Week in Pictures
From the Headmaster’s Study Dear Parents and Pupils, What a week it has been! We joined together to celebrate a love of stories, discovery and community as we celebrated our first ever Reading Week. Thanks to the enthusiasm and leadership of Miss Crook and Miss Maughen, pupils across the school enjoyed a range of activities designed to promote the joy and enrichment that reading can bring. Alongside a special focus on literacy within lessons, pupils embraced a variety of challenges, including a popular literary scavenger hunt. On Monday, we held our first House Meetings. While the House system has been part of Ballard life for many years, it is now enjoying a fresh chapter with an increased emphasis on participation, healthy competition and peer mentoring. It was wonderful to see pupils of all ages coming together and beginning to build those important connections. The Eco Club ran their first beach clean at Barton -on-Sea, led by Mr Bellars and Miss Trav is. Armed with litter pickers and plenty of determination, pupils collected plastic waste and discarded fishing gear from the beach and rock armour. Their efforts were particularly timely, following the exciting news that Ballard has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Independent Schools Association Awards for Sustainability. This well -deserved recognition reflects the commitment of our pupils and staff to caring for the environment and taking positive action in the face of the climate challenge. We look forward to hearing the outcome in November. My sincere thanks go to all staff and pupils for their hard work, energy and enthusiasm in making these events such a success.
I wish you all a very happy weekend. Mr Stuart Turner (Headmaster)
Double ISA Awards Finalist Success for Ballard We are delighted to share that Ballard School has been shortlisted as a finalist in not one, but two prestigious ISA Awards 2026 categories: Outstanding Sport (Large School) and Excellence in Sustainability ! Both awards attracted the highest number of entries ever received, with judges highlighting the exceptional work taking place across the school. Being recognised in these two areas reflects Ballard's commitment to providing outstanding opportunities for pupils, both on the sports field and through our ongoing sustainability initiatives. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our pupils, staff and wider school community, whose enthusiasm, hard work and shared values continue to make Ballard such a special place to learn and thrive. We look forward to the ISA Awards Ceremony in November, where the winners will be announced, and congratulate everyone involved in helping secure this fantastic national recognition.
Reading Week Podcast Our Reading Week Podcast is out now. This half -term, it is the turn of our History department to lead Reading Week, so join Head of English Mrs Maughan and Head of History Ms Crook as they explore our exciting new whole -school reading initiative. You can listen on Vimeo here or on Spotify here.
Heritage Open Morning “We were thrilled to open our doors for our recent Heritage Open Morning as we welcomed 45 members of the public to explore the rich story and timeless charm of Great Ballard School. Guests enjoyed an exclusive tour of Great Ballard House led by Mr Rose and Miss Crook, who brought the building’s fascinating history to life through captivating stories and hidden details. It was a wonderful morning of celebrating our heritage, and we particularly loved connecting with former Edinburgh House students who joined us and shared their cherished memories and unique experiences.” Ms Crook (Head of History)
STEM @ Ballard
An Egg -stra Special Science Experiment “Year 4 enjoyed an egg-citing practical in Science this week. Having learnt parts of a tooth they have now set up an Egg -cellent experiment to see the effects of different liquids on tooth enamel. The eggshell represents the enamel, and the beakers contained coke, orange juice, vinegar, milk and water. We will look at the beakers next week to see what happens - and you thought we were yolking !” Mrs Greaves (Prep School Science Teacher)
Junior Science Club “Junior Science club started the new school year by testing the strength of sweets! They had to clamp different types of sweets and then add masses in 10g or 100g, to see which one stretched the most before they snapped. They made predictions and then compared many different popular brands of laces, pencils and ribbons. It was nail biting to watch at times.” Mrs Greaves (Prep School Science Teacher)
Freshly Baked Success “Year 7 pupils put their Food Technology knowledge into practice by making delicious scones while learning about the rubbing -in method, aeration, and how ingredients work together to create the perfect bake.” Miss Clarke (Head of Food Technology)
Arts @ Ballard
Didgeridoo Discovery in Pre
-Prep
"It was my great pleasure to share my very limited didgeridoo skills with our Pre -Prep pupils as part of their Australia topic. Thanks to the kindness of one of our grandparents, who generously lent the school his didgeridoo, the children had the opportunity to see this fascinating instrument up close. I spoke briefly about the beautiful, finger-painted artwork and the significance of the instrument within Aboriginal culture and history. With plenty of enthusiasm, if not much expertise, I then attempted to demonstrate the instrument, producing a few notes to give the children a flavour of its distinctive sound. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were delighted to have a turn themselves, with varying degrees of success !” Mr Turner (Headmaster)
Pre -Prep Band in Full Swing “The Pre -Prep Band is off to a brilliant start. Our steady beat and rhythm work is taking shape as we explore xylophones, boomwackers , ukuleles, (and more to come!) We are eagerly working on an autumn song to present at the Ballard Fireworks Night.” Mrs Wilcox (Junior Music Teacher)
Autumn Wreaths “This week, Craft and Jewellery Club has been embracing the autumn season by creating beautiful handmade autumn wreaths. Pupils collected pinecones, twigs and other natural materials from around the school grounds before designing and constructing their own decorative wreaths. Along the way, they have also been developing practical skills by learning how to use glue guns and craft knives safely and responsibly. The results have been fantastic, with pupils producing a range of creative and unique designs. We are delighted that their finished wreaths will be used to help decorate our Open Morning on Friday, showcasing both their creativity and hard work to visitors.” Mrs Hitchens (Head of Art)
Exploring Our Grounds Through Colour “In Photography Club, pupils were challenged to choose a single colour and explore the school grounds in search of it through the lens of their camera. By focusing on one colour, students were encouraged to slow down and look more closely at their surroundings, discovering details that might otherwise go unnoticed. The activity helped pupils develop their observational skills while appreciating the beauty of our school environment. We are incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such stunning grounds, providing endless inspiration for photography. From vibrant flowers and autumn leaves to hidden features around the campus, pupils captured a wonderful collection of images that showcased both their creativity and the natural beauty of our school.” Mrs Skelton (DT Teacher & Deputy Head of Upper Prep)
Sound and Lighting Team Off to a Bright Start The Sound and Lighting Team got off to an exciting start with a guided tour of the school's new lighting rig upgrades that were installed over the summer. Pupils had the opportunity to explore the latest equipment and learn about the programming skills they will be developing throughout the year. We have now begun preparations for the upcoming production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Pupils are learning the fundamentals of stage production and technical theatre. With weekly sessions taking place every Thursday, pupils are looking forward to building their knowledge and gaining hands -on experience.
Sport @ Ballard
U11 Boys Footballers Triumph Our U11A boys travelled to KES Prep on Wednesday afternoon for a football fixture in blistering sunshine and produced a superb team performance to secure an impressive 4 -1 victory. After falling narrowly behind to a spectacular KES goal, the boys showed tremendous character and determination. Captaining the side, Tommy G rallied his teammates and led from the front with a tireless work rate, driving forward with purpose and tracking back relentlessly to support the defence. Across the pitch, Archie, Jasper, Teddy and Oran were outstanding on the wings, pressing high to win possession back and constantly creating attacking opportunities with dangerous crosses into the box. At the back, James and Austin provided a solid foundation, defending resolutely and consistently clearing our lines when called upon.
Sterling and Cameron shared goalkeeping and forward duties brilliantly, demonstrating great versatility and energy. Both worked tirelessly to chase down loose balls, apply pressure to the opposition and unleash powerful efforts on goal. The goals came from Jasper and Cameron, who each found the net twice to cap off an excellent attacking display. More importantly, every player contributed to a fantastic team performance built on hard work, resilience and togetherness. Final Score: KES Prep 1 -4 Ballard Goalscorers: Jasper (2) & Cameron (2)Well done, boys! A fantastic result and a brilliant example of teamwork, determination and Ballard spirit.
Exciting New Sports Holiday Clubs
Life @ Ballard
Nursery Autumn Crowns Nursery has been exploring the season of autumn and learning about how the world changes at this time of year. The children collected fallen leaves from around the grounds and used them to create beautiful leaf crowns, which were later enjoyed as part of imaginative role -play activities.
Discovering Australia’s Amazing Echidnas “As part of our topic about Australia, Year 2 is looking at different Australian animals. This week we have been researching facts about echidnas and presenting what we find using bullet points (or paw prints!) and we have also had great fun making our own echidnas out of clay. We used a variety of tools to help us shape and mould the clay and toothpicks to create a spine affect on the echidna. Next week we are looking at kangaroos and will have our own kangaroo jumping competition.” Mrs Bellion (Pre -Prep Teacher)
Prefect Training “Our Year 8 and Year 11 Prefects recently enjoyed a fantastic leadership and team -building day at Beaulieu Activity Centre. Throughout a variety of challenging activities, including navigating tunnels blindfolded, tackling rope climbs, and scaling climbing walls, pupils demonstrated excellent teamwork, communication, and resilience. It was wonderful to see our prefects embodying the school's values and developing their leadership skills.” Mr Steadman (Deputy Director of Sport, Head of Upper Prep)
Co -Curricular Club of the Week
- Warhammer Club
“Warhammer Club has got off to a fantastic start this term, with pupils busy building and painting their own unique armies. Members have been developing their models and giving them a personal touch through custom colour schemes, designs, and clan identities, allowing their creativity to shine. As our armies grow, pupils are learning patience, attention to detail, and modelling skills while bringing their forces to life. Once our armies are battle -ready, we will put them to the test in a series of strategic Warhammer games, where players will command their troops, develop tactical thinking, and compete in exciting tabletop battles. We look forward to seeing our clans take to the battlefield in the weeks ahead.” Mrs Skelton (DT Teacher & Deputy Head of Upper Prep)
Happy Sukkot Children in Years 4 and 5 have been busy building a sukkah as part of their learning about the Jewish festival of Sukkot, which begins at sundown today.
Allotment Club “Allotment Club is in full swing. The turf has been removed, manure is ready to go the way.” Mr Harrowven (Head of Geography)
in and the onion sets are on
Eco Ambassadors Join the Great British Beach Clean “Our Eco Ambassadors were delighted to take part in the Great British Beach Clean, which runs until 27th September. Wearing gloves and armed with litter pickers, they headed to Barton -on-Sea beach, where they worked enthusiastically to collect rubbish and help protect our local coastline. Their efforts resulted in several bags of litter being removed from the beach, making a real difference to the environment. If you're planning a trip to the beach this weekend, why not take a litter bag with you and get involved too? Every piece of rubbish collected helps to keep our beaches clean and protects marine wildlife .” Miss Travis (Lower Prep Teacher).
The Wellbeing Lab The Wellbeing Lab has been exploring a range of mindful activities each week, from noticing the subtle changes in nature around the school site to creating origami stars and, most recently, enjoying the sensory experience of kinetic sand and Play -Doh. It has become a wonderful way to end the day, with 45 minutes dedicated to slowing down, being present in the moment, and appreciating some of life's simpler pleasures.” Zoe Thesiger -Pratt (Head of Wellbeing)
Eco