FROM THE HEADMASTER

It was lovely to be back to school after the half term break and even more lovely to have some sunshine this week.

Scholarship Success

I am delighted to announce that Charlotte Berry has been awarded a ‘Flair’ Scholarship to Northampton High School.  This is a Performing Arts scholarship in recognition of her superb drama, music and dance.  Very well done and congratulations to Charlotte.

School Shop

I am pleased to inform you of three new offerings relating to the School Shop, with further details elsewhere in the newsletter.

Food Bank – As you will know, every October we support the Hope Centre, Northampton, by collecting harvest produce to donate to the centre.  I am pleased to say that in a further charitable move we will also be supporting the KCU Foodbank in Kettering and, in the first instance, from next week, we will be placing a basket in the School Shop where parents can donate non-perishable items of food which will be then sent on to the We hope in time to support the Foodbank even more, but this is a very good starting point.  If you would like to donate items, they can be left in the basket in the School Shop during opening times.

Uniform Labelling Service – Mrs Vowles (parent) is offering a labelling service at £1.20 per uniform item. If you are interested in using this service please leave clothing in a bag in the labelling basket outside the school shop and include fabric name tapes and contact information. The turnaround time is within 3 days.

Spratton Hall Bear Keepsake – a local company called Little Bear now offers a keepsake Spratton Hall teddy bear made out of old uniform fabric.  One of their exemplar teddies can be viewed in the shop itself. It really is rather special and might make a lovely present for someone.

Cross-Country

I thoroughly enjoyed watching our Years 3 and 4 runners take part in the Spratton Junior Cross-Country Festival on Tuesday.  Very well done to both our Year 3 girls and boys who won each of their team events, with the Year 4 girls runners-up.  Particularly well done to Aoife Ryan (Year 3) and Octavia Podesta (Year 4) who won their race and Freddie Warner (Year 3) who came in 2^nd.

This Sunday sees the pinnacle of the prep schools cross-country year with the National Cross-Country Championships taking place at Malvern College.  This is always an extremely tough event on a very challenging course.  Good luck to all the runners.

World Book Day on Thursday

There is always great excitement as World Book Day approaches.  It should be a most enjoyable and entertaining day, as always with the aim of promoting reading and a love of books among the children.  It is always good fun seeing the children, and indeed the staff, arriving at school in their costumes and then working out which book character everyone has come as.  As always, my thanks to the members of staff involved, particularly Mrs Willoughby, Librarian, and Mrs Lindsay-Smith, Head of English, for their work in organising the day.

Year 8 Mock Exams

I wish Year 8 all the very best for their exams taking place next week.  As I always say, these provide valuable learning points for the children and it is excellent practice for them to sit a set of exams in a formal exam setting, providing a good grounding for their future schooling.

Thank you and have a good weekend.

Simon Clarke
Headmaster

PRE-PREP

Inspired by a World Champion

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome a truly inspirational visitor to the Pre-Prep this week. Jude Jones, Team GB athlete, British Champion and current BMX Freestyle World Champion, joined us to share his remarkable journey of passion, courage and perseverance with the children.

Jude described how he learnt to ride at just four years old, practising every day after school until, reaching his teenage years, he was creating and performing daring twists, spins and jumps high above the ramps. It was incredibly moving to hear his openness about how much he doubted himself at times, even giving up completely for a couple of years. Yet he found the strength to try again, and his bravery and determination touched us all.

The children were completely captivated – and the morning ended in the best possible way, with a walk to skate ramps at Spratton Park to watch Jude in action. Seeing his incredible skills first-hand was the perfect, awe-inspiring finale to a truly heart-warming visit.

Reception Build … The Great Wall of Spratton Hall!

As Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations draw to a close, Reception have been lending their support with an array of festive Chinese activities.  From carefully cutting and folding beautiful red and gold lanterns, to using technology to enjoy a thrilling cockpit view of an imaginary flight to China.  They even ventured across the school fields to build their very own ‘Great Wall of Spratton Hall’!

Year 1’s Assembly – Off to Ancient Egypt!

Our Year 1 children totally wowed us on Thursday afternoon with their engaging Egyptian-themed assembly. Packed with fascinating (and rather gruesome!) facts about life in Ancient Egypt, it was truly impressive how much knowledge the children had retained. Combining both glamour and gore, we admired their ornate, sparkling headdresses and brightly coloured death masks before shuddering at the vivid description of the mummification process! With two lively songs adding to the atmosphere, it was certainly an entertaining step back in time.

World Book Day, Thursday 5^th March – the Countdown Begins!

With less than a week to go, excitement is bubbling as to which story characters the children (and staff!) will come dressed as for World Book Day.  A fantastic line-up of activities awaits, including the much-loved Pre-Prep Costume Parade. We are particularly looking forward to the Pre-Prep ‘Big Book Swap’ – a chance to trade in a pre-loved favourite, whether fiction or non-fiction, for a tantalising new read to take home. In a mission to spread the joy of reading, any remaining books will be donated to the children’s wards at Northampton General Hospital. Please refer to my letter, emailed to parents today, for all the details!

Pupil Achievements

Congratulations to the following children for their swimming awards: Angus Meikle – Stage 3 Puffin Award, Harper Thomas – Level 1, and Rhiannan Walton – Level 1.

Very well done to Cecilia Ryopponen and Callum Boyson for gaining ski race medals for their effort and skill on the slopes.

Congratulations to Jamie Kirkaldy who has gained her Gymnastics Level 7 Award.

Very well done to Rafe Naden-Robinson who has successfully gained his yellow tags in Tae Kwon Do.

Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep

WORLD BOOK DAY

On Thursday 5^th March it is World Book Day and we are asking your child to take part in a number of ways…

• Dress up as your favourite book character!
• Be part of a Prep School House Book Competition!
• Make a book character from a toilet roll tube!
• Take part in the Poetry Treasure Hunt!
• Share some reading time with a pupil from a different year group!
• Listen to some Roald Dahl read by famous faces!
• Get some new reading material at Miss Willoughby’s Book Swap!
• Grab a free reading book with a £1 voucher!

Mrs Lindsay-Smith

SCHOOL MINIBUS

Advanced warning, please be aware that the school minibus service will NOT be running on the evening of Tuesday 9th June or the morning or Wednesday 10th June due to the Year 8 sports tour.  Therefore, parents will need to arrange alternative transport at these times.

Apologies in advance.

INTERNET SAFETY TALK

Gareth Cort will be talking to Years 1-4 on Monday 9th March about keeping themselves safe and happy online.  He will also be giving a talk for parents at 8.30-9.10am in the Studio if you wish to attend.

HOUSE COMPETITIONS

Music Quiz

Champions -Raleigh
2nd= Drake & Grenville
4th – Frobisher

Year 6 Computer Gaming

1st – Drake
2nd – Raleigh
3rd – Grenville
4th – Frobisher

SPORT

Years 3&4 Cross-Country Festival

ART

Artist of the Week 

This week’s Artist of the Week is Noah Carlin (4R) for painting two wonderful spring pictures in his own time in the holidays.

SCHOOL SHOP

Labelling Service

Charlotte Vowles is offering a labelling service at £1.20 per uniform item. If you are interested in using this service please leave clothing in a bag in the labelling basket outside the school shop and include fabric name tapes and contact information. Turnaround time is within 3 days.

Spratton Hall ‘Little Bear’

A local company called Little Bear now offers a keepsake Spratton Hall teddy bear made out of your child’s old uniform fabric. An example bear is available to see in the school shop.

Food Bank

We are now supporting the KCU Foodbank in Kettering and a basket will be located in the school shop for parents to donate non-perishable food items during shop opening times. If you have any questions about the food bank or would like to help further, do please contact Mrs Cochrane (mummy to Isaac) on 07759 632169 who will be happy to answer your questions.

School Shop Opening Times: Monday and Wednesday 3.30-5.30pm, Friday 8.00-9.00am

For more information about any of these services please visit or contact the School Shop.

CAKE SALE

Thank you to everyone who made cakes for Tuesday’s Year 8 Cake Sale supporting Air Ambulance.  We managed to raise a total £263.36.

PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS

Well done to Harriet who swam a mile raising an amazing £320 for Parkinson’s UK, 8W’s chosen charity.

NON-SCHOOL EVENTS