The Bulletin Edition 18

Yesterday afternoon, the James Hall was positively fizzing with curiosity and delight as we welcomed pupils and staff from more than ten local primary schools to Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep. Alongside our own enthusiastic Year 1 scientists, our visitors joined us for a ‘Spectacular Science’ afternoon!

Proceedings began with the careful (and, in some cases, wonderfully inventive) construction of scientific apparatus (in this case, a very effective catapult type device). It was heartening to see that the occasional wobble or misstep was not a cause for frustration but rather an invitation to think again, adjust, and improve. Indeed, some of the most valuable learning of the afternoon emerged precisely from these early moments of trial and refinement from pupils in every group.

Once equipment was at the ready, the real magic began. The remainder of the pupils’ time together was devoted to scientific enquiry in its purest and most authentic form, even if these very young participants might not have quite recognised it by that name. Across the James Hall there was purposeful hypothesising, energetic experimenting, thoughtful discussion, careful testing (and re-testing), and, finally, the proud sharing of conclusions. All of this unfolded in the most cheerful and collaborative spirit. Our sincere thanks go to Mrs Morris, our excellent Head of Science, whose calm organisation and infectious enthusiasm ensured that the afternoon struck just the right balance between rigour and joy.

Events such as this remind us that no pupil is too young to begin engaging with the habits of mind that underpin the scientific method. Learning from mistakes, refining ideas and persevering in the face of uncertainty are not merely scientific skills, they are essential skills for life. None of us is perfect and living with mistakes and error is part of the human condition. What truly matters, in my view, is learning how to respond: to reflect, to recalibrate and to set off once more in the right direction. If we can nurture that quiet resilience and thoughtful curiosity in our youngest learners, we equip them not only for future science lessons, but for the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Here’s a round-up of our Instagram posts from this week – take a look below!

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You could feel everyone’s spirits lift this week as the sun finally came out and the ground firmed up, giving us some perfect conditions for rugby across the Prep!

Year 6 stepped into Shakespeare’s world at the Globe Theatre in Central London this week, with Macbeth as their guide. After exploring the theatre building and discovering how it would have felt to watch a play in Elizabethan times, the boys enthusiastically took part in a workshop unpacking Macbeth’s ambition, status and motives. Sharp thinking and thoughtful questions made it a brilliant day!

Maths and science headed outdoors with a visit to Kew Gardens! Tape measures in hand, pupils measured leaves, gathered their data and turned their findings into bar graphs - comparing results and spotting patterns as they worked. They were especially intrigued to discover how tree rings reveal a tree’s age, sparking great discussion about growth and the natural world. A brilliant day of fresh air, focused thinking and mathematical discovery.

It has been another busy week here in Pre-Prep as we return from half term, helped along by some much needed glimpses of sunshine to lift our spirits. Reception enjoyed an exciting outing to Hampton Library, where they had a wonderful time immersed in books. Miss Johnston reports that the children behaved beautifully and confidently put into practice the road safety skills they learned last term. Well done, Reception! 

This week, we immersed ourselves in the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, reading several versions, from cherished old hardbacks to modern picture books, and even online adaptations. As we compared them, one thing stood out: there was always a small, medium and large bowl, chair and bed — plus, of course, the porridge! We had lively discussions about Goldilocks entering the cottage on her own, with children quick to point out that she shouldn’t have gone into a stranger's house or entered uninvited! Together, we decided to write a letter from Goldilocks to the three bears, filled with different ideas of what she might apologise for. 

Reception had a wonderful time walking to Hampton Library on Tuesday. Along the way, we kept an eye out for signs of spring and spotted blossom appearing on the trees as well as some beautiful daffodils! When we arrived, we met the librarian, who talked to us about how the library works and explained that we can borrow books from there. We enjoyed listening to a fantastic picture book, Troll by Francis Stickley. The story tells of a fierce troll who hides under a bridge and shouts unkind things at anyone who passes by. However, when he meets a deaf bunny, he soon learns that saying unkind things isn’t fun at all. The children loved the strong moral message: being unkind hurts others, and everyone deserves a second chance. 

Year 1 have been learning how to write instructions using ‘bossy’ verbs.  Imagining we were writing to an alien in outer space called ‘Sporkle’, who didn’t know how to live here on Earth, the children ordered and wrote instructions for our morning routine and how to brush their teeth. We were able to identify the imperative (“bossy”) verbs and the sequence adverbs like first and finally. We know that these help us to give a clear and helpful set of instructions.  

Year 2 have loved delving deeper into Roald Dahl’s world in English this week by venturing into Willy Wonka’s inventing room. The children had to imagine they were applying for a job as a sweet inventor at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.  They dreamed up some incredible concoctions: sweets with a function, such as a sweet that teleports you to another land; or sweets with a surprise, such as the ‘Chonka Wonka Bar’ that regrows after eating! They used persuasive language to sell their incredible inventions.