Our Year 7 pupils participated in the One Day Film School. Pupils learned the essentials of film history, fight choreography, screenwriting, camera and editing. Then they were split into groups to make short films which were shown at the end of the day. The best motion picture film winner is eligible for the annual 10 Shot Film Awards which recognises filmmaking excellence in UK schools.
NATIONAL POETRY DAY
On 4 October, we celebrated National Poetry Day with a special guest—poet, author, and hip-hop artist Karl Nova! His unique approach engages young people by meeting them where they are, using styles and attitudes they relate to, while keeping his content wholesome, inspirational, and authentic. It was an unforgettable experience for our senior school pupils!
HELLO YELLOW - MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
DAY
On 10 October we celebrated Hello Yellow Day in support of National Mental Health Day and the charity Young Minds! Pupils embraced the day by adding a splash of yellow to their uniforms, raising awareness for mental health and showing solidarity for this important cause.
Throughout the day, students took part in a range of activities, including a calming Dawn Chorus Walk, nail painting, penalty shootouts, and a cozy ‘Hug in a Mug’ hot chocolate event (donated by Thomas Franks catering) in the senior school.
It was a wonderful day promoting mental health and wellbeing across our school community!
JGP INSPIRE LECTURE SERIES
As part of our Joyce Grenfell Programme of academic enrichment, our pupils enjoyed a fascinating talk by Professor James Smith. As a professor of environment science, he has over 30 years of experience in modelling pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the environmental consequences of radioactive pollutants. His recent research on the long-term environmental consequences of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents attracted global media coverage.
We were thrilled to welcome back Claremont Alumna, Anne Sebba, as part of our Joyce Grenfell Programme! Anne delivered a fascinating and inspiring lecture on Women in Wartime Paris, drawing from her extensive research and experience.
Anne is a prize-winning author of eleven books, including the best-selling biography ‘That Woman’, a Life of Wallis Simpson. Anne’s began her career as a foreign correspondent for Reuters and has since made regular television appearances and presented programmes for BBC R3 and R4.
PIANO TEA
The Piano Tea was a wonderful event, filled with music, history, and community spirit! The chance to perform in a space where both Chopin and Princess Charlotte once played was a truly inspiring experience for the pupils. It’s lovely how the event showcased a range of talent levels and encouraged participation from beginners to more advanced students, creating a nurturing environment for everyone involved.
PRIZEGIVING
We hosted our 2024 Prizegiving ceremony for the senior school and sixth form the first week back to school. It was wonderful to see many of last years Year 13 leavers return for the celebration. We were also very happy to welcome back Class of 2004 Claremont alum Christina Dixon as our guest speaker. Huge congratulations to all our pupils on their well-deserved success. We are incredibly proud of you all!
CO-CURRICULAR FAIR
Our senior school pupils explored the exciting world of co-curricular activities at our annual fair. With over 70 clubs and sports on offer, from football, lacrosse, and archery to drama, eco club, and the Equality Alliance, there’s something for everyone! It was a fantastic opportunity for students to ask questions, discover new interests, and make plans for an enriching year ahead.
Trips
YEAR 8 TRIP TO KEW GARDENS
YEAR 9 TRIP TO THE BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVE CENTRE IN BRIXTON
YEAR 10 ART AND TEXTILES TRIP TO THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM
YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY TRIP TO BATTERSEA AND NINE ELMS
Pupils have taken part in a wide range of house events and competitions this term from the first ever house music quiz run by the sixth form, to a whole school treasure hunt and finally the fiercely competitive house bake off. The range of cakes and breads produced for the bake off was amazing, but the judges decided to award first place to Banstead, second to Stanmore and third place to Esher.
Although we always give the score for each house at the end of each term, we felt it was the right time to start acknowledging individual contributions to school life through the house points system. Over the course of an academic year pupils will have the opportunity to gain a bronze, silver or gold house point certificate depending on the number of points they as an individual have scored. 25 house points will earn a bronze certificate, 50 a silver and 75 a gold. If pupils manage to achieve 100 they will be invited to have cake with Mr Brierly to celebrate their achievement. We look forward to starting this new initiative after half term.
Treasure Hunt HOUSE UPDATE
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
ARCHERY
The archery team changes yearly, with members from various year groups. Notable performers from last year and this year include Rosie (Yr9), Comet (Yr11), Finn (Yr12), and Jay (Yr13), who have all placed 1st or 2nd in competitions. This year, we’ll attend the Atkins Soup Shoot and aim for indoor winter competitions, welcoming new members like Ella, Sophie (Yr11), LJ (Yr9), Max (Yr13), and Yr7s from the lunchtime club. Comet, a 3-year team member, is striving for a 6 Gold End award at 20 yards.
FOOTBALL
A belated congratulations to Ella S and Holly R who participated in the National Prep Schools Athletics Finals in Birmingham on 3 July. Ella S threw 27.32m in discus and came 3rd. She also threw 25.08m in javelin and came 6th alongside Holly R, who threw 25.96 in javelin and came 3rd. Congratulations to both girls for representing our school well!
The football season is off to a strong start with the U13’s, U15’s and U18’s all out in ISFA Cup matches. The U15’s defeated Kingston Grammar School after the game finished 1-1 after 70 minutes of normal time. The team dominated possession effectively and had chances to score but didn’t take them and KGS took the lead. The boys reacted well and after sustained pressure won a penalty which Sam C converted confidently to level up the game. Neither team managed to score in the 2nd half but early into extra time Lucas R made a fantastic run from left back to find himself in the box and he tucked the ball away across the goalkeeper to send the boys into round 2.
LACROSSE
The 1st team had a dynamic first half of the term, showing both resilience and potential. Their opening game featured strong defensive moments and late-game goals, setting the tone for a promising season. In their second game, despite an impressive end-to-end performance, missed opportunities in the second half led to a narrow defeat. They bounced back in the third game, securing their first win with a last-minute goal by Emily I, capping off a full-team effort and a superb display of skill under pressure.
The 2nd lacrosse team had an exciting start to the season, beginning with a nailbiting 5-5 draw featuring standout performances from Player of the Match Megan T, Genna L, and sharp shooting by Polly R. In their next game, they faced tough opposition from GHS but showed strong transitions from Genna L and two goals from Tillie S, ultimately finishing 11-3. Despite the challenges, the team demonstrated great potential and teamwork.
The U15 lacrosse teams have had an exciting start to the season, with both the A and B teams winning their first matches. After facing tougher opponents in the second week, they secured a close win against LEH in week three and the A team continued their momentum with adominant victory last week.
The U14 A, B, and C lacrosse teams have had a promising start this halfterm. The U14 A team faced tough opponents, showing resilience in a narrow losses. The U14 B team had a strong start to the season with a solid win followed by some tough games. The U14C team and did well and came away with a win in their recent game against Caterham.
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NETBALL
Our U12 through U19 netball teams have had an outstanding first half of the term, showcasing both skill and determination across all age groups. They’ve secured impressive victories, demonstrating their strength and resilience in the Sisters in Sport competition and the Surrey Schools tournament. Each team has faced strong opponents but continued to rise to the challenge, reflecting the hard work they’ve put into training. The girls have shown excellent teamwork, supporting each other on and off the court, while consistently improving their technical abilities and tactical awareness.
The 1st XV rugby team had a strong start to the season, starting with a 42-12 win over Ewell Castle, led by George R and a dominant pack. They followed up with a 29-0 victory against Tiffin, where Harry S-W, Adam K, and Ethan G excelled, and Kai W stood out. Despite a narrow 7-10 loss to Wallington, where they dominated the second half but couldn’t convert, the team showed great determination and attacking spirit throughout.
The 2nd XV rugby team had a challenging but promising start to the season. After a tough 7-41 loss in their first match, they bounced back with a strong 29-19 victory, showcasing teamwork, especially with Lukka’s impressive try and Sam N’s work rate. They narrowly lost to Hampton in a closely contested match, but the predominantly U16 squad shows great potential for the future.
The U15 A and B rugby teams have had a mixed season. The A team won 43-17 against Dunottar and 63-7 against Isleworth & Syon, but lost 0-24 to Wallington and 7-59 to Hampton. The B team fought hard in a 0-24 loss, with Noah W and Rafferty B standing out. Both teams show great potential.
The U14 A and B rugby teams at Claremont have had a strong season so far. The A team secured impressive wins against Greys Court (40-24), Hampton (35-0), and St. James (34-7), showcasing individual talents and teamwork. The B team excelled as well, winning against Tiffin (62-5) and Caterham (56-12), highlighting their skill and commitment.
TENNIS
Ben C was busy this summer on the tennis courts. He competed in the following tournaments:
• Winner of 12U Boys Singles Grade 3 Court X, Southsea
• Winner of 14U Boys Singles Grade 4, Croydon
• Runner Up of 12U Boys Singles Grade 3, Tennis Avenue, New Malden
• Runner Up of 12U Boys Doubles Grade 3, West Hants
• Winner of 12U Boys Singles St George’s Hill LTC Club Championships
• Winner of 14U Boys Singles St George’s Hill LTC Club Championships
These results and his hard work over the year, culminated in him qualifying and playing in the Grade 1 Nationals in Nottingham. This five-day event featured 32 of the best kids in the country playing singles and doubles, reaching the quarter-finals in the doubles.
RUGBY
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