From the Headmaster
As we reflect on the past year in this Annual Review, I am delighted to celebrate the achievements of the entire school community. While we often recognise the accomplishments of certain individuals, it is important to acknowledge the collective success and hard work of everyone across the year.
Parents, families and supporters,
Thank you for this year. Thank you for supporting your children, for supporting the staff and the school as a whole. I have heard, and seen, so much generosity of time and spirit across the parent body this year, and over the past three years. You are the glue to the success of the community. I talk about the triangular relationship between pupils, staff and parents, and without you, the school community could not thrive. For those who are parents here for only a few more hours, we wish you and your family all the very best for the future.
The Parents Association is thriving, extremely busy, and has amazingly helped the merging of the two communities of OHS and CBPPS.
Thank you to those involved organising the many special events this year including;
Quiz Night: Sharon Paton, Holly Griffin, Rose Gilman, Emily Yuan, Kim Groat, Spyridoula Vitouladiti, Lucy Cleanis
Summer Fair: Ciara ORourke, Melia Easingwood, Kirsty Enticknap, Holly Griffin, Mia Buerk, Nataliya Mills, Isabella Duffy, Marta Brnicevic
Summer Ball: Amy Connell, Kim Groat, Jennifer Viall, Katy Eccles, Rose Gilman, Charlotte MacLeod Murray, Mina Sokmen-Kossoras, Holly Griffin
Uniform sales: Sophie Moghadam and Katy Eccles
Padel tournament: Sarah Bernard and Emily Yuan
Thank you to the class reps:
• Nursery: Emma Jones, Spyridoula Vitouladiti, Jo Lang and Chloe Perry
• Lower 1: Sophie Moghadam and Louise Furlonge
• Form 1: Miranda Brougham and Charlotte MacLeod Murray
• Form 2: Balthazar Florentin-Lee and Jess Hardacre
• Form 3: Nina Waller and Jen Meinson
• Form 4: Caroline Lhomond, Mariam Basaddiq and Zanan Rhama
• Form 5: Maria Tikhomirova and Caroline Thorneycroft
• 6B: Leila Charlton-Meyrick and Desiree Parker
• 6H: Emily Crossley, Melia Easingwood and Mina Sokmen-Kossoros
A huge thank you to the Chair, Mrs Cleanis and Vice Chair Mrs Groat.
Charities
Across a range of events, run in school and out of school, we have so far managed to raise in excess of £33,000 for Duchenne UK and over £29,000 for OHSET. This is a staggering amount and will help enormously in Duchenne’s drive for the technological advancement of wheelchairs, to make sure they are fit for purpose for their users in the future.
OHSET
OHSET is becoming a well-established part of life at our school and exists to extend the promise of a brighter future to more young minds. This year saw more applicants than ever for the bursary scheme and, thanks to the generosity of our whole community, OHSET was able to offer two full bursaries to children who will be joining Orchard House next term - children who otherwise wouldn't have access to a private education. (The team of seven trustees is well on track to achieving their goal of being able to support four bursary students at a time by 2026.)
Staff
We will have a more private gathering to celebrate the year and look forward to the future. To work in schools
these days, you require multiple talents, the narrow job description of being a teacher, or office worker, has broadened beyond all recognition. In school the roles of teacher, organiser, carer, social worker, nurse, communicator, councillor, facilitator, mediator, and technician are all merged into one. Professional development is continuous and time consuming. The responsibilities are enormous and yet the nonmaterialistic rewards are still fantastic and why you do the job you do. Thank you for your energy, your compassion and your kindness, for being so ambitious for the children and for giving them such outstanding academic and pastoral care.
Children
It is your smiles, curiosity, endeavour and joy that school is for. Each one of you has had an amazing year. Everyone has made great progress, and it is clear to us all how much you care for each other. Running into school, hugging each other, planning games and activities, and having such good friends, makes us at school, and your parents, feel so proud. We have such high expectations for you each day as we are ambitious for you and know what you are all capable of. This can be tiring and so you must also take time to rest. Make sure you enjoy the summer holidays, take time to rest and enjoy any adventures you have.
Leavers
For those of you who are leaving Orchard House, thank you for being part of this very special school. Whatever you do in the future, remember your friends, and also remember your teachers and other OHS staff members who have invested so much time for you.
For Form 6 leavers, I particularly thank you for this year. It is a year like no other. You have been able to switch between academic rigour and all the other extra and co-curricular activities you are involved in. It requires enormous maturity to apply yourself appropriately in all situations. You have supported each other and continued to do so. Thank you from all of us.
From a year group of 29 pupils, they were offered places to 26 different schools, and across the cohort, they are going on to 22 different schools at 11+ and 13+. There have been 16 scholarships awarded: 5 academic, 6 music, and 5 sport. We are so proud of their achievements and the efforts of every child. As a school, we are also proud of the group and individual tailored support offered, and we are hugely grateful to the support from parents. We have all worked together to ensure each child goes on to a senior school that is most suited to them. They can now thrive in these environments where they can feel safe, happy, and appropriately challenged.
There have been so many successes achieved this year across the school; academic, sporting, the arts, and so many extra-curricular and co-curricular successes.
Orchard House is a brilliant school and merging with Chiswick and Bedford Park, the future is bright.
Orchard House is 30 years old and has been through various iterations over the years. It opened in September 1983 with girls aged to 11 and boys to 7. In September 2010, with the purchase of 2 Rupert Road, the school extended to enable boys to stay up until 11.
The Rentoul family founded the school and established it as a leading prep school in West London, and this was taken over by Dukes in February 2020. Thanks to them both for their investment in the school over the years and a particular thanks to my predecessors, Sally Hobbs who was Head from 1993 - 2015 and Maria Edwards from 2015 -2021 for being such outstanding leaders.
Thank you to Dukes Education and the OHS governors for your support while I have been Head. I wish the new Orchard House School, the new Orchard House team, and the wider Orchard House community every success for the future.
Kit Thompson Headmaster
Head Girl's Address
Freya Gower
W hen I first joined OHS in Lower 1, there were so many thoughts running through my head - well, lots for that age! Who will my best friend be? Will my teacher be nice? And, incredibly, excitement about coming home to do homework!
I still remember saying to my sisters’ “I can’t wait for homework, everyday I’ll come home and do it straight away!” To my great disappointment we only began homework in Form 2. Now, after all that time, I have one piece of advice: be very careful what you wish for!
Form 2 and 3 were difficult for everyone as Covid kept us all behind our screens at home, but our teachers kept things lively with daily games like riddles and puzzles. With Covid finally behind us, the doors to school were flung open again. Only half the school year remained and with it came our first ever residential trip: Flatford Mill. Two whole nights away from home.
Form 4 went by in a blur of happy memories including our Tudor play and our trip to York. Then Form 5 came around in a flash, bringing with it a fierce timetable of 11+ prep; however, Form 5 also held some of my favourite memories: doing a play in a day, studying cats poetry, the Isle of Wight residential trip and so much more. The Isle of Wight was especially fun and has been my favourite school trip in my 7
years at OHS but, with the end of the year in sight, the 11+ was coming ever closer.
Form 6 came, and the exams arrived. However, despite the anxiety that my classmates and I felt, the exams passed almost as quickly as they had come. Now the fun could begin. IAPS Netball, France, Kew Gardens, rowing and Oliver. These were some of the exciting things we looked forward to after the hard work we had put into our 11+.
I feel proud that I have had the opportunity to be Head Girl at such an amazing school and it has been a great experience. And in answer to my 5-year-old self's questions- yes the teachers are going to be more encouraging, supportive and kind then you could ever have imagined, and as for friends, I’m very lucky to have had such a great year group and have made friends I hope I’ll keep for life. Although I feel sad to leave, OHS has prepared me well for secondary school and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I’d like to thank all the teachers and the staff for everything they've done for me and I wish all of Form 6 the best of luck in their next schools.
Head Boy's Address
Joe Avi-Dan
I feel both honoured and humbled to have been Head Boy, and am thrilled to celebrate the end of such an enriching time here at Orchard House School.
This year has been an eventful journey, filled with academic achievements and exhilarating adventures that really have enhanced my school experience.
Let's start with the trip to France in Form 6. Much fun was had by all, from making bread, to partaking in the mud assault course, jumping into a freezing cold lake to raft making and eating snails for the first time! Spending money in the market was a challenge in more ways than one, from using the language to possibly over spending. Another trip highlight was in Form 5; we went to the Isle of Wight where we experienced the great outdoors, zip lining, lighting fires, orienteering, hiking and so much more.
Over the years I have performed in multiple productions and was very excited to be selected as Mr Bumble in Oliver and as Henry the Eighth in Form 4. The phrase "Please sir, can I have some more?' is a line I will never forget.
I've really enjoyed our annual summer fairs, an event that continues to outshine itself each year. This year, in addition to the usual festivities, I managed to win a curious assortment of jars in the raffle. Among these jars was one filled with exotic foreign coins— who knows? perhaps remnants of a long-forgotten pirate’s loot? I sold it to Darcy for four pounds!
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every teacher and student for making my time at Orchard House not just educational but truly memorable and I will leave with the strong friendships that I have formed within these walls. I want to wish everyone in Form 6 success in their next endeavour and am sure the confidence and curiosity that Orchard House has instilled in us has given us the tools to tackle new challenges and embrace all new experiences. To all of you, thank you.
OHSPA
As I reflect on the OHSPA’s events and activities over the last year I am struck foremost by the generosity and kindness of our school community. It has also been wonderful to do more and more in conjunction with parents and children from CBPPS as we look forward to the two schools joining together.
Every year the OHSPA calendar begins with the ‘New Bugs Picnics’, when the Nursery and L1 reps organise pre-term picnics to welcome new children and parents to the school community. Thank you to Louise Furlonge, Sophie Moghadam, Joanna Lang, Spyridoula Vitouladiti, Chloe Perry and Emma Jones for arranging these important occasions and giving such warm welcomes to the new joiners.
September saw the school community select Duchenne UK as our charity to support for the academic year, alongside the school’s bursary program OHSET. Duchenne, the UK’s leading muscular dystrophy charity, is a cause particularly close to everyone’s hearts, with its founder and CEO being fellow parent, Emily Crossley.
The class fundraisers, all in aid of Duchenne, kicked off with the Nursery’s Guess the Conkers, followed by old favourites such as Crazy Hair Day, Pyjama Day, Penny Wars and, for its second year running, Break the Rules Day. New for this year was ‘Elf Your Teacher’, resulting in Mr Ball and Mrs Quartly dressing up as elves for the last day of term before Christmas (thanks for being such good sports!), as well as Superhero Day and a Mini Duchenne Dash. Thank you to all the class reps who organised these much-loved fundraisers.
The donations from parents for this year’s Harvest Festival were gratefully received by two charities, City Harvest and the Upper Room. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and particularly to Maria Tikhomirova, Holly Griffin, Kirsty Enticknap, Lina Tebbs, Ilka Dunn and Chloe Smith for collecting the food items and setting up the wonderful display in the church for the school’s Harvest assembly.
We were pleased to support Macmillan Cancer Research at a cake sale in the Autumn Term. Thanks to everyone who baked the delicious creations, and in particular to Callum Greene, Sam Jackson, Sarah Gray, Maria Tikhomirova, Kirsty Enticknap and Kirti Tiwari-Mehta for running the sale.
Christmas saw a new addition to the OHSPA’s calendar with a joint OHS and CBPPS disco. Children from the Nursery through to Form 6 from both schools boogied away at St Alban’s Church, taking short breaks for highly popular glitter tattoos and photos with Santa. The kids had a blast! Thank you to the many parent volunteers from both schools for making this event possible. We were also delighted to support the Love in a Box Christmas shoebox appeal once again this year. Thank you to all the families who put together boxes and to Callum Greene, Maria Tikhomirova, David Tovar, Liz Justus and Nataliya Dubrovska for co-ordinating the collections.
The Spring Term saw the ever popular Quiz Night take place, raising further funds for Duchenne and OHSET. Parents and teachers battled it out for the much coveted OHS Quiz Night Cup while also taking part in some extra challenges such as building a tower with only strands of spaghetti and marshmallows! It was also great to partner with local favourite DGrande for the first time, who kindly made a donation to our charities for every item of food or jug of their infamous frozen margaritas ordered. Huge thanks to the Quiz Night Committee - Rose Gilman, Holly Griffin, Kim Groat, Sharon Paton and Spyridoula Vitouladiti - for making it a night to remember!
We marked International Women’s Day in March together with CBPPS by selling purple ribbons on the school gates, raising funds for The Girls Network, a charity which helps girls from disadvantaged backgrounds fulfil their full potential. Thank you to the children and parents who made and sold ribbons.
The events in the Summer Term were quite simply spectacular! Beginning with the OHSPA Padel Tournament, now in its second year, over thirty parents and teachers competed in a charity round robin on the courts at Rocks Lane. Thank you so very much to Sarah Bernard, who also masterminds superbly the OHS parent Padel league and coaching
sessions, and to Emily Yuan for organising the event, which was the perfect mix of fun and competitiveness!
Next up was the Summer Ball, held at the Hurlingham Club for the first time. It was an utterly fabulous occasion and a wonderful celebration of the OHS/ CBP community. Thoroughly enjoyed by all, the only complaint we received was that the evening had to end! Thank you to all the teachers who donated prizes for the auction and to all the parents who helped put together much-envied hampers. It was very moving to see such generosity and kindness to our two charities and I am so very grateful to Ball Committee Chair Amy Connell and her amazing team, Katy Eccles, Rose Gilman, Holly Griffin, Kim Groat, Charlotte MacLeod Murray, Mina SokmenKossoras and Jennifer Viall, for all their hard work in making the Ball such a memorable event.
The Summer Term was rounded off by our final Summer Fair in the Newton Grove playground. And what a fabulous afternoon it was, with children and
parents having tremendous fun! The Brazilian carnival dancers were back, alongside stunning flower, cake and food stalls and an array of much-loved highlights such as Beat the Goalie, the Tombola, Hook the Duck, a Beauty Lucky Dip and the OHS Designer Closet. Thank you to the many parents who helped in the run up and on the day and, above all, to Summer Fair Committee Chair Ciara O’Rourke and her brilliant team, Melia Easingwood, Kirsty Enticknap, Holly Griffin, Mia Buerk, Nataliya Mills, Isabella Duffy and Marta Brnicevic, for making it such a success.
None of the activity above would have been possible without our wonderful class reps and I am so grateful for their support. They have been pivotal in connecting our community: keeping parents informed, organising social evenings and coffee mornings, running class fundraisers, buying teacher gifts and being the voice for the classes at reps meetings. Thank you to Emma Jones, Joanna Lang, Chloe Perry, Spyridoula Vitouladiti, Louise Furlonge, Miranda Brougham, Charlotte MacLeod Murray,
Balthazar Florentin-Lee, Jess Hardacre, Jen Meinsen, Nina Waller, Caroline Lhomond, Zanan Rahma, Mariam Basaddiq, Caroline Thorneycroft, Maria Tikhomirova, Desiree Parker, Melia Easingwood, Emily Crossley, Mina SokmenKossoras and Laila Charlton-Meyrick. You have done a stellar job.
A huge thank you also to the very talented team who served on the OHSPA committee this year, to Tani Eichmann, Emily Yuan, Holly Griffin, Kim Groat and Alex Nobes. Your hard work and support are so very much appreciated by me and the whole school community.
Special thanks to Tani Eichmann who has stepped down after four years as OHSPA Treasurer. Tani has given so much of her energy and time to meticulously managing the OHSPA’s accounts, and we are all truly grateful for all your hard work. I would also like to give special thanks to Sophie Moghadam and Katy Eccles for organising our
The OHSPA was delighted to support the following items and activities this year:
• Team building days for Forms 3-5
• Theatre workshops for the Lower School
• Leavers’ hoodies, First Aid training and bushcraft skills for Form 6
• One-off charity donations were also made to the two runner ups in our charity section process, to the Doorstep Library and ADHD Embrace.
second hand uniform sales, which are such a vital service to the school community and significant sources of income for our charities.
It was my final year as chair of the OHSPA and I would like to thank everyone for their support during my tenure. I feel very fortunate to have been at the helm of such a vibrant and generous community, one which I know is going to thrive under my successors, Kim Groat and Alex Nobes.
My final word of thanks goes to the fantastic teachers and staff at OHS, and in particular to Mr Thompson and Mrs Adams and Miss Down and Mrs Woodroffe for all their support and help in making our parents’ association flourish.
Lucy Cleanis, OHSPA Chair
OHSPA Charity of the Year
Duchenne UK has one clear aim: to end Duchenne.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive condition diagnosed in childhood. It causes all the muscles in the body to gradually weaken. There is currently no cure for Duchenne, but there is hope. Duchenne UK was founded by two mothers (one of whom was an OHS mum this year) whose sons were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2011. Through four key areas of work including funding groundbreaking medical research, accelerating access to treatments, improving lives through technology, and ensuring everyone in the DMD community is given the care and support needed - Duchenne UK is at the forefront of advancing treatments and care for everyone affected by the disease.
Our partnership with Orchard House last year raised tens of thousands of pounds (we are still waiting for the final amount as this magazine goes to press!)
But we wanted to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to an incredible student and parent community who undertook some incredible fundraising evnts to raise money for Duchenne UK.
Amongst the many highlights throughout the year, the Orchard House School Ball was truly the jewel in the crown. Huge thank you to the committee who created a magical evening, and thanks to everyone who donated to make the event such a success!
Thanks to Orchard House School and our army of supporters, there is real hope of a better future for our boys and everyone born with DMD.
Emily Crossley, Co-Founder and CEO of Duchenne UK
Above: Eli Crossley, son of the founder of Duchenne UK, performing to the students at OHS. Below: Askew, performing at the OHS Ball
NURSERY
Nursery Autumn Term
We enjoyed a fun-filled autumn term in the Nursery. We had lots of fun in the outdoor classroom getting to know our new friends and teachers.
We have learned so many new skills. Getting messy has been essential as we spent time cutting and sticking, painting and creating homemade playdough. We put our new skills into practice as we made rugby balls during International Day, created poppies for Rememberance Day and of course made lots of Christmas decorations for our classroom and tree.
We loved exploring shapes. We hunted for shapes in our environment and enjoyed putting our shape knowledge into practice, as we made shape pictures and used shapes to create models.
We made our debut performance to family members in our first Nativity play. Happy Birthday, Jesus.
Nursery Spring Term
We were delighted to welcome the Nursery back to school in January.
In the spring term we enjoyed gardening activities including growing beans linked to the topic Traditional Tales.
One of our favourite memories of the spring term was World Book Day. We all dressed up in amazing costumes and had such fun! We enjoyed exploring various new books and role-play activities.
The visit from the ducklings brought us all lots of joy. The children loved teaching the ducklings to swim and of course having a cuddle.
The Nursery teachers were so proud of the children’s achievements in the spring term. Another highlight was our Science Day where we explored a range of experiments including ice balloons, cola fountains, explosive volcanoes and creeping rainbows.
Our Easter parade was a great success this year and the children decorated their hats beautifully. The Easter Egg Hunt was also a highlight this term, and we enjoyed eating the yummy chocolate eggs with our teachers!
Nursery Summer Term
The summer term was lots of fun in the Nursery. Our topic was growth and minibeasts. We learnt all about the life cycle of minibeasts and watched as caterpillars metamorphosed into butterflies. We had so much fun searching for minibeasts in our garden.
We continued to develop our early years garden, and we now have even more beautiful plants to admire during our playtime.
Our topic of jobs was a great success. The children have so many interesting ambitions from firefighters to chefs and ballerinas to postal workers. We loved having parents in to tell us all about their working lives. We are now feeling very grown up and ready for the new challenges in reception. Our nursery teachers are very proud of our achievements this year. Three cheers for the nursery 2023/24!
LOWER 1
Lower 1 Autumn Term
Lower 1 have been very busy this term. They have enjoyed getting to know their new class and playing outside, in the playground.
In Maths the children have been using practical, concrete resources to learn to recognise, build, and order numbers between 0-20. They have also been learning to name and recognise 2D shapes in their environment by going on a shape hunt in the playground to find lots of different 2D shapes.
The children performed a fantastic Christmas Nativity play for their parents. They enjoyed retelling the Nativity story, dressing up as the different characters and singing songs. In addition, they have enjoyed painting their self-portraits in their creative lessons and dressing up in the clothes of a country which they identify with for International Day. Well done Lower 1.
Lower 1 Spring Term
The children have been working hard, learning new skills and playing with their friends.
In Maths, we have been finding half of an amount, doubling numbers and measuring the length and height of different objects. We have been using lots of practical, concrete resources such as cubes, numicon and Montessori beads to help us complete our maths activities. In phonics, the children have been learning to say and write new sounds. They have been using their ‘Fred Frog’ fingers to segment the sounds they can hear, to spell new words. In addition, the children have enjoyed dressing up as superheroes and characters from their favourite books on World Book Day.
Lower 1 Summer Term
The summer term was so much fun in Reception and we now feel ready to go into our new classes at Priory House.
Our water and ‘under the sea’ topics were a great success and we are now marine experts! We enjoyed growing beans, tomatoes and sunflowers in our school garden. We also learnt about the life cycle of different animals and observing our caterpillars grow and turn into beautiful butterflies. We had fun painting, drawing and became science inventors with recycling materials. With all of this new learning, we are now ready for our next adventure in Year 1.
FORM 1
Form 1 Autumn Term
The first term in Form 1 at OHS was filled with plenty of fun opportunities for the children to use their imagination, explore and be creative.
The Baxter Bear, ‘Tour of the UK’, workshop was a great success. The children learned about the capital cities of the UK and its surrounding seas by taking an imaginary journey to London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.
The children especially enjoyed learning about life in the 1950s and 60s. At the Gunnersbury Park Museum, the children were able to play with real-life historical toys and make comparisons between the past and the present day.
Towards the end of term, Form 1 enjoyed watching a pantomime of, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’, and were thrilled to be visited by Father Christmas. Their treat of hot chocolate and marshmallows on the final day of term certainly put them in the Christmas spirit.
Form 1 Spring Term
Form 1 embarked on several educational adventures during the spring term.
Our trip to the London Sea Life Centre sparked awe and curiosity amongst the children, especially the ‘bubble windows’, where they were able to get up close and personal with sharks and penguins. This outing certainly made the children recognise the impact that climate change and pollution have on marine life.
Nautical history came alive during the visit to the Golden Hinde as part of our ‘Explorers’ topic, offering a captivating voyage through time and plenty of fascinating facts about pirates. The children also enjoyed Science Day as they were visited by a doctor and dental nurse who shared their expertise about organs of the body, and keeping our teeth clean. The Easter tea party was a huge hit, especially the hot cross buns and jam scones.
Form 1 Summer Term
Form 1 had an exhilarating time at the RAF museum, thoroughly immersing themselves in the exhibitions and hangars.
They were thrilled to explore a variety of aircraft, ranging from historical classics to contemporary marvels, each with its own captivating tale.
The children sowed cress seeds and green beans, observed as the seeds germinated and enjoyed tending to the growing plants.
The outing to Ravenscourt Park was a highlight as the children could explore various flowers and plants, observe minibeasts and insects, and then end the day with a great time at the playground.
FORM 2
Form 2 Autumn Term
As the academic year commenced, anticipation filled the air in Year 2.
At the heart of the curriculum lay a commitment to holistic education, offering the children a diverse range of experiences to stimulate their intellect and curiosity. The season and weather workshop set the tone, where they explored nature's changes together.
In the realm of mathematics, the curriculum soared to new heights, igniting a passion for numbers and problem-solving. Through handson activities and engaging lessons, the children found patterns and connections that helped them understand the world better.
English lessons were enriched by the captivating narrative of 'The Paperbag Princess'. Through this cherished book, the children embarked on a journey of imagination and expression. They explored themes of courage and resilience while engaging in discussions about the plot and how the characters developed.
The trip to the National Archives proved to be a highlight, as the children traced the footsteps of history, unravelling the mysteries of the Great Fire of London. Through storytelling and research, they unearthed tales of strength and transformation, forging connections with the past that enriched their present.
As autumn came to a close, the school celebrated with a festive Christmas concert. The children showcased their talents, spreading joy and warmth to all who attended.
Form 2 Spring Term
As spring brought renewed energy with the blossoming flowers, the children in Year 2 eagerly embraced the term with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Through a variety of engaging activities, they explored and discovered new things, expanding their learning beyond the classroom walls.
The children eagerly participated in a delightful material workshop in the realm of science. This hands-on experience allowed them to immerse themselves in the wonders of experimentation and discovery.
The best part of the term was a great trip to St. Paul's Cathedral. The children learned about the Easter story, and explored the cathedral's tall dome. They got a bird's-eye view of the city, while simultaneously gaining insight into the significance of Easter and its timeless narrative.
In mathematics, the children embraced the challenge of mastering the complexities of currency, multiplication, and division. With determination, they sharpened their maths skills by exploring mental arithmetic and problemsolving questions. Through collaborative learning and interactive exercises, the children navigated the world of numbers with confidence and skill.
In English class, the children went on an exciting journey of imagination and expression. They created detailed fact files and enjoyed the story, "The Bear and the Piano." They explored creativity and storytelling through fun talks and activities. The children improved their writing and learned how language can inspire and captivate.
Form 2 Summer Term
The summer term arrived with a burst of sunshine and warmth, signalling a season of exploration and growth in Form 2.
In mathematics classes, students eagerly delved into a diverse array of topics, from mastering the intricacies of telling time to unravelling the mysteries of fractions, statistics, and the principles of position and direction.
In English lessons, young learners were captivated by the whimsical world of 'The Day the Crayons Quit,' where they not only enjoyed the story but also honed their persuasive writing skills by crafting letters inspired by the characters' predicament. Additionally, they were inspired by the works of acclaimed poet Valerie Bloom, delving into various poetic features and crafting their own heartfelt verses, each poem a unique reflection of their creativity and imagination.
A highlight of the term was the immersive science trip to Kew Gardens, where students marvelled at the diversity of plant life and gained a deeper understanding of ecological concepts. In Personal, Social, Health, and Citizenship Education (PSHCEE), students explored the intricacies of relationships, recognizing and celebrating their uniqueness.
The excitement reached its peak during the eventful Sports Day, where students enthusiastically competed against and supported one another, showcasing exemplary sportsmanship and teamwork. Once again, the children in Form 2 made us immensely proud with their dedication to learning and their admirable conduct both in and out of the classroom.
FORM 3
Form 3 Autumn Term
One of the highlights of our year was the visit to The Natural History Museum was an unforgettable experience. We had the opportunity to learn all about volcanoes and earthquakes, exploring fascinating exhibits that helped us understand how these powerful natural forces shape our planet. It was incredible to see real rock formations, interactive displays, and even simulations of earthquakes in action!
One of the highlights of our year was the Christmas Fun Run. The event was filled with laughter and festive cheer, and we loved wearing our festive headgear for the rest of the day.
Our lessons this year have been both exciting and engaging. We have conducted detailed observations while examining different types of rocks and crystals, learning about their properties and how they form. Math lessons have been particularly fun—we even used Skittles to create arrays when practicing our times tables!
In English, we have written incredible nonchronological reports about volcanoes, filled with fascinating facts. We also became authors ourselves, writing and publishing our very own stories set in the ancient Egyptian era, bringing history to life through our imaginations
Form 3 Spring Term
What an exhilarating spring term it has been for Form 3.
After the festive season, we seamlessly transitioned back into our studies and delved into our geography unit: ‘Our Local Area’, and honed our mapping skills. Beginning to use a compass, we learned to navigate with the eight cardinal points. In science, we embarked on an adventure into the realm of forces, with hands-on lessons and an unforgettable visit to the Science Museum's Wonderlab, where we took charge of our own experiments.
The latter part of the term was equally thrilling, as we participated in numerous school-wide events. We were fully immersed in the spirit of learning and discovery, from the excitement of dressing up for World Book Day to the empowering celebrations of International Women's Day, and Science Day. To enrich our understanding of Ancient Greece, we welcomed the Freshwater Theatre Company to Orchard House for an engaging time-travelling escapade. Decked out in costumes, we became part of the interactive journey, sharing our knowledge and absorbing new insights. Returning to the present, we eagerly prepared for the highly anticipated Spring Concert, continuing our journey with enthusiasm.
Form 3 Summer Term
Form 3 has been bustling with activity this summer term, engaging in a myriad of enriching experiences both within the confines of the classroom and beyond.
In our English sessions, we've embarked on imaginative journeys through the narrative realms of "Krindlekrax," delved into a range of Roald Dahl extracts and honed our persuasive prowess by crafting advertisements.
This term, we visited Great Missenden and The Roald Dahl Museum, where the children enjoyed exploring the galleries, dressing up for inspiration and making their own characters in the interactive Story Centre using pictures of eyes from Roald Dahl’s archive.
In maths, we have learnt a diverse array of topics including statistics, fractions, shapes, and time. Moreover, we've applied our skills to navigate realworld scenarios, from interpreting data to making sure we receive the correct change when shopping.
A standout moment for Form 3 undoubtedly transpired during our theatrical production, "The Voyaging Vikings." Each member of Form 3 rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that seamlessly melded historical intrigue with dramatic flair. Their dedication, from learning the words to incredibly fast-paced songs; committing lines to memory to delivering them with conviction made for a great show.
Miss O’Connor, Mrs Pearson-Jones and Miss Kunovska are all incredibly proud of the children and have enjoyed witnessing their collective growth in independence, resilience, and concentration. Good luck in Form 4!
Form 3 Flatford Mill
A definite Summer highlight was our residential trip to Flatford Mill.
Filled with exploration, discovery and excitement, we got the chance to fully immerse ourselves into nature like never before.
We started our trip with some shelter building, where we learned about historic techniques before getting the chance to build our own. The next day, we got to put on our wellie boots and jump into some streams and ponds, exploring different habitats and discovering a variety of creatures and plants that call these waters their home. Our teamwork and communication skills were tested when we took part in some compass orienteering, and a variety of fun team building challenges.
Even when the sun went down, the activities didn't stop! We got the chance to test our ‘night vision’ on a twilight walk, learning all about nocturnal wildlife, and the creatures that come out to play when we go to sleep. On our last night, we sat around the campfire, singing songs and telling stories, just like in the movies. It was a great way to end an amazing trip that we will remember forever.
FORM 4
Form 4 Autumn Term
As our new academic year began, we were excited to return to school to continue our fantastic learning journey.
We went to the Science Museum to explore the Wonderlab; this highly interactive and thrilling gallery houses a cornucopia of hands-on experiments that allow the children to explore various science curriculum areas. We explored the various exhibits throughout the museum, which gave the children a wider insight into our learning.
Later in the term, we studied the famous and historic House of Tudor to delve deeper into this fascinating part of history. Venturing into the Tower of London, we enjoyed exploring one of England's oldest and most famous castles. The children attended a fun session called, ‘Queens Behind Henry VIII’, where they learnt about the life and wives of King Henry VIII, to understand the importance of the court in Tudor times through an immersive tour of the tower’s grounds.
In the run-up to Christmas, we had a merry old time; singing carols and writing festive poetry were some of our favourite highlights.
Form 4 Spring Term
As the new year dawned, we enjoyed many new exciting experiences. We continued to strengthen our friendships through learning, play and discovery.
We visited the British Museum, where the children attended a fun session called ‘How Roman was Roman Britain?’. They explored the evidence that objects provide about Romanisation in Britain after the Roman conquest.
Mental Health Week theme was ‘ Express Yourself’, and all children had the opportunity to ‘dress to express’. We joined forces with Chiswick and Bedford Park Primary in a fun walk on Chiswick Back Common, after which the children celebrated Global Play Day with their friends.
Form 4 also had the opportunity to collaborate with Chiswick and Bedford Park, by presenting an assembly on sustainability and the importance of being a global citizen.
World Book Day was another highlight; we dressed up as our favourite book characters and shared with our friends the stories that brought us so much joy.
One particular highlight was the Form 4 production of The Tudors, ‘ Henry VIII’. The children were fantastic and worked hard to learn their lines and practise the songs. They sang their hearts out on the day.
Form 4 Summer Term
What a year! It has been a very busy, joyful and exciting time for Form 4.
We have had so many great trips this year, and this term we have been lucky enough to visit the British Film Institute and the beautiful, historic, city of York which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
Miss Cresswell, Miss Morgan and Miss Majic are all so proud of the progress the children have made, both academically and socially, and are sure they are going to impress their new teachers in year 5.
Form 4 York Trip
From stepping back in time at the Castle Museum to experiencing the charm of the Shambles, Every day at our York residence was filled with exciting discoveries and memorable moments.
Our first day set the scene with a visit to the museum, followed by an inspiring Evensong service that showed us the beauty of York’s longstanding traditions.
On the second day, we took part in a hands-on archaeology tour at DIG, where we unearthed artefacts and learned excavation skills. The Jorvik Viking Centre brought history to life with an interactive journey through the Viking Age, and a tour of Barley Hall gave us a glimpse into mediaeval life.
Our third day took us to the Yorkshire Museum, where we explored fascinating exhibits and then enjoyed a scenic boat tour. Later, we indulged our sweet tooth at the York Chocolate Story, learning all about York’s delicious chocolate-making heritage. The day ended on a high note with an evening disco filled with laughter and dancing.
We wrapped up our adventure on the final morning with a walk along York’s historic city walls, taking in the sights before heading home by train. It was an unforgettable experience, blending learning and fun in one of England’s most captivating cities.
FORM 5
Form 5 Autumn Term
The coming of September is a time for fresh opportunities, maturity and ever-more responsibility.
These three things characterise the start of Form 5, as children enter Upper Key Stage 2. Building new social connections, exploring new learning, and a challenging curriculum were all approached with beaming smiles and excited enthusiasm.
Autumn days brought about grey skies that set the perfect scene for an exploration of gothic literature in English. Maths learning saw the consolidation of core skills and the development of increasingly complex usage of their knowledge of numbers and the four operations.
A sense of awe and wonder descended over our classroom as we experienced the wonders of the solar system under a visiting planetarium, while a visit to the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall offered an immersive experience into the life and faith of Sikhism.
Form 5 Spring Term
Spring term has seen the children of Form 5 grow exponentially in their levels of maturity, and the amount of hard work put in by the children has impressed all who have the pleasure of teaching them.
As a balance to this effort, the children have enjoyed delving into many exciting and more practical-based learning opportunities. In English, powerful debates have been written, and we even found time for a beautiful spring morning tea tasting, which inspired exquisitely descriptive recounts. Mathematical learning has seen children conquer fractions and geometry.
Across the wider curriculum, we enjoyed, albeit on our best possible behaviour, a visit from a Victorian school ma’am who taught us the three Rs: reading, writing and arithmetic. Linking to both our science and geography learning, our understanding of rainforest habitats and the threats posed to them really came to life with our visit to The Living Rainforest. We now have a number of budding conservationists among us as a result. In addition to all of this wonderful curriculum work, there have been numerous days of celebration that have allowed the children to let their hair down (quite literally in the case of Crazy Hair Day) and enjoy the social and community aspects of school.
Form 5 Summer Term
Summer brought about sun, smiles and serious hard work in Form 5.
The children demonstrated their readiness for the exciting year ahead as they faced learning in all subjects with a real sense of academic endeavour. Alongside this, the children partook in many enriching and inspiring experiences with their future classmates. Of note, was the visit to Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery and the opportunity to decide on next year’s house names, which broadened their social groups and brought out the best of their welcoming characters.
Across the curriculum, our learning centred around honing previously learnt skills and exploring new and exciting concepts. The children were inspired by the work of Tolkein and immersed themselves in all things Middle Earth through the reading of The Hobbit. Mathematically, Form 5 began to extend their understanding by engaging with areas of the Year 6 curriculum in preparation for next year. They also enjoyed looking into the life cycles of living things that surround them in their science lessons. Above all, the children took every opportunity to have fun and celebrate their noteworthy achievements.
Form 5 Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight was an amazing place! When we went there we had the time of our lives.
We went abseiling, we went on a giant swing and we did indoor rock climbing. We had so much fun. The accommodation was lovely and the beds were so comfortable that it felt like you were sleeping on a cloud. The food was great, every day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. We would head to the dining hall and have a choice of anything that was on the menu. There were water bottle refills on campus so we could refill our bottles before and after activities. The activities in the day were very very good. We did canoeing, archery, orienteering and fencing. In the evening we also did some activities like a campfire, quiz night and balloon splash. The Isle of Wight was so fun and exciting, it was definitely one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.
Louisa Fay
FORM 6
Form 6 Autumn Term
At the start of the year, Form 6 welcomed Miss Houghton to the team and were extremely happy to have the familiar face of Mr Blyth, also graduating from Form 5.
We began by visiting Buckingham Palace and exploring the stunning interiors and exterior of this historic palace. We saw the staterooms, including King Charles’ throne (formerly Queen Elizabeth’s), the royal gardens and even a secret door through which only the monarch could arrive.
Quite quickly, the much anticipated 11+ prep began and the children worked incredibly hard revising topics. This year, the children were faced with a variety of examination styles, comprised of the ISEB and Consortium exams on computers, as well as several other examinations, including some interesting ‘Creative Comprehension’ papers, which analysed everything from how ships work, to who killed the princes in the tower? Miss Houghton, Mr Blyth and Ms Webb were extremely impressed with the work ethic and resilience, that the children showed over this period.
Interview practice was held every Monday morning before school, and the children made CVs of all of their accomplishments, to send to their future schools. The avuncular Mr Rolls even crawled back out of retirement to interview the children, in preparation for their big day. He was really impressed with their smiley faces, and confident, idiosyncratic characters.
And so, the long-awaited Christmas holidays finally arrived. What a term it had been, and whilst it was certainly punctuated with moments of grandeur, it was with some relief that we all welcomed Santa Claus.
Form 6 Spring Term
With most of the exams over, Year 6 could breathe a sigh of relief.
Interviews were still looming but the hardest part was over. With that chapter closed, Year 6 had many things to look forward to in the Spring term. As the exam preparation subsided, the curriculum became more creative. Maths in Motion sessions became much loved by the children, and they enjoyed putting their knowledge of angles and speed into real-life contexts. They also delved into politics each week and learnt about different political systems around the world. In addition, Form 6 undertook a poetry project whereby they wrote, recorded and created a video for their poems. These were watched by the whole year and were very professional.
As is customary, the whole year went to Franco Manca and were treated to a trip to the theatre to see Wicked (in readiness for their summer production). This is always a highlight of the year. Mr. Cornish also arranged a wonderful trip to Sky Studios in Osterley, where the boys and girls made their videos using the studio’s equipment.
The children also had a few new subjects introduced into their timetable. Mandarin became a firm favourite for Year 6 and the children began swimming lessons. Production rehearsals got into full swing, and the children were given their parts in Oliver, and began to create choreography with Mr Searle. This term truly was a breath of fresh air.
Form 6 Summer Term
Summer Term started for Form 6 with the annual residential trip to Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy.
Due to Brexit, there is far more paperwork and quite a few restrictions, as well as the small matter of a 14hour journey to contend with. However, once we had traversed ‘La Manche’ (and then eaten our midnight snacks on the coach before eventually arriving), great fun was had by all. Much French was spoken from the word go. Everything that is done at the Château involves using practical spoken French to convey meaning and the children were quick to learn and understand what was being said. The children also perused a French market, buying a range of interesting souvenirs with their Euros, and learned how to ask the essential mealtime question: ‘Je voudrais encore du pain, s’il vous plait!’
Once back from their travels, Form 6 immersed themselves in practising for the School Play, which this year, was Oliver Twist, directed by the inimitable, Mr Searle. At the time of writing they are deep into energetic rehearsal, with this year’s production also featuring a number of fight scenes, directed by our inhouse thespian, Jack Dickson, in addition to the usual array of musical and dance numbers to rival Broadway. The boys and girls also partook in a wide variety of subjects, including rowing on the Thames, and Mandarin lessons with native Mandarin teachers.
This year’s Form 6, has been full of character and pizazz, and it is with deep sadness that we bid them farewell, as they spread their wings. The results this year were superb, and many of the children are not only leaving Orchard House, but leaving home for boarding school! Mr Blyth, Miss Houghton and Miss Webb thank all of Form 6 for their hard work, resilience and good humour. They will all be greatly missed and the teachers send them on their way with pride and good wishes for the future.
Form 6 Leavers
Brann Yuan
Will be moving to Denver, USA
Damian Tovar
Will be attending The Harrodian School
Eveie Townson
Will be attending Heathfield School, Ascot
Caris Lee
Will be attending Queens Gate School
Darcy Doherty
Will be attending Kew House School
Freya Gower
Will be attending Godolphin & Latymer School
Caspar Dunn
Will be attending Oundle School
Eli Tziambazis
Will be attending Emanuel School
Gracie Horne
Will be attending Francis Holland
Andrey Stern
Will be attending City of London School
Daisy Kuo
Will be attending Radnor House School
Eva Sandoval
Will be attending Lady Eleanor Holles
Isla Charlton-Meyrick
Will be attending Benenden School
Isla Hodgson
Will be attending Putney High School
Joshua Sheppard
Will be attending Chiswick School
Maya Kossoras
Will be attending Kew House School
Sophia Easingwood
Will be attending Latymer Upper School
Ivan Mills
Will be attending Durston House Harrow School
Luca Stokes
Will be attending Ibstock Place School
Renée Bateh
Will be attending Kew House School
Tiago Bürk
Will be attending Kew House School
Jasmine Tahmassebi
Will be attending St Benedicts School
Lupo Bürk
Will be attending South Kew House School
Ruffy Gilman
Will be attending The Harrodian School
Zachary Trimble
Will be attending St Benedicts School
Joe Avi-Dan
Will be attending Chiswick School
Marnie Crossley
Will be attending Putney High School
Sophia Blundun
Will be attending Ibstock Place School
Zoe Phillips
Will be attending Downe House School
World Book Day
This year’s World Book Day was a prolonged celebration of events.
However, on 7th March, the official World Book Day, Orchard House was replete with a variety of exotic, colourful characters coming through the school gates. Mary Poppins, the BFG, Frida Kahlo and of course Harry Potter were there, to name but a few, but who would have thought that a flying dragon would be amongst the cast of characters? (With moveable wings no less). Thankfully this year, we had Sargent Dee to keep an “Aye, aye,” on Burglar Bill alias Mr Gomez!
On the day itself, the children loved the firm favourites such as DROP (Drop Everything and Read), they created black out poems, guessed which teacher was reading behind the mask and the older children
loved buddying up with the children in the younger years to read them a story and to spark their curiosity. It was palpable how much the children enjoyed all the hands-on activities: origami bookmarks, book making and the opportunity to create their own illustrations under the guidance of a professional. Who would have thought one could have so much fun with a blank piece of paper? As one child said, “I could use my imagination.”
In the latter part of the term, Simon Mole, a performance poet, captivated a group of children with the wonders of dinosaurs. They eagerly embraced the chance to craft their own Cuposaurus, Batosaurus, and Sleeposaurs, while elsewhere, their peers zipped around on imaginative bikes. Meanwhile, the children in Form 3 found inspiration in the playful antics of a cat, channelling their creativity into crafting poems about feline characters. Their engrossment in these activities
was so intense that one could almost hear a pin drop amidst their focused concentration.
In May, the literary life force, better known as Sophy Henn, arrived and gave the children a whistle stop tour of her creative process and how she created her characters for her latest graphic novel, ‘Happy Hills’. She guided the children in a draw along - the children loved implementing what they had learnt about the power of the eyebrow and the placing of the eyes to
convey a cute (or perhaps not so cute) character. The final magic moment was the creation of Cecil Pudding, created by all the children and Sophy in the hall.
The children are already looking forward to next year’s World Book Day. A big thank you, as ever, to all the staff and parents for making this a ‘booktastic’ day of the year!
Aileen Thomson Head of Philanthropy
The Library
It’s been a busy year in the library. However, reading is our raison d’être and our marvellous library ambassadors have ensured it remains at the heart of all we do.
The library ambassadors bring their love of books to their role and of course check that all the spines are outward-facing. Zayn (Form 4) says, “I love being a Library Ambassador because I enjoy helping children choose books. Now I read every day in school so that I can be an even more knowledgeable library ambassador.”
In November, Miss Duncan took four children from Form 5 to the CWIZZ literary competition at Emanuel School. It was extremely challenging, and you had to have read an awful lot of books. Do you know the species of cat that features in S F Said’s book, ‘Varjak Paw’?
Following on from the success of the Book and Breakfast Club last year, children in Form 5 and 6 lit the touch paper and an impressive 17 children eschewed the warmth of the duvet to attend the 8 am Sparks Book Club Awards. This year the books that the children judged were: ‘The Final Year’
by Matt Goodfellow, ‘Tyger’ by S. F. Said, ‘One Chance Dance’ by Efua Traoré. The group enjoyed watching videos of authors talking about their books. All the books stimulated much discussion and evoked feelings and emotions that were shared and built upon with maturity and respect. This demonstrates the power that books can have, and the book club provides a safe and neutral space where every reader is valued. A few members of
the group said, “It’s an opportunity to read new books”, and “It’s a friendly atmosphere where you can share opinions without judgement.”
Whenever time allowed, children enjoyed welcoming authors virtually into the classroom. We were particularly thrilled to meet Natasha Farant and Peter Brown, the author of “The Wild Robot’ series, who passed on some useful drawing tips.
Children have written book reviews throughout the year spreading their love of reading. We are grateful to Gillian McClure for donating many of her beautifully illustrated books to our library. Finally, we are delighted to have the books that Chloé Lhomond-Nell won in the ‘Sail Away Story’ writing competition adorning our library shelves. All that is left to say is, keep on reading!
OHS Houses
Our School Houses play an essential role within our school community. Each house has two House Captains, who have all done a fantastic job this year preparing the certificates for the children who have received recognition and earned house points for reaching set goals.
Inter-house competitions provide the children with a variety of activities. They enjoy being members of their house and competing in various activities, such as Orchard’s Got Talent, the House Music Cup, and House sports competitions.
Other fun activities this year included making Christmas baubles in autumn and decorating Easter eggs in spring. In the summer we had so much fun practising war cries for sports day.
Although house competitions can be competitive, they are only sometimes about winning and being in the spotlight. They are about having fun and working collaboratively. Together, we can make memories that will make us smile when we look back on them,
friendships that will last a lifetime, and lessons and skills that will guide us in the future.
Sports
It has been a wonderful sporting year at Orchard House, with many successes in
a variety of sports.
Football:
All teams gained success this year with wins over various West London schools. Our U8 football teams won the Notting Hill Prep tournament, and all other football teams recorded mainly top 3 placings in tournaments. Our girls' football teams have played several competitive tournaments this term at Bute House and Glendower. Our U10s enjoyed a fun weekend away at Prep 4 Sport tournament winning the plate.
Netball:
Our teams have all had successful seasons with good wins over local schools such as Kew Green, RPPS, Newland House, and Notting Hill Prep. Our U10s and U11s, in particular, have had good seasons, winning several tournaments, including the Newland House tournament. The U11 team has been preparing for their IAPS regional round in February. We enjoyed hosting the U8-U11 Sport 4 All Versatility Netball Tournament.
Hockey:
We hosted our annual U11 hockey tournament, which was well attended by many local West London schools. We also enjoyed successes at the Latymer tournament and other fixtures against schools such as Newland, RPPS, and Kew College.
Rugby:
Our U10s had a superb unbeaten season, with strong performances against RPPS and Wetherby, coached by our specialist rugby coach, Mr Head. All children in Form 3-6 enjoyed competitive fixtures.
Cross Country:
Throughout the year, we have enjoyed many crosscountry events, including House Cross Country, Epsom College Cross Country, Bute House Cross Country Meet, and Dukes Cross Country Meet. In the Dukes Cross event, we had superb performances, with the school finishing 1st.
Swimming:
The children enjoyed galas against schools such as Notting Hill Prep and Ravenscourt Park Prep. They competed well in the LSSA and IAPS swimming competitions, with children qualifying for the finals in both events.
Curriculum:
In lessons, children have enjoyed developing fundamental movement skills. With EYFS and KS1, they began to develop their hand-eye coordination skills in catching and football activities. KS2 enjoyed modules on alternative sports, gaining an introduction to sports such as Danish longball, volleyball, and handball. KS1 and KS2 children also improved their understanding of the importance of health-related fitness, gymnastics, athletics, and tennis. Form 6s have enjoyed learning to row.
Sports Day
All Sports Days were a great success, with children participating in many activities.
EYFS had their Sports Day held at Rocks Lane, with activities such as hurdles, wellie boot throw, egg and spoon and sack race.
KS1 had their sports day on Chiswick Back Common and enjoyed doing a carousel of activities including sprinting, sack race, vortex throw and tug of war. Children gained points for their house and the overall KS1 winner was Shaw.
KS2 had their sports day at Kings House Sports Ground, with
Form 3-6 all rotating through 8 activities, both competitive and fun stations. These included, tug of war, ball throw, long jump, shot put, 100m, long distance activities. All children enjoyed representing their house, with the overall winner being crowned to Godwin.
Drama
The seeds for great drama and music productions are sown in the early years when children act instinctively, without inhibition, and enjoy the acting space that they are in.
In the summer, Form 1 and 2 were set the challenge of bringing ‘Ocean Commotion’ by Debbie Campbell to life. The children embraced the melodic, jazz tones in singing, “Hitchin a Ride’ on the side of a whale and brought a Brechtian flavour to the song, ‘The Late Great White Shark’ as the front and back row battled it out as to whether the shark was good or deplorable. The children won over the audience in their fight to save Bottlenose.
The show was brought to life with rapping, synchronised swimming and different styles of music. The colourful canvas of sea creatures was a sight to behold. There certainly was commotion as the bubbles blew through the air and placards were waved high in an attempt to find anyone who cared about the plight of the dolphin. Well done to KS1 and to Miss Duncan and Mrs O’Connor for encouraging the children to reach for the stars and stretch themselves. “We loved singing the songs,” the children proclaimed.
Art
Art is a creative subject. Through active participation, pupils learn to explore their imagination, generate ideas, acquire skills, and apply judgment. Art often contributes to crosscurricular school themes and various events and activities in the school calendar.
Our art room is a hub of creativity where children can fully engage with various media using various resources. Within Art, children can master a comprehensive range of techniques, from traditional drawing and painting to modern digital media, ensuring a wellrounded artistic education.
To develop pupils' critical eye and appreciation of Art, pupils discover and learn about great artists, architects, and designers in history and build their understanding of the historical and cultural development of their art forms. They also develop their skills and knowledge to enable them to evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of Art, craft, and design.
The school proudly celebrates children's artwork, displaying many of their creations throughout the school. The Summer Term culminates in the Orchard Art Exhibition, where children of all ages showcase their artistic talents.
Our students have demonstrated their exceptional talent in national art competitions this year. Their dedication and skill have been recognised, with two of our students emerging as winners in the prestigious Sky Arts Painting Birds competition.
Our commitment is to nurture our pupils' artistic talents, encouraging them to think and behave like real artists and designers.
Music
During weekly music lessons, children have explored a diverse and rich curriculum from Dalcroze Eurhythmics in early years to ukulele, songwriting and music for motion picture in Forms 5 and 6.
Children across all year groups have developed their singing skills throughout the year and performed at a variety of events, concerts and productions across the school calendar.
Some of the highlights of our music calendar have been the nativities, Christmas concerts, the Spring concert and Prizegivings, along with productions from ‘Ocean Commotion’ to ‘Oliver’. We have also had an abundance of successes in individual musical learning with children learning everything from trombone to flute, piano to oboe which has resulted in performances at the Individual Musicians’ Concerts or in ABRSM examinations.
Computing
The children continue to amaze us with their flair and creativity this year in computing. Whether using Python to create some code for their fictitious business, designing websites or using BusyThings to design a work of art. They have worked independently to explore their topics.
Nursery children have explored how the Blue-bot moves and turns, whilst the form 1 children used a green screen to become part of the class reading book. Form 2 children wrote simple programs to control the Blue-bot.
A particular highlight of the year was taking Form 6 to Sky Studios, where the pupils created their movie trailers and got to see how technology is used in the real world.
Languages
Prizewinners Awards Winners
Achievement in English
Lagesse Creative Writing
Achievement in Maths
Achievement in Science
Achievement in Geography
Achievement in History
Achievement in French
Achievement in Latin
Academic Achievement – Form 3
Academic Achievement – Form 4
Academic Achievement – Form 5
Academic Achievement – Form 6
Academic Endeavour – Form 3
Academic Endeavour – Form 4
Academic Endeavour – Form 5
Academic Endeavour – Form 6
Munro ICT Award
Picasso Cup – Artist of the Year
Hryschuk Passionate Artist Prize
Johnston Music Cup
Petter Music Cup
Harris Drama Award
Edwards Howe Singing Cup
Macken Creative Arts Award
Symes Cup for Debating
Tombolis Chess Cup
Wolton Good Citizenship Cup
Lloyd Cup for All Round Achievement
Isla Hodgson (6B)
Gracie Horne (6H)
Harry Rees (5A)
Imogen Mullins (3C)
Zachary Trimble (6H)
Joshua Sheppard (6B)
Damian Tovar (6H)
Emma Attenborough (4C)
Max Plenge (3C)
Cleo Horne (4C)
Elsie Brimacombe (5Q)
Marnie Crossley (6H)
Rosie Cohen (3C)
Leyna Zafar (4M)
Zachary Eccles (5A)
Eveie Townson (6H)
Pip Wong (3PJ)
Sarah Sodervall-Takenoshita (5A)
Daisy Kuo (6H)
Phoebe Hitchcock (4M)
Iyla Stickney (5A)
Caspar Dunn (6B)
Isabella Maalouf (4M)
Kaya Koszalkowska (3C)
Harrison Soroka (4C)
Vincent Marwaha (2A)
Arthur Goodsir (3C)
Sophia Easingwood (6H)
Awards Winners
Mrs Hobbs Resilience and Positivity Cup
Rolls Unsung Hero Cup
The Endeavour Cup
Theo Furlonge (4M)
Caris Lee (6H)
Lupo Bürk (6B)
Upper School House Sports Cup (Sports Day) Godwin
Lower School House Sports Cup (Sports Day) Shaw
Poole Swimming Cup (Form 3)
Swimming Cup
Athletics Cup
Judo Cup
Griffiths Cricket Cup
Watson Bowl for Sporting Endeavour
Brzeskwinski Cup for Sporting Endeavour
Sports Girl of the Year
Sports Boy of the Year
Wilson Best Girl on Sports Day
OHSPA Best Boy on Sports Day
Footballer of the Year (boy)
Footballer of the Year (girl)
Netballer of the Year
Kean Shooter (Netball)
Outstanding Contribution to Netball
Lagesse Rugby Cup
Best Rugby Newcomer
Hockey Player of the Year
Outstanding Contribution to Hockey
Coulson Cross Country Award
Sophia Cleanis (3PJ)
Maya Kossoras (6H)
Eli Tziambazis (6B)
Jasmine Tahmassebi (6B)
Lenny Collins (5Q)
Lawrence Schmidt (5A)
Sophia Blundun (6B)
Isla Charlton-Meyrick (6B)
Caspar Dormandy (4C)
Emily Connell (5A)
Ivan Mills (6B)
Thomas Jenke (5A)
Isadora Kirkpatrick (5A)
Isla Charlton-Meyrick (6B)
Freya Gower (6H)
Zoe Phillips (6H)
Luca Stokes (6B)
Melina Lioni (5Q)
Damian Tovar (5A)
Sophia Easingwood (6H)
Tiago Bürk (6H)
YEARS OF OHS
Orchard House School has proudly evolved over the past 30 years from its beginnings in 1993, when Sylvia Rentoul’s sons established the school on Newton Grove.
The school has since expanded, adding Early Years in 2010 and fully merging with Chiswick and Bedford Park Preparatory School in 2024 under the ownership of Dukes Education.
The merger, alongside major refurbishments, has propelled Orchard House into becoming one of London’s leading preparatory schools, well
renowned not only for its academic excellence but also for its rich extracurricular offerings and outstanding pastoral care.
The school’s commitment to nurturing each child’s unique potential, alongside Mrs. Adams' vision for the future as Head of School since September 2024, sets a bright path ahead for many years to come.
Orchard House School 16 Newton Grove, Chiswick London, W4 1LB
Renée Bateh as Nancy Y6 Production “Oliver” (2024)