Oracy in Action: A Term of Talking Points

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It’s been a busy half-term for our debaters, with fixtures against Berko, KWS and the Harpenden Schools Competition. Our teams performed brilliantly, and Debate Club now attracts over 100 regulars—proof the future is bright.

In the chapel, we hosted St George’s Question Time, featuring leading journalists and student panellist Honrick. With the whole sixth form present; it was a powerful showcase of oracy. Thanks go to our new senior captains and leads for ensuring the event ran smoothly.

Year 12 students also attended evening lectures at KCL and UCL, tackling topics from Votes at 16+ to wealth tax. Organisers praised their confidence and sharp questioning in front of academics and university students.

This exposure to high level academia and super curricular opportunities are so important for university applications and we look forward to providing them with more of these opportunities next term. These include a trip to Balliol College, Oxford and visits from Old Georgians and Oxbridge professors.

Read All About It: Novel Christmas Trees!

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The Library has been transformed into a winter wonderland, thanks to the creativity and festive spirit of our students! Over the past two weeks, our lunchtime Christmas craft sessions have been buzzing with energy and imagination. Students gave old magazines a new lease of life by recycling them into dazzling book Christmas trees and they added sparkle with 3D stars, making each tree shine with personality.
Beautiful hexagonal baubles were carefully crafted and now hang proudly on the Library’s Christmas tree, catching the light and spreading cheer.

Meanwhile, Year 7 and 8 mathematicians have been busy turning the Maths Department into a festive fractal wonderland! Exploring patterns like the Sierpinski Triangle and Koch Snowflake, they uncovered the beauty of infinite detail before joining forces to build a dazzling fractal Christmas tree from interconnected Sierpinski Tetrahedrons.

The decorations are not only eye-catching but also a wonderful reminder of what we can create together.

Festive Cheer at the Junior Carol Services

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Our junior students filled the chapel with music, joy, and festive spirit on Sunday. From a stunning opening of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ to a lively ‘Troika’ from the junior band, the celebration just kept rising. The Junior Choir’s beautiful ‘It Was a Starry Night’ even brought a few tears.
Parents joined in for ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ before being treated to ‘While Shepherds Watched’, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, and a spirited ‘We Three Kings’ from the saxes. Clarinets shone in The ‘First Noel’, followed by a vibrant ‘Drummer Boy’ from the trombones.
Then the Junior Rock Band brought the house down with ‘Step into Christmas’, featuring a special guest appearance from The Rev. A warm, joyful finale of Christmas Song wrapped up a truly magical event. Two performances, endless festive cheer, and everyone left glowing.

Raising the Standard: St George’s Scores a Glowing Review

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Last week, the school hosted The Good Schools Guide, who have now published their full review online. The piece captures the essence of St George’s with clarity and enthusiasm, celebrating the school’s commitment to aiming higher across so many aspects of school life.

The reviewers were particularly struck by the “nurturing feel and warmth” of the school, noting that staff “take a personal interest in the students doing well”. They praised teachers “who seem to really love teaching” and who demonstrate “real passion for their subjects”, recognising the people at the heart of the school’s success.

The review also highlights the distinctive culture of St George’s, describing it as “such a warm, welcoming place” where “the ethos and values resonated”. The strength of the pastoral system stood out, with the House structure creating “a sense of identity and belonging far exceeding most state schools”.

Parents who contributed to the review clearly made an impression. Their enthusiasm for the school—and their shared belief that “there’s real pride in St George’s being different”—was warmly noted.

As ever, the pupils were outstanding ambassadors. They were described as “polite, friendly and sparky”, and it was especially pleasing to read that they feel staff are “all on your side”.

The review concludes with a powerful endorsement of the school’s character and achievements:

“You can’t go wrong with any of Harpenden’s state schools – and they all have a distinct offering. This is the ‘traditional one’, with its oldy-world building, tweed blazers, rugby, boarding and chapel all contributing to the more serious, heritage feel. Academically top of the pile too. Families couldn’t be prouder of St George’s if they tried.”

 

UK Parliament Week at St George’s: A Week of Voices, Ideas, and Debate!

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What a whirlwind week it has been at St George’s as we joined schools across the country in celebrating UK Parliament Week!

Monday kicked off with a bang as we welcomed our local MP, Victoria Collins, for a dynamic Q&A session. Students seized the opportunity to challenge, question, and explore the realities of political life.

By Wednesday, our Year 12s were in full stride at the county‑wide ‘Speak Your Mind’ event. Their questions to the expert panel were sharp, thoughtful, and fearless—showing just how engaged our students are with the issues shaping society today.

A true highlight came when Enny took centre stage, opening the debate with a powerful three‑minute speech before joining the panel itself. Her confidence, eloquence, and maturity shone through as she addressed an audience of hundreds of peers.

And today, we round off the week with a thrilling BP debate at Berkhamsted School, putting our debating skills to the test against some of the best young minds in the region.

But the excitement doesn’t stop here! Next week, the spotlight swings back to St George’s as we host our very own ‘St George’s Question Time’. Guided by our newly appointed debate captains and leads, this promises to be another inspiring showcase of student voice, critical thinking, and spirited discussion.

 

 

Rugby Friday Nights Light Up

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On Friday 14th November 2025, St George’s 1st XV came out with a mission – to break the 13-year cycle of not securing a victory over St Albans School (SAS) in what has become the local school rugby derby. It was a wild night under the floodlights, bringing together a combination of rain, momentous support for both sides (plus a band!) and some tense and electrifying rugby.

Albert described the match: “It was a ‘brutal’ first half.  The match kicked off at full pace, with huge tackles from both sides and whilst St George’s looked more dominant physically, punching holes in the SAS line and controlling territory early on, but ill-discipline cost them valuable points.  Two penalties in dangerous areas suddenly handed them the lead by 14 points. Soaked and punished for errors, St George’s heads could have dropped.  They didn’t.  Instead, St George’s spotted space, made a clean line break, chipped ahead, and won the foot race to touch down followed by a secure conversion for a halftime score of 14-7.

Whilst the second half saw St George’s put on a tireless onslaught of attack, the points just wouldn’t come. 

Then in the final minutes of the match, St George’s gave their all, breaking through the SAS defence to score and convert and bring the score line to 17-14.  The atmosphere was alive with cheers of support to drive the St George’s boy’s momentum.  And it worked. A penalty came moments later securing a draw… but a draw against St Albans wasn’t what St George’s had trained for. With a penalty advantage, a high cross field kick was launched and plucked from the sky to be taken over the try line and see St George’s 1st XV break the cycle and win the match 19-17”. 

This was an evening to remember, particularly for parents who have been at the school for many years watching their boys play rugby in St George’s colours and a moment to celebrate the sporting effort, resilience, and determination of the school.  The support from fellow students (from both schools), ex-students, the teachers and parents and siblings, was an example of how St George’s is not just a school, but a community.

 

Friday Night Lights, Lacrosse Style!

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Under the November floodlights at Harpenden Rugby Football Club, St George’s and STAHS battled it out in a fierce, fast‑paced showdown. Sticks raised high in a pre‑game ritual of respect set the tone for a night of grit, flair, and community spirit.

STAHS surged ahead early and held on for a 12–7 win, but both teams lit up the pitch with skill, sportsmanship, and sheer determination.

Founded by Head of Lacrosse Jess Foster just four years ago, this tradition is already inspiring the next generation of athletes and proving that women’s sport shines brightest under the lights.

If you haven’t seen parent Marc Aspland’s Times article on StG’s lacrosse, it’s a must‑read: Skill, showmanship and soggy weather — an Unseen lacrosse special. Don’t miss the full story —it’s a celebration of lacrosse, rivalry, and resilience!

All photos by Marc Aspland/The Times

FAME! I’m gonna live forever…

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FAME! I’m gonna live forever…
Wow! What an absolutely spectacular night at the school production of Fame the Musicale!
From the moment the curtain rose, our incredible students from Years 7 to 13 swept the audience away with a whirlwind of 1980s energy, passion, and creativity. It was a true celebration of talent, inclusion, and teamwork.
Our younger students brought amazing enthusiasm, while our older students showed a level of professionalism that rivalled seasoned performers. They were a dynamic ensemble and looked like they were having a blast on stage! A massive shoutout to the live band for providing such a powerful soundtrack. The singers delivered every upbeat number and heartfelt solo with precision and emotion—we were all left humming the tunes! Equally impressive were the choreography, staging, and our brilliant student crew operating sound and lighting to create the perfect atmosphere.
A huge congratulations to everyone involved – on stage and off. You should all be incredibly proud!
 

 

Lessons in Humanity: Year 11 Confronts Berlin’s Past at Sachsenhausen

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Bella S (Y11) writes: The school history trip to Berlin gave us a much clearer understanding of several major events we’ve studied these past few years, especially the impact of World War II and the division of Germany during the Cold War. The visit to a WWII bombing bunker showed us the conditions civilians faced during air raids. Being inside the reinforced rooms made it obvious how limited the space was and how intense the atmosphere must have been when thousands of people gathered there for protection. It helped us see the practical realities of wartime survival rather than just the strategic or political side, really highlighting how civilians and everyday people were forced to live. 

Sachsenhausen provided a direct look at the brutality of the concentration camp system. Walking through the remaining barracks and open grounds highlighted the severe overcrowding, forced labour, and harsh treatment prisoners experienced. The layout of the site made it easier to understand how the camp operated and how controlled and oppressive the environment was as they were constantly watched by people prepared to kill them for no good reason. Seeing the physical space added a level of severity of the camp that is difficult to get from the classroom alone.

 Altogether, the trip had an enormous impact on students and really helped to bring together what we have learnt in class with the harsh realities of what went on in Germany before and after the Second World War.

St. George’s Remembrance

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Thoughts of Remembrance from The Head

This week has been shaped by our focus on Remembrance and the importance of looking back at events that have shaped our world. We were very proud of the way our pupils conducted themselves, both in Sunday’s Chapel service and during the formal act of remembrance here at school on Tuesday. Pupils who took part by singing in the choir, playing the trumpet, reading or laying wreaths added significantly to our acts of remembrance. All pupils approached these occasions with a seriousness and respect that showed a deep understanding of its significance.

On Sunday, a particularly moving moment for me came as the names read by our School and Boarding Captains in Chapel were later read again at the Town War Memorial. Hearing those same names in both settings brought home the lasting legacy of the Old Georgians who gave their lives, and reminded us how closely the school’s history is tied to the life of the town. It was also great to welcome back OG Dan French who spoke at the service.

On Tuesday, our pupils were exemplary. I spoke to a number of pupils afterwards about how much they valued the brief moment of stillness and quiet in the middle of a busy day. That pause is important: it ensures that remembrance is not simply something we do each year, but a genuine moment to consider the human cost of conflict.

By reflecting on the sacrifices of the past, we help our young people to understand those things we prize: courage, service, and sacrifice. Our act of remembrance is both a tribute to those who died and a reminder of the kind of thoughtful, responsible global citizens our pupils are becoming.

When you go home. Tell them of us and say. For your tomorrow. We gave our today.

 

 

 

St. George’s School

Sun Lane,
Harpenden,
AL5 4TD

General Enquiries:
01582 765477

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St. George’s School

Sun Lane,
Harpenden,
AL5 4TD

General Enquiries:
01582 765477

Boarding Enquiries
01582 765477

Useful Links

Sports News & Fixtures
Edulink One
Kerboodle
MyMaths

Useful Links

ArcGIS
Adobe Spark
Educake
Dynamic Learning

Useful Links

ClickView
Office 365
Google Classroom
Think U Know
Click CEOP

Useful Links

01582 765477admin@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk