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Oranges and Lemons Let's Repair the Bells of St Clement’s

St Clement Danes Church has a long standing affiliation, not only by name, to St Clement Danes School. The school was originally located in Hougton Street, founded in 1862 by the church wardens of St Clement Danes Parish in Aldwych and funded from income from the St Clement Danes Holborn Estate. The church itself is a historical Grade I listed monument, rebuilt by the highly acclaimed architect Sir Christopher Wren in 1682, and has stood through the tests of time, including two world wars. During recent inspection work it was discovered that the top of the church spire will need to be dismantled, the stonework renovated and the entire structure rebuilt. The Friends of St Clement Danes, the official charity of the Church, are appealing for funds to support the campaign. The ‘1941 Campaign’ will be officially launched this May, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of a bomb which directly hit the church during the blitz.

Even today, we continue to celebrate the long-standing history of St Clement Danes School with our annual Speech day every September and our Commemoration service held at St Clement Danes Church each November, both magnificent events, which continue to embody the school’s ethos of excellence, respect and trust. We are so fortunate that thousands of students, parents and choir members have had an opportunity to experience this unique day, which annually brings together the entire community.

These extensive initial renovations are projected to take 15 months to complete, at a cost of approximately £2,000,000. During these unprecedented times, we acknowledge the difficulties faced by our school community this past year, but if you do wish to donate to this worthwhile cause please see the charities account details below:

The Friends of St Clement Danes

Sort code: 40-06-29

Account number: 21256394

Reference: Your name & Donation amount

All donations are greatly appreciated, and we aim to keep you updated on the progress of this astounding monument with such special historic links to our school which will continue to be of significance for future generations.

More information can be found at https://stclementdanesraf.org/

 

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20th March

Duke of Edinburgh update: A busy month for our pupils

It has been a landmark month for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at the school, with pupils across all year groups pushing their boundaries from the local landscape of Chorleywood Common to the rugged terrain of Scandinavia. The Gold Award cohort has seen an impressive 54 pupils sign up this year, many of whom recently gathered for a specialised food tasting session. This practical workshop allowed the Year 12s to trial various expedition rations, ensuring their packs are filled with both nutritious and palatable fuel ahead of their demanding practice trek through the Lake District this March. Preparation for the Gold Award reached a new peak on 1st March during a comprehensive training day led by Hepworth Adventures. The sheer scale of this year’s ambitions was evident as pupils mapped out diverse routes; 25 participants are currently preparing for the wilds of Otta in Norway, 13 are bound for Poland, and another 13 are focusing on UK-based expeditions, while one pupil prepares for a bespoke kayaking challenge. Under the guidance of Hepworth staff, these pupils fine-tuned their menu planning and equipment lists, ensuring they are fully equipped for the specific demands of the Gold environment and their upcoming qualifying aims in early summer. The spirit of the award is equally vibrant in the younger year groups, with 91 Year 10 pupils recently completing their Silver training day. Guided by a dedicated team of St Clement Danes staff and parent volunteers, the pupils took to Chorleywood Common to sharpen their navigational skills through a series of practical exercises. The day also involved intensive route planning for their qualifying expeditions in May and June, alongside sessions on the logistical challenges of group catering in the wilderness. Meanwhile, the Year 9 Bronze Award continues to see record engagement, with 182 pupils set to undergo their own training day on March 7th. Led by the School of Outdoor, this upcoming session will provide the foundation for their first expeditions, with photos and details of their progress expected to follow soon. Beyond the physical challenges of the trail, the school community recently gathered to celebrate the formal achievements of our participants. The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire presided over a prestigious award presentation, during which he commended the pupils for their resilience and commitment. For those who missed the event, the full presentation slides and the keynote speech have been made available online, documenting a proud chapter in the school’s long-standing history with the DofE program.
20th March

Impressive low scores as pupils compete at Beaconsfield Golf club

On Tuesday 3rd March, 16 pupils represented the school in the annual SCD Pupil Golf Competition at the prestigious Beaconsfield Golf Club. The day was defined by fine weather and a course in immaculate condition, providing the perfect stage for some truly exceptional performances. It was particularly encouraging to see a mix of new faces joining the regular participants, with all pupils taking full advantage of the world-class facilities on offer throughout the day. The competition remained fierce until the final hole, but it was Josh R (Year 13) who ultimately secured victory, successfully retaining his title with an incredibly impressive score of three under par (69). This victory serves as a fitting milestone for Josh as he prepares for the next chapter of his sporting journey; following his A-levels, he will be moving to the United States to enroll at a university in Idaho, where he will continue to pursue his professional golf career. The leaderboard reflected the high standard of play across the field, with Freddy M (Year 9) taking second place with a solid three over par (75), and Luke M (Year 13) securing third with a resilient five over par (77). The event once again highlighted the depth of sporting talent within the school and the commitment of our pupils to excelling in their extracurricular pursuits.