The Henry Beaufort School is delighted to announce that Mariia, one of our exceptional students, has won the prestigious GCHQ Christmas Card Competition. This national contest, organised by the UK’s intelligence, security, and cyber agency, invited schoolchildren to design a Christmas card complete with a hidden puzzle or code. Mariia’s design stood out among hundreds of entries nationwide, showcasing her creativity, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
This term, our Year 7 – 10 students took on a festive mission: researching the history of GCHQ, designing their own ciphers, and letting their creativity and curiosity shine. Mariia’s entry impressed the judges and was selected as the winning design, a moment that will be announced personally by the Director of GCHQ. She also appeared on BBC Breakfast in recognition of her achievement.
Miss Hearle, Headteacher, The Henry Beaufort School, said:
“I am so delighted that Mariia’s creative and analytical skills have been recognised. The Henry Beaufort School community are so proud of her. She embodies our core values of Pride, Happiness, and Ambition. She is a role model for the young people of our school in everything she does, and winning this competition is the icing on the cake.”
Mr Newman, Mariia’s Maths teacher, The Henry Beaufort School, added:
“We are incredibly proud of Mariia. She shines with both creativity and intellectual talent. This achievement perfectly reflects our school values that we nurture at The Henry Beaufort, and it’s wonderful to see her talent recognised in such a prestigious competition.”
Mariia’s Mum said:
“Mariia has always been one of those children who truly loves learning. She dedicates a lot of time to her studies independently, and from an early age she showed both a natural creativity and a strong talent for mathematics. In this project, these two gifts, together with her discipline, came together beautifully.
We didn’t expect this achievement at all…it was a wonderful surprise for all of us. Her appearance on BBC Breakfast…was an unforgettable experience that I’m sure she will remember for the rest of her life I am incredibly proud of her and love her very much.”
At The Henry Beaufort School, we’re passionate about supporting every student in their learning and personal growth. We are always looking for ways to provide the best opportunities, helping our students flourish both academically and personally. Mariia’s success is a shining example of how our students embody the values of Pride, Happiness, and Ambition every day.
We are ambitious for all our students and to be an inclusive comprehensive school where students are happy. We celebrate the success of our students at every opportunity, placing great value on our cultural enrichment programme and taking delight in the energy around the school site well beyond the official school day.
Mariia’s achievement demonstrates that at The Henry Beaufort, there are no limits to success and what our students can achieve.