Success Stories
In our first post-pandemic public exams, our GCSE results were clearly above national figures, with over 30% of the cohort achieving a grade 7 or better. We were delighted with this strong set of results, especially for this cohort who had so much upheaval to deal with.
Last year also saw our first post-Covid set of Spanish A level results. Again, we were very pleased with a very successful set of results including 2 A and 4 B grades.
At the end of September, we organised whole school activities around the European Day of Languages, including a competition for pupils to find and translate teachers’ favourite words in another language.
In November the French A level classes went for a cultural evening of cinema at the Institut Français in South Kensington. They loved exploring this little French pocket of London and thoroughly enjoyed the film.
This year has also seen the start of an exciting new initiative for Year 9 students. We have established a pen pal programme with a school in the South-East of France. Letters have been sent and received with great delight, and we are eagerly awaiting the next instalment from our new French friends.
The Autumn term came to a festive close with a return to the much-loved and eagerly anticipated trip to Lille Christmas market after the trials of pandemic life. This proved to be another very successful day spent discovering this beautiful French town where pupils had time for shopping and sampling the delicious continental food in the market. Some fifty pupils travelled by coach for the day and had fun looking round the market, buying lots of presents and riding on the Ferris wheel.
In the Spring term, we marked the end of the Winter by holding a pancake making competition, to celebrate ‘La Chandeleur’, the French festival that marks the end of the Winter and welcomes the star of Spring. We had lots of delicious and creative entries.
Our Year 13 French A level class took part in a very prestigious French debating competition attended by schools across West London and further afield. They did a wonderful job and remained cool, calm, confident and collected throughout.
In March our Year 13 Spanish A level group went on a trip to the theatre to watch their chosen play ‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’. They had a fantastic time and really benefitted from seeing the play ‘come to life’ on stage.
Moving forward, now that travel restrictions have been lifted, trips are back on the agenda and we will continue offering the chance to discover a region of France or Spain every year, alternating countries. Such trips provide a great and fun opportunity to discover another place and culture, whilst developing language skills.
We look forward to helping pupils enrich their learning experience, develop their independence and celebrate cultural differences in 2023-24.
