DONHEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL
DAY OF CELEBRATION
JULY 10, 2025
DONHEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Headteacher’s Introduction
Welcome to the Donhead Day of Celebration 2025. Today, we come together to mark the end of the academic year and celebrate the personal growth, development of character and achievements of each individual pupil.
This year, we congratulate the Elements Class of 2025 who come to the end of their time at Donhead. Many have excelled in their 11+ assessments, with excellent results. However, their success goes beyond any academic measurement; it is their hard work, personal dedication to develop and commitment that truly stand out. They have been outstanding role models for peers, caring towards their buddies, and excellent ambassadors for the school. We have no doubt that they will continue their character formation and live out the Jesuit Virtues in their next schools and beyond.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our governors and staff. Your dedication to Donhead’s vision and values plays a vital role in helping our school grow and thrive.
To our parents, thank you for your ongoing support. Your involvement in your child's education, the support of the staff, the volunteering efforts, participation in FOD fundraising events, and contributions to our whole school community are greatly appreciated. Your partnership is fundamental to all that we achieve at Donhead.
Finally, to our wonderful pupils, thank you for the energy, enthusiasm, and kindness you bring to Donhead every day. It is you that makes our school a special place where everyone can flourish.
Semper Magis.
Catherine Hitchcock Headteacher
Chaplaincy
This year has been one of change, learning, and deep gratitude in Chaplaincy at Donhead. When Mrs Carroll moved on at Easter, I found myself stepping into a role that had already been nurtured with so much love and care. I’m genuinely thankful for the firm foundation she laid –her dedication and faith continue to echo through all that we do. It’s made the transition not just manageable, but meaningful.
I’ve also been incredibly blessed to work alongside such a fantastic Chaplaincy team – Mme Negkaki, Mrs Nealon, Mrs Clark, and Mrs Maillard. Their support has meant the world. Their creativity, joy, and sense of purpose have lifted so many of our shared experience. And of course, having Fr Michael Barnes accompany us throughout the year has been a real gift. His quiet wisdom and peaceful presence bring something truly special to every event – not for the children and their families but for the staff too.
Living Our Faith Through Action
One of the most powerful aspects of this year has been seeing our pupils live out their faith in real, tangible ways. As part of the Jesuit Schools' Jubilee Year of Hope, our community took part in various “Walk of Hope” events. Despite taking place in challenging weather conditions, the pilgrimage on Wimbledon Common with our Acutis group, Jesuit Missions, and Wimbledon College was a peaceful walk that ended with a beautiful and prayerful Mass at Sacred Heart. It felt like faith in motion – quite literally.
The Acutis group has shone brightly this year. Their enthusiasm, leadership, and willingness to serve – whether through organising Advent Angels, the Lenten fish treasure hunt, or supporting Masses – has been inspiring. They’re a reminder that young people can lead with great heart and depth.
Mme Negkaki had the joy of accompanying a few of our boys to the IGNITE! Conference in Derbyshire. Being among other Jesuit schools, engaging in hopeful, creative workshops, and watching the children connect and grow – reminds us just how alive our network is, and how valuable these wider experiences are.
Moments of Encounter
Some of the most memorable moments have come from simply gathering together in prayer. Our liturgies and prayer services, whether for Advent, Pentecost, or themes like “Our Wonderful World,” created space for reflection and connection – especially when shared with families. It’s in these moments that I often sense the Holy Spirit most clearly at work in our community.
We were also blessed with special visitors. Clare Luther’s visit brought such joy – her book SAY WHAT? sparked curiosity and fun, and the children were totally engaged (especially when it came to the song!). It was a playful yet profound reminder that faith can be explored in creative ways.
Fr Phil’s visit stands out, too. Hearing his story, from Royal Marine Commando to priesthood, and his witness to God’s presence in unexpected places, left a deep impression on all. It was a powerful testimony that faith isn’t confined to the quiet or predictable – it finds its way into every corner of life.
Milestones and Moments of Stillness
Celebrating First Holy Communion with our LP1 pupils was a joyful and moving occasion. Sharing Mass together in our chapel, then enjoying brunch as a community, felt like such a fitting way to mark this sacred milestone in their journey.
Our retreat days offered equally important opportunities for stillness. At Wintershall, LP2 and Prep pupils saw Gospel stories come alive in ways that touched their imaginations and hearts. And watching our Elements leavers reflect on their time at Donhead at the Kairos Centre –considering how their time here has really made them consider how to be ‘men and women for others’ – was deeply moving. These moments remind me why Chaplaincy matters: it offers sacred space for growth, questions, and transformation.
A Moment in History
Finally, we marked an extraordinary moment in Church history this year: the death of Pope Francis. As the first Jesuit Pope, his example has always felt especially close to home for us. Spending time in prayer and reflection after his passing was a quiet but powerful way of honouring his legacy. And now, as we pray for Pope Leo, we carry forward the values Pope Francis embodied – humility, service, and hope.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
As I look back on this year, I feel deeply grateful for my part in the Donhead story – for the people I’ve worked with, the faith I’ve witnessed in our pupils, and the many quiet moments of grace along the way. Chaplaincy at Donhead isn’t just a role – it’s a living, breathing expression of our school’s heart. I’m excited to see where the Spirit leads us next.
God Bless,
Mrs Pandole
Chaplain
Illustration by Conor Young
Pre-Preparatory
Pre School
This academic year, Donhead Preparatory school welcomed a new year group to our community, our wonderful Pre-school! It has been a fantastic and busy journey, but we are immensely proud to say that we all grew and achieved our goals!
In Pre-school, the children have enjoyed their year learning through playing, inventing, constructing, experimenting, and exploring, as well as through focused and tailored lessons and learning activities with their class teachers and class friends. A variety of practical and engaging activities supported the Initial Phonics and Number recognition, and the classroom was an open learning space, for the children to explore and engage, with both indoors and outdoors always available.
The learning topics successfully captured the attention of our learners: All About me, Colours, and Harvest in Michaelmas term, The very Hungry Caterpillar, Food delicious food and Easter in the Lent term, Journeys and Adventures and Animals the Trinity Term. Active teaching, firsthand activities, and school trips in our community, supported the learning in school. The PreSchoolers enjoyed a morning to Cannizaro park, looking out for signs of Spring and playing a check list game on their clipboards. With a lovely Teddy bears picnic we celebrated our found and formed friendships and a visit from the Little City company, officially celebrated the end of our Pre-school year.
It seems only yesterday when our little learners stood up to the challenge and beautifully learnt their lines, for their Mother’s Day performance of “I have lost my mum” (Julia Donaldson’s story book) and sang a heartwarming song for their mums in the big auditorium. Throughout the year, we also had the chance to invite our parents into class to see the hard work and achievements their children completed during the academic year, through their work in their Busy books.
As part of our Specialist Subject teaching, the children enjoyed their music lessons with Miss Kallia, singing and playing an array of instruments and loved their PE sessions with Mr Anglim.
The year truly flew by, and our Pre-school children after so much exploring, investigating, and learning through play, are finally ready for their next adventure to Reception class. Well done young learners, we are enormously proud of you!
The Pre School Team
Reception
Today marks the end of a very special year – how have we already finished Reception? It all began last September when the children met their buddies on the very first day of ‘big’ school a special moment that marked the beginning of some truly meaningful relationships. Throughout the year, Reception and Elements have embraced the chance to learn from someone older and care for someone younger, taking great pride in building those connections and cherishing the bond they now share.
The Michaelmas Term
We started getting to know our new surroundings and classmates, settling quickly into the nurturing and supportive environment that Donhead provides. We wasted no time at all as we began working towards an exciting new goal – learning to read! Just a month in, we invited our parents into our classrooms for our first ‘Share My Learning’ event, offering a glimpse into all we had been up to.
We then moved on to our first FOD event of the year – Bonfire Night! It was a wonderful evening filled with fun, where we played with new friends and our families had the chance to get to know each other better. Soon after that we found ourselves entering the festive season, marked by Christmas Jumper Day and a special Buddy Lunch, where we played games and exchanged gifts. We ended the calendar year by stepping into the spotlight and delighting our parents with a joyful Nativity performance full of singing and acting. Wow – the first term done already!
The Lent Term
After enjoying some special time with family over the holidays, the Lent Term launched into action as the children blasted off into our exciting Space topic, which was greeted with great enthusiasm and curiosity. It was a wonderfully busy term, filled with a wide range of exciting events and activities. From dressing up for NSPCC’s ‘Number Day’ to engaging in problemsolving workshops, the children embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm. They showed great spirit on Red Nose Day, joined in at the Donhead Disco, and celebrated their love of stories on World Book Day, which included a special visit from a well-known author.
This term also marked an exciting milestone as the children took part in their first sporting fixture with Squirrels. They displayed impressive football skills and, most importantly, excellent sportsmanship throughout. To bring the term to a joyful close, the Buddies came together once more for a special Easter celebration, where they exchanged Easter eggs and completed Easter activities.
We had an exciting adventure at Morden Hall Park, where the children eagerly explored various areas in search of minibeasts. We learned what makes a creature a "minibeast" and discovered how many fascinating little creatures live all around us. The highlight? Getting our hands dirty in the mud and immersing ourselves in nature! It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience filled with curiosity, discovery and lots of fun.
The Trinity Term
We began the term in our outdoor learning spaces as we explored our new topic: Our Wonderful World! Highlights of the term included Outdoor Learning Day, the whole-school Readathon, Pyjama Day, The Code Show, Cultural Dress-Up Day, and Reception Sports Day! We also welcomed some cuddly guests to school for our much-loved Teddy Bears’ Picnic, where favourite soft toys joined us for a special lunchtime treat. Another heartwarming moment was sharing our final Buddy Lunch a celebration of the friendships built over the year. We wrapped up the term with a visit from Little City, giving the children a fantastic opportunity to learn through play about different occupations and the wider world of work. With summer in the air and sunshine on our backs, we soaked up every moment of our time in Reception. Now, as this chapter gently comes to a close, it’s time to set off on a new adventure in Year 1.
From all the Donhead teachers, we are so proud of our special Reception children. Though we are sad to see them go, we know they are ready for the exciting challenges ahead. We wish them every happiness as they continue their journey through their Donhead days.
The Reception Team
Order of Service
The Donhead Prayer Welcome
Pupil Song
Mr Jan Quant, Chair of Governors
Pre School Prizegiving
Reception Prizegiving
Catherine Hitchcock, Headteacher
Alumni Presentations
EYFS Prize List
Pre School
Henry Beer Effort in Mathematics and application in building models with components.
Lucio Bolognesi Progress in Communication and Language area and achievement in imaginative play.
Sienna Brown Progress in Personal and Social development area and application in Expressive Arts.
Margot Cookson Achievement in Physical Education and progress in independent writing and imaginative play.
Senan Fernando Achievement in Personal and Social development and application in Mathematics.
Michael Giginiak Achievement in Personal and Social development and application in imaginative play with components.
Chanyoung Kim Achievement in Physical Education and progress in Personal and Social development and in Mathematics.
Auraelia King-Carter Progress in Personal and Social development and application in independent writing and Expressive Arts.
Alayna Madaan Application in Expressive Arts and imaginative play and effort in Personal and Social development.
Mabel McCabe Outstanding achievement in Personal and Social development and excellent application in all areas of learning.
Grace Rodrigues Progress in Personal and Social development and application in all areas of learning especially Expressive Arts.
Ananya Sophia Venn Achievement in Communication and Language, Personal and Social development and Expressive Art
Reception
Ida Alexander Achievement in English
Eric-Alexandru Cazacu Progress in Phonics
Isabel Cornelsen Achievement in Reading
Bobby Hamill Achievement in Physical Education
George Hume Achievement and Enthusiasm in Art
Mateo Hutton Urquiza Progress in Mathematics
Oliver Klop Achievement in RHE
William McClymont-O'Keeffe Achievement in Physical Education and Outdoor Learning
Christian Paul Achievement in Mathematics
Poppy Penfold Application in Music and Reading
Jack Pollock Achievement in Music
Lorenzo Sim Achievement in Understanding the World
Henry Sutcliffe Application in Literacy
Koji Takano Outstanding Achievement across the curriculum
Charlie Vaughan Progress in Reading and Phonics
George Wang Achievement in Computing
Ayana Akmatova Achievement in Art and Reading
Ayan Autie Effort in Computing
Otis Bell Effort and Application in all areas of the curriculum
Oscar Borkowski Achievement in Physical Education
Arlo Elliott-Frey Achievement in Understanding the World
Zach Harrison Effort and Application in Understanding the World
Max Jackson Achievement in Physical Education
Felicity Lindsay Application of the Jesuit Values
Ted Lockley Achievement in Mathematics
Thomas Mancini Achievement in Mathematics
Ilaria Moussalli Achievement in Music
Xavier Paul Application in Music and Reading
Andie Pienaar Progress in Phonics
Alfie Popovici Progress in Handwriting and Phonics
Jonas Seyrling Achievement in Physical Education
Aylin Uytun Effort and application in Spanish
Tobias Whatling Progress in Phonics and Reading
Pre-Preparatory Prizegiving
Pre-Prep 1
The school year began with some big changes and even bigger smiles as we welcomed our new PP1 cohort including, for the first time in Donhead’ s history, girls in the Pre-Prep. It’s been a joy to see the class settle in so confidently, forming friendships, embracing new routines, and diving headfirst into learning. We’re so proud of how well they’ve grown into school life.
This was also the first year Mr Krug and Mrs Epstein joined the year 1 team. From day one, the warmth of the Donhead community and the curiosity and kindness of the children made them feel right at home. While it’s always hard to say goodbye to a class, they’re excited to see each child continue to shine across the school, whether it’s in the playground, at Mass, or during special events.
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Bendall, whose guidance and behind-the-scenes support helped ensure a smooth, happy year for both staff and students. Her experience and calm encouragement have been truly appreciated.
Throughout the year, the children threw themselves into a wide range of experiences. In Michaelmas, our trip to Windsor Castle brought our Topic on castles to life, inspiring imaginative storytelling and excited discussion. The Lent term gave us our first walk across Wimbledon Common and a chance to celebrate World Book Day and Wimbledon Bookfest. We also had the privilege of joining the wider school for Mass at Sacred Heart Church a big step for our youngest students, who rose to the occasion beautifully.
In Trinity, the class explored the history of computing through “The Code Show,” took pride in displaying their art at our school exhibition and wowed us with their performances in the Music Concert and Prayer Service. They’ve also embraced our new Literacy Tree curriculum, producing thoughtful, lively writing across a range of genres.
Looking back to those first few September mornings, when new shoes were still stiff and classroom routines still unfamiliar, it’s amazing to see how far each child has come. They’ve grown not just academically, but in confidence, independence, and in how they care for one another.
To our wonderful PP1 students: thank you for the laughter, the questions, and the energy you brought each day. You’ve made this year unforgettable. And to our families thank you for your constant support, warmth, and partnership. We couldn’t have done it without you
The PP1 Team
Pre-Prep 2
It was an exciting beginning to the year as we welcomed our new children into PP2. We were soon hard at work and enjoying many memorable experiences. A trip to Bockett’s Farm took place at the end of September in collaboration with our science topic; Animals, including humans. Always an enjoyable day out, we learned about many different types of animals, we were able to feed them and we met a litter of newly born piglets! Another highlight of the term was each class being able to present a special Prayer Service in the Donhead chapel to our families. This term it was on the theme of Our Rosary, and we learned a lot about this very significant prayer. Just before we broke up for the half term holiday, we were able to join PP1 and visit Wimbledon High School to listen to the author Roger Stevens share some of his poems from his published book. We also said goodbye to Rafe this term, as he relocated a little further away. We wish him all the best in his new surroundings. PP2 enjoyed reading their new Literacy books this term, learning about the importance of looking after our Earth and they all produced amazing posters and leaflets, for display, advising people how best to do this. Every child was also involved in the school’s Poetry Recital, and we enjoyed a vast array of great poems being read aloud in class. We created some beautiful artwork this term, learning new techniques and producing autumnal themed paintings. Finally, towards the end of this busy term we began to learn our lines and songs for the PP2 Nativity Play, The Fleece Force. PP2 put on a marvellous performance, singing with gusto and their Nativity play was very well received by the audience.
In the Lent term we sadly had to say a goodbye to Leo-Romain in PP2J but we were able to welcome Oliver, Hugo and Sarah to the class. This term, we began to study History and learned about the fascinating era, The Stone Age and The Egyptians. PP2 enjoyed dressing up as Ancient Egyptians for their workshop and a visit from the great Queen Nefertiti! We were also visited by a Maths Problem Solving workshop, which was great fun and challenged our skills! Another dress up day was the much-loved World Book Day and the classes enjoyed all the fun activities that bring to life our favourite stories and poems. Also, this term, PP2 sung very beautifully with their younger years in the Pre-Prep Music Concert to a large audience and we were treated to some amazing solo performances on a variety of instruments. As part of Science Week, we took ourselves off to Cannizaro park for the morning to look for much longed for signs of spring! We enjoyed making windmills, playing camouflage games, seeing froglets in the pond and much more. We realised there is a lot to be seen on our very own back doorstep! Also, in keeping with Spring and new life, the Living Eggs became part of the Donhead family for two weeks and PP2 enjoyed watching nine baby chicks hatch. We visited them one day and most of us were brave enough to hold one. As we approached the Easter holidays, we spent some time reflecting on the events of the Easter story and toured the Stations of the Cross around the Donhead garden. Then it was time to enjoy the Easter holiday and some nice weather.
After a good break, we returned to our final term in Pre-Prep. We were soon hard at work and began a new subject this term inspired by the late Pope Francis, Care for Our Common Home. We learned a lot and got involved with some hands-on projects, such as making miniature gardens, making wormeries, bird feeders, plant potholders and even fabric shopping bags. PP2 children understand the huge importance in the role that they play in caring for our world. The
Life Bus visited Donhead again this year and PP2 classes visited Harold the Giraffe and his friends to learn about ways we can be safe and healthy as we grow older. This term we celebrated a Prayer Service as a year group, which was lovely, acting out the story of Pentecost and reflecting on the importance the Holy Spirit plays in all our lives. Not long after, we enjoyed another wonderful Pre-Prep concert, with a record number of soloists. It’s always such a pleasure to see the many talents our children have! The PP2 children had proudly created pieces of artwork for the Donhead Art Exhibition on the theme of multiculturalism. Each child was able to contribute to this amazing display with a painting of either an African family carrying baskets, an Australian pointillism landscape or a Peruvian llama painting. We also enjoyed a fantastic Sports Day and were very proud of all the PP2 children for showing such enthusiasm and sportsmanship in cheering for their classmates and Houses. We ended the year on a high note with our trip to Godstone Farm on Monday such a fun day filled with laughter and lovely moments to remember!
As the term comes to a close, we are saying goodbye to a few of our children; Krish, Oliver, Amelie, Taby, and Timmy. They will be dearly missed, and we wish them all the very best as they begin exciting new chapters at their new schools this September. On behalf of all the teachers and teaching assistants, thank you — not only to the children for their joy, curiosity, and laughter, but also to you, the parents, for your support and the special memories we have shared together this year. We wish everyone a restful, happy summer break and send our very best wishes to the children as they move on to the Lower Prep School.
The Pre-Prep 2 Team
Pre Preparatory Prize Giving
Order of Service
The Donhead Prayer Welcome
Pupil Song
Mr Jan Quant, Chair of Governors
The Worshipful, the Mayor of the London Borough of Merton, Councillor Martin Whelton
Pre School Prizegiving
Reception Prizegiving
Catherine Hitchcock, Headteacher
Alumni Presentations
Pre Preparatory 1 Prize List
Owen Atterbury Achievement in English
Frederick Bullock-Anderson Application in Creative Writing
Alice Carlutti Sciarra Application in Reading
Eleanor Childs Achievement in Maths
Joshua Daniel-Singh Achievement in Religious Education
Hattie Kennedy Application in Phonics
Ian Kim Application in Computing
Seowoo Lee Application in Care for our Common Home
Liam Marland Achievement in Art
Edward Mulroe Application in PE
Maxime Richard Achievement in Maths
Anthony Stantejsky Achievement in Handwriting
Alexander Street Application in Music
Zachariah Waleski Application in Spelling
Rachel Walker Achievement in Maths
Geoffrey White Progress in PHSE
Sara Barbosa Morais Progress in Phonics
Leonardo Carlutti Sciarra Achievement in Science
Thomas Catachanas Gonzalez Achievement in Computing
Marco Cellotto Progress in Computing
Luke Hockey Application in PE
Oscar Iacobucci Application in Phonics
Ethan Liao Application in Care for Our Common Home
Justin Lim Progress in Music
Aniruddha Menon Achievement in Care for our Common Home
Nikodem Najduch Progress in Creative Writing
Evaan Nirale Progress in Maths
Daryan Phildius Achievement across the Curriculum
Junwon Ryu Achievement in Art
Shaylan Satheeskumar Application of the Jesuit Values
Leonardo Vitillo Achievement in Writing
Isabella Waleska Progress in Creative Writing
Rebecca Waleska Progress in Art
Pre Preparatory 2 Prize List
Ezio Bolognesi Achievement in Spanish
Mabel Boyce Achievement in Art
Kai Hei Kaden Chiu Application in RE
Wolfgang Cottrell Achievement in Reading and Phonics
Rachel Da Costa Application in Personal, Social and Health Education
Philip Gao Progress in Literacy
Arthur Jones Application in across the curriculum
Krish Kejriwal Achievement in Physical Education
Xander Khan Progress in Art
Dowon Kim Achievement in Religious Education
Ethan Hoi Long Leung Achievement in Computing
Hugo Morgan Progress in Maths
Seowoo Oh Progress in All Subjects
Alexander Orton Application in Science
Saoirse Rivers Achievement in Care for our Common Home
Amelie Siu Achievement in Music
Kiyoshi Takano Achievement in Maths
Eloise Thong Achievement in Creative Writing
Oliver Tong-Nery Application In PE
Violet Atterbury Achievement in Mathematics
Aadit Bansal Achievement in Music
Timothy D'Lima Achievement in Art
Tabitha D'Lima Achievement in Religious Education
Walter Furniss Achievement across the curriculum
Noah Gani Achievement in Computing
Orlaith Jackson Achievement in PE
Elliot Kerss Achievement in Music
Doha Kim Achievement in Care for our Common Home
Chanyul Kim Progress across the curriculum
Anthony Moussalli Achievement in Spanish
Ikenna Oragui Achievement in Literacy
Michael Puttick Progress in Science
Jakob Sjogren Progress in Literacy
Alouette Theaker Achievement in PE
Nicholas Ulrich-Elebiary Progress in Mathematics
Jemima Watt Achievement in Art
Preparatory
Lower Prep 1
The little boys and girls who walked through our doors in September last year full of eagerness and anticipation of what the year would bring are now leaving us, not only physically bigger, but emotionally stronger and more independent. As teachers and parents, it can be easy to forget what a big transition it is moving from PP2 to LP1, and our children did it with style!
In the Michaelmas term, we watched the boys and girls settle into LP1 and Prep School life quickly with a smile on their face. The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Romans, in particular taking part in a Roman workshop where they made wax tablets and jewellery amongst other things. In Science, they loved experimenting with magnetic forces using iron fillings and strong magnets. You would be surprised how many classroom items are magnetic!
Later in the term, saw us being involved in the enjoyable Children in Need event, raising money for the charity, and then Anti-Bullying week, which saw us all wearing odd socks to celebrate uniqueness and diversity. The term ended with the much-anticipated Christmas Jumper Day, followed by Christmas Lunch at school and the beautiful Festival of Carols and Christmas Readings at the Sacred Heart Church.
As we returned after the Christmas break, it was full steam ahead! We had our production to prepare for and within a week, rehearsals were in full swing. What transpired was a wonder array of acting, singing and performance from the tiniest of mice to the cheekiest of Toads! Well done to all of the children, and staff, that worked so hard to put on the production, and for all of the support we received from home. Not long after our performance, it was time to find a different kind of costume. World Book Day was upon us, and again, the children did not disappoint. We had quizzes, a parade and also were lucky enough to meet Andy Clover, the author of the Rory Branagan Detective series. His talk to the children was both inspiring and funny! At one point he stood on a chair and pretended to lay an egg on Mrs Winship's head! We also had our school trip to the Wetlands Centre in Barnes, this term. The trip was to support our CCH topic of Climate Change and Global Warming. The children had great fun exploring the different habitats and seeing the birds that the wetlands attract. We also watched the otters being fed - they were so sweet (and greedy!). One of them, Honey, was particularly interesting - she didn't like the water! We finished the day by thinking about how we can make our urban spaces more "flood friendly" and spent time testing the permeability of surfaces in the Rain Garden. The children were challenged to re-design the carpark at the Wetlands Centre to ensure water could drain efficiently and effectively. We also played in the amazing playground! The term was so short, but we managed to squeeze so much in - the long Easter break was well needed and deserved.
Trinity Term has been another action-packed and thoroughly enjoyable one, full of hard work, new experiences and shared fun. A particular highlight was our mudlarking trip to the Millennium Bridge, which brought our class text The Thames and Tide Club vividly to life. We also visited St George’s Cathedral, where we were warmly welcomed for a special
tour and the opportunity to join the parish for Mass made even more meaningful as some children received communion with the school for the first time. During our Multicultural and Languages Day, the children created traditional Guatemalan worry dolls and explored cultures from around the globe. Sports Day was another memorable event, with pupils proudly representing their houses and showing fantastic determination and sportsmanship. The term concluded with a brilliant Outings Day at Walton Firs, where the children tackled exciting and challenging activities with enthusiasm and courage. This term, we also said a fond farewell to Arran as he embarked on a new adventure in the United States—he has promised to keep in touch, and we wish him all the very best. As the children prepare to move on to Lower Prep 2, we would like to thank them for their curiosity, generosity, and for making this year such a joy.
The LP1 Team
Lower Prep 2
Lower Prep 2 got off to a brilliant start this year. We’ve been so impressed with how the children have come together as a team, showing real effort, curiosity, and kindness throughout the year. As we reach the end, it’s a great moment to look back on some of the highlights.
In the Michaelmas Term, we explored History in Care of our Common Home. A visit to Hampton Court Palace brought our learning about Tudor history to life, with the children exploring what life was like in the royal court. We also delved into Viking history, building longships and holding our own version of a Viking ‘Thing’ to learn about their laws and way of life. Later that term, we went on a retreat day to Wintershall, where the children took time to reflect and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside. They represented the school wonderfully and really appreciated the slower pace of the day.
During the Lent Term, our focus shifted to Geography. Each child worked hard on a research project about a country in Asia and gave a travel-style presentation to the class, taking us all on journeys to fascinating places across the continent. We also learnt about plate tectonics using Oreos (yes, real ones!). The children learned about different types of boundaries - divergent, convergent, and transform. Not eating them was probably the biggest challenge of the lesson! World Book Day was another big success - LP2 impressed us with their creative costumes and a fun storytelling workshop with Andrew Clover. He brought Detective Rory Branigan to life and inspired the children to create some great stories of their own.
The Trinity Term was packed with energy and excitement as the children prepared for Spring Chicken: The Musical. They threw themselves into learning songs, lines, and choreography, and their final performance was a fantastic celebration of all their hard work. Parents, staff, and classmates were all so proud. As part of our topic on living things, the children carried out an 'Egg-speriment' to see how different drinks affect eggshells, as a way of thinking about tooth enamel. The results were a bit smelly after a week, but very eye-opening!
In RE, not only have we explored different religions. The children took part in a virtual tour of the Wimbledon Synagogue, where they enjoyed learning about Shabbat, exploring virtual readings from the Torah, and discovering key Hebrew words as part of the experience. They also had the privilege of joining the local mass at Sacred Heart where many of the LP2s prepared beautiful readings. These enriching experiences have deepened the children’s understanding of faith, respect, and community.
Outings Day also gave us the chance to visit London Zoo, where we saw a multitude of animals and built on our knowledge of conservation.
We’re also sadly saying goodbye to James, Theo, Leonard, Tao and Hannah as they move on to new schools. They’ll be greatly missed by all of us, and we wish them every success and happiness in their next steps. Once a Donhead pupil, always a Donhead pupil! Finally, thank you to all our parents for your continued support this year. It’s been a real pleasure teaching this group and we’re so proud of everything they’ve achieved and how much they’ve grown. Best of luck to all the children as they move up into Prep!
The LP2 Team
Lower Prep 1 & Lower Prep 2 Prize Giving Order of Service
The Donhead Prayer Welcome
Catherine Hitchcock, Headteacher
Donhead Choir
Mr Jan Quant, Chair of Governors
The Worshipful, the Mayor of the London
Borough of Merton, Councillor Martin Whelton
LP1 Prize Giving
LP2 Prize Giving Awards & Cups
Alumni Presentations
2024-25 Presentation
The School Song
Lower Prep 1
Charles Benedict
Outstanding effort in Care for Our Common Home
Alexander Catachanas Gonzalez Application in Art
Spencer Earl Progress in English
Hunter Falco-Grimshaw
Outstanding effort and achievement in French
Hanting Fei Achievement in Creative Writing
Viacheslav Ivannikov Application in Mathematics
Zachary Jackson
Outstanding achievement in PE & Games
Conor Jones Application and Progress in English Comprehension
Hajin Kim Application in Creative Writing
Henry Lindsay Effort and interest in Religious Education
Kin Hang Lo
Creativity in his approach to interpreting the curriculum
Andrew Mackasey Achievement in Computing
Tekena Ogionwo Progress in Art
Roman Paul Application and Progress in Creative Writing
Rory Rowan Application in English Comprehension
Leon Salgado Application and Progress in Creative Writing
Evan Sancheti
Outstanding achievement in PE & Games
Andy Suh Achievement in Creative Writing
Matthew Whittington
Outstanding Achievement in Music
Ali Alrifai Effort and Progress in Science
George Beer Application and Effort in Art
Francis Cottrell Application in Mathematics
Fionn Cregan
Miaozhe Han
Outstanding Application and Effort in Music
Outstanding Effort and Achievement in Religious Education
Charles Hays Application and Effort in PE & Games
Ollie Marland
Outstanding Application and Effort in Mathematics
Jasper Mason Application and Effort in Care for our Common Home
Ojas Mishra Application in Mathematics
Charles Nicklin Achievement in Computing
Arran Patel Application and Effort in Care for our Common Home
Leo Robinson
Matthew Rowley
Ruiyang Zhang
Outstanding Achievement in Music, Effort in Art
Outstanding Achievement in PE & Games
Outstanding Effort and Achievement in French
Chloe Campbell Achievement in English
Martha Cookson
Julian Grech
Edgar Hegland
Jack Keane
Effort and Progress in French
Application and Effort in Care for our Common Home
Outstanding Application and Effort in English
Excellent Effort and Application in PE
Boyoung Kim Achievement in Art
Freda Kleyn
Maurits Klop
Mia McMullen
Max Melville
Emilia Monro
Grace O'Shea
Jacob Ram
Benjamin Rusby
Leo Vashisht
Martha White
Effort and Progress in French
Effort and Progress in English
Effort and Progress in Mathematics
Effort and Progress in Mathematics
Effort and Progress in Care for our Common Home
Excellent Effort and Application in PE
Effort and interest in Religious Education
Achievement in Computing
Outstanding Achievement and Effort in Music
Outstanding Achievement and Effort in Music
Lower Prep 2 Prize List
Freddie Allman Application in Mathematics
Isla Ashdown Achievement in Care for Our Common Home.
Archie Cookson Application in Art.
Max Kennedy Achievement in English.
Aiden (Jian) Kim Achievement in English.
Mikhail Kozlov Achievement in Science.
Zanisha Richards Application in English.
Alistair Smith Achievement in Computing.
Anouk Smith Progress in Art.
Leo Stepanov Application in Mathematics
Sebastian Street Application in Music.
Alexander Tanousis Achievement in French.
Eva Taylor Application in English.
James Tong-Nery Progress in Art.
Sebastian Walker Achievement in Care for our Common Home.
Vincent Worrall Application in Music.
Edgar Wouters Achievement in Science.
Emilie Boyce Application in Mathematics
Sam Dales Progress in Art.
Aveer Gulati Achievement in Care for Our Common Home.
Ginny Hahn Achievement in English.
George Kamatsos Achievement in Computing.
Elena Kerss Achievement in English.
Rufus Knowling Application in Music.
Theo Moore Achievement in French.
Rishi Nadgir Achievement in Science.
Adam Nasser Achievement in Music.
Mahiyu Nigam Achievement in Care for Our Common Home.
Hannah Pacheco Achievement in Art
Ray Suh Application in Religious Education.
Alice Thong Achievement in Mathematics
Tarun Vaaheesan Progress in English.
Nicholas Vasilenko Achievement in Religious Education.
Kabir Verdi Application in Music.
Emily Walker Application in English.
Ludwig Bauer Achievement in English.
Ethan Daniel-Singh Application in Art.
Jake Davies Application in Music.
Gabriel Gani Achievement in Science.
Joseph Jackson Achievement in Computing.
Johann Joseph Achievement in Music.
Tao Lew-Davies Achievement in English.
Leonard Li Achievement in Care for Our Common Home.
William Orton Achievement in French.
Sebastian Robinson Application in Mathematics
Alexander Ulrich-Elebiary Achievement in Physical Education
Hari Velusami Achievement in English.
Daniel Zhao Achievement in Care for our Common Home.
Preparatory
Year 5 has been an incredibly enriching and memorable chapter in our pupils’ learning journey. This year was filled with opportunities that extended far beyond the classroom, as children engaged in a diverse range of activities that nurtured not only their academic growth but also their emotional, social, and moral development.
Charity and community spirit were central to our year. Pupils supported important causes through events such as Jeans for Genes, Wear Yellow for Mental Health, Show Racism the Red Card, House charity events, and Children in Need. During the festive season, we proudly took part in Christmas Jumper Day, raising funds while spreading holiday cheer.
Faith and spiritual reflection also had a prominent place in the Year 5 experience. Children took part in the peaceful and reflective Walk of Hope, a moment of unity across the school. Our visit to Wintershall brought faith stories to life in a deeply moving way, while our mosque visit offered a valuable opportunity to explore another religion and appreciate cultural diversity. Each class also presented assemblies, giving pupils the chance to reflect on and share what they’d learned with the wider school. A highlight of the winter term was the beautiful Carol Service, where pupils sang with heart and harmony, celebrating the joy and meaning of the season.
Academically, pupils thrived in all areas. In Science, hands-on experiments and Science Week fostered curiosity. Our scaled Maths approach supported and stretched all learners, complemented by workshops and MoneySense lessons. In English, new resources like Literacy Tree and Accelerated Reader helped deepen reading and writing skills. Pupils also prepared for senior school with increased 11+ lessons, critical thinking, and ESB presentations. In RE, we followed our adapted Come and See programme, while CCH lessons explored topics like Black History, World War I, and Antarctica.
Learning extended well beyond textbooks this year, with enriching experiences in the arts, music, and external workshops. Pupils visited the Saatchi Gallery, where an exploration of floral themes inspired creativity and discussion. Our musicians flourished during the Cedars and Epsom Music Workshops providing platforms to perform and collaborate. Meanwhile, our mathematically minded children took part in various maths challenges hosted by Epsom, Emanuel, and Kings, embracing the chance to solve problems in exciting, competitive settings. Sport remained a key focus, with pupils participating in rugby, netball, and cricket, as well as a wide range of school clubs. Our energetic Sports Day celebrated effort, teamwork, and house spirit.
The highlight of the year for many was our exciting residential trip to PGL Isle of Wight, where pupils-built resilience, independence, and lifelong memories. Finishing the year the Prep Children enjoyed a day of sports, reasoning and teambuilding challenges at City of London Freemans School.
As the year ends, we are incredibly proud of how much our Year 5 pupils have grown. Their hard work, kindness, and spirit have made this year truly special. We look forward to seeing all they will achieve in Year 6.
The Prep Team
Elements
This year has been a tremendous success. In September, Elements welcomed 14 amazing girls to the year, and we saw our new co-educational group arrive full of enthusiasm, looking resplendent in their new braided blazers, polished shoes, and smart haircuts and styles. All were ready for the opportunities ahead and relished the chance to become the oldest and most responsible children in the school. Campion House were the first Elements children to become Prefects, which meant they would take charge of bell ringing, become House Monitors, and of course sort out the lost property; they were followed by Loyola in Lent term and then Xavier in Trinity. They have all set a very high standard! In addition to this prestigious job, the Elements children also got to become a buddy of a child in Reception. It has been lovely to see them across the year playing games together every Friday morning, reading stories, enjoying lunches, sharing Christmas gifts, participating in a magical Easter egg hunt, and then enjoying an end of year lunch! Elements year group even wrote and illustrated their own picture book and gave this as a gift for their precious young buddy. Across the year, the Elements pupils have developed a keen understanding of the impact they have on these young Donhead pupils and we, as teachers, have witnessed the nurturing words of wisdom the children have shared with their young friends. What an inspiration they have been!
In the Michaelmas Term, we ensured that the teaching and learning supported all pupils preparing for 11+, as well as those who were not. There was overwhelming success and every one of our pupils worked so hard during this period; well done to every single one of you! Despite the demands the curriculum presented in this term, we still found time for extracurricular activities, including seeing the first ever Donhead netball team fixtures take place as well as the boys leave for their rugby tour to Dublin, where they gained several wins and got to sample fine Irish food and hospitality! The Elements Year group also participated in the traditional Donhead events: the Elements Christmas Dinner – full of witty speeches and laughter - and The Festival of Carols and Readings, where Elements led readings, lantern bearing, and singing.
The Lent Term arrived, and Elements were full of excitement and anticipation. As well as continuing to win a variety of sporting fixtures, Elements also took part in various trips and events. First came the trip to the Imperial War Museum to support our Care for our Common Home study of WWII. Following this, Elements once again got fully involved in World Book Day, as well as Readathon, where their support was hugely appreciated. Buddy lunch and the Easter Egg hunt followed as well as the competitive nature of the Inter-house Music Competition; with Loyola House lifting the trophy! Of course, the girls conquered over many teams in their netball tour to Bristol – what sportsmanship, teamwork and skill they showcased! Those not attending, visited Wimbledon AFC for an informative and exciting tour of the grounds as well as witnessing our faith in action and the work of Wimbledon Action Group, distributing food and necessities to the local community.
Coming into the Trinity Term, Elements were clearly ready for the challenges and opportunities they would face in their final term at Donhead. They travelled overseas to France which offered so many opportunities, including visiting L’Escargotiere du Choquel, to sample the delights of snails! Visiting La Coupole, a World War II bunker converted into a museum, visiting Nausicaa Marine Centre and a working farm. Despite the busy itinerary, there was, of course time to relax on the beach! However, on their return, there was no time for rest and rehearsals started for the end of year play ‘Ye-Ha!’; a fitting way to celebrate their talents. All agreed that this was an entertainment delight.
Mrs Beecher, Mme Negkaki, Mrs Sheehy and Mr Amos would like to thank the pupils of the Elements Year for being such a special group of young people. It is now their time to move on, sharing their God-given talents with the world. Go forth and set the world on fire! Semper Magis!
The Elements Team
Prep & Elements Prize Giving
Order of Service
Order of Service
The Donhead Prayer Welcome
Catherine Hitchcock, Headteacher
Donhead Choir
Mr Jan Quant, Chair of Governors
The Worshipful, the Mayor of the London
Borough of Merton, Councillor Martin Whelton
Prep Prize Giving Elements Prize Giving
The School Song
Prep Prize List
Faris Ahmad
Application in Care for our Common Home
Leo Brady-Gonzalez Progress in Art
Batu Cuylan Application in Care for our Common Home
Bruno Francis Achievement in Computing
James Gilbertson
Hugo Gohil
Progress in Religious Education
Achievement in French
Seungbin Ha Achievement in Music
Austin Lyons Whyte Progress in Art
Finn Mason Application in Religious Education
James Nicklin Application in Music
Lucca Nicolaides Progress in Mathematics
Sebastian Parker
Ben Roblin
Henry Smyth
Davi Barbosa Alves Morais
Achievement in Physical Education
Achievement in Music
Progress in Maths
Achievement in Religious Education
Leonardo Castro-Cameron Application in Physical Education
Seoyun Choi Application in Art
Alice Cooke Progress across the curriculum
Erik Correa-Lemke Application in Music
Elisha Cregan
Application across the curriculum
Henry Eakins Achievement in Computing
Theodore Jackson Application in Music
Frederick Jones Application in Religious Education
Louis Kolff
Achievement across the curriculum
Theodore Marvin Achievement in Science
Maya Massaquoi Application in Music
Edward McBrien
Progress in English
Dilshya Narangoda Application in Music
Seoyun Oh Progress in Maths
Karim Siddiqui
Francis Smith
Achievement in English
Application in French and Art
Orla Vashisht Achievement in Computing
Vicente Albera-Mele Application in PE
Caden Chen
Andre Claassens
Theodore D'Lima
Ayaan Dudani
Achievement across the Curriculum
Achievement in Mathematics
Achievement in Religious Education
Outstanding Effort in Music
Arjun Iyer Application in Music
Liam Jones Application in Art
Oliver Marshall-Kester Achievement in Mathematics
Henry Nolan
Edward O'Connor
Michael O'Shea
Achievement across the Curriculum
Progress across the curriculum
Outstanding Progress across the Curriculum
Marco Pace
Seojin Park
Jonathan Rowley
Harry Sellars
Zhuocheng Tian
Mirco Wipplinger
Achievement in Science
Achievement across the Curriculum
Achievement in Art
Progress in Maths
Progress in Music
Achievement in French
Elements Prize List
Benjamin Busch
Joshua Capstick
Leon Caruana
Hugo Daubney
George Davies
William Dibden
Lucien Freemantle
George Hammond
Coen Louis
Oliver Matson
Manuel Rivas Borgia
Ryan Sanaei
Aarav Sheth
Cameron Taylor
Kevin Wang
Elizabeth Amos
Charlotte Gates
Alice Hedges
Felicity Jarratt
Chaeyoon Kim
Estelle Hoi Ching Leung
Lotanna Oragui
Elina Ramos
Helaine Richter
Yunha Seo
Albertine Theaker
Daria Vinogradova
Beatrice Waddington
Alice Walker
Saleem Al-Milli
Sebastien Capstick
Oscar Gao
Thomas Georgiou
Marcus Hansen-Damm
David Hill
Ryan Huang
Ishaan Jhawar
Amaury Joalland
Effort and Achievement in Physical Education
Application and Effort in Religious Education
Achievement in Computing
Achievement in Art
Application and Progress in Mathematics
Effort and Application in Mathematics
Effort and Achievement in Physical Education
Effort and Progress in English
Effort and Application in Music
Effort and Achievement in French
Progress and Achievement in Mathematics
Progress in Art
Application and Effort in Mathematics
Application and Effort in Religious Education
Effort and Achievement in Science
Application and Achievement in French
Application and Achievement in Physical Education
Enthusiasm and understanding in Computing
Effort and Achievement in English
Achievement in Mathematics
Achievement and effort in Music
Application and Progress in English
Effort and Achievement in Care for our Common Home
Effort and Achievement in Physical Education
Achievement and Effort in Mathematics
Effort and Achievement in Science
Achievement in Mathematics
Effort and Achievement in Art
Effort and Achievement in Religious Education
Progress in Art
Effort and Achievement in Computing
Effort in Religious Education
Effort and Achievement in Physical Education
Effort and Achievement in PSHE
Application and Progress in English
Progress and Achievement in Mathematics
Effort and Achievment in Music
Effort and Application in Maths
Henry Jurd
Teddy Laskowski
Eric Mackasey
Effort and Achievement in French
Application and Progress in Music
Effort and Achievement in Religious Education
Alexander Mcintosh Effort and Achievement in Care for our Common Home
Kiaan Patel
Sebastian Taylor
Yohann Tekle
Juliusz Warzecha
Conor Young
Effort and Achievement in Mathematics
Effort and Achievement in Mathematics
Effort and Achievement in Science
Effort and Achievement in English
Effort and Achievement in Drama
Art & Design Technology
It has been a very busy and very creative year in the Art room. We started off the year with having our artwork showcased at the Wimbledon Museum. They held a Remembrance Day exhibition and a selection of work from year 4 and 5 was on show. The year 4’s produced a soldier head from Mod Roc and balloons which was also a diorama. They were outstanding and the year 5’s used charcoal and pastels to produce some stunning drawings based on Remembrance Day.
LP1 spent their first year in the Art Room and it has been a busy place since they set foot into the classroom. They have learnt all about colour wheels and the elements of design as well as learning different techniques on how to improve their drawing skills. They used these skills to draw different national animals or flowers from around the world then added watercolour. They then spent time making Rangoli patterns. Trying to glue all the small seeds/beans/materials was quite tricky, especially with the amount of glue used.
LP2 began the year with studying portraiture and how to draw using measurement. We practiced first on a drawing of the Hulk then they picked their own multi-cultural themed piece to draw the other half. This was a challenging project! In DT they planned and created an outdoor space. We had windmills, bridges, gazebos, sheds, playgrounds, and houses. For the exhibition, they drew a UK/Europe inspired piece using either felt tips or pastels. They used a grid to draw which was difficult, but they produced some truly eye-catching work. The Remembrance Day project was turned into people from around the world. You might have seen an Ascot themed hat, or someone from Day of the Dead or even a Chinese dragon on a building. Their work was so creative and inspirational.
Prep is the year where we had to really challenge ourselves to reach that next level of skill. It is where we had to learn to draw and paint to a high standard. It was a very challenging year. They spent weeks learning to paint and then painted on canvas for the exhibition. This was quite difficult to do and time- consuming. Their paintings could be put up on any wall, they were fabulous. We also got a bit messy with Mod Roc and balloons when we made our African masks. From that mess, they produced outstanding work. They also had a trip to the Saatchi Gallery which was a creative experience and a wonderful chance to see artwork from around the world.
Elements started their year off with a trip to Walton Firs where they learned about shelters and how to build them, as well as how to build a bridge. It was amazing to watch them work together to complete these tasks. They also went to MakerSpace with Mr Louis. What a fantastic opportunity to experience the design process from conception to finished product. We now have mini printing presses for the art room!! A big thank you to Mr Louis. The next challenge the Elements faced was the art exhibition. They had two pieces to complete; a large pencil sketch and to build a dragon or animal. Both pieces were astounding. We had dragons from Wales, England, Europe, India and animals such as wolves, kangaroos, bald eagles, a sloth, a giraffe and a springbok. Their pencil sketches took months to complete but their hard work paid off. The exhibition was enhanced by their hard work.
Art Club met once a week throughout the year and was available to years 3 to 6. We were very lucky to have Mrs Hughes run junior art club and I ran the seniors. I think you will agree that the hot air balloon created by the juniors was excellent and I hope you managed to have your photo opportunity. Senior art club designed and created the new house shields. They are very striking. They also made the giant dragon hanging in the exhibition which added that extra wow factor.
The last two terms have been a hive of creativity and hard work for the art exhibition. The theme this year was “Around the World the Donhead Way”. This is where we showcased our talents and abilities. From Gormley statues, cherry blossoms, national animals and flowers to giant dragons, paintings, and UK inspired artwork, this was a truly amazing experience. With the help of year 6, you were able to get your passport stamped and see the world the Donhead way. A special mention to the volunteers who helped with running the exhibition after school and especially to George Hammond who organised the volunteers and helped set it up. If you didn’t get to see it, you have really missed out.
We also have a selection of artwork on display at the Wimbledon Library from July 9th to the Aug. 27th. Please check with the library that the gallery is open.
Have a wonderful summer break.
Miss Chris Macleod Head of Art & DT
Languages
The Languages Department continues to be busy and full of life, continuing to promote the international profile of Donhead, honouring our British Council International School award. This year was obviously different than the previous ones, as we welcomed the girls. Throughout the year, we have had plenty of singing, games, and celebrations of variety and colour, but also a lot of changes, too! It is important to acknowledge the hard work of all the children this year. Well done!
The Pre-Prep welcomed the girls and Mrs Delgado as the teacher in Reception and PP1. Children have continued to excel in their Spanish; PP2 were learning how to read and narrate stories in Spanish, such as ‘La oruga muy hambrienta’ and talk about planets. PP1 and Reception learnt how to present themselves and describe things in their lessons.
One of the ways we have adapted our teaching of French in the Prep school is promoting Speaking and Listening Skills. In every lesson, the children had at least one independent Speaking activity and at least one Listening Comprehension.
We have also continued our weekly Quizizz competition and therefore Donhead is now a Quizizz Certified Game Changer. Everyone in the school from PP2 to Elements loves this addition to our weekly routine and many Semper Magis certificates were awarded each week to the highest scorers!
A usual highlight of each year is our traditional Elements trip to France. On 14th May, 46 children and 6staff left for the annual trip to France. We stayed for 5 days in Le Château d'Ebblinghem, near St Omer in Northern France. After a short journey on the Eurotunnel, the children arrived at the Château, found their rooms and tucked into a great French meal at the restaurant. Each morning, despite some late nights, the children rose at 7am to taste the amazing breakfast. What a healthy start to the day! We took advantage of the fact that the hotel provided us with a huge breakfast, and we tasted a lot of French delicacies, such as crêpes and baguettes. Each day after breakfast, we set off on our visits. Among these were; La Ferme Halte d’Autrefois, where children made their own chocolate bread, ate fresh goat cheese and spend some time petting and milking the goats; Nausicaa, the largest sea aquarium in Europe, a snail farm where the children learned about the French delicacy, had some close encounters with snails and all of them tasted some famous French recipes with snails, Le Touquet market, La Coupole, a WWII bunker and currently war museum and the largest shopping centre on the French borders. Despite the weather we experienced during the trip, the sun decided to appear in the evening and helped us experience the campfire night, archery competition and silent disco. The children enjoyed speaking French and certainly learned a lot by the end of our visit. By far the best evenings were spent on the beach having the Elements Got Talent Competition!
Having celebration days for language is very important, as it brings language alive for the whole school. The theme in French lessons throughout Multicultural Week was ‘Français dans le Monde’. All of us, and children mostly, have the idea that French is only spoken in France,
but 240 million people have French as their first language. For example, the Vatican City registers itself as a French-speaking country in the international organisations with which it has relationships. Therefore, it was a great opportunity to celebrate the global aspect of French language and understand its importance. Of course, dressing up had a central role as always and everyone enjoyed wearing a costume to highlight their cultural background.
During Multicultural Week, we also celebrated Spanish Morning in Pre-Prep children. Children decorated their own maracas and loved playing ‘Tag the tail to the donkey’, a traditional cinco de mayo game. Un dia meravilloso!
However, the highlight in our department was the penfriends project in French for Prep and Elements. The children in these year groups had the opportunity to communicate through French and exchange letters with the Year Six students at College of Athens, a co-educational independent school in Athens, Greece. Every three weeks, the Donhead children would either send or receive letters discussing with their penfriends in French about various topics, from introducing themselves to talking about their holidays, hobbies and daily routine. Every time the letters from Greece arrived the children were full of enthusiasm and joy. The children were able to learn and understand how children of their age live in another country while understanding the global aspect of French. A great project that started last year and will continue in the years to come.
Mme Negkaki Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Pre-Prep
The speed at which this academic year at Donhead has flown by is truly remarkable! It has been an exceptionally exciting year for the Pre-Prep Music Department, marked by the introduction of numerous new and thrilling projects that would not have been possible without everyone's support.
During the Michaelmas Term, Pre-Prep students dedicated themselves to a variety of music events, including concerts, Masses, and prayer services. The Pre-Prep choir flourished, with around 30 enthusiastic participants. Notably, on November 5th, Pre-Prep pupils showcased their talents in the Informal Concert. By the end of November, we were fully immersed in preparations for the Nativity plays. The students put in exceptional effort to master every song, and the dedication of teachers and TAs was invaluable, as they provided additional rehearsal time.
In the Lent Term, the Pre-Prep Choir eagerly resumed rehearsals, introducing new and exciting songs such as "clickety fingers." During lessons, the students continued their hard work, preparing a variety of songs for the Pre-Prep Concert on March 11th in the Auditorium.
This concert featured 16 solo performances and two choirs, with songs including ‘Giggle song, ‘Put your coat on’ and ‘There’s a bear in the fridge’. The event was a tremendous success, with all participants performing at a high standard and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
In the Trinity Term, the Pre-Prep Choir was gearing up for another concert. During lessons, students, including those in Reception, learned to recognize and play instruments such as glockenspiels and xylophones. By the end of the first half-term, we had learned various songs, which we performed at our Pre-Prep Concert on Friday 13th of June. PP1 and PP2 confidently showcased their songs and achieved a high standard once again. I am immensely proud of all the students who took part and very grateful to everyone who supported us.
Ms Kallia Kanellopoulou
Prep School
Another great year in the Music department at Donhead. I wish to thank all the staff, pupils and parents for their continued help and support throughout the year and very much look forward to what the new year brings.
During the Michaelmas term, as well as our usual concerts taking place, it was a pleasure to take the Donhead Choir to join in a Music Festival at Epsom College joining in with other local schools for a day of wonderful choral singing
The Senior Choir were busy learning Christmas songs and carols to sing at the annual Christmas Fair. This year, the choir performed in the refectory by the Christmas tree which added to the seasonal festivities.
It was a real privilege to take the Elements Donhead Choristers to sing at the official turning on of the Wimbledon Village Christmas lights. This was also the first-time our girl choristers got to wear their Donhead Choir robes.
The Donhead Choir had their annual visit to St Teresa’s Care Home the day before the Carol service. It was a great chance for the choir to sing through some of their pieces to perform in the Carol service as well as an opportunity to sing some fun Christmas songs.
The Donhead Carol Service was an absolutely triumph. Again, a first for Donhead, having girl choristers in the choir, all looking terribly smart in their choir robes.
The termly Pre-Prep School, Informal, Lower Prep and Prep Year Concerts, as well as the Ensembles Concerts with Elements soloists, all continued to take place in the Lent and Trinity Terms. This year has seen an increase of high standard vocal solos, both popular and classical in style as well Drum solos given by our students. The Senior Choir, Violin Group, Brass Band, Woodwind Group and Guitar Groups gave skilful and engaging performances to very appreciative audiences. During the Lent term, I am pleased that the woodwind teacher and Cello teacher have been proactive and given demos in Music lessons to promote the instruments.
During February, our String players were invited back again to a Strings Day at Epsom College, where pupils got the chance play with other local school musicians and performed String arrangements of famous Film themes.
In the second half of the Lent Term, the Prep School pupils began preparations for the annual Inter-House Music Competition. This year’s theme was songs from two 90’s bands- Take That and Coldplay. This was extremely well supported by the Donhead community, and a fun and enjoyable time was had by all. It was a pleasure to welcome Mrs Annie Thackray as the music adjudicator. We got to hear the pre-prep choir perform ‘Giggle Song’ and Donhead Choir perform a couple of fun spiritual songs as well as a lovely 2-part arrangement of ‘A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman whilst the adjudicator was deliberating choosing the winning House. Congratulations to the winning House- Loyola! - First time ever and thoroughly deserved.
During the Trinity term, Prep Year group were invited to a music workshop with a theme of ‘friendship’. The workshop would include a vocal masterclass and Samba masterclass led by two specialist music teachers at the Cedars. We hope this collaboration will continue again next year.
At the end of the Lent term, we said a fond farewell to Mr Tom Harrison, brass teacher who will be fondly missed by all his pupils and have welcomed Mr Elliot Phelps as replacement brass teacher.
It has been another truly fun-packed, busy, memorable year in the Music department. I would like to say a special thank you to my colleague Miss Kallia Kanellopoulou who sadly will be leaving us this term to take up a full-time position as Music teacher at Eaton House for Girls. She has been a great help and support in my time here so far at Donhead. I wish her the best of luck in her new school.
I very much look forward to entering another year at Donhead with lots of new and exciting challenges, and to continue to build on the needs of a co-educational school.
Head of Music
Melanie Metherell
Sport
For the first time Donhead has welcomed children into the Pre School and have enjoyed two PE lessons each week, The children have been introduced to a wide range of introductory games supporting their physical development and beginning their Donhead sporting journey with boundless fun and energy. It has been a pleasure to be part of the start of their sporting experience and witness the pure joy of just playing with friends and for fun.
The Reception Year has certainly had a fantastic start to their sporting journey at Donhead. They have approached their PE lessons with great enthusiasm, excitement, and pure joy, whether it was during regular school lessons or extra-curricular sports clubs. They have been full of energy, actively engaged, curious, and fearless, embracing every challenge that came their way. As a result, they have made remarkable progress both as individuals and as a cohesive year group. Throughout the year, each child has grown in confidence, character, and a sense of humour, which was evident in their enthusiastic participation and enjoyment during our Football matches and multi-skilled athletics event with our friends from Wimbledon Common Preparatory School. We eagerly anticipate many more memorable moments in the years to come.
In their first year of Pre-Prep, the PP1 students have enjoyed a fun-filled and active year of PE, Games, and fixtures. They approached each session with boundless enthusiasm, showing growing confidence, teamwork, and a real love for sport. In the Michaelmas Term, the students took part in football sessions at Games and played matches against local rivals, Squirrels, showing great promise and excitement on the pitch. With the introduction of Netball as a main sport, we will continue to develop these skills in PP2 and look to showcase these skills next term. As the year progressed into the Lent Term, the focus shifted to tag rugby, where the children impressed with their energy and developing game awareness.
In the Trinity Term, we introduced the fundamentals of athletics relay running, jumping, and throwing—which form the core of our programme. The children took part in an exciting Athletics meet hosted at Donhead, where they competed alongside pupils from Rokeby and Leo Academy schools. It was a wonderful occasion, filled with cheering, sportsmanship, and standout performances from our young athletes. As they look forward to Sports Day and their move into PP2, this group should feel proud of their sporting achievements and excited for even more fixtures and fun next year.
In their final year of Pre-Prep, the PP2 students enjoyed a fantastic year of PE, Games, and fixtures. Full of enthusiasm and energy, they approached each challenge with the spirit and determination we expect from our Donhead teams. In the Michaelmas Term, they played football against our local rivals, Squirrels. The year group showed great promise, with several exciting footballers emerging. With the upcoming changes to sport at Donhead, we are confident they will continue to flourish in the Prep School. During the Lent Term, PP2 shifted their focus to tag rugby. It was a pleasure to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. We welcomed the Leo Academy schools to our grounds and witnessed some lightning-quick footwork and impressive speed from our players. There's certainly plenty of talent in the group, and with more rugby on the horizon next year, we look forward to seeing even greater progress. In the Trinity Term, we introduced the fundamentals of athletics, focusing on relay running, jumping, and throwing core elements of our athletics programme at Donhead. The students participated in our annual PP2 Athletics event, where we once again welcomed Squirrels and our new Leo Academy partners, along with Rokeby, to the Donhead grounds. Later in the term, we also hosted Rokeby in a cricket fixture at the Donhead Sports Grounds. In what was the first of many fixtures for this year group, the students displayed excellent skill and enthusiasm. As they look ahead to Sports Day and their journey into the Prep School, the students should feel excited and proud. This cohort has shown real promise, and we are confident they have what it takes to become one of Donhead’s most successful sporting years.
The LP1 year group have an extraordinary depth of skill and ability. As a result, we can field strong mixed teams in football, rugby and cricket and still perform against any competition. There is always some nerves when asking most, if not, the whole year to play fixtures on a Saturday morning. However, there was not need as nearly the whole year turned up to play a football fixture against St George’s. this was great to see and told me what an enthusiastic and well parent supported year group this will be. As with all the year groups it was fantastic to see the girls embrace the sporting opportunities and compete in all their fixtures regardless of the team they were playing. For the whole year group, we try to get the children thinking about moving the ball to space, using their passing skills and not just running. After working hard at Games and in training, this all began to pay off, with some exceptional rugby, football and cricket being played. We are all excited at the prospect of seeing this year group in action next year in LP2. This cricket season, the LP1 pupils never lacked enthusiasm for the game regardless of the hot afternoons and have learnt quickly developing their individual skills and game play. There are some very promising cricketers in the year group, and we hope they can encourage and lead the rest of the year group in becoming one of the stronger Donhead cricketing sides. It was fantastic to see the LP1 athletics perform on Sports Day with so many fantastic races. They all races with enthusiasm and a willing to do as best as they can. Well done and thank you for all your hard work.
As always, LP2 has been a year of exciting growth and development, and we are delighted to share how successful this group has been across all sports and activities. This year, LP2 became one of our most committed after-school training groups, with students regularly joining us on the lawn for Rugby and Cricket. Their enthusiasm and team spirit were truly impressive. Netball training with Miss Davies was also very well supported by the LP2’s, and we’re especially encouraged by the potential within our U9 team. With such dedication, we are confident this group will continue to thrive in the years ahead. The first term began with Football and Netball, where students showed excellent participation and progress. After the Christmas break, the focus shifted to Rugby at the grounds, and our players couldn’t wait to get started. Their hard work at training and Games paid off with strong performances at festivals and fixtures, leading to a string of well-earned victories. As the weather warmed, we moved into the Cricket season always a highlight for this year group. With many players involved in external clubs, LP2 has shown real talent and passion for the game. Dominant displays throughout the season from all teams finished a very successful year for the LP2’s. We look forward to seeing their continued development, particularly as they transition into the hard-ball format in Prep. We would like to thank all LP2 students for their outstanding effort and commitment throughout the year. It has been a pleasure to see their progress in PE, Games, and
The Prep year group have participated in all aspects of school sport with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm with the right balance of competitiveness and enjoyment. Regardless of the results on the sporting field, the desire to continually improve at training opportunities, during and after fixtures has remained consistent throughout the year. The Prep pupils have been committed to attending all after and before school training sessions that have been available which has been evident in the progress made in their skill level and understanding of the games they play. There have been broad range of opportunities for all pupils within the year group to represent Donhead in Football, Rugby, Netball, Cricket, Athletics as well as some extra table tennis and Dodgeball. Due to their willingness to participate and do their best, there have been many excellent successes over the course of the year. The Prep year group have grown in their ability and understanding of the broad range of different sports, in readiness for their final year as Elements pupils.
This year’s Elements year have been a dedicated and determined, sporting year group throughout their school life at Donhead. From as early as their U8 year I could see how cohesive the year group were. They were so teachable and were able to transfer and take on bord teaching points during matches to improve and adapt their game to play better and better. This was highlighted so many times over the years. In October the year group departed for Dublin for the annual rugby tour. Credit to all the boys, especially those who do not have rugby down as their number one favourite sport. There were many excellent games played in Dublin. With a full fixture card, the year group travelled to or hosted all the usual schools and competed at every level. During the course of the year, there were some excellent results which demonstrated a fantastic amount of commitment. The highlight fixture for this year will have
to be against St Paul’s. A team which previously beat them as U10’s so would definitely be a tough match. However, the team put on a display of excellence, making all their tackles, correct decision making with the ball in hand which resulted in many memorable and exceptional tries. The school with the most points wins receives the Dunckley shield. This was in addition to the St Ignatius Cup and shield against St John’s Beaumont which the Prep and Elements won once again. Looking back at the level they were at, as a year group, in September to this level they are now, it is clear to see that their understanding has increased enormously. During the Trinity term and sporting attention turned to cricket and athletics. With such a packed term there were many exciting and competitive cricket matches against some of the largest schools. The most memorable and exciting included St Paul’s and Rokeby. Traditional two very strong cricket schools. With some incredible batting demonstrations and bowling the team that Mr Kester takes produced two of the most dominant matches. Winning by 60+ runs and 100+ runs. On Donhead Sports Day, the year group ran their races with enthusiasm and determination to do their best. It was fantastic to see the girls not only compete but also take so many of the top spots. They truly are a fantastic athletic group of girls who can turn their hand to all the sports they have tried. I hope they can take away many happy sporting memories and apply their acquired knowledge and skills in their new schools. A thank you must go to all the pupils for their commitment and determination over the course of the year. We are proud to say that each child within the school can represent the school in sporting competitions and fixtures, regardless of their age or ability. Our thanks must also extend to the parents for their support over the years at Donhead. We have a very busy department, and we couldn’t operate without your support and help. Have a wonderful Summer.
Elements Girls started the year strong, showing Donhead how fierce and dominant they are in netball and winning most matches in their path with style, flair, and advanced play. In Donheads' first ever Netball Tournament, Elements girls played tough competition such as Kensington Prep and Hurlingham. They commanded play and put on a masterclass in attacking, defending, and shooting - resulting in them coming in 1st and 3rd place. In the IAPS qualifiers, the girls won 6 matches in a row to get to the final rounds, a huge feat against large local girls’ schools such as Wimbledon High, Surbiton, and Notre Dame. On their trip to Stonyhurst and tour to Bristol, the girls had their final netball matches of Year 6. They once again played with passion, and their excellence in the sport was not only clear for all to see but commented on by all the opposition they played. Throughout the year, their many high scores such as 27-0, 20-1, 17-0 show the absolute dedication, hard work, and effort they have put into their training over the last 4 years. The girls have not only played as one cohesive unit, they also have shown humility, kindness, and sportsmanship to each other and all the teams they play. They have impressed us in all areas, especially their attitude and drive.
In Trinity term, the girls took part in cricket and athletics. They played well in the Surrey Starburst Cricket competition, as well as mixed fixtures with Rokeby and Cranmore. The girls demonstrated excellent bowling and batting skills, helping to lead their teams to some wins across the matches. In athletics, the girls took on new heights - and had their first mixed sports day. In this, they set brilliant new school records in all events, giving the girls in the years below them some inspiration to work towards. A huge well done to the Elements girls. They have been an incredible group of girls to teach, and their sporting legacy will live on at Donhead.
PE and Games Department
