Year 11 displayed team tactics and tenacious spirit during the Bishop’s Warriors event just before half term.

On 15th February 2024, Year 11 spent the afternoon working in teams to master a plethora of obstacles set up on the sports field. The obstacles were physical and mental challenges that had to be tackled as a team. Teams enjoyed activities such as the ‘wibbly wobbly wet wheelbarrow race’, ‘the tunnel of terror’, ‘tyre-some teams’ and the ‘cool pool’ with mental agility tasks including ‘memory magic’ and ‘riddle dee dee’! Many teams dressed up for the event and created fantastic names for their teams including ‘Jammy Dodgers’ and ‘Women in Black’!

The Bishop’s warriors event allows Year 11 to expand their team building skills and develop more resilience, to have a go at all obstacles as a team regardless of weather conditions and skill level. This is a great experience that helps prepare them mentally for their forthcoming GCSE exams as well as allowing them to have fun before the intense revision begins.

Two groups of Year 10 scientists entered national science competitions to extend their knowledge and be in with a chance of winning!

Prudence C, Liza A and Hania B have entered the Schools Science competition organised by the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College, London. The purpose of the competition is to motivate young people to engage with science, to encourage them to work together as part of a team and to engage them in a fun activity that is motivated by their curiosity and drive. Prudence and her team submitted a video demonstrating a robot design that will test soil quality to help improve food security, a major global issue due to climate change. The first round results will be available soon.

Our second group of scientists, Polly C and Erin W, entered a new competition organised by Homerton College, Cambridge. This competition is designed to allow young scientists to think outside the box and answer particular questions in any manner they wish and different questions are asked every couple of months. The first question asked why animals do not have wheels. Polly and Erin sent a video of their answer discussing the evolution of varied groups of animals. They received a Highly Commended grade for their entry and they are now thinking of the next challenge- ‘Are humans still evolving’.

Both teams have worked hard and shown dedication and ambition with their time and creativity to work on their entries and the Science Faculty are very proud of their work.

Year 11 pupils shine the spotlight on Welwyn and Hatfield

The Historical Association’s Great Debate invited entrants to create a 5 minute speech on the set question: ‘Which historical place or person from your local area deserves greater recognition?’ Jessica D argued that Britain’s Man of Steel, Henry Bessemer, transformed the British Steel Industry and Lucy C shone a light on the contributions of Welwyn’s Roman Baths to both the local area and wider attitudes towards public health. Both students delivered informative, engaging and convincing speeches. The competition was drawn from a wide range of private, grammar and one other comprehensive school, so both girls should be incredibly proud of their presentation. Special commendation goes to Jessica who achieved regional runner up.

Children’s Mental Health Week 2024, from 5th to 11th February 2024, was a resounding success, the theme “My Voice Matters”, featuring an empowering assembly, diverse lunchtime activities promoting relaxation and creativity, all made possible by the support of staff and teachers.

From 5th to 11th February 2024, we celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week with enthusiasm, embracing the theme wholeheartedly and sparking conversations that resonated with our students and staff alike. Our school was filled with a powerful message: “My Voice Matters.”

The week kicked off with an assembly for our Year 10 students, where the spotlight shone brightly on the importance of mental health. We encouraged our students to speak up, reach out, and prioritise their mental well-being. It was a pivotal moment, setting the tone for the week ahead and laying the foundation for open dialogue, support and signposting.

But the conversation didn’t stop there. Throughout the week, our school was a hive of activity, with a diverse range of lunchtime activities designed to support and nurture Children’s Wellbeing. From tranquil sessions of Transcendental Meditation and Mindfulness to invigorating Yoga sessions, students had the opportunity to explore different avenues for relaxation and stress relief. The goal-setting workshop empowered our students to dream big and chart their course towards success, while adventures in nature reminded us of the healing power of the great outdoors.

Creativity was also in full bloom during Children’s Mental Health Week, with students unleashing their artistic talents through activities such as mood board creation and artistic colouring sessions. These activities served as powerful outlets for expression and reflection, fostering a sense of connection and community among our students.

Thank you to the incredible contributions of our English and Art departments, who went above and beyond to infuse creativity and mindfulness into their lessons and activities throughout the week. Their dedication to promoting mental health awareness within our curriculum is truly commendable and has had a lasting impact on our students.

And of course, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and participation of our form tutors, teachers, staff members, and individuals such as Mr. Lister, Mrs. Davies, Miss Ferguson, Ms. Cameron, Mr. Underwood, Ms. Graves, and Mr. Kench. Each individual played a vital role in making Children’s Mental Health Week a resounding success. Your support and involvement have been instrumental in making this week a meaningful and impactful experience for our students.

As Children’s Mental Health Week has come to a close, let us carry forward the lessons learned and the conversations started. Let us continue to amplify our voices, break the silence surrounding mental health, and foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and support within our school community. Together, we can make a difference, one voice at a time.