Head
Dear Parents,
Thank you to everyone who reached out with overwhelmingly positive comments and conversations regarding the growth of Bridewell Royal Hospital. It was a pleasure to visit Longacre this week and discuss collaborations with the Head that will benefit all our children as we look ahead to 2025.
We also enjoyed a wonderful House swimming gala on Tuesday, and it was great to see so many of you there. I’m sure those who attended were impressed by how supportive the children were of their House family, rallying behind each and every swimmer.
On the academic front, parents may have noticed the increased focus on the core curriculum, which now includes dedicated library sessions. These sessions give children the opportunity to develop their reading skills and comprehension under the guidance of their teachers. We have received the House Poetry entries and look forward to celebrating the finalists next week.
Looking ahead, with a focus on literacy, we will be launching a Sponsored Reading Challenge leading into the half-term break. We hope pupils will enjoy reading every day and filling out a reading log. We will be sending out the form next week. As life gets busier and children grow older, it can become harder to find time for stories. However, research shows that just 10 minutes of reading per day can significantly improve academic performance and resilience. We’ve been encouraging the children to think about how they can make space in their daily routines for a small amount of reading and to always have their book with them.
Lastly, let’s celebrate our extended co-curricular programme! Below is a short video of our Mountain Bike Club’s first expedition across Mare Hill earlier this week. Special congratulations to Philip, India, and George for getting back in the saddle after a fall and winning the day – a great life lesson!
Have a lovely weekend.
Mr John Towers
Head of Upper Prep
Dear Parents,
It has been yet another busy and active week in Upper Prep. The children have continued to enjoy a wide variety of academic lessons plus sport, art, DT and drama.
It was fantastic to see so many Upper Prep children volunteer to take part in the swimming gala on Tuesday. I was so proud of the way they supported the younger children in their houses, encouraging them to participate and cheering them on. Children in Year 7 and Year 8 have also enjoyed reading with the little ones in Pre-Prep this week and it has been super to watch them in the library sharing books. They have led by example when they have taken care of the Prep children during wet play times and I have been most impressed by their sense of responsibility and excellent behaviour.
A date for your diary next week is the Bridewell Admissions Day. This will take place on Friday 18th October and our Year 7 children will go to King Edward’s for a chapel service to celebrate being part of the Bridewell Foundation. This is always a lovely event and parents of Year 7 children are warmly invited to attend. Please contact Louise Thompson at ThompsonL@kesw.org if you would like to come.
I hope you enjoy a restful weekend.
Mrs Mason
Head of Prep
Dear Parents,
This week has been an incredibly productive and exciting one at school, packed with activities and adventures for the children, both inside and outside the classroom.
Today, Year 6 spent the day learning through a scientific lens at Legoland. The children were able to explore the park’s educational offerings while having a lot of fun. Of course, no trip to Legoland would be complete without testing out the rides, and they had an absolute blast!
Sport has been a key highlight of the week. On Friday, the U9s participated in a mixed hockey match at Portsmouth Grammar School, showcasing great teamwork and effort. Earlier in the week, our U10 girls took part in a hockey tournament at Charterhouse, and it was fantastic to see their determination and sportsmanship on full display.
Tuesday brought us our much-anticipated House swimming event. The team spirit and positive energy were infectious, making it a memorable event for everyone involved.
On Thursday, we held our House meetings, which are always a great opportunity for the children to come together, work on their communication skills, and strengthen the bonds within their Houses.
We were also fortunate to have a professional photographer and videographer in school this week, capturing some special moments and the vibrant atmosphere we enjoy here. Keep an eye out for the results!
Lastly, we have officially wrapped up our assessment cycle. The children worked hard throughout, and we are proud of their focus and dedication. It’s been a busy but incredibly rewarding week, and we look forward to carrying this momentum into the next! Thank you for your ongoing support.
Kind regards,
Miss Tyrrell
Head of Pre-Prep
Dear Parents,
It feels like no time at all since we were stepping into the new school year, familiarising ourselves with new routines and expectations, and here we are with half term around the corner. I have to commend all of the Pre-Prep children on how well they have collectively settled into this term and hit the ground running . We have added regular House meetings to the schedule for older Pre-Prep children, visits to the art studio and science lab for our Year 1 and Year 2 children, and the introduction of an increased range of co-curricular activities across Pre-Prep. The children have taken this all in their stride.
With Black History Month upon us, this week’s Pre-Prep Assembly focused on the story of Rosa Parks and what we have learned from her story. We then listened to ‘All Are Welcome’, which tells the story of a diverse group of school children growing and learning from each other’s traditions.
This week, Nursery and Kindy children were fortunate enough to welcome a real life hero to the school when Ralph’s mummy and her colleague, both in full police uniform, arrived in their patrol car. There was huge excitement from our youngest pupils as they had a go at sitting in the car, seeing the flashing lights and trying on hats and uniform. Thank you to Mrs Atkinson for giving up her time to visit the children and give them this super opportunity.
This morning we welcomed visitors who came along to our school Open Morning. The autumnal sunshine provided the perfect backdrop for prospective families to tour our school, meet our wonderful children and talk to staff.
Congratulations to Indy (Rec), Minty (1G) and James (2G) who each received a Work of the Week certificate this morning. Indy created a beautifully detailed drawing of a hedgehog, Minty produced a fabulous piece of writing about Year 1’s Titanic Day last week, while James recorded a detailed comparison of old and new cars as part of his Topic work. Well done.
Next week we have Open Classroom for Kindy to Year 2. Parents are welcome from 2.30pm if your child is in Kindy to Year 1 and from 2.50pm if your child is in Year 2. This will be an opportunity for your child to show you their classroom and some of their work so far this term.Have a lovely weekend,
Mrs Barnett
BHCC
Barrow Hills Bonfire and Fireworks – 8th of November
There will be the traditional, delicious BBQ, huge bonfire, well stocked bar (with the exciting addition of mulled wine this year!), magnificent firework display and illuminous toys.
Tickets have been reduced in price for the year’s event to £5 early bird / £8 post half term.
Please come and support one of the BHCC’s most anticipated events. Booking via Classlist.
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BHCC Bacon Butties profit today is ££203.10. Have a lovely weekend!
School Notices
Esteemed soprano and Old Barrowhillian, Holly Graham and distinguished harpist Imogen Ridge, have joined together to create the contemporary classical ensemble, Eloquent Duo. They will be performing at the Watts Gallery on Saturday 19th October. For a beautiful evening of music please see more details here.
Please refer to your handbook here on the website for useful day-to-day school procedures. Your password to this section of the website is found in your parent portal.
