On Friday, a group of pupils in Y13 Law and a selection of Community Champions had the privilege to attend a question-and-answer session with MP for Nuneaton, Jodie Gosling. The talk was extremely interesting as the pupils had the chance to prepare high quality questions to further understand both the legislative process and the role of the MP.

Our pupils’ questions were both topical and practical and ranged from viewpoints on current debates and wider reaching mechanisms of the Houses of Parliament. Throughout the session Jodie was impressed by the level of respect and professionalism from our pupils as she shared that they shone through for the school and really made Etone proud.

“It was lovely to get a chance to see the pupils again, we have a really good relationship with Etone and it is always nice to get out and see what schools are up to. Etone is such a wonderful community, we always feel so welcome when we come here.”

Our pupils were equally so appreciative of the time and found it extremely useful for their courses and as a life experience. A big thank you to Jodie for the chance to meet and discuss our pupils thoughts.

In the summer of 2024 one of our Year 11’s completed their Etone College with an outstanding 100% attendance form the first day of Y7 all the way to the last day of Y11. This was even more impressive as it included a 100% attendance record for each and every lesson during the period of remote learning in the Covid pandemic.

Sophie had shown all of the resilience and other Employability Skills along with our Etone Values and with this has done so achieving amazing grades and being a wide part of the additional activities Etone College affords including; Etone Elect, Community Champion and the of course our Performing Arts department.

To reward this outstanding achievement, we were very pleased to have our Trust CEO – Lynsey Draycott and MP for Nuneaton Jodie Gosling who were able to present the award and gift to Sophie and share some important messages of thanks. Both Jodie and Lynsey were blown away by the commitment to learning Sophie has shown and are extremely proud to have been part of the ceremony.

On 29th January, 60 Year 9 pupils visited the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to watch a live performance of The Woman in Black. For many pupils, this was their first experience of live theatre, and it proved to be a memorable one.

The production was a masterclass in atmosphere and storytelling. With a minimalist set, clever use of lighting and sound, and outstanding performances from the cast, the play built tension gradually and kept pupils fully engaged throughout. Gasps, nervous laughter and quite of lot of screams across the audience showed just how effectively the suspense was created!

Pupils behaved impeccably throughout the trip and represented the school extremely well, both at the theatre and while travelling. Many commented afterwards on how much they enjoyed the play and were surprised by how there were only two actors involved.

The trip supported pupils’ learning in English by bringing a key text to life and gave them valuable exposure to literature beyond the classroom. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience, and one that will undoubtedly stay with them for a long time.

On 4 and 5 February 2026, our Year 11 students took part in an inspiring two-day careers workshop delivered by Proactive, designed to build confidence, employability skills and real-world insight.

Across the two days, students worked with 15 employers from a range of industries, gaining valuable experience in CV writing, mock interviews and enterprise challenges. The sessions were highly interactive, giving students the opportunity to practise presenting themselves professionally, responding to interview questions and working as teams to solve business-style challenges.

The feedback from Year 11 students was extremely positive. Many commented on how helpful it was to receive direct advice from employers and to experience interviews in a supportive environment. Students particularly valued the practical tips on improving their CVs and the chance to challenge themselves outside the classroom.

We would like to thank Proactive and all the employers involved for giving their time and expertise to support our students. Opportunities like this play a vital role in preparing our young people for their next steps and future careers.

A group of Year 9 girls proudly represented North Warwickshire in the Year 9 'Fits a Knockout' County Final after winning the schools round earlier in the competition. The final took place at the Combat Fitness Centre in Solihull and saw teams take on a wide range of challenging fitness activities.

Throughout the day, the girls competed in events including wall throws, Olympic rings, an agility course, bear crawls, box jumps and boxing, testing their strength, endurance and teamwork. Competing against strong opposition, the team finished an impressive 5th out of 7 teams. 

As well as their sporting achievements, the girls were recognised for their outstanding attitude and behaviour, winning the School Games Values award. This award celebrated how they consistently demonstrated the School Games values, showing excellent manners towards staff, working hard throughout every challenge, and displaying determination and resilience from start to finish.

A fantastic achievement and a credit to the school, well done to all involved!

As you may be aware this year our Trust charity is Papyrus, an important organisation that looks to provide support to young people in an effort to prevent suicidal attempts. Whilst a very sensitive topic, the aim of the charity is an important one.

To support Papyrus, we are teaming up with Three Dads to complete the Hadrians Wall Walk in May. This will see nearly 70 members of the trust follow the 84 mile long historical path, coast-to-coast.

With 12 members of Etone staff taking part in the challenge we were excited to take on our first practice this past weekend. Travelling through some very muddy fields and equally stunning valleys of the Derbyshire Peaks.

Whilst not a competition at all, Etone members smashed it walking over 26km, in the quickest time with the highest elevation. Please do support us if possible by donating to our fund here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/etone-college-10?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

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.