FROM THE HEADMASTER
Activities Week
It has been such a joy to see the children having an absolute blast this week with so much going on in school and on the various trips. You will have seen on our social media pages some fantastic photographs and videos of smiling children taking part in all manner of activities. I do hope they have enjoyed the week and I also hope they have said a thank you to their teachers for the huge amount of work that has gone into organising all the activities.
Cultural Festival
I am so looking forward to the festival this afternoon. I know the children have enjoyed putting their stalls together and many of the them have been so pleased to be able draw on their experience of different cultures both in this country and from around the world. It should be a really enjoyable, educational and fun afternoon.
Next Week
As we approach the final week of term, there is still much to look forward to with the rearranged Years 3 to 5 Sports Day on Monday, closely followed by the Year 8 v Parents Cricket matches that evening. On Tuesday we have the big end of term Summer Concert at 5.30pm in the Hunter Hall. Thursday is Pre-Prep Speech Day at 2pm and then on Friday, the final day of term, we look forward to the Year 8 Leavers’ Service in St Andrew’s at 9.30am followed by the Prep School Speech Day Ceremony at 11am.
Old Sprattonian News
At this time of year, I am always delighted to hear of former Spratton pupils who have been given positions of responsibility at their senior schools. From the ‘Class of 2021’, I have heard that Elsa Milne has been appointed to the Decem (Senior Prefect team) at Oakham and I was delighted to hear that Wilf Rand has been appointed Head Boy at Uppingham. Elsa and Wilf were Head Girl and Head Boy here and I am so pleased to hear of their further successes. Congratulations to them both.
I do hope the children enjoy a restful weekend – they deserve it!
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS
Please note there are no Clubs/Activities or Team Practices next week.
Prep is available on Monday, Tuesday and Wedneday only – there is NO PREP ON THURSDAY.
School End of Term times on Thursday are as follows:-
1500 – PRE-PREP (children with older siblings may stay until 1600)
1545 – YEARS 3, 4 & 5 (children with older siblings may stay until 1600)
1600 – YEARS 6, 7 & 8 – (All children to have been collected by 1600 when school closes)
Please do refer to the website calendar for full information
PRE-PREP
STEM-tastic Adventures in 1S!
STEM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are not only exciting but also a vital part of early childhood learning. At this magical stage of development, children’s brains are growing and forming connections at a faster rate than they ever will again. Therefore, giving them opportunities to explore, ask questions, solve problems, and think creatively is so important. This is exactly what was happening in 1S this week, when Miss Siddons and Mrs Skipworth set the children some practical group challenges – who knew that piles of spaghetti, marshmallows, and a mountain of Lego could spark so much teamwork, giggling, and higher-level thinking!
Reception Exercise their Physical and Creative Skills
Meanwhile, in Reception, the children have been giving their motor skills and imaginations a wonderful workout this week. They began with the careful and very satisfying, finger-thumb art of shredding paper – turning torn scraps into colourful creatures, inspired by the bold colourful collages of Henri Matisse.
Then, in Forest School, it was all about exercising even bigger physical skills on a much larger scale. Using pipes, crates, wooden pallets, and flowing fabric, the children collaborated to build boats for an imaginative journey to the Isle of Bloweryournose, straight from the pages of Julia Donaldson’s Jack and the Flum Flum Tree. Energy, physical skills, excitement and creativity have all certainly flowed in RY and RG this week.
Beaks and Seeds – Putting one of Charles Darwin’s Theories to the Test!
Meanwhile, in Year 2, the children have continued their exploration of evolution by recreating one of Charles Darwin’s famous ideas! They investigated whether birds with shorter beaks were better at eating small seeds than those with longer beaks. Using tweezers and chopsticks as beaks, they had great fun testing their theories and learning through hands-on science!
Year 2 – Final Pre-Prep Assembly
Finally, I simply cannot end without celebrating the utterly brilliant final assembly performed by Year 2 on Thursday. Watching the children stand tall and proud, reflecting on all they have achieved, was truly moving. Their confidence, joy, and love of learning radiated from the stage, filling every adult’s heart with pride—and more than a few eyes with happy tears.
With heartfelt songs and a beautifully delivered poem that captured the spirit of their Pre-Prep journeys, the children reminded us just how far they’ve come. It’s clear that Year 2 are not only ready to embrace the adventures that await them in the Prep School, they are positively shining with excitement for what comes next.
Pupil Achievements
Many Congratulations to Callum Boyson, Romilly Boyson and Reuben Lofts who represented Spratton Hall in the Independent Schools’ Indoor Skiing Championships, scooping 1st and 6th places in different events.
Very well done to George Harris who has gained his Level 6 Award in Swimming.
Congratulations to Leonardo Dep-Shepherd whose football team, the U7’s Mawsley Comets, successfully won the Harpole Plate Trophy.
Very well done to Willa Mercer, who took part in her first gymnastics competition involving bar, vault and floor work, and successfully achieved 5th place.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Parents are welcome to join us – today!
ACTIVITIES WEEK
It has been a fun-packed Activities Week and what great weather for it! For lots of photographs please follow this link to our Photograph Gallery.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 6-8 Sports Day
Boys – 1st Drake, 2nd Grenville, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
Girls – 1st Frobisher, 2nd Drake, 3rd Grenville, 4th Raleigh
ART
Year 3 have been busy this week making a ‘Matilda’ wall! Pupils took photographs of themselves at home reading in unusual places. They then drew from the photographs and added a photo of their heads to their drawings to be displayed on the wall.
MUSIC
Celebratory Concert – Sunday 29th June at 3pm
The String Quartet and a selection of our senior soloists are performing as part of a special celebratory concert at St Andrew’s Church in Spratton. The concert starts at 3.00pm and all are welcome to come and support.
Summer Concert – Tuesday 1st July
This is going to be a wonderful evening of music showcasing all the hard work that our ensembles have done throughout the year. We are looking forward to seeing you there.
ABRSM Music Exams
Congratulations to all that have taken a music exam over the past few weeks. What a fantastic set of results!
Summer Term 2025 – Music Exam Results
Violin
Grade 1
Sophia Hodgkins – Pass
Bethany Lofts – Merit
Flute
Grade 3
Andrew Deng – Merit
Grade 5
Shanaya Phatak – Merit
Singing
Grade 1
Kitty Kanjurs – Pass
Grade 4
Ria Sharma – Pass
Charlotte Berry – Distinction
Singing for Musical Theatre
Grade 1
Skye Berryman – Pass
Grade 2
Olivia Moger – Pass
Ivy Urquhart – Merit
Grade 3
Alba Tilley – Pass
Stevie Smith – Pass
Lexi Vinamata – Pass
Clara Benn – Merit
Elodie Farrow – Merit
Grade 4
Martha Holley – Pass
Piano
Prep Test
Florence Mills – Pass
Jeevan Soomal – Pass
Anna da Silva Zammit – Pass
Initial
Harriet Bray – Merit
Thea Hartley – Merit
Anatole Viesel – Merit
Grace Balneaves – Distinction
Arlo Crifo Garton – Distinction
Grade 1
Emily Wall – Pass
Kit Shutes – Merit
Veryan Moss – Merit
Mara Hamilton – Merit
Grade 5
Priscilla Leung – Merit
Cello
Grade 1
Clement Turner – Merit
Grade 2
Andrew Deng – Merit
Alice Berry – Merit
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Well done to Archie and William who raised £250 last weekend for Alzheimer’s UK by selling second-hand toys at their village festival. A huge thank you to the parents and children who donated toys.
Congratulations to Thomas Hodgkins who achieved his karate green belt last weekend.
Update – Henry and India have now raised a total £702 for Motor Neurone Disease Association with a sponsored 22 mile bike ride around Pitsford Water. A huge thank you to parents for supporting them.
Well done to Bethany and Reuben Lofts and Austin, Callum, Evan and Romilly Boyson who took part in the Independent Schools Indoor Ski Championships on Monday, achieving 1st and 6th places in the mixed team competition.
Congratulations to Martha Miles who gained a Distinction in her LAMDA Grade 3 exam.
Well done to Rudy in Year 3 who became a Millionaire ROCK HERO on Times Tables Rockstars being the youngest ever in the history of Spratton Hall to do so!
MEDICAL – Head Lice
As this is a problem throughout the school at the moment, please could you take the time to check your child’s hair and treat accordingly.
Head lice are wingless insects that live on the scalp and neck. They are grey/brown in colour, have six legs and when fully grown are about the size of a pinhead. Females attach their eggs to the hair close to the scalp where there is warmth, food and shelter from detection. The eggs hatch about 7 – 10 days later and it takes 10 days for them to be adults and laying new eggs.
When the lice hatch they leave empty shells called nits attached to the hair. Nits are white and you may mistake them for flakes of dry skin. Nits stick to the hair and you will not be able to remove them with normal shampooing.
You can only get head lice through head to head contact. They cannot hop, fly or swim. Although head lice maybe embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they do not usually cause illness. However, they WILL NOT clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly.
Treatment of Head Lice
There are many treatments available including:
- Insecticides – e.g. Full Marks liquid or Derbac M
- Wet Combing with Conditioner using a special fine toothed comb
- Non–insecticide based products – e.g. Hedrin
Insecticides and Non-Insecticides
When using these products for treating lice they are available as lotions, liquids and shampoos. Always follow the instructions carefully. Usually the insecticide lotion is rubbed onto scalp and hair, left for approximately 8 – 12hrs before you wash it out. Then comb using a fine toothed comb. This process should be repeated after 7 days to kill any new lice that may have hatched.
Wet Combing
This is a method of removing lice with a fine toothed comb. You need to spend 20 – 30mins combing through the entire head of hair. It is easier to remove the lice and nits if the hair is wet and conditioner still on hair. The process needs repeating every 3 days until there have been 3 consecutive sessions without seeing any lice.
Many thanks
Debs Hadfield – Matron
