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.

Day 1:

On the first day of our expedition to New York the Etone contingent gathered in the car park at 3am. With blurry eyes and pre-breakfast smiles, there was sleepy enthusiasm as the group made the way on coach to Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport. The drive was over quickly with the empty roads and arrived at our first destination.

Thankfully a fairly speedy check in process led us to the departure lounge. For some pupils it was their first time in an airport, which was a delight to see he wonder and excitement on their faces. We can only apologise for Mr Bowley’s instance to apply examples to the Business Studies world at every point (top marks for passion though Sir). It was also here where Team Dame Elizabeth Cadbury joined us for the ride.

After the boarding call for flight BA175 all pupils settled in for a safe and speedy journey. With highlights including entertainment from Barbie to Oppenheimer (with one pupil who shall go unnamed, watching both…TWICE), to enjoying snacks and sharing stories of what we hope to find in New York spirits were high.

After the arrival lounge, a quick bus ride took us to the Manhattan at Times Square. The beautiful hotel is nestled slightly off Times Square in a wonderfully picturesque part of the city. Pupils had the chance for a quick pit stop before the afternoons events.

A simple walk up 10 blocks (sounds less then it felt), we arrived at Summit 1, a building called the Vanderbilt, a 73 story skyscraper opened in 2020. As pupils made their way through the slightly scary tunnel and into the lift they did not quite realise the wonder that awaited them. For the views of the Empire State, the skyline and the entire city were…Astonishing. We have to say that no amount of words will do justice to how relaxing and awe inspiring the view was. Along with the view and photo opportunities pupils got to experience some relaxation methods including their balloon room, where the teachers were perhaps unfairly, the targets.

As we rounded out the day it was time to go to the TickTock diner for a traditional American cuisine experience. With foods from the staple burger and chips, to the Italian-American en parmigiana. The food was delicious and a nice end to the day. 

With pupils all settled and tucked up in their beds, the teachers dispersed ready for Day 2.

Day 2:

On the second day of our New York adventure, our pupils got to explore some of the landmarks of American history. After breakfast at the hotel, we traveled on the subway for what would be their initiation as a New Yorker. We have to say that the way our pupils navigated through the process was impeccable. 

Upon exit we arrived at Battery Park, the location of Castle Clinton and our ferry for a tour of Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The breeze from the Hudson was refreshing and the views - breathtaking. To see New York at is best, with the sun shining as we reflected on our time so far in the Big Apple.

Upon arrival at Liberty pupils had the chance to explore the island, history and of course take some iconic Statue of Liberty selfies. The statue itself was another breathtaking moment to see her in all her beauty, a symbol of strength and freedom not just for America but the world. One pupil even made the link to American vales and British values, summing up the similarities between the two nations.

The ferry then took us on where the pupils got a chance to see Ellis Island and reflect on how those immigrating to America would have felt, on a boat in a similar position. The gift of hope and a chance to build your own dream.

Upon arrival back to Battery Par, we enjoyed a lunch stop at a very speedy McDonalds, we arrived at the World Trade  Centre. The views of the building were stunning as it rose into the sky, however what sat behind them was the destination for a very emotional and poignant visit. The 9/11 Memorial Museum was built following one of the most tragic events of the century. As impressive as the site was,  it was hard to detach the feeling of sadness that echo’s around the area.

For many 9/11 was a day that would never be forgotten, as staff shared what they were doing on the day of it. For the pupils in our group, they of course were aware of the event but not perhaps the full gravity before the visit. The introduction all video in the centre looked to provide summary of the events on that fateful day. Pupils said after, they could not quite believe how big an event on that scale could be. Touring the exhibits was of course heartfelt and we are proud to say our pupils showed Etone Values being respectful and reflective throughout.

Finally, the day rounded off with a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe where we enjoyed an American feast before walking back through Time Square in all of it’s glory. With excitement in the air, the pupils departed for bed and to prepare for tomorrow with the all important shopping trip.

Day 3:

The day once again began with the sun shining down on the beautiful city of New York. As a special treat we made our way to Bubba Gump Shrimp, the restaurant inspired by the business from the classic Forrest Gump. Whilst shrimps were off the menu, the guys got the chance to dig into bacon, eggs and potatoes for a hearty American breakfast.

After filling ourselves up and exploring the restaurant, it was time to head in Central Park. Once again the full bursts of the city was prominent as we explored the surrounding area before our pupils had the special treat to - Ice Skate in park. With a range of confident skaters to first time novices, the highlight of course was Mr Bowley’s hilarious first steps on the ice. 

After a stop off in Times Square for lunch, we headed over to 34th Street for the worlds biggest department store…Macy’s - Where we were literally shopping till we dropped. Souvenirs, presents and of course treats for ourselves were the order of the day. The magnitude of the store and surrounding areas really is something to behold.

Finally, our evening meal at Dallas Texas Barbecue was served with pupils tucking into delicious foods including corn bread. As our pupils departed to their rooms to pack ready for what the final day holds.

Day 4:

As we looked to enter our final day in New York City, our pupils had the chance to grab a Starbucks before heading out to walk the high-line. The route gave us a chance to walk along the historic tracks and view some truly great sights of the city.

Onward from there, a visit to the Grand Central Terminal allowed us to view the iconic location in full glory. Pupils taking the chance to complete some prime photo opportunities.

Finally there was time for one last shopping visit to Times New Square where Sephora, Urban Outfitters and Pele were the key targets. Of course with funds running low and energy used up, we returned to the hotel for final checks before the bus to the airport.

As time drew to an end on our New York adventure our pupils had the chance to reflect on key memories, highlights and the friendships forged through this cross trust collaboration.