Challenge For All

We believe that all children, whatever their level of knowledge and skills, should be stretched and challenged in every lesson. The bespoke ‘learning logs’ system developed by the school allows teaching staff to assess and track pupils’ progress while also providing a tool for the pupils to reflect on their learning and understand their next steps.

Our high ratio of staff to children means that we can work together to stretch and challenge every pupil.

A significant number of pupils have exceptional knowledge, skills and aptitudes and it is crucial that all children are extended appropriately. Pupils’ strengths are recognised and teachers have high expectations, setting high levels of challenge whether in the classroom, art studio or  laboratory, or on the games field. Extra workshops, trips and courses may be offered to stimulate and develop our children.

Many children win scholarships to the senior school of their choice and our carefully considered scholarship programme ensures that children’s potential is identified early and that applicants are very well supported throughout the scholarship process.

Some children find learning to be more challenging than others in some areas. Many of these children, with encouragement and help from school and home, overcome difficulties and thrive academically, but others with specific learning difficulties may need tailored instruction and appropriate additional support.

Early identification of learning difficulties takes place during the first years at school. St. Helen’s College has experienced, well-qualified staff with expertise in addressing learning problems and we call upon outside experts for guidance as necessary. One to one and small group assistance is available for children who experience difficulties. Advice and support are offered to parents so that effective back-up work can take place at home.

News

Posted on: 24/01/2025

Weekly News - Friday 24th January 2025

Year 4 Visit Amersham Field Centre The Year 4 children had a fantastic trip this week to the Amersham Field Centre, where they explored electricity and energy. Every minute of the day was used as an opportunity for learning which educated, inspired and allowed the children to have fun. The day started by meeting ‘Michael Faraday’ and the children learnt about electricity, its uses and dangers and about how the substation in the vicinity works to provide power to our homes. The pupils took a walk around the perimeter of the substation, understanding why we can touch pylons and not get thousands of volts of electricity through us, then continued their work in the classroom by making solar powered circuits. The afternoon was spent learning about the way animals conserve energy by creating well-insulated homes such as a nest for a dormouse, and how squirrels try to survive winters by hiding their food. The day ended with a short walk looking for evidence of animal activities on the grounds, the wooded areas, identifying excrement from different animals and their footprints. Every child certainly made progress in their knowledge of a curriculum topic as well as having the chance to enjoy the opportunity to learn outside. Year 2 Bring Great Fire Of London Learning To Life! To enhance their learning about The Great Fire Of London, our Year 2 children enjoyed a special visit from Trunk Theatre this week, who presented a fun and interactive production all about this important historical event. The day built upon the children's previous classroom work on The Great Fire and has provided information and inspiration for further tasks to challenge and extend the children in their understanding and written work. Beginning in Tom Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, and including recollections from the famous diarist Samuel Pepys, it was a dramatised account of the story interspersed with songs, dances and games. The children loved joining in with the interactive experience and have certainly cemented and extended their understanding about this topic.  6H Coffee Morning/Class Assembly Many thanks to the children of 6H, who presented an extremely informative and entertaining assembly all about Guinness World Records on Friday morning. The children explained how they had researched the history of the Guinness World Records phenomenon, before sharing some frankly outstanding world records with their captivated audience. They then introduced an exciting live show in which volunteers from the audience and some of the 6H children themselves attempted to break some world records. It made for a fun and memorable assembly and we have certainly all learnt a lot about the world records that exist and how much commitment must go in to becoming a world record holder. Well done, 6H! House News The first House assembly of the spring term took place on Thursday and it was a rather exciting affair, as all of the children took part in the first round of the House General Knowledge Quiz! One child from each year group will go through as finalists for each of the four Houses, and the competition will continue with more house points up for grabs. The current house point totals in the hotly contested House Competition are: Caledonia - 2068  Cambria - 2282   Hibernia - 2312   Windsor - 2108 Chess Success Four St. Helen's College children competed in the Uxbridge Junior Chess Club Tournament last Saturday: Andrew B, Ishani A, Akaash B and Leonard S. Three of the children won individual medals, including a gold medal for Ishani A, who was top in her age group and won all of her games. In addition, St. Helen's College was crowned the overall school winner since our four pupils had, cumulatively, the highest score of the top four pupils of any school taking part. All four pupils were awarded a medal as the representatives of the winning school and St. Helen's College is now also the proud holder of a lovely shield which we will have engraved and will hold for at least a year. With our school chess clubs going from strength to strength, hopefully we will also defend our title with pride next time! St. Helen's College TfL Explorers Prepare For Dragon's Den Pitch The St. Helen's College TfL Explorers (formerly JTAs) have successfully secured a place on this year's Dragon's Den Event at The Battle of Britain Bunker on Thursday 27th March 2025. At the event, they will have the opportunity to pitch for funding to help contribute to a road safety/active travel campaign or initiative to run in the school. The TfL Explorers will also be participating in a Dragon's Den Planning Workshop at Hillingdon Council Civic Centre to begin preparing for the pitch at the Dragons’ Den event in March. During this workshop, the pupils will engage in data analysis specific to school travel, will identify and address school-specific travel issues, will learn pitching strategies tailored to appropriate audiences and will focus on budget proposals and management. They will also have the chance to meet the Mayor of Hillingdon in the Mayor’s Parlour, followed by a tour of both the Parlour and Council Chambers. To help our pupils to prepare for this event, please would parents answer the three very quick questions on the LBH school travel survey here. Sports News On Wednesday, the football team took on Heathrow Primary School at home in what turned out to be their best game of the season so far. The team played some super football and, ultimately, came from one nil down to draw the game 1-1. Jack K was the goal scorer and the Man of the Match was Giuseppe D for his fantastic saves in goal. Well done to all of those who played. Also on Wednesday, the Year 6 netball teams played Orley Farm School in a great display of teamwork and skill. The two teams coped brilliantly well with playing 7-a-side netball using full sized netball posts, executing accurate shooting and giving a solid all round performance. The finishing scores were a 4-0 win and a 1-1 draw. Well done to all involved!   TCS Mini Marathon Entries for the 2025 TCS Mini London Marathon are now open and, as a valued previous participant, St. Helen's College has once again been allocated some places. In order to widen participation across as many schools as possible, however, the organisers have reduced the number of places available per school. This year, St. Helen's College has been allocated a total of forty places across the two distances.  These places will be offered first to the children in Year 5 and Year 6. Sign up will be on a first come, first served basis and a Google form will be sent out in due course. Year 3 Pedestrian Training Today our Year 3 children took part in their biannual pedestrian training, learning how to keep safe when out and about on foot in the local area. They learnt about and practised walking safely on pavements and checking driveways for moving cars; crossing roads safely and sensibly and the importance of being visible to drivers of vehicles. Year 5 Transfer Meetings Thank you to the Year 5 parents who have attended individual senior school transfer meetings with Ms Drummond so far. The final meetings will take place tomorrow. Next Week Monday to Friday - 2C swimming all week Wednesday 29th January - UKMT Mathematical Challenge (Year 6) Wednesday 29th January - Football v. Laurel Lane (A) Thursday 30th January - 1C coffee morning & class assembly Thursday 30th January - Ducklings, Nursery & Reception parents' evenings Friday 31st January - Month End Music Recital in the Evans Hall
Posted on: 17/01/2025

Weekly News - Friday 17th January 2025

Co-Curricular Clubs The busy spring term programme of co-curricular clubs began this week and it has been super to see the children enjoying all of the activities on offer. These include our language clubs, gardening and nature clubs, arts/crafts clubs, sports clubs, music clubs and more. Education is about much more than classroom learning; developing wider talents and interests can often provide the key to a happy and fulfilling life, so thank you for encouraging your children to try new activities and find the joy in them. Year 5 Transfer Meetings It was good to see the Year 5 parents who came for individual senior school transfer meetings with Ms Drummond this week. We hope you found these helpful. There will be a further round of individual meetings next Tuesday and next Saturday. Salvation Army Collection In December the St. Helen's College community generously donated gifts for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal and we have received a message of thanks from the organisation; 'Please accept our sincere gratitude for the amazing amount of gifts donated by St. Helen’s College this year. The quantity and quality of gifts received never ceases to amaze us, and that people are so willing to help others less fortunate than themselves is both humbling and heart-warming.' Thank you to everyone who contributed to the collection and to the Charity Team for co-ordinating this initiative.    Speech Competition One of the highlights of the spring term each year is our annual Speech Competition (for Years 1 - 6) and our Poetry Recital (Nursery and Reception). Your children will receive their poems from their teachers during the course of the term; please do help them to learn their pieces and allow them plenty of opportunity to practise when they bring their poems home. The children's oracy and communication skills were highlighted as a 'significant strength' of St. Helen's College in our recent ISI inspection, and the Speech Competition, a long-standing tradition at the school, is one of many contributing factors to this. Not every child will win their year group or be presented with the overall winner's shield, of course - but each and every pupil who participates will experience the joy of learning a poem by heart, the pleasure of putting expression into their words and the benefit of developing clear, well-projected speech. Library Reading Challenges  Super library habits abound in Year 2, with the children learning how to use the library independently and how to enjoy exploring books and reading with each other, and by themselves. Last term saw books issued over 900 times to Year 2 alone! The children are learning how to keep their books safely, to take them home and to return them, all valuable library skills which need to be learnt and practised at this young age. Thank you very much for your support with fostering these independent skills. January sees the start of Reading Challenges in Year Two. These optional activities are a lovely way to guide the children to read and talk about different kinds of stories, and they delight in ticking off their progress and achieving their certificates and House Points! The children have been really excited to start. All children are welcome to take part if they would like, with small groups of children taking part at a time so that each child has enough time to discuss their stories, and often share recommendations with their classmates. We predict a great deal of reading ahead! Emotional Support Everyone experiences worries from time to time and for children in particular they can become scary and overwhelming. With this in mind 'How My Worry Works' by Big Life Journal is a useful selection of strategies which parents can help implement to support children to identify and manage worries before they reach this stage. School Open Events St. Helen's College will be welcoming prospective parents to a 'School At Work' Open Morning across all sites on Wednesday 26th February from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. to showcase our busy and hard working school. On this day, pupil guides will show prospective parents around the school and there will be an opportunity for visiting families to meet with the Head, the Director of Admissions and the Head of Lower School. All visitors must register to attend in advance here.  We are also looking forward to hosting a free Year 3 Taster Day, on Tuesday 4th March from 8.30 to 11.30 a.m. for children eligible for entry into this year group in September 2025.  At this event parents will have a chance to meet the Head before leaving children with our teaching staff for an exciting and fun morning of learning, playing and making new friends. The children will have an opportunity to explore the school site, including the Science Lab, Art Studio, Year 3 classrooms and playground equipment, and will enjoy age-appropriate specialist teaching sessions in English, art and science, a Spanish taster session with our specialist Spanish teacher, and play time with their new friends. Please do share this with any parents with appropriately aged children who might wish to attend, spaces must be booked in advance here.  Next Week Wednesday 22nd January - Year 4 Trip to Amersham Field Centre Wednesday 22nd January - Year 2 Great Fire of London Theatre Company Visit Wednesday 22nd January - Netball v. Orley Farm School (H) Wednesday 22nd January - Football v. Heathrow Primary School (H) Thursday 23rd January - Netball v. St. Catherine's Primary School (H) Friday 24th January - 6H Coffee Morning and Class Assembly  Friday 24th January - Year 3 Pedestrian Training
Posted on: 10/01/2025

Emotional Intelligence by Mr. McLaughlin

Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to Your Child’s Future Success? As parents, we all want our children to grow into happy, successful adults. While academic achievements and extracurricular activities often take centre stage, research highlights a vital predictor of future success: emotional intelligence (EI).   A recent study tracked 1,000 children over 40 years to uncover the key factors behind financial and professional success in adulthood. Surprisingly, it wasn’t IQ, grades, or socioeconomic status that stood out. Instead, emotional intelligence - skills like empathy, self regulation, and interpersonal awareness - proved to be the most significant determinant.   So, what is emotional intelligence, and why is it so important? At its core, EI refers to the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s emotions while also navigating social relationships effectively. It encompasses self-awareness, empathy, and communication skills, which help children build meaningful relationships, solve conflicts, and adapt to challenges.   The study found that children who demonstrated high levels of emotional intelligence early in life were better equipped to collaborate with others, manage stress, and persevere through setbacks. These qualities laid the foundation for not only their financial stability but also their overall well-being.   How Can We Cultivate Emotional Intelligence in Children?   While some aspects of emotional intelligence may come naturally, the good news is that these skills can be nurtured over time. Here are a few practical strategies for fostering EI in your child:   Encourage Emotional Expression Create a safe space where your child feels comfortable expressing their feelings. Encourage them to name their emotions - whether they’re feeling excited, sad, or frustrated. This practice builds self-awareness and helps children understand that all emotions are valid.   Model Empathy   Children often learn by observing the adults around them. Show empathy in your daily interactions by listening attentively, validating others' feelings, and demonstrating kindness. Your behaviour sets a powerful example.   Teach Problem-Solving Skills   When conflicts arise, guide your child in finding constructive solutions. Instead of immediately stepping in, ask questions like, “How do you think we can fix this?” This helps them build confidence in navigating challenges.   Promote Teamwork   Activities like group projects, team sports, or family chores are excellent opportunities for children to practice collaboration and communication. Praise their efforts to cooperate and resolve differences.   Focus on Resilience   Life is full of ups and downs, and resilience is key to managing them. Encourage a growth mindset by emphasising effort over results and framing setbacks as learning opportunities.   Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in School   In our school community, we prioritise not just academic excellence but also the development of well-rounded, emotionally intelligent individuals. Through our curriculum and pastoral care, we aim to nurture qualities like empathy, communication, and resilience - equipping your child with tools for success beyond the classroom.   As this study reminds us, investing in emotional intelligence is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. By teaching them to understand themselves and connect with others, we’re helping them build a strong foundation for a thriving future, both personally and professionally.   In this new year, together, let’s continue to support our children’s emotional growth, ensuring they have the skills they need to navigate life with confidence and compassion.  You can read more here.  
Posted on: 10/01/2025

Weekly News - Friday 10th January 2025

It has been wonderful to welcome all of our families back to St. Helen's College this week for a cold and snowy start of term! We hope that you are all well-rested and ready for the busy times ahead. Please be sure to mark your diaries now for Exhibition Day on Saturday 22nd March, which is always a highlight of the school year and a super celebration of your children and all of their hard work. Communications We are moving to a new database and communications system here at school. Every parent should have received a 'Test' email sent through the new system this week. If you did not receive a 'Test' email to your inbox, please check your junk/spam folder and, if the message was received there, please mark it as 'not junk/spam' and/or add the sender address to your trusted sender list. If you have not received a 'Test' message to your inbox or junk/spam folder, please contact Mrs. Smith at susmith@sthelenscollege.com so that we can ensure that we have the correct contact details on file for you. As always, your class teacher is your primary point of contact for all matters concerning your child. Teachers can be reached by email and are usually available for a quick chat at the beginning and end of each school day. If you require a longer conversation, please do make an appointment to meet with your class teacher. Code Club Oak Farm Library are running a Code Club (For Beginners) event for children aged 7 to 11 which may be of interest to Upper School children. Held every Monday (term-time only) at 5.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m., this is a six week introduction course to coding using exciting, fun & immersive Lego Spike kits. Code Club is totally FREE and booking is essential which can be made at the following link: https://discover.hillingdon.gov.uk/code-club-oak-farm. Christmas Tree Donated to Hillingdon Ambulance Service The Upper School Christmas tree took on a new lease of life at the end of last term when it found a worthy home for the remainder of December at the Hillingdon Ambulance Service. We were delighted to donate the tree to the hard working team to provide a little festive joy at a busy time of year.          Absence And Late Arrivals We would like to remind you of the procedures for pupil absence and late arrival at Upper School and Lower School. If you need to request absence for any reason, or to inform us of absence due to illness on a particular day, you should email absence@sthelenscollege.com and cc their class teacher. This is also the address to use, cc'ing the class teacher, if you know that your child will be arriving late to school on a particular day; in this instance, please also include your child's lunch order for that day. Please do NOT call the school office to report absence, or rely on children to pass on absence messages. Please allow plenty of time for your journey to school, especially during inclement weather, so that your child arrives by 8.25 a.m. and can enjoy a calm, ordered registration period with their class. Registration begins at 8.30 a.m. and is completed by 8.40 a.m. and lunch orders are taken during this time. Late arrivals are difficult for your child and can also disrupt the rest of the class. If you are unexpectedly delayed in the morning and do arrive late to school, you must accompany your child to the entrance at Lower School or to the Cambria front door at Upper School, sign them in as directed and ensure that you/they have noted their lunch selection on the late sign in book. Your child's arrival will be recorded as late and their lunch order will be sent to the kitchen to ensure that we are catering appropriately.  Please also note that, if your child is well enough to attend school then we expect them to be well enough to participate in all lessons, including PE/Games. If they have a serious injury or doctor's note requiring them to miss their PE/Games lessons, please email Mr. Harrington at lharrington@sthelenscollege.com. We will then organise a non-physical activity for them during the lesson. Welfare Miss Gilbey is now no longer working as the Upper School Welfare Assistant but remains in role as our Upper School Funtasia Supervisor. Please ensure any medical information or queries are emailed directly to welfare at welfare@sthelenscollege.com.   Mrs Gayle Oatshott based at Lower School is our overall Welfare and Attendance Officer and we will be welcoming our new Welfare Assistant, who will be based at Upper School, in the coming weeks.  Easter Mini-Me Camp Mr. Harrington will once again be running a Mini-Me Camp at PACCAR Scout Camp over the Easter holidays. These are very popular and include lots of exciting activities such as zip wires, laser tag, giant swing, archery, climbing, abseiling and caving which help to build and enhance friendships, improve fitness and foster a love of activity and outdoor fun! Full details and bookings are available here. Next Week Monday 13th January - Co-curricular Clubs Begin  Wednesday 15th January - Reception 2025 Entry Meetings Wednesday 15th January - Football v. Ryefield Thursday 16th January - Reception Storytime Taster Session (External Applicants Only)    
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