Fun Run

We enjoyed the annual fancy dress fun run this afternoon. All the school's students took part as a way of raising money for a variety of worthy charities. This year's theme was evolution, as it is the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. We had everything from The Voyage of the Beagle ...

to a butterfly and giant caterpillar.

The 6th Form helped marshall the event and check that everyone had run or walked the required five laps.

It was a good way to end the half term.

Off to Iceland

It's been a busy half term but the activity is not over yet by a long shot. A group of 6th Formers are off to Iceland over the half term break and, if past trips are anything to go by, it should be a stunning experience.

There will be a chance to lounge around.

A chance to take a hot bath.

And, of course, a chance to do some geographical research.

Debating Success

Two of our Lower 6th students took part in a prestigious debating competition at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge yesterday against Northampton Academy. The photograph shows the two teams together with the Chairman for the evening, TV Personality, Loyd Grossman.

After a closely argued and high level debate about the obsession with personal space in the western world, the St Mary's team won by 37 votes to 34 (with one abstention). We were delighted by the result, delighted by the support we received, and delighted by the invitation to take part in such a wonderful experience in such a wonderful place.

Many of our students also looked around the exhibition about female education in Cambridge after the debate. Highlights included the original manuscript of Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own". We are fortunate indeed to have such resources on our doorstep.

Sixth Form Information Evening

We will be holding our Sixth Form Information evening tomorrow, Thursday 22nd October, from 6.30pm onwards. Whether you are currently in year 11 or are at school elsewhere, you are warmly welcome to come along and see what subjects are on offer next year and to learn more about our wonderful Sixth Form.

Netball Success

The netballers started the season in spectacular form yesterday afternoon, notching up a 16-11 win over Perse Girls. It was an exciting match, even after St Mary's built up a clear and early lead, a lead they never looked like losing. Well done.

Subject Profile: English

The English Department has been arranging a whole range of activities to complement the work that goes on in the classroom. The 6th Form recently went to see a play about Rupert Brooke in Cambridge and there are trips coming up to see Othello with Lenny Henry and The World's Wife.

The weekend before last, the author, director and examiner Steve Siddall ran a workshop on The Duchess of Malfi which was greatly appreciated by the students.

We are also looking forward to the annual reading weekend, which this year will be in Stratford-upon-Avon. If past years are anything to go by, it should be a blast.

Inspiring Women

We were pleased to welcome Sigrid Fisher, the Head of Equality and Diversity at Cambridge University to the 6th Form today. She gave an extremely interesting presentation to the Lower 6th about Leadership and encouraged them to make a difference, as women, to the world.

She also encouraged the students to take part in Cambridge University's Festival of Ideas, which starts this Wednesday, and the International Women's Day, which takes place on March 8th.