The Year 10 Geographers had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth as part of their GCSE fieldwork investigation. The trip was spread out over two days with 60 students going on each day. It was an early start with a 07:30 departure, but it was worth it! When we arrived at the coast there were breathtaking views of the coastline.  

The purpose of our trip was to collect data that would help us to answer our key question: ‘To what extent does beach width vary at Hengistbury head?’ We went to three different sites and at each site we were split into groups of 4/5. We measured how wide the beach was as well as the rate of longshore drift.  Although we had practised this in class, doing it in the open was slightly more challenging than expected as the wind kept blowing our tape measure, so we had to come together as a team and try and solve that particular problem. 

To measure the longshore drift, we had to throw oranges into the sea and measure how far they travelled in sixty-seconds. Keeping track of the oranges was tricky, especially when a seagull swopped down and took the orange away!

 

As we walked from site to site, our teachers pointed out our different types of coastal management techniques and also evidence of coastal processes like erosion and slumping that we had learnt about in the classroom.  This really helped us to see first hand how the theory can be applied to real-life environments and brought the subject to life. 

All in all, it was an exhilarating experience and we are so grateful to everyone who helped to plan and organise the trip.

Heston 4-2 Reach Academy

Goal scorers: Harris x2, Jaswinder and Yassir

Heston Community School’s Year 8 boys played a match against Reach Academy at the Brentford Training Ground. The game started off shaky with Heston conceding a goal early, leading to a 4–2 victory. After giving way an early goal, we had to stay calm and show real resilience. Even though we were 1–0 down, nobody gave up and we started pushing higher up the pitch with more confidence.

Our man of the match, Harris, scored the equaliser, giving us the momentum we needed. Not long after, Jaswinder curled in a free kick to put us ahead. From there, we kept playing with ambition and Harris got his second goal to make it 3–1. Yassir finished the job with a fourth goal securing us three points. We were delighted with the game and our first official win in the league. 

Aron Bussant [Captain] [8B]

We are delighted to introduce our Post-16 Subject Ambassadors. These students have been carefully selected by their teachers to represent one of their A-Level or Vocational subjects. Their role is to support younger students in developing a deeper understanding of each subject’s content, as well as the future benefits of choosing the course they represent, from a diverse range of Post-16 options.

In addition, our Subject Ambassadors will offer guidance to Key Stage 4 students on effective revision strategies and provide practical advice on how to achieve success in their GCSEs.

I hope you will join me in congratulating these students on this prestigious student leadership role.

Miss Hart, Deputy Headteacher - Curriculum

Subject	Ambassadors
Geography	Jaspreet Singh, Amanveer Gill
History	Sukman Dhesi, Ashneet Arora
Sociology	Sabrin Hassan, Naima Nur
Psychology	Ramya Loshini Chandrasegaram, Rahleen Said
Government and Politics	Ibrahim Abdirehman, Harman Sekhon
Biology	Ayma Babar, Prem Ghatora
Chemistry	Muhammad Ali Babar, Aiza Mehmood
Physics	Harjap Bhatia, Mibzall Butt
Vocational Applied Science	Najma Noor, Massoud Seyed
Mathematics	Hashir Babar, Rashmita Puri
English Literature	Hajar Rahimi, Maja Majewska
Economics	Ram Kumar, Kiran Kaur, Ramyaa Roshini Chandrasegaram
Business	Rishon Fernandes, Shay Samra
Vocational Business	Alan Wieczerzak, Banu Ahmed
Vocational IT	Jashvin Gulati, Nimco Osman
Sport and Physical Activity	Emanuele Satta, Aisha Waberi
Art and Graphics	Kabir Toor, Harleen Garcha

 

The interview workshop with Peter Rawling was extremely beneficial. I want to study Medicine and was feeling anxious about interviewing, but after the session I now feel much more confident about how to prepare effectively. We received a clear set of practice questions and have even started organising our own mock interviews to build our skills. ​​​​​​​Asfand Hussain [13F]

I am also interested in studying Law at Cambridge, and the valuable advice and tips shared during the workshop have really helped me refine my critical thinking and communication. I now feel better equipped to articulate my ideas clearly and respond thoughtfully during the interview process. Laiba Aamir [13B]

Attending the BBC Careers talk was an enlightening and inspiring experience. Listening to professionals discuss their diverse roles and career journeys gave me a deeper understanding of the wide range of opportunities. It was eye-opening to see how many different skills and interests can lead to successful and fulfilling careers from an accountant, who worked with a biscuit company, a radio presenter and a physicist. The event broadened my perspective on potential future pathways and motivated me to explore how my own strengths and passions could fit into such a dynamic and evolving field. Pearl Kaur [10R]

 

Today, I found the BBC talk quite inspiring. It showed how the speakers’ career paths turned out very differently from what they originally aspired to be, proving that there are countless opportunities out there, you just have to find the one that fits you.

What I found most interesting was how they reflected on their secondary school experiences, saying that they could have done better. This showed me that there is always room for self-improvement.

I was also struck by how they admitted that, at one point, they believed not going to college or university would make them failures. However, their later success proved that this isn’t true, they achieved so much regardless, and there is still more for them to accomplish.

They demonstrated that with the right attitude, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to, even if you’re not sure what direction to take at first. Over time, with patience and persistence, success will come.

Finally, they reflected our key Hestonian values such as resilience [not giving up when things got tough] and ambition [continuing to work hard until they reached their goals]. Leyla Basic [7B]

I thought that the BBC careers talk was very inspirational. It wasn’t just about grades and about university. It was about different types of education like apprenticeships or college courses. For example, one of the role models that came in didn’t do so well in her A levels but still managed to become a technical scientist. One other person was a BBC presenter who created new ways to share the news we need in fun ways.

It was fun as well as informative because there was a rugby ball with a microphone inside going around. This was so that questions could be asked and the 3 ladies who came could answer the questions. Questions ranged from ‘what were your grades’ to ‘do you still have friends from when you were in high school or did you lose them all.’

I honestly thought it was amazing as it gave people the reassurance that you don’t have to go down a route that you don’t want to go down and there are lots of options for your future. For example, one of the presenters there worked with people who make biscuits. Her job was in finance, meaning she chose what price to sell it at and where it was placed on the shelves. 

It was inspirational.

Mannat Kaur Punny [7Y]

I found the BBC Careers Roadshow very informative.  It was interesting learning about the three different career pathways of the panellists and how their time at school influenced them.  It was nice to meet a celebrity from Radio 1 Extra as well.  It has certainly helped me to think about what I might study later as well. I really appreciated the School organising such a lovely event for us as it will help us later in life.

Amreen Kaur [9R]

BBC Bitesize Workshop taught us about different types of jobs that we might do when we are older.  We got the opportunity to meet three people from our local area who do very different but interesting jobs.  They told us about what they did at school and how it influenced their work now.  It will help me when I choose my options.  I would definitely recommend this activity as it was so inspirational.

Maryam Ahmed [9R]

  

The Careers Fair was, once again, an impressive array of universities, colleges and employers.  Our students had the opportunity to learn more about a range of career and training pathways.  The event was the centrepiece of our Careers Week celebrations and supports the high aspirations we have for our school community.

Ms I Hall [Deputy Headteacher]

The Careers Fair was an exciting and worthwhile experience that gave students the chance to connect with employers from a broad range of industries. Representatives from many different workplaces met with students from Years 7–13, offering valuable insights into possible career and education pathways after college or sixth form. University representatives, including those from the University of Winchester and Royal Holloway, discussed the wide variety of courses and opportunities available, while giving helpful advice about university life and future prospects. Businesses such as Unilever also highlighted the many directions a career in business and industry can take. Talking with these representatives opened my eyes to new possibilities and helped me think more deeply about the kind of career I might enjoy. Overall, the event motivated me and many others to be more prepared and excited about our future goals and ambitions. Sumaya Ahmed [10W]

The Careers Fair was a really eye-opening experience because it showed me how many different paths are out there beyond the ones I’d already thought about. Talking to employers and universities helped me see how varied the opportunities are, and it was motivating to hear about the skills they look for. One of the stands that stood out to me was Heathrow Airport, not just because it’s such a big organisation, but because they explained how so many different roles work together to keep it running smoothly. I left the Fair feeling inspired and more excited about exploring career options I hadn’t considered before. Anzal Roble [12B]

The Careers Fair introduced me to a wide range of job opportunities and helped me understand how different courses work. Paramedic Science stood out to me because they clearly explained the entry requirements, what the role involves, and even gave me a link with all the key details. I also found it really helpful speaking to current university students — especially the medicine students from Imperial, who shared how they balance their workload with their social life and even gave me a checklist for applying. Ayma Babar [12B]

The Careers Fair was a valuable experience that allowed students to meet employers from a wide range of career paths. Representatives from various workplaces spoke with students from Years 7–13, helping them gain a clearer understanding of their future options after college or sixth form. Students had the chance to talk with representatives from several universities such as the University of Winchester and Royal Holloway, who explained the different courses and opportunities available while offering supportive and insightful advice. Companies like Unilever also showcased how diverse career options can be in the world of business and industry. Speaking with the representatives helped me realise my interest in a variety of different careers. Overall, the event inspired me, along with many others, to feel more confident about the next steps in our education and career journeys. Preetika Rajeswaran [10B]