Cheltenham Ladies' College Podcast

In this episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, we explore Social Action at CLC, from our Community Links Programme to our charity partnerships. Social Action Mentor, Mrs Laura Isaac, is joined by students Anne, Cynthia and Ehije, who share their personal experiences of volunteering, community engagement, and the impact these projects have had on their time at CLC.We’re also delighted to welcome Lucy Bingham from St Hilda’s East, a charity with whom CLC has a long-standing partnership, and which is very close to our heart.Together, our guests reflect on the breadth of social action across College, the importance of meaningful community connection, and the ways in which pupils are empowered to make a positive difference in their communities and in society.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

In this episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, Head of Property Services Matt Peplow and Rachel Shotliff, Senior Architect at Purcell, share exciting behind-the-scenes updates on our world-leading Sixth Form Centre, set to open in Autumn 2026.Matt outlines the vision for the centre, while Rachel reflects on Purcell’s journey to securing the project and the collaborative work completed so far, including a visioning workshop Purcell held with pupils and staff to understand the priorities and aspirations of the CLC community through a series of creative exercises.Drawing on Purcell’s expertise in heritage and preservation architecture, Rachel also explains how the team is committed to preserving the character of the three-storey Victorian building while translating CLC’s educational vision for the space into a modern, functional design. She also shares insights into the practical planning, design considerations, and technical challenges involved in bringing the project to life.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

In this episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, Co-Curricular Director, Mr James Pothecary, reflects on the breadth, purpose and impact of co-curricular life at CLC.Mr Pothecary shares how co-curricular and academic studies go hand in hand, as well as how the programme represents the mission and values of College - embodying excellence, independence and the empowerment and inspiration in the education of women.Central to the success of co-curricular life at CLC is its responsiveness to student voice and their interests, with more than 50 clubs each year being entirely student led. At CLC, we carefully support each student in finding the right fit for them - whether that involves high-level sport, advanced academic exploration or creative pursuits - all hobbies and passions are encouraged. Ultimately, Mr Pothecary believes co-curricular involvement instils confidence, resilience and independence - qualities that prepare students not only for university but for life beyond.Could this be your future? Our registration deadline is 10th January 2026 - register now by heading to: https://www.cheltladiescollege.org/apply/joiningThe music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

A new CLC Sixth Form Centre is coming!🚨🎉In Autumn 2026, CLC will be home to a centre that will provide state-of-the-art facilities and innovative spaces - enhancing our world-class teaching across the IB and A Level programmes, and our wider pioneering approach to holistic education.The new centre will promote independent and self-directed learning, creating a strong foundation for adulthood and preparation for life at university. It will enable students to develop academic confidence, self-motivation and resilience, through real-world professional and academic experiences, and authentic environments that mirror a university education. Beyond this, the new centre will support our holistic approach to fostering emotional, creative, and spiritual growth beyond academic learning. This exciting space will be located in a Victorian three-storey building, with a significant extension, located close to the main teaching campus.In our latest podcast episode, Dr Sherwood (Head of SFC) and Dr Gamblin (VPA) shared their plans and inspiration for the project whilst sat in the new building. Listen now to learn more! You can also discover more about the variety of spaces that will be featured in the new centre on our website.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.#SixthFormCentre #SixthForm #Autumn2026 #Announcement

Executive Principal Eve Jardine-Young and Head of College Jemima Edney, share their journeys from their time as pupils to working together in leadership of College in their new roles. As both are CLC alumnae, they reflect on their school memories, the importance of Guild and what inspires them as they shape the future of College together.Eve and Jemima discuss stories of music, their passions when at College and even a few surprising fun facts including Irish dancing and a football proposal!The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

This episode is part of our 2025 Giving Day on the 18th and 19th June, where we’ll be fundraising for our pupils and their education - supporting Women of the Future. In this episode, we’ll be chatting with Principal Eve Jardine-Young and Mr Nigel Richards COO, about one of our five fundraising pillars, Resilience and Innovation. This pillar encompasses many projects including supporting our sustainability goals, which involves renewable energy initiatives, future-proofing CLC for generations to come and much more.Learn more about Resilience and Innovation and donate to support our projects, by heading to clcgivingday.hubbub.net.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

This episode is part of our 2025 Giving Day on the 18th and 19th June, where we’ll be fundraising for our pupils and their education - supporting Women of the Future. In this episode, we’ll be chatting with Principal Eve Jardine-Young, Ms Joanna Kilburn Head of History and Politics, Mr Will Parker Director of Sport & Physical Activity and CEP lead, and Xara Davies Teacher of English and former Beale Award holder about one of our five fundraising pillars, Diversity, Inclusion and Community. This pillar encompasses many projects including Project PH, supporting our bursary Beale Awards, and continuing to deliver our social action programmes and much more. Learn more about Diversity, Inclusion and Community and donate to support our projects, by heading to clcgivingday.hubbub.netThe music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

This episode is part of our 2025 Giving Day on the 18th and 19th June, where we’ll be fundraising for our pupils and their education - supporting Women of the Future. In this episode, we’ll be chatting with Principal Eve Jardine-Young, Vice Principal Academic Dr David Gamblin and Director of Music Mr David Lloyd, about one of our five fundraising pillars, Educational Excellence. This pillar encompasses many projects including enhancing our resources for co-curricular clubs, investing in new musical instruments and much more. Learn more about Educational Excellence and donate to support our projects, by heading to clcgivingday.hubbub.netThe music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

This episode is part of our 2025 Giving Day on the 18th and 19th June, where we’ll be fundraising for our pupils and their education - supporting Women of the Future. In this episode, we’ll be chatting with Principal Eve Jardine-Young, Head of Lower College Ms Charlotte Woodhead and Head of Sixth Form Mr Josh Sumner, about one of our five fundraising pillars, Welfare and Wellbeing. This pillar encompasses many projects including enhancing our mentalhealth support, dedicated PSHE learning spaces and much more.Learn more about Welfare and Wellbeing and donate to support our projects, by heading to clcgivingday.hubbub.netThe music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

This episode is part of our 2025 Giving Day on the 18th and 19th June, where we’ll be fundraising for our pupils and their education - supporting women of the future. In this episode, we’ll be chatting with Principal Eve Jardine-Young, Vice Principal Academic Dr David Gamblin and Head of the Professional Guidance Centre Victoria Sherwood, about one of our five fundraising pillars, Empower and Inspire. This pillar encompasses many projects including enhancing our learning spaces, expanding the Professional Guidance Centre and much more.Learn more about Empower and Inspire and donate to support our projects, by heading to clcgivingday.hubbub.net

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we chatted with Margaret Cavanagh, Mental Health Clinical Lead and CBT Therapist, and Charlotte Pitt, Psychotherapist, to discusshow they support students' well-being and create a safe space for mental health in the school community.They explore how the mental health team is structured at CLC, how they collaborate with teachers and outside professionals, and what support systems are available to students. Margaret and Charlotte also share insights intothe various types of therapy, how to approach feelings of anxiety or other overwhelming emotions and offer advice for young people navigating school life, including tips for students who might be living away from home for the first time, and how to recognise when to seek further help.At CLC, we understand the importance of finding the rightsupport, and are proud to promote a culture of care and openness.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

In celebration of International Earth Day, Nigel Richards (CLC’s Chief Operating Officer), and SFC students Abigail (part of the Cheltenham Education Partnership’s Sustainability Group) and Penelope (leader of CLC’s Sustainability Committee) discuss all things sustainability at CLC♻️From chatting about the successful sustainability initiatives at CLC, to future proofing for the next generation and emphasising how important it is to make sustainable choices, they shared their thoughts about climate change and the positive impact young people can make.At CLC, we make it our mission to empower young people and encourage them to want to make positive impacts on the world. We have a huge community of staff and students who have a passion for sustainability and the wider community impact. From the Sustainability Prefects, to the Sustainability Committee, the Cheltenham Education Partnership Sustainability Group and more, everyone at College has a desire to make positive environmental changes.You can learn more about sustainability at CLC by heading to our website and www.cheltladiescollege.org and searching ‘sustainability’.The music used in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.#sustainability #earthday #green #environment #education

Sport and physical exercise is a huge part of CLC life🏃In our latest podcast episode, Mr Parker (Director of Sport), Mrs Najim (Head of Cricket) and Sport Prefect Bea discuss sport at CLC and the positive mindset that is fostered towards physical exercise. Our specialised staff prepare students for lifelong potential, not just short term success, so we can support them in keeping their options open, and helping students to be active for the long run.We are proud to offer students a great breadth of sporting opportunities and clubs to help increase their love of sport and help them navigate what they enjoy.The music used in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

For the 10th episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, Mrs Davidson (Head Houseparent of Eversleigh) and LC1 Day students Erin, Alexandra and Alice, talk all about what life is like as a CLC Day Girl.Some prospective day students may be worried that joining a boarding school might mean that they feel left out, but at CLC, we believe every student is a vital part of our community. Staff ensure all pupils feel included.Houseparent’s at CLC work hard to ensure House is a warm and homely environment. Even though Eversleigh is a Day House, students and pastoral staff still form strong bonds.Day students at CLC have access to a world wide education, and make lifelong friendships with people from around the world. We are proud to nurture an inclusive and diverse environment.Go to our website at www.cheltladiescollege.org to find out more about being a Day student at CLC.  

For the ninth episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College podcast, we’re getting into the festive spirit and talking all things Christmas! We were delighted to welcome Guild member Katy Bagnall (1971 - 1978) to College to join Claudia (SFC2) and Tahlia (LC2) to share their favourite CLC Christmas memories. The festive period at CLC is always highly anticipated by students, and is a fond and warm memory for many Guild members. Listen now to hear Katy, Claudia and Tahlia’s favourite CLC Christmas memories and traditions. The music used in this episode is from 'Adeste Fideles', the College Choir Christmas CD.

In our latest podcast episode, Dr Sherwood, Head of the Professional Guidance Centre, and Miss Mcarthy and Miss Green, Global Universities Advisors, discuss the Professional Guidance Centre (PGC) and what support CLC has in place for all students to help them achieve a successful future. At CLC, we know school is more than just about gaining grades. From option guidance and higher education and career advice, to employability and networking workshops, the PGC helps students find the right path for them as an individual. We are proud to nurture an academic environment where students feel they can choose their own future and leave CLC feeling ready to achieve success in higher education and employment. The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

For the seventh episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, Dr Woolstenhulme, Teacher in Charge of Academic Scholarship: Enrichment, is joined by Helena (SFC) and Sophia (UC) to discuss Academic Scholarships at CLC. Throughout this episode, Dr Woolstenhulme explains the process of becoming an Academic Scholar and the opportunities, support and guidance that are in place for students. Helena and Sophia share their experiences of being Academic Scholars and give their advice to prospective and current students who are considering applying. At CLC, we foster a culture of academic excellence, fuelled by curiosity, a passion for learning and the confidence to make mistakes along the way. The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

For the sixth episode of the ‘Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast’, we’re joined by Dr Lee Beard, Head of History of Art, and students Tiggy and Tara (both SFC1) to explore the value and importance of History of Art. They’ll be sharing their love and passion for the subject, whilst discussing to what extent art is factual and reflecting on feelings and perspective. They explore how art of any form has the power to challenge conventions. One of the key messages that is discussed throughout the episode is recognising the power of art and how it can trigger emotional responses. Find us on Instagram and Facebook or head to our website at www.cheltladiescollege.org. The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.

For the fifth episode of the ‘Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast’, we’re joined by College Archivist Rachel Roberts to celebrate our 170th Anniversary. We’ll be taking a look through the Archives as Rachel shares how she came “face to face” with Dorothea Beale, her admiration for Lilian Faithfull and Margaret Popham due to their great foresight and resourcefulness during WW1 and WW2, and her greatest discoveries since starting her role. She even tells some Archives secrets! Rachel has recently retired after 20 years of service at CLC.  Find us on Instagram and Facebook or head to our website at www.cheltladiescollege.org The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer. #Archive #Education #WW1 #WW2 #Podcast #SchoolArchive

For the fourth episode of the ‘Cheltenham Ladies' College Podcast’, Jo Hucker and Hannah Clarke from the Sports Department discuss the menstrual cycle and how it affects female athletes' performance. Throughout this episode, Jo and Hannah explain the different phases of the menstrual cycle and uncover how they affect the body, emotional wellbeing, and recovery from physical activity, whilst myth-busting common incorrect period-related statements. They also share why exercise is beneficial during a period. It’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different and if you have any concerns, you can speak to a GP or school nurse. Find us on Instagram and Facebook or head to our website at www.cheltladiescollege.org. The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer. #MenstrualCycle⁠ ⁠#Period⁠ ⁠#WomenInSport⁠ ⁠#Education⁠ ⁠#Podcast⁠ ⁠#FemaleAthletes⁠ 

In recognition of Neurodiversity Week, we sat down with Paula Mason (Head of Learning Support) and Haley Rogers (SEND Mentor) to discuss why CLC feels it’s important to recognise and understand neurodiversity across College, and the value of raising awareness. Throughout this episode, Paula and Haley highlight how neurodiversity should not be seen as a deficit or disorder, and instead viewed as a spectrum of alternative thinking styles that should be celebrated and supported. We all experience day-to-day life differently and have executive function skills. These are the cognitive processes that allow us to manage day-to-day tasks and help with working memory, flexible thinking, managing impulses and self-regulation. They also help us stay focused, plan and be on time and organised.  The music used in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge.

For the second episode of the ‘Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast’, we’re joined by Charlotte Woodhead, Head of Lower College and Wellbeing Coordinator. This episode focuses on new beginnings, starting in a new environment and the nerves and excitement that can bring. Although it can feel daunting, Ms Woodhead believes the key to settling into any new start is to be your authentic self. At CLC, we celebrate and encourage our students to be individuals, and we recognise that in order to succeed academically, it’s important to prioritise our students' wellbeing. We have an abundance of support in place to ensure any student starting at CLC has a smooth and happy transition.  The music used in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge.

For the first episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, we’re joined by Dr David Gamblin, Vice Principal Academic at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. This episode focuses on academic enrichment, and how students can make the most of their education, as well as highlighting what support CLC has in place to ensure all pupils feel ready and excited to learn. Dr Gamblin believes learning with courage and bravery is key to success and fulfillment, whether that be on the sports pitch, in the classroom or when building friendships. The music used in this episode is composed and played by Guild member, Toru Obunge.

Welcome to the Cheltenham Ladies' College Podcast where we'll talk about all things from life in a boarding school and co-curricular activities, to bursaries, scholarships, to sustainability. These short episodes will give you the chance to really get to know CLC and feel part of the school, so that you can learn more about what we have to offer and the support in place for all students.