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Celebrating 14 Year 9 students as they graduate from unique university access programme 

We are very proud of our Year 9 students who graduated from The Scholars Programme, a national university access programme.

Our Year 9 students were encouraged to think and work independently across seven tutorials with a subject expert PhD researcher. During the programme, they learnt about "Are All People Persons? An Anthropology of Personhood" and then completed a challenging final essay which was given a university-level grade. 

The Scholars Programme, run by UK-wide university access charity The Brilliant Club, supports students aged 8-18 to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to progress to the country’s most competitive universities and succeed once there. 

By bringing together two communities – PhD researchers and students – who might otherwise never interact with each other, young people can study innovative and inspiring topics that very few people have ever covered. 

The Scholars Programme has enabled our students to learn beyond the core curriculum and helped them to develop key skills for university and later in life, such as critical thinking. 

Beyond their graduation, these students have lots more to look forward to because the programme has proven impact on university progression rates. For the sixth year running, independent UCAS evaluation has found that Scholars Programme graduates are significantly more likely to progress to a competitive university compared with students from similar backgrounds (56% vs. 37%). 

Anne-Marie Canning MBE, CEO at The Brilliant Club, congratulated the students on their achievements: 

“Congratulations to these outstanding students as they graduate from The Scholars Programme. They join a community of over 110,000 young people who have taken part in The Brilliant Club since 2011.  

“Completing their final assignments was no doubt challenging, but it has shown that these students have a passion for learning and the knowledge to produce university-style work already. I hope they use these new skills throughout their education and continue their fantastic work.”   

 

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19th December

Charities Week 2025

The halls of St Clement Danes School have been buzzing with holiday cheer this week as the annual Charities Week is officially in full swing. As the Autumn Term draws to a close, pupils and staff have united to raise vital funds for three incredible causes: Endometriosis UK, Spread a Smile, and Herts Young Homeless. The school is alive with the spirit of giving, driven by a jam packed ‘Advent’ schedule designed to get everyone involved in the fundraising efforts. This year’s itinerary has been filled with exciting activities, ranging from pupil led lessons and a "Mystery Bucket" challenge to the competitive excitement of the "Elf Auction" and various competitions. Pupils have also enjoyed the classic "Sponge the Teacher" event and a visit to Santa’s Grotto, ensuring the festive atmosphere is matched only by the community’s generosity. Beyond the classroom activities, pupils have been sharing the festive spirit with the wider community. On 18th December, the SCD Senior Choir paid a special visit to Chorleywood Manor Care Home. The residents were treated to a beautiful selection of Christmas carols, featuring performances by members of the Chamber Choir, Evensong Choir, and the Barbershop Choir. Year 12 pupils Immy and Chrissie noted that "it was a very joyful occasion and it was lovely to see the residents joining in and looking so happy." The success of such a busy week relies heavily on pupil leadership, and the school extends a massive vote of thanks to Year 13 for their incredible hard work and dedication. Their enthusiasm have been the driving force behind this week's fundraising efforts. The week is set to conclude on Friday with the Grand Finale: the highly anticipated Sixth Form Revue, promising a spectacular end to a week of community, charity and celebration.