Students embark on an unforgettable journey across Beijing

Our recent school trip to Beijing provided Year 9 Mandarin learners with an extraordinary opportunity to extend their learning far beyond the classroom. Over an unforgettable seven-day itinerary, the group immersed themselves in China’s rich historical heritage and dynamic contemporary culture.

The journey began with the challenge of climbing the iconic Great Wall at Juyongguan, followed by visits to some of Beijing’s most significant imperial landmarks, including the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the magnificent Temple of Heaven. Students were able to bring their history studies to life while also gaining insight into Confucian philosophy through a visit to the Temple of Confucius.

Alongside these historic sites, the trip offered a wide range of hands-on cultural experiences. Students participated in traditional tea tasting, a calligraphy workshop hosted by a local family, a Kung Fu session in a local square, and a memorable hutong rickshaw tour through Beijing’s historic neighbourhoods. They also explored the city’s modern creative side at the 798 Art Zone, practised their bargaining skills in Mandarin at the Silk Market, and enjoyed spectacular acrobatic and Peking Opera performances.

By stepping outside their comfort zones, embracing new experiences, interacting with local people and trying authentic Chinese cuisine, students developed greater independence, cultural awareness and global perspectives. The trip not only deepened their understanding of China but also created lasting memories and friendships that will stay with them for years to come.

A big thank you to Mrs Barelli, Mr Cogavin, Mr Boison-Filipiak and Ms Li, who helped organise and accompanied the students on this memorable trip!

Exploring Life in Roman Britain: Year 8 Visit to Bath

Our Year 8 Latin students recently brought their classroom studies to life with an immersive, hands-on trip to Aquae Sulis (modern-day Bath). Moving away from the classroom, the students spent the day walking in the footsteps of the Romans to better understand the realities of life in Roman Britain.

The day centred on a lively and collaborative workshop where students acted as historians, debating the provocative question: “To what extent was Aquae Sulis a typical Roman town?” By carefully analysing authentic artefacts and examining regional evidence, the students weighed the impact of Roman cultural influence against the site’s unique local character. This exercise encouraged them to look beyond surface appearances and consider how diverse cultures blended during this fascinating period of history.

Following the intense debate, a guided tour of the iconic Roman Baths allowed everyone to walk through history and experience the architectural brilliance of the ancient world firsthand and to feel a connection to those who visited this sacred site two millennia ago. Ultimately, it was a day when the history they study in class became real, giving everyone a much clearer, more vivid picture of what daily life was actually like in Roman Britain.

Year 12 ESS students gain first-hand fieldwork experience in Sitges

The Year 12 IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) students recently travelled to Sitges, near Barcelona, as part of their Internal Assessment (IA) fieldwork. During the trip, students collected primary ecological data in a local dune system, investigating topics such as sand compaction, vegetation cover, biodiversity and human impacts on coastal environments.

Working alongside staff, students were joined by students from our sister school in Paris for this trip. Together, they used a range of fieldwork techniques including quadrat sampling, transects and environmental measurements to gather data for their individual research projects. The trip provided an excellent opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real-world environment and develop practical scientific skills.

In addition to the fieldwork, students explored the local area and gained a greater understanding of the challenges involved in balancing tourism, conservation and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems. The experience was both educational and enjoyable, and the data collected will form the basis of students’ ESS Internal Assessments over the coming months.

Year 8 students explore history and culture in Paris !

This month, our Year 8 (5e) students went on a residential trip to explore Paris. From the grandeur of Versailles to the collections of the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée des Arts et Métiers, they discovered some of the places and ideas that have shaped French history and culture, bringing their classroom learning to life.

One of the many highlights of the trip was undoubtedly their evening at the Comédie-Française to watch Le Malade Imaginaire. Seeing Molière performed on stage brought a text studied in class to life in a way no lesson ever could. To make the evening even more memorable, the main actor Guillaume Gallienne came to greet our students after the performance! Of course, there was much more to the week than museums and monuments. Travelling together, navigating the métro, sharing experiences and spending time with friends all contributed to making this a rich and rewarding trip.

Thank you to the teachers and staff who made this trip possible.

Jeannine Manuel School achieves TfL Gold Accreditation for sustainable travel

We are delighted to announce that our school has achieved the coveted Gold accreditation by Transport for London through its TfL Travel for Life initiative (formerly STARS). 

This recognition reflects a shared effort in our school community to help build healthier habits and helps to reduce our environmental impact. 

Alongside active travel, the activities of our Eco Committee and our DofE students, here are a few of the other activities pupils have taken part in:

• a TFL Citizenship Workshop;
• learning more about Pedestrian Safety Skills;
• a trip to Russell Square station to learn about the Underground;
• short walks around the local area to learn about road safety and when to cross the roads. 

As a result of all of our activities, our school will hold TfL Gold accreditation status until 2028.

We thank our entire community for their continued support in making sustainable travel a daily priority.

Our biggest tournament yet: A celebration of inter-school football

Following a small but successful debut Tournament in 2025, when City Junior School took home the Year 6 trophy, we were excited this year to host a bigger tournament for 2026. Thanks to our growing network of schools, this year’s tournament saw more football teams across Year 5, Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 taking part. 

Proving to be a roaring success, this year’s tournament featured 3 different age group competitions with teams competing from 6 schools, playing 28 matches in total across 3 different pitches. Well done and huge thanks to all schools for their participation, it was great to see such high level football being played, strong sportsmanship, teamwork and ultimately enjoyment throughout the afternoon. 

Congratulations to the winners: Acland Burghley School (Year 7/8 group), Alleyn’s Regents Park School (Year 6 group) and our own Jeannine Manuel School (Year 5 group) for their impressive performances. 

We look forward to expanding the tournament even further next year !

Date: April 28 2026

Year 12 Economists gain real-world insight from global CEO visit

Year 12 IB Economics students were given a valuable real-world perspective on global supply chains during a recent visit from Ms Streatfeild, CEO of Flamingo Group International.

During the session, Ms Streatfeild shared insights into the company’s operations, with a particular focus on its partnerships within Kenya’s agricultural sector. She explained how Flamingo balances “vertical integration”, growing produce on its own large-scale farms in Kenya and Ethiopia, with “partner-grown” sourcing, working alongside local farmers to ensure consistent quality and supply. This approach allows the company to remain resilient in the face of challenges such as changing weather patterns and fluctuating crop cycles.

Beyond business strategy, students were particularly engaged by Flamingo’s social impact initiatives. Ms Streatfeild highlighted the company’s commitment to empowering women, paying above Fairtrade prices, and investing in skills development for young people in local communities. These themes are closely linked to students’ studies of development economics and sustainability.

Adding a personal dimension to the visit, a Year 12 student who recently visited Flamingo’s operations in Kenya, reflected on her experience: “I visited Flamingo Horticulture in Kenya and learned how they use sustainable farming and integrated pest management to grow crops responsibly. I also saw how the farm supports workers and the local community while dealing with challenges like climate change.”

The session provided students with a meaningful connection between classroom theory and real-world economic practice, enriching their understanding of global supply chains and sustainable development.

Students explore mosaic art with Artist in Residence Liz Tiranti

Thank you to mosaic artist and sculptor, Liz Tiranti, who brought her technical expertise to our latest Artist in Residence programme. Our students had the unique opportunity of exploring new materials, experimenting with mosaic techniques and bringing their own creative ideas to life through this hands-on workshop.

Now in its 4th year, the Artist in Residence programme gives students the opportunity of

collaborating alongside remarkable artists who bring unique perspectives and creativity to our community.

Ms Tiranti said of the workshop “… a big thank you for your support getting me settled in … and to the staff who welcomed me, it all felt very supportive and that in the end filters through to the pupils. What a super bunch of young people!”.

The students were delighted with their completed creations which varied in theme and design. We look forward to next year’s residency!

Centimetres, Metres & Clever Thinkers: CM1 in Action!

The recent CM1 (Year 5) annual maths event, Rallye Mesure, was a fantastic celebration of practical problem-solving and teamwork. Pupils were placed into mixed groups and challenged to use their estimation skills and understanding of measurements to predict the volumes, weights and distances of a variety of containers and materials. Working collaboratively, the children discussed strategies, compared ideas and carefully justified their reasoning before agreeing on their final estimates.

Throughout the event, pupils demonstrated impressive mathematical thinking, applying their knowledge of units of measure and making sensible approximations. Equally notable was the high level of cooperation within each group. Clear communication, active listening and shared decision-making were evident as pupils encouraged one another and combined their strengths to tackle each challenge.

The atmosphere was both focused and enthusiastic, with pupils fully engaged in the practical tasks. Rallye Mesure not only strengthened their confidence in measurement and estimation but also highlighted the importance of teamwork in problem-solving. Overall, the event was a great success and an enjoyable learning experience for all involved.

CM2/Year 6 Bring the Treaty of Versailles to Life

After learning about the Treaty of Versailles, CM2 took part in a whole class cross-perspective exercise to bring the peace talks to life. Each student represented a different country involved in the negotiations, taking on the role of official delegates deciding what should happen to Germany after the war. Some argued strongly for financial reparations, others wanted German land, while some pushed for strict limits on Germany’s army and navy. A few focused on ensuring future security and preventing another war. 

Through discussion and negotiation, pupils experienced the difficulty of balancing fairness, sanctions and peace. The activity helped them understand why the treaty ended up being so difficult to agree on, with so many competing demands and tensions between the countries involved. It was truly a fantastic activity for all!