Sandringham Music Tour Takes on Paris

Our wonderful Sandringham School Music Tour made it safely to Paris this week, and it looks like they have already been getting into the swing of all things French and musical!

The students are having a fantastic time performing and exploring the city. We can't wait to hear all about their adventures, so look out for a full write-up in next week’s newsletter.

In the meantime, you don't have to miss out on the action - head over to Instagram and follow @sand_artsteam to see all of their brilliant live updates, photos, and videos straight from Paris.

Supporting Young People’s Mental Health: Free Online Workshop

We know that many families are seeking guidance on how to navigate young people's mental health and suicide awareness. With these vital topics becoming a bigger part of the conversation from September, many parents are looking for ways to have confident, safe conversations at home.

To support our community, The OLLIE Foundation is hosting a free online workshop specifically for parents and carers.

• Wednesday 15 July 2026  7.30 pm – 8.30 pm
• Online (Free via Zoom)

This supportive, interactive, and non-judgmental session will help you:

• Feel more confident talking to young people about mental health.
• Recognise signs that a young person may be struggling.
• Respond safely and compassionately.
• Learn simple, evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention.

There will also be a safe space to ask the OLLIE team any questions you may have. It's really important that we can equip ourselves with the tools to support our young people when they need it most.

We’re Hiring

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

- Student Services Administrator 

- 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.

Musical Success On The Piano

This week we are able to celebrate the achievements of Edward T in Yr 8 for his outstanding musical achievements.

Edward has had a brilliant run of success lately, recently achieving an Excellent Merit in his Grade VI Piano exam. This follows a near-perfect score of 73 out of 75 (a Distinction) in his Grade V Music Theory exam earlier this year.

He will be playing his violin in the Mid-Herts Music School concert this Saturday, and you can also catch him back on the piano this Monday, where he will be performing alongside his friends in their band, The Splinters, at our upcoming Open Day.

Congratulation Edward!

Pre-Loved Uniform Sale

Our PTA will be hosting a pre-loved uniform sale this weekend 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.

Both cash and card will be accepted on the day.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Engineering Excellence 

Year 8 attended a careers assembly on careers in engineering on Tuesday this week.  Amanda Evison from Sir Robert McAlpine spoke to the students about the different types of engineering and range of skills needed in the industry.  While maths and physics are particularly helpful if you are keen to become an engineer, Amanda was keen to stress that their organisation looks for applicants with a wide variety of skills, for example, in project management. 

Huge thanks to Amanda and well done to Year 8 for listening intently during the assembly.

A Spectacular End to 'Fit for Life' Week

What a fantastic way to wrap up an incredible Fit for Life Week - today, our school community came together for our annual charity run, and it’s safe to say everyone went the extra mile.

As you can see from the photos, there were some pretty spectacular outfits on display. While we’re not entirely sure how aerodynamic a shark or panda suit costume is for long-distance running, they definitely brought massive smiles and a brilliant spirit to the entire event.

A huge well done and thank you to every student and staff member who took part, cheered, or donated today.

It was the perfect, high-energy finish to a wonderful week of health, fitness, and community.

An Artistic Visit

Last week we had a busy arts week which featured a visit from a local professional artist, Mandy Johnson.

Mandy worked with some art students across Years 8-12 to paint a large Mural which will be installed outside the Art block.

The mural is in Mandy's unique colourful and joyful style. Her design celebrates the 3 subjects we offer at GCSE and A-level which are Fine Art, Photography and Textiles.

We are very Grateful to Mandy for giving up her time - please do come and have a look if you haven't already.

Sixth Form Preloved Uniform Appeal

As our wonderful Year 13's prepare to move on to their next big chapter, and as Year 12 continue to rapidly sprout out of their business attire - we are launching our end-of-year preloved uniform donation.

If you have any Sixth Form appropriate business wear that still has plenty of life left in it, we would absolutely love to take it off your hands.

When: Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July

Where to drop off:

• Parents/Families: Please drop donations off at the Main School Reception and label items as Sixth Form
• Students: Feel free to bring items to S Block

All donations of suits, blazers, trousers, skirts, and shirts are gratefully received.

Thank you so much for helping us support our school community and keep our students looking sharp!

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).

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.

Year 12 Fine Art London Trip

On Friday 26th June our Year 12 Fine Art students visited the record breaking Frida Kahlo Making of an Icon exhibition at The Tate Modern.

Frida was a ground breaking Mexican artist whose deeply personal work explored identity, culture , disability, pain and resilience with remarkable honesty.

We then visited the Portrait award at The National Portrait Gallery. This exhibition was really stunning and inspirational for our young painters.

Sports Day 2026: The Highlights

Once again, a massive congratulations to Shakespeare on their epic Sports Day victory this year.

It was an unforgettable day filled with incredible team spirit, fun, and competition across all houses - check out our short highlights video of the day to relive the action.

An Introduction to Cambridge 

In early June some of our Yr 12 A-Level Economics students chose to undertake the inaugural Cambridge University Economics Challenge competition.  This is a competition open to students across the country which involves a 75-minute written paper, “set by Cambridge economists, drawing on the tradition of Marshall, Keynes, and Robinson, and designed to reward the kind of thinking the discipline actually asks of you.”  It is targeted at students who aspire to study Economics at university and stretches students with undergraduate-level problems combining their Economics and Maths skills in ways that they have not previously experienced.

Certificates have now been awarded to the best performers - 24 Sandringham students gained Sovereign (Gold), Crown (Silver) or Mint (Bronze) certificates, which were only awarded to the top 60% of the nearly 2000 entrants across the country.  7 Sandringham students gained Sovereign (Gold) certificates, putting them in the top 10% of entrants nationally.

Congratulations to all the students who participated.

Sports Day 2026 Champions

What an absolutely incredible Sports Day this Wednesday! A massive well done to every single student who took part - all of our houses brought maximum energy, team spirit, and determination to make the whole day fun and incredibly exciting.

But a huge congratulations goes to Shakespeare, who walked away with the crowning glory as our Sports Day 2026 Champions!

You all did your houses proud!

Jed Greenleaf by Kieran Larwood

Albion city is governed by a puppet queen, secretly controlled by Oliver Cromwell, and strange magic is afoot as six Guilds all compete to rule it. Although the Leaf Guild is the weakest, no one has reckoned with newcomer Jed Greenleaf's extraordinary ability to transform into a half-tree, covered over with bark...he just needs to learn how to harness that power.

Could he be the hero that the Guild needs to win at the Punchbowl tournament? It just might be that this year Jed can turn over a new leaf in the history books, and bring glory to the decaying Guild and peace to Albion....

Reviewed by Theo S, Year 9:

"Jed Greenleaf is a great adventure book with a great description. This book follows a boys' adventure and the story kept me hooked as it flowed nicely and had a great storyline."

French: morose

German: schlecht drauf

Spanish: taciturno/a

Thinking Question: Why might learning some languages be or feel easier than others?

M is for… morose [adjective]

Definition: Sullen, gloomy, or ill-tempered.

Example: He grew morose after hearing the disappointing news.

Synonyms: Gloomy, Sullen, Miserable 

Antonyms: Cheerful, Upbeat, Optimistic

Etymology: From Latin morosus, meaning “peevish” or “wayward”.

National Finals Bound

A massive congratulations to Luke C for an outstanding performance at the Regional Combined Events Championships.

Competing against top talent, Luke delivered some massive performances - smashing several PBs to secure a fantastic 2nd place finish and qualify for the National Finals this September!

Beyond his brilliant results, Luke is a fantastic role model for all Sandringham athletes, demonstrating what dedication and hard work can achieve.

Well done on another incredible weekend - we are all rooting for you at Nationals!

International Basketball Victory 

An impressive congratulations to Alex C, who put on a fantastic performance representing the England basketball team over the weekend.

Alex and his teammates cruised to a dominant victory against Ireland. It is always a proud moment to see a Sandringham student competing on the international stage.

Fantastic work, Alex - well done on a brilliant win!

AG Dance presents The World Tour.

This weekend, 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.

Keep Dancing...

A heartfelt celebration of family, friendship, and 46 years of Dance Unlimited.

Through music and theatre, our young performers share the joy of friendship, reminding us that life is always a little brighter and a little better when we’re dancing together.

Sunday 19th July 2:30pm.

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

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.

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