your donations soon for this worthy cause.

A reminder about Open Evening on the 1st October where formal school will finish at 12:20 and restart again at 11:20 the following day. Many students will be helping us on the evening to show off the best version of the school, and we thank them for their support.

Finally, our excellent Parent Teacher Association are running a range of events this year and their support is vital to the school. The Fireworks Festival on 25th October is a first and see elsewhere in this newsletter for details on how to book tickets.

Thank you again for your support for the school, we are excited to keep moving the school forward.

Mr Moane
Headteacher

Trips & Visits

Year 10 Trip to Andalucía

This immersive journey provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to hone their Spanish language skills and to deepen their understanding of Spanish culture. Throughout the trip, Year 10 GCSE Spanish students displayed exemplary behaviour and a remarkable enthusiasm for learning. Their willingness to engage with the language and embrace new experiences was truly commendable. They served as outstanding ambassadors for Verulam, gathering praise from guides and locals alike for their respectful and considerate manners. A particular highlight was the students’ dedication to speaking Spanish throughout the trip. This enhanced their language skills and boosted their confidence. Their efforts significantly enriched their experience and facilitated personal growth.

The itinerary offered a captivating blend of historical exploration and cultural immersion. Students visited the vibrant cities of Malaga, Granada, and Seville, participating in tours of iconic landmarks such as La Alhambra, La Alcazaba Palace, and the Royal Alcázar, not to mention La Rosaleda Football Stadium, home of Malaga FC. A delicious tapas tour tantalized taste buds and further expanded their Spanish vocabulary. For a refreshing break, the group enjoyed a thrilling day at Isla Mágica theme park. To fully embrace Spanish life, the students participated in a fun and informative cooking class, learning to prepare traditional dishes like paella and gazpacho (this was then our delicious dinner!)

We believe experiences like this are invaluable in developing well-rounded individuals with a global perspective. The Andalusian adventure undoubtedly left a lasting impression, equipping the students with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation for the Spanish language and culture. You can relive some of the Andalusian magic by visiting our trip’s dedicated Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/verulamandalucia24
¡Hasta luego!

Mr Holding

Curriculum Enrichment

Verulam Elects 2024

A big thank you goes to all students who took part in our Verulam election, especially our wonderful volunteers! Students were provided with anonymised manifestos ensuring that they engaged in some fantastic discussion around the best policies for their community. Well done in particular to 8J receiving the highest turnout at 73.1% and to Max D in 10P who correctly predicted the number of MPs the governing party would win in our competition!

Overall results:
Bears (Lib Dems) – 31.7%
Badgers (Reform) – 21.3%
Lions (Greens) – 16.4%
Eagles (Tories) – 15.7%
Gorillas (Labour) – 14.9%

Alex P 10C – How do the results compare to Starmer’s win?

In our election, results differed significantly from national patterns. Significantly among 18-24-year olds, by percentage Labour received 25% more votes compared to our school election, where the other parties performed worse. In St Albans, the Lib Dems’ Daisy Cooper had a much larger vote share than in our election despite them coming out on top at Verulam, with others doing better in our results.

Tobi I 9P – Why were Badgers so popular in Y9 and Y10?

The election provided fascinating insights, notably the strong support for the Badgers (Reform) among Y9 and Y10. Reform has been increasingly popular nationwide, particularly among voters who feel disenfranchised by traditional parties suggesting a yearning for fresh leadership. St Albans, characterised by its high average household income, presents economic pressures such as high living costs. These factors may drive support for Reform that advocate for economic efficiency and tax reductions. This resonated with some students who are beginning to develop their political identities.

Elliot M 9J – Badgers do well but the Bears and other progressives win out

The Bears stormed to victory by over 10%! There was much discussion of their policies including increasing school funding above inflation each year and ensuring 90% of energy is generated by renewables by 2030. This vote may also be reflective of St Albans with students sharing the values of guardians/parents who voted overwhelmingly for the Lib Dems. Despite the Badgers doing well in Y9 and Y10 the progressive parties certainly came out on top in this election.

Mr Jenkins

Board Games Club

An exciting addition to our clubs timetable this term is the newly launched board games club. We had a number of Year 7s and 8s meeting up to play all sorts of games but Chess and UNO proved very popular. The club endeavors to encourage like-minded students to bond and socialise without a screen. Lower school students are welcome to drop in on Tuesday lunchtimes, 12:20-13:10 and are welcome to bring their lunch with them. We are also in desperate need of some more board game donations, so if you have any lying around at home please send them in to us.

Mrs Tansley

STEAM Club has started with a bang!

After such a fun year creating, testing and successfully competing against other schools to fire water bottles, our STEAM club students arrived back full of ideas for the year ahead. We were so pleased to welcome not only a number of new students (including some year 7 students), Mx Moreland, Mr Charmokly and Miss Morris have joined our team.

After much debate we settled on our first project as being catapult building. We quickly started building models using lollipop sticks, elastic bands and lego characters as ammunition. By week two we progressed onto borrowing wood from Mr Charmokly’s garden to build a large trebuchet! We are currently deciding how best to store our creation and exactly what it should fire! We look forward to sharing our work on the school’s open evening soon.

If you are interested in joining STEAM club, please come along to S3 on a Wednesday after school from 3.10 for an hour.

Mrs Cornmell

Pastoral

Year 7 First Impressions

The transition to Year 7 has been a very successful programme of events. We started by Mr Knowles and Mrs Moss visiting as many primary schools as we could fit in. On some Mr Moane also joined us. This was a chance for our new intake to meet their head of year and ask any questions about the school as they could. Next came our Saturday morning transition event meeting form tutors and making friends in their forms for the first time. This was quickly followed by Secondary Transfer Day where we put on a day of taster lessons for our new students.
We have now completed our first few weeks and Year 7 have really made a great first impression. House Points are already flooding in and many students have already earned Letters of Recognition towards their Blue Stag award. A group of boys came second in the District Mob race and Year 7 are now starting to attend ECCO and sports clubs with many hopefuls ready to get on to the school sports teams. We have lots of events planned for Year 7 this year and I am looking forwards to sharing them with you.

Mr Knowles

Annual Food Bank Collection

Every year Verulam students and staff support our local Food Bank by donating items through school. The assemblies to launch our collection centred on the idea of worth and giving what you can. In terms of ‘worth’ the worth of an item will vary from one person to the next, for example someone who is well off or comfortably off may consider the worth of a tube of toothpaste very differently to someone who is struggling to afford basic items.

In terms of ‘giving what you can’ the students were asked to consider not just giving a couple of items which make no difference to their lives at all, but pushing themselves to donate at a level where they feel the difference and feel that they have made the effort and a small sacrifice perhaps in order to fully engage and help others with their donations.

Our collection starts on Monday 30th September and runs for 2 weeks. If you can donate please see the list of items we are accepting. We are running this as a House competition so please ensure items are in a bag that is labelled with your son’s Year and House – for example: 8B. Students should take their donations to their form room. House reps for each form will then take the items to the canteen where they will be counted and added to the house/year totals.

We are aiming for 4,000 items so please give what you can!

Mrs Avery

Sports Round-Up

We are excited to share some updates from the PE department. This year, we have welcomed Miss Bendahman as our new PE Technician. She has settled in seamlessly and has already made a significant impact both in lessons and extracurricular activities.

The enthusiasm and engagement of our students in PE have been exceptional. We are particularly impressed with their involvement in lessons and extracurricular activities since our return this year.

Our sports fixtures have kicked off with matches in football, rugby, and cross country. A standout moment so far has been the Year 7 boys’ impressive second-place finish in the District Mob Race.

Our after-school clubs, including football, rugby, badminton, and table tennis, have been well-attended, and we hope this level of participation continues into the winter months.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr Errington

Curriculum News

REvision

The fifth of September marked the beginning of GCSE and A level revision sessions in the Religious studies department, which has seen an array of students embarking on their relentless journey to academic excellence.

Building these good habits early on has really helped some boys settle straight in to the rigorous demands of the subject and some interesting discussions have taken place- particularly with year 12 on the subject of reality and discussing Plato’s cave analogy, with many concluding that indeed, the unexamined life is not worth living.

As we approach Yom Kippur (11-12 October 2024), the RS department would like to encourage all of our students to reflect on their past year both academically and socially in order to build on and improve ahead of what will be, for some, their final school years.

Mr Curcic

Rewards and Awards

The House Team at Verulam

All of our House Captains in Year 11 and our House Representatives in Years 8 to 10 have received their badges. It is a pleasure to work with our House team who will be in post until the end of the Spring term. During their time in office, our team will help with charitable ventures such as our collection for the local Food Bank and some of the team will also go on to do some voluntary work in the warehouse to see what happens to the goods we donate. They will also represent the school at Open Evening and will organise their form to take part in school sporting events and competitions throughout the year.
The team meet with myself on regularly and are encouraged to engage with house activities and come up with initiatives of their own which they can then lead on. This helps students to develop confidence and leadership skills.

Year 7 tutors are getting to know their forms this half term and will be selecting two students from each form to join our House Team after half term. I look forward to meeting our newest team members in November.

Mrs Avery

Eco News

We’re excited to start the new term by welcoming two extra special new additions to the Verulam community. Georgie and Charlie have moved into the staff quad where they can spend their days scratching in the dirt and enjoying the sunshine.

Chickens can contribute to a school’s sustainability efforts by providing a source of fresh eggs for the food tech department. Students are also given an opportunity to learn about food production, nutrition, and the importance of sustainable practices. They can also help reduce food waste though we do ask students and visitor not to feed the chickens as some things are poisonous to chickens and can make them very sick.

Once Georgie and Charlie are settled, students will have opportunities to become more involved with their care and upkeep. Keeping chickens requires responsibility and care, which can teach students important life skills such as empathy, teamwork and commitment. Interacting with animals, such as chickens, has been shown to have a positive impact on emotional wellbeing. Chickens can provide a calming and therapeutic effect to students.

Staffing Updates

Welcome

This September we have welcomed a number of new staff to Verulam including our new Deputy Headteacher, Kate Thackray. Miss Thackray began her teaching career as a Teach First participant working as an English teacher in East London. She has remained in teaching for the last 15 years and was most recently Deputy Headteacher at Oasis Academy South Bank in South London. Miss Thackray has also worked as a SEND consultant for a teacher training charity and we are excited for her to bring her expertise in this area to our school.

Miss Thackray is leading on Inclusion across the school; supporting student wellbeing, special educational needs, attendance and mental health. Miss Thackray is also the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Miss Thackray has joined the English department and is enjoying teaching Romeo & Juliet to her Year 11s.

A very warm welcome to Miss Thackray and all the other new staff members who are joining us at Verulam!

Events & Celebrations

PTA Fireworks Festival

The PTA are delighted to be launching the Verulam PTA FIREWORKS FESTIVAL on Friday 25th October!

This will be Verulam’s first ever Fireworks Festival and it will be MASSIVE!!

Our enormous concrete area at Sandpit Lane playing fields is the perfect spot for a fireworks night, so they’re going to make it the best event of the season! Please put the date in your diary now! It will be a fantastic evening of food, drinks, mulled wine, free glow sticks, a DJ and of course incredible fireworks (and a great way to celebrate the end of the first half term of the year!)

Doors open: 6.00pm
Fireworks: 7.30pm
Ends: 9.00pm

Please note that there will be no parking on site at Sandpit Lane however disabled parking is available if pre-booked. Tickets for the Fireworks Festival are available here.

Year 7 Welcome Lunch

On Saturday 21st September we welcomed our new Year 7 parents, carers and students to our annual welcome lunch. We managed to dodge the rain and the weather was set fair for the afternoon. The afternoon was well attended and it was a chance for our new parents to network with each other and forge new, long lasting partnerships for the future of our new cohort of students.

Mr Moane, Headteacher and Mr Knowles, Head of Year 7 made a short welcome address, commenting on the success of our new Year 7 boys who have made and excellent transition to secondary school life. We are looking forward to seeing them flourish over the coming months and years. Also at the event were Miss Perry and Mrs Thackray, our Deputy Heads and Mrs Toley and Mrs Welch who spoke to many of our parents about the school and the students.

The Verulam PTFA provided a cold buffet and bar for the event and managed to recruit some new volunteers that will help to support the school in the future. A huge thank you to the PTFA for volunteering and giving up their time to support the event.

Mr Knowles

October 2024

Newsletter – October 2024

Welcome to our October newsletter. An eight-week half term has been a challenge and both students and staff are wilting a little, so we are looking forward to the break to recharge and go again.

And I can understand why – it has been a really busy term! Particular congratulations and thanks to Mr Halsall and the wider staff team who took year 10 to Blue Peris in Snowdonia for an adventurous mountain expedition with all sorts of challenging activities. I know this year group missed out on a trip due to Covid in previous years, and they were a credit to themselves in how they embraced the challenge.

We also had an excellent Abbey Service, continuing a long tradition of thanks and celebration in St Albans Abbey. Thanks to Mrs Avery and Mrs Welch for leading the organisation of this and again, all the students were respectful on the journey through town and in the service.

The school put itself on show for our open evening and open mornings which were highly popular. As one of our staff said ‘The buzz is back!’ and we hope to welcome a new cohort of year 7s next September.

There have been some notable sporting achievements with a number of year groups progressing in the County and National cups in football. Students have continued to experience a range of sports, with block fixtures in rugby, hosting the district cross country (we finished first in both senior and inter levels) and hosting a table tennis tournament and badminton reaching a new level with our visiting professional coach.

We wish you a restful half-term break and a reminder that our information evenings continue with Year 11 on the first day back on 4^th November at 6pm.

Mr Moane
Headteacher

Trips & Visits

GCSE Geography Field Trip

In late September just under 90 Geographers in Year 11 undertook our annual visit to Epping Forest and Stratford to undertake their GCSE fieldwork in a physical and human environment.

Our rivers work this year was blessed with some lovely weather that allowed the boys to really get to grips with the investigations into how a river changes downstream. Not only this, they showed a great appreciation of the methods used to collect the data in order to understand the flaws in the approaches used – all vital aspects for any Geographer when approaching fieldwork.

Our day to Strafford saw a little bit of rain – OK it saw heavy rain from the start to end of the day! This was sandwiched between the two longest drives ever there and back! Despite this we were able to clearly identify various aspects in the area that help to define Stratford as an economic hub. Again, the boys applied data collection methods to a variety of locations that will now be used to help prepare them for their GCSEs in the summer.

Mr Toley

St Albans Abbey Education Centre 40th Anniversary

On Monday 7th October, the History Department represented Verulam School with some selected Year 7 students to participate in St Albans Abbey Education Centre’s 40th Anniversary celebrations. The event took place in the Nave, inviting Cressida Cowell, award winning Laureate author of ‘How to Train your Dragon’ to speak. Students designed Story Spirals which at the end of the event were dropped from the ceiling of the Nave creating a very memorable moment. Happy anniversary!

Mr Pettitt

HPQ Trip to Southampton University

On Friday 11^th October a group of Year 10 students visited Southampton University to attend a Study Day linked to their Higher Project Qualification. The qualification is voluntary, with boys attending sessions after school on Mondays and Wednesdays to research a project of their own devising. On the Study Day boys were taught how to use key words to search academic sites for research articles relevant to their topic of interest. Boys were encouraged to find a number of books on their topic and to note down the ‘call numbers’ for these books. After lunch, we went to the Hadley Library and the boys were shown how to use the call number to exactly locate their chosen books from within 5 floors of library books!

During the lunch break, boys were able to enjoy being University students for the day and were able to choose from a number of café options on campus to get lunch – some used the time to find the Physics Department and have a look around which they thoroughly enjoyed!

Mrs Avery

Blue Peris 2024

Blue Peris 24 was a roaring success and the students were a joy to work with (most of the time). Each activity is extreme, from mining to coasteering and mountain biking to kayaking. As a consequence, the students live most of the trip outside their comfort zone. Despite bumps and scrapes the students quickly develop a sense of resilience. They also learn how hard it is to lead each other. This is particularly evident during the unaccompanied walk, the night-line assault course and the team building activities. Mistakes were made, but lessons were learned.

By day three the students were adapting to life with the mountain leaders and the high demands they set. School staff could see better listening, cooperation and focus. These are the key soft skills that students develop as a result of their hard work. Domestic chores were also taken seriously by all. The students were expected to set the meals and clean up after. They had to organise themselves every day and most managed this, some may need some additional practise at home.

We did some exhilarating activities such as coasteering and Sea Lane Traversing. Mountain Biking, however, was the big test for most students. Regardless of the activity, the mountain leaders complimented the behaviour and attitude of the students. They did Verulam very proud. The laugher and banter on the trip was superb. It was great to see students mixing well together. At one point or another, everyone struggled and it was great to see people supporting each other. Predictably, Wales gave us the full weather spectrum. The scenery was outstanding which the students noted. With so many highlights I reckon my favourite was the morning wake up call. Many shattered bodies rising to start the day often looked like a zombie invasion.

As I often commented with my group, they can leave only footprints and take only memories. Memories for life. Verulam for life.

Mr Halsall

Curriculum Enrichment

Silver Duke of Edinburgh

Over two weekends in late September and early October, just under 30 Year 11s took part in the silver expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh award. These took place to the New Forest and then the Isle of Purbeck near Swanage and involved walking a combined total of approximately 100km whilst also being self sufficient and navigating themselves through a variety of environments.

The New Forest is always a test due to the sheer number of tracks that appear from nowhere and do not exist according to the map! Add that to some heavy rain and low cloud and you have a very tough day indeed – something that we had the pleasure of facing for the entire second day. Students did very well in these conditions with only a limited number taking the scenic routes available.

For the assessed trip, we again faced some tough weather conditions that meant on one day a detour was needed for all students to avoid a historic land slip – needless to say the extra 3km was welcomed by none of the them! The walking here takes in both countryside and coastal routes. Highlights being the annual trip round St Albans head to prove you can take the boy out of St Albans but not St Albans out of the boy followed by Old Harrys Rock and a walking to Studland Bay followed by a walk along Nine Barrow Down between Corfe and Swanage.

By the end we had some very tired and, dare I say it, smelly boys (I apologise to parents again for this) but also very happy ones having completed a tough expedition. Thanks again to parents and staff for supporting the boys with this. Please keep an eye out for information regarding the Gold expedition for summer 2025 which will be open to all in Year 11 and 12.

Mr Toley

Year 11 Work Experience

During the week commencing the 14^th October, all of our Year 11 students undertook a work experience placement. This is an essential part of preparing for life beyond school, not only in exploring possible career options but also understanding a professional working environment and the expectations of timekeeping, standards and customer service!

I would like to thank all local employers who offered a week’s work placement to our students. There were a wide range of opportunities offered, from working in schools and care settings to office environments such as Computacenter and Regus and more unusual placements such as Hertfordshire Zoo and the De Havilland Aircraft Museum.

We received some lovely feedback from our employers, such as thanks for TT who played piano to residents in Field House Care Home to JS and OT who were a great help at Camp Primary and Nursery School in being classroom assistants and running football sessions. Maybe the most impressive contribution was Jack D who is now a nationally published sports journalist for The Sun newspaper. Some of his articles can be found here and here.

We are also seeking to boost our work experience placements in sixth form, please do let us know if you maybe able to support Year 12 on a short placement in the last week of term in July 2025.

Mr Moane

Drama Club

We are pleased to announce that Drama Club will restart on Mondays after Half Term from 15.15 – 16.30 in the Drama Studio. Initially we will be using Drama Club to rehearse material for the Christmas Celebration on Wednesday 11th December.

Mr Moseley

Art & Design Magazine Plea

Do you have any old magazines at home that you are looking to get rid of? The Art & Design department would love to help you out. We are running out of old magazines and finding it difficult to get hold of more so would be grateful for any that you are happy to donate to the school. We use them frequently especially at KS4. Please drop off at receptions. Many Thanks.

Mrs Tomlin

Pastoral

World Mental Health Day 2024: #HelloYellow

On 10th October, Verulam School joined the national #HelloYellow campaign to mark World Mental Health Day, with students and staff wearing yellow to show solidarity for young people’s mental health. The message was simple: “Wear it loud. Wear it proud.” The yellow around the school served as a powerful reminder that mental health matters, and it’s okay to ask for help.

For Years 7 to 9, the day featured a creative doodling activity inspired by The Doodle Boy, encouraging students to draw what makes them happy. This fun exercise helped promote positive thinking and emotional expression, reinforcing the importance of taking time to focus on joy. Meanwhile, Years 10 to 13 explored real-life stories from YoungMinds, with a focus on voices often underrepresented in mental health discussions. In recognition of both World Mental Health Day and Black History Month, one of the stories was Nyrobi’s, a Black Disabled young person. Nyrobi’s story was both moving and empowering, shedding light on the unique experiences faced by those at the intersection of race, disability, and mental health.

Verulam School remains committed to ensuring students know that support is always available, whether through trusted adults, pastoral & safeguarding teams, or using some of the resources we highlighted. Together, we continue to champion mental health awareness and provide a supportive environment for all.

Mr Holding

Annual Food Bank Collection Results and Verso Care visit

In September we ran our annual collection for Verso Care to collect items for their Food Bank. Thanks to the wonderful support from our school community, we managed to raise nearly 2,000 items ranging form tinned food products and pasta to toothpaste and shower gel. All of these items were well received and will be put to good use by the Verso Care Centre. Particular thanks to Year 7 whose contribution far exceeded any other Year group. The collection was also a House competition – well done to Park House for donating the most items this year.

Once we had collected our items it was the turn of our most dedicated helpers to go to the Verso Care Centre to see what happens to our donations when they leave Verulam. Our students helped in various ways in the warehouse from identifying items that were out of date (some having expired in 2020…) to sorting items into the correct category ready to be moved into the warehouse, to stocking the ‘shop’ where guests can, with dignity, choose items appropriate for themselves and their family. The boys really enjoyed volunteering and look forward to returning next year!

Mrs Avery

Sports Round-Up

October has been an exciting month for our teams, showcasing remarkable talent and resilience across various competitions.

Football:

Year 7A: The U12A team achieved a decisive 7-1 victory against Parmiter’s School in the National Cup Round 1. They also secured a strong 6-0 win against Goffs Churchgate in the County Cup Round 1.

Year 7B: The U12B team shone with a 4-0 victory over Beaumont School in the County Cup Round 1.

Year 8A: In a thrilling match, the U13A team defeated St Columba’s College 3-1 in the County Cup Round 1. They later faced Queensbury Academy, drawing 2-2 after extra time but winning 7-6 on penalties in the National Cup Round 1. However, they experienced a tough loss against Goffs Academy in the County Cup Round 2, finishing 5-6.

Year 8B: The U13B team had an impressive showing, defeating Sandringham 4-0 in the National Cup Round 1.

Year9: The U14A team started strong with a 6-0 victory against Sir John Lawes School in the National Cup Round 1 but faced a setback, losing 1-3 to Cardinal Newman, Luton in the National Cup Round 2.

Year10: Had a great start to the season beating Chancellors school 9-1. Unfortunately a disappointing performance in the National Cup resulted in a 2-1 loss to Epping.

Year 11: Won both opening fixtures to their season with convincing victories against Roundwood Park (5-0) and Dame Alice Owens (5-2).

1st XI: Unfortunately, our 1st XI faced a challenging match against Aldenham School in the National Cup, resulting in a 0-5 loss. However they bounced back from their national cup defeat to progress in the County Cup after a well battled 2-1 win against Samuel Ryder.

Rugby:

Fixtures against Sam Ryder and Roundwood Park resulted in loses for our 7s and 8s. Our 9s beat Sam Ryder and we also had a win for our 10s against Roundwood Park.

Year 10: The Year 10s experienced a tough match against St George’s School, losing 10-57 in the National Vase Round 1. However, they bounced back with a narrow 17-12 victory over Samuel Ryder Academy.

Year 11: Have had a good season so far, beating Samuel Ryder and Roundwood Park and narrowly losing to St Georges School. They also had a friendly match against John Henry Newman School, celebrating a solid 29-0 win.

1st XV have played and lost to Oaklands College development team and are looking forward to fixtures against Beaumont and Sandringham in November.+

Table Tennis:

Our KS3 side did amazingly in the District Tournament. Winning their group and narrowly losing to Kings School in the final.

X-Country:

Our Cross Country teams competed in the District League & Championships and the National Cross Country Cup. We saw some fantastic performances from Isaac Gibson-Dunt who won every race he entered despite being the lower age group and the Senior Boys team narrowly coming third in the 1st round of the National XC Cup.

Mr Errington

New Verulam Rugby Shirt

We’re happy to announce that our new Verulam School Rugby shirts are now available to purchase from Beat and Stevensons. The new shirts, which were designed following feedback from staff and students, are more suited to the colder climate, made from thicker more durable material to withstand the rigors of Rugby.

The shirt will not be made a compulsory item of uniform until September 2025, when it will become compulsory for years 7, 8 and 9, however you may wish to purchase one now to be worn after half term as temperatures drop. A small number of the old style Verulam Rugby shirts are still available from both suppliers for students currently in year 9, 10 & 11 or you can purchase the new style shirt if you wish to update your current one. The old style rugby shirts are not approved uniform for year 7 & 8 students.

Rewards and Awards

School Council Elections

This half term has seen our first democratic elections to elect our School Council. Students from across the school were encouraged to put themselves forward for the vote. Elections were held for Years 7, 8 and 9 as there were more students put forward than we had seats for. Mr Jenkins ran the Polling station during lunchtime and ensured that democracy was upheld. The following students were duly elected:

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11
William B-D, 7J	Vinny K, 8P	Sunny K, 9P	Samer A H, 10C	Jago A, 11P
Thomas C, 7C	Rory W, 8J	Csongor G, 9B	Thomas B-D, 10B	Arthur B, 11P
Aaron O, 7J	James A, 8J	Isaac G-D, 9Y	Matthew D, 10Y	Gabriel F L, 11C
Seva K, 7H	Samuel B, 8Y	Jeremy H, 9Y	Tanay S, 10J
Gabriel T, 7H	Noah J, 8J	Jethro L, 9H	Sebastian S, 10H
Isaac B, 7B	Venci S, 8B	KD J, 9Y
Aidan W, 7H	Dill D, 8J	Arpan M, 9C
Rex T, 7B	Muhammad Ali O, 8P	Zack V, 9C

The newly formed student Council will meet for the first time in November. They will have the chance to discuss with the Headteacher, topics pertinent to the School student body with a view to ensuring that the Senior Leaders of the school understand the school from a student perspective. We are very much looking forward to working with our student leaders in the coming months.

Mrs Avery

Reading Challenges Buzz

A huge congratulations to all the winners of the Reading Challenges so far!

We have had a record breaking number of students taking part in the Reading Challenges in the library this year with over 150 students taking part across year 7, 8 and 9. The Halloween themed Five Nights At Freddy’s Reading Challenge has been particularly successful, with 10 prize winners so far and lots more to come! Well done to Naoki, Isaac, Edward G, Faleel and Seb H in year 7; Oscar A, Lucas A and Raihan in year 8, and Esa and Harry P in Year 9.

Miss Pettitt

Headteacher Commendation Breakfast

Mr Moane was delighted to host breakfast with recipients of Headteacher Commendations for this half term. Students were chosen for commendations following their help and support of Open Evening and Open Morning Tours for prospective students.

Eco News

We’re delighted to have taken delivery of our (very smart) new electric minibus this month. The new minibus will be used for our Sixth Form consortium runs between the Beau Sand Ver schools and other journeys around St Albans. You might also have seen it at the Abbey on Friday 18th transporting our musicians and their instruments for the Thanksgiving Service.

A huge thank you to the PTA for their generous contribution towards the cost of the minibus!

Staffing Updates

Goodbye

At the end of this half term we say a very fond farewell to Mrs Andric, our Data Manager. Mrs Andric has been with Verulam for over 20 years and has been a highly valued member of the admin team who will be hugely missed. We wish her all the very best for a relaxing retirement!

Events & Celebrations

PTA Fireworks Festival

The PTA are delighted to be launching the Verulam PTA FIREWORKS FESTIVAL on Friday 25th October!

This will be Verulam’s first ever Fireworks Festival and it will be MASSIVE!!

Doors open: 6.00pm
Fireworks: 7.30pm
Ends: 9.00pm

Please note that there will be no parking on site at Sandpit Lane however disabled parking is available if pre-booked. Tickets for the Fireworks Festival are available here.

Open Evening

We were delighted to welcome so many families to our Open Evening on Tuesday 1st October and it was wonderful to see the school so busy with potential students.

We are very grateful to our staff and current students worked hard to make the evening a huge success.

Miss Perry

Abbey Service

On Friday 18^th October we held our annual Service of Thanksgiving at the Abbey Church of St Alban. It was a pleasure to see this tradition continue and for our students to have the opportunity to take part in this wonderful occasion. The Cathedral is a wonderful, impressive and inspiring building and it is a pleasure and a privilege to hold our Service there as we have done for many, many years. Our speakers from Years 7 to Sixth Form were exceptional – congratulations to them all for speaking clearly, confidently and with passion to an audience of close to 900 fellow students and staff. In addition, the music and musicians chosen by Dr Imanishi, were exceptional. They played beautifully with the music matching the grandeur of the setting. My thanks, also to Geoff Sutton of STEP, very much a friend of Verulam School, who kindly agreed to give the Address. He tied in the theme of ‘Responsibility’ to the community work Verulam School actively participates in with the Verso Care Centre and our core values which include ‘character’; being of good character – showing kindness and empathy to others.

The Abbey Service is a time to reflect, and this year it is fitting that we reflected on ‘Responsibility’ and saw so many students step up and be responsible either in their excellent conduct walking to the Cathedral or by helping others to find their seats or taking part in the Service and performing to an exceptional standard.

Mrs Avery

School Production

The Creative Arts department have chosen Joan Littlewood’s ‘Oh What a Lovely War’ for the Spring production! It’s an upbeat musical set in the trenches of WW1. This play has a large range of characters, with something for everyone, no matter what their performing skills or experience. Backstage, technical and painting skills are also required. Auditions are open to all year groups including sixth form and sign up details have been shared via Google Classroom. Auditions will be held in the first week back at school after half term. The show will be taking place at the end of the Spring Term. Information on buying tickets will be sent out nearer the time.

Mr Moseley