Upper School Bulletin July 2025
Zachy (9S1)
Head of Upper School’s message
We are so proud of the progress, determination, kindness and achievements that our Upper School students have displayed this term.
Congratulations to our Year 11 students on completion of their GCSEs and we hope you will continue enjoying the break between now and results day in August. Years 9 – 10 have also shown their commitment and hard work through completion of end of year exams and it is the feedback and work following that which is key to continue making progress. Highlights in the Upper School include the Upper School play, Sports Day, Habs Fest and on a smaller scale, all the conversations and credits that have been awarded throughout the term.
We hosted a brilliant day for Year 10 students across both boys’ and girls’ schools who sampled a taster day of life in the Sixth Form at Habs with each student having a bespoke timetable for the day to experience a range of taster sessions and a carousel of activities.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored my endeavours running the Belfast Marathon in support of our school charity, Papyrus. I was delighted that we raised £2,413 for this incredible charity and am hugely appreciative to all the Upper School families who contributed – it was great motivation throughout a very hot day! Mrs Paula Peters in the Art department joined our last Upper School assembly to talk to students about the work that Papyrus does and listening to the work made all the fundraising efforts even more significant.
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and we look forward to welcoming you back to school in September.
With best wishes,
Mr Adam Lawrence Head of Upper School
£2,413 raised for Papyrus
Hair
Hairstyles are required to be moderate: hair should be its own natural colour, lie off the collar and be of an even cut; very short or long on top cuts are inappropriate; ‘business-like’ should be the guiding factor.
Facial hair
Students in Years 9 – 11 are not permitted to have facial hair, without the prior written permission of the Head of Section. If there are medical reasons for facial hair, please contact Mr Lawrence.
Absence requests
Except in the event of illness, no Student may be absent from School without permission previously obtained. Please follow the process below to make an absence request to the relevant person.
• ½ day absence – please email your son’s Form Tutor who may grant permission for half a day’s authorised absence, a late start or early departure for specific reasons (e.g. medical appointment).
• 1 full day absence - if the absence is longer than half a day, permission will be sought from the Head of Section.
• +1 day absence - if more than one day’s absence is required, parents should write to the Headmaster requesting permission.
School shoes
Please ensure that students attend school wearing plain black shoes with no splashes of colour.
Y10 Sixth Form Taster Day
Y10 Sixth Form Taster Day
On Friday 27th June, Year 10 students across both the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools enjoyed being Sixth Formers for the day. We were delighted to be able to run a joint event to provide an opportunity for students to experience what studying in the Sixth Form here at Habs would be like. Students were invited to immerse themselves in the engaging and scholarly lessons in chosen subjects with a bespoke timetable for the day. The two Heads of Sixth Forms and Year 12 students spoke about what the Sixth Form at Habs is like. In addition to taster lessons, during the day students had the opportunity to attend a carousel of events finding out more about the Habs Diploma, Careers and Futures and life in the Sixth Form.
Year 11 End of Year Celebrations
Year 11 End of Year Celebrations
We had a great day celebrating the end of year with Year 11 before they left for Study Leave ahead of their GCSE exams. A year group Breakfast, BBQ lunch, ice cream van and awards within house time all contributed to a very uplifting day as we celebrated the remarkable achievements over students’ three years in the Upper School.
Aske Tie Awards 2025
Congratulations to our Year 11 Aske Tie Award recipients who were nominated by their Heads of House and Form Tutors to receive an award based on the following criteria:
Contribution to the House, the School and to communities beyond the school gates.
Aske Tie Award recipients:
Calverts
Hari D
Lucas A
Shay P
Philip M
Arjan R
Jacob M
Arnav M
Felix B
Arya M
Josh H
Hugo P
Adam M
Anish A
Arav B
Joe C
Kian H
David L
Josh M
Francesco P
Luca P
Aarav R
Aarav S
Joe W
Rahul T
Holden C
Cormack H
Shakir M
Clement B
Kian B
Ravjoth B
Daniel R
Jacob S
Blake S
James W
Vivaan C
Marcus L
Rishi P
Shrey K
Zack M
Zac D
Joe K
Samit V
Rohan L
Kian R
Ravi K
Oli B
Rahil S
Chester W
Aryaveer V
Ishan S
Luke D
Oliver P
Noaz H
Dinil R
Rishi P
Murilo K
Khian C
Rohan S
Shayan G
Year 9 Keith Dawson Independent Research Project Celebration
Year 9 Keith Dawson Independent Research Project Celebration 2025
Year 8 and 9 had a special assembly on Friday 9 May where we celebrated the conclusion of the 2025 Keith Dawson Independent Research Project for 2025. This was a fantastic event where we were able to celebrate the academic curiosity of our Year 9 students as well as the completion of their ambitious research projects. All students in Year 9 were presented with certificates in form time and this was followed by an assembly where those who were awarded a distinction, or merit with aspect of distinction, were then given their certificates. We were also able to hear from Mr Dawson about the importance of research, and we heard from some of the winning students about the key skills learnt from undertaking their project. Shared in the next few pages are distinction winning titles as well as photographs from the ceremony. Congratulations to all students for completing high level research and writing.
Distinction Prize Winners
Reuben (9C) To what extent does the etymology of the word ‘apricot’ help to explain cultural diffusion across Europe?
Parth (9J) Leaves in my cake: a philosophical exploration of life's imperfections
Adi (9R) How does Mathematics shape Art and Music?
Onkaar (9R) How Has the Control of Natural Resources Shaped Global Power Dynamics?
Faizan (9H) How has Covid-19 pandemic affected our society?
Ethan (9M) How do musical elements influence the brain of a human?
Nathaniel (9J) How and to what extent has the Soviet Union affected post-Soviet states?
Yuxiong (9S) How will the US election of 2024 affect global and US trade and economics?
Otto (9J) Why Tiny Islands and the Melting Arctic Will Cause a Shift in Global Trade Power
Daniel (9C) How does your US state you live in affect your life expectancy?
Distinction and Special Mention
Aiden (9C) Will artificial intelligence transform our lives or has its impact been grossly exaggerated?
Markos (9S) Is Maths discovered or invented?
Benji (9R) How do advanced machine learning models process complex financial data to optimize trading strategies, and to what extent do they outperform or complement human cognitive abilities and emotional factors in financial trading?
Ishaan (9S) What made roman warfare superior to others?
Bashar (9S) What progress has been made in de-extinction and what is the most likely method to be successful?
Kanishk (9R) SMART MONEY: Programming currency and civilisation?
Certificates of Distinction
Orson (9R) The evolution of player safety in the NFL: implications for the future of the game and its impact on the culture of American football
Alfie (9M) How has media effected football and what could the future hold?
Zakir (9J) How has CGI affected the 21st-century film industry
Hebron (9M) What factors impact our mathematical ability and how can we improve this?
Francis (9J) Why is Padel one of the fastest-growing sports in the world?
Ethan (9S) Why does humanity have such a strong psychological bond with money?
Dhruv (9H) What are the impacts of carbon taxes compared to subsidies for renewable energy and what alternatives could be considered that address the concerns raised about carbon taxation?
Maks (9M) How do the creativity and skills of video game communities evolve over time?
Artmigan (9C) Is there any prejudice against aspiring professional footballers with South Asian background?
Saish (9R) How do different genres of music affect the brain while studying?
Community, PSHE and the Library
Student Health Guide Resource for Health and Wellbeing
As part of our health and wellbeing support, we have provided the Student Health Guide (SHG) to all our students in Year 9 to Year 13. This is a wellpresented, e-magazine format providing advice and initial signposting for a range of issues faced by young people as they grow through adolescence to young adulthood. We encourage our students to avoid the social media 'influencers' and other sources of misinformation about health and wellbeing. The SHG resource supports our Jigsaw PSHE lessons by extension of the curriculum to real-world reference. The QR code for the magazine can be used on mobile phones for ease of access. All students are encouraged to talk to our pastoral support teams and access advice which is verified and helpful.
Mr C R Bass Head of PSHE
ARE YOU BOOKED UP THIS SUMMER ?
ARE YOU BOOKED UP THIS SUMMER ?
U19 England Independent Schools Tennis Semi-finalists
Habs celebrated students competing in the Independent Schools Tennis Championships. Having won the U15 category last year, David G, Kaaviyan P, Kian H and Kai H faced the daunting prospect of stepping up to enter the U19 Youll Cup. The team put in a fantastic performance to exceed all expectations and reach the semi-finals!
The top 60 tennis teams from all over the country converged on Eton to compete in the 4-day annual event – the most prestigious national tournament in the school tennis calendar. KCS Wimbledon provided another tough test in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, proving too strong for Kian and Kai in the 2nd pair match. Facing an exit from the tournament David and Kaaviyan had to win to keep the tie alive. After some superb shot-making and real grit they came through 6-3, 6-3 to set up a oneset shoot-out to decide who would progress to the semi-finals. Kaaviyan and Kian teamed up and showed great composure while playing under immense pressure to seal a 6-3 scoreline. Although taking on one of the most successful tennis academies in the country, Ewell Castle, in the semi-finals proved to be a bridge too far this year, the team look forward to the challenge of trying to win the title over the next two years.
In the U15 category there was a notable performance by Xander R and Konstantinos M, who teamed up to reach the last 16. They recorded fine wins against KES Witley, Framlingham, Marlborough and The Leys to top their group before an agonising loss to Eltham College on a championship tie-break.
Hyde Park 5km
Well done to Aarish (9S2) for completing his 5km run at Hyde Park. Aarish beat his personal best, finishing in 29 minutes and 10 seconds! Aarish’s 5km was in support of his favourite charity: the Alzheimer’s Society. We can’t wait to hear how Aarish gets on with his 10km run he has planned for next year.
2025 Inter Counties Tournament (ICT) and Badminton England U19 Shires League
Congratulations to George W (10R) and Shiven J (11H) on their exceptional performance in the recent 2025 Inter Counties Tournament (ICT) and Badminton England U19 Shires League. The U18 ICT is one of the most prestigious annual fourday events in English junior badminton. From 14th to 17th April, the Herts team delivered an outstanding performance, dominating their matches throughout the tournament. Their achievements during this event were remarkable and rarely seen at this level. Hertfordshire emerged as both the 2025 ICT Champions and the Badminton England U19 Shires League Champions.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Sunshine, Sleeping Bags and Success: The Bronze DofE Expedition 2025
When it comes to the June Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze expedition, the weather has always been something of a lucky dip — in past years we've been treated to everything from glorious sunshine to classic British downpours. This year, luck was on our side. The sun had clearly pencilled the 12th and 13th of June into its diary, and we were gifted two beautiful days of bright skies and warm temperatures — perfect for hiking, camping, and cooking up questionable meals on tiny stoves.
Thursday morning saw our eager (and slightly nervous) Year 10 boys stepping off school transport and making their way to the expedition start point. Bags were checked, registration ticked off, and the allimportant external assessors welcomed. Their mission: to navigate and complete two full days of walking — returning triumphantly to Habs by 3:00pm on Friday. It wasn’t long before the first groups were off, trekking into the countryside with maps in hand and optimism in their hearts. Behind the scenes, the Habs staff team and our external assessors sprang into action, supervising and offering support like the expedition pros they are.
As the afternoon wore on, weary walkers began trickling into camp — hot, tired, but in good spirits. The evening brought its own set of challenges: pitching tents, firing up stoves, and cooking dinner (some more successfully than others). But soon enough, camp was buzzing with laughter, the crinkle of pasta packets, and tales from the day’s adventures.
Day two began very early. At precisely 4:15am, the dawn chorus was joined by the unmistakable symphony of tent zips and clanging pots. By 9:00am, all groups had set off on their final leg of the journey, determined to make it back to Habs by the 3:00pm deadline. We’re delighted to report that every team crossed the finish line safe, sound, and with big smiles. Even better, all participants successfully met the expedition requirements, earning high praise from the assessors. Here’s to next year’s adventures — and fingers crossed for another sunny one!
Academic Support
Celebration of rewards
A celebration of commendations
12 Commendations have been awarded this half term to Upper School students for displaying our school values. Students are encouraged to strive towards collecting a commendation for displaying each of our four school values. Students are invited to a celebration prize giving breakfast with hot chocolate and pastries with Mr Lawrence and Mr Lee, and these take place once every half term. We were pleased to present the following students with commendations this week:
Ambition
Om (9C)
Asher (9R)
Nimay (9R)
Shaan (9R)
Joseph (10C)
Noel (10H)
Community
Courage
Curiosity
Charlie (9H)
David (10H)
Avyukt (10M)
Ayaan (10J)
Oscar (10J)
Roshan (10M)
A celebration of credits
We have been so pleased to recognise, celebrate and reward students for a wide array of efforts and achievements using our rewards system of credits, alongside our Upper School Commendations. The following students have received 10 or more credits and have been enjoying their Joe’s café voucher rewards!
Recipients of 60+
Credits
Chengwen 10J
Recipients of 40+
Credits
Ayaan 10J
Oscar 10J
Joseph 10R
Recipients of 30+
Credits
Ishan 10C
Alexander F 10H
Recipients of 20+
Credits
Anay 9H
Charlie 9H
Dylan P 9R
Arya 10C
Shay 10C
Victor 10J
Suraj 10M
Isaac 10R
Jaiden 10S
Maximilian 10S
Aarav R 11H
Shiven 11H
Recipients of 10+
Credits
Anton 9C
Artmigan 9C
Darsh 9C
Om 9C
Reuben 9C
William 9C
Armaan 9H
Kayan 9H
Oliver 9H
Zachary T 9H
Adam 9J
Arnav 9J
Dev 9J
Krishan D 9J
Natan 9J
Nathaniel 9J
Nikhil 9J
Otto 9J
Rahul 9J
Shaurya 9J
Thomas 9M
William 9M
Aarav G 9R
Benjamin 9R
Dylan R 9R
Ishaan A 9R
Joshua C 9R
Kanishk 9R
Kian 9R
Onkaar 9R
Orson 9R
Rian 9R
Sarwin 9R
Zain 9R
Zacharu 9S
Ryan 10C
Shaurya 10C
Shayan 10H
Arkansh 10J
Ethan 10J
Kaspar 10J
Kyle 10J
Luke C 10J
Maximillian 10J
Risvithan 10J
Tobey 10J
Zachary 10J
Avyukt 10M
Amit 10S
Ishaan 10S
Arav B 11H
Joshua 11H
Liad 11H
Luca 11H
Paveen 11H
Zhenxuan 11H
Holden 11J
Joseph 11J
Marcus 11M
Luke 11S
CALENDAR
PLEASE REFER TO THE SCHOOL CALENDAR ON FIREFLY.