At Townsend, we highly value stewardship of the world around us and we run a large number of initiatives to promote safe and sustainable travel.

In recognition, we are one of very few schools in Hertfordshire to have been awarded the highest accreditation of ‘Outstanding’ by Modeshift STARS for our Travel Plan. Initiatives include promoting the use of public transport, liaising with bus companies, promoting a 5 minute walking zone to school and walking to the abbey as a whole school for some of our Cathedral services.

Mrs Line
Deputy Headteacher

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps, used by over 2 billion people in 180 countries.

It allows you to send and receive messages, as well as make voice and video calls. You can connect with people individually or join group chats where lots of people can contribute. All you need to set up a WhatsApp account is a phone number. However, children and young people can easily subvert the restrictions placed on its access. Although rated at 16+, all that is required is a phone number. All it takes is one child in a class to be on WhatsApp, and all the others will wish to join. This can lead to increased vulnerabilities for child users. The NSPCC has released its own analysis about the dangers of the app. If interested, please follow the link below:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/2023-01-12-is-whatsapp-safe-for-my-child/

Ms Gibbons
Assistant Headteacher

Year 10 Work Experience – Placement opportunity

AECOM, who are based in St Albans, are running a structured work experience during the week of 12 May 2025. The activities detailed are:

The student will get experience within all 3 of their main divisions, Buildings, Environment/Water & Transportation – this will be project based and enable the student to better understand the company and how the different departments interact. A specially adapted induction to the company will be given on the first day.

 Under supervision by a qualified/experienced member of staff and following assessment and training activities may include:

• Health and Safety Talk
• Site visit – (on provision that parental and/or school approval has been given) but will be supervised at all times
• Various project design tasks – problem solving/using analysis package where relevant
• AutoCAD, Dialux and Revit will be taught
• Bridge building challenge – Team work
• An insight into marketing & communications activities
• Graduate presentations – Their work experience so far and details of projects different divisions get involved with

Students should have a keen interest in Engineering and be studying Maths.

Placements are open to any school undertaking work experience that week and are taken up very quickly. If your son or daughter is interested in arranging this as a private placement, they should contact Patsy Coote directly (patsy.coote@aecom.com) for an application form and complete a work experience private placement form available from Mrs Davey.

Mrs Davey
Assistant Headteacher 

On Thursday 6th February Sixth Form students along with Mr Timpson and Mr Tominey will embark on a cultural trip to New York.

The trip will see the students visit famous landmarks such as Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial, Central Park and watch a Broadway show at Times Square. The group will return from the trip on Monday 10th February. Look at for their adventures on our social media pages!

Mr Timpson
Head of Maths

The equal consideration deadline for UCAS applications was on Wednesday!

Now that everyone, who wishes to has sent their applications off, please see some useful guidance on what to expect next and how to proceed.

Students can use their Unifrog log ins to access the webinars.

https://www.unifrog.org/teacher/webinars/series-post-university-applications-whats-next?utm_medium=email

Mr Tominey
Head of Sixth Form