The following are helping at Open Morning from AM reg until break: Tala Abbas (L4B), Samuel Akinsanya (L4B), Tselmuun Bat-Erdene (L4O), Evie Beake (L4O), Frida Blanco (L4G), Theo Brown (L4C), Maddy Cardelli (L4C), Lucas Clark (L4O), Cosmo Cleveland (L4C), Matteo Collins (L4H), Daniel Cristobal Laurrieta (L4G), Amelia de Silva (L4O), Edelyn Ditmar (L4G), Donya Dolatshahi (L4C), Gabriela Geodjenian (L4H), Joseph Georgiou (L4O), Sammy Gilbert (L4C), Joe Gipp Traverso (L4O), Barney Gorringe (L4C), Philippa Graham (L4Y), Ayaan Gulati (L4B), Kara Gupta (L4Y), Matteo Hanna (L4C), Sybil Hargreaves (L4O), Ruby Harridge (L4B), Zack Harris (L4B), Jackson Harris (L4H), Edith Haynes (L4H), Zak Heanen (L4G), Eden-Rose Jean-Baptiste (L4C), Niamh Kelly (L4Y), Giorgia Khera (L4H), Taran Khera (L4Y), Isadora Kirkpatrick (L4B), Vihaan Mathias (L4Y), Eva Mazur (L4B), Carlo Mehrabi (L4O), Anna Melo Korynska (L4G), Mariam Mesrati (L4B), Mayu Mihayashi (L4G), Asahi Miura (L4Y), Alexandra Norman (L4Y), Ernest Ollendorff (L4Y), David Pantea (L4C), Mark Pantea (L4H), Elysia Papathanasiou (L4H), Thomas Paul (L4G), Siena Rahim (L4B), Rishi Raykundalia (L4B), Aiva Regis-Moore (L4B), Ben Rhoda (L4H), Carl Saour (L4H), Millie Scambler (L4G), Pendle Selway (L4H), Flynn Skinner (L4Y), Isla Taplin (L4C), Ben Thomson (L4O), Eoin Tierney (L4B), Ayaan Usmani (L4B), Savanna Vamathevan (L4G), Aran Virdi (L4O), Ivy Weeks (L4Y), Olivier Winiarek (L4B), Max Yazdi (L4O)
Posted on Mon 14th Sep 26 by Mr C Eastwood *Still live*
Definition: When repeating
or looking at a word for a long time makes it temporarily seem strange,
unfamiliar, or meaningless.
Origin: Semantic comes from Greek semantikos, meaning “meaning” or
“significant.” Satiation comes from Latin satiare, meaning “to fill” or
“satisfy.”
Sentence: After staring at the word ‘school’ for
a minute, I experienced semantic satiation and it suddenly looked like it was
spelled wrong.
Chosen by: F3B
Book of the Week (Fiction): People
Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence
Three 13-year-old strangers are
connected by one big secret. Nervous Ayrton was stolen away from his mum as a
baby. He was returned safely, but now Mum won't let him out of her sight.
Curious Stanley has a Forbidden Grandmother. His mum won't even talk about her.
Homeless Sen has finally found a place to live, but she'll be out on the street
if she upsets her secretive landlady. What happens when their paths cross...?
For fans of: page-turning
mysteries; stories with depth; family
Book of the Week (Non-Fiction):
Welcome to AI (006.3), by Matthieu Dugal and Owen Davey
The most complete
guide to AI for youngsters, covering everything from Ancient Greece to ChatGPT.
In this fun,
simple, and vibrant non-fiction book, technoscience expert Matthieu Dugal,
creator of documentary AI: To be or not to be, shares the epic
history of artificial intelligence and gives answers to the biggest head-scratchers:
• How does AI already help us, at home and at school?
• Which robots from your favourite movies may soon be in the real world?
• What are avatars?
• …and many more
Article of the Week
Bayeux’s back! Tapestry fever
grips UK
Is history written by winners?
An extraordinary artwork has returned to Britain for the first time in almost a
century. It provides a fascinating window into how history is told.
In early July, over 80,000
people joined an online queue to book tickets, waiting up to nine hours for the
first release. They were queuing not for Oasis, nor Taylor Swift, nor even
Glastonbury. They were waiting for tickets to see a 950-year-old piece of
fabric.
This Thursday, the British Museum
will unveil its exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry — a 68m long cloth that
narrates the Norman Conquest of England. It is usually housed in Bayeux in Normandy.
This is the first time the tapestry has left France since the 11th Century.
It might be the hottest
exhibition of the year. Reactions have been ecstatic. King Charles III said it
symbolises an “entente amicale” between the UK and France. The Times’s critic
Laura Freeman called it “a magnificent, spine-shivering experience” and “a show
to tell your grandchildren about”.
The tapestry tells the story of
a brutal confllict. But its own tale is full of twists. It is largely believed
that it was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the half-brother of William
the Conqueror. Opinion varies on where it was made.
Most historians contend it was
created in England, likely by women from Canterbury, in part because it is not
technically a tapestry but a piece of embroidery. Anglo-Saxon England was
famous for this art form.
At some point it was moved to
Bayeux, where it languished until 18th Century antiquarians took an interest.
During the French Revolution it was confiscated to be used for covering army
wagons, before being saved by a lawyer. Napoleon exhibited it in Paris to drum
up support for his own invasion of Britain.
In World War Two, when Germany
occupied Paris, leading Nazi Heinrich Himmler ordered it to be taken to
Germany. Allied forces managed to save it just in time. It has been displayed
in a purpose-built museum since.
It is often claimed that history
is written by the victors. The tapestry is a key example. It was created to
celebrate the Norman victory — even though it was made by Anglo-Saxon women.
The tapestry does not flinch
from showing the violence against the defeated Anglo-Saxons. One section shows
a woman and child fleeing a burning building. But otherwise, says historian
Catherine Clarke: “It shows little of the wider impact of the battle on English
people”.
We think of history as fact. And
some of it is: few doubt that the Normans won the Battle of Hastings, for
instance. Yet history is often a constructed fiction, cobbled together from the
stories left behind by others — often those with the power or privilege to
write.
But whilst the Bayeux tapestry
comes from the winners’ side, there are also plenty of accounts of the Norman
Conquest told by the Anglo-Saxons. The Life of King Edward, written
between 1065 and 1067, gives a real time reaction to the conflict from an
English perspective.
When William died, the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle — written by Anglo-Saxon monks — criticised his greed and
cruelty. Sometimes the conquered do get a voice. You just have to listen for
it.
The following are helping with Open Morning from AM reg until break: Kaito Bonnel de Mezieres, James Brook, Henry Heald, Samuel Lock, Paola Baudin, Finlay Burns, Oscar Casadio Robinson, Justin Chan, Zeph Coleman, Louis Daniels-Shayvard, James Dodder, Ayush Gupta, Ayser Hussain, Ralph Lewis-Jones, Tate O'Sullivan, Tristan Page, Krisha Popat, Ivo Richardson, Shotaro Sagae, Joshua Smith, Isabel Taylor, Lara Tombs, Georgia Toolan, Aloniel Yosief
Posted on Sun 13th Sep 26 by Mr C Eastwood *Still live*
The following are absent from all lessons for the Chaplaincy Formation Day. Please go to the Cloisters at the start of Period 1:
Edward Graham (F3), John Khadouri (F3), Joseph Kennedy (F3), Carolina Autran Botelho (F3), Stefan Collis (F3), Rehmat Azad (F3), Zaira Keraj (F3), Mia Haxhija (F3), Juan Suarez Torres (F3), Millie Codrington (F3), Ella Ostaszewska (F3), Fintan Avella (F3), Amelia de Silva (L4), Amelia Kyagulanyi (L4), Anna Melo Korynska (L4), Bella Davis (L4), Elizabeth Kan (L4), Elysia Papathanasiou (L4), Kara Gupta (L4), Lautaro Potter (L4), Lucas Nwaokolo (L4), Mariam Mesrati (L4), Matteo Hanna (L4), Niamh Kelly (L4), Philippa Graham (L4), Ryan Salehi (L4), Siena Rahim (L4), Tazmin Rege (L4), Theo Brown (L4), Thomas Paul (L4), Tselmuun Bat-Erdene (L4), Alexandra Norman (U4), Anastasia Norman (U4), Anaya Dhillon (U4), Artina Hashemi Nasab (U4), Azariah Abel (U4), Benjamin Mpofu (U4), Carl Ihezie (U4), Dylan Avella (U4), Emmeline Love (U4), Harry Campbell (U4), Jenni Bosher (U4), Kitty Hall (U4), Lisa Kluemper (U4), Lowry Gorman (U4), Maria Bignell (U4), Momoka Tejima (U4), Penri Powell Cotter (U4), Reuben Adebutu (U4), Simone Radebe (U4), Sophia Norman (U4), Tom Pollard (U4), Uma Sidhu (U4), Varvara Nedostupenko (U4), Doireann Keogh (U4), Alejandro Smith Verona (L5), Claudia Scott (L5), Danny Boyle (L5), Harvey Bissett (L5), Kasper Muraszko (L5), McKayle Adewuyi (L5), Ronnie Sunderland (L5), Sheelun Jing (L5)
Posted on Sun 13th Sep 26 by Mr C Eastwood *Still live*
The following are away all day on the A level Design trip:
Flynn Anderson-Williams, Zara Balakrishnan, Tristan Booth, Vikunth Dhiraj, Cecily Fox, Rory Grosvenor, Daniel Hatch, Owen Keenlyside, Nick Lewis, Izabele Macyte, Hugo Parmentier, Casper van Loenen
Posted on Sun 13th Sep 26 by Mr C Eastwood *Still live*
Monday Faculty Cafe Talks 1.05pm in the Helikon Centre
Monday 14 Sept 2026
L4 Research Poster Presentations:
Benefits of the beach – Tselmuun
Bat-Erdene
Space mining – Ayaan Gulati
Dreams - what are they? – Grace Hickman The invention of the light bulb – Mason
Patel
All welcome Pizza, KitKat, juice
NOTE: due to large numbers, entry is by ticket and
limited to 40 places – pick up a ticket on the Monday either before school or
at breaktimen from Mrs Gorman (nextdoor to the Helikon Centre)
Posted on Thu 10th Sep 26 by Mr S Scicinski *Still live*
Pupils who took part in our Summer Book Club this year, a reminder that we have the virtual visit with 'Secrets of the Snakestone' author Pia DasGupta to look forward to in a few weeks time! Please submit any questions you would like to ask the author in advance by sending them to Ms Phelan on teams by Tuesday 15th.
The deadline for collecting any raffle tickets you earned for participating in our BOOKOPOLY reading challenge over the summer has been extended to Monday 14th September.
Don't forget to visit the library to claim you tickets, hand in your player sheet, and be in with a chance to win one of our prizes!
These take place today, Wednesday 9 September, periods 2 - 6 in the Helikon Centre. Academic Scholars to check their Teams Messages for the time of their meeting
A huge well done to all of our Pickering students who earned more than 400 House Points last year, as of 1 May!
To celebrate all your hard work, effort and contributions, we’re inviting you to a full-on Sundae Bar celebration!
Friday, 18 September 1:15pm Geography ICT
Lower 4th: Pendle Selway, Ruby Harridge and Aiva Regis-Moore. Upper 4th: Harry Campbell, Azariah Abel, Dylan Avella, Momoka Tejima, Orlando Salisbury, Benjamin Mpofu, George Bigland and Federico Baratta. Lower 5th: Elsa Munoz Alvarez and Ethan Finnegan. Upper 5th: Abi Bricknell, Tom Hill and Feras Asami. Lower 6th: Aoife Clark.
There will be a second celebration later this term, recognising the additional House Points earned through July of last year once the tables are finalised.
Posted on Tue 8th Sep 26 by Ms Zuhlke *Still live*
Please add any students in your form who are off games. They will need to travel to perivale unless they have permission to remain at school. Please send any correspondence from parents regarding the injury to Miss Attwell
Posted on Tue 8th Sep 26 by Millie Attwell *Still live*
Friday 11th September All Form 3 pupils will attend the Co-curricular Fair on Friday 11th September in the Cloisters from 13.00-13.30. This is your chance to see the different activities on offer and start signing up. Enjoy!
Please note that all students in Years 9–13 who have selected Netball for two terms will have internal matches at Perivale Playing Fields this Saturday.
U5, L6 & U6: 9:00am–10:30am
U4 & L5: 10:30am–12:00pm
All information can be found on SOCS, so please make sure you check the details before Saturday.
There will also be a small group of girls in the Senior teams who have a tournament at Gordons. Again, please check SOCS for all relevant information.
Please complete the off games register if any pupil in you form is off games. They will be required to travel to Perivale ont he bus unless permission has been granted.
If you have recieved a note from the parents/guardian please forward on to Miss Attwell
Posted on Thu 3rd Sep 26 by Millie Attwell *Still live*
Current L6 and U6 should attend Prizegiving in the Abbey Church on Friday 4th September at 19:30. School dress should be worn by all. Guest of honour: Matthew Carr OP.
We will be doing Anything Goes for the school musical in February 2027. Auditions are open to all students from F3 - U6. Physical copies of the audition booklets are available from outside the Drama Classroom. Please sign up to an audition day on the sign-up sheet. Auditions for your year group will take place Wednesday 9th September (lunchtime). Please note that the weekly rehearsals for this production will be Monday & Thursday afterschool, and Friday lunchtime. However, I will try to avoid rehearsals for F3 & L4 on a Thursday due to Games. The performances will be 4th-6th February 2027.
We will be doing Anything Goes for the school musical in February 2027. Auditions are open to all students from F3 - U6. Physical copies of the audition booklets are available from outside the Drama Classroom. Please sign up to an audition day on the sign-up sheet. Auditions for your year group will take place Thursday 10th September (lunchtime). Please note that the weekly rehearsals for this production will be Monday & Thursday afterschool, and Friday lunchtime. The performances will be 4th-6th February 2027.
We will be doing Anything Goes for the school musical in February 2027. Auditions are open to all students from F3 - U6. Physical copies of the audition booklets are available from outside the Drama Classroom. Please sign up to an audition day on the sign-up sheet. Auditions for your year group will take place Friday 11th September (lunchtime).Please note that the weekly rehearsals for this production will be Monday & Thursday afterschool, and Friday lunchtime. The performances will be 4th-6th February 2027.
Physical copies of The Importance of Being Earnest audition booklets are available from outside the Drama Classroom. Please sign up to an audition slot on the sign-up sheet. Auditions will take place Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th September (lunchtime). Please note that the weekly rehearsals for this production will be Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes. The performances will be 24th and 25th November.
