Our Year 12 Physics students recently took part in an inspiring Masterclass at the University of Birmingham’s Physics Department, experiencing university-level practical science first-hand.

During the visit, students experimentally determined both the mass and charge of the electron, recreating the famous Millikan oil drop experiment. They also explored quantum physics by determining Planck’s constant and used X-ray diffraction techniques to measure bond distances in molecular structures through crystallography.

The masterclass provided a fantastic insight into the world of quantum mechanics and cutting-edge physics, inspiring our students to think deeply about the fundamental particles that shape our universe.

Join us in the Library for our exciting Scholastic Book Fair — packed with amazing reads everyone’s talking about!

🗓 WB: 9/03/2026 – 12/03/2026
⏰ Open before school, at break, and after school
🎉 Celebrate World Book Day – 5 March 2026

Discover new favourites, explore bestselling titles, and help our school earn FREE books! 🙌📖

📍 See you in the library — happy reading! 💜

Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School is celebrating the success of fifteen of our wonderful pupils who have graduated from The Scholars Programme. Their Graduation Event took place at Jesus College, University of Oxford on 4th February 2026.

Through this programme, our students have had the opportunity to work with a PhD tutor and engage in university-style learning experiences in Stem Cell Research.

Our students have shown great enthusiasm for the programme and have consistently demonstrated high levels of engagement and academic achievement. They have gained valuable skills, such as critical thinking, research, and academic writing, that will serve them well in their future studies.

Congratulations to our scholars!

At our school, we believe that every child deserves access to the same opportunities to succeed, not only academically, but personally and socially too.

That belief sits at the heart of our DEC Pupil Pledge and is rooted firmly in our STRIVE school values. The pledge is our commitment to ensuring that every pupil leaves our school having accessed a rich range of experiences that complement the curriculum and help to close the cultural capital gap. This is about equity, not extras.

The Pupil Pledge reflects our value of Everyone is equal, ensuring that all pupils, regardless of background or circumstance, are equally valued and supported to access opportunity. It also embodies Valuable Contributions, recognising that every pupil brings unique talents, perspectives, and strengths that enrich the Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School community.

While the specific details of the pledge may evolve over time, the principle remains the same: every pupil will have access to opportunities such as cultural experiences, enrichment activities and clubs, leadership and responsibility roles, careers guidance and aspiration-building encounters, personal development, and wider experiences including trips and visits where possible.

These experiences support pupils in becoming self-motivated to achieve, encouraging positive attitudes to learning, resilience in the face of challenge, and a willingness to think deeply and reflect. They also reinforce our belief that together we learn, as pupils work collaboratively, take part in shared experiences, and grow as members of a strong and supportive community.

Today, a group of 10 students took part in a workshop led by Miss Dutta as part of our ongoing partnership with a school in Morocco. Students completed a range of activities and produced some excellent work, showing real thought, creativity and teamwork throughout.

The work completed will be shared with our partner school, giving students the opportunity to connect and learn from one another across the globe.

It was great to see such focus and pride in what they produced — well done to everyone involved.

On Monday 26th January, we were delighted to welcome Saltmine Theatre Company into school to deliver performances and workshops for Year 8 and 9 pupils.

Pupils took part in Ignite – a powerful and dynamic new production exploring young people’s mental health amid the overwhelming pressures of modern life. Using physical theatre and visual storytelling, the performance draws on real-life experiences and follows the journeys of three teenagers as they navigate anxiety, depression and doubts about their own self-worth. Through themes of isolation, the pressure to succeed and the desire to belong, pupils were encouraged to reflect on whether others feel the same way – and where hope and connection can still be found.

Alongside the performance, pupils also participated in an engaging workshop, providing a practical toolkit for promoting positive wellbeing. These sessions gave pupils the opportunity to explore emotions safely, reflect on their own experiences and develop strategies for supporting themselves and others.

The Ignite performance and workshops aimed to:

• Empower pupils to acknowledge and celebrate their identity and self-worth
• Equip pupils with practical tools to support positive mental health and build connections with others
• Encourage resilience, while clearly signposting where support can be accessed

The visit was a meaningful and impactful experience, helping to open up important conversations around mental health and reminding pupils that they are not alone.

On 3rd February, pupils took part in virtual mental wellbeing assemblies delivered in partnership with Kooth, helping to raise awareness of mental health and the support available to young people.

The assemblies explored what mental health is, the different factors that can affect our wellbeing, and practical ways pupils can look after themselves. Pupils were also shown how to access Kooth’s online platform for additional support whenever they need it.

Kooth offers free, online mental health support and counselling for all 11–25-year-olds in Birmingham, providing a safe, anonymous space for young people to talk, ask questions and seek advice. Commissioned locally in Birmingham and Solihull, Kooth is available without referral or waiting lists, with live text-based chat open until 10pm every night, 365 days a year. This provides a vital out-of-hours service for young people who may need support beyond the school day.

With mental health support needed now more than ever, the assemblies played an important role in ensuring pupils know they are not alone and understand where and how to access help. By signposting trusted services like Kooth, we continue to prioritise wellbeing and empower our pupils to seek support confidently when they need it. 

To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week (16–20th February), Key Stage 3 pupils are taking part in a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge over half term, encouraging them to make kindness a daily habit and reflect on the impact it has on themselves and others.

Each day, pupils are set a simple but meaningful kindness task – from secretly helping someone at home, to writing a thank-you note, being kind to themselves, or doing something positive for the environment. Pupils are also encouraged to write about what they did and how it made them feel, helping them to reflect on the powerful link between kindness, wellbeing and positive mental health.

The challenge highlights an important message: kindness doesn’t just help others – it helps us too. Acts of kindness are proven to boost mood, reduce stress and support both physical and mental health. Even better, kindness spreads. Research shows that a single act of kindness can have a ripple effect, spreading to up to 125 people – making it truly contagious.

By taking part, pupils are learning that small actions can make a big difference, building empathy, self-worth and a sense of connection with those around them. We’re incredibly proud of the thoughtful and positive approach pupils are showing, and we look forward to seeing kindness continue to ripple through our school community and beyond.