FROM THE HEADMASTER
New Dining Room
It has been a long-awaited pleasure, finally, to be in the new dining room. I do hope the children have enjoyed having their lunches in there and it has been lovely to see a considerable number of parents coming in for breakfast. As always with new builds of this size, there are a few little teething issues that we will be sorting out in the coming weeks. I am very grateful, indeed, to the Catering team for adapting so quickly to the huge changes in their working practices.
Thank you and well done to Matron, too, for having the new Medical Room up and running so smoothly. Again, I know those parents who have popped in to see Matron have been impressed with the new facility.
As you know, the Opening Ceremony takes place next Thursday at 4.30pm. We are expecting this to be a very well-attended event, therefore, you will be directed to park on Arthur’s Square. The Opening Ceremony itself takes place on the Pre-Prep playground in front of the new building. There will be some short formalities before guests are welcome to tour all three floors of the building and enjoy drinks and canapés in the dining room.
Junior Sports Day
It was a great shame that we had to postpone Years 3, 4 and 5 Sports Day. Although there was little rain in the afternoon, the ground was too wet particularly for hurdles and high jump. As you have been advised, we now move it to the reserve date of Monday 30 June.
Athletics
I wish good luck to our Years 6, 7 and 8 Athletics team who are taking part in the Prep Schools Regional Meeting at Bedford today and, similarly, the Years 4 and 5 team in Cambridge on Tuesday. Both are huge events with every prep school in the east region attending with Years 6-8 pupils vying to get through to the National Finals. Good luck to all those involved.
Year 8
Finally, I do hope the Year 8 exams have gone well this week. They now embark on a wonderful 4-week post-exam programme which, next week, includes their annual Fashion Show and talks from visitors and time as wellbeing ambassadors for our Pre-Prep children. The week culminates with my annual trip with them to London where we will be visiting Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde replica ship; St Paul’s Cathedral; Leicester Square; having a meal in the ‘Black Tap’, Piccadilly Circus, before taking in the West End show ‘Back to the Future’. I am sure they will be splendid company for the day.
I do hope you all have a good weekend.
Simon Clarke
Headmaster
PRE-PREP
Pre-Prep has been a bustling, fun-filled whirlwind of activity this week! At every turn, the children have been actively engaged in learning, rehearsing songs for upcoming events, practising their ocarinas, or heading down to the fields to prepare for Sports Day.
New Dining Room Excitement – Carrots have never tasted so good!
The highlight of this week has undoubtedly been the excitement of enjoying lunch in our brand new dining facilities. On Monday, as we experienced our first meal together in the beautiful new space—seated at long tables with views across the Pre-Prep playground—I asked one of our youngest children what they thought of the dining room. With wide eyes and a big smile, they replied, “Oh, it’s magic! We walked in the door over there, and now we are up in the air!”
Reception Induction Days – ‘Stay and Play’ Fun!
Unbelievably, it is that exciting time of the year once more when we welcome our new Reception children-to-be into their classrooms for their first fun-filled play session with their teachers. Watching our new little ones, as they tentatively took their first steps through our sliding doors, was a heartening reminder of just how much our current Reception children have blossomed and progressed in a year. The learning journey that the children take within the Early Years Foundation Stage will never cease to delight and amaze us!
A Handful of Buttons – Celebrating the Diversity of Families
Over the last few weeks, Pre-Prep have been exploring the beautiful and heart-warming story, A Handful of Buttons by Carmen Parets Luque, which celebrates the diversity of families and the many different shapes and sizes they come in. Inspired by the story, the children have created their own unique button craft activities—each piece of their artwork is not only colourful, creative and thought provoking, but also a special reminder that every family is different, and every family is valued. Please do come into the Pre-Prep entrance to admire the children’s work on display.
Year 1 Ocarina Concert
On Thursday, our Year 1 children showcased their talents by entertaining family and friends with a selection of familiar tunes, skilfully and enthusiastically performed on their ocarinas. It was a foot tappingly brilliant performance and a complete joy to see the children’s confidence and enjoyment shine through.
Running Shoes at the Ready – It’s Sports Day Next Week!
With Sports Day in mind, get ready for an action-packed, high energy afternoon on Monday, when the children take to the fields to demonstrate a fabulous array of skills from running, throwing, balancing, catching and jumping – to name but a few. Parents, family, and friends are warmly invited to come along and cheer the children on. Your support (and hopefully some dry weather!) will make the day even more special. Please refer to my email sent on Wednesday for further details.
Whole School Photograph on Monday – Say Cheese!
A further reason to keep our fingers firmly crossed for dry weather on Monday, is that it’s also the day that our whole school photograph will be taken. A reminder that the children will need to come to school in their winter uniforms, complete with blazers, for this special event please.
Pupil Achievements
Congratulations to the following children for gaining awards in Swimming: Emma Hassell – Level 4 and 20m, William Dorrian – Level 4, Eliza Foster – Level 4 and Bea Osborne – Level 3 and 10m.
William must also be congratulated for achieving his Stage 1 Award in Sailing, and Eliza must also be further congratulated for gaining a Legacy Sport Achievement Award.
Very well done to Beau Thomson-Forbes who was awarded ‘Fielder of the Match’ at his cricket club.
Congratulations to Bea and Ottilie Osborne who have now completed a grand total of 21 Park Runs, which is equivalent to running a marathon!
Finally, a huge well done to Aoife Ryan, for not only reading 10 books to achieve a Brownie Badge, but also for raising £201 for the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in the process.
Fiona Sanchez
Head of Pre-Prep
HOUSE SINGING COMPETITION
Well done to everyone who worked hard preparing to perform in our annual House Singing Competition in Hunter Hall last week and here are the results:-
Junior Small Group – 1st Grenville
Roar (Katy Perry) – 1st Raleigh, 2nd Drake, 3rd Frobisher, 4th Grenville
Senior Soloists – 1st Raleigh
Own Choice Song – 1st Frobisher, 2nd Drake, 3rd Grenville, 4th Raleigh
Overall Results – 1st Drake- 2nd Frobisher, 3rd Raleigh, 4th Grenville
MUSIC
Senior Choir – Tuesday 10th June
There will not be a Senior Choir rehearsal on Tuesday 10th June. Prep is available or children can go home at 4.00pm.
Informal Concert – Monday 16th June
We are looking forward to our Music in Quiet Places Concert on Monday 16th June. A letter will be sent out on Monday to all those who have been invited to perform. Tea will be provided for all performers and for any siblings that have requested it. 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 on display in the Music Department. Your child must come to the Music Department approximately 30 minutes before their exam time.
NEW DINING ROOM & MEDICAL ROOM
It has been fantastic to finally use our new dining room facility this week and the children and staff have all enjoyed eating breakfast and lunch in such a bright and modern space. Well done to the Catering and Estates Departments who have been busy preparing for the changeover from the existing dining room.
Likewise, our Matrons have moved into their new medical room, underneath the dining room, and are settling into their new surroundings.
We look forward to welcoming you to our official opening of this new facility on Thursday 12th June at 4.30pm.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Kyla Lindsay who, following training for the last month with Peterborough United Football Club, has now been offered an initial 12 month contract with them.
Congratulations also to Freddie Mayfield who has been competing in the Faldo Futures age 9-10 golf championships this year. He firstly won his local round at Easter, which led to an invitation to the regional finals. The regionals competition took place over half term in Cambridgeshire where Freddie won by 5 shots. The win gives him entry to compete in the national finals at the Belfry during the week of the British Masters where he will also meet and have a masterclass with Sir Nick Faldo. He has also qualified for the Champion of Champions World Championship at Lough Erne in Northern Ireland where he will compete with some of the best juniors in the world in his age group of under 12s.
Congratulations to Peggy in Year 6 who competed in the 2025 County Closed Table Tennis Tournament last weekend. In the Junior section she won the U13 Girls’ Singles, was runner-up in the U15 Girls’ Singles and also won the U15 Girls’ Doubles. In the Adult section she was runner-up in the U19 Girls’ Doubles. Peggy came away with an impressive four cups!
Well done to India and Henry in Year 7 who cycled 22.5 miles last weekend raising £250 so far for MND Association. If you would like to donate to this cause which is close their hearts, please click this link Just Giving
Well done also to Martha and Tom Miles who succeeded in climbing Snowdon during half term, despite the torrential rain and wind!
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.
LOST PROPERTY
Found – Men’s gold wedding ring
Found – Airtag
Found – Sew-on grey/silver cup awards badge with no.15 on it
