G&L School Magazine 2024-25

Welcome

Welcome to our 120th birthday edition of the School Magazine which aims to capture and celebrate the wonderful array of events and activities we have enjoyed over the past academic year. As always, the girls impressed us with their dedication to so many passions and interests beyond the classroom while committing wholeheartedly and successfully to their academic studies.

A highlight for many was the wonderful jazz-inspired performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night when students from Year 8 to the Upper Sixth treated us to an incredible evening of singing, dancing and acting. The pipeline of astonishing talent was also very much in evidence at the joyful Lower School production of Matilda Jr. later in the year.

Under the stewardship of Mr Langworthy, music at Godolphin continues to go from strength to strength. Particularly memorable for me were the three student harpists performing Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, the Symphony Orchestra playing (in its entirety)

Haydn’s London Symphony, and our Spring Choral Concert which brought together all five student choirs with the staff and parent choirs to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Debating and Model United Nations (MUN) have flourished, and in June our students very successfully organised and hosted the Godolphin and Latymer MUN conference for 150 students and teachers from seven different schools.

Pupils have enjoyed great success in a whole host of Maths, Science and Computing Olympiads and competitions. This year, for the first time, four teams competed in the prestigious F1 in Schools competition, and we were delighted that the Eau Rouge team was awarded third place in the Professional Class. Inspired by their success, teams are already working diligently on their model cars for the 2026 competition.

The G&L Futures programme continues to ensure that our young Old Dolphins are armed with the skills and mindsets they will need to thrive and enjoy successful and meaningful careers. In 2025 we launched the new Middle School Innovation and Leadership course and, from September, two classes of Year 10 students have elected to take the course as an alternative to a GCSE.

We rounded off a successful year with our PTFA Summer Garden Party which brought the whole school community together in the sunshine to celebrate our 120th birthday. At the birthday assembly in the morning, we proudly celebrated our history and the philanthropic roots which continue to underpin the values of our school community today. At its heart is our commitment to our means-tested bursary programme and outreach and partnership projects. I am particularly proud that our Bridge Programme continues to grow with the support of our Sixth Form Bridge support team and generous parent donors. During 2024–25 there were twenty pupils in the school who were graduates of the Bridge Programme, and this number has increased by eight at the start of this new academic year.

Crucially, all of this – and much, much more – was achieved in the context of a supportive and caring learning environment that encourages girls to be bold, have a go, and to bounce back when things don’t go to plan. The following pages are characterised by an all-pervading sense of fun and kindness and our students’ boundless energy, enthusiasm and commitment towards the opportunities that come their way. Buckle up and enjoy the read!

With all good wishes

Dr Frances Ramsey, Head

Evolution of a Dolphin

A Message from the Head Girl

I wonder what my Year 7 self would have said if someone had told her she would be Head Girl one day.

When I joined Godolphin as a nervous eleven-yearold, literally weighed down by my giant backpack, I took everything so seriously, convinced that every decision I made would shape my entire future. I relied heavily on my older sister, too scared to be vocal or branch out of my immediate circle, and I wanted so much to ‘fit in’. It wasn’t always easy. I still vividly remember dropping my plate in the dining hall and, tragically, trying to clean up the mess myself without anyone noticing! Fortunately, one of the lovely catering team came to my rescue.

Since those early days, I’ve grown in ways I never expected: building confidence, discovering what I am passionate about, and making lifelong friendships. I’ve learnt how comforting it is to be surrounded by people on the same journey, but that it’s okay to take your own path. Through it all, there have always been teachers and older students offering encouragement, advice, or just a kind smile and friendly chat when it was most needed.

When I think about what it means to be a Dolphin, a few words spring to mind: resilient, curious, driven, caring. Students of all ages are at the heart of everything that happens here, as participants, activists and leaders. Whether that’s setting up social impact projects, speaking in assemblies or taking part in the iconic Lipsync Battle, everyone has a chance to leave their mark. The Godolphin spirit shines through in everyday moments – whether it’s subbing a friend’s tuck shop cookie or cheering during staff vs student netball, Dolphins always have the energy to lift each other up. There’s something about the rhythm of life here that never stands still. There’s always a buzz in the corridor, something to laugh about or someone ready to lend a hand.

One of the things I’ve always found so inspiring about Godolphin is how involved everyone is in the life of the community: students, staff and parents alike.

Some of my favourite memories will always be of our teachers getting stuck in with equal enthusiasm whether they’re performing in the staff band and choir or enthusing about their subject in a lunchtime talk. And where would we be without our parents?! The recent 120th birthday party organised by the PTFA was truly a school-wide celebration, with activities such as the Summer Jam, raffle prizes and real-life hungry hippos. It was a display of the deep sense of community at Godolphin, not just amongst friends, but with teachers, parents and across all years.

As I step into the Head Girl role, my hope is that we can strengthen even further this community spirit which makes Godolphin so special, particularly between year groups. The Head Girls Team will be focused on making sure everyone, no matter what year they’re in, feels connected, valued and supported. One of my biggest goals is to encourage everyone to feel confident in their own individual journey. It’s so easy to look around and feel you have to keep up with everyone else or achieve certain things at a certain time. But what I’ve learnt at G&L is that there’s no set path – some people dive straight into everything, others take time to find their place, and both are equally important. Whether you’re someone who can easily share your opinions, or someone who finds happiness in quieter moments, you’re an important part of this community. This year, I’d love for us all to embrace our own pace and know that it’s okay to grow in our own way.

I feel genuinely proud to be part of the incredible, busy and endlessly spirited Godolphin atmosphere, and I can’t wait to see what we all achieve this year – the big moments, the small wins, and everything in between.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Sunday Times Top Ten Independent Secondary School

We were thrilled to be named a Top Ten Independent Secondary School for Academic Excellence in the Sunday Times Schools Guide 2025. The guide ranks the 1000 most academically successful secondary schools based on A Level, IB Diploma and GCSE results, across both the state and independent sectors. Godolphin and Latymer was sixth overall in the rankings.

The Week’s Best of the Best: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

At the beginning of the year we were excited to receive the news that we had won the Best of the Best Senior Category for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in The Week’s Independent Schools Guide. The award recognised the success of our G&L Futures Programme in helping pupils develop real-life problem-solving skills and the entrepreneurial and business skills that future employers are looking for.

Awards for Bursary Support and Developing School Partnerships

We were absolutely thrilled to hear that we had been nominated as Finalists in the Education Choices Awards 2025. The entries highlighted not only the financial support we provide for bursary students but also how this works in tandem with the academic support and enrichment provided by our Bridge Programme.

Independent School of the Year Awards

2025 Shortlist

We were thrilled to end the year with the news that we had been shortlisted for Independent School of the Year for Contribution to Social Mobility. Our award entry celebrated the impact of our means-tested bursary programme and the Bridge programmes which, together, open our doors to families who might not otherwise consider applying to an independent school. We are delighted that in September 2025 eight more Bridge students will join the school in Year 7 and Sixth Form.

Top 20 School for Girls’ Cricket

Once again we were named as one of the UK’s top schools for cricket by The Cricketer’s School Guide 2025. The criteria to qualify included a compelling commitment to cricket in the curriculum, cricket facilities, fixture programmes and coaching.

EcoSchools Green Flag Award

We were delighted to be awarded EcoSchools accreditation, earning the esteemed Green Flag Award for our dedication to environmental initiatives throughout the 2023–2024 academic year.

Chartered College of Teaching Research Mark

This year the school was awarded the prestigious Chartered College of Teaching Research Mark which recognises and celebrates schools that have embedded engagement with research and evidence in their curriculum.

European Arts and Science Competition

Maia, Year 11, won the age 14-15 years category of the European Arts and Science competition: Unfold Your World Protein Art Project, run by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Launched in honour of EMBL’s 50th anniversary, this youth engagement initiative aims to inspire young people’s creativity in response to the molecular structure of protein.

Climate Fresk

In September, Godolphin students successfully completed their training to become Climate Fresk facilitators. The training aimed to deepen the students’ awareness and equip them with the tools to inspire meaningful conversations around climate action. Throughout the sessions, students explored key climate concepts, identified links between human activities and environmental shifts, and examined solutions for reducing carbon footprints.

Excellence in Design Awards

We were delighted to hear that Godolphin and Latymer and Walters & Cohen Architects had won the Beyond the Brief Award at the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) UK Chapter 2025 Excellence in Design Awards for the new Alison Paines Building. The building also won the Education Sector Award, supported by Architecture Today, and the Civic Trust Highly Commended Award.

COMMUNITY, PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH

Bridge Programme

At the beginning of December our 2024 cohort Bridge students took part in their graduation ceremony to celebrate everything they had achieved over the previous twelve months. The majority of our Bridge students go on to apply for academically selective schools and four are joining Godolphin in September 2025, following in the footsteps of the 20 Bridge graduates who are already at the school.

In January we welcomed the 2025 cohort of Bridge students to the first of their monthly sessions. Students met their English and Mathematics teachers and also took an Italian class where they explored Italian culture — including the unique role of gestures in communication — and in Classics they learnt the Greek alphabet.

Bridge Senior

Over the summer holidays, 20 students from state schools across London joined us for the Bridge Senior workshops taught by teachers from Godolphin. Sessions included Forensic Science, Poetry, Applied Mathematics, Linguistics and 21stCentury Global Issues. We are delighted that four students from last year’s programme are joining the Sixth Form in September 2025.

Old Dolphins

At the end of September we had the pleasure of welcoming back over 50 alumnae for our annual Old Dolphins’ Day. It was a wonderful opportunity for old friends to reconnect with the school and with each other, particularly those from the Classes of 1974 and 1984 celebrating their milestone reunions. Our visitors included Joy and Pamela from the Class of 1947 who every year make an extra special effort to be with us. Our former pupils were especially excited to see the new Cloisters Room, which many of them remember as being an unglazed covered walkway, and they were pleased to see that we had painstakingly retained the original architectural features.

Community Impact Project

CYL Make a Difference Week in October brought together around 400 pupils from Wendell Park and Brackenbury Primary Schools for a day of shared learning, creativity, and community spirit.

The event offered a rich programme of activities led by our own students, allowing us to share our facilities while also giving Godolphin girls the chance to mentor, lead, and connect with younger pupils. On the sports fields, primary school students rotated through mini competitions, and, in the Sports Hall, pupils and Godolphin students joined forces for high-energy Just Dance sessions. Elsewhere, our

Drama students led improvisation workshops and Young Enterprise teams guided Year 6s through entrepreneurship challenges.

A highlight of the day was the Challenge Your Limits Cantata, an original work composed by our Director of Music, Mr Langworthy. Over 200 primary school pupils and Year 7 Godolphin girls wrote lyrics, rehearsed and performed three songs: Challenge Your Limits, Astronaut in Space, and A Million Little Things. The initiative culminated in a joyful concert in the Bishop Centre, warmly received by an audience of proud parents.

Antara’s Gala Fundraising

At the beginning of November, Upper Sixth student Antara officially launched her debut poetry collection, Poison, at the Pratham UK Charity Gala. In an inspiring evening presented by celebrity Rory Bremner, Antara delivered an uplifting keynote speech and read some of her poetry, donating all proceeds from book sales to the charity. The Gala raised an incredible £450,000 for Pratham UK’s Second Chance Programme, which funds the education of women and girls in India who have had to drop out of school, and allows them to complete their diplomas.

PTFA Christmas Bazaar

One of the highlights of the Christmas festivities was the PTFA Christmas Bazaar, despite being nearly blown off course by Storm Darragh! Luckily, our visitors didn’t stay away, and they enjoyed a wonderful range of independent stallholders in the Bishop Centre while the girls applied their boundless energy and imagination to their own stalls and activities. Our legendary apple strudels were as popular as ever as was the inaugural Christmas Carol Singalong. Parent volunteers sold Christmas wreaths and ran the raffles, tombolas and Giving Tree, while our Boat Club rowed to Henley and back on the ergos. Girls flocked to the Christmas photobooth, Toys Emporium, and inflatable mega obstacle course in the Sports Hall. Refreshments included mulled wine, tea and cakes, turkey baguettes, and sausage rolls, and there were burger, waffle and bubble-tea food trucks. It was a fantastic community event and all proceeds went to the House charities.

Island of Symi Fundraiser

At the end of January, Alex, Lower Sixth, organised an exhibition of her artworks to raise money to support families on the island of Symi, Greece, which is facing a declining birth rate and collapse in its population size. After meeting with the island’s Mayor to discuss the problem, Alex raised money to refurbish a building to accommodate a nursery to support working mothers.

Volunteer Reception at Kensington Town Hall

Year 10 students Luna and Safiya had the honour of attending the Library Volunteer Reception at Kensington Town Hall, where they shared their experiences of volunteering in local libraries as part of their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. Their speeches aimed to inspire others to get involved in community service.

Stop the Stigma

Lower Sixth students Leah and Sofia went to Hampton School to present an assembly championing their social impact project, ‘Stop the Stigma’. Advised by St Mungo’s, a leading homelessness charity, they have distributed tailored educational resources, led inter-school assemblies and surveyed over 50 young people. As a result of their work, they were named international finalists in the Future Problem Solving Competition.

Duke of Edinburgh

Students taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme contributed 4134 hours of volunteering with a social value of £26,456 from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Year 7 STEM Project

At the end of the Summer Term, Year 6 students from Brackenbury and Wendell Park Primary Schools were treated to a museum-style exhibition in the Bishop Centre, put on by our Year 7s. Year 7 students had drawn inspiration from their visits to the Science Museum and Natural History Museum to create museum-style exhibits on the possibility of living elsewhere in the solar system. Exhibits included information on space travel; the practicalities of finding water, oxygen, and shelter; and the potential for extraterrestrial life. They worked on making the exhibits both informative and engaging, with quizzes, hands-on activities, sculptures and displays, which were very much enjoyed by our visitors.

Social Impact Prize

At the end of term we announced the winners of the Social Impact Prizes, awarded in recognition of outstanding student-led initiatives addressing real-world issues with creativity, empathy and innovation. This year’s winners were:

Gold Award: Project Recycle Victoria, Florence, Lara, Viktoriia, Year 9, were awarded the top prize for their work increasing recycling rates in local schools.

Silver Award: BudgetBites Lottie, Sadiee, Kittye and Antoniae, Year 9, created an idea for an app that helps users find the best local supermarket deals and uses AI to suggest recipes based on ingredients already owned or planned for purchase.

Bronze Award: Fighting Against Loneliness Nayeon, Year 9, whose project connects shelter animals with elderly residents in care homes through regular visits, reducing loneliness for both humans and animals.

Congratulations to all the students who took part in this year’s Social Impact Prize.

Summer Garden Party

At the end of the Summer Term the whole community came together in the sunshine to celebrate the school’s 120th birthday at the PTFA Summer Garden Party. The Year 7 market stalls did a roaring trade — as did the food and drink stalls and the ice cream and burger vans — and students and parents excitedly awaited their turn on the inflatables, ping-pong, glitter bar and photo booth. Dr Ramsey cut the birthday cake and our musicians turned up the volume for the Summer Jam before the fabulous prizes were drawn at the eagerly anticipated PTFA raffle. All proceeds from the day went to the PTFA, which every year funds a number of exciting school projects.

AROUND THE SCHOOL

Bonding Days

Our Year 7s spent their first day at Godolphin enjoying a number of ice-breaker activities which included a treasure hunt around school to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings. The following week they spent a day in their form-groups tackling a range of problem-solving challenges while making lots of new friends along the way.

Clubs and Societies Fair

At the beginning of the academic year, students filled the Bishop Centre for the Clubs and Societies Fair. From BioMed to Foreign Literature, and from Film Production to British Sign Language, many of these clubs are run by our Sixth Formers who are keen to share their enthusiasm with younger pupils.

Year 7 and 8 Buddies

Every member of Year 7 has their own Year 8 buddy to help them settle in and learn more about the many fantastic opportunities on offer at Godolphin. The girls meet up and keep in touch with their buddy throughout the year. At their final meet-up they receive top tips on what to expect in Year 8 as well as advice on how to be a good buddy to the incoming Year 7s!

G&L Futures

Year 7 MBA

In May Year 7s embarked on their Mini Business Adventure (MBA), rethinking and merging existing products and developing their own brilliant ideas for the Summer Garden Party. They developed their straplines, created feasibility studies, and rated the products for originality and popularity. In June they spent time developing their ideas and prototypes and were joined by Tilly McLean (Class of 2024) who is studying at Georgetown Business School. Tilly delivered an engaging presentation to the girls on the 4 Ps of Marketing: Price, Product, Promotion and Place.

Year 8 Food Technology Project

Emily Tout, alumna of LSE Generate and founder of high-protein cheesecake business the Mighty Slice, joined us at the beginning of the year to launch the Year 8 project to create new healthy snacks focusing on creative flavours, nutritional benefits, and appealing designs. After Christmas they sold their desserts and treats in the Cloisters during break times, analysing the bestsellers to tweak and perfect their offerings.

Year 9 Enterprise Skills

In October Year 9s took part in a simulation to run and manage a mobile phone store. They were responsible for the overall performance of the business including sales, marketing, products, finance, staff and stock management. They competed in teams to achieve the best revenue, profits, customer experience and staff satisfaction.

Year 10 RealWorld ProblemSolving

As well as attending sessions on developing and presenting TED Talks, Year 10 took part in some real-world problemsolving. Old Dolphins from Deliveroo, and the worlds of fashion, medicine, and prison rehabilitation posed industry problems to small groups of Year 10s. They were challenged to develop plans and strategies and to pitch their ideas on a range of topics including recommending new markets for Deliveroo; launching an online shopping platform instore; tackling overcrowding in A&E departments; and delivering an online prisoner resettlement programme.

GiANT Leadership Steps

In November we welcomed Steve Cockram, Founder of GiANT, a leadership consultancy which works with global clients such as Google, Apple and Nike as well as the UK Cabinet Office and Foreign Office. Mr Cockram ran sessions with students from Years 9, 10 and 11 based on GiANT’s 5 Voice Framework which helps participants to identify their key leadership voice and harness their superpowers to be better communicators, collaborators and leaders in the school and work environment.

Community Impact Club

Students from the Community Impact Club worked on a number of ideas to tackle the teenage mental health crisis, loneliness and inactivity among older people, and the stigma against homeless communities, to name a few. In January, they pitched their proposals to a group of experts from relevant industries, including awardwinning social enterprise founder Jennifer Ogunyemi (founder of Sisters in Business) and sustainable urbanism design expert Alisha Morenike Fisher (founder of Migrant’s Bureau and the Black Daughter network). Before Easter, the teams submitted their project reports to an annual competition run by Future Problem Solving International, and three of our teams were selected as finalists. Congratulations to Maeve, Melisa, Olivia and Ilioni in Year 10, Yasmin and Leila in Year 9, and Sofia L, Sofia R and Leah in the Lower Sixth.

Innovation and Leadership Course

At the beginning of the Spring Term, we were delighted to welcome a large cohort of Year 9 girls and their parents to a taster session for our new Middle School Innovation and Leadership course. The fast-paced workshop was led by Mr Carroll, Assistant Head Co-Curricular and Educational Developments, with Mr Mark Thomlinson, Ealing Council’s Head of Climate Action and Sustainability.

The Year 9s who elected to study the new Innovation and Leadership course started their lessons in the second half of the Summer Term and they launched into their first behavioural science project analysing why certain products and campaigns succeed and others fail. At the end of term, they presented their research and analysis to an audience of parents who gave them fantastic feedback and who were extremely impressed with what the girls had achieved so far.

Sixth Form Enrichment Programme

Our Sixth Form Enrichment Programme is designed to extend students’ exposure to academic enthusiasms beyond a subject syllabus. Delivered by teaching staff, the lectures this year centred on the theme of Culture and Creation.

Jewish New Year Festival

Lola, Georgia, Lia and Eden delivered an insightful assembly on the Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashana, which in 2024 was celebrated from 2–4 October. They explained how, during the festival, families gather for a festive dinner, reciting traditional blessings over wine and bread, and attend synagogue services. They also introduced Yom Kippur, which follows ten days after Rosh Hashanah and is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day on 10 October began with a whole school assembly led by Dr Radha – NHS GP, author, and television and radio broadcaster – who is an expert in health and well-being. In the afternoon students took part in a huge range of activities to promote relaxation, creativity and physical health.

Diwali Cultural Celebration

In November Year 10 students Anshika and Ameya led a special assembly to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. They talked about the cultural and spiritual significance of Diwali, in particular Govardhan Puja, a day dedicated to honouring Lord Krishna and expressing gratitude for nature. They shared how they celebrate this day with their families, decorating their homes, preparing special meals, and offering prayers.

Black History Month

We marked October’s Black History Month with an insightful talk from Dipo Faloyin, author of Africa is Not a Country. His talk challenged the simplistic and harmful stereotypes that have long defined the portrayal of Africa in the Western world.

Remembrance Day Assembly

The school came together for a solemn assembly to commemorate Armistice Day, honouring those who have lost their lives in war. The readings not only highlighted the sacrifices made by soldiers on the front lines but also shone a light on overlooked individuals who played crucial roles in both the First and Second World Wars.

Anti-Bullying Week

Our Head Girls Team delivered assemblies to mark national Anti-Bullying Week which this year had the theme: Choose Respect. The girls considered how having respect for others counteracts bullying behaviour and then went on to consider how this works in practice in school.

Sixth Form Life Skills

In the Spring Term, as well as workshops on mental health and wellbeing, mindfulness, and oracy, the Upper Sixth took part in a carousel of independent-living skills sessions to prepare for life beyond Godolphin. These sessions included cooking and meal prep, advice on living with a flatmate for the first time and conflict resolution strategies. One of the most interactive sessions was the DIY workshop where students learnt practical skills such as changing a light bulb, hanging wall art, and locating a property’s stopcock.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Upper Sixth students and members of the Jewish Society, Leah and Galia, led an extremely thoughtprovoking and poignant Holocaust Memorial Day assembly. They explained that this year is particularly significant as it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

Children’s Mental Health Week

We celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week 2025 with a number of activities designed to promote mental wellbeing, self-expression and reflection. Students took part in talks, assemblies, activities, drop-in counselling sessions, and screenings of Inside Out 2. This year’s theme was ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, encouraging students to develop self-awareness and resilience to navigate life’s challenges. A highlight of the week was an inspiring assembly led by Dr Alexandra Sharpe, a Paediatric Resident Doctor at University College London, who spoke about the connection between physical and mental health.

Lunar New Year

Year 11 students Emily J, Sophie, Chen, Sophia and Emily D led a special assembly on the Lunar New Year celebrated across China and many other East and Southeast Asian countries. They taught the audience a common greeting during this time, Gōngxǐ fācái, which translates to ‘congratulations on getting rich’ but more generally means ‘may you be happy and prosperous’. The assembly also explored the myths and traditions behind the festival.

Eid al-Fitr Assembly

Middle School students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, thanks to an engaging presentation by Samar, Year 11, and Rihanna, Year 10. The presentation provided valuable context about Islam, including an overview of the global Muslim population by country and an explanation of the Five Pillars of Islam, which serve as the foundation of the faith.

Upper Sixth Celebration Evening

This annual event showcases the work of students completing the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) for A Level and the Extended Essay for IB. Presentations covered a fascinating array of topics, ranging from the impact of robotic surgical technologies on UK medical care and their potential future role, to explorations of how the Peloponnesian and Punic Wars influenced ancient naval tactics, to an analysis of the unique factors enabling democratically elected female heads of state in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and even scenes from a self-scripted short film inspired by the work of Jordan Peele.

Languages Week

House Bake-Off signalled a mouthwatering start to Languages Week with cakes, biscuits and pastries proudly celebrating the nations and cuisines represented in our school community. Throughout the rest of the week pupils enjoyed Spanish flamenco, Chinese arts and crafts, a trip to the British Museum, German Lebruchenherzen and a host of assemblies, conversation clubs, films, quizzes and delicious lunch menus from around the world. As well as improving their language skills, girls discovered more about the different cultures and traditions, dress, food, music, and dance of different places around the globe.

STEM Week

To coincide with British Science Week, students took part in a host of STEM-related activities including quizzes, lunchtime film showings, assemblies, a dissection workshop, the House Poster Challenge, a Year 8 trip to Science Live with a headline talk from Professor Robert Winston, and the launch of a new Biology and Chemistry Lecture Society and STEM Book Club. Our Year 8 and 10 pupils, led by students from the Lower Sixth, shared their enthusiasm for Science with children from Wendell Park and Brackenbury Primary Schools in the Team Repair Challenge Workshop. They worked diligently together in their teams to disassemble, debug and repair broken gadgets. We weren’t quite able to cram all the activities into one week and, on Monday, Year 7s enjoyed a live Science Show presented by the Royal Institute. Our STEM Week line-up included a fascinating talk from Dr Claire Petros, a veterinary surgeon and marine conservationist, who spoke about her career in medicine and her vital work protecting sea turtles in the Indian Ocean. There followed a talk from Professor Rafif Srour of IE University in Madrid, who encouraged students to challenge gender stereotypes in STEM fields.

VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations

On VE Day the school observed the national silence and enjoyed a special VE Day celebration lunch. During the week, to provide important context to the anniversary, Mrs Armstrong and Dr Woodberry from the History department and Mimi, Lower Sixth, and Arabella and Aurelia from Year 9 presented assemblies to explain the significance of the day.

IB Diploma ToK Exhibition

Lower Sixth IB Diploma students welcomed staff, A Level peers and parents to view their Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Exhibitions. The exhibition, along with a 1,600 word essay, is a mandatory part of the ToK element of the IB Diploma.

School Diversity Week

Coinciding with Pride Month, School Diversity Week from 23 to 27 June was a fantastic opportunity for us to show our support for the UK-wide celebration of LGBT+ equality in schools. To mark the week, our Diversity Committee and Pride Alliance co-ran a number of activities including rainbow flag painting and a pridethemed cake display.

House Competitions

Throughout the year, we enjoyed a full programme of fiercely contested House competitions showcasing the talents and camaraderie of Bassi (purple), Lovelace (green), Maathai (red), Naidu (orange), Quinn Brown (blue), and Sheppard (yellow). From House Bake-Off, Maths Relay, Quoits, Just Dance, Spelling and Translation Bees, Masterchef, University Challenge, sports competitions, Lipsync Battles, the Big Draw – to name but a few! – each event was enthusiastically supported and thoroughly enjoyed. Highlights included a record number of pupils taking part in this year’s Senior and Junior House Music Festivals.

House Winners

2024–2025

It really was a very close-run thing, but the final results were:

1st place: Naidu – 174 points

2nd place: Maathai – 173 points

3rd place: Lovelace – 172 points

4th place: Sheppard – 161 points

5th place: Bassi – 156 points

6th place: Quinn Brown – 145 points

Debating

This year we had a full debating programme with Sixth Form Debating Captains leading our weekly lunchtime clubs and a Sixth Form Club run by teachers, with occasional help from Old Dolphins steeped in the debating tradition.

From Year 9 upwards, our keenest debaters have been competing against other secondary schools in London and some university student associations. They also took part in the annual competition run by the English Speaking Union.

Highlights of the past year included: a Godolphin novice Year 10 team winning an award at the Dulwich College competition in September; two teams (consisting of Lower Sixth and Year 11 students) making it through to the Cambridge Schools Final in March; and a Year 9 team winning joint first place in the termly competition run by South Hampstead High School in June.

Congratulations to all of our brilliant debaters.

Model United Nations

The first Model United Nations (MUN) conference of the academic year was at Wetherby Senior School where our team of fifteen included students from Year 11 through to the Upper Sixth. Godolphin students were awarded Best Delegate in five Saturday sessions, with three more receiving honourable mentions. At Sunday’s General Assembly, Godolphin won the handsome Best Delegation trophy.

Our less experienced MUNers attended the conference at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, and did incredibly well winning an individual award and delegation certificate.

Twenty girls from Year 8 to the Upper Sixth made the short trip to Latymer Upper School for a miniconference to compete against seven other schools and our students brought home three Best Delegate awards.

Eleven Year 10 and Lower Sixth students took part in St Paul’s School’s MUN conference representing both South Korea and Turkey. Alara and Alexia from the Lower Sixth received individual awards for their committees and we were delighted to win the overall conference award of Best Delegation.

Our final MUN conference of the Spring Term was a dynamic two-day event at Westminster School. Godolphin students represented the UK and Russia and our MUN Captains, Alexia and Unaiza, served as Chairs. Throughout the weekend, students tackled a broad range of global issues, including mining rights in space, the civil war in Sudan, the reunification of Korea, nuclear energy policy, and the hypothetical invasion of Greenland. As well as a number of individual awards, our students secured the overall Best Delegation award.

In June we welcomed 150 students and teachers from seven different schools to the Godolphin and Latymer Model United Nations (GODMUN) conference. This was led by Unaiza and Alexia from the Lower Sixth with support from Axelle. These students had been preparing for the conference for around six months and put together a fantastic event which was opened by inspiring video messages from Ambassador Johnnie Carson and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Congratulations to Lower Sixth students Ealaf, Annabel, Amalie, Marina and Alara, who chaired for the first time, and to Taya, Year 9, and Hannah and Carolina, Year 11, who were awarded prizes for their work in their committees.

Classics

At the beginning of March, Lower and Middle School classicists took part in the annual Classical Reading Competition at Westminster School where they performed passages of Latin and Greek. Our Year 8 students received a Bronze medal and Sky in Year 10 was awarded Silver.

Modern Foreign Language Spelling and Translation Bees

Five of the six students who entered the Translation Bee Competition went through to the National Finals held at Cambridge University at the end of June. Congratulations to Bethel (French), Héloïse (Spanish), Yasmin (Spanish), Lara (German) and Victoria (German). This was alongside the students who made it through from the Spelling Bee: Noemie (Spanish) and Emma (German).

At the National Finals we had success in the Translation Bee with Yasmin coming 4th in Spanish and Bethel coming 2nd in French.

UKMT Mathematical Challenges and Olympiads

All our mathematicians enter their respective UK Maths Trust (UKMT) Mathematics Challenge each year where they solve 25 multiple-choice problem-solving questions in one hour.

In early October, over 100 Sixth Formers took part in the UKMT Senior Mathematics Challenge (SMC). Fifteen girls received a Gold award and progressed through the Senior Kangaroo round, with Julia and Olivia, Lower Sixth, and Francesca, Upper Sixth, awarded the highest category of Merit. A record 30 Sixth Formers took part in the UK Mathematical Olympiad for Girls (MOG) and together they achieved a remarkable eleven Distinctions and fourteen Merits. Distinctions were awarded to Lower Sixth students Rebecca, Martha, Alex, Abi, Julia, Bea and Olivia, as well as Upper Sixth students Victoria, Fia, Dana and Jingwen. Fia and Victoria achieved very high scores (43 and 45 marks, respectively, out of 50) and Victoria was joint 26th out of 4749 candidates and her performance was recognised with an invitation to the 3.5-hour British Mathematical Olympiad where she achieved a Merit.

Years 9–11 once again showcased their mathematical prowess in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. An impressive 89% of participants earned a certificate, with 99 students achieving Bronze, 123 securing Silver, and a record-breaking 77 attaining Gold. In the Kangaroo follow-on round, there were a phenomenal sixteen Gold awards (top 10%) in Year 9, from 23 entrants, with two further Gold awards in Years 10 and 11. Four girls qualified for the Olympiad where Merits were awarded to Nayeon, Year 9, Camilla, Year 10, and Naomi, Year 11. Lucy, Year 10, gained a Distinction and a coveted Gold medal.

In the summer, our Year 7 and 8 students achieved 34 Bronze awards, 92 Silver awards and 95 Gold awards in the Junior Mathematical Challenge. 60 girls qualified for the follow-on Junior Kangaroo round receiving seven Golds, eighteen Silvers and sixteen Bronze awards. Furthermore, Yinuo and Zara in Year 8, qualified for the two-hour Junior Mathematical Olympiad where Zara achieved a Merit and was one mark off a Distinction. Congratulations to all the girls who took part.

Team Mathematics Competitions

In September, Chloe, Year 9, Helene, Year 11, Alex, Lower Sixth, and Victoria, Upper Sixth, took part in the first round of the Hans Woyda Maths competition at City of London School for Girls. The team worked very quickly to solve a series of challenging problems, where the questions were based on the very first round of the prestigious Hans Woyda competition in 1979–80. Some incorrect answers in the Team Round put the team behind, and while they managed to narrow the gap on the later Calculator and Algebra rounds, they ran out of time to catch up but bettered the school’s average from previous years. Well done, everyone!

In March, students took part in a friendly Hans Woyda Maths Competition, also against the City of London School for Girls. The rules were adjusted to allow the younger year-groups to participate, so the teams included one student from each of Year 8, Year 10, Year 11 and the Lower Sixth. There was a fun and relaxed atmosphere and all teams worked collaboratively with their team members to solve the challenging mathematical problems. It ended with a 1-1 draw, the perfect result for a friendly match!

Computing Competitions

Year 10 and Lower Sixth students took part in the global coding competition Codequest, writing code to solve as many of the set problems as possible over 2.5 hours. The Lower Sixth team took 4th place while the Year 10 team managed to secure 2nd place and a trophy!

Members of the Junior Robotics Club took part in the First LEGO League Competition presenting their innovation project to a panel of experts and competing against other schools in a LEGO robotics challenge. Each student came away with a medal and the team was awarded a Judge’s Choice Award. Students took part in the Perse Coding Team Challenge, with a number of students in Years 8 and 11 awarded Distinctions. Nearly 40 students from across Years 7 to the Lower Sixth also competed in the Bebras Coding Challenge.

F1 in Schools Competition

A group of 21 students from Year 10, Year 11, and the Lower Sixth travelled to the University of Bath to compete in the F1 in Schools Regional Competition. The competition challenges students to design, build, and race miniature Formula 1 cars. The students gain hands-on experience in fields such as engineering, CAD (computer-aided design), and CNC (computer numerical controlled) machining, while also developing skills in marketing, sponsorship, and financial management. Our students performed exceptionally well, with multiple teams receiving nominations for awards and Eau Rouge achieving an impressive 3rd place in the Professional Class.

Chemistry Olympiad

In January our Lower Sixth chemists took part in the prestigious Chemistry Olympiad (usually reserved for Upper Sixth) and tackled complex and unfamiliar topics such as enthalpy changes, acid-base behaviour, and chemical decomposition in the context of clay pigeon shooting. Special congratulations go to Olivia, Lower Sixth, who achieved a Gold award. Later in the Spring Term, our Year 10 students participated in the inaugural Junior Chemistry Challenge during their Chemistry lessons. Questions included advanced concepts such as mass spectrometry and the synthesis of ammonium nitrate and five Year 10 students achieved Gold awards.

IRIS Conference

On 25 June, 27 students presented their research to scientists and experts from areas and projects such as CERN, neuroscience, and the James Webb telescope at the IRIS Conference. Students worked on a variety of exciting projects this year – such as using satellite imaging and scanning data to model the progression of wildfires in Turkey and Israel; examining the difference in the frequency of specific sounds in different British dialects; exploring the intonational differences in emotional speech; using CAD software to model the addition of hydrogen fuel tanks to aeroplanes to minimise drag; learning to code in Python in order to access CERN data and replicate the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle, or to model planetary orbits; and original research examining the ability to chemically recycle plastic through hydrolysis.

Art and Design

Lower School Art and Design Show

Using the theme of collections as their inspiration, each Lower School student displayed a piece of artwork which evidenced a fantastic diversity of experimentation with a range of making processes and techniques. Projects ranged from protest placards, embroidered insects that imagined their accelerated evolution, stamps that were tiny works of art, and an interactive board game installation.

The Art and Design department was delighted to present the GCSE and A Level Exhibitions, celebrating the achievements of students over the last two years. Here is a selection of their work.

GCSE

AALEVELLEVEL

Technology

VR Workshop

In October, Year 11 Design and Technology students took part in an innovative workshop with Gravity Sketch, a company known for its expertise in design communication within virtual reality (VR) environments. The workshop provided students with the opportunity to use VR technology to sketch and model design ideas for their NEA contextual challenge, making it an exciting hands-on experience.

Year 7 Masterchef

The Year 7 G&L Masterchef competition has firmly earned its place on the school calendar, offering pupils a brilliant platform to showcase the skills, techniques and creativity they’ve developed during their first year at Godolphin. This year’s challenge was to cook Japchae (glass noodles), inspiring a range of vibrant and imaginative interpretations, with the winning dish being cooked by Karis.

Tunnocks’s Teacake Challenge

Congratulations to Victoire, whose entry ’Pancake Day‘ was crowned the winner of the 2025 National Tunnock’s Teacake Challenge in the over-14 category. The judges were particularly impressed by how well the dish met the judging criteria and the high level of skill demonstrated.

Charlotte’s entry, ’Mosque‘, was selected as the runner-up in the under-14 category. The judges praised both the technical skill on display and the thoughtful, striking presentation of the dish.

Drama

The Maladies

This year’s Senior Production – acted, produced and directed by our senior students – was The Maladies which focused on historically accurate elements of mass hysteria across time, through the eyes of a 21st century podcast. There were many challenges including switching between different time zones, and the talented cast was fantastically supported by the brilliant tech team.

A Christmas Carol

Year 7 took to the stage to perform A Christmas Carol, a heartwarming adaptation of Dickens’ classic tale based on Kathryn Schultz Miller’s script. Each Year 7 form group had the opportunity to perform the lead roles, with classic Christmas songs beautifully interwoven into the performance. After weeks of rehearsing lines and songs during lessons, the students demonstrated exceptional teamwork and creativity, delivering a seamless and engaging production.

Twelfth Night

Our jazz-inspired musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night transported the audience into the world of love, comedy, disguise and confusion in the Roman province of Illyria. Sofia, in the role of Viola, brilliantly led a cast of 44 students and fifteen crew from Years 8 to the Upper Sixth, who treated us to a marvellously heartwarming and comic production. There were beautiful sets and costumes, and seamless scene changes and lighting cues. The singing, acting and choreography from principals, ensembles, dancers, and chorus were superb and were a credit to the director and musical director, Mrs Oxborrow and Mr Langworthy, respectively, and to our Lower Sixth student director, Mimi.

Matilda Jr.

The Music and Drama departments staged a fantastic Lower School Production of the musical Matilda Jr. Our wonderful cast of Year 8 and 9 students brought this joyful story to life with everyone involved, from the leading roles to the chorus, showing huge amounts of talent, dedication, energy and commitment. There were standout performances from the brilliantly versatile Gigi as Miss Trunchbull, Etian playing Miss Honey, Zara as Matilda and all her schoolmates played by Una, Ariane, Audrey, Arabella, Lara, Sabrina G, Sabrina W and Izi, plus Jenna and Aurelia as Matilda’s awful parents. Congratulations to Mrs Hargraves, Director and Producer, and Miss Edwards, Musical Director, for producing their first Godolphin production together.

What Remains

At the end of the Summer Term we were treated to an original promenade-style production, What Remains, written and directed by Lower Sixth students Mimi and Safia. Set in a library lost to time, the play cleverly cast its audience as the first official tour group of a recently uncovered dig site. Its original musical score was performed by Sofia in her role as Paul the Pianist and matched the pacing and tension of each scene.

Trinity College Speech and Drama

It was another outstanding year in Speech and Drama, with more than 300 Godolphin students following Trinity College courses and taking Speech and Drama exams from Grades 3 to 8.

We were once again awarded ‘Trinity Champion Status’ in recognition of our consistently strong participation and excellent exam results.

Music

Choral Evensong and Church Concerts

Our choirs enjoyed the wonderful experience of singing choral evensong and concerts for congregations at a number of beautiful locations.

In October, the Senior Chamber Choir sang evensong in front of a congregation of around 700 people in the beautiful setting of St Paul’s Cathedral.

In November, the Junior Chamber Choir sang evensong in The Charterhouse Chapel after a fascinating tour of the historic site.

In May, the Junior Chamber Choir travelled to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, to sing evensong in one of the country’s most prestigious settings.

In June, the Senior Chamber Choir sang evensong in the beautiful setting of Southwark Cathedral in London.

School Concerts

The Senior Music Scholars’ Concert featured a number of impressive performances ranging from the timeless works of Mendelssohn and Elgar to contemporary compositions by British composer Cecilia McDowall. The concert concluded with a triumphant performance of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden from the Upper Sixth String Quartet of Ella, Youan, Maya, and Imogen.

240 performers took part in the Autumn Concert with a programme that included performances from the Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, instrumental ensembles, and choirs.

As part of the festive season the Junior Chamber Choir and Senior Chamber Choir joined forces to give a remarkable performance of Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. The choirs, numbering 80 voices in total, were expertly accompanied by three student harpists Olivia, Giselle and Meredith.

The Bishop Centre was filled with beautiful choral singing, musical accompaniment and yuletide readings at the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.

The Spring Chamber Music Concert showcased duets and larger instrumental ensembles. A highlight was the trio of Sixth Formers Millan and Ella with Dr Ooi on the bass line singing Mozart’s ‘Terzetto’ from Così Fan Tutte

Our annual Spring Choral Concert featured all five student choirs, our Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble, Staff Choir and Parent Choir. The choirs came together for Morten Lauridsen’s Ave Verum Corpus and Vivaldi’s Gloria

At the Spring Instrumental Concert our Upper Sixth Music Scholars featured as soloists and composers. Accompanied by our String Ensemble, Ella, Maya and Imogen each played a movement from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Youan impressed us all with her virtuoso playing in SaintSaëns’ Allegro appassionato. The Symphony Orchestra played the wonderfully evocative world premiere of New Forest, composed by Rania. Finally, the Symphony Orchestra played the entirety of Haydn’s Symphony in D Major No. 104 ‘London’.

In June, we were delighted to hold the second annual Junior Music Scholars’ Concert, featuring all of our Music Scholars in Years 7, 8 and 9.

We enjoyed a spectacular Junior House Music Competition with 141 pupils taking part. Many congratulations to our winners Izi, Andrea, Jane, Meredith, Bella and Isla, and the Year 9 a cappella group. Congratulations to Maathai House, who were the overall winners of the competition with 335 points.

The Summer Concert was a wonderful celebration of music at Godolphin and Latymer with over 250 students taking part. Our Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble, Philharmonia, Percussion Trio, Percussion Quartet, Senior Chamber Choir, Junior Chamber Choir, Year 8 and 9 Choir, and Year 7 Choir all performed a veritable feast of repertoire with real verve and energy.

Winter, Spring and Summer Jams

Our termly Jam Concerts showcase Godolphin’s musical talent in solos, duet and group numbers in a range of musical styles from pop to jazz to rock. One of the highlights of the year was our Summer Jam at the Summer Garden Party which got the whole community on their feet with a mixture of original songs to wellknown hits – from ABBA’s ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ to Role Model’s ‘Sally, When the Wine Runs Out’.

Sport and PE Hockey

It was a busy and productive hockey season, with a high level of pupil participation across all age groups. The 1XI team began the season with a trip to Nottingham for the annual pre-season tournament and the girls hit the ground running, demonstrating determination and strong effort throughout. Over the course of the season, they delivered consistently impressive performances. In the Independent Schools Hockey Competitions (ISHC) quarter-finals, they faced a formidable Brighton side away from home. Despite playing excellent hockey and sticking closely to their tactics, the team narrowly missed out on victory. The 1st Indoor team also had a successful season progressing to the regional finals and narrowly missing out on the Nationals.

To conclude the season, both teams participated in the eagerly anticipated ALLSTARS match, pitting Team Astrid (1XI Captain) against Team Tabby and Daisy (1XI Vice-Captains). With top players from Year 9 and above, the match was a fantastic showcase of high-quality hockey, culminating in a well-earned win for Team Astrid. We extend heartfelt thanks to our Upper Sixth leavers for their dedication and commitment over the years, wishing them every success in their future endeavours.

At the junior levels, the U12 squads (A–F) showed excellent progress, with notable improvements in technical skills. The U12A team grew stronger throughout the season, and achieved a 3–0 victory over a tough Sir William Borlase side. The U12B team also developed well, with many players moving up to the A team as the season progressed. The U13A girls had a strong season marked by significant development and improvement, although they narrowly missed out on progressing to the regional finals in the national competition. We look forward to seeing the U13 squads progress to 11-a-side hockey next year.

The U14 team had a standout season, culminating in their qualification for the Tier 2 National Finals in Nottingham. They played exceptional hockey throughout the tournament and finished 6th nationally – an outstanding achievement that reflects their dedication and teamwork. The U15s faced a challenging season with a mixed squad, but made excellent progress throughout the year, which bodes

well as they transition into the U16 category. The U16s made a strong run in the National Plate competition, reaching the semi-finals before narrowly losing on penalties to Churchers School in a dramatic match.

The 2XI team continues to make great progress, bringing together players from U15 through to the Upper Sixth. They have faced some tough opposition, including several 1XI teams, and have approached these challenges with strong focus and determination. A standout moment this season was an impressive 6–1 victory over Thomas’s Putney Vale.

The end-of-season Ibstock tournaments were another highlight for Godolphin, with the U13, U14, and U18 teams all securing impressive victories.

Beyond school, it has been fantastic to see many girls playing hockey at local clubs and progressing through the England Hockey pathway. Several players have been selected for county squads, reflecting their hard work and dedication. Special congratulations go to Florence for her selection to England Hockey’s Talent Academy, and to Monica, who not only represented England U16s at the Four Nations tournament but also captained the side.

Across all age groups, there have been strong performances in numerous friendly games, with over 140 matches played throughout the season. Well done to all players for their dedication, hard work and passion for the game.

Netball

This year has been busy for Godolphin netball, with over 24 squads across the age groups and more than 300 students playing netball throughout the year. Both the U12 and U13 squads participated in block fixtures against strong opposition from LEH, Surbiton, and St Paul’s, with around 60 students representing the school in each match, showcasing the depth and enthusiasm of our teams.

The U12s began their journey with determination and enthusiasm, finishing 3rd at the Ibstock Tournament, reaching the second round of the Sister n Sport Competition, and finishing as runners-up at the Middlesex Schools Tournament, setting a fantastic tone for the years to come.

The U13s had a season filled with standout performances, winning both the GSA and Harrodian Tournaments, reaching the third round of the School Sport Magazine Competition, and impressively finishing as runners-up at the Middlesex Tournament, where Anais was named Player of the Tournament. Across the board, the U13 teams won the majority of their matches throughout the season, with the U13B squad achieving a perfect record, winning every game they played.

The U14s showcased determination and skill, placing 3rd at the GSA Tournament and 4th at the Middlesex Prelims, while their spirited performance at the Sisters n Sport Plate competition in Loughborough was a true highlight. They beat Epsom College in the 3rd place play-off, a game marked by great teamwork and dynamic play. Mia’s outstanding shooting and leadership earned her Player of the Game.

The U15s enjoyed a hugely successful season, winning the Ibstock Tournament with resilience and composure, placing 2nd at Middlesex Prelims, and finishing 4th in the County Finals, narrowly missing a Sisters n Sport quarter-final spot.

The U16 squads had an exceptional year, securing 1st place at both the Middlesex Prelims and the Schools Tournament, playing with consistency and confidence despite some close matches, including a thrilling draw against South Hampstead, and finishing their season with valuable experience gained at the Sisters n Sport Plate Competition.

The U19 A team finished 2nd at the Ibstock Tournament, 3rd at Middlesex Prelims and reached the 3rd round of the Sisters n Sport National Cup, with Livia’s defensive strength and Olivia’s versatility standing out as highlights.

The U19 2nd team demonstrated fantastic development and tenacity, securing notable victories against strong opponents such as St Benedict’s, St Paul’s, and South Hampstead. The U18Bs had a fantastic day in the sunshine at St Paul’s for their last tournament of the year, finishing 3rd overall after some tight matches.

Across all age groups, many of our students have trialled for and represented Middlesex, with a select number also playing for Pulse Pathways teams, showcasing the high calibre of talent within our squads. From first-time players to seasoned seniors, our netballers have truly made this a season to remember, inspiring pride with their passion, progress, and unity.

Rowing

It was a frustrating start to the season for the 100 or so Godolphin rowers with many races cancelled due to wet and windy conditions. However, we started 2025 with Godolphin’s biggest ever Quintin Head race entry – five crews, 45 athletes, and stunning weather. All five crews delivered excellent performances, placing in the top ten or top five in their categories, with the J16s claiming second place.

After an inspirational talk from Olympic Champion Emily Craig at our annual fundraising dinner, our senior rowers went on to gain valuable experience in a race fixture against Cambridge University lightweights and at the Women’s Eights Head of the River, two J18 VIIIs and a J16 VIII competed against international competition.

The biggest races of the Spring Term are the Schools’ Head and National Junior Sculling Head. Two J14 octos and two J15 quads acquitted themselves well at the Scullery. At the Schools’ Head, the 1st VIII had a strong showing in the Championship VIIIs, but our stars of the show were the J16A VIII who won their category against strong competition!

Easter saw a successful Ghent rowing camp, in preparation for the summer regatta season in the UK. On their return, our J16A VIII took part in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, a first for the Boat Club, having been selected as the London Thames region crew following their win at the Schools’ Head. After a strong showing in the time trial our crew made the final, and against strong crews from all over England, came away with a Bronze medal.

Lower Sixth student, Lara, brought distinction upon herself and the school when she was selected to represent GB at the Munich Junior International

Regatta in early May, where she won Bronze in the GB pair, also racing in the four.

At Wallingford Regatta six crews raced a blustery course, getting some great final racing experience before the National Schools’ Regatta (NSR) in Nottingham. At NSR our J14s, J15s, J16s and J18s all rowed competitively. The 1st VIII won the B-final finishing as the ninth fastest Championship VIII in the UK, and the J16 2nd VIII won a Bronze medal. Unfortunately the Sunday of NSR was cancelled due to high winds.

At Henley Women’s Regatta our 1st VIII qualified from the time trial and put in a storming performance against Wimbledon High in the first round to win by three-and-a-half lengths before losing out to Headington – the eventual winners – in the quarterfinal. Following this strong performance our crew was selected to pre-qualify for Henley Royal Regatta. They put in a super performance against Kingston Grammar School in the 1st round to win in style and progress to Wednesday racing. Drawing one of the favourites, Kinross Wolaroi School, Australia, our crew had a terrific race before bowing out, losing by just a one-and-three-quarter lengths. However, we have a young crew, with the majority returning next year, so the outlook is very promising indeed.

To round off the year, Hannah and Lara won Gold medals representing GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse and World Rowing U19 Championships, respectively.

We are very proud of all of the squads who, despite the challenges of the Autumn Term, overcame adversity to shine in performances over the rest of the season. We are very thankful for our Supporters’ Association’s care and cheering, and congratulations to all our rowers and coaches on another great season.

Cricket

This cricket season saw over 80 girls develop their skills and compete in a range of soft and hard ball matches throughout the year. We were also named as one of the top 20 girls schools by The Cricketer.

A highlight of the Spring Term was the ECB National Indoor Tournament. Both our U13 and U15 teams won their borough and county finals with confidence, progressing to the regional stage. While the U15s faced a tough draw and did not advance further, the U13s excelled, winning their regional competition and earning a place in the National Finals at Lord’s.

Competing against the top four regional winners, the standard was exceptionally high, with many close matches. Our U13s performed brilliantly and proudly finished as the 3rd-best team in the country — a remarkable achievement.

In the Summer Term, aiming to grow our hard ball programme, we entered the Middlesex County Cup T20 competition. After a strong run through the rounds, we faced LEH in the final. Chasing a target of 150/9, our girls rose to the occasion, reaching 155/2 with an over to spare. Special congratulations to Maddy for scoring a superb half-century.

Our U12s also shone, entering three teams into the London Schools’ Tournament and emerging as champions. Across the board, girls enjoyed a wide variety of matches this term, rounding off a fantastic season for cricket at our school.

Cross Country

Cross country enjoyed a fantastic season this year, with exceptionally strong Intermediate and Senior girls’ teams, as well as enthusiastic participation from a number of new athletes in Years 7–9.

The season kicked off with an outstanding ESAA Regional Championship, where our senior athletes dominated the field: Arabella, Year 11, finished 1st; Maeve, Year 11, 2nd; Alice, Year 11, 3rd; Sienna, Year 11, 5th; and Siena, Lower Sixth, 8th. Their impressive results earned the team a well-deserved Gold medal and qualification for the ESAA National Championships, with Arabella, Maeve, Kyra, Sienna, and Alice representing the Senior Girls’ team. Arabella delivered a remarkable performance, finishing 6th overall.

At the Harrow SES Schools event, we fielded Junior, Intermediate, and Senior girls’ teams. Arabella claimed 1st place in the Intermediate Girls division, while Domi, Year 8, finished 4th in the Junior Girls division.

The LSAA Cross Country Championships saw more success: Arabella secured 2nd and Maeve 6th in the Intermediate Girls event, while Allegra, Upper Sixth, took 1st and Maya, Upper Sixth, 6th in the Senior Girls event. All four athletes qualified for the London Schools team. At the London Schools Championships, Arabella finished 24th and Allegra 32nd, both within 20 seconds of the winner – a testament to the competitiveness of the field.

Thirteen athletes qualified for the London Youth Games Cross Country Championships in November, where Arabella claimed 1st place in the U17 category and Maeve finished 12th –both outstanding results. The season concluded with the Mini Marathon, where Arabella earned a highly commendable 5th place.

Congratulations to all our athletes on a season filled with determination, teamwork, and remarkable achievements.

Athletics

The Athletics season was filled with outstanding achievements and moments to celebrate! Year 7 kicked things off at the London Youth Games, with an impressive performance in their field events securing a place in the finals. Across Years 7–10, several of our talented athletes competed in the English Schools Championships; some highlights included top three finishes from Annabel, Year 10, Trinny, Year 10, Bea, Year 10, and Kitty, Year 9 – an exceptional achievement in the Regional B Finals for London Schools. Congratulations to everyone involved and a special mention to Marianna, Year 10, and Trinny, who proudly represented Hammersmith and Fulham in the London Schools Athletics Final, competing in the 100m and 800m. To round off the season, Lexi, Year 8, was selected to compete in the Track and Field Championship in the 200m. Well done to all our athletes for an incredible season. We’re so proud of their hard work and dedication and we can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Tennis

It has been another successful year for Godolphin tennis, with student participation reaching record heights. The number of students signing up for the Open Doubles tournament more than doubled, rising from 30 pairs last year to over 70 pairs this year! The enthusiasm for tennis has been evident throughout the school, with lunch clubs proving especially popular – particularly among the Lower School students, who have enjoyed getting outside to soak up the sunny start to summer.

All age groups have achieved excellent results in fixtures this year, with the Year 7s standing out as a promising group for the future of the school. Our senior girls also had a great time testing their skills in two fixtures against Eton College and Dulwich College, where pupils played mixed doubles. We returned to Division 1 for the LTA U13 and U15 competitions this year with great success. Our U13 team won their final and have advanced to the knockout stage of the South-East region, which will be played in September. The U15 team will also play in the final in September – proving that tennis doesn’t have to be just a summer sport.

Thanks to all the girls who have made this such a fantastic year; tennis is going from strength to strength and we can’t wait for next season!

Football

Football at Godolphin and Latymer is flourishing, with more girls choosing to join the Football Club and compete for the school. Built on years of hard work, the senior team had its best season on record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) Cup before being beaten by St Joseph’s College — who have set the benchmark for next year.

Our junior team also had an excellent year, with our incoming group of Year 7s injecting great energy into the squad. They played competitive football throughout the season, achieving some promising results and producing many highlights along the way. Our Year 8s built on a strong previous season to elevate their game to the next level. Although they were narrowly knocked out after a 5–4 loss in the first round of the ISFA Cup, they played with tremendous spirit and skill.

The foundation of the programme continues to grow, and we’re confident that football will keep going from strength to strength as participation and commitment to training increase. With a number of our girls now playing both club and international football, the future looks bright for our Godolphin teams.

Extra-Curricular PE Clubs

In March, we held our annual extra-curricular display, celebrating the wide range of activities our students enjoy.

The event showcased impressive talent – from trampolinists performing high-flying somersaults to kickboxers demonstrating power and precision. Gymnasts delivered a graceful acro routine before matching the trampolinists in height with their vaulting and trampette skills. It was inspiring to see so many girls supporting their peers, with some even eager to try new sports.

The show concluded with a beautiful contemporary dance performance, full of expression and energy.

Not all sports were featured, but enthusiasm is growing across the board. Fencing has surged in popularity, with nearly 80 girls taking up foil or epee, and karate has seen steady growth due to its disciplined approach.

It’s truly wonderful to see so many girls actively involved in one or more activities — fostering confidence, skill, and school spirit.

Sports Celebration Evening

In March we celebrated sport at Godolphin with a special event organised by our Sixth Form Sports Captains. The evening was filled with mini-games, a special workout session from Lululemon ambassador Lucy Joslin, and a dodgeball showdown which pitted staff and students against parents!

Friendly Competitions

In March, students and staff battled it out across various competitions, demonstrating plenty of competitive spirit. The basketball match was a close contest, with the students just edging out the staff in a nail-biting 30-26 victory. The netball match, however, was a dominant display from the students, who stormed to a commanding 33-16 win. In football, students left it late but were able to overturn the staff’s narrow lead to win 2-1.

A highlight of the Godolphin calendar is the annual U18 netball squad showdown against St Paul’s Boys. In front of a capacity crowd in the Sports Hall, it was the girls – of course! – who emerged victorious with a final score of 26-17.

International Sporting Honours

This academic year we celebrated a number of students who competed at the very top level in their sports:

Eliza Amore Fencing U14

Monica Alcover Hockey

Ines Goyarrola Fencing

Henrietta Westin Fencing

Lara Bone Rowing

U16

U17

U17

U19

Hannah Corcoran Rowing U19

Elspeth von Sponeck Showjumping U18

Great Britain

England

Great Britain

Sweden

Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain

Sports Day: Come Rain or Shine

After a run of scorching hot and sunny days, no one expected the biggest question on Sports Day to be whether rain might force a cancellation. Thankfully, with some quick thinking and revised scheduling, the PE department ensured the day went ahead smoothly. With the new schedule, Years 7-10 managed to compete in all of their field events followed by the middle distance running with a few interspersed showers. With some glimpses of sunshine we also managed to squeeze in the 80m and 200m heats, meaning only the hurdles lost out to the occasional rain shower.

After lunch, all four year-groups came together on the astro to compete in the 80m and 200m finals, followed by the eagerly anticipated relays. The astro pitch was a sea of House colours, filled with energy and support as the girls cheered each other on and sprinted under clear, sunny skies.

Congratulations to all the girls who participated and gave their all. Thank you to the staff who officiated and supported the day, and a special thanks to the PE department for their flexibility, teamwork, and tireless efforts to make the day a great success!

Individual Cup Winners

Year 7: Lara Marquez (Sheppard)

Year 8: Ariane Minerva (Quinn Brown)

Year 9: Amanda Brown (Quinn Brown)

Year 10: Marianna Dimitriou* (Lovelace)

*Marianna is the first student to win the individual cup every year

Records Broken

Year 9: Amanda Brown (Quinn Brown)

Long Jump 4.70m

Year 9: Elena Greco (Sheppard)

High Jump 1.53m

Year 10: Annabel Hammer (Lovelace)

High Jump 1.55m

Year 10: Trinny Fry (Lovelace)

800m 2.38 mins

House Winners

1st: Sheppard

2nd: Lovelace

3rd: Quinn Brown

4th: Maathai

5th: Bassi

6th: Naidu

LECTURES AND GUEST SPEAKERS

NASA Astronaut

We were delighted to welcome Richard Covey, NASA Astronaut and Godolphin grandparent, to talk about his career and experiences as a space shuttle commander. Mr Covey was inspired by the accomplishments of the US and Soviet space programmes during the Cold War. After completing his engineering studies and gaining flight experience as a test pilot, he secured his place in NASA’s elite astronaut corps and spent over 600 hours in space, spanning four missions.

West London Welcome

Joanne MacInnes, Director and Founder of West London Welcome, and her colleague Ibraham Kamara talked about their work at the local community centre for refugees, people seeking asylum, and migrants. The centre is open four days a week and supports people from over 70 countries who speak more than 50 languages by providing safe refuge, food, advice, casework support, and English classes. West London Welcome was one of this year’s House charities.

PSHE Talks

Students attended a wide range of talks delivered by school experts and external speakers exploring a range of important topics to support their personal development and well-being.

These included talks from Social Jess, Everyone’s Invited, Bob Tait, It Happens and Alison Havey, as well as self defence workshops for Year 8.

Our Head Girls Team collaborated with their counterparts at Hampton School on a workshop for Year 10 students focusing on managing failure. The workshop was delivered through interactive, small-group discussions which explored the topic from both girls’ and boys’ perspectives.

Politics Society

The Politics Society welcomed the following speakers:

Martin Cox (1), Director of the John Locke Institute, discussed the intricacies of public sector wages, focusing on the NHS and education.

Historian Professor Sir Vernon Bogdanor (2) spoke on his most recent book, Making the Weather which explores the influence of politicians from outside the mainstream, such as Roy Jenkins, Tony Benn, Keith Joseph and Nigel Farage.

US politics author and teacher Simon Lemieux, spoke to the group about the 2024 US election.

Old Dolphin Clara McGrane (Class of 2020) (4) spoke about her time studying International Relations at the University of St Andrews, and her experience working as Global Security Intern for the NGO, Sight Savers.

History Society Talk: China 1989

Mrs Whittaker spoke about her experience of being in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square protests, including being evacuated on a chartered government plane. Students also had the chance to see some of her photos from the time and heard some thrilling excerpts from her diary.

Holocaust Talk and Workshop

Hephzibah Rudofsky, whose mother survived the Holocaust, came into school to lead a session with Year 9 pupils. She brought with her several artefacts from her family’s time in Bergen-Belsen, including work cards, medical kits, photographs, postcards and letters. The session was very moving and the insightful talk helped us to mark 80 years since the liberation of Bergen-Belsen.

OUT AND ABOUT

London

London is our classroom and we enhance the learning of our students with everything that is on offer on our doorstep. Educational trips and cultural visits enrich our students’ learning and this year have included:

Sixth Form Politics students visited the Houses of Parliament to tour the Palace of Westminster, and the Supreme Court and Whitehall.

Year 11 and Sixth Form Italian students visited the Ciné Lumière in South Kensington for an Italian cultural morning organised by the Anti-Mafia Association.

Eleven budding songwriters in Years 9–11 attended an event run by Song Academy at YouTube Music’s offices. The event included a Q&A with some top producers, a talk about YouTube Music, a tour of their state-of-the-art facilities, and the chance to connect with like-minded musicians.

Year 11 Art and Design students spent a day investigating the collections at the V&A Museum and Natural History Museum. Each student selected a range of objects to document through photography, written analysis and two observational drawings which evidenced a high degree of technical skill.

Lower Sixth Chemistry students visited the Emmanuel Centre in central London for an enlightening day of lectures. Students heard from six experts in their fields, covering a range of topics from Biochemistry to Materials Science. The event also showcased innovative applications of Chemistry, including the use of biosensors in cancer treatment and research on improving plastic biodegradability.

Lower Sixth Mathematics students visited the Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden for an engaging morning of lectures. Students heard from four experts in their fields, who each gave students an insight into areas of Maths extending beyond the typical curriculum, from game theory to the beauty of fractal geometry.

Year 10 GCSE Art and Design students enjoyed a trip to the National Portrait Gallery to engage with several notable exhibitions, including Francis Bacon: Human Presence, and the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. The students were embarking on their own self-portrait studies for their coursework so the exhibitions provided valuable insight into the range of styles and approaches that can be taken.

Upper Sixth A Level English Literature students went to see Jamie Lloyd’s captivating production of The Tempest at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane It was an inventive interpretation of the play with an all-female cast.

Sixth Form History of Art students visited the V&A Museum for an in-depth tour of paintings and sculptures with a focus on the technical analysis of materials and techniques. They looked closely at the varied brushwork of Turner, discussed the impact of lost-wax casting on Renaissance bronzes, analysed chisel marks left by Rodin and his assistants, and considered how the relief sculptures of Donatello and others might have been enhanced by sunlight and other factors in their original settings.

Sixth Form Art and Design students visited the Tate Modern Gallery to explore two current exhibitions: Antony McCall’s ‘Solid Light’ and ‘Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet’.

Upper Sixth biologists visited Kew Gardens to conduct biodiversity sampling, ecological data collection and analysis, and to have a tour of the iconic Palm House and the vast array of tropical plant species.

Our classicists headed to the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre to watch a modernised version of Aristophanes’ classic comedy Frogs, performed by UCL students.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, our Year 8 Mandarin students spent an afternoon exploring the vibrant colours and flavours of China Town.

Year 10 classicists enjoyed a visit to the British Museum to deepen their understanding of the Parthenon Sculptures and the Bassae Frieze, bringing to life their classroom studies of Ancient Greek art and religion.

Students attended the A Level Politics conference at Central Hall Westminster The day started with a speech and Q&A with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Conservative MP and Minister, followed by Lord Dubs (Labour), Richard Tice (Reform), Dame Emily Thornberry (Labour), Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrats), Sir Graham Brady (Conservative), Sian Berry (Green), Pete Wishart (SNP), Seb Wride (Public First) and Alastair Campbell from The Rest is Politics.

Lower Sixth A Level Spanish students attended a study day at the British Film Institute, delving into the legacy of dictatorship in contemporary Spanish cinema.

Lower Sixth geographers travelled to Battersea Power Station for a day of fieldwork and collecting data for their A Level and IB coursework.

Year 7s visited the National Gallery and Design Museum in an exciting joint trip organised by the Philosophy and Religion and Design Technology departments. A week later they visited the Science Museum and Natural History Museum in South Kensington.

Lower Sixth History of Art students visited the National Gallery to study paintings relevant to their course. Led by Dr Williams and Dr Vicenik, they inspected, discussed and documented a range of works including Lorenzo Monaco’s ‘Coronation of the Virgin’, Turner’s ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ and Monet’s ‘Bathers at La Grenouillère’.

Year 10 Design and Technology students, joined by the new Year 9 cohort, enjoyed an inspiring trip to the V&A Museum. They explored the Design and Disability exhibition, gaining valuable insights into how design can improve accessibility and inclusivity.

Year 7 Geography students explored the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and evaluated the sustainability of its urban regeneration.

Around the UK

Students ventured beyond the capital to explore further afield in the UK on both residential and non-residential trips.

In the Autumn Term, Year 8 geographers visited Burnham Beeches to explore its unique status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. As part of their studies, the students investigated three types of woodland –beech, oak, and pine – using clinometers, tape measures, and quadrats to gather data on tree height and age by measuring trunk circumferences.

Year 7 students embarked on a journey through history with a pilgrimage to St Albans Cathedral, exploring the pivotal role of the church in medieval England. The day offered a range of immersive activities designed to deepen students’ understanding of the church’s influence on society during the period.

At the end of April, the Classics department introduced Year 8 students to Fishbourne Roman Palace, the largest domestic building discovered north of the Alps. Students took part in a Roman artefact handling workshop and studied the extensive floor mosaics in the remains of the palace’s north wing – from the Cupid on a Dolphin to the mysterious Medusa mosaic.

Lower Sixth Geography students travelled to the Lake District for a weekend of fieldwork, investigating glacial landforms to understand the legacy of successive ice ages in the northern Lakes. In warm May sunshine they hiked up the Easedale tarn and investigated landforms such as roche moutonnée and striations on the way.

In May, Year 7 set out on the Classics department’s annual trip to Cambridge to visit the Cast Gallery in the University Classics Faculty and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Despite the grey skies they enjoyed a walk around the university college buildings and admired the punting on the river.

In June Year 10 students enjoyed a fabulous trip to Margam. They threw themselves into their river study of the Ogmore with great enthusiasm and some impressive commitment to data collection. In Cardiff they carried out an urban study looking at environmental quality and land use along a transect from the city centre to the Cardiff Bay redevelopment area.

In June, Lower Sixth A Level English Literature students spent two days in Haworth, rural Yorkshire – the home of the famed Brontë authors – to complement their studies of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme includes an expedition element which allows students the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful landscapes and countryside in Britain.

This year, 108 Year 9 students successfully completed their Bronze practice expedition in the Chiltern Hills and their qualifying expedition in the Cotswolds.

73 Year 10 students spent two days in the New Forest for their Silver practice expedition and then a weekend in the glorious Purbeck Hills for the qualifying expedition.

29 Lower Sixth students completed their Gold DofE practice expedition in the Brecon Beacons in May. Students got the full Welsh weather experience — from glorious sunshine to hailstones — and despite finding some of the terrain challenging, they showed great resilience and had a brilliant time. This set them up well to successfully complete their qualifying expedition in the Peak District.

Overseas Trips

Italian Trip to Emilia-Romagna

During the first week of October half-term, a group of Italian students in Years 10 to the Lower Sixth embarked on a cultural and educational trip to Bologna, Parma, and Ravenna. They attended language classes and explored the University of Bologna, visited historic churches, climbed the Clock Tower, discovered Parma’s Duomo and Ravenna’s UNESCO world heritage monuments and, of course, ate lots of amazing Italian food!

Year 11 Trip to the Bay of Naples

During October half-term, Year 11 Classical Civilisation and Latin students set off on a study trip to the Bay of Naples. The trip involved visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. The students gained first-hand experience of many of the artefacts and buildings they had studied for GCSE Classical Civilisation. However, the experience went well beyond the syllabus, offering wonderful insights to all of the students involved. They also scaled Vesuvius to fully appreciate the power of the volcano and reflect further on the tragedy which had destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Parisian Culture and Language

Year 11 French students embarked on an unforgettable trip to Paris for a full week of language immersion and cultural exploration. Throughout their stay, the students lodged with French host families, creating the perfect setting to practise conversational French. Afternoons were reserved for cultural excursions, including to the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d’Orsay and they also enjoyed a scenic boat trip on the Seine and wandering the charming streets of Montmartre.

Geography Trip to Iceland

Over the first week of October half-term, 44 Geography students in Years 10 to the Upper Sixth embarked on an unforgettable trip to Iceland. The trip offered students hands-on experiences in one of the world’s most geologically fascinating landscapes, which includes volcanic formations, glaciers, and tectonic plate boundaries. In between trekking across lava fields, hiking to glaciers, and discovering waterfalls, the girls relaxed at the Sky Lagoon, swimming in the hot, geothermal pool and enjoying an incredible natural spa experience.

Sports Trip to Scotland

Year 8s enjoyed an action-packed sports trip to Scotland starting with outdoor forest team-building activities at the Inverclyde National Sports Centre. Indoor activities included pickleball, archery, gymnastics and trampolining. Being Scotland, there was plenty of hillwalking, climbing and orienteering, as well as some traditional Scottish dancing and a final walk on the beach before heading home.

Upper Sixth Trip to Paris

Upper Sixth historians enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Paris to experience key aspects of their Early Modernist and Modernist courses first-hand. Students visited the Army Museum and the Museum of the History of Paris and enjoyed a guided tour of Versailles. There was also time for a boat trip on the Siene, vintage shopping, and sampling patisseries.

Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg Exchange

During the Easter holidays, nine Year 10 German students travelled to Hamburg, with pupils from Latymer Upper School, to visit their exchange partners at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums — our wonderful partner school in the beautiful and historic city of Hamburg. They had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in everyday life with their host families and experience the German school system firsthand. Each day brought exciting excursions to some of Hamburg’s most iconic sites.

History of Art Trip to Florence

Sixth Form History of Art students embarked on a five-day trip to Florence to enrich their study of the Italian Renaissance. The group immersed themselves in the cultural and artistic landscape of fifteenth-century Florence, retracing the footsteps of Donatello and Leonardo through the city’s historic streets and churches. Highlights included a visit to the private chapel of the Medici family, and a climb inside the dome of Florence Cathedral.

Spanish Trip to Granada

During the first week of the Easter break, Year 10 students enjoyed a fabulous trip to the vibrant and culturally rich city of Granada where they stayed with host families. They took part in language lessons in the mornings and then explored the cultural highlights of the city, including the stunning Alhambra, in the afternoons. On the final evening the group enjoyed a captivating live Flamenco performance.

Year 8 Trips to France, Germany and Spain

Straight after the summer half-term, Year 8 French, Spanish and German students all set off on their respective language trips.

French students had an unforgettable trip to Antibes nestled on the sparkling French Riviera. After morning language lessons they enjoyed local excursions and practised their French with local shopkeepers. Of course, no trip to Antibes would be complete without some time by the sea, and they spent an afternoon on the sandy beach, paddling in the surprisingly chilly turquoise water, playing games, and kayaking.

The German department took 30 enthusiastic Year 8 students on an unforgettable trip to Cologne, a beautiful and historic city in western Germany. Each morning began with engaging and challenging German lessons at a local language school. Afternoons were filled with exciting excursions including ziplining through treetops and a trip to the Phantasialand theme park.

Spanish students headed to Salamanca and Segovia for an unforgettable blend of language learning, cultural immersion, and fun. Mornings were dedicated to engaging Spanish lessons and afternoon activities included a visit to a finca to learn about the history of bullfighting, and exploring the Alcázar in Segovia.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREERS

Higher Education Preparation Programme

Sixth Form medics attended a talk by Dr Hannah Bryne, General Surgery Registrar and representative of the Medical Women’s Foundation, who shared her journey into medicine and the pressures of life in a hospital. We were also delighted to welcome back Old Dolphin medics from across the country including Manchester, Barts, Newcastle and King’s College.

Around 40 Sixth Formers were joined by more than 100 students from other West London schools for our Interview Practice Evening. Students were matched up with experts drawn from other schools, friends of Godolphin, and parents. The students were put through their paces by an unfamiliar interviewer, providing them with personal feedback on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the process.

The Lower Sixth Higher Education Forum took place at the beginning of February and was an opportunity for students and parents to learn more about undergraduate study in a wide variety of subjects, including those not taught in school such as Engineering and Law. Subject disciplines and entry requirements were explored in depth, and we also offered sessions on making applications to overseas universities and to those institutions with very specific entrance processes, such as medical schools and Oxford and Cambridge. The session on US applications was particularly busy.

The Year 10 Higher Education and Careers Day included talks from InvestIN; the President of Arts, Culture and Heritage at Chanel on Careers in the Arts; University of Exeter on Degree Apprenticeships; plus a carousel of talks offered by members of staff.

Lower Sixth HEPP Day in May included a presentation from the University of Bath and guidance on personal statement writing and applying to the US, Canada, Oxford and Cambridge. This was followed up by a Lower Sixth HEPP Week in June, which included a wide variety of university preparation sessions for UK and overseas applications. We were joined by a representative from Newcastle University Medical School to advise on Medical applications and Law applicants took part in a workshop with Old Dolphin Leela Jadhav (Class of 2016). Ms Graham gave an inspirational talk about the value of a Study Abroad year at university and Katharine Radice, Transition and Participation Advisor at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, provided excellent insights into the transition from school to university.

Our biennial Undiscovered Subjects Lecture Series took place in March. The online lectures from leading academics and staff at top universities covered subjects including Anthropology, Archaeology, Biomedical Sciences, Human Sciences, Engineering, Global Law, Land Economy, Liberal Arts, Linguistics, Materials Science, Modern Art History, and Political Theory. Our students were joined by pupils from The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Hammersmith Academy, Kensington Aldridge Academy, Sacred Heart High School, West London Free School and Westminster City School.

Working Lunches

In February and March, Old Dolphins, representing a wide range of careers and professions, joined us for our series of Working Lunches. They spoke about their work experience and career journeys to date, and offered invaluable insight and advice to our students. Professions and companies represented included Goldman Sachs Asset Management, advertising, law, computer engineering, and forensic linguistics.

Overseas Admissions Talks

We were delighted to welcome senior admissions staff from a large number of overseas institutions who provided our students with excellent advice and insights into studying abroad. These included:

• The Dean of College Admissions at the University of Chicago, Mr. Peter Wilson

• The Admissions Directors from Rutgers, University of Minnesota, University of Vermont, University of Virginia, and Yale

• The Associate Director of Student Recruitment at the University of Toronto

• Representatives from Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University at the US Colleges Information Evening

• The Regional Manager from Trinity College Dublin

• The Director of Admissions and Vice Dean from UPenn

• The Regional Admissions Representative from Bocconi University, Milan

• The Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at New York University

US Colleges Information Evening

Year 11 students and parents attended an information session where our US and International Universities Advisor, Mrs Antebi, explained the holistic admissions process, the requirements for applying to US colleges and universities, and the qualities which make an application stand out.

US Applications

Increasingly our students are considering studying in the US after Godolphin and our students received early acceptances from a range of top US institutions, including Babson, Columbia, Georgetown, Gustavus Adolphus, Harvard, MIT, UPenn, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt, and Yale. From both regular and early applications, our students received offers from the following institutions (in alphabetical order):

Amherst College

Babson College

Boston College

Colby College

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

DePauw University

Duke University

Georgetown University

Gustavus Adolphus College

Harvard University

Ithaca College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Middlebury College

New York University (Tisch)

Northwestern University

St Lawrence University

St Olaf College

Tufts University

Union College

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Diego

University of Chicago

University of Colorado

Boulder

University of Miami

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Virginia

Vanderbilt University

Washington University in St Louis

Wesleyan University

Yale University

CLASS OF 2025

Sixth Form Leavers’ Reception

At the end of the Summer Term we said goodbye to our Class of 2025 with a special leavers’ reception to celebrate their time at Godolphin. It was a wonderful occasion celebrating everything they had achieved during seven years at the school, and we can’t wait to welcome them back as Old Dolphins!

Leavers’ Destinations

Courses and destinations that were unconfirmed at the time of printing have been omitted. A full updated list can be viewed on the school website: www.godolphinandlatymer.com.

Biomedical

Biomedical

English

English

English Law and French Law

Geology

German and Czech (with Slovak)

Liberal

Liberal

Liberal

Liberal

Liberal

Management

Management

Staff Leavers

We said farewell to a number of colleagues who left during the year and wished them well in their new adventures.

Dr Harnett, our Senior Deputy Head (Academic), retired after ten years leading the academic side of school life and supporting the very best in teaching and learning at every level in the school.

Dr Badger was a remarkable Assistant Head who championed research-informed practices in teaching and learning during her ten years at the school.

Mrs Halls arrived at Godolphin in 2008 and was an inspirational teacher of French for both our most able linguists and those who did not find language learning so easy.

Mrs Afifi arrived in 2012 and was a remarkable teacher of French and Italian and our Charities Coordinator for some years.

Mr Fry arrived in 2017 and was an exceptional teacher of Mathematics and Computing and a conscientious Form Tutor.

Miss Meloni was a highly respected teacher of Italian and Spanish and Form Tutor since arriving here in 2018.

Mrs Morris was a dedicated member of the Individual Learning Needs team for seven years and gave immense support to the pupils in her care.

Mrs Swann arrived in 2019 as Head of Chemistry and more recently was promoted to Head of Science. She flew the flag for all things scientific and was a very popular teacher and tutor.

Dr Ooi made a huge contribution in our Biology department, steered two cohorts of girls through their medical applications, and inspired the Staff Choir to new musical heights!

Mr Lewington, our brass peripatetic teacher, was one of our longest serving members of staff joining us in 2001 and will be much missed by his students and the Brass Ensemble.

A number of teachers spent only a few years with us, but have nevertheless made a very considerable contribution in all kinds of positive ways. They are: Miss Balanta (Spanish), Miss Lewis (Chemistry), Mr Mussared (PE), Mr Rogers (English), Mrs Thorpe (History and Politics).