Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
It’s only the second full week back, but the Second Years have already managed to pack in more activity than most people manage in a month! If there were awards for ‘Busiest Year Group’, they’d definitely win.
Art Week brought a burst of colour, creativity and a fair amount of glue to classrooms across the School, as pupils stitched, painted, sculpted and experimented with everything from thermal camera art to quilt making. Meanwhile, over in Modern Languages, the boys embarked on a linguistic world tour; French, Russian, Spanish, German and Mandarin all made an appearance, with Ancient Greek continuing in Classics.
Sport added its own excitement to the week, with the U13A football team earning a fantastic victory in the ISFA quarter finals and marching straight on into the semis. A big well done as well to the U13Bs, who put in a brilliant run and made it impressively far in the competition.
Midweek brought even more buzz with our Form Charity Quiz, where Hampton and LEH Second Years teamed up for a lunchtime showdown of brainpower, teamwork and extremely enthusiastic guessing. It was a close contest, great fun, and all in support of three brilliant charities – a definite highlight of the week.
To top it all off, the Hampton Extending Learning Project (HELP), Level 1, officially launched, sending Second Years off on the beginnings of their own research adventures. I look forward to hearing all about the fascinating topics you choose to examine and seeing where your research takes you!
Merit Milestones
Another bumper week for merits! A big shout out to the following Second Year Hamptonians:
Nico Arrojo-Garcia – 10
Edward Gilbertson – 10
Joshin Fenwick – 10
Faaris Malik-Casey – 20
Sebastian Camerer Cuss – 20
Joshin Fenwick – 20
Dara Skelly – 20
James Cao – 30
Alexander Chen – 30
Alexander Murphy – 30
Noah Neoh-Arhbi – 30
Edward Robinson – 50 (He’s off to see Mr Knibbs!)
Isaac Li – 50 (Excellent!)
Lucas Farnsworth – 70 (Wow!)
Sebastian Young – 100 (Outstanding!)
LION Merits
Mohamed Tageldin – 10
Edward Gilbertson – 10
Rayan Amiri – 30
Tutor Question of the Week
Each week we like to poll the Second Year tutors on a different hot topic. In the lead up to tonight’s eagerly anticipated final, this week we asked:
If you were in a series of The Traitors, would you rather be…
- A) A faithful – Miss Winstock
- B) A traitor – Miss Holt, 2G, 2W
- C) Claudia Winkleman – Mrs Owen, Miss Mattinson, 2H, 2L, 2B
Have you ever had a burning question you’ve always wanted to ask your Form Tutors? If so, then please send your suggestions for a future Tutor Question Time to e.holt@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Art Week Inspires a Burst of Creativity
This week was Art Week, and it was probably one of the most enjoyable weeks I have ever had. Art Week was very special because a real artist showed us how to make quilts using many kinds of fabric with different colours and patterns. We learned how to choose fabric pieces that looked good together and told a special story that we preferred. The artist was very kind and helped us when we felt confused or unsure. Our teachers were also really nice and walked around the room to encourage us and answer our questions.
Everyone felt comfortable trying new things because we knew we would not get into trouble for mistakes. The room was full of laughter as we talked, shared fabric, got glue all over our hands, and helped each other. We worked together at big tables with the sound of laughter filling our ears. I felt happy and relaxed while making my quilt with my classmates and others. It was a fun experience that made Art Week feel exciting and welcoming.
I enjoyed Art Week thoroughly because it let me be creative without feeling stressed or rushed. There was no right or wrong way to make art, which made me feel confident in my ideas and designs. I could share my thoughts and designs with friends while we worked side by side. We talked about our work in a kind way that made everyone feel supported by others. Seeing other quilts around the room gave me new ideas and inspiration which I could use for my own quilt.
I felt proud of what I made because I put time and effort into it. Art Week helped me relax and smile. It made school feel more exciting and different than usual. I learned new skills that I can use again in the future. I really hope we have an Art Week again soon because it was such a great experience!
Overall, Art Week was a glorious week filled with joy, enjoyment, and many more!
By Moksha K (2B)
Take a look below to find out more about the quilting workshop with professional artist Jahnavi Iniss:
This week is very excitingly Art Week and we had some very fun things to do! There were lunchtime workshops to attend such as the tie dye workshop and the Matisse clay construction, and some pupils were selected to go and do an art project. This Art Week was very enjoyable and some of our lessons were inspired by this too.
In our Spanish taster lesson, we did an Art Week‑inspired drawing which was a self‑portrait of ourselves. In our Religious Studies lesson we also did an Art Week‑inspired lesson where we drew artwork linked to the Muslim theme we are learning about. Finally, in our Physics lesson, as it was Art Week, we did a very interesting topic where we had to either take a picture of ourselves with a thermal camera or find a picture on the internet taken by a thermal camera and do a drawing of it with only two shades of colour. The colours were white and one colour of our choice and I chose blue. I did a drawing of a hand where the centre was white, and it gradually got from light blue all the way to dark blue on the fingertips. This was my favourite Art Week lesson as it had a Physics link and the thermal camera we had was very cool!
Overall, I really enjoyed Art Week and the fun challenges and I am hopeful that we do one again next year!
By Milo B (2G)
Bonjour, Hola, 你好! Second Years Sample New Languages
This week has been an exciting one for Hamptonians as we get to decide on some of our choices for next academic year, including picking our language choices. To help the decision, we had taster sessions with teachers of that language. Last week, all of the forms had Ancient Greek taster lessons in our Latin periods. On the last day of the taster week, my form did an escape room, where we had to use our Ancient Greek knowledge to escape the Acropolis in teams of two or three.
Throughout this week, Second Year pupils have been doing Modern Language taster lessons in our French/Spanish/German lessons where we get to try new languages. My form does French, so for our tasters we did German on Tuesday, Spanish on Wednesday, and Russian on Thursday, with all of us excited for our Mandarin taster on Friday. I (as lots of other people probably are) am currently trying to decide which of the languages I want to pick. It’s a difficult choice!
By William J (2H)
This week was full of language tasters and was very enjoyable. There was Russian, Mandarin, French, Greek and Spanish for 2G and all the lessons were very exciting. On Monday we had Russian and Greek (also on the rest of our Latin lessons for the week). In Russian, we learnt the Cyrillic alphabet with Mrs Owen. It was quite challenging at the start with the rolling of the ‘r’, but eventually we were all able to recite the 33 letters (10 vowels, 21 consonants, and 2 signs). In addition, this was our second week of doing a Greek taster in Latin. This week we were moving on from learning to transliterate to learning some actual Greek vocab. It was very fun with lots of similarities to Latin with the pronoun endings for example.
On Tuesday, we had a French lesson which proved to be more sophisticated than the other tasters as we were expected to have done some in our primary schools. Nevertheless, we had an interactive lesson with lots of speaking which was very nice. On Wednesday, we had a Spanish taster where we learnt to ask and answer basic questions like ‘What is your name?’ or ‘How old are you?’ There was a lot of progress made in learning Spanish as a language and learning about where it is spoken.
Finally, on Thursday, we had a Mandarin lesson. We learnt a lot about China and the inventions made there as well as reciting the numbers from one to ten. It was a very active lesson in which we learnt Chinese characters and were taught by stretching your arms and legs (for example). The language tasters were very enjoyable and lots of fun. There are so many good language options to take next year!
By Ansh R (2G)
For the past two weeks, we have been studying Greek in our Latin lessons. In these periods, we have been learning the alphabet, translating words and practising verb endings. Learning the alphabet really opened our minds up to the diversity of this language, mainly due to the lower‑ and upper‑case letters looking so different to what we’re used to. It was also very unique due to the fact that in Greek they have a ‘long e’ and ‘short e’ and a ‘long o’ and ‘short o’. This means when translating you have to be careful that you don’t get confused and use the wrong letter.
At first, looking at a Greek word felt like looking at complete gibberish; but after a couple of lessons, I could recognise common characters which helped me identify some words. Overall, the Greek taster sessions have been great, and I think many people will have been inspired to pick Greek and Latin in their Third Year choices.
By Finn G (2L)
Take a look at Second Year Hamptonians getting a flavour of all the languages on offer at Hampton:
Seven Goal Showcase
U13C Storm to Victory Against Dulwich
Back with a bang from the Christmas holidays as the U13 Hampton C‑team (coached by Miss Day) dominated against Dulwich College. We kicked off on a cold, wet Saturday morning with no sign of the sun anywhere, and despite the bobbling pitch we managed to play through it and take an early lead from Joshan (2P) with a wondrous strike low into the side netting, and this drastically boosted the team’s morale.
However, after this Dulwich were determined to strike back and with some speed down the wing, they were causing the Hampton defence some difficulties but with some excellent defending from William (2H) we were able to play out the first half with a clean sheet. With Monty having to leave at half time our squad depth was shortened and with a quick change in positioning Hampton was back and raring to go once again.
We opened the second half with goals flying in from all angles, with the likes of Raff (2W), Joshan, Milo (2G) and Aran (2H), and with 20 minutes left on the clock Hampton was awarded a free‑kick as Noah (2G) was bundled to the floor. With a beautifully swung‑in cross to the back post from William, Hampton went 5–0 up. After a few more scrappy goals the referee blew the whistle and Hampton had won 7–0. Well done to the C‑team and I am looking forward to playing more games this term.
By Seb G (2F)
Hampton makes the Final Four
U13A Triumph in ISFA Quarter‑Final
The sporting excitement continued with our U13A team securing their place in the ISFA semi‑finals following a superb 3–2 victory away at Forest School on Tuesday.
In a tightly contested match, Hampton showed impressive determination and teamwork, battling from start to finish to claim their well‑earned win. The boys displayed excellent technical ability and resilience, responding well to pressure and taking their chances with confidence. Their composure in the closing stages ensured they held on to their lead and booked a well‑deserved spot in the next round of the national competition.
This result places the U13As among the top four schools in the country in this prestigious tournament, a fantastic achievement at this stage of the season.
Congratulations to everyone in the squad, and the very best of luck as they prepare for their semi‑final clash!
Top Teams and Tight Scores
On Tuesday lunchtime, the Hammond was buzzing with energy as our Second Years welcomed their counterparts from LEH for a lively and good‑spirited Form Charity Quiz. The event, which was expertly run by the two schools’ Sixth Form Charity Committee, brought together pupils in support of our three Form Charity partners: Single Homeless Project, UCLH Cancer Fund, and Save the Children.
Each Hampton Form was paired with a team from LEH, creating mixed groups who combined their general knowledge, quick thinking, and competitive flair. From history and sport to science and pop culture, the questions sparked debate, discussion, and plenty of laughter as teams worked together to secure a place on the leaderboard.
The final results couldn’t have been closer:
Joint 1st Place – 2B and 2F (24 points)
2nd Place – 2W (23 points)
Joint 3rd Place – 2P and 2J (22 points)
With just two points separating the top five forms, it truly was a nail‑biting finish. Every team demonstrated impressive collaboration and enthusiasm, making it one of the most enjoyable charity events of the year so far.
A huge well done to all players, and a special thank‑you to our Sixth Form Charity Committee for hosting such a fun and meaningful event. Not only was it an entertaining way to spend a lunchtime, but it also raised valuable funds for three fantastic causes, making every point, and every pound, count.
Film Review: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Avatar: Fire and Ash came out in late December, and I was lucky enough to watch it in 3D shortly after. Despite being quite a long movie (3h 17m), you are constantly kept on your toes, with jump scares when you least expect them and long battle scenes. The movie picks up right where Way of the Water left off.
SPOILER ALERT
Early in the movie the Mangkwan clan are introduced. The Mangkwan clan raids others for resources, offering a contrasting viewpoint to the Sully family’s ways and challenging Eywa’s balance. Jake’s other issue is the humans, who want to do what they do best and take over the planet. They haven’t done this already because they can’t breathe the air. However, the key to making the air breathable is within Jake, so he must be kept away from the humans.
SPOILER OVER
Overall, I would agree with its IMDb score of 7.4/10. It’s on at most local cinemas this weekend (Kingston, Hounslow, Feltham, Staines) so I would definitely recommend going to watch it. However, it is a 12A, so it might not be suitable for younger siblings.
By Jonathan G (2P)
Drills, Skills and Team Spirit
Recently I have been going to basketball club, and I really recommend it to anybody looking for a fun, competitive club. It is on Tuesdays at lunchtime and it’s a great environment. The club starts with a warm‑up and then goes into drills and games towards the end. In conclusion, I really recommend it, especially if you are thinking about getting into basketball.
By Ollie R (2J)
LOWER SCHOOL SUMMER SHOW AUDITIONS
We are looking forward to the auditions for Hampton’s Lower School Summer Show, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The first round of auditions is on Tuesday 3 February 4.10 – 5.30pm in the Main Hall and recall auditions are on Wednesday 11 February 4.00 – 5.15pm in the Hammond Theatre.
If you are wanting to attend, please ensure you complete the form that was sent to you via e-mail by Thursday 29 January.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Auditions – Fill in form
Please check the audition packs previously sent out for more information regarding the auditions. Any questions, please speak to the Mrs Richardson and the Drama department.
Hampton Innovators Competition
Do you enjoy creativity, teamwork, and a challenge? Want the chance to win a trophy and prize while tackling real-world issues? The Hampton Innovators Competition is now open and focuses on protecting the environment. Your idea should link to one of these UN Sustainable Development Goals:
• Responsible Consumption – reducing waste and using resources wisely
• Climate Action – tackling climate change
• Life on Land – protecting forests, biodiversity, and wildlife
Pupils can work alone or in a team (up to four pupils). Your idea doesn’t need to be fully practical — it can be creative, ambitious, and original, as long as it helps build a greener world.
📅 Deadline for applications: Friday 30 January
Finalists will present their ideas at a grand final later this term. Check your email for the entry link and full details.
Good luck!
The Hampton Environment Society
Quiz of the Week
Welcome to the Quiz of the Week! Every week, we’ll post five general knowledge questions. Take a look at this week’s questions, have a go yourself or challenge people at home and see if they know the answer.
Points for the Interform Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries over the term.
This week’s fiendish questions come to us from Alexander M (2W). Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers below:
Here are the answers to last week’s quiz:
- Which sixteen-year-old boy won a golden globe award for his performance in “Adolescence”? Owen Cooper
- Which country has the USA recently invaded and captured the president of? Venezuela
- What does an “indie band” mean? The band is based in an independent music label
- Which villain was the main villain in the recently ended series “Stranger things”? Vecna
- Squier is a part of which large guitar brand? Fender
Well done to the following Second Year Hamptonians who answered everything correctly – Finn G, Ediz Y, Nico A-G, Oliver H, Jack W, Harry T, Ojas P, Harri C, Freeman W, Ralph L and Arthur H.
If you’re keen to write some general knowledge questions for the Blog, please email e.holt@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Have a great weekend!
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