We say goodbye to our amazing Yr 11 and Yr 13 dance students.

Miss Davies and Miss Willmott wish everyone the best of luck in your exams!

Keep in touch and keeeeep dancing!

It’s been an incredible football season for Nell M in Yr 9, with two standout achievements worth celebrating.

Firstly, Nells U14 Hertfordshire Schools County Squad has made history by reaching the National Cup Final, the first time a Hertfordshire county girls team has ever reached this stage. The final takes place this Saturday 10th May at Stoke City FC’s stadium, with kick-off at 11.30am.

You can watch the match live on the ESFA YouTube Channel here:

She has also, along with teammate Erin C, has also helped lead the Watford FC Girls U14 squad to victory in the JPL League, going unbeaten in all 17 matches so far this season! Their final game against Crystal Palace took place yesterday evening, so here’s hoping they finished with a perfect 18 out of 18. 

A huge congratulations to Nell and Erin on an outstanding season. Thank you to everyone who has supported them, Nell has particularly loved representing the school and playing alongside her friends.

Support for Families and Students Facing School Attendance Challenges

DSPL7 and Services for Young People, in collaboration with The Pioneer Club, continue to offer free drop-in support sessions for parents, carers, and young people in Years 7-11 who are dealing with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). These sessions provide valuable assistance for overcoming challenges related to school attendance.

We invite you to join us at The Community Café, Suets Yard, The Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Albans, AL3 5AY, on the following dates: 14th May and 19th June, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Booking is required to attend.

For more details and to book a session, please refer to the flyer for contact information.

This week we have been focussing on the House Competition and students have been reflecting on how they can participate further to support their house and contribute more to the school community.

The house competition is a vital part of our school culture and ethos and it is fantastic to see how so many students are prepared to give up their time to represent their house. Rather than a whole school assembly this week each house has received an assembly from their Head and House and Sixth form house captains.

This will be the final time many students will have the responsibility to represent their houses as we say goodbye to the Year 13s today.

If you’re curious about a career in publishing and journalism, this is a fantastic opportunity to get a real insight into the industry, all from the comfort of your own home.

Springpod are offering a Virtual Work Experience Programme with Hachette UK, one of the UK’s leading publishers.

This flexible, online experience is perfect for students interested in writing, editing, marketing, design, or any aspect of the publishing world. It’s open to students until the end of July, so there’s still plenty of time to register and complete the programme at your own pace.

Find out more and sign up here

Goodbye and Good Luck Yr 13!

Today marks a significant milestone as we say a heartfelt farewell to our Yr 13 students, who are reaching the end of their journey at Sandringham School.

Over the years, they have grown into remarkable young adults, contributing so much to our school community, whether in the classroom, on stage, on the sports field, or through their leadership and kindness.

As they move on to the next exciting chapter, be it university, apprenticeships, work, or travel, we wish them every success and happiness for the future. You leave behind a legacy of ambition, creativity and resilience.

Good luck - we are incredibly proud of you all, and you will always be part of the Sandringham family.

UK Mathematics Trust – Junior Mathematical Challenge

Last week, students in Yrs 7 and 8 took part in the Junior Mathematical Challenge run by the UK Mathematics Trust. The Junior Mathematical Challenge is a 60-minute, multiple-choice competition.

This was a fantastic opportunity which offers students the chance to develop their mathematical problem-solving skills. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.  

The problems on the Junior Challenge are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience. 

Students that perform well are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates, with the best performing students being invited to take an additional challenge. 

Well done to everyone.

The Puzzle of the Week is a Mathematics challenge run weekly. This week's puzzle is shown above. For every entry you will receive 1 house point, if you answer correctly you will win 2 house points and if you are the fastest person to answer the puzzle correctly then you will win 5 house points!  To enter, simply scan the QR code and fill out the google form.  Good luck! Why not play at home and see who is the quickest to get the answer?

The Visual Arts Department is currently on the lookout for magazines to support our students’ creative projects and provide valuable inspiration and resources in lessons.

If you have any old or unwanted copies of the following types of magazines at home, we would be incredibly grateful for your donations:

• Vogue or other fashion magazines

• Garden or horticulture magazines

• Animal and wildlife magazines

• Art and photography publications

Please drop any donations off at Reception or Student Service with reference to the Visual Arts team.

Thank you for your support!

Over the Easter holidays, Lauren P showcased her incredible talent by leading her team to victory as captain at the South East Regional Octohockey Tournament. Under her leadership, the team remained undefeated throughout the competition, which is a brilliant achievement in itself.

Not only did Lauren steer her team to success, but she also emerged as the top goal scorer of the entire tournament, scoring an impressive 11 goals.

Adding to her growing list of accomplishments, Lauren was invited to represent Warwick University at the prestigious Student Nationals. Competing alongside university-level players, she helped the team secure a bronze medal. 

Congratulations Lauren! What fantastic achievements, and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.

Yr 8 Team Maths Challenge

Last week two groups of students from Yr 8 entered the Team Maths Challenge run by Herts For Learning. The challenge is a mixture of challenge, problem-solving, teamwork and fun.  All teams take part in one of the preliminary heats, with the best-performing teams going through to the Final.

In their heat, one team finished 4th and the other team finished 11th.We are still waiting to see if either or both of them have qualified for the final.

Congratulations to Kari M, Avis F, Arthur C, Cyrus C, Alvin L, Magus H, Teresa L and Eleanor H.

Hepworth remain on the top spot going into in the Summer Term. Let the final race to the finish commence, who is going to come out on top at the end of the school year.

1. Hepworth 21,280
2. Austen 20,192
3. Johnson 19,147

Special mentions this week:  

• E Dudey (9E) (14) – Most points this week
• Johnson for winning this weeks house points – 234
• Johnson for leading this months house points – 406
• 7A for the highest average points in their tutor group (164.9)
• 9E the highest quiz score total – 150/200

Join the Hertfordshire Fire Cadets

Are you interested in teamwork, building confidence, and making a real difference in your community? The Hertfordshire Fire Cadets programme could be just what you’re looking for!

Part of the National Fire Cadets Scheme, this nationally recognised programme is open to young people aged 14 to 17 and offers a unique insight into the world of the fire and rescue service. As a Fire Cadet, you’ll:

• Take part in practical, hands-on activities and learn what it’s like to work in the fire and rescue service

• Gain valuable life skills, improve your self-confidence, and boost your self-esteem

• Work in a fun, safe and supportive environment alongside experienced professionals

• Make new friends and contribute positively to your local community

This is a fantastic opportunity for any students looking to challenge themselves, develop new skills, and explore a future in public service.

For more information, please email: HFRS.Youth@hertfordshire.gov.uk

French: franchise

German: die Ehrlichkeit

Spanish: franqueza

Thinking Question: Which European country has four official languages?

TOFFEE by Sarah Crossan.

When Allison runs away from home, she doesn't expect to be taken in by Marla, an elderly woman with Dementia, who mistakes her for an old friend called Toffee.

Allison is used to hiding who she really is and trying to be what other people want her to be. And so Toffee is who she becomes. But as her bond with Marla grows,Allison begins to ask herself: Where is home? What is a family? And, most importantly, who am I, really?

C is for… candour [adjective]

Definition: The quality of being open and honest; frankness.

Example: He was a man of refreshing candour. 

Synonyms: Truthfulness, Sincerity, Directness

Antonyms: Guarded, Insincere, Evasive

Etymology: Candor comes from Latin candēre, meaning "to shine or glow." That origin is reflected in the word's early uses referring to brightness or unstained purity and innocence, which are the sources of today's familiar use of candor for unquestionably honest expression.

Tennis and athletics covering this weeks fixtures. It's been great seeing all the event on socials, so please do follow @Sand_pe for live updates. Good luck to everyone. 

A great day out at the County Doubles on Thursday this week as our boys perform well.

U18 pair 1 (McCree & Brewer) - Runners up
U18 pair 2 (Webb & Mauchline) - Plate Runners up

U14 pair 1 (Russ & Roe) - Plater Winners 
U14 pair 2 (Silcox & Howat) - Plate semi finalists

Congratulations to everyone that played, an impressive effort all round.

A fantastic start to the season for the Yr 9 cricket team, who delivered a commanding performance to beat Knights Templar School by 73 runs in their opening County Plate competition.

A standout batting partnership between H. Roe (50) and T. Russ (35) saw Sandringham post an impressive 155 run total.

In response, the bowling was brilliant as KTS were bowled out at 82 runs, with Boxer and Russ both claiming three wickets, and the rest shared across the team.

Well done boys, an excellent all round display from the team.

Session 2 of the Sandringham Golf Society took place this week at Batchwood, where students continued to develop their swing and sharpen their skills out on the course. With plenty of focus and enthusiasm, it was another fantastic session for our budding golfers. The group is making great progress, learning not just technique, but also patience, precision, and sportsmanship. We might have some future stars in the making right here at Sandringham!

The Dance department are busy preparing for our summer showcase and look forward to welcoming everyone back to our final dance performance this year.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday 4th June on The Sandpit Theatre website.

CONNECT is on Wednesday 25th June at 7pm. We are expecting this to sell out quickly so please buy tickets early to prevent disappointed.