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大象传媒 This Week at 大象传媒
Posted on: 5 June, 2026
A group of children in red and black uniforms gather around tables with snacks, drinks, and sweets at an indoor event, chatting and serving themselves in a lively atmosphere.

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This Week at 大象传媒

A New Chapter for 大象传媒 and The Leys

Following the announcement on Tuesday (please see the sidebar for further details) about the merger of 大象传媒 and The Leys to form a new all-through school called The Leys School, Cambridge from September 2028, the pupils were told the news in a special assembly on Thursday afternoon. We reflected on the long history of 大象传媒 and the many changes the school has seen over the years. We also spoke about the important contribution that Year 7 and 8 pupils make to the life of the school and the role they will continue to play in shaping our community in the years ahead. Most importantly, pupils were reassured that whilst schools continue to evolve, the values that are at the heart of 大象传媒 remain constant 鈥� kindness, community and excellence.

The Chimera 鈥� More than a Monster

Earlier this week, in our Year 7 & 8 assembly, Mrs Davies explored the fascinating idea of the Chimera. In Ancient Greek mythology, the Chimera was a fearsome creature made up of three different animals鈥攁 lion, a goat and a snake鈥攐ften seen as a 鈥渕onster鈥� because it didn鈥檛 fit neatly into one category.

But as pupils discovered, the word has acquired a range of different meanings over the years, including 鈥榓 thing that is wished or hoped for but is actually impossible to achieve’. And in modern science, the term describes an organism with more than one set of DNA. An example of this happening in humans is following a bone marrow transplant. Scientists are even researching how chimeras could help grow organs for transplants in the future.

The Chimera, once seen as something unusual or even frightening, offers a reminder that complexity is not something to be feared. Pupils were encouraged to reflect on the many different interests, talents and experiences that shape who they are. Whether academic, creative, sporting or musical, we are all made up of many different parts, and it is often this combination that makes each person unique.

A group of students in red uniforms sit on a wooden gym floor, facing a stage with a projected presentation. An adult stands at a lectern, speaking to the audience in a spacious, well-lit hall.
A woman gives a presentation to a group of students seated on a gymnasium floor. A screen displays a definition of chimera as something hoped for but illusory or unattainable. The students wear red and black uniforms.
A group of students in red uniforms sit on the floor of a school hall, facing a projector screen displaying a presentation. A woman stands at the front, speaking to the students.
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Year 8 Charity Challenge

(Written by a Year 8 pupil)

鈥�Hi. We are competing in a challenge to see who can raise the most money for two charities chosen by our school. One of the two charities we are helping is in Jeffery Bay, South Africa, and the other is in Cambridge.

In Jeffery Bay, many families struggle with getting food and basic needs, and many children often go without meals for days. The soup kitchen we are supporting provides hot meals to as many families as they can. For many children it is the only proper food they receive in the week and it helps them stay healthy. This charity helps families so much and without it, they would have very little.

The other charity we are fundraising for is in Cambridge. Many children would love to learn music, but lessons and instruments are expensive. This charity helps with the cost of musical instruments to give more children a chance to express themselves, be free, build confidence, discover talents that they never knew they had, which can even help with mental health.

So far we have raised 拢130 from selling snacks and mini accessories in school and 拢40 from a bake sale. We are continuing to meet up and sell even more things in the near future and we hope to raise 拢1500 for people who could really benefit from our help.

Any small amount could feed a family, or give a child a music lesson. We are working as hard as we can to raise money for charity, but we can鈥檛 do it without your help 鈥� thank you鈥�.

The whole school community is very thankful to all of our families who have supported their children in so many different ways. Other initiatives have included busking in central Cambridge and one of our Year 8 buskers was even interviewed on That TV Cambridgeshire!

Two photos: left, a smiling student stands behind a counter, handing an item to a boy in red with others around; right, two students look at small items together over a table with folded clothes.
Two girls in striped blazers stand behind a table selling candyfloss. The table has jars of coloured sugar, sweets, a popcorn machine, and a large candyfloss maker. A pink sign reads CANDYFLOSS 拢1 with listed flavours.
A group of students in red and grey uniforms work together at a table on a project indoors, focusing intently. Bottles and various materials are visible on the table.
Three smiling students stand behind a table displaying handmade bracelets, drinks, and various items at a school event. The table has a sign reading 鈥淏RACELETS鈥� and a large bottle of sparkling water.
Four boys in matching red and black school uniforms stand behind a table with baked goods and a donation box, smiling and giving thumbs up, in a hall with timber honour boards on the wall behind them.
A group of students in red and striped uniforms stand around a table with baked goods in a school hall, participating in what appears to be a cake sale. Plaques hang on the wall behind them.
A group of smiling boys in red shirts stand and sit around a table with snacks and drinks in a hall. One boy stands in front holding a jar. Signs on the table read Pick 'n' Mix.
A group of boys in red shirts stand behind tables with snacks, drinks, and a green Pick n Mix box. They are smiling, some with arms round each other, in a brightly lit indoor room.
A boy in a striped blazer sits at a table holding an open box labelled PICK N MIX filled with assorted sweets. He is smiling, and another person in a red shirt is partially visible beside him.
A barefoot man kneels outside a building, covered in silly string, while laughing children in school uniforms spray more string at him. Other pupils watch and smile in the background.
Three men sit on a bench, covered in colourful silly string, with two leaning on each other and one wiping his face. Children watch in the foreground. A brick wall and mosaic sign are behind them.
A child in a red St Faiths sweatshirt sprays colourful string at two adults crouching and laughing in front of a sign that reads CELEBRATING 195 YEARS, whilst other children watch.
A smiling child and an older man pose behind a Shrek-themed cut-out board, with their faces showing through holes. A bucket and sponges are on the ground in front of them, against a brick wall backdrop.
A group of boys in red and striped shirts stand behind a table selling snacks and drinks to other students indoors. One boy hands a packet of sweets to another boy across the table.
Left: Three smiling students in red shirts prepare pancake batter at a table with ingredients. Right: A student in black examines handmade jewellery at a busy stall, with a drink cup nearby.
A group of children gathers around a table with various snacks and treats, some picking up items while others look on, all appearing engaged and interested in the activity.
A group of school children in red uniforms and striped blazers gather around a table with plastic containers, participating in an indoor activity in a brightly lit hall.
Two photos show students in red shirts and grey jumpers engaging in hands-on activities at tables filled with colourful objects and materials during a school event indoors.
A group of schoolgirls in uniforms gather around a table outside, some holding snacks or drinks. The setting appears to be a school courtyard with brick walls and jackets hanging in the background.
Several students wearing red uniforms stand at a table outside, serving and receiving food and drinks. Some students are behind the table, handing out items, whilst others wait in queue holding plates.
A group of school children in red and black uniforms gather around a candyfloss machine at an indoor event, some holding sticks of candyfloss, while others wait in queue.
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SFPA Donation

Continuing the theme of charitable donation, thank you to all those who have supported SFPA events, and to our SFPA committee and volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the year. I am delighted to report that as a result of fundraising at these events, we have received an extremely generous donation of 拢4716 from the SFPA, which will be divided between the House charities:

  • 拢1179 to RSPCA for Bentley House
  • 拢1179 to Arthur Rank for Chaucer House
  • 拢1179 to Cancer Research for Latham House
  • 拢1179 split between Arthur Rank and Tom Trust for Newton House

A View from the Classroom

We thought that you would enjoy this selection of photos taken this week in classes around school.

In Year 3, Art pupils were moulding clay into 3D tile-like squares, painting them gold and adding glitter.

Meanwhile, ahead of Sports Day, a Year 4 Computing class have been creating sport themed PowerPoint Presentations, focusing on their favourite events and athletes.

In a Year 7 Maths class, the pupils used Pythagoras鈥� theorem to work out distances in Ashburton Courtyard.

There has also been plenty of cricket taking place on the School fields (in between the rain showers) and finally, we have had the pleasure of welcoming Ottie, our new school dog. She is a 1 year old Cavapoo, trained by PAWS as a therapy dog, and she has joined our Learning Support team in the Discovery Zone. She has been an immediate hit with pupils and staff alike! If you follow 大象传媒 on , you will already have seen her relaxing in the DZ after a hard day work!

A fluffy, light brown dog with wavy fur lies on a blue and white spotty blanket, next to a soft toy shaped like a cow, looking directly at the camera.
A fluffy, tan-coloured dog is lying on a blue polka dot mat, resting its head on a plush toy that resembles a black and white cow.
A boy in a red and black striped blazer uses a computer in a classroom, with two other children working at computers in the background. Classroom displays are visible on the walls.
A student in a checked shirt works on a desktop computer in a classroom. The screen displays a slide titled Rules and equipment. Other students are seated at computers in the background.
A smiling girl in a red polo shirt sits at a desk in a computer lab, with her hands on the table in front of a monitor displaying a presentation. Other students work at computers in the background.
A textured clay tile decorated with swirling patterns of gold glitter, colourful dots, and small square accents, placed on a green surface next to a partially visible drawing.
Two smiling girls sit at a table in an art classroom, painting with brushes. They are working on orange art projects on a green tablecloth, surrounded by art supplies and colourful decorations.
A young girl in a red shirt paints a decorative object whilst sitting at a green-covered table. Other children in red shirts are visible in the background, engaged in similar activities.
A young girl wearing a red pinafore sits at a table, painting a rectangular object. She is focused on her work, with paintbrushes and a bowl of paint on the red table in front of her. An adult stands nearby.
Children wearing red pinafores sit at yellow tables, painting rectangular and shaped pieces of wood with brushes during an arts and crafts activity in a brightly lit classroom.
Two girls in blue shirts measure the height of a brick wall using a measuring tape. One holds the tape at the top, while the other notes the measurement with a notepad and calculator. They are standing outside a building.
Two children measure steps with a tape measure and clipboard, while another child walks on pavement, pushing a large blue measuring wheel in front of a school building.
Two boys in green shirts measure wooden objects outside鈥攐ne measures a vertical plank on a bench, the other uses a tape measure on a picnic table. Both are focused on their tasks under bright sunlight.
Two smiling girls in white sports kits stand on a grassy pitch holding cricket balls, with one arm round each other. Trees and buildings are visible in the bright, sunny background.
Three children are playing cricket in a netted practice area on a sunny day. One is batting, another is bowling, and the third, in a red shirt, stands watching. The scene is outdoors on green grass.
Children play a game of cricket on a grassy field, with one bowler in mid-action, a batsman ready to hit, and fielders positioned. Two adults supervise, and buildings and trees are visible in the background.
Split image: On the left, a young cricket player in black bats on a field with a red brick wall. On the right, a young player in red and black bowls a cricket ball in a netted practice area.
A young boy stands on a green artificial cricket pitch, holding a bat and smiling, ready to face a ball. He is surrounded by netting and a wooden fence in an outdoor practice area.
Children playing cricket on a grassy field, with one batting, one wicket-keeper, and several fielders in red shirts. Trees and a wooden fence are visible in the background.
Children play cricket on a grassy field near a modern brick school building, surrounded by trees. The sky is cloudy, and the scene is partially shaded by tree branches in the foreground.
Children playing cricket on a grassy field with trees and a building in the background.
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Science in Focus

Mrs Pritchard writes,

“Year 5 have moved onto their new topic of Matter, beginning with an exploration of how different materials can be categorised using the kinetic theory of particles. They then carried out hands鈥憃n practical work investigating the viscosity of liquids, observing how the thickness of a liquid affects the time taken for an object to travel through it. Building on this, pupils have begun planning their own practical to calculate the speed of an object moving through a liquid, applying their understanding of variables and fair testing.

Year 6 have continued their work on Reproduction, focusing this week on the process of fertilisation. Pupils compared how fertilisation occurs in mammals versus fish and amphibians, developing a clear understanding of internal and external fertilisation and how these strategies support survival in different environments.

Year 7 are nearing completion of their Bronze CREST Award projects. Some pupils have now printed and mounted their final reports, ready for display. Their investigations show impressive independence, creativity and scientific thinking, and they are rightly proud of the work they have produced.

Year 8 have continued to deepen their understanding of Forces. This week they explored Newton First and Second Laws, presenting explanations in original and imaginative ways. They also worked on interpreting distance鈥搕ime graphs at a GCSE level, demonstrating strong analytical skills and growing confidence in handling more advanced physics concepts.”

Three children wearing safety goggles conduct a science experiment with graduated cylinders and water at a classroom table, whilst other pupils work in the background.
Two girls wearing safety spectacles conduct a science experiment; one holds a beaker while the other operates a small device, both smiling and engaged at a classroom lab bench with notebooks and equipment.
Two girls wearing safety goggles and school uniforms measure green liquid in a measuring cylinder during a science experiment in a classroom, with another pupil and various laboratory equipment visible.
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Class Concert Series

Mr Gorick writes,

“The Class Concert Series began this week, with pupils across the Prep School sharing performances within their forms and filling the school with music. It has been a genuine delight to hear the children progress and to pause together to appreciate the musical journeys they are each undertaking.

Several classes may enjoy further performances next week, and the Music Department is already looking forward to more moments of joy from our young musicians.

We send our very best wishes to over sixty pupils taking ABRSM exams. We are right behind you. Whatever the outcome, please remember that you are valued, supported, and celebrated by the Department. We are proud of every note you play and every song you sing!”

Four children stand in a music room with instruments. One holds a microphone, another sits at a drum kit, the third holds a trumpet, and the fourth has a flute. They are all smiling and wearing matching black tracksuits.
Four children in a music room, three standing and smiling at the camera, one seated at a drum kit; one girl holds a cello, while the others wear matching black tracksuits. Musical instruments are in the background.
A girl plays a red guitar in front of classmates seated in a circle in a classroom. Many pupils wear red and black striped uniforms. A blue screen with song lyrics is displayed on the wall behind them.
Seven children in school uniforms stand in a music room, holding various instruments including a cello, clarinet, violin, and trumpet, with colourful posters on the wall behind them.
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Litter Picking

Mr Burt writes,

鈥淟ast Friday the catering and housekeeping teams went litter picking around the area surrounding 大象传媒, including Brooklands Avenue, part of Hills Road, Trumpington Road and Lammas land. We picked up 14.43KG of rubbish.鈥�

These excellent efforts are a timely reminder to us all to make sure litter is placed in the many bins around the school site.

A group of people, some in high-visibility vests and gloves, stand outside a building holding litter-picking tools and red rubbish bags, smiling at the camera on a sunny day.
Four women stand on a pavement beside a road, smiling at the camera. Three are wearing high-visibility vests, and one holds a litter picker. Trees and a stone wall are in the background.
A group of people smiles behind a metal gate outdoors, posing for a photo. Several large red bags of collected rubbish are piled in front of them. Trees and a wooden fence are visible in the background.
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Goblins Celebration

This year represents 11 years since Engineering was introduced as an integral part of the curriculum at 大象传媒. The Goblin cars, designed and built each year by teams of Years 5-6 pupils, bring together the design and engineering skills developed through this important part of the curriculum. Yesterday afternoon, we enjoyed an end of year celebration with families when they watched the 4 cars being raced on our own home-grown track (the hard court area behind Pre Prep).

A boy in a red shirt pushes a small white go-kart on an outdoor court, surrounded by orange traffic cones and wooden fencing, with green trees in the background.
Two images: Left, a child in a helmet sits in a colourful, hand-painted go-kart labelled Speeding Sweets with the number 16, surrounded by other children. Right, a close-up of the go-kart decorated front panel.
A child drives a small toy car around traffic cones on a paved area while an adult in a red shirt stands beside them. Orange safety barriers and a wooden fence are in the background.
A close-up of a metallic surface decorated with painted designs, including a large yellow lightning bolt, the words 鈥淟ethal Lightning鈥� in orange, small black clouds, yellow zigzags, and colourful curved stripes on the left.
A close-up of a white panel with colourful paint splatters and the words G-FORCE hand-painted in large, artistic letters, attached to a wheeled vehicle on grass.
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Calling All Traffic Volunteers

Miss Mills writes,

鈥淢ost of you will have seen we have an army of people who work to ensure that our pupils arrive safely into school, and that we can respectfully share Trumpington Road with other users and our neighbours. Some of our amazing volunteers will be leaving us in the summer and we really need to recruit some new people to take their place. The duty takes less than 30 minutes, and really makes a difference. If possible we would like people who can commit to at least 1 shift per week.

If you would be interested in finding out more about volunteering, please do contact Miss Stella Mills smills@stfaiths.co.uk, or .鈥�

Swimming Gala v. Bedford School

Mrs Critchley writes,

鈥淥ur final swim gala of the year took place on Tuesday afternoon against Bedford School. As always, it was an enjoyable occasion, with plenty of exciting and competitive swimming on display. The Year 8 team performed particularly well, providing a fitting finale to their time at 大象传媒. It was especially valuable preparation for the boys鈥� team, who are now looking ahead to the National Finals this Saturday. They are in strong form, and we wish them every success. 大象传媒 secured an impressive victory, finishing with 145 points to Bedford 125. Many thanks go to all pupils and staff who have worked so hard throughout the year to make our swimming fixture programme such a success.”

Eastern AA Athletics Championships

Mr Mageean writes,

鈥淟ast Saturday was a wonderful day with 18 of our pupils competing in the sunshine at the Eastern Athletics Association Championships at Wilberforce Road Athletics Track, amongst almost 600 athletes from the East of England in attendance.

This is a 鈥榗lub鈥� championship with the best athletes in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Essex competing. As a school, we were specially invited to compete following the results of our pupils at the County Championships that took place in May.

Everyone enjoyed a great day competing in the sunshine; lots of personal bests broken and some wonderful performances all round; many of our pupils finishing in the Top 10 of the East of England; one breaking another school record and two of our pupils winning medals too at this high level.

We wish our athletes well over the coming week as our Years 6-8 team compete at the East Area Prep School Championships at Bedford today, followed by our Years 4 & 5 team competing in their Championships that we host at Wilberforce Road next Tuesday. Before you know it, Sports Day will soon come around on Friday 12th June too!鈥�

Four boys stand on a running track. Three are wearing matching St. Faith athletic kits with numbers 544, 545, and 546, while the fourth wears a colourful shirt and sunglasses. They are smiling and posing together.
Three girls in red St. Faith athletic uniforms stand smiling on a running track, each wearing a race bib with numbers 552, 553, and 550. It is a sunny day with sports fields and equipment in the background.
Two teenage boys with medals and race numbers stand side by side smiling indoors after a race; one wears a white sports kit with number 81, and the other wears a black and red St. Faith uniform with number 545.
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Old Fidelian v. Parents鈥� Tennis, Tuesday, 9th June 5:30-7:30 PM

With Wimbledon just around the corner, it is surely time to dust off your racket and take to the courts. Whether as a parent or Old Fidelian, you would be very welcome to join us at the Latham Road courts for a relaxed and friendly evening of tennis, followed by refreshments. Please email marketing@stfaiths.co.uk by Monday, 8th June to let us know how many people will be attending and if you have any dietary requirements.

Save the Date

Please note that our next whole school Open Morning will take place on Saturday, 10th October. This event will be primarily for families interested in September 2027 entry and beyond.

And Finally…

It has certainly been a week for new beginnings. As we look ahead to an exciting new chapter for our school and Foundation, it has also been a pleasure to welcome our new four-legged team member, Ottie, to the 大象传媒 community.

I wish you a relaxing and enjoyable weekend and look forward to seeing many of you at the concerts, sporting events, celebrations, enrichment activities and community gatherings, that always make this final part of the summer term such a special time.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn

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