Etone College was delighted to welcome Jodie Gosling, Member of Parliament for Nuneaton, for an engaging and informative assembly with our Year 9 pupils. The visit provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop their understanding of British democracy, the legal and parliamentary systems, and the important role elected representatives play in supporting their communities.

During the assembly, Jodie shared her personal journey into politics, explaining how her career had included working as a primary school teacher, nursery owner, forest school leader and local councillor before being elected to Parliament in 2024. Her experiences highlighted the importance of transferable employability skills, demonstrating how communication, leadership, resilience and adaptability can open doors to exciting and unexpected career opportunities.

Pupils explored how the UK's electoral system operates, including the First Past the Post system used across the country's 650 parliamentary constituencies. Using the 2024 General Election results for Nuneaton, Jodie explained how she secured 15,216 votes to become the constituency's MP. She also outlined how governments are formed and how MPs debate, scrutinise and vote on legislation.

A particular focus was the varied responsibilities of an MP, both in Westminster and within their constituency. Jodie shared examples of her recent work, including discussions about mental health provision, securing funding for local veterans and supporting community initiatives. Pupils also learned about her membership of the Education Select Committee, which examines education policy, questions government ministers and makes recommendations to improve opportunities for young people.

The assembly also introduced the Nuneaton Youth Parliament, an exciting opportunity for young people to represent their peers and contribute to local decision-making. With schools able to elect up to four delegates, this initiative encourages pupils to develop confidence, communication and leadership skills while making their voices heard.

The visit strongly supported our Etone Values, particularly Caring, through its emphasis on community service, and Integrity, through the importance of honesty, responsibility and public accountability. It also reinforced our commitment to developing essential employability skills, including critical thinking, active listening, problem-solving and effective communication.

The assembly concluded with an opportunity for pupils to ask questions, encouraging curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Jodie Gosling MP for taking the time to visit Etone College and inspire our pupils to consider how they can contribute positively to their communities and become active, informed citizens of the future.

Following an informative Year 9 assembly, Etone College was delighted to welcome Jodie Gosling MP for a further question-and-answer session with representatives from our Year 7–10 School Council and Sixth Form Law students.

The session provided pupils with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with their local Member of Parliament, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing Nuneaton, the importance of community representation and the realities of working in public office.

A key focus of the discussion was the ongoing regeneration of Nuneaton Town Centre. Jodie discussed the four phases of development and the wider ambition to create a more vibrant town centre, attracting businesses, investment and employment opportunities. Pupils learned about the Transforming Nuneaton programme, including developments such as Grayson Place, which incorporates a new hotel, leisure facilities and a Digital Skills and Innovation Centre, alongside plans for improved public spaces and community facilities.

The conversation highlighted how regeneration requires collaboration between local authorities, businesses and other stakeholders. Jodie explained the importance of meeting with representatives from across the town, listening to different perspectives and working collectively to address challenges and bring about meaningful change.

Transport and accessibility were also discussed, including Jodie's support for a free bus initiative aimed at improving access to employment and career opportunities. This encouraged pupils to consider how transport links can influence people's ability to access education, training and work, reinforcing the importance of removing barriers to opportunity.

Another important topic was support for armed forces veterans. Jodie discussed her involvement in a funding bid to strengthen local services, including support for Veterans Contact Point through the government's VALOUR programme. The initiative aims to improve access to essential services and opportunities for veterans, demonstrating the importance of recognising and supporting those who have served their country.

Pupils were also fascinated to hear about Jodie's personal experiences in Parliament, including meeting His Majesty King Charles III and the Prime Minister. These insights offered a unique perspective on the responsibilities, experiences and opportunities associated with representing the local community at a national level.

Throughout the session, our School Council representatives and Law students demonstrated important Etone Values, particularly Integrity and Caring, through their thoughtful questions, respectful engagement and interest in improving their community. The discussion also supported essential employability skills, including communication, active listening, critical thinking and leadership.

The visit reinforced the importance of Student Leadership and active citizenship, demonstrating that young people have an important role to play in shaping the future of their communities.

We would like to thank Jodie Gosling MP for generously giving her time to engage with our pupils and providing such an insightful opportunity to learn about local and national decision-making.

Today, our new Year 7 Careers Ambassadors took part in an exciting training session, supported by our experienced, older Careers Ambassadors.

The session gave our new ambassadors the opportunity to find out more about their important role in helping fellow students explore the wide range of careers and opportunities available to them. Together, they looked at the key skills needed to be an effective Careers Ambassador, including communication, teamwork, confidence and being a positive role model.

They also explored how to navigate the careers website, discovering where to find useful information about different jobs, career pathways, qualifications and future opportunities. This will help them support and peer mentor other students, encouraging everyone to think about their futures and discover careers they may not have considered before.

It was fantastic to see our older ambassadors sharing their knowledge, experience and advice with the next generation of student leaders. A big thank you to everyone involved!

What's coming up next?

There is plenty to look forward to in our careers programme! Our next big event will be the Careers Fair in January, giving students the chance to meet employers, discover different industries and find out more about the world of work.

We are also looking forward to our Staff Careers Quiz, where students will get the chance to put their knowledge to the test and discover some surprising facts about the careers and experiences of our very own staff!

November is a busy month in the Personal Development Calendar. This week we have been focusing on Remembrance in preparation for Remembrance Day on 11^th November. Our CCF Cadets will be representing the school in both local and Trust parades and we look forward to sharing images of these in the upcoming weeks. In English lessons, the work on Remembrance has continued as pupils reflect through starter activities.

Anti-Bullying Weeks take place each year between 16^th -20^th November. Pupils will be receiving key messages through assemblies and form time activities that week supported by our amazing Anti-Bullying Ambassadors who will be supporting assemblies and delivering key messages through form group visits.  Pupils can also show their support of Anti-Bullying by wearing their odd socks on Monday 16^th November in support of this week. The theme this year is Break the Silence. Etone is a telling school, and we encourage our pupils to always speak up and speak out if they have any concerns.

We are also proud to be celebrating faith festivals throughout the year, and pupils have been learning about the festivals of Diwali and Navaratri in November and we are grateful to staff and pupils who have led assemblies to share reflections about their faith. Finally, November is also Stress Awareness Month and information will be provided to both pupils and parents to manage and support stress. We have a great range of activities on including Just Dance in the Hall every Tuesday and Friday and pop up stands in the Hall and Cafe at break where pupils can come and talk about their wellbeing and top tips to support them.

On Monday 14th November, Etone College will be stepping out in style as we invite all pupils and staff to take part in Odd Socks Day, supporting the Anti-Bullying Alliance and marking the start of our wider Anti-Bullying Week celebrations!

Odd Socks Day is a fun and colourful opportunity to celebrate what makes each of us unique, reminding everyone that our differences should be respected, valued and celebrated. Pupils are encouraged to wear their brightest, boldest and most mismatched socks to show their support for kindness, inclusion and standing together against bullying.

There will also be opportunities for tutor groups to show off their colourful combinations with a form group photograph, capturing everyone getting involved in the spirit of the day!

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, staff will also be putting their best feet forward with a special 'Guess the Feet' competition. Can pupils work out which pair of odd socks belongs to which member of staff?

As part of our wider Anti-Bullying Week activities, Odd Socks Day is a fantastic way to reinforce our Etone Values and celebrate the powerful sense of community that makes our school special.

So dig out those odd socks, embrace what makes you different and help us take a stand against bullying – one colorful step at a time!

We were delighted to welcome Lewis Hall, a representative from the OddBalls Foundation, to Etone College to receive an incredible £5,011 raised by our pupils through their Snowdon fundraising challenge, which took place in the Summer Term last year.

During his visit, Lewis spoke about the important work of the OddBalls Foundation in raising awareness of testicular cancer and encouraging conversations around men's health.

Following this, Lewis was presented with a cheque by some of the pupils who took part in the challenge, alongside Mr Smith.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Lewis and the OddBalls Foundation for visiting us, and to everyone who took part, donated or supported the fundraiser. We are incredibly proud of our pupils for demonstrating the Etone Values and making such a fantastic contribution to an important cause!

One of our Year 13 sixth form students, Prisha and Miss Sandilands have been working together to deliver two assemblies celebrating different religious festivals. The first assembly focused on Navratri, a Hindu festival which was delivered to Year 7 this week, with a second assembly on Diwali being delivered to Year 8 next Monday.

Please see the attached summary write-ups for further information about both festivals. These assemblies form part of a wider programme being delivered across the school to celebrate and raise awareness of different religions, faiths and cultural traditions.

We are pleased to announce the update of our extracurricular offer for Autumn 2. Please follow the link to show the full range of clubs that pupils can attend before school, at break and after school. HERE

Extracurricular clubs offer pupils the opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills and we would really appreciate your support in encouraging pupils to attend at least one of our exciting range of clubs each week.  Pupils are also rewarded for attendance at clubs.

The spotlight this week is on MFL - please take a look at the fantastic offer that is provided for pupils by our Languages Team

The festive season is nearly upon us, and at Etone College we are getting ready to spread some Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 10th December 2026!

As part of our celebrations, we are inviting all pupils to get into the festive spirit by wearing their favourite Christmas jumper and making a £1 donation to charity. Whether it is covered in reindeer, snowflakes, Christmas trees or something a little more unusual, we cannot wait to see a fantastic display of festive fashion across the College!

On the day, pupils wearing a Christmas jumper will not be required to wear their school blazer. All other school uniform expectations will remain in place, ensuring that we can enjoy the celebrations whilst maintaining our usual high standards.

Christmas Jumper Day is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a school community, demonstrate our Etone Values and support a worthwhile cause during the season of goodwill.

There is no need to purchase a new jumper especially for the occasion. We encourage pupils to reuse a jumper they already own, borrow one or even get creative with some festive decorations!

With the incredible generosity our pupils and families continue to demonstrate, we hope to raise a fantastic amount whilst enjoying a little festive fun along the way.

We look forward to seeing Etone filled with Christmas colour, creativity and plenty of festive spirit, all whilst making a positive difference to others!