Meet the new Head of Junior School
Miss Pendleton joins us as the new Head of Junior School, so let's get to know her a little bit better.
Read MoreWeekly News
Miss Pendleton joins us as the new Head of Junior School, so let's get to know her a little bit better.
Read MoreThe job of a Headteacher is an incredibly special one and I feel truly privileged to come to school every day. My role is to passionately and purposefully lead my amazing team to ensure that our vision and passion generates inspiration and motivation, so that excitement permeates throughout the school. My ultimate aim is that ‘Every girl, Every day’ feels happy, inspired and challenged to truly strive for excellence.
Croydon High is an exceptional School and my vision is to build on the excellence already being seen across the board in all areas. I am whole-heartedly committed to building on its remarkable reputation for developing passionate, fearless and forward thinking young women. I am also looking forward to bringing new opportunities for our girls and building strong connections with them all, so that they feel celebrated and championed within a very special learning environment which will equip them to take charge of their own futures. I am very ambitious for girls education and I truly see the importance of nurturing happy, healthy, ambitious and confident young women.
I am the Queen of ‘To do lists’ and firmly believe that they are the most effective productivity tool! Every evening I make a list of things to do for the next day. My top tip is to always include a couple of items which I have already accomplished, so that the next day I can immediately tick items off, which makes me feel good!
I have always had a great passion for singing, ever since I was very young. As a child I appeared in many shows and played the role of Annie in the musical and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz! Tap dancing is also a great love of mine.
I would tell my 15 year old self to definitely train to become a teacher because it is the best job in the world!
Mr Rew is no stranger to Croydon High as he progressed from Director of Academics to now Deputy Head (Academic), but how well do we know Mr Rew?
Read MoreFirst of all, I am delighted, and very excited, to have taken up the role of Deputy Head (Academic) at the beginning of this summer term! I will be overseeing all things ‘academic’ in the senior school, with a focus on ensuring that every pupil has a rich programme of study and achieves their potential whilst at Croydon High School. I am looking forward to working closely with our wonderful pupils and staff to continue to develop innovative and exciting learning opportunities for all.
As the question suggests, a key part of my role will be to ensure that any barriers to achievement are removed, and I will be working hard to support all of our pupils to enable them to achieve to the best of their ability. I feel very strongly that our girls should strive for the very highest of academic standards, whilst developing essential skills such as resilience and independence, with the ambition to become creative problem solvers, well equipped to thrive in today’s ever-changing society.
I’m not sure I’ve mastered this one! Certainly having a list of objectives that I want to achieve on a daily basis helps, ranking these in order of priority of completion. I suppose if this approach was linked to PREP, then it would be completing work with respect to a due deadline, and not just completing the work I enjoyed the most! It is also important to be kind to yourself, and recognise that we all have a bad day from time to time. Recognising when you are not on top form is key, and I tend to go for a walk around the school to clear my head before going back to work suitably refreshed.
In an earlier life, I was keen student of politics and economics before embarking into maths teaching, so I have a keen eye for current affairs. I also enjoy a good historical fiction work and am currently working my way through a series of books about the infamous Genghis Khan. I am a bit of a sports fanatic too, and run several times a week, when I’m not injured, and I spend winter Sunday mornings coaching hockey to 8 year olds, though not wholly successfully!
This is a tricky one! I would say be kind to yourself and listen and act on the advice from people you trust who have your best interests at heart.
Ms Gilmour joins us as the new Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form), so let's find out a bit more about her.
Read MoreAs Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form), I run the day-to-day operations of the Sixth Form, from their academic progress to their pastoral welfare. I get to work closely with the fantastic Sixth Form team to do this. I also work with the Senior Leadership Team to review the strategic aims of the whole school, but leading the strategic planning for the Sixth Form. While doing this I also teach Physics and Mathematics.
I want the Sixth Form to be a place of purpose, empathy and drive. Where we really embody the mantra of ‘Every Girl, Every Day’ to harness each Sixth Former’s potential, to celebrate their uniqueness and to empower them to be the best version of themselves as they aim high. I want the students to be able to look back at their Sixth Form experience and really believe that they challenged themselves, they took every opportunity, they used their supportive community to be their best versions.
Anyone who works with me will know I need structure and to write things down! Nothing better than a to-do-list, an organised calendar and week overview. When things get busy it is always easier to centre yourself and re-focus if things are organised and written down.
I recently started playing rugby, having been an arm-chair fan for many years, although I will continue to go and watch players much better than myself! I also love to stitch embroidery designs; when my restless legs need time to sit.
That your uniqueness doesn’t need to be hidden and you don’t have to try to fit in to every situation. You can do whatever you want to do, if you just put the time and effort into it – it will come!
What are we truly 'sorry' for? It's easy to feel like we're being 'difficult' or causing 'inconvenience', but it's time for us to be unapologetic and change the narrative, but what does that look like in practice?
Read MoreIn a recent assembly, I spoke to the senior school pupils about Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana documentary. In it she discusses her struggle to “deprogram the misogyny in my own brain”. She says: “I’m trying to be as educated as possible in how to respect people,”. She talks about negative language often used to describe women then pauses, pulls a face and apologises.
“Sorry, that was a real soap box,” she said, before correcting herself again — “Why did I say sorry? Ugh!”
Off camera, director Lana Wilson can be heard saying: “It’s because we’re trained to say sorry”.
“Yeah, we legitimately are!” enthused Swift.
It is a small but poignant moment in the 85-minute documentary — which, it should be noted, is entirely about Swift, her rise as a performer, and her struggle to “harness the full power of her voice”.
If you are already a fan, you are likely to have already seen this, but if you’re not, I recommend you invest 85-minutes of your life to watch this documentary. It makes Swift instantly relatable, but it begs the question — if she, with all her success and during a documentary about herself, apologises for sharing her opinion, how should the rest of us fare?
More to the point is saying sorry something we are trained to do? And if so, what are we going to do about it?
The short answer is, yes, and it’s a conundrum women have been stuck in since the middle ages, according to psychologist Rachel Green from The Emotional Intelligence Institute.
“In England, women used to have a horrible metal implement locked on their head for speaking out in public or for arguing with their husbands, and then paraded through the villages,” she said.
“It was called the Scold’s Bridle and was intended to humiliate women.
Also, consider images from the second world war – Keep Mum, She’s Not So Dumb – reinforcing the societal norm that women should keep quiet.
Examples such as this demonstrate that we have had this [attitude] passed down from one generation to another.
Even now we apologise for speaking out or speaking up, and get called bossy, aggressive.
Traditionally, we are often raised to value empathy over the seemingly “masculine” trait of strength — which means that, in situations where strength or assertiveness is required, we often feel the need to cushion our actions and our opinions with an apology.
We are often too worried about hurting people’s feelings and causing offence. And our fear of causing offence can leave us open to not gaining the respect we deserve and should strive for.
The notion Swift and Wilson touch on — that we’re raised to think it’s bad for us to be seen as “bossy” — means that female language is peppered with qualifiers like “I’m sorry, do you mind if I sit down?” and “Sorry, I just have one more question.”
We say sorry for things that we don’t need to say sorry for, [and] we say sorry in a way that sounds as though we are apologising for ourselves.
Sociologist Maja Jovanovic, who delivered a superb TEDx Talk called How Apologies Kill our Confidence, calls this kind of apology-laden rhetoric “confidence killers”.
She says: “Apologies matter, but if you are beginning and ending your sentences with sorry, don’t be surprised if there’s nothing left of your confidence at the end of the day, you’ve given it away with every needless, useless apology.”
I enforced this message to our pupils, saying that we often subconsciously apologise with our actions and demeanour. I see so many highly intelligent, articulate young people, standing up to present and everything about their body language apologises for being there. Wrapping their legs around themselves, pushing others in front of them, leaning on a table, apologising for taking up space. It demonstrates to the audience that they think that they don’t have a right to be there, to be sharing their brilliant ideas and opinions, like you are trying to make themselves invisible.
My suggestions to the pupils are that rather than using sorry as a default, why not say please or thank you.
Please may I ask a question? Please would you explain that to me one more time because I don’t think I quite understand.
Thank you for helping me, not ‘Sorry for bothering you’
Instead of saying ‘Sorry for complaining’, you could say, ‘Thanks for listening’.
Think of a please or a thank you as positive self promotion.
Additionally, we should all stop apologising for our achievements.
We need to own our accomplishments. We’ve been socialised into thinking it’s not ladylike or feminine to be boastful. We also need to resist the urge to insert a self-deprecating joke or to deflect a compliment, and just own it.
When we are presenting, we should stand tall, put our shoulders back and our chins up and speak loudly and with confidence – even if inside we are a ball of nerves and overwhelmingly terrified!
My message to our pupils is to make small changes to their thinking and language (verbal and physical) so that when a genuine apology is warranted, it will mean more. When you need to apologise, be clear WHAT you are saying sorry for. If you know you have made a genuine mistake. If you know you have hurt someone, physically or emotionally. If you’ve behaved badly. If someone is grieving. And if you know in your heart that you owe an apology to someone, make it genuine. Consider your tone of voice and rehearse what you say. Start with the apology, identify the reason for it and explain how you will move onwards from this point. Don’t add a “but …..” – let’s avoid the #sorrynotsorry!
Our pupils are in an environment where they are supported and championed – we want to send them out into the world with the confidence to navigate potentially challenging and difficult situations.
I encouraged the pupils to try those strategies out NOW – with us – so that they can build that confidence. If they want to apologise, or to ask for something WITHOUT starting with an apology, they know they can ask a form tutor, Head of Year, any member of the senior team, or indeed any member of staff to help them navigate that situation
Remember there’s just no need to apologise for yourself, when there’s nothing to apologise for.
And if Taylor can embrace this …… then we can too!
Mrs Emma Webb
Assistant Head (co-curricular)
This week we are delighted to introduce Dr Anita Biswas, Head of Sports Medicine at the English Institute of Sport who travels regularly with the England Men’s cricket team.
Read MoreAfter leaving Croydon High School in 1987, Anita studied medicine at Nottingham University, England, and for a Masters’ degree in Sports Medicine at the Royal London Hospital (Queen Mary and Westfield College), before working at Headley Court, the Military Medical Rehabilitation centre and completing General Practice training. She completed a Clinical Fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and has worked full-time in Sport and Exercise Medicine since.
Anita has worked in elite sport for over twenty-five years, with various national and international sports teams working at the Olympic Medical Institute, The British Olympic Association Intensive Rehabilitation Unit and the English Institute of Sport.
She has attended three summer and one winter Paralympic Games, The Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and the Olympics in both London and Rio, as well as numerous European and World Championships with a variety of sports. She has been a tournament doctor for the Men’s and Women’s professional tennis tours for over twenty years and is currently the lead physician at Wimbledon.
Anita has had responsible roles as part of the 2012 Olympics Work Groups, British Olympic Association Medical Steering Committee and, UK Sport Anti-Doping Work Group, BASEM executive committee, and is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and a Fellow of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine. She is a member of the Medical Panel for the England Cricket Board, travelling regularly with the Men’s cricket team. Fascinatingly, Anita is also medical advisor for Mint Diagnostics whose mission is to revolutionise the way female hormone data is collected and processed.
In her position as the Head of Sports Medicine at the English Institute of Sport, she has a strategic role responsible for optimising athlete health, co-leading the Female Athlete Health and Performance Programme. As part of this programme, she has worked with a start-up company to develop award-winning cutting-edge technology which can be used to monitor female cycling hormones.
Anita is passionate about keeping athletes playing their sports, keeping active people active, regardless of their age, and helping inactive people become active. She has a holistic approach, treating not only the injury but also addressing the underlying causes, working closely with allied professionals, e.g. physiotherapists and osteopaths, to optimise care.
We asked Anita about her time at Croydon High. “My fondest memory is of Mrs Davin-Looby Head of Music, telling us that we were decking the hall with bits of rubbish when we decimated a Christmas carol whilst practising for a school concert. She was a wonderful teacher and inspiring talent.” She went on to say “Another inspiring teacher Mrs Trickey helped me to develop a determination to never give up. Despite not being naturally academic that determination allowed me to follow my dream of going to the Olympics as a doctor.”
Anita told us “I would like to see research into female athlete health and performance explode. So much of the training research used to train Olympic and Paralympic athletes has been carried out in men due to the challenges with working around the menstrual cycle. However, women’s sport is growing and unless the science keeps up, female athletes will never be as good as they could be. I would love to see those who finance sports and health research to recognise that understanding best how to work with the menstrual cycle will help improve the health as well as the performance of exercising females and those participating in sports.”
When it comes to enjoying her spare time, “I fill every minute, so don’t really have spare time. But if I am not working or driving my teenagers around, I will be on the water: kayaking, paddleboarding or windsurfing. I love cycling and playing cricket with an ‘old ladies’ softball team”
Anita would tell her 15-year-old self “There will always be positive and negative people: hear the positive voices louder than the negative ones. Be the best you can be: that will be good enough.”
Anita was delighted to hear that Cricket has returned to the curriculum at Croydon High, especially now that we have benefited from a brand-new cricket wicket following a generous legacy from alumna Susan-Ann Dowle.
Mrs Karen Roe
Alumnae Relations Manager
In mid-March, a group of students from Years 10, 11 and 12 departed on a trip to Europe.
Read MoreBeginning in Berlin and ending in Poland, this trip helped students studying German, REP and History retrace the key events that led to the Holocaust.
After getting settled at our hostel, we walked into Berlin’s bustling city centre, where we began our tour with an exploration of the outside of the Reichstag – Germany’s government. building. Around it lay memorials to the politicians, Roma and Sinti and gay people murdered by the Nazi regime. We then walked to the intricately carved Brandenburg gate, and then – for those who decided to stay out later – to Humboldt University and its Empty Library memorial, which commemorates the books burned in that place in 1933.
The next day, we saw and explored the exhibition at Wannsee House, where the ‘Final Solution’ was decided upon as Heydrich outlined how European Jews would be rounded up, sent to extermination camps and murdered.
We saw where their plan was placed into action when we visited the train tracks of Berlin-Grunewald station, where thousands upon thousands of Jewish people departed from, believing they were being ‘relocated’.
A nine hour coach journey took us into Krakow, Poland. Here, we got to see where the train tracks ended: Auschwitz concentration camp and its neighbouring offshoot, Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Many of our group’s members found the experience of exploring these areas both emotional and humbling. The range of displays found at the museums in these camps – from displays of the stolen belongings found in the ‘Canada’ storage houses to photographs of those killed through work or in the gas chambers – helped bring the focus of our trip back to the victims of the Holocaust, and helped educate us on the extent of the abuse that took place under the Nazi regime.
Whilst in Krakow, we also had the opportunity to learn about the experiences of Holocaust victims who were not in concentration camps by walking through the memorial that stood where the city’s ghetto had once been. Later, we walked to the ruins of Plaszow concentration camp, where the significant ‘Memorial of the Torn Out Hearts’ stands.
Furthermore, we were privileged enough to hear a Belarusian Holocaust survivor, Lidia Maksymowicz, speak about her experience of being held at Auschwitz as one of Dr. Josef Mengele’s child test subjects. Her talk helped highlight the resolute courage and spirit of many of those who survived the Holocaust, and emphasised the importance of remembering and celebrating everyone who suffered under the hands of the Nazi regime. Her talk was truly inspiring and she has written a book about her experiences.
When we all arrived back home in England, we were certainly tired – but also incredibly grateful for the opportunity we were given to educate ourselves about the events of the Holocaust. After all, this history should never be allowed to be forgotten.
Freya B
Year 11
This was an amazing trip that all the students involved really enjoyed.
Read MoreThe first morning, we woke up dark and early at 1am to catch a flight: everyone bedraggled and tired. I don’t remember much as I was too exhausted to comprehend what was going on! As soon as we reached Sorrento, everyone seemed a lot more awake in the bright sun, ready for exploring the joys of Italy and pizza. We went around the corner from the hotel and had a delicious first meal at a local restaurant. After, we explored the large Sorrento markets, had an ice cream and then retired to our hotel for a good night’s rest.
The next morning, everyone felt much more well rested and happy. We took a one hour train ride to the old fishing town of Herculaneum, the journey had amazing views and everyone was sightseeing on the way. The town is very interesting and informative for everyone; did you know without Herculaneum, Pompeii would never have been found? Although it was a smaller town it was filled with amazing architecture. Sadly our trip up Vesuvius was cancelled because of high winds, so Mr Loudon suggested we lift spirits by more shopping at the market.
Next day, we were off to Pompeii which was the personal highlight of my trip. We were granted special entry to Caecilius house and we all filmed house tours. It was so crazy that after all those years of reading about him in Latin, we saw his house. The evening meal at another local restaurant was absolutely delicious, just writing about it makes me hungry.
Next day off to Capri – arrangements once again ruined by pouring rain but we did not let that get us down. We took a ferry across to the island of Capri, and an amazing hydrofoil up in the morning, so it only took 5 minutes to get up the massive hill. Capri had a lot of luxury shopping but there were some small bakeries hidden around which were all really delectable. Art around Capri was also so gorgeous. Since the rain had soaked through most of our clothes, we went to an archaeological museum back in Sorrento and a couple of us went shopping again.
On the last day we went around the Naples museum before heading to the airport. We completed a challenge on the second floor where we had to try and find the answers to 10 questions. I still don’t know the last answer! We then had our last Italian meal, a great pizza from the museum cafe, before heading to the airport. We arrived back at school at around 8pm and left school for the rest of the holidays. We both found this Naples trip an amazing experience and are very glad to be able to attend this trip. We are so lucky the teachers chose to come with us and are extremely grateful for them and the opportunity.
Katy N and Alice S
Year 10
Year 10 Climate Change elective students engaged in Youth Action for Nature.
Read MoreA one-day conference run by Surrey Wildlife Trust, exploring how young people can engage with our climate and biodiversity crises. We were so proud of three of our own students, Bea, Amelie and Sofia, who presented at the conference. They explained how Croydon High students have been instigating and developing projects to make a difference with our impact on climate, as well as sharing their own passions for protecting hedgehogs.
All took part in outdoor workshops in the grounds of Royal Holloway University – learning how we can monitor our impact on natural environments, which involved pond dipping and species identification. In rather soggy conditions, all got enthusiastically involved in digging away turf for laying a strip of meadow, and students decorated no-mow signs for their own gardens and local spaces. We heard from PhD students who are studying impacts on bees, manta rays and insect populations, and learnt about how we can get involved in protecting our environment through all career paths and via engaging in social media. A truly inspirational day!
Mrs Harriet Howgego
Head of Chemistry
The sun was out for the Year 12 geographers, as they enjoyed a day in Eastbourne developing their fieldwork skills to help them choose their independent investigation titles and methods.
Read MoreHaving previously had a day out to Brick Lane and Stratford, on 20 April we took the students to Eastbourne to introduce some more geographical fieldwork techniques and possible ideas for their independent investigations, known as NEAs. As soon as we arrived at the station, they completed a geo-located survey using Survey123, to consider the role of stratified sampling as part of their site selection and the importance of the public realm in town planning. We then headed down to Holywell to look at the lovely 1930s beach chalets adjacent to the chalk cliffs, where they used trigonometry to estimate the cliff height and explored mass movement. As the day progressed the students completed a range of fieldwork surveys, including their own digital surveys created on Survey123. The shone all day for us and the rain only started when we arrived back at East Croydon station!
Next week we are off to Selsdon Woods for some carbon and environment fieldwork before the students finalise their own topic and data collection strategies.
Ms Alice Mollison
Head of Geography
On 20 April, the Croydon High Lower Sixth Geography class took a trip to Eastbourne in preparation for their NEA coursework. The expedition consisted of a variety of activities in which students interviewed the local community members about the rich cultural heritage and community well-being, measured the heights of cliffs and analysed pebble types.
Tabitha P
Lower Sixth
Silent Auction - 4 ball at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course in Deal, Kent
Read MoreAs part of our fundraising for the forthcoming netball and hockey tour to South Africa later this year, we are running a number of events to help raise money for the trip.
I am delighted to announce a highly desirable item for all those golfing fans out there! We have received a generous donation of a 4 ball at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course in Deal, Kent, one of the top golf courses in the country (to play this course currently, green fees are £210 per person per round).
As two time host of The Open Championship in 1909 and 1920, Royal Cinque Ports is a truly magical golfing destination on the Kent coastline.
Tall dunes, pot bunkers and a strong crosswind all contribute to the challenge that awaits as you make your way round.
“I consider the last four holes at Deal to be without doubt, the finest four consecutive holes on any course in the world.”
GARY PLAYER
Open Champion 1959, 1968, 1974“One of my favourite links courses. Straight out and straight back, the inward nine, especially if there is a wind against, is perhaps as formidable as anything in British golf.”
PETER ALLISS
Ryder Cup Player, Television Presenter & Honorary Member
If you would like to bid for this amazing item, please complete this form by Friday 26 May at 4pm.
Please note there are some conditions, stated below associated with this auction item.
Winning bid – after the deadline on Friday 26 May at 4pm and as long as the reserve has been made, I will contact the winning bidder with further details on this auction item and how to book the 4 ball.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the family who have made this generous donation and I wish you all the best of luck in your bids!
Mrs Sue Beck
Teacher of PE & Head of Community
Camp Beaumont will be running their holiday camp this Easter – simply quote CHS23 and receive 10% off your booking.
Book onto Camp Beaumont
The Kenley Holiday Workshop of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be directed by our very own Croydon High alumna and School Governor, Ros Broyd.
Our School Minibus service offers an efficient and flexible option designed to help families with journeys to and from school. Minibus travel is offered to pupils in Year 3 and up.
The service is managed on our behalf by Vectare, a specialist school transport management company. All bookings for our school bus routes are made via our online booking system, which can be accessed at croydonhigh.vectare.co.uk.
The website allows you to book travel 24/7 from anywhere, meaning that if you need to leave early for work one morning or are running late and you would like one of our students to travel on a school bus as a one off, you can make a booking right up until the route is due to depart. Payment for the school bus service is made at the time of booking, so there is no need for pupils to carry cash.