Churcherian 2025

The Churcherian 2025

artwork by: Jasmine Tilney

Headmaster’s Foreword

I began my press release for the August 2025 A Level results, with the lines… It is a challenge to know which of Churcher’s College successes deserve most applause: the two Churcher’s swim teams that successfully conquered the English Channel crossing; the orchestra and jazz band who enjoyed standing ovations on their tour to Barcelona; our rugby and netball successes in South Africa; the second year running where one of our A Level artists is recognised as being one of the very best in the country, or a set of A Level exam results that, yet again, break records.

It is a challenge, but I rather undersold the extent of it, as became apparent in the very first assembly of the succeeding year where I shook hands with two national champions: Charlie Stevenson as gold medallist in the 100m swimming freestyle and Jocelyn Harris as an equestrian star, and there were a catalogue of other achievements left over from the 202425 academic year to acknowledge including: Sofia James’ solo in front of His Majesty at the VJ 80th anniversary commemorative event; our Snowdonia 3000 team for their success in the mountains; the remarkable number of gold medal, Grade 8 LAMDA drama students, and the cast of a senior production, Shakers, who, after their success on the professional stage in London, were brave enough to restage their production in the very first week of term. Whether on or off the stage, the sheer competence and confidence of the children here remains quite remarkable and, just like the brilliant performance of West Side Story this year, creates many a highlight to reflect upon

The Government publish what they call a ‘service manual’ entitled ‘Measuring Success’. Yes, the British Government have the audacity to tell us just how to be successful, or at least how to measure it, which, irrespective

of your political bias, some might find a little ironic.

That ‘Measuring Success’ service manual offers lots of tools you can use to measure, analyses and report success; most of it is about using numbers or ‘digital analytics tools’ as they call them. As you may note below, the ‘digital analytics’ of our public exam results make encouraging reading.

Success, however, isn’t just about a number to prove how high you’ve

climbed up the ladder to success; the measure of success is far more subjective, far more elusive a concept. It may be defined by a number of accomplishments or a figure referencing the highest level to which you have reached, the fastest time you have achieved, maybe the amount of money you’ve accumulated, or how many awards or ‘likes’ we have received. But success is also about personal satisfaction, meaningful relationships, a sense of accomplishment or positive impact we have on others or on the world

through, and how do you put a number on that.

The arrival of our ‘homegrown’ ship statue, which was a delightful conclusion to the 2024-25 ‘season’, may be a better representation of what has been accomplished than any simple number and a reminder that

the Churcher’s ship continues sailing serenely on driven by the energy, enterprise and endeavour of the staff and students here. Designed by Doug Robertson, one of our art teachers, and fabricated by Steve Edington and Ian Jamouneau, Head of DT and departmental technician respectively, the fullness of its sails, and the solidity of its nature could be taken as an analogy of the health of the School and the ambition of its occupants.

The absolute joy of being in teaching is that you are surrounded by extraordinarily talented children with an appetite for adventure who have yet to build up the arrogance that sometimes comes with age. The obverse can be true, in that children sometimes do not appreciate what they have until they no longer have it. In schools the proverb about horses and water comes to mind… but, as will be evidence by the pages following this foreword, the students at Churcher’s are clearly drinking of that water!

Simon Williams

Junior School

As we reflect on the past academic year, one word stands out above all: community. In every corner of school life—on the sports field, in the classroom, across the stage, and around the playground—what has shone through is the strength of our shared connections, the warmth of our relationships, and the collective spirit that defines our school.

One of the many privileges for a Headteacher is to witness not only the development of a child arriving at 3 years of age and leaving as a confident 11-year-old, but also the cherished moments of children thriving here, witnessing friendships and connections strengthen. Nothing brings me greater pleasure than seeing children skipping down the corridor, or two children holding hands as they head off to an activity or playtime.

This has been a year of togetherness and exciting growth. We have shared our plans to welcome new pupils and families into Years 5 and 6, extending our community and further enriching our learning environment with fresh energy and opportunity. The opening of our beautiful new dining room (and state-of-the-art kitchens in which to cook fresh food from scratch) in January 2025 has not only improved lunchtimes, but created a shared space where pupils and staff come together every day. Similarly, the addition of a new Art Studio has provided a vibrant, inspiring hub for creativity and collaboration.

Throughout the year, pupils have flourished—not only in their

individual achievements, but in how they support and celebrate one another. Our staff have continued to offer guidance, warmth, and high expectations, and our parents have played an active role in shaping the life of the school, as ever, with generosity and enthusiasm. The whole school community has benefited from the retractable seating funded by the Parents’ Association; this has not only changed the viewing experience of the audience but also changed the workflow of the site team!

Our bus community will also be growing with four new ‘home-toschool’ routes being introduced in September 2025. These developments are just the beginning. The final phase of our building project is now underway and promises to further enhance the sense of connection and shared purpose that underpins our school. We are creating spaces not just for learning, but for belonging. With enhanced classroom spaces and learning environments, the final phase brings together and concludes this phase of strategic planning, for now, at least.

In a world that can often feel uncertain, the value of a strong, nurturing community cannot be overstated. This year has reminded us that it is people—and the relationships between them—that makes a school truly exceptional.

Ffion Robinson

Art

Art at the Junior School has been a vibrant and creative journey this year, with pupils across Years 3–6 developing impressive skills in both Art and DT.

In Year 3, children explored colour mixing through Tingatinga-inspired paintings, created imaginative sea scenes, and designed dragon artwork, inspired by The Hobbit. Their DT projects included wooden picture frames, lion dance puppets, and Egyptian-style jewellery. Year 4 refined observational drawing through rainforest fruit studies and printing, then explored Picasso’s Blue Period and Cubism, producing expressive self-portraits and abstract compositions. DT introduced pneumatics with inventive moving models, footwear design from recycled materials, and sewing skills through making felt pencil cases.

In Year 5, portraiture and expression were central, with pupils studying Escher and experimenting with expressive colour. They created clay face pots inspired by Hindu masks, Islamic-style repeating prints, and vibrant bottle sculptures influenced by Dale Chihuly. Their DT work

included cam toys and an imaginative newspaper fashion challenge. Year 6 combined creativity with technology, making laser-cut clocks and sublimation-printed lanterns linked to science. Artistic studies ranged from Georgia O’Keeffe and Aboriginal art, to Victorian samplers and storybased illustrations, inspired by David Wiesner’s Flotsam.

Throughout the year, pupils showed enthusiasm, imagination, and growing technical skill, producing artwork and designs that celebrated culture, history, and creativity in equal measure.

The Churcherian 2025

Nursery

What a wonderful and joy-filled year we have had in the Nursery. The children have enjoyed so many fabulous activities and made firm friends along the way. Autumn and winter brought Stickman adventures, our gorgeous Nativity and learning about polar worlds. Then, in the spring and summer, we made the most

of the garden by planting and looking after courgettes, sunflowers, and tomatoes. The highlight was watching our tiny caterpillars grow and grow, make a cocoon, and finally emerge as beautiful butterflies. The children have grown up so much this year and although we will miss them, we are excited to see them embark on new adventures in September!

Reception

This cohort of Reception children have delighted us with their enthusiasm and wonderfully varied interests! The academic year began with all the children settling so well into Reception. Lots of friendships continued from Nursery, whilst others quickly formed. The children’s love of learning was delightful to witness. They were so enthusiastic about learning letter sounds, counting, markmaking, and many more activities besides. Their independent spirit meant they were willing to take on new challenges and achieve so much.

The Early Years Nativity performance was greatly enjoyed by the children. They proudly spoke their lines and sang Christmas songs with great enthusiasm. This was followed by a trip to Sainsbury’s for our Healthy Eating studies, which was so exciting! The children loved ‘designing’ their own sandwich.... although most of them chose jam! We went to the supermarket to buy all the necessary items, but somehow found ourselves in the toy aisle for some time, too!

We enjoyed a great trip to Forest School where the children climbed trees and hurtled across narrow wooden bridges without any fear! They

loved the hammock hung between two trees in the woods and collected sticks galore! Swimming lessons at the Senior School are always very much looked forward to by the children.

It’s wonderful to see their confidence grow week by week; the progress they are all making means they are well on their way to mastering this important life skill.

There has been so much fun and laughter in the Reception classrooms, made possible by a lovely group of Puffins and Dolphins!

Year 1

It’s hard to believe how much we’ve packed into our time in Year 1! It has been a wonderfully busy, fun-filled, and successful year. The progress the children have made in reading and writing, using Read Write Inc, has

been fantastic. They have worked incredibly hard on using all the sounds they have learnt to read and write words with confidence. Luckily, they had a little help from Fred the Frog!

They began the year by exploring the topic of ‘Toys over time’. Families kindly brought in treasured toys from their own childhoods, allowing the children to compare toys from the past with those they play with today. They loved investigating how materials and designs have changed over the years.

A highlight of the Autumn Term was the trip to Marwell Zoo, where the children were thrilled to see the animals that they had been learning about in real life. Seeing them up close helped them understand how to classify different species, and brought their science learning to life. The term also included a special

RE lesson, where Mrs Yugin-Power visited to talk about Chanukah and share wonderful artefacts. In DT, the children made working windmills for the little mouse in Amsterdam, showing fantastic creativity and skill.

In the build up to Christmas, the children had to solve many problems. First, some of Father Christmas’s elves got lost around the school grounds, so the children used their maps to find them, which caused great excitement. Then came an even bigger challenge— Father Christmas’s reindeer had gone on strike, so he needed help to move his sleigh into the garage without them. The children deduced that by removing the presents, the sleigh became much lighter and easier to move. Who would have thought that Christmas could be so complicated?

Spring Term brought some very special new members to our class, Nutty and Fluffy—two lost squirrels who we were delighted to adopt! From the moment they arrived, they became much-loved class mascots, learning alongside the children and heading home with a different family each week for new adventures. The children showed such kindness and responsibility in looking after them, and we know they’ll be missed!

Our learning took us to the icy landscapes of Antarctica, where we discovered the incredible journey of Captain Scott, and carried out science investigations to find out which materials would keep the squirrels warm in the South Pole and how to

stop a snowman from melting. In art, we explored the bold and imaginative world of Louise Bourgeois, creating an enormous 3D spider inspired by her work—a true collaborative masterpiece!

Venturing out once more, the children visited St Peter’s Church where they were warmly welcomed by Reverend Will. They loved discovering the beautiful windows, font, and altar, as well as learning all about the church’s special features and its role in the community.

The Summer Term was just as busy and full of hands-on learning. To bring the ‘Great Fire of London’ topic to life, the children lined up with buckets to put out a pretend fire, learning how people would have tackled the blaze in 1666. They deepened their understanding with a fascinating trip to the Weald and Downland Museum, where they saw a house from 1666 and

discovered for themselves how sparks could easily cause a rapidly spreading fire.

Weather was another big focus this term. The children made their own wind streamers, cloud spotters, and rain gauges. Luckily, we had the perfect rainy day to test them! In ICT, they brought all their weather knowledge together by becoming weather reporters, filming their own forecast videos. Throughout the year, they observed and tracked the changing seasons, creating beautiful artwork for each one based on careful observations.

To round off the year, Year 1 wrote letters to Reception, sharing all the wonderful things they have done and learnt to help next year’s children look forward to what awaits them. Tasting, making, and evaluating healthy milkshakes certainly caused

quite a stir (or shake!), and nearly all the letters included this exciting DT project - to the children it was ‘udderly exciting’!

As the children look ahead to the new adventures of Year 2, we know they will carry their enthusiasm, independence and love of learning with them. We could not be prouder of all they have achieved and cannot wait to see what they do next!

Year 2

As the autumn leaves began to fall, Year 2 set off on their first adventure of the academic year—a charming walk through Liphook. With curiosity as their compass, the children explored local landmarks, including the village bakery and the train station. A particular highlight was a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen at ‘Little Fish’ sushi restaurant. This trip supported the children’s geography topic on map-making. Using their observations, they later created their own maps using Google Maps, complete with labels and keys to show the landmarks they had discovered.

In November, the class turned their attention to a more reflective subject, commemorating Remembrance Day, with a visit to Bramshott Church. This left a lasting impression, particularly the war memorials dedicated to the 300 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. The children approached the experience with impressive reverence and empathy, deepening their understanding of sacrifice and history. The festive season brought with it warmth and light, as Year 2 explored the meaning of Advent. Each child crafted a Christingle, and these glowing creations helped fill the classroom with hope and joy.

Spring brought scientific discovery with a much-anticipated trip to the Winchester Science Centre. From crafting their own slime (and learning how it can behave like both a solid and a liquid), to stepping into the wonders of space during a Planetarium show, the day was packed with excitement and hands-on challenges, including trying on astronaut suits and diving into the Lego challenge.

One of the year’s most heart-warming events was Grandparent’s Afternoon. This treasured tradition welcomed the children’s grandparents, family, and friends into the school for an

afternoon of joy. Guests were treated to student-led tours, family tree projects, a relaxing afternoon tea, and a delightful musical performance. It was an occasion that beautifully bridged generations and left smiles all around.

The Summer Term began with a burst of activism, inspired by ‘The Last Wolf’, by Mini Grey. Motivated by the story’s environmental message, Year 2 put pen to paper and wrote persuasive letters to the Prime Minister, urging action on deforestation. Their passion and conviction shone through in every word.

Wrapping up their year in style, we took a sun-soaked trip to Hayling Island. The day was packed with

creativity and seaside fun: the children crafted natural sculptures in the style of artist Andy Goldsworthy, took a scenic ride on the Hayling Light Railway, enjoyed a beach picnic, and of course, indulged in a well-earned ice cream.

Year 2 children have had a rich and memorable journey this year; from hands-on learning and heartfelt reflection, to bold creativity and joyful celebrations, our young learners have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm. As they look ahead to Year 3, there’s no doubt they’ll continue to grow, shine, and inspire.

Year 3

What an amazing year it has been for our wonderful Year 3 cohort.

Throughout the year, an emphasis on team building and learning to work together has led to a plethora of different activities, promoting communication and problem-solving skills.

September began with everyone working together playing different games and finding out about each other, as our Year 2 children welcomed in an eager band of new Churcherians. A favourite had to be moving the ball across the field without it touching the ground by using a drainpipe—a great way to get everyone talking and contributing some imaginative ideas. It was further complimented by the whole year group working together to help clean up Iron Hill as part of our ‘Caring for the Environment’ topic. This supported our learning on the impact we as humans have on the world around us, and how we can help our environment flourish.

The Autumn Term was full of learning and fun as we visited the Sustainability Centre, wrote some wonderful winterthemed descriptions, and worked hard to learn our times tables. Of course, one of the most exciting trips had to be our whole-school visit to the pantomime. The Spring Term was chock-full, the children enjoyed a Stone Age themed day, decorating the rocks in the sensory garden with their own cave art and learning how to light a fire to roast our prey - the marshmallow! There was a trip to the Gilbert White Educational

Learning Centre where we carried out numerous investigations to further our understanding of rocks and soils. We also managed to squeeze in a Book Week, filled with amazing authors, a dress up day, and lots of opportunities to enjoy reading, and encourage a love of books.

The beautiful weather in the Summer Term meant a wonderful day out at Barefield Three Peaks Centre, where the children took part in in adventurous, team-building activities, including the terrifying ‘Leap of faith’, quad biking, and archery. Earlier in the term, Year 3 went on a trip to the Haslemere

museum to further our topic on ‘Ancient Egypt’. We have found out more about the pharaohs and how they were mummified for the afterlife. Our soft toys and action figures were the perfect models for wrapping up, and everyone was relieved that no toys were harmed in the process!

Year 4

What a fabulously happy and successful year it has been for our lovely 8- and 9-year-olds in Year 4. We welcomed a few new faces into the year group, and these families have settled in so well that they are

now very much part of the Churcher’s community.

Every school year is punctuated by certain events and visits, and this past year has been no different. Our first trip is arguably one of the best — to the Living Rainforest. Sadly, our budget doesn’t extend to going to the Amazon, but this is the next best thing! It is always so informative and interesting, with special favourites being the hissing cockroaches and, of course, Cinnamon the sloth, who we haven’t actually seen for a number of years — a large group of 9-year-olds always seems to send the poor thing into a deep sleep!

Our annual outing to Southampton to visit the Art Gallery is, for many, a new experience as a number of children have never been to an art gallery before. We worked with professional artists for the day who made the activities look so much easier than they really are! The quality of the children’s work is quite amazing, and the wire faces they made in the workshop are a testament to this. A fabulous and thought-provoking experience for all our lovely Year 4s, exposing them to a number of significant art works by major artists from Anthony Gormley to Edward Burne-Jones.

Suddenly, it was Christmas again with all the amazing activities that this time of year brings, from Fayres to Christmas jumpers and carol services galore. A cherished part of all this being our whole school walk to Iron Hill, which is a great opportunity to catch up with each other and walk off our festive dinner.

To brighten the depressing January weather, Year 4 started their work on

the Romans and topped this off with an exciting trip to Butser Ancient Farm. Those roaring fires in the middle of the round houses were certainly very much appreciated by everyone as we huddled together to enjoy our 21st century packed lunches. Always such an informative trip with so much handson learning, from Roman numerals to clunch-making and mosaics, we really made the most of every single moment. As the days started to lengthen, we began our rehearsals for Frozen — a heartwarming tale of sisterly rivalry and ultimately love, which formed the heart of our annual production. What talent we have in this year: singers, dancers, and dramatists galore. A chance for everyone to shine and with a fantastic message for all, that loves shines through in the end.

With lighter days and summer sports just around the corner, before we knew it we were on our Bushcraft trip, which is one of the highlights of Year

4: two days in the glorious Hampshire countryside away from school, homework, and (most) teachers. What could be better? Activities ranged from game preparation and axe throwing, to shooting, fire-making, and survival skills. Every child was fully engaged and had a truly remarkable experience, whether it was learning to be away from home for the first time or learning how to gut a pigeon and cook it over an open fire.

We are delighted that this group of youngsters have used their time in the Middle School wisely, and are fully prepared for life in Year 5 and beyond. With lots of changes to cope with and hopefully not too much choppy water to navigate, we wish them well as they sail through the next part of their Churcher’s voyage. What a fabulous lot of children they are, and we wish them a smooth passage as they sail on to the top of the school.

Year 5

It has been a fantastic year with a packed three terms for Year 5. With shuffled classes and some new faces both on the pupil and staff front, we were all raring to go! The first highlight came in October, as the children embarked on a residential trip to Cobnor Activities Centre. It was wonderful to see them getting stuck into water and land activities, including keel boating, paddle boarding, raft building, orienteering, archery, climbing, and more. These trips are invaluable for developing confidence and resilience, together with forging new friendships.

Back at school, it was straight off to Selborne, to dive into the science and geography topics of ‘Plants’ and ‘Maps’. The trip offered the perfect mix of hands-on learning and outdoor adventure. Children searched for different trees in Gilbert White’s grounds, dissected flowers with magnifying glasses, and tested their geography and orienteering skills with maps and compasses. To round off the half term, we launched into an exciting journey through our solar system as part of STEAM Week, with projects ranging from a full Modroc solar system to homemade rockets soaring across the field. To close the

term came a pantomime trip and our much-loved tradition—the postChristmas dinner walk.

After Christmas, science was all about keeping healthy. The children loved experiments, particularly ‘blood in a bottle’, using Cheerios as red blood cells, marshmallows as white blood cells, and raisins for platelets. A warming campfire on a chilly January afternoon tied in with our English text, ‘Arthur and the Golden Rope’. The children carved Norse figures into chalk, toasted marshmallows, and sang by the fire. Another treat came from the Young Shakespeare Company,

who performed ‘Hamlet’. Our history topic on the Tudors took us to the Mary Rose Museum, beginning with a 4D underwater experience, followed by workshops. The highlight was seeing the Mary Rose herself and discovering Hatch, the ship’s loyal dog. March brought the magic of Book Week, with authors, workshops, and the joy of pupils becoming reading buddies. Later, weeks of rehearsals culminated in the Petersfield Music Festival, where Year 5 sang alongside local schools in a vibrant community celebration. The final day of term saw our second charity penalty shootout in aid of Maddy’s Mark.

The final term began with ‘Clockwork’, by Philip Pullman—a gripping story that inspired outstanding creative writing. A visit from Mill Cottage Farm delighted the children, with baby piglets stealing the show. In the drama studio, Derren led a thrilling Theatre Combat workshop, teaching choreographed slaps and perfectly timed (fake!) punches. In French, lessons culminated with a trip to the Senior School’s ‘French café’, where staff and pupils took orders in French, with croissants and pains au chocolat proving popular. A maths day followed, with the Senior School hosting an outdoor orienteering treasure hunt.

The year ended with the traditions of the Swimming Gala and Sports Day, providing an Arun win in the pool and Meon victory on the track. What a fantastic year the children have enjoyed. They brought boundless energy to lessons and showed a great thirst for knowledge. We wish them well for Year 6.

Year 6

If Lewis Carroll’s Alice had taken a bite of the wrong cake in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, she might have experienced something like Year 6’s year —a whirlwind of growth, adventure, and the occasional moment where time seemed to vanish as quickly as a plate of unguarded biscuits! One minute, we were welcoming back fresh-faced, sun-

kissed pupils in September and the next, we were waving them off— taller, wiser, and (let’s be honest) significantly louder—wondering how on earth it all went so fast.

The term began with our intrepid explorers setting sail for the Isle of Wight, where they swapped school shoes for wellies and maths books for bed-making under the watchful eye of a particularly strict housemaid at Osborne House. From there, it was on to PGL’s Little Canada for high ropes, night-time tracking, and the

traditional pre-supper kickabout, where, as always, the children’s behaviour was impeccable (even if their football tackles occasionally weren’t).

No sooner had we dried off from our residential than the Spring Term arrived, bringing with it the small matter of senior school entrance exams. Thanks to their hard work, the children tackled them with confidence—returning to school beaming, relieved, and possibly already planning how to spend their

future lunch breaks and merit rewards at Senior School.

Then came swimming, where, alongside perfecting their front crawl, the children learned vital survival skills and how to succeed in another super-competitive swimming gala, where Hamble House emerged chilly, wet, and victorious!

After an enthralling trip to Westminster Abbey with a tour and workshop, we took to the Thames on a clipper, munching sandwiches and spotting landmarks, before arriving at the Tower of London. Here, the pupils managed to avoid losing their heads whilst engaging with Beefeaters and marvelling at the glittering Crown Jewels.

Back in school, the highlight of our Citizenship Curriculum was, of course, Junior MasterChef. Between budgeting, chopping, and (occasionally) burning, our young chefs served up impressively balanced meal, though we can’t promise they’ll be quite so eager to do the washing up at home!

The Summer Term was no less actionpacked, with our France trip a real highlight. Whether milking goats, haggling at the market, or braving the high-ropes in a French forest, the children embraced every moment, even if their accents occasionally left the locals un peu confused! And then, the grand finale: Oliver Twisted. After weeks of rehearsals (and approximately 4,632 renditions of Food Glorious Food!), the children dazzled audiences over two nights. The closing song, Consider Yourself,

perfectly captured the spirit of Year 6 who felt right at home in the final few weeks of school.

The final farewell came around the campfire, where each child placed a piece of wood into the flames alongside their favourite memory from their time at the Junior School. There were marshmallows; there may have

been tears; there was definitely pride. As they head off on their next adventures, we know they will take with them the same enthusiasm, kindness, and occasional chaos that made this year so unforgettable. Bon voyage, Year 6, just try not to grow too much before we see you again!

Languages

This year in Languages has been truly unforgettable — a joyful celebration of culture and creativity, our pupils have embraced every opportunity to learn and have fun with languages. We kicked off the year with our muchloved Day of Languages, bringing the whole school together to explore different countries, customs, and languages.

Over in French Club, pupils delighted in crêpes tasting, with Year 6 putting together a beautiful language display showcasing everything they’ve learned. Meanwhile, Spanish Club joined the foodie fun with a Día de la Tortilla celebration — complete with our own tortillas! They also loved learning some Spanish zumba moves to ‘Madre Tierra’, which quickly

became our Wednesday morning wake-up song!

Year 2 tried magdalenas while learning about Spanish bakeries — yum! Year 5 practiced ordering their breakfast in French with growing confidence at the Senior School annual French Café. They also used their imagination on the trim trail, taking fun photos to show French prepositions in action, and learned a song they say they’ll never forget. Years 4-6 were treated to a special visit from a French theatre company, bringing laughter and learning to life on stage. Meanwhile, Year 3 impressed everyone with two French performances for parents during their Summer Term Showcase — a proud moment for pupils, teachers, and

families alike. For many Year 6 pupils, the legendary French trip is their first time away from home, and one of their proudest memories shared at the Leavers’ Assembly.

To round off the year, Year 3 enjoyed learning to play some French summer games, helped by our fantastic Year 6 volunteers - a morning of ‘boules’ and ‘palets breton’, rounded off with a well-deserved Orangina. What a year! We can’t wait to see what linguistic adventures next year will bring. Until then, au revoir and ¡hasta pronto!

Computing

From Reception to Year 6, the children have embraced technology with enthusiasm and creativity, building confidence while making new discoveries.

In the Early Years, Reception pupils laid strong foundations by learning to take photos, create e-books, and use a computer mouse, while beginning to understand algorithms and directions. Year 1 explored block coding for the first time by creating obstacle games in Scratch Jr, inspired by their topic on the Great Fire of London, and they also developed digital artwork. Year 2 became composers through digital music, impressed with their

photography, and created exciting Scratch Jr games by the summer term.

In Key Stage 2, pupils used technology not just to learn buttons, but to create, achieve, and inspire. Year 3 built programming skills in Scratch, designing games and animated conversations about Ancient Egypt, while also improving their typing and word processing. Year 4 showcased creativity with stop-motion animation and green screen effects, designed games using loops in Scratch, and experimented with Beebots and Bluebots. Year 5 thrived with Microsoft Micro:bits, programming step counters and using conditions to

make unique games. Year 6 tackled JavaScript for the first time, creating ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ apps and producing imaginative transition videos.

Another highlight was the strong focus on online safety, with pupils confidently identifying red flags and engaging in Safer Internet Day activities. Beyond lessons, the 3D printing club produced articulated Tinkercad designs, from octopuses to jewellery.

It has been a remarkable year of coding, creativity, and curiosity, laying firm foundations for the future.

Music & Drama

It’s been a busy year of music and performance. Whether as part of a weekly lesson or part of a show on stage, the children have been given lots of opportunities to enable them to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

Nursery and Reception told the story of Christ’s birth in their Christmas nativity with live music. Our youngest pupils did so well to remember their lines as well as different stage directions to tell this special Christmas story. Years 1 and 2 performed in ‘An Inn-spector Calls’, where the inspection of the inn meant that children had to work together to clean it up in time for the birth of the new baby!

In the Summer term, the Nursery, Reception, and Infant classes treated us to their ‘Summer Festival of Performing Arts’, where they performed dances, songs, and poems on the theme of Friendship. Year 2 danced around the maypole, twisting and untwisting the colourful ribbons, Year 1 showed off their country dancing, and Reception told us the story of ‘The Rainbow Fish’. All the children looked fantastic in their coloured t-shirts and brought some sunshine and smiles to the whole school.

Junior school children have all had the experience of participating in year group shows. These are opportunities for the children to sing and dance in a longer performance, following a script. They also are encouraged to wear stage make-up and costumes to complete their dramatic experience.

Year 3 helped us all learn about robots in French, and demonstrated unrivalled singing in their amazing showcase performance and additional talent show this year. Year 4 took their family and friends on a journey through ‘Frozen’ - a performance with dancing that blew us away! Year 5 participated in a public performance at the Petersfield Music Festival, where the children sang a range of songs alongside many other primary schools in the local area as part of the wider festival. Year 5 pupils also had great fun participating in a fight scene in a stage combat workshop.

The academic year closed with music, colour, dancing, and razzamatazz on the stage in Year 6’s performance of ‘Oliver’. This was a fantastic show! Every character added something special to the performance. We were delighted by the fabulous singing from Nancy and Fagin, who gave performances that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the West End. Huge thanks to Year 6, the pit band, backstage club, and all the staff for their incredible effort to put on such an amazing show!

It has been a busy year, but one full of great moments and memories.

Sport

The 2025 sporting calendar opened with a burst of activity and enthusiasm. From a dominant showing at the Butser Hill Challenge, where more than 30 runners participated and seven reached the podium, to a resilient performance by the U11A boys’ football team at the ISFA regional qualifiers, the term began with a sense of purpose and passion. House competitions, such as Cross-Country and Swimming Galas, were highlights that celebrated both individual grit and collective spirit, with hundreds of laps, races, and determined finishes. Meanwhile, Years 2 and 3 delighted in friendly festivals that prioritised enjoyment, inclusion, and sportsmanship. The introduction of new sports like Spikeball and Volleyball enriched the PE curriculum further, developing transferable skills and widening pupil experience.

As winter settled in, the energy didn’t wane. Our U10 netball and football squads brought home silverware from the Oakwood tournaments, displaying teamwork and resilience in abundance. U11 pupils impressed at home tournaments in hockey and rugby, with both ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams delivering strong performances and developing in confidence throughout the season. Swimming continued to flourish, with the Year 3 and Year 6 galas producing outstanding performances, and the school’s success at the Hampshire Swimming Primaries resulted in qualification for the County Finals. The atmosphere was lifted again in February with a surprise flash mob led by Years 3 and 5—an unforgettable celebration of joy, teamwork, and movement that brought the whole school together.

Spring Term brought a new wave of fixtures and challenges. The U10 girls’ hockey team placed 2nd at Highfield after a thrilling penalty shootout, while the U11s finished strongly in local tournaments. Our youngest sports stars in Years 1 and 2 took part in football and tag rugby festivals, making great strides in teamwork and match play. In swimming, 18 pupils represented the school at the IAPS qualifiers, and though we didn’t reach the national finals, the effort and determination on show were immense. The year’s sporting journey was marked not only by competition, but by commitment to growth and inclusion—evident in every fixture, from the frosty fields of St Hilary’s to the vast pool at Bishopsgate.

In the final term, our top swimmers took on a new challenge with the school’s first-ever swim-run

event, testing their stamina and resilience with a mix of lengths and laps. Meanwhile, elite performers represented the school at the ESSA Southeast Semi-Finals and IAPS Sailing in Portland—both tough but rewarding experiences. The U11 girls’ football team enjoyed a fun-filled day at Claremont Fan Court, showing growth and spirit in each game. With Sports Days and summer cricket matches closing out the year, we reflect with pride on a programme that has offered stretch, variety, teamwork, and joy at every level. Pupils have embodied courage, commitment, and character through sport, and we look forward to another year of opportunity, challenge, and celebration.

Book Week

Across the year groups at Churcher’s, we aim to promote reading as a lifelong joy, inspiring pupils to explore new stories and authors. This year’s Reading Week was filled with exciting activities, and the chance to wear slippers all week! Children designed bookmarks, hunted for hidden book characters, listened to favourite stories read by staff and parents, and tackled a book-themed scavenger hunt.

The week began with award-winning author Catherine Ward, who ran inspiring workshops on her books, The Emerald Forest, and, By the Beaver Pool. Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 learned about conservation themes through beautiful illustrations and heartfelt words, as well as tips on becoming authors themselves. Midweek brought the muchanticipated book swap. Each child brought a wrapped book to exchange within their year group, giving everyone a fresh, age-appropriate read recommended by peers.

World Book Day saw the school transformed into a sea of storybook characters. Costumes ranged from creative homemade efforts to classics, such as Baby Bear from Jill Murphy’s Whatever Next!, Bilbo and Gandalf from Tolkien, and a fantastic duo recreating Julia Donaldson’s The Snail and the Whale. Older and younger pupils then paired up for shared reading, celebrating stories together.

The week concluded with another multi-award-winning author, M.G. Leonard, who transported children to Egypt through her latest novel, The Hunt for the Golden Scarab. After signing more than 150 books, she left a buzz of excitement that carried into our library, where her and Catherine’s books have flown off the shelves. We’re already counting down to next year’s celebration!

Maths Day

The Junior School was buzzing with excitement as pupils took part in a fun-filled Maths Day, led by the Senior School Maths Department, with help from our Lower Sixth Further Mathematicians. The aim was to celebrate the joy of Maths and problem-solving. The day was packed with exciting, challenging, and brainstretching activities for everyone from Year 3 to Year 6.

Year 6 pupils faced the ultimate challenge in the form of a Maths Escape Room. Working in teams, they had to crack a series of clues, using everything from multiplication and logic to time and shape knowledge. Only by solving each problem could they unlock the final code and “escape” the room — teamwork and sharp thinking were essential!

Meanwhile, Year 5 swapped classrooms for compasses as they took on a Maths Orienteering Course. With map-reading skills at the ready, pupils navigated the school grounds in search of hidden clues. Each successful stop depended on solving a maths puzzle — if they got the right answer, the next location was revealed! Not to be outdone, Years 3 and 4 dived into a high-energy session of Maths Relays, Quizzes, and Puzzles. Whether racing to solve sums or working together on problem-solving games, pupils had a blast while putting their maths skills to the test.

The day was a huge success, full of lots of number fun.

Senior School

2024-25 Captains and Vice Captains of College

Maddie Gay and Max Cropley

Sophia Farmer and Toby Medley

Collingwood House

Reflecting on another busy, successful year, it has been a pleasure to keep the Purple (or Palatinate) flag of Collingwood flying and to see so many of you rising to, and overcoming, the challenges put in front of you, be it the 1,500m on Sports Day or acting in front of your peers. The strength of Collingwood is in its exceptional pupils and staff members and I’m proud to be associated with you. This year as a House, we have had fun bowling, flying paper aeroplanes, laser questing, playing dodgeball, engaging in survival challenges, enjoying fun Fridays, jumping around waterparks, and kayaking. For me, the highlight of all these was to have the majority of pupils join in our House BBQ in the Summer Term. It was lovely to see all the years mixing and playing rounders, football, tug of war, giant Jenga, and giant Connect 4 against each other, while eating the fabulous food (and lollies!) provided by our catering team. We even had the odd member of the Upper Sixth stop in while they were on study leave. It was a busy day for the House as that morning we also had our Silence Speaks challenge for MNDA.

I am so grateful to the House for stepping up for all the House competitions and for the effort and enthusiasm they have brought to

Collingwood over the last year. It’s been a pleasure to watch so many of you compete on behalf of the House and it was good to see the successes in the Sports Cup. Stepping up to these challenges helps us develop our character and seeing the cando attitude so many of you have is inspiring. In the Academic Cup, I know the House enjoyed all the quizzes and the First and Third Years won the STEAM Cup. I know that you have enjoyed it and hopefully next year we will continue to build on these successes.

The House is what it is due to the example set by the House Captains and their Vice Captains, and this year we had a strong group with Jasmine T, Mariana H, and Alfie G leading the way, ably backed up by Grace C, Tristan L, and Theo T. They, and all the departing Upper Sixth, will be missed and the House will not be the same without them in it. It feels a bit like the end of an era and I’m sure the results will bring you the results you deserve. However, as ever, I know there are other exceptional members of Collingwood ready to keep the Purple flag flying high!

Ben Seal

Drake House

This year has been a truly memorable one for Drake House. Our GCSE and A Level results were among the best in the school, with many pupils achieving beyond their own expectations and setting themselves up for future success. It would be remiss of me not to mention Leo C, who walked away with 11 A*’s in his GCSEs, an amazing accomplishment!

A particular highlight this year was Sports Day, which brought an unprecedented moment in House history. After an incredibly competitive day, Drake and Rodney finished on level points. The Headmaster offered the option to share the prize or have a runoff. Drake would have been happy to share the plaudits, but Rodney wanted to settle it with a one-off relay. With determination, teamwork, and true House spirit, Drake rose to the challenge and claimed victory, resulting in the Drake supporters erupting on the side lines!

Drake House is not only about sporting success. Our pupils have shone across a wide range of activities this year, from STEAM events and house quizzes, to

music, LAMDA, and drama. These achievements continue to show the depth and diversity of talent within our House community.

At the heart of Drake House is a strong sense of belonging. This year we have once again encouraged everyone to step outside of their comfort zones and into their growth zones, embracing challenges and celebrating one another’s successes. It has been inspiring to see so many pupils discover new passions, build confidence, and thrive as part of our House family, and as always, I am proud to be a part of it.

Jamie Daniel

Grenville House

Travelling in my time machine (green furnishings, naturally!), I re-visited early July of the summer of 2021. Ed Sheeran was Number One in the charts, holding off the Three Lions as the England Men’s football team reached the final of the Euros. It was also when Grenville won the House Cup and retained it for the following 208 weeks! Would 2024-25 be the year that the griffin would be knocked off its perch?

Well, in short, yes it was, but the Grenville pupils put up a valiant fight throughout the year and should be applauded for their

efforts in achieving second place.

As a mathematician, I can certainly take comfort in the five-year rolling average! The standout this year has been the success in hockey, with the girls of the Sixth Form, 3G, and 5G, and the boys of the Sixth Form, 4G, and 5G winning their competitions. The 4G boys also won the rugby, with the 1G girls and 2G boys winning their cross-country events. But it is the everyday effort that I am always most concerned with; I always hope that the Grenville pupils apply themselves thoroughly with their lessons and so I was delighted to see that once again Grenville forms top the charts for their efforts in the classroom this year. Impressively, 1G, 5G, and Lower Sixth won this accolade for every term this year. Even more remarkable is that the Lower Sixth have held this record continuously since the Autumn Term of 2021. In the challenge for the best Grenville form, 5G strongly rival the Lower Sixth, as they have held the top spot in 12 of their 15 terms at school! I hope that their efforts inspire the younger Grenville pupils to work hard on becoming the best versions of themselves in the future.

Grenville pupils have also had lots of fun outside of the classroom too, and it is great to see so many pupils involved in these after school events. 1G and 2G enjoyed their trip to the Southsea pantomime, but, alas, I shall never forgive them—when the dame was “looking for a man”, 40 11- and

12-year-olds screaming, “Over here, over here!”, are not to be ignored, and so I was taken completely out of my comfort zone and had to go up on stage to be married to the dame! I often write about Grenville pupils showing ‘true Grenville spirit’— getting involved even if they don’t necessarily want to, when it might be easier to avoid eye contact or say no— and now I hope that they can see that this Grenville Spirit applies to all of us, teachers included. A new addition to the Grenville calendar this year saw 30 pupils, from across the year groups, take part in a Christmas ceramic painting evening. The results were creative and impressive, but I particularly enjoyed that it felt like an oasis of calm in the general busyness of school life.

As always, at this time of year, my thanks go to the wonderful departing Upper Sixth, a truly talented bunch who epitomise the very best of school life: they are bright, hardworking, funny, and show fight in adversity. Thanks especially to the House Captains, Phoebe D, Elise M, and Ollie W, and the Vice Captains, Georgia M, Phoebe P, and Katie S. I wish all the departing pupils good luck for the future and thank them for all their efforts over the years for the green team.

Jon Seaton

Nelson House

The Autumn Term set the tone for a busy and exciting year in Nelson House. It began with 1N enjoying a lively bowling trip to Chichester before heading into the New Forest for a packed programme of archery, laser quest, canoeing, and more. Back at school, the House Captains ran the second 6N Pizza Evening, combining quiz rounds with the now-legendary ‘Great pizza giveaway’. 1N tackled their first cross-country race, while 3N showed flair in choosing ‘Firework’ for the House Shout, inspiring an explosive performance from the Lower School. On the sports field, 2N claimed glory in House rugby, a feat unmatched elsewhere in the House. The Christmas Taskmaster brought festive fun, with 6N2 winning, thanks to a brilliant image challenge—possibly the first Sixth Form tutor group to secure the crown. The term closed with Nelson joining Rodney for an enjoyable iceskating trip to Portsmouth.

The Spring Term began with mocks, testing resilience across the House. Sporting results in boys’ hockey were mixed, though the cross-country saw several notable individual efforts, and Nelson once again dominated interhouse netball. 1N excelled academically, with 16 pupils awarded commendations. The highlight, however, was the remarkable whole-House fundraiser, ‘Nelson Gets Trollied’. Over 12 hours, pupils completed more than 3,756 trolley-pushing laps of the netball court - covering 300 km - and raised over £3,200 for Dementia UK. This incredible achievement showcased teamwork, stamina, and generosity –all qualities that lie at the very heart of Nelson.

The Summer Term was no less eventful. 1N secured first place in STEAM Day, while commendations and prizes across the House recognised academic excellence, including five winners from 1N and 2N. Exams dominated the term, reminding

everyone of the importance of balance and support in a challenging period.

On the sports field, Nelson again excelled: in boys’ cricket, 2N retained their title for a second consecutive year, with 1N and 3N both finishing second; the girls matched this success with 2N first and 3N second. The final Taskmaster was won by 4N, thanks to Jack’s steady hand in the ‘Mr Harris lookalike’ challenge, while Sports Day and the relays produced a wealth of strong performances, particularly from the Lower Sixth girls, who proudly secured third place.

Reflecting on the year, special mention goes to the Nelson Sixth Form for their outstanding contributions both in House and across the school. Thanks are due to our House Captains and Vice Captains—Lucas and Poppy, supported by Rosie, Charlotte, Thomas, and Alex—who now pass the baton to a new team. Most importantly, thank you to all pupils: the true heart of Nelson, whose spirit and enthusiasm make the House what it is.

Jeremy Harris

Rodney House

As I look back on this academic year, it has appeared more frenetic than ever. I would like to say well done to all of Team Rodney for soldiering on to the very end of the year and maintaining your exceptional effort and House Spirit, both within the classroom and on the sports field. While last year’s performance in the House Cup saw Rodney placed joint 1st, this year they managed to win the competition outright and by a significant margin. Winning both the Academic Cup and the Sports Cups ensured success in the overall competition and I would like to thank everyone for their contributions this year. You went above and beyond in all aspects of the inter-house events. Overall success in the various quizzes and a very strong average score for

academic effort in each of the three terms formed the bedrock of the Academic Cup success. The area to target next year is our performance in the various STEAM challenges. With so many excellent performances in so many different disciplines, it is difficult to single out any one pupil, form, or team for mention, but a few performances stand out above the rest. The Fifth and Upper Sixth years excelled in the quizzes. In the pool, once an area of weakness, our First to Fourth Year girls each won their respective galas, as did the First Year boys. With three wins in netball and three further wins in cross- country, it was no surprise that Team Rodney dominated the House competition and once again congratulations to all on their excellent efforts throughout the year.

It was great to see so many of the Rodney pupils attending trips to the Pumpkin Patch, Laser Quest, Ice skating in Portsmouth, and our First Year pool party. A special thanks also to our House Captains, Lucy and Will, and Vice Captains, Jazz, Millie, Jacob, and Joshua for their commitment and enthusiasm this year.

I cannot sign off without mentioning Mr Kelly, a Rodney tutor for the last 20 years, who has left Churcher’s to start a new chapter of his teaching career in North Carolina. His professional and caring approach to the role has seen him guide his tutees through the demands of the Sixth Form and has enabled them to realise their full potential. I know you all would like to join me in wishing him every success in his new role.

John Yugin-Power

Fifth Year

In my first year as Head of Fifth Year, it has genuinely been a privilege to reflect on everything this fantastic group has achieved. It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know them all.

This year brought a significant shift to our beloved Pavilion. While they’ve continued to enjoy their tunes pumping from the iPad and speaker, this cohort was the first to fully embrace the new ‘no phones’ policy, thanks to the introduction of the Yondr pouches. Their reaction has been nothing short of brilliant – so adaptable and mature. It’s been amazing to see the Pavilion buzzing with proper conversations, intense board game battles, and some seriously impressive keepie-uppies. It’s been a real breath of fresh air to see them connecting in such a fun, old-school way.

To capture these authentic moments, I introduced a new element this year: my walking around the Pavilion on break duties with disposable cameras. It’s been wonderful taking candid pictures of them in action, offering a glimpse into the genuine camaraderie and spirit that has filled the common room.

Academically, they have been absolute stars. Their dedication and hard work throughout the year have been clear for all to see, and their revision for the GCSEs was top-notch. Behaviourwise, they’ve been consistently brilliant, and I’m happy to report there were hardly any major issues to deal with, which is a testament to them all. The eagerly anticipated end-of-year football match between the Red and Blue Teams was a cracker! It finished in a nail-biting 1-1 draw, and while some might still be debating it, I

personally thought it was a fair result for a really competitive game. And let’s talk about the 5th Year Dinner! Despite a last-minute scramble for a new venue, having it right here on the school site was a stroke of genius. It was genuinely superb to see everyone having such a great time, being wowed by the magician, and tearing it up in the ‘Party Dome’. What a fantastic evening and a brilliant way to celebrate their GCSE year.

So, with GCSEs now officially done and dusted, I want to give them all a massive well done. Their hard work, resilience, and effort have been outstanding.

Joe James

Sixth Form

The sun was shining on results day, with weather conditions that reflected the mood of the students, parents, and staff as A Level results were celebrated. 90% of results were graded A*-B, and the same percentage of students gained places at their first-choice universities. The results reflect an exceptional amount of hard work from everyone concerned, and it is particularly rewarding to see the smiles on the students’ faces as they reflect on a hard but rewarding two years’ work. I wish them all well as they move on to the next exciting stage of their lives.

As one year group leaves, another arrives, and we were very pleased to welcome an excellent group of Lower Sixth students to Ramshill, including lots of students from other schools. They got stuck in to all that the Sixth Form has to offer, particularly the tea and toast, and their contributions have been highly valued. Whether it is helping in the community with the Herne Link, or as a member of the CCF on Remembrance Sunday, baking a cake for the McMillan Coffee morning, addressing the Law Society, which is now in its second year, or a whole host of other academic, sporting, dramatic, musical, or adventurous activities besides, the Sixth Form students have ensured that the busy and vibrant Ramshill community has continued to thrive.

The focus of the Lower Sixth teambuilding day this year was knife crime, and the students proposed some creative action plans about how they might solve the problem. The

Prefect training day was once again the One Day Film School, and a great deal of fun was had, writing a script, allocating roles, thinking about camera angles and props, and filming around the school site.

More fun was provided by the Sixth Form Committee, who, as always, organised a number of events to help foster a strong community spirit, and to allow a breather from academic work. There were dodgeball tournaments as well as events to celebrate Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, and the summer saw our third boules tournament. The number of participants grew again and the eventual winner was Archie M, who edged to victory in a closely fought final in front of a large Leavers’ Day crowd.

For the first time in the Sixth Form, we crowdfunded the purchase of a

piece of art for the gallery that is being created in the large room at the back of Ramshill. We now have a print by Japanese artist Umetaro Azechi to accompany others by students, staff, and parents of the school. We hope to continue the initiative this year.

Thanks must be given to the Captains of College, Max C and Maddie G, who have been excellent in their role and fantastic ambassadors for the school. They were well supported by Deputy Captains, Sophia F and Toby M. For the second year we held the Prefects’ Dinner off site at the Princess Royal Gallery, in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, which was a fitting way to thank all of the prefects for their work over the year.

Bill Baker

Creative Arts & Technology

Art & Design

It’s been another incredible year in the Art Department, filled with creativity, curiosity, and exploration—both in the classroom and far beyond it. Trips have played a key role in enriching our students’ understanding of the creative world. As well as the annual visits to the Tate Modern for our exam groups, students took part in architecture visits to Gunwharf Quays and attended the UCAS ‘Create Your Future’ event at the ExCel Centre in London. These experiences encouraged students to think critically about their future pathways in art and design and introduced them to the possibilities of further study in the creative industries. First Year students had the opportunity to visit Petersfield Museum to see work by contemporary British artist, Michael Craig-Martin, an experience that brought colour, concept, and modernity to life. Later in the year, students explored cuttingedge design at the New Designers exhibition, at The Design Centre in Islington, gaining a glimpse into the

innovations shaping the future of creative practice.

Perhaps the most exciting event this year was our first ever residential trip to New York. Over five unforgettable days, students explored iconic cultural landmarks, such as Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art, the High Line, and Brooklyn Bridge. Each day was packed with walking tours, sketching opportunities, and visual inspiration, covering more than 30,000 steps a day! In preparation for this adventure, we were thrilled to host a visit from the Solent Southampton Architecture School and hear from renowned architect, Lionel Fanshawe, of Terra Firma, who gave an engaging talk on the built environment of Manhattan and its rich architectural history.

Back in school, the curriculum across all year groups has been equally diverse and ambitious. First Year students began with mark-making and recording from natural forms, learning how artists interpret the

world around them. Second Years turned their attention to the idea of art as being functional and purposeful, designing community buildings in the Spring Term. Their work culminated in an interactive display on Open Day, where visitors were invited to contribute to a growing model of a community. The Third Year developed a social conscience through textile-based work, using embroidery and weaving techniques to create collaborative bunting that addressed global concerns and expressed individual voices through shared making.

At exam level, both GCSE and A Level students produced outstanding and thought-provoking work. Their personal investigations and responses to externally set assignments were showcased in our annual end-of-year exhibition, which highlighted the sheer breadth of talent across the department. At GCSE, Ben explored shape and structure through concrete casting and laser-cut steel, inspired by the built environment. Elsie wowed

audiences with her photorealistic portrait paintings, while Thomas reassembled engine parts into the form of a delicate seahorse sculpture. Tabby took a bold approach to sustainability, repurposing discarded materials into wearable garments that challenged fast fashion narratives.

At A Level, the standard of work reached exceptional heights. Jess created surreal biro drawings rooted in the Chinese tradition of the Red Thread of Fate, symbolising human connection across time and space. Bella’s vivid and expansive colour paintings were full of emotion and energy. Jasmine worked innovatively with projection and candle smoke to push the boundaries between image and process. Josh’s animated charcoal drawings and Eddie’s burnt sculptures both confronted the pressing issue of climate change, using their mediums to evoke the impact of rising global temperatures and environmental decay. These are just a few highlights from what was an incredibly rich and varied collection of student work. This has been a year of challenge, imagination, and excellence. Our students have shown time and again their ability to think critically, work collaboratively, and produce work of real power and beauty.

Tim Strange

Design & Technology

Another busy year for the department, where our toils have not been in vain. The ambition of our students, paired with their ethic for hard work, has ensured that practical outcomes and portfolio content continue to impress staff, parents, and, importantly, the exam board moderators! With projects ranging from camper van sleeping and storage solutions, to portable barbeques, students, alongside staff, have produced another set of fabulous projects, and the academic results this summer were outstanding.

Our curriculum has undergone a transformation in the lower school, as we said goodbye to some old favourites. Our new range of projects blends design skills with a broad range of practical skills. First Year students now have logo competitions, a graphics module, exploring plastics using CAD CAM, and an updated version of our night light. The Second Year have a marquetry table, extended graphics skills, and a textiles character cushion. Third Years made a sweet dispensing machine and created

superhero characters and packaging, using CAD/CAM and experimenting with AI technology.

Our Green Power team, comprising students from all year groups, have completed the modification of our old car, ensuring greater reliability, and are busy making a new car to race in coming seasons. The team are looking to build on the successes and reliability from last season, to move up the standings at the race events over the coming year.

Steve Edington

Computer Science

It’s been another action-packed year in the Computing Department, filled with innovation, competition, and more than a few mountains of pizza. Our push to encourage more girls into computing produced promising results. In the CyberFirst Girls Competition, we entered six teams: ‘Cyber Sisters’ (Georgia and Grace) picked up the most points, with ‘Team Cyber’ (Charlotte and Isobel) and ‘The Holy Tomatoes’ (Scarlett, Emilia, and Nellie) close behind. ‘Cyber Sisters’ finished as the 41st highest-scoring independent school team nationally—particularly impressive given they were Year 7 pupils competing in a Year 8 event.

Our success continued in the Cyber Explorers Cup, where four Churcher’s teams tackled a mission of puzzles spanning People, Processes, and Technology.

‘The Phish Fingers’ (Grace, Charlotte, Georgia, Isobel, and Matilda) achieved a brilliant 9th place nationally, while ‘The Holy Tomatoes’ also impressed with 14th place—a testament to the cyber talent growing throughout the school.

In March, fifteen Fifth Year and Lower Sixth students took part in Code Quest at Lockheed Martin’s Havant office. This fast-paced competition challenged teams to solve increasingly tricky coding problems in just two and a half hours. Fuelled by high-energy snacks and a staggering 150 pizzas, our students

demonstrated both sharp problemsolving skills and excellent teamwork under pressure. ‘The Raiders’ (Max, William, and Thomas) scored an impressive 130 points to claim 3rd place in the novice category, proudly bringing home a shiny trophy.

Another amazing achievement was in PA Consulting’s Raspberry Pi Competition. Out of 252 schools, all three Churcher’s teams reached the PAPi finals at Google’s London HQ: The ‘Pi-Rates’ (Abi, Eliza, Maisie, and Saphia) built a smart hydration cup; ‘F.A.R.M.’ (Daniel, Luca, Toby, and Wilf) created an autonomous farm-surveying robot; ‘CyberCane’ (Fin, James, Jarvis, and Ollie) produced a smart cane to aid visually

impaired users. Judges praised the projects highly for their innovation and presentations.

This year, we further developed our AI teaching in the classroom, focusing on safe, responsible, and creative use. Preparing pupils for their future careers, we have emphasised the ethical implications of AI and helped students develop the critical thinking skills needed to confidently navigate the evolving digital world.

With such enthusiasm and talent across the cohort, computing at Churcher’s looks set for an exciting future.

Rob Tong

English

It’s been a rich and rewarding year for the English Department, full of creativity, curiosity, and competition wins! From inspiring author visits and exciting theatre trips, to imaginative competitions and unforgettable events, our students have embraced every opportunity to explore language and literature beyond the classroom.

The Autumn Term started with an A Level trip to see Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eight-Four’, at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnauld Theatre, as part of the Dystopian Literature unit. A Level students were also delighted to meet playwright, Amanda Whittington, author of ‘The Thrill of Love’, and to have the opportunity to ask her questions about her play; this definitely gave them a unique insight when writing their coursework about the text! Younger students experienced our annual ‘Haunted Library’, a charity event combining the academic and the macabre, and also took part in our ‘literary pumpkin’ competition— winners this year were Lucy C, with her ‘Noughts and Crosses’ pumpkin, and Scarlett R, with her ‘Watership Down’ pumpkin. We’re looking forward to even more exciting and original entries in the upcoming year!

Spring Term was a very busy one for the department. As part of their ‘An Inspector Calls’ studies, the whole Fourth Year attended a performance at the Mayflower Theatre, in Southampton; we all agreed that there is no substitute for seeing it performed on stage. The Churcher’s Lecture Theatre turned into a temporary cinema to screen David Tennant’s famous performance of ‘Macbeth’, released in cinemas only the same week, also supporting their coursework.

We welcomed Professor John McRae to the department for a day – a familiar face to our students, as they had seen some of his lectures on the academic video website, Massolit. Professor McRae delivered a number of lectures and seminars throughout his day here, which included a talk on the ‘underdog’ in ‘Of Mice and Men’, and a seminar on the changing nature of Gothic literature over time. Another visitor to the department was writer and National Poetry Day ambassador, Laura Mucha, co-author

of poetry collection, ‘Being Me’. Laura was visiting as part of a national prize won by our First Year student Kitty W, for her wonderful poem, ‘Count Dracula’, which wowed the judges. Students loved meeting Laura and had the opportunity to co-write poetry with her! Kitty also won £250 of books, which was split between the Junior School and Senior School, expanding our much-loved libraries even further!

A further joint venture between the Senior School and Junior School was seen in our Reading Champions competition, which had two Churcher’s Teams enter a battle of books and literary knowledge! Out of the 26 schools competing, our two Churcher’s teams came 7th and 8th, and were rightly proud! Finally, no Spring Term at Churcher’s could be complete without plenty of World Book Day enthusiasm. In addition to our annual ‘Book Party’ in the library, this year, we added a twist: a literary scavenger hunt! Teachers dressed as literary characters, and students had to hunt for them around school and identify what book they were from. We had Matilda, Offred, Lennie, Cruella, and an Oompa Loompa, to name just a few!

The Summer Term always flies by, but it was still filled to the brim. The highlight – for the Second Years at least – was perhaps the Murder Mystery, which was part of their Detective Fiction unit. Students turned detective for the day, and had to read, comprehend, and synthesise a huge amount of information,

working in teams to discover ‘whodunnit’. There were even a few highly suspicious-looking characters wandering around as they tried to solve this mystery…! This term brought further literary competition wins, huge congratulations to Charlotte G and William G, who each won their age category of the local round of the Rotary Young Writers competition, with their entries on the topic of ‘Wonderful Water’! More competition success came from Freya Wilson, who won a spot in the international final of the Poetry World Cup with her incredibly moving poem, ‘Dust to Dust’! We are so proud of our incredibly talented pupils. There is, however, one more award to note – this time, won by a teacher! We were recently notified that the English Department’s Mrs Daniel, was nominated by a member of the Churcher’s College community for the prestigious national Teacher of the Year award – and, out of thousands of nominations, is one of just eight finalists! What a fitting end to a wonderful year, shaped by the passion of our pupils, the dedication of our staff, and the incredible support of the wider school community. Through reading, writing, and discussion, our students have shown that English is not just a subject – it’s a springboard for imagination, expression, and discovery.

Dr Charlotte Unsworth-Hughes

Mathematics

This year has been another hugely successful one for the Maths Department, filled with competitions, challenges, enrichment activities, and invaluable peer support across the school.

The UKMT Mathematical Challenges saw impressive participation across all year groups. In the Autumn Term, 53 Lower Sixth and 31 Upper Sixth students took part in the Senior Maths Challenge, collectively achieving 27 Bronze, 19 Silver, and 5 Gold certificates. Special recognition goes to Alfie G, who was awarded ‘Best in School’, alongside fellow high achievers Tommy W, Evan C-J, William M, and Isaac A, all of whom progressed to the Kangaroo round. Evan excelled further, gaining a Merit and securing ‘Best in School’ at this stage as well. Meanwhile, 36 Third Years and 23 Fifth Years sat the Intermediate Maths Challenge, earning 19 Bronze, 17 Silver, and 5 Gold certificates. Among the standout performers were Noah H, who topped the school, together with Jac B, Max M, Eleanor P, and Josh W. The three highest-scoring Fifth Years also qualified for the Intermediate Kangaroo. The Junior Challenge in the Spring Term saw 41 First Years and 71 Second Years take part, securing an impressive 34 Bronze, 23 Silver, and 17 Gold awards. Second Year pupil, Laurence P, achieved the top score in school and went on to attain full marks in the Kangaroo round—an exceptional achievement—while Gabe W secured the highest mark among the First Years.

The department also embraced Pi Day with great enthusiasm on 14th March. Two competitions were held to mark the occasion: a Pi Art competition and the ever-popular digit memorisation challenge. The art entries were both creative and imaginative, with winning submissions from Amy L, Sophia G, Grace P, and Peter Z, whose innovative entry combined visual and audio elements to represent the digits of Pi. The digit memorisation competition was particularly memorable; the school record of 188 digits, set in 2023, was first surpassed by Harry S with 210 digits, before being astonishingly broken again by

Support for younger pupils has remained central to the department’s ethos. The Maths Peer Support programme continues to thrive, with 41 Lower Sixth and Fifth Year students providing tailored coaching to those in need of extra help. Their one-to-one conversations and clear explanations have made a tangible difference to many individuals. In addition, Lower Sixth volunteers have worked as classroom assistants across First, Second, and Third Year lessons, offering guidance, encouragement, and fresh perspectives. The impact has been hugely positive, and the department is grateful to this dedicated team of peer tutors for their time and commitment.

Younger pupils also had the chance to showcase their mathematical thinking during the annual Maths Challenges in July. Across First, Second, and Third Year, students faced four demanding rounds that tested their problem-solving and logical reasoning skills, culminating in a fast-paced Maths relay. The victorious teams

were Harry L, Ashton T, Gabe W, and Sam A in the First Year; Verity O-W, Willa M, Esme H, and Matthew G in the Second Year; and Will D, Seb G, Oliver M, and Jasper H in the Third Year.

The department was also actively involved in STEAM Week, during which Second Year pupils were tasked with cracking codes to unlock a padlock and win a prize. Using techniques such as frequency analysis, the Pig Pen Code, and the Keyword Caesar Shift, pupils developed resilience and creativity while competing for points towards their overall STEAM Week scores.

Finally, our Further Mathematicians in the Lower Sixth rounded off their A Level work with the ‘Bridges’ programme, designed to consolidate their learning and extend their problem-solving skills in preparation for the year ahead. It has been a year of hard work, challenge, and creativity, and we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, talent, and teamwork shown by our pupils at every stage.

Tracey Greenaway

Finley B, who recited an incredible 470 digits at remarkable speed.

Inspirational Speakers

Speech Day

“We can all go one step beyond our limits”, was the message to students from Chris Moon, former British Army officer, turned landmine-clearer, at Speech Day. If anyone knows about pushing yourself to achieve all you can, it’s Chris. Losing an arm and a leg whilst in a supposedly safe area of a minefield in remote East Africa, he has also survived being taken prisoner by the Khmer Rouge. Upper School students were in awe of the man, who, after recovering four times faster than expected, ran the London Marathon within a year of leaving hospital, raising significant sums of money to help people with disabilities. Thought to be the world’s first amputee ultradistance runner, Chris shared his stories of having to face adversity, the challenges of being resilient when the odds are against you, and doing it all with a positive mental attitude. The audience of students and parents left feeling inspired and ready to take on the world!

The Grill Lecture

In May, the Sports Hall was transformed into a space of reflection, challenge, and inspiration for the annual Grill Lecture. This year’s thought-provoking question, posed by award-winning novelist, playwright, performer, campaigner, and nonfiction writer Kate Mosse, was: “Why are some people left out of the history books?”

With her trademark warmth and energy, Kate delivered an address that was both entertaining and deeply moving, captivating her audience from the outset. She reminded us that history is never neutral: it is shaped, edited, and told by those with the power to record it. Too often, she argued, certain voices— particularly those of women and other marginalised groups—have been silenced or excluded altogether. In doing so, she issued a challenge to everyone present: to bear witness, to engage actively with the world around us, and to resist the temptation to remain passive bystanders to history in the making.

Before taking to the stage, Kate had met with a small group of students for a more intimate discussion. The conversation—especially around the absence of women’s stories from traditional historical narratives—was lively, insightful, and eye-opening. Students were struck by Kate’s passion, her determination to shine a light on forgotten or overlooked figures, and her belief in the responsibility of the next generation to continue that work.

The Grill Lecture, legacy of Judy Grill, former Head of R&P at Churcher’s, is designed not merely to inspire, but to provoke—to make us think, question, and critically engage with the world in which we live. On this occasion, there could be no doubt that Kate Mosse fulfilled that mission magnificently. Her words lingered long after the evening had ended, leaving staff, students, and guests alike with a renewed sense of curiosity and purpose.

Academic Lecture Series

As part of Churcher’s College’s vibrant supra-curricular programme, the Academic Lecture Series offers pupils the opportunity to engage with ideas that stretch beyond the boundaries of their subjects. This year, a diverse range of distinguished external speakers, from academics and authors to industry leaders and explorers, visited the College to share their insights, experiences, and expertise.

Humanities

Business

It’s been an exciting year for Business GCSE and A Level. GCSE Business students undertook a trip to Alitex, in February, where they had an introduction to the business, saw how the Alitex products are marketed and designed, and had a trip to the shopfloor, seeing where the greenhouses and orangeries are manufactured. They also gained an insight into the culture, history, and values of the organisation. As always, the staff at Alitex were welcoming, hospitable, and convivial towards our pupils. They thanked our “brilliant young people for bringing such positive, infectious energy to our afternoon together. The students were true ambassadors for your school, showing great curiosity with their questions and observations”.

In March, Churcher’s welcomed Alistair Mitchell to talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI). An audience of about 40 students from all year groups listened intently to a talk entitled:

“Will AI really change the world?” The reach of AI is huge, with 2.3 million US government worker’s jobs currently being evaluated to see if they are still required. AI is sucking in vast amounts of cash and creating huge value and wealth. Ali spoke about the driverless cars in the US, which are now a common sight, especially in San Francisco where Ali is often based. AI agents and robotics are the next big thing. Robots are now more agile and nimble, and are offering dexterity that was previously lacking. Whilst the future is exciting, it is also daunting. Students asked many questions to Ali to complete a very interesting evening

. In the Summer Term, on Friday 20th June, the Lower Sixth Business students travelled to RSM, Guildford, to learn about key accountancy functions, such as audit, tax, and consulting. After a welcome, students were given a presentation from a senior partner and then given small

group tours of the offices. Finally, the students undertook some interview technique tasks and each student also received an RSM goodie bag! We are very grateful to RSM for putting the event on for us and providing so generously of their staff time.

Rick West

Classics

Classics is such a wonderfully wideranging subject, allowing pupils to explore the ancient world in all its richness—its languages, culture, philosophy, and religion. This year, it has been a real pleasure to see the tremendous enthusiasm, curiosity, and interest of our pupils across all year groups. Latin, Classical Civilisation, and Ancient History remain buoyant at every level, and our after-school extra-curricular ‘Classical Greek’ sessions continue to thrive for those who simply cannot get enough during the day.

One of the highlights of the Summer Term was our ‘Life in Pompeii’ competition for the First Years.

Entries were as creative as they were varied, ranging from vivid stories of life under Vesuvius, to detailed models and illustrations of Pompeii’s shops, theatres, and streets. A special commendation went to Jessica S-H for her remarkable working model of the town’s water system, ingeniously showing how aqueducts channelled water into public fountains.

In June, Fourth Year Classicists embarked on a trip to the British Museum, where they were able to study the Parthenon marbles and the frieze of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae. Pupils greatly valued the chance to see these artefacts in person: “It was really nice to see the details up close as we can’t really see them on our source photos, so it will really help us with our future exams.”

The day concluded with a visit to the musical, ‘Hadestown’, a witty and thought-provoking reimagining of the myths of the Underworld. As one pupil reflected, “It broadened our eyes to modern interpretations of classical mythology”.

Following their success in the Intermediate Certificate, Leo Cropley and Phoebe Meyer took on the immense challenge of completing the full Classical Greek GCSE in just one year—a tremendous achievement. The Intermediate Certificate itself remains popular among Third and Fourth Year pupils, who continue to embrace the challenge of mastering such an influential language.

Jon Hegan

Economics

This year, significant global economic shifts have provided a rich backdrop for our Economics students to engage deeply with current events. From the return of tariffs under President Trump affecting international trade, to global discussions on inflation and the increased use of AI within businesses, students have explored the complexities shaping today’s economy with enthusiasm and a keen interest in understanding these evolving challenges.

Both Lower and Upper Sixth students benefited from attending prestigious national conferences this term. Our Upper Sixth group travelled to London to hear leading economists, such as Ed Balls, Paul Johnson, Tim Harford,

Madeleine Sumption, Hugh Pym, and Kate Raworth, whose work on Doughnut Economics has gained worldwide attention. This experience offered valuable insights into contemporary economic issues and encouraged critical thinking about the future role of economists.

Meanwhile, our Lower Sixth students attended a conference hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs, engaging with topics like fiscal responsibility, AI, and labour markets through diverse economic perspectives. The event sparked lively discussions and thoughtful reflection.

Additionally, we were pleased to welcome economics author, Nat Dyer, to the school, who shared his experiences and insights from his book, ‘Ricardo’s Dream’. His exploration of economist David Ricardo’s ideas highlighted their continuing influence on economic thought today.

Steve Huckle

Geography

Perhaps unsurprisingly in a warming world where extreme weather is expected to become more common, matters meteorological have featured strongly in geography this year. In the Autumn Term, the Second Year travelled down to Dorset to spend a sunny day investigating the role of geology in producing one of the most dramatic coastal landscapes along the south coast. This comprised a rotation around various locations at Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole, a walk over the chalk cliff, and a look at Durdle Door and Man o’ War rocks, with breaks for lunch and ice cream.

The Fifth Years returned to Portsmouth Harbour to collect primary fieldwork data on the contrasting urban environments of the adjoining Charles Dickens and St Thomas’s wards, which includes Gunwharf Quays. This comprised the recording of land use, environmental quality, and pedestrian counts, and the opportunity for pupils to book lunch at Nandos!

After half-term, 15 students attended a Midhurst Society talk entitled, ‘A journey to Antarctica - Ice, Ice Shelves and Sea Level Rise’, by OC, Dr Peter Davis, of the British Antarctic Survey. This far-ranging talk covered the importance of Antarctica to global climate, the science of ice shelves and ice instability, the challenges of undertaking fieldwork in extreme isolation and cold, and the findings of

his research into the conditions and behaviour of the water column below the Thwaites Glacier in Western Antarctica.

In January, the Third Years experienced HERO Day (Hazard Emergency Response Organisation), a disaster-response simulation. Immersed in a recreation of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, pupil teams were required to analyse and respond to staged releases of a variety of text reports, data, and video information. This included mapping the disaster zone, prioritising initiatives, and directing relief efforts. Best team were Phoebe C, Amelia M-B, Jack S, and Rafel S-B.

Easter’s Senior Geography Trip took 25 students to the Azores, where meteorological conditions were more accurately described as mid-Atlantic, rather than sub-tropical. Following an unscheduled wet-weather kitstop at Decathlon, students enjoyed three very full days of activities on St Miguel. Highlights included the volcanic crater lake and bubbling fumaroles at Logo Furnas, the national park of Caldeira Velha, the twin crater lakes at Sete Cidades, and exploring a 5,000-year-old lava tube system at Gruta do Carvao. Ecologically, we were also able to experience sub-tropical flora in the botanical gardens at Terra Nostra, as well as tours and tastings at tea and pineapple plantations.

In the Summer Term, 18 Lower Sixth students made the minibus journey south-west to North Somerset as we returned to the FSC centre, at Nettlecombe Court. Students spent three days practising data collection techniques and piloting their own investigation plans, before spending the fourth day collecting primary data for their A Level NEAs. These ranged from marine processes in Porlock Bay, to coastal management in Minehead and place characteristics in Watchet. The students were fortunate to dodge the band of torrential rain that accompanied a yellow weather warning on the Saturday morning and complete their data collection in sunny, if windy, conditions on the Sunday.

The First Years also enjoyed a halfday in the sun, completing a mapwork and data-collection exercise, from the

main school site to the school’s land at Penn’s Place. Pupils investigated the link between land use, environmental quality, and mood on a circular walk through a variety of built-up areas in eastern Petersfield out to the ruralurban fringe and back. As it turns out, most pupils are biophilic, finding themselves happier and more relaxed in the more bucolic environments. Seventy-five Fourth Year geographers travelled to Hurst Spit to collect data to investigate how the 2.5km landform changed in size, shape, and composition from landward to seaward end. The morning weather was particularly challenging, with very heavy rain turning data collection booklets to paper-mâché. However, the afternoon was a complete contrast and classes working back down the spit enjoyed near perfect conditions, with sunshine and a gentle breeze. Fortunately, the morning classes can use the afternoons’ data in their analysis.

David Nighy

History

“History is us, not just those in the past. We must therefore bear witness; we cannot be bystanders. Words

are our only defence against the lies of history, it is words that bring resolution”. So said Kate Mosse at her brilliant Grill Lecture, encapsulating history as a living entity. In the History Department, we thoroughly enjoy our school trips, enrichment programmes, and lecture series as they foster memories and experiences that bring history to life and go hand in hand with classwork. We hope that in a small way, through our lessons and trips, pupils have a chance to feel the power of history and the importance of seeking out the truth and the voices that need to be uncovered.

Below are some examples of what pupils and students have been up to in their supra-curricular activities this year.

History Club for the Lower School has really taken off, with Mr Akhurst attracting a loyal following each week. Pupils have enjoyed exploring a wide range of eclectic topics, from ‘Jelly Baby dictators’ to ‘Remembering VE Day 80 years on’, and even the assassination of JFK.

The First Years have been especially busy. Their visit to Hampton Court Palace was a delightful day of discovery, as they explored the palace and gardens, deepening their knowledge of the Tudors through tours and handson workshops on Tudor politics and global power. Closer to home, they also replaced a class-based double lesson with a walk to Petersfield Museum. There they explored local history, uncovering stories of highwaymen, rotten boroughs, police cells, and cricket.

Second Year pupils broadened their understanding of the medieval and industrial worlds with trips to Arundel Castle and the Amberley Industrial Museum. At Arundel, they focused on the defensive nature of a medieval castle, while at Amberley, they enjoyed a steam train ride around the museum, exploring its industrial chalk pits and electrical exhibitions.

The Third Years were immersed in the history of conflict with visits to the Portsmouth D-Day Museum and Fort Nelson. At the D-Day Museum they learned about the extraordinary feat of the amphibious landings of 6

June 1944, studied the awe-inspiring tapestry, and explored a landing craft. At Fort Nelson, workshops shed light on the ammunition of the First World War and the injuries sustained on the battlefield.

For the Fourth Years, a memorable trip to Berlin brought them face-toface with some of the most significant events of the twentieth century. They explored the epicentre of Nazi Germany and Cold War history by visiting the Holocaust Memorial, the 1936 Olympic Stadium, the DDR Museum, and the Berlin Wall. A particularly moving moment came with a guided tour of Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Holocaust Memorial Day was also marked powerfully through a live webcast. Pupils listened to Mala Tribich’s moving testimony about her survival as a child in the Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen camps, between 1943 and 1945.

The Lower Sixth furthered their studies with visits to the Cabinet War Rooms and the Imperial War

Museum. The Cabinet War Rooms directly linked to their A Level course on Churchill, bringing them into the heart of wartime decision-making. At the Imperial War Museum, students reflected on the horrors of the Holocaust and absorbed the vast Second World War galleries. Some Sixth Formers also enjoyed a lighter outing to ‘Six the Musical’—an entertaining, if somewhat anachronistic, retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s wives.

Alongside these trips, pupils and students have benefited from a series of excellent CCALS lectures, which helped to consolidate their classwork.

Highlights included: Tim Bouverie’s ‘The Gathering Storm: Churchill, Appeasement and the Message of History’, C. Brockdorff’s talk on ‘The Attempt to Kill Hitler: The July Bomb Plot’, and Professor Emeritus William’s lecture on ‘France 1790–93: Constitutional Meltdown’.

Alongside all the above, it is such a privilege and delight to teach all our pupils, and to see their skills

develop over their time at Churcher’s. Assessing the Sixth Form coursework, we are always amazed at the undergraduate level work that students produce by the end of their time at school, having seen them as First Years grappling with the concept of analysis. It is a wonderful journey to witness!

Helen Jolliffe

Politics

It’s been another fantastic year for the Politics department, where our students have once again made us incredibly proud. We’ve seen our largest ever cohort of students sit their Politics A Levels this summer.

Our highlight of the year was undoubtedly Kian N finishing second in an international Financial Times student blog competition, with a compelling essay entitled, ‘Can social media help save democracy?’ As one of the winners, Kian was invited by Kirsty Blackman MP, on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political and Media Literacy and

Shout Out UK, to a ‘Have I Got Fake News for You’ event, in the Thames Pavilion, Houses of Parliament.

Alongside Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News, Claire Hazelgrove MP, Baroness Carmen Smith, and Stephen Bush, columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times, Kian was given the opportunity to read out their blog to the attendees. Once again proving that Churcher’s students can compete with those anywhere in the world.

The students enjoyed another fantastic trip to the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court. In addition to their tour of the Houses of Parliament and sitting in on a Supreme Court hearing, the students were also fortunate enough to meet Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire. They were able to grill the Rt Hon. Mr Hinds on his first few months in the post and the Churcher’s students excelled themselves with some challenging questions and robust discussion.

Students excelled themselves preparing and competing in our

annual Great Debate. This involves a referendum question being posed to Third and Fourth Year pupils, with Sixth Formers giving speeches in support of, or against, the motion, followed by the two year groups voting en masse. This year the motion, ‘Should the UK re-introduce national service for young people?’ produced a decisive ‘No’ vote – 69% to 31%. It was a fantastic exercise in democratic participation, and built on last year’s Mock General Election and a number of PSHE sessions where the students learned about voting. There was the usual fantastic range of CCALS Lectures, with David Little from the Cabinet Office leading an intriguing Q&A on the reasoning behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Patrick Cheshire

Psychology

The Psychology Department continues to go from strength to strength—not only in numbers, but in ambition, enrichment opportunities, and student engagement. Our students have immersed themselves in a wide range of experiences that truly bring psychology to life beyond the classroom.

One highlight this term was an extraordinary session led by Dr Guy Sutton, an expert in neuroscience. Students explored the neurology of the brain and its connections in schizophrenia and criminal behaviours, gaining insight into the cutting-edge science behind some of psychology’s most fascinating areas; they even participated in a sheep brain dissection, with the unique opportunity to handle real brain structures, including the hippocampus.

Events like this compliment and extend the curriculum as our students have been engaging with some of the most complex questions in neuroscience. A central focus of study has been examining both the potential to revolutionise mental health treatment and challenge the moral dilemmas they raise. One key area is the fascinating development of brain organoids—tiny, lab grown models of human brains. Whilst offering an unprecedented way to study brain development, students have been delving into the ethical concerns: Could organoids one day become conscious? Debates such as this encourage students to consider the responsibility of scientists as neuroscience continues to evolve.

Our ‘Psychology Plus’ and ‘Psychology Beyond the Classroom’ programmes have been well-attended. We continue to have published authors amongst us, with topics such as ‘Autism in Females’ and ‘The Spectator Effects And Attitudes Towards Athletes’, featuring in the ATP Psychology magazine. These enrichment opportunities develop students’ research and analytical skills, giving them a strong foundation for undergraduate study and future careers in the field. The motivation and determination demonstrated by our students is testimony to the continued success of the department.

It’s been a truly inspiring year, and we are excited to continue expanding opportunities, challenging our students intellectually, and deepening their enthusiasm for this dynamic subject.

Amanda Clark

Religion & Philosophy

2025 brought a fresh new chapter for the R&P Department, marked by the installation of a striking ‘stained-glass’ style window. After many years of enjoying the vibrant artwork produced by our Upper Sixth students, it was time for something new to take their place. Following much thought and discussion, the department decided on a design that would be both beautiful and meaningful: a window depicting two doves carrying an olive branch. Although technically not traditional stained-glass, the high-quality film captures the same glowing effect, particularly when illuminated from inside New College on dark winter mornings. The choice of doves was deliberate. Universally recognised

as symbols of peace, love, and hope, they are images that cross cultures and religions, offering a sense of harmony that speaks to everyone. The new window not only enriches the atmosphere of the R&P Department, but also offers a warm and uplifting greeting to the residents of Heath Harrison House as they step outside each day. It is our hope that this artwork, simple yet profound, will inspire reflection and provide a sense of joy for many years to come.

Inside the classroom, not only did the Fourth Year partake in a Christian wedding, but our Second Years experienced a Hindu wedding. The fun did not stop there, as they also went on a day trip to Neasden temple. It is hard to say what they were most excited about, the temple or the curry afterwards! One thing is for sure, the gift shop is always a favourite of many, and we are confident that this year, like every other year, many Churcher’s relatives received gifts, such as Hindu gods, herbal toothpaste, and incense sticks.

In other news, we are still extremely happy with our switch from OCR to AQA for GCSE, and it would appear so too are our students, with four GCSE classes next year for the first time.

Tony Ostersen

Modern Languages

French

What an exciting year it has been for the French Department. Starting with fun pen-pal letters sent to partners in Nantes for our Second Year pupils, followed by a wonderful study trip to Paris for older students during the October half-term, discovering the Eiffel tower lights, witnessing beautiful views from a bateau-mouche

on the Seine, and sampling French cuisine high on the to-do list. At Easter, 50 First Years travelled to the Somme, for our annual visit to the Château de Warsy. We spent five fantastic days discovering the world of bees, goats, kids, markets, and campfires. We learnt the art of fine chocolate-making, made mayonnaise and served crêpes, sampled snails

and frogs legs, and had lots of fun in Parc Asterix. On the way home, we stopped by the largest European aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer. All this allowed for much language practice, of course!

In June, during Open Day, our Continental Café and crêpes were a huge success again, and the Bake Off this year was of a particularly high calibre, which made the decision so very difficult for our very own judge, Elly. There really were many excellent cakes on display, which captured the eyes and taste buds of many visitors. Finally, in another exciting bit of news, we await the launch of our brand new language lab, fitted over the summer holidays, which will bring extra confidence to all and allow further practice towards our new GCSE language exam, where reading aloud and dictation are back on the scene.

Nicole Sparks

German

It was wonderful to have our assistant, Anna, support us in the German Department this year, she went above and beyond with our Fifth Years who gained immensely from the extra lunchtime sessions she offered in preparation for their speaking exam. The same applies to the Upper Sixth, where Anna was always willing to go the extra mile. One A Level student undertook a private exchange to our partner school in Warendorf, where she had the best of times, returning to school full of confidence in her spoken German; she had even acquired some more colloquial expressions, which made her language sound very natural and almost like a German native speaker. Her counterpart spent a lovely week in England in the Autumn Term and attended Churcher’s College for two days. The two girls have struck up a friendship that is still going strong. Whether it is through a traditional exchange or through a cultural exchange, the link with Mariengymnasium in Warendorf is, and will continue to be, a great opportunity for our students to experience life in Germany, learn about the German culture, and work on projects with their German counterparts.

It is lovely to see our Second to Fifth Year students persevere with German; I am delighted to say that there are a number of extremely keen Second Year students who are now able to continue to GCSE, and they will do the German Department proud over the next three years with their enthusiasm and dedication to do well.

I am delighted that Mr Dowsett will be implementing the teaching of the Goethe certificate to those students in the Lower Sixth who have completed a GCSE course in German. The Goethe Certificate is a widely recognized German language proficiency certificate that corresponds to levels A1 to C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which indicates different levels of German language skill. These certificates are valued by employers and educational institutions worldwide. It is therefore very fortunate that our GCSE students can pursue this path in the Sixth Form; this will set them apart from other students in the country who do not get the opportunity to learn German past their GCSEs.

Dr Ariane Broomfield

Spanish

The Spanish Department plays a vital role in opening the doors to global communication, cultural appreciation, and linguistic excellence. Through engaging lessons and dynamic teaching methods, students are immersed in the beauty and richness of the Spanish language, using games, role-plays, digital tools, and real-life scenarios to make language learning relevant and enjoyable.

First Year students begin their Spanish language journey with engaging activities, such as the Tapas Lesson, where they learn food vocabulary through tasting traditional Spanish dishes. Another highlight is the in-class Spanish Fashion Show, which helps students practise clothing vocabulary in a fun and creative way. The use of the ‘Conti methodology’ ensures that students build fluency through repetition, scaffolding, and structured speaking activities, leading to strong retention and confidence. Our First and Second Years have excelled in national competitions, such as the Spelling and Translation Bee, with Zoey K reaching the finals at Cambridge University, and Sophie M and Lara A reaching the regional-level rounds in Bath—a testament to their hard work.

At Churcher’s, cultural exposure has always extended beyond the classroom. The Third Years enjoyed a performance of ‘Primera Cita’, by the Onatti Theatre Company—a lively and interactive play, enhancing listening and comprehension skills. Forty Third

Years also had the unforgettable opportunity to travel to Barcelona, where they explored iconic landmarks, such as the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, practised their Spanish in the Boquería market, and experienced the vibrant culture of Las Ramblas. In addition, our very popular Spanish language assistant, Clara, conducted small-group sessions, giving our Third to Fifth Years valuable speaking practice for their GCSE preparation, and insights into Spanish customs and day-to-day expressions. Our Sixth Formers have engaged in structured one-on-one speaking sessions with Clara to refine fluency and prepare for their A Level speaking exams.

We are very grateful to Clara for the bright and endless energy that she has brought to the classes; she will be missed by many!

With its enthusiasm, innovation, and support, the Spanish Department continues to equip its students with the skills and passion to become confident, culturally-aware global citizens.

Anna-Maria

Giffin

Science

Biology

The Biology Department has had an exceptional year, with students of all years engaging in diverse activities that brought science to life both inside and outside the classroom. A highlight of the Autumn Term is always the Science Explorer Domes for First Year pupils, exploring themes from the human brain to the Universe through interactive demonstrations, such as ‘Frozen Rose’ and ‘Exploding Balloons’ experiments. The Biology Society (BioSoc) runs throughout the year and continues to thrive with attendees from the Upper School. This year’s programme featured more student presentations, including Sixth Formers Izzy on ‘Hypersensitivity’, Lucy on ‘The Emotional Mind’, and Ben on ‘Bird Flu’.

In the Spring Term, Miss Hardisty launched Churcher’s first Wildlife Photography Contest with entries from across the year groups. Students each submitted three photographs with explanations of biodiversity, judged by professional photographer and Old Churcherian, Jack Foreman. First Year student, Albert, won first place, with Hugo (also First Year) in third, Marna (Lower Sixth) was second, and Alfie (Fifth Year) highly commended. The photos are now proudly displayed in the Biology stairwell.

Field studies in the Summer Term provided memorable real-world learning experiences that brought classroom theory to life. The entire First Year visited the Hawk Conservancy Trust for a full day, exploring beautiful grounds with large enclosures, arenas, and wildflower meadows. They observed birds at rest, discovering that vultures enjoy sunbathing, before watching spectacular displays, including ‘Wings of Africa’ with white storks flying alongside vultures and eagles, ‘Masters of the Sky’ showcasing incredible aerobatics of lanner falcons, and ‘Woodland Wonders’ featuring barn owls and great grey owls.

In beautiful sunny May weather, Lower Sixth students enjoyed a threeday fieldtrip to Slapton Ley Field Centre, in Devon, studying limpet

shell morphology on rocky shores, exploring ecological succession along the unique shingle ridge, and practicing mark-release-recapture techniques. A balmy evening bat walk revealed lesser horseshoe, pipistrelle, daubenton, and noctule bats, while moth traps yielded impressive species, such as the grey dagger and, master of camouflage, the buff tip. A pilot trip to Marwell Zoo introduced the same students to global conservation through the IUCN Red List system. They undertook role-playing exercises as European zoo managers, coordinating breeding programmes for endangered species, plus tackling real-world challenges, such as identifying confiscated python skins seized from customs.

Competition success was outstanding across all levels. In the Upper Sixth Biology Olympiad, India, Jake, and Issy earned Silver medals out of 18,533 national participants. The Lower Sixth Intermediate Olympiad saw Gold medals for Luke, Ela, Ben, Clement, and Jaya from more than 17,000 competitors. In the Biology Challenge for Fourth Year, there were nine Gold medals for Churcher’s, awarded to only the top 5% from 42,000 participants nationwide. Many more medals were also awarded.

The Biology Department’s diverse programme continues inspiring students to explore the natural world with scientific curiosity, developing critical thinking skills and environmental awareness for their future studies and careers.

Chemistry

It has been another rich and rewarding year for the Chemistry Department, full of opportunities for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom, take on exciting challenges, and experience the real-world applications of the subject.

In February, Churcher’s joined institutions across the globe in celebrating the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast— an international event promoting inclusivity across chemistry courses and careers. With so many of the world’s problems requiring chemical solutions, it is essential that all talented students feel they belong in the subject and that their abilities can take them as far as they wish to go. While gender balance is healthy at A Level and degree level, this balance shifts at higher stages, making this initiative especially important. Sixtyone Sixth Form students attended the Churcher’s event, enjoying cinnamon swirls and pains au chocolat laid on by the Chemistry Department while reflecting on the importance of equality in science.

Closer to home, the ever-popular Cosmetics Club thrived once again, with First Year pupils learning to make bath bombs, moisturisers, and soaps. The enthusiasm of the group was clear at Open Day, with a queue of eager visitors wanting a go! ChemSoc, too, continued to flourish, with Sixth Formers researching and presenting on topics that highlighted chemistry’s place in everyday life. Presentations

ranged from the chemistry of baking, to the effect of UV on the body and the role of chemistry in forensic science, showcasing both knowledge and creativity.

The year also brought great success in national competitions. January saw more than 20 students enter the Chemistry Olympiad, a paper aimed at the most able Upper Sixth. Remarkably, a large number of Lower Sixth students chose to take part and performed with distinction. Gold certificates were awarded to Evan C-J, William M, and Oli H, while silvers went to a further eight students and bronze to 11 more. With more than 16,000 students entering and only the top 8.2% achieving gold, these results represent an outstanding achievement, particularly for the Lower Sixth who had not yet covered all of the examined material.

In June, Churcher’s was once again selected for the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools’ Analyst Competition— a practical challenge this year themed around cleaning up contaminated land from a former dye factory. Students learned and applied techniques, such as titration, thin layer chromatography, and inorganic testing, with results judged on precision and methodical working. The winning Churcher’s team comprised Leo D, Olly W, Izzy W, and Oli H.

June also saw 16 Fourth Year pupils taking part in the Analyst Quest practical challenge using colourimeters to analyse iron levels in water. Pupils had to learn and apply new practical techniques to get accurate results. The winning team consisted of Jake L, Ottilie M, and Scarlett W.

The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge for the Lower Sixth also brought great results, with Zhara I gaining a Gold Award, nine students earning Silver, and three achieving Copper. These achievements highlight the strength of the year group and the enthusiasm with which they have embraced challenging material beyond the A Level syllabus.

Beyond competitions, students also enjoyed opportunities to see chemistry in action, including a Sixth Form trip to ZeroAvia near Cirencester— a company developing hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft. These planes promise quieter operation without carbon dioxide emissions or the need for heavy batteries. The visit also gave students an insight into the development process of the fuel cells, and to understand some of the problems encountered when the chemistry that they study at school is used in the wild.

David Dunster

Physics

This academic year seems to have been busier than ever before, with an expansion in our extra-curricular program alongside the favorites from past years, and more students electing to study Physics post-16. Chronologically, we had our First Years visit the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester, the Second Year teams entering the IET

Faraday Challenge competition, and our First to Third teams hosting local schools to participate in the Galactic Challenge Moon base project. With the Lower, Middle, and Senior School teams taking part in the annual SATRO challenges, providing the opportunity for the Middle School team to compete admirably in the National Finals, The Sixth Form team winning their heat and runners-up in the UK Space Design Competition (with Olly H winning a place on the UK team for the International Competition in Florida this summer), and the Second Year STEAM Olympics, there has been plenty to enjoy, celebrate, and look forward to.

This is not forgetting our extension to STEAM (see the STEAM page for more detail), including the Schrödinger Projects for the Fifth Year, the Third Year bridge building adventures, many of our junior school partners accepting our invitation to the SATRO problem-solving event, and the weekly STEAMship on Mondays following the CREST award program for young science and engineers.

All these events help to enrich our curriculum of science and physics, bringing to life the concepts taught on the course outside of the weekly practicals, and helps explain why we are bursting at the seams with those wanting to extend their studies post16 this year and next.

Matthew Kelly

Music

When I look back over the last year, what stands out for me is the impressive number of pupils that have been involved in the Music Department, be it the 400 pupils who take instrumental lessons on a weekly basis, or the record numbers that have been involved in our various ensembles this year, evidenced by the 250 pupils alone that performed in our Grand Summer Concert. When we merged the Junior and Senior choirs together this year, they totalled an impressive 200 singers! This academic year has truly been an exceptional one, full of musical exploration, performance, and community engagement.

Our A Level musicians began the year with a series of enrichment activities, including a calming session on the Gamelan Bus, a conducting workshop with Russell Keable, and a composition masterclass with Neil Valentine, where students reworked Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture’. Rock School launched their year with a performance at the Butser Hill

Challenge, lifting runners’ spirits with classic rock anthems.

In September, 52 students enjoyed a trip to the West End to see ‘Wicked’, with GCSE students thrilled to hear ‘Defying Gravity’ (one of their set works), performed live. The October Lunchtime Concert at St. Peter’s Church featured solo and ensemble performances ranging from Beethoven to musical theatre, raising funds for the charity, ‘Parity for Disability’.

Around the same time, our GCSE musicians visited the Downs Nursing Home, performing a variety of pieces including a full-group rendition of ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon, where many of the residents joined in!

The inaugural Scholars’ Concert saw 20 musicians performing pieces from Saint-Saëns to Debussy, concluding with a high-energy, virtuosic solo on electric guitar from Alex Way.

The Senior Recital showcased toptier solos and ensembles, including Paganini’s ‘Caprice No. 24’, Beatles medleys, and a vibrant finale from the

Jazz Band. Remembrance events were marked with moving performances by the Wind Band, String Quartet, and choirs. A standout moment in the Remembrance Concert was Marcus L’s performance of ‘Prelude in D’ on the piano.

The festive season brought several high-profile performances.

Churcher’s collaborated with TPS and Ditcham Park for the Save the Children Concert, ending in a joyful mass singalong of ‘White Christmas’. December’s Rock Showcase was hailed as the best ever, with 12 bands delivering unforgettable performances. A Christmas Play-Along featured massed bands performing outdoors to an enthusiastic audience, while four packed Carol Services saw over 200 student singers fill St. Peter’s with Palestrina, Vaughan Williams, and traditional carols.

In the Spring Term, more than 160 young musicians took part in the

Lower School Recital. Junior Strings opened with ‘The Mandalorian’ and the Highway Band closed with ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, reflecting the strong spirit of our lower school solos and ensembles. The A Level enrichment trip to London included a piano recital at Wigmore Hall, an avant-garde concert at the Royal Academy of Music, and a spectacular orchestral performance at Cadogan Hall. Later in January, students performed in another Lunchtime Concert at St. Peter’s, which opened with a ‘Jurassic Park’ clarinet medley and ended with ‘Loch Lomond’ by the Junior Chamber Choir.

The term’s Senior Recital brought together an exciting mix of ensemble and solo talent, featuring a blues version of ‘Crossroads’, dramatic musical theatre pieces, and jazz numbers such as ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Zebrano’. In February, pupils from the Junior School visited the Senior School and were treated to a highenergy musical showcase, including a guest-conducting opportunity for

one lucky visitor. The Junior Recital continued to highlight young talent, with memorable ensemble and solo moments, and an uplifting finale by the Junior Choir singing, ‘One Short Day’ and ‘Somewhere Only We Know’. The annual Spring Concert at St. Peter’s was a wonderful celebration of orchestral and choral music. The Orchestra opened with the ‘William Tell Overture’, followed by medleys from ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Lord of the Dance’. Choirs performed a range of works including, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. At the Petersfield Festival, Churcher’s musicians joined local schools to perform large-scale works from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Matilda’, and many Broadway favourites. Later that month, GCSE and A Level students attended the Bournemouth

Symphony Orchestra’s, ‘Heroes and Superheroes’ concert, enjoying film scores from ‘Saving Private Ryan’ to ‘Superman’.

The Senior Chamber Choir delivered a powerful Evensong service at Hambledon Parish Church, featuring music by Bruckner, Moeran, and Batten. The service was warmly received and well-attended, with Churcher’s students also taking part in bell ringing. One of the year’s most colourful events was the Lower School Cabaret, which featured music, dance, comedy, and student-led acts from ‘Wicked’, ‘Six’, ‘Matilda’, and ‘The Greatest Showman’, culminating in a rousing performance of ‘Hold My Hand’, by more than 100 Junior Choir members.

Before our Upper Sixth musicians started their A Level exams, the Upper Sixth Musicians’ Dinner provided a fitting send-off to 28 departing students. A formal black-tie evening included a three-course meal, heartfelt speeches, and final performances by Rock School and the Jazz Quintet. It was a night of gratitude, celebration, and reflection on the significant contributions made by these talented leavers.

To round off the year, we travelled down to the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth for this year’s Grand Summer Concert, which was a fitting finale to a highly successful year, celebrating the depth and diversity of student talent across a wide range of ensembles. It was also the hottest day of the year, with the 250 or so performers having to endure 30-degree heat whilst rehearsing and performing!

The evening opened with confident performances from the Senior Wind Band, featuring Prokofiev’s ‘March (Op. 99)’ and Robert Sheldon’s ‘A Symphonic Celebration’. The Junior Chamber Choir followed with a gentle rendition of ‘Let It Be’, while the Singer Songwriters moved the audience with ‘Hallelujah’. A joyful performance of Gary Barlow’s ‘Sing’, from the Junior Choir led into the high-energy ‘Paradise City’, by the Rock School. The Senior Chamber Choir brought a traditional touch with folk arrangements by John Rutter, followed by the Blues Group’s mellow

take on ‘It’s Too Late’. The first half closed in dramatic fashion with the Senior Orchestra’s stirring selections from ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

After the interval, the 80-strong Junior Orchestra delivered a vibrant ‘Michael Jackson Hit Mix’, setting the tone for the second half. Highlights included the Barbershop ensemble’s entertaining ‘Night at the Musicals’, the Jazz Band’s spirited ‘Sir Duke’, and the SSA ensemble’s sultry version of ‘Fever’. An ABBA medley by the Upper Sixth Ensemble added a splash of pop nostalgia, before the Senior Choir’s powerful ‘Les Misérables’ medley, featuring soloists Max C, Jaya P, Alice F, Cecily M, and Ari M-W. The evening concluded in spectacular style with a 200-strong combined choir performance, featuring music from

‘Wicked’ and a rousing, storm-like rendition of ‘Africa’, complete with body percussion.

The concert was a vibrant showcase of musical excellence and collaboration, rounding off the year on a high note. Given the immense heat of the day, this made all the outstanding performances even more impressive! This year has seen musical excellence, creativity, and camaraderie flourish across the school. From nursing homes to national concert halls, our musicians have shared their talents widely and generously. We look forward to building on these successes in the year ahead.

Helen Purchase

Barcelona Tour

The College Orchestra and Jazz Band embarked on a remarkable tour to Spain this summer, including a visit to the southern coastal city of Barcelona. It was a week jam-packed with activities including visits to a theme park, a water park, and a cable car ride!

After an early morning departure to catch our flight, we arrived at our hotel by mid-afternoon—a stunning location with stunning beach views visible from our balcony. The glimmering sea reflected the brilliant sun, while the gentle crash of waves on the shore set a perfect tone for the rest of the tour. At the hotel, our rehearsal of the tour repertoire quickly turned into an impromptu concert as curious staff gathered to listen. The hotel manager was so impressed by our performance that he attended every one of our concerts thereafter! We spent the evening relaxing by the pool or on the beach, enjoying a delicious buffet dinner to end the day. Our first full day involved a whistlestop tour around Barcelona featuring a scenic cable car ride from Parc Montjuïc to the Castell, offering

breathtaking views of the city. We then visited the magnificent Sagrada Familia, and concluded the day by wandering through the vibrant bustle of Las Ramblas, soaking in its lively atmosphere. Our first concert at Platja D’Aro was a massive success— not only did we attract a very large audience, but locals also listened from their balconies!

The following morning, we enjoyed a well-deserved lie-in before heading to WaterWorld, where the exhilarating rides (including the vertical drop!) were thoroughly enjoyed by both students and staff alike! Following a refreshing dip back in the hotel pool and the sea, the Orchestra and Jazz band headed to Calella, performing in the beautiful central church on the main square and overcoming the challenging acoustics, finishing with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

After dinner, the sing-song on the beach, accompanied by Mr James on the guitar was particularly memorable, with our renditions of ‘Africa’ and ‘Hey Jude’ being so well executed that a crowd gathered around to watch! Another exciting day followed with a trip to PortAventura, where we braved a series of adrenaline-filled rides. The

morning began in sunshine, but the weather quickly took a dramatic turn as a booming thunderstorm rolled in—complete with a red flood warning that sent us dashing back to the coach, trying not to get drenched. Despite the downpour, the skies eventually cleared just enough for our evening concert, which, to our surprise, drew a large audience despite the nearby restaurants all being closed due to the weather alerts. Our evening concluded with pizza on the beach, accompanied by thunder and lightning on the horizon.

Our final day included a visit to Poble Espanyol, an open-air architectural museum consisting of 117 full-scale buildings replicated from different places in Spain—the perfect setting for the memorable Jazz Band concert. The atmosphere was laid-back, with orchestra members enjoying the relaxed jazz melodies. We also enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the town before heading back home.

It was a delightful week full of musicmaking and exploration!

Clement Siu, Lower Sixth

Drama

Once again, we have had a jampacked year of events in Drama, and there really was something for everyone! Early in the Autumn Term, our A Level Drama students got creative during a workshop with ‘KatMary Productions’, where they explored the methodologies of theatre practitioner, Bertolt Brecht, as part of their devising process. Our Second and Third Years also took part in enrichment opportunities, including a theatre trip to see ‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’, as well as a workshop with the renowned ‘Paper Birds Theatre Company’, where they explored their innovative approach to verbatim theatre. Likewise, our GCSE students saw the popular touring production of ‘Wonderboy’, where they were able to gain an insight into the barriers of speech and language.

At the end of the Autumn Term, more than 40 Lower School students took to the stage in our Lower School play, ‘The Play of the Silver Sword’. This was a whirlwind, but poignant, wartime adventure packed with fastpaced action, multiple locations, and one very symbolic silver paper knife. Marking 20 years since Churcher’s last staging, the cast brought this moving tale of courage and family to life with talent, energy, and enthusiasm.

The Spring Term commenced with a variety of short performances devised by our very own First Year students, during our annual Panto Week. With every single member of the year group performing (some for the very first time), they dazzled in their costumes, and the audience, also made up of the entire year group, thoroughly enjoyed it… oh yes they did!

Once again, our GCSE and A Level Drama students participated in even more practitioner workshops with ‘Box House Theatre Company’ and ‘Initiate Theatre’, where they got to grips with ‘Total Theatre’ and Antonin Artaud’s ‘Theatre of Cruelty’.

One of the highlights of the whole year was our Senior School production of ‘West Side Story’. This involved 77 super-talented cast members, creative technical and backstage crew, and outstanding musicians, who told the iconic story of Tony and Maria’s fight for love, amongst the backdrop

of the conflict between rival gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. The cast gave outstanding performances and demonstrated their skill in all three disciplines, acting, singing, and dancing, resulting in a memorable production on a professional stage at Petersfield’s Festival Hall.

Later in the Spring Term, our Lower School Drama club performed to students at Churcher’s Junior school, where they were taken on a tour through all the horrible villains of Roald Dahl’s magical worlds, with the heroes of each story finally conquering all. This was followed by holding a workshop with the younger children, exploring their favourite books and the characters within them.

The Summer Term kicked off with our annual Drama Showcase, where students across the whole school were invited to perform scripted extracts, including a John Godber trilogy, GCSE and A Level devised pieces based on the themes of identity and the snowflake generation, and musical theatre segments from ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Footloose’.

Later in the term, during what felt like the hottest week of the year so far, Shakespeare in the Park returned with ‘The Tempest’. Twenty Third and Fourth Year students took to the stage and whisked the audience to a far-off island controlled by Prospero, where they witnessed all the chaos that followed her powerful Tempest. A visually stunning performance and wonderful acting from all students left the audience spellbound.

There’s nothing like ending the year on a high, and that’s exactly what four of our Lower Sixth students did when they took our production of ‘Shakers’ to the Phoenix Arts Club in the heart of London’s West End. The girls astonished the audience with their skill in using Godber’s multirole style, and there were laughs a plenty as they played waitresses working their way through a hectic night at a cocktail bar, as well as playing each of the customers too! The performance was a raving success, so much so that they will be doing it all over again at the start of the Autumn Term!

Stacey Carty

Dance

Dance finished with a bang this year as we held our first Dance and LAMDA showcase featuring all of the dance groups, and selected LAMDA and gymnastics groups. It featured tap, ballet, and contemporary styles of dancing. The dancers also pushed themselves by incorporating props into their dances: Shiz books in ‘Dancing through Life’ from Wicked, umbrellas for the ‘Singing in the Rain’ beginners’ tap, fans for the Spanish ballet duet, and red fabric for the Junior Dance Squad to exaggerate their arm movements in the contemporary number, which was the first time the group had done this style.

Dance Squad now has three levels of general club: Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced, as well as Beginners and Intermediate Tap and Ballet, who practice at lunchtime.

Our annual Christmas Showcase demonstrated a range of dance styles, including a medley of ‘The Greatest Showman’ songs, and a Christmas dance, which featured all the dancers on stage together.

Dance Squad also performed in the Lower School Cabaret, with a dance choreographed to ‘Ladies Choice’ from the Hairspray movie, showcasing both Junior and Intermediate dancers. They also performed a Classical Greek dance merging both Miss Elson’s passions as a Classics teacher and Dance teacher, as the genre is based on images found on Greek pottery.

Dance Squad also went on a social outing to watch ‘Hairspray: The Musical’ in Woking, where they could not only watch the professionals, but also see the choreography and compare it to their own dances performed to the same music.

Paige Elson

Academy

The Academy provides pupils from the Second to Fifth Year with opportunities to explore academic content beyond the curriculum, nurturing curiosity and a love of learning. This year, the Lower School Academics have embraced the challenge of expanding their knowledge through the theme, ‘Learn about the World’, with the Second Year investigating topics such as, whether Everest will continue to grow, the bioethics of animal testing, and the history of mental illness, culminating in a trip to the V&A and Science Museums in London.

Meanwhile, the Third Year explored the theme, ‘Becoming the Expert’, combining practical skills with inspiring talks from a BAFTAwinning TV producer, a former professional rugby player, and a PR

company director, among others. Their experience was enriched by a tour of Oxford University, guided by current students, before undertaking independent research projects over eight weeks. These projects, presented at the Junior Academy Symposium in June, displayed remarkable academic rigour and creativity, covering questions such as, ‘Why does a footballer earn more than a heart surgeon?’, and, ‘Will CRISPR-Cas9 be the genetic scissors of the future?’. The pupils’ ability to present their findings with confidence and authority was a genuine achievement.

A new initiative, ‘The Academy Challenge’, was also launched this year

to encourage independent learning by rewarding pupils with points for reading, listening to podcasts, and visiting places of historical interest, with the ultimate goal of achieving 1,000 points for a Platinum Award by the Fifth Year. Already, progress has been impressive, with two pupils reaching the Bronze Award stage.

Hannah Butler

STEAM

This year, our school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths) extracurricular activities have been thriving. These programs encourage students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges. Our clubs and events cover a wide range of opportunities, including after-school clubs, competitions, and whole-year group events.

A notable event for our Second Years was the second annual STEAME Olympics. This series of crosscurricular events, organized by the Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Art, Computing, and English departments (the extra ‘E’ is for English!), challenged students with activities, such as solving a murder mystery, experimenting with food and rocket science, designing an Olympic Torch, and code-breaking an Enigma machine. These hands-on challenges helped to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills across different subjects.

Our Third Year students took part in the STEAM Day, which focused on bridge design and construction. In Art, they created conceptual models, while in Maths, they explored bridgenetworks. The Design & Technology workshops saw students build and test wooden bridges that supported impressive loads, and in Science, they learned about the physics of resonance. The day culminated in a competition to assemble a 9-meter-long cable-stayed bridge. A team of Rodney pupils won this

Lower school students were also engaged in STEAM projects through clubs, such as STEAMship and the Raspberry Pi Club. This year, Luca P-W was awarded the STEAM Trophy for his excellent performance in various STEAM events.

Further up the school, 29 Fifth Year students completed a fiveweek science project as part of the Schrödinger Programme. This initiative helps them develop independent research skills, preparing them for university applications in science and engineering. Projects covered a variety of topics, including fluid dynamics and thermal energy, with students impressing teachers and parents with the quality of their experiments and presentations.

The Greenpower team, back from a short hiatus, is currently designing and building a new car from scratch. The chassis is complete, and the team is now working on the mechanical and electrical systems. Several new, younger members have joined the team, learning from more experienced students. The older car is being used as a training platform, and the team is aiming to have the new car ready to race next season.

Our students have also achieved great success in national STEAM competitions. For the third year in a row, our team reached the national final of the UK Space

Design Competition, with Upper Sixth student, Olly H, joining the UK team to compete in the international final in Florida. We also increased our participation in space design competitions by hosting and competing in a heat of the Galactic Challenge for Lower School students in October.

In the SATRO Problem Solving Challenge, our Second Year, Fourth Year, and Sixth Form teams all performed well. The Third/Fourth Year team of Henry B, Eliza F, Toby J, Emilia S, Oliver S, and Olivia W reached the national final with a stunning score.

We also saw tremendous achievements in computing competitions, like the CyberFirst Girls Competition and the Bebras Competition. Additionally, all three of our teams reached the finals of PA Consulting’s annual Raspberry Pi competition, out of 252 schools. The judges praised our students’ innovation, teamwork, and presentation skills.

The enthusiasm for these subjects continues beyond school. This year, 40% of our leavers chose to study a STEAM subject at university, with their choices spanning 37 different courses.

Dr Richard Whittle

closely contested challenge through impressive teamwork.

EPQ

Each year, our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) students continue to amaze us with the originality, ambition, and dedication they bring to their work—and this year has been no exception. The breadth and depth of this year’s projects were truly outstanding, reflecting a remarkable range of academic inquiry and creative endeavour.

Some of the thought-provoking research projects submitted this year include:

• “Tiger Parenting in the USA: A Critical Examination of its Stereotype within Chinese American Communities”

– Lucy H

• “Is Now the Time for the Space Industry to Move Away from Traditional Highly Skilled Manufacture and Embrace Automated Production Methods?”

– Rufus K

• “Should the UK Adopt Swiss Policy on Assisted Dying?”

– Millie C

Alongside these, our artefactbased projects showcased equally impressive levels of innovation and craftsmanship. Highlights include:

• “Design and Build a Model House from Foam Board to Visually Inform the Public on Sustainable Housing for the Future” –Annabelle H

• “Create a CAD Drawing of a Converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter MWB (L2H2) for Travelling Across Australia in 30°C Conditions” – Millie P

• “Design and Sew a Dress Inspired by Pierre Balmain’s ‘Fit for a Queen’ Collection, Tailored for a Woman of Thai Heritage Living in the UK” – Jasmine P

We were also thrilled when Olly H (“Are Offshore Financial Structures Good for the UK? An Exposition of the UK’s Financial and Legal Structures, and Influences on Them”) and Lauren H (“Which is the Superior Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease: Cholinesterase Inhibitors, NMDA Receptor Antagonists, or Anti-

Amyloid Antibodies?”), submitted their projects in a shortened time frame allowing for a November entry. Not only did they both demonstrate exceptional organisation, academic skill, and sheer tenacity, they both achieved an A*! A truly commendable achievement.

The EPQ is not only a rigorous academic qualification, but also a true test of each student’s independence, resilience, and passion. We are incredibly proud of all our students and their outstanding achievements this year.

Amanda Blenkharn

Sports Science

It’s been an exciting and actionpacked year for the Sports Science Department, with no signs of slowing down! With 145 enthusiastic students this academic year, the energy has been electric. Our growing cohort of budding sports scientists has dived into every opportunity with curiosity, commitment, and a fantastic sense of fun.

One of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year was the Eaton Games Mixed 7s Hockey Tournament at the end of the Autumn Term. This wasn’t just any tournament, it was a celebration of sport and school spirit, complete with a fancy dress theme that had everyone smiling. From superheroes to animals, players arrived in style, proving that hockey sticks and humour go hand in hand. The atmosphere was as competitive as it was festive, and a great way to finish a long and busy term.

As spring rolled in, so did another round of Eaton Games—this time, the pitch was swapped for the court

as students competed in a mixed 7’s netball tournament. Once again, fancy dress ruled the day, and the creativity levels hit new heights. One Lower Sixth class stunned the crowd by turning out in full BlackTie attire—quite possibly the most elegant netball players the school has ever seen. They served not only style but serious sporting skill, taking home the unofficial title of ‘Best Dressed’ with ease, but also the top spot on the performance ladder too!

Beyond the fun and flair of the Eaton Games, our Lower Sixth students had an unforgettable experience with a visit to Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Sport and Exercise Science Department. The day was a whirlwind tour through cutting-edge science in action. From measuring sprint speed and lower-body power in the biomechanics lab, to studying joint movement in the motion capture lab, the students were immersed in high-level analysis. The afternoon brought even more excitement—

and exertion—with a VO₂ max test and the famously gruelling Wingate test in the physiology lab. To round off the visit, students witnessed a live ultrasound of a beating heart and took part in practical blood pressure testing. The trip brought textbook concepts to life in vivid detail and offered an inspiring glimpse into what a future in sports science might hold.

Whether dressed as James Bond or hooked up to a VO₂ monitor, our sports scientists have thrown themselves into every opportunity with enthusiasm and energy. As the department continues to grow, so too does the sense of community and commitment to understanding the incredible world of sport and human performance. Here’s to another year of science, sweat, and fancy dress!

Kelly Higgins

Sport

Athletics & Cross Country

“This year’s athletics and cross country season must go down as the best on record”. This is, in fact, my quote from last year, but I am going to need to rip it up and start again as the 2024/25 season is the best on record!

Cross Country

As ever, the season kicked off in a challenging way with the Butser Hill Challenge. A huge number of students, staff, and parents took on the hill in our continued support of the New Blendworth Centre. The weather was kind and the running was strong –well done to all that took part.

Mr and Mrs Daniel’s “Run Crew” have become a permanent feature, come rain or shine, on a Wednesday morning, with upwards of 75 students making it in for the 7.15am start, showing remarkable levels of dedication and enthusiasm. There is absolutely no doubt that Run Crew has become the catalyst for amazing successes. The Churcher’s College name has become widely known, respected, and, perhaps, feared in the cross country community.

In the individual cross country events, across all age groups, 41 students qualified at the South East Hampshire event to represent the area at the county championships. Two students came away with silver medals and another two were crowned

county champions. An astonishing 18 students secured top 16 finishes and were selected to represent the county at the inter-counties’ events. For First and Second Years, the journey ends here; however, four older students secured further top 16 finishes and went on to represent the county at the national championships.

The team-based events are always amongst the most exciting, with every place counting and one place often being the difference between results. Our First and Second Year boys’ and girls’ teams attended the Highfield Invitational Cross Country and went one better than previous years, taking a clean sweep of victories to bring all four trophies home. In the ESAA Cross Country Cup, our four teams dominated round one in Hampshire—the intermediate girls came 2nd, and the intermediate boys and the junior boys’ and girls’ teams all won their events, leading to all four teams qualifying for the regional final in Kent. As well as being the first time in the school’s history that all teams had progressed, it amazingly meant that we were the only school in the south east with a team in each regional final. The junior girls’ team put in a spectacular effort, securing a top-three finish and a berth in the national final at The Grammar School, in Leeds. Originally left disappointed that Storm Darragh resulted in a postponement in December, the team excitedly made their way to Leeds, in March, on what can only be described

as the loudest bus journey in history, coupled with a record number of games of “Traitors”. However, after a good meal and a good night’s rest, the team arrived at the venue and walked the course. Some hard running later and everyone— students, teachers and parents alike—awaited the results. Minutes later, it was announced that the team had come 4th in the country! What an unbelievable achievement from a fantastic group of girls.

Athletics Track and field events came thick and fast in this particularly short term. In the HSAA Track Knock Out, for the second consecutive year, all four teams made the county semifinals, although tough draws meant that this was where the journey ended. However, in the ESAA Track and Field Cup, the students surpassed last year’s success in one team, reaching the regional semifinals, with both the junior and intermediate teams progressing. A number of Churcherians progressed to county level, with several becoming county champions.

As ever, the season concluded with the House sports days. As well as the joy of seeing so many students out representing their teams, an astonishing 12 individual and 10 relay records were broken. It is clear that both athletics and cross-country remain in safe hands.

Kevin Maguire

Cricket

The 2025 cricket season has been nothing short of outstanding. Despite a relatively short term, cricket has flourished across all levels of the school, with both boys’ and girls’ teams showing exceptional commitment, enthusiasm, and sportspersonship. One of the most encouraging aspects has been the energy and willingness of our players, with excellent turnout for training sessions and matches, and students consistently demonstrating a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. Whether it was mastering the basics, learning new tactics, or striving for personal improvement, players embraced each opportunity with maturity and passion. Success was shared, and players took genuine pride in their teammates’ performances, reflecting the close-knit, teamfirst ethos that defines Churcher’s sport. As we reflect on an incredibly successful term, it’s clear that cricket at Churcher’s is in excellent health. The foundations being laid now will serve us well in the future, and the strength of the cricketing culture here continues to grow year after year.

Rob Maier

Boys

1st XI

The 1st XI cricket season has been exceptional, marked by unforgettable victories, individual brilliance, and an unwavering team spirit. One of the standout moments came in the National Cup, where the team secured an incredible win over Barton Peveril. It was a match that demanded focus, resilience, and

sharp execution, all of which the boys delivered in abundance. However, the crown jewel of the season was undoubtedly the momentous triumph over the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), one of the most prestigious sides in the cricketing world. Facing a formidable total of 325, the 1st XI showed remarkable belief and skill to chase it down. Elliot L was the hero of the day, hitting an incredible 135 not out—a knock that anchored the innings and helped secure the win. His performance was a masterclass in composure, power, and tactical awareness, and it will be remembered as one of the greatest individual contributions in recent school history. A special thank you goes to all the Upper Sixth boys who have given so much to the 1st XI over the years: Captain Toby R, Ben H, Archie R, Ozzy R-S, Thomas L M, and Theo T. Their commitment, leadership, and passion have helped shape the culture and success of the team, and they leave a lasting legacy for future Churcher’s cricketers to follow.

2nd XI

The 2nd XI enjoyed some glorious cricket this year with all the matches being played in a competitive, but friendly spirit. It was great to see so many players participating from all the senior years with a total of 26 players participating in our 5 fixtures. We had a victorious start, defeating PGS in our first match by 23 runs, with all the team contributing with wickets or runs. Our next match against KES was much tighter, with Churcher’s posting 152 (Ewan E 45) and KES scoring the runs with three balls to spare and eight wickets down. The match of the season had to be against LWC—batting first we scored

an impressive 171 off 20 overs with Jack R hitting an impressive 78 off 45 balls, but LWC managed to get the runs with four balls to spare. With a younger side out for our last game, we fielded and bowled bravely, but St. Johns proved too strong for us scoring 230. In reply, Finn S hit an accomplished 50 in our total of 110; it was great to see the whole team enjoying the occasion and each other’s successes.

U15

It has been a tough season for the U15s, coming up against some outstanding individual batters and bowlers who put a consistent amount of pressure on them. However, they stuck doggedly to their work, with regular training numbers of 30 or more—an indication of their continued enthusiasm. This hard work will stand them in good stead as they approach their senior years. For the As, a close fought win over Toynbee in the cup was a great game, although the fixture over on the Isle of Wight, against Ryde, is the best game of schoolboy cricket I have seen. A 60run victory was not necessarily a true reflection of a wonderful spectacle; it is always a special occasion to see a player score a century, and in this game there were two! A Ryde player made an unbeaten 100 with the final ball of the match, but the damage had been done in the first innings with a superb 100 not out from 53 balls, by Joshua B—his first century. Joshua also scored a half century (77) v Toynbee. Meanwhile, in the B team season, the highlight must be a last ball “ramp” shot for 4 to win the game versus PGS.

U14

Over the course of the season, more than 35 boys have represented the U14 squad, reflecting both the depth of talent and enthusiasm within the year group. It’s been fantastic to see such a high level of participation, with players eager to contribute and improve in both training and matches. With several excellent individual performances throughout the season, players have stepped up at key moments to showcase their skills with both bat and ball. These contributions have provided real highlights and demonstrated the potential within the group. While we’ve had some strong passages of play, finding the balance between batting, bowling, and fielding cohesively has been a challenge, and results have not always gone our way as a result. That said, their determination to develop their individual skills, their willingness to learn, and their resilience in the face of setbacks have all been commendable. Spirits have remained high throughout, and the camaraderie within the group has been a real positive.

U13

A total of 40 boys proudly represented the school in interschool fixtures across the summer, demonstrating depth, talent, and a real passion for the game. The A team, consisting of a squad of 18 dedicated players, showed exceptional skill and commitment throughout the season. Their hard work culminated in reaching the county finals, where they delivered a gritty and determined performance. They were on the wrong side of the result against a quality Wellesley Prep School side, but their achievement in reaching this stage stands as a testament to their quality and teamwork. Meanwhile, the Bs enjoyed a truly remarkable campaign, finishing

the season unbeaten. Winning all five of their fixtures, they showcased great spirit, sportspersonship, and consistency throughout.

U12

It was another great season for the Under 12s. Most importantly, there was a huge appetite for cricket from the boys, and we regularly had 50 boys at training. With so many looking to play, it meant our teams were stronger than ever. There are always certain games of the season that act as good benchmark for the future, and beating Reigate on the final ball off the innings was that point. The boys really played as a team, especially in the field, and put the pressure on the batsman, which meant the game was ours. A tough fixture but one where we came out on top. A team to watch for the future!

Girls

1st XI

The Girls’ 1st XI cricket team have had a fantastic season, with more than 18 girls putting themselves forward for selection, a real testament to the growing enthusiasm and depth of talent within the squad. The team have played in some highly competitive fixtures, narrowly losing two out of four games, both by small margins. A particular highlight was our thrilling win against Lord Wandsworth College, where the girls bowled and fielded superbly to secure a victory by just three runs—a true reflection of their determination and team spirit.

U15

The Under 15A girls have been an absolute joy to coach this season! Their enthusiasm, drive, talent, and most importantly desire to play their

best cricket for each other has been constantly on display. The team have consistently demonstrated exceptional teamwork and resilience, whether it was focused batting from Emilie B (43*), Ottie M (64*), and Captain JJ M(45*), tight bowling from Penny C (2 overs, 2 runs, 4 wickets), and Sylvie R (3 overs, 7 runs, 2 wickets), or ’simply’ incredible fielding accuracy, the girls always delivered. A final mention to Daisy D (37*) against St. John’s, whose solo batting performance was nearly match winning. Churcher’s spirit and focus on display, she turned a potentially perilous team score, into a very defendable total.

U14

Thirty girls have represented the A and B teams this summer. We have had some narrow losses in the As, shown efficiency and energy in the field, seen some brilliant bowling, but sometimes struggled to chase down the runs whilst batting. There were stand-out performances from Claudia, getting her first half century vs Reigate, Immy, taking the most wickets overall with some class bowling, and Cecily, for some fantastic on-field chat and wicket keeping. The Bs had a positive season, playing 3 and winning 2, with stand-out performances from Flora in the field and brilliant leadership and energy from Lizzie.

U13

The U13 girls have enjoyed a hugely rewarding and exciting cricket season, filled with outstanding performances, determined effort, and continuous development. The squad played some exceptional matches, demonstrating not only their growing technical skills, but also a strong understanding of the game. Many of the girls represented the school in multiple fixtures while also playing for clubs and external

teams. Their exposure to different formats and competition levels has only strengthened their ability to adapt and thrive on the field. Several matches came down to the wire, with narrow finishes that tested their resilience. In every case, the girls maintained their composure, drawing on their excellent teamwork and camaraderie to stay focused under pressure. Their encouragement of one another, both on and off the pitch, has been one of the most impressive aspects of the team’s character.

U12

Frequently having 35-40 girls at our weekly training sessions indicates that there is a real energy and enthusiasm for cricket among the year group; subsequently, it is no coincidence that they have enjoyed a fantastic season. With only a few softball fixtures, the girls embraced the challenge of hardball cricket, particularly relishing the excitement of the T20 format for a few of their games. The season began strongly with convincing wins against PGS and Ryde for both the A and B teams, setting a positive tone. A hard-fought match against KES Southampton, ended in a narrow loss for the As, but an outstanding halfcentury for Juliet D; the Bs secured a well-earned victory on this day by 73 runs! Finishing the season against St John’s and Reigate Grammar was always going to be tough, but the girls learned valuable lessons to take forward. From thrilling run chases to standout bowling spells, our young cricketers have displayed remarkable sportspersonship and team spirit throughout the term.

Hockey

This hockey season at Churcher’s has been another exceptional year, with both boys’ and girls’ teams achieving success across all age groups from U12 to U18. Demonstrating skill, dedication, and teamwork, our squads have shone in national, regional, and county competitions, with highlights ranging from prolific goalscoring feats to resolute defensive displays. Individual development has continued to thrive, with ten pupils selected for Talent Academies and twenty-six representing Hampshire County—the highest numbers we have seen in recent years. While talented individuals have rightly earned recognition, the true strength of Churcher’s hockey lies in the depth of our programme and the togetherness that binds each squad. This collective spirit has been evident in the impressive record of 111 boys’ matches won or drawn out of 167 and in the vibrant culture of commitment, sportsmanship, and leadership that underpins every team. With a growing number of county, Talent Academy, and even England hopefuls, the future of hockey at Churcher’s looks brighter than ever.

Toby Blong Boys U18

Twenty-one players represented the 1st XI this season, demonstrating healthy competition for places. They played 12 matches, scoring an

impressive 48 goals, thus averaging four goals per game. This offensive prowess led to seven victories, including a memorable run to the quarterfinals of the England Hockey Tier 2 Cup. Standout performances included commanding 6-2 wins against rivals Portsmouth Grammar School and Lord Wandsworth College, which cemented our place as one of the foremost programmes in Hampshire. The leadership group, consisting of Ben, Archie, and Luke, played a pivotal role in guiding the team, fostering a cohesive unit that performed consistently well. Their ability to motivate and organize the squad was instrumental in navigating the challenges of a competitive season.

The 2nd XI competed in seven matches, recording four wins and a draw. They scored 15 goals while conceding only eight, reflecting a strong defensive structure alongside their attacking capabilities. Notable victories included hard-fought wins against Portsmouth Grammar School, Lord Wandsworth College, and King Edward’s School, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure. The entire squad’s dedication and work ethic were commendable, contributing to a successful campaign.

The 3rd XI completed an unbeaten season, a testament to their fantastic spirit and camaraderie. Their performances were marked by strong energy and a collective passion for the game, which resonated throughout the squad. This unbeaten record rounded off a highly successful year for the

senior boys, highlighting the depth and talent across all three teams.

U16

The U16s experienced a season of mixed fortunes but demonstrated significant progress and determination, reaching the National Plate quarterfinals—a reflection of their hard work and resilience. Their campaign concluded with a trip to Gloucestershire, where they narrowly lost to Cheltenham College in a tense and exciting match. Across the fixtures, a standout moment was the 1-0 victory over Lord Wandsworth College, a tight contest that showcased defensive solidity and clinical finishing. Special mentions go to Teddy, who excelled in goal with crucial saves, and Leo for his consistent drive and energy on and off the ball.

The B team faced a tougher season, with only three matches played. Despite challenging results, they doubled their goal tally from the previous season, a clear sign of improvement. Their enthusiasm for the sport remained undiminished, and their commitment to training has laid a strong foundation for future development.

U15

The U15s enjoyed a highly successful campaign, marked by the A team’s progression to the South-Central Regional Finals, where they narrowly missed out on the title by a single goal. The season for both sides was characterized by impressive victories against strong opponents, including PGS and KCS Wimbledon. These results underscored the teams’

growing confidence and tactical maturity, as they consistently outplayed other well-established hockey schools. The squads, comprising more than 20 players each, scored nearly 60 goals this season, demonstrating their clinical finishing in attack. Defensively, they made significant strides, with improved organization and tactical awareness. This closely-knit group is highly able, displaying a strong work ethic and teamwork that bodes well for their future in the sport. Their ability to learn and adapt throughout the season was a key factor in their success and puts them in a promising position going forward.

U14

This was an outstanding season across all three teams, built on a foundation of strong squad spirit and dedication. A remarkable 45 boys regularly attended after-school practices, with similar numbers representing the school during fixture weekends, demonstrating the depth of talent in this age group. The A team competed in 17 matches, securing 12 wins and one draw, finishing with an impressive goal difference of +21. Their season culminated in becoming County Champions and earning third place in the South-Central Regional competition, a testament to their skill and teamwork. The B and C teams won or drew over half of their matches, with the results being built on defensive resilience and spirit. Across all three teams, the U14 Boys showcased remarkable depth, talent, and sportspersonship, a solid foundation for future success.

U13

The U13 Boys focused on building competitive, cohesive squads in preparation for their transition to 11-a-side hockey next season. More than 30 players rotated through the A team, with 13 selected for each match to fill just seven on-field positions. Despite the rotations (or perhaps because of it), the team played highintensity hockey, fully embracing the squad’s offensive ethos. Across four teams, they scored 110 goals, highlighting their flair and goalscoring ability. While the A team narrowly missed out on retaining their county championship title, their regular training and commitment fostered a strong sense of unity. The B to D teams demonstrated the year group’s strength in depth, achieving strong performances against established hockey programmes, such as King’s College School and Reigate Grammar School. The focus on development over results has positioned this talented group for a bright future in the sport, and we look forward to seeing how they develop over the coming years.

U12

The U12s enjoyed a tremendously successful season, with more than 50 players regularly representing the school each week. The four teams combined to score 113 goals, showcasing an attacking flair that promises to serve them well throughout their hockey careers at Churcher’s and beyond. Their enthusiasm, commitment, and sportsmanship were outstanding, creating a positive and competitive environment. A particular highlight was the A team’s impressive run to

the South-Central Regional Finals, where they finished as runners-up after a thrilling day of hockey. This achievement reflected the squad’s hard work, determination, and ability to perform under pressure. Their success and passion for the game set a strong foundation. Their promising start signals a bright future for this talented year group!

Girls

U18

The 1st XI played 15 matches, securing six wins and reaching the last sixteen of the Tier 2 National Plate competition, as well as finishing in the top four of the Hampshire County finals. A standout moment was their 6-5 victory over King’s College School—an 11-goal thriller that highlighted their attacking flair and resilience. With 20 players representing the 1st XI, our strength in depth was evident, guided by the exemplary leadership of captain, Poppy, and vice-captain, Katie.

The 2nd XI played eight matches, achieving four wins and one draw, with particularly close matches against Worth School and Bedales’ 1st XI. Mariana’s captaincy, supported by Alice, fostered unity and drove the team’s success. The 3rd XI, led by captain, Issy, played four matches, drawing three and conceding just three goals all season—a testament to their defensive discipline. A special thank you goes to the departing Upper Sixth players, many of whom have dedicated seven years to Churcher’s

hockey; they leave the programme in arguably the best place it has been in recent memory.

U16

The U16s enjoyed a fantastic season, marked by strong and impressive development across both A and B teams. The 21-strong As won eight of their twelve matches, finishing with a goal difference of +27. Highlights included a 9-0 victory over Embley’s 1st XI and a superb run in the England Hockey National Tier 2 Plate, reaching the quarter final. Captain, Lara, led from the front, ably supported by stand-out performances from Maya and Phoebe. The Bs were similarly well-represented, with 22 players featuring in fixtures, and securing notable victories against KES Witley and Portsmouth High School’s senior teams, underlining the depth of talent in this year group. Across both teams, 38 girls played competitive fixtures, with 35 attending training weekly, creating a positive and competitive environment.

U15

This was a competitive season defined by progress and teamwork. Across the two teams, they won twelve and drew six of their 28 matches with over 40 girls representing the two squads. A highlight for the As was their journey to the Regional U16 Tournament, where they faced Farnborough Hill in a dramatic semi-final. The match ended 1-1, with Farnborough Hill prevailing 4-5 in a tense shuffle shootout. The team’s defensive effort,

versatile midfield, and tireless forward line shone throughout the season. The B team’s courage and unity embodied their motto, “Together, we’re stronger”, and this unbreakable team spirit was the driving force behind their highly successful season. They played attractive hockey all season and had a great time doing it—the ideal mix of performance and fun. The squads’ enthusiasm and dedication have built a solid foundation for future success.

U14

The U14s embarked on their first season of 11-side hockey with remarkable success. The As finished as joint winners of the Hampshire County tournament and so progressed to the regional tournament at Reading Hockey Club. The team reached the final without conceding a goal but settled for second place after a strong performance by King’s School, Winchester. Nearly 30 girls represented the A team with squad rotation highlighting the group’s depth and healthy competition for places. The Bs played some excellent hockey over the course of the season, with some exciting, tense fixtures against Lord Wandsworth College and Gordon’s School, which were only decided by one goal and could have gone either way on the day. It was really pleasing to see 26 girls rotate through the squad, which made sure that plenty of pupils were given the opportunity to represent the school.

U13

We have had a busy season, with the A team finishing third in the Hampshire In2Hockey Tournament, showcasing skill and teamwork to narrowly beat Embley 3-2 on penalty strokes in the playoff, after drawing 1-1 in normal time. Across the four teams, the girls played 35 matches, scoring an impressive 97 goals, demonstrating a knack for goalscoring as well as the ability to break down teams effectively with their build-up play. With at least 48 girls representing Churcher’s weekly, the consistent turnout reflected their enthusiasm as well as the programme’s inclusive environment; it is no coincidence that our teams retain their numbers throughout the age groups, and it is due to the opportunities they are given in the first and second years. The U13 cohort’s attacking flair and strong team spirit bode well for continued success as they progress through the school.

U12

The U12 girls had an extraordinary season, with every girl in the year group playing competitive Saturday fixtures in the Autumn Term. Across four teams, they achieved an 84% win ratio, with 23 pupils rotating into the A team, demonstrating remarkable depth. The As celebrated a 100% win rate in Saturday fixtures, their only loss coming in the county cup semi-final against KES Southampton, whom they later defeated. The B-D teams maintained exceptionally high win ratios, with dreams of unbeaten seasons unfortunately being scuppered by Embley School. Notable highlights include victories against King Edward’s and Gordon’s Schools—these results are even more impressive considering the number of rotations we made!

Netball

Seniors

The senior netball squad has once again demonstrated their commitment, leadership, and competitive spirit throughout an action-packed and rewarding season. Balancing academic pressures with sporting commitments is never easy, yet the girls gave their all every week, whether in training or in fixtures. Their dedication has set a brilliant example for the younger year groups, and shown what it means to represent the school with pride. The 1st VII had an excellent season, competing

strongly against a challenging fixture list. With a blend of experience and flair, the team produced some outstanding performances, including memorable wins over Gordon, PGS, and Bradfield. Their defensive discipline and relentless work rate were matched by sharp attacking play, with fast ball movement and accurate shooting proving decisive in tight games. Across all senior teams, commitment to training remained consistently high, and the camaraderie both on and off the court created an environment where players could thrive.

U16

What a season it has been for our U16s! From the first training session to the final whistle, the girls have shown tremendous growth, resilience, and teamwork, making every parent and supporter proud. This season was about more than results—it was about building trust, learning to communicate under pressure, and adapting to challenges. Early on, the squad found their rhythm with sharp ball movement and tight defence, while combinations in the shooting circle grew increasingly polished and the mid-court displayed great vision. Our defenders worked tirelessly to turn over possession, often swinging momentum in our favour. No matter the scoreline, the team’s positivity and encouragement never faltered. Individually, players developed new

skills: some found their voice as leaders, others built confidence in new positions, and many discovered the value of resilience—bouncing back stronger each week. The U16A side recorded an impressive 9 wins and 2 losses, while the U16B secured 3 wins and 1 loss, but beyond the results, the season ended with smiles, friendships, and memories that will last far longer than this year.

U15

This season saw an impressive 51 of the 71 girls in the year group eager to play competitive Saturday netball, giving us fantastic strength and depth and making weekly selection a real challenge. The commitment across the squads was excellent, with special praise for the multisport players who seamlessly moved between pitches and courts. The A team progressed to round three of the Sisters in Sport Cup, narrowly losing to Redmaid’s High School 32-27, and finished with 5 wins and 5 losses from 10 matches, maintaining a positive goal difference. The B team also showed good form with 3 wins from 7 matches and a positive GD, while the C team were outstanding, winning 3 of their 4 games with a superb GD of +29. Despite a tough run of results for the Ds, the overall season was one of great commitment, competitiveness, and depth of talent across the year group.

U14

This year’s U14 netball season may have been short, but it was full of energy, determination, and memorable moments. Across four teams, 26 matches were played with 14 wins, giving a strong 54% success rate. The players showed excellent balance, scoring 563 goals while conceding only 477, reflecting both attacking accuracy and defensive resilience. Training was consistently well attended, with over 40 players involved and an impressive 86% of the year group representing the school in weekend fixtures. Highlights included the U14Ds’ superb win over St Swithun’s, the U14Cs ending their campaign with a thrilling victory against KES Southampton, and the U14Bs’ series of nail-biting games— three of them decided by just two goals or fewer. The U14As capped off the season by reaching the final of the Sisters in Sport Bowl Competition, a fantastic achievement. Thank you to all players for their commitment, enthusiasm, and positivity—qualities that made it a joy to coach. With such talent and spirit, there’s plenty to look forward to in the seasons ahead.

U13

This season has been a brilliant showcase of talent, teamwork, and development for the U13 netball squad, with 54 girls (90% of the year group) representing the school across four teams. An impressive level of rotation saw 21 players feature for the A team, while 27, 28, and 19 represented the B, C, and D teams respectively, reflecting the inclusivity and versatility of the squad. The A team enjoyed a strong campaign, winning 9 of 13 matches, scoring 224

goals, and reaching the semi-finals of the Sisters in Sport Netball Shield, highlighted by a 24–14 win over St Swithun’s. The B team secured 5 victories from 7 games, including notable wins against St Swithun’s, Reigate, and KES Southampton, while the C team showed great resilience with narrow defeats against strong opposition, demonstrating real progress. The D team achieved a superb 75% win rate, capped by an emphatic win over KES. Beyond results, the season has been marked by player growth, adaptability, and outstanding team spirit, with every girl contributing to the squad’s success and development, making it a truly rewarding and memorable year for U13 netball.

U12

The First Years had a fantastic and promising season, full of energy, enthusiasm, and growth and with A-D teams fielded most weeks. From their very first match, they showed great commitment and team spirit, developing both their individual skills and collective play with each game. The girls made impressive progress in their passing, positioning, and tactical awareness, which was reflected in their performances and results. Several matches showcased their teamwork and defensive discipline, with some hard-fought wins and close contests that demonstrated their potential. Training sessions were always well-attended, with more than 45 students week-in, week-out, and their positive attitude made them a pleasure to coach. With such a strong foundation laid this year, the future looks very bright for this group of talented netballers.

Shelley Copland

Rugby

This year has been another outstanding one for rugby at Churcher’s. It was inspiring to see the pitches so active with so many pupils representing the school with pride, energy, and commitment. From U12A-D all the way to our senior squads, the breadth of participation has never been stronger. This is testament to the dedication of both players and coaches across all year groups. Rugby here continues to be played with pace, adventure, and ambition, underpinned by everimproving sportspersonship and game management. Pupils consistently looked to play what was in front of them, adapt to changing situations, and express themselves both individually and as teams, bringing real joy to coaches and spectators alike.

The results speak for themselves: of 115 matches played across all teams, 75 were won, 7 drawn, and 33 lost, giving us a win ratio of 65%—a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work across the programme. Notably, five teams recorded 100% win records, two teams achieved 80%+, one team reached 70%, and four teams finished with a 50% win ratio. There were memorable and closely contested matches across several year groups, with the senior draw against an unbeaten Worth School (22–22) a highlight of the term!

It has also been exciting to see girls’ rugby continue to grow this year. A committed group of around 15 girls trained regularly, showing excellent enthusiasm and development throughout the term. We were also

delighted to welcome The Petersfield School’s girls’ team to join us at training, helping to build further momentum and community around the game.

Ben Skirving Seniors

A landmark year for the senior squads: between them, the 1st XV and 2nd XV played 20 matches, winning 13 and losing 7. The 1st XV had an excellent season, finishing with 8 wins, 1 draw, and just 2 losses—both of which were extremely close. They scored 309 points while conceding only 145, resulting in a superb points difference of +164. Noteworthy victories included a narrow win over St Benedict’s (15–14), a dominant display against PGS (42–3), and a memorable draw with an unbeaten Worth School. Perhaps more important than the statistics was the camaraderie and spirit within the squad. With more than 60 pupils

involved and several returning to the game after time away, it was a term filled with smiles, expression, and unity.

U16

The A team enjoyed an excellent season, playing 13 matches, winning 11, and losing just 2, with standout performances throughout. Early victories against Lord Wandsworth College (31–22), PGS (47–7), St Benedict’s (68–38), and The Oratory School (26–19) showcased their attacking intent and growing confidence. Their only defeats came in a tough fixture against John Fisher School and in the County Cup Final, where they were beaten 47–26 by a strong LWC side. A successful cup run, including wins over Salesian College and Worth School, highlighted their resilience and tactical maturity. The Bs also had a competitive season, playing 6 matches and finishing with 3 wins and 3 losses, scoring 149 points and

conceding 119, with a positive points difference of +30. Across both teams, there was clear progress in set-piece execution, defensive organisation, and attacking structure. The year group has developed into a cohesive and capable unit, laying a strong foundation for the transition into senior rugby next season.

U15

The U15s experienced a varied season that provided both valuable lessons and promising moments. Across their 11 matches, the squad secured 4 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, scoring 215 points and conceding 234, resulting in a narrow points difference of -19. Notable victories came against Pangbourne College, The Oratory School, Halliford School, and Worth School, with each win showcasing the team’s attacking potential and improving game understanding. The group continue to make excellent progress. Both As and Bs demonstrated

commendable determination and team spirit throughout. The B team had some excellent performances, finishing with a 71.4% win rate. The season also marked a significant step forward in technical development, with the introduction of lineout lifting and more structured set-piece play, laying important foundations for future progression as they move into the senior phase of rugby at Churcher’s.

U14

A competitive and rewarding season, marked by impressive performances and strong team spirit. The As kicked off the campaign with a challenging away fixture at Lord Wandsworth College, losing 33-57. Undeterred, the team quickly bounced back with commanding wins away at The Portsmouth Grammar School (5512), St Benedict’s School (40-10), and at home versus Pangbourne College with a dominant 55-0 victory. The squad maintained their excellent form with victories against Wimbledon College (29-14), The Oratory School (24-7), and Halliford School (26-0). A hard-fought 19-19 draw at home to John Fisher School showcased their resilience, while a tight 18-21 loss to Worth School was a closely contested encounter. The Bs also had a strong season, playing 7 matches with 5 wins and 2 losses, scoring a total of 234 points and conceding 120, resulting in an impressive points difference of +114.

Both squads demonstrated growing tactical awareness, solid defence, and an exciting attacking game that bodes well for their continued development. A special highlight was the U14s’ spirited showing at the Rosslyn Park National 7s, for the first time.

U13

Building on their first year in the Senior School, the U13s made remarkable progress throughout the season, securing 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, scoring 165 points and conceding 110. Meanwhile, the Bs dominated with 7 wins from 8 matches, boasting an impressive 87.5% win rate and a remarkable points difference of +230. The C team also performed strongly, winning 2 out of 3 matches and maintaining a positive points difference. This outstanding season is a testament to their growth in skill, teamwork, and confidence, setting a high standard for the challenges ahead. The players’ enthusiasm and attacking flair made every game a joy to watch. As they prepare for the transition to the 15-a-side game next year, anticipation is high for continued success.

U12

Our First Years enjoyed a successful debut season, showing great development across all four teams. The As played 9 matches, winning 5, drawing 1, and losing 3, with solid

performances that reflected growing tactical awareness. The Bs had an outstanding campaign, going unbeaten in eight matches with 7 wins and 1 draw, scoring 235 points and conceding just 100. The Cs faced a tougher challenge, winning 2 of 5 matches while continuing to build important skills for future seasons, while the D team competed in 2 matches with 1 win 1 one loss, showing plenty of spirit despite a negative points difference. Selection flexibility across the squads ensured strong player development and high participation throughout the season. Overall, the positivity and progress across the U12 teams highlight a bright future for the year group.

Swimming & Water Polo

It’s been a busy and successful year at the pool, with swimmers and water polo players training hard and competing regularly. From early mornings to weekend matches, students across all age groups have shown great commitment and progress, highlighting the strength of our aquatics programme.

Stacey Angliss

Swimming

At the beginning of the year, six teams took part in the Hampshire Relays, delivering outstanding performances and earning a collection of medals. The

intermediate boys’ team were crowned double Hampshire Champions. The senior boys’ team won the freestyle relay and secured silver in the medley. The senior girls’ team claimed two bronze medals, while the junior boys’ team took silver in the freestyle and bronze in the medley relay. It was a great all-round performance from our students.

Following their success at the Hampshire Relays, both the intermediate and senior boys’ teams qualified for the prestigious National Relays at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham. The senior team delivered a strong performance in the medley relay and finished 28th in the country, repeating the same result in the freestyle event. The intermediate team, while slightly off pace in the medley, however, exceeded expectations in the freestyle, swimming faster than their qualifying time. They placed 25th in the medley and an impressive 18th in the freestyle—an excellent achievement.

A highlight of the term was the prestigious Bath Cup, held at the London Aquatics Centre. Our top swimmers rose to the occasion, with the boys’ team finishing 13th in the 4x100m freestyle and 17th in the 4x50m medley relay. The girls also put in a commendable effort, securing 18th in the 4x50m freestyle and 22nd in the medley. Every swimmer gave their all, making the school proud with their effort, spirit, and talent.

Water Polo

U13

This year marked a significant milestone as we entered a competitive national U13 water polo team for the first time. With more than 40 students to select from, interest and enthusiasm for the sport have been exceptional. Throughout the year, the squad travelled regularly to face Portsmouth Water Polo Club, gaining valuable experience through a series of highly competitive matches. The development of the team has been outstanding, with players showing impressive progress in both skills and game understanding. It has been a fantastic foundation year, setting the stage for continued success in seasons to come.

U15

Our U15 water polo team made history by reaching the National Bowl Finals, an outstanding accomplishment! They faced fierce opposition, opening with a tough match against London Oratory, where they battled for every ball with grit and determination. In the final,

Making WavesChurcher’s Swims the Channel!

After two years of training in cold seas and tough conditions, Churcher’s College swimmers achieved a remarkable milestone this summer: not one, but two successful English Channel relay crossings, marking a first in the school’s history!

The teams had endured last year’s disappointment when bad weather forced a cancellation, but their determination never wavered. Each relay involved six swimmers, rotating hourly in strict order, under the watchful eye of skipper Mike Oram aboard ‘Gallivant’, and an official observer to ensure every rule was followed.

Team One - Izzy L, Amy H, Freja B, Henry and Rory P, and Alex S began their attempt just after midnight on 30 July. Battling jellyfish, seasickness, and the challenge of swimming in pitch darkness night, encouraged by the sight of the French coast growing clearer with each rotation. After 11

hours and 37 minutes, Amy made landfall at Cap Gris-Nez, joined by her teammates for the final metres, a moment of pure triumph.

Team Two - Ollie W, Alessandro S, Jack S, Thomas L, Olly S, and Felix B faced a different challenge: waiting days for the weather window to open. At last, under clear skies, Felix began the crossing on the morning of 5th August. With dolphins spotted in the distance, bacon rolls cooked on board, and music keeping spirits high, the boys battled rolling waves, shipping lanes, and fading daylight. After 13 hours and 47 minutes, Olly and Sandy swam the final metres to reach France in darkness, greeted by an eruption of cheers.

Both teams’ success was the culmination of relentless training, resilience, and teamwork. Their crossings were not only a magnificent sporting achievement, but also a powerful demonstration of courage, camaraderie, and determination.

Memories that will last a lifetime!

playing for bronze, the team delivered a commanding 7–1 win.

U18

The senior team travelled to Millfield School, where they faced high-level competition. Although they didn’t progress to the final stage, the boys showcased exceptional skill, adaptability, and teamwork throughout. They concluded the tournament with heads held high, proud of how far they’ve come and the progress they’ve made over the years.

Tennis

It has been a fantastic season for tennis at Churcher’s, with an incredible number of pupils from all year groups getting enthusiastically involved in the programme. A particular highlight has been our competitive success, with strong Saturday results against major schools (such as St John’s), U15 boys crowned Hampshire Champions, U13 boys finishing runners-up in the Hampshire County Finals, and standout performances at the regional stages of the ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ competition. The season also marked a farewell and heartfelt

thanks to Mrs Jenkins, whose coaching has greatly developed tennis at Churcher’s over the years.

Cat Wilcockson

U18

The boys’ 1st team, captained by Theo S, enjoyed a superb unbeaten season, with strong performances against Seaford, Pangbourne, Bedales, and St John’s. The squad, featuring players from both Upper and Lower Sixth, grew in confidence and tactical awareness, with notable contributions across the team leading to consistent victories. Meanwhile, the girls’ 1st team, led by captain Holly M, also had an excellent campaign, highlighted by a hard-fought opening win against Seaford. Strong individual performances, including Niamh A’s decisive net play and Zola T’s consistency and teamwork, helped the side secure the majority of their matches. Both teams can look back with pride on a season defined by commitment, improvement, and success.

U15

The U15 girls continued to impress, reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious LTA Cup, before narrowly losing to a UK National-level pair from Westgate. Meanwhile, the U15 boys’ team of Cam J-K, Tom H, Toby B, and Toby T, advanced to the final of the LTA Cup against Sherfield, last year’s County Champions, beating them 4-2 and being crowned the new Hampshire County Champions. Training numbers remained strong,

with consistent attendance of 60-70 students every Wednesday evening. Captains Amy H and Tom S deserve special recognition for their calm leadership and superb organisational skills, which have helped keep the teams focused and motivated throughout the season.

U14

The U14s worked hard and saw their The season started with an excellent victory away to Seaford, with the girls winning 8-1 and the boys 7-2. Of note was the impressive start to the season from Santi G and Alfie W, and, in particular, Oliver S and Thomas M who did not drop a single game! The next match against Pangbourne was a tougher affair where the girls lost 3-6 but the boys won with a strong showing from George H and Tobias B. When the U14s played the Churcher’s U15 team it was hard to know how the result would go. In the end the U14 boys won 5-4 but the U14 girls lost 8-1. Against St John’s, Leatherhead, the boys A team won with an emphatic 9-0 victory, with the B team winning 7-2. The girls lost a nail-biter 5-4. Training was always a very busy affair with 50 or more at some of the sessions. Great sportspersonship personified the U14 team, and they benefit from considerable strength in depth, which should ensure that they continue to be successful as the U15 team next season.

U13

The U13 teams achieved excellent results this season, with the girls reaching the semi-finals of the Division 2 Hampshire Cup. The

boys went even further, finishing as finalists and runners-up in the Hampshire County Finals of the same competition. A highlight of the U13s season was a dominant set of results against St John’s: the boys’ A team won 16-0, the B team secured a 12-4 victory, the girls’ A team triumphed 9-2, and the girls’ B team won 8-3. These results reflect the strong commitment and dedication to improvement the pupils have shown this season.

U12

The U12 teams have had an outstanding level of involvement this year, with more than 85 students regularly attending after-school training sessions each week. A total of 22 girls and 26 boys competed in at least one fixture, highlighting the growing interest in tennis across the school. One of the season’s standout moments was the boys’ commanding victory against St John’s, where the A team triumphed 8-1, and the B team dominated with a 9-0 win.

Play Your Way to Wimbledon

The U12 teams have had an Churcher’s proudly hosted the nationwide ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ competition, attracting more than 120 enthusiastic pupils who competed across various age groups and categories. The event was filled with energy, skill, and great sportspersonship as students battled it out for a chance to advance to the County and Area Finals, taking place in June.

In the U18 doubles boys’ category, Third Years, Tobias and George, emerged as winners. The runnersup for the U18 boys’ doubles were Sixth Formers, Casper and Ollie, who also put in a strong performance throughout the day. George and Tobias went on to represent the school at the regional finals, where they impressively secured 2nd place in the Plate Competition. The U18 girls’ doubles saw Holly and Zola claim victory, showcasing excellent teamwork and determination.

The U14 singles competition featured some standout individual performances. Tobias again won the boys’ singles category and later achieved a commendable 3rd place in the County Finals, held in Portsmouth. Will, also Third Year, was the runnerup in the boys’ singles. On the girls’ side, another Third Year, Mary Jane, took the top spot, while Second Year, Kate, was the runner-up.

Parent-Pupil Competition

This year’s Parent-Pupil Competition on Open Day saw more than 180 participants, with players ranging from First Year to Lower Sixth joining their parents on the courts. Divided into two age categories, the event showcased exciting and competitive matches, with winners decided by the total points scored throughout the games. Congratulations to Bertie C and his dad for claiming the Junior title, and to Cam J-K and his dad for securing the Senior championship.

Portugal tour

During the Easter holidays, 54 pupils from Second to Fourth Year took part in an exciting pre-season tennis tour at Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy, in Portugal. The group trained intensively with morning and afternoon sessions, and competed in two match days against other schools, including Epsom, Bradfield, and Stamford. Beyond the courts, pupils thoroughly enjoyed their downtime, taking full advantage of the facilities by swimming in the hotel pools, trying their hand at padel, and joining in a giant football match on the beach.

Steep Tennis

Friday night coaching sessions at Steep Tennis Club have been a huge success this year, with more than 90 pupils showing interest for the limited spaces. Across two six-week blocks, students showed impressive progress and enthusiasm for the game. We look forward to continuing this fantastic partnership next year.

Sports Tour

The 2025 rugby and netball tour to South Africa was an incredible journey, full of exciting sporting challenges, rich cultural experiences, and unforgettable memories. Forty-four pupils embraced every moment, creating bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.

From the moment we landed, the pupils were immersed in the powerful history of South Africa with a visit to the Apartheid Museum. Alongside training sessions, this offered a perfect balance of sporting focus and cultural learning. Teams had the opportunity to showcase their skills in competitive matches, with rugby and netball fixtures arranged to test their talents and teamwork. These games were thrilling highlights, encouraging the pupils to push themselves and work closely as a unit.

Beyond the sports fields, the tour offered a wealth of unique experiences. The group explored the Lesedi Cultural Village, gaining insight into traditional South African ways of life. Wildlife enthusiasts were treated to breath-taking dawn and dusk game drives at Mabula Game Reserve, where encounters with iconic animals created magical moments of connection with nature.

A particularly moving part of the trip was our visit to the ‘Be The Difference Foundation’, where pupils engaged

with the local community and reflected on the impact sport and education can have. This experience added a meaningful dimension to the tour, fostering a sense of empathy and global citizenship among the group.

The cultural immersion continued with participation in the ‘Connect Festival of Unity’, Seal Island, which further enriched the group’s understanding of the country’s complex history and stunning natural beauty. One of the tour’s standout adventures was the hike up Table Mountain, rewarding the pupils with amazing panoramic views of Cape Town and a great sense of accomplishment.

Adrenaline-filled activities, such as the Cape Canopy Tour, provided an exciting contrast to the cultural and sporting elements, allowing pupils to challenge themselves in new ways. Evenings were often spent enjoying traditional meals, including a memorable dinner at the Gold Restaurant, which combined fantastic food with lively entertainment.

As the tour came to a close, the pupils returned home not only with improved skills on the rugby and netball courts, but with broadened horizons, deeper friendships, and stories they will treasure forever. A truly once-ina-lifetime experience that blended competition, culture, and adventure in the most inspiring way.

Adventure

CCF

October’s Trafalgar Dinner found 35 senior cadets and 65 guests in the Donald Brooks Auditorium, bedecked with pennants, ensigns, and model sailing ships. Commander Alun Watt RN delivered an inspiring speech focusing on his journey and experiences in the senior service. Cadets, officers, and guests enjoyed an excellent traditional roast beef dinner and appreciated the return of the chocolate galleons. The evening ended with the lusty singing of sea shanties. In November, we marked the anniversary of Armistice Day with the school Remembrance service and assembly, which culminated with pupils and staff passing along the path from the Sports Hall to the school war memorial, flanked by the contingent. On Remembrance Sunday itself, 300 cadets paraded in town, marching from the Swan Street car park to

the town square for the Petersfield Remembrance Service and then on to the war memorial for the Last Post and Act of Remembrance. We were also able to represent the College in town to mark the anniversaries of both VEDay and D-Day.

The following week was the contingent’s biennial review, conducted and reported by Lt Col Al Rivett: “Walking along the ranks I was struck by how engaging all the cadets of all ages were, and how readily they shared their enthusiasm for their involvement in the CCF”.

Over the Easter break, we conducted two Adventurous Training (AT) camps. Following last year’s success, 43 Third Year cadets returned to UKSA in Cowes for a week of water-sports, afloat on SUPs, kayaks, dinghies,

windsurfers, and keelboats. We were also able to run a second camp for Fourth Year cadets to Brecon, where cadets completed three full days of mountain adventure, encompassing mountain biking, canoeing, and rock climbing.

Summer Term brings the annual changing of the guard, when we bid farewell and thank our departing Upper Sixth NCOs and welcome their Lower Sixth replacements. Our particular thanks go to lead cadet WO1 Alfie G (RN), WO2 Henry M (RN), WO2 Toby M (Army), and WO2 Jess T (RAF).

Major David Nighy CCF Contingent Commander

Army

The Army Section has enjoyed another remarkable year, with cadets and staff showing exceptional dedication to their training in all conditions.

In October, Third Year cadets were introduced to fieldcraft and tactics during Exercise Hidden Tiger, at the Longmoor training area, L2. They quickly applied camouflage cream and learned essential skills, such as movement in the field, hand signals, and stealthy stalks. The instructors were highly impressed by the cadets’ talent, noting that several were able to approach undetected.

Fifth Year cadets honed their marksmanship with live-fire training on both the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer and live ranges, using the L98A2 rifle. Their excellent application of the principles they had learned earned them the ‘Trained Shot’ badge, paving the way for future shooting opportunities with the contingent or on camps.

Clay shooting also remained a popular activity. Many cadets were able to use shotguns at Longmoor Ranges and also took part in the National Clay Championships in Cambridge in April.

A standout event of the year was the overnight Exercise Striking Tiger, in March. This challenging exercise

tested Fourth Year cadets on all their accumulated skills, from dealing with enemy contact on patrol and enduring cold and rain while pitching their bashas, to completing a full day of tactics lessons with minimal sleep.

The cadets’ grit and determination were on full display, and they excelled in every challenge.

For the Third Year cadets, their year of training culminated in Exercise Night Owl, in June. This provided

them with the chance to apply their knowledge to manage themselves effectively in the field while also learning new skills, such as setting up an observation post and following safety procedures for the L98A2 rifle.

A special thank you goes to our departing CSM, Toby M, for his outstanding leadership of such a strong team of Senior NCOs.

Captain Sasha Gibbins

Royal Navy

2025 has been an exceptional year for the Combined Cadet Force, with record numbers of enthusiastic cadets joining the Royal Navy section and embracing the opportunities it provides. The programme has offered a rich and varied curriculum that combined adventurous practical training with engaging classroom learning, giving cadets valuable insights into naval life while developing leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Senior cadets played a pivotal role, delivering structured lessons with skill and experience, and their guidance has had a lasting impact on the younger members. Highlights of the year included the CCF’s distinguished contributions to Remembrance Day and the Biennial Inspection, where cadets represented the College with maturity and respect,

as well as four exciting Field Days that saw them testing themselves on the water with paddle and sailing, alongside taking part in land-based challenges, such as orienteering, camping, and laser tag. These activities not only built confidence but also strengthened the camaraderie that defines the contingent. A special thanks goes to senior cadets, Alfie G, Matilda H, Elise M, Henry M, Lucas P, Scott A, Ralph R, and Ollie W, whose leadership and commitment have been central to another successful year. With the section thriving and enthusiasm running high, the future looks bright for the Navy contingent at Churcher’s College.

Lieutenant Rob Maier

RAF

The RAF section has grown from strength to strength in recent years, now boasting over 70 cadets—the largest RAF contingent in the South West and Isle of Wight. This year has seen an expanded programme, including first aid, camouflage and concealment, flying, drone manoeuvring, and even a marching competition victory against Seaford College.

A major highlight was the Autumn field day visit to RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest airbase. Cadets explored the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, operated the hydraulic ramp under the guidance of a Load Master, and sat in the cockpit with the pilot, hearing stories of high-altitude SAS parachute drops, emergency evacuations, and the final flight out of Kabul. They also took part in survival, evasion, resistance,

and escape training, learning how to break free from duct tape and handcuff ties, using just a shoelace. Flying remains a core experience, with cadets looping and corkscrewing over Stonehenge in Grob Tutors or gliding in the Viking fleet at RAF Upavon. Despite challenges with weather and security, 22 cadets took to the skies this year, with more opportunities planned at MOD Boscombe Down. Flight is underpinned by theory lessons, ranging from Bernoulli’s principle (demonstrated with floating Maltesers) to practical work with model aircraft. Training capacity has been boosted by four advanced flight simulators, used for challenges, such as re-enacting scenes from ‘Top Gun’. Some of the keenest cadets even took simulators home to develop their skills as future instructors.

Beyond aviation, cadets have developed fieldcraft skills, from

building shelters and cooking twocourse meals on Hexi burners, to kayaking and climbing. Social highlights included the ever-popular ‘Top Gun’ night. The summer brought a week-long residential at RAF Inskip, with leadership training, shooting, paintballing, water-based challenges, and even a day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Most memorably, cadets forged lasting friendships with peers from across the country—though some had to be reminded to return with Churcher’s rather than rival units!

Jessica Tomalin Cadet Flight Sergeant

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Bronze

The Easter Holidays saw 138 Third Year students complete their Bronze DofE assessed expeditions in the New Forest. Each team had to plan and complete a 2-day expedition, carrying all of their kit and food with an overnight camp. The teams had to navigate their way, with varying degrees of success, over a 15 km route each day. There were a couple of geographically embarrassed teams who eventually showed up, but that’s all part of the experience. All participants were successful, bring on Silver next year!

Silver

This year’s Silver award started with the Fourth Year’s practice expedition on the Isle of Purbeck in June. More than 90 students took part, learning the challenges of navigating in the coastal area and also having to deal with some really hot weather. Each student hiked approximately 15 -17 kms each day with all their kit, staying overnight in basic campsites. The expedition finished on the beautiful Studland beach where the students were able to cool off with an ice cream to celebrate finishing. During the expedition, preparations were made for the assessed expedition, which they completed in late August on Exmoor.

Gold

This year’s Gold expeditions saw Lower Sixth students take on two demanding but rewarding challenges. In the Lake District, 64 students in 10 teams completed a four-day, threenight hiking expedition, tackling iconic peaks, such as Scafell Pike and Helvellyn. Conditions were mixed, with sunshine, rain, and winds reaching 70mph forcing teams to re-route off the high ground, but all rose to the challenge, camping both on sites and wild, by mountain tarns. Their resilience ensured every group successfully completed the expedition. Meanwhile, nine students opted for the canoeing expedition along the River Wye, paddling from Hay-onWye to Monmouth. The first two days brought relentless rain and 40km stretches that tested both stamina and morale, but perseverance paid off as the sun returned for the remainder of the journey. By the end, the group not only passed, but they also came away with unforgettable experiences and stories to share. Both expeditions demanded resilience, teamwork, and determination, and every participant should be proud of their achievement in completing this vital element of the Gold Award.

OSCA

This academic year has seen Churcher’s OSCA program continue to provide unforgettable experiences for students, packed with outdoor challenges, new skills, and lots of fun. After months of afterschool activities in the cold, the Summer Term kicked off with an exciting trip to Cobnor for our Second Year students. Despite windy conditions, spirits remained high as pupils took to the water for raft building, canoeing, and kayaking. The choppy weather only added to the sense of adventure, and all the students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and teamwork. Later in the term, students had the opportunity to take part in the OSCA Purbecks residential—a much-anticipated highlight of the program. Pupils enjoyed a wide variety of activities including Ringo rides, fishing, climbing, coasteering, and plenty of beach time. A definite favourite was the mud run, which proved both messy and memorable! It has been an excellent year all round, filled with laughter, personal growth, and plenty of outdoor adventure.

Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon

This year’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon saw the team build steadily through early training sessions at Wey Kayak Club, where they focused on developing essential paddling skills and confidence. Progressing to the Basingstoke Canal, the cadets honed their technique and teamwork in K2 boats, braving long distances and challenging conditions, including wind, rain, and cold early mornings. The squad, consisting of pairs, Alice and Felix, Alec and Peter, and Dom and Jake, demonstrated remarkable commitment and improvement throughout the season. On race day, Dom and Jake delivered a superb performance, finishing second in the Under-17 category, closely followed by Alice and Felix, whose determination and strength earned them well-deserved praise. Alec and Peter excelled in the Endeavour category, finishing second and showcasing grit and perseverance from start to finish. The team’s dedication, skill, and resilience were evident throughout, and their achievements brought great pride to both themselves and the school.

Ten Tors

Ten Tors is the largest outdoor youth challenge in the UK, with 2,400 young people navigating their way over the moor. The event takes place over two days, starting at 7am on Saturday and finishing before 4pm on Sunday. It is an extremely tough event and this year Churcher’s had two teams: a Fourth Year team taking on the 35-mile route, and a Lower Sixth team tackling the 45-mile route. Both teams completed the challenge successfully, with the younger team arriving at the finish on Sunday at 10.40, and the 45-milers at 13.46. All 12 students had sore feet from their endeavours but managed big smiles as they were presented with their medals. This was an experience that will live with them for the rest of their lives. Congratulations to all!

First Challenge

This year’s First Challenge expedition to Montenegro was nothing short of unforgettable. From the moment we landed, we were immersed in a landscape of contrasts: dramatic mountains, ancient towns, and shimmering lakes. We began in the south, where the heat hit us immediately. Temperatures soared to over 40 degrees Celsius, and just walking around felt like a workout! But despite the heat, our spirits were high. Soon after, we made our way into the mountains, where everything changed. The temperature plummeted, and we found ourselves layering up to fend off the cold. It was surreal to be freezing just days after sweltering

in the heat. The mountain treks were tough, but beautiful, with vast open landscapes, rocky paths, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife.

One of the highlights here was an exhilarating white-water rafting experience that took us all the way to the Bosnian border. The rapids were wild and the scenery spectacular. One of the highlights was visiting the historic town of Kotor. Wandering its narrow, cobbled streets and admiring the fortress walls gave us a real sense of the region’s rich history. The views over the bay were breath-taking! Bus journeys added another layer of adventure. Let’s just say Montenegrin roads—and drivers—made for some very interesting rides! Twisting

mountain passes and narrow cliffside routes kept everyone on edge and entertained!

A more peaceful moment came on our boat trip around Lake Skadar. Gliding across the calm waters, we were surrounded by lily pads and flocks of birds—pelicans, herons, and more. The lake was alive with nature and offered a moment of calm reflection. Overall, Montenegro pushed us, surprised us, and left us with memories we’ll never forget. It was a true First Challenge, and we rose to meet it, together.

Hayley Wilson

Senior Adventure Club

A group of 14 intrepid Lower Sixth students joined the Senior Adventure Club challenge—an extended weekend of mountain activities in Snowdonia in mid-September. On Day One, the team completed a sunlit ascent of the exciting Crib Lem Spur scramble to the summit of Carnedd Dafydd, before climbing several other peaks in the rugged and beautiful Carneddau range, descending to the Gwern Gof Uchaf campsite to set up their tents before heading off for a well-earned meal. Scrambling, which covers the middle ground between walking and climbing, was a new experience for most of the students, and one they took to with impressive enthusiasm and ability.

Day Two saw a more sustained scramble up the Tryfan North Ridge and a visit to the famous Cantilever, which several Churcher’s year groups have found to be a lot more securely balanced than it looks; however, none, to my knowledge, have previously used this site for a game of cricket. Apparently, the wicket offered impressive turn and bounce.

The team moved on from climbing mountains on Day Three with a

morning spent jumping, sliding, and floating along the Afon Prysor river— an impressive sight as the white water rushed down the beautiful gorge. The Sixth Formers very much enjoyed the weekend, and all agreed that they had left the security of the comfort zone and spent much time in the stretch zone, where skills and character really develop. The occasional visit to the panic zone was swiftly overcome! Dr Richard Whittle

Welsh 3000

The end of the Summer Term saw six intrepid Lower Sixth students (Guy B, Sophie C, Dom J, Ela P, Alex R, and Olly W) set off for Snowdonia to attempt the famous Welsh 3000s Challenge, in which participants aim to visit all 15 Welsh peaks over 3,000 feet tall in less than 24 hours. The team ascended in rain and cloud to Snowdon, the first peak and starting point for the challenge, before tackling the tricky ridge of Crib Goch and descending to the first support point to enjoy a welcome brunch of bacon rolls. A lengthy climb led ultimately to the ridge of the Glyders, including a visit to the Cantilever, over Tryfan and down to the second support point for a quick dinner looking out over Llyn Ogwen. Despite having walked for over 15 hours at this point, the team ascended Pen yr Ole Wen in an excellent mood as night fell, although the arrival of another band of rain dampened spirits somewhat. The remaining six peaks fell over the next few hours of darkness, a drizzly dawn breaking during the final descent to the ever-welcome sight of a Churcher’s minibus. The time to complete the full challenge was 19 hours and 38 minutes, which we believe to be a Churcher’s record. The journey, including the initial ascent and final descent, totalled just under 34 miles, over 4,000m of ascent, and took 23 hours 22 minutes.

Charities

The first recipient of our ‘Nonuniform Day’ support this year was our partnered charity, School in a Bag. The First Years packed more than 150 bags to be sent to The Gambia, and we raised more than £3,100 for this incredible charity. Later in the term, Cancer Testing South benefitted not only from another non-uniform day, but the gym was transformed into a PSA testing centre for the day, welcoming men from the Churcher’s and Petersfield communities for prostate cancer screening. The event was a huge success, with more than 200 men tested and £1,000 raised.

Back by popular demand, the Haunted Library was even busier this year. Committee members and staff dressed to impress and spent the lunchtime jumping out from behind bookshelves to surprise students, raising £150 for the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children’s Charity. Our end-of-term ‘Christmas Jumper Day’, held jointly with the Junior School, raised a fantastic £2,266

for Save the Children. The very excited First Years also enjoyed the annual ‘Reindeer Run’ for Chestnut Tree House, raising an impressive £450.

In the Spring Term, we welcomed back Action Through Enterprise. It was wonderful to hear how the funds and books donated by our library last year have made a life-changing impact on pupils, particularly girls, in rural Ghana. We were delighted to raise another £2,162 for this valuable cause. The term also saw the return of the Lower School Disco—this year with a Hawaiian theme. A dedicated team of Upper Sixth students successfully ran the evening for 172 First and Second Year pupils, raising £1,600 for local charity, Stonepillow, our biggest total yet for this annual event. Our second non-uniform day of the year supported the Samson Centre. This Guildford-based charity, linked to the training facility used by our Devizes to Westminster canoe team, helps people

with Multiple Sclerosis live their best physical and mental lives. We are thrilled to have raised over £2,000 for this wonderful charity, which has close ties to our Adventure Department.

The Summer Term was as busy as ever, beginning with the ‘Wear Something Pink’ non-uniform day in memory of pupil Isla Pieri (2023), with all donations going to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. The year concluded with our annual end-of-year charity afternoon, in support of local charity, HomeStart Butser. The event was a tremendous success, featuring the House Relay finals for the Maddy Lawrence Shield with Drake emerging victorious, and a fun-filled fete of inflatables enjoyed in the sunshine. The afternoon capped off another remarkable year of fundraising, with donations totalling £28,000 across the school.

Annabel Sexton

Community Projects

The 2025 Community Action Services project was our most ambitious yet, with greater scope and student participation than ever before, focusing on mulching and path laying. In 2022, 1,500 trees were planted to mark both the late Queen’s Jubilee and the 300th anniversary of Churcher’s College, creating Tercentenary Wood. Of these, 850 have thrived, and this year students mulched them with locally sourced wood chips to suppress weeds and conserve summer moisture without the use of chemicals. Alongside this, pupils constructed a new 140-metre path across Churcher’s land, linking the Serpent Trail with the River Rother Nature Reserve and Petersfield, transforming a route that had previously only been passable during the driest months of the year. Over a day and a half in the summer heat, 32 Third Year pupils, 82 Lower Sixth students, and eight members of the Green Team worked tirelessly, with the latter taking the lead on mulching. Their collective effort culminated in the opening of the path, marked by Reverend Will Hughes’ address, celebrating both the pupils’ hard work and the lasting contribution they have made to the local community and environment.

Tony Ostersen

Keeping in Touch:

OC Highlights

When the Upper Sixth are preparing to leave Churcher’s, we always remind them that their relationship with the school does not end there. Not only does the Development Office continue to keep Old Churcherians connected to school and to one another in a number of ways, we are also very grateful for all the support they give back to us.

Tom Livingston (09) came back to Churcher’s from his home in France to give an inspiring talk to adventurousminded pupils, OCs, parents, and staff about the life of a professional mountaineer, including insight into some of his more challenging moments and the lessons to be learned from making mistakes. Former England and British Lions player, Tim Rodber (87), entertained the 1st XV and 70 OCs at the Churcher’s Rugby Centenary Lunch with stories from his Churcher’s rugby days through to life as a Lion, including the key role played by a former member of staff, Bob Broadhead, to help him get his first break at Northampton Saints. The Class of 65 took their 60th anniversary since leaving Churcher’s very seriously with a whole calendar

of events. In addition to their longstanding, quarterly Harrow Inn reunions, they put out a team at the Churcher’s Golf Day and had a significant presence at the OC Reunion Lunch, where they also launched the OC Library, inspired by David Newns (65). Thank you as well to Ted Herrington (65) and his wife Jackie, who have both sat in the Development Office many days over the past year to help organise the school archive.

We are also very grateful for all the support we have received from the wider Churcher’s community. Many parents came forward to help make The Summer Party a huge success in raising over £20,000 for the Richard Churcher Foundation and the provision of bursaries—attending meetings, selling tickets, decorating the marquee, donating prizes, generously supporting on the night, and even clearing up!

Importantly, at the biannual 1722 Society Summer Lunch, we had the opportunity to thank all those who have made a significant contribution to the Foundation, be it a cash or

legacy gift. In these uncertain times for the independent school sector and the recent pressures of VAT, the Richard Churcher Foundation remains a core part of the school’s values and is currently supporting more than 60 families with financial aid. During the lunch, Captain of College, Freya W, and Deputy Captain of College, Dom J, spoke about their personal experiences of their time at Churcher’s and the strong foundations and personal skills they have developed as they look toward to life after school. Both reaffirmed the value and impact the school has had on their lives, which lies beyond the reach of so many without the help of the Foundation.

Reflecting on the philanthropic foundations upon which Churcher’s is built, the much-awaited appearance of the Tercentenary Ship sitting on its plinth at the back of Old College was the final act of the 300th anniversary celebrations and a fitting way to end the year.

Nick Smith

Green Team

Churcher’s Green Team consists of two groups of students who meet weekly to pursue environmental initiatives. The first, made up of dedicated Fifth Year pupils who have been involved since their Second Year, organised the ‘Hopeful Earth Conference II’, a follow-up to the original event hosted by Ditcham School. The conference brought together speakers from the Sustainability Centre, Compassion in Farming, and author, Roger MorganGrenville, before concluding with students from local secondary schools sharing their own sustainability projects and collaborating on a joint pledge for future action.

The second group, consisting of Second and Third Year pupils, alongside Lower Sixth students, focused on communicating environmental messages to the wider school community. Their first initiative was a whole-school assembly updating students on the Tercentenary Wood, planted in 2022, and highlighting the importance of mulching as a non-chemical way to support the trees. Their second initiative tackled plastic recycling, after discovering that local recycling companies were unwilling to provide meaningful engagement beyond volume collection. Taking matters into

their own hands, the group educated First to Third Year pupils about different types of plastic and what could or could not be recycled. This revealed widespread misconceptions and led to collaboration with the PSHE programme, with plans to launch an interactive resource next year to embed recycling knowledge across the school.

Tony Ostersen

Staff Departures

Kathryn Shaw

Given my 21-year tenure, there are few people left at Churcher’s who make me feel like a newbie, but, with 35 years, 3 months, and 11 days, Kathryn Shaw could… but she doesn’t. It is not in Kathryn’s nature to be anything but welcoming, supportive, helpful, and friendly—even towards Headmasters who inevitably, at times, might get it a little wrong.

Head of Careers, Head of Nelson, Head of French, Head of Modern Languages and much more besides; Kathryn’s sure hand and deep understanding of the needs of others, even when they don’t recognise it themselves, has transcended so many areas of school life.

Kathryn has been at the core of the community here; one of the delights of Churcher’s, and one that makes us somewhat different to many schools, is the closeness of that community, as evidence, in part, by the proportion of staff children in the school. Kathryn is no exception and has been on both the teacher and parent, with her children Amber, Kaitlin, and Daniel all being a delightful part of the school family. In Kathryn’s retirement letter, under the bit when she talks about ‘lovely friends and colleagues’ and ‘wonderful students’, she wrote, “I feel blessed that my own three children were able to have such excellent schooling that will be a lifelong benefit to them”. She feels blessed—and so do we—that Churcher’s is on solid ground down to its foundations, and Kathryn has been building those foundations for longer

than the children here have been alive. Starting as Miss Strange, born in a RAF camp in Germany, I suppose Foreign Languages was an inevitable route for Kathryn. By 1991, she had become Mrs Shaw and that gave Churcher’s an extra bonus; Steve, Kathryn’s ‘other-half’, has been an extra member of staff for us in so many ways—supporting Kathryn, of course, but also because of his role as the MD and expert of a PR and marketing company. He has been the font of knowledge, especially in the face of potential crises, and has also been an absolute gem running the fundraising side of the Parents’ Association in the Junior School—so good, in fact, they keep inviting him back as quiz-master.

I knew Kathryn wished to retire, and when you make that decision, hanging around for more parents’ evenings, reports, and marking is not very enticing, but I, and she, also knew we had a hole that we couldn’t fill until Kathryn’s replacement in Modern Languages arrived in January. Kathryn’s extraordinary loyalty to the school was evidenced in bucket-loads when she agreed to stay on for yet another term.

Kathryn is deserving the biggest of thank yous for the 35 years 3 months and 11 days she has gifted the school. Without it, we would be so much poorer in spirit and so much weaker in reputation.

Kerry Humphreys

Kerry joined Churcher’s 25 years ago, beginning her journey with us as a Year 2 class teacher at our former school site, Morton House, in Petersfield. It was a charming and close-knit community of staff and pupils, where classes of up to 20 children were taught in buildings clustered around the old house and entered from a gate on Sheep Street. Summers were filled with joyful memories—outdoor plays, peaceful afternoons in the school garden, and break times with the whole school spent on a single tennis court. Kerry quickly became a respected member of this community, known for her dedication to her pupils’ needs, and her contributions extended far beyond the classroom—even accompanying the senior school pupils on ski trips in those early days.

As the school grew and evolved, so too did Kerry’s role. She became Head of Infants, helping to shape the early years of many children’s education with kindness and care. Her leadership was always childfocused, placing well-being at the heart of every decision. When the school transitioned to its current site in Liphook, Kerry played a key part in that journey, supporting children and staff alike through the change. The school is now unrecognisable from the school Kerry joined.

Kerry’s legacy will live on through the many children whose lives she touched, and particularly through the unforgettable Speech Day plays she directed. These productions, which she staged in the Senior School Sports Hall with support from colleagues across the school, showcased her talent for bringing even the youngest pupils into the spotlight. Families looked forward to these performances year after year, knowing they would be full of charm and creativity. As we reflect on Kerry’s 25 years at Churcher’s, we do so with immense gratitude.

Matthew Kelly

Matthew joined Churcher’s in 2005 as Teacher of Physics, but his talent and ability were soon spotted, and he rose to Head of Physics when the post became available. Known for his cool head under pressure and his calm personality, Matthew inspired a generation of Churcher’s pupils to share his love for Physics, and he presided over superb exam results, and an increasing uptake of Physics at A level. He also tried to inspire them to love Aston Villa, but unfortunately failed miserably in that regard. His successes were not limited to the Physics lab—Matthew made a significant contribution to the RAF section of the CCF over many years, and in more recent years his tennis obsession has got the better of him and he is seen almost constantly in tennis whites! In his next adventure, Matthew will achieve his dream of teaching in the US, which has been on his bucket list for many years. The students of North Carolina will be very lucky to have the privilege of attending lessons with Mr Kelly, whilst he will be pursuing not just the art of the racket and ball but also his budding interest in photography. He will be very much missed by the whole Science Faculty.

Elly Davies

Elly has been a vital fixture in the front office, around which the daily

operations of the school have revolved for so long. Despite facing daily bombardment from parents, bus companies, and the general public, all with firm opinions on transport, Elly has kept smiling and responding politely and helpfully. Her empathy and calm presence have soothed many a frantic caller (and member of staff!). Elly has quietly held two of the most thankless and stress-laden jobs in the school. Firstly, Transport Co-ordinator: planning—down to the finest of details—people, timings, routes... and then dealing with the fallout when it occasionally unravels, thanks to the daily variables of weather, traffic, foibles of drivers, and the switchboard lighting up red-hot from concerned parents or neighbours. Secondly, as Calendar Keeper in a school that never stops moving, Elly has somehow managed to administrate the world’s busiest calendar, that changes almost hourly, with grace and remarkable patience. Elly may not have been on stage, but she’s been pulling strings behind the scenes to avert many a catastrophe. Her role has been vital, not just operationally, but emotionally to the school’s heartbeat. Thank you, Elly— for your quiet strength, your enduring patience, and the difference you’ve made to so many. You will be sorely missed, and we wish you the best of retirements.

Ariane Broomfield

Auf Wiedersehen, Ariane. It is a sad “bis später” that we share with Ariane at the end of this long, changing year for the German Department. Of course, we will still see her picking up Seb at the end of the day and at various musical events throughout the year, but with Ariane going, a little part of Churcher’s tapestry is changing. After eight years of thorough preparation, and structured and dedicated language-teaching in the classroom, Ariane is moving to the online tuition platform and becomes an online German specialist,

teaching at various levels, being able to pick who and when she teaches. Who would have thought? No more bells, no more covers, no lunch queue duties, no after school clubs… just the luxury of peace and quiet in her own home and garden—how lovely! Ariane has been an excellent classroom teacher—a very safe pair of hands whilst teaching students of all abilities—providing assurance that the syllabus will be delivered clearly and systematically, with pronunciation and grammar rules drilled to perfection. She has done so with dedication and pride throughout. Often the first to arrive in the morning, the first to respond to emails, the first to complete all admin tasks, Ariane has not missed a deadline. The whole department wishes Ariane great continuation in enthusing youngsters to pursue German. We will miss her laughter, and her questions too! Alles Gute, Ariane, und vielen Dank.

Anne Harris

In a remarkably calm, unflustered way, Anne has brilliantly steered the Adventure Faculty up hill and down dale, through all kinds of weather, including the whole gambit from sunshine to snow, breeze to gale, and all the weather variants coming on the same day. That takes some fortitude of spirit, but not as much as it does to tackle the dreaded Westminster—the MoD impenetrable database. Despite having no military experience, Anne was coerced/encouraged into being the SSI, the administrator of our CCF. Having just about got to grips with that, Andy Rowley decided to pack up his ruck sack and head off into the sunset, leaving not just the CCF for Anne to manage, but also the Head of Faculty role—two jobs squeezed into one.

With remarkable stoicism, Anne has just got on with it without a moan or a missed heartbeat. As a consequence, we have a Faculty of Adventure to impress anyone, with one of the

highest DofE entrant numbers and completion rates in the country, a well-deserved standing ovation from DofE HQ, and a CCF of some 300 smartly turned-out and drilled souls. Even when faced with officialdom trying to mess things up, Anne has not been phased, as many of our Ten Tors souls can attest. The army recently chose to batten down the hatches with Ten Tors and restrict entry to just those schools closer to Dartmoor‚ our ‘grandfather rights’ no longer counted, we were now ‘out-of-area’. But Anne will find a way over, under, or around, with the metaphorical and literal navigation skills to do just that. She created our own version of the Ten Tors event in the Brecon Beacons, and was such a persistent knocker on the Ten Tors organiser’s door that they relented.

A Faculty of Adventure in a school may not be unique but it is certainly highly exceptional and it offers adventure, ambition, challenge, enterprise, endeavour, achievement, comradeship, teamwork… and much more. It began with Marc Eaton, continued under Philip Pearson, grew under Andy Rowley, flourished with Anne leading the way, and now passes on to Simon Kelson. Simon has been given a remarkable legacy by Anne, not just in the numbers that she has encouraged involvement from, but also the spirit with which Anne imbued all and everything.

Tina Jenkins

As we say goodbye to Tina, we celebrate an incredible journey that began all the way back in the Spring Term of 2009, when she joined the Junior School to cover a maternity leave. Little did we know then that Tina would go on to become such a valued and deeply loved member of the Churcher’s community for the next 15+ years. Tina has worn many hats—Collingwood Form Tutor, Head of Tennis, trip leader, and all-round

department champion. But beyond the titles, it’s her warmth, energy, and passion for working with young people that have left a lasting mark on so many. Tina has always had a particular fondness for the Summer Term—not just because it’s peak tennis season, but because of the joyful, buzzy atmosphere it brings to the school. Seeing pupils out on the fields, enjoying the sunshine, and embracing sport, has always been one of her great pleasures. Tennis and athletics have remained her favourite sports to teach, and her energy on court has inspired countless pupils over the years. As she retires, Tina leaves behind a legacy of warmth and kindness. She often says how wonderful the pupils of Churcher’s are, from OCs right through to the current cohort, and it’s clear how much of an impact they’ve had on her, just as she has had on them. Tina, we will miss your spirit, your warmth, and your ever-present smile. Wishing you a retirement full of sunshine, tennis (of course), and new adventures.

on World Book Day or her muchloved Christmas jumper and earring collection. She leaves with many fond memories of the children and staff but is also looking forward to enjoying some well-earned holidays during term time. On behalf of everyone, we thank Robyn for her dedication and warmth and wish her every happiness for the future.

Robyn Fairlie

We bid a fond farewell to Robyn, who has been part of our Junior School community since September 2007.

Joining as a Year 2 Teaching Assistant, she went on to make an outstanding contribution over 17 years, most recently supporting the Upper School, where her humour, kindness and compassion were greatly valued by the children. Robyn’s role evolved with the school’s needs, from tackling the challenge of Year 6 Maths to adapting during the Covid pandemic by supporting bubbles, hearing readers online, and even working in the nursery. She has witnessed many changes during her time, including the introduction of the nursery, the move to two-form entry, and the creation of the Sensory Garden, Trim Trail, new library, dining room, and studio. Robyn’s enthusiasm and spirit shone through in her love of dressing up, whether in her piglet costume

Nicci Kilpatrick

As the school’s HR manager for more than a decade, Nicci has always understood how tight and challenging life can be, for anyone. Her quiet mission has always been to make it better, working diligently in support of colleagues, even when new regulations, pandemics, or other events bring new challenges to our working and personal lives. Nicci has been a rock that so many at the school have been able to rely on through many comings and goings, and through many ‘HR issues’, from the trivial to the profound. She has been fun to work with and her professionalism and wise judgement have been instrumental in the school’s seamless growth as an employer during her time here. She has managed and delivered on a very demanding workload, never missing a beat, and somehow getting everything done thanks to a tremendous work ethic and loyalty to the school. Nicci leaves us for the bluer pastures of retirement, as she literally sets sail on new adventures. We can only say thank you, Nicci, thank you for everything. You’ve looked after us quietly, powerfully, and faithfully, and we are all the better for it. We wish fair winds, calm waters, and the freedom you so richly deserve.

Doug Robertson

Doug has been an invaluable member of the teaching staff, not just for his expertise, but for the spirit in which he shares it. His deep love for the creative process is evident in everything he does, from the way he mentors pupils to the tireless support he offers colleagues. Whether teaching, advising, or simply listening, Doug has always brought patience, kindness, and a generous heart to the Art Department.

His impact on students cannot be overstated. Over a 34 year career, Doug has inspired generations of young artists to think critically, work independently, and find their own creative voices. Through his thoughtful, methodical approach to teaching, he has built confidence and curiosity in the classroom — empowering students to engage deeply with their artistic journey.

Beyond the classroom, Doug has been a true pillar of support within the department. His collaborative spirit, steady guidance, and unwavering willingness to step in wherever needed have made him not just a colleague, but a mentor and friend to many. Recently in particular, Doug demonstrated his adaptability and dedication by bridging the gap between Art and DT, enthusiastically lending his skills to support technical needs across departments.

Doug’s contributions stretch far beyond teaching. He’s worn many hats — Art and DT teacher, technician, exam invigilator, trip leader, OSCA programme supporter — and he’s done it all with a smile, positivity, and a clear sense of purpose.

As Doug sets off to pursue his passion through new publications and collaborative art projects on the horizon, we are filled with admiration for the path ahead of him — and deep gratitude for the legacy he leaves behind. His presence, wisdom, and warmth will be sorely missed.

Marisa Robertson

Marisa Robertson never followed the rulebook, but always followed her heart. Marisa is leaving after a whirlwind 10 years at Churcher’s. She gave more than just language lessons; she taught her students life skills, resilience, and gave them the confidence to aim high. Always full of energy and boundless enthusiasm for Spain and its culture, her rebellious spirit brought adventure to the classroom. Marisa inspired her students to be their absolute best, never allowing them to settle for anything less. Thank you for being fiercely devoted, wonderfully unpredictable, and one of a kind. And let’s not forget—your tapas lunches were legendary. No one in the department could beat them! You’ll be sorely missed alongside your passion for Rafa and your Liverpudlian wit!

Michael Gover

Michael joined the Maintenance team as our electrician in 2022. During his time at Churcher’s, he has completed a number of installations at both school sites, including new power for interior renovations such as the library mezzanine, improved exterior lighting around our walkways car parks, and the electrical provision for our new cardio fitness suite. Mike’s expertise and diligence will be missed as he leaves to explore opportunities as a contract electrician.

Juliette Wakeland

Juliette’s long association with Churcher’s, first as a Junior School parent and later as a valued member of staff, has always been marked by her kindness, dedication, and selflessness. Over 17 years in a variety of roles, she has earned the deep respect and affection of colleagues, pupils, and parents alike, making her retirement— and move into grandparent duties— bittersweet for all.

She joined the school in 2008 as one of the much-loved “Pink Ladies” in the caretaking team, quickly proving her strong work ethic and patience. Before long, she became a fixture in the Art Department, where her organisational skills, empathy, and humour kept both people and projects afloat. As much as she tidied spilled paint, she supported students through tougher moments, offering empathy, sound advice, or a firm nudge when needed. Recognising her natural gift for supporting others, Juliette trained as a counsellor with the school’s backing, paving the way for the next stage of her career.

Since 2021, she has served as School Counsellor and an integral member of the pastoral team. Her compassion, professionalism, and wisdom have provided vital support to countless pupils and staff, particularly as pastoral needs have grown more complex. Juliette’s presence has been nothing short of transformative, and her departure leaves an undeniable gap in the school community. Loved by all for her warmth, humour, and unshakable commitment to others, Juliette is truly irreplaceable.

Lorraine Belger

Thirty years, seven months, and eight days since 3 May 1994—that’s a life sentence in anyone’s book, especially when much of it has been spent clearing up after other people. That Lorraine has done this for so long, and still manages to be calm, kind, and willing, is nothing short of extraordinary. Just imagine: you’ve cleaned everything top to bottom… floors swept, surfaces gleaming, glass sparkling—and within 30 seconds the hoards descend. Mud on their shoes, grass clippings in tow, greasy fingerprints everywhere… and that’s just the staff! Lorraine has been a much-loved team member for generations of staff and children at the school. In recent years, she has looked after Old College, including the main staffroom, which has now been dedicated to her in neon lights as, “Lorraine’s tearoom”. After an incredible innings, Lorraine leaves behind more than just sparkling windows and polished mugs: a legacy of quiet commitment, humble strength, and the kind of loyalty that deserves nothing less than our richest applause… and the permanent neon sign. Thank you for everything Lorraine.

Hanna Yates

When Hanna joined Churcher’s, in September 2023, we knew straight away the professionalism and

experience she would bring to her teaching role. The pleasant surprise was just how brilliantly she was able to lead her classes to some of the best GCSE Physics results in 2024, showing a great deal of care for her students and helping them to understand the most difficult of concepts. Her teaching resources have been embedded into our own practise, and Hanna can be proud of her achievements during her short stay with us. Hanna led the STEAMship after school club for lower school students, and introduced the CREST awards for many to tackle and complete. Under her guidance, they have built LED Christmas trees, Marshmellow towers, and levitated the model Death Star (Star Wars) using electromagnets! STEAMship has grown under her leadership and the program has excellent structure and organisation. We wish her the best as she moves back to the Wirral, and in her new role as an energy ambassador for schools and companies across the UK.

Elliot Le Grice

Elliot has offered a great deal to the school since joining to teach Business in September, 2023. His contribution to First Challenge, rugby, and cricket has been considerable. He has maintained a reflective practice, and balanced significant additional extracurricular activities with his teaching workload. Arriving from Melbourne, he had to adjust to the fast pace of Churcher’s, along with contending with new systems and quite a different exam specification in the UK. Elliot developed strong relationships with those who have been performing poorly or falling behind, and students responded well to Elliot’s three main expectations: respect, communication, and curiosity. Elliot has been a popular member of the Collingwood House, developing a strong rapport with his Fifth Year form. We wish Elliot well for his transition to teaching in London, where he will, no doubt, continue to be a popular, effective, and successful member of staff at his new school.

Jimmy Murphy

Jimmy joined the team in May 2014, initially on a temporary basis with the Grounds team, bringing with him his experience as a gamekeeper and even a stint as a security guard, locking up the school. As well as his reassuring presence around the school site, be it on a mower or fulfilling one of the many daily Grounds tasks, Jimmy became a well-known face for our younger children as one of our Junior School link bus drivers—a job he’s handled with great care and patience. If you’ve ever tried driving a group of lively children with no volume control, you can start to understand the challenge with a bus full, but many times over! While some might take that as a sign to put their feet up and take it easy, that’s not Jimmy’s style. Instead, he’s planning a bold move back to Wales where he hopes to secure a plot of land, settle into a static caravan, keep animals, and live freely. And if anyone deserves to chase that dream, it’s Jimmy.

Clare Grimes

Clare joined the Cleaning and Caretaking team in May 2018 and has worked diligently across the site, most notably at the swimming pool, where she led the way in keeping the facility in spotless condition, albeit with a constant battle to ensure all shoes were removed in the entrance foyer! After seven years of dedicated service, Clare is leaving to take some time for herself and we wish her the best for the future.

Carol Wells

Carol worked in the cleaning team at Churcher’s for an astonishing 25 years, 11 months, and 25 days until her retirement at Easter. Yes, you read that right—nearly 26 years of early mornings, loyal service, care, and unwavering commitment. What’s remarkable—aside from her sheer endurance—is that Carol didn’t even flinch when we added an entire extra floor to the science block, giving her a third more space to clean and a few more flights of stairs to climb. Most would have thrown in the towel (or the mop), but not Carol. Anyone familiar with the school knows there are two areas best approached with caution: the boys’ changing rooms and the science labs. Carol has had the dubious honour of wrangling the latter. But whether it was chemical spills or busy corridors, she’s always taken it in her stride, without complaint. We wish Carol a happy and well-earned retirement.

Caroline Thompson

Caroline has been associated with Churcher’s for 14 years—first as a parent, and then the last three years as a valued member of the administrative team, most recently in Curriculum Support. We say goodbye to Caroline as she moves on to join the Learning Support team at KES Witley. Caroline joined to help with the challenges of COVID, quickly becoming an essential part of the team with her calm, capable approach, bringing sharp attention to detail, warmth, and good humour to every task. Her children, OCs Kate, Lucy, and Jack, are now thriving adults spread across London, Newcastle, and Malaysia, and Caroline rightly feels it’s time for a new adventure of her own. Caroline’s dedication and kindness will be missed and we wish her the very best for her next chapter.

Leonard Lintott

Leonard joined the Grounds team as an apprentice, in October 2021, and left almost exactly three years later. This may or may not be a coincidence, with Leonard making his exit just as the autumn leaves (and the raking) started to fall! Leonard began as Stuart’s right-hand man, but quickly came into his own, blossoming in the role (pardon the gardening pun). Thanks to his dedication, our grounds have never looked better. While the results are certainly a team effort, Leonard’s legacy is clear—from the vibrant wildflowers across the site to the much-loved herb garden behind the Assembly Hall. Leonard leaves with our blessing to continue his training with the Royal Horticultural Society, an opportunity he could not turn down as he furthers his career.