Willingtonian
Foreword
This year is particularly special as we celebrate 140 years of Willington's history. Founded in 1885 by sisters Annie and Ada Hale, our school has seen countless cycles of growth and renewal, navigating challenges and celebrating countless achievements From the early days at Dealtry Road to our present environment, our ability to evolve while staying true to our independent ethos is a testament to the strength of our community The academic year so far has been filled with both tradition and innovation. We observed poignant moments during our assemblies, delved into the rich tapestry of our school's history, and built on our community links.
The ‘Opening Minds’ visiting speaker series has been a cornerstone of our intellectual exploration this term Kicking off with Paralympic gold medallist Dimitri Coutya MBE, who shared with our children the importance of dedication and inclusion, his ability to distil his monumental journey into concepts that resonated with every child was remarkable Edmond Richards from McLaren F1 took us on a riveting journey through STEM applications in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing, while insights from Professor Clive Grinyer, reminded us of the irreplaceable value of human creativity in the age of AI.
Our engagement with the broader educational landscape continued to flourish through webinars and seminars on vital topics such as adolescent mental health, outdoor learning, and the perils and promises of technology in education. Looking ahead, I am excited for the continuous enrichment of our community through educational ventures, the arts, and sports avenues that allow our pupils to express, challenge, and surpass themselves. Against the backdrop of school life, we will continue our celebrations of 140 years, bringing together Willington families from the past and present as we plan a memorable year ahead
Headmaster February 2025
Overleaf - visitors this term, clockwise from top left: Dimitri Coutya, two-time gold medallist Paralympian; Victoria Ohurogu, Bronze Medal Winner in the Paris Olympics; Professor Clive Grinyer, Designer: Hot chocolate with pre-prep golden ticket winners; Pizza lunch with House Point Winners; and Edmund Richards, Race Engineer for McLaren F1
Willington Cricket Team, 1933
Willington in Putney
Future
Schools
This exciting showcase is the perfect opportunity for our parents to meet registrars from a wide range of senior schools. It was a pleasure to welcome Whitgift, Epsom College, Reed’s, Kingswood House, St John’s Leatherhead, Claremont Fan, Emanuel School, Kingston Grammar, Box Hill, King’s College, City of London Freemen’s, Latymer Upper, Hampton, Halliford and Dulwich College. For the first time, we were delighted to include Wimbledon High, Surbiton High and Notre Dame School to our list of options for our girls.
It has clearly been an exceptional year for our Year 6 pupils. One of our last all-boy year groups, this cohort of 21 have excelled, garnering a total of 17 scholarships and 63 offers between them.
Offers received from: ACS Cobham; City of London Freemen’s, Claremont Fan, Emanuel School, Epsom College, Ewell Castle, Hampton, Ibstock Place, King’s College, Kingston Grammar, Radnor House, Reed’s, St John’s Leatherhead, Thomas’s College, Tiffin, Trinity and Whitgift.
Trips
Trips, designed to enhance the curriculum and brin learning to life, have included:
Hampton Court Palace
The Planetarium
Holly Lodge, Richmond Park
The Science Museum
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
Painshill Park
Natural History Museum
Brooklands Museum
The Polka Theatre
New Wimbledon Theatre
Outdoor
Education
Extending the learning beyond the classroom to work on resilience, problem solving and team building skills is a key element to the Willington childhood Outdoor education sweeps across the school from Nursery to Year 6, culminating in the weekly Oates Afternoon Venues this year have included Wimbledon Common, Painshill Park, Ranmore Common, Leith Hill and Winkworth.
Music
It was a highlight of our musical calendar to take our talented musicians to perform at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth PROMS. Such a memorable day for all involved, culminating in a concert for parents.
Collaborating with senior schools, our musicians enjoyed a strings day at Epsom College and a musicmaking day at St John’s, Leatherhead
Musical recitals and the fabulous Christmas concert demonstrated once more the strength of our music curriculum at Willington
STEM
Firmly embedded in the curriculum, STEM is a cornerstone of our educational framework, seamlessly integrated into every level of learning from Nursery through to Year 6.
This September our Year 3 pupils were introduced to their first hands-on science experiments in our dedicated lab, while pupils from Year 6 brought their designs to life with engaging DT projects in the art room Our computing room continues to be a hub of technological exploration, empowering pupils with the skills needed for the digital age
SPORT
So far this year, Willington has excelled in sports, proudly securing victories at the Milbourne Lodge Under 7 Football Tournament, the Surbiton Under 8 Football Tournament, and our first-ever triumph at the Banstead Prep Under 8s Netball Tournament.
Our sports curriculum continues to grow, highlighted by a lively cross-country house event for all pupils from Reception to Year 6. In the Spring term, Years 3 and 4 were thrilled to choose between engaging in hockey or rugby, enhancing their skills and team spirit.
DRAMA
Nursery and Reception kicked off the festive period with a Christmas singalong, while Years 1 and 2 presented their fun-filled show, "Lights, Camel, Action!" A number of children took part in our poignant antibullying play, performed during a school assembly, demonstrating the power of drama in addressing serious topics. Meanwhile, Year 6 has been enjoying hands-on experience in our radio room, learning to create and perform radio plays, sharpening their broadcasting skills
ART
A warm welcome to our new Head of Art, Miss Beere, who has introduced the children from Reception to Year 6 to a range of media and techniques, as proudly displayed over the following pages.
In a new initiative, parents of children in Years 3 to 6 have been invited to Art Showcase evenings, enjoying a glass of wine alongside the outstanding work of their children.
Across the school, we eagerly await the Arts Festival at the end of March with a range of workshops and visits celebrating all things Art!
POW
The POW Christmas Fair was a resounding success, with highlights including the mulled wine and hot dog stall and a cozy wooden cabin where Father Christmas greeted eager children. The children loved the bucking reindeer and the excitement continued throughout the school, with parents presents being one of the most popular stalls. Each year group hosted their own stalls, with an assortment of games and goodies that ensured there was something enjoyable for everyone The Christmas raffle drew the event to a close A big thank you to POW and the class reps for their tremendous effort
COMMUNITY
One of our favourite days of the year, the Grandparents’ Open Morning, sees pupils sharing their Willington world with loved ones.
As part of our commitment to the wider community, we are delighted to partner with Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) and to work with Barchester Care Home and the charity, The Care Pack
As always, our Harvest Festival donations supported the incredible work of The Wimbledon Guild
We are committed to creating an exceptional childhood experience in a supportive atmosphere, guided by our school values of honesty, respect, kindness, and humility. Empowering each child to unlock their innate talents and abilities across all facets of life, our comprehensive approach embraces academic, creative, and sporting accomplishments while fostering self-confidence and happiness in every child We aim to prepare them for a bright future, offering an excellent foundation for lifelong learning and success, and instilling these essential values that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Willington Prep Contact Us
Worcester Road, Wimbledon, SW19 7QQ @willingtonprep www.willingtonschool.co.uk
Headmaster
Keith Brown
E: headmaster@willingtonschool.co.uk
T: 020 8971 0452
Chair of Governors
Deborah Streatfield
E: deborah.streatfield@willingtonschool.co.uk
Admissions
Lucy Walton
E: admissions@willingtonschool.co.uk
T: 020 8971 0452
School Office
E: office@willingtonschool.co.uk
T: 020 8944 7020
