Word from the Head – 16 May 2025

Rev Kate Dean of Rosslyn Hill Chapel has collaborated with Heath Hands on an event for the Urban Tree Festival. This event will begin with a short workshop on Sunday 18 May at 2.00pm exploring our connection to the trees in our lives.This will then be followed by a walk to Hampstead Heath to spend about an hour appreciating significant trees, understand how to identify certain trees and find out about tree conservation work. The event will conclude with hot drinks at the Heath Hands Nature Interpretation Centre. To learn more and register to attend please visit;

https://www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/event-details/tree-connections-workshop-and-walk-on-the-heath

The Careers and Higher Education department is hosting the Careers Convention 2025 for our Year 10 and Year 12 students on Thursday 19 June, aimed at broadening and deepening students’ understanding of careers across a wide range of sectors, and informing them about the best ways to prepare themselves for success. To achieve this, Channing students need to hear from and have contact with people from these sectors. We are delighted to have several speakers already confirmed, but we would like to be able to add further representation from those who are in the fields of Medicine, Science, Financial Services and Law. If you, or anybody you know, are interested, we would be very grateful if you would complete this form to let us know.

We are also seeking parent volunteers whose organisation would be willing to host a small group of our Year 10 and Year 12 students for work insight visits on either Thursday 12 June or Thursday 19 June (afternoon only), particularly in the Financial Services, Media, Consulting and Medical sectors. Please email careers@channing.co.uk if you might be able to offer this experience to our students and we will get in touch to discuss this further with you. As always we very much appreciate all of your continued support.

On Wednesday 21 May at 4.30pm in the Arundel Centre, some of our most talented linguists will perform their chosen classic and contemporary songs, dances, poems and more in eight different languages. Their accomplished and creative interpretations will form a delightful cultural cornucopia. Please join us for our very first Languages Showcase!

The Year 8 Trip Briefing for Parents will follow at 5.30pm and students are invited to watch a French, German or Spanish film while the Trip Briefing is taking place.

Music at Lunchtime
Last Friday’s dazzling music at lunchtime brought us an incredible performance of the hit musical Hamilton. The concert began with a dramatic opening of the song Alexander Hamilton, sung by the cast of 7, taking us back in time to the 1700s with every emotion portrayed.  The song ‘Schuyler sisters’ then introduced us to the main characters; the harmonies between the three performers created a moving and spellbinding performance. The next songs ‘Satisfied’, ‘Farmer Refuted’ and ‘You’ll be back’ were all incredibly choreographed, with synchronized movements as well as incredible vocals.

‘That will be enough’ and ‘Dear Theodosia’ were performed next, and created a build up of emotions whilst developing the storyline of the musical. Finally the tear jerking performance and the raw vulnerability expressed in the closing song ‘Burn’ ended the performance in an intense and emotional way; encapsulating every emotion sung through the cast’s intense vocal riffs and incredible harmonies. A huge well done to the whole cast all of which had notable solo moments; Maika P-Y, Saskia C, Serrana B, Issy P, Sophia S, Lydia O and Sofia S-J. Additionally a very big thank you to Mr Maliphant-Gray for the superb sound and lighting, but most especially to the director and val coach – Mrs Bradbury-Rance. Do watch the video HERE.

Reviewed by Maya H-B

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Team could not be any prouder or smiled more widely on Monday 12 May when seven of our current Y13s and three alumnae celebrated the completion of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Buckingham Palace. The sun was shining and our Gold Award holders were beaming- well done everyone!

Congratulations to:

Y13- Liviana F, Lotte C, Sophie Mc, Maddie B, Lana S, Erica M and Catrin C.

Alumnae: Maddie Mc, Lucy F and Caitlin S.

At the YE Company Programme Competition first round at White & Case LLP offices on 24 April our teams, having worked hard on their company reports, impressed the judges with their answers at the interviews and having given super slick presentations of their company story to the audience, swept the board! TeeMotion were awarded the Team Journey Award and came Best Company Runner Up in this round, recognising how hard they have had to work to pull together as a team from two schools. Charms & Co received the Marketing and the Best Presentation awards and were awarded Best Company. Both teams then progressed to the North London Region final at Samsung KX on 8 May.

The competition at the North London final was tough: 2 companies from each of the 4 areas fought hard for the awards. Our teams have gone from strength to strength during the process and the culmination for each team was their live presentation to a packed audience and the judges. Each team was complimented for their different strengths and qualities and Charms & Co came away with the well-deserved Marketing Award.

The final stage of each team’s journey is to sell all remaining stock, maximise their profits and reflect on both their team and individual journeys through this life changing opportunity.

Look out for their professional looking bracelets and new necklace range and customisable hand printed T-shirts at Fair in The Square on Saturday 7 June. Both teams are still happy to accept pre-orders and can create customised items to your specifications. They will also be selling at school during June so check out their products via Instagram at Charms & Co and TeeMotion.

Mrs R Williams, YE Centre Lead

Form Time Reading
This week, 8LV have been diving into the wonderfully whimsical world of Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations by celebrated playwright Alan Ayckbourn. This fast-paced and imaginative play follows Ernie, a boy whose daydreams don’t just stay in his head—they burst into real life with often hilarious and unpredictable results. From sudden sword fights to unexpected appearances by polar explorers, Ernie’s vivid imagination brings chaos and comedy in equal measure.

The play offers more than just laughs—it opens the door to thoughtful conversations about creativity, the inner lives of young people, and the line between fantasy and reality. As students explore the script during Form Time Reading, they’re engaging with themes that speak to the importance of imagination, the quirks of adolescence, and the challenges of being misunderstood.

For parents, this offers a valuable glimpse into how literature is helping develop not just reading skills, but also empathy, self-expression, and a sense of fun. We encourage you to ask your child about Ernie’s latest “illucination”—you might be surprised where the conversation leads!

Staff Audiobook Series
We invite you to listen to Mr Martini Philips as he shares an excerpt from Gabrielle Zevin’s acclaimed novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — a moving and thought-provoking story that resonates deeply with today’s young people.

The novel follows the lives of Sam Masur and Sadie Green, childhood friends who reconnect in college and embark on a creative journey that leads them to design a wildly successful video game. As they build their game studio and rise to fame, their story spans three decades of innovation, personal growth, heartbreak, and profound connection.

Though not a love story in the traditional sense, the relationship between Sam and Sadie is rich with emotional depth — exploring themes of friendship, rivalry, grief, and collaboration. Alongside them is Marx Watanabe, their friend and business partner, whose steady presence adds another layer to this complex trio.

Zevin’s novel offers far more than a behind-the-scenes look at the gaming industry. It delves into issues that will resonate with our students — creativity, identity, disability, loss, and the power of meaningful work. Through the lens of game design, the story beautifully captures how we find purpose, how we grow, and how we start again, even after failure.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a powerful exploration of youth, ambition, and resilience — a timely and enriching read for KS4 and KS5 students navigating their own journeys of self-discovery and creative potential.

We encourage you to take a moment to listen and reflect — and perhaps, to read along with your child.

Research consistently shows that social reading experiences play an important role in developing a lifelong love of reading. With this in mind, our Year 10 students recently launched a 1:1 reading programme with Key Stage 2 pupils from Whitehall Park, one of our partner schools.

The sessions provide a valuable opportunity for students to come together and talk about books. Conversations ranged from favourite characters to big ideas, as they explored stories full of adventure, mystery and imagination. It has been a thoughtful and engaging way to connect through reading across age groups.

This week, our Year 12 Literary Society students embraced the creative challenge of continuous writing. With a series of unexpected prompts delivered at intervals, they were encouraged to write freely, letting their imaginations lead the way.

The result? A collection of beautifully evocative and thought-provoking pieces that showcase the depth and creativity of our students’ writing. One such piece, by Yasmine O (12 RD), stood out for its lyrical style and emotional insight:

‘Snow covered the street, hiding the green underneath as a bird flew cautiously above, hesitant to land and scar the perfection with its feet. The perfection of the snow was not the only thing under threat. Behind a fence a dog howled, as raised voices grew angrier, hands slammed on tables; even the cars outside flinched in fear. The bird flapped its wings twice more before deciding to land, making its mark on the snow and severing the last of the perfection from the street. Delighted, despite the rage boiling over the roofs of the houses, the bird hopped and ruffled its feathers, singing happily.’

Yasmine’s work captures a striking juxtaposition between peace and tension, highlighting how moments of beauty can persist—even amid chaos. We’re incredibly proud of the talent and emotional intelligence our students bring to their writing.

Year 8 German Trip to the British Film Institute
On Thursday 8 May the Year 8 German classes went on a trip to the British Film Institute. When we got there we had an informative talk about German history and culture. We got to do lots of speaking and writing and saw clips of films that we had to analyse. After lunch, we watched the movie Berlin 36, which is a film about an Olympic high jumper named Greta Bergmann who wanted to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics but there were many complications due to discrimination towards Jewish people in Germany at that time. Overall the movie was very moving and intriguing and made all of us watching understand the struggles Jewish people had to face during those times. Thank you very much to Frau Loosli for organising this trip for us.

 Matilde L, Year 8

Bridge of Doom
This week Science Club saw students testing their engineering skills by building the strongest bridge possible from masking tape and newspapers.  The first team racked up 300g before it was destroyed by the ever increasing masses placed upon it but the winning team clocked a remarkable and physics defying 1700g!

The team members were: Eliza J 7LR, Georgina W 7LR, Maia C 7LR, Erin L 7LR and Cara C 7LR.

Future sessions will be every Friday 12.30pm in LG1.

Anatomy Club
This week the students dissected a frog. Starting with the external anatomy, they examined the eyes, nostrils, mouth (with its row of sharp, tiny teeth) and the webbing on the feet. They then made a long incision down the front of the torso to inspect the organs. They were able to identify and remove the heart, lungs, stomach and intestines. Also the liver, which is very large in frogs and comprises three lobes.

Next week, the students will dissect a rat!

Year 12 Chemistry visit to Sacred Distillery
During enrichment on Monday, the Year 12 Chemistry students walked up Highgate Hill to the Sacred Distillery to give context to how the distillation process is used in industry. We learnt about the conditions used in vacuum distillation, vapour pressure, some of the compounds that are found in smells and flavours (like cinnamaldehyde) and that many of the compounds in smells are stereoisomers! It was really interesting to see the processes used to make spirits and how these are infused with different flavours and smells and also to watch someone passionate about chemistry doing a job they seemed to love. Thank you to Ian Hart and Hilary Whitney for a fantastic visit.

Football

U13 Sisters n Sport Cup v Notting Hill and Ealing
On Friday 25 April the under 13 football team played Notting Hill and Ealing in the round of 16 of the sisters in sport competition. It was an excellent match and we came out of it successfully winning 1-0 thanks to Eva’s goal (possibly the slowest goal we have ever seen scored). We dominated the first half having multiple shots on goal between Dahlia C and Siena R, and great defensive effort from the back 4 against the opposition‘s attack. Throughout the second half of the match, we had many shots on goal as well as Bea’s amazing bravery after being directly kneed in the head. Erin made multiple saves and great goal kicks. Overall we played brilliantly and are really happy we are through to the next round.

U12 GSA 7-a-side football tournament
On Thursday 8 May a group of 10 Year 7 players made the trip to Kings School, Warwick to play in this 7-a-side tournament. In the initial group stage we played against Warwick Prep School, Habs Elstree, Queenswood and Thornton College. We won every game scoring 9 goals and not conceding any.

This led us as group winners to play in the Cup group, which would determine the winners of the whole tournament. Channing got off to a great start beating Berkhampstead 2-0. The following game we played St Julie’s School from Liverpool. These were a strong side who were also unbeaten. Despite dominating the first half Channing could not create a clear cut chance to score. In the second half St Julie’s came out strong and managed to score with a very good shot from distance. The Channing team responded well and should have had an equaliser on more than one occasion. However the 7 minute half went very quickly and we lost the game 1-0. The following game we drew 0-0 with Mary Erskine and with St Julie’s also drawing one game, there was everything to play for in the final match. Channing found some form in front of goal beating Queenswood 3-0 but with St Julie’s also winning their last game, Channing finished runners-up. A great performance from all players with Cecilia R and Anya P finishing as top scorers.

Under 13 ISFA 7-a-side Essex regional Tournament
On Wednesday 14 May, the team of Ava K, Siena R, Dahlia C, Anoushka C, Eva B, Bea B, Phoebe J, Amaya C and Issie G achieved the magnificent feat of winning the ISFA Essex Regional tournament that included some big independent schools with big sporting traditions.

In the group stage we opened our account with a solid 0-0 draw against Highgate, which was then followed by a 1-0 win against Westbrook Hay, Anoushka scoring from a long throw by Amaya. The third game was a tough match against Belmont. Channing had the better of the first half and deservedly took the lead with a goal from Eva. Unfortunately right at the end a long shot from Belmont scraped them a draw. Knowing that only a win would see them through to the semi-final, Channing produced their best footballing performance to beat Queenswood 2-0, both goals scored by Anoushka. In the following game Belmont beat Highgate 1-0, which meant that we were through as group winners and Belmont as the runner-up.

In the semi-final we played a very physical Heath Mount School. The first half was a nervous display but fortunately great defending from Channing kept the score to 0-0 at the break. In the second half Channing played much better football and spread the ball well creating a number of scoring opportunities. Eva finally broke the deadlock for us to lead 1-0 with 2 minutes remaining. Great defending from Heath Mount kept the score at 1-0 and granted us a place in the final.

In the final we were to play Belmont again after they had won their semi-final on penalties. Just like the first game Channing was the better team and created a number of opportunities whilst restricting the opposition completely. Despite Siena hitting the crossbar with a great strike Channing couldn’t get the ball in the net and we finished on a tie of 0-0.

Normally penalties would be a very nervous affair, however despite missing the first one, we ended up with two fantastic penalties from Dahlia and Anoushka and with great goalkeeping from Ava we won comfortably. This now means the team is in the national final to be played at St George’s Park in June. Well done to all the girls involved for an outstanding team performance to lift the first silverware of the year.

Cricket

U13 & U15 
This term has seen Channing play its first ever hard ball fixtures. We entered both Under 13 and Under 15 in the Middlesex Cup.

The U13’s had drawn Godolphin and Latymer School in a match played at Shepherds Bush Cricket Club. Channing batted first and despite Erin L’s top scoring with 12 runs, other teammates could not quite add as many runs to the score. Channing finished 44 all out. In reply the two Middlesex batters of Godolphin and Latymer were able to quickly surpass this score and went on to win by 10 wickets.

In the U15’s we drew an away game at North London Collegiate. Again Channing batted first and played out the whole 20 overs, posting a score of 81 for the loss of 8 wickets. Iyla R was the top scorer for Channing.

In reply, again two strong Middlesex batters were able to score quickly to chip away at the score. Iyla R took the wicket of their best batter with a lovely leg spin bowl and then took the wicket of the next batter not long after. However NLCS’ opening batter scored a good 41 runs not out and the home side were able to win in 10 overs beating Channing by 6 wickets.

In both games, the girls learned a lot and it was so pleasing to see Channing being represented in the County cup.

Sisters n Sport Softball Pairs Cup
A team of eight Year 7 and Year 8 players travelled to North London Collegiate to play in the first round of the Sisters n Sport Softball Cricket Cup. The format of the game was 8 players who would bat in pairs for two overs. Outs lost the pair 5 runs.

In the first game Channing played Robert Clack School. Batting first the Channing team of Luella W, Sophia F, Siena R, Thomasina R, Sophiya V, Felicity R, Iris F and captain Amairah R scored 55 runs in the 8 overs. However with some careless run outs the team did lose 5 wickets so had the pressure of defending the score of 30 runs. However with the ball Luella quickly made it an uphill challenge for Robert Clack taking 3 wickets in her over. Iris also took a wicket.  However superb bowling and fielding all round kept our opponents score to 44 runs, which minus 20 for the wickets was an 11 run win.

In the second game against NLCS, Channing had learned from their mistakes and played a much better game with the bat. All pairs contributed to the score but a fantastic 20 runs in their 2 overs was a great achievement from Amairah and Iris. In this inning Channing scored 75 in 8 overs for the loss of 2 wickets.

In reply Siena took 2 wickets and Felicity, Thomasina, and Amairah took a wicket each. Channing held NLCS to 55 runs and with the 25 run deduction, won the game by 35 runs.

Channing are now into the third round of the competition. Well done to the whole team, it was a great performance with all 8 players contributing to the two wins.

Tennis 

Year 9 & 10 LTA Tennis Competition 
On Monday, our Year 9 and 10 students took part in the LTA Tennis Competition against Mill Hill School. On a hot and sunny afternoon, they played really well and won both their singles and doubles matches.

It was great to see them playing so strongly and enjoying the matches. They showed good teamwork and stayed focused throughout. Well done to everyone who took part!

Athletics 

Haringey Athletics Competition
This week, we took part in the Haringey Athletics Competition at New River Sports Centre. Year 7 and 8 competed on Tuesday, while Year 9 and 10 took part on Thursday.

The girls achieved some fantastic results, with Siena R finishing second in the Year 8 long jump. Our Year 7 girls won their relay race, and the Year 8 team came second in theirs.

In the Year 9 and 10 event Chileche G won the Year 10 Long jump with a superb 4.55m to finish 35cm further than her nearest rival. She then followed this by winning her 200m race.

Other notable performances in Year 10 was Darcy D finishing second in her 200m.

Zeruchi B came second in both the Year 9 100m and 200m and Tamara P came second in the 300m.

Well done to all the students who took part!

Well, the snow capped mountains in these photos are a very far cry from the beautiful weather we’re enjoying in the UK at the moment. However, we came across these great photos in the Channing Archive from a ski trip in 1968-69. I wonder if any of these alumnae have been back to this particular piste since…?!