Three Year 12 biologists, Ella Studholme, Jess Dunnington and Alisha Rathod, teamed up to participate in this year’s ‘Cambridge Biology Challenge’ organised by Homerton College, University of Cambridge (https://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-biology-challenge). They have received distinctions for their work and an invitation to Cambridge in the summer with other top ranked teams. Jess tells their story:
Every 6 weeks, a new question was released by the organisers challenging us to submit an entry of any format to explore the prompt. All of the projects were then graded, so each team could be ranked on the national leader board. The first challenge asked us to discuss whether behaviour fossilised. We focused on how isotopes can be used to determine the diet and habitat of fossilised animals and dinosaurs and created a Lego stop-motion video describing isotope analysis in the context of a court case. This challenge was really fun, and we not only received a distinction, but the project was a runner up to the most creative award. Our December challenge centred on ‘an aspect of winter from a Biological Perspective’ and we decided to do a video in sub zero temperatures where we did a news report on the genetics and evolution of albino deer on the frozen school field, and managed to secure a distinction and badge of merit for this too. We have enjoyed the challenge of innovative thinking in a biological context and have learnt a lot of biology in the process as well as developed our team skills and time management, a great example of character building as part of the Bishop’s 360. We are looking forward to visiting Cambridge and meeting the other top ranked teams and would like to thank Dr Bune for introducing us to the challenge back in September 2024.
Jess Dunnington
On Wednesday 11th June, 2 teams of Year 9 scientists presented their science projects to the judges as part of their Industrial Cadets bronze award. This award is organised by the Engineering Development Trust and the Bishop’s teams enter as part of the London & East region.
Each team discussed their projects, showing their results and answered questions. “My team”, said Victoria “have designed an Ecoventure park that uses sustainable energy and materials whilst still offering fun and educational activities. We designed a website to advertise our park and a logo. We were very fortunate that our sponsors- Mitsubishi Electric- bought t-shirts for us with the logo!” The second team presented their work on ‘the green growth garden’ and carried out many experiments to show the growth of cress in different environmental conditions. “It was great fun to do the projects and we are looking forward to attending the celebration event with Dr Bune at the end of June. We would also like to thank Mr Short for all his hard work helping both teams with their projects.”
Victoria S
Year 10 biologists continue their DNA barcoding project by amplifying DNA ready to analyse. The project is part of the Wellcome Genome Campus educational programme to extract and sequence insect DNA (https://www.yourgenome.org/theme/barcoding-for-beginners/). Zia takes up the story:
‘We are at the stage where we need to amplify the DNA. We mixed our DNA with a special enzyme that can still work at high temperatures and placed our samples in a mini PCR machine. This machine is able to make lots of copies of DNA, similar to the way our cells replicate DNA. The machine was connected to a programme that showed the process in real time, with animations to illustrate what is happening to the DNA as well as showing the increase in the number of copies as it progressed. At the end of the process we had made 34, 359, 738, 368 copies of our DNA! We are now ready to see this DNA on a gel using electrophoresis!’
Zia P.
On Tuesday 3th June, the Bishop’s Modern Foreign Languages faculty held its eighth Languages Discovery Day which was delivered by 66 Year 10 Young MFL Leaders who shared their cultures, languages and linguistic interests with 120 Key Stage 2 boys and girls from Oak View and St Philip Howard RC Primary Schools.
The primary school pupils had the opportunity to experience 16 different languages from all around the world reflecting our diverse heritages at the school. Also included were special workshops in Greek dance, Cyphers, British Sign Language, Old English and Egyptian hieroglyphs. The day was divided in 24 workshops with different language and cultural foci. By all accounts the day was a great success. Special praise is due to the Young Leaders for their infectious enthusiasm which gave the event such a buzz and celebrated the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of our school!
Holly N said: ” The Young MFL Leader’s role was a character-building experience, as I had to work in a group and thoughtfully develop a workshop to teach a language and also make it fun, which required a lot of planning and consideration. We also had to adapt to the needs and attitudes of different children to make the experience exciting for everyone. My group taught Old English through pointing out the differences between the modern and Old English alphabet then telling the story of Beowulf, the first story ever written down in Old English and acting it out to create a more thrilling experience. We then finally got the children to work together using their new knowledge of Old English to spell certain words. I feel this was a great experience for not only us, but also for the children who got to be exposed to a range over different languages all over the world through fun and engaging activities, which brought a sense of joy to language-learning and open doors in the future and I am so glad I was able to take part in this experience.”
Katie R found the Languages Discovery Day really exciting and a fun experience with her friends. “My group did a variation of “Guess Who” in Polish, focusing on pronunciation. I think it was really good for the children to get an experience coming to another school, especially as I never really got the opportunity to do events like this when I was in primary school. I hope the children enjoyed it as much as I did. I am very grateful I was able to be a part of this day, and really loved the fact that when groups did not have a lesson scheduled, we were able to look at the other groups in different classrooms – It made it a lot more enjoyable to see what my friends were doing too and them watch mine!”
Mr R J Taylor, Head of Languages Faculty
The buzz is still in the air after last week’s fantastic Quiz Fundraiser, and what an evening it was! Hosted in support of the new school block, learning space upgrade and Sixth Form zone remodelling project, the event was a vibrant showcase of community spirit, friendly competition, and heartfelt generosity.
From the very first question to the last bite of the delicious buffet, laughter and camaraderie filled the room. Staff, governors, current parents, and even families whose children won’t be joining us until September were all in attendance — a wonderful testament to the strength and reach of our school community.
We were also thrilled to welcome back several of our unwaveringly supportive ‘Old Girls’, including some of the very first pupils from the 1960s. This alumni presence brought a rich sense of history and legacy to the event. We were also delighted to welcome back our much-loved former headteacher, Mrs Nickson — what an honour!
The quiz itself, brilliantly run by Mr Edbrook and an enthusiastic team from our Parents’ Association, staff volunteers, and our head girls, had teams racking their brains and bonding over tricky trivia and laugh-out-loud moments. Huge congratulations go to the winning team Men In Beige — a group of sharp-minded parents who managed to outwit even the senior leadership team!
A special thanks goes to one of our supportive parents, whose efforts to secure a fund-matching agreement through her employer will give our fundraising total an incredible boost. The final fundraising total will be announced soon — stay tuned!
If you missed out on this event, don’t worry. There’s more fun to come! Keep an eye out for our upcoming fundraising events, and be part of the joy, generosity, and team spirit that make our school community so special.
Alternatively you can also make a difference in other ways: – Donations via Wisepay or our JustGiving page (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bishopsbest) to help with our £25,000 target! – Sponsor a Room or Equipment – Join, lead or help with a fundraising activity, bringing in your expertise or simply share an idea – Take on a personal challenge: run, cycle, or get creative though our JustGiving page to raise funds while doing something exciting! – Ask your employer about their fund-matching scheme for our next event. Please email fundraising@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk with your questions and suggestion.
For more information about the #BEST campaign and how you can support our school, visit: http://bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk/bishops-best
What a truly uplifting week it was! Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 brought warmth, colour, and connection to Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School. With the national theme “Community,” we focused on kindness, gratitude, and coming together – and our whole school community responded with heart.
At the centre of it all was our “We Are Stronger Together” display in the canteen. Students and staff filled the space with vibrant messages of thanks, encouragement, and recognition for one another. Whether it was a kind note to a friend, a teacher, or someone behind the scenes – every message mattered. By the end of the week, the display had grown into a powerful wall of appreciation, reminding us all that community is built on small acts of kindness. The display will stay up until the end of next week to give everyone a chance to add their voice.
Form time was another highlight, with activities focused on gratitude and connection. The Kindness Chain activity was especially popular, as forms created beautiful chains of uplifting messages, looped together to symbolise unity and care. Staff have been capturing photos and videos of their chains, which will be used to create a school-wide montage celebrating this collective effort.
Our lunchtime wellbeing activities offered moments of creativity and calm throughout the week. From chalk art and nature journalling to mindful meditation and colouring with calming music, students had the opportunity to pause, reflect, and simply enjoy the moment. These drop-in sessions were peaceful, positive, and beautifully attended – a huge thank you to all staff who supported them.
Meanwhile, the Wellbeing Bingo Challenges brought out our fun and competitive side: – Students completed a range of wellbeing challenges – from acts of kindness to mindful moments – with House Points to win. – Staff took on their own bingo boards, with tasks designed to encourage self-care and connection. Last year we had two – who will it be this year?
Staff wellbeing was front and centre too. Thanks to the fantastic team from Oaklands College, massage therapy students joined us on Friday to deliver relaxing staff massages. The session was fully booked – and as always, staff rallied around to support one another with cover and flexibility. A perfect example of what school community looks like.
Whether it was writing a note of appreciation, joining in lunchtime mindfulness, or helping a colleague, the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Week could be felt in every corner of the school.
As Mental Health Lead, I am incredibly proud of how our students and staff embraced the theme of community. Your kindness, energy and openness made this week more than just a celebration – it became a reminder that we are stronger, healthier, and happier when we lift each other up.
Miss Rajdev
On May 16th, Year 10 students took part in an exciting two-day geography fieldtrip to Sheringham, a traditional seaside town on the North Norfolk coast. This hands-on experience was a great opportunity to put classroom theory into practice, exploring both human and physical geography in a real-world setting.
Day One – Urban Geography in Action
Thursday was all about understanding how Sheringham works as a town and tourist destination. Our main focus was to investigate how busy different areas of the town are and whether the seafront is the busiest part.
Armed with clipboards and stopwatches, we spread out across various locations around Sheringham and completed 10-minute pedestrian counts. From the high street to the promenade, we collected data on how many people were in each area. We also carried out a land use survey, recording the different types of shops and services, from touristy ice cream parlours and souvenir shops to everyday places like pharmacies and banks.
After a busy day of data collection, we headed to the Sheringham Youth Hostel to relax. Dinner was a hit – burgers or jacket potatoes, followed by delicious waffles with cream for dessert. Later in the evening, we gathered for hot chocolate at 9pm and enjoyed some free time before lights out at 11pm. The hostel had a great atmosphere, and it was fun spending the evening together.
On Friday, we travelled 20. minutes west along the coast to study Cley-next-the-Sea’s coastal landscape. Our aim was to investigate pebble size and shape, as well as the profile of the beach.
We used callipers and Powers Index cards to measure and classify pebbles, collecting samples from different points along the beach. It was interesting to see how the size and roundness of pebbles changed further from the sea, giving us clues about coastal processes like longshore drift and wave action.
To measure the beach profile, we used ranging poles, clinometers, and measuring tape to record changes in slope and height. Despite a bit of wind and sand in our shoes, it was a fun and practical way to learn about coastal erosion and deposition.
Overall, the trip was a great success. It gave us a chance to apply geographical skills outside the classroom and understand the connections between people, places, and physical processes. Plus, we had a lot of fun along the way!
This half term, our food students have enjoyed a truly flavour-packed journey in and out of the classroom.
A highlight for our year 10 GCSE students was the exciting trip to London, where students took part in the Walk, Eat, Talk, Eat food tour. They explored the rich culinary traditions of Victorian London while sampling an array of dishes from diverse cultures. It was a delicious way to step back in time and taste London’s history.
Back in Bishop’s, our students began learning about the world of food science and preparation. They’ve been hands-on with learning about primary and secondary processing of meat—jointing whole chickens and transforming them into mouth-watering chicken escalopes. A true test of skill and precision.
Our Key Stage 3 students have ended their food rotations positively, taking part in themed challenges such as designing meals for teenagers and creating healthy dishes using fresh ingredients suitable for the school canteen. They’ve embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, taking positive culinary risks by trying their hand at stir-fries, pastry-making, pizzas, pies and pasta dishes.
It’s been fantastic to see their cooking skills develop so confidently, with creativity and teamwork shining through in every dish.
Well done to all our students for your hard work and enthusiasm.
Mrs Wright
Like Marmite, in her day, Margaret Thatcher was loved and loathed by many. She stood out as a politician that created high levels of emotion and extreme actions during her decade in power. Our Year 12 historian debaters got their “teeth into ” the debate on whether Thatcher was a great leader. Our debating challengers this time were a local school – Sandringham – as we form a nationwide network of debating teams on historic and political issues. As ever, our team of six delivered great reasoning and use of historic evidence and sources to back up their arguments. Rebuttals at the end were reasoned and relentless, developing the art of the debate. Skills such as active listening, critical thinking and clear articulation are being developed which are all useful for future public speaking and constructing an effective history essay.
Fancy joining our Parallel Histories Debate Club? It is open to Years 9, 10 and 12 and takes place every Thursday after school. More on our Enrichment Clubs here: Enrichment Clubs
Mrs Higgings
We are always looking for high quality candidates to join our team. For Current Vacancies, Application Forms and Guidance For Applicants, please visit our vacancies page
Staff wishing to submit a news article, please click below.
Woods Avenue
Hatfield
Herts
AL10 8NL
Tel: 01707 275331
Email: admin@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher:
Mr A Wood
BA (Oxon), MBA, NPQH
