15 July 2026
Friday 17th July 2026
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
Shrek the Musical – A Celebration of Inclusion, Talent and Teamwork
Where do I begin? Running over a very hot 3-days (and including a performance for our primary schools) our LHS production of Shrek the Musical was quite possibly the most vibrant, colourful and joyous production ever to grace our school stage. Featuring an incredible 130 students, supported by a talented orchestra, energetic band and dedicated backstage crew, it was a performance that truly captured the magic of our school community.
What made this production particularly special was its message. At its heart, Shrek is a story about acceptance, belonging and celebrating differences – values that sit at the very centre of our inclusive school. The reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, valued and loved for who they are resonated powerfully throughout every scene.
We’ve been hinting/nagging/politely badgering Mr Grimstead and Mrs Brown to stage Shrek for a few years now. This year, the casting was perfect, and the performances were exceptional. Shrek and Donkey were an utterly hilarious pair, delivering laugh after laugh while also capturing the warmth and friendship that make the story so memorable. The three ages of Fiona were flawlessly depicted. Lord Farquaad was exceptional. Every member of the cast brought energy, commitment and personality to the stage.
Behind the scenes, our backstage crew, orchestra, band and talented set designers worked tirelessly to create a truly professional production. The costumes and make-up were fit for a West End stage. We are in awe of just how hot the performers were as they gave energetic performances in padded costumes, wigs and more. Shrek’s nose only fell off once. It didn’t happen a second time!
Special thanks must go to the dream team of Mr Grimstead, Mrs Brown, Mrs Cumpstone, Mr Wolverson and Mr Dwyer, whose passion, expertise and endless dedication made this remarkable show possible.
How amazing to see some of our finest Alumni from the Expressive Arts joining us to watch, AND to perform in the orchestra. We would also like to thank everyone who bought a ticket and came along to support. As we always say, our parents, carers and grandparents should take some credit for the talent we see before us.
Perfectly cast. Perfectly executed. Unforgettable. As we say goodbye some extremely talented Year 13 student, I know this won’t be the last that we see of them. They had better come back and visit our special swamp often.
Massive credit also goes to our Alumni photographer, David Mertons. As always, David has captured some priceless shots! These are all on the Shrek Teams page for the cast and crew.
We were also very fortunate to have a Dad in the audience who happens to have some pretty sharp photography skills and a head for heights. He was able to clamber up to get some photos of the incredible orchestra and band. They are notoriously difficult to capture on camera, so kudos to Mr Palmer!
Until next year…
As the curtain goes down on the final night, it is always a sad few days as the stage comes down and the energy of show week dissipates. Fortunately, there is still so much going on to keep us busy. So here’s a round up of everything else from the week.
Out and about – STEM trip to Cardiff and the Vale College
Last week, a group of our students enjoyed an inspiring STEM trip to Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC), where they took part in a range of exciting, hands-on activities. Throughout the day, they demonstrated excellent enthusiasm, teamwork and creativity while building and coding dancing robots, exploring digital media design and planning their own E-sports event.
Students also had the opportunity to listen to an employer panel, gaining valuable insight into future careers within STEM industries. We were incredibly proud of the way they represented our school, engaging positively and making the most of every experience. It was a highly successful and enjoyable day for all.
The Grove take on their Couch to 5K run 2026
On Friday 10th July, our Grove team took part in the Couch to 5K event to raise money for an incredible cause, TSA. Last year, our team took on this challenge and absolutely smashed their fundraising target. They were all amazing, and to say we are proud of each and every one of them is an understatement.
They were so excited to take on the challenge together again, and we’d be incredibly grateful for any support. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help TSA continue their life-changing work and make a real difference to the people and families they support.
So here is the all-important link:
At 8:30am last Friday, the team assembled at Roath Park. Here they are (fresh faced) at the start. Koda came along to give everyone a good boost of wellbeing!
We did have balloons. They did not last long.
Everyone made it around the full 5k with a superb attitude.
Although I would say they were a little bit less fresh at the end!
Here they are at the end, along with a few snaps from along the way.
Well done to each and every member of the team.
We’d also like to extend our thanks to Leigh Franks for her amazing photography and for keeping up with everyone! Also, the support on the day was amazing! Thanks to all the family and friends who came with words of encouragement (and cold drinks).
Year 11 Prom!
In another delightfully different direction now, and back to the Year 11 Prom that was held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel on Thursday 25th June. It already seems a long time ago. We do miss you Year 11, but we now have the professional photographs to make us smile. You looked impeccable. More importantly, your conduct was impeccable. You made it an incredible night and one we won’t forget.
Let’s throw in a creative round up…
For the final enrichment session of the term, pupils in our Hair Styling Club were given free rein to showcase their creativity and imagination. With great enthusiasm and confidence, they designed and created a range of unique and eye-catching hairstyles, demonstrating the skills they have developed throughout the club. It was wonderful to see their individuality shine through as they experimented with different techniques and styles. The results were fantastic, and we are incredibly proud of their creativity, effort and willingness to try something new.
It’s also been competition time in Textiles!
It has also been an exciting time in Textiles, with Year 7 students taking part in a special design competition to design a bandana for Koda (his second appearance in the blog this week!). Studentw were challenged to work to a set of design criteria while using their creativity and design skills.
We are delighted to announce that the winning design was created by Carys Thomas (7CDT4). Her outstanding bandana design was selected by Mr Hurford and has now been brought to life for Koda to wear.
To recognise her achievement, Carys was presented with a certificate, a small gift and an award in front of her classmates. The competition provided a wonderful opportunity for students to apply their learning in a real-world context, while developing their creativity and confidence. Congratulations to Carys on this fantastic success, and well done to everyone who took part and produced such imaginative designs.
We shall wave the students off on Friday 17th July.
We look forward to seeing folks on 13th August for A-Level Results Day, and 20th August for GCSE Results Day.
For now, all that remains is for me to wish all of our readers a very happy and healthy summer break. Switch off the morning alarm. Rejuvenate your bodies, minds and souls. Take care. We’ll do it all again next year…
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry
Headteacher