FROM THE HEADMASTER
Year 8
As I write, I am heading down to London for my trip with Year 8 as part of their post-exam programme. Very shortly, I will have the great pleasure of giving them their Common Entrance results and telling them that they have all successfully passed and will be going on to their school of choice. They are to be congratulated for their hard work and efforts. Very well done, indeed, to them all.
I thoroughly enjoyed their Fashion Show on Tuesday. It was a great success with some splendid costumes and outfits on display and I thought they all did a brilliant job of being models. Well done to them all and, of course, to Mrs Moreton, Miss Savage and the team for such a brilliant event.
Official Opening of the ‘Coley Centre’
It was lovely to see so many parents, visitors and Old Sprattonians attending the opening of the new building yesterday. Mr Coley, former Chair of Governors, was totally impressed with the building and touched that it will be named after him. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the former pupils, some of whom were here back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. They were rather blown away by what they had seen and how the school has developed over the years.
It has been good to see the medical rooms and dining room get into full swing in the last week or so and then, of course, the art rooms and new Year 1 classroom to be in use for September.
Athletics
Our Athletics team really has had an outstanding term. Following the Years 6, 7 and 8 Regional Athletics event at Bedford last week, we have 7 children who have won through to the National Prep Schools Finals to take place at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham in the last week of term. It has been many years since we have had so many children through to the Nationals.
Our Years 4 and 5 children also did extremely well at their event, although there are no national finals for the younger ones to get to. As an example of how well they did, every single one of our relay teams got through to the final on the day. Well done to them all.
Assemblies
The Friday morning assemblies led by different forms or year groups are always a joy. I enjoy sitting down to watch them, usually not knowing what is about to unfold. It is always a lot of hard work that goes into these assemblies by the children and the form tutors but it is a very good experience for the children. I was so sorry to miss the Year 4 assembly in person this morning as I am heading into London, but I watched the live-stream from the coach – well done to them all.
Forthcoming Events
As always at this busy time of the year, events come thick and fast. Next week, we look forward to the ‘Music in Quiet Places’ concert in St Andrew’s Church on Monday. Then on Tuesday, our Year 8 head off on tour to Norfolk where I am sure they will have a wonderful time. Tuesday evening is the Year 7 production of ‘Midsummer Northants Madness’. Next Friday at 2pm is Years 6, 7 and 8 Sports Day, always a special event, which takes place on the bottom fields with all parents welcome to attend.
Thank you and do have a good weekend.
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
PRE-PREP
A Super Speedy Sports Day
Excitement and energy levels soared on Monday as the Pre-Prep children headed out onto the fields for an action-packed Sports Day. Waving their banners and cheering loudly, each team gave it their all as they worked their way around a circuit of activities. From soaring jumps and speedy sprints to target throws, tricky balances and quick fire aiming, every activity showcased the vital movement skills the children have been mastering in PE. The field was a blur of motion, laughter and determination—the children didn’t stop moving, or smiling, for a moment! Miss Morrow and the children of 2W are certainly smiling after they triumphantly claimed the ‘Shuttle Race Relay’ trophy this year.
Roots, Shoots and Wriggly Friends!
Our classrooms are literally bursting with life at the moment. In addition to the stick insects in Mrs Littlewood’s room, which quite staggeringly, seem to have quadrupled in size in the last week, there are many window ledges dotted around the Pre-Prep sporting trays full of germinating seeds, beans and plants. Reception have thrown themselves into the role of gardeners with great enthusiasm, proudly decorating their plant pots and carefully tending to their sunflower seedlings. With fingers crossed and watering cans at the ready, they’re hoping to grow the tallest sunflowers ever!
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
This afternoon will be one of fun, fur and friendship, as teddies of all shapes and sizes join their young owners for an afternoon tea party at school. Our much-loved Teddy Bears’ Picnic is one of our joyful induction events, aimed at welcoming the children who will be starting Reception in September. It will be an afternoon of chasing bubbles, biscuit decorating (teddy shaped, of course!) colouring, ball games and parachute fun. It is safe to say there will be a few tired, but very happy, teddies by home time!
Moving On Day – Thursday 19th June
Finally, the excitement continues next week with our ‘Moving On Morning’ for the children on Thursday – the day when the children not only discover who their new teachers will be in September, but also get to spend the morning with them in their soon-to-be new classrooms. Then, at 6pm, it is parents’ turn to meet their child’s new teacher and to learn a little more about what the next academic year holds, in our Parent Information Evening.
Pupil Achievements
Many congratulations to Jamie Kirkaldy who has gained her Level 7 Gymnastics Award.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
OAKHAM SCHOOL CLASSICS COMPETITION
Spratton’s first-ever Latin team – the 1st IV of Poppy, Amelie, Finlay and Monty – headed off to the inaugural Oakham Classics Competition today, under the watchful eyes of Team Manager Dr Gillam and Water-boy Mr Dow.
The morning first involved a handling session with Oakham’s very impressive collection of Roman, Greek, Syrian and Egyptian artefacts, under the guidance of Head of Classics Dr Leveritt. Monty was particularly impressive with both questions and answers, but all the children enjoyed donning latex gloves to handle items that were up to 3000 years old! The favourite was a Roman slingshot bullet, inscribed with the phrase “Have it!” (in Latin).
We then moved onto the competition, with eight rounds of tough questions ranging from simple vocabulary, through a ‘Pointless’ round and “Name that Film Title”, to identifying Classical figures used in modern logos. The Spratton team worked really well together, but Witham’s superior speed on the buzzers saw them run out winners. However, Spratton were a very creditable 3rd out of 5 teams, beating hosts Oakham and Oundle. Very well done all!
YEAR 8 LEARN GREEK
Year 8 continued their Post CE educational journey by heading back to Ancient Greece on Wednesday. They started by studying the Greek alphabet, including translating from and writing in Greek, then competed in their Forms in the Ancient Olympics. Events included a horse race, a sprint in full “armour”, and a chariot race. 8M – Sparta – triumphed. Finally, each Form had to work together to build a Trojan Horse that could hold a Greek solider. All in all, a fantastic morning of fun and education.
ART
Year 8 Fashion Show
Well done to Year 8 for their fantastic Fashion Show on Tuesday evening under this year’s theme of ‘Natural World’. Special thanks go to Mrs Moreton, Miss Savage, parents and staff who helped to make the evening such a great success.
MUSIC
Informal Concert – Monday 16th June
We are looking forward to the Informal Concert on Monday. Tea is provided for all performers and for any siblings that have requested it. Please be reminded that all performers and siblings in the Prep School will walk down to the church together and meet parents there. Any Pre Prep siblings must be collected from school. All are welcome to come and support.
ABRSM Exams
The ABRSM exams will be on Thursday 19th June and the morning of Friday 20th June. The timetable is now finalised and is on display in the Music Department. Your child must come to the Music Department approximately 30 minutes before their exam time.
Summer Concert
All of our music ensembles will be playing in the Summer Concert on Tuesday 1st July. A letter will be sent out next week containing further details.
Exam Success
Congratulations to the following pupils for their excellent drum exam results:-
Initial
Cecil Walton – Pass
Grade 1
Blake Purcell – Merit
Zac Maule – Merit
Milo Grifo Garton – Merit
Margot Wilson – Merit
Bertie Glason – Merit
William Ogbourne – Merit
Grade 2
Jacob Beynon – Merit
ATHLETICS
The athletics team had fantastic days at the Regional Prep Schools competitions in Bedford and Cambridge.
On the track at Bedford we made 10 finals, out of a possible 18, which is a great achievement considering there were about 50 schools attending. The Senior Girls Relay Team of Isla Allsopp, Amber Bowyer, Isabella Szechenyi and Poppy Johnson should be very proud of their performances coming 3rd, unfortunately missing out on qualifying for the National Finals.
The following 10 pupils had an outstanding day, qualifying for the next round in Birmingham:
Kitty Kanjurs winning the Long Jump.
Emily Spencer winning the Hurdles
Mara Hamilton winning the 800m
Archie Wright won the 100m and came 2nd in the Shot, breaking the school record in the process
Ludo Lindsay winning the High Jump
Harry Rogers winning the Hurdles, for the third year in a row
Harry Rogers, Ludo Lindsay, Joe Barber and Archie Wright winning the Relay
Then the Juniors went off to Cambridge, with many pupils taking part in a meeting for the first time.
Overall, we achieved three 2nd places and won one event, we also made over half of the finals, set many personal bests and broke one school record.
Alicia Szechenyi broke Isabella Szechenyi’s 600m record by 1 second, Sofia Slowey came second in the High Jump, 200m and as part of the Year 5 Girls’ Relay team, with Jessica Dorrian, Amelia Legg and Jemima Paul.
The Year 4 Girls’ Relay team performed amazingly to come finish first!
THE COLEY CENTRE – OFFICIAL OPENING
It was lovely to see so many attend the official opening of The Coley Centre, named after our former Chairman of Governors, on Thursday afternoon when staff, parents, pupils, Old Spratts and Governors gathered to view the new dining room, Art rooms and medical facility.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Arthur Westaway who was called up to play for the Northants District U13 cricket team last weekend and took 4 wickets for them.
Well done to 8W who took part in the Wolf Run at Stanford last weekend for Diabetes UK. They went round the course twice (6K), working well together and getting plastered in mud! The running total raised so far is a fantastic £1165 plus £275 gift aid.
Congratulations to Scarlett Smart who successfully auditioned to be in the panto at the Royal & Derngate this December as part of the youth ensemble. From 100 dancers she was one of the eight selected.
SHSPA – CHARITY PRINTS
If you would like to purchase a print, postcard or bookmark of Spratton Hall, designed by Mrs Hancock (Year 3 parent), you can do so through the link below.
Money raised from these sales is going to support the MND Assocation.
