Principal's 11-18 Newsletter - July 2023

This year’s final word with the Principal

Activities, Celebrations and Farewells

As another year draws to a close, our community of staff, students, parents and alumnae participate in the customary rituals of the summer term. It is a time for summative activities, celebrations and farewells.

We celebrate the efforts and progress of all of our senior school students who have participated in end of year assessments. Their results reflect their hard work and industry, as well as the efforts their teachers have made to teach and support them. Some will be happy with how they have performed, others may be disappointed, but these are formative tests, rather than summative exams and there is time and opportunity still to reflect on where progress still needs to be made. So, at this stage we celebrate their progress and effort, rather than their achievements in absolute terms.

Richard Girvan

As an important counterpoint to summer assessments, a number of year groups have enjoyed residential trips packed with activities, with students in Years 7, 8 and 9 all spending a week away from home and school being together as well as learning ‘in the field’. It was brilliant to be able to spend two days on the Year 8 trip on the south coast and observe students enjoying various activities from coasteering to sea kayaking, giant paddle boarding to navigating water park inflatables. Activities were designed to be enjoyed as well as to provide opportunities for appropriate levels of physical or mental challenge. I was struck by how students really got stuck in and by the brilliant support they received from one another and also from my colleagues, who encouraged, counselled and cajoled, while also setting a brilliant example and ensuring the trip ran like clockwork.

Celebratory events have taken place for those completing formal examinations in Year 11 and Year 13. I particularly enjoyed the Year 13 Leavers’ Dinner where parents, students and staff enjoyed a drinks reception and a wonderful meal at the charming Manor Barn in Harlton. Outgoing student president, Danika, and Mrs Paris each gave heartfelt and poignant tributes to the year, and academic and character prizes were awarded. The event provided an important fillip midway through the final term of examinations for A level students and marked the end of the exam period for our final cohort of IB students. As I write we look forward to the Leavers Service at the end of term in the Chapel at Gonville and Caius, where we will wish a fond farewell for the summer to the Year 13 Class of 2023 ahead of the publication of their results towards the end of August. The Year 11 Ball and BBQ events, marked the end of the GCSE years and an opportunity to look ahead to results in August and then on to sixth form study.

We wish Farewell to Tracy Handford, Vice Principal, and former Head of Dame Bradbury's, after 8 years of exemplary service at Stephen Perse.

Farewell to Tracy Handford

This year we must also say a particularly heartfelt thank you and farewell to Tracy Handford.

Tracy has been appointed as Head of Peponi House in Kenya from September 2023 - they are very fortunate to have secured her and she will be much missed by her colleagues at Stephen Perse schools. We thank Tracy for all that she has done as Vice Principal of the Stephen Perse Foundation in the years since Dame Bradbury’s joined our family of schools and, of course, all that she achieved before that as Head of Dame Bradbury’s. She has been a superb colleague, who has demonstrated remarkable industry and diligence in all of the many areas in which she has been involved in the running of the Foundation. We wish her and her family all the best on their new adventure in Kenya and look forward to hearing her news whenever she is able to join reunions again in future.

Life changing bursaries at Stephen Perse

Stephen Perse schools have always included a significant number of bursary and scholarship places. This academic year, we have provided financial assistance to 138 students across our schools and in September, as the new academic year begins, this will rise to around 280 bursaries and scholarships. Alongside our general bursary scheme we also offer some restricted bursary places, including sixth form places for students from North Cambridge Academy (NCA) and, more recently, to students displaced by conflict. The NCA scheme currently offers up to six fully-funded sixth form bursaries each year to students joining the sixth form nominated by North Cambridge Academy, a state secondary school in Arbury Ward, Cambridge, with which the Stephen Perse Foundation has close links. We are tremendously grateful to our partners at Costello Medical for their multi-year and ongoing support for this programme.

Our three-way partnership is used as a best-practice case study by Cambridge 2030 to encourage further partnerships between companies and schools in the independent and state sectors. We are actively seeking further corporate and trust partners to expand this programme, which provides better educational opportunities and outcomes for able young people, regardless of their family circumstances. The Conflict Bursaries scheme offers places to suitable candidates who have been displaced by conflict in their home country.

We are proud of what we have already achieved with our parents, students, staff and the wider community to support young people. We have committed ourselves to further increasing our bursaries and scholarships and you will see this develop as an ever important theme as we approach our 150th anniversary in 2031: a theme to celebrate and to lead our next phase of evolution as we return ever closer to our philanthropic and historic roots as an engine of social change.

In closing

The summer break provides the opportunity for what I like to refer to as the three R’s: Rest, Reflection and Reinvigoration. I hope that everyone enjoys a welcome break, has the opportunity to see family and friends, and to reflect on all that has happened this year and then to look forward to whatever 2023-24 brings for you. I look forward to seeing everyone who is returning to school in September and to staying in touch with those for whom this is the final year at the school and so are becoming members of the Stephen Perse Guild.

Richard Girvan Principal

Latest News

BMW Mini Factory Tour

by Year 12 student Deniz P

I think this tour was eye-opening more than anything else. We toured around the production line in Body in White (BiW), in awe of the scale that these twisting and sliding robots worked at. Then we went to the Final Assembly where more workers were employed. We saw, in action, the very things that we are learning about in our Business A level such as mass customisation of cars produced just-in-time and how to motivate workers.

One surprise was the use of ostrich feathers to remove static before the paint is applied. Each car is then delivered to the customer who ordered it, mostly in the UK, USA or China.

We saw lean production with a global supply chain which gave us a better understanding of the concepts we write about in our essays. It was highly informative, it felt like an interactive episode of ‘How It’s Made’ as a rough comparison, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is curious about tech, design, business or engineering.

Outdoor Education and DofE update

by Russell McAlinden, Head of Outdoor Education

DofE has been thriving throughout the school in the past 12 months, with more students completing their awards than ever before. This summer, we have had 94 Year 9 students embark on their Bronze Expedition training weekends, which will be followed up by their qualifying expedition in September. 53 Year 10 students will be stepping out on their Silver Expedition along with five Year 12 students undertaking the Gold qualifying expedition at the end of this term. Another really powerful part of the DofE programme is the Volunteering section. As a school, we have students doing a range of really beneficial things, from supporting local charities to helping the local community. The DofE has recognised our efforts through the presentation of a certificate which shows that our students have contributed over 2700 hours of volunteering time.

Adventure Learning News

Sailing, paddlesports and bushcraft have all been on offer this term, with students making the most of the warmer weather and having the opportunity to get out onto the water.

Sustainability at Stephen Perse - Reuse of ‘Old’ Science Textbooks

With the constant updating of education curriculums Stephen Perse often finds itself in a position where there are textbooks that no longer meet the specifications of a curriculum. With recent updates to the science curriculum(s) there were approximately 1,000 science textbooks that no longer meet our needs. Rather than these books being recycled, Stephen Perse has partnered with Books2Africa to provide a ‘second’ life to these books.

Books2Africa is a UK registered charity that promotes ‘readcycling’ and improves the quality of education in Africa by collecting, processing, shipping and distributing quality donated books, computers and educational materials that would otherwise go to landfill. Instead, these materials equip institutions and community libraries.

The Sustainability Section of Stephen Perse worked with the Senior School Student Sustainability Committee, headed by Audrey S (Year 12) to sort and pack these books into 41 boxes.

Teen Tech Awards Finalists

The TeenTech Awards are for UK students from 11-16 (Years 7 to 11) and 16-19 (Years 12 to 13) working in teams of up to three to look at problems large and small to see if they can find a better way of doing things.

This year around 15 Stephen Perse students took part, developing a diverse range of projects. There was a project to investigate sustainable energy options at the school and a fidget pen designed for SEND students. Molly R, Carys W and Millie K in Year 8 submitted a project on their idea for a new hand balm to reduce student stress. The aim of the project is to create a scented balm which can be sold from a vending machine in school.

Julie P and Mouboni D are also interested in student stress. Their idea is to increase the number of plants in schools by making them portable for students to be able to take them to class. Both projects have been selected for the finals and they will compete against other students by presenting their work to judges at the Institute for Engineering and Technology in Central London.

120 years of the Guild

Founded in 1903 as the Old Persean Guild, the Guild updated its name to reflect the contemporary school in 2009 and we are delighted to be celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.

Alumni representing every decade from the 1940s to the 2020s enjoyed lunch, tea and tours, including those celebrating 60, 50, 40, 30 and 20 years since leaving sixth form. Guests spent time catching up with old friends, making new ones and seeing which areas of school remained as they nostalgically remembered and what was new and different. Many visitors particularly enjoyed the music on arrival and the Summer Art Exhibition on display in the Visual Arts Centre, showcasing the work of GCSE and A level art students who have taken their exams this term.

Principal, Richard Girvan, updated Guild members on school life and highlighted our commitment to increasing access to a Stephen Perse education, saying: “At Stephen Perse, we continue to live by the enduring values that Perse and Bradbury bequeathed us, but we are also adaptable and able to discern those elements of an outstanding education that should endure from those which should evolve, so that our students are best served in the education they receive. Of course, to really live the values of Perse and Bradbury, all this must be accessible to academically able young people, regardless of their family circumstances. Stephen Perse schools have always included a significant number of bursary and scholarship places, but the recent Covid-19 pandemic highlighted how access to outstanding education is still needed now more than ever and is not universally available.

Alumni Reunion

On Saturday 17 June, it was a great pleasure for staff and students to welcome Stephen Perse Guild members back to the Senior School and Sixth Form.

Two Dame Bradbury’s students, Leo and Sam, visiting with their alumna mother, Sarah (2002), joined Jean (1949) and Veronica (1951) as Jean cut the celebration cake.

You may have seen in school communications that we have already started to further develop this access. This academic year, we have provided financial assistance to 138 students across our schools and in September, as the new academic year begins, this will rise to around 280 bursaries and scholarships. We have committed ourselves to further increasing our bursaries and scholarships.”

In closing and following the Guild tradition of including past and present staff alongside alumni, Richard paid tribute to Tracy Handford. He thanked and congratulated Tracy on all that she has achieved as Vice-Principal of the Stephen Perse Foundation and as Head of Dame Bradbury’s before that. Guild members wished Tracy all the best in her new role as Head of Peponi House in Kenya and hope to see her again whenever she is back in the UK.

“At Stephen Perse, we continue to live by the enduring values that Perse and Bradbury bequeathed us."

Richard Girvan Principal

The Wardrobe

Sam Holcroft’s play ‘The Wardrobe’ invites the audience to imagine what sights and sounds a Tudor wardrobe might have witnessed across the centuries. In each stand-alone scene, which takes place either in or around the wardrobe, we see little snippets of ordinary people’s lives through the ages, sharing in their loves, their losses and their fears. Connecting the different periods in history are the mysterious cloaked ‘Stitchers’, weaving the fabric of time.

Our fabulous Year 8 cast took on some challenging themes in this thought-provoking play and worked hard throughout a very busy term to bring their various characters to life.

Many of them took on more than one role and had to adapt to different time periods or locations. The production included some brand new scenes written for the cast by director Deborah Foote and she also incorporated scenes in Mandarin and Spanish which were translated by some of our bilingual performers. Choreography for The Stitchers was created by Sophia A (Year 8) along with older sister Abigail A (Year 10) and other members of the cast.

Designing and making the set, lighting, costumes and props for this show provided a real challenge for the creative team! The results, as you will see in the photos, are pretty stunning. The Drama department would like to thank all of the staff and students who helped to make this production such a success.

The Memory of the world is not a bright, shining crystal, but a heap of broken fragments, a few fine flashes of light that break through the darkness.

Herbert Butterfield

Degree Apprenticeship Workshop

Degree apprenticeships continue to rise in popularity with an increasing number of top universities now offering them alongside strong support from UCAS. Whilst representatives were on hand at our recent Careers and Guidance event to discuss the advantages of these programmes we were delighted to have Natalie Phillips from AIM Apprenticeships to run a bespoke workshop for seven of our Year 12 and Year 13 students.

Starting with key information on how to locate apprenticeships, the students navigated a number of websites with both local and national information, alongside government and university guidance, tips and instructions. Key details to incorporate into searches were discussed including pay, contact hours, assessment methods, and university and employer expectations.

The focus of the workshop then shifted to interview practice. Very different from standard university interviews, the degree apprenticeship applications normally compose a number of interviews, initially online.

These are predominantly based on psychometric testing in the first instance. Initially there were no struggles with verbal reasoning and inductive reasoning but the error checking exercise was a little more challenging.

Finally the personality test showed how reserved and polite our students were. We look forward to continued success as we support these applications alongside all our post 18 educational pathways.

Allison Curry Head of Guidance

We were delighted to have Natalie Phillips from AIM Apprenticeships to run a bespoke workshop for seven of our Year 12 and Year 13 students.

Catherine P secures Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

with Mott MacDonald

For a second year running (last year it was Jonah BC), Year 13 student Catherine P has secured a Level 6 degree apprenticeship.

These are highly competitive (frequently more competitive than Oxbridge) both in terms of the high numbers of students applying and the rigorous and arduous multiple interview/selection process involved. They are also currently a key focus of UCAS and the emerging directions of university education in the future.

Catherine P has been offered a Level 6 degree apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald in Civil Engineering. Based in the Water Consultancy division she will be focusing on water and the environment over a 6 year period, 80% of the time at Mott MacDonald Cambridge and 20% in the University setting. The award comes with a full-time salary, university fees paid, a full BSc Hons degree at the end, work experience and a guaranteed placement with the company on completion.

We are delighted to have supported Catherine in her journey towards obtaining this award alongside the ongoing support of our collaborations with AIM apprenticeships. Aim were not only a valuable contributor to our recent Careers Fair but are also actively involved in preparing sixth form students for the interview process alongside working with students at a KS4 level as well.

Year 13 student

The World of Work - Careers and Guidance Activity

Year 10 students have been engaged with the continuation of our careers guidance thread which started with their introduction to work experience in both its virtual and in person forms.

A number of students have managed to find experiences in the summer or already completed short placements at Easter.

The session pointed out the differences between work experience, part-time work and volunteering opportunities. It dealt with the legal basis of students their age working and got them to think about what they can get from each type of experience. The students worked in teams to identify the soft skills needed for high profile professions like a doctor, lawyer or engineer, and how they would get those from different opportunities.

Realising that even the communication and public contact skills from working in a charity shop can be applied to a future career in a very different field.

At the end of the day the groups pulled together their thoughts into group posters that will hopefully remind them of the important lessons from the discussions and maybe even encourage more of them to seek out opportunities this summer.

If you have any questions about the work experience programme please contact Dr Mark Woodward msw@stephenperse.com

Dr Sarah Paris

by Student Jessie L H

On Friday 16 June, we welcomed Dr Sarah Paris to Stephen Perse, who has been an archaeologist, a lecturer, a tutor, now a teaching associate at the University of Cambridge.

Her talk was themed around two parts of her journey: how she became an ‘accidental archaeologist’, and the topic of her research.

An ‘accidental archaeologist’

Dr Paris took an unusual approach by starting with the stories behind her CV, which covered a series of challenges she faced since her sixth form years at Stephen Perse. Taking archaeology only as a compromised degree, with her initial thoughts of changing to a law degree after the first year, she ended up enjoying the course and continued with it. Another turning point was her decision to pursue a more science focused route, although she experienced several disappointments after the transition, her perseverance carried her a long way to who she had become today.

She encouraged the students to always follow the path of where their true passion lies, and keep going with it, but also highlighted the importance of having the flexibility that is needed - changing path at any time is not embarrassing, she

had emphasised the message several times. The sixth formers, currently handling their UCAS applications, were particularly inspired by her message.

Prehistoric burial sites and the use of red ochre

Dr Paris then moved onto her research topic, starting with a deep, thorough analysis of the field of archaeology. She introduced it as a field that is more than just the discovery of the past, but hunting down solutions to bigger questions such as climate change, human evolution and migration.

Her research, which is focused on the use of red ochre in burial sites, stimulated the curiosity of the students once again. She explored the amount of red ochre used in the several burial sites in the site of Khok Phanom Di, Thailand, in relation to the identities of the burials. She spotted the pattern of a generally increasing use of ochre over bodies as the age of the deceased increased. The students actively engaged with her open ended questions during the talk. After the talk, again students demonstrated enthusiasm, they were interested in what archaeology could tell us about human behaviours and more specific questions about the burial sites.

Thank you again Dr Paris for introducing a topic that is not often considered and bringing some encouragement to the sixth formers.

Young Enterprise Decor8

by Year 12 student

Hello, we are Decor8, a Young Enterprise (YE) company formed by nine Year 12 students.

Our mission is to spread the joy of different festivals by making decorations and ornaments related to them. We held a few sales in school, for Halloween and Christmas. One of our most successful sales was at the Christmas Winter Fair. We provided a DIY kit of wooden decorations, paints, and paintbrushes, which was very popular among younger children, who tried them out in our workshop there. Also, our Valentine's Day service was a huge success. Customers pre-ordered their secret messages, which were then written on pink hearts and sent the following week with a rose and chocolates.

Finally, to celebrate International Women's Day, we headed to Peterborough for the Serpentine Green YE Trade Fair. We sold bracelet kits, and customers could choose the beads they liked.

Setting up these sales was never easy and we faced many challenges throughout the process of preparing them. One of the biggest challenges that we faced was having a lengthy production process for each event. Then we had the idea to sell kits where customers could make the products themselves. One of our biggest highlights was winning the prize for our logo at the area final.

We all learned various skills, especially how to work in a team and to how to best communicate. Ceyla and I also learned how to manage a company as joint MDs. Joe was the company secretary and set up our bank account.

Each week we had the advice of our Business Advisor Martin Wooler and our teacher Mrs Coulson. These skills will definitely help our futures. Overall, joining the Young Enterprise Company Programme was one of the best decisions that we all made. If you are interested in knowing how to start and run a business, we would definitely recommend this programme.

"Our new Year 12 students will be hearing about how they can join the Young Enterprise programme from September."

Mrs Coulson YE Centre Lead

Ashley H

History Society Talk

Dr Xin Fan

by Jessie and Florence

On Friday 28 April, Dr Xin Fan, an expert in modern Chinese history and professor at the University of Cambridge, came in to talk to the students from both the Sixth Form and the Senior School about China prior to Mao’s rise to power and several of the century’s important themes.

The talk focused on the period of 1840s to 1940s, which many historians considered it had been China’s ‘century of humiliation’.

Dr Fan took an interesting and enthusiastic approach to debate to what extent this view is completely valid. He not only looked at all the damage that the Chinese government and people suffered during this period, but also introduced an alternative viewpoint, exploring how this ‘century of humiliation’ was actually a period of rapid social growth and was categorised by three themes: anti-traditionalism, anti-imperialism, and revolution.

The students, who studied a vast range of different subjects, not just humanities, from the Senior School and Sixth Form were highly enthusiastic - almost being late to lessons because they had so many eager questions.

This allowed them to immerse themselves in the discussion and engage with Dr Fan to help expand their mind-sets when it comes to viewing history. The talk was very enlightening and intriguing, and it has encouraged us all to always consider different perspectives in both history and our day-to-day lives.

Thank you again for Dr Fan’s effort and expertise, also thank you for those who came to listen and enthuse.

Boarding Round up

On the cultural front, there have been visits to The Fitzwilliam Museum with one of our graduate assistants, who is an art historian, and a classical music concert at Clare Hall College, at which the programme centrepiece was Quartet for the End of Time by the Twentieth Century French composer Olivier Messiaen. Whilst cinema visits have included Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Thor: Love and Thunder there have been local outings to see the Bonfire Night firework display on Midsummer Common and visits to the Botanic Garden.

On the morning of the 6 May, boarding students visited Ely. The Cathedral was open to the public, and they joined hundreds of others to watch the live-streaming of King Charles’ coronation ceremony on a big screen. The cathedral was decorated to mark the occasion with floral displays depicting the official Coronation emblem.

The boarders have undertaken numerous sporting activities including ten-pin bowling, archery and a visit to Grafham Water’s indoor climbing centre. They also participated in the boarders’ weekend badminton and basketball sessions, with many playing in the Sixth Form Basketball Team. In addition, seventeen boarders joined the school ski trip to Sestriere, Italy in December.

In-house activities have included karaoke evenings, board games nights and table football tournaments. Boarders gathered at Kirby’s Dining Room to celebrate the Lunar New Year festival over some delicious Asian snacks. Whilst some played Mah-jongg and others watched a film together, there was also the writing of good wishes for the New Year in Chinese calligraphy.

Denise Hammersley Head of Boarding

The boarders have enjoyed a diverse programme of activities this year.

On the cultural front, there have been visits to The Fitzwilliam Museum with one of our graduate assistants, who is an art historian.

Year10

IGCSE Drama Trip to London

by Helene Barrell Head of

Drama

Our Year 10 Drama students had a fantastic day in London on Thursday 8 June. In the morning we had a very informative tour of The National Theatre on the Southbank, gaining insight into the history of the building, learning about its very different performance spaces and seeing first hand the various workshops and behind-the-scenes areas where props and sets are made. We saw the stage crew preparing the Olivier stage for a tech rehearsal of a new play about Gareth Southgate called ‘Dear England’ and some of us caught a glimpse of actors Joseph Fiennes (who will play Gareth Southgate) and Andrew Scott (who was just in the neighbourhood).

After lunch we watched an incredibly colourful and energetic matinee performance of the musical ‘Guys and Dolls’ at The Bridge Theatre. We had standing tickets for this immersive production directed by Nicholas Hytner: this meant that we were all right in the middle of the action, which our students absolutely loved. Some of them even took part in a danceoff at the end of the show. Afterwards we spotted one of the stars and he very kindly posed with our students for a photo (he is the one with the moustache!). All in all it was an extremely enjoyable day which we hope will enrich and inspire our drama students’ own performance work.

One student said she particularly liked how she and her group could use the game to get to know each other.

Outdoor Activity Residential

by Rachel Edmunds Head of Year 8

The team from Land & Wave (the provider) is also staffed by experienced, passionate and fun outdoor instructors who are just as happy dressing up in a tutu for an evening of ‘Taskmaster’ as they are standing in the waves as students jump on and off giant paddleboards!

The week away for the Year 8 residential was full of variety. A firm favourite was the afternoon spent at the local water park. Students were able to leap between inflatables or attempt to push their teachers into the water, often just jumping into the cool water in a week that was over 20 degrees each day we were there. Indeed, the most frequently used words were ‘sunscreen, sun hat, water bottle!’

Another day the students get a huge amount from is the bushcraft day. The students learnt how to listen and look at a natural environment to see how to keep themselves safe, but also to find and make things to aid survival. Of course there are also lots of active pursuits too, from Archery to giant games of Manhunt, which the students loved.

In the heat, we did have to be innovative. On the last day for example, the coaches had been delayed arriving at the campsite to pick us up to head back to Cambridge and it was already 23 degrees. The teachers’ realised students would need more than a packed lunch to keep them happy so a dash was made to the local town, where a supermarket was cleared out of ice-lollies to bring back and keep everyone refreshed.

Despite delays, good humour was maintained and the Year 8s came back home full of stories and positive connections with each other as well.

It was more like glamping, if we’re honest, with bell tents set up and showers, loos and a dining marquee on site to make our week away in Dorset as comfortable as possible.

The students learnt how to listen and look at a natural environment to see how to keep themselves safe, but also to find and make things to aid survival.

Kenya Trip

A group of 11 Stephen Perse Year 12 students were selected, following application, to take part in our inaugural school trip to Kenya to visit the charity for which the school has been raising money: Nakuru Children’s Project.

The trip was a great success on all fronts. Our pupils enjoyed the opportunity to broaden their cultural horizons, staying in a homestay with a Kenyan family for the majority of the trip. Here they enjoyed home-cooked Kenyan food and getting to know the family through cooking together, learning Kenyan card games, dancing to Kenyan music and hosting a gathering of a local widow’s group which had been set up recently by our host, Grace.

During their time there, the students spent a number of days visiting a local school from which the charity’s feeding program is run: Nyathuna Primary School. The students helped in the kitchen and served food for a selection of the local students benefiting from the feeding programme. The students spent some time assisting the local teachers in lessons, and also provided some English language assistance where necessary. There was a great deal of excitement during break times and sports lessons, when our students got involved in playing sports and learning new games.

“For me, the most important theme of the trip was one of connection."

Sebastian Year 12

The highlight was when the local church came to speak to the students and held a dance contest between our students and the local students. The pupils appreciated the opportunity to see first-hand the excellent work that the charity was doing, and were particularly touched when they met some of the families for whom the feeding programme had been particularly beneficial.

Our pupils were also afforded the opportunity to go on a number of excursions, both in the local area and further afield. These involved visits to waterfalls, volcanoes, animal sanctuaries, geothermal pools, the equator and hippo viewing at dusk.

The trip concluded with some animal spotting on safari in the Maasai Mara, where the students were very lucky to see all of the big five. They stayed in an indigenous community-run camp, enjoying some local Maasai stories while watching the sun set over the teeming plains of the Mara.

Year 12 student Christopher W said: “The trip really meant a lot to me because I got to see a completely different part of the world. I've lived in big cities my entire life and one thing I've noticed is that they smile a lot more than we do. Even the smallest thing like receiving a new football as a gift, can make them grin from ear to ear. They may not be as well off as we are, yet they are grateful for everything they have. This is something that I think we should learn from them.”

Year 12 student Chang L said: “We spent the better part of a week helping at the school where we taught lessons, helped paint, and assisted in serving food. It was clear from the first day at the school that our visit would not be for nothing. Upon first entering the classrooms to begin teaching it was clear that these children have a uniquely diligent and enthusiastic attitude to learning. Any type of lesson on any topic was thoroughly welcomed as the children would stare, intensely focus on the board and the subject taught. It’s clear that the children loved having visitors (we were some of the first foreigners a few of them had ever seen due to the pandemic). They had such wonderful interactions with us and were very welcoming. Of course we also loved being there, the memories,

experiences, and the loving atmosphere of Nyathuna Primary School is unmatched by any other. Going to Kenya to see the children and experience the joy of that beautiful country is something everyone should have the pleasure of doing.”

Year 12 student Audrey S said: “The Kenya trip was an incredibly enjoyable experience! Exploring new destinations, experiencing cultures and building connections with one another made it deeply meaningful and unforgettable. That said, there have been many priceless moments that I will treasure forever - particularly with the children at school who have such an uplifting spirit!”

Year 12 student Sebastian said: “For me, the most important theme of the trip was one of connection. Be it engaging with the school children, the companionship between us students, or the close contact with the stunning Kenyan environment, these connections are what made the trip valuable to me.”

Year 10

Trip to Walsingham

by Year 10 students Amalia SV and Elanaz M

The main focus of pilgrimage is the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham which remembers the vision of the Saxon noblewoman, Richeldis de Faverches. In this vision Richeldis was taken to Mary’s home in Nazareth and saw Gabriel promise Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Mary asked Richeldis to build a replica of the house in Nazareth, which now lies in Walsingham.

The trip enabled us to explore a variety of churches in Walsingham, including Methodist, Roman Catholic and Russian orthodox. This helped us develop a clearer understanding of these denominations by being able to visually observe how differences in belief are reflected in the physical features of the Churches. For example, the Russian Orthodox chapel of St Seraphim was very small and filled with brightly coloured icons. However, we were surprised by the exterior of the Methodist Church which resembled a simple house, and did

not have icons or stained glass. After visiting all the different churches, we returned to the main Saint Mary & All Saints Church and visited the Holy House. This is a replica of Jesus’ house in Nazareth and is therefore considered a space of great importance and spiritual focus.

In the Holy House, we lit candles and made a prayer in order to experience what pilgrims might do when they visit. Experiencing this gave us a better understanding why people specifically come to Walsingham to pray in order to focus better on prayer when in a holy and meaningful place. The last thing we did was take part in a sprinkling service (unique to Walsingham) at the Holy Well. There was first a short service which was led by a priest and included communal prayer. Then, we congregated at the Holy Well where the priest blessed those that wanted it with holy water. He offered us a sip to drink and then marked the sign of the cross on our forehead and poured some into our hand. The water is believed to have miraculous healing powers and the sprinkling reminds pilgrims of the gift of life and the generosity of God’s love. This service was very exciting to be a part of and gave us an interesting insight into the personal importance of Walsingham for pilgrims.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip and we all came back with an in-depth understanding of Christian practices that surpasses what we could have learnt in the classroom.

As part of our GCSE Religious Studies course, we have been learning about pilgrimage. One of the most famous pilgrimage sites in the UK is Walsingham or ‘Little Nazareth’, as it is also known, which we, as Year 10 students, visited on 26 April.

Music

Jazz on a Summer’s Evening

The school musical year came to an upbeat and energetic close with Jazz on a Summer’s Evening on Friday 16 June.

Around 100 students took part, singing and playing an incredible 36 items in a wide range of popular styles. The first half featured a number of our larger groups: Big Band, Concert Strings, Brass Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Years 7-9 Upper Voices Choir, The Singers, Boys’ Choir and Changing Voices Choir and some rock bands, performing pieces including Eye of the Tiger, Rock Around the Clock, Over the Rainbow, a nd even some Black Sabbath!

We were very lucky with the weather this year and the second half proceeded as planned outside with refreshments, whilst a vast array of soloists from all years of the school serenaded us with items including Build me up Buttercup, One Direction’s What makes you Beautiful and Lovely by Billie Eilish. An increasing number of our students write and perform their own songs both within and beyond their class music lessons, and a number of these were also performed, with great confidence and to great acclaim from the audience, who filled all corners of the Activity Space.

Art and Design Summer Exhibition 2023

by Rachel Bloomfield-Proud

in the VAC.

The VAC was miraculously transformed into an exhibition space to showcase the work of the 40 Year 11 Art, Craft and Design and 3D Design GCSE students and nine Art A level students, who had assisted to set up their own spaces in the sixth form studio using their knowledge of curation.

The evening was officially opened by Charlotte Cornish, a printmaker/painter who lives and works in Cambridge. She spoke about her creative journey as a full-time artist and enjoyed talking with the A level students about their own work.

This exhibition was opened for the Alumni Reunion event which followed on Saturday 17 June 2023.

To follow is a summary of what the students studied during their two year courses and the starting points for the work exhibited.

Art Craft and Design GCSE

Year 10

All students rotated between Fine Art, Digital and Textiles. They worked in an A4 sketchbook to evidence their journey through these three areas with outcomes presented on the walls. The starting theme was Identity, based on the Curiosity Boxes they made.

Year 11

Term 1 - Students opted for either a Textile or Fine Art pathway using the following starting point themes:

• Textiles: Renew, Reuse, Repair

• Fine Art: Reflections

This enabled students to develop a greater understanding of one specialism. Students worked in A3 books to show their journey.

Term 2/3 - This was the first year post-Covid with an exam. The exam theme was ‘Lock’ and the students visited the Tate Britain and the V&A for inspiration.

On Friday 16 June 2023 it was a delight to welcome so many students with their friends, family, past and present staff to the annual Summer Art and Design Summer Exhibition held

3D Design GCSE

Year 10

All students completed two projects within the first year of the course. The two projects enabled them to explore the areas of architecture, product design and 3D art using the themes: Biomimicry/Organic Structures (context architecture - house in the woods) and Reflection (context - home wear).

The Students chose one or two of these projects to submit with their Component 1. The students presented their journey in A3 display folders.

Year 11

Term 1 - Students all worked to the theme ‘Rhythm & Geometry’ making use of the exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, of the same title as a starting point. Each student interpreted the theme and chose to develop it through one of the following pathways: Architecture; Product Design; and 3D Art. The students presented their journey in A3 display folders.

Term 2 - This was the first year post-Covid with an exam. The exam starting point was ‘Lock’.

Art A level 2023

Year 12 and Term 1 of Year 13

Students worked through three projects developing increasing independence in their choice of direction.

• Project 1: Growth and Evolution

• Project 2: Transformation

• Project 3: A choice of themes leading in personal direction Internal/ External/ Structures/ Collections and Gatherings

Year 13 Term 2 /3

This was the first year post-Covid with an exam. The exam theme was ‘Simple, Complex’ and based on a visit to the Tate Modern and The Courtauld Institute.

Language Department Update

German Exchange return visit

Our Year 10 Germanists hosted their German partners at the end of the summer term. Now they were the tour guides showing their partners an authentic experience of life in the UK. A couple of days were spent in school, learning about the English school system and a chance to compare: Whose teachers are stricter? Who gets more homework? One thing both our schools share is their central geographical position they have in their respective city centres of Munich and Cambridge.

The German visitors were given a thorough tour of central Cambridge and a lengthy walking tour of London by their teachers, determined to show them as much as possible in one day!

The high point, as always, was the group day trip, which is a packed whistle stop tour of British highlights. We went to Sandringham House and Estate, a chance to connect with the British royal family - although we have had little success in ever seeing anyone significant. The land-locked Bavarians always find the visit to the seaside at Hunstanton an absolute pleasure and they are shown every aspect of this, including eating fish and chips with salt and vinegar whilst batting off the confident seagulls.

On the way home we always stop at the Norfolk Lavender Centre, which gave our visitors and our students a chance to pick up some gifts for their families.

We say a fond farewell - or rather auf Wiedersehen - to our visitors and hope that these friendships will continue into the future. Taking part in a school exchange is a challenging route to improving one’s language skills, but far, far more is gained from this experience than just on the linguistic front. Young people getting to know each other, sharing their lives and making memories together is a wonderful thing.

Ende gut, alles gut!

The high point, as always, was the group day trip, which is a packed whistle stop tour of British highlights. We went to Sandringham House and Estate.

Year 10 Debating in Modern Languages

During the busiest time of the summer term, amidst end of year exams, several Year 10s put themselves forward for a regional Modern Languages Debating Competition held at King’s Ely.

We had four students participate in the Spanish debates: Lydia, Scarlett, Ahmet and Alfie. Ahmet and Alfie reached the final showdown, but were pipped at the final post. All four of them had prepared themselves extremely well with strong arguments for and against the following motions:

•Los coches deberían estar prohibidos en todas las ciudades

•Escribir a mano debería ser obligatorio en los colegios

•La educación en línea es el futuro. Los colegios están obsoletos

Our two Year 10 German teams comprising Amalia, Phoebe, Eric and Lewis ended up having no-one to debate with - clearly their reputation preceded them?! Dr Walton-Jordan ran the competition in-house with the Year 10 Germanists supporting and Mr Oliver adjudicating. Yes, he’s an English teacher, however Mr Oliver is a secret linguist and happens to have a very good command of German, amongst his other languages.

He was very impressed with the high level of fluency in German of our teams.

Here are the motions for the German debates, what are your thoughts about this?

•Schulen sollten die Schuluniform abschaffen

•Handys sollten in der Schule verboten sein

•Die Ehe ist heutzutage eine altmodische Tradition

We want to congratulate all the Year 10 students who put themselves forward for the debating in a different language to their own during a busy May. Well done to you all!

Languages Department Update

Poker

Un jeu de stratégie et de bluff. Parfait pour un détective et un gentleman cambrioleur. Tous les deux restent intensément concentrés pendant toute la partie, jusqu’à ce que le détective pose “trois rois et un as”. Un sourire se glisse sur ses lèvres. Pourtant, le gentleman lui rend le sourire et pose “trois as et un roi!”

Au début, le détective ne semble pas comprendre. Enfin, en partant, il marmotta “bien joué”. Le gentleman acquiesça sans dire mot avec un sourire aimable, en rentrant discrètement les trois as et le roi dans sa manche. Poker. Un jeu de triche.

Oxford University French Flash Fiction Competition 2023 success

We were delighted to hear that Jérôme T-R got a Highly Commended in the recent Oxford University French Flash Fiction Competition which is a competition which challenges young people to write a story of just 100 words in French or Spanish. His enrty is above.

Crocodile

Aged crocodile that I am

Living in peace

In water, on land, On the shore in warm sand

My life is ever of peace

Devouring all that cross my path

It’s all the same to me

Mush in my inside

Already a hundred years passed

And when I must die

I shall lie still among the reeds

And die in the dusk

Anthea Bell Translation competition German - Astrid area winner level

Astrid O-M in Year 7 recently received ‘commended’ in our part of the country from the Anthea Bell Translation competition. She translated into English the poem das Krokodil by Franz Graf von Pocci. Her poem will go through to the next round which is UK-wide.

This is a fantastic achievement given the number and standard of entries they received this year. A team of undergraduates and professional translators have judged entries to the competition. Astrid has translated the poem beautifully and originally, showing a superb understanding of the German version and conveying it into English so well.

Year 10

Chinese Day Trip to the British Museum & Chinatown

We had a brilliant Chinese Day Trip to the British Museum and Chinatown on 13 June. Year 10 student Maya said: “I really enjoyed the Chinese trip! First, we went to the British Museum to see the ‘China’s hidden century’ exhibit. I found it all interesting, but my favourite part was definitely the different clothes people wore at that time, in particular the beautiful robe which was worn by the Empress. We also got the opportunity to see the Treaty of Nanjing, which was a very special experience.

Next, we walked to Chinatown to have lunch at an authentic Cantonese restaurant called New Loon Fung. The food was delicious, and I especially enjoyed the fried rice and the shrimp dumplings. After we all got some bubble tea, we took the underground back to King’s Cross to catch the train home. Overall the trip was extremely fun and everyone had an awesome time!”

Shirt Signing, BBQ and Prom

2023 Leavers’ Prize Giving Dinner

by Jacq Paris, Head of Sixth Form

Friday 26 May was one of those sunny days with a chill breeze, but the sun held out long enough to shine on the gardens at The Manor Barn in Harlton as the Year 13, their parents and tutors arrived to celebrate their achievements and come together as a whole year group for almost the final time.

The barn was bedecked in fairy lights and the tables set with decorations put together by the student president team. The guests sparkled too as everyone was dressed in their finest evening wear.

Guests were welcomed on arrival with drinks, students collected their yearbooks and the celebrations began. Once the parents and staff were ushered to their seats, our in-house photographer, Aidan Whyte captured the moment with a year group photograph. The students were then welcomed into the barn with a standing ovation to take their seats.

After a three course dinner during which a photo slide show of the students including some baby photographs were screened, the prize giving element of the evening began.

Academic prizes were awarded by each department to students who demonstrated outstanding contribution or achievement. The Trinity Leaving exhibition is awarded each year by Trinity College Cambridge to the most outstanding academic student.

We are delighted to nominate Katy W who will receive her prize directly from the college. In addition there were prizes for contribution to sport and the community; both the school community and beyond. General prizes were awarded for academic commitment, progress and to the student president, Danika, for her leadership of the sixth form president team.

In my address, I spoke of the skills and strength of character that the students have shown and how proud I am of them. Whilst it is traditional to acknowledge academic achievements at these events, it is more important to recognise all of the journeys that all of the students have taken over their two years of sixth form. The highs and the lows, the challenges, the uncertainty, the discovery, intellectual growth, the joys and laughter, a love of learning and the academic and personal skills needed to flourish in the future.

Click here to view more photos from the Year 13 Leavers Dinner 2023.

The event serves to mark, not the end of a journey but the start of a new adventure. Timed just as the examinations begin, it aims to be a reminder of the extent to which the students have matured and are ready to fledge the nest; that they are ready for university and life beyond.

The formal part of the evening finished with our student president, Danika, giving a very moving speech about her time in office and her appreciation of her time she has spent at Stephen Perse. There followed dancing, photos and much celebrating - the serious business of revision was quite rightly suspended for one night.

Jacq Paris, Head of Sixth Form

Year 13 Prizes 2023

Language and Communication

Modern Languages (Given By The Parents' Association) Saho T

Burns Prize For French Nat S

The Mary Fazackerley Prize For German Bio S

Golder Prize For Spanish (Endowed By Miss Golder) Vicky M

The Helen Grant Memorial Prize For Classics Naomi S

Mathematical Understanding

Pure Mathematics (Endowed By Miss Mallard) Edwin M

Mathematics (Endowed By Miss Birks) Sasha R

Prize For Single Mathematics (Anonymous Donation) Jet J

The event serves to mark, not the end of a journey but the start of a new adventure.

Scientific Understanding

Science (Biological)

(Endowed By Mrs Bateson) Mary C

Chemistry (Helen Valentine Memorial Prize) Jet J

Hunter Prize For Physics Sasha R

Computer Science Arushi C

Design Technology Sheena K

English Elspeth Giles Prize For English Georgia BJ

English Literature

(Endowed By Miss E Gwatkin)

Saho T

Humanities And Social Understanding

Geography

Danika NA

History (John Wesley Wootton Prize) Nat S

The Stewart Prize For Economics Lilia B

Business Jemima B

Politics Alistair EG

Psychology Brooke B

Sociology Tilly L

RS & Philosophy (Kate Harding Street Memorial Prize) Wai Yuk W

Stephen Perse Prize For Theory Of Knowledge Cecily H

Click here to view more photos from the Year 13 Leavers Dinner 2023.

Creative And Performing Arts

Art (Endowed By Miss Scott) Siqi L

Drama (Given By Anne Mayne) Jay G

Music (Endowed By Miss Scott) Mary C

Campbell Prize For Music Performance Iris S

Chamber Music Prize (Given By Mrs Margaret Houghton) Katy W

Physical Education and Well-Being

Excellence In Hockey (Cup) Zoe R

Excellence In Netball (Cup) Monika M

Team Of The Year (Cup) 1st Netball Team

Achievement In Sport GirlsFor Cross Country Running (Cup) Cecily H

Achievement In Sport BoysFor Basketball (Cup) Cyrus W

General Prizes

Student President (Given By Jane Little) Danika NA

Marion Street Prize For Academic Commitment Toris A

Elizabeth Garratt Prize For Progress In The Sixth Form (Endowed By Mrs Davidson) Psyche K

Stephen Perse International Baccalaureate Prize Amogh KA

Stephen Perse Prize For Commitment To CAS Amogh KA

Trinity Leaving Exhibition (Outstanding Academic In U6th /Student Who Has A Place At Oxford Or Cambridge) Katy W

The Darbyshire Prize (For Contribution To The Wider Community) Katy W Georgia BJ

Stephen Perse Prize For Service To The Foundation Maisie C Alistair EG

Stephen Perse Prize For Contribution To The Boarding Community James T

Sport Update

Olympic Cup Athletics Competition

Nearly 70 students from Years 7-10 were selected to compete at the Olympic Cup Athletics Competition at the University Athletics track in Cambridge against nine schools on an extremely hot afternoon.

The students were an absolute credit to themselves and the school, producing outstanding performances to achieve our greatest ever number of winners and a fantastic second place overall as a school team.

Age group results

Year 7 5th place (girls 2nd, boys 7th)

Year 8 1st place (girls 1st, boys 3rd)

Year 9 2nd place (girls 2nd, boys 5th)

Year 10 2nd place (girls 1st, boys 3rd)

First Place

First Place - Year 7

Max S Shot Putt

First Place - Year 8

Pat P Discus

Ksenia K Long Jump

Imogen T High Jump

Francesca F Shot Putt

First Place - Year 9

Sophie J 1500 metres & Shot Putt

Lara B Discus

Lottie K Javelin

Thibault 800 metres

First Place - Year 10

Mia E 100 metres & Long Jump

Zoe J 300 metres

Max H Long Jump

Oliver J Javelin

Eva F Shot Putt

Allanah M High Jump

Kostas High Jump

Mia, Zoe, Sophie S & Robyn S 4 x 100m relay

Second Place - Year 7

Isabella B Shot Puttt

Second Place - Year 8

Joshua H

200 metres

Shaochen W 300 metres

Thibault Shot Putt

Natalie G Javelin

Anna G Discus

Juliet R Triple Jump

Second Place - Year 9

Toby D Shot

Phillip L Long Jump

Second Place - Year 10

Jake F 100 metres

Carla K 800 metres & Javelin

Allanah M High Jump

Third Place

Third Place - Year 7

Romy S 100 metres

Rose G 200 metres

Juliet BF Long Jump

Kiana SP Discus

Claudia BF High Jump

Chevonne Javelin

Third Place - Year 8

Michelle H 200 metres

Imogen T 1500 metres

Liam M High Jump

Natalie G Javelin

Joshua H Javelin

Vivien Long Jump

Third Place - Year 9

Isaac SP Triple Jump

Ollie R Discus

Third Place - Year 10

Sophie S

200 metres

Joshua D Shot Putt

Matthew D Triple Jump

Year 10 Oliver J competing in the Javelin at the English Schools Athletics Association National Championships

Congratulations to Oliver J in Year 10 who has been selected to compete in the Javelin at the English Schools Athletics Association National Championships in Birmingham in July, against the best athletes in the country. This is an absolutely outstanding achievement, especially as he is a year under in his age group, we wish him every success.

Football

Our U16 Boys Football Team played against St Bedes Inter Church School on Friday 16 June in the Cambridge District Cup Final. The game, which took place at Newmarket Town FC saw a crowd of 100 people made up of friends, family and staff in attendance from both schools.

The game was action packed from the very start with St Bedes taking an early lead before an equaliser from Arya who pounced onto a shot after some excellent build up play. St Bedes then went on to score four more before half time. The second half showed a much more solid performance from Stephen Perse, dominating possession and being the better team as a whole. A well taken penalty from Arya closed the scoreline and made for an exciting finish to the game before St Bedes would go on to score a last minute goal to win the match.

Regardless of the result, what the boys have achieved has been amazing, their last game as a group was in a cup final and they are the first boys football team in Stephen Perse history to reach that stage of a competition, setting the standard for the following year groups to come.

Netball

Huge congratulations to our senior first netball team, for being awarded the Youth Performance Award 2023 by Cambridgeshire County Netball Committee for their amazing achievements over the years, the most notable of which are:

• Year 7 undefeated season

• Year 9 County Champions, regional competitors

• Year 10 U16 County Champions, 2nd at Regional Finals qualifying for the National Finals. All of the squad were playing a year up

• Year 11 Voted Cambridge Netball Team of the Year

• Year 12 County runners up, 4th at Regional Finals

• Year 13 County Champions, 2nd at Regional Finals, and 8th in the Country at the National Finals

Some of our girls collected the award on the team’s behalf. We are immensely proud of our wonderful squad and they will be sorely missed!!

Cricket

We’ve had an incredibly busy summer term with cricket fixtures happening almost every day of the week. We have three teams that have had recent success and have all won their County Cup semi-finals.

The U13 boys had a fantastic win against The Perse. In a hard fought game we defended a modest total with an amazing bowling and fielding display eventually winning by eight runs.

The U13 girls had a convincing win against Impington VC winning by nine wickets.

The U15 girls had a brilliant result in their semi final against St Mary’s. After losing four early wickets they recovered to score 126 in their 20 overs. St Mary’s made a comfortable start but tight bowling Sophie J and Nina T got incredible figures of five wickets for four runs helped the team win by a margin of 23 runs.All teams play their final in the final week of term and we wish them the very best of luck.

Year 7 and 8 are also looking forward to their cricket tour to the Midlands and the 1st XI will be playing their annual fixture against the Forty Club.

Coming up this July...

Friday 14 July, 8pm

Foyer Poetry: Lewis Buxton

Join us from 7pm for drinks and street food followed by a superb evening of live poetry featuring two support acts and headliner Lewis Buxton.

Foyer Event

Book now +

Thursday 27 - Saturday 29 July

The Wind in the Willows

Join us on a magical train ride to the riverbank at Audley End Miniature Railway this summer for a brand-new open-air musical staging of Kenneth Grahame’s family classic ‘The Wind In The Willows’. Family

Theatre

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Sunday 30 July, 3pm

National Youth Girls Choir

Join the National Youth Girls Choir as they present an exciting afternoon of music including ‘Sing out my soul’, Jubilate Deo’, Cantate Domino’ and Darius Lim’s ‘Deliverance’.

Classical

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Friday 4 August, 7pm

National Youth Orchestra

Join us to experience the talent of hundreds of teenage musicians, as they breathe new life into orchestral music and remind us of the power and beauty of being truly alive.

Classical

Spoken Word Free Shuttle Bus Service

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Choral

Saturday 5 August, 7pm

National Youth Brass Band

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) Summer concert, under the direction of Guest Conductor Sara Ioannides, and featuring Guest Soloist, trombonist Scott Hartmann.

Contemporary

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Thursday 31 August, 7pm

Aurora Orchestra

Join Aurora Orchestra and Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon for their biggest challenge to date –Stravinsky’s TheRiteofSpring, performed by heart.

Contemporary

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Friday 15 September, 8pm

Foyer Jazz: Becca Wilkins’ rêverie

Becca Wilkins’ latest project rêverie is a collection of reworked French Chanson set within the style of a contemporary drummer-less jazz quartet.

Foyer Event

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Jazz

Friday 29 September, 7.30pm

London Philharmonic Orchestra: Dvořák Symphony No.7

A season-opening programme full of the rhythms, dances and melodies of central and eastern Europe and a visit from one of the world’s great violinists.

Classical

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Free Shuttle Bus Service

Brass Band

Free Shuttle Bus Service