Newsletter – 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
Pastoral
Attendance Matters
On 14th March, the Department for Education published an important piece of research on the link between attendance and attainment. The full report can be read here.
90% attendance means missing almost four whole school weeks per year, and this accumulates as teachers rarely have the time to fully reteach topics. Year 7 upwards provides foundational knowledge for study at GCSE and A-level. I will leave you with a startling conclusion from the research. Although it is focused upon year 11, similar conclusions can be drawn for other years where just 10 days not in school has a measurable and significant effect upon attainment:
At KS4, pupils who attended school nearly every day in Year 11 (with an attendance rate of 95-100%) were 1.9 times more likely to achieve the Grade 5 in English and Maths GCSE compared to pupils who only attended 90-95% of the time (relating to upto 2 weeks more time in school over the course of a year) and 3 times more likely than persistently absent pupils who only attend 85-90% of the time (relating to 4 – 6 weeks more time in school). This means missing just 10 days of year 11 reduced the likelihood of achieving grade 5 in English and Maths by around 50%. Pupils who attended school 90-95% of them time were also 1.6 times more likely to achieve
Grade 5 in Maths and English GCSE compared to pupils who only attended 85-90% of them time, relating to an additional 2-4 weeks in school.
Please check your My Child At School app or web portal for a live view of your child’s attendance.
Mr Moane
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.
Next month there will be a new challenge and more exciting activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE day! Keep an eye out for our VE day street party menu to see what activities you could participate in.
On 12th May there will be a Scholastic Book Fair being held in the library for the chance to buy new books and stationary. Every book bought at this fair will earn free books for Verulam School and students will get the opportunity to compete in challenges to win £5 prize vouchers to spend at the book fair.
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
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
Coming Up
Monday 26th – Friday 30th May
Half Term – School closed
Monday 2nd – Friday 6th June
Year 8 Exams
Tuesday 3rd – Friday 6th June
Madrid Trip
Monday 9th – Friday 20th June
Year 12 Threshold Exams
Thursday 12th June
Kew Gardens Trip
Thursday 12th June
District Athletics
Thursday 12th June
Year 12 UCAS Parent Workshop – 7pm
Friday 13th – Wednesday 18th June
Lake District Trip 1
Saturday 14th June
Year 12 UCAS Parent Workshop – 10am
Monday 16th – Friday 20th June
Year 9 Exams
Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st June
Lake District Trip 2
Thursday 19th June
Year 6 Transition Evening
Saturday 21st June
Year 6 Transition Morning
Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th June
Sixth Form Induction
Thursday 26th June
Year 7 Parent Consultation Evening
Friday 27th June
Year 13 Leavers Celebration – 5pm
