Our children were revving to go this morning for our 'Driven to Learn' Above & Beyond morning. The day featured a medley of car-themed workshops, including special guests and special cars.

The morning began with a talk from female race driver Claire Norman, who spoke to the children about her journey from four-legged horsepower to engine-based horsepower in her 20s. She spoke about the different traits a person needs to work in racing, and the variety of jobs that are needed behind the scenes to get a race car on the track. Over 9,000 different people are needed in just one F1 team. Afterwards, she tested some reaction speeds with the children using tennis balls to see how well they might react behind the wheel.

In the Front Courtyard, we had a carousel of cars on display, including a Lotus Europa, a Porsche Carrera, two classic Morgans (one of which was specially made for the Geneva International Motor Show) and a 1929 Austin 7 Chummy. The children got to look under the bonnet, sit in the driver's seat, and some even got to give the cars a 'rev'.

In the Science Labs, Years 7 and 8 conducted experiments to find out how much chemical energy is contained in different types of fuels. 

Competition was also hot in the Sports Hall, as children took part in an RC car tournament against their peers. Energy levels were certainly high as the children traversed a track laid out for them.

Our Year 5 children heard the story of a young girl living in the Australian outback who struggles to get to school each morning, and were tasked with building a car out of cardboard and elastic bands that might be able to make the journey. They created their designs in pairs and teams, and then tested how well they fared in tricky 'outback' conditions.

Our Year 6 children spent the morning in the PAC with DT staff from Malvern College for their Design Technology Morgan experience. After looking at the Morgans parked outside, they worked in groups to create the design for Morgan's next groundbreaking car. They drafted their ideas together before having a go at creating a prototype with different DT materials. Their results will be displayed in school soon.

It was a fantastic way to spend a wet and windy morning!

We were treated to not one, but two delightful performances this week by our Year 5 children. Each group walked into the Performing Arts Centre in the morning with no idea what they might be performing that evening! The play, specially devised by Ms Hutcheson in anticipation of Children's Mental Health Week, took us inside the local library which was due a visit from the dreaded inspectors. Luckily with the help of Alice (in Wonderland), Peter (Pan), and the Cat (in the Hat), the local school children advocated for the joy of reading, and the library was saved from closure.

The children spent the day rehearsing scenes, working together in groups, learning songs and practising choreography, encompassing all the performing arts skills they have absorbed over the last one and half terms.

The Drawing Room was full of applause yesterday as our strings players took to the fore. We heard violinists, violists and cellists, many of whom chose to play without any accompaniment, instead standing (or sitting) tall and letting their music take precedence. It was a joyful event.

The boys' hockey season is well and truly under way, and it has been an impressive start for our 1st team. The boys showed great determination and teamwork at the IAPS tournament in Taunton, finishing second in their group with excellent wins against St Hugh’s and The Downs, Wraxall. These results saw them progress into the Cup competition, where they faced a very strong Millfield side and were ultimately knocked out after a committed performance.

This momentum carried into the Severnside Tournament on Wednesday at Clifton. Once again, the boys applied themselves superbly, recording a hard-fought win against Millfield and securing an impressive draw with Dean Close. The level of effort and teamwork on display has been outstanding and bodes extremely well for the rest of the season.

It has been an exciting week of netball for our girls, with our seniors securing an almost clean sweep of victories against Monkton Combe. The U11s competed in a triangular against Kingswood and Berkhamsted, while the U10s enjoyed a competitive festival at St Hugh’s.

Well done to the U11B football team whose thrilling performance beat The King's School, Gloucester 5-1 on Wednesday. The boys remain unbeaten this season following other wins against Wycliffe, Pinewood and Tockington. Next week, they have a festival at Cheltenham College. Keep it up, boys!

In Nursery this week, our imaginations have been flourishing and our oracy skills abounding as we have read, re-told and acted out traditional tales such as 'Goldilocks' and 'Little Red Riding Hood'. The children created their own versions and Mrs Weinberger scribed their ideas, with accompanying beautiful illustrations by the children.

In Reception, we have been enjoying movement and music sessions and getting our grove on, enjoying our daily literacy, phonics and writing routines, and creating some delicious and nutritious ‘nice-cream’ with Greek yoghurt, bananas and berries.

We kick-started our week with a wonderful internal assembly from Year 1. These internal assemblies allow children the chance to perform to each other, and build their confidence and public speaking skills ahead of our parent assemblies in the Summer Term. One of their songs was in a round, and Year 1 took on the challenge to teach the rest of Pre-Prep how to follow their lead in singing a round. It went surprisingly well!

Mrs Lloyd-Baker visited Year 2 this week. She brought into School some amazing Victorian artefacts for us to look at, including a pull along horse, children’s clothes, a scrap book and some lace that was made for Queen Victoria’s Coronation dress. How incredible!

And in Forest School, we have been creating our own bungees, building dens and continuing our works on tracks and trails; we have spotted evidence of badgers in ‘Badger Wood’, including the path along which they dig for worms, their ‘latrine’ and the entrance to their sett.

Anna Packman, Head of Pre-Prep

6C hosted Prep School assembly this week, discussing the importance of rules. They exclaimed the virtue of rules and how they keep us safe, before telling us about some of the quirky 'rules' around the world. Did you know that it is still illegal to ride the bus in London, knowingly carrying the Plague? Or that in Quitman, North Carolina, chickens are not allowed to cross the road? The children were thoroughly entertained.

Our children have been voting to choose two charities to support over the Spring and Summer Terms, and the results were announced in assembly this week. The children's charities of choice are the Riding for the Disabled Association, and Home-Start.

RDA support over 39,000 disabled children and adults through activities including riding, carriage driving, and equine assisted programmes such as Quiet Corners and 'Tea with a Pony'. Home-Start provide emotional and practical support to parents with at least one child under five years old, providing early support to families who are facing the challenges and stresses of family life.

Home-Start joined us for our assembly to talk to the children about the emergency 'backpacks' they provide families, which include emotional support, local service signposting, and childcare support.

Over the next few weeks, the children will be deciding how best to fundraise for these charities, with events like our Spring Disco, and the ever-popular Years 3 and 4 cake sale. We can't wait to hear their ideas!

Another awesome week in the Boarding House, and it’s hard to believe we only have one left before we reach Half Term. The weeks really are flying by.

Monday had a very summery feel to it. Not necessarily because of the weather, but because it marked the first session of cricket nets of the year. Mr Robinson took a keen and enthusiastic group of Years 4 and 5 children to the Sports Hall, where they worked hard on both their bowling and batting. There was plenty of focus, a lot of encouragement but mostly loud appealing!

The rest of the week followed a similar theme. We dusted off the torches for evening games, headed down to the astro, and generally ran our socks off. It has been great to see the children making the most of the lighter evenings and throwing themselves fully into activities.

The Year 8s have started a brand-new game, with Henry firmly installed as the Master of the Hounds. He maintains complete control over his pack until the moment he releases them to do his bidding which, more often than not, involves hunting down and tagging a specific (and increasingly wary) Year 8 boy. It’s been entertaining to watch.

Without sounding like a broken record, I really do love seeing the children come up to the Boarding House in the evenings. There’s such a lovely atmosphere. Silly games are invented on the spot, music plays in the background, and children confidently challenge teachers, and each other, to the many games available in the House. These moments, when everyone is relaxed and enjoys being together, are what make boarding so special.

There is, of course, still some debate about who actually won the children vs teachers darts match. Opinions remain divided, but I know exactly who I’m backing… and it’s definitely not Mr Curr!

Have a lovely weekend.

Oli and Debbie Jones, Houseparents