AES Community News

Anglo European’s Spring term is always a vibrant celebration of the diversity and international life of the school. The highlights are always our international Eisteddfod; a rich celebration of the arts and languages. Students compete in music, poetry, dance and drama, often performing in a language taught in school or their own home heritage language. It is a joyous evening of self-expression, collaborative performance and sharing cultural experiences. The other notable highlight is our Raise and Giving Week where students are reminded of the importance of service above self, giving to those less less fortunate and nurturing a sense of gratitude for their own educational experiencewhich affords them so much. The week culminates in International Day – one of our students’ favourites – where they dress in their national costume or the colours of their flag and you really see the true diversity of our school community as their share their culture and traditions with each other. The international parade, accompanied with Samba music and drums provides a carnival atmosphere throughout the school at break time.

The term has also been punctuated by visits and exchanges from France, Japan, Germany and Spain and once again, we are grateful for families and members of the wider community who host both students and staff and benefit from the joys of international friendship and collaboration. This week, a school from Japan visited and experienced life in school, culminating in a closing ceremony and celebration of what had been learnt, in the shadow of our Japanese cherry tree, gifted to us by Japanese visits 40 years ago.

We have also hosted professional visitors, including a Professor from Tokyo, A senior leader from a school in Munich, colleagues from the Department of Education, our local MP and many guests from an eclectic mix of professions who came to support our World of Work Day and Enterprise Day. It’s also the term of the parents’ evening! It has been lovely to talk with parents directly about student progress and academic development and to develop the working partnership between home and school which we know adds so much value to students’ education.

We wish you all a very happy and restful Easter holiday.

Mrs J Gee, Headteacher

Our annual Eisteddfod was a wonderful celebration of the arts, language, and creativity—from original student poetry to captivating Shakespeare performances. We hope you enjoy this montage video capturing some of the highlights!

We invited Steve Wills, the Ingatestone Station Manager to join Mrs Gee, Mr Seager and Maite and Oscar from our Head Student Team, for a farewell tea and biscuits. After 10 years as the Station Manager, Steve will be enjoying his well-earned retirement. He was overjoyed to receive the personalised card containing lots of messages from both students and staff, who all expressed their gratitude for his support over these years, as well as his own Anglo Family mug.

Jody Gee said: "On behalf of all the students and staff at Anglo European School, we would like to extend our grateful thanks for so many years of dedication to our students' well-being and safety at Ingatestone station. Steve is held in the highest regard by all and with much affection by so many. For a Victorian station built to serve a small village, the designers of the station could not have anticipated 600 teenagers would cram onto its platforms daily and he has managed this operation with such kindness, grace and dignity over the years.

Whether it was a grazed knee, a nosebleed, a lost ticket, no ticket or an argument which needed to be calmed, he has rescued so many of our students from tears, panic and angst and mediated so many issues which have not escalated as a result of his swift intervention. We will miss having him at the end of a phone when the line fails or trains face delays. We've formed such excellent team work over the years and I cannot remember Anglo without him.

I know the last time students were told they may face their journey without a station master, they took to the media with their "Save our Steve" campaign and were quite influential in promoting the reasons why stations should be manned by someone who know their community and how impactful leaders such as Steve helped them feel safe and prevent harm coming to them and other members of the public.

We will all miss Steve dearly; he is irreplaceable and will be a huge loss to all our experiences of travel through Ingatestone. However, he deserves a rest and a long and happy retirement."

Thank you Steve!

This term we have welcomed students and staff from Japan, Blanes (Spain), Dinan (France), Wiesbaden (Germany), Puerto Real (Spain), Avignon (France), Lower Sixth work experience students from Frankfurt (Germany) and Paris (France).

We have also been delighted to welcome leading professionals from overseas to share and support pedagogy including Melanie Bigland, a science teacher at the Berufliche Oberschule Fürstenfeldbruck in Munich. This opportunity was provided under the ERASMUS Plus programme and the Paedagogischer Austauschdienst, which fund a broad range of educational objectives in Europe. During her visit she observed lessons in Science, German, Psychology, Citizenship and Economics, met with student panels to discuss mental health, democratic values, and environmental initiatives and met with members of SLT to share her related experiences of teaching in Germany.

Mrs Gee, and Ms Pickard also had the pleasure of meeting with Dr Masaaki Yanagida, a research professor from Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo. Dr Masaaki is researching the development and impact of the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme in the UK with the hope of building collaborations with two Japanese institutions, which are beginning to host the IBCP qualification (with Nagano Nihon University School taking on its first ever cohort of students in the 2025-26 academic year). Dr Masaaki was able to visit some of our classrooms and see some of our brilliant Sixth Form teaching, and some of our Sixth Form IBCP students were also able to meet with Dr Masaaki and form a student panel, showcasing some of their work in research projects and discussing their experiences of the IBCP programme.

We also hosted Neil Lawson, Lead for the Mandarin Excellence Programme & Ancient Languages, from the DFE’s Curriculum & Qualifications Group, Matt Schofield, MEP Programme Manager, UCL Institute of Education and Professor Zhu Hua, Interim Director of the Centre for Chinese Language Education, UCL Institute of Education. They spent time observing Chinese lessons, talking to students who study GCSE, IB and HSK qualifications in Chinese and talking to those who have benefitted from the funding afforded our students to travel to China and enjoy immersion and enrichment as part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme. One of the key elements of the visit was how Anglo European School has developed an Inclusion Strategy which enables those who may be vulnerable or face wider challenges to achieve academically in line with their peers. They were hugely impressed with the students they spoke to and enjoyed listening to their experiences of travelling to Beijing, Dalin, Nanjing and Xi’an, listening to their life-changing experiences on exchanges or through international work experience, building lasting friendships as well as enhancing their linguistic skills.

We invited Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, to meet with Year 11 student, Harriette, who is a member of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament. She spoke to Mr Burghart about her recent visit to the Houses of Parliament and her experience of participating in a debate in the chamber. She was also keen to hear his views on the future of the Youth Parliament and on funding for the International Baccalaureate, both of which Mr Burghart discussed and expressed his support for. He then met with our Lower and Upper Sixth Politics students to discuss the role of government, how laws are made, the importance of civic engagement and international relations, and what it means to represent a community in parliament. Students asked thoughtful questions about current UK and global issues and careers in politics, making the session an engaging and informative experience.

Years 7, 8 and 9 took part in an informative visit from the Essex Fire Safety Team learning about fire safety within the home, the importance of having a working smoke alarm and how to keep safe around water. The team also explained some of the specialist equipment they use on a day to day basis, giving students an insight into the life of a firefighter. Students also learnt about how to join the Fire Cadets programme.

Year 11 students took part in our annual World of Work day which encourages them to think and talk about their options after GCSEs and their future career pathway. They participated in lots of workshops including learning about apprenticeships, finances and pensions and sat 'mock' interviews with real employers. Feedback from this event is below:

One student commented: ‘The interviews were really useful as I have never had that experience before.’ Another said ‘Having multiple interviews with real employers has given me confidence. The first interview I had I was nervous, but I was much more confident for the second one.’

One professional said: ‘Having just finished a morning of mock interviews with your Year 11 World of Workers, I wanted to tell you how inspiring an experience it was. I met young people with the belief and conviction to become surgeons, human rights lawyers, classical musicians, teachers, research scientists, screenwriters and international campaigners. Time and again I found myself writing feedback 'extremely impressive', 'dedicated and focused' and 'articulate and thoughtful'.’

Another professional commented, ‘Thank you for the opportunity to help in some small way, these students. Every single person I interviewed came across so well and had so much ambition and potential. It made me very optimistic about the future of our country if these are the types of individuals who will be shaping it in the future.’

We extend huge thanks to the professionals that volunteered their time and expertise to help our students. If you would like to volunteer for similar events, or find out more about how you can help the Careers Department at AES, please email enterprise@aesessex.co.uk.

You would have seen many of our students sporting the Paris Saint Germain Academy uniform in the village for the last couple of years. Our partnership with PSG began 3 years ago and we are very excited to announce that 4 of our Year 7 students, Taiki, Dexter, Sebastian and Monty have recently been selected to represent the United Kingdom at the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain Academy World Cup, taking place in Paris from 9th–13th May 2026. This is an outstanding achievement and a moment of real pride for these students and everyone who has supported their football journey.

The international tournament will welcome over 500 elite academy players from 18 countries across four continents, competing in 40 teams across the U11 to U15 age groups. To be chosen among such a talented global field is a remarkable honour, and a testament to their dedication, skill, and hard work. Adding to the excitement, the students will take part in the opening ceremony at the iconic Parc des Princes, the home of Paris Saint-Germain. In an unforgettable experience, players will parade with their national flags ahead of the PSG vs Brest Ligue 1 fixture, stepping onto one of football’s most famous stages. We couldn’t be prouder of these athletes and look forward to cheering them on as they represent our school and country on the world stage.

Our Inclusion Strategy, ensuring social mobility and equality of access and attainment for disadvantaged students, is highly successful. Indeed, there was no gap between our students and those who are disadvantaged in the English and Mathematics 5+ measure in 2025, countering all national and regional trends. In a letter to Mrs Gee this week, Bridget Phillipson wrote,

“Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the disadvantaged pupils at Anglo European School achieved at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement.

This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.

Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I hope you will continue to share your experience and best practice with others. Even the strongest schools can go further. We encourage you to lead the way as a system leader - sharing effective practice, championing networks, supporting collaboration, and helping raise standards across the sector.”

Our unique curriculum has changed many lives, providing equity of opportunity for students and affording many the same privileges as other students only receive in private and selective schools; experiences which are often the behest of the privileged few. This cohort have been enabled to progress to our Outstanding Sixth Form, university and apprenticeships, have grown the confidence to work abroad or in international companies. They are our future diplomats, CEOs, academics, lawyers and leaders, who can confidently communicate with their peers in at least two languages.

Mrs Edge-Baron, our Achievement Co-ordinator, whose role involves removing barriers to learning for those who may struggle or face challenges at school or home, was particularly proud of these outcomes. She said, “All pupils, regardless of background, are positive contributors to our very special school community. Their efforts plus the consistent support of staff who champion them has led to this success. I am delighted that the Secretary of State for Education has acknowledged the super results achieved by those who may have faced an additional layer of challenge.”

Well done Anglo Family!

Students and staff came together to celebrate the annual Raise and Give Week combining fundraising with creativity to help raise money for our chosen charities: SNAP, Young Minds and the Rainforest Alliance. Students enjoyed putting their entrepreneurial skills to the test organising their fundraising stalls and events such as the Walk to Franceand raffles.

Sixth Form students supported the week with themed outfits each day - even some of the senior staff joined in by dressing up as Anglo students!

International Day was a vibrant and joyful celebration, with students proudly wearing traditional cultural outfits that reflected the rich diversity of our community. Their enthusiasm and creativity brought not only the school to life, but also added colour and spirit to the wider village. Sixth Form students orchestrated this event for the whole school to enjoy by hosting a "decorate your form door competition", an International Parade, an International Quiz and a cultural show. What a great day this was for the Anglo Family!

Thank you to all our "friends of the school" for your continued support of the school. Here is a reminder of ways that you can get involved:

1. Volunteering: The school welcomes volunteers, as we believe they have an important role to play in supporting our professional colleagues and enriching the education of our students with their time and expertise as well as acting as excellent role models. If you are interested in volunteering at the school please contact the school office. This includes those who are a native speaker in one of our taught languages, who would like to spend time speaking with our Sixth Form students and support them in developing their oral confidence.

2. Donations: If you would like to make a donation to the school and are not part of the school community please click here or contact the Finance office on 01277 354018. (Please DO NOT use this link to pay for anything other than a donation). Donations will be used to support financial hardship and ensure that opportunities such as our visits programme are accessed by all students and not just those who can afford it.

3. Resources: You could donate resources such as books, art materials, or even furniture for classrooms and common areas. If you are thinking of donations of this kind please contact the school first.

4. Work Experience/Career Support: We are continually looking for work experience placements for students, please let us know if you think you could accommodate a student for 2 weeks. We have many career related events, including our Careers Convention in November, and our Year 11 World of Work Day on 23rd January 2026 and we would welcome professional support. Please email our Careers Team at enterprise@aesessex.co.uk to find out more, and to volunteer to help with any or all of these events.

5. Hosting Exchange Visitors: As in the past, we are reaching out to our wider Anglo Family for support in hosting teachers from our partner schools. When hosting, you would be required to offer a visiting teacher a bedroom with access to a lockable bathroom and provide them with meals including a packed lunch for the days that they are out on excursions with their students. We are able to pay £25 per teacher per night for the hosting services provided. Please could you email enquiries@aesessex.co.uk if you are able to accommodate one of our visitors for more information.

6. Vacancies: Consider becoming a member of staff, there are often a variety of options available within our staff community. If you have just a few hours in the day, you might considering becoming one of our middays, or exam invigilator. See https://www.aesessex.co.uk/home/about-us/vacancies/ for more details.

Email: enquiries@aesessex.co.uk
Website: aesessex.co.uk
Location: Anglo European School, CM4 0DJ, Willow Green, Ingatestone, UK
Phone: 01277 354018