Welcome to the First Year Blog!
It has been another lively week in the First Year, with boys whisking, mixing, sizzling and seasoning their way through Cooking Week while enjoying the homework holiday. From bubbling casseroles to ambitious spice experiments, it is fair to say the kitchens of Hampton have been busier than the Chemistry labs. Mentor lunches have been in full swing too and will continue next week, serving up good conversation alongside good food.
A reminder to all pupils to send their recipes and photos to Mrs Whitwam or complete the form sent to parents so they can be included in the First Year Cookbook.
We also look forward to our First Year Tea Party on Monday when everyone will be bringing in something homemade to share. Whether it is a biscuit, brownie or bold baking attempt, we cannot wait to see, and eat, what appears on the tables. Think Great Hall energy in Hogwarts, but on a Hampton scale, minus the house‑elves and with far more flapjacks.
Assembly this week brought our Unsung Hero Awards, celebrating kindness, quiet graft and all‑round good eggs, while the Rock Concert struck all the right notes as First Years absolutely rocked it.
Clubs have been buzzing, the quiz team kept their buzzers busy, and there was even a dash of wizarding wonder in these pages. Enjoy this week’s blog of cooking triumphs, musical mayhem, quiz quick‑fire and plenty of Hampton heart (and stomach).
CELEBRATING UNSUNG HEROES
In our Lower School Assembly this week, we awarded certificates to pupils who display the Hampton values of: being open-minded, tolerant and full of conviction, having a clear sense of right and wrong, and aiming for personal best while supporting those around them with kindness and respect.
The recipients of the awards are chosen by their peers. Every First Year pupil was invited to nominate someone they think deserves this award that we call the ‘Unsung Hero’ award. Here are the winners with the reasons given by their friends of why they deserve to win. Congratulations!
Freddie C – always kind and respectful to others even if he doesn’t agree with them
Finlay C – very considerate and generous
Jack D – cheerful personality, great person to have around in times of discomfort and joy
Thomas F – every time I see him he has a big smile so even if I’m feeling sad he makes me happy
Aiden G – he puts maximum effort into everything he does and brings joy to people around him
Hiu Yeung K – he always helps other people when they need it
Zeno L-W – a consistent good friend and kind
Ted M – perfect example of what we should want to achieve
Gilby R – kind and caring and respectful. Open-minded to others’ ideas
Rayan S – consistently helpful to everyone and will stand up for the right thing
Alex W – really thoughtful person who has supported others around him
CULINARY CREATIONS
So, this past week is called a “Homework Holiday,” which sounds fantastic until you hear the catch. No Maths, no French, and no Latin homework means taking over the kitchen, creating a meal for your family from scratch.
I chose a recipe from the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: “Berbere Spiced Chicken, Carrots, and Chickpeas.” It seemed fancy, but it’s described as a “one-tray wonder,” which is ideal if you don’t want to spend all of your holiday time washing up.
The Cooking Process:
The best part of that process was mixing the Berbere paste. Berbere is a spicy mix from Ethiopia. It absolutely smells amazing when you combine it with tomato purée, garlic, and oil.
- The Prep: The task here involved chopping the carrots and tossing them with the chicken and chickpeas in a big tin.
- The Roast: You pour over some orange juice and water, cover it in foil, and bake.
My Verdict
Honestly? It was better than doing the book recipe. The chicken was nice and tender, and the carrots got all sweet and sticky from the orange juice. It has a bit of a kick in it, but everyone in my household loved it apart from me, as I may have used a bit too much Berbere in the paste.
Pro Tip: Make sure you do not skip the salsa at the end, as this will give the dish an overall restaurant-quality look and taste to the food!
By Ruben V (1F)
This week, it was a Homework Holiday for the First Year! Instead of spending our time finishing our assignments, we spent our evenings cooking! Over the course of the week, we were tasked to create a delicious homemade dish for our families. Then, we sent our recipes and some pictures to Mrs Whitwam, and they will be included into a First Year cookbook. These will be available to buy, and the funds will go to charity. I made macaroni cheese and crispy chicken tenders with salad. I first breaded the chicken and then put them in the oven to bake. Meanwhile, I boiled the pasta and prepared the sauce with butter, cheese, milk, flour, and pepper. My sister helped me with the salad and then; after taking the chicken tenders out of the oven, I enjoyed a delicious meal with my family! Next Monday, to round off cooking week, everyone is going to bring in some food, and we will have a Tea Party with our class! I am going to bake a Hampton-themed cake!
I think this week has been a great break from homework and an amazing opportunity to do something that we perhaps don’t do very often. I loved cooking and will do more in the future.
By Aiden G (1J)
As it is Cooking Week, I spent my Tuesday evening assembling a delicious chicken pie for me and my family to enjoy the following night. Who doesn’t love a pie?
On Tuesday afternoon, I met my dad in Hampton Hill to buy the exact ingredients which were needed for the recipe. I decided to go for a traditional British chicken pie. The first step was to chop and peel the onions. This proved more difficult than it sounds as the onion kept making my eyes water! Next, I did the same but this time with carrots, making sure to cut them into small cubes. In addition to this, I added fresh thyme and parsley.
Once the first step had been completed, I put the carrot and onion and herbs into a pan with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. My job was to give the vegetables an occasional stir whilst my dad was skinning and cutting the chicken and then browning it in the oven. After this, I took the chicken from the oven and put it in the pan which had the vegetables in. I also added flour, hot water and chicken stock to the mixture to provide a rich flavoursome sauce and again, I stirred it together. When the meat and vegetables were fully cooked, I poured the concoction into a container and left it for the night.
When I arrived home from School on Wednesday, I began to add the finishing touches to my meal. First, I put on the pastry and then brushed a fine layer of egg on top to make the pastry go shiny. Then we put it in the oven for the final time, and I went off to rugby training for my club: Teddington Rugby. Meanwhile, the pie was cooking.
When I returned, I served up the scrumptious delicacy to my family alongside some broccoli and sweet potato. It was delicious! After trying my own meal, I was very proud that I made dinner that night and decided that I’d like to cook more often.
By Lewie G (1B)
This week, since we did not have any homework, it was Cooking Week. You help out in the kitchen every day, from setting up the table to making a meal for your family. Yesterday, with my dad, I made honey salmon with potatoes and rice who is always fun the cook with. The end result was we used my time wisely, and me getting delicious food. Also, today we had a nutrition talk on how to keep a healthy mind (energy). At the end of the talk, we all got to try some healthy, energy sustaining (and most of all delicious) food. Yummy!
By Aahil U (1G)
A yearly tradition for the First Year, is to dedicate a whole week to cooking. Instead of being set homework like every other week, we get to spend that time cooking. One thing I decided to make was a Sri Lankan special. It is a sweet, tasteful desert often made across Sri Lanka for its new year in April. It is called “Kokis” and can take shape in many different forms such as a butterfly (the ones I made), flowers, stars and the sun. At first, I was I bit scared I was going to mess up (though I did quite a lot at the start!) I started to manage to get the hang of it. It was great to learn not only how to make something I never knew how to but to learn more about the culture of Sri Lanka. I am looking forward to sharing this and another sweet snack in the cookbook and with my friends!
By Pesandu W (1W)
Cooking Week has been amazing. I have been on my toes finding recipes and baking biscuits. So far, I have baked shortbread biscuits with a special touch of cocoa nibs inside. I am really enjoying this week, making dough as fluffy as a cloud. But also trying something new. Learning new recipes that you can use in the future. Next, I am going to make Biscotti biscuits which I am going to bring on Monday. I cannot wait to try my classmates’ food.
By Edward G (1J)
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
On Mondays and some Thursdays, there is an Assembly about important topics like celebrating events, global news, and raising awareness. Last week, we had the Holocaust Memorial Day assembly. This week we had an assembly on nutrition, which our chefs and catering team kindly came in to explain about the importance of healthy food.
We learned that if your brain is fuelled then your reactions and alertness would be better. We also learned that our brain is 75% water, which is a lot! So, you need a lot of water or your brain can not really work. We also learnt that you should not skip breakfast because it is the main meal of the day which keeps you motivated in all the fun lessons we get.
Finally, to finish off, our School Chef told us about that we need only two spoons each of honey, oats, dried fruit, or anything else of your choice, to make a healthy snack which includes all the nutrients your body need. This includes glucose, proteins, and healthy carbohydrates. Afterwards, we got to try one of the oat balls they had made and it was delicious.
By Yifan C (1L)
TWO YEARS, ONE TUNE
On Monday morning, First and Second Years attended assembly in the Hammond Theatre which was led by Mr Fuldner and Mrs Owen, the Head of First Year and Head of Second Year. By the seats in the Hammond Theatre are SO COMFY! In this assembly, Mr Fuldner and Mrs Owen explained that there isn’t much difference between First and Second Years aside from the School Year groups we are in. We went through pretty much the same start to Hampton, we all know the same teachers, and we most likely have more similarities than differences. Three pairs of older Hamptonians, that are friends but in different Year Groups, spoke to us and explained all the perks of being friends with others in higher and lower Year Groups. After that, two groups of Hamptonians, one from First and the other from Second Year, that participated in the Hampton Rock Concert played their songs to everyone. The songs where ‘Drive My Car’ from The Beetles and ‘Song 2’ from Blur. I really enjoyed this assembly and hope to have a similar one again.
By Miguel B (1B)
KEYS, CHORDS AND CONFIDENCE
Last Friday, the Hampton Rock Concert raised the roof! Our band ‘The Senaxes’ performed ‘Drive my car’ by The Beatles. The band members included: Aydin on the guitar, Lenny on vocals and tambourine, Guy on the drums and me on the keyboard. This was our first ever Rock Concert! Whilst we were all a little nervous at first, we soon got into the groove. We were the only First Year band in the first half – no pressure! We played amongst the older boys, some of whom played multiple times during the evening and have played over many years during their time at Hampton.
The Hammond Theatre was bursting with the ripple of the keyboard, the thunder of the drums, the strumming of guitars, and enthusiastic vocals. The passion for music was palpable with energized confidence. Before going on stage, we watched the other acts perform which helped inspire and boost our confidence. Blue Hour opened the show with a female singer (who was amazing) and Flux ended the first half of the show with a fusion of instruments including the Tabla – Indian hand drums.
The audience of parents clapped and cheered with enjoyment and pride. The evening was an enormous success because of the backstage support of the technical department and of course the organisational support from the music teachers including Mr Daly, Mr Ferrier, Mr Green, and Mr Roland. At the end of the evening, I felt proud to have participated in what is clearly a great annual event at Hampton. The Senaxes hope to be back for the Summer Concert and I hope that I can follow the example of the senior boys and put it in my diary as annual event that I perform in.
Well done to all the performers and the staff for what was a truly enjoyable evening.
By Ethan V (1F)
On Friday, last week, I stayed behind at school. While you might find that a bit weird, Hampton School was not: from the start of the year me and my fellow bandmates have been working together (with the help of Mr Pym) to play in the Rock Concert. As you might expect already, it was last Friday!
The evening started off with a soundcheck for all the bands. While the apprehension started to build, everyone was practising in the Garrick. Slowly and slowly, time trickled away and suddenly it was time to start! We all entered the Hammond Theatre’s backstage and dropped our bags off. Luckily (or unluckily, if you view it differently) we were in the second group which meant that we graced to sit at the front row to watch the other talented performers. As a matter of fact, you could probably see my head bobbing at the bottom-right bit in some edits of the Rock Concert!
Then came the nerve-wracking bit – it was our turn. We were led back up the Hammond backstage and started all worrying about our different parts. The funny thing with anxiety is that it never really hits you until you are about to do the deed and that was it for us as well! For me, it was that it was my first time on the Hammond stage with audiences, so I was afraid I might slip up. Fortunately, some seniors helped me get over with it and I was able to get onto the stage. Our band, The Pentopuses [an octopus with seven legs get it?], played Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana and Hells Bells by ACDC. We were able to get through. I played bass guitar and was happy when we played through nearly perfectly.
Overall, I feel that I couldn’t have done it without some much-needed support from my band members and our teacher. I want to thank Mr Pym (our music teacher) and my bandmates: Aydin, Harrison, George and Shrey for their help and our fantastic playthrough in the end. We also can’t forget all the Hampton staff and pupils that helped make the Rock Concert how good it was.
By Julian H (1H)
Great to see so many First Years were involved – a big shout out to Ethan V, George C, Guy H, Julian H, Harrison S, Aydin D, Shrey S and Lenny M.
It was a magnificent event, with the only issue being that the various amplifiers were unable to be turned up to 11! Below is a video that captures the power of the pupils’ performance! Well done to everyone who took to the Hammond Theatre stage and Rock On!
BUZZERS AT THE READY
Last Friday, I was excited to be representing the school in a Quiz match against Great Ballard School in West Sussex. A few minutes after I arrived, we were ready to begin. Each of the twenty rounds consisted of a starter question and some bonus questions to the team that got it right. Afterwards, we moved on to a quick-fire section with the same format.
We began the match well and established a lead early, but they started to cut down on our advantage. In the end, though, we managed to secure the win. This was a great experience for me because it allowed me to work with other Hamptonians as a team and interact with representatives from another school. I would like to thank the teachers for offering me the valuable opportunity to participate in a match. I am truly grateful for this memorable experience, and I look forward to Quiz matches in the future.
By Hiu Yeung K (1P)
STRINGS OF SUCCESS
On Tuesday, I performed in the String Concert. It was really exciting as it was my first time playing the violin in a concert. I played “Légende” by Wieniawski. It’s a really beautiful piece, and I really enjoyed playing. Before the concert started, I was really nervous. My heart pounding, my palms sweating. However, after listening to some musicians that were before me play, I eventually calmed down.
I’ve prepared that piece for so long. It felt magical to be playing on the Hammond stage. After my performance, the audience applauded me heartily. As I sat down in my seat again, I was still buzzing with excitement. I really enjoyed this concert, and I’m really looking forward to the next one!
By Mingyuan D (1P)
This week, I participated in the String Concert. I had a very formal, but fun experience and enjoyed not only playing in the concert but listening to other people play their piece as well. It all started with the hustle and bustle of the school day and honestly, I think that the talk of the day was the String Concert. Everyone was buzzing with questions, thoughts and excitement of the String Concert. This gave me a very exciting mood for the day, but also, with all the talk about the concert made me feel quite apprehensive about it.
As the day ended, I went straight to the Hammond Theatre to rehearse for the Big Hampton String Orchestra, and the piece sounded great! Then, I went to the Garrick to pass the time before the concert. After filling up with a delicious food at 5:30pm we headed off to the Garrick at 6.30pm and got ready for the concert. I was now sweating – I felt like a rain cloud, or that’s what I thought! I was playing an Indian Classical Raag Mishra (Mishra means mix as I combined a few raags to create a composition) on the Sitar and I was slightly nervous that my Sitar would slip off my feet (as you put the Sitar on your foot), but I kept myself composed. At last, when the time came for me to perform, I strode onto the stage proudly and confidently and began to play. I feel like I took the time I needed to play to my absolute potential, and I think I executed my performance very well. I was pleased with my performance. I also was blown away by other people’s pieces and overall, I think it was good fun not only performing myself, but I was also listening to other people and praised them for their efforts they put in their pieces and take some inspiration from them and try and implement it in my next piece. The Big Hampton String Orchestra I personally think was a HUGE success. All of us played on time and created a lovely cacophony of violins, violas, cellos, double basses and harps.
Overall, the String Concert was a huge success, and I would like to thank all the staff involved in the concert. I am really looking forward to the next concert which I can participate in and for many more years to come.
By Avirat P (1H)
Take a look at some of the photos from this week’s String Concert here.
A TRIP TO THE WIZARDING WORLD
Last Saturday my family and I went to the Warner Bros. Studios, where they filmed most of the Harry Potter franchise. It was so interesting to visit all the sets that were laid out, ranging from the Gryffindor Common Room and Dumbledore’s Office to the Great Hall and the Dursley House! My favourite parts to see were the majestic towering pillars of Gringotts and the magnificently decorated shops in Diagon Alley. I even got to see the real models used for the flying Ford Anglia, Hagrid’s motorbike and the colossal Knight Bus! To top it all off we enjoyed a sweet cup of the wizarding world’s most well-known drink; you Harry Potter fans out there will know what I’m talking about. Of course, it’s the brilliant Butterbeer! It tasted even better than I’d imagined.
By Kayan A (1F)
BRAIN-BENDING MATHS
On a Wednesday afternoon, down the hall I bound,
To reach a lesson, one of my most profound.
Maths extension a mystical thing
Through the mist of maths there is a ring.
Within the challenges there is a key,
A way to set the answer free.
In the shroud of maths, I dare to say
The answer will always shine a ray.
The solutions come popping up in my brain
The frenzy of questions, it is them I tame.
I tackle them on, one solved then another,
I’m enjoying it them oh what bother!
Then the bell goes, what a pity.
And that’s what my friends say, they are oh so witty.
Luckily, I can take the sheet
And once home again, it’s the questions I meet.
A poem by Kevin W (1H)
INTERFORM POETRY AND SONGWRITING COMPETITION
First Year Poetry and Songwriting Interform – deadline is 9.00am Wednesday 11 February
Theme – ‘Your time at Hampton’
Calling all songwriters and poets! Win points for your Form by writing a poem or song about your first months as a Hamptonian.
Entries are limited to one per pupil and should be a minimum of 10 lines long and it is strictly forbidden to use AI to compose the poem; it must be your original work.
All entries will be judged by a panel from the English Office on Thursday 12 February, with results being announced on 13 February and published in the First Year Blog.
Please get writing and submit your poem or song to v.whitwam@hamptonschool.org.uk before 9.00am on Wednesday 11 February.
Talk! Jon Varney CEO Brentford FC
We’re delighted to welcome one of the most successful business leaders in the premier league for our next lunchtime Talk! which will take place at 1pm on Tuesday 10 February and is open just to Hamptonians!
Jon Varney has served as Chief Executive of Brentford Football Club since March 2019, guiding the Bees through a period of extraordinary transformation – achieving a historic return to top‑flight football after a 74‑year absence. Mr Varney grew up in the local area, attending Teddington School and Richmond upon Thames College before building a career on the commercial side of sport. Jon’s strategic mindset has been central to Brentford’s reputation as one of the most forward‑thinking, data‑driven clubs in world football. The club’s innovative model – combining meticulous analytics with smart scouting – has helped identify undervalued talent and maximise player development.
Brentford’s rise this season has been one of the Premier League’s most compelling stories. Widely tipped for a relegation battle after the summer departure of key players – including Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa – and the loss of long‑serving manager Thomas Frank – the Bees have instead surged to the top half of table under newly promoted head coach Keith Andrews – outperforming clubs with far greater resources.
We look forward to welcoming Jon to speak about the business side of the beautiful game, what Brentford’s pioneering model means for young people aspiring to football‑related careers, and how statistics, technology and data‑driven decision-making will shape the future of the sport.
Come along to the Hammond Theatre at 1pm on Tuesday 10 February.
Food Bank
Please support our Feltham Food Bank Collection on Friday 13 February. They are particularly in need of meat soup, instant coffee, UHT milk and honey. Please bring your donations to the front of School from 8.15am. Thank you!
Special Shout outs!
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school and to celebrate your successes in the First Year Blog! Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mr Jimenez (v.jimenez@hamptonschool.org.uk).
TUTEE OF THE WEEK
Every week, the First Year Tutor team nominate a Hamptonian who they have been particularly impressed with and Mr Hill and Mr Fuldner present him with a certificate and a tasty treat to eat!
Congratulations to Jack M (1B) on being named this week’s Tutee of the Week!
Jack is always kind, respectful, and puts his all into everything. He also contributed so thoughtfully to PSHE last week. Well done Jack!
THE HAMPTON HUNT
Each week I will set you a challenge where you need to find out a random fact, number or indeed anything else around the School – you won’t be able to do this from home! You have until the end of Wednesday to complete the challenge; you will find out in next week’s blog if you’re correct, and you will be given a merit by your Form Tutor the following Monday. And who knows – you might get to know the School better in the process!
Last week’s challenge: In which department can you find this piece of stained glass? You could find the stained glass in the RS Department!
A big shout out to the First Years who correctly found the answer to last week’s Hampton Hunt. Well done to Armaan A, Miguel B, Cyrus T, Arjun A, Edin H and Ronak B.
This week’s challenge:
What does this logo belong to?
Don’t forget to enter your answer before next week!
