The offer of Project Qualifications is also an important part of our strategy to develop research skills and intellectual curiosity. Many in the Lower 6th undertake the EPQ, and this year a number in the Upper 4th have also presented very impressive EPQ projects. Opportunities for personal development St Benedict’s offers its students a very wide range of co-curricular opportunities, which develop talent and promote confidence and resilience. For the second year in a row, the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme at St Benedict’s has enjoyed record participation and achievement. During 2018/19, St Benedict’s pupils qualified for a total of 189 Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. The St Benedict’s combined cadet force (CCF), which also welcomes a number of pupils from neighbouring Cardinal Wiseman Catholic High School, had a record number of 62 new recruits during 2018/19. The performing arts at St Benedict’s has seen a number of impressive productions during the year. In February 2019, the school put on the musical Les Miserables, which was appreciated for its particularly powerful individual vocal performances and for the strength of the chorus singing. In June 2019, the Middle School school production of Grimm’s Tales was also very well-received. The school choirs and orchestra have put on a range of concerts this year. Of particular note was the impressive concert of Mozart’s music at St John’s Smith Square in March 2019, when the programme included Mozart’s Haffner Symphony, his Requiem and his Clarinet Concerto. More than sixty St Benedict’s musicians also took part in a very successful tour to Sorrento in southern Italy in July 2019. Individual and team sports continue to be a strong feature of life at St Benedict’s. As well as the range of fixtures played against other schools, 2018/19 has seen the introduction of a wider range of lunchtime sporting opportunities, including house leagues in five-a-side football, basketball, handball and badminton.
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