Head
Dear Parents,
The recent cold snap seems like an ideal moment to update you on developments based on parent feedback from last year – a practical and great-value school coat.
We received a prototype from our uniform supplier, and Bertie (Year 6) has been field-testing it for several weeks. Encouraged by his feedback, we are pleased to announce that the coats are now in production. Bertie reported in Assembly this morning on the coat’s warmth and practicality. As soon as they are available, we will send you a message via the Portal. Initially, these coats will not be a compulsory part of the uniform, but we hope many of you will seize the opportunity to keep your children warm, dry, and smartly attired during the colder months.
Moving on, we are now into the third week of parent-teacher consultations. Thank you for your attendance, thoughtful connections, and valuable feedback. On that note, we also want to extend our thanks to the BHCC for organising Christmas decoration workshops for the children. We secured our slot early, as the coming weeks promise to be busy and purposeful.
On the topic of purpose, we are pleased to share an exciting development in our House system. Having extended it to include our younger pupils and introduced new House events to encourage friendly competition, we’re now taking things a step further.
We have entered the Superkind Social Impact Award. This initiative aims to further inspire our children to embrace active citizenship, helping them grow into empathetic, kind, and exceptional young individuals – all while earning well-deserved recognition.
The first challenge for the Houses will be to write a letter. For older pupils, this may mean writing to a local senior citizen living in a care home, while younger children will focus on seniors in their own families or among family friends. These letters will express appreciation and respect. This project will not only earn House points but also encourage thoughtfulness and creativity. The letters will be completed before the end of term, marking the beginning of a dynamic year of social action and engagement as we move into 2025.
Mr John Towers
Head of Upper Prep
Dear Parents,
It has been a mixture of fun and hard work for the children in Upper Prep this week. They all really enjoyed their fantastic trip to the Natural History Museum on Tuesday and Mr Behan, Mr Unwin and I were so impressed with both their behaviour and their enthusiastic questions. Several House points were also awarded for excellent facts that children discovered over the course of the day.
Josh and Digby represented Barrow Hills at the Cranmer Awards on Tuesday. They both read a passage from the Bible aloud in front of an audience at this prestigious competition, hosted by Charterhouse. I am so proud of them both for volunteering – especially as they leapt straight off the coach from London and onto the minibus for Charterhouse, arriving with a few moments to spare. Well done to Old Barrow Hillian, Izzy R, who got through to the final to be held in Nottingham in February.
The cast of ‘Lord of the Flies’ continue to work hard in their rehearsals and at learning their lines. I am impressed with their dedication – just two weeks to go now everyone so keep up the good work! We are nearly there!
Christmas was in the air on Thursday, when the children from Year 7 and Year 8 enjoyed participating in a decoration making workshop, thanks to our wonderful BHCC. I know they made some beautiful decorations and I look forward to seeing these around the school as we prepare for Christmas over the next few weeks.
Finally, as the cold weather approaches, please can I ask that your child has a warm coat in school, navy or black if possible, and also a hat and gloves.
Thank you and have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Mason
Head of Prep
Dear Parents,
Thank you for joining us and for your positive feedback at our parent consultations this week.
For parents of Year 3 and 4 an additional treat next week will be an opportunity for a relaxed book look! Please feel free to pop in between 3.20 and 3.50pm on Friday 29th November to enjoy the children’s books, classroom displays and share all they have achieved so far in Year 3 and 4.
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable weekend.
Miss Tyrrell
Head of Pre-Prep
Dear Parents,
Earlier in the week, Reception children arrived at school in every shade of green for ‘Fred Frog Day’, inspired by our phonics character, Fred, who can say and read words only in pure sounds. The children were busy leaping about with a ribbetting chorus too as they made their way to the dining room on Tuesday. Thank you Parents for supporting this theme with fabulous green tutus, hats and tops.
The BHCC did a spectacularly festive job of hosting a crafting workshop for all of the Pre-Prep children this week. Nursery through to Year 2 rolled up their sleeves and made a host of different Christmas decorations from beautiful wooden baubles, decorated in gold glitter, to paper chains and snowflakes, all of which will be decorating the dining hall in no time at all. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers who gave up some of their time to put this activity together for the children. I know they will look forward to seeing their creations decorating the dinning room in weeks to come.
This afternoon, there was the first sporting fixture of the year for older Pre-Prep pupils. Our children hosted Amesbury for a football match. We were so proud to see such sportsmanship and pride in all those taking part, as well as the sheer delight on their faces as they tucked into match tea afterwards.
Congratulations to our Work of the Week recipients this week; Annabelle (Rec), Matthew (1G) and Walter (2G). We were also able to present some Bronze Awards this morning for significant House points collected so far this year. Well done to Parker, Leo and Valo (Rec), to Minty, Ava, Matthew, Mia and Luke (Year 1) and to Rafferty, Hannah and Lenny (Year 2). Keep up the excellent effort everybody.
From Monday 2nd December, Pre-Prep children are encouraged to post their Christmas cards in the Christmas Post Box which will be positioned by Mrs Hubble’s desk. The Year 2 children will deliver the post each day. Please ensure the envelope indicates the name and class of the recipient.
As the weather has suddenly turned, please ensure your child has gloves and hats in school with them, each day.
As we begin to turn our attention towards all things twinkly and tinsley, a reminder of some of the key dates over the next few weeks:
Monday 2nd December: Arrival of the Christmas Post Box
Tuesday 3rd December: 9.00am Nativity Dress Rehearsal (strictly for those with young children)
Thursday 5th December: 9.00am Nativity Performance
Monday 9th December: Christingle Service for Reception to Year 6. Parents are warmly invited to join us.
Monday 9th December: Early Years Christmas Activities Morning
Tuesday 10th December: Happily Ever After Storytelling Visit (Nursery and Kindy)
Wednesday 11th December: Panto Visit to see ‘Robin Hood’ at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2)
Thursday 12th December: Christmas Forest School for Pre-Prep, Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas Lunch
Friday 13th December: Final day of term; 11:45am Finish
Wishing you all a warmer, restful, weekend.
Mrs Barnett
BHCC
The Bacon Butties stall brightened up the morning once again, with a profit of £202.56 today. Thank you everyone, on this chilly morning!
School Notices
Thank you Bertie for modelling our new warm and waterproof school coat! 
Check here for important updates on school procedures during adverse weather conditions, including school closures, schedule changes, and distance learning arrangements.
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.
