On Wednesday our Year 11 Class of 26 pupils were introduced to Daniel Caines and his inspiring story of self-belief and visualisation as he looked to become the youngest world champion on record in his sport.

Daniel is a world class athlete that hails form the West Midlands region, having been bought up in an elite sporting family. Despite this, his focus in sport was not initially clear and it took him until his early adulthood to really decide on his future goals. From here Daniel’s story of self belief and how focusing on 5 specific things would lead to him making British trials, qualifying for the Olympics and becoming the youngest 400m World Champion in history.

Daniel’s story was an important build up for our pupils in their programme as we hurtle towards the second mock series of the year. Discussing both his resilience and his self-belief in line with Etone Values, he was able to provide a clear message of focus to all pupils who were eager and engaged throughout the session.

Following the year group talk, pupils were able to ask some interesting questions of Daniel and this led to him selecting a number of pupils to ‘dig deep’ into aspirations and workshop some specific goals for individual pupils. This workshop was extremely well received with pupils eager to consider this goals and more importantly the specific stepping stones they need to achieve to get there. From owning an Alpaca Farm to running for Team GB at the Olympics (hopefully winning Gold) the aspirations of our pupils are truly inspiring. The session was a massive success and we are so thankful to our Etone friend, Daniel for coming back an visiting Etone. Well done Year 11 and thank you again Daniel.

G Daffern & S Butlin

“We need to talk about oracy.” These are Geoff Barton’s opening words within the Future of Oracy report from the Oracy Education Commission. I think as teachers we understand the principle of talk and its ability to accelerate progress for students, but particularly, post 2020, this is something increasingly high on the agenda of teachers and policy makers alike as an acknowledgement of its significant role in levelling the playing field...

Read more: Staffordshire Research School

As part of our Learning for Life (LfL) programme, our Year 9 students recently attended an important and thought-provoking presentation delivered by PCL Marsdon. The session focused on the serious dangers of knife crime, the concept of joint enterprise, and the legal consequences linked to carrying these.

PCL Marsdon spoke candidly about the risks associated with knife crime, not only the obvious physical dangers, but also the long-term impact on families, futures and communities. Students were reminded that carrying a knife for “protection” can quickly escalate situations and significantly increase the risk of harm to themselves or others.

A key part of the presentation explored “joint enterprise”. This area of law means that individuals can be held legally responsible for a crime even if they did not carry out the act themselves, but were involved in a group where a serious offence took place. The message was clear: being present, encouraging others, or supporting someone who commits a crime can still lead to severe consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.

Students also learned about the law surrounding knife possession. In the UK, it is illegal to carry most knives in public without a valid reason. A criminal record for knife-related offences can affect education, employment and travel opportunities well into adulthood.

The session encouraged students to think carefully about peer pressure, decision-making and the importance of making safe, responsible choices. PC L Marsdon reassured students that support is available and emphasised the importance of speaking to a trusted adult if they feel unsafe or concerned about someone else.

We are grateful to PC L Marsdon for delivering such an informative and engaging session. Conversations like these are vital in helping our young people understand the law, stay safe and make positive choices for their futures.

Whilst we are under no impression any of the above will be present in our pupils futures, we are dedicated to ensure our pupils are well informed citizens to further support community development.

Our Year 11 students recently took part in a 30-minute road safety presentation 

The session was part of a broader national effort to make road safety education both memorable and meaningful, especially for young people about to transition into greater independence on the road. Research shows that teenagers are among the most vulnerable road users, particularly around ages 12–17, when risk-taking behaviour increases and independence grows.

As many of our Year 11 students are either already travelling independently or soon will be, the goal of this session is to help young people make safer choices so that you can:

• Be aware of distractions and how they alter your perception.

• Think ahead instead of acting on impulse.

• Support others in making safe decisions too.

We are so proud to share the successes of Dexter in his Taekwon-Do journey. In November, he attended the Birmingham Open as his first competition and won a gold medal in Patterns and Sparring. At the weekend, he had his Taekwon-Do awards party and Dexter was awarded competitor of the year. His coaches recognised his tremendous effort in competition, especially considering

He tries exceptionally hard in his Taekwon-Do sessions and he is currently working towards his green belt grading. Well done Dexter!

Over the past couple of weeks we have been so proud to award our Etone Value badges to pupils. This week we have given out the next batch of badges which have been we;; received by pupils. With caring being the most awarded so far, we are looking at ways to further support our pupils in making their next steps. Well done Team Etoneers!

On Monday our Student Council representatives took part in a Food Tasting session for two new menu items arriving soon to our Etone Café. As members of the school leadership team they take their responsibility to show their values seriously. As part of the session they showed their integrity as they gave honest and considered feedback to our Catering Manager, Mr Thornley-Yates as he looks to implement the next two tasty additions to the menu.

This time the additions are the;

• Breakfast Vegan Sausage Roll – A tasty vegan option for all with a festive feel and taste. This was well reviewed by pupils who felt it tasted yummy and would defiantly be willing to pay for this snack.
• Fish Finger Wrap – Another tasty option for those who enjoy a traditional fish finger sandwich, with a twist. This addition was met with excitement from those who enjoy seafood and was met with satisfied smiles upon tasting.

A big thank you to all of the councilors and the catering team for the amazing session.

Griffin is so proud to support Doorway, a local charity supporting young people suffering through homelessness.

As part of their commitment they are holding the first Post-Christmas donation drive to give young people looking to move into homes for the first time.

By donating home goods, we can provide packages to individuals as they make a start on a new home journey.

If you can donate anything from the list below, please bring this to Griffin House Office across the month of February.

Thank you in advance for all of your support.

Etone College recently held a second series of Progress Praise Assemblies to recognise and celebrate pupils who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their learning and to the wider school community. The assemblies highlighted exceptional progress and attainment, as well as service to the school Houses, exemplary behaviour and behaviour for learning, and the impressive accomplishment of 100% attendance for the Autumn term. 

The assemblies brought together pupils and staff to acknowledge the hard work, resilience and determination shown by students across all year groups. Awards were presented to pupils who have made significant academic progress, reflecting their self-belief, organisation and initiative in taking ownership of their learning. 

Recognition was also given to those who consistently model Etone College’s high standards of behaviour and behaviour for learning. These pupils were praised for being courteous, trustworthy and supportive members of the school community, contributing positively to lessons and creating a calm, focused environment where everyone can succeed. 

Service to House awards celebrated teamwork and communication, recognising pupils who actively support house activities, represent their peers and show integrity in everything they do. Their willingness to work collaboratively and take responsibility demonstrates key employability skills that prepare them well for future education and employment. 

A special celebration was reserved for pupils achieving 100% attendance. This achievement reflects not only commitment and resilience, but also a strong sense of responsibility and reliability—qualities that are essential both in school and in the workplace. 

The Progress Praise Assemblies strongly reinforced Etone College’s core values and employability skills, including caring for others, being supportive and respectful, showing integrity, and developing the confidence to succeed. By celebrating these achievements, Etone College continues to inspire pupils to aim high, take pride in their efforts and develop the skills and character needed for lifelong success. 

Our Year 12 and 13 Etone Elect students are spreading the love this Valentine’s Day with a sweet treat fundraiser in support of Papyrus, the suicide prevention charity.

Students and staff can sign up to send a Valentine’s sweet treat bag to friends or colleagues for just 50p per bag. Treats must be ordered in advance, and there’s no limit to how many you can send—perfect for sharing a little kindness across the school community.

All money raised from this event will go directly to Papyrus, helping to support their vital work with young people. Sweet treats will be distributed in the final week of term for both staff and students collections. 

Let’s come together to celebrate Valentine’s Day, support an important cause, and spread a little joy throughout Etone ❤️

Sign up now