Communications Home

In June this year the government took legal steps to prohibit students access to phones throughout the school day.  Government guidelines have clarified and strengthened expectations around the use of mobile devices in schools, emphasising the need to minimise distractions, improve behaviour, and support a focused learning environment.

In line with this national direction, our existing policy remains unchanged: mobile phones and smart devices must be switched off before students enter the College site and kept out of sight throughout the school day. Devices may only be switched on again once students have left the College grounds.

Students may only bring a smartphone to school provided both the student and parent agree to uphold the following expectations:

Phones and Devices Must:

·        Be switched off before entering the College site.

·        Remain out of sight at all times whilst on site.

·        Not be used at any point during the school day, including break and lunchtime.

·        Not be used during after-school clubs or activities held on the College site.

·        Only be switched on again once students have left the College site.

This Means:

·        No use during lessons, including as calculators, cameras, or for research.

·        No checking the time, timetable, homework, notifications, or messages.

·        No use of apps or other phone functions during the day.

If parents need to contact their child urgently during the school day, they should telephone the College office, and a message will be passed on promptly.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

If a student is found using a phone or smart device, or if there is reasonable suspicion that it has been used, the device will be confiscated immediately and secured in a locker within the Sanctuary.

Confiscated devices will only be released to a parent or carer and will not be returned directly to the student.

Students who repeatedly fail to comply with government guidance and College expectations will be required to hand their phone into the Sanctuary at the start of each school day. The duration of this arrangement will be determined at the College's discretion.

Persistent disregard for warnings and expectations may result in a student being prohibited from bringing a mobile phone or smart device onto the College site altogether.

Why We Are Taking This Approach

We know that many parents are increasingly concerned about the impact of smartphones on children's wellbeing, confidence, and development, and you are certainly not alone.

Our smartphone-free approach forms part of a growing national movement of families, schools, and organisations choosing to delay smartphone use and give children the time and space to grow without the pressures of constant connectivity.

We strongly encourage parents to explore the work of Smartphone Free Childhood, a parent-led initiative that supports families seeking a more thoughtful and collective approach to children's smartphone use: https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/

This approach is not intended to be punitive. Rather, it is about:

·        Reducing distraction

·        Supporting positive behaviour

·        Creating calm and purposeful classrooms

·        Enabling all students to learn effectively

Research also suggests that excessive phone use can negatively affect attention, sleep, wellbeing, and resilience. By limiting device use during the school day, we are helping students to develop healthier and more balanced relationships with technology.

Please take some time before term starts to talk to your child about how phone misuse will be managed at St Benedict’s.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that our college community continues to thrive and that all students can achieve their full potential.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs J E Santinelli

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

High School Musical Production

Performance Dates - 10th, 11th and 12th of February 2027

Does your child love to sing, act or dance? If so, why not encourage them to audition for our production of the High School Musical!

Disney’s High School Musical is full of brilliant songs, memorable characters and a story all about inclusion and working as a team.

All students in year 7, 8, 9 and 10 are welcome to audition for this year’s whole college production.

Please click here to complete the online form to register for an audition space. Please find attached the songs and links to backing tracks to help students to prepare.

All students wishing to audition for a part will be required to sing, excluding dancers who wish to audition for the dance troupe only.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me in advance at c.davies@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk

Yours faithfully,

Mrs C Davies

Teacher of Drama

Audition Material

Dear Parent/Carer 

At St Benedict's Catholic College, we are enthusiastic about helping our students make informed decisions about their futures and raising aspirations for every young person.

One of the most effective ways we can do this is by connecting students with people from a wide range of professions, industries and career pathways; through careers talks, workplace insights, mentoring, mock interviews, career fairs or sharing your experiences. This support from our parent and carer community can help give our students an understanding of the opportunities available to them.

We know that within our college community there is a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise, and we would be pleased to hear from anyone who may be willing to support our careers programme in some way.

If you would like to find out more and register your interest, please complete the short form below.

St Benedict's parental support - business links  2026-2027 – Fill out form 

Thank you for considering to support our students as they prepare for their future education, training and career journeys. 

Yours faithfully

Mrs A Martin 

Careers Officer

Dear Parent/Carer

Whole college family Mass - Wednesday 14th October 2026 at 6:30 pm

You are warmly invited to our whole college family Mass on Wednesday 14th October 2026 at 6.30 pm.

The Church teaches us that the celebration of the Mass is the source and summit of our faith. As a college, the Mass offers us an opportunity to come together as the Lord’s family, to give thanks for the many blessings that we have received and also to pray for God’s guidance and support as your child continues their educational journey. We are very grateful to our catering staff who will be providing refreshments after Mass. This will give you the opportunity to meet informally with academic and pastoral staff, who also look forward to welcoming you.

If you would like to attend, please click here and complete the form: St Benedict's Family Mass 2026 – Fill in form

All students are required to wear college uniform. Please arrive by 6:20 pm at the latest to ensure a quiet and prayerful atmosphere before the start of Mass.

We look forward to welcoming you to St Benedict’s!

Yours faithfully 

Mr T Fusi

Lay Chaplain

11th September 2026

Dear Parent/Carer 

Year 7 Camp: Trip to The Bushcraft Company in Cuffley: Wednesday 7th July – Friday 9th July 2027 
We are delighted to offer Year 7 students the opportunity to take part in an exciting Bushcraft and Outdoor Education experience. This programme is designed to develop students' confidence, resilience and teamwork through hands-on learning in a natural environment. 

Led by experienced and fully qualified instructors, students will participate in a wide range of practical bushcraft activities, including shelter building, fire lighting, woodland navigation, survival skills and team-building challenges. Throughout the experience, students will learn how to work safely outdoors while gaining an appreciation for the natural world. 

The programme provides an excellent opportunity for students to develop new practical skills that many may not have experienced before. As well as learning essential outdoor skills, students will build communication, leadership and problem-solving abilities, increase their independence, and develop resilience by working together to overcome challenges in a supportive environment. We are confident this will be a memorable and rewarding experience that will inspire a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors. 

The total cost per student for the visit will be £250 which includes board, lodging and activities. A non-refundable deposit of £50 is due by 2nd October 2026. 

Financial assistance enquiries should be made to Miss Smit by 11th September 2026. 
Payment schedule: 

£40 by 31st October 2026 
£40 by 30th November 2026 
£40 by 31st December 2026 
£40 by 30th January 2027 
£40 by 28th February 2027 

Trip Details: 

Venue: The Bush Craft Company - Cuffley 
Dates: Wednesday 7th July – Friday 9th July 2027 
Travel: Coach transport. Drop off 9:00am on 7th July and collection 2:30pm on 9th July. 
Agenda: Three days of activities and two nights camping. Equipment list to follow. 
Cost: £250. 
If oversubscribed, a random ballot will be held. 

If you have any questions please contact Miss Willett or Mr Carr at St Benedict’s College. 

Yours faithfully, 
Miss L Willett 
Trip Leader 

Dear Parent/Carer

We are excited to take our Year 7 students on their end-of-year camp trip with The Bushcraft Company.

To help parents and carers find out more about the trip, we are hosting an online information evening with a member of The Bushcraft Company team.

Date: Tuesday 22nd September
Time: 5.30pm
Location: Microsoft Teams see link below
Duration: 45mins

During the evening, a member of The Bushcraft Company will give a short presentation about the company, the camp location and the activities students will be taking part in. This will then be followed by a short Q&A session, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the Bushcraft team.

Please use the Microsoft Teams link below to join the meeting:
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/329334407377740?p=5LmaGVmwXe23RGcXTv

Meeting ID: 329 334 407 377 740

Passcode: pS2Hi7MW

If you are unable to attend the session, the presentation will be recorded and a copy will be emailed to you afterwards.

Please note that this evening is specifically focused on what students will be doing and where they will be staying. Please refer to our previous letter which was sent out on Friday 11th September regarding the trip information. The letter is also available on our website: https://www.stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk/parents-and-carers/communications-home/

We hope you are able to join us and find the evening useful as we begin to prepare for what promises to be a fantastic experience for our Year 7 students.

Yours faithfully

Mr Carr

Year 7 Raising Standard Leader

Dear Parent / Carers,

I am writing to inform you about the content of English lessons and English home learning for year 7 students as well as the pedagogy that underpins our approach.

At St Benedict’s Catholic College, we begin Year 7 with a ‘fast-read’ of a fiction book. This approach is based on recent research from the University of Sussex, which involved English teachers reading novels at a faster pace than usual in 12 weeks. The researchers found that, as a result of this, students made 8.5 months’ mean progress, with poorer readers making 16 months’ progress.

Students’ reading age is something that we continuously work on improving in all year groups at St Benedict’s. This is important to access GCSEs in all subjects; for example, students need a reading age of 15 years and 8 months to be able to fully access their GCSE papers in all subjects, including Maths!

One significant change from primary to secondary school is the sheer volume of non-fiction texts students will read in almost every subject. This is another contributing consideration to the English Department’s choice of fiction novel – ‘October, October’ by Katya Balen - to help your child with their transition into secondary school. You can read more about  the way the study was successful in another school here.

Your child might also talk to you about:

Home Learning

Whilst we are Fast Reading in class, students will be set Home Learning tasks that link to ‘October, October.’ These will be creative or reflective tasks that might ask students to give their opinion or create something in response to the novel, its characters and the ideas. This will normally take no more than 30 minutes per week.

In addition, all students at St Benedict’s are expected to complete 30 minutes careful reading per fortnight using Sparx Reader – this is part of our whole school literacy approach.

Library Lessons

Year 7 students will spend one of their 7 lessons per fortnight in our college Library where they will be expected to read independently as well as regularly being provided the opportunity to read aloud to their teacher or to a member of our support staff. Students may bring in a book from home to read for this lesson or they can browse and borrow books from the wide selection we have available.

The 200-word Challenge

We use one of our fortnightly lessons to complete ‘The 200 Word Challenge’ - students are given a particular brief for a piece of writing – it could be fiction or non-fiction and are asked to try to write 200 words in 25 minutes, building their stamina, confidence and knowledge of a range of genres and forms.

We would encourage you to talk to your child about what they are reading and writing. Furthermore, ask your child to read it out loud to you at home to practice their reading accuracy and auracy. Making confident readers is the bedrock of being successful students. 

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your child’s English teacher, or myself directly on p.bishop@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.

Yours faithfully

Mrs P Bishop

Head of Communications Faculty

Dear Parent/Carer
Year 7 visit – Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition, The British Museum
Date of visit Monday 7th December 2026
We are very pleased to invite your child to visit the British Museum in London, to experience the Bayeux
Tapestry exhibition on Monday 7th December 2026.
As part of our levelling up strategy we are offering this opportunity to 45 year 7 students to experience
a visit to a London Museum and witness a travelling historical exhibition and we are not seeking any
contribution to the cost of the visit from you.
The Bayeux Tapestry is a historical record of the Norman Conquest, commissioned by William the
Conqueror’s brother in the 11th century. It normally resides in Normandy, France, however it will be on
loan to the British Museum for a short time. This is an amazing opportunity for our students to see the
tapestry and see a number of other fantastic historical artefacts in the British museum.
We will travel to the British Museum, by coach, leaving St Benedict’s at approximately 8.30 am and
hope to arrive back to college by approximately 5.00 pm. We will be able to provide a more accurate
ETA on the day.
Students will need to bring with them a packed lunch, however if your child receives free school meals,
a lunch will be provided for them.
Students will need to wear college uniform, including a coat. They are able to wear alternative
footwear, such as trainers, as we will doing a fair amount of walking around. Should your child wish to
buy any small souvenirs, they may take a small amount of money to spend with them, but no more
than £10 please.
If you would like your child to take part in this exciting opportunity, please consent via ParentPay to
confirm you would like your child to be allocated a place. The visit deadline for you to reply by is 9.00
am on Thursday 8th October 2026. If the trip is oversubscribed places will be allocated by ballot. We
will contact you by Friday 16th October 2026 to confirm whether your child has secured a place.
We look forward to hearing from you by 8th October 2026.
Yours faithfully
Mrs K Wallis
Head of Humanities

Dear Parent/Carer.
Year 9 and 10 GCSE Textiles trip to Knit + Stitch Show - Thursday 8th October 2026
We are very pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to Knit+Stitch Show at
Alexandra Palace on Thursday 8th October 2026.
The total cost of the trip will be £39.70 This is to cover the cost of transport to and from
College and the admission fee. Students will be escorted by staff around the venue,
including exhibitions and trade stands.
The trip will give learners the opportunity to see and meet contemporary Textile makers. In
the past this trip has inspired stimuli for GCSE projects. There are exhibitions and a Live
Stage of meet-and-greets with artists. I find students respond well to the Graduate
Showcase, displaying work from top art universities.
We will depart St Benedicts at 8.00am by coach and return to college by 4.30pm Should the
College cancel the trip, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable
should you cancel the place yourself.
If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by Friday 10th July
2026. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is
probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the
ParentPay process.
If you will find it difficult to pay at this time, please contact your child’s Pastoral Lead within
one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so that all students can avail
themselves of this enrichment opportunity.
Students will need to bring a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be
provided with a packed lunch. Students wishing to make purchases on the day of any
materials or embellishments to use in their studies may bring with them a small amount of
money to spend, no more than £10 please.
Students will be in full school uniform. We also ask that students have access to a phone
throughout the day for the use of camera, but I would like to ask this use is for educational
purposes only and for learners to refrain from photographing other learners.
Yours faithfully.
Mrs Holloway
Subject Co-Ordinator of Textiles

Year 9 five-day trip to the Opal Coast, France – Monday 15th March to Friday 19th March
2027
We are very pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to the Opal Coast in France for our
year 9 students of French. We are working with Voyager School Travel to organise our itinerary
and will be staying in the Hotel du Moulin aux Draps Activity Centre for the duration of the
visit. We will have dedicated Animateurs who will work with us during our stay and organise
various activities at the centre. Our students will be encouraged to speak French throughout the
stay and we are sure they will enjoy using the language in lots of different situations. We will
travel by ferry and coach and then go on excursions and local trips during our stay, including
visits to Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Nausicaa Sea World Centre and a local market.
The total cost of the visit will be £690.00 per student. This covers the cost of all coach travel, four
nights’ full board accommodation at the Hotel Moulin aux Draps, excursions and admission fees.
Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non
refundable should you cancel the place yourself.
The maximum number of places available is 60 and should the trip be oversubscribed, places on
the trip will be allocated by ballot. If you will find it difficult to pay at this time, please contact your
child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so
that all students can avail themselves of this enrichment opportunity.
In order to confirm our booking with Voyager School Travel and secure our reservation we will
need a response from parents by the 10th July 2026 at the latest. If you would like your child to
be considered for this visit, please pay the non-returnable deposit of £115.00 by the 10th July
2026. If your child is not offered a place on the trip the deposit will be refunded. We kindly ask
you to use the,ParentPay website, where you can pay online using your credit or debit card.
The remaining payments for this trip will be due in instalments as follows:
31st August 2026
30th September 2026
31st October 2026
30th November 2026
31st December 2026
£115.00
£115.00
£115.00
£115.00
£115.00
Please ensure that payments are made on time. Please contact Pastoral Lead if making the
payments on time causes you difficulties.
Our proposed itinerary is as follows (this may be subject to change and we will of course send
you a final itinerary nearer the time):
Monday 15th March 2027:
Depart College and travel by coach for the crossing to Calais. Students will need a packed lunch
for the journey. From Calais, we will continue to the hotel and settle in, followed by our first
evening meal and language activity.
Tuesday 16th to Thursday 18th March 2027:
Activities organised by staff at the activity centre, with visits to:
• The Nausicaa National Sea Centre in Boulogne
• Boulogne-sur-Mer- visit to the old town ramparts
• Opalaventure- trekking through the treetops, guided by instructors
• Local market mission with a challenge to buy food for lunch using only French
• Étaples military cemetery
• Bakery
• Le Touquet seaside town
• Chocolate Factory
Friday 19th March 2027
Return home and scheduled arrival back at College before the end of the College day (subject to
traffic and any changes in timings by the ferry operator)
If you require any further information at this stage please contact me at the College. There will
also be an information evening for parents in the Spring term, as we approach the date of
departure. Please note that students will require their own passport, valid for at least three
months from departure from the UK, and that it might be necessary for your child to obtain a visa
for this visit. Information is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport
https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/en/
The College reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip
is unacceptable.
I am sure that the trip will be an exciting experience for your child and that it will give them the
opportunity to practise their French, to get to know more about French culture and way of life and
also to see the beautiful landscape and towns of the Opal Coast.
Yours sincerely
Ms Lesto
Trip Leader

Dear Parent/Carer

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for “Flame 2027”, Saturday 6th March 2027

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £57 per student which will cover tickets and travel for the day.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Monday 30th November 2026.

The trip is limited to 50 students so in the event that the trip is oversubscribed, a random ballot will be conducted to allocate places.

Students may wear non-uniform but should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.

Yours faithfully

Mr T Fusi

Lay Chaplain

Dear Parent/Carer.
Year 9 and 10 GCSE Textiles trip to Knit + Stitch Show - Thursday 8th October 2026
We are very pleased to inform you that we are planning a trip to Knit+Stitch Show at
Alexandra Palace on Thursday 8th October 2026.
The total cost of the trip will be £39.70 This is to cover the cost of transport to and from
College and the admission fee. Students will be escorted by staff around the venue,
including exhibitions and trade stands.
The trip will give learners the opportunity to see and meet contemporary Textile makers. In
the past this trip has inspired stimuli for GCSE projects. There are exhibitions and a Live
Stage of meet-and-greets with artists. I find students respond well to the Graduate
Showcase, displaying work from top art universities.
We will depart St Benedicts at 8.00am by coach and return to college by 4.30pm Should the
College cancel the trip, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable
should you cancel the place yourself.
If you would like your child to take part, please pay using ParentPay by Friday 10th July
2026. If we do not receive sufficient interest and payment for the trip by the deadline, it is
probable that the trip will not be able to go ahead. Consent will be completed as part of the
ParentPay process.
If you will find it difficult to pay at this time, please contact your child’s Pastoral Lead within
one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so that all students can avail
themselves of this enrichment opportunity.
Students will need to bring a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be
provided with a packed lunch. Students wishing to make purchases on the day of any
materials or embellishments to use in their studies may bring with them a small amount of
money to spend, no more than £10 please.
Students will be in full school uniform. We also ask that students have access to a phone
throughout the day for the use of camera, but I would like to ask this use is for educational
purposes only and for learners to refrain from photographing other learners.
Yours faithfully.
Mrs Holloway
Subject Co-Ordinator of Textiles

Dear parent/carer

We are delighted to continue our heavily subsidised digital device scheme which we hope will provide an equity of access that supports all our GCSE students to have access to all the resources they need to study and revise for their GCSE exams while also equipping them for Further Education.

Once the laptops are distributed; students will be trusted to bring their device to and from college and are expected to use it during lessons as a means of enhancing learning and centralising notes and draft assignments and must take special care of the device especially when it’s in their bag.  We will not be able to replace damaged devices however, if a screen is damaged or a replacement charger is required, IT can support at an additional cost which is payable via ParentPay.  The college will provide access to filtered Wi-Fi, which will be monitored by our IT staff.  During lessons, student laptops will be monitored via the classroom cloud application, which enables our staff to monitor the screens of all laptops at any given time.  Out of lesson time, college staff will not be able to connect to the laptop.

We request that students take responsibility for charging their laptop each night at home, bringing it with them ready to use during the college day.  All documents should be stored on OneDrive, which is automatically backed up by our IT systems.  Teachers will use office 365 to collect work, assess work, and return it to students electronically.

Payment

We are heavily subsidising a Lenovo 100w (4th Gen) Laptop and asking all parents/carers to make a £75 contribution towards the costs of the device, via ParentPay.  As this item is available now, it would really help the college if you would make the contribution as soon as possible.  The device is yours to keep and will support your son/daughter through their post 16 study. 

If you are in a position to support further, you may make an additional contribution to support other students, and to reduce the cost of the subsidy to the college.  These items are available on ParentPay.

Remember, students may only bring the laptop to college, no other device will be permitted on the College WiFi.

We would also recommend that students purchase a protective case like the one linked below to help protect it while travelling to and from college. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rapesco-1691-Germ-Savvy-Antibacterial-Laptop/dp/B09NYC27D2  We have created a user guide document that offers a range of advice on how to effectively use and take care of the laptop that we would encourage both you and your son/daughter to read.

This is an exciting opportunity that we really hope our students will take full advantage of.

GCSE Laptop Programme

Yours faithfully

Mr J Callaghan

Vice Principal

Dear Parent/Carer

The Duke of Edinburgh’s award (DofE) is a nationally recognised youth award scheme with three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Students have the opportunity to join the award scheme this September, completing the Bronze course by the end of year 10.

As part of the Bronze award students are asked to complete four sections for a duration of three to six months; these are volunteering, skills, physical and expeditions. By completing the award students will learn new skills, meet new people, become more active and help the community that they live in. The DofE award is also widely recognised by employees, colleges and universities.

In order to complete the award students will need to show a positive commitment with all aspects being completed in their own time including lunch time meetings and after college activities. Your child must attend the after college meetings to complete the training required.

If your child wishes to participate, we are offering a trial period, before the formal sign-up process when payment is required. To request a place, please complete this form by 8.00 am on Friday 25th September. There are limited spaces to take part in the DofE award, if it is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot.

We will notify you and your child shortly after this date if they have been successful or not in obtaining a place for the trial period. A session will be held for the successful candidates on Wednesday 30th September during the College day. Within this session we will take them through the requirements in order to complete the course and start planning the 3 main sections; volunteering, skills and physical. Students who have started the process of these 3 main sections by October half term will be offered a place to sign up fully. If at this point students do not wish to continue, they can leave the course or, if they fail to start the 3 sections they will not be invited to continue.

If your child is successful in obtaining a full place, we will write to you again asking for payment of £90 which is to cover the cost of registration, certificate and badge, an online account and a licencing fee that will cover your child for the course. Any additional costs for the weekend expedition will be kept to a minimum, we anticipate this to be in the region of £50 and further details will be provided closer to the time.

I look forward to helping your child through the award. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information by email at l.carr@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk .

Yours faithfully

Mr L Carr

DofE Co-ordinator

Dear Parent/Carer

Year 10 GCSE history trip to Battle Abbey and 1066 Battlefield tour on Thursday 15th October 2026 Re-scheduled date.

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a visit to Battle Abbey (the site of the Battle of Hastings) for our Year 9 GCSE history students to complement the Paper 2 study of the Norman conquest. The day will include an expert-led GCSE tour of the 1066 battlefield to give our students a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Battle of Hastings. On this interactive walking tour of the site, the students will cover the causes of the Norman invasion, military equipment, tactics and technology, and the ways in which the Normans established and maintained control following their victory.

On 15th October 2026, students will travel to Battle by coach which will leave college at 7.45 am and should arrive back to college around 5pm depending on traffic. The total cost of the visit will be £40 per student. This covers the cost of coach travel and the experience at the Abbey. Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please pay £40 by 27th February 2026. The parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, also need to be completed.

The college would not want the cost to prevent any student from attending. If you feel that you are in such a position, please contact your child’s pastoral lead before 6th February and we will endeavour to assist.

The students will spend much of the day outside and should wear suitable clothing and footwear to prepare for inclement weather.  Please also bring a waterproof jacket in case of rain. Your child will also require a packed lunch. Students entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to gain a real insight into the story of the Norman conquest, which will support and enhance their GCSE knowledge.

Yours faithfully

Mrs K Wallis

Head of Humanities

Dear Parent/Carer

Student and Parent Examinations Handbook

Please find attached the Examinations Handbook for 2026/2027.

We are required to provide all students, parents and carers with this information, and we strongly encourage you and your child to familiarise yourselves with its contents.

In particular, please take the time to read the Information for Candidates documents issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). This information is also available on the College website under the ‘JCQ Information for Candidates’ section of the Exams page.

We are also providing this information to our Year 10 students, as some students may already have started their Non-Examined Assessments (NEAs) and/or coursework. It is particularly important that students understand the requirements surrounding plagiarism and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their written work.

Students must ensure that all work submitted for assessment is their own and that they follow the relevant JCQ guidance regarding the use of AI and other sources.

We would be grateful if you could encourage your child to read the handbook carefully and ensure that they understand the expectations and regulations that apply to their examinations and assessments.

If you require any further information on any aspects of the examination process, please see the ‘Exams’ information page of the college website, alternatively you can contact me via email: c.adams@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk

Yours faithfully

Ms C Adams

Examinations Officer

Dear Parent/Carer

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for “Flame 2027”, Saturday 6th March 2027

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £57 per student which will cover tickets and travel for the day.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Monday 30th November 2026.

The trip is limited to 50 students so in the event that the trip is oversubscribed, a random ballot will be conducted to allocate places.

Students may wear non-uniform but should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.

Yours faithfully

Mr T Fusi

Lay Chaplain

Year 11 three-day Christmas market trip to Northern France – Friday 4th December to Sunday 6th December 2026 

We are very pleased to inform you that we are planning a Christmas market trip to Northern France for our year 11 students of French. We are working with Halsbury Travel to organise our itinerary and will be staying at the Auberge de Jeunesse HI Amiens for the duration of the visit. Our students will be encouraged to speak French throughout the stay and we are sure they will enjoy using the language in lots of different situations. We will travel by ferry and coach and then go on excursions and local trips during our stay, including visits to a Christmas Market, a biscuit and sweet factory, the historical Wellington Quarry at Arras and Amiens cathedral. 

The total cost of the visit will be £350.00 per student. This covers the cost of all coach travel, two nights’ full board accommodation at the Auberge de Jeunesse HI Amiens, excursions and admission fees. Should the college cancel the visit, a full refund will be made, however all monies are non-refundable should you cancel the place yourself. 

The maximum number of places available is 60 and should the trip be oversubscribed, places on the trip will be allocated by ballot. If you will find it difficult to pay at this time, please contact your child’s pastoral lead within one week of receiving this letter and we will endeavour to assist so that all students can avail themselves of this enrichment opportunity. In order to confirm our booking with Halsbury Travel and secure our reservation we will need a response from parents by the 8th December 2025 at the latest. If you would like your child to be considered for this visit, please pay the non-returnable deposit of £60.00 by the 8th December 2025. 

If your child is not offered a place on the trip the deposit will be refunded. We kindly ask you to use the ParentPay website, where you can pay online using your credit or debit card. The remaining payments for this trip will be due in instalments as follows: 

30th January 2026 £58.00 28th February 2026 £58.00 31st March 2026 £58.00 30th April 2026 £58.00 31st May 2026 £58.00 

Please ensure that payments are made on time. Please contact the college within one week 

of the date of this letter, if making the payments on time causes you difficulties. We will try to assist you where possible. 

Our proposed itinerary is as follows (this may be subject to change and we will of course send you a final itinerary nearer the time): 

Friday 4th December 2026: 

Depart College and travel by coach for the crossing to Calais. Students will need a packed lunch for the journey. From Calais, we will continue to the youth hostel in Amiens, with a visit to a biscuit factory on the way. After settling in we will have our first evening meal. 

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December 2026: 

Visits to: 

• Amiens – tour of old town and cathedral 

• Christmas market 

• Sweet factory 

• Wellington Quarry 

Sunday 6th December 2026 

Return home and scheduled arrival back at college before 9pm (subject to traffic and any changes in timings by the ferry operator). 

If you require any further information at this stage please contact me at the College. There will also be an information evening for parents in the Autumn term, as we approach the date of departure. Please note that students will require their own passport, valid for at least three months from departure from the UK, and that it might be necessary for your child to obtain a visa for this visit. Information is available at: 

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport 

https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/en/ 

The College reserves the right to refuse any student a place if their conduct leading up to the trip is unacceptable. 

I am sure that the trip will be an exciting experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to practise their French, to get to know more about French culture and way of life. 

Yours faithfully 

Ms Lesto 

Head of Modern Foreign Languages

As part of the preparations for our upcoming trip to France, I would like to invite you to an
information meeting for parents/carers and students on Monday 19th October at 6.00 pm in
the Manning Hall to give you information regarding the travel arrangements and itinerary for
our trip to Amiens in December. We will also be able to give advice about pocket money and
what to pack.
Please could I remind you to ensure that you have made payments for the trip, provided all
information concerning dietary requirements/ medical details/ emergency contact numbers
and that your son/ daughter's passport and GHIC/EHIC Health Card are up to date.
We kindly ask that you check your child's passport to ensure it meets the necessary
requirements:
1. Passport Issue Date: Please ensure that the issue date of your children's passport is
less than 10 years from our date of departure to France (Friday 4th December 2026).
2. Validity: Your child's passport must also be valid for at least three months beyond the
date of departure from France (Sunday 6th December 2026).
If your child holds an EU passport you will need to provide proof of their settled status/
permanent leave to remain. It is important that we have a copy of this in order to avoid any
potential complications on re-entry to the UK.
If your child does not hold a UK passport, you will need to provide proof of their settled
status/ permanent leave to remain. They may also require a visa to enter France. Please
ensure that you contact the French Consulate for more information and to arrange this, if
necessary. It is important that we have a copy of both of these documents in order to avoid
any potential complications at the border.
Since all students are required to have their own valid passport, please bring your child's
passport to the information evening so that we can make a copy for our records. We will
also need to make copies of their GHIC/EHIC Health Card, proof of their settled status/
permanent leave to remain (for non-UK passport holders) and visa (for passports requiring a
visa to visit France).
If you require any further information at this stage, please contact me at the college.
Kind regards
Ms Lesto
Head of MFL

Dear Parent/Carer

Student and Parent Examinations Handbook

Please find attached the Examinations Handbook for 2026/2027.

We are required to provide all students, parents and carers with this information, and we strongly encourage you and your child to familiarise yourselves with its contents.

In particular, please take the time to read the Information for Candidates documents issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). This information is also available on the College website under the ‘JCQ Information for Candidates’ section of the Exams page.

We are also providing this information to our Year 10 students, as some students may already have started their Non-Examined Assessments (NEAs) and/or coursework. It is particularly important that students understand the requirements surrounding plagiarism and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their written work.

Students must ensure that all work submitted for assessment is their own and that they follow the relevant JCQ guidance regarding the use of AI and other sources.

We would be grateful if you could encourage your child to read the handbook carefully and ensure that they understand the expectations and regulations that apply to their examinations and assessments.

If you require any further information on any aspects of the examination process, please see the ‘Exams’ information page of the college website, alternatively you can contact me via email: c.adams@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk

Yours faithfully

Ms C Adams

Examinations Officer

Dear Parent/Carer

Year 11 Leaver 2026 Collection of Examination Work

Your child’s work produced during practical sessions in Fine Art, Textiles Design or Design and Technology will be available to collect from the College on either of the following dates:

·        Wednesday 14th October 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

·        Thursday 22nd October 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

Please email me at l.stewart-thomas@stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk by 3.00 pm the day prior to collection to confirm which day you will be collecting your work.

When you arrive at College, your work will be available from reception.  Please do not walk around the College or go to any of the teaching rooms.

Due to restricted space, work will be stored until Friday 6th November 2026 and any work left after this time will be recycled.

Yours faithfully

Mrs L Stewart-Thomas

Head of Art and Design Technology

Dear Parent/Carer

Trip to Wembley Arena, London for “Flame 2027”, Saturday 6th March 2027

We are very pleased to inform you that we have organised a trip to Flame congress which takes place in the Wembley Arena, London. The event is run by Cymfed (the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation) and is the largest gathering of young Catholics in England and Wales. The event will combine moments of prayer and reflection with talks from motivational speakers and live music performances.

Students will travel to Wembley Arena by coach which will leave college at 8.00am and should arrive back to college around 8.30 pm depending on traffic. The trip will cost £57 per student which will cover tickets and travel for the day.

If you would like your child to take part in this visit, please complete the parental consent and medical form, which are available via ParentPay, by Monday 30th November 2026.

The trip is limited to 50 students so in the event that the trip is oversubscribed, a random ballot will be conducted to allocate places.

Students may wear non-uniform but should bring a waterproof jacket in case of wet weather. Your child will also require a packed lunch. There will be a small amount of food and drink available to purchase in the Arena but a packed lunch and a water bottle is recommended.

I am sure that the visit will be an exciting and rewarding experience for your child and that it will give them the opportunity to engage in their faith more fully and share in this experience with thousands of other young Catholics.

Yours faithfully

Mr T Fusi

Lay Chaplain