A final reminde thatSt Albans School will be hosting an International Universities Fair on Monday 3rd November at 7.15pm.

At least seven overseas universities will be attending, offering an excellent opportunity for pupils and families in Yrs 10 - 12 to explore studying abroad options and learn more about international higher education pathways.

Visitors are kindly asked not to arrive before 7.00pm and please note that there will not be parking available on site.

For more details and to register click here.

Don’t miss this valuable chance to discover exciting university opportunities around the world - there is a lot to see!

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).

Order Your Christmas Tree & Support The School.

It's going to be here before you know it - so why not be orgainsed and get a beautiful quality Nordmann Fir tree delivered straight to your home with Christmas Treeasy and help raise £3.50–£6.50 for our school/PTA per tree.

Free delivery, optional recycling, stands, and logs available. Pre-order 9ft & 10ft trees by 20th November - weekend slots go fast so be sure to get in there early.

Order online here or scan the QR code attached, and don’t forget to select our school to ensure your donation counts.

Introducing our KS4 Language Nut competition

Calling all Yr 10 and Yr 11 French and German students. Log on to Language Nut and get some revision in to win our weekly MFL prizes! This week our top 3 students are:

A Whitehead – Yr 10

A Halsey – Yr 11

P Hodgkiss – Yr 10

Well done to you and keep it up! We will do our next check in after half term. There is a national competition starting in November where you can win Amazon vouchers, keep an eye out for it.

Discover Potential Kids This Half-Term 

Potential Kids is a dynamic Hatfield-based charity offering social inclusion activities for neurodivergent children, young people, and their families. Established in 2018 and recognised with a King's Award for Charities, they provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for connection and growth.

They offer a range of social, sporting, and alternative provision activities at their premises and local sports centres, so there’s a fantastic line-up of local activities happening across Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City for children of all ages this half term:

• Family Football: Tuesday 25th October, 4:00 - 5:00pm at Hatfield Leisure Centre.
• Halloween Fun: Wednesday 28th October, 11:00 - 12:30pm
• Fun Rings: Thursday 29th October, 1:00 - 2:00pm 
• Trampolining: Friday 30th October, 6:00 - 7:00 at Gosling Sports Centre.
• Soft Play SEN Funzone: Tuesday 28th October, 7:00 - 8:45 at Gosling Sports Centre. 

For more information and details on how to book please click here 

UK Mathematics Trust - Senior Mathematical Challenge

This month students in Yrs 12 and 13 took part in the Senior Mathematical Challenge run by the UK Mathematics Trust.  The Senior Mathematical Challenge is a 90-minute, multiple-choice competition. This was a fantastic opportunity which offers students the chance to develop their mathematical problem-solving skills. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. The problems on the Senior Challenge are designed to make students think. Most are accessible, yet still challenge those with more experience. 

Students that perform well are awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze certificates, with the best performing students being invited to take an additional challenge. 

Overall, students achieved the following certificates:

17 Gold

30 Silver

18 Bronze

Special mention goes to Cici C for Best in Yr 12 and Vova Z for Best in School.  

Vova along with Marcus L, Eugene V and Harry P qualify for round 1of the British Mathematical Olympiad.  

A further 13 students also qualify for the Senior Kangaroo follow on round.

Congratulations on everyone who took part!

Winter uniform will be in place from Monday 3rd November.

Students wearing a skirt must wear black opaque tights without socks underneath or on top. Outdoor coats must be plain black, dark grey or navy without any patterns or logos.

Jazz Night

On Tuesday 21st October, the Music Department held our first ever Jazz Night in the main hall. The evening featured jazz and fusion music performed by the school Jazz Band, Sinfonia, Senior Choir, String Group, Ceilidh Band and a number of exam groups and smaller ensembles. Led through the evening by our Master of Ceremonies, Max in Yr 13, the packed audience enjoyed music from the big bands of the 1920s up to modern fusion and gypsy jazz.

Well done to all our performers for a wonderful evening of music.

Celebrating Dance Success

We want to take a moment to celebrate some of the fantastic achievements of our students in the world of dance. Sandringham is full of talented dancers who excel both inside and outside the classroom, and their dedication, creativity, and hard work are truly inspiring.

From impressive performances to competitions and personal milestones, we are proud of all they have accomplished so far. We look forward to continuing to support our students on their dance journeys and can’t wait to see what they achieve next.

This week Yr 11 historians engaged in a lively debate to assess 'Which power was the main aggressor during the Cold War: USA or USSR'?

Students focused on 4 key hotpots:

• The Building of the Berlin Wall
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Invasion of Czechoslovakia
• The Vietnam War

They had to examine who was the main aggressor and most responsible for increasing tensions.  The level of historical detail, contextual understanding and reasoning was superb and seeing the passion and enthusiasm in our students was both inspirational and infectious. We're already planning the next debate!

Well done to Alexa, Maya, Reuban, Gabby, Georgia, Rachel, Evie, Jasmine, Micayla, Ani, Sadie, Freddie, Sorcha and Diego. 

Learn to DJ with Mid Herts Music Centre

Ever thought of yourself as the next Calvin Harris? Mid Herts Music Centre is offering DJ lessons every Tuesday evening.

Choose a 30 or 40-minute session and bring your own equipment to get hands on experience. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this is your chance to learn, experiment, and have fun behind the decks. So grab your headphones, your decks, and start mixing.

Scan the QR code on the poster for more information.

Co-parenting with care for parents with children with SEN

Family lives are delivering Co-parenting with care for parents with children with SEN programme during the Autumn term, funded by Herts County Council for parents/carers who live in Hertfordshire or who have a child attending a Hertfordshire school.  

This 6-week online programme offers a structured approach to help parents navigate their unique challenges, improve their relationship, and create a more supportive environment for their SEN child/ren . This group is aimed at parents who have a child with SEND and who are separated or divorced or going through the process of separation or divorce.

The programme covers themes including:

• Understanding SEN and its impact on children and family dynamics
• Effective Communication Skills
• Managing Emotions & Stress
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Building a Supportive Network
• Creating a Unified Parenting Approach

Co-Parenting with care for parents of children with SEN

Wednesday 15, 22 October and 5, 12, 19 & 26 November

9.30am to 11.30am - Via MS Teams

Co-Parenting with care for parents of children with SEN

Thursday 16, 23 October and 6, 13, 20 & 27 November

7.00pm to 9.00pm - Via MS Teams

We accept referrals from professionals as well as self-referrals. Please click here Co-Parenting with Care for parents of children with SEN for our online referral form or scan the QR code on the attached flyer

You can also email services@familylives.org.uk or call us on 0204 522 8700 or 0204 522 8701 for more information. 

Carol Service

Our school Lessons and Carols is being held on Monday 15th December in St Pauls Church in St Albans and our choirs will be performing a beautiful selection of Christmas music. If you have been considering joining one of our choirs, then after half term is the perfect time as we will be starting to learn our Christmas music and new members are very welcome

Junior Choir – Friday lunchtime

Senior Choir – Wednesday lunchtime

Come long and start getting into the festive spirit.

As we are fast approaching half term, here is a quick reminder that Barracudas are offering an exclusive discount. With a wide range of fun, active, and engaging activities for children aged 4 to 14, Barracudas is a great option for holiday childcare.

Parents can enjoy a special £20 off per week, or £4 a day discount on bookings using our unique code.

To find out more and secure your place click here

Discount Code: HSCP25

HOUSE POINTS

Turing make a play for second place as we head into the half term break. Looking forward to seeing the race for the top heat up as we head towards Christmas.

1. Shakespeare 7,510
2. Turing 6,779
3. Elgar 6,660

Special mentions this week:  

• D Kennedy (8T)- (19) – Most points this week
• A Lewis (8S)- 102 - Highest scoring Year 8
• T Somers (9S) - 117 - Highest scoring year 9
• T Tearle (7A) - 118 - Highest scoring year 7
• J Scott (10A) - 71 - Highest scoring year 10
• E West, L Sweeney, A Shaik & L Jones - 32 - Highest scoring year 11
• F Evans (12S) 28 - Highest scoring sixth former
• 12S - Highest quiz score - 70/75
• Fawcett most house points this week - 589
• Austen for winning 'last choir standing'

A reminder to have a hauntingly good, family friendly time at Church Farm, Ardeley’s Halloween Spookfest, running from 18th - 31st October.

A Farm Day Pass includes a Spooky Farm Trail, Big Bale Play, Tractors & Digger Ride-Ons, Creepy Fairy Woodland Play, Scarecrow Trail, Spot the Pumpkin (with sweet prizes), photo ops, and lots more thank you can see on the poster and website.

Visit the Church Farm, Ardeley website here to book your Spookfest adventure.

St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert

The biennial St Albans St Cecilia Festival Concert returns to the Cathedral on Saturday 15 November at 7.30 pm and it promises to be an evening of glorious choral music.

The programme opens with Herbert Howells’ Magnificat (Collegium Regale), followed by the first part of Dvořák’s Stabat Mater. After an interval, Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer leads into the second part of Stabat Mater, finishing up around 9.15 pm.

The St Albans Symphony Orchestra joins four local choirs:

• The Aeolian Singers
• St Albans Chamber Choir
• Hardynge Choir
• Radlett Choir

Also including professional soloists:

• Erin Rossington 
• Angharad Rowlands
• Robert Watson
• Emyr Wyn Jones
• William Democratis 

Book online here, at the Cathedral Box Office, or call 01727 890290.

Our Visual Arts team have been working hard over the last few weeks creating props, set and Art work to support the upcoming whole school show of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Special thanks must go to Mrs Ross for her outstanding efforts and also to our students who have responded so creatively from the starting points provided. There will be more opportunities to take part after half term so we look forward to continuing our work then.

We are all excited to see the show after half term!

Exciting Cast Announcements

The @sand_artsteam have been keeping us on the edge of our seats with their slow reveal of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory cast announcements on social media. 

So far, it looks like we have a fantastic ensemble ready to transport us to the magical world of Willy Wonka.

We can’t wait to find out more about the rest of the cast and see this incredible production come to life!

As we approach the end of the half term, we want to remind students and families of a couple of community notes:

Student safety

We have received several reports from concerned members of the wider community about students crossing the road without awareness of oncoming traffic and riding bikes without due care and attention. We would ask that families remind their children of the need to use the dedicated crossing outside the school and to make themselves as visible as possible if cycling to and from school.

Drop off / pick up

On a similar note, the shorter days mean that there is a greater need for vigilance as students arrive and leave school. We remain concerned that some families continue to park in restricted areas both before and after school and, in doing so, create a further danger to other students as well as often causing obstructions to the drives of local residents. We regularly ask for support in this area and would be grateful for your help with this moving forward.

Creative Spark Project

A Brilliant opportunity for young people aged 11–17!

The project runs every Tuesday from 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Harpenden Young People’s Centre (27 High Street, AL5 2RU).

This inclusive programme is designed for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. It offers a safe and supportive space to build confidence, communication, and interpersonal skills while exploring creativity.

Participants are supported by qualified Services for Young People (SfYP) youth workers, who help them connect with others, learn new skills, and gain greater independence. The team also provides individualised support on emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, staying safe, cooking and nutrition, and money management.

On Friday 17th October, every student in Year 7 competed in our annual house competition ‘Last Choir Standing’ - an unforgettable showcase of talent, teamwork, and house spirit! Each form had been busy preparing a song as part of their Music lessons, and performed to the year group and the judges in the Sandpit Theatre. The standard was incredibly high this year, with performances featuring choreography, rapping, soloists and fantastic group singing. Each house delivered fantastic performances, cheered on by their fellow students in a brilliant atmosphere that made everyone smile.

A huge congratulations to Austen for taking the 1st place, with Hepworth in 2nd place and Shakespeare in 3rd.

1st place – 7A

2nd place – 7H

3rd place – 7S

Well done to Yr 7, we are very proud of you all!

Reminder - The Zone at the Galleria is Now Open.

The Zone, a brand-new community unit run by Potential Kids, located on the ground floor of The Galleria, is now open! 

The Zone is a dedicated space for neurodivergent children and young people to make friends, and it will also host early years sessions (ages 3-5, diagnosed or suspected) and wellbeing sessions for parents/carers.

• No formal diagnosis required.
• Siblings are welcome to join.
• Registration isn't needed to book activities.

The new location offers easier access for families to drop in, connect, and take part in a variety of supportive and engaging sessions such as:

• Parent/Carer Coffee
• Chat and Connect sessions 
• Play sessions for younger children
• Home Education sessions

Feel free to drop in at any time!

WOW Morning                   

Yr 9 students attended a World of Work morning, with fantastic speakers from Google, Lotus Snacks, Sir Robert McAlpine and Sky.  The students were inspired by the speakers, who were keen to show the different routes into their roles, as well as reassure the students that, while they can begin thinking about careers, they can also keep their options open for the future.  Yr 9 represented the school amazingly well and asked many questions during the event. 

Huge thanks to the amazing volunteer speakers, many of whom are Sandringham parents.

Learn to write your own songs!

Join St Albans born artist Lauren Cumberpatch (@1111musicuk), a BBC Radio 1 featured songwriter, producer and DJ with 400k+ monthly Spotify listeners, for a two-day interactive workshop this half term! Learn lyric writing, explore the free BandLab app, and create your own songs with others.

• 30th - 31st October
• 10:00am - 12:00pm
• The Pioneer Club
• £40 + booking fee
• Ages 12–18

Spaces are limited, so book now and start making your own music!

Email events@pioneerclub.co.uk or scan the QR code for more information.

French: un déluge de

German: der Hagel

Spanish: una lluvia de

Thinking question: This week the translations are nouns rather than verbs. What might this tell you about the different languages?

The Ghost of Gosswater by Lucy Strange.

The Lake District 1899. The earl is dead and cruel Cousin Clarence has inherited everything. Twelve-year-old Lady Agatha Asquith is cast out of Gosswater Hall to live in a tiny tumbledown cottage with a stranger who claims to be her father. Aggie is determined to discover her real identity, but she is not alone on her quest.

Sophia E-W, 7F, says: "I enjoyed this book. It had a really good twist. The book tricked me into thinking one thing then revealed something else entirely. I really liked the heroine, Aggie. She has always been very rich and then has to learn ordinary everyday skills like cooking breakfast. She also discovers she has a false family. If I had to describe this book in three words I would choose: Historical. Mystery. Suspense. There are some spooky bits so I think it’s perfect for Halloween!"

A reminder of the LRC's Top Reads to keep you busy over the half term. Through reading, young people are exposed to different cultures, perspectives and experiences which helps to develop emotional intelligence, empathy, and improves mental health. Happy Halloween!

H is for… hail [noun]

Definition: Fall or be hurled forcefully.

Example: Missiles and bombs hail down from the sky.

Synonyms: Barrage, Storm, Volley

Antonyms: Drip, Slight, Whisper

Etymology: As a noun meaning "frozen precipitation," it comes from Old English "hægl".

Our Yr 9’s got the privilege of hosting Queen Mary’s school (Birmingham) as they tour London and the surrounding areas.

Our A’s won 12-7 whilst the B’s drew 40-40.

Thank you to @masterclass_sportstours for organising. 

Well done to Natalie and Jack from YR 13 for competing in the Hertfordshire Scratch Golf Tournament last week.

This is the highest level of regional golf and the “scratch” element means that handicaps are not considered and it was all down to gross scores. They were playing against the best of the best from Hertfordshire. Although Jack was a little disappointed with his performance on the day after doing so well at the previous Herts mid-handicap competition (6th Place), he finished a creditable 51st out of 70 competitors with a score of 88. Natalie finished 61st with a score of 92. Natalie was one of the highest handicaps in the competition and should be particularly proud of her +2 Nett score (92).

Thank you both for your contribution to growing golf at Sandringham School.

A solid first outing for our Senior Boys Tennis team this afternoon. A 12-0 win over Beaumont without dropping a game. Brilliant start boys... Watford and SCC up next.

Hopefully everyone can have a well deserved rest during the half term break, ready to come back refreshed in November. Then we'll be back with a week of fixtures to get stuck into! Have a great week off everyone.

Yr 11 Boys: A National Cup second round victory for Sandringham as they beat a good Longdean side 2-1. After a slow start, the boys started to move the ball quickly and create more chances. A brilliant Pentland free kick and a well taken team goal by McCree sealed the win. Congratulations boys, onto the next round.

Yr 8: Last weekend the fixture was Beaumont away. A great advert for schools rugby with a number of stand out performances. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of a 1 try result having first held up superbly in the last minute, with our opponents going over in the last second. Well done boys, a great game.

Yr 9: This Sandringham team tackled brilliantly and were dominant at the breakdown leading to a 36-0 win v Beaumont. Rajkumar, Hall, Harris (2), Harvey & Dixon go over. Hall conversions (3). The boys are improving week on week. 

Yr 10: Despite our best efforts and a positive second half last weekend, our boys lost out to Beaumont School. They worked hard, continued to put their body of the line and played some good phases of rugby. The one score from Yang was fully deserved. 

Yr 8: This U13 team fought hard this week in a competitive game against STAGS. Unfortunately the girls couldn’t get the win but there was some fantastic play nonetheless and we look forwards now to the rest of the season!

Yr 10: Our U15 team took a trip to Warwick this week to face an exceptional Kings High School in the School Sport Magazine Competition. The girls displayed talent and patience in attack. POM goes to Maddison for her excellent interceptions

Yr 9 Girls: The U14 Girls Football Team battled through all weathers in their County Cup match against John Henry Newman School. It was a closely fought game, with Sandringham taking a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from B. Foreman and M. Richards. However, JHN fought back to level the scores, leaving the game 2-2 at full time. Extra time saw no change, so the match went to penalties. Stepping up with confidence, F. Randall, A. Dibbs, I. Kelly, M. Richards, and P. Allen all successfully converted their shots. The hero of the hour was P. Allen, who made a crucial save to secure a fantastic win for Sandringham! 

PP - P Allen and CP - A Dibbs.

Save the date!

5th - 7th February 2026.

More information coming soon.

We can't wait!

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.

30th Oct - 1st Nov

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

Click here for ticket.

Sandringham School Drama Faculty presents the world-famous Willy Wonka, and he is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.

We can't wait to see it!

Tickets are now sold out.

Join us for KT's Academy's winter production of Dancing through the decades.  

Join us down memory lane, where the children will showcase their performance skills through the decades.

A variety of dance, singing and acting performances showcased by our students. 

Saturday 29th November

Get your tickets here.