Our Summer magazine takes a look back on the the final term of the 2025-2026 academic year here at Waldegrave, covering all aspects of Waldegrave life from around the school to trips and visits.
2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6 S UMME R T E RM
WALDEGRAVE SCHOOL MAGAZINE
ENJOY ACHIEVE EMPOWER
CONTENTS 03 05 WELCOME STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENTS SUMMER TERM HIGHLIGHTS
10
27
DESTINATIONS
International trips for pupils this term
39
TRIPS
Exciting school trips for pupils this term
45
AROUND THE SCHOOL
CLUB ACTIVITIES CLUB ACTIVITIES
52
49
Reading through this edition of the Magazine and reflecting on all the events and achievements the students have written about, I can truly see our school values: Enjoy, Achieve and Empower. From the successful ski trip to Italy, which capped the end of the Spring Term, to the plethora of trips and in school activities, our students have definitely had the chance to enjoy themselves! The achievements pages reveal just a fraction of the many successes our pupils have made in music, sport, clubs and nationwide competitions as well as the empowerment many have felt from learning life
skills as part of the Duke of Edinburgh challenges. Students have also been empowered to take part in the democratic process, with a fantastic 800 votes cast within our school in the Youth Council elections at the beginning of this term. We are delighted to be able to offer a variety of experiences to our students and this term pupils have travelled to Portugal as part of the European Youth Orchestra, Spain, Germany and France for history and languages. These are in addition to the opportunities we have offered closer to Waldegrave, with trip destinations including a Buddhist Temple, UCAS Live, The National Archives, Keats House, The Science Museum, London Dungeons, London Zoo, the V&A, numerous theatre trips and much more. The feedback from these trips has been great and I know that like me students are extremely grateful to all the staff who have worked so hard to make these trips possible. Our students continue to play a key role leading in the community, which was demonstrated most prominently this term when we saw six of our students elected to the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council! At Waldegrave pupils have also stepped up to represent others as members of student Parliament, prefects and House Captains and we have just completed the Year 10 interview process for Headgirl. Congratulations to [INSERT NAME], our new Headgirl, and her team of House Captains. For some students and staff this will be their last term at Waldegrave and we have held many joyful celebration events to mark their contributions to our school community. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them and everyone a wonderful summer and look forward to another exciting school year ahead.
FOR 2026-27
This year an impressive set of Year 10 students put themselves forward for the positions of House Captains. Students gave passionate hustings speeches, canvassed their peers for votes and finally interviewed with the Leadership team. Congratulations to all our newly appointed Head Girl, Sophie S, her deputies and House Captains. I know you will all do a fantastic job next academic year, supported by the rest of your peers.
Our new Head Girl
Pankhurst House Captains
Seacole House Captains
Elliot House Captains
Franklin House Captains
Student Achievements YOUTH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
We were thrilled to hear that six of pupils were elected to the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council
following the elections earlier this term. Well done to Amber P, 9PAH, Daisy J, 10SAN, Jiya K, 10EMU, Judith K, 10FDO, Tamira R, 10SSR and Annabelle R, 11PGU for their successful campaigns. We are very proud, not only of how many of our students put themselves forward as candidates but also of the record number of pupils taking part in the voting process - with over 800 Waldegrave pupils casting a vote in these elections, that’s an 80% turnout! We look forward to hearing more about their roles on the council and what they get up to as councillors.
EMMA C, 8PCO
Emma was another of our Waldegrave attendees at the Richmond Music Festival. She represented us with great talent and dedication, placing an impressive 3 in the Youth Intermediate Solo category. Fantastic job Emma! rd
EVIE M, 11FGR
Well done to Evie who has received a Jack Petchey Award for her hard work and enthusiam at 3 Hampton Hill Scouts. She is a highly valued member of the Explorer Unit and gets involved in all their events, she is also a Young Leader volunteering with their Cub Pack. rd
V&A INNOVATE DESIGN COMPETITION A team of girls from the Year 9 D&T enrichment classes were shortlisted out of Student Achievements Congratulations to Daisy M who was undefeated as Middlesex Hammer Throwing Champion last weekend. She won the title last year, competing in the Middlesex County Championships and held on to her title this year, despite the freezing weather, with a winning throw of 31.29m. She is hoping to get a throw over 35m this season and we wish her luck! DAISY M, 10POR
SIO D, 8SDE Congratulations to Sio D, 8SDE, for the fantastic achievement of being selected for the London City Lionesses (LCL) Academy for the 26/27 season. This is wonderful news and is a result of her hard work. Amazing work Sio, well done! 166 other team entries to take part in the finals of this national design competition. They were highly commended in their category and we are extremely proud of their achievement.
Student Achievements
PAMELA L, 8FLY Pamela has been chosen to join the London Super Region Aspire U13 Basketball Elite Players squad, representing London at the National Championships this July in Manchester. Her team made it to the quarter final against teams from across the country He has been referee at a few matches and we are very proud of his success. Amazing work Joshua! Well done to Joshua CC, 12JMN, who was been selected as an official referee for the Basketball England Surrey league Finals at ACS Cobham in May. JOSHUA CC, 12JMN
and came 4 place. th Well done Pamela!
OLIVIA M, 10EMU
Olivia has had a great few months playing for the Guildford Talent Academy scoring five goals in nine games for them and being selected for the Talent Academy Cup at Nottingham at the end of July. That event is the England trial for next season’s Under-16 squad. Good luck Olivia!
Student Achievements
During the May half term, I was incredibly grateful to be nominated for and have attended the Youth Achievement Awards at City Hall in London. It was a privilege to be surrounded by so many inspiring young people who were making a positive difference in their communities. Hearing their stories was both motivating and humbling. TAMIRA R, 10SSR ROSIE O, 10SSR Congratulations to Rosie who was selected to play with a team for UK 50 in a series of basketball tournaments this June. The team played against clubs from Spain, France and Chile and came out victorious! Well done to Rosie and her team.
I was especially honoured to be shotlisted as one of three young people in London in the Inclusion and Diversity Award category for my film Survivance. This was a proud moment, as it recognised the hard work and passion that went into creating a film that promotes representation, inclusion, and understanding. This experience has strengthened my confidence and inspired me to continue making a positive impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring what I have learned back to school by encouraging inclusivity, supporting student voices through the school Parliament, and inspiring others to use their talents and creativity to contribute to a welcoming and diverse school community. Helping create a place where students can enjoy, achieve and empower!
Student Achievements Sophie B, 8PFO - Bass Guitar Grade 2 - MERIT Nina K, 8SON - Guitar Grade 2 - DISTINCTION Fleur B, 10EMU - Grade 5 Acoustic Guitar - DISTINCTION Rosalie Y, 8SON - Grade 1 Acoustic Guitar - DISTINCTION Bella F, 9PAH - Grade 2 - Rock Guitar - DISTINCTION Lottie AP, 10EMU - Grade 3 Rock Guitar - DISTINCTION Olivia H, 10PWA - Grade 1 Acoustic Guitar - DISTINCTION Nina N, 8SON - Grade 2 Acoustic Guitar - DISTINCTION Lily F, 10EFR - Grade 4 Rock Guitar - DISTINCTION Performing Arts Exams
Islay D, 13RPA - Drums Grade 8 - MERIT Evie CE, 7PRE - Piano Grade 4 - MERIT Deniz D, 7EVA – Piano Initial – DISTINCTION Sofia W, 8SDE – Piano Grade 2 – DISTINCTION Dila D, 9SHU - Piano Grade 2 - DISTINCTION Hazel P, 8SON - Piano Grade 2 - DISTINCTION
Juno H, 8FLY – Piano Grade 1 - MERIT Caitlin R, 9STR - Cello Grade 2 - PASS Florence P, 10FCO - Clarinet Grade 3 - HIGH PASS Lizzie Y, 8FLY - Clarinet Grade 2 - MERIT Etta B, 8ESU - Flute Grade 5 - MERIT Andrienna S, 9PIR - Classical & Jazz Voice Grade 6 - MERIT Viola C, 9SHU - Rock & Pop Voice Grade 3 - MERIT Emily C, 12PTA - LCM Voice Grade 8 - DISTINCTION Meg C, 11EJO - LCM Voice Grade 7 - DISTINCTION Daisy K, 10PWA - LCM Voice Grade 7 - DISTINCTION Hannah K, 10POR - LCM Voice Grade 7 - DISTINCTION Isobel L, 10FDO - LCM Voice Grade 7 - DISTINCTION Lottie W, 11SPI - LCM Voice Grade 7 - DISTINCTION Violette M, 10POR - LCM Voice Grade 5 - DISTINCTION Jemima L, 10EFR - LCM Voice Grade 5 - MERIT Camila K, 11STH - Trinity Voice Grade 5 - DISTINCTION
Mina R, 9PIR
In usual Waldegrave tradition, our Year 11 leavers came to school on Tuesday 5 May in fun, creative and sometimes wacky costumes of their own design. They enjoyed posing for photos in their group and indivdual costumes, taking inspiration from celebs to tv, social media, film and book characters. Who you can spot? The staff vs students benchball game was a real highlight, with teachers stepping out in their own costumes for the day. Dress Up Day
The match was hard fought amongst all the cheering and laughter and ended with a boogie in the Sports Hall. The parade of costumes was incredible fun and the judges picked four groups winners - well done everyone!
Dress Up Dress Up Day - Day - the the winners! winners!
LEAVERS PROM Year 11
The Year 11 Prom took place on Thursday 25 June, a night no one will forget - not least as it was in the middle of a heatwave! It was a truly wonderful event, and it was lovely to see the students looking so glamorous and excited as they marked this important milestone. The evening included dancing, a photo booth, and numerous opportunities to have professional photographs taken to commemorate the occasion. We hope that everyone had a fantastic evening! Well done to all of Year 11 on completing their GCSE examinations. They all should feel very proud of themselves. Hopefully they are looking forward to a fun filled and relaxing summer
ahead and we look forward to seeing everyone again on results day!
LEAVERS PROM Year 11
Drop Down Day in Year 7 was a brilliant experience for everyone! Throughout the day we concocted scrumptious smoothies in food-tech, composed fun jingles in music, delivered persuasive (and somewhat hilarious) pitches in drama and designed beautiful packaging in DT graphics. The day began vibrantly, in Mrs Ahmed’s kitchen, where we prepared fruits for our smoothies, blitzed them till very smooth and of course, we finally taste tested them! They were delicious! Here, we learnt how to be safe in the kitchen, take responsibility for your workspace, and keep it clean. Year 7 Drop Down Day - Smoothies
We then headed over to the music block, where Miss Lewis taught us all about jingles and various ways we can create memorable tunes! We spent about 20 minutes writing (rather unique) lyrics for our jingles, then composed catchy melodies, that we played on keys, drums and even instruments we had never used before! This taught us to be creative in music and work together.
After music, we journeyed to graphics, where we designed bright and eye-catching packaging for the containers of our smoothies. We learnt about different styles of typography, aesthetic palettes and ways to depict your brand’s message visually.
Finally, the day ended on a high. We attended an extremely fun drama class with Miss Clarke, who taught us how to pitch our brands, while being factual and engaging! We learnt how to be articulate all while performing in an advert that people can connect with. Overall, the day was a complete success that taught us important skills, e.g: public speaking and teamwork all while having heaps of fun with our friends! By Divina Nag-Upreti 7EHA By Divina Nag - Upreti 7 EHA
Year 8 - Life Skills Y ear 8 - L ife S kills On Wednesday 1st July, it was Drop Down Day. This article focuses on the activities we all did, and what we learnt from.
D R O P D O W N
Red Cross: My day started with a workshop from a nurse at the Red Cross. We learnt about how important it is to be confident in giving medical assistance. You
don’t have to do anything complicated; even simple
actions, like rolling someone onto their side, can be life- saving. Turns out, most people refrain from giving others medical attention in public spaces because they don’t want to be embarrassed! First Aid: Next, we had first aid with our school nurse, Natasha. We learnt about anaphylaxis, asthma, and epilepsy, and how to treat it. Every school in the UK is now required to educate students and staff about allergic reactions due to Benedict's Law, which was passed in Feb 2026.
Self-Defense: This workshop took up two sessions, but it was worth every minute. The self defense workshop was run by a charity called ‘Action Breaks Silence’. Their goal is to ‘build a world free from all forms of discrimination, free of violence against women and girls’.
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We learnt about choosing our core values, which will help us to know when we are not being treated right, or when we are being abused. We then got onto the physical stuff, which we are only supposed to use as a last resort. The moves were first demonstrated to us, then we had to try it out on instructors carrying punching pads. At the end, we were put into a fake scenario, where the instructors grabbed us and we had to fight our way out of it.
D R O P D O W N
This was a really educational workshop that taught us important life skills; I think self-defense is a really crucial thing to know and this was very useful. RNLI: The day ended with an assembly by RNLI volunteers from Teddington Lock. We learnt about cold water shock - the main cause of drowning when people jump into water on a hot day. They told us how to save yourself if you experience this by floating on your back, ears in the water for 90 seconds.
All in all, this was a really fun yet educational day, and I’m sure the students next year will enjoy it as much as we did!
D A Y
Nethra G, 8EHO
Year 9 - London Trips
D R O P D O W N
Year 9 went on a variety of London based trips for their Drop Down Day on 1 July, including a visit to the Greenwich Observatory, London Zoo, Escape Room, V& A Museum and the London Dungeons. Below Ela U, a Year 9 student gives her account of her trip to the London Dungeons! “On our recent drop down day trip, Year 9 visited the London Dungeons on the South Bank ion London to study the darker chapters of British history. The tour used historical sets and theatrical performances to cover major events from the past 1,000 years. We began by learning about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, exploring how Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators smuggled 36 barrels of gunpowder under the House of Lords. The nNext, the exhibit focused on the Great Plague of 1665, where we learned that the disease wiped out roughly 15%
D A Y
of London's population, and we examined the ineffective medical methods used by plague doctors. The tour also detailed the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed over 13,000 houses, and concluded with the Victorian era, examining the
Year 9 - London Trips continued...
D R O P D O W N
A 1888 Whitechapel murders attributed to Jack the Ripper. To finish the visit, the group experienced the indoor drop
ride, which simulates the mechanics of a historical Newgate Prison execution. It was a highly informative trip that provided valuable context regarding early modern justice, public health, and urban history. Beyond the specific events, the trip gave us a great chance to connect what we learn in class to real-world history. Seeing how harsh old laws were made everyone think about how much our legal system has changed over time. In the past, people faced extreme punishments like public execution or torture for very minor crimes, which is a massive contrast to the human rights laws we have today. Looking at these grim moments helped us understand how major health crises and old legal systems actually shaped the modern city of London. Ultimately, stepping out of the classroom and into these interactive exhibits gave Year 9 a much clearer, more realistic perspective on how tough life used to be for regular people in the past.
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On Thursday 9 July, Waldegrave’s th annual Summer Festival took place on a warm summer’s evening in Digby Court. Here we welcomed many parents, students and staff to enjoy the magnificent talents of our Waldegrave community. It was a joyous, cheerful atmosphere, full of excitement. There was a comedy theme for the festival which included a series of ‘dad jokes’ between each set. Summer Festival 2026
The evening started off with the String Orchestra performing the melodic ‘Vivaldi Spring’and the theme tune to TV comedy, ‘Fawlty Towers’. Next the Year 7s were up with their band playing ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’by Rick Astley and their dance group showing the audience a jazz piece, choreographed by Year 10 student, Emma T. One of the highlights of the event
was the Sixth Form choir pairing with our Chamber Choir to perform the harmonic ‘Send in the Clowns’ by Stephen Sondheim.
After a quick 20 minute break, the Orchestra performed ‘The Typewiter’, with Year 11
student, Robyn ZB, using one as a musical instrument for the piece. Nearing the end of Waldegrave’s brilliant gala, from the musical ‘Annie get your Gun’, two talented Sixth Formers, Eleanor O and Elliott B duetted ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’, wowing the audience with their voices. Finally, finishing off the festival, everyone chimed in with Monty Python’s comedy classic ‘Always look on the Bright side of Life’ concluding an excellent evening. As a closing congratualtions, we would all like to thank the Performing Arts Department and fantastic performers for putting on such a wonderful show and to all the lovely Friends of Waldegrave who volunteered to help.
Aksina K & Scarlett S, 7SRI
SKI trip 2026
From flights at six in the morning to magic shows to uncontrollably skiing down a mountain, the Waldegrave Ski Trip 2026 was definitely one to remember. Beginning the trip at three in the morning on Friday the 27 of March, forty fortunate year 10 students accompanied by six teachers set off to Heathrow airport. We arrived at Milan Airport and after a long coach ride full of games, songs and snacks until we finally arrived at our destination: Val di Fiemme. th A night’s sleep later and we finally began the first of five days of skiing. To begin, we
were sorted into three groups based on our skiing ability and then introduced to some of the most lively and supportive instructors in the field. They made the experience unforgettable by playing music down the slopes or initiating snowball fights!
All the groups went their separate ways; some tackling short, bumpy off-piste and others learning how to stop and turn for the first time. Either way we all had something to learn and improve whether it was increasing speed, gaining greater control or learning how to snowplough. Over the course of three days, we went to three different ski resorts giving us the chance to take on a variety of challenges. including skiing down an Olympic slope!
Skiing wasn’t the only highlight, there were many activities to keep us entertained. On the second evening we explored the town we were
staying in: Tesero. We explored the old town and viewpoints revleaing a picturesque view of the valley. The following day consisted of a dip in the swimming pool complete with a waterslide! We were also lucky enough one evening to have a magician perform illusions ranging from solving a rubik’s cube with one breath, to moving someone’s twenty euros inside a lemon. Even during free time, we found ways to keep ourselves entertained, playing board games, retelling our day’s stories and shopping for souvenirs. Several trips to the local Coop later, on the 2 of April, we returned home, nd
exhausted but the trip was overall worth every leg cramp. The 2026 Ski Trip gave us all an opportunity to grow in confidence, resilience and independence. We had all achieved something to be proud of whether it was skiing down a black run or winning a swimming race. Even the falls and wipeouts became a memory we can laugh about. This experience also led to new or stronger friendshipThank you to all the teachers, instructors and staff who made this trip possible. It is certain that this Ski Trip will remain the highlight of the year.
Zoja B , 10 FCO
YEAR 10'S TRIP TO
Hotel los Hidalgos
It was a small, cute hotel right next to Santillana del Mar. Me and my friends shared a triple room; we also had dining room, lobby, and playground to share.
For breakfast, we had a mix of bread, cakes, and cereal, while for dinner, we had pasta, meat, and fruit. It was really cozy and in a great place, we had so much fun in the playground! Las cuevas del Soplao The tour was really interesting and exciting, we learned so much about the cave. The experience overall was so cool, the rocks and crystals were so pretty. I definetely recommend for anyone to go, it was a great trip!
Santillana del Mar There were lots of cute shops and streets to explore. It was exactly like an ideal holiday place to see online! Food options included ice-cream, crepes, and Spanish restaurants. We also bought many souvenirs.
Parque de Naturaleza
The park was huge, the animals had so much space and we had to go looking for them. It was really cool to see animals basically in their natural habitat, we saw gorillas, tigers, bears, and hippos. It wasn’t my favorite experience, but it was still fun because we could chat and take pictures of the animals!
Santander + Cruise We went on a cruise and saw the coastline of Santander. It was amazing, definetely a super fun experience, I would do it again! We had time to explore the city centre and buy souvenirs, it was all so pretty! Then we went for a walk along the coastline, bought ice- cream, and played on the beach. The best day by far, I loved it!
Museo Guggenheim We spent a couple hours at this amazing art gallery! We took loads of photos of all the art, which was really modern and interesting! My favorite was the huge work of recycled metal. Even though I don’t usually like museums or art, I found it so inspiring and cool!
What I learned We learnt about different aspects of Spanish history, like the caves and parts of Santander. I learned to speak a bit
more confidently in Spanish, which will hopefully help me with GCSE. I tried some Spanish foods and dishes, it was overall amazing and would recommed to anyone!
Olivia A, 10POR
Recently I enjoyed the privilege of going to Boppard, around an hour or two from Köln, as a GCSE German student where we all had a fantastic time with a brilliant group of teachers. It was excellent to see some German culture as well as practise some speaking! The trip began with a gruelling 3am start…but the journey was very smooth and everyone was evidently very excited, as seen by the singing on the coach all the way. Once installed, we had our first evening meal in Boppard where I got to know new people and everybody was able to relax after the long day. Then we saw the picturesque river Rhein for the first time on an evening walk through the village. Year 10 Boppard Trip!
The following day we journeyed to Köln. The cathedral was as spectacular as I had heard, both inside and out, in fact many of us even opted to climb the cathedral. 513 steps up and 513 steps down, it was excruciating, but worth it for the stunning view! It was incredibly interesting to learn about Köln’s fascinating history on a walking tour around the city, although of course what we all looked forward to the most was Köln’s extensive shopping scene. Some of us were also treated to a performance by a marching band in the square, as is German tradition. After that, we all relaxed on a boat trip down the Rhein; Köln really is the most beautiful city. We ended the day out with a visit to the Lindt chocolate shop before dinner and a stroll by the river in the evening.
The next day, we spent the day at the renowned German theme park Phantasialand. Even for those(like myself)who don’t necessarily enjoy the twists and turns of rollercoasters, the beautiful scenery, food and variety of rides
meant that there was something for everyone. For the final morning we took the Boppard chair lift which provided some absolutely magical views before journeying back to London. The trip was an unforgettable experience which wouldn't have been possible without the exceptional commitment and work from the staff. I hope future year groups have as good a time as I did! Flo V, 10FCO
EUROPEAN YOUTH
ORCHESTRA - SINTRA Richmond Upon Thames is twinned with the towns of Fontainebleau, Konstanz and Lodi. Every year, 10 young musicians from each of the towns come together for a four night residential project to form a European Youth Orchestra. Under guidance of conductors from each participating town, music is selected
and prepared in advance, later coming together to rehearse and perform a concert. This year the host town was Sintra and Waldegrave was proud to send nine pupils as part of the Richmond contingent. It was a wonderful experience offering the chance to make friends from across Europe, develop musically and build their cultural understanding. They also got the chance to visit Sintra’s fairy-tale style castle!
Berlin war wunderbar!
Berlin: a city full of diversity and contrasts. It has only been 36 years since die Wende, or the fall of the Berlin Wall, which means our class wasn’t just learning about history on this trip- we were living it, as this event shaped modern Europe as we know it today. We began our adventure on the 22nd June meeting in Heathrow at 4:45 AM - so early I was considering shaking a few larks awake! However, morale was high as we were eager to set off with our friends to explore a new place, beginning with a whistle-stop walking tour, courtesy of Mr Bannister’s history facts (he somehow managed to pack in points
BERLIN: A CITY FULL OF DIVERSITY AND CONTRASTS. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 36 YEARS SINCE DIE WENDE, OR THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, WHICH MEANS OUR CLASS WASN’T JUST LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY ON THIS TRIP- WE WERE LIVING IT, AS THIS EVENT SHAPED MODERN EUROPE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. WE BEGAN OUR ADVENTURE ON THE 22ND JUNE MEETING IN HEATHROW AT 4:45 AM- SO EARLY I WAS CONSIDERING SHAKING A FEW LARKS AWAKE! HOWEVER, MORALE WAS HIGH AS WE WERE EAGER TO SET OFF WITH OUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE A NEW PLACE, BEGINNING WITH A WHISTLE-STOP WALKING TOUR, COURTESY OF MR BANNISTER’S HISTORY FACTS (HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PACK IN POINTS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE PRUSSIANS TO POTSDAM), AND AN ASCENT OF THE MARVELLOUS SIEGESSÄULE, OR VICTORY COLUMN. WE ENJOYED A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE CITY UP THERE, AND THEN IT WAS TIME FOR CURRYWURST AND WORLD CUP ANTICS AFTER A GOLDEN HOUR WALK ALONG THE SPREE. Siegessäule, or victory column. We enjoyed a panoramic view of the city up there, and then it was time for currywurst and World Cup antics after a golden hour walk along the Spree. about everything from the Prussians to Potsdam), and an ascent of the marvellous After a truly needed sleep we gathered on the morning of the 23rd underneath the
Fernsehturm in Alexanderplatz, taking in one of Berlin’s most iconic attractions. We were treated to a guided tour by the remarkably knowledgeable Connie, who gave us insider facts about the city. One moment that struck the group was visiting Käthe Kollwitz’s sculpture in the Neue Wache, a memorial to people persecuted under dictatorship. We were mesmerised while there by a group of Buddhists chanting an incantation by the statue, their voices filling the echoing space like music, in what appeared to be an act of peaceful protest against the persecution Tibetan Buddhists are facing under the Communist
Year 12’s adventures in the cultural capital of Europe
Emily H, History & German student, 12AMZ
government in China. This moving experience was an example of Berlin’s cultural diversity and how ordinary people have stood up against repression for decades. We rounded off the day with free time in Kreuzberg, exploring cool vintage shops and enjoying some iconic Doner. Here I learned my personal favourite fact about Berlin, courtesy of Ms Robinson: there are more Doner Kebab shops in Berlin than Istanbul!
BERLIN: A CITY FULL OF DIVERSITY AND CONTRASTS. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 36 YEARS SINCE DIE WENDE, OR THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, WHICH MEANS OUR CLASS WASN’T JUST LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY ON THIS TRIP- WE WERE LIVING IT, AS THIS EVENT SHAPED MODERN EUROPE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. WE BEGAN OUR ADVENTURE ON THE 22ND JUNE MEETING IN HEATHROW AT 4:45 AM- SO EARLY I WAS CONSIDERING SHAKING A FEW LARKS AWAKE! HOWEVER, MORALE WAS HIGH AS WE WERE EAGER TO SET OFF WITH OUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE A NEW PLACE, BEGINNING WITH A WHISTLE-STOP WALKING TOUR, COURTESY OF MR BANNISTER’S HISTORY FACTS (HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PACK IN POINTS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE PRUSSIANS TO POTSDAM), AND AN ASCENT OF THE MARVELLOUS SIEGESSÄULE, OR VICTORY COLUMN. WE ENJOYED A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE CITY UP THERE, AND THEN IT WAS TIME FOR CURRYWURST AND WORLD CUP ANTICS AFTER A GOLDEN HOUR WALK ALONG THE SPREE. Of course, no visit is complete without experiencing the East Side Gallery, so we took in the fantastic murals under blazing sunshine before heading to dinner (Indian under the Canadian Embassy, yet another cross-cultural moment for us!) and then back to the hotel for more football- though no Vindaloo was consumed at dinner, so we
didn’t score one more than Panama! The 24th saw us taking a trek across the city to a Stasi prison, fully preserved from Soviet times, today a memorial to human rights. Our guide’s own father had been imprisoned for twelve years on account of possessing a letter he was writing to the BBC’s Letters Without Signature. We German students found it bleak yet fascinating to discover the true human stories about something we had only seen in our A level film, ‘Good Bye Lenin!’ before that day.
Dinner was a romp at the Bavarian Hofbräuhaus, complete with its own brass band! We ate schnitzel and sausages before heading to bed. The 25th was bittersweet as we had to pack up before one last adventure: a trip to the Reichstag’s roof. Then, off to the beautiful Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche, and of course KaDeWe, what you could call German Harrods. From Haribo to Lego to Jellycats, we got to buy some lovely things and sharing these with each other in mini hauls on the way to the airport was one of my highlights. That, I suppose, is what made this trip so special: the small moments we all shared. Yes, the tourist
BERLIN: A CITY FULL OF DIVERSITY AND CONTRASTS. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 36 YEARS SINCE DIE WENDE, OR THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, WHICH MEANS OUR CLASS WASN’T JUST LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY ON THIS TRIP- WE WERE LIVING IT, AS THIS EVENT SHAPED MODERN EUROPE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY. WE BEGAN OUR ADVENTURE ON THE 22ND JUNE MEETING IN HEATHROW AT 4:45 AM- SO EARLY I WAS CONSIDERING SHAKING A FEW LARKS AWAKE! HOWEVER, MORALE WAS HIGH AS WE WERE EAGER TO SET OFF WITH OUR FRIENDS TO EXPLORE A NEW PLACE, BEGINNING WITH A WHISTLE-STOP WALKING TOUR, COURTESY OF MR BANNISTER’S HISTORY FACTS (HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PACK IN POINTS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE PRUSSIANS TO POTSDAM), AND AN ASCENT OF THE MARVELLOUS SIEGESSÄULE, OR VICTORY COLUMN. WE ENJOYED A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE CITY UP THERE, AND THEN IT WAS TIME FOR CURRYWURST AND WORLD CUP ANTICS AFTER A GOLDEN HOUR WALK ALONG THE SPREE. attractions were fantastic to see and it was certainly surreal to see our textbook pages in real life, but the best part was connecting with each other. From early morning matcha runs with my roommates to giving Mr Bannister makeup tutorials to swapping cat care tips with Ms Robinson, this trip gave me many special memories. A huge danke schön to my teachers for organising it, to my classmates for their humor and friendliness, and to Berlin itself, for being Berlin: the city that feels like home to anyone who visits.
YEAR 10 - NORMANDY TRIP
On Friday 10 July our Year 10 French students arrived full of excitement at 5.15am to hop on their coach and head to Dover. After a scenic journey they arrived at Hotel de Normandie in Saint Aubin sur Mer, their home for the next three nights. They had a short promenade along the beach front before enjoying a well deserved meal. On Saturday the group headed to Caen to visit a typical French Market where they tested their language skills speaking to the vendors, while the afternoon was spent bowling! Sunday was quite different, as the group visited Arromanches 360, a unique circular cinema, known for its immersive, high-definition footage of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy. On Sunday afternoon they went to one of France’s most iconic
landmarks, Mont St Michel, a rocky island village with its dramatic medieval abbey. It was a hot day and they all enjoyed an icecream to cool down! The final day was spent visiting a calvados distillery (no tastings allowed!) followed by a stop off at Honfleur on the journey back to Calais to catch the ferry home.
Y8 Go on maths PGL Once again, Year 8 were invited to take part in the Maths PGL this May. We went to Osmington Bay, on the coast of Dorset, which had amazing facilities and a wonderful seaside view. On Friday morning, the last day before the May half - term, 58 of us piled into a double decker coach and drove 2 and a half hours down to our residential. The ride was smooth and we even had a little sing-along. We hopped off the coach, ate lunch, and went for a tour around the premises, but there was no time to rest, only time for a quick change before we headed to our first activities! Our first activity was laser tag! We were not expecting that. Our group got to play against Group 2, Mrs Bajaj’s. Our activity was hosted on Little Wembley, a very wide sandpit. We didn’t even use the whole thing! After a few action- packed games, we went down to the Giant Swing. This was easily one of my favourite activities for several reasons: The team bonding was excellent, our group made everyone feel comfortable with the heights, while still encouraging each other to go higher. The thrill of the swing was awe-inducing, as well as the gorgeous view from above. After our final evening activity, which was very competitive tag archery, we all headed to bed to rest up ahead of our first full day. Saturday started with the sensory trail, which our group had to complete blindfolded, relying on our other senses. We then moved onto the vertical challenge. I definitely underestimated the upper body strength required for this and
almost gave up, but my friends and the instructor encouraged me to go further so I managed to reach the top! After lunch, everyone tried axe-throwing, and it proved to be a lot harder than it looks. Our last activity was the zipwire, and that’s where the maths kicked in. Using the formula for calculating speed, the team worked out how fast everyone went down the zipwire. Once dinner was finished, we moved to our evening activities, which included a steep, yet scenic, trek to the beach. All of us chilled on the beach, took some fun photos, and headed back. The whole crowd had our fair share of spirited yelling at the PGL games afterward, and then it was straight to bed before our final day. Sunday began with aeroball, where we had to calculate our average score, followed by climbing. There were climbing challenges, like trying to make it to the top of the wall while holding hands, only using one arm, and eyes closed! It wasn’t too bad but I only made it three- quarters of the way up. Post lunch, we had archery, a difficult yet rewarding sport. When your arrow hits the board, it’s an amazing feeling of triumph and ‘Yes! I did it!’. Our last activity was abseiling, and we had to use Pythagoras’ Theorem to work out the length of the rope. We were lucky enough to end our trip on a high with the silent disco! There was dancing but a lot of us just chose to sit on the field with our friends after so much hard work. The final morning was sunny, and we rested on the coach, enjoyed the panoramic seaside view and chattered excitedly all the way home.
Nethra G 8EHO
YEAR 10 WAR HORSE TRIP
On Monday the 1st and Thursday 4th June Year 10 drama students went to see War Horse at the National Theatre. As part of the Drama GCSE course, year 10 have to study War Horse as a play and make notes about the performance for their exam next year. War Horse is a play adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s book about a boy named Albert and his Horse named Joey and their journey during WWI. The play uses life-sized horses from Handspring Puppet Company and a stirring musical score to bring to life this timeless story of love, friendship and courage. This performance had many Year 10s in tears because of how heartwarming and action packed the performance was.
Waterloo, where we had a picture in front of the Paddington Bear mural, before walking to The National Theatre. We had a quick History lesson by Mr Page about the origins of the bridges on the Thames before we were handed our tickets and went into the theatre. Before the show started many of us wrote notes about the starting set of the play and continued to write during the interval and after the show had finished. In my opinion, the show was one of the best I have seen and made the audience truly believe that Joey was a real horse with feelings and not just a puppet.
War Horse taught us the power of friendship and resilience even in difficult times. It also showed the audience the damage that war can have on everyone, including animals, and the pain that they had to go through as well. At the start of this trip we met the teachers at Richmond station and took the train to
By Jemima L and Annabel L, 10EFR
Y12 Explore UCAS Exhibtion
We travelled by coach to the UCAS Exhibition in Farnborough, where we had the chance to speak to representatives from a wide range of universities and learn more about the courses they offer. Each university had
its own stand, with prospectuses and other information available, so we could explore what interested us most.
We were free to choose which universities to visit, which made it easier to focus on specific courses and ask questions about things we wanted to know more about. There were also talks running throughout the day about university life and the
application process, which many students found useful.
The trip was helpful for everyone, whether they
already had a clear idea of their next steps or were still unsure about their plans after sixth form. It gave us a better understanding of the options available and what to expect when applying to university.
Overall, it was an informative and enjoyable day, and many of us came away with new ideas about courses or universities to look into.
Hannah KD, 12KNO
In late April to early May, we were lucky enough to visit the Buddhapadipa Temple In Wimbledon. 2 forms went each day by coach and we travelled for approximately 30 minutes. On arrival we were greeted by temple staff who were very helpful throughout the day. The temple was stunning, with white walls and a bright red roof with gold details outlining the windows and the main entrance. Before entering the temple we were asked to remove our shoes, this is to show respect and cleanliness and that everyone is equal no matter their wealth nor their status - a key principle of the Buddhist faith. Inside I could see a great shrine surrounded by flowers, candles and Year 8 Buddha Temple Trip
decorations. The shrine centred around three Buddha statues, one black, one gold and one green. This green statue is a replica of Thailand's Emerald Buddha. The walls of the Temple were covered in colourful handpainted drawings, depicting the life of the Buddha. After having some time to soak in the spectacular surroundings we were greeted by a monk who we meditated with. We were told that when you chant you should wish blessings on your family, friends and the people around you rather than on wishes for yourself. Finally, we were lucky enough to explore the garden. It was peaceful and calm surrounded in blossomed flowers.
Darina 8SDE
SIXTH FORM BANK OF ENGLAND Year 12 Economics trip to ON WEDNESDAY, 4 JULY, WALDEGRAVE'S YEAR 12 ECONOMICS STUDENTS EMBARKED ON A TRIP TO THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (EBRD) IN THE HEART OF THE CANARY WHARF, AND THEN VISITED THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF LONDON. Annabell P, 12VJA
gave further details about the bank's role and revealed that they have 400,000 gold bars stored underground - worth an incredible £250 billion! To finish off the trip, we had a look around the Bank’s museum and learned more about the evolution of paper money and how market functions have evolved over time to make up our ever adapting global economy today. Finally, we all wanted to try and test our strengths by lifting a genuine 12.5kg bar of gold, worth approximately £400,000 - which impressively a lot of us were successful at!
The day started off with getting to look around the EBRD’s permanent historical exhibition, recounting its successful founding in 1991, their most impactful projects, and the key figures who have shaped their legacy today. I found that the most interesting aspect of this was photos and stories describing the bank’s pivotal role in managing international funds to make the Chernobyl disaster’s site safe; whilst also documenting how the war in Ukraine has affected the site’s exclusion zone which requires urgent repair. This is a conflict that the institution passionately advocates peace for, which was made clear by the discussions that took part in the next session of the day- careers talks from EBRD’s brightest workers. One woman spoke about her career as a climate specialist, whose team advises the bank on environmental issues, policies and international standards. What particularly stood out to me as a student learning about globalisation and economic growth, was how the firm ensures clients adopt sustainable practices whilst
also expanding. This standard of ethical practice was very inspiring, especially when combined with their ethos of inclusivity where they push for equal opportunity in projects for both men and women. Our next stop was the Bank of England, based in the financial district. This gave us insight into the daily roles of the institution. As we have learnt in class, its role in adjusting interest rates and using quantitative easing to control inflation is an important aspect of the economy’s stability. Our talk
The RPE department was delighted to welcome Reverend Helen Calner from St Augustine of Canterbury Church, Hospital Bridge Road, Whitton, to the school on Thursday 18 June 2026. Reverend Calner delivered an engaging talk to Year 12 A Level Religious Studies students on the themes of Gender and Theology. During the session, students explored the roles of women in the Bible and examined the history of women within the Church. The students were fully engaged throughout the discussion, asking thoughtful questions and contributing enthusiastically to the conversation. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of contemporary theological issues and enrich their classroom learning. AROUND THE SIXTH FORM: RPE TALK - REVEREND CALNER
From Monday 6 July students celebrated Book Week at Waldegrave, with author events and workshops as well as a dress up day for Year 7 and a Book Swap event for KS3. The authors invited to speak to pupils were Tia Fisher, Zohra Nabi and Sophie Darlington. They spoke about their writing processes, what inspired them to write the books they have and held creative workshops to help students think about creating stories of their own. AROUND THE SCHOOL: BOOK WEEK
The Year 7 dress up day was a huge hit, with students coming in as their favourite book characters, from the Cheshire Cat to Katniss Everdene! We finished the week with a very successful Book Swap in the Hall with plenty of books to exchange. It was lovely to see the students excitedly recommending books they had just read! It was a fantastic week put on by our English Team and Mrs Croucher - thank you to them all for their hard work!
Thank you for supporting our Library Fundraiser this term - we raised a fantastic £755!
YEAR 7 CARNEGIE SHADOWING CLUB
For three months, Room E8 was transformed every Thursday afternoon into a lively haven for the Carnegie Shadowing Club, led by Miss Birch and Mr Hawes. Students dove into the prestigious Carnegie Medal book list, exploring everything from animal rescue to sea-soaked communities! The weekly sessions quickly became a beloved routine, combining a shared passion for literature with an incredible community spirit fuelled by a rotating roster of legendary bakes, including homemade bronuts and gooey cookie dough. The atmosphere was entirely stress-free, with members encouraged to bring in their books and share their first impressions whether they had finished reading them or not. Using a shared Reading Log, the group tracked their literary journeys and debated various plot twists, narrative styles, and character developments over plates of sweet treats. Every book sparked great conversation, keeping everyone laughing, snacking, and talking for weeks. The end of term meant books were returned and the final reading logs were filled out. The group members all agreed that the mix of great books, massive debates, and top-tier baking made it a great space, leaving everyone hoping another teacher might restart it in the future!
Sophia S, 7FSM
CULTURAL DAY: A DAY TO SHARE OUR HOME CULTURES AT SCHOOL
The final week of term was not without its highlights and Ms Dhir ensured this week was full of excitement as the whole school got involved in Cultural Day. Students and teachers all were invited to come into Waldegrave on Tuesday 14 July wearing their home cultural dress in return for a donation to Unicef. We had a huge array of outfits on display, from Nigeria to Japan, Pakistan to Brazil, Ireland to Wales as well as of course plenty of students wearing England shirts ahead of the football! The day also offered a number of workshops for our Year 7 students, these were run by teachers with support from our fantastic new prefects. Pupils got the chance to take part in two activities including colourful rangoli, cultural music, learning to write in Arabic script, creating a dreamcatcher, Maori poi, Diya henna designs and cultural food tasting. These were lots of fun and offered an insight into other cultures.
FRENCH DRAMA CLUB
Have you ever wanted to learn a foreign language? Or lead a group of younger children through fun activities? Well that’s exactly what a group of year 7s and year 8s, like me, did. At this club, we gather every Tuesday in G3 after school for an hour to learn new French songs, games and vocab. We did this in preparation of becoming a monitrice (French leader) for the year 3 children at St James’s for one afternoon at the end of the term. I first joined the club because I take French as an extra subject and I thought it might help me with my French and be a fun side activity. However, it has proven to be much more than that. One of the reasons why I have enjoyed it so much is because it has made me feel more confident when speaking up in my language lessons. Another great aspect of the club is that you don’t even have to speak French to do it, so anyone can join! Not only that, but it is also an enjoyable way to connect with peers and try something new. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to improve their confidence in languages, learn how to be a leader or just wants to try
something new and fun.
Our role in the picnic was to lead, in pairs, a group of 10-15 Year 3s at St James’ Primary School through activities, such as traditional French songs and games (Frère Jacques and 1,2,3 Soleil, to name a few). We regathered as a big group and sang along with the French accordionist, Fifi La Mer, to songs such as Un Éléphant and Sur Le Pont D’Avignon. Afterwards there was a picnic, where the children lined up to collect some food (such as grapes, cheese and juice) which was served by the monitrices. The most challenging part of the event was not speaking English throughout the whole afternoon, which we found especially hard since the children were not always sure what we were saying! Even so, they really enjoyed it and we could tell that they were having a great time. One of the things that made it even more enjoyable was how it felt like a fun gathering rather than an educational activity. Overall, it was a very successful afternoon, and us French leaders got to enjoy our own picnic the following day!
Rose B, 8FLY
WALDEGRAVE SCHOOL MAGAZINE
Waldegrave School, Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 5LS
020 8894 3244 | www.waldegrave.richmond.sch.uk
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