We are excited to share the start of a wonderful new project taking shape on our school grounds. After attending a Youth Citizen Assembly, a dedicated group of Year 10 pupils worked hard to prepare a bid for a community micro-grant. Their efforts were rewarded, and we are grateful to Malvern Hills District Council for supporting our vision.
Work on the garden is now underway and the area has been marked out and the first stages of digging are about to begin. This space has been designed with a clear purpose to support local wildlife. We want to encourage stronger pollinator activity in conjunction with a splace that enhances wellbeing for our students.
The garden will include herbs, fruit trees, seasonal flowers and a small vegetable-growing area. Meadow-flower seeds will also be sown to boost colour and attract pollinators throughout the year.
A bench will be constructed in the garden to create a calm outdoor space where students can sit, reflect and take a moment to unwind.
The garden sits outside the MSJ Sports Centre, making it visible to those passing by and to everyone using the sports complex. We hope it will become a vibrant and uplifting feature of our site.
Our pupils are working closely with the MSJ Estates team, and we will soon be inviting volunteers from the wider school community to help build and shape the space. With the growing season beginning, we are excited to see this project flourish.
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/P1429411.JPG600800Matthew Ponterhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngMatthew Ponter2026-03-30 12:52:192026-03-30 12:52:19MSJ New Pollination and Holistic-Health Garden Begins
Our Academic Scholars from Year 7 through to Year 13 were fortunate to attend a lecture delivered by Professor Andrew Pettegree as part of the MSJ Hayes Seminar series. Professor Pettegree, a highly respected historian and Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews, specialises in the European Reformation, the history of the book, and the evolution of media.
The lecture, focused on Books in Wartime, offered pupils a valuable insight into the complex challenges faced by publishers during periods of conflict. Professor Pettegree brought with him original publications produced during wartime, allowing pupils the rare opportunity to handle and examine historical texts first-hand. This tangible connection to the past brought the topic to life in a way that resonated strongly with the audience.
“I enjoyed learning about that period of history and looking at the original books that were passed around.” — Year 8 pupil
“It was a topic that I hadn’t thought much about before that I found was really interesting.” — Year 11 pupil
Among the highlights of the talk were Professor Pettegree’s explanations of how photographs were carefully staged for propaganda purposes, how some publishers surprisingly benefitted from their premises being bombed (as insurance payouts enabled them to continue trading), and the dramatic impact of paper shortages on newspaper length. Pupils were also intrigued to learn that, due to rationing, newspapers could not legally be used to light fires.
“We learned how resource scarcity, political censorship and military interests affected bookstores and the general public’s demand. We were able to examine books and pamphlets issued to soldiers during the war. Something I found particularly inspiring was how books served as a source of hope for many people during the war. For example, prisoners of war in Allied countries were given books to keep themselves occupied, whether for studying or leisure, and in the Netherlands, those in hiding were provided with books, as recorded in Anne Frank’s diary, which became like a light for them.
Listening to this talk was deeply thought provoking, and made me consider how more recent conflicts may impact communication and literature in the modern day, especially with books increasingly becoming digitalised.” Year 13 Academic Prefect
The session offered an exceptional opportunity for our scholars to deepen their academic curiosity and engage directly with an expert actively shaping historical research. Experiences like this not only enrich pupils’ understanding beyond the classroom but also inspire them to think critically about how history is recorded and interpreted.
We are grateful to Professor Pettegree for sharing his expertise and for providing such a stimulating and memorable learning experience.
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/P1335954-scaled.jpg21602880Matthew Ponterhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngMatthew Ponter2026-03-09 08:38:172026-03-09 08:38:17Hayes Seminar Summary: Professor Andrew Pettegree
Malvern St James School (MSJ) is proud to announce an exceptional milestone in its academic journey; the school is now ranked in the top 1% of schools across the United Kingdom following public examination results in August 2025, in recognition of our exceptional value-added statistics.
MSJ is immensely proud of the dedication and support provided by its teaching staff, who have made this achievement possible.
Mrs Frances King, Interim Head, stated:
“We are extremely proud of all our teaching staff, for their hard work and dedication to the school, and of our students, for their superb work ethic.
“I always tell my students to work hard, play hard, and look after each other, which is something that we incorporate into everyday life at MSJ to prepare our students for the big wide world out there.
“We are a values-driven community in every sense.”
What Does “Value Added” Mean?
The concept of value added is a crucial measure in education. It measures the progress of each student vs their predicted grades and internal examination results. In practice, it evaluates how much a school enhances a student’s performance beyond what might have been expected based on prior attainment.
A value added score of 0 indicates that students performed exactly as predicted
A score above 0 shows that students exceeded expectations
MSJ achieved a score of 1.2, meaning that, on average, every student at MSJ performed more than a full grade higher than anticipated across all subjects
This achievement reflects MSJ’s ability to nurture talent, inspire confidence, and unlock a student’s full potential.
One Of The Best In The Country
MSJ’s value added level secures the school’s place in the top percentile nationwide, highlighting its unique blend of academic rigour with personalised teaching and supporting environments.
The recognition showcases MSJ’s reputation for excellence, not only in examination results but also in fostering resilience, creativity and ambition amongst all students.
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Malvern-St-James-247-scaled.jpg19212880contact@dannhanks.comhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngcontact@dannhanks.com2025-11-25 10:34:352026-02-25 11:38:18Malvern St James Celebrates Outstanding Academic Achievement
WildHearts Global Youth Summit 2025, at BNP Paribas, London: 11 November 2025
A group of Year 9 students, accompanied by Dr Jones (Head of Library & Enrichment) and Mr Fisher (Head of History & Politics) recently attended the WildHearts Global Youth Summit hosted at BNP Paribas in London, an inspiring event that brought sustainability to life through real-world business perspectives. WildHearts is an organization that collaborates with businesses to showcase the impact of sustainability initiatives.
It was a day of practical learning guided by mentors from leading companies who have incorporated sustainability into their business practices.
The summit welcomed six schools, creating a lively environment as students shared ideas, and l engaged with professionals who involved in shaping the future of sustainability in business. Professionals from Clyde & Co, Linklaters, and BNP Paribas joined us to share their expertise and insights. Our group worked closely with Oliver, a member of Clyde & Co’s sustainability team, who explained how legal firms are embedding eco-friendly practices into their operations.
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The day began with an interactive workshop led by Linklaters, where students explored how businesses can introduce sustainability into their operations. They considered both the benefits and barriers to change and then worked in teams to create a one-minute pitch to a CEO advocating for sustainability. This was an excellent exercise in persuasive communication and strategic thinking.
After a moment of reflection for Remembrance, the second workshop, led by BNP Paribas, focused on sustainable finance. Students learned about sustainable bonds and sustainability-linked loans, weighing the pros and cons of different financial options. To make the experience realistic, they introduced an element of risk by rolling dice to simulate market changes and global events, just like real-world decision-making.
At lunchtime we had the chance to look at the newly installed hydroponic salad leaf growing system the result of a partnership with Square Mile Farms. The produce will be used for the onside hospitality, shared with employees and within the local community.
In the afternoon, the third workshop with Clyde & Co tackled climate justice based on the real-life case of Cannavacciuolo vs. The Government. Students stepped into the roles of lawyers, government officials, and advocates, debating and judging the case while considering diverse perspectives and evidence.
The day concluded with an Insight to Industry careers carousel, where students met and talked with professionals from BNP Paribas. This gave them a glimpse into the wide range of career paths linked to sustainability in law, finance.
This event offered students a fresh perspective on climate change and sustainability—not just as environmental issues, but as challenges and opportunities that businesses, legal systems, and financial institutions are actively addressing. It was an inspiring day that connected classroom learning to real-world impact.
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Picture5-2.jpg10801033contact@dannhanks.comhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngcontact@dannhanks.com2025-11-14 15:45:342026-02-08 17:58:06MSJ Students attend WildHearts Global Youth Summit
We were thrilled to welcome widely published and multi slam winning poet Holly Winter-Hughes to MSJ in celebration of National Poetry Day.
Holly is a poet, researcher and therapeutic writing facilitator. Her work has been commissioned by organisations including Apples & Snakes and Arvon and she has performed widely across the UK at festivals and on BBC platforms. Her latest poetry collection, How to Leave a Body, was published in May 2025 and explores themes of embodiment, narrative, and transformation.
In a memorable school assembly, Holly shared her personal journey into poetry—how she discovered writing as a way to voice emotions, explore identity, and give shape to what we sometimes carry inside. She spoke with honesty about how poetry became a channel for healing and expression before she shared some of her work on stage.
Year 7 with Holly Winter-Hughes
Workshops with Years 5–9
After the assembly, Holly led creative writing workshops for Years 5 & 6, Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9. She offered thought-provoking prompts encouraging pupils to connect their emotions aand selves with the landscape and animals. Her style of facilitation encouraged all students to look inside, trust their voices, and experiment with new ideas. She definitely inspired student to unlocking and discover stories they didn’t know they had.
Her visit reminded us of that the power of poetry has to uncover, heal, and connect —and that every student can discover their voice.
Year 9 sharing their poetry
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Picture1.png7181203contact@dannhanks.comhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngcontact@dannhanks.com2025-10-08 17:26:152025-10-08 17:26:17Celebrating National Poetry Day with Holly Winter-Hughes
Dr Gareth Lloyd, Head of MSJ, comments, “We are delighted for our Year 11 pupils today as they celebrate their GCSE results; those who have achieved a string of top tier grade 9s, those who have far exceeded their personal expectations, and those who have achieved outstanding results in individual subjects.”
As a non-selective school, we are particularly delighted that over a third of grades are at the top 9 and 8 with an increase in grade 9 from 2024, while 50% are at grades 9-7 and 75% are at grades 9-6 (A-B equivalent). Participants in our new 1-year GCSE/3-year A Level programme were amongst the recipients of the highest grades. Once again, we have a 100% pass rate in all subjects and pupils averaged a grade 7. The January 2025 ISI inspection recognised that across the school teaching is consistently effective and that pupils know the steps to take to make good progress. The range of subjects in which these pupils have achieved so well shows the breadth of ability and interests amongst the cohort; grades 9-7 (A and A equivalent) in French 100%, Music 86%, Religious Studies 80%, Art 70%, Physical Education and Further Mathematics 67% and Chemistry 63% were particularly impressive.
While academic achievement remains important, success at MSJ is defined by much more than exam results. A standout feature of those who performed exceptionally well in this year’s GCSEs — reflecting a similar trend in last week’s A Level results — is their full engagement in all areas of school life. These pupils embraced opportunities beyond the classroom, demonstrating that a healthy balance between academic focus and broader involvement is key to both fulfilment and long-term success.
A growing body of research continues to affirm that strong, supportive relationships are key to long-term physical health, mental wellbeing and personal fulfilment. At MSJ, the dedication of our staff and the strength of our teacher-parent partnerships have played a vital role in helping pupils navigate the challenges of their secondary education with increasing resilience and success.
At the heart of our approach is the belief that happiness, security, and clear boundaries foster an environment where learners feel confident to challenge themselves and go the extra mile. This cohort will continue to benefit from the academic rigour and creative practice in the classroom in the MSJ Sixth Form whilst also gaining the MSJ Sixth Form Diploma in Global Competencies which provides students with tangible evidence of their transferable soft skills – qualities increasingly valued in higher education and the modern workplace.
Dr Lloyd concluded “I would like to extend my congratulations to all our Year 11 pupils and look forward to an exciting new chapter with existing and new pupils from the local area and further afield in MSJ Sixth Form next month.”
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Micro-Tyco is a entrepreneurship competition which challenges young people develop innovative solutions whilst also addressing social and environmental issues. Finalists are then able to work in collaboration with the corporate partners, to build and amplify the idea.
A team of four Year 9s travelled down to London on Wednesday 7th May to take part the Micro-Tyco final that was held at the BNP Parabis head office.
Stephanie:
On Wednesday 7th May, we went to the Wildhearts Micro-Tyco finals in London to pitch our idea called Fruitea. In order to get to the finals we had to produce an innovative idea that aligned with the UN sustainable goals, or SGDs, that was relevant to our school or local community. We had to submit a draft, respond to the feedback and then re-submit it to see if we could get through to the final – and we did! The whole finals day was full of surprises and amazing opportunities. Everyone really liked the day, and we appreciated the opportunity greatly. We learnt a lot about a variety of careers in business and improved some valuable skills such as listening, public speaking, pitching and confidence. It was brilliant and we are extremely happy with coming in third.
Carena:
We presented the idea we created; Fruitea, a sustainable fruit tea brand that turns leftover fruit parts (like peels ) into eco-friendly tea blends. Our plan was to sell Fruitea Kits that include reusable tea bags, biodegradable packaging, simple recipes, and infusers, so people can make their own teas at home while reducing food waste, along with developing our sustainable Fruitea blends made from local ingredients or food that would otherwise go to waste.
We wanted to help the environment by cutting down food and plastic waste. Instead of throwing out fruit leftovers, we found a creative way to reuse them. Fruitea is our way of encouraging people to enjoy tasty drinks while helping the planet.
We created a sample of teas that we had developed in school using food that was used in the school kitchens, for example apple peel saved from the crumble that had been made. We then dried it in the Food Tech ovens and combined the ingredients to create 3 flavours. Orange, lemon and apple was our favourite!
Michelle:
We went to the Wild Hearts Micro-Tyco Finals and had a truly amazing day. There were 7 teams there, and we watched all of their pitches. Each team had a different idea, and they were all interesting and varied in topic.
After the pitches, we had lunch and then took part in a career’s carousel, where mentors including ours spoke to us about their jobs and what path they took. It was helpful to learn about different career paths and inspired us to think about what we could pursue in the future.
At the end of the day, there was an awards ceremony. We were extremely delighted to come 3rd place and be awarded a magnificent trophy amongst stiff competition. We really enjoyed being part of the event!
Emily:
During the time through the competition our team was supported by a mentor who helped us with our time management, planning and confidence. Throughout the day we were encouraged and assisted in developing and performing our pitch. In the afternoon, following on from presenting our pitch and whilst we were waiting for the judges, there was a careers carousel. This gave us the opportunity to talk more in-depth with all of the mentors. We found out about their careers, along with how their decisions on their GCSEs and A levels, have helped and aided them in their current jobs, as well as hearing about the skills they have transferred from their subjects to their work. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience to have a mentor and his knowledge really benefitted us and helped us shape our final pitch.
https://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Image-61.jpg7681024contact@dannhanks.comhttps://www.malvernstjames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Malvern-St-James-1-1024x341.pngcontact@dannhanks.com2025-05-12 12:35:362026-02-08 18:33:26MSJ at Wildhearts Micro-Tyco, London Finals
On Friday 17 January, Year 8 walked from school to Malvern Theatres. We were going to watch Bram Stoker’s Dracula and although most of us have walked the route to the theatre before in daylight, the evening darkness, chill in the air and the prospect of a gothic thriller made the walk that evening a little bit more eerie.
The play was set in 1897 and stretched from London to Transylvania. The stage set was unusual, consisting of wooden frames, and crates that the actors creatively moved around to design new scenes.
The cast was small with only six actors playing multiple roles. They swapped from one character to another through the change of costume, voice, and excellent storytelling, leading to powerful performances. The characters through mime showed true emotions, and we were captivated. The play took us through the heartbreak of some to the coming together of others. Dracula was constantly plotting to take another’s soul. Whilst the doctors were trying to solve the puzzle. The performance was broken up with powerful chants and a couple of spooky songs.
The play was a thoroughly modern production and a frightfully fitting end to our Gothic Literature module.
By Sophie Clarke – Year 8
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MSJ is celebrating outstanding GCSE results, with 80% of grades being 9-6 (A*-B equivalent). This compares to 32.3% for Worcestershire, and 35.7% for the whole of England – an incredible achievement which emphasises yet again the academic excellence offered by an all-girls’ school.
Dr Gareth Lloyd, Head of MSJ, comments, “We are delighted for our Year 11s today as they celebrate an excellent set of GCSE results. They have worked exceptionally hard and can be very proud of their effort.”
Across the full range of GCSE options, girls have gained very strong results, with notable results in Geography (92% at grades 9-7), French at 88% 9-7 and Spanish at 64% 9-7. In Music, Further Mathematics and Art, grades 9-6 were achieved in 75%, 87% and 95% of entries respectively. The most popular subjects included Biology, where 65% achieved grades 9-7; Chemistry and Physics, where 60% achieved 9-7 in both subjects; Food Prep and Nutrition, where 78% achieved 9-7; and Art & Design, where 62% achieved 9-7.
Dr Lloyd continued, “These girls have really pulled together and kept each other motivated and inspired, especially when the going got tough. Only today, they are celebrating each other’s results, from those who achieved straight 9s to those who exceeded their expectations as a result of hard work and targeted support from their teachers.”
“Of course, life is about more than grades and a notable fact about those who have achieved best in their GCSEs (and a similar pattern was seen at A Level last week) is that they were the pupils who launched themselves into all aspects of life at MSJ. They got involved with music, drama, sport, leadership, academic ambassadorship and mentoring younger girls. Creating this roundedness and work-life balance is the key to fulfilment and success. Happiness goes a long way to creating learners who are prepared to challenge themselves and go the extra mile.”
“The range of subjects in which they have achieved so well shows the breadth of ability and interests amongst the cohort, in addition to the consistent quality of teaching across all subjects. I am particularly pleased that we have had very good results for Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Drama, Design Technology, and Food and Nutrition, all of which are subjects becoming less widely offered across schools. Success today ensures that the girls can go on to study the A Levels of their choice.”
“I am particularly looking forward to this group of girls being the first to experience our new MSJ Sixth Form Diploma in Global Competencies, as well as lead on our recent membership of the prestigious global Round Square family of schools. Round Square brings together all-girls, all-boys’ and co-educational schools from around the world – from Australia to India to the US and many more – to collaborate on academic and extra-curricular topics, as well as socials and exchanges, to broaden learning perspectives.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to all Year 11 students in Malvern and across the country for whom the nail-biting wait is over, and also to parents who have supported and encouraged along the way.”
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The Oxford Open Day on Thursday 28th June 2024 is a really fantastic opportunity for pupils who are interested in finding out more about the courses on offer, the style of tuition and the application process. All of the Colleges and, particularly, all of the academic departments are open to prospective students. A group of Year 12 and Year 10 pupils made the most of the day to find out more about life as a student at Oxford.
To get the most out of the visit, pupils chose the sessions they wanted to attend, joined subject talks, met current students, lecturers and tutors, and visited labs, lecture theatres and seminar rooms. They also had the opportunity to visit the Colleges, go on tours and have a chat with the students who currently live at the College.
“It is a truly inspirational environment that advocates academic enrichment. It was great to be surrounded by people of equal ambition that all had a love for the same field, in my case Engineering. I loved seeing all the architecture and the colleges were not at all shy of beautiful.” Year 12
“Our trip to The University of Oxford was extremely enjoyable . I got to speak to current students and also tutors who were able to provide better insight into courses, student life and the university experience as a whole, than what I could get from the internet. From the students, I got motivation and inspiration and from the tutors, the confidence I need to choose the course that’s right for me.” Year 12
“I listened to a law talk and spoke to a student who reads PPE which was very informative. All of the colleges were beautiful to look around.” Year 10
“I really enjoyed looking around the colleges and the course talks were really inspiring.” Year 10
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