9th September 2020 — Children at Heatherton School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire are welcomed back by a new Headteacher - Mrs Nicola Nicoll. Mrs Nicoll was appointed as a successor to Debbie Isaachsen and officially started her role at the start of this month.

Immersing herself into the Heatherton community, Mrs Nicoll has worked with staff throughout the summer to oversee the safe reopening of the school.

Mrs Nicola Nicoll has worked in Independent Primary or Prep Schools for over 20 years. She started as a science teacher at Thomas’ Preparatory School in Clapham, after completing her BSc in Biomedical Sciences and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from Liverpool University. From there she became Head of Science and Head of Middle School at Westminster Under School in London and more recently as the Deputy Head/Acting Head at Badminton Junior School in Bristol.

Her diverse career has included two years living and working in Zambia where Nicola helped in a local Government school and taught at an Independent Boarding school. More recently, Nicola attained a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Buckingham.

Mrs Nicoll said “I am delighted to be joining Heatherton School as Headteacher and to be part of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. I am aware of the outstanding reputation of the Berkhamsted Schools, and I see it as a privilege to be part of a group that genuinely puts pupils at the heart of everything. “

“Heatherton is a fantastic place where pupils feel valued within an impressive treasure trove of high academic standards, outstanding pastoral care and top-class opportunities, enabling each individual to fulfil their potential. I will maintain the excellent standards achieved and provide continuity for all the pupils to complete their high-quality educational journey here spring–boarding them into their chosen next steps. I am very much looking forward to getting to know all the pupils, parents and staff over the coming months.”

1st April 2020 — Berkhamsted Schools Group Principal Richard Backhouse has been named Chair of the HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference), which represents top independent schools, for 2021-22.

The HMC (the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference) is a professional Association of heads of the world's leading independent schools. HMC's schools are individual and distinctive offering parents a rich variety of options when choosing the right education for their child. HMC schools include St Albans Boys School, St Albans High School for Girls, Aldenham and more distant schools from Cornwall to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. International schools include the Kellett School in Hong Kong where the Principal is Mark Steed, formerly Principal of the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Members include Eton, Wellington College, Royal Grammar School Guildford, Winchester and Harrow.

Richard Backhouse has been Principal of Berkhamsted Schools Group since January 2016. His previous employment includes factory work on a kibbutz in Israel, bar work in a hotel in the French Alps, and running a bar in his hometown, he read Economics at Cambridge, expecting to go on to be a journalist. Experience coaching sport to children in summer holidays for a charity gave him a sense of the value of teaching, and so he went to Oundle School in 1990, expecting to teach only briefly before returning to university to do a PhD, but stayed for six years before moving to Bradfield College. At these schools he variously taught Economics, coached rowing and football, ran a Christian Union, and acquired managerial and leadership experience both running a boarding house and as Director of Pastoral and Extra-curricular activities. In 2005, he was appointed Principal at Monkton Combe School – an all through group of Schools – where he developed the scope and depth of the pupils’ opportunities and achievements.

After his new appointment had been announced, Richard said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to lead this Association during what will be a very important year for the education sector following the unprecedented challenges the sector is currently facing. We will be adapting from what has been a period of change in teaching, with many schools in the independent sector delivering a remote learning environment and finding new stimulating ways to teach from a distance. I hope that the many lessons we have learnt as a sector during these past few weeks can help us drive forward in our educational partnerships to help pupils in a variety of situations.”

Berkhamsted Schools Group has a partnership with Denbigh High School, Luton and the Wren Academy Trust, London and local primary school, Hawridge and Cholesbury. Under Mr Backhouse’s leadership Berkhamsted Schools Group was recently highlighted as an example of best practice in a report to Parliament from the Social Mobility Commission (April 2019) for its state partnerships.

Richard said “100% of HMC Schools have partnerships with the state sector, and the benefit of the HMC to the educational sector as a whole is most obvious through these relationships. We have an opportunity to be at the forefront of the whole sector learning to digitise teaching – for remote learning where appropriate – while still securing the character education for which HMC schools are rightly famous all over the world. I look forward to serving the HMC, as it serves the sector, in 2021/22.”

12th February 2020 — Berkhamsted School have been named as the third best independent school by School Sport Magazine. The national publication ranked each school based on 20 different sports and 120 national competitions throughout 2019.

It was a memorable year, with Berkhamsted qualifying for the national finals in three age groups for Netball, well as being crowned National 1st XII Lacrosse Champions for 2019. Six other age groups also competed at the National Lacrosse finals with four reaching the semi-finals and beyond.

There was further success on the Rugby and Football pitches with the 1st XV reaching the later stages of the National Champions Trophy and the U11 Football side being crowned IAPS National champions for the first time in the school’s history.

Of all the school’s named by School Sport Magazine, from Sedbergh in Cumbria to Millfield in the South West, Berkhamsted are the only Hertfordshire based school in the top 30.

Berkhamsted fielded in excess of 220 teams in 2019 across 19 different sports ranging from Cricket to Cross Country, Gymnastics to Golf. Every pupil has the opportunity to represent the school at sport and participation rates across all age groups are extremely pleasing.

While studying A Level maths, economics and psychology Maddie Beckworth captains the title winning Lacrosse team and plays Netball for the first XII.

She said “2019 was a fantastic year of sport for Berkhamsted, I believe the main reason for this was the incredible sportsmanship which all pupils showed at all levels of sport throughout the year making school sport incredibly enjoyable as well as rewarding. This allowed all pupils, regardless of their ability, the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sport.

“Netball and Lacrosse has had a great year and I think the reason for this is the staff, who dedicate their passion and expertise throughout the year, providing all pupils with the determination and drive to reach their team and personal goals. Being a part of this motivated culture has meant success is truly apricated and provides everlasting memories.”

Maddie is also one of 124 Sixth Form students to complete Gold Duke of Edinburgh and participated in a programme to learn business consultancy skills. These experiences, together with her academic achievements give her a great chance of success in her university applications to Exeter and Bath.

Director of Sport David Gibson said “We are absolutely delighted to feature in the top three of the rankings following such an amazing year of sport at Berkhamsted. This has been a real team effort and great credit should go to all the dedicated pupils, staff, coaches and ground staff.”

“We aim to provide every pupil with a positive experience of sport and physical activity during their time at Berkhamsted and hope that they enjoy in participating in the sports that they love.”

12th December 2019 — When Joshua Nunn (Year 8) came up with the idea of supporting Children In Need and creating a Pudsey Bear shaped marshmallow, he could only begin to imagine the full impact of the project.

Contributing to his mum’s discussion with her client Belinda Clark, Joshua suggested they make their world record attempt as beneficial as possible. The Pudsey marshmallow idea was born.

Fundraising has been a great success. The winning bid for the mammoth marshmallow was £550. The interest in the challenge sparked a further £1,050 Children In Need donations from the Berkhamsted community.

During Children In Need in November Joshua represented the Berkhamsted School record attempt on the 18:30 BBC News. He said “The result was beyond my wildest dream. But what has made it even better is the fact the winning bidder was this year’s MasterChef Winner – Irini Tzortzoglou – who had it all cut up and sold to raise even more money this time for The Jigsaw Children’s Hospice in Carlisle, Cumbria. My mum and I are going to go and visit the children during the Christmas holiday”

The creation of the marshmallow turned into a community event in Berkhamsted and beyond.

Berkhamsted’s school caterers (Aramark) worked with gourmet confectionary specialist Belinda Clark. The team gained the support of Silver Spoon, Waitrose, Jewsons and organisations such as Berkhamsted Chamber of Commerce, British Legion, Berkofest and The Hospice of St Francis.

Belinda, who normally specialises in traditionally shaped gourmet marshmallows was able to transform her design thanks to the Pudsey shaped mould donated by Talbot designs.

Richard Thompson, the school’s lead for external relations said “The Berkhamsted Society ties together Berkhamsted School’s interactions with local groups and charities. Such links with the local community are perhaps, ever increasingly important. The Berkhamsted Society enables the School to participate fully in local life, with good relationships established and strengthened with local groups so that opportunities for the School’s resources and volunteering may be used well for events and activities. We are delighted to support this exciting fundraising event and showcase our school value ‘serving others.’

Verification from the Guinness World Records is shortly expected to confirm Berkhamsted School as the holders of the World’s Largest Marshmallow title.

2nd October 2019 — By offering training and work experience opportunities, Berkhamsted have teamed-up with Sunnyside Rural Trust –a local charity who empower people with learning disabilities.

Sunnyside already grow an impressive 90,000 bedding plants for Dacorum Council every year. Similarly, this project with Berkhamsted School’s Estates Department will bring more success that everyone is rooting for.

With the support from Berkhamsted’s industry professionals, the team of six trainees from Sunnyside have already transformed an area of the Prep School seen by everyone who enters from the main gate on Doctors Common Road. They have successfully replanted the raised beds, and the next stage is to plant garlic, onions and broad beans – which could eventually end up as the ingredients in the Prep school lunches!

Russell Hatt, the Maintenance Supervisor within the School’s Estates Department has led the project with Estates team member Steve Hammond.

Steve said “My relationship with Sunnyside Rural Trust began in 2012 through my son, Henry, who was 16 at the time. Henry was born with major heart problems and suffered a stroke after corrective surgery leading to him having learning difficulties.

“Sunnyside helps young adults like Henry to gain confidence and self-esteem while introducing them to a working environment. It was the start of a new chapter in Henry’s life when he began at Sunnyside.

“It was a proud day for me to see Henry as a part of the first team from Sunnyside to work on the school grounds, the joy in their faces as they began the task and their pride upon completion was a delight to see. This looks like being a mutually beneficial partnership which can only blossom along with all the wonderful plants they will be planting around the school.”

“Since the moment they arrived, the Sunnyside trainees were enthusiastic, full of fun and laughter and couldn’t wait to get started. Armed with their own school badges and trowels they set straight to work.

“Knowing that our school works hard in the community, a joint project with Sunnyside seemed like a good idea. The school Senior Management team and my own department have been unanimously supportive. They understand the great benefit to all, and how it reflects Berkhamsted School’s values.”

12th September 2019 — The sold out West End show spanned 11 weeks, with Anna playing multiple roles.

The reimagined production to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary included only 8 children, instead of a choir. The young actors took on roles and were involved in the action throughout the show.

Anna’s scenes involved spectacular choreography and singing and dancing that impressed the thousands seated in the audience. She particularly enjoyed the high-octane Joseph Megamix at the end of show, which received a standing ovation every night.

Anna was cast as one of the children that tells the story along with the narrator. In the scene where Joseph first appears on stage, Anna’s acting played a part in convincing the audience how amazing and astonishing the lead character is.

In addition Anna was cast as a wife and a goat who the brothers wanted to kill for its blood to smear on Joseph’s coat to convince Jacob that Joseph had been killed. She portrayed the ‘sassy and audacious’ characteristics of the goat and built a rapport with the narrator Sheridan Smith. In every show she delivered her line “Just dressing up you said” with perfection.

“It felt amazing performing in the show” said Anna. “A lot of the time my family and friends came to watch me. When I heard them all cheering and wooing it made me so happy. I could barely contain my excitement, but I kept my composure and stayed in character.

“The London Palladium is an absolutely magical place to perform. It was a lot to take in when I first arrived for rehearsals. It’s huge! The scenery was full of pyramids and the floor across the whole stage looked like sand.

Anna also appeared on ITV’s This Morning with Jac Yarrow, the rising star who played Joseph.

“The whole experience has been really beneficial. I feel more confident, and I feel like I’ve become a better actress by learning from all the other stars in the show.”

While the majority of the shows were during the school holidays, Anna has impressively managed to balance her drama commitments with school life. In fact, she recognises the impact of her teachers and lessons in English and Drama have had on helping her reach this level of success.

“My memories at Berkhamsted go right back to Pre-Prep. My first role was playing Mary in the Nativity play. Looking back, my singing sounded awful then! I’ve had so many amazing opportunities at school and I’m pleased that each one has given me the chance to improve. “

“My school experiences have really helped me. The drama teachers have taught me so many techniques and they’ve guided me towards being more confident.”

Music and Drama lessons, as well as the extra-curricular opportunities are central to life at Berkhamsted Prep. Anna has performed in a multitude of school productions including the Rainforest play in Year 4. Her finale at Prep will be the much-anticipated 2020 Year 6 play held in the Centenary Theatre at Kings Campus.

Her last show of Joseph was this weekend, Saturday 6 September. Speaking ahead of the last show she said “Going into the last show will be emotional. I will be holding back the tears. I have made some wonderful friends and we’ve all contributed and achieved so much. It’s been an incredible journey, and we are proud of how far we’ve come.”

Her class teacher Marcus Fleet said “It is wonderful to see Anna performing in a highly successful West End show. She is incredibly enthusiastic about her acting and I was delighted to see her aiming high in order to fulfil her dreams.

“All children in the Prep School take part in weekly LAMDA sessions, and Anna’s success will no doubt be a catalyst for more ambition and success amongst our pupils.

“Remember the name: Anna De Oliveira”