A Year in the Life of a Sixth Former 2025
“Our vision is to be the school of choice for our local community, developing successful young people with high aspirations, who show respect for all and endeavour to become the very best that they can be.”
A LEVEL RESULTS
A Level Results Summer 2025
We are celebrating a very successful set of results from our outgoing Year 13s. Results surpassed all previous years and also national averages across all key metrics. Students have gone on to a wide range of very prestigious destinations and we wish them the very best in their beyond-18 journey.
Our fantastic A Level cohort achieved 11 per cent of A Level grades at A*, 31 per cent at A*-A and 65 per cent at A* to B. A quarter of all vocational grades were awarded at Distinction*, the highest possible grade. Results for the Extended Project Qualification were also exceptional, with 83 per cent of grades awarded at A* or A. Almost all students secured places at their first-choice university to read subjects such as Medicine, Law, and English, with a further ten students taking on apprenticeships or degree apprenticeships with companies such as Aviva, Allianz and Barclays.
University:
● Bella: A* (English), A* (Government & Politics), A* (Psychology), A* (EPQ) - University of Birmingham to study Law with Criminology
● Imaan: A* (Biology), A* (Maths), A (Chemistry), A* (EPQ)
- Anglia Ruskin University to study Medicine
● Samuel: A* (Maths), A* (Further Maths), A (Chemistry), A (Physics) - UCL to study Mathematics
● Jasmine: A* (Biology), A* (Chemistry), A (Psychology)
- University of Warwick to study Neuroscience
● Rosa: A* (English Literature), A* (Biology) A (Chemistry)
- University Cambridge to study English
● Louis: A* (Maths), A* (Further Maths), A (Psychology)
- University of Bath to study Mathematics, Statistics & Data Science
Apprenticeships/World of Work:
Amber - Underwriter with Allianz
Teddy - Insurance professional with Willis Towers Watson
Will - Underwriter with Aviva
Lily - Junior Clerk with Atkin Chambers
Lillie - Insurance professional with Willis Towers Watson
Darcey - Risk Analyst with Barclays
Darcy - Insurance professional with Brown & Brown
Sonny - Underwriter assistant, M&A at Hamilton
Ruby - Business professional with Ernst & Young
Libby - Audit professional with Crowe UK
Our Headteacher, Dan Charlton, said:
“I’m blown away every year by our students’ dedication and hard work, and I am pleased to see it reflected again in these amazing results “It has been a privilege to work with such a passionate group of young people, and to help each student find their path for the future.”
● Freddie: A* (English Literature), A (Government & Politics), A (History), A* (EPQ) - University of Manchester to study Politics and Modern History
● Bianca: A* (Sociology), A (English Literature), A (Government & Politics) - University of Bristol to study Law
● Joseph: A* (Media), A (Maths), A (History) - University of Sheffield to study Journalism
● Lilian: A* (Psychology), A (English Literature), D* (Sport CTEC) - University of East London to study Occupational Therapy
● Natalia: A (Biology), A (Chemistry), A (Maths) - University of East Anglia to study Biomedical Science
● Hannah: A (Geography), A (Biology), A (Psychology)
- University of Exeter to study Conservation Biology and Ecology
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
EPQ
- British Library Trip
Year 12 EPQ students attended a Research Matters workshop. It was a very interesting and informative afternoon, with a wide range of sources, from the Magna Carta, to the original Beatles song compositions. We subsequently received an email from the British Library complimenting our students.
WWI Battlefield Trip
Year 13 participated in a two-day tour of the First World War Battlefields. The beautiful weather allowed for an immersive and meaningful experience. Year 13 were focussed on their English Literature War Poetry and were ably led by Mrs Routledge and one of our tour guides Alain, students commented on how it brought the war to life. Sites visited included:
n Lijssenthoek CWGC Cemetery
n Bayernwald trench system
n Tyne Cot CWGC Cemetery
n Newfoundland Memorial Park
n Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
n And many more significant locations
A special moment occurred when four of our students laid a wreath from Roding Valley High School during the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. We’re incredibly proud of how our students represented our school community during this important educational journey.
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
Politics Trip
Year 12 and 13 Politics students went on a tour of the UK Supreme Court. This visit is a key part of paper 2 unit 4 on relations between institutions.
Students were able to visit all the courtrooms and see a live case in action (Catherine Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank Plc).
Students also took part in a walking tour of Whitehall, including Downing Street, Horse Guards and the MoD. Thank you to Mr Cocker and Mr Murray for taking the students on this trip.
European Youth Parliament Trip
A team of 8 Year 12 students took part in the European Youth Parliament regional round at Churchill College Cambridge.
The students competed against students from six other schools in debating motions that affect social and economic development across all European countries. The students proposed a motion to tackle youth unemployment and anti-social behaviour and stepped in on the day to oppose a motion on economic reform of the European Union. The team contributed to every debate and all teams were noted for their excellent performance during the debate rounds. This is the first time that a sixth-form team has competed in this competition but students had a great day and have volunteered to work with next year’s team to ensure an even better result.
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
Capgemini Trip
Brainstorming, pitching, presenting, problem solving, collaboration… just a few of the skills students at Roding Valley High School learnt at Capgemini head office in London during their business enterprise day in December!
Each year, Capgemini invites Roding Valley students to their head office to discover what it could be like to be a part of their organisation. It was a fantastic day and students took away lots of skills and tips on how to apply for work experience and apprenticeships.
Year 12 Geography
Field Trip
Our annual geography field trip to Dorset took place in October 2025.
Dorset is always such an incredible place to take A Level Geographers. This year we felt we really perfected our itinerary and added a fantastic viewpoint of Chesil Beach and an additional walk to see Old Harry Rocks up close. All this was in addition to our usual focus on beautiful physical landscapes including Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Studland Bay, as well as our focus on human geography in declining seaside towns such as Boscombe and the very unique sense of place that can be found in Poundbury, Dorchester. Students worked hard on their fieldwork techniques, but also found some time for the arcades and fish and chips in Swanage.
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“The geography trip to Dorset was an amazing experience as I was able to see geography in the real world, giving me a better understanding of geography in school and further sparking my interest. As I was there with my friends, it made the experience even more enjoyable, especially going around to explore how beautiful the area is. The hostel we stayed in was also one of the best I’ve seen and the food was nice. I learnt a lot during the trip as seeing the area in real life makes it easier to understand the concepts learnt at school.”
Dhilan
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
Year 13 Geneva Trip - CERN
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“The CERN trip has provided a multitude of educational opportunities as well as life experiences, immersing ourselves in physics, biology and politics as well as fostering an appreciation for Swiss culture. I found the visit to the particle accelerator exceptionally interesting, where I gained an understanding of the physics behind it and through a practical cloud chamber experiment I learned about different types of subatomic particles. Another alternative experience that was enlightening was our visit to the UN palace of nations, where we were brought through its history, able to recognise its essential role in world peace, as well as question how we as a society negotiate for world peace. On our final day, we all attended a dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant, enjoying fondue and other cultural foods. Making this an overall, unforgettable trip!”
Penelope
“The trip was a fantastic experience, especially if you are interested in science, and DEFINITELY if you study physics. Although you don’t get to spend a lot of time there, the amount of activities and walking you do definitely makes it feel longer than it is. Some of my favourite parts of the trip were spending time in and around the hostel with your mates. If you are sharing a room with your friends I cannot guarantee a lot of sleep but it is well worth some of the moments and memories you will remember. I also really enjoyed experiencing a city that I thought was very different to London, although it was soooo expensive, as it hinted at what life would be like living in another country. The experience of staying at a youth hostel wasn’t just a hilarious experience but also can be quite valuable about what living by yourself or with your mates is going to be like.I was very glad I made the decision to go on this trip and would 1000% go back to do it all again.”
Aiden
“The trip overall was enjoyable. The part I really enjoyed was the cern bits because i’ve been learning about the theory of it in class but seeing it actually get put into practice made me enjoy physics even more What I didn’t really find enjoying as the UN tour but that’s because I don’t do politics which was fair enough for the teachers do add it as there was non physics students would have been better if we had more free time to explore the city and how it is at night The accommodation was what I expected. Food overall was good besides the hostel dinner which was good but you could have had better. It would have been better if we had a longer trip to explore more of the city as it was really beautiful.”
Cristian
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
Drama Production led by our Sixth Formers
A school year at Roding Valley wouldn’t be complete without our school production, and last year was no exception!
#TeamDrama (you will get used to calling them this!) completed an amazing 3 night run of the fantastic Wizard of Oz Jr.
The sixth form production team worked hard to build up the traditional launch excitement, and created their own video to kick off the audition process.
There is always plenty of opportunity to get involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, with a record number of students getting involved this year.
Wizard of Oz Jr really was our biggest show to date, and was our first to include not one but two different puppets; Toto the Dog and The Wizard himself! Both of which were operated by our talented cast and crew. Other highlights included the colourful set, wonderful costumes, and the use of projections, along with the creative choreography, and character acting.
Our fantastic Drama Department supports this entire process, enabling our sixth form students to take the lead on directing, choreography, and design, to name a few aspects. The project management and leadership skills our sixth form production team learn while running school production are an invaluable life experience and a rite of passage at RVHS.
This year’s fun and hard work has already begun, with the launch of Matilda Jr back in July. In September the auditions and casting took place, and rehearsals are already well underway!
“Being a part of the Drama production team is a great way to take responsibility! We run and schedule rehearsals, choreograph dances and teach the cast. The production team is made up of Year 12s and 13s, but is not limited to drama students; which allows you to make lifelong friends who share similar interests, and has also encouraged us to be more confident.”
Lois and Sienna
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
MedSoc
“What is the Medical Society? By Mila, our Year 12 student who helps run these sessions”
Med Soc is a science club run by Year 12 and 13 sixth form students, where we plan and conduct an exciting, new experiment every week for students in Year 10-11. The club meets weekly.
Med Soc also offers an Acceleration Program called, “In2MedSchool”. Designed to support aspiring medical students in 6th form through the process of application for Med School, Med Soc provides access to important industry and academic insights, as well as opportunities such as a Medical Essay writing competition.
I’m a Year 12 student taking biology, chemistry and physics A-levels, and I’m working towards medical school. The Medical Society initially appealed to me as a great way to develop my team building and communication skills that I knew any future employer or university will appreciate. However, now I’ve also learnt the value of being a contributing member of my student community, which gives me a strong sense of accomplishment, motivation, and reassurance that I have chosen the right path for my education.
You do not need to choose the medical route to become a Med Soc Member. Many of my Year 12 peers have not, and don’t even take STEM subjects! The skills you will gain are highly transferrable.
The Year 13s will traditionally guide the Year 12s, preparing them to take over Med Soc operations the following year. The Year 13s also develop great mentoring skills, which they can use to their advantage further in life.
Thinking of attending as a Year 10-11?
This is a fun chance to do some amazing practicals you never thought of doing at school! We sixth formers try our best to create a new and exciting experiment every week. If making boba balls from coke or extracting DNA from kiwi sounds interesting, this is exactly the place for you. Don’t be put off at the start if you think you’re not that into science. Give it a try, and you might be surprised.
The Medical Society is a forum for ambitious and inquisitive Year 10/11 pupils who are considering a future in careers including medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. It is run by ambitious sixth form students who are passionate about Science and want to share their knowledge with younger pupils. The society offers a programme of practical activities, ethical debates, and research projects to provide the foundational knowledge necessary for a successful journey towards a medical career. Alongside providing fantastic experiences for KS4 pupils, sixth form students develop their transferable skills.
SUBJECT ENRICHMENTS
CTEC Sport outside of the classroom
University of Essex
CTEC Sport classes visit the University of Essex’s Human Performance Unit to experience Performance Profiling testing and what it would be like to be a Sport Science student at the University for the day.
Students carried out a range of different tests on power, strength, speed, agility and coordination over the course of the day in the Universities Sport Science Laboratories and their fantastic indoor arena.
It was a brilliant insight into the knowledge and skills used by University students covering a sport science course as well as seeing what life was like at a campus University.
Lea Valley Water Centre
Students also have the opportunity to visit Lee Valley Water Centre to complete the Outdoor Adventurous Activity element of their Unit 18 section of the course. Students undertake instruction on how to Kayak and replicate certain skills to show competency to gain the marks they need to be signed off for this element of Unit 18.
Sixth Form Chelsea Foundation squad at Cobham
The squad had an opportunity to train at Cobham, Chelsea FC Training Ground. The players arrived and were given a tour of the training ground, having the chance to experience what it is like to be in a high performance environment every day. The players were also given a brief history on Cobham and why the training ground is set out in a particular way.
Once the tour had finished the players then got ready and began their training session on the Astroturf. The session was led by Chelsea FC coach Thomas Gooder, who focused on crossing and finishing. It was an extremely cold day at the training ground but the players loved being there and being able to see how a professional football club produces world class talent.
BEYOND 18
Visit to Emmanuel College, Cambridge University
As part of our Beyond 18 pathway, we run an Oxbridge Programme which supports students who want to make applications to Oxford and Cambridge.
This trip is an important part of this offer as it allows students to visit one of the colleges at Cambridge and see the university in action. Students get to meet admissions tutors and current students. They are advised about the application processes and have the opportunity to ask any questions they might have. Students are sometimes, understandably, nervous about making these types of applications and this trip really helps with breaking down these barriers and encouraging students to put themselves forward for this aspirational pathway.
Year 12 students were able to attend the Oxbridge outreach programme at Emmanuel College. This visit gave students a chance to experience the college first-hand and find out from current students what it is like to study at Cambridge University. This year we were particularly fortunate to be met by Atilla, a former student at RVHS who is now studying Natural Sciences at Emmanuel College. During the visit, students also had a guided session on personal statement writing and the importance of super-curricular reading in their applications. A huge thanks to Ms Stringer for organising the visit and ensuring that our students are able to access the best university application advice whether they choose to apply to Cambridge or any other competitive university.
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“Participating in the trip to Emmanuel College was a valuable experience for students aspiring to apply to competitive universities. It helped challenge the prejudices and stigmas surrounding Oxbridge, turning what might have seemed like an “impossible fantasy” into a realistic goal. The insights into personal statements and the interview process were invaluable, providing students with a clearer, more focused approach rather than having to navigate the process on their own in a time-consuming manner. Now I can confidently start my application without the anxiety that comes with planning out the very real and near future.”
Xenia
University & Apprenticeship Fair
Year 12 students visited this bespoke university and apprenticeship fair, giving them direct access to representatives from a wide range of institutions and companies.
As students begin thinking about what their next steps after sixth form might look like, we hope that this inspired them to think about which universities they need to visit in the coming months and which career paths they might like to investigate. Well done to Year 12 for their maturity and inquisitive nature on this trip.
Throughout the year there are a number of occasions where our students are invited to attend events at Bancroft’s School to support our Beyond 18 programme. Most notably all students attend their university and apprenticeship fair which is an unique opportunity to have one to one chats with representatives and to explore their future pathways.
BEYOND 18
Competitive Futures
Year 12 attended the Competitive Futures Options event at one of our local schools Bancroft. The majority of the day was sitting and listening to different speakers from University of Oxford, Warwick, UCL and UBS and their degree apprenticeships.
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“I thoroughly enjoyed and was captivated yesterday as we were fortunate enough to learn about entry into 3 of the most competitive prestigious universities in the country and UBS Degree apprenticeships. Listening to the 4 experienced speakers present all these incredible opportunities was inspiring and provided us with valuable information / resources.”
Samuel
“The trip to Bancroft’s was intense, but highly inspirational. Lots to listen to that we all took on, especially in terms of super-curriculars.”
Kaz
“I enjoyed the Bancroft trip and thought it was an excellent opportunity to learn about both uni and apprenticeship routes from people who are very knowledgeable in those fields.”
Lukas
Year 12 Uni Visit - Russell Group - University of Southampton
Year 12 students visited the University of Southampton to support them with understanding what their next steps might look like.
This campus university showed off the pros of student life and gave them a taste of what undergraduate study might look like. It gave the year group food for thought and we look forward to working with them on their applications in the coming months.
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“The lectures were interesting and it was great to have an insight on student life at university.”
Kanika
“I thoroughly enjoyed observing the university’s excellent facilities and I found the lectures very intriguing!”
Samuel
BEYOND 18
Employer Talks
Throughout the year, sixth form students are able to attend a variety of employer talks.
Students can choose which talks they would like to attend by signing up in Brook Study Centre. The aim of the talks is for students to find out about future career pathways and the routes into them. They receive information about how to apply and what to include in their applications. These talks have led to students being offered work experience opportunities as well as employment.
Employers this year:
n Investment2020
n Everhire
n Bank Of America
n Harlow College
n Sompo Insurance
n PWC
n The Observer
n BGC
n The Ardonagh Group (Price Forbes)
n Higgins Partnerships construction
n Hill
n Capgemini
n JM Finn Investment Management
n AtkinsRéalis
n Attwaters Solicitors LLP
n Austin Rose Recruitment
n Tysers Insurance Brokers
n EY
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“I find that employer talks are very useful to a sixth form student. Since Year 9 I was set on working in marketing. However I had attended every employer talk and ended up discovering that I thoroughly enjoy insurance more than marketing. Without attending the employer talks and Miss Mason not running them I would have been oblivious to how much I would enjoy this field. As I attended all of these in Year 12 it allowed me to map out my plans and tasks to help better my future for Year 13. I never knew whether I would want to go to university or a degree apprenticeship. I went to the employer talks as they all shared a different pathway to end up where they are today and the different methods. I can now say that I have a plan on how to get into insurance after these talks as well as a back up plan.”
Lucie
Alumni students holding their own Employer Talk
n BGC School Leaver Programme - Bronya and Alfrid joined us
n Hill Construction - Lewis and Ellie joined us.
n EY - Matthew joined us.
n Higgins Construction - George joined us
n Tysers Insurance - Millie joined us
n Salesforce - Ella joined us
n Author of ‘The Red Roses’ and Sports Editor, The Observer - Jess joined us
n Bank of America - Mushrur joined us
BEYOND 18
Work Experience Week
All students complete a week of work experience at the end of Year 12.
This is launched in the Autumn Term and students work to secure a placement in their chosen field. This is an invaluable experience which allows students to get a real taste of what working life is like. Some professions require considerable work experience in order to be able to make successful future applications and others use it as an opportunity to try out if a career pathway is for them. Students learn transferable skills, get to operate in a more mature environment and often have the opportunity to network and make important contacts which are useful for future applications.
Some employers that engaged with our Sixth Form: River Island, AON, Queens Theatre, Bank of Ireland, Bank of England, Epping Forest Foodbank, Austin Rose, Oak Pharmacy, Royal Mail, Octopus Energy, Bloomberg, Jack Petchey Foundation, Price Forbes, Delta Hotels, CBRE, Whipps Cross hospital, The Politics Project, GF Financial Markets (UK), Ministry of Justice, 2KBW Chambers, The Holly Hospital. These are amongst our list of nearly 200 employers that have engaged with us over the last couple of years.
Employers’ comments:
“Annam completed her work experience with Barts NHS - Whipps Cross University Hospital - Annam has been an absolute pleasure to have on the team. She has taken every opportunity presented to her with an amazing attitude and enthusiasm, eager to learn about pharmacy’s role in patients’ care. She related and understood patients, very professional at all times. She’s always smiling. She is a fast learner and overall a beautiful human being. The whole team feels she will be very successful in her future in everything she does with her positive attitude and work ethics.”
“George completed his work experience with Octopus Energy - George’s primary objective was to present two presentations, one on a topic of his choice and one about the culture and work at Octopus. George’s presentations were thorough and well researched. He was able to find the right information in the right areas and took advice and guidance from team members. His presentation was confident, well spoken and well researched. He was a great addition to the team - he was well loved across all the teams he spent time with.”
“Luke completed his work experience at the Bank of England - Overall, it was a pleasure to host Luke for his work
experience and provide him with the opportunity to observe the operations and IT environment of the Bank of England. His enthusiasm for the work was great and is indeed crucial for any role. Luke was engaging and present in the moment, showing genuine interest, which significantly contributes to both personal growth and the overall work environment. Luke is very polite and his attitude towards work was positive, characterized by a high level of curiosity and eagerness to learn. Luke asked many questions and demonstrated enthusiasm throughout. Experiencing real-world IT challenges and solutions is invaluable for young people, and placements like these are instrumental in equipping them with the skills and confidence needed for their future careers.”
“Lucie completed her work experience with Price Forbes - Lucie has received extremely positive feedback from all areas of the business, including construction, placing and energy. Outside of Price Forbes, Lucie also spent some time with an insurer, Liberty, a loss adjuster, LWI and lawyers, Kennedys. All shared positive feedback explaining how Lucie
got involved, asked questions and was a pleasure to have in the office. Kennedy offered her further work experience in the summer if she feels up to it. A credit to Roding Valley.”
“Luka completed her work experience at the Bank of Ireland UK - It was a pleasure to have Luka join us for a week’s work experience. Luka engaged brilliantly with both the projects we set and the people in the office. Luka showed a very high level of intelligence in her work and a positive, inquisitive attitude to approaching the tasks. Luka impressed all she met by asking insightful questions when concepts were being explained. But more impressive was how she questioned herself when working on the projects to self-assess potential issues and decide which topics to explore in more detail. Classified as Confidential (Red) Luka showed an extremely high level of personal and professional confidence that will be an asset to her as she finishes college and progresses onto university and beyond. We thoroughly enjoyed having Luka with us for a week.”
Continued overleaf...
Dylan and Samy at Epping Food Bank
Aayush at Loughton Methodist Church cafe
BEYOND 18
Work Experience Week ...continued from previous page
Students’ thank yous on Linkedin:
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“During my week of work experience in various sectors of the insurance industry, I gained valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of different insurance professionals. While working with Price Forbes in the energy sector, I examined real insurance claims they were handling at that time. I learned about the specific information required from claimants to process their claims effectively. This experience enhanced my problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.”
“Following this, I participated in a mandatory team meeting where we discussed ongoing tasks and the necessary information to complete them. I also explored different career pathways into the insurance industry and reviewed an insurance examination that must be passed to enter the field.”
“At Liberty, I gained an understanding of the construction team’s responsibilities and the types of properties involved in insurance claims. I was guided through the process of composing a mock email to a claimant, as well as identifying other parties involved in the claims process. Additionally, I observed claims related to natural disasters, where individuals submitted claims for damages caused by such events. The team explained their role in managing these claims and the procedures they follow.”
“Finally, I had the opportunity to learn from Kennedys about the legal aspects of insurance. They introduced me to their daily tasks and explained how laws impact and regulate the claims process. This included an overview of various situations they handle and the regulatory environment surrounding insurance claims.”
“Overall, this experience provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the insurance industry, its processes, and the legal considerations involved. This provided me with the knowledge that I would like to work in the insurance field.” Lucie
“For my work experience, I spent a week at a local pharmacy where I had the opportunity to observe how prescriptions are processed and learn about the different roles within the healthcare team. I gained a real insight into how pharmacists support patients with their medication and provide essential health advice. It was fascinating to see how much communication and attention to detail is involved in ensuring patient safety. This experience has strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in healthcare and helped me develop valuable skills such as teamwork, organisation, and professionalism.”
Nicole
Nicole at Oakwood Pharmacy
BEYOND 18
Our Beyond 18 Day - Summer Term
We had a range of external speakers, as well as members of our sixth form team delivering sessions on topics including UCAS, interview techniques, personal statement writing, apprenticeships and one of the favourites was our ‘cooking on a budget session’.
Thank you to all staff involved in this; it takes a huge amount of time to organise a full day off timetable and we really value staff contributions and parents’ support for the importance of the day.
The Politics Project
- Thursday 18th September 2025 - Attended by Kaz
Yesterday I had the incredible opportunity to attend The Politics Project’s new ‘At The Table Toolkit’ Launch at City Hall, during London Voter Registration Week in my capacity as a Youth Consultation Panellist at the Jack Petchey Foundation.
The event featured a super insightful panel discussion and Q&A, with so much incredible constructive dialogue about young people’s democratic and political participation!
In order to educate the disengaged young people who think; “why would I care about politics, why would I vote?” It isn’t enough just to stress the importance of engaging in politics, we must make political education fun, relatable and targeted, to the extent of gamifying it.
As someone who’s always been inclined to politics and democratic engagement, I hadn’t truly opened my eyes as to the extent to which this approach is needed for the most disengaged and in need, and The Politics Project have done just that, considering the disposition of some of the most disengaged and targeting them with gamified and relatable education.
Furthermore, I got to talk to so many phenomenal changemakers working every day to educate young people, ensuring that they make informed decisions from voting to consuming social media content! Namely, Matteo Bergamini MBE and I had a great chat about how Shout Out UK is pioneering initiatives in political and media literacy, paving the way for organisations I work with, such as FlippGen, to build on their amazing work.
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Team Building Day
Year 12 Team Building Day at Lambourne End
We took 120 of our new joiners in Year 12 to our team building day at Lambourne End on Monday 29th September. In teams of 12, students made friends and bonded over tunnelling, marbles in drainpipes, archery and rope swings (among other activities!). It was an absolute pleasure to watch the students bond and begin to have some ordinary small talk with new friends. Thank you to this wonderful new year group, who smiled their way through the day and really shone. We are very excited to see all they achieve.
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
“The team building day was all of the new Year 12s at Lambourne End participating in caving, archery, and other activities involving teamwork. Since we were put into groups I got the opportunity to talk to and have fun with people I never would’ve spoken to otherwise. It was a great day - the caving being outstandingly the most fun, and very fortunately I didn’t get wet during the over water obstacle course.”
Elizabeth
“Our trip to Lambourne end was a great experience. It encouraged everybody to talk to new people in the year and to introduce themselves. Personally I had a good time and am grateful to the Sixth Form Team for arranging the day.”
Martyn
“The random groups make sure everyone meets someone new , and I met lots of new people I never would have spoken to otherwise. We all had lots of fun completing the activities throughout the day , and it encouraged us to work together, further strengthening the relationships. Everyone was very enthusiastic and everyone I spoke to enjoyed it and said they would go again.”
Rowena
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was voted by the United Learning Trust (a consortium of major employers) as the extra-curricular Award they see as most important for potential applicants to have attained at school. It encourages young people to develop independence, commitment, leadership and teamwork through being involved in a personalised programme of activities. The school fully supports the Award and recognises its unique value for developing skills and attributes in young people.
At Roding Valley High School, the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is only open to Sixth Formers. Students choosing to participate will have to complete 5 sections, which will then be assessed by their Assessors. The 5 sections are: Physical, Skill, Volunteering, Residential and Expedition.
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Lower school student mentoring
It is really important at Roding Valley that sixth formers play an important role in the whole school community. One part of this is through our mentoring programme.
What is student mentoring?
“Student mentoring is an opportunity for sixth form students to gain insight into helping and supporting KS3 and 4 students that face some challenges at school for example around attendance or anxiety.”
What have I learnt as a student mentor?
“During my time as a student mentor I have learnt how to successfully communicate and support the KS3 and 4 students with any struggles or situations that they may be facing during their time at secondary school; whether it be because of behaviour, stress or simply just wanting to talk to someone that is not a teacher for support. Mentoring has allowed me to learn how to become a reliable role model for the younger students as well as someone that anyone can talk to about anything.”
What year groups do we involve?
“Recently student mentoring has been expanded to accommodate a variety of different years groups from as young as Year 7 to as old as Year
10. On Wednesdays during period 1 we cater towards the Year 7 and Year 8 cohorts in the brook library where they have time to play a game or even have a little gossip with the sixth form students who are sure to give great advice and support for the younger years. On Fridays we also cater towards the Year 9 and Year 10 cohorts where they get the same opportunities as our younger mentees to just relax and get themselves ready for a day of school work.”
How mentoring can help you
“Mentoring has helped me become a much more well rounded person. It has taught me how to communicate with students who are much younger than I am and how to be someone that they can trust and relate to. Mentoring has helped me to build my confidence and interpersonal skills.”
Wanting to partake as a student mentor?
“There are multiple benefits of going to mentoring, whether it be as a lower keystage student or as a sixthformer. Coming to mentoring as a
mentee allows you to obtain a sixth form buddy and will ensure that your journey through secondary school can be something to remember and a fun experience rather than something negative. Coming to mentoring as a mentor allows you to obtain a whole new skill set that can easily be applied into the real and working world and prepare you for different tasks and situations you may face later on in life.”
Ruby
“The progress and confidence I’ve seen emerge from the lower school students that come in every Wednesday and Friday is incredible. Getting to know these students has been a privilege and I would highly recommend Mentoring to any sixth form student. It’s such a rewarding thing to see social skills built in young people, to watch them learn how to make friends and come out of their shell - especially when some are just starting out on their Secondary School journey.”
Tony
Our students’ comments on these sessions:
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Annual Sixth Form Vs Staff Football Match
Every year the sixth formers set up a range of events to raise money for the local food bank.
This year students raised over £200 in 4 days. Events included staff vs teachers football match, a cake sale and a badminton tournament.
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Charity Events
Epping Food Bank / 3food4u
We have two collections every year:
● Epping Foodbank
● 3Food4U
These are our 2 local food bank charities that we help every Christmas time.
We run this House competition, collecting all items that the banks are running short of plus Christmas items including toys, books, puzzles etc to support those in the local community.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the annual Christmas food bank donations.
Events like this teach our young people about the importance of playing part in supporting the local community. We are proud each and every day of the generosity of our students and their parents.
The Christmas Foodbank donation train will return again for more donations Christmas 2025.
Christmas Jumper day for Save the Children
We raised £378.22 for Save the Children, well done students and staff!
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Volunteering
Oliver has volunteered for 52 weeks, every Saturday morning, at the Roding Valley Park Run, showing outstanding commitment to the community.
Christmas Jumper day for Save the Children
Here he is receiving his certificate of appreciation before going off next week to Portsmouth University to study Sports Management - All the best Oliver
We raised £378.22 for Save the Children, well done students and staff!
“As I follow up to my engineering work experience at British Airways, I got the opportunity to volunteer as an ‘Inspire Student Ambassador’ and it has been a spectacular experience. I’ve loved every event they have invited me to such as supporting their Christmas fair or selling poppies at Heathrow. Most frequently, I represent the brand at career events which has built my public speaking and employability skills. Taking the chance to volunteer is something I wholeheartedly recommend!”
He had this incredible opportunity of representing British Airways at the Sustainable Skies World Summit on the 15th May. He said, “It was a captivating event, hearing from talented leaders in the industry what they are doing to work towards ‘Net Zero Aviation’. Whilst I was there, I also promoted BA’s Emerging Talent Schemes and hilariously helped students put on some life jackets!”
Samuel
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Fusion
RVHS Fusion is a fantastic event that celebrates the different cultures and languages in our school through dance, spoken word, and music.
The first Fusion event was the idea of a Year 12 pupil, as she wanted to create a concert that celebrated our diversity. Our pupils put in so much work to prepare for our first Fusion event that took place in March 2024. The event took place during the day for Year 7 and 8 pupils and in the evening we had a concert which celebrated Afrikaans poetry, Bollywood dance, and Urdu song, amongst many other things. It was such a success that we have now celebrated two further events. Each one has been more successful than the last. The most recent event, that took place in June 2025 was titled Around the World in 80 Minutes. It was run from start to finish by Sixth Form students and was a fantastic showcase for our talented students.
Home Language and Culture Day
This day, celebrated in the summer term, is an event in which all Year 7s go off-timetable for the day and instead, attend sessions in different languages run by our teachers and pupils who speak another language.
The key to this day is that students and teachers get the chance to celebrate their home culture and language in a way that might not happen during a normal school day. They also get the chance to wear traditional costumes from their home culture.
This year the day coincided with a visit to our school by a Chinese school and its pupils, so these pupils also got the chance to get an introduction to different languages. We also invited Year 4 students from a local Primary school, Staples Road to participate in events. This year, we had eighteen languages being taught, including Urdu, Arabic and Lithuanian, and the outfits, along with the songs and dance in the sessions made it a fantastic international event. A large number of the students running the sessions were Year 12s and 13s and their contribution was invaluable.
CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Year 13 Leavers Assembly and Prom
We said our goodbyes to Class 2025, cohort 9 of Roding Sixth Form.
The day started with a leavers breakfast in the Brook Study Area with a rolling presentation of their journey from a baby/toddler to leaving school onto their next journey. This was followed by a student assembly in the Main Hall. Then we met them all again in the evening for the Senior Prom 2025, which everyone enjoyed. Another great group of students leaving us to seek their next challenges in life. Goodbye and good luck Class 2025, you were amazing.
LEAVERS SUMMER 2025
Universities
Ibrahim Brunel University of London - Computer Science with Placement
Jada University of Kent - Computer Science (Cyber Security) with a Year in Industry
Ewaoluwa University of Kent - Software Engineering
Rafay University of Westminster, London - Sports Management
Thais The University of Law - Law
Gabriella University of Southampton - Psychology
Alex Newcastle University - Politics and History
Imogen City St George’s, University of London - English with Publishing
Ashaz University of East Anglia UEA - Pharmacology and Drug Discovery
Laiba Kingston University - Aviation Operations with Commercial Pilot Training (with Professional Placement)
Freddie University of Manchester - Politics and Modern History
Savannah Middlesex University - Veterinary Nursing (College of Animal Welfare)
Michelle University of Kent - Computer Science (Cyber Security) with a Year in Industry
James University of Leeds - Economics and Geography
Joseph Loughborough University - Psychology
Basak Royal Holloway, University of London - International Relations
Archie Newcastle University - Urban Planning
Aran Queen Mary University of London - Geography with Business Management
Hannah University of Exeter - Conservation Biology and Ecology
Joseph University of Sheffield - Journalism Studies
Spencer University of Brighton - Sport Management
Laura University of Exeter - Accounting and Business with Industrial Experience
AJ University of Birmingham - Medicine
Ruby University of Greenwich - Human Resource Management and Development
Robert University of Plymouth - Mechanical Engineering
Avneet University of Leicester - Biological Sciences (Physiology with Pharmacology)
Diana University of Greenwich - Business Management
Bella University of Birmingham - Law with Criminology
Hugo University of Sheffield - Journalism Studies
Emily Escape Studios - The Art of Visual Effects
Klaudia City (City St George’s, University of London) - Economics
George Cardiff University - Business Management (Logistics and Operations)
Amber University of Exeter - English with Study Abroad
Albert Nottingham Trent University - Property Finance and Investment
Finlay Loughborough University - Media & Communications
Louis University of Bath - Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science
World of Work
Georgia Savills Operations Support Assistant
Amber Apprenticeship with Allianz - Underwriting
Teddy Apprenticeship with Willis Towers Watson (WTW) - Insurance professional apprentice
Will Apprenticeship with Aviva - Underwriting
Lennon Cyber Security Apprenticeship - Unitrust Protection Services Ltd
Lily Atkin Chambers as a Junior Clerk
Lillie Apprenticeship L7 Actuary with Willis Towers Watson (WTW)
Fatima University of Westminster, London - Biomedical Science
Robyn University of Sussex - Primary and Early Years Education (with Qualified Teacher Status)
Kae University of East Anglia UEA - Biological Sciences
Welaa University of East Anglia UEA - Pharmacy
Alistair University of Exeter - Zoology with Study Abroad
Santiago University of Bristol - Civil Engineering
Hugh Loughborough University - Media and Communication
Finn University of Sussex - History
Devan Nottingham Trent University - Politics and International Relations
Rosa University of Cambridge - English
Joshua University of Bath - International Politics & Language
Austeja Escape Studios - Concept Art and Experience Design
Natalia University of East Anglia UEA - Biomedical Science
Natalie University of Bristol - Biomedical Science
Bianca University of Bristol - Law
James Nottingham Trent University - Property Finance and Investment
Sara University of Exeter - English
Kylen London Metropolitan University - Advertising, Marketing Communications and Public Relations
Cindy University of Exeter - Accounting and Finance
Oliver University of Portsmouth - Sport Management
Rosie Royal Veterinary College, University of LondonBioveterinary Sciences
Jemima Loughborough University - Management (with placement year)
Oliver University of Exeter - Politics and International Relations
Imaan Anglia Ruskin University - Medicine
Samuel UCL (University College London) - Mathematics
Sophia University of the Arts London - Interior Design
Mabel University of Nottingham - Biology
Jasmine University of Warwick - Neuroscience with Placement Year
Sydnae-Rose University of Nottingham - History and Politics
Madalena University of Southampton - Economics
Aleyna Liverpool Hope University - Economics
Finley Queen Mary University of London - Mathematics
Katrin University of Greenwich - Business Economics
Tedas University of Kent - Accounting and Finance
Jaeden University of Bristol - Economics
Skye London South Bank University - Marketing with Advertising & Digital Communications
Lilian University of East London - Occupational Therapy
Ben University of Exeter - History and Politics with Employment Experience Abroad
Ema University of East Anglia UEA - Biological Sciences
Reece Go Kart Racing Job
Luca BGC School Leaver Programme
Darcey Apprenticeship with Barclays - Risk Analyst
Darcy Apprenticeship with Brown & Brown - Insurance
Sonny Underwriter Assistant, M&A at Hamilton - Insurance
Ruby Apprenticeship with EY - Business
Libby Apprenticeship with Crowe UK - Audit
