Weekly Newsletter

Spring term has got off to a flying start here in the Junior Department and we are delighted to welcome back our dear Mrs Kalli. A treasured member of our department, our school family truly feels complete with her return.

This week, I spent my Thursday afternoon with the Nursery. I have been looking forward to this all week! We were busy in Spanish, practising how to ask one another our names and designing “healthy food plates”.

Reception gave Mr Stanley quite a surprise this week with their impressive maths work. Their confidence with number formation, counting, and even tricky calculations continues to amaze us.

In Year 1, the magic of storytelling began with Little Red Riding Hood. As a cornerstone of the Key Stage 1 curriculum, this classic is already sparking imaginations, and I suspect we have some budding authors among us.

Finally, I was very impressed by Year 2, who are developing their comprehension skills by exploring inference. Understanding a character’s feelings through posture or facial expression, and justifying that thinking, is a sophisticated and vital step in their English learning.

We are so excited about the term ahead and here are a couple of key dates/events coming up:

Coffee Morning Friday 16th January

I will be hosting a coffee morning next Friday 16th January.  This will be a wonderful opportunity to come together as an Edge Grove family and enjoy a warm drink and good conversation during these chilly winter days. I do hope to see as many of you there as possible. 

Number Day Thursday 6th February

Thursday 6th February marks NSPCC Number Day. This year, Mrs O’Brien, our Head of Maths, has set the Junior Department a very important challenge: pupils are invited to dress up as a number! There is a twist, however, football and sports kits are not allowed, so this will call for plenty of creativity and imagination. Some ideas to get you started…you could come dressed as a calculator, a deck of cards or even a bank note. 

Further details will be shared soon, but in the meantime, please do get your thinking caps on and start considering some inventive costume ideas.

Mrs Wynne
Assistant Head (Junior)

Nursery

It has been wonderful meeting all of the children this week and getting to know them. They have settled back in so well and are getting to know me with some new routines we are doing. This week we have been exploring the cold weather and making our own penguins for our new reading area. Today we had our Performing Arts lesson in the Music room which we will now visit every week. The children have also been getting busy with their names and we have been practising writing their names using the correct pencil grip.

Reception News

Happy New Year! The children returned from the Christmas break full of beans and we wasted no time diving straight into learning by practising our phonic sounds, tricky words, and writing short sentences.

In Maths, we continued developing our counting skills by taking part in missing number activities, using our bodies to count through jumping and clapping, and even enjoying a game of musical number line, where the children had to line up in the correct number order when the music stopped! We have challenged the children to practise their counting at home when they climb the stairs or counting how many steps it takes to get from the car to the house.

The children have been thoroughly enjoying their Yoto box, especially the opportunity to listen to stories alongside a friend using wireless headphones. A big thank you to Mrs Broadis for arranging the boxes and headphones for us—we are very grateful.

Well done to all those who participated in the Festive Reading Challenge. It was wonderful to see the creative ways the children explored and enjoyed their reading.

Looking ahead to next week, the children are looking forward to discovering The Smeds and The Smoos next week and exploring all things space related!

Year 1 News

It has been lovely to welcome back the Year 1 children, full of excitement, energy and smiles.

We dived head first into the Spring Term by going on a hunt around the Junior Department to find clues about which fairytale we will be exploring over the next few weeks. We found a red cape, basket, wolf, glasses, grandma’s house and a listening ear. Can you guess? Of course, it is Red Riding Hood! We have already used our fantastic writing skills to make predictions, ask the Wolf questions and describe the Wolf using the power of three.

In Maths, we have been learning about place value and exploring different ways of representing and identifying numbers. 

During our phonics lessons, the children have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a carousel of activities. They have practised writing words, sentences and tricky words. 

In Science, we started a new topic: materials. The children enjoyed going on a material hunt around the classroom to see how many different materials they could find. They loved creating a collaborative poster and drawing different objects and labelling them.  

Games has kicked off with some new activities that the children have enjoyed. Whether it’s learning to play tag rugby, dance or netball, the children have enthusiastically participated in their new sport. Well done Year 1!

Year 2 News

We are so proud of how brilliantly Year 2 have re-settled into school life after what we hope has been a restful winter holiday. It has been wonderful to hear all about their adventures, all the marvellous activities they have been enjoying and to be introduced to all their new wobbly teeth! 

In English children have been exploring inference and sharing what they can deduce from pictures, paying special attention to use of colours, body language and facial expressions. We are looking forward to introducing our new focus text next week so we can see if our predictions are correct! 

We have enjoyed many animated discussions in maths this week. Children have been using mathematical vocabulary to not only label 2D shapes, but to explain exactly how they know by describing the ‘vertices,’ ‘sides,’ and other key features. We have had some very animated and sometimes rather heated debates about if a shape is an irregular quadrilateral or an irregular rectangle, or what the difference is between an oval and a semi-circle. 

The children have also been busy in IT this week. They have been collecting their own data about what pets they have at home and learning how to represent the data in different ways including Tally Charts  and Bar Graphs on a computer. We can’t wait to see the results next week! 

Well done Year 2 for completing a short but action packed week!

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful, restful holiday and enjoyed some quality time with your families. It has been lovely to see the children return with such high energy and bright smiles.

We are delighted to begin this new term and look forward to working in partnership with you to support your child’s journey. It’s going to be a busy and productive year!

Mrs Hodge
Deputy Head Academic

Year 3 – Miss Kyriacou, Miss Corin, Miss Lundrigan

Welcome back to school and to an exciting new year in Year 3. We are delighted to begin the academic year and look forward to working in partnership with you to support your child’s learning and development.

In English, we will focus on developing strong reading comprehension skills, expanding vocabulary, grammar and improving written expression. We will also explore a non-fiction text all about The Titanic. Speaking and listening activities will support clear communication and collaborative learning.

In maths, we will extend understanding of number, multiplication and problem-solving, while also exploring measurement and geometry. 

We value your ongoing support and involvement and look forward to a positive and productive year together.

Year 4 – Mrs Futerill, Mrs Warnes

Welcome back to school and to a new term in Year 4. Although we began the term with a cold start to the year, pupils entered the classroom with enthusiasm and bright smiles, setting a very positive tone for the weeks ahead. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to Milan, who has joined 4F and has made a fantastic start to his journey at Edge Grove.

In English, we began the week by creating adventurous pirate stories to showcase independent writing skills. This will lead into our exciting unit on mythical dragons. If you have any dragon-inspired books at home, you are very welcome to bring them into school. 

In maths, we are building on our knowledge of fractions and exploring how these link to decimals, including tenths and hundredths.

We will take on the role of newspaper reporters in history, and write a report about the Viking attacks on Lindisfarne, before moving on to learning about the Tudors. In science, pupils will be learning about sound, supported by an exciting workshop led by School of Noise in February to consolidate their understanding.

We are looking forward to the many activities and learning opportunities that lie ahead this term. As always, we greatly value your support, particularly in ensuring that pupils read regularly at home and complete their home learning tasks.

Year 5 – Mr Russell and Mrs O’Brien

A very Happy New Year to you all!

It has been an absolute delight to welcome the children back to school this week. We have loved hearing everyone catch up with their friends and sharing stories of their favourite moments from the Christmas break.

The children have impressed us by settling back into school routines with remarkable ease. They have hit the ground running, showing great focus and enthusiasm as we begin our new topics across the curriculum.

During our form times this week, we put our oracy and persuasion skills to the test. To decide on our new Form book for this half-term, each child took on the role of a literary advocate. They designed their own presentation slides and stood before the group to pitch their chosen book.

It was wonderful to see the children using deliberate techniques to engage their audience – focusing on clarity, tone, and well-planned arguments. We are currently tallying the votes and very much look forward to starting the winning title during form time next week!

In PSHE, we have begun a vital unit on First Aid. We launched this topic with a lesson on knowing exactly when and how to call for help. The children engaged in mature discussions regarding:

Assessing Danger: The importance of checking for safety before approaching an emergency and identifying hazards.

Emergency Services: Identifying when to call 999 and what key information (such as location and the nature of the emergency) needs to be passed on to the operator.

We look forward to learning additional life-saving skills and how to help others in an emergency next week.

It has been a joy to see the children’s smiling faces again. We are pleased with their start to the year and are looking forward to a fantastic term ahead.

Have a lovely, restful weekend.

Year 6 – Mrs Allen, Mr Kay, Dr Moradi

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

It has been wonderful to welcome your children back this week and see them looking recharged, refreshed, and ready for the term ahead. We spoke about returning with our “batteries fully charged” and approaching the new year with renewed energy and positivity.

During form time this week, we reflected on how stepping into 2026 represents the start of a new chapter. We discussed goal-setting and how New Year resolutions can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when expectations are set too high. Instead, pupils focused on creating a ‘life ladder’ – breaking goals down into small, achievable steps with a weekly focus to help build confidence and momentum.

Pupils also explored the idea of their 2026 story being a new chapter and how they would like it to read by the end of the year. We shared a thoughtful and reflective session, comparing where we were this time last year to where we are now, celebrating progress made and looking ahead with renewed purpose and positivity.

Many pupils have come back feeling a great sense of relief now that the 11+ examinations are complete or nearing completion. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved so far, and Heads of Department continue to support pupils as scholarship invitations and further opportunities begin to come through. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions – we are always happy to help.

It has been a truly meaningful start to the year, and we are excited for all that lies ahead.

Our Seniors have had a great first week back and are already in full swing with all aspects of school life. This week we have also started the Young Entrepreneur Academy!  The UCL-accredited 20-session course began today, and the Seniors were brilliantly engaged and mature throughout.  This entrepreneurial feat is fantastic careers preparation, and falls under the Future Aspirations Division of their Edge Grove Diploma.  We are truly looking forward to getting the most out of this programme…watch this space!

Future Schools Update

Mrs Broadis, Head of Future Schools Curriculum

Happy New Year! Particularly for those of us involved in the future schools process with Year 6 and Senior pupils, this is a tremendously exciting term, as the majority of senior school places are offered in the next 10 weeks. 

Senior School News

At the start of this week, a high number of our Year 6 pupils attended 11+ assessment days, interviews and Scholarship assessments at local senior schools. We have also received the encouraging news that the majority of applicants are through to Round 2 interviews at Merchant Taylors’ and Habs. 

Academic Interviews

Interviews at highly academically selective schools are designed to explore how a child thinks and how they respond when faced with unfamiliar problems, texts, or resources. Rather than testing subject knowledge, interviewers are assessing intellectual curiosity, reasoning skills, and resilience. These discussions help schools determine whether a pupil is likely to enjoy – and thrive – with the pace, challenge, and academic rigour of the education they offer.

In academic interviews at St Albans this week, children were asked to discuss the similarities between Andy Warhol’s Tomato Soup (1962) and Van Gogh’s Starry Night (1889). There was no expectation that children would have had detailed knowledge of Pop Art or Post-Impressionism; instead, the focus was on how they thought. Interviewers were interested in broader knowledge that pupils could draw upon, the connections they could make, and how clearly they could reason and justify their ideas. Crucially, they were also observing how children responded when there was no obvious ‘right answer’.

I have also known interviews with a strong mathematical focus, where children are presented with increasingly complex problems that no Year 6 pupil would be expected to solve fully. Once again, the emphasis is not on reaching the correct answer, but on how the child approaches the problem: how they think, problem-solve, and demonstrate intellectual agility.

Similarly, when children are presented with a poem or unfamiliar text, interviewers are looking beyond simple comprehension. They are interested in a child’s ability to offer thoughtful commentary on tone, character, meaning, and vocabulary, as well as their confidence in reading an unfamiliar passage aloud with fluency and expression.

Please let us know as soon as interview dates are confirmed. This allows us to schedule appropriate interview practice with members of the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring each child feels confident, prepared, and well supported ahead of the day.

Edge Scholarships for September 2026

We are delighted to open the Scholarship application process for entry to the Seniors Sept 2026. A Scholarship application can be made here, and all parents who have made a commitment to Edge Grove should have received details which are outlined on the website.

When are other senior school offers made?

St Margaret’s – no later than first week of February

13th Feb HABS Girls and Boys

13th Feb STAHs

13th Feb Aldenham

13th Feb St Albans

13th Feb Merchant Taylor’s

13th Feb Belmont, Mill Hill

2nd March Hertfordshire Secondary Transfer Allocation Day

Year 5 Future School Meetings

We encourage all Year 5 parents who have not yet booked a Future School meeting to book with Mr Stanley and Mrs Hodge for early in the new year, to share some preliminary thoughts about senior school education; please email Future Schools.

Below is a list of those senior schools which Edge Grove families have chosen in the last four years, with links to Admissions pages.

Independent Schools

Abbot’s Hill

Aldenham

Belmont/Mill Hill

Berkhamsted

City of London School

HABS Boys

HABS Girls

Haileybury

Immanuel College

John Lyon

Merchant Taylors’ School

North London Collegiate School

Queenswood

Royal Masonic School

Sherrardswood

St Albans

St Albans High School for Girls

St Columba’s

St Helen’s 

St Margaret’s

St Paul’s 

UCS Hampstead

Wycombe Abbey

13+ Boarding Schools & Colleges

Bede’s

Charterhouse

Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Eton

Harrow

Marlborough

Wellington College

State Schools

Dame Alice Owen’s School

JFS

Henrietta Barnett School

Queen Elizabeth’s School

St Albans Girls’ School 

Herts SW Consortium Schools (Registration for Secondary Transfer into Year 7 for September 2027 opens on 1st April. Parents must register online.) 

Edge Grove’s Got Talent 2026 – Audition Brief

Dear Edge Grove Community,

Get ready for another spectacular showcase of talent… 

I’m thrilled to invite all pupils from Year 3 to Year 8 to take part in our exciting Talent Contest. Whether you sing, dance, act, play an instrument, or have a unique skill to show off, this is your moment to shine on stage!

How to audition? First-round auditions will be submitted via video.

For the best results:

• Record your video horizontally. Act to be no shorter than 90 seconds.
  
• Choose a well-lit space.
• Ensure clear audio by minimising background noise.

Submission Deadline: All video auditions must be submitted by Friday 16th January.

Due to file size limits, please upload your video to your child’s Google Drive and share the link directly with Mrs Allen at jallen@edgegrove.com. Alternatively, videos can be posted on the Performing Arts Google Classroom under the Edge Grove’s Got Talent assignment.

The top 10 acts will be invited to perform live on stage at the Edge Grove’s Got Talent Final in February. We’ll be announcing our special guest judges very soon!

I can’t wait to see all of your amazing talents.

Break a leg!

Mrs Allen
Director of Drama

Art Department Update: Creativity in the Making

We have had a wonderful start back in the Art department this term! We’ve truly hit the ground running with an array of new projects, ranging from technical drawing workshops and ceramic sculptures to modeling our fantastic 3D “Rock Birds.”

It has been a joy to watch the children dive deeper into their drawing skills. This week, we’ve been focusing on a vital lesson: process over product. It can be a challenge to teach children that not every mark on paper needs to be a “masterpiece.” True learning happens in the messy middle—through experimentation, play, and honing skills rather than seeking instant perfection.

Year 4, in particular, has impressed me with their bravery. They’ve embraced the “just give it a go” mentality with open arms. We’ve had several hand studies featuring seven fingers this week, but that is exactly where the magic happens! It serves as a great reminder to our young artists to look closely and study what is actually in front of them. In art, taking risks is the only way to grow.

Looking Ahead: The Summer Art Exhibition We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a large Art Exhibition at the end of the summer term. This year, we would love to feature a dedicated “Home Gallery” to showcase the incredible work our pupils create in their spare time.

If your child has a piece they are proud of—whether it’s photography, textiles, drawing, or painting—please bring it in for Miss Turner to review. Space is limited, so we will be selective, but we can’t wait to see what you’ve been creating!

Submission Guidelines:

• Media: Photography, textiles, drawing, painting, etc.
• Please avoid: Traced images or large 3D sculptures (due to space constraints).

We were delighted to welcome back alumni Daisy Beer (Class of 2021) on Wednesday for a Q&A and training session with our netballers. Daisy is currently playing netball for the U19 London Pulse Pathway, having worked her way up through the team after starting at U15s and progressing to where she is today.

The girls had the opportunity to ask Daisy a wide range of questions, from the position she plays to how she overcomes injury setbacks. Daisy also spoke about her time at Edge Grove and how those early experiences helped to lay the foundations for her success both on and off the court.

Following the Q&A, Daisy led a number of practical drills, including ‘Cut the Cake’ and ‘Bow Tie’, before the session finished with full-court netball games. Coaching from the sidelines, Daisy offered valuable tips on movement, speed and effectiveness around the court.

It was a fantastic afternoon and a real pleasure to welcome back a former pupil who continues to inspire the next generation of Edge Grove netballers.

Tooled Up Education wishes you a Happy New Year and warmly invites you to register for their upcoming January 2026 webinars:

Parental Separation After Abuse: Helping Children Feel Safe and Supported

REGISTER HERE: 16 January 2026, 12:30-13:30 GMT

Separation can be incredibly challenging for families, especially when abuse, coercive control, or intense conflict is involved. Join family therapist Dr Reenee Singh and family lawyer Antonia Felix (Mishcon de Reya), as they explore how to support children during and after separation.

This interactive Q&A style session will provide practical insights to help children feel safe, heard and emotionally secure. It will also cover the impact of coercive control, navigating parental alienation and what the law says about protecting children’s welfare.

Digital Risks and Harms Affecting Teens: Tips for Parents

REGISTER HERE: 22 January 2026, 19:30-20:30 GMT

Dr Kathy Weston explores the emerging challenges and risks facing teenagers as they navigate digital technology. She will discuss how to ensure teens use digital devices safely, build resilience to online pressures and how to stay connected with them so they are comfortable to seek support when things go wrong.

Early Signs of Eating Disorders: What Parents Need to Know

REGISTER HERE: 27 January 2026, 12:30-13:30 GMT

Clinical psychologist and specialist in eating disorders, Dr Anna Colton, will help parents to recognise early warning signs of eating disorders in children and young people, understand what might be driving these behaviours and feel more confident about what to do next. The session will offer clear, compassionate guidance on how to start conversations, when to seek support and how to respond in ways that protect both physical and emotional wellbeing.