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The latest news from Emanuel School

The 39 Steps Page 7

NEW HEAD ANNOUNCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2025

The Governing Body of Emanuel School is delighted to announce that Mr Ravi Kothakota has been appointed Head from September 2025.

After a rigorous recruitment process, Mr Kothakota came first in a long list of excellent candidates from well known schools in London and further afield.

THE TIMES PARENT POWER

Mr R Milne 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 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..

TALK EDUCATION AWARD WINNERS

Miss G Rollino

Digital Content & Communications Officer

We are delighted to announce that Emanuel School has won the Talk Education Award 2024 for ‘Innovation in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.’

Read more about our success on our website.

As Deputy Head: Pupils at Emanuel, Mr Kothakota has made a significant contribution to the school’s dramatically improved academic outcomes over recent years. Furthermore, as a leader who is personally ambitious, as well as adept at encouraging aspiration in others, he has energetically overseen the school’s sports programme, yielding some impressive results for our young athletes. The Governors also recognise how his empathic commitment to Emanuel’s wider life has done much to shape the cultural identity of the school, for example by championing pupil voice.

EMANUEL ECHO SCHOOL PODCAST

Miss G Rollino Digital Content & Communications Officer

The Emanuel Echo podcast has been a huge success since its launch last year. Episodes cover a variety of topics, ranging from Meet the Head and the transition from primary to secondary school. Scan the QR code to the right to listen or you can search for us on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

A LEVEL AND IGCSE RESULTS

Mr R Milne Headmaster

A level

We are delighted to report that our Upper Sixth have once again earned an excellent set of A level results.

With almost two thirds of entries graded at A* or A, they have continued the trend of year-on-year improvement at Emanuel. To do so alongside the pupils impressive and wide-ranging co-curricular and outreach involvement is a testament to the hard work of the students and the quality of support and guidance from their teachers and families.

IGCSE

We are delighted to see our Year 11s

rewarded with some outstanding results at (I)GCSE.

Over two-thirds of results (69%) were graded at 8 or 9, our highest level in a normal examination year, continuing our year-on-year growth at GCSE.The school has also achieved its highest 9-7% (A*-A) in examined years.

The breadth of performance across all subjects and alongside impressive cocurricular successes has provided a fantastic foundation for our pupils as they progress with their education.

UK SPACE DESIGN COMPETITION

Mr A Steel Teacher of Physics

NATIONAL BOOK READING CHAMPIONS QUIZ

Mr T Jones Senior Librarian & Archivist

ANNUAL LIT QUIZ COMPETITION

Mr T Jones Senior Librarian & Archivist

The annual competition to win the prestigious Neale Shield, named after the late former Head of Lower School Mrs Sue Neale, has been incredibly competitive. The library has run this book-based quiz competition annually since 2015 and it is always enjoyed tremendously by those pupils in years six, seven and eight who love reading.

Scan below to read more.

ENGINEERING SCHOLARS

Mr N Guegan

Head of Design

& Technology

Congratulations to Kathryn (Year 12) and Thomas (Year 12) in becoming Arkwright Engineering Scholars.

An Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is the most esteemed scholarship of its type in the UK, designed to inspire students to pursue their dreams and change the world as an

On Saturday 30th of November, a group of Emanuel school Physics students attended the UK space design competition at the prestigious Imperial College University, in central London. The judges tasked us with designing a brand-new settlement on Mars, ensuring livability and financial profitability. The competition was a fantastic opportunity to work together as a team on problem solving skills and thinking outside the box to solve physics-related problems, but also incorporating other disciplines like Maths, Business, Economics and Public Speaking when presenting our projects to the judges. In addition to learning to work together with Emanuel peers, the competition also provided an opportunity to collaborate with other schools and students, building on social skills. Leadership was also tested during the competition, with elections taking place between our groups for various positions, including CEO, President and various heads of faculty. One highlight for me was working with my faculty to organize the dimensions of our manufacturing suite, and the various discussions we had with other faculties as we looked to perfect our ideas and put them into writing.

outstanding engineer of the future. Kathryn and Thomas were selected from over 1391 applicants and underwent a rigorous and competitive selection process, from an online application to the aptitude exam, culminating in a virtual interview. They were supported throughout by the Mr Guegan and the DT Department. The scholarships they have been awarded place Kathryn with The Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers and Tom with the Royal Air Force (RAF). This comprehensive programme assesses each student’s engineering knowledge and helps them develop key life skills including leadership and creative thinking.

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.

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

LIMITLESS

LEARNING IN THE LOWER SCHOOL

Dr G Ni Cheallaigh SMT Associate (Enrichment)

September 2023 has seen the launch of the lower school’s ‘limitless learner’ initiative. We are very keen to make sure our younger pupils are inspired in their learning and by their teaching. We wish to make sure that each of them

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.

enjoys their academic life and learns valuable independent approaches for the future. We have started to explain the project to all teaching staff, and all pupils. The focus is on encouraging week to week work that encourages the pupils to ‘explore, experiment and exceed.’ We believe these 3 Es are vital for every young person’s enjoyment of school life, and is approach, across all areas of lower school life, ought to a valuable development.

We will continue with our Ethos lessons, focusing on ethical debate and rhetoric in the lower school and have been delighted with the responses to our recently-launched Social Entrepreneurship lessons.

SIR MARTIN GILBERT HISTORY PRIZE

Mr S Jones Teacher of History

“This was one of the best competitions that I have entered. I am so grateful to the judges for selecting my essay as the winner and I hope to only achieve higher in future” - congratulations to Nico (Year 9) who won the first prize in his category for the Sir Martin Gilbert History Prize.

“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

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

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

RESEARCH STUDY

Mr R Milne Headmaster

We are happy to collaborate with the University of Cambridge on their new study about how people learn in different contexts.

The study, led by Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore and Dr Sara De Felice at the University of Cambridge, involves recruiting sixth formers from local schools and colleges and teaching them facts about exotic animals, uncommon musical instruments and other rare items. The teaching is carried out by

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.

researchers from our group of different ages in order to see whether and how the teacher-student dynamic impacts learning.

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

This academic year, pupils at Emanuel received international accreditation for their exceptional work in promoting sustainability and raising environmental awareness amongst their peers. The Eco-Schools programme, established in 1994, is now implemented in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2023-24, more than 1.4 million pupils attended an EcoSchool 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

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

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

Deputy Head Pastoral

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 2023/4 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 M Morrison

Teacher of Classics

This Thursday, 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’.

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.

Kit described the process of auditioning and 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 2024

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:

Brass category: Hasan (Year 7)

Woodwind category: Maisie (Year 11) String category: Maddie (Year 9) Voice category: Vanessa (Year 13) Piano / percussion category: Erdem (Year 9)

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

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Mrs C Graves Head of Co-Curricular Drama

The Music and Drama departments presented four sell-out performances of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to great success, with all four shows receiving a standing ovation.

There were over ninety students involved within multiple aspects of the production; most were in the cast and could be seen

singing, dancing and acting their hearts out on stage, but there was also a large number involved behind the scenes with all of the technical aspects (including lights, sound, stage management and costume) being run by students, and there were also four music students playing in the band alongside professional West End musicians.

A huge well done to all involved for making this such a fun, enthusiastic and high quality production – the Music and Drama departments are so proud of all your hard work and what you’ve managed to achieve!

YEAR 7 & 8 PLAY: WENDY & PETER PAN

Ms Graves Head of Co-Curricular Drama

72 students from Year 7 and 8 have been working extremely hard in rehearsals since January on their productions of ‘Wendy and Peter Pan’. This new version of JM Barrie’s classic story by Ella Hickson puts Wendy at

the centre of the story, transforming her from damsel in distress to hero in charge of her own adventure.

The students did a fantastic job performing this technically challenging play: from perfecting difficult lifts to represent the flying, to performing emotionally complex monologues. Each and every cast member showed dedication and skill whilst performing to sold out audiences both nights.

A huge congratulations to all involved!

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 E Bird 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 S Lavery Director of Sport

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

ROWING UPDATE

Mr J Moon Director of Rowing

Year 10 Rowing: Kingston & Teddington

Head

Kingston Small Boats Head proved to be a fantastic outing for three J15 crews, racing over 5.2km. The girls had a strong showing, placing 11th and 20th in a highly competitive field. For the boys, they placed 12th in their category, an outstanding result given that this was their first head race of the season and the longest race they’ve ever rowed.

A week later at Teddington Head, the boys 4x+ raced again and having learnt valuable lessons they executed a great race, achieving

resilience and determination to win the next three matches to secure their place in the top two and that they did. A comfortable win

6th place overall in their category. The girls combined the quads into an eight for their first ever race in a sweep oar event and raced incredibly well, finishing 3rd in their category.

Year 11/12/13 Rowing: Kingston & Teddington

The senior squad had a fantastic fortnight of racing. At Kingston the J16 boys came home with two silvers from the J16 single and double sculls and our women’s squad came away with a bronze in the highly competitive J18 quadruple sculls division. The rest of the squad had some tight racing coming away with few fourths and several top ten finishes.

At Teddington we had another successful day coming away with two golds from our J16 boys four and J17 boys’ double. Two silvers from the J18 women’s double, and j16 women’s four. Then we finished the day

over Riddlesdown, SCHS and Alleyn’s takes them through to the finals, congratulations to all involved.

off with a bronze in the j18 women’s quad. Everyone was extremely competitive and continue to improve in each race.

While everyone was racing Teddington, we had three athletes competing at the GB junior trials in Boston, Lincolnshire. It was the largest number of entries at a junior trial with 440 athletes entered and 350 racing on the day.

U19 Early ID Trials:

November 16th saw 2 events taking place with the U19 early ID trials. This is the first water trial in the GB Rowing pathway that leads to Crew selections for the U19 world championships, and the Coup de la Jeunesse.

Thomas, Chester and Keza took to the river Haven in Boston against a pool of over 400 of the highest performing athletes in the UK.

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.

Mr Harris Head of Geography

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

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

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

TRIPS LIST

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 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

confidence increase with each session, as they not only practiced new language skills but also began using them in real-life interactions with locals.

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

toilets, something spectacular happened. The Northern Lights. Aurora borealis herself. 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.

S Andrews Teacher of History

Year 8 took a trip to Hever Castle together with some pupils from Westbridge Academy. They learned about the rich history of the castle from Tudor times through to the second world war. Year 8 pupil, Beatrice, reported that the trip was ‘filled with many interesting experiences such as simply having fun by playing in the maze, eating ice cream and heading to the water maze to get thoroughly soaked.’

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.

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.

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.

Mrs Zaratiegui MFL Teacher

Miss S Wells Teacher of Biology and Head of Year 6

Ms S Wells Teacher of Biology and Head of Year

LATIN/CLASSICS TRIP TO SPAIN

Mr M Morrison 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.

Scan the QR code to read more.

HOCKEY TRIP TO BARCELONA

Miss F

Low

Deputy Director of Sport

At the start of half term 40 hockey players from Year 8 and Year 9 embarked on an adventure to Barcelona.We played 6 matches over 4 days against local opposition with some fantastic hockey displayed in some tight games. We also got to explore the sights of Barcelona as well as enjoy some time on the beach. It was a successful tour with lots of great memories made on and off the pitch.

Mr S Turner Deputy Head

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.

EMANUEL SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ms L

Fitzgibbon Deputy Head of Middle School

The Emanuel Ski Team, composed of twentythree elite skiers from Year 8 to Year 13, enjoyed a fantastic week of racing in Sestriere at the end of a busy Autumn Term. Many of the team were returning participants with prior experience of competing against the likes of Whitgift, St Edwards Oxford, and

Guildford High School. That experience and racing nous was crucial to Emanuel’s success this year: the school’s medal haul included six individual podium finishes and three team podium finishes – easily eclipsing the school record of five pieces of silverware set last year.

All students involved should be congratulated on a brilliant trip. The Emanuel Ski Team continues to go from strength to strength; bring on the next trip!

ROWING

TRIP TO ITALY

Mr Liversage

Director of Rowing

Over the Easter Holiday, the senior rowers attended training camp in Varese, Italy. All 36 pupils tested themselves and honed their skills in preparation for National Schools and Henley Regattas.

Over the eight days, the rowers completed a large amount of mileage on the amazing water of Lago di Comabbio. On the morning off, we then visited Sacro Monte- Di Varese and explored all the chapels in the hills of Varese.

Follow the rowers and their progress on our Instagram account, @Emanuel_Rowing_

Rowing trip to Italy

YEAR 6 ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME WITH PARTNER SCHOOLS

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.

On 12th October, we welcomed pupils from Christ Church and John Burns to join our children for a day of drama. They learned and practised new skills and began work on an ambitious production of Macbeth, including practice sword fighting and the ultimate death scene! We are looking forward to the second rehearsal and performance on 12th November.

PARTNERSHIP WEEK

Mr K Gywnne Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator

The Independent School Council’s 2023 Celebrating Partnerships booklet was published on 27 November to mark the start of Partnership week. The booklet showcases the incredible partnership work taking place between state and independent schools and highlights the transformative impact of these collaborations. We are delighted to be included in the booklet again this year for our Ukrainian Coffee and Conversation Hub.

Year 6 enrichment programme with partner schools

PRIMARY AMBITIONS IN ITS SIXTH YEAR

Mr K Gywnne Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator

Primary Ambitions continues to thrive in its sixth 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.

SUPPORTING CHARITIES

Lara 9HB

This Autumn term has been a whirlwind of events . At the start of the year, we helped put together the Years 6, 7, and 8 discos, which were both huge successes, and counted towards House points for Nelson,

Marlborough and Howe. Upon return from half term, we collected huge amounts from generous parents attending Showstoppers, and helped with House Drake’s Halloween treat sale. The term finished with the always impressive annual holiday fair.

There was a craft sale, hot chocolate, music, a raffle, and Mario Kart. Although it was as busy as going Christmas shopping in December, it was a hit with all who attended.

LITERARY DELIGHTS AT THE 2024 CWIZZ

Mr K Gywnne Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator

On 28 November, we hosted ‘The CWIZZ’, the annual book quiz competition organised by a collective of south London authors (CWISL) whose passion is to promote reading. The Hampden Hall was buzzing with teams from our partner primary schools.

This is the fourth year our partner schools have participated in the competition. The CWIZZ provides a fabulous opportunity for the children to hear the authors, first hand, read extracts from their novels; test their literary knowledge through a series of fun, but challenging rounds; and to win a generous collection of raffle prizes! Sacred Heart RC Primary won the primary school competition and several partners won CWISL author assembly visits which is fantastic. Each partner school was also given a goody bag of the authors’ books for their school library. We can’t wait for next year!

EMANUEL IN THE COMMUNITY BOOKLET

Mr K Gywnne Community Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator

We are please to share with you our inaugural Emanuel School in the Community booklet.

The booklet is designed to showcase our community activities in the broadest sense. We highlight our initiatives promoting education equality including Primary Ambitions and Ascent, which involve a large number of pupils, and many others including our crisis support which involves everyone in the Emanuel community – parents, staff and OEs.

We illustrate how pupils and staff are making a difference in our community through the charities that we support, our Duke of Edinburgh scheme and more. We indicate how we are promoting social inclusion though the Archer Advisory Group, Prism, our work with the elderly and young people with disabilities and how we support the vulnerable members of our community. We also address our activities surrounding the environment and sustainability.

Our intent is to provide everyone within our local community a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of our activities within our school and our neighbourhood.We hope you find it an interesting and informative read.

If you are eager to learn more or are interested in being involved, please get in touch at community@emanuel.org.uk , we would love to hear from you.

MEET KYLE GWYNNE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Mr S Turner Deputy Head

We are excited to welcome Kyle Gwynne as our new Community Partnership and Outreach Coordinator. Kyle has been part of Emanuel’s Sports department this past year and recently relocated to London from Northern NSW, Australia.

With extensive experience in community

sports, including organising football and tennis programmes, events, and tournaments, Kyle is well-equipped to lead our community outreach efforts. His expertise will be invaluable in managing both the sports aspect of our partnerships and the broader organisation of activities across the school and community.

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 working 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.

The EmpowHER programme is designed to be high impact. In addition to the coaching sessions, we will include inspirational women speakers, 1-2-1 mentors, careers talks and educational workshops. Our aim is to inspire and empower young women to make positive life choices. We will be reaching out for speakers, work experience opportunities and more. All very exciting!

Scan here to read our community booklet

Mrs A Van Es Development Director

We are committed to providing inspiring opportunities, modern facilities and the best learning environment for our pupils and young people in our community.

Investing in our facilities and site through the phased roll-out of our critical build plan plays a key role in making this possible. We also aim to deliver the best possible education to bright and aspirational pupils from any background through our free places initiative.

In November 2022, we launched our largest ever philanthropic campaign, Giant Strides, to support capital projects and free places. Through widening access and developing our site, we not only support our pupils, but have an opportunity to expand our awardwinning outreach activities including Primary Ambitions, the GCSE booster programme and Ascent.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Sixth Form Centre

The first stage of our critical build plan was the extension of the sixth form centre. With 50% more space, the building provides a modern café, common room, group and silent study areas and an assembly/presentation space. The new facility means that the expert support we provide sixth formers – from higher education advice to careers guidance and pastoral care - is all located in one space and in an environment more aligned with the next stage of their lives.

Off Site Sports Ground at Raynes Park

Our sports facilities are very busy throughout the week with training and fixtures. We run over 1,000 inter-school fixtures each year.

Opened in September 2023, the new all weather pitch allows us to offer a broader range of co-educational sport with provision

for hockey, netball, tennis, and football. The new facility has given us a home venue for girls’ hockey and allowed us to grow our thriving hockey programme by playing in the autumn as well as the spring term. The provision for girls’ sport alongside boys’ sport improves the co-educational team experience and sense of community around sport.

We also completed three new hard courts for

netball and recreational tennis. These will be used for both participation and performance tennis with friendly fixtures in the summer and lower school preparation for LTA tournaments. Three durable hybrid cricket pitches were laid in time for the summer term. The new provision means that boys and girls of all ages can play cricket at the off site sports facility during the summer, which has been wonderful in terms of participation and team spirit.

“From September, 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.”

Proposed New Science Building

Annie Sixth form

“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 science building, we have an opportunity to create a facility and teaching space that will challenge, engage and inspire generations of scientists.”

Ben

Strathearn-Burrows

New Science and Dining building

Work will commence on a fully accessible 4-storey science and dining building in early 2025. It will feature a large light-filled refectory on the ground floor, doubling as an entertainment/event and assembly space, and 15 specialist science laboratories, a computing suite, 8 Maths classrooms and prep rooms on the three floors above.

The 4300sqm new building will complement existing buildings on site, sustaining Emanuel’s heritage while providing a modern and welcoming environment for dining and study.

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.

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.

A LEGACY OF LEARNING

Head of Science and Biology

With a greater number of spectators and increased use of the space, the next stage is to improve the pavilion. It will be a fantastic space for spectators and pupils to enjoy team spirit and refreshments.

In the 2024/25 academic year, we will be awarding a transformative free place to a pupil joining us in Year 7 thanks to the generosity and foresight of a former pupil (Old Emanuel) who left the school a significant legacy when he died in October 2022. Our OE was hugely appreciative of the grammar school education he received at Emanuel, and it was important to him to give another child the academic and co-curricular opportunities he enjoyed.

“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. I’ve always had high aspirations for life, and attending Emanuel made these aspirations seem more achievable.”

Bursary recipient

PRESERVING OUR HISTORY

We are one of the oldest schools in London and are proud of our rich heritage.

Emanuel is fortunate to have a dedicated school archive. Over the years, we have digitised our school publications, photographs, school rolls, cast lists, speech day programmes and much more.

OEs generously donate artefacts, memorabilia and stories from their time at Emanuel so that we can keep alive the school’s history for the generations to come.This year we have received books, photographs, sports medals, ties, badges, caps, t-shirts, rowing tankards, rugby jerseys, vintage train tickets to Blagdons and a huge number of interesting stories and interviews.

Proposed New Science Building

PRIDE WEEK

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.

Sophia Upper Sixth

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY

AFRICAN CARIBBEAN EDUCATION NETWORK

Mr S Andrews

Teacher of History

Over the half term break, Dr Shola Apena Rogers - Director of the ACEN (African Caribbean Education Network), Justice A. (Doctoral Researcher at Durham University) and members of their Young People Advisory Group (YPAG) visited Emanuel to record their first ever podcast. Their guest was Jason Arday, Cambridge University’s youngest Black professor. He joined his Faculty of Education in March 2023, at 37. Before then, he had been a professor at Glasgow and Durham universities; published three books of academic work, mainly focusing on race and education; and, most importantly to him, raised more than £5m through charity work.

INCLUSION PROJECT WITH NEWTON PREP SCHOOL

Ms L Aitken-Burt

Teacher of Classics, History & Politics

BLACK HISTORY MONTH BULLETINS

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.

Leela and Ilse phographed below.

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 from Year 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.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LUNCH

L Aitken-Burt

Teacher of Classics, History & Politics

We had a wonderful celebratory lunch featuring dishes from the Caribbean and West Africa as part of the school’s Black History Month.

There were lightly spiced Jamaican Beef Patties and aromatic Bajan Mango Chicken and Beans served with a spicy Coleslaw and a very special West African Joloff Rice. Both Caribbean and West African cuisine use a lot of beans in their dishes so there was a delicious Ghanaian Red Red which is a wonderfully flavoursome red bean stew and some Nigerian Ewa Riro, a one pot vegan dish full of African spices, vegetables and beans. For dessert there was a choice of a traditional Jamaican Ginger Cake or Caribbean Banana Bread, both of which went well with or without custard. We had some great compliments on the food from our pupils, students and staff who all thoroughly enjoy this special lunch.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL HISTORY

Ms L Aitken-Burt Teacher of Classics, History & Politics

In Sept 2022, Harper Collins published a new series of textbooks called 'Knowing World History'. I pitched and co-authored these four books, writing new units on global topics to bring different perspectives and histories to the KS3 curriculum.

These are the first textbooks to offer such breadth and scope in a KS3 curriculum that give a narrative of stories told from indigenous perspectives, rather than purely their interactions with Britain. The Medieval Islamic World, African and Chinese kingdoms, Mughal India, indigenous Americans, Ottoman Turkey and Edo Japan to name but a few, all get their voice in these new enquiries. I am very excited to be introducing these global topics to Emanuel students this year.

During my research when writing the books, I noticed an intriguing inconsistency with the way in which some cultures have been treated in historical scholarship. For example one of the reasons that African kingdoms have been so relegated in historical research is because of the tradition of oral history rather than written history across much of the continent. Oral history is a source of information about the past found in the stories passed down through the generations, not only by families but by highly skilled orators whose job was to remember vast amounts of information. But the epic stories from Greek and Roman myth, not least of all Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey, were also passed down in this way for centuries. The historians who criticised African cultures for not writing down their history, were failing to remember that the western literature they so idolised also stemmed from an oral tradition.

I hope that the new global modules that Emanuel students will now learn about will give them a wider grounding in the history of the world and equip them with better analytical skills for the future.

Higher Education at Emanuel

SOCIAL

Ms E Maclean 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.

CAREERS FAIR 2024

Ms E Maclean 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

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.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION

Ms E Maclean 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 Sixth Form, mean Emanuel pupils leave school ready to make informed decisions.

INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS HIGHER EDUCATION

Ms J Johnson Head of Sixth Form

We are so proud of Emma, academic scholar and mentoring prefect, who is going to Durham to study Physics after getting four A*! Well done.

Huge congratulations to Ice, music scholar, who is going to study English Literature at Oxford

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.

after getting four A* including her EPQ where she wrote a series of pop songs mixing the poetry of Patience Agbabi and Britney Spears.

Very well done to Freddie, sports scholar, who achieved four A* and is going to study Finance with a year in industry at Exeter. Best of luck!

Congratulations to Harry, sports and academic scholar and deputy head of school, for achieving three A*.

Straight A’s for the heads of school Freddie and Scarlett. Freddie is going to spend a year in a local finance company before heading to Durham to study Classics, while Scarlett off to Newcastle to study Biomedical Sciences. Very well done!

SPECIALIST OVERSEAS UNIVERSITIES’ ADVISER

Mrs J Johnson Head of Sixth Form

Ms Tammy Parks received her BA from Rhodes College in Spanish Language, Literature, and History and her MA in Higher Education Administration from New York University. She is currently Emanuel’s Head of Admissions, and will move into her new role from summer 2024.

She is passionate about education and truly enjoys working with students to help them grow, develop, and discover their potential.

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 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.

As an overseas universities’ specialist, Ms Parks will work with our families to better to understand the complexities of the overseas university landscape and application process. She will offer students assistance with effectively building university lists, writing personal statements, creating achievements list, and interview preparation.

She has previously worked with pupils at Wellington College, Westminster School, Radley College, Queen’s Gate School, and St Mary’s School Ascot. Her advisees have gained successful entry to University of Chicago, UCLA, UPenn, Brown, Yale, Stanford, New York University, Columbia, and more. Emanuel School aims to support any pupils wishing to make application to top universities around the world.

We wish her all the best with her new role.

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 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.

430 YEARS OF EMANUEL SCHOOL

Mr R Milne Headmaster

This year’s St Cecilia’s Concert was held at St John’s Smith Square, one of London’s great concert venues, to mark the 430th anniversary of the foundation of the school.

We welcomed over 400 guests, many of whom were OEs, to enjoy a celebration of the superb musical talent within our pupil body. We were joined by the Berkeley Ensemble, a professional octet based in London, and five of our pupils (Emilia, harp; Tallulah, clarinet; Maisie, flute; Kate, orchestral percussion; and Sean, voice) had the opportunity to perform a solo accompanied by these musicians.

Some of the highlights included the Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of VaughanWilliams’ English Folk Song Suite, the Senior Strings playing two movements from Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, the Concert Band playing two movements from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker

Suite, a fully orchestrated version of the Emanuel School Song (during which some of the OEs in the audience joined in!) and a medley from ‘Phantom of the Opera’ featuring the school choir, organ and orchestra.

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. Learn

SPORT

SPORTS DAY 2024

Mr King Head of Cross-Country and Athletics

Tuesday 25th June saw our return to the Millennium Arena, Battersea Park for our sports day.

After hosting the previous year onsite and running on our grass track the pupils were ready to hit their peak performance on the athletics track. A successful term of athletics had already seen 6 school records broken and the Foundation Athletics trophy lifted, so anticipation was great, and the pupils did not disappoint. It was the hottest day of the year, cold drinks, hats and sun lotion were the order of the day, but this did not slow them down, in all, 25 sports day and school records were broken. Most notably, Sasha (Year 7) and Olivia (Year 10), broke the record in all three of their events, Pablo (Year 7) and Thomas Verwey (Year 8) also broke multiple records. The day was not just about the record breakers, it was also amazing to see so many pupils taking part in an event, or two (or three or four). There were mass starts for the 1500m in the morning, and were expected similar for the 800m, though by the early afternoon the heat of the day dissuaded all but the most hardy middle-distance runner. The day was concluded by a fine set of relay races, the majority of which being won by the eventual Sports Day Champions Drake. With nearly 700 pupils, 100 staff and 400 parents visiting through out the day, our sports day keeps getting bigger and bigger, but on this evidence, our athletes are getting stronger, fitter and faster than ever before, congratulations go to Drake for their victory but our thanks go to everyone who took part and helped make this a successful day

HENLEY REGATTA SUCCESS

Mr J Moon Director of Rowing

For the first time in the history of the school, our rowing girls first eight raced at Henley Royal Regatta. After a huge performance in the qualifying races, our girls and boys were amongst some of the best crews from around the world. The boys have returned to race at the Regatta for a second year in a row too!

MALAYSIA

HOCKEY

& RUGBY TOUR 2024

Miss F Low Deputy Director of Sport

During October half-term, 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.

ANNUAL MCC CRICKET MATCH

Mr W White Head of Cricket

Emanuel School Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HS

Email: enquiries@emanuel.org.uk

Tel: 020 8870 4171

www.emanuel.org.uk emanuel.school @Emanuel_School

Our cricket 1st XI performed fantastically well in Emanuel’s annual fixture against the MCC last week. Congratulations to Lucas and Tom for making their first team debuts.

Tom V became the youngest player in the school’s recent history to play for the boys 1st XI, and as a sports scholar, he also represents Emanuel A teams in rugby, football and cricket.