At Etone College, we are delighted to warmly welcome our newly appointed Diversity Champions to their important roles within our school community.

These students have stepped forward with enthusiasm, creativity, and a shared commitment to celebrating the rich diversity that makes Etone such a vibrant and inclusive place to learn. As Diversity Champions, they will play a key part in promoting understanding, respect, and appreciation of different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives across the school.

One of their first major projects will be planning and helping to organise our much-anticipated Culture Week, taking place in July 2026. This exciting event will be an opportunity for the whole school to come together and celebrate the many cultures represented within our community.

We are already seeing fantastic ideas emerging from the team, with suggestions including showcasing a wide range of cultural traditions through food, music, dance, fashion, and storytelling. From interactive workshops to performances and displays, Culture Week promises to be a lively and enriching experience for all.

What makes this especially meaningful is that the ideas are being shaped by our students themselves, ensuring that the event truly reflects the voices and experiences of our school community. The Diversity Champions are eager to ensure that as many cultures as possible are represented and celebrated.

We look forward to supporting them as they begin their planning and cannot wait to see their ideas come to life. Culture Week 2026 is set to be a highlight of the school year, and we are excited for the journey ahead.

Please join us in congratulating our Diversity Champions and wishing them every success in their new roles.

On Tuesday our Baking Club extraordinaries created their own unique take on the classic Cinnamon Bun. Working with Miss Ward the pupils made a truly tastebud tingling treat as they produced Marshmallow Buns, sharing them between themselves and some very happy taste testing staff. The pupils were extremely happy to share their delights along with the descriptions of how they made the tasty treats.

Baking Club runs every Tuesday after school and so far this year has included our Healthy Pasta Competition, Easter Brownies and Rocky Road. If you are interested in joining please sign up with Miss Ward.

Next time you pass our front gates see if you can spot our brand new banner, celebrating our success as Community School of the year. After winning multiple awards for our community programme including Superkind's; Secondary School of the Year, West Midland School of the Year and the Education Business's Community School of the Year, we wanted to ensure our pupils efforts did not go unnoticed within the local community. Well done Etoner's - Once again proving how great you are!

This week our Year 11 assembly time was used to provide some key reminders to pupils on the best ways to use their time this revision period. Whilst revision is an approach used across their time in KS4 it was an opportunity to revisit what makes these times most effective.

Revision comes from the Latin term revisio which means “to see again”. However, there is a key difference between revision and ‘looking’ at something you already know. Using revision guides are really useful, but do you know how best to use them? They aren’t like a novel you’d read with a cup of tea in an armchair are they? These were some of the key themes shared with our pupils throughout the session.

Supporting this is our brand new Study Smarter infographic remind pupils of some of the key themes in the session. We hope it helps you to make the most of your revision time!

April marks Stress Awareness Month, a time to focus on understanding stress, recognising its early warning signs, and learning practical ways to manage it. This booklet provides a helpful overview of the key signs and symptoms of stress, along with simple, effective strategies to support wellbeing and build resilience. It also includes guidance on where to access further help and support if you or someone you know needs it.

Planting and growing plants is a good way to reduce stress, and it is great for the environment. Research conducted by the RHS suggests that those who garden every day have wellbeing scores that are 6.6% higher and stress levels that are 4.2% lower than those who don't garden (further reading on this can be found at the link below). To support this theme, on Monday 20^th April the wellbeing team will be hosting a second Brew Monday for the month, with a focus on planting. Here there will be the opportunity to plant your own sunflower and to plant wildflower seeds around the site. Please show your forms the slide attached for this, which is also on Padlet, but you are all very welcome to join us. We have 300 seeds and the packet suggests they could grow up to 3m high so we would love to see your efforts. 

Why gardening makes us feel better – and how to make the most of it / RHS Gardening

The assembly this week will also follow on the theme of Stress Awareness and in addition to that, there will be a follow-on form time activity which is attached for your information (Stress Bucket). 

At Etone College, our Wellbeing Ambassadors are passionate student leaders who promote positive mental health and wellbeing across our school community. As part of our whole-school approach to mental health, ambassadors help bring to life our core principles:
Connect – Give – Be Active – Keep Learning – Take Notice

They play a vital role in creating a supportive, inclusive environment where every student feels valued, heard, and encouraged to thrive.

What Our Ambassadors Do

Our ambassadors are actively involved in a wide range of initiatives that support both the school and wider community:

🌱 Supporting the Community

Our ambassadors take pride in giving back and promoting the value of giving:

• They created and delivered handmade “Thank a Community Carer” packages to local police and fire stations during Carers Week which is celebrated in June.
• As part of Blue Monday in January our ambassadors came up with the idea of a “Lighting Up Blue Monday” campaign, pupils delivered treats to the local fire station, spreading kindness and appreciation.
• For “Random Acts of Kindness” and Children’s Mental Health week, both celebrated in February, Wellbeing Ambassadors ran a word hunt, delivered wordsearches to form groups, and supported the Mental Health Team spread the word around boys’ mental health. Prizes were awarded to pupils who took part.

💬 Raising Mental Health Awareness

Ambassadors support and lead activities linked to key whole-school events such as:

• Children’s Mental Health Week
• Mental Health Awareness Day
• Boys’, Girls and LGBTQ Mental Health Awareness initiatives
• Leading assemblies and visiting form groups to raise awareness of key issues and promote upcoming events. 

They also organise creative activities including:

• Positive affirmation postcards for The Success Centre’s Positivitree
• 30-day stress awareness challenges to encourage healthy habits

🚶♀️ Be Active: Walk and Talk

Promoting the importance of being active, ambassadors lead Walk and Talk events during form time, where pupils walk a mile together. These sessions encourage conversation, reflection, and support positive mental wellbeing.

🧶 Peer Support & Wellbeing Activities

Ambassadors create opportunities for students to connect and take notice through:

• Crochet and creative workshops
• “Just Dance” sessions
• Take part in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in school assemblies

These activities provide safe, relaxed environments for students to unwind and support one another.

☕ Whole-School Wellbeing Events

Ambassadors contribute to a range of wider wellbeing initiatives across the school, including:

• Brew Mondays
• Wear it Green Day
• Supporting signposting to wellbeing support within school

Part of Our Whole-School Approach

The Wellbeing Ambassadors work closely with the Etone College Mental Health Team to ensure student mental health remains a priority. Through a wide range of events, campaigns, and daily support, they help embed wellbeing into every aspect of school life.

We are delighted to share highlights from our recent trip to Cologne, Germany – a truly unforgettable experience filled with learning, exploration, and lots of fun!

Day 1 – Thursday 9th April
Our journey began bright and early as we departed England, enjoying a smooth Channel crossing before travelling through France and Belgium en route to Germany. Spirits were high as we arrived in Cologne in time for dinner at our youth hostel, where everyone enjoyed a well-earned meal.

In the evening, we took a short sightseeing walk around the city, taking in the breathtaking Cologne Cathedral at sunset. Its towering structure and intricate design made a lasting first impression on us all.

Day 2
After an early start, we travelled to Erkrath to visit the planetarium, where we experienced a fascinating and thought-provoking session about the potential discovery of life on other planets. The presenter’s calm and soothing delivery made the experience both relaxing and engaging for everyone.

We then continued to the Neander Valley, the historic site where the first Neanderthal skeleton was discovered. This was a truly inspiring visit, giving students the opportunity to explore the origins of early humans and deepen their understanding of human history.

Returning to Cologne, we visited the cathedral in more detail, taking time to appreciate its stunning architecture. Students then enjoyed some free time to explore the city and take part in a little shopping.

Day 3
Our day began with a visit to the Deutsches Sport & Olympia Museum, where we were given a guided tour. Students enthusiastically took part in interactive activities, sharing plenty of laughs while learning fascinating facts about the history of sport and the Olympic Games.

Next, we visited the Chocolate Museum, where we discovered how chocolate is made and, of course, sampled some delicious treats!

In the afternoon, we travelled to Düsseldorf for a scenic river cruise, offering beautiful views of the city. We also had time to explore before heading to the BayArena, home of Bayer Leverkusen Football Club – a real highlight for many of our students.

Day 4
Our final full day was spent at Phantasialand, one of Germany’s most exciting theme parks. Students enjoyed a wide range of rides and attractions, from thrilling roller coasters like Taron and Black Mamba to immersive themed areas that transported us to different worlds. There was something for everyone, whether seeking adrenaline-filled excitement or more relaxed attractions, and the day was filled with laughter, teamwork, and unforgettable moments.

We ended the evening with a special Etone Values and Employability Skills Awards ceremony, where students were recognised for their positive attitudes, teamwork, and personal achievements throughout the trip. It was a fantastic way to celebrate their efforts and reflect on the experience.

Final Thoughts
We are incredibly proud of how wonderfully our students behaved throughout the trip. They represented the school brilliantly at all times, showing respect, enthusiasm, and maturity.

It has been a fantastic trip filled with memorable experiences, and a special mention must go to Mr Kirk for keeping spirits high – especially with his entertaining microphone moments!

A truly great trip, and one we will remember for years to come.

Check out the latest photos from our Etone skiers 2026! Each year our Etone Ski Trip is an opportunity to see the great outdoors, ski some slopes and really enjoy the Easter break!