On Wednesday, 4^th March 2026, a group of 15 enthusiastic students from Year 8 to Year 10 had the fantastic opportunity to attend the world-renowned Yonex All England Badminton Championships at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. This exciting trip allowed our students to witness world-class badminton up close, giving them an unforgettable experience and inspiring them to develop their skills in the sport.

The main aim of the trip was to provide our students with a deeper appreciation of badminton while promoting the sport within Etone College. Watching elite players compete at the highest level showcased the speed, precision, and strategy required in professional badminton. Seeing the dedication and skill of these athletes was a real eye-opener for our students and will hopefully encourage more participation in badminton at school.

We were proud to take the following students to experience this thrilling event:

The trip kicked off early in the morning as we made our way to Birmingham. As soon as we entered the arena, the energy was electric! From lightning-fast singles matches to intense doubles showdowns, every match had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Our students had the chance to observe the players' techniques, footwork, and tactics, gaining valuable insights into how they can improve their own game.

The event wasn’t just about watching the matches—it was about being inspired. Seeing professional athletes in action reinforced the importance of perseverance, discipline, and teamwork, qualities that extend beyond sport and into everyday life.

This trip is just one of the many ways Etone College is encouraging students to engage in sports and extracurricular activities. We hope that the experience will ignite a passion for badminton and lead to greater participation in both school and local community events. Who knows? Maybe one of our own students will compete in this championship one day!

A big well done to all the students who attended and represented Etone College so well. Your enthusiasm and interest in the sport made the day even more special. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event! Let’s keep the badminton spirit alive and continue to grow the sport at Etone College!

Keep practicing, keep playing, and most importantly—keep having fun!

Our Year 9 students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the MIRA Institute in Nuneaton to take part in the TeenTech Festival 2026 — a national event designed to inspire young people to explore careers in science, technology and innovation.

Throughout the day, students worked collaboratively to develop creative solutions to real-world problems. They were challenged to think like innovators, designing ideas that could make a positive difference to society before pitching their concepts to a panel of industry experts. This experience helped students build confidence in presenting, problem-solving and communicating their ideas professionally.

In addition to the design challenge, students explored a wide range of interactive exhibits and spoke directly with professionals from leading technology companies. They discovered cutting-edge developments in areas such as engineering, digital technology and future careers, and had the chance to try out innovative products and emerging technologies firsthand.

The visit provided valuable insight into the fast-moving world of technology and encouraged students to think about how their skills in computing, creativity and teamwork can shape future career pathways as well as inspiring them to make informed choices for their GCSE options. 

On Tuesday 24^th February, 40 of our Year 10 students had the chance to visit the University of Bath to experience student life. They took part in a tour of the campus, including the world-class sports facilities used for Olympic training such as the Skeleton push track - the only one of it's kind in the country - used to train the gold medal winning GB team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After exploring the campus and experiencing first-hand student union elections, the students heard about what life at university is like, what degrees they could do and where this could take them in their own careers. They asked some brilliant questions during the Q&A with student ambassadors, and came away with a fantastic idea of where their GCSEs and A-Levels could take them in the future.

On Monday 8^th December,  51 students from Years 7–11 and 5 members of staff set off bright and early for a festive adventure at the Christmas markets in Lille. After arriving in the city, we stepped straight into a winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights, wooden stalls, and the smell of roasted chestnuts. Pupils explored the market, tried out their French while browsing the handmade gifts, and picked up a few Christmas treasures to take home. Many of them also got to see Lille lit up from above by taking a spin on the giant ferris wheel in the main square! We then took a stroll through Lille’s beautiful old town, admiring the historic buildings and lively squares. Whilst at the market, everyone had the chance to sample some traditional French food — from crêpes to fondue — the food was a definite highlight of the trip! On our journey back to Calais the following day, we made a special stop at a countryside bakery. Here, we learned how real French bread is made and watched the bakers at work. The visit ended perfectly with a chance to taste freshly baked pain au chocolat, still warm from the oven. It was a brilliant couple of days full of culture, good food, and Christmas cheer — a trip to remember!

On Friday 48 year 9 pupils visited the Natural History Museum in London. We had a fantastic time journeying through the centre of the earth, experiencing what an earthquake would feel like, visited the dinosaur gallery for a photo with a t-rex(in Christmas jumper of course). We had a whale of a time in the marine mammal section , and marvelled in the Hintze Hall as we stood under the skeleton of Hope the Blue Whale. It was a brilliant day and our pupils really did Etone proud.

Check out the photographs from our Turing 2025 Trip to Italy.

ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST EVER TRUST-WIDE SPORTS DAY 2025!

We are thrilled to announce a landmark moment in our trust’s calendar — the very first Trust-Wide Sports Day, bringing together more than 3,000 pupils from across Matrix schools.

Venue: The iconic Alexander Stadium, Birmingham – home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Date: Wednesday, 9th July 2025

This incredible event will be a full day of competition, celebration, and community spirit. As part of our Healthy Competitions Initiative, the day will showcase the power of sport in promoting teamwork, resilience, and ambition. Schools have now completed their in-school heats and successful participants will receive letters to notify them of their involvement as a participant. Additionally, this event provides a unique opportunity for pupils to showcase their talents in front of athletics club scouts, potentially opening doors for future athletic opportunities.

What to Expect:

• 456 student athletes battling it out in a range of exciting track and field events
• Live performances from our talented performing arts pupils to energise the crowd
• A cheering audience of 2,600 spectators from Years 7 and 10, supporting their teams with pride and passion (details will be shared In a letter in the coming weeks)
• A chance to claim the prestigious title of Trust-Wide Sports Champions 2025

Parents and carers of participants are warmly invited to attend and spectate this exciting event! With over 2,000 spectators expected, the day promises an electric atmosphere — and your support will make all the difference to our pupils. A full schedule of events is below so you can plan when to attend to cheer on your child. Spectators will be seated in the East Stand. Tickets are available via Eventbrite at £3 per person. All proceeds will be donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, our Trust charity for the year.

So you can plan when you would like to arrive and watch a particular event - a schedule of events will be confirmed on the trust website HERE closer to the event. Follow us on social media for the latest timings.

Book here: https://bit.ly/matsportsday

This is more than just a sports day — it’s a celebration of talent, teamwork, and trust unity. Whether you’re competing, performing, or cheering from the stands, get ready to be part of something unforgettable.

Let the countdown begin.

Today year 7 students had the opportunity to experience University life by visiting The University of Warwick. They spent the day with University students, lectures and representatives from Dell Technologies. They looked at student life which included a tour and Q and A with the University students then completed numerous challenges with the Dell representatives like building a solar powered car and finishing with presenting their own inventions for solving a global issue of their choice.