Get ready to don your capes and join the fun - The Great St Albans Challenge is back on Sunday 12th October 2025.

This year’s event features a superhero-themed GPS treasure hunt through the streets of St Albans, raising funds for Youth Talk, a local charity providing free, confidential counselling for young people.

Families, friends, and school teams can take part by completing fun photo and video missions, with points awarded for creativity (not speed!). There are prizes for the best costumes, medals for all participants, and trophies for the top school team.

Start: St Albans Cathedral (anytime between 1pm and 2pm)
Finish: Alban Arena (doors open from 4pm)

It’s a brilliant way to enjoy the city, support a great cause, and unleash your inner superhero.

Sign up here now so you don't miss out on a great adventure.

Mrs T Dowling

Thinking About Next Steps?

Attention Yr 10 and 11 students - Oaklands College is holding a series of Open Days, giving you the perfect chance to explore your options after GCSEs.

Go along to meet staff, tour the facilities, and find out more about the wide range of courses, apprenticeships, and opportunities available. Whether you’re interested in A-Levels, vocational courses, or hands-on training, Oaklands has plenty of options for all.

Check out the poster for more information on timings, locations and dates.

Ms C Eady

Calling all parents and carers!

As part of our careers provision at Sandringham, we are lucky to have many volunteers who assist our students with mock interviews, speaker events, group sessions and lots more!  If you are able to give up some hours to help out, we would very much appreciate it.  Please fill in this short survey to share your interest:

Ms C Eady

Ready to get active, have some fun and play some cricket?

Come and join Super 1s cricket, a free weekly session for young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Hertfordshire!

Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, these sessions are a fantastic chance to be active, learn new skills, and make new friends. We also run fun workshops throughout the year to help with life skills.

Why not give it a go? Get in touch to find out more! Dates, times, locations and contact details can be found in the attached flyer.

Ms M Morris

The Puzzle of the Week is a Mathematics challenge run weekly. This week's puzzle is shown above. For every entry you will receive 1 house point, if you answer correctly you will win 2 house points and if you are the fastest person to answer the puzzle correctly then you will win 5 house points!  To enter, simply follow the link on your House Google Classroom (it will be posted on Monday at 8.a.m.) to fill out the Google Form. 

Good luck! Why not play at home and see who is the quickest to get the answer (unfortunately we can only accept answers from students)?

Mr J Richardson

Free Parenting Courses This Autumn from Supporting Links.

Are you a parent or carer living in Hertfordshire? Supporting Links is offering a range of FREE 6-week online courses this Autumn Term 2025, funded by Hertfordshire County Council’s Targeted Parenting Fund. These courses are designed to equip you with valuable strategies and insights to support your children through various stages and challenges.

Booking is essential. Further information and links can be found in the flyer. To check eligibility and book your place, please quote the Course ID and contact Supporting Links on 07512 709556 or bookings@supportinglinks.co.uk.

Talking Anger in Teens (Children aged 11-19)                  

Learn to understand anger in young people and yourself, develop strategies to handle it, recognise early signs, reduce conflict and encourage positive behaviour.

• Online Course ID 775: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:30 PM (4th November – 9th December)

Talking Anxiety in Teens (Children aged 11-19)

Gain understanding of why young people and adults experience anxiety. Develop strategies to manage anxiety within your family, recognise early signs, reduce stress and encourage resilient behaviour.

• Online Course ID 776: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:30 PM (16th September – 21st October)

Talking Teens (Children aged 12-19)

Explore the physical and emotional changes of the teen brain and how they affect behaviour. Learn to maintain relationships through good communication, understand risk-taking behaviour (drugs, alcohol, gang culture) and negotiate to reduce conflict.

• Online Course ID 778: Tuesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (16th September  – 21st October)
• Online Course ID 777: Thursdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (6th November – 11th December)

Talking Additional Needs (Children aged 2-19, with any additional need - no diagnosis required)

Understand your child's behaviour, develop effective strategies, reduce conflict, improve emotional regulation, explore sensory needs, increase resilience and manage different family needs.

• Online Course ID 770: Wednesdays, 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Face to Face Course ID 771: Wednesdays, 7PM - 9PM (5th November – 10th December) Reddings Family Centre, Bushey, WD23 3PE

Talking Families (Children aged 0-12)

Receive tips on managing challenging behaviour with consistency, encouraging positive behaviour, building self-esteem, setting boundaries, responding to tantrums, and developing strong parent/child relationships.

• Online Course ID 774: Wednesdays, 8PM - 9:30PM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Online Course ID 772: Thursdays, 9:45AM - 11:15 AM (18th September – 23rd October(
• Online Course ID 773: Tuesdays, 8PM - 9:30PM (4th November – 9th December)

Talking Dads (Dads & Male Carers of Children aged 0-19)

Improve listening and communication skills, foster a healthy dad-child relationship, learn effective strategies for anger and conflict, enforce boundaries and be the dad you want to be.

• Online Course ID 779: Wednesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (17th September – 22nd October)
• Online Course ID 780: Wednesdays, 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM (5th November – 10th December)

Ms M Morris

School is back in session and our Maths clubs are running in full force.

We were delighted to meet so many new faces in our YR 12 Fermat Club and welcome back old friends in our YR 13 Fermat Club. It is always so exciting to hear the animated discussions as the students face challenging problems. With YR 12 preparing for the Senior Maths Challenge and YR 13 preparing for their University Entrants examinations there is certainly plenty to talk about!

Mrs D Chopping

We’re Hiring!

Come and be part of our fantastic team here at Sandringham. We’re currently looking for:

- Student Services Administrator  

- Assistant Operations & Lettings Manager 

- Exam Invigilators

If you, or anyone you know would like to be part of our passionate and dedicated team, please visit here for more information and to apply.

Mrs T Dowling

Thank you so much to everyone who came to Tuxedo, SYCD, and TripleEdge auditions this week.

It was lovely to see so many of you there, which means making the final decision will be a difficult one. We loved dancing with you all!

UPDATE: we are now opening all our clubs to everyone (no max numbers for now!) - Sign up on SOCS, bring your friends and come along to dance clubs next week! 

Ms A Davies

HOUSE POINTS

Shakespeare have managed to sneak in front to take the lead for this week. There isn't much between the Top 3 so time to get involved!

1. Shakespeare 1,624
2. Elgar 1,564
3. Hepworth1,316

Special mentions this week:  

• I Muriuki (7E) & T Tearle (7A) - (16) – Most points this week
• A Luthra (8S)- 25 - Highest scoring student outside of year 7's
• A Sanders (12S) & F Evans (12S) 8 - highest scoring sixth former
• 11H, 11F, 12JO & 12S - Highest quiz score - 10/10

Mr D Keenleyside

Students are invited to an exciting Agricultural Careers Day, offering a chance to explore the wide range of opportunities in this vital industry.

See poster attached for details on time and location.

For more information, contact: hertsyfc@hertsshow.com

Ms C Eady

We're happy to share that the Teens Pottery Club is starting this term - sessions will run every Monday from 4:45pm to 6:00pm at Wheatfields Junior School, beginning Monday, 23rd September.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to get creative, learn new skills, and have fun with clay in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, all teens are welcome!

Spaces are limited, so get in early to secure your spot. For more information and to sign up click here.

Mrs T Dowling

As Mr Gray mentioned in his headlines above, The Telegraph have developed a new ranking system for secondary schools in England and have recently published their results.

The local Herts Ad have run an article on this and, as you can see, Sandringham features in the top 100 of all schools, at 33rd in the country!

We are immensely proud of this fantastic achievement and would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all the staff and students again for your hard work and dedication; schools are great when the team and community is great, and that is what we have here.

Congratulations to the other schools in our St Albans community who have also managed to achieve well deserved recognition.

Please do read the full article here:

Mrs T Dowling

Let’s Dance Academy is bringing their exciting Acro dance classes to Sandringham every Wednesday and Thursday during term time!

Acro blends classical dance technique with precision acrobatics. It's perfect for students who love to move, flip, balance, and build strength, flexibility, and coordination - all while having fun and growing in confidence.

Whether your child is new to Acro or already has some experience, these classes are a great way to develop skills in a safe and supportive environment led by experienced instructors.

Want to give it a go? Trial sessions are available this September!

Visit www.letsdanceacademy.co.uk to find out more and book your spot.

Mrs T Dowling

A Message from the Prime Minister on Childcare Expansion

This week marks an important milestone in the national expansion of childcare, and to recognise the occasion, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written a letter to parents across the country. In it, he reaffirms his Plan for Change commitment to ensuring that 75% of five year olds reach a good level of development by 2028, giving every child the best possible start in life.

We encourage all parents and carers to take a moment to read this important message.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Dowling

A reminder that there will be several Open Morning Tours happening in the school next week:

• Monday 15th
• Wednesday 17th 
• Thursday 18th 

These will run between 9 - 10:15am so please make sure you are welcoming if you see any of these taking place.

If anyone would like to book into one of these tours, please call 01727 799564 to book your slot.

Mrs T Dowling

The Danger Gang by Tom Fletcher

Franky can’t wait to move to his new town – although he wishes he didn’t have to leave his best friend Dani behind. But everything changes after the storm, when strange green lightening and powerful thunder crash down. From that night on, the kids who live on Franky’s Street become a little odd. A little unusual. A little. . .  magical.

Owen H, 7T, says ‘This book is about a group of children who have to solve the mysteries of the storm. The main character moves to a new town and really wants to be like his hero, a super spy. It’s an exciting book and has some danger too. I’ve read it more than once!’

Ms E Critchley

B is for… belligerent [adjective]

French: agressif 

German: aggressiv

Spanish: agresivo/a

Thinking Question: Which European language is considered a language isolate, meaning it has no known relatives?

Ms F Baikie

B is for… belligerent [adjective]

Definition: Hostile and aggressive.

Example: The mood at the meeting was belligerent.

Synonyms: Aggressive, Combative, Hostile.

Antonyms: Agreeable, Calm, Peaceful.

Etymology: From Latin bellum (‘war’) + gerere (‘to wage’ or ‘to carry on’).

Ms A Wiggett

1st XV: Our Senior rugby team started the season with a good 33-7 win over Parmiters in the U18 National Vase. Some brilliant defence and ruthless finishing mean the boys head into round 2. Tries from Smith (2), Walton, Farrugia & Kwadjo. 

Mr Keenleyside

A fantastic afternoon at the District Cross Country, with every participant pushing themselves around the (hilly) course.

Excellent performances by all!

🥇 D Kennedy

🥈 T Pritchard

Mr D Keenleyside

Our keen and enthusiastic Yr 7’s represented Sandringham for the first time this week and thoroughly impressed.

Our boys came 1st with R. Bullivant winning the boys race.

Our girls came 3rd with I. Boyle coming second in the girls race.

Well done to all involved, brilliant effort!

Mr D Keenleyside

Back to a weekly dose of football, netball and rugby starting to start off the Autumn term, with a splash of early cricket to finish the week next Friday. Good luck to everyone starting back in their teams, and to the new teams and team members joining the Sandringham family.

Mrs T Dowling

Get ready to get your sweet fix with the fantastic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory coming to the Sandpit Theatre this November.

More information to come soon.

The Sandpit Team

Following on the success of the smash-hit ‘Bugsy Malone’, Limitless Productions, returns to The SandPit Theatre this Halloween, with a brand newfull-scale musical.

One of the darkest musicals ever written,Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the unsettling tale of a Victorian-era barber who returns home to London after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who ruined his life. When revenge eludes him, Sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race. Perhaps composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s most perfect score,Sweeney Todd is lush, operatic, and full of soaring beauty, pitch-black comedy and stunning terror.

Featuring a sizeable cast, full scale set and immersion throughout, this classic musical thriller is not to be missed.

The Sandpit Team

Join the students from Cassana Performance Academy as they bring the story of “Matilda” to life in this much-loved musical.

Become captivated as Matilda finds strength in her unique powers and unites the children against Miss Trunchbull!

Get your tickets here.

The Sandpit Team