Anglo European School

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 experience 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 visitor 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 Gee

Headteacher

This week we bid farewell to our International Secretary, Claire Penn, who has been with us for 25 years! She joined the Anglo Family in 2001 as a Midday Supervisor and has been a member of the International Office since 2007. We calculate that well over 10,000 students have been on a visit that has been organised by Claire! She has booked thousands of flights, coaches, cabs and trains to move thousands of children and staff all over the world and has built great relationships with all our partner schools. She was the first member of the Professional Support Staff to be a party leader on one of our recent visits to Girona.

A few years back, we had no hesitation in awarding her with the senior leader Jack Petchey Award for playing such a huge part in changing children's live through the impressive international programme of visits and exchanges. Claire’s role has been absolutely critical to the success and growth of the international programme. Her attention to detail and organisational skills, her tact and diplomacy, and her loyalty and admiration are reflected in all these achievements and the impact they have had on succeeding generations of children.

Claire has also been a Staff Governor for many years and we are thrilled that the governing body has decided to co-opt her, so that she continue in her role as governor following her retirement, so we will still be seeing her and her long-standing association and loyalty to this school will continue. Enjoy your retirement Claire!

We are pleased to announce that the recent Parent Governor election has now concluded, and our 2 new parent governors are Marli Bunting and Miles Tudor.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all parents and carers who took the time to participate in the voting process. We are also especially grateful to all the candidates who put themselves forward for election. Standing as a Parent Governor requires commitment and a genuine desire to support the school, and we thank each of you for your willingness to contribute.

Congratulations to our newly elected Parent Governors, Marli and Miles, we look forward to working with you.

We invited Steve Wills, the Ingatestone Station Manager to join Mrs Gee, Mr Seager and Maite and Oscar from our Head Student Team, for 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 alike, who have all been grateful 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 ease, 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."

Lent, or Quadragesima, began on the 18th February and will last until the 2nd April. It is one of the most significant seasons for Christians, mirroring the 40 days spent by Jesus in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. It is a season of preparation and anticipation for Easter, which forms the basis of salvation in Christian doctrine.

During this period, observant Christians will strengthen their relationship with God and others through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as well as repentance, voluntary self-denial, spiritual reading, and sanctification.

Let us not forget to wish a Happy Easter in advance to all our Christian students, staff and friends!

On 11th March each year, Lithuania celebrates the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania and this year that day was chosen for the UK book launch of Stratera, a Young Adult novel by ex-Anglo student Adrijus Kveda at the Lithuanian Embassy in London. Adrijus graduated from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in 2023 and was working on his novel whilst studying in our Sixth Form, citing Ms Mellor's lessons as having had a big influence on the psychology featured in the novel. Ms Mellor was invited to the launch to give a presentation about the psychology of Dystopia and Totalitarian Regimes as a key focal point of the launch.

Our IB Curriculum Manager, Mrs Porsz, who also attended the launch said "it is always wonderful when we hear from our alumni after they graduate from our International Sixth Form, but this is the first published author I have taught, and it is all the more impressive as he is just 19 years old. I remember Adrijus talking about his novel whilst he was studying at Anglo, and he reflected regularly on the writing and editing process as part of his CAS portfolio. It has made me so proud to see it come to fruition and to be able to hold it in my hands. I have started reading the Young Adult novel and it is a gripping and thought-provoking read. The first draft was written when Adrijus was just 13 years old, and he has been editing it. The topics and themes have become even more timely in recent months. I am so proud of Adrijus and all he has achieved at such a young age. Ms Mellor's presentation was the icing on the cake as she was able to bring key ideas to life in an engaging and insightful manner, and it was a privilege to see her in action and to be given an insight into how her lessons inspire her pupils."

Stratera, by Adrijus Kveda is available to purchase now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1962834662

We would like to congratulate Franklin on his exceptional performance at Circles Farm where he recently completed his BTEC in carpentry and was awarded the Jack Petchey Award, nominated by his mentors there for his outstanding, positive contribution. Franklin has been able to donate the awarded £300 to equipment for this educational setting. He has donated this to the construction team and he will be recognised in a celebratory ceremony later this year.

Franklin is a student who has worked hard to improve his educational performance this year. His academic reports and attendance have been outstanding and when Mrs Gee met with him this week to congratulate him on his achievements, he spoke to her about the influence this career related learning had had on his motivation and focus. He hopes to progress to certification in plumbing and brick laying now and we cannot begin to express the pride we have in seeing him achieve such success. Well done Franklin!

This week, our school had the pleasure of hosting 30 students and staff from Chuo University School in Tokyo. During their stay, the visiting students took part in intensive English lessons as well as fully immersing themselves in school life here by joining our students in a range of our classes, including Art, Drama, Computing, and Music.

They also spent plenty of time with our students who are currently studying Japanese, providing them with a fantastic opportunity for meaningful cultural exchange, language practice, and the building of new friendships. It was wonderful to see students connecting so naturally and learning from one another.

The week concluded with a farewell celebration, where students and staff came together to reflect on their experiences and celebrate the friendships they had formed. We hope our visitors enjoyed their stay as much as we enjoyed hosting them, and we look forward to continuing this special partnership in the future.

Feel free to read the latest Library Newsletter.

The Lower Sixth students recently visited the UCAS Fair at the Excel Centre, London. The event hosted hundreds of university and apprenticeship providers, giving students the opportunity to start their research and be inspired by the many opportunities they have. The Sixth Form team look forward to supporting students to begin their applications in the coming months.

Anglo European School has qualified for an SSAT Educational Outcomes award for being in the top 10% of non-selective schools nationally for student attainment in the 2025 end of KS4 exams.

Each year on publication of the verified exam data, SSAT produces their Educational Outcomes database, a unique performance analysis tool, combining official DfE and Ofsted sources into one database to show and compare performance and contextual data using around 40 different metrics for every state-funded school in the country. We are thrilled to have secured this award from SSAT.

Year 11 students enjoyed their recent visit to Chelmsford Theatre to watch Flabbergast Theatre's

live performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth. They experienced a very engaging portrayal of Macbeth, with the group utilising music and dance to portray many of the key moments and themes of the play.

Polo Shirts:

After Easter, students will be permitted to wear the Anglo Summer polo neck shirts. These can be ordered from Price and Buckland: https://price-buckland.co.uk/anglo-european-school-ingatestone. Students will be expected to continue wearing their blazers.

Fake Nails/Eye Lashes:

Can we also remind you that if your child uses the holiday as an opportunity to get fake nails or eyelashes added, can you make sure they book an appointment at the end of the holiday to have them removed please.

Check out our Summer Programme of Extra-Curricular Activities. What are you going to turn your hand to this term?

Year 11 and Upper Sixth students: As exams approach, students are strongly encouraged to attend scheduled revision classes. Make the most of the support available and give yourself the best chance to succeed. https://www.aesessex.co.uk/assets/Documents/Attachments/Extra-Curricular-Programme-Summer-term-2026-.pdf

We are delighted to launch our new Parents’ Lottery – an exciting opportunity for our school community to get involved and make a real difference.

By taking part, you will be in with a chance to win fantastic prizes of up to £25,000! At the same time, you will be directly supporting the school, as funds raised through the lottery will go towards enhancing resources and opportunities for our children. It is a simple way to contribute while also enjoying the chance of winning big.

We encourage all parents and carers to take part and support this new initiative. Every ticket purchased helps make a positive impact on our school community. Click the image below to sign up TODAY!

This May, we are planning to run a Grand Prize Draw and we are currently seeking donations of high-value prizes.

If you, or someone you know, would be willing to donate a fantastic prize, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at aesa@aesessex.co.uk.

Thank you for your continued support - every contribution helps make a difference!

To find out more about 2026 Fundraising Events please visit our AESA Events page.

https://www.aesessex.co.uk/home/parents/anglo-european-school-association-aesa/aesa-events/

We are delighted to be able to offer tickets for Adventure Island at a reduced price again this year. These are ideal for anyone hosting an exchange student or just to celebrate the end of a busy term! Tickets are priced at £18 each - check out the website for more information on this popular theme park https://adventureisland.co.uk If you would like to purchase tickets please WhatsApp or message 07833 248014 - NO calls please.

Do you shop online? If yes, please support the AESA through GIVE AS YOU LIVE

This is a simple and secure way to give cash back to the school every time you shop online. When you sign up and shop at your favourite stores, the AESA receives a commission from every purchase you make and it won’t cost you a penny.

The Lower Sixth took on the Upper Sixth in the Tom Smith Cup on Tuesday. The annual football match is played in memory of former student Tom Smith, who sadly passed away in 2015 after a battle with cancer and helps raise money for Sarcoma UK. There were over 100 spectators and 30 players who helped raise £150.61.

It was a tight affair with the Upper Sixth carving out the best opportunities but failed to find the back of the net. The Lower Sixth rotated their team well throughout the game to stay in the contest and had a few chances themselves. After 60 minutes without a goal, the game went to penalties and despite being big underdogs, the L6th came out on top 4-3. Thank you to everyone who took part in the event and contributed towards the charity.

Thank you to Lower Sixth student, Damilola for video coverage.

In an extremely close match, Year 9 student, Ruben was declared the Interform Table Tennis Champion! Well done to everyone who played.

Anglo's Year 9 boys' football team won 6-1 in the league. This concludes a very good campaign with 5 wins out of 6. Anglo's goals were scored by Alex (2), Finlay, Ryan, George and Seb. Zac was outstanding in goal throughout. Well done boys!

The Year 7 girls' footbal team ended the half term with a well deserved 1-1 draw! It was a well fought game with an excellent goal from Zoe and a fantastic save to keep the game as a draw by Mercedes. Miss Whitlock's player of the match was Alejandra for excellent defending throughout!

The Year 9 girls’ football team drew 3-3 tonight. It was great to see them play and there was lots of advanced skills on view! Brilliant goals from Talia, Priyana and Lily and some fab saves from Maya and Grace in goal.

Book now to reserve your space Holiday Camp - Booking Form - PSG Academy UK

Dr Tom Rance, a paediatrician (children's doctor) researching children's broken bones at the University of Cambridge, has asked if we could circulate the following survey to help to understand what the general public want to learn about children's fractures. This is a great opportunity for all families to have their views heard about children's injuries.

https://tinyurl.com/FracturePSP

For your reassurance, they have stated that all contact details will be kept confidential and secure, in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They will not publish any details, and they will not be linked to the responses on the survey. For more information about the project here is a link: https://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk/childhood-limb-fractures-psp-protocol

Information on how you can support the school can be found here:

https://www.aesessex.co.uk/home/about-us/support-the-school/

If you would like to make a one-off donation please use the QR code.

13th-24th April - Year 10 PPEs

14th -21st April - Year 9 Girona exchange @AES

Thursday 16th April - Year 9 Royal Shakespeare Company visit, Ormiston, Sudbury

Monday 20th April @7pm - Year 11 and Sixth Form Awards Evening

20th -27th April - Year 8/9 Saronno exchange @AES

Thursday 23rd April - Year 7x parents' evening (virtual)

Friday 24th April - Upper Sixth IB students' last day

Thursday 30th April - Year 7y parents' evening (virtual)

Wednesday 6th May - Year 11 last day

Friday 8th May - Upper Sixth students' last day

Monday 23rd March - Year 9 Boys' Football @Sandon

Wednesday 25th March - Year 8 Boys' Football v BCHS @AES / Year 7 Girls' Football @Ormiston Rivers

Thursday 26th March - Year 9/10 Girls' Football @ Boswells / Year 9 Rugby V Ormiston @AES / Year 7 Basketball V Boswells @AES

Please note fixtures are organised by all schools so can be subject to change and last minute cancellations - the PE staff will keep those involved in fixtures up to date with information.

Term Dates 2025-2027 -https://www.aesessex.co.uk/assets/Term-Dates-2025-2027.pdf

You can now view the full catering menu and the range of food options available around the school by following the link below.

Finance - finance@aesessex.co.uk

Admissions - admissions@aesessex.co.uk

Visits - visits@aesessex.co.uk

Attendance - report this through the Arbor using the orange tab "Quick Actions", click on Attendance and Log Absence

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