Creativity was in full swing this half-term as students from all four houses took part in the annual St. George’s Inter-House Art Competition—a highlight of the school calendar and a brilliant celebration of artistic talent.

The competition opened with a first round focused on producing a carefully crafted tonal drawing. From these entries, our Art Captains selected standout students from each year group to represent their houses in the grand final. This year’s theme, “80 Years of the United Nations – Humanity, Hope, and Challenges,” invited students to reflect on global cooperation, resilience, and the world’s shared future. In recognition of this milestone anniversary, representatives from the Harpenden UN have also chosen a number of students to receive vouchers and certificates for their exceptional work—details coming soon.

The final round took place with two students from each year group stepping up to create striking artworks using an impressive range of media. Judging took place in January, led by Mr Browne, former Head of Art, who praised the competition, saying: “The standard of the competition was exceptionally high. Well done to all those involved.”

A huge congratulations to Grant House, who claimed this year’s victory.

Every student who took part demonstrated remarkable creativity, commitment, and imagination. A selection of the stunning artworks produced can be viewed here.

A Special Reward for Year 11: The Quad Pod Officially Opens!
The wait is finally over! This week marked the grand opening of the Quad Pod, a brand-new, dedicated food service exclusive to our Year 11 students during break times.
The launch of the Quad Pod isn’t just about shorter queues and tasty snacks; it’s a symbol of the school’s support for our hardworking students as they head into a pivotal season. With exams fast approaching, the school wanted to provide a “privilege space” that recognises the hard work Year 11 has been putting in behind the scenes.
The atmosphere was buzzing as students gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The honours went to Akeem and Bella, who represented their year group by officially declaring the Quad Pod open for business.
The feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many shared their appreciation for having a space of their own, noting that the gesture makes them feel seen and valued during this demanding year.
“It’s great to have something just for us,” one student remarked. “It makes the long study sessions feel worth it when you know the school is cheering you on.”
Of course, none of this would be possible without the heroes behind the scenes. A massive thank you goes out to our incredible catering team. They have worked tirelessly to coordinate this new service, truly making the “Year 11 dream” a reality. Their dedication to fuelling our students’ success—both nutritionally and morale-wise—does not go unnoticed.

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.

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.”