As One Cumnor Newsletter Spring Term 2024

Welcome to As One

, a termly celebration of our children’s achievements, and a spotlight on school life.

My goodness, I have enjoyed this Spring Term! It has been busy, it has been full, and we have endured some awful weather, but as Head, I have been so pleased and proud of all that our young people have achieved.

One of our most important jobs is to find the right senior school for your child, and to prepare them to be ready to flourish. This year, our Year 6 pupils have had phenomenal success in their senior school applications, including 13 places at Brighton College, Hurst and Eastbourne College respectively, and a further 8 to Tonbridge. Indeed, 90% of our applications have resulted in offers; a record that any Prep school would be incredibly proud of, not least with the academic competition we face in Sussex.

On top of that, our Year 8 pupils have been awarded 17 scholarships to date, with lots of results still to come. Ranging across all disciplines, they demonstrate that no matter what your child enjoys and is passionate about at Cumnor, we can really help extend and enthuse, meaning our children move onto the next step with genuine confidence.

It has been an amazing term for our Performing Arts. Highlights include our Cumnor ‘Get Up and Dance’ Day, including workshops with the phenomenal ZooNation; Year 6 pupils singing at the O2 arena as part of Young Voices; our second Community Music Day, ‘Adiemus’, featuring around 100 children from Year 3 – 5 alongside a professional orchestra in a packed out Arundel Cathedral; and a fabulous Year 7 production of ‘School of Rock’ that will not only live very long in the memory, but which has so captivated our whole community.

So much (with much, much more), to be proud of…

Nursery & Pre-Prep

The creative arts have been weaving their magic this Spring Term. The Pre-Prep were united in mind, body and soul at our ‘Music and Movement’ curriculum day, welcoming a myriad of benefits, debate and discussion as we explored our ideas, flexibility, finesse, and the pure joy of self-expression. Throughout the term, in fact, the children have been learning to actively listen, to work collaboratively and to share new experiences, appreciating and celebrating the contributions of others. In the visual arts, too, we aimed high. Our entries to the RCA Young Art Competition produced stunning results, and several award winners! Poetry and story - always a favourite in the Pre-Prep - reigned supreme during Speaking & Listening, lifting our spirits with wonder, wit and wisdom. And let’s not forget World Book Day; memories are surely made of this! Engagement and excitement have been our watchwords, with perseverance everpresent, of course! We are so proud of the wonderful work - in every area of the curriculum - which ‘springs’ from delving deep, trying our best and loving school life.

Mrs Freeman Head of Pre-Prep

Fergus Llewellyn Headmaster

The Bees in The Hive have enjoyed colour-linked activities, discovering all sorts of flavours and textures, shapes and sizes linked to this vibrant topic. We have welcomed lots of new friends this term and the smallest at Nursery have packed so much into their busy days. The Caterpillars started this term with lots of numeracy and science fun, spotting numbers in the environment, counting games, weighing and measuring and plenty of songs with numbers before turning their attention to life cycles and signs of spring. The Butterflies have had a super term learning about ‘People Who Help Us’! We have had visits from a dentist, the police, a fire crew, a doctor and a vet. We are so lucky to have parents popping in to tell us about their jobs and the role play opportunities have been endless. A very

happy term at the Nursery. Wow, what a magical term we have had in Reception! After a chilly trip to the tundra regions during the first half term, we have loved being ‘down on the farm’, with some fantastic role play and fact writing about all the animals we have learnt about, ending with an exciting trip to Washbrooks Farm. We had a very special afternoon for our Love & Kindness Tea where we all invited a special guest to join us for afternoon tea. We made posies, wrote invitations and menus, decorated placemats and cards and made sandwiches to help make it a memorable day for all! We are so proud of our Reception cohort and cannot wait to enjoy the summer term with them!

Year 1 have loved their Explorers topic this term, which has seen us travel from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the ocean and up to the moon. The children have learnt about people who have changed the world by pushing boundaries and breaking the norm, including Christopher Columbus who proved the world was round, Neil Armstrong who reached the Moon and Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman to hold a pilot’s licence. They have also loved learning about animals in Science which has included learning about the human body, testing our five senses and a visit to the STEM where they took part in a physical demonstration of how our digestive system works and dissected an eyeball! Our topic ended with a superb expedition of our own – a trip with The Really Wild Academy where we learnt how to build shelters,

how to survive in the wild, work together, forage and enjoyed a campfire and roasted marshmallows!

Year 2 have been diving into the topic of ‘An Island Home’, studying the Katie Morag books by Mairi Hedderwick and exploring what makes an island an island.

We have learnt facts about The Isle of Coll, which is the real life island that ‘The Isle of Struay’ is based, and finished the topic with a fantastic trip to Shoreham Life Boat Centre; so many excited faces as we learnt all about the boats and lifesavers.

We had lots of fun creating ice sculptures with fruit and foliage on those very chilly January days and most recently the children have designed and made their own papier mache and modroc hot air balloons.  We have written our own hot air balloon adventure stories to accompany this Art and DT work; just like our balloons,

The DT Lab

Having joined Cumnor from Uckfield Community College two years ago, Mrs Bramly has had a huge impact in our Design & Technology lab, embedding her experience and knowledge of what is required at GCSE and A Level, supporting technical skills and sharing her passion for the subject. The awarding of three DT scholarships this term, including our first female scholarships for the subject is testimony to this.

At the heart of her approach is peerled assessment, enabling the children to master their techniques and also become more resilient in the process. Always operating an open-door policy to the DT lab, Mrs Bramly has built deeprooted relationships with the children, supporting them every step of the way and break time is never quiet!

The Summer Term is high octane as Year 6 take to the track at Goodwood in their Goblin karts. Alongside, they are busy designing their own rocket cars out of foam and seeking to break their own distance and speed records at the Cumnor time trials. There’s also a trip to the Design Museum and we’ll be continuing to build on the children’s application of graphic design to further develop their presentation and IT skills; one of the key pillars of our new ‘Kudos’ curriculum.

The Art Studio

What an extraordinary term it has been for our Art Department! From securing five senior school scholarships to engaging trips and triumphs in the Young Art Competition, our students have truly shined.

A highlight of our artistic endeavours was the Royal College of Art’s Young Art Competition, a prestigious event attracting 8,000 entrants aged 4-18. From across the Pre-Prep and Prep, we submitted 280 entries into the art, drawing and print making categories. After meticulous evaluation by a panel of leading contemporary artists, we are thrilled that 26 of our children’s pieces were selected. This remarkable accomplishment not only reflects the artistic talent within our school community, but also underscores their dedication and creativity. We are immensely proud of their achievements and the positive representation of Cumnor on such a grand platform. Congratulations to our talented artists!

Enriching masterclasses have also been a key feature this term, introducing the children to new techniques. Year 3 made their first foray into life drawing and Year 6 have visited both Eastbourne College for a captivating ‘Animate & Create’ day and Mayfield School for a clay masterclass.

The Music Barn

The Spring Term is a fantastically busy time for Performing Arts at Cumnor. We have hosted a number of faculty concerts and coffee concerts, offering a supportive performance platform for our solo performers and school ensembles. These are always a joy, and a chance for younger pupils to perform alongside older and more experienced students. Many thanks to our Visiting Music Teachers for supporting these events, and to Glen Rowlan for co-ordinating behind the scenes.

Our Year 3, 4, and 5 pupils worked incredibly hard during this term to prepare for what was a wonderful performance of ‘Adiemus’ by Sir Karl Jenkins at Arundel Cathedral, celebrating his 80th birthday year. We are hugely appreciative of your support for our second Community Music Day – to collaborate with the wider Sussex community to enjoy making music together for the sheer joy of it is an incredibly valuable experience.

“ The concert was a splendid moment, leaving us with memories we will cherish forever. The performance was truly outstanding, a reflection of the hard work and talent of all involved. ”

CUMNOR PARENT

More recently, the Music Department have been busy preparing for the Year 7 production ‘School of Rock’. An ambitious undertaking, this was an incredible opportunity for our pupils to perform a West End show on a school stage. A huge thanks to Mrs Harris and all the staff at Cumnor for supporting our pupils in this endeavour.

The term drew to a close with the Guitar faculty concert and ABRSM exams on the horizon. My best wishes to all of the pupils involved in these events, and good luck!

Finally, a massive well done to everyone who has been a part of the Music calendar this term; it’s a short but action-packed term and everyone has excelled. Mrs Boileau and I couldn’t be more proud of everything that your children have achieved.

Neurodiversity Week

The main themes for our celebration week were strengths, challenges and acceptance. Visualised through a whole school art display, our butterflies symbolised that we’re all different, but beautiful, and continuing to evolve. Children were also challenged in lessons with a range of 10-minute obstacles to recognise that those around us often have challenges that they need to overcome on a daily basis.

A Spotlight On… Scholarships

We are so proud to share the remarkable achievements of our Year 8 scholars this term. So far we have been awarded 23 co-curricular scholarships including six Sport, five Art, five DT, three Drama, two Music, one academic and Brighton College’s Millennium Award. This represents over half of our Year 8 cohort with academic scholarships announced next term. These accomplishments are testimony to the talents, dedication and perseverance of our children, the outstanding support and guidance provided by our teachers and Cumnor’s commitment to co-educational opportunities. We appreciate the significant time and energy a scholarship application takes, but we wholeheartedly encourage students to pursue these opportunities, confident in the belief that our collective efforts will achieve positive outcomes.

* at the time of publishing some scholars were still to be photographed

Fundraising Highlights

Ahuge thank you to all of our parents, staff and the wider community who have supported our fundraising efforts so far this academic year. We have already raised a phenomenal £17,500 since September for our chosen charities and with plenty planned for the Summer Term we are on track to break our previous records! In particular we would like to thank the Events Committee who have so generously volunteered their time to organise and host some wonderful events including the Cumnor Car Rally and Walking Treasure Hunt.

Sporting Achievements

The weather has certainly hampered play this term, but it hasn’t dampened our spirits!

Rugby

It seems a long time since we started the rugby season back in October. There have been lots of opportunities to enjoy contact and non-contact versions of the game and the boys have played an exciting brand of rugby, demonstrating great team skills and playing with pace.

Year 7 & 8 have shown passion for the game, scoring some outstanding tries and rising to the challenge; Year 6 have proven to be a real powerhouse and we’ve challenged them under pressure; Year 5 have made great strides, particularly improving their support play; and Year 4 have had their first taste of contact rugby, building their confidence and refining technique.

The Rugby 7s at Windlesham was a fitting end to the season for our Year 8s who demonstrated an outstanding display that saw Kit nominated for P layer of the Tournament from a field of over 160.

Netball

A great season, demonstrating real progress in all age groups.

The 1st team have gone from strength to strength with real grit and determination to enjoy a winning streak on the back of some heavy defeats and culminating in a quarter final Cup at the regional IAPS tournament. Our U11 and U10’s should be commended for the resilience and determination they have shown; many are new to netball and they have really embraced the sport. We are really excited about what the future holds for our Year 3 and 4 netballers; they have adapted to different versions of the game this year from 4 aside to 7 aside and we have some strong defenders and accurate shooters in our midst!

Girls Football

The weather may have conspired against us this term, but we have all worked tirelessly to ensure the girls have enjoyed their first football season and the fixtures have been competitive. Our creative coaches have given the girls a platform to develop individual skills whilst also understanding how to play and enjoy the game.

Boys Hockey

On the Astro, it has been a positive season for all.

The Seniors have worked hard, facing some tough opposition this season.

Training has been focused and game-based to find challenge and support and advance their skills level with fixtures being played at an excitingly fast pace with plenty of defensive plays and top quality goals. For the Middles, strength in the squad was shown when our B team and U10 teams came back with medals from the Hurst and UKSA festivals in consecutive weeks.

The Juniors have enjoyed a great start; the boys have grasped the basics and are shown good progress as the season progressed becoming more open and purposeful.

Cricket

Ahead of the summer season, the U13s triumphed at the ECB indoor competition. Putting on a display of excellent cricket and a superior skills set, the girls have played with great confidence to either defend good totals or chase down targets. Culminating in a tense final to become County Champions, they look forward to the next round of matches on the road to Lord’s!

Congratulations to Sam, Freddie, Rees and Alex who represented the school with pride at the Sussex Primary Schools Team Championships and returned as bronze medal winners in the Freestyle relay.

Mr Rogers Director of Sport

A New Perspective on Boarding

Boarding at Cumnor represents a natural extension in a child’s developmental journey, serving to prepare them for their chosen senior schools. It is a facet of our educational offering that we take great pride in, offering flexible options to suit individual needs. A recent revamp of our dorms and evening schedule emphasise our commitment to providing a true “home away from home” experience. Aligned with the principles of our Kudos curriculum, boarding fosters the cultivation of invaluable life skills and habits among our pupils, facilitating selfdiscovery and the deepening of friendships.

At the core of our boarding experience are Rob and Caroline Park, our dedicated Houseparents. They create a welcoming, supportive and jovial atmosphere, making it easy for children to express themselves freely.

Many of our children have been enticed to board after hearing of their sibling’s positive experiences or participated in one of our immersive trial weekends, leaving them eager to partake on a regular basis. It is important to emphasise that boarding is much more than a fun, bonding experience; our structured evening schedule, including designated prep time and a balance of alerting, calming and creative activities, develops effective time management and personal responsibility; key skills for their transition to senior school.

Boarding at Cumnor also provides a respite from screen time, with our children actively enjoying time away from the online world and providing the opportunity to engage with their friends whilst doing something fun, whether that be games in the sports hall or cooking before snuggling down to watch a movie in the Common Room.

I think it is fair to say, the boarder’s favourite part about boarding is probably the food! Our talented catering team host regular ‘Staff Suppers’, featuring cuisines from around the globe. These gatherings not only encourage adventurous eating, but also strengthen bonds between pupils and staff.

Above all, boarding fosters friendships across different age groups, creating a sense of camaraderie that permeates our entire student body. It’s all about building connections and making memories together.

This term our Performing Arts boarding weekend was a huge hit. We centred our activities around our Year 7 students involved in the ‘School of Rock’ performance, painting and crafting the set design and venturing into London to watch ‘Back to the Future’. A wonderful blend of creativity and entertainment.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

This term’s Year 7 performance was a phenomenal triumph. We create extraordinary moments at Cumnor and this is one that will live on in our memories for a long, long time. We are so proud of each and every one of our children that dazzled us with their skills be that singing, dancing or acting in front of a packed out theatre. A huge thank you must go to Mrs Harris for masterminding the production, her backstage insights and inspiring trips and her dedication and commitment. But, most importantly, for helping our children to find their voice.

‘Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme…

...You better get me to school on time!’’

Get Up & Dance!

Our first ‘Get Up & Dance Day’ was a jumping, stamping and twirling success which we were delighted to be able to extend to our local primary schools in Danehill, Fletching and Lindfield.

To whoops of delight from some very excited children, ZooNation Youth Company alumni, Universal Dance and Bollywood Vibes inspired us with their showcase performances, after which we broke into street dance, musical theatre and Bollywood workshops. We were so impressed as everyone worked together to find their individual styles and build up their skills as versatile street dancers, embraced

I saw this talented group grow as performers over the last few weeks. We have had great fun working on this show, under Matt Jelf’s superb musical guidance, and I am incredibly proud of the children and the personal journeys that they have made. We have challenged them to give their all, and pushed them to go for it and produce something that they are proud of ”

iconic Hindi dance gestures, shaking their bodies to some incredible beats, and threw themselves into a fiercely energetic musical theatre routine to ‘Hairspray’. The children worked hard in their splinter groups and really challenged themselves with the gestures, moves and styles, unique to the genre of dance that they were practising.

Well done to all the children involved; they collaborated, experimented, embraced the day and threw themselves, quite literally, into all that was on offer. They really did ‘get up and dance’!

Mrs Harris Director of Drama

World Book Day

Our Book Day parade is now somewhat of a Cumnor tradition! Thank you to all of our children and staff for embracing the day and showcasing a world of imagination.