Newsletters

October 2025

Message from the Headteacher

Firstly, thank you for your support for the PTA Fireworks event just before the half term holidays. We had more than 3,000 people attend and the final numbers are still being crunched, but it was clear that this will raise significant funds for supporting Verulam students. Thanks to the many parent volunteers who gave their time and particular thanks to our chair, Jane Gomez, who is the driving force behind the event.

Year 11 students also had a successful work experience week and we had some lovely feedback from local employers. Thank you if you were able to provide a work placement for your son or others, as it is becoming more difficult to secure enough work placements, presumably with the move to hybrid working. Work experience is moving to year 10 going forward and they will be out on their experience w/c 29^th June - please do contact us if you can support with a week's placement then.

We have held information evenings for all year groups in year 8 to 13, and the information from these can be found here: https://verulamschool.co.uk/Learning/Parents-Information-Evenings/. I will be honest to say that turnout, other than for year 11, was disappointing. One of the things that parents asked for in our last survey was improved communications and to know what is going on, so the annual information evenings to supplement the parent consultation evenings was one element of our response. Please look out for a short survey on this topic via email so we can understand what parents/carers want from these evenings going forward. On the topic of surveys, your children are undertaking a trust-wide pupil survey this week and we will share summarised results from this with you when we receive them.

Finally, just to flag that the traditional Abbey Service is on the afternoon of 27/11/25. This is an inter-faith event that has run since the foundation of the school, and we are delighted that the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, will be coming to address us on the theme of Kindness and community service. The school is closed for an Occasional Day on 28/11/25.

Now that evenings are dark, please remind your son/daughter about pedestrian and cycle safety. Although the roads around school are now a 20mph limit, young people seem absorbed on their phones or don't have lights/high-vis clothing when cycling, and I would want to avoid accidents on the journey to and from school.

Fergal Moane

Headteacher

Curriculum News

Step Back in Time: A Victorian Job Fair

Year 8 students have taken a creative leap back to 1830 as part of their Industrial Revolution unit in Mr Pettitt’s history class. In a recent lesson, the school canteen turned into a bustling Victorian Job Fair, giving students an experience of life during one of the most transformative - and challenging - periods in British history. Students explored 50+ different job roles from the Industrial era from nightsoilsmen and match makers to coal miners and chimney sweeps. They were tasked with one unusual challenge: find the worst job possible – the one with the harshest conditions, lowest pay or highest risk. It was a lively (and often grim!) reminder of the tough realities faced by many during the 19th century. The lesson sparked important conversations about child labour, workers' rights and how far we’ve come.

Mr J Pettitt.

PE Department Update:

It’s been another busy month for the PE Department, with a huge number of fixtures and clubs taking place across all year groups.

Our Year 9 Rugby Leaders have been putting their training into action by refereeing primary school festivals — a great opportunity for them to develop their leadership skills.

Golf lessons have also returned during Games sessions, and we’re delighted to celebrate our first piece of silverware this year! The Year 8 Table Tennis squad won the District Competition in dominant fashion, winning every single match. The boys will now go on to represent the District at the County Finals at the end of November.

We’ve also seen some fantastic achievements from our pupils and ex-pupils outside of school. Congratulations to former student George Brandt, who has been named First XI Captain at Haileybury, and to Jack Burke, who made his senior debut for MK Dons.

Mr L Errington

fixture list.pdf

 Drama Department Update:

On Friday 3^rd October, the Year 11 GCSE Drama group headed to Watford Palace Theatre to see the acclaimed touring production of 'The Void' by Ryan Simons. A Sci-Fi dystopian gothic horror, this play was gold-dust for the Drama students, not just because it was a piece of theatre unlike any other, but because of the wealth of special effects, including AI-generated videos and weird sound effects. As the group will be writing about the play in their mock exam, they needed to see a piece which offered them plenty of scope for comment and analysis, and 'The Void' certainly didn't disappoint! Once again the students behaved excellently and were a credit to the school.

Mr N Moseley

New Science Labs and STEAM Club

It’s been a fantastic start to the school year in our brand new science labs, where students have been enjoying hands-on experiments in a fresh, modern environment. We’ve also relaunched our STEAM Club, which now runs every Thursday lunchtime and is led jointly with some of our science 6th form students. So far, students have created their own sparklers, tackled the egg drop challenge to protect fragile eggs from smashing, and watched an explosive metals demonstration that really went off with a bang!

Pastoral

News from our new Year 7s

As we come to the end of our first half term our new Year 7s have really set the standard and have made amazing first impressions of themselves. Despite some teething troubles with getting used to some of the homework systems and getting to grips with Google Classroom the boys have shown resilience and have gelled extremely well together reflecting the #Team7 motto working collaboratively and supporting each other.
This year we launched our behaviour curriculum where members of our Senior Leadership Team have being delivering lessons based on the basics and expectations as a Verulam student. This together with our pastoral programme has made a huge impact with very few negative points being logged and a large number of House Points and Letters of Recognition.

In sports we have started to see our first successes including coming second in the District Cross Country Mob Race (I was confident we were going to steal the crown this year but a respectable second place is still a tremendous achievement). Our A Team in football are springing into action and recently won a County Cup match againts Kings Langley and our Rugby team has made progress showing they are also great ambassadors for the school.

In non-sporting matters we have elected our School Council reps and are now making a valuable contribution to school life and student voice and we are about to elect our Form Reps with letters of application for the prestigious positions currently being written and submitted to their form tutors.

The FEED Project was an amazing success for Year 7. We collected more than half of the school total and smashed through my 1000 item target. Year 7 donated a whopping 1345 items for the Verso Care Food Bank, with 7Y in 1st place, 7P coming in second and 7H 3rd. 7B, 7C and 7J 4th, 5th and 6th respectfully.

Next half term I am looking forward to seeing Year 7 getting their first Blue Stag awards, representing the school at the Abbey Service, experiencing their first Curriculum Enrichment day and seeing many perform in the school production. So much to celebrate already and so much more to look forward to!

Mr L Knowles

Enrichment

Student Personal Development at Verulam
Culture Day
October has been a busy month for student personal development at Verulam. Culture Day on the 9th October saw students and staff proudly wearing relevant cultural dress and enjoying our cultural world cup themed football tournaments across the week during lunchtime. These games were organised and refereed by our Senior Prefect team – thank you to them for making these events so enjoyable for students lower down the school.
In addition, there was the chance to relax and enjoy listening to our Year 10 band and Sixth Form band in the pop up ‘Culture Café’ (more usually know as the main Hall!) at lunchtime.
We also had the pleasure of listening to fascinating workshops provided by FACE ) Faith and Cultural Enterprise) St. Albans. Andrene McDonald talked to us about her arrival in the UK from Jamaica as a small child. She then went on to explain the fascinating black history linked to St Albans and Hertfordshire. At the end of the workshop, students were encouraged to try traditional Caribbean food samples such as salt fish and dumplings – these went down very well! It was a surprising, memorable and varied presentation which will stay with our students for some while and encourage them to explore their own fascinating family heritage.

HPQ Trip to Southampton University
As our Year 13 students hand in their completed EPQ projects, Year 10 students have the opportunity to study an additional qualification – HPQ (Higher Project Qualification) which is the ‘little brother’ to the more familiar, EPQ studied in Sixth Form. This qualification is taught after school for two hours a week and so I commend those students who signed up and have demonstrated the resilience to keep going with this course in addition to keeping up with their not insignificant amount of GCSE course work.
In October, I took a group of HPQ students to a Study Day at Southampton University. Students were taught how to find relevant research using Boolean search methods (using AND, OR and NOT as part of the search criteria to define the output more effectively) and how to ‘call’ a book from the library. The researchers at the University talked to each student about their topic and helped them to refine their ideas and consider the phrasing of their research topic questions to ensure that their question was robust and interesting enough for them to pursue.
At lunchtime, students were free to walk around the campus and get a feel for what it might be like to be a ‘real’ student at University. After lunch, we went to the five storey Hadley Library and boys were shown how to locate precisely the books they ‘called’ earlier in the day.
The boys made excellent use of their time and were a credit to the school. The staff at the University were impressed with their focus and the range of topics they are exploring for their qualification.

Eco Council
Our active and engaged Eco Council have now refined the design of the Eco Council badge designed initially by Thomas Boulter in Year 8 and developed in DT by Harry Robinson one of our Senior Prefect Eco Council leaders. The badge will be made using off-cuts from the DT department to ensure that it is environmentally sustainable. Watch this space for a picture of the final badge when they have been produced!
Our major project this term is the School Pond. Many years ago (before my time and I have taught at Verulam for 14 years!) there was a pond behind the Science block. Having taken advice from the Wilder Schools Champions part of the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, we intend for the new pond to be created to the right of the original spot so that it is clear of overhanging trees.
During Eco Council meetings in October we have been researching pond design and planting. Students in pairs, presented their design ideas and Basil Dredge, the other of our Senior Prefect Eco Council leaders, made careful notes of the best elements of each design after discussion with the whole group. Basil will now combine the best of each idea to form one pond design and this will then be presented back to the group for feedback – this project will be truly inclusive and a credit to all involved. In designing the pond, students have considered the following:
• Shallow sloping sides to allow easy access for smaller creatures
• Different depths for both plants and animals – we do not intend to keep fish and therefore do not need a large deep area.
• They have researched pond plants that will thrive well and are more native to Hertfordshire
• How will we use the pond? Students have considered access – pathways around the pond for viewing/pond dipping for samples etc.
Once we have the final design, we will arrange a ‘digging day’, Eco Council members are signing up fast to join in with the digging of the pond! A member of the Wilder Schools Project will join us to help advise on the final construction of the pond for which we are very grateful.
We will also be arranging a cake sale to raise money to buy a water butt so that we can collect rainwater to fill the pond when it has been created. It is essential that we use rainwater, not tap water to fill the pond in order for wildlife to flourish in the pond.

School Council
Our newly formed School Council met for the first time in October having been elected in September. The Council will meet once a month going forward. It was lovely to meet with such an engaged group from Years 7 – 11. Mr Moane and Mrs Avery were present at the meeting to hear the views of our students. Once we had laid the ground rules – we don’t have a treasure chest of money to buy anything and everything our students may desire – the meeting was constructive, interesting and effective in helping us to work together with our students to improve the student experience at school. A key topic up for discussion was the Reward trip destinations for this year. The feedback from students was that the Escape rooms in St Albans are always well-received and this trip is affordable. Other suggestions were also made regarding trips and this information has been passed on to Mr Toley, our Student Engagement Lead.
Students also discussed the Clubs and Societies on offer and were encouraged to talk to staff about setting up their own clubs if they have a personal interest that is not currently covered but which they feel would be of interest to other students.
Students also expressed an interest in ‘Civic Duty’ and being more involved in our local community which is commendable and something we will explore going forward.

SLT

Trips, Visits and Workshops

Theology Conference

On Friday 17th October, a group of budding year 12 philosophers journeyed to Townsend for an organised Q and A session with a small group of Christian apologeticians. A range of views were shared and questions asked such as "If God is so powerful, is He able to sin?" and "Should people have a right to end their own lives?" These are the sorts of questions we get a chance to debate in RE GCSE, as well as in greater detail in our A Level Religious Studies, which combines Philosophy, Ethics and Theology into one subject; Verulam philosophy encourages critical thinking and nourishes the quest to discover what 'Truth' really is (if it even exists!)

 Mr Z Curcic

Thorpe Park

On Friday 17th October, Churchill set off to Thorpe Park for a very generous reward trip from the PTA. 8C won the trip for being the form group that donated the most to the PTA and had a fantastic trip!
The coach picked us up straight after registration and we were on our way. Thankfully there was no traffic and we were there nice and early, ready to enjoy the day. We were split into small groups and roughly split ourselves into groups with those who love the big rollercoasters and those who love water rides and off we went - going on rides, eating treats, and having all the fun. The teachers did think we would be exhausted on the way home and nice and quiet but no such luck for them as we were all so excited and did not stop talking about all the fun we had - the whole way home!!
"The weather was good all day and so we managed to get on plenty of rides. We would like to thank the PTA for paying for such an amazing trip." Alex Hill, Form Rep, 8C

Mrs N Long

Events

Money Matters

Forty Four students in Year's 10 and 12 have signed up and registered for the Young Enterprise's 'My Money Matters' online course which is a great way for young people to learn more about money and become financially literate. ‘My Money Matters’ gives students access to an easy to understand, engaging and relevant digital course covering everything they need to know about the importance of money. This course has been designed to develop the vital skills young people need to earn and look after their money and will enable them to explore their attitudes to money as well as gain key financial skills to help them in the real world. Following the course, students will be well prepared to make financial decisions both now and in the future. 

The course takes approximately six hours in total to finish and can be completed both in school during a dedicated weekly lunchtime club on a Tuesday, as well as at home and at a pace that is suited to each individual student. ‘My Money Matters’ has been awarded with the financial education quality mark accreditation which is supported by the Money and Pensions service and students will receive a certificate on completion of the course. The best of luck to all students who are taking part in the course and there will be an opportunity later on in the academic year for other groups of students to participate

Mr T Engel

my money matters full flyer.pdf

Celebrating Reading and Achievement

Black History Month
This October, the library celebrated Black History Month with a Reading Challenge and an Author Hunt. Students used their detective skills to follow clues around the library, searching for posters of authors of Black origin and deciphering hidden words within the texts.
Congratulations to everyone who discovered the final words: “Pride” and “Power”, reflecting this year’s Black History Month theme: Standing Firm in Power and Pride.

Halloween Reading Challenge
Five Nights at Freddy’s made a spooky return for our Halloween-themed reading challenge! A big well done to everyone who completed five books — and an extra congratulations to those who read ten books and won a Five Nights at Freddy’s prize!

Book Fair Success
Our autumn Scholastic Book Fair was a great success, helping Verulam earn nearly £100 worth of free books to add exciting new titles to our library. Thank you to all the students and parents who supported the event!

Reading Challenges Leaderboard
This month’s leaderboard is neck and neck! Churchill and Brampton are currently tied for first place, with Hamilton close behind in second.

Coming Up Next Month
Keep an eye on what’s happening in the library! November will feature special activities for Remembrance Day, Non-Fiction November, and Movember with plenty of ways to get involved, learn, and be rewarded.

Miss G Pettitt

World Mental Health Day 2025 at Verulam School

On Friday 10th October, Verulam School marked World Mental Health Day with a comprehensive program across all year groups. This year’s global theme was ‘access to mental health services during catastrophes and emergencies,’ which we focused on by addressing personal ‘emergencies’ for our young people, such as academic pressure or friendship issues.

World Mental Health Day 2025 Sessions

Year 7 Assembly: Students attended an assembly that introduced self-awareness and emotional understanding, referencing Inside Out 2 to discuss emotions like Anxiety and Sadness. The assembly was followed by a Form Time session using discussion prompts to encourage peer support and to clearly reinforce the message that help is available, ensuring students know exactly where and how to access it.

Years 8–13 Form Time Presentation: Students explored why mental health support is vital, were reminded that everyone deserves good mental health, and learned what can count as personal catastrophes and emergencies through a pre-recorded presentation during Form Time.

All students learned practical coping strategies, including the grounding technique of Box Breathing and advice on digital wellbeing, such as managing ‘Doomscrolling’ by limiting phone use and turning off non-essential notifications.

The central message was consistently reinforced: Asking for help shows strength, not weakness.

Support and Community Engagement

The dedicated Form Time follow-up encouraged open discussion and clearly signposted students to support services. These services include:

In-School Support: Mentoring, the School Counsellor, the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), and Services for Young People (SfYP).

Pathways to Help: Students were reminded of the ‘Five Fingers of Faith’ – having five trusted adults they can always go to, who the Safeguarding Team is, and the SHARP System for safe, anonymous reporting of concerns.

We were pleased by the attendance at our Coffee Morning Drop-In on Thursday, 16th October, where parents met key staff from the MHST and SfYP to discuss our support systems.

Here are some key wellbeing dates coming up in school, keep an eye out for more information soon:

• Anti-Bullying Week 2025: November 10–14. Our Top Team will be involved in encouraging Odd Sock Day on Monday, November 10th.
• Place2Be's Children's Mental Health Week 2026: February 9–15, 2026.
• Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: May 11–17, 2026.

We remain committed to providing a supportive environment and ensuring every student knows: Your feelings are valid, it’s okay not to be okay, and help is always available.

Mr M Holding

verulam where to get help links.pdf

 

Initial Teacher Training Programme

Verulam school is proud to be a placement school for Initial Teacher Training at Alban TSH who offer flexible, highly-personalised, school-based routes into teacher training. This includes: tuition fee paying, assessment only and Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship for a wide range of secondary courses as well as primary (5-11 and 3-7). There is also the opportunity to gain PGCE status in addition to QTS. Alban TSH is an experienced provider of teacher training and has established partnerships with many outstanding schools in the region. Get in touch with our team teaching@albantsh.co.uk to find out more.

Mrs P Avery

 

September 2025

Message from the Headteacher

I wanted to firstly congratulate the boys and young men and women of Verulam on how well they have started the year. They have either joined us for the first time and settled well or have returned to school after the summer break with renewed purpose and energy.

We appreciate your support with our efforts to tighten systems and expectations. The 'Ebasics' sanction is designed to quickly improve routines and habits, from punctuality and appearance to homework completion and equipment. Staff have commented that this has lifted standards and being prepared to learn is the first step in a successful school day.

The move to a single lunchtime has generally gone well. We had some issues with payment systems and service for the first couple of weeks, but the systems problems are mostly resolved and the canteen has a new set of sixth form recruits on the tills. Queues are reduced with most students being served within the first 20 minutes of the lunch break. The change has allowed us to offer sports and a range of lunchtime clubs that we encourage your child to enjoy: https://verulamschool.co.uk/News/Autumn-Term-Clubs/ 

We are also making our way through Parent Information Evenings with years 10-13 complete so far and the remaining year groups happening over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully this gives you a better insight into key dates and what is being learned in each year - the presentations and forthcoming dates and for consultations with subject teachers can be found here: https://verulamschool.co.uk/Learning/Parents-Information-Evenings/

The wider life of the school has roared back with everything from fantastic wins in sports fixtures to Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, visits to college and careers fairs, our fascinating Engaging Minds programme in the sixth form and the upcoming culture day on the 9th October to celebrate our diverse cultural backgrounds. Please make a donation that will go to the Herts Young Homeless charity. Please also support our massive fundraising fireworks event on Friday 24th October at Sandpit Lane. all tickets and details can be found here.

Our Open Evening was a big success with over 1,000 people from 330 families visiting. Thank you to the students who were tour guides or subject demonstrators. Feedback from prospective parents was warm, saying how impressed they were and how helpful and proud our students were of their school. 

We need that to translate through into increased numbers, as government funding is tied directly to this and we face challenging financial headwinds. The SchoolCuts campaign gives an estimate of the impact of reduced central government funding on Verulam, but our bigger issue is in the reduction in numbers as larger year groups are succeeded by smaller ones. If you are happy about the school, please promote it with prospective parents! If you are not happy, please let us know and we will always listen to try to improve, within the constraints that we have.

Fergal Moane, Headteacher

Curriculum News

News from the Computing Department

Congratulations to the following:
Congratulations to the following Year 8 students for gaining an award in their Cyber Explorers course last year. Well done for the effort you put in to get the required number of points for the award! This is a government initiative and is accredited by the SCQF. Maybe these will be the names working for GCHQ and protecting the UK in future years?
Henry Madders, Josh Smith, Toby Shepherd, Will Newcombe, Justin Chau, Naoki Minall and Ari Sharma
 
National Cipher Challenge
We have started enrolment for our first competition this year. Student will face a 10-week challenge of trying to breaking a series of codes starting on the 9th October 2025. It is great to see students from Year 7 to Year 13 already signed up to take on this challenge! Adults can have a go as well – you just won’t be eligible for any prizes. https://www.cipherchallenge.org

Mr P Schalker

Enrichment

Personal Development

Student personal development is important to us at Verulam. With this in mind, we provide a range of different ways for our students to develop their communication skills, confidence and leadership skills. This month I have added a form to the Year group Google Classroom for all students in Years 7 – 11 where they can sign up to become part of our Eco Council and get involved in rejuvenating the Verulam environment. Our first step this year will be meeting with representatives from the Re-wilding Project in October to discuss ways to ‘re-wild’ parts of our site and create a pond in a safe area. Our Sixth Form Prefects, Basil and Harry will be leading this project. More on this as our projects develop.

The other exciting event happening at the moment is the imminent School Council elections. This week tutors have been talking to their forms putting themselves forward for the vote. Next week we will hold student elections to determine who will become representatives on the School Council for the year. Each form can put forward up to 5 students. If there are more than five students wishing to be put forward, an internal form vote will take place to decide on the five going forward to the school election next week. Good luck to all those willing to step up and have a go at getting elected!
Mrs Avery

Sporting Update

Sports Update

The term has started with fantastic participation in clubs, a busy schedule of fixtures, and the exciting launch of our first-ever Sports Academy and Sports Academy newsletter.

Our first success of the year came in the Year 7 Mob Race, where the boys finished second overall. Since then, we’ve celebrated victories in rugby, football, basketball, and cross-country. Our U16 badminton squad also made history by competing in their first-ever National Cup fixture.

Paid clubs such as badminton and fencing, delivered by external academies, have seen excellent numbers — contact details are attached for anyone wishing to sign up. Golf lessons have also continued this term, and we’re looking forward to Gaelic football fixtures and coaching later this term. Some of our Year 9 Rugby players have also started their Rugby Leaders Course.
Fencing Contact details: paul@teampdfa.com
Badminton Contact details: mail@rayappanbadmintonacademy.com

 

  Mr L Errington

Events

Library Highlights

We had an astounding participation in our reading initiatives over the summer, including the Summer Reading Challenge, Summer Extreme Reading Challenge and the Sparx Reader Summer Challenge.
Well done to everyone that took part and received a certificate and an LoR.
A particular commendation goes to the winners of the Extreme Reading Challenge, who captured imaginative and inspiring photographs of themselves reading in unusual and memorable locations: Most Creative- Elias R. (year 7), Greatest Height- Isaac B. (year 9), Furthest Around the Globe- Isaac A. (year 7), Most Historic- Dill D. (year 9), Most Venturesome- Rex O. (year 7), Most Picturesque- William S. (year 7), Most Publicly Daring- Eddie B. (year 7), and our Extreme Winner- Bradley S. (year 7). Well done!

This month, the library showcased our new book arrivals, with 80% of these titles carefully handpicked by our Reading Council.
We also spotlighted our permanent ‘Read Your Way Through' challenges to inspire readers to explore a variety of books throughout the year.

For September, the ‘Reading Challenges Leaderboard’ sees Brampton House securing second place, with Jennings following close behind in third.
Congratulations to Churchill House for topping the leaderboard this month — a fantastic achievement!

 

Miss Pettitt

July 2025

End of term letter from the headteacher

letter to parents end of year july 2025 docx.pdf

 

On 16th July, the Creative Arts department held a showcase of musical and dramatic performances. This covered all genres and styles, from Bach and Chopin to Oasis and Linkin Park. Even the staff got involved with an all-star performance of 'Shut up and Dance'. Thanks to Mrs Tomlin, Ms Ugboma, Mr Moseley and the senior prefect team of Tom R, Roxy W and Basil D for supporting with the direction and production. 

Sports Awards 2025

 

 

Verulam PE 2024-2025

What an amazing and busy year it has been for the PE Department! We would like to thank all teachers, parents, and pupils for their continued support in making this year so enjoyable and successful.

Our extracurricular clubs have thrived and will continue to run for all students, with a focus on inclusivity and encouraging participation from pupils of all abilities.

Looking ahead to next year, we are excited to be expanding our local partnerships:

• Paul Davis Fencing Academy – Former Verulam student Paul Davis will be running a paid fencing club every Thursday after school in our Sports Hall.
  
  
• Rayappan Badminton Academy – Sessions will continue, including the paid, coached session on Tuesdays for those wanting to further develop their skills.
  
  
• Sam Ryder Golf Academy – Based at Verulam Golf Club, this fantastic partnership offers golf sessions for our pupils throughout the year.
  
  
• St Albans FC – We will continue working closely with the Sixth Form Academy and youth teams, who use Sandpit Lane for training and matches.
  
  
• St Albans Cricket Club – Another key partnership, allowing our pupils access to cricket nets at Clarence Park and shared use of Sandpit Lane.
  
  
• We've also enjoyed fantastic success in competitive fixtures this year. Some of the highlights include:

 

• Year 7 – Hertfordshire County Futsal Champions
  
  
• Year 7 – National Cup Football – Last 32
  
  
• Year 7 – Basketball District League Winners
  
  
• Year 8 – Rugby League County Champions
  
  
• Year 9 – Tennis County Champions
  
  
• Years 9 & 10 – District Football Runners-Up
  
  
• Year 10 – 7th Place in Hertfordshire Athletics

This year’s Verulympics Week was one of our busiest and most exciting yet, and we were delighted to have Year 12 students involved for the very first time. The action-packed week featured a wide range of activities including fencing, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, golf, swimming, and concluded with a fantastic day of athletics at Westminster Lodge.  Below are the final standings and a gallery of images from the day. Thanks to Basil D in Year 12 for photography duties!

Verulympics Results:

We’re already looking forward to taking things even further next year, with several exciting developments on the horizon:

Launch of Our Sports Academy
A new era in elite school sport – supporting high-performing students through specialist coaching, mentoring, and development pathways.

New Padel Courts
We’re hoping to bring one of the world’s fastest-growing sports to Verulam! A great opportunity for students to discover something new and enhance their athletic abilities.

Astro Pitch
We are looking into a state-of-the-art, all-weather pitch at Sandpit Lane. This facility will benefit PE lessons, extracurricular clubs, and school fixtures throughout the year.

First-Ever Football Tour – Barcelona 2026
We’re thrilled to announce our first football tour for next year’s Year 8 students, heading to Barcelona for a week of training, fixtures, and unforgettable experiences.

Continued Sporting Success
This year has been superb for participation and performance – and we’re just getting started. More fixtures, more competitions, and more opportunities await.

Sponsorship Opportunities
If you're a local business or parent interested in sponsoring team kits or equipment, especially for our new football shirts, please get in touch. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone—students, staff, and families—who have made this year such a success and an enjoyable experience. We can’t wait to see what next year brings.

Have a safe and restful summer!
— The Verulam PE Department

Sporting Update

Weightlifting Barriers Broken

Wednesday 16th July saw the culmination of almost a whole year's dedicated training from Charlie Krantz, Alfie Brandt, Luka Guzijan and Tyler Digweed, who have all shown a competitive and spirited drive in the weightlifting arena. The boys lifted to new personal bests in all competitive lifting events, where Charlie registered a 330kg total in the squat, bench press and deadlift movements. Impressively, at only 14 years old, Charlie is only 50kg away from the British u18 national standard, and with a 30kg personal best in only two months, there is every indication that the sky is the limit for him in his weightlifting journey. The commencement of the sports academy and weightlifting programme in September will see the boys learn the historic and Olympic disciplines: the 'Snatch' and the 'Clean and Jerk' moevements.

Mr Curcic

Library

Incredible turnout for the Women’s EURO challenges so far. Well done to everyone who completed the reading challenge and has read three women in sport books or more! We have had over 30 winners of the ‘Guess the Score’ challenge from over 300 entries, well done to those who guessed correctly and received a prize!

 Summer Challenges

During the school summer holidays, there will be several reading challenges to take part in. Engaging in reading over the break helps prevent the summer ‘dip’ in literacy and reading, supports transition to new year groups and key stages, prepares students for a successful return to school, and fosters greater independence in reading.

Every challenge participated in comes with either a reward, prize or both!

The challenges students can take part in, either collectively or independently, are:

Summer Reading Challenge

Read six books you have not read before over summer and write a short review for one of them. Bring your review and the list of the six books with you on your first week back and give to the librarian.

Summer Extreme Reading Challenge

The Extreme Reading Challenge is back! Where is the most extreme or most unusual place you have ever read a book? Your challenge is to take a picture of yourself reading somewhere unusual. Send it to: admin@verulam.aetrust.uk with the subject line "FAO GMP - Extreme Reading". Include your name and form.

Sparx Reader Summer Challenge - 21^st July until 25^th August

Reach 100 Sparx Reader Points (SRP) or more every week during the summer. Top SRP achievers will be awarded with a Gold Reader Pass for 4 weeks and an LoR!

Hertfordshire Libraries Summer Reading Challenge

Hertfordshire Libraries have announced their free 2025 Summer Reading Challenge starting 5 July until 6 September, themed ‘Story Garden’. Children are invited to read 6 library books (or eBooks/eAudio) over the summer at your local library and collect rewards for their reading. Library staff are on hand to offer support and book recommendations.

Young people aged 14+ can volunteer at a library to support the delivery of the Summer Reading Challenge – and this can count towards the volunteering section of the DofE Award.

Head to your local library this summer and sign up! Visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries to check your local library. Visit https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ to find out more.

 

Enjoy the summer break and remember to keep reading!

Miss Pettitt.

June 2025

Trips

 ¡Viva Madrid! Year 10 Students Discover the Heart of Spain.

Our recent trip to Madrid was an unforgettable five-day adventure that immersed Year 10 students in the culture, art, cuisine and energy of Spain’s capital. From Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th June, students took part in a packed itinerary that balanced educational experiences, cultural enrichment, and plenty of fun.
After an early-morning departure, the group flew from Stansted to Madrid and immediately began exploring. Highlights from the first day included tasting traditional delicacies at the vibrant Mercado de San Miguel, followed by a tour of the magnificent Palacio Real. In the evening, students enjoyed a guided tapas tour, complete with chocolate con churros!
Over the following days, we strolled through the stunning Parque del Retiro eating ice cream, admired Picasso’s Guernica at the Museo Reina Sofía, and took in a breathtaking flamenco performance, a true taste of Spain’s artistic soul. Thursday saw the group brave thrilling rides at Parque de Atracciones, while Friday featured a behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. We rounded off the trip with a visit to the world-renowned Museo del Prado, exploring masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
Students were a credit to Verulam throughout, navigating the busy city with maturity and enthusiasm and getting lots of compliments on how respectful and well behaved they are. Their conduct, curiosity and willingness to engage in Spanish culture were exemplary. We are particularly proud of their efforts to communicate in Spanish across various settings, this was truly an example of learning brought to life.
Thank you to the staff who supported this trip and to all the families who made it possible. You can catch more highlights and photos from the trip on dedicated Instagram at @verulammadrid25 (https://www.instagram.com/verulammadrid25)
This really was more than just a trip, it was an amazing experience that broadened horizons and further cultivated a love of Spain, its language and culture, made all the more enjoyable by students being surrounded by their wonderful friends, old and new.
¡Hala Madrid!
Mr Holding

 Year 7 Lake District Trip

On 13th June Year 7 embarked on their first residential trip at Verulam, the epic Lake District Trip. We made good time on the journey and, as a result, were lucky enough to get the oldest boat ex-steam boat for our trip up Windermere before settling in to the hostel for dinner and then football at the park. The next day the weather wasn't the best. We woke up to torrential rain and thunder storms and Ghyll scrambling had to be postponed due to the amount of water coming off the fells. That said we all set off in earnest for our first activities, some mountain walking up Loughrigg, some canoeing on Windermere and some abseiling and cave walking at Cathedral Quarry in Great Langdale. The weather improved over the following few days and Ghyll scrambling was reinstated for those who missed it and a full programme of activities progressed with Bushcraft and Initiatives challenges in the evening and the penultimate night at the cinema. The final evening of the first half welcomed the second batch of students on the boat whilst we filled up on home made pizzas on the banks of Windermere before boarding the coaches home.

The second half of the trip had much better weather however we were told by the locals that it's not the wrong weather, it's the wrong clothes and anyway when you are in the lake or the ghyll you are wet anyway! Mr Moane was also on the receiving end of this when he got in the Lake with his group and they found it great fun when he allowed them to splash him!!

Another Verulam tradition went well. Exhausting but exhilarating all the same and many new long lasting memories made! 

Library

June & July 

The library celebrated Pride Month in June with different competitions and challenges. Well done to everyone who took part and won a prize!

Thanks to the incredible success of our Sponsored Read and the dedication of all the students who took part, our Reading Council was able to come together and select a range of exciting new books for the library. These fresh titles are now available for everyone to enjoy!

We have kicked off July by getting ready for the 2025 Women’s EURO tournament with different activities in the library. Take part in reading challenges, competitions, and a fun Guess the Score game. All challenges come with the chance to win rewards and football themed prizes.

Reading Challenge: Read three books about ‘Women in Sport’ this July to earn an LoR and a small prize. The student who reads the most will win a special UEFA trophy pin badge!

Guess the Score: Predict the results of each Women’s EURO match for your chance to win small prizes throughout the tournament.

Take part in our ongoing ‘Read Your Way Through Sport’ challenge also.

Do you think England will defend their EUROs title?
Miss Pettitt

Oli Mills Foundation Ball

After the successful return of the Mills match, we are delighted to support the Oli Mills Foundation's charity ball. This will raise much needed funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust and is the 20th anniversary of Oli's passing. 

 

• OMF 20th Anniversary Ball invitation

PE

PE Department Update 

It’s been another busy and successful month for the PE Department, with the final cricket fixtures and athletics meets of the term. Our Year 9 cricket team were the standout performers, losing to a very strong St Albans Boys School side in the District Cup.

Things are not slowing down just yet. In our next newsletter, we’ll be sharing highlights from Verulympics Week, the Blue Peris trip, The Herts School Games celebration Event and our very first PE Awards Evening. This special event will celebrate some of Verulam’s finest sporting talents. Pupils who have been nominated will have received an invite to what we hope will become a much-anticipated fixture in the school calendar for years to come.

We’re also excited to announce the launch of the Verulam Sports Academy. We've already received over 100 nomination forms, and successful candidates will be revealed in the next edition.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Mr Errington

Events

 The biggest cookery lesson with Jamie Oliver

On 1st July at 11am sixteen Year 10 students joined approximately 11,000 people across the country to take part in Jamie Oliver's Guinness world record attempt for the biggest cookery lesson. Following the recipe on zoom, the students created their own pasta with a tomato, garlic and basil sauce. The students had to act fast to keep up with the live chef but did brilliantly. They also learnt how to make two new pasta shapes; pici and gnocchetti. Students then enjoyed their pasta for lunch together. We will find out soon if we were successful in breaking the record!

Miss Tansley

 

Art Department to Kew Gardens

On a beautiful sunny day Verulam Art Department took, the art department took the year 10 GCSE Art & Design students to Kew Gardens in South London.  The students were given a map and instructions to explore, draw and take photos. Students had the opportunity to wander round the famous glasshouses, palm houses and sculptures dotted around the gardens – inside when it was wet, outside when the sun was shining. The students were able to record their observations in oil pastels, colour and tone pencils.  Students were found on the steps to the Temperate House busy sketching away, some students were seen sitting on benches drawing from the rich tapestry of flowers in front them and others were found taking photos of the vistas from the tree lined avenues.  Back in school students are going to produce some sketchbook work from their photographs and visit.

This year Kew is highlighting trees:  Kew States ‘Every tree has a story to tell’. Throughout the gardens There are a couple of trails so that visitors can understand and enrich their knowledge.  There are trails to identify different types of trees, show off different barks as well as looking at leaves both English and across the world. It was a fantastic day out

‘I enjoyed walking around and seeing different flowers as well as the view of London’. Jahari O

‘It felt like I was in 100 countries at once looking at the varieties of plants. Maksim N

‘I really liked the atmosphere because it felt relaxing and refreshing’. Max M

 Mrs Tomlin

May 2025

This time last year, I had just started Verulam as Headteacher (and little did I know that Ofsted were coming a week later!) If you read the rest of this newsletter, you can see that the school has much to be proud of. A diverse set of educational experiences and a range of trips and activities that should spark a passion in all. Our recent staff and pupil survey showed that staff and pupils are proud of their school, feel a sense of community and, above all, feel safe and cared for.

However, we have more to do and improvements can and will be made. I have been working with our governors on Verulam 2030, a vision for what the school could look like in five years time.

There are headwinds that face us: difficulties in recruiting teachers locally and a financial forecast that is very challenging. Pay rises that are imposed by central government but not funded must result in cuts somewhere in school life. We also know that demographics in St Albans mean that student numbers are likely to drop in future and we see the rise of Artificial Intelligence as both a threat and opportunity.

But there are reasons to be optimistic. We have plans to improve almost all aspects of school life, from investment in facilities in Design Technology and Science to an overhauled careers programme and richer extra-curricular offer in the creative arts. We work within a Trust of 10 schools where we are able to collaborate and support each other. The young people we work with have energy and high hopes for the future. They want to do more for the environment, for student leadership and for our community. Our plans can be simply summarised by our values of Excellence, Character and Respect.

A parent/carer survey has been emailed to you with a completion deadline of 23rd May. Please do let me know what you think via the survey, as this will help to shape our plans. Please do contact me if you have a view on Verulam 2030 and where the school should be in five years time.

Mr Moane
Headteacher

Trips & Visits

Paris 2025

On Tuesday 29th April, 20 year 10 students, 10 year 9 students and 4 members of staff set off at 5.30am from Verulam, on a coach, destination PARIS!

The journey sailed through and we found ourselves in the Stade de France where we visited the changing rooms, the museum, the pitch and the cells where the students were treated as rowdy fans! They then had their moment of glory pretending to be PSG coming out on the pitch. Great fun! It was then time to eat and the coach made its way to the buzzing centre of Paris. We were treated to a three-course meal every night in a different restaurant. What a treat! We can’t come to Paris and not try its gastronomy!

Day 2 was very busy: We visited le Sacre Coeur after going up its steps (over 200), Montmartre, the artist corner. We enjoyed the mosaics in the inside of the Sacre-Coeur, the view of Paris from the outside of the Basilica was stunning and we enjoyed the artistic atmosphere of the artist corner. We then visited the Eiffel Tower. We walked up to the second floor (674 steps!) and took the lift to the third (only because you can’t walk to it as the boys would have been very willing to keep going!). The boys were amazing as there was no moaning despite having walked up steps already! The view of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower was breath-taking. Definitely worth the 674 steps!

We were then booked on a river cruise to see Paris from the Seine. We saw Notre Dame fully restored although some scaffolding remained (a piece of art in itself). A small rest before we walked to Notre Dame and enjoyed its bells ringing again and the beauty of its inside. It only opened in January since being closed due to a fire in 2019. A real blessing to see it functioning again.

You would think that’s enough exercise for one day but not for our Verulam Boys who kept going! We walked to the Centre Pompidou with its modern building with colourful pipes. This houses modern art paintings and sculptures. At last, food time, not without another walk to the restaurant in the Latin Quarter this time: by the empty plates, our Boys were definitely starving! A short coach ride back to the hotel and not a sound coming from the Boys’ rooms, exhausting day but well-worth it!

Day 3 was very hot and very exciting! The whole day was spent in Asterix Park in 30 degrees trying out new roller coasters and queuing endlessly…. Day 4 and before the journey back home, we walked from the Louvre to the Arc De Triomphe, going through the most beautiful avenue of the world: Les Champ-Elysees.

What an amazing trip! Well done Verulam Boys, you definitely made us very proud in the way you conducted yourselves throughout the trip!

Mrs Herrington

 

Year 8 PGL Caythorpe Residential Trip – A Memorable Adventure!

Our Year 8 students recently returned from an unforgettable residential trip to PGL Caythorpe Court, and what an incredible few days it was!

This was our first time visiting the beautiful Caythorpe Court site, nestled in the Lincolnshire countryside. The weather was glorious throughout, and the stunning views added to the experience as students embraced the outdoors and every challenge thrown their way.

The itinerary was packed with a wide range of adventurous and engaging activities. From Quick Jump and abseiling to Jacob’s Ladder and canoeing, students challenged themselves physically and mentally, developing teamwork, confidence, and resilience along the way. Highlights included the thrill of archery tag, axe throwing, disc golf, laser tag, trapeze, the zip wire, and the high ropes course, each offering unforgettable moments of excitement and achievement.

A special mention goes to Joseph (8P) who we are told BROKE the PGL Caythorpe record for the trapeze and scaled to the top in 15 seconds!

Evenings were just as memorable, with a silent disco, the ever-popular PGL Verulam Games, and a cosy campfire where students toasted marshmallows under the stars for our last night.

Throughout the trip, students consistently impressed the PGL staff. Instructors and catering teams alike praised them for their politeness, excellent behaviour, and positive attitude, which reflected the values of Verulam School at every turn.

The trip wasn’t just about activities, it was also about bonding, laughter, and the joy of shared experience. Students left with stronger friendships, greater self-belief, and plenty of stories to share. We also became the gift shop’s best customers, of course!

A huge thank you to all the staff who supported the trip and to parents and carers for making this opportunity possible. For a visual recap, you can visit our dedicated Instagram page: @verulamy8pgl25.

Trips like this create memories that last a lifetime, and this one certainly delivered.

Mr Holding

Music Trip

Hertfordshire Music Service are well known for providing our visiting music teachers for individual lessons across a range of different instruments: piano, brass and guitar for example. Less well known is their annual concert for GCSE students. This year at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.

It was amazing. Upon entering it was clear to see the stage was set up for musicians and our compare informed the theatre that although there were only 8 musicians each one was showing off a different instrument including a Harpsichord.

The first half of the show was dedicated to an in-depth look at Classical music and the three clear eras: Baroque, Classical and the Romantic period. The Musicians played us snippets of Beethoven’s symphony’s and Mozart concertos and the differences and similarities explained to us. Having live musicians enabled students to hear just a few bars at a time to compare. Sometimes it came down to one or two instruments playing sections something you could never listen to at home! The compare described the music using the key vocabulary and related concepts from different exam boards to further aid the students understanding.

The second half was allocated to demonstrating how to produce a personal composition. How the students can develop a few bars of music into something exciting ensuring they are meeting the composition objectives. The audience – students and staff- did some warming up exercises both through clapping and singing to generate some basic ideas which the compare then demonstrated through a few samples of music. The professional musicians, both individually and in pairs, played us some manipulations and ideas with the actual music shown on the whiteboard, further reinforcing their understanding.

It was a fabulous afternoon.

Mrs Tomlin

 

Curriculum Update

GCSE Drama

Year 11 GCSE Drama students prepare for their Dress Rehearsal for the scripted examination. They are working on scenes from Posh by Laura Wade, which will be watched by the external examiner in our newly refurbished Drama Studio which is now both a teaching and a performance space. The students have hugely enjoyed working on this project, and their acting skills have improved no end as a result of this work!

Mr Moseley

Curriculum Enrichment

HPQ Presentation Evening

On Thursday 24th April, our Year 10 HPQ (Higher Project Qualification) students presented their work to an audience of students and parents/family members. The boys began their HPQ journey in September and over the course of the year have worked independently and voluntarily after school researching their chosen topic. They have learnt a number of key academic skills such as critical evaluation of research sources, identifying bias and ethical considerations when finalising their research questions.

As part of the process, the boys enjoyed a day of guided study at Southampton University in the Autumn term where they were assisted with their research and given access to the wealth of academic material available via the University library. They were also taught how to ‘call’ a book from the library and were awed by the impressive (five storey) physical library on campus.

Having completed their research, they then began the process of using this to write their 2,000 word projects including learning how to accurately cite their sources and compile a bibliography.

The final step was the presentations of their projects and reflections which boys handled admirably. Not only did they have to present their ideas and evaluations clearly, they also had to field questions from a very engaged audience – thank you to those parents who attended and asked some excellent questions!

I look forward to beginning the process again next September with our current Year 9 students – there will be an information evening explaining HPQ later in the summer term for parents/carers of current Year 9 students.

Mrs Avery

 

 

Young Economist of the Year 2025 Competition

The Royal Economic Society’s Young Economist of the Year 2025 competition has now been launched with our Y10 GCSE and Y12 A Level Economics students and we would strongly recommend that all students enter this competition either as an individual or as part of a team of up to five students. Entrants must choose and produce an answer to one of the following five questions;

1). What are the economic consequences of a falling birth rate, and what approaches can be taken to mitigate these?
2). What are the drivers of wealth inequality in the UK and how can they be addressed?
3). What are the economic effects of tariffs for consumers, businesses and global economies?
4). Will aviation expansion allow the UK to achieve economic growth and meet climate commitments simultaneously?
5). How can economics explain the high price of a supercar?

Students have until Sunday 29th June to submit their entries and should follow the relevant instructions and information which is posted on google classroom to ensure their entry meets the specified criteria. Selected finalists will be invited to attend tours and meetings at HM Treasury and Number 10 Downing Street, before presenting their research to a panel of esteemed judges at the KPMG offices in Canary Wharf. For any further questions or information, please speak to an Economics teacher, look on google classroom or use the link below;

https://res.org.uk/committees/pd-education-committee/young-economist-of-the-year/

Mr Engel

Extra Curricular

HfL Challenge – Year 7 Finals

After placing third in their individual heat our Year 7 RUL team headed to Stevenage on the 24th of April to compete once more against the top 21 teams in Hertfordshire! With some fantastic questions and team work it was an excellent day out, the boys showed off their skills particularly in the general knowledge and the memory rounds.

We may not have come home with a trophy but we do have a very proud department and some truly fantastic students. Well done to William B-D, Justin C, Howard C and Jonathan H. Thank you for representing our school so well!

Mx Moreland

Library Activities

This April the library held an Arcade Challenge for ‘National Arcade Day’ on 8th April. For every challenge completed, students would earn tokens that could be exchanged for exciting prizes. They even had the chance to play our retro Pac Man machine!

Our ongoing reading-at-home initiative, ‘Read to Your Sibling’ with our new ‘Sibling Shelf’ is in full swing. Well done to everyone taking part in this already and for making a difference to your sibling’s reading.

In May, the library celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE day by hosting a variety of activities in our ‘street party’. Well done to all the participants, especially those who completed the extreme university VE day quiz!

We also held a summer book fair with Scholastic, inviting students to purchase new, recommended and classic books as well as exciting stationary, notebooks and gift packs.

June will see Pride Month being celebrated in the library, including an incredible competition. Students are invited by Schools Out to design the LGBT+ History Month badge for 2026. The winner will have their design as the official badge that will be sold across the UK. Register interest to Miss Pettitt for more information and to be part of history.

Miss Pettitt

 

 

Weightlifting Taken to New Heights

The final week of Spring term saw our hard working Year 9 weightlifters come to the end of a very tough training cycle. Over the past three months, students have been regularly attending sessions after school, learning how to lift weights in a technically coherent manner.

Two students in particular have been exemplary in their attendance to these sessions and have made heavy progress. Alfie B was able to lift 80kg in the back squat, 40kg in the bench press, and 95kg in the deadlift to give him a grand total of 215kg. Charlie K was able to lift 100kg in the back squat, 65kg in the bench press and 135kg in the deadlift, to give him a grand total of 300kg.

To put that into perspective, after only three months of training, both boys are roughly 80kg off the total entry for their respective powerlifting weight categories- for the Men’s U18 national championships. Both Charlie and Alfie are only 14! As the Year 9s head into Year 10, they will be learning the Olympic movements of the snatch and clean and jerk – some of the most technical and traditional forms of lifting weights over head; developing their physical and mental fortitude heartily along the way.

Mr Curcic

Summer Term Clubs

Details of lunchtime and after school clubs and activities for the Summer term is available on the school website by following the link here.

Mr Toley

Sports Round-Up

The spring term ended on a high note with the Year 7 basketball team winning their league undefeated. The Year 9 and Year 10 football teams performed heroically, both reaching their district cup finals, though narrowly missing out on victory. On a positive note, the Year 7 futsal team were crowned county champions, dominating every opponent and winning the final 4–0.

As we move through the summer term, the PE department has been buzzing with activity and achievements across a wide range of sports.

Cricket season is well under way, and it’s been great to see our boys’ teams developing their skills and confidence with every match. Their improvement game by game has been a real highlight.

Year 8 pupils have been enjoying golf during their Games lessons this term, learning the fundamentals of the sport and showing great enthusiasm on the driving range and putting green.

Gaelic football has made an exciting debut at our school. The coaching sessions have been incredibly popular, and we’re thrilled to announce that we have entered our first ever Gaelic football tournament. It’s been fantastic to see such a positive response to a new sport in the curriculum.

Athletics has kept the department especially busy, with several meets already under our belt. Our Year 10 athletes have been particularly impressive, standing out as one of the top year groups in the County League.

We’re also delighted to share some fantastic news from the tennis courts: our Year 9 tennis team are now County Champions! A huge congratulations to Noah and Patrick, who performed remarkably to help secure the trophy.

Well done to all pupils for their continued effort and enthusiasm – it’s shaping up to be a memorable term of sport!

Mr Errington

 

 

Events

Triumphant return for the Mills Match!

The Mills Match made a fantastic return this year, organised at short notice but raising an incredible £2,200 for a very special cause.

Thank you to everyone who took part or supported the event, helping to raise money in memory of former student Oli Mills, who tragically passed away from cancer while at Verulam 20 years ago.

The pupils’ match turned into a thriller, ending 5-5 before going to penalties. The goal of the game came from Jack Dracos, who scored a stunning 30-yard screamer, while Arthur Rennie-Sivell impressed with an outstanding hat-trick.

The staff match finished with a 4-1 defeat to the Mills Match XI, with Mr Zaman scoring after a brilliant assist from Mr Errington.

We look forward to an even bigger and better Mills Match next year!

Mr Errington

 

 

 

Eid Lunch

On the first of April (not an April fool!), we hosted an Eid lunch, and welcomed students from all (or no) faith backgrounds to join on either lower or upper lunch times. A highly esteemed guest speaker, and local leader of the St Albans Islamic Centre, Mr Akhtar Zaman gave a short talk about the lessons we can learn from a period of extended fasting, and the appreciation of the positive things in our lives.

The food was delicious and it was a joy to see students and staff all breaking bread together and holding good old-fashioned conversations with each other at the lunch table. Eid Mubarak!

Mr Curcic

 

Spring Production: Lord of the Flies

Bringing the Spring term to a close was the Creative Arts production of Lord of the Flies.

Written in 1954, Lord of the Flies is a novel by British author William Golding. It explores the inherent darkness within human nature through the story of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. Without adults to guide them, they initially attempt to form a society but soon descend into chaos and savagery.

The cast consisted of only 11 boys mainly from years 7 & 8, supported by some of the current year 10 GCSE group. With the scene set, the audience were pulled into the uncertain future of the boys and how they would survive. Ralph (played by Thomas C) immediately takes charge hoping for a rescue however Jack (played by Vinny) used a dictatorship approach to lead his gang into savagery.

The contrast between the two groups of boys was acted superbly. Vinny riled up his group: Roger (Aksel), Maurice (Matthew), Henry (Sonny), Bill (Kendrick) leading them down a dark path with their sneering, chanting and stomping. Their clothes became ragged and they adorned their bodies with tribal markings. (Thanks must go to Mrs Hannat for all her hard work in costume & make up).

Jack leading his group: Piggy (Felix), Sam (Ben), Simon (Dylan), Eric (Kerr), Perceval (Princeton) maintained a more thoughtful and practical approach to biding their time and hoping for a rescue. Their portrayal of naivety and innocence was fabulous.

Finally, the boys were rescued by a member of the British Navy (played by Juha on Thursday and Eddie on the Friday).
The whole focus was on the boys at all times and as such they had a lot of lines to remember and act through. I heard many positive comments regarding their abilities and talent. The set was minimalistic further reinforcing the relationship of the boys and therefore highlighting the fantastic acting from each member of the cast.

Backstage, Basil was lighting director and Billy our sound engineer, both ensuring a professional shine to the performance. Brothers James and Charlie along with Leo managed the backstage capably.

It was truly a wonderful evening. Congratulations to Mr Moseley for his first production at Verulam and I look forward to inviting you to next year’s show.

Mrs Tomlin

 

VE Day Celebrations

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we reflect on the immense sacrifices made during World War II and the joy that peace brought on that historic day in 1945. Attached are two special stories that bring this remembrance closer to home. One tells the story of Michael Boden, a former Verulam student, described as “brilliant,” who tragically lost his life in Italy in 1944 whilst serving with the Hertfordshire Regiment. The other is a heart-warming story that only came to light recently when the daughter of Olga Hopkins – the first female teacher of Verulam School and a WAAF veteran – called the school. Olga’s remarkable service and lasting legacy at Verulam, including the origin of our tradition of addressing female staff as “Ma’am”, offer a powerful connection to our shared past. We hope these stories inspire reflection and pride in our community and its contribution to history. Faire Mon Devoir.

Mr Pettitt

 

Huge Thanks to the PTA

Following the hugely successful PTA Quiz in February, we were delighted to receive donations of every single item on our Giving Tree Wishlist from the PTA! Several departments received support including a new visualiser for Ms McInally, historical graphic novels for the library, weighing scales, handheld mixers and muffin trays for Food Tech and a huge delivery of equipment for science amongst other requested items. Here’s just a small snippet of the comments we received from staff when delivering their goodies:

Thank you for supporting the science faculty by helping to provide some essential items to keep our prep room running. We all greatly appreciate it. Mr Charmokly – Head of Science

Thank you so much to the PTA and for the invention of the Giving Tree for our brand new box of calculators. This will help us provide students with a calculator for tests if they happen to have left them at home. This is a fantastic addition to the department and please extend your thanks to parents when you see them next. Mr Hardy – Head of Maths

Huge thank you to the amazing Verulam School PTA for the brand new match balls. They look fantastic and we can’t wait to put them to good use. Your support really makes a difference – we truly appreciate it! Mr Errington – Head of PE

Thank you for the new and exciting books, they are a fantastic addition to our library! Both myself and the students are deeply grateful for your generous contribution. Miss Pettitt – Librarian

We would like to thank the PTA for their continued support to learning in this school. Alex – Year 7

We are grateful for the books the PTA have given us. Muhammad – Year 7

Verulam Cricket Club

To all Verulam School parents, staff and friends – New players needed!

• Friendly social cricket. For occasional, rusty and/or regular adult cricketers – and (if we’re short) their children! Not for complete beginners, sorry, but the emphasis is on “social”.
• Midweek summer evenings, May to July. 20/20 social format.
• We play at club and park venues in and around St Albans.
• You’ll need whites, but no need to buy equipment as we have a full kit bag.
• No minimum commitment, you could play all/most of the 10-12 fixtures, or just 1 or 2.
• A match fee covers costs, including a hot snack.
• Nets practice sessions in the spring.
• Interested? Please contact Matt Melling to join us or with any query: mattmelling@ntlworld.com 07785-374826

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