This Week at Edge Grove

What a fantastic week of learning, creativity, and discovery we have had! From hopping through the life cycle of a frog in Nursery to celebrating the colourful festival of Holi and exploring science, maths, and diary writing across the year groups, the children have truly embraced each opportunity with enthusiasm and joy.

It has been wonderful to see their excitement as they engage in hands-on learning experiences, whether it’s getting messy with sensory play, counting speckled frogs, or watching their very own broad beans grow! These moments not only enhance their knowledge but also spark curiosity and a love for learning.

A huge well done to all our young learners for their hard work this week. We wish you all a lovely, restful weekend and look forward to more adventures next week!

Mrs Hodge and Mrs Wynne

Nursery 

Hop little froggies, hop hop hop! 

This week, nursery children have been learning all about the life cycle of a frog. Children have enjoyed getting their hands dirty with our sensory frog spawn tuff tray, and re-enacting the life cycle through song and movement. We have also been making our own frog creations and the children have been sharing the process they used to create their masterpieces. 

“First paint and then eyes. I sticked the tongue on with paint.” Willow

“I painted it. I put eyes on it and then I put the tongue on.” Juniper

“Paint it first, then put the eyes on and then the tongue.” Eesa

In maths, we have furthered our amphibian exploration counting down from 5 little speckled frogs as they jump into the pond. The children have enjoyed acting out the song and discussing how one frog is taken away each time. We then made our own ponds and children carefully counted out 5 frogs to live in their pond. 

In phonics we have been reading Oi Frog! And having fun discussing all the rhyming words that the animals can sit on. Children have had a go at matching up different rhyming words and making up silly rhyming sentences. 

Well done nursery for a fantastic and fun, froggy week! 

Reception

He is long, he is strong… you’ve guessed it, it’s Superworm! This week Superworm was our inspiration for some fantastic writing. We created our own superheroes and discussed all of the amazing super powers they could possess. Kindness, eating healthy and flying were just a few of the fabulous suggestions. The children loved designing their superhero masks, and their super powers even led them to some fantastic shape exploration in maths. We used our bodies to create shapes and learnt the difference between a 2D and 3D shape. Please keep a lookout for any shapes you may see when out and about. You could even discuss their properties! Here are some shapes the children spotted at lunchtime:

“There’s a circle on our cup of water”

“The yummy watermelon is a triangle shape, it has 3 corners”

“Your water bottle is a cylinder shape, it has curved and flat sides”

Friday brought so much colour with non-uniform day and we are looking forward to the amazing Holi celebrations and Easter event this afternoon. It’s always so lovely to see the children getting involved in celebrating all cultures!

Year 1

What a wonderful week in Year 1, full of extra enrichment activities to enhance our curriculum. 

We kicked off with Science Week and enjoyed our opportunity to visit the lab with senior pupils. The children joined together to test alkaline and acids.

Today we enjoyed a fantastic presentation learning all about the festival of Holi. We learnt that Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates good triumphing over evil. The throwing of coloured powder at the end of the day was a definite highlight of the year so far!

Thank you also the FoEG as lots of us enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt around our beautiful grounds marking the beginning of Spring and new life. 

We have continued our learning of fractions in maths and this week moved on to quarters and sharing amounts into 4 equal groups. We will use this knowledge to help us with our learning of multiplication and division next week. 

In science, we have grown our own broad beans and enjoyed starting our own bean diary to track their growth and change. We hope that the lovely sunshine recently will help them grow big and strong. 

Year 2 

As always, we have been very busy in Year 2 and are excited to share with you our recent activities and upcoming events.

Today, we celebrated the joyful Holi festival, often known as the festival of colours. This vibrant celebration marks the coming of spring and brings with it lots of fun. The children thoroughly enjoyed the activities, especially the colourful experience of throwing paint at each other in a safe and joyful manner. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about different cultures and traditions.

In our English lessons, the children have been exploring the features of a diary and engaging in diary writing. We focused on recognising the structure and purpose of a diary, and the children have shown great enthusiasm in expressing their thoughts and daily experiences through their own diary entries. This has culminated in an independent piece of writing from the perspective of Isabel, the main character from the story, Invisible.

We have been learning about Samuel Pepys and the importance of his diary. Samuel Pepys is renowned for his detailed diary entries that offer a glimpse into life during his time, including significant historical events like the Great Fire of London. The children have found it fascinating to step back in time through his writing.

Our current science topic is health and growth, where we have been learning about the importance of taking care of our bodies. We discussed the importance and dangers of medicines and why it is important to only use them as directed by a trusted adult, such as a doctor or parent.

Dear Parents,

After World Book Day last week, I didn’t think we could top the excitement—but British Science Week proved me wrong! The celebration brought excitement across the school, with Year 3 particularly enjoying their chromatography experiments led by Year 8.

The trip to the Tower of London was a phenomenal success. The children were enthralled by the White Tower, the surrounding grounds, and the breath-taking Crown Jewels. It was a truly memorable day, with every child captivated by the rich history and grandeur of the Tower. A huge thank you to the fabulous Miss Corin for arranging such a well-organised experience for our Year 3s.

Children in Years 4 and 5 were treated to the What On Earth experience with John Gordon-Reid. It was a tremendously interactive session with children from neighbouring schools, Fair Field Junior and Aldenham Prep. The discussion focused on the thinkers, creators, and inventions that have shaped our world in the name of progress. Thank you to the wonderful Mrs Broadis for organising this fantastic opportunity for the children at Edge Grove and children in our local network of schools.

Don’t forget—tickets for ‘the night of the year,’ Friends of Edge Grove Pub Quiz Night, are now on sale! Get your tickets here. The quiz starts at 8pm on Friday 28th March, and can include pizza! Gather your team, enjoy a fun-filled evening, and help support school fundraising.

Finally, I am delighted to welcome two new inductees into the 500 House Points Hall of Fame this week. Danny (3W) and Musa (3S) have both earned their 500 HP certificates—an outstanding achievement! Chapeau to you both!

Mr Thorne
Assistant Head (Middle)

Mrs Wynne & Mrs Fox write…

What a fantastic week we have had in 3W! Our visit to the Tower of London was both fascinating and memorable, and the class demonstrated exemplary behaviour, representing the school brilliantly.

In Science, the children thoroughly enjoyed an experiment led by Year 8, alongside their own investigations into opaque, translucent, and transparent objects. A special mention goes to Neevan, Aran, Amirtaha, and Islay for their excellent teamwork. We also reflected on the importance of curiosity and how Science is constantly evolving, perfectly aligning with our value this fortnight.

In English, we are continuing our voyage aboard the Titanic, exploring the stark divisions between the experiences of first and third class passengers. The children have created outstanding posters, which we are excited to display in the classroom.

Meanwhile, in Computing, we have embarked on an exciting project on ‘branching’ stories. By the end of term, please look out for some thrilling interactive quests, where readers can choose their own path—all designed by the children using Google Slides.

We look forward to another week filled with curiosity, discovery, and learning!

Miss Corin writes…

What a fantastic week 3C has had, full of exploration and discovery! We started the week with an exhilarating trip to the iconic Tower of London. The children were absolutely enthralled as we ventured through the towering walls, taking in the extraordinary sights of the Crown Jewels and the historical grounds of the palace. Not a moment went by where our pupils weren’t captivated by their surroundings, eagerly absorbing the rich tapestry of history that enveloped them. It was a joy to witness their enthusiasm and curiosity.

As we continued into the week, we celebrated Science Week, which provided us with a splendid opportunity to engage in scientific inquiry led by the Year 8 pupils. Our session focused on a curious question: Could there be multiple colours within a single felt tip pen? The children put on their investigative hats and embarked on a series of experiments to uncover the mystery. To our collective astonishment, we discovered that within the seemingly monotone grey felt tip pen, there lay the vibrant hue of pink!

I would like to say a big well done to the entire Year 3 cohort for their great behaviour and enthusiasm during our trip. They were outstanding ambassadors for our school, demonstrating curiosity, respect, and a genuine love for learning. 

Mrs Senghani writes…

It was an exciting start to the week visiting the Tower of London. The pupils were so well behaved and really showed how amazing they are. They were able to demonstrate the amazing knowledge they have learnt in History and English and were very excited asking questions at every opportunity. They loved exploring the Crown Jewels and were very intrigued to see who had the best stones or diamonds in their crowns, as well as having a giggle at some of the clothing and armour they had worn in the Tudor times. Rory was particularly interested in the prisoners area, and how prisoners were able to carve into brick, while Thiago wanted to see the execution area of the Towers. The highlight for my group was watching the guards marching and changing the hand they were holding the gun in.

On Wednesday morning Dr Moradi and the Year 8 pupils hosted some amazing science experiments, where we got to see how different felt pens run different coloured ink from them. We were amazed with what we saw, and were very excited to continue to talk about it through the day.

I hope those involved with the egg hunt tonight have a fabulous time, and I look forward to seeing what next week holds for us.

Miss Lundrigan writes… 

Happy British Science Week! We are thrilled to share some exciting updates from our recent activities. To kick off the week, a wonderful group of Year 8 students, led by the inspirational Dr. Moradi, kindly welcomed us as we delved into the fascinating world of chromatography. It was a brilliant opportunity to explore the principles of this scientific technique and witness the vibrant colours that can separate from ink!

Additionally, we had a special visit from the brilliant minds at the publisher ‘What on Earth!’, who engaged us with amazing quizzes and a fun fact hunt. Their enthusiasm undoubtedly enriched our learning experience and sparked curiosity among our students.

Furthermore, we enjoyed being a bit loud while discovering the concept of decibel in Science. Did you know that the lowercase ‘d’ in decibel signifies a measurement that is one-tenth of a Bell? This fascinating unit of sound is named after the renowned inventor Alexander Graham Bell, reminding us of the innovative spirit that drives scientific discovery.

We hope all our students have enjoyed this week’s activities just as much as we have, and we look forward to continuing our exploration of the wonders of science together!

Mrs Warnes writes…

This week, 4W had the exciting opportunity to lead the Middle Department assembly. In preparation for this event, pupils nominated various topics they wished to present to Years 3 to 5, culminating in a vote where ‘Idioms’ emerged as the clear favourite. With this chosen topic, 4W sprang into action, dedicating time to research and select their favourite idioms.

To ensure all voices were heard, we narrowed our selection down, enabling each pupil to choose an idiom they wished to present. Together, we brainstormed creative ways to act out these idioms, and I was genuinely blown away by the enthusiasm and imagination displayed by the class. During our final PSHE lesson of the week, the pupils collaborated to design and craft resources for their presentations. With just one rehearsal under our belt, Tuesday morning quickly arrived—showtime!

4W impressed both the Middle Department pupils and teachers during the assembly, showcasing their hard work and creativity. I could not have been prouder of their outstanding performance! It has been wonderful to witness students actively using idioms in their daily conversations, even pupils from other classes beginning to incorporate these expressions into their communication, yes you Daniel! 

But why focus on idioms? They enrich language, conveying complex ideas succinctly while adding flair to writing. Understanding idioms enhances reading comprehension, particularly in literary contexts. Through this engaging activity, our students have learned to appreciate the beauty of figurative language, expressing themselves with greater creativity and depth.

We also had the opportunity to go to the Science Lab where Year 8 pupils led us in a  chromatography experiment. 

Mrs Futerill writes…

What an enjoyable week we have had. Miss Lundrigan has told you all about Science Week and the visit from ‘What on Earth!’ 

In English this week, we have been working on a form of writing called a non-chronological report. A non-chronological report is a factual text that isn’t organised in time order. Instead, it presents information about a specific topic through various categories. Students are learning to present information clearly and concisely, which is essential for effective communication in all areas of life. I’ve been impressed by their efforts! Our chosen topic was ‘Imaginary Dragons’ inspired by our class novel, How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

Mrs Broadis writes…

My three week tenure as 5T’s form tutor comes to an end, and it has been a pleasure to spend some quality time getting to know children that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of teaching.  We have enjoyed a full and busy week; yet more progress has been made with handwriting as children have tried to perfect letter formation, letter size and the use of correct joins. 

Mrs Allen writes…

It’s been another lively and exciting week at our wonderful school! From being inspired by 4W’s fantastic assembly on idioms on Monday morning to the thrilling What On Earth quiz alongside Fairfield School and Aldenham Prep, plus match-day fixtures, football tournaments, and all things showcase… oh, and of course, plenty of learning in the classroom too!

This week, we’ve been exploring what it means to be a risk-taker, and we’re looking forward to sharing our thoughts in our 5A assembly on Tuesday morning. Over the weekend, why not chat with your child about times they’ve taken a risk? When have you taken a risk yourself? Did it pay off? What did you learn from the experience?

We can’t wait to continue the discussion next week. Wishing you a wonderful weekend when it arrives!

Mr Russell…

We have had another exciting week in 5R!

We were thrilled to welcome a very special visitor, John, who held a fun and educational “What on Earth” quiz for the children. This event was a collaboration with our neighbouring schools, Fair Field and Aldenham, and it was fantastic to work in teams with children from other schools. John shared his knowledge about historical figures and the general history of the world before challenging the children with several quizzes to test their knowledge. It was a wonderful way to learn and engage with history in a hands-on way. Tommy and Lucy were especially excited to receive signed magazines from John all about Killer Plants, which they couldn’t wait to read! Ved, Arhaan, Syon, and Adam also shared how much they enjoyed the experience and how refreshing it was compared to the usual Wednesday morning routine.

In sports, we had some fantastic achievements this week. Tyler, Cooper, and Hunter were absolutely thrilled after securing a brilliant 7-1 victory against St Columba’s in rugby! Pranay also had a great week, scoring a try for his team.  

Riley has been showcasing our value of the fortnight: Risk Taking. He has been putting his best foot forward in maths by tackling the challenging concept of percentages and converting them into fractions. His determination and enthusiasm for learning have inspired everyone in his set!

Thank you for another great week, 5R. Enjoy your weekends.

Young Writers Competition- Aarin (Y5)

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news about one of our talented young writers, Aarin! His short story, ‘The House That Stole Us’, has been selected for publication in Spook Squad – Paranormal Pursuits, a book showcasing exceptional ghost stories written by children aged 11 and under as part of Young Writers’ annual competition.

Aarin’s story stood out for its suspense, atmosphere, and creativity—hallmarks of a gripping ghost tale. His work will not only be published but will also have a permanent place in the National Archives of the British Library, a remarkable achievement for any writer, let alone one so young!

This recognition is a testament to Aarin’s imagination and storytelling skills, and we couldn’t be prouder. Take a read of his story below.

Congratulations, Aarin!

What On Earth Quiz Day

By Syon (Year 5)

On the day of the What on Earth Quiz, I was getting really excited because of the quiz of course, and because we had break with Fair Field Junior School which was exciting. The host’s name was John and he gave us a talk about famous things in history. He showed us a huge Wall Book where we would learn everything, for example about Sir Issac Newton and gravity, and the cure for smallpox: cowpox. 

Soon after the 45 minute talk we got to do the quiz! We needed teams to play. My team was me, Garv Y5 and Toran Y5.  We had a sheet with questions like, “What is the cure for smallpox?” This was a general knowledge quiz based on the talk, and luckily all of my team including me are good at general knowledge. When they got checked we had… won! We were given a special mini wall book with two other teams. Then we played another quiz and this time you put your hands on your head or knees for the correct answer and if you got it wrong you had to sit down, and the last person standing got a prize: a magazine. My classmate, Ariya Y5, got the prize. 

After this amazing experience with John we went back to normal lessons.

Garv (Year 5)

The What On Earth! quiz was a brilliant insight to knowledge that I didn’t know, which would help to expand my brain. Their magazine is absolutely outstanding, and it helps people all around the world learn facts. This quiz was all about teaching information and digging up knowledge from young minds. 

One of my teachers, Mrs Jane Broadis, who is head of English, strongly encourages reading, and it was Mrs Broadis’ idea to invite What on Earth! to Edge Grove in the first place. The quiz was a surprise for all of the pupils, and this made the quiz fair, as we didn’t have time to practise.

The host of the quiz was John Gordon Reid, the publisher of What On Earth! magazine.

In the quiz, there were many parts. The first was a talk, which we had a quiz on. Then we had a 10-minute break to revise for another quiz, and after that, the winners were announced. Later, we had a Head-Knees quiz, and it worked like this:

1. The questions were asked.
2. The options were given; for example, if this is true, hands on your heads. If false, hands on your knees.
3. The right answer was given.
4. When one person was left they were announced the winner.

This was the last event of the day, and we then ended the quiz competition.

To conclude, the quiz was an important meeting between Edge Grove, Fair Field Juniors, and Aldenham Prep, not only expanding our minds, but giving us an opportunity to make friends.

Thank you to…

• Mrs Broadis, for organizing the quiz.
• John Gordon Reid, for giving up precious time to come and deliver the talk and quiz.
• And everyone else, for making this possible.

Here is a special schools’ offer to subscribe to What On Earth! magazine. 

Please quote the Edge Grove postcode WD25 8NL.

www.whatonearth.co.uk/schoolsoffer

The magazines will enhance your child’s interest in non-fiction.

English
Our Newberry prize-winning dystopian novel, The Giver, has prompted Year 8 this week into thinking about the importance that colour plays in our world.  What would our world be like without colour?  As a class, the Year 8s chose a colour or shade, and described it figuratively, carefully considering the connotations.  Myself and Mrs Broadis had a go too!  Well done to Robert, who earned a duly deserved Head’s Commendation for taking our collaborative work and turning it into this visual masterpiece which has been shared around School on the digital screens for all to enjoy.

Diploma
Our Spring Diploma Clubs are in full swing!  Natty, Freddie and Ishaq have been particularly fabulous leading their Year 2 Comic Club.  My thanks to Mrs. Yacub for facilitating this: she says her Year 2s are simply loving it, and indeed, they look very engaged in the photos below!   The Year 5s are hugely enjoying Leandro, Zach, Bolu and Thomas’s football club, which runs on Tuesday break times.  What great examples of unity and sportsmanship.

Science
British Science Week took place this week and the theme was ‘Change and Adapt’.

We are thrilled to announce the whole school’s participation in British Science Week across all year groups from Nursery up to Year 8. Year 8 and 7 pupils had an amazing time running activities and assisting their younger peers in engaging with our British Science Week events. It was inspiring to see the younger students in the Science block, where they embraced the opportunity to think and act like mini scientists while collaborating with their Year 7 and 8 mentors.

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

Accelerate Action is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day. Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality, and we certainly did here at Edge Grove!

Mrs Allen invited Year 6-8 girls to the Boardroom to have their lunch with each other and a range of female Edge Grove staff. We discussed:

• 3 words to describe what being a woman means to us.
• Our female role models.
• The accomplishment you’re most proud of.

Female staff members delivered a presentation sharing their thoughts, making for an empowering and inspiring lunchtime where we came together in solidarity for International Women’s Day. We all enjoyed this specially set aside time to receive, reflect, celebrate and honour the power encapsulated in being young women and in the wonder of womanhood.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable team of women at Edge Grove, and we have no doubt that our youngest female pupils will go on to achieve amazing things and become the strong, female inspirations of tomorrow.

Please click here to view our International Women’s Day presentation.

(you will need to be logged in to an Edge Grove Google account to view this presentation)

We have had another very successful week at the Watford Speech and Drama Festival with a number of pupils taking part and Caoimhe (Year 6) and Sophia (Year 2) both winning gold medals. Well done girls!

We have a lot to look forward to over the next few weeks with the ABRSM exams on Monday, Spring Concert on Friday and then the Year 5 “Evening of Disney” the following week.

The sunshine last week has seen our groundsman start to cut and prepare our cricket pitches ahead of the summer term cricket season. We have been running winter cricket nets this term to start to prepare the children and Randeep (our professional cricket coach) will be running an Easter cricket camp in the April holidays here at school. If you are interested in your child attending then please contact Randeep on Randeepsanghera93@hotmail.com.

Mr McManus
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)

Sport Update

It’s been a week full of sporting success for all year groups! On Wednesday, our Year 5/6 girls took part in a skills session and mini 6 Nations event, hosted by international rugby player Alysha Corrigan. The girls had a brilliant time learning new techniques and putting their skills to the test in a friendly competition.

Thursday was another busy day for our athletes! Our Year 3-6 gymnasts competed at the District Gymnastics competition in Watford, holding their own against several secondary-aged children. They performed with great skill and determination.

Also on Thursday, our U9A rugby team hosted a festival with several other schools. The team played brilliantly, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day.

Finally, on Friday, a group of Year 5 and 6 girls will head to Belmont School for a Football festival, with special guest Tyra Mills, a presenter on BT Sport and Sky Sports. What a great way to end the week!

Congratulations to all our sports stars for their hard work and dedication!

LAMDA in the Library

What a fantastic way to start the week with our LAMDA performance on Monday morning! Pupils took to the stage with confidence, delivering their poems with poise, expression, and meaning. This is yet another testament to the value of drama training and its wide-ranging transferable benefits. It is no surprise that many of our pupils are returning from the Watford Festival with medals. Congratulations to everyone who took part this week and special thanks again to Gaby Finer for her training and expertise.

The Watford Festival

Congratulations to all children who have taken part in the Watford Festival this week and to our Class Winners:

• Caoimhe (Year 6) – Gold
• Sophia (Year 2) – Gold
• Anna (Year 6) – Bronze
• Tamsin (Year 4) – Bronze
• Louis (Year 5) – Bronze

High School Musical

With only six school weeks to go (breathe!), the cast is really pulling together and getting their head’s in the game!  We don’t just stick to the status quo here at Edge Grove: we’re all in this together to create the best school production you’ve ever seen.

It is fantastic having the parents of our cast join us for the end of the rehearsals to witness the incredible hard work our pupils are putting in.  School productions are a huge collaborative effort, and we very much appreciate parental support in encouraging practice, line learning, and costume formulation (more information on costumes very soon).

Feel free to get involved with the dancing too, we have been hearing all of the reports about all of the at-home practice!

Spring Concert

The date of the Spring Concert has now moved to Friday 21st March at 4:45pm. The concert will take place in the Apthorp Hall.  

We’re very excited to watch our musical ensembles perform for friends and family in what is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of our pupil’s musical achievements.

ABRSM

We wish the best of luck to all of our pupils taking ABRSM practical exams on Monday.  We know you’ll smash it!

Rare productions Youth Theatre

Congratulations to Bella, Sienna and Izzy for being cast in Peter Pan at the Radlett Centre!

Edge Grove U13 v Westbrook Hay

Edge Grove 9 – 3 Westbrook Hay

The stage was set for the final game of the season: the boys needed to win by 6 tries to finish the season on a net positive score. 

The boys started strongly, and the first half saw tries from Rabbie, Timi and Tio. There was a lot of back and forth, with Westbrook Hay challenging out wide. Once again, Arav’s phenomenal tackling kept the boys in the game after a few missed challenges. The half ended 4-1, leaving the boys a lot to do in the second half.

Again, Westbrook Hay’s defence refused to allow any breakthrough play, and they scored once more. Further tries from Rabbie, Timi and Tio left the standings at 8-2, before the Edge Grove boys conceded once more. They would receive the kick off for the final play of the game. It was caught well, and passed through the line. 3 phases in, Timi was passed the ball, and in a poetic epitome of the season, ran the length of the pitch to dot down his 33rd try, to bring the score to 9-3.

U12 Rugby Match Report vs Westbrook Hay

Edge Grove 2 – Westbrook Hay 11

The U12 rugby team faced a formidable opponent in Westbrook Hay this week, and despite a tough 11-2 defeat, the boys showed remarkable commitment and determination. Westbrook Hay proved to be a strong team, but our players never gave up, showing excellent spirit and effort from start to finish. While the result didn’t go our way, the boys’ attitude and work rate were something to be proud of.

As the season draws to a close, the boys now turn their focus to their final match against St. Margaret’s in two weeks’ time. The team is eager to finish the season on a high and build on the lessons learned throughout the campaign.

Player Highlights:

• Ayaan: Ayaan was a powerhouse, carrying the ball hard and making some vital tackles in defence, showing real determination under pressure. 
• Aiden: Aiden was one of the standout performers, scoring two superb tries and putting in tireless efforts both in attack and defence. His work rate was exceptional throughout the game. 
• Isaac: Isaac demonstrated great leadership and decision-making, unlocking the opposition’s defence with smart plays that created attacking opportunities for the team. 
• Bolu: Bolu stepped up in a big way, carrying strongly forward and matching Westbrook Hay’s physicality with his excellent tackling. 
• Max: Max delivered his best performance of the season, making crucial tackles to slow the opposition down in key areas of the pitch. 
• Thomas: Thomas made several positive carries, breaking through the defensive line to make valuable ground for the team. 
• Zachary: Zachary’s commitment in defence was exceptional. His tackle technique has improved drastically this season, and his bravery in the tackle was impressive. 
• Grayson: Grayson was effective in both attack and defence, with excellent carries and a keen ability to present the ball in the rucks, enabling quick ball movement for the team. 
• Leandro: Leandro was decisive at the ruck, making intelligent decisions to exploit space and provide new angles of attack for the team. 
• Joseph: Joseph was a force in tackling, also using his footwork to gain precious yards in attack and making key contributions to the team’s efforts. 
• Noah: Noah was consistently willing to work hard for the team, making great contributions in both defence and attack. 
• Blake: Blake showed great aggression in carrying the ball forward, breaking through the defensive lines and making strong progress. 
• Eashan: Eashan’s decision-making was clinical, distributing the ball wide to create opportunities and shift the play effectively.
• Matt: Matt put in a committed display, particularly in defence, where his hard work helped slow the opposition and prevent them from building momentum.
  

Looking Ahead:

Looking Ahead:

Despite the result, the team’s commitment was unwavering, and everyone can hold their heads high. The boys should be proud of their efforts, knowing that they fought until the very last whistle.

We now turn our attention to our final game vs St. Margaret’s, where we will look to end on a positive note and celebrate the boys’ hard work with special awards to recognise their efforts.

Well done to everyone, and let’s finish the season strong!

U11A Rugby vs St Columba’s

Edge Grove 10 – 0 St Columba’s

Edge Grove U11A team delivered a masterclass in rugby, securing a resounding victory against St Columba’s. From the first whistle, the boys displayed a level of tenacity and skill that left spectators thoroughly impressed.

The early stages of the match were defined by Edge Grove’s ferocious defence. John led the charge with a series of crunching tackles, setting the tone for a dominant display. Nathaniel’s exceptional counter-rucking and Alex’s effective ripping skills ensured St Columba’s were constantly under pressure, struggling to maintain possession.

When Edge Grove gained the ball, their attacking prowess was equally evident. The team’s strategy of drawing defenders in before swiftly moving the ball out wide proved devastatingly effective, resulting in a flurry of tries. Freddie’s nimble footwork and Tommy’s clever dummy passes consistently outfoxed the St Columba’s defence, while Daniel’s powerful runs caused havoc, creating opportunities for his teammates.

As the game progressed, St Columba’s battled valiantly and managed to secure more possession. However, they found themselves facing an impenetrable wall of Edge Grove defenders. Josh, in particular, was resolute, forming an unbreakable barrier with his determined tackling, ensuring St Columba’s remained scoreless.

Throughout the match, Oliver orchestrated the team’s play with magnificent composure. His organisational skills were exemplary, and his tactical kicking, including some well-placed grubber kicks in the final third, kept St Columba’s pinned back and under pressure.

The boys’ performance was a joy to watch, and the result was a fitting reward for their efforts. Well done, boys!

U11B Rugby vs St Columba’s

Edge Grove’s U11B rugby team delivered a dominant performance against St Columba’s, securing an impressive 13-3 victory in a match played at excellent intensity. From the first whistle, EG started strongly, setting the tone for an outstanding team display.

Ishaq was immense, running the ball with pace and power, crossing for several tries and creating havoc in the St Columba’s defence. Atlas demonstrated strong and intelligent running, using the dummy pass to great effect to carve through the opposition. Elliott showcased his exceptional speed, scoring a breathtaking try by outflanking the defence with the finest of margins to touch down untouched on the wing.

Ethan was a constant attacking threat, combining strength and speed to score multiple tries. Ayush was incredible, stepping his way through defenders time and again, consistently causing problems for the opposition. Defensively, Robert was rock solid with his tackling, ensuring EG remained firm against St Columba’s attacks. Rafael also proved to be an outstanding tackler, bringing down the best players St Columba’s could throw at us with precision and determination.

This was a fantastic all-round team performance, with every player contributing to a well-earned victory. Well done to the whole squad!

U11C Rugby vs St Columba’s

Edge Grove’s U11C team edged out St Columba’s in a thrilling contest, securing a hard-fought 7-6 victory in a game filled with determination and intensity. 

Both teams displayed excellent skills, but it was EG’s resilience and teamwork that proved decisive.

Aydin was the standout performer, earning Man of the Match for his incredible tackling and fierce hit-ups, which dominated the opposition throughout. Aksh played a solid match running the ball with intensity and desire while also making several crucial tackles.

Ian made some powerful runs and produced a memorable moment with a fantastic tackle, bundling the opposition winger into touch. Niam showed great pace and strength in attack and put his body on the line in defence, demonstrating real commitment.

Syon thrived at scrum-half, staying in the thick of the action and delivering an excellent all-round performance. Orion played strongly, showing quick reactions at the breakdown and ensuring swift ball clearance from the base of the ruck when needed.

This was an outstanding match played in great spirit by both teams, with Edge Grove showing fantastic teamwork and determination to come away with the victory. 

Well done to all involved!

U10A Rugby vs St Columba’s

EG 8 – 1 St Columba’s

An excellent afternoon of rugby played by our U10A team this afternoon. St Columba’s started with the ball, and Edge Grove did not let that slow them down, Tommy went in for some excellent tackles, and a quick steal of the ball allowed Aiwa to get to score running. It was not soon after that, when Jack ran through 3 players, allowing him to score the first of his 3 tries of the game. Tyler and Tommy went in for some more excellent tackles, this time allowing Hunter to make a speedy run through 2 players to score his first try.The boys worked extremely hard, attacking and defending the ball, and tackling hard and low, allowing another opportunity for Jack to score. The boys were 4-0 up at half time and pumping. They were very respectful of the opposition and showed great sportsmanship.

Aiwa got straight into it again in the second half scoring his second try of the game, with some brilliant assistance from Cooper. The boys kept working hard, and getting stuck into tackles, as well as working as a team and utilising each other’s skills. Tyler got in on the action with an assist from Ved S, allowing him to run around St Columba’s players to score his first try. Josh got stuck into some brilliant tackles with Tommy again, allowing Jack the opportunity to score his 3rd try of the game, which was soon followed by an excellent run through 3 players to score his first try. An excellent game by all the boys, really demonstrating amazing teamwork.

U10B Rugby vs St Columba’s

This was an excellent game against two evenly matched teams, both trying to play good rugby. Edge Grove started strongly with Christopher, Luke and Louis all making some strong runs and scoring some good tries. Ved M and Luke were great at the breakdown, always getting there quickly and rucking strongly. Tom was great in defence, making some very good tackles and working hard for the team. Syon, Hridhaan and Sami all showed some great handling in the backline, getting the ball into space and recycling it well. Itai had a fantastic game, both on attack and defence and was the standout player this week. Well done to all the boys on a great game and a well deserved draw.

EG U10 C & D Teams vs St Columba’s

The EG U10 C and D teams had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon playing against St Columba’s C team. The matches were played in great spirit, with both teams displaying fantastic effort and commitment throughout.

There was plenty to enjoy, particularly in defence, where the boys showed immense determination in their tackles and touches. The resolute defensive effort was highlighted by their ability to keep a strong, straight defensive line and apply pressure, making it difficult for St Columba’s to find space.

In attack, the boys have been working hard on their attacking angles, and it was pleasing to see their attacking structures come into play, helping them to maximise their threat with the ball. Their ability to move into space and support each other in possession demonstrated great progress in their overall game play.

A brilliant afternoon of rugby for all involved, with plenty of positives to take forward into the next season.

U9A Rugby Festival @ Edge Grove 

The U9A Rugby Festival at Edge Grove was a spectacular event, bringing together nine schools—Aldwickbury, St Martins, Lochinver House, St Columba’s, Westbrook Hay, Beechwood Park, Heath Mount, Edge Grove, and Lockers Park—for a thrilling afternoon of rugby. With each team playing five-minute matches, the festival provided non-stop action and an excellent showcase of young talent.

Edge Grove put in an outstanding performance, demonstrating impressive teamwork, skill, and determination across all their matches. The boys played with great intensity and spirit, making their presence felt on the pitch.

• Teddy was a powerhouse in attack, running strongly and making huge gains up the middle of the pitch. His ability to break through the defensive line created vital opportunities for the team.
• Torin was relentless in defence, making several crucial tackles that helped keep the opposition at bay. His strong running also added an extra dimension to the team’s attack.
• Jola was a force to be reckoned with, proving to be both a defensive enforcer and an attacking threat. He carried the ball with strength and purpose, scoring several outstanding tries.
• Kwabena was a constant attacking threat, difficult to bring down and always pushing forward with determination. His power and agility made him a handful for the opposition.
• Harry had a superb all-around performance, excelling in defence with numerous strong tackles. His energetic ball-carrying was equally impressive, proving extremely tough to stop as he surged forward, scoring some brilliant tries.
• Rafi was electric in attack, showing a great step and blistering speed to score some fantastic tries. He also made key tackles, proving to be a vital player in both attack and defence.
• Daniel ran well with the ball, showing enthusiasm and commitment in attack. He was also keen defensively, putting in solid tackles throughout the festival.
• Juan displayed fantastic footwork, scoring a sensational try from his own half. His defensive skills were equally impressive, using his agility and awareness to stop the opposition.
• Wyatt was full of energy and enthusiasm, running well with the ball and tackling with heart and determination, never shying away from the contest.

Overall, Edge Grove’s U9A team showed fantastic team spirit, resilience, and skill, competing admirably against strong opposition. 

The festival was a brilliant experience for all involved, with every player showcasing their talent and passion for the game.

Well done to all the boys for their efforts. 

A hugely successful day of rugby at Edge Grove!

U9B Rugby vs Westbrook Hay

EGB 8-6 WBH A

EGB 9-7 WBH B

EGB 9-5 WBH C

EGB 8-6 WBH A

EGB 9-7 WBH B

EGB 9-5 WBH C

They boys had a busy afternoon of rugby ahead of them with 3 teams to play. The boys were ready and eager to go. We saw some excellent attacking play with Wolf and Monty running round and through the opposition on many occasions, as well as many of the boys going head on and attacking through players. Each player scored at least 1 try: Monty (6), Wolf (8), Kevin (4), Seb (3), Rome (2), Krishna, Raphael B and Rayan (1). Well done on an excellent game boys.

U8 (Mr McManus) Rugby vs Orley Farm

This was a great way to end the season with the boys playing a great game of rugby and showing how much they have learnt and how much they have progressed this year. James, Tobi, Maximilian and Noah led the team on defence, coming up in a line and closing the space for the opposition. On attack, the team was a constant threat running straight and passing to a supporting player running at pace. We scored some excellent team tries with every boy touching the ball as we moved it down the line and into space. Danny, Arjun and Matthew had a number of strong runs and the support play from all the team was excellent. This has been a fabulous season with the boys being dominant in all their games. I am really looking forward to taking them next year and progressing them into tackle rugby as I am sure that they will continue to thrive. Well done boys.

Edge Grove U8 B-D Teams vs Orley Farm

The final run-out of the season saw the Edge Grove U8 B-D teams travel to Orley Farm for an exciting afternoon of Touch Rugby. It has been a fantastic season for the boys as they have embraced a new sport, working tirelessly to improve their individual skills while developing a strong sense of teamwork.

Defensively, the boys have made great strides in keeping a straight line and pressing collectively, and it was rewarding to see this in action during their final matches. Emerging defensive leaders helped organise the line, ensuring everyone stayed disciplined and committed – a wonderful evolution that was evident in their performances.

Playing with passion and energy right up to the final whistle, the boys gave everything to maintain their defensive structure while looking for opportunities to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence. Their determination and enthusiasm shone through, making it a fitting end to a brilliant season.

A huge well done to all involved—finishing in such great style is a testament to their effort and commitment. We now look forward to next season when the boys will take their first steps into contact rugby, ready for an exciting new challenge!

Year 5 & 6 Girls Tag Rugby Festival at York House

A number of the Year 5 & 6 girls had an incredible afternoon at the Rugby Festival at York House, where they were inspired and guided by international rugby player Alysha Corrigan. Alysha shared her experiences, including her memorable meal from the Paris Olympics, and brought her expertise to the pitch by coaching the girls during their very own 6 Nations matches. The event was a fantastic showcase of talent and enthusiasm, as the girls demonstrated their growing skills and passion for the game. It was an exciting glimpse into the future of female rugby, with a promising new generation of players ready to make their mark!

Rugby Season Report

The rugby season was marked by a series of thrilling and hard-fought matches, with the team showing remarkable determination and resilience throughout. Over the course of 10 fixtures, the team secured 5 wins and faced 5 losses, resulting in a balanced win rate of 50%. Scoring an impressive 55 tries in total, the team displayed both attacking flair and defensive grit on the field.

Season Overview

The season kicked off with a spirited performance against Orley Farm, where the team secured their first victory with a scoreline of 10-6. This opening win set the tone for the season, showcasing the team’s attacking potential. Alex, Tio and Harry B earned the Player(s) of the Match (POTM) award for their outstanding contributions.

However, in Week 3, the team faced a challenging opponent in Heath Mount, where they suffered a narrow defeat of 7-12. Despite the loss, Rabbie stood out with his relentless effort and determination, earning him the POTM honor.

Bouncing back from the setback, the team took on Kingshott in Week 4 and edged out a close victory of 5-4. Imeth delivered a standout performance, showcasing exceptional skill and composure under pressure to secure the win.

Week 5 saw a double fixture, starting with a gritty 4-2 victory against St Martin’s, where Robert shone brightly to claim the POTM title. However, the team faced a setback later that week against Lochinver House, succumbing to an 8-2 loss. Despite the disappointing result, Timi put in a strong individual performance, earning recognition as POTM.

The next challenge came in Week 6 against Beechwood Park, where the team suffered another defeat, this time 3-6. Barwin gave a commendable effort and earned the POTM award despite the loss.

Week 7 proved to be the most demanding week of the season, with the team facing three fixtures in quick succession. First, they narrowly lost to Beechwood Park (3-5), with Samuel showing resilience and determination. They followed up with a 2-5 defeat to York House, where Arav & Kaelan stood out despite the result.

The final fixture of the week proved to be a turning point, as the team bounced back with a dominant 10-3 win over Westbrook Hay. Tomisin delivered an outstanding performance, driving the team forward and earning the well-deserved POTM accolade.

In Week 8, the team wrapped up the season on a high note by defeating Westbrook Hay once again, this time by 9-3. Timi & Benjamin, always reliable forces on the pitch, sealed the season with stellar showings.

Key Scoring Performances

One of the standout performers of the season was Timi, who finished as the top try scorer with 33 tries, consistently leading the team’s attacking efforts and proving to be a constant threat to opposition defenses.

Rabbie followed with a strong contribution of 7 tries, demonstrating his ability to break through defenses when it mattered most. Tio added 5 tries, while Robert scored 4 tries, both playing pivotal roles in several important wins. Additionally, Tomisin chipped in with 3 tries, showing his versatility and determination across multiple matches.

POTM Awards

Several players earned Player of the Match honors throughout the season, including:

Several players earned Player of the Match honors throughout the season, including:

• • Alex (Orley Farm)
  • Rabbie (Heath Mount)
  • Imeth (Kingshott)
  • Robert (St Martin’s)
  • Timi (Lochinver House, Westbrook Hay II)
  • Harry B (Beechwood Park, Orley Farm)
  • Samuel (Beechwood Park II)
  • Arav (York House)
  • Tomisin (Westbrook Hay)
  • Benjamin (Westbrook Hay II)
  • Kaelan (York House)
  • Tio (Orley Farm)

These accolades reflect the depth of talent and determination within the squad, with different players stepping up when needed.

End-of-Season Awards

Finally, (congratulations for making it this far. I promise I’m nearly done), we come to the end-of-season awards. I’ve never been one for ensuring everyone gets an award, yet the boys’ efforts this season have quashed any ideas I may have had on celebrating the achievements of each individual.

Player of the Season – For the most consistent and outstanding player overall. 

Timi – Let’s start with the obvious. Agile, powerful and intelligent. A coach’s dream and an opposition’s nightmare.

Best Forward – For the standout player among the forwards (props, locks, back row).

Rabbie – Raw power. Fearless running and some devastating (mostly below the chest) tackling.

Unsung Hero  – For the player whose hard work and dedication often go unnoticed.

Imeth – Hugely consistent. Imeth earned his role at fly-half through intelligent play. Imeth is the player that makes other players look good.

Hardest Hitter – For the most powerful and effective tackler.

Arav – Fearless. We are yet to find an opposition player who Arav won’t throw his shoulder into. Ensured victory for the boys in a lot of fixtures. 

Clubman of the Year – For the player who contributes the most to the club both on and off the field. 

Alex – Alex’s attitude is phenomenal. Always one of the first to training and his dedication shows on the pitch. Led the side well as Co-Captain. Managed a whole season without a head injury.

Try of the Season – For the most impressive or memorable try scored. 

Samuel – Scored in the corner against Kingshott after the ball was passed through the hands of every player in the back line. Put in one of the performances of the season against Westbrook Hay in Week 7. A constant threat on the wing.

Best Kicker – For the most accurate and reliable kicker throughout the season. 

Kaelan – another obvious choice. Commanded the restarts perfectly, finding the right spots to instantly put pressure on the opposition. 99% of kicks went forward. Always dangerous in attack.

Breakdown Beast – For dominance and power in the breakdown.

Tomisin – Countless times this season, Tomisin would pop up from a ruck, ball in hand, leaving everyone clueless as to how he’d done it. A few valuable tries at key moments made Tomisin a crucial team member throughout the season, despite being fairly new to the game.

Best Playmaker – For the player who consistently set up tries and made key plays. 

Robert – Always at the heart of our attacking moves, Robert’s vision and creativity opened up countless opportunities, making him the driving force behind many of our most memorable tries. 

Most Versatile Player – For excelling in multiple positions when called upon. 

Tio – Back or forward, Tio consistently stepped up wherever the team needed him. Adaptability and skill in multiple roles. Fantastic rugby, moderately accurate scorekeeping.

Breakthrough Player – For a player who went from the fringes to a key team member. 

Benjamin – Powerful ball-carrier. A relatively quiet season last year has been far outshone by his on-pitch performance this year. Last out the changing rooms, first to the ruck. 

Leadership Award – For the player who led by example. 

Harry B – A natural leader on the field. A calm determination set the standard for the team to follow. His invaluable distribution at 9 and well-delivered co-captaincy made a significant impact. Questionable clearance kicking.

Biggest Heart Award – For showing immense courage and determination, regardless of the odds.

Harry R – Immense courage and determination when running. Never backs down from a  tackle.

Thank you for your efforts, boys. Well done.

Howdy!

This week our five Houses held their first assembly of the half term, themed around the value of Risk Taking.  Our House Captains delivered a talk about the benefits of taking sensible risks in order to make progress and develop self-confidence.  We have also celebrated our top House Point scorers in each House and revelled in the results from Pancake Day.  Don’t worry, I won’t make any more puns: they always fall flat as a pa…

The highlight from our assemblies this week has to be the team-building exercise the pupils took part in.  Now, this wasn’t your normal team-building scenario we all know and loathe from office away-days or courses, no, this one was based on Star Wars!  I’ll put the rules below, but it certainly was the best way to round off an assembly about taking risks.  Thankfully, no real lightsabers were involved!

Have an excellent weekend!

Mr Evans
Director of Music and Head of Houses

Team-Building Challenge
Split the House into two teams.  Choose a leader for each team.  The two teams must stand facing each other with their leaders slightly in front of the teams, directly facing the other leader.  Each leader takes it in turn to make three moves to attack the other team.  The challenge is for the team to react together, as one, to avoid attack.

The two leaders hold their imaginary lightsabers in front of them, and take it in turns to mime an attack on the other team.  As the leader makes each attacking move, the opposition team must move together to avoid the attack.  The whole game must happen in slow motion.  There are three basic moves which can be played in any order:

• The leader can swing the lightsaber low to the ground, as if trying to slice off the opposition’s ankles.  When they do this, the opposing team must jump off the ground, as if avoiding the lightsaber.

• They can swoop the sword down in an arc, from high to low, either from right to left or left to right.  When they do this, the opposing team must jump one pace in the opposite direction, as if avoiding the lightsaber.

• They can swing the lightsaber as if trying to cut off the heads of the opposing team.  When they do this, the opposing team must duck immediately.

If any of the team members make a mistake, or are too slow, they are killed and join the opposing team.

As our Year 6 pupils move into the final phases of their chosen senior schools’ admissions processes, parents with pupils in lower year groups may be starting to think more about the journey that they and their child will be embarking on in the not too distant future. If your child is in Year 5 or below and you would like to meet to discuss their academic profile and next steps, please book an appointment via Mrs Thomas, Head’s PA on futureschools@edgegrove.com 

The Future Schools Presentation to Parents is now available to view on the Future School Documents section of the app.

INFORMATION FROM SENIOR SCHOOLS

ABINGDON SCHOOL

Abingdon Senior School will start to welcome girls to our First Year (Year 7) and Sixth Form from September 2026. We will therefore welcome girls at the 13+ stage in 2028.  

We have a number of events for prospective families running throughout the course of this term and next – all of which can be booked online via this link.

ABBOT’S HILL SCHOOL

13+ Scholarship Opportunities

We have recently launched some new Scholarship opportunities. Scholarships will be available in the following areas:

Sport
Music
Drama
Art+Design

Enquiries to  https://www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk/scholarships/ or email admissions@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

11+ Admissions Brochure

 For more information and to book, visit www.clsg.org.uk

FRAMLINGHAM COLLEGE

Framlingham College Senior School invites you to explore the exceptional opportunities for pupils in Year 9 -13.

Open Morning – Saturday 26th April

HAILEYBURY

We are always happy to welcome any interested families to come and visit us; this can be done in a number of ways:

• Families can book onto one of our Open Events. Please encourage prospective families to book their place via the School’s website. 
• Contact the Admissions department (admissions7to9@haileybury.com / 01992 706353 ) to arrange an individual family visit during term time.

Once a family has decided to proceed with an application to Haileybury, we encourage them to register with us by completing our online Registration Form.

JOHN LYON SCHOOL

Admissions Brochure

To book a School in Action Open Morning please contact admissions@johnlyon.org

KING’S CANTERBURY

Open Morning Saturday 17 May

There will be displays and exhibitions of life at King’s all around the school.

The link to sign up is:

https://www.kings-school.co.uk/admissions/senior-kings/register-for-an-open-morning/

THE LEYS

Information on small group visits can be found here and, in addition, we’re always pleased to discuss the possibility of a private visit with families too.

LANCING COLLEGE

Saturday Open Event For Year 9 entry –  22 March 2025

At our Open Events, you will have the opportunity to hear from the Senior Leadership Team and student leaders, followed by an extended tour of the school with pupils. During the tour, families will visit classrooms, Boarding and Day Houses, with the opportunity to participate in various activities. The event will conclude with refreshments and an opportunity to talk to other teaching, pastoral and admissions staff.

MILL HILL

Visit Our School | Senior Admissions North London | Mill Hill

RADLEY COLLEGE – 2026 ENTRY INFORMATION

All the details of our Open Days can be found on our website here. 

We have a number of Open Days on Saturdays throughout the year where we will host up to 70 families for talks, tours of the school and lunch – please see the Key Dates on the portal. Further details, including a booking form, can also be found on our website here. 

RMS – PRIVATE TOUR OF RMS FOR GIRLS – Contact Admissions to book a tour

 Do not hesitate to contact our friendly Admissions Team who will happily arrange a private tour of the School at a time convenient for you.
Please contact admissions@rmsforgirls.com 

SHIPLAKE COLLEGE

Here is a link to the Year 9 admissions process area of our website, detailing the nature of our assessment days, a downloadable timeline and with links to the registration form and information about our scholarships.

For pupils in Year 7 and 8 who are late applicants please submit an online application (www.shiplake.org.uk/register) by the end of Friday 7 March 2025. We would be delighted if interested parents would like to visit the College either individually and/or attend our Open Morning on Saturday 22 March 2025 (www.shiplake.org.uk/visit).

SHREWSBURY SCHOOL

We are always delighted to welcome families to our Open Days, when they can get a sense of our beautiful campus site.  Each Open Day starts with a presentation from the Headmaster and other senior staff, followed by a Q&A session with pupils.  Families visit one of our houses and then enjoy a school tour with pupils, followed by lunch.  Open Days & School Tours | Shrewsbury School

The Director of Admissions, Martin Cropper (mc@shrewsbury.org.uk), is always pleased to talk to parents and to offer advice on our Admissions process.  We welcome applications for September 2026 onwards, and a small number of places for September 2025 have recently become available.

SOUTH WEST HERTS CONSORTIUM – Secondary Transfer 2026

This year, registration for the tests spans a period of almost ten weeks, from Tuesday 1st April to Friday 6th June 2025. As previously, no late registrations will be accepted. If a parent has extenuating circumstances for failing to register for the tests, this may be cited as part of an appeal to an independent panel at a secondary transfer appeal hearing.

The Test Administration Team can be contacted via email only at info@swhertsschools.org.uk. There is no facility to telephone.

TONBRIDGE SCHOOL

The School has numerous Open Mornings taking place. These are a great opportunity for families to discover what a Tonbridge education can offer their son, as well as the chance to meet boys and staff.

Come along and find out what makes us the top boys’ boarding school in the country as well as the best boys’ school in the South-East, as ranked by The Sunday Times’ Parent Power table.

Book your place using this link.

UPPINGHAM SCHOOL

Uppingham’s Visiting Days Families can sign up to attend via our website or contact Sarah Heading (sch@uppingham.co.uk). 

Numeracy and literacy sit at the heart of learning for all our children. Parents, carers and teachers alike are sensitive to the difficulties that may be experienced in these two areas.

Whilst many of us understand that dyslexia affects reading and writing skills, you may not be familiar with dyscalculia which is a difficulty with counting, number patterns and mathematical concepts. To raise recognition of this condition that occurs in around 1 in 20 people, Dyscalculia Awareness Day took place last week.

If you are worried that a child in your care may have dyscalculia or dyslexia or are looking to build on your understanding of these conditions, Tooled Up has a number of resources that can help.

A useful introduction to dyscalculia and advice on supporting your child can be found in our webinar with Professor Jo Van Herwegen who discusses the Myths and Truths about Dyscalculia.

To explore the science behind dyslexia, its causes, impacts and to bust some myths watch our webinar Understanding Dyslexia with Dr Rebecca Gordon, associate professor of cognitive psychology at University College London.

For children with special educational needs, we have created All About Me: My Learning Profile which provides a template to encourage them to identify their strengths, sticking points and the things that help them to learn more effectively. This activity can be completed in school or at home and then be shared with teachers so that they can offer optimal support to the individual.