I would like to extend a warm welcome to those reading Headlines for the first time, especially to families whose children have recently joined us in Year 7 or Sixth Form. It has been wonderful to see our new pupils settling in so well, attending lessons with enthusiasm and actively participating in the wide range of activities we offer. We are truly impressed with the positive attitude they have shown and the excellent start they have made to their journeys at St Clement Danes.

We are pleased to share that following last term’s consultation with staff, parents and pupils we have now selected the values that will underpin our Character Education journey and align with the vision of St Clement Danes. These can be found in the visual included below.  These values articulate what we mean by Success, Character and Dignity, providing a shared language and clear framework for pupils, staff and families. They will guide how we teach, recognise and celebrate character, ensuring that our community has a consistent understanding of the skills, attributes and behaviours we seek to nurture. In doing so, we will equip every pupil to flourish, both during their time at St Clement Danes and in the wider world beyond school. Further details can be found in the Autumn Term Personal Development Newsletter sent by Miss Ramsbottom via email to all parents. 

As always, the beginning of the academic year has been both busy and exciting for our school. We launched the year with our annual Speech Day, held on 12th September, where we had the pleasure of welcoming Mr David Hindmarsh MSc, Police Coordinator at Irwin Mitchell LLP, as our guest speaker. His address was a deeply personal account of adversity, perseverance, self-belief and life long learning. 

Speech Day also provided us with a moment to reflect on the incredible academic success our pupils achieved over the summer. We are proud to share that once again, our pupils performed exceptionally well in their GCSEs. We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding GCSE results achieved by our pupils this year. An impressive 47% of all grades awarded were at 7–9, with 14% at the highest grade of 9. Remarkably, five pupils achieved a full set of straight 9s. Congratulations go to Slava B, Kaydance C, Sofia K, Kristina McD and Maisie M on this exceptional accomplishment.

Our A Level pupils also excelled; 44% of all grades awarded were A* or A, with 15% securing A* and 79% of pupils receiving A*-B. We are delighted that the vast majority of our pupils gained admission to their chosen universities or prestigious apprenticeships. Notably, four pupils secured places at Oxford or Cambridge, one will attend medical school, and one at dentistry school. Special commendation was awarded to 4A* achievers Henry G, Phillip D, Charlotte M, Alex McD, and Emily T, who each demonstrated exceptional academic performance. Amber R also impressed with 3A* alongside an additional A* in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Meanwhile, 3A* students, Jai B and Esme J, were recognised for their outstanding achievements.

In addition to these academic successes, the summer provided a wealth of opportunities for our pupils to shine in other areas. A special thank you goes to our PE staff for organising the visit to Maine for our US football team, including, for the first time, our girls football team. The PE staff also did a superb job of running the popular Sports Camp for our incoming Year 7 pupils. I also extend my thanks to Mrs Ingleby and Miss Smart  for their leadership in the Performing Arts Summer Camp.

We also extend our gratitude to Mrs Kirby for arranging the Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition to Norway. Our pupils demonstrated resilience and teamwork during this challenging adventure, and you can read more about their experience in the news article below.  Thanks also to all the volunteer helpers on the trip.

In my Speech Day address, I praised the dedication of our staff, describing them as “the selfless backbone of the St Clement Danes community.” I reflected on the remarkable achievements of pupils and staff alike, achieved despite significant financial and societal challenges. I also highlighted the vital role played by the Holborn Estate Charity and the Parents’ Association, whose events; second-hand uniform shop and fundraising, continue to provide invaluable support for our pupils.

Looking ahead, I cautioned that reductions in government funding could leave the school facing an annual shortfall of nearly £1 million per annum by 2027/28 and, more immediately, our funding has been reduced by £570k per annum. In this context, I stressed that “the support of the Parents’ Association and, most importantly, the Anchor Fund has never been more important.” Drawing on my naval family background, I likened the school to a “tight ship already performing exceptionally well, but running tight rigged in heavy seas”, a reminder that every member of the community has a part to play in helping the school steer through the challenges ahead.

As part of this collective effort, we will shortly be engaging pupils in raising £25 each to mark the 25th anniversary of the Anchor Fund. Further information will be shared with parents soon.

As I emphasised in my address on Speech Day, and as this edition of Headlines makes clear, behind every success story, whether a pupil moves on to Sixth Form, college, university, work or an apprenticeship, lies courage and selflessness from pupils, staff and parents. At the heart of our mission is the development of character in young people.

I concluded my address with a quote attributed to Aristotle; “You will never do anything in this world without courage.  It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour”.  It is my sincere hope and belief that during the coming year, and the years ahead, all of the St Clement Danes community; pupils, staff and parents, present and past, will have that courage to work together selflessly to ensure the long term success of the school.