Our school has recently hosted two exciting and valuable careers events aimed at helping students explore their future pathways and develop essential employability skills.

The first event, our annual Careers Fair, took place on March 18th and brought together a wide range of employers, training providers, and colleges.

Our students were curious to hear from all the different universities and professionals who visited!

Even Mr Bullock was interested in the Careers Fair!

Students from different year groups had the opportunity to speak directly with professionals from various industries, including healthcare, engineering, business, and the creative sector. The fair provided a fantastic chance for students to ask questions, gather information, and begin thinking seriously about their future career options.

Many students found it particularly helpful to learn about the different routes available after school, such as apprenticeships, college courses, and university pathways.

Building on this success, we then held a Year 10 Careers Day on April 16th, which focused on developing practical skills for the world of work.

A key highlight of the day was the mock interview sessions, where students experienced what a real job interview is like. Volunteers from local businesses and organisations generously gave their time to interview students and provide constructive feedback. This helped students understand how to present themselves confidently, answer questions effectively, and reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement.

Throughout the day, Year 10 students also took part in workshops designed to improve their communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. These sessions encouraged students to think about their future ambitions and the steps they need to take to achieve them.

Year 10 Workshops running successfully!

Both events were incredibly successful and well received by students and staff alike. They form an important part of our school’s commitment to careers education, ensuring that all students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in the future.

A big thank you goes to all the employers, volunteers, and staff who helped make these events possible. We look forward to building on this success with more careers opportunities in the future!

Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh group recently completed their expedition in Hertfordshire with outstanding success. From the very beginning, they demonstrated excellent politeness, supporting one another and interacting respectfully with members of the public along the route.

Ready to go!

Their strong sense of determination ensured that they stayed focused and motivated throughout, even when faced with the usual challenges of navigation and fatigue. What truly stood out was their resilience and teamwork. The group worked cohesively, solving problems efficiently and maintaining a positive attitude at all times. As a result of their organisation and commitment, they completed the expedition in an impressively quick time, exceeding expectations. They represented the school exceptionally well and made us incredibly proud.

Taking a break in the sun

Gorgeous country views!

Our Silver group undertook their challenging 3 days and 2 nights practice expedition with remarkable success.

Across the duration of the expedition, they consistently showed politeness, maturity, and respect towards each other and everyone they encountered. Their determination kept them progressing steadily, even during more demanding stretches of the journey. Over the course of the expedition, their resilience shone through. 

Developing their independent cooking skills. Even Ms Snyder polished up on her outdoor cooking!

They adapted well to the extended duration, demonstrating independence, strong navigation skills, and excellent teamwork. Impressively, they completed the expedition in record time, a testament to their preparation and commitment. 

Our Year 10 ESOL students recently enjoyed an exciting and enriching trip to London Zoo, linked to their study of The Jungle Book. Seeing the animals in reality brought the story to life in a whole new way, as students spotted creatures they’d read about in class.

Our ESOL Students!

The weather tried its best to interrupt with a few bursts of rain, but it didn’t stand a chance against the group’s good mood. Spirits stayed high, and the students made the most of every moment, exploring, chatting, and soaking up the experience.

And despite being a group of fit and energetic young people, they somehow managed to walk at a painfully slower pace than the three accompanying members of staff through Regent’s Park!

Nonetheless, the day was a great success, and all students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The Year 11 ESOL students earned a well-deserved trip to Madame Tussauds at the end of April, to celebrate the completion of their official ESOL exams the week before. The visit also linked perfectly with their learning about celebrity culture, giving them the chance to see and pose with famous faces up close.

The students were really excited as they spotted celebrities they recognised, with lots of photos taken alongside their favourite wax figures. Many were also surprised by just how big Madame Tussauds actually is!

Afterwards, as the weather was glorious, we headed out to enjoy lunch together in central London before making our way back to Queensbury.

Our Year 7s had a full day of educational workshops, covering a range of topics in order to educate and prevent young people from being drawn into any criminal activity.  Speakers such as former prisoners, magistrates, prevent and the Ambulance service visited our school to educate our students.

Presentations from speakers!

The Choose Life Project has spent more than 25 years educating over fifty thousand young people, working with prisons and the police to provide addiction education. It uses first hand knowledge and experiences of recovered drug users, teaching pupils about the pitfalls of substance abuse with speakers who are recovered addicts themselves. 

By using actual experiences, it shows the students the reality of such choices - offering a powerful and cautionary voice about the risks on the road to addiction. There is no-one better to educate and inform about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse than someone who has been there and experienced it all for themselves. 

Great interactive workshops!