Summer Edition - July 2026
HEAD’S MESSAGE
FROM THE HEAD
This term has been rich with successes, from poetry and spelling competitions, sport, music and drama to independent STEAM projects and strong academic results at 11+. The children’s curiosity, deep respect for one another and their proactive approach to their learning make PGP very special. Serving as Head has been a true privilege and I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved as a school community over the past four years. I extend my deepest gratitude to the whole school community and wish you all a very enjoyable summer.
Dr Edmonds
FRIENDS OF PARSONS GREEN PREP
Friends Of Parsons Green Prep concluded the term with a flurry: a uniform sale to greet incoming parents, the design and sale of a tea towel - featuring hand-drawn portraits of staff and children - and the annual visit from the ice cream van. With gratitude to Nicky T for her tireless commitment as President, we welcome Sophia D in the role from September. Next up: the uniform sale on 3 September, movie night and news on the school’s 25th anniversary celebration.
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 in the Sports Activities to almost overthrow Shackleton’s lead. The final results are as follows (average house points per child across the whole term):
1st – Shackleton – 69.6
2nd – Attenborough – 69.1
3rd – Williams – 66.2
4th – Earhart – 63.8
Congratulations Shackleton! We hit the refresh button and start all over again in September.
THE ARTS
ART
The summer term has flown by and we have been busy with art clubs, Art Day, the summer exhibition and scenery and prop making for the school production, as well as our weekly art lessons. The work created on Art Day was fantastic and pupils were excited to showcase it at the summer art exhibition, which was well attended by parents and carers. In class we have covered shading techniques, drawing facial features, Tudor portraits, Ancient Greek chalk columns, one point perspective and rainforest collages.
PREP PERFORMANCE
Prep School pupils dazzled audiences with their magical production of Mary Poppins. Filled with colourful costumes, lively songs and confident performances, the show brought the beloved story to life. Pupils worked incredibly hard to learn their lines, dances and musical numbers, supported by dedicated staff behind the scenes. A highlight was the joyful Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious performance. Well done everyone for creating such a memorable and entertaining experience for families and friends.
MUSIC
The Music Department has been busy preparing for and celebrating a range of exciting performances. A major focus was the Summer Concert, showcasing the pupils’ hard work, musical development and enthusiasm. The choir also delivered an outstanding performance and impressed audiences with their talent and dedication. Another highlight was the Prep School production of Mary Poppins, which proved to be a huge success, demonstrating exceptional singing, acting and teamwork from all involved.
OUT AND ABOUT
BOCKETTS FARM PARK
Reception had a fantastic trip to Bocketts Farm, where they enjoyed a Small Animal Encounters session, meeting and handling a range of friendly creatures. They took a tractor ride, spotting animals and taking in the views, and listened carefully during a guided farm tour. The excitement continued with pig racing before lunch. Afterwards, children made the most of their free time, feeding the animals and exploring the play areas together. All returned happy, proud and feeling joyful.
WOODROW HIGH HOUSE
The residential at Woodrow High House was a true highlight of Year 3’s Summer term. Across three action-packed days pupils embraced outdoor challenges, from learning circus tricks to constructing imaginative dens. Evenings were filled with laughter and shared songs, creating a wonderful sense of community. The experience offered a fantastic opportunity for children to develop independence, build friendships and demonstrate resilience. It was inspiring to see every pupil step outside their comfort zone and thrive in such an exciting environment.
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The class took part in an exciting 'Pond Dipping and Habitats' workshop. The children caught fascinating pond creatures and examined them more closely back in the classroom. After the workshop the children enjoyed exploring the Volcanoes and Earthquakes exhibition, which reinforced the knowledge they gained during their Spring term humanities topic. It was a fun and engaging day that brought their classroom learning to life.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
The class enjoyed an enriching visit to the British Museum, with particular focus on the Ancient Greek exhibition. Pupils explored remarkable artefacts, examining pottery, sculptures and inscriptions that illustrated daily life and mythology. Using iPads, they accessed additional information and interactive resources, enabling them to investigate objects in greater depth. This technology brought the learning vividly to life, fostering curiosity, discussion and a deeper understanding of Ancient Greek civilisation and its enduring influence.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Year 6 enjoyed an unforgettable residential trip to the Isle of Wight, packed with adventure and learning. Pupils took part in kayaking, SUPs and dinghy and keelboat sailing, building resilience and confidence on the water. They practised navigational skills, worked brilliantly as a team and showed growing independence throughout. Crabbing by the harbour was a highlight, alongside evenings filled with laughter and good food. The trip enabled the pupils to develop their teamwork and confidence, leaving everybody proud of their achievements and creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
CODING CLUB
Pupils have developed their keyboard and digital design skills through creative activities. They designed informative posters for upcoming school events, carefully choosing suitable backgrounds and including key information. They also created Father’s Day e-cards, practising typing, using capital letters correctly and improving their confidence with the keyboard. Children have also been learning the positions of letter keys and which hands to use when typing more accurately.
QUIZ CLUB
Quiz Club has been a dynamic and much-loved enrichment activity this year, bringing together pupils with a passion for knowledge and quick thinking. Through a range of lively rounds, children have honed their problem-solving skills, teamwork and reasoning across maths, science and general knowledge. The sessions have been full of energy and enthusiasm, with pupils growing in confidence each week. Opportunities to compete in wider quiz events have added to the excitement, making it a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all involved.
STEAM
Reception printed dinosaur fossils and Year 1 explored the architecture of buildings, towers and bridges and Gaudí-inspired sculptures. Year 2 undertook market research to design yoghurt pots. Year 3 constructed Tudor house models, Year 4 studied hydraulics and Year 5 learned about submersibles to explore deep oceans. Year 6 applied their knowledge of levers to the production of arcade games for the Reception class to enjoy. These cross-curricular experiences have strengthened pupils’ STEAM capabilities.
MINDFULNESS AND WELLBEING
Our mindfulness assemblies have explored a wide range of themes. We focused on being kind to ourselves, using positive self-talk and appreciating the small things by saying thank you. We also revisited key mindfulness techniques such as mindful breathing, expressing our feelings and making time for activities we enjoy. We reinforced the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition, quality sleep and staying hydrated. We have continued to recognise pupils in our assemblies with wellbeing awards for consistently demonstrating kindness and respect.
CHESS
In Years 1 and 2 Chess Club we have been developing the children’s knowledge of the rules, tactics and several special moves. During the club the children have been able to play matches with their friends. Try to keep playing over the summer holidays. Remember there are three ways of getting your king out of check using the acronym CPR: capture, protect or run away! If you do not have anyone to play with ask an adult whether you can play chess on a phone or tablet app.
YEARS 3 AND 4 TED TALKS
Every year we are incredibly impressed by the research, creativity and effort that go into our Years 3 and 4 Africa and Asia Projects. From the moment each student was randomly allocated a country, they enthusiastically began independently researching and planning how to innovatively present everything they had learnt. When it was time to showcase their projects to parents and peers the results were outstanding. Everyone was impressed by the high quality of each project and how they had applied the skills learnt in their STEAM lessons to present their newfound knowledge.
IN THE CLASSROOM
RECEPTION
Topics have included traditional tales, life cycles and dinosaurs. The children have been developing their ability to write at length and creatively, using story features and more conjunctions to extend ideas. In maths they have been gaining a deeper understanding of numbers and number patterns through practical activities. The children confidently performed their class assembly, The Gecko and the Echo, showing enthusiasm, clear speaking and excellent teamwork throughout. They are definitely ready for Year 1.
YEAR 2
The class have had a fantastic term filled with exciting learning experiences. The children impressed everyone with their vibrant assembly on Brazil, confidently showcasing all they had learnt. They enjoyed taking part in the Williams House Charity Sports Skills Challenge and Enterprise Afternoon, where they designed and sold bracelets while learning about profit and loss. A highlight of the term was their visit to The Lookout in Hyde Park, where they explored the natural world through hands-on scientific activities. Well done Year 2.
YEAR 1
The classes have had a fantastic summer term filled with cross-curricular learning about compassions, passions and architecture. A few highlights include celebrating David Attenborough's 100th birthday with a thank you letter, a STEAM workshop where pupils worked collaboratively to build bridges and towers and designing and creating buildings inspired by Gaudí. Pupils are enjoying increased independence when writing and have produced creatives stories with twists.
YEAR 3
The summer term has been a busy and rewarding time for Year 3, with pupils demonstrating excellent progress both in and beyond the classroom. Their enterprise project showcased impressive creativity and determination, as children designed, marketed and sold their own products successfully. A highlight of the term was their visit to Hampton Court Palace, where pupils brought their Tudor learning to life through an engaging and memorable experience. Throughout the term, children have shown resilience, collaboration and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.
YEAR 4
The Summer term has been a fantastic end to a wonderful year in Year 4. We have thoroughly enjoyed our Vikings topic, learning all about these Nordic invaders and the battles they fought. Our English text, Riddle of the Runes, complemented our humanities learning perfectly, bringing the topic to life. In maths we explored a range of measurement topics, including time, money, area and perimeter. In science we enjoyed learning about digestion and habitats, while in TPR we developed our understanding of Sikhism.
YEAR 6
It has been a fantastic last term at PGP filled with exciting opportunities for Year 6. They completed Bikeability, building their confidence and road safety skills. They’ve shown excellent teamwork and theatrical endeavour to produce a wonderful production of Mary Poppins. Their art trip to Kew Gardens inspired beautiful work, while the Theme Park Maths Project challenged their creativity and problem solving. They also delivered thoughtful presentations about the ocean. Year 6 should be proud of what they’ve achieved; being excellent role models, caring buddies and supportive friends.
YEAR 5
The class have demonstrated an outstanding attitude throughout the year, characterised by diligence, resilience and a strong commitment to their learning. Their careful preparation for the 11+ examinations has been commendable, reflecting both perseverance and maturity. The residential visit was a particular highlight, while their enthusiastic participation in the Prep School production of Mary Poppins displayed creativity and dedication. They are to be congratulated on a highly successful and rewarding year.
ADVANCED FRENCH PROGRAMME
What an exciting time we have had during the advanced French lessons in the third term. The children are very receptive and enjoy learning new vocabulary through stories and conversations we have in class. Miss Claude is also so proud of all the children as they master the grammar and conjugation. The French library is a great success too: children have their favourite author or collection of books that they can read in class or at home. Miss Claude’s motto is always ‘un enfant qui parle bien, écrira bien’. Bonnes vacances!
SPORT
ATHLETICS
PGP’s top athletes in the Prep School competed in the ISA London West Athletics Competition. They took part in a wide range of events, including short distance sprints, the 600m run, long jump, high jump, vortex throw and shot put. Their hard work and determination truly paid off, with the team securing an impressive total of five medals. A huge congratulations to Frankie (Y5) and Conrad (Y5), who won the Vortex Throw and then went on to achieve outstanding success at the national finals, earning gold and silver respectively.
CRICKET
Cricket has taken centre stage as the main team sport for Year 2 to Year 6 this term and pupils have embraced it with real enthusiasm. From lessons at Hurlingham Park to early morning squad sessions on our on-site Astroturf, their commitment has been outstanding. We’ve seen excellent progress in batting, bowling and fielding. This hard work has translated into a series of impressive match results, including several standout victories against Brighton College Prep Kensington, Hurlingham School and Garden House School.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons resumed this term for Years 5 and 6. Under the guidance of highly skilled instructors, pupils have grown in both confidence and technique while thoroughly enjoying their time in the water. The term concluded with an exciting swimming gala where pupils competed in front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy and friendly competition. A huge congratulations goes to Williams House for winning the 4 × 25m freestyle house relay with a great time of 1 minute and 22 seconds.
CRICKET HOUSE MATCHES
This term the Prep School competed in cricket house matches at Hurlingham Park. Attenborough impressed early, scoring 245 runs to defeat Shackleton’s 209, while Williams posted 232 runs to overcome Earhart's 214. In a closely fought final, Attenborough claimed victory again with 234 runs, holding off Williams' strong reply of 227. Earhart secured third place by scoring 222 runs against Shackleton’s 204. Congratulations to everyone for their enthusiasm, teamwork and the excellent spirit shown throughout the matches.
SPORTS ACTIVITIES
This year we celebrated our sports activities with a fantastic celebration of determination, teamwork and school spirit. Our Pre-Prep pupils enjoyed sprinting, the egg and spoon race and the sack race on the school Astroturf, while our Prep School children travelled to Hurlingham Park to compete in sprinting, hurdles, shot put and the vortex throw. Well done to everyone on their outstanding efforts and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Attenborough House, who were crowned champions with an impressive 156 house points.
EVENTS
YEAR 6 GRADUATION
Year 6 marked a memorable milestone as pupils celebrated their graduation in a joyful ceremony attended by families, staff and friends. The event recognised the children’s hard work, achievements and growth throughout their primary school journey. A highlight of the occasion was an inspiring speech from Steven Butler, the award-winning children’s author, who encouraged pupils to follow their dreams, embrace creativity and enjoy reading. With certificates presented and lasting memories made, the celebration provided a fitting sendoff as Year 6 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 mindfulness-inspired event with challenges, Williams held a sports challenge and Attenborough showcased skills in a talent show. Both children and teachers put in tremendous energy and their collective efforts have not only raised awareness but also fostered a strong sense of community and support for their respective causes.
ECO COMMITTEE
Our amazing Eco Committee has had a brilliant impact across the school. They have introduced a plant into every classroom, helping everyone care for our environment. Members have confidently led inspirational assemblies about Earth Hour and Walk to School Week. They have also worked hard in the flowerbeds, planting and growing aromatic plants. As ambassadors for their year groups, they have shown leadership, responsibility and a real passion for protecting our planet. Well done Eco Committee.
HAVE A LOVELY SUMMER HOLIDAY!