Ditcham Park School Where every child is known and valued
Autumn Term Review 2023
Headmaster’s Welcome
Looking back on the Autumn Term 2023 we have much to celebrate! We have enjoyed a full programme of sporting fixtures and hosted a visit from the British Army women’s boxing team; we have enjoyed some wonderful musical events including Sessions in the Hall, Carols in the Quad and the Save the Children Concert; we have been treated to some stunning performing arts including Y8’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Electric Theatre, Guildford and the Nativity performed by Early Years and Key Stage 1 children. We have won national awards for artwork across Juniors and Seniors, welcomed the brilliant scientist Lord Robert Winston as well as from some talented former pupils Sacha and Flo studying Modern Languages at Oxford and Newcastle University. I hope you enjoy looking through this review!
Highlights
Whole School Events Our Harvest Festival this year saw one of our largest contributions to the local Food Bank and a joyous service at school for the whole Ditcham Community.
Armistice Day brought the school together to remember those lost in wars. There have been some great sporting events for the whole school too such as The Butser Hill Run and cycling sessions!
DRAGONFLIES PRESCHOOL
Our smallest members of the community have had a great term! They’ve explored the grounds, been on trips out and continued their learning every day. We’ve welcomed new and familiar faces during our Stay and Play sessions and have also excitedly welcomed new children to the Preschool. The highlight of the term was definitely their ‘star’ performance in the Nativity!
p e r P e r P , n o i t p p e e r c P d Re an
From Halloween discos to baking and astronomical art to Marwell Zoo, our EYFS and KS1 children have had a great term! The children have explored the works of Roald Dahl to create their own Tinkle Tinkle Trees and also learnt about Poetry, linking it to their Animal topics for this term. Maths has focused on addition and subtraction, using Unifix models to demonstrate their understanding! They gave fantastic performances in our Nativity at the end of term too
Transi tion, L Osmington Bay was a big hit o w ers, with Uppers! They enjoyed a Middle s and U range of water sports and ppers outdoor adventures Anti-Bullying week gave us time to think about being kind and helping each other Through our curriculum learning, we celebrated Roald Dahl Day and National Poetry Day, enjoyed a trip to Butser, made toothpaste in science and learnt how to brush our teeth. In history, we learnt about the ancient Greeks!
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Seniors Immersive learning was the theme for Seniors this term. Trips to Calshot, Spain, France and activity centres outside the classroom, whilst inside, the students journeyed far and wide in their exploration of Science and the Creative Arts.
Senior Sports
Seniors have been busy on and off the pitches this term - as well as in-school sports fixtures, they’ve had the opportunity to take part in coast steering, mountain bike treks, Army experiences and the Sports Development Programme for our Sports Scholars and able students. Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal candidates set off on their expeditions, taking full advantage of the better weather, earlier in the term!
c i m e d a Ac
Academic stretch is a key part of our curriculum and we’ve had some brilliant guest speakers and opportunities this term. We welcomed back former pupil Holly Budge, who has gone on to conquer Everest - a talk that left our pupils awe inspired. Lord Robert Winston spent the day with us later in the term, talking to pupils in-depth about deep ethical issues around fertility treatment. Academic Scholars had the chance to sit with him over lunch and learn more about his career path. Our Leavers Award night was a celebration of success for last year’s GCSE cohort. We had some outstanding results demonstrating the strength of our academic achievements
Mus ic Its been a very busy term for the music department and our musicians and scholars. From lunchtime concerts to guitar sessions in the SDH and our Harvest Service to the Carol Service. Its been a musical feast for the ears! Junior and Senior choirs have given outstanding performances in school and at concerts in the wider community. We have a huge number of very talented musicians right across the school who get the opportunity to perform to a range of audiences. A highlight of this term was most definitely the Carol Service in St John’s Cathedral in Portsmouth - a change in venue for us but much needed to accomodate larger numbers.
The Art scholars and artists have been exploring different canvases and have also been victorious in the ISA Arts Awards for another year running!
Art
A 2D montage by Polina K Ben in Juniors won the and a ceramic piece by Holly M Royal Academy of and won first place in the ISA Engineering Christmas National Art Exhibition! Card Design competition! His card was used by the RAEng to send to the Royal Family - well done Ben! Rose and Harry won the InterHouse Christmas Card design competition for 2023
Performing Arts We are always finding exciting and innovative ways to strengthen the children’s performance skills and this starts right at the beginning with Preschool! And its not just in-school events, our talented children perform with external theatre groups as well. This term we’ve had National Poetry Week, Year 8 performing Shakespeare at the Electric Theatre in Guildford, Year 7s re-enacting the Battle of Hastings, GCSE drama students recording their work and of course our wonderful Nativity.
Oscar swam to success with Havant Swimming club
Oliver shaved 2 minutes off his Great South Run Junior 2.5Km race
Henry achieved distinction in Grade 8 tuned percussion and is through to the ISA Young Musician finals
Megan & Charlotte were selected for the Hampshire U15 Hockey Squad
Outside School Achievements! Esme won the Acro South Regional Championships
Many of our children take part in sports, drama and activities beyond the school day and here are just a few of those super stars
Ethan built his own robot for the Bristol Bot Builders
Hattie continued her riding success for JCB Pony Club
Lucy won the Junior Sailing Trophy at Langstone Sailing Club
Tom sailed himself into a place on the Southern Regional Training Group Leo was the youngest ever person to gain his PADI Junior Open Water qualification at his dive centre
#Ditch amCom munity We are hugely proud of our entire community from current pupils and parents to past pupils and former colleagues. We love any opportunity to come together and celebrate everything that makes our #DitchamCommunity so vibrant! Through tireless fundraising, we have raised a staggering £1,900 this term!!!! Cakes and Mufti for Morocco raised £1,023 The Nativity raise £244 for Hannah’s Holiday Home Christmas Jumper day raise £325 for Save the Children House Charities raised £309
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