NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
We are pleased to be celebrating the start of National Apprenticeship Week at Simon Balle All-through School.

In addition to form time activities taking place across the secondary school, our Sixth Form students will be taking part in a range of planned ...interactions over the next five days. These sessions will give students the opportunity to engage with employers, current apprentices and alumni, helping them to explore the wide range of pathways available beyond school.

Today, we were delighted to welcome William back to Simon Balle. William has recently started a Data Science Degree Apprenticeship at @roche and spoke with a small group of students who were keen to learn more about the benefits of pursuing a degree apprenticeship as an alternative to university study. He shared valuable insight into his experiences and offered thoughtful advice to those considering this route.

Thank you to William for giving his time and for sharing his knowledge and guidance with our students.

#simonballeallthrougshchool #simonballe #simonballeschool

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK & NON-UNIFORM DAY - Wednesday 11th February

As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, we will be holding a non-uniform day to raise funds for Hertfordshire Mind Network. Students are encouraged to wear blue, the charity’s colour, to show their ...support.

Last year, our community raised money through the Pedal for Purpose event led by Mr Pooley. This year, we are continuing that momentum with a Rowing Challenge running throughout the day, involving staff and students from Year 5 to Year 13. Our collective goal is to row 12,000 metres every hour, showing how small individual efforts can add up to a powerful shared achievement.

Important reminders for the day:

A whole-school morning workout will take place, so trainers are essential

If your child has a PE lesson, they should bring their full PE kit to change into as normal

Donations (minimum £1) can be made via the link below:
https://helpingherts.enthuse.com/pf/simon-balle-all-through-school

Thank you for your continued support.
@hertfordshiremind

#simonballeallthroughschool #community #charity

ELSA NEXT GENERATION - GET WORK READY
Today, our Year 10 students took part in an inspiring enrichment day delivered by @elsa_nextgen, designed to give them a real taste of the world of work.

The day followed a corporate-style recruitment carousel, with six interactive workshops ...focused on developing key employability skills. Activities included Tower Building with ELSA, Product Innovation with Bowmer and Kirkland, the Balloon Chair Challenge with Lovell, Financing Your Future with Sarah-Jane Rutt, and a Your Community workshop led by Susannah Parry.

A huge thank you to our Simon Balle parents and carers who supported the all-important Interview Practice sessions. For many students, this was their first experience of a formal interview. Although challenging, the opportunity — and the constructive feedback — proved incredibly valuable.

Throughout the day, students were encouraged to reflect on their teamwork, leadership and communication skills. We were proud of the enthusiasm and maturity shown by Year 10 and are confident this experience has helped them feel more prepared to present themselves positively and work towards their future aspirations.

#simonballeallthroughschool #simonballe #simonballeschool