02 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 In the second half term of this academic year, students from Cardinal Heenan were given the privilege to take part in a chess tournament hosted by Gateacre School. We were up against top schools of Liverpool such as North Liverpool Academy, Calday Grange Grammar, Notre Dame Academy and Gateacre School themselves. The day was fastpaced, playing a total of 3 blitz matches (15minute games). I took part in the tournament as well as covering it. The day consisted of playing matches, gauging each game and assessing other players. The air was thick with tension as games ensued, quiet yet electric. Everyone was fighting for a chance to play in the nationals.The people were friendly despite the competitiveness, shaking hands as games started; there were even some relaxed pregame conversations to help calm nerves. Unfortunately, Heenan was not able to progress to the nationals, coming 4th place against a collective of 10 teams. However, we will still be invited to upcoming tournaments, one in NLA soon, with the prospect of hosting our very own tournament eventually. The tournament was ultimately a great experience, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in chess and a drive to improve to join Chess Club and take part in the future! He was always the last one to finish his matches, winning each one with utter precision. The epitome of patience and dedication, Jaiden brought his opponents to difficult positions, challenging them to solve their losing game. He especially stood out during his last match, being ahead of his opponent by 8 whole minutes– a testament to his skill. In spite of his landslide victories and team commendations, he stayed humble, saying that he only won due to “positional advantage”. I felt nervous, the weight of competition crushing me as I hadn’t played in a while. Our school team consisted of the members of the Chess Club, having a few sixth formers and a dominatingly large number of KS3/4 students. One player in this tournament stood out to me the most; Jaiden, Year 11, from our very own school. Chess Tournament takes over Card inal Heenan By Eliezer Estorque, Year 12 There are more possible chess moves than there are atoms in the observable universe? Did you know Knights, Kings, and Champions A word from Mr Corby: Ourchess club continues to go from strength to strength, with students competing in numerous tournaments at some really impressive venues. There are plenty opportunities to get involved with the chess team coming up, to get involved, the club runs every Wednesday from 34pm in the Sixth Form Study Area. As we step into a new term, we’re very excited to bring you the first ever edition of The Heenan Herald. This issue is a reminder of what makes our school community vibrant: your curiosity, your talent, and your willingness to share your stories. A huge thank‑you to our writers, photographers, and contributors. Without you, this would just be a very fancy blank page. And to our readers: thanks for flipping through, even if you’re only here to see if you can spot some familiar names or faces. If you’ve ever thought, “Hey, I could write something for the paper!” consider this your official invitation. Whether you’re passionate about journalism, love creative writing, or simply have a story worth telling, our door is open and we would love to hear what you have to say. This publication belongs to all of us, and we’re excited to see what you’ll bring to future issues. CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 01 A Note From The Editors Cardinal Heenan Newsletter Autumn/Winter Term 2025/6 In This Issue... 1...Words From The Editors 2...Checkmate! Students Stun in Chess Championship 3...Amped Up for Victory: Battle of the Bands 4...Society and Club Spotlight- Geography 5...Society and Club Spotlight- DnD Club 6...Subject Spotlight- Food Technology 7...Cook Like A Pro with Year 9 8...Football Heroes Tri mph 9...Advent Service: A Night Of Reflection and Celebration 10... Why Heenan Is A Great Choic For Girls at Sixth Form 11...Criminology Opens Doors to opportunities THE HEENAN HERALD VICTORY AT BATTLE OF THE BANDS Ms Buckland and Ms Mather
VICTORY AT BATTLE OF THE BANDS 02 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 In the second half term of this academic year, students from Cardinal Heenan were given the privilege to take part in a chess tournament hosted by Gateacre School. We were up against top schools of Liverpool such as North Liverpool Academy, Calday Grange Grammar, Notre Dame Academy and Gateacre School themselves. The day was fastpaced, playing a total of 3 blitz matches (15minute games). I took part in the tournament as well as covering it. The day consisted of playing matches, gauging each game and assessing other players. The air was thick with tension as games ensued, quiet yet electric. Everyone was fighting for a chance to play in the nationals.The people were friendly despite the competitiveness, shaking hands as games started; there were even some relaxed pregame conversations to help calm nerves. Unfortunately, Heenan was not able to progress to the nationals, coming 4th place against a collective of 10 teams. However, we will still be invited to upcoming tournaments, one in NLA soon, with the prospect of hosting our very own tournament eventually. The tournament was ultimately a great experience, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in chess and a drive to improve to join Chess Club and take part in the future! He was always the last one to finish his matches, winning each one with utter precision. The epitome of patience and dedication, Jaiden brought his opponents to difficult positions, challenging them to solve their losing game. He especially stood out during his last match, being ahead of his opponent by 8 whole minutes– a testament to his skill. In spite of his landslide victories and team commendations, he stayed humble, saying that he only won due to “positional advantage”. I felt nervous, the weight of competition crushing me as I hadn’t played in a while. Our school team consisted of the members of the Chess Club, having a few sixth formers and a dominatingly large number of KS3/4 students. One player in this tournament stood out to me the most; Jaiden, Year 11, from our very own school. We secured a well-deserved victory St. Julies’ Battle of the Bands, which was a blast from the offset.The hall was packed; all 190 seats were filled with excited parents (and some nervous bandmembers!) The night started off with West Derby’s covers of ‘All Star’ and ‘500 Miles’, originally by Smashmouth and The Proclaimers respectively. The crowd added to their performances by clapping along to every second of the songs. During intermissions, the atmosphere became calm, but as soon as the bands played, the place erupted! All of the lighting surrounding the stage added to the atmosphere, whether it was blue for a sombre ballad or red for the livelier bops. Some of the best performances of the night included Childwall’s version of Green Day’s ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ and St. Margarets’ performance of ‘Mr Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra. Calderstones also blew everyone away with their rendition of ‘Yellow’by Coldplay. Then, on stage came our very own Cardinal Heenan…. who absolutely stole the show covering Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’! Vocalist Patrikas, Y11, commented on how good the crowd was. The band, which consisted of Oliver (guitars), Johan (guitars), Louie (bass/ vocals), Zeke (piano/vocals) and Eliezer (drums/vocals), unanimously agreed that our vocalist’s performance was excellent. But the band as a collective were absolutely fantastic. When it was finally time for the judges to announce the winners, Childwall and their rendition of ‘Mr Blue Sky’ were awarded second place… which meant that Cardinal Heenan were crowned the winners! In my opinion, I believe that we were rightfully named the best band of the night. Each performer brought their ‘A’ game, but they were no match for Cardinal Heenan, as their performances were exceptional. Their playing was of the highest quality, and that quality shone through…and proved that we were second to none. I highly recommend that you take a listen to them, either at another event or just when they’re practising in the music department. I think that they, and the other bands, should be immensely proud of themselves for such a wonderful, entertaining night. CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 03 Chess Tournament takes over Card inal Heenan Eliezer Estorque, Year 12 There are more possible chess games than there are atoms in the observable universe? Did you know Knights, Kings, and Champions A word from Mr Corby: Our chess club continues to go from strength to strength, with students competing in numerous tournaments at some really impressive venues. There are plenty opportunities to get involved with the chess team coming up, to get involved, the club runs every Wednesday from 34pm in the Sixth Form Study Area. Tom Hyland, Year 9
04 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 05 At Cardinal Heenan, we pride ourselves in having a wide range of extra-curricular offerings. Harry Dealing spoke to Enrique (Year 8) and Miss Conlon about what makes Geography Club so special... Society and Club Spotlight Why do you think people should join Geography Club? I always liked Geography in primary. We get to build stuff, play games and talk about geography. This helps me build confidence as a lot of the time we get to speak up in front of a lot of other students and Miss Conlon. Enrique, Year 8 What inspired you to start the club? “I really enjoyed spending time with the pupils in these classes; I think their energy is contagious and their passion made me want to start an extracurricular club.” What do you think students gain from the experience? “Communication and social skills are the big ones; the learn how to debate, which links in with the focus of oracy we have across the whole school. On top of that, they make friendships and I’ve seen a lot of them open up and really come out of their shell which is a beautiful thing to witness as a teacher.” Geography Club has a great turnout; how do you encourage students to attend? I encourage them in my classes, through little reminders and emails. I teach a lot of them, so it’s easy to let them know that we’ll be meeting up. Miss Conlon, Geography teacher. Have you ever wanted to let your imagination run wild? Have you been looking for a fun, relaxing club to go to after a tiring school day? If so, why don't you roll initiative and join in on the fun packed action? Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy-based storytelling game, based on creativity teamwork and friendship. We work together to go on amazing imaginary adventures, being led by a DM (Dungeon Master), solving puzzles, beating bosses and collaborating to reach a common goal. The club is open to all years and all experience levels to enjoy a story shaped around your choices. In meetings we encourage lots of skills, such as communication and thinking quickly based on dice rolls and the actions of other characters. In my experience, being in the club is amazing. I was a bit confused and less talkative at first. but after a while you get the hang of it and it’s really fun! Being able to talk to your friends get the rush of a critical and the euphoria after a finished battle is like nothing else; I bet you'll also see the joy and fun of DnD if you come along. It's not just a game; it's a great community to make friends, create characters and let your creativity blossom! If you're interested in fantasy storytelling or just for an amazing time, why don't you roll for a brand-new campaign? Speak to Mrs Buckland or Mr Cooper to let them know you’re interested! Eugene Ng (Year 10) explains why he thinks a weekly afterschool adventure might be just what you need...
Baker Nutritional Scientist Food Scientist Chef/Head Chef Agricultural engineer Catering Manager Instructions 1.Fill a small saucepan ¾ with cold water & set on the hob to boil. 2.Peel & grate the ginger on a chopping board. 3. Dice the chicken into 2cm cubes. 4. Once the water has boiled, add the rice. 5. Add the chicken to a mixing bowl & season the chicken with salt, pepper and ginger. 6.Toss the chicken in the cornflour until it is completely coated. 7.Heat the oil in the frying pan for 1-2 minutes and carefully add the chicken. 8.Fry using a heat proof spatula until cooked through. 9.Once cooked, set aside. 10.Once the rice is cooked, drain it using a colander and set aside. 11.Put all the sauce ingredients in the saucepan and simmer until it looks syrupy – about 3-4 minutes. 12.Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss until completely coated. 13.Serve with the rice. 06 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 In Food Technology, students learn about lots of the different stages of cooking something; we look at how to sanitise a kitchen and prepare food for cooking and eating. This might be helpful in the future for people who like to cook, as it could be the first step in becoming a cook or chef when they grow up for a career. In the physical food tech lessons students make, shape, season and cook food to be prepared for eating and are allowed to take the food home when it is cooked. CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 07 Lennon Wilson, Year 7 explains wha t exactly you can expect to see in a Food Technol ogy lesson. Bigger Picture Thinking.... Subject Focus: Food Technology Where could a qualification in Food Tech take you in the future? We’ve included some ideas below, but if you’d like any more guidance speak to the Careers Team or your form tutor! YEAR 9! C o o k l i k e Ingredients •1 chicken breast •Large chunk of ginger •50g cornflour What you’ll need: For the sauce •6 tbsp dark soy sauce •2 tsbp gochujang paste •2 tbsp soy sauce •2 large garlic cloves •1 small piece of ginger •2 tsp sesame oil Whip up some Sticky Koran Chicken like Year 9 did last term...
Cardinal Heenan’s Year 8 team defeated Pensby last term when a 9-0 score followed a highly competitive match-up. It was definitely a game to remember for Heenan, but maybe one that Pensby would rather forget… 4 goals came from Heenan’s Craig, who stood out as a brilliant player. The lightning-fast Ethan secured a brace, and there were lovely goals from Patrick and Emmanuel. Heenan’s Curtis also put in a beautiful challenge to stop Pensby’s number 12 from scoring. 08 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 Speaking to Craig after the game, he told us, “I expected more from them. It wasn’t their day”. When asked if he would change anything next time, he said “If I could improve anything, I would work on my quality on the ball”. Overall, it was a great performance for Heenan, and Pensby were gracious in defeat. Their coach said,“the score will tell you it wasn’t great, but we will go again next time”. CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 09 Harry Dealing, Sports Reporter, Year 9 Sports News at Heenan On the 11th of December last term, Cardinal Heenan hosted one of their yearly events: the Christmas Advent, a joyous celebration to signal the end of term. With this came reflections, inciting many within the crowd to look retrospectively at the previous year, their small mistakes and valuable achievements. The audience consisted of a mix of teachers, students, parents, and friends, all excited by the festive nature of the event, no doubt admiring the school’s commitment to the Christmas spirit. Beginning the event was the school choir, all talented students in their own right, singing a well thought-out setlist. This signaled the beginning of the reflective part of the event, looking at all injustices in the world – the ongoing war with Ukraine, the alarming rise of poverty and disaster and the lives of those for whom this Christmas is not a time for relaxation. A prayer was said in response. Moving on from the heart-wrenching presentation was a short play enacted by three of our Year 7 students, performing a hilarious bit about the Shepherds in the wilderness until they saw the Star. The crowd was absolutely blown away by these impressive students. Soon after, Ms. Smyth added her closing remarks, reiterating the idea of going onto the new year with kindness and awareness. After the emotional and important display of reflection came the Christmas concert. To help alleviate the solemn atmosphere, one of the music teachers, Mr. Sanderson, cracked a joke, transitioning into a more upbeat feel. In this concert was a variety of students, some within the Jazz Club, a band of Year 10s and Sixth Formers. One of the most notable performances for me was a student named Patrikas in Year 11, who sang Cry Me A River (notably performed by Ella Fitzgerald) entirely in falsetto, a difficult feat that not many musicians can do. Even the winners of the Battle of the Bands in St. Julies made an appearance, playing their winning song “Beat It!” by Michael Jackson. Of course, we couldn’t forget it’s Christmas, so a Sixth Form band named The Wizard (consisting of students Faye, James, Aiden and Ethan) played their take on Wham!’s “Last Christmas”. Overall, the event was something I found difficult to put into words, as it’s something that you must be there to understand. The music was amazing and fitting, and the reflection was a necessary introspection to drive to improve our attitudes. I would highly encourage each and every one of you to attend next year! CHRISTMAS ADVENT SERVICE Eliezer Estorque, Year 12
10 CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 Going into Cardinal Heenan Sixth Form, psychology, criminology, film studies, and government and politics are just some of the many subjects you can study at A Level that are not an option at GCSE Level. Studying criminology at Sixth Form opens doors to many opportunities you may not be aware of at GCSE, from forensic psychology to sociology and law - perfect for those curious to learn about real life case studies and the criminal justice system. The best part? It is engaging and relevant, watching our students delve into case studies that allow you to think differently about the outside world. We recently asked psychology teacher Ms. Mitchell questions about her role as a teacher in her specified field. “This new subject helps you understand the human mind and its behaviours, and of course mental health. It can lead to many different degrees at university such as neuroscience, healthcare, and social sciences.” She also gave us a relaxed mindset to those struggling with this new subject “My best advice would be to keep an open mind and work hard around the subject not just in class, but outside. There is also lots of support if you are feeling anxious, which is normal”. CARDINAL HEENAN NEWS SPRING TERM 2026 11 Sixth Form Spotlight... CRIMINOLOGY Kudakwashe Gwatidzo, Year 13 If you’re in Year 11 and are interested in studying Criminology at Sixth Form or college, why not speak to the Careers Team or a member of staff for more details? Libby Glynn-Jones, Year 13
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA2Njk=