Much Ado About Nothing

The final week of last term saw great excitement with the Sixth Form production of Shakespeare’s joyful comedy ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

This production, set in the 1980s, involved fantastic contributions from students not just on stage, but also in student bands and on the backstage and technical teams, with students leading on important fronts including stage management, costume design, music direction and choreography. It was wonderful to see our students rise to the varied challenges of these creative and technical roles, as well as performing onstage with such flair and confidence. They really brought the characters, language and story to life and the audience responded warmly on both sell-out nights.

Phoebe, who starred as Beatrice, found the experience of learning to speak Shakespeare’s language interesting, as she details below:

“When getting to grips with the Shakespearean language, I discovered how technical and precise one has to be. When studying Shakespeare in English, it is important that you understand the meaning of the words, but when performing Shakespeare, the audience is introduced as a third party which also has to understand. Shakespeare uses a lot of innuendo – his audiences might have immediately understood the context and double entendres, but nowadays, the nuance has to be delivered more obviously through vocal intonation and physical actions.”

Huge congratulations to all involved!

Year 10 Work Experience – Can You Help?

As part of our Year 10 curriculum, students will be taking part in a work experience placement from 13 to 17 July 2026.

We are currently looking for placement opportunities and would be incredibly grateful for any support from our school community.

If you are a parent, governor, or staff member who may be able to offer a placement – whether in your own workplace or through a personal contact – please do get in touch. Placements can provide invaluable experience and insight for our students as they begin thinking about their futures.

If you are able to help, or would like more information, please contact Anna Kranwinkle (akranwinkle@csg.school).

Thank you for your continued support!

Maths Student of the Week

Lily 7R – for her consistently excellent attitude and effort in lessons. She always works extremely hard and frequently progresses on to the extension tasks, demonstrating a strong understanding of the topics we are studying. Lily contributes thoughtfully in class and is able to clearly explain her ideas and reasoning. She has been a real pleasure to teach. Well done!

DofE Students – Volunteering 

The students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) this year have taken on a diverse and valuable range of volunteering roles, with the school being a significant beneficiary of their efforts.

In-School Initiatives

Our Bronze and Silver Award students have been instrumental in the library, diligently working alongside the school librarian to organise and maintain a tidy environment.

In addition, our DofE equipment is now exceptionally well-maintained, thanks to the efforts of Silver students and one Gold student. Their tasks include:

• Cleaning and waterproofing boots in the Geography footwear store for the new outdoor season.
• Sorting and organising all waterproof clothing.
• Renovating older equipment in the DofE store.
• Cleaning maps for upcoming expeditions.

This crucial work ensures all participants can use the equipment effectively, demonstrating the practical impact of their commitment.

Community Impact

Beyond the school gates, four enthusiastic students have volunteered their time at the community allotments in Crouch End. They have acquired an impressive array of new skills, including cleaning rough buildings, painting floors, making wreaths, and pricing goods for a winter sale. Their future involvement will even extend to potato distribution. The students’ dedication is clear, and they are often rewarded with delicious buns from Dunns and sometimes homemade cakes for their hard work.

If you are aware of a useful, unpaid activity, DofE volunteers are still actively looking for tasks. Placements typically run for 3, 6, or 12 months. Please note that the time commitment must be met outside of holidays, which can sometimes extend the overall placement by a month or two. To offer a task, please get in touch with Garry Doyland, gdoyland@csg.school.

Supporting Your Child's A-Level Success
Y12 Parent Information Session (15/01/26)

Dear Year 12 Parents and Carers 

Towards the end of last term, Y12 students received the latest edition of our Learning How to Learn: The A Level Edition booklet and had two PSHE sessions exploring evidence-based study strategies.

We are pleased to invite you to an online information session where we will walk you through this valuable resource, helping you understand:

• The science behind effective revision techniques
• Practical strategies your child is learning to use (flashcards, brain dumps, knowledge maps, and more)
• How to support productive study habits at home
• Using AI tools responsibly to enhance learning
• The difference between effective and ineffective study methods

This is an excellent opportunity to familiarise yourself with the approaches we teach at school, enabling you to support your child better this year and next.

Date: Thursday, 15 January
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Format: Google Meet: (a link has been sent via email to Y12 parents)

The session will last approximately one hour and will include time for questions.

We look forward to working with you to help your child achieve their full potential.

Simon Flynn
Student Learning Coordinator