Just 17 years old and netball scholar Charlotte Lill has been picked for both the Scotland U19 netball squad and Surrey Storm's U21 squad! Along with studying for three A Levels and performing her commitments for Gordon's, her life is nothing less than a juggling act!

“It’s a lot to find balance between A Levels and sport but I’m slowly getting there” she admits. 

Charlotte's journey began playing club netball and it was whilst playing at Wellington based B’s, that she caught the eye of a Scotland Pathway coach. Although a bout of COVID prevented her from attending an initial trial, an invitation to a subsequent training camp followed, culminating in her selection for the squad in October. 

Her schedule now includes monthly camps in Scotland, supplementing her already busy routine of twice-weekly sessions with Surrey Storm, in addition to school-based practice, skill sessions, and strength and conditioning both in and out of school. 

"Balancing A Levels with sport requires a lot of time management," Charlotte acknowledges. "But I'm gradually finding my rhythm." 

Since September, Charlotte has been a Gordon’s weekly boarder, adjusting to the school's routines and the reality of living among fellow Sixth Form students in their annex. Despite missing her family, she values the independence and preparation for future university life that boarding offers, and enthuses: 

“I could not imagine not boarding now. I just love it. I miss my family but I’m quite an independent person. This gets you prepared for university and living on your own. It’s been great”. 

A seasoned goalkeeper, Charlotte's has been playing netball for eight years and yet is amazed at her recent remarkable success surprising even herself. Initially uncertain about her U19 trials for Surrey Storm, she was astounded when asked to trial for the U21s and even more so when told she had been selected! 

Reflecting on her selection for Scotland, she confesses, 

"I'm still wrapping my head around being selected to represent a country."  

She credits Gordon’s netball program and training for playing a pivotal role in her progress.  

"The training program is fantastic, and our team is made up of the most amazing girls."  

Charlotte remains amazed by her current trajectory. While she aspires to pursue studies beyond sport at university, she is also keen to explore the limits of her netball career.  

"I'm still trying to process everything that’s happening right now and keep focused." 

Ending their 2023 in Obertauern, Austria, students on the school ski trip. Both novices and experienced skiers enjoyed a packed programme on the slopes and in the evenings. Students in Years 7 to 10 will be heading off to Bardonecchia, Italy for their ski trip at the end of this term. 

Here's a taste of what the students in Austria got up to:

 Wishing all our students and their parents a very happy Christmas! The Spring Term begins on Tuesday 9th January 2024.

Stunning designs in the Winter Arts competition, won this year by Emily Hunter with her snowy forest season. Genevieve Giraud’s owl made second place and Florence Jones’ Santa on his sleigh was third. Congratulations all!

The fundraising efforts of students and staff in Angus’ Army featuring on Greatest Hits Radio news this morning. Angus’ Army, formed to support Sandringham student Angus, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the Summer, has now raised almost £20,000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. This has been achieved through running in the Oxford Half Marathon and 100 miles of the South Downs. Earlier this week, students Will Bowe and Rojhe Rowe (pictured above right and Alex Duke)and school Chaplain the Reverend Graham Wright were interviewed about their fundraising by Gordonian Alex Duke of Greatest Hits Radio.

Rojhe, who took part in the South Downs run said: "at Gordon's here we're all one big family, especially as boarders where we constantly live with each other, we go through our highs and lows with each other. That sense to be able to stand up and say 'hey, my friend is going through a rough time, I need to really support him' I think that's a good value."

Will described the South Downs run as incredibly difficult - "It was probably the most hilly terrain I've ever been in before. There was not a single segment of flat ground, it was constantly uphill, downhill - at one point there were a couple of people running through some rivers".

Please click on this link to donate to Angus’ Army Team Marsden Fund.

Every Saturday morning our students have the opportunity to give back and share their enjoyment of art with others, through the Common Ground Collective. These students are rapidly becoming core to what the charity offers and through their work showing leadership, patience and kindness.

The last half term they have been learning the skill of ‘lino printing’ and were able to share this with a Frimhurst Enterprises, a local charity. Students facilitated a workshop for young adults with learning difficulties, running a demonstration and working 1:1 with the team from Frimhurst. Together they were able to create lino print Christmas cards, which are being sold on the Common Ground website to raise funds for the charity. To buy the cards, please visit https://www.commongroundcollective.co.uk/shop