A Huge Thank You To Our Wonderful Teams

On Wednesday this week it was “Thank a Teacher Day”, and we want to say a huge thank you to all our incredible teachers and support staff, for the passion and commitment you bring to our schools every day.

We know it takes a whole community to educate, from early years to post-16, from the classroom to the school office, and from our site teams to volunteers - every single person plays a vital role in our student's learning and success.

As a team that inspires the next generation, we thank you for your dedication, and for everything you do for our schools and our students.

With our thanks and gratitude,

Mr Gray and Mrs Chapman 

Mr. Nicholls Takes the International Stage

A massive congratulations to our very own Mr. Nicholls, who has received an international call-up to the Canadian squad for their upcoming European tour.

This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Mr. Nicholls' dedication, talent, and hard work -  the school community could not be prouder.

Summer Music Concert 2026

Don't forget - next week is the Sandringham School annual Summer Music Concert.

This features all their choirs and instrumental clubs, including the ever-growing show choir, the famous jazz band, and sinfonia orchestra.

Tuesday 23rd June at 6:30pm

Tickets are on sale on the Sandpit Theatre website.

We’re Hiring

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

- Sixth Form Learning Mentor

- Casual Theatre 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.

Wicked Fun

On Wednesday this week, 75 students and 10 teachers had the incredible experience of going to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria theatre in London. After a successful train and tube journey into London we enjoyed a walk through Green Park and a picnic in the park. We then walked past Buckingham Palace for some selfies with the palace and guards, before reaching our final destination. The show was incredible and we all really enjoyed discussing the differences between the theatre show and the film, and also spotting all of the Easter eggs from the Wizard of Oz. For some students it was their first trip to the theatre in London and they were blown away by the live talent of the performers.

As staff, we were so impressed with the students throughout the day and their positive attitude despite the warm temperatures and walking involved.

Want to make a difference at Sandringham?

Please support FO$S (Friends of Sandringham School – Sandingham’s PTA)

Did you know that FO$S (Friends of Sandringham School) directly enhances the daily school life of every single student? From funding a new cricket strip and essential maths calculators to upgrading science equipment and even providing Mahjong sets, our fundraising brings exciting extras to our children’s education.

To make this happen, we host some of Sandringham’s favourite events, including the Christmas Fair, Pre-Loved Uniform Sales, the Year 7 Welcome BBQ, and running the school bar whenever there is a event that needs a bar!

But here’s the truth: we can’t do it without you.

Whether you want to join our core planning team, help lead our efforts, or simply lend a hand for an hour at an event, every single minute you can give makes a huge impact. We are a friendly, welcoming bunch, we love new faces, and we are always open to fresh ideas.

Get in touch today to find out how you can get involved - big or small!

friendsofsandringhamschool@gmail.com or Mr Nicholls via admin@sandringham.aetrust.uk to learn more and/or offer your support.

Pre-Loved Uniform Sale

Our PTA will be hosting a pre-loved uniform sale on Saturday 4th July, 10.00am - 12.00pm, held under the canopy near Main Reception. This is a great opportunity to pick up quality uniform items at reduced prices.

Donations can be dropped off at the box outside 19 Skyswood Road, AL4 9NY.

Thank you for your support.

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).

Hitting The Right Note 

Charlie in Yr 9 has been making some serious noise outside of school - and we mean that in the best possible way.

Charlie plays bass in local pop punk band Halfway, which formed just a few months ago and has already been making waves on the live music scene. The band have performed at under-18s showcases at The Pioneer and the Camden Club, and last week took to the stage at The Horn in St Albans for their Amplify night, which champions new and emerging artists. They were such a hit that they've already been invited back to play again.

Alongside performing covers, Halfway are also hard at work writing their own original music - so watch this space.

British Library Trip

On Thursday this week, our literary trip to London offered a brilliant window into how literature, architecture, and technology intersect. Starting at the Hardy Tree by St Pancras Old Church, we learnt about Thomas Hardy’s early life as an architect's apprentice and his work clearing gravestones to make way for the railway before embarking on his literary career. This provided a great backdrop for our discussion of St Pancras Station's Gothic Revival architecture, which reflected the grand aspirations of industrial Britain and the emerging middle class.

At The British Library, students explored the Magna Carta, Jane Austen’s handwritten notebooks, and a rare 1623 Shakespeare First Folio in the Treasures Gallery. After lunch at Coal Drops Yard, we explored the surrounding area to take in Central Saint Martins, the floating bookshop on the canal, and the oasis of Camley Street Natural Park. A final stop at Platform 9 3/4 wrapped up a fantastic day out that truly brought our curriculum to life.

Visual Arts E Week

This week our students have been creating paintings and pottery inspired by both Yayoi Kusama and Hundertwasser. Students worked exceptionally hard through the week and produced stunning outcomes in a relaxed environment.  Kate from Year 7 said that " I have really developed my skills in pottery and learning how to make a coil pot. It was really interesting - we were able to learn different techniques to create a robust design and I enjoyed decorating. We were all able to create different designs."

We would like to say well done to all of the students involved and we hope that they enjoyed the week as much as we did!

Summer Holiday Activities with Barracudas

Looking for fun, action-packed activities to keep your kids busy this summer? Barracudas offer a fantastic range of holiday clubs and activities - and as a school community, we have an exclusive discount to share with you.

Use code SANPTA26 to get £20 off your booking. Not only does this save you money, but a contribution from each booking also goes directly to our school PTA - so it's a great deal and great support for the school too.

For more information on activities and to book your place, visit their website here or call 01480 467567.

St Albans Half Marathon

A massive congratulations to all the incredible staff and students who took on the St Albans Half Marathon last Sunday.

As anyone who knows the local area will tell you, this is a notoriously grueling 13.1-mile course, packed with relentless ups and downs that test even the most experienced runners. To lace up your trainers and cross that finish line is a phenomenal achievement.

While we are still tracking down a few final names (we hear a group of our brilliant Yr 12 girls also smashed the course), we want to give a huge shoutout to those we know crossed the finish line:

Yr 12 Boys

• Conor K
• Harry W
• Jake E
• Jake R
• James H
• Oscar M
• Ross H

Teachers

• Mr Davis
• Mr O’Connor
• Mr Williams

Enjoy the well-deserved rest this weekend - your legs have earned it.

Making a Splash 

80 students had a fantastic day at Fairlands Waterpark in Stevenage.  After an unpromising start, the weather improved, as did spirits!

Students took out pedalos to navigate their way around the lake, and expended a lot of energy climbing on the inflatables – although they seemed to spend more time in the water!

They enjoyed racing each other on the inflatable assault course, and bouncing each other off. The highlight of the day was pushing Mr Nicholls in the lake (not our Head of School unfortunately).

Staff and students had a great time.

E-Week Payments Overdue 

A reminder to parents: please ensure that all E-Week related payments have been made via ParentPay by Today 19th June. 

The students have had a wonderful week exploring outside the classroom, as i'm sure you'll all agree.

Thank you to all the staff for making it happen.

Visual Arts Exhibition

 A reminder that the Visual Arts Faculty warmly invite you to come and see a selection of work presented from our Year 13 Visual Arts students who have just completed their examinations. The show will be an opportunity to view their Fine Art, Photography and Textiles work. The show is a great opportunity to come and see their outstanding work and we encourage all of our students to come and view their work, especially students who are currently completing exam courses in Fine Art, Photography or Textiles.

Tuesday 23rd June: 4.30pm - 6.30pm in the Visual Arts Studios

Sixth Form Induction 

We are really looking forward to welcoming students to our Sandringham Sixth Form Induction next week on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June.

Students are to arrive at the Sixth Form Centre between 8am and 8.15am on Wednesday 24th June, and no later than 8.45am on Thursday 25th June.

During induction you are expected to wear smart business attire, in accordance with the published dress code.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

National Portrait Trip 

Yesterday, a group of Yrs 7 - 9 students took to the streets of London for an action-packed day of culture, art, and iconic sightseeing.

The adventure began at Tottenham Court Road, where students were immediately treated to the vibrant, immersive digital light displays. From there, the group enjoyed a scenic walk over to the bustling heart of Covent Garden, taking some time to explore the street performers and market stalls.

The central focus of the day was a fantastic visit to the National Portrait Gallery, where students got up close with world-class art and history.The journey continued through Leicester Square for a well-deserved lunch break, followed by a historic march through Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall. Students got a firsthand look at British political history as they passed Downing Street, paused by the Cenotaph to pay their respects, and marvelled at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

To cap off an incredible day, the group crossed the River Thames for a sunny stroll past the London Eye - complete with a mandatory ice cream stop, of course! The marathon excursion wrapped up with a beautiful riverside walk all the way to Blackfriars station.

It was a brilliant, high-energy day out that truly brought history and culture to life outside the classroom. A huge thank you to all the staff and students who made it such a memorable E-Week trip.

Year 10 Work Experience: Students Shine on Placement at Skyswood Primary School

Our Yr 10 students have recently returned from their highly anticipated work experience placements, six of our students returned to Skyswood Primary School - stepping into the roles of educators, assistants, and role models.

From leading classroom activities to helping behind the scenes, our students gained invaluable professional insights while making a genuine impact on the younger pupils. Here is a look at what they achieved:

Rose M.

Rose jumped right into the academic side of primary education, splitting her time between helping pupils tackle their Maths work and supporting the teaching staff. Putting her digital literacy to excellent use, Rose utilised her computer skills to design vibrant Google Slides presentations for upcoming lessons. Reflecting on her placement, Rose shared how much she loved helping the younger children and how rewarding it was to apply her technical skills to support the teachers.

Gabs B.

For Gabs, this placement was a special trip down memory lane as she returned to her former primary school. She spent her week fully immersed in school life - reading with pupils in the library, participating in classroom lessons, and joining the school for assemblies. Gabs was thrilled to reconnect with her old teachers and Teaching Assistants from a fresh perspective. The experience made a lasting impact, officially inspiring her to pursue a career working with young children in the future.

Isla C.

Isla brought her energy and organisational talents to two massive primary school projects. She worked closely with the Year 6 pupils, helping them rehearse and prepare for their upcoming musical production, and then shifted gears to help organise and prepare promotional leaflets for the school's Open Evening. Isla described the week as a wonderful learning curve, noting that she loved working alongside the children and developed fantastic project management skills. The placement has inspired her to target a future career in child development.

Eva W.

Eva spent her week providing invaluable support to the youngest learners in the Nursery class, while also lending a hand with the organisational paperwork and leaflets for the upcoming Open Evening. Eva found the experience incredibly rewarding. Beyond the joy of working with the children and mastering the art of event organisation, Eva noted that the placement significantly boosted her confidence, communication, and interpersonal skills, cementing her desire to work with young children in her future career.

Joanne F.

Joanne hit the ground running, spending her week supporting pupils across both Year 1 and Year 4. She adapted beautifully to the high-energy primary environment and thoroughly enjoyed her time in the classrooms. Joanne shared a particularly heartwarming highlight from her week: a Year 1 pupil took the initiative to hold her hand and happily chatted with her about her weekend adventures. It is these moments of genuine connection that make work experience so meaningful.

Congratulations, Year 10! A massive thank you to Rose, Gabs, Isla, Eva, and Joanne for representing Sandringham with such maturity, dedication, and work ethic. You have shown excellent community spirit and proved yourselves to be fantastic ambassadors for our school!

French: juxtaposer

German: nebeneinanderstellen

Spanish: yuxtaponer

Thinking Question: Do you think languages should evolve naturally or do you think people should change languages to make them more efficient/universal?

A Secret of Birds & Bones By Kiran Millwood Hargrave

In an Italian city ravaged by plague, Sofia's mother carves beautiful mementoes from the bones of loved ones. But one day, she doesn't return home. Did her work lead her into danger? Sofia and her little brother Ermin are sent to the convent orphanage but soon escape, led by an enigmatic new friend and their pet crow, Corvith. Together they cross the city underground, following clues in bones up to the towers of Siena, where - circled by magpies - the children find the terrible truth...

A darkly beautiful historical novel featuring Kiran's trademark magical realism and an enthralling mystery.

Reviewed by Katerina, Yr 7

I really enjoyed this book because it is full of twists, mystery, and suspense. The story is exciting but also emotional at the same time, which made it hard to put down. I liked how the book focused on family secrets and discovering the truth, as it kept me guessing throughout. The magical touches made the story even more interesting and unique. Kiran Millwood Hargrave really knows how to bring the characters' feelings to life and make the reader care about what happens to them. I thought A Secret of Bird and Bone was a captivating book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, history and mystery.

Pride Month 

We’ve been celebrating Pride month in the LRC with our colourful display featuring many of the LGBTQ+ books we have available to borrow along with a number of fascinating facts, quotes and watershed moments in LGBTQ+ history. Thank you to Mrs Posner for creating such an eye-catching display. Please do pop up to the LRC and check out our fantastic book selection. Librarians are always available to help you find the book you want or even the one you didn’t know you wanted! We also have lots of great recommendations under Accessit Library Management on MySandstorm. This is where you can log in to your library page, browse our current collection, then reserve and collect books at your convenience.

J is for… juxtapose [verb]

Definition: To place things close together for contrasting effect.

Example: The exhibition juxtaposes modern art with classical sculpture.

Synonyms: Contrast, Compare, Pair.

Antonyms: Separate, Divide, Isolate

Etymology: From Latin juxta, meaning “next to”, and ponere, meaning “to place”.

District Athletic Champions 

What an incredible day for Sandringham Athletics last week.

Following the Senior teams’ fantastic achievement of securing the Boys’, Girls’ and Combined trophies back in April, it was the turn of our Yr 7 - 10 athletes to perform, and they certainly delivered.

Our students were outstanding in a highly competitive competition, delivering exceptional performances and rising to the challenge. This achievement was built on a true team effort, with every athlete playing their part in helping Sandringham claim the Overall District Trophy for only the second time in the last 30 years!

A huge congratulations and thank you to every athlete who represented the school - you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. The PE team certainly is.

A special mention goes to our Yr 10 athletes, who have led by example throughout the season and played a huge role in driving athletics forward at Sandringham. You are fantastic role models for our younger students and have set the standard.

Year 7 Boys – 1st
Year 7 Girls – 2nd
Year 8 Boys – 3rd
Year 8 Girls – 1st
Year 9 Boys – 1st
Year 9 Girls – 1st
Year 10 Boys – 2nd
Year 10 Girls – 1st

Girls Combined – 1st
Boys Combined – 1st
Overall Combined – 1st

An amazing achievement!

After a record breaking week in Athletics, our athletes have a bit of rest bite, giving Tennis and Cricket fixtures a chance to keep the sports calender rolling on through the summer term.

Inter Girls - NATIONAL FINALISTS

Three days on from our District success and our Inter girls have gone one better! This incredible group have qualified for the English Schools Athletics Association National Track and Field cup Final after finishing first in the Region.

Having qualified as the second highest team going into the final today, the girls needed to be at their very best. They managed a 27 point improvement on their previous round, securing 483 points in total and winning the round, giving them automatic qualification.

They have made history by becoming the first ever team from Sandringham to make a National Athletics Final. This takes place at Chelmsford athletics track on Saturday 4th July.

Proud is an understatement - Congratulations Girls, what an incredible achievement!

District Medalists

As official results have been released, it was incredible to see the impressive haul of medals from our athletes.

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Gold Medalists:

I Boyle (800m) 
I Ticehurst (High Jump) 
S Sharma (Hurdles) 
O Baker (Shot Put)
C Hardy (LJ & 100m)  
L Holian (LJ) 
I Chitty (Shot Put) 
H Posner (TJ & District record) 
P Hodgkinson (Jav) 
B Silveira (Shot Put & District record) 
R Bullivant (1500m) 
T Phillips (LJ) 
T Howitt (HJ) 
J Ridgeway (LJ) 
L Silcox (Hurdles) 
H Yang (200m) 
A Cofone (HJ)  
T Russ (400m) 
9B relay  
7G relay 
7B relay 

Silver Medalists:

L Sharma (Hurdles) 
I Ticehurst (200m) 
J Murphy (200m & HJ) 
A Dibbs (800m) 
H Yang (Shot put) 
G Russell-Jones (1500m) 
E Morrison (TJ) 
R Newton (PV) 
E Power (1500) 
H Posner (Hurdles) 
E White (300m) 
F Randall (Discus) 
O Daniel (300m) 
W Hunt (TJ)
T Russ (Discus) 
C Leith (800m) 
E Rance (100m) 
T B Richards (PV) 
T Howitt (Hurdles) 
H Regan (Shot put) 
F Rowland (1500) 
10G relay 
8G relay 

Bronze medalists:

A Dennis (100m) 
G Betteridge (Jav) 
T B-Richards (200m) 
C Lai (1500m) 
J Ridgeway (300m) 
O H-Bentley (Discus) 
S Selvamani (800m) 
N Foster (Hurdles) 
S B-Richards (Jav) 
J Parker (Jav) 
L Silcox (HJ) 
J Petre (Discus) 
9G relay 
10B relay 
8B relay 

All relay teams medalled which, again, is an outstanding achievement.

We are in awe of your commitment and achievements - huge congratulations to you all.

Junior Girls - T&F Cup

Our incredible Junior Girls qualified through the county round as the highest scoring team in the region. A brilliant achievement on its own.

Due to school trips next week, they were unable to attend the ‘A’ final so competed on Wednesday at the regional ‘B’ final instead. A good score on Wednesday was secured but probably not enough to make a National final this year. Promising future for these girls who will look to go one step further next season.

Focus turns to the District Champs and County League Finals.

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 are now on sale via The Sandpit Theatre website.

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

A Journey At The Theatre

Join Theatretrain as we take a trip around the world in 60 minutes on Sunday 12th July.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

Summer School Production of Alice in Wonderland

Cassana Performance Academy present this classic story on Sunday 2nd August.

Tickets are available on the Sandpit Theatre website

Limitless Academy of Performing Arts

After 2025's smash-hit, Sweeney Todd, Limitless Productions returns to St Albans with something a little more sweet!

Step into a world of pure imagination with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical - a dazzling stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic.

When young Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to the mysterious Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, he embarks on a fantastical journey filled with astonishing inventions, mischievous competitors, and life-changing lessons. Bursting with catchy songs, colourful characters, and magical surprises, this heartwarming musical celebrates imagination, kindness, and the joy of dreaming big—perfect fun for audiences of all ages. 

This amateur production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI: www.mtishows.com.

Tickets are available on the Sandpit Theatre website

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.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

A True Classic Feel-Good Show

Spotlight Dance and Theatre School presents Footloose!

To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated Top 40 score, augmented with dynamic new songs, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind.

To book your tickets visit the Sandpit website.

NCD Dance

This weekend - we're back again! 

Bigger and better than ever!

We're so excited to bring you our annual show once again, with the great music, choreography, and vibe you've come to know and love from NCD. This year is a collection of pieces we have been working on, so there is something for everyone.  We hope you'll love this show as much as we do. 

For tickets please visit the Sandpit website.

A Celebration of Dance 

Tomorrow, Gwen Hallam Dance proudly presents 'Dancing Through Life!'

Dancing Through Life is a celebration of movement, music, and imagination, showcasing the incredible talent of our dancers. Featuring an exciting mix of ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, and jazz, we will take you on a journey featuring graceful performances and high-energy routines, leaving you ready to dance!

To book you tickets visit the Sandpit website.