Habs Boys Skylight - Spring Term 2024

Skylight

Music, Art and Drama

Headmaster’s End of Term Message: March 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At Habs in keeping with our school values of Ambition, Curiosity, Courage and Community, we strive both for excellence and inclusion. This term has been no different. I am very proud of what we have achieved. We have worked hard in the classroom, students have pushed themselves and each other; and, as this edition of Skylight shows, we have also had a lot of fun along the way.

Our students have achieved some extraordinary things on a national scale. Our Senior Gymnasts put in an exceptional performance to be crowned National Champions. Our Bridge A team have retained the Schools Cup to be crowned National Champions for the third time in a row, and in Chess, our Habs A team have qualified for a place in the National Finals to be held in June. In Code Breaking, both our teams were awarded Silver Medals in the National Cipher Competition and attended the prize-giving at Bletchley Park. Our Maths students were triumphant at the Hans Woyda final, a prestigious competition hotly contested among 64 schools in and around London, bringing the trophy home to Habs for the first time since 1991.

Our first ever Joint HabsMUN, hosted by both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, saw 170 students from 11 schools come together for a weekend of very impressive debate; our annual student-led TedX saw some world class speakers challenge and inspire us; and our Extended Research Projecty Celebration Assembly demonstrated the very best of our commitment to independent research and stretching our students beyond the confines of the exam curriculum.

It has been yet another busy term in the creative arts. Week after week our students have taken to the stage on a Friday lunchtime to perform in front of their peers during ‘Lunchtime Live’, and our Spotlight, Chamber and Guitar Festival concerts have continued to highlight the quality and depth of musical talent within our community, and the exceptional commitment and dedication of our students and staff. The House Drama competition was sensational, and the performance of our Year 8 students at the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival was truly brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed our return to St John’s Smith Square last weekend for our joint Orchestral Concert, with music from the Americas, culminating in Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story performed by the Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra for a truly stunning evening of music.

This has been a particularly significant term with regards to our community. Our third Giving Day was a tremendous success and a real testament to the spirit of community and philanthropy upon which the schools were founded. We have also seen our students come together numerous times to share and celebrate the beliefs and traditions of others.

Afrobeats evening and our Iftar event were two new additions to the school calendar, students have spoken in assemblies about how they celebrated the Lunar New Year, as a whole school we celebrated Neurodiversity Week, and only last week we enjoyed a fantastic Purim party at lunchtime, and a Bollywood night. All these events were great successes and speak to the strong spirit of community at our school, in which we strive to ensure that every individual is known and valued.

In the sporting arena there has also been much to celebrate. Our U14 Rugby 7s team reached the knockout stages at the National Schools 7s for only the second time in 27 years, and in Hockey our U15 A team were runners up at the regional finals held last week. I was very proud indeed to recognise these and other achievements during our Co-Curricular Awards earlier today. These were awarded to Senior Students for outstanding performance, participation and character, and I would like to offer my congratulations to the worthy recipients who have made a truly exceptional impact on their particular area of Co-Curriculum.

Over this term, I have enjoyed meeting many Lower School students who have achieved ‘Beyond Platinum’ a recognition of the achievement of 50 merits for outstanding work and contribution to school life.

In the Middle School, students have been awarded commendations during a celebration breakfast for reflecting our school values. And in the Upper Sixth, after a rigorous application and interview process, I was delighted to announce the appointment of our new School Captains, House Captains and Prefect Team and I look forward to working closely with them in the coming months.

In the Prep it has been yet another busy term with many highlights. World Book Day included a very special costume parade for the entire Pre-Prep and Prep, and it was fantastic to see all the students so excited to take part and dressed as their favourite book character. This week, the Prep celebrated International Languages Day and the Young Musician of The Year Grand Final, a truly wonderful event.

I must make particular mention of the Integration Bee, for which attending the finals was one of my highlights of the last week. Picture a drama studio packed to the rafters, the razzmatazz and excitement of a heavy weight boxing bout, the tension of a penalty shoot-out combined with the utmost focus and concentration, and a healthy a dose of Habs spirit, and you’ll get there. This is one of so many events this term that highlight the commitment of our students and our staff. Academic excellence, an inclusive spirit of community, and a genuine sense of fun.

Over the break our students will embark on a wide range of residential trips, travelling to France, Germany and Spain. I would like to wish the very best of luck to those travelling to the Chilterns for their Duke of Edinburgh practice expeditions, and to Southampton for the VEX Robotics final.

For those students with internal or public exams approaching, I would like to encourage them to keep going. A disciplined approach will be necessary, with a combination of focused revision and hard work, and chances to relax, be active and switch off. I am confident that our students have every chance of success this summer.

With thanks as always to my colleagues and to our parents and guardians for your continued support, I wish you a restful and restorative Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back to Habs for the Summer Term.

Best wishes,

Robert Sykes Headmaster

Success Stories

Habs student scoops economics essay prize

Habs student and Head Boy, Avi (U6 2), has won the annual Schroders Economics Essay prize competition. Run in conjunction with the Haberdashers’ Company, the contest is open to all Habs students.

Awarded to the best essay on a topic set by Schroders, this year’s question was ‘How Far will high inflation prove a permanent feature of the economy?’

A victory to savour

Two Habs students, Avi and Dhilan (U6S1), were invited to Habs Hall for the awards ceremony itself. Accompanied by Dr St John, both Avi and Dhilan met with leading figures from the world of finance and the Haberdashers’ Company.

The event was followed by a special awards lunch. A third Habs student, Rayaan (U6J2), was also shortlisted for the prize but was unfortunately unable to attend due to exams. Nevertheless, he can be proud of making it to the shortlist.

Competition for the top spot was tight, so it was a great achievement when Avi was declared winner.

Big win for Economics department

On receiving the award, Avi also secured a generous grant from Schroders for the Habs Economics department.

Under the leadership of Mrs Wolfson, the department has done so much to encourage and support students entering the contest, so well done Mrs Wolfson and her team.

The picture shows Avi and Dhilan alongside Dr St John and Caroline Davis, Chairman of the Haberdashers’ Charities Committee and co-founder of the prize. The contest proved a great experience for our students and we look forward to more Habs entries in the future.

Students earn pole position in F1 challenge

In motorsport news, two of our F1 in Schools teams were in action at the West London regional final.

Using special software to design, test and race miniature F1-style cars, our budding young F1 engineers did incredibly well on the day.

Developing at speed

Phantom, made up of six Year 9 students, designed one of the four fastest cars in a packed field of 40 other F1 in Schools teams.

While Phantom may not have claimed any awards, the Pro-Class competition was against much older students, so it was an outstanding performance that suggests great things to come in future.

Top of the podium

Meanwhile, our Sixth Form team, known as Celestial Velocity, consisted of Phalgun (L6R1), Rafi (L6R1), Elijah (L6J1) and Rishi (L6M2). They scooped two awards for Best Engineered Car and Research and Development. Better still, they went on to be crowned overall winners for Professional Class.

Yet the real prize was a place in the National Finals, taking place on 13 and 14 March at the Magna Science Centre in Rotherham.

The final lap

At the finals, our Year 12 Professional Class team enjoyed two wonderful days of racing, which saw them claim the award for Research and Development.

The Research and Development trophy is given to the team demonstrating outstanding levels of engineering development in the design and production of their F1 car. Needless to say, it was testament to the depth of thought and engineering applied by the team.

Having spent a year preparing for this year’s competition, Celestial Velocity submitted an impressive engineering and enterprise portfolio, not to mention a fantastic car and pit display.

It was an outstanding effort from all students involved in the contest, with special thanks to Mr Roncarati for his unwavering support.

Habs students crack the code

Two teams from Habs Boys and Habs Girls competed in a National Safe Cracking competition.

Hosted by Dulwich College, the event was organised and led by passionate academics from the worlds of physics and engineering, with added support from the Weizmann Institute.

Both teams from Year 12 worked tremendously hard leading up to the competition, so it was unsurprising they performed so well on the day.

Hard work pays off

There were 31 teams from a total of 17 different schools competing, with the Habs team, Fission Chips, securing second place.

Fission Chips comprised Oscar (L6R1), Ray (L6M1), Ibrahim (L6S2), Bibi (L6 JJM) and Amber (L6 JJM).

Our other team, We Need a Vacuum, consisted of Alex G (L6C1), Alex R (L6C1), Neeam (L6S2), Evan (L6M2) and Felix (L6R2).

Accompanied by Mrs Selouk and Miss Hooker, the contest was the culmination of months of hard work from the students. Each team needed to construct their own safe using two physics-based puzzles of their own design to secure it.

The teams then attempted to crack their competitors’ safes, all while defending their own. A further challenge was explaining the physics at play to the judging panel.

A cracking day all-round.

We Need a Vacuum ran into early technical difficulties, yet managed to fix them on the spot, giving them a well-functioning safe for the day. This ensured a high points score for the team in both the Judges and Peer Review categories. The boys also did well in cracking the other teams’ safes, leading to a very respectable tenth place finish.

Overall, it was an enjoyable day of science and engineering.

Both teams would like to thank Mrs Selouk, Miss Hooker and Mr Roncarati for their help in building the safes and their support on the day of the contest.

Joseph wows at British Maths Olympiad

oseph (9R) took part in the Senior Maths Challenge.

Qualifying for the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1, oseph answered six questions in just two and a half hours.

Only 1,000 students across the UK take part in the December first round, so it was quite the feat.

There, he qualified easily for Round 2, where he would compete against the 100 best students from around the UK, including Thomas (U6J), who also made it through. With four more Habs students qualifying as discretionary entrants, Joseph went on to scoop the Merit Certificate with an outstanding score of 12.

Considering Joseph is only in Year 9, it was a tremendous achievement. After all, the Olympiad is aimed at Sixth Form students.

Registering a higher score in the second round than all our Sixth Form entrants combined, Joseph also scored 10/10 for Question 1.

The level of questions are extremely challenging at every level of the Olympiad, so congratulations to all our competing students and huge credit to Joseph for his amazing win.

Students in Round 2 of British Olympiad

The results are in from Round 2 of the latest British Mathematical Olympiad. Just qualifying for this stage of the competition is a great achievement, as only 100 students across the UK qualify for the second round.

The British Olympiad is contested by the top Sixth Form students in the country, a huge congratulations to Thomas (U6J) and Joseph (9R) for making it to such a level.

Congratulations all-round

Further kudos goes to four other Habs students, who made it into the second round as discretionary entrants, with their first round results being so close to the threshold. The four other students were Rohan (U6C), Oliver (L6M), Mithusan (U6H) and James (U6C).

Habs make the Nationals in VEX IQ contest

Three of our VEX IQ teams travelled to the Cotswolds School.

The students were there to take part in a VEX IQ robotics competition, with the aim of qualifying for the Nationals.

Our Year 8 team, Habs Hurricanes, pulled off an incredible day of robotics and, picked up the two main awards. Claiming both the Excellence award and Teamwork award, their double prize-win earned them a place in the Nationals competition.

Excellence all-round

The Excellence award is presented to the team that achieves exceptionally

high scores across all competition categories, including Teamwork, Skills, Programming, Design Booklet, and Judges’ Presentation, so it was an outstanding feat. Yet Habs Hurricanes were not our only team to excel on the day. Both Year 8 Habs SciClones and Year 9 Habs Dynamics performed brilliantly in all aspects of the contest, only narrowly missing out on awards.

Habs in UK top 20

With all our teams excelling in the skills rounds, the scores placed all three of our teams in the top 20 in the UK.

Apprenticeships beckon for Upper Sixth boys

As for the students taking part, Habs Hurricanes featured Elliot (8R1), Dylan (8R2), George (8S1), Dylan (8S2), Kian (8J1), Kanishk (8R1) and Aiden (8C2).

Habs Dynamics was made up of Max (9S1), Dani (9J2), Shaurya (9C2), William (9J2) and Tarun (9R1).

Finally, Habs SciClones consisted of Kayan (8H1), Rohan (8S2), Joshua (8R2), Ishaan (8S1) and Kian (8H2). Well done to all our students who competed on the day. Good luck in the Nationals.

Students Saad (U6S2), Dylan (U6S1) and Rishi (U6R2) will all be taking up their prestigious degree apprenticeship placements in September.

Saad got his offer from Ernst & Young back in October, having completed their Career Starters programme the previous summer, which formed part of his application process. Dylan has secured a place on a Solicitor Apprenticeship with international law firm Dentons, while Rishi is currently deciding from a number of finance apprenticeships.

All three students have been through a rigorous application process, including online assessments, digital interviews, assessment centres and in-person interviews.

Why our students applied

As Dylan explains, “I decided to apply for a degree apprenticeship because I knew this would be the best opportunity to allow me to intellectually develop at a rate that stimulates me. Apprenticeships provide the balance of studying and working, which means putting your learning into practice over consistent periods of time; and as a result, I know this process will be beneficial.”

Student Rishi was similarly motivated: “I applied for degree apprenticeships because I wanted to take a different pathway outside my comfort zone and challenge the norms.

I am passionate about gaining invaluable real-world experience in my desired field, whilst enjoying the work I do along the way.”

Student Saad said “I feel my skills are more suited to active rather than passive learning, so an apprenticeship seemed like the best option for me.”

Chess team sporting in victory

The Habs A Chess squad enjoyed an emphatic victory of 6-0 against Northwood School.

Competing in the regional stages of the ECF National Schools Chess Championships, the students’ win booked their place in the second round and the chance to progress into the National finals in June.

Good sports

Hearty congratulations to all on the team, namely Alex (U6M2), Avyukt (9M2), Ezra (U6H2), Kian (L6R1), Adi (8R2) and Louis (9C1).

As ever, the students displayed great commitment and dedication, both to the game and in representing the school. They also showed real grace and humility towards their opponents at the host school.

Habs B Chess team in A-star performance

Playing on home soil, the Habs B chess squad beat their North London Collegiate School rivals.

The team was competing in the first round of the regional finals in the U19 ECF Championships. This means Habs B have now qualified alongside Habs A for the second round, due to be played in the coming weeks.

So close, yet so far ahead

In an outstanding performance, Habs B won five games and drew just one. With matches lasting over an hour, the students’ opposition put up a good fight.

In fact, most of the boards seemed destined for a draw until our B team’s accomplished endgame saw the students claim victory.

Among England’s finest Players from both teams are among the top players in the country, with several having represented England at junior level. So, needless to say, it was quite a thing to witness some of the finest young chess players going toe to toe.

The triumphant Habs B team was made up of Ru (9H2), Madhav (11C1), Lukas (L6C1), Kanishk (8R1), Benjamin (9R2) and Zack (L6C2). Congratulations and good luck in the next round.

The team deserves every accolade for their collective talent, hard work and sportsmanship. All the best in the Nationals.

ChemRace tests students’ metal

Five Sixth Formers took part in the ChemRace competition at the University of Cambridge.

Hosted by the University’s Department of Chemistry, Professor Peter Wothers MBE, was on hand to open proceedings.

Our competing Habs team, The Bond Breakers, was made up of Aaryan (U6M2), Amy (U6 IC), Dawei (L6C1), Oliver (L6M2) and Varun (U6M2). Pitting their knowledge against 60 other teams from around the country, the contest also saw another group from Habs Girls attend the corresponding event at the University of Oxford.

Breaking into the top spots

ChemRace is a fun, yet highly competitive event where teams answer a series of increasingly challenging questions beyond the normal scope of A Level chemistry.

Points are awarded for correct answers, but progress to new questions is only granted once teams submit a correct response. This meant a careful balance of speed and precision was called for, with points deducted for each failed attempt.

Coming seventh overall, The Bond Breakers finished a single place and handful of points outside the prize positions. In fact, it was tight in all the top spots. Nevertheless, the team enjoyed the event and enhanced their broader experience of the chemistry subject, with discussions still ongoing after the event had ended.

An iconic display at Oxford

Meanwhile, our Habs Girls team travelled to the University of Oxford for their own ChemRace. Known as Iconic Bonds, the team consisted of five Lower Sixth chemistry students, including Charlotte (L6 EJ), Rudrani (L6 CAG), Naadiya (L6 GAM), Thalia (L6 JYB) and Anaya (L6 JJM).

They too loved the experience, solving and deciphering a series of complex questions. Despite being up against teams of mainly Upper Sixth students, they stuck steadfastly to their task. Braving a barrage of challenging questions, they dealt with it all with good grace and humour. A true credit to Habs.

Habs on the podium in British Physics Olympiad

This year, 3,137 students from 482 UK schools took part in the British Physics Olympiad. Proving ever-popular, the event has nearly doubled in the size from 1,616 students and 270 schools in 2020.

Alongside a handful of overseas schools and a further 3,500 students from China, our Habs entrants yet again embraced the competition.

About the Olympiad

The Physics Olympiad challenges students’ knowledge, preparation and ability, allowing access for good students, while also providing stretch for the top young physicists in the country.

Each question demands a different perspective, with fluency in recognising topics and linking ideas being key to developing students’ confidence and mastery.

Students put to the test

Lasting close to three hours, the British Olympiad Round 1 paper put our budding physicists through their paces, with both Habs Boys and Habs Girls sitting the exam.

Medal winners aplenty

Our students picked up medals across both our schools. For Habs Girls, Amarleen (U6 TD) claimed Gold, while Ananya (U6 TD) and Taisia (U6 KXO) claimed Silver, and Aaliyah (U6 JHB) scooped Bronze.

For the boys, Aaryan (U6S1), James (U6C2) and Oliver (L6M2) all won Gold, with Silver awarded to Pranav (U6M2), Shivank (U6M2), Matthew (U6H1), Nadav (U6H2), Rohan (U6C1) and Sahrid (U6R1).

Well done to all who took part and good luck in the next round.

Debut for young rugby star

Habs student Tom (U6H2) made an impressive recent debut for Old Albanian 1st XV in National League 2 South.

To play rugby at this standard while still being at school is a phenomenal achievement, particularly as Tom plays in the vital decision-making position of fly half.

The pivotal role demands the commandeering of players up to twice his age and weight, meaning Tom is clearly showing maturity beyond his years on the rugby field.

Coming on as a replacement against Wimbledon RFC, our young rugby star played an error-free 30 minutes. This set him up for a starting place as fly half against Worthing RFC, played at Old Albanian RFC. Well done, Tom. Keep up the great work.

First win for 33 years in Hans Woyda

Habs Boys played in the final of the Hans Woyda Maths Competition. This is a contest for 64 of the leading schools in and around London.

Habs last won the tournament way back in 1991, yet our students were undaunted, led by Joseph (9R1), Jamie (11J1), Oliver (L6M2), Sai (U6R1) and Mr. Haring, we beat Whitgift School with a resounding score of 49-24.

Well done to the team.

Habs bridge team strikes again

Proving that lightning strikes more than twice, our Bridge A team recently won the School Cup for the third year in a row.

Our 12th win in five years, this year’s national champions were made up of Rufus (U6M1), Marco (U6J1), Nikhil (L6H1) and Rafi (L6J2). With four teams appearing in the contest, the qualifier saw our A team make the semi-finals in second place. Meanwhile, our B team finished joint 4th, unlucky to miss out on a split tie.

A breathless finale

In the semi-finals, our A team met St Paul’s School, who had beaten them in the Surrey Schools Cup. Yet the boys were to have their revenge, winning by 16 to reach the final. The final itself was a re-match of last year’s against Loughborough Grammar School, which was won on extra boards after the tie finished in a draw.

This year, Habs fell nine and then ten behind, before levelling the contest. They then went ten ahead, only to be pegged back to level once more.

With just one board to go and the prospect of extra boards looming again, our champions made an extra trick on the last board to win by a single point.

Well done to all who competed.

Events

Students celebrate their passions

Our prefects were extremely excited to host the Co-Curricular Celebration.

There were nearly 40 clubs from across the school involved, each running their own stall.

From Code-Breaking Club to the Lord of the Rings Society, it was a great event where students could explore a new passion, while picking up a few rewards along the way.

Students celebrated at Extended Research event

We welcomed Parents, Governors and External Examiners, along with our Sixth Form to the Habs Diploma Extended Research Project celebration.

The Extended Research Project aims to give all students across Habs Boys and Habs Girls the chance to explore their own interests and passions in an academic format.

The 15 best projects

Extended Research Projects are completed in the Lower Sixth, with the top projects marked by external experts in their chosen field.

The event celebrated the 15 best projects in the faculties of STEM, Humanities and Social Sciences and Creatives. During the ceremony, the winners of each faculty presented their fascinating pieces.

Creatives presented The Artist Parable. STEM students asked ‘Is carbon mineralisation the key to tackling climate change?’ Humanities and Social Sciences, meanwhile, shared their project, ‘Reflections on a wine-dark sea; investigating ancient colour perception.’

Upper Sixth inspire Lower Sixth

The event was a wonderful celebration of our Upper Sixth students, giving them a chance to reflect on the skills the Habs Diploma has given them. It also serves as a rallying call to their Lower Sixth counterparts to embrace the opportunity, one that will see them delve beyond the constraints of their A Level courses and pursue research in their chosen field.

We look forward to June and to seeing what fascinating research Lower Sixth will produce.

Students and speakers wow TEDx audience

TEDx@HabsElstree Youth 2024 marked a triumphant milestone in the event’s fledgling history.

Now in its third year, the standard of speakers and production value reached unprecedented heights. It is all thanks to our student-led committees and their dedication to inspiring the Habs community.

Three years ago, we held the event in a dimly-lit Seldon Hall. This time around, our guest speakers stood under the bright lights of the Bourne stage. With no fewer than 17 speakers making an appearance, the topics covered were as diverse as they were fascinating.

Transcending boundaries

From the moment the curtain lifted, attendees were immersed in a captivating journey of inspiration, innovation and introspection. Each speaker brought a unique perspective and story to the stage, leaving an indelible mark on the audience.

Transcending traditional boundaries and igniting meaningful conversations, subjects included everything from technology and entrepreneurship to art and social activism.

Sparking change, fostering connections

In true TEDx style, our speakers exemplified the power of ideas to spark change, foster connections and ‘Shift Perspectives’.

As the curtain closed on the event, our audience left feeling inspired and empowered. The event served as a testament to what happens when such remarkable speakers, driven individuals and curious listeners come together with a shared vision.

Our roster of speakers:

1. David Gauke - Former Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor

2. Dean Canham OBE - Head of the Centre for Army Leadership at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

3. Ji Hyun Park - North Korean human rights activist and defector

4. Stephen Gillen - Ex-convict turned international entrepreneur and peace advocate

5. Ms Bowie - Teacher of English at Habs Girls School

6. Viren Dulabh - HSBC Degree Apprentice, OH 2022

7. Dr Ooi - Teacher of Biology at Habs Girls School

8. Christopher Ovia - Head of Computer Science at Habs Boys School

9. Ian Phillips - Former Head of Computer Science at Habs Boys School and tech education advocate worldwide

10. Nabil Freeman - Serial entrepreneur, tech expert, AI and technology visionary

11. Lissele Pratt - Fintech entrepreneur, co-founder of Capitalixe and Forbes 30 Under 30

12. Jimmy McLoughlin OBE - Host of Jimmy’s Jobs Podcast and Former Business Advisor to Former British PM Rt Hon Theresa May MP

13. Dr Roger KneeboneProfessor of Surgical Education and Engagement Science, Imperial College London

Students take centre-stage

Addinged to our superb list of visiting speakers, TEDx@HabsElstree Youth 2024 featured brilliant talks from our very own students, Faraz (U6R2), Aaryan (U6S1), Aryan (U6R2) and Asher (U6R1).

This was fitting for an entirely student-led event, apt testament to their hard work and dedication. Thank you to the whole committee who put the event together, whether speaking, leading, organising or simply being present.

The TEDx@HabsElstree Youth 2024 team:

Suren (U6H2), Faraz (U6R2), Aaryan (U6S1), Aryan (U6R2), Oliver (L6M2), Aniruddh (U6S2), Manav (U6S2), Rishi (U6R2), Josh (10H1), William (10J1), Dylan (U6S1), Suleman (U6R1), Isaac (11S1), Aparna (U6 TD), Asha (U6 CLH), Eddie (L6M2), Asher (U6R1), Zakariya (L6M2), Devarshi (L6J2), Rajarshi (L6J2), Dawei (L6C1) and our very own Mr Ovia.

Students compete in Dragons’ Den Grand Final

Habs Boys and Habs Girls hosted the Habs Dragons’ Den Grand Final.

Taking place during an extended morning assembly, the event was attended by a glittering array of special guests. With TV and radio presenter, Sonali Shah acting as host, our panel of Dragons featured Lord Alan Sugar’s adviser, Tim Campbell MBE, along with 2022’s The Apprentice winner, Harpreet Kaur, and Khilan Dodhia from competition sponsors, Encore Capital.

In a thrilling finale, five student teams took turns to present. After a hotly contested round of pitches, it was VitalGuard Innovations who came out on top. In a unanimous verdict, each Dragon on the panel chose VitalGuard Innovations as their winners, stating they would love to see a working prototype of the concept.

The winning team featured Ishana, Amaya and Hiira, all from M5 Alpha.

The four other teams in the den were:

• Nanohealers: Rian (10C1), Vivaan (10C2), Moksh (10H1) and Keshav (10C1)

• UniPloy: Vivaan (10M2) and Aaarav (10H2)

• Vertigrow: Amar (11R2). Ishan (11H2), Rian (11M1) and Laksh (11M1)

• TheWaitingRoom: Amayah (M5 Ansuz), Yanxl (M5 A) and Jessie (M5 Aesc)

The road to the den

Before the Grand Final could take place, a large and excellent field of teams had to be whittled down, meaning the competition was just as fierce in the semi-finals.

All boys and girls across Years 10 and 11 delivered outstanding pitches, responding impressively to some very challenging questions. It was an agonising choice for the judges. Contestants had to answer detailed questions from our judges about their business plans. With 43 students pitching over a two-week period leading up to the semi-finals, it was an incredibly popular event and quite the achievement to make it to the final.

The heats were on

Even before the semi-finals, earlier heats saw students across both schools pouring the effort in to ready their pitches. Having undergone pitching preparation workshops with experienced entrepreneurs earlier this term, the teams delivered highly polished three-minute pitches to our panel of external judges.

In the process, they received valuable feedback on all aspects of their business ideas. With three heats in total during February, it is little wonder our finalists stood up so well to the scrutiny of our visiting Dragons.

We are extremely grateful to Laura Rudoe and Emma Harvey for delivering the pitching workshops, not to mention Khilan Dodhia, Rajesh Shah and Gemma Lyons for their time, support and invaluable feedback during the contest.

More amazing teams

Finally, thank you to all our Dragons and everyone who took part, not least the other teams who competed so brilliantly.

The other contestants were:

Habs Boys:

• Air Reformers: Joshua (10R1), Kian (10H1)

• Aztech Solutions: Shiv (11M2), Mike (11C1), Jamie (11J1)

• EcoPrint: Hari (10C2), Shay (10C2), Richard (10R1), Lucas (10C2)

• SecondLife Threads: Ben (11M2), Sahil (11C2), Jeet (11R2)

• Kai and Dan: Kai (11M2), Dan (11S2)

Habs Girls:

• DR. M: Mia (M5 Aesc), Diya (M5 Alpha), River (M5A)

• AbleChefs: Ameila, Karis and Jesse (all M5 Alpha)

• Why Waste It?: Sajini (U5 Aib), Larissa (U5 Aesc), Kheya (U5 Ansuz)

Joint team:

• SpikeStop: Eva (U5 Alpha), Deveshu (11H2), Nathan (11R2)

HabsMUN welcomes neighbouring schools

Recently, we hosted the HabsMUN conference, the first joint conference hosted by both Habs Boys and Habs Girls. Welcoming nearly 200 visitors to our joint campus, they travelled from the other side of London and rural Northamptonshire.

HabsMUN is an abbreviation of Habs Model United Nations. The event develops ambition through its global outreach, curiosity through addressing global perspectives and finding solutions to pressing problems, courage in developing public speaking and leadership skills plus a sense of local and worldwide community through widening participation in our conference and its ideals.

There were 11 schools and events in venues across the entire campus. This huge logistical exercise was overseen by our (Joint Organising Committee) led by SecretariesGeneral from each school, Aparna (U6 TD) and Manav (U6S2), alongside a joint Secretariat of volunteer students, ably led by Asha (U6 CLH) and Suren (U6H2).

Students in session

Delegates spent Friday lobbying for their draft resolutions, Saturday preparing their chosen resolutions for Security Council and Sunday modelling the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Resolutions passed by General Assembly included addressing the peace and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the historic injustice of the treatment of the Chagos islanders and the widening permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Equality and sustainability

For the first time ever, committees included the Commission on the Status of Women and a Committee for Environmental Protection.

Meanwhile, Equity, Empowerment and Inclusion were the conference themes, reflected both in debate and the equitable management of the conference itself, with staff Conference Directors from both schools: Miss King and Mr Pedroz.

As Huriyyah (L6 DXF) commented, “I attended my first HabsMUN conference in 2019 as a Year 7 student: this experience ignited a passion for international affairs. Fastforward to 2024, I find myself not a delegate navigating the complexities of committee sessions, but rather the Head Chair of the Security Council, presiding over debates and guiding discussions on pressing global issues. The journey from delegate to Chair has been one of growth, learning, and transformation.”

Of course, our students had a lot of fun during the conference too. We hope to see even more schools and students involved in HabsMUN 2025.

Music, Art and Drama

Piano Day strikes a chord

Piano Day is our way of celebrating the best pianists from across Habs Boys and Girls community. With events happening throughout the day, it was a chance for everyone to get involved.

At lunchtime, over 150 students performed alongside staff on pop-up stages across both schools. Performances were not limited to the piano; in the spirit of ‘open mic’, anyone who plays an instrument was welcome to take the stage. With musicians of all ages and abilities taking part, it was a lunchtime like no other.

A class apart

After school, students enjoyed a special class with our visiting pianist, Simon Watterton. During the session, Mr Watterton played piano compositions written by students and gave expert feedback in the process.

Needless to say, it was a rare opportunity for the young composers to hear their music performed by a professional musician, one that is sure to inspire and guide their music going forward.

A recital to remember

Rounding off Piano Day, the evening brought a special recital in the Old Refectory, which had been transformed by Rob Hammond into a beautiful performance space.

The recital featured our finest pianists from across both schools. With the standard of music being incredible, it was a memorable evening for all who attended.

Joint Chamber Music Concert

A special concert in the music school calendar: our oint Chamber Music Concert at London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) St Luke’s.

In the last few years, chamber music has been one of the most exciting areas of development at Habs. In fact, our string quartets and wind groups are phenomenal and not to be missed.

East meets West

The full repertoire for the evening included works by Mendelssohn and Schubert. We also showcased our tabla ensemble, which performed in collaboration with our jazz and Western classical musicians. The evening closed with our choir singing in Hindi, accompanied by all the musicians who performed on the night.

Habs musicians inspired by BBC orchestra

Our Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra were inspired by a wonderful concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Part of a programme called Streets of America, the performance was given by the outstanding BBC Concert Orchestra.

An American classic Conductor Kwamé Ryan opened by leading two American cityscape compositions, including West Side Story, as thrilling today as in 1957, with a tragedy at its heart as raw and real as ever.

A particular highlight from the musical was Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances, a piece that formed part of our Orchestral Concert at St John’s Smith Square. Students were in awe of the musicianship on display, a high bar for us to strive for.

A British twist

Also in the programme was the UK premiere of a moving work about homelessness in America. Written by composer Gabriel Kahane, it featured a libretto using lyrics from the form people fill in to access a shelter.

The message was a powerful one relevant to our times.

Yet the most poignant moment of the evening saw the orchestra joined by The Choir With No Name, a group formed of people who have experienced, or are experiencing homelessness.

With the concert due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3, we look forward to listening back and reflecting on a thought-provoking evening of music, one the students are sure never to forget.

10 out of 10 in Musicians’ Finals

Bringing ten students together from ten different Habs schools across England and Wales, our oint Musicians’ Finals were the perfect platform for showcasing talent.

The evening event saw students play to an incredible standard, all while mixing socially and enjoying each others’ performances.

While we did not win on the night, our talented young musicians certainly did themselves proud. Representing Habs Boys was Aarav (10H2), with Sedona (M5 Aesc) appearing on behalf of Habs Girls.

Ten schools, one winner

The ten Habs schools represented were Habs Boys, Habs Girls, Monmouth School, Academies Trust South, Hatcham College, Knights Academy, Borough Academy, Abraham Darby and Adams. Last but not least, were the final’s ultimate winners, Crayford Academy.

Congratulations to all students for making it to the finals and creating an unforgettable evening of music.

Orchestral Concert hits high notes

It was a joy to return to St ohn’s Smith Square for our Orchestral Concert – the perfect way to finish a fantastic term of music.

Featuring on stage were the String Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Orchestra and our Boys’ School Choir, with the Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra headlining in the second half.

Reunited with maestro conductor, Bjorn Bantock, our Symphony Orchestra scaled new heights during the concert. Performing Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, the students showcased the scale of their ambition, but also the sense of playfulness and fun within our musical community.

Quite simply, the audience were blown away their memorable performance - an amazing feat for any young orchestra.

Drama students dream a little bigger

Following its success in the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Shaw Theatre, we marked the final performance of A Little Dream.

The show took place at 7.00pm in the Lime Tree Studio. It was a wonderfully creative reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Playing with the story, the text and drawing from pantomime traditions, A Little Dream was a gloriously inventive and funny show, featuring tents, torches, bobble hats and a bubble gun.

The production was a great example of how Shakespeare translates to the modern world when not bound by tradition. More importantly, it was a celebration of the transformative effect theatre and the creative process can have on young people.

Sport

Students fly out on ski adventure

No fewer than 47 students from Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 flew out to Alpe d’Huez in France.

Six days of mostly sunny conditions meant the students were out all day, every day, improving their skiing. In fact, no time was wasted, with lessons each day building their confidence and technique.

Kings of the slopes

With the standard of skiing across all groups highly impressive, the Most Improved Skier award went to Aryaveer (10R2).

In the advanced group, the Ski King award was handed to Alex (L6C1) by the instructor. Two further awards were presented at the end of the week. The Skier of the Tour was voted for by students and went to Reece (10R2), while a second Skier of the Tour voted for by staff went to Krish (11S1).

A great credit to Habs

Throughout the week, the students coped with the physical demands incredibly well, conducting themselves superbly.

Indeed, the hotel staff were delighted with the good manners and general behaviour of the group, with many students ranking it as one of the best school trips they had been on.

Needless to say, a big thank you to all Habs staff who made the adventure happen, namely Mr A Simm, Mr T Hardman, Mr G Hobbs, Miss K Barron and Miss C Willows.

Habs golfers into National Plate finals

Once again, our golfers put in a fantastic display against St Columbas to qualify for the Independent Schools Golf Association (ISGA) National Plate finals.

Some amazing golf was played by Rahul (U6M1), Rivaan (L6S1) and in particular Joe (10R1). He shot a spectacular 40 points to give us a ten-point victory overall. Finishing seven over par, it will be interesting to see how Joe’s score compares to Charlie Woods.

The professional golfer and son of Tiger Woods will be playing the same course in a few months’ time, as he attempts to qualify for this year’s Open Championship. The 2024 National Plate finals will be played on 2 July at Brampton Park Golf Club, so good luck to our talented young golfers.

National gold for Habs gymnasts

After regional success at the BSGA Floor and Vault as a combined Under 19s squad, our six gymnasts split into two teams of three to compete at the Milano Trio National Finals at Fenton Manor, Stoke-on-Trent.

On the Friday of the competition, there was an early start for our Under 16s team. The trio, comprising Jacob (10M2), Michael (8H1) and Ethan (7H) met at school at 4.45am, before a long journey north for the contest.

The boys performed superbly in the Vault, Individual Floor and Group Floor events. They cleanly executed with accuracy and athleticism, competing against seven other schools from around the country. Finishing in second place behind RGS Newcastle, it was an outstanding effort all-round.

A troubled start

Saturday morning brought an equally early start, with our Under 19s, Sudais (U6H1), Chris (U6C1) and Jobe (U6S2) getting their turn. Preparation for the day had been less than ideal. Chris had spent two days unwell, but dug deep for his teammates and showed up ready to compete.

As the students waited with the coach nowhere to be seen, the three students practised walk-throughs of their routine in the cold, dark Habs Girls' School car park.

Unfortunately, the coach company got the pick-up time wrong and stated they would not be coming. So after getting permission from all parents, the three students jumped into Mr Kerry’s car and set off up the M1.

Events conspired again when the team arrived in Stoke, only to find that five minutes before their first rotation, the organisers had the wrong group music. After a little grovelling to the organisers, Mr Kerry’s iPad was hooked up to the sound system and the boys were ready for their latest attempt at Trio Nationals.

A stunning finish

The morning’s travails would have derailed most teams’ performance, but our three Under 19s showed tremendous grit and resilience. They excelled in the group trio, with the other schools also well drilled. Regardless, a series of clean floor routines, excellent vaults and practice in the Habs car park paid off handsomely, with the boys winning gold and returning home as 2024 Milano Trio National Champions.

The Habs Gym Club has been held together by Chris, Sudais and Jobe for seven years. They have been at every event since Year 7, a true credit to their families and the school. From coming last in their first attempt, to winning bronze, silver and now gold, they epitomise the notion of never giving up. Continuing to ‘fail better’, they have worked hard, developed their skills, attempted more advanced moves, refined their choreography and thoroughly deserve to be crowned national champions.

Congratulations to all our young gymnasts.

Habs host Rugby 7s Festival

Great news from the Habs Rugby 7s festival. All our age groups performed superbly during the week-long competition, not least our Under 18s.

After making it all the way to the final in the Hertfordshire County 7s tournament, they only enhanced their growing reputation. Playing an attractive brand of rugby, they were edged out by Haileybury School in the decider. Yet both teams were also in action at our own rugby festival, with Habs finishing top of a strong group.

Winning their round two match, our Under 18s took on Wellington College in the deciding game. It was always going to be tough and Habs sadly lost to the best team of the tournament. Still, it was a gallant effort in the week’s blue riband event.

Meanwhile, our Habs 2nd VII Under 18s stepped onto the pitch with less than 24 hours’ notice, following London Oratory`s late withdrawal. While outgunned by strong opposition, the squad never threw in the towel and fought commendably throughout.

Under 14s rise to the challenge

In a test of character and skill, our Under 14s topped a tough group, beating Brighton College, Stowe School and St Albans School, before defeating the much-fancied Wellington College. Inspiring a buoyant crowd of Habs youngsters, the squad took on St Paul’s School in the final. Worn down by their more experienced opponents, they eventually succumbed, yet imposed themselves impressively on the game.

A festival of rugby

Thank you to Mr Taberner and Mr Hughes for helping to prepare the Under 14 squad. Thanks also to Mr Huntley for refereeing the lion’s share of the Under 18s matches and Mrs March for her superb administrative support. Mr Hughes also did a wonderful job in coaching both Under 18s teams.

While the Under 15s tournament was cancelled due to waterlogged pitches, it was inspiring to see our students competing against so many top schools.

Water Polo Championships come to Habs

Habs hosted the National Under 15s Water Polo Championships. As one of six teams competing to be national champions, we were hoping to go one better than our team did two years earlier, when winning silver medals in the Under 13s competition.

The contest began mid-morning once the teams had gathered at the Medburn Sports Centre. With a healthy number of spectators watching on, our students were placed in a group with Whitgift School, Croydon’s Trinity School and Manchester Grammar.

Off to a winning start

Strong results in these matches would mean qualifying top of the group and being seeded for the semi-final. This is exactly what we got, with Habs beating Whitgift School 6-0 and Manchester Grammar 6-3, allowing all 13 of our Under 15s to play their part. Confidence was understandably high, with Shrey (10M2) proving a formidable rock at the heart of defence and Rishi (10S1), a dominant force, scoring a raft of excellent goals.

Into the semi-finals

That left the boys facing Dulwich College in the semi-finals. After watching Croydon’s Trinity School squeeze past Manchester Grammar in the other match, our Under 15s hit their stride from the off. Scoring within ten seconds, it was an outstanding team effort finished by Theo (9H1), a strong centre forward in our Year 10 team. Dulwich College had impressed in the group stages, yet Habs raced into a 5-0 lead. The second half was a tighter affair, but ended with a convincing 8-3 win.

Time for a rematch

This set up a rematch against Croydon’s Trinity School, who had beaten our students in their Under 13s final two years earlier. With the balcony of the Medburn bursting with a passionate crowd, the two best teams battled in a tight affair. Both goals came under heavy pressure, yet open shots were few and far between.

Trinity School took the lead on the counterattack in the first half, but Habs responded with a goal scored from a seemingly impossible position. With the score tied going into the second half, Trinity School broke from their goalmouth to lead once again. Habs were playing brilliantly but were unable to find the net.

Finishing 2–1, it was silver medals for the second time. The boys were devastated, knowing they had been the strongest side in the contest. Yet after some rest and reflection, they are sure to be excited for the next tournament.

The crowd were amazing, while Mr Brkovic has done a superb job with the players, building a visible legacy with water polo players from Years 7 to 9 cheering in the stands. Thanks also to Mrs Hodis, who managed the tournament seamlessly from start to finish. The ESSA officials and visiting schools were delighted with the event.

Young footballers make regional squad

Five of our Year 8 students have been selected to represent the Hertfordshire and Essex ISFA Regional squad.

Schools were only asked to send three students to the football trials, yet given the strength of this year’s group at Habs and a recommendation from two ISFA regional coaches, a total of five Habs Boys made it through to the final selection.

The Hertfordshire and Essex ISFA Squad is historically the strongest, given the catchment area of professional football academies. Better still, there is no limit to the amount of academy players in any given squad.

The students chosen were Max (8H2), Isaac (8J2), Max (8M2), Zac (8H2) and Zach (8S1). Considering neither Max, Zac or Zach play for a professional academy, their inclusion is even more remarkable.

unior football in good shape

The Year 8 squad in full:

Leo (7H)

Our Year 8 boys - along with Leo (7H) playing up a year - got through to the semi-finals of the ISFA. Unfortunately, they lost to Aldenham School, despite their opponents conceding a penalty in the last minute of extra time.

An excellent game played in great spirit, it was one the boys felt they should have won. As a quality squad playing a good brand of football, our Year 8 team epitomises the ‘Habs Way’ we are busy developing. Our junior sides have done superbly this year, each beginning their football journeys with us. So much so, we have some of the biggest hitters in school football worried about our rapid progress, which can only be good for the future.

Charlie (8H2)

Zach (8S1)

Max (8H2)

Issac (8J2)

Zac (8H2)

Max (8M2) Captain

Anthony (8H1)

Artmigan (8C1)

Aiden (8C2)

Tireni (8M1)

Jason (8S1)

Freddie (8J2)

An outstanding year for U18 squash

For the first time ever, the Habs Boys U18 squash team won the National Plate School competition.

Beating Marlborough College and Leeds Grammar School to make it to the final. The students faced Harrow School for the finals, with the match finely poised at 2-2, Daniel, our number one seeded player, truly shone giving us a thrilling final victory! Congratulations to our new National Champions!

The newly formed U16 squad also qualified for National Finals and finished in 6th position. This is a huge achievement for the group, all of whom only started playing squash when they joined in Year 7. Well done to all involved!

Trips

Welcoming our Düsseldorf exchange partners

A group of 12 Lower Sixth students from Habs Boys and Habs Girls welcomed their Düsseldorf exchange partners. Being hosted by their counterparts for a full week, the German students enjoyed a wide range of work experience placements.

Lasting from Monday through to Thursday, placements included roles in law, management consulting, physiotherapy, hospitality, pharmacy, real estate, design and architecture.

We are incredibly grateful to all the employers who offered places in their companies, many of which were kindly arranged by Habs parents.

School, sightseeing and more

On the Friday, the visiting students joined us for a day at Habs, a very different experience compared to their own Mataré-Gymnasium school.

Taking part in a German lesson, they enjoyed a range of presentations delivered in their language by Habs students.

Themes ranged from social media influencers to cyber security and online bullying. Then on the Saturday, all students and teachers met in London for sightseeing and a meal, before bidding our German friends goodbye.

Our students are now looking forward to the Düsseldorf return leg in April. There, they will complete their own week of work experience and putting their German skills to good use. To quote our students, “Wir können es kaum erwarten,” translated as “we can’t wait.”

Habs historians explore Prague

Over the Half Term, a group of Year 10 and 11 students visited Prague.

Beginning at Wenceslaus Square, they explored a thousand years of Central European history. After Prague Castle, St Vitus’ Cathedral and the monastery at Strahov, the trip focused on the Second World War, including the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, an architect of the Final Solution.

Visiting the Orthodox church of St Cyril and St Methodius, the group then took in the memorial at Lidice, a village destroyed by Hitler as revenge for Heydrich’s assassination. The following day saw a trip to the Fortress at Terezin, where political prisoners were kept and Jews housed before many were transferred to Auschwitz.

Finally, the students visited the Czech national gallery, before seeing the city’s oldest synagogue, where the names of the 77, 279 Bohemian and Moravian victims of the Shoah covered the walls. The trip ended at Prague station, where Nicholas Winterton organised the ‘Kindertransport’, getting children out of Nazi-controlled territory before the Second World War.

A huge thank you to tour guide, Gabriel, a gifted historian and outstanding storyteller. Thank you also to Miss Noble and Mr Gauntlett, not least for tracking down luggage and mobile phones.

Students get stuck in outdoors

Our Year 8 students experienced the second of their Field Day activities.

While Russells and Strouts tackled a day of survival skills in Willington, Calverts and Meadows kayaked along the River Great Ouse while Hendersons and Joblings got stuck in at Kempston Outdoor Centre.

The day at Kempston included climbing, abseiling, rope-climbing, crate-stacking, tug-of-war and a blindfolded Nightline activity. While the Leap of Faith and outdoor climbing wall proved challenging, all the students showed huge bravery, with the camaraderie of the students impressing their course leaders.

Our values – Ambition, Curiosity, Courage, and Community – were at the heart of the day. As Anthony (8H1) remarked, “I was able to try something that I would never usually do. I managed to do climbing and I found it extremely exciting.” Taha (8H1) was equally positive: “Field Day was a calming yet active day. We went through a range of activities such as bouldering, rock climbing and a milk crate challenge – all of which were fun and engaging.”

Thank you to the outdoor leaders at Kempston and to all our staff, including Mr Simm, Mrs Adams and Mr Dunlop for organising the events.

Students watch democracy in action

As part of their A Level Politics studies, 17 Lower Sixth students from both Habs Boys and Habs Girls took a trip to the Palace of Westminster.

The visit began with a tour of the Houses of Parliament, including the House of Lords and House of Commons chambers. The students then took part in a lively workshop on Debating and Laws, led by staff from the Parliamentary Education Unit. The workshop involved a quiz on parliamentary procedure and how laws are made, not to mention a lively mock debate on whether the UK’s laws on assisted dying should be changed.

Parliament in session

Next, the group sat in the public gallery to watch an hour of the House of Commons in session. With issues ranging from Justice Questions, mental health provision in schools and an opposition debate on NHS dentistry, the students heard from many well-known Members of Parliament.

Lord Cameron gives evidence

In the afternoon, the group walked over to Portcullis House to watch Lord David Cameron give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. During the session, the former Prime Minister and current Foreign Secretary spoke on a range of pressing global issues.

All in all, it was a fascinating trip, so a big thank you to the Parliamentary Estate staff for giving our students a courtside view of UK democracy in action.

Students speak at European Youth Parliament

Following the European Youth Parliament National Session in Liverpool, a group of Habs students represented the UK in Denmark.

Staying in Vejle, the delegation included Aniruddh (U6S2), Aryan (U6R2), Dylan (U6S1) and Mimi (U6 CW).

With 50 other delegates from 14 different countries attending, the students enjoyed a day of team-building, a further day of committee work and another debating resolutions in the General Assembly.

The session’s theme centred around building a sustainable future for Europe’s citizens. Debates included children’s mental health in post-pandemic Europe, self-driving vehicles, a secure and sustainable energy supply, human trafficking, human rights for same-sex couples and ‘ deep fake’ AI.

Embracing the event and making lots of new friends, our delegates were praised for their public speaking. After Aniruddh’s speech to the General Assembly on human rights for same-sex couples, the Vice President of the session from Spain remarked, “I have been doing the European Youth Parliament for seven years and that is the best speech I have ever heard.”

Next, four other delegates who won awards in Liverpool will speak at April’s National Session in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Good luck to all those attending.

Spanish play wows Sixth Form

Year 13 students from Habs Boys and Habs Girls embarked on a trip to see Lorca’s famous play, La casa de Bernarda Alba.

The group was made up of 11 Spanish students from both schools, all seeing the production together at the Cervantes Theatre near Southwark.

Enjoyment meets education

The actress playing Bernarda was particularly convincing and menacing, keeping the students on the edge of their seats. A tense and tragic tale, our students had no problem following the play’s poetic language.

The timing of the visit was excellent too, with students set to write about the play in their forthcoming A Level exams.

Thank you to our Spanish assistant, Mrs Lecanda-Meschede, who accompanied the group. La casa de Bernarda Alba proved enjoyable and educational in equal measure.

Royal Navy cadet expedition

Every two years, the Royal Navy Section of the Habs Combined Cadet Force (CCF) embarks on an expedition in the Bedfordshire countryside. It brings together the entire section of the CCF.

For the first time, the Section included cadets and staff from both Habs Boys and Habs Girls. Following five weeks of training in kit management, navigation, tent pitching and cooking, our cadets were dropped off in the area surrounding Ampthill after school. A thrilling experience

Once on site, the cadets set up their tents and cooked their dinner. After a chilly and chatty night, the students awoke on Friday morning, bleary-eyed, but ready to cook breakfast and prepare for a day of activities led by our Year 12 cadets.

While it is easy for staff to declare an event a success, it is often more interesting to hear from those taking part. Across all ages and activities, the feedback from cadets in both schools was highly positive.

Here are just two cadets’ thoughts on the expedition:

“The Ampthill experience is simply amazing, although I was a little nervous before the trip, making sure I had packed all the right kit and we had not forgotten anything. As soon as we got into our groups and started our walk, I knew I was going to love every second of it. I got to meet loads of new people who I usually would not interact with and although it was a challenging experience for me (considering I completely hate anything to do with camping), I really did have the best time. Attempting to make Wayfarer Meals, doing the Personal Leadership Tasks (PLTs) that the Year 12s organised and singing ‘Jerusalem’ as we walked up the hill, it was just amazing and I can not wait to do it again.” Josh (10H1)

“The Ampthill Field Day Expedition is easily the most anticipated trip of the Royal Navy Section and has never failed to be an unforgettable experience. From the perspective of WO1 (senior cadet), I could not ask for a better send off than Ampthill, a sentiment which I am sure is echoed by the entirety of the Year 13 cadets who have devoted countless hours of their free time to the Section, despite their imminent exams.

There is an unmatched sense of camaraderie that exudes from camping, cooking and sharing meals and laughter together. It truly exemplifies everything it means to be part of the collective that is the Royal Navy Section of the CCF and creates memories that will undoubtedly stick around for a lifetime. I would like to extend my gratitude to the staff, who worked tirelessly to organise the trip; it could not have gone as impeccably as it did without their planning and expertise.” Stefanos (U6S1), Warrant Officer 1 – lead cadet in the Royal Navy Section.

Thank you to LtCdr Hardman, SLt Willows, Miss Harrison, Mr Harper, Mr Yarlett, Mrs Makepeace-Welsh, Dr Chapman and Mr Teague for braving the cold. Further thanks must go to Mr Dunlop, Mr Sandercock, Mrs Adams and Squ Ldr Pearson for their help in preparing for the trip.

Prep news

Sebby’s Corner fundraiser

The Prep School raised money for Sebby's Corner, as part of their St David's Day celebrations.

Together, we raised an amazing total of £865, not to mention a table full of wonderful donations.

Sebby's Corner helps to support families in North London, who are struggling with essential items such as clothes, nappies and toiletries.

Their visit included an assembly, explaining where the donations they receive go to. It was an assembly that resonated strongly with the boys.

During lunch, the students then took part in some volunteering by putting together clothing packs. All in all, a very worthy cause and an excellent experience for our students.

Year 3 pupils learn fire and road safety

Our pupils recently spent a morning visiting Hazard Alley Safety Centre in Milton Keynes.

There, they experienced a range of scenarios to help them better understand their personal safety.

Learning about fire safety and road safety using real traffic lights, the morning even included a fire evacuation drill from a realistic house.

Every student had further practice making a mock 999 call, either from a phone box or on a large mobile phone.

Each year, Hazard Alley is a vital addition to our curriculum, giving every young Habs pupil the real-life skills and experiences we simply cannot replicate in the classroom.

Year 2 St Paul’s Cathedral trip

Our Year 2 students set out to explore St Paul’s Cathedral.

Once there, they further expanded on their knowledge of the Great Fire of London.

Able to see the cathedral after its rebuild by Sir Christopher Wren, they marvelled at the stunning architectural design. The students also re-enacted some of the horrors of the fire, which broke out across the city in September, 1666.

A magical day of drama

Conjuring the spirit and adventure of the jungle, students from Years 3 and 4 in Habs Boys and Habs Girls joined together for a day full of theatrical enchantment.

The day began with collaborative drama workshops, delving into the characters from The Lion King. The discussions around the story were extremely thought-provoking. Topics explored included Simba’s pivotal decision to run away after Mufasa’s death and how the character’s perspective changes throughout, adding depth to the students’ understanding of the story.

The excitement only heightened after lunch when the students boarded a coach to the West End. There, they watched a live production of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre.

The students could be heard gasping in awe, captivated by the intricate costumes, mesmerising staging, sophisticated lighting and exceptional musical performances. It was a magical experience for all, rounding off an unforgettable day of drama.

Boys travel back to ancient Egypt

Our Year 2 students recently took part in an action-packed Ancient Egypt day.

The boys looked fantastic in their costumes, as they were transported back in time to experience life as ancient Egyptians. This saw their History topic brought to life in a fun and inspirational day of learning for all.

A special Mother’s Day concert

Our Year 1 boys put on a very special concert this Mother’s Day.

They serenaded their mums with songs and entertained them with sentimental poems. Following the concert, the mothers in attendance were then treated to class-made gifts, along with afternoon tea in the sunshine.

Speaking our community’s language

As part of our International Languages Celebration week, one day in particular stood out. International Mother Language Day shared the diverse range of languages and cultures that make up our community.

The day involved the use of symbols in pictograms, bringing the classic Latin language to life to sharing cultural insights from our Chinese New Year celebrations. Linking it to various other languages, we also used music to help practice greetings in Yoruba and Swahili.

20 languages in 40 sessions

There were so many valuable learning opportunities across the week, for students, teachers and parents alike.

In total, we saw 40 language learning opportunities run by incredible parents and grandparents across our Pre-Prep and Prep classes. This amounted to a staggering 20 different languages, with some of our boys sharing languages with their classmates.

World Book Day adventures

This year’s World Book Day was a thrilling success. Children’s author, osh Lacey, began the day with a series of workshops for our Pre-Prep Pupils.

He explained where he discovered dragons in London and how to write a whole book in emails.

Josh was then followed by fellow children’s author, Abi Elphinstone, who dazzled the entire Prep school with tales of her adventures in Mongolia and the Arctic, explaining how stories begin by getting outside, being curious and asking, ‘What if…’

Habs community Giving Day raises £247,000

We celebrated our third annual Habs Giving Day.

Over the space of 36 hours, some 1,732 parents, students, staff and Old Haberdashers showed their support, taking part in the Habs MiniDash and GivingDash.

Thanks to their amazing contribution, Habs Giving Day 2024 was a huge success. It was a true joy to see parents and students getting into the spirit of things, running in their assorted ‘silly hats and headgear’.

Gift Day keeps on giving Cheques and online donations are still trickling in, with a total of 609 donors having made a gift in support of the day. Better still, 224 donors felt inspired to make their first ever gift to Habs.

Together, we have collectively raised nearly £247,000 for the Bursary Fund, Habs Community Partnerships and other important initiatives. If you have not already seen the Habs Community Partnerships video, please take a few minutes to watch it. The video is one of three on the Giving Day website’s carousel. You can watch it here:

www.habs.givingday.co.uk

Clearly the spirit of philanthropy and community that founded our schools is still alive and well. Thank you for supporting Habs Giving Day 2024.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

At Habs, our neurological differences are recognised and respected in the same way as all other human variations. This was shown in our Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which brought our whole community together.

Depending how our brains are wired, we may think, move, process information and communicate differently, with ‘neurodiversity’ the umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles.

Many of the ‘challenges’ neurodivergent people face come from the environment and systems they are placed in, which are often designed by the majority population. Assisted Technology is therefore an important tool in helping neurodivergent students overcome challenges and perform tasks more easily.

Celebrating individuality

Working together, our Art and Music departments created dual perceptions from a single stimuli, emulating the experience of synaesthesia. Students also took part in fidget toy workshops and Neurobites gingerbread decorating. Further highlights included Neurodash, a visual stream of vibrant neon runners, The Umbrella Project installation, umbrella cookies, guest speakers, a sensory self-regulation room and a roaming library installation.

Habs Boys and Habs Girls jointly hosted a coffee morning featuring Dr. Thevan, a consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders. Parents had the opportunity to connect with others in the Habs community and ask questions about ADHD.

Afrobeats gets Habs moving

We held a very special event celebrating African culture. Our Afrobeats event was a night filled with rhythm, laughter and pure joy.

All who attended agreed it was a brilliant occasion and incredible fun. A huge thank you to everyone who joined in and helped us celebrate the vibrant spirit of African culture. We are sure many are hoping for another Afrobeats evening.

Students eat together for Ramadan

During Ramadan, it is common to have one meal, known as ‘the suhoor’, just before dawn and another, ‘the iftar’, immediately after sunset.

Ramadan is when Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. Fasting lets them devote themselves to their faith. It is thought to teach self-discipline, while reminding them of the suffering of the poor.

During this year’s Ramadan, Habs students enjoyed eating an iftar meal together. With students from both schools attending, they represented a variety of faiths and backgrounds.

Students celebrate Purim

Habs Boys and Habs Girls played host to a joint Purim Party for both Habs schools. Around 150 students turned up in fun and creative costumes.

With music and dancing to celebrate the festival, they feasted on pizza and hamantaschen. Alongside the food, there were games linked to Purim, with prizes for the winners.

There were further awards to be had for best costume, including staff entries too. It was a close contest, with a horse and rider, Pikachu and Iron Man among the many impressive efforts.

Habs Visiting Speaker Programme

The Visiting Speaker Programme (VSP) is an exciting and enriching part of the Habs Diploma programme.

Its aim is twofold: to broaden students’ horizons and encourage critical thinking and to engage students by empowering them to think and ask questions about important developments and issues in academia, business, charity, government and society today. The VSP takes place across both schools on a fortnightly basis. The students choose between a number of speakers each session. Speakers are from a multitude of backgrounds and are sourced by students, societal leads and heads of department.

People make partnerships

What do we want a Habs student to be? Smart, thoughtful and courteous: that is a given. But what makes them really special – capable, indeed, of having a profound impact in the world? The answer lies in the work they do beyond the classroom - and even beyond the school gates.

This term has been no exception. Every day, we create extraordinary learning opportunities for both the children in our wider community and our students. Partnerships in full flow is a truly magical thing. Students from different worlds are forming genuine, lasting and trusting relationships over weeks and months; thrilled to see each other and build on their learning every single week.

This year, our work with our seven local partner schools includes:

61,000 hours per week of co-curricular and academic sessions

56

Habs staff involved every week

321 hours in total spent working in partnership

Habs students involved every week

1,400

48 Partner school students involved every week

Charity

£11,000 raised in £1 Challenge

Habs Boys recently put in a fantastic shift to raise £11,000 as part of our £1 Challenge event.

For starters, Aarish (8S2) took to the stage to talk about his Baa, his grandma. Now 90, she had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In honour of Baa’s age at the time of diagnosis, Aarish cycled 89 miles, raising over £1,700 for Alzheimer’s Research. Aarish had clearly spent hours rehearsing his assembly, delivering his slides and speech without reference to his notes.

Fundraising for Third Hope

Having set a £10,000 target for Third Hope, the Lower School promptly smashed it, having raised £11,217 at the time of writing.

Says Rose-Mary who runs Third Hope, “We heard the sound of drum beats this morning! A wonderful heartbeat of love and hope for ex-child soldiers! Just last week the project was celebrating Red Hand Day (International Child Soldier Day) where ex-child soldiers shared heartfelt stories of how their lives have been changed through the support and care they have been given. We hope to compile some of those stories and share with the boys, to show them the effect that their fundraising is having.”

Rose-Mary went on to thank our Lower School students for the energy and compassion they have shown for this worthy cause. Also raising funds were Atharva (7J) through his ‘cake and savoury’ sale both he and his family hosted on their driveway.

Even more fundraising feats

Business was also brisk at the Krispy Kreme sale, arranged by Hursh (7J), Mrs Haria and Ben (L6J2), one of our Year 7 Mentors. Meanwhile, Theo (7H) raised over £600 for Third Hope, before detailing his fundraising challenges: “I have just finished raking leaves and trimming a hedge for one of our neighbours and thought you might be interested in the jobs I have done so far to earn money for the £1 challenge.” Theo’s many jobs included sweeping a patio and driveway, clearing a vegetable patch, installing solar garden lights, taking down Christmas decorations and cards, listing unwanted shoes and shelves online, dismantling shelves, washing a car, reading translations of Welsh Celtic poetry for a work of fiction set in the Middle Ages and planting hyacinths into pots.

Kayan (8H1) and Nimay (8S2) did a great job too, baking chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes, raising a total of £175.

Meanwhile, Frankie (7J) ran 5km in under 30 minutes and raised a staggering £2,500.

As we look towards the Summer Term, our Ironman charity event beckons, with proceeds to be donated to Papyrus. So bring on Ironman 2024.

Mencap’s Got Talent 2024

With 700 tickets sold, 660 doughnuts consumed and five incredible acts having taken to the stage, Mencap’s Got Talent 2024 was a remarkable event.

Bringing together all our year groups across both schools, our students enjoyed a string of superb performances.

Our four judges, Ms Childs, Mr Foster, Mr Broadwith and Mr Dunlop, gave the acts their valuable feedback, offering both compliments and some (arguably justified) criticisms. Taking the constructive feedback in good spirit, all the acts, from bands to Bollywood dancers, performed remarkably. It was immensely entertaining too, while giving our students in the audience a well-deserved break following a busy term.

First prize in the contest went to Jessica (U4 A) and Layla (U4 A) The duo from Year 8, sang Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid.

Winning over the judges and audience alike, the pair captured everyone’s hearts with their perfect harmonies and enchanting demeanour.

A huge difference made

While this year’s show may be over, its impact will endure long in the memory. The money raised from the sale of tickets and doughnuts will go towards organising the Habs Mencap Funday in summer, which works in partnership with the Mencap Charity to provide a much-anticipated day for children with learning disabilities. It also acts as a day off for their parents and guardians, as each child is paired with a Habs student volunteer, allowing hard-working parents to sit back and enjoy a rest.

A massive thank you to everyone who supported the event – you made a huge difference. We look forward to seeing you once again, both at the Funday this coming June and next March for another Mencap’s Got Talent.

Netball game raises £1,300 for Mencap

Organised by the oint Mencap Committee, a highly entertaining fundraiser saw Habs Boys take on Habs Girls in an epic netball match.

It was an opportunity for Habs Boys to redeem themselves after a previous defeat by Habs Girls, with sell-out crowds watching on.

Hundreds and thousands

The match itself was held on the netball court at Habs Girls.

With over 200 student spectators and a further 200 students in the lecture theatre watching live on the big screen, excitement around the game was huge. So much so, the event smashed last year’s £700 total, raising an astonishing £1,300.

Dunking and doughnuts

In the lead up to the game, the Habs Boys first team football players underwent months of training in netball, getting them ready to face the Habs Girls first team.

Tickets were sold courtside, and while dunking might be illegal in netball, it was certainly allowed off the court, with Krispy Kreme doughnut stands feeding lots of hungry students.

Girls triumph again

Habs Boys put up a heroic fight, but it was Habs Girls who took the win. Retaining their title from last year, they recovered from losing the first quarter to triumph once again.

Whether on the court, in the stands or watching on the big screen, everyone enjoyed the event as they cheered the teams on. Plus, let us not forget the hilarious running commentary from Mrs Childs, bringing even more entertainment to proceedings.

Well done to both teams and thank you to everyone who supported the event. We look forward to another epic game next year.

Staff news Appointments

ustin Burke Grounds Person

Ian Harding Talent Acquisition Lead

Deborah Strazza Interim Head of People Operations and Employee Relations

Sonia Mashru People Partner

Katie Patman People Operations and Employee Relations Coordinator

Christine Scarborough Interim Payroll and Pensions Manager

Nisha Tailor Head of Maths Prep

Abbie Williams Teaching Assistant

Holly Youngs HR Advisor

Internal movers

Nicole Ashton Classroom Teacher and Year 3 and Year 4 Phase Leader to Classroom Teacher

Leavers

Samit Chauhan Lead AV and IT Technician

Nikki Danzig Payroll Manager

Carmel Du Parc Braham Archivist

Daisy Gershon Sports Administrator

Ailya Najam Fees Officer and Finance Assistant

Mike Rowland Projects Officer