The February Week 3 2025 Education Roundup

All the latest UK news from schools in the past week can be read below. Alternatively, find the best school for your child here.

Oxford Science Studies

As Oxford Science Studies (OXSS) come towards an end of their Spring Half Term Revision Course, they look forward with excitement to their Easter Revision Course, held at the glorious campus location of St Edward’s School in Oxford. 

Their biggest course of the year, the OXSS Easter Revision Course invites GCSE, IGCSE, IB and A Level students to come together to focus on their studies ahead of the upcoming exam season.  

Offering small class sizes, with a maximum of six students timetabled, their courses offer students the chance to focus on subject material with expert tutors. Their timetables include a combination of tutorial time and independent exam practice, allowing students the opportunity to review content as well as gaining all important exam practice, tackling the type of questions that they will face in the upcoming exams.  

The OXSS Easter Revision Course is a great way for students to maximise their holidays, studying in a structured learning environment. Available on a day only or residential basis, students can attend for the full Monday to Friday week, focusing on up to 3 subjects per week.  Even better, their Early Bird Booking Discount is currently live, due to end at the start of March.

Find out more about OXSS here. 

Berkhamsted Hosts Universities Fair

Berkhamsted pupils were given an insight into their futures at their recent Universities Fair. The evening was a brilliant opportunity for Year 11 and 12 pupils to explore the vast range of choices available to them in the future, with a selection of universities, sports pathways and international options to spark their curiosity. 

Deans’ Hall was bustling with representatives from a wide range of universities including Durham University, University of Bath, University of Exeter and other highly regarded institutions. For some pupils, this was a chance to learn more about their dream university, while others were able to explore options they may not have considered before.

Find out more about Berkhamsted here. 

Hereford Cathedral School Opening International School In Rwanda

Hereford Cathedral School is delighted to announce that it will be opening a campus in Kigali, Rwanda. The international school will be operated by Hereford International Schools Ltd, a trading subsidiary of Hereford Cathedral School, and will reflect the historic institution’s values, ethos and opportunities alongside an alignment with Rwandan culture and tradition.

Hereford Cathedral School is the UK’s sixth oldest school, founded in 676AD, and the opening of its first international campus reflects a pivotal milestone in the organisation’s prestigious history. 

Strategically located within a major luxury housing development in central Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, Hereford International School Kigali will cater for pupils aged 5 to 18. In line with Hereford Cathedral School’s commitments to co-education, and aligning with Rwanda’s global leadership in gender equality, the school will be a day school for girls and boys living in Kigali and the surrounding area.

Hereford Cathedral School is excited about this milestone and looks forward to contributing positively to the educational landscape in Rwanda, delivering a first-class education that prepares students for success in a globalised world.

From The Headmaster’s Study – The Oratory Prep School Podcast

The Oratory Prep School is thrilled to launch our brand new podcast, From the Headmaster’s Study.This exciting new podcast series will bring you candid conversations with key members of the school community and they start with a deep dive into all things boarding.

The first episode is available now, so do tune in. You can listen via Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Stay up to date with new episodes by following The Oratory social media channels. Happy listening!

Find out more about The Oratory Prep here. 

Leweston students wins the Simon Powell Poetry Prize

From a very young age, Imogen (Year 12) at Leweston School has enjoyed exploring the English language in the form of writing fiction stories. Imogen now studies A Level English Literature and recently has ventured into poetry. Her journey took an exciting turn when she stumbled upon the Simon Powell Poetry Prize competition and felt compelled to submit her own work. The competition is open to the thousands of students who attend the event and 10 winners are selected to read their work on the same stage as the published poets.

Emerging as a winner was an extraordinary triumph for Imogen. As part of her prize, she spent an enriching day at the Barbican in London, guided by acclaimed contemporary poets Imtiaz Dharker and Daljit Nagra. She has also been invited to showcase her poem at the Poetry Live! Event in Bristol on 12 February.

Find out more about Leweston here. 

Royal Hospital School Succeeds in Glowing Inspection Report

The Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Suffolk, is celebrating as a result of meeting all regulatory standards after being inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the regulatory body for independent schools.

The ISI commended the school, highlighting exemplary educational standards and pastoral care. 

RHS was also found to promote strong academic excellence with the report, and it was further praised for its strong commitment to wellbeing and safeguarding, with the report commenting: ‘Staff know pupils very well and look after their pastoral needs effectively. Pupils feel comfortable to share concerns and know that adults listen to them.’

Ifran Latif, Headmaster at Royal Hospital School, said: ‘This positive outcome reflects the dedication of our staff, governors, parents and pupils in upholding the highest standards at RHS. We are incredibly proud of what our school stands for, and this inspection has reaffirmed our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for all our pupils.’

Find out more about RHS here. 

The perfect prelude to professional careers for two talented Felsted musicians

Offers of places at world-class music conservatoires and passing the ARSM Diploma in Music Performance with Merit mean that two of the most talented sixth form musicians at Felsted School in north Essex have taken their first steps towards successful careers in the field they love.

Year 13 percussionist Julia K has been offered places to continue her musical studies at two highly regarded music colleges. She now has the choice of studying for a Bachelor of Music Honours degree in Popular Music with a specialism in drum kit at the UK’s Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), or for a Bachelor of Music degree, potentially majoring in Performance and also with a focus on drum kit, on a partial scholarship at the US’ Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Another keen Year 13 musician, Tom R, a Felsted Music Scholar and pianist, took the challenging post-Grade 8 ARSM Diploma in Music Performance and passed with Merit. As part of the assessment, Tom showcased his performance skills in a 30-minute recital and was assessed on his skills of musical communication, interpretation and technical delivery.

Find out more about Felsted school here.