The Latest News From UK Schools This Month – July 2024

All the latest UK news from schools this month, July 2024, from sports competitions to leadership changes and new developments.

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Events

Royal Hospital School Attempts World Record

Royal Hospital School has attempted a world record for the largest Quick Step dance at a school, with a total number of 458 achieved.

RHS attempting the largest Quick Step dance.

Pupils and staff took on the challenge during their Giving Day in support of the RHS’ Centennial Bursary Campaign. 

The dance was taught using a video tutorial and in-person sessions led by RHS teacher David Corby along with his wife Jane, who are regular competitors in the world of ballroom dancing.

Simon Lockyer, Headmaster, commented on the World Record attempt, saying ‘Last year we raised over £100,000, which meant we could support 14 children coming to the RHS who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so. This year we were even more ambitious and are delighted to have exceeded last year’s fundraising total by £20,000.’

Eaton House The Manor Celebrates Their 30th Anniversary

Eaton House The Manor is celebrating 30 years since the school’s foundation. 

Opening on the first day in 1993 there were 49 pupils in total. In 2023, the school opened its doors to 688 pupils who entered the newly refurbished grounds.

Pupils’ musical performances to celebrate 30 years of Eaton House The Manor

Headmistress at Eaton House The Manor Prep and Principal of Eaton House Schools, Mrs Sarah Segrave, said: ‘It has been a genuine joy and privilege to have been part of the journey at EHTM, having started here as a teacher on that very first day in September 1993.’

‘We marked our 30th year with a celebration of music at St Luke’s Church on Ramsden Road. This came at the end of a year of fantastic exam results across the schools’.

Pupils from Nursery to Year 8 performed in choirs, as soloists and in groups. Each pupil also received a special 30-year enamel pin badge.

Sidcot School Help Create Art Project For Glastonbury

Sidcot School Art Lead Learners joined forces with Arcadia Reach CIC to create a new installation display for Glastonbury Festival.

This concept evolved after Arcadia’s co-Founder, Pip Rush Jansen, visited Sidcot for a career talk. 

The project brief was to organise a series of hands on workshops exploring the intersection of art, science, music and engineering.

Art project displayed at Glastonbury Festival

The workshops focused on the theme of functional sustainability, encouraging students to repurpose used metals and materials into art. 

Saskia Key, Year 12 Art Lead Learner said: ‘The range of skills we learnt and needed to use required us to work closely as a team, trusting each other to develop our pieces in the short time available. I was so proud to see it on display at Glastonbury!’

Achievements

St Peter’s School Wins at Lord’s In The National Finals

St Peter’s School York won the T20 School Open Finals at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The XI boys’ cricket team competed against Millfield School for the title, with the final score of 153 to St Peter’s and 110 to Millfield. 

St Peter’s York win at Lord’s Cricket Ground (Image credit: Marylebone Cricket Club)

Pupils, alumni and families travelled all the way to London to watch the final and support the team.

Pupil Wills Bennison gained three wickets when bowling and was awarded Player of the Match during the medal ceremony.

Head Master Jeremy Walker said: ‘I could not be more proud of the players and their coaches on this outstanding achievement. To come through against such strong competition, with over 200 schools entered.’

Pupils Will Have Their Artwork Displayed At The National Gallery This Summer

Pupils from Dame Bradbury’s Junior School will have their artwork displayed at the National Gallery this summer, as part of the Take One Picture competition.

Pupils were tasked with creating an animated short video inspired by Henri Rousseau’s 1891 painting ‘Surprised!’. Using their creativity they created artwork that imagines the scene before and after the paintings. 

Film made by Year 6 pupil Florence, based on Rousseau’s famous painting ‘Surprised!’

Amira Mitchell-Karam, STEAM Lead at Dame Bradbury’s Junior School, said: ‘Stop-motion animation is a notoriously difficult art form to master, and we are very proud of the videos that our pupils have produced and the hard work that they put into making them.’

New Leadership

Stamford School Announces New Head

Stamford School has appointed Chris Seal as the new Head from September 2024. He joins from Tanglin Trust School in Singapore where he has been Head of Senior School since August 2022.

Stamford School

Mark Steed will become Interim Principal of Stamford School from September 2024-2025.

Chris commented: ‘The prospect of immersing myself in the school, town and wider community is both humbling and compelling and I am very excited to start.’