Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
And so we return from the two week October half term. This is a break that always feels both inordinately long and somehow too short. Such is school life.
It also feels like the point in the year where we conclusively move from the warmth of the end of summer to the onset of winter. From a Hampton standpoint this is also the moment when those teachers doing 3G duty find they have to spend much less time and energy getting the pupils to keep their shoes on.
It is also the first point in the year where the ‘Hampton paradox’ becomes apparent – something all Hampton teachers are aware of.
This states that, when asked by their Form Tutors what the best bit of a given break from school was, the Hampton pupil will answer ‘sleeping’. Yet, when their Form Tutor asks how they are feeling, the Hampton pupil will answer ‘tired’. It is intractable.
The Maths department have tried to find formulae to explain it. The History department have attempted to find precedents for it. Philosophy Club has grappled with it.
Yet it remains, undaunted.
Of course, looking at the 3G at lunchtime, ‘tired’ is not the first word that springs to mind.
The Third Year Blog simply sits back and continues to be amazed at how much all these brutally fatigued young men are managing to squeeze in to their lives. Having said that, the blog is a touch light on content this week – in fairness it is difficult to write engagingly about sleeping relentlessly – but please send in your contributions for next week!
Right, let’s see what’s been going on…
Heads of Year Message
We trust that everyone enjoyed the half term holiday. Well done to everyone for making a purposeful start to the half term this week. We hope that the Grade Card reflection exercise that boys completed on Monday will focus their minds on the task ahead. We ask that all pupils commit to high standards in school – aiming to impress in all they do in the classroom and through co-curricular activities. All Third Year pupils will have the chance to take part in the Bebras Challenge (Computer Science) on Monday or Tuesday next week. Please make sure your laptop is properly charged ahead of this challenge.
No Limits Week
We are excited about the return of No Limits Week. We encourage all Third Year pupils to take a full and active part in the co-curricular activities on offer starting Monday 16 November, recognising that many clubs will make an extra effort to put on activities that are suitable for newcomers on a “have a go” basis. Every pupil will need to get sign off in their yellow books having attended three co-curricular clubs/activities. Our recommendation is that everyone should aim to try at least one club/activity that they have never done before. You can review some of the options that will be available here: co-curricular area of SharePoint.
Merits
One of our favourite parts of the week is signing off merits during Friday morning break time. There have been several Silver (30) and some Gold (40) Merit certificates achieved already this term, and we are starting to see a steady stream of Lion Merit certificate awards. We encourage all Third Year pupils to keep up the good work and good deeds to earn these academic and Lion merits, and then come to sign them off and collect an edible reward during Friday morning break at the Third Year office.
Entrance Exams – Third Year volunteers needed
On Saturday 21 November there will be hundreds of prospective Hamptonians sitting 11+ and 13+ entrance exams in school. We need your help to make the morning run as smoothly as possible and to make the young candidates feel as welcome as possible – they will be nervous, so your smiling faces and kind words can really make a difference. If you are willing and available, please volunteer to help out by checking with your parents that you can attend and then letting your Form Tutor know you are interested.
Timing: 8.00am – 11.45am
Wear school uniform.
5 LION Merits and a free cooked breakfast available for all volunteers.
Full ‘job description’ to be shared with volunteers, but you will have some time to complete your homework while you are at school.
Absences
If your child 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 absence. For absences other than illness (e.g. if a pupil has a medical appointment during School hours) notice of this should be given in advance wherever possible. For planned absences, please contact the Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
We hope that everyone enjoys the weekend.
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Mr H Moore
Taekwondo World Championships
Last month, I participated in the WUMF (World Union of Martial Arts Federations) 2026 Taekwondo World Championships. On Sunday 11 October, I made it to the final where I played against someone from the same club as me.
Despite losing 8-6 in the first round, I came back and won the second round 10-4. This meant it was down to a golden point: whoever got a kick on the opponent first won!
Unfortunately, I ended up losing the golden point, but was awarded the the silver medal.
By Mohamed T (3G)
Pumpkin parade!
When you see that title, I am sure you think this is going to be some boring story from a random Halloween parade in a town nobody has ever heard of, but that is far from the case. This is about filling and flooding other masterpieces with miniature pumpkins.
Over the half term I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Lego house in Billund, Denmark. It was a long 2-hour train ride from Copenhagen to Billund and, as an avid Lego collector, I was very excited.
After a short introduction and a building event we headed into the main attractions of the very fittingly designed building. I went to the “red” section first and was there for hours. The red section was largely based on building and displaying and had many different corners for differing themes.
The Halloween section caught my eye for having the best and most complex variety of pieces. One of these was a little orange indented sphere. Another was a leaf. And then 20 minutes later was an army of pumpkins, hundreds strong, ready to infect any builds on the display shelves with a hint of normality.
A boxy grey house – now covered in pumpkins.
A flat mosaic tile of a witch’s front door – now covered in pumpkins.
A graveyard full of pumpkins and skeletons – more pumpkins.
One of my favourite shelves I contaminated was one I call the sea of rarities: a pumpkin covered floor with some of the hardest pieces to find on the tables such as multiple complete skeletons with legs (seemingly as common as flying pigs), and finally something so rare it had its own dedicated throne, a minifigure – an item so extremely rare it was not in any other corner or in any coloured section of the building.
Eventually I left to explore the rest of the amazing place and left future builders to attempt to dent my orange army.
Later on, I came back to see the state of my personally deemed best creation and was surprised to see it was hardly touched and, despite the sea of rarities being little more than a pumpkin patch, I have strong belief that my army stands strong to this day (unless it has already been, like many things, replaced by Christmas).
I do highly suggest anyone who has the chance should definitely visit as it was a lot of fun and an unforgettable experience.
By Alexander M (3F)
Bonfire Night
Last night me and my family went to a firework show on bonfire night. We arrived at around 6pm, when the park was already beginning to fill with people.
The temperature was fairly low and a cold breeze passed through the park. We walked around for a while and saw the stalls selling snacks and hot drinks, we did this for around twenty minutes before finding an empty spot to watch the display. As soon as the fireworks had started, the vibrant colour exploded in my eyes; the show was around 45 minutes and soon after we got home.
By Alex S (3B)
My experience as a Premier League Ball boy
I was lucky enough to be a ball boy at Brentford vs Nottingham Forest at the weekend. It was very surreal to be pitch side at a packed Gtech Stadium and to be up close to some of the top players in the country and to walk out of the tunnel and meet players like Dango Ouattara and Malik Diouf.
I am extremely grateful and thankful for the amazing opportunity I was lucky enough to have.
By Rapha K (3G)
Upcoming Ski Trip
In December there will be the Junior Ski trip. Recently we had a meeting where we found out everything we needed to know about our trip.
Our plan is to start by heading to Heathrow for an early start time of 5am for a 7:50am plane to Munich airport. We then take a coach to Austria where we are staying. There are many different groups for all ranges of abilities, and the instructors are supposedly exceptionally good.
We are in rooms of 4-10 and are choosing a list of 6 other pupils that we would like to be with in the rooms. During the evenings, we have a plan of exciting activities such as an ice hockey match and tobogganing, which is making me look forward to it all even more.
I am excited for this trip and can’t wait for it!
By Toby S (3C)
Music Maestro
A big congratulations to Third Year musician Raff O-C Z (3G), who has just begun his third consecutive year performing with the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO). Bringing together some of the UK’s most talented young musicians, the NCO provides exceptional orchestral training and performance opportunities. What a fantastic achievement!
Two truths and a Lie
This week we have Third Form Tutor, Mr Zannetou, as our willing liar. These are his outlandish claims:
- Mr Zannetou is affiliated with the Mozambican national football team
- Mr Zannetou raced cars (he is unspecific about which type of cars)
- Mr Zannetou was once a security guard for 90s pop idol and reality TV hero Peter Andre
Which is the lie? Find out next week!
Connection Corner
A big shout out to everyone who had a go at the last Connection Corner and well done to those of you who answered all the questions correctly. The correct connection was Chemical Elements! Merits go to Lucas O’C, Freddie D, Tom C, Harri C, Juan A VdS, James S, Shrey B, Kamran C, Ethan C, Hugh H, Raff OZ, Jia W X, Oliver J, Ansh R, Oscar V-V, Armaan R, Ediz Y, William J, Jesse G, Dylan S and George P-L.
Take a look at this week’s perplexing conundrum:
In case you’re still perplexed, here are last week’s answers:
Who was the lead singer of the band Queen? Freddie Mercury
What is a five-cent coin known as in the USA? Nickel
Snowy is the name of the dog in which famous Belgian cartoon? Tintin
The Millennium Dome in Greenwich is now known by what name? The O2
Connection: Chemical elements
