End of term
Welcome to our new 2024/25 Prefects!
of 2024
Youngest ever High Sheriff Personal Award 2024 Victory in physics contest
Upper Sixth students contribute to the Stop and Search Charter at New Scotland Yard
best yet: a triumphant joint Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium Students shine at Hertfordshire School Fencing Championships!
netball season to be proud of
Lower 5 take a trip to Belgium
A day of inspiration and learning at the Habs Elstree Schools’ EDI Conference
Careers networking breakfasts
Habs Elstree Schools’ Environmental Sustainability Conference 2024
Lower Sixth visit Dorchester to understand Habs’ history
Lower Sixth take a trip to CERN
GCSE students visit the National Museum of Computing
Year 10 and Lower Sixth students become well acquainted with
Upper Sixth students represent UK at European Youth Parliament in Bulgaria Granada
A historic Habs Choristers performance
Joint Habs Schools music festival
Middle School showcase talents in their play: Grimm Tales Summer Concert
Joint Middle School play performance
Habs Jazz at Kings Place
Upper Sixth students represent UK at European Youth Parliament in Bulgaria
Headmistress’ End of Term Message: July 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As I reach the end of my first year as Headmistress of our wonderful school, I am struck and inspired by how busy and full Habs life is and the great variety of opportunity and experience afforded to all our students. It has been a pleasure getting to know students and parents over the year and I would like to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome and supported.
This academic year has been exciting, challenging and hugely rewarding and it is wonderful to see first-hand how our staff empower our students to make a profound impact in the world. It has been another busy and exciting term at Habs Girls and I am very proud of how much has been achieved. There have been many notable individual success stories as well as collective achievements.
The opportunity to collaborate with students at Habs Boys is one of the great benefits of the co-location of our two schools and this term students have joined together for joint Networking Careers Breakfasts. Most spectacularly, the schools came together for the Habs Elstree Schools’ Environmental Sustainability Conference, in which the Prep, Junior and Senior Schools worked together to agree
Habs Elstree pledges to help us as a community to go some way towards tackling the climate crisis. These pledges are ambitious and measurable, and we will report on progress during the next academic year. Staff also enjoyed our first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Conference where we welcomed colleagues from other schools for an important day of discussion and reflection.
We have enjoyed a fantastic array of music and drama performances this term. Particular highlights include our Middle School play which saw strong performances in Grimm Tales. Students also demonstrated their creative skills in the Summer Concert, where it was a delight to see all of Lower 4 coming together to present several musical items, as well as performances from the different music ensembles. We are so fortunate to have such gifted students.
It has been an extraordinarily busy term for trips. Students returned from Belgium earlier this week having taken part in a music tour. Physicists have been to Geneva, where they toured the world-class facilities at CERN. Middle 5 students visited Rouen for a study trip and Lower Sixth French students visited Paris for the day. The whole of Lower 5 went to Northern France and Belgium to visit the World War 1 Battlefields sites and Upper 4 also visited France for a weekend of fun and bonding. Soon after the end of term, Art students will go to Cornwall to visit the Tate Gallery at St Ives as well as many other sites of artistic and natural significance.
Last week, students participated in our third joint Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium, in which they took part in a variety of track and field events. The atmosphere was amazing, and I would like to thank everyone involved in making this such a special occasion. There was much more to celebrate on the sporting front with successes in athletics, netball, fencing, tennis and cricket.
While this time of year is wonderfully exuberant, it is also tinged with an air of sadness as we say farewell to our Upper Sixth students. They have worked incredibly hard and been exemplary in their attitude and behaviour over the exam period. I hope they are as proud of themselves as we are of them. They have been wonderful role models for our younger students and I wish them every success and happiness as they move onto the next stage of their education. We will miss them and hope that they will stay in touch to keep us updated of their future achievements.
I look forward to welcoming new and current students back in September, refreshed and ready for a new and positive year.
Wishing you all an enjoyable and restful summer break.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Hazel Bagworth-Mann Headmistress
Success stories
Welcome to our new 2024/25 Prefects!
We are delighted to announce that our new Prefect team has been selected and that Omaserichi (L6 CAJ) has been awarded the position of Head Prefect and Savidya (L6 ADL) has been appointed as Deputy Head Prefect.
Sana (L6 DYV), Miranda (L6 GAM), Gemma (L6 CAP), Anaya (L6 ADL), Thalia (L6 JYB) and Tali (L6 ADL) have also been appointed into leadership positions within the Prefect team.
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 summed their roles with immediate effect.
The handover assembly is always a highlight of the school calendar, with speeches from the Headmistress and the outgoing Head Prefect Aparna, celebrating the achievements of the previous team as well as anticipating the incoming Prefect team.
Supporting 2024/25 Prefects are as follows:
Year 6
• Emma (L6 CAP)
• Amber (L6 JJM)
Year 7
• Anaya (L6 JJM)
• Kimi (L6 GAM)
• Amelia (L6 EJ)
• Isabella (L6 JJM)
• Pearl (L6 HL)
Year 8
• Mahi (L6 EJ)
• Bibi (L6 JJM)
• Sofia (L6 CAP)
• Jameelah (L6 DYV)
• Francesca (L6 EJ)
Year 9
• Ayelet (L6 ADL)
• Charlotte (L6 EJ)
• Nikita (L6 ADL)
• Anya (L6 GAM)
• Victoria (L6 GAM)
Year 10
• Bea (L6 CAJ)
• Sabrina (L6 CAJ)
• Ameya (L6 JYB)
• Mia (L6 JYB)
• Sophie (L6 DXF)
Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 returned to school for their presentation ceremony and a celebration of their time at Habs. They received their bibles and certificates in the Prevett Hall, hearing from speaker Apriya Milan, who was the Head Prefect when they were in Year 7.
Apriya then received an emotional vote of thanks from our outgoing Head Prefect, Aparna (U6 TD).
Students and parents from the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools then headed out to the Croquet Lawn for drinks and a BBQ. 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 at the school.
We look forward to welcoming the year group back to school in December to receive their A Level certificates.
Youngest ever High Sheriff Personal Award 2024
Radhika (4 Aleph) was honoured with the prestigious High Sheriff Personal Award for 2024, recognising her commitment to charitable giving.
Presented by Liz Green, former High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, the award highlighted Radhika’s significant contributions to her community. The High Sheriff Awards celebrate individuals and groups enriching lives, particularly focusing on reading, writing and rehabilitation. At the ceremony, Radhika, one of six awardees, notably the youngest ever, was celebrated for her work combatting loneliness through reading.
As a member of Silver Stories, Radhika has spent over three years reading on a weekly basis to elderly individuals, fostering meaningful relationships and inspiring others to join such organisation which support the community.
Radhika’s excellent manner during the ceremony, engaging with fellow awardees, reflects her dedication to fostering positive change. The heartfelt recognition from the former High Sheriff and broader community such as the Hertfordshire Lieutenancy and Shrievalty, highlighted the profound impact of Radhika’s efforts.
Victory in physics contest
On International Women’s Day, four students from Middle 5 competed in the annual physics competition at St Helen’s in Northwood.
The team was chosen from 20 students, all keen to represent Habs. As expected, the competition was fierce to secure a place on the team, with Tia (M5 Aleph), Odelya (M5 Aleph), Sophie (M5 Aesc) and Yanxi (M5 A) making it to the final four.
From experiments to escape rooms
The students took part in three tasks on the day. Beating 21 other school teams to win the experiment challenge, they designed and adapted the most accurate and repeatable method. Showing patience, resilience and excellent communication skills, it was a fantastic achievement all round.
The four students also completed an escape room activity and a calculations race, solving ten calculations against the clock in a relay-style race.
Finally, they listened to an inspiring speaker, who shared her amazing journey in STEM, encouraging the students to consider physics at A Level and beyond.
With the number of STEM-based degree applicants stalling at around 23%, she reminded students of the need for more women in STEM professions. Throughout the day, our students did Habs extremely proud. Hopefully, they have been inspired to consider a physicsrelated career.
Upper Sixth students contribute to the Stop and Search Charter at New Scotland Yard
The recent Stop and Search Charter event held at New Scotland Yard was a remarkable milestone in community-led initiatives, showing the involvement of students from various Haberdasher Company schools, the BigKid Foundation and Harris Academies.
With over 50 students participating, including students from Haberdashers’ Crayford Academy, Knights Academy, Hatcham College and Habs Elstree, this event aimed to reshape the landscape of stop and search processes.
The event marked the creation of the first community-led Stop and Search Charter, focusing significantly on the voices and perspectives of young people.
Led by the BigKid Foundation’s CEO, Shaninga Marasha, and supported by other influential educators and community leaders, this initiative inspired the younger generation to formulate policies which could directly impact their or their peers’ lives.
The event itself was fantastically organised, with students being divided into workshop groups to discuss crucial aspects of stop and search procedures. With the help of Emma Fearnly, Director of Enrichment Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, these discussions covered topics ranging from police training methods to technological advancements and legal frameworks.
The students’ confidence, innovative ideas and respectful engagement with their peers left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
In recognition of their confident and valuable ideas, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have guaranteed ongoing community engagement, offered students further opportunities to be involved in the next round of engagements and are actively coordinating efforts to ensure maximum student participation in these decisions. As we reflect on this event, it appears increasingly evident that engaging with the younger generations is a must for the future building of policies to make sure that they not only reflect the needs of the community but also foster a sense of inclusivity. The innovative ideas and active participation demonstrated by Habs students showed a more effective approach to stop and search practices. Their dedication and enthusiasm gave hope for a future where collaborative efforts pave the way for meaningful change in society.
Events
A day of inspiration and learning at the Habs Elstree Schools’ EDI Conference
Habs Elstree Schools recently hosted their first EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Conference that brought together leaders from the education community, dedicated to fostering positive change in our schools.
The event was an enormous success, filled with insightful discussions, presentations and a shared common goal of creating inclusive educational environments.
One of the highlights of the day was hearing from keynote speakers Jeffrey Boakye and Dr Enya Doyle. Their sessions were certainly thought-provoking, providing attendees with knowledge and strategies to implement within their schools and wider communities.
Jeffrey Boakye’s talk challenged guests to rethink their approaches to diversity and inclusion, emphasising the importance of understanding and addressing systemic biases. Dr Enya Doyle’s session was equally impactful, offering a deep dive into the sociocultural dynamics that influence quality in education. Both speakers left attendees (and organisers) inspired with new perspectives to bring back to their classrooms and communities.
The student panel was another standout feature of the conference. Students shared their opinions on the world of EDI with clarity and confidence.
Their thoughts and feelings proved to be a real eye-opener and strong reminder that students must be heard and continue to be valued in their schools.
We were also thrilled to be joined by Dr Philippa Kaye, Henry Hudson, Aisha Sanusi, Bennie Kara and Ian Harding, who all led individual excellent breakout sessions covering topics ranging from the social and moral imperative behind diversity in the curriculum, inclusive talent acquisition in the education sector and learning about how to support trans and gender-exploring students. The sessions were engaging, informative and enjoyed by all.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts contributing to a seamless day of discussion and learning. The collaborative spirit of everyone involved, from the organisers to the attendees, had a profound impact on the day.
Careers networking breakfasts
Over the course of this academic year, we have held 10 networking breakfasts for Lower Sixth students from Habs Boys and Habs Girls, in areas ranging from Media and Creative Industries to Entrepreneurship, Public Sector and Alternatives to Medicine.
These events give our Lower Sixth students the opportunity to meet professionals from a range of careers within their area of interest in an informal setting.
Through attending these sessions, we hope that students will come across pathways they will never previously have considered, as well as build their confidence and networking skills.
We have welcomed over 50 external visitors to these events, and we are extremely grateful to them all for sharing their advice, expertise and experience with our students.
Habs Elstree Schools’ Environmental Sustainability Conference 2024
On Thursday 20 June, Habs Elstree Schools held their first Environmental Sustainability Conference, an event that brought together the entire school community along with parents, governors and special guests from The Haberdashers’ Company. The conference aimed to address crucial environmental issues and engage all students in sustainability practices.
The conference was designed with several key objectives in mind, including heightening awareness of sustainability issues and the future of our planet, challenging the thinking of young people and understanding the extent of the negative implications that environmental damage can have on the world we live in. Last but not least, a key aim was to form and agree on clear and actionable steps for our community.
We were thrilled to be joined by five industry keynote speakers who gave insightful presentations. The speakers covered a vast range or sectors allowing us to consider:
• what a 2 degree world could look like
• how the hospitality industry has an opportunity to improve our impact on people and the planet
• exploring the UK’s route to becoming net zero and how the construction industry is playing their part
• the journey of ethical and sustainable beauty businesses and the rise of the ethical consumer
• the impacts of climate change on the travel and tourism industry
The day featured a range of activities, showing students practical applications of sustainability principles and explaining the impact each of them have.
The conference concluded with the General Assembly for all year groups, across both Habs Girls and Habs Boys. During this session, staff and students undertook a live vote, concreting Habs Elstree Schools’ new sustainable pledges, being put into practice with immediate effect!
• Energy – I will support the reduction of electricity usage in school by 10% over the next three terms – 962 votes
• Transport – I will fully support a push for car-sharing and the use of mass transit at least once a week – 928 votes
• Waste – I will fully support the reduction of food waste by 50% over the coming academic year –907 votes
• Litter – I will use recycling bins fully in school, to support a reduction in landfill rubbish by 25% – 885 votes
• School Grounds – I will support the reduction of dropped litter collected by the Estates Team by 95% over the coming academic year – 739 votes
Across the eight pledges, we received a total of 2011 votes!
The Habs Elstree Schools’ Environmental Sustainability Conference was a huge success and emphasised to all students the importance of our commitment to environmental action. The pledges and ideas shared during the conference will guide our efforts to create a more sustainable future moving forward. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Watch highlights from the day here...
Music and Drama
A historic Habs Choristers performance
On Saturday 27 April, Habs Choristers sang Evensong at All Saints, Margaret Street, joined by six professional singers and an organist. The music at the service included Elgar’s ‘Ave verum’ and Stanford’s setting of the canticles in B-flat major.
All Saints, Margaret Street is home to one of the country’s great liturgical choirs that was, until 1968, a choir of men and boys. It is very likely that the service was the first Evensong to be sung by a group of children since the closure of the church’s choir school and, in any case, is certainly the first service sung by girl choristers in the church’s 180-year history.
The organ voluntary at the service was ‘Toccata’ from Suite Gothique by Boëllmann and played by Middle 5 student Sedona de Silva.
Habs Choristers rounded off a successful year by singing Evensong in the Chapel of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, joined by six student singers. The choristers have already sung a service of ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ at St John the Baptist Church, Barnet and Evensong at All Saints, Margaret Street this year while the service in Cambridge saw the pupils sing to a packed chapel of parents and supporters.
Founded in January 2022, Habs Choristers comprises 16 pupils from the Junior School who rehearse twice a week. Directed by Deputy Head, Tim Scott, who is himself a professional choral musician, the choir performed music by Charles Wood, Edward Elgar and Humphrey Clucas at Saturday’s service. When asked about the service and the performance, Mr Scott said “The pupils have worked so hard and they are singing excellently, with a forthright and bright tone in what is challenging music. We have been working hard on our sound this term and I was delighted with the standard of music-making in our service at Cambridge.”
Joint Habs Schools music festival
We were delighted to host this year’s annual Haberdashers’ Music Festival, bringing together musicians from the Haberdashers’ family of Schools across the country.
A vibrant celebration of talent and community, over 70 students and staff came together to collaborate, create and showcase their musical skills and share their musical passions.
In addition to rehearsals and workshops during the day, students had opportunities to get to know each other over lunch and break times, leading to some pop-up jazz sessions unfolding in the Prevett Hall and an impromptu all-comers ping-pong competition.
The Festival Performance included school rock bands, jazz combos, choirs and big bands, before everyone joined together for a spectacular performance of ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire It was a fantastic day and evening of music, showcasing the students talent and passion.
Middle School showcase talents in their play: Grimm Tales
April brought an exciting event for the Middle School Drama department with their 2024 play, Grimm Tales. Over 130 talented students auditioned and the chosen cast dedicated three months to rehearsals, infusing each story with confidence and unique style.
The play, an adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tales, evolved with every rehearsal into a unique rendition. It featured four sub-tales: ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, ‘Rapunzel’ and ‘1000 Furs’.
Each performance captivated the audience with fantastic imagery and flair. The student assistant directors had the privilege of contributing to the creative process, witnessing the cast interpret suggestions in their own innovative ways. Hansel and Gretel was directed by two Year 10 students as part of their Silver Arts Award.
The performance began with a beautiful song, setting the stage for the enchanting tales to unfold. Props from the school archive were imaginatively repurposed by the cast, turning a lacrosse stick into a tree, a rug beater into a spoon and a wheel into a bowl! This creativity made each performance extremely memorable.
The student musicians provided live music, arranging most of it themselves, adding a brilliant touch to the show.
The cast’s hard work was evident, as all performances received incredible applause and were a resounding success. Special thanks went to the teachers who supported the production, particularly with costumes and technical aspects. A massive thank you was given to the lead organiser, whose tireless efforts made the play possible. It was truly a performance to remember.
Summer Concert
The Summer Term has seen hundreds of students celebrating making music together, as they took to the stage for a spectacular Summer Concert.
The sizzling sound of Salsa Band opened the evening with ‘Got to Learn to Mambo’ setting the scene for an exciting programme of music including some jazz, rock and pop favourites alongside music from stage and screen.
The whole of Lower 4 sang together as a massed choir, producing an uplifting sound in their renditions of two songs from Ghana and Lesotho and ‘Go the Distance’ from Hercules. There were also brilliant performances from Fourth Form Choir, Trombone Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Cantabile, Saxes Aloud and Concert Orchestra.
A special mention to Tamara (U4 Aesc) with the premiere of her own composition, ‘A Beautiful Day’, which she performed, accompanied by peers in a string quartet. Bringing everyone together for a massed finale, a performance of ABBA’s ‘Thank You for the Music’ brought the evening to a fitting close, in an arrangement specially written by our Music Technician, Mr Loveday.
Joint 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. This is somewhere better is a new devised play nominally about shoes, but delves much deeper.
The process begins with the cast exploring their own stories, using creativity, research, improvisation and writing to bring characters, stories and themes to life. The result was a genuine, playful and surreal exploration of youth standing on the brink of change.
The narrative included diverse characters: Leila, who is obsessed with missing people; Tobi, who takes his young cousin to the countryside seeking clarity; a girl volunteering at a local old people’s home; Karis, who dreams of being barefoot in public; Daniel, who wants to find his family without hurting his best friend, and a group of boys forming a band to stand up to a bully, Danny Gutherie, alongside a clown without shoes.
Additionally, this year we were joined by theatre maker and director Harry Gould, who collaborated with one of our companies to create How can you learn how to swim before you get in? Based on extracts from Alice Birch’s BLANK, this production was an honest, funny and moving exploration of life where adults are absent and young people are forced to grow up faster.
Originally co-commissioned by the National Theatre Connections programme and Clean Break Theatre Company, BLANK serves as a theatrical provocation, allowing each company to shape its narrative from 60 separate, non-linear scenes.
How can you learn how to swim before you get in? took some of these stories and composed a new, raw and physical piece. This challenging and complex show offered young people a chance to see the world through different perspectives and find themselves within it.
Simultaneously funny, honest and moving, these shows highlight the exciting and innovative work that Habs Drama is producing and what puts us at the forefront of young people’s theatre.
Habs Jazz at Kings Place
Written by Mr Taylor - Director of Performance Music
Our renowned Habs Big Band has existed for over 20 years. It has been a beacon for the school at open days and concerts for a generation but had never given an external performance. We were delighted to take them to the stunning Kings Place at the end of June, playing to a sold-out hall of parents, staff, governors and alumni. It was a very special event that will live long in the memory of all who were there.
Jazz at Habs has been on quite a journey. Alongside the established Big Band there is a whole network of smaller ensembles, placing improvisation and interaction at the core of what they do. For this event we gave two concerts, an inspiring pre-show from our young improvisers, followed by our awesome Big Band.
Our school has produced many of the most exciting young jazz musicians in the country - with alumni at royal conservatoires and appearing as finalists in major competitions such as BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year. This concert was a celebration of that community, a retrospective of the great successes of the last decade, and an exciting glimpse of the future. The perfect way to draw our year in performance music to a close.
Sport
The best yet: a triumphant joint Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium
For the third year running, our two senior schools came together for the 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 Green Dragons (Gilliland and Joblings) for clinching the overall title.
Students shine at Hertfordshire School Fencing Championships!
Habs students displayed remarkable success at the recent Hertfordshire School Fencing Championships, competing against 53 schools and over 200 fencers. In the Year 7 to Year 8 category, two Habs teams displayed exceptional skill, securing fourth and sixth positions.
The competition for the Year 9 to Upper Sixth division was equally fierce, with Habs’ only team demonstrating notable prowess. Noteworthy performances came from Year 9 students, who reached the final with remarkable skill and determination, earning a silver medal. This achievement marked a significant milestone for Habs, as it represented the school’s first senior Hertfordshire School medal. The trophy awarded to the students will be proudly displayed within the school premises, symbolising excellence and inspiring future fencers.
We would like to congratulate all the fencers for their dedication and outstanding performances, filling them with immense pride and marking the securing of the school’s first ever fencing award as a memorable accomplishment.
Most recently, Natalie (U4 Aesc) represented the school in the Under 13 age category at the IAPS Fencing Championships. Natalie put in her best competition performance to date, according to her coach. After losing only one match out of seven in the preliminary pool round, she progressed with great composure and skill through the quarter- and semi-finals with convincing victories, recording scores of 10-2 and 10-4.
In the early stages of the final, Natalie traded point for point with her opponent from Millfield School to go into the first break 6-5 ahead. When the bout resumed, it was clear that Natalie had analysed her opponent’s weaknesses and listened to coaching advice extremely well. With brilliant patience and maturity, Natalie waited for the perfect moments to pick her opponent off with ease. Without conceding any further points she won the Gold position. This is a fantastic achievement for Natalie, congratulations!
A netball season to be proud of
This netball season has been remarkable, filled with numerous achievements and memorable experiences for our teams. Despite challenges, our players demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout various competitions.
Habs 7’s netball tournament
Initially cancelled due to weather conditions, the historic Habs 7 Netball Tournament was successfully reorganised, allowing our Under 13 and Under 15 teams to compete. The Under 13 team showcased an outstanding performance, remaining undefeated all day and securing the Gold medal position.
The Under 15 team faced a tough match against Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, narrowly losing by a few goals. However, they bounced back with determination, winning their remaining games and finishing in second position overall earning the Silver medal. The trip to Wales was undoubtedly worthwhile as the students enjoyed a fantastic day of netball.
PGL netball competition
This year’s PGL event was a massive success, with 48 students participating in the netball competition and outdoor activities. Despite the weather being, again, unfavourable, the students had an incredible time. The Under 13 A team maintained their winning streak throughout the weekend, emerging as champions after a thrilling final against St Michael’s School winning by four goals. Their skills and honourable play were praised by other schools and umpires.
The Under 13 B team narrowly missed the semi-finals by one goal, while the Under 13 C team put up a commendable fight, only to be knocked out in the semi-final by a golden goal.
The Under 15 A team faced a challenging group on Saturday but remained undefeated, displaying excellent teamwork and encouragement on the court. Their hard work paid off as they progressed to the final on Sunday, winning the trophy. The Under 15 B team showed remarkable improvement, getting better with each game and receiving well-deserved recognition for their development.
Summary of successes
This netball season has been one of triumph and resilience. Our teams excelled in every competition they participated in, bringing home numerous titles and medals. The Under 13 and Under 15 teams’ outstanding performances at the Habs 7 and PGL tournaments were particularly noteworthy. Additionally, our teams’ achievements in the District League and Tournament further highlight their dedication and skill. Congratulations to all players and coaches for an incredible season of netball!
District league and tournament results
Our teams also performed exceptionally well in the District League and Tournament.
District league results:
Year 7 A team: 1st out of 17 schools
Year 7 B team: 1st out of 11 schools
Year 8: 2nd out of 17 schools
Year 9: 3rd out of 21 schools
Year 10: 1st out of 22 schools
Year 11: 2nd out of 17 schools
Senior team: 2nd out of 9 schools
District tournament results:
Year 7A: 1st
Year 7B: 2nd
Year 8A: 1st
Year 8B: 3rd
Year 10: 2nd
Year 11: 3rd
Year 9: cancelled
Athletics
It has been another fantastic summer term of Athletics with many different competitions taking place throughout the weeks, recording fantastic results for the squads.
District Athletics Championships
Our teams excelled at the District Athletics Championships with a number of athletes achieving top-three finishes. A standout performance came from the Year 9 team who secured first place overall. Aimee (U4 A) delivered an outstanding performance in the 1500m, clinching first place and earning the “Performance of the Day” award. Tiffany (L5 A) excelled in the triple jump, not only securing first place in the Year 9 category but also breaking her own school record yet again.
Cricket
Cricket continues to gain traction following its introduction to Habs Girls last year.
With increased willingness to learn new skills, participation levels have been increasing steadily showing encouragement towards the sports success at the school. Technique is improving term by term and week by week, which has encouraged the introduction of competitive matches.
Habs 7 Athletics Competition
At the Habs 7 Athletics competition in Oxford, both our Under 14 and Under 16 teams secured first place overall. This triumph highlights the depth of talent and teamwork present across different age groups within our athletics program.
Hertfordshire Schools County Track and Field Championships
The Hertfordshire Schools County Track and Field Championships competition marked achievements in the Year 8 and 9 triple jump, where a personal best of 10.15 metres led to a first-place finish.
Most recently, our Under 14 and Under 15 teams played their first game of Twenty20 (T20) cricket, a shorter version where each team has 20 overs. With a tough game against Berkhamsted School, it was a fantastic feeling to walk away with a win. Particular congratulations to Arushi (L5 Aleph) for receiving the best batter of the match and Jessie (M5 Aesc) who was awarded best bowler.
Trips
Lower 5 take a trip to Belgium
Written by Tamara (L5 Ansuz)
Often when learning or reading about the First World War, it can seem so distant and unimaginable.
The Lower 5 trip to Belgium has opened my eyes to the experience of WW1.
One of the most moving moments was standing by a monument where every inch of the huge walls were filled with names of soldiers never found, a concept I had never thought about before, bringing the reality of the war to light. Another unforgettable experience was our visit to a reconstructed trench. Simply walking through this replica sparked emotions for all of us as we realised how soldiers would have been following our exact path 100 years prior. What struck me was when looking over the edge of Lochnagar Crater (made by the first explosion from the Somme) was how beautiful these battlefields now are.
It’s quite touching when overlooking what was once a place of conflict and to see it as peaceful and untouched, what the soldiers had fought for.
What I took away from this experience was the importance of preserving these cemeteries and battlefields because of the lessons that can be learned from them, and also of sharing the stories of the soldiers and battles so no solider is forgotten, as seen on the monument walls.
Lower Sixth visit Dorchester to understand Habs’ history
As we are coming up to the 150th anniversary of Habs Girls being founded, the Lower School and the history society decided to commemorate this by exploring a specific area of Habs’ history.
After delving into the archives at school, we travelled down to the small town of Dorchester in Dorset. This is where Habs as a school was evacuated to at the start of World War II. During our time there, we visited sites the Old Haberdashers had spent time in.
We went to the village of Cerne Abbas where, in 1939, Habs Girls were first accommodated , in an old workhouse, before moving on to recreate the school photo from 1939 of the girls on Cerne Abbas hill.
We also visited the school that took us in in 1939/40, Dorchester Grammar School for Girls.
Dorchester Middle School, that now occupies the buildings of the old grammar school, were kind enough to let us look around their school and give an assembly to the current students about the experiences Habs Girls went through during the war.
We were able to visit the classrooms that our forbears had studied in during the war. It was great to visit the area that the girls went to and to meet the new generation of students who were going through Dorchester Middle School, and to imagine what it would have been like for our predecessors to be evacuated to Dorchester.
It provided a great insight into the history of our school and the experiences of Habs Girls.
Lower Sixth take a trip to CERN
In May, a group of Lower Sixth physicists embarked on a two-day trip to the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, the premier particle physics laboratory.
The journey began with an early flight to Geneva, where students spent the first day sightseeing. They visited the Red Cross Museum, learning about the United Nations’ history and enjoyed lunch overlooking Lake Geneva. The afternoon was spent exploring the city and buying Swiss chocolate souvenirs.
The following day, the group headed straight to CERN.
After taking photos outside, they explored the Discovery Centre, an interactive exhibition that covered topics such as the Higgs boson particle, particle accelerators and the universal implications of CERN’s discoveries.
Post-lunch, they drove to France to visit ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), one of CERN’s four particle detectors. Although ALICE was operational, they toured the overground section and learned about the facility from their guide. Students then visited the main control rooms, where they delved into the engineering, history and physics behind CERN’s advancements, including the development of the Large Hadron Collider with its 27km circumference.
The trip concluded with students feeling grateful and enriched by the experience.
GCSE students visit the National Museum of Computing
Over the Summer Term, 40 GCSE Computer Science students stepped back in time and visited the National Museum of Computing. They explored all the exhibits featuring some of the world’s oldest computers, including Colossus, which played a key role in World War II codebreaking.
One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to code the classic game “Snake” on Acorn computers from the 1980s. This activity allowed students to appreciate the simplicity and creativity involved in early game development.
It also demonstrated the marked contrast to the complex, high-definition games of today, underscoring how far technology has come and the developments in coding.
The visit highlighted the advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, showing the evolution from the beginning to modern day technology. Additionally, students had the chance to interact with popular computers from the 1980s and 1990s.
The trip aimed to inspire students by demonstrating the impressively fast progress of computing technology, from its historical roots to contemporary innovations. This experience left the students with a deeper appreciation for computer science and its endless possibilities for the future.
Year 10 and Lower Sixth students become well acquainted with Granada
A group of Year 10 and Lower Sixth Spanish students embarked on a cultural trip to Granada, Spain. Staying with host families, they perfected their Spanish skills and immersed themselves in local culture.
Their itinerary included language lessons, a tour of Albaicín and a visit to the majestic Alhambra Palace, highlighting Spain’s Moorish influence. They explored the home of writer Federico García Lorca and experienced Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions despite the miserable weather. “The rain didn’t dampen our spirits; it added to the adventure” remarked Iman (L6 DXF), emphasising the resilience they showed during their trip.
“Staying with host families allowed us to greatly improve our Spanish speaking skills and fully immerse ourselves in the cultural visits,” Iman reflected. “It was especially difficult to peel our eyes away from the huge array of clothes, bags, and makeup on display!” she added, recalling their visit to El Corte Inglés. Indulging in churros capped off their final day, departing with happy memories, Granada-themed souvenirs and wearing an extra layer than what they have been used to, they returned to England after a fantastic Spanish adventure.
Upper Sixth students represent UK at European Youth Parliament in Bulgaria
Upper Sixth students
Aparna (U6 TD), Sienna (U6 IC), Avi (U6J2) and Raahan (U6H1), represented the UK at the Bulgarian European Youth Parliament (EYP) session in Plovdiv over Easter, following their win at the National Session in Liverpool last September.
The EYP Bulgaria is an independent association that organises various debating events. It is part of a Europe-wide network, present in about 40 countries that organise more than 500 events every year for up to 35,000 students.
It aims to raise awareness concerning European issues, whilst encouraging active European citizens and motivating students to become politically engaged.
The students’ outstanding contributions earned praise from peers and encouraged crosscultural exchange with students from Bulgaria, Norway and Slovenia. Their discussions ranged from the protection of indigenous rights to tackling youth unemployment and examining the consequences of increasing entrepreneurship in the contemporary workplace. Throughout the sessions, Sienna, Aparna, Avi and Raahan showcased fantastic dedication and creativity, earning rave reviews for their contributions to committee work and resolution debates.
Aparna and Raahan will continue their involvement at the ‘Harbour of Innovation’ in Greece at the next international session in July, promising further opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and spirited debate with students across Europe.
The participation of Sienna, Aparna, Avi and Raahan in the Bulgarian EYP session not only reflects their academic success but also shows their commitment to global citizenship and adopting a solution driven approach. Their experience shows true values of leadership, collaboration and curiosity.
Congratulations to the team!
Junior news
It has been an action packed Summer Term in the Junior School, with highlights including PGL at Osmington Bay, a collaborative Cricket festival, fun-filled Sports Day and impressive Summer Recitals from our young musicians.
Click here to read our 6 April - 24 May newsletter
Check Firefly to see what the Junior School got up to for the rest of the term
Habs community
Outstanding contributions to the Partnerships programme
The Habs Community Partnerships programme continues to make a significant impact by working with a network of seven local state partner schools. Through this initiative, we run 48 hours of co-curricular and academic sessions every week, focusing on increasing the capacity of disadvantaged students.
Habs students from Years 10 to 13, supported by dozens of staff members, lead these sessions. They engage 1,400 partner school students weekly, enhancing their skills in subjects like maths, english, science, swimming, modern languages, art, outdoor education and robotics.
This term, several Habs students across both schools have been recognised by our staff for their outstanding contributions to the programme:
Shiara (L6 CAP) - How Wood Science Shiara voluntarily gives up her time every single week during a free lesson to support the learning of Year 5 in their Science lessons. The visiting students adore her and she is a brilliant helper to them (and to me!) She is dedicated and reliable and is ready to just step up to whatever activity I have planned with 100% effort. (Mrs Dinsey)
James (L651), Rafi (L6H1) and Leila (M5 A) - London Academy Drama Workshops These students have outstanding interaction with the students from London Academy and are a great example of how students can work together. (Mr Weinman)
Yanxi (M5 A) - Cowley Hill Explorers Club Yanxi has been an invaluable member of the Explorers Club for two terms. She consistently generates fantastic activity ideas and demonstrates patience and kindness with the children. Her contributions and enthusiasm have made me extremely proud.
(Miss King)
Rayi (L6M1) - How Wood Reading Partnerships Rayi has built outstanding relationships with his students, as well as with the school as a whole by leading a wholeschool assembly. He has dealt maturely and responsibly with a very difficult situation. (Mr Plotkin)
Rafi (L6R1) - How Wood Maths Partnerships Rafi has outstanding commitment to planning and delivering an excellent series of sessions. (Mr Plotkin)
Audrie (M5 Alpha) - Fair Field Science Club Audrie shows a maturity beyond her years; her planning of experiments is exemplary as is her interaction with students from Fair Field. She has played a huge part to ensure the sessions are fun and safe! (Dr Bridge)
Habs Elstree Schools’ Summer Fair 2024
Sunday 30 June saw the first ever joint Schools’ Summer Fair hosted by the Habs Boys Parents’ Guild. The sun broke through as over 1,000 people enjoyed the food, music and entertainment. Highlights included the wonderful performance stage hosting some brilliant ‘rock-e-oke’, seven inflatables for all ages, an array of food vendors, Habs students organising craft stalls for specific charities and the surprise arrival of a fire engine.
The event could not have gone ahead without the brilliant student and parent volunteers, the array of raffle prizes donated by Habs families and everyone who brought their family to join in the fun.
The silent auction saw some unique Habs experiences being auctioned off - and to those who won, enjoy being Head of your part of the school for the day!
Proceeds raised will be donated to purchase equipment to enrich the student’s 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
An evening with Ashley Blaker
Ashley Blaker (OH 1993) was the special guest on 7 May for the most recent Habs in Conversation evening, an occasional series of on-stage interviews with prominent members of the Habs community.
Ashley is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer, TV and radio performer, as well as a long-time friend and collaborator with Matt Lucas (OH 1994) on projects including Little Britain. He is also the author of a new memoir entitled Normal Schmormal: My Occasionally Helpful Guide to Parenting Kids with Special Needs.
Ashley joined Executive Principal Gus Lock (OH 1994) on-stage at Seldon Hall for a wide-ranging chat about his family, his current standup tour and life at and after Habs.
The evening included a QandA with the audience of Habs parents, alumni, staff and others from the Habs community. Several of the questions concerned his large family and their oftencomplex needs.
Ashley and his wife are parents to six children, half of whom have special needs ranging from autism to Down Syndrome. As in his memoir, his tales of home life were often hilarious and always fascinating. No matter how challenging the circumstances, he somehow makes it all sound like an adventure he’s delighted to be on.
Old Haberdashers descend on Habs Elstree for a day of sunny memories
A rare burst of warm sunshine pierced the seemingly endless springtime gloom on Saturday 19 May, just in time for Old Haberdashers Day 2024.
The day drew nearly 550 Old Haberdashers (OHs), former and current staff and their families from both schools to campus for a day of reunions, music, archival displays and food and drink. The free ice cream proved particularly popular and much needed given the unexpected heat.
Attendees ranged from a member of the Class of 1940 all the way up to newly established OHs from the Class of 2023.
This year’s OH Day was particularly meaningful for Habs Girls’ alumnae as it marked the 50th anniversary of the school’s move from Acton to Elstree. In honour of this milestone, all alumnae who attended Acton were invited to a formal lunch hosted by the headmistress, Dr Hazel Bagworth-Mann, and invited to a special ‘memories and memorabilia’ event featuring archival treasures from the Acton days.
We are delighted to announce the date for next year’s Old Haberdashers Day: Sunday 8 June 2025. Save the date! Details to come after the summer break.
Habs on the Road: visiting Old Haberdashers where they live
In addition to inviting alumni and alumnae back to campus, the Foundation team this year ventured beyond Elstree to visit Old Haberdashers where they live.
The team convened Habs on the Road gatherings in Bristol, Leamington Spa, Exeter, Leeds, Oxford, Nottingham, Cambridge and New York (twice!)
Habs on the Road locations for the 2024-25 school year are already in the works and we couldn’t be more excited for the next adventure.
Charity
Charity updates
The WOHAA is an initiative by the Wings of Hope children’s charity in the UK, which aims to empower young people through education and skill development while supporting underprivileged children in Indiaand Malawi.
Two teams from the Lower Sixth across both schools participated in this year’s challenge, organising a variety of fundraising events, including a bake sale, candy cane sale, ‘guess the number of Easter eggs’ competition and more.
Their hard work paid off, with our very own Habs Girls team making it to the semi-finals of the award which were held in the Houses of Parliament.
Wings of Hope focuses on providing educational resources and opportunities to children in need, making a profound impact on their futures.
By participating in WOHAA, our students not only contribute to this incredible cause but also develop essential skills in leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurship.
Mencap Funday – Sunday 23 June 2024
Written by Neeva (U5 A)
Mencap is a charity that focuses on providing services for people with learning disabilities. The Habs Mencap Funday contributes to this charity and once a year organises an exciting and memorable day for children.
This year, 88 children with learning disabilities (ages 4-16) were invited to Habs Boys to participate in a variety of activities which were organised by the Mencap committee. The Mencap committee includes Year 11 and Year 12 students from both Habs Girls and Habs Boys and is overseen by one teacher from both schools.
Throughout the day the children were paired with Habs student volunteers who took them around to participate in each activity. These activities included a magician, a face painter, bouncy castles, balloon animals, inflatable darts, petting zoo, pony rides, arts and crafts, a teacup ride, a chair-oplanes ride, sensory rooms and sweet treats such as ice cream and candy floss. The highlights of many of the children’s day were the magician, balloon animals and the chair-o-planes ride. My personal favourite part of the day was seeing the happy and excited faces of the children as they were able to enjoy activities they may never have tried before!
In order for the Funday to take place, the Mencap committee organised fundraising events throughout the year. We held a memorable girls vs boys netball tournament where we sold tickets and doughnuts and raised over £1,000.
In addition, we held the annual ‘Mencap’s Got Talent’ event which was an amazing showcase of Habs’ best talents. This show raised around £5,000. The school also held a non-uniform day to support the Mencap charity.
The Funday itself required the help of around 200 pupil volunteers from both schools and about 30 teachers. It was a huge day which took a year to organise, and we are really proud of its success. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to help make sure the children who came had a great day!
Well done to the committee which consisted of Lucas (L6J2), Rudrani (L6 CAJ), (Chairs), Milo (L6R1), David (L6M1), Emma (L6 CAP), Anika (L6 DXF), Sam (11H2), Sahil (11C2), Indiana (U5 Aleph) and Neeva (U5 A). Now onto planning for next year!
Staff news
Appointments
Anna Achilleos
Marketing Manager (maternity leave cover)
Edgar Burns
IT Support Assistant
Emily Clarke
Marketing Officer
Rob Hagon
Director of IT
Clare Jarmy
Director of Innovation
Ifueko Omoniyi
Project Admin
Chris Anastasiou
AV and IT support officer
Esperance Anderson
Sports Adminstrator
Grace Burton Service Desk Manager
Joanne Crane
Payroll and Pensions Manager
Ellie Humphreys
Graphic Designer
Edward Lowe
Partnerships Programme Manager (maternity leave cover)
Malar Sudha Santhana
Gopalakrishnan
Fundraising Database Manager
Richard Chunn
Caretaker
Clare Clark
Fees Assistant
George Humphries
Caretaker
Barry Murphy
Premises Maintenance Operative Ross Twynholm
Commercial and Events Assistant
Karen Walter
HR Administrator
Internal movers
Lauren Davidge
Executive PA to Principal Deputy Head to PA to Headmistress (and Office Manager responsibilites)
Daniel Foster
Head of German to Head of French and Head of German
Liz Karfoot
Finance Director to Chief Financial Officer
Ed Martin
Graduate Teacher of Classics to Graduate Teacher of Classics and Head of House (Harold)
Nimisha Mistry
Teacher of Mathematics to Teacher of Mathematics and Cover Supervision
Dragan Visekruna
Caretaker to Premises Maintenance Operative
Nishma Gohil
Teacher of Mathematics to Teacher of Mathematics and Cover Supervision
Lucy Lourenco
Teacher of English & Acting Head of House (Millar) to Teacher of English & Head of House (Millar)
Ed Mendelblat
Teacher of Biology to Teacher of Biology and Head of House (Millar)
Elaine Miller
Year 1 Class Teacher to Early Years Phase Leader
Puja Patel Fees and Bursaries Manager to Head of Fees and Bursaries
Leavers
Sucharita Anand
Junior School Receptionist
Nicole Brown
Director of Commercial and Enterprise
Samantha Cosgrave
Teacher of History
Robert Dunn
Chief Operating Officer
Geraldine Gallagher
Library Assistant
Rozanne Hodis
Commercial Manager
Craig King
Groundsperson
Lucy Neale
Classroom Teacher
Esperance Anderson
Sports Adminstrator
Lisa Canosa Deputy Examinations Office
Maria Brooks
Principal Accountant
Alfie Chester Caretaker
Tanja Dawson Co-Director of Sport
Laura Edwards People Partner
Claire Hawkins Cover Teacher
Axelle Labuschagne Fees Officer and Accounts Assistant
Sarah Deamer
Teacher of Art
Antonio Font -Vanrell Reprographics Technician
Keith Hannah SCITT Trainee MFL
Joo Phin Ooi
Teacher of Biology
Becky McKenzie-Young Director of People
Tyler O’Brien
Sports Centre and Lifeguard
Assistant
Elizabeth Rivard
Teacher of Psycology
Susan Joyce Admin Support
Linda Meighan
Payroll Assistant
Robbie O’Driscoll
HR Consultant
Daniel Sabato
Deputy Head Academic
Kuldip Sandhu
Interim Director of IT
Des Trainor
Graphic Designer
Sonal R Dhadphale
Alumni Relations, Fundraising and Events Officer
Sarah Smith Interim People Ops Manager (EPM)
Louise Wallace Teacher of Drama
Michele Tatman Junior School Class Teacher
Molly Winbow Graduate LSA
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Robert Deane, a beloved member of the school community.