Who We Are

Our Pre-Prep children had a very special visit from Father Christmas this week! 🎅

We began with a cosy Christmas story time before heading into the woods to find Father Christmas. The children were excited to share all the kind and helpful things they have done this year and a few of the presents they were hoping to receive in a couple of weeks too! We sang festive songs together and Father Christmas even had some special little gifts for the children.

After our visit we headed further into the woods to enjoy some warming hot chocolate and some delicious s’mores by the fire.

These shared festive experiences allow our children to strengthen their friendships and build happy memories that deepen their sense of belonging within our school community.

#fatherchristmas #christmas #festive #barrowhills ...

Our annual Christmas Jumper Day certainly didn’t disappoint! Our children and staff put on their most creative knits and brought so much joy to our school community. ✨🎄

It was wonderful to see everyone taking part with such happy smiles and festive spirit, reminding us how special these shared moments are and how they bring us closer together as a community. 🧡

#barrowhills #christmasjumperday #christmas #bridewell #community #festivefun ...

Our Pre-Prep Nativity performance this year was ‘A Little Bird Told Me’ - a charming retelling of the Christmas story through the eyes of a little robin who longs for a warmer place to shelter. When she hears exciting news about the birth of a very special king in Bethlehem, she joins a flock of birds flying to visit the baby. Along the way, they encounter shepherds, angels and wise men, each adding to the sense of wonder as the robin discovers her own unique gift to offer Jesus.

The children delivered their lines with pride, sang clearly and confidently, whilst supporting one another throughout each scene. Their enthusiasm and teamwork shone through, from the youngest singers remembering their cues to the older children guiding the story forward with expressive narration. Performances like this are so valuable: they help the children grow in confidence as they step out of their comfort zones, strengthen their ability to collaborate and listen, and encourage creativity as they express themselves through song, movement and storytelling. Perhaps most importantly, they bring us together as a community.

In the midst of a busy festive season, taking a moment to celebrate the children’s hard work reminds us of joy, connection and a sense of shared pride that these occasions create. ...

Year 7 and 8 enjoyed an inspiring, specialist-led STEAM careers visit, generously sponsored by Electronic Arts, who are the leading publisher of games on consoles, PC and mobiles. Through hands-on activities and online workshops, our children explored a wide range of careers across Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, allowing them to consider how these pathways connect to their own interests and strengths.

They discussed different workplaces, identified the personal attributes and human skills suited to each role, and tackled creative “outside-of-the-box” challenges that showcased how STEAM skills apply in real-world settings.

Many thanks to Electronic Arts for supporting this valuable and exciting learning experience.

#bridewell #careers #lookingtothefuture #steamcareers ...

This morning’s Christingle Service was a gentle, heart warming start to the festive period at Barrow Hills. As we carefully lit and held candles the smell of oranges and a sense of excitement filled our chapel.

The children have been learning about the meaning of Christingle and what each part represents. Exploring themes of the world, light, happiness, love and the fruits of the world has helped them understand not only what Christingle is, but why it matters and how we can all carry those teachings into our everyday life.

We are very much looking forward to the next two weeks of Christmas celebrations before term ends, and the excitement and joy that it brings to our whole community.

#christingle #festiveperiod #bridewellschools #barrowhills ...

Year 5 have recently spent a day deepening their understanding of Tudor history with a memorable visit to the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth.

Highlights of the day included seeing the meticulously preserved hull of the Mary Rose as well as the ship’s surgeon and the medical tools used to care for the crew. The children were captivated by personal belongings which revealed real human stories from more than 470 years ago. These artefacts helped the children connect emotionally with the people of the past, making Tudor history feel relatable.

The visit gave the children a vivid, real-world connection to their Tudor studies and everyone returned to school inspired and eager to further their understanding of Tudor history.

#bridewellschools #tudorhistory #barrowhills #understandingthepast ...

Our Autumn Concert was a wonderful celebration of talent, musical growth and accomplishment.

The Chapel was alive with melody and rhythm, as the enthusiasm and hard work of our teachers and the children filled the air with musical magic. From piano and trumpet, to recitals and vocal soloists, we were treated to a wonderful selection of music.

Our Autumn Concert is one of many moments throughout the year where our community comes together to support our young performers. To enjoy the presence, smiles, applause and encouragement of friends and family is confidence building and creates lasting memories. We celebrate each and every child, encouraging them to take their place in the spotlight, find the right note and share it well.

#bridewellschools #autumn #concert #music #community ...

‘Preparing for Greater Things’ Barrow Hills with Bridewell AI in the heart of the City.

In an exciting trip to Guildhall in the City of London, Year 8 met the Lord Mayor, Aldermen of the City and our full Court (trustee body of the Royal Bridewell Hospital) and enjoyed a rare opportunity to present their work to an influential audience. The children demonstrated our unique Bridewell AI technology, showing Governors how it is used to support their creative writing, enhancing learning and critical thinking within the English curriculum and helping them to understand the next steps in promoting deeper, more independent engagement.

They taught Governors how to write strong prompts to generate better AI responses, showing the vital importance and power of strong digital literacy skills. At the end of their session our Governors compared pupils’ original drafts with their AI-supported versions. They noted powerful improvements in clarity, structure and creativity - all led by human intelligence, supported by Bridewell AI.

Well done to Year 8 for showcasing Bridewell AI so effectively, representing the School brilliantly and demonstrating how Bridewell is future proofing the education of its pupils through cutting edge educational innovation.

#bridewellschools #barrowhillsschool #prepareforthefuture ...