Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
It is the second week of March. This is all well and good, as it suggests we are moving towards Spring. Of course, on Tuesday we woke up to a liberal dusting of snow. However, after the initial burst of excitement, the pristine white turned to grey freezing slush. England is a wonderful place to live and we are particularly fortunate to live in the area we do, but it is hard to argue that the weather is a strength!
This week’s weather has led to the boys of Hampton having to spend more time than might be ideal in their form rooms and the corridors of the School. In Italy, there is a tradition called the passeggiata wherein the people of a village or town will spend an enjoyable evening slowly strolling through the streets of their home, socialising, chatting and generally enjoying each other’s company. You could argue that Hampton on a rainy day is the polar opposite of this Mediterranean ideal.
Of course, this is in many ways a wonderful thing, as it is reflective of the boundless energy we see from Hamptonians, and the Third Year in particular. As ever, the Third Year Blog is here to capture all the energy being offered!
We have a triumphant Football team, a remarkable Rugby effort, a view of the British Film Institute Festival and a report from last weekend’s First World War Battlefields Trip. Regardless of what the weather throws at them, the boys of the Third Year find things to do. Ideally, less of those things would involve balls and classrooms, but these are the challenges of a rainy week!
Heads of Year Message
We were delighted to receive a report that Forms 3A-3E were excellent ambassadors for the School on the first Battlefields Trip last weekend. Mr Roberts had been impressed with the way the boys behaved, showed interest, and kept up the pace throughout the physically and emotionally demanding trip. Well done to all involved. We hope that Forms 3F-3J will reach the same standard on March 19-20.
In a similar vein, we were really pleased with the way pupils in Forms 3A-3D participated sensitively and maturely in the Relationships & Sex Education morning on Thursday. We hope that 3E-3J will maintain this sensible approach when it is their turn next week.
Co-Curricular
We encourage all boys to keep up their attendance at lunchtime co-curricular clubs and activities right through to the end of term.
Behaviour & uniform notices
- School blazers must be worn to school as part of a full school uniform.
- Hampton sports kit can be work on Thursdays, not assorted sportswear.
- Pupils should not run in the corridors.
- Pupils should attend morning registration (8.45am) and afternoon registration (1.50pm) promptly each day in their Form Room, in order to arrive on time for the start of period 1 (8.55am) and period 6 (2.00pm).
- Pupils should only use iPads under instructions during a lesson or with the express permission of a teacher. Third Year pupils are not permitted to use mobile phones in school without the express permission of a teacher.
Absences
For medical absences, please notify your son’s Form Tutors via email (cc’ing absence@hamptonschool.org.uk) on the morning of each day of absence by 8:45am, or complete the absence form via the parent portal. For planned absences and appointments, please contact Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Boys – Please remember to let us, your Form Tutors or the relevant subject teachers know if you are having any difficulties.
Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Miss M Bedford
U14B Football
On Saturday, the U14B team returned after a break and played a strong St John’s Leatherhead side. This was an important game as the team wanted to finish the season on a winning streak. Immediately after Hampton kicked off, it was clear it was going to be a close game. The first chance fell to Hampton when a corner was fizzed into the penalty area and narrowly missed being slotted home. This was the start of a period of Hampton pressure which saw several attempts on goal go close. Half time came, and we were upset not to have a lead.
Soon after half time, and against the run of play, a through ball reached the St John’s striker and he coolly side footed it into the net. Hampton piled on the pressure to try and get an equaliser, but it was still 1-0 to St John’s with only seconds left to play. Then, right at the death, as the ref shouted last play, a free kick was awarded to Hampton in a promising position. The ball was lofted into the penalty area and the keeper fumbled under pressure causing the ball to rebound into the air. Luckily, it fell to a Hampton shirt and the ball was headed into the top corner to make it 1-1. This caused Jose Mourinho to sprint down the touch line, or was it Mr Leafe? Seconds later the whistle went, and the game was drawn 1-1.
Report by Ralph C (3A)
Rugby Sevens
As opposed to a report on the progress of the Rugby Sevens team, we have an interview with team captain, Stanley A (3A).
You’ve played in two separate 7s tournaments this week. How did they both go?
I think we all performed very well reaching the finals at Warwick 7s on Saturday and reaching the semi-finals at Surrey on Tuesday. We’re just aiming to keep improving before the national competition at Rosslyn Park on the 21 March.
It was obviously a successful couple of performances, even if you didn’t quite manage to win the tournaments. What makes the Hampton U14 side such a strong Sevens side?
I think that there are a lot of reasons why we have become a successful squad. The effort that everyone puts in training is something that really shows when we’re out on a pitch. We have a good leadership team and some outstanding talent. Our coaching staff are also one of the reasons why we perform well. Mr Ellsworth, Mr Hood and Mr Mobbs-Smith all give up a lot of their time to help us get better. However, the brilliant atmosphere and team morale shown by all of us is the main thing that drives us to win. We all put 100% into everything related to rugby, which is why it’s a fantastic team to be a part of.
What was the single best moment of the week’s efforts?
The best moment of the week was definitely on Saturday when we beat Sedbergh in Warwick. It was a really strong performance and to beat one of the best rugby schools in England is something that everyone on the team should be extremely proud of. I think this game was the best we looked throughout the two tournaments and although they were a good side, we did deserve the win.
Finally, you’re being rested for Friday’s Ibstock Place Tournament. Do you have a message for the Hamptonians taking part?
I think just to keep playing like we’ve been playing this past week will help them get a long way today. As long as they do the best they can, we’re sure that they will have a memorable performance.
First World War Battlefields trip report
Last weekend, half of the year made the trip across the Channel to visit the First World War Battlefields with the History Department. Here is a report from Lucas S-T (3D).
On Sunday, the Battlefields History Trip began with a very early start. That being a meet time of 4am at Hampton School, which meant a very early rise from all the pupils going on the trip. Big thank you to parents who had to wake up to drive to Hampton as well! For how early it was, the Hamptonians were quite excited and lively in the parking lot as they waited for the bus, meeting and chattering away with friends. However, the liveliness did not last for very long as most immediately fell asleep when they sat on the bus. It was a long journey to the ferry and once the pupils got on they went to get breakfast. The ferry was also quite long but once we arrived, we were on the bus again and going straight to our first location of which was New Dochy Farm Cemetery.
Here in this location we learnt of an FA Cup football player whose name was Jimmy Speirs. He scored the winning goal in the 1911 FA Cup Final. He enlisted in the army and later died from machine gun fire. He was buried in this location and we visited his grave. It was a very interesting location and we learnt of the trenches which were once located there.
We next went to a lake at Zonnebeke and from there we walked to Tyne Cot, charting the Battle of Broodenseinde. As we walked, we learnt of all the battles which occurred and the locations of the trenches and when attacks occurred and all the victories of both sides. We learnt of different tactics and strategies that would have been used, such as the placements of machine guns to make sure that there weren’t any blind spots. It was a great learning experience, as being in the location where the battles occurred and it really helped us to understand the reality in a way that sitting in a history classroom could not match.
At the end of the walk, we arrived at the Tyne Cot cemetery where there was the name of A.J Winterbourne found on one of the memorial walls. He was a previous Hamptonian who joined the army and later died. His body was not found. We had a minute of silence remembering and commemorating this previous Hamptonian, leaving behind a wreath.
Our final destination of Sunday was Langemark Cemetery, this was a German Cemetery. The previous one we’d visited was an Allies Cemetery, which was also very interesting. After we went back on the coach and went to Ypres where we went to the Poppies Hostel. It was a nice accommodation and the boys had fun in their dorms. We went to a restaurant and after a meal we went to another memorial where we had commemorated the soldiers once more, laying another wreath.
After the boys were allowed to pass some time in the square of the town. There they had much fun as there happened to be a carnival taking place. The boys then had to return as there was a 10pm bedtime due to the rules of the hostel and the early rise next day at 7am. The next day we had breakfast at the hostel and prepared a lunch there.
We then went to Newfoundland Park, a place which had remaining trenches and barbed wire. It was a very amazing sight and helped to create a better picture of what it was like in the war for the soldiers. There was also one petrified remaining tree from the battles which was a very interesting sight.
After, we had a short journey to Thiepval where we ate our lunch. Here there was a beautiful memorial which had an incredible view of the Somme. It was one of the best sights of the entire trip. Our final destination was the Lochnagar Crater. This is a huge crater where an underground mine was exploded by the British as they tunnelled underground underneath the German lines. Detonated before a British attack, it was one of the biggest man-made explosions recorded at the time. After this, the Hamptonians returned back to the ferry to return to England. They got back at around 8:15pm very tired – evidently from the amount of people sleeping in the next day! This trip was great and a wonderful learning experience which all Hamptonians enjoyed.
BFI Festival report
Harry E (3D) tells us about an event he visited over the half term break, that will help with his Arts Award project:
I went to the British Film Institute festival over the weekend with my parents to learn about how to make a documentary. It was really good fun! And here is my review of it.
What event did you attend? When? Where? Who did you go with?
I went to the British Film Institute festival in February half term with my parents to learn about how to make a good documentary.
Why did you choose to attend this event? Have you ever been to a similar event and how was this one similar or different?
I chose this event as it gave me valuable insight into future careers and how to make a great film. I haven’t been to a similar event so it was fun to learn some new cool stuff.
What was the event like; what did you see, hear and experience?
The event was like a workshop so I went to lots of stations and asked about documentary making. I found a lovely lady who had worked with young kids before when making documentary films who gave me some great insight on editing and camera skills.
What did you most enjoy/find most interesting at the event and why?
I quite enjoyed talking to Met-film who were a group of people who actually work around documentaries with kids from 14 and it was particularly interesting as I hadn’t been to an event with a similar style like that before.
What did you least enjoy/find least interesting at the event and why?
There was nothing interactive which made the event slightly boring. It could’ve been slightly more engaging, but other than that it was great!
What did you learn/think about the art form and how did the event inform/influence your own Arts Award project?
I was taught how to structure and make a good film without losing viewer attention. It was really good to understand and learn about how professionals would make films.
Would you recommend this event, who to and why/why not?
This was a good event if you want to retain lots of information about documentary making. If you enjoy more of an interactive event then I probably wouldn’t recommend this event. However the BFI is a great program so you may find other stuff.
What overall rating would you give the event and why?
I would give the event a 7.5/10 because the event was really interesting but it got slightly boring in parts as it wasn’t particularly engaging. However, it is really useful for beginners who want to learn!
Two truths and a lie
Last week, Miss Vasanthakumar sent me a filthy lie. Thankfully it was accompanied by two truths. But which was which?
- Miss Vasanthakumar doesn’t actually need glasses – they are just a fashion accessory.
- Miss Vasanthakumar can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 15 seconds.
- Miss Vasanthakumar is allergic to plasters.
Well, while her glasses are undeniably fashionable, they are also necessary. Of course, this revelation also means that she can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 15 seconds.
This week we consider the likely realities surrounding Mr Highton. Which of these claims could possibly be true (or false)?
- Mr Highton once came sixth in the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Canada.
- Mr Highton owns the only pet Cabybara in Surrey. She is called Brian.
- Mr Highton once climbed Table Mountain barefoot.
Surely this is all nonsense? Evidently not. That is not how this feature works.
But, surely it IS nonsense?
Find out what is nonsense next week…
Talk! Professor Lloyd Peck
In the final Talk! of the term, leading global scientist Professor Lloyd Peck joins us on Tuesday 21 March at 1pm in the Hammond Theatre. It’s a unique opportunity to hear from Professor Peck on his 30 years studying Antarctic life and the environment for the British Antarctic Survey.
Find out more here.
Connection Corner
We had a bit of technical issue with last week’s Connection Corner, so we’ll try again. See if you can spot the connection between the following questions:
