24-25 Hazlegrovian

H azlegrovian

Hazlegrove Preparatory School

2024 - 2025

Eco Committee

Sport

Lower School Academic Awards 3B

Charlotte G

Theodore G

Penelope B

Max S

Joshua F-M

Lower School Section Awards

Year 3

Year 4

Ali C

Freddie C

Middle School Academic Awards

Hamish S

Bear P

Lawrence G

Sybie H-M

Emilia C

Cecilia C

Hannah M

Middle School Section Awards

Year 5

Year 6

Clemmie W

Daniel R

School Academic

Wilbur L

Maisie B

Daisy H

Oscar H

Jason Y

Jacobi H A

Digby D

Naomi M

Upper School Section Awards

Year 7 Year 8

Fleur B

Holly D

Senior Subject Prizes English

Isabella O

Magnus M

Nicholas M A

Sacha C

Katinka T

Charlie W

Emily C

Oscar L

Tessa F

Annabel H

Penelope G

William C

Joshua N

Outstanding All Round Contribution to Drama

Lorelei B

William C

Monty E

Archie G

Isabella P

Lily R

Honor W

Rosie W

Outstanding All Round Contribution to Music

Lorelei B

Zach C

Leon D

Tessa F

Isabella O

Martha R

Outstanding All Round Contribution to Art

Wilf B-B

Alexander C

Zach C

Aurelia E

Harry F

Penelope G

Naomi M

James S

Rosie W

Lily W

Outstanding All Round Contribution to Design and Technology

Lorelei B

Leo D

Lucy M

Felix M

Penelope G

Outstanding All Round Contribution to Sport

GIRLS

Emily C

Jessica F

Rosa H

Annabel H

Naomi M

Clemmie M

Martha M

Isabella O

Isabella P

Katinka T

BOYS

Sacha C

George D-M

Leon D

Harry F

Archie G

Joshua H

Magnus M

Austin M-F

Lyon P

Peter P

Scholarships and Awards

Academic Scholarships and Awards

Sacha C

Leon D

Isabella O

Katinka T Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship

All Rounder Scholarships and Awards

Emily C Colin Cocks Award

Art Scholarships and Awards

Wilfred B-B

Harry F

Alexander C

Naomi M

Lily W

Scholarship Exhibition Exhibition Scholarship Scholarship

Design and Technology Scholarships and Awards

Lorelei B

Leo D

Penelope G

Lucy M

Felix M

Scholarship (Art and Design) Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship

Drama Scholarships and Awards

Jessica F

Martha M

Honor W Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship

Music Scholarships and Awards

Leon D

Tessa F

Isabella O

Martha R

Exhibition Scholarship Scholarship Exhibition

Sports Scholarships and Awards

Emily C

George D-M

Leon D

Harry F

Jessica F

Rosa H

Joshua H

Annabel H

Clemmie M

Lyon P

Isabella P

Katinka T Scholarship Exhibition Scholarship Exhibition Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship Scholarship Exhibition Scholarship Scholarship

Sherborne

King’s College Taunton

Sherborne Girls

Millfield

Dean Close

King’s School Bruton

Sherborne

Sherborne

King’s School Bruton

King’s School Bruton

Sherborne Girls

King’s School Bruton

King’s School Bruton

Millfield

King’s School Bruton

Millfield

King’s School Bruton

King’s School Bruton

King’s College Taunton

Sherborne Girls

Sherborne Girls

King’s School Bruton

Dean Close

Sherborne

King’s College Taunton

Sherborne

Millfield

Millfield

King’s School Bruton

King’s College Taunton

Sherborne Girls

Bryanston

King’s School Bruton

Millfield

Headmaster’s Prizes

The McKechnie Bowl

Leon

D

This prize goes to an outstanding all-rounder in a number of areas of School, in other words a true key player.

The Shining Light Trophy for Boarding

Harry F and Lucy M

Our Boarding Award goes to a pupil who has been a boarder for at least three years and who has been a shining light within our boarding community. They will have demonstrated a commitment to full boarding, made an outstanding contribution to the school community and been a role model for our younger boarders. They will have displayed old fashioned, yet eternal values including honesty, integrity, good manners and selflessness.

The Tim Catley-Day Trophy for the Unsung Hero

William C

This is awarded to someone who has made a significant contribution to the quality of life at Hazlegrove during their time here, usually across a broad spectrum of school life, but who may not have gained individual recognition in one particular area.

The Sopwith Supra Limen Trophy

Martha

R

Supra, beyond, and Limen, threshold, beyond the threshold. It is an unusual trophy, but it is one that will linger in the memory of the recipient. It is awarded to a pupil who has completed the six years of the Prep School and who has made a significant and broad contribution to the quality of life during their time at Hazlegrove.

The John Carnegie Forwards, Onwards and Upwards Trophy Ez S

Many of you will remember him. He is the man with the missing finger. The trophy is a bronze cast of that famous right hand. This is awarded to a pupil who epitomises the Forwards, Onwards, Upwards sentiment who also displays a natural enthusiasm in all they do, sometimes perhaps in a slightly unconventional manner.

We continue to embrace technological change, and iPads and AI will undoubtedly continue to play a dominant role within education. However, in a world increasingly dominated by screens and scrolling, we remain committed to preserving something far more precious than the latest app: namely childhood. Our continuing no-phone policy isn’t about being old-fashioned, more it’s about being brave enough to protect the magic of muddy knees, eye contact and daydreams. Our UFO model of looking Up, Forwards and Out, remains as critical as ever in developing character, a sense of self and, as importantly, a sense of everyone and everything around us. In choosing connection over convenience, and imagination over instant gratification, we give our pupils the space to grow gradually, richly, and fully—and we make no apology for that.

Our 60 Year 8 leavers move on to fifteen different senior schools, namely Bryanston, Canford, Dauntsey’s, Dean Close, Eton College, Mossbourne Academy, King’s School Bruton, King’s College Taunton, Millfield, Milton Abbey, Radley College, Sexey’s, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne School, and Stowe. We also wish our Spanish and French leavers well as they return to their native schools.

Academic scholarships were awarded to Sacha Canterbury to Sherborne, Leon Dunne to King’s College Taunton, Isabella Oatley to Sherborne Girls and Katinka Thurstan to Millfield.

May I take this opportunity to thank Andrew Farquhar and Angela Hughes for everything they have done this year as Academic Leads, working alongside their dynamic Academic Leadership Team of Rob Hill, Katie Rudd and Becky Seery.

Our performing and creative arts continue to be a core part of our curriculum at Hazlegrove, going from strength to strength across Music, Drama, Design & Technology and Art, and they have been instrumental in nurturing each child’s confidence, curiosity and creativity.

Music at Hazlegrove has flourished again this year, with over 220 individual instrumental lessons taking place each week, alongside a busy schedule of rehearsals for choirs, ensembles, and bands. We have enjoyed a wealth of impressive performances throughout the year, both solo and group, showcasing the talent and hard work of our pupils.

Mae B-C

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School

Sexey’s

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’ Trip because I loved the body boarding.

My favourite club has been Netball.

Lorelei B

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Sherborne Girls

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove are surfing during the Leaver’s Trip and taking part in Hazlegrove productions, especially the Year 8 Production.

Wilf B-B

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My favourite part of Hazlegrove was the Year 8 Production and the rehearsals.

My favourite club was Art Scholars.

Sacha C

Head Boy

Prefect

Lower School Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Sherborne

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was the French Trip and the journey on the ferry.

My favourite club has been Football.

William C

Prefect Tech Monitor

Senior School Sherborne

Comments

My special memories of Hazlegrove were Science with Mr Atkinson, the Year 8 Production and the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Football.

Emily C

Prefect

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Scholarship and Award

Dean Close

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was surfing on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite clubs were Cooking and Hockey.

Alexander C

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Exhibition Sherborne

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were the Year 8 Production and the high ropes course on the River Dart Trip.

My favourite club was Kwick Cricket.

Zach C

Prefect Art Monitor

Senior SchooL Bryanston

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip while spending time with my friends.

My favourite club was Art Scholars with Mr Baker.

William C

Prefect Sport Monitor

Senior School Canford

Comments

My special memories at Hazlegrove have been the Year 8 Production and the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Woodland Games.

Leo D

Head Boy

Prefect Sport Monitor

Senior School

Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’ Trip and the Year 8 production with Mrs Whitfield and Mrs Sclater.

My favourite club was Woodland Games.

Digby D

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Dauntsey’s

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were Football, Cricket, Rugby and night on the beach with friends ont the Leavers’trip.

My favourite club was Football.

Holly D

Drama Monitor

Senior School

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was the high ropes course with Ellie R on the River Dart Trip.

My favourite club was Woodland Games.

George D-M

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

Exhibition Sherborne

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was discovering my passion for Football and time with my friends.

My favourite clubs were Football, Minecraft and Swimming to name a few.

Leon D

Prefect

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

Scholarship and Exhibition

King’s College Taunton

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove have been Cricket, surfing on the Leavers’Trip and singing in the Year 8 Production.

My favourite clubs were Football and Athletics.

Monty E

Sport Monitor

Senior School Sherborne

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were Rugby matches and surfing and the sea safari on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite clubs were Cricket and Hockey.

Aurelia E

Art Monitor

Senior School

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip with my friends.

My favourite club was Cooking.

Tessa F

Prefect Drama Monitor

Senior School Scholarship

Sherborne Girls

Comments

My favourite highlights of Hazlegrove were performing solos in the Year 6 and 8 productions. I also loved the Leavers’Trip and high ropes course on the River Dart Trip.

My favourite clubs were Drama and Cooking.

Catalina F G

Art Monitor

Senior School

Returning to Spain

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip with my friends.

My favourite club was Tennis.

Harry F

Tech Monitor

Senior School Exhibition Sherborne

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Cricket.

Jessica F

Sport Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Millfield

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was visiting the beach after dinner on the Leavers’Trip.

Archie G

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School

Sherborne

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove is body boarding with my friends on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Golf.

Penny G

Drama Monitor

Senior School

Scholarship

King’s School Bruton

Comments

.My favourite memory of Hazlegrove is taking psrt in the Year 8 Production. I loved the Costumes.

My favourite clubs were Cooking and Recycled

Valentine G

Senior School

Returning to France

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove is spending my evenings in the boarding house, especially with the matrons and my friends.

My favourite club was Cooking.

Florence H

Drama Monitor

Senior School

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My special memories of Hazlegrove were camping with friends on the Leavers’Trip and the surfing was a lot of fun.

My favourite club was Drama.

Rosa H

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Millfield

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove body boarding on the Leavers’Trip, singing in the Year 8 Showcase and playing in hockey matches.

My favourite club was Rounders.

Josh H

Prefect

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

King’s School Bruton Scholarship

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Cricket.

Jacobi H A

Sport Monitor

Senior School Sherborne

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’ Trip and the Year 8 Production.

My favourite club was Cricket.

Griffin H

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School

Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was spending time with friends on the Leavers’Trip especially on the beach.

My favourite club was Chess.

Annabel H

Head Girl

Prefect

Drama Monitor

Senior School Scholarship King’s College Taunton

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’ Trip and playing hockey and netball Iaps.

My favourite club was Drama.

Daisy Lampard

Sport Monitor

Senior School King’s School Bruton

Comments

My favourite highlight of Hazlegrove was being in the Year 8 Production with my friends.

Oscar L

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Radley College

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was spending time with my friends.

My favourite club was Chess.

Emilia L

Drama Monitor

Senior School Sherborne Girls

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’ Trip doing the sea safari and being in the Year 8 and 6 Productions with my friends.

My favourite clubs were Food Tech and Tennis.

Lucy M

Wellbeing Monitor

Senior School Scholarship

Millfield

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’ Trip and the Year 8 Production.

My favourite club was Cooking.

Clemmie M

Sport Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Sherborne Girls

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were body boarding on the Leavers’Trip and the high ropes on the River Dart trip. I also enjoyed the Year 8 Production.

My favourite clubs were Woodland Games and

Magnus M

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Eton

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was playing with my teamates in rugby matches.

My favourite club was Judo.

Austin M F

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

Eton

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was surfing and body boarding on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Hockey.

Naomi M

Sport Monitor

Senior School Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My favourite highlight of Hazlegrove was the Year 8 Leavers’Trip and spending time with my friends.

My favourite club was swimming.

Felix M

Lower School Monitor

Senior School Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My special memory of Hazlegrove was the Sea Safari trip during the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Football.

Nicholas M A

Sport Monitor

Senior School Returning to Spain

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were playing rugby with my friends and surfing on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Football.

Skye M

Tech Monitor

Senior School King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the play rhearsals for the Year 8 Production.

My favourite club was Art Scholars.

Martha M

Drama Monitor

Senior School

Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My favourite highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite clubs was swimming.

Joshua N

Tech Monitor

Senior School Dauntsey’s

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was spending lots of time with my friends.

My favourite club was Football.

Isabella O

Prefect Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School Scholarship Sherborne Girls

Comments

My favourite highlights of Hazlegrove were the Leavers’Trip and swimming in the olympic pool.

My favourite clubs were Swimming, Cricket and Laser Shooting.

Lyon P

Sport Monitor

Senior School Exhibition Millfield

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was playing in matches with my friends.

My favourite club was Football.

Sport Monitor

Senior School

Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was visiting the beach after dinner on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite clubs were Woodland Games and Athletics.

Peter P

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

Sherborne

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Woodland Games.

Martha R

Prefect

Drama Monitor

Senior School

Exhibition

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were the Year 6 and 8 Productions and the River Dart and Leavers’ Trip. I also loved playing hockey matches.

My favourite club was Swimming.

Lily R

Lower School Monitor

Senior School

Sherborne Girls

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Year 8 Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Recycled Fashion.

Ellie R

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior school

Milton Abbey

Comments

My favourite memory of Hazlegrove was spending time with my friends on the Leavers’ Trip.

My favourite clubs were Cricket and Drama.

Cameron S

Flag Monitor

Senior School King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was surfing on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Tennis.

Henry S

Prop Monitor

Senior School King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Year 8 Production.

Ez S

Art Monitor

Senior School Sherborne

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was when Dover won Sports Day.

My favourite club was Rugby.

James S

Tech Monitor

Senior School

Sherborne

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was playing beach football on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Football.

Katinka T

Head Girl

Prefect

Lower School Monitor

Senior School Scholarship

Millfield

Comments

My favourite memories of Hazlegrove were surfing on the Leavers’Trip and the Year 8 Production.

My favourite clubs were swimming, Food Tech

Pilar V H

Lower School Monitor

Senior School Returning to Spain

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was camping on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was sports club.

Honor W

Drama Monitor

Senior School Scholarship King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlerove was winning my final Cricket match.

My favourite club was Drama.

Isabella P

Rosie W

Prefect Drama Monitor

Senior School

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Drama.

Charles W

Pre-Prep Monitor

Senior School

Sherborne

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was body boarding on the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Laser Pistol.

Lily W

Art Monitor

Senior School Scholarship

King’s School Bruton

Comments

My highlights of Hazlegrove were going to the beach on the Leavers’Trip and the Year 8 Production.

My favourite club was Art Scholars.

Jason Yang

Pre-Prep Art

Senior School

Stowe

Comments

My highlight of Hazlegrove was the Leavers’Trip.

My favourite club was Minecraft.

AN EXTRACT TAKEN FROM THE HEADMASTER’S SPEECH

Our weekly Friday concerts have provided a valuable platform for pupils to not only refine their musical abilities but also build confidence and experience the rewards of consistent practice. Highlights of the year included two magnificent end-of-term services at Wells Cathedral and Sherborne Abbey, where choral music played a central and moving role. Our outstanding and highly talented group of peripatetic teachers came together last week for a memorable concert of their own, proving a real inspiration to pupils, staff, and parents alike.

Our musical partnership with King’s Bruton continues to thrive, culminating in two excellent joint concerts. It was inspiring to witness the positive influence and motivation that the King’s pupils brought to our own. Another highlight was last term’s House Music Competition, following last year’s successful inauguration. All four houses delivered creative and spirited colour-themed songs, making it a challenging decision for our guest judge. Congratulations to Lyon for their well-deserved win.

Music Scholarships and Exhibitions were awarded to Leon Dunne to King’s College Taunton, Tessa Ferguson and Isabella Oatley to Sherborne Girls and Martha Richards to King’s Bruton. My sincere thanks go to Nicki Sclater and her superb team of music staff, for making music such a vibrant part of our curriculum and our ethos.

Staff News

Extract from the Headmaster’s Speech

Inevitably, at the end of an academic year, we must say goodbye to some much revered members of the Common Room.

FAREWELLS

Tom Birch - We say a very sad but fond farewell to Tom Birch and his family, who have worked and lived at Hazlegrove for the past eleven years. Tom has played an integral part in driving our ICT syllabus and our extensive Outdoor Education program, as well as being a brilliant form tutor, a key part of the boarding team, and superb drummer and guitarist in many a staff ensemble. Tom, we wish you and your family all the very best as you head to pastures and adventures new.

Lucy MacDonagh - Lucy leaves us for Great Wishford School to take up a Year 5/6 teaching position. Lucy joined us as a Graduate Assistant in 2023 and has made a superb start to her teaching career at Hazlegrove, more recently as an integral part of our Year 4 team. Great Wishford’s gain is undoubtedly Hazlegrove’s loss.

Emma Dodsworth - We bid farewell to Emma, who is taking on an exciting new role at Sherborne Primary as a Year 1 and 2 class teacher. We thank her warmly for her outstanding teaching within Year 2 and for everything she has brought to Hazlegrove.

Katrina Halford - leaves our Learning Support team after a very successful year of maternity cover. She moves on to work for Coram Life Education, a UK charity focusing on delivering workshops to children on mental health and drug awareness, and PSHE.

We also wish Lottie Board and Tugce Cinar well as they head off on maternity leave.

Ian Wilmshurst - And last but certainly not least, we bid a very fond farewell to Ian Wilmshurst, the outgoing Head of King’s Bruton, who has run King’s so successfully over the past 16 years. I would like to thank him for his resolute support in my first three years as Head, and we wish him and his family well in his retirement. We look forward to welcoming Matt Radley and his family into the Foundation in September.

Services and Events

Easter Service Sherborne Abbey

Harry Cobden visits Hazlegrove

Hazlegrove Christmas Carols

Christmas Service Wells Cathedral

Friends of Hazlegrove Summer Ball

Fleet Air Arm Santa Drop

V E Day Celebrations

Languages Day

World Book Day

The Tarzan Trophy

House Singing Competition

Beyond the Dog Gates

At Hazlegrove, we love hearing about the passions, hobbies, and charity and community work our wonderful pupils pursue beyond the school gates. Here are a few stories from our Hazlegrove community.

Hazlegrove Courage

The Balistic Bikers

Four of our intrepid Hazlegrove pupils, Louis, Ed, Freddie, and Hambo embarked on an extraordinary challenge to raise funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA). The boys decided to cycle over 130 miles from Bodmin to Hazlegrove, tackling some formidable hills along the way, all within a single weekend. The boys raised just under £4000 for their chosen charity.

Archie R-T

Archie R-T continues his karting career having recently joined Mick Barrett Racing, driving the X30 kart. Archie has competed both nationally in the British Championships and internationally in both France and Italy during the past year.

F

Arabella’s agility journey continues into 2026, this being her last year competing with Poppy in the YKC ring at Crufts. Poppy will then retire from competitive agility after a very successful career! Arabella’s young dog, Rafiki, has also qualified for Crufts 2026 as well as the British Grand Finals and the British Agility Championships. A busy season ahead and a very exciting start to their adventures together.

Arabella

Aurelie V-S

Solly R

Solly is not only passionate about his art but also about sharing his talent with others. During the summer term, he took on a brief from Mrs Bartlett to create something special for Lower School. He dedicated much of his free time and, with great enthusiasm, worked closely with Mr Stocker to plan his design, discussing how best to bring his vision to life.

Solly’s finished masterpiece is now proudly mounted on the stairwell between our Lower School classrooms. It represents feelings, emotions, and the pride we share in our Hazlegrove Houses.

Solly continues to pursue his artistic endeavours beyond the classroom, and we look forward to seeing more of his inspiring creations in the future.

Aurelie showed wonderful generosity and courage when she cut her long hair, which she had been growing for some time, and donated it to the Little Princess Trust. She donated 13 inches of hair and raised over £1,200. The charity creates real hair wigs for children and young people who have lost their hair due to illness, and Aurelie’s thoughtful contribution made a meaningful difference to those in need.

Hector S

Old Hazlegrovian, Hector S and his band, “Gauge the Room”, released their debut single, “Rushing In” during Summer 2025 marking a fantastic milestone in their musical journey.

It’s always inspiring to see former pupils pursuing their passions, and we’re incredibly proud of Hector’s achievements. The band’s first release showcases their creativity and commitment, and we look forward to following their progress as they continue to grow.

Phoenix won an Emmy for his role in “The Velveteen Rabbit” at the Children’s and Family Emmy Awards 2025. This is a huge recognition of Phoenix’s talent and hard

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” an Apple TV+ show, is based on the beloved children’s book by Margery Williams. It tells the magical story of a boy and his toy rabbit.

The Emmy Awards, held in Los Angeles, honoured the best in children’s TV. Phoenix was one of the youngest winners.

Boarding at Hazlegrove

By Mr Forbes - Head of Boarding

As we reach the end of another vibrant, exciting year at Hazlegrove, we take a moment to reflect on the enriching experiences and invaluable lessons that boarding life has offered our pupils. This year has been a journey of growth, camaraderie, and countless memorable moments that have shaped our boarders into wellrounded individuals.

Boarding at Hazlegrove teaches pupils essential life skills, such as independence and self-reliance. Living away from home, they learn to manage their daily routines — from waking up on time to managing their prep and music practice. This self-reliance fosters a sense of responsibility and prepares them for future challenges, both academically and personally.

Our shared experiences have been a highlight of the year. Saturday evening barbecues have become a cherished tradition, bringing everyone together for good food and great company. In-weekend activities like tree climbing, the teamwork tournament, inflatables, and Sunday trips to Weymouth, Splashdown, Dorset Water Park, Jump In Fun, Shepton Mallet Escape Rooms, and Crealy have provided endless fun and adventure. These outings have not only been enjoyable but have also strengthened the bonds between our boarders.

A special mention goes to Mr and Mrs Atkinson, who have done a fantastic job in Lankester House, creating a real family feel and successfully navigating their first year as houseparents. Their dedication and warmth have made Lankester House a home away from home for our boarders, and we are grateful for their hard work and commitment.

Our boarders have consistently displayed the school values of kindness, integrity, courage, grace, generosity, and respect in everything they do. Whether it’s helping a homesick friend, showing courage in trying new activities, or demonstrating respect towards peers and staff, these values are evident in their daily interactions. Additionally, the opportunity to be unplugged and simply enjoy being children has been invaluable — allowing them to play, explore, and grow in a supportive environment.

As we bid farewell to our leavers, we wish them all the best and thank them for being such excellent role models. Their leadership and positive influence have set a high standard for others to follow, and we encourage them to carry these qualities with them as they move on to senior school.

Boarding numbers have remained strong and have grown steadily throughout the year — a testament to the vibrant and nurturing environment we provide. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our parents for their unwavering support; their recommendations and word of mouth have been vital to our success.

We wish everyone a happy Summer holiday and look forward to welcoming our boarders back in September for another exciting year at Hazlegrove.

Hazlegrove Family

Boarding at Hazlegrove

Pre-Prep Forest school

Hazlegrove Curiosity

A Year of Adventure: Exploring the Outdoors with Hazlegrove Forest School!

This year, Hazlegrove has embraced the wonders of Forest School! Every week, rain or shine, the children spent time outdoors, exploring the forest, learning about plants and animals, and engaging in activities that challenged both their physical and cognitive skills. Whether building shelters, using tools, making mud pies, or observing the changing seasons, each session was a new adventure.

One of the core principles of Forest School is that children learn best when they are actively engaged in meaningful experiences. For our Pre-Prep children, this meant plenty of opportunities for free play. Rather than being told what to do, the children were encouraged to make decisions, collaborate with their peers, and explore at their own pace.

Throughout the year, the forest provided a living laboratory for understanding the natural world. From the vibrant colours of Autumn leaves to the bare branches of winter, and the first signs of Spring, our young learners were able to witness firsthand how nature changes with the seasons. Each season brought new opportunities for exploration, collecting leaves and acorns in autumn and winter, learning about the different types of trees and their importance. By spring, they were full of energy, eagerly searching for the first flowers and watching as buds turned into blossoms. These seasonal transitions sparked important conversations about time, growth, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Forest School is not just about learning facts—it’s about building life skills. Tasks that seemed daunting at first, like putting on waterproofs for a muddy adventure or balancing on a log, soon became a source of pride. Working together to build shelters or use tools, children learned how to communicate, and share ideas. The forest provided a safe space for them to take risks, overcome challenges, and develop resilience; knowing that mistakes were part of the learning process. The children’s well-being is paramount at Hazlegrove and in the peaceful, open environment of the forest, the children had the time and space to reflect, calm down, and process their emotions. Whether sitting quietly by a tree, practicing forest yoga or simply enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, the forest became a sanctuary for their minds.

Our year in Forest School has been nothing short of magical. For the children, it wasn’t just about building forts or playing in the dirt—it was about learning who they are, what they are capable of, and how they can contribute to the world around them. As we look forward to next year’s adventures, we know that the lessons of the forest will continue to inspire and guide these young learners for years to come.

Miss Dunnett

Nursery

Mrs Petch

Our year in Nursery began with a vibrant start as we delved into the story of ‘The Colour Monster.’ The classroom was transformed into a rainbow of activities, allowing the children to explore emotions through hands-on fun linked to colours. As the leaves turned orange and the weather grew cooler, the children embraced all things Autumn. They created cosy homes for hedgehogs, enjoyed homemade blackberry jam with toast around the campfire, and visited the Nursery farm shop to buy ingredients for some warming vegetable soup. A favourite character, ‘Tractor Ted’, was on hand to teach the children about the important jobs of farmers and their machinery during Harvest time. We ended the first half term with the story ‘Room on the Broom,’ mixing together some gruesome spells in pumpkins!

The lead-up to Christmas was an exciting time as we learned about different celebrations around the world, linking them to our own experiences. The children thoroughly enjoyed our Diwali party, dressing in colourful costumes, eating traditional Indian sweets, and learning some Indian dance moves! The children used tools, both small and large, to create beautiful decorations for their families and were excited to learn new songs for our Family Christmas Singalong. This much-enjoyed occasion included making many Christmas crafts before a joyful sing-song at the end.

As the winter term began, we embarked on a journey around the Arctic with the much-loved Julia Donaldson character, Jonty Gentoo, helping him find his way home. The children were delighted to discover many animals along the way, explore ice and snow, and make hot chocolate! This was also an opportunity to learn about natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights and bird migration.

Spring was a very exciting time as we explored minibeast habitats, learning about worms and snails. A highlight for all was making ‘Super Worm’ sock puppets and cooking cheese straw worms and snail spiral pizzas! The children learned about change and growth over time and were thrilled to watch our class tadpoles grow into froglets. They also enjoyed visits from ducklings and lambs.

The Summer term was filled with adventures. We ventured into the jungle, and the children were extremely curious when some strange boxes arrived in Nursery led to an emergency as a host of jungle animals escaped our classroom and hid in the woods. It was a big mission, but armed with homemade binoculars, the children managed to find them all and send them back to where they belonged! Finally we dived deep into the ocean, where we swam with whales and stingrays, saved animals from litter, and went on a treasure hunt left by some pirates in underpants!

We are so proud of everything the children have achieved this year! They have grown in confidence, their language and physical skills have developed, and their sense of curiosity has been evident in everything we have done. We have had so much fun through messy play, dance, singing, and adventures, and we know that every child is ready for the next step of their Early Years journey.

Pre-School

Mrs Tennant

Over the past year, our pre schoolers have blossomed in confidence and independence, showcasing the characteristics of effective learning in Early Years. It’s been a joy to witness their development through a variety of engaging and hands-on experiences tailored to their interests and learning themes.

The Autumn term was a whirlwind of seasonal stories, celebrations, and scientific investigations. Our young explorers demonstrated their engagement and willingness to ‘have a go’ as they delved into the wonders of nature, foraging for blackberries, which we turned into delicious homemade jam, a perfect blend of learning and fun!

Our Nativity play was a highlight, where the children demonstrated their singing and acting talents. The festive spirit was palpable as they created beautiful Christmas crafts to share with their families.

Spring brought the enchanting world of Julia Donaldson to life through songs and stories. The children were captivated by the rich vocabulary and imaginative tales, which significantly boosted their language development and storytelling skills. We celebrated Easter with activities that highlighted new life, and a magical Flower Fairy morning in the woods sparked their creativity and love for nature. A memorable trip to The Newt allowed the children to observe seasonal changes firsthand, enhancing their understanding of the natural world.

The Summer term was bustling with outdoor activities, preparing for Sports Day with energetic PE sessions and earning swimming badges. Transition activities helped ease the move to Reception, ensuring our pre schoolers felt confident and ready for the next step in their educational journey. Our young explorers observed the fascinating life cycles of caterpillars, marvelling at the transformation into butterflies.

A delightful trip to Palette and Pasture marked the end of Pre-School, where the children enjoyed making and tasting ice cream, a sweet conclusion to a year filled with learning and laughter.

We are incredibly proud of all our preschoolers and their achievements. As they move on to Reception, we know they will carry forward the skills and confidence they’ve gained, ready to embrace new challenges and adventures.

Reception

Mrs Sheldon - Head of EYFS and Miss Coker-Harris

Our year in Reception began with the enchanting world of traditional tales. The children immersed themselves in the story of the Three Bears, role-playing in their cozy house and taste-testing various porridge toppings. This hands-on experience fostered their active learning as they explored and experimented with different flavours. The excitement continued with the beloved book, Little Lumpty. The children were captivated by Lumpty’s escapades, which led them to explore our incredible grounds in search of him. This adventure encouraged their creative thinking and problem-solving skills as they imagined and discovered Lumpty’s whereabouts.

18

Our journey to space in a box with a bear and yellow wellies was a highlight. The children’s imaginations soared as they thought about how light makes us feel, linking cultural celebrations, like Diwali, to their own experiences and nurturing their curiosity and emotional understanding. The magic of Christmas was palpable with our Nativity play and a visit to the stunning Wells Cathedral. These experiences not only brought joy but also developed the children’s confidence and communication skills as they performed and shared their learning with others.

In January, our learning took a ‘super’ turn with the dastardly Evil Pea causing mischief. The children were thoroughly engaged, creating wanted posters, writing descriptions, and designing traps. Our visit to the Somerset Rural Life Museum was an exciting journey into the past. The children experienced life as it was, making butter, threshing wheat, and learning about the farming year. This hands-on learning deepened their understanding of history, making connections between past and present.

The arrival of frog spawn and caterpillars in the spring brought much excitement. The children closely observed their development, eagerly watching as they transformed into froglets and butterflies. The Hungry Caterpillar inspired extended writing and the amount of food he ate developed our understanding of numbers beyond 20!

We concluded our year with a journey ‘down under’ to Australia. The children have been immersed in the landscapes, culture, and animals, making ‘disgusting’ Wombat stews and learning fascinating wombat facts. This global exploration broadened their cultural awareness and geographical knowledge, a true learning adventure.

As the year comes to a close, we are incredibly proud of the independence, resilience, and confidence the children have developed. They have embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and curiosity. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements and look forward to seeing them continue to thrive in Year 1.

Year 1

Mrs Jenkins - Head of Key Stage 1

An adventure awaits our Hazlegrove children as they leave our incredible Early Years provision and journey into Year 1, the beginning of Key Stage 1. In the Autumn term, they are immersed in traditional stories told through actions and using story maps to embed powerful story language into their imaginations. Year 1 enjoyed the likes of the ugly troll under the bridge in “The Billy Goats Gruff,” and the cheeky “Gingerbread Man” who “runs as fast as he can” only to meet an unfortunate end. The story of “The Little Red Hen” takes us on a school trip to the ancient mill in Sturminster Newton for a masterclass in grinding wheat into flour as we learn about Harvest and prepare for our Harvest show. We love having our families in to our cosy theatre to watch us perform. The Autumn term brings us to our favourite time of year, Christmas! We all take part in a wonderful Nativity play, learning how to “shine like stars” on stage. We also love our Christmas fair and craft day, as well as raising money for charity by taking part in our Rudolph run.

January might be dark, but not for Year 1 as they explore the wonders of “Space”! An immersive curriculum takes our Year 1 explorers on a journey around our incredible solar system, learning about all the planets, stars, moon landings, rockets, and much more. Designing landing pads for “eggstronauts” in DT and Science links the topic of “Materials” with our creative arts curriculum in a fun and engaing way! No one wants their egg to crack! We love the visit from the Odessey Space Dome where we lie back and marvel at the galaxies above us. Our space knowledge is ‘out of this world’ by the end of the topic and we know more than our grown-ups at home!

As the Summer term starts, we launch into “Our Wonderful World,” looking at the diverse and incredible continent of Africa. We meet meerkats in “Meerkat Mail,” the Big 5, and of course “The Ugly 5” (a Julia Donaldson favourite). We love reading traditional African tales like “How the Elephant Got His Trunk,” and comparing them to past stories we have read and learning about Tingatinga art. Comparing life in Somerset to life in Kenya helps us understand different cultures too. At the end of the topic, we hop on the minibus and take a safari trip to Longleat to observe and marvel at all the incredible animals we have learnt about with our friends.

Year 1 at Hazlegrove is a magical journey filled with learning, exploration, and unforgettable experiences. We can’t wait to see what adventures await next year!

Year 2

Dodging the downpours was the common theme of the Christmas term, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of Year 2 and positive energy. We threw ourselves into our learning and expressed ourselves creatively writing about the life of an adventurous person called Katie Morag. After our wonderful school trips to the Mosque in Exeter and St Barnabas’ Church, we explored the similarities and the differences of places of worship. Mr Stok paid us a visit in November and gave Remembrance Day meaning and context, highlighting the significance and importance of the day. The term culminated in the superb nativity The Raggedy King where we sang our hearts out delighting parents, grandparents, and teachers. A perfect ending to the Autumn term, and what a way to start the Christmas holidays.

In the Spring term we travelled to Mexico and immersed ourselves in the village of Tocuaro. Inspired by the mask makers of the village we enjoyed our full-day workshop producing our own colourful masks and using our creative skills brilliantly. In English we rewound the clock and reflected on the lives of Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale, and the importance of their work in influencing nursing today. The end of term came with an obligatory Easter Egg Hunt and the eagerly anticipated egg ‘decorating’ competition, judged by our very own Mr Benbow. We finished the term full of Easter cheer.

A barrage of colour kick-started our Summer term.. Our wonderfully designed T-shirts were modelled by the children during the Summer Review, and our fabulous fish were on display. Connected to our Seaside topic we had our long-awaited trip to Swanage. The sun shone, the buckets and spades were out, and the treasures of the beach were discovered. Sandy hands and sticky ice-cream faces were the order of the day! In class we devoured The Twits and The Enormous Crocodile and learnt about the heroic actions of Grace Darling. What a wonderful year it has been, full of joy and curiosity, laughter, and resilience. So many shared experiences and so many stories to tell from our time in Year 2.

Lower School

Year 3 - Mrs Emma Bartlett - Pastoral Head of Lower

Corfe Castle

“I had no idea that children had to clean the toilet with just a stick! It’s really sad that they had to do such a hard and yucky job, but at least it helped the family get money.”

Hector G

“I wish I could be a brave knight with a shiny sword! I’d ride my loyal horse everywhere, and we’d never be scared of any enemies!”

Edmund C

“In Medieval times local people were really scared of the King and Queen. Their huge, scary castle made them look powerful, and that helped them take money as taxes from everyone. I’m grateful things aren’t like that today!”

Emilia P

“It is so grown up using the stove with a real flame underneath. We had to take it in turn to stir because the baked beans were burning but it didn’t effect the taste!

Chloë M

“It was funny singing and dancing around the campfire. It was the best part of camping and cookouts. I even learned a new song and actions!”

Harry M

Roman History Day

“I wasn’t sure that it was possible to have a Roman Villa in Somerset! I always imagined that a Roman Villa would be warm and sunny! The best thing that happened is that it actually snowed when we were at the villa!”

Ali C

“Seeing the Roman villa made me realise how clever the Romans were, and how they changed so many things in our lives and made them easier!”

Henry W

Montacute House

“I really thought the Pudding Houses were places where people went to pray! I was so surprised to find out they were actually buildings just for eating desserts! It was definitely a place I would have loved to have been a guest.”

Izzy B

“It was wonderful to sit on picnic blankets in the sunshine with my friends and sketch the Montacute House. I could have sat all day and added all the details of the stone soldiers and gargoyles.”

Medora MF

Cookout

Ufton Court

“It was so cool looking at the big world map! I thought it was really fun how they believed all the countries had different shapes.”

Victor L

“We had so much fun pretending to sail all around the world, and we learned lots of cool things about Sir Francis Drake and his adventures!”

Lily W

“It was really fun, and we loved dressing up in our Tudor clothes!”

Henry H

Somerset Railway

“To see what it was like to be an evacuee made it much easier to understand, I’m not sure I would have been able to do so.”

Freddie C

“We all dressed up, as if we were in WW2, even the teachers. It made the trip, we were all in it together.”

Clemmie P

“Going on the steam train, was the best. We had lunch and thought about what it might have been like for the actual evacuees.”

Sam G

Lower School

Year 4 - Miss Heidi Milne

Camp Out

“I loved sleeping in tents outside with my friends—it was so exciting and fun!”

Max S

“It was really fun playing in the woods, and we loved listening to stories around the campfire, the Vinder Viper being the best!”

Maddy R

“It was great cooking our own food on the Trangia stoves—it tasted super yummy!”

Tommy H

Lower School Production

Miss Rudd - Academic Head of Lower School

Pirates of the Curry Bean… A Treasure Trove of Laughter and Adventure!

The high seas were alive with laughter and excitement in this year ’s Lower School production of Pirates of the Curry Bean. From the bustling Old London Docks to the mysterious island of Lumbago in the Sea of Sciatica, the stage was transformed into a vibrant world of swashbuckling pirates, brave young adventurers, and a surprisingly heroic cat named Fiddlesticks!

The story followed twins Jack and Liza Periwinkle on their quest to rescue their kidnapped mother and reclaim a stolen treasure map. Along the way, they joined forces with a delightfully eccentric admiral and his chaotic crew, all while dodging the pungent pirates led by the infamous Redbeard. The pupils brought every character to life with infectious energy and enthusiasm, making the audience feel part of the rollicking journey.

It was wonderful to see how the children supported one another throughout the Production, encouraging bold performances and confident stage presence. Their singing, dancing, and comedic timing were spoton, earning waves of laughter and applause from the audience. The catchy songs and witty dialogue— sharp as a cutlass—are sure to linger in the minds of those who attended, possibly as cheerful earworms for days to come!

Pirates of the Curry Bean was a true celebration of teamwork, creativity, and theatrical fun. Both performances lifted spirits and proved that sometimes, the greatest treasure isn’t gold—it’s the joy of sharing an unforgettable adventure together.

Lower School Concert

Out and About Year 5 Naturesbase Trip

By Mr Jenkins - Pastoral Head of Middle School

An Unforgettable Adventure at Naturesbase

Kicking off the new year with a trip to Naturesbase near Cardigan Bay in Wales has become a cherished tradition for our Year 5 students, and this year was no different. Over a few short but exhilarating days, we packed in a plethora of activities that left everyone buzzing with excitement.

From team-building challenges that fostered camaraderie to the thrill of night-time orienteering by torchlight, every moment was filled with adventure. The pupils learned the art of fire lighting using flint and steel, constructed sturdy dens, and delved into a hands-on outdoor history lesson that spanned from the Stone Age to Victorian times.

Adding to the excitement, we foraged for food in the hedgerows (yes, nettles are edible!), participated in a lively quiz, and embarked on a scenic 6-mile walk to the coast. This journey included a visit to a Victorian estate and an organic farm, making it clear why this trip is one of Hazlegrove’s most beloved residentials.

Though the children and teachers returned a bit weary, they brought back a treasure trove of wonderful experiences and strengthened bonds with one another. It was a fantastic way to begin their journey in Middle School.

‘The night time games were my favourite.’ Sowena H

‘My den was not that waterproof!’ Artie C

‘It was the best trip ever, everyone loved it.’

Martha C

‘It was easy to be a Zero Hero because the food was spectacular.’ Grace B

Year 6 French Trip

By Mrs Richards - Head of Languages

In September, the Year 6 children travelled to Normandy to stay at La Grand’Ferme, south of Cherbourg. Our residential French trip stands out as a cultural and language-based trip that supports the French curriculum, as well as being an important bonding time for the year group.

Exmoor Challenge

By Mr Birch - Head of Outdoor Education

On Saturday 3 May, twelve of our Year 7 pupils set out to compete in the 2025 annual Exmoor Challenge, navigating the testing 16-mile hike across a varied route around Exmoor; arriving at eight checkpoints at precisely the right time. Walking unaccompanied in groups of four, they used their skills of map-reading, following a compass bearing, teamwork and observation as they followed the route and completed a quiz along the way.

The weather was excellent, and conditions were perfect, which made for a very competitive event this year. In the end all our competitors did incredibly well, with everyone finishing the entire course and arriving at the finish line tired but in great spirits.

And the results were amazing!

Girls team – 1st (out of 26 teams)

Mixed team – 2nd equal (out of 66 teams)

Boys team – 10th (out of 31 teams)

These results are a real testament to the hard work and amazing attitude of the children involved. Well done to you all - you have done us all so proud!

This event is organised by the Rotary Club and is an annual fundraiser for the brilliant charity – South West Children’s Hospice. To date our three teams have raised nearly £2,000 for this very worthy cause.

River Dart Trip

By Mrs Cobb - Pastoral Head of Upper School and Girls’ Games

We were blessed with some fantastic weather and got to experience this beautiful part of the country in glorious sunshine. This year’s Year 7 cohort was amazing – they really embraced the challenges and the aims of the week. They tackled every activity with a real sense of fun and were determined to make the most of the opportunities.

Caving in Pridhamsleigh Caves is always a real highlight of the trip, and the ‘Cheese Press’ is still being talked about. The high ropes were, again, a highlight for many, and the climbing on Leigh Tor certainly helped some to conquer their fear of heights, along with the zip wire and crate stacking. The wet activities are such fun – kayaking, canoeing, raft building, and the famous ‘Round Robin’ saw everyone immersed in the chilly waters!

Teamwork, resilience, empathy, and perseverance are tested to the max during this week, and I am so proud of this year group. They achieved so much, both on a personal level and as a big group. Watching individuals visibly flourish and the year group pulling together as a unit is something very special, and everyone will have memories to cherish for many years to come.

Hazlegrove Confidence

By Mrs Wells-Burr - Head of Science

As the school year draws to a close, the Science Department is proud to reflect on a year filled with discovery, innovation, and academic growth. Our students have truly embraced curiosity and critical thinking, participating in every lesson with determination and enthusiasm.

It’s been an exciting and action-packed year, with pupils across the school diving into a wide range of hands-on learning experiences. Our Year 6 pupils impressed us with their creativity and technical skills as they built and programmed LEGO robots — culminating in thrilling races that brought coding to life in a fun and engaging way.

Years 1 and 5 embarked on a journey beyond the stars during their visit to the Space Odyssey Dome, sparking imaginations as they explored the wonders of the universe.

In Pre-Prep, our budding scientists in the Science Club have been enthusiastically getting stuck into experiments, with a standout activity being the creation of a working model of the digestive system — both educational and delightfully messy!

Year 4 took a big step in their scientific journey by conducting their first-ever dissections. By examining owl pellets and chicken wings, they gained valuable insights into anatomy, particularly how muscles and bones function together.

British Science Week was another highlight, with our poster competition expanding to include entries from Years 6 to 8. This year’s theme, Change and Adapt, inspired a wide array of imaginative and thoughtful responses — from how humans might adapt to life on Mars, to the evolution of animals and innovations in sports technology.

It’s been a remarkable year of scientific exploration, and we’re already looking forward to what next year will bring!

Hazlegrove Curiosity Academic Year Science

Academic Year Maths

By Mr Shaw - Head of Maths

”The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple.” – S. Gudder

What an incredibly busy and successful year this has been in the Mathematics Department. As I look back, it’s hard to believe just how much we’ve managed to squeeze in.

With the world around them changing so rapidly, it can be hard to know for sure exactly what our role as teachers in this modern era really is. How can we best prepare these young minds for all that they might face in the real world? Even in a subject as timeless and fundamental as mathematics, a great deal has changed in recent years with the introduction and easy accessibility of AI resources. What sort of skills will these children really need when they move on to senior school, university, and then the ever-changing job market?

Of course, no one can answer this with absolute certainty, but one thing remains abundantly clear: no matter what amazing challenges await this next generation of mathematicians, they will unquestionably be called upon to face and solve complex problems. To succeed, they will need to know how to tackle unfamiliar conundrums, drawing on limited resources, recognising and prioritising relevant information, and experimenting until they find the best possible solution.

These are not necessarily skills that children are born with, and the adaptability required is often something that takes time to develop. But we feel strongly that this is where we need to focus our time and energy going forward — specifically teaching, promoting, and developing broad problem-solving skills across the whole syllabus and into all related subject areas. This is why we are constantly adapting and updating our planning and teaching strategies in the Maths Department to stretch and, hopefully, inspire the children. It’s also why we try to include as many practical and hands-on maths challenges in the busy academic calendar as time allows.

“The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.” – Paul Halmos

Here are a few of the highlights…

Each term, we organise a Maths Activity Morning where the children down tools and spend the whole morning working in mixed-ability groups in a programme designed to stretch them in a fun, competitive format that emphasises the real-world and practical applications of the maths they’ve been learning in their lessons. In the Autumn term, we have the Middle School Maths Morning, and in the Spring term, the Lower School Maths Morning. The ten teams — all named after famous mathematicians — move between five very different maths stations spread out around the school. These include a maths treasure hunt, a wacky water competition, batty bingo, estimation agony, and a wild welly-tossing showdown. It’s always one of my favourite days in the academic calendar, and I’m always thrilled to see how our pupils rise to each of these unusual challenges, supporting and encouraging each other in their teams whilst remaining highly competitive and eager to shine.

Another significant milestone is the three national maths competitions we always enter:

The Primary Maths Challenge for Years 5 and 6 in the Autumn term (35 Bronze, 24 Silver, and 14 Gold certificates)

The First Maths Challenge for the Lower School in the Spring term (21 Bronze, 17 Silver, and 8 Gold certificates)

The Junior Mathematics Challenge in the second week of the Summer term for our highly capable Upper School mathematicians (26 Bronze, 12 Silver, and 7 Gold certificates)

Two of our top Upper School pupils qualified for the follow-up round to the JMC, known as the Junior Maths Kangaroo.

Aside from mega maths mornings and gruelling national competitions, in the Autumn term we also challenged all pupils from Year 3 to Year 8 with our annual Thinking Outside the Box – Project Week. This year’s theme was designing a low-budget summer travel itinerary across Europe for themselves and a small group of friends. Not an easy task — but it was fantastic to see just how creative and imaginative they could be, stretching each penny as far as possible on their wild and wacky adventures.

Our Year 8 scholarship group were also fortunate enough to be invited to King’s Bruton to join some Year 9 mathematicians. Together, they formed five mixed teams and spent the morning pitting their wits against a series of superb maths challenges — with a focus on designing and investigating the properties of 3D shapes, the influence of friction and incline on a tumbling block, and the derivation of the formulae for the volume of a cone and a sphere.

All in all, it has been a tremendously rewarding and productive year. Although some pupils undoubtedly still find certain aspects of the mathematics syllabus tricky, they have all worked incredibly hard, and each and every one has made very encouraging progress over the last three terms — learning both from their triumphs and their mistakes.

“The most valuable tool in mathematics education is patience.” – Anonymous

Academic Year English - Poetry and Creative Writing

By Mrs Hawkins - Head of English

This year has seen an array of competitions, costumes and celebrations, as the English department has encouraged pupils to delve into different genres, reading a total of 126,740,617 over the academic year.

As well as the individual ‘Millionaires’ club for pupils reading over 1 million words in a term, reading has been celebrated through class and House competitions, a creative Christmas competition and a vibrant, exciting World Book Day in March.

World Book Day – 6 March 2025

Hazlegrove celebrated World Book Day, alongside pupils from 100 countries that mark the day, with dressing up in character; ‘Guessing the teacher behind the book,’ competition and a delicious, book-inspired feast. As their last World Book Day at Hazlegrove, the delicious dishes were created from the Year 8 ideasof book-related foods. Throughout the day there were activities that celebrated books and authors, while the spontaneous jingle to announce it was the five-minute time to ‘Drop Everything and Read,’ could be heard in lessons from Year 3 – Year 8. Reading Period was a special time for House reading; a real pleasure to see all ages reading to each other. The buzz around the school during this celebratory day was simply fantastic!

Upper School

Year 8 have been honing their comprehension and analysis skills through a range of poetry, such as WW1 poems, the classic ghost story, ‘The Women in Black’ by Susan Hill, and extracts of short stories, including ‘Every Good Boy’ by David Nicholls. Using texts studied as a basis for revising different types of writing, Year 8 have been working on speeches, magazine articles, descriptive compositions and short stories; a shared target of engaging the reader with detail and description.

Year 7 were set the challenge to consider what our future world may look like, through a new topic ‘Utopia.’ This topic allowed Year 7 to express their ideas through both fiction and non-fiction writing, as well as identifying how authors communicate their ideas of a future, through openings such as ‘1984’ by George Orwell, and the novel ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry. Supporting Year 7 in becoming global citizens, they studied ‘Refugee Boy’ by Benjamin Zephaniah, which provided opportunities for discussion, drama and debate, as they learnt more about life as a young asylum seeker.

Middle School

A Year of Discovery and Imagination in Year 5

This year has been an exciting journey of creativity and discovery for Year 5. It all began with an immersive dive into the history of World War I. The children brought the past to life through heartfelt letters, powerful persuasive speeches, and moving poetry. One of the standout moments was the class trip to the Bovington Tank Museum, which inspired some truly beautiful scrapbook presentations of their work.

In the second term, attention turned to the tragic tale of the Titanic, with Michael Morpurgo’s Kaspar: Prince of Cats as the class novel. The students explored the topic through vivid descriptions, emotive poems, and journalistic writing. A heated debate about who was to blame for the disaster turned into a dramatic courtroom showdown, showcasing the students’ passion and persuasive skills.

The year concluded with an inspiring topic on inventors, with a particular focus on William Kamkwamba, the remarkable teenager from Malawi who built a windmill to bring electricity to his village. Year 5 explored a variety of inventors and had a fantastic time curating a lively museum exhibition, proudly presenting their own ecofriendly inventions.

Diary of a Year 6 Teacher

10 September: Explored tombs and markets of Ancient Egypt today; The Year 6 vivid descriptions really brought history to life!

1 October: Wow! Year 6 have totally persuaded me to go to Normandy! I was hooked from the first rhetorical question: Are you tired of living in cold, rainy England? The answer was definitely, ‘Yes!’

15 November: Moved to tears by some absolutely incredible spoken word poems at our Poetry Slam, inspired by Amanda Gorman; full of word play, rhyme, rhythm and crucially, a powerful message.

25 November: Year 6 needed real ‘endurance’ to pen Shackleton diaries entries today; their resilience echoed his spirit of determination.

10 January: New term and new focus: Crime and Mystery. Classroom transformed into a conspiracy theorist’s haven as the children tried to unravel well-known mysteries.

27 January: Heart left racing today as ‘The Highwayman’ poem was rewritten as ‘The Bandit’ or equally sinister character twist. Mystery and darkness through and through!

28 February: A class full of budding thriller writers as Year 6 explored those faceless, ethereal characters from ‘The Listeners’ poem and began to pen their first novels.

29 April: Shall we? Shan’t we? Year 6 parents will have to thank ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’ for the persuasive speeches heading their way about sailing round the world.

4 June: The world’s greatest poems from the world’s most hard-working students; dramatic hyperbole poems about the dangers of going to sea. They really were ‘out of this world’!

11 June: Despite their best efforts to give clear instructions to the island treasure, I still came home empty handed.

18 June: The Year 6 unique island designs were as unusual as the animals and landmarks found there. Remarkable creativity.

25 June: They wrote guides for survival on a desert island but what we really needed was a survival guide for the last week of term! I’m sure they said ‘make sure you get plenty of rest’…?

4 July: It has been a year to remember! I shed a tear as I recall all the wonderful work Year 6 have produced this year. A proud teacher.

Lower School

Hazlegrove Creativity

The year began with sunshine and stories as Year 3 launched into the term by writing Postcards from the Summer, sharing memories of fun-filled and relaxing holidays. This set the tone for a creative start before diving into traditional tales. A sprinkle of drama brought these stories to life, inspiring pupils to adapt the classic, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Their imaginative retellings—such as Goldy and the Elemental Dragons and Bot and the Three Mischievous Minions—were shared with Year 2 pupils, sparking laughter and delight. As Autumn leaves fell, Bonfire Night Safety, reflective Remembrance poems, and Roman-inspired reports were tackled with great enthusiasm. The Spring Term brought a mythical twist, as pupils explored legends from near and far. Tales of Perseus, Pandora, Daedalus and Icarus, King Midas and Theseus inspired a rich array of mythological writing, blending classical themes with imaginative storytelling. The term ended with writing inspired by many of the tales of the merry mischief of Robin Hood, much to everyone’s amusement. Summer term began with thoughtful Global Citizenship poems, followed by the witty world of Fantastic Mr Fox, which helped pupils explore play scripts. The Storey Treehouse series added a persuasive punch, encouraging lively debates and creative arguments to round off a fantastic year.

Meanwhile, in Year 4, dragons returned to Hazlegrove Woods in September, igniting imaginations and inspiring a wide range of writing—from traditional tales and descriptive poems, to non-chronological reports (watch out for the Deadly Night Terror!). Spring term focused on the moving novel Street Child by Berlie Doherty, prompting powerful persuasive writing about the workhouse, dramatic diary entries and moving monologues. Ancient Egypt fever swept through the Summer term—yes, tomatoes were mummified! This hands-on experience sharpened instruction writing skills. The year concluded with WWII-themed newspaper articles, tying in with their history topic and showcasing their journalistic flair.

Throughout the year, it has been a joy to see the children approach English with such enthusiasm, creativity, and confidence. Their voices have grown stronger, their ideas bolder, and their love for language ever brighter.

Cressie S Y3 -The Hunky Punk Takes Flight.

I felt the hunky punk’s muscles tense as he gathered all his strength. I held my breath and I felt us rise up into the sky, and lo and behold, we had taken off! We swooped and swirled through the shimmering, dazzling blue sky. Soon we came to a little golden island. Down below, I could see hard furry coconuts hanging from strong palm trees with emerald green leaves. Rainbow coloured parrots were darting here and there and squawking in the pale summer sunlight. We circled around slowly, hoping to get a better glimpse of the beautiful, peaceful detail. Some sloths clung to branches while they rested, sleepily munching. I could smell the delicious fresh fruit, and I wished I lived there on that beautiful island.

On and on we flew, the gentle warm breeze blowing my hair back and making me feel peckish because of the soft sea scent. Soon I glimpsed an enchanted forest ahead. I touched down and found a soft juicy mango at my feet. I fed half of it to my hungry hunky punk, then immediately ate the rest myself. Mmmmm, that tasted extremely good! In front of me, there was a beautiful cave with rainbow light pouring in from the entrance. I gazed around in wonder, but quickly ran straight out again for the mysterious cave belonged to a wicked crocodile! I ran straight back to my hunky punk and jumped on. We were back in the air before the crocodile could get out of his cave to chase us! He gave a terrible roar which could be heard for miles around.

We continued on like a massive hawk looking for delicious food. Suddenly a huge waterfall loomed up out of nowhere. I could see and hear that water thundering over the edge of the rocky cliffs and down, down, down into the murky depths below. I could feel the splatter of the cold, wet spray splashing onto me and my hunky punks rough back. The roae of the blue river was deafening to hear and I could taste the salty water in my hungry mouth. I could smell the delicious fresh air of this spectacular sight. I wondered what awaited me next on our majestical journey.

Henry H Y 4 – A letter to Queen Victoria insisting she closes the workhouses.

Dear Queen Victoria,

I am writing to you to ask you for the instant closure of the workhouses in the best country of them all, due to the inhumane treatment of the residents.

Firstly, people would rather commit crime and go to prison than go to the detestable, disgraceful workhouses. I am certain that people are suffering in the vile living conditions at the workhouse. Moreover, can you believe that people sleep in boxes and on shelves. Also it is appalling that they only have one bit of bread to last every meal. Don’t you agree, the small gloomy barred windows make it feel like a prison? Furthermore, there are huge iron bars surrounding all of the work houses. I am certain that if you shut down the abhorrent workhouses you could be an even better queen then you already are.

It is my belief that people work extremely hard until the floor is bare. In my opinion, you should get paid a little money but they never receive anything. Isn’t it heartbreaking seeing heartless cold bitter people? Without a doubt, sleeping in cold, damp boxes is outrageous. Some people believe that if you go to the workhouses you will never come out because you aren’t fed enough food. Did you know that if you are caught eating badly you would have to eat in a pig trough? Would you like to be made to eat like a pig?

Lastly, the residents are given embarrassing and horrible punishments like a knotted end of a rope slapped onto their hands. It’s devastating to think that people are being locked in a confined room. Can you believe that people are treated like a reckless animal let alone a human? Did you know families are being separated and only see each other once a week for a small time. I feel that it is abhorrent to send people to the bitter, cold workhouse.

You should definitely agree with me to close down the grim, vicious, bitter workhouse.

Yours sincerely,

Master Henry

Lottie C Y4 Poetry

The Magic Box

I will put in my box the never ending hiss of a slimy slithering snake, beautiful birds that tweet, and the patter of feet.

I will put in my box the loud howl of a dog digging to the centre of the earth, the croak of a frog happily jumping in puddles, and the warm cuddle of a teddy bear.

I will put in my box a fish in a forest, a fox in the ocean, and the first wave of spaghetti with arms.

My box is fashioned from golden sunbeams plaited with the hair from a witch’s wild, white horse, with planets on the lid and warm hugs in the corners. Its hinges are the worn-out pages of old books.

I shall dance in my box, on the mellow but mighty waves of the great Atlantic, then wash ashore on

Academic Year Geography

By Mr Farquhar - Academic Head of Upper School

I honestly believe that it’s impossible for Geography to ever be boring, provided it’s taught well and the curriculum adapts to reflect what’s going on in our ever-changing world.

All sorts of changes have been made to the curriculum this year. Year 8 have looked at Russia and Eastern Europe, and how its physical geography helps us understand the current geopolitical situation better. Our work on Apple, and why it makes its products where it does, is constantly evolving: we used to think about why Apple focuses production in China, but now we look at why Vietnam and India are increasingly important centres of production, and what has led to this change. It’s been good to understand globalisation better as a result.

The Lulworth Cove fieldwork projects were particularly outstanding this year, and I was delighted with all the useful skills pupils learnt as they used Excel to present their data and then analysed it to help them reach conclusions and assess whether, and to what extent, tourism is causing problems in the area.

I have been very impressed with the way Year 6 have compared and contrasted Indonesia and Japan, linking economic development with the impact that the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami and the 2011 Japanese tsunami have had. It’s been good to notice what development has taken place around the Indian Ocean since 2004, which would reduce the impact of a future tsunami.

The Year 5 curriculum has evolved a lot this year. They have had great fun exploring how coastal environments change over time, the human impact on these areas, and strategies for preservation and maintenance. It’s been good to bring an examination of extreme weather into the Autumn term, and pupils have particularly enjoyed thinking about – and creating (!) – tornadoes.

In Year 4, the children have compared and contrasted different maps, in age and in style, eventually creating their own 3D village with an accompanying OS-style map. In the spring, the rainforests unit was a voyage of discovery as pupils thought about the climate, what animals live there and how they have adapted. They then moved on to human geography, particularly how different tribes survive, deforestation, and its impact on the world. In the Summer term, Year 4 became experts in understanding flooding –something that has touched so many of our lives during this academic year – and how to reduce pollution in our waterways.

It’s been lovely to see Year 2 starting their geographical journey by looking at the fictional island of Struay, based on the isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides, where they have looked at the difference between human and physical features and have begun to compare and contrast different features.

It’s been a brilliant year. I’ve no doubt that study skills have been honed through learning to learn in a range of settings and circumstances – skills that will last a lifetime.

Academic Year History

By Miss Gilllow - Head of History

We learn at school; the first, the last,

To kick a ball, run and swim fast, Sat in the hall, sat in a class, The golden rule, the chloroplast. And key in what we learn at school is careful study of the past.

How did they live?

How did we live?

How different was the food they ate?

What did they wear?

Or style their hair?

Did Alfred deserve to be called ‘Great’?

How did they cope when off at war?

Why did Kennedy set up the Peace Corps?

How did Henry VIII increase his power?

How much did a mill worker earn per hour?

What kickstarted the French Revolution?

When did the monasteries experience dissolution?

Who was to blame for the sinking of the Titanic?

Was Oliver Cromwell truly puritanic?

Beyond the details, facts and dates, Remembrance and VE Day commemorates, We strive in everything we teach, That future wisdom be in reach.

To know the past and learn from it, That common sense will benefit. That mistakes made and good destroyed Will teach us what we must avoid.

To know the past and then give chase, Our goal; the future a better place.

Academic Year EAL

By Mrs Wood - Head of EAL

One of the most rewarding aspects of the year has been welcoming 17 new EAL pupils from Spain, China and France. Each new arrival has brought unique experiences and perspectives, enriching the School’s diversity. The EAL Department has provided a tailored induction programme to support pupils’ language development and help them settle in smoothly to ensure every pupil feels supported, seen, and valued.

Our EAL pupils proudly performed the story of Chinese New Year to the whole school. Despite English not being their first language, they courageously took on the challenge of narrating and acting entirely in English. Their hard work and determination shone through, and the performance was met with warm applause and admiration from staff and pupils alike.

At Christmas, the EAL pupils designed traditional games from their home countries and shared them with younger pupils during a special activity afternoon. They explained the rules and led the games entirely in English, which was a big challenge but one they handled with confidence and enthusiasm. The younger pupils loved learning new games, and it was a fantastic way to celebrate different languages and cultures.

The finale to the year was the EAL tea party which was a huge success.

Hazlegrove Confidence

Below are some comments from our pupils about what they have enjoyed about EAL:

Jason – The tea party was fun and the activities we did with Y2 pupils.

James – I enjoyed the board games, tea party and lessons with friends.

Pilar – I enjoyed playing educational games and missing my other lessons to come to EAL!

Catalina – I enjoyed playing education games and studying for the exams.

Nico – Doing the assembly to the whole school was fun and playing verb games in the Adventure Playground.

Valentine – I really like EAL lessons because every lesson is like a game for me and that helps me a lot to learn.

Carlos – At Hazlegrove I really enjoyed the EAL lessons and the assembly we did.

Gin – I enjoyed doing the Chinese assembly and the party with the Y2 pupils.

Ethan – I enjoyed playing vocabulary games and learning new things.

Sol – I enjoyed playing games, having fun and learning English quickly!

Pelayo – I enjoyed learning in the Adventure Playground. We played preposition games!

Rodrigo – Playing in the Adventure playground because I improved my speaking in a fun way.

Ignacio – I loved EAL because I learnt a lot and I loved playing Dobble!

Peter – We played board games – it was fun.

Antonio – I really liked the games because they explained words and that gets into my brain easily!

Academic Year RE

Hazlegrove Respect

By Mrs Hughes - Academic Lead Curriculum and Operations

Throughout the school, Hazlegrove pupils have continued to use their RE lessons as a place to explore and appreciate the beliefs and cultures of people across the world.

Our Year 7 pupils have been diving into the world of art to express their understanding of spiritual themes. They have explored concepts such as diversity, creation, and sacred spaces, creating beautiful and thought-provoking pieces that reflect their personal interpretations and insights. This project has not only enhanced their artistic skills but also deepened their appreciation for the spiritual dimensions of life.

Year 8 pupils have been sharpening their critical thinking and public speaking skills through a series of debates. They have tackled challenging topics such as “The richer a person becomes, the happier they become” and “Capital punishment leads to safer societies.” These debates have encouraged students to research, articulate their viewpoints, and engage in respectful discourse, fostering a deeper understanding of complex social issues.

Our Year 5 pupils have embarked on an exciting journey through the Old Testament with the help of the Walk Through the Bible program. This interactive approach has brought ancient stories to life, making them accessible and engaging for young learners. Additionally, pupils have had the opportunity to visit churches in Yeovil, enriching their understanding of historical and contemporary Christian practices.

Pupils in Years 4 and 6 have been exploring the vibrant and diverse world of Hinduism. Through a hands-on workshop, they have experienced the rich colours and imagery associated with Hindu traditions. This immersive experience has provided them with a deeper appreciation of Hindu culture and beliefs, broadening their understanding of the world’s religious diversity.

We are proud of our pupils’ enthusiasm and dedication to learning. These activities not only enhance their academic knowledge but also foster a sense of curiosity and respect for different perspectives and cultures.

Academic Year Languages

By Mrs Richards - Head of Languages

As a Language Department, we endeavour to enthuse children with our love of foreign language learning, be it in French, Latin or Spanish. We hope to ignite a spark in many and for all of them, we hope to open their eyes to a world beyond their own and to language being used in different ways.

Latin this year has been introduced to Year 6 by Mrs Hughes with the Minimus scheme of work and the children have made excellent progress so far. Mrs Garland has taken the scholars and CE candidates to a higher level and provided a strong foundation for these children to continue with their study at senior schools. We have benefitted from the close links with Latin study at King’s Bruton and from her knowledge of the Year 9 curriculum. Spanish taster lessons in Year 8 have given the children exposure to another Modern Foreign Language and culture; they have enjoyed seeing how fast progress can be made in a language when you approach it with all the skills they have developed through their French and Latin study.

From Year 1 to Year 8, the children have been taught French by our specialist teachers, using the Jolie Ronde scheme of work in Pre-Prep and then moving through to the Dynamo scheme of work from Year 5 upwards and into Common Entrance. We were delighted with the Year 8’s results, at both scholarship and CE level and to witness the progress made by all.

We are lucky to have excellent ICT resources in the Department and are gradually investing in more headsets with microphones to support the children’s Listening and Speaking skills. One of the strengths of the Department is our determination to make the subject accessible to and beneficial for all, from beginners joining all the way through the School, to some of our bi-lingual EAL pupils joining in the Upper School.

This year, we decided to take a deep dive into another culture to celebrate our Hazlegrove International Day of Languages and we focused on Chinese culture and language, alongside Chinese New Year celebrations. We really enjoyed the opportunity to focus on a particular part of the world and look forward to seeing where we travel in 2026!

We have created successful cross-curricular activities with the Art department, such as a summer project based on paintings by Raoul Dufy and a collaborative dragon project for the Fitzjames. Our extra-curricular French events have proved as enjoyable as ever, with the Y3 Glacerie, our French café, the Y6 French Trip and pen-pal writing, as well as our annual Spelling Bee.

Another busy year in the Languages Department and we look forward to heading to Normandy again in September.

Academic Year Learning Support

By Mrs Rebecca Seery - Head of LSU

It has been another busy and rewarding year in the Hazlegrove Learning Support Unit, where around sixty pupils come through our doors each week for individual lessons. These sessions are as diverse as the children themselves –some focus on reading, spelling or maths, while others support study skills such as organisation, assistive technology, memory strategies or structuring written

Academic Year Outdoor Education

By Mr Birch - Head of Outdoor Education

What a wonderful year it’s been for exploring the great outdoors at Hazlegrove! Come rain or shine, our pupils have made the most of our beautiful grounds, embracing the fresh air and all the adventures that come with it.

Year 3 have had lots of fun tackling creative team-building tasks with teamwork and enthusiasm. They also enjoyed their cook out, getting hands-on with our gas-powered Trangia stoves and whipping up some tasty food. Thanks to Mrs Bartlett for so many enjoyable Friday afternoons!

Year 4 have thoroughly enjoyed their Wednesday outdoor sessions, which have been full of laughter and fresh air. Thanks to the brilliant activities on offer from Miss Gillow, Mrs Thomas and Miss MacDonagh, each week brought something new. The annual camp out was a real highlight - glorious sunshine, delicious food, and of course a few energetic games of wink murder. We all enjoyed the classic campfire story of the Vinda Viper before bed!

Year 5 have made the most of Saturday mornings, taking part in a rotating set of exciting activities including orienteering, archery, and learning how to pitch tents and build shelters. Despite a soggy winter, spirits stayed high on plenty of muddy welly walks with super support from Mrs Fisher, Mr Froggatt and Mr Hill!

Outdoor Ed continues to be a source of great joy, discovery and resilience for our pupils as they experience nature through all its seasons. It is always the highlight of our day.

Academic Year Food Technology

By Mrs Spilsbury - Head of Food Technology

What a fruitful year it has been in Food Technology! Year 5 have enjoyed creating a range of sweet and savoury party foods whilst also gaining confidence in the kitchen environment. Year 6 have been busy taking their taste buds on a world tour, creating flavoursome dishes using a range of herbs and spices. Year 7 have been busy developing their own new products for breakfast, considering their target market, labelling, advertising and some carefully considered sustainable packaging ideas.

Pupils have also enjoyed incorporating IT this year, from Year 5 designing their very own Pizzerias on Minecraft Education, incorporating their own farms so they could make their own mozzarella, to Year 7 presenting their new breakfast products on Canva.

The Summer term brought oodles of sunshine and creativity in the kitchen and Year 7 stepped up to the plate once again, producing a variety of delectable delights; from vibrant dairy free breakfast jars to savoury snacks on the go. The pupils loved creating names for their companies as well as some fantasticly eye-catching logos and entertaining TV adverts!

Cooking is such an important and essential life skill, bringing together so many different aspects of the broader curriculum from Maths, English, Science and Geography to name but a few. The children have also been learning about the importance of making healthy eating choices whilst embracing the joy of sharing the nourishing food we create with our friends and family. Keep cooking!

Poem written by Erin R Year 5

Lots of ingredients, waiting by the bowl

A spoon by the side, with a most important role. The ovens are heating The children are mixing Ready to make something tasty.

The dough jumps onto the table, The children begin to knead, The sauce pours out of the ladle The grater grates the cheese Preparing to make healthy pizzas.

Rock cake dough dolloped on the tray Into the oven goes away, Out of the oven the hot cakes come out Their delicious smell is all about, Ready to eat yummy rock cakes.

Food Tech is fun, as fun can be, A break from lessons, that is the key. Making healthy, homemade food Brings a happy mood

Ready for the next Food Tech lesson.

Year 5 quotes:

‘It’s an amazing way to relax and enjoy cooking.’ Clemmie W

‘It’s a fun experience and you learn so much.’ Eva A

‘It’s a really nice experience and the food always tastes amazing!’ Theo H

‘It’s a really fun way to learn how to cook.’ Annabel B

Year 6 quotes

‘It’s all the subjects combined in a fun and delicious way.’ Ronny K

‘This is the best life skill I have learnt so far.’ Max H

‘Very tasty!’ Barnaby J

Academic Year

Art Hazlegrove Creativity

By Mr Baker - Head of Art

Art Awards

Wilf B-B

Alexander C

Zach C

Aurelia E

Harry F

This year, we have seen pupils of all ages and abilities continue to flourish in the Art Department.

The art room has been like a real working studio; lots of natural light, easels, every surface and wall filled with wonderful and unique creations, some finished, some work in progress! After school art clubs and boarders’ activities have been hugely popular with children using the space and materials to make all manner of creative things. The talented crop of art scholars worked tremendously hard to produce their superb portfolios over the past year and their work, displayed on the main art room wall, has helped inspire the next generation with the ever-observant younger pupils being especially amazed at all the highly accomplished pieces exhibited.

In their timetabled lessons, pupils have experimented with a huge range of mediums, worked hard to develop their techniques, and learnt about important artists and art movements. It has been fantastic to see our Lower School pupils continue to develop their confidence in art. They have been excited by projects which have provided essential tactile experiences, and their handling of materials has come such a long way in a short space of time. There are some real talents in Years 3 and 4, and I am looking forward to seeing them thrive in the years to come.

Middle School pupils have expressed their imaginative ideas through drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.

Year 5 children began the year by making unique bird sculptures using paper, wire and masking tape. Their colourful lino prints based on the geometric designs of the Ndebele people of Southern Africa were particularly striking, and they capped off the year by sculpting with recycled materials to make an imaginative ‘junk robot’.

A group of Year 6 pupils learnt hand sewing and machine stitching during a collaborative textiles project with King’s School Bruton, and the resulting wall hangings were displayed in the Front Hall. A particular favourite of this year group were their large pop art-inspired ice creams sculpted from card, paper, glue and acrylic paint!

In the Upper School, pupils have worked hard on refining existing skills and learning new creative approaches, with lots of impressive work being produced. The group of art scholars enjoyed a visit to Hauser & Wirth, Bruton. Viewing the work on display and engaging with materials through a series of individual and group activities facilitated a deeper understanding of the creative process.

In lessons, both year groups have explored relief printmaking using lino and their experimental approach yielded a range of highly original outcomes. The kiln has seen plenty of action with Year 7s and 8s working on different 3D projects. Working with clay, Year 7s produced excellent natural world-inspired ‘seed pod’ sculptures and they also each made a relief glazed tile based on a city skyline. Year 8 pupils studied the powerful work of Alberto Giacometti and learnt the challenging process of modelling a head with layers of clay. The finished pieces, some glazed with a metallic finish, made for an eye-catching and memorable display.

Once again, the Year 8 Creative Arts Showcase, in collaboration with Music and Design Technology, was a buzzing event. Parents and their children enjoyed walking around the Art Department viewing the wide range of drawings, collages, prints, paintings and sculptures exhibited. The scholars had their fabulous portfolios on display and every other Year 8 pupil had examples of their work shown too. Collaboration between departments continues to grow. International Languages Day saw lots of pupils producing colourful Chinese symbol-emblazoned paper plates for a dragon-themed display. Our popular Art / DT seashell project with Year 3 was repeated, again with amazing results and Year 3 pupils have studied French artists to support their French speaking and listening. We have continued to support the Drama Department with the making of bespoke props for productions of The Lion King and Fantastic Mr Fox, and these have certainly added an extra dimension to these phenomenal

Finally, our weekly Friday ‘celebration assembly’ has continued to see artistic achievements recognised in the ‘Artist of the Week’ slot. We have seen such breadth and talent on display from all year groups, and pupils have found it inspirational to see all the many themes and ideas explored. Our Hazlegrove artists can take real pride in their

Academic Year Design Technology

By Mr Curran - Head of Design Technology

Year 8 Contribution to Design Technology

Lorelei B

Leo D

Lucy M

Felix

M

Penelope G

Another very productive year with pupils moving on up to their next year group and with it, new Design Technology challenges and skills. Year 3 have been able to experience using hand tools, computer aided design and 3D printing to create a range of final products. Likewise, to stretch their legs in the workshop with the wood based calendar project and designing themed picture frames cut on the laser cutter. Year 5 experienced the safe use of machines for the first time with their boat project while Year 6 used acrylic for their keyrings, explored the world of structures with the bridge building competition and finished off by studying the work of renowned Scottish designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and designing a phone holder in his style. Year 7 worked on clock designs influenced by Pop Art and the Memphis Design Group as well as developing their sketching and presentation skills. Year 8 have been extremely busy with woodbased projects culminating in the keepsake box design. DT clubs are well attended where pupils can work on their modelling skills in the workshop or on CAD programmes.

The Department has also been building props for school plays and displays on show around the campus with the help of club pupils and boarders. All in all, a most productive year.

And where can this all lead? The experiences gained in the DT Department will provide pupils with a significant range of skills and knowledge that will be beneficial to them throughout their lifetime as well as providing a foundation towards a vast array of possible career opportunities including engineering, product design, architecture, graphics, electronics, film and television design and many other creative possibilities to name but a few. Pupils are encouraged to become resilient, creative, and flexible and have the ability to meet challenges head on and problem solve to a successful conclusion. They should be able to plan, research, execute and evaluate a project from beginning to end using appropriate procedures, tools, equipment and machines. They should also be aware of good practice, safe working environments, the range of possible materials and outcomes as well as the work of other designers (past and present), manufacturers and in other cultures. They will work individually and as part of teams in a range of curriculum projects designed to cover the syllabus in depth but in a manner that is accessible to all abilities.We are encouraging innovation, risk taking and self-sufficiency in preparation for adult life.

Performing Arts Music

By Mrs Sclater - Director of Music and Performing Arts

Year 8 Contribution to Music

Lorelei B

Zach C

Leon D

Tessa F

Isabella O Martha R

Performing Arts – Music and Drama

2024/25 has been another wonderful year in the Performing Arts. We have packed a myriad of concerts, services, productions and trips into an action-packed Hazlegrove calendar testament to our ethos that music and the arts are for all. The appointment of Mrs Whitfield as our new Head of Drama has already led to a new energy and vision in the department. Those who have been lucky enough to watch this year’s productions have seen what an exciting time for Hazlegrove children the coming years will be.

With the support of our Performing Arts team at Hazlegrove, our children have excelled in confidence, passion and professionalism both on stage and on the concert floor. The nurture of these life skills forms the basis of our Performing Arts curriculum and extra-curricular activities, and it is clear to see that the children thrive in this wonderfully creative environment.

A Year in Music:

Hazlegrove Confidence

Within the Department, our dedicated peripatetic teachers have continued to support and encourage our Hazlegrove musicians. Our young performers have made remarkable progress, and it has been a privilege to witness their development from early performances in the Autumn Term to accomplished recitals at the end of the Summer. Many of our boarding and day pupils have also benefitted from working towards music exams, with many reaching Grade 6 and beyond. It is therefore no surprise that we have continued success this year in Senior School scholarships and exhibitions, with awards awarded to all 4 of our Year 8 candidates.

In 2024/25, Friday concerts have continued to be a staple of the Hazlegrove Music calendar, with performances starting early in the Autumn Term, and continuing right through to the penultimate week of the summer. It has been wonderful to see the growth of our young musicians and the formation of new bands and ensembles as the year has progressed. Instrumental learning in a variety of instruments is now accessible to an even greater number of Hazlegrove children, either as part of our music curriculum (violin, recorder, percussion and brass for Years 2-5) or as part of our “minority instrument” scheme (cello, double bass, clarinet, oboe, trombone). We are delighted to be bucking the trend when music is in decline nationwide, providing every child at Hazlegrove the invaluable opportunity of learning an instrument in school.

Our first big concert of the year saw the return of many King’s Bruton musicians (and a few Old Hazlegrovians) in October, for the first of our twice-yearly Joint Concerts. Hazlegrove and King’s Bruton ensembles performed in turn, joining together for the concert opening and finale in a joint orchestra and for the joint choir’s rendition of Bill Withers favourite, Lovely Day.

In a fitting moment of reflection at our Remembrance Service, and a move away from our traditional bugle call, the Hazlegrove Flute Ensemble performed this year’s Last Post and Reveille. Standing by the turning circle, our accomplished flautists solemnly led the School in a minute’s silence, with their accomplished playing carrying across the fields. It was a poignant moment for all.

As we moved into December, all looked forward to our annual Carols with the Orchestra in the last week of term. A welcome celebration after the ABRSM exams, the evening brought fun and festive cheer to the final week of school, with Hazlegrove musicians, parents and staff performing together in the Theatre. Some beautiful performances from our Upper School singers and department ensembles gave our audience a well-deserved rest from their impressively hearty carol singing.

The Autumn Term ended in style with our annual Carol Service, held for the last time at Wells Cathedral. Pulling out all the stops, our children sang at their best yet, with beautiful performances from five of our school choirs. Mr Cranfield’s stirring bagpipe playing, and our professional chamber orchestra, lent particular magic to this magical occasion. All held their breath as Hazlegrove Voices and Staff brought the service to a close, with a stunning rendition of Arnesen’s “Cradle Hymn”, securing Hazlegrove’s a place amongst the musicians of centuries past.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, and inspired by the Lower School’s energy in their Lower School production, our House Song Competition was back with a bang in February. Dover, Lyon, Norton and Tremlett performed their own contribution to this year’s Valentines theme of Love, with the challenging task of choosing the winner left to Sherborne Girl’s School’s, Director of Music, Mr Cracknell.

Hot on the heels of the Year 6 production after half term, our musical Spring Term came to a close with the 2024/25 Festival Concert, featuring an extensive selection of Hazlegrove’s ensembles and choirs. From Samba Band to our Hazlegrove Orchestra, and Senior Strings to Year 5 Choir, our children performed with great energy and enthusiasm before a wonderfully supportive audience. Keen to break the mould of concerts past, we felt it only fitting to include an introductory set from some of our young DJ pupils, who gave the theatre an exciting energy as parents enjoyed their pre-concert drinks.

Following this whole-department event, Mrs Sclater was delighted to take some of our Year 5s to King’s Bruton over exeat. Joining with children from several local schools, as well as choral groups from King’s Bruton and from the wider Bruton community, they enjoyed a day of rehearsals, before performing Alexander and Joanna Forbes’ L’Estrange’s ‘Freedom! The Power of Song’, with over 200 singers in attendance. The composer’s own live jazz band, performing as accompanists to the massed choir, was particularly inspiring for our young musicians.

As we moved towards the end of March, our much-anticipated Easter Service at Sherborne Abbey brought the Spring Term to a close, with performances from both our Hazlegrove Voices and Chapel Choir, each accompanied by a few of our dedicated academic and music staff.

Leaping into the Summer Term, our second Joint Concert allowed over 60 Hazlegrove musicians the opportunity to perform in King’s Bruton’s Hauser and Wirth Concert Hall, with a wonderfully-eclectic mix of ensembles ranging from strings and flutes to our first Year 7 Girls’ Rock Band. As always, our choirs joined forces for the finale, performing “Everybody Sang” from the Spring Term’s performance of “Freedom! The Power of Song.”

In what has now become a Hazlegrove staple, our Year 8 evening of creative and performing arts showcased a hugely impressive array of musicians, alongside the children’s exhibition of Art and DT work. The value of our Year 8s listening to and supporting their peers is not to be underestimated, with many children performing in this environment for the first time. It is extraordinary just how far these musicians have come during their time at Hazlegrove. We were extraordinarily proud of each and every one.

This outstanding performance set the benchmark for the rest of the term, as our talented Lower School students followed suit with a wonderfully vibrant concert of their own. The energy and promise within the Lower School are truly inspiring, and we have every confidence that this gifted group will play a key role in shaping the future of music at Hazlegrove.

As the term reached its final few weeks, the whole school was energised as Year 8 took to the stage once again. This year’s adaptation of “Fantastic Mr Fox” was a triumph indeed, and once again showed the standard that we have all come to expect from Performing Arts at the very top of the school.

Our final celebration of the year took place at the 2024/25 Speech Day, where a stunning whole-school performance of “Ripple” quite literally sent waves throughout the Hazlegrove community. The enthusiasm and dedication shown by every child reaffirmed the central role of singing in school life, with each pupil proudly taking their place in our school choir as a valued performer.

As the 2024/25 academic year came to a close, we reflected on the incredible effort and energy poured by the whole community into the musical life of Hazlegrove. The remarkable performances throughout the year have shown that hard work and perseverance truly pay off. Hazlegrove is where great stories begin, and this year has been no exception.

Performing Arts Drama

By Mrs Whitfield - Head of Drama

Year 8 Contribution to Drama

Lorelei B

William C

Monty E

Archie G

Isabella P

Lily R

Honor W

Rosie W

Drama at Hazlegrove Preparatory School: A Year of Creativity, Courage and Confidence.

As the new Head of Drama at Hazlegrove, I have been truly delighted and inspired by what I have discovered. The Department is not only thriving, but brimming with passion, talent and a clear ethos that champions every child’s voice and creative journey. It is a place where confidence is built, voices are strengthened, and children are empowered to explore the world through the powerful lens of theatre.

At the heart of Hazlegrove’s drama philosophy lies the belief that every child deserves a moment in the spotlight. This inclusive approach ensures that all pupils, regardless of experience or ability, are given the opportunity to perform. The focus is not solely on theatrical polish but on personal growth—helping children become strong orators, creative thinkers and confident individuals. It is this ethos that makes the Department such a special place to work in and a vital part of school life.

The academic year began with a tremendous launch in the form of the Year 7 production of ‘Just So’. This ambitious and moving piece re-imagines Rudyard Kipling’s beloved stories through the eyes of his son Jack Kipling, set against the harrowing backdrop of the First World War. The play challenged the pupils to not only bring fantastical tales to life, but to explore the emotional weight of loss, bravery and memory. Year 7 rose to the challenge with extraordinary maturity and sensitivity, grasping the nuances of the text and delivering performances that were powerful and deeply poignant. It was an astonishing start to the year and a testament to their developing theatrical insight.

The Lower School production of ‘The Pirates of the Currybean’ was a joyous celebration. Pupils from Year 3 and Year 4 took to the stage with incredible spirit, delivering two high-energy performances that had the audience clapping along. Under the guidance and direction of Miss Rudd, the children brought this riotous pirate adventure to life with utter charm. The show was packed with catchy musical numbers creating a wonderful atmosphere that filled the theatre with applause.

Later in the Spring Term it was Year 6s turn to take to the stage, and what a magical experience it was! Their production of ‘The Lion King’ was nothing short of mesmerising. From the vibrant costumes and powerful songs to the heartfelt storytelling and slick choreography, the entire performance was an accolade to their hard work and team spirit. It is rare to see such professionalism and passion at such a young age, and every member of the cast shone in their own unique way. The production not only entertained but demonstrated the boundless creative energy present within the pupils at Hazlegrove.

As we stepped into the Summer term, the spotlight turned to Year 5 who embraced the challenge of performing an adapted version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Shakespeare is never easy, especially for younger pupils but their dedication and enthusiasm shone through. They approached the intricate plot, with its mischievous fairies, enchanted lovers, and unwitting donkeys, with intelligence and humour. Their understanding of the language and commitment to the characters made the production both entertaining and impressive. A particular highlight was performing the piece in the beautiful grounds of Montacute House. The setting added a truly magical dimension to the experience, and the children behaved with impeccable decorum, representing the school with pride and distinction.

Now, as I write this, we are eagerly preparing for the Year 8 Production of a Hazlegrovian adaptation of ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ by Roald Dahl—a story brimming with mischief, cleverness and courage. The pupils have already recently shown their incredible skills in the Year 8 Showcase so I have no doubt that this will be yet another celebration of the extraordinary talent we have at the School. The Drama Department is bustling. It is a joy to work with such gifted and hardworking children. The Productions throughout the year have demonstrated not only performance excellence but also the values of empathy, cooperation and self-belief that are so vital to drama and to life. With all the productions and the Drama curriculum teaching, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together this year. Long may it continue.

Performing Arts Speech and Drama

By Miss de la Poer - Head of Extra-Curricular Speech & Drama

Autumn Term

Year 2: Sight-reading verse and prose texts allowed children to experiment with expression, spontaneity, and fluency.

Year 3: Children acted out and mimed different story types.

Year 4: The theme of ‘magic’ was explored through mime and scripts, and a puppet show based on The Tempest was filmed.

Years 5 to 8: Children focused on their exams, and some Year 8 pupils worked towards scholarships for their next schools.

Spring Term

Drama scholarships were awarded to Martha Morton and Honor Walters for King’s School Bruton. Jessica Forbes also received a drama scholarships to Millfield and King’s College Taunton.

Years 2 to 4: Filming and drama challenges played a large role this term, helping children to view their performances through the ‘audience’s eyes’ and develop clear communication, self-expression, confidence, and stage awareness.

Years 5 to 8: Acting, devised pieces, and mime performances formed the annual Showcase, reflecting our scholarship and LAMDA success.

Twenty two imaginative scenes were devised and directed by the children themselves. Twelve acting pieces included classical scenes from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and a Tudor drama featuring Lady Jane Grey imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Summer Term

A total of 110 children worked towards their summer LAMDA exams, which included Verse and Prose, Public Speaking, Devising, and Acting. These exams instil confidence and help children develop performance and communication skills.

After School Clubs

By Mr Bartlett - Deputy Head

Our after-school clubs programme continues to offer a wide range of activities that engages and delights the children. For those who enjoy team sports, Football, Touch Rugby, and Hockey clubs were popular choices. Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Athletics, Netball, and Swimming also provided excellent opportunities to stay active, along with the Fitness Fun Club.

Creative expression was encouraged in our Art, Design Technology (DT), Drama, Recycled Fashion, Jewellery Making, Friendship Bracelet, Outdoor Sketching, and Movie-Making clubs. For those who enjoy strategic thinking, we offered Board Games, Chess, Coding, Code-Breaking, and Croquet clubs. Nature enthusiasts could join the Gardening Club or Woodland Games Club, which was always oversubscribed. Those wanting to make a positive impact on our society could join a number of clubs such as Environmental Heroes, Silver Stories, and Random Acts of Kindness. Other exciting clubs included Lego Quest, Construction, Cooking, Just Dance, Sing-Along Musicals, Judo, Golf, and Laser Pistol Shooting.

With such a wide variety of activities, our hope is that every child finds a club they enjoy!

Friends of Hazlegrove

Hazlegrove Community

We are incredibly fortunate at Hazlegrove to have such a supportive and enthusiastic Friends Committee, along with a wonderful programme of well established ‘Friends’ events throughout the School year.

Firm fixtures in the autumn term calendar, including the Friends’ Drinks Party, Bonfire Night and wreath-making workshops, were once again a great success. Although Storm Darragh did its best to put paid to our Christmas Fair, thanks to some late-night phone calls and tireless behind-the-scenes work by the Friends Committee, just 24 hours later it was business as usual and we welcomed a spectacular turnout of shoppers. Thank you to everyone who adapted their plans and helped make the event such a success. Fingers crossed for kinder weather next year!

In the Spring term, the Friends’ Quiz Night saw a new face at the helm, with Mr Benbow stepping in as quiz master. Parents were put through their paces in what proved to be a highly competitive evening. Hopefully the heckling hasn’t put him off returning next year!

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from funds raised at Friends’ events, our Year 7 and 8 pupils once again benefited from the inspiring work of the I Can and I Am charity. This biennial event encourages pupils to “inflate their own metaphorical balloons” as well as those of others, helping to build confidence and self-belief.

The Dog Show was paused this year to allow focus on the three-yearly Summer Ball. With a Great Gatsby theme, it was wonderful to see so many parents dressed in 1920s fashion and embracing the spirit of the evening. The Friends Committee thought of everything. With vintage cars, flowing champagne and a stunning marquee filled with ostrich feathers and beautiful flowers, we were treated to a truly magical night.

Our heartfelt thanks go the Friends Committee for all they have done for our community this year, especially to those stepping down after three years of dedicated service. They have contributed countless hours (and WhatsApp messages!) and leave behind a legacy of wonderful additions to the Friends’ events programme, including the Christmas Fair and Dog Show.

Thank you all.

Hazlegrove Generosity

A key aim at Hazlegrove is to help our pupils develop into socially conscious individuals who go on to become influential global citizens who effect positive change. Part of this is thinking of the bigger picture and learning about those less fortunate than ourselves. Over the course of the year, as a community, we have supported over 20 different charities and local groups, through fund raising events, giving time and donating resources.

The Walk a Mile in our Shoes Challenge is always a much-anticipated event for our Year 6 pupils and many hours were spent at breaktimes and outside of school clocking up the miles walked. This year they collectively chose to support MIND, Cancer Research, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and World Animal Protection, raising over £2000. Well done Year 6.

A change in our summer uniform offered the opportunity for us to support a school in Kenya and we were able to donate over 200 items of school uniform (the majority of them brand new) to Bluebells School in Watamu. Through the generous donations of our community at the Carol Service and the Christmas Fair, we were also able to fund school lunches for Bluebells children and staff and enable them to build much needed security on their windows to keep their resources safe.

Thank you for all of your generous contributions and support with all of our fund raising events, this truly makes a difference.

Eco Committee

By Mrs Benbow - Operartional Support - School Psychologist and Head of PSHE

Hazlegrove Integrity

Following on from achieving the Eco-Schools Green Flag award in 2024, the Eco Committee have been continuing the good work and leading the charge in ensuring we are constantly evaluating and improving our eco-practices. The Eco Committee has been instrumental in supporting the improvements in the Dining Room to help pupils make more informed choices around food and reduce our level of food waste.

How we support the wildlife that share our Hazlegrove estate with us, has also been on the agenda for the Eco Committees this year This was kick-started with a talk from Chris Sperring from the Hawk and Owl Trust, and the Eco Committee toured the grounds with Chris identifying what changes could be made to support the owls who call Hazlegrove their home. An enormous bug hotel was constructed by the Eco Committee in the Wellbeing Garden, which has proved popular with our smaller animal residents, and we did a research project on bees and their importance in our eco-system.

This year has seen the exciting installation of our Bio-mass boiler and the Eco Committee were lucky enough to have a tour of the boiler and learn how it works. They very much approved!! Thank you to the Eco Committee for their enthusiasm and ideas, and for the energy they bring to trying to implement positive environmental change.

Hazlegrove Courage

Girls

Emily C

Jessica F

Rosa H

Annabel H

Naomi M

Clemmie M

Martha M

Isabella O

Isabella P

Katinka T

Boys

Sacha C

George D-M

Leon D

Harry F

Archie G

Joshua H

Magnus M

Austin M-F

Lyon P

Peter P

Girls’ Hockey

Boys’ Hockey

Netball

Boys’ Cricket

Girls’ Cricket

Riding

Judo

Biathlon