Wednesday 17th September witnessed the annual Year 12 Ice-breaker.  Not to be confused with dubious 'ice-break' events that are occasionally advertised in Cheltenham, and which are nothing to do with the school), our Year 12 Ice-breaker is our annual tutor group team-bonding Olympiad.    As always, it was a really fantastic afternoon.  It was brilliant to see lots of happy students collaborating, getting to know one another and having fun.  It was particularly pleasing to see how well our newest members of the school have settled into our community, and how well our Balcarras 'continuers' have made them feel welcome.  The staff team work was as exceptional as always, with Year 12 tutors and the Sixth Form team hosting the events.  The students all approached the afternoon in the right spirits – a really great time was being had by all.   

Congratulations must go to 12C JBH, this year's Y12 Ice Breaker winners on the day.  Commiserations go to 12M JCN, who were bested in the Rock, Paper, Scissors play-off.  

For Miss Heather, Rock, Paper, Scissors victory was redemption following a defeat to Mr Hazael two years ago at Ice-breaker 2023.  

Congratulations and apologies are also needed for 12A MKS.  A formal protest was lodged by a small delegation of concerned students regarding potential scoring irregularities.  A VAR review exposed a scoring error, which denied 12A MKS outright victory on the day.  Whilst this innocent error did gift the year group the theatre and spectacle of the 12C JBH v 12MJCN Rock, Paper, Scissors play-off, a formal apology has been issued to the students of 12A MKS, and a celebratory tub of Heroes provided as a prize.

It was great work from all (apart from on the scoring!)

This week has also seen the culmination of our annual series of 'Welcome Break-Time Brunches' where the Sixth form team get to know our newest members of the Sixth Form over coffee and a bacon sandwich.  Each year, the recruits we welcome from other schools make outstanding contributions to the Sixth form community and go on to fantastic post-18 destinations having progressed brilliantly and attained outstanding A-Level results.  We are very confident that the class of 2025-27 will continue to follow in such footsteps, and it has been a real pleasure to see how well all have started their A-Level journeys.

Mr Leatherbarrow, Head of Sixth Form