Important Reminder - Register with Splaat Photo for Student Portraits & Event Galleries

Following the letter sent out on Monday 14th September, this is a quick reminder to register your child on the Splaat Photo portal if you haven't already.

Registering creates a secure, private online gallery for your child so you can view and purchase their individual portrait pictures taken this year, as well as photos from upcoming sports fixtures, concerts, and general school events.

There are a range of different packages available to suit every budget, making photos accessible to all families - with no obligation to purchase.

How to Get Started:

Register Now: Visit register.splaatphoto.co.uk to set up your child's secure gallery (there is no obligation to purchase).

Special Early Bird Offer: Purchase Annual Access by 15th November 2026 for £79 (reduced from £245) to get full digital access all year, plus a complimentary Premium Print Package worth £149 (includes two 12x8", four 8x6", and four 6x4" prints). A 10% discount is also available for siblings.

For full details, visit the Sandringham Splaat Info Page.

For support, contact Splaat directly at team@splaatphoto.co.uk or call 02081335197 

HOUSE POINTS

Fawcett have managed to sneak into the top 3, with Elgar remaining on top for a second consecutive week.

1. Elgar 1,636
2. Newton 1,490
3. Fawcett 1,352

Special mentions this week:  

• E Rance (8S) - (19) – Most points this week
• D Bhardwaj (7J) - 39 Highest leading student
• F Smith (8J)- 36 - Highest scoring Year 8
• N Scales (9F) - 27 - Highest scoring year 9
• J White (10N) - 26- Highest scoring year 10
• S Rajab (11F) 17 - Highest scoring Year 11
• J Daly (12N)- 10 - Highest scoring Sixth Former
• Johnson for winning Staff tug of war
• Hepworth for winning boys house swimming
• Shakespeare for most students involved in year 7 Mob race

Local Resources & Opportunities for Families

We are always keen to share helpful local updates and support networks with our school community. This week, our wonderful SEND team has highlighted a range of practical guides, workshops, and opportunities available across Hertfordshire for parents, carers, and young people:

• Support Booklets & Local Training: Explore upcoming courses and family guidance provided by Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL).

• Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child: Access the new handbook published by Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI), packed with insights and advice for navigating support.

• SPACE Autumn Term Workshops: Take a look at the schedule of interactive workshops, webinars, and group sessions taking place throughout this term.

• SPACE Skills Academy: Learn about dedicated initiatives aimed at empowering neurodivergent young adults as they prepare for employment success.

We encourage you to take a look and click through the links above to see what might be helpful for your family.

Free Online Workshops - Supporting Children’s Wellbeing 

Hertfordshire’s Children’s Wellbeing team is offering free online workshops for parents, carers, and young people. These live, interactive sessions run via Microsoft Teams (no referral needed).

Upcoming Sessions:

Managing Adolescent Emotional Wellbeing (Ages 11–16) - Tue 3rd Nov (6.00 - 8.00pm)

Supporting Adolescent Self-Esteem - Mon 23rd Nov (6.00 - 8.00pm)

Self-Esteem & Resilience - Wed 14th Oct (6.00 - 8.00pm) Tue 8th Dec (10.00am - 12.00pm)

Sleep Difficulties - Tue 29th Oct (6.00 - 8.00pm)  Mon 14th Dec (6.00 - 8.00pm)

Developing Emotional Literacy - Wed 21st Oct (10.00am - 12.00pm)  Tue 10th Nov (6.00 - 8.00pm) Wed 16th Dec (10.00am - 12.00pm)

General Regulation & Wellbeing - Tue 6th Oct (6.00 - 8.00pm) Wed 18th Nov (10.00am - 12.00pm)  Tue 1st Dec (6.00 - 8.00pm)

Reserve a free place on the HCT Eventbrite Page.

The Puzzle of the Month is a Mathematics challenge run monthly now. This months 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).

Online Event: Supporting Network Security & Digital Learning at Home

Date: Monday 28th September

Time: 5.30pm - 6.00pm

Location: Online via Google Meet (link is in the poster)

To help support families with safe digital learning outside of school, we are hosting a short, practical online session focusing on internet security, safeguarding, and parental controls.

As part of our Google and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) framework, this 30-minute workshop will guide you through:

• Recommended settings and screen time
• Online safety considerations
• Practical steps to support healthy device use at home

Whether you want a refresher on managing screen time or need guidance on setting up device security, all parents and carers are warmly invited to join.

Radio Club Success

Paying homage to Mr Gray's beloved Radio Club, Evan from 10J studied for the Radio Society of Great Britain Foundation licence during the summer holidays and passed the exam last week. This allows him to have his own call sign to transmit on amateur radio and he is now eager to work towards the Intermediate licence.

Congratulations Evan - Mr Gray will be very proud of this great achievement.

Home Language Exams 2027

Every year we enter a number of students for a home language GCSE or A level exam. For example, if you speak Polish at home, you might be interested in doing the GCSE.

If you would be interested in completing a GCSE in your home language, please email into reception for the attention of Ms Baikie and Ms Bowman (Exams).

Students are only able to do the GCSE exam in Year 10 or Year 11, we do not enter younger students.

The deadline for expressing interest is Friday 9th October for entry in the Summer 2027 exams. No applications will be accepted after this.

Extra-curricular clubs and ensembles

Our extra-curricular programme is now in full swing and it has been fantastic welcoming lots of new members.

New members are still welcome to join and we are particularly keen to recruit some more string players for Sinfonia.

We also currently have space for orchestral percussionists on Mondays after school. No orchestral experience is required, just some sight reading ability and enthusiasm!

Join the St Albans Sleepout & Support Herts Young Homeless

We are calling on our school community - including staff, students, and families, to get involved in a powerful local event supporting Herts Young Homeless.

On Friday 13th November, the annual St Albans Sleepout will take place at Oaklands College. This event brings together people from across St Albans and Hertfordshire to spend one night sleeping outside, raising vital funds and awareness for young people in our local area facing homelessness.

Whether you sign up as an individual, get a group together, or sponsor those taking part, every bit of support helps.

To learn more about the event and register, visit the St Albans Sleepout Website 

Support for Families - Workshop on Self-Harm & Recovery

We understand that supporting a child or young person through difficult times can feel overwhelming - Carers in Hertfordshire, supported by Herts Mind Network, are hosting a dedicated online evening session for parents and carers of young people who have experienced self-harm.

Date & Time - Tues 6th October - 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Online via Zoom

Session Details - The session aims to provide a clearer understanding of self-harm, share practical strategies to support young people on their path to recovery, and give families a safe space to ask questions.

To reserve your place, please visit the Carers in Herts Self-Harm Support Booking Page.

Spaces are limited to 30 participants to allow for meaningful discussion, with additional requests added to a waiting list.

We’re Hiring!

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

- Cleaner 
- Careers Advisor
- Careers Co-ordinator

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.

Initial Teacher Training

Recruitment for the September 2027 Teaching Programme starts in the next few weeks, with applications opening on the 6th October.

If you are interested and would like to know more about being a trainee teacher, specifically at Sandringham, drop Admin an email FAO Miss Pitsillis: admin@sandringham.aetrust.uk

Celebrating Excellence - Annual Sports Awards Night

On Thursday evening, the PE Faculty hosted our annual Sports Awards at the Sandpit Theatre, and what a fantastic event it was.

The night was a wonderful celebration of our remarkably talented athletes across the vast array of sports discipline on offer here at Sandringham. From individual dedication to outstanding team achievements, it was a true privilege to recognise and celebrate everyone's hard work and success this year.

Huge congratulations to all of our award winners.

Event Photographs: Our new photography partners, Splaat, were on site capturing the highlights of the evening. Once registered on the Splaat portal, you can log in to view and purchase official photos of the event (once uploaded) and see your young athletes in action.

Getting to Know You: Welcome Mr James

We are always very happy to welcome new members of staff to our school community, and over the coming weeks, we will be running a regular 'Getting to Know You' feature so you can learn a little more about the new faces joining our team.

Kicking us off this week is Mr James:

- Name & Role/Subject: Mr James  - Design & Technology.

- Background/Previous School: Background in furniture design, studied Product Design at university before transitioning into teaching.

- What I’m most looking forward to at Sandringham: Getting stuck into the workshops, working with the students on creative hands-on projects, and settling into the community here.

- Likes/favourite things outside of school: Photography, Hiking and coffee. 

- One pet peeve or minor dislike: Slow walking people.

- Fun/surprising fact about yourself: Last summer I walked 500 miles across Spain.

If you see Mr James around school, make sure you say hello... and keep walking at a steady pace!

Great North Run Success 

A huge congratulations to Mr Ryan from our fantastic Site and Premises team, who tackled the Great North Run last weekend.

He completed the iconic half-marathon in a brilliant 2 hours and 19 minutes - an amazing achievement by anyone's standards. As you can see from his post-race photo, those post-finish-line endorphins (and a well-earned medal) were out in full force.

A massive well done from the whole Sandringham community, and we hope you haven't been rushed off your feet too much around school this week while you recover.

Girls Rugby at Verulamians RFC for Year 7

Verulamians RFC (located on the North Orbital ring road, opposite Aylett’s) is expanding its Girls Rugby section.

It is free to try, with both touch and contact options available for Year 7s.

Check out the attached flyer for session details and how to join in.

Sandringham Community Choir

Sandringham Community Choir, is a friendly choir for adults that meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

We cover a wide range of repertoire and new members are always welcome!

For more information, please contact Glenys on glenysv@gmail.com

Outstanding Cricket Success for Yr 7’s Lucy S

We love celebrating our students' achievements outside of school, and we were thrilled to hear some wonderful news about Lucy S, who joined us at Sandringham this term.

Following two weeks of intensive trials, Lucy has been selected for the prestigious Lord’s U13 Performance Programme. This selective training initiative supports ambitious young cricketers across the Home Counties by mirroring professional training environment - combining elite coaching, athletic development, performance preparation, and individualised technical and nutritional guidance. Making this achievement even more impressive, Lucy is playing a year ahead of her age group. 

A massive congratulations to Lucy on this fantastic accomplishment - we can’t wait to follow your progress on the pitch.

Staff Tug of War - Johnson Takes the Crown

Last Friday after school, staff gathered for one of the most highly anticipated events of the term - the Staff Tug of War.

The competitive spirit was out in full force as teams dug in their heels and gave it their absolute all. After some intense, hard-fought rounds, Johnson pulled through to claim ultimate victory. Huge congratulations to Team Johnson on a well deserved win, and for securing those all important House points.

A massive well done to all the other House teams who put up a fantastic fight. Better luck next year - and maybe start getting that training in now.

Free Hertfordshire Support Group - Parenting When Separated (SEND Focus)

Coram Family Lives is offering funded six-session online groups this Autumn for Hertfordshire parents navigating co-parenting and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Sessions cover practical strategies, co-parenting skills, and child development support, with access to Coram’s helpline and online resources.

Course Dates (MS Teams):

Morning Cohort: Tuesdays  Oct 13, 20 & Nov 3, 10, 17, 24  9.30am - 11.30am

Evening Cohort: Wednesdays  Oct 14, 21 & Nov 4, 11, 18, 25 7.00pm - 9.00pm

To book please register via the Coram Online Referral Form or email louise.voyce@coramfamilylives.org.uk.

Death at the Lighthouse by Alasdair Beckett-King

Bonnie Montgomery is the world's greatest detective. Something terribly fishy happens the moment Bonnie arrives on Odde Islands - and it's not just the smell of the harbour. There's been a mysterious death at the lighthouse, and almost everyone on the island is a suspect. Time for Bonnie to don a false moustache and assume her alter-ego of super sleuth Montgomery Bonbon!​​

Lauren P, Yr 7:

This book is the second book in the Bonnie Montgomery series by Alasdair Beckett-King. The story follows a clever ten-year-old girl named Bonnie as she solves mysteries. In this adventure, Bonnie and Grandpa Banks are on holiday on Odde island when a sudden death occurs at the top of Leerie Lighthouse on a dark and stormy night. This book is excellent for anyone who loves a bit of mystery and humour.

Reading for Sport 

Head over to downstairs K Block to check out our new display spotlighting sports books.

Sports titles are a huge favourite across all year groups - offering a brilliant entry point for non-fiction lovers, fast-paced fiction fans, and anyone who enjoys inspiring athlete autobiographies. Just like an athlete needs to train to stay at the top of their game, reading regular books helps focus and strengthen your brain.

Stop by the display this week for author recommendations across both fiction and non-fiction, and find your next great read.

We Love To Read

Our first display of the 2026/7 year has been made by our new Year 7 cohort as we welcome them to Sandringham’s reading community!

During their first library lesson the students were asked to make a note of their favourite book on a heart shaped post it note and discuss their choices. The students then posted their note on our display board and gathered some reading suggestions from their peers in the process. It was a great opportunity to talk to the students about the benefits of reading for pleasure and to encourage them to discuss all things bookish with us!

The recommendations have been collated on our Accessit and can be accessed by parents and students here.

French: prétentieux, prétentieuse

German: angeberisch, protzig

Spanish: ostentoso, pretencioso

Thinking Question: Why does Spanish have a word very similar to both French and English? What is the connection between those languages?

O is for Ostentatious (adjective)

Definition: Designed to impress or attract notice; characterized by pretentious or showy display

Example: They lived in an ostentatious mansion with marble fountains and gold fixtures.

Synonyms: Showy, pretentious, flashy, extravagant

Antonyms: Modest, humble, understated, simple

Etymology: From Latin 'ostentare' (to display), from 'ostendere' (to show)

Year 8: A tough opening game for the Year 8 Netball Team v's Chauncy. Despite showing some good netball, it was a loss at the final whistle. Lots to learn going forward.

OPM - Abbey D

CP - Iris I

Year 10: A great start to the season for the Year 10 Netball Team, who had a convincing win against Chauncy in the first round of the @schoolsportmag. 

OPM - Grace B

PP - Zara P

Year 10: A very tough game for the Year 10 Netball Team v's Roundwood Park. Some passages of play were excellent, but many mistakes cost us the game. Despite this, the girls kept fight till the end, and never gave up! We go again.

OPM - Mahli P

CPM - Amelie A

Year 11: A brilliant first win of the season for our U16 Performance squad in their SNS game.

POM - M. Wright for her defensive efforts.

Senior Girls: A good first round performance for the U19 Netball Performance Squad in the SNS National Cup - 61 -35 win against Highgate.

OPM - Emily S

CPM - Ella CL

Year 8 Girls: Well done to our U13 Girls who secured a fantastic victory on penalties against Chancellors. A brilliant team performance and incredible composure under pressure!

Year 9 Girls: Unreal start to the year for our U14 Girls Football team. A fantastic first win of the season, with the girls coming away with a 6–0 victory against Parmiters!

Senior Girls: The season kicked off this week with a friendly vs STAGS. Well done to those who got their first Sandringham & Senior minutes.

A massive well done to those students who represented at the first cross country meet of the year.

A number of student successes, notably, T Smith taking 1st in the JB, and P Smith taking 2nd in the JG.

Well done to all runners

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