Movember Magic at St Mary’s!

Movember is the global charity on a mission to change the face of men’s mental health — and this year, St Mary’s joined the movement in style!

Since 2003, Movember has powered more than 1,250 men’s health projects worldwide, breaking barriers, boosting research, and transforming the support men receive. And this November, our Staff and Sixth Formers stepped up (and let it grow!) for a brilliant cause.

The challenge was to cultivate the most epic moustache imaginable — the longest, bushiest, strangest, or most fabulously creative. With plenty of encouragement (and a fair bit of friendly teasing), our moustache maestros battled it out all month long.

The Student Wellbeing Ambassadors had the impossible task of choosing a winner, finally crowning Enis in Year 13 as the proud owner of an “Epic Moustache.” He took home an Amazon voucher and a very special mug to mark his triumph — and, of course, bragging rights for the next 12 months.

A huge well done to everyone who took part. Movember brought us together, raised awareness for a fantastic cause, and added a whole lot of fun (and facial hair!) to our November!

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Year 9 Students Excel in National Language Competition

A group of enthusiastic Year 9 students recently took part in the National Language Competition run by GCHQ, testing their problem-solving, communication and decoding skills through a series of exciting language-based challenges. The competition showcased just how valuable language learning can be, not only in the classroom but also in a wide range of future careers from cyber security and intelligence to business, travel, diplomacy and technology.

Team Thoughtful Cat, made up of Travis, George and Filip, emerged as the winning team, with all other groups also performing incredibly well and scoring highly across the board. Their success highlights the strong link between curriculum learning and real-world skills, demonstrating how languages open doors to global opportunities.

Students left feeling inspired, recognising that the linguistic skills they develop now can play a vital role in shaping their future pathways.

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Breakfast for all !

Since the start of the term, the school has offered a free light breakfast for any student that needs it.  This is available from the lower street cafe before school, and runs from 7.45-8.15am.  During the first half of term, porridge was offered, and this half term the offer is either porridge, or toast with butter and jam.

Studies show that young people who eat before starting school are able to better focus and concentrate on their learning, are more engaged and have more energy.  The breakfast offer is certainly popular and is showing huge benefits for our students.

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Mayor’s Debate Competition, Broxbourne Council Offices, 19 November 2025

Year 9 Impress at Broxbourne Mayoral Debate

Last night, four of our talented Year 9 students represented St Mary’s High School at the annual Broxbourne Council Mayoral Debate. The event brought together teams from six local secondary schools, each tasked with tackling a topical issue affecting Broxbourne and Hertfordshire.

This year’s motion was: “Big is Beautiful – There are more opportunities to benefit Broxbourne residents by being part of a larger organisation.”

Our team – Itohan, Rhys, Nouvelle, and Michaela – confidently argued in favour of the motion, delivering a well-researched, engaging and articulate presentation. Their 10-minute talk, supported by a PowerPoint and a polished Q&A session, impressed both the audience and the panel of judges, which included local councillors and our Mayor, Cllr Patsy Spears.

The students also had the opportunity to meet and chat with the Youth Mayor, gaining valuable insight into local politics and civic engagement. Despite strong competition, our team handled challenging questions with professionalism and poise, demonstrating true debating skill and teamwork.

Although we didn’t take home the top prize this year, we couldn’t be prouder of how they represented St Mary’s. Their passion, preparation, and confidence truly shone through – they debated like real political pros!

Well done, Itohan, Rhys, Nouvelle, and Michaela – you’ve done St Mary’s proud!

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Christmas Card Competition in Art

The School recently held a competition in KS3 Art to design the official Christmas card for St Mary’s for Christmas 2025.  The winner is a young man in Year 8, Xhemil with a wonderful Christmas scene.  Congratulations also to our two runners up, Rabitah in Year 8 and Bella in Year 7.  All three students show a real aptitude for art and we hope to see more of their work in the future.

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Anti-Bullying Week at St Mary’s: “Power for Good”

At St Mary’s, we are deeply committed to ensuring that every student feels safe, valued, and included. With your support, Anti-Bullying Week once again provided a valuable opportunity for our whole community to come together and promote kindness, respect, and understanding.

This year’s Anti-Bullying Week took place from Monday 10th to Friday 14th November, with the national theme “Power for Good”. Throughout the week, students explored how they can use their voices to make a positive difference by speaking out, supporting others, and standing up for what is right.

Odd Socks Day – Monday 10th November

We began the week with Odd Socks Day, a fun celebration of individuality. Students and staff arrived wearing an array of colourful, mismatched socks—reminding us all that our differences should be embraced. As always, participation was optional, and those who preferred not to take part attended in their regular school uniform.

Activities Throughout the Week

Across the week, students took part in a wide range of activities designed to deepen their understanding of kindness and how to support one another. During form time, tutors shared video clips, led discussions, and guided students through worksheets focusing on how to recognise, respond to, and report bullying. Each form room also displayed the lyrics to this year’s Anti-Bullying Week poem, offering a daily reminder of the importance of compassion and respect.

Support Beyond the Classroom

Students also had access to The Sandbox, a free online mental health support service for young people. As part of the week’s events, The Sandbox hosted a “Let’s Play Minecraft for Anti-Bullying Week” session, where qualified therapists answered questions about cyberbullying and online safety in an engaging and supportive environment.

We are grateful to all students, staff, parents, and carers for helping make Anti-Bullying Week such a meaningful and positive experience. Together, we showed that every member of our community has the Power for Good. Just like our socks, we are all different—and those differences are what make St Mary’s a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive place to learn.

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Sixth Form Open Evening

What a fantastic evening!  The school held our Sixth Form Information evening this week, which was a huge success.

There was a real great buzz around the sixth form and all the academic, extra-curricular and co-curricular opportunities we have available to both our current students, and students from other settings who came along and were interested in joining our community.

There were subject specialist teachers in all areas, ready to share their passion and knowledge of their subject, and an engaging speech by the Director of Sixth form outlining what the Sixth Form could offer students, the innovative and inclusive environment, the opportunity to excel academically and the support to develop personal leadership skills and confidence to take their place in the modern world.

Feedback from our visitors was very positive on how welcoming the school felt and how well the staff, and student sixth form ambassadors who attended engaged with students and their parents.

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Black History Month, October 2025

The St Mary’s community always highlights Black History Month each October with tailored Acts of Worship, lesson content and extra curricular activities to raise awareness.

In Food Technology, students learnt about the Jamaican food – some feedback from students included: “ohhh these plantain chips are amazing” and ” ‘Ting’ what a funny name for a drink”

Two sixth form students, Maya and Dayo, prepared and presented acts of worship over a whole week to each year group dedicated to Black History, and indeed discussed this with the Mayor of Broxbourne, Cllr Patsy Spears, during her visit to the school.

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Remembrance service 11/11/25

On Monday 11th November, the school community came together for a poignant and reflective Remembrance Service. Students and staff gathered in the courtyard to pause, reflect, and remember all those who have served, sacrificed, and lost their lives in conflict so that we may live in peace and freedom today. The service included thoughtful  readings and poems from students, followed by the Last Post played on a Flugelhorn by a professional musician, and a two-minute silence, during which the courtyard fell completely still. It was a powerful moment of unity and respect, as our entire school stood together to honour the courage, resilience, and selflessness of those who gave so much.

This year, our focus extended to the different coloured poppies, each carrying its own important meaning and reminder:

– Red poppy – for those who have given their lives in service to their country.

– Black poppy – recognising the contributions of Black, African, and Caribbean communities to past and present conflicts.

– Purple poppy – in remembrance of the animals who served alongside soldiers. – White poppy – symbolising peace and the hope for a future without war.

The symbolism of these poppies provided an opportunity for reflection and learning across the school, helping students appreciate the many perspectives and sacrifices remembered at this time of year. The amphitheater was decorated with a cascade of poppies, creating a striking visual tribute to accompany the service and helping to make this a truly special event.

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Sixth Form Chemists Explore Careers in Science at Pharmaron

A group of our A Level Chemistry students recently enjoyed an inspiring visit to Pharmaron, a leading life science company based in Hoddesdon with a global presence. Organised by Pharmaron’s STEM team, the trip offered a fascinating insight into how chemistry is applied in the pharmaceutical industry bringing classroom learning vividly to life.

During the two and a half hour visit, students heard from professionals working across different departments, each sharing their career journeys and explaining how their roles contribute to the process of drug discovery and development. A highlight of the day was a guided tour of the industrial chemistry laboratories, where students were amazed by the scale of operations and the advanced equipment used in analytical chemistry, materials science, and testing.

The visit concluded with a lively Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions about scientific careers and the realities of working in the pharmaceutical sector. Staff at Pharmaron were highly impressed by our students’ curiosity and engagement, commenting that it was one of the best groups they had hosted.

This experience not only strengthened students’ understanding of key chemistry concepts but also opened their eyes to the wide range of exciting and meaningful career pathways available within science and technology. It was a truly valuable opportunity that has undoubtedly inspired a few future scientists!

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