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Ditcham Park School

Headmaster’s Welcome

Across the school, the Summer Term sees the culmination of academic work and progress that started in the Autumn Term. It is also a term when we see and appreciate the progress and development in all other aspects of school life. This manifests in every year group from Dragonflies PreSchoolers to our Year 11 cohort who completed their GCSE exams in June having transitioned into fine young people ready for their move to Sixth Form or College in September. We enjoyed a wonderful Leavers’ Prom which enabled staff to say farewell and good luck to the class of 2024.

Full STEAM Ahead!

Creativity is becoming an increasingly important attribute to have in the learning environment and workplace. Our STEAM programme is designed to provide our pupils with creative skills as well as technological skills to ‘prepare them for the future’. The highlight of the Summer Term was our Creative and Performing Arts Festival - three days of workshops encompassing every aspect of creative and performing arts, along with day trips, guest visitors and culminating in a wonderful showcase Festival.

Seniors took part in creative workshops such as Big Wire Sculpture and Clay work

Our Juniors put on an amazing Musical Theatre display!

Pupils enjoyed day trips

Juniors had a brilliant music workshop with Earth Song

such as this Junior’s trip to Legoland

Full STEAM Ahead!

We were thrilled to be able to welcome Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher from Dire Straits on the Tuesday of our Creative and Performing Arts week. Mark and Guy chatted to the Rock School and Song Writing participants and then took part in a Q & A with staff and pupils

Mark and Guy took time to chat to pupils, sign guitars and records and talk to everyone about their experience in a rock band

Dragonflies Preschool

Our little Dragonflies have thoroughly enjoyed a Summer Term of creative arts, learning about the lifecycles of bees and butterflies through art, design and outdoor play Claire is an avid bee-keeper so the children were super excited to have the chance to dress up as bee keepers and to learn what these important little fuzzy friends do!

The summer Country Dancing display was a big hit with Dragonflies pulling out all the stops for a polished performance

As part of the Creative Arts Festival, Dragonflies had a trip to the Wonder Cafe and enjoyed some of the hands-on workshops that Juniors had

as a trip to the Wonder Café as part of the Creative Arts Festival. The Country Dancing display gave every year group the chance to show off their coordination skills whilst they have all worked hard on creating some beautiful pieces of art throughout the term. In science, children have learnt basic coding with our Bee-Bots, how to grow plants to eat and have taken part in nature walks when the sun was shining - in between the rain showers!

recycle batteries. Middles enjoyed their residential in Cobnor, the Lowers learnt about Saxons from a ‘real’ Saxon and we had huge success across the whole of Juniors with the Junior Concert and Maths Challenge. Our older Juniors really enjoy helping out with their younger peers, whether its reading with Reception or playing Judge and Jury over the infamous case of Goldilocks and her reign of terror over the Three Bears! The annual phenomenon that is Biscuit Day rolled around again this term with some very creative bakes - Paul Hollywood would be proud! During the Creative and Performing Arts Festival, the children took part in a range of hands-on workshops from music to musical theatre as well as trips to Legoland and Harry Potter World What an exciting term they have had!

With the summer sun (ahem) comes the cricket season and our Juniors have been out in force at fixtures across the county this term. Our U9 team was victorious over Frensham early on in the term. The U8 team beat St Hilary’s and then the U9s maintained their winning streak with victory over Boundary Oak. Sports Day for our Juniors was a gloriously sunny day with some impressive personal bests achieved in track and field. After school, the Judo club has grown with gradings taking the children up to new levels. All in all, a very successful summer of sports for our younger athletes!

Seniors

Our new Student Leadership Team are:

Hester Ellett (Head Girl)

Cody Dunning (Head Boy)

Charlotte Barber (Deputy Head Girl)

Kian Shea (Deputy Head Boy)

The Geography trip to Iceland was huge fun - if a little chilly!

Students went to Ypres to see the Normandy landing memorials and beaches

Our Trench Art winners from Year 8!

pite their hefty exam load, our Seniors managed to get outside and take part in cricket, tennis and athletics fixtures. On the cricket pitch, our U13s have played consistently well. The girls’ teams have bee onsistently strong this season too, with som mpressive performances for our U15 and U1 girls. Sports Day was a demonstration of great track and field skills amongst the students with, much like the Junior Sports Day, some personal best records being successfully smashe

The Juniors were incredibly successful in the UKMT Maths Challenge this term!

Juniors had the chance to take part in a ‘court trial’ of Goldilocks!

Our Senior Academic Scholars travelled to Holme Grange School for the Thriving Minds Stretch and Challenge day

Our Junior Council had the chance to meet with Councillor Williams

During our Open Day, Seniors showcased handson sessions!

The Music Department have been VERY busy again this term! From the Junior Concert, Founder’s Day Senior and Junior performances to Lunchtime concerts and hosting music exams. The Creative and Performing Arts Festival was a musical feast with the Rock School and Song Writing for the Seniors and Musical Theatre performances and Earth Song

Our Seniors and Juniors have had a stellar term with their artistic creations, reflections and pieces of work. There are too many to share in one page, but please enjoy a few highlights!

Thisterm,we’veseenourWednesdayandSaturdayAcademy growtoover70players!

Tocelebratetheseasonoftennistournaments,we’vehadtwo reallysuccessfultournamentsofourown.SeniorsandAdults sessionsstartedthistermandhavegrowninnumberstoo!

Outdoor Pursuits

Despite the less-than-ideal ‘summer’ weather for our Summer Term, the rain didn’t deter our staff and pupils from getting outside for trips, activities, sports and excursions. Our annual Ditcham Hill Climb was a huge success for our school team as well.