The "Aspire to Cambridge" program is a name used for support programs to help students apply to highly competitive Russell Group Universities such as Cambridge. These programs offer a range of resources, including subject-specific masterclasses, help with applications and personal statements, preparation for entrance exams, and mock interviews to get students ready for the demanding application process. 

Beautiful autumnal weather for a walk!

During the day, students explored the historic college grounds, learned about the admissions process, and discovered the importance of extracurricular activities in building a strong application.

The trip offered valuable insights into what it takes to study at one of the world’s leading universities and inspired our students to aim high in their future academic journeys!

Thank you to Ms Marrey and Ms Snyder for organising this trip for our Year 12s!

The Youth Health Champion programme, a national initiative that has engaged over 2,500 young people in schools across the country over the past five years. The model is designed to give young people the skills, knowledge, and confidence to act as peer mentors, raising awareness of healthy lifestyles and encouraging participation in activities that promote good health.

All of the schools that participated,
including our Canon's students!

As part of the programme, students will complete the Level 2 Certificate for Young Health Champions, a nationally recognised qualification equivalent to a GCSE. Our students set off to Harrow High School, where they joined other students from a range of different secondary schools and sixth forms, to participate in four interactive modules.

 These modules helped them to:

• Develop a strong understanding of the factors affecting health
• Research health services available in their community
• Learn how to deliver health messages effectively to their peers
• Explore a specialist health topic in depth.

Our students will use these skills to support their peers by raising awareness of health issues, signposting to relevant services, and promoting positive wellbeing within school and the wider community. This training was an exciting opportunity for our students to become leaders in health education and make a real difference.

Taking part and asking questions!

On Tuesday November 25^th our A-Level Physicists went to the House of Lords for the All Party Parliamentary Group Lunch Discussion on "Engineering for Net-Zero Flight" where students listened to Professor Robert Miller, who is the director of the Whittle Lab at the University of Cambridge.
 

Outside the House of Lords!

Elegant Plating!

Students were treated to a delicious lunch, followed by the talk. The lunch was an exciting opportunity to hear a summary of how the UK is aiming to take a lead in aiming for net zero flights and how local and global politics, socioeconomics and science all interplay. 

Students had the opportunity to network with industry experts, MPs, Lords, & University fellows. 

Thank you to Ms Cooney for organising this informative trip for our A-Level Students!

The past few weeks of colder weather may be disappointing for some, but made for perfectly clear skies for our astronomy fanatics! The Astronomy Club's annual visit to The Bayfordbury Observatory continues to be a popular trip for our students. After school, our students headed north in the Canons Minibus, out of London and towards the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Campus. 

 The Telescope Domes at Bayfordbury...

Bayfordbury Observatory is the University of Hertfordshire's astronomical and atmospheric physics remote sensing observatory, and one of the largest teaching observatories in the UK. It opened in 1970, and is used by University students from the first week of their degree through to their final year. Students enjoyed an evening program consisting of an interactive astronomy talk and planetarium show. They were also given the opportunity to view and tour a range of telescopes!

Mr Barrett, who kindly drove the minibus for our students, also thoroughly enjoyed the trip - especially the telescopes!

Here's what Rares in Year 9 had to say, after attending the trip last year too!

"I personally really enjoyed the Bayfordbury Observatory as I found it very cool since It's my first time exploring Astronomy , Telescopes , Space and many other interesting parts of Astronomy. My favourite activity of this visit was when we went to the domes, and it was my first time seeing a telescope this close and it was way much bigger than i expected so it was really exciting and fun . A big Thank you Mr Crook for putting the effort in organising this trip as it was so fun and enjoyable."

-  Ala A - Year 11

"I enjoyed the trip. It was interesting when we got to see the telescopes. My favourite bit was the planetarium."

- Kesini K - Year 7

Inspiring our students' minds beneath a blanket of stars!

This year celebrates the 15th year of our Astronomy Club! Ran on Wednesdays after school by our resident Lead Astronomer and IT Technician Mr Crook.  The Astronomy Club is our longest running club here at Canons High School. 

As quoted by Mr Crook on the school's Astronomy website, "sic itur ad astra", taken from the Roman poet Virgil's Aeneid, meaning "thus one journeys to the stars" or simplified as "reach for the stars". 

Here at Canons High School, we hope that all of our students take Mr Crook's motto to heart, widening their horizons, dreaming big, and reaching for the stars.

After all, how can the sky be the limit when there are footprints on the moon!

Over two mornings last week, we were delighted to welcome 60 Year 6 pupils and staff from Stag Lane for their annual transition visit. The pupils took part in taster sessions in PE, History and Science, and they thoroughly enjoyed dropping into a range of different lessons during their tour of the school.

The primary pupils also dipped into A Level Economics, Drama, Law, GCSE Geography, Photography, and enjoyed a brilliant session in the library. We were supported brilliantly by students from Year 7 through to Sixth Form, many of whom are former Stag Lane pupils themselves. They were superb ambassadors for the school and played a key role in helping the mornings run smoothly.

The Stag Lane pupils and staff absolutely loved learning about the Silk Road, practising the continent song, and learning their Bunsen burner license. 

They also absolutely loved the PE session this morning — it was a real highlight for them. The buzzing excitement around the school was brilliant! Stag Lane staff shared extremely positive feedback, noting how impressed they were with the school environment, the quality of the sessions, and the warm welcome their pupils received throughout the visit!