Week in Pictures
From the Headmaster’s Study Dear Parents and Pupils, I do hope that you are all well and continuing to enjoy this glorious Indian summer. The sunshine has provided a fitting backdrop to a week filled with memorable events and activities, each highlighting a different and very special aspect of life at Ballard . A heartfelt thank you to all the families who supported our Harvest Festival collection. It was a particular joy to see our Nursery and Pre -Prep pupils in such fine voice during their performance. The children spoke and sang with confidence, enthusiasm and warmth, and they should be enormously proud of themselves . We were delighted to welcome a representative from Basics Food Bank, New Forest, who spoke movingly about the difference these donations will make within our local community. They were deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity shown by Ballard families, and it was wonderful to see our school community coming together to support those in need. We are still collecting food items if you would like to add any more to the collection . On Monday, we had the pleasure of welcoming former pupil, Liberty Denman, back to Ballard. Liberty shared her experiences as a passionate conservationist and spoke about her charity, KAI, which seeks to raise awareness of responsible fishing and fishery management. We wish her every success as she records her TEDx Talk in New Jersey, USA this weekend. No less significant, also keep an eye out for her forthcoming appearance on the Ballard Blast podcast! Many thanks must also go to Miss Rothwell for organising an excellent careers and sixth form fair. With more than 25 exhibitors representing local sixth form colleges, independent schools and a broad range of professional sectors, the event provided a valuable opportunity for pupils and their families to begin exploring the exciting possibilities that lie beyond Ballard.
Have a wonderful weekend. Let us hope that the sunshine continues to shine on us all for a little while longer. With best wishes, Mr Stuart Turner (Headmaster)
Ballard Crowned ISA National Mixed Team Champions At the ISA National Ski Championships in Hemel Hempstead on Monday 28th September, it was medals galore for the Ballard ‘Famous Five’ as they delivered an outstanding performance against a fiercely competitive field of 148 racers. Representing the school in exemplary fashion both on and off the slopes, Scarlett, Ben, Zachary, Josh and Alice were a credit to Ballard throughout the event. You may read the full report here.
BallardFest Video BallardFest was a fantastic celebration enjoyed by families across the Ballard community. A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise and support this wonderful event, making it such a memorable success. Watch our BallardFest video here or click the photo below.
Pre -Prep Harvest Festival Our Pre-Prep Harvest Assembly was a wonderful celebration of the harvest season, told by the children in Pre Prep. Through their retelling of The Little Red Hen , they explained how wheat grows from a tiny seed, nurtured by sunshine and rain before being harvested and made into bread. The children beautifully demonstrated each stage of the process and they shared the important message about hard work, responsibility and the value of helping others, while also helping us to appreciate the journey food takes from field to table.
STEM @ Ballard
Year 6 Get to the Heart of Science Year 6 pupils enjoyed a fascinating Science lesson as they carried out a heart dissection to explore the structure of this vital organ. Identifying chambers, valves and blood vessels, the children were able to connect their learning about the circulatory system with a real -life practical investigation.
STEM Club Solar Turbines This STEM Club is designed to encourage girls into engineering. “The Year 8 girls are currently taking part in the ISA STEM Competition, which challenges students to answer the question: "How can you make something move without touching it?"
This week, we explored solar power and created mini solar -powered satellites, learning how energy from the sun can be used to generate movement and power devices. Over the coming weeks, we will investigate a range of different technologies and methods, including magnets, air pressure, gravity, and renewable energy sources, as we work towards developing solutions to the ISA challenge. This exciting project will encourage creativity, problem -solving, and innovative thinking while developing key STEM skills.” Mr Cornwell (Head of Design and Technology/STEM)
Upper Prep Science Club Puts Food to the Test Upper Prep Science Club has been exploring the science behind the foods we eat by learning how to calculate the amount of energy stored in different foods. Using a calorimeter, pupils set up and carried out a practical investigation to measure how much energy is released when food is burned.
Year 10 Pupils Investigate Enzymes Our Year 10 Biology pupils have been investigating how pH affects enzyme activity Biology practical work.
as part of their GCSE
Using amylase and starch, students tested different pH conditions to determine how changes in pH affect the rate at which an enzyme breaks down its substrate. They carefully controlled variables, recorded their results and identified the enzyme’s optimum pH. A great opportunity for pupils to develop their practical, analytical and scientific skills GCSE knowledge of enzymes.
while applying their
Arts @ Ballard
Year 1 Drummers Make Some Noise Year 1 enjoyed an exciting Music lesson as they explored and played a variety of different drums. Pupils discovered how each drum produces its own unique sound and practised keeping a steady beat through fun rhythm activities.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Rehearsals
Rehearsals for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are now in full swing, with pupils already hard at work bringing this much -loved story to life. From learning lines and songs to perfecting choreography, the cast and crew are enjoying every step of the creative process as they prepare for what promises to be a fantastic production. We look forward to welcoming audiences in February 2027. Be sure to save the date, with tickets going on sale through our Box Office on 17th December 2026.
Year 7 Colour Theory “Mrs Hitchens’ Year 7 Fine Art class has been revisiting their understanding of colour theory this week whilst developing their watercolour painting techniques. Through a range of practical activities, pupils explored how to mix and blend colours effectively, while refining their brush control, accuracy and confidence when working with watercolours.” Mrs Hitchens (Head of Art) )
Year 9 Creative Skills “Year 9 Fine Art pupils have been developing their creative and analytical skills through a project that challenges them to apply an artist’s style to their own chosen images. Working from personal photographs, such as seascapes, landscapes or beloved pets, pupils carefully study the techniques, materials and visual language of their chosen artist before transforming their images into artworks inspired by that style. We look forward to sharing some of their outstanding finished pieces soon.” Mrs Hitchens (Head of Art)
Sport @ Ballard
World Cup Stars Ten Ballard pupils enjoyed an unforgettable experience at the Youth World Cup this summer in Sweden, the world's largest international youth football tournament. You can read the full report here . You can watch the video here .
Football Success A great day for the U13's at the Walhampton football tournament.
The A team won the cup and the B team won the plate. Ballard A team managed to beat Castle Court, WHP, Durlston & Walhampton . As well as getting draws against Dumpton and FSM. A fantastic afternoon where the boys played great football with great spirit and fully deserved to come top of the league and win the overall competition. Ballard 2 -1 West Hill Park Ballard 2 -2 Dumpton Ballard 1 -1 FSM Ballard 4 -0 Castle Court Ballard 1 -0 Durlston Ballard 3 -1 Walhampton
Ballard B Team Great results and excellent team play. The spirit of togetherness was evident. We did not concede a goal. Results: Ballard 2 -0 Walhampton C Ballard 2 -0 Walhampton B Ballard 2 -0 - FSM B Ballard 0 -0 Dumpton B
Staff vs Parents Football Match There was plenty of competitive spirit on display at our Staff vs Parents Football Match, with both teams giving their all in an entertaining and closely fought contest .
The match featured some excellent individual performances and no shortage of determination as staff and parents battled it out on the field. In the end, the Parents team, including Mr Lewis, came out on top with a hard earned 2-1 victory.
Early Morning Clubs “Our new Wednesday morning 07:30 -08:15 training sessions for Year 9 -11 Boys' Rugby and Girls' Netball got off to a fantastic start this week, with 36 pupils attending the opening session. The commitment, energy and enthusiasm on display created a real buzz around the school and set a positive tone for the day ahead. It was also wonderful for our Lower Prep pupils to see our older students training as they arrived at school, providing excellent role models and showcasing the strong sporting culture that exists at Ballard.
We would love to see even more pupils involved. Whether you're looking to develop your skills, improve your fitness, prepare for fixtures or simply enjoy training with teammates, these sessions provide a fantastic opportunity to start the day positively.” Mr Wood (Director of Sport).
Exciting New Sports Holiday Clubs
Life @ Ballard
Year 1 Beach School “During our Beach School session last week, the Year 1 children were very lucky to see large diggers hard at work rebuilding the beach defence groynes. The children watched with great excitement as the machinery moved huge boulders, helping to protect the coastline from erosion. It was a wonderful opportunity to see real-life engineering in action and learn more about how people care for and protect our local environment.” Mrs Hunt (Head of Pre -Prep)
Year 1 Breadmaking “Year 1 loved making their own bread. They carefully mixed together yeast, flour and warm water before leaving the dough to rise to twice its size. Then they kneaded the dough and shaped it into delicious -looking rolls. As the bread baked, Pre -Prep was filled with a wonderful smell which made everyone's mouths water. Mrs Hunt (Head of Pre -Prep)
Year 3 Share Their Most Treasured Books As an introduction to our learning about the Bible, Year 3 was invited to bring in a book, or books, that are special to them. The children proudly shared their chosen books with the rest of the class, explaining why they were important and meaningful. We were treated to a wonderful and varied collection of books, each cherished for different reasons. This helped the children reflect on why some books hold a special place in people's lives and provided a valuable starting point for our discussions about why the Bible is a special and sacred text for Christians.
Year 1 & 2 Explore Life Beneath the Waves Liberty Denman (alumna) came from the charity, Ocean Generation, to speak to Year 1 and Year 2 children about oceans, their different layers and all the different species of fish and sea creatures that live there. She talked to the children about how we benefit from the oceans and why it is so important that we help to look after them.
Community in Action: Marine Conservation Liberty also spoke to our Senior pupils about her work with the Kai Charity and marine conservation. She shared her experiences of working to protect our oceans and highlighted the importance of sustainable fishing and the role that communities can play in creating positive change. Her talk linked closely with our current PSHE theme of Community, demonstrating how working together, sharing knowledge and taking collective responsibility can help protect our environment for future generations. Liberty encouraged pupils to think about how our choices can have an impact far beyond our own communities, and how collaboration is essential in finding sustainable solutions to global challenges.
Year 4 ‘Turn it Up Tuesday ’ Tuesday form times in 4JEL are "Turn it up Tuesday". This is where pupils get to explore music from the history of genres and the moments that made history in music. Mr Elliott introduced the children to vinyl records and the reason why they were so important, bringing music to the masses. He treated the pupils to The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band. For some children in the class, this was the first time they had experienced music on vinyl. Did you know: Vinyl record sales are on the up? In 2025, 13.3% on 2024.
UK consumers bought 7.6 million vinyl albums, up
Co -Curricular Club of the Week
– Hairdressing Club
“Pupils practised creating different styles, including ponytails, buns, plaiting and twisting techniques, before incorporating these skills into simple hair -up designs. They showed excellent enthusiasm throughout the session and were keen to experiment with different looks while improving their technique and attention to detail.” Mrs Wilcox (Hairdressing Club Teacher)
Eco