Message From the Head 
Dear Parents,
February half term offers a well-earned break and marks the midpoint of the academic year. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come.
Our older pupils have received their grade cards, and at 11+ and 13+, another strong year is emerging with offers and scholarship news from Churcher’s, Cranleigh, Charterhouse, KESW, Priors Field, Seaford, and more. However, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate the progress of the entire school—pupils and staff alike. Every individual moves forward from their own starting point, which is why progress is such a valuable measure. It’s not just about results like ‘A’ grades, scholarships, or competition wins, but about the journey itself. Along the way, we have important checkpoints. One of these involves standardised assessments, which help us understand how we’re progressing compared to national expectations. I’m delighted to share that, as a school, we are currently performing well ahead of progress benchmarks in maths, reading, writing, and cognition.
This year, we’ve deepened our commitment to tracking progress in pastoral areas too. For the first time, pupils from Year 1 upwards have taken part in detailed assessments to reflect on their wellbeing. By the time they reach the prep years, our pupils rank high in the top quartile nationally for key measures such as feelings about school, self-regard, confidence, work ethic, and overall preparedness for learning. In fact, they rate highly in every category measured—a culture worth celebrating. Of course, where individual pupils need extra support, our Form Tutors and teachers are working on more personalised action planning. This is just one of many ways we continue to invest in both academics and well-being—progress of heart and mind.
Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone for making Grandparents’ Day such a special occasion. I was especially touched to see Year 1 and Year 2 extending both their literacy skills and their kindness by inviting residents from local care homes to join in the celebrations. What a wonderful way to finish the half-term on such a warm and thoughtful note!
Mr Towers, Head
News from Upper Prep 
It may have been a short week, but as usual the children in Year 7 and Year 8 have packed a lot into the last four days of this half term.
The children in Year 8 have received their exam results and they have spent some time with their teachers going through their papers and setting targets. It is important that they focus on their targets rather than just their mark, as the targets tell them exactly what they need to do in order to improve and to make progress. In some cases this is revising topics more thoroughly, in other cases this is reading the questions more carefully. The Parent Consultation Evening after half term will give both parents and children a chance to speak to the subject teachers and gain some more detailed feedback.
Co-curricular clubs continue to be very popular with the children in Upper Prep enjoying activities such as running club maths, drama, art, chess and Trivium. Hopefully the warmer spring weather and the lighter evenings will mean the children will be able to spend more time outside.
The Year 7 children have started reading a new class book: Skellig by David Almond. So far, we are all riveted by this strange tale of a mysterious creature and cannot wait to see what happens next! It is Book Week shortly after our return to school so half term is a good time to catch up on some reading. Every child in Upper Prep has brought a library book home and it would be wonderful if they could read at least ten minutes a day and record their reading in their journal and also on ‘Track my Read’.
Thank you all for your support this half term. I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful break.
Mrs Mason, Head of Upper Prep
News from Prep
As we reach the end of another busy and productive half-term, it’s wonderful to reflect on how much the children have accomplished over the past few weeks.
This week, the children have been focused on consolidating their learning before the break, and it has been fantastic to see their continued effort in the classroom. I have enjoyed visiting lessons and seeing first-hand the engagement and curiosity they bring to their studies. It’s always a pleasure to witness their confidence grow as they tackle new challenges and share their ideas.
The sense of teamwork and school spirit has been particularly strong this half-term, whether in inter-house competitions, group projects, or simply supporting one another day to day. A special congratulations goes to 28 of our Year 5 and 6 pupils, who have been selected to have their writing published in a book as part of the Young Writers’ Competition. This is a tremendous achievement, and we are thrilled to see their creativity and talent being recognised.
Looking ahead, next half-term is set to see the much-anticipated Year 5 & 6 performance of Matilda Jr. take centre stage, with rehearsals already well underway. We will also be celebrating World Book Week with visiting authors and book fairs and our annual STEM Week promises to be filled with hands-on experiments, problem-solving, and exciting innovations, sparking curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
I am also very much looking forward to leading Growth Mindset workshops for the entire school next half-term. Helping children develop resilience, embrace challenges, and foster a positive attitude towards learning is something I am passionate about, and I hope these sessions will be valuable and inspiring for all.
Wishing you all a wonderful half-term!
Miss Tyrell, Head of Prep
News from Pre-Prep 
Year 1’s Knights & Princesses Day on Tuesday was a triumphant success as the children arrived to school dressed up, not just as princesses and knights, but also as castles and dragons! This included Mrs Crissel and Mrs Reed who hugely enjoyed planning a day themed around the children’s spring topic. After a morning of dancing, a cross curriculum maths and art activity involving the children designing castles by cutting out a range of two-dimensional shapes, and making beautifully decorated crowns, the children tucked into a delicious medieval banquet which had been prepared by the catering team.
Well done to all of the children who were presented with awards at assembly this morning. We were able to congratulate Otis, Orson and Walter by presenting their Silver Awards, and there were certificates for IT for Luke, Sammy and Mia in Year 1, and for Rafferty, Beau, Orson, Sophie and Freddie in Year 2, all from Mr Smith. Sophie also received the half termly Pre-Prep Playtime Award for being exceptionally friendly and helpful to our Reception children who have been enjoying the Pre-Prep garden with Year 1 and Year 2 this term. Congratulations to this week’s Work of the Week recipients. Annabelle received hers for her incredible painting of a penguin, Austin for his work on number bonds to 20 and George B for using and applying his knowledge of multiplication in Maths.
Grandparents’ Afternoon today was perhaps the most heartwarming way to finish off the first installment of the spring term. It was wonderful to welcome so many family members or friends for a performance by the Pre-Prep children, before they showed their visitors their classrooms and introduced their teachers too! We were also able to welcome guests from Bramshott Grange Residential Home in Liphook.
After half term, house music rehearsals start for pupils in Reception to Year 8 on Monday, Year 1 visit Guildford Museum on Tuesday, there is a Book Fair after school on Wednesday and there is the Year 2 Parents’ ‘Prepping for Prep’ event on Friday morning so a busy week on our return.
In the meantime, wishing you all a lovely break.
Mrs Barnett, Head of Pre-Prep
School Notices
All parents and alumni working in Law, or with an interest in legal careers, are warmly invited to join us for an evening of drinks and nibbles to connect and expand your professional network.
The event will take place at the Old Bank of England on Fleet Street, London, on Thursday, 27th February 2025, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.
To register, please click here.