Art Week
We ended Spring Term with a Japanesethemed Arts Week, immersing the children in Japanese culture and traditions, especially Hanami. The curriculum included; Sumo in PE, tea ceremonies with handmade pottery teacups, and learning Sudoku. Infants impressed by counting in Japanese and painting numbers. Several classes wrote Haiku poems, some even set to music. Language lessons also focused on Japanese. Visiting artists enriched the week, notably EarthSong, who conducted a drumming workshop, and Sharon Hurst, who taught silk painting. Years 4 and 5 learned sushi-making from a chef at Little Fishes Sushi, while a parent and child taught origami to Years 1 to 3. Our piano teacher, Mrs. Hiroko-Banks, introduced Years 5 and 6 to calligraphy, providing insights into Japanese classroom life. Mrs. Foley inspired a cherry blossom piano decoration project, with pottery blossoms by Years 3 to 6. The week ended with a Japanese-themed lunch enjoyed by all!
Book Week
In March, we celebrated World Book Day with a week of reading events, featuring three awardwinning authors who inspired our children to read and write. The week began with Ali Sparkes, Blue Peter Award-winning author of ’Frozen in Time’, and other acclaimed titles. A former BBC journalist and comedian, Ali captivated KS2 students with her humour and a time-traveling contraption, sparking a love for books. Next, Sam Sedgman, co-author of the ’Adventures on Trains’ series, led engaging workshops. His passion for trains and detective stories was evident as he shared thrilling locomotive journeys from his non-fiction book ’Epic Adventures’ and discussed his mystery novel ’Clockwork Conspiracy’. His enthusiasm led to a surge in book sales locally. On World Book Day itself, children participated in character hunts, story-sharing with other year groups, and a book-themed assembly by Year 6, all while wearing slippers! The week concluded with Sophy Henn, creator of ’Where Bear?’ and the ’Pizazz’ series. She dazzled students with her drawing skills, helping them create their own superheroes. Her visit was a delightful end to an inspiring and fun-filled week!
Nursery
The children have enjoyed another fun-filled term in the Nursery. From camp fires to farms, the children have embraced their play and learning. With friendships blossoming along the way, the children are ready to embark on their next adventure in Reception or Owls class.
Temporary building site
Little daisies
Flower printing
Looking after our seedlings
Blowing bubbles Pulling weeds
Careful cutting
Collecting crabs
Making banana pancakes
Nature lover
Making a nest
Digger fun
Happy Land
A spot of fishing
Reception
A Beautiful Collage
We set up a Creation Station in the classroom where the children could select whichever collage items they wanted to create a beautiful garden picturethe results were stunning!
Making Shapes Fit
The children were investigating which shapes fit together and tesselate, creating these beautiful patterns whilst thinking about which shapes are the best to fit together snugly!
Building a Tower
The children were utterly mesmerised as this amazing tower started to take over our classroom, drawing children in as it got bigger and bigger; what a creation!
Looking after the baby in our role play area
Looking for the ducklings!
Fun on the farm with the little piggies!
Learning our Numbers
An important job in Dolphins is pegging the washing on the line. The t-shirts have numbers on them, and we have been working on odds and evens this week, so the children located the required numbers.
Growing Pains
As part of the work we were doing on the topic of ’Growing’, and the story ’Errols’s Garden’, the children planted and cared for their own sunflowers.
Dolphins on the train in the sunshine!
Music & Drama
Exam Time
At the end of the Spring Term, children who attend private music lessons at CCJS took their ABRSM exams during a home visit. The children received fantastic results across the board, which was well deserved after hours of practicing!
Jazz Band
This term has seen lots of new additions to Jazz Band, ready to perform at the PA Event on 21 June. The Ptrumpet and Pbone made their colourful appearances!
Teatime Concerts
We continue to hold regular Teatime Music Concerts for Years 1 & 2, 3 & 4, and 5 & 6. These concerts give the children an opportunity to perform a solo piece in front of their family and friends, which helps to give the children valuable performance skills. It also is a fantastic way to build up their confidence in performing in front of an audience.
Class Music
The children have all continued to enjoy their music lessons at CCJS & Nursery, incorporating music in an enjoyable manner throughout the school. Year 6 have enjoyed using ITC in their lessons to create wonderful music on Soundtrap, and they have also started to learn the songs for their play ’Bugsy Malone’. Year 5 have completed a unit on composing songs, which they enjoyed. Year 4 created beautiful music inspired by the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, ’Hanami’, while Year 3 used notes from the pentatonic scales to create beautiful melodies in honour of Chinese New Year. Year 2 were inspired by the music from ’The Planets’ by Holst, in their topic on Space; they then created their own Mars and Jupiter composition. Year 1 enjoyed learning how to use graphic notation to create music inspired by the topic Under the Sea. Reception learnt some fun hello songs, call and response songs, and they also added sound effects to ’We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, which helped to bring the story to life. Nursery learnt different action songs through the term, and they loved adding percussion to these songs.
Summer Festival
On the last Friday before half term, we enjoyed an afternoon of singing, dancing, and poetry at the Summer Festival of Performing Arts. The theme was Colour. Year 2 danced the maypole with colorful ribbons, while Year 1 performed country dances in colored t-shirts. Reception narrated The Rainbow Fish, and Nursery danced with ribbons to ’Into the Unknown’ from Frozen 2. Parents enjoyed poems and songs about color, and everyone joined to sing a song by Mr. Warren. The children, in their colourful attire, brought sunshine and smiles to the school.
Year 1
Art and DT
In Art and DT, the children have been working with a variety of media, including clay, collage, paints, charcoal, and papier-mâché. They have worked on both independent and whole class projects.
Maths
Maths has been lots of fun this term! The children have loved the practical application of the concepts they have learned. When looking at sharing items fairly, we called in the help of... Division Girl!
Geography
Year 1 have been looking at the United Kingdom, they understand the difference between human and physical features, and which of these they might find in towns and the countryside. This term, we have looked at weather. It was relaxing looking at cloud formations. We now have weather stations all around the classroom!
Science
In Science we have been exploring ice, light and dark and plants.
Den Building
We have been fortunate enough to go on two trips: to the church, and a day of den building in the woods.
Show and Tell
The children are developing confidence in speaking and listening, during our Show and Tell sessions. They have made noun cameras to identify different types of nouns and have explored lots of genres of writing.
Grandparents’ Afternoon
Early in the Spring Term, grandparents, family members, and close friends visited Year 2. The children were very excited to tour the school with them, create family trees, and share a wonderful afternoon tea. The afternoon ended with a beautifully performed rendition of ’I Once Saw an Elephant’.
Winchester
The children in Year 2 had a fantastic visit to Winchester Science Centre. They had lots of fun exploring all the fascinating exhibits housed at the science centre and loved making their own slime! The planetarium show topped off a wonderful day.
Year 2
Campfire
Year 2 had a great time fire-lighting and toasting their own marshmallows. They also enjoyed locating natural and man-made items for a scavenger hunt, as well as creating their own Andy Goldsworthy inspired sculptures.
Sophy Henn
When Sophy Henn visited Year 2, the children were fascinated to find out about her ’Lifesize’ series of books, and enjoyed hearing about some amazing true-life facts. Sophy then helped the children to draw their own versions of ’Bad Nana’.
Year 3
Art Week
Haslemere Museum
Year 3 went on a trip to the Haslemere Museum to further their learning on Ancient Egypt. They found out more about the pharaohs and how they were mummified for the afterlife. Our soft toys and action figures were the perfect models for wrapping up and everyone was relieved that no toys were harmed in the process!
Year 3 have been busy finishing their Chinese lion puppets and performing traditional dances with them. They have transformed yoghurt pots and cereal boxes, along with donated fabric, to make truly wonderful puppets. They have started studying Ancient Egyptian art and have made decorative collars using Egyptian symbols, like eagles and scarab beetles.
The Bee Musical
Year 3 really enjoyed learning all the songs and dances for ’The Bee Musical’. They performed brilliantly to the school and their parents, showing confidence in performing and wonderful teamwork. They sang with clear diction and worked hard in learning the lyrics for all the songs. Well done all!
Gilbert White Centre
Year 3 experienced quite a mix of weather during their Field Studies trip to Gilbert White Centre. It didn’t stop the excitement one bit, in fact it intensified as we investigated rocks and soil samples, and enjoyed slipping and sliding around in the mud on a visit to a local malm stone quarry and the food planting area of the gardens. So much great learning was packed into the day, bringing our Rocks and Soils unit to a close, and helping us to further investigate plants as part of our current Roots and Shoots work. A fantastic day to focus on science in a natural environment!
Stone Age Day
Year 3’s much anticipated Stone Age Day finally arrived! The children had a wonderful time taking a hands-on approach to learning more about Stone Age life, both around the campfire and in the outdoor classroom. We revisited key facts from the Spring Term, whilst experiencing new skills such as spear throwing and creating cave art.
Year 4
English
In English we have begun to analyse the text and enjoy the depths of the story ’Leon and the Place Between’ and all the children have enjoyed building their ’working walls’ in the classroom as each and every one of them contributes to the display.
Electricity
Our very exciting Science topic in Year 4 has been Electricity. Of course, the children have all been briefed in safety considerations and everyone has made a poster showing how to avoid the perils of misusing electricity. We also had huge fun making circuits, and trying to make buzzers buzz and bulbs light!
Art Week
Year 4 finished their ’shoes from scrap’ project, making high quality footwear from cardboard, cereal boxes and fabric off-cuts and experimenting with shape and form in many imaginative ways. They started a new project learning about how landscape art changed rapidly in the 1880s, when paints became portable and brighter colours were available, making copies of Impressionist, Pointillist, and Post-Impressionist, as well as Fauve artists.
Volcanoes
Year 4 have enjoyed their topic on Volcanoes which included making and exploding their very own volcano. Their studies included looking at the different layers of the Earth and making their own models out of plasticine - great fun and a very interesting topic it was, too!
Sport
Elite Swim Squad Success
The Elite Swim Squad have been working hard this year and have most recently put in some fantastic performances at the IAPS Regional Swimming Qualifiers. George S qualified 2nd in the county with his speedy performance in the 50m backstroke at 36 seconds. Unfortunately, due to injury he cannot compete in the finals, but we are all immensely proud of his success in the qualifiers, and wish him a hasty recovery.
Phenomenal Football!
The Year 6 Girls’ Football Team travelled to take part in the U11 ISFA Regional Girls’ Football tournament, with schools from all over Hampshire and Surrey participating. Our girls started brilliantly, winning their first three games 3-1, 1-0, and 5-1, and losing their last group match 2-0. These brilliant results led to them qualifying for the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost 2-0 to the overall tournament winners. They played phenomenally throughout the afternoon, with incredible enthusiasm, teamwork, and skill all on show. These factors led to their success and enabled them to reach the semi-finals of a highly contested tournament, which is an incredible achievement.
Netball Festival
Welcoming staff, students, and spectators from CCJS and Brookham, we were blessed with an afternoon of smiles and skills strewn across the courts. Every child persevered with resilience throughout the afternoon, passing, and moving and shooting across the court. Games were inclusive, yet competitive, and it was a treat to see how far the children have progressed with their performance as well as their knowledge and understanding of the game.
Rugby 7s Touranment
The annual Churcher’s U11 Rugby 7s tournament was another huge success, with 14 teams competing across A Team and B Team events. The fantastic weather was a sign of things to come on the rugby pitches, with both teams playing some standout rugby, whilst also showing impressive teamwork and resilience throughout. Churcher’s A Team won their first five matches and finished in second place after a final match showdown against Aldro. Not to be outdone, Churcher’s B Team finished on a high, with a 4-0 victory over Boundary Oak. All involved should be very proud of themselves for contributing to a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Year 6 House Swim Gala
The Year 6 House Swimming Gala saw every child competing in every stroke to gain precious points for their House. There has been so much progress across the cohort, it was thrilling to see so many tight finishes driven by technique, power, and sheer determination. The Butterfly exhibition races were a sight to behold and left parents and spectators in awe of the strength and timing in the pool. Our fastest swimmers are to be celebrated: for the girls, Isabella A took Gold, Georga H Silver, and Emily H Bronze, and in the same place for the boys, congratulations go to George S, Brendan W, and Wilf G.
Year 6 Hockey
The Year 6 hockey tournament was another memorable event, highlighting the talents and sportsmanship of young hockey players. The A Team’s narrow miss for the gold medal and the B Team’s triumph in their division, made the tournament a significant milestone for the school. Both teams demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and a commendable spirit of competition. Their performances have set a high standard for future tournaments and inspired their peers.
Year
Year 5
Experimenting
Experiments have also been a key part of the Year 5 Science curriculum, focusing on accurate measuring and creating a fair test.
Petersfield Music Festival
Year 5 took part in the combined children’s choir as part of the Petersfield Music Festival. They sang brilliantly and enjoyed a variety of songs from ’Oliver!’, as well as five new songs all about Petersfield.
A visit to the Mary Rose
As part of their Tudor topic, Year 5 visited the amazing Mary Rose Museum. Pupils loved the 4D experience, which explained how the Mary Rose was rescued from The Solent, as well as finding out about some of the amazing artefacts that had been found onboard the wreck. A highlight had to be dressing up as Tudors and seeing what was left of the wreck.
Art Week
Year 5 have designed and made CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) toys using tech card. They have understood how to use CAM to create movement up and down and round and round, and have created super imaginative toys to a high quality.
Young Shakespeare Company
The Young Shakespeare Company led Year 5 in an epic workshop retelling the story of Henry V. Famous lines such as, ’Cry ’God for Harry, England and Saint George’’, were shouted with gusto during the performance, and made for a very memorable afternoon!
Blast off!
3, 2, 1... Blast off! Year 5 loved their Science topic all about Space, learning about phases of the moon through Oreo cookies, reading about astronaut Chris Hadfield, and creating a scale model of the solar system using fruit. It was all out of this world!
Year 6
Au Revoir!
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their week away in France. The snail eating, market trip to buy lunch, goat milking, bread making, tour of Boulogne, and the Nausica aquarium visit were all memorable highlights. The children represented the school superbly and have developed their understanding of the French language and culture.
Writing Workshop
Year 6 enjoyed a workshop with Sam Sedgman, author of bestselling books including ’The Clockwork Conspiracy’, ’The Highland Falcon Thief’, and ’Epic Adventures’. Sam took the children on a journey of creating a piece of writing, by using the ideas and stimuli he employs for writing his own books.
World War Two Research
Year 6 have been working hard on their World War Two Home Front task since the beginning of term, and have produced some very impressive research projects, both on Google slides and some very large-scale sheets of paper.
Book Week Assembly
In celebration of book week, 6NR based their assembly on the power of books and classic literary characters. They looked at the benefits of reading through the lens of a child who hates to read and doesn’t see the point of it, but who is eventually won around to the wonders of books.
Adventurous Activities
Gold DofE
Hiking
The Gold Final Hiking Expedition took place in the summer halfterm but the conditions could hardly be described as summer! Rain and near-freezing temperatures persisted as the students ascended mountains, hindered by fog that complicated navigation and obscured views. The terrain was wet and boggy underfoot, which made for slow progress and led to some rerouting and adjustment of camping locations. As the 4-day expedition progressed, the weather improved, the fog lifted, and the students were able to experience the sense of space and the majesty of the Lake District. Kit and resolve were fully challenged, and all teams successfully passed the expedition.
Canoeing
Three teams of canoeists paddled for five days on the River Wye over half term, starting at Whitney-on-Wye and finishing in Ross-on-Wye. The river level itself was significantly higher than normal, which created greater navigational challenges as features that would normally be visible such as beaches, were under the water. The teams did fantastically well, in almost every type of weather, and a special mention for the team whose aim for the expedition was to collect litter along the journey; they removed a shopping trolley from the river and paddled with it in their canoe for two days!
Buckingham Palace
In May, 30 current students and OCs who achieved their Gold Award attended a Celebration Event at Buckingham Palace, joining over 8,000 other Gold Award holders. The event honoured their perseverance, creativity, and resilience. It was a chance to reminisce about their challenging practice expedition in harsh weather and their sunny final assessed expedition in the Lake District. His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh congratulated them in a speech from the Palace’s West Terrace, and mingled with attendees, discussing the positive impact of their DofE experience
DofE Bronze Expedition
A total of 12 teams of Third Year students trekked their way across the New Forest over two days, carrying everything they needed on their backs, in order to complete the Bronze DofE Expedition Section. Luckily, they enjoyed dry sunny weather but the recent prolonged wet had created bogs everywhere, some of which were not easy to spot and swallowed up their boots! The groups encountered the free-roaming ponies, donkeys, and cattle, and enjoyed the remoteness and views.
OSCA
This term OSCAneers have completed the evening programme, culminating in an overnight expedition where they put into practice the skills and knowledge they gained from these evening sessions. Walking in small teams, they covered some 15km and converged at the end of the day at our campsite, just north of Stedham, where they cooked their own pizzas, baked potatoes, popcorn, chocolate bananas, and, of course, s’mores; an enjoyable experience for all involved! Students have also completed a Watercraft Day at Cobnor Activities Centre, where they explored Chichester Harbour in canoes and kayaks. They also crafted handmade rafts, which were very successful!
Devizes to Westminster
Huge congratulations to the crews who represented Churcher’s in this year’s Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race over the Easter weekend, for which they had spent six months training very hard, often in freezing and very wet conditions. The race itself was once again cut short, finishing in Reading, a repeat of 2023, due to incredibly high river levels, which also made conditions extremely tricky, but not beyond the paddlers’ ability and determination. A big shout out to our female crews that won the junior ladies class! Very well done!
Ten Tors
Ten Tors is a challenging, large-scale outdoor event in Britain aimed solely at young people. Held every May on Dartmoor, it involves 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six navigating routes of 35, 45, or 55 miles, visiting ten tors/checkpoints in under two days. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all their gear and camping overnight. Two Fourth Year teams took on the 35-mile route, while one Lower Sixth team attempted the 45-mile route. Impressively, two teams finished first in their sections, and the third placed 6th/16. Despite the challenges, and blisters, the students enjoyed the event’s ’buzz’, views, and sense of space and wilderness.
Amadeus
Churcher’s College presented a captivating performance of Peter Shaffer’s ’Amadeus’, a challenging play known for its length and complexity, but one at which our young cast excelled. Standing out were the Venticelli, a gossipy group played with infectious energy by a team of six girls. The court officials, Emperor, and supporting roles were all well-acted, conveying a sense of tradition and subtle humour. Central to the play are Mozart, Constanze, and Salieri. Joe Nighy’s portrayal of Mozart captured the essence of the character without resorting to caricature. Mariella Brinded’s Constanze was both strong and vulnerable, especially in a moving scene with her dying husband. However, the play belongs to Salieri, the narrator and constant presence onstage. Jackson George delivered a powerful performance, allowing the audience to understand Salieri’s motivations and manipulations. The production was further enhanced by the impressive set and costumes, transporting the audience to 19th Century Vienna. The backstage crew seamlessly managed lighting and sound, contributing to the overall success. This was indeed an exceptional performance, a testament to the talent and dedication of the cast and crew, with clear storytelling, energetic acting, and a captivating theatrical experience. Bravo!
Senior Cabaret
The opening night of the biennial Senior School Cabaret was a resounding success, with the Sports Hall transformed into a late-night lounge bar more suited to Soho than Ramshill! From the Jazz Band’s electrifying opener to a range of soulful and upbeat renditions by soloists and ensembles, the audience were dazzled by an astonishing range of talent. Throughout the evening, the dynamic live band provided an energetic backdrop, seamlessly supporting the individual acts. While a few technical hitches caused minor delays, student compères, Joe and Rosie, skilfully navigated the programme with their witty repartee and comedic timing, keeping the atmosphere light and engaging. Overall, the Senior School Cabaret was a testament to the students’ dedication and artistic abilities. It provided a thoroughly entertaining evening, showcasing the very best of Churcher’s Performing Arts.
Dance
Dance Squad have once again been performing a wide variety of dance styles. At the end of the Spring Term the Advanced group performed a contemporary number to ’Waving Through a Window’ at Senior Cabaret and Rosie performed a tap solo for her Sports Science NEA. This term, the Tap Group performed the finale from ’42nd Street’, the Intermediate Group performed a jazz number to ’Let’s Get Loud’ and the Junior Group performed a contemporary dance to Coldplay song in the Drama and Dance showcase. Latin and Ballroom Club also began this year, with Mrs Naylor and Ms Clements teaching the Junior squad lifts in their contemporary lessons. Dance squad stepped out of the studio for a social trip to see the Royal Ballet performing Sleeping Beauty, inspirational!
STEAM
Global Women’s Breakfast
In celebration of UN International Women’s Day, Churcher’s held an event to emphasise the importance of gender balance in Chemistry. Guest speaker Emma Demetriades, a partner at Carpmaels & Ransford, highlighted the significance of her Chemistry degree in her career. The Global Women’s Breakfast, organized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), is part of a series addressing gender equality barriers in science. The event celebrates women’s achievements in science and inspires young individuals to pursue scientific careers. It brings together thousands of women chemists worldwide to expand professional networks, raise awareness of the challenges faced by women scientists, and foster a supportive environment for women to excel.
Space Design Challenge
In March, a team of Churcher’s students competed in the National Finals of the UK Space Design Competition at Imperial College, London. After winning the qualifying heat in October, they advanced to the finals with 24 other schools. Their project focused on designing a space elevator and included a detailed 40-page document titled ’Between the Earth and the Moon’, which they spent 22 hours planning. Led by Sixth Form student Caitlin, they presented their design to a panel of judges and achieved the runners-up position. Notably, team member Olly received a special prize for his ’Silent Leader’ contributions, significantly aiding their success from behind the scenes.
SATRO Challenge
This year’s SATRO Problem Solving Challenge saw teams from various schools compete to design and build a device to transport blocks using an elastic band. In March, Third Year, Fourth Year, and Lower Sixth teams went to George Abbot School in Guildford for the regional heat, where they had two hours to create their devices. Despite the challenge, all teams devised impressive solutions, with the Sixth Formers even redesigning theirs just before the deadline. Their efforts paid off: Third Years placed third, Fourth Years second, and Lower Sixth first, earning a spot in the Grand Final, where they put in another impressive performance. This rewarding experience showcased their engineering potential and promising futures.
Caitlin’s Success
Upper Sixth student Caitlin Stevens has been selected to become part of the UK Team in the International Space Settlement Design Competition that takes place at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida this July. She is one of only 12 chosen to represent the UK out of some 270 students who reached the national finals earlier this year. This represents a significant honour for Caitlin and follows a similar honour awarded to OC Daisy Taylor last year. Very well done Caitlin, we hope your trip is out of this world!
Chemistry Olympiad
Four Upper Sixth and 22 Lower Sixth students participated in the first round of the Chemistry Olympiad, an international competition to find the best young chemists. The initial round, held in January, involves an exam primarily for Upper Sixth students, though Lower Sixth students can also enter. Out of 14,915 A Level students nationwide, 79% were placed in the top three categories; of which the top 8% earned Gold Certificates, the next 25% Silver. Congratulations to our students for their achievements: three Gold, four Silver, and ten Bronze. Special recognition goes to the Lower Sixth students who answered questions beyond their current coursework!
U3A Workshops
In recent months, we hosted evening workshops for the University of the Third Age, featuring activities like dissecting fish gills and building electromagnets. This term, participants engaged in blueprinting, using school chemicals to create UV light-exposed pigments. The sunny weather allowed for a tea break and a stroll through the May gardens while their images developed. Participants were thrilled with their successful blueprints!
STEAM Day
At the end of their exams, Third Years participated in hands-on activities themed around bridges as part of the STEAM initiative. They faced challenges set by the Science, Art, Design and Technology, and Maths Departments to enhance their intellectual, creative, and teamwork skills. Our visiting German exchange students contributed notably to the teams, whose challenges included the DT Department’s competition for the strongest bridge (won by a team from Drake). Prizes for the best architectural models went to Rocco T and Alex P and the final challenge, designing a bridge held together by its own weight and friction between the planks, was won by Collingwood with an impressive 5.80m span!
Biology Field Trip to Slapton
In May, Lower Sixth biology students visited a National Nature Reserve in south Devon for an immersive fieldwork experience in ancient oak woodland, inaccessible to the public. They studied ecological energetics in the stream, set overnight humane mammal traps and a moth trap, capturing two healthy wood mice and numerous moths. On a sunny Sunday, they used systematic sampling to study succession on the shingle ridge habitat along Slapton line. That evening, they enjoyed a bat walk in the village, observing lesser horseshoe and pipistrelle bats. On the final day, they conducted a limpet shell morphology and zonation study at Gorah Rocks, completing tasks quickly due to the sunny weather, and finished with statistical analyses while enjoying ice creams on the village green.
Sixth Form
A Day in London
37 Lower Sixth students had an enriching day in London, delving into their A Level topics on Churchill and the Second World War. Their first stop, the recently refurbished Imperial War Museum, offered compelling exhibits on the Holocaust and the Second World War. The students explored various exhibits on different theatres of war and personal mementos, adding a personal touch. They also visited the Supreme Court, listening in on a session, before concluding their day at the Cabinet War Rooms. This insightful trip provided valuable insights into Churchill’s leadership during the Second World War and the Cold War era. A great trip and one to be repeated!
Across the Generations
Three members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) came in to school to chat to Sixth Form students. It was a chance to exchange ideas and gain an understanding of the different perspectives each had on a number of topics ranging from Brexit, the war in Ukraine, social media, VAT on school fees, and wokeness. A lively conversation was enjoyed by all.
Sports Science Trip
The Lower Sixth Sports Scientists began their day at Cardiff Met University in the Biomechanics laboratories, studying anatomy, physiology, and motion capture video analysis. They practiced placing markers on each other and explored movement analysis software and force plates. Some students completed a VO2 max test on a treadmill or bike, while the entire group participated in the Wingate Test to measure anaerobic power. The afternoon concluded with an ultrasound demonstration of Ollie’s heart, where students learned to measure ventricular size, ejection fraction, and stroke volume, gaining insights into the cardiac system.
Team Churcher’s Sports Dinner
Lower Sixth Enrichment
This year’s Lower Sixth Enrichment program has seen the pupils experience a wide variety of workshops throughout the year, covering a spectrum of topics from thought provoking sessions, such as life lessons and CV writing to creative workshops, including pottery and dancing. Our first external presenter this term was Abi Foster, who gave the students a whistle stop tour of ’Everything Finance’, which covered payslips to pensions and beyond! Rick Findler’s war journalism lecture was hard hitting, and not only prompted many of the students to ask questions but to also try on his flak jacket and gas mask.
Prefect Training
The newly elected Prefect Body started the Summer Term by putting their filmmaking skills to the test with the One Day Film School. In the morning, they learned the essentials of film creation, including film history, fight choreography, camera angles, and screenwriting. In the afternoon, students took the 10 Shot Challenge: to create a short film (2 mins maximum) based on a classic film plot to premiere at the end of the day. Pupils selfallocated a role within their film crew (writer, director, producer, screenwriter, actors) and the groups gelled exceptionally well, showing great leadership and teamwork, and no-one missed the deadline. The standard was very high, and awarding the Best Picture Oscar was a tough decision... but congratulations to ’Handbag Heist’, which triumphed in the end! .
Marathon Success
Upper Sixth students, Tommy and Rory, participated in the London Marathon in April, taking a break from A Level revision. They trained several times a week for four months, and on the day were cheered on by fellow Sixth Formers. Both achieved sub-4 hour times, with Rory finishing at 3:47 and Tommy at 3:57, raising more than £4,000 for The Gauchers Association. Well done to both!
Army
In March, Fourth Year and Lower Sixth Army cadets participated in Exercise Striking Tiger at Longmoor training area. This overnight exercise tested skills learned over two years, including the use of L98A2 rifles with blank ammunition for realistic scenarios. Armed with a grid reference and a map, cadets were tasked with patrolling a kilometre to a defendable harbour area, whilst carrying full equipment and rations. Despite persistent rain, they navigated challenging terrain and successfully responded to an enemy ambush by the Hampshire Freedom Fighters. The exercise showcased their tactical and weapon handling skills, building the platoon’s resilience and reinforcing the value of the Cadet Force for all participants.
RAF
During the Summer Term, cadets have been getting out and about in nature, learning to camouflage themselves into their environment using shelters and camo paint. They learned that texture and pattern are essential for disguising themselves from the enemy… but that less is more when trying to remove it! Our Fourth Year cadets took to the pool in kayaks, whilst the Third Years learnt field first aid. A March field day at RAF Odiham showcased Chinook flights, hands-on experiences with the armoury guided by the RAF Regiment, and insightful career discussions with pilots whilst sat inside a helicopter.
Royal Navy Field Day
Navy cadets enjoyed a wonderful day at Queen Elizabeth country park for their Spring Field Day, sampling three different activities: mountain biking, orienteering, and laser squad battles in the forest. The focus of the day was for the cadets to integrate across the year groups and they all demonstrated great leadership, which will no doubt stand them in good stead as they progress through the school. Teamwork was also an important focus of the day and it was wonderful to see how quickly the groups managed to bond, especially in the heat of laser squad battles!
Tri-Service Orienteering
On the evening of 19 March, 120 Third Year cadets competed in our annual navigational challenge, orienteering around Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Although generally dry on the day, the very wet spring had made ground conditions challenging with some predictable outcomes. However, three teams rose from the mire to score the most points in the limited time window. Event honours went to the (mostly) RAF team of Theo N, Ethan L, Alex P, and Jack A, with Army teams close behind in second and third place.
D-Day Remembered
On June 6, Petersfield Town Council marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day operation, the largest amphibious invasion in history, with an Act of Remembrance. The ceremony, attended by the Mayor, Royal British Legion members, EHDC Ward Councillors, and cadets from Churcher’s College CCF representing the Army, RAF and RN services, included a march from Petersfield Square to the War Memorial for wreath-laying.
Changing of the Guard
Summer Term brings the annual changing of the guard, when we bid farewell to our departing Upper Sixth NCOs and welcome their Lower Sixth replacements. Our particular thanks go to WO1 Elliot Davies (Army), WO2 Will Hewett (RN), WO2 Rory Hodges (Army), and Flt Sgt Harvey Gardner (RAF). We welcome our new lead cadets WO1 Alfie Greggs (RN), WO2 Henry Murphy (RN), WO2 Toby Medley (Army), and Flt Sgt Jess Tomalin (RAF).
Easter Camp
In the last week of the Easter break we conducted our largest ever CCF camp, with 67 cadets and eight officers, on the Isle of Wight for a week of water sports Adventurous Training. Based at the UKSA centre in West Cowes, the cadets endured the island’s highest ever recorded tide and the tail end of Storm Kathleen. Despite the challenging wind and tidal flow conditions at the start of the week, we enjoyed a very full programme afloat on SUPs, kayaks, dinghies, windsurfers, keelboats and self-built rafts, and took part in a pool-based sea survival exercise. With good kit, excellent instruction, plentiful food, and great enthusiasm, everyone rose to the challenges set and had their water comfort zones stretched.
Music
Petersfield Music Festival
Churcher’s students shone at the Petersfield Music Festival’s sold-out Youth Concerts over two nights at the Festival Hall. Collaborating with musicians from TPS, Ditcham Park, and Bedales, the Combined Wind Band (nearly 90 members!) impressed with a West Side Story medley and ’Radetzky March’. The Combined Jazz Band kept toes tapping with ’Tank!’ and ’The Jazz Police’. Churcher’s musicians also performed solos and accompaniments. They can’t wait for next year!
A Visit From the Junior School
The Senior School hosted a musical treat for lucky Junior School students! Mr Cree showcased brass instruments with a unique comedy routine, while Mrs Purchase spoke proudly about string instruments and introduced a beautiful quartet performance. Mr James’ Wind Band impressed with ’Mission: Impossible’, and even let a student conduct Strauss’s iconic ’Radetzky March!’ It was an uplifting day filled with laughter and music!
Upper Sixth Musicians Dinner
Saying goodbye to our talented Upper Sixth musicians is always bittersweet. This exceptional year group (32 strong!) have impressed from day one with ’School of Rock’ and a Summer Concert at Cadogan Hall in their First Year! Sadly, their planned performance of ’Addams Family’ fell foul of Covid, but they bravely returned to the Cabaret stage in 2021. We’ve cherished their growth and performances, and wish them all the best for their futures!
Lower School Recital
A fantastic display of talent was on show at the end of February at the Lower School Recital, with various soloists and eight ensembles from the First to Third Year. The Lower School Strings kicked things off with well-known songs from ’Beauty and the Beast’, followed by the Lower School Brass Group, Second Year
Strings, Lower School Choir, Wind Band, Guitar Group, and a dazzling finale of ’Autumn Leaves’ by the Lower School Jazz Group. A highlight was the student-led Highway Band performing ’Tequila’, proving rehearsals and great performances can happen without teachers!
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Music Department treated 44 GCSE and A Level students to a ’popular classics’ concert by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Portsmouth Guildhall. The evening opened with Rossini’s Overture to ’The Thieving Magpie’ and moved on to Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto. After the interval, the orchestra brought Bizet’s fiery ’Carmen’ suite to life, followed by the dreamlike beauty of Debussy’s ’Clair de Lune.’ The concert concluded with Gershwin’s ’An American in Paris,’ a musical postcard of Parisian life. With a varied program offering something for everyone, it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening for all.
Spring Concert
The uplifting Spring Concert at St. Peter’s Church featured a delightful mix of music. The orchestra’s ’What’s Up at the Symphony?’ added a cartoonish twist to familiar melodies, while Caitlin Stevens’ oboe solo in ’Gabriel’s Oboe’ offered a serene contrast. The SSA Choir entertained with an ABBA medley, and the Junior Choir were full of energy as usual! The Lower School Chamber Choir produced the most beautiful harmonies, and the ever-expanding Barbershop delivered a stirring performance of ’Caravan of Love’. The Senior Strings’ performance of Holst’s ’St. Paul’s Suite’ showcased the church’s acoustics. The Senior Chamber Choir impressed with Rachmaninov’s ’Bogorditse Devo’ and Mealor’s ’Coronation Kyrie’, featuring Ross Calvert’s solo. The concert concluded with the Senior Choir’s renditions of Coldplay’s ’Fix You’ and a rousing Queen’s ’Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Sport
Rugby
Our U14, U16, and U18 7s team attended the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s competition at the end of March and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Playing some very strong schools from across the country, all squads did Churcher’s Rugby proud.
U13 Girls Cricket
In March, the U12/13 girls’ cricket team competed in the ECB indoor finals at the Utilita Bowl, Hampshire’s county ground and won two of their three games, leaving them in a tie for first place. Unfortunately, it went down to runs scored and they therefore sadly fell short by the smallest of margins. Nevertheless, they will take a great amount of confidence into the new season and even though the girls were disappointed at not going through to represent Hampshire, they showed great sportsmanship in congratulating the eventual winners.
Cross Country
21 First and Second Year students qualified from the South East district event to represent the area at the Hampshire Cross Country Championships in Basingstoke. As has become a badge of honour in recent times, the school had the highest proportion of athletes of any school in our area; 7 students achieved top 16 finishes to progress to the Inter Counties Championships. With 40+ runners every week at Run Club, teams qualifying for national finals, and teams winning at the Chichester Corporate Challenge, it has been a term to remember!
Hockey
A massive congratulations to our U12 Boys A team, who finished runners-up in the South-Central Hockey tournament at the end of the Spring Term!
Indoor Cricket
The Churcher’s girls’ U13 and U12 combined indoor squad played incredibly well and tied for first place in the ECB indoor tournament, which took place at the indoor nets at Hampshire’s county ground earlier this term. It was fantastic to see how the girls improved with every game, their confidence and performance growing with every match. They are looking forward to a Summer Term full of outdoor cricket – hopefully in the sun!
Marbella Tennis Tour
36 Wimbledon hopefuls headed to Marbella for a pre-season training camp at Los Monteros Tennis Club, guided by eight professional coaches. Over three days, they engaged in four hours of daily training on Astro and red clay courts, perfecting their serves, forehands, backhands, and volleys. The rigorous sessions led to noticeable improvements in their matchplay and doubles partnerships. Off the courts, they enjoyed swimming in the large outdoor pool, playing volleyball on the beach, and participating in indoor and outdoor table tennis and football matches. A quiz night added to the fun, making the five-day camp a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Bath Cup
Churcher’s swimmers have continued to shine, competing against numerous schools and across all age groups to showcase their talent. A highlight was traveling up to The London Aquatic Centre to compete in The Bath Cup. Our teams swam brilliantly, with our girls team (Nicole P, Lottie J, Kitty H and Lily J) coming 8th in the final of the 4x50m freestyle relay. Our boys team (Felix B, Alex P, Finn G and Misha K) came 10th in the final of the 4x50m medley relay. Micha’s 50m freestyle leg was particularly impressive, competing against mainly Sixth Form students and beating five of their times with a speedy 25.4s!
Road To Wimbledon
The Play Your Way to Wimbledon is a fun, open, nationwide competition for all pupils in the First, Second, and Third Years. The winners of this event qualify for the County Finals, the winning players of which are invited to compete at the National Finals at Wimbledon in August! This year, Churcher’s had 30 girls and 40 boys compete, which consisted of group stages, semi-finals, and finals. It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic tennis players playing some brilliant tennis on a lovely sunny afternoon! We wish our winners Ariana and Tobias the best of luck when they represent Churcher’s at the County finals in June!
Extra-Curricular
Robo-Dragons Den
The Computing Department’s collaboration with the Junior School to ease the transition into Senior School culminated in the Spring Term with the ’Robo-Dragon’s Den’ competition. Year 6 pupils worked in teams to design and present a robot solving a specific problem. The competition showcased amazing designs and brilliant teamwork. Choosing a winner was challenging, so a runner-up team was also selected. Both teams excelled with their innovative ideas and hard work. The winners received Bluetooth speakers, while the runners-up were awarded mini 3D-printed robots, both thoroughly deserving their prizes.
Careers Convention
The Sports Hall provided the venue for this year’s Careers Convention in March, featuring 60 organizations and sector representatives, with mini-lectures in the Donald Brooks Auditorium. Around 300 pupils and parents attended, engaging with exhibitors and listening to informative talks. Highlights included a ’Gap Year Focus’, with advice and opportunities, and notable speakers from Defra APHA and Ernst & Young, and also a talk from OC Toby Swindells, who shared his journey from student to property professional. The event was both inspirational and informative, offering valuable insights and guidance to attendees.
Sixth Form historians and visiting students from Godalming College. He examined Napoleon’s revolutionary actions, such as national sovereignty, merit-based careers, legal equality, and the use of the tricolour flag, while also noting Napoleon’s resistance to revolutionary ideals like the separation of powers and elective government. Doyle argued that life under Napoleon was significantly better than before, as he ended the terror and de-Christianization, thus spreading revolutionary changes across Europe. He concluded that the so-called restoration period restored little from pre-1789, and this was Napoleon’s revolutionary achievement.
Professor Emeritus William Doyle Napoleon & The Revolution
ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES
Art Project
During the Spring Term, Third Year students participated in a ’Material World’ project set by the Crafts Council and supported by the Eden Project, which focused on the climate crisis and sustainability. They learned textile techniques like weaving, embroidery, and darning, and, inspired by artist Celia Pym, repaired or embellished items of their choice. It was delightful to see jeans resized, socks darned, and pencil cases repaired, sparking lively discussions about consumerism and the environment. Special mention goes to Katie Welsh for her outstanding embroidery inspired by Van Gogh’s ’Starry Night’ on a pair of old jeans.
Continued Equestrian Success
Four Churcher’s College riders, Amelia D, Jocelyn H, Sophia M and Aneka W, competed at the National Eventers Challenge Championships in May, qualifying in two heights. The team achieved exceptional results, placing 5th out of 36 schools in the 90/95 class (beating several top schools) and 12th out of 56 in the 80/85 class. Individual rider Aneka also impressed, finishing 15th and 26th respectively, placing her within the top 10% nationally for both heights. This is the second year in a row Churcher’s has placed a team at the 90/95 National Championships.
Public Speaking
Last term, our English-Speaking Union team, Jessie, Zhara, and Thomas, won the South Regional Final of the ESU Public Speaking Competition. In an impressive performance, Thomas won ’Best Questioner,’ securing a spot in the national finals at Cambridge University in May, where they reached the final six after a successful semi-final at Churchill College. Jessie delivered a highly praised speech on ’Sometimes sorry is not enough,’ and Thomas posed thought-provoking questions. Zhara excelled as Chairperson, winning the Best Chairperson award. Despite a close final, they did not prevail, but their performance was outstanding, and they should be very proud.
An Audience With...
Nasser Hussain
On Wednesday, April 24, Sky Sports cricket commentator and former England Captain, Nasser Hussain OBE, addressed more than 400 fans in the Sports Hall, sharing his experiences and anecdotes. He arrived early to watch the First XI play against the MCC and led a coaching session for the under-12s. The main event, hosted by cricket enthusiast Clive Shore, featured Nasser answering questions about his career, including his toughest opponents and his record test score of 207 runs. The evening concluded with a lively auction led by TV auctioneer Jonathan Pratt, raising more than £10,000 for Maddy’s Mark, a charity in memory of Old Churcherian, Maddy Lawrence.
Grill Lecture 2024
For the annual Grill Lecture, racing driver, Charlie Martin, shared her inspiring story with Churcher’s pupils. As the first transgender driver to compete in the Nurburgring 24-hour race, Charlie discussed overcoming adversity to succeed as her true self. She met students to talk about racing, her childhood, and future plans before addressing the audience with her trophy and racing helmet in hand. Charlie’s openness about her struggles and achievements encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zones. Her infectious enthusiasm for life left us all feeling revved up!
Charlie Martin
The 2024 Grill Lecture Tuesday 23 April 2024
7pm Sports Hall
ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES
Churcherians on Tour!
A New Venue for Young Francophiles!
This year saw a new venue for the Lower School French trip: Château de Warsy in Picardy and included: 52 students, five teachers, one film crew, one stunning château, a very successful coach tour to the Somme area, four days of French immersion, and lots of visits, as well as the opportunity to name some newborn kids! ’Nous sommes arrivés en France le vendredi 22 mars. Ensuite, nous sommes allés dans une ferme apicole, le miel était super. Après notre arrivée au château de Warsy, c’était beau, nous avons visité la ville d’Amiens, son marché et sa cathédrale. Nous sommes aussi allés dans une ferme de chèvres, elles étaient très mignonnes. Au château, on a fait des crêpes et de la mayonnaise. Le dernier jour nous sommes allés à la chocolaterie et le chocolat était bon’. Lara, First Year.
Students’ Salamanca Sojourn
At the end of March, 29 students traveled to Salamanca, a historic city located two hours west of Madrid, to improve their Spanish language skills. They stayed with local families and attended four hours of Spanish lessons each morning, which they enjoyed. During breaks, they practiced ordering tapas or drinks at Plaza Mayor. Afternoons were spent exploring local monuments and museums. Activities included a Latin American dance lesson with a Peruvian teacher, a cookery class to make ’tortilla española,’ and trips to Avila and Segovia, where they visited the Roman Aqueduct and the Alcazar.
Paris au Printemps
30 A Level students headed to Paris as part of their History A Level enrichment. They had a very well-informed guided tour of revolutionary Paris from the legendary Mr McLearie; taking in the Tuileries gardens, the Sorbonne, the Marais, and the Pantheon. We also took the train to Versailles, the opulent palace where the doomed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette resided until they were forcibly taken away by the mob to Paris is October 1789. We saw the Conciergerie prison where Marie Antoinette lived out her final hours, and the incredible stain glass of St Chapelle. Finally, we saw the pompous final resting place of Napoleon at les Invalides and took in the grand army museum. A highlight was a trip up the River Seine by night and having some free time around the Louvre. A great trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Barbados - A Churcher’s First!
The Easter holidays heralded an exciting new addition to the Churcher’s calendar: the inaugural Barbados cricket tour. 33 keen young cricketers from the Second and Third Years formed two boys teams and one girls team, and over the course of the nine days away they played a total of ten fixtures. It was tremendous seeing the children taking ownership of their own personal development, and there were some amazing individual and team performances on the tour. They also had some amazing adventures away from the cricket, including swimming with turtles at sunset, a jeep safari around the island, a Catamaran cruise and an evening at Oistens fish fry market!
An unforgettable experience for all!
The German Exchange Returns!
Third Year German students spent a lovely week in Warendorf during the Easter holidays, visiting our all-time favourite places, namely Phantasialand (a thrilling theme park near Cologne), Borussia Dortmund’s football stadium, and Dr Oetker World in Bielefeld, where they treated themselves to an infinite amount of pizza and puddings! In June, Churcher’s host families returned the hospitality offered to our students and welcomed to Churcher’s their new-found friends from Warendorf.
Impressive Iceland
Despite a fissure eruption at Grindavik, 31 brave Geography students explored Iceland during a four-day Easter holiday trip. From witnessing the eruption near Reykjavík to encountering glacier-topped volcanoes, the land showcased its power. A rare snow blizzard at Reynisfjara, with its black sand and basalt columns, created a surreal black-and-white world. Cheeks regained colour at the Secret Lagoon’s hot springs, though some hesitated to brave the -10°C walk around the pool. The trip culminated in a mesmerizing display of the Northern Lights on the final night, an unforgettable experience for all.
