The Art Department is always full of wonderful surprises. We wanted to share with you these amazing creatures that are to be found on display in one of our art classrooms. Created by our imaginative and talented Year 9 students, they provide a vibrant backdrop to art lessons throughout the day. Well done Year 9 – we love the colour they bring to the school!

The first athletics results of the Summer Term have arrived, and they bode well for the rest of the term! Our Junior (Years 7 and 8) and Inter (Years 9 and 10) Teams visited Moorways Stadium in Derby to compete with ten other schools in the English Schools Track and Field Cup. Our athletes took part in a range of track and field events, performing so well that our Junior Boys and Junior Girls teams both topped the scoreboard, winning their competitions. Our Inter Boys and Girls also achieved strong results, both taking second place to very strong teams from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. Top scoring athletes will go to the regional finals, with the potential to win a place in the national competition. We will be training hard to give our athletes the best chance of success. Very well done to all of our athletes for this flying start to the season!

Today was the last day before the 'Examination Preparation Period' for our Year 13 students. A special assembly enabled us to wish the best of luck to this positive, friendly and enthusiastic group of young people, along with the traditional presentation of awards and sharing of memories. Our Sixth Formers play an important role in the life of the school. This occasion provided the opportunity to thank those very many of them who have supported younger students in lessons and who have helped to support and run school clubs and activities. Our current Year 13 students have also been responsible for raising an amazing £1,187.25 (so far) for charity this year. All undertaken in addition to their studies, this is something of which they can be very proud. They all have an exciting future ahead of them and we encourage them to go out into the world to try new things, be happy and please keep in touch with us; we will miss them. We wish them the very best of luck for their exams.

Earlier this week, our Year 12 and Year 13 Media Studies students attended a Media Masterclass. The timing was excellent, with our Year 13 students sitting their A Levels in three weeks' time. The Masterclass, run by Media Consultant Rob Miller, helped them to consolidate their learning and boost their revision. Up to the minute examples were provided and everyone clearly found his engaging session useful, with one student commenting: "It has really taken the pressure off us. It has helped me with my revision - I highly recommend it" and another adding: "Mr Miller was very knowledgeable and clear; it was very helpful". Thank you to Rob Miller, and to the former student whose donation funded this very useful session.

We have some amazing news from our Equestrian Team this week. At the weekend, three of our riders took part in the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA)'s 90cm National School Final. Lauren, Amelia and Cally competed against 38 other teams, riding last in the competition, just to add to the pressure of this prestigious event. We are delighted to report that our team took the pressure in their stride, riding three flawless rounds in the quickest combined time of the day. They are now National Champions! Many congratulations to Lauren, Amelia and Cally on their wonderful achievement. We are very proud of them all, just as we are of original fourth team member, Kitty, who graciously stepped down when the competition requirements changed from four to three riders.