This week has been exceptionally busy across our school community, with pupils engaged in a wide range of meaningful activities. Our Year 7 pupils wrote Christmas messages to residents of Lime Grove Care Home who also enjoyed a performance of Christmas carols by our Chamber Choir. It was an outstanding example of young people connecting with older members of our local community.
On Wednesday evening, we welcomed families to the Year 9 Options Evening, an important step on the pathway to GCSEs. It was inspiring to see pupils taking the lead in shaping their academic journey and engaging thoughtfully with the choices ahead. Our Year 11 pupils have shown great focus during their English mock exams, and their commitment continues next week with Modern Foreign Languages speaking mock exams. These assessments are a vital part of their preparation, and we are proud of their diligence.
I was also fortunate to enjoy lunch with our Year 12 pupils at Effingham Sixth Form. The boys reminisced about their time at Cranmore, concerts, productions, and shared experiences, and explored ways they can return to support younger pupils. Their enthusiasm for giving back is a testament to the strength of our community.
Beyond the classroom, it has been rewarding to meet pupils participating in the Renaissance Challenge as they reach its conclusion. Their dedication to exploring interests and expanding intellectual curiosity over the past year has been remarkable. These super-curricular opportunities, which go beyond the curriculum, are highly valued in higher education and the workplace. They demonstrate motivation, independence, and a capacity for advanced study, qualities that will serve them well in the future.
Meanwhile, our Christmas Reading Challenge is underway, and it is delightful to see pupils embracing the joy of reading. This aligns with the Times “Get Britain Reading” campaign, supported by leading authors, and reinforces the importance of reading as a lifelong habit.
Mr Everitt
GCSE Options Evening
We were delighted to welcome our Year 9 pupils and their parents to the GCSE Options Evening last night. The event began with a presentation outlining the structure of the GCSE curriculum, along with the many enriching opportunities available during these years. These include the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme and exciting initiatives in digital literacy, such as the iDEA (Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award). This programme offers industry -recognised, bite-sized accredited courses in areas like cyber security, AI, and digital ethics.
Pupils and parents then had the opportunity to visit subject stalls in the Science and Technology Centre to discuss the requirements of the GCSE course. The evening proved to be informative and enjoyable and we look forward to guiding our next GCSE cohort as they make their choices and select subjects in which they can flourish.
Mr Pulford
Christmas Reading Challenge
We are inviting all Senior pupils to take part in this festive reading adventure. Our department has handpicked some seasonal favourites perfect for curling up with on those chilly winter days.
Everyone who participates will receive a certificate in January: read 3 books for a Bronze certificate , 4 books for a Silver certificate and 5 books for a Gold certificate. Participants will also be entered into a raffle for the chance to win some amazing prizes!
Mrs Watkinson and the English Department
Years 7-9
Years 10 and 11
The Renaissance Challenge 2025
This week Mr Heaver and Mr Pulford convened a meeting for the Year 8 Academic Scholars, who have now reached the conclusion of the Renaissance Challenge; a year-long project that allows pupils to explore numerous disciplines under the title of ‘badges’; these include: current affairs; art and culture; museums, galleries and theatre; history reading; science; music; languages; architecture; maths and the presentation badge, which gives free reign to explore an area of pupils’ own interest.
Mr Everitt also joined this meeting and was able to hear the boys reflect on their experiences, which were truly impressive. One pupil’s reading record listed 30 titles, including Michael Morpurgo’s Listen to the Moon, through to Rick Riordan’s Greek fantasy series – next stop the Iliad! We also heard about explorations into bacterial resistance to antibiotics and deep ocean science and a new-found taste for fine art.
The boys will receive a certificate in the final assembly of this term. Next term these pupils will take part in a handover meeting to the current Year 7 Scholars, as well as being introduced to a new challenge, which involves preparing for a 1500-word essay.
Mr Pulford, Deputy Head, Academic
Inspired by the remarkable discovery of the Lascaux Cave paintings in France, Art Club students have been creating their own interpretations of cave walls using plaster, sand, and board. After staining the surfaces with tea and paint, they applied watercolours to depict their scenes.
Monday evenings are always a vibrant hub of creativity, offering pupils the opportunity to explore artistic techniques beyond the classroom curriculum. Our sincere thanks to Jonathan for introducing this excellent project.
Mrs Sanders
Our combined U16 and Effingham Sixth Form rugby team delivered another fantastic performance, securing a 19–14 victory over Glyn. Over the weekend, our U14 and U15 teams also celebrated wins against Thomas’s College. Meanwhile, our U12 squads continue their impressive unbeaten streaks, and the U13s enjoyed some excellent matches this week against Shrewsbury House. Best of luck to all players taking part in tomorrow’s eight fixtures against Dunottar.
Mouthguards
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Mr Hodgson, Director of Sport
A Message from our Chaplaincy Team
This Week
A reading from the Book of Isaiah
A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Reflection
As we journey through this Advent season, we enter a time of waiting, pausing, expecting. In our fastpaced world, impatience comes easily. Traffic jams, long queues at the post office so many things test our patience. We want everything done now, quickly, without delay. Yet Advent reminds us that good things take time. We are called to be patient with ourselves, with others, and with the way God answers our prayers. Look at nature: growth is slow and steady. Good things take time. God is at work within us and in our lives, carefully and deliberately bringing things together. This Advent, let us wait on Him and trust His timing.
Prayer
My loving Jesus, May we choose You, this Advent, as our King and God.
May we abandon ourselves to You and seek to put all our trust in Your tender care.
Draw us close to You and free us from all things that separate us from you.
Amen
“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.”
– St. André Bessette
Week
Main Locally Sourced Pork Sausages with Onion Gravy
Vegetarian
Sides
Additional
Vegan Sausages with Onion Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Panache of Mixed Vegetables
Grilled Piri Piri
Chicken with Homemade piri piri sauces
Dessert
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Prep School
Harrison Bear 1st
Stop Cyprus –Shamali
Senior School -
Apple & Winter
Berry Crumble with Custard
Sticky BBQ Cauliflower Wings
Cajun Potato Wedges
Rainbow Slaw
Pasta with Tomato & Basil Sauce
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Prep School
Harrison Bear 2nd
Stop Latvia –
Aleksandra Kuka
Senior School - Old
School Cake
Slow Roasted Beef
Lasagne with a Mozzarella Top
Fish or Breaded Fish
Fillet with Ketchup and Tartare Sauce
Turkey With Cranberry Stuffing
Spinach Butternut and Feta Gnocchi Bake Stuffed Mushrooms
Brie, Cranberries, Butternut Squash Filo Parcels
Roasted Potatoes
Garlic Bread Broccoli
Jacket Potato & Baked Beans
Freshly Baked Bread
Salad bar
Prep school
Harrison Bear 3rd
Stop Estonia –Kringle
Senior SchoolMillionaire
Shortbread
Items in Italic - Sourced from F Conisbee’s, our local butcher
