On 30 January, we welcomed alumni DCI Manveen Arora to speak to students about her career in the Metropolitan Police and the wide range of roles available from frontline policing to back office support. She shared insights into her professional journey, the challenges she has faced, and the opportunities that exist for those interested in pursuing a career in policing and public service.

It was great to hear about Manveen’s journey, especially as I have been exploring different career paths. Her talk helped me to understand the variety of opportunities within the police and what it takes to succeed in this field.

Khadhar Abdullahi [13F]

Today during form, we listened to an ex-Heston student, Manveen Arora, talk about her experience of becoming a Detective within the City police force, and it really uncovered her progression and the work which goes towards becoming a detective. Then, being able to speak to her within a smaller focus group allowed everyone to ask questions to see what the job was really like, the challenges she's faced, and the positives of her role.

Additionally, Jagdeesh Mali, a Quantity Surveyor, clearly explained his degree apprenticeship role and how he is progressing. By answering my questions, it enabled me to consider all the options available, which was really eye-opening and it genuinely inspired me to think more about my own progression after A-Levels.

Jasmin Bhogal [13B]

As a Year 13 student, with a strong interest in studying real estate and finance, meeting with a quantity surveyor and a detective constable was a valuable and eye-opening opportunity to learn about two differing pathways. Meeting with the detective showed me how important communication and resilience is in the workplace. It was also inspiring to see the critical thinking that goes into being a detective. I also found it comforting that the university degree she obtained didn't necessarily link directly to becoming a detective and the graduate scheme is open to a variety of people, as I was afraid my choice of degree would limit me if I had a change of heart. In contrast, speaking to the quantity surveyor was fascinating, as I had heard of the job title but didn't know the context of the job. However, he illustrated the importance of financial investments, negotiating and persistence. He also stated that if I did decide to receive my desired degree in real estate and finance, I could also go into this line of work alongside there being other pathways to get this role, such as a degree apprenticeship. This sparked my interest in quantity surveying. Overall, this experience was informative and enjoyable and has inspired me to continue researching different jobs and pathways. 

Ashpreet Kundal Year [13G]

 

It is with great pride that we welcomed back a past student, Moaiad Adam, to Heston Community School.  He is currently studying Medicine at Oxford University and gave the most inspirational speech to our Post 16 students interested in pursuing this career pathway.  He provided encouragement, support and invaluable tips to navigate the application and interview process.  His advice will go a long way in raising the aspirations of our students.

Ms Hall [Deputy Headteacher]

It was inspiring to hear from Moaiad, one of our alumni who is currently studying Medicine at Oxford University. He shared that he had the desire to study at Oxford from as early as Year 10, which showed us how important it is to set clear goals and stay motivated. Moaiad spoke about his journey to medical school and the hard work involved, which many of us found very encouraging.

He also gave us some really helpful advice, including the importance of getting started early with UCAT preparation. Hearing about his experiences and the steps he took to achieve his goal made the talk both motivating and informative for students who are interested in studying medicine in the future.

Heer Aoja [12D]

It was very empowering to hear about Moaiad’s journey and his experiences studying Medicine at Oxford University. Listening to how he worked towards his goals was really inspiring for many of us. With my exams approaching and already having offers from universities to study Medicine, I found the talk especially motivating in the lead-up to my exams.

Hearing from someone who was once in our position made the goal of studying Medicine feel more real and achievable. Moaiad’s advice and honesty about the process gave us a lot to think about as we prepare for the next stage of our education. I am looking forward to hopefully coming back in the future and being in Moaiad’s position, sharing my own journey with students who are hoping to follow a similar path.

Neda Noorzai [13D]

On Wednesday, 20 November, students sitting their Drama GCSE went to see an adaptation of 'Hedda' at the Orange Tree Theatre. For many students, this was the first time they'd experienced a Theatre in the Round and they were very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the space and performance. Reece Watts [11W] stated this was the best play he has ever been to! The production used a real fire in Act 2 to the amusement of the students – they didn't know that theatres could use real fire in performances. Students will use this production to write about in their upcoming Drama GCSE exam. 

Ms D Bahra [ACL Expressive Arts]

The atmosphere backstage was full of excitement and a few nervous butterflies. I played the drums in the Year 7 Band, and seeing the audience fill up the seats made my heart race. Our opening piece, Seven Nation Army, set the perfect tone for the evening. The applause after our performance was the best reward!

The concert ended with the Sixth Band playing Wicked Game. All performers join the stage to thank students and the audience. It was a night filled with music, laughter, and memories that will warm our hearts through the rest of the winter.

Sukhraj Singh [7P]

Year 7 & 8 Girls Football Match 

Heston 2 - 2 St Marks 
St Mark’s win 3–2 on penalties

Goal scorer - Mia x2

The Year 7 & 8 Girls Football Team produced a fantastic performance in a competitive fixture against St Mark’s. From kick-off, it was clear that both sides were evenly matched, showing great teamwork, determination, and impressive skills. The girls started well, stringing passes together confidently and putting St Mark’s under pressure. The breakthrough came after some excellent attacking play from Zaynab and Laara, resulting in our first goal of the match from Mia. St Mark’s responded well and managed to equalise before half-time. Our player of the match, Jannat, made some incredible saves, giving us the momentum we needed. Going into halftime. 

The second half continued at a high intensity. Our players showed real resilience and teamwork, creating several strong chances before Mia scored her second goal to retake the lead. St Mark’s pushed back, and despite some excellent defending from Aaliyah, Raisam and Zofia, they found a late equaliser to make it 2–2 at full time. With the match level, the game moved to a penalty shoot out. It was a tense finish, with both teams holding their nerve well. Despite two confident goals from our players, St Mark’s edged the shoot out 3–2.

Although the result didn’t go our way, the girls were really proud of their performance. 

Dunya Sahill [8G]

 

Y8 Boys Football Match Report

Heston 1 - Cranford 2

Heston Community School’s Year 8 boys played an away game at Cranford Community School. The game started off with end-to-end football but sadly, Heston conceded a goal early. After conceding an early goal, the boys showed real resilience despite Cranford's great efforts, with Jaswinder scoring a penalty. As the game progressed, both teams played really well, defensive lines were pushed and keepers showcased their abilities.

Our Man of the Match, Joel, was a rock in our defensive line, showing real discipline when moving forward and maintaining positioning. Joel had a busy match, defending on the busiest side of the pitch, stopping a very talented winger from progressing up the field. 

Unfortunately, in the late stages of the second half, Cranford scored, making it 2-1 and parked the bus for the remaining minutes, securing a victory over Heston Community School. This was our first loss suffered in the league, leaving us with 6 points from a potential 9 and positioning 1^st in the table. We look forward to finding out the standings after the last match is played in our group to see if we are promoted.

Man of the Match: Joel Sefah Dentah

Aron Bussunt [8B]

On Thursday, 05 March, actors from Quantum Theatre visited our school to perform Macbeth for our Year 11 students, giving them the wonderful opportunity to experience one of their studied texts in a dynamic, theatrical space. 

I believe that the Macbeth play was absolutely brilliant. The fact that there were only four actors and they were able to memorise all the lines for the play was very impressive. The actors were very expressive and were in character for each character they played – this helped me to remember the play better. The scene which I enjoyed the most had to be the fight scene between Macbeth and Macduff. Another scene which I enjoyed was the panic that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth shared after killing Duncan, which foreshadows the mental breakdown that they have. 

Melina Besic [11W]

We were fortunate enough to experience the Macbeth play during our usual English lessons. The play was a very insightful experience. It provided a great benefit to my understanding of Macbeth as we were able to view Macbeth through its intended medium. I find that watching the performance enriched my understanding of the play, giving me deeper insight into the characters and their motives. This was further compounded by the immaculate performance by the actors. 

Alpi Uddin [11W]

The Macbeth performance was amazing. All the actors played their characters to perfection, from the accents to the language. There were also times of comic relief to allow us as an audience to relax and take in what was happening. 

The choreography for the fight scenes was absolutely perfect, it was as if I was watching a Star Wars movie! These actors really put their heart into what they do and I was really aspired to be like them. 

Reece Watts [11W]