Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
We’ve made it to the end!
Another whirlwind Hampton term has raced past in a blur of rescued rugby balls, attempts to remind people what a tucked-in shirt looks like, and, most impressively, a huge amount of hard work and accomplishment from the whole of the Third Year.
Now it’s over to you to collapse happily into the arms of your families, your controllers, or your streaming queues and get some well-earned rest before January arrives. Meanwhile, your teachers will be returning to the cryo-pods hidden somewhere beneath the Hammond Theatre, ready to defrost and re-emerge for the new term.
Many of you are heading off on School trips over the break, and we wish you the very best. We’ll be eagerly awaiting the avalanche of write-ups that will no doubt fill the first blog after the holiday!
There’s been plenty to celebrate this week: impressive scores from the Interform Quiz, festive cheer at the Christmas lunch, and plenty of end-of-term good spirit all round.
But above all, the greatest success story continues to be the enthusiasm, generosity of spirit, and sheer positivity shown by Third Year Hamptonians. It’s been a brilliant opening to the year (and a brilliant introduction to the School for many of you). You deserve to feel proud, enjoy the festive break, and look ahead to returning in January to build on everything you’ve already begun.
And all that’s left to say is Happy Christmas from everyone in the Third Year team!
Heads of Year Message
Interform Competition
Well done to everyone who took part and made the Interform Quiz an enjoyable occasion on Wednesday lunchtime. Read on for an update on how this impacted the Interform standings. Thank you to Miss Alexander for organising such a fantastic range of Interform events this term.
Grade Cards
Parents will have access to their child’s end of term grade card from 4.30pm on Friday 12 December (today) via the parent portal. Any follow-ups will be conducted by Form Tutors from the start of next term.
Laptops
Pupils and parents should be aware that the school’s network filters monitor all devices for inappropriate language, inappropriate content or concerning behaviour. The school laptops are subject to the school’s network filters for online activity at any time – i.e. searches made at home will be picked up by the school’s network filters on arrival at school. Pupils must recognise that the laptops are for school work only, in school and at home. Any activity that meets the threshold for concern over the holidays will be followed up in school in January.
Trips
We expect that all Third Year pupils will maintain high standards of behaviour on the school trips setting off this weekend – skiing in Austria and visiting the Christmas markets in Germany. We look forward to hearing all about both trips in the New Year.
We hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved festive holiday.
Merry Christmas
Mr T Rigby & Mr H Moore
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Hampton School’s fantastic male voice choir Voices of Lions accompanied by lots of pupils and staff members from across the Hampton Trust, ensured everyone is feeling festive as we come to the final day of term. Enjoy the 2025 Christmas video and see if you can you spot anyone you know! 🎄 🎁
Interform Big Fat Quiz of 2025
The Interform Quiz returned this week with serious energy, as every Third Year form packed into the room ready to do battle over all things 2025. From major world events to niche pop-culture moments, no question was safe from the lightning-fast buzzers and fiercely determined contestants representing each class.
The atmosphere was electric – groans, gasps, cheers, and the occasional victory fist-pump rippled across the hall as the scores swung wildly from round to round. Every form came armed with sharp thinkers, quick reflexes, and some impressively dramatic celebrations. By the final round, the tension was so thick you could’ve cut it with a protractor.
And then… the moment of truth. A hush fell. A dramatic pause. A drum roll (real or imagined… who can say?).
The updated Williams Cup standings after the Quiz are as follows:
Joint 1st – 3B & 3D – 35 points
3rd – 3G – 33 points
4th – 3J – 30 points
5th – 3E – 24 points
Joint 6th – 3A & 3F – 22 points
8th – 3H – 21 points
9th – 3C – 14 points
A huge well done to all forms for their enthusiasm, competitive spirit, and encyclopaedic knowledge of the year ahead – 2025 has never felt so exciting!
Storming to Victory
Last Saturday, the U14A rugby team delivered a dominant and confident performance against Reading Blue Coat, coming away with an impressive 33–12 win. The match was a brilliant showcase of all the hard training, discipline and teamwork the boys have put in this term. From the very first whistle, Hampton came out firing. The opening try was scored by William B, who powered over the line from close range after a strong pick-and-go. Christian O added the conversion to give us an early 7–0 lead.
Reading Blue Coat responded with a try of their own – though the decision raised a few eyebrows – which levelled the score at 7–7. Hampton didn’t let this shake them. Another well-worked spell of pressure saw Aaron J burst through the defensive line for our second try. The conversion drifted wide, but we were back in front at 12–7.Just before half-time, Reading Blue Coat struck again. Thankfully for us, they also missed their kick, sending the teams into the break locked at 12–12, with everything still to play for.
After a focused half-time huddle, Hampton returned to the pitch determined to take control. That is exactly what happened. Aaron struck again with another powerful pick-and-go, muscling his way through two defenders to score. Christian slotted the conversion, pushing us ahead to 19–12. Momentum firmly on our side, William broke through the line from 10 metres out to score his second try of the match. Another accurate kick from Christian extended our advantage to 26–12.
The try of the day, however, came from Patrick J, who made a sensational break from the halfway line. Accelerating past defenders, he placed the ball directly under the posts – giving Christian the simplest conversion of the afternoon and sealing the match at 33–12.
It was a superb team performance full of determination, physicality and excellent tactical play. A huge well done to everyone involved!
By Christian O (3J)
Two truths and a lie
Last week, Mr John attempted to deceive the Third Year Blog: but which of these offerings was his lie?
- Mr John has had afternoon tea with King Charles
- Mr John is a speedcuber – he can (consistently) solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 8 seconds
- Mr John has written a book focused on tank gunnery drills
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 8 seconds. But he isn’t.
Two truths and a lie will be back next year!
Connection Corner
A big shout out to everyone who had a go at the very last Connection Corner of 2025 and well done to those of you who answered all the questions correctly. The correct connection was that they’re all related to the phonetic alphabet! Merits go to Callan B, George T, Henry S, Shaurya D, Alex B, Rishi V, Uzair SC, Artem K, George W, Jujhaar G, Emile S, Toby B, Charlie F, Ilakian D, Liangxu Z, Arjan C, Caesar C and Mrs White from the Physics department.
Connection Corner is having a well earned rest over the Christmas break. Come back in 2026 for more fiendish conundrums!
