I am thrilled to welcome back our students to the College following their summer break and I hope they enjoyed their well-deserved rest and are reenergised to tackle the next academic year. Following the outstanding achievements of last year’s GCSE cohort, it is my pleasure to see so many students from the main College continuing their educational journey with us to our Sixth Form, Impington International College, in addition to the high numbers of students joining us from outside of the local area.
You may have noticed that we celebrated 30 years of teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB) over the summer weeks, so I want to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our latest  IB graduates, who achieved a 100% pass rate, and an average point score of 36. We are proud to remain the UK’s top state provider of the IB (Sunday Times Parent Power 2020 and 2021) and look forward to continuing to deliver curricula that balance academic rigour with engaging extra-curricular activities and exceptional pastoral care.
A recipe for success
Last term, students worked with our catering team to enhance their dining experience at the College by redesigning the menu, and I am pleased to share that the new choices have been well received since they returned to the College last week. Whether your child prefers a filling main meal, a sandwich or a simple snack, there is a wide variety of items to choose from and you can find the different menus and price list here.
Improved dining facilities
We are keen to ensure our students have valuable time together to socialise and that they are able to enjoy their lunch period in a pleasant environment, both indoors and outdoors. Following the opening of the new Sixth Form building, we have repurposed the previous building to double the capacity of our canteen and provide a new servery. With new picnic areas created, and the provision of additional Atrium seating, students have a choice of areas to relax and rejuvenate in during their breaks.
Music to my ears
I want to start by congratulating our Year 7 to 13 students who sat their graded violin examinations last term and achieved outstanding results; a real testament to the hard work and dedication they put into their practice. Music has always been a strength of the College and we are looking forward to the Orchestra and other music clubs starting again shortly. More information about iCASXtra and our enhanced extra-curricular programme can be found here.
Well done on your fantastic achievements Toby L., Rebecca H., Riah P., Peter C., Willoughby J., Eliza H., Erin B., Corin B., Rosie S., and Ryan T.
On another note, I was delighted to be informed that the College has been nominated by Cambridgeshire Music to become a Music Mark school for the 2021/2022 academic term. Music Mark is the UK Association for Music Education, which champions access to music for all young people, and I am pleased that our efforts to support access to musical learning and opportunities for our students has been recognised externally.
Take a step back in time
Between 2019 and 2021, more than 90 Archaeology iCAS students collaborated with volunteers from the local Histon and Impington Archaeology Group (HIAG) to excavate an area of the College grounds; a practical skill that many students do not get to explore until university.
You are warmly invited to join us at the College this Autumn to explore the fascinating history of our site, unearthed by our talented and patient students, at a mini exhibition that is being hosted in the College library between September and December. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay updated on the exhibit and other events throughout the academic year.
Middle Years Programme launch
Following our confirmation as a candidate school by the IB, this month marks the launch of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) at the College. Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 at the College will follow the MYP before commencing their GCSEs in Year 10. For detailed information about the curriculum, assessment and grading, download the MYP parent handbook here.
Year 6 Open Evening
Our Year 6 Open Evening is fantastic way for prospective students and their families to learn more about the MYP, experience different subject activities and explore our striking Bauhaus building, as well as meet with the teaching team. I hope the evening proves to be a useful experience. Secure your place today.
September 15, 2021
