Congratulations to the upcoming Heads, Deputy Heads, and Prefects for 2025-2026!
Heads: Emilia and Kit, Deputy Heads: Sam and Emma, and Prefects: Karan, Jake, Sophia, Asya, Grace, Jess, Alex, Max, Charlotte, Keza, Shannon, Tallulah, Rachel, Romilly, Ayesha, Kasmir, Manasseh, Esme, Marina, Jak, Flora, Joseph, Fred, Kaia, Valentina, Gabbi, Vittorio, Ollie, Sergio, Meadow, Emma, and Maisie. are just a small part of what our pupils achieve during their time with us.
EMANUEL ECHO SCHOOL PODCAST
Miss H Bailey Digital Content & Communications Officer
The Emanuel Echo podcast has been a huge success since its launch. Episodes cover topics, ranging from Meet the Head and the transition from primary to secondary school. Scan the QR code to listen or you can search for us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
A LEVEL AND IGCSE RESULTS
Mr R Kothakota Headmaster
A level
Our Upper Sixth have once again excelled in achieving a fantastic set of A level results. With well over two-thirds of entries grades at A* or A – and over 30% graded at A*this cohort have continued the trend of achieving exceptional final outcomes, while contributing impressively to the full range of co-curricular and outreach activities during their time. These results are a testament to the aspiration and endeavour of the students, the guidance of their teachers, and the support of their families.
IGCSE
We are delighted to see our Year 11 pupils
rewarded with some exceptional results at (I) GCSE.
46% of results achieved the top grade 9, with over 75% graded 8 or 9 and 91% graded 9-7 (A*-A). Building on the strong final outcomes of previous year groups, this talented cohort have been justly rewarded for their hard work and commitment to their studies, while contributing fully to the co-curricular life of the school.
A level Results 2025 (including EPQ)
A NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS
Mr C Janz
Director of Music
Emanuel brought the magic of Broadway and the West End to the Clapham Grand for an unforgettable celebration of musical theatre. Featuring the Emanuel School Choir, the Emanuel School Parents’ Choir, Shaftesbury Park Primary School, and a professional
16-piece West End band, the evening showcased a dazzling range of repertoire from Little Shop of Horrors, Porgy and Bess, Sunday in the Park with George, and Sweeney Todd.There were several fantastic solos from Myla, Emily, Lulu, Marina, Selene, Esme, Eva, Amber and Maddie. Performances were polished, passionate and full of theatrical flair, with pupils and parents alike rising to the occasion in front of a packed audience. It was a spectacular night of music-making and collaboration - one that will live long in the memory of all who attended
THE TIMES PARENT POWER
Mr R Kothakota
Headmaster
Emanuel is pleased to again see excellent outcomes in The Times Parent Power 2025 publication.
Following on from our excellent GCSE examination results in the summer, the
ART, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITIONS
Mr C Reed Head of Art
During the summer term, the private view for the A Level and GCSE Art, Photography, and Design & Technology exhibitions were held to celebrate the hard work and success of our Upper Sixth and Year 11 students. The exhibitions demonstrated the impressive skill and creativity of the Emanuel pupils using a wide variety of media and techniques. They were excellent exhibitions for which the pupils and the school should feel very proud.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION
Mrs R Chetwood Head of Lower School
Last term, we celebrated the Year 6 class of 2024-25 with a day of graduation celebrations. A ceremony in the Chapel, where students received their graduation certificates, awards, and beautiful yearbooks which they filled with messages from peers and teachers to reflect on what a wonderful year it was! Followed by an afternoon tea with pupils, teachers and parents. Congratulations to all and best of luck for the year ahead.
NATIONAL BOOK READING CHAMPIONS QUIZ
Mr T Jones Senior Librarian & Archivist
We were delighted to win the recent National Reading Championship Quiz, organised by the National Literacy Trust. Emanuel School has been participating in book related quizzes since around 2010, but this is the first time we have won a big national prize, so are incredibly proud of our fantastic team.
school was ranked 5th amongst fully co-ed independent day schools. When combined with our strong A-Level results the school was 10th among fully co-ed independent day schools.
Just as we never measure a pupil’s value by examination outcomes alone, we see that these indicators of academic performance are just a small part of what our pupils achieve during their time with us..
We qualified for the final by winning one of the 22 national heats, with only the winning team from each heat securing a place in the prestigious final. Schools came from all over the UK and as far away as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This book related competition began during Covid, and we have participated in all the four years it has been running. For the first two years we came second in our heat, narrowly missing out on a spot in the national final, which we reached for the first-time last year.
Our team of Tosca (captain Y9), Tom (Y9), Beatrice (Y8), Cecilia (Y7) and Mishka (reserve, Y8) were an absolute credit to the school. Winning national prizes, in any event, does not happen very often and our team showed that being well read is crucial to success.
Our thanks to the National Reading Trust for organising such a super event and the highly entertaining quiz master Mr Dilly.
UKMT MATHS SUCCESS
Mr R Bishop Teacher of Mathematics
This year marks Emanuel’s greatest ever achievement in the UKMT Mathematics Challenges.
In the Junior Maths Challenge a record 51 students achieved a Gold Award and an incredible 249 students in Year 6-8 achieved a bronze, silver or gold award. This number was 78 in 2019 and this shows the growth of mathematics at Emanuel over the past 5 years. Only the top 50% of students who
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EMANUEL STUDENT
Mishka Year 8
Thursday, 7:15am, I park my bike in the cycle area and dash to the aquatics centre for a pre-school swim. After a lightning change of
sit the paper obtain a certificate, so this is a remarkable effort..
In the Intermediate Maths challenge, Farhan (Year 10) continued his phenomenal success in the Olympiad rounds achieving a merit award, which places him towards the top of his year group in the country.
Flora, Marie and Zara in Year 10 continue the contingent of outstanding young women mathematicians coming through the school, all achieving merits in the Kangaroo competition.
It is a really exciting time for mathematics at Emanuel and we wish those who qualified for the Junior Mathematics Olympiad and Kangaroo the best of luck in the next round.
attire, I head off to registration.
8:40am, our first lesson is ‘Entrepreneurship’. This is something innovative offered by Emanuel, to get us thinking about business and the wider world.
9:20am, back into the pool for PE, waterpolo. I love this because it combines swimming and elements of netball. 10am, suitably refreshed and ready for English, we are studying ScienceFiction this term. The English lesson is divided by break where we enjoy a snack and catch up with friends.
THE EMANUEL EXPO
Dr G Ni Cheallaigh SMT Associate & Teacher of MFL
The weekly Expo events are an opportunity for pupils from all year groups to do that through participating in regular super-curricular activities.
Expo is an integral part of the ‘no-limits learning’ ethos of academic stretch, challenge and enrichment at Emanuel which underpins our new Inspired Learners Award and encourages pupils to Explore – Experiment – Exceed expectations within the classroom and more importantly, beyond.We aim to instil in our learners a habit of intellectual curiosity and passion that will lead to lifelong enrichment, happiness and success.
“The Emanuel of the present is an astonishing evolution of the Emanuel of the past. Results have improved exponentially, with consequent rise up league tables.”
Good Schools Guide
11.35am, Mr Martin always finds a way to inspire us with his assemblies, we have all learned a lot about music through the decades, courtesy of his ‘Beat the Intro’ game! This is followed by lunch at 12pm - we have a wide range of delicious food to choose from, dishes such as Chicken Katzu and Lasagne keep us well fuelled. I head to a music practice room where Mr Stevens is helping me to learn Music Theory.
13:15 over to the languages block for French. Madame Lewis makes our lessons interactive
EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGAUGES
Mr G Ni Cheallaigh Teacher of French
This week the MFL department ran its own European Week of Languages.
The official European Day of Languages was first established in 2001 as ‘a means of promoting awareness among the general public of the importance of language learning and protecting the linguistic heritage’ and is celebrated every
and engaging - especially working on developing a wide range of French vocabulary.
14:35 the best maths lesson of the week‘Sparx’.We pit our wits against each other in a race to complete the questions.
15:15, final lesson of the day is Drama. Mr Rogers has built my confidence to perform in front of my peers.
16:00, my after school club is rehearsing for the Year 7&8 play, ‘Mam, There’s a Spaceship in Our Backyard’. I like watching the other students, everyone has a different style.
year on the 26th September. As part of our week-long celebrations, students enjoyed special themed lessons involving activities such as code cracking and co-curricular quizzes on Geography, History and Science. In form times, they discussed the importance of learning languages and how it can improve our memory, inter-personal skills and concentration. They even had a go at translating some obscure idioms! On Friday, the Lower School enjoyed a themed home clothes day where they could dress in the colours of a European flag, and students across all years tucked into some tasty baked treats at the charity bake sale.
Learn more
Miss C Armstrong Teacher of Design Technology and Environmental Leader
This week Emanuel Eco Week was underway, featuring a variety of engaging activities focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. From a recycling workshop and paper-making session to a repair clothing workshop and gardening club, students learned valuable skills and information on how to reduce waste and live more ecofriendly lives.The environmental photography competition added a creative touch to the week, encouraging participants to capture the beauty of nature, human impact and the importance of protecting our planet.
Our eco week form time discussions centered around the increasingly prevalent issue of ecoanxiety. Students engaged in conversations about the growing concerns over climate change, discussing the emotional toll and stress that can result from these challenges. Overall, it was a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and make a positive impact on the environment.
In Gardening club this week and as part of ecoweek, the gardeners planted pumpkin seeds (that will be ready in time for Halloween!) and cosmos seeds to add a splash of colour to the garden. We harvested spinach and radish and it won’t be long until we can start picking our broad beans.
ECO-SCHOOLS’ GREEN FLAG
TFL GOLD AWARD
Emanuel received international accreditation for their exceptional work in promoting sustainability and raising environmental awareness amongst their peers. The EcoSchools programme, established in 1994, is now implemented in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2023-24, more than 1.4 million pupils attended an Eco-School in England.
Pupils at Emanuel used Eco-Schools’ triedand-trusted seven-step framework to create positive change. Initially, a pupil-led EcoCommittee was established: this committee took responsibility for spearheading their school’s environmental initiatives.
Last academic year the Eco Committee worked closely with TFL on their STARS programme. TFL came into school for several workshops and helped the student body design and implement initiatives to encourage the Emanuel community to travel to school sustainably, actively and responsibly
by championing walking, scooting and cycling to reduce congestion and improve road safety and air quality. Approaches included giving assemblies to promote the benefits of active travel, spot prizes to students who walked and cycled to school during Eco Week and monitoring air quality by looking at the indicator species lichen. We achieved an incredible shift to see over 90% of the Emanuel pupils travelling to school actively and therefore were awarded both Silver and Gold accreditation within the year. A fantastic achievement for the Eco Committee.
OVER 4000 TREES PLANTED
Miss C Armstrong Environmental Lead
On behalf of the Eco committee, Emanuel School has partnered with Ecologi, which is a company specialising in helping offset CO2 emissions.
Over the October half-term, we had three trips to Rome, Barcelona the Netherlands, and whilst the benefits of exploring other cultures and sites is extensive and an important part of education, we are not oblivious to the impacts this has on our climate. To support a more sustainable future, for all trips we are now calculating what each pupil’s carbon footprint will be, and asking families for a voluntary contribution to the Emanuel Forest to help offset these emissions.
The Eco committee is thrilled to announce families have already contributed enough to plant 875 trees and support two projects in Peru and Thailand (protecting the Tambopata-Bahuaja Biodiversity Reserve in Peru and a wind power project in Thailand)!
Miss C Armstrong Environmental Lead
Miss C Armstrong Environmental Lead
UK SPACE DESIGN COMPETITION
Mr T Jones Senior Librarian & Archivist
Twelve Y12 pupils put in an incredible 12 hour shift on Saturday 2nd December for the UK Space Design Competition at Imperial College London. This is a fantastic challenge that saw them designing a hypothetical mining base on the moon!
During this trip, I learnt how to better communicate with people I’d never spoken to before about things I knew little about. I found competing in the UK Space Design incredibly rewarding, as I was learning and collaborating with others. Additionally, working together at Condor represented what it would be like to work for an engineering firm in the future. This included doing research about the way certain things work, how many parts would be needed, and the most cost-effective way to implement these parts. Finally, I learnt that doing things in a simple manner is often far better than trying to overengineer something, as it leads to confusion from everyone.
Despite not being awarded the contract, I still found participating in it extremely rewarding. I hope that I am allowed to participate again next year, as it was a lot of fun.
William - Year 12
LIFE EDUCATION
Mr R Kothakota
Headmaster
We continue to work closely with the charity Let Me Know and welcomed nine passionate presenters to deliver a workshop to Y9 pupils on how to build happy lives through healthy relationships. The charity aims to empower young people and the workshop equipped pupils with knowledge on healthy and unhealthy behaviours within relationships. Through group discussions, real life scenarios and self-reflections, pupils in year 9 developed practical tools and strategies to help themselves and others navigate relationship situations.
CHESS: TEN WINS IN A ROW!
Mr T
Jones
Senior Librarian
The 2024 season finished with a mixture of excitement, pride, and a touch of heartache. Last September we started the campaign with back-to-back very close losses against two Wilsons Grammar School teams (7-5 and 6.5-5.5). At the time, little did we know we would then win our next ten matches in succession, remaining unbeaten for the remainder of the season!
DOCTOR WHO CLUB
Mr P Adams
Teacher of Classics
Junior Doctor Who Club enjoyed a talk and Q&A with one of our very own students - Kit Rakusen (9HB). Kit played the role of Henry Arbinger in the most recent ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘The Devil’s Chord’, starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Jinkx Monsoon.The episode begins with a pre-title sequence in which Kit’s character is taught a piano lesson which takes a twisted turn with the arrival of ‘Maestro’. Kit described the process of auditioning and
Lower Sixth volunteers continue to represent young people on the LMK Youth Advisory Board and have been doing some incredible work raising awareness of the charity, fundraising and pitching to organisations for financial support for the charity. Current Year 11 pupils will have the opportunity should they wish to apply to be a volunteer on YAB next academic year, details will be shared with pupils at the end of the examination period. We are also working in collaboration with them as they look to introduce relationship ambassadors within schools, this is an exciting project and opportunity to continue to educate and increase the awareness of the importance of healthy relationships.
filming the episode, as well as his impressions of the script and aspirations for the future. He also plays Dick in the current BBC series ‘The Famous Five’ and so has a very busy acting schedule. We were very lucky to have Kit come along to share his experience of ‘Doctor Who’. He is a very talented actor, and we wish him all the best for his future projects.
SILVER DOFE PRACTICE EXPEDITION SUCCESS
Mr A Leadbetter Societies Coordinator
They say fortune favours the brave, and that was how it turned out for the forty Year 10 students who ventured down to the New Forest to complete their practice expedition for their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. The weather and scenery were almost unrelentingly glorious, as was the mood in the camp, despite the effect of the heat during the walks, one of which was twenty Km with a full backpack on, and that is without getting lost! If the first campsite was a little on the noisy side, being adjacent to a busy road, the second site on the edge of Ashurst, and a stone’s throw from Lyndhurst, was beautiful, quiet and spacious. Indeed, after supper, some of the students exploited the freedom and explored the area – everybody had a wonderful time, possibly with the exception of Zara F. and Zara C. who both managed to fall into a bog, resulting in them looking reminiscent of participants of a well-known, and often rain drenched festival. The instructors were extremely complimentary of the pupils in general and made a point of telling me how impressed they had been with some of the navigating by Sam, Oliver, Max and Freddie,
FILM IN A WEEK
Mrs J Dunley Head of Film
This term, our first cohort of ten Film Studies students have started producing their own 5-minute films for the coursework component of the A-Level course. Over the last few weekends, students have been borrowing specialist filmmaking kits from the school to complete their individual film shoots. We have been so impressed with the professional approach that the students have taken towards their film productions, their excellent teamwork, and the quality of the material that they have captured. Huge thanks to all the parents and friends of our students who have provided support and have appeared in these films!
among others. Daniel entertained the troops with his brand of rapping, as did the frisbee, American football, Mr. Chuter, Mr. Martin and much else – it was a magical three days away from the hustle and bustle that I hope will be fondly remembered for years to come.
There was also success on the water where the nine canoeists travelled up to Runways End Outdoor Centre for three days of endurance work and laughter. Mr Shetzer, who gave up his weekend, informs me that they were all model students who enjoyed a thoroughly good time together.
Both groups can now look forward to their final expedition in July when hopefully they will all pass, learn, build friendships and create even more happy and occasionally character building memories!
UK Space Design Competition
DJ EVENT AT XOYO NIGHTCLUB
Mr C Janz Director of Music
The Emanuel DJ pupils took over one of London’s top nightclubs: XOYO. The afternoon started with pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School who have been learning how to DJ through our Primary Ambitions Programme. This was their first time, perhaps unsurprisingly, in a nightclub and they absolutely loved the experience. In the evening, we welcomed just shy of 250 people who raved the night away to our Emanuel DJs. Towards the end of the set, we were joined by award-winning DJ Loéca who bought an amazing vibrancy and excitement to the mosh pit. Thank you to everyone who supported the evening.
CLASSICAL MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Mr C Janz Director of Music
We welcomed Jeffery Wilson, Professor of Composition at Junior Guildhall and Professor of Saxophone at the Royal Military School of Music, to adjudicate our Classical Musician of the Year Competition. Forty pupils took part and two pupils from each category were invited to play in the afternoon’s final by the adjudicator. Many congratulations to the overall winners:
Overall winner of the Classical Musician of the Year Competition: Vanessa.
Music at Emanuel
EVENSONG AT ST PAULS
Mr C Janz Director of Music
The school choir, Emanuel Singers, enjoyed the honour of singing Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 15 October.The choir sang responses by Richard Ayleward, a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B minor by Thomas Tertius Noble, and Will Todd’s anthem ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’.The choir sang with great panache and, as ever, we were supported by a considerable number of parents, staff and (several hundred) tourists. My thanks to Mr Simon Gregory for accompanying the choir on the organ with consummate élan.
NATIONAL SCHOOL THEATRE AWARDS
Oliver and Eva Year 10
30 of us went to the Shaw Theatre, right by the British Library, for the National School Theatre Awards ceremony. It was a fun blend of madness in a professional environment and our own experience of a mini Oscars, with a highlight being meeting influencer Abby Budden. We performed two numbers- Be Our Guest with the castle ensemble and Vanessa’s solo A Change In Me- and loved the supportive, interesting environment we were in.
PERFORMING ARTS
WANT TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT?
From the violin to the trumpet, electric guitar to bassoon, classical piano to DJ-ing, there is something for everyone.You can even pay for a single trial lesson before committing to lessons on an instrument..
Email music@emanuel.org.uk to find out more.
Put simply, it was incredible- the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre and see the talent of other young people across the country was a real treat. In particular, we loved the slick performance of There She Goes from Fame by Ashfield, and the feelgood vibe of another school’s Revolting Children. We may be biased, but for us the standout performance had to be Vanessa’s solo, which earned her Best Female Solowe’re so proud! With awards presented by both Kara Tointon and David Bradley, it was a great night of inspirational performances, with a bit of the backstage madness of live theatre. We loved every bit, and only hope we can go again. Au revoir Beauty and the Beast and à bientôt, National School Theatre Awards!
Emanuel Theatre Company (ETC) presented two productions at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and they were a huge success!
Hamlet Hears a Who was performed by Scarlett Ludlow, Harry Sharp, Noah Stanley, Clara Tubiermont, Eva Walsh and Emil Warren, supported by technician Dougie Wadie and directed by Mr Rogers. The show featured in Hello Magazine’s Top 10 Picks for the festival and was praised for its ‘masterful direction and extraordinary acting’ in a show that was ‘hugely enjoyable family fun’. The Picture of
Dorian Gray was performed by Erica Ivanova, Annie Kendall, Marnie Ugo Evans and Rachel Wadie, supported by technician Eva Sloan, directed by Mr Winer. The show received 4- and 5-star reviews from the press which called it ‘superably acted…a fringe gem’ (5 Stars, EdFest Review) and ‘a joyously silly farce which had its audience laughing throughout’ (4 Stars, North West End UK). As well as having hands-on experience flyering to the public each day on the Royal Mile, students also saw 27 shows during their visit, ranging from clowning and circus to political standup and immersive performance. A huge thank you to Miss Kerstein and Ms Graves for organising an incredible trip and to Miss Marcovecchio, Mr Burgess and Mr Harding for all their support.
Mrs C Graves
Head of Co-Curricular Drama
Drama at Emanuel
SWEENEY TODD
Mrs C Graves
Head of Co-Curricular Drama
Congratulations to all involved in this year’s school musical, ‘Sweeney Todd’. All of your hard work has paid off, with brilliant performances this week, and still two to come, this evening and tomorrow. If you’d like to hear more about the behind the scenes, listen to our most recent podcast by scanning the QR code below. Mr Turner (Deputy Head: Co-
curricular, Partnerships, and Admissions) chats with Miss Dee (Assistant Director of Music), Ms Graves (Head of Co-curricular Drama) and two U6 pupils, Annie and Sean, who are played lead roles in this year’s musical, Sweeney Todd. They discuss the upcoming musical, and their experience of music, drama, and other co-curricular activities at Emanuel School.
THE LITTLE MERMAID & THE GRIMM TALES
Ms Graves
Head of Co-Curricular Drama
Huge congratulations to the Year 7 and 8 pupils who were involved in two fantastic performances of The Grimm Tales and The Little Mermaid this week! Over 85 students took part in the productions across cast and technical roles, both shows receiving glowing reviews from audiences. Many thanks to all the teachers who supported. It was a huge success!
THE 39 STEPS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY
Mr Winer Director in Residence
Thank you to all who were able to attend the middle school play ‘The 39 Steps’ across three nights last week. Originally a spy novel written in 1915 this adaptation sees Richard Hannay, an everyman hero, unwittingly become entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving daring escapes, wild chases across the Scottish Moors and encounters with double agents.
The cast and crew combined under the direction of Mr Winer and Mr Burgess to put together a very memorable show. There were some notable performances from our Year 11 pupils; Harry and Oliver sharing the role of Hannay, Sofia as Professor Jordan, Noah as Compere and Pia, Gracie and Summer who played a variety of diverse roles superbly well with extraordinary comic timing.
NETBALL UPDATE
Miss H Gilbert Director of Netball
We are so proud of our 1st VII team who won their group at the Surrey Qualifies and now have a place at the regional rounds in February!. They were undefeated all day and put in an outstanding performance against schools such as Alleyns, Royal Russell, Croydon High, Kings Wimbledon and Woldingham.
ATHLETICS UPDATE
Mr P King Head of Athletics
The first half of this term has seen our athletics programme in full swing, with athletes from Year 7 through to 10 all in action at the Wandsworth Borough Championships. Two days of competitions saw our Year 7 & 8 boys and girls squads finish in a highly creditable third place in the team event, which was especially impressive given the much larger squads of the other schools. In total, the 32 lower school pupils who competed, brought home an excellent 26 medals, including 10 gold and 11 silver.There were many highlights, but Sasha (Year 7, in the picture) who won both her 100m and Long Jump and Thomas (Y8) who won his 300m and shot put stood out. Other gold medalist were Amelia (Y8, 100m), Sofia (Y7, 800m) and the Year 7 girls relay squad. Our Year 9 & 10 squad produced some excellent performances, however their day was one of nearlys, as we had just one gold medal winner, Livi in the triple jump, but they collected a further 17 silver medals. Olivia’s second place in the 100m was impressive, as too were Gethin’s bronze in the 100m and Dennis’s silver in the 200m. Congratulations to all who took part and good luck to those who have been selected to represent the borough at the London Schools Championships!
The U14 netball travelled to JAGS this week for the Surrey qualifiers tournament. The conditions were challenging and the team had to contend with light showers and wind. Emanuel was in section D against 5 strong teams, they were determined to make the top two in their section which qualifies then for the finals tournament held in March.They got off to strong start against Graveney winning convincingly and familiarising themselves with the wet surface under foot. The second match was against a strong Caterham team and despite their best efforts they lost by 3 goals. This meant that they had to show
HENLEY REGATTA
SUCCESS
Mr J
Moon
Director of Rowing
Women’s squad has had a great summer season together! Continually bettering their themselves and their performances every race they attend.Achieving success in many different boat classes from singles to doubles to fours and now eights. Some of best performances have been getting two bronzes in the 2x and 4- in Italy, then we followed that with 2 top 10 finishes in the 4+ at NSR.We then brought the squad back together to create an eight which had a phenomenal performance at HWR to qualify in the top 16.
The boys have had a fantastic summer season! With some of the top performances being the J16 boys coming away with a 3rd at interregionals and a 3rd at NSR! The J18 2- also had an amazing race in Italy dominating the field with an untouchable 1st place in the pair. The boys all then came together to race down the track at Henley Royal Regatta Qualifiers, where they successfully qualified the boat for the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup!
SPORTS DAY 2025
Mr S
Lavery
Director of Sport
In Summer Term, students from Years 6 to 10 lit up Battersea Park with an unforgettable day of energy, teamwork, and outstanding performances. Every student participatedcompeting, cheering, and even breaking a few school records. Congratulations to Wellington - the winners of Sports Day 2025!
resilience and determination to win the next three matches to secure their place in the top two and that they did. A comfortable win
over Riddlesdown, SCHS and Alleyn’s takes them through to the finals, congratulations to all involved.
MALAYSIA HOCKEY & RUGBY TOUR
Miss F Low Deputy Director of Sport
Emanuel School’s hockey and rugby teams embarked on the tour of a lifetime, travelling to Malaysia for a memorable sports tour filled with challenging matches and cultural experiences. The hockey team, comprising Years 11-13, played five intense games across Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Penang.They secured a 3-1 win in their opening match against the KL Development Team and finished strong
with a 2-1 victory in their final game in Penang, showing growth and adaptability throughout.
The 1st XV rugby team took on three top Malaysian teams, including the reigning champions of the Malaysia Super 15s Schools Cup. They remained undefeated, with a decisive 33-0 win in their final match at Penang Free School. Both teams represented Emanuel with pride and sportsmanship, bonding as they embraced this unique international experience.
EMANUEL CRICKET
UPDATE
Mr W White
Head of Cricket
This summer so far pre half term there have been some excellent improvements with the cricket at the school in performance and results.
The 1st X1 led by captain Lars (Year 13) have won 5 out of 6 matches including victories v Eltham College, New Hall School and Culford School.
The players have practiced hard and it has benefited their performances in all the games including the loss v KCS.
TENNIS UPDATE
Mr S Lavery Director of Sport
Pupils have been enjoying some friendly and league tennis matches this term. Senior students have competed against Reeds and KGS in a round robin format. These experiences are valuable for pupils who have
Several players have had good individual statistics including Karan (Year 11) 8 overs 6-9 v Eltham College.
Matches coming include v Dulwich College, Wilson’s and the MCC and it will be important that the team focus on their individual skills which will help the team.
Captain Lars has helped lead the team in a positive way and as a result the other school teams have seen the results and the younger players who have played 1st and 2nd X1 cricket have now taken the knowledge back to their own teams.
LONDON BOROUGH ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mr S Lavery Director of Sport
A great day at Battersea Park Arena was had for the London Borough Athletic Championships!
A very well done to all 22 of our year 9-11s who took part.
We won 13 individual medals and won silver in the inters boys relay but most importantly enjoyed a great day of athletics in the sunshine.
not played in many competitions before.
The U15 and U13 pupils have been entered into the LTA local leagues to compete against local schools in a round robin competition. This involves singles and doubles sets. If we win our group we progress to the regional knock out rounds which take place in September. We have matches lined up against Alleyn’s, JAGS, KCS Wimbledon, Kingsdale Foundation and Tiffin School so best of luck to all involved.
HOCKEY
UPDATE
Mr C McDonald Director of Hockey
At the halfway point of the term, the school’s hockey program has seen significant progress, with 14 teams from various age groups competing in challenging fixtures. Teams have shown notable improvement in skills and teamwork, gaining valuable experience. Highlights include the 1st XI qualifying for the second round of the U18 regional tournament, and the U15 girls advancing in the Independent Schools Cup. Several pupils have progressed in London County trials, entering England Hockey’s player pathway.
FOOTBALL SUCCESS
Mr C Leigh Director of Football
Congratulations to the U14 football team who stood firm to beat Downsend School 5-3, they now progress to the fourth round of the national ESFA competition. This has achievement has never been done before at Emanuel and we are all so incredibly proud of each and every one of them.
Long May it continue.
Looking ahead, the focus will remain on competitive success, individual development, and building on the strong foundation laid in the first half of the term.
GEOGRAPHY ICELAND TRIP
Mr S Turner Deputy Head
The trip has started suspiciously well: the sky is cloudless and blue.
First stop we attended the Bridge between the Continents, exploring Iceland’s geological landscape and position on the mid-Atlantic ridge. We stood on the fringes of the largest geological landform on the planet. With the smoke and ash from the nearby Reykjanes eruption funnelling into the horizon sky, we (Mr Harris) chatted all things igneous rock, fissure eruptions, and geology.
Next stop, the Gunnuhver springs, one of the few springs in Iceland where geothermal heat combines with saltwater, not freshwater, creating a wonderfully strange assault on the senses. With the stench of warm, juston-the-turn egg in the air and the deafening fizz of superheated water filling our ears, the steam genuinely did engulf us and vision was completely reduced to almost zero. Some were more comfortable with being surrounded by the scent of egg than others.
YEAR 7 TRIP TO WHIPSNADE ZOO
Mrs R
What an incredible day at Whipsnade Zoo with Year 7! The students got hands-on in their animal adaptations workshop, examining skulls from rhinos to wild dogs and deducing the biological explanations behind their differences.They then put on their researcher hats, completing detailed ethograms to observe and record the behaviours of animals like elephants, giraffes, and hippos. With this data, they’ll be able to dive deeper into comparing herbivores and carnivores’ behaviours in their upcoming biology lessons. The small group exploration of the UK’s largest zoo made for an engaging, educational experience. Can’t wait to see what the Year 7s discover next!
GCSE SPANISH TRIP TO MÁLAGA
Spirits were high among the troop.That is, until a panel came loose underneath the coach and started scraping on the tarmac every time we exceeded 25mph. After a quick whizz around the not very many mechanics that are open on a Saturday night in rural, southern Iceland, and a disconcertingly quick bang of a hammer and waggle of a screwdriver, we were back on
confidence increase with each session, as they not only practiced new language skills but also began using them in real-life interactions with locals.
the road with the scraping screech replaced with a hushed hum.
As our time of arrival latened, and I felt the fragile positivity of the angry mob start to eek and wane under the stress of a toilet stop that didn’t, as it transpired, have open toilets, something spectacular happened. The
Y6 RESIDENTIAL TRIP TO JUNIPER HALL
The Year 6 residential trip to Juniper Hall has been a blast! Pupils took part in a range of different activities including orienteering, building shelters and bush craft survival skills in the evening pupils made their own national anthems for a mini Olympics.
Organizing this October half-term trip to Nerja was a wonderful experience and a rewarding opportunity to watch our Spanish students grow, both linguistically and culturally.
Each morning, students attended Spanish lessons designed to be both educational and enjoyable. It was a pleasure to see their
Beyond the classroom, we filled our days with authentic Spanish activities. We organized flamenco dancing lessons and even a paellamaking session that turned into a flavorful team effort. Tasting local treats—from freshly made bocadillos to crispy churros—in the vibrant little restaurants around town added a delicious dimension to our cultural experience.
Afternoons were often spent under the
warm Spanish sun, with students relaxing on Nerja’s beautiful beaches or strolling through its charming, colorful streets lined with boutiques and markets. Our host families were kind and engaging, providing a welcoming home environment and home-cooked meals, which became a natural space for students to practice Spanish.
When our final day in Nerja arrived, it was clear that the experience had left a lasting impression on everyone. We departed with a new appreciation for Spain, many fond memories, and even stronger language skills.
At first obscured and mystical, but gradually growing in prominence in the night sky. The evening was saved!
Scan the QR code to read more.
Y10 BATTLEFIELDS TRIP
Mr S Jones Head of History
Y10 historians visited the First World War battlefields of Flanders and the Somme. Two students laid a wreath at the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. Students also visited the graves of a number of Old Emanuels who lost their lives during the war as well as the resting places of the ancestors of two of the group. Students also caught a glimpse of the classic one-day Gent-Wevelgem cycle race.
Northern Lights. Aurora borealis herself.
Mrs Zaratiegui MFL Teacher
Mrs R Chetwood Head of Lower School
Chetwood Head of Lower School
LATIN/ CLASSICS TRIP TO SPAIN
Mr P
Adams
Teacher of Classics
The Latin/Classics department took 50 Year 9-10 students on a stunning trip to sunny Spain! After almost 700 years of occupation, coastal Spain is rich with Roman influence. The Spanish provinces were among the first to be conquered by Rome, and the Iberian peninsula was invaded as part of their struggle against Carthage.
MARGATE ART TRIP
Mr C Reed Head of Art
During the first week of the Easter holiday Sixth Form Art A-level students travelled to Margate. They were blessed with sunny, if a little blustery, weather during the three-day trip. On the way to Margate students visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they took part in a ropemaking workshop and drew the boats and engine parts using a range of media. Later that day students continued their journey to Margate where they checked into the Walpole Bay Hotel.
On the second day, students took part in
FRENCH EXCHANGE
Miss L Upton Teacher of French
In March, 17 of our Year 9 and 10 pupils took part in a memorable French Exchange, welcoming their partners from our exchange partner school in Lyon for a week of cultural and linguistic immersion. The exchange provided a fantastic opportunity for our pupils not only to practise their language skills in a meaningful context but also to build friendships and broaden their outlook.
During the week, the group enjoyed a variety of enriching activities. A highlight was a group excursion to Windsor Castle, where the pupils shared a fascinating day exploring British history and culture together. The French pupils also enjoyed trips to the Harry Potter Studios and central London, giving them a taste of British heritage and the capital’s famous landmarks.
At school, the French pupils participated in a number of cultural workshops and lessons,
HEVER CASTLE
Greta Year 8
“I enjoyed our trip to Hever Castle. Everyone learned new things when we went on the tour of the house, for example, that the castle was plagued by two floods in the 1900s. Compared to the house, the gardens were enormous, complete with a lake and a maze. Some of the upstairs rooms that were not reached by the flood still have the same woodwork that was there at the time of Anne Boleyn. Although she is the person it is most famous for housing, Hever Castle was built long before she stayed there—in 1383. The castle also hosted another of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne of Cleves, who lived there for a short time after she divorced the King.”
two art workshops and visited the Turner Contemporary to see the Resistance photographic exhibition. Students drew structures along the Margate coastline, using wax resist, ink and collaged newsprint paper to create form and highlight negative space.They also constructed site-specific abstract card sculptures, which were attached to existing forms along the harbour wall. By popular demand, the evening’s entertainment was Mr Reed’s Quiz Night, hosted in the hotel’s ballroom, which was a fiercely competitive affair enjoyed by all.
On the third day, inspired by JMW Turner’s time in Margate, students painted the landscape using watercolour. In the afternoon students visited the Carl Freedman Gallery to see Gates of Horns: Myths of Resistance, Symbols of Defiance.
gaining insight into life at Emanuel and the British school system. Our pupils took great pride in showcasing their daily routines, school traditions and co-curricular life.
The exchange was not only a valuable linguistic experience for our pupils but also helped them develop confidence, independence, and intercultural understanding.
We look forward to the second leg of the exchange in May, when our pupils will travel to Lyon and experience life in a French school and host families. These kinds of exchanges are truly transformative for young people, helping them become open-minded, resilient, and curious members of society.
YEAR 6 ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME WITH PARTNER SCHOOLS
Mr
K Gywnne Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator
Throughout the year, we undertake multiple partnership initiatives in addition to Primary Ambitions. We have worked closely with Christ Church CofE Primary for many years, and more recently with John Burns, on a variety of projects including the joint Year 6 enrichment programme. The goal for these enrichment sessions is for the pupils from the three schools to collaborate on an enjoyable project where they can develop new friendships, be creative, learn new skills and have something to show for it at the end.
285 weekly participants Statistics
216 GCSE booster hours for partner schools
1140 primary pupils participating in Primary Ambitions
Year 6 enrichment programme with partner schools
PRIMARY AMBITIONS IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR
Mr K Gywnne
Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator
Primary Ambitions continues to thrive in its seventh year with a new cohort of Lower Sixth students. Our students are delivering materials for a variety of enrichment opportunities, from clay making to debating, for our partner primary schools.
Our partner schools rely on Primary Ambitions more than ever. With limited budgets - many are single-form entry - they depend on our programme to provide enrichment that would otherwise be out of reach.
Georgia Orchin, from St George’s Primary in Battersea, says,
“Through Primary Ambitions, our students have blossomed into poets, swimmers, gymnasts, scientists, and more. The programme has ignited passions they didn’t know they had. The inspiration they draw from Emanuel students, who serve as role models, has boosted their confidence and set new standards for them to aspire to.”
Primary Ambitions has become an invaluable part of our partner schools’ curriculum, enriching the educational experience of many children beyond the classroom.
EMPOWHER
Mr
K
Gywnne
Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator
We have partnered with Fulham FC Foundation (FFCF) for a number of years.They deliver our partner school Year 4 football tournaments each term which are brilliant fun and provide opportunities for 120 girls and boys to represent their schools, learn about work-
OUTREACH DJING PROJECT
Mr S Turner Deputy Head
Mr Janz, Emanuel’s Director of Music, set up a community link with the aim to provide high-quality, structured musical opportunities to pupils in local primary schools who may otherwise have limited access to creative enrichment. He has been working with three of our primary school partners Falconbrook, Westbridge and Griffin Primary School.
The DJ course runs weekly across a 10-week programme, using school facilities.The project includes a live showcase at XOYO nightclub, Shoreditch. ABRSM have introduced a new DJ grading award and these pupils are among the first in the country to take their grade 1. In their final week the DJ’s had the chance to perform at XOYO nightclub in Shoreditch.
ing together as a team and develop some new skills.We also host their disability football sessions on Monday and Friday evenings on our mini astro.These sessions are well attended by teens and young adults – our sessions are the most popular across the borough.
The redevelopment of the All Weather Pitch has provided us with the opportunity to expand our relationship further. We have launched EmpowHER – a programme designed to inspire and empower young
women through holistic sports-driven activities. EmpowHER is centred on football – each session focuses on technical skills development, topic challenges, small-sided games and debriefs. Women’s football is on the ascendancy and our Thursday evening sessions are attended by 70 plus girls, 16 of whom are part of EmpowHER. The latter is set to increase to 24 girls as we develop the programme further.
FIELD WEEK 2025 Pupils across all year groups enjoyed a variety of enrichment, adventurous, community and well being residential and non-residential experiences during the final week of summer term. Highlights included a trip to Normandy, Rhineland, surfing in Devon and Waitrose cookery school.
Mrs A Van Es Development Director
In November 2022, we launched our largest ever philanthropic campaign, Giant Strides. With a target of £5 million, the campaign is a bold expression of our aspiration - to create inspiring spaces for teaching, learning and recreation, to widen access through making more funded places available and to strengthen our award-winning partnership work.
Philanthropy founded Emanuel School and remains crucial to our success, helping us open doors and broaden horizons for young people from all backgrounds.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
The new STEM and refectory building, due to be completed in spring 2027, is the latest milestone in our long-term vision to ensure Emanuel’s environment matches the ambition of our pupils now and in the future. This is more than just a building project; it is an investment in the daily experience and opportunities of every pupil at Emanuel and the primary school pupils who use our site as part of our partnership programme.
CRITICAL BUILD PLAN
The critical build plan addresses the school’s most pressing space challenges as well as the buildings required to meet the current and future demands of the school.
We have been working through the plan since 2019.
The first project was the extension and enhancement of the sixth form centre, increasing space by 50%. The new spaces, including a modern café, group and silent study areas and an assembly/presentation space have transformed daily life for our oldest pupils.
Completed: autumn 2022
“The new sixth form centre came with many perks…. the opportunity to make friends between years created a vibrant and lively sense of community”
At our 14-acre off-site sports ground, we opened a new all-weather pitch in September 2023, expanding our co-educational sports provision. This was followed by new cricket nets, three hard courts for netball and tennis and three hybrid cricket pitches, ensuring pupils of all ages and abilities can play cricket over the summer months.
Completed: May 2024
“From September [2023], we have had an exciting new facility that not only allowed effective training to take place but also meant that our Saturday matches occurred in a buzzing atmosphere with parents and pupils coming together to watch the thriving sport at Emanuel. Teams participating in rugby and hockey could play alongside each other, creating a communal environment that fuelled motivation and created that necessary drive to win”
Sixth form centre
Blagdons sports ground
Proposed STEM and refectory building
Annie, Sixth form
New science and dining building
Construction of the 4,300sqm STEM and refectory building is now well underway. This four-storey development will include:
• 15 modern science laboratories
• 4 Biology, 4 Chemistry, 4 Physics and 3 multi-use
• 8 dedicated Maths classrooms
• Staff rooms and preparation spaces
• A light-filled, spacious refectory
• Seating for 400 pupils
• A modern kitchen and storerooms
This investment will:
• Transform teaching and learning in STEM subjects.
• Significantly improve the dining experience for pupils and staff.
• Unlock space across the site for broader academic and recreational use.
• Offer even greater access to specialist facilities for local state school pupils taking part in our partnership programmes.
Subject hubs will bring related disciplines together for collaboration and convenience. As part of this reorganisation, Design has already moved into the Dacre Building (summer 2024), forming an arts hub at the rear of the site.
Anticipated completion: spring 2027
FREE PLACES
We are committed to providing an exceptional education to the most talented children regardless of background or financial circumstances. As it was in 1594, widening access remains at the core of Emanuel’s priorities. In the 2024-25 academic year, 36 pupils attended the school on a fully funded place and 49 pupils in total received means tested fee assistance.
Our aim, supported by our community partnership initiatives, is to increase our free place provision significantly, ensuring we can support any young person with distinctive promise on a funded place.
SUPPORTING GIANT STRIDES
We rely on support from the entire Emanuel community to reach our fundraising goals. There are many opportunities to support Giant Strides at all levels. Capital donations will be recognised on our impressive hexagon donor wall or exterior brick wall when the new building opens.There are also opportunities for larger gifts to be recognised on a lead donor board or by naming spaces in the new building.
“The bursary programme allowed me to experience the great co-curricular facilities at Emanuel. I grew as a musician and as a well-rounded person as a result of the welcoming community. Attending Emanuel made my aspirations seem more achievable.”
Bursary recipient
“Over the last ten years, the number of students opting to take sciences to A level and into higher education has greatly increased and almost all pupils take three GCSEs in sciences. As STEM subjects continue to grow in popularity and with more students applying for STEM courses at university, it is important that we equip them with experiences at school that inspire and captivate them.The ability for our students to understand how science works and the importance of science in our ever-changing world is fundamental to their education. With the new building, we have an opportunity to create a facility and teaching space that will challenge, engage and inspire generations of scientists”
Ben Strathearn-Burrows, Head of Science and Biology
PRIDE WEEK
Sophia Upper Sixth Student
This year’s Emanuel Pride Week started off with a splash of colour as pupils came into school in their own colourful clothes. In the lead up to Pride Week students of all ages submitted pieces of art inspired by the word ‘Diversity’ using any medium they wished. These were then displayed in an art exhibition on the Dacre balcony which has continued to be showcased, attracting many viewers.
Tuesday lunchtime was dominated by the hugely successful Pride Gig in the Hampden Hall. This event saw soloists and
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Mr S Andrews Teacher of History
This year’s Emanuel’s Black History Month was brimming with events and activities to illuminate, educate, and inspire. It was a time when we came together as a community to commemorate the profound contributions, struggles, and triumphs of the black community throughout history. The lineup of events is a testament to the diversity and richness of this heritage, offering a tapestry of experiences and perspectives that exemplify the essence of Black History Month.
From thought-provoking discussions in the Senior Debating Society, in which students examined the implications of affirmative action, to the Junior Debating Society’s contemplation on the continued relevance of Black History Month, these debates challenged and provoked insightful conversations about our society today.
In Prism, we delved into the Queer Black Experience, embracing the intersectionality of identities and voices that are often overlooked. The Drama and Classics A Level
bands perform songs by queer artists and songwriters to a large audience. The gig was wildly successful with many teachers and students performing. A photo booth was also set up as well as a stand selling Pride merchandise, such as shoelaces and pins. Following this, Wednesday saw a break-time rainbow cupcake sale and was followed by a serving of rainbow pasta at lunch!
All year groups throughout Pride Week participated in LGBTQ+ – focused life skills sessions. The sixth form received a very informative talk on many topics, such as ways to educate people on queer issues, the lack of inclusivity in spaces such as the men’s Premier league in comparison with the women’s football, the difficulties of growing up queer, the use of more gender neutral language and the specific issues
trip to the National Theatre took pupils on a journey exploring complex post-colonial themes and the politics within communities, offering them a window into the intricate dynamics of history.
The Law Society illuminated the lives and challenges of black lawyers in history, demonstrating how a legal career can be a powerful means of social mobility and social change. Meanwhile, the Junior History Society’s investigation, inspired by David Olusoga, explored the lives and experiences of migrants to and from Britain, giving pupils a nuanced understanding of migration’s role in our nation’s history.
Form Tutor Assemblies using Steve McQueen’s film, Small Axe – The Mangrove Nine, and the Black History Bulletins provided a consistent flow of knowledge and awareness throughout the two weeks.
As pupils gathered for screenings and film reviews, they immersed themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of black history. The celebration extended to the literary world, where we delved into Caleb Azumah Nelson’s “Open Water” and Andrea Levy’s “Small Island,” inviting us to explore stories of love, hope, and racial identity.
In recognition of the powerful role of media in
THE ARCHER ADVISORY GROUP STEELPAN
Mr S Andrews
Teacher of History
Summer Term saw the 16th meeting of the Archer Advisory Group, a key pupil voice body at Emanuel School. Prompted by a recorded talk from Dr Shola Apena Rogers of the African Caribbean Education Network, a stimulating discussion left Archerites from Year 8 to Upper Sixth, energised and inspired.
If you would like to join the Archer Group, please contact Mr Andrews
faced by young trans people and how to support trans individuals. The sixth form also participated in some form Kahoots on queer trivia created by members of the Prism group.
Throughout the week the daily school bulletins have included plenty of recommendations of queer media to listen to, watch and read as well as action to take to support the LGBTQ+ community, such as signing petitions among other things. Many of these book recommendations were displayed in the library for all students to borrow and read.
Pride Week has been a wonderful experience with many informative, fun and interactive events for all. Thank you very much to Miss Holden and Miss Aitken-Burt
shaping our perspectives, the Media Club Film Screenings provided a selection of animated and live-action short films, serving as windows into diverse narratives and experiences. And, of course, we marked the month with a celebratory lunch, where we came together to honour the rich heritage and indomitable spirit of the black community.
This Black History Month, pupils immersed themselves in the mosaic of events and
WORKSHOP
Mr S Andrews Teacher of History
In a celebration of both World Music Day (21st June) and Windrush Day (22nd June), the Archer Group and Music Department collaborated this week by inviting in a Steelpan group. Thanks to everyone involved!
for organising all these events and thank you to all those who have participated in events this week.
Please feel free to visit the LGBTQ+ Pride pages on Firefly which have a large selection of resources, documentaries and other media for all to view and interact with.
activities, to embrace the stories and achievements that have shaped our society, and reflected on how we can continue to promote inclusivity, understanding, and equality in our community and beyond. This month was not just a celebration, but a catalyst for positive change and a reminder that black history is an integral part of the tapestry of our shared humanity.
CHARITY SUMMARY
Mr
Shetzer Charity Coordinator
As we reflect on another successful academic year, we are incredibly proud of our students for unwavering commitment to charitable causes. This year’s charity committee continues to be one of the school’s most populous clubs, with members from year 6 all the way to 13. We support the charities LMK (Let Me Know) and Water Aid, as well as our partner schools in India and Emanuel’s bursary fund. From the ever popular lower school discos to new entries such as the sponsored Santa Run and Christmas photo booth, our annual interhouse charity competitions not only fostered a healthy sense of competition and school spirit, but also raised over £2,000.
Our annual Holiday Fair once again proved a festive highlight. With bustling stalls of handmade crafts, gifts, and seasonal treats, the event drew large crowds and generous donations.
This year’s Cabaret Evening showcased outstanding student talent and raised over £2,500 in support of our chosen causes. The stage was lit, the audience was dazzled, and the fundraising total was equally impressive. This year’s sleepout saw triple the number of participants compared to last year and
generated over £500. Students endured a warm night under the stars to better understand the challenges faced by those without shelter.
Hot on the heels of last year’s inaugural Abseil for St George’s, this year we sent nearly 20 students to bravely descend the Pelican hotel in Tooting. The weather was sunny and beautiful, and our courageous jumpers raised over £2000 for St George’s Hospital Charity.
Dacre Day was replete with charitable stalls such as henna art, crocheted goods, bracelets, books, 3D-printed toys, and of course the ever-popular Sponge the Teacher. The creative energy was matched by generous
THE ATHENA SOCIETY JOURNAL
Ms L
Aitken-Burt
Teacher of Classics, History & Politics
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Athena Society Journal - a publication created in collaboration with the Classical Association and Historical Association to encourage nationwide conversations on gender equality amongst students.
26 students fromYear 9 to 13 at Emanuel have contributed in creating this excellent piece of work, full of interesting new questions and perspectives on a range of Classics, History and Politics topics.
Scan the QR code to read the journal.
giving, with the day’s activities raising over £1,000 for charity.
Our annual Pride Week culminated in the hugely successful Pride Gig, which brought students and staff together in musical celebration of inclusivity and love.
Alongside our larger events, numerous smaller initiatives made a quiet but powerful impact. From the emotional resonance of the Poppy Appeal to the fun of Showstoppers, these moments demonstrated that every action, big or small, contributes to change.
Thank you to everyone who supported our efforts this year.
INCLUSION PROJECT WITH NEWTON PREP
Ms L Aitken-Burt Teacher of Classics, History & Politics
Leela and Ilse visited their old school, Newton Prep. The girls gave a talk on the work of the Archer Group, the programme of events for last month’s Black History celebrations and their recent visit to the Palace of Westminster for a meeting with Marsha de Cordova MP. Their overarching theme was the importance of diversity, intersectionality, and pupil voice.
This opportunity came about after Leela spoke at a Governors meeting and Ms Hales, Deputy Head of Newton Prep and an Emanuel governor, was so impressed that she invited Leela to talk at her alma mater.
Higher Education at Emanuel
CAREERS FAIR
Ms T Parks
Head of Careers and Employability
Pupils and parents from Year 11 and Sixth From were joined by pupils from our community partner schools at the annual ‘Careers and Higher Education Convention’ which took place on the afternoon of Saturday 27th January.
The school hosted representatives from over 20 universities from across the country including the University of Bath, the University of Exeter and the University of Leeds, which are among the most popular destinations for pupils.
Professionals in attendance represented careers in a broad range of industries
HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
including law, finance and medicine, as well as careers in film and TV, music and advertising.
Alongside the ‘fair style’ event where pupils and their parents circulated the various stands, there was a series of informative talks. The University of Exeter delivered a presentation on “Advice for applying to competitive universities” and the University of Bath discussed “Economics, management and business courses”. The sessions on “Understanding apprenticeships” from Multiverse and “Aspiring to Oxbridge” by OA Education support the growing interest in important specialist areas of higher education applications.
The success of this annual event is reliant on parents, Old Emanuels and friends of the school who generously gave their time to support our pupils. Thank you.
A LEVEL INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS HIGHER EDUCATION
Mr R Kothakota Headmaster
Well done to Nick, who celebrates straight A* grades in Maths, Physics and Economics as well as an A* on his EPQ focussed on sustainability and corporate brand management. Nick achieved a raft of offers from top universities to read Economics, but intends to decline these in favour of a place on Deutsche Bank’s very competitive Investment Banking degree apprenticeship programme which he did extremely well to secure.
Freya is celebrating a set of outstanding A-Level results – straight A* grades in Economics, Maths, Further Maths and Physics. These results are all the more impressive as she has balanced her academic commitments with playing international netball for Ireland. We are incredibly proud of Freya and wish her well as she goes on to study Economics at Cambridge.
Well done to Hamish for securing A*A*A in Geography, PE and Biology, as well as A in his EPQ on disaster management. Throughout his time in the sixth form he has complemented his academic excellence with his sailing commitments outside of school as a member of Great British squads, regularly competing in European and World Championship events.We wish him every success at Southampton where he has a place to study Geography.
Very well done to Isabelle who achieved outstanding A-Level results with A*A*A in German, Latin and History and A* for her EPQ focussing on François Duvalier’s rise to power in Haiti. She has been deputy head of school this year as well as playing an important part in the girls’ 1st XI cricket team which made it to the finals of the Surrey Cup in June.Throughout her time at the school Isabelle has played a leading role in our pupil voice groups, and has been a key student in the debating team. She will be off to study History with German at Somerville College, Oxford in October.
Congratulations to Tom who has achieved A*A*A*A in DT, Physics, Maths and Further Maths and will be heading to Durham to read Mechanical Engineering next year. As boys’ captain of the Boat Club at Emanuel, he led the 1st XIII to the Henley Royal Regatta in July, and we wish him continued success as part of the DUBC in due course!
Prudie has done exceptionally well in landing straight A* in Biology, Chemistry, PE and EPQ. She has been a leading light in a number of areas of the cocurriculum during her time at the school holding both music and sports awards. A key member of the football programme, playing for both the girls’ and boys’ 1st XI teams, she holds a contract with Durham Women and is going on to study Biological Sciences at Durham University.
GCSE INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS
HIGHER EDUCATION
Mr R Kothakota Headmaster
Congratulations to Oliver and Sofia on their excellent GCSE successes. Not only, have they both achieved brilliant GCSE results, they also remain highly involved in co-curricular activities – playing leading roles in this year’s Middle School play, 39 Steps. Next year, Oliver will study
Latin, Drama, Maths and Further Maths for his A-Levels and Sofia has chosen Drama, English, RPE and the Extended Project Qualification.
Very well done to Summer who achieved straight 9’s in her GCSEs. At the same time, she plays a very full part in our co-curriculum –playing a leading role in the 39 Steps, the Middle School play earlier this year and was Lefou in last year’s whole school musical, Beauty and the Beast. Next year, she will study Drama, Maths and Psychology for her A-Levels.
Congratulations to Farhan who collected straight 9s for his GCSEs! He has also been a significant member of our pupil voice groups throughout his time at Emanuel, and this year ran for Mayor of the Wandsworth Youth Parliament. He will be studying Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Biology for his A-Levels
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT
Ms T Parks Head of Careers and Employability
Over the Easter Holidays Year 8 pupils have undertaken some fundraising activities to support the development of their social entrepreneurship projects. They have had a lot of fun completing a variety of activities
from bake sales, sponsored runs to magic shows and Rubix cube challenges and have managed to raise over £4200 for our chosen charity; Climate Ed! Climate Ed is a fantastic cause for the students to focus their fundraising efforts on as it is dedicated to educating young people about climate change and focuses on carbon literacy.
Brilliantly well done to Pia who achieved a stunning set of GCSE grade with ten grade 9s.A fantastic academic achievement, whilst also being a key member of the 1st XI hockey team this year who enjoyed a successful season including victory in the annual Friday Night Lights fixture at Blagdons, our sports fields in Raynes Park. Next year she will study Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Spanish for her A-Level..
Congratulations to Eva who achieved outstanding GCSE results with nine subjects at 9. Whilst achieving brilliant academic results, she has also plays a very significant role in the performing arts at Emanuel, here pictured in this year’s Middle School Play, 39 Steps, and singing a solo at the Clapham Grand. Impressively, she has spent the summer been playing the part of Lambchops in the National Youth Theatre’s
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Ms T Parks Head of Careers and Employability
On Friday 3rd May, as part of the Year 10 Careers Day, we had the privilege of hosting representatives from the Clapham branch of Handelsbanken who look after the banking and wealth management needs of private individuals and businesses across South West London. Handelsbanken is a relationship bank, which started in Sweden and now has an extensive network of branches across the UK.
The session proved invaluable as Megan, James, and Francesca covered crucial topics that pupils are eager to learn more about, including investing, mortgages, financial planning, and tax. In contrast to the recent reported inadequacies of financial education in secondary schools, with 75% of UK school leavers lacking a basic understanding of concepts like mortgages, this session, along with further focus on financial futures in
performance of Fame at the Birmingham Hippodrome!
Very well done to Laurence who achieved nine 9s, and a 9 in his GCSEs. Not only has he achieved great academic results but has also been a key member of the boys’ 1st XI cricket team this summer who have enjoyed a very successful season. Laurence has chosen to study Physics, Computer Studies, Maths and Further Maths for his A-Levels..
Congratulations to Gracie for her outstanding GCSE results, all ten of her grades were 9 or 8. Impressively, she has balanced her academic successes whilst playing an active role in Emanuel’s co-curriculum, including taking a leading role in this year’s middle school play, 39 Steps.
Sixth Form, mean Emanuel pupils leave school ready to make informed decisions.
Throughout the session, pupils gained invaluable insights into managing money, understanding financial products, and planning for their financial futures. The presentation dived into concepts such as how interest rates affect savers and borrowers, the benefits of long-term saving and compound interest, fixed and variable rate mortgages, types of tax wrappers including cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, lifetime ISAs and pensions.
The pupils thoroughly enjoyed matching mystery clients with different financial backgrounds to appropriate investment opportunities and calculating mortgage repayments at different interest rates.
We extend our sincere thanks to the representatives from Handelsbanken for their generosity in sharing their time and expertise with our pupils. Their contribution has undoubtedly equipped our pupils with valuable knowledge and skills that will serve them well in their futures.
NATIONAL AWARD SUCCESS
Mr W Bradshaw Marketing
& Communications Officer
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We are delighted that Emanuel School won the Talk Education Award 2024 for ‘Innovation in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.’
We were selected from a national shortlist of the following schools: ACS Egham
WELCOMING OUR NEW LEAD COUNSELLOR
Mrs J McIsaac
Deputy Head: Pupils
International School (Surrey), Canford (Dorset), Edgbaston High School for Girls (West Midlands), Queen Margaret’s School (North Yorkshire).
Teddy Wolstenholme, Editorial Director of , commented in the award letter: “It was no easy task whittling down our shortlist and choosing our winners. We were really keen to make our awards different, and instead of replicating the same old categories you’ve seen time and time again, we wanted to give space and a platform to schools who are really forging ahead with innovative ideas and initiatives. We are really impressed by the work of the Archer Group, PRISM
We are delighted our new lead school counsellor Loren will join us from September. Mrs McIsaac caught up with her recently to find out a little more about her and her new role. We are really looking forward to introducing Loren to the whole school community in September, but in the meantime please do watch the video to get to know her better.
STUDENT EXCELLENCE
Mr S Turner
Deputy Head
Hasan
Over the summer break, Hasan took his Piano Grade 8 practical exam and passed with Distinction (141/150) and is now preparing for ARSM Diploma in Trombone and Piano. He also participates in a weeklong residential with National Children’s Orchestra at Shrewsbury School and auditioned for and have been offered a place in the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra. Congratulations Hasan for his incredible accomplishments over the summer!
Congratulations to Evie, who has been offered a place in the Women’s U13 academy for the 2025/26 season, after completing her third season with the Brighton and Hove Albion FC, two years at the Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) and this year, her first with the Women’s U12 Academy. She has represented BHAFC in over 40 games, captained them on several occasions, the team achieved a 5th place finish in the Mid Sussex all boys league. She has begun pre-season training with Brighton, and is very excited for the new season ahead.
Ollie
Ollie proudly represented England in volleyball twice over the holidays, earning two additional caps in beach volleyball. His commitment to development also took him abroad, spending
and the Athena Society and their efforts to break down barriers and forge connections with both the local community and other schools. We are thrilled to be able to help you celebrate this.”
It is particularly gratifying that our important work in this area, through our key pupil voice groups, has been recognised at a national level.
Finalist - Student Wellbeing, Independent School of the Year
We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Student
WELCOMING OUR NEW HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mr R Kothakota Headmaster
We’re excited to welcome Mr Kenmir as our new Head of Middle School & Deputy DSL. He brings with him a wealth of pastoral and teaching experience, along with a shared commitment to ensuring that pupils feel supported and valued throughout their school journey — and confident in pursuing their future aspirations.
At the heart of his educational philosophy are three simple but powerful values: work hard, play hard, and be kind. He explains – “These aren’t just slogans. They’re a way of life. If pupils embrace them, they’ll not only find success, but more importantly, happiness.”
“I’m truly excited to be joining Emanuel this September. Moving south means swapping
two weeks training in Poland with one of the country’s top national clubs. At the end of the summer he returned to England for a camp to begin preparations for the upcoming European Indoor Championships in Denmark this October. Congratulations Ollie and best of luck for the next competition!
Sasha
Congratulations to Sasha (Y9), who won gold in the U15 English Schools championship for long jump! She jumped a very impressive 5m 37, becoming National Champion. It was her first U15, and being 18 months younger than some competitors, who knows what lies ahead. She also competed in the Nationals relay competition running for Herne Hill Harriers, where they won Bronze. As well at the Surrey championship pentathlon for the under 15’s coming up. Best of luck Sasha!
Emanuel School Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HS enquiries@emanuel.org.uk
020 8870 4171
www.emanuel.org.uk
Instagram: emanuel.school
Wellbeing category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.
Finalist - Developing School Partnerships
We were delighted to be announced as a finalist in the Education Choices Awards 2025 in the Developing School Partnerships category.
Finalist - Prepared for Life
We were delighted to be announced as a finalist in the Muddy Stilettos Best School Awards 2025 in the Prepared for Life category.
my North London roots for a bit more sunshine—and maybe the odd sea breeze— but what really inspires me is the opportunity to build on Emanuel’s strong foundations. Emanuel feels like the perfect next step in my journey, arriving at just the right time, and I’m relishing the chance to meet pupils, parents, and colleagues alike. I look forward to contributing to a community where every individual is supported, challenged, and celebrated—and to being part of a school that values kindness, hard work, and creativity as much as I do.”
