WELCOME TO THE THIRD YEAR BLOG!
Welcome to the first Third Year blog of 2025!
The start of a new term is always initially a slightly odd time, as teachers and pupils shake the dust off from a few weeks off. Of course, the reality here is that after the initial shock of getting out of bed when the hour is a single digit (in the 24 hour clock) for the first time in weeks wears off, energy levels rise and the roller coaster that is the Hampton week kicks back in.
It is hard to be tired when you’ve got so much stuff to do and it has been brilliant to see the boys all throwing themselves into their lessons and clubs. This is particularly true for the pupils who have been braving the elements this week during their lunchtime training sessions with the bitter northerlies racing across the field – it’s been an inspiring sight to see them all out there, though not as inspiring as watching Mr Hooper who has been running his sessions in his shorts despite the bitter cold. One doesn’t necessarily expect to find adherence to Hellenistic philosophical principles in a school P.E. department, but we are at Hampton after all, and Mr Hooper could certainly be described as a Stoic in this sense.
As a side note, investigating the beliefs of the Stoics, the Third Year Blog stumbled across the Stoic belief that the Universe is a ‘material reasoning substance’ which was divided into two classes: the active and the passive (the Third Year Blog cannot confirm whether Mr Hooper’s adherence to Stoic philosophy stretches this far, or whether he just likes wearing shorts in brutal weather).
The passive substance is matter, which, according to Seneca’s Epistles ‘lies sluggish, a substance ready for any use, but sure to remain unemployed if no one sets it in motion.’ Anyone who has seen the Third Year pupils in their first morning registration back after the Christmas holidays will feel that this is a passive substance they might recognise. One might also argue that the absence of a Third Year Blog in the first week of term may suggest a similar element within certain parts of the teaching staff.
The active substance is an ‘intelligent aether or primordial fire’, which acts on the passive matter. The blog hesitates to say that the staff are that ‘primordial fire’ acting on the passive matter (indeed, it seems more likely that the role of the ‘primordial fire’ may well be played by the sausage casserole available at lunch), but wherever that ‘intelligent aether’ comes from, it is brilliant to see the pupils rousing themselves and lifting themselves as the term kicks into gear.
Of course, we are now a week in and everyone’s passive substance has been fully acted on by their intelligent aether, so we’re all roaring on all cylinders (while also bleating about being tired), meaning that there is plenty of material for the blog, with reports on ESFA cup football, Ski Trips, and an art trip. So, waste no more time and dig in to it!
HEADS OF YEAR MESSAGE
It has been lovely to see the boys back in school over the last couple of weeks. Along with Form Tutors, we have been meeting with boys to discuss and review their end of term grade cards – delivering well-deserved congratulations and setting targets for the term ahead. There is a palpable sense of energy amongst the Year Group in the New Year, and we encourage the boys to maintain this sense of purpose and enthusiasm in their endeavours at school throughout this term.
A note to all Third Year pupils that with Parents Evening on the horizon (Tuesday 28 January) it is a good time of year to be making extra effort to impress your teachers in lessons, hand in homework on time and to a good standard, and ensure that your behaviour is exemplary at all times around the school site.
Thank you to all boys and parents for taking the time to consider your GCSE subject options and submitting the online form to confirm your choices last week.
We recognise that some of these decisions are very difficult and you might change your mind over the remainder of this school year or following the summer exams. Whilst we would urge boys not to make such decisions lightly, and only ever after having discussed it with parents, Form Tutors and the relevant subject teachers, it is possible to request an alteration to your GCSE options, and such requests can usually be accommodated. Any request to alter GCSE options must be made by parents in writing to Dr Hendry (s.hendry@hamptonschool.org.uk), copying in Form Tutors and Heads of Year. Please continue to contact us, your son’s Form Tutors and Dr Hendry (Deputy Head) if you have any questions or concerns regarding GCSE options.
For your forward planning, we can confirm that the First to Third Year internal exams will take place during the week before summer half term (19 – 23 May).
Absences
If your son will be absent from School for any reason, please complete the absence reporting form, which can be found on My School Portal on every morning of your son’s absence. For absences other than illness e.g. if a pupil has a dental or medical appointment during School hours, notice of this should be given in advance. For planned absences, please contact Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Uniform reminder
In the current cold weather, pupils are allowed (or indeed encouraged) to wear sensible hats, coats and gloves to keep warm on their journeys to and from school, but they must revert to full school uniform throughout the school day whilst on site. This means they must wear a school tie (properly tied) and school blazer, with a white shirt (tucked in and buttoned up), dark trousers, dark socks and smart black shoes (non-trainers). If they are cold, it is permissible to wear a vest under the shirt and/or a dark V-neck jumper. Coats should not be worn in school.
Boys – Please let us, your Form Tutors or the relevant subject teachers know if you have any difficulties. Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Mr H Moore
U14B Football Update
In our U14B ESFA round 4 (round of 16) tie, we were just about beaten 4-2 in a tight match against Ravens Wood School. As the game begun, nerves were high as prospects of a quarter final clash ran through our minds. Seb W got us to an early lead following a beautiful threaded ball by Charlie M. We then conceded two goals; one a pass splitting the defence for a 1v1 which was slotting past the ‘keeper and another a lobbed shot into the top corner. With just seconds left, an attack saw Charlie M through on goal for a beautiful finish at the far post, we were back in it: 2-2!
As the 10 minutes of extra time begun, we were on the back foot and then with about four minutes left, a beautiful long range effort found the back of our net. As we pressed for another equaliser, their beautiful shot off the crossbar bounced down for a tap in. The U14B’s 13 game unbeaten streak has come to an end, and we are knocked out of the ESFA cup.
Report by George S (3D)
Third Year Ski Trip to Austria
Over the Christmas break, some of the Third Year pupils had the incredible opportunity to go on a ski trip to Austria. For some it was their first time skiing whilst others had more experience, however the experience brought a mix of excitement and nerves for us all as we prepared to take on the slopes. The adventure began early at 6am, when we gathered at Heathrow Terminal 2, buzzing with anticipation for the week ahead. After a long day of travelling, we finally arrived at the hotel. Settling into our dorms, we quickly went to bed, ready to dive into the skiing experience the next day.
Each morning started with waking up at 7am to the magical sight of fresh snow blanketing everything outside. After quickly getting dressed, we headed to breakfast, which offered a delicious selection of bacon, eggs, cereal, toast, and more to fuel us for the day. Once at the slopes, we took gondolas to the peaks, soaking in the breathtaking views of the snow-covered mountains. Skiing was as exhilarating as it was challenging. Our instructors were amazing, providing helpful advice and encouragement to improve our skills. While everyone had their fair share of tumbles, we all progressed significantly over the week. The lunches on the slopes were another memorable aspect, giving us the energy to keep going, and the sense of camaraderie among everyone on the trip made it all the more special. After returning from an exciting day of skiing, we scrambled to put our ski gear away before heading to our rooms to shower and prepare for dinner. The evenings were filled with equally thrilling apres-ski activities, which were a definite highlight of the trip. Many of us agreed our favourites were playing football in the sports hall, learning the skill of curling and the thrilling tobogganing track, a completely new and unforgettable experience.
Overall, the Third Year Ski Trip was an unforgettable experience. Not only did we greatly improve our skiing skills, but we also built lasting memories with friends and gained a newfound sense of independence. We are all looking forward to the possibility of joining the senior ski trip in the future!
Report by Devan D, Willoughby E and Edo C (all from 3J)
Take a look at some of the photos from the trip here and watch some of the action from the slopes below:
German Christmas Market Trip
Third Year linguists enjoyed a festive trip to Lübeck in Germany to experience the unique atmosphere of the local Christmas markets. A group of 15 Third Year Hamptonians travelled to the North German town of Lübeck, also known as the Queen of the Hanseatic League. Every year during the festive season the picturesque old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is transformed with magical lights, festive sounds and seductive smells. As well as shopping for Christmas presents, pupils were able to experience the local traditions, as well as improve their language skills. The Hamptonians had the opportunity to explore the sights of the city, including its famous seven spires, the winding streets of the Old Town island, remaining fortifications and impressive harbour. They enjoyed a visit to the fascinating Hansemuseum, dedicated to the history of the Hanseatic League, as well as the Holstentor Museum, which explored the rich history of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Everyone had the chance to sample the world-famous Lübeck marzipan and the tasty muzen, a traditional German doughnut local to the region.
Take a look at some of the photos here.
Art Exhibition
The Third Years took a trip to Kew Gardens in order to find inspiration for an Art project they were working on. We have three reports below, as well as some examples of the work and a video showing the breadth of the work produced.
We were all buzzing with excitement as we boarded the bus for our trip to Kew Gardens. It was an art-focused trip, and the goal was to gather inspiration and create base work for public art prints. As soon as we arrived, the beauty of the gardens bloomed in our faces. Our task was to observe and engage with nature in different ways, completing different tasks, varying from one-line drawings to digital photos. Some of us began by sketching the intricate details of the plants in the large greenhouse, while others took photos of the striking sculptures scattered across the gardens. We were encouraged to think creatively, incorporating different textures we saw into our work, considering how we could transform these natural elements into public art.
It wasn’t just about replicating what we saw but about understanding how to convey those ideas through our own artistic lens. By the end of the trip, we all had a collection of base work—drawings and photos—that would later evolve into impactful public art prints.
Report by Anthony S (3D)
When we arrived at Kew Gardens we were given various pieces of paper, a pencil and pen, and a clipboard to hold them all together. We then were split into our classes to explore different sections and meeting up to swap ideas with each other. When we arrived at our section, we had to sketch a plant of our choice without lifting our pen, take five photos of the beautiful variety of plants, five photos of the architecture of the greenhouses and finally, sketch another plant in white on black paper. This allowed us to get a range of perspectives of the plants and inspired us to create a print of plants. Our focus was on public art therefore we focused on creating sculptures that would eventually lead to our finished result.
Report by Seb D (3B)
As we walked into the cactus greenhouse, I got an immediate sense of warm humid air. With my friend, I found the most impressive plant, in my opinion, and with a pen and paper, I started to draw a continuous-line drawing of the small cactus. It had spikes huge in comparison to the size of the plant itself, which I thought was a great proof of plants being able to adapt to their surroundings. After I finished, we looked around the vast greenhouse with a variation of beautiful flowers and cacti. I felt that was something worth seeing.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I hadn’t been to Kew Gardens in a while and had forgotten how extraordinary nature can be. Furthermore, it has really inspired the art we have been doing currently which has been great fun.
Report by Lucas W (3C)
Take a look at the video below which showcases some of the fantastic art Third Year Hamptonians produced following their visit to Kew Gardens:
Bebras
Finally, the Lower School all participated in the UK Bebras Challenge in December, a challenge that introduces computational thinking to pupils across the world.
While the standards achieved by the Hampton pupils are high across the board, we wanted to draw attention to Nayan W (3F), Benji J (3D), James G (3F) and Samuel B (3J) who were the Third Years who achieved 100% in the challenge, something achieved by about 0.35% of those who took part in the UK version of the challenge, making it a fantastic achievement. Congratulations to all 4 of you!
Talk!
The first Talk! of the spring term will take place on Thursday 28 January when we welcome Christina Lamb OBE, who is recognised as one of the world’s top foreign correspondents and is currently the chief foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times. Christina has covered conflicts across the globe for the past 35 years, and will join us to discuss her years as a war reporter.
There’s no need for Hamptonians to book, find out more here.
Two truths and a lie
Way back in 2024, Ms Vasanthakumar was our (all too willing) fibber. This is what she wanted us to believe…
- Ms Vasanthakumar can speak four languages
- Ms Vasanthakumar enjoys baking and made her own wedding cake
- Ms Vasanthakumar has never visited a country south of the equator
Well, it turns out that Ms Vasanthakumar did make her own wedding cake. The reality of this, of course, is that regardless of what it tastes like, everyone will tell you that it’s wonderful, as it is your own wedding, so all in all this seems like a very sensible approach to the Third Year Blog, bearing in mind how much wedding cakes can cost. Following the wedding, Ms Vasanthakumar’s honeymoon must have been north of the equator as she has never visited a country south of the equator – as a side note, only 32% of Earth’s landmass is south of the equator and much of that is Antarctica, so maybe we should not be too surprised at this. What this means is that Ms Vasanthakumar cannot speak four languages, though maybe she is not including the language of Mathematics in her count…
This week, we have Mr Green as our spreader of fake news. They would like you to believe these unlikely suggestions:
- Mr Green cannot whistle
- Mr Green drinks a minimum of five cups of tea a day and has a page in his mark book devoted to ensuring that he hits that level
- Mr Green was once attacked by a swarm of amazonian hornets
Which is the lie? Find out next week!
CONNECTION CORNER
Connection Corner is back with another challenging conundrum! Have a go over the weekend and see if you can spot the connection:
