The April Week 1 2025 Education Roundup

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

Canford School Open Morning: New Headmaster & Sixth Form College

Canford School’s Open Morning on April 26th offers prospective families a glimpse into school life. Visitors will receive tours of boarding houses and facilities, with staff available for questions. This open day will coincide with the arrival of new Headmaster Chris Wheeler and the opening of a brand new Sixth Form College hub. Recent additions like new boarding houses, a library, and expanded dining facilities will also be showcased.

Find out more and book your place.

Bolton Sixth Former’s Winning Start To 2025

Sixteen-year-old Charlie, a Bolton School student, has made a successful transition to GT racing after impressing in karting and Ginetta Juniors. Racing for RAFA Racing by Race Lab in the GT4 Winter Series with Callum Davies, he secured a debut podium at Estoril. At Portimao, he claimed pole position and his first GT4 win. Further pole positions and podiums followed in Valencia and Aragon. Charlie finished strongly in Barcelona with another pole and win, totalling three poles, two wins, and six podiums in the series. He now progresses to the competitive GT4 European Series. Charlie expressed excitement for the upcoming challenge, feeling well-prepared after a positive winter season. His European campaign begins in France (April 11-13), with races streamed live on YouTube.

Kimbolton Swimming Pool Makes a Splash with National Award

Kimbolton School’s swimming pool has been named Cambridgeshire’s Community Swimming Venue of the Year 2025 and received the UK Enterprise Awards’ Community Impact Excellence Award 2025. With over 7,000 visitors annually, the pool offers diverse programs, including swim lessons, disability sessions, and lifeguard training. It’s a vital community hub, teaching life-saving skills and hosting local school swims. Managers Stacey Paine and Jamie Collins highlighted the team’s dedication and the pool’s role in supporting both students and the wider community.

Adolescence: Is Social Media the Root of All Evil?

Sydenham High‘s Deputy Head Pastoral, Dr Elyse Waites, has been reflecting on the Netflix drama Adolescence questioning how we can better foster belonging and connection in young people. She has emphasised that building real-life connections is crucial for trust and positive relationships, urging parents to seize opportunities for interaction. She argues that a lack of connection can drive children to seek validation online from external sources and influences.

She stressed the importance of clear boundaries around screen time but also the need to address the root cause of the issues. Schools also must play a role through PSHE, mentoring, and positive staff-pupil relationships. In the digital age, nurturing human connection is paramount and this requires collaboration between school, home, and the children themselves, with active involvement and open communication.

Forging Futures: Outstanding Conference Empowers Young Women

Sydenham High School hosted its inaugural Futures Conference, empowering Year 12 girls with insights for the modern workforce. Expert speakers, including the National Cyber Security Centre’s COO Felicity Oswald and GDST CEO Cheryl Giovannoni, shared their career journeys and advice on open-mindedness, resilience, networking, and self-advocacy. 

Workshops led by Abi Stephens focused on managing pressure, while James Darley addressed navigating AI in recruitment, emphasising the continued importance of human skills. Feedback showed 96% of students gained valuable career insights and 95% felt inspired. The conference underscored the need for passion, curiosity, lifelong learning, and adaptability, aligning with the school’s core values to prepare students for a dynamic future.

Downside School Perform Oliver!

Downside School‘s recent production of Oliver! was a resounding success, showcasing the talent and camaraderie of its student cast, which also included 23 children from St Vigor & St John primary school. Director Tristan Carter and Musical Director Karen Randall praised their cast’s dedication and the collaborative spirit of the production. The show featured impressive singing, dancing, and memorable performances. St Vigor & St John’s Head, Chris Chorley, expressed deep gratitude, highlighting the transformative impact on his pupils and the positive interaction with Downside students. The production was a testament to the power of musical theatre and the school’s commitment to the performing arts.

St Mary’s School, Cambridge’s Choir Crowned GSA Junior Choir of the Year 2025

St Mary’s School, Cambridge’s Bella Voce Junior School Choir has been named GSA Junior Choir of the Year 2025. The 26 pupils from Years 5 and 6 impressed judges at the national competition with their energetic and captivating eight-minute performance. Their renditions of Jabberwocky and How Can You Catch the Wind were praised for their tone and emotional depth. Judges commended their musicality and ability to ‘breathe together as one’. Head of Junior School Music, Mrs Dudley, expressed immense pride in the girls’ dedication and passion.

Berkhamsted Celebrates Opening of New Sixth Form Building

Berkhamsted School is celebrating the opening of its new Sixth Form building, the Zaha Hadid Building, designed to promote independence and collaboration. Year 13 students have already used the workspaces for exam preparation and enjoyed the new café and social area. The innovative classrooms with boardroom-style tables have been designed to encourage student-led discussion using the Harkness Model. The building’s open-plan design mirrors contemporary offices, and a ‘Future Zone’ offers networking opportunities with local entrepreneurs. The Zaha Hadid Building will provide a dedicated space for Sixth Form students to thrive as they prepare for life beyond Berkhamsted.

Aberdeen Pupils Spring into Action with Daffodil Project Update

Pupils at St Margaret’s School for Girls are sharing their Daffodil DNA Project findings at a Lab Day this month. The project, in collaboration with the University of Dundee and funded by a Royal Society Partnership Grant, engages students in plant science and molecular biology. Pupils have been analysing genetic components of daffodils, using collections from Brodie Castle and Croft 16. They’ve gained hands-on experience in DNA extraction, library preparation, and data analysis. The project, supported by STEM partners from the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen and Dundee Universities, aims to inspire future scientists. Students highlight the project’s impact on their scientific skills and interest in genomics, emphasizing the valuable learning beyond the classroom.

Queen’s Hosts First TEDx: Future Forward

On March 28th, Queen’s School, Chester hosted its first TEDx event, Future Forward, spearheaded by Year 12 student, Gowri. The event explored innovation, sustainability, and creativity, featuring diverse speakers Lynsey Hyslop, Jill Hawkins, Muhammad Madih, and Harry Isaac. They discussed career flexibility, creativity, economic analysis, and AI’s role in climate solutions. Gowri’s leadership created a platform for forward-thinking discussions, inspiring students and staff. The event highlighted the power of youth leadership and bold thinking and showcased the school’s commitment to empowering students to shape the future.

Queen Ethelburga’s Announce their New Driver for the 2025 BRSCC CityCar Cup Drivers Championship

Queen Ethelburga’s has announced Emilia Vincent as their new driver for the 2025 BRSCC CityCar Cup Drivers Championship. Emilia, an ex-Motorsport Engineering student, brings valuable mechanical knowledge and a passion for encouraging female participation in motorsport. Experienced in karting and the CityCar Cup, where she achieved a podium in 2023 and finished 15th overall in 2024, Emilia will join the QE Motorsport Student Team. 

Team Leader Helen Snuggs expressed excitement about Emilia’s expertise. Emilia is eager to share her enthusiasm with the students. Queen Ethelburga’s, the first UK school to compete in the Challenge, launched QE Motorsport in 2022, securing a Team Professionalism Award in 2024.

Windlesham House: Shop – Cook – Eat

Year 8 Windlesham House students have completed a Shop – Cook – Eat project as part of their ‘lessons for life’ curriculum. They researched food labelling, nutrition, and supermarket prices before planning a three-course meal for 3-5 people on a £10 budget. This involved a trip to Asda to purchase ingredients, requiring careful calculations and budgeting. The final challenge was cooking the meal within 50 minutes. Pupils created tasty, diverse dishes and demonstrated excellent ACE learning habits throughout the project.

Celebrating the Power of Stories: Holme Grange to Host Inspiring Literary Fest

Holme Grange School hosted a Literary Festival on April 2-3rd, celebrating books and creativity. The event features renowned authors and illustrators, including Patrice Lawrence, Holly Bourne, Martin Brown, and Korky Paul. Pupils took part in exciting workshops, live Q&As, readings and book signings. The sessions were designed to inspire creativity and to deepen pupils’ appreciation for storytelling, both written and illustrated.