Summer Edition - July 2025
HEAD’S MESSAGE
FROM THE HEAD
It has been an incredible privilege to witness the children’s exceptional learning this academic year. It has been marked by challenges, triumphs and the prerequisite ‘marvellous mistakes’ that lead to great progress. I am immensely proud of all that the children have accomplished independently and collaboratively with their peers, including the outstanding 11+ results achieved by Year 6. I express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff, who create a high-quality learning environment and prioritise the children’s emotional wellbeing. I extend my sincere thanks to all our parents who play a vital role in the children's success.
Dr Edmonds
FRIENDS OF PARSONS GREEN PREP
FOPGP celebrated the end of the 2025 academic year with its Summer Fair. The children enjoyed freeze pops, inflatable football and browsing for books in the sunshine. The fair also saw the return of the committee’s popular tea towel featuring portraits of staff and children. The last week brought a visit from Boh & Bees’ ice cream van - a muchloved annual tradition. FOPGP wishes everyone a wonderful summer. Next up: the uniform sale on 5 September 2025.
Kate Forrester
HOUSE CUP RESULTS
House Points are awarded to pupils for everything from good manners to hard work, sporting prowess to kindness. This term’s House Points contest was hard-fought, with Attenborough adding a late haul of points on Sports Day. The final results are as follows (average house points per child across the whole term):
1 st – Attenborough - 49.8
2 nd - Shackleton - 41.8
3 rd - Williams - 40.5
4 th - Earhart – 38.4
Well done Attenborough! We hit the refresh button and start all over again in September.
THE ARTS
ART
We have had an amazing year full of creativity, expression and fun. The highlight of this term was Art Day, when the painting Regatta on the Grand Canal by Antonio Canaletto inspired the whole school into creating flags and bunting, one-point perspective paintings on canvas, watercolours and gondolas, masks, beads and sculptures influenced by Venetian glassmakers. The work was exhibited at our Summer Art Exhibition and it was wonderful to see pupils proudly showing their work to their parents and carers.
PREP PERFORMANCE
The Prep children dazzled in their end-of-year performance of The Wizard of Oz. In every scene (from the magical lands to enchanted creatures) the stage came alive with music, colour and energy. The witches, flying monkeys, munchkins and field mice added excitement and wonder, while the entire cast showed remarkable confidence, teamwork and joy. Thank you to the staff, families and friends who supported this journey - a spectacular celebration of imagination and effort from all our brilliant young performers.
MUSIC
Our music department has had a busy summer term, full of creativity and performance. Pupils took part in a wonderful end-of-term concert, showcasing their musical talents with confidence and enthusiasm. The Prep pupils wowed audiences with their colourful production of The Wizard of Oz, which was a huge success. In lessons each year group worked in small groups to compose their own original summer songs, writing both lyrics and harmonies together. It's been a term full of music, teamwork and celebration.
OUT AND ABOUT
BOCKETTS FARM PARK
The Reception children had a wonderful adventure at Bocketts Farm. They enjoyed a bumpy tractor ride around the fields and loved feeding the goats, alpacas and cows. In the petting area they gently stroked rabbits, baby chickens and guinea pigs too. The children explored the exciting playground, climbing and sliding with big smiles. In the growing garden they hunted for herbs, fruits and vegetables, learning about where food comes from. It was a fun-filled day .
WOODROW HIGH HOUSE
The Summer term saw our Year 3 pupils embark on an exciting three-day adventure at Woodrow High House, filled with teambuilding and outdoor fun. From singing Backstreet Boys songs around campfires to navigating a blindfolded nightline walk and building dens, the class shared many memorable moments. It was inspiring to witness their courage, resilience and teamwork during their first residential experience - a wonderful milestone for everyone.
KEW GARDENS
Year 2 had a delightful trip to Kew, exploring the Hive and the Palm House. The pupils were fascinated by the diverse plant life and ecosystems. In the afternoon they participated in an art workshop, drawing the beautiful, colourful plants and flowers using chalk. This art-related trip allowed them to express their creativity while appreciating nature's beauty. The experience was both educational and inspiring, leaving the children with lovely memories.
BRITISH LIBRARY
Year 5 went back in time and explored life in Ancient Greece by visiting the British Museum. The day began with a tablet tour of the Parthenon. Using the British Museum's excellent virtual reality software, pupils explored the different parts of the Parthenon, recreated some of the famous statues, used virtual spray paint to colour the friezes and learnt key vocabulary from that time. In the afternoon Year 5 examined other artefacts from this period, including Greek pottery. It was a wonderful and very informative trip.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT
The Year 6 trip to the Isle of Wight was an unforgettable adventure filled with excitement and learning. The pupils took part in a range of water sports, including sailing, kayaking and other thrilling activities on the water. The weather was perfect throughout the trip, with sunny skies adding to the fun and energy of each day. Not only did everyone have a fantastic time, but the experience also helped the children build confidence, teamwork and new skills. It was a truly enriching trip that left lasting memories and a sense of achievement for all involved.
CODING CLUB
This term has been full of creativity and problem solving. The pupils explored animation, adding sound, text and pictures to design eye-catching posters around school. They began learning touch typing - a great skill for future computing. The pupils also used code to build their own games and practiced debugging to fix problems in their programs. It’s been fantastic to see their confidence grow each week as they experimented and shared ideas. Well done to all our coders.
QUIZ CLUB
The Quiz Club has been an exciting part of our Prep School this year. Pupils have sharpened their quiz strategies and deduction skills through fastpaced, engaging sessions. From quick-fire rounds to team challenges, the excitement has been nonstop. The pupils also had the opportunity to take part in the Maths and General Knowledge Quiz Championships during the Spring term. It’s been a fantastic year of learning, confidence-building and fun for all involved.
STEAM
PGP’s STEAM curriculum this term has inspired the children from Reception through to Year 6 to think deeply about an eclectic range of topics including: the life cycle of a butterfly, the growth of broad beans, the science of yoghurt fermentation, the construction of buildings reflecting Antoni Gaudí’s work, Tudor water wheels, the applications of hydraulic systems in everyday life, programs for arcade-style computer games and explorations of the oceans. The pupils also thoroughly enjoyed Enterprise Day.
MINDFULNESS AND WELLBEING
We are delighted that mindfulness and wellbeing has been seen as a significant strength at PGP. The wellbeing shed, implemented by our wonderful Wellbeing Committee, has been a great success, offering children a safe space to reflect and reset. Pupils openly and confidently communicate how they are feeling, showing emotional maturity and self-awareness. They independently use a range of strategies taught in assemblies and class to regulate emotions and support friends. This strong foundation in wellbeing has created a caring, supportive environment in the school.
CHESS
In Year 1 and 2 Chess Club we have been developing the children’s knowledge of the rules, tactics and special moves. They have been able to play lots of matches with their friends and participate in healthy competition, leading to taking part in chess tournaments from Year 3 up to Year 6. Try to keep playing over the summer holidays. Remember that there are three ways of getting your king out of check using the acronym CPRcapture, protect or run away!
Y3/4 SELF-LED ASIA/AFRICA PROJECTS
Year 3 and 4 pupils impressed Mr Brendan and Miss Lydia with their self-led projects exploring countries across Africa and Asia. Each pupil took ownership of their learning - researching, designing and presenting their findings to parents and peers. The afternoon was a celebration of creativity, curiosity and global awareness, with presentations showcasing a wide range of STEAM skills including research, design and communication. It was wonderful to see such independence and enthusiasm shine through every project.
IN THE CLASSROOM
RECEPTION
A brilliantly busy term, full of personal growth, resilience with the application of knowledge and exciting hands-on experiences. The children have seen the birth of chicks and experienced the life cycle of a butterfly/caterpillar. They have reflected on their journey and their memories in Reception in a parent learning morning. They have consolidated their phonics knowledge as well as applying their mathematical language to their maths tasks, among other achievements. Panda Class are definitely ready for Year 1.
YEAR 2
It has been an exciting term filled with diverse learning experiences. The class mastered debating skills in English, explored measurements in maths and created shadow puppets in STEAM. The pupils wrote poems about nature, participated in a story-writing competition and enjoyed various events like Shackleton's charity fundraiser and the Easter Bonnet Parade. They also engaged in scientific investigations, computing projects and a memorable trip to Kew Gardens. Well done Year 2.
YEAR 1
What a fantastic term. The children’s love of learning and growing confidence have truly shone through. Their writing and reading skills have flourished through story retelling, fact file creation, roleplay and independent reading. In maths they have tackled time, fractions, money and multiplication and division with impressive understanding. Our PSHCE lessons have been a highlight, with children harnessing their emotions and social skills, showing real growth. It has been a joy to see them thrive across all areas.
YEAR 3
The Summer term has allowed Year 3 to shine both academically and socially. Our learning has taken us to Hampton Court Palace where we witnessed all things Tudor. We exceeded expectations with our product designing and sales skills during our Enterprise Day, showing our strong economic education and resilience to achieve a considerable profit. Our residential also saw our children immerse themselves in a range of exciting activities, demonstrating a fantastic growth mindset.
YEAR 4
It has been an excellent and very busy term. We have loved learning all about the Vikings and our class reader Riddle of the Runes complemented our humanities topic perfectly. In maths we have studied topics from area and perimeter to BODMAS. In science Year 4 have learnt all about the digestive system and have worked on scientific classification of different vertebrate and invertebrate animals. A highlight was our trip to the National Gallery. The pupils explored the famous paintings and enjoyed a tremendous workshop looking at emotion in art.
YEAR 6
What an incredible year it has been for Year 6. From the unforgettable Isle of Wight adventure to the outstanding 11+ results, this class has truly shone. Their creativity flourished during Enterprise Day and through exciting STEAM projects, demonstrating innovation and collaboration. Every child should feel immensely proud of their growth and achievements. As they now set off to their chosen senior schools, there's a real sense of excitement and anticipation. We’ll miss them greatly but we know they are ready for the journey ahead.
YEAR 5
Year 5 have worked incredibly hard this year, both academically and socially, to become more mature, conscientious and resilient individuals. They should all be proud of themselves. They have enjoyed a variety of trips and talks by professionals, including going to the British Museum, where they had an interactive virtual tour of the Pantheon to complement our Ancient Greek topic. Other highlights include our residential trip to Hindleap Warren, our performances in The Wizard of Oz and creating games for Reception.
ADVANCED FRENCH PROGRAMME
The children in the Advanced French Programme have had a very full third term. They have completed their exercise books and learnt new poems and songs for the French Café day. Miss Claude would like to thank them for helping in organising the café, which was loved by everyone. They decorated the room and served the pastries to parents and children, all in French of course. There has been great work from all the pupils all year. Je vous souhaite des bonnes vacances.
SPORT
CRICKET
Cricket has been the main team sport for Years 2 -6 this term. The pupils have enthusiastically taken part in lessons at Hurlingham Park and early morning squad sessions on our on-site Astroturf. Their progress in batting, bowling and fielding has been fantastic. We have also enjoyed excellent wins, including some particularly impressive victories against strong opponents such as Brighton College Prep Kensington, Hurlingham School, The Roche School, Garden House School and Merlin School.
ATHLETICS
PGP’s top athletes in the Prep School competed in the ISA London West athletics competition. The pupils rose to the occasion, taking part in a wide range of events including short-distance sprints, the 600m run, Long Jump, High Jump, Vortex Throw and Shot Put. Overall, PGP won four medals. M (Y4) won a silver medal in the 60m, F (Y4) won a silver medal in the 600m, T (Y6) won a bronze medal in the 80m and the Year 4 girls 4 x 100m relay team (pictured) took the bronze medal.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons resumed this term for Years 5 and 6. Under the guidance of skilled instructors they have grown in confidence and technique while thoroughly enjoying their time in the water. The term concluded with an exciting swimming gala, where pupils took part in front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and friendly competition and huge congratulations goes to Earhart House for winning the 4 × 25m freestyle house relay with an impressive time of 1 minute and 24 seconds.
HOUSE MATCHES
This term the Prep School competed in cricket house matches. In the Year 3 and Year 4 competition Williams claimed the championship, edging out Attenborough with 218 runs to 202. Shackleton secured third place with a tense 207 to 204 win against Earhart. Attenborough secured the double in the Year 5 and Year 6 competition with an excellent batting display in the final, defeating Earhart 278 to 241. Williams secured third place by overcoming Shackleton with a 235 to 216 win. Well done to all the players for two brilliant afternoons of cricket.
SPORTS DAY
The highlight of the sporting calendar was PGP’s Sports Day at Barn Elms Sports Trust. The pupils competed in a range of events including short and long-distance running, throwing and jumping. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, teamwork and outstanding sportsmanship. The highlight was the 4 x 100m relay race, where Attenborough House secured the double, winning both the Years 3–4 and Years 5–6 relay races. Congratulations to Attenborough for securing first place overall with an incredible total of 226 House Points.
EVENTS
YEAR 6 GRADUATION
Our Year 6 graduation was a heartfelt celebration of resilience, growth and achievement. The children were honoured for their hard work and milestones reached during an unforgettable year. We were privileged to welcome Aidan Corley OBE, who delivered an inspiring address that captivated all. The ceremony was beautifully framed by moving musical performances that stirred deep emotion, with many a proud parent brought to tears. A truly special send-off as our leavers prepare for their exciting next chapter.
CHARITY ROUND-UP
This year our school houses have shown incredible dedication to their chosen charities. Earhart hosted a fashion show, Shackleton organised a Taskmaster-inspired event with challenges, Williams held a sports challenge and Attenborough held a talent show. Both pupils and teachers put in tremendous effort, demonstrating creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm. Their collective efforts have not only raised awareness but also fostered a strong sense of community and support for their respective causes.
ECO COMMITTEE
The Eco Committee have had a fantastic year. We had three topics that we focused on: participating in the Big Schools Birdwatch, growing our own herbs and vegetables, and embedding our eco-friendly values into whole school events, like the Easter Bonnet Parade. Through the Eco Committee's hard work and the support of the rest of the school, we have successfully been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Merit. Well done everyone for your support and help to make PGP an Eco-School.
HAVE A LOVELY SUMMER HOLIDAY!