Principal's 11-18 Newsletter - Edition 17 - May 2024

The Art and Design Summer Exhibition 2024

Showcasing the GCSE work of Year 11 3D Design, Textiles and Art students and Year 13 A Level students.

All are very welcome to come and celebrate the hard work and wonderful work created over the last 2 years by these students.

Drinks and refreshments served and there will be a grand opening at 6pm by Alumni artist and Grammy Award winner Emily Cooper.

Friday 14th June at 5.30-7.00pm in the VAC

A word from the Head of 11-18

Stephen Ward

With our Year 11 and Year 13 students heading off on study leave ahead of the main period of GCSE and A Level exams, the end of last term saw our outgoing student leadership team hand over the reins to the new team for the year ahead.

Last year’s team, led by Heads of School Ryan H and Florence B, were the first to represent the entire study body from Year 7 through to Year 13 and have left the incoming team with a tough act to follow. I know, though, that the new team, led by Abbey and Ella in Year 12, are very much up for the challenge and are brimming with ideas for further improvements to school life.

The new structure, introduced last year, places our sixth formers to the fore in these school-wide leadership roles, and whether Head of School, Head of House or running one of the committees in charge of areas such as academic mentoring, social activities or wellbeing, these are roles that younger students can aspire to as they make their way through the school and into the Sixth Form. On the way, there are also opportunities for students in Year 10 moving into Year 11 to act as Deputy Heads of School, supporting our sixth formers as well as developing their own leadership and organisation skills.

I am looking forward to working with all of this year’s student leadership team, and hearing the many good ideas that I know will emerge from our regular meetings and from the half-termly student forum.

In the meantime though, I would like to wish all those taking GCSE and A Level exams this summer the very best of luck.

Stephen Ward Head of 11-18

Stephen Ward

Student leadership team - Sixth Form

Year 10 - Deputy Heads of School

Eleanor A Co-Head of House - Cattley

Yuxi L Head of House - Kennett

Abby H Head of School

Amelie NG

Co-Head of House - Clark

Ella BD Head of School

Molly C

Co-Head of House - Clark

Ivy G

Tamsin L

Co-Head of House - Sutherland

Jack N

Co-Head of House - Sutherland

Nina T

Martha H

Head of House - Pollock

Sophie R Head of House - Street

Harry S

Lola C

Co-Head of House - Cattley

Jessica S Head of House - Rose

Harry G

Latest news

Year 8 Explores Burghley House

By Amandine T, Adela S, and Lizzie S

On arrival, we were greeted with an informative talk about the Tudors and more specifically about William Cecil and his life. This was because he built Burghley House.

We were told about how the house was built by William Cecil in 1555 and was finished in 1587, and some fun facts including how it has 76 chimneys (most of which are not even used). Every room in the house was lavishly decorated and the house was full of gorgeous paintings and portraits, each of which had its own particular story and role in history.

After the tour, we had a quick lunch then walked over to the statue garden. It was full of unique statues and had a waterfall and a big lake. Then, we went back to school. It was a very successful trip!

An extract of Birdsong

by Rachel Wagstaff

Year 13 A Level Drama students Tom A and Toby G gave a very moving performance of the final scene from Rachel Wagstaff´s adaptation of Sebastian Faulkes´s novel set in WW1.

As their performance was scheduled a few days after the Year 9 play, also set in WW1, the boys were fortunate to be able to repurpose some of the same set in order to create a realistic impression of the tunnels beneath the trenches and No Man’s Land.

Taking inspiration from the theatre practitioner and director Katie Mitchell, Tom and Toby incorporated multi-media into their piece, positioning GoPro cameras so that they could film and project live footage of them crawling through the tunnels onto a backdrop.

A Level Drama and Theatre Performance

Young Photographer Competition 2023-24

Horatio M Wins the Intermediate Category at the Rotary Club of Cambridge's Young Photographer Competition 2023-24.

Horatio said: “The Cambridge Rotary photography competition’s theme this year was ‘Rebuilding’. When I went to Cornwall in the summer, we visited the Eden Project, where I took some fabulous photos. The Eden Project used to be a clay pit until people came and built enormous plastic domes, installed plants from all over the world and made different biomes in each dome, such as a rainforest biome.

I won first prize and there was a prize giving event on King’s Parade. I received a certificate and a goody bag from Campkins Cameras who sponsored the event.”

House Events Round Up

By Louise Cresswell

The spring term was full of House events from netball, hockey, the bake off, basketball, Easter egg hunts and raffles. As we said in the last newsletter the spring term had a main focus on charity and we are pleased to say we have raised £470 so far for the different House charities and the summer term will see these charity events continue.

At the end of the spring term the House that came out on top and took the trophy and enjoyed the house treat was Rose House.

We would like to say a massive thank you and well done to our Head and Deputy House leaders who have worked so hard to make the House system so successful.

Bl**p! - three one act plays

by Michael Frayn and Alan Ayckbourn

Our sixth form enrichment performance was directed by Mrs Deborah Foote and Year 13 student Arshiya. Three contrasting one act comedy plays by Alan Ayckbourn and Michael Frayn were selected both to complement one another and to suit the talents of our cast of Year 12 and 13 performers.

All three plays alluded to our struggles with communication, each one providing a hilarious and often farcical take on technology as the characters battled with intercoms, electrical shocks, unfathomable gadgets and unidentified beeping noises. To add additional comedy, and to make the plays more relevant to a modern audience, the directors added some contemporary twists and layers, such as the use of microphones to add live sound effects and they also included a musical rendition of ´Come Fly with Me', sung by Arshiya to link two of the plays. For our Year 13 students - Tom, Will, Arshiya, Will, Jada, Chris and Lydia - this was their last public performance as Stephen Perse students. All of them have shown enormous dedication to the Drama department during their time at the school, both onstage and behind the scenes. Their enthusiasm, commitment and talents will be very much missed - we hope they will continue to pursue their theatrical interests at university, whatever path they choose.

The Sixth Form Enrichment Performance

Bake-Off bonanza fundraises for charity

Students and staff have gone head-to-head in a bake off competition to raise funds for charity.

Under the expert eye of The Great British Bake-Off series six finalist Ian Cummings, three show stopping bakes from Viola in Year 8, Adam in Year 11 and staff member Alison Maguire were crowned champions of the school’s competition.

Cakes from both the preliminary and showstopper rounds were first judged and then sold to raise money for charity. Out of the 40 submissions in the preliminary round, which took place earlier in the year, Ian selected just 13 students and staff to go through to the final showstopper challenge. As a result of the Great Stephen Perse Cambridge Bake-Off, a total of £202 was raised for the Red Cross, the British Heart Foundation, Ella Dawson Foundation, Woodgreen, Blue Smile, Oxfam and Save the Children.

Competition judge Ian Cummings commented: “After some very impressive bakes in the first round the pressure was on for the Showstoppers round! The students rose to the challenge and didn't disappoint, demonstrating impressive technical skills and remaining calm under pressure. The ultimate winners were very worthy opponents, whose contributions were both beautifully presented and very delicious - a big congratulations to all three of them and handshakes all round!”

Tasked with creating a baked good that reflected the life and history of Cambridge, the winners artistically crafted edible sculptures of Newton’s apple, punting on the River Cam and a recreation of Peter Randall-Paige’s “Between the Lines”, a granite sculpture that will be familiar to shoppers at Lion’s Yard.

Louise Cresswell, Head of Houses and Social Responsibility Coordinator at Stephen Perse Cambridge, said: “The Great Stephen Perse Bake Off has been a fantastic opportunity for students and staff to come together as a community and raise money for charity. The quality of the bakes was simply incredible, and we are so proud of all our bakers for their impressive creations and the amount that they were able to raise. We’d also like to thank Ian for bringing his expert opinion and doing the near impossible job of choosing just three deserved winners.”

As a result of the Great Stephen Perse Cambridge Bake-Off, a total of £202 was raised.

Art Scholars visit the Curwen Print Studio

Year 12 art scholars Frank OM and Phoebe G along with Emma F in Year 10 all had the opportunity to study at the Curwen Print Studio developing and working with new printmaking techniques.

By

Frank OM Year 12

Over my four day workshop at the Curwen I had the opportunity to explore and develop my project on nests and transformations in a variety of printmaking media, including collographs, drypoint printing and screen printing. The course was a wonderful experience which has inspired me to consider incorporating printmaking in aspects of my future work and allowed me to manipulate and use my drawings in an entirely new way. I was able to create a large body of work over the week, which has been useful in widening my portfolio for my A Level.

By Emma F Year 10

I was very lucky to have had the opportunity to explore the experimental printing process of collagraphs. I created a plate constructed of low relief textures such as textured wallpaper and petals/leaves that can pick up an incredible amount of detail. Then I used this plate to produce a variety of intaglio (where the ink lays in lower recesses of the plate) and relief (where the ink lays on the high parts of the plate) prints. This experience has inspired me to experiment with more textures of varying reliefs to create more depth and character in my work.

Phoebe G Year 12

Working with flowers Phoebe was able to develop her knowledge of screen printing and etching.

Phoebe G Emma F

Frank OM

Phoebe G

Strategic Thinking Professor Vincent Mak Delivers Engaging Talk

By Robert Y and Andre L

Professor Vincent Mak from Cambridge University Judge Business School came to the Sixth Form to deliver a captivating talk about ‘Thinking Strategically’.

The talk discussed the importance of strategic decisions and how to apply such thinking skills in the real world.

A compelling aspect of Professor Mak’s talk was his interaction with the audience. Professor Mak introduced different economic theories through accessible media such as games and videos. One of the most interesting parts was a guessing game where the audience had to predict a certain number based on what everyone else had picked. This encouraged students to think strategically and promote the ability to make rational decisions which is an important aspect of behavioural economics.

Furthermore, the clip from Sherlock Holmes that Professor Mak showed at the end demonstrated the importance of making rational predictions based on how other people actsuch an example made complex economic concepts accessible and helped us understand how the economy works in real life.

Professor Mak introduced different economic theories through accessible media such as games and videos.

The Year 9 Play

The White Feather

Arranged by Kim Albone

But here in this graveyard, is still No Man’s Land, and countless white crosses in mute witness stand

Miss Albone’s script for ‘The White Feather’ was a commemorative reflection on WW1, inspired by the folk song

The Green Fields of France by Eric Bogle. The song reflects upon the short life of a young soldier, William McBride, who was killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Our Year 9 cast told the story of William alongside stories of other characters, both men and women, and how their lives were dramatically impacted by the First World War. They rose admirably to the

challenge of communicating the range of atmospheres and emotions needed for this performance: from the dreamy and peaceful bliss of a land before war was on anyone's mind, to the pressures of the propaganda employed to encourage the enlisting, to the atrocities of the trenches, the struggles at home, and finally dealing with losses in the aftermath of the war’s conclusion.

The performance included a number of comedy routines and songs taken from the Music Hall genre, performed to backing tracks provided by Year 13 Music scholar Ryan H. The final scene, set at William’s graveside, culminated in a live rendition of Bogle’s song, whilst poppies fell from above the stage, creating a memorable and moving final image.

Building a Supportive Community: Senior School Embraces Children's Mental Health Week

By Shahzad Rahman

Students across the Senior School celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week, a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering, equipping, and amplifying the voices of every child in the UK. Our school community embraced this year’s theme: ‘My Voice Matters’.

Throughout the week, a series of events and activities were organised to foster conversations around mental health and well-being. Assemblies focused on essential topics such as coping strategies, stress management, and the importance of open dialogue. Additionally, students participated in the National Send a Card to a Friend initiative, spreading kindness and fostering connections.

In PSHE sessions, mental health topics were explored in depth, providing students with valuable knowledge and resources. Form activities centred around destigmatising conversations about mental health and honing active listening skills, essential tools for building supportive communities.

Group activities offered students diverse opportunities for self-expression and relaxation. From planting seeds to building with Lego, from learning to knit to engaging in paper crafting and lineball, students explored various avenues for creativity and mindfulness.

In collaboration with our school counsellors, students and staff engaged in creating a community artwork piece focused on the theme of self-care. This mural, adorned with drawings depicting activities that bring enjoyment and support wellbeing, was exhibited to inspire students with ideas for self-care and emphasise its significance for everyone.

Moreover, initiatives such as a mental health questionnaire and a worry box provided avenues for students to voice their feelings, share experiences, and offer suggestions for enhancing mental health support within our school community. The overwhelming response, with over 200 contributions, underscores the significance of prioritising mental health and well-being.

To culminate the week's activities, students participated in a non-uniform day, with proceeds donated to a local mental health charity, Centre 33. This gesture not only raised awareness but also contributed tangibly to supporting mental health initiatives in our community.

As we reflected on the events of Children’s Mental Health Week, we recognised the importance of fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every voice is heard and valued. By coming together as a community, we reaffirmed our commitment to promoting mental health and well-being for all.

Identity and Inclusion: Dr

Maggie Semple's message to our Sixth Form Students

Our Stephen Perse Cambridge Sixth Form students enjoyed a guest talk by renowned entrepreneur and thoughtleader, Dr Maggie Semple OBE.

Maggie spoke about the importance of being able to comfortably express one’s identity and of being aware of how other’s perceptions and experiences may vary from our own because of our different identities.

Maggie Semple, who has been described as a ‘voice of reason’ and a thought leader on inclusion and equity, leadership and cultural change, encouraged students in Year 12 to consider how little we each can know about one another's identities, unless we take the time to listen and understand everyone’s different life experiences.

During her talk, Maggie drew on her expertise from her varied career in education, government, law and as an author to encourage students to confidently explore and express the different factors that make up their own identity and to try and understand those of others and how that may affect our personal and professional interactions and relationships.

Maggie Semple said: “It is important that we are all able to constructively discuss difference, race and inclusion, whether we are first entering the workplace and finding our identities at the beginning of our careers, or leading and managing an organisation. In order to be inclusive, we need to understand the different facets that form our own identity and how that relates to the identities of those around us.

This is a life-long journey for us all, but the teenage years, and especially Years 12 and 13 at school, are an important time for young people to become more confident in their own identity and how to navigate difference and inclusion effectively and positively as they prepare for the next steps in their education, training, career and personal lives.”

Richard Girvan, Principal of Stephen Perse Cambridge, added: “At Stephen Perse Cambridge, we nurture an inclusive environment in school. Maggie’s talk gave students a great deal of food for thought around sharing our own perspectives and thinking about the implications that this has for us every day. Her talk sparked ongoing conversations within the school community and has helped us all to understand how to put our intention to be more inclusive into positive practice.”

Cambridge Model United Nations Tackles Real-World Challenges

By the CamMUN 2023-2024 Secretariat

Cambridge Model United Nations (CamMUN) is an event hosted annually by several Stephen Perse Sixth Form students over a long weekend where delegates come from many other schools and countries to debate matters important to us. Topics ranged from the regulation of cryptocurrencies, to the stable supply of medical supplies to war-torn countries.

Delegates were split into ten Committees such as the Security Council and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

This event also hosted the Historical International Court of Justice (HICJ) where delegates discussed historical events. This year, they debated the Gadaffi trial and the legitimacy of the actions of the US in Libya. Additionally this year, a brand new committee UNOOSA: the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. This committee was designed to address the increasing interest and funding into space exploration. Resolutions were passed which investigated the regulatory nature of spaceflight and exploration.

The first day of the conference, Friday 2 February, welcomed delegates and introduced them to their committees. An opening ceremony was held led by our Secretary General, Benjamin A who introduced our conference theme: “Mitigating growing barriers to navigate a fractured diplomatic climate”.

Following that, he explained the course of the conference, and introduced our guest speaker: Ambassador John Beyer, who advises on the European studies course at St Antony’s College Oxford, and served as ambassador to Moldova from 2006 to 2009. He spoke on the importance of history and joining individuals in creating an environment where peace can flourish. We finished with our Head of Logistics, Florence B on what the future holds and our place within it. With that, delegates joined their committees for introductions and icebreakers.

On the Saturday morning, delegates arrived bright and early for a day of intense debate. Committee sessions commenced with delegates proposing their resolutions and others suggesting and voting on amendments. Resolutions ranged from concerns around cybersecurity to facing the China - US trade war.

Crisis committee commenced its sessions on an international disaster cutting off global communications. Sabotage of undersea cables and a badly timed volcanic eruption separated the delegates, limiting their communication to notes sent between them. All the delegates worked together to create solutions in a unified and diplomatic fashion.

On Saturday evening, we held our social event. This year’s social event was held in the Great Hall in St John’s College. Delegates and chairs arrived through the Great Gate to enjoy the views and architecture of the college buildings. Canapés were provided and all the attendees enjoyed conversing with their friends, new and old, before exploring the college grounds and eventually going into the city for dinner.

On the Sunday and the final day, committees moved onto their second topics of discussion. UNODC considered the legalities of recreational drug use while the crisis confronted a discovery in the South China Sea. Committees all moved towards a close by voting on amendments to be passed and enacted and how they would move forward.

The Sunday finished with a closing ceremony, led by our Head of Academics, Bochang L. Chairs were introduced to the stage to briefly cover their topics and give out awards to their best delegates, best first timers and some special mentions. We finished with our Secretary General giving a closing speech and thanking everyone involved.

All the delegates worked together to create solutions in a unified and diplomatic fashion.

Brain Power:

Dr Guy Sutton Returns to Challenge and Inspire our A Level Students

By Alison Daniels

In a welcome return, neuroscientist Dr Guy Sutton delivered a talk to our A Level Biologists and Psychologists.

Guy Sutton’s primary research interests are the genetics of neural development and brain function, together with the interactive nature of biological, genetic and behavioural factors in disease processes. More generally, he has a passion for life sciences, philosophy and the history of scientific thought.

Dr Sutton’s work includes advising and teaching High Court judges, police, medical students, forensic pathologists and of course, A Level students.

He covered some of the material from the A Level courses including neurotransmission, brain structure and brain localisation. However, he also posed some challenging questions such as when consciousness might start, and end, and whether brain tissue grown in labs might ever become ‘conscious’. Brain development in teenagers, the link of social

media to anxiety and depression and how attention may be affected by smartphones were also covered in his whistle stop explanations.

The highlights, as always, were the brain dissections and for our students the opportunity to hold a (sheep) brain.

In all, it was a fabulous day and we are as always grateful to have the experience and enthusiasm of Dr Sutton as an inspiration for our students.

The

highlights, as always, were the brain dissections and for our students the opportunity to hold a (sheep) brain.

The Year 7 Play

The Odyssey, adapted by Helene Barrell

By Helene Barrell

The Year 7 play, inspired by Homer’s epic poem, followed Odysseus and his intrepid Warriors on their extraordinary voyage home to Ithaca at the end of the Trojan War.

Furious that his sacred city of Troy had been destroyed, the god Poseidon vowed to get his revenge, sending Odysseus and his crew on a long and perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. The production adopted a highly visual style, incorporating a number of movement sequences choreographed by members of the cast and puppet sequences depicting a smaller version of Odysseus’ boat to allow for the cast to play with scale. Dialogue scenes between the Greek Warriors provided moments of comic relief whilst moments of tension and atmosphere were created on the Islands of the Cyclops and Circe and in the Land of Shadows.

A large number of students were involved behind the scenes: Year 12 Performing Arts Construction students constructed the prow of a boat which formed the basis of the set, whilst backstage students designed and made the Scylla sea monster puppets and other props and costumes to help bring a myriad of mythical characters and creatures to life. The fluorescent garlands, masks and backdrop were created by Year 9 Drama Backstage students.

I thoroughly enjoyed working on this production with Year 7. I was incredibly impressed by the commitment, energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved: this is a very talented cast and definitely one to watch out for in the future!

THE UPCOMING YEAR 8 PRODUCTION

Us and Them

BY DAVID CAMPTON

THURSDAY 27 AND FRIDAY 28 JUNE, 7:30PM

We are daring to journey into the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). The original short play of ‘Us & Them’ by David Campton is a story of two parties of humans, A and B, from East and West. Each party plans to settle down, then sees each other and instant suspicion arises. AI, Year 8 and myself are confronting this age-old question of "us vs. them," but with an artificially intelligent twist where we mix live performance, comedy and film to question the help and hindrance that AI can impart on those of us that are confused and curious.

CLICK BELOW TO BUY TICKETS

THURSDAY 27 JUNE, 7.30PM

FRIDAY 28 JUNE, 7.30PM

Stephen Perse donates iPads to Cambs Youth Panel

Stephen Perse Cambridge has donated 40 iPads, cases and chargers to Cambs Youth Panel as part of an ongoing partnership of technological donations.

The Cambs Youth Panel is made up of young people from Cambridgeshire and meets virtually to discuss the key issues that influence the quality of life in the region that they feel need to be addressed. The panel will use the donated iPads from Stephen Perse Cambridge to widen access to technology in and around Cambridge.

Andrew Brett, Director of IT and Systems Development at Stephen Perse Cambridge, said: "We are delighted to be able to make another donation of iPads to Cambs Youth Panel. Phil and his team do some fantastic work providing devices to young people in our local community that need them the most, and we are very pleased to be able to help with that.”

The pandemic revealed the true extent of digital inequality in and around Cambridgeshire. Cambs Youth Panel believes that every child and young person requires a computer, especially to complete their studies on the required learning platforms.

Phil Priestley, Creator of Cambs Youth Panel, added: “Stephen Perse Cambridge has always been a huge supporter of ours and they have previously donated iMac and iPad devices that we have allocated to children and young people who otherwise would not have access to this technology. We’re grateful to everyone at Stephen Perse Cambridge because together we are tackling digital inequality and boosting the chances of young people in Cambridge.”

Cambs Youth Panel believes that every child and young person requires a computer, especially to complete their studies on the required learning platform.

Sport Update

Year 7 student Rose takes Double Silver at European Fencing Championships

Year 7 student Rose R has returned from Ciudad Real, Spain with both an individual and team Silver Medal for England, in the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) U14 Women’s Foil competition.

Having first been introduced to fencing in Year 2 at Stephen Perse Cambridge Junior School and after just two years of intermediate to advanced level fencing with her local club, Cambridge Sword, 11 year old Rose was the youngest competitor to be selected for the England U14 fencing team competing at the European tournament. In her short but high achieving fencing career, Rose has managed to catch up with many seasoned fencers, having won the Championship for the U12 Women's Foil category at the Eastern Region Qualifiers earlier this year. At number 19, Rose is currently the highest ranked England fencer in the European rankings for the Women's U14 Foil.

Placing second at the European competition was particularly special for Rose as she was also the highest ranking captain for the team event. Reflecting on her achievement, Rose said: "I wasn't expecting a Silver for England, but this is my proudest achievement. Getting to Spain and training with the England team was really exciting. It was a very long day of fencing, but I enjoyed every moment of it and even made new friends with other international competitors. My success so far is thanks to both my school, Stephen Perse Cambridge, for starting me in fencing when I was in Year 2 and my club, Cambridge Sword, that got me to this amazing point in my fencing journey.”

Rose is looking forward to competing next at the British Youth Championships in Sheffield this summer, along with two other students from Stephen Perse Cambridge Senior School, Loïc and Jerome.

At number 19, Rose is currently the highest ranked England fencer in the European rankings for the Women's U14 Foil.

Sixth Form Student Linaysha Selected for Great Britain Underwater Hockey Team

Linaysha was formerly a Malaysian Underwater Hockey (UWH) athlete and had actively competed in various international UWH competitions.

Upon joining Stephen Perse Cambridge Sixth Form, she continued her passion in UWH by joining the local UWH Club in Cambridge (Sawston Piranha’s), which she also represented in a recent UWH Youth tournament held in Ipswich.

Whilst juggling her studies, Linaysha was determined to be a part of Great Britain’s UWH Team, and set her sights on making this a reality through attending monthly training camps in Leeds and daily exercise regimes over the past year.

In her most recent training session in mid-March ‘24, after a rigorous selection process, Linaysha was announced as part of the 13 member squad U19 Underwater Hockey Team for Great Britain. Together with 50 other athletes from GB who will be competing in other categories such as U24 & U19 Men’s and U24 Women’s, Linaysha will be representing Great Britain in the upcoming UWH World Championships to be held in Malaysia in July ’24.

Underwater Hockey, or also known as ‘Octopush’, is a sport that started in the 1950s. It was invented by the British Navy to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently underwater. This sport is played at the bottom of a swimming pool with two teams competing to manoeuvre a puck with a hockey stick into the opposing team’s goal. The sport is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and is governed by the World Underwater Federation (CMAS). It is currently being played professionally in more than 20 countries including USA, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Japan and China.

After a rigorous selection process, Linaysha was announced as part of the 13 member squad U19 Underwater Hockey Team for Great Britain

Sporting Successes

We have had some superb individual and team performances, here are just some of the highlights.

Archery

Sophie R continues to go from strength to strength in archery. She recently won an amazing six titles at the County Championships and has also been selected for the European Championships in Bulgaria.

Karate

Congratulations to Rumaisa F who recently won two silver medals at the World Karate Federation British Open Championship - in Sanbon Rotational kumite and Ippon kumite.

Golf

Five of our students competed in the Cambridgeshire Schools Golf Championships at Ely City Golf Club. All did very well and Year 10 Oliver B was crowned U16 and U18 handicap winner.

Sportshall Athletics

The following students were selected from the District Sportshall Championships to represent the Cambridgeshire County team at the Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships in Norwich: Francesca B, Shouchen W, Keseniia K, Claudia BF, Juliet BF, Jamie B, Chevonne H, Romy S, Rowan A. They all performed exceptionally well against the best athletes in the region.

Football

Huge congratulations to Alice E in Year 9 who was selected for the ISFA under 14 National team. In the first warm-up game against Kent Schools, whilst playing with players from Manchester City, Chelsea and MK Dons, Alice scored the winning goal. An International match against Wales is next on the agenda.

Basketball

The U18 Basketball team continued on their winning streak this season winning 71-50 against a very competitive Abbey College.

Rugby

Francesca B and Orla C were on the winning Shelford Rugby Club team in the Eastern Counties Rugby U14 Cup.

Judo

Daphne B won a silver medal in the National schools Judo championships in Sheffield recently. She won two fights to progress to the final, then only just missed out on gold.

Show Jumping

Hara-Leyani has qualified for The Grass Roots Championships Festival 2024 at Hickstead in August.

Hockey Round Up

This term the boys hockey teams have been involved in four county tournaments and two teams have progressed through to the regional tournaments.

Year 7 have shown good commitment playing some very good hockey against some strong schools. It has been pleasing to see so many boys taking part. Year 8 have had some tough fixtures but have kept working hard and are looking forward to moving to 11-a-side next year.

Year 9 started their 11-a-side hockey strongly with our B Team producing numerous goals in their matches and the A Team having a successful season, only just missing out on a place at Nationals after losing on shuffles in the Regional Final. They finished the day as Runners up after winning four matches and drawing one on the way to the final.

Year 10 and Year 11 have had competitive and successful matches against some strong schools. A combined team of these year groups formed the U16 side who performed very well in the regional finals and ended up as runners up after an impressive display over the day, narrowly losing 1-0 in a nail biting final. Our boys’ U18 side have also played some fantastic hockey. Congratulations to all!

Football Update

The Under 15 girls’ lost a very narrow quarter final in the ISFA National Shield, whilst missing several key players against Forest. They put up a good fight, and were a credit to the school throughout their run.

The Under 15 boys’ suffered a heartbreaking semi-final defeat on penalties in the ISFA National Bowl at Cranmore. They went a goal up after 10 minutes, and dominated the rest of the game, before conceding the equaliser, a couple of minutes before full time. Several great chances were created to win the game in extra time, but unfortunately none were taken. The performances throughout were outstanding, but unfortunately, you don’t always get what you deserve in sport. We couldn’t be prouder of every single one of the boys’, who exemplified every positive trait we associate with Stephen Perse students.

The Under 14 boys’ are through to the District Cup final after a thrilling win on penalties against Impington. A brace from Thibault B-S earned a 2-2 draw before Jake T saved the 24th penalty of the shootout to send the team through to the final against St.Bede’s at Newmarket Town FC on June 19.

U16 Boys Regional Hockey

U14 Boys Regional Hockey

U15 Girls

U14 Boys

National Indoor Rowing Competition

Year 10 student Daniel L recently competed at the National Indoor Rowing Competition at the Copper Box Arena in London. Daniel competed in a team event and also in an individual event. Daniel said:

“On the 1 March I went with my rowing club to a competition called the National Indoor rowing competition, it was in the Copper Box arena in London. Overall there were 2000 competitors racing but some also had gone to Leeds to do it.

I was racing in two events, one was the junior relay where there were four members from my club team ‘RobRoy’ and we had to row 500m each. The hardest part about this race was getting into and out of the rowing machine. I didn’t realise when we got there we would be racing anyone from Year 10 to Year 13 so of course some Year 13s were amazing, but we did pretty well for one of the youngest groups there and came 23rd out of approximately 100 teams.

My second race was a Year 10 boys 5 minute piece. This race was only about half an hour after my first one so my legs were already exhausted. I was talking to another guy who had his relay three hours before this so he was fully recovered which was really lucky.

The race was quite tough especially as we had no warm-up and I did reasonably well in my heat. I came 8th on the day and 45th overall in the UK. There was not much difference in distance between myself and the winner; there was only 100 metres.”

There was not much difference in distance between myself and the winner; there was only 100 metres.