Friday 15th May 2026

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

Message From the Head

Dear Parents,

Sports Day Poster

Another great week for adventure. Following Year 6’s 100% success rate in summiting Snowdon, Year 4 also comported themselves with grit and positivity at Sayers Croft. Thank you to all the teachers involved across both expeditions for going the extra mile with these residential trips.

This week, our chickens arrived to complement the opportunities for pupils to tend and grow produce in the School garden. We have already had our first organic free-range eggs to support cookery lessons, alongside the garlic, gooseberries, beans, lettuce, and blackberries the children are currently nurturing.

On the theme of nature, on Tuesday Pre-Prep enjoyed some interactive and very hands-on discovery sessions with visiting animals, including a chameleon, guinea pig, snake, and cockatiel!

These nature notes complement our botanical Barrow Hills Gin, which launched this week in partnership with Vann Distillery, celebrating our 75th anniversary and supporting a donation to the School with every bottle sold. You can order a bottle here.

Have a great weekend.
Mr Towers, Head

News from Upper Prep

There was great excitement this week when James, our Co-Curricular Captain, visited a local farm along with two staff members, to collect our school chickens! He brought five beautiful hens back to our new chicken coop and settled them into their home. When the children came out at break time the chickens were happily engaged in exploring their new surroundings! James has also produced an informative poster explaining what to do – and what not to do, when looking after our new pets.

Wednesday’s downpour did not spoil things for our cricketers who played on through the rain in their matches against KESW. Well done also to Charlie, George P and Philip (Year 8) and James H and Noah (Year 7), who competed in the Spectrum 8 School Athletics Competition on Friday.  I know they all really enjoyed participating in this event.

All the children in Upper Prep benefited from a Revision Workshop on Thursday afternoon. They learnt how to maximise their time to achieve the best results – the key is little and often!  They also looked at using different ways to revise like flash cards or mind maps, watching a short video or even explaining a concept to someone else. Thank you to Mrs Goedkoop for delivering this very useful workshop.

Finally, the Year 8 children were once again superb ambassadors for Barrow Hills School when they showed around parents at our Open Morning. I was so impressed with the polite way they engaged with our visitors and it was wonderful to see their pride in their school. Well done Year 8 – we are very proud of you!

Have a lovely weekend everyone,
Mrs Mason, Head of Upper Prep

News from Prep

Residential fever has truly taken hold, with Year 6 returning with tales of daring, adventure, and perseverance following their week in Snowdonia. Pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones, and supporting their friends to conquer their fears and reach their potential, are some of the key take-aways from what sounds like an exhilarating few days. 

This week, it was the turn of Year 4 to embark upon their own residential expedition to the Surrey Hills. Joined by Mr O’Kelly, Mr Unwin and Mrs Pickard, the children fully embraced the opportunity to embrace a little independence, and threw themselves into a myriad of activities, all designed to pique their curiosity, challenge their ingenuity, and tire them out!

Lastly, I’m sure many parents will have heard about the newest arrivals at Barrow Hills…the Barrow Hills Chickens! Taking residence in their very own custom built Cluckingham Palace, these five lovely ladies are making themselves at home, working out the pecking order and basking in the attention they are receiving from children and staff alike! 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
Miss Tyrrell, Head of Prep

News from Pre-Prep

We have had a wonderfully exciting week at school, fuelled with curiosity. Our Pre-Prep children were thrilled to welcome Pets on the Green into school for a fantastic hands-on animal experience on Tuesday. The children had the opportunity to meet and learn about a variety of amazing animals, including a colourful cockatoo, a fascinating chameleon, a bearded dragon, snakes, and some very cuddly guinea pigs. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to build confidence with the animals, ask questions, and learn about caring for different animals. There were lots of smiles, excitement, and brave moments throughout the session!

We are also delighted that our school chickens have now arrived and are settling into their new home at the school coop. The children have already shown great excitement at their arrival and have suggested a wide range of possible names! The chickens will provide a wonderful chance to learn about animal care, responsibility, and the natural world in a meaningful and hands-on way. 

Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic educational visit to Sayer’s Croft as part of their Science learning linked to their habitats topic. Throughout the day, the children explored a variety of natural habitats and took part in exciting hands-on activities. They searched for minibeasts hiding under logs, enjoyed pond dipping, and used sweep nets in the meadows to discover a range of living creatures. The children also took part in themed games linked to habitats, adaptation, movement, and camouflage, helping to bring their classroom learning to life in a fun and engaging way. Another highlight of the visit was the Earthwalk, where the children explored the natural environment and reflected on the world around them. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their scientific knowledge through exploration, teamwork, and outdoor learning.

Reception Class delivered a delightful and engaging assembly yesterday morning on minibeasts that captivated the audience from start to finish. The children shared their learning through songs, speaking parts, and wonderful acting. Every child played their part with enthusiasm and pride. It was lovely to see the children working together so confidently and supporting one another throughout the assembly. Their excitement and growing confidence really shone through.

Congratulations to Freddie L (Kindy), Freddie D (Reception), Leo (Year 1) and Matthew (Year 2) who each achieved a Work of the Week in assembly this morning.  Congratulations also to Valo (Year 1) who earned his Gold Award, and to Teddy and Luke (Year 2) who were presented with their Platinum Awards. Super efforts.

Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs Barnett

School Notices

Music Lesson Timetables

Music lesson timetables are published every Friday via the School Portal. While our music teachers endeavour to attend on their designated days, there may be occasions when adjustments are necessary. We kindly ask parents to check the published timetables each week to ensure that students bring their instrument and music to school on the correct day.

Sun care in the Summer Term

With the warmer weather approaching please can we ensure that children are coming to school with water bottles, caps and have had sun cream applied in the morning.

Barrow Hills Gin

You can order a bottle of our very own Barrow Hills Gin here.

BHPA Second-hand clothes collection

 

Aquathlon Race Series at the Guildford Lido

Phoenix Triathlon Club is thrilled to host a three-part Aquathlon Race Series at the Guildford Lido this summer.

Designed to be fun, friendly, and accessible, these events are the perfect introduction to multi-sport racing for beginners, while also offering a fantastic local race opportunity for seasoned athletes.

Event Highlights:

The Venue: Swim in the iconic 50m Olympic Guildford Lido, followed by a safe, traffic-free run in Stoke Park.

The Dates:
Friday 12th June, Friday 10th July, and Friday 4th September 2026.
(All events start from 7:00 PM).

Fully Licensed: All races are officially licensed by the British Triathlon Federation (BTF).

Competitive Spirit: Prizes will be awarded for podium positions in female and open categories with medals for all finishers!

Full cafe facilities open at the Lido

Free parking

Dedicated marshals at all points with professional Medical staff on hand

Race Categories & Distances:

Category Age Swim Distance Run Distance
TriStar Start 8 years 50m 600m
TriStar 1 9-10 years 150m 1.5km
TriStar 2 11-12 years 200m 2km
TriStar 3 13-14 years 300m 3km
Youth & Junior 15-19 years 500m 5km
Adults 20+ years 500m 5km

 

Entry Fees:
Adults (20+): £32.50
Under 19s: £25.00

Group & Multi-Race Discounts:
We are offering exclusive discount codes for schools, clubs, families, or individuals entering all three races. Please reply directly to this email at aquathlon@phoenixtri.co.uk to secure your discount code or to ask any questions.

How to Book:
Click on the date you wish you book for and fill out the form – Friday 12th June, Friday 10th July or Friday 4th September.

Tree Tots at Barrow Hills

We’re thrilled to invite little ones into our Nursery and Forest School for a our weekly toddler class – Tree Tots @ Barrow Hills!

Tree Tots welcomes girls and boys aged 6 months – 3 years for a magical hour of play. Babies can relax in our baby sensory corner as toddlers take on themed activity stations – we’ll then all come together for songs, games and story time.

The classes will meet every Friday at 9am during term-time – the first two classes will be free to attend, (thereafter £5 per child), and include a hot drink and snack for both carers and their little ones!

Please do bring along any children and spread the word with friends – tickets must be booked in advance, through the Happity website.

Barrow Hills Parents’ Association

Bacon Butties were a welcome treat this morning, and helped raised £348.50. The Bacon Butty stall runs every Friday from 7:45am, serving a selection of delicious breakfast treats and hot drinks, and is a fabulous meeting point for everyone to catch up at the end of the school week.

The second hand uniform sale was also very successful this morning, raising a grand total of £260!

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

 

Bridewell Schools Dry Cleaning & Launderers

 

The Little Gym Godalming

For any parents who are looking for camps running across half-term, Little Gym in Chiddingfold are running half and full day camps for children aged 3+, packed with gymnastics, imaginative games, and creative fun. Find out more on their website.

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