News from
the Pre-Prep
Autumn Term 2025
In literacy, the boys have been diving into letters and sounds, beginning to read and write their own names. They have also been matching initial sounds to pictures and experimenting with simple word building. We shared the beautiful story ‘Only One You’ by Linda Kranz, which celebrates individuality and the idea that everyone is special in their own way. Inspired by the story, the children decorated their own unique fish using felt tips, each one a colourful reflection of their personality. This week also included a celebration of families. The boys drew lovely pictures of the people who live in their homes, sharing stories and connections. Looking ahead to ‘International Dot Day’, we read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and discovered how creativity can begin with just a single mark. The boys were inspired to make their own expressive dots and explore their artistic side. In mathematics, we have been building confidence in counting, ordering, and number recognition through a mix of hands-on activities and structured tasks.
What a busy week it has been in Year 1! We are so proud of the boys’ hard work as they begin to settle into their new classroom routines. Their kindness, enthusiasm and eagerness to learn have impressed us every day. This week we met another very busy character—The Little Red Hen. The boys learned the story through actions, sequenced its main events, and practised writing sentences with capital letters and full stops. In Maths, they explored numbers by representing them with objects, counting on from a given number and finding one more. Science offered a chance to investigate the five senses—taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell. The boys discussed how our senses are used to help us explore the world around us. In Art, the boys experimented with a variety of chalk techniques, including blending, hatching and pointillism.
We have had a brilliant first full week in Year 2 with the boys embracing the many new challenges and responsibilities. In Topic, they discussed the characteristics of various dinosaurs with the boys playing a matching game in small groups. They then researched their own facts which they wrote in an outline of their chosen dinosaur. In English, they started the week by looking at questions marks with the boys looking at a variety of pictures and thinking up interesting questions. In keeping with the topic, they read ‘Dear Dinosau’r, which focuses on a little boy Max, writing letters to a T-rex at his local museum. The boys then had a go at planning and writing their own letter to their favourite dinosaur. In maths, the focus has been on place value and writing numbers to 100. The boys have had the opportunity to make the numbers using dienes, drawing and writing the numbers. In Science, they discussed ‘Is it alive?’ with the boys identifying if things were alive, once alive or never alive. Finally, we had tremendous fun in Art with the boys learning about Pointellism and then creating their own dinosaur using this technique. A great end to a brilliant week – well done Year 2!
Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Mrs Battersby, Head of Pre-Prep
Star Boys
| REW: George Hoy & Nathan Jans | RW: Kaveer Mehta & Xander Sutherland |
| 1E: Niam Patel & Yahya Umair | 1T: Edison Berry & Theo Walker |
| 2JP: Philippe Cayirgan & Buddie Goldsmith | 2LC: Robin Babber & Louis Coyle |
House Appointments
| Cook House Captain: Noah Duncan Vice-Captain: Jacob Middleton | Drake House Captain: Arthur Hale Vice-Captain: Henry Freudmann |
| Scott House Captain: Isaac Windsor Vice-Captain: Theo Shell | Shackleton House Captain: Louis Lyons Vice-Captain: Henry Hoy |
It has been a busy and creative week in Year 1, full of learning and discovery! This week, Year 1 have been fully engaged with the Talk for Writing approach in English. The boys orally learned a story using a picture text map and accompanying actions. They then worked together to create a class story: 1T imagined a busy farmer, while 1B followed the adventures of a busy bee! Using their text maps, the boys confidently wrote their own versions of the 5-sentence story. In Maths, the children focused on number and place value by counting backwards, finding one less, and comparing groups using the vocabulary fewer, same, and more. During Art, they experimented with different techniques, this time using oil pastels. They learned about blending, stippling and even scraffito. In Topic, the boys continued learning about our local area and explored the parts of an address by learning Davenies’ address.
In Year 2 ‘The Gigantosaurus’ exploded onto the scene this week much to the boy’s delight! We enthusiastically read the story and then acted it out using a text map. The boys have relished the opportunity to use a thesaurus to look up more interesting words for the volcano; characters from the story and the dinosaur skeleton. They also encountered their first comprehension exercise on ‘The Boy who cried Wolf’ which shared many parallels with the Gigantosaurus story. In Maths, they have continued with our learning on Place Value with the boys focusing on partitioning, writing numbers in expanded form along with estimation, writing on the number line and comparing objects. In Science, the boys went on a walk around school looking plants, trees and animals to see is around within the school grounds. In Art, the boys enjoyed drawing a number of different dinosaurs before choosing one to paint in watercolour. We had lots of lovely, brightly coloured dinosaurs! Well done boys!
Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Mrs Battersby, Head of Pre-Prep
Star Boys
| REW: Dylan Borkhataria and Henry Lawrence | RW: Louie Shell & George Verzilli |
| 1E: Anirudh Kotecha & Tight Rochford | 1T: Karam Sagoo and Sammie Kataria |
| 2JP: Arjan Rai & Harman Singh | 2LC: Yuvan Goyal & Johan Pandher |
It has been another busy week in Year 1, full of creativity and discovery! The boys stepped into character as the Little Red Hen, writing first-person letters to the animals in the story, explaining why they needed help to bake bread. Together, they created a class text and used actions to retell their letter, building confidence and excitement for their own writing. In Maths, the boys strengthened their understanding of place value by ordering numbers, exploring number lines, and even using the greater than, less than, and equal to symbols to compare values. Science brought a sensory adventure as the boys put their taste buds to the test—identifying foods that were sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.
What a busy week it has been in Year 2! The boys eagerly discussed where the dinosaurs lived and what they ate, culminating in them completing a worksheet on matching each dinosaur to its habitat. In English, they have enjoyed making changes to the story of Gigantosaurus and innovating their own ideas as a group. They continued to hone their comprehension skills with a tricky piece on Dinosaurs. In maths, they continued with Place Value, ending the week on the 2’s. 5’s and 10 times tables. The boys greatly enjoyed listening to Percy Parker teach them their times tables! In Science, the boys keenly discussed world habitats looking in detail at different areas of the world such as the Polar Region and the Tropical Region. The boys further expanded their creative skills with a silhouette piece on Dinosaurs with the boys thinking very carefully about the shapes they wanted to create.
Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Mrs Battersby, Head of Pre-Prep
Star Boys
| REW: Saahib Bahra & Arthur Short | RW: Knox Clare & Aarav Grewal |
| 1E: Oliver Blacker & Ilay Hegner Velarde | 1T: Luke Atkinson & George Keen |
| 2JP: Noah Duncan & Fraser Kirkpatrick | 2LC: Noah Clare & Theo Shell |
| Kindness Cup: Nicolai Olsson | |
Following on from their fantastic trip to Rushall Farm last Friday, Year 1 boys have been busy writing detailed recounts of their day, carefully using time conjunctions to order their sentences. In English, they continued to dive deeper into The Little Red Hen. The boys took on the challenge of writing apology letters to the Hen, explaining why they did not help her and how they could make amends. Inspired by the structure of the original tale, they then innovated their own versions of the story. Using a text map and accompanying actions, the boys enthusiastically retold the story before using their maps to guide them in writing their very own narratives. In Maths, they began exploring addition and subtraction. The boys were introduced to the part-whole model and used it to confidently write number sentences, building a strong foundation for their number work. Art brought an explosion of colour and excitement this week! The boys carried out a colour run experiment with water, tissue and food colouring, learning how primary colours can be mixed to create new ones. They applied this knowledge when creating colourful ladybirds, mixing paints to make green, purple, and orange. In Science, the boys headed outdoors to investigate the school surroundings using their senses of sight and touch. They thought carefully about the descriptive vocabulary they could use to explain the different textures and observations they encountered.
Year 2 boys have enjoyed another busy week! In Topic, they explored the fascinating job of palaeontology and discussed the process of fossilisation, which the boys greatly enjoyed. In English, they have been inventing our own versions of The Gigantosaurus with stories ranging from the deserts to jungles! The boys worked hard with their text maps, putting lots of thought into the descriptions. In Maths, they too moved on to Addition and Subtraction. In Science, they have looked at minibeast habitats and have been comparing the different habitats minibeasts could live in. In Art, the boys finished their dinosaur silhouettes, and they are looking fabulous on display in the classroom. The highlight of the week will of course be their trip to Hertfordshire Zoo where the boys, will I am sure, have a wonderful time.
This week in assembly we looked briefly at the life of Mary Seacole as part of our theme of Black History Month before discussing with the boys the importance of tolerance and how whilst we may look different to each other we are all the same and treat each other with kindness and respect.
We hope you have a lovely weekend
Mrs Battersby, Head of Pre-Prep
Star Boys
| REW: Oliver Budge & Mikaeel Hussain | RW: Henry Halton & Kai Stevens |
| 1E: Jacob Mills & Xavier Scrimgeour | 1T: Sky Antonio & Archie Rubel |
| 2JP: Jack McGee & Louis Mileham Robin | 2LC: Rohan Nijhar & Arlo Riches |
| Kindness Cup: Theo Shell | |
Year One’s week began with a wonderful surprise! They walked into their classrooms to discover elves and shoes! The mysterious visitors had left behind the story The Elves and the Shoemaker, which has been the focus in English. The boys have learned the story off by heart using a text map and actions, designed and labelled their own shoes, explored new vocabulary and even stepped into character through hot seating to explore how the elves and shoemaker might be feeling. In Maths, the boys have been busy using tens frames, counters, and Numicon to explore number bonds within 10. They have worked hard to write number sentences using the add and equals symbols. In Art, they built on their colour mixing skills by learning how to change a colour’s shade by adding white or black. The boys created wonderful ice cream artworks in all sorts of colourful shades — they looked good enough to eat! During Topic, they discussed how everyone travels to school and gathered class data using tally charts. Then, in Computing, the boys used their findings to create bright and clear pictograms on Purple Mash.
Year Two have had another fabulously busy week. In Topic, the focus moved to Herbivores, omnivores and carnivores with the boys investigating how their diet effected the teeth a dinosaur would have, which sparked lots of lively discussion. In English, they looked at building sentences and ensuring that the right components were there. We then went on to focus on punctuation with the boys identifying where to use exclamation marks; question marks and full stops. In Maths, they have continued learning about addition and subtraction, in particular looking at number bonds to 100. In Science, the boys learnt about food chains and looked closely at the different food chains in a variety of habitats. During Art, they created their own dinosaur skeletons using either paper straws or white paint pens. After lots of practice, the results were very good. Finally, the boys have eagerly worked hard at learning their harvest songs in preparation for our Harvest Festival, which they are very excited about. They are showing a lot of enthusiasm for learning their lines.
This week in Pre-Prep Assembly and linking in with our theme of Positive Interactions, I spoke to the boys about the importance of kind words and set them the challenge of saying at least one kind thing to each other every single day! I will be checking in with them to see how it is going. The importance of this cannot be underestimated because as the author R. E. Goodrich says “Of all the magic words in existence, words of kindness create the greatest transformation spells.”
I hope you all have a great weekend
Star Boys
| REW: Xavier Arentz and Kian Khullar | RW: Leo Robb and Josh Whitbread |
| 1E: Finley Clark & Rory Honeyben | 1T: Eden Irani-Storey & Hudson O’Mara |
| 2JP: Ethan Clark & Austin Howarth-Hough | 2LC: Arthur Hale & Jacob Middleton |
| Kindness Cup: Tighe Rochford | |
What a fantastic week Year 1 have had! Inspired by The Elves and the Shoemaker, the boys have been busy creating their own imaginative class stories as a class by making changes to the original story. From tie makers to toy makers, they used their story text maps to write exciting new tales, full of creativity and brilliant ideas. In Maths, our young mathematicians have been exploring addition in greater depth. Using counters and part-whole models, they havve tackled multi-step word problems and even started to uncover missing parts. In Topic, the boys learned about map symbols and the points of a compass—North, South, East and West. Meanwhile, in Art, the boys followed step-by-step guides to draw animals, focusing on shapes and proportions. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as their drawings came to life!
Another busy week in Year 2! In English, they looked at the art of Instruction writing. The boys started by listening to instructions and then they had to tell a robot how to draw a house or flower which ended with mixed results! They soon learnt the necessity for short, sharp instruction using bossy verbs when writing their instructions of how to make a sandwich. In Maths, they have continued learning about addition and subtraction, in particular looking at number bonds to 100, adding to 10 and across 10 which is a tricky concept. In Science, we started the new topic ‘Healthy Me’ and the boys discussed what we need to be healthy and happy. Finally, they discussed the topic of extinction with the boys and discussed various theories of how the dinosaurs met their end. It was a fascinating discussion with the boys keen to share their knowledge of the subject. The boys have eagerly worked hard at learning their harvest songs in preparation for Monday that they are very excited about.
In Pre-Prep assembly, we spoke about what a community is and the importance of helping out. As such, the boys have been challenged to do something in the school community whether that be helping another boy on with his coat, tidying up at the end of break or ensuring their table or classroom is tidy at the end of the day. We will see how we get on and hopefully the boys will come to realise that ‘helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person’
I hope you have a lovely weekend
Star Boys
| REW: Ravi Aggarwal & Leo Edwards | RW: Freddie Marshall & Dylan Ramos Hudson |
| 1E: Luca Kidd & Leo Quinn | 1T: Noah Boon & Teddy Tonkyn |
| 2JP: Luca Prothon & Raheem Osman | 2LC: Fox Baber & Louie Lyons |
| Kindness Cup: Kian Khullar | |
In English, Year 1 staff very much enjoyed reading all the exciting things the children got up to over the half term. It sounds like they had a wonderful week of adventure. This week, the boys have been reading ‘Mr Gumpy’s Outing’. They have been busy sequencing the story, defining verbs and using them in sentences. In Maths, our little mathematicians have been subtracting. The boys have used tens frames, part-part whole models and number lines to support their understanding of taking away. Using number lines, the boys are becoming confident jumping back and writing number sentences, being careful to use the correct symbols! In Topic, they have been introduced to ‘the wider world’, where they read a story called The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse. The boys developed an understanding of the similarities and differences between the countryside and towns, using a Venn Diagram. In Art, the boys amazed us with their Remembrance paintings. They used red and yellow paint to make a sunset and used black card to cut out hills, a cross and a soldier- putting their fine motor skills into practise. Their creations make for a lovely addition to our Remembrance displays.
Year 2 have had a fabulous week! They have been looking at the poem, ‘The Marrog’, with the boys initially drawing what they think it would look like and later in the week creating their own alien and used wonderful adjectives to describe it. In Maths, they have continued to work on honing their addition and subtraction skills both crossing and not crossing 10 which is a tricky concept to master. They did lots of practical work with this to aid consolidation. They have also focused on adding and subtracting in 10’s which the boys have enjoyed. In Topic, they excitedly started their new topic of ‘Space’ learning about the planets and moons and learning a little about how astronauts live in space. In Science, the boys learnt about how to stay healthy and how exercise helps with this. Finally, we have thought about the importance of Remembrance and produced some lovely artwork to accompany this theme.
In assembly this week, we discussed what bullying is and how we want all in our school to feel happy and safe. The boys were reminded of the importance of our Davenies Code with emphasis on ‘Be Kind’ as if we follow this then all will most certainly enjoy their time in school.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Sarvan Sehajpal & Dillon Wells | RW: Nicholas Hovelian Zeitler & Julian Lowden |
| 1B: Spencer Edwards & Parker Phillips | 1T: Elliot Delaney Pal and Rian Sakaria |
| 2JP: Miles Cooney-Brinkworth & Vivaan Mehta | 2LC: Harjaap Bhatia & Garbriel Hussain |
| Kindness Cup: Jack McGee | |
Year 1 have had yet another fantastic week. In English they have been reading ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. To learn the story, the children acted it out in small groups on the Bottom Dell. The boys confidently retold the story in their own words and showed off their fabulous acting skills! They also explored vocabulary, defined words from the story and even learned some synonyms. This half term, there is a heavy focus on handwriting and staff would appreciate it if you could encourage your son to practise their best handwriting when completing homework. During maths, they started their new topic, shape. The boys have been revising 2D shapes and learning the properties of 3D shapes, such as cubes, cuboids, prisms, pyramids, cylinders and spheres. We used feely bags and mathematical language to guess what shape we felt. In Topic, they continue to learn about the Wider World. This week, involved finding out where the United Kingdom was located on a world map and the four countries that it consists of, before looking at St. George’s, St.Patrick’s and St.Andrew’s cross and their contribution the Union Jack. In case you are wondering Wales is not represented on the flag as it was designed when Wales was part of England! As a proud Welsh woman you can imagine my feelings on this!
Year 2 have had a fabulous week filled with excitement as we have started our Nativity! The boys have been eagerly reading through their parts, ready to take their lines home to learn over the weekend! We have been showing them how to inject expression and drama into their character. Alongside this, they have been introduced the story of The Way Back Home with the boys thinking about adjectives they could add to the story to make it more interesting. They have learnt the Text Map and worked in pairs to sequence the pictures and recount the story. In Maths, they have continued to work on honing our addition and subtraction skills both crossing and not crossing 10 numbers and completed lots of practical work to help the boys consolidate. In Topic, they learnt about and compared the Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle and identified the differences between them. In Art, they enjoyed starting their Starry Night piece inspired by Vincent van Gogh. In Science, the boys turned their attention to coughs and sneezes, making their own poster to remind the Pre-Prep boys to wash their hands and to remind them why it is important. Valuable information I am sure you will agree.
I was particularly proud of the Pre-Prep boys this week during our Remembrance Day Service. Always a solemn occasion the boys came together to reflect and remember those who have given their lives so we can live ours and behaved impeccably. There are some lovely Remembrance displays up around the Pre-Prep too so well done boys.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Rufus Coldham & Arthur Short | RW: Hamish Garnier & Kaveer Mehta |
| 1B: Beau Duncan & George McCully | 1T: Aditya Arjan & Zach Leyland |
| 2JP: Henry Freudman & Isaac Windsor | 2LC: Oren Dhillon & Joshua Marshal |
| Kindness Cup: Jack Biddulph | |
Year 1 boys enthusiastically rewrote the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff this week. They used their story map to retell the story in their own words, changing the animals that crossed the bridge, tricking the awful troll! The boys worked hard to make sure their stories made sense and challenged themselves to use adjectives to add description. In maths, they have been consolidating their knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes. In Science, the boys ventured out on an Autumn walk. They made a list of objects they thought they might see, such as conkers, pinecones, colourful leaves and frost. The boys then completed a checklist of the observations they made. In Topic, they have continued to expand their understanding of maps. They used a compass to explain what oceans surround the United Kingdom and labelled maps to show the different bodies of water. An extremely busy week but we are proud of the boys and their achievements. It’s wonderful to see their perseverance as we start to approach the end of our first term in Year 1.
Year 2 have had another fabulous week with the Nativity really starting to take shape thanks for the hard work from the boys. They are all working hard getting to know their lines and saying them with expression which is excellent at this early stage. In Maths, they have continued to consolidate the tricky topic of addition and subtraction both crossing and not crossing ten as well. In English, we have continued with the work on The Way Back Home with the classes inventing their own text map. They also looked at the importance of punctuation within their work. Science cause much excitement with the egg drop experiment; the boys had lots of fun creating their own safety helmet to protect their egg from cracking. Finally, in Art, the boys had fun learning about Van Gogh and continued their own version of a Starry night. Well done boys!
The cold snap and the snow on Wednesday morning certainly caused some excitement amongst the boys and it was lovely to see the awe and wonder on their faces even if I was a little cold on the gate! On this note and with the weather becoming more wintery please can I ask that you ensure that all boys have their thick winter coat in school.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Saahib Bahra & Dylan Borkhataria | RW: Aarav Grewel & George Verzilli |
| 1B: Reece Summan & Theo Walker | 1T: Jack Biddulph & Theo Sakaria |
| 2JP: Henry Hoy & Nicolai Olsson | 2LC: Owen Byers & Cameron Rush |
| Kindness Cup: Kaveer Mehta | |
Reception have had a wonderfully busy week as the Christmas spirit continues to grow with festive crafts and Nativity rehearsals. In literacy, they enjoyed the classic tale Stick Man by Julia Donaldson. The boys explored his many adventures, chose their favourite, and wrote words and sentences to describe the action using their growing knowledge of letters and sounds. This story inspired creative opportunities across the curriculum, including discussions about feelings—what makes us happy and how we can make others happy. The story also linked to mathematical concepts, such as the passing of time and seasonal changes. The boys sequenced season trees, discussed observations of change, and practised ordering the days of the week. They also explored size, sorting objects by comparison and using appropriate mathematical vocabulary. In art, inspired by the colder weather, the boys painted beautiful watercolour Winter trees, capturing the seasonal feel.
Year 1 have been busy learning their new class text, Prince Cinders. The boys used their inference skills to think about the main characters and story line, comparing it to a story they may have read before! The boys used their drama skills to act out the story, to gain a secure understanding of the text, before looking at the vocabulary in the story to identify the meaning of unfamiliar words. In maths, they have started our new topic of Place Value. The boys have been looking at numbers to twenty in greater depth. They are gaining a better understanding of two-digit numbers, focusing on the tens and ones columns and recognising the number pattern. They have also been applying their phonic knowledge to maths this week looking at numbers in their written forms and matching pictorials, numerals and written numbers to develop a deeper understanding of numbers to twenty. They had a very exciting Science lesson looking at wind. The boys made their own windsocks, using cards and strips of tissue paper, to observe the direction and the speed of wind. They did of course have a wonderful time taking their creations outside to test how windy it was! During Topic, they continued to explore the United Kingdom, specifically England, investigating the largest river and naming famous landmarks in London.
Year 2 have enjoyed a packed week as we busily prepare for our wonderful Nativity next week. The boys have worked hard to remember their lines; song words and stage directions and the Year 2 team are very proud of them. Away from rehearsals, they have been introduced to the topic of Shape and thoroughly enjoyed the activities. In English, Winter has been the theme and the boys watched The Snowman. They had fun working together, sequencing the story along with writing it up in their books. Along with this, they have focused on parts of speech with the boys learning about expanded noun phrases as well as using verbs effectively. In Topic, the boys learnt about the Moon Landing and had fun learning about the Apollo 11 mission in more detail. In Art, they have enjoyed some Christmas art along with adding the finishing touches to their Starry Night paintings. In Science, the boys discussed the importance of looking after our teeth and instigated an experiment looking at tooth enamel and the dangers of different liquids such as orange juice, milk, cola and water. They are eagerly anticipating the results next week!
Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Jaiden Chah & George Hoy | RW: Freddie Marshall & Kai Stevens |
| 1B: Evan Lewis & George Welbur | 1T: Joey Edgar & Zachary Evans |
| 2JP: Noah Duncan & Jack McGee | 2LC: Louie Lyons &Joshua Marshall |
| Kindness Cup: Fraser Kirkpatrick | |
There have been many highlights in Year 1 this week. The boys have been working independently to retell the story of Prince Cinders focusing on writing cohesively, using text maps to support their writing. They have also been exploring common and proper nouns. They identified them in different pieces of text and tried hard to remember their capital letters for proper nouns during their independent writing. In maths, the boys have been focusing on 11, 12, 13 and 14. They have been identifying the tens and ones columns and using resources to represent these numbers in different ways. The boys are still working on reading these numbers in words, and matching the numerals to the written words. In Topic, the focus was continents and oceans. Using their prior knowledge, the boys correctly remembered the seven continents and located them on a world map, with the support of an Atlas. They then identified the oceans surrounding the different continents. Keeping in line with the festivities, the boys have been busy making Christmas cards in Art. They are all very proud of their creations and are excited to share them with you next week!
Year 2 have been absolutely brilliant this week, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts throughout the nativity. Despite the last-minute rehearsals, we still managed to fit in plenty of learning. In English, the boys independently retold ‘The Snowman’ using their text maps. In Maths, we wrapped up our Shape topic, which the boys thoroughly enjoyed. During Topic, we explored the phases of the Moon, and the boys created their own moon wheels to use at home when identifying each phase. Finally, in Science, the boys were fascinated to observe what happened to our eggs in different liquids and did a fantastic job writing up their findings.
As I write this, we still have a Nativity performance to go but I could not be prouder of how well the boys have done thus far. From our Reception angels, through our Year 1 shepherds to the Year 2 actors they have all done amazingly well and I hope you have very much enjoyed being part of the celebration. We also hope the boys enjoy a restful weekend after such a busy week of performances. Well done, boys!
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Nathan Jans & Henry Lawrence | RW: Louie Shell & Xander Sutherland |
| 1B: Spencer Edwards & Noah Iqbal | 1T: Leo Bignell &Max Emtage |
| 2JP: Robin Babber & Harman Singh | 2LC: Noah Clare and Theo Shell |
| Kindness Cup: Johan Pandher | |
Lent Term 2026
This week in English, Year 1 have been reading the story ‘Winter Sleep’. The boys have been using their inference skills to deepen their understanding of the story and using conjunctions to expand their sentences. They have also been writing setting descriptions and using fantastic adjectives to describe a winter scene. Alongside all of this, the boys have been exploring animals that hibernate during the winter season and improving their skills of ‘note-taking’ when reading non-fiction texts. In maths, they have been consolidating their knowledge of place value and using number lines to find one more and one less than a number to twenty. This term, there is a heavy focus on reasoning and explaining ‘how you know’. The boys have also been given opportunities to ‘teach’ their friends during independent learning and using ‘children talk’ to explain to their friends how they got their answers. In History, they have started the topic of Castles and Knights. The boys have been looking at different castles through history, noticing similarities and differences. They then went on to label parts of a castle, developing their vocabulary using words like: moat, drawbridge, turrets, battlements, portcullis, bailey, keep and barbican. With the new topic of Materials in Science, they have been investigating the everyday materials we see around and their properties and in Art the boys created some gorgeous polar bears!
Year 2 have been enthused with our new topic on Egyptians and had fun labelling Egypt as well as investigating the importance of the River Nile. In Maths, they have been looking at money with the boys consolidating their knowledge of coins and notes, along with making small amounts, comparing different sums, as well as visiting a toy shop online to purchase goods using the correct coins and notes. In English, they have started to look at the work of Roald Dahl and have great fun discussing and describing the different characters. They have looked at synonyms and antonyms using the characters of Mr Twit and Miss Honey, as well as introducing the prefix ‘un.’ In Science, we continued with our topic of Materials. The boys completed an experiment that looked at the properties of materials, discovering whether you could stretch, pull, or push them and what happens after. In Art, the boys took their time and collaged their own Pharaoh self-portrait.
I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Oliver Budge & Henry Lawrence | RW: Henry Halton & Dylan Ramos Hudson |
| 1B: Noah Iqbal & George Welburn | 1T: Sky Antonio & Joey Edgar |
| 2JP: Louis Coyle & Raheem Osman | 2LC: Oren Dhillon & Aiden Patel |
| Kindness Cup: Noah Clare | |
2JP got the class assemblies off to a fantastic start this term with a wonderfully engaging presentation all about Scotland. The boys confidently shared a plethora of fascinating facts, showcased some superb Highland cow artwork, and delighted everyone with a lively song about the legendary ‘Nessie’. The assembly also featured beautifully recited poetry by Robert Burns, with the boys explaining who he was and how he is still remembered and celebrated today, especially with Burns Night approaching. It was a joyful and informative way to begin a Thursday morning. Huge congratulations to all of the boys in 2JP for their enthusiasm and presentation.
In Year 1 English, the boys explored non‑chronological reports, identifying key features and using Talk for Writing to read about hibernation. They organised their own reports into paragraphs and included “Did You Know?” facts, showing great pride in their independent writing. In maths, the boys deepened their understanding of addition within 20 using number lines and pictorial representations. In science, they investigated different materials and their properties, learning new vocabulary such as transparent, opaque, flexible, rigid, waterproof, and absorbent. Topic lessons focused on castles through history, with the boys creating timelines, while in art they designed castle pictures using 2D shapes inspired by Paul Klee. The boys are looking forward to painting their creations next week.
It has been another busy and exciting week in Year 2. In English, the boys began the week by developing their comprehension skills through an extract from The Twits, before moving on to learning about coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. In Topic, the boys thoroughly enjoyed an engaging afternoon exploring the different Egyptian gods. They fully embraced the subject, which was clearly reflected in the high quality of work they produced. In Mathematics, work on money continued with the introduction of giving change. While this proved challenging, the boys showed great determination and perseverance as they tackled the new concept. In Science, the boys investigated the properties of materials, discussing why everyday objects are made from specific materials. They then enjoyed designing their own objects using a ‘silly’ material and explaining why their creations would not work — encouraging plenty of creativity, thoughtful reasoning and lively discussion.
I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Xavier Arentz & Michael Hussain | RW: Knox Clare & Julian Lowden |
| 1B: Finley Clark & Anirudh Kotecha | 1T: Jack Biddulph & Sammie Kataria |
| 2JP: Miles Cooney-Brinkworth & Vivaan Mehta | 2LC: Buddie Goldsmith and Rohan Nijhar |
| Kindness Cup: Louis Mileham-Robin | |
In English, Year 1 continued reading Winter Sleep and used story maps to create and write their own versions of the story, changing the setting to spring. They worked hard to include time openers and accurate punctuation, particularly commas for lists of adjectives. In mathematics, the focus remained on addition and subtraction within 20. The boys revisited doubles, explored near doubles and began subtracting using ten frames to support their understanding, explaining their reasoning clearly. In computing, they used MashCam to take and edit photographs, transforming themselves into kings and printing their finished work. Science lessons involved a practical investigation into waterproof materials, where the boys made predictions, tested materials fairly and drew conclusions about the best material to repair a broken umbrella. In art, the boys continued developing their castle drawings using straight lines and are looking forward to painting them next week in preparation for the art display.
Year 2 have had another busy and engaging week. In English, the boys thoroughly enjoyed studying Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, learning about sensory adjectives and inventing their own imaginative rooms for Mr Wonka’s factory. They finished the week by writing their own chapter, using expanded noun phrases and conjunctions. In mathematics, the boys were introduced to multiplication and division, focusing on recognising and creating equal groups. Topic lessons proved both fascinating and memorable as the boys learned about the process of mummification, sequencing the stages and labelling canopic jars. In science, they carried out investigations to test which materials are waterproof, while in art they produced fantastic drawings of Roald Dahl characters inspired by Quentin Blake.
I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Leo Edwards & Kian Khullar | RW: Nicholas Hovelian Zeitler & Josh Whitbread |
| 1B: George McCully & Leo Quinn | 1T: Zach LeyLand & Rian Sarkaria |
| 2JP: Fraser Kirkpatrick & Louis Mileham-Robin | 2LC: Fox Baber & Gabriel Hussain |
| Kindness Cup: George Verzilli | |
Year 1 also enjoyed another exciting week. In English, the boys were introduced to The Last Wolf, an alternative version of Little Red Riding Hood. They compared different versions using a Venn diagram and explored what they might need for an adventure to find a wolf, including describing what the wolf might look like. In maths, the boys worked on related facts using bar models, tens frames and part-part-whole models, carefully ensuring both sides of a number sentence were equal. Topic lessons were full of fun as the boys learned about pages, squires and knights before putting their knowledge to the test in a lively jousting activity. Whether kings, knights or spectators, everyone had a brilliant time. In computing, the boys began their coding topic, using arrow keys to navigate a maze. In art, they painted the castles they had made last week in preparation for the art display. Science lessons saw the boys grouping materials in different ways, such as absorbent and waterproof, opaque and transparent, and flexible and rigid.
Year 2 enjoyed a lively week exploring The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl. The boys discussed what they liked about the story, explored rich language such as adjectives and expanded noun phrases, and particularly enjoyed role‑playing the crocodile’s tricks. They also learned about thought bubbles and similes to enhance their writing. In Maths, the focus remained on multiplication, with the boys creating an imaginative “Array City” to showcase their strong understanding of arrays. In Topic, they learned about Howard Carter and his discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, writing diary entries from his perspective. The week ended with Science, where the boys explored the properties of wax and created their own wax‑resist artwork.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Ravi Aggarwal & Dillon Wells | RW: Hamish Garnier & Leo Robb |
| 1B: Finley Clark & Tighe Rochford | 1T: Max Emtage & Theo Walker |
| 2JP: Austin Howarth Hough & Luca Prothon | 2LC: Arthur Hale & Theo Shell |
| Kindness Cup: Buddie Goldsmith | |
Year 1 have reached another half term, and staff are delighted with the boys’ progress so far. In English, they continued using The Last Wolf to inspire their writing, revisiting synonyms and expanding their vocabulary with thesauruses. They then applied this to their descriptions of Little Red and wrote facts about endangered animals. In maths, they began working on place value within 20–50, using base ten and tens frames to identify tens and ones, while also practising clear number formation. In Topic, the boys learned about a knight’s armour and labelled its different parts. In PSHE, they explored emotions and added new strategies to their personal ‘toolkits’ for managing feelings such as frustration, nerves and worry.
Two highlights for year 2 this week were Egyptian Day and the ‘Let Me Show You’ morning. The boys enjoyed guiding their parents around the classroom and Pre‑Prep displays, proudly sharing their work. Egyptian Day brought an array of creative costumes worn by both pupils and staff. Activities included decorating sarcophagus boxes, crafting clay scarab beetles, making flatbreads and creating mummified cats. In maths, the boys continued developing their understanding of multiplication and division through arrays, dividing by two, doubling, halving and recognising odd and even numbers. In English, they revisited The Enormous Crocodile and worked together to create new versions with different characters, tricks and endings. In science, they explored materials around the school and discussed their different uses.
I hope you all have a wonderful half term and I look forward to welcoming the boys back to school on Monday 23rd February
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Dylan Borkhataria & Sarvy Sehajpal | RW: Freddie Marshall & Kai Stevens |
| 1B: Arjun Brar & Vinny Doodstar | 1T: Zachary Evans &Teddy Tonkyn |
| 2JP: Henry Hoy and Nicolai Olsson | 2LC: Louie Lyons and Arlo Riches |
| Kindness Cup: Noah Boon | |
In English, Year 1 has been revising key Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar topics, including prepositions, high‑frequency words, verbs, nouns and capital letters. They also began their new story, Rapunzel, starting with questions they would ask her—before being surprised by her visit to Davenies, brilliantly brought to life by Mrs Bradfield. In Maths, the boys have been working on place value to 50, identifying missing numbers on number lines, counting in tens and partitioning two‑digit numbers. They particularly enjoyed using practical resources to deepen their understanding of tens and ones. On Tuesday, they took part in an exciting Castles and Knights workshop, learning fascinating historical facts, taking part in sword‑fighting demonstrations, using catapults and even witnessing a cannon explosion – amazing! In Science, they continued exploring the properties of materials.
Year 2 began the week by diving into their new topic, The Great Fire of London, which they found thoroughly engaging. They compared London past and present, discussing how the city has changed since the fire. In Art, the boys enjoyed designing period‑style houses for a new classroom display. In Maths, they continued consolidating the 2, 5 and 10 times tables, alongside the related division facts. In English, the focus turned to non‑chronological reports, with the boys identifying key features, retrieving information and transforming facts into full sentences. In Science, they began their new topic on Plants, starting with the question: What is inside a seed?
Have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Rufus Coldham and Nathan Jans | RW: Kaveer Mehta & George Verzilli |
| 1B: Parker Phillips & Theo Ward | 1T: Aditya Arjan & Archie Rubel |
| 2JP: Henry Freudmann & Isaac Windsor | 2LC: Harjaap Bhatia & Noah Clare |
| Kindness Cup: Harman Singh | |
In English, Year 1 continued reading an alternative version of Rapunzel and wrote diary entries imagining life in the tower and the excitement of escape. They also began planning how they would defeat the wicked witch. In maths, the boys started their topic on height and length, using vocabulary such as longer, shorter and taller, and comparing objects— including themselves! In art, they designed photo frames to display their Computing portraits of themselves as kings. In History, they learned about the weapons knights used to defend castles, including bows and arrows, swords, maces, lances and axes. World Book Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm. The boys arrived in fantastic costumes, enjoyed reading activities, decorated their classroom doors with a fairy‑tale theme, and were delighted to welcome Year 5 pupils for shared reading.
Year 2 demonstrated a strong understanding of non‑chronological reports by creating their own about a ‘Peculiar Pet.’ They planned carefully, selected sub‑headings and wrote independently using the features they had studied. World Book Day brought another array of brilliant costumes. In maths, the boys continued their work on length and height, measuring objects around the classroom with metre sticks. In Science, they investigated what plants need to grow by planting cress seeds in different conditions, and in Art they enjoyed creating and painting clay thumb pots. A super week of learning—well done, boys!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I leave you with one of my favourite quotes about reading from Dr Suess “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!”
Have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: George Hoy & Arthur Short | RW: Aarav Grewal & Louie Shell |
| 1B: Beau Duncan and Xavi Scrimgeour | 1T: Leo Bignell and Hudson O’Mara |
| 2JP: Ethan Clarke & Jack McGee | 2LC: Owen Byers & Philippe Cayirgan |
| Kindness Cup: Arthur Short | |
Year 1 enjoyed another lively and productive week. In English, they began their new story The Egg, concentrating on descriptive writing and using rich adjectives to bring both the dragon and its unusual setting to life. Their growing independence is shining through, and it is a joy to read their imaginative ideas. In maths, the boys moved on to the topic of Volume and Mass, exploring weight, estimating capacity, and investigating which containers hold the most water. They used scales to balance classroom objects and estimated how many cubes would be needed to achieve equilibrium. In art, the boys worked hard on their Mother’s Day cards, which they were very proud to share. Topic lessons took them inside the walls of a castle as they learned about the many jobs people once carried out there. Science Week brought an exciting and explosive assembly, which sparked plenty of curiosity and enthusiasm. In phonics, the boys continued consolidating Set 3 sounds, including additional sounds and alternative spellings. Daily reading at home continues to make a noticeable difference to their progress.
In Year 2, English lessons centred on rhyme, with the boys crafting their own rhyming couplets inspired by Julia Donaldson. Their creativity and humour shone through in every line. In maths, they concluded their work on Length and Height by applying the four operations to real‑life measurement problems. Topic proved to be a highlight of the week as the boys enjoyed a memorable Great Fire of London day. With the help of the History Man, they explored maps, houses, clothing, and weapons from 1666, and even had the chance to act as firefighters, using pumps and cloth buckets to “extinguish” a fire. In science, they checked on their cress plants, updated their plant diaries, and compared how plants grow in different environments. Alongside all this, preparations for the much‑anticipated Mother’s Day Tea were in full swing, and excitement has been building throughout the week.
This afternoon’s annual Mother’s Day Tea was a wonderful celebration. The boys sang beautifully, and it was lovely to see so many of you enjoying the occasion together. A warm thank‑you goes to all staff who helped the event run so smoothly, and especially to Mrs Peers for sourcing the music and guiding the boys to pitch‑perfect performances. Wishing all our mums a very happy Mothering Sunday filled with well‑deserved treats.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Xavier Arentz & Henry Lawrence | RW: Xander Sutherland & Josh Whitbread |
| 1B: Oliver Blacker & Niam Patel | 1T: Karam Sagoo & Theo Sakaria |
| 2JP: Arlo Brown & Harman Singh | 2LC: Joshua Marshall & Cameron Rus |
| Kindness Cup: Owen Byers | |
In English, Year 1 have been writing their own alternative stories inspired by The Egg. Using Talk for Writing techniques, the boys walked through the story to help them use rich vocabulary and varied sentence structures. They used their plans from last week to organise their ideas, and the final pieces are impressive. In maths, the boys continued to develop their understanding of mass, using scales and cubes to compare objects and explore vocabulary such as heavier, lighter, and the same as. In History, they learned about castle banquets and the foods enjoyed by Kings and Queens before designing their own historically accurate menus. In Science, the boys explored how to care for animals and the important role of veterinarians, identifying which animals might visit the vet and why.
This week, Year 2 boys continued their focus on rhyming in English. They thoroughly enjoyed acting out Julia Donaldson’s poem One, Two, Three Blow and showed great creativity in their discussions. They went on to write their own rhyming stanzas, of which they were rightly proud. The week ended with acrostic poems, where the boys used alliteration to great effect. In maths, they explored the concepts of mass and capacity, beginning to distinguish between volume and capacity and using comparative language with growing confidence. In Science, they learned about the life cycle of plants and reflected on the growth of their own cress. In Topic, they had great fun recounting last week’s visit from the History Man and sharing their favourite moments.
Wishing all families a lovely weekend and I look forward to welcoming the boys back on Monday for the final week of the Lent Term—time has certainly flown!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Leo Edwards and Kian Khullar | RW: Knox Clare & Hamish Garnier |
| 1B: Spencer Edwards & Jacob Mills | 1T: Luke Atkinson & Elliott Delaney-Pal |
| 2JP: Robin Babber & Noah Duncan | 2LC: Yuvan Goyal & Johan Pandher |
| Kindness Cup: Luca Kidd | |
Summer Term 2026
In Year 1, the boys have been enjoying Kenning Poems in English, writing creatively about themselves and animals. They also took part in the Davenies Big Write, inspired by the mysterious post box, using Dear Zoo to support letter writing. In Maths, the focus has been multiplication and division, including counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, creating arrays and doubling. Science lessons have introduced animal groups, while the new topic, Toys, compares those played with today to toys from the past.
Year 2 have begun their final Pre‑Prep term with energy and positivity. Their new topic, The Sea, has seen them identify oceans and bodies of water around the UK, as well as explore ocean zones and marine life. As part of the whole‑school writing challenge, the boys learned about Sir David Attenborough ahead of his 100th birthday, culminating in letters written to him as a young man, celebrating his future achievements. In Maths, they have started fractions, focusing on halves and quarters, while Science lessons explored the importance of bees and designing bee‑friendly gardens.
It has been a wonderful start to the term across Pre‑Prep, with plenty more to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Saahib Bahra & George Hoy | RW: Aarav Grewal & Nicholas Hovelian Zeitler |
| 1B: Noah Iqbal & Reece Summan | 1T: Edison Berry & George Keen |
| 2JP: Louis Coyle & Henry Freudmann | 2LC: Buddie Goldsmith & Gabriel Hussain |
| Kindness Cup: Freddie Marshall | |
In Year 1, ‘Big Write’ letters were completed, with the boys growing increasingly confident in using actions and widgets to support their writing. The new class text, Beegu, was introduced, with comprehension work helping them to deepen their understanding of the story. In Mathematics, the boys completed their work on multiplication and division and have begun learning about fractions, focusing on halves and quarters. Science lessons explored animal diets, identifying carnivores, herbivores and omnivores, while Computing sessions developed coding skills using Purple Mash.
Year 2 have enjoyed another busy and engaging week. In English, the boys completed their letters to David Attenborough and explored a range of folk and fairy tales, comparing the two genres. Mathematics lessons continued with fractions, focusing on both unit and non‑unit fractions. In Science, they investigated minibeasts, learning about predators, pollinators and decomposers and how they fit into food chains. In Art, the boys learned about the artist Ted Harrison and began their own orca artwork. In Topic, they explored the water cycle and learned the meanings of evaporation, condensation, accumulation and precipitation.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Ollie Budge and Mikaeel Hussain | RW: Dylan Ramos Hudson & Louie Shell |
| 1B: Evan Lewis & Parker Phillips | 1T: Noah Boon & Eden Irani-Storey |
| 2JP: Miles Cooney-Brinkworth & Raheem Osman | 2LC: Louie Lyons & Rohan Nijha |
| Kindness Cup: Arthur Hale | |
Year 1 has enjoyed another busy and productive week. In English, the boys explored the story Beegu, creating and describing their own alien characters before writing diary entries recounting Beegu’s first day on Earth, including her feelings and experiences of kindness. In Maths, they began their work on fractions, focusing on recognising and finding halves and quarters. Art lessons saw the boys continue creating their unique puppets, while in Topic, they explored old and new toys, organising them into categories. In Science, they examined animal diets and how these relate to habitats, and PSHE lessons reinforced their understanding of British values.
Year 2 has also had a full and engaging week. Their classrooms have been brightened with impressive sea-themed artwork, as the boys completed their striking orca pieces inspired by Ted Harrison. In Maths, they continued studying fractions and revising key concepts. In English, they adapted the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, creating their own versions while also learning about comparatives, speech marks and varied vocabulary. In Topic, the boys explored the issue of pollution, designing informative posters to raise awareness about the challenges facing our oceans. In Science, they thoroughly enjoyed creating bug hotels, which they look forward to using at home.
I hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to welcoming the boys back on Monday for what will be the final week of this half term – where has the time gone!
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Arthur Short &Dillon Wells | RW: Leo Robb and George Verzilli |
| 1B: Ilay Hegner Velarde: & Anirudh Kotecha | 1T: Sammy Kataria & Teddy Tonkyn |
| 2JP: Vivaan Mehta & Luca Prothon | 2LC: Fox Baber and Aiden Patel |
| Kindness Cup: Leo Quinn | |
Year 1 have continued to impress with their enthusiasm and positive attitudes to learning. Following their successful trip to Science Oxford, where they represented the school exceptionally well, the boys have been working hard across the curriculum. In Maths, they have been developing their understanding of fractions, particularly quarters, using practical resources. In English, they continued their work on Beegu, writing diary entries from her perspective using structured plans and time openers. Topic lessons focused on the history of toys, including the evolution of the teddy bear, while in Science the boys explored animal groups and classification.
As the half term draws to a close, Year 2 have been completing their Sea topic. They learned about Grace Darling and her heroic rescue in 1838, leading to discussions about the work of the RNLI and water safety. The boys created informative posters promoting staying safe by the sea. In Maths, they finished their work on fractions and revised key concepts from across the year. In English, they completed their own adaptations of the Goldilocks story, incorporating accurate use of direct speech. In Art, they explored the work of Henri Matisse, creating colourful underwater scenes inspired by his style. In Science, they investigated the important role of worms in maintaining healthy soil.
I wish all families a relaxing and enjoyable half term break and looks forward to welcoming the boys back on Monday 1st June for a busy and exciting final stretch of the academic year.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Ravi Aggarwal and Sarvan Sehajpal | RW: Julian Lowden & Kaveer Mehta |
| 1B: Spencer Edwards & Reece Summan | 1T: Sky Antonio & Theo Sakaria |
| 2JP: Fraser Kirkpatrick & Louis Mileham-Robin | 2LC: Arthur Hale & Cameron Rush |
| Kindness Cup: Henry Freudmann | |
Year 1 pupils have also been busy, particularly in English, where they have been learning about similes through the story Tiddler. They applied descriptive language to ocean scenes and created ‘missing’ posters for the main character. In maths, the boys began a new unit on position and direction, confidently using language such as half turn, quarter turn and full turn, as well as positional vocabulary. In art, they created special cards for an upcoming occasion, while in computing they practised keyboard skills, learning correct hand positioning and typing both lowercase and capital letters. Bee Day was a particular highlight, with creative costumes, engaging activities and the chance to meet a beekeeper, reinforcing the importance of caring for the environment.
Year 2 returned refreshed and ready for their final term in Pre-Prep. In maths, they began learning about time, tackling concepts such as o’clock, half past and quarter past/to with great determination. In English, they explored stories from other cultures, including We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, We’re Going on a Lion Hunt, Handa’s Surprise and Handa’s Hen. They enjoyed comparing, sequencing and retelling these stories collaboratively. Their new topic on Tropical Rainforests has sparked great enthusiasm, particularly when identifying locations on a world map. In science, the boys began studying scientists and inventors, learning about Tim Smit and the Eden Project before designing their own mini greenhouses from recycled materials—an impressive display of creativity and ingenuity. Alongside their classroom learning, they have also been enthusiastically rehearsing for the upcoming Year 2 concert on 15th June, as well as preparing for the many exciting events ahead. Well done to all!
We hope you enjoy your weekend and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Dylan Borkhataria & Nathan Jans | RW: Henry Halton & Kai Steven |
| 1B: Xavi Scrimgeour & Leo Quinn | 1T: Aditya Arjan & Archie Rubel |
| 2JP: Austin Howarth-Hough & Henry Hoy | 2LC: : Noah Clare & Theo Shel |
| Kindness Cup: Parker Phillips | |
In Year 1, the boys have been enjoying their new text, ‘How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth’. They have practised sequencing and writing instructions, while also developing their comprehension skills by answering thoughtful questions and making inferences about the story. The boys revisited alliteration, creating sentences with repeated initial sounds. In Maths, learning has progressed to place value within 100, with the boys partitioning numbers into tens and ones using part-part-whole models. They have also been identifying patterns by completing missing numbers on number tracks and 100 squares. In Computing, the boys designed 3D vehicles using the Purple Mash ‘Create and Design’ app, producing nets to construct their models—these will soon be proudly displayed as part of their Transport topic. In Science, the class explored the different parts of a plant, labelling each one and beginning to understand its function.
Year 2 have also had a busy and engaging week. In Maths, the boys have completed their unit on time, learning to read clocks to the hour, past the hour, and in 5-minute intervals. In English, they explored the story of Tiddalik, creating alternative endings and writing their own acrostic poems inspired by the tale. Topic work focused on the layers of the rainforest, where the boys examined the characteristics of each layer and the animals that inhabit them. In Science, they learned about wind power and the history of wind turbines, before creating their own pinwheel windmills. The boys have also been busy rehearsing for their Year 2 concert on Monday and I look forward to seeing you there.
With the weather set to improve, I hope you have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Xavier Arentz & Rufus Coldham | RW: Freddie Marshall & Xander Sutherland |
| 1B: Vinny Doostdar & George Wellburn | 1T: Elliott Delaney-Pal &Theo Walker |
| 2JP: Robin Babber & Isaac Windsor | 2LC: : Owen Byers & Yuvan Goyal |
| Kindness Cup: Luke Atkinson | |
With boys pupils away on residential trips, the school has felt a little quieter this week, but the Pre-Prep boys have made excellent use of the extra space. They have particularly enjoyed having the field to themselves during playtimes, and some were thrilled to visit the Prep School library. This new experience, kindly facilitated by Mrs Prentice, sparked great excitement, and it is hoped it will further inspire the boys’ love of reading.
Reception boys have had a week full of imagination, excitement and growing independence. As part of their “Reach for the Stars” topic, they explored the story How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. The boys impressed everyone with their creative ideas for catching a star, including catapults, rockets, trampolines and even jet packs! In phonics, they are making excellent progress, confidently applying tricky digraphs and trigraphs in their writing. Their enthusiasm for reading and writing continues to flourish. In maths, they have been exploring addition and subtraction through stories, using the “First, Then, Now” structure to build strong understanding. Their space topic has also inspired great curiosity, as they begin learning about the planets and the fascinating environments within our solar system.
Year 1 boys have worked incredibly hard this week. In English, they have continued reading The Woolly Mammoth and have produced some fantastic sentences using alliteration. They have also been developing their use of prepositions and learning how to use commas to separate adjectives—skills they are beginning to apply confidently in their independent writing. In maths, the boys have completed their work on place value within 100 and have shown a strong understanding of two-digit numbers, including tens and ones. They are now enthusiastically exploring money, learning about British coins and notes and applying their knowledge to solve problems. In science, the boys enjoyed exploring the school grounds, identifying parts of plants and appreciating the beautiful work that has gone into maintaining them. Their topic work on transport has also been excellent, with the boys successfully using timelines to understand how transport has changed over time.
Year 2 boys have had an especially memorable week. Their wonderful concert was a real highlight, making both parents and teachers extremely proud. It was a fantastic way to begin the end-of-year celebrations. Their trip to Cotswold Wildlife Park was another standout moment, with the boys showing great enthusiasm and enjoyment throughout. Back in the classroom, they have continued to impress across all subjects. In maths, they have begun their statistics unit, enthusiastically creating tally charts. In English, they continue to explore stories from other cultures, including How the Elephant Got His Trunk. Their creativity shone in art, where they produced truly superb shoebox rainforests, and in topic lessons they have deepened their understanding of rainforest plants and animals. The boys have shown tremendous effort, creativity and pride in their work—well done to all for such an excellent week.
With the weather set to improve, I hope you have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Leo Edwards and Henry Lawrence | RW: Knox Clare & Hamish Garnie |
| 1B: Niam Patel & Theo Ward | 1T: Zachary Evans & Sammie Kataria |
| 2JP: Jack McGee & Nicolai Olsson | 2LC: Joshua Marshall & Arlo Riche |
| Kindness Cup: Archie Rubel | |
In Year 1 English lessons, the boys have been writing non-chronological reports about wombats. They have embraced their roles as researchers, making notes, highlighting key features of non-fiction texts and answering comprehension questions. Their growing knowledge of wombats is impressive and well worth asking about at home. In Mathematics, the boys have concluded their topic on money, confidently recognising coins and notes, counting values, and exploring coin printing to identify similarities and differences. Alongside this the boys have enjoyed a plethora of water based activities in an attempt to keep them cool!
In Year 2 Mathematics, the boys completed their work on Statistics, confidently using tally charts, bar charts and pictograms to record information. In English, they continued exploring stories from other cultures alongside grammar work, before turning their attention to writing their end-of-year assembly, which has generated much excitement. In Topic lessons, they explored products derived from the rainforest, including shampoo, coconut oil, coffee and chocolate, producing excellent work. In Science, the boys learned about the role of a botanist, studied flowers in detail and produced beautiful observational drawings. In Art, they created impressive split-pin monkeys, now proudly displayed in the classroom.
After such a hot and sticky week, we are looking forward to cooler temperatures next week.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Ravi Aggarwal & Saahib Bahra | RW: Louie Shell & Josh Whitbread |
| 1B: Jacob Mills & Tighe Rochford | 1T: Luke Atkinson & Freddie Biddulph |
| 2JP: Ethan Clark & Harman Singh | 2LC: Harjaap Bhatia & Oren Dhillon |
| Kindness Cup: Xavier Arentz | |
Year 1 has begun its new Mathematics topic on time, exploring key vocabulary and revisiting the days of the week and months of the year. In English, the boys continued their wombat-themed learning with Wombat Goes to School, creating imaginative stories about a mischievous wombat visiting Davenies. Their ideas were wonderfully inventive, from digging holes on the Headmaster’s Lawn and taking an unexpected swim in the pool to causing all sorts of mischief around the school! In Science, they made the most of the school grounds, identifying different tree species and applying their observational skills with the support of Mrs Bradfield. It was a fantastic opportunity to apply their observational skills and deepen their understanding of the natural world.
Year 2 has enjoyed a busy and exciting final full week in Pre-Prep as preparations continue for their end-of-year assembly and transition to the Junior School. In English, the boys explored stories from different cultures before writing their own imaginative versions, including How the Camel Got His Humps and How the Hyena Got His Laugh. They completed their final Mathematics topic on Position and Direction, created fact files about inventor Charles Macintosh in Science, and produced thoughtful artwork celebrating their Year 2 memories. A particular highlight was the Grandparents’ “Let Me Show You” afternoon, where the boys proudly shared their Pre-Prep experience with their families.
With only one week of term remaining, there is still much to look forward to as the school year draws to a close. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
Best Wishes
Deborah Battersby
Star Boys
| REW: Kian Khullar & Sarvan Sehajpal | RW: Aarav Grewal & George Verzill |
| 1B: Arjun Brar & Luca Kidd | 1T: Zach Leyland & Hudson O’Mar |
| 2JP: Louis Coyle & Raheem Osman | 2LC: Philippe Cayirgan & Johan Pandher |
| Kindness Cup: Joey Edgar | |
What others say about us…
Not only going from strength to strength but quietly moving from cosy local prep to major contender, especially if you want to keep all senior school options open. One for the list.
The Good Schools Guide
Beaconsfield’s only boys’ day school isn’t content to rest on its laurels – instead, it boasts an all-rounder curriculum, strong community feel and continually improving facilities.
Muddy Stilettos
All the teachers and other staff nurture you in the right way to become a really good person.
Davenies pupil
Davenies has made me think in a positive mindset. Instead of saying I can’t do this, you say to your mind, I can’t do this yet but maybe in a week, or a month I will be able to do it.
Davenies pupil
It has made me more curious.
Davenies pupil
Davenies delve deeper into the understanding of things; so they don’t just answer how something is, they get into the nitty gritty and answer why.
Davenies pupil
