Vinehall Magazine - 2023/24

23 24 Magazine

Welcome

From Joff Powis - Head

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

Above, some wise words from Franklin D Roosevelt.

We all know how life can be unpredictable, so moulding adaptable young people will aid them to manage change more effectively. We often talk about a cup half full at Vinehall, so when plans do change, we learn to focus on what can still be accomplished rather than what has been lost.

Independent schooling is facing yet another challenge and strategically we are focussing on what will still be accomplished next year and beyond.

“I am an optimist, but I’m an optimist who takes his raincoat”

Prime Minister, Harold Wilson

Vinehall has enjoyed another year of development and growth within the Repton Family of Schools, and there is no doubt that our two years within the partnership has propelled Vinehall back to the top of parental school choice in the area.

Why do we, you and I, choose to send our children to independent prep schools?

‘True education is about learning how to think rather than what to think’, to quote Winston Churchill.

The ability to think critically and independently empowers individuals to navigate an ever-changing world. In a society flooded with information, discerning the credible from the dubious requires sharp analytical

skills. Education that teaches us how to think encourages scepticism, inquiry and a rigorous approach to evaluating evidence, allowing us to make informed decisions.

Learning how to think fosters innovation and creativity. When education focuses on thinking processes rather than rote memorisation, it encourages pupils to explore new ideas, challenge existing methods and develop original solutions. This kind of intellectual flexibility is essential for progress in any field, from science and technology to the arts and humanities. Education aimed at teaching how to think cultivates lifelong learning. It instils a love of inquiry and the habit of questioning, which are vital for personal and professional growth. Individuals who are adept at thinking critically are more likely to seek out new knowledge and skills throughout their lives, adapting to new challenges and opportunities.

Most importantly to me at this early stage in a child’s development, an education that prioritises how to think promotes empathy and understanding. By examining different perspectives and considering the reasoning behind various viewpoints, children will develop a deeper appreciation for diversity and a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. This is crucial for fostering social harmony and cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world. To continue my quotations on the theme of Prime Ministers and Presidents, I give you the words of Bill Clinton: “In a society where the values of the classroom are often those of the marketplace, private schools represent an island of culture and civility.”

The best education is about cultivating the ability to think critically, creatively and independently. We prepare our pupils not just to succeed in their schooling and in their future careers, but to contribute

thoughtfully and responsibly to society. By teaching how to think, our Vinehall education strives to lay the foundation for lifelong learning, for innovation, and for a more enlightened and empathetic role that each child will play in this world.

One of the greatest strengths of an independent school education is the ability to offer a tailored learning experience. Our smaller size allows for more personalised attention, ensuring that each child’s unique needs and potential are recognised and nurtured. This individual focus helps to cultivate confidence and a sense of self-worth in our pupils, empowering them to take ownership of their learning and to pursue their passions.

Another key aspect of our independent education is the strong sense of community and shared values. We emphasise not only academic excellence but also the importance of character education. As noted in our recent and highly successful ISI inspection, Vinehall fosters a culture of respect, empathy and social responsibility. Children learn the value of contributing to their community, understanding different perspectives, and making a positive impact on those around them. This holistic approach helps to develop well-rounded individuals who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and principled.

I understand that there is sometimes a perception of elitism associated with independent schools. However, our goal is not to create an exclusive environment but rather an inclusive one where diversity is celebrated and every child has the opportunity to thrive. We strive to provide financial aid and scholarships to ensure that our school is accessible to families from various backgrounds. Our commitment to diversity enriches the learning experience and prepares our pupils to navigate and contribute to an increasingly global society.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to our core values and to continually improving our educational offerings. We believe that every child deserves an education that challenges and inspires them, and we are dedicated to providing just that.

I will certainly not argue with the uncompromising Margaret Thatcher, who confidently stated “We must recognise that private schools nurture the individuality and independence that are essential to the future of our society.”

Little Vines

Every year, I have the honour of writing about the past year and the children’s amazing Learning Journey.

We have provided rich opportunities to enable every child to build strong and firm foundations from which they can grow and flourish, and they certainly have!

Here at Vinehall we are very fortunate to have the wonder of the most beautiful grounds which our Little Vines children access every day. Our outside world plays a crucial role in helping children make sense of the world around them and grasp the basic concepts of science, as well as providing opportunities to be creative thinkers.

We started the Michaelmas term with a focus on ‘Marvellous Me.’ We value the importance of every child having a voice and giving them the opportunity to speak and learn about how wonderful they are. This focus also enable us to work in partnership with our families and share photographs and interests which always leads to the best outcomes for the children.

The Harvest Festival is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about the seasons, farming and the importance of being grateful for our food. We read the story of The Little Red Hen and learnt about the sequence of events to enable us to bake bread. This led us on to baking our own bread and the aroma filled the whole of Pre-Prep. The children said “It is delicious and tasty,” and it certainly was!

Awe and wonder filled our Pre-Prep at Christmas when the Little Vines children performed their nativity story ‘Shine Star Shine.’ The children rose to the challenge of performing in front of a huge audience where they sang, danced and narrated the beautiful story of the star who eventually found her shine as baby Jesus was born.

The Lent term took us into Winter and what a wonderful week to return to Little Vines, as the weather led us to explore and investigate the cold and ice.

In the Early Years we cover a topic called ‘Understanding the World,’ which encourages children to explore, problem-solve, observe, think, make decisions and talk about the world around them and this exposure to the winter elements certainly did all of this!

“What will we see?” was the key question as we introduced the children to this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch. The children made bird feeders using pine cones, lard and seeds. We managed to be very quiet, and our reward was two beautiful Robins landing in the garden and singing their winter song.

The Little Vines children immersed themselves in the celebrations of Chinese New Year, a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to different cultures and traditions. We learnt about the colour red and how it is considered to be lucky; we also tried using chop sticks to eat rice, which was quite tricky for little hands.

At last Spring arrived and the Little Vines children celebrated by joining in Easter activities and exploring our grounds searching for signs of Spring! The children used Willow sticks to explore how the leaves and roots grow and learnt that they needed light and water. We spotted Daffodils and buds and used our listening ears to hear the wonderful bird songs.

The children created the most beautiful Easter bonnets and enjoyed eating hot cross buns as well as baking chocolate Easter nests.

Forest School is an inspiring approach to outdoor learning which aims to provide confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning in the woodland environment. The Little Vines children have had the most amazing time being involved in their Forest School adventures, where they have gained many new skills and opportunities.

The Summer term welcomed us with a little ray of sunshine and our Little Vines children learnt about ‘People Who Help Us’ in our community.

We were so excited to welcome the Battle fire crew, who were brilliant with our little ones, as well as the local Police. They talked about how they help to keep the community safe and showed the children their uniforms and kit. The highlight of the visit was being able to climb inside the engine and, of course, using the hose to squirt water!

The whole school plays a significant part in our Little Vines children’s lives, from the catering team to our grounds staff; without this amazing community the school would come to a halt! The Little Vines visited different staff to learn about the jobs that they do. A big thank you to every member of our school community from us all at Little Vines!

The scent of baking filled the nursery

Kindergarten

Kindergarten have had an amazing year and been fortunate enough to enjoy so many wonderful experiences.

We started the Michaelmas term by celebrating what makes the children special and learning all about our new class and their many their unique qualities.

After half term, the children were ‘night detectives’ and enjoyed learning about different nocturnal animals and animal habitats. As part of our topic, we celebrated different festivals of light and Kindergarten particularly loved getting creative and making firework music and dances and wrapping up warm and cosy to see the spectacular Vinehall fireworks. The Michaelmas term culminated in a truly wonderful production of ‘The Christmas Nativity’ and the children’s beautiful singing and narration filled the hall with much Christmas cheer. It was then time for a very special visit from Father Christmas, and finally we enjoyed a magical Christingle service in the Children’s Chapel.

The beginning of the Lent term was “super” as the children looked at superheroes and what makes everyday people superheroes. As you can imagine there were lots of happy spidermen and batmen in class that term!

During the second half of the Lent term, we had masses of fun through our topic ‘Into the Woods’ and

loved exploring our wonderful grounds, learning about traditional tales and finding out more about Easter traditions around the world. The children particularly loved decorating their eggs and then racing them down the hill to much hilarity. They were also fit to burst with excitement when we had a surprise visit from a giant Easter bunny who hid some chocolate Easter eggs in our garden for us to find.

The Summer term was crammed full of new and exciting experiences; from our own Forest School led by Mr H, to our first school trip to ‘The Miniature Steam Railway’. The summer term also saw the Kindergarten children getting their toes wet as they starting their weekly swimming lessons, which they adored. The term ended with masses of fun opportunities in activities week, a fantastic sports day and our performance of ‘Billy No Buzz’, where the children learned it is good to be different.

What a wonderful year Kindergarten have had, full of fun, laughter and new experiences. We have loved watching them absorb everything and grow and flourish as the year has progressed. What a privilege it has been to be part of their learning journey and help them to make memories to last a lifetime.

Our first school trip

Reception

As the children come to the end of their Reception journey it is wonderful to look back and see the incredible progress they have made

Reception is a year of immense growth and development and I always feel incredibly proud to play a small role in their educational journey and hopefully instil a lifelong love of learning.

The children have been incredibly engaged in all of our topics, whether it was looking after worms in ‘We are Super’ or creating animal dens in ‘Night Detectives’.

Throughout our Phonics and English lessons, the children have learnt to read and write, and I have loved seeing their creativity shine through storytelling. The children have always loved our literacy projects, especially in ‘Animal Magic’ where they had to research and create their own fact file about an animal of their choice; I was amazed by the facts the children could remember.

BikeAbility, Gym, Athletics, Swimming and Ball Skills have enabled the children to develop their physical skills and gain confidence.

Additional events, such as the Gully walk, put these skills into action as the children had to climb over logs, through ferns and along banks.

The year has been full of exciting trips, from the Gruffalo trail to the beach. One of the children’s favourites was our visit to Eastbourne Miniature Railway, where they took part in train rides, crazy golf, nature walks, the maze, play park and model railway. When we look back through photos this is often chosen as one of their favourite days.

One of my personal highlights was the wonderful Reception play exploring the various forms of transport they had studied through the term. The performance truly showed how much the children had grown in confidence and were keen to share this with others.

“A year of immense growth”

Putting skills into action

Year One

We enjoyed each other’s company and celebrated our old and new friendships

Our trip to the beach

Year 1 began the school year by ‘Blasting into the Past!’ in our Learning Journey topic. The children boarded the Hastings Miniature Railway and used their five senses to describe their experiences.

They were very proud to write their first stories of the year based on ‘The Train Ride’.

The Year 1 time capsule, containing our first portraits, measurements and ‘All about me’, was buried in the woods. We learnt about our ‘past’ and where our future might take us.

We headed to the Galaxy beyond ours and experienced our ‘Galaxy Quest’ topic, where the children spent time investigating shadows, creating

movable rockets and journeying to Herstmonceux Science Centre where we became real astronauts experiencing what it was like to walk on the moon.

The children went back in time to ‘Dinosaur Discovery’. We met Mary Anning who taught us about her life as a famous fossil hunter. The children showcased their non-fiction fact files welcoming their parents to ‘The dinosaur museum.’

The children worked collaboratively on their ‘Amazing Animal’ research projects in the second half of the term. They explored what it was like to have heightened and not so heightened senses as some animals do.

The term would not be complete without a trip to Port Lympne where the children went on an amazing safari learning about different animals and their habitats.

Our next topic was learning how to ‘Be British’ when we entered the theatre (in a proper queue of course!) excited to take part in our ‘United’ drama workshop.

The children spent the half term preparing for their tea party where they welcomed their parents with cheese scones and tea of course! Audiences were amazed with the factual presentations and songs all about ‘The United Kingdom.’

We ended our time in Year 1 with our ‘It’s a Wonderful World’ topic. We explored our local surroundings, including our wooded areas, gulleys and ponds and were so excited to find ‘A Bog Baby!’ We enjoyed each other’s company and celebrated our old and new friendships participating in a beach trip, sports day and Forest School. We dug up our time capsule and discovered how much we had grown and learned through our many adventures together.

Year Two

The children in Year 2 have had a wonderful year, full of exciting adventures and marvellous learning.

We began the year learning about the Great Fire of London and visited Battle Fire Station to find out about modern firefighting. The children took part in a drama workshop and wrote diary entries in the style of Samuel Pepys, as well as designing and making their own fantastic fire engines.

Our next topic was ‘Amazing Amazon’, and this included a visit to Drusilla’s to look at and even touch some real rainforest creatures. The children were fearless, and it was fabulous to see so many animals up close. As part of this topic the children found out about the geography of Brazil and were amazed by the size of the Amazon Rainforest.

In the Lent Term we learned about famous explorers from the past and shipwrecks that have occurred. The children had another brilliant drama workshop with the talented Mary Alderson and visited the Shipwreck Museum in Hastings. We were also lucky to see the lifeboat ready to be launched. After half-term we learned all about creepy crawlies, discovering their habitats, looking at food chains and finding out about minibeast survival strategies.

The Summer Term was soon upon us and this term one of our topics was ‘Brilliant Bodies’. We travelled back in time to meet Florence Nightingale and were put to work, cleaning and improving conditions at Scutari Hospital. We also looked at the importance of diet, exercise and hygiene and worked collaboratively to make healthy smoothies and tasty puff pastry wheels. The children were also lucky to visit Pizza Express and made their own delicious pizzas.

Our final topic of the year was ‘Outdoor Adventure’, where we utilised the beautiful school grounds to carry out fieldwork and investigate our local area. The children also took part in the Pre-Prep beach trip, where they had a great time getting splashed by waves whilst paddling, as well as getting covered in sand thanks to their impressive digging!

The end of the year is always bitter-sweet as the children get ready to move on to the Prep School. It is always sad to say goodbye but looking back at these wonderful memories, hopefully the children will remember what a fantastic year they had in Year 2!

Art

All topics and themes have been both diverse and challenging this year

All topics and themes have been both diverse and challenging this year. From figure drawing to felting, and mark-making to sewing, whatever the task, the common thread has been that there have been no limits to what each pupil can achieve.

During April, the Vinehall artists collaborated with Salehurst Church of England Primary School to exhibit their work at The blackShed Gallery in Robertsbridge. The theme was ‘Dark and Light’, and all pupils responded with imagination and creativity. The exhibition was well received with the paintings, drawing, sculpture and photography on show and demonstrated the potential of every pupil who took part.

Year 8

Art is subjective and every person has their own idea of what the subject means. The Year 8 artists were asked to answer that question; or at least move nearer to the answer – ‘What is Art and how can we define it?’ By studying the work of the revolutionary and controversial Dadaists, our artists created photomontages by using a combination of found images from the time and combined their collages with the bold use of typography. Concentrating on the letter form, they looked at the idea of ‘Identity’. What makes us who we are? Drawing on their own character, they constructed an initial letter, embellishing it with their own specific style. At this point in the pupil’s school journey the curiculum is designed to celebrate individualism with independence.

There are no limits to what each child can achieve

Year 7

Working on the theme of ‘Conflict’, the Year 7 artists were inspired to create their own version of a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, by using graphic novel page layouts. This exercise engaged their editing skills. They also studied ‘The Menin Road’ by the war artist Paul Nash, comparing his paintings of the countryside to his work produced during, and after, his time serving as a war artist. The Vinehall artists tried to experience reportage by sketching the views from the front lawn and trying to imagine what it must have been like to record information in adverse conditions. Their sketches were then transferred into monoprints celebrating the countryside around the school. As a contrast to the freedom of monoprinting, the artists discovered the work of Norman Wilkinson during WW1 and his ‘dazzle ships’. Building on the central theme and thinking about opposites, the war artists then looked at the work of Yaacov Agam to produce technically proficient agamographs.

Year 6

The Year 6 artists have been inspired by the Pop Art movement, to create crisp and bright images in the style of Andy Warhol and Julian Opie. They were tasked with producing a portrait of a famous scientist without adding detail. Not an easy task. To contrast to the exact work of the Pop Artists, Year 6 experimented with different ways to solve the problem of how to capture movement in two and three dimensions. They looked at the work of Wassily Kandinsky and his ability to capture the feeling of music through his condition of synaesthesia. Our pupils composed their Kandinsky pieces by listening to Holst and built their compositions by starting with simple shapes and gradually adding specific elements. They moved onto experimenting with salt, coffee and charcoal, to illustrate a moment in time in the style of the artist Jim Dine. Some of the artists moved onto creating kinetic sculptures, whilst others worked on stop motion animation.

Year 5

Observational drawing is crucial to a good understanding of how to draw and has played a large part in the first topic for Year 5. The artists studied insects and exercised their accurate recording skills by producing a symmetrical design. They also experimented with different techniques including watercolour resists, grafitto, blending and impasto. Their next topic of ‘Cultural Art and Pattern’ gave the pupils an introduction to textile design with their woven pieces and an understanding of the importance of Art in different cultures. The artists looked at the business side of Art and gained an understanding of the Creative Arts as a career.

During the Summer term, ‘The Environment’ is the main topic for Years 2 to 5. How humans engage with the world around them was the main train of thought for Year 5. More specifically, how artists are inspired by the landscape. The children reacted to the work of Antony Gormley, with their reliefs, inspired by his recent installation at Houghton Hall. They finally worked in the style of the Canadian Group of Seven and studied atmospheric perspective to create their layered landscapes.

Year 4

Knowing the fundamental rules of the Creative Arts helps to support a myriad of ideas. This scaffolding facilitates a higher quality of work. Year 4 examined the theory behind colour, looked at its symbolism and experimented with different combinations. Learning from the theoretical and putting their knowledge into practice, their work showed good brush control and an ability to accurately judge quantities needed to radically change a hue, tint or shade. They were encouraged to produce a controversial newspaper article about ‘The Wild Beasts’ of the Fauvist movement, including some vivid designs. Moving on to the theme of ‘Architecture’, pupils followed the styles of the designers Friedrich Hunderwasser, Zaha Hadid and Antonio Gaudi. They produced some interestingly organic sculptures, with a fusion between the architecture of Hunderwasser and using their acquired knowledge of colour.

On to the Summer term and the theme of ‘The Environment’. The Year 4 artists designed some eco-friendly urban buildings with green walls and gardens. Their eco theme moved into the design of beach footwear, made from recycled materials inspired by ‘Ocean Sole’ and other organisations who have sustainability at the heart of their work. This topic was designed to inspire our artists to source and use materials responsibly.

Learning to express yourself through mark-making

Year 3

Learning to express yourself through mark-making, has enabled our artists to communicate visually. With dots, dashes, wavy or straight, all artists start with a line. The Year 3 artists have experimented with a range of materials to produce their work by looking at the sketches of Vincent Van Gogh. They were inspired to develop their use of line to create degrees of tonal values.

By taking a leap of faith, the Year 3 artists were able to build their confidence to move onto the creation of their Egyptian hieroglyphics. They portrayed themselves as Pharaohs and designed their clothing with a frieze of coded messages. They learn about graphic design and how early humans communicated by using only images. In their collaborative cave art, they tried to tell a story and convey their ideas.

Next, the theme of ‘The Environment and Animals’ and looking at how artists portray the natural world. The artists were encouraged to make their own resources and create a range of animal textures to use on their Clare Young inspired designs with some Eric Carle added to the mix. This year is all about learning from mistakes and making independent decisions

Year 2

During their time of getting used to the Prep School, the Year 2 artists have followed the Year 3 curriculum and their own learning journey with their class teacher. All tasks have been diverse enough to allow the pupils to gain a general overview of the range of topics and skills available.

Summary

In the Art Department, we aim to promote an eclectic mix of ideas. We give all potential artists the tools to express themselves and equip them to learn from mistakes. Making mistakes is the only way to learn. We are strong on encouraging sustainability, an awareness of the world around us and the promotion of the Creative Arts as a career path. Ultimately, this subject is not just about Art but about helping pupils to develop their individual talents. These have culminated this year in the exhibition and the whole school event of making poppies for Remembrance Day.

Extra-Curricular

Art Scholars and Art club attendees have produced some competent work this year. They have the chance to engage in skill-building activities outside of the curriculum. Any pupil who excels in the subject and who also attends art club on a regular basis, coupled with evidence of work produced outside of school, may be asked to attend Art Scholar sessions on Saturday mornings.

Classics

It was a successful year in the Vinehall Classics Department

There was a good-sized new Year 6 class who had, at the end of Year 5, chosen to study Latin; they were full of enthusiasm for the subject and worked hard all year. Each Summer Term, Year 6 are invited to Bede’s Senior School which is always a fun-packed day of classics-themed activities and rather splendid catering! The class also enjoyed a Roman-inspired feast for Saturnalia at Christmas.

The Year 7 class - with two new joiners - continued to work hard and rose to the challenge of Common Entrance work in the Summer Term. They enjoyed the topics they studied, inspired by ancient Roman and Greek culture and myths.

The Year 8s will be much missed and, as the first Latin class to have chosen to study the subject back in Year 5, had a successful year preparing variously for scholarship exams and Level 2 Common Entrance.

Isla M’s commitment to the subject deserves a special mention - she chose to take an optional Classical Civilisation Common Entrance paper after completing her Sevenoaks Scholarship exams and achieved an amazing 90 per cent. It is hoped that most of the Year 8 class will continue with their Latin studies at their next schools.

Developments in the Classics Department this year included the introduction of the new edition of the Cambridge Latin Course as the curriculum course for Year 6 into Year 7. Some parents will be pleased to know that Caecilius lives on and Metella est still in horto.

In the Summer Term, the Monday lunchtime Classics Club opened its doors - with a small but very devoted membership! Pupils became amateur archaeologists for the term and finished proceedings with a viewing of Disney’s ‘Hercules’. The plan is to offer this club every summer in order to give potential Year 6 Latinists a flavour of the subject. Floreat Latina!

Computer Aided Design Technology

Art and Design Technology have worked with Computing to create projects for Year 8 and 7 pupils, which every year have produced innovative ideas from Vinehall product designers and engineers. At the heart of the projects was a high degree of creativity and innovation, with a mixture of sustainability and business.

The Year 8 designers were briefed on two tasks. The first, and the smaller of the tasks, to design a mark-making implement for younger children to use.

They had to consider the function and th aesthetic of the product. It had to be attractive to the child but most importantly safe to use. Some Year 3 and 4 pupils trialled the products and graded them for their effectiveness. The Year 8 designers the progressed on to their main piece, the design of a container to house stationery equipment. Again, the brief was to consider the balance of style over substance. The designers could base their work on any subject, but it had to link with the theme of ‘Planet Earth’. Some designers chose to create their piece from wood, metal, Modroc or fabric. All showed a diverse approach.

The Year 7 engineers were briefed to produce a working mini golf course inspired by the Crazy Golf World Championships held in Hastings. They had to engineer their course by including a range of tunnels, obstacles and elevated elements. They had to demonstrate that a marble could move freely through the course. The chosen theme of either space, jungle or the ocean created a wealth of ideas and allowed the pupils to move their ideas into a three-dimensional form. Some pupils used 3D applications to plan their work and some preferred to use the traditional method of pencil and paper.

For both projects, there was a range of materials available including Modroc, wood, fabric, wire and found objects. The designers showed a progression of ideas through working on their carpentry and their sculpting skills. They showed a willingness to change their initial plan by discovering how different materials work together and moved closer to understanding the Applied Arts.

Drama

All Vinehall’s world is a stage and all the boys and girls are the players

Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Just So Stories’

Years 5 and 6 were simply wonderful when they performed their versions of some of Kipling’s famous tales, first to the school, staff and visitors from Salehurst Primary and then to their very appreciative parents.

The three classes rehearsed separately in their weekly drama lessons, before joining it all together under the premise of Elsie Kipling mourning the death of her sister, Josephine, using her group of imaginary friends to act out her beloved father’s stories. Elsie was played by Margot C with great skill and charm. 6G introduced the concept and then told the story of ‘How the Camel got his Hump’. Rosie A was a gloriously energetic Djinn, chasing the hapless camel (Charlie F) around the stage at great speed to a miserable chorus of ‘harumphing’. Raphy G was an authoritative Horse; Seren K a lively Dog; and Lily F a suitably morose Ox. Lucy B, Yuzu M, Julie Y, Charlie C and Charlie EH supplied a wealth of characters, storytellers and enthusiastic participants to make this a very enjoyable story.

Next up were 6T with ‘How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin’. Elliott C, Ronan Z and Jimena CDLC were very expressive storytellers, with Harvey P a brilliant Parsee and Amelia A a hugely entertaining Rhino, who got his come-uppance for stealing the Parsee’s cake and was itchy and baggy-skinned ever after.

5P took over the reins for ‘How the Kangaroo Got His Hop’. Marvellous hopping from Betsy S, as the boastful dancing creature; a suitably intimidating presence from Alexandra C, as the Yellow Dog Dingo; and three amusing gods in Lucas M, Arthur P and

Sam L. Ivy G and Rosa A provided the exciting commentary, and the rest of the class enhanced the action.

5P’s second story was ‘How the Leopard Got His Spots’. The Leopard was an agile Teddy H and the Hunter a fearsome Guillaume BL, both on the prowl for game in the Giraffe (Alice C), Zebra (Indira H), Eland (Harry D) and Wildebeest (Rex L). Barnaby OG was the wise old Baboon, and their peers were the forest and the High Veldt.

The final story of a fabulous show was 6T’s ‘How the Armadillo Came to Be’. Rhiain E and Masa M played the Hedgehog and Tortoise respectively, both transforming into Armadillos to escape the clutches of the inept Painted Jaguar, PJ, played to much audience amusement by Harry M, as he repeatedly ran to his long-suffering ‘Mumsie’ played superbly by Beth D. Their classmates provided all the necessary scenery and commentary.

The play was set in Elsie’s Aunt’s Georgian Sitting Room, created so effectively by the amazing Kate Hunt and her brilliant (if rather small) team of parent helpers, transforming the Chaplin Theatre almost overnight after pinching a great deal of furniture from the Front Hall and the parents’ homes. Kate also made most of the beautiful animal masks – her creativity is astounding.

This project was an effective way to ensure that all the Year 5&6 children had a busy and enjoyable term rehearsing and experimenting with the challenges of mask work and portraying the animal kingdom effectively; I was hugely proud of them all.

Panto time at Vinehall

A Hint of Snow White

On the evening of 19th March 2024, the Chaplin Theatre was transformed into the fairy story world of a wicked queen and her beastly cronies, a charming princess and her beau, a forest of creatures and magical plants and a host of ridiculous pantomime characters in the Year 3&4 production of ‘A Hint of Snow White’ by Mark, Helen & Naomi Johnson, script by Sue Langwade.

Coralie F was our wonderful Snow White, with Rupert F as HRH ‘Princy’, her devoted hero. Gabriella G was a suitably horrible Malodorous, with Hugo H as her stupid evil sidekick Lickspittle. Albert P was a fabulous ‘Dame’, Jean, sporting an extravagant dress with great aplomb. Heidi R played the important role of Fairy G with great charm, and her student FIT (Fairy in Training) was an endearing Arya E. Jack B and Casper K led the Dream Team, Buzz O’G was a marvellous Rub with Ben O was Scat. Oliver G was Whizzo and Logan LS was a Mirror with great authority.

With a huge cast list, it meant that every Year 3 and 4 child could have their own character to play and they worked brilliantly as an ensemble on the hilarious script and catchy songs.

Sue Glossop worked hard to teach the children some difficult songs and many of the Year 4 cast opted for solos. This is tremendously brave for such young children and showed off their talents very effectively. We were delighted to have Colin Hughes, our excellent peripatetic piano teacher, accompany the action, with IT Superhero, Dave Clarke, on drums.

The colourful backdrop, huge array of ridiculous props and the beautiful costumes were coordinated by the ever-brilliant and creative Kate Hunt, supported by a dedicated group of Year 3&4 parents. As always, my appreciation of, and gratitude to, Kate is boundless and heartfelt.

It was wonderful to see the children’s confidence and skill blossom as rehearsals progressed. An experience such as this is proof enough of the many valuable opportunities provided through working as a group, overcoming difficulties, trying to support one’s peers and learning that it is a huge amount of work to produce something worthy of public performance. There can be no doubt that our children rose to the challenge and each one of them shone like a little magical fairy.

Sister Act

On Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd July the Chaplin Theatre was transported to downtown San Francisco as our amazing Year 8s and some volunteer Year 7s embraced the challenges of larger-than-life characters, different accents, singing, dancing and keeping us all on the edge of our seats. Their efforts were rewarded by the delight of three packed audiences.

Skye R was magnificent in the role of Doloris van Cartier, a would-be Nightclub singer forced to take refuge from her violent boyfriend in a Roman Catholic nunnery. This is a challenging and vibrant role that she embraced with great skill and humour. Isla Mc was excellent as the initially frosty Mother Superior, and there was a marvellous group of wonderful singing nuns. Ricky W was an imposing Monsignor, with his sycophantic Chaplain (Joshua G). The baddies were led by Sebastian R’s evil Curtis, eventually foiled by the nuns and the devoted Eddie (Ethan E).

The children worked very hard to pull it all together in such a short time and with so few rehearsals during their busy post-CE programme. I was hugely proud of them all.

at Vinehall

Congratulations to all of our pupils who took a LAMDA exam back in June. They were all awarded a Distinction.

Every single LAMDA pupil has significantly developed their performance and communication skills, brilliantly supported their peers and gained so much confidence in the last year. We are extremely proud of them all!

LAMDA

EAL

As ever, the EAL department welcomed back some pupils from the previous year and were delighted to meet some new children from a wide range of countries

Both the existing day and boarding pupils helped the new children by mentoring them, with their knowledge of the school, as they settled into the boarding house and school day.

To make use of our fabulous grounds we made the excuse, while the weather was still lovely, to use prepositions to give us directions to get around different parts of the school.

To celebrate the diversity of our department we always like to celebrate Chinese New Year by decorating our classroom with lanterns and posters. The children also

write the Chinese Zodiac story, assisted by those pupils familiar with this tradition.

The Year 8 children did a project using any language they had learnt about travel and had to write a script and perform a short play. Needless to say, it was very funny!

In March, the Year 8 children took their B1 exam and in April we were delighted to see some excellent results. In the end of year Prize Giving Ceremony Juan AL received the EAL cup for the highest pass mark and Sonia S was awarded the Progress prize. In June, the EAL day pupils joined the boarders for a thrilling day at Thorpe Park.

Memories from our EAL pupils

I met all the English children, and they were all so nice to me and so were the boarders. It was the same with the teachers, who were strict, but they were so friendly and nice with all of us! – Arturo CM

I came here last year and enjoyed it so much I came back for the summer term this year. It is even better as we have privileges like the Common Room and later bedtime in the Boarding House. - Gonzalo RS

I am sad that the time is running out so fast and I can’t believe it’s all going to end. Thank you very much Vinehall for giving me such a memorable time for these last two years. I’ll remember everyone here. – Ricky W (Head Boy)

My Mum decided to send me to Vinehall because my friend Carlos had an incredibly enjoyable time here, even though he was very homesick when he arrived! I have loved it. - Lucas RR

Ms Newcomb seemed really interested in me. She is my favourite teacher in this school because she is fair,

not strict and she has never been bossy! Forever in my heart. This teacher knew how I felt when I first came to this school, when I didn’t have many friends and when my English was poor, and I wasn’t able to say anything. – Sonia S

My first match on my first day, they were explaining the rules to me some minutes before the netball match started. I was freezing, I nearly died! Well not quite, but I felt I was going to. - Alejandra C

In the weekends it was so fun because if the weather was nice, we had lunch and dinner outside and every weekend we went somewhere, but my favourite weekend was when we went to Thorpe Park. – Paula NL

On the first morning, I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know what to do, but Lucas helped me. I found out that I was going to be in 8H. – Jacobo L

When half term arrived, the time was coming to make the big decision whether to stay at Vinehall for the whole year or go back to Spain. I decided to stay, and the next term was brilliant. - Juan AL

English

It has been another fun-packed year in the English department at Vinehall

It does feel a little as though we have barely stopped to pause for breath! The children have met authors, got dressed up in crazy costumes, written articles and stories and recited poems on stage. We are also proud to report that several of our pupils have received external recognition for their achievements: academic, creative and in the field of public speaking.

To start the academic year, the children enjoyed a visit from author Nadia Shireen, who is most famous for her ‘Grimwood’ series of books. Within a minute of starting to talk to the children, Nadia had them enthralled with her humour and engaging manner and by the end of the hour, every child was holding up their own illustration of her favourite character ‘Eric Dynamite’ and feeling excited by the possibility of being able to create their own characters and write their own stories.

In October, hot on the heels of our annual Poetry by Heart competition/celebration, Year 3 visited Bateman’s in Burwash, home of Rudyard Kipling (author of ‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘Just So Stories’, among others). They very much enjoyed their trip to Bateman’s and were inspired to write some fantastic “Just So”-inspired stories afterwards. Here are some extracts from their creative writing:

Many moons ago, when the grass was green, the trees rustled and the birds were squawking, O Best Beloved, lived a Panda called Kiko. She wanted to be different. All her family was plain white and she wanted patches, spots, stripes, anything really.

Evie E – ‘How the Panda got her Patches’

In the dark, dark night, O Best Beloved, Jeremy the Tiger set off on his long, long journey to the magic lake. In the distance, he saw the special lake and ran over and drank. Suddenly, stripes began to appear!

Xavi O – ‘How the Tiger got his Stripes’

Once upon a mountain in the cold, cold winter, O Best Beloved, lived a wolf called Roxi walking in the deep, deep snow. She felt left out because her family had soft, fluffy fur and Roxi didn’t have any fur at all.

Isabel VG – ‘How the Wolf got her soft Fur’

Here is a wonderful Junior creative and collaborative piece, written by the Year 3s and 4s on the beach when they had their ‘Beach School’ day in the Lent Term.

The Beach

Soothing sea sounds, Bubbly, foaming, mesmerising waves, Swampy green and rough. Crashing, choppy water, Growling and dramatic, Awe-inspiring.

Green, slimy seaweed, Popping! Eerie.

Soft, golden sand. Curvy, twirly, broken shells, Mysterious and fascinating. Wet, shiny pebbles, Bumpy and patterned, Smooth and round, Crunchy sound.

Dull, dark sky, Menacing and malicious, Torrential.

Snowy, fluffy, misty clouds, Black low flying geese sweeping over the green blue sea, Magnificent.

By Years 3 and 4

In March, we had a fantastic and activity-packed World Book week, with author Ed Boxall visiting Pre-Prep, a whole school photo in costume, drama workshops for Years 5 and 6 and Prep School pupils visiting Pre-Prep to read to the children and to hear all about their story sacks.

In April, several pupils in Year 5 created some incredible dioramas to finish off their work on ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E B White. Some of these were so skilful that they received Headmaster’s Commendations for their efforts.

We were particularly impressed by the homemade hay bales in Teddy H’s creation and the below-ground lighting in Rex L’s Templeton den. Ivy G created a colourful and visually interesting den for Templeton, the rat, which included lots of Easter egg sweet wrappers, and Noah P wrote a superb story about the friendship of his two cats, Nutka and Riska. It is always satisfying to see pupils engaging imaginatively with a text and this was a perfect finish to our work on ‘Charlotte’s Web’.

In May, the Prep School enjoyed a visit from the author, Eve Wersocki Morris, who wrote ‘The Bird Singers’ and ‘The Wildstorm Curse’. Eve spoke to pupils in the Theatre about how she managed to realise her life-long ambition to become an author, and the key ingredients which make up a mystery-adventure novel. Eve explained that she loves story-telling and writing. Her words were heart-warming and inspirational, and she was an engaging and animated speaker, welcoming pupils’ questions at the end. Everyone loved hearing Eve read an extract from ‘The Wildstorm Curse’, which had the audience hooked from the start.

In June, we heard the exciting news that our Head Girl, Isobel F, had received an Exhibition from The King’s School, Canterbury, achieving an A* for her English paper, and that Isla M had achieved an Academic Scholarship from Sevenoaks with outstanding grades for her papers in a range of subjects, including English.

In the second half of the Summer Term, our Year 6s enthusiastically embraced the challenge of a prep school public speaking competition, preparing speeches on topics of their choice to perform before teams from other schools at Eastbourne College.

Two Vinehall teams participated in the competition and the 6G team (Charlie F, Raphy G and Lily F) were judged to be the winners in the competition with their engaging and entertaining speech about the advantages of dog ownership.

Lily F commented that having an opportunity to “take to the stage and present the speeches we had worked on tirelessly” was a rather terrifying experience but also a very affirming one. And, as Lily said, “although secretly we were all practically flying out of our seats with nerves”, the judges delivered “helpful, constructive” and very positive feedback. For Debbie Gearey and I, who accompanied the children to the competition, it was extremely rewarding to see the pupils deliver such polished, articulate and passionate speeches.

In the Summer Term, we were delighted to hear that the King’s School, Canterbury, had selected articles by five Vinehall pupils (Rhiain E in Year 6, Louis D and Tymofii L in Year 7 and Arlo K and Isla M in Year 8) for publication in their prestigious “Mind’s Eye Prep” magazine.

We were also delighted to hear that Sebastian R had received a highly commended for his creative writing

story (titled ‘No More War’) in the ISEB’s ‘Time to Write’ Creative Writing competition.

In the last week of the Summer Term, Year 3 treated us to a magnificent and animated performance of ‘Pumpkin Soup’ by Helen Cooper and ‘Tiddler’ by Julia Donaldson. The children’s storytelling was sublime, with fresh dynamics, perfect clarity and excellent expression. Mary Alderson, our Director of Drama, commented that she could not wait to get her hands on the Year 3 pupils as these rising stars travel up through the prep school!

So, it has been another excellent year in the English department, although we are very sad to bid farewell to Debbie Gearey, who is venturing off to pastures new into the more flexible world of tutoring so that she can spend more time with her grandchildren.

Here are a few words from Debbie Gearey, who we will miss hugely:

“Looking back over two decades of life in the Vinehall English department, it is impossible to summarise everything that the children have experienced and achieved over the years.

From theatre outings to literary workshops, from public speaking to creative writing competitions, the department has nurtured and developed accomplished writers, proficient readers and charismatic communicators. The overriding aim has always been to instil a love and respect for the English language in all its guises.

It has been the most incredible privilege to share in the journeys of so many children, each of whom has brought their own unique talent to the department.”

We are sorry to see Debbie Gearey leave but we are excited to welcome Anna Webb to the English department from Michaelmas Term. After qualifying and teaching in London schools, Anna lived and worked in Hong Kong and France. She has guided pupils through GCSE and the International Baccalaureate qualification and has expertise in EAL and SEN teaching. Anna particularly enjoys supporting pupils with dyslexia and co-occurring challenges. She is thrilled to be home in England now and is looking forward to getting to know all the wonderful Vinehall pupils.

Humanities

Stimulating intellectual curiosity

In Year 7 in history, our pupils delved into significant historical events, starting with the Napoleonic Wars. They have explored key battles such as Nelson and Trafalgar, as well as Waterloo. This gave them a deeper understanding of the impact these wars had on Europe and the world.

Jumping forward in time, the pupils explored specific aspects about World War 2, focusing on pivotal moments such as the Blitz, the Battle of Britain and the evacuation at Dunkirk. These topics have allowed them to appreciate the resilience and courage displayed during times of conflict.

Furthermore, our discussions on equality and civil rights have been thought-provoking. The pupils have learned about segregation, the Civil Rights Movement in America and the prominent leaders who fought for justice and equality. The pupils completed a report which summarised the chronology of these events, deepening their knowledge on this important aspect of history.

In geography, the pupils explored the dynamic processes of plate tectonics and the formation of coasts. By understanding these concepts, they have gained insights into the earth’s structure and the natural forces that shape our landscapes, as well as the many measures deployed to protect our coasts.

In Year 8 history the pupils examined two fascinating topics. Firstly, they explored the Cold War, delving into the origins of conflict, the intense nuclear arms race, the tension of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the exhilarating Space Race. These pivotal events have allowed the pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of global power dynamics during this period.

Moreover, our young historians also studied China. This topic focused on the emergence of the Chinese Communist Party, the profound impact of Mao Zedong’s leadership and the transformational influence of modern China. By exploring these themes, our pupils gained valuable insights into China’s rich history and its place in the contemporary world.

In geography, pupils have been exploring diverse topics to enhance their understanding of the world around them. From investigating weather and climate patterns to exploring the concept of sustainable development, our young geographers have been developing a broad knowledge base.

Furthermore, pupils completed their ISEB project qualification. This qualification has provided them with the platform to pursue their own line of enquiry, critically evaluate diverse sources of information and effectively communicate their findings. I am very proud of the dedication and intellectual curiosity demonstrated by our pupils throughout this project.

Life Skills

Life Skills at Vinehall is your child’s Personal, Social and Health Education

These lessons have consistently brought joy to the teachers facilitating the topics, together with a sense of pride in knowing that we have effectively created a safe space for children to be exactly who they are when they enter Carina Everist’s classroom and the Life Skills Room.

Mrs E continued to nurture the personal, social and emotional learning of the Year 3s in the comfort of their Form room as they settled into all that is offered in Prep School life. Year 4 to Year 8 have enjoyed the relaxed dynamics and ‘safe space’ that we have cultivated in the Life Skills room. Our learning environment is one where pupils feel calm, valued and free to share their thoughts and feelings on a range of topics.

Collaborative learning is an integral part of our Life Skills. Covering a range of topics, pupils often appreciate discussing their thoughts with peers ahead of choosing what they wish to share in our circle time discussions. Occasionally pupils will be put into groups, often groups of three as research shows that this is the optimal number that ensures all involved will share their voice equally and participate more actively. In groups of two, one individual may dominate; in larger groups, some pupils feel overwhelmed and less willing

to put their voices forward. So, with this in mind, three is our magic number.

Mindfulness comes in many forms and we have continued our weekly practice. It can be immersing oneself in music, drawing/doodling/painting/creating, stretching, physical activity, breath work, tapping, or focusing on the senses. All these practices promote self-regulation and allow the thinking brain to take over the command centre and allow us to do what we do very well here at Vinehall: learn!

The Michaelmas Term saw the exploration of ‘Being Me’ in Years 3-7. All topics, which are facilitated at an age-appropriate level, looked at the individual: being unique, personal values, online identities, attitudes, behaviours and influences. Our Year 8 pupils focused on Careers & Money which saw valuable skills, preparing for mock interviews with James Thain and Joff Powis, readying the pupils for their senior school applications. Pupils also explored aspects of financial literacy, evaluating their ‘money personality’ and spending habits. ‘Celebrating Difference’ was explored across the school and included keeping safe online, identifying bullying behaviours, power and control and the importance of being anti-racist..

In the Lent Term, the Prep School explores the statutory topics that come with our Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) which also carried into the Summer Term. Conversations around the dinner table or in the comfort of the car ride home might have mirrored some of our Learning Habits of being inquisitive and courageous when considering, “What did you learn today?” For those who did not share at home, rest assured that we hosted age-appropriate conversations that followed national curriculum standards and guidance; and we used The Jigsaw Approach to inform teaching and learning. All topics of conversation were held with grace, humility and respect and all questions were answered sensitively and with the facts. Parents are always welcome to meet with Ally Linney regarding Vinehall’s approach to PSHE.

The Summer Term saw our focus on ‘Healthy Me’. Lessons looked at mental health and the impact smoking can have on the body, discussing other substances, such as drugs (including medicine) and alcohol, in certain year groups.

It certainly has been another fulfilling year in the Life Skills Department, where pupils continued to foster their understanding of reflective practices and have been encouraged to think about what they have found meaningful in their daily lives. The steps taken from lesson to lesson ensure that Vinehall pupils are equipped with effective tools to be prepared for the world around them.

Mathematics

It was a successful year in the Vinehall Maths Department

The Prep school pupils took part in the Times Tables Rock Stars ‘England Rocks’ Challenge during England Maths Week. Pupils completed up to one hour per day practising and

developing their times tables skills using the TTRS platform over the week, with the pupils in each class with the highest number of correct answers winning a prize.

Overall, Vinehall finished 332nd in the country from over 4,500 schools and on average nearly 1,000 questions were answered correctly per pupil. All the pupils excelled themselves and made clear improvements to their recall and speed of times tables.

In November, Years 5 and 6 took part in the annual Mathematical Association Primary Maths Challenge Competition. This challenge encourages enthusiasm and boosts confidence in mathematics, as well as developing problem-solving and reasoning skills. All pupils were successful in completing the challenge and Vinehall achieved 19 Silver Awards and 16 Bronze Awards.

Saxton house organised the NSPCC Number Day, with a charity non-uniform day, as well as hosting another Times Tables Rockstars competition at break, lunchtime and activity time. Buzz O, Lily F and MP T were the most successful pupils in the competition.

On a typically cold and wet day in March, a team of Year 5 pupils were selected to represent the school in the UKMT Primary Maths Team Challenge, held at Mayfield School. Alice C, Alexandra C, Sam L and Betsy S competed valiantly against 14 other schools from around Sussex and Kent in a range of mathematical challenges and problem-solving questions, demonstrating great collaboration and resilience.

Towards the end of the Lent term Years 7 and 8 took part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. This is another competition to encourage mathematical reasoning, precise thinking and use basic maths techniques and knowledge in interesting ways. Three pupils achieved Gold Awards, representing the top 8% of participants worldwide - Matilda B, Isla M and Skye R. There were nine Silver Awards for the top 17% of participants and 13 Bronze Award for achieving in the top 50% of participants. Matilda and Isla achieved a score that placed them in the top 4% and were invited to the next round of the competition.

Later in the Summer Term, Matilda, Isla and Ethan E completed the Junior Kangaroo Challenge and all three tried extremely hard on this very challenging paper; they can be very proud of their efforts.

Finally, our Years 3 and 4 competed in the First Maths Challenge and were very successful, with three Silver Awards and 19 Bronze Awards.

Modern Languages

Encore une année pleine de succès !

Another year full of progress and developing global outlook. French and Spanish lessons enable children to connect with new friends, visit new places and experience other cultures.

We celebrated the European Day of Languages in September with an international food tasting event and a Language Challenge.

Throughout the year, cultural events in French or Spanish-speaking countries are included in the curriculum. Spanish language events in the Michaelmas term included celebrating La Hispanidad and El día de los Muertos. Year 6 classes took part in the YLLA competition to design and describe a ‘Winter character’. Vinehall submitted some very creative entries, which were praised by the judges.

We have extended our network of partner schools this year, matching classes with pen-pals in France to exchange greetings cards, letters and videos.

Years 3 and 5 continue to write to pen-pals in Orgeval, near Paris. They sent drawings and letters several times during the year and it was very exciting to receive cards from France with photos and lovely messages to understand, “Joyeux Noël” or “Bonne fête de Pâques!”. We were able to meet our new friends on Teams, with everyone joining in songs together in French and in English.

Year 7 wrote to pen-pals at Le Collège Dinandier in Villedieu-les-Poèles, Normandy. The children made a great effort to make their letters attractive and interesting with photos and illustrations.

In January, younger classes enjoyed choosing a slice of the Galette de Rois to find out who was the lucky finder of the “fève” to be crowned king or queen.

Year 5 and 6 enjoyed a French film study day at the BFI IMAX London in May. I was very proud of the children’s confidence and pronunciation as they attempted French tongue-twisters on the microphone in front of a large audience. Bravo! In the afternoon everyone enjoyed watching the French animation “Mune”.

Onatti Theatre company visited Vinehall with a very entertaining and interactive play for the whole Prep school. “Le Château” was performed in French and English in the Chaplin Theatre.

During the Summer term we followed the preparations for the Paris Olympic games, learning to talk about sports and following the torch ‘relai de la flamme’ as it travelled around France. Year 5 were lucky enough to welcome an Olympic visitor; Sarah Clarke showed memorabilia from the London 2012 games and spoke to children about the organisation of such a large and special event.

June 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on D-day, so the Year 7 annual visit to France was especially significant. In preparation for the trip, classes took part in an online meeting with 98-year-old Normandy veteran, Ken Hay MBE, which was organised by the British Council. When we visited the landing beaches and cemeteries, children were able to understand the history.

Of course, the visit was not all solemn; during a very hot, sunny week, we were able to experience so many diverse aspects of French culture and history – we stayed in a beautiful converted watermill, visiting sites such as Mont St Michel, Bayeux Cathedral and Tapestry, the Abbaye aux Hommes and château de Caen, as well as discovering French cuisine at the caramel factory at Isigny, a crêperie and buying picnic treats (and a crab!) au marché.

The Normandy Luge was very exciting, whizzing downhill on a self-controlled roller coaster. One highlight of the trip was finally meeting the pen-pals in person and visiting the French school, where children worked in mixed French-English groups in a Science workshop.

Year 8 results were pleasingly strong in both languages. Notably high marks were achieved in French Common Entrance by Alex D, Theodora G, Sebastian R, and Kingsley N. The Salt Cup for French was awarded to Isla M for her consistently high standards of effort and attainment in French.

Spanish is now fully established as an option from Year 6 upwards, with enthusiastic classes in Years 6, 7 and 8. Summer 2024 was our first cohort for Spanish Common Entrance. Especially good results were achieved by Alex D, who won the Spanish prize, Henry C, Theodora G, Alessandra K and Sebastian R.

Music

Once again we have been extremely fortunate to have so many gifted children

Once

again we have been extremely fortunate to have so many gifted children who have given us concerts, both at Vinehall and external venues, and demonstrated a breadth of talent of which to be very proud.

The musical calendar varies each year, but is largely seasonal, and so our first whole school musical event is the Harvest Festival and Grandparents’ Day. This gives pupils an opportunity to show off their enthusiastic hymn singing, and this year was no exception when we all sang ‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’ with a stunning descant in the final verse played by Steve Hollamby and his Year 5 brass players. Solo performances were given by Ricky W, euphonium, and Arlo K, cello.

Our tea-time concerts are always popular with the children. These termly events provide informal opportunities for pupils to gain performance

experience, and for all year groups to appreciate the value of making music together in a non-competitive setting.

Our choral singing continues to flourish and this year, Year 5 and 6 were treated to a whole morning of choral training with the wonderful Oliver Walker, Director of Music at Repton School. The morning’s very hard work culminated in a filmed performance of John Rutter’s anthem ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’.

Earlier in the year our pupils were invited to participate in the ‘Opera Takeover Day’ with English National Opera. This was an amazing event where pupils learned Mozart’s operatic aria ‘Voi Che Sapete’ dressed as characters from ‘The Marriage of Figaro’.

The Lent Term gives the younger children a chance to sing and perform in the traditional Year 3 and 4 musical and we were treated to beautiful singing and stars in the making during their performance of ‘A Hint of Snow White’.

We are all very proud of Arlo K who gained music scholarships to King’s Canterbury, Battle Abbey and Bryanston School. He was also selected to represent Vinehall in the inaugural Repton Family of Schools’ International Piano Competition. The adjudicator, Professor John Thwaites, Head of Keyboard at the Birmingham Conservatoire, praised Arlo for his performances of ‘Rumores de la Caletta’, by Albeniz, and ‘Allegretto’, by Martinu.

The musical year came to a close with the Year 8 performance of ‘Sister Act’. Our end of year musicals give Year 8 children a stage on which to express themselves before moving onto their next school and are always highly entertaining! Wonderful performances were given by Skye R as Deloris, Isla M as Mother Superior and Sonia S as Sister Mary Robert. My thanks go to Christine Descher, our singing teacher, for coaching the children in these roles.

The Music Department has a team of 12 highly experienced, dedicated and professional instrumental teachers who go out of their way to help our children learn the skills of their chosen instrument/s and fit in with the hectic schedule of Prep School life. They form the very heart of the Music Department, and I am indebted to them for nurturing our pupils through the ups and downs of learning a musical instrument.

Science

At Vinehall, the Science Department provides a hands-on approach to learning

At Vinehall, the Science Department provides a hands-on approach to learning, fostering curiosity and a deep understanding of scientific principles through practical experience. Our pupils engage in a wide range of activities that not only build their knowledge but also develop their investigative skills and passion for science.

Year 3 pupils embarked on an educational adventure to RHS Wisley, where they participated in a Plant Hunters’ workshop. The workshop, held in the Clore Learning Centre and run by a knowledgeable RHS Wisley staff member, offered the young scientists a hands-on experience of plant life. Each pupil took their own cutting of a Tradescantia, allowing them to observe and understand plant growth first-hand. The fascinating education room, filled with diverse plant varieties, further ignited their curiosity. Their exploration continued in the Rainforest and Desert biomes, where they learned about different ecosystems and the unique adaptations of plants in these environments.

Meanwhile, Year 4 pupils kicked off their new topic, ‘States of Matter,’ with great enthusiasm. They engaged in a series of experiments mixing different materials to classify them as solids or liquids. This hands-on approach allowed them to explore the properties and behaviour of various substances. The grand finale of the lesson involved shaving foam, a substance that challenged their understanding of states of matter. The pupils discovered that not everything fits neatly into the categories of solid or liquid, sparking lively discussions and critical thinking.

This activity underscored the complexity of scientific classification and encouraged the pupils to question and explore further.

Year 5 pupils have been busy mastering the fundamentals of laboratory safety and the correct usage of scientific equipment. This foundational knowledge is crucial for conducting experiments safely and accurately. Their practical skills were put to the test when they made copper sulphate crystals. This experiment not only honed their measuring skills but gave them a deeper understanding of dissolving and evaporation processes. In another exciting experiment, the pupils investigated Hooke’s Law by using springs. They extended the springs and measured the relationship between the mass added and the extension observed. This hands-on investigation helped them grasp the principles of elasticity and force.

Additionally, Year 5 tested the solubility of different substances, exploring how various materials dissolve in water. These experiments allowed them to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing their understanding of physical and chemical properties.

The highlight of the Summer Term was a visit to Rye Harbour, where the pupils participated in an ‘Explore the Shore’ workshop. During this excursion, they compared living organisms in diverse habitats such as rockpools, shingle and grassland. The pupils engaged in various sampling methods, including using sweeping nets and collecting specimens in pots to examine their features. This hands-on experience with different ecosystems and organisms enriched their understanding of biodiversity and ecological relationships.

Year 6 pupils delved into a variety of advanced scientific investigations, showcasing their growing confidence and skill in using complex equipment and methods.

They began by investigating the effectiveness of different insulating materials meticulously measuring temperatures with thermometers to determine which materials provided the best insulation. In their study of light, they drew ray diagrams of light reflecting off mirrors and refracting through blocks, using ray boxes to visualise these phenomena. This exercise helped them understand the principles of light behaviour and optics.

The pupils also built series and parallel circuits, measuring current and voltage at different points using voltmeters and ammeters. This hands-on activity not only reinforced their knowledge of electrical circuits but also enhanced their practical skills. A particularly fun experiment involved making circuits using lemons, demonstrating the basics of electrochemical reactions.

Year 6 pupils were also introduced to more complex set-ups, such as thermal decomposition, where they gained confidence in handling sophisticated laboratory equipment.

Year 7 pupils embarked on an exciting series of experiments and investigations that deepened their understanding of chemical and physical phenomena. They used heating apparatus to compare the boiling points of water and salty water, then plotted data to create cooling curves. This allowed them to explore the effects of impurities on boiling and cooling processes. In a fascinating diffusion experiment, they observed purple potassium permanganate crystals diffusing in hot and cold water. This visual demonstration helped them to understand how temperature affects the rate of diffusion.

The pupils also explored chromatography by creating chromatograms of inks from pens in their pencil cases. They separated the different coloured pigments and calculated the Rf values, learning about the principles of solubility and chromatography techniques.

British Science Week brought additional excitement, with house challenges themed around ‘time’. The pupils experimented with pendulums and reaction times, working collaboratively to present their results. These activities fostered teamwork and applied scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way.

Year 8 pupils have balanced rigorous academic work with hands-on scientific exploration. While they worked diligently to complete numerous practice exam papers, they also engaged in several complex experiments which tested their practical skills and deepened their theoretical understanding.

One of the highlights was creating copper sulphate crystals from copper oxide and sulphuric acid. This multi-staged process involved mixing reactants in excess, filtering, heating and evaporating. The pupils followed complex methods to ensure precision and accuracy, gaining valuable experience in laboratory techniques

The pupils also used heating apparatus to compare the accuracy of thermometers and electronic temperature probes. This experiment provided insights into the

reliability and precision of different temperaturemeasuring instruments. In an exciting demonstration of combustion, the pupils observed the powder flash experiment, which creates a dramatic fireball of heat energy. This experiment illustrated the principles of combustion and energy release very vividly.

Additionally, Year 8 pupils explored the effects of different conditions on the rusting of iron nails, learning about the chemical processes involved in corrosion. They also created their own acid and alkali indicator using red cabbage, gaining practical experience with pH indicators and chemical reactions.

All our pupils have shown remarkable enthusiasm and curiosity in their scientific pursuits this year, embodying the spirit of discovery which defines our Science Department. We look forward to seeing where their inquisitive minds will take them next!

Sport

Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together

ATHLETICS

As always, the PE staff were looking forward to returning to school after the Easter holidays. Sunshine, shorts and of course Athletics. Our enthusiasm was initially dampened (excuse the pun) because, after another very, very wet Spring, the grounds staff were unable to set the track out for several weeks forcing us to do our initial training indoors or on the Astro, which was far from ideal and certainly delayed the selection process.

Our first meet was away at Dulwich Prep; this is always a good indicator for the coming weeks and, after hastily assembling a squad, the team performed as well as could be expected with limited training time. This did give us an opportunity to see our prospective track athletes for the County Championships. On a less than sunny day in June, thirteen intrepid athletes set off for the Sussex Junior Championship at Hurstpierpoint College to pit their athletic ability against twenty-four other schools. Although we did not set the track alight, our field event athletes rose to the challenge and, in very windy conditions, certainly not suited to Javelin throwing, Arthur P retained his Sussex title with a new Sussex record.

We then travelled to the Senior Championships, where we took eighteen athletes from Years 5-8 to take part in several track and field events. It proved to be a compelling day, with Charlie C getting the team off to a great start by winning the U12 boys’ 1500m and booking his place at the National finals. As the day progressed the team were all performing well, with a number getting into the final rounds of their individual events. However, it was not until the end of the day when we achieved our next first place, with Tymofii L winning the U13 boys’ 200m; this was followed almost immediately with an U13 long jump title, making him a double Sussex Champion and securing his place in the National Finals. The National Finals were held at Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham, where both athletes performed brilliantly. Charlie secured 3rd place in the 1500m and Tymofii earned 3rd place in the Long Jump. These are fantastic achievements and a testament to their dedication and effort.

Junior Sussex Champions and Medallists

Arthur P U11 Javelin 1st New Record / Arthur P U11

Discus 2nd

Harry McK U11 Shot-Put 2nd / Harry Mck U11

200M 3rd

Senior Sussex Championships

Charlie C U12 1500m 1st

Arthur P U12 Shot-Put 2nd

Alara K U13 High Jump 2nd

Gonzalo R U14 Triple Jump 3rd

National Finals

Tymofii L U13 Long Jump 3rd

Charlie C U12 1500m 3rd

BOYS’ CRICKET

1st

XI

Played 6, won 2, lost 4, 1 cancelled Squad: Henry C, Arlo K, Lucas RR, Gonzalo RS, Harrison W, Albert M, Iden N, Alex D, Ethan E, James H, Tymofii L, Joshua S

To think that we only lost one match to a Summer that was so wet, is a testament to our grounds staff, who worked tirelessly at the start of every week to ensure we could play. A season of highs and lows. The team, led by Henry C, improved with every week. Having conceded a few extras at crucial times, we improved a great deal in this area towards the end of term, which meant we were far more competitive. Congratulations to Henry C for his fifties against Claremont and Skipper’s Hill; Iden N for his fifties against Holmewood House U13B and Skipper’s Hill; Alex D for his fifty against Claremont; and Arlo K for his 5 for 13 against St Andrew’s.

2nd XI

Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4, 1 cancelled

Squad: Arturo C, Octave D-H, Yehor A, Archie M, Woytek P, Max P, Jacobo L, Joshua S, William H, Juan A, Kingsley N, Jack L

With many of the squad playing the game for the first time, it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and effort the entire group put into improving their cricketing knowledge and skills. The results may not have gone their way, but it was clear they enjoyed their matches each Wednesday afternoon. The highlight of the season was Juan hitting 28 off the first over of the innings against Claremont.

Colts A

Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2, 1 cancelled

Squad: Elliott C, Charlie F, Raphy G, Jamie M, Masa M, Harvey P, Harry M, Arthur P, Teddy H, Sam L, Charlie C

The group have had a fantastic year, and the cricket season proved no different. After a tricky soft ball game to start the season, the team played some lovely cricket, beating Skipper’s Hill (twice), Claremont and Marlborough House. Missing the hard-hitting Charlie C through injury against Saint Ronan’s meant

that they fell short of the required runs needed, the only real blip in a very good season. Charlie C batted well for his 50 not out against Skipper’s Hill, with Harvey P, Masa M and Jamie M bowling very well all season and Harry M doing a great job with the bat and with the gloves behind the stumps.

Colts B

Played 6, Lost 6, 1 cancelled

Squad: Harry D, Lucas M, Barnaby O’G, James P, Noah P, Charles E-H, Ronen Z, Rex L, Guillaume B-L

A tricky game to master, the Colts B had a tough season. However, they remained positive throughout and their bowling became more fluent and their striking more consistent.

BOYS’ FOOTBALL

1st XI

Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4, 1 cancelled

Squad: Arturo C, Joshua S, Ethan E, Lucas R, Iden N, Tymofii L, Henry C (Captain), Alexander D, Player of the season: Lucas R, Juan A, Asier M

The 1st team’s football season can be summed up as a good start, a poor middle and an excellent end. Having lost our first fixture due to the school being closed due to a lack of water, the season finally got underway with the short trip down the A21 to face our local rivals Claremont. With both teams finding their feet, a 2-2 draw was the correct result. The next two games were won at a canter, beating Saint Ronan’s and Battle Abbey 6-0 and 8-0 respectively. Going into the next match against Skippers Hill the team were brimming with confidence, only for it to come crashing down after giving up a two-goal lead to lose the match 3-2. The boys had no time to dwell on their disappointment as the following day they played the touring side from Aldwickbury Manor, who proved too strong on the day going on to win the match 5-2. The boys soon got back to winning ways by beating the current IAPS champions St Andrew’s 4-3, in what proved to be their last match of the season.

2nd XI

Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4, 1 cancelled

Squad: Albert M, Max P, Monty P, Tristan S, Octave D-H, Arlo K, Harrison W, James H, Woytek P, Jacobo L, Miguel L

Possession was key throughout the season and, when we held onto the ball for any period, we created chances and played some lovely football. Being a predominantly attack-minded team has its problems and, when we did lose possession in the opposition’s half, we were always caught short in defence. The highlight of the season was the game against St Andrew’s. Played in atrocious conditions, the team battled hard throughout, played some of their best football and, although they conceded towards the end, walked off the pitch knowing they had all given 100%. Several of the group will be pushing for 1st XI selection next year and will have learnt a lot from their experiences this season.

3rd & 4th

Squad: Jack L, Archie M, Artiom V, Louis D, MP T, Nicolas A-C, William H, Stephen Z, Steven G, Joshua G, Ricky W, Yehor A, Act C

It was encouraging to see the effort the entire group put into their football this term. Often playing on slightly smaller pitches suited the teams and, with some of the group preferring to sit deep and defend, it gave the more attacking minded players the freedom to push forward at every opportunity and make themselves a nuisance for the opposition defence. Artiom, William, Jack, Steven G and Stephen Z were great at this and, with Josh G outstanding in defence all season, the teams can be very proud of their achievements.

Colts A

Played 6, Won 3, Lost 3, 1 cancelled

Squad: Jamie M, Harvey P, Pepe AC, Masa M, Harry M, Sam L, Charlie C

The Colts A made some really good progress this year. The more senior players led by example and the team played some good attacking football. Jamie in goal

made some important saves and, in Pepe and Harvey in defence, we had two defenders who are very comfortable on the ball, often traveling to create some space for the midfield. Masa M was the ball player in midfield, who was always available to receive the ball and play some lovely passes to Harry M and Sam L out wide. Charlie C up front didn’t give any defenders time on the ball and linked the play well. The Claremont game was a highlight; not only was it a great victory but we managed to keep the ball well and created many chances.

Colts B & C

Played 6, Lost 6, 1 cancelled

Squad: Elliott C, Charlie F, Raphy G, Teddy H, Arthur P, Rex L, Noah P, Charles E-H, Ronen Z, Barnaby O’G, Lucas M, Harry D, Guillaume B-L

It was a tough season, with both squads unable to hold onto the ball for any meaningful length of time. Not having the ball meant we were often under pressure in defence. We spent a huge amount of time working on our touch and possession in training and we did improve in this area as the season progressed.

Under 13

Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2, 2 games cancelled

Squad: Juan AL, Arturo C, Henry C, Octave D-H, Ethan E, Joshua G, Arlo K, Kingsley N, Asier MS, Lucas RR, Ricky W, Harrison W, Pablo TM, Joshua S

Rugby, with all its rules, takes years to master so, as the majority of the squad were playing the game for the first time, they can be very proud of their performance, both before and after the Christmas break. It was pleasing to see the old guard of Henry C, Ethan E and Harrison W leading from the front in both training and matches, setting the standard for the others to follow. The team did well against Holmewood House U13B team, winning 45-30 and followed this with good wins against Claremont and Cranbrook School U13B team.

Under 12

Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2, 2 games cancelled

Squad: Louis D, James H, Tymofii L, Albert M, Miguel L F-X, Archie M, Iden N, Monty P, Max P, Artiom V, MP T, William H

It is fair to say that the team enjoyed the attacking side of the game more than the defence and, with Tymofii L and Iden N running in several tries, and Max P and Monty P doing the dirty work at the breakdown, the team did an excellent job at competing against some strong opposition. The highlight of the season was the game against Cranbrook U12B and, although we lost by 5 points, it was an end-to-end battle in tricky conditions.

BOYS’ RUGBY

Under 11

Played 6, Won 6, 2 games cancelled

Squad: Pepe AC, Elliott C, Charlie C, Charlie F, Raphy G, Jamie M, Masa M, Harvey P, Ronen Z, Harry M, Arthur P

To say that the team had a good season is an understatement. With every week the group got stronger and stronger. Their positioning and all–round teamwork improved and, with every player in the team playing to their strengths, they were able to defend very well when needed and score tries from all over the park. To go an entire season unbeaten is a great achievement, even more so when you consider that there were only eleven pupils to choose from and many of the opposing schools had two teams. With wins against Holmewood House, Dulwich, Claremont, Saint Ronan’s, Papplewick and Marlborough House, the side can be extremely proud of their achievements.

Under 10

Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4, 2 games cancelled.

Squad: Harry D, Teddy H, Sam L, Lucas M, Harry M, Barnaby O’G, Noah P, Arthur P, James P, Guillame B-L, Rex L

There is quite a step up from U9 to U10 rugby, with the introduction of rucking and mauling. The added physicality is not for everyone, but that did not stop the group from trying their best against several bigger squads on the circuit. The highlight of the term was the match against Claremont, in which the boys moved the ball through the hands brilliantly, made some crucial tackles and played as a team.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

1st

Played 7, Won 3, Drew 2, Lost 2

Dulwich Tournament- Semi Finalist

Squad: : Alex D, Henry C, Ethan E, Lucas R R, Harrison W, Tymofii L, Juan A L

What a season! To compete the way we did, against some very big schools, is a testament to how well the team played. Every member of the team had a role which they carried out brilliantly and we were able to play some lovely hockey. Henry and Juan did a great job in getting the team moving forward and scoring crucial goals; Harrison and Lucas were strong in defence; Tymofii and Ethan worked tirelessly on the wings; and, with Alex D outstanding in goal all season, the group can be very proud of what they achieved.

2nd

Played 7, Drew 1, Lost 6

Squad: Arturo C, Arlo K, Kingsley N, James H, MP T, Monty P, Iden N, Ricardo M-Q G, Jacobo L.

3rd & 4th

Played 7, Won 3, Drew 2, Lost 2

Dulwich Tournament- Semi Finalist

Squad: Jacobo L, William H, Artiom V, Archie M, Ricardo M-Q, Joshua G, Octave D-H, Nicolas A-C, Yehor A, Act C, Louis D, Woytek P, Ricky W, Max P, Tristan S

For many of the group, this was the first time they had picked up a stick. It took them a while to get to grips with the skills required, but steady progress was made all round. A special mention to Max P, the resident keeper, who did a great job throughout the season.

Colts A

Played 9, Won 9 (Excluding tournaments)

Squad: Charlie C, Charlie F, Jamie M, Masa M, Harvey P, Harry M, Sam L, Raphy G, Arthur P

Lorum ipsum vendo nes

Yes, the results did not go our way and we lost six of our seven matches, but what the statistics do not tell you is how well the group played at times. With Iden making several good saves in every match, we stayed competitive for large chunks of each game. We were able to create a few good chances, but our shooting accuracy let us down.

This group have had a great year so far and the hockey season proved no different. Every player took ownership of their position, meaning they knew exactly what they had to do when required. They were excellent in training, both positive and encouraging towards each other, which meant they gelled extremely well on the pitch. Their results reflect the hard work and determination they displayed, and they can be very proud.

Runners Up - SVS U11 Tournament 2024

What a performance! The team started slowly against Saint Ronan’s and grew into the match, with both sides creating chances that they were unable to convert, the game ending 0-0.

They came alive against Claremont, winning 2-0, Charlie C scoring two very well worked goals. In the last pool game against Kent College Canterbury, the team played some of their best hockey of the afternoon, winning 3-0, with Charlie C scoring two fantastic goals and Masa M the other on the reverse.

This meant we went through to the semi-finals as group winners, where we took on Dulwich Cranbrook. In a tight game, where both sides had opportunities, Charlie C was able to score and take us into the final against Saint Ronan’s who did well in their semi-final against Ashford. In a repeat of the first game, both teams were evenly-matched. Saint Ronan’s took the lead with a wonderful strike from the top of the D, only for us to go level with a good strike from Harry M from a short corner. The game ebbed and flowed until Saint Ronan’s found some space in the D and were able to score. A 1-2 loss, but a great performance from the team.

Plate WinnersIAPS Qualifiers at Eastbourne College

The team played against Holmewood House first. After playing them the week before and having had a convincing win, they took hold of the match again and, after many attempts, Masa M found a way through to score and win the game 1-0. The next match was against Royal Russell. They went 0-1 down, but this fired them up and, with some fantastic play, Charlie C scored a hat-trick to win 3-1. The next two games were very frustrating. They were so dominant against St Andrew’s and the opposition could not get out of their own half. The boys had around 90% possession and many attempts at goal but could not get one to count and therefore finished in a 0-0 draw. A similar story against Windlesham House, with all the possession but no goal, and unfortunately the one breakthrough ended up in a short corner from which the opposition scored so we lost that match 0-1. Ardingly was a well-matched game, with both teams having chances, but it finished in a 0-0 draw. The final group match was against top of the pool, Hall Grove, and was a good match for both teams. Hall Grove scored but the boys kept challenging, which resulted in scoring an equaliser from a short corner; unfortunately it was disallowed resulting in a 0-1 loss.

That was the group stages complete - two wins, two draws and two 0-1 losses. This meant they ended up in the plate competition. The semi-final was against Great Walstead. Another match where the team dominated possession but found themselves 0-0 at half time. Charlie C had a one-on-one with their goalkeeper who wiped him out, so a penalty stroke was awarded. Not many were keen to step up, but Jamie M did and scored. Momentum shifted and Charlie C soon also scored to win 2-0 to move to the final.

The final was against Cumnor House. This was a physical game and a good competitive match. Masa M scored in the first half, but Cumnor House came back in the second half to equalise. Now it was down to penalty strokes; Charlie C, Harry M and Harvey P were selected. The opposition chose to go first. Charlie F had so far had a relatively quiet day in goal, but now he was needed and made a great save of the first penalty. Charlie C scored his penalty. Charlie F then made another great save. Harry M scored his penalty to win the plate final.

It may have finished with the excellent goalkeeping from our hero, Charlie F, and from Charlie C and Harry M scoring their penalties, but it was a whole team effort for the boys to get to that point. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, with some highs and some frustrations, but there were times in which every boy played some of their best hockey to date. It was a treat to be able to coach them.

Colts B & C

Squad: Elliott C, Arthur P, Teddy H, Raphy G, James P, Rex L, Lucas M, Ronen Z, Harry D, Barnaby O’G, Guillaume B-L, Noah P, Charles E-H

It was a tough season, in which the results did not go our way; however, the entire group remained resilient and worked hard to improve their general hockey skills. Elliot did a great job in goal, keeping the scoreline respectable in every game. Arthur and Raphy, having gained experience from playing in the occasional A team match, did a great job in both attack and defence.

GIRLS’ CRICKET

1st X1

Squad: Dora G (Captain), Matilda B, Brooke-Ella B, Isobel F, Mia G, Honor H, Alessandra K, Alara K, India P, Skye R and Isobel SM

Having been at Vinehall a few years now, I would never have believed that the pitches could possibly have been as bad as last year’s, but the Spring of 2024 had other ideas because it was the wettest I have experienced. Having an inexperienced squad, with only two girls having played the hard ball game, it was imperative that we got the team playing. As the season progressed it felt that the team were understandably at a disadvantage from the start by having little practice and at most times playing stronger and more experienced teams. I must commend the squad under the stewardship of Captain Dora and Vice-Captain Isobel. The team made good progress throughout the season in all areas of the game and, although that slippery win eluded them, it was not for the lack of trying. Hopefully the Year 7 girls in the squad will have learnt much. Thank you to all the squad members for their hard work in what was a challenging season.

2nd X1

Squad: Alejandra CC, Penelope DB, Sofia D, Vasilisa K, Paula L, Fleur L, Isla M, Poppy O, Frances S and Sonia S

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the cricket season, working hard during games sessions to master the various skills required. Their bowling improved steadily over the season, with special recognition to Frances and Poppy for their consistent performance from the outset. All the girls enjoyed batting and contributed to scoring runs. Alejandra, Penelope, Paula and Poppy had moments of strong batting, but Vasilisa stood out as our big hitter.

As the season progressed, the girls’ confidence grew, and many catches were made. They achieved victories over Dulwich, Marlborough House and Claremont, and had a close match against Holmewood House, losing by just 13 runs. Despite a tough encounter against St Andrew’s, they should be proud of their season. The girls worked well as a team, enjoyed rotating through different fielding positions and many were eager to try their hand at wicket-keeping. Overall, it was a season filled with hard work, teamwork and enjoyment.

Colts

Colts A: Amelia A, Rosie A, Rosa A, Lucie B, Rhiain E, Indira H, Eugenia MR and Betsy S

Colts A: Margot C, Alice C, Alexandra C, Olivia C, Beth D, Lily F, Ivy G and Yuzu M

Colts A: Ludivine DLT, Amanda G, Mili K, Seren K, Kelly L, Manuela Y and Julie Y

The Year 5 and 6 girls combined to create Colts teams for the cricket season. Initially, there were two large Colts teams, but they were later restructured into three teams if the opposition could accommodate.

The Colts A team had a successful season, with three wins against Dulwich, Skippers Hill, and St Andrew’s. The Colts B team also secured two victories against Claremont and Skippers Hill, and they had a very close match against St Andrew’s, losing by a single run in a well-fought game. When the Colts C team was formed, they won both of their matches against Claremont and Skippers Hill.

There were many positives to take from the season. In some fixtures, the girls’ bowling was more accurate than their opposition’s, making it challenging for our girls to bat well when the other team bowled. However, when opportunities arose, each of the teams saw promising batters emerge, with many players scoring fours and sixes. It was heartening to hear that our teams were positive and encouraging towards each other, demonstrating strong collaborative skills. There is much to look forward to next season.

Junior Girls

Under 9: Arya E, Coralie F, Gabriella G, Heidi R and Ailsa W

Colts A: Sia A, Annabel B, Evie E, Indigo L-S, Vivi L, Amelie V, Isabel V-G and Theodora W

The Junior girls participated in a series of cricket festival matches, playing as one large team, in 6-a-side games, or occasionally mixed with boys in 8-a-side matches. They enjoyed rotating through different fielding positions, honing the necessary skills. Some players have emerged as promising batters, striking the ball with confidence, though they need to work on playing shots into space moving forward. While bowling has proved the most challenging skill to master, they have shown great resilience and perseverance. They have successfully grasped the basic skills and rules of the game and we are happy with their efforts and progress. Next year, they will focus on building on these fundamentals, further developing their cricket shots and enhancing their communication with batting partners to better judge when to score runs and when to wait.

GIRLS’ FOOTBALL

Although we think that women’s football has broken onto the world stage only in recent years, it might come as a surprise that the first recognised Women’s World Cup was staged in Italy in 1970, which preceded a 1971 event of six countries in Mexico where the final was watched by 110,000 people. It is a difficult thing to learn a new sport from scratch but, as Vinehall has moved into phase two of developing the girls’ game following last year’s breakthrough season, the girl’s progress has gone from strength to strength. With Years 3 and 4 getting on board we have added more fixtures to the programme. I was delighted to head up their training sessions alongside the PE department and was once again impressed at how well the girls have adapted to learning new skills.

Although they primarily had to train indoors or on the Astro due to a very wet Lent term, which effectively made the pitches more suitable for ducks than for football, we were pleasantly surprised at how well they played in their matches, where the teams comfortably held their own against stronger opposition. We certainly have high hopes for our middle years as they are showing great potential; perhaps we will see a Vinehall girl scoring a hat trick in a World Cup Final, just as 15-year-old Susanne Augustesen did for Denmark in a 3-0 win back in 1971.

against a strong Holmewood House team, ending 5-24. Despite the defeat, it was inspiring to witness such a high level of netball.

1st Squad: Frankie F (Captain), Alessandra K (Captain) Isla B, Isobel F, Dora G, Mia G, Honor H, Skye R and Rocio VD

The team had a very successful season, playing ten matches and showcasing impressive performances throughout. Over the season, they scored 124 goals, conceded 76 and achieved a goal difference of 48. Their record included seven wins, one draw, and two losses.

The team faced St Andrew’s three times, demonstrating their progress with each game. They drew 8-8 against St Andrew’s’ U13A team in the first match. In the next encounter, they dominated the U12A team, winning 21-9. Later in the season, they secured two more victories against them, with scores of 5-2 and 14-8.

Against Dulwich, the team played two matches, winning convincingly with scores of 22-7 and 14-0. They also achieved a dominant 21-5 win against Claremont. The final match of the season was a closely contested game against Skippers Hill, which they won 12-10.

One of the two losses came against Marlborough House, where the game ended 2-3 after only a quarter was played. The team dominated possession, but the shooters needed more time to settle, potentially changing the outcome. Their only significant loss was

The team should be proud of their achievements. Comprising an even split of Year 8 and Year 7 girls, they frequently played against U13A teams and even Year 9s from Dulwich. After two players left Vinehall at Christmas, the team showed great versatility by adapting to different positions and welcoming Honor for the remainder of the season.

Frankie and Dora formed a formidable duo in the attacking circle, with Dora dominating the baseline and Frankie excelling out in front. Both shared the shooting responsibilities and achieved high conversion rates. Alessandra, Isobel, Rocio, Mia and Honor were relentless in the midcourt, providing unwavering support and control. Isla, Skye, and later Isobel when she moved into GD, comprised a strong defensive unit that consistently thwarted the opposition’s attempts to reach their shooters, frequently turning over possession and maintaining a solid defensive stance. Their collaborative spirit and adaptability were commendable, making them an absolute pleasure to coach.

Overall, the season was marked by outstanding teamwork, determination and growth. The girls should take pride in their accomplishments, both individually and as a team.

GIRLS’ NETBALL

2nd

Squad: Ella B, Penelope DB, Vasilisa K, Paula L, Honor H, Alara K, India P and Isobel SM

The girls had a strong season, playing seven matches and winning four. They delivered some convincing performances, with standout victories including an 18-2 win against Dulwich, a 21-4 triumph over Claremont and a hard-fought 9-5 win against Holmewood House. Their most impressive match came in the final game of the season, where they dominated Skippers Hill with a score of 16-2.

They had a close contest against Marlborough House, narrowly losing 6-8, and unfortunately struggled against St Andrew’s, losing both encounters. Paula and Alara formed a dynamic partnership in the shooting circle, while Penelope, Vasilisa and Isobel were formidable in defence. Brooke, Honor and India worked tirelessly across the midcourt, effectively bringing the ball down court and winning back possession.

Throughout the season, the team made excellent progress and gelled as a unit, showcasing their growth and cohesion with each match.

3rd

Squad: Carman AC, Matilda B, Alejandra CC, Sofia D, Issy DD, Fleur L, Isla M, Poppy O, Frances S and Sonia S

The team faced a challenging season, playing six matches and securing two wins against Dulwich and Marlborough House. Despite closely-contested games against Claremont, Holmewood, and the St Andrew’s D team, their toughest match was against St Andrew’s’ 3rd team. Many players were new to netball, but showed impressive dedication in developing their skills and embracing the game. While their shooting was consistent in training, it needed to translate into match play. With a bit more self-belief, this team could have significantly improved, as they often competed well. Their work ethic was exemplary and they always gave their best effort.

Under 11

Team A: Amelia A, Rosie A, Lucie B, Jimena CC, Beth D, Margot C and Yuzu M

Team B: Olivia C, Rhiain E, Lily F, Mili K, Seren K and Julie Y

The U11s had a challenging season, navigating between matches played under the England Bee Netball programme and traditional 7-a-side games, depending on the opposition. This required frequent adjustments in training sessions to prepare for each type of game. The team enjoyed playing Bee Netball, as it allowed them to try different positions, though score lines could vary significantly if shooting proved difficult. This experience helped them become more versatile players.

Despite the challenges, their work ethic and commitment were unwavering. Both teams secured a win each, with the B team also earning a draw. Some losses were closely-contested. It was encouraging to see the progress they made, with the A team gaining valuable experience at a Bee Netball IAPS tournament.

Under 10

Squad: Alice C, Alexandra C, Ivy G, Indira H, Kelly L, Betsy S and Manuela Y

Despite facing similar challenges to the U11 team, switching between the England Bee Netball programme and the 7-a-side formation, this team displayed unmatched determination and competitiveness. They pursued victory with relentless effort, chasing down every ball to regain possession. This tenacity resulted in winning three of their five matches, including impressive scores of 24-2 against Marlborough House and 22-2 against Claremont. Their two losses were close encounters, losing by just two goals to St Andrew’s and four goals to Holmewood House. Considering these are large schools and this team consisted of all the girls in their year group, their performance was particularly impressive. Their efforts throughout the season were commendable, and I could not be more pleased with their progress and determination.

Junior Girls

Under 9: Arya E, Coralie F, Gabriella G and Heidi R

Under 8: : Sia A, Annabel B, Evie E, Indigo L-S, Vivi L, Amelie V, Isabel V-G and Theodora W

The Junior girls participated in Bee Netball festival matches, playing either 4-a-side or 5-a-side and enjoying the opportunity to rotate through different positions. Some players have begun to emerge as potential great shooters, demonstrating impressive accuracy and composure, while others have shown strong defensive instincts, consistently intercepting the ball. They have done well to learn the basic skills required for the game and to develop their skill set, and we look forward to building on their progress next year.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

1st

Squad: Isobel F (Captain), Frankie F, Dora G, Mia G, Alessandra K, Alara K, Skye R, and Rocio VD

The team played seven matches, securing two wins, two draws and three losses. They achieved convincing victories against Battle Abbey and Beechwood, with scores of 11-0 and 7-1 respectively. Both matches against Dulwich and Claremont ended in 0-0 draws. Although they dominated against Claremont, they had two goals disallowed in a game where the ball just would not go in. Their losses came against Marlborough House (1-5) and Skippers Hill (0-3), with the toughest match being against a clinical and impressive Sutton Valence side (0-7). Throughout the season, the team showed resilience and worked collaboratively, adapting well to a new formation halfway through the season, which suited them better.

2nd

Squad: Isla B, Brooke-Ella B, Matilda B, Sofia D, Alara K, Honor H, Isla M, India P, Isobel SM

This team had an impressive season, playing seven matches and securing five wins, while losing only two. They achieved victories of 1-0 against Dulwich, 4-0 against Battle Abbey, 5-0 against Claremont, 4-2 against Skippers Hill, and 7-1 against Beechwood. Their two challenging matches were against Marlborough

House and Sutton Valence, where they faced defeats of 1-5 and 0-5 respectively. Many players contributed to scoring goals, demonstrating a strong collaborative effort from the entire team.

3rd

Squad: Carmen AC, Penelope DB, Issy DD, Vasilisa K, Fleur L, Paula L, Poppy O, Frances S and Sonia S

This team had a brilliant season, especially considering many players were new to hockey. They worked hard on their skills, and their determination and competitive spirit earned them well-deserved results. They played seven matches, winning four, drawing one and losing two. Their victories included a 5-2 win against Marlborough House, 8-0 against Battle Abbey, 2-0 against Claremont and 4-2 against Skippers Hill. They drew 1-1 against the Dulwich 4th team. The two losses were closely contested, ending in a 0-1 defeat to the Dulwich 3rd team and a 1-3 loss to Sutton Valence. Carmen and Frances were the team’s top scorers, but credit goes to all players for a solid team performance.

Under 11

Team A: Amelia A, Rosie A, Lucie B, Margot C, Beth D, Rhiain E, Seren K and Yuzu M

Team B: Jemina CdLC, Olivia C, Lily F, Milli K, Seren K, Yuzu M and Julie Y

The two teams faced a challenging season, with the A team losing most of their matches. Despite the tough results, significant progress and resilience were shown by every player. The season was marked by closely-contested games, often decided by a single goal. Although our struggles to score were evident, the team’s determination and effort never waned.

The last two matches showcased their best performances, culminating in a win over Sacred Heart. Even in their 3-4 loss against Somerhill, it was gratifying to see the goals going in, rewarding their hard work.

The B team enjoyed some success, securing two 2-0 wins against Dulwich and Claremont. This progress is a testament to their perseverance throughout the season. The players demonstrated growth and a willingness to learn and adapt. Many matches had moments of brilliance that showcased both teams’ potential and the experience gained has been invaluable.

Moving forward, building a more competitive edge and fostering a stronger collective spirit will be crucial. The teams have shown they have the skills and determination needed to compete. The foundation has been laid and, with continued hard work, focus on improving our scoring opportunities and a united team approach, we are optimistic about next season.

Under 10

Squad: Rosa A, Alice C, Alexandra C, Ivy G, Indira H, Kelly L and Betsy S

The U10 hockey team had an outstanding unbeaten season, playing six matches with three wins and three draws. Their victories included impressive performances against Marlborough House, Skippers Hill, and Sacred Heart.

The team secured two 0-0 draws against Dulwich and Claremont. Despite dominating the match against Claremont, they were unable to convert their efforts into goals. Additionally, a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Somerhill showcased their resilience and determination.

Indira and Betsy were the season’s top scorers, consistently finding the back of the net and leading the team’s offensive efforts.

Throughout the season, the team demonstrated exceptional hard work, competitiveness, support for one another and relentless spirit. Their impressive

performances continued at the Radnor House Hockey Festival, where they played with great skill and teamwork.

This season’s success is testament to the players’ dedication and passion for the game. We look forward to building on this strong foundation in the coming seasons.

Junior Girls

Under 9: Arya E, Coralie F, Gabriella G, Heidi R and Ailsa W

Under 8: Sia A, Annabel B, Evie E, Indigo L-S, Vivi L, Amelie V, Isabel V-G and Theodora W

Throughout the season, the U9/8 team participated in numerous festival fun matches, focusing on learning the game and applying their new skills. The Year 4 girls emerged as leaders and were supportive to Year 3.

The teams showcased some lovely goals and demonstrated excellent teamwork, highlighting their growing understanding of the game. However, they sometimes struggled with the cold weather conditions, which tested their resilience. Moving forward, building this resilience in challenging conditions will be crucial.

Overall, the season was marked by significant progress, with each player contributing to the team’s development. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and determination in the seasons ahead.

In the Lent Term the Vinehall U11 girls’ team competed at the National ISGA Gymnastics Challenge Cup competition, which was held at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, Borehamwood. Rosie A, Lucie B, Margot C, Lily F and Rosa A all competed with great confidence and gave sound performances on all four pieces of apparatus.

On set vault Lucie came top of the team, with a score of 9.1. The top-scoring gymnast on voluntary vault was Margot, with 9.1. Rosie and Margot shared top position on set floor, scoring 8.5. With a score of 9.1, Rosie came top on voluntary floor. Lily and Rosa also achieved very encouraging scores for their efforts. The team came 6th overall for their combined scores, with Rosie achieving 9th place overall in the individual competition out of 40 gymnasts. These were great results and the girls should be very proud of their performances.

Also in the Lent term, Years 1 and 2 put on a fantastic display to parents, staff and Pre-Prep pupils. Year 1 took to the floor to perform first, demonstrating their very well-coordinated skills on apparatus and floor. They took turns in their group on the various stations, performing forward rolls, backward rolls and cartwheels, together with squatting onto the three vaulting tables and jumping off and landing to show controlled landing positions.

Year 2 performed well, showing fantastic ability in their performances. They worked in groups synchronising their floor skills from jumps to exciting tumbling skills. They then vaulted onto the high blocks, with each child having a different dismount from high star jumps, to round off. Children who have extra lessons in gymnastics performed an individual floor routine, with the girls working to music and the boys without. They did exceptionally well and performed with great confidence on the big floor.

In the Summer term the gym squad enjoyed practising the various group routines preparing for the end of year display at the FOV Fete. The Junior and Senior girls performed their own group routines, with Rosie, Margot and Lucie performing a trio. Alessandra, Issy, Rosie and Rosa also performed their own individual routine. Artiom showed some very impressive strength moves and amazing tumbling skills in his routine, finishing with a round off back flip into a back somersault. The finale was a Spice Girls routine to ‘Spice Up Your Life’. This was a big hit with the gymnasts, and I think the audience enjoyed it too! It has been a fantastic year; well done to all the gymnasts for their great enthusiasm, hard work and commitment to the squad.

National ISGA Gymnastics Challenge Cup

SWIMMING

It has been a good year for the Vinehall swim squad, especially the Senior girls who were unbeaten throughout the year with great wins against Benenden, Mayfield, Bede’s and winning the St Andrew’s cup.

In the Michaelmas term the Senior girls started with a win at Benenden and the Juniors were beaten at St Andrew’s. There were also wins for the Middles at home to Claremont and Years 5-8 at Bede’s.

The Lent term started with the IAPS regional, with four of the Senior girls making it through to the national finals later in the year. There were more wins for the Senior girls at Mayfield and the girls and boys at Claremont.

In the summer term we had a friendly gala against St Andrew’s for Years 3-6, which was valuable experience for the younger swimmers. The final gala of the season was for the Juniors at Dulwich Prep; on a very cold day in an open-air pool we finished 3rd behind the hosts.

In June Alara K, Honor H, Fleur L and Mia G competed in the national finals at the Olympic Park Stratford. Alara finished 7th in the 50m Breaststroke, Honor 9th in the 50m Backstroke and the Medley relay team of Fleur, Alara, Honor and Mia came 18th. Great effort and experience for these girls.

A big thank you to Katie Walker for all her help throughout the year and any colleagues who have helped at galas.

Under 8/9 Sport

My favourite sessions of the week are the ones involving Years 3 and 4. The sheer delight and enthusiasm shown brings a smile to my face. New skills are learnt and then to see them used in game situations is just brilliant.

For many of the Year 3s it is a step into the unknown, having to learn the rules very quickly and then play matches every Thursday. They all manage and, with

CROSS COUNTRY

It has been another very good year for cross country at Vinehall. With more pupils joining the crosscountry club on Mondays during the Michaelmas and Lent term, it has meant our fitness levels have most definitely improved. The team took part in events at Saint Ronan’s, Dulwich, Somerhill and Claremont. Below are three snippets from across the two terms.

Saint

Ronan’s

Event Brenchley Relay

In the first event of the season the team travelled to Saint Ronan’s for their annual Brenchley relay. A timed event, both the girls’ and boys’ teams did brilliantly against a strong field. The girls’ team, of Indira H, Beth D, Frankie F and Isobel F, did a great job, finishing an impressive 6th place out of 13 teams. The boys’ team, of Harry M, Charlie C, Iden N and Henry C, also had a fantastic afternoon, finishing 5th out of 18 teams.

the support and encouragement from the old guard, Year 4, they do a great job be it playing hockey, netball, rugby, football or cricket.

Scores are not important at this age - participation and enjoyment are; and it is a delight to see their games understanding improve in a very short time.

Somerhill regional event

The highlight of the event was Charlie C’s incredible 3rd place in the U11 cross country event at Somerhill. Competing against 110 other runners and emulating Zola Budd, he overcame an early footwear malfunction to force his way back into contention and push the leaders all the way to the finish line. Notable other finishers were Henry C (5th - U13 race) and Beth D (11th - U11 race).

Goodman and Hutchings Mixed Relay at Dulwich Cranbrook

Running as a team of six, the race started with the U9 girls, who then passed their batten onto the U9 boys, then to the U11 girls, then boys and eventually finishing with the U13 girls and boys.

Running against a strong field, both teams can be extremely proud of their efforts, with the Vinehall A team finishing in 7th place and the B team in 11th. Special mention must go to Charlie C who recorded the fastest U11 time, running the 1.2km course in an impressive 4 minutes 53 seconds.

Boarding

Lovely evenings spent outside playing games.

Wacky races, piggyback races, wheelbarrow races and a tangle tease

There was a very warm start to the year in September. We had lovely evenings spent eating outside and playing ‘getting to know you’ games.

Returning pupils helped to make new children settle in and showed them the routines and expectations. We were supposed to go for a walk at Firle Beacon but, due to the lovely warm weather, we took a trip to Bewl Water instead. Despite the water level being very low after the summer, the boarders enjoyed jumping on the water slides and we had a picnic lunch in the shade.

It was not long before the nights grew darker and the days chilly and we had to switch our attention to more indoor activities. The first trip was tenpin bowling and the arcades; it was a rainy, miserable day but the boarders enjoyed a very competitive game and spent ages playing the multitude of arcade games on offer.

A few weeks later we had the annual Apple Day at school. It was such fun to see the children bobbing for apples, trying apple soup and spending time around the bonfire eating toffee apples. The annual FOV firework display was a huge success, and the boarders enjoyed the evening eating sugary treats and watching a superb display over the golf course.

Over the next few weeks, the boarders settled into a routine and we went to a selection of activities, such as trampolining. We took a trip to the beach, got ice cream and spent time on site holding talent contests, spending time in the library and the sports hall.

One chilly evening in November we had a taster evening for the younger children in the Prep school. The Harry Potter themed evening transformed the main entrance hall into the Great Hall of Hogwarts. There were activities, such as slime-making, magic writing and wand-making. The evening’s food consisted of magical themed sandwiches, cake and snacks.

The children stayed over for the evening and they were all very brave; for some it was their first time away from home. Great fun was had by all.

Early in December we started getting ready for Christmas. One bitterly cold and foggy day we caught the train to Tunbridge Wells; after an hour of whizzing around the ice rink we had hot Chocolate before we made our way, tired and happy, back to school for a lovely warming evening meal.

The following weekend we took a shopping trip to Bluewater. This is always a highlight of the year and the

boarders spend the day wandering around the shops finding gifts for family and friends before heading home for Christmas.

The annual school carol service was lovely and very atmospheric; all the children sang beautifully. We returned to school for a weekend of Christmas activities. We made gingerbread houses and decorated the tree. Some children went foraging for foliage to decorate the tables for our Christmas dinner and some helped to set up the tables and chairs in the Front Hall. We had an amazing traditional Christmas lunch, with everyone in good festive cheer.

At this point we had to say goodbye to our lovely Gappers and some of our pupils. Lucy Mannion, Ariel Ruben, Marcus Peters and Alexander Weston had completed a full year with us, and we wished them well as they headed off for the Christmas holiday and their future plans.

In the new year we welcomed new Gappers and, in the dead of Winter, began a new year and new adventures. We went to Bedgebury to swing from the trees, painted pottery and took a trip to the cinema and bowling.

One Friday evening we hosted another taster evening for the older Prep pupils. The theme for the evening was ‘I’m a boarder, get me out of here’. There were mystery boxes into which the children had to put their hands and guess the content; one of the boxes contained baked beans, and there was much squealing and laughter. The evening meal consisted of pannacotta eyeballs, wiggly worms and some other rather suspect-looking delicacies. The children watched ‘Tarzan’ and reluctantly went to bed.

The highlight of the term was the afternoon we spent at Temper Temper Chocolate; in the run up to Easter we made our own chocolate eggs, truffles and Florentines. The boarders had chocolate for weeks afterwards! The next day the girls went out into the

grounds and picked daffodils to brighten up the common rooms. They did an amazing job of arranging the flowers and there were some lovely creative ideas. The final weekend before the Easter holiday was all about hunting for eggs and getting ready to head home for the holidays.

The summer term weather started a bit dreary, but we made it out to the beach and had an ice cream in the park in Bexhill. We went to Laser Tag and the boarders got involved in a very competitive game. It was not the most peaceful activity, but it was fun.

Finally, a good weather weekend arrived, and we took a trip to Drusilla’s. This is always an enjoyable outing and all the boarders loved the rides and the animals in the

zoo. We had a picnic lunch and bought fresh donuts. Because it was such amazing weather, we had a BBQ for dinner sitting out on the front lawn.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we spent time in the grounds, playing tennis and cricket; we went to the beach for fish and chips and minigolf and had some time playing with Mr and Mrs Powis’s new puppies.

One of the last activities of the year was to Alton Towers. All the boarders loved the rides, although it rained and was a bit miserable. The next day we had wacky races, piggyback races, wheelbarrow races and a tangle tease. The winners got a later Saturday bedtime, and competition was fierce.

As we made our way to the end of term, we enjoyed another trip to Bewl Water and had a picnic. Strawberry picking and ice cream Sundaes were on the agenda the following weekend, which brought us to the end of term party. This year we hired a bouncy waterslide and had a BBQ. It was the final weekend of fun and the excitement of going home for the holidays was in everyone’s mind.

And so it was that we had to say goodbye to all our Year 8 leavers. We had such a wonderful year and we hope that all the lovely boarders will look back on their time at Vinehall as being happy and entertaining.

Events Gallery

Sports Day fun

Year 8 Colour Run

Sports Day!

Run faster, jump higher, reach further

Year 8 Leavers

We take great pride in preparing our pupils for their next educational journey

Juan AL Spain

Alexander D Battle Abbey

Brooke-Ella B Battle Abbey

Ethan E Tonbridge

Arturo C Spain

Isobel F King’s Canterbury

Alejandra C Spain

Henry C Eastbourne

Penelope D France

Octave D Lycee Francais, London

Sofia D Spain

Theodora G Lancing College

Joshua G King’s Canterbury

Alessandra K Eastbourne

Arlo K Bryanston

Vasilisa K Hastings

Jacobo L Spain

Isla M Sevenoaks

Paula N Spain

Kingsley N Cranbrook

Skye R King’s Canterbury

Sebastian R Eastbourne

Lucas R Spain

Gonzalo R Spain

Sonia S Hastings

Joshua S Battle Abbey

Ricky W King’s Canterbury

Harrison W Sutton Valence

Farewells

We are a close staff team at Vinehall and it is always sad to bid farewell to valued colleagues.

We have been very lucky to have Emilie McKinnon on maternity cover in the maths department since November 2023. Emilie has been a hugely popular maths teacher this academic year and has inspired even the most reluctant mathematicians with her creative style of teaching. We wish her every success in her new role at The Mead in Tunbridge Wells.

We are very sad to bid farewell to Louisa Bennett, a hugely competent and effective Deputy Head of Pre-Prep, who will be devoting her time to pursuing another leadership role on her inevitable route to a well-deserved headship one day

Louisa joined the staff in 2017 and was promoted to our Leadership team in 2021. She has been a very popular and skilled Reception teacher and is an expert on academic assessment and computer systems, supporting her Pre-Prep colleagues with all techy issues. We will miss her cheerful presence, creative practice and dedication to all the children in her care.

Our excellent English teacher, Debbie Gearey, is also leaving us to spend more time with her grandchildren and to work as a private tutor.

Debbie originally joined Vinehall back in September 2002. She was a wonderfully skilled Head of English until December 2018, also running the Drama Department for many years. Juggling a busy academic department and producing three amazing shows annually was an enormous task, but one she managed with creativity and great skill. With a few years at Somerhill between, Debbie returned to Vinehall in 2022 as a part-time English teacher and has supported Emily Platt brilliantly. Her lessons are inspirational and she is hugely admired by staff, parents and, most importantly, all the children lucky enough to be in her classes.

We also say farewell to a very dedicated Vinehall school governor, John Giles, who has served on the Board since March 2017, assuming the Chair in 2019 until 2022.

A highly distinguished medical Consultant, John was very generous with his time and energy. He was a key player on the Finance Committee and was instrumental in our aim to become part of the Repton Family of Schools. Prior to this, John was a very supportive parent of Oliver and Felix and his wisdom, diplomacy, authority and great love of the school have been hugely appreciated by our Senior Management Team.

Alumni News

Welcome from our Alumni Co-ordinator

Dear Vine,

Some of you will remember me as the school secretary form 1984-2001 and I am now the Alumni Administrator at Vinehall School.

Over the course of the year, we hope to arrange a selection of reunion events, culminating in Vines Day at the end of the academic year - it would be lovely

to see as many Vines as possible at that event and further details will follow. Keeping in touch with Vines is very important to us and we love it when a Vine comes back to see us and looks for their shield!

As ever, please keep us updated with your news, as we love to hear from you and would be delighted to share this with the wider community.

With best wishes

Lorna Lambourne