This Week at Edge Grove

This week has been filled with excitement and enriching experiences for our Junior Department pupils. From the high-energy performances of High School Musical to interactive visits from a zoologist and a paleontologist, the children have embraced learning beyond the classroom.

Amy Atwater’s visit has ignited a passion for geology and palaeontology in our Year 2 pupils who are now eager to go and search for fossils. There are two Jurassic coastlines in the UK where the rocks which contain fossils are exposed: Dorset and North Yorkshire.  Both locations make for fabulous family holidays, and Mrs Broadis strongly recommends Yorkshire with a stay in Whitby, Runswick Bay, Robin Hood’s Bay or Staithes, with fossiling opportunities both down and up the coast.

I always love visiting classrooms and engaging with the children as they share their learning journey. This week, visiting Reception was the highlight. The children composed a brilliant step-by-step guide to planting cress, showcasing their understanding of the process and their ability to communicate it effectively through careful language choices and sentence structure. There was not a full stop, finger space or capital letter missing!

10:30-11am is one of my favourite times in the day. It is when phonics learning comes to life across the department. The children absolutely love their lessons, especially when teachers make ‘mistakes’ with their spelling. It was great to see that there was no confusion with our common exception words. Year 1 pupils were quick to tell their teachers off for spelling ‘said’ as ‘sed’! 

Wishing you all a restful weekend.

Mrs Wynne
Assistant Head (Junior)

Nursery

It has been a roaringly good week in Nursery as we ventured into the wild world of animals! We began by reading the classic tale ‘Dear Zoo,’ sparking delightful conversations about our own paw-some pets (both actual and imaginary). The children were fascinated by the role that vets play in looking after animals, and we explored how these real life superheroes help creatures great and small. We discussed patterns and textures of zoo animal’s fur, and thanks to some clever technology, we even had a look at a live stream of zoo animals around the world – no passports required! 

In phonics, we curled up with the letter ‘c’ for cat before heading outside for some water play and making obstacle courses in the glorious sunshine. 

We finished off a very busy week with a visit from Zoo Lab who showed us some fascinating animals whilst teaching us all about how we can look after the planet and keep the animal’s habitats safe. 

Well done nursery for a wonderfully, wild week of learning and discovery.

Reception News

In Reception, we have been continuing to work hard, and this week we took our growing learning into the plant world. Learning all about the lifecycle of a butterfly last week made us eager to learn more about the natural world around us. We discussed how plants grow and what they need in order to survive, and we have focused specifically on cress. We learnt  how to grow cress from seeds, and we were excited to get planting our very own seeds to see the magic of growing right in front of our eyes. The children wrote their very own little booklets of the steps to grow cress in English and, as always, focused on independently sounding out words and including finger spaces and full stops. 

This week in Reception, our afternoons were filled with an array of child initiated learning activities.

We set up water trays with measuring jugs, water animals and shoots. The children enthusiastically crafted water slides and intricate contraptions, guiding the animals from point A to point B through the flowing water. Their imaginative designs and problem-solving skills were truly impressive. It was a treat to see the huge smiles on the children’s faces as they engaged in this active learning experience.

On Thursday, we focused on construction and building during our flow afternoon ,and the creations made by the children were truly fantastic. We had cars, flowers in pots, a dinosaur world, Bushbaby jetpacks and camouflaging machines all made from blocks, lego, K-Nex, and stickle-bricks. We were so impressed with the children’s imaginations, and I can definitely say that we have a few budding inventors in Reception.

Year 1 News

It’s hard to believe we’re down to the final six weeks of Year 1! The year has flown by, and we couldn’t be prouder of all the wonderful progress the children have made.

This week, our Science lessons have been a real highlight. Continuing our topic on Animals, the children explored the diets of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. In a hands-on investigation, they examined ‘animal poo’ to look for clues—such as bones, seeds, and bugs—using magnifying glasses and tweezers. It was a fantastic (and slightly messy!) way to learn.

In Maths, we’ve been revisiting key concepts, and the teachers were especially impressed with the children’s ability to explain their thinking using precise mathematical language. Their reasoning skills have truly shone through.

We’re also buzzing with excitement about our upcoming trip to Knebworth House after half term (details to follow soon). The children have amazed us with their knowledge about Queen Elizabeth I and had fun decorating a portrait of her with facts on post-it notes. There were lots of giggles when they discovered she loved sugar so much her teeth turned black—and that when she was cross, she would throw shoes!

Finally, our cycling and swimming sessions have been a huge hit, made even more enjoyable by the beautiful weather. We’ve been so proud of the children’s grit, determination, and sportsmanship—showing the true spirit of young athletes.

Well done, Year 1!

Year 2 News

We were fortunate to host a special visit from an up and coming author who enlightened us on the fascinating world of fossils. The children were captivated as they learned about different types of fossils and the intriguing field of palaeontology. The children were engaged and curious about all they learnt. We are sure these stories have inspired our young learners to explore and ask questions about the world around them. 

In our maths lessons, the pupils have been doing a fantastic job at securing their understanding of the calendar, including the seasons and the months of the year. We are excited to be moving onto a new topic—statistics. Our young mathematicians will begin collecting data and exploring the various methods we can use to display this information.

Our budding performers, who have been inspired by High School Musical, have been diligently practising their songs for the upcoming performance. Please encourage your child to continue practising at home, as we are eager to present a spectacular show in a few weeks. We can’t wait to see you there and share in the children’s hard work and creativity.

Dear Parents,

Following the success of Screen Free Week, it was a pleasure to continue our debating themes with Year 5 on Monday. We held a mock debate and identified our strongest speakers ahead of the Debating Shield at STAHS on Thursday 3rd July.

With rehearsals for High School Musical in full swing, not all Year 5 pupils were available to practise their rhetorical and dialectical skills in debate; they did however absolutely blow us away later in the week on stage, showcasing their theatrical talents, musical flair and dancing skills. What a phenomenal performance it was – a cornucopia of colour, character, and charisma. Chapeau to all involved!

Amy Atwater’s visit to Year 3 has ignited a passion for geology and palaeontology among some of our young learners who are now eager to go and search for fossils. There are two Jurassic coastlines in the UK where the rocks which contain fossils are exposed: Dorset and North Yorkshire.  Both locations make for fabulous family holidays, and Mrs Broadis strongly recommends Yorkshire with a stay in Whitby, Runswick Bay, Robin Hood’s Bay or Staithes, with fossiling opportunities both down and up the coast.

Finally, we’re excited to announce the launch of the Year 5 Young Enterprise Morning, taking place on Tuesday 1st July. More details will follow soon, but pupils will be planning, organising, and fundraising with entrepreneurial enthusiasm during PSHE lessons in the coming weeks. Watch this space!

Mr Thorne
Assistant Head (Middle Department)

Miss Corin writes…

Yet another amazing week has unfolded for 3C! We commenced the week with an inspiring class assembly focused on the theme of kindness. The students delivered their lines with remarkable confidence and expression, demonstrating their hard work and dedication. A big well done to all the children for their outstanding performance!

Following this uplifting event, we had the pleasure of attending the production of High School Musical Jr. The energy in the theatre was palpable, and the students left buzzing with excitement. It was heartening to see their eagerness to audition for the next whole school production, showcasing their enthusiasm for the performing arts.

In addition to these enriching experiences, we were fortunate to host Amy Atwater, a distinguished palaeontologist and the author of the book The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure. Amy’s engaging presentation sparked stimulating discussions within 3C, leading to a plethora of insightful questions from the students. It is undoubtedly a book well worth reading, and we encourage everyone to delve into it.

Mrs Senghani writes…

As we begin week 4 of the summer term, 3S are in for a treat this week. Monday morning kicked off with watching the production of High School Musical Jr. in the theatre. The set looked amazing, and the students performed so well. The script was so well written, with amazing singing, dancing and acting from all participants, a huge well done to all involved children and staff involved. 

Mrs Broadis organised for Amy Atwater, a distinguished palaeontologist and the author of the book The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure to come in a visit us on Wednesday morning. The children presented some amazing questions to Amy ranging from how she started off, to what’s her favorite part of the job at the moment. The children showed great interest and were fascinated by her words. A big thank you Mrs Broadis for these amazing opportunities.

On Thursday afternoon I took a group of the year 3 and 4’s to an Athletics meet at York house, they all did amazingly, however a special shout out to Arjun with the 80m sprint being the fastest in year 3. Huge well done to all those that took part showing resilience and determination to try something new.

A reminder to please check out the Edge Grove birthday card competition on Google Classroom – we have so many talented artists in our class.

I look forward to seeing the students flourish next week.

Mrs Fox writes…

What a fantastic fossil fact feast we had on Wednesday during the brilliant Amy Atwater author talk! It was perfectly timed, as 3W have become increasingly fascinated in finding ammonites and interesting rocks, both in Forest School and during their break and lunch times. The children asked thoughtful questions and listened attentively, with many sharing their future career dreams in palaeontology and other scientific fields.

Following on from this exciting topic, we used microscopes in our own Science lesson to observe the intricate details and features of soil samples. The children were amazed by the power of the microscopes, and we had a super discussion about all the things we cannot see with our eyes alone. 

Friday means swimming, and as I write this, I can hear the joyful laughter and splashing from the class as they improve their swimming skills under the watchful eye of Mrs Emms. We also had some brilliant sporting achievements this week – Tobi impressed us all with a powerful sprint during athletics, and Emma demonstrated excellent grit and determination in the 80m and cricket ball throw.

A reminder to please check out the Edge Grove birthday card competition on Google Classroom – we have so many talented artists in our class.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

Year 4 writes…

The performance of High School Musical was truly incredible, showcasing the remarkable talents of our students. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the children involved. It was particularly heart-warming to witness the support from siblings and the inspiration felt by the year 4. Leila and Izzy both remarked on how wonderful it was to experience the show. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff and students. Well done, everyone!

With the sun shining radiantly, our outing to the Tower of London was indeed a fabulous experience that the children will remember for a long time.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the imposing structure of the White Tower, which dates back to the 11th century. This remarkable building is not only the oldest part of the Tower of London but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, steeped in history and intrigue. Within its walls, we explored fascinating exhibits, including the Crown Jewels, which are an enduring symbol of the British monarchy.

Another significant point on our tour was the Bloody Tower, named due to the rich tapestry of tales surrounding its infamous past. Our guide for the day was none other than Edmund, a prisoner from the tower who recounted stories of crime and punishment that took place within its confines. The children were utterly spellbound by these accounts, which sparked their imaginations and elicited a flurry of questions. Alice was particularly enthused, expressing that she adored exploring the tower, while Harry was fascinated by the suits of armour on display, remarking on their intricate designs and historical significance.

The staff accompanying us were immensely impressed by the children’s behaviour and courtesy towards fellow visitors at the tower. Their respect for the heritage site and attentiveness towards our guide enriched the experience for all. During our visit, we had the delightful opportunity to meet some Beefeaters, who are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower. Raf was especially curious about their duties and inquisitively inquired what would happen should the guards move unexpectedly. It was heartening to see such enthusiasm and curiosity from the children, genuinely eager to learn.

In a bid to further immerse ourselves in the spirit of our adventure, Miss Lundrigan led a fun session of marching during our downtime. The children enthusiastically embraced this activity, culminating in a lively display of camaraderie and joy amongst their peers.

In summary, Year 4’s trip to the Tower of London has been an exceptional highlight of the term, combining education, excitement, and priceless memories. We look forward to seeing what our final week has in store as we continue to learn and grow together.

Mr Russell writes…

Firstly, 5R would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Allen and the entire cast of the High School Musical production. We were absolutely blown away by the incredible performance on Monday evening. A particular highlight for us was seeing two of our own, Tyler and Cooper, shine so brightly on stage. They made 5R proud with their fantastic performances!

In form time this week, our Topic Tuesday took us into the fast-paced world of National NASCAR Day! The children learned lots of interesting facts about this exciting sport before engaging in a lively table quiz. Congratulations to the Delhi Capitals table who sped their way to first place this week!

For TED Ed Thursday, Riley shared a captivating video exploring the mysteries hidden in the deepest depths of the ocean. The form listened keenly as we journeyed through the different oceanic levels, discovering the incredible creatures and environments that exist at the very bottom.

Tippi and Ved thoroughly enjoyed a collaborative form time session this week, teaming up with 5T and 5A to showcase the drama games they had created. It was wonderful to see them take the lead in teaching these games to their fellow Year 5 members.

Adam has been particularly engaged with the start of the new History topic: the Trojan War. He’s excited to delve deeper into this legendary period.

Tommy is eagerly preparing for the upcoming athletics competition at Jarman Park and enjoyed the opportunity to practise his skills this week. He focused on both hurdles and high jump, showing great enthusiasm and determination.

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend.

MFL

We made the most of Screen Free Week last week to learn about Antoni Gaudi and used his modern style to reproduce some of his famous pieces of art and architecture.

Maths

Two weeks ago, pupils from Year 8, Year 7 and Top Set Year 6 took part in the Junior Maths Challenge. Congratulations to all pupils who took part in a difficult challenge aimed at pupils in Year 8! An extra special congratulations to Samuel and Robert who have broken the Edge Grove School record by achieving 130 and 129, respectively, out of 135! A very impressive achievement, well done!

English

Year 8 once again arrived to English armed and ready to defend their noble houses as the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets hit its bloody climax.  Arav brought bows and arrows, Robert brought lightsabers, Benjamin brought swords (there was irony here as he was playing Benvolio who ”do[es] but keep the peace!”) and Harry brought a slingshot.  Year 8 collectively took to the Junior Department’s pirate ship to defend their houses and disrupt the peace of Verona before Tybalt (Robert) and Mercutio (Daniel) paid the ultimate price in the ”fatal brawl”.  The prince (Samuel) had finally had enough of the ”vile fray”, and he and his henchmen (Keavy and Alex) exiled Romeo (Imeth) immediately, whilst Lady Capulet (Rabbie) grieved poetically over her nephew’s dramatic fall from the pirate ship).

Year 8’s behaviour and conduct during this lively reenactment was nothing short of exemplary, and they have earnt a collective Head’s Commendation for their stellar engagement.  They were truly impressive as we regularly drew in close to dissect the language and structure of Shakespeare’s words.  A particular highlight was when Benvolio (Benjamin), a powerful Montague, gave his biased account to the Prince of what happened, and the rest of the year group interjected, repeating words that did not sound particularly impartial!  Those that didn’t have a main speaking role this week were absolutely essential and played their background characters perfectly, donning their sunglasses, biting their thumbs and brandishing their weapons in support of the main characters, capturing the animosity of the two families.   

Here they are in the picture below.  They were asked to judiciously choose a line from the scene to sum up this picture, and here are some of their ideas below:

High School Musical Jr 2025 – where to even begin? 

What a show!

What an experience!

What a memory!

Another Edge Grove show week to remember.

Having grown up watching High School Musical on the Disney Channel and being slightly obsessed with it throughout my childhood, I always had a feeling it would one day become an Edge Grove show! With its excellent score, fantastic opportunities for big ensemble numbers, and a powerful theme, it seemed the perfect choice.

At Edge Grove, cliques simply do not exist. We celebrate the wide-ranging talents of every child. This cast proves that you can be a scientist and a singer, a Taekwondo black belt and a fantastic dancer, a reader and an athlete. To direct this show, I needed a multi-talented, versatile cast — and your children have more than delivered.

High School Musical personifies the values we hold so close at Edge Grove:

• Identity and Self-Discovery
• Teamwork and Unity
• Confidence and Courage
• Passion and Pride

I’ve seen these values come to life in every rehearsal as we’ve worked together to bring this production to the stage.

Collaborating with this talented young cast and crew has been an extraordinary experience. Their infectious energy, excitement, and passion every Tuesday evening have been the highlight of my week. This year, the immersive layout brought a new challenge—but hopefully one that pays off, as Mr Evans and I pushed our creativity to new heights. I can confidently say this production wouldn’t have looked nearly as professional or technical without his exceptional expertise.

The pupil’s growth in confidence and skill has been truly remarkable. Through dedication, creativity, and camaraderie, they have turned this entire process into a source of immense pride and joy. I hope it is a memory which will last a lifetime. 

“Now is the time to free us, to touch the sky, to reach for the highest star!”

From a very very proud,

Mrs J Allen
Director of Drama

In D&T Scholarship club this term, the pupils are working on a sustainable housing project. Using SketchUp to help visualise their 3D concepts, the pupils designed and created their architectural projects to scale, including the rendered finishes and furniture inside the house. The 3D model outcomes are very impressive and show great detail and level of high quality skill from each pupil – well done!

Miss Evans to Attempt Record-Breaking English Channel Relay Swim

On June 29, 2025 – Miss Evans is set to take part in a historic English Channel swim as part of an eight-person relay team attempting a Guinness World Record. The team aims to become the first ever to swim from Alderney in the Channel Islands to the British mainland — a gruelling 56-mile journey expected to take over 30 hours.

In preparation for the challenge, Miss Evans has spent months training in cold open water, acclimatising to the tough conditions expected during the crossing. The swim, which is being officially observed for Guinness World Records certification, is as much a test of mental strength as physical endurance.

The team is fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Marine Conservation Society, and welcomes public support.

To support Miss Evans and her team, please visit the links below to donate via their JustGiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/team/odysseysquad (RNLI)

https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-ransom-8. (Marine Conservation)

U13 County Plate Competition: Edge Grove 104 / 9  vs St Edmund’s College 105 / 9

Our captain, Samuel, lost the toss and we were put in to bat first. Unfortunately, we lost Isaac and Max early, which put us under immediate pressure. However, Noah showed great composure, timing the ball with consummate ease to score a solid 18 runs before edging a tame delivery to short mid-wicket.

Arav looked promising with the bat but was dismissed cheaply for 8 runs, caught on a simple chance. Kaelan was the backbone of our innings, carrying Edge Grove to what we felt was a defendable total with an unbeaten 21. He was ably supported by Robert, Harry, and Eashan, each contributing valuable cameos and playing some lovely cricket shots.

Edge Grove finished with a total of 104 runs.

Our bowling innings began with a costly first over, conceding 13 runs, from which we struggled to recover. Noah bowled impressively, taking several key wickets, while Max spun the ball nicely. Thomas again delivered a tight line and length, earning multiple wickets in the process. Kaelan’s pace bowling proved difficult to score off, and Eashan maintained excellent control with his line and length. Behind the stumps, Isaac was outstanding, taking a smart stumping off Max’s bowling.

Our fielding was inconsistent throughout the match, although Samuel and Arav took some important catches. Edge Grove took control of the game around the 12th over, reducing the opposition to 9 wickets down for 84 runs by end of the 15th over. Unfortunately, the High School Musical crew had to leave at this point, leaving us with only six fielders on the field. This allowed St Edmund’s to crawl to the target with under 2 overs left  with the field spread so wide.

It was a tough game to lose and frustrating that we couldn’t close it out. 

Nonetheless, well done to all the boys involved for their efforts and commitment.

U11 County Cup vs Heath Mount

Heath Mount 306 – Edge Grove 206

Heath Mount won by 100 runs

The U11 county cup is a hard ball, 8-a-side pairs competition which is played every year. As we had made the semi-finals last year we had a bye in the first round and played Heath Mount in the quarter finals. This proved to be a very tough challenge as they batted first and scored runs with some aggressive stroke-play. Our bowling was not bad but they took advantage of the spaces in the field and rotated the strike well and punished the bad balls. With a big total to chase we were under real pressure and this pressure resulted in a number of easy wickets. We were ultimately beaten by the better team but look forward to returning to a traditional 20 over match next week.

Year 3 & 4 Athletics @ York House

Despite the sun not making an appearance, spirits were high at the athletics meet, with plenty of excitement and impressive performances across the field events.

There were some particularly good throws in both the cricket ball throw and the javelin, drawing cheers from the crowd. In the cricket ball throw, Harry put in a strong performance to finish in 2nd place for the Year 4 boys, while Emma secured a solid 3rd place for year 3 in the cricket ball throw. Alice also impressed, taking 2nd in year 4, and Niam gave it his all to finish 6th in year 3 for the cricket ball throw.

The track saw plenty of excitement with 600m to start the afternoon for the year 3’s. James finished 5th which was a brilliant achievement. 80m sprints found some great success with Arjun coming first in year 3 winning by 5m. Tobi was a true inspiration, not only to our children, but adults and children at other schools, with his incredible 200m sprint finishing in 35.77s at least 15m ahead of all other competitors. His success did not stop there, as he also finished first in High Jump for year 3’s. Anira ran a great 200m sprint, coming first in year 3 girls in her heat, she ran with confidence and did not slow down until she passed the finish line. Wolf ran a good 600m finishing 4th in year 4 boys, closely followed by Teddy in 7th.

The 600m races were very tough and it was great to see all students supporting their team mates, be it running a short stretch with them to keep building the encouragement or shouting encouragement from the side lines. 

A huge well done to all the children that came along and tried something new, it was great to see the resilience and determination. Everyone enjoyed the day, showing great effort, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship throughout.

Swimming Gala v  Pipers Corner, St Martin’s and York House

Girls

Pipers Corner 51

Edge Grove 67

York House 66

Boys

St Martin’s ‘A’ 55

York House ‘A’ 54

St Martin’s ‘B’ 57

Edge Grove 37

York House ‘B’ 41

Edge Grove School’s swimming team made a splash at their first gala of the year, held at York House. The team competed against swimmers from York House, St Martins, and Pipers Corner, demonstrating impressive talent and determination.

Edge Grove swimmers achieved several victories across different strokes. In the freestyle events, Kiersten, Ayomipo, Tommaso, and Edith all secured first-place finishes. The team dominated the backstroke races, with Ivy, Asayoma, Kiersten, Tom, Kiersten, Josh, and Ivy all winning their respective events. Edith, Ayomipo, and Josh also claimed victory in the breaststroke races. Ivy and Josh added to the team’s success with second-place finishes in the butterfly races.

Special mention must be given toYear 5 pupils Edith and Ivy, who achieved remarkable victories in their Year 6 races against competitors from the year above.

The gala showcased the depth of talent and hard work within the Edge Grove swimming team, marking a great start to the season.

Bonjour!

Another week has flown by!  My watch tan-line is coming along nicely with this wonderfully warm weather and High School Musical is finally done and dusted!  Our pupils never fail to astound me: their resilience, determination and strength of character is what makes Edge Grove such a fantastic school.

On the Houses front, there isn’t much to report: sporting activities are well underway in preparation for Sports Day, exam revision is (hopefully) in progress, and I’m still being told off by Mrs Broadis for using too many brackets in my writing.

Planning for EdgeFest is in full swing and the inflatables budget has definitely been blown!  Someone decided to put me in charge of music and therefore I am excited to confirm our amazing musical acts for the event:

Now onto Joke of the Week!

This week we had a fantastic twenty-five entries but it’s this one-liner from Bolu that’s taken the prize:

I had a go at playing rugby recently and I thought I was playing really well but all I heard was ‘nice try’!

Excellent work Bolu!  A quick reminder that all entries gain one House Point whether you’re a kid or a big kid, and the winning joke gains 10 points for the House!  This week’s form for entries is here.

Until next week!

Mr Evans
Head of Houses
Director of Music
In need of a nap

Joke entries:

• What did square say to the circle?  You’re pointless.
• This guy told me he was Harry Potter’s Godfather. I thought he was joking but he said he was Sirius!
• “Knock knock. Who’s there? “Cash”, “Cash- who?” No thanks I’ll just take peanuts instead!
• If you cross a kangaroo and a sheep what do you get? A woolly jumper.
• Why does it take pirates a long time to learn the alphabet? Because they can spend years at C!
• Why can’t a hand be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot!
• Why was the sand wet? Because the sea weed!
• Why was the jockey so patient? He knew how to hold his horses!
• There was a neck dressing competition, it was a tie!
• What do you call a pair of banana peels? Slippers!
• If criticism were an instrument, you’d be first chair
• What do you call a bird without wings? A walk!
• What did the chicken say when it went into the library? Buk..buk…buk…buk… What did the frog say? Reddit…reddit…reddit…
• Why did the student eat his homework?  Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake
• Why do dragons sleep during the day? So that they can fight knights.
• Why did the bubble gum cross the road? Because it was stuck to the chicken’s foot.
• What do you call a deer with no eyes, No-eye-deer! But wait, what do you call a deer with no eyes or legs, still no eye deer!
• Why shouldn’t you use a broken pencil? Because it’s pointless. Why don’t rabbits ever get hot in the summer? Because they have hare-conditioning.
• Person 1: Why did the chicken cross the road? Why? To get the Martian newspaper. Eh? Did you get it? No…? Neither did I. I don’t read Martian!
• Why did the scientist wear Denim Because he was a jean-ius
• What type of tree fits in your hand? A palm tree!
• What did the traffic light say to the other traffic light? …… Don’t look, I’m changing 
• Why did the toilet roll roll down the hill….. to get to the bottom
• What did the left eye say to the right eye? Between us, something smells

As our Year 6 pupils move into the final phases of their chosen senior schools’ admissions processes, parents with pupils in lower year groups may be starting to think more about the journey that they and their child will be embarking on in the not too distant future. If your child is in Year 5 or below and you would like to meet to discuss their academic profile and next steps, please book an appointment via Mrs Thomas, Head’s PA on futureschools@edgegrove.com 

The Future Schools Presentation to Parents is now available to view on the Future School Documents section of the app.

INFORMATION FROM SENIOR SCHOOLS

ABINGDON SCHOOL

Abingdon Senior School will start to welcome girls to our First Year (Year 7) and Sixth Form from September 2026. We will therefore welcome girls at the 13+ stage in 2028.  

We have a number of events for prospective families running throughout the course of this term and next – all of which can be booked online via this link.

ABBOT’S HILL SCHOOL

13+ Scholarship Opportunities

We have recently launched some new Scholarship opportunities. Scholarships will be available in the following areas:

Sport
Music
Drama
Art+Design

Enquiries to  https://www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk/scholarships/ or email admissions@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

BISHOPS STORTFORD COLLEGE

Whole School Open Event – Saturday 20th September

11+ entry in September 2026. 

Application Deadline for entry to the College in September 2026: 

Monday 3 November 2025

Scholarship Assessment Days:

Tuesday 11 November 2025 (11+ art and music) 

Wednesday 12 November 2025 (11+ sport)

11+ Entry Testing Day:  

Saturday 15 November 2025

Outcomes sent to parents:

Friday 28 November 2025

CHANNING SCHOOL

Summer Term “school-in-action” Open Mornings – Attendance is by booking tickets in advance, at the following links:

Thursday 24 April (9am – 11am)

Tuesday 24 June (9am – 11am)

Here are the Channing 11+ (2026) key dates for your diary:

11+ Application Deadline: Friday 7 November 2025

Bursary and Music Scholarship Application Deadline: Friday 7 November 2025

Channing offers both bursaries and Scholarships for Year 7.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@channing.co.uk if we can be of further assistance.

CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

11+ Admissions Brochure

 For more information and to book, visit www.clsg.org.uk

HAILEYBURY

We are always happy to welcome any interested families to come and visit us; this can be done in a number of ways:

• Families can book onto one of our Open Events. Please encourage prospective families to book their place via the School’s website. 
• Contact the Admissions department (admissions7to9@haileybury.com / 01992 706353 ) to arrange an individual family visit during term time.

Once a family has decided to proceed with an application to Haileybury, we encourage them to register with us by completing our online Registration Form.

JOHN LYON SCHOOL

Admissions Brochure

To book a School in Action Open Morning please contact admissions@johnlyon.org

KING’S CANTERBURY

Open Morning Saturday 17 May

There will be displays and exhibitions of life at King’s all around the school.

The link to sign up is:

https://www.kings-school.co.uk/admissions/senior-kings/register-for-an-open-morning/

THE LEYS

Information on small group visits can be found here and, in addition, we’re always pleased to discuss the possibility of a private visit with families too.

LONDON 11+ CONSORTIUM

Information regarding the Consortium can be found on our website.

These are the key dates:

Closing date for registrations: Friday 7 November 2025

Consortium Assessment dates: Friday 28 November, Tuesday 2 December and Thursday 4

December 2025

Offer date: Friday 13 February 2026

Deadline to accept: Wednesday 4 March 2026 – 12 noon

MILL HILL

Visit Our School | Senior Admissions North London | Mill Hill

MILL HILL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

APTITUDE TEST DATES FOR YEAR 7 ENTRY FROM SEPTEMBER 2026

Registrations for Aptitude Tests will open on Friday 21st March 2025 and close at 3pm on Friday 9th May 2025. Registrations for Aptitude Tests are to be made online via the Mill Hill County High School website

https://www.mhchs.org.uk/1763/apply-for-aptitude-tests-4

RADLEY COLLEGE – 2026 ENTRY INFORMATION

All the details of our Open Days can be found on our website here. 

All 2028 entrants, regardless of their route of entry, will need to sit the ISEB Common Pre-Tests by 28 November 2025 .Parents need to register their children directly with the ISEB to sit the Common Pre-Tests via the ISEB Parent Portal. Parent Registration will open on 10 June 2025. 

Boys who have been shortlisted following receipt of the ISEB Common Pre-Tests results and Head’s report, will be asked to attend one of the following Assessment Days:

13, 15, 20, 22, 27 January & 3, 5 February 2026.

RMS – PRIVATE TOUR OF RMS FOR GIRLS – Contact Admissions to book a tour

 Do not hesitate to contact our friendly Admissions Team who will happily arrange a private tour of the School at a time convenient for you.
Please contact admissions@rmsforgirls.com 

SHREWSBURY SCHOOL

We are always delighted to welcome families to our Open Days, when they can get a sense of our beautiful campus site.  Each Open Day starts with a presentation from the Headmaster and other senior staff, followed by a Q&A session with pupils.  Families visit one of our houses and then enjoy a school tour with pupils, followed by lunch.  Open Days & School Tours | Shrewsbury School

The Director of Admissions, Martin Cropper (mc@shrewsbury.org.uk), is always pleased to talk to parents and to offer advice on our Admissions process.  We welcome applications for September 2026 onwards, and a small number of places for September 2025 have recently become available.

SOUTH WEST HERTS CONSORTIUM – Secondary Transfer 2026

This year, registration for the tests spans a period of almost ten weeks, from Tuesday 1st April to Friday 6th June 2025. As previously, no late registrations will be accepted. If a parent has extenuating circumstances for failing to register for the tests, this may be cited as part of an appeal to an independent panel at a secondary transfer appeal hearing.

The Test Administration Team can be contacted via email only at info@swhertsschools.org.uk. There is no facility to telephone.

Key testing dates can be found in the image at the bottom of this section.

TONBRIDGE SCHOOL

The School has numerous Open Mornings taking place. These are a great opportunity for families to discover what a Tonbridge education can offer their son, as well as the chance to meet boys and staff.

Come along and find out what makes us the top boys’ boarding school in the country as well as the best boys’ school in the South-East, as ranked by The Sunday Times’ Parent Power table.

Book your place using this link.

UPPINGHAM SCHOOL

Uppingham’s Visiting Days Families can sign up to attend via our website or contact Sarah Heading (sch@uppingham.co.uk). 

This term is such a busy one with so much organising going on behind the scenes!

We are excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for Edge Fest, a treat of a weekend on 7/8 June including a night under the stars on our beautiful grounds. Tickets can be purchased here

Ticket sales will close on Friday 23rd May so make sure you get in there early!

We are also busy selling Edge Grove branded hoodies and torches. Perfect for camping trips, enrichment week and forest school! The deadline for the hoodies to be here in time for enrichment week is 13 May so please get ordering soon!

The second hand uniform shop is looking very empty right now! We are especially short of PE kit and cricket whites, so please drop any unwanted items to the main or junior receptions so they can be used by someone else!

Don’t forget FOEG coffee mornings will take place on 13 June and the AGM will be on 1 July. It would be great to see you there. Anyone who would like to help us out next year please do get in touch!

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend.

Mrs Carr
Chair of the Friends of Edge Grove

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