Thursday marked our busiest Open Evening at Etone yet, as prospective pupils and their families joined us to discover everything that makes Etone College such a special place to learn, develop and belong.
Following another bumper year for the school, there was certainly plenty to celebrate and share. Some of our recent highlights include:
• Being named Secondary School of the Year at the Education Awards
• Achieving the School Games Gold Award, Green Flag, Eco-Schools Award, International School Award and Quality in Careers Standard
• Raising more than £35,000 for charity in less than five years
• Achieving above-national progress in examination results for a decade, since progress records began
These achievements reflect not only the academic success of our pupils, but the wider Etone experience and our commitment to ensuring pupils leave us with the knowledge, character and employability skills they need for their next steps.
From the moment families arrived on the Etone site, they were met by the enthusiasm and pride of our pupils and staff. Once again, everyone pulled out all the stops to showcase the opportunities available and give our visitors a real flavour of life at Etone. Our pupil helpers were particularly fantastic ambassadors for the school, demonstrating our values of Integrity, Caring, Respect and Excellence throughout the evening.
In Business and Computing, prospective pupils were welcomed by our Business students, who were busy debating the value of branding versus quality through our annual taste-testing challenge. Alongside plenty of surprising results, the activity encouraged pupils to demonstrate Communication & Teamwork as they discussed their choices, justified their opinions and considered how businesses make decisions.
Over in Modern Foreign Languages, visitors were treated to a taste of both food and culture from around the world. Pupils and parents sampled delicacies from Germany and France while discovering more about the languages, traditions and cultures explored within the curriculum. It was also a fantastic example of the confidence and Communication & Teamwork skills our pupils develop.
Maths was once again a hub of problem-solving. Visitors investigated the correlation between height and shoe size before putting their engineering skills to the test by designing a winch capable of withstanding ten times its own weight. The challenges provided a perfect opportunity to demonstrate Numeracy & Technology alongside Resilience & Problem Solving, with pupils encouraged to test ideas, learn from mistakes and try again.
In English, families enjoyed a delightful take on the classics of Roald Dahl, including the department's very own production inspired by Wonka. Games, challenges and activities brought the subject to life for pupils of all ages, while our pupils demonstrated fantastic Communication & Teamwork in supporting visitors and sharing their enthusiasm for the subject.
There was a journey through time in History, with a unique blend of classic and local history. Visitors explored artefacts from across the lifespan of Etone College, from historic student magazines to tapestries inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry. It provided a fascinating glimpse into both our school's past and the wider world, while showcasing the curiosity, creativity and Organisation & Initiative we encourage our pupils to develop.
Meanwhile, Geography gave pupils the chance to consider the ever-changing nature of our planet by creating plasticine continents, while our Human Geographers challenged visitors to imagine and build cities of the future using Lego. These activities encouraged pupils to think creatively, consider solutions to real-world challenges and demonstrate Resilience & Problem Solving.
There was plenty of action in Perform, with staff and pupils showcasing the fantastic range of sports and activities available at Etone. From dance and trampolining to badminton and basketball, visitors had the opportunity to get involved, try something new and put their skills to the test. Whether competing, performing or simply having a go, pupils demonstrated Resilience & Problem Solving and Communication & Teamwork throughout.
Create was equally packed, with pupils getting hands-on across the faculty. Visitors could take part in art activities, decorate biscuits in Food and even design and make their very own keyring to take home as a reminder of their evening at Etone. From following a design process to producing a finished product, there were plenty of opportunities to demonstrate Organisation & Initiative and Resilience & Problem Solving.
Beyond our traditional curriculum subjects, the evening was also an opportunity to showcase the wider support and experiences that make up life at Etone. Our SEND department, CCF, Pastoral Team and Attendance Team were on hand to meet families, answer questions and demonstrate the extensive support and opportunities available to every pupil.
Across the evening, our pupil volunteers perhaps provided the best example of what it means to be an Etone pupil. Whether welcoming families, giving directions, leading activities, speaking about their subjects or simply offering a helping hand, they displayed our Etone Values of Integrity, Caring, Respect and Excellence. At the same time, they put their Communication & Teamwork, Resilience & Problem Solving, Organisation & Initiative and Numeracy & Technology skills into practice – the very employability skills we seek to develop throughout their time with us.
Following an address from Mr Smith, it was fantastic to hear such positive feedback from our visitors about the school, our pupils and the opportunities available to their children.
Most importantly, the evening brought together everything we want an Etone education to represent. Our pupils had the opportunity to Participate in Quality, taking pride in their subjects and the activities they delivered; Belong to Community, welcoming prospective families and representing their school; and Thrive in Education, demonstrating the knowledge, character and employability skills that will support them both at Etone and beyond.
A huge thank you must go to every pupil and member of staff who helped make our busiest Open Evening yet such a success. Their enthusiasm, commitment and pride ensured our visitors were able to see Etone at its very best.
We hope our prospective families enjoyed their evening as much as we enjoyed welcoming them, and we cannot wait to welcome our future Etone pupils back for their induction.
