Just before the Easter break we held our inaugural Inter-House Gaming Competition. Students were given the opportunity to compete over three rounds, playing popular video games.

Round 1 was a speed run of the first level ‘Emerald Hill Zone’ from the 1992 two-dimensional platform game ‘Sonic 2’. Over the course of a week, 41 competitors from varying year groups and houses turned up to try and clock the fastest time. Some impressive performances were on display but the fastest student by far was Cameron Hambleton from Maple house who managed to complete the level in just 38 seconds!

The 16 fastest students progressed to round 2 in which they would face off in 1-v-1 ‘Rocket League’ matches. Using a combination of driving and football skills, the person with the most goals at the end of their 5 minute game was pronounced the winner. 16 quickly became 8 and then a second match left us with 4 semi-finalists to progress to round 3.

Evan Luxton 12 Beech

Kian Shahverdi 12 Oak

Vinnie Rolfe 7 Maple

Jeremiah Jemba 7 Maple

Round 3 was played on the world famous first person shooter ‘Halo’. Competitors were placed into an arena and had to engage in combat. The person that had been dispatched the least at the end of the ten minute timer was the winner.

The first two matches left us with two finalists and two runners up. After a third place playoff to determine who would take the bronze medal, it all came down to the final.

A tense match with some crafty tactics took everything right down to the wire but ultimately, only one victor emerged.

And it was a ‘David & Goliath’ story. One of our year 7 students dispatched a year 12 student to emerge the overall winner of the competition.

Congratulations went to Jeremiah Jemba in maple house who walked away with the top prize (£30 worth of shopping vouchers) and the adulation of all that witnessed his achievement.

A worthy runner up, Kian Shahverdi (12 Oak) took second place and claimed his £20 worth of vouchers and third place playoff winner Evan Luxton (12 Beech) took the £10 voucher.

Well done to all who competed. It truly was a fun and exciting event that produced some great memories for those that took part.

Running in tandem with this competition, was the charity collection for the Red Trust food bank. Over the course of a few weeks, students donated non-perishable food stuffs and toiletries for the less fortunate.

These were then collated by the sixth form students who presented them to a representative from the Red Trust Bushey who was absolutely elated with the collective efforts of all who donated.

A very big thank you to all of you that contributed to this drive. Your generosity and initiative will go a long way to improving the circumstances of those struggling the most in this cost of living crisis.