Beechwood Park Lion - Lent Term 2025

Beechwood Park Lion Lent Term 2025

FROM THE HEADMASTER

Dear Families and Friends,

A very warm welcome to the Lent Term edition of Beechwood Park’s ‘The Lion’ newsletter As the days grow longer and spring begins to take hold, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and celebrate another action-packed term at Beechwood Park So, make yourself comfortable with a well-earned cup of tea, and enjoy this wonderful showcase of the experiences, achievements, and memorable moments that have filled the past few months

From the excitement of World Book Day, where the children’s love of reading was on full display, to the thrill of competition in our inter-house pancake race, this term has been brimming with energy and enthusiasm Our Year 4 pupils embarked on their historical adventure to Ufton Court, bringing the past to life in unforgettable ways, while Year 5 headed to Aylmerton for their own residential trip, filled with exploration and teamwork. Sport has once again played a central role in school life, with our pupils taking on the challenge of three multi-school tournaments in netball, cross country, and rugby demonstrating skill, determination, and wonderful team spirit

One of the absolute highlights of the term was the truly spectacular production of The BFG. With outstanding performances, dazzling stagecraft, and boundless energy, it was a show worthy of the West End stage! Huge congratulations to all the children involved, as well as the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to bring Roald Dahl’s classic to life in such a magical way.

Of course, school life is not just about competition and performance, but also about community and celebration The ever-popular BPSPA school discos brought music, laughter, and dancing, creating memories that will last a lifetime A huge thank you to the BPSPA and all our parents for their unwavering support it is truly appreciated.

As we bid farewell to another busy and fulfilling term, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our incredible staff and, most importantly, to the children, whose enthusiasm, kindness, and curiosity continue to make Beechwood Park the vibrant and dynamic school that it is.

And now, as the term draws to a close, I am preparing to accompany our wonderful choir on their much-anticipated trip to Belgium. It promises to be a truly memorable experience, and I look forward to sharing in their musical journey.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Easter break, and I look forward to welcoming you back for the Summer Term!

Warmest wishes,

Mr Pritchard

FROM MR PACKER

InternetSafety:AHolidayGuideforParents

At Beechwood Park, we implement various measurestoprotectchildrenonline

These include internet safety lessons that teach pupils about responsible internet use, privacy, and cyberbullying prevention. We also provide a secure online environment by using tools such as Google for Education, which offers child-friendly search engines, and Smoothwall, a web filtering and monitoring system that blocks harmful content Additionally, we encourage a culture of reporting, where pupils can safely report any onlineconcernstoatrustedadult.

By implementing these measures at home and understanding the protections in place at school, parents can help their children enjoy a safe and enriching online experience during the Easter holidaywhichisatimeofjoy,fun,relaxation,and extrascreentime Asparents,ensuringthesafety of our children while using the internet is crucial Here are some essential tips to keep your child’s online experience safe and enjoyable during the holidays.

1.SetClearScreenTimeLimits

Withtheexcitementofgames,videos,andsocial media, it’s easy for children to spend excessive time online Set daily screen time limits and encourage offline activities such as reading, music, or outdoor play and meeting friends to maintainabalancedroutine

2.UseParentalControlsandPrivacySettings

Most devices and apps offer parental controls that allow you to monitor and restrict content. Ensure that privacy settings on social media, games, and streaming platforms are activated to prevent exposure to inappropriate content or strangers

3 Educate About Online Risks

Reinforce what we teach at school about the dangers of sharing personal information, chatting with strangers, and clicking on suspicious links Remind them of the importance of keeping passwords private and reporting to you any uncomfortable experiences online

4. Monitor Online Activity

Keep an eye on the websites your child visits, the apps they download, and their interactions on social media. Encourage open discussions about their online experiences to build trust and awareness Be clear about which apps they are allowed to use

5 Encourage Safe Gaming and Socialising

Many children enjoy online games and social platforms. Ensure they use age-appropriate content and understand the importance of respectful behaviour Remind them to never accept friend requests from strangers.

By implementing these measures, parents can help their children enjoy a safe and enriching online experience during the holidays. Stay informed, stay involved, and create a digital environment that prioritises safety and fun!

Mr Packer Deputy Head, Pastoral

FROM MR BULLOCK

This term has been one of excellent achievements academically. Our entrance exam results to selective senior schools have been spectacular; the Top Form, in particular, have amassed five academic scholarship awards: well done to Oliver C, Elliott F and Zach H (Haileybury), Elsie K (Oundle) and Alex R (St Albans) Olivia C also deserves special congratulations for her academic scholarships.

It has also been a term of fun and engaging learning, with the Science Week focus on change and adaption, to Pi day with Maths activities and house challenges, to all Senior Department pupils performing in French in ‘on s’amuse’, to the ‘Favourite Characters’ and ‘Snuggle up with a book’ of World Book Day, visiting author, Lou Treleaven and the house quiz, to Year 6 Macbeth workshops, to visits to Kew, the British Museum, and an academic residential at Ufton Court, so much has inspired our learners

ThisalsomarksmyfinaltermandasIlookback throughmytenure,andparticularlyatmytime as Deputy Head (Academic), our pupils have made so much progress and succeeded in so manyexceptionalways I’mimmenselyproudof our work here and it was lovely to have this commended by an external consultant in the penultimate week of the term. But, for all the forensic tracking and checking that every pupil thrives and no pupil slips through the net, this level of success is primarily down to the many talented and dedicated teachers through the schoolandIwouldliketofinishthisbythanking themallforeverythingtheyhavedonetohelp ourpupilsovermytime.

MrBullock DeputyHead,Academic

SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS

We are delighted to announce that 13 children from our Top Form have been awarded Scholarships to a range of prestigious Senior Schools

Back Row - Joe K, Sai S, James B, Elsie K, Paddy G, Jonah H, Alex A-D, Alex R

Front Row - Elliott F, Albie S, Elliot M, Oliver C, Zach H

FROM MS HARRIS

When I was asked to cover the Director of CoCurricular role, I can honestly say that I had no idea how busy co-curricular life at Beechwood Park School really was! This term has been an eye-opener, with so many ‘wow’ moments. Small things, like hearing the Choirs rehearsing for Tour in the Great Hall or waving off Year 5 on their trip to Aylmerton, were a definite ‘wow’ Then the large events like the Rugby Festival or the BFG performances were literally ‘goosebump moments’ this term So, where to begin? And let’s hope I don’t forget anything ...

Our Lent Term kicked off with our BPSPA Discos and of course the Year 4 Trip to Ufton Court The photos said it all; the Viking events were a huge highlight, the children were fantastic, the temperatures were slightly chilly, but wow what a

trip! We finally got to run the Cross-Country Event just before Half Term, as storm Eowyn had other plans in January, and what an event it was.

A huge number of participants and some exciting Beechwood Park wins! Alongside the crosscountry, netball season was well and truly underway, and we were so pleased to hold the U11 Netball Tournament to round off this season Whilst all this was going on, BFG was ticking along in the background! I was very nearly speechless at the end of the BFG performance (and that really never happens!) There was so much to take in, so much to see, so many fantastic performances, props, dances and clever video footage An absolute triumph of a School Production, we eagerly await the photo book.

I’ve discovered that Fridays are a busy day for cocurricular activities at Beechwood Park Fantastic lunchtime concerts crammed full of outstanding performances most weeks, and, in early March a Rugby 7s Festival as well! The sun shone, and the teams played very well indeed Again, some fantastic Beechwood Park performances were the highlight at this event With Year 5 just back from their residential to Aylmerton, and day trips for Year 7 (to the British Museum) and Year 2 (to Kew Gardens) earlier this term, it’s hard to know where we could pack any more in! Yet we round off this term with a Choirs’ Concert and Choir Tour to Belgium – phew!

All that remains is for me to say a huge thank you to those members of staff who ran the above events, performances, trips, concerts, shows and clubs Without the dedication of the co-curricular team, Beechwood Park would be a far less colourful place! Speaking of colour, I should like to say a special thank you to Mrs Dalkin who has ably looked after the Art Department this term We welcome our new Head of Art, Mrs Hodgkinson, in April. Finally, to all the amazing parents who have shivered on touchlines, cheered with gusto during races or matches, and been part of amazed audiences throughout the term – thank you! Let’s get ready to do it all again next term!

Ms Harris Acting Director of Co-Curricular

WOODLANDS NURSERY

One of the highlights this term was extending World Book Day into a week of learning The books we chose to study were all about pockets, how important they are and what magical things might be inside them

“I really need pockets to help me …EXPLORE! For fossils and flints And butterscotch mints, For trinkets and limpets And more.

For small sticky bricks, and lollipop sticks! For a necklace, a bracelet, for rings. For skimming stones and mysterious bones, For a world of curious things!”

A dress with pockets by Lily Murray.

Mrs Pritchard Head of Woodlands Nursery

At Forest School, hunting for our own natural treasures to fill our pockets

Painting what we might keep in our pockets if we were Angelica Sprocket A pocket for ham sandwiches and a pocket for monkeys

Printing with natural items to make clay treasures

Investigating natural treasures and learning new words to describe them.

Counting how many treasures are in our pockets.

Talking about treasures we found on family adventures.

Following a visit from a dress designer, creating our own clothes with pockets

RECEPTION ROUND UP

It has been such an exciting term in Reception and we have loved seeing the children becoming independent learners, building on their literacy and numeracy skills and surprising us every day. We celebrated Chinese New Year with a variety of activities including learning how to use chopsticks, painting Chinese characters and investigating Chinese artifacts

To inspire us in our 'People who help us' topic we have had visits from two of our parents; a doctor and a dentist and also from the Police and the Fire Brigade As part of our World Book Day celebrations we had a whole day exploring the book 'The Snail and the Whale' which included drama, parachute games, art and music Reception were also inspired by George's Mum who is an author of children's books and came in to share one of her stories with us We have made the most of the warmer weather by spending time outside and looking for signs of spring on our welly walks.

The Reception Team

YEAR 1 ROUND UP

owrystartedoffourLandmarkstopicinstyle! mazingartfromacrosstheworldensued umbershavemovedfrom10to20to50allinoneterm ragondancinganddramatoo akingtheGreatWallofChinaandBuckinghamPalaceinForestSchool lgorithmsandcodingwereintroducedincomputing emarkablewritingimprovedsomuchinsomanydifferentgenres eeptrying”wasthecry,aswetriedtobuildabridgefromdifferentmaterials omuchfunandlearningtoo–welldoneYear1!

Year 1 Team

YEAR 2 ROUND UP

Virtual exploration abounded this term, as Year 2 dived into their Lent topic of Hot and Cold Norway was our gateway to the Arctic, leading to a focus on Arctic animals and how they have adapted to their harsh climate Seeing the children’s excitement and pride when their Arctic animal fact sheets were displayed in our hall, alongside their incredible pastel sketches, was tangible proof of their learning engagement, writing stamina and most noticeably their independence

All term the manipulatives, from coins to bead strings and Numicon to base 10, have fuelled our maths learning as we explored money and introduced multiplication and division (always a favourite with the children). We have especially loved their mathematical journey from simply giving an answer to taking time to explain their reasoning and show their working out.

The children were in awe of Dr Amelia Darley who came to recount her experience of trekking unsupported to the North Pole in 2010. (Fewer than 50 people have ever achieved this and Amelia remains the youngest female to have done so.) Her photos and descriptions gave us a fuller understanding of the harsh Arctic habitat, alongside a real insight into the challenges of the journey. We explored Amelia’s actual kit that was literally dragged to the North Pole; fun abounded

used.Theoverwhelmingmessagewasthatdeep down we do have the resilience to keep going whenthingsseemtough.

Our favourite Science activity had a serious message as we investigated how fast ice melts, which helped us understand the impact of the melting ice fields on polar bears. Mrs Begley (Head of Science) was very impressed with our measuringskillsaswecollectedandanalysedour results.

In the second half of term Science remained at theforefrontofourcross-curricularworkaswe investigateddifferenthabitatstounderstandhow not just animals, but also plants, adapt to their environment GreenfingeredMrsLynchledusin all things plants, making class-terrariums (think rainforest in a jar) and finding out the best conditions to germinate seeds Our muchanticipated visit to Kew Gardens brought our knowledgeofdesertandrainforesthabitatstolife and showcased the children’s ‘plantastic’ engagementastheyspottedepiphytes,buttress rootsandbromeliads–doaskaYear2childifyou areunsure!

There are quite simply too many activities to include in this short summary, from fun in pyjamasonWorldBookDaytodesigningmoving mechanismcards;theYear2teamremaininawe of the children’s love of learning and kind considerationtoeachother

TheYear2Team

LentTerminYear3:AFun-FilledAdventure

Lent Term in Year 3 was packed with exciting activities and learning experiences. It's incredible to see how much we've accomplished in just a fewweeks!

Science:

Our exploration of Rocks and Soils was a highlight, especially the hands-on, messy, and totally joyful 'Chocolate Rocks' session, in which we learned about the formation of the three types of natural rocks. Science Week was equally engaging, focusing on adaptations. We created camouflaged butterflies andhidthemaroundthe classroom.Wewereveryluckytoalsohaveavisit to the science lab, which allowed us to discover howvariousanimalsadapttotheirenvironments.

ForestSchool:

Forest School remains a favourite in Year 3. Despite the cold, we ventured into our beautiful woods,honingourdexterityskillsbyknottingand tying sticks and string to create ladders for woodland animals and birds. Our collaboration skillstrulyshone.

WorldBookDay:

World Book Day was a fantastic celebration of reading Wedressedupasourfavouritecharacters, sharedstories,andembracedthejoyofreading A bigthankyoutotheparentsandcarerswhohelped the children to create their amazing costumes, makingthedayextraspecial

English:

InEnglish,Year3hasbeencaptivatedbyabeautiful storythatflipsthetraditionalfairytalethemeofa heroine needing rescue The children used drama techniques like role play, freeze frames, and conscience alley to delve into the characters and discussdilemmas Thisledtothecreationofsome wonderful pieces of writing, rich with vivid vocabulary

Thankyou!

We really appreciate your continued support throughout this term and would like to take this opportunitytowishyouallajoyfulEasterbreakso that the children return refreshed and ready for theirSummerTermadventures!

TheYear3Team

Andfinally,onapersonalnoteIjustwantedtosay whataprivilegeithasbeentoteachyourwonderful children over the course of almost 9 years. As I embark on my new adventure overseas, I will treasure the wonderful memories from Wellyboot Camps, Egyptian Days, school trips, classroom fun and so much more. Wishing you all a wonderful Easterbreak.

MrsOatham

YEAR 4 ROUND UP

This term has been packed with excitement and memorable experiences! From our incredible residential trip to Ufton Court to learning about Chinese New Year, we've made the most of every moment. Dressing up for World Book Day brought stories to life, while Science Week sparked curiosity as we explored adaptation Pi Day added a mathematical twist, and Forest School connected us with nature. It's no wonder the weeks have flown by with so much fun and learning!

Ufton Court

This term started with our wonderful residential trip to Ufton Court. Year 4 stayed for two whole nights away from their parents in a lovely Tudor House called Ufton Court During these two days we braved the cold weather and were transformed into Vikings! From raiding and trading, to crafting stunning jewellery, we truly stepped into the shoes of these legendary warriors. One of the highlights was our lavish banquet, complete with costumes, followed by an epic Viking battle! The fun didn’t stop there Mr Pritchard’s captivating magic show had everyone spellbound and left us in awe. It was a remarkable experience, packed with laughter, learning, and unforgettable memories We hope you enjoy the videos we’ve put together to share the adventure with you!

Ufton Court Activities - click here

Ufton Court Battle - click here

Year 4 demonstrated outstanding behaviour and fully embraced every moment of our residential trip. The staff at Ufton Court were thoroughly impressed with their conduct and gave them lots of compliments, which made all their teachers feel incredibly proud. A heartfelt thank you goes to all the staff members who supported and made this trip such a super success!

Chinese New Year

Ms Chen and Hugo taught the Year 4s all about the fascinating traditions of Chinese New Year, sharing how and why it is celebrated. To everyone’s delight, a panda even made a special appearance! We then made our own Chinese animals out of paper, we had to cut very carefully! In honour of the Year of the Snake, we also created our very own snakes A big thank you to Ms. Chen and Hugo for teaching us all about Chinese New Year and making it such an unforgettable experience!

World Book Day

Year 4 and their teachers looked fantastic dressed as their favourite characters for World Book Day! The day was filled with excitement, starting with the Middle Department World Book Day Costume Parade, where creativity and imagination truly took centre stage. A big thank you to the English Department for planning such a fun and inspiring day, and to all the parents for your incredible effort in providing brilliant costumes that brought the characters to life!

Forest School

In our first Forest School session of the term, we had to be very quiet as we were bird watching and listening! Using a special app we were able to identify the different birds that we could hear singing in the forest. Among the many we encountered, we were thrilled to see and hear robins, red kites, and chaffinches!

During our second Forest School session this term, we had to work collaboratively in groups to hide a ‘woodland animal’ from the other teams We had to write clues that included compass directions to help the other teams find our animals We had to make it challenging but not impossible! We decided that next time we could play the game but hide humans instead!

Thank you to Mrs Le Bas for our wonderful lessons this term!

Science Week – Adapt and Change!

Science Week started with an incredible assembly from Mr. Pritchard, centred on the British Science Week theme Adapt and Change It was an inspiring start that set the tone for a week full of discovery and excitement.

On Wednesday afternoon, Year 4 had the opportunity to visit the Science Labs and dive into fascinating experiments on animal adaptations They explored how mimicry works, why ducks float, the purpose of elephants' large feet and ears, the wonders of camouflage, and even how whales stay warm The hands-on activities made learning truly come to life!

The visit to the Science Lab was a highlight of the week huge thanks to Mrs Begley and Mrs Diamond for organising and teaching such engaging sessions

Meanwhile, 4R had the pleasure of a visit from Mrs. Oatham, who explained how animals use adaptation to evade predators and thrive in their environments. The class then created and cleverly hid butterflies around the room for Mrs. Routledge to find! Thank you, Mrs Oatham, for a

fun and educational lesson though it seems Mrs. Routledge still hasn’t tracked down all those butterflies!

Pi Day

Pi Day began with a thrilling House assembly, where the Maths Department presented an exciting challenge: each house had to create a paper chain, with each link representing a digit of Pi The house that crafted the longest chain would emerge victorious!

In Year 4, our Maths lessons embraced the theme of Pi in creative and engaging ways. We crafted beautiful Pi dream catchers, designed imaginative Pi Scapes, and tackled the fun challenge of solving Pi Dingbats. It was a day full of learning and enjoyment, all centred around the infinite wonders of Pi!"

Lent Term has been wonderfully busy, filled with engaging learning and many exciting activities We truly appreciate your continued support throughout this term. Wishing you all a joyful and restful Easter break, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for the Summer Term!

The Year 4 Team

YEAR 5 ROUND UP

A Term Full of Fun and Learning!

What a fantastic term it has been for our Year 5 pupils! They have been busy with exciting experiences, making wonderful memories while learning new things

Our adventurers had an amazing time at Forest School, exploring the great outdoors, building dens, and connecting with nature World Book Day was a huge success, with children dressing up as their favourite characters and sharing stories together

Science Week sparked curiosity as the children explored animal adaptations, discovering how creatures survive and thrive in different environments. The fun didn’t stop there – the disco got everyone up and dancing, showcasing some impressive moves!

Year 5 had their first opportunity to experience a full production at Beechwood Park in the BFG

This play was an incredible feat of drama and technology, and the pupils now have a thirst for

thetheatre,welookforwardtoseeingwhatnext yearmayhold

The highlight of the term was the muchanticipatedresidentialtriptoAylmerton.Year5 pupilsembarkedonanaction-packedadventure that took them through climbing challenges, pirate quests, fossil hunts, and teamwork exercises Thedayswerefilledwithexcitement, learning, and unforgettable memories! Fears were faced, adventures experienced, animals explored,andfrogsavoided!Thetriphelpedwith building independence and communication and pupils should be proud of how they demonstrated this Please ask them to demonstratetheirtablemanagerskillsandduvet cover removing talents at home, we are sure theywillwillinglyandcapablyassist!

WelldonetoallourYear5sfortheirenthusiasm andenergythisterm–wecan'twaitformore excitingexperiencesahead!

TheYear5Team

YEAR 6 ROUND UP

Celebrating Our Year 6 Pupils: A Term of Fun, Learning, and Achievement!

This term, our Year 6 pupils have had an actionpacked few months, filled with exciting events and incredible achievements From dancing their hearts out at the disco to taking part in French plays. On s’amuse not only boosted their confidence but also deepened their appreciation for the French language and culture

March was a particularly busy month, with World Book Day celebrations sparking creativity and a love for reading. Pupils dressed up as their favourite characters and participated in fun activities that celebrated the joy of books and reading.

The Year 6 pupils embraced the spirit of friendly competition when they tossed pancakes in the interhouse pancake race. They have also been taking part in many Netball and Rugby tournaments, where teamwork and determination were key.

This term many pupils have also faced the challenge of preparing for Senior school entrance exams, as well as the rigorous scholarship exams. Despite the pressure, they remained focused and showed great resilience, proving their commitment to achieving their goals.

In addition to all of this we had Science Week which started with an incredible assembly from Mr Pritchard, centred on the British Science Week theme Adapt and Change It was an inspiringstartthatsetthetoneforaweekfullof discoveryandexcitement

And who could forget the BFG Another outstandingproductiondirectedbyMrsHegarty Year6featuredmorethananyotheryeargroup intheschoolandwereabsolutelyamazing They played characters from teachers to orphans to royaltytogiantsandlotsin-between

Thistermhasbeenawhirlwindoffun,learning, andachievement,andwecouldn’tbeprouderof ourYear6pupils Welookforwardtonextterm which will start with the much-anticipated residentialtriptoNettlecombeCourt

TheYear6Team

YEAR 7 ROUND UP

Well done, everyone!

What an action-packed term it has been! You’ve taken part in so many exciting events, showcasing your talents, determination, and enthusiasm Looking back, it’s hard to believe you have packed in the following:

�� British Museum Trip – You stepped back in time, explored ancient Roman artefacts deepening your contextual understanding of Latin You debated the philosophical issues of the Parthenon marbles and marvelled at the Rosetta Stone – key to our understanding of Hieroglyphics A fascinating experience!

�� Science Week – From exciting experiments to new discoveries, you embraced the world of science demonstrating your curiosity and collaboration

�� World Book Day – A fantastic celebration of reading! You brought your favourite characters to life and 7W had a licence to thrill with their James Bond inspired theme including the Man with the Golden Gun and Dr No! I had great fun supplying the gadgets with some explosive results and shockingly good fun

�� French Plays – On s ’amuse, not only did you showcase your linguistic skills but also your drama ones, with two hilarious sketches It was a pleasure to see both, and I will remember never to take my skateboard on a plane again!

�� Cross Country Events – You ran your hearts out in true Beechwood Park style, showing great perseverance, collecting some new PBs on the way. A fantastic effort from everyone!

�� Senior School Exams – You worked hard, stayed focused, and gave it your best All that preparation paid off, with everyone achieving places at a wide variety of top Senior Schools

�� Robotics Competition – Your creativity and teamwork shone as you designed, built, and competed in an exciting tech challenge Watch out Optimus, (Elon Musk’s robot), Year 7 are coming!

�� School Play – The stage came alive with your incredible performances! Whether acting BSG –Big Scary Giants, or supporting behind the scenes, you helped create something truly magical

�� Super 7 Programme – You have again challenged yourselves, helping one another to be the best version of yourselves and have again collected a good number of praise postcards Everyone in the Year has at least one card and a few of you even have two!

It’s been an unforgettable term, and we are so proud of everything you have achieved Keep up the great work, Super 7s!

The Year 7 Team

TOP FORM ROUND UP

Our Top Form pupils have spent the Lent Term working diligently in their lessons and preparing for their Common Entrance / Beechwood Park Final exams in May. Many pupils’ hard work has been rewarded across a range of areas, with Top Formers being awarded scholarships and exhibitions to Haileybury, Oundle, Bedford, St Albans and Berkhamsted Schools for academic excellence, Sport, Music, Choral and DT

Top Form have continued to excel as leaders within our school community and demonstrated significant care and kindness during their joint Maths / Forest School session with the Reception pupils Supporting Reception to develop their measuring skills through den building was hugely rewarding and everyone had lots of fun too! They also took on the roles of chaperones and marshals during the Cross-Country event we hosted in March. Whilst our runners did us proud, several staff from visiting schools commented on our excellent Top Form role models and how brilliantly they assisted our guests.

We kicked off Science Week with an amazing Assembly from the Headmaster on the theme from British Science week – Adapt and Change The Top Form pupils particularly enjoyed a visit from a local vet who spoke about her fascinating career They thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into all the practical experiments too! ,

Skulduggery Pleasant to name but a few.

Top Form wowed us with their wonderful performances of their French plays in On s’amuse in February. There also were some highly memorable costumes!

Months of hard work finally came together when we performed David Wood’s stage version of The BFG Not only did our Top Form pupils excel with their brilliant acting onstage, but the Tech Team collaborated with Mr Gambrell and Mr Winn to create and operate the stage lighting, sound effects, music and an ambitious live-video feed Congratulations to everyone involved; you are all stars!

The Top Form Team

A ROUND UP FROM FOREST SCHOOL

Exciting times at Forest School this term as we embarked on a new project to create a collaborative session between some of our older pupils and children in the earlier stages of their time at Beechwood Park. Year 7 planned a literacy activity for Year 1. Our older students wrote some clues (they had a free remit and could use simple directions, a rhyme or perhaps somethingthatrequiredalittlebitofdeduction) They then paired up with someone from Year 1 and encouraged their young partner to read and solve the clues, each of which led to a letter Once they had found all of the letters, they worked together to read the word that the letters created, which was linked to Year 1’s topic.

TopFormcreatedasimilarsessionforReception thistimewithamathsfocus.Itwassuchadelight toseethejoyonthelittleone’sfacesastheygot to go off and work with their big buddies Reception’s maths topic was length, so they had to collect lots of sticks, put them in order and thencreateaminidenstartingwiththetallestto shortest sticks. What a brilliant opportunity to apply their learning in a real-life situation and somegreatmathslanguagewasoverheardtoo!

worktogether Theteacherswerethrilledtosee theolderchildrenshowinghowamazingtheycan be; they demonstrated great responsibility, listenedcarefullytoinstructionstosupporttheir buddiesratherthandoitallforthem,andwere superambassadorsfortheSeniorDepartment

Both mornings were thoroughly enjoyed by all; Year 7/Top Form and Year 1/Reception pupils wereequallydelightedtohavethechanceto

MrsLe-Bas HeadofForestSchool

THE BFG

Producingourannualschoolproductionisalwaysoneofthehighlightsofmyyear;providingabrilliant opportunityforpupilstocometogetheracrossyeargroupsandtoworktowardscreatingahigh-quality show to amaze and entertain our audience It’s always wonderful to be able to collaborate with so manydifferentdepartmentsandtalentedstaffmembers.

I would like to say a giant sized “THANK YOU” to everyone who has given their time to make these performancespossible:

ToMrsJacquesforherfantasticcreativityandincredibleattentiontodetailincreatingyetanotherfull set of wondercrump costumes We adore your snozzcumber and Sophie doll too! To Mr Fox and Mr Woodforcreatingandsourcinganarrayofprops Thefour-metrehighBFGpuppetandallthelight-up itemsarearealtriumphandsomagical!ToMrsMurphyforthebeautifulQueenofSwedendressand forkittingoutthemarionettesinsoldiercostumes,completewiththefacesoftheactualpuppeteers! ThankyoutoMissLingforallthegiantbreakfastitemsandset.HugethankstoMrGambrellandMr Winn for so ably leading and managing the highly complex technical requirements of this show –creating and operating the lighting, sound effects, green screen videos and the highly impressive live video-feedwithourYear7andTopFormpupils.

“Wehasdiddlydiddlydoneit!”

MrsHegarty

ArtisticDirectorandChoreographer

A ROUND UP FROM THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT

Another term has flown by and as always, it’s been packed with lots of sport This term we have hosted our Cross-Country event, the U11 Rugby 7’s Festival and our U11 Netball tournament. Each event welcoming numerous schools to the stunning Beechwood Park grounds All events were hugely successful, and I wish to pass on my thanks to the whole of the Sports Department for their help in organising and running these largescale events

From September 2025, Year 5 and 6 girls will be combined for games lessons and fixtures They will be referred to as U11s in the calendar and in SOCS. This is to align with the structure of the boys in those year groups We already often mix

thegirlsingameslessons,andtheyhavealways mergedfortheU11Ahardballcricketteaminthe Summer Term, so we know this arrangement works well. It allows all pupils to play at an appropriate level and to stretch and challenge themtobecomethebestthattheycanbe.

Please see the updates on the next few pages from Mr Griffiths, Miss Summerfield, and Miss Hamiltonaboutrugby,netball,andcrosscountry thisterm.OnbehalfofalltheSportsDepartment, we wish you and your family a happy Easter holidayandlookforwardtoseeingeveryoneback inApril.

MrsCarley DirectorofSport

Rugbyreview

This rugby season has been a tremendous success, marked by significant improvement across all players. Many children who initially played touch rugby have made the transition to contact,demonstratingconfidence,resilienceand enthusiasm for the game. Their development has been evident in key rugby skills, including tackling, passing, decision-making, and game awareness.

Throughout the season, players have enhanced their ball-handling, defensive positioning and teamwork, leading to more structured and competitive performances in matches on a Wednesday afternoon The dedication and effort from both coaches and players resulted in a season filled with growth, achievement, and a strongfoundationforfuturesuccess

The rugby season started with a pre-season festival to Haileybury school This was followed by a rugby festival at Saracens Stone X stadium, where some of our U10 players got the opportunitytoplayontheSaracenspitch,aswell as form a guard of honour to welcome the Saracens players, before their important European match! We concluded the season by taking over 100 Beechwood Park friends and families to the Saracens showdown match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – a fantastic annual event

A personal highlight this term, was our U11 Rugby Festival which we hosted on a beautiful sunny day with 12 schools from the across circuit in attendance We were treated to some outstandingrugby!

MrGriffiths HeadofRugby

Our Netball season has been a busy one! Lots of pupils using the Michaelmas ASAs to prepare for the Netball season, with weekly fixtures, lots of Year 3 & 4 mini tournaments and House Matches.

With over 100 fixtures played this term, there have been lots of opportunities for our Netballers to represent the school Our House Matches were a buzz, with Saunders taking the win both in the Year 3 & 4 and Year 5 & 6 competitions.

In early March, our U11A team were entered into the IAPS regional tournament, and they had a lovely, yet very competitive day at the Marist School They came 7th in their group, taking a close win against Westbrook Hay Beechwood Park just lost the Plate Quarter-Final, however we came away with lots of valuable learning opportunities

We finished off the term hosting our U11 Netba Tournament and what a way to end the seaso 16 teams from across Hertfordshir Buckinghamshire, and Middlesex came togeth and it was an event not to miss There was playlist of family favourites, scrummy spectat teas and an abundance of energy from th visiting teams We entered our U11A and U10 teams into this tournament Our U10A team ha some close group games, doing very we considering they were playing against a ye group They very narrowly placed 3rd in Group B on goal difference and then went into the knockout stages. Winning the next games 5-4 against Kingshott and 2-1 against Abbot’s Hill They finished the day placing 10th, a remarkable achievement!

The U11A team had a great day of Netball and were keen to put out a good performance. They placed joint top of their group with Berkhamsted – a game that ended 2-2; after winning 6-1 against Abbot’s Hill and 5-0 against St Edmund’s

College U11B. Due to a higher goal difference, Beechwood Park went through top of the group and were placed against MK Prep in the quarter finals. A great game of Netball with wonderful flow to it, Beechwood Park won 8-6 The girls played well in the semi-final but lost to an excellent St Edmund’s A side 3-0 and finished 4th overall. High March and St Edmund’s played a very competitive final with the score drawing 8-8 at the final whistle. This led to 5 minutes of extra time, with High March winning 11-8. A great day for the pupils and all involved!

Miss Summerfield Head of Netball

Cross-Country Review

The 2025 cross-country season got underway at York House in early January We had some excellent team results, with all our teams performing strongly. The U11 Boys and U11 Girls teams both finished in 3rd place with the U13 Boys coming 2nd We also had an individual medallist with George M (Year 7) winning silver in the U13 Boys

With the Beechwood Park event postponed due to Storm Éowyn, the second race of the season was the Hertfordshire County Championships

The Primary teams were in action first at St Margaret’s Bushey. All 12 runners ran well in large competitive fields, with a tight mass start The performance of the day went to Alex F (Year 5) who finished in 8th place and qualified to represent Hertfordshire at the National Championships in Leicestershire The Secondary teams started a little later in Verulamium Park in St Albans Again, everyone performed well with a special mention to George M who won bronze in the Year 7 Boys’ race and qualified to represent Hertfordshire in the National Championships.

Up next was the Beechwood Park event

Although slightly smaller than usual due to the new date, we had 10 visiting schools and over 250 runners taking part Beechwood Park was very consistent, coming 3rd in the U9 Boys, U9 Girls, U11 Boys and U11 Girls team events and 2nd in the U13 Boys We also had fantastic individual success with 3 medallists. Sephy D (Year 3) winning bronze in the U9 Girls and William W (Year 4) and George M (Year 7) winning gold in the U9 Boys and U13 Boys

Following half-term, the team were back in action at the St Martin’s Road Relay Race in Northwood The U11A and B Girls teams finished 3rd and 7th. The U11A and B Boys finished 3rd and 6th out of 13 teams and the U13 boys finished 2nd and 5th out of 15 teams. George M (Year 7) was also the fastest runner of the whole day, winning gold in the U13 Boys race!

The next race was the National Prep Schools’ Cross-Country Championships at Malvern College. 11 runners represented Beechwood Park at this very large and prestigious event in beautiful sunshine and fantastic conditions. After walking the course, the U11 Girls were up first and finished 31st out of 35 teams The U11 Boys followed, finishing an impressive 18th out of 42, with Alex F (Year 5) putting in an incredible effort to finish 30th out of 208 finishers! Up next were the U13s, who finished 13th out of 32 teams from across the country, with George M (Year 7) finishing in an outstanding 9th place out of 153 runners. 5 of the 11 runners were also in the younger age of their age groups, so it bodes well for next year We were so proud of all our runners who competed against strong opposition from across the country and represented the school so well

The last race of the season, for the Primary age group, was at Bridgewater Primary in Berkhamsted Twenty-six runners competed with 13 finishing in the top 10. We had three individual medallists: - Scarlett (Y4) won bronze and Sephy (Y3) and Marcus (Y5) won silver We also had lots of team success with Y6 Girls, Y6 Boys and Y5 Boys winning team bronze and the Y4 A Girls winning team Gold, finishing in 3rd, 4th and 5th The Y4 B Girls would have won silver too, if two were counted, having finished in 9th, 10th and 11th. A great finish to the season.

We also had two pupils, following fantastic performances at the County Championships, represent Hertfordshire in the National CrossCountry Finals in Warwickshire Alex F (Y5) finished in 66th place out of 164 finishers and is already planning his improvements ready for next year Then George M (Y7) had an incredible run to finish 9th out of 127 finishers. He also helped the Hertfordshire team win, to be crowned National Team Champions 2025!

Well done to everyone who represented Beechwood Park this season and we hope everyone continues to enjoy their running in the future.

Miss Hamilton Assistant Director of Sport

BEECHWOOD PARK TRAVEL TO BARBADOS

Thisyear,aselectionofpupilswillbeembarkingonthebi-annualcrickettourtoBarbados

As part of every overseas tour, we make a concerted effort to support local charities, and this year we are proudtobepartneringwithTheCricketKindnessProject(wwwcricketcharityorg)

For the past ten years, the Cricket Kindness Project has provided thousands of children, teenagers, and adults around the world with access to proper cricket equipment, enabling them to enjoy the game Inspired by a heartfelt determination to support cricket-loving communities, the charity works tirelessly to supplykitanduniformstothosewhoneedthemmost

Ifyouhaveanycricketequipmentathomethatisnolongerinuse,pleaseconsiderdonatingitbybringingit toschoolandhandingitinatReception Iwillensurethatalldonateditemsreachthecharity

During our last cricket tour to Barbados in 2023, we had the privilege of meeting Stephen Rowe from the Ministry of Sport, to whom we handed over all our donated kit The equipment was then distributed to St Albans Primary School in Barbados, a school in desperate need of cricket gear In addition to this, we also raised £3,144 for the Cricket Kindness Project, helping them continue their vital work in supporting cricket communitiesindevelopingcountries

Withyourhelp,wehopetoexceedlastyear’seffortsandmakeanevenbiggerimpactin2025!

noboundariescricketclubcom

Manythanks

MrGriffiths

A ROUND UP FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

This term has been full of memorable moments for Music The Year 2 pupils have excitedly visited the Department for their first ‘experience’ lessons, trying out different instruments to see what they may like to start learning, and from Year 3 to Top Form, 75% of pupils have been having lessons in one, or two, instruments, resulting in 272 lessons being timetabled each week. The hard work of these pupils has been heard in the nine lunchtime concerts held this term where we have had the pleasure of listening to 90 pieces of music – all played with such wonderfulconfidenceandmusicality.

In February, some pupils were also busy working hard for their ABRSM music exam. There were a variety of instruments from initial grade to grade 6, and we had another set of fantastic results; all 16 passed, eight with Distinction and seven with merit! Four pupils also took their online exams for Rock School and drum exams, gaining two distinctions and two merits There are more music exams to come in May for 49 pupils taking ABRSMorTrinityexams

This term we have also had 46 different music activities taking place each week In addition to our ensembles and choirs, there have been theory and aural classes, music technology groups and after school music clubs, with a total of 379 pupils on all the registers! The Music Department is always buzzing with activity and the great sounds of pupils having fun with their music making; it is always such a privilege to witness the hard work and dedication of the pupils, and staff, and a real joy to work with them all

Music Competition 2025:

During the Lent Term, all the pupils in the Middle and Senior Departments participated in our biennial House Music Composition Competition. Each class worked around a curriculum topic and composed group pieces inspired by travel, planets, images, world music, minimalism, and film We also had a large number of solo entries with a particularly brilliant set of entries from Year 3! The judges will be perusing all the entries over the Easter holidays and the results will be announced next term

Scholars’Concert

InJanuary,weheldourannual‘scholars’concert’ for our pupils who had applied for music scholarshipstotheirSeniorSchool Thisconcert gavethepupilsanopportunitytoperformtheir whole programme and was a great practice for theirauditions Thestandardoftheirplayingand singing was truly exceptional and it was such a treat to listen to their fabulous musicality, confidence and wonderfully polished performances A huge ‘well done’ goes to each andeveryoneofoursixscholarsfortheirhard workandamazingachievements! Clickheretowatch

Choirs’Concert

Our Choirs’ Concert on Tuesday 25 March, has certainlybeenahighlightthisterm,featuringall fourBeechwoodChoirsfromYear1toTopForm. The Beechwood Choir and Chamber Choir performedawiderepertoire,frommusicbyJohn RuttertosongsfromLesMiserables,toasuperb rendition of the very difficult ‘Rhythm of Life’. Thiswasagreatpracticefortheirperformances ontheChoirTourtoBelgiumattheendofthis term.ItwasalsolovelytoseetheYear1and2 Choirperformtheirsongswithsuchenthusiasm–bigsmilesandfabulousactions,andinaddition, theYear3and4singersneverfailtoimpresswith their wonderful energy, performing a great selection of songs from Jonah-Man Jazz. The concertendedwithahugejointnumber-‘Power in Me’, and this was certainly powerful! All the choirstogether(120singers)madeaphenomenal soundandtheadditionoftheYear6RockBand tothispiecejustaddedtheextraenergyneeded toraisetheroofofthePerformanceHall.

Nextstop....Belgium!

MrsLodge DirectorofMusic

PRESTO PRIZES

During the term our musicians who have 'gone the extra mile' are awarded a Presto Prize. Our prize winners for this past term were:-

Masato L 3D - For dedication to his practice and huge improvements every week Amazing attitude to learning hard pieces

Michael S 3D - Fantastic progress! Beautiful playing

Stanley M 3D - For excellent progress on guitar over the half-term holiday.

Annabelle F 3O - For listening well in lessons and fantastic progress week by week.

Annabelle F 3O - For fantastic hard work and brilliant playing.

Florence S 3O - For continued resilience in Piano lessons and good effort singing quavers and crotchets

Sophie C 3O - For continuing to come to lessons with enthusiasm, doing great practise between lessons and for progressing really well.

Sohum V 3O - For exceptional progress with his guitar playing.

John W 3P - For excellent practice and musical playing

Ari D 4B - For excellent practice and playing

Akio N'G 4D - For an outstanding term's work, excellent progress and wonderful enthusiasm

Felix S 4O - For fantastic progress towards his Grade 1 in electric guitar.

Albie R 4R - For amazing progress. Great attitude and hard work.

Allegra D 4R - For excellent dedication and hard work. Singing has come on 'leaps and bounds'.

Emily B 4R - For perseverance in learning and good practice

Ade O 5C - For great sight-reading

Alessio G 5C - For excellent progress on guitar over the half-term holiday

Olly C 5C - For great practice at home and positive attitude.

Alex F 5K - For playing with confidence and commitment.

Bertie G 5K - Excellent progress and fantastic attitude towards practice.

Joshua G 5K - For exceptional progress with his Grade Two pieces and technical work

Alex F 5SK - For great Sight Reading and scale study

Teddy W 5SK - For excellent practice and musical thinking

Teddy W 5SK - For excellent sight-reading in Trombone.

PRESTO PRIZES

Farran H 6B - For fabulous progress with tone production and confident performances of Grade 2 pieces.

Simran G 6H - For great progress with her exam pieces and a great attitude throughout this halfterm

Madeleine F 6L - For wonderful progress with her Grade 3 Guitar playing and for consistent exceptional progress with her Piano pieces and her performances this half-term

Stella R 6L - For wonderful progress over the last few weeks.

Aeron C 6W - For wonderful drum accompaniment in the Beechwood Choir.

Joseph K Top L - For super work in BLO at Open Morning.

Oliver C Top L - For super work in BLO at Open Morning

FROM THE ART DEPARTMENT

Art lessons this term for Years 3 to Top have seen a fast paced abstract adventure from Etel Adnan to Picasso, visiting Mondrian, Paul Klee, Kandinsky and Klimt along the way Pupils enjoyed using a mixture of mediums to complete creative artwork challenges based on these artists Claude Heath’s one line drawing challenges proved huge fun, and Miss Ling’s masterclasses in drawing anatomically correct faces have enabled us all to attempt portraits with ever increasing confidence and accuracy The abstract adventure has been enjoyed by all, with pupils reporting their enjoyment, success and fascination Well done to pupils in Year 3 to 8, who jumped aboard the abstract art express train this term with Mrs Dalkin and Mrs Ling

Mrs Dalkin Interim Head of Art

A ROUND UP FROM THE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP

As the term comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the incredible work our students have accomplished. Across all year groups, they have been developing hands-on skills, problem-solving creatively, and gaining insight into real-world industries. Here’s a look at what they’ve been up to:

Year 3 – Paper Engineering & Pop-Up Book Design

Budding graphic designers and paper engineers in Year 3 explored the art of storytelling through pop-up books. They mastered different mechanisms such as Box-folds, Mountain folds, and Mouth Folds, bringing their imaginative stories to life in a way that mirrors real-world publishing and packaging design.

Year 4 – Woodwork & The Royal Game of Ur

Aspiring woodworkers and product designers in Year 4 took their first steps in carpentry by safely learning how to use saws and shaping tools They then put their skills to the test by constructing replicas of The Royal Game of Ur, an ancient board game over 4,500 years old! Alongside this, they created storage pots for the game’s tokens and dice, practicing traditional joinery and finishing techniques These are foundational skills for careers in furniture making, game design, and even archaeological reconstruction.

Year5–MusicalInstrumentConstruction

Year5tookinspirationfrominstrumentmakers andsoundengineersastheyusedscrollsawsto craft musical instruments They explored how different materials and shapes affect sound production, applying engineering principles to theirdesigns

Year6–AssistiveTechnology&SmartDesign

Year 6 became technologists and inventors, usingMicro:bitstoprototypeaccessibledesigns that could make a real difference in people’s lives Theirprojectsincluded:

Remote-controlled wheelchairs for improved mobility

Distance-sensing glasses to assist visually impairedusers

Chessboardscontrolledbyheadmovements, makingthegamemoreinclusive

Automated greenhouses that regulate water andlightforplantgrowth

Theseprojectsreflectreal-worldadvancements inassistivetechnology,biomedicalengineering, and smart home automation fields where innovationdirectlyimproveslives.

Year7–Soldering&SynthMachineDesign

Year 7 students took on the role of electrical engineers and music technologists as they learnedhowtosolderandassembletheirown synthesizer circuits. Inspired by the school’s logo, they built electronic noise-making machines, learning about sound waves, resistors,andcircuitboarddesign.Thishandson experience mirrors careers in music production, hardware development, and electronicengineering.

Year 8 – Raspberry Pi Pico & Interactive Controllers

Year 8 students delved into coding and electronics, using Raspberry Pi Picos to create custom touch-sensing computer controllers. Theirprojectsincluded: ·Gamecontrollersforinteractiveplay

· Custom keyboards for digital art and music production

· Touch-sensitive musical instruments, turning simplegesturesintosound

These projects showcased skills in embedded systems, user interface design, and software engineering key areas in gaming, tech startups,androboticsdevelopment.

ATermofCreativity&Innovation

Thistermhasbeenfilledwithproblem-solving, hands-onmaking,andreal-worldapplicationof skills. Our students have shown incredible creativityanddetermination,andwe’reexcited to see how they continue to develop their talentsinthenextterm.

MrFox HeadofDT

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445 923078164062862089986280348253421170679….

A ROUND UP FROM THE MATHS DEPARTMENT

On Friday 14 March (3 14 – the first 3 digits of Pi), Beechwood Park School Celebrated Pi Day! Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter It is the most recognised maths symbol in the world and dates back to the Bible (950BC) in 1 Kings 7:23, where a mould in the shape of a cylinder 30 cubits round and 10 cubits in diameter was made (30/10 = 3 which is an approximation of Pi).

Pi Day at Beechwood Park started with House Assemblies dedicated to this renowned constant! Houses competed against each other in a bid to construct the longest paper chain with the digits of Pi in the correct order with Tudor declared winner, closely followed by Saunders!

Maths lessons had a special buzz with a plethora of activities that allowed pupils to investigate this unique maths symbol! Armed with hula hoops, metre rulers and giant pavement chalks, pupils were outside in the sunshine drawing circles and investigating Pi.

Some built Pi skylines using interlocking cubes and went on to graph their results, whilst others used their art and craft skills to create a Pi dream

catcher using the digits of Pi A favourite activity was “Pi and Seek” where pupils competitively hunted for objects related to Pi and captured imagesontheiriPads

Senior Department pupils showcased their problem-solving skills, deciphering dingbats, and further worked on unravelling the mystery of Pi through problem solving tasks such as finding out whether a circle fits better not a square or a square fits better into a circle amongst other challenges.

Pupils also got a chance to test their memory by reciting as many digits of Pi as they could and we are proud to announce Alex R - Top L, as the winner in the Senior Department with 231 digits and in the Middle Department, Saffi S - 4O, who recited an impressive 125 digits. Well done to everyone!

If you would like to rise to the challenge, the Beechwood Park record to beat is that set by Ben M a Top Form pupil He recited an amazing 1112 digits of Pi in 23 minutes on 14 March 2022 and is ranked 196 in the world Pi rankings. We have included the first 100 digits at the top ofthepagetogetyoustarted

MrsGbedemah HeadofMaths

ROBOTICS AT BWPS

A Thrilling Debut Season by Cyber Robotics in the VEX IQ Robotics Regional Competitions

2025 in Computing marked a historic milestone for Beechwood Park School as our BWP Robotics Team stepped into the competitive world of VEX IQ Robotics for the first time. Led by Mr Sadler, a group of Top Form students (Louis, Ismail, Sam B, Will and Archie) embarked on an incredible journey through multiple regional competitions, demonstrating innovation, resilience, and teamwork

City of London School for Girls – 13 January

Our journey began when we were given a lastminute opportunity to compete in the VEX IQ London Regional Competition. With only days to prepare, our team embraced the challenge, presenting their robotic designs, coding expertise, and teamwork skills to industry judges. Despite the steep learning curve, they finished 7th overall a remarkable achievement for a rookie team at their first VEX event.

The Cotswolds Classic – 21 January

Building on their experience, the team competed at The Cotswold School Regional Competition, known as the 'Cotswolds Classic ' After overcoming early setbacks, they mastered an autonomous coding challenge a feat only two teams achieved on the day and secured an impressive 3rd place finish among 16 competing schools. Their ability to adapt, problem-solve, and network showcased their growing confidence in STEM and VEX Robotics

Haberdashers’ Boys School – 31 January

Facing some of the UK’s top-ranked teams at Haberdashers’ Boys School, the students gained valuable insights into advanced engineering and coding strategies Even though they didn’t rank highly at this event, lots of lessons were learned from more experienced Year 9 and 10 students.

Orley Farm School - 13 February

At Orley Farm, despite being short-handed, the team’s outstanding performance earned them 2nd place overall This was an incredible result

Throughout this remarkable rookie season, the BWP Robotics Team (now known as Cyber Robotics for the 2025-2026 season) has not only competed but grown in skill, confidence, and passion for STEM and VEX Robotics Their achievements have even inspired new students in Year 6 coming through into Year 7 to join the VEX Robotics program, setting the stage for even greater success next season

I am incredibly proud of the team's resilience, teamwork, and determination

Stay tuned for the 2025-2026 VEX IQ Challenge reveal and watch as BWPS Robotics continues its exciting journey in the world of VEX Robotics!

Mr Sadler Head of Digital Learning

ON S'AMUSE

In February, the Modern Foreign Languages Department organised a highly successful revival of On s'amuse, a Beechwood Park tradition in which all pupils in the Senior Department get the chance to showcase their language skills by performing in a French play.

The programme comprised of some classic tales with a modern twist and original productions written by staff and pupils, resulting in an entertaining spectacle, warmly received by parents and guests

The concept of Beechwood Park French plays was introduced by Mr Packer, and 2025 marked the end of his 30+ year association with the event - merci pour tout, Monsieur Packer!

Click here to watch.

Mr King Head of MFL

A ROUND UP FROM BOARDING

As we edge ever closer to Summer, the Spring sunshine has brought so much joy to Boarding at Beechwood Park. We've ventured outside much more, braving the dark but embracing the Spring evenings, as well as also enjoying all our usual indoor activities

We kickstarted this term with a much-loved event in Boarding: the Murder Mystery evening Keen members of staff dressed up to entertain the children with a mystery to solve! Ably led by Mr Bullock, whose careful casting saw Mr Griffiths as the racing car driver ‘Freddie Fircone’ and Mrs Anderson as the French chef ‘Antoinette DuBoeuf’, teaching staff told their stories to lead the pupils to (hopefully!) solve the mystery Only a few groups were successful in identifying Mr Darcy’s character, Dr Pershaw, as the murderer! Much fun was had by all – the children especially enjoyed the rather eclectic costumes!

We've also been able to run a huge FIFA tournament where Mr Griffiths and Mr Darcy devised a four screen arrangement in the Performance Hall where all pupils, in pairs, could play each other Our Year 7 winners were not our usual FIFA fanatics, so it was good to see that teamwork really did make the dream work in this competition!

We've run two trips this term, the first was to Nando’s for our triumphant Year 7 boys' dorm who won the dorm points competition last term. We also took a (mostly) Top Form trip to Bedford to visit the Planetarium and Sanderson Boarding House We were so lucky that this trip coincided with the week that seven planets were visible, so the boys got a real treat! We will run both of these trips again so that all our Boarders get a chance to participate.

To celebrate the end of term, we held our annual Easter Egg Hunt and hosted Laser Tag 2U.

As we say goodbye to Mr Bullock and Miss Bailey who are leaving Beechwood Park (and therefore Boarding!), we offer our huge thanks to them both, and to the rest of the staff team for an amazing Lent Term I should like to also say a huge thank you to all our Boarding families; all good wishes to you for a fantastic Easter Break.

Ms Harris Head of Boarding

WORLD BOOK DAY!

JUNIOR DEPARTMENT EASTER CARD COMPETITION

Our Woodlands and Junior Department children’s creativity blossomed as they eagerly designed vibrant Easter and Spring celebration cards. With a mix of imagination and artistic flair, they brought the season to life through colourful illustrations of blooming flowers, cheer bunnies, and bright Easter eggs Each card was unique expression of joy, symbolising renew hope, and the happiness that comes with long sunnier days and the festival of Easter. Fro delicate pastel tones to bold, lively patterns, th designs reflected the spirit of the seaso showcasing their enthusiasm and artistic talen as you can see from the photos that follow T project not only allowed the children to explo their creativity, but also spread warmth a positivity within the school community, maki Easter and Spring even more special Prizes we awarded to a winner and a runner up in ea class, but it was just wonderful to see how ma y entries we had (well over 100!) and to enjoy all the children’s individual designs.

Mrs McIntosh Assistant Head and Head of Junior Department

FAREWELL TO THE BULLOCKS

As the term ends, we wish a very fond farewell to the Bullock family, who are moving on from Beechwood Park after being associated with the school for a wonderful 22 years Mr Bullock has worn many ‘hats’ in his time at Beechwood Park. He originally joined the school in 2003 as Head of Boarding and School Chaplain but also held the roles of Head of TPR and Head of Maths, before being promoted to Assistant Head and later Deputy Head

Since Mr Bullock’s arrival, we have watched the Bullock family grow, as he married Mrs Bullock in 2012 and they went to on have Jack and Toby, both wonderful pupils at the school. Living at Beechwood Park, they have been a solid presence for many years in the Boarding House where Mr Bullock is famous for his brilliant leadership of the traditional game of Colditz and for organising the Boarders’ Murder Mystery evening.

In his role as Chaplain, Mr Bullock has led many inspirational assemblies, often accompanied by one of his puppet friends. Over the years, staff and children have been thoroughly entertained by Doris the enthusiastic school pupil; Gus the

gorilla and Edna the emu In one particularly memorable Easter assembly, we all marvelled as we witnessed the hatching of Edna’s chick from a cardboard egg and Les the baby emu joined the family!

Mr Bullock will not only be fondly remembered for his fabulous assemblies but also his amazing range of ties, his joyful and powerful singing, his love of data but most importantly for being a hardworking and supportive colleague

During her time at Beechwood Park, Mrs Bullock has taught across the school and the curriculum. In more recent years she has taught TPR in the Junior Department and the children have helped her christen many dolls in the school chapel as part of lessons on religious ceremonies! Her gentle presence, sense of humour and sparkly outfits will also be missed greatly.

To the Bullock family thank you for your commitment to the school over the years. We wish all four of you all the luck in the world, as you move on to your next fabulous adventure in the sunshine at Marlborough College in Malaysia.

A ROUND UP FROM THE BPSPA

SchoolDiscos

January kicked off with a burst of energy as pupils danced the afternoon away at our school discos! Laughter, music, and a surprising love for the Macarena filled the halls, with the teachers enthusiastically joining in the fun. The older year groups enjoyed a fun neon-themed twist, making for some fantastic memories Thank you to everyonewhovolunteeredtohelpout

Ahugethankyoutoeveryonewhocontributedto our Lent appeal. Three pupils took time away from our World Book Day activities (hence the costumes) to sort, organise and hand deliver the itemstotheDunstablefoodbank.

Moving the collection from Christmas to spring was warmly welcomed by the Dunstable foodbank, which expressed heartfelt gratitude in a special thank you letter s y f

SummerTerm

Assumethebraceposition-it’salmostsummer term!Anactionpackedsummercalendarawaits, with lots of BPSPA events (Quiz & Curry night, Beechwoof,HarpendenGolfDay,BoodlesTennis Day and Beechclub (summer party!), PLUS the returnofsummerFunNightonTuesday8July, which will include performances from some of theschool’sRockBandsanddancegroups.

LotsofvolunteerswillbeneededforBeechwoof andFunNight,sokeepyoureyesoutforthesign uplinks.

Please see https://www.bpspa.shop/s/shop for moredetailsfortheseevents.

BPSPAMeetingDate

AllparentsarewelcometojoinusintheDrawing Room with refreshments provided. A Zoom link will be shared ahead of each meeting to allow remoteaccess.

Wednesday7May2025-8:30amto10am

Secondhanduniformsale

Friday20thJunefrom3:15to5pm

HelenHart

ChairoftheBPSPA

EASTER READING SUGGESTIONS FROM THE LIBRARY

Middle and Senior Department reading recommendations from the Library. Listed roughly in ascending order of difficulty.

Night Zookeeper by Joshua Davidson.

These are adventure stories about good overcoming evil. There are plenty of black and white illustrations that break up the text The main character is a boy named Will, who gets a strange Christmas present that opens a portal into another world of the Night Zoo.

Tutankhamun’s Treasure by David Long.

On 4 November 1922, a young Egyptian boy working on Howard Carter’s archaeological dig in the Valley of the Kings stumbled across a strange piece of rock On closer inspection it turned out to be a stone step that would lead Carter to a long-lost tomb – and to treasures beyond his wildest dreams The tomb belonged to boy pharaoh Tutankhamun and was packed full of priceless artefacts It had been largely untouched for over 3,000 years and remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time But did the opening of the tomb trigger a deadly curse?

David Long’s fact-filled account shows how Carter’s amazing discoveries told us so much about life in Ancient Egypt

Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death by

Chris Riddell

Preparations for the Ghastly-Gorm garden party and bake off are under way Celebrity cooks are arriving at the hall for the big event and, true to form, Maltravers, the indoor gamekeeper, is acting suspiciously Elsewhere at GhastlyGorm Ada’s wardrobe-dwelling lady’s maid Marylebone has received a marriage proposal. Ada vows to aid the course of true love and find out what Maltravers is up to but, amidst all this activity, everyone, including her father, appears to have forgotten her birthday!

Six Queens: A guide to the iconic queens of Henry VIII by Lydia Monks.

Perfect for young history enthusiasts, Lydia Monks brings to life the six queens of Henry VIII in spectacular, fullyillustrated style. Everyone knows the rhyme: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived But how much do you know about the women behind it? From loyal and devout Katherine of Aragon to the elegant Anne Boleyn, through to the scholar and survivor: Catherine Parr, learn all about six fascinating women with one thing in common: a difficult husband.

Diary of a Future Billionaire by Pamela Butchart.

So, here's the thing about me I'm a billionaire An actual REAL-LIFE billionaire! And you know how some people who get rich say stuff like, "I can't believe it!" and "I never thought it would happen to me!" Well ... I CAN believe it. And I KNEW it would happen to me Because I PLANNED IT I PLANNED to become the world's RICHEST ten-year-old. And you know what? It WORKED.

This is voice-led fiction at its finest told in engaging diary format from best-selling and award-winning author Pamela Butchart.

When Fishes Flew - The Story of Elena’s War by Michael Morpurgo.

At her ancestors’ home in Ithaca, Australian-Greek girl Nandi discovers – through a friendship with a very unusual flying fish – the extraordinary story of her Auntie Elena; of how she fell in love and how she became an unsung hero of the Second World War.

But Elena has gone missing and Nandi has to find her In her search, she will discover that Elena was an even greater hero than she thought – and still is . . .

A sweeping story of love and rescue and an unforgettable journey back in time to the Second World War

DragonsRidersofRoarbyJennyMcLachlan

This epic and funny new magical fantasy is the 4th in the series set in the world of the bestselling Land of Roar. Twins Rose and Arthur love visiting their imaginary world ofRoarwhichishiddeninsideafoldingcampbedintheir grandad’s attic. When they can’t get to Roar, Rose writes aboutitinstead,inventingtheDragonlands,arealmwhere the dragons are ferocious, and a clan of witches are rumoured to be rising She makes up a school for young Dragon Riders and, of course, writes herself as the star pupil. When Arthur reads Rose’s story, he can’t believe he’s been left out. They argue and the story gets shoved deepinsidethefoldingcampbed…whereitburstsintolife. NowRose,ArthurandWinmustracetotheDragonlands, enrolatDragonRiderAcademyandtrytostopthedisaster theyhavesetinmotion.Butdotheyhavewhatittakesto becomeDragonRiders?AndcanArthursurviveatermina school invented by his sister? If only Rose had written an endingtoherstory

Forbidden Atlas by Sam Sedgman.

Isaac and Hattie have been invited to a high-profile event at the French National Archives in Paris to finally celebrate their achievement in saving time. But as Isaac prepares to make his speech, the lights go out and a single shot is fired. The police think it was an assassination attempt on the infamous businessman Balthazar Blaise, but Isaac and Hattie realise that something very different is going on when they discover a boy taking something from the archives before vanishing without a trace As they investigate, Isaac and Hattie are pulled into an underground world, searching secret and forgotten places for a stolen letter, a missing sister and a map that will unearth a long-buried secret ... The exhilarating sequel to The Clockwork Conspiracy, Isaac Turner is back for another action-packed mystery adventure

Magicalia: The Thief of Shadows by Jennifer Bell.

When Kosh is accused of being the notorious thief the Shadowsmith, he and Bitsy must go into hiding before Kosh is arrested Determined to prove his innocence, Bitsy, Mateo and Kosh set out to find the real villain But they have something the Shadowsmith desperately wants, something the conservatoire also needs for protection. Can Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo figure out the true culprit before time runs out and someone catches them? Bitsy and Kosh are on the run in the second page-turning adventure in the spectacular fantasy series from bestseller Jennifer Bell, bursting with incredible Magicores and amazing science!

Mixed-Up by Gami Garcia

Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted Then their favourite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game! But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read? And how can she keep up with friends in the Witchlins game if she can’t get through the text-heavy guidebook? And when she can’t deal with the text-heavy Witchlins guidebook, she can’t keep up with her friends in the game It takes loving teachers and her family to recognize that Stella has a learning difference, and after a dyslexia diagnosis she gets the support and tools she needs to succeed Bestselling author Kami Garcia was inspired to write this special book by her daughter’s dyslexia journey; her own neurodivergent experience; and the many students she taught over the years Mixed-Up shows that our differences don’t need to separate us

PAWS: Hazel Has Her Hands Full by Nathan Fairbairn Summer break is just around the corner, and the PAWS team is gearing up for a busy season full of dog-walking, travel, and fun! Gabby’s got a packed schedule with about a hundred different camps plus playing host to her mysterious cousin visiting from out of town Meanwhile Mindy is headed to her dad’s house for a month-long stay With so much going on, the girls are looking forward to scaling back and taking it easy this summer. . . with one exception When the opportunity to cat-sit two new fur babies arises, Hazel jumps at the chance Their new client’s house is even wheelchair accessible! But when everyone’s hectic summer plans mean she would have to take on the job alone, Hazel knows her overprotective mother would never approve. On the other hand, managing a side business all on her own could prove that she is much more capable than her mum might think Hazel soon learns that juggling multiple cats and dogs along with her own physical therapy while also keeping a big secret is no easy task When disaster strikes, will she have the energy to make everything right by herself, or will she be forced to reach out for help and risk getting into even more trouble? More heartwarming and humorous adventures await in the fourth book of this graphic novel series that is the Baby-Sitters Club for pets!

Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M. G. Leonard. Sim and his mum never live anywhere long. When dangerous strangers appear one night, Sim discovers why. His mum has been keeping secrets: she has the power to open doors in time Running for their lives, Sim and his friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys and be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and a powerful door to Ancient Egypt They must piece together long-hidden clues if they are to solve the mystery of her golden heart scarab Can they find it before the Council finds them? Superbly written time travelling mystery adventure, fast moving and full of thrilling action.

The Troublemakers by Tamzin Merchant. Cordelia Hatmaker has finally united the Maker families and restored the kingdom's trust in Maker magic But mysterious, chaotic magical outbreaks are beginning to happen across London And then the unthinkable happens

Cordelia is accused of treason As the guards close in, she must flee London at once. With her father, Prospero, and friends, Sam and Goose, Cordelia sets sail on her family's ship, Little Bear, for the adventure of a lifetime They're determined to solve the mystery of a missing girl, and to clear Cordelia's name once and for all. But soon they are in the dangerous territory of a band of legendary pirates: the Troublemakers Is Cordelia a match for the fierce and unstoppable pirate queen?

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem This year, in honour of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail But there's something in him that wants to fight . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena

The fifth book in the series and the second prequel revisits the dystopian world of the Hunger Games with Haymitch Abernathy centre stage in this unputdownable tale of danger

Mondays are Murder by Ravena Guron.

Seventeen-year-old Kay left her sleepy hometown after the devastating death of her friend, Ivy But when Kay is forced to come back, she receives an anonymous letter that turns her life upside down. The letter tells her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday - and her murder on Monday And if Kay can't figure out who is behind the threats, the worst day of the week is about to get deadly...

A deadly new YA thriller of murder, mystery and mindblowing twists

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. Celaena Sardothien has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him She has come to win her freedom If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a deadly competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion But something rotten dwells in the castle - and it's there to kill When her competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival - and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world, and the people she has come to love.

Thrilling and fierce, Throne of Glass is the first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series that has captivated readers worldwide.

HAPPY READING!

Ms Messent Librarian

EASTER CAMPS

FizzBug Holiday Camps Coming to Beechwood Park in 2025!

We are thrilled that FizzBug will be joining us at Beechwood Park in 2025! FizzBug has been providing fantastic holiday camps across Hertfordshire for the past eight years, and we’re excited to offer their engaging programmes right here at our school

Starting this Easter, children will have the opportunity to choose from the following fun-filled activities:

• Multi-Activity Club – A blend of team games, crafts, and sports for non-stop fun.

• Cookery Club – Hands-on cooking sessions focused on healthy eating habits.

• Arts & Crafts Club – Creative workshops with fun, themed activities

• FizzBallers – A ball-sports club designed to build skills and encourage active play

• Outdoor Explorer Club – Woodland adventures for children who love nature.

To kick things off, FizzBug is offering these camps exclusively to Beechwood Park Friends and Families, giving them the chance to understand what our children and families love, while familiarising themselves with our beautiful grounds

Spaces are still available! You can book your child’s spot through the following link: FizzBug Bookings at Beechwood Park

Look out for more details on upcoming camps and activities throughout the year!

Next Thing Education

Looking for something fun and educational for the Easter holidays? ��

Next Thing Education’s Easter Tech Camp is the perfect way to keep curious minds busy think building, creating, inventing, and exploring! From robotics to movie making, Minecraft engineering to virtual reality, every day is a new adventure.

�� And the best part? Kids take home a STEM project they’ve made themselves every single day!

�� Dates: 14-17 April

�� Price: £39.99 – multi day discounts available!

��Limited spaces – Book now!

https://www.nextthing.education/product/beechwood-parkschool-easter-camp/