We took a team of twelve Year 9 students to the finale of the Future Food Challenge at the University of Liverpool where they pitched an aquaponic produce pod.

The final was the culmination of four months work on an entrepreneurial project which saw the students develop a functioning prototype in which they have grown vegetables. The pitch involved making a display board showing the development cycle of the product and a three minute presentation to local business owners, engineers and university researchers. 

The team gave a confident and well-informed address and we look forward to hearing the feedback on their excellent pitch!

In what has become an annual event, a group of Year 10 students who are interested in engineering as a possible career took part in an engineering project to celebrate Women in Engineering Day, hosted by Amey Engineering in Speke.

Their brief was to work in groups with an Amey engineer to design, cost and present ways of easing traffic congestion on a section of The Strand while making the area safe and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly.

Competition was strong and the team from Co-op Academy, Bebington won the challenge this year. However, every one of our team was a winner with their string engagement and sense of fun. Well done to Lilly, Ava, Bansari, Mylee, Ava, Daisy-Mai, Ella, Lucie, Freya, Libby, Bobbie-J and Anna. You were great ambassadors for Saint Julie's.

During PSHE day a group of Year 8 students worked with Collaborate Digital in an interactive media workshop exploring the world of podcasting.

During the session the students explored the risks of their social media use, and learned some of important basic principles of podcasting including structuring, scripting, recording and understanding licencing.

Thanks to the team from Collaborate Digital for a great workshop!

During our PSHE day students in Year 9 spent the day in a series of powerful workshops with the team from the CELLS project, discussing the consequences of crime.

The team brought insights from their own life journeys about the reality of a life that can sometimes be represented as seductive, and helped the students reflect on how they can make positive choices about their actions, their friends and their relationships. 

One of the sessions includes a replica of a prison cell, where students can experience some of the realities of imprisonment.

The day ended with a collective reflective session where students got the chance to discuss and reflect on all that they had seen and heard through the day.

Thank you to the CELLS team for an insightful day.

During PSHE drop down day students in Year 8 combined mindulfness and safety as their areas of focus.

The mixed programme for the day saw art therapy and cake decorating to explore creativity. For careers awareness we welcomed back our school construction partner, Keir, to tell us more about their operations in the north west and the staggering diversity of roles within the company.

The students heard a very informative talk about digital communications and the consequences of a careless social media post and also heard some advice on the risk of drugs.

Thanks to all of our guest speakers!

On our PSHE drop down day a key focus for Year 10 students was employer engagement, and we were pleased to welcome representatives from many sectors.

Working with Careers Connect, a partner agency, students heard from speakers from the construction sector, uniformed services, shipping and logistics and many more. The engagement from the students was fantastic and they finished the day with a lot of new knowledge about different careers.

Thank you to all of our guest speakers.

On Tuesday we had several athletes competing at the LSSP athletics event at the Wavertree Centre, with some medals secured!

Our medallists included:

In Year 8 - Stevie, long jump gold and 800m bronze; Heidi, 100m bronze; Heidi, Hamin, Heidi and Olivia, 4 x 100m relay gold.

In Year 9 - Eva, 100m gold.

In Year 10 - Faye, high jump gold; Georgina, triple jump gold and 300m gold, Millie, 200m silver; Isabella, Georgina,Millie and Isabella, 4 x 100m relay gold.

Well done to all of our students for their great sportsmanship and resilience throughout the day.

Amongst the activities for Year 7 students on our PSHE drop down day was a self defence workshop with MMA Defence!

The day also offered less strenuous activities, with some relaxing art therapy and a thought provoking drama workshop. We were pleased to welcome Kirsty Doyle back into school who led a workshop. 

Learning activities included guidance sessions on drug risk awareness and a valuable session on the consequences of malicious communications online.

Well done to all of the students for engaging so well in the day's programme.

We are proud to announce that three of our Year 12 students have been selected to attend a prestigious residential at the University of Oxford, as part of the Future Leaders Programme. This highly competitive initiative supports high-achieving students from across the UK, offering academic enrichment, university preparation, and personal development opportunities.

During the residential, Mae, Holly and Aislinn will take part in subject masterclasses, university-style seminars, and gain valuable insight into life at a world-class institution. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop their academic confidence, explore future pathways, and build connections with like-minded peers from around the country. Experiences like this also support our wider careers programme, helping us meet national standards to ensure students receive high-quality guidance and exposure to higher education options.

To learn more about the Future Leaders programme, click here: Future Leaders UK

On Wednesday evening, Year 12 A Level Drama students performed their devised exam pieces to an audience of friends and family. 

Over the past 3 months, students have been studying theatre practitioners and working to create performance inspired by their style. 

The first performance of the evening was a hard hitting drama, inspired by feminist theatre practitioner, Katie Mitchell. The performance, which tackled the issue of domestic violence, cleverly combined naturalistic acting with multimedia and had a shocking twist which had audience members on the edge of their seats. 

In contrast, the second performance was inspired by observation comedy practitioner, John Godber and saw Susan, Bev, Kelly and Joanne band together to try and save the beloved airline, Wizz Wings. With multi-role, stylised movement and direct address of the audience, the fast-paced comedy was a roaring success. 

Well done to all students who performed this evening. 

Our newest students joined us on Wednesday for a taste of life at St. Julie's as welcomed them in for transition day!

The transition day is an annual event that allows students across the city to spend a day in their new school meeting their new teachers. We were delighted to welcome 181 students into school who congregated in the Dining Room with a mixture of enthusiasm and apprehension.

Nerves quickly disappeared as got straight into a busy day, starting with a whole school assembly to meet some of the key staff who will be an important part of life from September. 

After our assembly we were straight into lessons with new form tutors and some icebreaking exercises before breaktime on the yard.

After break it was time to get a taste of some subject lessons with our subject specialist teachers. Then it was the all important lunch time! Students were able to get a feel of how our Dining Room works, as well as enjoy the tasty food on offer. Today's menu was very well received, even if the noodles were a little spicy for some!

The afternoon session brought a chance to work in the Chapel with our school Chaplain, and discover more about our Notre Dame values.

We had a wonderful day and we hope that our students really enjoyed themselves too. We're looking forward very much to setting extremely quickly in September and getting to work!

On Monday we began auditions for our annual Christmas production, with a record 178 students turning out to try and secure a place in this year's musical, Annie.

Students from Year 7 to Year 12 were put through their paces with challenging choreography and musical numbers. All students worked exceptionally hard, demonstrating passion, energy and enthusiasm.

We already know this is going to a fantastic show and are looking forward to seeing students progression throughout the next round of auditions.

Well done to all students who took part and auditioned! 

On Tuesday 19 of our talented dancers competed in the national final of the 'Great Big Dance Off', and what a day it was!

Following their success in the regional heats, placing first out of 15 performances, our troupe went through to the final against the best of the best across the country. 

In the final they competed and performed incredibly well, placing 6th in the whole country for KS3 Dance from over 150 entries. 

The danced their hearts out on stage. During our technical run we had a minor injury occur, resulting in one dancer unable to perform. With great professionalism the girls were able to respace and adapt the dance an hour before competing.

They performed beautifully and represented St Julie's with passion and pride, as you can see in the video below.

On Tuesday this week two Year 9 students rose to the challenge of competing at the prestigious West Cluster Student Public Speaking Competition at St John Bosco Arts College.

Whilst they were pipped at the post for the top spots, they impressed the judges, and both were rewarded with a certificate and book token. They conducted themselves admirably and were superb ambassadors for the school.

Well done to both of our talented competitors!

On Thursday night it was time to party as over 120 Year 11 students dressed in their best for their Prom at Sefton Park Cricket Club.

The students looked incredibly glamorous and had a fantastic time with candy floss, slush and some tremendous tunes!

Thanks to everyone who played a part in making such a successful night. Enjoy the photos!

On Thursday evening we proudly opened our doors to students from Years 4 and 5 who were interested in finding out more about life at St. Julie’s.

Guests got the chance to meet staff across all of our teaching activities, and get involved in some fun activities like pizza making, rope climbing and probabilty dinosaur racing. They saw dancing flames and religious artifacts and heard an informative talk from our Headteacher setting out what it means to be part of the St. Julie's family.

We had a wonderful time welcoming our visits and we hope that they found their visit helpful and informative.

Thank you to our staff and wonderful team of student volunteers for giving our guests a great experience!

We started the week with a wonderful evening event on Monday that saw performers both, novice and seasoned, step up to the stage on Open Mic night.

We had performers from Year 7 right through to 11 who produced a great evening’s entertainment for the enthusiastic audience.

Thank you to Mr Quinn and the Performing Arts team for giving our performers the opportunity to express themselves on stage, building chracter, confidence and stagecraft!

This week, audiences gathered for the second night of Y10 GCSE Devised performances that showcase students creativity, script writing and acting. 

The first performance was a hard hitting tale of a couples longing to have children, with a twisted ending that had audiences on the edge of their seat. The second performance explored gang culture in Liverpool and how being in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to a life of crime. The final performance was a stark contrast in genre, as we were entertained by a fast paced comedy set in Woolton, where a local amateur dramatic society put on their version of 'Romeo and Juliet'. 

Congratulations to all performers who have showcased their talent across the two evenings. 

On Monday our Y7/8 football team qualified and competed in the Merseyside football finals at Halewood Leisure Centre.

The competition was made up of ten schools who qualified for the tournament all over Merseyside and it was a tough day of fixtures with high winds to make the matches even more unpredictable.

St Julie’s were drawn into a group with Broughton Hall, West Kirkby Grammar School, Wade Deacon and Cowley.

With the high winds and only playing a straight half St Julie’s has the wind against us in each game but still showed determination and skill throughout. St Julie’s finished 3rd overall and put on a great display of football as always!

Well done to the students involved: Freya, Luella, Sharnie, Scarlett, Charlotte, Emily, Peggy, Daisy, Darcy.

On Thursday this week students in Years 7 and 8 took advantage of the fabulous weather to face off in the Inter-Form Rounders Competition!

The competition was staged in support of National Sports Week promoted by the Youth Sports Trust and saw 120 students being active for the day!

Thanks to our PE team for keeping the exciting day running smoothly and fairly, and well done to our winning teams, 7D and 8T!

This week saw the return of the Scholastic book fair to St Julie’s, offering students the chance to snap up some of the latest and hottest titles in fiction for young adults.

The very warm weather this week saw us take the fair outdoors thanks to the wonderful support of our Sixth Form volunteers.

Well done to Freya and Abigail, our winners of the Book Fair competition! Thanks to everyone who shopped – we hope you love reading your new books!

The book fair will return again next year. In the meantime, why not check out some of our excellent library books in B001? If you are looking for age-appropriate recommendations, School Reading List is a great place to check. 

Thank you to all parents and carers who were able to join students in Year 8 for our Options Information Evening this week.

The evening offered a great chance to speak to staff and find out more about studying some of our GCSE subjects is really like and the benefits that each subject can bring to career development.

We hope you found the evening to be useful and informative.

You can find a copy of the options booklet issued to students here. 

This week, audiences gathered for the first of two evenings of Y10 GCSE Devised performances that showcase students creativity, script writing and acting. 

The first performance was a thought provoking story of Alzheimer's which saw flashbacks from present day right back to WW2. The sensitive performance moved the audience to tears. The second performance was a stark contrast in genre, as we headed to an all girls boarding school in Derry, Ireland. This fast paced, laugh out loud play was highly entertaining. 

Well done to all students who performed. Next up...night two next Wednesday!

On Monday the majority of Year 11 students completed their last GCSE exam of the season, and enjoyed some celebratory shirt signing in the aftermath!

Congratulations to all of our Year 11 students for their hard work and outstanding conduct during the stressful exam season. We look forward to seeing them reaping the rewards on results day!

The University of Leeds have begun their targeted support sessions for students preparing to take the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) – an admissions test required for many medical, dental, and healthcare-related degree programmes.

The sessions will focus on test structure, strategies, and practice techniques to build confidence and improve performance.

The UCAT testing window opens on 17th June for students to book and secure their testing date  - good luck to all students taking the UCAT!

Congratulations to Faye, Katie and Yas in Y10 who were part of the winning Liverpool team that lifted the ESFA National Plate at the Sixways Stadium!

The three students were named in the side lining up against a team from East Riding, and played important roles in the 6-4 victory, including a staggering free kick from distance from Faye.

This is the most senior event in the ESFA competitions and so all three players have contested their last ESFA tournament - definitely going out on a high!

We also offer congratulations to Scarlett, Maisie and Freya in Year 8 who were part of the team that reached the U13 final in the same tournament but took an unfortunate loss to Sheffield. Well done to all of our players!

The UK Maths Trust is established to advance the education of young people in maths. One way they meet this aim is by organising and running competitions.

On the 2nd May, 113 students from Year 7 and 8 sat the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge, made up of 25 multiple choice maths questions. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency to make students think.

From these students, 31 achieved a Gold, Silver or Bronze award which puts them in the top 50% of all students who participated in the competition across the world.

Congratulations to Faith in Year 8 who earned gold with the best result in school! Silver honours go to Ava, Lucy and Darcey in Year 7 and Elizabeth, Sadie, Ella and Emily in Year 8. Well done also ot our talented bronze winners who are too numerous to list!

The Young Persons' Advisory Service are hosting a drop in coffee morning at their South Hub in Lyndene Road on 2nd July from 10am - 12pm.

The drop in event gives parents and carers the chance to meet with two parenting practitioners, discuss any concerns, get information and guidance and see what parenting support YPAS can offer families.

No booking is required, just drop in. 

Sutton Trust Online (STO) is an award-winning digital programme designed to help students shape their future. STO is packed with interactive activities, expert advice and key resources to support them every step of the way, from exploring their options to preparing strong applications and thriving in Higher Education. 

Thousands of students across the country use STO each year to build their skills, boost their confidence and take control of their next steps. STO prioritise students based on a range of social mobility criteria, including eligibility for free school meals and the context of their neighbourhood.

Applications close on 26^th August 2025 at midday. To apply, click here

This week has been a busy one for all the football teams at St Julie's. We had 4 teams from years 7-10 competing in the City Championships competing against teams from 14 other Liverpool schools. 

We are deighted to say that both our Year 7/8 and our Year 9/10 team have been crowned City Champions! 

Over two day tournament the teams have taken part in a gruelling series of matches against some stiff competition.

All four of our teams played incredibly well and all contributed to the two trophy wins. Well done to all of our talented players!

Scientists in Years 7 and 8 have been testing their construction methodologies using paper straws in STEM Club this week!

Towers were judged on height and aesthetic qualities and our winner topped out at 66cm on height, and our aesthetic champion produced an intricate trellis to a tapering point.

Well done to all of our scientists!

Next week the Scholastic pop-up book fair returns to St. Julie's! 

Why not take the chance to get your shelves stocked and ready for summer? You can pre-buy credit here and get exclusive pre-sale access.

The team at UniTasterDays.com have just published their 2025 University Guide for parents and carers.

The guide features respresentative contributions from over 75 institutions. You can access the guide here.

On Monday this week we were pleased to welcome Mia Magee from Merseyside Youth Association who led a workshop assembly with students in Year 7.

The focus of the workshop was supporting friendships and resilience, and offered room for both room for reflection and good practical advice.

Thank you to Mia for making the time to visit us.

Congratulations to our 29 young writers who have been selected for publication in the recent 'Grim Tales' writing competition.

Our students, drawn from across Years 7 and 8, were challenged to write a creepy tale using either an original concept or a twist on a well known story in just one hundred words!

Our successful writers will see their work published in the final competition volume later this year.

There were tears of sadness and tears of joy on Friday this week as we gathered together in celebration of the last seven years at our Year 13 Leavers’ Mass.

The service was the culmination of a day in our calendar which is always emotive, and began with the signing of some intricately decorated shirts! Due to some examinations the traditional leavers' breakfast this year became a leavers' buffet lunch attended by students, their form tutors, and other staff, and catered magnificently by Mr Eccles and our catering team.

Following lunch, the gathering made their way to the Chapel for the students' final Mass, this year celebrated by Fr David from St. Wilfrid's Paris in Garston.

The Mass was, as always, a very moving occasion with the service being followed by the ceremonial handing over of robes from our outgoing 1804 Society to our brand new Society team, more of which we will bring you in the weeks to come.

Addresses then followed from Mrs McCourt, Mrs Jones and our Student President Grace Ramsey who ended her sterling tenure with her recollections of seven years at St. Julie's.

As our leavers made their way out of the Chapel for the final time they received a round of applause from a guard of honour from staff. We know that these amazing young women will go on to do great things, and we keep in our hearts that although they may be leaving us, their time at St. Julie's will never leave them. 

Merseyside Police have asked us to circulate a letter to our school community with advice about safety over the half term break.

You can find a copy here.

Following the visit of the Congregational Leadership of the Sisters of Notre Dame last week, we asked students to reflect on their time with the Sisters.

During their visit, the team were very keen to meet with students but our students were equally keen to find out more about our visitors! Students decided that an informal Q&A session would be a great way to learn about the lives of our guests who have not only been on a fascinating spiritual journey but also live and work in fascinating places across the world!

The session helped our students to get a real feeling of just how big and wide the Notre Dame global community is, and you can read some of their thoughts below:

“I spoke to Sr Miriam. She is from Peru and wanted to be a Sister when she was 18. It was interesting.”

“It was nice as I was able to talk to a Sister of Notre Dame and I asked questions and was inspired to follow my dreams after speaking to them about how they became a Sister. I also got the chance to talk about my time at St Julie’s.”

“It was nice to talk to a Sister of Notre Dame from Nigeria and to learn about her. She was VERY nice!”

“I enjoyed the inspiration of chasing our dreams and learning about her life.”

“I liked it because I learnt new things abut Sister Miriam. I learnt that Sisters can come from all over the world. The experience was amazing as I interacted with someone from Peru.”

“I enjoyed it because I learned how they live and how they travel to different schools. I was interested by the group of women who came to school to meet us came from all different continents.”