This Week at Edge Grove

This week, our Junior pupils were treated to an assembly on Ramadan. It was lovely to welcome so many of our Muslim families into the hall and hear how they celebrate this special time focused around good deeds, reflection and family time.

What a fantastic week for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, and Year 2! From farmyard fun to superhero adventures, mathematical explorations, and scientific discoveries, the children have been fully engaged in their activities. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity shine through in so many ways.

Nursery children have been busy preparing for their upcoming trip to Aldenham Country Farm by stepping into the shoes of real farmers, while Reception pupils have been harnessing their superpowers to explore verbs through their exciting Supertato story. Our Year 1 classes have been diving into times tables and dreaming of far off places in Oceania, and Year 2 children have been investigating the human life cycle while impressing us with their growing coding skills. We are so proud of all the hard work and enthusiasm shown by our Junior Department this week.

It is lovely to finally see our weather improving and always a treat to see so many of the children playing up on the spinney at the end of each day. We are so blessed with our beautiful country setting. Please can we just ask that children avoid playing outside the classrooms after pick-up as this space is often used to set up activities for the following day.

Thank you for your continued support—we hope you all have a lovely and restful weekend!

Mrs Hodge and Mrs Wynne

Nursery

Old Mc Donald had a farm E-I-E-I-O! In preparation for our very exciting school trip next week to Aldenham Country farm, the nursery pupils have been learning all about being farmers! We read Farmer Duck to learn about all the different jobs there are to do on the farm, and we had a go at being farmers ourselves! Children enjoyed milking a cow and shearing a sheep in our outdoor play farm. We enjoyed exploring farm tuff trays, playing in the farm shop home corner and learning more about how the animals can help us.

Our letter of the week this week is M for Man! Children have been thinking about their own words that begin with the sound M and have practised forming the letters outside with chalks. We have also been talking about M for Monster and the children have designed some very terrifying monster M’s!

Well done nursery for another wonderful week!

Reception

Mwahahaha watch out Reception children have been learning all about verbs and what actions Evil Pea has been doing in our Literacy focus story, Supertato! Running, jumping, flying the possibilities are endless. The pupils have loved continuing to explore superheroes. They have used their many superpowers to be imaginative in their creations from super veggie collages to wanted posters; searching for Evil Pea. In Maths we have looked at more, less and equals; this built upon the children’s knowledge of building a number sentence and gave a deeper understanding to adding and subtracting. We were so thankful that the sun was shining for us this week, and we very much enjoyed making the most of the glorious weather by taking our learning outside. We set up supermarket shops for the children to immerse themselves in Supertato’s story, and we even used our colourful fabric to decorate the Spinney which was named ‘the Holi playground’. Clearly last week’s celebrations were a fond memory!

Year 1

2, 4, 6, 8, 10! The children have loved exploring their times tables! The children have spotted patterns and practised rehearsing their 2s, 5s, and 10s. We have created number lines and hopscotch to remember some of those tricky sequences.

In Geography, we have been exploring the globe and have landed in Oceania! We headed outside to draw an array of landmarks from the continent. There were lots of questions and we dreamed of having a Christmas BBQ on the beach! We continued research in Art lessons and created some aboriginal inspired paintings. The children used native animals to create a fantastic patterned painting.

Another fantastic week. Well done, Year 1!

Year 2

In Science, our young explorers have been diving into the fascinating world of the human life cycle. We’ve been using our own timelines to understand the different stages of life, and the children have been full of curiosity and fantastic questions!
Our Maths sessions have been equally exciting. We’ve been building on the children’s understanding of fractions and learning how to find fractions of an amount. We’ve explored the magic of inverses too – for example, if 6 is 1/2 of a number, then what is the whole? The children have been doing brilliantly with understanding these concepts!
In Computing, the children have been truly wowing us! They’re becoming little coding wizards, designing their own backgrounds and carefully choosing objects to code. It’s been wonderful to see their creativity shine as they put together whole scenes with their newly acquired skills.

Dear Parents,

In recent months, AI chatbots like ChatGPT and other online assistants have become more widely available, even finding their way into children’s lives. Many children are curious about AI and enjoy asking chatbots questions, using them for homework help, or even chatting for fun. While AI can be a useful tool, it’s important to guide children in using it responsibly.

As an English specialist, I do worry about the impact this could have on original thought and literary creativity. However, I see it much like the utility of a calculator in Maths—an incredibly helpful tool, but one that doesn’t show the working out. The process of problem-solving, analysis, and creativity is crucial for deep learning, and AI can sometimes shortcut that journey rather than support it. If children rely too heavily on AI for answers, they may miss out on the skills needed to think critically, construct their own arguments, or develop a unique writing style.

Another key concern is that AI-generated content isn’t always accurate, and chatbots lack the ability to think critically or provide emotionally intelligent responses. At this age, children may struggle to differentiate between reliable and misleading information, so it’s vital to encourage them to verify facts with trusted sources, such as books, teachers, or parents.

If your child is curious about AI chatbots, consider having a conversation about how they work, their limitations, and the importance of human judgment. Encourage them to use AI as a tool for brainstorming rather than a replacement for their own ideas. Most importantly, remind them that while AI can assist with learning, it should never replace real conversations, independent thinking, or the joy of creative exploration.

By guiding children early, we can help them develop a healthy and informed approach to technology—one that enhances their learning without diminishing their originality.

Final call for tickets for ‘the night of the year’, the Friends of Edge Grove Pub Quiz Night. Get your tickets here. The quiz starts at 8pm on Friday 28th March, and can include pizza! Gather your team or come along solo and join a team upon arrival. It will be a night to remember!

Finally, I am thrilled to welcome three new inductees into the 500 House Points Hall of Fame this week. Leia (3S), Isabella (4W) and Sansiya (4W) have all earned their 500 HP certificates—an outstanding achievement! 

Have a great weekend and I will hopefully see you at the quiz next Friday.

Mr Thorne
Assistant Head (Middle Department)

Mrs Fox writes…

Highlights from 3W pupils this week:

Motunrayo, ‘The highlight of my week was Performing Arts, because I like the games we play and I enjoy performing.’
Noah, ‘The highlight of my week has been improving my bowling in cricket.’
Zayyan, ‘The highlight of my week was making a shadow snake puppet in Science because I liked how the shadow could dance when I shone a torch on it.’ 

This week in English we finished our postcards from Titanic passengers and then stepped into the shoes of crew members aboard the ‘unsinkable’ ship. These activities are building up to our Big Write where children will craft newspaper reports about the legendary vessel. 

In Science, we continued to explore light by crafting shadow puppets, investigating how shadows form and change when moving closer or further from a light source. Meanwhile, our PSHE lessons focused on Playing Positively, where students practiced kindness, teamwork, and fair play through engaging activities.

Looking ahead, our 3W assembly on Monday will explore Creativity and what it means. 

A fantastic week of learning, and with the weather finally springing into action, we wish you a wonderful weekend!

Miss Corin writes…

This week in our classroom, we have continued our captivating exploration of the Titanic, focusing on both its construction and the historical significance it holds. The children have been thoroughly engaged as we delve into the intricate details surrounding the ship’s design, understanding its grandeur and the innovative engineering behind it. Additionally, we have begun to examine the essential features of newspaper articles, preparing for an exciting project wherein each student will create their own article about the sinking of this infamous vessel. The anticipation of reading the next chapter, where the tragic events of the Titanic’s final moments unfold, has sparked much interest among the pupils, and we look forward to their creative interpretations.

In our Mathematics lessons, we shifted our attention toward the fascinating world of shapes. We have explored both 2D and 3D shapes, investigating how these shapes are formulated and distinguished from one another. A particularly insightful observation came from Noah, who pointed out that both cubes and cuboids share the same number of edges, faces, and vertices. Jess added that, despite their similarities, the visual characteristics of these shapes differ significantly. This prompted further discussions about horizontal and vertical lines. Taking advantage of the lovely weather, we took our exploration outdoors, searching for these geometric features in our environment. Maximo made an impressive demonstration using a shadow to illustrate a vertical line, showcasing both creativity and understanding.

Looking ahead, we are excited about what appears to be a packed week of learning next week, with more engaging activities and enriching experiences planned for the children.

Mrs Senghani writes…

It has been a busy week in 3S this week and the excitement continues as we continue our work on the Titanic.

We have been looking at how adjectives and verbs allow us to describe the Titanic in greater detail, and help us develop our writing skills. We spent some time writing a postcard as if we were third class passengers aboard the Titanic. Toyosi wrote how she was excited to be on the greatest ship built, and how the sweet music from first class sounds amazing, but not as good as the taste of the food. Anira wrote how the food on board the Titanic was better than she expected, and she had to make new friends, as she shared a room with strangers.

The creativity the students have brought to the lesson this week has been excellent and each one of them have worked extremely hard.

In PSHE this week we have been looking at Neurodiversity and anti bullying. As it is Neurodiversity week this week, we wanted students to showcase their super powers that may come with their neurodiversity and how it does not stop us doing anything, or give anyone a reason to be a bully. The students have been so respectful of each other and I am so proud of them.

I hope you have a restful weekend, and I look forward to seeing you again on Monday. 

Mrs Futerill writes… 

This week, our classroom has been transformed into a realm of dragons, thanks to the incredible imaginations of our students! We’ve been diving deep into the world of descriptive language, starting with the fascinating art of Kenning poems.

The children enthusiastically embraced the challenge of creating compound adjectives and nouns, capturing the essence of their dragons in vivid phrases. Our classroom windows became a gallery of their creativity, featuring gems like Bella’s “twilight-eyes” and Juan’s “air-ripper.” Leila painted a stunning image with “rose-pink eyes that shine like diamonds,” while Lily transported us to “the trenches of the sea” in her dragon’s domain. Rayan’s “cotton-white” dragon added to the diverse tapestry of our creations.

A special thank you to Tamsin, who shared the captivating “Dragon Ark” book, sparking even more inspiration with its stunning illustrations of dragons from the Arctic to the African jungle. These visuals helped us design unique habitats for our own mythical creatures.

Our exploration extended beyond words, as we delved into the vibrant world of colour and texture. Inspired by Earth’s natural resources, we used gems and stones to enhance our descriptions. A huge thank you to Leila, Aran, Tamsin, and Bella for bringing in their beautiful gem collections and sharing their knowledge with the class. Their eloquent presentations brought a tangible dimension to our writing, allowing us to truly visualize the shimmering scales and fiery breath of our dragons.

This week’s English lessons have been a testament to the students’ creativity and their ability to weave magic with words. We are incredibly proud of their imaginative journeys!

Mrs Warnes writes…

This week, 4W showcased their blossoming writing talents by composing their own non-chronological reports on animals of their choosing. Armed with fact sheets and a success criteria, the results were nothing short of remarkable! I witnessed confident, motivated, and inspired writers who seamlessly applied the skills they practised last week.

Among the impressive contributions, Torin’s introduction captured my attention with the captivating hook: “Brace yourself to jump into a world of danger,” while Adam intrigued us all with the opening line: “In the ocean, there are many mysterious animals.” Isabella rounded off her report beautifully with a  rhetorical question: “What other amazing animal will we write about next?”

4W then began exploring the enchanting book ‘Tell Me a Dragon’ by Jackie Morris. On Thursday, the class engaged in a delightful activity creating new kennings—an expressive compound noun used in place of a simple noun, reflecting the poetic heritage of the Old Norse and Old English, which slotted in perfectly with our history topic on Vikings.

In Geography, Sienna shone by demonstrating her understanding of human geography and identifying examples on a map. As we continued our science topic on ‘Sound’, we experimented with volume and investigated which materials serve best as sound insulators.

Mrs Toniolo writes…

This week in 5T, excitement has been in the air as we continue preparing for our showcase. From learning choreography to perfecting our songs, we have been focusing on bringing the right energy to every performance. A highlight was presenting our song ‘Touch the Sky’ to the rest of year 5. This taught us just how important it is to stay enthusiastic and engaged throughout, and we can’t wait to bring that same energy to the stage next week!  

We were also captivated by Hridhaan’s news about astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returning to Earth after spending nine months on the International Space Station. This sparked some great questions about space exploration and the challenges astronauts face while living in orbit.

Adding to an already inspiring week, 5A’s assembly on risk-taking delivered a powerful message about stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing challenges, leaving us feeling motivated and ready to tackle new opportunities with confidence.  

Well done to Louis for his bronze medal at the Watford Festival of Speech & Drama! And well done to Jasmine, Nico and Aahil, who performed ‘Hakuna Matata’ during Friday’s assembly!

As we look ahead, the excitement for our showcase continues to grow, and we can’t wait to bring all our hard work to life in front of our families and friends!

Mr Russell writes…

The children of 5R have had an extremely busy week, but have been engaged, and full of enthusiasm. Here are some of the highlights:

5R was well-represented in our school’s victorious Netball team at the Orley Farm tournament this week. Adam and Ayomipo played vital roles, and we are especially thrilled that Ayomipo received the MVP award. Well done!

While the boys’ matches were off this week, they enjoyed an alternative sports session focused on athletics. They competed in various events, showcasing their athleticism and competitive spirit. A special mention to Cooper, who achieved the highest score in the long jump with an impressive distance of 3m 15cm! Well done, Cooper!

Our Topic Tuesday delved into the fascinating story of St. Patrick’s Day, exploring the rich traditions associated with this celebration. Naturally, we followed this with our weekly, highly competitive quiz. This week, the Cardiff Dragons table reigned supreme! 

We have enjoyed some wonderful assemblies this week. 5A’s assembly on risk-taking was thought-provoking, and Mr. Stanley’s message on the importance of being committed rather than just involved was truly inspiring. We also had a sneak peek at some of the Year 5 Showcase songs and skits from the other Year 5 forms, which has certainly increased our excitement.

We were also very happy to perform our “Be our guest” number to the rest of the year group. The children delivered the performance with great enthusiasm. We are all looking forward to performing our Showcase for you all next week!

Thank you for another great week, 5R! Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Allen writes…

This week, I hand over to some of the 5A pupils themselves to tell you about the highlights of their week at Edge Grove! 

Aarin: I love the school week! The things we do in this school are so fun. In English, we have been learning about the book Kensuke’s Kingdom. We are learning about how America bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Oh how devastating it is, to hear about 200,000 people dying. “We would never, never, ever let history repeat itself.” said Mark Zuckerburg which is good. Day in and Day out we learn incredible things. I love Edge Grove; and you should too!!!

Aman: I enjoyed leading my weekly book club because we get to listen and read a story in the cosy library.

Amber: The netball tournament we did on Wednesday, because I got a medal for being the MVP (most valuable player) out of my team! Something I have improved on this week is my shooting in netball.

Garv: My highlight of this brilliant week was probably learning about the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing on Thursday. This was in an English lesson, and related to chapter 8 of Kensuke’s Kingdom. I’ve improved on my confidence in drumming for the spring ensemble during a drum lesson with Mr Hester.

Lyra: The highlight of this week was when, in Science, we went out to have a look around the school for bugs, birds and animals. I enjoyed looking around the school, having an outdoor lesson and being outside with my friends.

I enjoyed learning about how to calculate angles in math too, I found it really inspiring! I have definitely improved on my angle calculations too!  

Jack: My highlight of the week is when 5A stood up at the front of the middle department assembly and presented it all about risk-taking. We had to also make a risk there about stage fright and control are-self speaking about the story’s and risk you’ve done before.

English

Mrs Broadis’ English group has impressed this week with the quality of their imaginative writing. In our novel, the character of Kensuke shares his belief that his family died in the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. We learned more about this event through comprehension work, and then our imaginative writing described the devastation in the aftermath of the atomic explosion. After creating a vocabulary bank and discussing the impact of words, pupils used a menu of guiding ideas for sentence construction and created some moving and impressive pieces. You can see examples from Louis, Aman, Josh O and Cooper below.

Year 6 Trip to the Lincolnsfield Centre

Our Year 6 pupils visited the Lincolnsfield Centre earlier this week to enhance their World War 2 learning. The Centre is located at Bushey Hall heritage site and utilises its twelve original WW2 buildings to stage historical events within the grounds. The visit transported us 1939 England, providing an exciting, hands-on experience, enabling pupils to live an Evacuee’s life.

MFL

As last week it was Science week, the MFL department decided to spend a few lessons on topics that could be linked to the scientific world. In French pupils learnt new weather vocabulary. In Spanish, Year 6 to Year 8 explored some expressions linked to healthy diet and healthy living. They all enjoyed working on a little project and a presentation to share what they eat and what they do to have ‘una vida sana’. Have a look at some of their wonderful Spanish slides!

Linguistic Olympiad 2025 Results

You may remember that back in mid February, all Ignite (Academic) pupils took part in the Linguistic Olympiad 2025. Annually, thousands of children across the UK take on this paper, which challenges them to ‘code break’ three unfamiliar languages.

This year the languages featured in this year’s UKLO ‘Breakthrough Paper’ were:

• Devanagari – An ancient script which is the backbone of languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, and Marathi
• Fur – Spoken mainly in western Sudan and adjacent parts of Chad, this language has nearly 800,000 native speakers
• Saisiyat – A language spoken by a small group of Taiwanese indigenous people. It is a Formosan language of the Austronesian family and has approximately 4,750 speakers

Pupils worked in small teams in the Library to decipher these unknown scripts, showcasing astounding collaboration and teamwork. The Ignite Cubs and Fellows have done fantastically well and I have summarised their results below:

Pupils who achieved the Gold Award at Breakthrough Level were then invited to take on the next challenge: the Foundation Level. This paper tested their linguistic and problem-solving skills, requiring them to decipher Icelandic and Armenian. Designed for Year 9 pupils, it was no small feat—yet every participant rose to the occasion, with even our Year 4 pupils earning the Bronze Award!

I couldn’t be prouder of each and every pupil who took part. If your child participated but hasn’t yet collected their certificate, please encourage them to join our Thursday after-school club, where I’d love to celebrate their success!

Miss O’Sullivan
Ignite Coordinator

This has been another amazing week of outstanding opportunities for our pupils “outside” the classroom across all co-curricular subjects. The children have been taking part in a range of sporting opportunities ranging from netball and cricket to house competitions in table tennis and badminton. 

It was fabulous to hear how well our netballers are doing outside of school with a number of girls playing for the Mavericks Netball Club which trains here on a Monday and Friday night. The girls played in a netball festival on Sunday and did particularly well with both Tilly and Eva being awarded with player of the match medals. Well done to all who took part.

In cricket, Lucy in Year 5 has been leading the way with some great performances. On Sunday she played for the OA’s U13 cricket team in an indoor tournament and was awarded Player of the match in her first game for her all round performance – tight bowling, scoring good runs and great fielding. A fabulous achievement considering she was playing with and against Year 8 girls. Congratulations Lucy!

Our pupils have continued to excel in the Watford Speech and Drama Festival and we look forward to the Spring Concert this afternoon and the Year 5 Showcase next week.

Year 6 went on a history trip to the Lincolnsfield Centre yesterday and had a wonderful trip. They were extremely well behaved and were a great advert for our wonderful school. We have a number of trips coming up with Nursery going to Aldenham Country Park for a farm visit on Monday, Year 4 having the “School of Noise” science workshop in school on Tuesday and Year 5 visiting the Science Museum at the end of the term. These are all great trips which add to and enhance our children’s learning.

Mr McManus
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)

Sport Update

A Week Full of Action and Sunshine!

It’s been another action-packed week in the sports department here at Edge Grove, with the sun finally making an appearance and giving us all the much-needed vitamin D. The week kicked off with our U11A Netball team participating in a fantastic tournament alongside 15 other teams. Though the sunshine stayed away for most of the day, the girls shone on the court, playing brilliantly as a team and battling some tough opponents.

On Tuesday, we saw the Year 5 boys competing in their inter-house Badminton and Table Tennis events. All teams displayed outstanding sportsmanship, and we can’t wait to reveal the results soon.

Wednesday was a whirlwind of sports action, with our U10A and U10B Netball teams both dominating their pools at the Orley Farm Netball Tournament. Meanwhile, the U12/U13 Table Tennis team faced off against St. Martins, and a range of alternative sports events took place at Edge Grove, offering something for everyone.

Thursday brought another sunny afternoon, and it was time for the U8 and U9 girls to take on the inter-house Badminton and Table Tennis events. The U9 girls were fantastic mentors, demonstrating their skills to the U8s and helping teach them the ropes. The boys also enjoyed a variety of sports activities, ensuring plenty of action across the board.

As we head into the weekend, we hope you all get a chance to rest and recharge. We look forward to another exciting and busy week of sports when we return on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend, and see you all next week!

ABRSM

This week we held our final ABRSM exam session of the year.  Nineteen pupils undertook exams ranging from initial levels right through to Grade 4.  The pupils represented the school excellently and we’re very pleased with their results.  Well done all!

Spring Concert

Our re-arranged Spring Concert is taking place this afternoon in the Apthorp Hall (probably as this is being sent out!).  The pupils have been rehearsing in their ensembles for weeks and tonight we get to celebrate the culmination of all that practice!  We have a range of groups performing including our choirs, Wind Band, Rock Band, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and possibly a couple of extra numbers not on the programme!  It’s promising to be a wonderful concert and I hope many of you will be there.

Year 5 Showcase

With just under a week to go Year 5 showcase rehearsals are in full swing. We had a fantastic teaser performance of Hakuna Matata in assembly today. See you in the Theatre next Thursday at 18:00 for An Evening of Disney! 

Fun in the Sun

With Spring finally here, Mr Evans took one of his Year 4 classes out onto The Paddock for an impromptu Steel Pan Band performance, having learned Feeling Hot Hot Hot by The Merrymen within 30 minutes!  Get those sunglasses on! You can view the video on the Edge Grove Instagram page.

Friday 14th March

U10/U11 Belmont Football skills and Festival

On Friday, a group of Year 5 and 6 girls took part in an exciting football skills and match session at Belmont. The day began with a skill-building session, led by expert coaches from Tottenham Hotspur and the England FA, giving the girls the chance to refine their techniques and learn from top professionals.

After a well-earned lunch, the girls headed into their matches, where they showed impressive teamwork and determination. Despite competing against schools with more football experience, the team played brilliantly and secured 3rd place in the competition — a fantastic result! The girls’ effort and enthusiasm throughout the day were truly commendable.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and the girls are already looking forward to returning for the festival next year. Well done to all involved!

Monday 17th March

U11A Netball Tournament at Beechwood Park

The U11A netball team gave it their all at the Beechwood Park Netball Tournament, but despite their hard work, they struggled to find their rhythm on the day. A special mention goes to Sienna, whose constant encouragement and support for her teammates was invaluable throughout all the matches.

Unfortunately, an injury to Tilly left the team with only one substitute, but the girls showed great resilience and kept their heads held high. While the results didn’t go their way, their determination and team spirit were truly commendable. It was a tough tournament, but the effort and attitude from the entire team were undeniable.

Wednesday 19th March

U10A Netball Tournament at Orley Farm

Overall winners of the A team competition

Edge Grove 5 – 0 Northwood College
Edge Grove 1 – 0 Orley Farm
Edge Grove 0 – 4 Notting Hill and Ealing School
Edge Grove 2 – 1 St Benedict’s
Edge Grove 2 – 1 Highgate

The sun was shining and the girls were ready for a busy afternoon of netball. We got off to a flying start with some beautiful attacking play, and equally brilliant defensive play. Aria S managed to score 3 goals, whilst Ayomipo scored 2.

Our second game proved a bit tougher, with Orley Farm challenging the girls more, and keeping them on their toes. Both teams had a few shots on goal, however a lovely goal from Lucy gave the girls their 2nd win. 

The girls were challenged more in their game against NHES, with some brilliant play both attacking and defending, but the sun seemed to have got the better of the girls losing the game 4-0.

After a quick water break the girls were determined to succeed, and this was seen through brilliant team work and resilience from all the girls. Edith and Ayomipo were both successful in scoring in this match.

Our 5th consecutive match started with some excellent play from both teams, however Highgate took the lead. The girls did not give up, and fought hard, and supported and encouraged each other so well. They played the ball so well, allowing Aria S to score 2 goals, giving the girls a much deserved win.

The girls finished 1st place in the A teams tournament with Ayomipo being named the Most Valuable Player for her outstanding performance in the tournament. Excellent all round effort from each of the girls, allowing them to finish the netball season on a high!

U10B Netball Tournament at Orley Farm

Overall winners of the B team pool

The U10B netball team had an action-packed afternoon, starting with a tough 0-1 loss to Lyonsdown. However, after a positive team talk, the girls bounced back in style, securing a hard-fought 3-2 win against St Helens. Their momentum continued, as they triumphed 2-0 over Orley Farm, which saw them advance to the finals.

In a nail-biting rematch against St Helens, the team held their nerve and won 1-0, securing their place at the top of the pool. The final game saw them draw 3-3 against NHES, but their earlier victories ensured they were crowned overall winners of their pool.

The girls played with great team spirit throughout the day, and Tippi was named the Most Valuable Player for her outstanding performance. It was a fantastic final game to cap off a brilliant season for the U10B team!

U10C Netball Match Report
Coach: Mrs Stanley
Scores:

• Game 1: 1–2
• Game 2: 4–1
• Game 3: 1–1
• Game 4: 4–0

Match Summary:
The U10C netball team showed fantastic spirit and determination across four well-contested games. There was a noticeable improvement in their teamwork and positioning, with each player making a valuable contribution to the team’s performance.

Jemima demonstrated excellent defensive skills, making several key interceptions and helping to slow down the opposition’s attacks. Olivia, as captain, managed her role with maturity and clear communication, supporting her teammates both on and off the court. Amber was a standout performer, scoring an impressive eight goals throughout the tournament. Her accuracy and composure in the shooting circle earned her the title of Most Valuable Player. Airya played with great energy and scored two well-taken goals, contributing confidently to the team’s attacking play. Adam showed real progress in applying pressure and improving his marking throughout the tournament.

The team has started working much better together, showing improved awareness of space and making good use of passing lanes. Their ability to spread out and look for gaps has become a real strength in their gameplay.

However, they could benefit from showing a little more urgency and determination when going for the ball. Shooting accuracy  will also help to ensure more opportunities are converted into goals.

Overall, it was a brilliant effort from all involved. The team should be very proud of how far they’ve come this term – well done, U10C!

Year 7 & 8  Table Tennis v St Martin’s 

Edge Grove 53 – 34 St Martins

Edge Grove hosted St Martin’s for an exciting and highly competitive afternoon of senior table tennis. The event featured a series of fast-paced, high-quality matches, with both schools displaying excellent skill, sportsmanship, and determination throughout.

Edge Grove came away with a fantastic overall victory, winning by a final score of 53–34. The atmosphere was electric, with players pushing themselves and showing real resilience in each match.

There were several standout performances on the day:

• Kaelen and Arav led the team superbly with an impressive 8 wins each
• Isaac and Robert both contributed strongly with 5 wins apiece
• Matt, Tomisin, Eashan, Tio, Max, and Matt all secured 4 wins each, showcasing the depth of talent across the squad

It was a brilliant afternoon of table tennis, with all players demonstrating the true Edge Grove spirit—competitive, respectful, and determined to succeed. 

A huge well done to all involved!

Years 3 & 4 Boys – Fun Sports Afternoon Report

On Thursday, the Years 3 and 4 boys enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of sport and skill-building as part of our Fun Sports Afternoon at Edge Grove. The boys rotated through three exciting and slightly less traditional sports: Ultimate Frisbee, Baseball, and Golf—spending approximately 30 minutes on each activity.

Each station was designed to introduce the boys to new techniques and strategies in a fun, inclusive, and active environment. Whether it was learning how to throw and catch a frisbee with accuracy, practising batting and fielding in baseball, or mastering the art of chipping and putting in golf, the boys threw themselves into the afternoon with energy, enthusiasm, and a healthy dose of competition!

To round off the day, the final 30 minutes allowed the boys to choose their favourite activity to return to, or take part in a game of partner cricket, adding an extra layer of fun and freedom to the event. This element of choice was particularly popular, with many boys excited to revisit a new-found favourite or challenge themselves further.

The afternoon was a great success, filled with smiles, teamwork, and plenty of opportunities to develop sporting skills in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. It was wonderful to see so many of the boys trying new sports for the first time and thriving in the process.

We look forward to running more afternoons like this in the future as we continue to broaden the children’s exposure to a diverse range of sporting experiences.

Year 7 & 8 Afternoon Sports Report – Baseball on the Pigsty

While some of our Year 7 & 8 students were away competing in table tennis fixtures, the rest of the year group enjoyed an absolutely brilliant afternoon of baseball on the Pigsty. For many, it was their first time playing the sport, but you wouldn’t have known it – the enthusiasm, athleticism, and adaptability on display were exceptional.

The children showed how quickly they could pick up the nuances of this fast-paced and tactical game, with huge progress made across the board as the afternoon unfolded.

Sienna stood out with her powerful hitting and blistering pace around the bases, proving to be a huge asset to her team. Blake channelled his Texan roots with a polished all-round performance, impressing both in the field and at the plate. Ayaan was dynamic and fearless, making several diving stops to prevent the opposition from scoring. Orly showed tremendous athleticism and determination, striking the ball well and sliding her way between bases with great awareness.

Keavy once again demonstrated her remarkable versatility across multiple sports – her consistency with the bat and speed in the field were real highlights. Harry B showed impressive athleticism and, just as importantly, great sportsmanship throughout the afternoon.

Rabbi showed real leadership to his team, working hard to improve and contributing with several key plays during the match. Joseph was electric – whether pitching, fielding, or batting, he maintained a high level of consistency and energy throughout. Daniel hit the ball with real power, scoring multiple runs with huge hits into the open field.

Aiden showed his athletic flair by taking some outstanding catches and smashing big shots around the park. Harry K was excellent with the bat, consistently sending the ball into the outfield and helping his team rack up the runs.

Samuel was a rock in the field – lightning quick to block the ball’s path and return it to the pitcher with pinpoint speed, effecting several crucial outs. He also batted with consistency and control. Bolu contributed some strong fielding and delivered several important hits that boosted his team’s chances.

Imeth impressed with his lightning pace around the bases and clever positioning in the field, often predicting where the opposition would hit. Zach put in a brilliant all-round performance, playing a pivotal role in both batting and fielding.

Thomas was steady and reliable throughout, both with the bat and in the field, while Ben was a standout pitcher who also made some big swings at the plate. Matt combined power and speed brilliantly, contributing heavily to a thrilling match.

A special mention goes to Mr Bissix, who showcased his wide-ranging sporting talents with some explosive home run hitting, sharp fielding, and accurate pitching. His energy and encouragement lifted everyone’s spirits and added even more enthusiasm to an already buzzing afternoon.

Well done to everyone involved – it was a truly fantastic session full of fun, progress, and sporting brilliance!

Year 3 & 4 Girls – Sports Afternoon Report

On Thursday, the Year 3 and 4 girls took part in a brilliant afternoon of sport and skill development, enjoying a mix of fun, competition, and teamwork.

The afternoon began with House Table Tennis and Badminton, where the girls showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. For some, it was their first time playing these sports, and it was fantastic to see how quickly they picked up new techniques and embraced the challenge. There were plenty of rallies, laughter, and even a few impressive winning shots!

Following the racquet sports, the girls moved on to a series of Netball training sessions, led by Miss Evans and Mrs Emms. These sessions focused on developing core skills such as passing, movement, positioning, and defensive play, with an emphasis on working together as a team. The girls displayed excellent effort and a growing understanding of the game, making the most of every opportunity to improve.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, filled with positivity, encouragement, and progress. A big well done to all the girls for their enthusiasm and attitude throughout the sessions.

Hi-de-hi!

Not much to report this week on the Houses front… we can all breathe!  I will, however, update you on upcoming events and celebrations occurring in the near future.

On the last Wednesday of term, we have a fantastic Italian lunch in the boardroom for the three pupils with the top House Points in each House.  I (Mr Evans) will oversee the lunch, serenading the children with my best Pavarotti impression, regaling them with the story of when three Mini Coopers drove through the centre of Turin, and identifying different types of pasta through just the power of smell.  I wonder if I can crack a glass with my voice… 

I will of course be announcing the House with the most House Points this term in the final assembly on Friday 4th April.  I was considering just dropping the results to the pupils on the Tuesday of the last week, but I’ve been rightly informed that that would be foolish.

Finally, it all kicks off next term!  Initially I’ll be slightly side-tracked by High School Musical, but once that spectacular showcase of our musical and dramatic talents is out of the way, we have the Swimming Gala, Junior and Middle/Senior Sports Days and many other events on the horizon!  And the weather is getting better too (don’t look at the forecast for the weekend…)

Until next week.

Mr Evans
Edge Grove’s Tallest Man
Director of Music
Head of Houses

I was delighted to share in assembly this morning the news that our World Book Day Sale raised over £2000!! This will be spent on new things to read in our libraries and lessons.

The book sales at Edge Grove, where your children can buy quality books at discounted prices, help to raise funds to support reading across the curriculum at Edge Grove.  This year alone money raised has funded new furniture for the Apthorp nonfiction collection, new storage cabinets in the main library, new Titanic texts in Year 3, and a range of new picture books for the Junior Department and Nursery.

The first thing on our list to buy with newly-raised funds is a set of YOTO minis, so that children in Reception can independently listen to stories. Audio books are fantastic in developing children’s imaginations – whatever their age. Children can listen to books far beyond the scope of their own reading ability, and in doing so, learn new vocabulary, strengthen their understanding of syntax and build their bank of imaginative ideas.

Today I asked children what they would like to read about. I am looking forward to being a fairy godmother – thanks to your support – and making their wishes come true! 

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

PANGBOURNE COLLEGE

We are only a few weeks away from our Open Morning on Saturday 26 April, and we would be delighted to invite any parents from your school who are interested in finding out more about Pangbourne College. 

The Open Morning will include a welcome talk from the Head, and a guided tour of the College, led by our Sixth Form students. The tour is an opportunity to see our stunning 230 acre campus and visit the many subject departments, who will have a range of exciting activities taking place throughout the morning.

Registration for the event can be made via our website pangbourne.com/visit

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). 

This week on 20th March, we celebrate UN International Day of Happiness. The day recognises the importance and relevance of happiness as a goal and it also seeks to encourage equitable economic growth that promotes the wellbeing of all peoples.

So much of what we do as adults in the lives of children is aimed at promoting their happiness, but we also know it isn’t always easy to achieve or sustain.

Happiness is linked to cognitive flexibility, which is a learned skill. Tooled Up has a number of resources to help you to support your child’s wellbeing and emotional literacy so that they can reflect and work on their own happiness.

A great place to start for children of all ages is for them to consider the different aspects of their wellbeing. Our Happiness Checklist activity will help them identify the positives and any gaps where things could be better.

For teenagers, My Wellbeing Journal provides a tool to encourage reflection on experiences and achievements in order to build resilience. Completed over a two-week period, the activity helps children to develop and maintain a positive mindset and improve wellbeing.

The A-Z of Tooled Up Tips for Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing showcases 26 evidence based key tips. The resource includes links to a host of webinars, podcasts and activities available on the Tooled Up platform to help in everyday family life.

Tooled Up Webinars

Tooled Up Education warmly invites you to register for their upcoming April 2025 webinar on the topic of Allergies:

April 4, 2025, 13:00 -13:30 GMT

Join us for a live Q&A with Professor Adam Fox, an expert in Paediatric allergies. Adam will be with us for 30 minutes to answer any questions you have on allergies including what allergic reactions look like and how to respond. He will also cover the key things you need to know about allergens, and much more.