The Ursuline Post

I am writing to you to give a longer update from STU. It is fair to say last week has been a momentous one. Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to the staff and students, in particular Year 11, for an excellent and enjoyable feast day yesterday. We celebrated the feast of St Angela (admittedly two days late) on Thursday - I was amazed by the preparation from the students, the support from the staff and the superb behaviour throughout the day - well done everyone.

As you are partially aware, we have had some external validation of our progress at the school:

On Monday our Ofsted report was published to the world. We have rid ourselves of the Requires Improvement tag, and did that in just under a year. We will not now be complacent and have four years in which to ensure that we continue to improve. If you read the report and thought it sounded a lot like we were close to some more Strong judgements - you would be absolutely right, and we will be there long before Ofsted return.

Last Friday, I received a letter from Bridget Philipson, The Secretary of State for Education. She wrote to the top 10% of schools nationally to congratulate them on outstanding results. STU is one of a small number of schools to receive this and I am not yet aware of any others in the borough to receive this.

On Thursday the school hosted external inspectors looking at our Well-Being provision. Despite the fact we are still deciding how best to replace Mrs Searles, the school has been awarded the full WellBeing Award for the next 3 years. This award considers both students and staff and in many respects represents an even more remarkable turnaround, as they are not given out lightly.

So some lovely moments for us this week. However our promise to students, families and staff is we are not done yet. We have a lot of improvements and changes to announce over the coming weeks.

Thank you for all the messages of support - I cannot emphasise enough that when parents write in to thank staff it has a much more motivating effect than myself cajoling them along. God bless and have a good weekend.

Dear Mr O'Shaughnessy,

Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the pupils at St Ursula's Convent 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...

...Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to your staff and pupils. I look forward to working with you as we strive together to raise standards for all.

Yours sincerely,

Bridget Phillipson

For the last 12 - 18 months, we have been working towards the Wellbeing Award accreditation. On Thursday 22nd January, a team of students wowed the assessor with their ideas and the plans we have put into place to help all students with their mental health and wellbeing.

We are very proud to announce we now have the accreditation and the students' hard work has been recognised.

We don't intend to stop though and we have some great plans going forward to keep thinking about students mental health and to help everyone feel supported in school.

Our Feast of St Angela celebrations were nothing short of amazing, bringing together faith, fun, culture and community spirit for a day to remember!

We started Our day by celebrating the Mass of St Angela celebrated by Fr Tom, who reminded us that St Angela is our spiritual mother, guiding and inspiring our school community. He encouraged students and staff to follow her example of compassion, courage and service, setting a meaningful and uplifting tone for the day.

After Mass, the festivities continued… The silent disco was a huge hit, with students dancing, laughing and showing off their best moves. Meanwhile, the PE Department ran an action-packed basketball competition, with teams battling it out in a fantastic display of teamwork, skill and sportsmanship. The atmosphere was electric, with plenty of cheering from the side-lines!

One of the standout moments of the day was the Year 11 Fundraising Fayre for their prom. Thanks to the incredible effort and creativity of our students, a brilliant £844.95 was raised! From games to stalls and treats, the fayre was buzzing and showed just how supportive our school community really is.

We were also treated to an unforgettable Windrush performance by Anika from Kora. Her powerful and engaging performance captivated the audience and celebrated culture, history and diversity in a truly inspiring way.

Overall, the Feast of St Angela was a fantastic celebration of everything that makes our school special. A huge thank you to Fr Tom, our staff, student organisers and everyone who took part — you helped make the day such a success!

- Report by Ms Murphy, Chaplain.

Our Y9 History day trip to Ypres before the Christmas Break was filled with museum trips, interactive experiences and a visit to the town to buy some Belgium chocolates! The students had a fantastic time and extended their knowledge of WWI.

- Report by Ms Howard, History Department

Also before Christmas, Year 11 Food Preparation & Nutrition students visited @Borough Market, London Bridge, to explore global cuisines, food cultures, and industry inspiration.
Students sampled popular and viral foods — including the crème brûlée doughnut from @breadaheadbakery, Birria oxtail tacos from @tacospadre, and the infamous chocolate strawberries from @turnips 🍓🍫.

A fantastic day of research, tasting, and inspiration to support their GCSE coursework.

- Report by Ms Ball, Food Tech Department.

A fantastic experience for our students at the Springboard FutureChef Local Finals held at Lewisham College. Although they didn’t take home the win this time, the competition offered invaluable insight into the food industry, professional kitchens, and the high standards expected at the next level.
A great opportunity to learn, reflect, and come back stronger. 👏🏾🔥

- Report by Ms Ball, Food Tech Department.

The Royal Greenwich Music Service has launched its new online booklet detailing their extensive out-of-school music offer. Click on the link to take a look!

If you have any questions regarding these programs, contact their out-of-school team directly at music-centre@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

We are delighted to invite parents to our upcoming school production, Metamorphoses, taking place at St Ursula's on Tuesday 10th February 2026 at 6pm.

Based on a series of Greek myths, Metamorphoses explores themes of love, loss, change, and identity through powerful and often moving stories. The play brings together myth and emotion to show how people are shaped by their experiences, for better or worse.

This production has given students the chance to collaborate creatively and develop their skills both on stage and behind the scenes. Their hard work and dedication have been impressive, and we are very proud of what they have achieved.

We hope you can join us to support our students and enjoy an evening of thoughtful and engaging theatre.

Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children.

- By Ms Walliker, Drama Department.

- Jemima Kelly

Jemima is a former STU student, who is now a published writer for the Financial Times. Read her piece below on 'Wellness Culture,' where she mentions the school and the Serviam motto. She will hopefully be coming into the school this year to talk about her world of journalism and her journey since her time at St Ursula's!

Our Year 7 Book Club got off to a fantastic start with its first online meeting on Monday 26th January, and it’s safe to say the girls really enjoyed it!

The session marked the official launch of the club and gave students the chance to meet other schools taking part in the borough-wide project. There was lots of excitement as students were introduced to our first book, On Silver Tides by Sylvia Bishop, and shared their initial thoughts and predictions.

The girls were enthusiastic, engaged, and eager to get reading. It was wonderful to see such a positive atmosphere and genuine love of reading right from the very first session.

We’re really looking forward to our upcoming meetings, future author Q&As, and continuing to grow our reading community over the year.

- Report by Ms Talon Navarro, Librarian

Last week, pupils took part in a collaborative creative workshop, developing ideas and producing digital zines that combine poetry, visual art and digital design. The project was inspired by the Southbank Centre’s artistic programme and led by practising artist Lu Williams, founder of Grrrl Zine Fair.

Lu, a chronically ill and neurodiverse artist, attended the workshop with Polly, their trained assistance dog.

- Report by Mr Williams, Art Department

Earlier this week, eight students from the school took part in the Greenwich Literature Quiz at Eltham Hill School. We were represented by four students from Year 7 and four students from Year 8, who worked together brilliantly in their teams.

Although we didn't win on this occasion, the afternoon was a fantastic experience. The quiz covered a wide range of literary categories, including classics, fantasy, graphic novels and thrillers, and our students showed great teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm throughout.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting author Anthony McGowan, who spoke to students and signed copies of his books. It was a great opportunity to meet a real author, ask questions and feel inspired by someone working in the world of books.

Most importantly, everyone had fun, enjoyed celebrating their love of reading and represented the school extremely well. We are very proud of them and look forward to future events like this.

Report by Ms Talon Navarro, Librarian.

We are delighted to be writing to you to offer you the opportunity to purchase a Class of

2026 Leavers’ Hoodie for your child.

The hoodies will have a large ‘26’ print on the back, containing the names of all

students in the Year Group, and will also feature an embroidered logo on the front.

Students can pick from a variety of styles and a huge range of different colours. Students also have the opportunity to add their name or nickname on the back of the hoodie.

All of the students have the opportunity to purchase a Leavers Hoody. It is essential

that their orders are placed in plenty of time. There will only be one order; students will not be able to place orders after 22/03/2026. To place an order, please visit the following website:

https://shop.fizz-group.co.uk/

Our School Unique ID is: 26994YR11

You must place an order before 22/03/2026. We cannot stress this deadline enough, as

we do not want anyone to be disappointed!

- Report by Mr Muzio, KS4

A guide for parents and carers on managing children's digital lives.