Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
And just like that, the 2024–25 season has come to an end! As we head off for a well-earned summer break, we look back on a fantastic final week at Hampton; one packed with celebration, competition, reflection, and a touch of nostalgia.
The week concluded with the high-stakes Swimming Gala, the final event in this year’s hotly contested Interform Competition, and it didn’t disappoint! With just three points separating 2H and 2W going in, every race counted.
We also celebrated Giving Day, a brilliant two-day event that brought the School community together in support of the Fitzwygram Foundation. With bake sales, staff vs pupil challenges, penalty shootouts, and even an anonymous postcard sale, pupils across all years got involved to raise an astonishing £250,000. It was an inspiring reminder of what can be achieved when we work together for a good cause.
Finally, to all our brilliant Second Years, thank you so much for your enthusiasm, humour and effort throughout the year. We wish you the very best of luck as you move up to the Third Year in September (although don’t forget about us – do say hi in the corridors!!). I hope you and your families enjoy a relaxing, fun-filled summer holiday – you’ve earned it!
Tutor Question of the Week
Each week the pupils decide on a question to ask all the Second Year Form Tutors. This week’s question is:
What was your highlight of Second Year this year?
- Mrs Owen – the Swimming Gala of course!!
- Miss Eamens – Teddy and Nirvaan performing a dance for me and the rest of 2B during registration!
- Mr Lee – watching 2F in the Second Year productions as I got to see a completely different side to many of them!
- Mr Worrall – watching my tutees in the Hound of the Baskervilles!
- Miss Winstock – running with 2H in the Fun Run!
- Mr Hill – (winning) the Fun Run!
- Miss Holt – singing the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way with 2J during registration one afternoon!
- Mr Boyes – the Second Year Performance Evening and seeing 2J in Cinderella! I was so impressed!
- Miss Tiller – seeing everyone’s plays in Revolting Rhymes for the Second Year Performance Evening!
- Ms Wallace – 2L sitting in the dark with thinking pants stuck to foreheads
- Miss Mattinson – seeing 2P’s involvement in all things Music and Drama!
- Mr Harrison – Kavith’s penalty in the Giving Day penalty shootout!
- Mrs O’Connor – the Interform Athletics!
- Mr Hood – 2W winning Interform, obviously!
Interform Finale!
This morning marked the grand finale of this year’s Interform competitions: the hotly anticipated Swimming Gala. With just three points separating 2W and 2H at the top of the leaderboard going into the final event, the pressure was on, and everything was still to play for…
Here are the gala results:
2B – 33 points
2P – 35 points
2F – 38 points
2J – 49 points
2L – 51 points
2H and 2W, refusing to give up at the final hurdle, battled it out for a joint 1st place finish with an impressive 61 points each!
And now, after months of effort, enthusiasm and fierce but friendly competition, we can reveal the final standings for the 2024–25 Interform Competition:
Joint 5th – 2P and 2B (43 points)
Joint 4th – 2F and 2J (53 points)
3rd place – 2L (54 points)
2nd place – 2H (68 points)
1st place – 🏆 2W (71 points) 🏆
A huge congratulations to 2W, our Interform champions, and it’s safe to say that no one was more thrilled than Mr Hood!
Reflections on the Year
As Second Year draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on everything that has happened over the past three terms. From competitive sports fixtures and interform events to exams, end-of-term anticipation, and the excitement of change, it’s been a full and memorable year.
As the weather has warmed up, school has taken on more of a relaxed, end-of-year feel. Lunchtimes have been filled with laughter, sunshine, and plenty of food. From end-of-term treats to casual snack sharing, it’s been a fun way to end a long term.
With Second Year behind us, it’s time to start preparing for Third Year. That means new ties, new forms, and a fresh start. I’m genuinely looking forward to the change and feel happy about the form I’ll be moving into. There’s something exciting about entering a new year with a clean slate and new opportunities.
This year has been filled with a wide range of sports, and many of us took part in everything from football and rugby to tennis, basketball, badminton, and more. One of my personal highlights of the year was winning my table tennis match, a great moment and a proud achievement.
This term’s End of Year exams were a big part of our final few weeks. The lead-up was definitely stressful at times, with plenty of revision and last-minute preparation, but it felt good to push through and give it our best. I feel I did quite well overall and was pleased with how things went. Now, with grade cards being released later today, there’s definitely some nervous anticipation across the year group.
We’ve also had some brilliant school trips this year. My favourite was definitely the History trip to the Mary Rose, which was both fascinating and fun. A special shoutout also goes to the RS trip and the Geography fieldwork to the River Cuckmere — both were really enjoyable and gave us a chance to learn outside the classroom in a completely different way.
One of the most exciting parts of this term has been the interform competition. With multiple events and points being scored throughout the year, things are now incredibly close. At the moment, 2W holds a narrow lead with a three-point advantage, but 2H is still in strong contention, and anything could happen.
By Liangxu Z (2H)
At the end of this year, I will be leaving Hampton School. So, I want to talk about my favourite things that I did at Hampton. I have loved all of the school trips, whether it was to River Cuckmere or Avon Tyrell; they were all great fun! I have also enjoyed playing cricket for and at school, learning skills that I will use for the rest of my cricket life! I have also noticed a lot of things have changed in the past two years. I have come to like some subjects that I may have hated in First Year. But also, my friends. I have gotten very close to some people I didn’t even know at the start of First Year! Thank you to all my teachers and friends who have helped me through these two years. Thank you, Hampton!
By Akshaj G (2J)
Excitement for the holidays
During the holidays, riding Kieran’s Line at Glen Livet on my mountain bike is like dropping into a rollercoaster made from dirt and dreams. From the moment your tyres hit the first lip, it’s all about flow, airtime, and that addictive rhythm only a well-built jump line and rider can deliver.
The trail kicks off with a series of perfectly spaced shark-fins and step-ups, allowing you to build speed for the bigger jumps. Your only option on this line is to go big. If you don’t, you will end up in the pit of doom, between the take-off and landing, which is not where you want to be. This line rewards commitment with smooth riding. The beams are wide and supportive, letting you rail turns with a grin across your face.
It’s not a long run, but that’s part of the fun. The push-up is fast, and soon, you’re back at the top, wanting to go again. Riders often session it for hours, dialling in tricks or just chasing a perfect lap.
However, the best part of this line is when you are able to connect it all together and get the whole lap smooth, which is very hard. I have been working on Kieran’s Line for three years now and I have finally managed to get all of the jumps linked together as a whole, but even when you have got the smoothest jumps it still gives you butterflies.
By Finn M (2J)
Giving Day
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week it was Giving Day. It was a great way to raise money for the Fitzwygram Foundation, a charity that helps provide Free Places at Hampton. It has helped many people, raising over £250,000. The figures are astonishing!
The whole of Hampton helped out with the fundraising with events like the Bake Sale, Pupils vs Staff CHASE, Pupils vs Staff Darts, Third and Fourth Year Challenge, and the First and Second Year Challenge to score 1557 penalties to raise £1557 for charities — along with other events such as Giving Day lunch, Giving Day breakfast, and the anonymous postcard sale.
The events were not only fun to take part in but also helped other people. It was an interesting two days and I would certainly like to do it again.
By Ian L (2F)
Swimming Success
Last Saturday, Derin A (2W) was part of the junior freestyle relay team that swam to a fantastic silver medal at the London Youth Games. The team represented Richmond at the Games, Europe’s largest community youth sporting event.
The London Youth Games bring together talented young athletes from across London to compete in a range of sports to proudly represent their borough.
Well done, Derin; a great team effort and a result to be very proud of! I’m sure 2W were particularly grateful for your abilities today!
Pet of the Week
Every week we are meeting one of Second Year’s furry (or scaly!) friends. This week’s pets of the week are Oscar and Wilde.
Here’s why Mrs O’Connor thinks they deserve to be Pet of the Week:
They’re the best of friends and I’m looking forward to spending lots of time with them over the summer!
Wildlife Photography Competition
If you’ve got some free time over the summer holidays, why not enter the Biology department’s Wildlife Photography Competition? Take a look at the poster below to find out more:
The closing date is Friday 26 September 2025, so you have plenty of time to go out and take some fantastic photos! Prizes will be awarded for all categories.
Geography Photography Competition
The Geography summer holiday photo competition is back for another year!
We’d love you to send us a snap of anything geographical you’ve captured over the summer, whether you’re staying in the UK or heading abroad. It could be a bustling urban scene, a peaceful coastal landscape, a mountain vista, or a local walk that caught your eye. The choice is yours!
This year, the two winning photos will be displayed – one taken in the UK and one taken abroad. From these entries, we’ll be awarding:
- 1st Place (UK)
- 1st Place (Abroad)
- Runner-Up (UK)
- Runner-Up (Abroad)
There is a limit of one entry per pupil, so choose carefully. Please email your photo to Mr Harrison at ch.harrison@hamptonschool.org.uk by the end of the first full week back: Friday 12 September.
We can’t wait to see your creative and geographical snaps!
Quiz of the Week
And last but not least, it’s time to reveal the answers for our final Quiz of the Week:
- What was the highest temperature recorded in the UK this year so far? 32.2°C
- When was the company Adobe founded? December 1982
- What is the most valuable company in the world (for now)? Nvidia, valuation 3.77 trillion USD
- How many MPs (Members of Parliament) are there in the House of Commons? 650
- Who did England’s U21 team beat this week to reach the UEFA Championship final? Netherlands
Let’s see who answered everything correctly. A big well done to Reuben N, Ian L, Naivedya A, Ilakian D, Toby B, Shaurya D and Liangxu Z.
And all that’s left to say is…
