Newsletters

17 July 2026

Weekly Updates from the Leadership Team

Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of this academic year. 

This week has been a fantastic week celebrating just some of the things that are great about Medina!

After school closed last Friday, we welcomed around 80 former students and staff, and another 60 or so Saturday morning to support the 50 years of Medina celebrations. It was an honour to welcome members of the school community, from the very first cohort to our current students, as they shared memories and stories of the building through the years. They reflected on how it has changed, pointed out the places that looked just as they remembered, and spoke about the emotions and memories their visit brought back. It was a very poignant moment and a perfect example of the concept of stewardship. As a school, as part of HISP MAT, we have been discussing and leading staff training on the idea of Stewardship. This is a reminder that the education journey is bigger than any individual. We work every day to support the students in our school, with the goal of ensuring that everything we do enhances the experience of future cohorts. Ultimately, we pass the baton to the next generation of staff, who will continue this responsibility and build on the foundations we have created.

We also held our Annual Awards Evening this week, where over 80 Awards were presented to a nominated group of students, honouring everything that it is to live our school values. We are so proud of all of our students every day, but it was a real honour to be able to celebrate with friends and family. Well done to every recipient. Please see a more detailed report which will be available over the coming days. 

As we look ahead to Thursday, we are excited to come together for our whole-school Sports Day. We are all looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic day of competition, teamwork, and school spirit. The Medina school community feel has definitely been something that we have developed since October last year, and the fact that we can celebrate as the school community is a living demonstration of our ambition, courage, confidence and kindness. 

For the remainder of this term, we will keep in place the flexible uniform; school uniform or PE kit. However, on Thursday, due to Sports Day, all students must wear PE kit. Whilst the current temperatures are decreasing next week, please remind your child to bring a refillable water bottle to school and apply sun cream – especially on Thursday for Sports Day.

We will be sending a letter next week with information and expectations about the start of September, but for now, as a reminder, next Friday, 24 July is the last day of term, and we will be finishing at 12.45pm.

Tomorrow sees a few of our students head to Heathrow for flights to Mozambique. This is a fantastic opportunity, and we look forward to hearing all about it over the coming weeks. We hope they all have an amazing time and wish them safe travels. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend. 

Mrs Paul, Mrs Mursell and Mrs Sandiford

Executive Headteacher and Co-Heads of School

The Annual Medina College Awards Evening

Dates to note 

Monday 20 July - Postponed Y10 Exams – 10A Art and Photography groups 

Tuesday 21 July - Postponed Y10 Exams – 10B Art and Photography groups

Thursday 23 July – Sports Day

Friday 24 July @12.45 – College closes for the summer break

Tuesday 1 September – Development Day

Wednesday 2 September – Development Day

Thursday 3 September – Students in Year 7 and Year 11 return to College

Friday 4 September – Students in Years 8,9,10 return to College

A fantastic win for our U15 boys' cricket team!

The team put in an excellent all-round performance on Tuesday afternoon to secure victory against CTK.

A disciplined bowling display restricted CTK to 56-6 from their 12 overs, with standout performances from:
Owen – 2 wickets, including a maiden over, conceding just 8 runs
Ollie – 2 wickets
Archie – 1 wicket

Medina chased the target confidently, with Owen and Ollie playing some excellent shots before Drew joined Owen at the crease to guide the team home after the only wicket of the innings.

Batting highlights:
Owen – 22 (not out)*
Drew – 9 (not out)*

A brilliant team performance from everyone involved. Well played, lads! 

Mixed Cricket at Ryde!

Our mixed cricket team enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at Ryde Cricket Club as they faced Lift Ryde in the semi-final of the competition. 

After Lift Ryde won the toss and chose to bowl first, Medina made an excellent start with openers Drew and Archie, who both retired after impressive innings of 21 and 26 runs respectively, with Archie hitting a huge six. Alfie and Samuel continued the momentum, playing some excellent attacking shots, including another towering six from Alfie, before both also retired to give the remaining batters an opportunity. Despite some disciplined bowling from Lift Ryde, Medina finished on an impressive 110 runs from their 14 overs.

In reply, Lift Ryde battled well but were restricted to 71 runs thanks to some outstanding bowling and fielding from the Medina team. Wickets were shared by Archie (1), Alfie (2), Samuel (1), Lucas (1), Poppy (1) and Theo (1), with the whole team contributing to an excellent all-round performance in the field.

Congratulations to all the players for a superb team effort, and a huge thank you to Mr Hancott for organising the fixture.

Year 11 Prom Evening – A Disco Fever Night to Remember

Earlier this half term, Year 11 students gathered at the stunning Albert Cottage for their much anticipated prom, celebrating the end of their secondary school journey in spectacular style. This year’s Disco Fever theme brought vibrant colour, sparkle, and energy to an already beautiful setting, creating an unforgettable evening for students, staff, and families alike.

The grand arrivals were a highlight of the night, drawing cheers from parents and carers who lined the entrance to welcome and celebrate the students. Guests arrived in an impressive variety of transport, including horseback, military jeeps, a Bentley, Porsche, vintage cars, and classic Volkswagen Beetles, making for a truly show stopping entrance that set the tone for the evening.

The elegant grounds of Albert Cottage provided a breathtaking backdrop throughout the night, with manicured gardens, sweeping lawns, and historic charm offering the perfect setting for photographs. Students took full advantage of the scenery, capturing countless memories with friends in beautifully posed and candid shots as the evening unfolded.

Students were dressed in remarkable splendour, with gowns in every colour imaginable and the young men looking exceptionally smart in suits and ties - many coordinating ties to match their partners’ outfits. The atmosphere was one of celebration and pride, as peers came together to recognise one another through a series of awards, including the much anticipated King and Queen titles; congratulations Scarlet and Tyler! 

Entertainment kept the energy high throughout the evening, with a lively DJ, karaoke, and a delicious BBQ enjoyed by all. The dance floor remained busy as students celebrated together, while the gazebo and the patio in the grounds quickly became a popular retreat for those taking a well earned break from dancing, offering a relaxed space to chat and enjoy the atmosphere under the evening sky.

A photographer captured the magic of the night, ensuring every smile, laugh, and special moment was preserved. From start to finish, the evening was filled with joy, laughter, and a strong sense of togetherness. It was a fitting and memorable celebration of the Year 11 journey, leaving students with lasting memories of a truly special night.

Tennis!

A group of students enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of tennis and padel at Ryde Lawn Tennis Club on Tuesday.

In glorious sunshine, students took to the courts to develop their tennis skills, with some also experiencing the excitement of playing padel for the very first time.

A brilliant afternoon of sport, teamwork and trying something new. Well played, everyone!

50 Years of Medina – Activities Day

As Medina College celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the whole school came together for a special Activities Day last Friday, ahead of the anniversary celebration for past and present students and staff on Saturday evening. 

The school came off timetable for the day, with every student taking part in two cross-year-group activities. These included a river walk, mosaic-making, a range of sports, outdoor art, geocaching, hairdressing, animation, fabric crafts and baking, alongside many other exciting opportunities.

During the final hour, the whole school gathered on the field to enjoy the cakes that had been made, face painting, music and the opportunity to celebrate together. Students and staff also joined forces to create a giant ‘50’ on the field, marking this important milestone in Medina’s history.

The day was a huge success, with students and staff embracing the alternative activities and the wonderful celebratory atmosphere. Thank you to everyone who took part with such enthusiasm and respect, helping to make the day so enjoyable and memorable.

Medina College’s 50th anniversary celebrations

As part of Medina College’s 50th anniversary celebrations, we opened our doors on Friday evening and Saturday morning to former students and staff who have been part of the school’s history since it first opened in 1976.

More than 130 visitors joined us across the two sessions, taking the opportunity to walk once again through familiar corridors, revisit classrooms and share memories of their time at Medina. For many, it was a chance to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, while also seeing how the school has developed and changed over the years.

Some areas were remembered almost exactly as they had been, while others had been transformed through new walls, classrooms and learning spaces. Throughout the visits, the corridors were filled with comments such as, “This used to be…” and “Do you remember when this happened here?”, as memories were brought back to life.

A collection of historic photographs, newspaper cuttings and memorabilia provided a fascinating reminder of Medina’s journey over the past five decades. Visitors enjoyed recognising former students, staff, events and productions, and sharing the stories behind the images.

What stood out most strongly was the genuine sense of affection, pride and belonging that people continue to feel towards Medina. Although the buildings, classrooms and faces may have changed, the strength of the relationships and experiences created here has clearly endured.

It was a privilege to welcome so many members of the Medina community back to the school and to hear the stories that have helped shape its history. Thank you to Jon Goldsmith for organising the Saturday evening event and for involving the school in the milestone. Thank you also to everyone who attended to look around, shared their memories and helped us celebrate 50 years of Medina College. We look forward to building on this proud history as we begin the next chapter of the school’s journey.

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