News from French

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Year 10 Trip to France

On Monday 10th May, the French department had the pleasure of taking 40 Year 10 students on a 4-day residential trip to Normandy.

We stayed in the beautiful setting of Le Château du Baffy in Colombiers-sur-Seulles. The chateau’s location, 15 minutes from D-Day landing beaches, made it a strategic point during World War 2. The Germans initially occupied the chateau as one of their headquarters. Following D-Day, it was then used by various alliances, including French priests, soldiers of different nationalities, and refugees, as well as a site for the Maquis, the French Resistance movement.

During our visits, we enjoyed visits to the picturesque towns of Honfleur, Bayeux and Deauville. We were so impressed with all the students throughout the trip, especially when they conducted surveys with passersby in French on the beach in Deauville. They really made the most of being able to practise reading, listening and speaking in French and it was an absolute joy to see their confidence flourish and to spend time with them.

Other activities included a trip to the market in Deauville and in Bayeux, a visit of the stunning Bayeux cathedral, a very informative visit to the Arromanches D-Day 360 cinema and museum, a “boulangerie task where many students sampled delicious French delicacies” and a campfire with hot chocolate, marshmallows and lots of singing!

This is the third year that the French department has run this trip. It was a great success and we are already busy planning next year’s itinerary.

Here’s what some of the students have written about the trip:

I had a very enjoyable time on the French trip. My favourite part was going to the markets and exploring the picturesque towns. Additionally, visiting the Bayeux Cathedral and seeing the architecture was amazing. I also found the 360 cinema and museum very interesting and it was great to learn more about D-Day. The teachers were very nice and helpful, especially our group leader Madame Clarke. Thank you – NP

I really enjoyed this trip. I liked the accommodation a lot. It was a very beautiful place and the rooms were very nice. My favourite day was the second day where we visited Deauville and a supermarket where we had tasks and free time. I also enjoyed learning about the history of D-Day. It was really interesting. I loved this trip so much and 100% go on it again. Bea Caudle

My favourite part of the trip was exploring Deauville. We were originally nervous about speaking French to the people for the survey but it ended up being so much fun and we were pushed out of our comfort zone. We also had the best time wandering around the towns and sitting in cafes. The vibes at the accommodation were very high and life long memories were definitely made!

I had a lovely time on the Normandie trip. It was an amazing experience which built my confidence in speaking French while being fun, active, engaging and interesting. It was rich in culture and experience providing really fun memories. My favourite memory from the trip was visiting the cathedral and the town of Bayeux where we explored the markets and bought little gifts and treats while practicing our French with French people gaining real life experience. I would highly recommend the trip to someone who enjoys the language, and it promises great fun with friends. -Evie

On the trip I liked when we went to Deauville because I liked going to all the little shops and the town was very nice and cute so I could get some good pictures. The little pop up shops in Deauville was really cute and I mainly liked the aesthetic of the town as I got some cute pictures. I also liked the 360 cinema as I found it interesting and after the movie about D-DAY i got a hat and I really like my hat. I also really liked how on the last night me and my friends all bonded and we had the best time laughing, I’m very glad for this trip and I found it very exciting. from Mia

I had the best time on the trip and learnt lots of new things. I enjoyed going to Honfleur to break up the journey and visit a new place. My favourite part was going to Deauville and being on the beach. Also practicing my French was really helpful and allowed me to practice my pronunciation. I enjoyed all my free time and being able to visit the different markets and see new places. Everyone was so nice and welcoming it made the trip very enjoyable and so much fun. R

I thought that the accommodation was really good and I enjoyed the food. My favourite day was the second day, where we went to the market and talked to the French people at the beach. It was really interesting to go to the supermarket and see how different it was compared to England. I really enjoyed this trip, it has been one of my favourites so far and I will cherish the memories I made on this trip. Natalia Tsamili

My most favourite day of the trip was the second when we went to Deauville. The survey turned out to be a great experience which we were all nervous for and doing it on the beach was very enjoyable but going into the market and town of Deauville was the most exciting part. It was beautiful and there were lots of things to do there. Also Carrefour is one of my favourite shops abroad and I had lots of fun buying food and presents for my family. The trip was altogether really fun and the teachers helped make that happen. We had an amazing group leader as well as teachers and that helped to make this one of the best trips. I also had lots and lots of fun with my friends especially at the accommodation -Deshna

During my time on the French trip, I really enjoyed the activities we did like going to the beach and exploring the towns. Specifically, I liked talking to the French people by the beach, despite going in feeling nervous. I liked the fact that I had to test my French and my social skills and build up my confidence. I loved being with my friends, talking, and getting to know people I wasn’t as close with before. From M

Bronze DofE Qualifying Expedition

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Presdales Bronze DofE 2025–2026: A Brilliant Qualifying Expedition!

A total of 123 fantastic Year 9 students have successfully conquered the final stage of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award journey by completing their Qualifying Expedition with energy, enthusiasm, and a brilliant sense of adventure. Setting off from Welwyn North Station Car Park, the students headed out in small teams to navigate their way between checkpoints using only their pre-created route plans and their own map and compass skills. Unlike their Practice Expedition in March, where instructors walked alongside them, this final assessment was remotely supervised, requiring students to navigate independently and check in at designated points. The level of confidence and capability they displayed was exceptional, particularly on Thursday evening when, after a long day of walking, the groups set up camp and cooked their food. The students also enjoyed a surprise morale boost at the campsite from Mrs Cope and her golden retriever, Koa, who visited to see how they were doing and wish them well.

Throughout the two-day expedition, it was a pleasure to watch the students working together with maturity, kindness, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. Their teamwork, navigational skills, and positive attitudes were consistently impressive, and we’re incredibly proud of the way they supported one another and made the most of every challenge thrown their way. The majority of these students have now also completed their Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections, with many final assessor reports already submitted, meaning that their full Bronze Award is nearly ready to be officially approved by the County team.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch the Silver DofE programme later this term and we hope many of these Bronze participants will take the next step. The Silver expeditions will take place in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, offering more challenging routes, stunning views, and some of the team’s absolute favourite campsites. Furthermore, because they have already completed their Bronze Award, students are eligible for a reduced Silver timescale of just six months, making it highly manageable alongside their Year 10 studies. A huge well done goes to every single student who took part – their determination, teamwork, and humour made this experience a joy for all involved, and we cannot wait to see where their journey takes them next.

DofE Team

News from Drama

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Year 10 Theatre Trip

Year 10 Drama Students enjoyed an opportunity to see a live theatre production of their set text Blood Brothers yesterday at BEAM Theatre in Hertford. It was a fantastic chance to see the play brought to life and be inspired by Acting, Direction and Design ideas for their written paper next year.

Good Luck to Year 11 also who sit their exam this afternoon, well done to a few that got themselves to this production also in time for their exam paper today!

Miss Mack and Mrs Hardiman, Drama Department

Year 12 A Level Drama Devising Exams

 

Year 12 Drama Students have been working incredibly hard to create their own uniquely devised group performance in response to their textual stimulus from Berkoff’s adaptation of Metamorphosis. This week they presented their performances and now have their final feedback to take into their last refinements and improvements.

Wishing them all the best of luck for their upcoming final performances and written coursework deadlines.

Duke of Edinburgh – Silver Award Practice Expedition

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During the first week back after Easter, 77 of our Year 10 students went on their practice expedition for their Silver DofE Award. Our students maintained bright smiles and greeted their instructors with enthusiasm and excitement which was lovely to see. They set out on their day one routes and easily managed the more complex navigation which is required at Silver level, finishing at the campsite in good time to enjoy cooking by the fire and some fun time.

Day two began bright and early and participants completed their routes in good time and arrived at the campsite mid afternoon. A huge bonfire was lit and they all toasted their marshmallows and some took part in the “not a pub” quiz.

Anyone who has participated in the DofE Programme knows it’s an invaluable experience that teaches young people essential life skills for their futures and we are so pleased so many students at Presdales take part.

News from Italian

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Once again, March was a very busy month for the Italian department.

Italian Trip to Rome

In the first week of March, 36 of our Year 9 and 10 students and 4 staff members travelled to Italy for an unforgettable cultural expedition in the heart of Rome. The group stepped back in time at the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, where they walked in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators. A visit to the Vatican City provided further awe, with students marvelling at the scale of St. Peter’s Basilica and the breathtaking artistry of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Beyond the historic landmarks, the trip offered a vibrant taste of modern Italian life and a chance to practise the language for real! A fascinating walking tour led the group through the city’s winding streets to iconic spots like the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, while a behind-the-scenes visit to Gelateria Fassi, a traditional ice cream factory, proved to be a firm favourite. The students were fantastic ambassadors for the school, showing great curiosity and enthusiasm throughout. It was a wonderful four days of discovery, laughter, and authentic gelato. Particular thanks go to Ms Jennings, Mrs Armari, and Mrs Share for their invaluable help accompanying us on the trip.

Mrs Evenden

Visit from our Italian partner school

In the penultimate week of term, Presdales had the privilege of hosting and spending time with students from the Liceo Dante Alighieri in Ravenna on their trip to the UK. On Wednesday, the partner school was welcomed warmly by Year 10 Italian students, where they introduced themselves and got to know each other over a classic British biscuit! The students then went off in pairs to their lessons where the Italian students had the opportunity to see what it is like to be in lessons in British schools. The Italian students saw a range of Year 10 lessons from Art to Business and enjoyed seeing how different the British school system is to the Italian. Following from this, the Year 12 students had the opportunity to practise their Italian whilst giving the visitors a tour of the school and taking part in a Q&A session. It was a brilliant experience for them to use their language and act as ambassadors for the school. 

After a lunch in the canteen and enjoying catching up with their partners outside, the Italian students then met their Year 9 groups ready for their walk to Ware. In their groups, students had the opportunity to show the Italian students the town centre and their favourite places to go whilst completing the Ware discovery challenge. 

On Thursday, the Year 10 students made their way to London to meet their partners for a day of sightseeing. With their groups, the students spent time exploring the V&A and completing their challenge. The students enjoyed exploring the different rooms and exhibitions, including the Great Bed of Ware! Taking the tube altogether, the students headed to Lincoln’s Inn Fields for a picnic in the sun. After enjoying the good weather and chatting over a sandwich, all made their way to Covent Garden for a spot of free time and shopping! With a train to catch, it was time to say arrivederci and alla prossima to the partners, with promises to stay in touch being said by all! 

The visit from the exchange school was a fantastic opportunity embraced by all years to practise their Italian and make friends. It was great to see so many students showing off their fantastic linguistic skills as well as getting to know more about Italian culture. We look forward to seeing them again next year!

Miss Rose

News from Spanish

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Spanish Trip to Andalucía 2026

Between Monday 2nd and Thursday 5th March, 36 students studying Spanish from Years 8, 9, and 10 enjoyed a vibrant and enriching cultural trip to Andalucía. Based in the historic city of Granada, the group spent four days immersed in Spanish language and tradition, beginning with a guided walking tour of the city and evening meals at a local Mediterranean buffet. The students showed great enthusiasm as they explored the stunning Alhambra Palace and experienced the passion of a live Flamenco show, which provided a wonderful insight into the region’s artistic heritage.

The journey continued with a visit to Córdoba, where students marvelled at the famous Mezquita and wandered through the winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. Throughout the trip, students were encouraged to put their language skills into practice during a town trail and shopping challenge and formal lessons at a local language school. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to build their confidence speaking Spanish in real-world situations while creating lasting memories of their time in Spain. Massive thanks to the students for getting stuck in and participating, and being wonderful ambassadors for the school, and thanks so much to Mrs Russ, Mrs Worthy, and Miss Clarke for accompanying us on the trip.

Ms Price

Year 13 Trip to New York

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On Monday 16th February, Mr Soltysik, Mrs Harmer and Miss Munro took 31 Year 13 students on an unforgettable joint Media, Art and Photography trip to New York. What followed was a packed and inspiring itinerary filled with culture, creativity and plenty of memorable moments. Our adventure began with an evening visit to the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Observatory Deck, where students took in the breathtaking New York skyline. Seeing the city illuminated beneath them created an immediate buzz of excitement and set the tone for the week ahead. 

The first full day included a visit to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, where students explored its striking architecture and renowned collections. This was followed by an engaging workshop at the Paley Media Centre, where students examined the context of the Cold War and explored the American sci-fi television drama ‘The Twilight Zone’, analysing how historical tensions were reflected in American media.

Midweek brought a visit to the Statue of Liberty on Staten Island. Although conditions were foggy, students thoroughly enjoyed visiting this powerful symbol of American culture. The group also visited the 9/11 Memorial to pay their respects, before exploring the vibrant atmosphere of Times Square. Students enjoyed shopping in Target and visiting a range of other popular stores, as well as trying viral food trends across the city. One particularly exciting moment came when our trip Instagram post was recognised by the famous Raising Cane’s restaurant in Times Square, much to the delight of the group. The day ended at Baby John’s Pizzeria, which was enjoyed by everyone. Big John brought plenty of energy and humour, making the experience even more memorable. He was a true delight and provided the perfect end to a busy day.

The penultimate day was filled with creative inspiration and for many students proved to be a highlight of the entire trip. Students first visited the Museum of the Moving Image, which seemed to be a firm favourite venue for most. Here, they explored original animatronics and film props including models from The Exorcist, the original Freddy Krueger jumper and artefacts from Star Wars, including Chewbacca. Students also learned that Sesame Street was filmed at the historic Astoria Studios, the very site where the museum is now based in Queens. This was followed by a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, where students saw Salvador Dalí’s 1931 surrealist painting The Persistence of Memory and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Despite heavy rain on the final day, spirits remained high. The group visited Grand Central Station and admired its historic architecture before heading to Hudson Yards. Students viewed the striking Vessel building and demonstrated real persistence as they walked the High Line towards Little Island, where they encountered the 16-foot-tall hyper-realistic aluminium pigeon sculpture by artist Iván Argote.

Throughout the trip, students enjoyed sampling famous New York treats including Crumbl Cookies and exploring popular stores such as Aritzia and Alo, even inspiring Mr Soltysik to purchase a new jacket! Students were organised into groups: Mrs Harmer’s Elites, Miss Munro’s Downtown Divas and Mr Soltysik’s Brooklyn Baddies. Mr Soltysik’s group originally named themselves the Leading Legends, however they decided the title was not quite cool enough and opted for a mid-trip rebrand to Brooklyn Baddies.

Special celebrations took place as India and Immy both celebrated their 18th birthdays in New York. The group marked the occasion by singing happy birthday and enjoying cake together at the Tick Tock Diner, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Overall, the trip was filled with laughter and camaraderie. From Mr Soltysik holding subway doors open like the Hulk, to Miss Munro’s memes on the Trip Instagram and Mrs Harmer taking on the role of everyone’s mum, the group quickly felt like one big family. Mr Soltysik reflected on the experience, saying, “Organising this trip was somewhat stressful at the outset, taking 31 students to an entirely different country is not an easy feat, but every one of them has been tremendous and a true testament to our school values. They have demonstrated nothing short of professionalism, and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending every minute of my time with them!”  Students were equally enthusiastic. Maddison said, “I have never experienced a trip as fun as the New York trip. The range of activities meant everyone was catered for and we were able to have a great time the whole trip!” Cynthia added, “I think this was the best school trip I have ever been on, we saw so many iconic places and the food was delicious.” Immy shared, “Wish I could have stayed for longer because I had the best week ever!” Maisy summed it up perfectly, “If you get the chance to go…GO!!!!!”

At the time of writing, 100% of students said they would recommend this trip to future year groups. The students were superbly behaved throughout and demonstrated the school’s values at every stage. Although the itinerary was jam packed, it was an absolutely fantastic experience and a truly special trip for all involved.

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

News from German

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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 

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Presdales School
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Ware
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Tel: 01920 462210
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Headteacher:
Mr Warren