Week in Pictures
From the Headmaster’s Study Dear Parents and Pupils, I have just emerged from meeting with our new Pupil Voice Groups, it was a real pleasure to spend time listening to such eloquent, well -informed and motivated pupils speaking so positively about different aspects of school life.
We have established four groups focusing on key areas of the school: Teaching and Learning, Co -Curricular Activities, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing, and Food. Agenda items were gathered through pupil feedback forms over the previous fortnight, and each group is made up of around 12 pupils drawn from Years 5, 8 and 11. The meetings were chaired by members of the Senior Leadership Team and covered an impressively wide range of topics. Discussions included homework, lesson length, the duration of lunch breaks, access to outdoor spaces, school trips and hot drinks! The quality of discussion demonstrated just how thoughtful and engaged our pupils are. Each meeting will be carefully minuted, and the key themes and recommendations will be taken forward to the full School Council after half term. Chaired by me alongside our Senior Prefects, the School Council will bring together representatives from each group. From there, we will be able to report back to pupils on any developments or significant changes that may result from their feedback. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen pupil voice and ensure that our young people continue to play an active role in shaping school life. Watch this space for further updates... Best wishes, Mr Turner Headmaster
The United Nations "On Friday 2 October, eleven of our Year 8 Scholars and Laureates swapped their school ties for diplomatic credentials and headed to Bryanston School for the Mini Model United Nations. Representing both Panama and Denmark, they arrived armed with opening statements and resolutions and went straight into committee debate, defending their nations’ interests and proposing amendments with impressive conviction. The afternoon brought a crisis that no briefing pack could have prepared them for: a rogue AI demanding recognition as a digital nation! Delegates had to draft clauses at short notice, and these formed the basis of a full United Nations General Assembly debate in Coade Hall. However, several Ballard pupils had spent the lunch break working the room, winning over other delegates over sandwiches and securing alliances before the afternoon session had even begun! Seasoned negotiators would have been proud! It was a demanding day of public speaking, negotiation and quick thinking, and our Scholars and Laureates handled it with confidence, maturity and a great deal of charm. Well done to all involved; the world’s future is in safe hands." Mr Marker (Head of Science, Deputy Head Senior School, Pupil Engagement and Most Able Co -ordinator).
Harry Potter Book Day The Junior Library was a little more magical than usual on Thursday as our pupils celebrated Harry Potter Book Day. From a Dobby sock competition and playdough Transfiguration to plenty of Harry Potter - themed fun, creativity and laughter, the library was buzzing throughout lunchtime. We believe a love of reading can open doors to endless possibilities and Thursday was a wonderful reminder of the power of stories to inspire young minds. You may watch our video here.
National Poetry Day Last Thursday, pupils visited the library to share their favourite poems. You may listen to a sample of their poems here. You may watch our video here.
Educating the Educators As part of our regular programme of staff professional development, Mr Markar (Deputy Head of Senior School and Head of Science) led a thought - provoking CPD session exploring how challenge can be used effectively to support learning and create a positive classroom culture. The session examined four evidence -informed approaches, including learning from pupils' mistakes, allowing more thinking time, creating low -stakes opportunities for practice and feedback, and maintaining high expectations while fostering confidence. Overall, the session encouraged staff to reflect on how everyday questioning, feedback and classroom activities can make challenge feel productive, purposeful and achievable for all pupils.
STEM @ Ballard
DNA Made Delicious! Our Year 9 scientists got creative by building their own DNA models using sweets! They explored the iconic double helix structure and represented the complementary base pairs that make up the DNA molecule. A fun, hands -on way to bring genetics to life and a sweet way to learn some serious science! Miss Rothwell (Science Teacher and Careers Lead).
Friction Year 3 has started learning about forces in Science and as part of this they have been investigating friction. Through their investigations, they used different resources to replicate the games of Boules to test out different surfaces and the friction created. They worked brilliantly in teams to discover which surface was easier to play on!
Arts @ Ballard
Drama Trip Last week, our Year 11 GCSE Drama students enjoyed an exciting theatre trip to Brighton to watch acclaimed actors Joe McFadden and Charlie Brooks in the stage adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night -Time. The trip with Mr Cooper and Mrs O’C provided students with a valuable opportunity to experience live theatre in preparation for their GCSE review writing. Before the performance, students enjoyed a stroll along Brighton seafront and chips on the pier, avoiding the ever -present seagulls! The highlight of the day was an outstanding production at the Theatre Royal Brighton, featuring innovative staging and exceptional physical theatre. The experience gave students plenty to reflect upon and analyse as they develop their theatre-reviewing skills.
Co -curricular Club of the Week - Thursday Murder Mystery Club Last year our Thursday Murder Mystery Club enjoyed great success with Murder at Molden Manor, an original play written by Isobel and Keira (current Year 8), which captivated audiences at our outdoor Variety Show. This year, our talented group of Drama pupils (Years 7 to 9) has reunited to bring Isobel and Keira's brand -new script, Disaster on the Ember Express, to the stage. The club has welcomed several new members, and pupil leaders Isobel and Keira have been busy holding auditions, casting roles, and beginning the exciting process of directing their latest production. Anticipation is already building for this fresh and intriguing whodunnit. Alongside rehearsals, the group is planning a trip to see Agatha Christie’s legendary play The Mousetrap, drawing inspiration from one of the world's most celebrated mysteries. With new characters, unexpected twists, and plenty of suspects, the question is: will audiences be able to wait for the next thrilling performance?
Sport @ Ballard
Fixtures What a wonderful week of sport. All our results may be found in the Mailchimp part of the bulletin.
Exciting New Sports Holiday Clubs
Life @ Ballard
Budding Gardeners Year 1 has been helping in the garden by getting our vegetable beds ready for winter. The children pulled out weeds, tidied the soil and worked together to prepare for planting winter vegetables. They loved getting their hands dirty and learning about how food grows .
Year 7 Team Building With Year 7 expanding from two classes to four, pupils recently enjoyed a fun and engaging team -building day at Beaulieu Activity Centre, providing the perfect opportunity to build new friendships and strengthen existing ones across the year group. Through a variety of exciting challenges, pupils developed their teamwork, communication and problem -solving skills while supporting one another and stepping outside their comfort zones. It was wonderful to see them embracing new opportunities, growing in confidence and demonstrating the kindness, resilience and community spirit that are such an important part of life at Ballard.
The day helped foster a strong sense of belonging and connection, ensuring pupils feel part of one united year group as they continue their journey through senior school.
Beach School Year 2 as always, had a brilliant afternoon going to Beach School; so much fun was had by everyone, thank you Mrs Verdon!
A Beach School Poem Playing eye spy on the bus, seal spotting, digging mega holes, finding enormous crab shells, making a crab house, cleaning sea glass, making a trench, wellies full of sand,
playing tag, making a shell display, playing with my friends, jumping into the large hole,
eating digestives. By Year 2
Ocean Adventures 1 The Sierra Leone container with all the educational equipment has made its way from Southampton to Antwerp in Belgium on the ship the Express Brazil. It then moved from Belgium to the Mediterranean and the Spanish port of Algeciras, which is next to Gibraltar. From here it moved to Tangier in Morocco which is where it has now been unloaded. The Express Brazil has continued on to Ghana and will apparently not stop at Sierra Leone, which is why our container was offloaded. The container will now sit in Tangier for a few weeks before being loaded onto a ship called the Navegantes at the end of this month. Expected arrival date in Sierra Leone is now 19th of November. We will keep you updated.
Ocean Adventures 2 "Along with my skipper and 14 crewmates from my leg of the Clipper Race three years ago, I am about to take part in the Middle Sea Race. More details may be found here. We have chartered a Volvo Ocean 65 Race boat called Sisi, and will be racing from Malta Grand Harbour, past Mount Etna, through the Straits of Messina, around the islands of Stromboli, Favignana , Pantelleria and Lampedusa before heading back to Malta. Two volcanoes in 600 nautical miles... I will try and get some good pics, Jim and Rachel! It promises to be pretty full -on: the "galley" consists of a big kettle (for reheating freeze-dried meals ) and the head makes most on -board toilets look like Buckingham Palace. At least it's not going to be cold! It's probably going to involve a lot more short -ish tacking than ocean racing does... the Atlantic crossing was over 11 times further than this race...
If you want to follow the race, the Race Tracker will go live on the start day of the race (17th October) here: Following the race - Rolex Middle Sea Race ... Look out for Sisi.” Mr Bellars (MFL Teacher).
Tree Count The Eco Ambassadors have been busy helping Mr Robinson number the wonderful trees we have on site.
Eco