Brambletye Magazine 2023

Who’s Who At Brambletye

JULY 2023

GOVERNING BODY

Nick Perry, M.A. Chairman

Lorne Armstrong, M.A.

Christopher Beazley, B.Sc.

Sarah Curra, B.A.

Tom Dawson, M.A., P.G.C.E.

Ben Dunhill, B.A., Q.T.S.

Heather Kelso, B.A

Mark Lascelles, B.A.

THE COMMON ROOM

William Brooks, B.A., P.G.C.E., M.B.A. (Ed.) Headmaster

Amelia Brooks, B.A. Marketing and Communications Manager

Nick Holloway, B.A., P.G.C.E.

Deputy Headmaster, Head of P.S.H.E.E.

Dawn Atkinson, B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of the Pre-Prep (Nursery and EYFS)

Claire Clabby, B.A., P.G.C.E.

Deputy Head of the Pre-Prep, Key Stage 1 Teacher

David Brundish, M.A., P.G.C.E. Head of Lower School, Year 4 Teacher

Rachel Duthie, B.A. Head of Administration, Headmaster’s P.A.

David Finch B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Pastoral), Head of Science

Nick Mason, M.A., B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Co-Curricular), Head of Geography

Freddie Piper, B.A., i.P.G.C.E. Assistant Head (Academic), Head of History

Arabella Young, B.Sc., P.G.C.E., Q.T.S. Assistant Head (Digital & Data), Year 3 Teacher

Michelle Clark, M.Sc., P.G.C.E. Year 4 Teacher, Housemistress of Nelson

Will Denny, B.A., P.G.C.E. Mathematics, Housemaster of Wellington

Erika Eastcott, B.A., C.A.C.H.E. 3 Teaching Assistant (Lower School)

Caitlin Ferris, B.A., P.G.C.E. English, Housemistress of Drake

Josh Franco, B.A., P.G.C.E. French and Spanish, Housemaster of Marlborough

GAP STUDENTS

AUTUMN TERM

Kate Law-Whitting

Lily Moore

Sophie Moore

Jessica Stamp

Billy Ridley

THE HOUSES

Drake

Marlborough

Nelson

Simon Leefe, B.A., A.C.A.

Miles Marten, B.Sc., MRICS

Robert Mason, B.A.

Rudy Porter

Sarah Segrave, M.A. (Ed.)

Lucy Watts, Mont. Dip.

Nick Hollamby, B.A., F.C.C.A. Clerk to the Governors

Liam Gallagher, B.A., Q.T.S., P.G.C.E. Head of English, Head of Theatre Tech.

Justin Gomm, B.Sc., P.G.C.E. Master of Scholars, Mathematics

Dominic Harlan, Dip.R.A.M., A.R.A.M. Assistant Director of Music

David Holden, B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of Art

Lucas Ingen-Housz, M.A., B.A., P.G.C.E. Head of T.P.R.

Lara Kennedy, B.A., M.Sc., P.G.C.E. Head of Classics (Maternity Leave, Autumn Term)

Lauren Levy, B.B., Q.T.S. Art (Maternity Leave, Autumn & Spring Terms)

Tim Lunn, B.A., P.G.C.E Classics (Maternity Cover, Autumn Term)

Jonathan Lush, B.Ed. English

Naomie McKie, B.Ed. Head of Modern Languages

Katie Miller-Gras, B.Ed. Year 3 Teacher

Gary Mitten, B.A., M.A.(Ed.) Year 3 Teacher

Kaylan Price, B.Ed. Science

Rachel Selleck, B.A., P.G.C.E., Cert. G.S.M.D. Director of Music

Rhys Skinner Art (Maternity Cover, Autumn & Spring Terms), Sports Coach, Cover Assistant

Sam Walker, B.Ed. Director of Sport

Robbie Williams, B.A., iP.G.C.E. Head of Maths

SPRING AND SUMMER TERMS

Kate Law-Whitting

Zoe Clark

Tom Marr

Jessica Stamp

Harry White

HOUSEMASTER/HOUSEMISTRESS HOUSE TUTORS

Caitlin Ferris

Josh Franco

Michelle Clark

Wellington Will Denny

THE PREP-PREP DEPARTMENT

Elizabeth Atkinson, C.A.C.H.E. 3 Year 1 Teaching Assistant, Stay and Play Manager

Gemma Coldwell, B.A., P.G.C.E. Key Stage 1 Teacher

Sophie Deane, B.A., Q.T.S. Reception Teacher

Karen Ellis, B.A., P.L.A. Dip., Cert. Ed. Nursery Practitioner

Ben Fulton, B.A., P.G.C.E. Key Stage 1 Teacher

Emma Foster, BTEC, NVQ Level 4 Nursery Practitioner

Sarah Langridge, C.A.C.H.E. 2 Year 2 Teaching Assistant

Gary Mitten and Arabella Young

Naomie McKie and Liam Gallagher

Sam Walker and Lucas Ingen-Housz

Rachel Selleck and Kaylan Price

Lucilla Lunn, B.A., P.G.C.E. Reception Teacher

Ami Martin, NVQ Level 3 Year 1 Teaching Assistant

Keira McColl, B.A., Q.T.S. Nursery Room Two Leader (Autumn Term)

Lynda Milham, P.L.A. Dip. Nursery Room One Leader

Angela Morton-Smith, C.A.C.H.E. 3 Nursery Practitioner

Keira O’Gara, B.A., Q.T.S. Nursery Room Two Leader

Donna Simpson, C.A.C.H.E. 2 Reception Teaching Assistant

THE SCHOOL

ADDITIONAL PUPIL SUPPORT

Nicola Robinson, B.A., P.G.C.E., M.F.A. Head of Additional Pupil Support

Bridget Cope, B.A., Dip. T.E.F.L. EAL Teacher

BOARDING, MATRONAL AND MEDICAL STAFF

Hannah Basham, B.A., Q.T.S. Head of Boarding

Annie Calf Residential Matron

Julie Corbin, B.Sc., R.G.N., N.D.N. School Sister

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Nick Hollamby, B.A., F.C.C.A. Bursar

Amelia Brooks, B.A. Marketing and Communications Manager

Kate Barratt, M.A. Admissions Registrar

Tom Booth Digital Marketing Assistant

Rachel Duthie, B.A. Head of Administration and Head’s P.A.

Katharine Field, B.A. Marketing, Alumni Relations and Development

KITCHEN STAFF

Annabelle Price-Ingham Catering Manager

Colin Chard Head Chef

Alex Thomas Chef

Judy Nappo Dining Room Supervisor

Montserrat Torvisco Dining Room Assistant

ESTATE STAFF

Lee Simpson, Dip. NEBOSH, Tech. IOSH Head of Estates and Health and Safety Advisor

Alex Blackmore Deputy Head of Estates

Ian Bishun Site Team Member

Lorraine Gardiner Lead Gardener

Trevor Baker Gardener

Bryony Morris, B.Sc.

Estates Team Member (Autumn & Spring Terms)

Andrew Phillips Estates Team Member and School Bus Driver

Andy Dennis Estates Team Member (Summer Term)

Dawn Green School Bus Driver

Uzi Pinkerfeld School Bus Driver (Autumn & Spring Terms)

Kevin Weaver School Bus Driver

EXTRA-CURRICULAR STAFF

Meryl Alexander Pre-Prep Swimming

Lee Basset Prep School Swimming Coach

Paul Beasley Fencing Coach

Ben Brooke Football Coach

Jon Clifford Carpentry

Caroline Crichton Pre-Prep Mini Notes

Collette Cubberley Netball & Cricket Coach

Simon Davis Sailing (Autumn and Spring Terms)

Alison Dawson, B.A., L.R.A.M., C.Ed. Speech and Drama

James Gott, 2nd Dan, British Taekwondo Instructor Taekwondo

Sarah Gott, BWY Qualified Pre-Prep Yoga Loves

Michele Keville, Cert. Sp.L.D. Additional Pupil Support

Zena Sargent, B.A., P.G.C.E., Cert. SpLD. Additional Pupil Support

Amanda Hearn Evening Matron

Claudia Kingsley Senior Matron

Paula Talman, M.Sc., A.P.N.P., R.G.N., R.C.N. Dip. School Sister

Karen Garner Bursary Assistant

Rachel Hollamby, B.A. School Uniform Shop Manager

Julie Leman Deputy Bursar

Amie Monroe Prep School Secretary

Claire Stacey, B.A., M.Sc. Pre-Prep Secretary

Heather White, M.Sc., Assoc. C.I.P.D. H.R. Manager

Patsy Young Catering Assistant

Lynn Frisby Catering Assistant

Giovanni Inserra Kitchen Porter

Charlie Tyler Kitchen Porter

Gary Jell School Bus Driver (Summer Term)

Sue Gallagher School Seamstress

Edina Potor Cleaning Manager

Trevor Draper Cleaner

Mirella Bartfai Cleaner

Kelly Maguire Cleaner

Teresa Edwards Cleaner

Julie Tyler Cleaner

Hannah Wells Cleaner

Robert Lesley Cleaner

David Kingman Cleaner

Callie Green, AF IDTA Dance

Ben Knight, PGA Advanced Professional, UKCC Level 3 Pre-Prep and Prep Golf

Ashley Morgan, STA Level 2 Swimming

Anthony Morley, 4th Dan, British Taekwondo Instructor Pre-Prep Taekwondo (Autumn & Spring Terms)

Alexander Over Squash (Autumn & Spring Terms)

Ian Purcell Sailing

George Ross Tennis

Amy Ryan Pre-Prep Mini Notes

David Simpkins Pre-Prep Chess

Donna Simpson, A.I.S.T.D. Ballet and Dance

Jonathan Tuck Chess

VISITING MUSIC STAFF

Charlotte Burke, B.Sc., Dip. Drums

James Geer, M.A., M.Mus., P.G. Cert. PGVD Singing (Autumn Term)

Adrian Goss, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M., L.T.C.L., B.Mu., A.R.C.O., C.H.M., F.T.C.L., L.G.S.M., M.T.C. Organ (Summer Term)

Victoria Isfryn, Pg. Dip.Mus Trumpet (Maternity Leave, Autumn & Spring Terms)

Elisabeth Holman, Dip. A.B.R.S.M., LNCM, FNCM Violin

Amanda Pomorski, Grad.Dip., Pg.Dip., L.R.S.M. Singing (Summer Term)

Sarah Price, G.R.S.M., L.R.A.M. Clarinet, Saxophone

SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS

School Captains:

School Prefects:

House Commanders

Hamish Henderson and Orlaith West

Grace Brincat, Bella Buxton, Luca Brugnoli, Coco Carnegy, Robin Chapman-Hinge, Elodie Eliott Lockhart, Katya Kebadze, Kenna Patel, Poppy Skinner, Flora Smythe, Jacoby Womersley-Smith

Drake: Grace Brincat, Kenna Patel

Marlborough: Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Nelson: Jessica Field, Oliver Ward

Wellington: Hamish Henderson, Fatima Meseguer

House Officers

Drake: Grace Brincat, Luca Brugnoli, Lucia Garrido, Kenna Patel, Marta Vargas-Carvajal

Marlborough: Lily McGairl, Elizabeth Reeves, Flora Smythe

Nelson: Bella Buxton, Billy Charoenpitaks, Jessica Field, Ana Sanchez-Praena, Oliver Ward

Wellington: Coco Carnegy, Hamish Henderson, Katya Kebadze, Fatima Meseguer, Orlaith West

Helen Pye, B.A., M.Mus. L.R.A.M. Oboe

Judith Rae, B.Ed., C.T. A.B.R.S.M., I.S.M. Cello (Autumn & Spring Terms)

Ceri Stenner, A.N.C.M., A. (Mus.) N.C.M. Guitar, Piano

Claire Taylor, G.T.C.L., L.T.C.L. Singing

Jane Tuff, A.L.C.M., L.L.C.M. Woodwind

Tim Wade, L.G.S.M., P.Dip.(Jazz) Trombone

Bridget Wilcox, L.T.C.L. Piano

Rob Wilson, B.A., P.G.C.E Trumpet (Maternity Cover, Autumn Term)

Captains of Boarding: Millie Dean and Vlad Zaitsev

Head Chorister: Luca Brugnoli

Leader of the Orchestra: Tresaanth Ruben

Leader of Big Band: Bella Buxton, Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Captains of Sport

Football: Kuvertas Subacius

Hockey: Coco Carnegy

Rugby: Oliver Ward

Netball: Kenna Patel

Cricket (Boys): Oliver Ward

Cricket (Girls): Grace Brincat

Athletics: Orlaith West

Sailing: Jessica Field

Cross Country: Hamish Henderson

Senior Chess: Kenna Patel

Junior Chess: Josiah McKie

Golf: Alvaro Davila Pariente

THE SCHOOL

THE FORMS (2022-2023)

(Tutor Groups in operation in Years 7 & 8)

8N

Maria Avakyan

Luca Brugnoli

Coco Carnegy

Álvaro Davila Pariente

Iciar De La Torre

Manilla Dean

Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Lucia Garrido

Eli Hall

Hamish Henderson

Michael Niu

Elizabeth Reeves

Ana Sanchez-Praena

Poppy Skinner

Flora Smythe

Ada Sung

Oliver Ward

Orlaith West

6M Mr Mason

Andrey Bilous

Georgie Carnegy

Milo Curra

Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Tina Dong

Max Duthie

Ethen Feng

George Fraser

India Henderson

Cástor Olascoaga

Romilly Skinner

George Stenhouse

Ralph Wainman

Rosanna Warde

Emilia Weston

3M Mr Mitten

Sofia Clabby

Eliza Foster-Kemp

Ethan Gilbert

Sienna Jacquemard

Serena Leschallas

Fox Lyne

Freddie Mason

Lyra Nazli Todd

Camilla Norris-Jones

Orla Rowlands

Flora Stenhouse

RD Miss Deane

Luca Allegretti

Araminta Harrison

Florence Johns

Adeline Li

Sasha McCartney

Adriano Minerva

Trixie Neave

Isabella Scott-Thorne

Charlie Williams

Hugo Yim

8W

Grace Brincat

Isabella Buxton

Robin Chapman-Hinge

Billy Charoenpitaks

Yiyi Chen

Jaime Dorronsoro

Jessica Field

Katya Kebadze

Lily McGairl

Fatima Meseguer

Finn Milic

Carlos Millan Sanchez-Praena

Kenna Patel

Kuvertas Subacius

Marta Vargas-Carvajal

Luque

Jacoby Womersley Smith

Vladislav Zaitsev

6W Mr Williams

Felix Biddle-Guerrier

Edward Brincat

Wilbur Chapman-Hinge

Max Collinson

Greta Grand

Lorcan Jones

Jasper Lee

Arthur Li

Rex Long

Lucas Lu

Hermione Thompson

Evie Vranic Britten

Ziran Wang

Eva Whittome

Mariella Wilkinson

Isabella Xu

3MG

Miss Miller-Gras

Masha Bilous

Aurelia de Mestre

Silvia Davis

Edward Fraser

Rosie Maxwell

Tara McCartney

Amy McKie

Matilda Norris-Jones

Alfie Scott-Thorne

Rory Selleck

Zachary Vranic Britten

Sofia Zhao

7E

Florence Bland

Henry Burton

Fred Carruthers

Mack de Mestre

Max Evans

Rose Garrood

Archie Jaques

Jack Mills

Tom Moody

Katherine Pearce

Tresaanth Ruben

Joe Sato

Otterly West

Seraphina Weston

William Xie

5D Mr Denny

Kamila Adegunwa

Sancho Aguirre

Wilfred Chicken

Oscar Clark

Bumble Clarke

Marina Davis

Ben Goldingham

James Maxwell

Beatrice Mordaunt

Alexander Nixon

Edward O’Gorman

Faramade Oshinowo

Ava Petrova

Charlie Rowe

Benjamin Selleck

3Y Miss Young

Archie Chicken

Padma Colwill

Otto Hunt

Tallulah McGairl

Clementine McQuitty

Talia Murphy

Nuno Nardini

Leon Nazli Todd

Annabel O’Gorman

Matilda Olascoaga

Albert Qiu

Megan Weston

7N

Ida Akker

Rory Calvocoressi

Filippa Cockin

Bertie Dean

Oliver Hart

Anna Ivantsova

Ethan Lake

Belle Lee

Freddie McGairl

Gilbert Qiu

Taisiia Rodionova

Sergio Rodriguez Walton

Gadea Romero García

Harry Southon

Oliver Twyning

Pippa Vickers

Benjamin Vilarino Jimenez

5H Mr Ingen-Housz

Harsh Aswani

Aimee Bruce

Clara Collcutt Deghaye

Joshua Hingston

Olivia Lim

Clemence Longfield

Frederick McLean

Jonah Montagnon

Sam Murphy

Mila Nardini

Emily Norris-Jones

Jayden Ogungbesan

Abayomi Oshinowo

James Wang

William Warde

2C Mrs Clabby

Rufus Burgess

Amelia Fulton-Lowes

Darcy Gilbert

Elena Hunt

Evan Lloyd-Smith

Jimmy Neave

Charlie Reeves

Hector Smythe

Rafe Tarnoy Coakley

Hugo Warodell

Scarlett Young-West

7W

Benjamin Bai

Bibi Calvocoressi

Ben Clark

Scarlet Dennison

Oscar de Mestre

Charlie Fox

Teresa Guzmán

William Hart

Samuel Hunt

Emilia Johnson

Ewan McCabe

Tabitha McQuitty

Jason Miao

Willem Orgill

Milly Rowe

Abi Sierra

4B Mr Brundish

Sebastian Allenby

Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Jacob Crichton-Williams

Frederick de Silva

Hugo Field

Joshua Gilbert

Maximillian Jaques

Rose Kelso

Leo Li

Ilaria Neave

Sibby Thompson

Ella Vickers

2F Mr Fulton

Isaac Akker

Poppy Bowman

Poppy Brincat

Axel Burnham

Tilly Collinson

Frederick Eddleston

Miriam Goldingham

Cindy He

Douglas Holloway

Lily Mather

Cicely McLean

Taozi Tao

RL Mrs Lunn

Arturo Burley

Dillan Ciftdal

Hunter Hamblin

Darcy Hellaby

Zak Lyne

Adaline Major

Beatrice Mather

Olivia McKie

Raife Rawner

Lilia Steulet

Felix Young-West

Nursery 2

Miss McColl

Xenia Black

Lysander Blackmore

Arabella Carroll

Benjamin Chicken

Emilia de Haan

Albert Eddleston

Hector Hamblin

Louis Harper

Wilfred Holloway

Sofia Hunt

Elijah Khan

Oliver O’Toole

Adriano Ranuzzi

Cassian Rogers

Leo Sallas

Mae Sherwood

Monty Stamp

Rufus Waters

Oliver Wimble

Nursery 1

Mrs Milham

Oliver Bowman

Lucy Burgess

Jo Finch

Teddy Gilbert-Dan

Lyra Gillespie

Alaia Iledare

Lily Johns

Daniel Ledlie

Arthur Maddocks

Leonora Major

6F Miss Ferris

Macarena Aguirre

Nyamekye Ampofo

Henry Chilvers

Roy Ching

Margot Eliott Lockhart

Marcel Fernandez Brooke

Bobbie Foster-Kemp

Harry Fox

Saoirse Longfield

Cecilia Olascoaga

Arthur Smythe

Annabelle Sully

Eleanor Twyning

Bruno Wainman

Carter West

George Wormull

4C Mrs Clark

Ottilia Black

Benjamin Brundish

Elise Duthie

Millay Ishii

George Johnson

Ben Jones

Molly McCabe

Josiah McKie

Otto Mills

Peter Sang

Manami Shimizu

Myla Vickers

Jasper Weston

1C Miss Coldwell

Emilia Brundish

Arabella Cave

Arrez Ciftdal

Isla Finch

Darcey Fulton-Lowes

Barnaby Holloway

Leo Hunt

Annabel Jones

Oscar Lamport-Crichton

Georgina McCarthy

Rocco Nardini

Oscar Nixon

Poppy Ramsden Foster

Aoife Rowlands

Olivia-Grace Sherwood

Jonny Warner

Iris Wu

Zac Zhao

Elliott McLean

Aleya Mustafa

Archie Ramsden Foster

Bertie Rawner

Archie Smyth

Wilfred Stamp

Lucy Warodell

Clara Williams

Violet Wooltorton

Headmaster’s Foreword

The past year has been filled with extraordinary achievements, valuable experiences and countless moments of inspiration, all made possible by the unwavering dedication and boundless enthusiasm of our exceptional staff and pupils. There have been so many highlights it would be impossible to name them all but the wonderful musical ‘My Fair Lady’ will certainly live long in the memory. The Summer Concert was also another triumph and, although I’m not sure this counts as a highlight, the rather unusual discovery made by three Year 7 boys on Lower Terrace in the Summer Term of a World War II hand grenade, would certainly make it into the pages of my memoirs… if I ever get round to writing them!

First and foremost, I would like to extend my huge appreciation to the remarkable team of teaching and support staff here at Brambletye. Their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to our pupils have made it an exceptional year here at Brambletye.

The pupils of this school and in particular our Year 8s have all excelled this year. A total of 11 Scholarships across all the disciplines have been achieved this year and this takes the tally of Scholarships won by pupils at Brambletye to 110 in the last 5 years. Those pupils sitting Common Entrance were similarly impressive – 47% of all grades awarded were A*s or A.

Our Year 8 Leavers of 2023 will move on to the following Public Schools: Ardingly College, Brighton College, Bede’s Senior School, Charterhouse, Eastbourne College, Hurstpierpoint College, The King’s School – Canterbury, Lancing College, Marlborough College, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge School, Uppingham School, Wellington College, Worth School

I would also like to acknowledge and bid farewell to our leaving Governors: Tom Dawson, Mark Lascelles and Miles Marten. Their invaluable contributions, wisdom, and guidance over the years have played an instrumental role in shaping Brambletye into the successful school that it is today. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their steadfast commitment and unwavering support and I am hugely grateful to them all.

This year’s magazine stands as a testament to the talent and creativity that abounds at Brambletye. My thanks to all those who have contributed to its pages. I would also like to extend a special note of thanks to Jonathan Lush for his remarkable work as the editor of our magazine. His meticulous attention to detail, creative vision, and tireless dedication have brought this publication to life. I hope you enjoy this celebration of the year gone by.

Will Brooks

PRIZE-GIVING

Prize-Giving

Autumn Term 2022

Verse Speaking Competition

Sladen Cup (for Senior Verse Speaking): Fatima Meseguer

Year 7: Tom Moody

Year 6: Evie Vranic Britten

Year 5: Marina Davis

Sport

House Football Cup: Drake

1st XI Player of the Season: Ethan Lake

Most Improved Player of the Season: Ewan McCabe

The ‘Golden Boot’ award: Kuvertas Subacius

Outstanding Attitude Award: Oliver Twyning

House Hockey Cup: Wellington

1st Team Hockey Player of the Season: Coco Carnegy

Most Improved 1st Team Player of the Season: Tabby McQuitty

Most Improved Year 8 Player of the Season: Ada Sung

Most Improved Year 7 Player of the Season: Taisiia Rodionova

Middle Girls’ Player of the Season: Annabelle Sully

Middle Girls’ Most Improved Player of the Season:

Nyamekye Ampofo

Junior Girls’ Player of the Season: Ella Vickers

Junior Girls’ Most Improved Player of the Season: Ottilia Black

House Swimming Cup: Marlborough

Dormitory Prizes

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup (for the tidiest dormitory): Boys: Oak Girls: Cherry

Christmas Decorations Prize: Boys: Willow Girls: Maple

Music

Doubleday Chapel Choir Cup: Luca Brugnoli

Senior Progress in Music Cup: Ada Sung and William Xie

Ballroom Dancing Cup:

Hamish Henderson and Flora Smythe

Academia

Stars Prizes – Golds

3M: Camilla Norris-Jones

3MG: Amy McKie

3Y: Talia Murphy

4C: Myla Vickers

4B: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

5H: Abayomi Oshinowo

5D: Ben Goldingham

6F: Henry Chilvers

6W: Eva Whittome

6M: Rosie Warde

7E: Otterly West

7N: Gadea Romero García and Ben Vilarino Jimenez

7W: Teresa Guzmán

8N: Ada Sung

8W: Fatima Meseguer

Send-up Prizes

Stars Prizes – Pinks (prizefor helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship)

Year 3: Freddie Mason

Year 4: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Year 5: Joshua Hingston

Year 6: Georgie Carnegy

Year 7: Otterly West

Year 8: Lily McGairl, Flora Smythe, Vlad Zaitsev

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Years 3 and 4: Masha Bilous, Milly-Ellen Brugnoli, Archie Chicken, Sofia Clabby, Jacob Crichton-Williams, Silvia Davis, Hugo Field, Eliza Foster-Kemp, Otto Hunt, Max Jaques, Leo Li, Rosie Maxwell, Amy McKie, Talia Murphy, Nuno Nardini, Camilla Norris-Jones, Matilda Norris-Jones, Rory Selleck, Myla Vickers.

Years 5 to 8: Coco Carnegy, Henry Chilvers, Tina Dong, Teresa Guzmán, Clemence Longfield, Fatima Meseguer, Sam Murphy, Abayomi Oshinowo, Gilbert Qiu, Arthur Smythe, Ada Sung, Marta Vargas-Carvajal Luque, Carter West, Emilia Weston.

Accelerated Reader Winners

Classes Most points achieved

3M Camilla Norris-Jones

3MG Matilda Norris-Jones

3Y Talia Murphy

4C Jasper Weston

4B Leo Li

Yr 5 Sam Murphy

Yr 6 CF Carter West

Yr 6 JL Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Yr 6 LG George Fraser

Most improved reader

Sofia Clabby

Zachary Vranic Britten

Archie Chicken

Jasper Weston

Max Jaques

Emily Norris-Jones

Tina Dong

India Henderson

Cecilia Olascoaga

Yr 7 CF Harry Southon, Mack de Mestre

Yr 7 JL Henry Burton

Seraphina Weston

Yr 8 LG Freddie McGairl Pippa Vickers

Yr 8 JL Ada Sung Millie Dean

Yr 8 LG Flora Smythe Eli Hall

The Horner Reading Prize (for the most words read this term):

Junior: Camilla Norris-Jones (580,000 words)

Middle: Carter West (1,270,000 words)

Senior: Flora Smythe (574,000 words)

Spring Term 2023

Art and Design Technology

Progress in Art (Senior):

Jessica Field & Elodie

Eliott Lockhart

Progress in Art (Middle): Emily Norris-Jones & Nyamekye Ampofo

Progress in Art (Junior): Freddie Mason

Progress in D.T. (Senior): William Hart

Progress in D.T. (Middle): Ben Goldingham

Music

Progress in Music (Senior): Florence Bland

Progress in Music (Middle): Milo Curra

Progress in Music (Junior): Ben Brundish & Flora Stenhouse

Most Promising Newcomer: Annabel O’Gorman

Chess Ladder Cup:

Dormitory Prize

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup

Nuno Nardini

Boys: Tulip (for the tidiest dormitory): Girls: Lime

House Cups

Star Prizes

Inter House Golds Cup 1st DRAKE

2nd Wellington 3rd Marlborough 4th Nelson

Inter House Pinks Cup 1st DRAKE 2nd Marlborough 3rd

Inter House Stars and Minuses Cup 1st DRAKE 2nd

Inter House Good Conduct Cup (Awarded to the House with the lowest minus score. This does not count towards the HouseShield.)

1st MARLBOROUGH

2nd Drake

3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter House Sports Cup 1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd Wellington 3rd Drake 4th Nelson

House Shield 1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd= Wellington Drake 4th Nelson

Sport

Butler Rugby Cup (Outstanding player of the season): Oliver Ward

Ripley Rugby Tankard (Most improved player): Willem Orgill

Cox Cup (Year 6 player of the season): Lorcan Jones

Most Improved Senior Netball Player: Fatima Meseguer

Netball Shield (Outstanding senior player of the season): Coco Carnegy

Most Improved Middle Netball Player: Eva Whittome

Middle Netball Cup (Outstanding player of the season): Mariella Wilkinson

Senior House Netball Cup: Wellington

Middle House Netball Cup: Marlborough

Junior House Netball Cup: Wellington

Senior Boys’ House Hockey Cup: Nelson

Middle Boys’ House Hockey Cup: Marlborough

Junior Boys’ House Hockey Cup: Wellington

PRIZE-GIVING

Academia

Junior Progress Cup

Year 3: Freddie Mason

Year 4: Ottilia Black and Hugo Field

Stars Prizes – Golds

3M: Lyra Nazli Todd

3MG: Silvia Davis

3Y: Annabel O’Gorman

4C: Myla Vickers

4B: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

5D: Bumble Clarke

5H: Jayden Ogungbesan

6F: Henry Chilvers

6M: Tina Dong

6W: Mariella Wilkinson

7E: Rose Garrood

7N: Gadea Romero García

7W: Teresa Guzmán and Milly Rowe

8N: Ada Sung

8W: Fatima Meseguer

Top individual Golds total: Myla Vickers (75 Golds)

Stars Prizes – Pinks

(prizefor helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship))

Year 3: Orla Rowlands

Year 4: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli and Myla Vickers

Year 5: Mila Nardini, Jayden

Ogungbesan and William Warde

Year 6: Lorcan Jones

Year 7: William Xie

Year 8: Elizabeth Reeves

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Elizabeth Reeves

Send-up Prizes: Rose Garrood, James Maxwell, Sam Murphy, Annabel O’Gorman, Ava Petrova, Romilly Skinner, Ada Sung, William Warde

The Horner Reading Prize:

Junior: Talia Murphy

Middle: Emily Norris-Jones

Senior: Pippa Vickers

Inter House Golds Cup

1st MARLBOROUGH

2nd Nelson

3rd Drake

4th Wellington

Inter House Pinks Cup

1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd Drake

3rd Nelson 4th Wellington

Inter House Stars and Minuses Cup 1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd Nelson

3rd Drake 4th Wellington

Inter House Sports Cup 1st WELLINGTON

2nd Marlborough 3rd Nelson

4th Drake

Inter House Good Conduct Cup (For the House with the lowest number of minuses. This does not count towards the House Shield.)

1st NELSON

2nd Drake

3rd Marlborough 4th Wellington

Davidson Duty Cup

1st = NELSON and DRAKE

3rd Wellington 4th Marlborough

House Shield

1st MARLBOROUGH

2nd Drake

3rd Nelson

4th Wellington

Summer Term 2023 End of Term School Prize-Giving, Thursday 6th July in the Theatre

Junior Progress Cup: Hugo Field

Pinfold Good Spirit Cup: Amy McKie

Music

Best Junior Musician: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Best Middle Musician: Roy Ching/Tina Dong

Best Senior Musician: William Xie

Junior Progress in Music Cup: Sofia Clabby

Art and Design Technology

Harris Art Prize: Belle Lee and Archie Jaques

The Weston Cup for Junior Art: Nuno Nardini

The Weston Cup for Junior Design and Technology: Millay Ishii

Year 6 Drawing Competition: Isabella Xu and Nyamekye Ampofo

Up and Coming Young Artist Awards: Bibi Calvocoressi, Ida Akker and Joe Sato

Drama

Jackling Cup for Senior Drama: Ida Akker and Luca Brugnoli

Renshaw Cup for Junior Drama: Annabelle Sully and Sam Murphy

Junior Verse Speaking Prize: Year 3: Flora Stenhouse

Year 4: Jasper Weston

Geography Photograph Competition: ‘Vibrant Colours’

Years 3 & 4: Megan Weston

Years 5 & 6: Romilly Skinner

Years 7 & 8: Millie Dean

Carpentry Prize (to a pupil who has been a joy to teach, who has grown in confidence and who has achieved beyond all expectations): Teresa Guzmán

The Brambletye Award

Silver: Luca Brugnoli

Bronze: Robin Chapman-Hinge, Jessica Field, Hamish Henderson, Lucia Garrido, Fatima Meseguer, Ana Sanchez-Praena Berengena, Marta Vargas-Carvajal

Year 6:

Silver: Wilbur Chapman-Hinge, Annabelle Sully, Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Bronze: Mariella Wilkinson, Marcel Fernandez Brooke, Eleanor Twyning, Henry Chilvers, Milo Curra, India Henderson, George Stenhouse, Evie Vranic Britten, Emilia Weston

Sport

Cricket

Boys’ U9 Player of the Season: Freddy De Silva

Girls’ U9 Player of the Season: Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Boys’ U9 Most Improved Player of the Season: Ben Jones

Girls’ U9 Most Improved Player of the Season: Rosie Maxwell

The Hering Cup for Boys’ Colts Cricket: Joshie Hingston

The Mehurst Cup for Girls’ Colts Cricket: Annabelle Sully

Boys’ Colts Fielding Cup: Charlie Rowe

Girls’ Colts Fielding Cup: Eleanor Twyning

The Nicol 1st XI Fielding Cup for Boys: Bertie Dean

The Leefe 1st XI Fielding Cup for Girls: Millie Dean

The Coleman 1st XI Batting Cup for Boys: Ethan Lake

The Bonnar 1st XI Batting Cup for Girls: Bibi Calvocoressi

The Young 1st XI Bowling Cup for Boys: Willem Orgill

The Brealey 1st XI Bowling Cup for Girls: Milly Rowe

Inter House Cricket Cup (Resultsfrom both Boys andGirls competitions): WELLINGTON

Athletics

Inter House Relay Cup (The main, Blue-Ribbon event before lunch onSports Day): WELLINGTON

Inter House Athletics Cup: DRAKE

The Edu Athletics Cup: Oliver Twyning

Tennis

The Tennis Cup for Improvement: Milo Curra

Senior Tennis Cup: Fatima Meseguer

Middle Tennis Cup: Charlie Rowe and Josh Hingston

Junior Tennis Cup: Millay Ishii

The Sailing Cup: Rose Garrood

The Donald Golf Cup: Benjamin Bai

Dormitory Prize

The Harvey Brooks Dormitory Cup: Boys: Cedar Girls: Maple

Chapel Wardens’ Prize: Mille Dean, Eli Hall and Oliver Ward

Lighting Team:

Lead Technician: Ada Sung

Lighting Crew: Rose Garrood, Tresaanth Ruben, Otterly West, Charlie Fox, Scarlett Dennison, Max Evans

Academia

Stars Prizes – Golds

3M: Flora Stenhouse

3MG: Eddie Fraser and Rosie Maxwell

3Y: Talia Murphy

4C: Myla Vickers

4B: Sebastian Allenby and Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

5D: Bumble Clarke

5H: Jayden Ogungbesan

6F: Nyamekye Ampofo

6M: Rosie Warde

6W: Greta Grand

7E: Katherine Pearce

7N: Gadea Romero García

7W: Teresa Guzmán and Ewan McCabe

8N: Ada Sung

8W: Bella Buxton and Billy Chareonpitaks

Stars Prizes – Pinks (prizefor helpfulness, kindness and good citizenship))

Year 3: Freddie Mason

Year 4: Ottia Black

Year 5: William Warde

Year 6: Jasper Lee

Year 7: Taisiia Rodionova

Year 8: Billy Chareonpitaks and Lucia Garrido

The Callender Cup for Pinks (for the top individual Pinks total): Freddie Mason (19 Pinks)

Top Send-Up Prize: Flora Stenhouse

Times Tables Progress Cups

Year 3: Talia Murphy

Year 4: Ottia Black and Peter Sang

Year 5: Mila Nardini

Reading

The most words read this academic year: Talia Murphy

The Horner Reading Prize:

Years 3 and 4: Talia Murphy

Years 5 and 6: Clemence Longfield

Years 7 and 8: Bella Buxton

French Vocabulary

Year 5:

Bronze: Olivia Lim

Silver: Ava Petrova Gold: Aimee Bruce

Year 6:

Bronze: Nyamekye Ampofo

Silver: Tina Dong and Greta Grand Gold: Mariella Wilkinson

Year 7:

Bronze: Gadea Romero García

Silver: Katherine Pearce Gold: Teresa Guzmán

House Cups

Inter House Golds Cup 1st DRAKE

2nd Marlborough

3rd Wellington 4th Nelson

Inter House Pinks Cup 1st MARLBOROUGH 2nd Nelson 3rd Drake 4th Wellington

Inter House Stars and Minuses Cup 1st DRAKE 2nd Marlborough 3rd Nelson 4th Wellington

Inter House Sports Cup 1st WELLINGTON 2nd Nelson

3rd = Drake Marlborough

Inter House Good Conduct Cup 1st NELSON 2nd Wellington 3rd Marlborough 4th Drake

Davidson Duty Cup 1st = NELSON WELLINGTON 3rd = Drake Marlborough

House Shield 1st DRAKE 2nd Nelson 3rd Wellington 4th Marlborough

Summer Term 2023

Sports and Speech Day,

Friday

7th July

Prizes presented by: Mrs Sarah Henderson and Mrs Nicky West-Poole

Sport

Senior Captains’ Prizes:

Football: Kuvertas Subacius

Hockey: Coco Carnegy

Rugby: Oliver Ward

Netball: Kenna Patel

Cricket (Boys): Oliver Ward

Cricket (Girls): Grace Brincat

Athletics: Orlaith West

Sailing: Jessica Field

Chess: Kenna Patel

Cross Country: Hamish Henderson

Extra-Curricular

Head Chorister: Luca Brugnoli

Year 8 Music Prize: Bella Buxton

Dunn Art Prize: Jacoby Womersley Smith and Katya Kebadze

Yorke Prize: Coco Carnegy and Grace Brincat

Prize for the Most Improved Artist: Elodie Eliott Lockhart and Jessica Field

The ‘H’ Prize for Art: Ada Sung

The Year 8 Sketch Book of the Year Award: Kenna Patel

The Year 8 Self Portrait of the Year Prize: Fatima Meseguer

Of special note: Jessica Field came 1st in the IAPS National Art Competition (in the Year 7 and 8 Category).

The Ridgeway Rock (Awarded to someone who shows great perseverance and determination to succeed on the Leavers’ residential trip): Maria Avakyan

Academia

Panichewa Cup (for the bestYear 8C.E. Results): Flora Smythe

Shankland Prize for Creative Writing: Maria Avakyan and Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Thompson Modern Language Prize: Lucia Garrido and Elodie Eliott Lockhart

The Bullock Science Prize: Jacoby Womersley Smith and Flora Smythe

The Chow Latin Prize Poppy Skinner

Marstrand Prize for Mathematics Ada Sung

The Yarrow Geography Prize: Flora Smythe

The Babtie History Prize: Orlaith West

The Parke Prize for Religious Studies: Lily McGairl

The King Prize for Design: Eli Hall and Jaime Dorronsoro

The Horner Reading Prize: Orlaith West

Scholarship and Exhibition Prizes

Art: Kenna Patel (Eastbourne College)

Jacoby Womersley Smith (Tonbridge School)

Coco Carnegy (Charterhouse)

Orlaith West (Charterhouse)

Poppy Skinner (Bede’s Senior School)

Katya Kebadze (Uppingham School)

Ada Sung (Uppingham School)

Robin Chapman-Hinge (Sevenoaks School)

Drama: Luca Brugnoli (Ardingly College)

Music: Luca Brugnoli (Ardingly College)

Sport: Oliver Ward (Worth School)

Headmaster’s Prize: Marta Vargas-Carvajal Luque

Ana Sanchez-Praena Berengena

Vlad Zaitsev

The Lloyd Prize for Endeavour: Hamish Henderson

The Robin Lewis Award: Coco Carnegy

The Spencer-Jones Bowl: Billy Charoenpitaks

School Captains’ Prize: Orlaith West and Hamish Henderson

Salvete / Welcome

STAFF

Liam Gallagher

Kaylan Price

Tim Lunn (Maternity Cover)

CHILDREN

Sebastian Allenby 4B

Maria Avakyan 8N

Benjamin Bai 7W

Ottilia Black 4C

Yiyi Chen 8W

Benjamin Chicken NSRY2

Roy Ching 6F

Iciar De La Torre 8N

Jaime Dorronsoro 8W

Joe Finch NSRY1

Lucia Garrido 8N

Greta Grand 6W

Leo Hunt 1C

Otto Hunt 3Y

Anna Ivantsova 7N

Serena Leschallas 3M

Adeline Li RD

Rex Long 6W

Beatrice Mather RL

Sasha McCartney RD

Tara McCartney 3MG

Amie Monroe

Jessica Stamp

Lily Moore

Tom Booth

Fatima Meseguer 8W

Finn Milic 8W

Carlos Millan Sanchez-Praena 8W

Talia Murphy 3Y

Aleya Mustafa NSRY1

Leon Nazli Todd 3Y

Lyra Nazli Todd 3M

Trixie Neave RD

Ilaria Neave 4B

Jimmy Neave 2C

Gilbert Qiu 7N

Albert Qiu 3Y

Taisiia Rodionova 7N

Gadea Romero García 7N

Ana Sanchez-Praena Berengena 8N

Peter Sang 4C

Abi Sierra 7W

Taozi Tao 2F

Marta Vargas-Carvajal Luque 8W

Benjamin Vilarino Jimenez 7N

James Wang 5H

Ziran Wang 6W

Sarah Segrave

Zoe Clark

Tom Marr

Harry White

Oliver Wimble NSRY2

William Xie 7W

Andrey Bilous 6M

Masha Bilous 3MG

Monty Stamp NSRY2

Archie Ramsden Foster NSRY1

Adriano Ranuzzi NSRY2

Harsh Aswani 5H

Teddy Gilbert-Dan NSRY1

Daniel Ledlie NSRY1

Bertie Rawner NSRY1

Rufus Waters NSRY2

Michael Niu 8N

Cindy He 2F

Filippa Cockin 7N

Ethen Feng 6M

Annabel Jones 1C

Ben Jones 4C

Elliott McLean NSRY1

Lucy Burgess NSRY1

Isabella Xu 6W

Samuel Hunt 7W

Hannah Basham

Ross Basham

Andy Dennis

Lyra Gillespie NSRY1

Macarena Aguirre 6F

Sancho Aguirre 5D

Max Collinson 6W

Tilly Collinson 2F

Lily Johns NSRY1

Olivia Lim 5H

Lucas Lu 6W

Jason Miao 7W

Jonah Montagnon 5H

Charlie Reeves 2C

Sergio Rodriguez Walton 7N

Leo Sallas NSRY2

Manami Shimizu 4C

Wilfred Stamp NSRY1

Bruno Wainman 6F

Ralph Wainman 6M

Violet Wooltorton NSRY1

Iris Wu 1C

Kamila Adegunwa 5D

Valete Amanda Hearn

Amanda joined the Boarding Team as an Evening and Night matron but quickly proved herself to be so much more than that. ‘What can I do to help?’ was something she frequently said when she came into the Nest/Surgery during the day and saw how busy things were.

Always early, always dependable, she chaperoned the boarders on hospital visits, for new shoes or optician appointments. She connected with each child she cared for, taking time to listen and give advice. (Her emergency hugs were always very popular with the younger children!)

Her diverse experience as a nanny was put to good use. She could juggle the needs of several children without losing the personal touch and the needs of the individual children. She took on the responsibility for evening surgeries and ensured each child went to bed having had their medication, and just as importantly, a chat and some toast.

We hoped we might hang on to Amanda for a bit longer as she is a ‘Forest Rower’ at heart! Her Chi Gung practice was a gift she shared with both colleagues and the children! The expression of genuine sadness by the children in Prize Giving when it was announced that Amanda was leaving said it all. Her warm and generous manner around the school will be missed enormously by the children and staff alike.

We thank Amanda for her friendship, her dedication and her professionalism and we wish her well in her new role at The Prebendal School in Chichester.

Julie Corbin

Dominic Harlan

It has been a real joy working with Dom in the Music Department. His energy on stage and in the classroom is infectious and he has brought out the best in every child. We were well aware of his many skills before he came to us, but to see it in action has been a privilege. The way he inspires the children and prepares his choirs has been particularly exciting to watch.

Pre-Prep Music Week will never quite be the same again – who else could combine kazoos and first rate opera (including the very talented Mrs Harlan!) in an accessible package that is so entertaining? Dom’s bespoke accompaniments for the House Shouts will never be forgotten or rivalled either, and his accompaniment and help in rehearsing the Cast of ‘My Fair Lady’ last Spring Term was invaluable. In fact, if I were to list all of Dom’s immense contributions to the musical life and performing arts at Brambletye, it would take several pages of this magazine.

Despite only being with us for two years, Dom has made such an immense impact. He leaves us to return to the post of Director of Music at Notting Hill Prep – how lucky they are! – and he will be sorely missed here. Thank you so much for your creativity, friendship and energy.

Rachel Selleck

Annie Calf

It didn’t take us long to realise that Annie was an absolute gem! Her ready smile and can-do attitude was apparent from the outset and she settled into life as a matron in record time.

She bought with her valuable lessons from her own experience in boarding school. She knew that making sure each child felt valued and listened to was a vital part of her role. Her upbeat, resourceful character quickly put the children at their ease, and as one of the boys said when he heard she was leaving,

‘Miss Calf, don’t go! You’re the best!’

Her patience and willingness to help both staff and children was remarkable. She went beyond her job description and she pitched in to help both in the Boarding House and in other areas of the school, most notably in numerous drama productions where she proved herself not only to be a skilful script prompter but also a genius at sourcing props and running the Props Department for the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ and also helping to produce the Year 5 play.

Annie will be remembered for being an excellent team player who showed up every day with energy and good humour. The children and the staff will all miss her friendship and her enthusiasm enormously.

We know Annie will go on to great things and we wish her all the very best for her future.

Julie Corbin

Kate Law-Whitting

Kate Law-Whitting leaves us after 18 months as a valued member of the Brambletye community. Through her active participation, dedication, and positive influence, she has contributed significantly to the school’s sense of belonging and unity.

Kate’s genuine care for the children and her peers has helped to reinforce a welcoming and inclusive environment within Brambletye. Her respectful and friendly interactions have contributed a sense of belonging for everyone. Whether through offering support, lending a helping hand, or simply being approachable, Kate’s presence has ensured that everyone she has worked with during her time here has felt valued and appreciated.

During her time with us here at Brambletye, Kate has been involved in numerous aspects of school life including coaching sports teams, supporting lessons, being a valued and popular member of the boarding team, being an incredible Assistant Stage Manager for Mr Lush’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’ in March and a wonderful Team Manager in the Summer Hockey League. Her enthusiasm and dedication have never failed to inspire others to get involved, and in doing so foster a spirit of collaboration and teamwork.

She has served as a fabulous role model for the pupils here at Brambletye, whilst also providing guidance and support. Her active participation, genuine care, fabulous work ethic and sense of humour will be greatly missed.

We wish Kate well for the future and hope she will stay in touch.

Sam Walker

Nick Holloway

It is with a mixture of pride and sadness that we bid farewell to Nick Holloway, who is leaving to become Headmaster at Swanbourne School after six years of extraordinary service as Deputy Head.

Nick’s exceptional contributions to Brambletye have left an indelible mark on the staffroom, the children, and within the parental body – his departure will undoubtedly leave a void that will be challenging to fill!

Nick was everything I could have hoped for in a Deputy Head – incredibly hardworking, fiercely loyal, a stickler for detail, unafraid to challenge decisions, incredibly organised and ultimately he is someone who I am proud to call my friend.

He was appointed as the Deputy Head (Pastoral) six years ago and since then he has made an incredibly positive impact in so many areas of school life. Nick held a number of key responsibilities, including Head of Pastoral Care, Head of Whole School Discipline, Head of Boarding, and he worked very closely with our four Assistant Heads. During an unexpected management restructure three years ago, he stepped up to the role of Deputy Head and this entailed overseeing the day-to-day operations of the school, serving as my deputy in my absence, chairing staff meetings, delivering speeches at major school events, and addressing parental concerns. Remarkably, he accomplished all these responsibilities calmly and with dignity and structure!

As the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Nick played a crucial role in maintaining high standards of discipline and welfare. With his calm and measured approach, he fostered good manners and behaviour among the pupils, and he worked tirelessly to resolve any behavioural issues with remarkable success.

One notable achievement of Nick’s tenure at Brambletye has been the transformation of our boarding model. With his leadership, the introduction of a Head of Boarding for both boys and girls, a more flexible boarding structure, and publicised weekend activities have revitalised our boarding community. Under Nick’s guidance, our boarding numbers have steadily grown, creating a thriving and inclusive environment. His passion for boarding in prep schools, shaped by his own boarding experience and previous teaching at Cothill, have been instrumental in making our boarding community a home away from home. Nick also played a pivotal role in guiding the school through the pandemic. He co-authored and authored several whole school policies, including the effective implementation of the COVID-19 policy and the endless risk assessments! He was an invaluable member of the School’s COVID Crisis Committee, and he provided unwavering support to me during those incredibly difficult and uncertain times.

It has been an extraordinary six years – we’ve laughed, we’ve cried and together we have overcome some enormous challenges. He will be sorely missed by the staff, the children and the parents, but I have no doubt that he will go on to be a fantastic Headmaster – Brambletye’s loss is very much Swanbourne’s gain.

None of the above would have been possible without the extraordinary support of Nick’s wife Emily. She completely understands the demands of Prep School life and has allowed Nick the time and space to undertake his very busy role.

We wish Nick, Emily, Dougie, Barney and Wilf all the very best as they embark on what will be, I am sure, a hugely successful and happy journey to Buckinghamshire.

Will Brooks

A huge ‘thank you’ also goes to our GAPS Lily Moore, Sophie Moore and Billy Ridley and also Bryony Morris and Tim Lunn for all their hard work and dedication during their time at Brambletye. We wish them all the very best for the future and hope they keep in touch.

Valete, Discipuli

Maria Avakyan

House: Drake

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 4th Team Netball, 3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: I played the part of the Queen of Transylvania in the Senior Production of, ‘My Fair Lady’ Grade 6 Piano, Grade 3 Drums Best Prizes: Shankland Prize for Creative Writing, The Ridgway Rock Future School: Charterhouse

Grace Brincat

House: Drake (House Commander)

Senior Sport’s Teams: 1st Team Girls’ Cricket (Captain), 1st Team Netball (Colours), 1st Team Hockey (Colours)

Creative Arts: I played the part of a grand lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My fair lady’, Art Colours

Best Prizes: The Yorke Prize for Art, Captain of Girls’ Cricket Prize, Hockey, Netball and Art Colours, becoming a School Prefect and House Commander Future School: Worth School

Bella Buxton

House: Nelson, House Officer

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, 2nd Team Cricket, 1st Team Football

Creative Arts: I played the part of Mrs. Eynsford-Hill in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ Senior Music Colours, Grade 4 flute

Best Prizes: Best Musician Award in the Summer Term in Year 8, Prize for the most words read by a Senior in the Summer Term of Year 8 Future School: Marlborough College

Billy Charoenpitaks

House: Nelson (House Officer) Sports Teams: 2nd XI Football, 2nd XV Rugby, 3rd VII Hockey, 2nd/3rd XI Cricket

Creative Arts: I played the part of Alfred P. Doolittle in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: Senior Maths Colours, Senior Music Colours, Senior Drama Colours. Spencer-Jones Bowl. Stars Prize and Pinks Prize in Year 8 Future School: King’s Canterbury

Luca Brugnoli

House: Drake (School Prefect, House Officer)

Sports Teams: 1st Team Football, 1st Team Rugby, 2nd Team Hockey and 1st Team Cricket. Cross Country Team and Athletics Team

Creative Arts: In the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ I played the part of Professor Higgins, I have had Piano, Guitar and Singing lessons, I have done Grade 5 LAMDA

Best Prizes: Senior Drama Cup, Head Chorister Prize, Silver Certificate in the Brambletye Award, Drama Scholarship Prize, Music Scholarship Prize Scholarships: Drama Scholarship and Music Scholarship to Ardingly College Future School: Ardingly College

Robin Chapman-Hinge

House: Nelson (School Prefect)

Sports Teams: Hockey 1st Team (Colours), Netball 3rd Team and Cricket 3rd Team

Creative Arts: I played the part of a Cockney in the Senior Production of ‘My Fair Lady’, Senior and Junior Art Colours, Grade 3 Violin Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Sevenoaks

Best Prizes: Bronze Certificate in the Brambletye Award, Art Scholarship Prize Future School: Sevenoaks School

Coco Carnegy

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: Captain of Hockey, Hockey Colours, 1st Team Netball, Netball Colours, 1st Team Cricket, Girls 1st Team Football

Creative Arts: In the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ I played the part of Mrs Hopkins who was a Cockney. Junior and Senior Art Colours, Grade 1 piano

Best Prizes: Player of the Year in Netball, Library Assistant, School Prefect, House Officer, Captain of Hockey Prize, Hockey Colours, Netball Colours, Junior and Senior Art Colours, Year 7 Prize for most Send-Ups. The York Prize, Art Scholarship Prize, The Robin Lewis Award Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Charterhouse Future School: Charterhouse

Álvaro Dávila Pariente

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 2nd XI Football (Captain), 1st XV Rugby, 2nd VII Hockey, 2nd XI Cricket, Tennis Team, Golf Team (Captain)

Creative Arts: I was a Cockney the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: Golf Captain Prize Future School: Back to Spain

Millie Dean

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 1st Team Cricket, 1st Team Girls’ Football, 2nd Team Netball, 3rd Team Hockey

Creative Arts: I played the part of a grand Lady in the Senior Production of ‘My Fair Lady’, Grade 4 LAMDA Best Prizes: Most improved netball player in Year 7, Won the Year7 & 8 Geography Photographic Competition, The Leefe 1st XI Fielding Cup for Girls Future School: Bohunt School

Elodie Eliott Lockhart

House: Marlborough (House Commander)

Sports Teams: 1st Team Hockey (Colours), 1st Team Netball, 1st Team Football, 1st Team Cricket

Creative Arts: I played the part of a Lady and one of Higgins’ Maids in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’. I was one of the Robbers in the Year 6 play, ‘Darbishire and the End ofTerm Play’ Best Prizes: Most Improved Artist in Year 7 and Year 8. Shankland Prize for Creative Writing, Thompson Modern Languages Prize, Senior Art, Maths and Music Future School: Worth School

Jaime Dorronsoro

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 3rd XI Football (Captain), 2nd XV Rugby, Summer Hockey League (Team Law-Whitting), 3rd XI Cricket Team

Best Prizes: The King Prize for Design Future School: Going back to Spain

Jessica

Field

House: Nelson (House Commander) Sports Teams: 4th Team Hockey, 4th Team Netball, 3rd Team Cricket, 4th Team Football, Brambletye Sailing Team (Captain and Colours)

Creative Arts: National IAPS Art 1st Place Prize, LAMDA Grade 5 Solo, LAMDA Shakespeare Level 1, Winner of the Harris Art Prize 4 times, Most Improved Artist Award, Grade 3 Singing, I was Juliet and the Queen in the play ‘Shakespeare Rocks’, I played one of Higgins’ Maids and a grand Lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: National IAPS Art 1st Place Prize, Harris Art Prize, Pink Stars Prize, Gold Stars Prizes, Prize for the Most Improved Cricket Player. Most Improved Artist Award. Senior Music Colours, Senior Art Colours, Senior Maths Colours and Senior Language Colours Future School: Hurstpierpoint College

Yiyi Chen

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 4th Team Cricket, 5th Team Netball, 3rd Team Hockey

Creative Arts: Played the part of a grand Lady in the Senior Production, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: Senior Maths Colours, Senior Arts Colours

Future School: King’s School, Canterbury

Iciar De La Torre

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Netball, 1st / 2nd Team Cricket, Captain of Tennis

Creative Arts: Senior Art Colours, I played one of Higgins’ Maids and a grand Lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: Senior Art Colours

Future School: Returning to Spain

House: Drake (House Officer) Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, 3rd Team Cricket, Cross Country Team, Athletics Team Creative Arts: Senior Art colours, I played the part of one of Professor Higgins’ Maids and a grand Lady in the Senior Production, ‘My Fair Lady’. Best Prizes: House Officer, Senior Language Colours, Bronze and Silver Awards in the Maths Challenge, Bronze certificate in the Brambletye Award, Pinks Star Prize and French Prize. Future School: Going back to Spain

Eli Hall

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 2nd/3rd Football, 2nd Rugby, 4th Hockey, 2nd/3rd Cricket

Creative Arts: I was a Cockney in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ Best Prizes: Chapel Wardens’ Prize

Future School: King’s Canterbury

Lucia Garrido

Hamish Henderson

House: Wellington (Joint School Captain and House Commander)

Senior Sport’s Teams: 1st XI Football, 2nd XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket

Creative Arts: Grade 4 LAMDA, Maths Colours (Senior and Junior), Drama Colours, I played the part of Colonel Pickering in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’

Best Prizes: Joint School Captain, House Commander, Captain of Cross Country, The Lloyd Prize for Endeavour Future School: Wellington

Katya Kebadze

House: Wellington (School Prefect)

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Netball, 3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: I played a grand Lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, Senior Art Colours, Senior Music Colours, Grade 3 Singing

Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Uppingham School

Best Prizes: The Dunn Art Prize Future School: Uppingham School

Lily McGairl

House: Marlborough (House Officer)

Sports Teams: 3rd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Cricket, 4th Team Netball

Creative Arts: In the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ I played a Cockney, Senior Music Colours, Grade 1 Clarinet

Best Prizes: Parke Prize for Religious Studies, House Officer, Gold Stars Prize Future School: Hurstpierpoint College

Fátima Meseguer

House: Wellington Sports Teams: Hockey: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, 1st Team Cricket, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: I played the part of a Lady and one of Higgins’ Maids in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ , Art Colours

Best Prizes: I won the Year 8 Verse

Speaking Competition, I won a prize for getting the most Gold Stars, being made House Commander, Senior Maths Colours, Senior Language Colours, Prize for the Most Improved Senior Netball Player, Prize for the Best Year 8 Self-Portrait, Silver Award in the Brambletye Award, Senior Tennis Cup Future School: Back to Spain

Finn Milic

House: Marlborough

Senior Sport’s Teams: 2nd Team Football, 1st Team Rugby, 2nd Team Hockey, 3rd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: I acted as a Cockney in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ Best Prizes: Maths Colours Future School: Bede’s Senior School

Carlos Millán Sanchez-Praena

House: Marlborough

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football, 1st/2nd XV Rugby, 4th VII Hockey, 2nd XI Cricket

Creative Arts: I played the part of a Lord in the Senior Musical, ‘MyFairLady’ Best Prizes: Dorm of the Week Prize (Dorm Captain) Future School: Back to Spain

Michael Niu

House: Drake

Sports Teams: Rugby 1st Team, Football 3rd Team, Hockey 4th Team and Cricket 3rd Team

Creative Arts: Performed in the Leavers’ Entertainment Future School: Lancing College

Kenna Patel

House: Drake (House Commander)

Sports Teams: 1st Team Netball (Captain), 1st team Cricket, 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Football

Creative Arts: Senior Music Colours, Senior Art colours, I played a Cockney in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Eastbourne College

Best Prizes: Art Scholarship to Eastbourne College, Captain of Netball Prize, Captaincy of Chess Prize, Best Year 8 Sketchbook of the Year Prize Future School: Eastbourne College

Ana Sanchez-Praena Berengena

House: Nelson Sports Teams: 4th Team Hockey, 4th Team Netball, 2nd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: LAMDA Grade 4, I was a Lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, Art Colours

Best Prizes: House Officer for Nelson, Future School: Returning to Spain

Poppy Skinner

House: Nelson (School Prefect)

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Cricket, 2nd Team Hockey, 1st Team Netball, 1st Team Girls’ Football

Creative Arts: I played the part of Mrs Pearce in the Senior Production, ‘My Fair Lady’, Senior Music Colours, Senior and Junior Art Colours, Grade 2 Saxophone

Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Bede’s Senior School

Best Prizes: Art Scholarship Prize, School Prefect, Library Assistant, The Chow Latin Prize

Future School: Bede’s Senior School

Oliver Ward

House: Nelson (House Officer)

Sports Teams: 1st Team Football (Colours), 1st Team Rugby (Captain and Colours), 1st Team Cricket (Captain and Colours), Cross Country Team, Athletics Team, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: I played the part of Lord Boxington and also a Cockney in the Senior Production of ‘My Fair Lady’ Scholarships: Sports Scholarship to Worth School

Best Prizes: Sports Scholarship Prize, Bronze Certificate in the Junior Math Challenge, Captain of Cricket and Captain of Rugby Prizes, Butler Rugby Cup, House Commander, Chapel Warden Prize Future School: Worth school

Flora Smythe

House: Marlborough

Senior Sport’s Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd Team Netball, 2nd Team Cricket

Creative Arts: A played one of Higgins’ Maids and a Lady in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, Grade 3 Singing, Grade 2 Saxophone, Senior Music Colours

Best Prizes: The Panichewa Cup (for the best Year 8 C.E. Results), The Bullock Science Prize, The Yarrow Geography Prize

Future School: Brighton College

Orlaith West

House: Wellington (Joint School Captain and House Officer)

Sports Teams: 1st Team Hockey (Colours), 1st Team Netball, Girls’ 1st Team Cricket, Girls’ 1st Team Football, Athletics Team (Captain)

Creative Arts: I played the part of Mrs Higgins in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, Senior Art Colours, Senior Drama Colours

Best Prizes: The Horner Reading Prize, Captain of Athletics Prize, Art Scholarship Prize Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Charterhouse

Future School: Charterhouse

Kuvertas Subacius

House: Nelson

Sports Teams: Tennis Team, 1st XV Rugby, 1st VII Hockey, 1st XI Football (Captain), 1st XI Cricket, Athletics Team

Creative Arts: I played a Footman in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, LAMDA

Best Prizes: ‘Golden Boot’ Prize (for Football), Football Colours, Captain of 1st XI Football Prize

Future School: Ardingly College

Jacoby Womersley Smith

House: Drake (School Prefect)

Sports Teams: 1st XI Football, 1st XV Rugby, 1st VII Hockey, 2nd XI Cricket

Creative Arts: Senior Art Colours, Grade 2 Piano, Grade 5 LAMDA, I played the part of Higgins’ Butler in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, Art Scholarship to Tonbridge.

Best Prizes: Dunn Art Prize, Bullock Science Prize, Art Scholarship to Tonbridge Future School: Tonbridge School

Ada Sung

House: Nelson

Creative Arts: Senior Art Colours, Senior Music Colours, Piano Grade 4, Lighting Team for ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Lola’s War’ in Year 8

Best Prizes: Certificate from Uppingham School for being in the top twenty candidates for Common Entrance exam results

Scholarship: Art Scholarship to Uppingham School

Future School: Uppingham School

Marta Vargas-Carvajal Luque

House: Drake (House Officer)

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Hockey, 2nd/3rd Team Netball, 2nd Team Cricket, Tennis Team

Creative Arts: I played the part of a grand Lady in the Senior Production of, ‘My Fair Lady’, Senior Art Colours, Grade 4 LAMDA

Best Prizes: Becoming a House Officer, Senior Art Colours, Send-Up Prize, Headmaster’s Prize, Bronze certificate in the Brambletye Award

Future School: Returning to Spain

Vlad Zaitsev

House: Wellington

Sports Teams: 2nd Team Football, 1st Team Rugby, 1st Team Cricket

Best Prizes: Chapel Warden Prize, Headmaster’s Prize

Future School: Uppingham School

2022/2023 Scholarships

Many congratulations go to our 10 Scholars who between them achieved 11 awards this year across a variety of disciplines. This takes the tally of Scholarship awards won by pupils at Brambletye to 121 in the last 6 years.

Kenna Patel Art Scholarship Eastbourne College

Jacoby Womersley Smith Art Scholarship Tonbridge School

Coco Carnegy Art Scholarship Charterhouse

Orlaith West Art Scholarship Charterhouse

Poppy Skinner Art Scholarship Bede’s Senior School

Katya Kebadze Art Scholarship Uppingham School

Ada Sung Art Scholarship Uppingham School

Robin Chapman-Hinge Art Scholarship Sevenoaks School

Luca Brugnoli Drama Scholarship Ardingly College

Luca Brugnoli Music Scholarship Ardingly College

Oliver Ward Sports Scholarship Worth School

Brambletye Scholars 2023

Leavers 2022

Our Leavers depart to an impressive array of 15 Senior Schools, in total. We are not a feeder for one or two schools and because of this we are able to tailor the needs and desires of individual families to ensure our pupils go the right schools for them.

This year our Leavers are moving on to the following Senior Schools: Ardingly College, Brighton College, Bede’s Senior School, Bohunt School, Charterhouse, Eastbourne College, Hurstpierpoint College, The King’s School Canterbury, Lancing College, Marlborough College, Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge School, Uppingham School, Wellington College, Worth School.

Brambletye Leavers 2023

Dream Big, Shine Bright and Be Kind!

As I write my last ever Brambletye article (number 15) I thought I would share with you my personal mantra – ‘Dream big, shine bright and be kind!’ Short, snappy and not that dissimilar to the Brambletye motto of ‘Work hard, play hard, be kind’. Mine is a motto that has guided me well as the Pre-Prep Team have worked hard to become the Pre-Prep we are today. It is a place that is welcoming, supportive and fun, but it is also a place that recognises the importance of our role, that being to oversee the beginning of your child’s most important journey, often as they take their first steps away from mum and dad at 2 years of age, when they walk into our amazing Nursery.

I remember writing that at some point, ‘Play is a child’s work’. If we can make learning fun, accessible and pertinent to the individual then we are winning!

As I consider my rapidly approaching retirement, one of the things that I will miss most will be welcoming you all each morning. It is a lovely tradition and it also ensures that I have seen every child at the beginning of the school day and this allows me to keep ‘my finger on the pulse’. Knowing, recognising and nurturing the strengths of every child, giving them the opportunity to shine brightly should ensure bright smiles and excitement to face the challenges of the day, safe in the knowledge of personal success.

That is not to say that school is ‘easy’! Oh no! On any learning journey there will be challenges and opportunities that require hard work, perseverance and resilience and it is our job to make each of these things part of any school day and nothing out of the ordinary, exciting even!

Every child experiences challenges of different degrees. At school these will be specific and even daunting at times; mine was Art in school – I really was truly hopeless! It is our job to teach strategies, to offer positive learning

opportunities and to recognise and praise effort. In this way we allow our children to grow, to believe in themselves and to push personal boundaries in a safe space. I sincerely hope that as you read this, these are things you recognise in the Brambletye education.

Visiting prospective parents invariably ask me what makes Brambletye different to its competitors. My response is the breadth of its curriculum, that every subject is valued and the commitment of the staff to teach every child as an individual - which I promise you we do!

If you joined us for our ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening at the end of term, you will have heard me wax lyrical about our wonderful ‘Team’. It is a team

that has over 150 years of ‘Brambletye experience!’ The Pre-Prep team is built upon exceptional professional values and friendship. I consider us to be a team of equals, where I hope every voice is heard and considered. We reflect and move forward together and this friendship and support ensures that while we work hard, we have time to dream big and shine brightly for the children.

There have been a number of changes in the Pre-Prep over the last 15 years, and for these I would like to thank our wonderful team of Governors who manage and lead the school so well. During my Headship we have added a classroom, built the MUGA, extended the Nursery provision and changed the Nursery playground twice! We have provided outstanding outside learning areas for both Nursery and Reception and changed the climbing frame in the big playground. Special to me is the beautiful mural in the Pre-Prep foyer, which was the very first thing I oversaw 15 years ago and it still makes me smile every single day!

A school never stands still and it has been a real privilege to be a part of the planning of the next very exciting chapter in the history of the PrePrep and that awaits you all in the coming year – I say no more, but it is so exciting! Of course, leading you into all this ‘excitement’ will be Miss Kate Fleming, who I know will be the most amazing Head of Pre-Prep from January 2024.

I have loved my job. There have been challenges that have required ‘hard work, perseverance and resilience’ but I look forward to my final Brambletye term, happy in the knowledge that I will be passing something that is so special to me, on into the safe hands of Miss Kate Fleming and the Pre-Prep Team.

Thank you all for your support and participation in all the different activities and events that we have held over the years: the Summer Fun Days, International Weeks, French Days, Parent Cafes and Assemblies… the list is endless! But especially for allowing me to help prepare your children for such a very special journey. It has been a joy and a genuine privilege.

Dawn Atkinson

The Bramble Babies

‘Sprinkling the fairy dust at Bramble Babies’ They do say a picture is worth a thousand words after all!

Reception

We have thoroughly enjoyed learning outdoors – whether it be in the Woods, in the Reception Garden or exploring the Brambletye grounds. We have gardened, found mini-beasts, learnt life-saving skills in the Swimming Pool and enjoyed both the sunshine and the rain!

Year 1

What a fabulously varied year it has been for the Year 1 children! Looking back through all the photos, I couldn’t quite believe how many adventures we had been on in our time together! We have made the most of nature and the great outdoors, been on three trips and have had countless dressing up days and workshops, all with a lot of hard work in between, of course! These have been valuable experiences that I hope the children will carry with them on their next adventure in Year 2!

Year 2

And so to the end of another year, We give the Year 2s a farewell cheer.

We’ve worked hard, played hard and had fun,

But there was so much work to be done.

We filled our days with castles, clay creations and Joseph teddy coats, Building bridges, Tudor houses and testing which boats float.

We’ve written Magic Key stories about animals on Safari, Explored Kenya, Greece, 1666 London and Hawaii.

Our topic ‘The Victorians’ brought History to life, Tales of chimney sweeps, ‘strict school’ and trouble and strife.

The work of Thomas Barnardo and his homes for girls and boys, Making zoetropes and thaumatropes and other old toys.

We’ve studied animals and habitats and learnt tricky calculations, Explored symmetry, times tables, time and fractions.

The children said, ‘This year has flown by and soon we’ll be Year 3’, We wish them all the best on their new adventures and will miss them all dearly!

CC

Brambletye Magazine 2023

Summer Fun!

Excitement and laughter filled the air as the sun beamed down on another glorious Pre-Prep ‘Summer Fun Day’.

Based on the idea of a traditional school fête, the day was designed to be the perfect celebration of joy and nostalgia where the children get to experience a plethora of rides and games as their parents take in the ambiance or take refuge in the refreshments tent! Every child left with a heart full of cherished memories and, of course, a jam jar brimming with goodies!

Pre-Prep Sports Day

Brambletye

Pre-Prep Summer Concert

Senior Verse Speaking Final

This year’s Senior Verse Speaking Final treated parents, teachers and boarders alike to a hugely entertaining evening, that took us from the humour of the classroom, to the beauty of nature, the horror of battlefields and into the world of Shakespeare. We were lucky to be joined by Nicholas Fanthorpe, Head of English at Hurstpierpoint College, who came to perform the difficult task of judging the competition.

Sam Murphy opened the batting for Year 5 with a wonderfully humorous performance of ‘Sick’ by Shel Silverstein, convincing me he was too ill for school! Aimee Bruce’s beautifully spoken ‘The River’ by Valerie Bloom then brought a clear sense of rhythm to convey the flow of the river and a journey through life. Josh Hingston’s strong stage presence in his performance of ‘The Book’ by Michael Rosen reminded us all of the excitement and joy of reading. The mood then turned back to comedy with Bumble Clarke’s performance of ‘George’. Hilaire Belloc’s cautionary tale was recited by Bumble with great comic timing and an inventive use of movement. This was followed by Marina Davis’ excellent comic storytelling as she recited ‘Strict’ by Michael Rosen, using a great variety of voices to capture Rosen’s caustic humour. I am glad to say we have no teachers like that at Brambletye!

Liam Gallagher then welcomed Nicholas Fanthorpe to the stage to deliver his adjudication, the first of four very tricky decisions. Marina Davis was duly crowned the winner of the Year 5 section of the competition.

It was then the turn of the Year 6 finalists to recite their poems and Annabelle Sully was first to take to the stage. She recited the poem ‘Little Red Riding Hood and theWolf’ by Roald Dahl. She was another who captivated the audience with a variety of voices. Henry Chilvers chose ‘It’s True’ by Jackie Hoskings. His recitation was most entertaining and his use of varying pace was superb. Evie Vranic Britten recited ‘The Pig’ by Roald Dahl. In this charismatic performance she captured Dahl’s dark humour through the use of dramatic actions and clever changes of tone. Greta Grand chose ‘The Naming of Cats’ by T.S. Eliot. She held the audience’s attention beautifully with her clear annunciation of some very challenging vocabulary.

Milo Curra quickly established a change of mood with a perceptive performance of ‘The Daffodils’ by William Wordsworth. He brought out the rhythm of the poem, helping us imagine we were part of the scene. No sooner had we relaxed in the countryside, we then entered the horrors of war with Archie Donaldson-Cramer’s ‘Counterattack’ by Siegfried Sassoon. This was an ambitious choice and Archie conveyed the pain and chaos of war with impressive eloquence. Nicholas Fanthorpe then took to the stage and said he had already run out of superlatives to describe the children’s performances. He admitted that this was another very difficult decision but that in the end Evie Vranic Britten was his choice as winner of the Year 6 Final.

The evening then moved on with some ambitious poem choices by the Year 7 finalists. Sadly, although Florence Bland had got through to the final, she was ill on the night and the audience missed her performance of ‘Diary of a Church Mouse’ by John Betjeman. Emilia Johnson began this section of the competition with dramatic storytelling and a brilliant control of rhythm as she recited ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Bibi Calvocoressi took us to a wild night with ‘Double, double toil and trouble’ from William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’. Bibi’s strong characterisation and actions made her a terrifying witch. Rose Garrood then recited ‘The Badger’ by John Clare with a powerful and compelling sense of narrative that conveyed the fighting spirit of the badger in the face of cruelty.

Tom Moody proved himself a highly skilled performer with Gaunt’s dying speech from Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’. In his recitation he captured the strong and complex emotions within the piece. Tabby McQuitty changed the mood with ‘Oh, tell me the truth about Love’ by WH Auden. Tabby’s melodic rendition combined a delightful mix of humour and serious reflection. Seraphina Weston closed the Year 7 final with the poem ‘Tiger’ by A. D. Hope. Seraphina held the tension and controlled the pace of this enigmatic poem with great skill. Nicholas Fanthorpe was incredibly impressed with all the performances, but Tom Moody was announced the winner for Year 7.

Billy Charoenpitaks began the Year 8 final with a charismatic and powerful performance of ‘A Man I Once Knew’ by Carl Hohenberg. He was followed by Flora Smythe’s enjoyable and rhythmic storytelling in her performance of ‘Skimbleshanks’ by T. S. Eliot. In a dramatic change of mood, Orlaith West returned us to the dark shadows of war with

‘Nicholas Fanthorpe said he had already run out of superlatives to describe the children’s performances –but that in the end Evie Vranic Britten was his choice as winner of the Year 6 Final’

‘The evening ended on a humorous note with ‘Homework, Oh Homework’ by Jack Prelutsky, recited by Fatima Meseguer. Despite English being her second language, her performance was superb and her comic timing was excellent’

a poignant and moving rendition of, ‘The Hero’ by Siegfried Sassoon. In her rendition she managed to capture the intense sadness of this angry poem. The strength of emotion was continued in Bella Buxton’s well-controlled performance of ‘Funeral Blues’ by W. H. Auden. In this performance the audience couldn’t help but feel the sense of terrible loss. Finally, the evening ended on a humorous note with ‘Homework, Oh Homework’ by Jack Prelutsky, recited by Fatima Meseguer. Despite English being her second language, her performance was superb and her comic timing was excellent. Once again, no one envied Nicholas Fanthorpe’s task of choosing the winner. In the end, he chose Fatima as the winner of the Year 8 final. In winning the Year 8 section of the competition she also received the Sladen Cup for Senior Verse Speaking. Our thanks go to Nicholas Fanthorpe for taking the time to join us and adjudicating such a close competition. Thanks also to all the children in Years 5-8 who worked hard to learn a poem and especially to the finalists. We would also like to thank the English Department for supporting all the children as they prepared their poems in their English classes and for organising such an enjoyable evening.

ZS

‘Jonah: A Fishy tale’ The Year 4 Musical

Directed by Michelle Clark, David Brundish, Katie Miller-Gras, Gary Mitten, Arabella Young and Dominic Harlan

With the gloom of winter upon us, one could not have asked for a more delightful antidote than this year’s Junior musical ‘Jonah: A Fishy Tale’. From the first scene through to the last we were treated to toe tapping tunes and countless chances to chortle. We were whisked off to many-a-different place; from a Ramsgate look-alike beach of days gone by complete with the Headmaster and Deputy Head in full tweed, to the groovy innards of the whale itself with a seaweed covered Jonah to boot! The bellowing of Jonah’s name from the rafters by ‘God’ was hugely enjoyed by the audience and there were wonderful solos sung by members of the cast, too. Nevertheless, the collective efforts of the Junior School with their choreography and singing was a glorious spectacle, with every song becoming a multi-coloured, synchronised delight. It was a marvellous production. The children were magnificent! Many thanks and congratulations must also go to the (‘often underappreciated’!) Tech Crew, led by Mr Gallagher. Together they produced a fabulous light show to accompany the musical. Finally, huge thanks must also go to Mr Harlan, Mrs Clark, Mr Brundish, Mrs Miller-Gras, Mr Mitten and Miss Young for all their efforts in putting this wonderful show together. It was an absolute joy!

RW

Cast

Narrator Josiah McKie

Mr Brooks Benjamin Brundish

Mr Holloway Otto Mills

Peg It Elise Duthie

Sunbather Jasper Weston

Leg It Jacob Crichton-Williams

Jonah George Johnson

Voice of God Hugo Field

Crab Milly-Ellen Brugnoli

Fish Myla Vickers

Senorita Ella Vickers

Captain Sibby Thompson

Sailor 1 Millay Ishii

Sailor 2 Frederick De Silva

Sailor 3 Maximilian Jaques

Sailor 4 Leo Li

Dad Sebastian Allenby

Mum Ilaria Neave

Daughter Ottilia Black

Pirate 1 Molly McCabe

Pirate 2 Joshua Gilbert

Pirate 3 Peter Sang

Pirate 4 Rose Kelso

THEATRE

‘My Fair Lady’ The Senior Musical

Music by Frederick Loewe and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Produced and Directed by Jonathan Lush.

After an absence of four years, the much anticipated senior musical returned in spectacular fashion. The talented staff, cast and crew worked tirelessly over several months to transport us back to the sights and sounds of Edwardian London.

The musical ‘My Fair Lady’, by Lerner and Loewe, is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Pygmalion’ and tells the story of how a humble flower seller in London is transformed into a lady by the pompous Professor phonetics, Henry Higgins. He is so sure of his abilities that Higgins even strikes a bet with his good friend, Colonel Pickering, that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a cockney working class girl, into someone who can pass for a cultured member of high society. Eliza agrees to speech lessons in order to improve her job prospects but Higgins’ unceasing and exhausting teaching methods causes the two to clash. Nevertheless, in the end they form an unlikely bond.

The entire cast were superb! From chorus groups to leading roles, their commitment, energy and enthusiasm was almost tangible. Particular mention should go to Luca Brugnoli as Higgins and Ida Akker as Eliza. Their portrayals of the two main characters were truly magnificent for children so young. They understood the characters they were playing and they produced some inspired heart wrenching and also comic moments within the musical that will live long in the memory. The way Ida understood how to show Eliza’s transition into a lady showed real flair and artistic talent. Her songs ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly’, ‘JustYou Wait’ and ‘I Could Have Danced all Night’ were especially polished and incredibly powerful. Luca’s singing was absolutely top drawer and the two of them took this production to the next level.

Hamish Henderson as Colonel Pickering, Orlaith West as Mrs Higgins, Bertie Dean as Freddie Eynsford-Hill and Poppy Skinner as Mrs Pearce all

gave accomplished and memorable performances. Nevertheless, for me though, another standout performance was that of Billy Charoenpitaks playing the part of Eliza’s father, Alfred P Doolittle. He acted with enormous stage presence and humour and seemed to thoroughly enjoy taking centre stage, especially during the songs ‘With a Little Bit of Luck’ and ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’ Brambletye’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’ had an enormous cast and all of the children should be congratulated for giving us such a fabulous evening – well done to everyone; Cockneys, Lords and Ladies, Maids and all!

A production of this scale provides the children with the opportunity to experience a wealth of different professional production values and techniques. It also allows the children to see first-hand all the different stages that go into

‘Brambletye’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’ had an enormous cast and all of the children should be congratulated for giving us such a fabulous evening...’

putting on a major production; from the initial auditions, to working with professional choreographers, a professional set, state of the art technical equipment, right through to performing the show in its entirety in front of three large audiences during Production Week. Meanwhile, the look of pride on the children’s faces as they performed on stage was clear to see. They will remember this unique experience for many years to come and they themselves will have gained enormously in confidence, and it is that same added confidence that I am sure they will go on to benefit from in other areas of school life.

Above all, a production of this size and complexity is a huge team effort. Special mention must go to the staff, parents and a number of the children who were involved in the lighting, sound, costumes, make-up and hair, stage management, props, cast supervision, catering, programme design, radio microphones, dance choreography, photography and front of house. The list goes on!

Being a musical, the learning of the songs and musical direction is obviously fundamental to

Cast

Eliza Doolittle Ida Akker

Professor Henry Higgins Luca Brugnoli

Colonel Hugh Pickering Hamish Henderson

Alfred P. Doolittle Billy Charoenpitaks

Mrs Higgins Orlaith West

Freddie Eynsford-Hill Bertie Dean

Mrs Pearce Poppy Skinner

Mrs Hopkins Coco Carnegy

Harry Rory Calvocoressi

Jamie Henry Burton

Frank (Bartender) Freddie McGairl

Professor Zoltan Kaparthy Tom Moody

the show and Mrs Selleck and Mr Harlan worked tirelessly to ensure that the children were all well prepared. The costumes for this production were particularly impressive and we were so fortunate to have the unbelievable skill and dedication of Kate Bryant and Lisa Hills (both former parents). We are so grateful to them for all their support and many long hours of work.

Meanwhile, sound and lighting can be particularly complex in a production of this nature and we thank Mr Purcell for coming out of retirement briefly to work on the sound desk, very ably supported by Tresaanth Ruben and Max Evans. On the lighting desk we had Mr Gallagher doing his first Brambletye musical. I have to admit to thinking that perhaps he would not have realised the enormity of the job involved in such a production and I wondered whether he would survive! But I needn’t have worried! The lighting desk was in very safe hands and the hugely complicated technical aspects of the show were handled magnificently by Mr Gallagher and his Technical Crew. On this note, I am sure he would like me to mention and thank especially his Lead

Technician, Ada Sung, who not only learnt quickly how to programme the stage lights but who also ran the lighting desk almost single-handed during Production Week! My admiration goes out to the whole Lighting, Sound and Special Effects Crew! This was a wonderful production in every respect and all involved can be rightly proud. In the past, the bar had been set high and then, amazingly, in this production it was raised even higher. This was directly as a result of the tireless and professional dedication of our producer and director, Jonathan Lush. Every two years he astounds me with the effort and organisation that he puts into these senior musicals. I have been fortunate to see many now – ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Oliver!’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and now ‘My Fair Lady’. Every one of these productions was wonderful in their own way but ‘My Fair Lady’ was, perhaps, the best of them all. Without Jonathan’s expertise and absolute steadfast dedication, this simply would never have been remotely possible to achieve. Roll on 2025!

Lord Boxington Oliver Ward

Queen of Transylvania Maria Avakyan

Charles and Footman Kuvertas Subacius

Footman and Butler Oliver Twyning Cockneys

Taisiia Rodionova, Kenna Patel, Otterly West, Elizabeth Reeves, Álvaro Dávila Pariente, Katherine Pearce, Lily McGairl, Filippa Cockin

Robin Chapman-Hinge, Belle Lee, Eli Hall, Finn Milic

Lords and Ladies

Higgins’ Maids Jessica Field, Seraphina Weston, Milly Rowe, Tabby McQuitty, Bibi Calvocoressi, Fátima Meseguer, Iciar De La Torre, Lucía Garrido, Rose Garrood, Florence Bland, Emilia Johnson, Flora Smythe, Elodie Eliott Lockhart

Higgins’ Butler Jacoby Womersley Smith

Mrs Eynsford-Hill Isabella Buxton

Abi Sierra, Ana Sánchez-Praena Berengena, Gadea Romero García, Grace Brincat, Pippa Vickers, Anna Ivantsova, Teresa Guzmán

Marta Vargas-Carvajal Luque, Millie Dean, Yiyi Chen, Carlos Millán Sánchez-Praena

Katya Kebadze, William Xie, Gilbert Qiu

Extra Cockneys: Seraphina Weston, Milly Rowe, Tabby McQuitty, Bibi Calvocoressi, Rose Garrood, Florence Bland, Emilia Johnson

Extra Lords and Ladies: Jessica Field, Fátima Meseguer, Iciar De La Torre, Lucía Garrido, Flora Smythe, Oliver Ward

Elodie Eliott Lockhart, Tom Moody,

JAG

‘The Wind in the Willows’ The Year 5 Play

Directed by Caitlin Ferris and Annie Calf

Early in June I had the pleasure of attending a remarkable promenade performance of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ performed by the hugely talented pupils in Year 5. The immersive experience took the audience on a magical journey around parts of the school and its beautiful grounds that in their own way depicted the enchanting world of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved characters in the story.

The decision to stage the production as a promenade play added an extra layer of excitement and engagement. As we moved from one location to another, the pupils seamlessly transformed each space into the whimsical settings of the story. The young actors exhibited an impressive level of commitment and creativity, bringing the characters to life with boundless energy and enthusiasm. The integration of interactive elements allowed the audience to actively participate in the narrative, further enhancing the immersive nature of the production. Overall, this Year 5 adaptation of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ as a promenade play was a testament to the pupils’ talent and also the dedication and enormous skill of the director Miss Ferris who was ably supported by Miss Calf. It was a truly memorable experience that showcased the power of the imagination and teamwork.

In addition to the outstanding production as a whole, there were some standout performances that deserve special mention. Bumble Clarke’s portrayal of Toad alongside Mila Nardini as Ratty

and Ava Petrova as Mole was nothing short of sensational. With her wonderful energy and charismatic stage presence, Bumble captured the essence of Toad’s mischievous and larger-than-life personality, delivering a performance that was both hilarious and endearing at the same time. She was supported brilliantly by the other two girls.

THEATRE

Meanwhile, the Narrators, Sam Murphy and Faramade Oshinowo, were both magnificent in their roles as they led the audience from one scene to the next. In the meantime, Josh Hingston brought a menacing intensity to the role of Badger, adding a layer of depth and complexity to the character. His commanding presence and powerful delivery left a lasting impression on the audience. Another noteworthy performance came from William Warde, who portrayed the leader of the ‘Wild Wooders’ with a perfect blend of wildness and charisma. These standout performances elevated the play to new heights and showcased the remarkable acting talent within Year 5.

GM

Cast

Narrators

Sam Murphy and Faramade Oshinowo

Mole Ava Petrova

Rat

Toad

Badger

Otter/Clerk

Albert

Rupert and Gwendoline

Chief Weasel

Mila Nardini

Bumble Clarke

Josh Hingston

Edward O’Gorman

Alexander Nixon

Abayomi Oshinowo

William Warde

Sergeant Stoat Jayden Ogungbesan

Officer Weasel

Cadet Ferret

Mr Fox

Mr and Mrs Ferret

Butlers

Ben Goldingham

Frederick McLean

Emily Norris-Jones

Charlie Rowe and James Maxwell

Aimee Bruce and Clara Collcutt Deghaye

Mr Hedgehog Benjamin Selleck

Squirrels

Lawyer

Policeman

Prison Guard

Olivia Lim, Sancho Aguirre, Jonah Montagnon, Kamila Adegunwa

Clemence Longfield

Wilfred Chicken

Oscar Clark

Washerwoman Marina Davis

Judge

Miss Ferris (for one night only!)

‘Lola’s War’ The Year 6 Play

Written and Directed by Jonathan Lush

The Year 6 play, ‘Lola’s War’, served as an enthralling sequel to the previous year’s production, ‘Lola’s Gold’. Once again, the talented Mr Lush took on the roles of writer and director, showcasing his creative prowess. Both plays featured almost the same cast, ensuring a seamless continuation of the story. From the moment the stage came to life, bathed in a dimly lit setting and enveloped in a captivating haze created by the smoke machines, the mood was set for another extraordinary performance under Mr Lush’s direction.

To bring the audience up to speed, a voiceover eloquently recapped the events of ‘Lola’s Gold’. This inclusion ensured that even those who hadn’t seen the previous play could fully grasp the storyline and appreciate the connection between the two productions. The clever use of sound effects further immersed the audience into the world of the Home Front during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War, with the resonance of bombs, piercing sirens, and the haunting sound of train whistles, creating an atmospheric backdrop as children were

Cast

Lola Evie Vranic Britten

Roger Henry Chilvers

Sally India Henderson

Mr Carter Arthur Smythe

Mr Johnson Milo Curra

Percy Wilbur Chapman-Hinge

Miss Chapman Eleanor Twyning

Miss Dryden Annabelle Sully

Spiv Jasper Lee

Fred Edward Brincat

Harry Marcel Fernandez Brooke

Anna Parker Greta Grand

Milly Parker Georgie Carnegy

Vicar Ralph Wainman

Policeman Harry Fox

Gerald Andrey Belous

Lucia Macarena Aguirre

Albert Bruno Wainman

Alfie Lucas Lu

Mavis Butterworth Romilly Skinner

Norman Butterworth Roy Ching

Mrs Pargeter Margot Elliot Lockhart

Mrs Potter Mariella Wilkinson

Mrs Thompson Mimi Thompson

Station Master Carter West

ARP Warden Archie Donaldson-Cramer

Old Ben Felix Biddle-Guerrier

Landlord Castor Olascoaga

Henry George Stenhouse

Teddy George Wormull

George Lorcan Jones

Brian Max Duthie

Tommy Bobbie Foster-Kemp

Lizzie Tina Dong

Poppy Saoirse Longfield

Basil George Fraser

Susan Isabella Xu

Margot Rosie Warde

Maisie Eva Whittome

Louisa Emilia Weston

Madge

Audrey Nyamekye Ampofo

Jack Rex Long

Archie Ethen Feng

Ralph Ziran Wang

Max Max Collinson

Desmond Arthur LI

evacuated from London. These details, meticulously crafted by Mr Lush and the Sound Crew brought the sights and sounds of the era vividly to life, enhancing the overall experience.

The true strength of ‘Lola’s War’ resided in the superb script and the exceptional performances of the cast. Each pupil skilfully encapsulated their roles, delivering heartfelt and authentic portrayals that drew the audience deep into the emotions of the characters. The portrayal of long-suffering

‘Lola’s War’ skilfully

transitioned between a diverse spectrum of moods, seamlessly weaving moments of humour and suspense, catering to the tastes and sensibilities of both Prep School aged children and adults alike.’

teachers evoked sympathy, while the infectious sense of adventure radiating from the children captivated viewers of all ages. ‘Lola’s War’ skilfully transitioned between a diverse spectrum of moods, seamlessly weaving moments of humour and suspense, catering to the tastes and sensibilities of both Prep School aged children and adults alike.

Amongst the talented ensemble, standout performances were aplenty, with individual actors leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Yet, it was the cohesive and supportive nature of the cast that truly elevated the production. The characters’ palpable on-stage chemistry enhanced the overall quality of the performance, further immersing the audience in the unfolding story. Combining the strength of the well-crafted script, the immersive effects, and the exceptional performances, ‘Lola’s War’ proved to be a compelling and unforgettable theatrical experience, leaving a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of witnessing this creative vision come to life on stage.

K M-G

The Passing of Queen Elizabeth II

It was with great sadness that Brambletye, along with the Nation, mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022. As a sign of respect the Brambletye flag was lowered to half-mast that evening and the following day a Book of Condolence was placed in the Chapel. Children, staff, parents and friends of Brambletye were invited to share messages, memories and thoughts in the book as a tribute to Her Majesty, the Queen, who served as our Monarch for 70 years.

The late Queen embodied both duty and dignity. She dedicated her whole life to our country and to the Commonwealth and I am sure her incredible service will remain an inspiration to us all.

Under 11

A Team Hockey Success!

Well done to our Girls’ Under 11 A Hockey Team who performed brilliantly throughout the season. One of the highlights was when they won the UKSA Triangle Tournament in November.

They battled through a tough group stage and this placed them in the semi-final against Bede’s who they went on to beat. In the Cup Final, our girls came up against one of their biggest rivals, Cumnor House, and after a close encounter Brambletye won the final 4-3 on shuffles. The team showed great determination, cohesion and mutual support of each other and this certainly bodes well for the future. This tournament success completed an excellent season for the Under 11 A Team who won all but one of their matches.

Congratulations Luca!

Huge congratulations to our Head Chorister, Luca Brugnoli who came Runner-Up in the BBC’s Young Chorister of the Year 2022 Final, which aired at Christmas.

Luca went on to star as Henry Higgins alongside Ida Akker in the Senior Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ in March. He was also awarded a Music Scholarship and a Drama Scholarship to Ardingly College in the Spring Term.

We are immensely proud of Luca and we now look forward to following his future career on the stage both at senior school and beyond.

Charity Up-Date

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

Back in September we were delighted to reveal the grand total that the Brambletye community had raised for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, our charity for 2021/22. The total amount raised was an incredible £48,000!

We are enormously proud of all the pupils, staff, families and friends of Brambletye whose creative energy and initiative was tireless. From the annual Art Auction, the Brambletye Dog Show to our Spring Dinner & Dance and Mrs Clark’s Daring Wing Walk, everyone did their bit to support the fundraising. Huge thanks go to Mr Brundish for driving the campaign and to Pippa for inspiring us all.

Brambletye’s Charity Fundraising Stretches Far and Wide

Recently retired Head of Science and Former Head of Nursery, Ian and Claire Purcell, recently enjoyed a trip to Kenya where they had the opportunity to visit a number of facilities that Brambletye's annual charity fund raising has helped to build and equip over the past 15 years. These included The Vanessa Grant Girls' School in Rongai, (supported in 2009), The Gogar Primary School IT Facility (supported in 2013 and pictured here in the Brambletye magazine) and also ‘Flames of Hope’ (supported in 2017) in partnership with The Vansessa Grant Trust, that sets out to support new school developments.

The trip to Kenya was an amazing experience for Mr and Mrs Purcell and they found it incredibly humbling and an absolute joy to actually see in person the positive impact of Brambletye’s Charity fundraising.

Over the past 5 years the children, staff, parents and friends of Brambletye have raised more than £225,000 for our chosen charities.

The Jubilee Garden

The end of an era gives rise to the start of another…

At the beginning of the Autumn Term the youngest pupils in the Prep School helped the Headmaster to plant a Brandywine Acer tree in the new Jubilee Garden to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. The tree was chosen for its beautiful leaves which turn pink in Autumn. The perfect choice for Brambletye!

The site of the garden is where the Year 3 classrooms and the children’s Boot Room used to be. Generations of Brambletye children will remember their lessons with Miss Dunstan in the old, prefabricated building and putting their football boots on before games in the Boot Room.

The garden was designed and created by Brambletye’s very own Estate’s Team and since the opening ceremony in the autumn, a lovely circular bench, kindly donated by our 2020 Leavers, has been placed at the centre of the garden along with the newly planted tree. Another raised flower bed and seat has also been built where the actual Boot Room used to be and a reinforced glass balustrade has been installed along the top of the Art Room steps and path. Future generations of Brambletye children will now be able to sit, read or enjoy a leisurely chat during free time in the shade of the Brandywine Acer tree and enjoy this newly created space.

‘Hope and Homes for Children’

Brambletye’s Chosen Charity for 2022 – 2023

This year our chosen charity was ‘Hope and Homes for Children’. The Charity’s mission and aim is to close orphanages around the world and to place the children back into supportive family care. They work tirelessly to not only close the doors of orphanages but also to keep families together, to reunite them and to create new ones.

Our particular focus this year, for obvious reasons, was on the work this charity is undertaking in Ukraine and 100% of all the money raised will be used in this war-torn country.

I am immensely proud of how the Brambletye community consistently demonstrates its commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of those less fortunate, and this year has been no exception.

Our pupils, staff, and parents have once again rallied together with remarkable energy and creativity to raise funds for ‘Hope and Homes for Children’. The variety of fundraising initiatives undertaken by the Brambletye community has been truly awe-inspiring and have included the annual Burns Night Supper, Craft and Bake sales, Marathons and Half Marathons, Triathlons, the Charity Art Auction, and our Charity Concerts just to name a few. The commitment displayed by those who completed the ‘100 kilometres in May’ was truly magnificent... and exhausting!

Huge thanks go to all the Brambletye pupils who took the initiative to make a difference this year. I’d like to mention in particular Archie DonaldsonCramer, Edward O’Gorman and Wilbur and Robin Chapman-Hinge who between them raised nearly £2000. Another special mention must go to Mr. Piper for taking on the monumental challenge of running the London Marathon and to Mr. Holden and Mr Skinner for conquering the Brighton Half Marathon earlier in the year.

As we approach the grand finale of this year’s fundraising efforts, I am thrilled to announce that thanks to everyone’s exceptional efforts and contributions the final sum raised for ‘Hope and Homes for Children’ this year is £43,195.86p! This also brings the total raised for our chosen charities to over £300,000 in the last eight years!

In this special article for the School Magazine, I would like to include a lovely quote from Catherine Butt who is the Supporter Fundraising Manager for ‘Hope and Homes for Children’:

“It has been a privilege to work with Brambletye School to raise funds for our UkraineAppeal. Seeing the entire school commit so passionately to supporting families and children caught up in this conflict has been incredible. As a result of this phenomenal support our local Ukrainian teams will be able to continue providing humanitarian and psychological support for thousands of children and families, as well as continue to lay the ground work nationally and internationally for the total

reform of Ukraine’s vast system of orphanages that don’t protect children and have left them to face the dangers of this war alone.Without this support from Brambletye School none of this will be possible so we are incredibly grateful to the whole school community for their commitment and determination to raise funds and awareness of our work.Thank you for helping us to transform children’s lives for ever.”

Catherine Butt, Supporter Fundraising Manager

To each pupil who baked, ran, rode, sang, or painted; to each member of staff who organised, guided, or participated; to each parent who supported, encouraged or contributed, and to all those who simply donated to the charity, Mrs Brooks and I thank you all for your amazing generosity and kindness.

Will Brooks

Brambletye’s Show Jumpers

Are Riding High

Brambletye show jumpers George and Flora Stenhouse looked incredibly smart in their Brambletye pink and black silks as they galloped around the NSEA 30cm and 75 cm show jumping course at Duckhurst in April. It was a fantastic debut appearance for both children and they coped brilliantly on a tight and complicated course.

Flora achieved a clear round and George’s speedy time around the course was also very impressive.

The Coronation of King Charles III

During the build-up to the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6th May, and over the weekend of the coronation itself, the children enjoyed getting into the spirit of the occasion. Various activities were organised and these included crown making, ‘royal rounders’, themed lessons (including a Buckingham Palace ‘build’, a special fish and chips Friday lunch, blue-blooded biscuit baking, a boarder’s ‘Royal Riot’ disco, a Sunday lunch banquet for the boarders on Top Terrace and the best seat in the house watching the coronation on the big screen in the Theatre.

The Advance of Artificial Intelligence!

In recent months Brambletye have set up a working group to identify ways in which we feel ‘AI’ can enhance the education of the children at Brambletye. Meanwhile, in the middle of May, 3Y’s School Assembly highlighted the rapid advance of Artificial Intelligence in everyday life. They also showed the school a ‘Disney Style’ video they had made using ‘AI’ that featured many of the members of staff! Pictured below are just some of the stars of the film. See if you can guess who the members of staff are!

The Day the Bomb Squad Visited Brambletye!

During free time on a Wednesday afternoon last Summer Term a group of Year 7 boys made an extraordinary discovery on Lower Terrace. Whilst prodding about with sticks in the bare patches of earth on Lower Terrace, not something in itself the groundsmen would have encouraged (!), the boys came across a live Second World War hand grenade!

Following the surprise and perhaps initial disbelief of the member of staff on duty, wheels were quickly put into motion to deal with the hand grenade! A safety cordon was set up around the Mills Bomb and following the arrival of a Tactical Arms Squad from the police, the Royal Navy Bomb Squad also then soon arrived. The hand grenade was safely removed from Lower Terrace and a controlled detonation of the grenade was carried out on New Field. Even standing on Top Terrace at the time of the detonation, it was quite some explosion!

At the start of the Second World War Brambletye was requisitioned by the army and the school was evacuated to Lee Abbey in North Devon for the duration. The 1st Battalion, London Rifle Brigade were the first to move into the school and were based at Brambletye between 1941 and 1942. In fact, on 1st May 1942 His Majesty King George VI inspected the 1st Battalion on Top Field before the Battalion departed for Suez. Units of the Canadian army were then based at Brambletye during the build-up to D-Day.

It is thought that the grounds were extensively used for training by the army during the war. When the School eventually returned to Brambletye from Devon at the end of the war, the grounds and the school buildings were in a sorry state and a huge programme of repairs had to be instigated before a delayed start to the Autumn Term could take place in October 1945.

After some detailed research during the writing of this School Magazine, I came across these two rare photographs of the London Rifle Brigade and the Canadian Army training very nearby.

Old Brambletyean Dinner

Sunday 2nd July

Having caught up last year with the 2015, 2016 and the 2017 Old Brambletyean dinners that had to be postponed due to Covid, we were delighted this year to welcome back Old Brambletyeans who left in 2018 and who had just completed their A Levels.

The traditional dinner was held in Walnut and a delicious meal was prepared by Annabelle and her team. Much to the delight of the guests, part of the scrumptious pudding even included the traditional Brambletye Special!

During the meal itself we were also joined by the 2018 Head of School, Robert Adams, who face-timed us from Portugal! Meanwhile, Mr Lush’s slideshow of photos from their time at Brambletye also caused much hilarity during the meal.

After dinner the boys and girls enjoyed a further trip down memory lane when they went for a wander around different parts of the school. It was a glorious evening and we now wish them all the very best of luck as they begin the next exciting chapter in their lives.

Members of the 1st Battalion, London Rifle Brigade training on the lakes at Pippingford Park.

Members of the Canadian army training on Ashdown Forest.

Grandparents’ Day

Tuesday 16th May

One of the highlights of the year was Grandparents’ Day that took place on Tuesday 16th May. We welcomed 130 Grandparents for a glorious lunch laid on by Annabelle and her team followed by tours of the school, a concert and then afternoon tea. The sun shone and everyone was able to see Brambletye and its grounds in full bloom and looking at its best.

It was a very happy day and we received so many kind letters from Grandparents expressing their enjoyment and thanks. Here are just a couple of lovely notes received by the Headmaster: “We were incredibly impressed with everything; the children, who continue to shine, the grounds which are breath-taking, and the staff... “

“We had not been to a Grandparents’ Day before and so we wanted to thank you for such a splendid lunch, afternoon tea and concert. Our Granddaughters were very proud to show us round Brambletye and we really enjoyed the experience with such marvellous facilities and grounds.”

“We were incredibly impressed with everything; the children, who continue to shine, the grounds which are breath-taking, and the staff...”

Year 7 Trip to Belgium

‘An

Unforgettable Experience’

Monday 13thThursday 16th March

The Year 7 trip to Belgium was a great success despite a turbulent start as we set off on the ferry crossing on one of the windiest days of 2023! Straight after landing in Calais, we visited the Dunkirk Memorial that was both humbling and fascinating. The memorial helped the children put into perspective the tremendous sacrifice made by so many soldiers during this war and many others. As one pupil said to me, “Being at the memorial was truly amazing. Sadly, there were many very young soldiers, some as young as 16, who sacrificed their lives for others.”

On the next part of our trip, we had an incredible opportunity to glimpse the training astronauts do at the European Space Centre (ECS), when preparing to go into space. The children were split into 3 groups and they went on to experience the feeling of lower gravity while using the multiaxis chair, the anti-gravity slide, the virtual Moon walk, and the ‘rotor’ – firm favourite amongst the children. One of the children commented: “In the Euro Space Centre, we did a lot of crazy activities like the ‘rotor’, which was scary at first but really fun after.”

Every group also took part in the re-creation of a space shuttle mission. “Houston, we have landed!” Each group successfully attached their space shuttle to their respective space stations through strong teamwork. However, things turned very competitive with the rocket launching. Now in smaller teams, the children had to follow clear instructions and build their rocket. Focus and attention to detail was crucial in order to enable each rocket to set off and fly high. The launch of each rocket was a sight to behold with the rockets being sent off with great success… well, most of them, isn’t that right Mr. Skinner’s group?!

We spent the last day of our trip in Belgium’s capital, Brussels. We spent the morning discovering one of French culture’s most popular forms of Art, the Comic Book. The Comic Art museum is a gem to be discovered. As this was Brambletye’s

first visit there and we were pleasantly surprised and impressed with the richness of material and activities. The Peyo exhibition found on the top floor of the museum was a hit for everyone. Who wouldn’t like to visit a realistic, 3D Smurf’s village?!

A trip to Belgium would not be complete without some chocolate and perhaps some waffles, so it was only fitting that we concluded our trip by roaming the streets of Brussels in search of the ery best chocolate waffles!

The Year 7 trip to Belgium was an unforgettable adventure filled with profound experiences and exciting discoveries. Despite the challenging weather at the beginning, the children bonded as a group as we embarked on a journey through both history and space exploration.

We are now very much looking forward to next year’s trip. Until then, farewell Belgium and thank you for the memories!

N McK

ACADEMIA

Academia

by Mr Piper, Assistant Head

and Director of Studies

As the summer term draws to a close and we end what has been a very busy year, I have the pleasure of writing a brief review on what has been my first year in the role. At Brambletye, we put the pursuit of academic excellence at the heart of all that we do and we are fortunate that the children here are guided by a team of inspirational and enthusiastic teachers.

Overall, the children have made excellent progress in the classroom and this has been reflected in many of the assessments and examination results that have been achieved over te course of the year. A special mention has to go to the children in Year 8 who have produced some outstanding Scholarship and Common Entrance results and all of whom saw their efforts rewarded with places at the Senior School of their first choice. As reported in this year’s School Magazine, Brambletye children recorded 11 Scholarship and Exhibition awards this year across a variety of disciplines. This takes the tally of Scholarship awards won by pupils at Brambletye to 121 in the last 6 years. The scholarship journey is an extremely testing one and all those who undertook the process this year deserve to be enormously proud of their efforts and their dedication. We congratulate them on all they have achieved.

(Academic)

Under Mr Mason’s guidance, the Brambletye Award has been introduced this year and the children have been recognised for their various achievements outside of the classroom. It has also been wonderful for us to be able to celebrate the plethora of talent, enthusiasm and determination within the community. The resilience of the children and their willingness to get involved and to ‘have a go’ in activities outside the classroom and in many cases outside the school, has been tremendous.

Meanwhile, in a world that is seemingly becoming dominated by Artificial Intelligence, we have introduced a working group to identify ways in which we feel ‘AI’ can help improve the education of the children at Brambletye. However, we are doing so whilst always keeping one particular question in mind: ‘Is this going to improve the children’s learning experience?’ The temptation is to fast track technology into the classroom, but it must be done so for the right reasons and not simply because it is ‘new’. As with all technology, ‘AI’ needs to enhance our children’s learning and development and not dominate it. ‘AI’ is obviously here to stay and it will undoubtedly be a valuable tool in the classroom, but what must lie at the heart of the academic process here at Brambletye is the need to ensure we continue to offer academic excellence in our teaching.

The completion of the Jubilee Garden is hugely exciting and means that the children now have another glorious space in which to relax during free time and enjoy some peace and quiet in the fresh air, away from the busy nature of the Brambletye day. The Jubilee Garden along with Top and Middle Terrace are beautiful parts of the school grounds, lovingly looked after by our amazing team of gardeners. The children can now enjoy these delightful areas; to gather their thoughts, to relax and read their latest novel, or to revise with classmates or simply chat quietly with their friends. If, however, the children prefer to spend their

breaktimes playing different ball games or ‘tag’ they are incredibly lucky to have acres and acres of beautiful playing fields on Lower Terrace and Nevill Field to play on.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the immense support and encouragement provided by the parents and the wider school community. We are hugely grateful for your support and partnership throughout what has been another successful year.

FP

ACADEMIA

Sport at Brambletye

Sports Review 2022-2023

The 2022/23 school year has seen a great deal of excitement and success on the sports’ front and the fixture calendar was packed with fixtures in all the major sports. There were also numerous minor sports’ fixtures this year, and this included swimming and tennis back in the calendar.

The year began, as ever, with Football for the boys and Hockey for the girls. The boys started well on the football front with all teams seeing success in their Wednesday and Saturday matches. The Colts boys looked strong throughout the season and with a good number of Year 5s in the squad, this bodes well for the future.

Under the guidance of Mr. Denny, the Senior and Junior girls’ hockey teams enjoyed a fantastic season, with many of the teams progressing well. The junior teams participated in a number of enjoyable mini-hockey festivals and the girls made notable progress throughout the year.

The middle and senior girls also achieved significant success, winning more than 50% of their matches. The senior girls represented the school well at the IAPS regionals, where they played some excellent hockey.

During the opening months of the school year there were a number of tournament successes for the boys and girls:

Under 13 Girls’ IAPS Hockey: Bowl Winners

UKSA Under 11 Girls’ Hockey: Winners

Copthorne Under 13 Boys’ 6s: Plate Winners

Brambletye Under 11 Boys’ 6s: Plate Winners

Hurstpierpoint Under 11B Hockey: Winners

Hurstpierpoint Under 12 HocNet: Winners

Lancing College Under 11 Hockey: Winners

The transition to the rugby and netball seasons towards the end of the Autumn Term brought about determined performances from both the girls’ and the boys’ teams. Rugby coaches expressed pride in the boys’ dedication and progress during training sessions and matches alike. The Under 10 and Under 11 teams remained undefeated, while the 1st Team suffered only the one defeat. Although the girls’ netball teams did not advance beyond the regional IAPS qualifying round, all the girls displayed increasing levels of skill during the season.

The Summer Term brought with it the eager anticipation of both the boys and the girls as they looked forward to their cricket seasons alongside athletics and tennis matches in a busy summer of sport. The girls continued to make excellent progress on the cricket front and they were a joy to coach. The Girls’ 2nd XI and Colts A Teams played the bulk of their matches with

a hardball, thus showing the progress being made in the girls’ game. The Junior boys and girls played their fixtures on Thursday afternoons and they had lots of exposure to competitive gameplay. Cricket is an extremely technical sport and I was very impressed with the level of development that took place across the season with the Juniors. Meanwhile, the 1st XI Girl’s team repeated last summer’s strong season with another great summer winning 50% of their matches including another pleasing win against Cumnor House. Meanwhile, the boys’ cricket benefited greatly from their winter training program in the Sports Hall and the Colts squad in particular enjoyed an impressive season with the Colts A and Colts C Teams recording unbeaten seasons.

The Tennis Teams had a bumper fixture card this summer with all teams having plenty of competitive action. All the teams played well but the Under 13 girls had the most impressive record winning all of their matches!

The summer season also included athletics, where school records were broken, and a number of pupils excelled at the National Athletics

Finals. Oliver Twyning (Yr.7) achieved remarkable results, finishing 2nd in shot put and 4th in discus at the Nationals. This was in addition to his win at the County Championship. Henry Chilvers (Yr. 6) also secured 4th place in the 800m at the Nationals, complementing his 2nd place in the County Championships where he also became the County 200m Champion. In the meantime, George Fraser (Yr. 6) delivered an impressive 5th place finish in the 75m hurdles at the Nationals.

Sports Day was a grand event and it was blessed with bright sunshine and blue skies. Noteworthy performances included Henry Chilvers setting a school record in the 600m, adding to his existing 800m record, and Sibby Thompson (Yr.4) breaking Brambletye athletics records in both the High Jump and the 200m. She is certainly a promising talent for the future.

Overall, the 2022/23 school year at Brambletye was marked by thrilling sports events and noteworthy achievements. The pupils’ dedication and accomplishments across various sports were commendable, showcasing their talent and pride in representing the school.

SW

Spring Term

Parents’ Matches

Sports and Speech Day

Friday 7th July

We were blessed with blue skies and sunshine on Sports and Speech Day. The day began with a Leavers’ Prize Giving in the Theatre. This was followed by the wonderful Brambletye tradition, the House Parade, from Top Terrace down to Nevill Field. We then then enjoyed a morning of hotly contested sports in the sunshine. Congratulations go to Wellington who won the main, Blue Ribbon event before lunch, the Inter House Relay Cup. Congratulations also go to Drake who won the Inter House Athletics Cup this year.

Brambletye Athletics School Records

Sports Day Athletics Prize-Giving

Victor Ludorum

Senior: Oliver Twyning

Middle: Frederick McClean

Junior: Jacob Crichton-Williams

Victrix Ludorum

Senior: Orlaith West

Middle: Ava Petrova

Junior: Sibby Thompson

Inter House 4 x 100m Relays

Boarding

The summer months at Brambletye School bring with them an extraordinary experience for the boarders. As the sun shines and the days lengthen, the school grounds transform into a haven of endless fun. Nevertheless, as the photos in our School Magazine will show, the Autumn and Spring Terms also bring with them their own unique traditions, treats, outings and activities for the boarders.

With the support and help of our amazing matrons, GAPS and live-in staff we have offered a varied and exciting programme of activities and outings for the boarders this year. But the boarding experience is more than just exciting activities. It is a time when the boarders can enjoy relaxing and having fun with their friends away from the pressures of life in the classroom and journeys back and forth in the family car at the beginning and at the end of each day. The boarders have much enjoyed the warm and joyous atmosphere fostered by the Boarding Team and this has steadily seen boarding numbers increase over the last couple of years.

The Autumn Term saw a number of wonderful new boarders start at Brambletye. There were also many fabulous activities laid on by the Boarding Team and the Live-in members of staff. These included Laser Tag, Task Master, a Halloween Party with music and games, a Saturday evening outing to see ‘Glow Wild’ in the botanical gardens at Wakehurst Place, a Giant Sleepover and a Roller Disco. The boarders also enjoyed Inflatable slides, Karaoke, Tik Tok Challenges, Wednesday Afternoon Baking (that has become a staple favourite with the boarders), a Christmas Disco and of course

one of the most enjoyed and treasured traditions here at Brambletye for the Boarders, ‘Carols Around the Christmas Tree’ in the Front Hall on the last night of term.

The Spring Term saw the boarders enjoy a Casino Night, an afternoon at ‘Clip-n-Climb’, Weekend Walks on the Forest, a trip to watch Mr Denny play hockey for East Grinstead, a Spa Night, Capture the Flag – in the dark (!), Laser Tag at Drivers’ Wood, Boarders’ Got Talent, a Year 3 Sleepover and a Spring Term Disco.

The lighter evenings and the sunshine of the Summer Term allowed for even more outdoor Boarders’ activities to take place. The exciting outings and activities included numerous Coronation Celebrations, Pool Parties, recording three Music Videos, Paddle Boarding on a nearby crystal-clear lake on the forest, a Winnie the Pooh Walk, a Trip to the Seaside at Eastbourne, Camping Under the Stars in the glorious Brambletye grounds, the Escape Rooms at Tully’s Farm, Smoothie Making and Baking on Wednesday afternoons, Inflatable Slides, a Saturday Evening Karaoke, and a ‘Colour Run’.

In the dormitories the children can relax, chat and unwind at the end of another busy Brambletye day. Lego building, reading, colouring, Lush 2 Stories and the occasional quiz night are also popular pastimes.

Boarding at Brambletye offers an enchanting blend of adventure, bonding, and self-discovery. With a wonderful Boarding Team leading the way, the boys and girls can enjoy an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, friendship, and fun.

The memories created whilst being a boarder at Brambletye will forever be etched in the hearts and memories of those fortunate enough to be a part of the Brambletye boarding family.

So, as the sun sets on another fabulous year for the boarders at Brambletye, let us raise our glass and toast the cherished memories, friendships, and the everlasting spirit of adventure that the boarders have enjoyed this year.

Smoothie Making Clip and Climb

Art & Design Technology

Creativity in schools and the work place is currently a hot topic. It is a popular subject that is exciting politicians and academics the world over. They say it is very important, more so now with the emerging popularity of AI. They say it will be central to our future prosperity which is all well and good, but what exactly is creativity and how does it work in Prep Schools? Why do some pupils appear to find it easy to come up with brilliant, fresh ideas while others cannot seem to at this age? Is it simply a case of ‘creative types’ being programmed differently, or is it more to do with behaviour and attitude from an early age?

As Head of Art, I believe that good behaviour is key and can only enhance the learning of all our artists, and there is an artist in everyone.

Since moving into our new Centenary Art facility in September 2020 our pupils have made the most of the upgraded studios with 45 Art Scholarships won in this four-year period taking our total to 250 scholarships in 26 years of Fine Art Practice.

The ‘H Block’ provides a professional working environment equipped with more space, natural light and split level work stations for all year groups to use in order to maximise their learning outcomes and creative potential. The balcony opens up to stunning views of Ashdown Forest which has provided starting points for our Year 8 Artists to explore in their Art lessons. The H Block is a venue for creativity and the addition of our delightful Jubilee Garden alongside the entrance adds to the tranquillity of creative learning in a relaxed atmosphere, forging links with reading, poetry and Fine art practice.

Years 3, 4, and 5, led by Miss Levy and ably assisted by Mr Skinner, have explored the work of Picasso, Matisse, and Lacombe, and have covered the foundations of drawing, mark-making, colour, texture, composition, and the development of a given starting point. They have also been taught the value of good behaviour and self-discipline which can only benefit their progress. In addition, our Year 5’s produced Design/Technology work based on key fobs, mobile phone holders and maze games under the expert tutelage of Mr Holloway.

Year 6 have been busy drawing animal portraits and the human form (hands) using oil pastels and graphite pencils. They have developed their preliminary sketches using the mathematical process of pixel transformation. Year 7 have implemented watercolour skills, observational drawing disciplines, and symmetry composition using their design knowledge to create clocks and iPhone stands using plywood, spray paint, and a range of power tools. I believe there is still much more to come from this fantastic year group.

Our Year 8 pupils have researched, explored and investigated The Human Figure, using the style of American artist Chuck Close. In Design and Technology, they have completed a typography course with end products ranging in style and design. The children have produced word associated plaques and skateboard designs and have developed these to the highest level for their age.

This year, 12 potential Art Scholars worked hard in preparation for their scholarship exams. As well as hours of extra time spent in the Art Department, this preparation also included a trip to the Tate Modern and one-to-one interview practice. On the day of their Art Scholarship they underwent controlled tests at their Senior Schools and then they endured the agony of waiting for their results. In the end 8 artists were awarded Art Scholarships and my sincere thanks and congratulations go to the following for their achievements at scholarship level: Kenna Patel (Eastbourne College),

Katya Kebadze (Uppingham School), Ada Sung (Uppingham School), Poppy Skinner (Bede’s Senior School), Jacoby Womersley Smith (Tonbridge School), Robin Chapman-Hinge (Sevenoaks School), Coco Carnegy (Charterhouse) and Orlaith West (Charterhouse). To those pupils who were not successful this time round, the skills you have acquired during your journey will help you in your next chapter at your Senior School and will stay with you for life. You have my full respect! Meanwhile, we also had a winning entry in this year’s IAPS I-Art competition with Jessica Field coming 1st in the Year 7 and 8 category with her acrylic painting on canvas ‘Brambletye from the North’.

Our annual Charity Art Auction in May saw work being donated by all our potential art scholars, and also some parents, members of staff, professional artists, designers, ceramicists, and architects, with paintings, illustrations, ceramics and canvases arriving by post from Thailand, America, Portugal and Forest Row. This represents very clearly the loyalty of our former pupils, who started out on their artistic journeys and who eventually forged a career from their love of art and design, here at Brambletye. The total raised at this year’s Charity Art Auction was a staggering £8,000 for ‘Hope and Homes for Children’.

The Art Department remains a lively hub for exploration, investigation, and discovery. Added to this, the impressive number of Art and also Design Technology Scholarships achieved over the last 26 years speaks for itself. We will continue to push, challenge, teach practical skills, instil discipline, create additional time for practise, and ensure that our artists are happy in both their hearts and souls.

I would like to thank Lauren Levy for her expertise and professionalism in leading our juniors, and also Rhys Skinner for his amazing help in the Art Department.

If you have not yet visited the Art Department then please do. We hold exhibitions throughout the year and run an open door policy.

DH

Music

Solo

Performances

and ABRSM

We continue to celebrate individual progress in music and have enjoyed solo performances on stage from 70 pupils across the year, and also at our series of Informal Concerts in the Theatre Foyer.

Meanwhile, ABRSM exams have continued this year with almost 80 candidates spread across our examining sessions. We have seen some very impressive marks (including many merits and distinctions) in exams from the Prep Test up to an outstanding Distinction at ARSM level on the saxophone by Roy Ching. We have also been lucky enough to enjoy solo performances at Brambletye by some renowned professional musicians this year, including Rebecca Sharp (mezzo soprano) and Charlotte Scott (violin). On each occasion the children were absolutely spellbound and it was an amazing experience for them to see and hear such beautifully performed music in their own familiar setting.

Charterhouse Wind Day

We had such a lovely afternoon at the ‘Charterhouse Wind Day’ on Thursday 7th October. Eight pupils from Years 5-8 took their trumpets, flutes, trombones and saxophones to join seven other Prep Schools in learning the songs ‘Rock Around the Clock’, ‘Strike up the Band’ and ‘Valerie’. We alternated rehearsals and refreshments to culminate in a short concert at the end of the afternoon, with over sixty pupils performing on stage. The sound was incredible and there was such a buzz amongst all the performers and the audience. We were delighted that a number of parents from Brambletye were able to join us for the afternoon tea and concert.

Autumn Concert 2022

The Autumn Concert was a roaring success, showcasing all our ensembles from the Brambletye Symphony Orchestra to the Beginner Band in just 45 minutes. Highlights included the opening ‘Samba de Janeiro’ featuring all Year 8 as well as our Big Band, the Senior Choir’s tragicomic rendition of ‘There’s a Girl That I love’ and Tina Dong’s virtuoso performance of Monti’s ‘Czardas’, accompanied by a piano quintet made up entirely of pupils. Our retiring collection also raised over £700 for Hope and Homes for Children and the entire community went home with beaming smiles and buzzing with the joy of music.

House Shout

This year’s House Shout was full of true Brambletye Spirit, with every child in every House performing their heart out. The theme for 2023 was ‘The Beatles’ and we enjoyed listening to ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ by Marlborough, ‘Let it Be’ by Drake, ‘With a Little Help from my Friends’ by Wellington and ‘Yellow Submarine’ by Nelson. All four performances were incredibly entertaining, with Drake being crowned the winners for the second year in a row! Our twelve solo musicians also deserve a special mention for representing their Houses in the Senior, Middle and Junior categories on a range of instruments. Huge thanks to our adjudicator, Mr Neil Matthews, Director of Music at Hurstpierpoint College for his insightful and encouraging comments, and for taking on the incredibly difficult task of judging the winning House!

Brighton College

Choral Day

Pupils from Years 5, 6 and 7 had an absolute blast at Brighton College in February, when we were invited to join with half a dozen other Prep Schools and take part in a singing workshop with Claire Reavey. The children were introduced to a number of new pieces from a range of genres and they enjoyed performing in a large group, often in several parts. The day included with lots of fun activities, an excellent lunch and finally a concert to parents before heading home with our ‘goody bags’!

Eastbourne College Orchestra Day

A wonderful day was spent at Eastbourne College in March with 7 musicians from Years 5 and 6 who are Grade 3 or above. It was such an enjoyable day, with all of our pupils throwing themselves into the various rehearsals from start to finish. They combined with pupils from Vinehall, St. Andrew’s Prep and Eastbourne College to sight-read six pieces in sectional and full orchestra rehearsals, and of course enjoyed some excellent food and after-lunch activities. The icing on the cake was an impressive concert with such a fabulous sound that it had me beaming from start to finish. Our musicians were a credit to Brambletye. They worked incredibly hard and learnt a lot from the day. They certainly seemed to have quite a lot of fun too!

The Summer Concert

As always, the Brambletye Summer Concert didn’t fail to enrapture, with every single pupil from Year 3 to Year 8 taking part and singing their hearts out. Kicking off the concert were the Year 8s with their Afro-Brazilian Samba. Meanwhile, all our ensembles had a chance to show off some of the highlights of what they had been up to this year, including the Brambletye Symphony Orchestra, the Bramble Bows, Big Band, the Brass Group, the Beginner Band and our Brambletye Choirs, performing music written by Thomas Tallis all the way to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer of the musical ‘Hamilton’, and everything in between! The ‘Pop Mash-Up’ was back for the Grand Finale, with full audience participation in an entertaining and spontaneous medley of ‘Happy Ending’, ‘With or Without You’ and ‘I’m Yours’. Bravo, Brambletye!

RHS

ABRSM Exam Results

AUTUMN 2022

Name Instrument Grade Result

Aimee Bruce Piano Initial Merit

Carter West Piano Initial Merit

Coco Carnegy Piano 1 Pass

William Warde B Flat Cornet 1 Merit

Avgusta Petrova Piano 1 Merit

Matilda Norris-Jones Piano 1 Merit

Sofia Zhao Piano 1 Merit

Leo Li Trumpet 1 Merit

Romilly Skinner Clarinet 1 Distinction

Annabelle Sully Oboe 1 Distinction

Poppy Skinner Alto Saxophone 2 Pass

Faramade Oshinowo Piano 2 Pass

Henry Burton Piano 2 Pass

Abayomi Oshinowo Piano 2 Merit

Camilla Rowe Singing 2 Merit

Flora Smythe Alto Saxophone 2 Distinction

Florence Bland Singing 2 Distinction

Margot Eliott Lockhart Singing 2 Distinction

Tabitha McQuitty Singing 3 Pass

Emilia Johnson Singing 3 Merit

Benjamin Selleck Trumpet 3 Merit

Ada Sung Piano 4 Merit

SPRING/SUMMER 2023

Name Instrument Grade Result

Jasper Weston Cello Prep Test Present

Poppy Bowman Cello Prep Test Present

Rory Selleck Cello Prep Test Present

Clementine McQuitty Singing Prep Test Present

Tallulah McGairl Singing Prep Test Present

Sofia Zhao Violin Prep Test Present

Ben Goldingham Piano Initial Pass

George Johnson Piano Initial Pass

Oliver Ward Alto Saxophone 1 Pass

Rosanna Warde Bassoon 1 Pass

Henry Chilvers Cello 1 Pass

Marina Davis Flute 1 Pass

Carter West Piano 1 Pass

Eleanor Twyning Singing 1 Pass

Nyamekye Ampofo Singing 1 Pass

Felix Biddle-Guerrier Trumpet 1 Pass

Camilla Norris-Jones Violin 1 Pass

Jayden Ogungbesan Cello 1 Merit

Lily McGairl Clarinet 1 Merit

Annabel O'Gorman Flute 1 Merit

Saoirse Longfield Oboe 1 Merit

Emilia Weston Piano 1 Merit

George Stenhouse Singing 1 Merit

Marina Davis Singing 1 Merit

Matilda Norris - Jones Oboe 1 Distinction

Aimee Bruce Piano 1 Distinction

Milly-Ellen Brugnoli Singing 1 Distinction

Milo Curra Singing 1 Distinction

Edward O'Gorman Trumpet 1 Distinction

Eva Whittome B Flat Cornet 2 Pass

Jayden Ogungbesan Piano 2 Pass

Arthur Smythe Singing 2 Merit

Evie Vranic Britten Singing 2 Merit

Bumble Clarke Singing 2 Distinction

Mariella Wilkinson Singing 2 Distinction

Florence Bland Singing 3 Pass

Emily Norris-Jones Trombone 3 Pass

Arthur Li Alto Saxophone 3 Merit

Elodie Elliot Lockhart Alto Saxophone 3 Merit

Milo Curra Piano 3 Merit

Annabelle Sully Singing 3 Merit

Bibi Calvocoressi Singing 3 Merit

Camilla Rowe Singing 3 Merit

Jessica Field Singing 3 Merit

Margot Eliott Lockhart Singing 3 Merit

Rose Garrood Singing 3 Merit

William Xie Singing 3 Merit

Emily Norris-Jones Singing 3 Distinction

Ida Akker Singing 3 Distinction

Katya Kebadze Singing 3 Distinction

Isabella Buxton Flute 4 Pass

Tabitha McQuitty Singing 4 Pass

Emilia Johnson Singing 4 Merit

Henry Burton Trombone 5 Pass

Roy Ching Saxophone ARSM Distinction

Avgusta Petrova Piano 2 Distinction

TRINITY RESULTS

Name Instrument Grade Result

Tara McCartney Cello 1 Distinction

Rose Garrood Drums 5 Merit

It’s-a-Knock Out

Leavers’ Course 2023

The end of Common Entrance welcomed the start of the Leavers’ Course 2023!

The Leavers’ Course is designed to introduce the Year 8s to a number of activities they will probably not have done before and in some cases to push the children beyond their comfort zone. Nevertheless, it is also designed to allow the children to have some tremendous fun and so end their time at Brambletye with yet more wonderful memories.

The first week began bright and early and saw the group set off for sunny Wales! The Leavers were based at Aberdovey and during the week they were challenged both mentally and physically by various activities. Nevertheless, we also saw them really bond as a group. Whilst these kinds of adventures can divide opinion within pupils of this age, Mr Mason was thoroughly impressed with every single one of them. The company who put together the programme thought that the Brambletye Leavers were a credit to themselves. My thanks must go to Mr Walker, Mrs Clark and Miss Calf for their enthusiasm and unwavering support but also to the group leader, Mr Mason. The preparation and planning for a trip like this is massive but listening to the children on their return, I know that it was worth it.

The latter weeks of the Summer Term saw the main part of the Leavers’ Course spring into action and once again we tried to bring lots of variety to the activities that the children undertook. The Leavers took part in a percussion workshop, they completed an enormously valuable Beginners’ First Aid Course, worked hard in an Art Workshop, got to grips with some Puzzle Challenges, enjoyed an Alumni Talk from Katharine Field and they listened intently to the excellent guest speaker, Patrick Foster, who talked to the Leavers about the dangers of gambling. Meanwhile, the Leavers also enjoyed a number of outings that offered them various cultural experiences. We had trips to the Globe Theatre to watch a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ that included an in-house drama workshop beforehand, an historical adventure at Windsor Castle and a trip to Brighton beach.

One of the newer aspects of the Leavers’ Course is the One Day Film School followed by formal Oscars’ Evening. This year, the group got fully involved in the activity and they produced some tremendous short films in a very short time frame. That evening, the girls and the boys all looked the part at the Oscars’ Ceremony in the Theatre and this was followed by an after party disco!

The last week of the Summer Term saw Leavers’ Cricket and Netball matches against the parents! Despite some last minute injuries, the sun shone and much fun and laughter was had by all.

One particular highlight of the Leavers’ Course is the traditional Leavers’ Entertainment on the last night of term. The evening of sketches (many based on the staff and life at Brambletye!) and songs performed by the Leavers was brilliant and the good humour that the group demonstrated goes to show what a fantastic year group they have been.

I would like to thank all the academic staff, the Estate Team and the Catering Team for helping to make the Leavers’ Course 2023 so successful. I would also like to thank the parents of the Year 8 pupils and the children themselves for helping to make the last 4 weeks of term so enjoyable. Good luck Class of 2023!

Leavers’ Trip to Wales

Brambletye, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH193PD. | Tel: 01342 321004 | schooloffice@brambletye.co.uk | www.brambletye.co.uk