Habs Robotics team makes history at VEX Robotics World Championship
Students win big at MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge in New York
A year of debating success
Habs students win first place prize in Weizmann UK Safe Cracking Competition
Silver award win at the British Physics Olympiad Experimental Project
A celebration of Habs’ diverse community
Beyond Belief: students tackle God, evil, and modern meaning in Theology and Philosophy Conference
Careers Networking Breakfasts
Economics Day returns
Years 7 and 8 joint disco lights up Bourne Hall
Keith Dawson Independent Research Project prize giving assembly 2025
Bollywood Night 2025
Bird & Bird EDI Conference
Rainbow Dash and Pride Picnic
A warm goodbye to our Year 13 students
Art and Drama
Habs students selected to perform at the Music for Youth National Festival
AIR Studios
Celebrating artistic excellence with five acceptances into the National Youth Theatre
Celebrating artistic achievement at the Habs Music Festival
HabsFest debuts with a spectacular showcase of talent
Arts this term
An amazing performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet: Defying Stars!’
Habs Art and Design Festival 2025
T Minus 10 Seconds and A Shared Space: Year 9 and 10 put on an astronomical performance
Lord of the Flies: Middle School play performance
Competition
The best yet: a triumphant joint Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium Link to Summer Term highlights
Year 12 embrace Spanish life and language in Comillas
Sixth formers visit the Old Bailey
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025
Habs students visit Düsseldorf for Work Experience Exchange
Summer Field Day adventures
Eid in the Bourne Mencap Funday – Sunday 22 June 2025
Habs Elstree Schools’ Summer Fair 2025
Headmaster’s End of Term Message: July 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we come to the close of a vibrant summer term, and indeed another remarkable academic year, I find myself reflecting once again on the incredible energy, passion and ambition that defines life at Habs. It has been a term full of spirit and celebration, one that has showcased our values of ambition, curiosity, courage and community at every turn.
This term, we say farewell to Year 13. The Prefects’ Dinner and Graduation Ceremony were moving occasions, full of pride, laughter and reflection. But as I said to the students gathered that evening: this is not goodbye – it is simply the next chapter. We were reminded of this just a few weeks ago at our annual OH Day, where we welcomed back so many alumni who continue to carry the Habs spirit into the world and remain deeply connected to our community.
Our Year 12 Prefects have already stepped into their leadership roles with maturity and purpose, attending a Leadership Dinner and Conference at Habs Hall earlier this term. Their reflections, ideas and growing sense of responsibility give me great confidence for the year ahead.
Our commitment to inclusion, representation and celebration of difference has remained at the heart of this term. We hosted our annual Pride Picnic, complete with a RainbowDash that brought colour and energy to the campus in celebration of identity, acceptance and community. And just last week, the South Asian Society hosted a fantastic Bollywood Night, an evening filled with great food, music, culture and joy.
Our annual Family History Exhibition was another powerful reminder of
the depth and diversity of stories that live within our student body. I was particularly moved by the conversations sparked by our Year 7s’ interviews with relatives. And thank you to all the family members who contributed their memories to this meaningful project.
We have continued to celebrate extraordinary achievements across so many areas. Our VEX Robotics team HABS_CyberSquad made history in the best possible way by being crowned World Excellence Champions 2025. This is the highest accolade at the World Championships and the first time a UK team has ever received this title. Meanwhile, our M3 MathWorks Challenge team flew to New York to present their solution at the international finals. Their success, runner-up in the Technical Computing category and winners of the award for Outstanding Presentation, was richly deserved and a source of great pride.
The arts, as ever, have continued to enrich and inspire. This term we enjoyed inspiring and brilliant productions from Year 6, the Middle and the Upper School.
Our music programme has been astonishing in both scale and quality. From Prep instrumental concerts to our Habs Music Festival, students have showcased talent, dedication and a true love of performance. The spotlight shone brightly too on our Jazz Evening and Orchestral concerts, but the standout moment was undoubtedly HabsFest. With eight hours of music by 600 performers, 1000 people joined us for an unforgettable Sunday of music. This culminated in the release of our EP 'The Video Store at the End of the World' recorded by our students at AIR Studios - a fitting headline for an unforgettable event.
On the sports fields, it has been a summer of success. In cricket, our U13, U14 and U15 teams were each crowned County Cup Champions. In athletics, our Intermediate Team (Years 9 and 10) triumphed in the Herts County League, winning the County Plate by more than 20 points. Our U13 water polo team became National Champions and our U12 football team made history by reaching the ESFA National Final for the first time in Habs history, an incredible journey and a proud achievement.
The energy of Field Day and Sports Day were matched only by the joy of our events for new joiners. It has been a pleasure to welcome the next generation of Habs students and families into our community. I know they will quickly find their place and thrive. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the Parents' Guild for their tireless support and for organising so many wonderful events throughout the year.
I feel more grateful than ever to be part of this exceptional community. Thank you, as always, for your trust, partnership and support. The dedication of my colleagues and the willingness of our students to seize every opportunity continues to inspire me every single day.
I wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable summer break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for what promises to be another exciting chapter at Habs.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Sykes Headmaster
Our newsletters
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Upper School
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Success stories
Welcome to our new 2025/26 Prefects!
We are delighted to announce that our new School Captain for the 2025/2026 academic year is Sahil (SFC3). We are thrilled to also announce the School Vice Captains: Alex (SFJ3) is Vice Captain for the Middle School, Saul (SFM1) for the Upper School and Mohammed (SFH2) for the Sixth Form.
They will play an active role in leading the Prefect team, the Sixth Form and the wider school community. The Prefect team were elected by their year group and teachers and assumed their roles with immediate effect at the beginning of the summer term.
2025/26 House Prefects are as follows:
Calverts:
• Captain: Neel (SFC2)
• Jonny (SFC3)
• Tasir (SFC2)
• Arjan (SFC3)
Hendersons:
• Captain: Ishan (SFH3)
• Toby (SFH2)
• Neerav (SFH1)
• Meko (SFH1)
Joblings:
• Captain: Charlie (SFJ1)
• Ore (SFJ1)
• Tom (SFJ3)
• Shashwat (SFJ1)
Meadows:
• Captain: Theo (SFM1)
• Toby (SFM1)
• Rudra (SFM2)
• Rian (SFM1)
Russells:
• Captain: Saaj (SFR1)
• Aaron (SFR2)
• Jeet (SFR1)
• Millan (SFR2)
Strouts:
• Captain: Sebastian (SFS2)
• Raees (SFS3)
• Dan (SFS1)
• Krish (SFS3)
Class of 2025
After making it through their A Level exams, the Year 13 students and their parents gathered on Wednesday 25 June to look back on and celebrate their time at Habs. There was lots of excitement as the students gathered out in the Quad to form the procession into the Bourne Hall.
During the ceremony there were tears and laughter as Mr Sykes took us on a journey through the cohort’s time, including some wonderful anecdotes and photos. While this was very much about the year group as a whole, a small number of prizes were awarded for excellence and commitment to the academic and co-curricular life.
Following the ceremony and with yearbooks handed out, it was out to the Croquet Lawn for a BBQ and drinks reception held jointly with Habs Girls.
This was a truly wonderful occasion, and it was lovely to see the students, staff and parents across both schools socialise and reflect on their time. As the sun started to dip down behind Aldenham House, the crowds thinned out and the students realised that they really were leaving the Habs bubble as students for the last time and becoming fully fledged members of the Old Haberdashers community instead.
Habs Robotics team makes history at VEX Robotics World Championship
We are thrilled to share that our robotics team, 78116A HABS_CyberSquad, has won the prestigious Excellence Award at the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas. This top honour recognises outstanding achievement in engineering, coding, collaboration and innovation.
HABS_CyberSquad is the first UK team to win this award at the higher programme level, and only the second UK team ever to receive it in the competition’s nearly 20-year history.
Congratulations on their outstanding success, not just in representing Habs, but in proudly representing the UK on a global stage.
Mr Ryan writes about the competition and the incredible work that the team put in over the years to achieve this phenomenal feat.
'The 2025 VEX V5RC Middle School World Championship represented the end of 78116A
HABS_CyberSquad’s third year of competitive robotics, culminating in the achievement of a world title via the overall ‘Excellence Award’.
The team formed in September 2022, initially competing in the VEX IQ competition, where teams engineer a robot from plastic components. Within their first two seasons, they won multiple top awards across regional competitions in the UK, as well as the ‘Innovate Award’ at the National Championship and ‘Build Award’ at the World Championship for robust robot design.
This season, the team grew to eight people including:
• Joseph (10R1) - Team Leader
• Ishan (10C1) - Engineering Notebook Designer
• Ayaan (10J2) - Builder
• Max (10S1) - CAD Designer
• Oscar (10J2) - Builder and Notebook Designer
• Isaac (10R2) - Programmer
• William (10J2) - Driver
• Jaiden (10S2) - Sponsorship and Outreach Lead
In March, the team were crowned UK National Champions. They also won Tournament Champion and Skills Champion, earning the ‘triple crown’ – being the first Middle School team to achieve this feat in national history.
This led to their qualification to the World Championship, where they competed in Dallas, Texas.
The competition had an early start, with a 5.30am flight from Heathrow to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. On the first two days, they enjoyed the Dallas sights, visiting the JFK Memorial Plaza and spending time in an escape room, as well as shopping at a Target and Walmart. They enjoyed traditional TexMex cuisine at local restaurants, including fantastic quesadillas and tacos at ‘Uno Mas’ as well as American specials at Chipotle and Chick-fil-A.
The first day of competition included the parade of nations, where Joseph and Ishan represented the UK as a part of the opening ceremony, with Joseph bearing the flag. On day one, the team focused on setting competitive skills scores, where robots compete individually in both driver-control and programming to score as many points as possible via interaction and scoring of game elements. CyberSquad’s 81-point total placed them 33rd at Worlds, out of 2840 teams which participated across the season in the skills challenge, comfortably the highest in the UK.
Day two consisted of the teams' qualification ‘group-stage’ matches, 2V2 bouts against an opposing alliance with the aiming of scoring more points via autonomous and driver strategy. The team progressed through these matches with an almost perfect 8-2 record, placing them 3rd out of the 80 teams in their division, and giving them a high seed for the elimination bracket round, where they partnered with US Open Champion ‘Blue Army’ from California.
In the elimination rounds on day three, CyberSquad and their alliance partner progressed seamlessly before unfortunately losing by a narrow margin in the Quarter Final, nevertheless being the highest outcome of any European team in the past two years. Then came the final aspect of the competition – the awards. The team received special tickets to sit in the front-row of the VEX Dome in the Convention Centre, a mammoth 10,000-seater stadium which hosts the world finals and gives the top prizes.
Within the closing ceremony, CyberSquad were astounded to be awarded the Excellence Award. This is the most coveted prize in all of VEX Robotics, representing excellence in all aspects of the competition including matches, skills and a top-level engineering notebook and team interviews.
It crowned the team as overall World Champions in the world’s largest robotics competition, the first European team to ever do so in Middle School VRC. The award established them as the best VEX Robotics team in the world, out of circa 6,000 in their age category from over 50 countries, with 20,000 teams competing in all of VEX.
The team is incredibly proud of this achievement, and extend their gratitude to their teachers and the DT department, in particular, Mr Ryan and Ms Fagan, who accompanied them on the trip and have pioneered the VEX program within the school, allowing them to constantly learn, improve and develop over the course of their three years competing, now being crowned champions of the world.'
The award established them as the best VEX Robotics team in the world, out of circa 6,000 in their age category from over 50 countries, with 20,000 teams competing in all of VEX.
Students win big at MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge in New York
The MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge is an internet-based math modelling competition designed for 16 to 18 year olds, who are tasked with creating a mathematical representation of a realworld scenario to make a prediction or provide insight.
Our Sixth Form Habs students took on the challenge and came out with a brilliant podium finish, earning second place in the Technical Computing Award. We are so incredibly proud of the boys for their persistence and ambition in taking on this prestigious competition.
Written by Oliver (SFM3), Captain of the Habs team
Our M3 story begins in November 2023, when the brilliant Miss Harrison, Head of Maths, unearthed yet another prestigious competition for us to throw ourselves into: the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge, note the American spelling. For this was a competition unlike any other, bearing the promise of an all expenses paid trip to New York and potentially thousands of dollars in prize money.
The catch? The competition, which involved designing maths models to analyse a contemporary issue in society, was 14 hours straight. Undeterred, we – that is, Devarshi (SFJ3), Rajarshi (SFJ3) and myselfformed a task force unlike any other and, one March weekend last year, sat down and locked in. After an intense and adrenalising day which pushed us to the very limits of our teamwork and problem-solving, we awaited the results: semi-finalists,
7th to 12th place, top two in the UK. The threshold for an all-expenses paid trip to New York? 6th.
And so, having pocketed a $1500 semi-finalist prize, we returned to our daily existences. We continued to hone our mathematical prowess, our coding expertise, our statistical sensibilities. Until 2025 rolled around, and it was time for take two.
This time, the problem concerned heatwaves and power outages, with a particularly challenging question three asking us to independently devise a 'vulnerability score' for various suburbs of Birmingham. With last years’ experience, we were faster, more refined, more agile. Approaches that last year went in the 'if we had had more time', this year went in the actual writeup. We had given it our all, one final time.
And it paid off. On the basis of our application of programming ('technical computing') to the problem, which was among the three best of any team, we had landed it: an all expenses paid trip
to NYC, with our beloved Coach Harrison and the famously iconic Mr Broadwith along for the ride.
The five-day experience that followed will be remembered for the rest of our lives. Giddy with excitement and disbelief, we arrived Friday night to see just about everything there is in New York City over the weekend before Monday's competition. In the interest of not flying out and heading back the day after, we were culturally enriched to a spectacular degree in the company of some of our best friends and the enthusiastic and unforgettable company of our brilliant teachers. From the nacho cheese to the Red 40, there could be no possible better group of people with whom to experience the Big Apple.
But let us not forget: this was, first and foremost, a work trip – a business holiday, perchance. And so, on Monday, having been prepped on how to bring out the full force of our Britishness by the great Mr B, we wandered down to Jane Street international HQ for a day of maths modelling to parallel our previous 14-hour adventures. Armed with Raj's charisma and Dawei's (SFC1) unassuming Desmos brilliance, along with good performances from Aryan (SFR2) and the rest of us thanks to Coach Harrison and Mr B's frenetic hand gestures, we completed the presentation and survived the notorious judges' grilling.
And... results. We picked up 2nd place in our category, leaving us disappointed to finish top two in the UK once more – but all was remedied by the Outstanding Communication of Results award, conferred upon us with an additional $500 prize. If one fewer joke about the weather or Fahrenheit were to have been made, who knows whether we would have been lucky enough to achieve this distinction.
We flew back Tuesday morning with the experience of our lives behind our backs, and more struck than ever by the immediacy of our departure from Habs. The intensity of our gratitude to Miss Harrison and Mr Broadwith can scarcely be conveyed, along with the degree to which we will miss them. What better way could we possibly have ended our time at this school?
A year of debating success
Both Habs Girls and Habs Boys have had a stellar academic year in debating, with weekly training sessions, national competitions, weekend coaching sessions from a debating world champion and countless interhouse events.
Some competition highlights include:
UCL Schools, November 2024 –Aarav (11H2) and Samit (11R1) broke into the Bronze Finals, in which they were runners-up. They were one point away from securing a place in the Silver Finals.
LSE Schools, November 2024 –Nazim (11S2) and Feeza (L6 KP) broke into the Bronze Finals. They narrowly missed out on a win.
Oxford Schools Regionals, January 2025 – Aarav (11H2) and Samit (11R1) broke and qualified for the Grand Final at the University of Oxford.
ICYD Regionals, February 2025 –Arya (10C1), Lani (10R1), Yash (10J2) and Zachary (10C2) broke and qualified for the Grand Final at the University of Cambridge.
Imperial Schools, March 2025 –Lucas (11C2) and Richard (11R1) broke into the Silver Finals. They narrowly missed out on a win.
Durham Schools, March 2025 –Following five qualification rounds, seven out of our eight teams broke (reached the final rounds of a competition). Aarav (11H2), Daniel (11S2), Lucas (11C2), Madhav (SFC1), Richard (11R1) and Sohan (SFM2) qualified for the Open Semi-Finals. Aanya (10 A) and Tamara (10 Ansuz) qualified for the Novice Grand Final, where they were runners-up.
We also hosted our inaugural Intra-School Debating Competition, organised by our U6 debaters. Nazim (11S2) and Feeza (L6 KP) were crowned the winners of this event following four qualification rounds.
Debating is an invaluable skill that allows students to contemplate views that are different from their own, increasing empathy. It allows them to critically analyse arguments, increase their confidence, and work together to outsmart their intellectual opponents.
The students have debated on a range of interesting topics, including but not limited to: social media anonymity; aestheticisation of suffering in music; environmental activism; and performanceenhancing drugs in sports. The students hope to continue building on this success next academic year as the societies join forces –and hopefully bring home some silverware.
To find out more about what the debating team has been up to, read the Debating Society Bulletin.
Habs students win first place prize in Weizmann UK Safe Cracking Competition
Habs students took part in Weizmann UK’s annual physics tournament, where Lower Sixth students created puzzles using physics principles to design and crack safes. Held at Dulwich College, over 100 students from 14 schools took part. Habs Boys’ team, Alien Bastion, won first place securing the Weizmann UK Physics Prize.
Jack (SFS3) shared his experience of the day:
'The day started off with Ben (SFH2), Isaac (SFS1), Noah (SFJ3) and I setting up the safe in Dulwich College.
The aim of the competition was to design a safe and then crack other teams' safes while trying to design your own to be more difficult for others to crack.
The safes themselves were studentbuilt boxes locked with physics puzzles, requiring quick thinking and detailed physics knowledge to crack within a 10-minute timespan.
After a short briefing, the competition officially began with two team members staying with the safe to 'defend' - ensuring the safe was restored to its original condition after each opposing team had tried to crack it. The other two members of the team were 'attacking' - trying to crack other teams' safes.
After a whole morning of cracking rounds, it was time for the judging rounds, where for an hour the team was relentlessly grilled by judges, ensuring that the team fully understood the physics behind the safe and could explain how every part of the puzzles worked. The team answered excellently, not once failing to answer their questions, despite many other teams being left with no answer to the judges' questions.
After the hour of judging, it was back to more cracking rounds, before all the safes were brought to the main hall for a brief gallery session, where the teams could look at all the safes on display, talk to teams they did not get a chance to meet and admire the vast array of physics on display, before the awards were given. After a long day the Habs team were crowned winners and will move on to the Weizmann International Safe Cracking Tournament at the beginning of April.'
We are extremely proud of the skill, ambition and curiosity that Isaac, Noah, Jack and Ben showed in the competition. Congratulations to team Alien Bastion!
Silver award win at the British Physics Olympiad Experimental Project
Each year, the Physics department provides students the opportunity to participate in the British Physics Olympiad Experimental Project (BPhO).
The Experimental Project develops and encourages practical physics for students in school. A problem is posed and must be investigated using common household and school equipment. The students will plan and undertake open-ended experiments, conduct independent research and communicate their findings in a write-up.
This year’s brief was Gravity Assist, an investigation to analyse the motion of two dropped balls, which simulates in one dimension the gravity assist technique used by spacecraft. Our Physics teachers then chose the best report to submit for judging by BPhO in the national competition.
Laksh (SFJ3), Ryan (SFR3) and Aaryan (SFH3) earned a silver award for their Gravity Assist report. As a result, they were invited to attend the annual BPhO Awards Day at the Royal Society in London to receive their award, meet other BPhO high performers, have lunch and hear Dr Sophie Contera, University of Oxford, deliver a lecture on her research in the field on nanotechnology, 'Nano Comes to Life'. What an incredible achievement for our young physicists!
Events
A celebration of Habs’ diverse community
Our annual Family History Exhibition made its return, where Year 7 students proudly shared the stories of their past with an audience of parents, grandparents and extended family.
Every student delved into their own family’s unique history, conducting interviews with relatives and uncovering meaningful stories from across generations. These stories were transformed into posters, which filled the room with colour, memory and emotion.
We are grateful to the many relatives who contributed their memories. Touching on family traditions and memories of revolution, migration and war, their stories enriched the experience for everyone. The event was both a celebration of history and the extraordinary diversity and richness of the Habs community.
Beyond Belief: students tackle God, evil, and modern meaning in Theology and Philosophy Conference
This year, Habs Boys held its first Theology and Philosophy Conference centred on the provocative question ‘Is God Dead in the 21st Century?’ The event brought together leading thinkers and enthusiastic students for a unique opportunity to explore faith, reason and belief in today’s world.
Written by Tasir (SFC2)
On Wednesday 18 June, Theology and Philosophy students at Haberdashers’ Elstree, North London Collegiate and Bushey Meads were treated to a wonderful display of cutting-edge thought at the inaugural Habs’ Boys’ Theology and Philosophy Conference. The three guest speakers, Dr Joshua Sijuwade, Dr Emily Qureshi-Hurst and Elizabeth Oldfield each presented radically different responses on the question: Is God Dead in the 21st Century? This is also the topic of our Theology and Philosophy journal, Veritas. We were then split into three groups at lunchtime, where we experienced a university-style seminar on the same question, delivered by Mrs Opie, who focused on the problem of evil; Mrs Khurjekar, who presented on paganism in 21st century cinema; and Dr Nelson, who asked whether Jesus is dead in the 21st century.
We ended the day with what I took to be the highlight of the Conference: A panel discussion from our three speakers, mediated
by Dr Nelson. The questions came from us, the students, which we had entered via a QR code earlier in the day. We were able to get down to the heart of differing methodologies provided by each speaker. Many interesting ideas where discussed, including the value of reason and logic, the strength of Christianity, how God exists in relation to time, and my own personal favourite moment in which Dr Qureshi-Hurst pointed out that atheists do not require a higher power to ground concepts which many religious people use.
I speak on behalf of all those who attended to say that we were extremely grateful to enjoy such an advanced range of guests. We have the entire department to thank, with special gratitude for Dr Nelson, Mr Davis, Mrs Opie and Mrs Khurjekar, who all contributed to the day.
I found the Conference to be lively and thought-provoking, forcing me to confront many of my worldviews, and I hope that Haberdashers’ Elstree continues to enjoy such rewarding experiences.
Careers Networking Breakfasts
Over the course of this academic year, we have held a series of networking breakfasts for Sixth Form students in areas including degree apprenticeships, public sector, charities, science, engineering, and alternatives to medicine.
These sessions have been a wonderful opportunity for students to ask professionals about the application process through to the day-to-day experiences of a particular career. For example, we were very lucky to have two recent OHs who are doing Degree Apprenticeships in Law and Finance respectively. Students were able to hear first-hand their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of degree apprenticeships compared to standard degrees.
Economics Day returns
On Thursday 19 June, Habs proudly hosted the re-launch of the popular Economics Day, an event that had been paused since the Covid pandemic. It was fantastic to see two rooms full of energy, with students fully engaged in a dynamic business simulation exercise led by Enterprise Skills.
Over 90 Year 12 Economics students took part, many of whom are planning to pursue Economics or related subjects at university. We were also delighted to welcome 12 visiting students from Haberdashers’ Hatcham College, adding to the collaborative spirit of the day.
The highlight came at the end, when 16 outstanding students were announced as winners of a unique opportunity: they will spend a day in July participating in a specially designed programme at a top investment bank – an exciting reward and valuable real-world insight into the world of finance.
Through attending these sessions, we hope that students came across pathways they will never previously have considered, as well as build their confidence and networking skills.
We are extremely grateful to the external professionals for volunteering their time and sharing their advice, expertise and experience with our students.
Years 7 and 8 joint disco lights up Bourne Hall
The Bourne Hall was buzzing with energy as over 300 Year 7 and 8 students from Habs Girls and Habs Boys packed the venue for an unforgettable disco! The hall was transformed into a vibrant dance floor where students danced non-stop to a fantastic mix of pop classics that had everyone singing. In true school disco tradition, a conga line snaked through the crowd and the atmosphere was pure joy.
Fueling the fun, students enjoyed pizza and candy floss that kept spirits high throughout the night. But the excitement did not stop there – glitter tattoos sparkled, neon glow sticks lit up the dance floor, and table football matches heated up the side areas.
For those wanting to capture the magic, a classic photo booth and a 360-degree photo booth snapped dynamic shots that will be cherished for years to come.
Thank you to the Habs Boys Parents' Guild for putting on a spectacular show!
Members of Habs Boys Parents' Guild!
Left to Right: Mrs Shah, Dr Markanday, Mrs Lane, Mrs Saunders, Mrs Lyons, Mrs Kerai, Mrs Damani, Mrs Nathwani and Mrs Kaur.
Keith Dawson Independent Research Project prize giving assembly 2025
The Dawson Project provides an opportunity for Year 9 students at Habs to pursue a subject of special interest. Over five months, students research, engage with and delve into a question of their choosing before presenting their project in any format they think suitable.
The assembly celebrated the research undertaken by the students, with those who achieved Distinction or Merit with aspects of a Distinction being awarded a certificate. The boys also heard from Mr Dawson about the importance of research, and we heard from some of the winning students about the key skills learnt from undertaking their project.
These students have been recognised for their outstanding work and have tackled a diverse range of thought-provoking questions:
Distinction Prize Winners
Adi (9R2)
How does mathematics shape art and music?
Daniel (9C2)
How does your US state you live in affect your life expectancy?
Ethan (9M2)
How do musical elements influence the brain of a human?
Faizan (9H1)
How has Covid-19 pandemic affected our society?
Nathaniel (9J1)
How and to what extent has the Soviet Union affected post-Soviet states?
Onkaar (9R1)
How has the control of natural resources shaped global power dynamics?
Otto (9J)1
Why tiny islands and the melting Arctic will cause a shift in global trade power
Parth (9J2)
Leaves in my cake: a philosophical exploration of life's imperfections
Reuben (9C2)
To what extent does the etymology of the word ‘apricot’ help to explain cultural diffusion across Europe?
Yuxiong (9S1)
How will the US election of 2024 affect global and US trade and economics?
Distinction and Special Mention
Aiden (9C2)
Will artificial intelligence transform our lives or has its impact been grossly exaggerated?
Bashar (9S1)
What progress has been made in de-extinction and what is the most likely method to be successful?
Benji (9R1)
How do advanced machine learning models process complex financial data to optimise trading strategies, and to what extent do they outperform or complement human cognitive abilities and emotional factors in financial trading?
Ishaan (9S2)
What made roman warfare superior to others?
Kanishk (9R1)
SMART MONEY: Programming currency and civilisation?
Markos (9S2)
Is Maths discovered or invented?
Certificates of Distinction
Alfie (9M1)
How has media affected football and what could the future hold?
Artmigan (9C1)
Is there any prejudice against aspiring professional footballers with South Asian background?
Dhruv (9H1)
What are the impacts of carbon taxes compared to subsidies for renewable energy and what alternatives could be considered that address the concerns raised about carbon taxation?
Ethan (9S1)
Why does humanity have such a strong psychological bond with money?
Francis (9J2)
Why is Padel one of the fastest-growing sports in the world?
Hebron (9M2)
What factors impact our mathematical ability and how can we improve this?
Maks (9M1)
How do the creativity and skills of video game communities evolve over time?
Orson (9R1)
The evolution of player safety in the NFL: implications for the future of the game and its impact on the culture of American football
Saish (9R2)
How do different genres of music affect the brain while studying?
Zakir (9J2)
How has CGI affected the 21st-century film industry
Habs students are rightly known for their intellectual curiosity. It is especially pleasing to see projects in fields not usually considered on a Year 9 curriculum, such as psychology, sports science, economics and law. We hope that this spirit of inquiry and the sense of achievement it brings will stay with our students for years to come.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their exceptional contributions.
Bollywood Night 2025
Bollywood Night 2025 was a vibrant celebration of culture, community and talent. Students came together for an evening filled with dazzling performances, mouthwatering food and joyous atmosphere.
The night featured a fantastic mix of singing, dancing and music - from heartfelt solos to energetic group medleys. Highlights included a powerful vocal performance, an elegant dance and a show-stopping senior medley that brought the house down. With colourful outfits, delicious Indian cuisine and a buzzing dance floor, the night truly captured the spirit of Bollywood. It was an unforgettable experience for all.
‘Bollywood Night 2025 was an absolute blast - my first time and totally unforgettable! Singing 'Tum Hi Ho' was a dream (nerves and all!), and the crowd's cheers gave me a real boost. Habs Girls' dance was fab, and our seniors' medley dance was pure magic. The food? Delicious! And I had the best laughs with my friends all night!’ - Adi (9R2)
Bird & Bird EDI Conference
Written by Amilia (L6 PW)
A group of us had the incredible opportunity to visit Bird & Bird, a leading law firm in London, where we took part in a studentled panel as part of an industry EDI Conference. The event brought together professionals from a range of industries who wanted to hear directly from young people, the future workforce, about what true inclusion should look like.
I shared my perspective as a student with ADHD, highlighting how neurodiversity is often overlooked in inclusion conversations, despite being just as important as race and gender. I spoke about my hopes for future workplaces to understand that fairness doesn’t mean treating everyone the same but rather providing the right support so that everyone can thrive.
We also discussed how competitive industries often have a narrow view of 'professionalism', a view that can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent individuals, even when they have the potential to succeed. It was empowering to share our views with professionals who have the ability to drive meaningful change. Although we are still students, it was inspiring to see how open and willing they were to listen and learn from us.
Rainbow Dash and Pride Picnic
The Rainbow Dash brought the spirit of Pride outdoors with a fun and colourful run around the school grounds. Participants dressed in rainbow colours and accessories, dashing their way through the course to music and cheers. It wasn’t about speed: it was about solidarity. Every step taken celebrated visibility, inclusion and the right to be unapologetically yourself.
It concluded with our Pride Party 2025, which was a celebration of love, identity and community. Students and staff came together in a sea of colour, music and glitter to mark the end of Pride Month in style. With music, dancing, face painting and rainbowthemed treats, the atmosphere was full of energy.
A warm goodbye to our Year 13 students
Ms Noble, Head of Sixth Form, writes about our Year 13s’ final days at Habs:
The start of the summer term sees the beginning of the end for the Year 13 and their time as students at Habs. Over the course of the term, we have had a series of events to celebrate and thank the year group. This began with the Prefect Dinner, which is always a lovely occasion, bringing together the outgoing Prefect Team with the Heads of House, Deputy Heads of House, Form Tutors and SLT.
This formal dinner, which began with drinks outside as the sun set, was a wonderful evening where the students and staff mingled on House tables, reminiscing about their years at Habs and the contributions made to their House in that time. At a time when the students were getting increasingly nervous about their impending A Levels, it was the perfect opportunity to switch off for a few hours and thank the Prefects for the huge contribution they made to the School and their Houses during their tenure as leaders of the School Community.
On Friday 9 May, Year 13 celebrated their final day in school before the start of Study Leave. This is always a day of mixed emotions where students are very ready to knuckle down to revision but also feel rather nostalgic that they are finishing lessons for the final time and losing that school day structure which has governed their lives since they were five years old. During the day, we mixed the formal with the fun with students having an assembly and time in their House groups before heading out to the playing fields for a BBQ and fun on a variety of inflatable games. Luckily the weather was on our side and was even warm enough for there to be the inevitable water fight breaking out in certain quarters. The atmosphere on the field for this event, which was joint with Habs Girls, was delightful and it felt
that the students were really able to relax and enjoy the afternoon without worrying about their impending A Levels.
After successfully navigating the challenges of the exam season, we welcomed the whole cohort back on Wednesday 25 June for their Graduation Evening. It was a joy to welcome parents and students to the Bourne Hall for the ceremony. This was our opportunity to really celebrate the year group as a whole, reflecting on their time at Habs, whether they have been here two years or 13 years. The Headmaster had collected many anecdotes and there was laughter throughout the hall as he regaled the audience with these stories from their Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior School years. It was a testament to the year group how many wonderful stories were included from across all areas of school life. Following the formal ceremony and a lung busting rendition of Jerusalem we headed out to the Croquet Lawn for the BBQ and drinks reception with Habs Girls. This really is one of the highlights of the year, seeing students, parents and staff enjoying spending time with each other, reflecting on the cohort’s time at Habs and hearing about all their summer plans. It was a struggle to get the students to want to leave at the end of the evening as they wanted to ‘soak it all in for one final time’.
Music, Art and Drama
Habs students selected to perform at the Music for Youth National Festival
Huge congratulations to our brilliant students for being selected to perform at the prestigious Music for Youth National Festival!
After competing in the regional heats, our Indian Music Ensemble and Habs Elstree Big Band have earned their place to perform nationally. This is a remarkable achievement, showcasing the dedication and passion of our young musicians.
They will perform at the renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra centre in July, bringing
Habs music to a national stage. This is not just an opportunity to bring the talent of our students to wider audience, but to be part of a remarkable celebration of youth music from all corners of the country.
We are incredibly proud of our students and cannot wait to see them shine in this exciting next chapter of their musical journey.
Students record at AIR Studios
30 students from Habs Girls and Habs Boys joined forces to record four original songs at AIR Studios, a world-famous, industry renowned studio.
Based in Hampstead, AIR Studios was set up in the 70s by George Martin, producer of The Beatles. In its first decade alone, classic albums recorded or engineered at AIR include Meddle by Pink Floyd, Queen’s Sheer Heart Attack, Roxy Music’s For Your Pleasure (and their three following albums), Paul McCartney’s soundtrack to Live and Let Die, Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush and The Pretenders’ eponymous debut album.
Over two days, students from Year 8 to Year 13 recorded four songs, written by Sam Griffiths (renowned songwriter, who recently returned from a major European tour with
his band The Howl and The Hum) and Matthew Herd (our musicianin-residence, and the creative mind behind the band Seafarers), for our recent production, ‘The Video Store at the End of the World’.
The opportunity to work on original music in an esteemed studio was an electrifying and unique experience for our talented students. They played with professionalism, skill and passion to create something entirely new – a process that was both inspiring and exciting.
The resulting album was released at HabsFest, accompanied by a live performance of the original music.
Celebrating artistic excellence with six acceptances into the National Youth Theatre
Six of our incredibly talented students have been accepted into the prestigious National Youth Theatre (NYT) of Great Britain following auditions earlier this year. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the fierce competition, with around 4,500 young people auditioning from across the UK. These six students bring the total number of Habs students accepted into the NYT over the past eight years to 36.
Daniel (10C2), Veer (10H1), Victor (10J1), Saul (SFM1), Himidi (L6 CS) and Liberty (9 Aleph) now join the ranks of the NYT, where they will have the opportunity to audition for and work with the company until they are 26.
In addition to celebrating the success of our own students, we are proud to highlight our new partnership with the National Youth Theatre, through which Habs has become an audition hub. This initiative has allowed young people from local state schools to audition for free while receiving mentorship and training in audition techniques. We are particularly proud that two students from our partner school, London Academy, were also accepted into the NYT. This acceptance into the National Youth Theatre is not just an individual achievement; it represents the collective success of our students, teachers and the entire school community, all of whom work together to support the development of these young artists.
Congratulations to Daniel, Veer, Victor, Saul, Himidi and Liberty, – we cannot wait to see where this exciting journey takes you!
Celebrating artistic achievement at the Habs Music Festival
The Habs Music Festival brought together talented students from Years 7 to 10 in an exciting competition where every performance earned points for their house. After a thrilling week of heats, the battle to secure a spot in the final was tougher than ever.
We enjoyed an incredible variety of music, including virtuosic classical solos, jazz, rock bands, and full-form songs - a true celebration and testament of the amazing musical diversity at Habs.
The final was a breathtaking evening, judged by the renowned Old Haberdasher Paul Harris. Our students had the privilege of performing for Mr Harris, a brilliant clarinettist and educator with over 600 publications to his name. It was an inspiring and memorable event for everyone involved!
Congratulations to the joint winners Alik (7C) and Arkansh (10J1) as well as to the Russells for winning the House Song Competition.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
HABSFEST DEBUTS WITH A SPECTACULAR SHOWCASE OF TALENT
HabsFest marked its inaugural appearance on our calendar with an unforgettable celebration of creativity. The event featured a striking Glastonbury-style arch stage set up on the croquet lawn, with fringe stages spread across the campus. Attendees enjoyed a full day of exceptional music, compelling drama, stunning visual art and much more.
Audiences were treated to performances of jazz, rock and Indian music, as well as a dance showcase and a barbershop quartet. The event ended with a performance from our brilliant orchestra, playing original music from our production ‘The Video Store at the End of the World’. The atmosphere was electric, and it was fantastic to see the Habs community come together to honour the arts. This joyful festival showcased a wealth of talent and enthusiasm, making it clear that HabsFest is set to become a much-anticipated annual highlight.
Arts this term
This term, the Art department at Habs has been bursting with creativity, collaboration, and celebration, showcasing the talents and hard work of our students through a series of exciting events and projects.
Fashion Workshop with Jimmy Choo Academy
Habs Hall played host to an exclusive fashion workshop courtesy of the Jimmy Choo Academy, where four fortunate Year 10 students, (two from Habs Boys and two from Habs Girls), had the unique opportunity to work collaboratively on a fashion design brief, creating paper garments in teams. Students also gained a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the organisation of a catwalk show before enjoying the glamour the Jimmy Choo Academy’s own catwalk event.
Artist Workshop: Exploring Nature Through Experimental Drawing
Visiting artist Mark Spray brought a fresh perspective to our Year 12 students. During his workshop, students explored the serene environment of the neighbouring fishing lake, drawing inspiration from the calm waters and weeping willows. Mark shared his passion for working outdoors, guiding students through experimental drawing techniques that captured the natural surroundings with innovative flair.
HMC Art Cluster Group Meeting
Our Art department was proud to host the HMC Art Cluster Group meeting, welcoming Heads of Department from across the country. The day was packed with inspiration, featuring talks from the National Society for Education in Art and Design, discussions on the intersection of AI and art, and insights from Mark Spray about his recent collaboration with poet Mark Goodwin. It was a valuable opportunity for professional growth and creative exchange.
Year 12 Joint Trip to the Wallace Collection and Tate
To enrich their artistic perspective, Year 12 students embarked on a joint trip to experience the works of renowned artists Grayson Perry at the Wallace Collection and Do Ho Suh at the Tate. This excursion provided a unique chance to engage with diverse artistic styles and deepen their understanding of contemporary and classical art. This term has truly been a testament to the passion, talent, and collaborative spirit flourishing within the Habs art community. We look forward to many more inspiring projects and events in the future.
A Level Private Views: A Celebration of Achievement
The A Level Private View evening was a truly wonderful occasion, filled with students, parents and families coming together to celebrate artistic achievement. The atmosphere buzzed with joy, laughter and pride as visitors admired two years’ worth of dedication and creativity displayed in every piece. It was inspiring to see such a strong community spirit and appreciation for the arts.
An amazing performance of ‘Romeo and Juliet: Defying Stars!’
A talented group of budding thespians lit up the stage at the Unicorn Theatre with a bold, funny and deeply moving version of Romeo and Juliet, performed as part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival.
Our take on the classic tragedyRomeo and Juliet: Defying Stars! - had the audience laughing one minute and holding back tears the next. Written and directed by Mrs Morris-Wolffe and Ms Rees, this was a playful, inventive and moving retelling of Shakespeare's classic, which refocussed the story to the 17 Year 8 boys at the heart of its ensemble - their brave look at teenage mental health, a celebration of friendship and a wider kind of love.
We were thrilled to receive some amazing feedback from the festival’s appraiser, who called the performance 'a hilarious, deeply tragic and completely original Romeo and Juliet with a joyous and razor-sharp ensemble.' He praised the teamwork, energy and clever touches throughout - and said the show had him seeing the play in a whole new light!
We were also lucky to include a beautiful track by Old Haberdasher, Arun Thavasothy (OH 2020), now a rising star in London’s music scene and a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Our Year 8 company members shared their reflections on the production:
• "We had a real sense of accomplishment" - Ferdi (8M1)
• "I learnt that a show is never truly finished...you always have to be ready to try something new"Oba (8J2)
• "I enjoyed being part of such a vibrant atmosphere on long Sunday rehearsals" - Raghav (8H2)
A huge well done to everyone involved for putting together such a memorable show. The cast brought energy, emotion and a real sense of fun to the stage, and we are already excited to see what they will bring to next year’s festival. Thank you to the amazing staff who continually support the Drama department at Habs, offering the students amazing opportunities to open fantastic doors in the future!
This was a hilarious, deeply tragic and completely original production of Romeo and Juliet with a joyous and razor-sharp ensemble. Congratulations! We are in awe of all your passion, hard work and creativity! What you have accomplished is something truly special, and we are already looking forward to reimagining Shakespeare with Haberdashers' Boys' School again next year.”
- Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival
Habs Art and Design Festival 2025
The Habs Boys’ Art department hosted an inspiring Private View in the historic Old Refectory, with live music from Oliver Powell and Harrison Lock. The event showcased an impressive range of student artwork, reflecting the imagination, technical skill, and dedication of young artists from across the school.
A highlight of the evening was a series of talks delivered by Articulation candidates, who eloquently explored the themes, inspirations, and creative processes behind selected pieces. These presentations added a thoughtful dimension to the exhibition and gave visitors a deeper appreciation of the work on display.
With crowds of students, staff, parents, and guests, the event was a true celebration of the arts at Habs and a testament to the talent being nurtured within the department.
TWO NEW PLAYS. SORT OF ABOUT SPACE... AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
T MINUS
10 SECONDS A SHARED SPACE
YEAR 9 AND 10 PUT ON AN ASTRONOMICAL PERFORMANCE
Review from Saul (SFM1)
It was an absolute pleasure to watch the two Upper School plays towards the end of the Summer term: T Minus 10 Seconds and A Shared Space. A joint effort from Year 9 and 10 students from both schools, these original plays were two fresh and complementary takes on the theme of space.
Ground Control to Major Tom!
In T Minus 10 Seconds, the pull of space from the dawn of man to the present day is felt as a crew of young people embark on a selective space programme venturing to the outer edges of the solar system. With bleeding-edge technology faltering, we wonder: is it worth the risk? A highlight of the performance were the crew’s touching memories of the mundane lives they left behind: fried eggs, the crunch of leaves, and awkward first dates.
This vigorous, fast-past piece was particularly joyful in its movement work. Directed by Matt Wells, the dynamic, playful, and experimental choreography was an utter pleasure to watch, culminating in those tragical final beats. This original work in crafting a whole language of movement was a real testament to the dedication of the performers involved and a fresh injection of life into Habs drama.
An interview with Olivia Rodrigo revealed that her litmus test for men was if they wanted to go to space. 'I just think if you want to go to space, you're a little too full of yourself,' she says. No play has been a more compelling exploration of this than the second piece of the night: A Shared Space. This devised piece followed 10 prodigy trainee astronauts on a high-octane trainee programme to be the youngest on the
International Space Station. Tested both physically and emotionally over several weeks, trainees falter, relationships fracture, and coordinators wonder whether they have gone too far. We trace honest and vulnerable performances across a testing few weeks and are invested in every character. This pressure cooker of a production, intense yet tender and often incredibly funny, was one of the most compelling productions in recent years here.
A massive well done to all those involved both on and off stage, from the performers to the spectacular tech team, to the directors and Drama department, and all the support staff who made it possible. The hard work clearly paid off in a compelling, challenging, and utterly spectacular few nights of Habs drama at its very best.
LORD OF THE FLIES
Middle School play performance
Each year, the Middle School play showcases our most innovative work, elevating students’ voices as they explore stories and themes that resonate deeply with them. The process begins with the cast exploring their own stories, using creativity, research, improvisation and writing to bring characters, stories and themes to life.
This thought-provoking adaptation of William Golding’s dystopian novel shines a spotlight on the youngest of the castaways - the 'little’uns.' The story is uniquely framed as a reflection, imagining these children six years later as they look back, grappling with the trauma they endured and the haunting question of how much they themselves were responsible for the darkness that unfolded. Their search for closure also leads them to wonder what ultimately happened to the older boys.
The Middle School’s latest theatrical production took audiences on a gripping journey to an uninhabited island, where a group of young boys find themselves stranded after their plane crashes, escaping the chaos of a devastating war raging in the outside world.
By day, the boys struggle to survive, forging new rules and seeking rescue. But as night falls, they are tormented by nightmares of a mysterious and primitive beast lurking in the shadows. Conflicting desires emerge: some boys crave order and plans for safety, while others yearn for excitement and the thrill of the hunt.
The performance was a compelling exploration of the loss of innocence
Photography Competition
In an inspiring celebration of creativity and fresh starts, members of the Senior School participated in this term’s photography competition, centered around the theme 'Beginnings.'
The competition invited participants to reflect on what it means to start anew, whether it be the first page of a book, the early rays of dawn, or the shy smile of a new friendship.
First place
Max (7H) for his stunning photograph of ‘EASTER BLOOM’- Vibrant colours after the rain. The judges absolutely loved this close up photograph for its vibrancy, detail and pure positivity!
Second place
Nikhil (7C) – For his wonderful picture of the lioness, Waka, at Whipsnade Zoo. The judges loved the photograph as well as the link to the theme as she recently gave birth to four cubs!
Third place
Ms McMillan – Taken in Southbank, the judges loved the vibrancy as well as the interesting perspective.
The competition aimed to encourage the exploration of photography as a means of storytelling. With a focus on originality and interpretation, entries showcased a range of perspectives that highlighted the diversity and depth of artistic expression.
The best yet: a triumphant joint Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium
For the fourth year running, our two Senior schools came together for a joint sports day and it was nothing short of superb. The enthusiasm was palpable and the standards from the students were exceptional.
The success of the day must also be attributed to our brilliant staff who ensured every aspect of the day ran smoothly. While it is impossible to thank everyone individually, we greatly appreciate everyone who contributed.
Our sports days are truly in a league of their own and hosting the event at StoneX Stadium has elevated the sense of occasion even further. It was wonderful to see our students in their combined House colours filling an entire stand.
It was our ambition to involve every student across a wide variety of events this year, from traditional Track and Field to the popular Community Mile and the weird and wonderful in-field activities. Everybody got involved, performed their very best and supported one another, embodying perfectly the values we celebrate here at Habs.
Congratulations to everyone who participated, to all our winners and those who achieved personal bests and to the Griffins for clinching the overall title.
Summer Term highlights
There have been some incredible individual and team performances across the full range of sports, in tough block fixtures on our circuit through to the challenges faced in county and national competitions.
Our students have learned quickly from the experiences and enjoyed some incredibly impressive results. Most pleasingly though has been seeing the conduct shown throughout where the character of our students has been a showcase for the positive values which underpin all that we do here at Habs.
Sports
Summer Term
Trips Year 12 embrace Spanish life and language in Comillas
During half-term, Year 12 Spanish students completed immersive work experience placements in Comillas, Cantabria. Throughout the week, they lived and worked in a rural, Spanish-only environment, gaining realworld language practice across diverse roles.
The students embraced the experience wholeheartedly, developing fluency, cultural awareness and confidence, highlighted by hosting a live radio interview. The trip was a transformative milestone in their Spanish studies, leaving lasting memories and deepened passion for the language and culture.
Mr Cuartero Simarro writes about the trip and how the students fared in their new working environments:
'This type of experience offered students the invaluable opportunity to fully immerse themselves not only in Spanish culture, but particularly in the lifestyle of the north of
Spain, known for its more rural atmosphere and where, it could be said, English-speaking residents are few and far between. This meant students found themselves in a truly immersive context where Spanish was the only language of communication, whether with local people or with the teachers accompanying them.
The placements included a wide variety of settings: hotel reception and housekeeping, restaurants, souvenir shops, research in a delicatessen, cafés, pharmacies, a radio station, a state school and a private school. Each student had previously chosen their own
placement based on their personal interests: some selected restaurants to interact with locals and learn about daily life, others opted for hotel kitchens to discover traditional Spanish dishes and some chose pharmacies to gain technical and useful vocabulary for future careers in science or medicine.
Our students took on these roles with great enthusiasm. Below is the list of who took part in the programme, along with their chosen placements:
• Alessandro (SFS2) - bar
• Dean (SFR3) - restaurant
• Joe (SFJ2) - hotel
• Nathan (SFH2) - bar
• Saahil (SFM1) - pharmacy
• Toby (SFM1) - radio station
• Vikas (SFJ1) - souvenir and gift shops
• Cara (L6 MS) - bar
• Isabella (L6 MO) - school
• Jessica (L6 KP) - school
• Lily (L6 HR) - pharmacy
• Maryam (L6 HS) - school
• Olivia (L6 CS) - bar
• Sophia (L6 MO) - radio station
• Sophie (L6 MO) - hotel
• Yasmin (L6 PW) - school
This meant students found themselves in a truly immersive context where Spanish was the only language of communication, whether with local people or with the teachers accompanying them.
It was inspiring to see how quickly the students embraced the experience, speaking Spanish among themselves as soon as they set foot in the airport in London, constantly asking questions to improve their fluency. They did an outstanding job and truly raised the bar through their hard work, dedication, kindness and genuine passion for all things Spanish. Their confident and spontaneous use of the subjunctive left more than a few jaws on the floor!'
Thank you to Mr Cuartero Simarro, Mr Smeaton and Ms Curtis, who accompanied the group throughout the week.
Sixth formers visit the Old Bailey
18 Sixth Form students, joined by Mr Walters and Mr Dinu, stepped into the heart of the British justice system with a visit to the Old Bailey, which is the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.
Mr Walters shares his experience of the day, and what our Sixth Formers took away from their visit:
'We sat in the public galleries of court, observing attentively as the judge and barristers discussed the specifics of the case. We were struck by the strict security rules upon entry to the building, the intense scrutiny with which the judges questioned the barristers, and the specialised language used in court (eg 'I would submit, my Lord,
that…'). It was humbling, informative and most thought-provoking.
Then we went to Gray’s Inn Chambers. This is one of the Inns of Court – the historic societies that educate and train barristers in England and Wales. We had a private tour around the building, including the beautiful library, conference room and facilities for studying. Our students also received plenty of useful tips from our guide on how to successfully apply to become a barrister during and after university.
Finally, we had a tour around the cathedral-like Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), expertly guided by a barrister. Students asked pertinent questions about the history of the RCJ, as well as its present-day function.
Whilst not all students on the trip intend to study Law at university, many plan to complete a Law conversion after their undergraduate degrees. Students therefore appreciated this insight into what their professional future lives might involve. In the words of Charlie (SFJ1):
'Thank you very much for organising the trip today to the Old Bailey. It was very interesting sitting in court, as well as spending time in Gray's Inn and Royal Courts of Justice. In truth, the trip probably confirmed that I want to do Law after university.'
The experience brought the drama and discipline of the legal system vividly to life. It was a rare chance to see justice in action at one of the most renowned courts in the world. An inspiring day for all!
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 2025
Mr Dunlop, Head of Outdoor Education, writes about the Bronze Qualifying Expedition in which our Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) participants took part this summer.
'When it comes to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze expedition, the weather has always been something of a lucky dip - in past years we have been treated to everything from glorious sunshine to classic British downpours. This year, luck was on our side. The sun had clearly pencilled 12 and 13 June into its diary, and we were gifted two beautiful days of bright skies and warm temperatures - perfect for hiking, camping, and cooking up questionable meals on tiny stoves. Thursday morning saw our eager (and slightly nervous) Year 10 boys stepping off school transport and making their way to the expedition start point. Bags were checked, registration ticked off, and the all-important external assessors welcomed. Their mission: to navigate and complete two full days of walking - returning triumphantly to Habs by 3pm on Friday.
It was not long before the first groups were off, trekking into the countryside with maps in hand and optimism in their hearts. Behind
the scenes, the Habs staff team and our external assessors sprang into action, supervising and offering support like the expedition pros they are.
As the afternoon wore on, weary walkers began trickling into camp - hot, tired, but in good spirits. The evening brought its own set of challenges: pitching tents, firing up stoves and cooking dinner (some more successfully than others). But soon enough, camp was buzzing with laughter, the crinkle of pasta packets and tales from the day’s adventures.
Day two began very early. At precisely 4.15am, the dawn chorus was joined by the unmistakable
symphony of tent zips and clanging pots. By 9am, all groups had set off on their final leg of the journey, determined to make it back to Habs by the 3pm deadline.
There was a touch of tension in the air as we awaited their return - would everyone make it back in time? Would anyone make a minor navigation error? We are delighted to report that every team crossed the finish line safe, sound and with big smiles. Even better, all participants successfully met the expedition requirements, earning high praise from the assessors.
Another Bronze DofE expedition ticked off! As always, these events take weeks of planning (and just as much effort to pack away), but it is all worth it to see the sense of pride, relief and achievement on the faces of our students as they complete their journey.
A huge thank you goes to our brilliant Habs staff - especially those who camped overnight - and to Mr Simm and Ms Belchier for their tireless support in planning and logistics.
Here’s to next year’s adventures - and fingers crossed for another sunny one!'
Habs students visit Düsseldorf for Work Experience Exchange
Earlier this year, Sixth Form students Alexander (SFJ3), Frederick (SFJ1) Mark (SFM3), Theodore (SFM1), Tom (SFJ3), Arina (L6 CS), Ruby (L6 HR) and Sophie (L6 MO), had the pleasure of hosting their German peers in London for the highly anticipated Work Experience Exchange Programme. This marked the 21st year of this initiative, which pairs Habs students with German peers for a unique cultural and professional exchange.
The students worked at renowned institutions such as Harrow Crown Court, The House of Commons, Covington and Burlington LLP, Iwoca (a fintech firm), and Burrel Foley Fischer (an architecture firm).
During their stay, the exchange students toured Habs, attended lessons, met with Mr Sykes and enjoyed a social event involving students from both schools.
Pictured to the right of Mr Sykes is Mr Hüttermann, who has run the exchange for 21 years. Mr Hüttermann also worked as a German Assistant at Habs in the 1990s!
For the return leg of the programme, nine Year 12 students travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany. Habs students were placed in a variety of professional environments that matched their interests, ranging from the city archives, property investment, credit management and even the local Magistrate’s Court. Their employers unanimously gave outstanding feedback, praising the students for their engagement, proficiency in the German language and eagerness to learn.
A standout moment of the exchange was Mark’s (SFM3) placement at Bernecker, a financial journalism company, where he wrote an article in German on the topic, ‘The Effects of Tariffs on the
Relationship Between the Dollar and the Euro’. This article was later published, showcasing Mark’s initiative and skills in both the workplace and the German language.
Outside of their work placements, the students embraced the cultural aspect of the exchange. They spent a day exploring Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city, under sunny skies. A guided tour of the old town was followed by an exciting 'Stadtrallye' experience, where the students worked together with their exchange partners to solve clues and complete challenges around the city, further strengthening their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
On their final day, they visited Mataré Gymnasium, Habs' partner school in Düsseldorf, where students attended lessons alongside their exchange partners. This unique opportunity allowed the students to immerse themselves in the German education system and connect with their peers in an academic setting.
The Habs’ students were sad to leave Germany and their exchange partners, and many plan to meet up again in the future. By living with host families, as well as working in a German-speaking environment throughout the week, the students improved their language skills, self-confidence and understanding of German culture. They returned home feeling more than ever like global citizens. We are proud of how professionally our students conducted themselves throughout, and they have demonstrated our school value of community.
The success of the programme would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Mr Walters, Mr Ahmet and Ms Webber, who accompanied the students on their trip and ensured everything ran smoothly.
The Work Experience Exchange Programme continues to provide Habs students with invaluable opportunities to develop their skills, enhance their understanding of the world and build a lasting international community.
Habs students were placed in a variety of professional environments that matched their interests... Their employers unanimously gave outstanding feedback, praising the students for their engagement, proficiency in the German language, and eagerness to learn.
Summer Field Day adventures
This term saw an incredible array of Field Day adventures that offered students opportunities to learn, engage with the community and push themselves in new environments. These trips were designed to provide hands-on experiences across a variety of activities, from outdoor adventures to service-oriented projects. Here are some highlights from the day:
Outdoor Education hike to the Chilterns
Around 65 students from the school's Outdoor Education programme embarked on a memorable trip through the scenic Chiltern Hills, showcasing not only physical resilience but also outstanding character.
Starting just outside Hemel Hempstead, students worked in groups to navigate their way through one of the country’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Their journey concluded at Ivinghoe Beacon, a spectacular viewpoint and one of the highest points in the region, offering breathtaking panoramic views.
The 11-mile trek was described as 'DofE without the rucksacks,' combining the challenge of long-distance walking with a few well-earned treats along the way (including snack breaks and a stop for ice cream!)
What truly stood out, however, was the conduct and attitude of the students throughout the day. Students’ positive energy made for a genuinely enjoyable experience for both students and staff alike.
Such a commendable attitude deserves recognition, as days like these demonstrate the very best of what Outdoor Education can achieve: resilience, teamwork and a shared appreciation for nature.
The photo, taken at Ivinghoe Beacon, captures the sense of accomplishment shared by all involved - a perfect snapshot of a day to remember.
Senior CCF RN Cadets at Rickmansworth Sailing Club
A group of senior Royal Navy cadets from the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) enjoyed a sun-soaked and action-packed watersports Field Day at Rickmansworth Sailing Club, the home of Habs Sailing.
The morning was spent out on the water in Topper dinghies and a Laser, where cadets had the opportunity to refresh their sailing skills, along with themselves, thanks to a few deliberate capsizes in the warm weather. There was impressive teamwork and skill on display, with cadets Dean (SFR3), Josh (SFH3) and Neev (SFR3) holding their own alongside regular sailors Deveshu (SFH2) and Albie (SFC3). Notably, Albie managed to build up some impressive speed in the Laser, once Lt Chapman finally handed it over after enjoying a few high-speed laps of the lake herself.
The afternoon saw a shift in activity as the cadets took to kayaks for a series of fun and skill-building games. It was not all plain paddlingsome ambitious turning techniques led to the discovery that a poorly balanced kayak fills with water rather quickly. What followed was an unplanned dip for several cadets, prompting the question of whether 'submersible kayaking' might be the next big thing in watersports.
Despite a few wet mishaps, spirits remained high throughout the day. Special mentions go to Neev for demonstrating excellent balance and to Deveshu for his sharp kayak manoeuvring skills.
The event was not only a fantastic experience for the cadets, but also a valuable opportunity for staff to get involved and hone their own watersports abilities. Thanks and appreciation are extended to SLt Harrison, SLt Harper and Ms Maister for their energy, enthusiasm and full participation in making the day such a success.
Overall, it was a day of laughter, learning and lots of splashingan ideal way to combine skill development with fun in the sun.
Y8 Field Day to Kempston
Year 8 students recently spent an action-packed day at Kempston Activity Centre in Bedford, where they took part in a range of exciting outdoor challenges designed to build teamwork, resilience and a healthy dose of courage!
The day was divided into three rotations. Students tested their practical outdoor skills with camp craft and survival craft, learning how to work together to overcome nature-based tasks and challenges.
Next up was a Gladiator Challenge, which saw students scaling, swinging and balancing their way through a high-adrenaline obstacle course, with plenty of cheers, laughter and the occasional wobble!
They then faced the Leap of Faith, a true test of bravery and determination as students climbed high and took a leap into the unknown, cheered on by classmates and staff alike.
There was also time to hit the water, with Year 8 taking to canoes for a splash-filled, fun session on the lake, another brilliant opportunity to build confidence and teamwork.
The students left tired but smiling, a fantastic day out that will be remembered for a long time!
Prep news
From an incredible Year 6 production, an action-packed Sports Day and nail-biting Battle of the Bands, there has been much to celebrate this Summer Term at the Pre-Prep and Prep Schools. Check your dedicated Firefly links for more information.
Habs community
Eid in the Bourne
The Habs Boys Parents' Guild hosted a truly memorable evening at the Habs Community Eid Celebration on Saturday 14 June. The event brought together students, families and staff for a vibrant evening of unity, joy and cultural celebration.
Highlights of the evening included heartfelt student performances, a beautiful call to prayer (adhaan) and a delicious variety of Lebanese food. Families enjoyed a festive atmosphere filled with games, henna, quiz prizes and engaging activities for all ages.
The event was a wonderful opportunity to honour the spirit of Eid al-Adha, fostering community bonds and celebrating our school’s rich diversity.
Mencap Funday – Sunday 22 June 2025
Mencap Funday is one of the highlights of the Habs’ calendar. Held on Sunday 22 June, this much-loved annual event brought the very best of Habs’ spirit to host an unforgettable day for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) children from across the local community.
Written
by Rahul (11J2)
Organised by a student-led committee, the day was powered by over 170 student volunteers from Habs Boys and Habs Girls, and 30 dedicated teachers, ensuring that every detail was in place to make this Funday a magical experience.
Special thanks go to this year’s incredible Chairs, Neeva (L6 BM) and Sam (L6H3), as well as staff leads Mrs Pfeffer and Ms Durmus, for overseeing every moment with enthusiasm, warmth and dedication. Throughout the day, 70 SEND children were paired with Habs’ student buddies and given the opportunity to take part in a variety of fun and engaging activities. And what a list of highlights there were!
From the moment guests arrived, the school was buzzing with excitement. In the Quad, children enjoyed Mad Scientist experiments and a petting zoo with rabbits, a pony and chickens. Inside the Taylor, the sensory rooms offered quiet activities like fidget toys, playdough and colouring. Bouncy castles and inflatable darts brought plenty of energy. No Mencap Funday would be complete without some sugar –and the ice cream truck and candy
floss machine did not disappoint, fuelling children, volunteers and teachers for the delightful day. Children loved face painting, IT activities led by Mr Franks and playing instruments like drums and glockenspiels in the music rooms. The magician was a crowd favourite, impressing everyone with fun tricks. Every part of the day offered something exciting and memorable.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of the Mencap Committee throughout the year. A big part of the fundraising came from two popular events: the evercompetitive Girls vs Boys Netball Match, which raised £1,100, and the dazzling Mencap’s Got Talent (MGT) showcase, which wowed audiences and raised a massive £4,800 through tickets and treat sales – including, of course, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a Habs’ student favourite!
A final thank you to everyone –students, teachers, parents and donors – who made this day possible. Your time, effort and generosity created a world of magic for children who truly deserve it.
Well done to the committee which consisted of Edward (L6J1), Jack (11S2), Mohammed (L6H2), Rahul (11J2), Sahil (L6C3), and Sam (L6H3), Georgia (L6 MS), Indiana (L6 KP), Isabel (L6 HS), Neeva (L6 BM), Tammy (11A), Tia (11 Aleph).
Habs Elstree Schools’ Summer Fair 2025
Sunday 6 July saw the second ever joint Schools’ Summer Fair hosted by the Habs Girls Parents’ Guild. The weather was cooler than it has been, which was a wonderful welcome after the scorching heat, as around 1,000 people enjoyed the activities, stalls and the variety of food on offer.
Parents were able to relax and enjoy as children with special wristbands had unlimited use of all the activities and games stalls. Many children made the most of the face painting and glitter bar. The event could not have gone ahead without the brilliant student and parent volunteers, it is always great to see the Habs community coming together and there were lots of happy children as a result. Proceeds raised will be donated to purchase equipment to enrich the students' time at Habs, to the partnership programme and to the bursary fund.
It was a wonderful, relaxed community event bringing together all parts of the school.
Foundation team update
Old Haberdashers Day
– Sunday 8 June
This year’s Old Haberdashers Day was a fantastic celebration of community and connection, bringing together nearly 400 alumni, former staff and current staff, many of whom brought family members.
From alumni in their 90s to the Class of 2024, guests enjoyed a lively day filled with year group reunions, food, archive displays, school tours and more.
Special receptions were held for those celebrating five, 10, and 25 years since graduation, while those marking 50 years gathered for a sitdown lunch. Former staff from Habs Girls were treated to a celebratory breakfast in honour of the school’s 150th anniversary.
Despite a rainy lead-up, the sun shone brightly on the day, making for a truly memorable occasion.
Save the date for next year’s OH Day: Sunday 7 June 2026! Details to come after the summer.
Staff news
Appointments
Sophie Pereira
PA to Deputy Head Academic
Matthew Barker
Caretaker
Ben Jefferis
AV and IT Support Officer
Alyson Mower
Admissions Registrar
Aidan Taylor
Deputy Head Academic (Prep School)
Patrick Eke
Caretaker
Martin Keane
Estates Cleaner
Amit Patel
Project Manager
Jenny Adams
Assistant Registrar
Ryan Hickman
Caretaker
Kevin McDade
Security Operative
Katy Thompson
Community Partnerships Manager
Internal movers
Katie Barron
Teacher of Art and Head of House (Calverts) to Acting Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of House (Calverts)
Susan Edwards
Head of Geography to Deputy Head (Operations)
Joel Knight
Teacher of Physics to Second in Physics
Ryan McIntosh
Director of Sports to Director of Sporting Operations and Development (BS and GS)
Claire Shooter
Deputy Head Pastoral (BS) to Deputy Head Pastoral (GS)
Natasha Dedovic Caretaker to Lead Caretaker
Marios Savvides
Lead AV and IT Support Officer to IT Support Manager
Rebecca Downes
Phase Leader (Years 5 and 6) to Classroom Teacher
Henry Gauntlett
Teacher of Biology to Second in Biology
Adam Lawrence
Head of Upper School to Acting Deputy Head Safeguarding and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Peter Pickford
Head of Sports Science to Acting Director of Sport
Lindsay Burns
Data Analyst to Data and Reporting Manager
Richard Izzard
IT User Support Manager to IT Events and Logistics Manager
James Dunlop
Head of Outdoor Education to Head of Outdoor Education and Contingent Commander of the CCF
Erik Hellquist Teacher of Economics to Second in Economics
Peter Martin-Brown
Teacher of Music to Deputy Head of Sixth Form
Sophie Stables
Classroom Teacher to Acting Phase Leader (Years 1 and 2) e
Daniel Coots
Residential Caretaker to Lead Residential Caretaker
Robert Morland
Lead AV and IT Support Officer to Infrastructure and IT Support Analyst
Leavers
Alice Bickerton Teacher of Art
Alice Bickerton, Teacher of Art leaves after 2 years at Habs to take up a Master's in Art. She has been a fantastic Form Tutor to Year 7 and has helped run the Big Draw, which has been a huge success. We wish her all the very best for the future.
Nathan Bowley
Classroom Teacher Prep
After an exceptional eighteen-year career at Habs, Nathan Bowley has decided to explore new avenues of service, including volunteering on sustainability projects in North Africa and ministry with Christian expedition groups. During his time with us he served faithfully as a Form Tutor, Patrick’s House Leader, Computing and T&P lead, guiding generations of pupils with integrity and care. He leaves with the deep gratitude of students and colleagues alike, and we send him our very best wishes as he embarks on this next chapter.
Lilli Doberstein
Language Assistant
Lilli Doberstein, our German Assistant, returns to the Freie Universität Berlin after one year with us. She will be continuing her studies and starting her Master’s in Education in preparation to become a primary school teacher, specialising in English, German and Maths. During her time with us, Lilli has cultivated positive relationships with students and staff alike. We wish her all the very best as she continues her journey in education.
Max Gillard
Teacher of PE and Games
After two energetic years inspiring pupils in PE & Games, Max Gillard will be moving on to Berkhamsted School. His infectious enthusiasm and youthful energy have encouraged countless boys to embrace sport and physical activity, and he will be greatly missed on the pitches and courts alike.
Chris Glanville Head of Biology
Nick Hamshaw
Senior Deputy Head
Joining Habs in 1993, Chris Glanville has devoted 32 years of his working life to the School and the Biology department, the last 14 of which was as Head of Biology. His passion for the natural world and his incredible depth and breadth of knowledge about it has enthused and inspired a generation of students. His teaching brings the subject to life for any age group and is full of relatable examples from the latest research. It is not unusual to find him in the corridors with students, giving an impromptu lesson sparked by the department’s resident poison dart frogs or other wildlife, always drawing on what’s around him to make biology real, immediate and memorable. Birds are his main area of expertise, as his personal well-stocked aviary attests, and the quail hatchlings every Open Day have been a highlight. He gives regular assemblies on birdlife in and around the Habs site, encouraging students to lift up their eyes to understand and appreciate more of their local environment. It’s not unknown that he brings in a rescued bird or one in need of attention, always finding a way to weave it meaningfully into his teaching. A keen angler in his free time, he even passed on his skills to colleagues, teaching the likes of Mr Hardman to fly fish. He started his academic career studying horticulture and can often be found in his garden or tending to his allotment. Retirement will no doubt allow him even more time to enjoy both, along with his other passion in life, spending time with his granddaughter. For many years, Chris was a member of the Biological Society’s Olympiad Committee, where he helped to stretch, challenge and develop the top biology pupils in the country. Chris has always enjoyed being outdoors and has accompanied many groups of pupils on Duke of Edinburgh walks; these groups will have had a nature walk to remember! He also ran lifesaving for many years and, even in his final year, continued to support the Outdoor Education programme, running bush craft sessions for pupils. Chris has led the biology department with a calm and caring approach. He always puts the well-being of the pupils and teachers above anything else, but his infectious enthusiasm for the subject has seen the number of pupils taking Biology A level increase significantly under his leadership. Colleagues will remember him as kind, thoughtful and endlessly selfless, whose infectious sense of humour and willingness to poke fun at himself brought warmth and laughter to even the hardest days. He will be greatly missed by pupils and teachers alike, but we wish him every happiness in his retirement.
Nick Hamshaw, Senior Deputy Head leaves after 5 years at Habs to take up a new position as Founding Head of the 1729 Maths School. A brilliant and deeply respected teacher of Mathematics, Nick has inspired students with his clarity, intellectual curiosity and love of the subject. As Senior Deputy Head, he has led with integrity, thoughtfulness and a calm authority, shaping both culture and strategy across the school. Beyond the classroom, Nick has been a driving force behind our sustainability efforts, most notably through the COP Conference, and as a passionate advocate for inclusion, helping to support and grow our LGBTQ+ society. Nick’s legacy is one of quiet strength, deep care and enduring impact. We wish him every success in his exciting new role.
Leavers
Gordon Hobbs Head of Science
Nikola Jovanovic
Teacher of Mathematics
Emma
Maltz KS2 Teacher
Fiona McEwan-Cox Head of Academic Support, Teacher of English, and Head of Army (CCF)
Gordon is retiring this year after 16 years as Head of Science, for the past nine years of which he has also been Head of Chemistry. To say that his departure will leave a big hole would be a criminal understatement. In addition to the outstanding subject knowledge and intellectual integrity that have inspired and supported generations of pupils and colleagues, his contribution to wider school life can only be described as epic. A passionate believer in the importance of a broad education in every sense, Gordon has led or been involved in more areas of co-curricular life than can be listed here. By way of example, he has over many years coached U16 rugby, led Duke of Edinburgh training and expeditions, organised ski trips, run the Mountaineering Club and accompanied innumerable foreign visits, from French exchanges to sports tours. The many pupils (and colleagues) fortunate enough to have been involved in these initiatives have benefited from Gordon’s patience, his kindness, his calmness, his amazing organisational skills and his legendary resourcefulness. We wish him all the best for a long and happy retirement full of bike rides, hikes, camper van adventures and quality time with his growing family.
Nikola Jovanovic, teacher of Mathematics, leaves us after 12 years to take up an exciting opportunity to move his family to Dubai to teach Maths at the North London Collegiate International School. He has been a reliable member of the Maths department and loved by all who are lucky to have had him as a teacher. His calm presence in the classroom, combined with a deep love of his subject, has made a lasting impression on colleagues and students alike. His contributions not only to the Maths department, but the incredible time he has put into the success and growth of water polo have been significant, and he will be missed greatly. We wish him every success in his move and new job.
Emma Maltz, has completed a highly successful year as Form Tutor of 5EM. Her calm authority and unwavering commitment to outstanding pastoral care have made a lasting impression on the pupils she has guided. She now returns to North London Collegiate School to take up a permanent teaching post, and we wish her every success in this next chapter of her career.
Fiona joined Habs in April of 2019, and since then has worked tirelessly in supporting SEND students, whether that is through personal 1:1 sessions, or working alongside parents, teachers and the exams team. A staunch advocate of adaptive teaching and inclusive education, she has led INSET and training for all colleagues, and was a role model in her own English teaching, regularly teaching and inspiring her Year 7s. As leader of the Army Section in the CCF, she has given countless Habs students experiences and opportunities that will stay with them long after they leave the school, and we wish her luck for the future.
Tony McLarin
Teacher of History,
Head of Habs Diploma and Contingent Commander for
the CCF
John Nelson Teacher of Theology and Philosophy
Georgie Noble
Head of Sixth Form
Mark Pedroz
Teacher
of English
Anusha
Perera Teacher of Chemistry
Antony McLarin, Teacher of History and Politics, leaves Habs this summer to take up the post of Head of History and Politics at Queen Elizabeth’s School. Tony has made an outstanding contribution to the department and his work is greatly appreciated by all. His many talents have been put to great use during his time at the school. He played a key role in developing the Habs Diploma and more recently served as Contingent Commander for the CCF. He is committed to the wider life of the school, to be seen at quiz club or coaching a hockey team. We wish him great success for the future.
John Nelson is truly a scholar and a gentleman. Equally at home discussing esoteric hermeneutics with prestigious academics as he is teaching Year 7s about papal elections, John’s encyclopaedic knowledge of Christian Theology and infectious good humour are a joy to all. He will be dearly missed by students and colleagues alike. We wish him every success with his future endeavours.
Georgie Noble, Head of Sixth Form and Teacher of History, has taught at Habs since 2021 and leaves us to take up a promotion at Northwood College. She has been an invaluable member of the department, leading on changes with the A Level curriculum. Her lessons are fantastic and any students in her class are lucky to have her as a teacher. She has supported countless trips and events, and as Head of Sixth Form, she has been there for the students when they have needed a champion, whether that has been individually or collectively. We wish her all the best for the future,
Mark Pedroz joined us over Covid and has been diligently teaching in the English department for the last five years. His particular passion has been A Level English Literature and a number of boys have benefitted greatly from his wisdom and scholarly teaching. He has also masterminded Model United Nations for a number of years and organised a series of impressive MUN conferences. He leaves us to retire to Norfolk and leaves with the very best wishes of the department.
Dr Anusha Perera, teacher of Chemistry, retires from teaching this term after 27 years’ service at Habs. She has been an outstanding classroom teacher, who has the highest expectations of her pupils. Her very many exam classes have always benefited from the meticulous and comprehensive preparation that she provides. In her time at Habs she has nurtured countless pupils through their GCSE years as a caring and supportive tutor in Russells. For 14 years, Anusha had the sizable and complex role of organising the School’s annual Mencap Funday, which provides children with disabilities and their families a day of respite care. More recently, she has presided over the production of the School’s annual Science publication, SCOPE, which she has done with characteristic thoroughness and attention to detail. We wish her much happiness in her retirement.
Leavers
Shane Ryan
Teacher of Design and Technology
After seven fantastic years at Habs, Shane Ryan, Teacher of Design and Technology, is returning to Ireland where he’ll continue sharing his passion for the subject in the classroom, work on the family farm, and, with any luck, find time to work on his golf game. Shane has been an outstanding member of the Design and Technology department. His energy, kindness and approachable nature have made him not only a much-loved colleague but also a deeply respected teacher. One of his most impressive achievements has been leading our VEX Robotics programme. From modest beginnings it has grown into an internationally recognised success story under Shane’s guidance. This year, our teams achieved the remarkable Triple Crown at the national finals and went on to win the prestigious Excellence Award at the international stage, making Shane the most successful VEX UK mentor ever. But Shane’s impact though has reached far beyond the workshop. As Deputy Head of House for Joblings, he has been a steady, positive presence. His positive encouragement and good humour will clearly have made a lasting difference for many pupils and colleagues alike. Shane has also been a dedicated contributor to coaching and the wider cocurricular life of the school. We are incredibly grateful for Shane’s dedication, professionalism and warmth, and we wish him every happiness and success as he begins this exciting new chapter.
Simon Vincent Head of Design and Technology
Simon Vincent, Head of the Design and Technology Department, joined Habs in 2017. He brought great enthusiasm for the subject and was joining a school with exciting plans to rebuild the Art and DT department with a state-of-theart building. Although these plans changed, Simon’s resolve did not diminish. His drive for modern machinery and technology brought the department up to date with contemporary practices. His knowledge and love for technology, combined with his exceptional teaching, meant he could always get the best out of his pupils whether in his role as Sixth Form tutor, teaching DT at all levels, or running the F1 in Schools, Greenpower, and CanSat clubs. Simon also organised the DT trip to Bologna, Italy, where students benefitted greatly from visiting the Ferrari, Ducati, and Lamborghini factories, one of the most interesting, educational, and inspiring trips the school has ever run. We will miss his encyclopaedic knowledge of electronics, his enthusiasm for fixing circuit boards that no one else can, and we wish him all the very best in his new job.
Richard Walters
Teacher of Modern Foreign Language
Pip Worn
Visiting Music Teacher
Thara Brou
SCITT - Teacher of French
Emily Clarke Marketing Officer
Georgina Lennon Assistant Registrar
Chris Munday Caretaker
Michael Robinson
IT and AV Support Officer
Richard joined Habs as a newly-qualfied teacher of German and French in September 2020. Despite completing large parts of his PGCE and teaching practice online because of the pandemic, he quickly showed a natural ability to connect with and inspire pupils in the classroom. A popular and effective practitioner, he has had a really positive impact on his pupils during his five years here, sharing with them both his passion for language and culture and also his interest in varied and innovative pedagogical methods. He has had a huge impact on wider school life too. In addition to his role as Meadows Deputy Head of House, he has coached A team hockey, run Law Society, organised and accompanied many successful school trips, sung in the choir and even started a Lord of the Rings club. It goes without saying that he will be greatly missed, but we are confident that he will flourish in his new role as Head of German at Whitgift School.
Pip Worn retires from Habs this year after 26 years at the school. She has been an integral part of the Music School, teaching viola as well as coaching the Symphony Orchestra and many chamber ensembles. Her care for the students and passion for the subject have been great assets to the school and she will be greatly missed. Generations of Habs musicians have flourished under her guidance, and her legacy will be felt for many years to come. She will move up to Scotland with her husband Alasdair, and we wish her all the best for the future.
