Embedded Files
Celebrating Success!
Spring 2025
Martha - Golden Hinde.mp4
Student's Flag Design Inspired by Francis Drake's Golden Hinde Triumphs in Local Competition
Congratulations to Martha (7S) for winning theGolden Hinde competition. The competition was open to all KS2 and KS3 students from the local Southwark area. Students were invited to design a flag that reflects the legacy and history of The Golden Hinde, providing an exciting opportunity to showcase their creativity while engaging with historical, geographical, or artistic themes linked to The Golden Hinde and the Age of Exploration.
The Golden Hinde, captained by Sir Francis Drake during its historic circumnavigation from 1577 to 1580, inspired designs rooted in themes of exploration, exploitation and discovery. Students drew from Elizabethan symbolism, incorporating elements such as heraldry, trade, cultural exchange and the great shift in global perspective that typified the Golden Age of Exploration.
Martha’s design was professionally made into a flag and flown from one of The Golden Hinde's masts throughout January 2025. Martha, her family, and representatives from the school were delighted to be able to attend the flag launching ceremony along with the KS2 winner and local press.
Not only did St. Michael’s have the winning entry we also took second and third place too!!
1st place: Martha (7DA)
2nd place: Janka (7RU)
3rd place: Ariam (7DA)
As part of Martha’s prize, her class will also have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of The Golden Hinde and each winning student will receive a certificate of achievement and their artwork also featured in a physical exhibition aboard The Golden Hinde
St Michael's Hosts National Debating Competition with The Historical Association
Julia Matusiak wins Silver Medal!
On January 24th, Opeoluwa and I had the opportunity to participate in the Historical Association's Great Debate where we delivered a speech based on our local history and how it can make a global impact. I chose to write about a political meeting at Forest Hill Swimming Pool in 1952 where Clement Atlee made a speech about the necessity for Britain to join the Nuclear Arms Race and I analysed the significance of the event on Britain’s future in nuclear relations.
Many different schools attended the debate explaining their own local history and brought up topics that were important to them - from medieval Putney to current affairs of Britain like the race riots over the summer and even famous people from their area like Ada Lovelace and William Cuffay. All of these different speeches allowed us to become more educated about varying pieces of local history that we wouldn't have previously known about as well as allowing us to practice our public speaking skills which is rare and beneficial. Overall, it was a wonderful experience in which I acquired new historical knowledge and could share my thoughts and opinions on my local history.
Julia Matusiak, 12RU and Opeoluwa Oke, 12VI
St Michael's Students in Court!
On the 25th of January, I had the opportunity to attend Young Citizen’s Bar Mock Trial Competition, alongside other members of St Michael’s sixth-form debate club. After meeting early in the morning at Inner London Crown Court, we began to prepare for the three rounds of trials we had been preparing for for weeks.
Each trial followed the structure of a real criminal trial (including being in a real courtroom), and was overseen by a judge, who calculated the scores of each team based on their performance. We were able to participate in the trials by becoming barristers, witnesses or court clerks, among other roles. For the first two trials, I sat on the jury for other competing schools, and was able to play a role in deciding the verdict. We learnt about many interesting legal concepts from the judges, such as the burden of proof, or the intricacies of certain laws.
After a quick lunch, it was time for the final round of the day - I was acting as one of the prosecution barristers in an assault case, alongside Ash. Though it was quite daunting to speak in front of so many people, including a judge and jury, it was undoubtedly just as exciting as it was nerve-inducing. Following the examination of four witnesses, and multiple speeches, the jury left the room to discuss their verdict. After a few agonising minutes of waiting, we were elated when they announced that they had found the defendant guilty - a hard-fought victory for us as the prosecution.
The day concluded with a Q&A with some of the court’s judges, where we were able to ask questions about how they started their careers, what their daily lives are like, and learn behind-the-scenes secrets about the court.
Even though St Michaels didn’t win the overall competition, it was still a very valuable experience with lots of amazing successes.
Ruby Torsney, 12DA
Autumn 2024
St Michael's Students Support King Charles in 2024 King's Christmas Speech
Congratulations to Julia M, Irati A-G and Paul G in Year 12 who performed on national television to an audience of 7 million people on Christmas Day. This was an extraordinary experience for them and the school. All staff and students had to sign legal contracts of secrecy about the event until the broadcast was aired! Please see below for Julia's reflections on the day.
This Christmas our Inner Voices choir was fortunate enough to sing the carol after the King’s Speech on Christmas Day. It was an incredible experience of the highest honour and it was difficult to keep it a secret from everyone we knew until 3pm 25th December. The event took place in a gorgeous and small church called Fitzrovia Chapel and immediately upon entering we were faced with an overwhelming amount of cameras and nervous excitement. The process itself was singing the carol ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ over and over again until the recording team were satisfied with how we sounded. Then, after a quick lunch break, we matched our recorded voices to our filmed faces. It was a long day of filming, however, the end result sounded absolutely beautiful with all our harmonies between the parts and it was even more thrilling to watch ourselves sing on television right after King Charles on Christmas Day. Thank you to Mr Watkins and Mr Allwood, our two fantastic choir teachers, and to Ms Corcoran and Mr Magnoff who made this opportunity possible for us.
Julia M
12RU
St Michael’s Student Wins BASET Pioneer Award!
Congratulations to Julia Stroz, 12BC, who has been selected from hundreds of applicants and after numerous interviews to receive The Britain-Australia Society Education Trust (BASET) 2025 Pioneer School Award. The Pioneer School Award fully funds an educational placement at Canberra Grammar School in Australia, in summer 2025 which includes the airfare and living costs. We are delighted that Julia will have this once in a lifetime experience and know she will make this most of this brilliant opportunity. She is an outstanding ambassador for St. Michael’s Catholic College.
Challenge Competition! 2024-25
Challenge Competition Autumn 24 - What Are Patterns.pptxPatterns.pptx
Year 12 Student Wins Nomination for SSLP Shackleton Award
Bryant Ugoagbala, 12VI, has been nominated for the Shackleton Award 2024 in recognition of his 'Shackleton Spirit.' Each year a student is celebrated for their proven commitment to service, leadership and triumph over adversity and in memory of South London's famous polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton. Bryant was presented with his award by Dr Joe Spence on behalf of The James Caird Society.
Please find the school's successful nomination for Bryant below:
Bryant has been an outstanding, generous, empathetic and truly impressive student since joining St Michael’s in 2019. Bryant has taken on roles of responsibility throughout his life both formally and otherwise. He has an easy rapport with his teachers and peers alike, seeking out guidance where needed and offering support to students across age ranges. His selfless commitment to his peers has been reflected in his service as House Captain and Head Prefect as well as important roles in the Chaplaincy Team and as a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador. In these roles he has mentored younger students in both an academic and pastoral capacity, as well as raising a considerable amount of money for various charities over the last 5 years and being integral to the cultivation of an inclusive and welcoming school community in which all students can feel a sense of belonging. Bryant also has a leadership role at his local church and played an important role, at an even younger age, in helping to support his neighbours during lockdown. Bryant’s commitment to his school and local community is all the more remarkable given the challenges he still faces at home, where he acts as a full time carer to his mother and sister and a tutor to his two young nephews. Bryant would be too humble to apply for this award himself, but represents all that is best in our school community and reflects Salesian RUAH values in their most human and sincere form.
Black History Month 2024
In this special Black History Month edition of The St Michael’s Review we celebrate, as a community, what it means to be Black British African in 2024. All content is original work by students of St Michael’s in response to assemblies and a CPSHE curriculum that, this year, focused on tracing the development Black British African identity through music and poetry. This edition is digital to reflect the audio-visual nature of many of the submissions.
👈
Every October, Black History is honoured and celebrated across the world. In St Michael’s, October is a month where we keep to this tradition and acknowledge Black History - but this time was different. This October was like no other. The students of St Michael’s used their gifts and talents in ways that not only honoured Black History but illuminated it. Through poetry, art and creativity, St Michael’s witnessed a celebration and declaration of black identity - what it truly means to be Black, but what it also means to be surrounded and defined by it.
As I saw the students recognise themselves and others through art, there was a sense of transparency, proudness and power that resonated with them. There was an undying feeling of unity and acknowledgement. But this wasn’t a new discovery. This is something that has always existed in the students of St Michael’s. This October there was a compelling calling within them to share this power, release it, honour it. Like a lion’s roar, the students were fuelled by empathy and a desire to celebrate Black History with words of humility and honesty. They submitted art that expressed soulful feelings, images that only dreams could create - the students of St Michael’s brought this all to life. Students of all backgrounds acknowledged that we are all intertwined by one of many things: humanity. Black History was and is all our History. Black lives, stories, names, cultures, traditions were brought to the forefront by all of you this October and to witness this, created a soul-searching blessing.
As a previous student of St Michael’s myself, I have watched the transformation of many lives, including my own, in this very school. I have walked these corridors wearing the badge of St Michael’s on my blazer - my own Black story was written right on these very corridors. My voice was found in these classrooms. My voice was heard within these walls. I was empowered within this institution. I have felt the emotions of you all and when I read your poetry and saw your art - I became that student again. I relived and celebrated my Blackness. You reminded me of the very reason I returned to give back to this school.
I would like to give thanks to all of you for your entries. We are most human when we see the humanity in others. Your entries are testimony to this.
Ms Etemewei
BHM Winners Nov 2024 Prizes.pptxBHM 2024.pptxBHM 2024 Assembly.pdfLesson Copy - BHM 2024.pdfSummer 2024
MUN July 2024 .pptx
St Michael's 6th Form Students Host First Model United Nations Conference
St Michael's is delighted to celebrate the success of the school's inaugural Model UN Conference this term. This conference was run entirely by the college's Year 12 MUN team, inclusive of organisation, communication, public speaking, adjudication, stewarding and administration. The event was attended by delegate students from across London, including Brampton Manor, Kingsdale and Bonus Pastor. UN countries were also represented by students from across year groups in Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. Congratulations also to the representatives of France, Sweden and the Russian Federation who collected the awards for "Best Delegate." Keep your eyes open for the next MUN Conference in February!
Please find below the reflections of Tyler-May M, 12 BC, Deputy Communications Officer STMMUN:
From the 25th of April, every member of St Michael’s Model UN put forward great effort in order to ensure the success of our first ever conference on 12th of July. Everyone who has taken part in the Model UN has grown exceptionally throughout the process, developing public speaking, organisational and leadership skills along the way. Whether you were experienced or not, everyone was able to effectively take part and add something valuable and exciting to the day.
The UN Committees provided an amazing experience for everyone involved, where students were able to act as their designated country's delegation. The General Assembly was an outstanding role model for what to expect from a committee in which both the chairs and delegates played their roles professionally and to perfection. The Security Council, was particularly impressive given that the committee was exclusively comprised on novice delegates. We were also delighted to welcome so many students from different year groups and from so many different parts of London. We are all excited for next years new debate participants and can't wait for February!
Being a part of the Board of Directors at St Michael's Model UN has been an amazing experience. From co-ordinating it to actually taking part on the day, it has been worth every minute of hard work and effort. From training newcomers in the procedures to organising the perfect date to hold the conference it has been both difficult and exciting. Everyone has gained new knowledge and skills through organising and taking part in this Model UN. Albeit our first conference, the BoD hopes to return next year in order to ensure another successful STMMUN in 2024-2025.
St Michael's Student Wins National Award!
Congratulations to Ryan B, 12DA, who won special recognition from Gresham College, winning their National Oracy Competition this month. Ryan's winning entry on Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Education can be viewed below, together with an accompanying article for the 2023-24 edition of The St Michael's Review.
Year 7 St Michael's Student Wins London-wide Art Competition!
Congratulations to Karolina K, 7SA who was selected in first place from hundreds of student entries across schools in South London to win the prestigious SSLP Neurodiversity Art Competition. Karolina's bold, yet sensitive work gets to the heart of the complexities of our varied brain chemistries and lived experiences. Karolina received a £30 gift voucher and her artwork has been on display in Dulwich College and has been turned into a limited edition postcard.
Well done Karolina!
Spring 2024
HA_News__Spring_24.pdfSt Michael’s Student Published in Academic Journal!
Congratulations to Ryan Belaidi (12 DA), who was this month published in The Historical Association’s Spring Magazine. This is a prestigious publication normally aimed only at History academics and professionals - it is highly unusual for 6th Form students to be printed in this format and it is a great honour for both Ryan and the St Michael’s community. Please find below Ryan’s reflections on former Mayor of Southwark, Sam King, The Windrush and identity in 21st Century Britain. Well done Ryan!
Article on pp. 32-34
👈
St Michael's Challenge Competition
"What are Signs?"
What are Signs - Challenge Competition Spring 2024.pptxChallenge Competition Results! May 2024.pptx
Autumn 2023
Black History Month - Time Capsule Competition
Mayor of Southwark visits St Michael’s and Talks to the People of the Future!
On Wednesday 7th February 2024, The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark , Cllr Michael Situ, marked our inaugural Diversity Week by visiting St Michael’s for a special ceremony to bury a student time-capsule that will next be opened in 2064. This project was inspired by the 70th anniversary of the Windrush Migration and challenged students to research their family histories and express their hopes for the future. Students presented their ideas in the style of a West Indian front room, where families traditionally curate a careful presentation of their values and stories to the outside world. Students were then filmed discussing their projects, explaining what their models expressed about their identities and familial journeys as well as their messages and hopes for the people of the future. The winning entries were selected by a panel from the National Migration Museum, who are working in partnership with St Michael’s on a long-term collaborative curriculum project. Adrian Nurse, 12DA, claimed first place with an innovative submission that not only explored the legacies of the West Indian plantations and rum industries but also linked to a further time-capsule buried under the home he was born in in Barbados. Mayor Situ told the students: “This is a wonderful project that reflects your truths and your identities. It gives me great hope that our future is in the hands of young people like you. I may not make it to when this time-capsule is uncovered but I hope that you all come back and can reflect on your life journeys and the brilliant opportunities you were given here at St Michael’s.”
Congratulations to all our entries!
BHM 24 Winners!.pptxCopy of BHM Project 2023 - Family Time Capsule_20240125_173616_0000.pdfSt Michael's Challenge Competition
"What is Language?"
Maria Nguyen - What is Language.docxAutumn Term Winner!
"What is Language?"
Poem and reflections by
Maria Nguyen, 13VI
Summer 2023
St Michael's Challenge Competition
"Ideas that changed the World"
Challenge Competition - Summer Term 2023 - Ideas that changed the world (Business IDA).pptxSt Michael’s Competition WINNERS! May 2023.pptxSpring 2023
St Michael's Challenge Competition
"What are We?"
Challenge Competition Results! May 2023.pptxChallenge Competition - Spring Term - What are we.pptxAdrian Nurse - Challenge Competition Spring 2023 - What are we_ (1).docxYear 11 Winner!
"What are We?"
Reflections by
Adrian Nurse, 11DA
Ash G-O'D Art Spring 23.pdfAsh Ghisoni-O'Donnell what are we.docxYear 10 Winner!
"What are We?"
Thoughts and Artwork by
Ash Ghisoni-O'donnell, 10DA
Autumn 2022
St Michael's Challenge Competition
"What is Reality?"
Challenge Competition Results! Jan 2023.pptxChallenge Competition - Autumn Term - What is Reality.pptxJayden Frans-Monney What is Reality.mp4KS4 Winner!
"What is Reality?"
Film, Interviews and Philosophy by
Jayden Frans-Monney, 11DA
Stephanie Eboh - Challenge Competition Autumn Term - What is Reality_.docxKS3 Winner!
"What is Reality?"
Thoughts and Artwork by
Stephanie Eboh, 7DA
Summer 2022
St Michael's Challenge Competition
"What is The Future?"
Challenge Competition Results!.pptxChallenge Competition - What is The Future May 2022.pptxWhat is the Future - Competition Winner - Caspar Glemser.mp4Winner!
"What is The Future?"
Composition, Film and Words by Casper Glemser, 10DA
Competition Winners
Moving Stories: St Michael's Finalists in National Migration Museum Competition
St Michael's Winners!
St Michael’s Students curate exhibit at National Migration Museum!
We are delighted to announce that Laura Bujauskaite and Ivy Obiora in Year 11 reached the grand final of the “Moving Stories” competition at the National Migration Museum in December. As a result, they had the opportunity to work with museum curators and internationally renowned artists to create an exhibit for the museum. This exhibit is now on display in the National Migration Museum in Lewisham until Easter, after which it will be on permanent display at St Michael’s.
Further details here: https://www.migrationmuseum.org/movingstorieslewisham/
Please find details of their winning entry below:
"Law" by Laura and Ivy
Our exhibit is an attempt to replicate that which has no physical form, the emotions and thoughts of those betrayed by the place they sought for a chance at life.
Our exhibit explores the harsh reality of migration laws in England throughout the years; the past and the present in hopes of changing the future. I was first introduced to the harsh migration laws enforced in America when going through my GCSE history coursework. As someone who lives in England, but descends from a different nationality, this competition has given us the opportunity to delve deeper into the English migration laws that we had lived with everyday yet had also been completely oblivious to. We believe that it is an important aspect of history that all people should be knowledgeable about as many of the laws from ‘different times’ are still in effect today and still dictate the lives of many. Here is a little about our exhibit: Firstly, the pinnacle of the exhibit consists of a large clay book which represents all the migration laws. The book has limbs and distraught faces reaching out of it appearing as though the people are crushed - this is to represent the weight and unfairness of (some) these laws. We would like the book to look archaic to represent how these laws have lasted over many years (shown in smaller clay model attached). In addition, we would like to have a recording of some interviews with some people (of various ages and backgrounds) to play in the background of the exhibit.
In our work we're exploring the different types of migration laws throughout history and the effect that it has had and left on people, whilst laws are put in place to protect us, many of them have been extremely unfair and unjust. Though we personally have not experienced this, we would like to expand both our knowledge and others through the use of art.
Our exhibit is designed for everyone, it is a captivating piece that would be used to educate and inform. Our Exhibit is suitable for anywhere as young as 7 to as elderly as 80. Though our piece is more contemporary and therefore may be enjoyed more by the new generation, this exhibit can be enjoyed by everyone. We want people to feel connected to our piece as something that expresses their struggles. We would also like those who can act, yet do nothing to be inspired to bring about a change no matter how big or little it is.
Laura and Ivy's reflections on their experience:
This year St Michaels Catholic College was lucky enough to be part of the project: Moving Stories led by the migration museum centred in Lewisham. We were even luckier to have our initial idea shortlisted into a small group of 6 other contestants. This opened a pathway into many incredible opportunities including working with the museum, and the lovely staff, who welcomed us into their community and allowed us to use the space of the museum as a workspace. We were also introduced to our professional artist, Shorsh Saleh, with whom we worked alongside to produce our final showing of our prototype. This was very educational as we were being guided along the process by someone who had so much knowledge and intellect to share with us, both of the project and in everyday life. We got along very well and look forward to working on future projects together! During the weeks leading up to the final decision we had just started our mocks and everything became a hectic blur of balancing school life with using any of our free time to work on the project. This consisted of collecting images to put toward the production of our video, and organising interviews with people who had reached out to us willing to share their (or their families) stories. Whilst this was going on Shorsh was also busy at work producing the physical body of our piece. Between this we were also introduced to our professional coach, Antonia Olex, though we were only able to meet with her at the final event we were able to discuss our ideas through a zoom meeting in which we came up with a speech to present about our project. On the day of the finals we were so nervous, but we told ourselves that whatever the outcome would be, we were very proud of ourselves because of how far we had come. The atmosphere was great and welcoming, it was something special!! Each group had the chance to present their prototypes and ideas for further development as well as their process so far. Then after 40 minutes of discussion, the judges had finally come to their decision. The room fell silent, tension in the air. Regrettably, we were not the winners however the opportunity to partake in a competition like this has taught us a lot of valuable lessons and we look forward to further working with the museum.
Laura B, 11VI and Ivy O, 11RU
Essay Writing Competition 2022
Winners of St Michael’s Essay Writing Competition!
This year, students from across Year 12 and Year 10 competed in St Michael’s first essay writing competition. Over the course of the Spring and Summer Terms, students demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience and significant intellectual curiosity, attending a series of workshops with Mr Magnoff and Ms El-Janbey, as well as conducting extensive independent research. All the students involved proved themselves to be exemplary representatives of the school and our Salesian RUAH values and have taken important steps in improving both their technical essay writing skills as well as expanding their thoughts about the wider world. All of this will help them to achieve their exam goals in 2023.
Students were required to contemplate “The Purpose of Education” and to support their arguments with reference to philosophical and historical texts as well as current political contexts. Students were judged on style, structure, argument, balance and originality. Here are the results:
Overall Winner:
Nathan Arthur – 1000 House Points + £20 book token
Excellent attempts to ground the argument in a range of academic research. Additionally, Nathan's essay raised interesting points about the impact the education system has on the well-being of young people. His essay also raised important philosophical questions about whether the emphasis of learning should be on the moral education of a young person as opposed to their academic education.
Runners-up:
Adrian Nurse – 300 House points + £10 book token
Fluently written, powerfully argued and well-structured. Adrian utilised contextual contemporary sources to question not only the purpose of education but also how the knowledge acquired through education should be used in society.
Tyler-May Murphy – 300 House points + £10 book token
A well-structured essay that made good use of rhetoric to elevate the argument being made. Tyler raised important questions about what constitutes 'real art' and how these ideas (and judgements) are reflected in the school curriculum.
Annelisa Agyei-Kwakye – 300 House points + £10 book token
A refreshingly optimistic perspective on the education system and what it can offer. Annelisa made a compelling argument about how the education system offers young people more than just academic learning, focussing on how education can influence young people socially, emotionally and spiritually, in order to flourish as adults.
Join us next year for your chance to win BIG and expand your mind…
Mr Magnoff & Ms El-Janbey
Page updated
Report abuse