Football Fundraising and Farewells

Don't forget this epic football match next Wednesday 6th May to celebrate Mr Gray’s incredible contribution to the school!

Students are also warmly invited to come along and support, with a small donation encouraged in aid of our school charity.

• Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026
• Venue: Sandringham 3G
• Kick off: 3:30pm
• Finish: 4:30pm

If any staff would like to take part in any capacity, please get in touch with Mr Keenleyside via email - there is still time!

Let’s come together to give Mr Gray the send off he truly deserves.

Spring Festival 

Families are invited to enjoy the St Albans Spring Festival on Sunday 17th May, for a free, family friendly street festival taking place in the city centre.

Celebrating creativity, wellbeing, community and sustainability, the event promises a great day out for all ages, with plenty to see and do.

St Albans City Centre
Sunday 17th May | From 12 noon

For more information, visit the website here.

Last week 4 students from Year 7 represented the school in final of the Year 7 Team Maths Challenge run by Herts for Learning.  The team was one of 16 finalists out of over 80 teams from schools across Hertfordshire.

The Year 7 Team Maths Challenge is designed as an informal, friendly inter-school competition, designed to challenge young mathematicians.  They require excellent communication, problem-solving and team-working skills, as well as mathematical skill and insight. Success in the challenges relies on much more than mere mathematical calculation.  

The students did extremely well and finished 10th overall.  

Congratulations to Cherry L , Armaan R, Scarlet L, and Jayden C.

HOUSE POINTS 

No changes in the top 3 spots this week... still time to make an impact!

1. Shakespeare 21, 633
2. Turing 19, 849
3. Fawcett 18, 493

Special mentions this week:  

• B Shorrock (10J) –23  Most points this week
• T Tearle (7S) 295 - Highest scoring year 7
• M Altiganer (8F)- 244- Highest scoring Year 8
• T Somers (9S) - 246 - Highest scoring year 9
• G Birkin (10s) - 183- Highest scoring year 10
• L Jones (11H) - 57 - Highest scoring year 11
• B Stevenson (12F) 55 - Highest scoring sixth former
• 12S - Highest quiz score - 183/215
• E for most house points this week - 531

Wellbeing Matters

At this busy time of year, with exams approaching and award events taking place, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself.

You may see a series of lovely posters around school as a gentle reminder to focus on your wellbeing - especially during moments that can feel pressurised or overwhelming.

Simple things can make a big difference. 

• Be active
• Give your time 
• Take notice 
• Keep learning
• Stay connected 

Whether you’re preparing for exams or reflecting on achievements, it’s important to focus on what helps you feel calm, balanced and confident.

Take a moment, be kind to yourself, and do what you need to feel your best.

Potential Kids - May Activities

Potential Kids are running a range of sessions throughout the May for neurodivergent children and young people, their siblings, and parents/carers.

These sessions provide a welcoming and supportive space for families to connect, have fun and access tailored activities.

To book a place, please visit their website here or for further information email: info@potentialkids.org

Please see the attached poster for full details of sessions, timings and venues.

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).

KS5 Celebration Awards 

On the Thursday morning, we were delighted to host our KS5 Celebration Awards, recognising the achievements of our Sixth Form students.

It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their success and take a moment to reflect on the past two years - a time filled with hard work, growth and lasting memories.

Congratulations to all those who won an award, it's a truly fantastic achievement, but we would also like to recognise the entire year group, who have been truly inspiring to one another and to the students following behind them.

Well done to you all - only one week left to go!

SEND Provision Plan Consultation 

The Hertfordshire SEND Local Area Partnership has developed a SEND Provision Plan 2026-29 which supports the delivery of the new SEND Strategy for 2026–2029.  The strategy sets out our shared ambitions to improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

More children and young people in Hertfordshire are requiring additional support at school, many presenting with increasingly more complex needs than in the past. Families have consistently told us they want clearer pathways and better local options. In response, this Special Education, Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Provision Plan outlines how we will strengthen support in local schools, increase specialist provision where it is needed, and ensure every child receives the right help, in the right place, at the right time.

Feedback gathered so far has helped identify key priorities and has informed the five core elements of the draft SEND Provision Plan:

• Strengthen capacity in mainstream schools
• Expand specialist capacity in mainstream schools
• Create more special school places
• Update special school designations
• Child centred placements

As part of the SEND Provision Consultation running from 23 March to 15 June 2026, we are seeking your views on whether the plan reflects your priorities, and how it can be further strengthened before it is finalised.

You can share your feedback by completing a  short survey or by attending one of our consultation events. All details on how to get involved are available on the Local Offer: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/SENDProvisionPlan

Thank you for your time, your views are important to us.  All responses will be carefully considered and will directly influence the final SEND Provision Plan for 2026–2029.

Herts Talented Athlete Programme & Summer Camps

Performance Herts, based at the Herts Sports Village, is offering opportunities for young athletes to develop their performance through its Herts Talented Athlete Programme (HTAP).

This programme provides athletes with a personalised strength and conditioning plan, alongside access to regular drop-in training sessions. It is suitable for students looking to progress in their chosen sport, with athletes from a wide range of disciplines including football, swimming, athletics and more.

Summer training camps will also be running for athletes aged 14 - 18 on the following dates:
13th - 17th July
27th - 31th July

These camps offer a brilliant opportunity for aspiring athletes to build strength, improve performance and gain valuable training experience.

See the attached poster for more information or visit the website here.

London Marathon Success

A huge congratulations to Ms Lennox, who completed the London Marathon on Sunday in a fantastic time of 4 hours and 25 minutes on what was a beautiful, sunny day.

We couldn’t be prouder of her incredible achievement - completing a marathon is no small feat and something to be truly proud of.

To top it all off, she has raised an amazing £2,481 for charity!

Amazing effort Ms Lennox.

Good Luck Year 11

Today marks the final day in school for our Yr 11 students, and we would like to wish them all the very best as they move into their exams.

As you begin this next stage, remember that success is not only about what you achieve, but also about how you take care of yourself along the way. Make time to rest, stay calm and look after your wellbeing - a clear and balanced mind will always do its best work.

We are incredibly proud of everything you have accomplished so far and have no doubt that you will go on to achieve great things.

Good luck - you’ve got this!

Young Filmmakers Masterclass In St Albans

Do you have a passion for storytelling?

This summer, Foster Studios is offering a unique 4-day filmmaking masterclass designed to help you unlock your creative potential, for ages 14-17.

Using just the camera in your pocket, students will take part in a hands-on, intensive course led by industry professionals. You'll be learning how to plan, shoot and bring their own stories to life.

• May Half-Term: 26–29 May
• Summer: 21–24 July
• 10.00am – 3.00pm daily
• Early-bird £299 (usually £500)
• Foster Studios, St Albans

This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to gain practical experience, build confidence and develop creative skills in a supportive environment.

See the attached poster for more information, or visit the website here to book you spot.

Thank a Teacher Day 

We’re encouraging students and families to take a moment to say a BIG Thank You to a member of staff as we approach Thank a Teacher Day on Wednesday 17th June.

This is a lovely opportunity to recognise the dedication, support and inspiration our teachers provide every day. Whether it’s for helping on a tricky topic, offering words of encouragement, or simply being there when it matters most, a small message of thanks can go a long way.

If you would like to say a few words, you can leave you message via the following link

We would love to see our community come together to celebrate the fantastic work of our wonderful staff.

Summer Golf In Swing 

Sandringham Golf Society is back bigger and better than ever - with 60 students signed up to take part in a variety of golfing activities across the summer term.

The first session last week included a visit to Batchwood Golf Course, where we had both beginners taking part in a lesson with the Head Professional and more experienced golfers playing on the course. This week’s session was a visit to the Wheathampstead Golf Village for a competitive 9 holes.

Its great to see the growing interest in this sport and students enjoying fresh air, good weather and learning new skills.   

We’re Hiring!

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

- Senior Science Technician

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

BTEC Dance Success

Congratulations to our Yr 11 BTEC dancers, who have successfully completed their BTEC Tech Award Level 1/2 qualification.

This is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work, dedication and commitment they have shown throughout the course.

The Dance Department are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.

We wish them the very best of luck as they move into their GCSE exams - you’ve got this!

Celebrating Dance Success

Congratulations to the following students who have achieved some outstanding milestones in their dance journeys.

Their passion, dedication and commitment to their craft, both in and beyond the classroom, is truly inspirational.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing where their dance journeys take them next.

House Assemblies

House assemblies took place this week, bringing students together to rally the troops for the final stretch of the year.

With plenty of events and opportunities still to come, the race for the winning house at the end of the summer term is well and truly on!

Good luck to all houses as the competition continues.... who will be victorious!

French: intrépide

German: valiente

Spanish: mutig

Thinking Question: The word of the week this week comes from the latin dominare. Do you know where else words originate from?

The Hunt for the Golden Scarab, by M.G. Leonard.

Sim and his mum never live anywhere long. When dangerous strangers appear one night, Sim discovers why. His mum has been keeping secrets: she has the power to open doors in time. Running for their lives, Sim and his friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys and be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and a powerful door to Ancient Egypt

Theo S in Yr 9 has recently read the book and comments:

“I think this book was a great way to discover Ancient Egypt. This has everything I would expect from an M.G. Leonard's book adventure, suspense and much more. I loved the historical element as it taught me new things”

Computer Science

The Computer Science faculty have been supporting ‘Our Year of Reading’ this week by sharing some fantastic book recommendations with all their classes. 

Teacher recommendations have included The Kite Runner, Project Hail Mary, Barca and The Champion’s Mind. These recommendations have given students the opportunity to discuss a range of genres from science fiction, to historical memoir to sport and personal development. As ever, we hold a wide and varied stock of books in the LRC and would welcome all students to borrow books and request any that aren’t currently in our collection.

Thank you to Ms Qanungo, Mr Beach, Ms Clarke and Mr Smith for these great recommendations.

D is for… dauntless [adjective]

Definition: Showing fearlessness and determination.

Example: With dauntless courage, the climbers faced the icy peak.

Synonyms: Fearless, Brave, Unflinching

Antonyms:  Fearful, Timid, Apprehensive

Etymology:  From Latin domitare meaning “to tame”, via Old French danter.

County League 1

A good first showing for our Yr 8 and 10 athletes as they perform well against some good opposition.

Final points tally to be confirmed but they should all be happy with their contribution.

Athletes of the meet:
U14G - A Dibbs 1st + BIG PB
U14B - T Howitt 1st, 1st & 3rd
U16G - H Posner 1st, 1st, 1st
U16B - L Silcox 1st & 2nd 

Yr 10 Cricket Girls: An away trip to face St Margaret’s in the first round of the @schoolsportmag was played at a beautiful venue and produced some impressive cricket. Sandringham lost the toss and were put into bat. A partnership of 63 for the first wicket with McKinstry (29) & Hodgkinson (27) helping Sandringham post a solid 120 for 5 after 20 overs.
In reply, our bowling attack were on fire and ripped through the top order leaving our opponents 3 down for 9 runs. St Margaret’s captain stood firm and threatened to win the game before McKinstry bowled her out for a brilliant 39.

Sandringham win by 29 runs!

E Owen 3 wickets for 16 off 4 and N McKinstry 3 for 4 off 9 balls were the pick of the bowlers.

Victory at Clarence Park

Congratulations to our Senior XI who sealed a 3-1 win over Roundwood Park to become District Champions once again.

As always, so proud of the grit and determination this team show and to see their love of the game pour through into everything they do.

Excited (again) to see what next season brings.

Standout performances from L.Small & A.Kirby secure them both players of the match.

District Friendly 2

Our second friendly of the season this week for Yr 7 and 9 who took full advantage of a competitive meet and performed well. We had a large number of debutants and some older students trying new events which saw PB’s for lots of athletes.

A special mention to A. Cofone who jumped English Schools entry standard of 1.72 in High jump.

Athletes of the meet:
Yr 7 G - I Boyle 
Yr 7 B - T Phillips 
Yr 9 G - F Poulogiannis 
Yr 9 B - J Ridgeway

Yr 10 Cricket Girls: Our first round in the brand new Knight-Stokes national competition (a national competition for state schools) went brilliantly as these girls beat both Beaumont & STAGS.

Game 1 - Beaumont

Winning the Toss and bowling first we kept Beaumont to 55 runs in 10 overs, taking 5 wickets in the process.
Some solid batting and some great running between the wickets saw us only lose 1 wicket at the end of our innings picking up the first Win!

Game 2 - STAGS

Losing the toss we were put into bat but Hodgkinson and McKinstry responded brilliantly by posting a massive 88 for the first wicket. This put us well on the front foot for the second innings and a very strong bowling performance all round saw us reduce them to just 44 runs.

Hodgkinson takes POM for 2 wickets, a catch and 45 run across both games 

Yr 11 County Plate Final

Our Yr 11 boys add a County title to their District one making their last year together a very successful one.

McCree put Sandringham ahead from a pinpoint Pentland corner after 25 mins. Tring stuck at it and looked threatening on the break but Anfield dinked the keeper to end any chance of a comeback. A 2-0 win and 5 trophies in 5 years for this squad.

It's been an absolute pleasure to coach these boys over the last 4 years, and we wish them all the best in the coming months. A really special team.

District Cup Success

This past Tuesday saw the 1st XI retain their District Cup title after an exciting final at Clarence Park. The boys led 2-0 early through some well worked goals before going into the break at 2-2. The second half saw our opponents Verulam take a 2-3 lead before the team levelled at 3-3. After a disallowed goal and extra time penalties followed. The boys converted our spot kicks and Jakub saved one of Verulams to see some tired legs earn the victory.

Thanks to all of those students and parents who came to support another epic final and District cup win to see Sandringham seal 5 out of the 6 boys competitions this year, which may well be a first in St. Albans and Harpenden for any school! 

More cricket and athletics on the agenda next week, with a mid week tennis fixture to keep the summer term flowing.

Excel in Dance!

The talented students from Excel Performing Arts perform in their brilliant spectacular annual show Excelocity. 

Excelocity will be an exciting and entertaining mix of performing arts including ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary dance, jazz, commercial street, hip hop dance as well as drama and singing. With dazzling costumes and fantastic choreography, Excelocity will be a show where the most amazing, special memories are made.

SIGN UP FOR WAITLIST TICKETS IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FIND TICKETS FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. 

Tickets will be allocated based on demand so we may not be able to offer more than 2 waitlist tickets per person. Regularly check your emails for updates regarding these tickets.

CMG Arts Present Dream Big 

Join us to celebrate their youngest students from CMG Arts as they take to the stage with their big dreams and spectacular stage presence.

Sunday 14th July - 11:00am and 3:00pm 

Book your tickets here.