St Bonaventure's
May Edition
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are absolutely delighted to share the "Outstanding" outcome of our recent Catholic Schools Inspectorate inspection. This achievement is a wonderful affirmation of everything that makes our school such a special place and reflects the strength of our Catholic ethos, values and commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our parents and families for your continued trust, encouragement and overwhelming support. Your partnership with the school plays such an important role in the success and happiness of our children, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.
I would also like to thank our dedicated staff, committed governors, local parishes and wider community, all of whom work tirelessly to ensure our school remains a nurturing, faith-filled and inspiring environment. Most importantly, I want to congratulate our wonderful pupils, who were a true credit to the school throughout the inspection process. Their kindness, confidence, enthusiasm and living witness to our Catholic values made us immensely proud.
This inspection was very much a team effort, and this success belongs to our whole school community. The outcome only reinforces what we already know — that our school is a vibrant, caring and faith-centred community where every child is valued and encouraged to flourish.
We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our journey together with faith, ambition and hope.
God bless,
Mr C McCormack
Headteacher
Newham Accountability Assembly
Our Students had the opportunity to participate in the Newham Accountability Assembly at the school. Students played an active role in the assembly, including serving as co-chairs and engaging with the candidates. They confidently presented the concerns and “asks” of different groups, ensuring the voices of those who may feel marginalised were heard.
International Franciscan Conference
Members of our Senior Leadership Team recently attended the International Franciscan Conference in Durham. The event marked the historic 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. During the conference, our team presented "An Educational Approach to Franciscanism: London 2026" to an audience of academics, clergy, and laypeople from the UK, USA, and around Europe.
National Boxing Champion
Huge congratulations to Adam, our Year 7 student, for becoming the National Boxing Champion. He has trained and worked incredibly hard for this moment. We are super proud of Adam, and can't wait to see his medal at school. A monumental well done.
London Cup Final
Well done to our Year 11 football team for finishing as runners-up in the London Cup after narrowly losing a highly competitive match against St Thomas More at the Dagenham & Redbridge FC Stadium. We are incredibly proud of the boys, their journey to the final, and the tremendous progress this team has made over the past five years.
Pond Conservation
Year 12 students took part in pond conservation during an Enrichment session.
They helped clear leaves and also did a bit of pond dipping, taking time to examine and identify various interesting species, including newts.
England's Veterans
Congratulations to Mr Bastian on representing England’s Veterans Over-50s team in a fantastic match against Chapel United Over-45s, proudly represented by Mr Baker. England secured a 1–0 victory, and it’s great to see both pictured together after the game. Well done
Headteacher Award
Reno in Year 7 Wall, is the first boy in this year to receive his Headteacher badge and award for achieving 2500 merits since September. A fantastic achievement.
Co-Hosting Charity Gala
Stanley, a Year 9 student, had the privilege of co-hosting Bennu's first charity gala. He had the opportunity to interview Nina Miranda, a Brazilian singer and songwriter, as well as Calvin Bassey, who plays for Fulham FC.
London Marathon
A massive congratulations to Mr Jamanca on completing the London Marathon in 4:02:32. This achievement is a testament to his hard work, discipline, and dedication over months of training.
Accountability Assembly
Students from our school played a leading role in co-chairing the Newham Mayoral Accountability Assembly, welcoming mayoral candidates from a range of political parties for an evening of discussion, accountability, and community engagement. Our TELCO team confidently presented their key asks to the candidates, ensuring that the voices and concerns of young people were heard clearly and respectfully. Encouragingly, the candidates agreed to support the students’ proposals, demonstrating the real impact that young people can have when they engage positively in civic life.
The students represented the school with maturity, confidence, and professionalism throughout the event. They spoke passionately about the issues affecting their communities and showed a deep commitment to justice and the common good. In doing so, they truly lived out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the call to participation, dignity, and solidarity. Students reflected afterwards on how much they enjoyed representing the school at such an important event and valued the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to local society.
Crowning of Mary
As May is traditionally dedicated to Our Blessed Mother Mary within the Catholic Church, our school community came together to celebrate the Crowning of Mary with prayer and reverence. The service provided students and staff with an opportunity to reflect on Mary’s example of faith, humility, and devotion, and to honour her special place within the life of the Church.
We are very grateful to Fr John Mary Jesus for leading such a thoughtful and prayerful celebration. The atmosphere throughout the service was one of calm reflection and devotion, with students participating respectfully and prayerfully. The crowning itself was a beautiful reminder of Mary’s importance in our faith journey and of the values of compassion, service, and trust in God that she represents.
Reconciliation and Adoration
Our monthly opportunities for Reconciliation and Adoration continue to grow in both attendance and significance within the life of the school. Increasing numbers of students are taking the opportunity to spend time in prayer, reflection, and quiet worship, bringing their personal intentions before God and deepening their faith lives.
It has been particularly encouraging to witness students embracing these moments of stillness and spirituality amidst the busyness of school life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation has allowed many students to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, while Adoration has provided a peaceful space for prayer and reflection. These gatherings continue to strengthen the spiritual life of our school community and demonstrate the growing desire among students to actively nurture their faith.
Migrants’ Mass
Our students were honoured to participate in the annual Migrants’ Mass celebrated at St Antony’s Church. This year’s celebration was especially significant as it marked the 20th anniversary of the Mass, with over 1,000 people gathering together in a joyful celebration of faith, diversity, and community. The Mass focused on recognising and celebrating the immense contribution that migrants make to our society, communities, and Church.
The celebration was led by Bishop Alan and attended by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Richard Moth, making it a truly memorable occasion for all involved. Our students supported the Mass beautifully through the Bons Band and choir, whose music and singing contributed greatly to the prayerful and uplifting atmosphere of the celebration. Their participation reflected the inclusive and welcoming spirit of the event and was a source of pride for the entire school community.
Ascension Mass
We celebrated the Feast of the Ascension with reverence and joy across the school community, taking time to reflect on the significance of Christ’s Ascension and the call to continue His mission through our words and actions. Our Year 12 students joined the parish Mass alongside St Antony’s School, where they supported younger pupils through serving, reading, and helping with the celebration of the liturgy.
Meanwhile, the rest of the school gathered together for their own Mass celebration, which was marked by excellent participation and a strong sense of community prayer. Fr John Armitage particularly commented on the outstanding singing of the boys, praising the enthusiasm and quality of their contribution to the liturgy. Our servers and readers also carried out their ministries magnificently, helping to create a respectful, prayerful, and uplifting celebration for all present.
Prayers to St. Joseph of Cupertino - For Success in Examinations
Through Christ our Lord.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.
Amen.
Contact Us
Email: info@stbons.org
Website: https://www.stbons.org/
Location: Boleyn Rd, London E7 9QD, UK
Phone: 020 8472 3844