Bishop Challoner Newsletter
July 2026
As we reach the end of another academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful and rewarding year for our Bishop Challoner community. It has been a year characterised by hard work, resilience, compassion and ambition, and I am immensely proud of everything our students and staff have achieved together.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate our Year 11 and Year 13 students on completing their GCSE and A Level examinations. They have approached this important stage of their education with maturity, determination and resilience, and we are incredibly proud of the commitment they have shown throughout the examination period. We now look forward to celebrating their achievements on Results Days and wish them every success in the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
At this time of year, we also say farewell to those students who are leaving Bishop Challoner to begin the next chapter of their journey. Whether they are moving on to sixth form, university, apprenticeships or employment, they leave with our prayers, gratitude and very best wishes. We hope they carry with them the values, friendships and memories they have made here, and we look forward to hearing about all they accomplish in the years ahead.
Throughout this final half term, students have continued to embrace the many opportunities available to them both inside and outside the classroom. From creative Religious Education and Art projects, practical Science and Health & Social Care learning, to sporting success, outstanding performances in "Little Shop of Horrors" whole school production and enriching experiences such as the Darkroom Photography workshop, our students have demonstrated curiosity, creativity and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Sports Day was a particular highlight, bringing the school community together in a wonderful celebration of teamwork, determination and school spirit.
Our Catholic faith has remained at the heart of everything we do. End of year Masses provided an opportunity to give thanks for the many blessings of the past year and to reflect on the ways in which our students have lived out our mission through service, kindness and compassion. It was also a pleasure to welcome our incoming Year 6 pupils to Bishop Challoner, as they joined us in prayer and began their journey towards becoming part of our school family. We look forward to welcoming them fully in September.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our parents and carers for your continued support throughout the year. The strong partnership between home and school plays an invaluable role in enabling our students to flourish, and we are truly grateful for the encouragement you provide every day.
Finally, I would like to thank our dedicated staff, whose commitment, professionalism and care ensure that Bishop Challoner continues to be a place where every young person is encouraged to achieve their very best.
I wish all of our students, families and staff a restful, safe and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September for another exciting year together.
Yours in Service,
Adam Hall
Executive Headteacher
The focus of the lesson was on Heaven, Hell, Judgement and Purgatory, with students expressing their learning through creative and reflective pieces of art!"~ Miss Rahman
📸🎞️ Our Year 13 BTEC Media students took part in a fantastic cross-curricular Darkroom Photography workshop led by Mr Kelly in the Art Department.
Students developed their skills using 35mm cameras, learned how to develop film and explored the process of creating black and white prints in the darkroom using a multigrade enlarger. An amazing hands-on experience combining creativity, technique and collaboration across subjects! ~ Mrs Njenje
🎨🌸 Our KS3 Pinta Como Frida lunchtime project celebrates the power of art in supporting students' mental health and wellbeing.
Inspired by Frida Kahlo, students explore creativity, identity and self-expression while building confidence and resilience. A wonderful example of art helping students better understand themselves and others! ~ Ms Byrne
A whole school musical is about so much more than the performance itself, it takes a dedicated team behind the scenes to bring the show to life. A huge well done to Mr Finch, Mr Crouch, Ms Charter, the technical team and everyone on stage, we are ready for showtime!" ~ Ms Ferry
The Summer term has provided many opportunities for our school community to gather in prayer, celebrate our faith and put our mission into action. As always, Christ has remained at the centre of school life, in our worship, in our relationships and in our commitment to serving others.
Throughout the term, each year group has continued to celebrate Mass in our parish church, while our weekly Celebrations of the Word have followed the Church's calendar and explored the Sunday Gospels in ways that encourage students to connect Scripture with everyday life.
The final weeks of term were marked by whole year group Masses for Key Stage 3 and for Years 10 and 12. These were joyful celebrations of thanksgiving, offering the opportunity to reflect on the academic year that has passed and recognise the many blessings we have received.
We were also delighted to welcome our incoming Year 6 pupils during their transition visit. It was a pleasure to pray together as they took their first steps towards becoming part of the Bishop Challoner family. During the liturgy, we reflected on the unique gifts God has given each of them and the incredible people He is calling them to become. We look forward to welcoming them back in September.
Our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching has continued to grow through new partnerships within the local community. This term, we began working with St George in the East to explore opportunities for collaboration around issues affecting local residents, particularly housing and the challenges faced by many families across East London. We look forward to developing this work further and creating opportunities for students to engage locally with social action.
Staff prayer has continued each Thursday morning in the school chapel, bringing together colleagues from across the school to pray for our community and the wider world. Prayer intentions submitted by parents, carers and staff remain an important part of these gatherings. If you would like us to pray for a particular intention, please use the link below.
As an Assistant Headteacher focusing on CPD and Teaching and Learning, my key priorities centre on creating a strategic framework that balances individual, departmental and whole-school priorities, shaping CPD decisions to drive improvement.
At Bishop Challoner, our CPD programme is designed to deliver regular, evidence-informed training that ensures high-quality teaching, drives outcomes, and develops subject knowledge. CPD sessions take place every Wednesday and are carefully planned to reflect the evolving needs of our school, ensuring that all staff are equipped with the latest strategies, knowledge and skills to support pupil outcomes and professional growth.
This programme is complemented by CPTea, which takes place every Thursday from 8:20am to 8:30am. These sessions offer staff the opportunity to share best practice, fostering a collaborative culture that strengthens teaching across the school. They also serve as a valuable forum for staying connected with current pedagogical approaches and educational research.
We believe that high-quality CPD is fundamental to improving teaching and learning and pupil outcomes. Our CPD offer strikes a balance between personal development and supporting the wider strategic aims of the school. All staff are encouraged to take an active role in their professional development.
“Supporting high-quality teaching is pivotal in improving children’s outcomes. Indeed, research tells us that high-quality teaching can narrow the disadvantage gap.
It is therefore hugely encouraging to see a host of new initiatives and reforms that recognise the importance of teacher quality, such as the Early Career Framework and the new National Professional Qualifications. These exemplify a growing consensus that promoting effective professional development plays a crucial role in improving classroom practice and pupil outcomes.”
Effective Professional Development (EEF, 2021)
The “golden thread” of CPD at Bishop Challoner refers to the clear, coherent connection that runs through our entire professional development programme, linking individual staff development needs with school improvement priorities, and ultimately improving outcomes for pupils. It ensures that CPD is not delivered in isolation, but forms part of a strategic, joined-up approach.
Mr Walsh
Assistant Headteacher for T&L
