Headmaster’s Welcome – Simon Hawkes, Headmaster
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I couldn’t write today without mentioning my highlight of the week – one that I’m sure I share with many of our pupils. Our Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion group delivered a series of superb assemblies about racism, all based around a series of original spoken word performances by pupils of all ages. The result was hard-hitting, sometimes challenging, and always thought-provoking, and I’m sure the experience will live long in the minds of all those in the audience. As an aside, the quality of public speaking (and in some cases singing) was truly impressive – bravo to all involved.
Thank you to those of you who have already replied to our parent survey about personal mobile devices. We already have a good number of responses but are keen to hear from as many of you as possible. You can find a link to the survey in the message sent via Firefly on Tuesday, and you have until Wednesday, 26th November, to respond. We know this is an important issue for many parents, and we look forward to reviewing your responses.
SLT Update – Scott Benest, Director of the Co-Curriculum
At Wellingborough School, the co-curriculum is not an optional extra; it is a defining strength that shapes confident, capable, and well-rounded young people. Recognised by ISI as a “Significant Strength”, it offers pupils opportunities to stretch themselves beyond the classroom, discover new passions, and develop essential life skills.
This approach is supported by global research, which consistently shows that participation in co-curricular activities improves confidence, communication, teamwork, and academic performance. A 2023 study in Singapore found that voluntary engagement in such activities significantly enhances school belonging and social skills, while UK research from the Education Policy Institute highlights strong links between co-curricular involvement and progression into higher education.
At Wellingborough, these benefits are evident every day. Sport remains a cornerstone of school life, with over 629 fixtures played last year across rugby, football, hockey, netball, cricket, and tennis, alongside golf, shooting, athletics, and more. Over 90% of pupils represent the school competitively, building resilience and teamwork. Leadership opportunities through Sports Leaders qualifications and international tours, such as the recent South Africa trip, add an extra dimension.
Music thrives through regular recitals and concerts, with around 250 individual lessons each week, a packed programme of ensembles, and nearly 80 music exam passes last year. Drama provides creative expression and teamwork, with productions like Goodnight Mister Tom and workshops such as West End On Demand, giving pupils unique insights into the performing arts.
Beyond these subjects, leadership programmes like CCF and Duke of Edinburgh develop independence and resilience. With over 200 cadets on roll and regular enrichment opportunities, these experiences prepare young people for life beyond school. The Endeavour Award, starting in Prep and continuing into Senior School, encourages creativity and commitment, creating a seamless pathway to DofE, which extends through 6th Form and beyond.
Academic enrichment and the supercurricular are equally important, offering courses such as Python programming, finance qualifications, and volunteering, alongside clubs like Aspire, which prepares students for Oxbridge and competitive careers. These provide real stretch and extension, directly enhancing subject-based learning.
Our community values these opportunities because they help children grow in confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover talents they never knew they had. Studies also show that co-curricular involvement improves academic attainment, time management, and mental well-being, while reducing negative behaviours and boosting empathy and self-control. These developmental skills are essential in producing well-rounded young people.
In a world that values adaptability and creativity, these experiences are just as important as academic success, ensuring that pupils leave Wellingborough not only with excellent exam results but also with the skills and experiences to thrive in life.
Politics Update – Peter Low, Head of Religious Studies
It has been a busy term in the Politics department thus far, and our new cohort of Year 12 have quickly got to grips with the subject. I was privileged to watch some impressive discussion on whether the 2024 election result gives Labour a mandate to rule and on whether manifestos truly influence what the public votes for versus what parties do once in power. For the end of term one, this was a huge step up from the GCSE content they were tackling not so long ago. Our job as teachers is to create the forum where pupils can explore these questions for themselves and gain understanding of a range of perspectives, and I saw this skilfully done by Mrs Patyn. The students who spoke demonstrated strong understanding of the course content but also a striking level of critical thinking and wider political knowledge.
Mrs Patyn and Mr Grady have stepped up to the challenge of delivering the A Level, and their presence had an immediate effect in terms of student confidence. Mrs Patyn brings her skill in supporting (in some cases read as cajoling) our students to step up and take responsibility for their learning, and Mr Grady brings his ability to foster confident engagement with challenging content and an impressive knowledge of US politics. I witnessed him confidently fielding a range of questions from Year 13 while also managing to turn the questions they should answer back to them, but in a way that helped them to make the necessary connections.
Final thanks must go to the politicians on both sides of the pond, who have helped significantly over the past few weeks, providing a wealth of interesting and controversial examples that turn fairly dry content on constitutional systems and law-making bodies into something more appealing to the teenage brain.
As I write this, most of the students are visiting Westminster and perhaps even witnessing some of these processes firsthand via the PM’s questions and the Supreme Court. I was not able to attend with them, so I look forward to an account of their experiences in a future newsletter.
Physics Update – Rebecca Hill, Head of Physics
As the days grow darker and colder, the Physics Department is keeping spirits high by diving into a wide range of energy-focused topics this half-term.
Year 9 pupils are investigating how thermal energy is transferred and learning the science behind staying warm in snowy weather. They also recently enjoyed an inspiring assembly on science in the real world, where Mr Harris shared a project he contributed to: an experiment that involved sending roundworms into space to study how living organisms respond to radiation. It offered pupils a brilliant insight into how classroom science can lead to real scientific discovery.
Year 10 are now working with kinetic and potential energy, building confidence in analysing and calculating different forms of energy transfer.
Year 11 have just completed their first set of mock exams. Their early results reflect a great deal of hard work, and we’re excited to see their progress throughout the year.
In the Sixth Form, Year 12 students are splitting their time between classical mechanics and the intriguing worlds of quantum phenomena and wave–particle duality. Year 13 students are exploring radioactivity and magnetic fields and have recently tackled Round 1 of the British Physics Olympiad—results to come in the new year.
The Astronomy Club have been making the most of the darker evenings and using the telescopes to observe the Andromeda Galaxy. They have shared their most recent photographs. The largest object in the photographs is our closest galaxy, at a mere 2.5 million light-years away. We are pleased to invite pupils to join the Astronomy Club, which meets every Tuesday after school. From stargazing and space exploration to deep-space mysteries, the club offers a welcoming environment for anyone curious about the universe.
Our physics clinics are now running regularly, and we strongly encourage pupils from all year groups to attend. Whether you’re seeking extra explanation, targeted practice, or simply a supportive space to ask questions, clinics are open to everyone regardless of starting point.
Finally, remember that the science library in S1 (Garratt) is open for borrowing. With a wide range of books and magazines, it’s an excellent place to broaden your scientific thinking beyond the curriculum.
A Level Westminster Trip – Jane Selby, Head of History
A very big thank you to parents for dropping the historians and politicians at a very early hour on Wednesday. It meant we arrived in good time to fit a great deal in. Years 12 and 13 were a pleasure to be with; they were interested, interesting, beautifully courteous and good-humoured throughout. We started at the Supreme Court, where pupils were permitted to sit in the Justices’ chairs (see photos) in each court as we listened to our informative guide. The questions asked by our pupils were excellent.
We then crossed the road to the Houses of Parliament and enjoyed a fascinating tour, including the House of Lords and Lobby, with Prime Minister’s Questions happening less than 200 yards from where we were standing. Next, we were up in the public gallery to watch a live debate in the House of Commons, which really brought to life the historical pomp and process, sitting alongside modern legislation.
A highlight of the day was meeting Philip Howells in Westminster Hall, an OW who came from Garnes House and left Wellingborough in 2020. When Philip Howells met us in Westminster Hall to chat with pupils who would like to pursue a career in politics. Philip works for MP Edward Morello and has kindly agreed to offer more of his time to these pupils. Finally, we finished the day with an audio tour of Westminster Abbey, which is a treat for the senses.
James H (12PL) has another very exciting day in the House of Lords next week, when his great auntie, Professor Dame Clare Gerada, will become a non-party-political peer due to her distinguished medical practitioner career and experience in general practice and mental health.
“I really enjoyed seeing the MPs I see online in the Telegraph or on TV in person and how accessible our democracy is.” – Kitty
“Thank you very much for organising such an amazing trip. My personal favourite moment of the trip was visiting Westminster Abbey because we were able to experience seeing real life tombs of old English leaders and this would help further my understanding as the videos used on the iPhone contained some very detailed and useful facts.” – Ryan
“What I enjoyed most about the trip today was seeing the “debate” in the House of Commons. This was especially because they all agreed with each other about the Bill they were debating which shows how when they work together our government can work.” – Eve
“Fantastic day out! We attended a plethora of different venues including the Supreme Court, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. It was very informative and was topped off by an amazing lunch next to the River Thames.” – Ben
“The best part of my trip to London was visiting the Houses of Parliament and being able to sit in the House of Commons listening to the debating of topical petitions.” – Chloe
“After visiting the House of Lords, I gained a much clearer understanding of how the chamber scrutinises legislation and carries out detailed revisions that the Commons may not have time to address. Observing debates and committee discussions in person showed how the expertise of Life Peers contributes to shaping policy and improving the quality of proposed laws. The visit has also helped me prepare for next Tuesday, as I now have a stronger grasp of the procedures and the structure of the chamber. This will make it easier to follow what is happening when I watch my Aunt take part in the day’s proceedings.” – James
“The trip to the Houses of Parliament was both exciting and interesting. My favourite part was visiting the Supreme Court because it was interesting to learn about why the justices are selected and how they make decisions. I found it very interesting how they are looking to add more diversity to the court, and the advancement made by women in particular.” – Olivia
“I enjoyed exploring the architecture of the parliamentary buildings and finding out interesting facts which I didn’t know. For example, I was made aware that Royals can only walk on blue carpet in Parliament. Overall, an amazing trip!” – Ram
“I really enjoyed the tour of Westminster abbey because It’s steeped in history and the architecture is stunning . Houses of Parliament taught us about the history of our country which was inspiring.” – Larissa
“The most enjoyable part of the trip was getting to see Jeremy Corbyn and other MPs in real life and doing their daily business in the Houses of Parliament. I was surprised by the architectural style in some of the Supreme Courts as it wasn’t how I imagined it. Westminster Abbey was the most amazing part of the trip with the endless detail on a unthinkable scale with so much history surrounding the burials of the various people there.” – Nathan
“The Westminster trip provided by the school allowed for historians and politicians to take a glimpse at the highest levels of democracy and power in the country. The history of the Supreme Court, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey was astonishing at how far back English history dated and the changes made to our country to take it to the state it is in today. Firstly, we enjoyed a tour of the Supreme Court after an early start where we were lucky enough to sit at the most important judicial seats in the country and ask questions about the powerful Supreme Court judiciary. Then we made our way over to the Houses of Parliament where we met up with an OW who has a career in politics. This particularly inspired me as I wish to further my studies in politics and go on to work in Westminster. Later in the day after a matcha tea, we experienced a live debate over digital assets from MPs in the House of Commons. Finally, the group ended the day with a free roam in Westminster Abbey where I was blown away by all the history in one impressive building. From Edward the Confessor in the 11th century to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier buried in 1920. Overall, the day was a great opportunity to learn about the country, its history, and the ways in which it is run.” – Jesse
Careers Weekly
Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.
This week’s spotlight features information about jobs and careers working in cancer, mental health, and the charity sector.
Read this week’s Careers newsletter here.
Hockey Results – George Houghton, Teacher of PE and Games
Last week was another busy but successful week for a variety of our hockey teams. Our U14As deserve special mention for battling the horrific weather we encountered last Friday at their U14 T2 Midlands Finals in Nottingham. In the pool stage, despite winning two matches and drawing two matches (with one loss too), these eight points were not quite enough to progress to the semi-finals, narrowly missing out by a point to the eventual winners! The girls played some superb hockey in awful conditions, and we were able to enhance the squad by taking three girls from year 8 too, to give them a first real taste of 11-a-side hockey.
On the Saturday, we played our annual block against Stephen Perse Foundation (Cambridge) and had some fiercely competitive and evenly matched fixtures. Several of the matches were only separated by a single goal (see results below), but thankfully all of our teams in these matches managed to come out on the winning side; great tenacity and resilience shown by all!
Unfortunately the 1st XI match this week against Northampton High School succumbed to the frozen conditions, and we have already had to make the tough decision to cancel tomorrow’s matches against King Henries due to the prospective weather conditions. Hopefully next week we will experience some milder weather again so that all teams can try and finish their seasons in style over the remaining few weeks.
U14A T2 Midlands Finals Results
- v Princethorpe College won 1-0
- v Newcastle Under Lyme School lost 0-1
- v Loughborough High School drew 0-0
- v Wrekin College drew 1-1
- v Nottingham High School won 2-0
Results v Stephen Perse Foundation
- 1st XI drew 3-3
- U15A lost 1-4
- U15/U14B won 3-2
- U14A won 3-4
- U13A won 2-1
- U13B won 3-2
- U12A lost 3-6
Helping Young People Think Critically and Stay Safe at Parties – Safeguarding Newsletter
Today’s young people are growing up in a world where news, opinions and videos appear instantly – often before they’ve had time to think them through. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and X (Twitter) are now where many children get their information about the world.
As children move through secondary school, their social life becomes a huge part of growing up. Parties, gatherings and sleepovers are where friendships deepen and independence grows, but they can also bring new challenges, especially when adults aren’t around.
Read the full safeguarding newsletter for this month here.
Senior Christmas Concert
We are excited to be holding our annual Senior Christmas Concert at All Hallows Church this year, on Saturday 29th November at 6.30pm. All our larger music ensembles will be performing (including Orchestra, Concert Band, String Group, Big Band, Blues Band and Senior Choir). There will be afternoon rehearsals for performers, beginning at 3.30pm, but parents will be sent more details nearer the time. In the meantime, please save the date!
If you aren’t currently a parents at Wellingborough School, please RSPV your space to admissions@wellingboroughschool.org.
Calling All Unwanted Toys and Dolls!
The younger prep school children would be very excited to have some new toys to play with during After School Club. If you are throwing away unwanted items to make space for new Christmas purchases, perhaps you might consider donating them to the school? We are particularly interested in:
- Girls World heads (to practise plaiting and brushing hair)
- Baby doll clothes (for Barbies and larger/medium-sized dolls)
- Stencils for drawing/writing
- Foam floor jigsaw puzzles
- Plastic teacup and saucer sets
- Floor cushions
- Dolls house and contents
Anything we are given that is surplus to requirements will be donated to charity. Please leave any of the items above at the main entrance to the Lower Prep School (there is a doorbell to gain our attention) or at the main school reception. Thank you.
Online Christmas Hamper Raffle 2025! – WSSPA and WPSA Committee
The Wellingborough Senior School Parent Association (WSSPA) and the Prep School Parent Association (WPSA) are pleased to announce the online Christmas Hamper Raffle 2025 is now open!
There are 10 luxury hampers available to win from brands including Fortnum & Mason, The British Hamper Company, The Homemade Christmas Co. and more.
Tickets are £5 each, or you can buy 5 tickets for £20. All funds raised will go towards providing various “extras” for the senior school and prep school pupils. The raffle will close at 10pm on 9th December, so buy your tickets now!
To enter click HERE.
All prizes must be collected from Wellingborough School reception by 12:00 on 12 December 2025.
Be in it to win it!!
Thank you for your continued support.
Schoolblazer Flash Sale
Schoolblazer will be running a flash sale from Monday 24th to Tuesday 25th November 2025.
There will be 1/3rd off ALL in-stock items online at schoolblazer.com during the sale period, while stocks last.
If you have already subscribed to Schoolblazer, you will receive a direct email from them to let you know about the sale.
Stay Connected
To see more of what’s happening at Wellingborough School, follow us on social media HERE.
You can also explore upcoming events and activities on our Events Page HERE.
Wellingborough School Business Directory
Please find the Business Directory at the following link: https://wellingboroughschool.org/community/business-directory/
