In this edition:
Year 6 Geographers head to the River Allen Sugarcrafting gets prickly
Year 4 learn how to Sign Book your child’s place for October half-term’s Holiday Provision
Year 1 spend a day at a real farm!
Head’sNote
Dear Parents,
It was a privilege to attend the IAPS Heads’ Conference last week and have the opportunity to discuss a range of educational issues with other Prep School Heads, as well as listen to some inspiring speakers. As Mr Edmond predicted, I returned with my notepad filled with new ideas and the latest research ready to share with colleagues. However, perhaps more importantly, the conference also gave me the opportunity to reflect on the education an Independent Prep School like Castle Court offers and why this is more relevant and needed than ever
Our children are growing up in a complex and uncertain world. The society they will inherit is marked by both extraordinary possibilities but also undeniable challenges To thrive within it – and indeed to improve it –our children will need more than just strong academic foundations. They will need strength of character too. We therefore need to teach them to be kind, tolerant and open-hearted: ready to include others, listen, show integrity and stand up for what is right These qualities are not optional extras; they are the bedrock of a life well-lived and one that makes a positive difference to the world around them
That is why at Castle Court we place such emphasis on character and on what it means to be a Castellan. We believe that character is built in countless small moments: in the way children treat one another around the school, in how they respond to setbacks in the classroom and in the courage they show when faced with something new. This morning in assembly, I was able to highlight a number of examples of kindness that I have witnessed throughout the week – tidying up the dining table for others without being asked, checking in on how someone is feeling, sharing moments of joy with others It is these small, quiet and simple acts of kindness that lie at the heart of our school and what it means to be Castellan.
As always, there have been lots of exciting trips and visits throughout the week. Year 6 enjoyed their Geography trip to the River Allen, Year 1 went to Travellers’ Rest Farm and loved their tractor ride and meeting lots of different animals, today Reception have been at Moors Valley, and Year 4 welcomed visitors from the Deaf Association and from Julia’s House. Following this visit, the children are now developing their own ideas for how they can support the charity, drawing on Compassion, one of our school’s 7Cs
What an action-packed week! Next week, I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our Macmillan Coffee Morning and Harvest Festival on Thursday afternoon Please see further details later on in the newsletter
Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend.
Best wishes,
Katie
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 29 Sep
Tuesday 30 Sep
Wednesday 01 Oct
Thursday 02 Oct
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
13:00 NO Sailing
13:30 Macmillan Coffee 'Afternoon', School Hall
Harvest Festival, Sports Hall
14:30
More informationon thistriphasbeen sentoutby email.
Friday 03 Oct
All parents are warmly invited to join us for this service, and indeed, for the Coffee Afternoon beforehand. The service will likely finish at around 15:15, when you are welcome to take your child(ren) home if you wish Most activities will run as normal in the evening, except Cookery and Sailing Buses will run as normal
Bryanston MUN (Year 7 and some Year 8 - an email has been sent out)
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)
Saturday 04 Oct Canford School Open Morning
Monday 06 Oct
U11 Boys football IAPS regional finals, Summerfields Oxford
14:15 Local Schools' Yr 7/8 Geography Quiz, Canford School
Tuesday 07 Oct 08:30 Community Choir, Family Lounge
14:15 Year 3&4 matches with Bryanston Prep & BCPS
Wednesday 08 Oct
U13a Girls Hockey IAPS regional finals, King's Taunton
09:30 Charlie's Chimps, Family Lounge
14:15 Year 5-8 Boys' Football & Girls' Hockey vs Bry Prep & BCS
Thursday 09 Oct 09:30 Open Morning
13:00 Year 5-8 Sailing, Ringwood
Friday 10 Oct
U13a Boys' Football tournament, Milton Abbey
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@hotmailcom
Pre-PrepAwesomeAutumnDay
OnlineSafetyfor Parents
BCParerunningafree workshopentitled 'OnlineSafetyfor Parents'onThurs9Oct.Thelinkfor bookingishere. th
FluImmunisations
Youshouldhavereceived anemailthisweekregarding fluimmunisations.Pleasedo usethelinkintheemailto givepermission,orto decline,thisopportunityfor yourchild.
OnWednesday15October, Pre-‘Prepchildrenwillexperiencean awesome’dayenjoying autumnalrelatedactivities. Childrenareencouragedto wearautumncolours(red, orange,yellow, brown)into schoolfortheentireday.
It’sTriathlontimeagain!The eventwilltakeplaceinMay 2026,sothereisplentyof metosignup.Thelinkthat dosoisHERE
UKSchoolsBiathlon
Castle Court pupils have a history of enjoying this event. It is for pupils in Year 3 upwards and theentrylinkisHERE. Theeventcomprisesa25mswimanda400mrun,both of which can be practised in school by signing up through SOCS to early morning running or swimming. The two qualifying events are at Millfield-Sunday23November (entries close on 2 November) or Leweston-30November (entries close on 17 November)
Unfortunately, we are not able to enter as a school so if your child would like to take part, please use the above link to register them
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.
Year1: FunattheFarm
Year 1 went to Travellers’ Rest Farm on Thursday as part of their Farming topic. They had a fantastic day!
Year4CAVE: LearningtoSign
Year 4 had a fantastic CAVE session last week, welcoming two visitors from British Sign Language. The children learned basic signing, including greetings, numbers, letters, and simple conversation, while also exploring how facial expressions play a key role in communication
It was a wonderfully inclusive and inspiring session; look out for some very expressive Year 4s around the school!
A huge thank you to our visitors for coming in to teach us this important skill
Year6Trip: TheRiverAllen
On Monday, Year 6 visited the River Allen to carry out fieldwork and to understand how the river changes from its source to the confluence with the River Stour in Wimborne They investigated changes downstream including width, depth, velocity and bedload, as well as enjoying being outside in nature on a beautiful sunny afternoon and meeting the estate manager of the Moor Crichel estate who told us more about the importance of rare chalk streams like the River Allen.
SeniorSport: Girls’Hockey
This week, our Senior Section Girls played hockey on the astro here at CCS against teams from both Sandroyd and Sunninghill Thank you to all parents who came to support - we know this means a great deal to the girls, who were superb.
SugarcraftClub: Apricklychallenge!
This week, Mrs Glenn and her Sugarcrafters made hedgehog cookies!
Sailing: Venturingintodeepwater
This week, our sailors braved the stronger winds at Spinnaker Lakes and showed excellent progression as they ventured into the main part of the lake, where the water is deeper. Well done, team!
Artist oftheweek
Our Artist of the Week this week is Seb in Year 5, with this ambitious piece that he created over the weekend It now has pride of place on the wall at home.
Well, done, Seb!
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 Mrs Rule
Geography Mrs Chudley
French/German
Mr Mills
Music Mr Smith
Art Miss Sinclair-Smith
DT Mr Phillips
Sport Mr Fermor-Dunman
Yourfirstpointofcontact foranydaytoday rquestionsandenquiries elatedtoyourchild(ren) istheirtutororclass teacher. Absences: oPleasereportabsencestotheSchoolOfficeon ffice@castlecourt.comorbytelephoneto01202694438.MrsJohnson: PTomakeanappoointmenttoseeMrsJohnson,pleasecontacther nA,Hannah,onhmsec@castlecourt.comorusethetelephone umberabove
Leadership Team
Mr Edmond Deputy Head
Mr Dunsford Assistant Head (Pastoral)
Mrs Munns Director of Teaching & Learning
Mrs Robson Admissions & Marketing
SENDCo
Mrs Harmer