We are proud to announce that Etone are in the running for three highly prestigious awards at the Education Awards 2026. The categories that we are hoping to be successful for are:

School of the Year

Headteacher of the Year – Mr Smith

Lifetime Achievement Awards – Mrs Stafford

The year marks the special 10^th anniversary celebration of the awards creation, itself a celebration of the fantastic efforts of educators and organisations who put their heart and souls into making schools a positive experience for their young people. The Midlands Awards take place at the Millenium Point in Birmingham in July, with the national awards in London around Christmas time. The Midlands awards are sponsored by Birmingham City University which is an institute Etone has close links to, providing support to their teacher training programme, accessing enrichment opportunities for potential university students and taking part in projects that look to grow relationships between education phases.

The nominations are a recognition of the hard work leaders and staff at Etone have put into the school for over a decade. Together with Barr Beacon, Etone established the Matrix Academy Trust which now boasts over 10 schools and a very successful BB SCITT programme for aspiring teachers. The efforts at Etone over the years has been truly transformative with the school coming achieving consistently strong Ofsted inspections, positive exam results for every year since records began and even awarded Community School of the Year in 2025 for their fundraising efforts.

A large part of that success has stemmed from the steady and careful leadership of Mr Smith. Having joined the school in April 2017 his decade long headship so far has allowed for sustained success, navigating the tricky difficulties sin the world of education paired with the complexities of life such as the Covid pandemic. Whilst not an individual who aspires to hold the spotlight, his dedication to the school and the individual pupils is inspiring making him the perfect role model for Etone pupils. His achievements throughout this time deserve no less than this nomination, so well done Mr Smith!

The nomination for Mrs Stafford in the Lifetime Achievement category is equally deserved. Having served in the world of education for more than three decades she has established herself as not only an expert teacher, but a dedicate leader in helping new and existing teachers deliver the best lessons possible to pupils. In an illustrious career she has led on supporting newly qualified members of staff as they enter the realm of teaching, supported Geography teachers across the country in achieving excellent outcomes for pupils, helped develop programmes in the world of Workload and Wellbeing, Mental Health and the entire Personal Development curriculum to name just a few achievements. Her roles include; Deputy Headteacher, School Improvement Lead on Personal Development, Education Evidence Lead for the EEF, Lead Examiner in Geography and an all round model educator. We are extremely proud of her achievements and wish her all the best at the final awards.

Speaking of the nominations Mr Smith had the following to say: “When I heard about the nominations, I was once again thrilled to hear that Etone had been recognised for the contributions it makes to the Nuneaton area. Whilst education is never an easy industry it is one that we all care deeply about and have invested heavily in. I am overjoyed to hear of Mrs Stafford’s nomination for the Lifetime Achievement award, an honour she truly deserves. Regarding the nomination for myself, I have to say I am a little embarrassed however, it is lovely to be nominated and to have the last decade recognised in some way.”

Wish us luck in the awards which take place on Friday 3^rd July at the Millennium Point in Birmingham.

For Mental Health Awareness Week, we are going to focus on Etone’s Top Tips to support positive mental health. Each year group will go out to the astroturf or tennis courts and walk the perimeter on a given day.

Taking time to keep active and connect is important for mental health. It helps to reduce anxiety, improve self-esteem, improve concentration, reduce depression and help you sleep well. If you find this helps you concentrate for the day – think about how you could add more active time to your day (e.g. walk to school)

1. Register in form
2. Go through the expectations below
3. Leave bags and coats in form
4. Off you go!! Effort and laps will be rewarded with house points!

Expectations

- Walk sensibly at all times

- You will be spread out by your tutors so you are not walking as a big groups, you need to stay this way.

-Follow all instructions from your form tutor

-Return back to your tutors as soon as they  blow the whistle

-You may track this on your watch if you have one that can do this but you must not use your phone.

-Movement is an important part of having a healthy mind, so please take this opportunity to enjoy the time outside and do your house proud.

- This will be called off if it is raining.

Monday – Year 9

Tuesday – Year 7

Wednesday – Year 10

Thursday – Year 8

Friday – Spare day

This week at Etone College, Year Group Assemblies have been our second round of Progress Praise celebration assemblies. This has been a wonderful opportunity to recognise pupils who have excelled in their learning and in their contribution to school life.

During the assemblies, pupils were proudly awarded for Outstanding Progress and Attainment across a wide range of subjects. These awards celebrate not only strong academic outcomes, but also the resilience, self-belief and positive learning habits pupils have shown over time.Our award recipients have demonstrated a consistent positive attitude to their learning, responding to feedback, challenging themselves, and striving to be the very best they can be in their studies.

Alongside academic success, pupils were also recognised for their service to their House. These awards highlighted those who have shown commitment, leadership and teamwork by supporting House events, representing their peers and contributing positively to the wider school community. Their efforts reflect that they are fantastic ambassadors for their House, demonstrating our Etone Values.

Pupils who have maintained outstanding attendance and behaviour were also awarded for meeting our expectation of ‘100% in all that you do’

A key focus of Progress Praise is celebrating pupils who consistently demonstrate our Etone Values. Award winners showed respect for others, responsibility for their own learning, and integrity in the way they conduct themselves each day. Whether through care, resilience, or setting a positive example, these pupils embody the values that underpin life at Etone.

In addition, many pupils were recognised for demonstrating strong Employability Skills, including teamwork, communication, organisation and problem-solving. These skills were evident in lessons, group work, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities, preparing pupils not only for success in school, but for their future education and careers.

All certificate winners were placed into the ‘Wheel of Names’ to have the chance of winning vouchers and Amazon devices.

We are incredibly proud of all the pupils who were recognised and look forward to seeing them continue to grow and thrive.

After entering through the Stage Door, drama club began their first visits to The Belgrade Theatre in preparation for their performance in B2 at The Belgrade in July.  The day started with a briefing and tour with Education Producer, Claire who explained the origins of the theatre and its name alongside explaining how spaces are used, and the reasons for those iconic dressing room mirror lights.  Etone pupils were - as always - respectful, curious, and positive.

Eleanor reflected, "this place is so amazing, I wish I could live here forever!"  Dexter agreed, "the lighting and stage are amazing, one of the best I've seen."  Cara complimented, "the staff are so friendly, welcoming and helpful" and  Eloise remarked, "you can tell that there have been many extraordinary performances here."  As the day moved on to improvising, rehearsing, and polishing the devised work,  Jess said, "the opportunity to work in this space is overwhelmingly fantastic!"

Drama club had an amazing research and development day today at The Belgrade working with Jacob from Dauntless Evolution.  Their performance with the working title, 'The freedom to Imagine our Future' is nearly complete, giving plenty of time for refining and further developing the work prior to their performance on 3rd July.  We can't wait to watch the show! 

At Etone College, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all our pupils. As part of our recent Stress Awareness initiatives, we were proud to offer a range of activities and opportunities designed to raise awareness, promote positive wellbeing, and provide practical support for managing stress.

Brew Mondays 🌻
We hosted two successful Brew Monday events, where pupils had the opportunity to plant sunflower seeds. This calming, hands-on activity encouraged students to take a moment to slow down, connect with nature, and reflect on personal growth and resilience.

Wellbeing Ambassador Assemblies 
Our dedicated Wellbeing Ambassadors led a series of assemblies, sharing important messages about stress awareness, self-care strategies, and how to seek support. These student-led sessions were a powerful way to encourage open conversations around mental health.

Mindful Lunchtime Activities 
Throughout the week, pupils were invited to take part during lunchtime in mindful colouring and word search activities . These simple yet effective activities provided relaxation and helped pupils manage stress in a creative way.

Mental Wellbeing Pop-Up Stands 
Pop-up wellbeing stands were available at break times for KS3, KS4, and Sixth Form students. These stands aimed to:

• Raise awareness of the support available within school
• Signpost pupils to trusted online resources
• Offer friendly conversations and guidance
• Distribute positive affirmation stickers to spread encouragement and positivity

Stress Awareness Booklet 
A comprehensive Stress Awareness Booklet was shared with pupils and families via the school app. This resource included helpful tips, coping strategies, and guidance on where to access further support.

Just Dance Breaktimes 
To promote physical activity and boost mood, Just Dance sessions were held during Tuesday and Friday breaktimes. These energetic sessions were a fun way for pupils to relieve stress, stay active, and enjoy time with friends.

We are incredibly proud of the positive engagement shown by our pupils throughout these activities. Supporting mental health remains a key priority at Etone College, and we will continue to provide opportunities that encourage wellbeing, resilience, and a strong sense of community.

If you would like further information about the support available, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Etone College – Supporting Every Student, Every Day

We are delighted to celebrate the success of our students who recently took part in our Careers Competition, held as part of our Careers Week celebrations at Etone College.

A huge congratulations to our winner, Emily (8P2), whose outstanding work earned her the top prize of a £10 voucher or sweets! 🍬

Well done also to our runners-up, Libby (7P2) and Jessica (7C1), for their fantastic entries and hard work.

The competition was hosted in the library, giving students the opportunity to explore a wide range of career pathways using our newly developed, dedicated careers section. This area includes books and leaflets covering different qualifications, educational establishments, career options, CV writing, and more—supporting students in making informed choices about their futures.

This event reflects our ongoing commitment to careers education at Etone College, helping students build knowledge, confidence, and ambition for the world beyond school.