Week in Pictures
“Dear Pupils and Parents,
From the Headmaster’s Study
Today our community enjoyed a memorable celebration marking the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough - a national treasure and an inspiring voice for the natural world. We were treated to an excellent assembly led by the Eco Committee and Mr Bellars, followed by a wonderful natural history documentary voiceover competition organised by Mr Harrowven at lunchtime, as well as a display of entries from our wildlife photography competition and pupils in Reception made some delicious 100 cupcakes!
These events were joyful, thoughtful and inspiring. They also offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the importance of learning about our environment and caring for it at local, national and global levels.
As a geography teacher, I have a deep affinity with ecology and a strong care for nature, but I have never worked in a school that embraces its surroundings more fully than Ballard. With our extensive grounds, hundreds of trees, resident Ballard mallards, pheasants, bees, nesting robins and curious deer, coupled with our close proximity to the New Forest and the South Coast, we are exceptionally fortunate in the environment in which we learn . What matters most is understanding how to protect this beauty. From forest and beach school experiences to the important work of the Eco Committee, I am delighted to see how environmental education runs through our curriculum.
The climate crisis is a challenge for our generation, and those that follow, to solve. It will be met through knowledge, curi osity, compassion and thoughtful understanding. Nurturing the skills of well reasoned debate, problem solving and empathy for comple x issues, which affect communities in very different ways, will be key to settling upon sustainable solutions. If we hold on to the wisdom and hope shared by Sir David Attenborough, we will not go too far wrong.
I look forward to seeing some of you on the Woodland Discovery Morning. Families will be treated to forest school activities, a woodland walk, seed planting, science activities, woodland crafts, and some special visitors from the Liberty Owl and Raptor Centre.”
Mr Turner Headmaster
More Skiing Success
“After last week’s success at the English Schools Indoor Ski and Board Championships at Hemel Hempstead, our boys have been back on the slopes, winning gold for Ballard.
“We are delighted to celebrate our Year 10 pupils, Zachary and Ben’s outstanding achievements at the National Schools Ski League Outdoor Finals in Gloucester on Friday. Simply qualifying for this prestigious national event –featuring 128 of the top young skiers from across the country – was a tremendous accomplishment, but both boys went even further, finishing an exceptional 5th and 6th.
Their combined results secured 1st place for Ballard in the Senior Boys category, a truly remarkable team success. Their performances reflected great resilience and determination in challenging conditions, firmly placing Ballard on the national ski circuit map! Congratulations to both boys, who have also been selected to join the National Schools Snowsports Association Alpine Squad for the 2026/2027 season – a third year in a row for Zachary and second for Ben! All focus is now geared towards the UK Independent Schools Indoor Ski Champs at Hemel Hempstead next month!” Mr Wood (Director of Sport).
Year 7 & 8 Careers Day
“Year 7 and Year 8 pupils recently took part in an engaging careers workshop delivered by The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG) in partnership with British Airways as part of the Future Airline Challenge, organised by Miss Rothwell, Careers Lead.
During the session, pupils stepped into the role of business teams to design their own airline concept. They explored key areas such as branding, budgeting and decision -making, gaining a real insight into how a major airline operates behind the scenes. Rather than simply learning about jobs, pupils experienced the kinds of challenges faced in careers across aviation, including marketing, finance, engineering and management.
(continued)
The workshop aimed to build awareness of essential employability skills, with a strong focus on teamwork, communication and problem -solving. By working within realistic constraints and presenting their ideas, pupils developed confidence and a better understanding of how their school subjects link to future careers. Opportunities like this, are invaluable in helping to bridge the gap between education and employment. They encourage pupils to think more broadly about their aspirations, while equipping them with the practical skills and mindset needed for the modern workplace.”
Miss Rothwell (Science Teacher and Careers Lead).
You may watch a short video here.
We are delighted with these results, which speak for themselves about our Year 7 & 8 Careers Day.
Happy Birthday Sir David
We are delighted to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday today, with several events happening in school and our Woodland Discovery event tomorrow for our younger pupils.
Reception Celebrations
“Reception pupils made cupcakes to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s birthday and have put 100 on the top of them. They have also been looking at his life and are learning to count confidently in 10s to 100. They also made him a birthday card.” Mrs Edwards (Pre -Prep Teacher)
Early Years Celebrations
Nursery & Kindergarten pupils loved finding out more about Sir David with our librarian team. They also identified their favourite insects to draw, built animal houses and explored the garden on their nature hunt.
Photography Competition
Our budding photographers entered their photographs of the natural world in our Attenborough Photography Competition. The images will be displayed in our Reception Foyer and the winners' images are included below.
Lower Prep Winner - Sterling (Peacock),
Upper Prep Winner - Daniel B (Robin)
Senior Winners – Cleo (Puffin) and Lucas (Butterfly)
Commentary Competition
Pupils were invited to choose from a series of wildlife clips, write their own commentary (or freestyle), and perform it to an audience and judging panel in the PAC. Congratulations to the winner Lewis (Year 6), pictured below.
Sir David Attenborough continues to inspire our pupils at Ballard. For a recent Year 8 French project, one pupil selected him as their iconic hero, bringing their work to life by dressing as Sir David himself.
STEM @ Ballard
Year 7 Cookery - Lentil Soup
““Year 7 pupils have been enjoying making carrot and lentil soup, developing their confidence using the hob and a hand blender safely. The lesson promoted healthy vegetarian cooking and introduced pupils to lentils – an ingredient many were trying for the first time. This is always a very popular recipe, and pupils love the rich, warming flavour.” Ms Clarke (Head of Food Technology).
Year 3 Learn about Skeletons
“Year 3 met Billy Bones this week in Science and they are starting to learn about the three main reasons that we have skeletons.” Mrs Greaves (Prep School Science Teacher).
Year 4 Learn About Electricity and Circuits
“Year 4 has been learning about electricity and complete circuits. The children then had to test different materials to see if they lit up a bulb and so were a conductor and not an insulator.” Mrs Greaves (Prep School Science Teacher).
Arts @ Ballard
David Hockney
“Year 7 has been looking at snapshots of David Hockney’s work through viewfinder sections. They enlarged these sections and studied closely the way he has used marks and colour. Pupils then had fun exploring and experimenting with different ways to interpret his mark -making techniques, including printing, stencilling, impasto paint and sgraffito.
Lots of lessons have been learnt, and there have been many happy, enthusiastic pupils! The project encouraged confident mark making and playful experimentation, with pupils developing their own individual responses while gaining a better understanding of Hockney’s distinctive style.” Miss Jackson (Art Teacher).
Sport @ Ballard
Triathlon
Good luck to our triathletes this weekend as they compete in the Knight Frank Triathlon in aid of Restless Development at Bryanston School. We have an incredible 56 pupils taking part (14 teams), with competitors ranging from Year 3 to Year 8.The distances they will need to complete are as follows: :
Year 3 & 4
Year 5 & 6
Year 7 & 8
Anyone for Cricket
Our pupils have had a cracking start to the cricket season – Well done all
Life @ Ballard
Co -curricular Highlight – Reasoning Club
This week’s highlight gets everyone thinking! Our Reasoning Club, led by our Deputy Head Pastoral, Mr Jackson, has been buzzing with brain -teasing challenges, and plenty of “aha!” moments.
Introducing… Gemma Macdonald - Head of Learning Support
What brought you into teaching?
What is your role?
I am the Head of Learning Support also known as SENCO, working closely with pupils, staff, and families to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive. What attracted you to work at Ballard?
I was drawn to Ballard’s superb reputation for nurturing the whole child. The school’s commitment to offering an exceptional range of co curricular activities really stood out to me. It reflects a genuine belief in supporting individual talents, interests, and strengths. It felt like the kind of environment where children are encouraged to flourish in every sense.
My journey into teaching began with the simple but powerful experience of working with children and realising the impact I could have. I felt I was making a meaningful difference in their lives, and they certainly made a lasting impact on mine. No two days are ever the same; each child brings something unique. I love discovering what sparks their curiosity and finding ways t o nurture and encourage that spark.
Highlights of your career to date
I spent ten very happy years at Courthill Infants in Poole, where I was a teacher, the Arts Coordinator and a Staff Governor. One of my standout memories from that time was organising the ' Courthill Carnival' an Arts week which had a vibrant Brazil and Amazon Rainforest theme. I borrowed shopping trolleys from Waitrose, and staff and pupils transformed them into wonderfully creative parade floats. The children proudly showcased their costumes, artwork, futsal skills, capoeira, and Brazilian drummi ng. It was a joyful celebration of creativity and community.
I then moved to Talbot Heath, where alongside teaching, I became Key Stage 1 Lead and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. A particular highlight there was directing the Pre Prep nativities for pupils from Kindergarten to Year 2. This includ ed a virtual nativity during lockdown, which I wrote and directed. It was filmed in bubbles using a green screen, and the proceeds from the DVD sales funded new playground markings for the Pre Prep department which is a lovely legacy for the children.
Alongside this, I completed my NASENCO qualification and became the SENCO for both the Junior School and Pre Prep. In this role, I introduced new systems to support pupils with SEND and delivered CPD training sessions for staff, helping to strength en provision across the school.
What’s surprised you most since starting at Ballard?
One of my first lunchtime duties involved seeing children happily climbing trees. I was a little taken aback at first but was quickly reassured when I learned that there’s a painted line they mustn’t climb beyond. It was genuinely lovely to see children being children; active, outdoors, and connected with nature, especially in a world so dominated by technology.
Do you have a positive Ballard story to share already?
I’ve really enjoyed visiting classrooms and getting to know some of the pupils. A group of Year 3 children have already kept me entertained with their questions, including whether I get free McDonald’s Happy Meals or if I own a farm. Sadly, the answer t o both is no, but their enthusiasm has been a wonderful welcome.
When you are not at school, what do you like to do?
Outside of school, I love reading, paddleboarding (although only in fair weather!), spending time with my daughter who has jo ined me at Ballard in Year 9, and walking my dog, Dotty, who is a very lively and antisocial Jackapoo. (Dotty by name and by nature!)
What’s your favourite dish on the school menu?
I’ve been genuinely impressed by the salad bar; the variety and quality on offer are fantastic, and it’s quickly become my go to choice.
Eco @ Ballard
