Independent School News: November 2026, Week 2
By
3 hours ago
Brand new buildings, inspiring lectures and female founders feature in this week's roundup
Considering independent education? Find the best school for your child here. Otherwise, read on for the latest independent school news (November 2026).
St Helen & St Katharine Holds Career Lecture Series
Sixth formers at St Helen & St Katherine recently enjoyed a week-long lecture series from visiting professionals working in a wide variety of industries. Among them were PCC Matthew Barber, who explained his political role and necessary reforms of the police; engineer Alison Atkison, who spoke about pursuing a successful career in a male-dominated field; and Professor Sarah Sharples, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering at the University of Manchester, who advised students on chasing a dream job while not neglecting personal life.
Felsted School has opened a new athletic development centre, fully equipped for students to train as well as recover
Brand New Athletics Centre For Felsted
Felsted School has opened a new athletic development centre, fully equipped for students to train as well as recover. Old Felstedian and netballer Poppy Tydeman – who recently represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games – marked the opening with a speech, in which she spoke from experience about the importance of maintaining fitness outside of one’s chosen sport. ‘I used to be so unaware of how physically demanding sport becomes the higher up you go,’ she said. ‘Everything from maintaining fitness for a full game to injury prevention and rehab all stem from work in a centre like this.’
Discover Felsted School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/felsted-school
La Garenne Pupils Triumph In Maths Challenge
Three students at La Garenne International School in the Swiss Alps have made it through to the second round of the Swiss Mathematical Olympiad. Competing against more than 1,500 others, the students passed the opening stage and now prepare for the next: a three-hour exam on 12 December encompassing geometry, number theory and combinatorics. Only 25 students will progress to the national final. La Garenne principal Gavin Williams said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our students, not simply for progressing in the competition but also for their willingness to take on such a demanding challenge.’
The first session of Glenalmond’s new entrepreneurship programme featured fintech company founder Lucy Mullins
Glenalmond Launches Female Founders Programme
Glenalmond College has partnered with the University of Oxford’s SaĂŻd Business School to deliver a world-first entrepreneurship programme focused on learning from female founders. Over the next six months, students will take part in workshops based on the business school’s Inspiring Female Founders programme, learning how to start a business from some of the country’s most successful women. The first session on 6 November focused on the entrepreneurial mindset, with fintech company founder Lucy Mullins speaking to 50 students about how to spot opportunities, develop projects and pitch ideas.
Discover Glenalmond: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/glenalmond-college
