News from Politics

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Year 12 Politics Trip to Parliament and the Supreme Court

Visiting Parliament and the Supreme Court gave me a powerful insight into how the political system functions. We Initially visited the Supreme Court where we were able to witness two cases being heard by the justices. The courts provided a calm, structured and focused atmosphere whereby the KCs and judges gave detailed legal reasonings towards the cases provided. This enhanced my understanding on how carefully the law is interpreted at the highest level. The two cases, one involving taxation and the other criminal, were very engaging especially as we witnessed divisive debates in action between the members of the court. After we left the Supreme Court we began our journey to Parliament where we were disrupted by a farmers union protest, reminding me how public voices can influence political debate and draw focus. It was also very exciting to see the tractors and even a cow cross the streets of Westminster and the attention it drew towards members of the public, carrying on the idea that everywhere and everything is political. Once we arrived at Parliament we were greeted by tour guides who informed and helped us navigate around Parliament. We visited the House of Commons which felt very surreal as I was standing in a room that I have only ever admired on TV. From gallery, we were able witness the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Yvette Cooper, answer urgent questions on decisions made by the UN Security Council the night before. This was very exciting and I enjoyed being able to observe first handedly discussions over national decisions. This made the whole experience incredibly mesmerizing as we were stepping into a place you normally only observe from the outside. We also had a Q&A session with the school’s MP, Josh Dean. We were able to ask him questions not only to help further our understanding of what we have been studying in A-Level Politics, but also question him on what he has been doing since taking office to make life in our constituency better for us. The Highlight of my day was casually passing David Cameron on our journey up to the House of Commons which expressed how close the public can come to major political figures within this environment. Overall, this day was a lot of fun and helpful for widening my understanding of politics and experiencing all the different aspects of democracy in one day. It helped me to further develop my understanding on the interconnectedness of legal decisions, political leadership as well as public opinion.

Athena Chrysostomou

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News from Psychology

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Year 13 Trip to Kraków

Learning about the statistics, the facts and the events of the holocaust, whilst sitting in the warmth of a classroom is never going to provide us with the pure emotion and entire reality of what happened, which is why I’m so grateful that I got to go on the trip to Krakow. The trip not only provided us with strengthened knowledge on how society plays such an influential role in psychology: our beliefs, prejudices and behaviour, but it also gave us the raw, uncensored truth that is needed to ensure that such a tragic history doesn’t continue to repeat itself. Additionally, it was moving to see the city of Krakow so resilient, still lively with culture despite the atrocities that occurred 80 years ago. – Evie 

I’m really grateful to have gone on this trip and applied psychology to a very real and very dystopian period of history. The Holocaust is something that is constantly brought to our awareness during education, but having been to Auschwitz in person and listening to people whose jobs centre around this period was so informative; I was able to better comprehend these events and their impact more empathetically and emphatically. I also really appreciated our collective reevaluation of the Jewish identity through time; looking at how Jewish culture has historically integrated with Polish culture so we don’t marginalise our perception of Jews. It was really fascinating to apply our psychological knowledge to explore why and how so many atrocities were committed, to contemplate identity and culture, and to examine our own role in society because we ultimately learn these things to prevent further tragedies. – Saiunnati 

News from History

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Year 9 Battlefields Trip

My report on the Battlefields Trip for Year 9: 

On Friday morning, at 5:40 am, 79 students from Year 9 got on coaches to travel all the way to Belgium. During this, we went on the euro-tunnel, crossed through France and ate far too many sweets to wake us up; the coach ride back and forth was long and came in at 8 hours road time but we all had a good time with each other and got to know everyone better and even make friends with people we’ve never spoken to. 

Our itinerary for the trip set us up to go to three cemeteries and sights of the First World War on the first day through Belgium. Firstly, we visited Lijssenthoek CWGC Cemetery. Here is the burial site of Nurse Nellie Spindler (one of the only two female casualties that happened in the First World War) and has over 10,000 graves of soldiers from the Allied Forces. With that, we also visited the Essex Farm CWGC Advanced Dressing Station where soldiers who had been wounded in battle would come first for medical attention before field hospitals; this was also the site of 15 year old Valentine Strudwick’s grave, who the teachers gave us the task of finding . To see our last cemetery on the first day, we travelled to Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, where Nellie Spindler was mortally wounded on the 21st of August 1917. During the evening of the first day we all explored the city of Ypres, where we all brought souvenirs and ate delicious Belgian pancakes, waffles and ice cream. Afterwards, we went to the In Flanders Fields museum where we were taught more about the Front Lines of the war in different countries, demonstrated land borders and how the Schlieffen TackTick would’ve worked in the lays of the land, saw military uniforms that were worn at the time and so much more. 

Again after dinner at the Poppies Hostel, all of us walked out into the beautiful Ypres to go into the Leonidas Belgian Chocolate Shop where they gave us incredible chocolates and had the opportunity to buy with amazing discounts (whole bar of chocolate, box of 10 Belgian treats and 8 stroop waffles for 15 euros!). We all brought some delicious sweets. Following that, we walked to the Menin Gate to participate in the Last Post ceremony that is held every night at 8pm to pay respect to all deaths from the War but especially to remember those who are lost at war or have no grave. Two students Niamh Wynne and Lucia Lopez were chosen to lay a wreath from the whole of Presdales School in honor of the lives that were lost. Many people all gathered, whether being tourists, locals or military personnel we all were together in mourning and remembrance. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. 

On the second day we had the journey back to do and still had an amazing schedule to do. Starting the day, we drove away from Ypres and travelled to Newfoundland Park, this is the site where the Battle of the Somme happened. In the site there were many memorials, cemeteries and almost perfectly preserved trenches. We had the opportunity to walk through the Allied forces trenches and just imagine how life could be down there just 109 years ago, also seeing the German trenches (which were visibly built better due to the fact they were deeper dug). Whilst walking we also saw the “Danger Tree”, this is a tree that during the battle, soldiers would seek shelter behind in hopes the Germans would not see and shoot them. This sadly did work as when the sun came up everyone was able to be seen. We now know this because Mrs Inwood explained it to us as we walked around the site as well as other facts. Secondly, we arrived at the Thiepval Memorial dedicated to giving graves to soldiers with no recognition and bring light to all lost at war. It has a 43 meter tall memorial with thousands of names wrapping around it of soldiers with no resting place, lost forever. Our last place we visited on this trip was Vimy Ridge, a site with preserved trenches and Canada memorial in Belgium for their soldiers; it is 30 meters high and is placed there because it is the place the Canadians made the most impact for their fighting and helped out the whole of the Allied forces. 

On our way back we took 9 hours, two passport controls and a lot of sleeping but made it back to school at 9:30, having done one of the best school trips of our lives. I’d like to thank all of the amazing staff that organised and chaperoned this trip, that was : Miss Workman, Miss Martin, Miss Mockett, Mrs Inwood, Mr Payne, Mr Baldwin, Mrs Yates and Mrs Dray. They were all incredible to us, helped us and taught us all more about WWI. A special thank you to Miss Workman though who organised this whole trip and put hours of effort into making it all work seamlessly. This trip was eye opening and fascinating to all of us. We all loved it. 

By Sophia Riley 

Year 9 History Trip to the Battlefields

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I recently went on the Yr9 Battlefields trip with the History department, and I had such an amazing time learning about the First World War and key  battles. The trip was very moving and helped me to learn loads in a super engaging way while having a great time with friends. It was massively inspiring to learn about all the people who lost their lives for our country, especially when we visited the graves and you could see just a fraction of the people that were killed. Something that was especially special for me was that I was able to visit my great-great-grandfather’s grave at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery which meant a lot to me that I could pay my respects. We also visited Flanders Field Museum which gave us more information about individual experiences during ww1 and gave us more of an insight into how the war affected people. My personal favourite place we visited was the Talbot house in Poperinge. This was a place for rest and relaxation for the soldiers during times when they weren’t fighting, so that they could escape the harsh realities of the war. It was lovely to know that there was some hope and a sense of community during the war because this house was made, especially when the negative side of war is predominantly talked about. Additionally, we visited the place where the Battle of the Somme took place at Newfoundland memorial park. It was amazing to be able to see the trenches and no man’s land as it felt very real and eye opening. When we were in Belgium, we got to go to an incredible chocolate shop with some delicious chocolate that my parents were definitely grateful for me bringing them home! All in all, I really enjoyed the trip, and I had a great time exploring Belgium and France and deepening my knowledge on World War 1. Plus, I have made some unforgettable memories with my best friends too.

Lottie Fellows

A Level Drama and Theatre Trip

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Year 13 Drama students attended a production of The Bacchae at The National Theatre on Wednesday 1st October.

It was a thrilling adaptation by Nima Taleghani of Euripides Greek tragedy which allowed a strong female chorus to take us through the eventful return of Dionysus to Thebes seeking recognition from his family. The students were blown away with the production, commenting it was “Extraordinary”, “Captivating” and “Relatable to a contemporary Audience”. The students will use this experience of live theatre to debate in their A Level exam the value of using old theatrical material when trying to build younger audience attendance.

The students were exemplary and were upgraded by the National to the best seats in the house!

Miss Mack Head of Drama

Duke of Edinburgh Gold & Silver Expeditions

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DofE Gold & Silver Expeditions – An Unforgettable Adventure

As the school year drew to a close, our Year 11 and 12 students took on the final major challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: the Silver and Gold expeditions. With a combined total of over 100 participants between the two levels, these expeditions were a true test of endurance, teamwork and determination – and our students more than rose to the occasion.

Gold Expedition – Snowdonia Challenge

This year’s Gold expedition doubled as a practice for our Year 11s and the qualifying expedition for Year 12 students – a demanding yet rewarding five-day adventure in the rugged beauty of Snowdonia.

Fifty students set off, and an impressive 45 completed the full journey, covering tough terrain with daily hikes lasting up to 8 hours. Routes took students to heights of 890 metres with punishing inclines, challenging even the fittest participants. Blisters, aching limbs and early starts were par for the course – but spirits remained high.

Each evening, groups plotted their next day’s route, using compasses and Sharpies to navigate the mountains ahead. Despite the midges (which were, at times, relentless!), students embraced the camping experience. Campfire games – including Codenames, MöLKKY, and even frying-pan rounders – brought much-needed laughter and camaraderie after long days of hiking.

The Gold groups showed tremendous grit, good humour, and mutual support – all qualities that lie at the heart of the DofE Award.

Silver Expedition – Fun in the Chiltern Sun

Meanwhile, our 68 Silver participants completed their three-day qualifying expedition in the Chiltern Hills this week, experiencing a very different challenge – high temperatures and blazing sun, with some days reaching 30°C.

Students trekked for 7 hours a day across open countryside, with every single participant successfully completing the expedition. Evenings were full of laughter and energy, despite the exertions of the day – from sleeping bag races down hills to a spontaneous and now-legendary water fight.

The spark? Dec’s water balloon catapult. What followed was a full-scale showdown: instructors, campsite owner Colin, and Dec himself versus the students. The hillside echoed with squeals of delight as students ran free, phones forgotten, creating memories that will last long after the sunburn fades.

As the sun set on the final evening, casting golden light over the Chiltern landscape, there was a strong sense that something special had happened. Not just an expedition completed, but a shared experience of resilience, friendship, and joy.

A True Reflection of Presdales Spirit

Across both expeditions, our students were exceptional. They tackled extreme terrain, unpredictable weather, and physical exhaustion – and still managed to lift one another up, stay positive, and show outstanding teamwork and resilience.

These expeditions were not just a test of endurance; they were a celebration of character. We are incredibly proud of every student who took part. Whether reaching the summit in Snowdonia or cooling off with water balloons in the Chilterns, they demonstrated what it truly means to be part of the Presdales DofE community.

Well done to you all.

 

 

News from Science

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Year 8 students visit MBDA, Stevenage

MBDA What is it?-

MBDA is a well-known company that operates globally. It develops and sells a variety of missile systems and related technologies. These products are used by different military forces and government agencies. MBDA has built a reputation for designing advanced missile systems that meet the needs of wars. Its mission includes providing reliable missile technology to countries around the world. The company often supports nations that have been under-equipped or lack advanced defense tools. During conflicts or wars, MBDA supplies missiles and technology to help these countries defend themselves and stabilize the region. The company’s goal is to ensure even smaller or less developed nations have access to effective defense systems as well as protecting our own country. Each missile was described as very expensive, some even selling for millions.

What did we do over there-

We got on a small minibus that took ten of us straight to the MBDA building. The ride was very fun, and we did a mini karaoke. When we pulled up, we headed inside and signed in at the reception desk. After signing in, we were handed a lanyard. Wearing it made us feel important, like we belonged there, which was a big boost of confidence for everyone.

Our first stop was a spacious hall where a series of talks were waiting. Some of the speakers shared stories about how they first got involved with MBDA. They explained how they started in very different careers but eventually came here. We listened carefully, and after, we asked questions about the jobs, and sometimes got a bit off track with their favourite books, etc. It was inspiring to hear real people share their experiences and see how a career in engineering or tech could come true.

After the talks, we were taken on a special tour to see some of their really cool rooms. These spaces looked like giant gaming setups, with multiple screens and all kinds of confusing buttons. It was fascinating to see the high-tech equipment and learn how these rooms help create advanced technology.

As a fun part of the visit, they handed out small fidgets to everyone. These little toys kept our hands busy and gave us something to play with during lunch. They also set up a quiz, testing our knowledge about multiple things. We had to answer questions like “Who made the internet?” or “How tall is the empire state building?”.

Later, we got hands-on with a teamwork challenge. Using colourful plastic pieces, we worked together to build a bridge. Our goal was to create something strong enough to hold 7 cans of fizzy drinks. We knew that triangles were a stable source. Some of us discovered that wider bases or using more pieces in certain areas helped improve strength. It was a great way to learn about engineering ideas like balance, weight distribution, and material strength, all while working as a team. We managed to hold all cans, yet found that we were cheated unfairly since we didn’t win, yet we should have. You can succeed, yet still fail.

This whole experience gave us a clear look at what goes on inside MBDA. From the talks and tours to building challenges and fun quizzes, every part showed us how important creativity and teamwork are in this field. It was more than just a visit; it was a chance to see real careers in action and understand the kind of work that makes new technology possible.

By Hannah

Bronze DofE 2024–2025: A Brilliant Qualifying Expedition!

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Last Thursday and Friday marked the final stage in the Bronze DofE journey for 127 of our fantastic Year 9 students, who completed their Qualifying Expedition with energy, enthusiasm, and a brilliant sense of adventure.

The students set off from Welwyn North Station Car Park, heading out in small teams to navigate their way between checkpoints using only the route plans they’d created and their own map and compass skills. Unlike their Practice Expedition in March, where instructors walked alongside them, this expedition was remotely supervised, meaning students navigated independently and checked in at designated points. The level of confidence and capability they displayed was exceptional.

Their March practice had prepared them well – despite the freezing conditions and even snow on their tents at Danesmead Scout Campsite earlier in the year, they showed resilience and adaptability. That same determination was on full display last week. This time around, the weather was kinder, and the atmosphere even more uplifting.

On Thursday evening, after a long day of walking, groups set up camp and enjoyed a sociable night around the fire. Highlights included a very lively “pub without a pub” quiz, plenty of toasted marshmallows, and the heart-warming sight of students playing frisbee with Koa the golden retriever (who was especially grateful to those who shared their sausages!).

Throughout the two days, it was a pleasure to watch students working together with maturity, kindness, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. Their teamwork, navigational skills, and positive attitudes were consistently impressive. We’re proud of the way they supported one another and made the most of every challenge thrown their way.

Most of the students have now also completed their Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections, with many final assessor reports already submitted. This means that for the majority, their full Bronze Award is nearly ready to be approved by the County team — a brilliant achievement!

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch the Silver DofE programme later this term. We really hope many of our Bronze participants will take the next step. The Silver expeditions take place in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, where the routes are more challenging, the views are stunning, and the campsites are among our absolute favourites. And because they’ve already completed Bronze, students are eligible for a reduced Silver timescale of just 6 months, making it very manageable alongside Year 10 studies.

A huge well done to every single student who took part — your determination, teamwork, and humour made this experience a joy for all involved. We can’t wait to see where your DofE journey takes you next.

Miss Haywood, DofE Coordinator

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Coming Up

Monday 26th to Friday 6th
Year 12 In-class assessments

Wednesday 4th
Year 10 Art students Lino Print Workshop
Year 11 SLT Futures Meetings 2

Thursday 5th
Year 13 Parents Consultation Meetings

Friday 6th
Year 12 Italian Workshop with Bristol University (periods 5 & 6)

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Presdales School
Hoe Lane
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9NX

Tel: 01920 462210
admin@presdales.herts.sch.uk

Headteacher:
Mr Warren