St Cedd's School

♟️ Big Ambitions. Brilliant Achievements.

Chess is thriving at St Cedd’s School and our pupils are reaping the rewards.

We are incredibly proud of our recent success at the Brentwood Junior Tournament:

- William (Year 2) secured 3rd place in the U11 Open
- Kabir (Year 2) achieved 3rd place in the U11 Minor
Several pupils made impressive tournament debuts, with a very special mention to Ani in Reception, one of the youngest players in the competition, who played eight full games and proudly took home a medal!

These achievements reflect the strength of our chess provision.

With 8 clubs each week for pupils from Year 1 to Year 6, chess is one of our most popular activities. Sessions run at lunchtime and after school, giving every child the opportunity to take part, develop and enjoy the game.

Our programme is led by Robin Slade, Head of Chess at and Coach and Organiser of Chelmsford Junior Chess Club, bringing exceptional expertise and experience to every session.

Pupils also take part in regular national competitions, competing against schools across the country. In 2026 alone, St Cedd’s teams have already achieved three national wins, with several pupils going on to represent Essex at U9 and U11 level.

Through chess, pupils develop:

- Concentration and problem solving
- Resilience and strategic thinking
- Confidence in both success and challenge

Chess is also part of our EnrichEd curriculum in Year 2, ensuring every child experiences the game as part of a broad and ambitious education.

This is where Big Ambitions meet Brilliant Achievements - and where every child is encouraged to go further.


IAPS, Chelmsford Chess club

Stories brought to life, imaginations sparked and a whole School united by a love of reading. 📚

Earlier this month, we celebrated with a full Book Week, giving our pupils even more opportunities to explore and enjoy books.

Throughout the week, pupils took part in a range of exciting activities. Our Book Swap was a particular highlight - bring a book, take a book - with a huge thank you to everyone who contributed. A fantastic way to recycle stories and discover something new to read.

We also welcomed three inspiring authors into School. Lisa Thompson helped launch the week with Year 4, sharing insights into the writing process and inspiring creativity, while Alice Hemming Author led a whole School assembly and workshops across EYFS and Key Stage 1.

Our third author, Josh Lacey took pupils on a journey back to the Stone Age, bringing stories to life with humour and imagination, alongside illustrations by Garry Parsons.

At St Cedd’s School, nurturing a love of reading is central to developing Big Ambitions, encouraging Bold Adventures and celebrating Brilliant Achievements.

📚Go All In 2026
IAPS

Where confidence begins and curiosity grows.

At St Cedd’s School, our Early Years children benefit from a truly exceptional start - with specialist teaching from the very beginning, nurturing pastoral care and a joyful, purposeful learning environment.

We believe that a happy child learns, and this sits at the heart of everything we do. From first friendships to first discoveries, every child is supported to develop confidence, independence and a genuine love of learning.

It is here that Big Ambitions begin, Bold Adventures unfold and the foundations for Brilliant Achievements are set.

We warmly invite you to discover our Early Years for yourself.
Arrange a private visit or join us at our next Open Morning on 12 May.
https://www.stcedds.co.uk/Admission


IAPS

A proud moment for one of our young writers.

Alya (Year 5) has had her book reviews published in First News newspaper, the leading source of news & news-based learning for children – a fantastic achievement!

After enjoying 'The Boy at the Back of the Class' in lessons, Alya was inspired to read more books by Onjali Rauf and wrote three thoughtful reviews for Young Journalist – our own school pupil-led newspaper. She then took the initiative to submit them to a national publication… and saw her work in print.

At St Cedd’s School, we encourage Big Ambitions and celebrate every step of the journey. Alya’s story is a brilliant example of where curiosity and confidence can lead.

If your child would like to contribute to Young Journalist, we would love to hear from them. Please contact Mrs Picking, our Head of English. Our team of Year 6 Young Journalists are keen to add contributions to this year's edition, which already promises to be filled with scoops, stories and suggestions.


IAPS

Learning that lasts a lifetime🚦

Reception and Year 5 pupils recently took part in Road Safety sessions, putting important lessons into practice beyond the classroom.

Year 5 stepped out into the “busy world” in their high-vis jackets, confidently applying the Green Cross Code - stopping, looking and listening before crossing safely. Pupils, Rifa and Benji shared, “It taught us valuable skills" and “I will now remember the Green Cross Code.”

Our Reception children learned alongside their parents and carers, focusing on staying close to a trusted adult and holding hands near roads - building safe habits from the very start.

At St Cedd’s, Big Ambitions are not just academic. Through Bold Adventures in real-world settings, pupils gain the confidence, awareness and character that lead to Brilliant Achievements in life.

We encourage all families to keep reinforcing “Stop, Look, Listen and Think” at home.


IAPS

Continuing to Learn Ourselves

Technology moves quickly, and it is important that we continue to learn and develop as educators too.

Mrs H McKechnie, Head of ICT, and Mr Prior visited the BETT Conference recently to explore new and exciting developments in educational technology.

They discovered innovative additions to the LEGO range, including Computer Science and AI learning resources, and discovered some engaging robots for use in Upper School. They also heard inspiring speakers discuss how AI can be introduced safely, even to younger children.

They returned with plenty of ideas to help ensure our Computing curriculum remains current, engaging and comprehensive.

IAPS

Exploring rivers and refining map skills - Geography in action!🌍

Year 4 have been diving into the world of rivers this term 🌊
From source to mouth, they worked collaboratively to build and label their own river system models, confidently identifying tributaries and the upper, middle and lower courses. Their use of new geographical vocabulary was impressive - and remembered with real pride.

Meanwhile, Year 5 took their learning outdoors, developing map skills across our School grounds🗺️
Using six-figure grid references to solve riddles, they showed determination, teamwork and brilliant problem-solving.

This is what a looks like - Big Ambitions in the classroom, Bold Adventures beyond it and Brilliant Achievements every step of the way.


IAPS

At St Cedd’s School, Brilliant Achievements are the natural result of Big Ambitions and Bold Adventures.

Each year, approximately 40% of our pupils move on to grammar schools, with a similar proportion securing places at leading senior independent schools. Destinations vary year on year - but our focus remains constant.

We are proud to be recognised as one of the leading primary schools locally for grammar school success, alongside a strong record of scholarships to senior schools.

As a standalone preparatory school, our priority is simple - the right next step for every child.

Academic excellence. Character. Confidence.

Join us at our Open Morning on Thursday 12 March and discover how we prepare children not just for exams, but for life beyond St Cedd’s. Book your place here: https://ow.ly/swSx50YhbJh

Big Ambitions. Bold Adventures. Brilliant Achievements.



IAPS

Smart Tech, Safe Choices

As part of Safer Internet Day recently, our pupils spent time exploring the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

The focus began with an assembly led by our Digital Leaders, followed by Year 5 delivering a thoughtful session encouraging pupils to consider how AI can be used safely, responsibly and with care.

With this taking place during Children’s Mental Health Week, children also reflected on the wider impact of technology on wellbeing, particularly as AI tools become an increasing part of everyday life.

Online Safety is embedded within our computing curriculum, coordinated by Mrs McKechnie, our Head of ICT. Dedicated opportunities such as this allow pupils to pause, ask questions and think carefully about the choices they make online.

We also shared practical guidance and helpful resources with parents, including links from Internet Matters on AI, parental controls and privacy settings. Strong partnerships between school and home are essential in helping children navigate the digital world with confidence and good judgement.

IAPS

Top 10% Nationally - A Brilliant Achievement for St Cedd’s School.

We are delighted to share some wonderful news with our community.

Last term, St Cedd’s School took part in the inaugural IAPS Pupil Experience Survey - a national benchmarking exercise for leading prep schools across the country. As proud members of IAPS, participation in this survey reflects our commitment to excellence and continual reflection.

Following the return of the results, our pupils placed St Cedd’s School in the top 10% nationally for:

• Teaching and learning
• Pupil engagement
• A thriving School environment

These outcomes are particularly meaningful because they reflect the lived experience of our children. They tell us that our pupils feel safe, supported, listened to and heard.

When children are happy and secure, they thrive. They take risks in their learning. They grow in confidence. They achieve their personal best.

Our certificate now sits proudly in the Front Office - a reminder of the care, professionalism and commitment shown every day by our staff and embraced by our pupils.

‘Hold Fast That Which is Good’ - and we certainly will.

During Parliament Week recently, our Year 6 Young Journalists put their curiosity into action by sending a series of thoughtful questions to Marie Goldman MP - Chelmsford

They were delighted when she responded with a video answering their questions - and the adventure did not stop there.

We asked whether our School teddy bear, Ceddric, might shadow her for a day at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Marie kindly agreed, and even visited us to tell us about Ceddric's BIG day!

From travelling by train with his morning coffee, to helping in Marie’s office with correspondence from Chelmsford constituents, to watching an exciting debate featuring David Lammy and Rachel Reeves in the House of Commons - Ceddric saw democracy in action.

He even met doorkeepers and police officers on duty, before admiring the view of the London Eye from the terrace.

Following Ceddric’s adventures has been a wonderful way to inspire our pupils to take an interest in how our country is run and to understand the important role of an MP.

Big Ambitions begin with asking bold questions.
Bold Adventures lead to deeper understanding.
Brilliant Achievements start with curiosity.

Thank you to Mrs Picking, our Head of English, for leading this inspiring initiative.


IAPS