Congratulations to our team of Y9 and 10 footballers who took victory the LSSP tournament at Simpson's Playing Fields last week.

The tournament drew teams from schools across the city, and our players contested four fixtures on the day against teams from Merchant Taylors, Calderstones and St Hilda's before facing Calderstones again in the final.

Congratulations to Ella for scoring the critical tournament winning goal!

Our Year 10 and 11 footballers have bowed out of the English Schools' Cup with a spirited performance culminating in a narrow defeat.

Last week our team faced a side from Blessed Thomas Holford High School in Altrincham in the second round match. A goal from Faye and a brace from Imogen wasn't quite enough to get the team through, with a 4-3 score at the final whistle handing victory to our opponents.

Well done to the team on a fantastic effort, and good luck to Blessed Thomas Holford as they progress in the competition.

On Friday we sent a group of Year 7, 8 and 9 students to become a Cheerleading Squad for the day!

Our students joined learners from 10 other schools across the city at the developmental workshop organised by the Liverpool School Sports Partnership and hosted at Holly Lodge.

The students had lots of fun as they worked through the rigorous disciplines needed to execute the exciting moves safely. Thanks to the LSSP and our hosts for a great day!

On Tuesday this week, Year 9 had a wonderful celebration of Mass with Fr Stephen Pritchard in the Chapel. 

A number of students were involved in reading, singing and altar serving and it was lovely to celebrate the beginning of this academic year as a whole year group!

Last week we sent two teams of Year 7 and 8 footballers to the LSSP tournament at the Jeffrey Humble Fields, who earned great results!

The tournament saw a field of twenty teams in total, and we took fourth place with one of our teams and second place with the other.

Congratulations to all of the players for a fantastic tournament.

Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students benefited from the commercial experience of our Catering Manager, Mr Eccles, in a lesson this week!

Drawing on his experience at venues like Hall and Woodhouse, Baltic Social and Moose Coffee, Mr Eccles gave an explanation of the five mother sauces before leading the students through perfecting the basic roux before assembling and preparing a chicken, bacon and leek pie for baking.

Thank you to all the students for engaging so positively with their guest tutor, and to Mr Eccles for giving his time and talents.

We'd like to share some artwork from Libby in Year 10, who dedicates a lot of time to her talent!

Libby does a lot of work in ink and is never far from her sketchbook. She told us that she's been drawing ever since she could hold a pen and finds it a great way to both focus and relax.

She seeks inspiration from images online and in the media, and we look forward to seeing her work for her Art GCSE!

We're delighted to report that on the 30th September our school completed the rigorous reaccreditation procedure for the Wellbeing Award for Schools.

During the full day assessment, our assessor scrutinised an extensive portfolio of evidence as well as meeting with members of the Leadership Team and holding extensive discussion with staff, parents, governors and students.

Our assessor noted that: "all stakeholders were overwhelmingly positive about wellbeing in the school" and went on to report that "the students are clearly proud of their school and talked about the high level of pastoral care that they receive. They are able to access individual support from members of the pastoral team but know that they can approach other staff with any issues they may be experiencing. They feel that there are good relationships between the staff and students."

The re-accreditation is about far more than standing still, and in our report we have further development points to take forward. 

Mrs McCourt recognised this in her report comments: "This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our staff, students, governors, and wider community to fostering a culture where wellbeing is not only valued but deeply embedded in every aspect of school life."

Congratulations to Emmie in 8N who recently swam for Cheshire county in national competition.

She was chosen to represent Cheshire in the annual National Counties Championship which this year was held in Ponds Forge Sports Centre in Sheffield.

Emmie swam the 50m butterfly leg of the 200m relay and an individual 100m butterfly race, taking an eighth place out of the 16 swimmers respresenting the nation's most talented swimmers.

The outstanding team performance saw the Cheshire team elevated to the first division for next year's competition.

On Thursday an all female team from Kier construction visited school to spend the entire day in careers related workshops with students in Year 10.

Kier were the construction partner for our current building, and some of the team attending today had direct involvement in our building project.

The structure of the workshops saw an introduction to the Kier Group and the manifold roles within the organisation. Students the moved into a career carousel, exploring different roles with the team. This was followed by a fact matching and myth busting session, which led neatly into a round up of different routes into construction for women.

Thanks to Leanne, Rosa, Holly, Natalie, Ellen and Claire for their time today in delivering an eye opening workshop.

Congratulations to our Under 14 footballers who earned an emphatic 0-9 win in the English Schools Cup.

The team enjoyed the benefit of a very nearby away fixture as they made short work out of a spirited side from Gateacre.

Well done to all of the players for outstanding team work!

Congratulations to our Year 7/8 cross country team who competed in the latest round of the Midweek Cross Country League – and did a fantastic job! Every runner showed determination, team spirit, and great effort throughout the race.

A special mention goes to Holly, Daniella, and Katy, who placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively out of an impressive field of 78 runners. Their outstanding performances helped secure 1st place overall for the Y7/8 team in this round of the competition.

Well done to all our runners – we’re proud of every one of you!

Students in our new Wildlife Club have been having fun this week building bird feeders to attract feathered friends to our Peace Garden.

Under the guidance of Miss Flood the students have explored two different techniques, including apple core feeders, with perches stuck into apples that are coated in a mixture of lard and seed, and bottle feeders that reuse plastic bottles that are adapted into reusable feeders.

Well done to Ivy, Sophia, Gracie, Lily and Holly in Year 7 and Hannah in Year 9 for their great work!

If you're interested in joining them then Wildlife Club meet after school on Tuesdays. Speak to Miss Flood for more information!

Students in Year 7 brought glow sticks and party energy on Friday evening when they enjoyed the annual Performing Arts welcome party!

The event gives students the chance to spend time with each other in a different context, with all of the emphasis on fun! Partygoers had the chance to dance in a sea of balloons in the theatre, glow up in the darkened dance studio and burn off some energy with fun games in the gym.

The tuck shop, serviced by our team of Sixth Form volunteers, did a roaring trade and any funds raised from the party will be used to support our Christmas production of 'Annie the Musical'.

Thanks to everyone involved in making the fun event happen!

Year 8 students were officially welcomed back to the new academic year with a celebration of Mass on Friday morning in the chapel. 

The scripture readings were ones of hope and reassurance for the year ahead and Fr Stephen encouraged students to be open to allowing God  to work wonders in their lives this year.

Many thanks to our wonderful readers, altar servers and music ministry for their participation and service during the Mass. It was a wonderful occasion and finished with a rousing rendition of ‘Qu’il est Bon!’ 

Year 9 will celebrate their welcome Mass in a couple of weeks’ time. 

Congratulations to Jessie in Year 9 who has received the call up for the U14 side to represent Merseyside!

Jessie will compete in County level competitions, which comes on top of the great news about her renewal with Manchester City for a third season.

We wish her the best of luck in all competitions this season.

Congratulations to our cross-country runners who entered competition this week against runners from other schools across the city.

Our runners did a fantastic job representing our school. Well done to all of them!

Our U14 team were under 14 in name only as they earned a colossal 0-14 win in the English Schools' Cup!

The team emphatically outclassed their opponents from Hilbre High School in the towering victory that sees the team progress to the next round of the English Schools' Cup.

Well done to all the players on a great win!

Our Year 13 students visited Edge Hill University this week to attend their annual Higher Education (HE) Exhibition, an exciting and informative day designed to help students explore a wide range of post-18 options.

Students had the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from universities, apprenticeship providers, and employers from across the UK and take a guided campus tour, gaining insight into university life and what to look for when visiting other institutions. These opportunities play a vital role in helping students make informed, confident decisions about their future pathways as students can compare university and apprenticeship options side by side; gain clarity on courses, campuses, and career outcomes and think more broadly and ambitiously about their next steps

We are incredibly proud of the strong destinations our students achieve year after year. In fact, over 90% of last year’s Year 13 cohort progressed to university, with many securing places at competitive institutions across the UK. This track record reflects the power of careful preparation, high aspirations, and access to the right guidance , including events like the Edge Hill HE Fayre. Many thanks to Mrs Lyons for arranging the visit.

What’s Next: Personal Statement Workshops

To build on the momentum from this visit, we’ll be holding a series of personal statement workshops delivered by Edge Hill University outreach over the coming weeks for our UCAS applicants. These sessions will offer:

• Step-by-step support in drafting and refining personal statements
• Opportunities for feedback
• Guidance on tailoring statements to specific courses and universities

We encourage all students applying to university to make full use of this support to submit strong, competitive applications.

Merseyside Police are launching a new operation to tackle the emerging upward trend in the use of electric bikes across Merseyside.

The targeted campaign aims to tackle serious organised crime, robbery and ASB linked tothe illegal use of two-wheeled vehicles, including electric motorcycles, scootersand non-compliant e-bikes.

As part of the campaign, Merseyside Police have issued a letter to parents with useful information about how to spot which bikes are legal and how they can be used.

At the back of the letter you'll also find a helpful page with crime prevention tips to protect your bike.

This week we were pleased to welcome the family of Marty Weir who are distributing medical devices to schools and nurseries in his honour.

Marty was an athletic young man who loved life, but died in 2022 at the age of just 26 after cardiac arrest caused by choking on food. In his memory, and with the generous support of the Megan Hurley Foundation, Marty's family are distributing LifeVac devices to public buildings around Merseyside.

The LifeVac is a simple but innovative device designed to create safe and controllable suction to pull blockages from airways. We're proud and grateful to have received the donation which will stand ready for use at any time as a continuing legacy to Marty.

We've had more good news from the Merseyside County Schools FA with a call up for Darcey in Year 8 to the U13 County Squad!

Darcey usually plays as a centre mid or right back for local side Player Pro Ajax and is proud and honoured to be representing Merseyside in the County level competitions. 

Good luck Darcey!

Congratulations to our U13 footballers who have had a great game securing a 3-1 victory against a team from Great Sankey. 

The team will now progress to the next round of the English Schools' Cup and we wish them great success!

On Thursday evening we opened our doors to students in Years 5 and 6 (and some a little younger!) and their families to help them find out what it’s like to experience life at St. Julie’s!

Guests got the chance to explore our building, talk to our teaching staff, hear an informative presentation from our Headteacher and most importantly meet our students!

The evening was a packed out event and we were delighted to be able to welcome so many visitors into our school community.

Thank you to everybody who came to see us, and to our wonderful student guides and staff for making a memorable evening.

Over the coming month Merseyside Police Safer Schools Officers are focusing on Hate Crime, and they have published some information for students and parents.

The assemblies and classroom sessions aim to help pupils to understand what hate crime is, how it affects individuals and communities and what to do if they experience or witness it.

Our extra-curricular programme for this year has had a flying start with a brilliant turnout for Drama club!

Drama is just one of the many clubs and classes available from our Performing Arts Department, but we've got a fantastic programme with something to suit every taste! 

You can find the full programme of clubs for the first half term here.

Congratulations to Amelia in 10 Therese who has earned a call-up to represent Merseyside at County Level Football!

Amelia's goalkeeping prowess will see her pull on the gloves for Merseyside in the English Schools' Football Association National Cup, Northern Counties League and Northern Counties League Cup.

We're incredibly proud of Amelia for making the squad and we know she'll be working hard to compete for a regular starting spot in the team. We're looking forward to letting you know how she gets on through the season!

We're excited to share a fantastic opportunity for our Year 12 and 13 students - the Future Leaders programme, delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford. This free initiative supports students in securing top university or apprenticeship placements while also empowering them to challenge discrimination and grow as confident, capable leaders.

The programme runs from October to July and involves short, flexible weekly online sessions (just 20 minutes per week). Students will gain support with UCAS, personal statements, CVs, interviews, and more. They’ll also benefit from mentoring by professionals and undergraduates, with optional extras such as university residentials (including at Oxford), work experience, and in-person events in cities across the UK.

Every student who applies is guaranteed a place. It's easy to get involved, and the programme is designed to support key education frameworks such as the Gatsby Benchmarks and Ofsted’s Personal Development criteria. For more information click here. Application deadline: 3rd October.

On 27th August, Y12 student Alisha visited Rome with her family and queued with hundreds of others to witness the Pope’s weekly Wednesday audience.

Every Wednesday, the Pope usually appears in St Peter’s Square to meet and bless the faithful, but Alisha experienced it inside the majestic St Peter’s Basilica!

What an incredible experience to see Pope Leo XIV up close and what a wonderful memory to have of Rome!

On Monday we welcomed in the photography team from John Hunt Photography to take portrait photographs of all students from Years 7 to 11.

The day is often a hectic one, but students responded fantastically well and the calm co-operation saw the job swiftly and effectively completed.

The photography team were delighted with the maturity and attitude of our students and we're looking forward to the photographs shortly being made available to parents. Each student was issued with a card on the day with the necessary information and access codes to view the photo once it is made available by the lab.

Congratulations to Scout in Year 9 who was selected to represent Lancashire this summer in the County Girls Golf Team!

She recently contested her first event at Ashton Under Lyne Golf Club where a win in her match secured a draw for the team.

Also during the summer Scout played in the Childwall Junior Open against 32 competitors, almost all of whom were boys. Despite the broad age range with players aged up to 18 Scout earned a superb fourth place in the tournament.

Scout currently captains the Junior Formby Ladies Golf Club and is in ongoing competitions with four other prestigious clubs. We wish her every success in her leadership role!

An incredible 56 students took part in this summer’s LAMDA examinations, our biggest cohort yet, and delivered truly outstanding results.

We are thrilled to announce that out of the 56 entries, 47 students achieved Distinctions and the remaining 9 were awarded Merits, marking a 100% pass rate across the board. The results are a testament to the students' hard work, determination, and passion for performance.

We are incredibly proud of each and every student for their achievements and the confidence they have developed through the LAMDA programme. Their success reflects not only their talent but also their commitment to personal growth and expression.

As we celebrate these fantastic results, we are also excited to welcome a new intake of students for the upcoming academic year. Here's to another year of creativity, confidence, and performance excellence!

We were delighted today to open our days to students for the new Academic Year, including our new Year 7 students resplendent in their new uniforms!

We had a wonderfully smooth start to the day with our excited students settling quickly and all of our students in formal learning by 11 o'clock! 

Thank you to all of our parents and carers for their support and hard work in preparing students for the new year.

We are delighted to share the exceptional achievements of our Year 11 students in their GCSE examinations this summer. Their hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence have resulted in an outstanding set of results that we could not be prouder of.

Not only have our students achieved results significantly above the national average, but they have also performed above the national average for girls only. This is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to the dedication of our students, the expertise of our staff, and the unwavering support of families and the school community.

These results reflect not only academic excellence but also the values of resilience, faith, and ambition that lie at the heart of our school.

We are especially thrilled that, as a result of this success, we have a huge number of students choosing to return to our Sixth Form to continue their journey with us. This strong vote of confidence in our community shows the trust our students place in the opportunities we provide, as they prepare for their next steps toward university, apprenticeships, and future careers.

At St. Julie's Catholic High School, we believe in nurturing every student to reach her full potential. This year’s achievements are a shining example of what can be accomplished when young women are empowered to aim high and believe in themselves.

Congratulations to all our students — we celebrate your achievements with pride and look forward to supporting you in the next exciting chapter of your education.

Today St Julie’s staff are incredibly proud to be celebrating the exceptional achievements of our Year 13 students as they receive their A Level results.

We are delighted to be celebrating our best outcomes since before the pandemic. These exceptional achievements reflect the dedication and determination of our students and staff; and have enabled our young people to take their next steps with confidence - whether progressing to university, training or employment.

Year 13 have demonstrated remarkable hard work, resilience, and determination throughout their studies, and we are thrilled to see their efforts rewarded with outstanding outcomes. They have  shown unwavering dedication to their learning,  balancing academic pressures with personal growth; consistently supporting one another and embodying the values that make St. Julie’s Sixth Form such a special community.

This year's results have opened the doors to a wide variety of exciting destinations. Many students are heading to prestigious Russell Group universities, including the University of Liverpool, Newcastle, York, King’s College London, Manchester, and Leeds, to pursue a diverse range of subjects. From Law, Medicine, and Nursing  to Biomedical Sciences, Physics, and English, our students are set to make a real impact in their chosen fields. Others are moving on to study Accounting, Social Work, Geography, Sports and Exercise Science, Media, Teaching, and Biology - all testament to the breadth of talent and ambition within this year group.

As they take the next steps in their journeys, we would like to reflect on the incredible young adults they have become. This has been a truly exceptional cohort: compassionate, humble, and hardworking. It has been an absolute privilege to teach and guide them. Their positive attitudes, sense of humour, and mutual respect have left a lasting impression on our staff and school community.

To our Year 13 students: congratulations on your well-deserved success. We know you will go on to do amazing things, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of you.  As you prepare to take these next steps over the coming weeks, arranging accommodation and navigating new timetables, remember, once a St. Julie’s student, always a St. Julie’s student  - you’ll always have a home here with us.

Well done, Class of 2025.

Holly in Year 12 has had an incredible residential trip in the USA with the Sutton Trust Fullbright US Programme, visiting Harvard and Princeton Universities!

Holly was one of only 132 UK students selected from over 1,850 applications, and was placed in the Philadelphia week, staying at Princeton University.

In the new term we'll catch up with Holly for more details about her summer experience!

A small group of our new students attended a Transition Summer School here at St Julie’s during the first week of our summer break.

The group got off to a great start as St Julie’s students by showing great kindness and thoughtfulness to each other, and new friendships began to be established.

Some of our external partner agencies LFC Foundation, YPAS and MHST, and the Be Free Campaign provided a number of workshops on Transition, Resilience, Wellbeing and also a STEM problem solving activity for the students to take part in, and everyone engaged well with these. We are very grateful to all of our visitors for taking the time to come in and see us during the break.

In addition to the workshops, our students enjoyed making bread and oatie bars in taster Food Technology lessons, as well as making key rings and completing a collage activity.

We were blessed with some lovely warm weather and got to spend some time outdoors in the Peace Garden, as well as taking a walk up through Camp Hill to the nearby Walled Garden.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on 2nd September.

Open letter to Parents and Carers in Merseyside from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, UKHSA and Directors of Public Health for Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley

A recent increase in measles cases in Merseyside is putting children and young people at risk within our communities and our hospital.

Several children are seriously unwell and receiving treatment at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Measles is on the rise amongst our children. We can all help stop it. Get vaccinated now.

What is the current situation with measles in Merseyside?

We are seeing an increase in measles cases in Merseyside with more of our local children and young people becoming ill.

The reason we are seeing more cases of measles in our children and young people is because fewer people are having the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles as well as two other viruses called mumps and rubella.

The number of children being treated at Alder Hey for effects and complications of measles is increasing. Children in hospital who are very poorly for another reason, are at higher risk of catching the virus.

What is measles?

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus which can infect anyone who isn’t immune. Symptoms can be severe and are leading to increasing numbers of children being admitted to our hospital. In rare cases, catching the disease can be fatal. There is no specific treatment for measles.

Anyone can catch measles at any age. Measles is particularly dangerous for some of our most vulnerable children and young people, including those under one year of age and those already battling other serious illnesses like cancer.

Measles usually starts with a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and a high temperature. It may also cause red, sore eyes. The measles rash follows a few days later, starting on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.

How can I prevent my child from catching measles?

The MMR vaccination is the safest and best defence against measles.

This vaccine has been available for many years and is proven to be safe. Two doses of the MMR vaccine will give lifelong protection against measles, mumps and rubella. The vaccination is free and easily available from your GP at any age. For children, the first dose of the vaccine is typically given at 12 months of age, and the second at around 3 years and 4 months. 

Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccine and developing autism spectrum disorders. 

Please protect yourself as well as our children and young people by ensuring you are vaccinated.

Anyone who suspects they or their child has measles should call their GP surgery or NHS 111 first before turning up at a healthcare setting such as a GP practice, urgent treatment centre or accident and emergency department, to help stop the spread of the virus.

You can find further information on MMR and other childhood vaccinations here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/  For further information about measles visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

Alfie Bass, Medical Director Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Nathan Askew, Chief Nurse, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool Council
Margaret Jones, Director of Public Health for Sefton Council
Dr. Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley Council
Dr Merav Kliner, Regional Deputy Director from UKHSA North West

The Liverpool Immunisation Team are running clinics on 13th August, 16th August and 20th August and you can book an appointment by calling 0151 295 3833.

Congratulations to our Merit Cup champions who have feasted on the traditional winners' breakfast banquet!

Mr Eccles and the catering team prepared a magnificent meal with something to suit all tastes. Well done to our winners: 7 Therese, 8 Nugent, 9 Therese and 10 Therese!