Hordle

Technology (mobile phone coverage) allowing, we’re going to try to keep a blog of this year’s Mull expedition.

You can find it here – Mull Blog

As announced at Founders’ Day, we have some exciting and positive changes to our boarding facilities from the start of the autumn term.

In September, all our boarding will be centred in a new, self-contained boarding area on two floors within the main building. This will create an exclusive boarding ‘wing’ which will provide separate and attractive accommodation and bathrooms for boys and girls, comfortable common areas, a well-equipped kitchen, the sewing room and the matrons’ surgery.

Through focussing all our boarding accommodation within one area, the boys and girls will have the use of the same facilities and parents will benefit of one contact point when making arrangements for weekends etc. Boarders will continue to enjoy excellent supervision from both houseparents and staff who will continue to provide a warm, homely and secure environment for all our boarders.

We strongly believe that the new arrangements will be better for all concerned and the placing of boarding at the centre of the school will, we hope, ensure that it remains a most important aspect of Hordle Walhampton and that day children will aspire to spend some time overnight with us, particulary as the overnight boarding fee is being reduced from September.

We have always stressed that it is both advisable and highly recommended that children moving on to a senior boarding school gain experience of boarding for a term or more in surroundings that are familiar and friendly. As so many of our boarders will confirm, boarding at Hordle Walhampton is fun, busy and friendly.

Founders’ Day 2009

Mr Seely, Mr Jackson, ladies and gentlemen, as always it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our annual Founders’ Day. I would like to think that this occasion is not similar to one attended by many prep school heads recently when the master of ceremonies lent over to the main speaker and whispered in his ear, ‘Are you ready to speak or shall we let everyone go on enjoying themselves a little longer? ‘

I am confident that you will enjoy hearing what our Guest of Honour, Paul Jackson, has to say. Paul was one of those governors at Hordle House to appoint me to the Headship some 15 years ago. He has been a good friend since then and a true supporter of the school for considerably longer than that, having been a parent there himself. He will be well known to most of you as a, if not the, pre-eminent estate agent in Lymington. He stepped down from our board at Easter and he has now retired from the company that still bears his name. Paul regularly visits the school, spending days in both Prep and Pre-Prep departments and joins in happily with many lessons of many subjects prepared for many ages. He has certainly encouraged other governors to do the same and I am delighted that not only is he here with us this morning but also that he is prepared to continue keeping a watchful eye on Hordle Walhampton.

It is my pleasure and duty this morning to sum up the year as succinctly as I can. It has been a good and busy one for all concerned. Academically, we have been delighted with the results of a small Year Eight group. Thomas Shakespeare’s academic scholarship to Winchester and Harry Vokins’s to Clayesmore were the icing on a cake that also saw Louis Ambrose and Henry Carey Morgan excused CE as a result of their scholarship papers at Canford and Eton respectively. Children leave us after CE to schools such as Ballard, Clayesmore, Canford, Marlborough, Milton Abbey, The Oratory, Radley, Sherborne and Shiplake. We were equally pleased with 11+ success at Talbot Heath, St Swithun’s, Cheltenham Ladies College and King Edward VI. In passing, exams were also successfully taken to Merchiston College, the Hampshire Collegiate School and Bournemouth School for Girls. Senior schools are no longer the pushover that they were, having had to bow under pressure to offer places to children who have not attended prep schools to satisfy the public benefit tests and, despite the financial constraints under which everyone finds themselves these days, there appears to be no shortage of takers.

I am always amazed when looking back over the past copies of the Mercury at how much we do at Hordle Walhampton that is over and above the curriculum of any primary school. This year, not exclusively and in no particular order, trips have been undertaken to Hampton Court, Butser, Lulworth, the battlefields and mountains of France and, even this week with so much going on, Year Seven children have enjoyed a day at the Globe Theatre in London.

In addition to our visits, we have ourselves been visited by Tudors, Egyptians, Shakespearean actors, authors as part of the excellent writers’ workshop put on earlier this year for both prep and pre-prep children, former weather girls and speakers warning us of the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. This last has been enlarged by the leavers’ programme that has been introduced this year.
Also introduced this year has been the weekly general knowledge quiz which has caused much argument, and the first in what we hope will be a series of termly talks for parents. This year it concentrated on various learning styles that will help children: it was well attended and most informative. Our series of debates continued with, this time, the monarchy being voted out.

In addition to all the above, Out Loud, our public speaking event led to an entry in the Rotary Club of Great Britain’s ‘Youth Speaks’ competition which we hope to take further next year. It was George Bernard Shaw who said, ‘What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.’ The stimulation pupils receive at Hordle Walhampton is second to none thanks to the dedication, experience and knowledge of all those who teach here.

Such an initiative is the introduction of Hordlebook that will, we hope, ensure a safe environment for children before they encounter the manic world of Facebook, MSN messaging and so on. A talk for parents on this relentless topic is planned for next term.

We continue to put our head on the block, mostly voluntarily, by entering various competitions. This year we have had a go at, with limited success it has to be said, those such as the SATIPS General Knowledge quiz and the Townsend Warner history prize. I am always amazed that schools held up to be academic either do not enter or fail to get any mention in dispatches. The Junior Maths Challenge each year attracts almost a quarter of a million entries nationally from children in Years Seven and Eight. The top 6% are awarded gold certificates and in Year Eight we bagged two, Tom Shakespeare and Henry Carey Morgan. It was wonderful to see younger pupils achieving gold and so congratulations are due to Joseph Holland of Year Seven age and Valentina Sassow who should be working with Year Six. In all we received 23 certificates: an excellent achievement which reminds me that there are three sorts of people in the world: those who can do maths and those who can’t.

For the first part of the school year we were consumed by the demands of the inspection. I am delighted to say that those who spent the best part of the week with us were professional, charming and, as far as they were able to be, constructive. Not like the man I met last summer when Mrs Phillips and I were in a hot air balloon over the Burgundy countryside and late for a lunch appointment. Realising our pilot was lost, we reduced altitude and I shouted to a chap on the ground, asking for help. He told me that I was in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above the ground, between 40° north and 59° west. I told him that he must be an inspector because everything he had told me was technically correct but I had no idea what to make of the information and the fact is, I was still lost. In short he had been no help and had actually delayed my trip. He staggered me by pointing out that I must be Headmaster because I didn’t know where I was or where I was going. He went on to say that I had risen to the heights that I had on a large quantity of hot air, I had made a promise that I had no idea how to keep, and expected people beneath me to solve my problem. In fact, he suggested, I was in exactly the same position as I was in before we had met but now somehow it was his fault.

Our inspectors found an enormous amount to praise, and you won’t be surprised to hear that we agreed with their summing up, as outstanding, of areas such as our ‘spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, the quality of pastoral care and provision for pupils’ welfare health and safety, the quality of links with parents and the community and the provision of boarding. They had equally good things to say about the management and governance of the school and their suggestions for improvement were either areas that we had already flagged up for consideration or ones that made sense. As soon as this term is over, for example, members of staff will be attending training sessions considering how to offer better provision for the gifted and talented children that we have at HW and another on how we can adapt our learning styles to suit each and every pupil. Beth Morris and I have spent quite some time this year on improving the links between the Prep and Pre-Prep departments and the heads of the various academic disciplines already hold meetings and observe lessons throughout the school. You will be pleased to hear that training is on-going in the use of the many interactive whiteboards we have and that woodwork will remain on the curriculum next year for the three younger forms in the prep school and as an activity for all.

Of course, HW should not be judged solely on its academic record, however impressive, and I think I have been most pleased this year with the range of sporting activities on offer and the number of children, whether in teams or individually, who have pulled out all the stops. Pride of place in this regard must go to Vicky Childs was been awarded a sports scholarship at both Canford and Millfield, choosing the former. Vicky is not only an excellent role model for budding sportsmen but she is an accomplished cricketer and rugby player, sorting out the boys when necessary. I think she would like this story. Eleven people, 10 male and one female dangled on a rope that itself hung from a helicopter. They decided that one person had to drop or the rope would snap and they would all die. No one could decide who it should be so, finally, the woman gave a touching speech about how she would give up her life to save the others because females were used to making sacrifices for their husbands and children, giving in to males and not receiving anything in return. When she had finished speaking, all the men started clapping.

Despite Vicky’s best efforts, it is the boys’ teams that have shone most brightly this sporting year which began with the splendid news that Pippa Wilson, gold, and Nick Rogers, silver, both former pupils, had been successful at the Beijing Olympics. And whilst on the subject of sailing, I was taken to task last year for not giving it, in a particular mother’s opinion, its due regard. In Guy Wilkinson we have a member of the Great Britain winter development squad and he, along with Hattie Rogers, who earlier this year was presented with the Kings Volvo Trophy for the most promising newcomer, will take will part in the Opi nationals in Scotland: Guy in the Senior Fleet and Hattie, as one of the youngest in the Regatta Fleet.

But back to the boys. Under Freddy Mann’s excellent captaincy, the football team won the Moyles Court tournament and only a dose of overconfidence caused them to lose for the first time in their final match. Freddie, along with Lubinda Lishomwa, Ignacio Zornoza, Oliver Joy, Bartie Pitt-Brown, and Javier Arevalo were selected for the Hampshire Elite football squad. The under 9 A team were also unbeaten, going one better by winning all six of their matches. In fact the younger teams throughout the school and throughout the various sporting disciplines have made their mark and given rise to considerable optimism.

It was not just the footballers who performed prodigious feats. Cricketers won considerably more than their fair share of matches and there were some terrific individual performances, not least from Felix Ambrose, Keir Amyes-Headley, Lubinda Lishomwa, Stanley Paxton, Ben Howard-Allen and both Alexander and Maxim McGrigor.

The girls came good in the rounders where, again, there were some wonderful performances with Imogen Gamble, Mattea Pauc, Lizzie Lander and Carmen Neri to the fore and Valentina Sassow scoring five rounders in virtually every match in which she played.

The lower profile sports certainly had their moments and it was good to celebrate the success in the pool with the likes of Laura Maughan, James Webb, Eleanor Melluish, Lauren Lewis, Eliza Cudmore, Eliza Lawrence, Henry Beal and Holly Hewitt. On the track, both senior and junior Wessex events produced winners and many personal bests. Of the younger athletes, William Mitchell, George Grisley and Lizzie Lander were winners and Jasper Toor not only broke the high jump record but also shared the under 10 boys best athlete award. The senior Wessex saw Alex McGrigor, Mattea Pauc, Isobel Mitchell and Valentina Sassow qualify for the national finals.

Jasper Toor and Lois Fry Samuels won bronze medals in the Hampshire Championships in fencing and Hugo Walters took a step up and was third in the southern region under 14 age group. At Bisley our shooting team of Noah Cape, Alexander McGrigor, Jack Corbett and Felix Ambrose came second in the Wellington Shield and Anya Jackson was commended for her individual score of 84. The Morgan family excelled in the British Orienteering Championships with mother Jane winning her event, Tim winning his and Jamie coming second in his race. Harry Doll also qualified for the ‘A’ final in the Sunday Times junior karting competition.
Riders spent many happy weekends taking part in events such as the New Forest Tetrathlon and others arranged by the Pony Club but we also staged many showjumping and Gymkhana competitions in our own arena. Debbie Swan and Yvonne Blatchford have worked tirelessly and I’m sorry to announce that Debbie will be leaving us in December.

We have been lucky enough to attract training sessions from the Portsmouth Academy coach and, as part of our term’s charity, we had masterclasses from Iwan Thomas, Michaela McCollum and Jason Dodd earlier this week. Sadly, when he came to watch friends play, Jonah Lomu resisted the temptation to show us how rugby should be played. Coaches are very important to the team or individual success and I hope that your children take a moment before they leave for the summer holidays to thank those who have helped them grow on the sports field. Particular mention ought to be given to the veteran experienced David Whately- Smith who has now coached the U10s for four unbeaten years.

Culturally we have certainly not been idle and whilst you will hear the quality of our choirs this morning, the Spring Serenade and lunchtime concerts have demonstrated the wide variety of music that is available at HW and the Senior Soloists’ Concert proved that talent abounds, too. Jake Berry is to be congratulated on the award of a choral scholarship to Pilgrims’ at the turn of the year. At the New Milton Festival, the junior choir and Year Six recorder ensemble received merits and the open recorder group a distinction, in their categories. There were winning performances by Valentina Sassow, singing, and the string quartet for the second year in succession. We were all sorry to say goodbye to Greta Cookson after 20 years in the music department.

Performance is certainly not ignored and those that enjoyed the two Pre-Prep nativities, Bill’s New Frock and Wind in the Willows may well be looking forward to Robin Hood and Those Were The Days coming to the PAC before the end of term. Our LAMDA examination candidates not only passed but also managed, almost without exception, merits or distinctions. The workshops that showcase their talent are highlights of the dramatic year. We were delighted when Felicity Costick took over the dance and she is all ready receiving rave reviews from the Parents Liaison Committee….who all want the stickers she hands out.

Last year I commented very favourably on the art in the school and I hope that you will spend some time not only looking at this year’s exhibition but also completing the quiz. Younger artists have had work exhibited as part of a national exhibition and have visited St Ives. Slightly older artists have enjoyed pottery and watercolour sessions. The launch of the Cre8 group has focused some minds towards the possibility of a portfolio adding to an all-rounder award or an art scholarship in its own right. As in previous years, Kevin Nicholls’s performance, last term as Henri Matisse, was a highlight and much enjoyed by us all.

The school prides itself on its holistic outlook and I’m delighted to say that Chloe Larby was awarded an all-rounder scholarship to Talbot Heath. Clearly Chloe fits the bill, excelling in the classroom, on the games field, musically and dramatically. In a chapel service not so long ago children were asked to volunteer the name of their role model. Once the likes of David Beckham had been mentioned one little voice suggested Chloe.

Chapel has been at the centre of much that has happened this year and I am grateful to all those who have contributed to services in so many different ways. We have raised money for termly charities as varied as ABCD, Mercy Ships and Sprint-Start and we have also helped by collecting shoeboxes and with the excellent charity art exhibition that raised so much before Christmas. When Eleanor Melhuish was diagnosed with diabetes we swung into action, dressed in blue and raised a respectable sum for that very good cause. This term we have enjoyed excellent lectures on behalf of the Shackleton Foundation and Project 65: both were fascinating and both enabled us to donate to those worthwhile charities.

You have already heard that the Pre-Prep will be singing at St John’s next weekend and I was delighted to welcome Neil Smart to Chapel last Friday. Neil is the new vicar of Boldre and it was good to see him in school and at the confirmation service recently when Joseph Graves and Katie Newsom were confirmed by the Bishop of Southampton. We have strong links with St John’s and I am pleased that the pensioners’ tea party, ‘Cakes and Carols’, that we held in December looks as though it will be a much enjoyed annual event.

It is also good to see an increasing number of parents at our weekly service and I’m grateful to those who also have time to join us for the Tuesday Prayer Group meetings.

Whilst the spiritual health of the school is important, so is the medical. We were joined at the beginning of this year by Isabel Amado and more recently by Oreo, her puppy. Both have settled well into the Clockhouse routine and I hope that both have enjoyed their year. Sadly we say goodbye to Maura House at the end of this term. Maura has been a tower of strength as a matron, in fact as impressive as she was as the mother of Emma and member of the Parents’ Liaison Committee. Her sound good sense has made her invaluable and I thank her for all her efforts on our behalf over the years.

I suspect that the matrons will have their jobs cut out next year if the predicted pandemic hits us as we are led to believe it will. You will be pleased to know that the Senior Management Team are on the case and should the school have to close measures will be in place to assist those with important exams in the near future. Let us hope that our planning comes to nothing but I am told that the trick is to look to China.

In 2007, the year of the bird we experienced avian flu and in 2008 Australia had an equine disease during the year of the horse. It should be no surprise that swine flu has surfaced during the year of the pig and I am led to believe that 2010 is the year of the cock … so we should expect a more virulent form of avian flu.

Matrons will also be working with houseparents and other members of staff to ensure the smooth transition to the new boarding arrangements. From September all our boarding will be centred in the main building with the girls housed where the surgery and sewing room are currently situated. This will give the boys and girls the use of the same facilities and parents will have the benefit of one contact point when making arrangements for weekends, etc. Boarders will continue to enjoy excellent supervision from both houseparents and staff who, at weekends, have provided, amongst many other outings and delights, trips to an ice rink, Yentz in Brockenhurst to celebrate the Chinese New Year, a Nepalese evening and a preview of the Hannah Montana film. We strongly believe that the new arrangements will be better for all concerned and the placing of boarding at the centre of the school will, we hope, ensure that it is seen as a most important aspect of Hordle Walhampton and that day children will aspire to spend some time overnight with us.

Despite the reduction in boarding nationwide, it is still advisable and highly recommended that children moving on to a senior boarding school gain experience of boarding for a term or two in surroundings that are familiar and friendly. As you have heard, the governors share this view and commitment and I’m delighted that the overnight boarding fee has been reduced and that there are many ways in which the financial burden on those who choose to board full time can be reduced.

All children at HW, of course, benefit from excellent facilities and whilst we are spending the summer preparing for the girls to move into the main building, the exciting refurbishment of the workshops will continue apace. This project gives us three fully equipped maths classrooms and allows us to move the music to an area within the PAC. I am very pleased with the appointment of Paul Morris as Facilities Manager to oversee the maintenance and to lend a hand with larger projects. At the start of the year the changing rooms were revamped and I’m delighted that they have remained considerably neater and tidier than has been the case in the past. Sadly I had to remove the new hot-air hand dryers as some wag kept adding a notice above which read simply, ‘Press the button for a short message from the Headmaster.’

Outside the building, I hope you would agree that the grounds look magnificent. The gardens have been open to the public this year and David Hill has shown an increasing number of local horticultural and historical groups around our wonderful estate. Hidden away amongst the woodland is the Forest school which is really taking off and its use will be extended during the next academic year. This enables children in the Pre-Prep to experience learning outside the classroom in a safe and controlled environment. I spent a morning there recently with the Reception classes who put themselves into groups and happily built camps foraging for their own materials. In September part of our staff training is going to be structured around Forest school.

The ecology of the planet is taking on a more serious demeanour daily and I am delighted to say that our energy monitoring continues to reap rewards. Eco-plusses have been introduced this year to encourage awareness and the newly formed eco-action group has already made suggestions that will be in place for September. We are nearly at the bronze level to qualify as a green school.

None of the activities above would be possible without members of staff going the extra yard and I am most grateful to all of them this year. We began with the sad news that Kevin Guest had decided to retire after so many years running the French, rugby and Expeditions’ Week. He was, and still is, much missed and, in so many senses, leaves a large gap in the staff room but we were very fortunate that Karen Perry was ready willing and able to step into the breach. She has proved herself to be a more than able replacement and I look forward to working with her in years to come. In Year Three both Kerry-Ann Beamish, Sean, and Abi Hutchinson, Annabel, had maternity leave to become mothers for the first time. Luckily we had superb replacements in Beth Cox and Janet Rae and I am delighted that they are staying with us next year. Miss Beamish has decided to become a full-time mother and I would like to thank her for all that she has done for Hordle Walhampton over the years. Mrs Hutchinson will be joining us in September, taking responsibility for Pre-Prep music amongst other things.

In the Pre-Prep, Jo Furneaux Reed, and husband Nigel, celebrated the birth of Oscar and I am very pleased that Jo has decided to return, albeit in a job-sharing role with Chris Waller who relinquishes her Year One teaching. This means that we are able to retain the services of Janie Wilson who has been such a stalwart in the Reception class over the past two terms. Mary Stoyle joined the Pre-Prep in September to replace Mary Fort and Haidee Melanaphy arrived as a classroom assistant. Both have settled well and work hard: it is a joy to have them with us

Other changes have included the experienced Victoria Duckett’s replacement of Kerry Horton, who had to step down through reasons of ill-health. Our new gap students, Candice, George and Maddie have settled well and our wonderful student, Nick Wright, continues to work extraordinarily hard toward qualified teacher status under the watchful eye of Gail Nicholls.

Of course it is not simply those who teach that make Hordle Walhampton what it is. Rita in the office has been a tower of strength looking after me this year and she has been assisted ably by Lindah and Sarah, Jo Brown and Mike Scurr have looked after the financial side of the school with skill and dedication and Shelagh Nicholls and Alison Sheppard have coordinated a magnificent catering team. Sadly, Glenys Silver has had to take early retirement from the kitchens after having given much of her working life to both Hordle House and HW. Liz Higgins has cleaned these buildings for more years than all of us would care to remember and, as you know, Bob Short has stepped down after 30+ years in charge of the maintenance and teaching woodwork. He has seen to fruition every mad idea that succeeding generations have put to him, has coped uncomplainingly with removing a wall or a window that he clearly remembers putting in five years previously and has taught woodwork to a standard unsurpassed in prep schools. I’m sorry that his natural reticence means that he is not with us today but I know that all our best wishes are with him as he starts a well deserved retirement.

Each year the number of pages of my speech increases. When HW began, it ran to a few lines over four and today it is comfortably into nine and yet each year, without exception, I get taken to task for something I’ve forgotten. My apologies in advance and, for those whose brief mention is coming up, please don’t feel that your contribution is in anyway lessened by my apparent public ingratitude. I would, though, like to thank in particular Debbie Browne for rescuing the individual photographs and making them such fun. Jane Kerr, our Marketing Director, who in the few hours she works here per week arranges our weekly ads in the Lymington Times that are so much admired (and copied) and who has also masterminded the smooth transition of Year Two children to Year Three, at the same time as arranging our magnificent reception in Madrid with others in Lymington, London and on the Isle of Wight in the pipeline.

I would like to thank those of you who sit on Healthy Eating committee and who are part of the Parents Liaison committee, which has been responsible for much this year: ‘Kiss and Go’ being the start of an initiative to persuade us all to drive and park sensibly when on site. The HWPA whose diamonds and denims were such fun last night are also to be thanked for the bonfire, Christmas Fair and Quiz and for all they do in raising funds for such exciting extras.

I’m also extremely grateful to those who organise the Fencing Club and those who have instituted the magnificent Beavers and Cubs that are now such an established part of the week. Children on the School Council have played their part this year as have those who have helped on the Food committee. I thank them all and apologise for the brevity of their mention this morning.

A man wants to hire a gundog for the day and asks for the best available. He was given a retriever at £50 and was told that the dog’s name was Schoolmaster. On the next occasion he was told that the price for the same animal was £100 as it was now more experienced and more skilful. The third time he asked, the price had risen to £150 and he fully expected, on the fourth time he returned, to have to pay £200 for what was now a very experienced dog. To his amazement, he was told that the cost was now only two pounds. When he asked why the price had fallen so dramatically, he was told that the last man who had hired that particular dog had made the mistake of calling him Headmaster and now he just sits around on his backside all day and barks.

Whilst I would like to think that Hordle Walhampton’s success is entirely due to my own efforts I’m well aware that I have the senior management team to thank for such a successful year. Nigel, Tim, Mike and Beth have worked extraordinarily hard in the absence of a Deputy Head to ensure that all the holes were plugged and that it has been service as usual. I do thank them very much indeed for what they have achieved this year and, of course, I could not manage any of this without the, mostly, calming influence of Jackie: the only one brave enough put me back in my box when I need to be told to do just that.

 Finally, can I thank you, parents and grandparents for the continued support you show in the school, becoming actively involved or supporting matches, plays, services, etc whenever you can. It is only very occasionally that we forget we are all on the same side but nothing like the couple who met recently at a party, several years after their divorce. ‘Gosh’ thought the husband as he spotted her across the crowded room. ‘She looks so young, so relaxed, so wonderful’ and he moved closer. She saw him too. ‘Mmm’ she thought as he approached ‘He looks somehow different – like he was when we first met; youthful, attractive, at ease.’ ‘Hello, darling’ she cooed, ‘You look very nice.’ ‘Hello, sweetheart, so do you: so relaxed. How are the children?’ ‘The children, what do you mean, how are the children…I thought you had them.’

If you have been, thank you for listening.

1015	Coffee for parents and guest served in the Front Courtyard Children assemble in the Chapel
1100	Speeches and prize giving in the marquee
	Order of events: Pre-Prep Choir Patrick Seely, Chairman of Governors Henry Phillips, Headmaster Senior Choir Prize Giving by Paul Jackson, Esq Junior Choir Senior Choir
1200	Pimm’s on the Front Lawn
	Musical interlude through lunch with HW’s folk group, ‘The Dozy Does’
1345	Bell – children to change into House colours
1400	Parsons’ Trophy
1430	Pre-Prep Sports
1530	Tug-o-War on the games field
1545	Tea served in the marquee Exeat begins

On Thursday 4^th June the egg finally – 10 hours later – hatched! After 24 hours in a Reception form room the chick was getting a bit lonely and has gone to join Mrs Wilson’s other bantams. When it is big enough it will move into the Eglu, with some friends.

Reception’s visit to Longdown Activity Farm before half term was an outstanding success. Well done to all the children who behaved so well and helped to make it such a fun day.

On Sunday, our boarders went shopping in West Quay. Whilst we there, some of them took part in a foot painting activity, run by Footprint Friends, a project trying to give young people a voice with regards to climate change.

 HORDLE WALHAMPTON HOSTS JUNIOR WESSEX ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over 400 children from 26 schools throughout Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire met at Hordle Walhampton School on Saturday, 6^th June to compete in the Junior Wessex Athletics Championships.

This is the 27^th year that Hordle Walhampton has run the event, which initially began with senior girls, progressed to junior boys and now encompasses junior boys and girls from Years 3-6.

The purpose of the championship is to provide a platform for aspiring young athletes to compete against strong athletes from other schools. “The children may be the best runners, hurdlers and jumpers in their individual schools but the Junior Wessex gives them a real opportunity to test themselves against the region’s other young athletes,” said event organizer and Hordle Walhampton senior teacher, Tim Norris.

With events that included the high and long jump, hurdling, throwing, sprinting and distance races, it was a full and busy day, watched and supported by a large crowd of parents, grandparents, friends and teachers.

“The weather remained kind though a keen wind prevented the usual number of records being broken,” said Mr Norris. However, nine-year old Jasper Torr, a pupil at Hordle Walhampton, managed to break the Under 10s High Jump record with a spectacular leap of 1.23m. It proved to be the only record of the day.

Other ‘Best in Age’ successes were:

Under 10 Girls               Elizabeth Curzen of Stroud School

Under 10 Boys               Alex Leach of Yateley Manor School and Jasper Torr of Hordle Walhampton School (joint)

Under 11 Girls               A. Belle of Farleigh School

Under 11 Boys               Chris Fawcett of Yateley Manor School

Yateley Manor School also proved to be the best school in the relay competitions.

“All the young athletes are to be commended for their efforts,” said Mr Norris. “It was a pleasure to see so many of them thoroughly enjoying their sports and trying really hard. Credit also goes to our organizing team who ensured the event ran very smoothly and professionally.

Here is a link to the day’s photo gallery.