Friday 06 June 2025

Welcome to the Barrow Hills Bulletin, your weekly newsletter with a snapshot of life at School.

 

Message From the Head 

Dear Parents,

It’s been quite a week here at Barrow Hills. Years 7 and 8 have been sitting their mocks and Common Entrance exams, alongside a busy schedule of fixtures, singing, and dancing. And then, of course, came the Monday morning phone call—from the School Inspectors, letting us know of our full inspection from Tuesday to Thursday.

We look forward to sharing their report with you in due course. For now, I can say only how proud I was of how the pupils conducted themselves under such scrutiny—they were truly impressive.

In other exciting news, there has been a lot of positive attention around Barrow Hills so far in 2025. You may remember that we recently hosted a visit from The Good Schools Guide. Their team spoke to many parents and pupils, interviewed staff, and took a deep dive into what we do here. I’m delighted to announce that, for the first time, Barrow Hills is now featured and recommended in this esteemed publication.

My sincere thanks go to all the parents who contributed so kindly to this process.

We’ve included the full review here. It really is a fantastic and fair appraisal of Barrow Hills, and it would be wonderful if you could please share it with friends and family, whom I hope will find the strong endorsement interesting particularly if they are engaged with school choice at present – it’s also available on our website at The Good Schools Guide – Review 2025.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Hive event tomorrow morning, and if the rainy weather will permit us, our Proms in the afternoon. Summer fun!

Mr Towers, Head

 

 

News from Upper Prep

The children in Year 7 and Year 8 have completed examinations this week and I am so proud of the resilience they have shown. They have clearly put considerable effort into their revision and their focus and engagement has been exemplary. To celebrate, Year 7 enjoyed a movie treat on Friday afternoon while Year 8 had their ‘fun photos’ taken as well as enjoying a games lesson.

The ISI inspectors have also spent some time talking to the children and I am sure they were impressed with their maturity and their enjoyment of life in Upper Prep.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Mrs Mason, Head of Upper Prep

News from Prep

It was my privilege to welcome the children back to the final half term of the year! It never ceases to amaze me just how quickly a school year flies by. When I reflect back on September 2024, it is remarkable to think of how all the children have grown and developed.

As you will be aware, this week saw a visit from the Independent School Inspectorate. I was very proud of how well the children conducted themselves, adapting to some last minute changes and representing what it means to be a Barrow Hills pupil with aplomb.

Tuesday’s year 3 and 4 music and LAMDA concert was truly joyful. The confidence with which they took to the stage to entertain their audience with a wonderful range of vocal, dramatic and instrumental performances, was delightful. Thank you so much to all the parents, grandparents, and friends, who attended to make this such a fun afternoon for all involved.

Looking ahead, I hope Year 3 have a fun day at RHS Wisley next Monday, where they will further their learning on the topic of Plants.

I hope many of you will brave the elements to join us for tomorrow’s immersive activity morning “The Hive”, which has largely been moved to a covered setting for comfort!

Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for all your support and positivity this week.

Miss Tyrrell, Head of Prep

News from Pre-Prep

It’s hard to believe we have found ourselves in the final chapter of the academic year already. In our first week back after our half term break, we have had the wonderful opportunity over the past few days to proudly demonstrate to the visiting Independent Schools Inspectorate what makes Barrow Hills so special and how happy and thriving our children truly are.

Transition activities also continued this week as Kindy and new Reception joiners arrived to the Reception classroom on Wednesday afternoon for a ‘Stay and Play’ session with their new teachers for September. The children enjoyed exploring their new surroundings and choosing to do various activities with their new teachers. There will be another ‘Stay and Play’ session in a couple of weeks, on 18th June which I know the children are already looking forward to.

Congratulations to Indy (Rec), Sammy (Year 1) and James (Year 2) who were presented with Work of the Week certificates at assembly this morning. We also applauded those children who have received their Gold Awards. Well done to Alexander, Parker and Valo (Reception) and to India, Kit, Mia and Matthew from Year 1. The very first Platinum Awards for house points collected so far this year were also achieved by pupils this week. A super effort from Matilda, Otis, George B and Freddie (Year 2).

Next week Year 1 travel to Tilford Rural Life Centre as part of their Science topic on Materials.

A gentle reminder for children to return any waterproof trousers and coats on Thursday mornings if they are taken home from Adventure Club on Wednesday afternoons.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Mrs Barnett, Head of Pre-Prep

School Notices

Proms in the Park
Due to the rainy weather conditions forecast for Friday and Saturday, we have made the difficult decision to postpone Proms. We understand how much children and parents look forward to this annual event, and we are working to try to reschedule the performances.

‘The Hive’, our immersive family activity morning, will still go ahead with a wet weather plan for all the events, and we look forward to welcoming you—with friends and family—between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. In case of wet weather, all activities will be moved undercover.

In case the weather stays dry, here’s the current map of activities as planned.

 

BHCC

Bacon Butties brought smiles on this rainy morning and helped raise a fantastic £122.20.

Thanks to our amazing team and the community for your support!

Summer Party

Don’t forget to book your tickets for our fast approaching summer party on Friday 13th June. It’s set to be a wonderful evening of music, delicious food and great company, so please do join us and celebrate our wonderful School community!

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