WEEK
STEAM week was a triumph! The children were enthused by their learning and inspired by science. The children were supported throughout the week by visiting scientist Ian Russell. Ian produces interactive science displays for museums and science centres all over the world. The children experienced a fantastic week of activities, not only drawing the subjects together, but bringing the children together too, as they worked collaboratively to create and make exhibits for the Churcher’s College Junior School and Nursery Science Centre, which opened for one afternoon only so that the pupils could share their learning with each other and their parents.
The week started with the children experiencing Ian’s ‘Exploding Custard Show’, and their enthusiasm was infectious! They were enthralled by his demonstrations and at break times Ian entertained the children with gigantic bubble fun!
It was a great week of fun and learning for all the children, and you can read more about what each year group got up to on the following pages!
Nursery
Ready for a picnic.
Farm visit.
Fun in the rain.
Looking after the garden.
Sprinkler fun!
Exploring different emotions with colour.
Time for a swim.
As part of Nursery’s STEAM week, the children looked in awe and wonder at some amazing bubbles in all sorts of colourful shapes and sizes. They even had the chance to stand INSIDE a bubble! They created art using bubbles and learnt how to create square and triangular bubbles.
Mini scientists.
Ball rolling invention.
Making banana loaf.
A summer snack.
Reception
Happy in school!
As part of our RWI phonics program, the children practise their rainbow letter formation and their drawing.
We were talking all about the number 5 and chose to do some hand and foot printing, counting fingers and toes and getting messy!
delicious! Great teamwork and investigation.
Playing number games to support ‘taking turns’ and number awareness, as well as the main purpose, of course, which is to have fun!
Our book of the week 'The Gingerbread Man' gave us the perfect excuse to do some cooking. The classroom smelt
Gardening time for our Dolphins.
WEEK
Reception had a ball during STEAM week. They loved the exploding custard, smoke rings, and gigantic bubbles galore! The colour show, involving primary-coloured lights mixed together to make secondary colours, had the children spellbound! The children then mixed their own colours and made beautiful finger-printing leaves. As a Reception unit, Puffins and Dolphins made a ‘Colour Mix Tree’, using food colouring in water and sucking it up in pipettes to squirt onto cotton pads to mix the colours for the leaves. The magnet activity was magical, and the children spent days exploring and investigating everything magnetic in the classrooms!
Science is fun!
Mr Allen reading to the children.
Music & Drama
Bugsy Malone
There was music, colour, dancing, and razzamatazz on the stage in Year 6’s performance of Bugsy Malone. The year was 1929, and gangster warfare was rife on the streets of New York. Dandy Dan’s hoodlums were terrorising the district, exterminating undesirables with their new weapon – the splurge gun.
This was a fantastic show. Every character added something special to the performance. We were delighted by the fabulous singing and dancing in ‘Fat Sam’s Grand Slam’ and ‘My Name is Tallulah’, we laughed at Fat Sam’s Gang and the goofy Police Officers, and Fizzy and his bar crew sang well in ‘Tomorrow’. The narrators and the reporters navigated the audience through the story, Cagey Joe and Leroy took us all to Sluggers Gym, and Lena and Oscar helped us travel to the Bijoux Theatre.
There were some fabulous performances from Fat Sam, Dandy Dan, and Tallulah, and we enjoyed watching as Bugsy and Blousey finally got their tickets to Hollywood. Ultimately, the highlight of this show was the SPLURGE and we had plenty of that too!
HUGE thanks to Year 6, the pit band, and all staff for their INCREDIBLE effort to put on such an amazing show!
Tea Time Concert
On Monday, 4 November we held our Year 6 Tea Time Concert. Students performed a beautiful range of repertoire from classical pieces, such as 'Clair de Lune', to more 'pop' pieces such as 'Can't Help Falling in Love'. The eclectic mixture of genres extended from jazz to folk music and even featured a wonderful duet between two Year 6 students. A wonderful, uplifting, and informal event!
Meet Noodle!
Meet Noodle, the school dog, who is proving a big hit with everyone! His friendly, calming presence helps the children feel less stressed and more focused during the day. Noodle is the star of Pastoral Art Time, where children from Years 3 upwards can relax and get creative with him by their side, whether they’re painting, drawing, or just chatting. He makes the space feel warm and welcoming. Lunchtimes are also packed with fun, as students love taking him for walks, playing ‘fetch’, and making new friends while caring for him. Noodle brings joy, comfort, and a warm, welcoming vibe to the school.
Year 1 WEEK
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a hugely popular topic. The children had lots of fun re-enacting the story in many ways!
I Want My Hat Back!
We loved reading and exploring ‘I Want My Hat Back’, by Jon Klassen. The children made a new hat for Bear, who had lost his pointy red hat, and then wrote some super sentences to describe it. Whose hat would Bear choose to wear? The children also had lots of fun re-enacting the story and using different character voices for each of the animals.
Marwell Zoo
Year 1 had a fantastic day at Marwell Zoo, which complemented the children’s learning on ‘Animals’. We were given talks by the experts who work at the zoo, as well as finding out information from seeing the animals and reading the signs. The sun shone on the day and so did the children, seen here doing their best flamingo impressions!
Jigsaw Jack
The children have enjoyed getting to know their new friend, Jigsaw Jack, who joins us each week for our PSHE lessons and circle time. The children really love ‘calm me’ time, where we listen carefully to the sound of the chime and practice our long, gentle breaths.
Science
As a part of their learning about ‘Animals, including humans’, Year 1 went on a ‘senses walk’. The children created a sound map – identifying sounds and their locations. They made scent pots and ‘touch’ boxes. Each pupil was given a paint-colour strip – they had to match something that they found in the Sensory Garden with a colour from the chart. Our final exploration was to investigate taste, for which, the children the children very much enjoyed the chocolate they were given to eat!
Year 1’s theme for STEAM week was ‘Rainbows’. We launched the week with a story called ‘How to Catch a Rainbow’, where a girl goes on the hunt for different colours to make her very own rainbow. We decided she needed a little help and set off on a rainbow hunt before writing rainbow poems. In the classroom, the children tried out some of their own rainbow themed experiments. They had fun dissolving skittles, which created beautiful colours and patterns and was wonderful to observe as they slowly merged and changed. They also really enjoyed making their own glasses using colour filters and watching the world around them take on a whole new view.
Football Festival
Year 2 had a fantastic afternoon playing football matches against St. Hilary’s School. The match tea was a perfect ending to the festival!
Baptism
In RE, Year 2 has been learning about Baptism. To wrap up the topic, we held a role-play of the ceremony in the classroom.
Year 2
Out and About
For their geography topic, the children explored maps to locate various places and features in Liphook. They then had the opportunity to see these locations up close during a walk to the town centre.
Hayling Island
As part of their 'Seaside’ topic, Year 2 visited Hayling Island. The children crafted natural sculptures inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, took a train ride, and savoured some delicious ice cream.
WEEK
Year 2 investigated static electricity, exploring the phenomenon through activities such as static electric butterflies and electric fleas. They had great fun finding out which surfaces provided the most amount of charge. When Ian visited the classroom, he was amazed to find out that a table was the most effective surface! He was very impressed with our young scientists.
Year 3
WEEK
We focused on the Cartesian Diver in our STEAM week, which looks at the effect of pressure on a pocket of air in water. All the children enjoyed designing and creating their own divers to experiment with. They have also worked hard in small groups to create some interesting presentations about how the knowledge gained from this experiment can also help them understand the movements of creatures with hydrostatic skeletonsfitting in well with what we have learned about in science this half term.
Looking After Nature
The children engaged in various activities to appreciate and care for nature at The Sustainability Centre. They explored a pond, discovering creatures like blood worms, leeches, frogs, and newts. They learned about the hard work of honey bees and their role in producing honey, searched for fascinating woodland mini-beasts such as leopard slugs, and created natural art using leaves. The day also highlighted the importance of water conservation, with only 3% of the world's water being fresh and usable. These experiences emphasised the value of nature and the need to protect it.
Challenging Themselves!
Year 3 headed to Barfield school to enjoy a day of adventure and challenge at the Three Peaks Activity Centre. With a focus on trying new things and challenging themselves, Year 3 climbed the Leap of Faith tower, learned to shoot a bow, traversed the low ropes course, and drove round on quadbikes. We were really impressed with the bravery and willingness of everyone to step out of their comfort zones, as well as the team work on display in the low ropes challenge.
Rubbish!
3M reminded us all about the benefits to our world of reducing, reusing, and recycling. With plenty of props and a plethora of facts about rubbish, the children did a great job in encouraging us to keep recycling. Well done, 3M!
Bashing leaves and flowers to create Japanese hapazome prints.
Making model arms to see how muscles work in pairs.
Observational art to find out about the delicate parts of a flower.
Year 4’s topic for the week was ‘Robots’, and the children started off with a secret message about the spacebots that had landed in the school grounds over the weekend. The poor little spacebots had been abandoned by their mother ship and needed to be helped to return to their own planet. The first challenge was to make a launch pad for the ship to land on – the children coded a bot so that it drew a route and a target for the spacecraft to land on. Then of course we had to design a camouflage outfit for each spacebot. There was lots of fun here as we added feathers, wings, hats, etc. Finally, we all had to write up our thoughts and produce design boards ready for the Science Centre. Alongside this they had a magnificent session making and launching rockets - adding fins to the basic shape to make it travel as fast as possible through the air.
Information Boards
Children in Year 4 loved working together to make boards for the Science Centre!
Making Clay Pots
At our campfire, we had a fantastic time making and decorating clay pots, using our imaginations to create beautiful designs. It was a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and work together as a team in the lovely outdoors; the excitement of seeing our creations come to life was unforgettable!
Volcanoes
In our Geography lessons, we learned about volcanoes, then we went outside to watch our models explode in the fresh air.
Year 4
Coding Success!
We thought coding was hard before we met our spacebots! We coded them using an iPad and Scratch, and had great fun watching them draw a sign!
Rainforests
To showcase their learning on the topic of ‘Rainforests’, 4M held an informative assembly, featuring a special appearance by national treasure, David Attenborough. The students learned about the diverse tribes that live in the rainforest and created fantastic information boards to showcase their knowledge. Their learning continued with a trip to the Living Rainforest, which transported them straight to the jungle.
Swim Gala
With a record-breaking crowd of supporters, all the children swam with passion and determination through an action-packed morning of 30 nail-biting races. Six girls and six boys qualified for the fastest front crawl race and took to the pool to open the gala in a competitive 25 metres. From the speed and comfort of front crawl, to the challenging timing and buoyancy that breaststroke demands, every child finished their race to win points for their House.
Sport
Athletics at Barfield
In the Summer Term, group of 16 children from Year 6 put their athletics skills into action at a local meet hosted by Barfield School. There were some excellent displays of technique boosted by some serious power and speed. The climax of the afternoon was the highly anticipated relay which really challenged the children in a 4x200m display of grit and determination.
Butser Hill Challenge
With more than 30 runners from the Junior School and seven podium finishes, we really showed our determination, grit, and passion to compete at the gruelling Butser Hill Challenge. The atmosphere was electric, with friends and families on the sidelines cheering everyone home!
Cross Country
Year 3 House champions were Thea and Charlie H, Teddy and Bella, Phoebe B and Teddy, and Tobias and Daisy. The Year 4 competitive races were won by Sophie and Huey. Well done all, and to the winning House – Hamble! Year 5’s fastest runners this year were Olivia C and Fin M, with Lucy and Tom H chasing down the finish line to be victorious in Year 6. Winning place on the Upper School podium went to Meon!
U11 Netball Tournament
This year's netball tournament drew 100 children from across two counties to compete in Stingers Netball matches on a mild autumnal afternoon. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming with parents commenting on the high standards of play, great skills and development of teams through the course of the afternoon. Coupled with the physical skills throughout the afternoon, we saw positive cohesion and collaboration as our children showed independence and resourcefulness.
Year 5 Netball
Children have gone from strength to strength in netball, with their competitive game play and learning in lessons.
learning resources, there were lots of learning opportunities for problem solving, communication, and leadership all wrapped neatly in a bag of fun.
U11 Football Tournament
In October, we hosted our U11 football tournament. The stage for an enjoyable afternoon was set, with the grounds team ensuring the pitches looked beautiful and the sun shining. We welcomed 12 teams overall, who split into ‘A’ and ‘B’ team groups. The standard of football was impressive, with competitive matches across the board. The positive teamwork and morale were palpable, as was the cheerful support on the sidelines!
Year 5
A Trip to Selbourne
Year 5 students embarked on an exciting trip to Selbourne’s Gilbert White Field Studies Centre, where they had the opportunity to deepen their learning in geography and biology through hands-on experiences. The children engaged in activities that introduced them to Ordnance Survey (OS) maps - practising how to interpret symbols and navigate with precision using six-figure grid references. This was particularly tricky in soggy conditions! They worked collaboratively to solve map-based challenges, applying their skills to a ‘navigate-Selbourne’ activity, while exploring the beautiful countryside surrounding the study centre.
Year 5 Swimming Gala
The Year 5 Swimming Gala was testament to the dedication and spirit of all. The races were fiercely competitive, with many events ending in nail-biting finishes. Enthusiastic cheering and jubilant celebrations punctuated the event, with spectators expressing support through loud cheers and fist pumps. This vibrant atmosphere motivated the swimmers and highlighted the school spirit. Congratulations to our fastest girl and boy; Harry F and Isabel. The final results reflected the tight competition, with Meon and Rother sharing third place, Hamble securing second, and Arun emerging as the overall winners. Non-swimming students played crucial roles by assisting with tasks such as marshalling, set-up, and cheering for their peers, fostering inclusivity and camaraderie.
WEEK
Our final week of the half term saw us take a trip into the abyss and begin to explore our solar system and beyond, as part of STEAM Week. We worked collaboratively on a range of exciting projects, including the creation of a full solar system using Modroc, using Enquiry to answer some key ‘BIG’ questions about space, as well as firing homemade rockets across the field.
The residential to Cobnor Activities Centre was a fantastic, fun-filled trip that provided many opportunities to try new things, learn independence in a safe environment and get to know our new classes and teachers. Even though the water was chilly, we just couldn’t wait to jump in!
Cobnor Bound!
Celebrating the Day of Languages
Our Head Girl and Boy helped to run the Day of Languages activities and competitions.
Year 4 played dominoes to match the language to the country.
Year 5 enjoyed a French breakfast cafe, waited upon by Senior Scchool pupils.
Year 2 loved tasting magdalenas to learn about Spanish bakeries.
Year 6
Churcher's Bespoke Guild Masters Award
Congratulations to the Year 6 children that have completed their Guild Masters and had their names etched on the school board for posterity. Next step – the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme at the Senior School.
Young Enterprise
As part of their Young Enterprise initiative, Year 6 created and hosted stalls at the PA Summer Fair. The event was enjoyed by all and the children raised a significant amount for the PA fund.
Isle of Wight Residential
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their trip to PGL on the Isle of Wight. It was an early start, followed by the passenger ferry, and a bracing walk along the Ryde Pier. First stop was the very opulent Osborne House. Here the children were in role as servants to Queen Victoria and given instruction by a very stern Mrs Smith. They polished silver, made beds, prepared tea, and set the dining table with a dizzying array of cutlery. The children also toured the house and grounds, which offered an interesting counterpoint to their classwork on child labour. The activities at PGL were a blast and the children really embraced the challenges and camaraderie that they offer. Even the early start and bundles of fresh air didn’t dampen the excitement of sharing rooms with friends.
Life's a Beach!
The children really enjoyed their time at Hayling beach, where, in the absence of screens, they were able to create Goldsworthy-styled designs and compete in the sandcastle competition. It was lovely to hear their creative chatter and the finished results were impressive. Litter picking and beach rounders were also on the agenda, and, of course, the obligatory ice-cream!
Quiz Time!
Sixteen children from Year 6 represented the school in the Senior School general knowledge quiz. There were 21 other school teams taking part and the Junior School held their own, with one of the teams coming third - congratulations to all involved.
Year 6 had a Q&A session with Ian Russell, who was able to go into more detail about the workings of some of the exciting demonstrations and his life as an interactive science exhibit designer. The children then extended their knowledge of light by producing working camera obscuras and models that demonstrated thin film interference. They were able to describe the phenomena in detail following their research, and visitors to the Science Centre were amazed with their working, professional-looking models and explanatory posters. Some of Year 6 also had the opportunity to be trained as demonstrators for the Science Centre and enjoyed the afternoon wowing the visitors with their newly acquired tricks of scientific phenomena.
Bounce
Year 6 enjoyed their bounce lesson with Dr Sarah and Dr Kate. This is the third year the children have enjoyed their company and the children reviewed the main themes of Bounce, and thought about how they could apply some of the strategies to help them deal with things that may worry them, such as the entrance exam. The children applied themselves well and came up with many interesting and original thoughts and ideas.
Victorian Assembly
6NR enjoyed presenting their assembly and then hosting their parents for the open house in class. The assembly touched on Victorian schooling and child labour and compared these to modern day working conditions for children in cocoa plantations in Ghana. It was a very informative morning!
Creative Writing
Year 6 enjoyed reading ‘Scarper Jack and the Bloodstained Room’, by Christopher Russell, in the Autumn Term. The book is used to generate ideas for writing, and these children have written a monologue for the main character.
Lest We Forget: Churcher's Remembers
Petersfield Parade
266 cadets and 24 staff paraded for the annual Petersfield Town Remembrance service on Sunday 10 November. Directed by WO1 Alfie Greggs, the contingent marched from Swan Street car park to the town square, for the service conducted in front of St Peter’s Church and then on to the war memorial for the act of remembrance. The parade was led by colours-bearer WO2 Ollie Williams, followed by members of the corps of drums (Maisie Stanley, Thomas Wilby and Jayden Siu). Dom Hardie sounded the last post at 1100. Thomas Pearson accompanied the Deputy Lieutenant, Sir James Scott, and other members of the CCF had additional roles in laying wreaths and reading out the names of the fallen. The Senior Wind Band accompanied the CCF and the hundreds of residents in the town square in what was a very solemn and moving service.
Remembrance Assembly
On the anniversary of Armistice Day itself, Monday 11 November, the CCF lined the route from the Sports Hall to the college war memorial for all pupils and staff to walk through, following the Remembrance Assembly. A rifle party stood guard with the banner party. The chair of the fallen Churcherian was draped with a sculpted cascade of poppies. Again, the Wind Band, along with the Senior String Quartet, were called into action to provide the music to accompany the assembly and procession.
Remembrance Concert
On the Wednesday following Armistice Day, our annual Remembrance Concert was a sell-out event and featured some astonishingly accomplished performances from the College Orchestra, as well as the Senior Choir, accompanied by a professional orchestra. The concert featured a variety of our choirs as well as a magnificent solo piano performance from Marcus Lam, who played ‘Prelude in D’ by Rachmaninov and absolutely stunned the audience with his poise and professionalism.
The Junior School Remembers
The whole school gathered to mark the two-minute silence for Remembrance Day. Thanks and well done to Thomas in Year 5 for playing the last post.
Drama & Dance
Outstanding LAMDA Results!
This summer, Churcher's achieved record-breaking success in LAMDA exams, with results that have exceeded all expectations. Max C and Millie M made history as the first duo to receive a perfect score of 100% for their Grade 8 Gold Medal—a remarkable achievement that highlights the school's continued commitment to excellence in performing arts. In addition, a First Year duo and three First Year groups also secured full marks, marking a new milestone for Churcher's LAMDA programme. This year also saw a first for Churcher's, a Level 3 Shakespeare exam, with Joe N receiving a Distinction and an impressive mark of 91. The success of several students not typically known for their involvement in theatre is particularly heartening; these students have dedicated themselves to improving their confidence and skills over the years, culminating in distinction marks in their final exams.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare returned to Churcher’s College with a stunning production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, held over three summer solstice evenings in the enchanting school grounds. The outdoor setting, capturing the fairy-tale woods and glens, was perfect for the magical atmosphere of the play. The abridged version kept Shakespeare’s verse intact, with each line clear and resonant, despite the open-air staging without amplification. The cast’s dedication shone through, with impeccable timing and physical comedy, especially in the antics of Lysander (Noah W) and the hilarious Mechanicals led by Scott A’s unforgettable Bottom. The fairy characters, dressed in ethereal costumes, added to the charm, with standout performances by Joe N and Tahlia H as Oberon, and Titania and Leo C’s mischievous Puck. The 1930s-inspired costumes created a vivid contrast between the fairies and the courtly characters. This inspired production was a magical celebration of Shakespeare, leaving the audience thoroughly spellbound.
The Royal Ballet
In June, the Dance Squad came together to watch 'The Sleeping Beauty' performed by The Royal Ballet. This provided the opportunity to watch professionals perform the ballet solos they had learnt themselves for last year's Christmas showcase. In addition, they learned the 'wedding promenade' from Act 4 of the production and the whole experience was topped off with some delicious pizza.
Ballet Masterclass
On 29 September, students attended a ballet masterclass with Miss Elson. This helped them develop their Ballet technique, and they also learned a dance for the next Christmas Showcase. The dance is focused around a duo who are supported by one group but is trying to be disbanded by another, a true Romeo and Juliet performance.
Drama and Dance Showcase
The various Churcher's tap clubs came together to perform a dance from the Broadway musical 42nd Street, which has been adapted and extended for the upcoming Christmas Showcase. The Junior Dance Squad also performed a contemporary dance, featuring lifts, and Varvara also performed a contemporary solo.
Adventurous Activities
Rother Valley Adventure
Second Year students headed to the Rother Valley where they completed a day walk, working on navigation and team work. Students set up tents at the campsite and cooked their dinner on a fire pit. Potatoes and pizza wraps were on the menu. After this, there were S’mores, star gazing, and rugby.
Welsh 3000s Expedition
The Welsh 3000s challenge involves scaling all 15 Welsh peaks over 3000 feet, covering over 50km and 4000m of ascent, with a target of completing the route within 24 hours. A team of six students initially attempted the challenge in late June, but bad weather forced a postponement to August. Starting at 4:30am, they tackled Snowdon, crossed Crib Goch, and completed half the ascent before high winds forced them to stop. Undeterred, Toby, Lauren, and Alfie returned in September with the Senior Adventure Club, to finish the challenge. Starting again at dawn, they completed the remaining peaks, including Glyder Fawr, Tryfan, and Pen yr Ole Wen, before finishing the final six summits in 19 hours and 58 minutes. This impressive achievement was completed despite weather setbacks, with the team’s determination and teamwork shining through.
Isle of Purbeck Trip
Oscaneers had a fantastic time at the Isle of Purbeck at their end-of-year residential in the Summer Term. They faced their fears of the cold, the sea, caves, and jumping off cliffs! Starting with a belly flop jump into a rock pool (originally blasted by miners for a local school), they worked their way up to bravely jumping from different levels into the ocean. The smiles on each pupil’s face as they successfully completed each level were great to see. And there were more smiles all around when pupils successfully landed a fish! They learned about each one they caught, and all were very keen to try the mackerel, which had been caught and gutted by Monday's fishing crew, when it was cooked on the open fire.
DW Training Begins
Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon training has begun in earnest! Teams began their training at Wey Kayak Club, learning about the technique and getting used to the boats. There were plenty of capsizes but the team are growing more confident with each session on the water. Recently, the team have moved their training to the Basingstoke Canal in two-person boats and have completed up to 8 miles of paddling. The team are increasing in speed and are continuing to build up the distances.
Senior Adventure Club
In Septenber, 14 Lower Sixth students joined the Senior Adventure Club for a mountain challenge in Snowdonia. They scrambled Crib Lem Spur to Carnedd Dafydd, explored the Carneddau range, and camped. Day Two saw them tackle Tryfan North Ridge and play cricket on the Cantilever. On Day Three, they navigated Afon Prysor. The experience pushed them out of their comfort zones, boosting both their skills and confidence.
Silver DofE
Fourteen Fourth Year teams completed their Silver Practice in Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, hiking 16km over two days in intense heat. They camped at basic sites, enjoying sea views and cooling off at the coast. Later, they tackled Exmoor for their Final Expedition, with one team including a wheelchair user, hiking the Tarka Trail and climbing Dunkery Beacon.
A Magical Solstice Walk
On a beautiful midsummer evening, 65 students set off from Beacon Hill Nature Reserve at dusk to hike 18km through the night to meet the dawn at the top of Butser Hill. At 4.49am precisely, the sun appeared over the horizon, and the views were dramatic and staggeringly beautiful. The event was run jointly with the QE Park and raised funds for Home-Start Butser.
Hiking
There is no doubt that this Gold practice expedition will have fully tested the students and their kit with every kind of weather being thrown at them - sun, heavy rain, strong wind gusts, and freezing overnight temperatures. Top that with paths that are marked on the map but don't exist on the ground, and bogs, bogs, and more bogs, and you will gather that the students have been truly challenged. However, the students also managed to enjoy the magnificent views in the spells of sunshine.
Canoeing
Eight DofE paddlers spent five days canoeing, covering over 100km on the River Trent. On day one, they practiced rescues, paddling efficiency, teamwork, and handling weirs. Afterward, they progressed toward independent paddling under remote supervision. The weather was favourable, keeping them mostly dry. The group navigated several portages and weirs, adapting to faster-than-expected currents. The experience allowed them to consolidate their skills, build confidence, and improve their efficiency on the water while enjoying ideal water levels and a rewarding expedition.
Gold DofE
Education on the Move
Exploring The Big Apple
The inaugural New York was a packed experience, offering students a whirlwind introduction to Manhattan’s vibrant art and architectural scene. During their stay, students visited cultural landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum, Central Park, Times Square, the High Line, Rockefeller Center, and the 9/11 Memorial. The group also explored the city’s unique architectural features with stops at The Oculus, Little Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge, and they even managed a ferry ride to Staten Island. Despite a busy itinerary, including navigating around the Trump Madison Square Garden rally, the students soaked up Manhattan’s bustling energy, gaining inspiration and perspectives that will undoubtedly inform their future creative work.
Lulworth Cove
While the Upper School enjoyed Speech Day, the Geography Department took the entire Second Year to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. In glorious sunshine, the students were able to apply their knowledge and understanding of geomorphic processes to some of the most amazing coastal landforms in the world. From looking down at Stair Hole, to walking across Dungy Head, to sketching Durdle Door, they were immersed in the geography of this impressive section of the Jurassic Coastline. Rightly a World Heritage Site, they developed a brilliant understanding of how these distinctive landforms were created and how they will continue to develop in the future.
Arundel and Amberley
We had a fantastic day in the autumn sunshine, exploring the fascinating Amberley Industrial Museum. The steam train was a highlight, but so too was understanding the process behind the creation of lime, exploring the amazing electricity displays, and seeing so many ‘dated’ artefacts, such as old fire engines and phones. At Arundel, we stepped back into a Medieval world full of portcullis’ and crenelations, and we gazed up at the mighty motte and bailey castles, and down into the eery ‘oubliettes’. Pupils enjoyed trying on costumes and feeling the weight of chain mail. At both locations we were very fortunate to have workshops to take part in and exceptionally enthused guides to show us round.
Hampton Court
In the Summer Term, all the First Years had a sun-kissed day at Hampton Court Palace, deepening their (already highly impressive) knowledge on the Tudor period. They were treated to expert-led workshops on the period, and enjoyed volunteering to take on various roles as monarchs. They also strolled around the stunning grounds, and bolted round the famous maze. The royal kitchens, the tennis court, and the palace itself, meant they saw all aspects of Tudor life at Hampton Court.
Automne à Paris
Tate Modern
In September, Fourth Year and Lower Sixth students had the opportunity to visit the Tate Modern in London, where they explored collections that enriched their understanding of modern art and encouraged new approaches to their own work. The students engaged with themes of objects and experimental drawing, by viewing iconic displays of paintings, sculptures, and large-scale installations from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Yayoi Kusama, and Henri Matisse. The visit included time in the famous Turbine Hall and a venture into the underground Tanks – a unique space dedicated to live art performances and video installations.
Politics Students Head to Parliament
Sixth Form Politics students attended the Houses of Parliament and Supreme Court before half term, for a fantastic insight into the inner workings of Parliament. Hosted first by the Parliament Education Centre, they had a tour of the Palace of Westminster, visiting the Commons and Lords chambers, followed by a brilliant workshop on elections. They then had the opportunity for a Q&A with Damian Hinds MP, who was certainly given a thorough examination with some probing questions. The afternoon was spent at the Supreme Court learning about the UK’s judiciary, as well as a taking in a walking tour of No. 10 and Whitehall.
During half term, ten GCSE French students travelled to Paris for five days of languagelearning and culture. As well as benefitting from eight hours of high quality French lessons at the renowned, and International House accredited, ‘Les Ateliers’ language school, the students enjoyed a cruise on the Seine, magnificent views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower at night from the top of the Montparnasse tower, some of the world’s most famous works of art on display at the Louvre museum, a visit to the Stade de France, shopping in the opulent Galleries Lafayette, climbing the steps up to Montmartre and the Sacré Coeur cathedral, and much, much more! An amazing time was had by all, and the experience provided inspiration for the students to maximise their performance in the upcoming GCSEs. Bravo à tous et merci Paris!
Barcelona Bound!
This October, an enthusiastic group of Third Years enjoyed a busy cultural four days in Barcelona. As is traditional, we visited the incredible Gaudí sights and monuments. The Sagrada Familia never fails to amaze our students as we come up from the metro to see the Basilica towering above us. Students enjoyed tasting typical Spanish hams and cheeses, buying their lunches in the Boquería market and appreciating tapas in local restaurants. Despite the torrential rain, a fun time was had by all.
Sport
Girls' Hockey Round-Up
This term, Churcher's girls' hockey teams have shown remarkable skill and determination across all age groups. The U18A team finished 4th in the U18 Hampshire Cup and are set to face Bryanston in the next round of the England Hockey National Cup. Meanwhile, the U16A team continued their impressive run in the National Cup, securing a 4-0 victory over Worth and advancing to the next round against Kent College. The U15A team finished 3rd in the U16 Hampshire Cup and earned a spot in the U16 Tier 3 Regional Finals. The U14A team also excelled, finishing equal 1st in the U14 Hampshire Cup and qualifying for the Regional Finals. The U13A and U12A teams both finished 3rd in their respective Hampshire Cups, continuing a strong and successful term for girls’ hockey at Churcher's.
Hampshire Track Knock Out Finals
After safely navigating the opening rounds and the semi-finals, our junior boys’, and intermediate boys’ and girls’ athletics teams reached the Hampshire Track Knock Out Finals, in Winchester. There were some outstanding performances in a very high-quality field; our intermediate boys came 5th, our junior boys came 4th, and our intermediate girls team topped the podium as the best track team in Hampshire. Well done to all athletes.
100 Years of Churcher's Rugby
In November, Churcher’s celebrated 100 years of rugby with more than 70 OCs, staff, and guests attending a memorable Rugby Centenary Lunch. Guests enjoyed browsing the school archives of old photographs and memorabilia before cheering on the 1st XV and 2nd XV in thrilling matches against John Fisher School. Churcher’s Senior teams played some outstandingly skilful rugby to produce two excellent performances, resulting in a clean sweep for Churcher’s on the day. The 1st XV won 20-3, and the 2nd XV 26-10 against strong opponents, with OC Chris Goss (79) refereeing. Special guest Tim Rodber (87), a capped England and British Lions player, shared inspiring stories and presented ties to the 1st XV. The event was a fitting tribute to a century of rugby tradition.
Swimming & Water Polo
An Olympian Visits
During the Summer Term, players experienced a training session from Olympic water polo player, Sean King, learning valuable skills. The U13 team implemented what they had learned in the cadet competition, convincingly winning both of their games. They showed great determination and discipline throughout, with spectacular goals scored by Wilf H and Freddie J.
Biathlon
As a successful school in swimming and running, Churcher’s held its first biathlon event competing against other schools. The team picked up two 1st places, one 2nd place, and three 3rd places. A standout out performance from our U13 boys team sweeping up the top four places.
Channel Swim Relay Team
Two Churcher’s teams, comprising twelve students, trained hard all summer with the anticipation of cross the English Channel in September. Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions the students missed their window. Although disappointed, this is simply another obstacle along their journey. The students are enjoying time out of the water ready to start training again in March, looking to once again attempt the crossing in the summer.
Taking on the OCs
On Open Day we hosted the first ever OCs water polo game. The atmosphere was electric with a full crowd in the stands cheering on both teams. The match showcased both past and present talent with the highest quality of water polo on display. A brilliant performance from Churcher’s first team, winning the game 11–8. The game was played in great spirits ending with a social lunch for all the players to catch up with each other. A fantastic way to end the year!
Hampshire Relays
Our swimmers excelled this term at the Hampshire Relays, earning multiple medals across six teams. The inter boys’ team of Wilf H, Misha K, Rocco W, and Will D were crowned double Hampshire Champions. The senior boys’ team of Charlie S, Finn G, Julius U, Theo S, and Max M became freestyle champions and took silver in the medley relay. Senior girls Kitty H, Izzy L, Nicole P, and Lily J earned double bronze. The junior boys, George S, Zachary G, Jack P, Tom S, and Alberto B-S, won freestyle silver and medley bronze, marking a successful term overall.
Senior Swim Gala
The pool buzzed with excitement as students of all abilities gave their best, creating a competitive and enjoyable afternoon. A standout moment was Drake's record-breaking mixed freestyle relay at 57.59 seconds. Top swimmers included Charlie S, winning the 100m IM and 50m BR, narrowly missing records, and Nicole P, victorious in the 100m IM and 50m Fly. The event showcased outstanding talent and spirit, with a great turnout and enthusiastic participation. In the end, Grenville emerged as the winning house.
Inspirational Speakers
Speech Day
“We can all go one step beyond our limits” was the message to students from Chris Moon, former British Army officer-turned landmine clearer, at this year’s Speech Day. If anyone knows about pushing yourself to achieve all you can, it’s Chris. Losing an arm and a leg whilst in a supposedly safe area of a minefield in remote East Africa, he has also survived being taken prisoner by the Khmer Rouge. Upper School students were in awe of the man, who, after recovering four times faster than expected, ran the London Marathon within a year of leaving hospital, raising significant sums of money to help people with disabilities. Thought to be the world’s first amputee ultra-distance runner, Chris shared his stories of having to face adversity, the challenges of being resilient when the odds are against you, and doing it all with a positive mental attitude. The audience of students and parents left feeling enthused and ready to take on the world!
Academic Lecture Series
Fuels of the Future
The Gathering Storm
Tim Bouverie delivered a compelling lecture on the disastrous policy of appeasement in the 1930s, which emboldened Hitler and set the stage for World War II. He discussed how the Baldwin government failed to act decisively and rearm in time, leading to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Bouverie explored how this lack of action inspired later leaders to wage unnecessary wars, fearing being labelled as appeasers. He cited Truman’s handling of the Korean War, Eden during the Suez Crisis, Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs, Johnson and Vietnam, and Bush in Iraq. He also linked the appeasement of Russia up until 2022 to the current situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the critical point at which stronger action should have been taken. Concluding with a Churchill quote, Bouverie highlighted that while appeasement from weakness is futile, appeasement from strength can be noble and a path to lasting peace.
A Lively Discussion!
In October, Sixth Form R&P students, along with some enthusiastic Fifth Years, listened to a talk by Dr Stephen Law, from Oxford University. Stephen looked at two of the classical arguments for the existence of God, the Ontological Argument and the Teleological Argument. Both were subjected to rigorous critique by the students, and Stephen enjoyed their lively participation in discussion.
Competition Success!
English Prize Winners
Gabriela Cassidy
A huge congratulations to our extremely talented Fourth Year writer, Gabriela Cassidy, who won both the Local and District rounds of the Rotary Young Writers’ Competition! Gabriela’s poem, on the topic of ‘Rebuilding’, was deemed the very best from 100s of entries spanning Surrey, Sussex and Outer London. We were delighted to welcome John Bartlett and John Maguire from the Rotary Club to present Gabriela with her prize and trophy. A huge congratulations for winning this prestigious competition, Gabriela!
Kitty Wootton
First Year student Kitty Wootton wowed the judges of the LoveReading4Kids Poetry competition with her excellent poem, ‘Count Dracula’, resulting in her winning the muchcoveted national poetry prize. Kitty has won £250 of books for Churcher’s College, as well as an upcoming visit from National Poetry Day ambassador, Laura Mucha, co-author of poetry collection, ‘Being Me’. We are all so proud of Kitty and very excited about her remarkable success!
Lily Brady
Churcher’s is proud to celebrate Sixth Former Lily Brady’s outstanding achievement as a Commended Poet in the prestigious Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. The Foyle Award, one of the most respected national poetry competitions for young writers, recognizes exceptional talent from students across the UK, with only a select few achieving commended status. Lily’s achievement places her among the nation’s brightest young voices, a testament to her creativity and skill. We look forward to seeing where her literary journey takes her next, and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.
Restless Earth Success!
Our Spring issue reported on the interactive workshop delivered by the British Cartography Society (BCS) titled, ‘Restless Earth: Our Disaster Relief Mapping’. Team winners from the day, whose challenge was to create disaster relief maps in response to the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster of 2011, were entered into the national competition. We are delighted to report that the Churcher’s team of Oscar C-B, Zach G, Toby T, George S, Josh B, and Jasper M has been award Third Place! Very well done!
UK Space Design Competition
Ten Sixth Form students from Churcher’s College excelled at the UK Space Design Competition (UKSDC) regional heat, presenting a manufacturing proposal for Mars. Collaborating with Westminster and Tiffin Schools under the name ‘Earhart Advanced Industries’, their mission was to design an energyefficient and eco-friendly venture using Mars’ natural resources, with a focus on both scientific and business strategies to win a virtual contract. William M led as a keynote presenter, supported by Olly H, Alfie G, Tommy W, and Rufus K, who handled questions, while Jemima C, Anna K, Georgie S-B, Jess M, and Charlie B contributed technical drawings and calculations. The team’s impressive work won them the regional heat, and they will now advance to the National Finals at Imperial College, in March.
Powerboat Racing
In November, Fourth Year students Theo, Jake and Thomas visited the incredible ocean basin testing facility at Haslar in Gosport to compete in the annual QINETIQ School’s Powerboat Challenge. Over the preceding eight weeks the boys had been designing, building and testing a remote-controlled powerboat that needed to carry a 500g weight to race around a complicated course. As well as the racing, they met various visiting professionals including a Royal Naval captain and leaders in the marine industry. They team were a credit to the school: independent, capable and helpful to other younger teams, and came away with a very creditable third place.
Academic Highlights
English
Literary Pumpkins
As Halloween approached, the English Department ran a ‘literary pumpkin’ competition. Pupils were tasked with decorating or carving a pumpkin with a literary theme this half term. The submissions were all very creative, but the best two, and joint winners of this year’s competition, were the pumpkins designed by Lucy C, Third Year, with her ‘Noughts and Crosses’ pumpkin, and Scarlett R, Second Year, with her ‘Watership Down’ pumpkin. We loved the enthusiasm for this competition and applaud all entries!
Modern Foreign Languages
Murder Mystery
‘Whodunnit?’ This was the question on the lips of every Second Year pupil towards the end of the Summer Term (or, ideally, the more grammatical ‘Who did it?’), as the English Department ran a year-wide murder mystery as part of our very popular Detective Fiction unit. The pupils stepped into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes, as they took on the role of detective, and engaged with endless documents and texts to try to solve the crimes: The Mystery of the Tiger Striped Jellyfish, and Murder in the Laboratory. Teachers were thrilled to get involved too, and you may have seen a series of mugshots around school of some very suspicious-looking characters! We won’t give the game away, but well done to those who managed to solve it… it was a real challenge!
Business Languages Champions
To celebrate European Languages Day, all of the Third Year were involved in a Business Languages Champions event called, ‘Glastonbury Goes Global’, on Friday 27 September. They spent the day in teams designing, creating, and promoting their own music festival, which included interviewing their headline celebrities, purchasing the materials required for their models, and selling their ideas to other teams, all in their target language (French, Spanish, or German)! As a result, there were some amazing displays, some impressive promotional videos, and, overall, a lot of fun was had using their modern language skills in a hands-on and inspirational event. Rock on, Churcher’s!
Breakfast & Quiz
The end of September brought a week-long celebration of Languages, culminating in our popular Second Year Breakfast and European Quiz. A delicious way of starting the day, whilst discovering in which country they say "Not my circus, not my monkeys!". (The answer is Poland!)
Science
Observe the Moon Night
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invited people around the world to join in the International observe the Moon night, which took place on Saturday 14 September this year. NASA wishes to raise awareness of celestial events as a new era in space travel dawns. Students from Churcher’s were keen to share their experiences and images captured during the global event, welcoming their certificates of approval from NASA for their entries. As you can see, there are some spectacular photographs taken and we look forward to even greater participation in next year’s event.
German Exchange Student Arrives
We have been delighted to welcome Leann Berg, from Mariengymnasium, in Warendorf, Germany, to Churcher’s for one week as part of a German Exchange Programme. She has been hosted by A Level German student Katie, who visited Leann in Germany in the summer. Both girls have benefited greatly from the exchange and have really enjoyed their experience in their host countries. While at Churcher’s, Leann has also had the opportunity to work with the Fifth Year German students.
STEAM Olympics
In honour of the Paris Olympics, June saw the inaugural STEAM Olympics, combining Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English, Art, and Computing. With a joint theme around missions to Mars and the Olympics, students had the chance to make ‘juice ball’ parcels in Biology, carbonate fuels in Chemistry, and to test landing craft simulations with water balloons in Physics. Mathematics modelled the solar system using marbles, Computing cleverly programmed the Olympic shapes, and Art creatively modelled new examples of the Olympic torch. The murder mystery of a scientist in English was a problem-solving challenge of a different kind!
Galactic Challenge
Churcher’s hosted our first Galactic Challenge event in October, where lower school students from five different schools were invited to participate. Here they were tasked with designing a luxury hotel 50 years into the future, based on the Moon! They needed to consider different factors like materials, human resources, transport, entertainment, etc, as well as estimating the overall cost. Judges from Imperial College, London, were treated to group presentations from each team and their wonderful designs and ideas. Churcher’s College, along with Lord Wandsworth College teams, were deemed the best overall and received their pin badges and certificates as part of their victory.
Music
Music Enrichment
Composing Masterclass
Local composer, Neil Valentine, gave our A Level musicians some professional insight into how they can develop their composing skills. The students were set a task ahead of the day, which was to develop Mendelssohn’s iconic, ‘Hebrides Overture’, which led to a masterclassstyle discussion of each of their pieces. The students gained confidence and a huge amount of knowledge thanks to his expertise and guidance.
Lunchtime Concert
Conductor's Workshop
We welcomed professional conductor, Russell Keable, back to Churcher’s to lead our students in a workshop for beginner conductors. Despite their many years of following conductors in ensembles, the physical act of beating time proved quite a challenge for some, resulting in furrowed brows and an ‘elusive beat 2’. Useful directing skills were acquired nevertheless, along with increased respect for the teachers who regularly conduct them!
In October, 26 students took part in the termly Lunchtime Concert at St. Peter’s Church. The Brass Ensemble gave a fantastic strong opening to the concert with, ‘St. Anthony Chorale’, and the concert ended with the Junior Choir performing the reflective song, ‘I Remember’, by Sarah Quartel. For most members of the Junior group, this was their first performance as part of the Chamber Choir, and they sang beautifully! We enjoyed some stunning solo performances from many of our talented singers, pianists, and woodwind players, with pieces ranging from musical theatre songs, from Into the Woods and Phantom of the Opera, to Beethoven’s ‘Pathetique Sonata’, and Khachaturian’s challenging ‘Toccata for Piano’. This concert raised money for the local charity, ‘Parity for Disability’, and was enjoyed greatly by an audience of parents and locals!
Gamelan Bus
A Level musicians follow a varied programme of enrichment activities to broaden their musical horizons beyond the syllabus. This year began with the arrival of 'Snail’s Progress', a purple and gold double-decker Gamelan bus named Geraldine. Gamelan refers to traditional Indonesian instruments like gongs, drums, xylophones, and metallophones, commonly found in Balinese and Javanese music. With shoes removed, students boarded the bus and experienced a calming session, learning the fundamentals of Gamelan performance techniques, enriching their understanding of world music traditions.
Nursing Home Performance
Shortly after our Fourth Year musicians embarked on their GCSE music course, they travelled to the Downs Nursing Home, in Sheet, to entertain the residents. They formed a number of ensembles, which included Thomas W, Jayden S, and Ethan L playing Viva La Vida, Maisie S and Jack H playing a clarinet duet, Penny C, Rosie T, and Dottie D playing a flute trio, Amber L, Abilene H, and Jayden playing the Dvorak, ‘Humoresque’, and solos from Rocco W and Sofia J. The whole group ended with all of them playing and singing the John Lennon classic ‘Imagine’, with some of the residents singing along with them!
Scholar's Concert
A new addition to the programme of concerts through the year was a lovely evening of music devoted to our music scholars’. This was the first evening concert of the year, and our scholars’ set the bar high with 20 of them playing solos from a whole variety of styles of music, which included Clement S playing the third movement from ‘Saint – Saëns 2nd violin concerto’, Cecily M playing the beautiful ‘Syrinx’, by Debussy, and Alex W finishing the concert in style with Joe Satriani’s, ‘Always with me, Always with you’.
Senior Recital
Just before half term, guests enjoyed an exceptional concert showcasing the talent of our senior musicians. Highlights included Jayden S’s virtuosic performance of Paganini’s ‘Caprice No. 24’, Austen C’s moving rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’, from Les Misérables, Emilia S’s expressive Beethoven ‘Pathetique Sonata’, and Marcus L’s beautiful ‘Prelude in D’, by Rachmaninov. The ensembles also delivered impressive performances, with the Senior Wind Band’s Beatles medley, the flute ensemble, SSA Choir, Blues group, Lower Sixth Brass group, and Senior Jazz Quintet all contributing. The Jazz Band closed with ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, featuring vocalists Alice F and Raph C, and a lively ‘Incredibles’ medley, ending a night of truly outstanding music.
Theatre Outing
In September, 52 of our musicians of all ages travelled to London to watch ‘Wicked’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Wicked re-tells the story of the friendship between Elphaba (the ‘Wicked’ Witch of the West) and Glinda (the ‘Good’ Witch), giving the behind-the-scenes backstory to the classic Wizard of Oz tale. As well as enjoying singing along to the famous songs the epic soundtrack, students were blown away by the impressive lighting, dancing, costumes, and set design at the theatre. Our GCSE students were particularly excited to hear one of their set pieces, ‘Defying Gravity’, performed in its real musical context.
Rock School
Just over a week into the school year, the Rock School were immediately called to arms to play for the annual Butser Hill Challenge. As usual, plenty of talented volunteers gave up their time on a Sunday to keep the runners motivated and entertained on what was a lovely sunny September day. Our amazing musicians played classic after classic and had an awesome time starting their musical year off with a bang. Well done to all the performers and runners!
Sixth Form & Careers
Careers
An Architect Visits
To further prepare students for the exciting opportunities ahead, future architecture and design students attended a talk by landscape architect, Lionel Fanshawe, in early October. Fanshawe’s talk was specifically organised for students from the Creative Arts and Technology Faculty who would soon be visiting Manhattan over the October half term. His presentation provided an overview of Manhattan’s famous grid layout and highlighted key architectural features, giving students a deeper context before their departure.
BAE Systems
Early on the morning of Friday 18 October, almost 30 pupils from the Fourth Year upwards, gathered in the Pavilion for a brilliant morning of short talks and networking with BAE systems representatives. Sally Armstrong, learning and development lead for BAE Systems, visited with a group of degree apprentices and graduates working in their early careers programme, across a range of roles in project management, project controls, cyber, software, and network engineering. First, Sally presented an overview of the roles available at BAE and then the apprentices shared their career journeys and experiences working there whilst studying for their degrees. We then had time to enjoy breakfast while networking, allowing pupils to ask their own questions and get to know more about our visitors and their jobs.
Networking Breakfast
Architecture Trip
Twelve students from the Fifth Year and above attended an October architecture trip. The day began at Gunwharf Quay, Portsmouth, with talks by architect Matthew Edwards and landscape architect Ian Jackson on the Gunwharf development. Students explored the site to see their concepts in action. In the afternoon, they visited Southampton Solent University's Architecture Department for a talk by Head of Architecture Monkiz Khasreen, followed by a practical session and campus tour. The day ended with sketching at Ocean Village, overlooking the Itchen River and nearby new developments.
Our second ‘Coffee, Croissants, and Careers’ event in November was another great success with more than 30 volunteer networkers and 40 students in attendance. The students undoubtedly went away with a lot more knowledge and insight with respect to careers in finance, and also with some good networking skills. It was lovely to catch up with some of our regular Careers and HE supporters and to meet so many newcomers. There is no doubt that a lot of fun was had by everyone and a lot was achieved by the time we parted at 9am; it is amazing what you can achieve before/ over breakfast!
Transform Society Community Challange
In September, James Darley visited school to run the Transform Society Community Challenge - the next installment of the Lower Sixth Induction programme. Students worked in groups to put together a presentation that outlined their ideas about how to reduce knife crime. Time was of the essence and the students did magnificently to present their ideas, including some extremely creative ones, at the end of the day.
Inspiring Lecture
We were delighted to welcome former Churcher’s parent, Roger Morgan-Grenville, to speak to the Lower Sixth as part of the ENRICH programme. In 2022, Roger walked 1000 miles from Lymington on the south coast to Cape Wrath on the north coast of Scotland, following the coming of spring, walking ahead of the greening oak canopy. Amidst a lot of doom and gloom about the environment, Roger’s story, which he told in his book ‘Across a Waking Land’, is both hopeful and inspiring.
Football
The Churcher’s Sixth Form football team has had a fantastic term, playing five matches with an impressive record of four wins and one draw. Highlights include an epic penalty shootout victory against Bohunt, with a much-anticipated rematch on the horizon. The team faced new opponents Salesians in a thrilling end-to-end encounter, which ended in a hard-fought draw, perhaps the toughest game of the season. It’s been great to see so many boys eager to play competitive football, with every match played in excellent spirit. The focus on inclusivity, teamwork, and sportsmanship has made this season a true success.
Life Drawing
During the Autumn Term, the Art Department run life drawing classes for Sixth Form students each week. They help develop drawing and observation skills alongside supporting application to future creative careers.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Our second annual Sixth Form Macmillan Coffee Morning was a tremendous success. Many baked, even more ate cake, and we raised an impressive £519.46 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the Coffee Morning was led by a fantastic team of Upper Sixth Coffee Champions. The team recruited bakers, produced an assembly, and directed the event on the day. The Sixth Form enjoyed learning about the work of this invaluable charity and then buying cake in support.
Film Award Nominees
Sixth Form students have been nominated for a prestigious short film award by the Young Film Academy (YFA), the UK’s top provider of filmmaking education. Their film, ‘Handbag Heist’, earned a place among the 2024 nominees for Best Film in the Years 10-12 category. This nomination comes as part of YFA's One Day Film School initiative, which saw 10,000 students from 150 UK schools produce more than 1,000 films this year. We wish our budding film-makers the best of luck!
CCF
Royal Navy Field Day
Some 40 Third and Fourth Year Royal Navy cadets got to enjoy a superb day field day out at the Andrew Simpson water activities centre, in Portsmouth. Cadets spent the day rotating between canoeing, rafting, kayaking, and balancing on the giant stand up paddle boards. Great lessons were learnt in terms of working as a team, and it was great to see so many happy and smiling faces. Nothing beats a good day on the water, and this field day provided that with bells on!
Skill at Arms
This October, four Fifth Year cadets competed at the Cadet Skill At Arms Meeting (CADSAM) at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright. Their debut at the event featured four challenging shooting disciplines: Advance to Contact, Attack and Reorganisation, Fire Control Assessment, and a highenergy Falling Plate tournament. The cadets demonstrated their marksmanship in various positions and across distances from 100 to 300 metres. A highlight was the Falling Plate event, where teams raced to knock down ten plates.
Churcher’s team earned a silver medal in the Attack & Reorg match, securing fourth place among eight CCF units, and they are eager to return next year for even greater success.
Trafalgar Night
On Tuesday, 22nd September, the CCF commemorated Trafalgar Day with the annual Trafalgar Night Dinner, remembering Nelson's emphatic victory against the odds over the combined Navies of France and Spain in 1805. The CCF staff and Sixth Form cadets were joined by a variety of visiting dignitaries for a fabulous meal in a transformed auditorium. Our Guest of Honour this year was Commander Alun Watts. Affectionately known as ‘Staff’, Alun provides expert training to the RN section on CCF afternoons. In his inspirational speech, he spoke of how he came to join the Royal Navy and how he progressed through it. After toasts to our guests, the King and the ‘immortal memory’ of Nelson, the evening concluded with the singing of sea shanties led by our Sixth Form cadets.
Army
Exercise Hidden Tiger
In October, the Army section held Exercise Hidden Tiger at Longmoor’s L2 training area. Eighty cadets, including many new recruits, practiced fieldcraft skills like camouflage, concealment, and silent communication. The exercise concluded with a challenging stalking mission. Cadet Jake Napier earned special commendation for approaching Captain Gibbins within five metres undetected.
Exercise Sharpshooter
In October, 15 cadets from the Army section participated in Exercise Sharpshooter at Longmoor Ranges, marking their first live firing experience and the Contingent’s debut in running an independent range. After initial training on the DCCT simulator, cadets zeroed their weapons at 25m, focusing on precision marksmanship. The afternoon saw four 100m ‘application of fire’ shoots using iron sights, with cadets engaging various targets from prone, sitting, kneeling, and fire trench positions. Each target would only fall if hit within a brief time window, challenging the cadets’ accuracy and timing. All participants successfully met shooting syllabus standards.
Laser Tag
Our Third Year RAF cadets put on their protective clothing and picked up their LASER rifles to enjoy LASER tag in the forest centre, near Cobham. Working in Teams of Blue and Red, they had to capture the flag or defend their base from an enemy attack in the morning session. In the afternoon, they swapped ammunition for paintballs, playing team games once again to overcome the difficult terrain, hiding behind the trees, abandoned Land Rover, corrugated steel sheets, and base camp walls. Feeling hot and sweaty towards the end, and coming away with a few battle bruises, the teams celebrated with a team photo and chatted about their experiences on the bus ride home.
Summer Camp 2024
In July, 12 Army cadets attended the HQ South East central Summer Camp at St Martin’s Plain, Folkstone. The week included tactical fieldcraft, full section attacks, paintball, and training in built-up areas (TIBUA), where cadets demonstrated exceptional skill with rifles. A highlight was the range day, with cadets firing the L98A2 rifle from varied positions at 100m and 200m distances, impressing the training team. The camp concluded with a competition day, where Churcher's won the drill competition and was awarded the HQ SE Summer Camp 2024 trophy as the best overall contingent.
RAF Brize Norton
Churcher’s RAF cadets visited RAF Brize Norton for their Autumn field day, marking their first trip since Covid. At the UK’s largest airbase, Third Year cadets explored the Boeing C-17 Globemaster up close. Under the Load Master’s guidance, Cdt Hawes operated the hydraulic ramp, and each cadet sat in the cockpit with the pilot, learning about life aboard the RAF’s largest aircraft. Captivating tales included highaltitude SAS parachute drops, emergency explosive cargo evacuations, and the last flight out of Kabul, leaving everyone inspired to try their hand as Load Masters! A highlight was the Survival Evasion Resistance Escape training, where cadets learned to escape restraints; Cdt Hadley impressively sawed through handcuff ties with a nylon shoelace!
In Other News
Taekwondo Clean Sweep!
First Year student, Spencer G, returned from the AETA Open English Championship for Taekwondo with a gold in patterns, silver in sparring, and bronze in special technique in the 9-11 age group. Huge congratulations to Spencer for achieving a full set!
Charities
Charity Fete and Relay Finals
The end of year charity afternoon, raising money for Maddy’s Mark, was a huge success, combining a charity fete with a school first, the House Relay Finals. Stalls at the fete, organised and run by the team of Lower Sixth Charities Committee members, included Sponge a Teacher, Ice Cream, Coconut Shy, and many more. We raised a huge £3,550 for Maddy’s Mark, a charity very close to the school and our community.
3G Laser Quest
3R ventured to QE Park for a fun and actionpacked laser tag event. Pupils were divided into two teams, each equipped with laser guns and headgear that tracked hits. The outdoor arena was designed with obstacles and hiding spots, creating a fully immersive environment. There was plenty of strategic manoeuvring, quick decision-making, and collaborative efforts to score points by 'shooting' opponents while avoiding being shot. The intensity and fast pace of the game left some exhausted pupils by the end of the evening, but it was certainly an enjoyable experience for all!
Haunted Library
The annual Haunted Library returned in full force. The library was transformed into a zombie-infested, cobweb-bedecked place of nightmares, and staff dressed up to scare First and Second Year pupils over lunch. More than £150 was raised and donated to Roald Dahl’s, ‘Marvelous Children’s Charity’.
Academy Lego Challenge
Mrs Butler’s quest to push the imaginations of Junior Academy got off to a flying start this term with our first ‘Lego challenge’ of the year. Second Year students were given a random box of Lego pieces and a figurine to represent Rapunzel. They then had to build her tower and add as many different escape options as possible that did not require Prince Charming to come and rescue her. Imaginations soared, as did Rapunzel, who, in one case, had a secret engineering degree and was able to build herself an aeroplane with which to escape!
School in a Bag Returns
Our charity partner, School in a Bag, sends school bags filled with educational resources to poor, orphaned, disadvantaged, and disaster affected children around the globe. This year the donations from our non-uniform day enabled School in a Bag to send 150 bags to The Gambia where they have great partners called Skoolz4kids. The school bags, which our First Year pupils packed, formed part of a consignment of 1,600 for children at Carter Basic Cycle School.
Equestrian News
Autumn Events
Our equestrians have continued their winning ways into the Autumn Term. Some of the team headed to Littleton Manor, in Surrey, for a Hunter Trial in early November, with amazing results. Freya H (First Year) secured 1st place in the 50cm class, while Chip B (Second Year) also took 1st in the 80cm category. Third Years, Hugo B and Jocelyn H, earned fourth place in the 70cm class and finished in 3rd place in the 80cm category respectively. This came shortly after Fourth Year, Rosie T, had competed at Coombelands in the 70-75cm show jumping class, placing 11th in a highly competitive field with intense, fast-paced rounds.
Success at Hickstead
Six students competed at the Hurst College National Jumping Championships at Hickstead in June. The Junior section was represented by Aneka W (Third Year), Jocelyn H, Sophia M, and Hugo B (Second Year), and Sixth Formers, Megan B and Katie S, competed in the Senior Section. The Juniors successfully qualified in the first round of jumping, and Jocelyn and Aneka also qualified as individuals with clear rounds. The team finished in an impressive sixth place. They all enjoyed the experience of a lap of honour in the International Arena, with some lovely rosettes. Megan competed in the Senior 1m section, qualifying to jump in the International Arena, another brilliant result for our Senior School Equestrian Team.
Model United Nations
The final MUN conference of the year, hosted by Hurstpierpoint College, saw 16 Churcher's students engage in lively debates on a range of global issues. Despite busy schedules, the students' dedication to research ensured resolutions were thoroughly discussed and passed. Topics ranged from medical tourism, to religious freedoms, and sporting events in human rights-abusing states. Scott A spoke with confidence on Israel-Gaza relations, while a surprise Crisis topic— a killer virus spreading from Turkey—added a dramatic twist. Joe N, playing Israel’s delegate, delivered a memorable speech proposing extreme action. The students' hard work paid off with Joe winning a silver medal, Scott earning gold for his committee work, and Israel's team taking the General Assembly trophy.
Will Lall at No 10!
Sixth Former, Will Lall, a dedicated WWF Youth Ambassador for the past six years, has become a prominent advocate for climate and biodiversity issues. Over the years, Will has hosted webinars, represented young people at global events like COP26, worked with conservation teams, and developed climate campaigns. Recently, Will played an instrumental role in producing the Living Planet Report (LPR) Youth Edition, a simplified version of WWF’s bi-annual report on climate change and biodiversity loss. Collaborating with 24 young ambassadors from around the world, he helped analyse data and present key findings in a way that resonates with young people. The Youth Edition was launched on 24 October, and Will is seen here hand delivering it to No 10!
10 - 13 February 2025
The Festival Hall, Petersfield, 7pm
Book: ChurchersCollege.com/WhatsOn