Blog week ending 9 July
As we move through the summer term, it has been a real pleasure to reflect on both the achievements of our older students and the continued enthusiasm for learning across the school. Alongside key milestones and celebrations, there have been many engaging classroom moments and opportunities for students to express their ideas, creativity and leadership. Our Learning Beyond the Classroom week, from 13th July, forms an exciting, enriching, and crucially, fun, crescendo to our academic year – I will be sure to include a full report in my final Blog before our summer break.
Miss Ho and her team put on a wonderful end‑of‑examinations Year 11 Assembly. Alongside special awards, students and staff shared moving and motivational speeches, creating a fitting reflection on their time at Stone Lodge. There was also a welcome surprise with an ice cream van on site, offering a free treat for everyone, followed by the much‑anticipated shirt signing, some of which were beautifully decorated and a real testament to friendships formed.
Our final celebration, the Year 11 Prom, was equally memorable. Despite the heat, students truly rose to the occasion, dressing to impress and making the most of a fantastic evening. Staff commented on how lovely it was to celebrate alongside them, it was genuinely a pleasure to be in their company. Congratulations to our students who also won awards on the night, voted by their peers. They were awarded for ‘Best Dressed’, ‘Dancefloor Legend’, ‘Life of the Party’ and of course our Prom King and Queen, Ollie K and Emily B.
We wish all our Year 11 students a restful and enjoyable summer and look forward to welcoming them back on GCSE Results Day on 20th August.
In Miss Haynes’ Year 9 English lessons, students are exploring the theme of Freedom, focusing on diverse voices and speaking up against inequality.
Students worked together to study the words of abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth, reading her powerful speech of 1851, “Ain’t I A Woman?” they considered its impact at the time and reflected on its relevance today. Inspired by her message, students then created their own writing, using persuasive techniques, repetition and emotive language to express their ideas. It was fantastic to see such thoughtful engagement and growing confidence in using writing as a powerful voice for change.
Mr Bailey’s Year 7 Drama students have been working on a mime project during their current topic. In this lesson students have been working on set pieces inspired by comic actors from the golden age of silent movies – actors relied upon physical comedy and exaggerated facial expressions to help tell the story, add humour and build drama .. something our students have brilliantly mastered!
Mr Williams’ Year 8 Music students are mirroring GCSE sylabus as they consider harmony and melody. In this lesson, student used their keyboard skills to practise learned principles as they played ‘Ode to Joy’. Students will progress to performing to the class!
Year 10 GCSE students have been creating experimental pieces using oil paints, exploring new techniques and approaches within their artwork. Over the course of the two-year programme, students work with a variety of media, allowing them to develop an understanding of different materials, effects and processes. This continued exploration supports them in refining their technical skills while encouraging the growth of their own unique artistic style.
Student Council. Student members of the school council took part in a student review of our Behaviour Curriculum with Deputy Headteacher, Mr Lonergan and Assistant Headteacher Mrs Pickard. Students consulted on the current policy providing valubale input, raising insightful and adaptable ideas.
Sporting opportunity .. Footballers wanted!! – Would you like to play for the Royal’s Lionesses? Please see the below poster for more information.
Forthcoming Dates;
All Years LBC Week – 13-17 July
Years 7-10 Written Reports home – 17 July
End of Term 6 – 21 July 12noon
First Day of 2026/27 Academic Year – Thursday 3 September (except new Years 7 & 12 whose first day is Wednesday 2 September
Best wishes,
Catherine Cusick
Headteacher
