Recently, our School marked Giving Week, which proved to be a testament to our pupils’ dedication and the generosity of our extended community. With the goal of raising £62,000 for Haileybury Youth Trust (HYT) and Hearts & Wings Holidays, our houses went above and beyond, ultimately collecting an impressive £64,280. This feat was made possible by the kindness of anonymous donors who matched every contribution made during the week. In order to reach this impressive target, pupils spearheaded in a variety of creative and energetic events, including runs, triathlons, bingo nights, raffles, photo booths and selling sweet treats across the week.

In late November, our pupils also demonstrated their community spirit by collecting 240 toys for the Hertford Pantry. This initiative will undoubtedly brighten Christmas morning for many children in our local community. Haileybury’s Community Action Volunteering (CAV) programme, available to Sixth Form pupils, further exemplifies our commitment to service. Through partnerships with organisations like Mudlarks Charity Cafe, Humanitas, and Drinkable Rivers, our pupils engage in activities that align with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, such as promoting healthy lives, clean water, and quality education.

Service is also about raising awareness for social causes. Initiatives like RedKite’s Red Bench campaign, which aims to raise awareness about domestic violence by placing red-painted benches in public locations—including our quad— serve as powerful examples. Such campaigns encourage conversations and advocate for systemic change.

Our pupil-led Charity Committee, which meets weekly, organises a range of fundraising events, from charity balls and doughnut sales to non-uniform days and teacher vs pupil competitions. These initiatives not only raise vital funds but also instil a sense of civic duty and empathy among our pupils. Haileybury’s commitment to service and community action is a shining example of the power of collective effort and generosity.

As we enter the season of giving, it is a timely reminder that, indeed, it is better to give than to receive. By nurturing a culture of service and volunteering, we are not only transforming the lives of others but also enriching our own.

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Sisters Ella (Year 11, Lawrence) and Lyla (Year 9, Lawrence) took on the formidable challenge of Mount Kilimanjaro, not just for the thrill but for a cause close to their hearts. Their mission: to help save the endangered Arabian Sea humpback whales, leading them to raise over £10,000 for the Environment Society of Oman (ESO). 

Ella’s visit to Ras Al Jinz, Oman’s turtle beach is what sparked her passion for environmental sustainability and led the sisters to initially raise $5,000 USD for the ESO Turtle Research and Conservation efforts. Not only was witnessing an endangered species a catalyst for their sense of social responsibility, but both Haileyburians have long drawn inspiration from their paternal grandmother, who has dedicated her life to social work and welfare causes. This example of service is the reason Lyla has always donated her earnings and gifts to disadvantaged populations and why she received an award from the Near East South Asian Council for Overseas Schools (NESA) in 2022. 

It was their many trips to Tanzania where Mount Kilimanjaro loomed in their sights that inspired the pupils to tackle the climb and seek sponsorship in support of humpback whale conservation. With their mother Jesal by their side, Ella and Lyla meticulously prepared for over two months, packing equipment for all eventualities, and mentally and physically preparing to embark on the 8-day Lemosho trail. 

“The biggest challenge was summit day. Waking up at 11pm and steep climbing for 6 and a half hours, functioning on a slice of toast, with less than 5 minute breaks every hour was hard. Ultimately, it was very rewarding. Though these challenges were difficult to overcome, physically and mentally, I am an explorer at heart and I love to take on challenges. I learned to never give up and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and if you have a whole community supporting you.” – Ella

The journey unveiled the stunning terrains of Afromontane forests, glacial valleys, and alpine deserts, however, it was not without challenges. From rapidly changing weather conditions to the mentally testing nature of ‘pole, pole’ (meaning ‘slowly, slowly’ in Swahili), to ensure proper acclimatisation to altitude. It was hot and wet during the day, and very cold during at night, making sleeping on the mountain especially tough. every step they took was a testament of their determination to make an impact.

Evenings on the mountain brought enlightening talks with fellow trekkers about the impacts of climate change, emphasising their mission’s importance and further fuelling the family’s impressive feat.

“The climb taught me resilience and the value of perseverance. As we eye future challenges, this journey’s lessons stay with us,” Lyla shared. Ella and Lyla’s journey is far from over as they continue to explore, push themselves and look to climb the next summit for an equally meaningful cause.

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The award is in recognition of the can recycling initiative implemented by pupils from the Sustainability Committee, who decided to ramp up the School’s recycling efforts by installing 30 aluminium recycling boxes in common areas and Boarding Houses to encourage pupils, staff and visitors to recycle their drink cans.

In addition to receiving the Award, pupils were also able to take part in an exciting workshop led by Casting Innovations, during which they learned about the infinite recyclability and melting process of aluminium, and made their own individually designed bear keyrings from recycled aluminium.

“We feel very fortunate to have so many motivated pupils and committed staff to help push the sustainability strategy of the School, of which one aspect is recycling. It is fantastic, therefore, to team up with a company such as Every Can Counts. To win an award on top of this was very special and we are very proud of the pupils’ achievements.” – Simon Heard, Deputy Master

“We’re very impressed with the efforts of the pupils at Haileybury when it comes to recycling. Their Sustainability Committee is setting an excellent example of how the younger generation can get involved to implement change and look after the environment.

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and each and every drink can recycled could be back on the shop shelf in 60 days, so small changes, such as rolling out recycling bins at schools, really do add up to make a difference. We hope the group’s ongoing efforts inspire others within the community and the wider area to get involved to help keep the cycle going.” – Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts

Congratulations to all the pupils involved, and thank you to Every Can Counts and Casting Innovations!

Find out more about Sustainability at Haileybury >>

Find out more about Every Can Counts >>

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The latest ‘’Write for Right’ campaign focused on the right to protest. Wanting to get involved and to make a difference, Wendy, Luna, Ellie and Allyson co-ordinated for pupils from Fifths, Lower Sixth, and Upper Sixth, to write over 120 letters to 13 people whose lives have been impacted by their governments’ crackdown on this precious right, as well as to the relevant authorities to intercede on their behalf.

Wendy, Luna, Ellie and Allyson’s advocacy also encompassed educating other pupils on the work of Amnesty International, including running ‘Introduction to Human Rights’ workshops for Lower School pupils.

“Throughout the process, I’ve been able to learn more about human rights around the world and I feel honoured that Haileybury has an opportunity to make a real difference to these individuals. This event has also made me more aware of what we need to accomplish and the parts we can play in advocating for human rights.” – Wendy, Upper Sixth.

“The Write for Rights campaign was one of the highlights of my year. It showed how dedicated the school community is to help tackle injustices globally. I feel so privileged to be able to have participated in Write for Rights and I am looking forward to exceeding the amount of letters we write next year alongside reaching a greater audience.” – Luna, Lower Sixth.

“You might think that writing to someone you don’t know will make no difference, or that they won’t want to hear from you. But when you’re locked up or in fear for your life for calling out injustice, having someone tell you they believe in you matters a lot. Whoever you choose to write to, remember that they will love to hear from you. They may feel anxious and alone, and your words will bring comfort and hope to them.” – Amnesty International

Wendy and Luna chose to support the ‘Write for Rights’ campaign as part of their Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project. The CAS programme is a component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and involves pupils in a range of activities alongside their academic studies.

Click here for more information on the IB’s CAS programme.

Click here for more information on Amnesty International’s ‘Write for Rights’ campaign.

‘Pupils have a strong interest in, and awareness of, the world around them and the needs of others.’ – ISI Inspection, October 2022

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Inspired by this story, our Community and Action volunteering group have pledged their support, by writing letters to the elderly every month.

Haileybury writes letters for our elders

Playing an integral organisation role in this project is Haileybury pupil, Gaia Greenwood. She told us, “I and the rest of my team are increasingly enthusiastic to be working with this organisation and have been thoroughly enjoying the process!”

That process has included collecting the first five letters to kick the project off. Although Gaia and her team of around 20 fellow sixth form pupils will be writing the letters in the first instance, the idea is to involve the whole school, encouraging both staff and pupils to send comforting letters and offer a sense of connection to the elderly across the rest of the year.

The inspiration behind the project

The inspiration for our Letters For The Elders was the emotional connection it promises for both the writer and the recipient. Gaia explained, “I was attracted to the concept behind ‘Love for our Elders’ because it was a direct action of kindness to those who need it. Furthermore, one feels more inclined to make their letters more personal and profound since they know that their words are going straight to those whom we are writing to, without them expecting it,  making it very efficient as well as emotionally moving.”

For now, pupils are encouraged to write about topics that include hobbies, favourite foods and favourite musicians. They are also urged to ask thought-provoking questions to heighten the sense of inclusion from the recipient’s side.

An exciting journey ahead

As the project is only just underway, Gaia remains open to the possibilities that may come with it. Perhaps people will feel compelled to write back, or it will simply act as an interesting piece to brighten up someone’s day. There are no rules in terms of responding in writing because ultimately the idea is to create a caring community that takes other people’s feelings into account. Gaia adds, “we hope that our letters make the recipients feel as if they are cared about as well as thought about. Especially in this day and age, loneliness can be very harsh and difficult to deal with which is why we would like to make those who struggle the most with it, feel as loved as possible.”

It’s a new journey and that’s the most exciting element of it. She concludes, “I will make sure to share images of how we plan our letters and the letters themselves as well as other ideas we have towards the activity. It’s a pleasure to be making use of this amazing organisation.”

We look forward to hearing and seeing more from Gaia and her peers, on their work towards Love For Our Elders.

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It was a typical Hertfordshire icy cold and grey end of October morning at Haileybury! The low visibility outside with the dimmed lights of the lampposts due to the fog, felt like a heavy white cloud that had spread itself on the grounds of the school imprisoning everything on its way. The distance to reach the various classrooms from one building to another felt endless! The pace was slow and dodgy! I could hardly see the pupils and the teachers walking in front of me. There was a ghostly and glumly feeling to it! Shapes would suddenly appear and disappear within a split second. Halloween was in the air!

I could not shake off a weird feeling that stuck to me the whole day, as if something or someone was following me, playing with me, trying to catch my attention. I decided to ignore this feeling. I never believed in ghosts! Halloween, for me, was just a money making marketing tool to spice up commercial sales and provide the media with stories. That being said, the day went by normally until about 06:30pm.

As my friends and I headed to the Dining Hall for supper, it was abnormally gloomy outside, the fog blocked the rays of the moonlight from piercing through the darkness of the night. As we entered the Dining Hall it felt as if time had stopped and I was the only one in the huge dining room. Where had everyone disappeared too? I felt a cold breeze surrounding me and suddenly the pumpkins that were decorating the tables started swirling in the air. My eye caught a form floating in the middle of the Dome looking down at the hustle and bustle that was going on below. Having heard the stories of the ghost of Sir Herbert Baker, architect of the Dining Hall, I immediately recognised him with his strict face expression and dressed in his immaculate dark suit. Despite the fact that I was trembling from anxiety, I was trying to keep very calm and cool! Sir Baker lifted his head looking in my direction and called out to me “come here my boy!”. My legs wouldn’t move but somehow I was gliding towards him without being able to control myself. Was I in a dream? Sir Baker was puzzled and asked me which year we were in? I explained to him that we were in the year 2021 and that Haileybury had become one of the top co-ed schools in Britain. After a while of chatting he said goodbye and disappeared. I was suddenly alone, the pupils having finished their meal a long time ago.

As I entered Kipling House totally confused, my friends who had been extremely worried at my disappearance questioned me without a coma and full stop. I couldn’t tell them what had just happened, who would believe me?

In the meantime I never say “never” and believe in the spirit of Halloween!

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When asked why she wanted to set up the challenge, Carolin said, “I came up with the idea of doing a running challenge because I wanted to motivate people to go out and be active during the lockdown. I have enjoyed running since I was a little girl and I have competed professionally in athletics too.”

Carolin believed it was important to encourage others to be active and do something nice for themselves, whilst helping others and contributing to the community. In total, Carolin was able to encourage 20 other people from her community to participate.

When asked to explain more about her chosen charity, Carolin said, “The organisation is a cancer foundation in my town in Germany, which focuses on researching new methods to cure cancer; especially for children. They also give support to families who have children with cancer.”

In total, Carolin successfully raised 3000€, which is a fantastic achievement. She said “In the beginning, I was aiming to raise 1500€, but I ended up with nearly 3000€ which I was really impressed with.”

Congratulations to Carolin for this fantastic initiative, we look forward to seeing her take on more challenges in the future.

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For his CAS project, Upper Sixth pupil Ayaan recently attempted to make his own edible cutlery. Made from natural and healthy ingredients such as wheat flour, rice flour and sorghum, it is a fantastic alternative to single-use plastics.

“Edible cutlery is a renewable and sustainable utensil which is made from natural and healthy ingredients. It is environmentally friendly as the cutlery biodegrades quickly and can be eaten after use. It is a tasty, healthy and environmentally friendly substitute to single-use plastic.” Said Ayaan.

Ayaan was inspired by entrepreneur Narayan Peesapaty, who started a company called Bakeys. Bakeys manufacture edible cutlery on a huge scale, so Anyaan reached out to them in order to understand more about the benefits of edible cutlery and after learning more, he began trialling his own.

“I have currently completed two trials and am quite happy with the improvements in the second trial. When I return to India, I will try making the edible cutlery in more flavours, and try to make it more visually appealing.”

Ayaan hopes that his project will inspire people to reduce their plastic waste and look into using and purchasing items that are more sustainable.

“My main reason for doing this project is to create an alternative for plastic cutlery. We are all quite dependent on single-use plastic, like plastic bottles, plastic cutlery and plastic bags. This plastic takes thousands of years to biodegrade and is harming our planet and animals. Animals consume plastic believing it to be food, or get caught up in pieces of it; this results in injury or death. I hope my project can inspire others to reduce their plastic usage and shift to more sustainable alternatives.”

We look forward to seeing Ayaan’s cutlery creations in the future.

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“I have had an interest in go-karts (racing in general) for most of my life since I was introduced to it at a young age. I wanted to learn more about go-karts since I am very passionate about them and have always had an interest in how cars work; especially race cars.”

In the past, Sarah has completed work experience at a variety of engineering companies, specifically specialising in motorsports engineering in aerodynamics and race strategy. This experience has given her an insight into what working in this field may entail for the future, but she is eager to gain more experience in other areas of engineering before deciding which route to eventually take.

“I am very interested in engineering and have done some work experience at a few places in motorsports engineering in aerodynamics and race strategy. I am planning on taking a gap year, where I want to do more internships and race to find out what I really want to study.”

So far, Sarah’s CAS project is off to a brilliant start. With the help of some family members and some expert advice, she has been able to begin creating the ideal electrical race kart. Having designed the go-kart herself, Sarah is now looking into the mechanics of the kart and is currently trying to decide which batteries would work best to allow it to race for 20 minutes.

“At the moment we are figuring out how many batteries we need for a 20-minute race. In order to make that decision, we need to do many test drives, as if we use more batteries the kart will be heavier which will make it slower, however with more batteries we can drive with higher power for longer. My role is to test drive the kart and then report how it feels whilst driving it and we have meetings every month to discuss next steps.”

Once the project is completed and Sarah has finalised the prototype, she is planning to reach out to potential investors and wants to continue making new products in the future.

“When I finish the project, I will definitely try to pursue making new products, however, I might try out using different energy sources, such as hydrogen fuel cell or even solar energy. Once we have our first finished prototype, we will look for possible investors.”

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