Etone College recently celebrated a highly successful Wellbeing Week, dedicated to promoting positive mental health, resilience and a strong sense of community across the school. Throughout the week, pupils and staff took part in a wide range of activities designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, open conversations and acts of kindness.

Year 9 pupils enjoyed “Walk and Talk” sessions during form time, giving them the opportunity to get some fresh air while engaging in meaningful conversations with their peers and tutors, helping to create a calm and positive start to the day.

A Mental Wellbeing and Anti-Bullying Pop-Up Stand was available during Wednesday break time for Key Stages 3 and 4, and Thursday for Key Stage 5. Located in the café, hall and sixth form area, the stand provided pupils with access to advice, resources and supportive staff, reinforcing the importance of seeking help and supporting one another.

Pupils also took part in a lively “Just Dance” session during break time, promoting physical activity and fun as part of maintaining a healthy mind and body. Alongside this, pupils were invited to enter a competition to design a healthy meal, with the chance to win an Amazon voucher, encouraging awareness of nutrition and wellbeing.

Our Mental Health Ambassadors played a key role in the success of the week. They led a “Secret Sweet Drop” to staff, spreading appreciation and kindness, and organised a charity initiative, “Small Change, Big Difference.” Pupils donated spare change each morning, raising money for Mind, supporting vital mental health services.

During the week, pupils were also encouraged to complete Top Tip Challenge Cards. These activities linked closely to the school’s values and employability skills, promoting reflection on important qualities such as kindness, resilience and teamwork, as well as practical ways to maintain their own wellbeing.

Overall, Wellbeing Week was a fantastic success. It strengthened the school community, raised awareness of mental health, and empowered pupils with the knowledge and confidence to look after themselves and others.

We were delighted to hold our biggest ever Comic Relief event last week. With what is set to be a record breaking year for Etone College, we started the day by donation to 'Wear it Red'. The theme was all about two aspects, one to donate some money to support people worse off both in the UK and around the world, two - For each Form Group to attempt to become the 'Best Dressed Form' on the day. Whilst entries are still coming in we won't spoil the result. However it was a great start to the day.

Following this up was our brave staff who attempted to make us chuckle by telling us a joke as part of our Staff 2026 Joke Competition. Some of them are hilarious but for others, let's just say - Stick with the day job!

At breaktime there was a chance for pupils to have a go at guessing the number of noses in the jar, in an attempt to win some delicious treats and to donate in order to take home one of our specially designed red nose cookies. These sold out within minutes and was a hard show of effort form all of our Community Champions.

We would like to thank everybody for supporting us with these events and for making the day go smoothly we can't wait to share with you our final totals.

Etone College has taken part again in the Heart of England Music hub’s digital music festival. This year, we had the opportunity to showcase Miss Newcombe’s string group performing Pachelbel’s Canon. This year, a staggering 192 music groups from across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull have put together a playlist made of just one minute per group to showcase the wide range of talents in our region. This is the second year of the digital festival and last year’s work was shortlisted for a National Music Mark award!

We were also delighted to see on the playlist performances from the North Warwickshire Music centre (hosted at Etone College 6th form on Wednesdays- check their website for more details about what is on offer https://www.warwickshiremusic.org) and to see some of our students also performing with local group Aspire In Arts (more details about opportunities with them here https://aspireinarts.org).

To see and listen to the playlist and learn more about the Heart of England music hub, look at their website here https://www.heartofenglandmusic.com/events/event/24/live-music-digital-festival-2026-1-min-of-music

String club rehearses in P01 after school on Tuesdays till 4pm. To find out more about joining this club, speak to the music department staff. 

This term, Phoenix students in Years 7–10 took part in a special assembly delivered by three representatives from the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, a local charity providing vital care and support to people with life‑limiting illnesses across our community.

The assembly began with an introduction to the history of the hospice, which first opened its doors on 14th January 1991 on the George Eliot Hospital site. Students learned that the hospice takes its name from Mary Ann Evans – better known to the world as the novelist George Eliot – who was born locally in Chilvers Coton in 1819.

Pupils were then introduced to the range of services the hospice offers, including Hospice at Home, the Wellbeing Centre, Rapid Response, Family Support, Complementary Therapy and Bereavement Services. A key message highlighted that Mary Ann Evans Hospice is a community hospice, meaning most of its care is provided directly in patients’ homes.

The assembly also explored how the hospice is funded. Students were surprised to learn that although the charity’s annual running costs are around £2.8 million, only 24% comes from the NHS, with the remaining 76% reliant on charitable donations and community fundraising.

Finally, the presenters shared ways young people and schools can support the hospice—from bake sales and non‑uniform days to sports events, volunteering opportunities, and involvement in the annual Summer Fayre. We discussed how our support to the charity is contributing to this. We use the Mary Ann Evans donation bins within school, whereby students and staff can donate items that are sold on to help raise those much-needed funds. It is fantastic to write that we have filled these bins on multiple occasions over the last year and received a massive thank you from the charity.

Students were given the opportunity to question the representatives at the end of the assembly. Contact details and social media accounts were shared with the students so that they can keep updated with all the events of the charity

The session was a thoughtful reminder of the importance of compassion, community, and the difference young people can make. We thank the Mary Ann Evans Hospice team for delivering such an engaging and inspiring assembly.

Check out the delicious creations from Cooking Club this week. The challenge was to create the best pasta sauce and with some stunning entries there was a real competition heating up the kitchen. Join us in our newsletter for the winner!

Meal prepared by Elijah in 7C1 ↓

On Thursday we held our Parent Session on Supporting Your Child online. The session was held in response to parent voice, with the request for more information on what parents can do to support pupils online.

Following a wave of online developments in the past few years this is a very 'hot topic' and so we were thrilled to roll out a brand new session for 2026. This one focusing on the provision of our Digital Safety curriculum, emerging online dangers, methods to support your child and finally where support can be accessed from.

The event was once again really well attended and responses from pupils have been overwhelmingly positive and grateful.

To watch our video please click here for the Parent Workshop Session: https://www.etonecollege.co.uk/parent-carer-support-workshops/

To check up on our E-Safety support find our dedicated webpage here: https://www.etonecollege.co.uk/e-safety/

During a recent Dragon House assembly, we were delighted to welcome representatives from Guy’s Gift charity, who visited to thank our students for their fantastic fundraising efforts.

Guy’s Gift is a child bereavement support charity, providing help and guidance to children and young people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Their work offers vital emotional support to families during incredibly difficult times.

During the assembly, students learned more about how their donations are making a real difference and supporting young people when they need it most. It was a valuable opportunity to understand the impact of their generosity and the importance of supporting others.

We are incredibly proud of Dragon House for their commitment to helping others—well done to everyone involved!

This half term, we are proud to recognise our certificate winners for demonstrating the Etone value of self-belief—showing confidence, resilience, and determination in their learning.

Congratulations to:

• Andrea, Year 7
• Rayna, Year 8
• Riley, Year 9
• Toby, Year 10

These students have shown a positive mindset and a commitment to achieving their best, setting a great example to others.

Well done to all!

A local initiative is underway to bring some seasonal cheer to children receiving care at a hospital ward this Easter. Building on the success of a festive collection effort during the Christmas period, organizers are once again inviting support—this time to gather Easter eggs and related treats for young patients.

The goal is to collect at least 100 Easter-themed items, which will be delivered directly to the children’s ward on Thursday, 26th March. The effort aims to brighten the experience of children spending the holiday in hospital, offering them a small but meaningful gesture of kindness.

Members of the community who wish to contribute are encouraged to donate Easter eggs or similar confectionery items. All donations should be dropped off at the designated office location before 9am on the day of delivery.

Support from the community would be greatly appreciated, helping to ensure as many children as possible can enjoy a special Easter surprise.

Our Easter Egg Drive in support of UHCW was a wonderful success, bringing together generous donations from both staff and students to spread a little joy to patients over the Easter period.

We started this initiative last year following a staff members child spending time in the Hospital over the Christmas period, the support they received made a difficult time more bearable.

Following this Centaur House decided they would annually collect Easter Eggs and Selection Boxes to be given to the patients over these periods.

In year 1 we donated a massive 90 Easter Eggs and treats, at Christmas this was eclipsed by the amazing collection and donation of over 200 Selection Boxes. In year 2 we donated a huge

127 Easter Eggs and treats which were gratefully received by the Children’s ward for distribution.

Thanks to everyone who contributed, we were able to collect a fantastic selection of Easter eggs, helping to brighten the day for those spending the holiday in hospital. The kindness and

support of our staff and students truly made a difference.