In this edition: Our Reception children undertake their first topic exploration session
Senior Football is back!
FoodFest picture gallery
Book your child’s place for October half-term’s Holiday Provision
The Sugarcraft Club go wild!
DeputyHead’sNote
Dear Parents,
Prep School life is never dull and it’s been superb to see the Castle Court machine whirring into life in all parts of the school this week, hot on the heels of the great fun we all had at the ‘Best of British’ FoodFest last Friday evening. Thank you to all those who came along – and especially to my colleagues who braved the rain showers to make sure the event went off without a hitch.
It never ceases to amaze me quite how much we fit into a working week here at Castle Court – I’m reminded of an article in Dorset Life about us a few years ago that was simple titled ‘How on Earth do they fit it all in?’ Our intrepid adventurers from Year 2 made it across the water to Brownsea Island, we’ve welcomed representatives from Wiltshire and Dorset Deaf Association to meet with pupils as part of the CAVE programme, we’ve sailed, we’ve enjoyed Fresh Air Club, we’ve ‘golfed’ and we’ve seen our Year 3 pupils head off on their first away matches.
It was a pleasure to meet with so many parents on Monday evening for our Scholarship Information sessions If you need to follow up on any of those sessions (or were unable to attend) please make contact directly with my colleagues:
Academic Scholarships – Ms T – kthomspson@castlecourtcom
Music Scholarships – Mr Smith – jsmith@castlecourtcom
Drama Scholarships – Mrs Wilde – lwilde@castlecourt.com
Creative Arts Scholarships – Mr Phillips – tphillips@castlecourt.com or Miss Sinclair Smith msinclairsmith@castlecourtcom
Sports Scholarships – Mr Fermor-Dunman – afermordunman@castlecourt.com
As I write this, Mrs Johnson is at the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) Heads’ conference in Brighton We’re looking forward to welcoming her back to school in the certain knowledge that her ever-present notebook will be overflowing with excellent ideas and initiatives from across the sector: a restless school is a successful school.
Things are ramping up for some major school events coming up in the next couple of weeks: can I draw your attention to Harvestwhich is taking place on the afternoon of Thursday2October? You should have received a letter about this from me last week. We’re very much looking forward to gathering together as a whole school community on that afternoon
With the weekend on the horizon, please can I take this opportunity to pass on my best wishes to all of those who are taking their Bournemouth and Poole Schools Entrance Test this weekend. As I have been reminding them this week, education is part of a process that the Ancient Greeks would have summed up in the Delphic maxim ‘γνῶθισεαυτόν’ (= ‘Know Thyself’): we’re confident that this cohort of Castellans will not only know themselves, but also show themselves when the time of testing comes.
Best wishes, Lee
Head’sAwards
Head’s Awards are given out every Friday morning in assembly to children nominated by their class teacher or form tutor; the reasons for these are many and varied, including outstanding effort, overcoming difficulty, or helping a friend in need A huge congratulations for their efforts goes to
ParentCalendar forthenexttwoweeks
Monday 22 Sep 2025
Tuesday 23 Sep 2025
Wednesday 24 Sep 2025
CATesting in Years 4, 6 & 8 this week
12:00 Year 6 Geography Trip to River Allen (moved from last week)
08:30 Community Choir, Family Lounge
14:15 Yr 3&4 Football Festival, Durlston School
16:00 Boys Football - U13a v ACS Cobham (ISFA Cup 1st round)
08:30 U13 Boys’ Football at Moyles Court - start time TBC
09:30 Charlie's Chimps, Family Lounge
14:15 Yr 5-8 Boys' Football & Girls' Hockey v Sunninghill
Thursday 25 Sep 2025 Year 1 Trip to Travellers Rest Farm, Durweston
13:00 Years 5-8 Sailing, Ringwood
Friday 26 Sep 2025 Reception Trip to Moors Valley Country Park
Monday 29 Sep 2025
Tuesday 30 Sep 2025
Wednesday 01 Oct 2025
Thursday 02 Oct 2025
Friday 03 Oct 2025
Saturday 04 Oct 2025
CATesting in Years 4, 6 & 8 continues
08:30 Community Choir, Family Lounge
09:00 Year 4 Trip to Kingston Lacy
14:15 Years 3&4 matches with Dumpton
09:30 Charlie's Chimps, Family Lounge
14:15 Year 5-8 Boys' Football & Girls' Hockey v Dumpton
U11 Football at the ISFA Tournament, Bedales
08:30 Harvest Festival Rehearsal
13:00 NO Sailing
13:30 Macmillan Coffee 'Afternoon', School Hall
14:30 Harvest Festival, Sports Hall
Bryanston MUN (Year 7 Team)
More tinformationon hesetripshas beensentoutby email.
wAllparentsare armlyinvitedto joinusfrom1:30pm on2October. Detailedinformation hasbeensentby email.
U13a IAPS Regional Finals - Boys’ Football, Clayesmore
08:30 Parent Prayer Group, Boardroom
Deadline for Fraser Portrait orders (via website, if you would like them to be delivered to school before half-term)
Canford School Open Morning
Please ‘save the date’ for our annual Harvest Festival Service: Thursday2October2025 2.30pm SportsHall
Refreshments will be served from 1.30pm as part of our Macmillan Afternoon Tea Party.
ParentNoticeboard
These hockey sessions are held at Chapel Gate. If you are interested, please contact Gavin Rusling on gavinrusling@hotmail.com
It’s Triathlon time again!
The event will take place in May 2026, so there is plenty of time to sign up The link that you need to do so is HERE
Pre-PrepAwesomeAutumnDay
On Wednesday 15th October, Cubs & Badgers (who attend on a Wednesday), Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will experience an ‘awesome’ day enjoying autumnal related activities. Children are encouraged to wear autumn colours (red, orange, yellow, brown) into school for the entire day
HolidayProvision: OctoberHalf-Term
Half Term
Holiday Course bookings are open!
Foundation Sports are holding their holiday courses at Castle Court this half term.
If you would like to know more, please contact Foundation Sports using the details provided
If you would like to book your child a place, please click on the image.
Reception: TopicExplorationSession
The children loved welcoming their parents into the classroom this week, to celebrate the start of our new topic, 'All About Me'. We talked about how we are all different, special and unique!
The children and their parents then created some wonderful self portraits, using a variety of craft materials Pasta noses, woollen hair and pipe cleaner eyebrows! Lots of fun was had and the finished artwork looks fantastic on our classroom walls.
Year2: AdventuretoBrownsea
Year 2 braved the weather on Thursday and had a wonderful day on Brownsea Island, learning more about Lord BadenPowell, who founded the Scouts. Thank you to the Year 2 team for making this possible!
Year3Science: LightandShadow
Year 3 have been enjoying investigating how light from a source is blocked to create a shadow. Mrs Lea has been so impressed with their collaboration and with their enquiring minds.
We are so excited to see what these budding little scientists will achieve this year!
SeniorSport: Boys’Football
This week, the 1 and 2 XI Boys’ Football teams welcomed Clayesmore to Castle Court for an afternoon of excellent football.
A huge thank you to Miss T for getting in amongst the action and capturing these wonderful images, as well as to the Sports team for making the afternoon a success.
SugarcraftClub: AnimalMadness!
Our Sugarcrafters are very much enjoying their Monday evening sessions this term!
So far, they have managed to create beautiful sugar artwork featuring foxes and owls.
Their attention to detail and accuracy make the final products absolutely stunning (as well as delicious!)
A huge thank you to Mrs Glenn for giving the children this opportunity.
Artist oftheweek
Our Artist of the Week this week is Bonnie in Year 3, with this fantastic drawing of a seahorse.
Well done, Bonnie!
FoodFest: AnEveninginPictures
PerformingArts: alittlemoreinformation
Music
Individual music lessons will begin from next week The music timetables can always be found in the "links" section of EduLink under “Music Timetable”, together with other useful documents like the parents’ handbook for music. Pupils can also find the same documents using the same link The timetables are also displayed in the music department so pupils can check their times when they arrive at school in the morning. One point to highlight from the handbook is that it is understood that, when agreeing to music lessons at school, one 30minute English, Maths and Science lesson will be missed each half term for each instrument learnt
Forpupilswholearninstrumentsoutsideofschool, please could you complete the Google form HERE to inform us of instruments they play, so they can be included in any relevant concerts in school
TheoryLessons
ABRSM music theory lessons can be taken as an extra lesson in the same way as practical music lessons and are usually taught in various non-curriculum times These cost £8350 per term and are taught in small groups where pupils are grouped according to the grade they are studying. Those pupils working towards ABRSM grade 5 on their instruments will need to pass grade 5 theory before taking higher grades on their instruments Please contact Mr Smith for further information (jsmith@castlecourt.com).
CCSCommunityChoir
If you would like to join us, we meet on TuesdaysintheFamilyLoungeat8.30am No audition, no requirement to read music, no past singing experience necessary – just singing for fun! Please contact Mr. Smith if interested (jsmith@castlecourt.com) or come along after drop-off on Tuesday
Dance
Senior Dance Clubs commence the week beginning 15 September – Years 5 and 6 Monday lunch time, Years 7 and 8 Friday lunch time - in the studio All boys and girls are welcomebring your friends and embrace creativity and collaboration at Castle Court! We will celebrate the work in these clubs at the Performing Arts Presentation Evening in December. Girls in Years 7 and 8 may find wearing sports skort/shorts useful for floor work. Any questions, please feel free to email Miss Tomblin (dtomblin@castlecourtcom)
YoungGeographer oftheyear
This year’s task is to createanA3posterexploringatleastoneisland: its location its people its places its environments
The poster can be handmade (then submitted electronically using a scanned copy or photograph), or made electronically using PowerPoint, Canva, Word, Publisher or PDF.
Ideasforislands:
WhataretheRoyalGeographicalSociety lookingfor?
Eye-catching, innovative, informative and accurate submissions
A well-written and informative piece that demonstrates geographical knowledge and uses accurate geographical terminology
Any images used must be copyright free – you may choose to visit an island and take your own images
All images must be credited
Excellent attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Original and independently produced - class sets of identical entries or entries which have copied information from other sources, such as the internet or AI, will not be accepted.
Entries must be produced by single pupils – no group entries allowed.
If produced electronically, please use a minimum font size of point 10.
Entries must not be 3D or have tabs or hidden information.
Local- Brownsea Island, Green Island, Long Island, Isle of Portland
National- Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Lundy Island, Scottish Islands, Islands on Lakes, Isle of Man
Global- Remote Islands (Artic/Antarctic), Tropical Islands (Pacific, Caribbean, Coral Reefs), Holiday Islands, Islands for defence...
Howtoenter:
All entries must be made as an online submission via the RGS website: https://www.rgs.org/ygoty2025.
The deadline for doing this is 3 October 2025; however, the RGS recommend submitting them in good time before this date.
Whocanenter?:
There is a category for Key Stage 2 (pupils aged 7-11) and for Key Stage 3 (pupils aged 11-14)
Badger Cubs
KeyContacts atschool
Class Teachers / Form Tutors
Mrs Genge | Mrs Tomblin
Badgers Mrs Bartlett | Mrs Wilson
Reception Mrs Brewer | Mrs Speer
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Mrs Hanger | Mrs Zachariades/Mrs Wheildon
Mr Antell | Mrs Hellyer/Mrs Glenn
Mrs Baugniet | Mr Bambrey
Year 4 Dr Lippiatt/Mrs Deards | Mr Laidler
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
Year 8
Nursery
Pre-Prep
Years 3-6
Years 7&8
Mrs Vivian | Mrs Miller
Mrs Rule | Mr Jordan
Mrs Lea
Mr Phillips | Ms Thompson
Section Leaders
Mrs McSorley
Mr Antell
Mrs Munns
Ms Thompson
Heads of Department
English Ms Thompson
Maths Mrs Miller
Science Mrs Gallop
History
Geography
Mrs Rule
Mrs Chudley
Music Mr Smith
Art Miss Sinclair-Smith
DT
Sport
Mr Phillips
Mr Fermor-Dunman
Yourfirstpointofcontact foranydaytoday rquestionsandenquiries elatedtoyourchild(ren) istheirtutororclass teacher.
Leadership Team
Mr Edmond Deputy Head
Mr Dunsford Assistant Head (Pastoral)
Mrs Munns Director of Teaching & Learning
Mrs Robson Admissions & Marketing
SENDCo
Mrs Harmer
This week, it’s the turn of the Studland flag to fly high over the school.