Word from the Head – 27 June 2025

Dear Parents,

I have just returned from an inspiring week in Philadelphia, where I was attending the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools annual conference. ICGS has membership of more than 570 schools educating over 350,000 girls and young women in 26 countries so you can imagine, it was remarkable on many levels! Above all the conference rooms were packed with intelligent, committed and thoughtful school leaders from all over the world, alongside classroom teachers, guidance counselors (the UK equivalent of a Head of Year or pastoral lead), administrators and development professionals, all of whom were there to share their knowledge and expertise in educating girls.

I enjoyed keynote speakers including Illana Raia, whose company provides mentoring moments for girls and young women, and Priya Lakhani, founder of Century Tech, on the role of AI and how we might consider its role in schools and for girls and women. I went to numerous breakout sessions, on topics ranging from institutional sustainability to curriculum design – all led by women leaders in girls’ schools for women leaders’ in girls’ schools. And then there were all the other conversations, struck up with people in sessions or over refreshments and carried on over lunch and dinner. I have come back with a bulging list of new contacts, lots of ideas (my poor team!) and invitations to visit schools in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – for starters. You can certainly expect lots of overseas visitors to Channing in the coming year as well.

Rather than download everything I experienced, today I want to share with you some of the ideas which Megan Murphy, Global Executive Director of ICGS, covered in her conference opening speech. Bearing in mind that the American President had just announced missile strikes on Iran, she made the point as she opened that “in a time when it feels as if the world is moving beneath us and that women’s leadership is still questioned and constrained across many sectors and societies, the relevance of girls’ schools has never been more urgent or more powerful. We have both the privilege and the responsibility of teaching girls to understand their strengths, hone their voices and define the kind of leaders they want to be.”

She went on to consider the return on investment in girls’ leadership, quoting research studies that demonstrate that:

  • Companies with women in executive roles are 25 percent more likely to outperform financially;
  • Organisations with at least 30 percent women in leadership are 12 times more likely to rank in the top 20 percent for financial performance;
  • Women-owned businesses make up 42 percent of all U.S. businesses – yet still receive only about 2 percent of venture capital funding; and
  • Companies with diverse leadership teams, including women, report 25 percent higher employee satisfaction and retention.

In other words, “When women lead, we all win”. But, as she pointed out, women leaders don’t just appear, they are cultivated by the specific context of girls’ schools. ICGS’ own internal collaborative research projects, carried out by educators from more than 40 girls’ schools across 10 countries over the last 5 years, show that girls thrive when they feel seen, heard and valued: “they don’t just raise their hands, they raise their expectations”. Certainly at Channing we know that, like their peers in girls’ schools worldwide, our girls are willing and able to engage in leadership roles, STEM activities and political discussion, building strong relationships with their adult educators and their own self-confidence along the way.

Megan highlighted the McKinsey report, The Inner Game of Women CEOs, which explores some of the key attributes women bring to their leadership:They lead with purpose, not ego;

  • They are strategic and generous;
  • They can see the big picture and manage execution;
  • They act with both confidence and humility.

She emphasised that these findings underscore the very attributes we cultivate in girls’ schools every day. Not by accident, but through intentional pedagogy, relational culture and a commitment to equity and excellence. Our message should be that leadership is not doing more, it’s being more – being grounded, collaborative, human – and this is what helps create a more equitable and just world. As Megan put it: “Because we’re not just preparing girls for a seat at the table. We’re preparing them to rebuild the table – with more room, more voices, and more vision.”

It won’t surprise you to learn that I’ll be developing these themes in my speech in our Founders’ Day service on Saturday. I look forward to welcoming you to the school and am sorry that our building work means that we are not able to host all of you for the service at noon. Do please come along anyway to see what your children have achieved over the course of this year and give thanks for the 140th anniversary of our school’s foundation. Among other things I am pleased that our Charity Officers, Millie and Scarlett, have arranged for this year’s school charity, Women for Women International, to be with us. The charity supports women who have survived war and conflict by helping them rebuild their lives through education, skills training, and emotional support. I look forward to celebrating the wonderful work they do, and there will also be an opportunity to make donations before our year’s partnership comes to an end.

With best wishes for the weekend,

Lindsey Hughes
Headmistress

Notices

Hanna Fathers’ sponsored 142 mile walk

Hanna Fathers (PA to the Headmistress) along with her friend Amie will be doing a charity walk from Dublin to Galway Ireland to raise money for the David Nott Foundation and in memory of Amie’s mother who passed away from peripheral vascular disease.

If you would like to read Hanna & Amie’s story or donate please click on this link.

You can also purchase commemorative t-shirts for the walk with all proceeds going to the David Nott Foundation.

GSA's Photography Competition

Calling all eager photographers!

GSA’s Photography competition aims to find the best up and coming photographers in our schools today and to show the world life through their lens. For this year’s competition, generously sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), we invite students to explore the theme of a ‘Bright and Brave future’ for all girls. The deadline for entries is 12 September so this is a perfect summer holiday project. Visit the GSA website for further information, and details on how to get involved. Happy snapping!

Lauderdale House - As You Like it

Experience Shakespeare like never before at this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production blending contemporary London culture with the Bard’s wit, romance, and secrets on Wednesday 23 July & Thursday 24 July, at 7.30pm at Lauderdale House. Further details can be found on the flyer below and via their website.

Summer Concert

You are warmly invited to the Summer Concert, which will be held in the Arundel Centre on Thursday 3 July at 6.30pm. The Summer Concert is a glorious fusion of many genres from Schubert to Gershwin; Amy Winehouse to Bill Withers. A perfect seasonal celebration of Channing Music! The programme will be given by musicians from Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The concert will open with our fabulous Concert Orchestra playing film music from ‘Shape of Water’ and ‘Game of Thrones’. We have three choirs performing a number of contemporary pieces, namely the Conabor Choir, Brunner Show Choir and Chamber Choir. There will be many instrumental delights from our Senior Strings, Cremona Strings, Jazz Band, Live Lounge, Brass Ensemble and chamber groups.

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 8.00pm. 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 would like one.

Tickets are free of charge but are essential due to the capacity of the Arundel Centre and are available now by clicking on the link below.

Booking for Summer Concert

We look forward to welcoming you to our final event of the school year.

Cancer Research UK London Winter Run 2026

Ebony Byfield, our afternoon receptionist, has been inspired to be 10% braver after watching the London Marathon back in April. She will be doing a 10K in aid of cancer research in 2026. I hope you will be willing to donate to her page to help her raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK and support her as she trains over the summer for the 10k on 15 February 2026.

https://www.winterrun.co.uk/fundraisers/EbonyByfield/winter-run-2026

Girls Enjoying Success

Partnership News

We were delighted to welcome our local MP, Tulip Siddiq, to be the guest judge at the Channing Debating Society’s wonderful afternoon of debating on Thursday. Year 5 and 6 pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School debated the motion, ‘This house would ban smartphones for under 16s’. The debate was chaired by Cara C in Year 7 and Saira C in Year 10. Leila A and Amelia D in Year 10 completed the judging panel. Everyone was impressed by the confident delivery of the pupils and the quality of their arguments. It was a special and memorable event for everyone involved. Thank you to all pupils and staff who participated!

English News

Our Year 7 and 8 English trip was a fascinating journey through the heart of London, bringing to life the worlds of two literary giants: Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare. We explored the streets and landmarks that shaped their works, gaining a deeper appreciation for their lives, their legacy, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Our adventure took us to a variety of historic sites, including Postman’s Park, which may have inspired a setting in Great Expectations. We also visited the peaceful ruins of St. Mary Aldermanbury, where we learned how Shakespeare’s plays might never have survived without the dedication of his two close friends who compiled the First Folio after his death.

At St Peter’s, Cheapside, we discovered just how much of our modern language owes its existence to Shakespeare. It was amazing to learn that phrases like “dead as a doornail” and even the word “puke” came from his plays!

We wrapped up the day with lunch in the beautiful gardens beside St Paul’s Cathedral and writing stories or poems inspired by our discoveries, reflecting on all we had seen and learned. It was an inspiring trip that made the past feel vividly present – and left us with a new appreciation for English literature. Stay tuned to read our winning entries for the creative writing prize next week!

Reading News

This week, 12/13 EHa proudly turned the final page of Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood, wrapping up a shared reading experience that began back in September. Every Monday morning, the form gathered to read aloud from this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Hag-Seed is a clever, layered novel that explores themes of revenge, redemption and the transformative power of theatre. Set in a correctional facility, it follows the story of a disgraced theatre director who stages a production of The Tempest with inmates, blurring the lines between performance and reality.

Reading aloud together has not only deepened students’ understanding of the novel but also built confidence, listening skills and a strong sense of community. Research shows that reading aloud improves comprehension, expands vocabulary, and supports emotional connection with the text – benefits that go far beyond the classroom.

Well done to 12/13 EHa for their commitment to a truly enriching literary journey!

Enrichment Week News

Year 8 & 9 Enrichment Week
While some pupils ventured out and about for Enrichment Week, others at Channing explored creativity through design, cookery and science.

Pupils enjoyed cookery and pottery as part of our schools partnership links thanks to Ms Kung.

Inspired by mythical creatures, they sketched, crafted and brought theatrical costume ideas to life through costume design and theatrical makeup. Pupils also explored how designers like Alexander McQueen and artist Isabelle de Borchgrave use model making as a key part of the creative process.

Guided by the expertise of Mrs Maliphant-Gray, our in-house theatre designer, pupils developed stunning designs and transformed them using professional stage makeup, turning each other into living works of art.

Pupils had the exciting opportunity to dive into some Whizz Bang Science experiments and unleash their creativity by designing their own tote bags and T-shirts.

To honour the importance of self-care and wellbeing, everyone was invited to take part in a calming and restorative crystalline sound journey, a peaceful experience that offered a moment to reflect and recharge.

It’s been a truly creative and inspiring week for all who took part!

Careers and HE Enrichment Week 
Enrichment Week is always a busy one for the Careers and HE Department. Students across Years 7, 10 and 12 participated in numerous careers and Higher Education related activities.

There were work insight visits on three days for Years 10 and 12 to a wide range of places of employment including the Supreme Court, Google, Timberseed Recruitment, Deutsche Bank, Atkins Réalis, Rothschild & Co, Pinewood Studios, the Wellington Hospital, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Centre of the Cell at Queen Mary, University of London. These visits are very impactful, as can be seen from these comments:

“During my visit to Atkins Realis, I explored what it’s like to work in a global engineering and project management consultancy. …It made me realise how engineering can be both creative and impactful, especially in solving problems like climate change and reducing things like car accidents.” 

Lili B, Year 10

“I visited Google’s office in London. Two employees spoke about their careers and the role of AI, especially Google’s Gemini. We had a tour of the Google office, which gave us a glimpse into the work environment and how they value the happiness of their employees. We were even given cupcakes at the end! Both speakers highlighted the importance of being curious, open-minded, and involved in things outside of school.” 

Ella C, Year 10

“I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Supreme Court. It was a really impressive building, and it was a lot grander than I had expected. We got to sit in on small parts of two hearings. One of them was about taxes, which proved to be really eye-opening. It was really surprising how complicated the case was and how much work and research goes into each argument. Even though I didn’t understand everything that was being said, it showed me how important law is in everyday lives.” 

Caye B-F, Year 10

Morrisby psychometric profiling was completed by Year 10s, 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.

“I think the Morrisby aptitudes and personality tests were very helpful as they improved my understanding of my abilities and skill and the careers that would potentially suit me. And the report was also very informative and accurate, which greatly encouraged me to look into careers that were recommended for me.” 

Pavi G, Year 10

Years 7 and 10 completed two different activities with social enterprise company 8billionideas. Year 7 were challenged ‘Across the Board’ to come up with ideas for new board games. They learned about the iterative process, working in a team and created some wonderful ideas – and a lot of mess!

Year 10 were ‘Charity Founders’. Working with some students from St Aloysius they identified a problem, devised a charitable approach to solving it, proposed a business plan, learned about getting their message across effectively and made their pitches.

Year 10 developed further oracy skills through their ‘Talk about communication’ workshop with Talk the talk. Despite the stifling heat, the groups remained focused and everyone gained confidence in speaking that will help in their GCSEs and beyond into A levels, university and careers.

“The oracy workshop helped me improve my public speaking skills and focus on little things like posture which make a huge difference in the way you are perceived by people who may hire you.” 

Aria H-M,Year 10

On Wednesday Year 12s spent a whole day focused on their university applications. Talks on how to write a great personal statement from the University of Bath, support in drafting these from the Universities of Sheffield and Nottingham, alongside targeted input for Oxbridge students and those applying overseas, meant much progress was made. A Q & A session with a recent Channing alumna allowed students to ask their key questions about university life and study.

The Careers Convention on Thursday offered Year 10 and 12 students the chance to choose between more than 25 different careers talks. With areas ranging from the armed services through investment banking and music performance to veterinary science, students were able to find out key facts, ask questions and network with the speakers.

The Careers and HE Department, on behalf of all the students, is extremely grateful to all our supporters who contributed towards the success of the activities across the week. We thank all the current parents, former parents, alumnae, friends and supporters of the school for their generous help in making these events so successful and impactful.

UCAS Enrichment Challenge: Year 12 Chemistry
To get a head start on building personal statements, Y12 are deep into their UCAS enrichment challenge……digging through cutting-edge science journals to fuel their standout presentation showcases!

STEM News

8 billionideas Workshop
On Tuesday last week, Year 7 took part in a STEM/entrepreneurship workshop where they learnt all about game design and marketing and then had the opportunity to design and present their own board game designs. The students came up with lots of creative and unique ideas and had a lot of fun in the process.

Leicester Space Centre
On Thursday last week Year 7 went on a trip to the National Space Centre. They took part in a rocket-building workshop where their rockets were put to the test. They also journeyed through space in the planetarium. The students had a great time seeing a real life rocket, exploring exhibits and learning about space and were sad to leave!

Sports News

Senior School Sports Day 
Last Monday, we kicked off Enrichment Week in the best way possible—with Sports Day! The morning began with our enthusiastic Year 7 and 8 students heading down to the track to start their events. It was fantastic to see their competitive spirit on full display, with girls giving it their all not just for individual success but to earn valuable house points. We certainly have some incredibly speedy runners and powerful throwers among our younger year groups!

By mid-morning, our Year 9, 10 and 12 students arrived, ready and raring to go. Their energy was infectious, and it was thrilling to watch the competition heat up as they took to their events, cheered on by the younger students.

As lunchtime rolled around, the excitement continued with the house chant competition—it was brilliant to hear and see everyone getting involved, showing their house pride loud and clear.

In the afternoon, the final track events brought some nail-biting races, with girls pushing themselves to the limit, proudly representing their houses right to the finish line. The day closed with the house relays, and it was fantastic to see so many students eager to take part.

A big thank you to the parents and family members who were able to come down and support, it made the day even more special. We’re already looking forward to planning Sports Day 2026!

Bronze DofE Practice (17 June) & Assessed Expeditions (18 – 19 June) 
Since January, our Year 9 students have been working hard in preparation for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Expeditions, building up their skills and confidence during weekly lessons. Their efforts culminated last week during Enrichment Week, when they took part in both their Practice and Assessed Expeditions.

On Tuesday 17 June, the students travelled to the beautiful Chiltern Hills, where they embarked on a 3-hour Practice Walk. Each group set off individually, accompanied discreetly by a ‘silent’ member of staff whose role was to observe without offering assistance—encouraging the students to rely on their teamwork, map reading, and navigation skills. The aim was to fine-tune these essential skills in a real-world setting, ahead of the all-important Assessed Expedition.

The following day, Wednesday 18 June, we set off bright and early for the New Forest. Here, Year 9 had the opportunity to put all their training into practice. From navigating unfamiliar routes to working collaboratively to overcome challenges, the Assessed Expedition was a chance for students to demonstrate independence, resilience, and responsibility. Despite the tough conditions, our students showed great determination and supported one another brilliantly. It was clear that all the preparation paid off, as each group tackled the expedition with confidence and maturity.

We are incredibly proud of how Year 9 conducted themselves throughout both days—showcasing not just their practical skills, but also their ability to remain positive, focused, and resilient under pressure. A huge well done to everyone involved!

Here is an account of the Assessed Expedition from Emma Lien, of Mind the Map:

DofE was fun but exhausting. On day one, we set off on time in the sweltering heat, making sure to take regular rest breaks to stay hydrated. Our bags were heavier than expected, but we were in high spirits. Then we got lost in a wood for a bit, had a bit of bag drama, and ended up being late back by an hour. We set up our tents, cooked our delicious meal (pasta and cookies) and then eventually went to sleep as we were exhausted. On day 2, we woke up bright and early, ready to be on time for the day. We were one of the first groups out, and we were ahead of time at every checkpoint! We had cold pasta for lunch and kept drinking water. Then, we were on the home stretch – we were walking on pure will and adrenaline. We got back to the campsite and realised we were first back! We were so happy and we all passed. What a turnaround from not finishing the practise! Overall, we all had a great time and are thinking about doing Silver DofE next year.

This picture shows Mind the Map having arrived back to the campsite first on Day 2

Football

SistersnSport U13 Semi-Final
Thursday 12 June was the semi-final of the SistersnSport Cup: a win and the team would qualify for the national final at Lilleshall. Our opponents from Riddlesdown School in Croydon were in good form and had achieved notable success in their own region. Riddlesdown were a good team with some physically strong players. However Channing was able to weather some early pressure and settled into the game. The Channing team played a mid-block and looked for counter attacking opportunities against a Riddlesdown high line. This worked very well with Siena R easily out pacing the opposition defence but just couldn’t beat the keeper. A second opportunity was well saved and Anoushka C followed up from the wing only to be denied by another superb save from the keeper. With a 0-0 half time score, Channing were still in the game, however an injury to Siena and defender Issie G, took some of the momentum out of our play and Riddlsdown were able to capitalise with a goal. A further injury to Lillie B added to our woes and Riddlesdown were able to score a second and run out 2-0 winners. This had been a great tournament for the team, particularly as it was the first time many of the players had played 11-a-side.

ISFA U13 7-a-side National Finals – Thursday 19 June
After a superb performance in winning the South Central qualifying round, the U13 team travelled to the National Finals at St George’s Park. Unfortunately with the date falling in our Enrichment Week, the team had to travel without the Year 8 players from the original team. Add an injury to Amaya C and the team now had five of the original team missing. This meant that we took a Year 7 team to play. This was a great experience for a team that had done incredibly well in their own age group.

However, it was a tournament involving the best independent schools in the country. Unfortunately, despite playing with great spirit and determination in a group with City of London, Beechwood, Leeds Grammar and Warwick High, the girls were not able to win any of their games.

With the U12’s and U13’s achieving a lot of success this year the teams have faced some of the best footballing schools in the country. We now know what we need to do to compete with the best and take the next step for the 2025/26 season.

Cricket
This summer Channing has looked to further develop cricket at the school in both hardball and softball competitions.

In the hard ball game, after a first round cup defeat to Godolphin and Latymer the U13s were entered into the Middlesex Plate. A bye in the quarter finals led to a semi-final against St Mary Magdalene school and our very first home game at St Aloysius’ playing fields. The opposition batted first and were immediately put under pressure from some good bowling from Luella W, Mimi M, Amairah, R and Sophia F had our opposition at 28 from 6 overs. However, great work from captain Amairah, who spread the bowling out through the team and some very good running between the wickets did mean that St Mary Magdalene were able to speed up the run rate and eventually finished 105 for 4 from their 16 overs.

In reply, Luella W and Erin L started really well and at 6 overs we had scored 42 runs. However with the loss of Luella and Erin, the run rate slowed and with some hesitation in running between the wickets we fell short of the required target and lost by 16 runs.

However a great display by all the girls and hopefully we can build on this next year to play more hard ball matches.

In the Haringey softball tournaments both an U15 and an U13 team competed against Fortismere and Highgate Wood. Both teams batted very well and ran between the wickets really effectively to keep up a high run rate. However for both teams, a little more work is needed in the field as the errors did cost runs which lost us both games for both age groups.

Channing Archives

As we excitedly ready the school for this year’s Founders’ Day celebration we would like to share this photo from a Founders’ Day drama performance from 1957!

Open Days

Our Junior and Senior School Open Days have been announced:

Junior School Open Day Dates

  • Monday 15 September

Senior School Open Day Dates

  • Thursday 25 September – “School-in-Action” Open Morning
  • Tuesday 7 October – Open Evening 

Come and experience our school firsthand!
👉 Click here for more details and to book your visit.