1 May 2026
1st May 2026
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students/Annwyl Rieni, Gwarchodwyr a Myfyrwyr
LHS in Iceland 2026!
As promised, we start this week on an international high, with our feet across two tectonic plates. Best explained in the words of Mr Prince…
“During the Easter break, we took 40 students from across Years 10 – 13 on a five-day exploration of Iceland. We started the week with a very early start (students meeting at the school at 1:20am!) and headed off for our flights. We arrived to a very fresh -5 wind chill and set straight off to explore!
Our explorations started at the ‘Bridge between continents’ – a famous site where people can cross between two tectonic plates, where the students got their first experience of the activity that is literally pulling apart the country! Continuing on, we explored hot springs and the dramatic coastlines found in the South-West of Iceland.
Day two was one of the highlights of the trip. We explored the ‘Golden Circle’, starting with the geothermal waters of the Secret Lagoon – students particularly enjoyed the cold plunge (of course creating a challenge for who could handle it for the longest!). Stop two was at Gullfoss Waterfall – an iconic location in Iceland! This amazing two-tier waterfall did not disappoint in its amazement and beauty! A top spot for some epic photos of the group and the landscape.
Next was a stop for ice-cream at a local dairy fam, some exploding Geysers, and then a visit to the site at which one of the earliest Parliaments of the World was formed in 930AD. This rounded off an excellent day (with many other attractions visited that we could talk about all day!)
Day three led us on an exploration of the volcanic history of the Island (With volcanic eruptions regularly occurring in Iceland as recently as July last year). The LAVA centre was exceptional at demonstrating how the country has been consistently affected by the volcanoes and earthquakes throughout its history.
On this day as well, I got to tick off a major life bucket list moment, getting to visit the Solheimajokull Glacier. This is a place that pictures really can’t do justice to in terms of how large, powerful and amazing a glacier can really be! The colours of the ice, the landscape it has shaped, but also how they are a true measure of climate change cannot be understated!
The final full day was initially put on hold as a blizzard (coming out of nowhere in the morning!) meant we were stuck at the hotel – but we made good use of the swimming pool before the roads were cleared and set off for Reykjavik – the capital and largest settlement of Iceland. A brilliant city and a chance for the students to explore, buy more overpriced souvenirs and have a bit of time to see Icelandic’s urban culture (or find a burger).
On the trip back to the airport on the last morning, I think most students reflected on what had been an excellent trip. There are so many more things I could mention about the trip that were excellent (numerous snowball fights, the black sand beaches and numerous other waterfalls we saw) but I wanted to finish with how excellent the students were.
The study tutor Jason could not have been more complimentary of the students and we all agreed. They were excellent time-keepers, brilliant at asking questions and getting stuck in with the geography, but also respectful of the hotel, our coach driver and the LHS staff.
I was very proud of all the students and hope they had a brilliant time! I also want to thank Mr Mann, Ms Geare and Miss Evans who made sure the trip went so smoothly and made my life so much easier! We now look forward to our next exploration of Europe with a difficult decision on where to go next……”
Engineers assemble!
We don’t just travel internationally. We also embrace some really challenging opportunities back in Wales!
Last Wednesday, two teams of Year 12 students who have been participating in the EESW (Engineering Education Scheme Wales) travelled to Swansea University for the awards and presentation day. Each team had been tasked with designing engineering solutions for a sustainable transport hub and have been developing their ideas throughout the year.
Having submitted written reports last month, the teams now had to present their ideas to a panel of judges and answer probing questions about their designs. Whilst we didn’t win a prize this year, the teams conducted themselves very professionally and spoke at length.
Congratulations to Ben Taylor, Ben Pink, Sam Crockford, Josiah Voisey, Harrie Morgan, Tyla Payne, Ollie Harris, Justin Ho, Eva Parsons, Tanatswa Makwarimba, Seb Golledge, Dan Payne and Ted Harris for doing us proud!! Here they are in action.
Generating our future engineers?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, our Year 9 Computer Science students have been getting hands‑on with the foundations of modern technology by exploring the components of a PC. Armed with screwdrivers and curiosity, they took apart a set of retired machines, carefully identifying each part and photographing their findings for later work.
What makes this lesson particularly exciting is who was involved. Nearly 40% of this class are girls – a figure we are immensely proud of in a subject that has traditionally been male‑dominated. Seeing girls confidently dismantling hardware, questioning how components interact, and discussing how computers are designed and built is a powerful reminder that talent and curiosity are not defined by gender.
In assembly this week, students have also begun to consider where this knowledge could lead. We have been talking about careers in engineering, computer science and technology – roles that are shaping the world our young people will inherit. For some, this lesson may be the first spark of an interest in engineering or a future career they had not previously considered.
By giving all pupils early, practical experiences like these, we are helping them to see what is possible – and perhaps generating our future engineers in the process.
Celebrating world‑class success
Massive congratulations also go this week to Emma Brotherton, Bella Hislop and Sophie Baines in Year 13, who have achieved an outstanding international success with their cheerleading team. In April last year, the team won a highly competitive bid to compete at the prestigious Allstar World Championship in Florida, representing their Open Senior Level 4 category on the world stage.
From September 2025, the girls trained relentlessly, committing countless hours to perfecting a demanding routine that required strength, precision, teamwork and resilience. Their dedication and determination paid off last week when they came away with a bronze medal. This remarkable result places the team third in the world for their category – an extraordinary achievement by any measure.
The competition brought together teams from across the globe, each showcasing phenomenal talent and athleticism. To hold their own among such elite performers is a testament to the girls’ skill, perseverance and passion for their sport.
After an unforgettable experience and the thrill of international competition, it has been very much back to reality – and A‑level revision! We are incredibly proud of Emma, Bella and Sophie, and wish them every success as they balance their studies with sporting excellence. Well done, girls, and good luck with the final stretch.
So, from Iceland, to Swansea, back to LHS, and then to Florida. Where do we go from here?
I know exactly where. We go back to our roots and back to a couple of fresh-faced young students that I had the pleasure to teach back in an earlier part of this century!
We are absolutely delighted to introduce Joe Barker and Ian Watson as our featured alumni this term. Here’s an introduction. You can also find them on the alumni section of our website.
Learning from our alumni: where can school take you?
At Llanishen High School, we are always keen to show our students that there is no single “right” path after school. A recent conversation with two of our alumni, Joe Barker and Ian Watson, powerfully illustrates just how varied, creative and exciting life beyond the classroom can be.
Joe and Ian followed very different journeys after leaving Llanishen High, united by a shared willingness to say yes to opportunities, work hard and learn from experience. Joe, who spent four years living in China and speaking Mandarin, remembers school fondly for its sense of community.
Sport, music and friendships gave him confidence and joy, from representing the school in athletics to playing drums in the school band. Today, Joe is a landscaper and entrepreneur, running two businesses including Inflate2Skate, the UK’s first inflatable skate ramp company, which introduces young people to new sports and experiences.
Ian’s journey has been equally diverse. A former exploration geologist who worked on mining projects across Australia, Macedonia and Turkey, he credits school science lessons — and inspiring teachers — with helping him understand how the world works.
He also recalls struggling with maths at one point, achieving just 7% on a test, before committing to extra work and eventually earning an A. That experience taught him a lesson he still holds onto: progress takes time, consistency and resilience.
Both alumni spoke honestly about the fact that their careers were far from linear. Between them, they have worked in geoscience, television, marketing, solar energy, personal training and education. What matters most, they say, is not having everything mapped out at 16, but being willing to learn, adapt and push through setbacks. Ian likens school to the “tutorial phase” of a game: a time to build skills, experiment and accept that mistakes are part of learning.
Perhaps most powerful of all is their message to our current students. School can feel challenging at times, but both Joe and Ian stressed the importance of making the most of opportunities, applying yourself fully and not being afraid to fail. Success, they agreed, is rarely easy — but effort, resilience and curiosity open doors that may not even exist yet.
Hearing from former students who once sat in our classrooms and are now creating, leading and inspiring others is a powerful reminder of why school matters. We are proud of Joe and Ian, and grateful to them for reminding us that education is not just about outcomes, but about preparing young people for a lifetime of possibility.
What brings this perfect circle back to LHS is the fact that their baby, Inflate2Skate, is one of our most loved Enrichment activities on a Wednesday week B. Definitely worth considering if you haven’t tried it yet.
Informing the future…
And to come full circle, on Tuesday 28th April the Sixth Form team took all our Year 12 students to the UCAS exhibition in the ICC in Newport. Whilst they are busy getting ready for their AS examinations, they are also researching their futures when they leave us next summer.
The exhibition is an annual event that we see as a really important part of this research and we are so pleased that we were able to fund this for our students again this year. Most universities from the UK attend, as well as some apprenticeship providers like Specsavers too. Students had the opportunity to go and speak to representatives with questions they had planned during registration periods. Students came back excited about university and found the morning very helpful. There were freebies galore, as modelled by our Head Boy Ali!!
As we approach the May Bank Holiday weekend, can we commend our students in Years 7, 8 and 9 for their effort and approach to the Welsh National Tests this week.
Next week, the summer exam series begins in earnest for our students in Key Stages 4 and 5.
As the gentle hush descends upon the school, remember, you’ve got this and we are here for you all.
Parental Feedback on Social-Media for our young people, and the School Website
Before we sign off, another reminder to parents and guardians. In order to update and improve our website, and to update the guidance we provide to our young people on the use of social media, we warmly encourage you to complete the following survey by following this link:
Llanishen High School – Parents & Guardians Views on Social Media & Gaming 2026
Thank you for completing this by Friday 8th May.
Thank you for reading/Diolch am ddarllen,
Mrs Sarah Parry
Headteacher