French Exchange 2026-2027

We are delighted to launch the Sandringham French Exchange 2026–2027 with our partner school, the Jean Monnet Collège in St-Jorioz on the shores of beautiful Lake Annecy in France. This will be the 12th successful exchange between the two schools and promises to be another unforgettable experience for our students.

The exchange offers students the opportunity to develop their French language skills, experience everyday life with a French host family and take part in a range of exciting cultural visits. Previous trips have included visits to Annecy, Geneva, Lyon and the stunning Semnoz mountain overlooking the lake. French students will then visit St Albans in March 2027, where they will experience life at Sandringham and spend time with their English exchange partners.

The exchange is open primarily to students studying French in the current Year 8 and 9. However, this year we are opening it up to the current Year 7 which is a hugely exciting opportunity for these students to get involved. As this is an exchange programme, costs are kept relatively low and are expected to be approximately £450–£550 including travel, insurance and trips.

Families who are interested should look out for the ParentPay deposit request and accompanying questionnaire. The deadline for Application is Sunday 31st May.  

Please send any queries to trips@sandringham.aetrust.uk for the attention of Mrs Kincaid.

HOUSE POINTS

Shakespeare still remains in the top spot with no signs of letting up - can anyone take them on at this point?

1. Shakespeare 22, 259
2. Turing 20, 605
3. Fawcett 19, 255

Special mentions this week:  

• T Quirk (8T) - (12) – Most points this week
• T Tearle (7S) 307 - Highest scoring year 7
• M Altiganer (8F)- 255 - Highest scoring Year 8
• T Somers (9S) - 254 - Highest scoring year 9
• G Birkin (10s) - 185- Highest scoring year 10
• B Stevenson & W Magson (12F) 55 - Highest scoring sixth former
• 12S - Highest quiz score - 191/225
• T for most house points this week - 358

Spring Festival - This Weekend!

A reminder that this weekend, 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.

DofE Practice Expedition Success 

On Sunday 10th May, 152 members of Yr 10 embarked on their practice expedition.  After a couple of transport hiccups, all groups were on their way by mid morning. This is, in many ways, the most challenging expedition as, for many of our participants,  this is their first experience of expeditioning. Sunday’s weather was cool and dry with some glimpses of the sun. Groups walked on pre-planned routes in the Chilterns, with Green half starting in Whipsnade, journeying through Jockey End and Great Gaddesden and ending up at Hudnall Park, and Blue half starting in either Hyde Heath or Great Missenden, visiting The Lee and Cholesbury Common before arriving at Braid Wood campsite. There were some temporary misplacements as groups came to grips with the practicalities of compass and map work. Building effective teams is a key focus on this expedition and groups worked together to meet the challenges with which they were presented. In camp, tents were pitched, lots of pasta was cooked, along with hot dogs and marshmallows (not at the same time) and everyone was tucked up in their sleeping bags by 10pm as temperatures dropped.

Monday morning dawned with clear skies and a slight frost on the tents - this was an unseasonably cold night. Unfortunately, by mid-morning, skies were grey and a persistent drizzle set in which didn’t shift until mid-afternoon. This was a challenging day for many groups who were operating on not enough sleep and in cold conditions. However, staff were impressed with the resilience shown as groups pushed on through towards the finish points at Ley Hill and Northchurch Common. All groups successfully completed their adventure and have come away having learnt lessons about kit, map work and teamwork.

A massive thank you to the 16 staff who gave up their time and shared their expertise to support our students through their expeditions.

Only 3 weeks until we do it all again!

Mental Heath Services Directory 

It’s important for students, parents and carers to know that help and support are always available should you need it. Hertfordshire’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service Directory brings together a wide range of services that can provide help with emotional wellbeing, anxiety, stress, behaviour challenges and more. 

You can view and download the full directory here:Link

The directory lists a variety of services, including early-intervention and specialist support such as:

• School nurses and duty lines
• Counselling services
• Youth wellbeing support
• Mental Health Support Teams in schools
• Digital and online support tools
• Single Point Access for professional assessment and referrals
• and more to help when you need it. hwehealthiertogether.nhs.uk

There are also services you can contact directly without a professional referral, including free and confidential support for young people in Hertfordshire. So please don’t hesitate to reach out for support when you need it.

Summer Music Concert 2026 

We are delighted to announce that the Summer Music Concert will return this year on Tuesday 23rd June in the Sandpit Theatre at 6:30pm.

Join us for an evening of fantastic performances as our talented students showcase their musical skills across a variety of styles and ensembles. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of music and creativity.

Tickets will be available to buy via the Sandpit website shortly.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of musical delights.

Mental Health Awareness Week

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Mr Kemp led a whole school assembly focused on the theme of ‘Taking in the Good’.

With news and social media often dominated by negative stories, the assembly encouraged students to take a step back and recognise the many positive things happening across the world - from conservation successes and literacy projects to inspiring social and economic initiatives making a real difference to communities.

Students also enjoyed seeing Mr Kemp showcase his skills as a game show host throughout the assembly, bringing plenty of energy and humour to an important topic.

A thoughtful and uplifting assembly, reminding us all of the importance of perspective, positivity and looking after our wellbeing.

REFLECT – Summer Dance Showcase 

Students and staff have been working incredibly hard this term preparing for our upcoming summer dance showcase, REFLECT.

The show promises to be an exciting celebration of creativity, talent and performance, showcasing the dedication and passion of our dancers across the school.

Tickets go on sale from 9am on Wednesday 3rd June via The Sandpit Theatre website.

Save the date and we look forward to seeing you there!

May Half-Term Football Camp 

A May half-term football camp will be taking place at Bowmansgreen Primary School, where students are invited to take part in a range of football activities across the break.

Sandringham students can also receive 15% off bookings by using the code: ZONE5-15

See the attached poster for more details on dates and how to book.

Parenting Support Groups 

There are still spaces available on two online parenting groups delivered by Coram Family Lives - available sessions include:

• Getting on with your Pre-Teen or Teen
• Less Shouting, More Cooperation

These online groups are designed to support parents and carers with practical advice and strategies for family life and wellbeing.

Please see the attached posters for more information and details on how to book.

Dance Leader Success

Super proud of our Yr 9 Dance Leaders who for the last month have been leading weekly dance sessions with the Yr 5 students at Wheatfields Primary School. This has been a positive experience for both Yr 9s and those Yr 5 children, with the Yr 9s working towards their Level 1 Dance Leadership qualification and the Yr 5 students getting to experience what dance is like at Sandringham.

Well done for all your hard work.

We’re Hiring!

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

- Teaching Assistant 

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.

Celebrating Sir David Attenborough at 100

Congratulations to the telented Yr 12 Fine Art students, alongside the equally as talented Ms Gidden, who created a beautiful painted portrait of David Attenborough to celebrate his 100th birthday last.

The artwork was a wonderful tribute to Sir David’s incredible legacy and lifelong dedication to the natural world, with students showing fantastic creativity and attention to detail - a brilliant piece of collaborative work and a fitting way to mark such a special milestone.

Young Filmmakers Masterclass In St Albans

A reminder that 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.

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).

Hemel Storm Junior Basketball - Summer Term & Half Term Camp

A reminder that Hemel Storm Junior Basketball have their May half term basketball camp.

Sessions are available for both primary and secondary school-aged children, offering a great opportunity to develop skills, stay active and enjoy the game in a fun and supportive environment.

For more details on session times and how to book, see the attached poster or visit their website here.

Girls’ Basketball Club - New Opportunity for Yrs 7 - 13

A brand new girls’ basketball club is launching locally, offering students in Yrs 7 - 13 the chance to take part in consistent, fun and competitive basketball throughout the 2026/27 season.

The programme has been designed to support skill development and deliver a high standard of coaching, with ambitions of competing in the Junior NBL.

Welcome evenings and taster sessions will take place on:

Saturday 16th and 23rd May
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Queens’ School

Students joining the club will also have access to discounted camps and tours through their sports travel partner.

Check out the attached poster or please visit the website here for more information. 

The Mystery of The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Two young department store assistants solve a mystery when a priceless Russian treasure goes missing from a display.

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and mysteries around every corner. Wonder at the daring theft of the priceless Clockwork Sparrow! Tremble as the most dastardly criminals in London enact their wicked plans!

Gasp as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, break codes, devour iced buns and vow to bring the villains to justice...

Theo in Yr 9 comments: "This is a great book by Katherine Woodfine and it is great for anyone who loves crime or detective novels.
I really like how the story unravelled as I read more. I like the story line as it is interesting and keeps you hooked."

French: irritable

German: malhumorado/a

Spanish: reizbar

Thinking Question: Nouns in French, German and Spanish have a gender - how might this affect people’s perception of a word?

F is for… fractious [adjective]

Definition:  Irritable and quarrelsome.

Example: The fractious toddler refused to nap.

Synonyms:  Irritable, Grumpy, Unruly

Antonyms: Agreeable, Calm, Easy-going

Etymology: From Latin fractio, meaning “a breaking”, from frangere (“to break”).

Athletics dominates this weeks activities, with a sprinkling of tennis and cricket for good measure. Good luck to everyone involved - let's hope the sun reappears for you.

Yr 8 Cricket: This week the U13’s opened their cricket season with a convincing win over Verulam. Setting a score of 88-2 was enough to seal the win.

Great to see 2 debutants out on field, and we look forward to the next round, as well as the county quarter finals.

County Doubles

Three pairs took part in the U18 County Doubles this week. In tough conditions, the boys played some good stuff, cruising through to the quarter finals. Whilst our second pair lost to HABS (the eventual winners) the other two pairs battled it out against eachother with Hedge & Magson coming out on top to make the semi finals. Their journey came to an end with defeat to the other HABS pairing.

Well done to all involved.

County League Tables

Sandingham are in a strong position after R2!

Three out of four teams lead as we went into the half way meet this Wednesday. This week brought another tough test with each team coming up against another school in the top 4.

Let’s look to build on a great start.

T & F Cup

Our Inter squads competed in the county round of the National Track and Field Cup last weekend and were highly impressive against some strong schools. With the goal of making a regional ‘A’ final, both teams strived for PB’s and looked to gain as many points as possible from each of their two events.

The results of their hard work was a second place finish for both teams, with the inter girls just 6 points away from winning the round. We wait to hear about the regional final but the points totals should be enough for our inter teams to go through.

Well done to all involved, a great effort.

County League 3: CANCELLED

The weather got the better of us this week and our host meet had to be cancelled due to lightning. We made a good start winning all four hurdles races with others performing well in their field events. A shame for those that would have had a chance to try new events but we go again next Wednesday.

We will take the average score from our other meets. The scores would currently be as follows but may alter:

U14G - 51.5/60
U14B - 56/65
U16G - 58/65
U16B - 58.5/70

Track and Field cup is today for our junior teams - good luck to those competing.

AG Dance presents The World Tour.

Join us for an exciting journey around the globe featuring performances in street dance, ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. The show brings together students aged 4–17, showcasing their hard work, progress, and enjoyment of dance across a range of styles.

Sunday 5th July 

We’re pleased to be returning to the Sandpit Theatre and look forward to sharing this year’s performance with you.

AG Dance runs weekly classes in St Albans, offering a supportive environment for young dancers to develop their skills and confidence.

Book your tickets here.

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.

A Journey At The Theatre

Join Theatretrain as we take a trip around the world in 60 minutes.

Get your tickets here.