Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
The Third Year Blog is a great believer in the power of optimism and positivity. There are studies that support the potential impact of an optimistic mindset on your health, your ambition, your success and your happiness (the Third Year Blog is very aware that we are being very evasive in terms of actually being specific about these ‘studies’, but if it works for the leader of the greatest democracy on Earth, maybe we can get away with it? Of course, that in itself is merely a tiny example of the damaging impact of a lack of leadership on a global scale can have on the potential abuses of trust that can be offered by anyone in power – yes, you could argue that even this blog has a power of sorts due to it being graced with the name of the School, thereby lending our nonsense a level of credibility and authority). But all of this is not what we wanted to talk about at all – we are talking about optimism and positivity, so let’s return to that and then, maybe, just maybe, we might find ourselves getting as far as talking about what the wonderful Third Year have actually been getting up to.
So, optimism and positivity – good things. Even the naming of the School terms reflects this. We are currently in the spring term, which makes the Third Year Blog think of daffodils, gently warming pale sunlight and an underlying sense of hope as we grow towards Summer. Of course, the reality of the spring term is very often biting winds, waterlogged sports pitches and steamed up classroom windows with the small circular mark of soon-to-be-confiscated tennis balls dotted across them, but somehow if it was called winter term, it would make this potential reality marginally more grim. The choice to name this particular period of the school year ‘spring’ is an instance of the lightness that positivity can bring, even if the difference is unmeasurable.
On a much more serious note, the idea of positivity and optimism came to mind during the School’s marking of Holocaust Memorial Day, with Mr Lawrence speaking powerfully during our assembly on Monday and with it being the focus of the PSHE lesson later in the week. While it may seem counterintuitive to be thinking of positivity and optimism in the face of remembering the inhuman horror of what happened 80 or so years ago, the idea was prompted by one of the quotes that Mr Lawrence shared with us: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’. Of course, this serves as a warning, but it also serves as a reminder of the power that ‘good men’ do have.
Fundamentally, it is about the belief that if ‘good men’ do take action, then evil won’t triumph – the Third Year Blog feels that that is something to be optimistic and positive about. It is also something to take into your everyday life, with the positive and optimistic idea that if you are able to be ‘good’, then that can have a knock-on effect on the people around you, whether that is your family, your friends, your classmates, your teachers or even the people you share a community with. We all have a responsibility to each other and to those around us and the (admittedly vague) idea that if we take that responsibility seriously it can have a powerful impact is the sort of thing that makes the Third Year Blog feel optimistic about what we’re all doing here.
Now, what ARE we actually all doing here? The Third Year Blog offers some of the less philosophically based responses to that question below…
Heads of Year Message
It is the time of year when fatigue and the short daylight hours can take their toll, so we always try to emphasise (to the boys) the importance of keeping going until the half term holiday, both in terms of their efforts in lessons and striving for personal best whilst supporting each other with kindness across all school activities. As we wrote in our letter to parents earlier this week, we hope that you found your appointments at Parents’ Evening instructive and reassuring. If you would like to follow up on a pastoral matter, please contact your son’s Form Tutors and/or us by email in the first instance.
DASH and Lucid testing
We wrote to all parents at the start of term explaining that DASH and Lucid testing will take place this term. These tests are nothing to be worried about – the boys cannot and should not attempt to revise for them. There is no pass or fail, and the tests will not affect grade cards. The DASH tests will take 15 minutes during Form Period on Thursday 6 February, whilst Lucid testing will occur during period 3 on Monday 3 February – boys should bring headphones to use with their school laptops for this.
Interform Challenge
There are several exciting events to look forward to in the Interform Challenge this term:
Thursday 13 February – Interform Rowing, Football & Rugby
Monday 24 March – Interform Table Tennis & Badminton
There will be further events announced later this term.
End of Year Exams
Third Year exam week will take place from 19-23 May 2025. This is the week before the summer half term holiday. We do not expect pupils to begin their revision this far in advance, but hope this information is useful for planning purposes. Study skills guidance will be given to all Third Year pupils during PSHE lessons during the first half of the summer term. We will also run a Study Skills information evening for parents on Tuesday 6 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.
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
U14 Badminton team Smash it
Last Monday, Hampton’s U14 badminton team (Dillon G, Manav V, Ian C and Zihan C) participated in the first round of the Middlesex National Cup, playing at home. There was a total of eight schools that turned up to the first round at Hampton. Until this fixture, we had played some lovely badminton – winning two out of the three fixtures so far. Therefore, we had our heads high for the tournament and were sure that if we put our best foot forward, we could succeed in getting to round 2. Against the first school, Isleworth and Syon, despite losing all our singles matches, our doubles partners, communicating brilliantly with each other, pulled it back for us and we ultimately won 3-2.
We knew that we had to continue this momentum going into the next three games. This is exactly what we did as we beat the next two schools, both with the score of 5-0. As we had won the first three games comfortably, we progressed to the final of round 1 and our coaches – Mr Lee and Mr Hooper told us that if we were to win this game, we would continue to round 2 (scheduled for another day). Using all our skills and playing to our strengths, we won the final 5-0 and we will proceed to round 2.
Overall, a brilliant performance from our team. Appreciation also has to be given to the coaching staff for the continuous encouragement on and off the court. We are looking forward to the next challenge!
Report by Manav K (3E)
Genocide80Twenty
As mentioned above, this week saw Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet soldiers. One of the greatest activities to be involved in at Hampton School (in the opinion of the Third Year Blog) is the Genocide80Twenty group.
The group works to raise awareness of the Holocaust and other genocides across the world and Third Year Hamptonians would be welcome to join in. This is an opportunity to be part of something truly great, so if you have any interest, please do try to get involved.
Find out more by speaking to Mr Lawrence in the History Office.
Model United Nations
Last weekend (including Friday evening) there was a MUN conference a LEH. This was the first time I had attended a conference!
This weekend started off with many intriguing policy statements, as well as lobbying and debating some resolutions based around difficult questions. On Saturday the vigorous debating continued within each committee. This was great fun, involving humourous ‘punishments’ being handed out for delegates using first person pronouns in their debating – as an example, these included being made to sing “I want it that way” by Backstreet Boys in the Economic and Social committee. To conclude on Sunday there was a major problem to be discussed in the General Assembly, with a debate around the build-up of Russian forces, as well as the USA pulling out of NATO.
MUN is the perfect club for people who like geopolitics and debating. This was my first conference and, while I was a little nervous beforehand, I had an absolutely brilliant time and would strongly recommend getting involved! Finally, I would like to thank everyone involved in making the conference so enjoyable.
Report by Max J (3G)
Marvellous Mandarin
Third Year linguists put their language (and singing) skills to the test this week and they learnt about the Lunar New Year through song. Let’s hear how they got on:
Cricket
With spring term underway, it means that the countdown to the cricket season has commenced (see! If it was Winter Term, this wouldn’t be happening!). The Third Year blog asked a member of the squad for an update on how the Third Year team were feeling as the season got closer:
Cricket is a sport of strategy, skill, technique, but most of all, an atmosphere of pure excitement! Cricket training is open every Tuesday from 4 – 5:45 to prepare for the new cricket season, where we will try to triumph over other schools in hope of winning the County Cup. We ask as many of you as possible to come, play and win!!
Rallying cry from Neil T (3J)
Darts Club
I decided to start up Darts Club for many reasons: my passion for darts which started all the way back in 2016, when I watched the world championship final between Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis. Since then I have watched every single world championship. But the main reason for starting Darts Club was purely because of Luke Littler reaching the World Championships final on his debut at 16, bringing in a million new players. This meant that I knew that the club would be a success. It was started by myself, Jonty and Fred with the help of the amazing Mr John, who has been the man to make it happen, setting it up in the clubhouse.
At the moment, we are doing a doubles tournament which has twelve teams, and it has been a massive success with everyone getting a game or two per week. Unfortunately no one can join Darts Club at the moment as the tournament is in the third round of fixtures, however when this tournament tis finished, we are hoping to have an even bigger one, with more teams and more dartboards.
Report by Monty R (3E)
Investin
On Thursday 24 January, Third Year had a careers talk. An organisation called Investin visited Hampton to deliver a talk about employability skills for the future. We covered what skills we already had, where we want to be in the future and how we can get there! We talked about how the job market has changed over the last few years and how our career might look different to past generations. Following this, we discussed what skills an employer could be looking for and how the wide variety of opportunities at Hampton can provide us with chances to pick up these skills in a range of activities. Whether it’s a subject you’re good at or a club you enjoy, it’s always possible to learn new skills which may help you in the future.
Alongside this, we talked about our weaknesses and problem-solving skills: how can we improve on things we’re not so good at? We learnt that if you have a problem, the best way to solve it is calmly and systematically, taking the necessary steps to overcome it confidently.
Report by Freddie A (3G)
Bugsy Malone
There’s less than two weeks to go to this year’s Junior Musical Bugsy Malone and tickets are selling like hot cakes!
Tickets can be booked here. Don’t miss out!
Four TRUTHS AND A LIE
Last week Mr John was our deceitful staff member. This is what he wanted us to believe:
- Mr John has had afternoon tea with King Charles
- Mr John is a speed-cuber – he can (consistently) solve a Rubik’s Cube in under eight seconds
- Mr John has written a book focused on tank gunnery drills
Which was the lie?
Does Mr John look like a man who could feasibly have written a book focused on tank gunnery drills? We all know in our hearts that the answer to that can only be a resounding ‘yes’. Does it not follow then, that a man who might be capable of writing a book about tank gunnery drills is EXACTLY the sort of man who might have afternoon tea with the man who is, ultimately, leader of our armed forces? Also yes (though we are unsure as to whether tank gunnery drills were discussed). What this means is that Mr John is not a speed-cuber, though you could argue that he also looks like someone who could feasibly be capable of solving a Rubik’s Cube in under eight seconds. But he isn’t.
This week, we have a double break from tradition. We have four (yes, FOUR) truths and a lie. And the liar is not a Third Year tutor, it is the sartorially elegant, but fundamentally deceitful, Mr Leafe.
Here are his claims:
- Once Mr Leafe met Harry Maguire at a black-tie function and strongly felt that at that moment they were essentially equals
- Mr Leafe has never eaten a yoghurt
- If Mr Leafe hears the phrase ‘sweet treats’ he physically shivers
- Mr Leafe used to be called Mr Leaf, but changed his name by deed poll as he felt his original name was ‘too common’
- Mr Leafe once won a head-to-head mascot race dressed as a duck, defeating a crocodile
Which was the lie? Can ANY of it be true? Find out next week…
CONNECTION CORNER
A big shout out to everyone who had a go at last week’s Connection Corner and well done those of you who answered all the questions correctly. Merits go to all those who correctly guessed that the answers were all types of mints! Merits go to Matthew L, Liam C, Ben J, Dean B, James G, Leonard H, Shishir V, Huw C, Konrad G, Oscar S, Joe B, Gordon L, Oliver Y, Alex G, Devam K, Seb W and Daniel S.
Another tricky one this week, have a go over the weekend and see if you can spot the connection:
In case you’re still perplexed, here are the answer’s to last week’s conundrum:
Which Scottish tennis player won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016? Andy Murray
Inches, yards and pounds are all types of what measurement? Imperial Units
What is the name for a slow-moving body of ice? Glacier
The game ‘noughts and crosses’ is known by what name in the United States? Tic Tac Toe
Connection answer: All kinds of mint (Murray, Imperial, Glacier, Tic Tac)
