The day began with a self-guided tour of the factory, where students explored the fascinating history of Cadbury and the evolution of chocolate. Highlights included tasting chocolate with their favourite toppings and participating in hands-on activities such as piping and chocolate tempering under the guidance of Cadbury’s expert team. Students also observed the production process live, including a special demonstration of chocolate being prepared for Halloween. Additionally, they enjoyed an adventurous journey in the 4D cinema experience. Beyond the fun, the tour provided valuable educational insights into the operations of an international business.

Following the tour, students attended an educational marketing session focused on the Marketing Mix. They explored how Cadbury applies the 4Ps; Product, Price, Place, and Promotion to expand its product lines.

The session also examined historical Cadbury products, their life cycles, and extension strategies. Students evaluated competitors, advertising campaigns, and social media initiatives while gaining practical experience in research, data analysis, and SWOT analysis. The discussion illustrated how Cadbury uses strategic frameworks to achieve marketing objectives across multiple channels and international markets.

Before departing school and travelling to the theatre, students had a talk about expectations and theatre etiquette before being organised into their coach groups. 

As students begin to think ahead to Key Stage 4 and what they might like to do Post 16, we ensure a lot of guidance and support is put in place for students as they consider their GCSE and vocational options.

Students experienced a range of sessions including financial literacy- budgets, credit and debt led by the maths department, covering letters and formal letter writing led by the English department, and looking at social media profiles- the dos and don’ts.

This relaxed and informal event will take place on Thursday 19th March from 1:30pm-2:30pm in our Lower Level Canteen.

Parents and carers are warmly invited to pop in, enjoy refreshments and cake, meet key members of staff, and connect with other families who will be joining the Stewards community. The event is designed to help families begin building relationships with the staff who will support their child’s wellbeing, pastoral care and education over the next five years.

There will be no presentations and no expectations — simply an opportunity to visit, chat and start the transition journey together.

We look forward to welcoming you.

We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming you to our school community. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and we cannot wait to see you grow, thrive and achieve with us.

To our new students and their families — welcome. We’re so proud you’ll be joining the Stewards family, and we look forward to meeting you very soon!

PACT for Autism is a small charity based in Harlow, dedicated to connecting neurodiverse families, people with autism of all ages and the wider community across West Essex.

They have built links with the community and services over many years, working and advocating to promote acceptance, knowledge and strong working relationships.

Their aim is to improve living, working, social and leisure opportunities for people with autism of all ages and their families.

2^nd October 9.15am

9th October 9:15am

If you would like to attend a tour, please email openday2025@stewardsacademy.org 

There are fourteen awards, with titles such as "Primary School Teacher of the Year", "Teaching Assistant of the Year", "Secondary School of the Year" and "Nursery Provision of the Year". This year there were over one thousand four hundred nominations made for the fourteen awards. 

Our amazing Head of Maths, Mrs Woolley, was nominated for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School. This is a very popular category and attracts around one hundred nominations. Mrs Woolley was selected to be in the final three for the award by the judging panel and was one of two “Highly Commended” awards. 

Mrs Woolley's nomination highlighted her "strong and impactful leadership on the maths department at Stewards". It recognised the "successful raising of standards in the maths department over the last two years", as well as "the provision of a wide range of opportunities for students to extend their maths knowledge and practice". Finally, she was nominated for "her relentless and selfless dedication to delivering the best possible teaching and learning experience for students at Stewards". 

Mr Drew, Headteacher, said: “Stewards Academy is immensely proud of the fully deserved recognition that Mrs Woolley has received in these prestigious awards. It was an absolute honour to attend and to share this special moment with a wonderful colleague. Well done Mrs Woolley!” 

Thirty-five students and staff, travelled to London to watch the show on a sunny April day. Prior to the performance, they were able to enjoy the sights along the Thames as they sat outside to eat lunch.

‘Dear England’ focuses on Gareth Southgate and his time as England football manager. It also explores the impact of football at the time on the country and the significance of the team as part of a long line of England squads.

Stewards Academy students joined hundreds of other students in the National’s Olivier Theatre and represented the academy superbly. They enjoyed seats in the stalls which provided an excellent view of the stage. Some students were also lucky enough to receive high fives by some of the actors as they ran past!

One student said: “I wasn’t sure about going to see the play originally, but I thought it was brilliant! The way the stage was created, the emotions of the actors was just great. I loved it.”

Mrs Lysons, trip leader, said: “’This was an amazing production and a great opportunity for a diverse range of students to get to watch a great show. They were all fantastic ambassadors for the school and a privilege to take.”

Mrs da Vighi, Head of Performing Arts, said: “I was unable to attend the original trip but after hearing the fantastic feedback I knew that I had to go and see it too. This play really made me think about the impact that Gareth Southgate had on changing attitudes and feelings both within his own squad, and within the country as a whole. I found this play inspiring and one of the most powerful bits of theatre I have seen for a long time. I would recommend it!”

Heads of House nominated students from Years 7-10 for COURAGE awards recognising achievements in the school values of Confidence, Opportunity, Unity, Resilience, Appreciation, Generosity, Enjoyment. For Year 11, each subject had two prize winners, one for academic excellence and one for academic progress. There were also a number of COURAGE award recipients including those for 100% attendance over five years, commitment to performing arts and sports, recognition of the number of subjects they had been nominated for. Our final award of the evening was in honour of a former Chair of Governors, Gordon Hewlett. This award was presented for citizenship to one of our students.

The evening was hosted by senior students with speeches by Stephen Drew, Headteacher, and guest speaker Marie Erwood MBE.

Marie Erwood, former deputy headteacher of Stewards Academy and current governor, spoke of role models and the importance of following the right people. It was an inspiring speech and touched the hearts of those listening.

Certificates and prizes were presented by our Chair of Governors, Tess Miller and supported by Jo Bartlett.

Awards were interspersed by some of our talented musicians including year 10 students, Hayden Lawless, Ivana Miksovic, Lara Miksovic and Ambra-Otilia Popa, and our wonderful year 11s Lena Cichonczyk and Grace Dell.

Mrs da Vighi, event organiser, said: “I am grateful to everyone who helped make this evening so wonderful. Lots of work has gone on behind the scenes to prepare for the event and make it special for our young people and their guests. It is always one of the highlights of the year and next year will be an even bigger event in the autumn term. My thanks to Michael Casey who came along in support and filmed the event for us, the film is in our YourHarlow channel.”

The plot is centred on Jack (Hayden Lawless) selling this soul to the devil via Lady Marmalade (Ivana Miksovic) for success.

This was a real ensemble piece, both on and off stage, where every member worked so hard to make this show a success.

One has to remember that this isn’t the only thing going on in the lives of pupils and staff. Whether it is their exams, extra curricular commitments or just that life stuff, they all put so much heart and soul into this production.

There are many standout moments but overall, it is the quality of the choreography. At times there are over thirty members on stage. It takes great skill to have them synchronised and styled perfectly. Well done to choreographers and dancers alike.

Yes, Disco Inferno has hit after hit but that is quite a challenge for young people to match the classics.

All the main actors are really exposed out there. And they were outstanding.

What the cast also do is really make their characters their own. Whether it is Hayden as Jack or Jane as Grace. They all really go underneath the personalities.

There were also serious issues on display here. Lara was excellent as Kathy.

We must also pay tribute to Sam Nottingham as Tom. He is a little comedy master and has a way of delivering killer lines.

It is strange to think of some Year 11 pupils as veterans but that is what you think when you see Duke (Richard Seabridge) and Heathcliffe (Lena Cichonczyk).

But we return to the music and how well they delivered such classics as “Celebrate”, “Street Life” and “I Will Survive” but there was also seventies classics such as Crocodile Rock, “I Will Survive” and Pop Musik.

Again, Grace’s rendition of You To Me Are Everything was outstanding.

A special mention to costumes (Di Patch), who did a remarkable job. Never had their been so much velvet and flares at Stewards since…1976!

The whole performance smelt of the seventies and the students gave their all.

Again, it was great to see a live band play. They just added to the authenticity.

Oh, and this reviewer has just joked at the Einstein joke again.

In conclusion, thanks to director Abbie Martin and her team for bring us all back to a golden age of music and to velvet trousers, platforms and Ford Capris.

But well done again as so many young people got a chance to perform on stage and learn so much as part of a great production.

Each student was given a bespoke timetable for the day, and they got to experience four different sessions. Stewards has 25 subjects available to choose from this year, spanning across the arts, humanities, languages, science, sports, technology, as well as introducing vocational subjects and those taught at GCSE only including business studies, computer science and sociology.

One student said: “This was the best day ever! I really enjoyed trying out all the subjects I want to take next year.”

Another student said: “Thank you for organising this day. It has been amazing! I definitely want to take all the subjects I’ve tried.”

The next stage of the options process will be an interview with senior staff before students make their final choices.

Mr Drew, Headteacher, said: “We want to support our young people to make the best choices for them. Opening up the options process earlier and allowing them to select from a broader range of options is enabling them to start taking ownership of their learning.

“This process is fully structured with lots of support and guidance along the way for students, parents and carers.

“The students fully embraced their taster day opportunity, and it was wonderful to hear about their experiences of the day.”

The Rising Futures Programme is an exclusive opportunity offered to eighteen selected Year 9 pupils who have been identified as deserving of a chance to develop their leadership potential, broaden their horizons, and focus on their future careers and aspirations. This intervention is led by the inspiring Verity Walsh, whose dedication to the personal development and success of every pupil is truly unmatched. Known for her selflessness, compassion, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people, Verity’s leadership ensures that every participant feels supported, valued, and empowered to reach for their dreams.

Mrs Annetts, a dedicated teacher at Stewards Academy, accompanied the group on their inspiring trip to the Outdoor Pursuit Centre in Harlow, bringing her enthusiasm, encouragement, and support that motivated pupils to step out of their comfort zones and embrace every challenge. Lisa reflects on an unforgettable day and recounts how the pupils faced their fears and grew in both confidence and resilience. 

Local theatre performances

“Watching these students, many of them shy and unsure in school, collaborate and support one another was incredibly rewarding,” Lisa shared as she reflected on the morning’s team-building activities.

Later in the day, she witnessed a remarkable transformation during the climbing activity: “With each climb, I watched their self-doubt transform into pride. Their faces lit up with excitement as they reached the top, cheered on by their friends.”

Even the challenging weather didn’t dampen spirits during canoeing. “At first, there were a few wobbles and uncertain paddles, but soon they were working together, laughing as they steadied their boats,” Lisa recalled.

By the end of the day, Lisa was deeply moved by the students’ growth: “The transformation was clear—they had gained confidence, tried something new, and built stronger connections with one another. It was humbling to see how powerful hands-on experiences can be in shaping a young person’s growth.”

Mrs Hinds, the former Head of Year for this exceptional cohort and current Head of Fortitude, has been a steadfast champion for the students, known for her dedication to their success both in and beyond the classroom, and recently joined the group on an inspiring trip to the World of Work event at the Royal Engineering Army Barracks. She fondly described the importance of the experience, recounting how the students were given an exciting opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the essential work performed by the military engineers and witness the cutting-edge technology used by specialist forces.

“Our students had an incredible opportunity to visit the Royal Engineering Specialist Barracks, where they gained firsthand insights into the vital work of military engineering,” Mrs Hinds shared. 

The day was filled with hands-on experiences, from handling advanced IT equipment to engaging in practical demonstrations. “All students engaged in welding using milk bars to build a bridge and took part in interviewing several managers in their specialist field,” Julie explained.

Julie noted how the visit inspired many students to consider future careers in engineering, technology, and the armed forces. “One student shared, ‘It was amazing to see how engineering plays a role in defence and problem-solving!’” 

Julie also expressed her gratitude to the personnel at the barracks, saying, “A huge thank you to the personnel at the Royal Engineering Specialist Barracks for their warm welcome, informative sessions, and inspiring demonstrations.”

Behind the scenes, Miss Dorling and Mrs Goddard ensured the success of The Rising Future Programme with their essential administrative support and would like to express their pride in this cohort of pupils who showed tremendous courage and commitment throughout the programme, embracing every challenge with determination. 

Miss Dorling added that, “We are incredibly proud of the students’ efforts and are excited for their continued growth. We look forward to carefully selecting the next cohort of pupils who will have the opportunity to benefit from this inspiring programme. Lastly, we would like to extend a huge thank you to both Mrs Hinds and Mrs Annetts for supporting the students with care and enthusiasm, and a special thank you to the dedication expressed by Verity Walsh throughout the programme.”

As a community, Stewards Academy is incredibly proud of all the pupils involved in the Rising Futures Programme, celebrating their achievements and growth as they continue to thrive. 

One of our Jack Petchey Achievement Award winners, Daisie, decided to use her award money for this wonderful opportunity. 

Daisie had a clear vision for the purpose of the day and helped take a leadership role, following a planning and training session.

Over thirty students from Years 7-11 took part and they explored dance skills and techniques before learning both street and contemporary dances. Participants were members of dance club and/or those hoping to take GCSE Dance as an option. 

Kerri-ann Trowsdale, Dance Fusion, said “It was fantastic watching the students grow in confidence with the different styles throughout the day. All of them showed great commitment and attitude to everything we asked of them. I am so pleased that we were able to work with the students for a longer session and see their development.”

Mrs da Vighi, Head of Performing Arts, said “All of the participants thoroughly enjoyed the day and were a credit to the academy. Our work with Dance Fusion has developed over the past 15 years and as former Stewards students themselves, Kerri-ann and Shanice are an amazing inspiration to Daisie and all the participants. I look forward to seeing what we collaborate on next!”

Please keep an eye on your post as your welcome pack will be sent to you at 12pm on 3rd March 2025. 

Our annual Christmas Fete was held on Friday 6th December with lots of brilliant stalls including cakes, a raffle, tombolas, Christmas gifts, glitter tattoos, Christmas cards and decorations, and many more! Members of the school choir also provided entertainment throughout the event. The fete is a fantastic way of bringing the community together with staff, students and their families in attendance. All money raised goes back into the school community and hampers are prepared for those in need.  

The following week, Andrew Saunders and his catering team were busy cooking and serving up delicious Christmas dinners throughout the week. Each group had the chance to have Christmas dinner on a different day with an extended lunch to enjoy and savour their food. 

Year 7 had the opportunity to experience Science Christmas Lectures for the day, led by the wonderful Science team. One member of the department said how it is “the best day of the year” where students are able to explore a range of topics. The students had a great day and lots of fun. 

All students had the opportunity to participate in celebratory end of term house assemblies. Each assembly had lots of praise, certificates, rewards and performances to say thank you and well done for the term’s work. The students from each house that achieved the gold number of achievement points also had the opportunity to participate in a rewards afternoon with pizza, film and other activities.  

On the last day of term there was joy in the air and this was shared amongst the whole staff and student body as we participated in Mr Drew’s Christmas sing-along during an extended break. Mr Drew said: “Christmas songs are a joyous part of the season, and having the chance to be part of a community singing event is something we all benefit from. It is so important that our young people get the chance to just enjoy being children and having fun with their friends…There was singing, dancing and general fun had by all. Listening to hundreds of young and old voices belting out Christmas songs is the perfect end to 2024 at Stewards.” 

Kick-starting the term, in November, was "a strong and striking production of Macbeth" performed at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon, as part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival. This was the first time students had 'trod the boards' since 2019 as part of the festival and it was brilliant to do so once again.  

A fortnight later it was the turn of dance and students from all year groups performed at 'An Evening of Dance'. This was a collaboration with Dance Fusion, a local company that run our weekly dance club. The evening showcased a mix of taught performance pieces and student choreography. 

The following week we were excited to have the culmination of the London Musical Theatre Orchestra project. Fifty-five Key Stage 3 students participated and were introduced to an instrument over a six-week project. They then performed alongside the professional musicians to an audience of family and staff. Students are encouraged to continue with music tuition lessons and participate at the next event in the summer term. 

The drama department were lucky enough to attend 'The Importance of Being Earnest' schools’ matinee performance at the National Theatre, London. Thirty students from Years 9, 10 and 11 attended and had an amazing time sitting in the front two rows of the stalls. We also seized the opportunity to explore the National further on a fascinating backstage tour.  

Another trip followed, this time to The Playhouse, Harlow to see the fantastic Dick Whittington pantomime. Over two hundred students from Years 7 and 8, accompanied by eighteen staff members, got to engage and enjoy the wonders of the stage, brilliant technical aspects and fabulous performers.  

Last but certainly not least, was our annual Christmas Concert. This was an excellent showcase of students from all years, some performing for the first time on the Stewards stage. The evening started with some pieces distinctly less 'Christmassy' but that captured the work of the term before transitioning into some festive cheer with the choir, bands, piano, flute and soloists to name some!  

Di da Vighi, Head of Performing Arts, said: "It has been an incredible term in the performing arts department with a real buzz and sense of purpose. The positivity amongst the team is infectious and even after the busiest days and weeks, we thoroughly enjoy working with the students in enrichment activities. In amongst all of the events this term rehearsals have also been ticking along in the background for our main production of 'Disco Inferno' that takes place in the Spring Term. I'm proud to lead a team where 'team work truly does make the dream work!' 

Stephen Drew, Headteacher, said: "Students have shown their dedication and commitment through a range of activities. It is wonderful to see them embracing their passions, showing their resilience and determination and representing the academy so wonderfully. Well done and thank you to everyone involved." 

Students were able to make donations in exchange for wearing their own clothes for the day, and staff had the opportunity to be students for the day and wear school uniform. With exemplary uniform expected, staff were checked carefully by the students and informed if they had any infringement! One ‘student’ was excused his trainers on this occasion as he had a note from a parent. 

Mr Naunton, house coordinator, led a whole quiz during morning prep with participants and winners gaining house points. This was a good practice for the forthcoming end of term festive quiz. 

In the lead up to Children in Need, charity representatives sold Pudsey pins, pens and raffle tickets for the Pudsey bear raffle. Great anticipation and excitement as the raffle tickets were drawn by Mr Drew at the end of the day. There were lots of happy faces as the 16 Pudsey bears were won! 

Stephen Drew, Headteacher, said: “The lead up to Children in Need and the activities on the day, are a testament to the Stewards Academy community and their commitment to supporting such a great cause. We raised a total of £744 and everyone that participated should feel proud of working together to do so. My thanks to all those involved.” 

As part of this award the team worked to create an idea which encourages people to exercise and charge electronic devices at the same time. The ‘Bio Bike’ uses pedal power to charge phones and other electronics while people exercise.  

The Stewards Academy ‘Bio Bike’ team finished second in the regional ‘Solutions for the Planet’ final at the University of East London and received special commendation for their ideas and presentation at the National Final hosted by the Science Museum in London in July 2024.  

Paul Hickman, Subject Leader for Geography, said: “Mr Vince was impressed by our students’ presentation and congratulated them on their success. It was an excellent opportunity for him to see some of the excellent young adults we have here at Stewards. I am incredibly proud of all of them.”   

Staff and students stood proudly together at the heart of the school- the quad- facing members of the student body in their cadets, scouts or guides uniform, senior staff and senior students.  

The service was led by Mr Drew, Headteacher, starting with The Exhortation followed by a guest trumpeter who played The Last Post, and a two-minute silence. The service concluded with poems read by our four senior students Ethan Root, Alegria Manzambi, Theo Narburgh-Boateng and Guoda Juozapaityte, and Mr Drew putting everything into perspective regarding the conflicts of the past and the world we live in today. 

Mr Drew, said: “As I looked across the quad at the school community, I felt immense pride at how respectful and mature our young adults were as they participated in the service. I felt honoured to lead the service as Headteacher.”     

Guests were invited to try a delicious array of food from different cultures, prepared by Catering Manager Andrew Saunders and members of his team. The wonderful smells of the cuisine delights wafted enticingly as everyone headed towards the dining room.  

After the feast, guests were invited into the hall, transformed with its catwalk, and watched an array of vibrant performances and the ‘fashion event’ where participating students showcased a range of beautiful outfits from their cultures. The event was hosted by Miss Thomas, Ms Stylianou and Year 11 students. The audience also learnt about links with an orphanage and the planned work of the EMPV this year. 

Elizabeth Thomas, EMPV leader, said: “Over 100 students volunteered to be part of the event with many supporting in the audience too. This was an absolutely wonderful event and highlighted the great community spirit we have here at Stewards. I am so proud of everyone involved and look forward to continuing to see the important work of the EMPV develop and grow.”

Some great contributions were seen, and Year 7 students in particular showed off their baking talents. Students raised nearly £100 for charity and picked up house points for participation too.  

Elizabeth Thomas, Subject Leader for MFL, said: “It was amazing to see the number of students willing to participate either through their baking, or through purchasing the delicious baked goods! It was a fabulous sense of community spirit when we opened the doors to sell and I would like to thank everyone that took part.” 

The trip was the cross-curricular effort of the History and English departments and helped students to consider the links between topics they had exploring.   

Some of the students shared their favourite moments: “the huge portrait of Henry VIII and learning more about life in the Tudor period… viewing all the artworks… The Great Hall was very impressive and we learned lots of new information such as what eavesdroppers in the ceilings were for… the trip was fun and educational; we saw the King Henry VIII’s chapel and a replica of his crown” 

Roisin O’Grady, KS3 English lead, said: “I enjoyed exploring the grand surroundings and I was proud of the knowledge our students displayed on the day – they certainly impressed our tour guide!” 

Colin Hawk, Subject Leader for History and trip leader, said: “The audible gasp when pupils walked into the Great Hall for the first time brought a smile to my face. It is wonderful to share part of history with them in this way and we look forward to doing the trip again in the future.” 

Stewards has a long-standing relationship of working with the PTI with new teacher training, subject enhancement courses and developing the work of subject leaders.  

Both have been recognised for their “commitment to promoting challenge within the curriculum, enthusing pupils, enhancing teachers’ subject knowledge, and raising the profile of their subject”. 

Stephen Drew, Headteacher, said: “It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff that the academy has been the recipient of this award again this year. Our staff strive for excellence and are passionate about their subject areas. I look forward to the year ahead as we continue to build and go from strength to strength in all areas.” 

We look forward to seeing you there.

The presentations built upon core messages that pupils have explored in Ethics and Values lessons and assemblies led by Mrs Atkinson, our DSL, such as different types of bullying (including cyberbullying), the impact of bullying, responsibilities of bystanders to report bullying and how and where to get help.

In October, our new Year 7 and 8 students will also have the opportunity to participate in the workshops.

Karen James, Subject Leader for Ethics and Values, said: “It is such a powerful experience for pupils to hear from outside speakers and participate in workshops such as these.

‘We regularly speak to pupils and remind them about the impact of bullying, how to handle conflict and where to seek support if needed, how and why we should be kind to others.

“Having these messages embedded and reiterated regularly is so important in the modern day. Our thanks to our presenter, Louise.”

County Councillor Clive Souter said ‘I am really pleased the pupils at Stewards will get to benefit from a newly improved outdoor space. Anything we can do to get pupils away from their screens and out in the fresh air is to be welcomed. I look forward to seeing the space once the work is complete.’

It was a real testament to the teams' character that Stewards kept going and got their noses back in front thanks to Emet, Jacob, Abraham and Tino all scoring tries again matched with a great team performance marshalled by Austin.​ The crowd and opposition commented that Stewards showed great sportsmanship at the end of the game by shaking hands with their worthy opponents and forming a tunnel to clap them off the pitch. We couldn’t have been more proud of you all for your performance on the pitch and your conduct afterwards.

Stewards Academy produced a sensational version of West End smash ‘We Will Rock You’. This was the culmination of five long months of hard work. Doing ‘We Will Rock You’ is very risky. These are Queen songs, sung by Freddie Mercury. One of the greatest rock singers of all time. If you don’t have really good singers, then this is going to be a disaster. This..was..a..triumph! Stewards were blessed with some remarkable singers. Within the first ten minutes, Lena Cichonczyk as Galileo produced a confident and passionate “I Want To Break Free” and this was followed by a rousing “Somebody To Love” by Grace Dell. They both commanded the stage and after the first twenty minutes had the audience in the palm of their hand. Grace was also a fine comedy actress with a great line in sarcasm. Each actor made their part their own. From Cian Sensoy’s Matrix like menace as Kashoggi to Harleigh Kirton as Buddy who also sang a very touching “Days Of Our Lives”. But we don’t want people to feel this was a series of fine individual performances. A lot of credit goes to the singers and dancers that made up the Yuppies. They had a vital role to play on stage and in the audience. They never put a foot wrong. But we return to the subject of singing. Logan Spry produced a top quality version of Killer Queen, all leopard skin evil as she commanded the stage and the song. Credit at this point must go to Director Abbie Martin and her team. You could tell that over the last five months, the pupils have learned a huge amount about stage craft. You could also see from the detailed programme that many of the performers held back stage roles as well. That is going to help them a great deal in the future. These were singers, who got the songs. You can’t recite Under Pressure. You really have to live that song on stage and again, Lena and Grace did that. Their joy and pleasure at being on stage was noticeable with an infectious enthusiasm. Each actor made each role their own.”

See you at the regional finals!

Our visitors included, Harlow College, St John’s Ambulance, Mind, DHL and HTS.

Year 7 used our careers platform ‘Unifrog’ to research what a career is and to learn about their different skills and interests. They also took part in team building and house point competitions with the P.E. department.

Year 8 took part in First Aid sessions with St. John’s Ambulance and activities with Mind as well as learning about healthy choices.

Year 9 spent the day with visitors from DHL, who discussed careers in the industry and gave the students a task on how DHL Express can become even more sustainable. They then presented their ideas.

Year 10 had visitors from HTS who discussed careers in the industry and set the students a task of coming up with ideas on how to ‘restore pride in Harlow’ as well as what they believe makes a good employee. They then presented their ideas.

It was great to see how passionate our students were about the topics and hearing them present their fantastic ideas to our visitors was a very proud moment for us all here at Stewards Academy.

Year 11 spent the day revising and preparing for their mock exams and had an assembly from Harlow College explaining all of the Post-16 options available to them.

As is traditional we finished our ceremony with the reading of the words of John Maxwell Edmonds inscribed on the Commonwealth War Graves’ memorial in the Kohima Cemetery in north east India:

“When you go home, tell them of us and say

For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

This is only the third time Stewards has participated in this challenge, and the pupils have done very well. This challenge is extremely difficult as students studying A-Levels also compete at this level.

Our pupils showed great resilience throughout the challenge which is reflected in the results. Special mention to: Chloe Steele for achieving a Bronze Award and ‘Best in School’, an amazing achievement.

Next up will be the Junior and Intermediate challenges for Years 7 & 8 and Years 9 & 10 respectively. We will keep you updated on how they get on and hopefully more award news to follow.

Visitors had the opportunity to speak with the providers about post-16 options and to get a better understanding of what is available to them once they leave Secondary School education. We were so pleased to see how happy the students seemed as they left the premises with a much clearer understanding of not only what they want to do after school, but also, the grade boundaries/criteria for their chosen path as well as brochures to take away (and even a goodie bag too!)

We hope you all enjoyed the event, we are already looking forward to the next one! - Miss Holton

The second game was against Passmores which was once again a very tight contest for the year 7 team with Stewards showing great resilience and making some try saving tackles to not concede any tries. Stewards eventually managed to break down the Passmores defence with James S again scoring a try in his 2nd match but it was his terrific tackling that earned him the man of the match award.

The Year 7 team now go into their next set of matches still having not conceded any tries and are working hard in their rugby lessons as well as the rugby training after-school on Thursdays. We wish them good luck in their next games.