The Principal's Newsletter

Last updated December 2025

Dear parents and carers,

I’m writing to you at the end of a long and busy term, to share news of recent events and student successes, and also to let you know about what’s coming up, including arrangements for the start of the spring term. 

We have had some splendid events in the lead-up to Christmas, including an evening Christmas Market, Dance Performance and Christmas Music Concert, which were sold out to appreciative audiences. Last Thursday, we had our Global Wonderland event, organised by the student Culture Committee. We have a longstanding tradition at College of each tutor group creating a Christmas hamper for someone in need. This year, tutor groups created hampers for specific charities, for example YES who work with young people at risk of homelessness and Next Chapter, who help survivors of domestic abuse. So last Friday our reception area was filled with about 100 beautifully decorated boxes, and the competition for best dressed hamper was as fierce as ever. 

We have also had the results of our College Council Election – a very close contest – and we extend congratulations to new chairperson, Olivia, vice chair, Dwayne, secretary, Hugo, and treasurer, Kai. Our outgoing College Council Executive have done a fantastic job and we thank them for all their work. 

One notable sporting success this term is that the women’s basketball team won the regional competition and have progressed to the National Finals in Nottingham in April. This is an outstanding achievement, given that it has only happened once previously and the last time was over 20 years ago! 

Another historic win was in the field of public speaking: congratulations to Tom, who won the English Speaking Union’s East of England Sixth Form Public Speaking Competition, having got through two heats, a semi-final and the final, where he was up against competitors from mainly independent schools from the south and east of England. Tom’s speech was on the subject of AI and the law. 

We round off the term with our annual Graduation and Awards evening, held at the University of Essex, where we recognise the achievements of last year’s leavers and marvel once again at the variety and range of places, courses and positions they’ve progressed to. (Current second year students have now submitted their university applications but, although our internal deadlines have passed, it’s not too late. They should talk to their personal tutor or senior tutor if they’ve made a last-minute decision to submit an application.) 

The autumn term ends for students at 12pm on Friday 19th December and the spring term begins on Monday 5th January. 

Please note that there is an altered timetable for all students during the first week of term, to allow second year students to sit full length mock exams. Students should know the details, which they can find in the student bulletin and on Moodle. 

The more students prepare for these mock exams, the more they will get out of them. However, it’s important to achieve a balance and they should certainly aim to have a few days’ break over the holiday period. There are also some public exams in January, and students now have their statements of entry for those exams.  

Once those exams are over, we have more events to look forward to in the new year:  

Following a very successful and adventurous charity trip to Paraguay in July ’25, three of the Paraguayan students from The Santa María Education Fund will be coming to Colchester in January, supported by student fundraising events, including a recent sponsored “Santa Walk”. The visit is a unique opportunity for both the SMEF students and our language students, fostering connections and friendships and hopefully creating memories to last a lifetime. The SMEF students will be coming from their summertime and 40oC heat – I wonder what they will make of the British weather in January! 

Rehearsals for The Addams Family Musical are progressing well. I can hear singing from the drama studio every afternoon in my office and can vouch for the quality! I’m looking forward to seeing Wednesday, Morticia, Gomez and the rest of the cast, as well as hearing them. Tickets will be going on sale early January and will be sure to sell out. Watch out for announcements on College social media channels. The show will take place on 10th- 12th February 2026 with a matinee for schools on 9th February. The Performing Arts department are seeking sponsorship to contribute to the cost of the production, and you can either sponsor the production or place an advertisement in the production programme, using this link: The Addams Family - Programme Adverts and Show Sponsorship – Fill in form 

I wish you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2026. 

With best wishes, 

Jo Cadman