On Tuesday our CCF Pupils celebrated the festive season with a trip to the bowling alley.

Across the year our pupils have done a tremendous job of showcasing both the Etone Values and that of the Combined Cadet Force through their actions and community initiatives.

Highlights for 2023 include:

– Cadets getting the chance to fly Top Gun style in jet fighters
– Raising over £300 for charities including the British Legion
– Taking our cadets to their Summer Camp 2023
– Our cadets being the pride of Etone at three different remembrance parades

With all of the above it was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and our pupils did just that. With strikes, splits and even a turkey (not the Christmas Day one!)

Our cadets had a fantastic time and we have to say a big thank you to all of our officers who have supported the CCF across the year. Well done!

15 year 8 students were invited to attend Coventry university to get an insight into the function of a university and to see what it is like to be a student there. This included a university admissions based factual task that gave an insight into the numbers of applicants that the university receives, a campus tour where students were able to see a Harrier Jump Jet that the engineering students were working on, and a photography task that allowed our students to explore a university building. This was a great day for all that attended with some saying “they weren’t thinking about university before but now really want to go”. Students have been invited to return in the couple of weeks that follow to gain further insight into what opportunities university can hold.

On Thursday 30th November, Etone College once again hosted the Historical Association’s ‘Great Debate’ competition. Entrants from right across the Midlands attended, including our very own Year 13 students. Each student was required to make a five minute speech for the question “Which historical place or person from your local area deserves greater recognition?” followed by two questions from the judging panel. We were particularly proud of our student entries, who spoke about the significance of two local historical figures from Warwick and Leamington respectively. It was a great night all round for our student orators, who demonstrated key employability skills – particularly effective communication, and later organisation when answering questions from the judges. The winner of the regional heat will now go on to the next round, the national semi-finals. Well done and thank you to everyone involved.

This week we are proud to announce our termly Attendance Competition – 12 Days of Attendance.

Whilst our pupils do see the intrinsic value of education we like to reward pupils and especially during this busy period. To that end we have our 12 days where each day the correlating number of pupils will be given the opportunity to win the prizes below leading up to the final day.

Additionally for any pupils who attend ALL days between now and Christmas will enter into a draw for a special prize.

On Thursday 23rd November, musicians and dancers students from Etone College travelled to Turves Green to take parts in the annual Matrix Trust Dance and Performing Arts show case. 

As well as performing our own pieces, the Etone choir with our version of The Four Chord Song and our dancers with their choreography to On The Floor, our students had the opportunity to watch Music, Drama and Dance performances from all the schools across our trust. It was a great opportunity for our students to be inspired by each other and certainly left the teachers with lots of ideas for future shows! Well done all!

On Sunday 3^rd December, musicians from Etone College performed at the St Nicolas day fair at St Nicolas Church. Our students performed on both stages including some solo pieces, the choir and our Y11 rock band, The Mulwoods, who all performed a selection of festive pieces ranging from the traditional 16^th century piece Gaudete to Howard Blake’s the Snowman.

The event was opened by St Nicolas himself abseiling down the church tower as the Salvation Army brass band performed for everyone. Our students were also able to watch performances from the local community including the choirs from Milby Primary School and St Nicolas CofE Academy, as well as supporting local charities via the selection of stalls from local businesses. We also got to meet with St Nicolas himself who, in keeping with the story, gave all the children (and one music teacher) gold coins as well as dancing to our performances!

Thank you very much to St Nicolas and Reverend Chris Routledge for inviting us!

All photographs by C Grimbley, Y11.

On Monday 20^th November, thirty Etone students from Years 8-10 attended a School Trip to the UK Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. The trip included a tour of Parliament and a workshop on the legislative process, based at Parliament’s Education Centre. Students went on a guided tour of Parliament, starting in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Parliament, where King Charles I was put on trial and sentenced to death in 1649. The students then walked through to the Members’ Lobby, which contains the statues of former UK Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Margaret Thatcher and David Lloyd George. From the Members’ Lobby, students were taken to the House of Commons’ division lobbies, where MPs vote ‘aye’ or ‘no’ on Parliamentary bills. From these lobbies, students entered the House of Commons chamber, which was rebuilt following a bomb attack during the Second World War, with its iconic green leather benches. It was whilst in the House of Commons chamber that students learned from our tour guides that there are only 427 seats for the 650 MPs, and that Winston Churchill had insisted that the Commons chamber be rebuilt with the same confrontational character, with the government benches and opposition benches directly facing each other. Students also went through the iconic Central Lobby, which contains the statues of numerous English and Scottish Kings and Queens all the way from King Edward I. Unfortunately we couldn’t pay a visit to the House of Lords Chamber, as it was being readied for the formal introduction of the Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, our new Foreign Secretary and former Prime Minister. 

Following the tour, students returned to the Education Centre and participated in a workshop focusing on Parliament’s legislative process. Students split into two groups – government and opposition – and elected leaders: a Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Students chose to debate a new bill on the issue of banning petrol and diesel vehicles, with the government in support. Following a lively debate, the students voted in favour of the bill, on the condition that people be encouraged to give up their petrol and diesel cars with financial incentives. 

Before returning home to Nuneaton, the students took a quick walk down Parliament Street and Whitehall to see the Cenotaph, the entrance to Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade. 

As we come to the end of November and Men’s Mental Health Month, The Mental Health Team were raising awareness at breaktime with all the students about Boys Mental Health. Lots of students came to the Hall and sports centre at breaktime to find out more about supporting their mental health. Staff were on hand to talk to the students and make them aware of who they can talk to and where they can get support from in School. A high number of boys can find it difficult to talk about their emotions and feelings, today we showed pupils the support that they have open to them and that everyone is here to listen.

On Wednesday our EPQ pupils took a visit to the Nuneaton Library as they looked to explore the resources on offer to support their research.

You might be aware that libraries lend books, however what our students found was a wonder to behold. Right on our own doorstep is a world of opportunities as students had the chance to use the excellent facilities including the 3D printer.

So impressed our students were, that they have all signed up as members and are on their first step to being Library Legends. We can’t wait for our next trip.

On Friday 15th December we are delighted to once again be supporting Save the Children as part of our community outreach initiative.

Over the past two years our pupils and families have done amazing things to raise funds for local causes and national charities, edging ever closer to our £10,000 target.

We are therefore delighted to announce that Friday 15th December marks our traditional Christmas Jumper Day. As part of this event pupils are invited to donate £1 and wear a Christmas jumper instead of their blazer. All of the money raised will go towards Save the Children, looking to support individuals in real need.

Last year we raised over £300 and we are hoping for a similar amount again.

We encourage all appropriate Christmas jumpers and can’t wait to see what festive cheer you have in store. Mr Bowley already has his prepped to go!

Please remember that it is uniform as usual and where there are infringements these will be treated as usual.