The Year 5 boys' and girls' teams made history this half term by taking part in the Primary School's first-ever competitive football matches. Mr Connolly and Ms Gladden accompanied the children to Goals Dagenham to play against St Vincent's. While neither team achieved the result they had hoped for, with both matches ending in defeat, staff and parents were extremely impressed by the perseverance and determination shown throughout. All of the children demonstrated outstanding respect, teamwork and fair play during their matches.  In the girls' game, the team did not have the luxury of any substitutes and therefore played the entire match without a break. They worked tirelessly throughout, creating several opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net. The boys scored three excellent goals, even taking a 1-0 lead at one stage, and produced some exciting attacking football throughout the game. The boys have three more group matches to play before Christmas and have been taking part in weekly training sessions with Mr Connolly. The girls will have a number of friendly fixtures organised later in the year to help build their confidence and gain further match experience. Once these are arranged, Mr McConkey and Ms Gladden will support them with their training. We hope that next half term will bring our first victories for both the girls' and boys' teams!

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and supportive alumni community. Once again, our former pupils played a vital role in helping our students gain valuable workplace experience, securing high-quality placements for 14 Year 12 students across a range of industries. Three students completed placements at King's College Hospital, thanks to former pupil Karandeep Sahota. Opportunities in medicine are notoriously difficult to secure, making these placements particularly valuable. Reflecting on the experience, Ore (Year 12) said: "On 3 July, I attended a life-changing hospital work experience placement. It was an exciting opportunity that provided a real insight into the world of healthcare. From shadowing doctors and observing their interactions with the wider healthcare team to seeing multidisciplinary teams working together, I felt privileged to be part of such a professional environment. The experience strengthened my ambition to pursue a career in medicine and confirmed that this is the field where I see my future." We extend our sincere thanks to Karandeep and his colleagues at King's College Hospital for their generosity and support. The insurance and real estate sectors also proved popular, with students undertaking placements at Tokio Kiln Marine Insurance, Intact Insurance, Kadans, and Bellrock. We are grateful to former pupils Anish Vara, George Hilliard, Charlton Omo-Edoh, and Katie Nelson for making these opportunities possible. Jessie (Year 12) reflected on her placement in the real estate sector: "My work experience provided an invaluable insight into the real estate industry and the wide range of career opportunities available within the sector. Throughout the week, I developed a greater understanding of the different roles and professions involved and gained a clearer perspective on potential future career pathways." Four students were also placed at Shell thanks to former pupil Gary Cohen. Shahriyah (Year 12) said: "The work experience with Shell was a fantastic opportunity which allowed me and the other students to gain an insight into working life in central London, while also learning how technology is utilised within the industry. We explored core principles of artificial intelligence and took part in a prompt engineering and 'vibe coding' workshop. The placement also included talks from apprentices and graduates who shared their experiences and provided valuable career advice. It was a privilege to be part of such an inspiring and informative week." Finally, through our partnership with Future First, three students participated in an exceptional programme with public affairs and communications consultancy DRD Partnership. The experience included a visit to Parliament, a day at leading law firm Mishcon de Reya, and a final day at the Royal Courts of Justice. Reflecting on the programme, Syeda (Year 12) said: "One of my favourite parts of the programme was the session with Mishcon de Reya LLP. I found myself completely immersed in the tasks and discussions, and speaking with a group of inspirational women working within the firm reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in law." These opportunities highlight the tremendous impact that our alumni community continues to have on current students. By sharing their time, expertise, and professional networks, our former pupils are helping to inspire the next generation and provide invaluable insights into a wide range of career paths. We are extremely grateful for their continued support.