On my first day of Upper Sixth, I was thrilled to receive a surprise which reminded me how far I had come since first walking through the doors of St Helen and St Katharine at the age 9 – the email I had written many years earlier during my first week in the Junior Department.
This email took me right back to the time when I first joined the School all those years ago and made me reflect on how much St Helen’s has helped me to grow, but also to recognise how seen, supported and nurtured we are from day one. Being part of the Junior Department set the tone for life here at SHSK and prepared me for Year 7, giving me the confidence to begin with eagerness, make the most of the opportunities available and fully integrate into the school community.
To me, what makes this community so special and inclusive is the relationships formed between peers and teachers. Through sport, music, drama, art, and other whole-school activities, I met older students who inspired and mentored me. They offered a glimpse into future opportunities and the kind of person the School helps shape you into – someone who embodies its attitudes and values – and provided guidance in navigating school life. Inter-year relationships were particularly important in boosting my sense of belonging; to me, it was the reassurance I needed that I was accepted within the wider school community. My excitement has always been reflected in the encouragement I received from my teachers to actively engage in lessons and co-curricular activities. Teachers never fail to recognise effort and achievement, and their passion for their subjects, combined with the energy and enthusiasm they bring to lessons, makes learning engaging and collaborative. Feeling backed up and recognised by so many parts of the School meant I felt supported and challenged in everything I did.
Changing forms and exams, particularly GCSEs and A levels, brought the whole year closer, as we supported each other through shared challenges, discovering the importance of collaboration, teamwork and mutual motivation. As we progressed through the School, we not only developed our individual identities, but shaped the identity of our year group. With our voices always heard and respected through platforms like school council, we began to contribute to the development of the St Helen’s. While maintaining connections with our history through traditions like St Kate’s day, we were also able to leave our own mark through new initiatives, for example, the creation of eco-friendly competitions.
Now I’m in Sixth Form, through leadership opportunities I am able to foster the same sense of belonging that I felt when I first joined. As I approach the end of my time here, I know I will never lose the relationships formed here and I hope I will always find a community and connections like those I have experienced at St Helen’s.
