Sele News
All Saints Church Christmas Tree Festival
Many thanks to Sele Governor Chantal Geall for this lovely photo of the Sele Christmas Tree looking amazing at the All Saints Church Christmas Tree Festival.
November Newsletter
Please click on the image to go to the November Newsletter
Hertford and Ware Flyer
Thanks to the Hertford & Ware Flyer for the article about our exciting Time Capsule reveal event, which was included in their November edition. Click on the image to read the magazine.
The September edition of the Hertford and Ware Flyer also carried two articles about The Sele School - which can be found if you follow the link and turn to page 11. We thank the Flyer for their consistent support of The Sele School.
Celebrating our Students GCSE Achievements
There was excitement at school on Thursday 21 August as students collected their GCSE results. The Headteacher has written to all parents congratulating our students and the full text of the letter can be found by following the link to our 'Letters sent home' page but here are some of the key highlights:
- Modern Foreign Languages (39%)
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History (58%)
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Triple Science: Physics (55%), Biology (60%), Chemistry (60%)
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Creative subjects: Fine Art (50%), Photography (37%), Drama (78%), Music (30%)
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Practical subjects: Food Technology (43%), Religious Studies (75%), Business Studies (22%)
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Many students achieved multiple strong passes, demonstrating both academic achievement and breadth across subjects.
Rock at The Castle 2025
We are always pleased to share local news and this year's edition of Rock at The Castle was a very special event celebrating the 20 Anniversary of this free community event, which also raises funds for good causes.
The Town Council report for the 2025 event is below:
Hertford Rocked the Castle!
Hertford truly ‘Rocked the Castle’ on Sunday 3rd August. Hertford Town Council’s Rock at the Castle 2025 welcomed over ten thousand residents and visitors into the spectacular grounds of Hertford Castle, for its epic free community event that celebrated it’s 20th anniversary.
Despite a few spots of rain, spirits were not dampened, and Hertford revelled in listening to amazing musical legends as well as some newer acts. The line-up was dynamic - three stages set across three different areas of the Hertford Castle grounds, included high-energy bands on the Main Stage, electrifying dance and hip-hop acts on the Island Stage and intimate acoustic sets on the Garden Stage.
The Council was delighted to showcase the first act on the main stage, Apollo Audio Student Band – ‘Blue Zoo’ who really hit the right note and got the 20th anniversary party started. So many outstanding acts followed with the culmination of the event - ‘The Avengers Cover Band’ and ‘Hertford All Saints’, who delighted the crowd with a number of rock anthems. Rock at the Castle 2025 was a true celebration, highlighting both the vibrancy and the legacy of the music scene in Hertford today and over the last twenty years. 
Councillor Ann Woodward, Chair of the Development and Leisure Committee commented: “Thank you to the thousands of people who joined us at Rock at the Castle’s 20th anniversary! It was the most amazing day and it was truly wonderful to see people of all ages enjoying the different genres of music. It’s no surprise that Hertford was so generous towards the Council’s chosen charity for the event and we will continue to work with the Herts for Herts to raise awareness of their truly life-saving mission.” As well as stallholders and a variety of food and drink vendors, the main lawn hosted an inclusive area tailored to provide space for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Once again, Hertford’s generosity did not disappoint; Hearts for Herts was the chosen charity to benefit from Rock at the Castle this year, whose dedicated volunteers raised in the region of £3000 on the day. This will support the installation of a solar and wind powered defibrillator at Hartham Common.
As well as much needed funds, Hearts for Herts also raised significant awareness of their life-saving work, through the event, sharing information about their provision and maintenance of public access defibrillators, bleed control kits and free CPR training. Thanks go to so many who helped the Council deliver this epic community event, in particular Kev Saunders - Music Co-ordinator and Main Stage MC, Koncept Productions, Appollo Audio, Dandy Security, Hertfordshire Boat Rescue and St. Johns Ambulance.
Hertford Town Council also wishes to express its appreciation to McMullen’s Brewery for their generous headline sponsorship and Duffield Harrison for sponsorship of the Island Stage.
Penfriend exchanges renewed between The Sele School and Evron
Councillor Julie Brix met the Mayor of Evron’s representative, Isabelle Dutertre, when a group from Evron visited Hertford last year. Later, a conversation developed about linking the two schools again; this had been a long held ambition of Cllr Brix, since she had been involved in the original exchanges when she taught French at Sele in the 80s and 90s.
With both Isabelle and Cllr Brix very keen to resume the previous friendships between the two schools, the right contacts were made and links were formed with the foreign language teachers in both Evron and Hertford. Work started immediately on producing postcards in the respective target languages and with the support of Mr Quach and the hard work of Ms Hughes, the French teacher at The Sele School, first year language learners in both towns, are now enjoying reading about a friend on the other side of the Channel.
Bake-off update!
Heat 2 of the Sele Bake-off featured bakers from Year 9 and was a very close run event; with delicious cookies, brownies and macarons to choose from the Judges were pushed to the limit. In the end Ayda and Connie created the winning entry their biscoff cookies narrowly taking the heat. That means that the Final, which takes place on Friday 20 June, will be a showdown between our winners from Year 7, Eeva and Ava, Year 8 Brandon K and Year 9 Ayda and Connie. The judges will be waiting in keen anticipation for tasting opportunities for yet more delicious baking in the final next week; full results will be published in the July Newsletter. Our thanks to Ms Biasi for organising and to all the keen bakers who made such delicious products throughout the competition.Parent Governor Elections
Following the recent Parent Governor elections there were two self-nominations, however, one person withdrew prior to the closing date. This left one nomination and that person was therefore appointed without the need for a poll; we are delighted to announce that Mrs Will has now joined the Board of Governors and thank her for volunteering for the role.
Sele Bake-off
All the students achieved a very high standard of product with many of the judges stating that the food was of the kind of standard usually found in a specialist bakery, where they would have happily paid for such goods.
The Year 7 students, worked in pairs and scored very similar marks with Ava and Eeva winning by just 1 point with Laila and Elsa, Phoenix and Leo closely on their heels. In Year 8 the students worked independently to complete their recipes and the winner was Brandon K. who's final presentation encouraged the judges to give extra marks.
Year 8 - Brandon K's winning entry to the Sele Bake-off heats
We thank our Food Technology Teacher, Joy de Biasi for organising the Bake-off which is a fantastic addition to the many opportunities that students in her classes are given to shine. In turn Ms de Biasi says: 'Thank you to all students who took part and to the judges who gave up their time on a Friday afternoon to support the event and found it so difficult to choose just one winner.'
Spring Newsletter 2025
With an assortment of news and information about the past half term - please click anywhere on the image below to access the Newsletter.
Hertford Mayor Making
The Sele School was delighted to be asked to attend the Hertford Town Mayor Making which took place at County Hall on Thursday 15 May 2025. One of our Members (part of the school's Governance structure), Councillor Bob Deering, himself a former Mayor of Hertford in 2020 - 2022, attended on the school's behalf.
The new Mayor is Cllr Steven Watson and we wish him well. We are indebted to Cllr Deering for the photos and for the intriguing peep into the history of Hertford that they provide.
More information about the history, heritage and civic side of Hertford is available through Hertford Museum in Bull Plain or from the Town Council at Hertford Castle.
Craft Fair at Sele
For the first time in a number of years we have a Craft Fair at The Sele School - running from 10.00am to 3.00pm on Sunday 4 May. Why not come along and sample the delights of a Farmers and Craft Market - entry to the event is free of charge.
Sele Newsletter April 2025
Please click anywhere on the image below to access the Sele Newsletter for April 2025
Sele's Back to Netball 'Monday Mavens' hold their first friendly
Under the direction of their super coach, Sarah, The Sele School's Back to Netball group - now known as the 'Monday Mavens' held their first friendly match this week, playing the Queen Bees.
Sarah writes: 'What a fabulous end to the Spring term!!! A match against the Queen Bees Back to Netball team was our first friendly match and it was fab fun. It was a very evenly matched game full of interceptions, great footwork, perfect passages of play through the court and goals to finish!!! The Monday Mavens just pipped the Queen Bees winning 14-12. Everyone enjoyed it and there’s already talk of a rematch! Please come and join our friendly team for a Monday evening social game of netball. No previous experience required!'
Students attend Modeshift Stars National Awards at the Royal Society
On Thursday 27 March, four students and two members of staff attended the Modeshift Stars National Awards at the Royal Society in central London. The Sele School had been nominated as National Secondary School of the Year for our Travel Plan after being named as both the Hertfordshire Secondary School of the Year and the East Of England Secondary School of the Year 2024 - 2025.
We were very proud to be one of only five secondary schools nationwide to be nominated for the National Award and of the excellent presentation delivered by our students, which focused on the Breathe Clean Project we worked on with East Herts Council.
Modeshift Stars National Awards Event - 27 March 2025
VE Day 80 Celebration in Hertford - Thursday 8 May 2025
Deputy Lieutenants visit Sele
On Wednesday 12 March we were delighted to host Hertfordshire Deputy Lieutenants DL Marion Brown; DL Karen Trew; DL Kate Belinis and DL Akhtar Zaman at The Sele School. They came to look at and meet the wonderful Sele staff and pupils from Bayford Primary taking part in the Airbus We Will Build it Better programme.Deputy Lieutenants of Hertfordshire meet Bayford Primary pupils taking part in Airbus We Will Build it Better
Hertfordshire County Schools Dance Festival
On Thursday 13 March Dance Students from The Sele School took part in the Hertfordshire County Schools Dance Festival at St Albans Arena. They performed a piece choreographed by our Dance Teacher, Mrs Laura Calaz, which was based on the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Sele School at the Hertfordshire County Schools Dance Festival - March 2025
New residents
Have people noticed that we have some new residents in Blakemore Manor in the form of a series of fabulous sculptures depicting the life of an osprey from an egg in the nest through to a magnificent adult. Osprey Lake in Panshanger Park is so named because during their annual migration an osprey is occasionally spotted there - but catching sight of the real thing is a question of good luck and lots of patience.
We thank Claire Pullen of Hertfordshire Health Walks for sending us these photos of two of the new series of sculptures.
Details of Health Walks, some of which start in Sele Farm, can be found on our website by following this link.
Congratulations to Angie
We would like to congratulate Angie Chabauty, a very talented member of The Sele School staff. Angie responded to the call to all artists and designers to enter their work for the Hertford Regional College Open Exhibition 2025 and had two pieces chosen to hang in the prestigious David Gentleman Gallery.
Art Exhibition at the David Gentleman Gallery 2025
Angie said: 'My art work was chosen to be viewed by the public in The David Gentleman Gallery. It was the first time I have ever entered my art work into a competition; I hope this will inspire other artists to do the same.'
Mayor's Writing Competition
In the February Newsletter, we congratulated Joseph and Dani on being the winner and highly commended (respectively) in the Mayor's writing competition on the theme of 'Hertford's Magical Rivers' Age 11 - 14 category. Today we offer further congratulations to them both on their excellent performances in reading their moving and highly imaginative stories to a large and very attentive crowd at the Mayor's 'Cherish Hertford' event held at Hertford Castle yesterday.
February Newsletter
A big thank you to all of our contributors for a very entertaining and interesting Newsletter - some light reading for February Half Term.
sele newsletter february 2025.pdf
Short Story Competition
The English Department are running a House Competition short stories on the theme of Hertford's Magical Rivers should be submitted by 30 January. Full details on the poster.
December Newsletter
Please find our December Newsletter below - with a big thank you to all contributors.
December Flyer
Once again we thank the Hertford and Ware Flyer for their continued support of The Sele School; in the December issue there is an article about the very welcome re-formation of FOSS - Friends of Sele School.
October Newsletter
Please click on the image below to go to the October edition of the Sele Newsletter.
Hertford & Ware Flyer
Turn to page 19 of the November edition of the Hertford & Ware Flyer for an article about The Sele School.
Hertford Regional College Art Exhibition
If you are an artist and want to share your work with a wider audience, why not consider entering the Hertford Regional College Open Art Exhibition 2025 - see poster for details.
GCSE Dance Students visit Middlesex University
In November a group of GCSE Dance Students, accompanied by their teacher, Ms Calaz, visited Middlesex University for a day-long experience of what dance would be like in higher education and to learn about career opportunities in the world of dance.
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Cultural Food Market
On the final Friday of the half term, Sele celebrated with a Cultural Food Market with 16 different cultures represented by staff, students and parents. The event was planned by our School Council who can be justifiably proud of this community celebration. We look forward to more events from the School Council as the year progresses.
Hertfordshire Space Sector
We were pleased to be referenced in a recent Hertfordshire County Council press release regarding the Space Sector in Hertfordshire. The county joined the global celebration of World Space Week 2024 which took place from 4 to 10 October and highlighted the fact that we are home to several leading research institutions plus space and defence companies that lead the way in space exploration and climate science.
The Sele School gets a mention in the HCC article because it is part of the 'We Build it Better' programme promoted by Airbus as part of it's UK Space Accelerator programme, delivered under it's Community for Space Prosperity (CUSP) initiative. This is a programme that has been shown to have multiple benefits for Students who participate and The Sele School is proud to be the first UK school to join.
The Moon, Venue and Jupiter align over Sele - February 2023; photo by Matt Martin
MP for Hertford - Josh Dean - visits Sele School
We were delighted to welcome Josh Dean MP and East Herts and Hertford Town Councillor Carolyn Redfearn to The Sele School. The Headteacher had a wonderful meeting with both of these representatives of local and national government, discussing ambitious plans and the bright future for the school.
Sele School visits Westminster
On Wednesday 11 September a small delegation from The Sele School visited the Houses of Parliament to meet politicians with an interest in education, training and skills. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the innovative partnership Sele has forged with Airbus, which has resulted in the opportunity for Sele students to take part in the 'We build it better' programme, a step on the way to solving the skills gap.
The Sele delegation consisted of the Headteacher, Chris Quach with Assistant Headteacher (and Head of Sixth) Sam Burgess and Year 11 Student Holly, who spoke with great confidence to a number of key individuals.
Young Film makers in the News
A team of young film makers from Sele, who scored a stunning success in a National competition, are in the local news. Please follow the link to read the In Your Area article.British Cycling - Free Taster Session 12 August
We are delighted to be hosting a free taster session for British Cycling on Monday 12 August - no previous competitive experience is required but you must book in advance. All aged 7 - 14 years are welcome - to book please scan the QR code in the poster or follow this link.
Summer Newsletter
Please click anywhere on the image below to read our Summer Newsletter
Art in the Underpass
Art in the subway reaches its 5-year milestone
We are so pleased to have been asked to contribute again to Hertfordshire county councils Art in the subway scheme. This year it reached its 5-year milestone and the work submitted was as ever spectacular.
The official opening took place on Thursday the 11th of July with representatives for the council along with the talented students of Sele, Simon Balle and Richard Hale.
We were exceptionally proud to have had work included from our students, Eve Dempsey, Jessica Lee, Keira Bryan and Tahlia Greaves
You can find the work displayed in the London road subway, Hertford.
Dance Exhibition at The Sele School
Parents and teachers were treated to a dazzling display of Dance in an end-or-term Exhibition held on 9 July. Students hard work and creativity shone through as they put on a virtuoso show, which was greatly enjoyed by all who attended.
Dance and choreography at The Sele School
For the Year 6 into 7 Transition Evening, some of our Year 10 Dance Students performed a piece that they had choreographed with our Dance Teacher, Laura Calaz. The piece was based on the famous WH Auden poem; Stop all the Clocks.Yarnbombing for Pride
Please see below the appeal for bunting 'flags' so we can 'yarnbomb' the school's Arboretum Area for our annual Pride Celebrations - any contributions to Ms Coyle please.
Hertford Town Council celebrate D Day
Hertford Town Council, in collaboration with the local Cadets will be celebrating D Day at Hertford Castle on Thursday 6 June at 8.00pm
Sele Newsletter - May 2024
Please click anywhere on the image below to access the latest News from The Sele School.
History Trip to Belgium 2024
Exploring the trenches and cemetery at Hooge Crater and Hill 62 Sanctuary Woods on day one of their History Trip to Belgium.
On 23 May 2024 young historians from The Sele School attended the moving ceremony held nightly at the Menin Gate, Ypres, to commemorate the many fallen British and Commonwealth Soldiers whose graves are unknown.
Visit from award winning choreographer
It was a special Friday for aspiring students of dance at The Sele School, when they had an exciting opportunity to meet an Olivier Nominated choreographer, Julia Cheng. Winner of the 2022 Stage Debut Awards, Julia was also nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award (Best Theatre Choreography).
As Creative Director of House of Absolute, she created the dance work Warrior Queens which premiered at Sadler's Wells in London in May 2022.
Hertford & Ware Flyer
Once again thanks to the Hertford & Ware Flyer for their support of the school with a May edition article about the fund raising efforts of Mr Hughes and Mr Gallacher, which culminated in successful completion of the London Marathon. Follow the link for details of the fund raising journey that culminated in their Marathon effort.
Hertford & Ware Flyer - May Edition
Gardening Club
Members of the Gardening Club were excited to spot a wren's nest when tidying the greenhouse. Great care was taken not to disturb the nest and the eggs have now hatched.
Hertford and Ware Flyer April 2024
We thank the Hertford and Ware Flyer for the article in their April magazine regarding Careers teaching at Sele - please follow the link to the current edition.
Sele Newsletter - March 2024
We are delighted to bring you our March 2024 Newsletter - please click anywhere on the image below to read all the latest from The Sele School.
DSPL Newsletter
Please click anywhere on the image below to access the DSPL Newsletter for Parents and Carers
Dance Trip to Sadlers Wells Theatre
A highlight of the Spring Term for our GCSE Dance students was a trip to Sadler's Wells Theatre to see Wayne McGregor's 'UniVerse'. The students greatly enjoyed the opportunity to see live professional dance in a production that is an exhilarating collaboration of dance, sound and technology.
Sele Community Day - 30 March 2024
