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On 28 March, a group of students from Carre's Grammar School and the Sleaford Joint Sixth Form travelled by coach and ferry to the German town of Boppard. This small town is situated along the river Rhine, approximately 14 miles from Koblenz. 

The trip consisted of 3 full days, each packed with fun-filled activities. 

On the first day, we went to the neighbouring city of Koblenz, where we visited the Citadel fortress and walked the magnificent walls. We also saw the memorial grave to the German army, which was very poignant. We next went to visit Marksburg castle. Here we learnt about the history of the castle along with the evolution of its owners (which included Napoleon). The evening was then enjoyed with a game of bowling dominated by Mr Clare's three consecutive strikes!

On the second day, we visited the city of Cologne, going to the Lindt Chocolate Museum for a guided tour of chocolate production and cocoa growth. Unsurprisingly, there were many purchases from the shop afterwards! 

 On route to the German Sport and Olympic Museum, we made a short stop at Cologne Cathedral, built in 1248 and standing over 175,000 meters tall, and even tried a currywurst. Many students were looking forward to visiting the Sports Museum, where we had a guided tour and learnt all about the evolution of sport across the world. It was very interesting to learn about the role Germany played in the Olympics. We even got to try some ancient and modern-day Olympic Games. 

On our last day, we took a train ride to Emmelhausen where we played football for an hour and went to relax in the ground's café. It was another opportunity to showcase our German-speaking skills! After that, we visited the Siegfrieds Musikkabinett; an antique music collection demonstrating rare early-modern instruments, including self-playing violins! The evening activity was the renowned talent show with a variety of performances ranging from comedy, magic, singing and comic sketches from the Sixth Form group about all the funny moments on the trip- it was great fun! As our time in Boppard came to an end, we enjoyed a short shopping excursion to buy some souvenirs, ready for our return to Sleaford.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip and I would highly recommend a visit to Boppard!

Written by Charlie Huesken in Year 10

Year 8 students spent the day in various workshops, learning about structural engineering, the University of Nottingham, the Royal Air Force and Practical Action.

Our day began early with a drive to Cockfosters, where we parked and caught the tube into central London. The energy was high — a mix of excitement and curiosity — as we made our way to Westminster to meet former student Charlie Sammut, now the Deputy Director of Cyber Security at the UK Health and Security Agency.

Charlie greeted us warmly and shared insights into his role in protecting national health systems from cyber threats. From there, we made our way to the Supreme Court. There, we had the opportunity to sit in Courtroom One, where the high-profile Standish divorce case was taking place — a dramatic dispute involving £40 million. It was a fascinating glimpse into the workings of the highest court in the land.

Our next stop was the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), where we met Irfan Hermani, Deputy Director of UK Cybersecurity Policy. He introduced us to two members of his team, Ali and James, who spoke passionately about the development of new cybersecurity policies and laws. We learnt about the UK's role in setting international standards and how crucial cybersecurity is in today’s digital age.

After DSIT, we headed to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where we were met by Grant Calder. He gave us a personal tour of the historic building and shared powerful stories from his time working in Somalia and Pakistan. Grant currently leads a team focused on the Middle East and offers advice on pathways into international diplomacy and public service.

Next, we visited the Cabinet Office and met Rob Andrews. He guided us through the building, including a rare look at Pat McFadden’s office — the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Rob explained the role of ministers and how the Cabinet Office supports the effective running of government.

Our final meeting was at the Department for Business and Trade with Rachel Sammut — Charlie’s wife — who is Head of Corporate Equalities, Due Diligence and Supply Chains. Rachel took us around the Old Admiralty Building and gave a compelling talk about pay equality, ethical supply chains, and how businesses can promote fairness and responsibility.

To wrap up an incredible day, we strolled through central London, from Whitehall to Holborn, enjoying the sights and reflecting on everything we had seen and learnt. We caught the tube back to Cockfosters and drove home.

13 musicians from Carre’s and Kesteven and Sleaford High School visited RAF Cranwell recently.

 They spent the morning rehearsing with the RAF College Band, working on music by Queen and ABBA, and a medley from Mary Poppins Returns.

After lunch, they learnt how to parade with the band, and some were given the opportunity to give the commands.

The day finished with time finding out about careers in the RAF and hearing about their experiences playing at the VE Day ceremonies and the Coronation.

The Zone is a youth space for 11-18-year-olds and will be in Sleaford Market Place from Thursday 5 June until Sunday 8 June.

There will be a range of youth work activities such as gaming, table tennis, board games and will also introduce young people to creativity and culture through arts, crafts and music workshops and activities. It aims to provide a safe fun space for young people. 

The Teenage Markets are returning to Sleaford this year and will launch on Saturday 7 June at Sleaford Market Place, alongside The Zone from 11am-5pm. We have 6 spaces available for teen traders and are also inviting young performers to dance, sing or entertain in the space too. You can view the event at

https://theteenagemarket.co.uk/events/sleaford-teenage-market-2/