Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
I hope you all had a fantastic half term and managed to enjoy some time to relax, recharge, and make the most of the sunshine. It’s been lovely to welcome everyone back this week, with plenty of stories to share from the break – from trips around the UK to exciting experiences further afield.
Alongside these half term reflections, it’s also been a significant week in School, with many of you beginning to receive your assessment results – a great opportunity to reflect on all the hard work that went in before the break. On Monday, we also took part in a mock Parliament session in PSHE, working together to debate and pass a bill, which was a fantastic way to bring learning to life and see teamwork and communication in action.
There’s already been plenty happening beyond the classroom too, from Geography and History trips and cricket success to the continued build-up towards Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This week’s blog really captures that mix of looking back on memorable experiences while also throwing ourselves straight back into a busy and exciting term.
Tutor question of the week
This week’s question is from Zac J (2P). He wants to know:
Would you rather:
- instantly master any physical skill – 2P, 2G, 2H, Mr Hill
- be able to understand and speak all languages fluently – Mrs Owen, Miss Holt, Miss Tiller, Miss Winstock
- have perfect photographic memory of every experience in your entire life – 2W, 2J
Half term Fun
My family and I went to the coast on the weekend during the holiday, we went to a place called Rye. We drove down there, it took about two hours to drive there. We stayed at a hotel called the Mermaid Inn; it was nine hundred years ago but then there was a fire burning the whole thing down. It was then rebuilt four hundred years ago. It was like a maze walking to the room, all sorts of different rooms leading to other rooms. It was a great experience and a short holiday with my family.
By David M (2W)
This half term, after coming home from school, I packed my bags and me and my family headed to Cornwall. We arrived very late, and the next day our friends arrived, coming a day earlier than I thought. I did a lot of surfing, as there were lots of waves every day, and chilling on the beach was just amazing. The temperature on one day was 34°C! Sometimes, we stayed on the beach for dinner, grilling burgers and hot dogs, whilst playing volleyball. I loved every bit of it. On the Thursday, it was someone’s birthday, so we went over to their house. We played games, chilled out and gave presents. Occasionally, I bodyboarded, and on the last day, we went into Padstow Harbour. Here, we hopped on a huge rib, and saw seals, puffins and lots of nature around the area. It was extremely cool, and I would 100% recommend it, but bring a rain jacket – you will get sprayed! We came back on the Saturday, and I hated to leave, but we had to, and I enjoyed a relaxed Sunday off.
By Felix H (2J)
During the May half term, I was lucky enough to travel to Spain and watch Real Madrid play Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu. It was the final match of the La Liga season, and the atmosphere inside the stadium was incredible because the fans were saying goodbye to departing club legends like Dani Carvajal and David Alaba.
The match ended 4-2 to Real Madrid. Both teams fought hard, even though they had nothing left to play for. Gonzalo García opened the scoring in the 12th minute, thanks to a brilliant pass from Carvajal. A few minutes later, Bellingham scored an incredible volley, and the stadium erupted. Just before half time, Athletic Bilbao managed to score. However, Mbappé quickly responded with a great goal at the beginning of the second half, which was his 25th goal of the season! Brahim Díaz then added Real Madrid’s fourth. Despite the match being out of reach, Athletic Bilbao showed great resilience and managed to score a late consolation goal in the closing minutes.
At the end of the match, Dani Carvajal and Alaba said goodbye to the club, making it a very emotional moment for the Real Madrid fans. Overall, the match was fantastic, with six goals in total, and it was an unforgettable experience during my holiday.
By Diego C-G (2B)
Trips Galore!
Not one but two trips for Second Years this week. Let’s hear all about them from some of our intrepid reporters:
This week has been amazing and exciting as we have been on two fabulous trips. The first one was a History trip visiting the Mary Rose in Portsmouth and we also went to the River Cuckmere for a Geography trip. As well as this we finally have all of our exam over for now.
The Mary Rose was an amazing place, although it was a long journey which limited our time there, it was fantastic. Firstly, we went to see the story of the Mary Rose ship. This was the only ship made by Henry VIII with his own personal money and so therefore it was his main treasure and one of the things he valued most. When it went down during an attempted invasion by France in the 16th century, Henry VIII wanted to get the ruins back, but nobody was able to go and get it. Then in the 19th century it was found again or at least parts of it. In 1911 there were many more expeditions to get it and in 1955 it was finally pulled out. Then we saw what the French, English and Spanish thought of it and how we can identify where anyone was from and things about them including depictions of what people would look like depending on where they were from. After that we went to a museum where we saw some things on the ship like syringes and other medical equipment used at the time. We also saw things that were very random like the captain’s shoe.
We also went to a river and there was a lot of walking. Firstly we started at a tributary of the river, and we saw many places like the small tributaries but then the larger river. We also saw many meanders which we had to go around. As well as this there were weirdly shaped areas, for example two which looked like pizza slices! Another thing that we saw was a chalk cliff which was surprisingly stunning as well as the areas carved by humans to prevent flooding and to prevent farms being destroyed. We saw how the river had changed from being a typical river to what it is now as we saw the many meanders that were removed. The pros and cons of this is it makes the water go fast but it also made some places at higher risk of flooding as when floods are repeated, eroded material builds along the edge however because of this some areas were lower than usual. We also got shown how we know that an area has been dug up by humans.
Overall, this has been a fantastic week as we have been on many school trips which also means this week has been different from a normal week. It has been full of fun.
By Adam N (2W)
Our Geography field trip to the Cuckmere River on Tuesday turned out to be an absolute highlight of the term, defying all standard expectations of British weather. Instead of the overcast skies we had bracingly prepared for, we were greeted by surprisingly glorious sunshine that illuminated the entire valley. This perfect weather did more than just boost our morale; it provided ideal, crystal-clear conditions for studying the river’s famous features up close. As we traced the water’s path, the images we had seen before, (outside of school) suddenly came to life. I learned an immense amount about river processes just by watching the water move, gaining a first hand understanding of how a river erodes, transports, and deposits sediment. Standing on the valley floor, it was fascinating to observe the dramatic, winding meanders and see exactly how lateral erosion cuts into the outer banks while deposition forms slip-off slopes on the inner curves. By the time we headed back to the bus, the physical geography of river landscapes had completely clicked for me. Seeing the classic Cuckmere oxbow lakes in various stages of formation made the theory unforgettable, turning a standard Tuesday school day into an invaluable learning experience.
By Tom G (2H)
On Thursday I visited the Cuckmere River on a Geography trip, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. The journey began with a one-hour-and-thirty-minute coach ride, which was much more enjoyable than I expected because I spent the time playing cards and, for once, having some really good conversations with my friends. When we arrived, the scenery was incredible, with the winding river, open countryside, and beautiful views stretching across the landscape. I walked quite a long way along the river, which gave me plenty of opportunities to observe the environment and appreciate how unique the area is. Throughout the day, I completed a booklet filled with educational geography questions that encouraged me to think carefully about what I was seeing around me and helped me learn more about the river and its surroundings. Halfway through the trip, we stopped for lunch, which was a great chance to relax, enjoy the surroundings, and chat with everyone before continuing our walk. The combination of learning, exploring, and spending time with friends made the day both educational and enjoyable. After another fun one-hour-and-thirty-minute coach ride back, I felt tired but happy. Overall, the trip to the Cuckmere River was memorable, interesting, and definitely one of the best geography field trips I have experienced.
By Akshaj A (2B)
On Thursday, 2B, 2G, 2P and 2W went on a Geography field trip to the River Cuckmere near Brighton. It was very windy, and cloudy but the sun shined through at times, and due to wearing lots of layers, I found the weather pleasant. We visited several sites on the river to discuss different features of typical rivers, related to the fieldwork that we did throughout the day.
The most memorable place that we visited was the mouth of the river (which we were lucky to reach), between Seaford and Eastbourne. The area was called Cuckmere Haven and the sea was beautiful. I particularly loved the view because you could see the start of the Seven Sisters, which was particularly impressive. My friend also pointed out a kestrel hunting, which was very cool for me as I haven’t seen many birds (especially birds of prey), and the speed and accuracy of its dive was impressive.
By Thomas DL (2B)
On Thursday, I went on a trip to the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. It was great fun and we learnt a lot about how life was back in the Tudor times, since when the Mary Rose sank, most of the ship was underneath the seabed, preserving the ship in almost mint condition! The Mary Rose was named this because King Henry VIII (the king at that time) named it after the Virgin Mary and the Tudor rose, who he represented. On the 19 July 1545, the English and French fleet met at the Solent, a strait in the English Channel separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of Southern England. This was known as the battle of the Solent. During the Battle, the Mary Rose was leading an attack against advancing French Galleys and during a tactical manoeuvre, a sudden gust of wind caught the ship, causing it to keel over and rapidly sink through the open lower gun ports. The real reason as to why the ship sank is still a mystery today but what we do know about this amazing warship was that it was one of Henry VIII’s proudest creations. To top it all off, in the museum there was a 4D cinema-style experience of how the Mary Rose was lifted from the seabed in 1982! On the whole it was a brilliant experience and I highly recommend it for you, your friends and family to visit!
By Aarav S (2L)
For my Geography trip we went to Sutton right near the South Downs to explore a river. We had learnt all the geographical terms about rivers we needed to know the day before and applied our knowledge on the trip. We were handed a booklet which we had to write down all of the key terms about the river in, we got to see the whole river and learnt that the wind would blow objects towards the sea instead of the other way around which was quite interesting. We had a 40 minute lunch break and then we made our way back to the coaches. On the History trip we went to explore the Mary Rose which was a ship created in 1545 which had sunk and not been found for hundreds of years until a group of people found timbers of the boat in the 19 hundreds and then went on to try find the boat. After 11 hard years of searching, the ship had finally been found but only half of it due to the fact that the other half had broken down and the recovered half luckily sat in a seabed of clay protecting it. On the trip we got to see the recovered half of the ship, watched a 4D diving experience of finding the ship, and we also had a lesson about it, in my opinion my favourite part of the trip was the 4D movie we got to watch about the divers finding the ship as it was very informative and we got to learn about how the divers were able to recover it and parts of the ship they had to cut off to accomplish the mission. During the lesson we had we learnt that the name Mary came from Virgin Mary and that this was Henry VIII first ship of many.
By Alex S (2L)
This week the Second Year had the unique opportunity to visit the Mary Rose museum in Portsmouth. When we first arrived, we watched a video about the history of the Mary Rose and how a team of expert historians and amateur divers set out to locate the Mary Rose and lift it off the seabed. The video left us without a conclusion – had the Mary Rose been discovered or not? To find out the ending to the mystery we went into the 4D cinema room where we witnessed the conclusion and saw how the Mary Rose was salvaged from the seabed.
We then went to see the recovered part of the Mary Rose ourselves and it was cool to see how such an old ship was still pieced together. After witnessing the Mary Rose, we continued to the gallery section of the museum. Here we saw what the survivors of the Mary Rose thought about the disaster. We also got to experience what it was like to be an archer as we got to pull two different bows back.
Finally, to cap the trip off, we had a workshop in the afternoon where we were told about how the Mary Rose sunk and the perspective of the English, French and Spanish on the incident. We also got to hold and examine replicas of some of the tools used onboard the Mary Rose. Overall, this trip was a great day out and a fun experience for everyone in Second Year.
By Sammy H (2J)
Cricket – semi finals!
On Wednesday, the U13A Cricket team played Gosfield School in the Area Semi-final of the nationals. We arrived with unfavourable weather conditions and as rain looked certain to come into play, overs were reduced from 30 to 25. We won the toss and bowled which was crucial due to the overcast conditions and a wet outfield and pitch. The opening bowlers, Kaarthikan and Rehan, kept things tight with our first change bowlers, Ashveer and Ahan, getting us to a rain delay with them 33-2 after 10. We carried on with bowlers such as Yuvan taking a 3-fer with low-economy and others chipping in to keep the score down. As the 25 overs concluded, Gosfield ended up on 72-9 after 25 overs and in my view, we played our best as a team in the field and as a bowling lineup. Yuvan and Kaarthikan being the notable bowlers with each sharing seven wickets for a low economy.
The came the batting, in which Jesse and Yuvan opened. From the start both looked to be positive on a testing wicket and in only a couple of overs, Jesse had already smashed a six into the trees. Yuvan kept pushing the two with occasional boundaries to long square and wet boundaries. Their partnership extended to 58 until Jesse got bowled but the match was already sealed.
We finished 74-1 after 15 showing a dominant performance. In the next match, we face Epsom which will be tough but with our form and squad will be a good matchup.
By Bertie E (2G)
Fancy Joining Drama Club Next Year
Taking Drama next half term isn’t just about being on stage – it actually helps with loads of things in and out of school. Here are seven reasons why I think you should join:
- Better at speaking in front of people: You get used to performing, so things like presentations don’t feel as scary.
- More creative: Doing improvisation helps you think quickly and come up with ideas on the spot.
- Builds confidence: It pushes you a bit out of your comfort zone, but in a good way.
- Teamwork: You’re always working with other people, so you learn how to listen and share ideas.
- Something different: It’s a nice break from normal lessons where you’re stuck at a desk all day.
- No pressure: It’s more about taking part and having a go, rather than being tested all the time.
- Behind-the-scenes stuff: It’s not just acting – you can also help with lighting, music, props and all that.
There are loads of other reasons too, but hopefully this helps. If you’re thinking about trying a club, you should give Drama a go next year!
By Oscar T (2L)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!!!
For a long time, a group of hard-working teachers from the Drama department and diligent pupils have been hard at work to bring the works Roald Dahl to create our version of Charlie and the Chocolate.
It has been an amazing experience to work with everyone and it has been a lot of fun to meet after School and actually have a commitment. I think that everyone really tries to act hard and even if you are part of the ensemble, the experience is still the same for everyone. The teachers are incredibly encouraging and always give positive feedback, and are definitely at the core of the good experience.
In two weeks time, in the Hammond, we will be performing on Tuesday and Wednesday, so make sure to book your tickets now.
By Alex C (2H)
Pet of the Week
If you would like to submit your pet please email b.tiller@hamptonschool.org.uk
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 quiz questions come to us from Isaac L (2P). Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers for this week’s quiz here:
Here are the answers to last week’s quiz:
- When and where were the first (modern) Olympics held? 1896 Athens
- Which country has the most oversea time zones, including overseas territories? France
- What chemical element has the highest melting point? Tungsten
- Which British monarch was the first to reside in Buckingham Palace? Queen Victoria
- What 80’s hit is sampled in ‘The Weekends’ song ‘Blinding Lights’? A-Ha’s Take on Me
Well done to the following Second Year Hamptonians who answered everything correctly – Reyansh K, Ediz Y, Ansh R and Armaan R.
If you’re keen to write some general knowledge questions for the Blog, please email b.tiller@hamptonschool.org.uk.
