Last week our Inclusion Assemblies focused on Tourettes Awareness.  With only small numbers of our school community experiencing tics it has become even more important for everyone else to understanding how these involuntary sounds and movements impact on the individual.  Form groups followed up the assembly with a knowledge check activity to ensure that misconceptions about Tourettes had been effectively addressed.   

As always, our pupils showed fantastic understanding of their peers and ways that we can embody our Etone values to ensure acceptance and belonging for all.

Next on the schedule for our Diversity Champions for Inclusion will be some forward planning to decide how we can update our calendar of inclusion events for next year.  Watch this space…

Well what an amazing year it has been for our Class of 26! Back in 2021 they came into “big school” after a very fragile period in Year 5 and 6 through COVID.

Throughout this entire year Class of 26 have been able to draw on the resilience they developed since then to become the loving and caring group of pupils we see today.

With the hard work done it was time to celebrate at the Class of 26’s Prom!

To begin with the entrances were bold and brave just like our pupils. With luxury cars, limousines and maybe one to many loud sportsters – A personal highlight for Mr Bowley was the double decker red bus, which a group of lads arrived on as the first guests of 2026!

Whatever they came in, pupils were treated like royalty as they walked the red carpet and had their picture took by the “paps”.

Once inside pupils got to reminisce and catch up over their fruity mocktails as they awaited the Prom Start Proper, this year we were treated to an appearance from Matthew Knight – The truly fantastic roaming magician who stunned our pupils into absolute silence (We are wondering if we could have him back at school for ever day!!) He was a real pleasure to host and we would highly recommend anyone thinking of this sort of entertainment check him out: Mathew Knight | Magician Hire For Parties, Events & Weddings | UK Wide

Pupils flooded to their seats but not for long as Class of 26 made it a record time to get to the dance floor! With the food, entertainment and of course their friends, spirits were high and they had an amazing time singing their hearts out with their peers.

Additionally we were once again proud to see the high volume of staff who always turn up to support our learners. Even after a busy and long day, these members are dedicated to supporting our pupils throughout their time at Etone, non-stop.

A BIG thank-you to all for their support - Goodbye Class of 26 - You’re going to be missed!

This year, Etone proudly celebrated Diversity Week with a range of activities designed to promote inclusion, understanding and wellbeing across our school community.

During the week their were House assemblies presented by our Diversity Ambassadors alongside our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Price. The assembly highlighted the importance of celebrating our differences, respecting one another, and creating a school where everyone feels valued and included.

Throughout the week, our Mental Health Team hosted pop-up stands in both the hall and café during breaktimes. This year's focus was on LGBTQ+ mental health, providing students with information, advice and guidance, as well as signposting them to sources of support and encouraging open conversations about wellbeing.

To show their support throughout Pride Month and Diversity Week, staff proudly wore rainbow ribbons during the month of June, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to equality, inclusion and celebrating diversity.

A huge thank you to our Diversity Ambassadors, Mental Health Team and all staff and students who helped make Diversity Week such a positive and successful celebration of our inclusive school community.

School Council have been working hard ahead of welcoming our new Year 7 pupils for transition to come up with some top tips for their first few weeks at Etone College. We are sure that you will agree that they have given some fantastic advice! We will be sharing these with our new Year 6 pupils on transition day and as part of their transition summer challenges. Well done School Council!

Etone College prides itself on the range of student leadership opportunities offered to our pupils. To find out more about the work of our student leaders, check out our website page.

During Refugee Week between 15^th and 18^th June, our KS3 students took part in a range of activities designed to increase their understanding of the experiences of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. This year's theme, "Courage," encouraged students to reflect on the bravery shown by those who are forced to leave their homes and start new lives in unfamiliar places.

Throughout the week, students learned about the challenges many refugees face, including leaving family members behind, adapting to a new culture and language, and rebuilding their lives after experiencing conflict or persecution. Students also considered the importance of kindness, inclusion and community in helping people feel welcome and supported.

Many students shared thoughtful reflections on what they had learned. One Year 7 student commented, "I didn't realise how difficult it would be to leave everything behind and start again somewhere new. It made me think about how we can make new students feel welcome." A Year 8 student said, "Learning about refugees helped me understand that everyone has a story and that we shouldn't judge people without knowing what they have been through."

To help develop empathy and understanding, students were placed in the shoes of a refugee and asked to make a series of difficult decisions. Working in groups, they considered four key choices that refugees may face during their journey to safety, discussing the risks, consequences and emotions involved in each decision. This activity encouraged students to think critically about the realities of displacement and the courage required to navigate such challenging circumstances.

Refugee Week provided a valuable opportunity for students to develop their awareness of global issues while reinforcing our school values of self-belief, integrity and caring. We are proud of the maturity, thoughtfulness and engagement shown by our Y7-Y9 students throughout the week and look forward to continuing these important conversations in the future.

On Monday 22nd June, Year 12 Law and Year 12 Criminology pupils attended a University of Warwick Law School workshop. The workshop was based around Criminal Law, with a focus on the landmark Tony Martin case (R.v Martin 2001) where a 54-year-old farmer was initially charged with murder for shooting at two burglars at his isolated farmhouse.

The pupils divided into two groups: prosecution, and defence, and in a mock trial scenario, debated whether Martin’s actions were premeditated, or whether he was just defending himself and his property.

In the end, Martin was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, but on appeal the conviction was reduced to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. His sentence was therefore reduced, and he was released from prison in 2003.

On Thursday 11^th June, Miss Stafford (Deputy Head) was very proud to present at the Research Schools Conference representing Etone College.  The presentation discussed the work that the school had done to share evidence-based approaches, informed by the Education Endowment Foundation, and to share the fantastic opportunities that we have had to work in partnership with Staffordshire Research School. A number of staff at Etone College support Miss Stafford to contribute to the advocacy work of the school and we are very proud to have shared our approaches in a number of key areas. This has included writing blogs, providing training and producing podcasts which share how we have used the Education Endowment Foundation guidance reports and also how we have engaged in pilots and opportunities for research informed practice.  The work of the school in partnership with Staffordshire Research School can be found on our partnerships page and also as part of our Trust website. To find out more information about the role of Etone College in advocacy, please follow these links and take time to read some of the blogs from our amazing teachers. We would like to place on record our thanks to Staffordshire Research School for the amazing partnership opportunities that they provide.