School Officer Training Weekend At St Cassian’s

On Friday 6 June, 38 School Officers travelled to St Cassian’s Centre in Kintbury for a weekend of training and planning for the upcoming academic year. The weekend focused on team-building, sharing ideas and setting out clear priorities for the year to come.

Throughout the weekend, students led breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, including student voice, diversity and campaigns, Holocaust education and House leadership. The Purple Press team shared their exciting plans to develop the student newspaper, and our Diversity and Campaigns team presented on how we can make St Bart’s more inclusive on all aspects of diversity.

Afterwards was the legendary “Ready, Steady, Cook” challenge, where each group created three-course meals on a £50 budget. Despite the limited cooking facilities, every group managed to pull off a substantial meal which the staff thoroughly enjoyed. The winning team were the Beacon Reps and the Diversity & Campaigns Officers, who served a meal of halloumi skewers, quesadillas and sweet-topped popcorn.

After dinner, the focus shifted to the annual Trust Fund Bid, led by our Head Students. Ideas ranged from a student gym and a Common Room refurbishment to (perhaps more creatively) the introduction of a school peacock. The weekend closed with ideas for Sixth Form integration, charity and events and ways to ensure that every student’s voice is heard in the Sixth Form.

The weekend was an invaluable opportunity to reflect and prepare for the upcoming year. All students have left St Cassian’s with a sense of purpose, a plan of action and a shared commitment to making 2025-26 an ambitious and impactful year for all students at St Bart’s.

The 2025/26 Head Student Team