This Week at Edge Grove

It was wonderful to welcome our EYFS and Year 1 parents into school this week for our much-anticipated Open Classrooms. The children were so excited to share their learning and school life with you. It’s always such a joy to see their pride and enthusiasm shine through.

I was particularly proud of our Junior Department pupils during our Remembrance Service on Tuesday. It is a concept not always easy for children to grasp, yet they showed such maturity and respect as the Seniors performed The Air was a Poisoned Song – a very moving and heartfelt performance. 

Nursery has brought me no end of joy this week! Their new topic, People Who Help Us, has truly captured the children’s imaginations. It was quite a sight to walk in one afternoon to find them fully immersed in their role play, complete with a brand-new fire engine costume and a very convincing siren! Keep your eyes peeled as a little surprise might be coming our way…

Meanwhile, Year 1 and Year 2 were treated to a brilliant online event with the beloved poet Michael Rosen. As reading sits at the heart of daily life in the Juniors, it is always such a special experience to hear directly from an author or poet as they bring their words to life.

Mrs Wynne
Assistant Head (Junior)

Nursery

This week in Nursery has been full of excitement, curiosity, and wonderful learning! Our topic, People Who Help Us, has really captured the children’s imaginations. We’ve been talking about all the amazing people who help us every day, doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers, shop workers, and many more. The children have loved sharing what they already know and listening to each other’s ideas during group discussions. We’ve read stories about different helpers and acted out their roles in our role-play area.

The children also had fantastic conversations about what they might like to be when they grow up, some wanted to be doctors who help people feel better, others dreamed of becoming firefighters who keep everyone safe. It’s been so lovely to see them make real connections to the people in their own lives who help others, proudly talking about parents, grandparents, and family friends who work in these important jobs. The children’s enthusiasm and kindness have shone through all week, and we couldn’t be prouder of how engaged and thoughtful they’ve been. It’s truly been a wonderful week of learning, imagination, and appreciation for the special people who help make our world a better place!

Reception News

We’ve had a fantastic week in Reception! Thank you to everyone who visited our Open Classrooms, the children were beaming with pride as they showed you all of their hard work. In Maths, we’ve been recapping our understanding of numbers and number formation, practising writing our numerals carefully and recognising numbers in different ways. We also explored weight and capacity, using weighing scales to compare objects and discover which were heavier or lighter. In English we reflected on Remembrance Day, learning about the importance of poppies. The children wrote thoughtful short sentences about poppies. And in PSHE we enjoyed reading ‘Guess How Much I Love You’, talking about the many ways we can show love and kindness to others. We ended our week with a lovely walk to Edge Grove Park, where we explored the beautiful grounds, spotted signs of nature, and even picked some dandelions to take back to class. A wonderful way to finish a busy and happy week of learning!

Year 1 News

We have enjoyed a wonderfully literary week! On Tuesday, we were treated to a visit from author Tom Palmer and his illustrator, Carolina Rabei. Tom shared his brand new book War Dog, the incredible true story of Judy, a pointer who is the only dog ever to be officially registered as a prisoner of war. The children were completely captivated by Judy’s courage and loyalty, especially as her story linked so perfectly with our Remembrance Day reflections. Then, on Thursday, we had another very special visitor – Michael Rosen! We spent some time celebrating his poetry, laughing along as he performed a delicious feast of his funniest food poems, including Hot Food: Nice! and, of course, the famous Chocolate Cake. What a treat!

In maths, we’ve been consolidating our understanding of addition and subtraction, exploring a range of strategies such as crossing out and using number lines. In English, we have continued our work on Whatever Next?, diving deeper into the story and its imaginative themes.

Finally, we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open Classroom this week. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and the children absolutely loved the opportunity to share their work and classroom spaces with you.

Year 2 News

Year 2 have become true wordsmiths this week, bringing together all their wonderful ideas to write imaginative journeys through the Twits’ garden. Written in the first person, their pieces have delighted us with vivid descriptions, alliterative phrases, striking similes, and even the occasional metaphor and hyperbole!

The children have worked hard to “uplevel” their vocabulary, and here’s just a small taste of the language that has captivated their teachers:

• “…the obsidian night sky…,”
• “Each corner of the garden was a secret waiting to bite.”
• “…bubbles on the pongy pond popped like popping popcorn.”
• “…I ventured further into the garden and this time the anguished, agonising sound was even louder.”

In Art, the children have been studying winter deciduous trees and have begun their pencil drawings. Later this term, they will apply their understanding of mark making to explore tone and texture in greater depth. 

A very busy but pleasing week!

It has been an inspiring and memorable week for both Year 3 and Year 4. The children have continued to demonstrate such enthusiasm, curiosity, and kindness in all they do, and we are so proud of their efforts and positive attitudes.

Year 3 had a particularly exciting week with their visit to Celtic Harmony, which brought their Stone Age learning to life in the most engaging way. The children fully immersed themselves in the experience. Their behaviour, teamwork, and sense of wonder were exceptional throughout the trip, and the adults accompanying them were so impressed by their questions, enthusiasm, and maturity. It was a joy to see them learning through such hands-on experiences and having so much fun together.

Meanwhile, Year 4 began the week with an assembly focused on responsibility, where Mr Stanley and I spoke to the children about the importance of attitude, kindness, self-belief, and hard work, qualities that help them grow not only as learners but also as caring members of our school community. The children contributed thoughtful ideas and reflected beautifully on how they can take responsibility in their daily lives, both in school and at home.

Across both year groups, it has been wonderful to see the children showing pride in their learning, supporting one another, and embracing values we talk about so often, kindness, effort, and resilience.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Mrs Tora Hodge
Deputy Head (Academic)

Year 3 – Miss Kyriacou, Miss Corin, Miss Lundrigan

We have had another exciting week in Year 3, full of learning and fun!

The highlight of our week was our visit to Celtic Harmony, where we experienced the Stone Age firsthand. The children became hunter-gatherers for the day, living and working in huts, hunting animals, gathering fruit, making tools, and building dens. They had a wonderful time embracing this hands-on learning experience!

This week, we focused on Remembrance Day. The entire school observed a two-minute silence, which was a very special and important occasion for us all.

In English lessons, we have continued our exploration of similes. The children are becoming quite skilled at creating vivid and interesting comparisons!

In maths, we continued working on addition and subtraction, focusing on further developing our reasoning and problem-solving skills.

We would like to celebrate the wonderful efforts of our Year 3 pupils in their learning journeys. They have shown great enthusiasm and dedication!

Thank you for your continuous support and collaboration. We look forward to another fantastic week of learning and discovery!

Year 4 – Mrs Futerill, Mrs Warnes

In Science, we’ve sparked a new unit on electricity! The children had a brilliant first lesson exploring conductors and circuits, building on their investigative skills. We visited the science labs this week and used the battery cells, lightbulbs, and wires to try out various circuits. Students observed which circuits activated the lightbulb and which did not, then used their knowledge to work out why. It was a great practical session that the students thoroughly enjoyed. In addition, we explored static electricity with the infamous hair and balloon trick! 

Meanwhile, in History, we have been travelling back to the Anglo-Saxon period, specifically looking at how the kings ruled the seven kingdoms of Britain. We became ‘human compasses’ as we tried to memorise the locations of kingdoms like Wessex, Sussex, Essex, and Northumbria. We also tackled the tricky pronunciations of key social classes, such as ceorls and thegns!

In English, we’ve been focusing on strengthening our writing skills. We learned more about using adverbials effectively and when to use a new paragraph to structure our ideas clearly. Crucially, we’ve continued developing our inference skills, reading between the lines to fully understand a text. This work ties in perfectly with our new topic on fables, and the children are excited to start writing their own moral-filled tales soon.

The excitement for the Year 4 pantomime is palpable! The children are working incredibly hard in rehearsals, demonstrating fantastic commitment and teamwork to ensure the show is absolutely fabulous. We can’t wait to share their wonderful performance with you!

In TPR, we’ve explored the nature of the Judeo-Christian creation story. We had some fascinating and thoughtful discussions about the narrative and its meaning. We are now looking forward to the students delivering their own creation story lessons from their respective religions later this half term, sharing their knowledge and fostering mutual respect and understanding across the class.

It’s been another incredibly busy and productive week for Year 4. Thank you for your continued support at home!

Year 5 – Mr Russell and Mrs O’Brien

This week, we dedicated time to celebrating Anti-Bullying Week. During Form times, the children engaged in important discussions to clarify the definition of bullying, exploring the different roles people play during incidents (the victim, the ringleader, the reinforcer, the assistant, the upstander and the bystander), and developing strategies to ensure bullying does not happen at Edge Grove. The children used role-playing scenarios to demonstrate their understanding and showed great empathy as they discussed the complex emotions experienced by everyone involved in such situations.

On Tuesday, the pupils paid their respects during our two-part Remembrance Service. We listened intently to powerful words spoken by some of our Ignite students, as well as some incredibly moving World War-inspired poetry from our Senior pupils. The children then moved out to the flagpole where they impeccably honoured the solemn Two Minutes Silence. It was a deeply respectful and reflective occasion for the whole school.

Here are some of the fantastic things the children have been up to and enjoying this week:

Our boys had great success on the football pitch with some incredible victories away at Lockers Park. Monty was delighted to win his match 6-2, while Rafael was pleased to both score and assist in the game. Wolf was over the moon to win 9-0, and Rayan impressed himself at both ends of the pitch as he scored and made a crucial goal line clearance for his team! Adam was also pleased that his match exceeded his expectations!

Our girls also enjoyed their first experience of competitive football this year. Izzy and Leila bravely took on the role of goalkeeper and were both happy to have made some good saves. Isabella and Ava found the whole experience really fun and are keen to continue playing!

Away from Sports, Sienna found Art really interesting as she worked with different print techniques. In DT, we were introduced to lots of different machinery, including the belt sander, electric saw, and hand saw. Sansiya particularly enjoyed getting to grips with this new equipment! Iyanu has been really enjoying the first few rehearsals of Bugsy Malone and is already seeing the benefits of her hard work!

It has been another enjoyable and productive week. We look forward to seeing many of you at Parents’ Evening next week.

Have a lovely weekend.

Year 6 – Mrs Allen, Mr Kay, Dr Moradi

News This Week in Year Six!

This week, Year 6 pupils have continued their focused preparation for the 11+ assessments. Many pupils have been out of school attending assessment and interview days, and it has been wonderful to hear how successful they have been and how confident they feel on their return. We are continuing to support interview preparation in school, so please email futureschools@edgegrove.com with any dates your child has for their assessment or interview.

This week is also Anti-Bullying Week. In assemblies and class discussions, we have focused on the theme “Power for Good,” encouraging pupils to reflect on how they can use their influence positively to support others rather than create imbalance. On Thursday morning, we reminded pupils that they can be “brilliant bystanders” by speaking up when they witness disrespectful words or actions. It has been wonderful to see pupils consistently modelling positive behaviours and to observe the meaningful learning that arises from these important conversations.

Highlights of the week:

Jack – “I scored 5 goals in football yesterday! The final score was 6-1 against Lockers Park”.

Cooper  – “During Bugsy Malone rehearsals, I enjoyed learning the four main, ensemble songs with Mr Evans. It was great to hear them coming together and everyone sounded fantastic!”.

Christopher – “I loved scoring 6 goals during my football fixture on Wednesday. It was a very proud achievement and I enjoyed contributing to my team’s success. The final score was 8-0!”

Edith – “My team scored an unstoppable 13 goals!”

Hridhaan – “The Primary Maths Challenge. It was very challenging towards the end because the questions kept getting harder but I put my knowledge into practice!”

Ben – “I really enjoyed playing football at break with my friends. My friends boost my confidence by building me up and complementing my developing skills”.

Tyler – “Immersing myself into my role – Bugsy Malone! I am enjoying beginning to learn my lines and solo songs”.

Lucy – “I enjoyed wearing odd socks on Monday and seeing everyone else’s odd socks! This was an initiative for Anti-Bullying Week which we have been learning lots about this week. Power For Good!”

Thank you to all Senior parents who were able to join us at the Remembrance service, in which our Seniors were a credit to the School in their key roles throughout the event.  

Their individual poems have been immortalised on card which they have taken home, after being presented with their envelope in assembly by Mr Stanley.

Staff from all across the school were visibly moved by their performance, and staff all the way from Reception upwards have made a point of stopping the Seniors (or stopping me to relay the message!) that the Seniors’ poem was a beautiful commemoration to those who gave their lives.

Most staff relayed this in person, but Mrs. Wynne emailed: “Wow.  That is really the only word I have.” and Mrs. Broadis emailed: “The Seniors’ poem today was really powerful.  The emotional journey was really there: the joy, the optimism, followed by the horror, disillusionment and regret.  Reuben’s sardonic introduction and Zach’s oxymoronic close, with the naive nursery rhyme song coupled with such disturbing lyrics, brilliantly sandwiched the horror and futility of war.”

You can read the Senior’s collective poem, titled “The Air was a Poisoned Song”, (a poignant metaphor written by Zach) here.  

It was a privilege to produce this poem with them and support the Seniors as they made careful, creative use of structure, language and tone.  Other powerful pieces of imagery:

Noah: “Come along, lads!  Bat the Bosche!  Bowl the grenade!”

Blake: “Guns blared across the battlefield with murderous intent”

Alex: “Gargling, choking, pleading on the cold bitter floor”

Aiden: “They’re all playing tag with a sinister twist”

Isaac: “Noxious waves of death bring me my fate”

Reuben: “You’ll be back safe and sound…they said.”

Congratulations, Seniors: you certainly rose to the occasion.

Highlights of the Week:

The Seniors have unanimously agreed that taking a step out of their comfort zone to perform their collaborative poem as a gift on behalf of Edge Grove to the fallen was their highlight of the week.

Apart from the above, of course, my highlight was finally getting to watch an Edge Grove home game on Wednesday!  There was some fantastic teamwork on display.

Senior of the Week:

This week’s Senior of the Week is Zach!  There was no secret mission this week, because, when Zach performed his ”The Grand Old Sergeant of York” poem for us via song for the first time a handful of weeks ago, the entire class and myself were blown away into astounded silence, and gave Zach a standing ovation!  Blake dubbed it ”a masterpiece” and, as the Seniors and I have been referring to it as ‘The Masterpiece’ for some time, it is only fitting that Zach is Senior of the Week on this Remembrance Week.  Well done, Zach!

Thank you for reading, check back next week to see what the Seniors are busy with ahead of the Christmas fair…

Talking to Strangers: Preparing your child for Interview

Mrs Broadis – Head of Future Schools Curriculum

Throughout childhood we train our children to be suspicious of strangers online and in person, and to avoid engaging in conversation with anyone that they do not know.  Then, when they reach the age when they are ready to move on to senior school, they are told they must converse with energy and enthusiasm with a person who is entirely unfamiliar. How do we help children prepare for the moment of interview, when they find themselves having to share their interests, strengths and character with a colleague in an unfamiliar setting?

Conversations at home are essential. In the busyness of modern life, I know as both an employee and mother, it is easy to go a day without having, what I call, a ‘proper’ conversation with members of my family. Exchanges can be transactional and cursory as we navigate the demands of life away from work. Now that the children are grown, we need to engineer time to come together, and I realise childhood gave us precious time for my children to learn the art of conversation. 

Mealtimes were central in growing the ability to hold a conversation. This is why at Edge Grove, staff sit with children at lunch time, so children can learn the art of ‘small talk’, the natural to-and-fro of conversation, and learn how to keep a conversation moving using questioning, giving detailed answers, and linking one topic of interest to another.

At home, over the evening meal, I would hear about the boys’ days, and we had the opportunity to discuss ideas: our thoughts about the state of the world; our reactions to a particular event in the news; or an opportunity for my husband or I to share something interesting that would broaden their horizons. When we had visitors, there were times when the children were required to join us, so they had that exposure to conversing with adults who were much less familiar, and with whom they had to adopt a more formal and less intimate tone.

Visits to places of interest were another time for talk – in the car on the way there and back, and then the talk around the shared experience of going somewhere new, learning about culture and history from museums and galleries, or touring the sights. We took holidays to support the boys’ interests; a trip to Rome and the Port of Ostia when our middle son was mad about the Caroline Lawrence ‘Roman Mysteries’ series; to Belfast, when our youngest was obsessed with the Titanic; to Yosemite when the boys were older and wanted to see where Alex Honnold had free-soloed up El Capitan. Childhood was talk-rich, and now I miss those precious days when we had quality time together.

As children are prepared for interview at Edge Grove, we can recognise those children who come from homes where talk is a feature of family life, and where family-time is devoted to experiential learning. It is fantastic to hear of weekend trips and holidays to interesting places which provide a wealth of rich information for discussion. As for talking to strangers, children must see modelled positive interactions with unfamiliar people, and have the chance to share their ideas and thoughts amongst adults who are not well-known. Then, when they walk alone into an interview room, they can be confident in their ability to chat with an adult and share just how interesting and brilliant they are!

Future Schools Update
Mrs Jane Broadis, Head of Future Schools Curriculum

I am often asked, when should parents begin to think about their child’s education beyond the haven of Edge Grove? The answer to that very much depends on what your aspirations are for your child, and the experience of childhood you would like for them. 

Here at Edge Grove, we value broad and balanced education, where children are pushed to meet their academic potential, whilst having opportunity to find their strengths in a wealth of co-curricular subjects, and an exciting offering of activities. Mr Stanley often says, ‘We are a greenhouse, not a hothouse’; at its heart, this means we create the perfect conditions for the healthy growth and development of each child without artificially accelerating learning through intense focus in limited areas.

At the start of Year 5, we encourage parents to book a Future School meeting with Mrs Hodge and Mr Stanley. By this stage we have a wealth of data from your child’s performance in key cognitive, English and maths assessments which give an accurate picture of your child’s aptitude and ability.  We also know your child well, and with knowledge of the character of senior schools and what they do well, we have a good feel for where a child is likely to thrive. Using historic data, and the successful entry into a range of senior schools by past pupils, we are able to advise on schools where an application is likely to be successful; those which would be aspirational and the chances of success marginal; and those where we are confident that entry would be assured. 

The stress of transition to senior school for parents comes when the admission requirements of a school lie beyond the academic performance of a child. Some parents set their hearts on particular schools and begin an intense period of preparation which limits what children can do in their time away from school.  Preparation is important and we advise that during Year 5, children practise reasoning skills little and often to become familiar with the question types on the assessment tests they will face. It is also helpful for all parents to keep their children ‘ticking over’ in the long summer break with light-touch academic activities so that children do not lose learning in that long holiday and are ready for the Autumn CAT test.

More parents are now looking for a move to the state sector which relieves the financial burden of school fees on families through those secondary years. The South West Hertfordshire consortium academic assessment is gruelling, as is the entrance test for QE Boys, and we have only seen success with those children who have consistently fallen academically into the top 2-3% since they first joined the school. 

The question therefore, of when should you as parents think about future schools is certainly when your children reach Year 5. Before then, it very much depends upon what you want for your child, their thirst for academic pressure, and how you want them to be spending their precious days of childhood. 

• I would ask all 11+/13+ parents to keep us informed of interview and assessment dates by emailing both Future Schools and the School Office. This way we can ensure our systems are in place to support children to the best of our ability, so they can go out brimming with well-placed confidence and character! 

If you have any questions regarding the choice of future schools for your child, please email Future Schools.

ISEB Common Pre-Test at Edge Grove (STAHS, Harrow, Eton, Downe House)

Thursday November 20th

Everything you need to know about the ISEB Pre-Test

Aldenham Assessment at Edge Grove

Monday November 24th (Aldenham use Part 1 of the Quest assessment)

Everything you need to know about Quest Admissions

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 for September 2026 is now closed. No late registrations will be accepted.)

MFL Oracy Event
By Mrs Laneri, Head of MFL

Last Friday 7th November 2025, Edge Grove participated in an inspiring MFL Oracy event that took place at Habs’ School.

Some of our brilliant pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 performed a French or Spanish poem. Their performances were exhilarating and breathtaking.

Well done to Year 3 for the winning performance and to all pupils for their enthusiastic participation!

Hello all!

Another quiet(ish) week on the Houses front, mainly because my other jobs are starting to take over again (Fireworks music, Remembrance, Panto, Nativities, Choirs… the list goes on!)

That being said, we had some wonderful House assemblies on Thursday morning with our recently instated House Captains, presenting about humility and its importance in our daily lives. We also played some excellent games like “Monkey See, Monkey Do” and “This or That”, offering an opportunity for our pupils to get to know each other across year groups!

Our joke this week comes from the wonderful Nico P in Gills. I’m definitely getting flashbacks to his Aladdin pantomime two years ago!

Someone stole all my lamps. I should be upset, but I’m just de-lighted.

Speaking of light, our Photo of the Week comes from Sami in Stratton who informed me that he got up at 6:30am to take this photo of a sunrise in Mexico. That’s quite the journey at an early hour just to get a photo of a sunrise…!

Have an excellent week everyone!

Mr Evans
Head of Houses
Director of Music

Joke entries this week

• Why did the old man fall down the well? Because he couldn’t see that well.
• The name Lance isn’t very popular nowadays but in Medieval times people were called Lance a lot.
• What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs bunny.
• What do you call a cowardly knight? Sir Ender.
• Where do books hide when they’re scared? Under their covers.
• What do you call a nervous jedi? Panikan Skywalker.
• What did the clock say to the school bell? You rang?
• Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything.
• Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because it was stuffed.
• What do you call a pile of cats? A Meowtain.
• What did the triangle say to the circle? I don’t see your point.
• How do you make the number seven become even? Remove the ‘s’.

What a fantastic week of sport we’ve had! Despite a challenging start with the weather, conditions improved, and we were delighted to see all our planned fixtures go ahead as scheduled. Both our boys’ and girls’ football teams represented the school brilliantly throughout the week. Although the Year 3 & 4 girls did not have a fixture, they made excellent use of their training session, finishing with a fun and competitive mini tournament that showcased great teamwork and enthusiasm.

Fantastic Opportunity for Girls…….

Norwich City FC – *BRAND NEW* Girls Football Development Centre

Venue: Mark Hall Academy

Address: First Ave, Harlow, CM17 9LR

What3Words: ///skin.holly.rigid

Evening: Monday

Trial Date: 15th December 2025

Times: 18:00 – 19:30 | Girls U9/U10,U11/U12 & U13/U14

Trial Booking Link: https://www.abler.io/shop/ncfcfd/girlsdevelopmentpathway/product/Q2x1YlNlcnZpY2U6NDkxNzg=?

Players on our programmes pay a small fee to take part in the programme but receive the following benefits:

• Take part in weekly training sessions delivered by our UEFA qualified coaches, we pride ourselves on sessions being both educational and enjoyable for our players
• Train with highly talented players to develop skills and tactical understanding.
• The opportunity to progress within the clubs development pathway.
• Full Norwich City Training kit included.
• The opportunity to travel on residential training trips.
• Take part in fixtures against other development programmes.

Wednesday 12th November

1st Team Football 

Edge Grove Senior ‘A’ vs Locker Park

The Edge Grove Senior ‘A’ Team fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat against Locker Park today, but the final score doesn’t tell the full story of their hard-fought performance.

The boys began the game poorly, conceding a goal in the first few moments, but this served as a sharp wake-up call. The team rallied swiftly, delivering an excellent and highly physical performance to get back into the contest. Individual efforts were noticeable throughout the team. Up front, Isaac was a constant danger, putting the opposing defence under immense pressure and creating several opportunities. At the other end, Max delivered a brilliant performance in goal, executing vital saves to keep the score manageable. Defensively, Aiden was superb, making a number of lovely, game-saving challenges that kept Edge Grove in with a shout of victory.

Unfortunately, despite their improved physicality and dominance in possession, the team failed to capitalise on numerous good chances, ultimately finishing the game trailing by just one goal. The Seniors should be incredibly buoyed by their successes and the determined spirit shown in this game. They must now focus on those positives as they move into the final few games of the season.

2nd Team Football 

Edge Grove played a brilliant game this afternoon against Lockers Park. All players worked together to work their way up the pitch and had a number of opportunities with shots on goal. It was a very well balanced and even game with both sides working hard across the pitch, showing good dribbling skills and creating shots on target. It was a well fought game throughout. A big well done goes to Alex who played in every corner of the field, Eashan for making some fantastic saves in goal and Grayson for great work in defence. Good game this week by the whole team, well done.

Colts A Girls Football 

Edge Grove 12-0 Westbrook Hay

The Colts A Girls delivered an exceptional performance this week, securing a 12–0 victory over Westbrook Hay. From the very first whistle, the team dominated possession, showing fantastic teamwork, movement, and passing across the pitch.

The girls moved the ball with real purpose and confidence, creating chance after chance with some beautiful link-up play. Even when a second-half rule was introduced, requiring every player to touch the ball before a goal could be scored,  the team rose to the challenge brilliantly, still managing to net four more goals under the new condition.

Goal scorers:

Ayomipo – 1
Ivy – 1
Edith – 4
Lucy – 5
Tippi – 1

Every player contributed to this outstanding display, but a special mention goes to Asayoma, who was simply outstanding in goal. She showed great concentration and athleticism, saving every shot that came her way to keep a clean sheet.

It was a complete team performance, strong defending, creative attacking play, and wonderful teamwork throughout. A fantastic result and one the whole team should be proud of!

Final Score: Colts A Girls 12 – 0 Westbrook Hay

Colts B Girls Football 

Edge Grove 0-4 Westbrook Hay

Our first football match of the season, and what an afternoon the girls had! The Colts B team had a slightly slower start to the game, with Westbrook Hay scoring four goals within the first 15 minutes. However, after making a few positional changes, the girls showed great resilience and kept their heads held high.
After a positive half-time chat about spacing and moving the ball with more control up the pitch, the girls went back out for the second half determined to apply what they’ve been working on in training. Their hard work paid off, we kept the ball in our attacking half for much of the second period and created several good chances on goal.
Although we didn’t manage to score this time, it was an excellent game full of effort, teamwork, and learning opportunities. Well done to all who played!

Colts C Girls Football 

A great effort from the Colts C Team against Westbrook Hay. For their very first football match, the girls showed fantastic determination and teamwork against a strong Westbrook Hay. In the first half, Edge Grove struggled to slow down Westbrook Hay’s relentless attack, but they continued to show great resilience and effort. 

After half time, a change of positions and team chat, the girls were able to support each other more effectively. They worked hard to defend as a unit and began to create more attacking opportunities, showing real improvement and confidence as the game progressed. 

Although Edge Grove were unable to score, it was a very promising first outing with plenty of positives to build on. Their teamwork, perseverance and positive attitude was excellent. A fantastic effort from all players!

Colts A Football 

Edge Grove 6-1 Lockers Park

The Edge Grove Colts A side secured an emphatic 6-1 victory away at Lockers Park on Wednesday. The boys went into the fixture full of confidence following a strong showing last week.

The difficult, heavy conditions made ball movement challenging, and Edge Grove initially struggled to adapt, finding themselves a goal down after failing to clear a corner kick early on. However, demonstrating the resilience practised in recent Games lessons, the team responded immediately. Pressure mounted on the Lockers Park goal, and it wasn’t long before Jack stabbed home a sharp equaliser after a deflection to make it 1-1.

The game then hung in the balance, requiring a piece of individual brilliance from goalkeeper Teddy, who executed a crucial fingertip save to deny Lockers Park from immediately retaking the lead. This moment proved to be the turning point. The high-pressing front three of Jack, Cooper, and Louis worked tirelessly, creating relentless opportunities. Just before the break, midfield maestro Tyler took control, threading an exquisite through ball that split the defence, allowing Jack to slot home confidently, giving Edge Grove a deserved 2-1 lead at half-time.

Edge Grove started the second half with purpose. Defenders Tommy and Harry formed an impenetrable barrier, protecting Teddy with crucial tackles before swiftly initiating attacking moves. The rewards came quickly, as Jack secured his hat-trick with a fine finish following another clever through ball.

The momentum continued with Tyler, who drove forward from midfield and unleashed a venomous strike that rattled the crossbar. Jack was quickest to react, making it 4-1. Louis also tested the woodwork with a powerful long-range effort, showing the team’s determination to shoot on sight.

Cooper was instrumental in the fifth goal, chasing down a seemingly lost cause to win a corner through sheer determination. The resulting set-piece was well-worked to Tommy on the edge of the area, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Finally, Jack provided the icing on the cake, capping a remarkable five-goal display with a lovely run through the defence and finding the bottom corner for the final 6-1 scoreline.

It was a truly fantastic performance from everyone involved. Well done boys!

Colts B Football

Edge Grove 6-2 Lockers Park 

Edge Grove B team travelled to Lockers Park for an exciting fixture that showcased excellent teamwork, determination and skill. From the first whistle, Edge Grove displayed confidence and control, moving the ball quickly and efficiently across the pitch while making superb use of the wide channels. In goal, Oscar J was outstanding, making a number of fantastic saves and showing great composure in playing safe, accurate balls out from the back. The defensive trio of Harry N, Aiwanehi I and Riley H worked brilliantly together, applying consistent pressure on the Lockers Park attack and repeatedly turning over possession. Going forward, Monty T impressed with his excellent runs down the right wing, stretching the opposition and creating space for the forwards. In attack, Rafael K, Raphael B and Hunter C combined superbly to create numerous scoring opportunities. Raphael B was in exceptional form, netting four goals, while Ved M added another with a well taken finish. Harry N capped off a fine all round performance with a confidently struck penalty.It was a pleasure to watch the team put into practice everything we have been working on in training. Their movement, passing and support play were a real highlight of the game. A big well done to the whole team for an excellent performance and a well-deserved 6–2 victory.

Colts C Football

Edge Grove 8-0 Lockers Park 

Edge Grove C team travelled to Lockers Park and produced a dominant performance, securing an impressive 8–0 victory. From start to finish, the team displayed excellent energy, teamwork and composure on the ball.In defence, Joshua O and Syon T worked tirelessly to regain possession, showing great awareness and linking play back into attacking opportunities. Garv P made several brilliant interventions off his goal line under pressure, keeping a well earned clean sheet.Going forward, Wolf K, Aarin S and Chris C formed a superb attacking trio, moving the ball quickly and accurately to break down the opposition defence. Chris C was in outstanding form, scoring six well taken goals, while Wolf K added two more to round off the scoring. Luke S played an important tactical role throughout, chasing down loose balls and contributing effectively in both attack and defence.It was fantastic to see the team’s hard work in training reflected in such a confident and fluid performance. Every player contributed to a truly impressive display. A huge well done to the whole team on an excellent result and an 8–0 win!

Colts D and E Football

Edge Grove 6-3

We had an excellent afternoon of football with both the Colts D and Colts E teams taking on the Lockers Park Colts D side. Both of our teams played incredibly well, focusing on the key points we discussed before the match — moving the ball quickly, linking up effectively, and creating plenty of chances.

Chimdi stole the limelight with a superb hat-trick, while Hridhaan, Kwabena, and Hamza all looked a real threat up front and each found the back of the net with well-taken goals. Kevin and Pranay shared goalkeeping duties and were both rock solid between the posts.

In defence, Daniel, Aman, Itai, and Chenlang were outstanding, breaking down opposition attacks and passing the ball out calmly to set up counterattacks. Nico, Rayan, Joshua, and Sami worked tirelessly in midfield, making some excellent passes to create goal-scoring opportunities.

It was a brilliant team effort all round — well done to everyone involved!

Colts Blue (F) & White (G) vs Lockers Park – Match Report

The Colts Blue and White teams combined today to take on a competitive Lockers Park side in a well-spirited fixture. We played four quarters, ensuring all boys had ample game time and the opportunity to showcase their football.

Both teams started brightly, moving the ball from box to box and showing great intent going forward.

Adam Liberman was a constant threat up front in the first and third quarters, narrowly missing by mere millimetres on several occasions. His movement and desire to score set the tone early on.

In the second quarter, Ben Kissman pushed Edge Grove into a confident lead with a composed finish. Later in the game, Tom Albani sealed the win emphatically, securing a strong 6–2 victory for Edge Grove.

A special mention must go to Adam Benjamin and Torin Malhan, who both delivered excellent performances in goal, making crucial saves and giving the team real stability at the back.

In midfield, Jesse Horwich worked tirelessly, linking play and driving the team forward with energy and purpose. And finally, a huge shout-out to Seb O’Keefe, who impressed throughout with his work rate and commitment.

A fantastic combined effort from all involved — well done, boys!

Thursday 13th November

Mr Saunt

Colts B – 7-a-Side Match Report

The Colts B put in a strong and disciplined performance this afternoon, playing some excellent football across all areas of the pitch. Their link-up play, pressure off the ball, and confident attacking phases allowed them to control large parts of the game. Defensively, the group showed real organisation, clearing danger early and supporting one another throughout. A very positive outing with plenty of encouraging signs for the next fixture.

Colts C – 5-a-Side Match Report

A true testament to grit and character from the Colts C team, who played the entire fixture with only five players due to a last-minute illness drop-out. Despite having no substitutes and feeling the impact of reduced numbers, the boys showed superb resilience, determination, and teamwork from start to finish. They worked tirelessly in and out of possession, stayed competitive throughout, and maintained a brilliant attitude even when under pressure. A performance to be incredibly proud of, and one that truly reflects their spirit and togetherness.

Mr Bissix

Edge Grove Year 4 A Team

The Edge Grove Year 4 A Team had a fantastic afternoon of fixtures, securing two excellent wins and a hard-fought draw across three challenging matches. The results reflect the brilliant teamwork and scoring prowess shown by the whole squad.

Match 1: Locker Park (3-1 Win)

The first game saw the boys achieve a decisive 3-1 victory. The pressure from the team was relentless, forcing the opposition to concede two unfortunate Own Goals. Danny capped off the scoring with a brilliant strike from a free kick, securing the team’s first win of the afternoon.

Match 2: Westbrook Hay (2-1 Loss)

The second match against Westbrook Hay was a tighter contest. The Year 4s fought hard but ultimately succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat. Danny netted Edge Grove’s only goal, showing excellent attacking drive, but the team couldn’t find the equaliser despite their efforts.

Match 3: Edge Grove Year 3 A Team (0-0 Draw)

The final game, an exciting internal fixture against the Edge Grove Year 3 A Team, ended in a 0-0 draw. While the goals dried up, the match highlighted the incredible defensive effort from the Year 4 squad, ensuring they kept a clean sheet to round off the afternoon.

A special thank you goes to James for his excellent sportsmanship and willingness to switch sides to help the other team—a great display of character! Overall, it was a superb series of matches for the Year 4 A Team.

Mrs Warnes

The U8 team demonstrated fantastic teamwork and enthusiasm throughout today’s matches. From the very start, the boys supported one another, showing great sportsmanship and positivity both on and off the pitch.

Arlo was a standout on the sidelines, cheering loudly and offering thoughtful advice to his teammates — perhaps a future football manager or sports commentator in the making! On the field, Jagger’s solid defending kept the opposition at bay, while Aiden impressed with his quick footwork and determination. Jay’s excellent positioning helped the team to maintain control and create scoring opportunities.

Thanks to their collective effort, the team secured two wins out of three matches. Every player contributed to the success of the day, and their teamwork, encouragement, and positive attitude made the school proud.

Mr McManus

We played two matches against Westbrook Hay and showed some excellent football throughout. The effort from everyone was outstanding, with the team really trying to pass the ball quickly and move it into space.

Oliver and Zak both had a turn in goal and did really well, making some important saves. Oliver then moved up front and scored a fantastic goal, while Asher added another with a brilliant strike into the top corner. Zayyan led the line superbly, making some great runs and putting the defenders under constant pressure.

In midfield, Reyansh and Aryan P worked tirelessly, attacking the ball and winning back possession for their team. The most improved player today was Ruairi, who stayed calm in possession and passed the ball really well.

Our focus for next week will be on being patient when we have the ball and avoiding the temptation to chase it. By staying in position and moving the ball quickly between teammates, we’ll create even more goal-scoring opportunities.

Well done to everyone for a great afternoon of football!

Mr Hunt

Edge Grove U8/U9 Blue Football VS Westbrook Hay and Lockers Park (Away at Westbrook Hay)

EG 7:1 WBH

EG 3:2 Lockers

EG 1:3 WBH

The Edge Grove U8/U9 Blue team travelled to Westbrook Hay School this week for an exciting afternoon of football, playing three competitive 5-a-side matches, two against Westbrook Hay and one against Lockers Park. The opening fixture saw Edge Grove face Westbrook Hay in a superb display of teamwork and attacking football. From the first whistle, the boys moved the ball around the pitch with confidence and composure, working cleverly to evade the opposition’s defence. Their excellent communication and well timed support runs created numerous scoring opportunities, resulting in a fantastic 7–1 victory. In the second game, Edge Grove took on Lockers Park in what proved to be a thrilling encounter. After falling 2–0 behind, the team showed great determination and resilience to fight their way back into the game, eventually winning 3–2. The defensive trio of Harrison C, Tomasz L, and Aaran P were outstanding, repeatedly breaking down opposition attacks and turning defence into offence with composure.The final match saw a rematch against Westbrook Hay, where despite a valiant effort, the team narrowly lost 1–3. Throughout all three matches, Aran S, Aaran P, Harrison C, and Tomasz L shared goalkeeping duties admirably, showing great versatility and team spirit. Up front, Aiden K and Harrison C combined brilliantly as an attacking pair, linking up well and applying constant pressure on the opposition. The goals were spread across the team, with Aiden K netting an impressive six goals, Aran S scoring three, Harrison C adding one, and Kush T also contributing one.Overall, it was a fantastic afternoon of football from the Edge Grove boys, full of teamwork, determination, and exciting play. The team can be extremely proud of their performances and the way they represented the school.

Miss Ludgrigan

Edge Grove U8/U9 Green Football VS Westbrook Hay and Lockers Park (Away at Westbrook Hay)

Our boys were buzzing with excitement for another away fixture, this time travelling to Westbrook Hay for a five-a-side quadrangular tournament. Their enthusiasm was fantastic to see and set the tone for a brilliant afternoon of football.The first match against Lockers Park was a tightly contested affair, finishing in a draw. Both teams showed great determination, but the standout moment came from Eli, who scored an excellent goal to get us in the tournament.Our second game, against the hosts Westbrook Hay, was a high-energy battle. Both sides pressed hard for a winner, putting in a tremendous amount of effort to try and break the deadlock. The game was packed with action, but ultimately ended in another draw, due to the incredible support from their goalkeeper Oscar. Devan put in a stellar performance at the back, with some excellent defending that made it impossible for the opposition to score right up until the final whistle.In our third and final game, we faced Westbrook Hay again. It was a lovely way to finish the day, as the boys secured a fantastic 3-1 win. The goals came flowing, with a well-taken goal from Shreyas and two superb finishes from Ishan!It was wonderful to end the tournament on such a high note. As always, the boys played with great spirit and showed excellent sportsmanship throughout all three games. Well done to everyone involved!

World Kindness Day, celebrated every year on 13 November, is a global reminder of the power of compassion and human connection. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations and organisations committed to promoting kindness as a universal value, transcending boundaries of race, religion and politics.

Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can create ripples that spread positivity, bridge divides, and inspire others to do good and Tooled Up has a wealth of resources to support this important topic.

For primary-age children, help them to build stronger, kinder friendships by using our activity resource Treating Others Kindly. It gently guides them to recognise subtle unkind behaviours like exclusion or gossip and to reflect on how these actions affect others.

For teens, help them deepen their understanding of what kindness really means and the impact of relational aggression – something intended to hurt someone’s personal relationships or social standing, rather than cause physical harm. Treating Friends and Classmates Kindly will help you and your teen explore the subtle ways unkind behaviour can appear in friendships and to reflect on your family’s values when it comes to kindness and how to treat others.

As adults, let’s reflect on how kind we are as individuals to our families, children, friends and colleagues. Unkind words that belittle or shame can deeply affect a child’s self-esteem. Listen to our podcast Words Matter to learn the difference between an occasional ‘cross’ word and what might be considered verbal abuse.