FROM THE HEADMASTER
We have arrived at the final newsletter of the school year and the end of a term in which we have had probably the best weather of a summer term for many a year. I must admit, I breathed a sigh of relief when the weather turned a little cooler on Wednesday!
Heads of School
I am delighted to announce the new Heads of School for next year. The Head Girl will be India Woollcott-Price and the Head Boy will be Henry Sandall. I know they will be superb ambassadors for the school and exemplary role models for our younger children. This is a proud moment for them – many congratulations and well done to them both. Our outgoing Head Boy and Head Girl, Archie and Bessie, are very much looking forward to awarding Henry and India their badges at Speech Day tomorrow.
Summer Music Concert
Despite the Hunter Hall being almost furnace-like, it was still a wonderful concert on Tuesday. What a very high standard of music; I felt there were some exceptional performances from so many of the ensembles and choirs. The children are to be congratulated for their performances in trying conditions. Well done to them all.
Music at St Andrew’s
Very well done to our pupils who were involved in the music performance at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday to celebrate the repair and refurbishment of the 150 year-old pipe organ. Thank you to all the pupils who were involved in that concert.
Athletics National Finals
I am delighted to report back to you on how our seven pupils who qualified for the National Prep Schools Finals got on yesterday. It is important to remember that they are competing against the best athletes from prep schools across the entire UK. Ludo Lindsay – 8th in the High Jump, Mara Hamilton – 7th in the 800m, Kitty Kanjurs – 13th in the Long Jump, Emily Spencer – 5th in the Hurdles, Harry Rogers – 4th in the Hurdles, setting a new school record.
Making it to the podium, well done to our Senior Boys’ Relay team of Harry, Ludo, Joe Barber and Archie Wright, and while the results have not yet been confirmed, we believe that they have been awarded 2nd place.
Finally, the most brilliant news that Archie Wright came 3rd in the Shot Put, but not content with that, he won the 100m Final so is National Champion – an incredible achievement topped by the fact that he broke the school record that has stood for over 20 years! Very well done, Archie! This tops a brilliant season of athletics, in which our teams have won so many of the meetings in which we have competed.
Past Pupil Successes
Following the announcement last week that our former Head Boy and Head Girl, Wilf Rand and Elsa Milne, were appointed top positions at their senior schools, I was so pleased to hear that Pierre Fraser-Allen (class of 2021) has been made a Senior Prefect at Oundle. Well done, Pierre.
Leaving Staff
I will, of course, say more at Speech Day tomorrow but, for now, I want to say a big thank you and well done to our leaving Gap team of Kitty Collins, Rebecca Eales, Jacob Fleet, Ed Lewis and Fraser Roper.
It is always so very sad to say goodbye to members of staff as they move on. A heartfelt thank you and good wishes to Mrs Benn, Mrs Bradnam, Dr Gillam and Mrs Sibbald. Everyone associated with the school wishes them all the very best for the future and we thank them for everything they have done for Spratton and our pupils.
I very much look forward to seeing many of you at Pre-Prep Speech Day this afternoon and Prep School Speech Day tomorrow. I wish you all a very happy summer.
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
END OF TERM ARRANGEMENTS
Thursday 3rd July – School End of Term times are as follows:-
1500 – PRE-PREP (children with older siblings may stay until 1600)
1545 – YEARS 3, 4 & 5 Pick-Up (children with older siblings may stay until 1600)
1600 – YEARS 6, 7 & 8 Pick-Up – (All children to have been collected by 1600 when school closes)
NO PREP, NO CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
Friday 4th July – Speech Day & Prize Giving
No Breakfast Club
0900-1025 – Pupils in Years 3-7 to arrive at school (registration at 1030 in form rooms)
0820-1230 – ‘Creche’ facility available for Pre-Prep children if required
0930 – Leavers’ service in St Andrew’s Church (Year 8 pupils to go to the service with parents or arrive at the church, not at school)
1000 – Tea/coffee for Year 8/parents served at school
1100 – Speech Day in the marquee
1215 – Drinks in the marquee/End of Term (Year 8 picnic on second terrace)
PRE-PREP
What a whirlwind of joy and excitement the end of term brings – the buzz and anticipation of the summer holidays, just around the corner, and the thrill of moving up to a new year group! The glorious July sunshine has certainly added to the fun. Year 2 made the most of it with a sprinkler station set up just outside Forest School – the children’s giggles were contagious as they ran through the spray, delighting in a quick cooling off session. Meanwhile, in classrooms, amidst the whirr of fans, the children happily wriggled their toes in footbaths tucked beneath their tables – a splash of relaxation that kept everyone refreshed, focused, and smiling!
Certificates, Sunshine and Bright Futures – Year 2 Celebrate!
Staying in Forest School, Mrs Littlewood, Mrs McKenna, and Miss Morrow treated their Year 2 children to a beautiful end-of-year awards ceremony beneath a billowing rainbow canopy. With blankets spread across the grass and bunting dancing in the breeze, children was celebrated with a personalised certificate recognising their effort, determination, and perseverance—qualities that will surely carry them towards future success. The awards ranged from “Most Likely to Become a Famous Artist” to “Future Olympic Gold Medallist,” “Fashion Designer,” “Michelin-Starred Chef,” and many more. It was a heart-warming occasion, where every child felt seen, valued, and proud of the unique strengths.
Reception Visit to Lamport Hall
Our Reception children had an unforgettable day at Lamport Hall on Tuesday. The fun began before even leaving the school site, as a convoy of minibuses bibbed and tooted their way out of the school gates, with our very own Mrs Waller and Mrs George at the wheel! Once at Lamport Hall, the children explored the cool, leafy woodlands, discovering hidden pathways and secret doors before heading in to the cool indoors for storytelling sessions and creative activities. A jiggly, bumpy tractor ride brought a giggly and joyful end to a brilliant day out.
Summer Reading and Scrapbook Challenge
Keeping young, inquisitive minds engaged throughout the long summer break can be a challenge. However, if you want to keep your child’s reading, writing, and phonetic skills active over the holidays, you might be interested in the Summer Reading Challenge run by local libraries, as well as our own Pre-Prep Scrapbook Challenge. I introduced both of these to the children in an assembly and emailed parents about them this week. If your child would like to take part, we would be thrilled to celebrate their efforts when they return to school in the Autumn Term.
And Finally …
As I write, a beautiful white marquee stands proudly on the field, as children and staff prepare for one of the highlights of the Pre-Prep calendar – our Speech Day and Prize Giving. Reflecting on the children’s learning journeys is always a joy. Their capacity to discover, explore and grow is truly extraordinary, and I know I speak for all the Pre-Prep staff when I say how incredibly proud we are of them. With laughter, smiles, songs – and perhaps a few happy tears – Speech Day is a celebration of every child’s progress and achievement.
As another school year draws to a close, we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for your continued support. From all of us in Pre-Prep, we wish you a wonderfully happy, relaxing, and fun-filled summer. We look forward to welcoming you back in the autumn term.
Pupil Achievements
Very well done to Reuben Lofts for achieving his 25m swimming award.
Congratulations to Freddie Warner who was awarded, ‘Manager’s Player of the Year’ in his U7 football club.
Very well done also to George McGuire who has gained his Level 2 and 5m swimming awards.
Congratulations to Willa Jack who gained 1st place in the 50cm class at the Spratton Hall NSEA equestrian event and to Isabella Wiseman who achieved 3rd position in her class. Both girls successfully won individual qualifications for the grand finals in August.
Finally, very well done to Ella Clarke for demonstrating her independent sailing skills out on the open water.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Thank you to everyone who turned out to support us for our Cultural Festival last week. It was a lovely afternoon of fun and high spirits as we celebrated the diverse culture of our school community.
SPORT
Birmingham Athletics
Yesterday, the seven pupils who qualified for the National Prep Schools Finals went up against some of the best athletes in the country. A huge congratulations to the following:
Kitty Kanjurs came 13th in the Long Jump
Ludo Lindsay came 8th in the High Jump
Mara Hamilton came 7th in the 800m
Emily Spencer came 5th in the Hurdles
Harry Rogers came 4th in the Hurdles, setting a New School Record.
The following athletes made it to the podium:
The Senior Boys’ Relay Team – Harry Rogers, Ludo Lindsay, Joe Barber and Archie Wright. Due to some lane mix-ups, the results have still not been confirmed and Mr White is chasing that up. However, based on his timings, he has awarded you second place.
At the 2012 Olympics, we had a Super Saturday – well, yesterday, Archie Wright had a Fantastic Friday. As well as achieving a ‘Mr White Second’ in the Relay, he came 3rd in the Shot, based on just one throw, as he was rushing from the 100m Final… which he won, to be crowned National Champion! Not only is this an incredible achievement, but Archie also broke a School Record that has stood for around 20 years!
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
Years 3-5 Sports Day
1st Grenville, 2nd Drake, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Raleigh
ART
We bid a fond farewell to the ‘Art Barn’ as we move into our new Art Department for next term. We will miss you!
MUSIC
Celebratory Concert – St Andrew’s Church
The String Quartet and a selection of our senior soloists took part in a wonderful celebratory concert at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday. The audience was blown away by the standard of the solo performances and how beautifully the String Quartet played together. All the pupils performed brilliantly and were a credit to the school.
Summer Concert
What a fantastic (and wonderfully warm!) evening of musical entertainment! All of our ensembles took part in the concert and it was a joy to see so many pupils involved, from those just beginning their musical journey to our more experienced performers. The programme featured a range of pieces and musical styles, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. Every pupil put in a huge amount of effort during rehearsals and they should all be incredibly proud of the high standard they achieved. Congratulations to everyone involved. For some, this marked their final concert at Spratton and we wish all those moving on the very best for the future. My particular thanks go to Nathaniel Benn and Florence Granger our two Heads of Music this year.
Exam Success
Congratulations to the following pupils for their excellent exam results.
Alto Saxophone
Grade 1
Jemima Paul – Distinction
Clarinet
Grade 1
Arlo Crifo-Garton – Distinction
Grade 2
Beatrice Pett – Distinction
Cornet
Grade 2
Florence Lindsay-Smith – Distinction
Cello
Grade 6
Jessica King – Merit
School Play Auditions – Years 7 & 8
Excitement is already building for the school play, which next year is going to be ‘Oliver’. Sample scripts and song extracts have already been circulated to those who would like to audition in September. These are the links to the songs on You Tube to help you learn them.
Remember, you only need to learn one song – Good luck!
Instruments
Please can all musical instruments and music folders be taken home at the end of term.
Thank you!
The Music Department would like to thank pupils and parents for their commitment, support and encouragement this year. We look forward to further success next year!
YEAR 8 CRICKET v PARENTS
It was a beautiful evening for our traditional Year 8 v Parents Cricket matches on Monday. Their last matches at Spratton!
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Oliver who has started training at Leamington Swimming Club competing for Warwickshire. He competed in Nuneaton last weekend and came away with 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals and 5 personal bests!
BOARD GAMES REQUEST
If any parents have any fully functioning board games that are age appropriate for Years 3&4 (7-10 year olds) then Mrs Kennedy would be grateful to receive them to use in her Board Games Club next term.
SHSPA
Thank you to everyone who has supported all the SHSPA events this year. We have really appreciated everyone who volunteered or bought tickets to one or more of the events. We are pleased to say that the money raised from the events have allowed us to donate £2,000 to the Faraway Charity and we have also been able to give the school money to buy some playground equipment for the Pre-Prep, Year 8 leavers hoodies and books for the Year 2 pupils moving up to the prep school. The school are also planning to buy some outdoor furniture and a gazebo structure sited near the new Coley Centre.
Next year we have some more exciting events. Here are a few for you to add to your diaries in advance:
Fireworks Evening – 5pm Friday 7th November
Cheese and Wine Evening – 7pm Friday 21st November
Christmas Fayre – 2pm Wednesday 10th December
Spring Ball – Saturday 16th May
More information and ticket sales will follow next school year!
Thank you again for all your help and support this year. It has been very much appreciated.
Wishing you all a wonderful summer holiday.
SHSPA
