In with the new

Stroud School, King Edward VI Preparatory, Hampshire

Pupils at the Romsey school brought 2022 to a joyful conclusion and looked forward to the start of a new year, with both the Early Years and KS1 nativity plays being performed to families at the close of the autumn term.

Having rehearsed hard for their Christmas show, pupils were excited to be on stage in front of their loved ones. The Early Years children gave a wonderful rendition of Whoops-A-Daisy, while KS1 opted for the more traditional We’d Like to Tell You a Story. Both nativities were filmed for family members who couldn’t make the live event.

“We thoroughly loved performing these nativities,” says Mrs Fay, Director of Music at Stroud. “A lot of hard work, planning and rehearsals went into these productions, and we’re so pleased that friends and families could enjoy these festive performances.”

The school also celebrated the festive season with a carol service at Romsey Abbey for middle and senior school children and their families.

Broomwood united

Northwood Schools, Greater London

The school group, which comprises Broomwood Hall Lower School, Broomwood Hall Upper School and Northcote Lodge, will unite under one name from this September: Broomwood. The rebrand will consolidate the three schools into one united brand that symbolises and confirms the seamless educational journey from pre-prep to prep. Drawing on the best of each institute, Broomwood’s exceptional model of collaborative single-sex and co-ed learning will be clearer than ever before. The pre-prep will also extend its excellent Early Years provision by opening Little Broomwood, a pre-school class.

Best Of The Rest

• #Bekind

Latymer Prep School, London

The Diana Award team has named the prep its School of the Month. This accolade recognises the work that the school’s antibullying ambassador team has been doing to promote positivity and create exciting peer support opportunities in its community.

• Easy rider St Swithun’s School, Hampshire

Holding the reins of her beloved Mountain Moorland pony Hugo, 11-year-old pupil Izzy Williams took on the adults at Birmingham’s Horse of the Year Show and incredibly came within one mark of the winner in the Working Hunter Pony competition.

• Fair share

Cameron Vale School, London

Tree-mendous fun

The New School Exeter, Devon

The Exeter School group nursery and pre-prep has launched its new Forest School. The outside space has been repurposed, with a nature trail running around the boundary of the grounds and an outdoor classroom where the children take part in rope swinging and campfire singing. The weekly sessions, which promote self-esteem, creativity and independence, are led by qualified Forest School practitioner, Caroline Smyth.

Saddle up

Dixie Grammar, Leicestershire

In fine voice

Sheffield Girls’ School GDST, South Yorkshire

Children from the Chelsea prep – which also recently raised £5,000 through an art auction for charity Gold for Kids – celebrated Harvest Festival by collecting food items for UK Harvest, which distributes donations to refuges, shelters and youth centres.

Infant and junior pupils enjoyed the unique experience of performing a song in front of 20,000 spectators at the Rugby World Cup, promoting children’s rights and in support of the wider work of UNICEF. Aged five to 11, the choir took to the stage during half time to deliver a moving rendition of Right to be Loved, a song written and produced by the Song Academy.

• Well versed Sancton Wood, Cambs

Finalists took to the stage to compete in the Poetry Together 2022 poetry writing competition, facing an illustrious judging panel made up of Gyles Brandreth, Waterstones

The Market Bosworth allthrough school’s team of riders won the British Showjumping Just for Schools national championships this year at Stoneleigh Park. Comprising one year 11 student and two year nine students from the school’s equestrian club, the team finished on a clear round to take the title. This achievement adds to the success of the school’s younger riders at last August’s NSEA Festival. s

Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and award-winning poet Lucy Cuthew. The junior school winners were Benjamin Andrews and Georgina Wall.