Week in Pictures
From the Headmaster’s Study Dear Pupils and Parents,
Welcome Back! It has been a wonderful start to the academic year, and I have been hugely impressed by the positive attitude and sense of purpose shown by our pupils as they have settled back into school life. A particularly warm welcome goes to the more than 80 new pupils who have joined the Ballard community this year. It has been lovely to see the kindness and support they have already received from their peers. September always brings new challenges, routines and opportunities. I encourage all pupils to be patient with themselves as they adjust, and to build strong relationships with their teachers. We will always be impressed by pupils who show enthusiasm, an organised approach to learning and ask questions if things seem uncertain. I urge pupils to make the most of the many co -curricular activities on offer: do spend some time this weekend interrogating the long list, if you haven't already. Every pupil should aim to sign up for at least two activities to help create a balance d and rewarding school week. We are also delighted to welcome several new members of teaching staff this term. Mr Bristow (Science), Miss English (Maths), Miss Ebun -Cole (Dance) and Mrs Lane (PE) have made an excellent start and will bring great expertise and enthusiasm to their departments. I hope everyone enjoys a restful weekend. I wish all those taking part in the Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expedition this weekend the very best of luck. Mr Turner Headmaster
Telegraph Award
We are delighted to announce that Ballard has been recognised by The Telegraph as one of the UK's Best Value Private Schools, an accolade based on a combination of academic outcomes, facilities and school fees, highlighting the exceptional value and opportunities offered to our pupils.
This recognition, alongside our recent Global 100 Award for Best Education Management Business of the Year – United Kingdom, cannot be applied for and provides independent external recognition of all that Ballard offers. We would like to thank our staff, pupils and families, whose support, enthusiasm and commitment help make Ballard such a vibrant and successful community.
Welcome Back It was wonderful to welcome our pupils back yesterday and to greet the many new families joining our community. We hope you have all enjoyed a happy and positive start to the new school year. You can see our first day back video here.
Record -Breaking GCSE Success at Ballard We are delighted to celebrate another outstanding year of GCSE results, with the Class of 2026 achieving Ballard's highest-ever value-added score of +1.34, almost three times the national gold standard. These exceptional outcomes demonstrate the remarkable progress made by our pupils, who achieved an average of 1.34 grades above their nationally standardised baseline predictions across every subject studied. Nearly half of all grades awarded were at the top levels (9-7), double the national average, while the overall pass rate reached an impressive 94%. "This is another record -breaking year for Ballard and that sustained success is testament to the hard work of our pupils, and the quality of teaching, individual support and encouragement they receive throughout their time at Ballard. Congratulations to all," Mr Stuart Turner (Headmaster) Read the full GCSE results story, including subject highlights and value page. You can see our GCSE Results Day video
here.
-added achievements, on our GCSE Results
There were many individual success stories; congratulations to Maggie who scored 100% in Maths, gaining a total of ten Grade 9s one Grade 7 and an A Grade for Additional Mathematics. Sensational results.
A huge congratulations to Alice and Esmé too, who both achieved a perfect 100% in their Textiles coursework.
A huge congratulations to Aurelia too, who achieved a fantastic set of straight Grade 9s across the board. A remarkable achievement and a wonderful reward for years of hard work and commitment.
Celebrating Student Success at the New Milton Arts Trail
“Over the summer, we were delighted to see artwork from several of our GCSE Art and Textiles pupils featured in the inaugural New Milton Arts Trail, which ran until 15 August 2026. The event brought together 76 local artists exhibiting across the town, creating a wonderful celebration of creativity, culture and community. We were incredibly proud to have our students' work displayed at New Milton Train Station, giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents as part of a significant local arts event. Participation in the trail was a valuable experience for our young artists, allowing them to engage with the wider community and gain exposure alongside established local creatives. It was fantastic to see their hard work and artistic achievements recognised as part of this exciting new initiative.” Mrs Hitchens (Head of Art) and Mrs Perry (Art Technician)
STEM @ Ballard
Year 11 Rates of Reaction Practical
“Year 11 Pupils investigated how quickly magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid, using a gas syringe to measure the volume of hydrogen gas produced. Working scientifically, students carefully measured their reactants, observed the reaction taking place and recorded the volume of gas produced over time. They then used their results to explore how the rate of reaction changes and consider the factors that can affect how quickly a chemical reaction occurs. A practical experiment that brings chemical reactions to life and develops students’ skills in accurate measurement, data collection and scientific analysis”. Miss Rothwell (Science Teacher and Careers Lead)
Arts @ Ballard
Year 8 Mono -print self -portraits “Year 8 pupils ended the Summer Term by creating stunning mono -printed self-portraits, producing some truly exceptional outcomes. As the culmination of their year -long People and Culture project, pupils developed their own digital photographs, taken using the new cameras recently purchased by the Art Department, into highly personal printmaking compositions.
They explored the expressive qualities of monochrome imagery, using textured lines, tone, shadow and contrast to create form, depth and character. The final prints showcased the pupils' creativity, technical skill and growing confidence in combining digital photography with traditional printmaking techniques. We are incredibly proud of the outstanding work and commitment demonstrated by all pupils throughout this project.” Mrs Hitchens (Head of Art).
Sport @ Ballard
Rugby Training Our Year 9 to 11 rugby players were back in action last week for a two -day pre-season training camp, led by Mr Wood and Mr Moysey, both Bath Rugby coaches. From fitness and technical skills to match -play scenarios, the sessions were designed to challenge, inspire and prepare our players for the season ahead.
Life
Thank You to Our Estates Team Our Estates Team have been incredibly busy over the summer holidays, working hard to ensure our school is ready for the new academic year. Their projects have included the creation of a brand -new Science Laboratory, the development of our new Wellbeing Area, which is now three times larger, and the installation of new male toilets in the PAC. They have also fitted new carpets and desks, and installed a new pump in our Victorian Water Garden. Alongside these improvements, the team completed an extensive programme of maintenance works across the site, including a deep clean of the entire school (including roofs), repainting, repairs to fencing, pipework, doors, cladding and floors, as well as the installation of new gates and external lighting. They also serviced kitchen appliances, boilers, the lift and DT equipment. To keep our school safe and looking its best, they carried out tree works, hedge cutting, grass cutting and weeding across the site, as well as safety checks on playgrounds and other equipment. The team also supported the relocation of several classes and rooms. Thank you to the entire Estates Team for their hard work, throughout the summer.
Alumni
Go for Gold, Carla! Congratulations to Carla Rudkin -Guillen on being selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Karate Championships, which will be held in Scotland later this year. Carla, who is the current English, Scottish and British International Open Champion, is determined to win her second Commonwealth Gold Medal following her success in Birmingham in 2022, where she won England's first gold medal. Carla is now working hard towards competing at the British International Open at the end of August and the EUSA University European Combat Games in early September. As well as being an alumna (Class of 23), Carla teaches Karate as part of our co -curricular offering to our Year 2 -4 pupils when not competing. Our children are so lucky to be coached by a multi -England and British champion. Wishing Carla all the very best from everyone here at Ballard.