From exploring London’s diverse culinary landscape to mastering food hygiene and celebrating global festival foods, our students had an unforgettable half term of delicious discoveries and hands-on learning

We’ve had an incredibly fun and exciting time exploring food this half term! Our Year 10 students embarked on the immersive Talk Eat Walk tour in London, diving into the rich history of Old Victorian London. Our adventure took us to Spitalfields Market, where we savoured the vibrant flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine. In Banglatown, we indulged in a delightful assortment of samosas, onion bhajis and pakoras and wandered through the historic ruins of Truman’s Brewery. A highlight was our stop at Dark Sugars, where we enjoyed decadent chocolate truffles and the most delicious hot chocolate. The journey continued with mouth-watering salt beef bagels on Brick Lane and concluded with heavenly sourdough donuts. It was a truly fantastic experience that left our students inspired for the next part of their learning.

Meanwhile, our Year 8 students have been delving into the world of protein and food hygiene. They’ve honed their skills in handling and preparing meat, crafting their own sausage rolls and fajitas with newfound expertise.

Year 9 students have been diligently working on their festival food project, bringing a diverse array of cultures and cuisines into our food room. Some students showcased their family and cultural festival foods, sharing their traditions and culinary knowledge with their peers. It’s been amazing to see their passion and creativity come to life.

Year 10 Geographers collect data in the seaside town of Sheringham and Cley-next-the-Sea

Year 10 geographers visited Norfolk for two days on Thursday 16th – Friday 17th May 2024. Thankfully, the rain stopped just as we reached the coast, so after eating lunch at West Runton, we then collected land use and pedestrian data at Sheringham. Because it was overcast, a lot of people were visiting the town rather than the beach, which was ideal for our surveys! The students were investigating whether beach resorts such as Sheringham are busier nearer the beach. The theory is that more resort style shops and services are nearer the sea and so will attract more visitors.

We were looked after well overnight at Sheringham Youth Hostel and after a large breakfast, travelled east along the coast to Cley-next-the-Sea. The sun was shining which made the collection of the beach data really enjoyable. The students were investigating whether there are distinctive beach features on this particular beach, linked to wave type and processes of erosion at work.

Students have been given a certificate congratulating them on their enthusiasm and engagement over the two days and ‘rock person’ as a memento!

Mrs Ruffhead

Busy but informative week for our Young Carers

This week Young Carers have had the opportunity to hear a talk from Sarah Carroll from Manchester University on product design and to have a go at building models during  the Tuesday lunchtime Drop In session in school. Sarah gave out bags and torches from the university and chatted to the Young Carers and their supporters about their school life. It was really interesting to hear about projects she has been involved in from playgrounds to clothing promotions.

On Wednesday, our Year 7 and 8 Young Carers had a confidence workshop run by Mrs McKinnell. Pupils found out about different strategies for building confidence and dealing with the unhelpful thoughts that can clutter our minds when we feel stressed. All pupils received a goodie bag and hopefully went away with some ideas to try out.

Many thanks to Sarah Carroll and Mrs McKinnell!

A Level History students consolidate their knowledge of the reformation in St Albans Abbey

On the 9th of May 2024, our A-Level History class went to St Albans Cathedral to learn about its historical importance during the Tudor period, which is what we are currently studying. Upon arrival, we met Judy who gave us a tour around the Cathedral and gave us further information on the Reformation and the impact it had locally. She was very enthusiastic and answered all of our questions with great knowledge. It was very interesting to learn how Henry VIII’s break from Rome impacted the nation and our local area and it put its vast scale into perspective. The highlight for me was the wall paintings. The cathedral had used laser technology to showcase their original colours which had been destroyed during the dissolution of monasteries.

Ruby C

Bishop’s Acting Troupe performs another thought provoking piece.

On 2nd May, the BATs (Bishop Acting Troupe) successfully performed their second play: Find a Partner! by Miriam Battye. The students worked extremely hard on this relevant but humorous story that parodied today’s obsession with reality television. Preparing since September, the troupe had the audience laughing whilst raising some poignant questions about modern society. The performance received rave reviews with the troupe going from strength to strength. Don’t worry if you missed it, the BATs will be performing the same piece for the Expressive Arts Showcase on 10th July. For anyone wanting to join the BATs, look out for information about the next round of auditions.