During our school trip to Bristol and Bath, I had the opportunity to explore a range of historic architecture, which deeply inspired me as an aspiring architecture student. One highlight was visiting Bristol Cathedral. I was fascinated by the way 18th-century architects were able to construct such a majestic and spiritual space for worship. The scale, symmetry, and intricate detailing showcased an incredible level of craftsmanship that continues to influence architectural design today.

This experience reinforced my passion for architecture and my desire to study it at university. Observing the historical and artistic significance of these buildings in person gave me a deeper appreciation of how architecture combines creativity, technical skill, and cultural meaning. 

Pavandeep Sandhu [12C]

Visiting the University of Bath on our school trip was both exciting and eye-opening. The campus was buzzing with energy, and it was fascinating to see what university life is really like. We got to explore the sports facilities where famous British athletes come to train, student facilities, and even speak to some current students who shared their experiences and advice regarding A-levels. It was inspiring to learn about the wide range of courses and opportunities available, and it made many of us start thinking seriously about our futures. Later, our visit to the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol was just as memorable. Standing on the bridge and looking out over the Avon Gorge was breathtaking, and learning about its history and engineering made it even more impressive. It’s one thing to read about famous landmarks, but being there in person gave us a whole new appreciation for the creativity and effort behind them. Exploring the city and seeing what Bristol is known for its street art, historic buildings, and vibrant atmosphere was a great way to connect with the culture and history of the area. Overall, the trip was the perfect mix of fun and learning, and it left us with memories we’ll never forget.

Saavi Sahni [12F]

The Bristol and Bath trip was truly memorable and enjoyable. There were lots of exciting activities, from visiting museums to exploring landmarks such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and even a fun round of mini golf at the end. I can honestly say this was one of the most unforgettable experiences. The time I spent with my teachers, and most importantly my friends, was amazing. This trip has to be one of my favourite highlights of sixth form. It was truly exceptional, and I really appreciate the level of independence and trust our teachers gave us. It allowed us the opportunity to explore a new environment and step outside our comfort zones. A massive thank you to all the teachers who took part and made it possible.

Ilwad Ahmed [12B]

I was surprised by how much history Bristol has to offer. One of the most fascinating parts of the trip was visiting the site where the statue of Edward Colston was pulled down. We had some eye-opening discussions about the legacy of historical figures and the naming of landmarks in the city, such as Cabot Tower.

As someone who loves History, I found these conversations really engaging. They challenged me to think more deeply about how we remember the past and how history shapes the places we live in today.

Tanveer Singh [12B]

Heston staff had their Annual Bake Sale on Wednesday, 02 July.  The event was a roaring success once again with staff donating a range of savoury and sweet treats to raise money for a local food bank.  It was a lovely opportunity to indulge whilst doing a good deed.  Heston staff did themselves proud with many staff baking cakes and even frying pakoras to share. We raised £150 from the event.

The Duke of Edinburgh expedition was an unforgettable experience filled with challenges, teamwork and resilience.  It not only tested our endurance due to the long hikes, tricky map reading, the possibility of getting lost and unpredictable weather, but it also taught us a lesson about independence, problem solving and patience. It taught me that the journey matters more than the destination. Every challenge along the way strengthened our team and gave us moments to enjoy with friends, all while taking in the beautiful landscapes.

My favourite part of the expedition was definitely cooking our meals outdoors, setting up the tents and adapting to outdoor living. Despite the tough challenges, especially during the night when it started to rain, we supported each other and pushed forward, demonstrating our perseverance and teamwork. Not only did it enhance my orienteering skills, but it also taught me leadership and time management. 

It was a journey that strengthened friendships and left us with lasting memories.

Angelina Tihhomirova [12F]

It was a rather delightful experience to go to the Church for the VE Day event. We listened to the priest talking about the memorable past and its significance. It was lovely to hear everyone joining in to chant together. They gave us some information for the day and passed a small booklet out. After that, we all went across the road and placed a poppy wreath at the statue of the soldier in Heston Village. They took some photos of people doing so and then we returned to school. Overall, it was a rather enjoyable experience. 

Jasleen Kaur [8B]

Firstly, when we arrived at the church, we were greeted by the priest and were pointed to our seats. As we sat down, we were handed a Bible and a special VE day card which had a picture of the statue just outside of St. Leonards Church with a quote on the back.

Eventually, when everyone was seated, they started the ceremony with some calming and religious music to welcome everyone in. We were told to stand up and they started reading some verses from the Bible and we had to read out loud all together the letters in bold answering the verses read by the priest. After that, a choir arrived and sang a song for us. More songs were sung and verses were read throughout the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, we went outside and laid a wreath on the statue and then made our way back to school.

This trip has taught me to respect everyone’s beliefs and gave me an understanding of other religions. Learning about the way people recognise VE Day and about other religions will help me in the future, especially for Religious Studies in my GCSEs.

Raphael Connor [8B]

The Raising Aspirations Workshop was an enlightening experience with a focus on preparing me for the real world. It was a great way to delve into self-improvement. The range of activities all focused on key aspects such as exploring my goals, interests and reviewing the way I can become an ambitious young man. One activity which really struck me was the letter written to my future self. This activity emphasised the reality of time passing so quickly and helped me to record the aspirations I would like to accomplish in the near future. 

Sakariya Yusuf [10B] 

There were many activities that made us see how people actually saw us and how they weren't negative in the way that we may have thought. I think that hearing many positive comments helped to raise people's confidence. Furthermore, the stories he told us were inspirational and it seemed that many people were able to relate to them.  We had an activity where we were split into groups and were given a character. We were asked to talk about what the character’s hobbies could be and their characteristics. The characters were given different outcomes in life, which showed that some of us clearly thought the area we came from defined us, but it wasn't true. He shared that he came from an area where people didn't think anyone could start a business or even do a full-time job and that he wanted to prove them wrong and so he did as he started and now runs his own business. This inspired me because the area you live in doesn't have to define you at all, but your everyday decisions do. 

Maria Galawinge [10G] 

The Revolution Hive Workshop was brilliant and an excellent way for students to develop beyond our academics, teaching us valuable life skills that will benefit us in the future. I believe that Revolution Hive did as they promised they would with us by increasing students' self-motivation and aspirations. The experience was really enjoyable and fun. The teacher himself was really funny, helped every student engage in the tasks and gave us individual advice too. One of the most exciting aspects of the workshop was the collaboration and working with individuals from different backgrounds. For example, during our group project we brainstormed ideas to improve local sustainability efforts which allowed us to combine our unique perspectives. I found this incredible and believe that every student should do the Revolution Hive Workshop! 

Osbourne Fernandes [10O]

The Raising Aspirations Workshop was an excellent way to improve ourselves. The activities we partook in helped us learn more about our own interests, goals, ambitions and how to become more confident, dedicated and disciplined in planning and preparing for our future. One of the activities we did was creating a character board for ourselves containing ambitions for what we want ourselves to look like and be like in 10 years' time. Another activity was to write a letter to ourselves in the future and what we’ve achieved and worked towards. We also made a new timetable to make time for us to be able to do things to work towards our goals instead of wasting time. We had a lesson in confidence and how to be more confident in social settings. We also did a fun activity which included learning about the most well-known and successful habits of many successful people. The workshop allowed us to gain an insight into how we can work better towards our goals and how we can apply different techniques to help us achieve better in our GCSEs, A-Levels and future jobs, as well as making us realise the importance of thinking about where we want to be and what we want to achieve, and the importance of planning and carrying out steps to achieve these goals. 

Sahil Kotak [10P] 

The day started with some activities, such as talking about moral values. For example, think about what we would do if we saw a homeless person on the street. Another activity involved writing positive things we liked about other people. I really liked this activity since I saw what people liked about me and raised my self-confidence. I had a lot of fun answering questions and communicating with others. They also talked about what we might want to do in the future and gave us a collage making activity to consider what we want our house to be, future job, future family, etc. This really helped me to realise what I want in my future and what I aspire to be. Furthermore, I think this has also helped more young people like me who don’t know what they want in the future as a way of assisting us to realise what we want to be. 

Ariana Fasih [10Y]