<![CDATA[St Benedicts Blog Feed - Blogs]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk%2Fblog%2F%3Fpid%3D3%26amp%3Bnid%3D7 Juniper Education Content Management System (CMS) Version: 4.5 (junipereducation.org) Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:16:28 GMT Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:16:28 GMT <![CDATA[ Sixth Form Educational Journey ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=1053 Choosing the right Sixth Form is a crucial decision when it comes to your child's educational journey.

At St Benedict's, we offer an education that extends beyond academic success, providing a holistic experience that prepares students for life. 

]]> Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:09:43 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=1053 <![CDATA[ Our Academic Scholars - spotlight on Ned ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/academic-scholars-spotlight-on-ned As one of our Academic Scholars, we asked Upper Sixth Former and Head Boy Ned, who has been a student at St Benedict's since the age of 3, to describe the opportunities that an academic scholarship has provided him with, giving him the motivation to pursue his academic interests further.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:34:48 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/academic-scholars-spotlight-on-ned <![CDATA[ Why is chemistry important? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-chemistry-essay-winner Why is chemistry so integral to our lives? Everything we see is an application of chemistry, argues Benjy (Yr12), who won the Peterhouse Kelvin Science Essay Competition with this essay.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:36:55 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-chemistry-essay-winner <![CDATA[ The Future of Green Politics ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-politics-lecture-baroness-bennett St Benedict's students had the opportunity to interview and question former Leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett when she gave a talk on 'The Future of the Green Party' in May. Here is a transcript of their questions and Baroness Bennett's responses.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:54:39 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-politics-lecture-baroness-bennett <![CDATA[ Book Club: Anthony McGowan ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-book-club-meets-anthony-mcgowan Author Anthony McGowan kindly offered to speak to our Year 10 Book Club about one of his books they had been reading together, following his popular visit to St Benedict’s during Book Week in November. 

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:40:24 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-book-club-meets-anthony-mcgowan <![CDATA[ Co-Education at St Benedict’s ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/co-education Throughout my academic life, I have attended co-ed schools. It is a system that I whole heartedly believe in, and now, 5 years on from when I joined Bennies, as I prepare to leave secondary education, I have come to appreciate the profound benefits that I experienced from attending a school which welcomes all. Co-education fosters respect between peers of any gender and ultimately represents a more modern workplace. Co-education in a sense, therefore, represents a transition into a more realistic and equal society – one where men, women, or however individuals choose to identify themselves, can work in harmony together. Through shaping individuals in their formative years to be accepting of a more diverse workforce, in turn, we mould a better society for our children and future generations.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:51:47 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/co-education <![CDATA[ PSHE: self-esteem and positive relationships ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/pshe-at-st-benedicts How can we help children to form positive healthy relationships, rooted in respect for themselves and for others? St Benedict’s Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, talks to the Head of PSHE and School Counsellor, Andrea Loaiza-Palacio about how to support pupils’ personal happiness, safety and wellbeing, helping them to withstand some of the negative pressures they are exposed to – in school, out of school, and online.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:15:36 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/pshe-at-st-benedicts <![CDATA[ Dangerous Books: A Librarian's Perspective ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-librarian-blog-dangerous-books To mark World Book Day, St Benedict’s Librarian Emma Wallace talked about books which have been banned, for social, cultural, religious and political reasons over the centuries, such as Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the Harry Potter series, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Orwell’s Animal Farm.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:13:06 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-librarian-blog-dangerous-books <![CDATA[ A Myth For Our Time ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-prize-winner Congratulations to Georgia (Year 7), who has won First Prize in the latest Helikon Centre Writing Competition - A Myth For Our Time.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:05:42 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-prize-winner <![CDATA[ Should Covid-19 vaccination be compulsory? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/should-covid-19-vaccination-be-compulsory St Benedict’s students have been considering the pros and cons of making vaccination mandatory in the fight against Covid-19, as part of the latest online ‘Thinking Forum’.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:07:37 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/should-covid-19-vaccination-be-compulsory <![CDATA[ Bibliotherapy: How reading can support pupils ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/bibliotherapy-how-reading-supports-wellbeing Books have an important role to play in providing comfort and support, believes St Benedict's Librarian, Emma Wallace. The school's new eBook collection of over 1250+ titles is an invaluable resource for pupils during the current pandemic.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:12:18 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/bibliotherapy-how-reading-supports-wellbeing <![CDATA[ Managing pupil wellbeing in the pandemic ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/managing-pupil-wellbeing-in-the-pandemic How has St Benedict's supported pupils' wellbeing during lockdown and in school over the last year? The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, writes about the particular challenges Covid-19 has presented, and how he and his staff have tried to address them.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:50:03 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/managing-pupil-wellbeing-in-the-pandemic <![CDATA[ Selfless commitment at Dunkirk ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/selfless-commitment-at-dunkirk Eighty years ago, a Benedictine monk and chaplain to the forces was killed as he stayed with the wounded at Dunkirk. A teacher at St Benedict’s for 10 years, Father Gervase volunteered as a military chaplain because so many of the boys he had taught had sacrificed everything to serve their country.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:56:08 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/selfless-commitment-at-dunkirk <![CDATA[ Is this the end of GCSEs? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=522 The future of GCSE is under intense discussion at present, with calls for its abolition. The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, believes that the current pandemic crisis offers an opportunity to focus on how we can adapt and reform GCSE to best serve our pupils over the next decade.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:16:28 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=522 <![CDATA[ The Test of False Belief and the Theory of Mind ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=504 A level Psychology student, Joe McDonald, asks, How valid is the Test of False Belief in measuring the development of Theory of Mind?  

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:06:01 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=504 <![CDATA[ Alfred Hitchcock's female characters ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=503 Evie Lyons wonders how Alfred Hitchcock would fare in Hollywood today.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:51:44 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=503 <![CDATA[ J.S. Mill and Gender Equality ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=502 Kristian Thomson asks, To what extent was J.S. Mill revolutionary in developing the notion of gender equality? 

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:52:59 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/blog/?pid=3&nid=7&storyid=502 <![CDATA[ What is the most important opportunity that the current crisis presents? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-thinking-forum The first online, 'Thinking Forum' discussion this term asked St Benedict's students for their comments and views on the current situation, as we continue to live our lives indoors, in isolation from each other and school life. Here are some of their responses.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:55:22 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-thinking-forum <![CDATA[ Spring ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-spring Whatever else may be happening, life on the farm goes on, as Tom Curtis (Year 12) discovered when he spent two weeks on the lambing night shift - delivering lambs, helping the vet, and seeing starlight in all its glory.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:25:55 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-spring <![CDATA[ The Importance of Reading ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-reading St Benedict’s Librarian, Emma Wallace, outlines the many ways in which St Benedict’s inspires and encourages pupils to enjoy reading.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:48:52 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-reading <![CDATA[ How pupils can benefit from meditation ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/how-children-can-benefit-from-meditation The candle is lit, the lights are dimmed. As another busy school day begins, pupils in year 7 close their eyes, focus on their breathing and let their thoughts drift away….

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:27:02 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/how-children-can-benefit-from-meditation <![CDATA[ The value of Mentoring ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/mentoring-at-st-benedicts Peer mentoring at St Benedict’s has gone from strength to strength in recent years, helping to support pupils' wellbeing and mental health.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:42:13 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/mentoring-at-st-benedicts <![CDATA[ Why study German? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/why-study-german Evan, an A level linguist at St Benedict’s, explains why he is captivated by the German language and culture.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:15:15 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/why-study-german <![CDATA[ School Open Days - what to look for ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/school-open-days-what-to-look-for Andrew Johnson, Headmaster of St Benedict’s, offers his advice on how to make the most of your school visit.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:43:19 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/school-open-days-what-to-look-for <![CDATA[ Moving from junior to senior school ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-moving-from-junior-to-senior-school The move to senior school is both exciting and unnerving in equal measure. With this in mind, pupils in Year 7 at St Benedict’s offer their advice for children about to join a new school, based on their own experience one year ago.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:21:15 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/st-benedicts-moving-from-junior-to-senior-school <![CDATA[ Computer Science - Coloured Routes ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/computer-science-coloured-routes From a British Informatics Olympiad Final (The British Informatics Olympiad is the national computing competition for schools and colleges)
Alex Will (L6)

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:19:30 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/computer-science-coloured-routes <![CDATA[ University Degree vs Degree Apprenticeship ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/university-degree-vs-degree-apprenticeship With the increased uncertainty around Brexit, employability and student debt, St Benedict's Careers Department wanted to help clarify for parents and pupils the advantages and disadvantages of studying for a traditional university degree compared to a degree apprenticeship – and how to access the different routes available. Kathryn Norris, Careers Officer, reviews the event.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:49:55 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/university-degree-vs-degree-apprenticeship <![CDATA[ An introduction to Philosophy ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/an-introduction-to-philosophy What is nothing? What is meant by duty? Are animals different from humans? What is ownership? St Benedict’s pupils are learning to think more clearly, more deeply, and to explain and justify their views. 

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:44:30 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/an-introduction-to-philosophy <![CDATA[ Do we know how to ask a ‘good question’? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/how-to-ask-a-good-question Julie Greenhough, Head of the Extended Project Qualification at St Benedict's, makes the case for the EPQ as an opportunity for ‘extended’ thought.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:54:12 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/how-to-ask-a-good-question <![CDATA[ We will remember them ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/we-will-remember-them A new war memorial will be unveiled at St Benedict’s on November 11th. Shaun Hullis explains why remembrance is so important.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:22:26 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/we-will-remember-them <![CDATA[ A lesson in research and presentation skills ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-lesson-in-research-and-presentation-skills Children can learn so much when they are given the chance to follow their natural curiosity and delve deeper into a topic of special interest to them, argues Clemency Stimpfig from St Benedict’s Junior School. Learning to research, think critically, communicate persuasively, build confidence and inspire others, are just some of the benefits.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:44:45 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-lesson-in-research-and-presentation-skills <![CDATA[ Why is Classics relevant today? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/why-is-classics-relevant-today Paulina Sienniak (Year 12) takes a look at why classics is more relevant than some may think.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:03:10 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/why-is-classics-relevant-today <![CDATA[ A passion for aviation ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-passion-for-aviation The Junior School Headmaster at St Benedict's is a self-confessed 'aviation geek'. Here, Rob Simmons explains why he loves to look to the skies for inspiration.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:15:18 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-passion-for-aviation <![CDATA[ A History of St Benedict’s School Libraries and Robert ‘Mousey’ Thompson ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-history-of-st-benedicts-school-libraries Miss Emma Wallace, Senior Librarian at St Benedict's, looks back over a century at the history of St Benedict's libraries.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:59:02 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/a-history-of-st-benedicts-school-libraries <![CDATA[ Careers advice for younger pupils ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/careers-advice-for-younger-pupils On the basis you can never start too young, St Benedict’s School held its first ever Careers Networking Tea for pupils in Years 7 and 8, who met 30 professionals from a range of careers. Sally Hopgood, Head of Careers, explains the thinking behind the event.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/careers-advice-for-younger-pupils <![CDATA[ Fake News-Real Dangers ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/fake-news-real-dangers Five ways to combat fake news, from St Benedict’s Director of ICT, who says it is our responsibility to challenge, research and triangulate information being presented to us.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:37:46 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/fake-news-real-dangers <![CDATA[ The importance of learning languages ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/the-importance-of-learning-languages St Benedict’s Headmaster, Andrew Johnson makes the case for studying languages.

]]> Fri, 25 May 2018 13:18:05 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/the-importance-of-learning-languages <![CDATA[ Gap Years - a gap or a bridge? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/gap-years-a-gap-or-a-bridge Is taking a gap year a good idea? Only if it's a bridge to something else, say the St Benedict's Careers Department...

 
]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:04:37 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/gap-years-a-gap-or-a-bridge <![CDATA[ Tips for A Level Revision ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/tips-for-a-level-revision St Benedict's Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, gives his advice on how best to revise for A level exams.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:01:16 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/tips-for-a-level-revision <![CDATA[ What it's like to work at Spotify ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/what-its-like-to-work-at-spotify What’s it like to work at a company that wants to change how the world listens to music? Four lucky pupils were treated to a tour of the Spotify London office to find out.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:00:28 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/what-its-like-to-work-at-spotify <![CDATA[ No Fee Degrees: Alternative Pathways ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/no-fee-degrees-alternative-pathways Kathryn Norris, from St Benedict’s School, Ealing in west London, talks about increasingly popular alternatives to university education.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:29:49 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/no-fee-degrees-alternative-pathways <![CDATA[ The F-Word Society - What is Feminism? ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/the-f-word-society-what-is-feminism Zoe Crown (Year 11) outlines her reasons for founding the new F-Word Society at St Benedict’s, and what she hopes it will achieve.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/the-f-word-society-what-is-feminism <![CDATA[ Town or country? From Lancashire to London ]]> https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/town-or-country-from-lancashire-to-london Andrew Johnson became Headmaster of St Benedict’s in September 2016. Here are his thoughts about the move to London from rural Stonyhurst College.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:17:51 GMT https://www.stbenedicts.org.uk/town-or-country-from-lancashire-to-london