HELLO & WELCOME
A COLOURFUL END TO THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Dear parents,
As you can see from this last Chronicle of the academic year, the past few weeks have been full of energy and celebration. From an exhilarating sports day to an exciting enrichment week, two unforgettable prom evenings for Year 11 and Year 13, and our annual charity gala day, it has been a truly memorable end to the term.
Throughout this term our A level and GCSE candidates have shown remarkable dedication in their approach, and I look forward to welcoming them back to the mansion on their respective results days in August Our gala day was a joyful celebration, full of community spirit We were treated to glorious weather, and the colour run was a spectacular finale to a fun-filled morning
A heartfelt thank you to our senior prefects and school captains for the significant roles they have played in supporting the smooth running of the senior school this year and for being outstanding ambassadors throughout. I know all our sixth form leavers have exciting and fulfilling futures ahead!
Enjoy this edition of The Chronicle and I wish you a great summer break.
William Brierly Head
A WARM ‘HELLO’ FROM THE NEW HEAD OF CLAREMONT SIXTH FORM
I'm delighted to introduce myself as the new Head of Sixth Form at Claremont, starting in September 2025. Claremont’s unique blend of academic challenge, real-world opportunity and outstanding pastoral care is what drew me here, and I’m thrilled to be joining such a vibrant and ambitious community. I'm excited to champion the student leadership and personalised support that make sixth form life so enriching, and I look forward to helping each student thrive.
James Grabowski, head of sixth form
Gala day colour run
STUDENT FUTURES AND PATHWAYS
ALEX ELBOURN, HEAD OF STUDENT FUTURES
PERSONAL STATEMENT WORKSHOP
On 11 June, Year 12 students took part in a personal statement writing workshop Subject teachers led groups ranging from international relations to astrophysics and fashion, supporting students with how to link their extra and supercurricular engagement to their university applications.
POST 16 PATHWAYS GUIDANCE
The Student Futures team hosted two workshops for Years 9 and 10, giving pupils the opportunity to explore a broad range of post-16 pathways and discover the many options available beyond A levels, helping them make informed choices about their future
OXBRIDGE SUPPORT
Year 12 pupils applying to Oxbridge and medicine continued to receive 1:1 mentoring sessions in preparation for potential interviews next term from teaching staff as well as current Oxford undergraduates
ENRICHMENT WEEK
CAREER LUNCHES
Student Futures hosted two careers lunches. On 13 June we welcomed Daniel Campbell from Stiff and Trevillion Architects who spoke to our students about careers in architecture and on 19 June students were given information about careers in media and business from Simon Turner from the Haymarket group.
YEAR 10 CAREERS DAY
On Friday 27 June, Year 10 were given the opportunity to develop some of the skills needed for job applications and advance their understanding of their post 18 study and work options
They were involved in five different activities including mock interview practice, CV writing and team building exercises.
We had the benefit of Platform 17’s expertise who conducted the mock interview activity. The students enjoyed this experience and learned useful skills for the future.
YEAR 12 STEPPED INTO THE WORLD OF WORK
During enrichment week, Year 12 students took part in a wide range of work experience placements, gaining valuable insight into careers such as architecture, law, politics and fine art
From pitching ideas to completing independent mini-projects, students showed great commitment and maturity receiving excellent feedback for their diligence, punctuality, engagement and proactive attitudes. Placements included exciting locations like Apple HQ, the European Parliament and the Crown Court Others took part in virtual work experience and university taster sessions, all helping to shape their understanding of future pathways and personal motivations.
THE JOYCE GRENFELL PROGRAMME (JGP)
During enrichment week, the Joyce Grenfell Programme offered pupils a chance to engage in thought-provoking competitions and inspiring talks. These activities encouraged creative thinking, curiosity, and deeper learning. Here’s a closer look at these enriching activities beyond the classroom.
YEAR 7 TO 10 ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT COMPETITIONS
As part of our enrichment week, our Year 7 to 10 pupils took part in an exciting super-curricular competition designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking beyond the classroom.
Year 7 and 8 pupils explored big questions like “Should plastic be banned?” and “Could we live on another planet?” by creating short TED-style talks or paired podcasts. With no prior knowledge required, they enjoyed diving into independent research, practising presentation skills, and having fun throughout the process
Meanwhile, Year 9 and 10 pupils tackled more complex topics such as “Is it better to be kind or honest?” and “Do we control technology, or does it control us?” through their TED talks or paired podcasts. This gave them a fantastic opportunity to develop critical thinking, build strong arguments, and consider different perspectives
We are delighted to announce the winners of the competition:
Winners
ALICE C EMMA F THEA C
SOPHIE
W ABI F FREYA C
Congratulations to all who took part, and thank you for your enthusiasm and creativity!
YEAR 9 FINANCIAL LITERACY DAY
We had a visit from Anna Oreinstein Cardonna (Wear your Money Crown) who spoke to our Year 9 pupils about money mindset, money mechanics and money levers. The day was a huge success, with pupils highly engaged and asking great questions. The talk helped our Year 9's to build a solid understanding of money matters and how to manage money responsibly
“I THINK CLAREMONT HAS BEEN GREAT PREPARING ME FOR MY FUTURE, PARTICULARLY THE RECENT JGP TALKS.
GEORGE, SCHOOL CAPTAIN 2024-2025
ACADEMIC ALL-S
HALF-TERM HIGHLIGHTS
LANGUAGES: WE CELEBRATED SUCCESS IN A NATIONAL POETRY TRANSLATION COMPETITION
The school took part in this year’s Anthea Bell prize for literary tran by the Queen’s College Oxford We submitted seven excellent tran of poems or excerpts from prose works in French, German and Spa students from Year 8 to Year 13
There were over 5000 entries to the competition from schools acr selected by the judges for a prize, and Rosie in Year 9 was one of t translation from French of the poem ‘Les Colombes’ by Théophile (Y10) and Jinny Patel (Y10) for their excellent entries, and to Steph their commendable contributions.
All the participants will receive recognition from the competition o the winners this year on the Queen’s College competition website. and it is a challenge to stand out in this competition with an origin participants should be proud of their achievement and Rosie in par judges
BIOLOGY: SIXTH FORM EXPLORED THE BRAIN!
Our sixth form biology students dove into the fascinating world of neuroscience with a one-day introductory tutorial led by Dr Guy Sutton from Medical Biology Interactive. From understanding basic brain anatomy to exploring the future of brain technology, this programme covers it all. They even had the chance to gain hands-on experience dissecting a brain!
winningtranslation piece
Winner Roise!
Rosie’s
THE ART AND DESIGN EXHIBITION
A CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY
Click here to
all photos from the exhibition Password: ART
This year, the Art and Design Department proudly showcased the exceptional work of our Year 11 and Year 13 exam students across Art, Photography, and Textiles. The exhibition was held in the Great Room, Drawing Room, and Henry Holland spaces that provided a stunning backdrop, with their natural light and high decorative ceilings perfectly complementing the diverse array of creative work on display.
The exhibition featured an impressive variety of media, reflecting the personal journeys and artistic outcomes of each student From expressive paintings, intricate printmaking, detailed drawings, and experimental mixed media pieces, to striking photographic compositions, sculptural textile works, and entirely handmade garments, the range and quality of the work was truly inspiring.
COMMUNITY NEWS
CONNECTING AND CARING AT CLAREMONT
CLAREMONT AND OUR CATERING TEAM’S CHARITY FIGHT HOLIDAY HUNGER
We teamed up with the Thomas Franks Foundation, the charity of our amazing catering team, to prepare 6,000 meals for families facing holiday hunger and food poverty. One hundred Claremont volunteers including pupils, parents, and staff worked together to prepare the meals, which City Harvest London distributed to over 260 charities across the city. This teamwork highlights the heart of our community kind, committed, and making a real difference
CLAREMONT EQUALITY ALLIANCE CELEBRATED PRIDE AND INCLUSION
The Equality Alliance is an open, welcoming club at Claremont for LGBTQ+ students and allies to learn, share, and support each other. Over six years, it has grown into a close community that raised awareness, hosted events, and supported charities like AllOut and Mermaids UK During Diversity Week, students showed their pride with a charity bake sale raising money for Mermaids UK, alongside wearing colourful rainbow accessories The Equality Alliance is all about good vibes, great friends, and standing proud together making sure everyone feels welcome and celebrated every step of the way!
JOHN MUIR CAMPOUT
On Friday 13 June, Years 7–9 camped behind Fan Court for their John Muir Award, which encourages connecting and caring for wild places through discovering, exploring, conserving, and sharing They cooked outdoors and sang around the campfire. Heavy rain forced them to move tents indoors for a fun sports hall campout. This year, 13 pupils earned their John Muir Award, a great achievement requiring real dedication!
YEAR 8 SOCIAL SCIENCE: SPONGE THE TEACHER!
Year 8 social science students held a fayre and a cheeky "sponge the teacher" event to raise money for charity and celebrate the end of the school year, getting their own back on the teachers in a really fun (and soggy) way!
OUR JUNIOR SCHOOL BUZZED WITH CHARITY
Elsewhere in the school,Year 6 Charity Council led a lively lunchtime charity fair for Honeypot Children’s Charity, raising an incredible £2,000! Fully student-run, the event showcased their teamwork, leadership, and community spirit
ENRICHMENT WEEK
2025
CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, ACADEMIC DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE
Enrichment Week is a highlight of the Claremont calendar, giving students the chance to step outside the classroom and take part in exciting, hands-on experiences both on campus and beyond. This year’s programme offered a brilliant mix of creativity, exploration and adventure.
ENRICHMENTWEEK ACTIVITES2025
Our school site was buzzing with activities from forensic workshops during our criminology enrichment day, to Year 9’s “places & spaces” expo featuring costumes, food and cultural displays, and the ever-popular Year 7 travel show, where pupils transformed the marquee into a celebration of UK regions and had fun dressing upWe even had a Cornish pasty costume!
“THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING THE WEEK SO MEMORABLE —ESPECIALLY OUR AMAZING TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND FLEXIBILITY.”
RACHEL HEARD: ASSISTANT HEAD, PUPIL WELFARE AND DDSL
TRIPS
During enrichment week, Claremont pupils explored new horizons from Year 10 geographers studying the River Tillingbourne to food tech students visiting Goodwood Farm. Duke of Edinburgh expeditions took place across Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, while others enjoyed PGL adventures and creative trips like Year 7’s Tate visit. A fantastic week of discovery, teamwork, and fun!
HOUSE NEWS INTRODUCING OUR NEW YEAR 11 HOUSE PEER MENTORS
Year 11 house captains, vice house captains and peer mentors play a vital leadership role at Claremont, supporting younger pupils in vertical tutor groups and helping to organise house activities. They take special care to support Year 6 pupils transitioning into senior school, ensuring they feel welcomed and listened to. Peer mentors also assist younger pupils in accessing clubs and activities and work closely with pastoral staff and heads of house
All peer mentors are well prepared for their role, completing a mentoring certificate and receiving safeguarding training, empowering them to confidently raise any concerns an essential life skill. They take great pride in their responsibilities, developing valuable skills like communication, responsibility, and teamwork that go far beyond academic achievements and prepare them well for sixth form and beyond. We extend a huge thank you to our outgoing peer mentors for their dedication and leadership. They have been a true inspiration and many are moving on to further leadership roles as captains, vice-captains, and prefects in the sixth form Looking ahead, we warmly welcome our new peer mentors starting in September We are excited to see the enthusiasm, commitment, and talents they will bring to this important role.
"OUR YEAR 11 MENTORS GAIN LEADERSHIP, EMPATHY, AND CONFIDENCE—SKILLS BEYOND TEXTBOOKS—AND TRULY IMPACT OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY." RACHEL HEARD: ASSISTANT HEAD, PUPIL WELFARE AND DDSL
HOUSE NEWS
LAURA WIGLEY, DEPUTY HEAD OF HOUSE HALF TERM HIGHLIGHTS
NORWOOD WINS THE 2025 HOUSE CUP!
CongratulationstoNorwood,whohavetriumphedasthisyear’s househupwinners!Norwoodpupilshaveearnedeverypointwith passionandpride.CongratulationsalsotoLongcrosswhocamein second,andBansteadinthird
Overtheyear,morethan30housecompetitionstookplace,with everypupiltakingpartinatleastthreeevents Over300pupils earnedbronzehousecertificates,50achievedSilver,and11 reachedgold.Animpressivetotalof25,244housepointswere awarded!
Everyhousehasshownincredibleeffort,enthusiasm,passionand teamworkthroughouttheyear,andhasdeliveredoutstanding performancesandachievementsthroughoutthey
Ahugewelldoneandthankyoutoallthestudents facilitiesteamwhohavemadethisyear’shouseev memorable.
CREATIVE SPARK IN HOUSE EVENTS
The past two weeks have been busy with exciting competitions, including a creative writing contest with over 100 entries, a vibrant diversity bake-off, and an impressive newspaper fashion challenge Pupils showed great creativity and teamwork throughout.
The highlight of the term was sports day, where every student participated in track and field events. The day was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and strong house spirit, with many pupils dressing up in house colours to support their teams.
NEW HOUSE LEADERS OFF TO A STRONG START
This half term saw the appointment of our new house captains and vice captains, who quickly embraced their leadership roles with enthusiasm and energy, diving straight into a variety of house events and inspiring their peers along the way.
HOUSE SPIRIT SHINES AT SPORTS DAY 2025
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
CONALL’S RUGBY ACHIEVEMENT
A huge congratulations to Conall on his well deserved selection for the Berkshire Colts U18 team! After a standout season with the U17s, he is stepping up once again to represent at the next level, an incredible achievement! Well done, Conall
CLAREMONT U21 LACROSSE AT
Isla S and Minnie F (England U20 National Academy), along with Sophie L (Germany U20s), were proudly selected to represent their countries in lacrosse at the U21 United World Games in Austria, traveling there in late June to compete.
SENIOR
Out of nine teams competing in the U21 Women’s Lacrosse tournament, Isla’s team took 1st place, Minnie’s team came an impressive 3rd, with Sophie’s Germany placed 5th. The girls had a fantastic time representing their countries, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements on the international stage.
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
CAREMONT ATHLETES SUCCESSES AT SURREY CHAMPIONSHIPS
On 14 June, Claremont pupils represented NE Surrey at the Surrey Schools Athletics Championship at Kingsmeadow, competing against the county’s top school athletes Notable performances included Eden and Brodie placing 4th and 5th in Junior Boys’ hurdles, Thea finishing 5th in shot put at her first major event, and Archie achieving a personal best in the Junior Boys’ 300m. Giles and Holly were crowned Surrey Schools Junior Boys’ and Girls’ javelin champions and will compete next week at the Inter-Counties Championships. Giles was also selected for the English Schools squad, advancing directly to the national final in July Additionally, his sister Pippa H won the South of England shot put title, making it a remarkable weekend for the family.
1ST XI GIRLS CRICKET TEAM
Click here to view all of this term’s sport
The 1st XI Girls narrowly lost to Reeds in a T20, despite a strong start from Lily and Zara Lily M was named Player of the Game for her standout performance.
CLAREMONT ARCHERS TRIPLE WIN
Max (Y13), Comet (Y11), and Rupert (Y8) won their categories at the Middlesex Championship despite tough conditions. A fantastic achievement- very well done
U12 GIRLS CRICKET NARROW LOSE TO THE JAGS
Claremont restricted Jags to 131/8 after choosing to field first In reply, they scored 106/8, falling 25 runs short. Standouts were Genevieve H with 22 runs and
Molly S, who impressed behind the stumps with a key catch. They had a great time all the same here they are smiling and happy on the day!
DAY DAY
2025 2025
A CELEBRATION OF FUN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday 28 June for an unforgettable gala day 2025! The day was packed with fun for all the Claremont pupils, of all ages, and their families. From the vibrant colour run and historic mansion tours to music competitions and performances, art exhibition, thrilling sports competitions and more There truly was something for everyone to enjoy We were delighted to welcome so many families who came together to celebrate community spirit and excitement. Highlights included house singing battles, the Young House Music Competition (congratulations to this year’s welldeserved winner, Amerleigh P, Year 12), and Norwood who won the junior school house singing competition
A fantastic range of pe e school together. Thank you to all who day - please enjoy and relive the magic!
GALA DAY GALA DAY COLOUR RUN 2025
FROM OUR TINIEST IN PRE-NURSERY TO OUR TALLEST SIXTH FORM GRADUATES, THANK YOU FOR A BRILLIANT YEAR!
WHETHER DISCOVERING IN NURSERY, GROWING IN CONFIDENCE IN JUNIOR SCHOOL, FINDING PASSIONS IN SENIOR SCHOOL, OR PREPARING FOR FUTURE PATHWAYS IN SIXTH FORM, WE ARE SO PROUD OF EVERYTHING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR PUPILS ACHIEVED THIS YEAR.
HAVE A FUN, SUNNY SUMMER AND SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!
