Falcons Prep Spring Newsletter

Issue 2 | Spring 2019 | falconsprep.co.uk

PREPARATORY

In this issue

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A term of ✔ Courage ✔ Creativity ✔ Resilience ✔ Reflection ✔ Independence

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WELCOME

WELCOME Welcome & Contents ........................2 Reception Launch & School Developments ...................3

SCHOOL EVENTS Fed Talks ..........................................4 Eco-schools .....................................5 Year 3 & 4 Production........................6 World Book Day................................8 Science Week.................................10 Blue Sky Theatre.............................12 3 Generational Workshop................12

to the 2nd edition of THE FALCONS NEWSPAPER! Adapting our expectations for each year group, these habits will help to strengthen not only your son’s academic ability but also his ability to find his place in the world.

Although a shorter term than normal, the Spring Term has been no exception in providing boys with a huge number of enrichment activities both in and outside of the classroom. We have also seen an increase in the number of sporting fixtures on offer to the boys both on the rugby field, in the swimming pool and even on the snow, with teams representing the school in local as well as national competitions.

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES Year 3 - Holly Lodge........................13 Year 3 - British History Museum.......14 Year 3 - William Morris Gallery.........14 Year 4 - Kew Garden.......................15 Year 5 Poppy Factory......................15 Year 6 - Citizenship Richmond Park................................16 Year 5 - BETT Show........................16 Year 7 - Hampton Court Tudor Trip........................................17 Year 7 & 8 Kempton Steam Museum...............................17 Year 3 - British History Museum.......17

HOUSES Results from last term Pizza & Mufti....................................18 Cake Baking Competition................18 Head Writing Competition................19 House Stacking Competition................19 House Rugby....................................19

SPORT Rugby & Cross-country...................20 IAPS Ski..........................................21

PA NEWS PA News................................... 22-23

A newspaper we have grown incredibly proud of and one which we hope you will enjoy reading and sharing with your friends and family.

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s you turn through the pages, we hope that you see what we see; a vibrant, innovative and engaging school where boys and teachers alike feel safe and fulfilled. Not bound by exams, at Falcons Prep, we support teachers to be the best they can be, to reflect on the learning both in and out of the classroom and to give every boy the opportunity to learn, grow and flourish.

A school like Falcons is lucky to have a strong list of specialist staff who provide an environment to support a range of boys, strengths, passions and interests. But as staff, we are also incredibly lucky to be here. The boys, their attitude to learning, their creativity, grit and determination when it comes to new challenges, their curiosity in the world around them and enthusiasm for adventure, make it an exhilarating environment to work in and one that continues to keep us all on our toes.

Last term, we started to develop the schools ‘Language for Learning’ and after many discussions with staff and boys we came up with the following 5 learning habits that we believe should be intertwined in everything that we do. ✔ Courage ✔ Creativity

FUTURE SCHOOLS

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Future Schools................................24

✔ Independence ✔ Resilience ✔ Reflection

In History, boys have been exposed to politics and our legal system with a visit to the Royal Courts of Justice and Year 7 boys visited Hampton Court to discover historical evidence left behind in the buildings as well as the impact religionhas had on our country’s’ leadership. Building on the knowledge developed in the classroom, boys independently explored the space to provide them with answers to a range of enquiry questions.

In ICT, boys left the comfort of our Computer room to explore the Excel Arena and annual BETT Fair, Europe’s largest educational ICT trade fair.

Capably taking notes, the boys returned full of ideas on how we may improve and extend our ICT offering – more on this soon!

If you haven’t already heard about our new Head of Music, Mr Peckham, from your son, then you soon will. Having joined us in January, Mr Peckham has revolutionised the Music Department, exposing the boys to new technologies, sounds and skills, never before seen at Falcons Prep. After half term, boys will be encouraged to audition for a new vocal group, ‘Falcons Voices’ and there are rumours rumbling away that Y7 and Y8 may have formed their own Rock Bands! Plans are also afoot for a Sunday Lunch Jazz Concert at 606 Club and The Hideaway, while Music Technology will be a new offering on the after school clubs list.

Further down the corridor, in English, boys have been given numerous opportunities to develop their literacy skills with a continued weekly challenge.

This homework challenge was to ask members of their family to retell stories and memories from the past during a new initiative ‘Storytelling Week’, a House creative writing competition. We also had a thoroughly creative and engaging visit from Sky Blue Shakespeare Theatre Company who gave boys (and staff) across the school a thrilling experience of Romeo and Juliet.

While writing this, my thoughts are somewhat interrupted by the excitement of our forthcoming Geography Trip to Iceland with boys in Year 6 and 7. We have an incredibly impressive schedule mapped out and I cannot wait to see the faces of the boys as they view, for themselves, some of the great natural wonders of our world. As ever,

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WELCOME

my thanks go to the dedicated staff team here at Falcons Prep who strive to continue to provide such an extensive co-curricular offering despite ever increasing demands. We look forward to fully reporting on this trip, as well as all the others planned in the Summer edition of the newspaper.

continue to thrive and enable all teachers to teach as effectively as possible and I will support them to provide stimulating and challenging lessons, not bound by exams but with a commitment to ensure a dynamic learning community building on the boy’s intellectual curiosity.

Before we indulge ourselves in chocolate, hot cross buns and all the other treats that come our way during the Easter period, our thoughts as a school are turned very much towards Year 8 as the boys look forward to their final exams and last few months at Falcons Prep. We are all looking forward to the exciting events of our next term together and I hope and trust that every boy will continue to reflect on their progress, involve himself fully in the school and make the most of the opportunities on offer.

Our new Lower School will be no different. This new section of the school will offer its pupils an engaging, safe and vibrant learning environment in which they will be able to grow and learn.

In this new purpose-built space, boys will be encouraged to explore, question what they see and to take risks, all whilst having fun. We may not be as academically selective as a number of our competitors, but that does not stop us from having high expectations and pushing the boys in whatever direction they may lead us. We have a commitment to provide the best learning journey for every boy that walks through our door to ensure that they reach their full potential. Our small class sizes mean that we can cater for the individual needs of all our children, to not only support their learning but also stretch it.

New School Development

We are committed to providing the very best in Prep School education, creating a curriculum that is adaptive, collaborative, innovative and academically rigorous. This is a school that will

As an extension of Falcons Prep, the lower school will continue to foster a true love of learning, creating a culture that embraces the joy of learning; celebrates challenge and excellence; rewards effort and persistence. Starting with a Reception class, the new section of the school will grow gradually, opening a new year group each year until the school is fully established with one form entry from reception to Year 2, expanding to two forms from Year 3.

Not only are we adding learning environments for the younger years but we are also improving the spaces already available. The development of a new Music School, Learning Hub and Atrium will ensure that all pupils at Falcons Prep benefit from a range of resources and facilities complementing their already diverse curriculum. This new learning space will be bright, child-centered and flexible, giving teachers the freedom to adapt and change the learning environment as and when needed.

There will be more information available about this exciting new development later in the summer.

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SCHOOL EVENTS

This term we launched our first ever school lecture series – FEd Talks. FEd (Falcons Educational Talk) is an educational forum for boys, teachers, parents and our community. Our FEd Talks include lectures, workshops and seminars with a focus on developing effective pedagogy and sharing knowledge.

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or our first lecture on Wednesday 6th February we were delighted to host Dr Natasha Kirkham, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Researcher at The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birbeck, University of London. Dr Kirkham discussed ‘child psychology and the workings of the pre-teenage brain’.

During the afternoon, the boys in Year 7 and 8 listened to a fascinating talk about how our brain develops over time and advice on how we can understand our brain and deal with emotions.

In the evening, we welcomed parents, neighbours and colleagues to a wonderful talk about the preteenage brain, with an emphasis on understanding the changes that happen to our brain through the adolescent years and how we can support the boys in our care.

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“The brain starts developing before we are even born and continues developing and changing throughout our lives. There are two very important times in brain development - 0 to 3 years of age and adolescence. In this talk, Dr Kirkham focussed on how the brain changes from puberty through adolescence - and how this affects

emotions and behaviour.”

For our second lecture on Wednesday 20th March, we were thrilled to welcome Mr Desmond O’Connor as our guest speaker.

Desmond is an educational psychologist and former Head of Seniors at a successful independent school in London. He discussed the way in which teachers and parents communicate with the children in their care by teaching them how to let go in order to connect.

‘You’ve invested everything in their future. Are you getting the maximum return? We want the very best for our children, and yet sometimes things stand in the way of them doing as well as they could.

Hard as it can be to admit it, our words and actions can provide the biggest hurdles for our children to overcome’ We look forward to hosting many more FEd talks with a variety of guest speakers and topics on offer. We welcome not only your attendance at these events, but also your knowledge. If you are interested in being a guest speaker or can recommend a speaker, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

We would also love to hear what you would like to see.

Next Tuesday 30th April at 6.30pm.

Guest Speaker: Miss Sally Tennant, Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon NORMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT & ASSOCIATED MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS Children and adolescents are increasingly taking part in a wide range of sporting activities, both individual and team based, and at increasingly competitive levels, both within the school environment and outside.

This talk aims to explain the process of normal growth and the physiological painful conditions that can be associated with it.

Please email admin@falconsprep.co.uk to book your place.

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SCHOOL EVENTS

Eco-Schools Report

It has been another busy term for the Eco-Schools Club getting involved in initiatives to Save the Planet

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utside of the Falcons EcoSchool it is great to see Swedish Teenager Greta Thunberg continuing her protests every Friday outside Sweden’s parliament to urge leaders to tackle climate change. It can only be a good thing that British teenagers have been inspired by this and will fill the streets outside the Houses of Parliament with such hand painted placards as “There is no Planet B”!

How very true!

Remember this is still the only one we’ve got and we need to look after it!

The seven steps that we have to make are shown below but there are multiple tasks within each: Step 1 Eco-Committee Step 2 Environmental Review Step 3 Action Plan Step 4 Curriculum Links Step 5 Informing and Involving Step 6 Monitoring and Evaluation Step 7 Eco-Code We have now completed Steps 1 – 6 and have earned our SILVER AWARD! Excellent bring on the Green Flag. Bring on the Green Flag Award!!! Apart from continuing with our actions to date we need to come up with an Eco-Code for the school.

We have researched variations on this used by other schools and organisations but are intent on something original. If you have any ideas, feel free to send them in to school.

local volunteers. I was going to be picking up litter on the Old Deer Park with them as part of the drive to be an Eco-school.

The other Falcon’s boy who came was Ben E, from year 7.

So, then we went and picked up the litter, working methodically in zoned areas over the Park. It only took 1 hour and I found some shocking things that I would have never imagined in my lifetime.

A beer can with beer, a couple of sleeping bags, an unopened bottle of water, a hubcap, Haribos, compost bags, teabags and perhaps most surprisingly of all, a shiny, clean fork. Just to name a few. It was an absolute tip and if you imagine our park is clean, then what about every other park! The litter picks are held on a regular basis and they may be held in a Park near you.

So I leave you with this rallying cry, ‘Come on Eco-school, if you say that you are eco, then help your community out by turning up and helping”. c) Our original ‘Switching Off’ campaign was recharged by a survey of ‘lights and computer screens’ left on plus the recording of our electricity meter. The

b) We have been out with the ‘Keep Britain Clean’ group – local people with the motivation to make a difference. A report by Thomes W-M (Year 6) “It was a cold morning and I went with my parents to meet up with Mr Martin and Mr Gerard and other

d) The boys wrote an assembly for the Falcons Pre-Prep which was supplemented by a dusting off of our ‘Magic Bin’ assembly from earlier this term.

From our meetings with Miss Buchanan where we floated a range of ideas, from the grandiose to the predictable, we have seen a small introduction of plant life in to the playground but hope for more when the playground is restructured for next year. Paper recycling bins are in all classrooms and our class ecowarriors collect up periodically for Mr Martin to deposit in the bin cage in front of the school. Here you can see a photo of some of our team with a sizeable pile – the third gathered in 4 – 5 weeks; a major contribution I think you’ll agree! Score 2 for the Eco-Team!

We still desire decomposable water bottles but we have reduced their use around school.

Time has not allowed the linking to an overseas school to compare our approaches to the Green Environment but is a target for next term.

e) Two of the speakers in Science Week focused on Environmental Issues: specifically ‘Healthy Food / Healthy Planet’ (Professor Dangour) & ‘Water and the Planet’ (Dr Quinn). f) Mr Dawkins set the tone for future field trips encouraging the boys to use their draw-string bags to hold their lunch rather than innumerable paper bags – better not to use it rather than have to recycle! g) Adam R Year 4 was very proud of his ‘open homework’ choose your favourite invention, and built a boat with only recycled materials.

What is key to all of our surveys is that we have used this information to make improvements – ‘Making a Difference!’.

Key Targets for the future: a) Continuing the good work that we have done in the various areas we have created initiatives b) Trying to bring more of the Green Environment in to the school. c) IT IS VITAL TO MAKE MORE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY – more to come on that! d) We are talking with a parent to look at the possibility of starting a ‘No Plastics’ shop for fruit / veg and dried goods – would you support this enterprise? e) Our Eco-Code!

I can’t let this quote go: “We are the first generation to understand that we are destroying our planet and the last that can do anything about it!” WWF

So what have we done this term : a) From the formation of our committee meeting every halfterm, this has now expanded and changed in to a club organised in our extra-curricular session every week – so scope to consider and achieve much more.

electricity used. Score 1 for the Eco-Schools team!

Eco-School’s Committee and club have been working hard on dragging the school and the staff towards a Greener future. We have pushed through our switchoff initiatives and shown through a survey of lights and computer screens left on (and recording the figures from the electricity meters) both before and after our drive – both the survey and the meter readings showed more lights off in unoccupied rooms and less

If you have any ideas from home or in your businesses of how we can learn more or you have ideas for activities, please don’t hesitate to contact us at school. We would love to hear from you and tell us about what you are doing at home or work to be Greener.

Mr Martin (Head of Geography / EcoSchools), Mr Gerrard (Head of English / Eco-Schools) and the Falcons EcoSchools Committee.

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SCHOOL EVENTS

Year 3 and 4 School Production

Darwin Rocks!

Darwin Rocks! was a huge success for Year 3 and 4. The boys performed brilliantly at the matinee performance with staff, parents, Year 6 and our special guests from Year 1 of the Pre-Prep in attendance.

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he evening performance was a roaring success, filled with laughter, to a sold out theatre!

Year 3 and 4 also had the opportunity during Science week to explore the history of Charles Darwin, Tierra Del Fuego, Jemmy Button, the

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HMS Beagle and world exploration.

Some amazing projects were completed, including several models of the HMS Beagle!

We are incredibly proud of all the boys involved and pass our thanks to all the staff who made it happen!

“I just wanted to say a heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all of your staff team for the brilliant production of Darwin Rocks. A special thank you also to Mrs Nagle for her extra encouragement she gave our son, she really helped him to dance and sing without feeling shy and he looked like he was having the time of his life.” parent quote

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SCHOOL EVENTS

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SCHOOL EVENTS

World Book Day On Thursday 7 March we celebrated World Book Day with the theme of ‘Share a Story’.

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he boys enjoyed a range of activities to celebrate, including making book posters and a visit and book signing from ‘Stitch Head’ author, Guy Bass. The boys were enthralled by Guy’s inspiring talk and his amazing energy and humour.

With the theme this year being ‘Share a Story’, the boys also brought in a previously read and loved book and entered it into a ‘Lucky Dip Book Swap’ in their form

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classes, sharing their favourite stories and gaining one from a classmate!

There were some fantastic outfits on show, with Walter (Year 6) dressed as ‘Mr Bump’ and Laurence (Year 5) dressed as ‘The Wimpy Kid’ Mrs Smith taking the honours for best dressed in the Upper School , Lower School and Teacher categories.

Both boys received a £5 Book voucher as a prize.

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SCHOOL EVENTS

Can you spot Miss Buchanan?

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SCHOOL EVENTS

Science Week During week commencing 11 March Falcons Prep celebrated Science Week

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hroughout Science Week boys were immersed in a variety of scientific, technological and innovative activities and talks as part of our celebration of British Science Week. Promoted by the British Science Association, the annual British Science Week aims to celebrate all sciences and their importance in our everyday lives. It provides an opportunity for people of all ages across the UK to take part in science, engineering and technology events and activities.

Working collaboratively, the Science team along with other members of staff, created a week giving boys the opportunity to hear from a range of Professors, Scientists and Designers.

Here are some of the highlights from the week: On Monday, Professor Dangour of the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine gave a lecture in assembly on Healthy diets for a healthy planet.

Year 5 and 6 visited the Science Museum for a series of presentations and workshops.

On Tuesday, Professor Daniel Richardson, Professor of Experimental Psychology held workshops for Years 3 and 4, and Years 5 and 6 about the wonders of the human brain.

features of a science lab, such as the safety equipment and how to use the space efficiently

During his speech, my dad summarised the following topics: the environment, food systems and health and the correlation between changes in the environment and how it will impact our food systems.

Also, he mentioned the impact of food systems on the environment, and sensible dietary choices that could reduce our impacts on the environment. For example, he mentioned that you could reduce you impact on the environment by cutting down on eating red meat – because for every kilogram of beef you eat, 15000 litres of water go into the production of the meat, whilst white meats such as chicken use only 4000 litres of water per kilogram.

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On Wednesday, the boys were treated to an additional assembly, led

by Doctor Ruth Quinn exploring how the Water Cycle affects our everyday lives.

On Thursday, architect Cordelia Ellis visited Falcons, leading an assembly in the morning and a series of design workshops for the boys throughout the day.

On Thursday and Friday, boys engaged in Engineering Problem Solving workshops.

The week concluded with a wonderful celebration assembly on Friday 15 March where the fantastic weeks’ worth of events were shared with parents, staff and boys.

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Alex: She then told us about accessibility – for example for disabled children and the deaf or blind

Year 5 and 6 went on an adventure to the Science Museum!

While we were there, we visited the IMAX and the Wonderlab – it was awesome! In the IMAX, we saw a 3D “Under the Sea” production – it was so realistic, as if we could touch the fish. After lunch, we made our way to the Wonderlab, and after we entered, a vast amount of experiments overran the space – one of my favourites was where we had to make a bridge out of blocks, just by balancing them on one another. Another one of my favourites was where you sat in a chair and pulled yourself up by a rope – I enjoyed this because when you were at the top you could see the whole room! The Science Museum was a great experience and it taught me a lot!

Calvin M

Professor Daniel C. Richardson from University College London came to Falcons to talk about the eyes and the brain. He started off by asking us how the eye works, and what it does. Everyone suggested that the eye took light and converted it to electricity, which was then sent to the brain, similar to how a camera works.

However, Professor Richardson went on to disprove this, saying that the majority of what we see is made up by the brain, and used some illusions to show that our initial theory was wrong. He said that there is a small area in our retina where our vision is perfect, but the rest of the retina gives a blurry image and the brain makes up what it thinks is there in order to enable to us to see clearly.

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Ted: On Thursday morning, the 14th of March, we were very lucky to have architect Cordelia Ellis to come in and talk to us about architecture and design.

Alex: She had always dreamed of being an architect, and after years of hard work her dream came true.

Ted: She quickly started talking about her giant Pizza Express experiment the size of 3 football pitches, which without a doubt got the year 3’s excited!

Alex: She designed some of our school, but was focusing on the science labs Ted: She explained all of the

Ted: For acid-proof tables, you need a sturdy base and a viable vent for getting rid of gases Alex: She also told us to never ever give up on your dreams Ted: We are very happy and grateful for the success and organisation of Science Week 2019!

And so we would like to thank Mr Dawkins and Mr Baillie for their time and effort in getting such an action packed week together!

Ted KS and Alex B

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After the Science Week assemblies, I decided to talk about Dr. Ruth Quinn of The University of Aberdeen. She came in on Wednesday 13th March to talk to all of us about water, and how it affects our lives and our planet. Not only did she speak about the numbers and percentages of water in our lives (such as 97% of the water on Earth being salt water!), but also told us how we can use less water, such as by turning off dripping taps, which can waste at least 20 gallons per day!

SCHOOL EVENTS

It is great to look back at Science week and cram all of the knowledge we have learned, into our brains for when we need it!

Ludo KM

One of the last things she spoke about was how some places have lower water supplies and have to rely on smaller amounts. Typically, places like Kenya have a dry season and a rainy season and you would expect that the dry season has a huge shortage of water. This has a devastating effect on people and we all have to be more aware of how much water we use!

Science Week overall has been huge fun for the boys from Year 3 all the way up to Year 8, and we had fun experiences like going to the Science Museum, taking part in workshops, not forgetting the tower building with marshmallows and spaghetti!

Science Week Homework

The theme this year for British Science Week is ‘journeys’, encouraging young people to think about the different scientific journeys that happen every day and how they can discover science through their own lives and experiences.

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t is also a chance for young people to consider how journeys can help us experience more of the world around us.

Science Week Open Homework Winners

Commendations were awarded to:

Great end product - Jasper E, Year 5 for his Tank Model

Josh G-R, Year 6

Following this theme, boys were asked to explore British inventions and the journeys their inventors took in making them a reality.

Prize: Tank book

William P, Year 5

Best Presentation/Original concept Dominic W, Year 4 for the video on Darwin/Beagle

Harry R, Year 5

Boys in Year 3 and 4 have researched Darwin and found out what journey he took in becoming one of our best known natural scientists.

We received some fantastic homework, well done to all the boys.

Prize: Moon book Attention to detail Dylan B, Year 7 for the model of a Torpedo (also a very good tower builder ) Prize: Biology book Most Innovation prize for Adam R, Year 4 for the model of the Beagle.

Prize: Tin of pencils

Calvin M, Year 6

James G, Year 6 Rohan P, Year 4 Isaac Z, Year 3 Engineering Prizes: Architecture Workshop, Cameron L, Year 8 Prize: Technical drawing set Tower (tallest), Nathaniel C- W, Year 6 Prize: Technical drawing set Tower (Best Structure) Charles W, Year 3 Prize: Technical drawing set

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SCHOOL EVENTS

Year 3 and 4

3 Generational Workshop Year 3 and 4 were involved in solving a very exciting mystery linked to their Shakespeare study of Romeo and Juliet.

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fter hearing about the discovery of a 700 year old container in the depths of the Globe Theatre basement, the boys were intrigued.

The box was thought to contain vital evidence that may solve the mystery as to what started the Montague and Capulet feud all those centuries ago.

Boys replied to a plea from the Metropolitan Police asking for help with the case by applying to be a detective themselves. They felt that they had the personal qualities and sufficient experience of the story to support the investigation. After quite a few nail-biting hours, Year 4 were sent packs of photocopied evidence to the school door via a courier,

and Year 3, due to lack of time, received an email containing several documents to be printed.

Enthusiastic and full of curiosity, the boys were set to work. They explored, cross referenced and decoded the evidence set in front of them. Wedding invitations, school reports, conversation transcripts and a letter from William Shakespeare himself were all included in the pack.

The boys did it, they solved the mystery! It was concluded that the feud dated back to the time when Romeo and Juliet’s parents were youngsters at school. Juliet’s mum would get teased by members of the Montague family for sucking her

thumb and behaving like a baby.

The teasing escalated, and after years of continued torment a feud developed, resulting in the death of several family members as noted in Shakespeare’s story.

After hearing the great news that the case had been solved, the Metropolitan Police asked that teachers film and interview a selection of the boys involved to hear directly from them, their views on the case and their thought process in solving it. They suggested that this material may be used in a follow up news article to inform the public of the outcome to the investigation.

Well done boys!

Blue Sky Theatre Romeo & Juliet

On Friday 15 March we had another wonderful visit from Sky Blue Theatre, involving the boys in a highly interactive day of Romeo & Juliet. This was their fourth year with us and they were possibly their best sessions yet.

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he boys in Year 3 and 4 spent the morning with them, having been prepared by their teachers with wonderful imaginative lessons which John and Lee from Sky Blue were very interested to hear about, even if there were a few less detectives in the original play.

Years 5 to 8 had the afternoon session and the staff and the boys spent 90 minutes immersed in the performance of the key parts of the play, just as Shakespeare would have done himself: with young men wearing dresses in all the roles, and hopefully with as much laughter.

We are already looking forward to next year.

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BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

Year 3

Visit to Holly Lodge Established in 1994, the Holly Lodge Centre provides nearly 8,500 visitors each year a hands-on encounter with Richmond Park’s nature and heritage.

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ear 3 were very lucky to spend a marvellous day there finding out about animals in winter and Victorian pharmacies. We began the day in Richmond Park itself. We were able to run, explore, investigate, climb and enjoy being outside and free from school. We discovered deer tracks, green parakeets, interesting trees and plants.

We then met with the Holly Lodge volunteers to find out about how animals adapt and survive during the winter months. After a brief introduction in a classroom we went outside onto the nature reserve where we spent a happy few hours experiencing three different activities.

During one investigation we were looking for animal habitats, for example we carefully lifted and looked under logs. One group was lucky enough to find 2 frogs and 3 newts (Mrs Cowdery was very jealous!) We also did a leaf treasure hunt where we were given pictures of various leaves and then had to go and find the real thing. It was important for us to only pick leaves up which had fallen on the floor and not pull living leaves off the trees.

Our final task in this activity was to recreate our own tree on a large white sheet on the floor by finding appropriate twigs, branches and leaves and building up a realistic tree layout from the root system to the canopy.

Another investigation happened inside the forest where we used whatever we could find to create a habitat for an animal. We had to think about the size of animal we would like to live in our habitat and the four things all living creatures need to survive: shelter, food, drink and oxygen. We left our habitats behind in the forest so maybe some are now home to mice or foxes. We also had

the opportunity to look closely at a variety of nests and we realised that, just like us, some birds are neat and tidy, and some birds are a bit messy and haphazard.

Our third investigation started in a bird hide. We were able to watch an amazing array of bird life come to eat the mealworms we left out whilst we stood behind a bamboo shelter.

We also went to the pond and had a close look at some pond life that had been taken out of the pond that morning. The water was teeming with life and we were detectives trying to identify some weird and wonderful creatures with a large magnifying glass. We also pretended to be birds and went on a berry hunt.

(The berries were large, wooden red or orange beads that had been hidden.) We were pretty good and most of us found 21.

was full of original equipment, furniture and medicine bottles.

We recreated making pills the Victorian way using playdoh but we used actual Victorian equipment.

We had to be very careful. Did you know the Victorians coated their pills with gold or silver dust to make them easier to swallow?

We had a very busy day, full of hands-on experiments and experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Holly Lodge.

We were outside for a long time but it was fun and we learnt a lot.

It did make us hungry though! After handling all that nature we had to make sure our hands were very clean before we ate.

Our afternoon was completely different but just as interesting. We went back in time to the Victorian era and found out how they used herbs to create medicine. We dressed up as Victorian pharmacists and smelled our way around the herb garden, crushed dried herbs using a pestle and mortar, mixed them with glycerine and water and then distilled them using filter paper. It was fun being Victorian scientists.

Our aim was to create a clear ‘active ingredient’ which would then be mixed with filler to create pills which would have helped the Victorians with all sorts of ailments such as tummy ache or headache.

In Holly Lodge they also have a perfect Victorian pharmacy which

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BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

Year 3

British Museum Visit On Tuesday 26 March, Year 3 boys visited the British Museum as part of their work on Ancient Egypt.

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he boys enjoyed learning about Egyptian Galleries and Ancient Greece in preparation for their forthcoming Summer History topic.

Year 3

William Morris Gallery Year 3 concluded their project on the life and works of Victorian designer William Morris by visiting his childhood home in Walthastow East, London – The William Morris Gallery.

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he boys had great fun creating designs during a print making workshop which took place in the attic- the former servants quarters.

They explored the galleries which hold original printing blocks and weaving looms which were used in the original William Morris Factory.

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BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

Year 4

Our Trip to Kew Gardens

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species of plants on display. Inside it was as hot as an oven.

On our way to the gardens, Robin slipped on the ice. Despite warnings, so did some other children too as the ice was black and you could not see it.

Then, we left and went to meet a Kew Gardens care taker. We learnt how to measure the perimeter of leaves with string, and the circumference of some very think trees with a tape measure.

ear Diary,

Today, we went on a trip to Kew Gardens. First, we had to put our coat and any other layers on because it was icy cold. After, we paired up. My partner was Myles in 4B.

Whilst we were walking towards Kew, in the distance I could see the Pagoda tower. It was as tall as the sky. Soon, we arrived at the green over-sized gardens of Kew. My group walked to the Palm House first while the second group moved on to their maths activity.

We had a look at all of the different

After, we went and had lunch.

I had a huge cheese and butter sandwich, an orange, crisps and lastly an apple juice.

As quickly as the blink of an eye our trip was over. It was time to go home. It wasn’t as slippery on our way back so nobody fell. Finally we arrived back at the Falcons School for Boys. What a great day!

By Joseph Pickering 4HR

Year 5

Poppy Factory Year 5 spent a bright, January morning visiting The Poppy Factory situated on Richmond Hill.

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hey discovered the history of the origins of the iconic symbol of the poppy and how the factory continues to make and export the poppies all over the world, as well as making a poppy of their own.

They met employees who are veterans from modern day conflicts and war who now continue the tradition of making special wreaths that are used during remembrances around the world.

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| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

Year 6

Citizenship Richmond Park On Monday 18th March, the whole of Year 6 travelled to Holly Lodge in Richmond Park to participate in the Borough’s Junior Citizenship Day.

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he boys were faced with a number of different scenarios and were asked ‘what would you do?’ The scenarios included travelling safely on the bus, different scenarios at a train or underground station, choosing a safe route home and who to call for help. They also tackled stranger danger, a road traffic accident with a cyclist and a fire scenario.

The boys approached the activities with enthusiasm and every group were awarded high scores across all 8 scenarios. What fantastic junior citizens the Year 6’s are!

Alec M: I learnt that there are three numbers to call, 999 for an emergency and if a crime is happening right now, 101 if

the crime has already happened and crime stoppers if you want to be anonymous. We learnt many other useful things that we need, to be good citizens!

Oscar C: I found it a really useful day.

There are lots of things you need to learn as you are growing up, but it has taught us about how to stay safe, and what to do in an emergency. I feel safer now, as I have been educated about what to do in different scenarios or during emergencies.

Ari L: We had a great learning experience at the Junior Citizenship day. We learnt about the dangers of trains, buses and especially people.

BETT 2019 Review Four excitable children? Check.

Four excitable staff? Check.

One HUGE ICT extravaganza? Totally check!

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t was a privilege for Mr Peckham, Mr Roberts, Mr Russell and I to travel to North London’s Excel for the annual BETT Fair on Wednesday the 23rd of January, 2019 with four of our magnificent Year 5 boys: Amir, Ed, Harry and Narendra. We had a charming trip across London on the Tube, and then on the Docklands Light Rail: it was a novelty to ride in a driverless train! Yes, whilst site spotting on our journey, four staff did seem excessive, even to me, who is rather fond of any sort of excess.

However, once there, we knew that we had the numbers exactly right: we were faced with a labyrinth of corridors; dragon-sized walls of noise, colour and light; and an onslaught of sharp marketing spiels.

The BETT fair is not for the feint hearted! So we prepared for battle,

with our natty BETT lanyards. Pens at the ready, the boys charged into the fray!

At every turn, we were wowed by the glitz and glamour of new ideas and technologies. We were on the hunt for new apps and innovation to support Falcons’ growing digital literacy and we weren’t disappointed.

The boys very much enjoyed seeing and toying with robots of all sorts of different shapes, sizes and purposes, particularly the ‘Dash and Dot’ Robot which teaches children about coding via an app which helps you create musical algorithms. They were particularly taken with the Interactive Floor on which they had to jump to answer Geography questions.

My personal favourite were the 3D Printers. I would have bought several on the spot, but sadly, my backpack

just wasn’t big enough. The boys wondered if it could make a copy of Narendra, which would make all of us happy!

After a day being battered and blissfully bruised, we headed back to the gentle sanctuary of Falcons. We felt triumphant: we had learned an awful lot more about the possibilities of technology for our School, met some wonderfully creative people, and were charming ambassadors for our School (well, the boys were at least…not so sure about me, haggling, teeth bared, about best deals for 3D Printers…ho hum).

My three colleagues and I are very grateful for the opportunity to take such fine young people with us to this event and we look forward to doing it all again, next year!

Mrs Smith

| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

Year 7

Visit to Hampton Court Henry to Mary: A Religious Rollercoaster

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n Friday 22 March, Year 7 boys visited Hampton Court as part of their Year 7 work on ‘The Tudors’ this term.

The boys explored primary evidence from the buildings of Hampton Court and analysed the impact of changes in the monarch’s religion in one of the key locations where religious and political decisions were made.

The boys learned about Henry VII/VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.

Year 7 and 8

Year 8

History Educational visit On Tuesday 29th January, Year 8 Boys visited the Royal Courts of Justice and the Museum of London to investigate the history of political unrest of the militant Suffragette movement.

Suffragette’s actions, determining their guilt and deciding their sentence. Dressed in full legal attire, the boys delivered a fairly harsh verdict on an unfortunate Suffragette.

Fantastic experience for pupils and teachers providing us with a very memorable learning experience.

The Kempton Steam Museum

On Tuesday 26 March, Year 7 and 8 boys visited The Kempton Steam Museum to look at the largest steam engine in the world!

The boys enjoyed learning about how the steam engine is used to pump water around the local area and how to continued to serve London throughout World War II.

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he Boys analysed original sources from the museums archive, exploring the reception, methodology and success of Suffragette activism in late Victorian London.

We also visited a working courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice. The Boys participated in a mock trial based on a real Suffragette case. Exploring the motives behind the

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| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

HOUSES

Houses This Term the Houses have been working hard to achieve their very best. The pupils have participated in a number of different events to earn points for their house. These include the House Writing Competition, House Cup Stacking, the House Bake Off and a whole array of sporting events.

Teddington were also crowned the Autumn Term Winners, and enjoyed a tremendous ‘Pizza Party’ to celebrate their success. Keep up the good work boys!

House Baking Competition: Winner: Richmond

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Runner up: Sunbury

House writing Competition: Winner: Teddington

Runner up: Richmond

Autumn

Term Merits 1st Teddington 2nd Sunbury 3rd Richmond 4th Molesey

| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

HOUSES

House Cup Stacking Competition: 1st Teddington 2nd Molesey 3rd Richmond 4th Sunbury

House Rugby Winners

Year 3 - Teddington Year 4 - Molesey Year 5 - Richmond Year 6 - Sunbury Years 7 and 8 – Richmond

Overall

Richmond Teddington Molesey Sunbury

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| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

SPORT

Cross Country

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t has been another fantastic cross-country season, with high winds, torrential rain and mud strewn fields, it truly has been one to remember. The season starts with our inter-house cross country, with each boy scoring points for their house, dependent on their finishing position. Richmond were crowed overall champions across the five different age groups, leaving Sunbury, Teddington and Molesey battling it out for second place.

The U9, U11 and U13 Cross Country team had a very positive season. With competitions at Danes Hill, St James, Claremont Fan Court,

West London Prep Schools and Ravenscourt Park, it was a busy season. There were many highlights, from Edward H sprinting to the finish line at Danes Hill with one shoe in his hand to the same boy finishing 3rd place at St James. We have had good team results and St James and West London Prep Schools cross country events this season.

“The highlight of the cross country season for me was competing at the Danes Hill Cross Country. I ran over 3.2km and it was so much fun.

I also got to race against several of my friends.”

Finn SS

Rugby H

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ighs and lows, the nature of sport in three words. Rugby players will go through both of these stages during the term. Our U11 sides have had a busy season, from the IAPS Festival before Christmas, to tournaments at Thomas’s Clapham, Richmond Rugby Club, Rokeby and Allianz Park Festival, the team performed admirably. The 1st XIII and 2nd XIII found tough matches against The Mall, who they played home and away, as well as Fulham Prep, battling hard and showing their grit. Our U9 starlets had successful matches against the Mall, Wetherby and Fulham Prep, with huge steps forward this season. The first year of contact rugby can be daunting but the boys have tackled this head on and continue to impress. The U10’s have played matches against Chepstow House, Finton House, Wetherby and Thomas’s Clapham,

with huge progress made as a year group. We have many boys that can interchange between sides which shows the strength in depth of the year group. Most of our U8 boys played their first rugby matches this season, ever! They have been a hard working group, putting in the hours on the games field and steadily gaining further understanding of the game.

“We have had a season of ups and downs yet one thing I’ve seen in every game is determination.

Overall the main highlight for me this season was a fixture against The Mall School. We may have lost 15-10 but every single player put their heart into the game, and that is what I like to see, a team who never give up, no matter the score.”

Louie O 1st XIII captain

| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

SPORT

Skiing I clipped into my skis. The wind whipped across my face off of the valley. My skis were new and had never been worn before.

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he edges of the skis were aching to carve through the snow.

Before the instructor arrived we travelled up the button lift and down the nursery slope to get the feeling of what it was like to be back on the slopes. The slope was icy but I managed to manoeuvre my way down to the bottom. Before long our instructor arrived and whisked us off to practice. By the afternoon I felt confident and rearing to go. After lunch we did a really fun ski cross which winded in and out with bumps and sharp turns. We also went on some jumps. There was a small grind box which Mr Shaw gracefully flew off, losing one of his skis.

On day two, I woke up bright and early, getting focused for our qualifying race. I was in front of the starting gate, blood pumping through my heart, racking against my ribs. I pushed off, the wind already pounding against my sallopetes. My skis scraping against the ice with the edges slicing into the mountain and guiding me around the gates, again and again. The last stretch of the race I went into a tuck, gaining more speed for the final few turns. I reached the end of my race and spun my skis around to see the time of my run. 1 minute, zero seconds and 37 milliseconds. I was exhilarated. The fastest run in the Falcons team. At

lunch Mr Shaw came to tell us our teams and I was in team 1, along with Ben and Finn. In the afternoon we skied with Nicolas, our instructor.

We did ski cross again and took the Viobola lift up to a different valley and did some fun runs.

The snow conditions were better there with some cool jumps and off-piste tracks.

Day four was the day of my Championship race. My race number was 156. The numbers started at 141, so I was lucky enough to be the 16th on the course. The moments leading up to the start were terrifying.

I was scared that I might fall, or take a corner wrong, or not get a good time. My team was depending on me. The person before me set off, speeding down the hill. I was determined to beat them. 3, 2, 1…

GO! I pushed on my downhill ski, trying as hard as I could to get a clean, deep cut, into the icy snow.

I was gaining pace at every turn, building up to an uphill stretch then suddenly a steep drop-off downhill.

I finished with a time of 59 seconds and 78 milliseconds. I was very proud of my time and what I had accomplished during the week. It was an amazing trip and one I will never forget.

Josh T, Year 7

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| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

PA NEWS

Message from Falcons Prep Parents’ Association

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e have enjoyed a very busy and active Spring Term and we are delighted to share these highlights with you all.

The Falcons Prep PA continues to donate time and with the support and involvement of our parent group, we are all working hard to contribute to the school’s pastoral care and community programme.

Please get in touch if you would like to become involved.

Judith le Fleming, Chair, judith.lefleming@iprlicensing.co.uk Sally Ricketts, Deputy Chair, smjtaylor@hotmail.com Allison Lorimer, Treasurer PA CLASS REPS Christie Wright, 3C

Marta Fleming, 4HR

Sonya Abraham, 4B

Joanna Sasson, 4B

Lara Jackson, 4B

Rosie Orringe, 5F

Mihaela Wiseman, 5B

Melissa Appleton, 5F

Wendy Musil, 6S

Anna Wray, 6W

Jane Oliver, 6S

Sarah Griffin-Roach, 6V

Rebecca Towlerton, 7W

Leah Studer, 8G

Falcons Prep PA Calendar Summer Term 2019 Please note the dates for your diary and more details will be shared closer to the event date: SUMMER TERM 2019 2nd April

ART SOIREE* Year group canvasses auctioned for PA charity Me Too & Co

24th May

SUMMER BAKE SALE

8th June

FALCONS PA SUMMER FAIR RAAC

27th June

FALCONS PA SUMMER PARTY Hogarth Club

* School event with PA involvement via fund-raising from canvass sale

Christmas Jumpers & Movie Time

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ne of the favourite dates in the calendar for the Falcons Boys where they don their favourite Christmas jumpers, enjoy their festive lunch beautifully prepared by Chef

Louise, and settle down for a well-earned Christmas movie afternoon courtesy of the PA. Smiles all round as the boys with their kind donations for wearing their jumpers raised a superb £113 for Me Too & Co.

December 2018 Fund-raising Round-up Our Falcons boys, their parents and friends were so generous in supporting the various initiatives to help raise as much as possible for our special chosen charities, Wooden Spoon, Me Too & Co along with the collection for St John the Divine Church and their community programme. by our PA members, Leah Studer and Christie Wright, the Wooden Spoon buckets in just over an hour raised a very impressive £151.16.

“Carol Singing at the Tube” for Wooden Spoon

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ears 3 and Year 4 sang their hearts out and brought much cheer and merriment to commuters at Richmond Station and of course were flying the flag for Falcons Prep. The boys sang beautifully and the station staff were delighted and thanked the boys for bringing much festive cheer. Helped

St John the Divine Carol Service

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he PA was delighted to share more fund-raising good news during the Christmas break. Our very generous Falcons Prep friends and family raised a staggering £489.25 in the collection box at the Christmas Carol Service and we were pleased to share this equally between Me Too & Co and the Church to support their good work in the Richmond diocese.

| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

PA NEWS

Falcons Prep Wooden Spoon Rugby Challenge T

he sun came out, the Falcons boys brought their A-game, and the Parents and Friends of Falcons Prep did everyone proud with their fund-raising efforts for this flagship event.

Mr Shaw and the sports department devised a fun-packed morning of challenges and drills to test the boys’ speed, agility, overall

strength, and teamwork with and without the rugby ball!

Well done boys on completing the rugby challenge in your individual houses, and to Sunbury House for taking first place, but most of all a huge thank you to boys, parents and friends. This one-morning initiative raised a whopping £1,586.62.

Valentines Bake Sale

The Annual Falcons Quiz Night

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here was a lot of love in the air at Falcons Prep for the Valentines Bake Sale.

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t is one of the popular nights in the calendar when the Falcons Prep and Pre-Prep come together and enjoy a night of fiendish questions and Thai food, and all for a worthy cause.

Parents from Year 3 and Year 4 provided the beautiful baked goodies and the boys raised a superb £218.74 which was used to fund the treats from the Easter Bunny visit!

PA Gift for the Boys E

ach year the PA come together and discuss how PA funds generated through the year might also be used to buy an annual gift for the Falcons boys to use in school.

In previous years this has included the mighty popular Football Tables for the school playground. In 2017/18 school year the PA decided to donate funds to buy lapel mics and speaker system so we could hear our little

cherubs a little better on the stage in the school plays!

This school year the Falcons Prep PA is so happy to have contributed towards the purchase of a wide variety of ‘wet play’ equipment. This is much-needed to keep our boys entertained and occupied in school when the British weather decides to deliver the odd thunderstorm or snow shower at break time!

Thank you to our friends at the Pre-Prep for kindly suggesting all funds raised would be for the Falcons Prep charity, Me Too & Co. We look forward to reciprocating at the 2020 Quiz Night.

performed her duties with her usual energy and dry wit! And a special thanks to Melissa Appleton (Year 5 Mum) and Camilla Benetz (Pre-Prep) for organising a superb evening.

Oh, and well done to the winning team, MIA (Missing in Action!). You were phenomenal!

Me Too & Co are delighted with £1,453.62 raised for the charity through raffle ticket sales and the ‘Heads and Tails’ competition on the night.

A special thank you to our eminent Quiz Master, Mr Sean Carey, with the aid of Miss Underhill-Carey, along with our unsurpassable Master of Ceremonies, Mrs Smith, who

Easter Bunny hops into the Prep T

he Falcons Prep had a surprise visitor to school before Term ended. The boys were astonished to find the most enormous ‘humansized’ Easter Bunny hopping through the corridors, and in and out of the class rooms, handing out Easter treats.

How on earth did the PA find such an enormous Easter Bunny?

Well it is magic of course!

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| Issue 2 | Spring 2019

FUTURE SCHOOLS

Schools I

n September 2018, I started my new secondary school, Ibstock Place School. It is a medium sized coed school located next to Richmond Park, Roehampton. I couldn’t have got into this amazing school without the support and guidance from Falcons.

I started Falcons at the beginning of Year 7 and immediately settled in.

I represented the school in a number of sporting activities but loved rugby the most. Sport is a great way to make new friends and learn respect for others.

I came to Falcons knowing what

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left the Falcons at the end of Year 6 and we moved to Wales where I started at Monmouth Boys School.

I had to take the 11+ exam to get in but the Falcons had prepared me well and I passed.

I was very nervous on my first day as, coming from London, I did not know anyone but I needn’t have worried as everyone was very friendly and I soon made lots of friends. One great thing is that I have kept in touch with lots of my friends from Falcons and see them regularly in the holidays.

At Monmouth, we get lots of homework - three subjects a night and we get into trouble if it is not

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In this term’s edition we have two more recent Falcons Alumni and their first impressions of their new environments. In Thomas W and Tommy C, we have pupils who although left for quite different schools via the two different exit points, had much in common in their time with us. Strong sportsmen, this pair gave their all regardless of whether that be out on the sports field (with both excelling in the rugby and cricket terms) or in the classroom.

It is wonderful that alumni pupils are so willing to stay in contact and let us know how they are getting on and we hope you enjoy hearing what they have to say about Ibstock Place and Monmouth.

school I wanted to go to for Year 9 as I had witnessed the strengths of Ibstock as my two elder brothers had been at Ibstock since I was in primary school.

Falcons took that information an acted upon it straight away. They put me into the right Maths and English sets to make sure that I thrived and achieved my potential. The teachers were helpful and always available to explain new concepts to me.

There were a total of 17 boys in my year at Falcons and now at Ibstock there are 99 boys and girls in my year group. I know that this is a big jump but the school really prepared me for it with informative lectures about senior school life and the structure of the school day by using my planner, prep clubs and clinics.

Falcons and Ibstock are quite similar in many ways. They both have strong pastoral care, they offer a wide range of sports and extra-curricular activities. Just like Falcons, IPS have

completed. We get several days to do the homework so I have to really manage my time so that I don’t end up doing eight lots on one night! That is one thing that I would say to boys at The Falcons, get used to planning and managing your time.

I really enjoy all sports and at Monmouth, I play rugby, cricket and football. We can row as we are on the river and there are also many more sports to do. We have fantastic facilities. We have astroturf pitches, cricket nets, a swimming pool, a gym with weights, a massive indoor sports hall and huge playing fields with a modern sports pavilion. At my school we have two afternoons a week for Games, we have swimming once a week, we have a lesson of PE a week and Saturday afternoons are matches.

There are also lots of opportunities to do Drama and Music and lots of clubs at lunchtime and after school.

If you are thinking of moving to a school outside London then I can highly recommend it. I love living in the country - we live down an old track in a farmhouse now. It is very different to

a head boy, prefects and offer school colours for excellence.

IPS also have an extensive music department, where you can learn a variety of musical instruments or be a part of the choir that travels round the world. My personal favourite instrument is the trumpet but I will try to take up a new instrument next year. There is a new amazing theatre where they hold fantastic school productions. I really hope you consider Ibstock Place School for your onward secondary education. Don’t worry during any of your exams, Falcons will have prepared you well! All you have to do is listen and do your best!

able to find their strengths whether to become the promising musician, the meticulous scholar, the outstanding sportsman or the talented artist.

The School sees its responsibility as ensuring that the accomplishments of our pupils reflect their talents and interests and as they leave Ibstock Place School they do so as creative, resilient and empathetic adults.

We value the confidence shown in us by parents of Falcons Prep School and always welcome applications from Falcons’ boys wishing to pursue their secondary schooling in a coeducational environment.

At Ibstock Place School we have a passionate belief in all pupils receiving a challenging and inspirational education.

Our ambitious and enthusiastic staff also attach great importance to the development of pupils’ individuality and their having regard for tolerance, courtesy and respect. IPS pupils are

Chiswick. I still go out in the town with my friends and I play for the local town football and rugby club as well as belonging to a cricket club. Although the atmosphere is more relaxed, they are still very strict at school and we are expected to work very hard. There are quite a lot of boarders in my year and they really enjoy it.

Refined over 400 years in the heart of the naturally inspirational Wye Valley, Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools educate girls and boys aged 3 to 18 through a unique combination of single-sex and co-educational environments at the optimum stages of their academic and personal development.

Community is a core value of the schools; our Christian founder, William Jones, is the definitive example of the difference one person can make in the wider community.

Our pupils are inspired to grow into well rounded, refreshingly grounded but also unbounded young men and women, who excel in their chosen paths and who aspire to make a positive difference to society.

Boarding and day pupils thrive and discover their particular strengths through an impressive selection of academic subjects, outstanding facilities and a vibrant calendar of trips, expeditions, events and shared community projects.

As pupils progress into the Sixth Form, co-educational teaching and extensive joint social and co-curricular activities ensure a successful transition from school to university life.

Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools recognise talent and nurture excellence, providing the best possible springboard for a pupil’s future.

Parents can feel confident as their children join a legacy of excellence in education that is renowned both nationally and internationally.

If you know of any Falcons alumni who may like to contribute to this page, please contact Mr Bendelow.

Falcons Alumni Event, Thursday 6 June 2019, 6-8pm. Presentation starts at 7pm. Further information to follow.