Word from the Head – 26 June 2026

The Proms at St Jude’s Music and Literary Festival is looking for student volunteers to work as crew. If you are interested in volunteering please go to https://www.promsatstjudes.org.uk/volunteering and if you would like more information, please email volunteering@promsatstjudes.org.uk.

Happy Pride month from the Library! We are dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment and curating a diverse collection where everyone can feel seen. If any pupil (or yourself) would be interested in reading books with LGBTQ+ representation, please feel free to send them our way and we will be more than happy to assist them.

A big thank you and shout-out to Year 8 Rainbow Soc pupils for helping us set up this display!

Lauderdale House is delighted to invite young photographers aged 25 and under to enter the Lauderdale House Young Photographers Competition 2026. Entry is completely free, with this year’s theme “Everyday Life” open to your own interpretation. Selected photographs will be professionally printed, framed and exhibited at Lauderdale House this August, with finalists and the overall winner announced at a special exhibition launch. Whether you’re an experienced photographer or simply enjoy taking photos, we’d love to see your work.

How to enter: Email one JPEG photograph with the subject line “Young Photographers Competition”, including your full name, age and the title of your work to gvassallo@lauderdale.org.uk.

Deadline: Friday 10 July

Cost: Free to enter

Age: 25 and under

Young Photographers Competition 2026 | Lauderdale House

This year we have musicians from the Rebetiko Carnival band joining us for our Summer Concert and there will be music from many Mediterranean cultures. Most of our small and large ensembles will be performing at this exciting event and will be performing with our Greek Band. It will be a really glorious fusion of many genres and cultures – A perfect seasonal celebration of Channing Music!

The ensembles performing are: Conabor Choir, Brunner Show Choir, Cantemus Chorus, Chamber Choir, Chacapella, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Senior Strings, Cremona Strings and several small chamber ensembles.

Would you please note that if your child is a member of any of the ensembles mentioned above they will be required for the rehearsals taking place during the school day and for the concert in the evening.

All will be required to return to school by 6.10pm on the evening of the concert, which should finish by 9.00pm. Students will be expected to wear Concert Dress unless they are in Year 7, who should wear smart school uniform. We will provide a packed tea for any performers that are staying at school and request one on a form that I will be sending the students.

The ticket price includes drinks and a finger buffet of Mediterranean food during the interval. The interval will also include music and dancing! Tickets are priced at £15 (children under the age of 18 are FREE but do need tickets) and are available from the link below. Ticket numbers are limited, so book early on the Ticket Booking page of the website.

With the summer holidays just one week away, we would like to say a huge thank you for all the support with our pre-loved uniform initiative this year.

If you have any last-minute donations of good-quality secondhand uniform that your child has now outgrown, please leave them in the Channing Association permanent uniform recycling bin, located just outside/next to the School Office. Please remove name tags where possible, while keeping the size label intact.

Our next all-school pre-loved uniform sale will take place early on the Friday 11 September (we will send reminders and details closer to the date)

If you need any items before then, please email sschanningassociation@gmail.com with “secondhand uniform request” in the subject line. Please include the specific item and size required, along with your child’s name and class. We will let you know if we have the item available and arrange how and when it can be collected.

Thank you once again for your continued support of our uniform recycling initiative.

Wishing all our families a wonderful, restful and happy summer holiday! 

Senior School Channing Association

This half term, the Art History and Classics students visited the British Museum to see their collection of Classical sculptures and the new exhibition of Netherlandish drawings. We were personally toured by the curator of the exhibition who gave us an incredibly insightful walk through of the drawings. We also visited the British Museum’s study room, and were shown a part of their archival process and their monumental collection of drawings and prints.

Eliza, Year 12

Year 10 Silver Expedition
The picturesque South Downs certainly turned up the heat for our Year 10 Silver DofE cohort during their recent assessed expedition. Following weeks of meticulous route planning, intense preparation, and a demanding practice run, our resilient students set off into a blisteringly hot weekend – and they absolutely crushed it.

Navigating under a blazing sun brought plenty of challenges. Between heavy packs and skyrocketing temperatures, it was a true test of stamina, especially for our hayfever sufferers, who deserve an extra medal for endurance! Every single student dug deep over three days of hiking and two nights of camping and proved what total self-sufficiency really looks like.

A major highlight of the weekend came on the second evening when groups made excellent time arriving early to the campsite. This gave everyone a well-deserved chance to kick off their hiking boots, unwind, and truly enjoy the experience of cooking and dining alfresco under the stars.

I was delighted at the end to hear several students are already buzzing with enthusiasm for their next big adventure: the Gold Award.

Huge congratulations to the entire Silver cohort. You’ve done yourselves – and the school – incredibly proud! Massive thanks to the DoE team too, they couldn’t have done it without you.

Year 9 Bronze Expedition
Last week, Year 9 completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Expeditions, beginning with their Practice Expedition in the Chiltern Hills on Tuesday 16 June before taking on their Assessed Expedition in the New Forest from Wednesday 17 to Thursday 18 June.

The practice expedition in the Chiltern Hills provided students with an excellent introduction to expedition life and navigation. Each group was accompanied by a (silent!) member of staff, allowing students to make their own decisions while having reassurance nearby if needed. A special shoutout goes to the Bronze Bosses, who were the first group to complete their practice route!

On the Assessed Expedition in the New Forest, students put their skills into practice independently, navigating, carrying everything they needed, cooking meals and camping overnight. They showed fantastic resilience, teamwork and determination throughout. Hash Browns were impressively the first team back overall on both assessed days, while Mandem on the Map led the B-side groups, returning first on both days.

The assessed expedition ended with a well-deserved BBQ, prizes for categories including most resilient group, best name and best spirit, and celebrations for two birthdays. The week concluded with Friday morning activities before the journey back to school.

We are incredibly proud of the grit, maturity and enthusiasm shown by every student. Huge thanks to the staff team who supported the expeditions, and congratulations to all our Bronze DofE participants on a fantastic achievement. We look forward to seeing where their DofE journey takes them next!

Enrichment Week
Students across Years 7, 10 and 12 participated in numerous Careers and Higher Education activities during another packed Enrichment Week.

Work insight visits meant students from Years 10 and 12 were able to visit a number of workplaces across many career sectors. These included journalism at The Times; art curation at the Courtauld Gallery; law at the Supreme Court; consultancy with Analysys Mason; tech at Google; banking and finance at Deutsche Bank; design, engineering and architecture at AtkinsRéalis; film production at Pinewood Studios; health and business at the Wellington Hospital; languages with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and science and health at the Centre of the Cell at Queen Mary, University of London.

Students really appreciate the time and effort that goes into hosting them, which comes across in their comments and thanks to their hosts:

“Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us about your jobs in management consultancy at Analysys Mason, and letting us have the opportunity to create our own ideas to understand more about what your job is like. This whole experience was very interesting and useful for me to pick what career path I may take.” Annika, Year 10

“Thank you so much for the wonderful and informative tour at Google today. I’m very grateful to be able to participate and learn and learn what happens behind the actual websites, I have learnt a lot about the workplace and the workers and the newly emerging AI.” Luna, Year 10

Year 10 students completed their Morrisby psychometric profiling, which also gives suggestions for future study options and careers. Students can share the results with their parents and then discuss them in 1:1 meetings with Ms Wilberforce.

Once again pupils in Years 7 and 10 were challenged by 8billionideas to create and pitch new board games (Year 7) or identify a problem and devise a charity (Year 10), pitching their approach to their peers. Year 10 developed further oracy skills in their ‘Talk about Communication’ workshop, where they gained more confidence in public speaking. At both these activities we welcomed students from partner schools to join us.

Year 12s spent a whole day focused on their university applications and drafting their personal statements, supported by school staff and student recruitment personnel from the universities of Manchester and Birmingham. The highlight was a well-attended panel session of alumnae who shared advice and ‘what they wish they had known before they went to university’.

The annual Careers Convention offered Year 10 and 12 students nearly 30 different talks from documentary film making to veterinary practice, via publishing, the law, finance, subsea engineering and acting. The opportunity to ask questions was enthusiastically grasped, with many speakers commenting on how pertinent and focused the girls were. One of the most warmly received talks was from alumna Fiona Douglas-Home, who was at Channing just after the Second World War. Darcy G writes:

“I found Fiona’s talk fascinating and really engaging, not only was it amazing to hear about her experiences studying Art History all over Europe; in Florence and Paris, and her amazing career in archives at the National Gallery and even creating and running poetry festivals in medieval churches or her sitting room, Fiona also gave us all advice to always continue learning and pursuing what you love. Her wisdom and enthusiasm were magnetic and her insightful answers to all of our questions made the talk my favourite of the day.” 

We are extremely grateful to all our supporters – current and former parents, alumnae and some friends of the school with very tenuous connections – who enable these events to take place.

I am thrilled – and incredibly proud – to share the results of our LAMDA examinations.

Our students achieved something truly spectacular this session and deserve massive congratulations. Out of 67 examinations conducted by 4 different examiners, every single student was awarded a Pass with Honours.

To achieve a blanket sweep of 100% Passes with Honours is a massive accomplishment and marks outstanding dedication and beautiful performances across the board. Within that:

• Distinctions: 56 students achieved Distinction meaning the vast majority of our students, 84% of the cohort, achieved the highest possible level.
• Elite Scores: A Distinction mark is 80/100, and 8 of our students achieved a phenomenal score of 90+ marks, with one truly amazing student achieving full marks: a perfect 100/100! LAMDA examiners hold students to exceptionally high standards and a perfect score is an incredibly rare feat anywhere in the drama world.
• Theory Marks: The ‘Knowledge and Understanding’ section of the exam is where candidates answer questions on the text and their technique as a viva – is worth 20 marks. An impressive 91% were awarded Distinction level. We always have a proportion of students achieving full marks in this section, this year it was a massive 36/67.

What makes the marks even more impressive is that LAMDA Combined Acting is a serious challenge – students aren’t just performing a single monologue; they also have to master the dynamics of a duologue, matching their partner’s energy, timing, and spatial awareness. These results in a collaborative discipline mean the students weren’t just great individual performers – they were also listening, reacting, and working together like true professionals. The high marks means their performance, character interpretations, and their post-performance Knowledge and Understanding section were simply excellent – and for 1 student flawless!

These results reflect the immense hard work, creativity and resilience our students poured into their studies, as well as the unwavering support you provide them at home, and our unstinting encouragement and feedback. Seeing their confidence grow and their dedication rewarded in this way is the absolute best part of what we do. We are incredibly proud of their talent, commitment and progress.

We will distribute their official Certificates and Individual Learner Reports as soon as they arrive. In the meantime, please give them a massive round of applause tonight. Bravo!

Meanwhile, you can watch or relive their wonderful showcase performances on the Channing Performance website.

Year 8 Trip to Aachen in Germany
In Enrichment Week, Year 8 Germanists headed to Aachen for a sunny week of cultural and linguistic immersion.

Day One

Scavenger Hunt in Aachen
On the first day, once we had arrived in Aachen, we had a scavenger hunt in the town where we would spend most of our time. In this hunt, we visited different landmarks and found significant objects while also learning about Aachen’s history and getting to know the town. To do this challenge, we split up into two groups and attempted to get as many of the questions done in an hour; there were 10 in total and, although no one finished all of it, we had lots of fun and it definitely prepared me for what Aachen was going to be like everyday. In this hunt we visited a Cathedral, a bakery where we got to try some bread for free, three different famous fountains, saw a metal man, and walked through most of the town.
This was very fun and I found it very useful.

Anya P

Dinner at the Aachener Brauhaus
For dinner, we ate some classic German food like Bratwurst mit Salat. It was very delicious, and the waiters were very helpful to us considering our German isn’t very good yet.

Valentina AD

Kino auf Deutsch
A classic animé was on the cards in the art deco Eden Palast cinema: Kikis kleiner Lieferservice, Eis and Popcorn were much enjoyed.

Day Two

Visit to Aachen Cathedral
Our tour of the Aachen Dom, a UNESCO heritage site which holds the shrine of Charlemagne, ‘the Father of Europe’ was fascinating. Our tour guide was himself an archaeologist who had excavated the foundations of the Roman Baths which originally stood on the site, spanning three times the area of the Cathedral.

Visit to Carolus -Thermen
On the second day of our trip, we all went to visit the Carolus Thermen. It was very relaxing, and refreshing, as there were many different types of pool temperatures, such as very hot, warm, and cold! I preferred the warm pool, as the heat of the hot pools were boiling and the cold pools were at ice temperature! There were outside pools, and indoor pools. My favourite was one of the outside ones, because there was a short period of time, every half hour, where they would turn on the waves, and the current would bring you round the pool. As well as that, it also had these waterfall-type things where you would float underneath them and it would feel like a massage. The water in the pool contained different types of minerals which were good for your skin, and different temperatures to soothe your muscles. Overall, I really loved the mineral pools/baths and I would definitely go again next time.

Paloma Z

Visit to a local farm (Bauernhof) – cleaning Pferde and getting to know the Ziegen, Kaninchen and Esel was a wonderful experience, followed by a picnic.

Day Three

Theatre Workshop
On the third day of our trip we went to a theatre workshop in the morning. We played some games in German which were very fun and we were mainly spoken to in German. Then we listed which social media platforms were mainly used by us and the ones that were not used by us. After we write down what the pros and cons were of social media and how they could affect us. My favourite part of the workshop was the games because it was interesting to see what games German people would play. After the workshop we filmed an advert in full German, my group did it on blue mascara and it was very entertaining to do and was definitely a fun part of my day.

Primrose D

Bread-making and bubble blowing
After the theatre workshop, we ate lunch and went to a ladies house to do bread making! The lady that was showing us how to make the bread was very nice and she spoke in German throughout the process which was fun and challenging because it made our brains work harder since we were trying to listen and think about what she was saying. The bread making was a very fun experience. We started by picking the wheat out of the bran and grinding it to make flour. We then added seeds and yeast to the flour and put it in the oven. When we were waiting for the bread to bake, we blew bubbles in soap through straws. We even made straws from the bottom of the brand to use for blowing. Blowing bubbles was very fun and we made very big bubbles together. Once the bread was ready, we let it cool off and then we ate it! There wasn’t much flavour but it was tasty. The bread making and bubble blowing was very fun and we all really enjoyed it.

Eva B

Kochschule
On our third evening we went to the suburbs of Aachen to have a cooking lesson entirely in German it was very fun though a bit difficult to understand what the chef was saying sometimes we made pizza bread, pasta and a mousse it was very delicious but tiring as we had to sometimes use a lot of energy to turn the machines and such. We ate the food ourselves and at the end got an apron.

Julia H

Sports Day 2026 
What an incredible day we had for this year’s Sports Day! The energy was electric from the very first whistle, and House spirit was in full effect across the entire field. It was great to see the students showcase their athleticism in all the events! Everyone pushed themselves to the limit to gain those all important points for their Houses.

We saw some absolutely spectacular athletic performances throughout the day: On the Track: fast times and incredibly tight races that went right down to the wire in the 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, hurdles, and the nail-biting relays. On the Field: Some massive throws and big jumps kept the points rolling in, in the long jump, discus, shot putt, and javelin.

The day ran incredibly smoothly thanks to the teamwork of staff members, catering and facilities team behind the scenes. A massive thank you to our amazing House Officers who helped to support throughout the day and bring the house spirit.

The big question is: Who won Sports Day? The final points have been tallied, but the results are under wraps for now. All will be revealed during Mark Reading to find out which House will be lifting the shield and which students won the individual cups for the year groups!

A Morning of Dance
On Tuesday 23 June we hosted our first ever interschool Morning of Dance. Bringing together dance students from four different schools; Channing, City of London School for Girls, Queen’s College and North London Collegiate School, the energy in the Sports Hall was absolutely electric. The morning featured two incredible 75-minute workshops led by top industry professionals. Students first took centre stage with West End performer Emma Jones for a high-energy Musical Theatre workshop, followed by a deeply expressive Contemporary Dance session with Sarah Poekert, the Artistic Director of Thrive Dance. Each session wrapped up with an invaluable Q&A, giving everyone a peek into the professional dance world. All the students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, leaving the hall inspired, energized, and ready to keep moving. A huge thank you to everyone who made the morning possible and such a success, we hope it is the first of many!

National Schools Theatre Awards
The cast and crew of Hadestown enjoyed a memorable evening at the National Schools Theatre Awards in The Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane on Monday, celebrating the success of their outstanding production alongside some of the most talented young performers from across the country.

Dressed to impress and fully embracing the glamour of the occasion, students arrived ready for a night of red carpets, performances and awards. Not even the summer heat could dampen spirits as the excitement built throughout the journey to London. In true Hadestown style, some cast members even treated fellow Tube passengers to an impromptu singalong of songs from the show, bringing a little theatrical magic to the commute.

After reuniting with fellow company members, the cast proudly walked the red carpet before taking their seats at a spectacular gala event. With more than 300 schools represented, the evening showcased an incredible range of talent, featuring performances from productions that had been recognised throughout the awards season.

The biggest moment of the night came when Serrana Bliss was announced as the winner of the Best Female Musical Solo Award for her stunning performance as Persephone in Hadestown. The award is a remarkable achievement and a fitting recognition of the talent, dedication and stage presence that made her portrayal such a standout success.

While Serrana’s award was a highlight, the evening was also a celebration of the hard work and commitment of the entire Hadestown company. From the performers on stage to the crew working tirelessly behind the scenes, every member of the production played a vital role in creating a show of which the school can be immensely proud.

Congratulations to Serrana and to everyone involved in Hadestown on an incredible achievement and a truly unforgettable night on Monday.

STEMM Society
The STEMM Society has been building bridges using lolly sticks and string. They have been using their budgeting skills to make sure that the project is not too expensive but remains environmentally sustainable. Next week they will be testing the weight bearing potential of their constructions.

As temperatures soared this week, we took to the archive for inspiration and spotted this fabulous photo of a pupil sitting on a soil mound in the 1950s: it seems as though our girls were rather au fait with notions of ‘earthing’ and conductive cooling (the latter providing immediate physiological relief by transferring excess body heat into the ground) – of course they were, they’re Channing girls after after all!