This Week at Edge Grove

Welcome back after the half-term break! I’m not sure who was more excited on Monday morning, myself or the children. It was wonderful to see all their smiling faces and the spring in their step as they arrived at school.

Our Junior Department assembly focused on tolerance. Pupils reflected on respecting differences and showing kindness. We even explored scenarios and voted on whether they showed tolerance, and I’m happy to say no one was caught out!

I spent my Thursday afternoon with Nursery this week, treasured time. We were very much learning through purposeful play. They were keen to show off their fine motor skills as they made models with toilet rolls and straws.

Reception enjoyed The Little Red Hen, retelling the story with fantastic actions. I was absolutely thrilled to be involved in their Maths lesson on measurement. Mr Evans starred as the guest and the children used conkers to measure his height – very inventive indeed!

Year 1 have been reading one of my absolute favourites, Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy, thinking carefully about what characters are saying and doing, and building their understanding of dialogue and motivation. Their writing really is coming along at a tremendous pace.

We welcomed many prospective families for 4+ assessments this week. It’s always a joy to show off our department to those new to Edge Grove.

A big thank you to Mrs Taylor (Bursar) and the maintenance team for installing our beautiful new bespoke EYFS toilets, a wonderful addition to our new EYFS area.

We’re thrilled to have everyone back and look forward to another fantastic half-term of learning and growth!

Mrs Wynne
Assistant Head (Junior)

Nursery

We’ve had a magical week in Nursery! The children have been busy making bubbles in their own cauldrons, inspired by Room on the Broom. It was wonderful to see their imaginations come alive and hear their fantastic retelling skills as they used pictures to sequence the story’s events.

Music has been full of festive cheer as we’ve started learning our Christmas songs, and the children are already sounding brilliant!

In PE, we’ve been practising ball control, building coordination and confidence through fun games and activities.

In Maths, we’ve focused on recognising and sequencing numbers to 10, using hands-on games and songs to make learning exciting and engaging.

To end our busy week, we enjoyed some relaxing yoga, helping everyone to stretch, breathe, and unwind.

Well done, Nursery!

Reception News

What a wonderful return to school we have had this week! The children have come back full of excitement and raring to go. In Literacy, our learning has been based around The Little Red Hen. The children have been busy writing small sentences, practising their finger spaces, and recognising the tricky words the and I. In Maths, we have been exploring measurement, using language such as tall, short, big, and small. The children also loved using scales to compare which objects were heaviest and lightest. A particular highlight of the week was when Mr Evans kindly let the children measure him using conkers as a non-standard unit – there were endless conkers from his head to his feet! The children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm, asking questions and making thoughtful comparisons.

All roads now lead to Christmas as rehearsals for our Christmas play have begun, and the classroom is already filled with festive songs. What a fantastic start to the half term!

Year 1 News

The children have returned from their half-term break rested, refreshed, and ready for an exciting new half-term of learning! In English, we have been reading Whatever Next? by Jill Murphy. The children have really enjoyed sequencing the story and imagining themselves as the characters, thinking carefully about what they might say to one another. We have been focusing on extending our ideas by using the word “because”, which has helped everyone to write some wonderfully detailed and thoughtful sentences.

In maths, we have continued our work on subtraction. The children have explored a range of methods, from using practical resources to number lines, to help them understand and find the difference between numbers and objects. It has been fantastic to see their confidence grow as they apply these strategies in different ways.

Coinciding perfectly with Bonfire Night, our new science topic is Light and Dark. The children became light source detectives, investigating whether objects are sources of light or simply reflectors. We were fascinated to discover that the Moon doesn’t actually glow, but instead reflects the light of the Sun! Fireworks, on the other hand, were definitely a source of light, and this inspired some amazing firework art in class. We finished the week in true celebratory style, bringing our firework pictures to life and watching the spectacular display at school on Friday evening.

It has been a brilliant start to the half-term, full of curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for learning!

Year 2 News

The first week of this half term has flown by! The children have been putting their budding writing skills into practice by composing descriptive stories, daring to venture into Mr and Mrs Twit’s spooky garden. The children have worked hard to include vivid adjectives, awe-inspiring alliteration and similes as clever as a cat. We are very proud of their creative efforts and bringing together all the skills they have learned over the term. 

In preparation for Remembrance Day next week, the children have been exploring more somber themes of courage and sacrifice through a multitude of mediums including stories, discussions and art. Mr Stanley led a thought-provoking assembly talking about the virtue of integrity (one of our celebrated school values). Although the war brought out the worst in humanity, it also brought out the best through heroic acts of kindness to do what is right, even when it wasn’t easy. An inspiring message that can be applied to our thoughts and actions here at school. 

In maths, year two have been exploring number bonds within 100, related facts and fact families, showing great perseverance and resilience as they tackled tricky number problems. 

It has been a wonderful week and we are excited to end it with a bang, coming together as a community to celebrate Bonfire night. Well done year 2! 

We are delighted to welcome everyone back after the half term break for what promises to be another exciting few weeks of learning and discovery. It has been a fantastic first week back and it was wonderful to be at the door each morning and see all the amazing Stone Age posters and artistic creations the children produced over the holidays. Their creativity and enthusiasm have really brought our topic to life, and it is lovely to see how proud they are of their work.

There is so much to look forward to this half term, including the Year 3 trip next week, which will bring our Stone Age studies to life, and the Year 4 Anglo Saxon workshop, which was a great success this week — the costumes were fantastic! Thank you, as always, for your continued support in making learning such an engaging and joyful experience for our pupils.

Mrs Tora Hodge
Deputy Head (Academic)

Year 3 – Miss Kyriacou, Miss Corin, Miss Lundrigan

We are delighted to welcome back all our pupils for another exciting term. We hope you had a restful holiday and are ready for a wonderful half-term full of learning and exploration. The children have settled back into school routines with great enthusiasm and are ready to start our new adventures!

In English this week, we have started to explore similes. The children are using these delightful comparisons to enhance their descriptive writing skills.

Our exploration of Mount Everest continues. The children have been busy creating their very own fact files which showcase their fascinating discoveries.

We are delving deeper into ‘The Stone Age’.  We are all looking forward to our thrilling trip on Monday that will bring this ancient era to life! The children have been inspired by the amazing Stone Age posters and models that you helped them create. A big thank you to all the parents and guardians for your continued support. Your involvement in creating Stone Age posters and models has made the learning process more exciting and enjoyable for the children. They truly loved sharing their projects with the class!

As we conclude our topic on ‘Rocks’, the children are preparing for an exciting investigation. We can’t wait to see their hypotheses and findings!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are looking forward to a fantastic term ahead!

Year 4 – Mrs Futerill, Mrs Warnes

We have had a wonderful start to the second half of the autumn term. It has been lovely to welcome the children back and to hear their stories from the half-term break and their Halloween adventures.

On Tuesday 4 November, we enjoyed a fantastic Saxon Day, which began at 9.15am and captivated everyone from the very start. The morning featured a range of free-flow activities, including ink making and letter writing, clay work, amulet making and weaving. Everyone contributed to creating Our Daily Life in a Village in Wessex. There was even some historical “gossip” shared about King Alfred. According to the famous legend, after a crushing defeat by the Vikings, the king was forced into hiding. He took refuge in a humble cottage, but the peasant woman who lived there didn’t recognize him. She asked him to watch some oat cakes baking by the fire. Preoccupied with the fate of his kingdom, Alfred let his mind wander… and the cakes burned. He was then fiercely scolded by the woman for his laziness, completely unaware she was telling off the king – proving even kings aren’t safe from kitchen duties!

Later in the morning, the classes brought Saxon history fully to life, eagerly gripping shields to practise formidable defensive formations. After lunch, everyone fast-forwarded a thousand years to become modern-day archaeologists.

With great concentration, children explored their ‘dig site’, carefully logging the location of every item before using a catalogue to identify them. Each new discovery was met with enthusiasm and excitement. This immediately led to wonderful discussions and predictions, as everyone had the chance to be a hands-on historian, passing the object around to touch and feel it. The children keenly debated what it was made of and how a Saxon might have once used it in their daily life.

It was wonderful to see the smiling faces of every child throughout the day and to hear their enthusiasm as they spoke about how much they had learnt and enjoyed the experience. A big thank you to parents for providing and helping with the wonderful costumes that brought the day to life. (More photos to follow soon on Google Classroom!)

Year 5 – Mr Russell and Mrs O’Brien

It was a real pleasure to welcome your children back after what we hope was a restful and enjoyable two-week half-term break! The energy and enthusiasm they brought back into the classroom has been fantastic.

They have seamlessly re-entered Year 5 life, quickly settling back into their routines and hitting the ground running with their learning. We are already looking forward to all the fun and exciting activities we have ahead in the lead-up to Christmas!

In form time this week, we dedicated time to crucial discussions and activities. The children completed their PASS surveys, giving us valuable feedback on well-being. We also used our Pupil Voice to discuss topics of kindness and inclusion in preparation for Anti-Bullying Week next week. Following this, we held a class vote to elect our representatives who will attend a meeting with Mrs. Wright to share the collective thoughts of our forms.

This week saw lots of exciting action across the curriculum and in sports:

Our matches kicked off this week with visits to Beechwood Park and Heath Mount. We saw some great results and performances. A proud Wolf was delighted with his team’s effort despite the loss, and Oscar was equally pleased with his Man of the Match goalkeeping performance. The girls enjoyed a dynamic gymnastics session in the absence of a hockey fixture, trying out different pieces of equipment. Alice highlighted this as her favourite moment, as she was able to show off her skills on the trampoline.

Away from sport, Daniel enjoyed getting stuck into some brain-challenging Maths problems, Hamza found the topic of Tsunamis fascinating in Geography, and Kush found creating artwork relating to Remembrance Day very moving and poignant.

We were delighted to see the high number of Heads Commendations given out for outstanding work completed over the half term. Rafael was extremely delighted to receive his for exceptional work relating to the life of Josephine Baker.

Finally, it was very exciting to hear about the castings for our upcoming Bugsy Malone production! The buzz around the show is already palpable, and we are really pleased to hear the children already practising their lines and getting into character.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Firework Night this evening! 

Have a lovely weekend.

Year 6 – Mrs Allen, Mr Kay, Dr Moradi

Back with a Bang! It’s not even fireworks yet (though that’s happening tonight!), but Year 6 has certainly come back with a sparkly and re-fuelled energy!

It’s been a fun-filled, busy first week of the new half term. The energy and enthusiasm the children have brought back into the classroom have been fantastic. They’ve returned refreshed, recharged, and ready to learn. It’s clear that a real sense of responsibility is building across the year group as our pupils immerse themselves in everything on offer this term.

This week has been packed with engaging form-time discussions and a thought-provoking Year 6 assembly all about confident humility. Mrs Allen spoke about finding the balance between confidence and humility, and discovering that “sweet spot” in between. The pupils were completely engaged throughout, contributing to what became a really meaningful and reflective assembly.

We explored the idea that it’s okay to experience seasons of uncertainty while maintaining belief in your abilities. True confident humility comes from believing in yourself and recognising that there is always more to learn, while staying grounded and open-minded. This message feels especially relevant at the moment, with 11+ exams, casting outcomes, senior school offers, sports fixtures and opportunities all happening across the year group. It’s clear that Year 6 are developing this vital sense of self-awareness and resilience – they are absolutely set up for success, and we have no doubt they will continue to thrive. We also discussed how to recognise and manage feelings of being overwhelmed as we juggle all these exciting opportunities that come our way.

Wishing our Year 6 pupils a restful weekend – and we hope it ends with a bang, just like it started!

Aptly in time for fireworks night, The Seniors are back with a bang this Half Term.

This week, the Seniors were brilliant ambassadors for the School during the 4+ assessments, and were engaging and proactive guides for the visiting parents.  Their efforts at affable, easy conversation was impressive and they were a credit to Edge Grove.

The Seniors put a great deal of effort into their Remembrance rehearsal on Friday, ensuring that they are in place to create a solemn and respectful tone at the flagpole for the rest of the School to follow.  Similarly, in English they have been rehearsing our collective narrative WW1 poem, and are feeling ready and confident for a powerfully moving delivery during Tuesday’s service.  We really hope to see you there to watch your sons in this emotive performance.

We decided on a new installation for the Senior board: a monthly message to the younger pupils.  Here is our message for this month:

Finally, we wish Isaac and Leandro a very happy 13th birthday for the 5th and the 9th respectively, and look forward to hearing about their celebrations this weekend!

And it is a perfect weekend for it, commencing tonight with what promises to be a fantastic Fireworks Display.

Senior of the Week:

This week’s secret mission was trying different strategies to find a solution, and I asked Mrs. Wroe to keep an eye out in Maths.  Mrs. Wroe has nominated Aydin as our Senior of the Week for always applying different knowledge and strategies to problems to arrive at an answer.  Aydin continues to work very hard in Maths and we are all very proud of him!  Well done, Aydin!

Have a lovely week: check back next time to hear about the Seniors’ involvement in Remembrance Day,

Best wishes,

Jess Senior

Laying Foundations in Forest School
Reflections from Mrs Broadis, Head of English and Future Schools Curriculum

It is not often that we as staff open the morning logistics email and are pleased to be asked to cover a lesson for a missing colleague. However, I was delighted this week to have an opportunity to see pupils in their forest school session, where they were tasked with working collaboratively in teams to create a spiral from Autumn leaves. You might find it peculiar to read reflections on Forest School in the academic section of the newsletter, however I witnessed first hand how this aspect of our provision at Edge Grove helps children develop skills that are essential in the classroom.

As spirals were created, some teams faced setbacks; the wind scattered carefully placed leaves and children struggled to find the perfect resources they needed to create the spiral they had envisioned. Learning to persist in the face of such frustrations strengthened their resilience. Forest School develops sticking power and perseverance – to keep writing in a Year 6 timed essay; to continue to tackle that tricky mathematical problem; or doggedly  testing hypotheses in Science until a creditable answer is found.

I could see children developing flexible thinking skills.  They decided which materials would work best, and when something didn’t fit or looked out of place, they had to adapt. This week, Year 3 have been learning that when they get stuck in maths, there is often more than one way of solving a problem; Year 5 have been developing analytical writing skills where making changes can improve readability and clarity.

As spirals grew, children took on the roles that came naturally to their personality. Some took responsibility for gathering leaves, others were in charge of placing them, and a few stepped into leadership roles, organising the layout and giving instructions. It was interesting for me to see how children leading outdoors were often different from those who feel more confident within the confines of a classroom. Forest School provides opportunity for children to develop vital collaborative skills which we rely on in the classroom in group work.

Building spirals require sustained concentration but in a way that felt a lot less pressured than life can in the classroom. The grounds of Edge Grove provide a world of sensory delight: texture, sound, space, which helped children settle into an attentive state. This capacity for absorbed attention supports things like reading stamina, careful observation in science, and the ability to focus on tricky reasoning problems.

Finally, I saw the pride the children felt in their completed spirals – each was theirs: constructed, negotiated and created. They had created something tangible – and beautiful – for their efforts. In Forest School children learn in a less pressured environment that effort is rewarding, and with persistence and concentration, they can create something of value. What a fantastic lesson to bring to the indoor classroom where there is the same satisfaction to be gained from the completion of academic work. By giving children opportunities to experiment, collaborate, and solve problems in nature, we prepare them to engage more confidently and thoughtfully in the classroom.

Future Schools Update – Week 5
Mrs Jane Broadis, Head of Future Schools Curriculum

The second half of the Autumn Term is the busiest time for pupils on the 11+ and 13+ journey as they continue to prepare academically, visit schools, attend assessment days and take entrance tests. I have been delighted by the smiles of our applicants who have returned from their assessment day at Queenswood this week, with unanimous positivity and comments that included, “It was really fun!”  We wish those attending the Berkhamsted Holistic Assessment Day on Saturday all the very best.  I don’t believe in luck; I feel secure in the knowledge that the preparation done here at Edge Grove, equips our pupils with the confidence to shine to the best of their ability. 

A few of our Seniors, who have already secured deferred places at 11+, have chosen to explore other schools, and we are helping them in their preparations to take the assessments that accompany a 13+ application. Last academic year, pupils who had secured deferred places at Merchant Taylor’s and St Margaret’s, were successful in 12+ applications to St Albans. Additionally, Seniors went on to win 13+ scholarships at their chosen schools during Years 7 and 8. The journey goes on!

I would ask all 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! 

Important news from Belmont, Mill Hill

Year 6 Deferred Entry Pathway for Year 9 entry in September 2028

Deadline to register: Monday 10 November

Assessment (Stage 1): Saturday 15 November

Register here: Register your Child | Mill Hill Senior Private School

13+ Entry Pathway for Year 9 entry in September 2026

Deadline to register: Monday 24 November

Assessment (Stage 1): Saturday 29 November

Register here: Register your Child | Mill Hill Senior Private School

Claire Moelwyn-Hughes                  Admissions Officer T               +44 (0)20 8906 6417

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

Thursday November 20th

Everything you need to know about the ISEB Pre-Test

Aldenham Assessment at Edge Grove

Monday November 24 th (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.)

Welcome back!

Another crazy half term at Edge Grove has begun… and it’s the big one… Christmas is on the horizon! That means nativities, pantomimes, choirs, mulled squash, chocolate, mince pies, Christmas tree compositions, Christmas Cards and PRESENTS!

But before we get ahead of ourselves, we have our annual Bonfire Night tonight, our very important Remembrance Service on Tuesday and upcoming House Assemblies.

I received a stream of half-term-holiday photos for our Photo of the Week competition, and it’s this amazing photo of a very famous location in London that has won ten house points this week.

Congratulations to Isabella W in Stratton. The photo will be displayed in assemblies for the next week, and therefore means our current photo competition totals look as follows:

Moving on to Joke of the Week, and this week’s aptly timed joke has come from Tom A in Gills:

I went to a costume party as a clock yesterday but I left early because the people there kept winding me up.

The points stand as follows:

It’s close at the top with three houses all on the same points! Keep it up ladies and gents!

And that’s where I’ll leave this short update. I hope you have a fantastic weekend full of fun, food and fireworks!

Mr Evans
Head of Houses
Director of Music

Joke entries this week

• Why do bananas wear sunscreen? Because they peel.
• Why don’t ghosts like rain? It dampens their spirits.
• What did the police officer say to the belly button? You are under a vest.
• What’s black and white and hard all over? An exam paper.
• What do you call a man with seven heads? A nightmare for barbers.
• Why is it always cold in a football stadium? Because of all the fans.
• What has more letters than the alphabet? The post office.
• I have a bed but I never sleep. What am I. A river bed.
• How does an eye say “I don’t know”? “I have no eye-dea”
• What did one fish say to the other fish? Nothing. Fish can’t talk.
• What fish is the most expensive? A goldfish.
• Why did the maths book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
• How many birthdays have I had if I am eight years old? One because I have only been born once.

A huge welcome back to the second half of the autumn term! We hope everyone had a restful break and is ready to go again.

We’ve had a fantastic start to our PE lessons. With the swimming pool now closed for winter, our focus has shifted. Years 3 and 5 are enjoying Handball, while Years 4 and 6 are developing their skills in Indoor Hockey. Our Senior pupils have started a new unit on Health-Related Fitness, exploring how to stay active and healthy. Meanwhile, our Nursery children are about to begin working on their racket skills, and Years 1 and 2 are moving on to Gymnastics and Movement.

As always, it’s been a busy first week back! All Year 3 and 4 pupils took part in matches, the Colts girls attended gymnastics training, and the rest of the Colts and Seniors continued with a range of football fixtures.

We’re also very excited for the annual Edge Grove Fireworks on Friday after school, and we look forward to seeing you all there for what promises to be a fantastic evening!

Senior Football

Triangular competition v St Johns & Beechwood Park @ St Johns

The Senior Football squad had a demanding afternoon of triangular fixtures, facing tough opposition in St. John’s and Beechwood Park. The players displayed excellent teamwork, individual quality, and great sportsmanship throughout the competitive matches.

Match 1: Edge Grove 1 – 0 St. John’s

Edge Grove secured a hard-fought victory in their opening match.

The match began with significant pressure from St. John’s, who pressed aggressively. However, the defence of Aiden, Blake, and Grayson was organised and resilient. Goalkeeper Max was integral to the strategy, calmly playing the ball back to the defenders, who then used Max’s distribution to clear the danger and relieve pressure.

Aiden was an imposing figure, using his immense speed and strength to thwart all attacks, ensuring his mark never beat him one-on-one. Grayson used his pace effectively to nullify and delay the opposition wingers, while Blake played with typical tenacity and commitment.

Up front, Noah was a constant threat, distributing the ball quickly and accurately to catch the St. John’s defence off guard. Bolu drove the team forward with powerful runs, one of which saw him fouled in the box for what appeared to be a clear penalty, though play continued.

Isaac was lively in both attack and defence, linking up well with Noah on the right wing and Leandro, who worked tirelessly to maintain pressure around the box. The decisive moment came when a cross was played in under pressure, leading to a deflection past the St. John’s keeper for an own goal, though Isaac will claim it for his key involvement. Zach was also bright on the wing, contributing to a vital 1-0 victory.

Match 2: Edge Grove 0 – 2 Beechwood Park

The second fixture saw Edge Grove come up against a well-drilled and fast Beechwood Park team. The entire squad played with excellent energy and determination despite the challenge of a second consecutive high-intensity match.

Unfortunately, the back-to-back games created some fitness issues. Edge Grove’s defence was unable to consistently track the opposition’s fast-breaking runners, leading to two conceded goals from very similar moves—one in each half.

Despite the 0-2 loss, the boys showed excellent spirit and great sportsmanship. While disappointed with the result, the experience against such a strong team provides valuable lessons in sustained fitness and defensive tracking.

5-a-side Fixtures: Notable Performances

The afternoon concluded with 5-a-side games that highlighted several strong individual performances:

Joseph played with incredible energy and passion, effectively controlling the midfield and dictating the tempo of his matches. Eashan was excellent up front, applying intense pressure by hunting down defenders and the goalkeeper, forcing errors. He linked up very well with Aydin to create numerous attacking opportunities. Reuben showed real skill on the left flank, delivering some incisive passes and showcasing his ability to beat the opposition winger on occasions.

Overall, it was a fun and impactful afternoon of fixtures.

Colts A vs Beechwood Park and Heath Mount

Edge Grove Colts A travelled to Heath Mount for a triangular football festival, taking on Beechwood Park and hosts Heath Mount in two exciting and competitive matches.

Game 1: Edge Grove Colts A 0 – 2 Beechwood Park

The Colts began the day with a lively encounter against Beechwood Park. The opening minutes saw both teams trade attacks in a fast-paced, end-to-end contest. Despite Edge Grove’s determination, Beechwood took advantage of two quick opportunities to open up a 2–0 lead before half time.

Stand-in goalkeeper Jack put in a brave performance, throwing himself in front of several shots and showing great commitment to keep his team in the game. After the break, Edge Grove pushed higher up the pitch, controlling much of the possession and spending long spells in Beechwood’s half. Despite their attacking intent and improved link-up play, they couldn’t quite find the breakthrough goal their second-half effort deserved. The match ended 0–2, but there were plenty of positives to take forward.

Game 2: Edge Grove Colts A 2 – 1 Heath Mount

The second fixture saw the Colts face hosts Heath Mount, and although the team made a slow start – losing possession straight from kick-off and conceding early they responded brilliantly. Determined to bounce back, Edge Grove pushed forward, with Harry reading the game superbly to intercept an attack. His long ball forward caused confusion in the Heath Mount defence, and Cooper’s relentless pressing paid off as he pounced on the loose ball to slot home the equaliser.

Moments later, the Colt A’s turned the game around. After a corner wasn’t fully cleared, Tommy kept the play alive and the ball eventually fell to Tyler, who struck a composed half-volley into the bottom corner to make it 2–1.

In the second half, the whole team showed fantastic discipline and teamwork to protect their lead. Edith set the tone with her energy and pressing from the front, repeatedly winning the ball back in dangerous areas. Louis impressed defensively with smart positioning and awareness, scanning the pitch to track his runners while also carrying the ball forward to start attacks. Together with Cooper and Edith, he helped create several promising chances on the counter.

The team’s work rate and determination shone through as they held firm to secure a well-earned 2–1 victory.

Colts B vs Beechwood Park and Heath Mount (Venue – Heath Mount)

The Edge Grove Colts B team travelled to Heath Mount for a two match fixture, facing Beechwood Park first, followed by the hosts, Heath Mount. In the opening match against Beechwood Park, Edge Grove put in a strong effort but were defeated 0–3. Despite the scoreline, there were several standout performances. Oscar J made a series of excellent saves in goal, showing great composure and awareness by reading the game well and coming off his line decisively to defend at crucial moments. Ved M and Monty T formed a solid defensive partnership, working effectively together to clear the ball up the pitch and relieve pressure. Further forward, Harry N worked tirelessly in attack, chasing down every ball and linking up well with Hunter C, Raphael B, and Rafael K in midfield. In their second match against Heath Mount, the team demonstrated clear improvement, showing greater confidence and cohesion in their play. The boys focused on keeping possession with simpler, more controlled passing, which led to several promising attacking moves. Raphael B impressed with his vision and passing, creating opportunities for Harry N to push forward in search of a goal. In defence, Ved M and Hunter C made crucial blocks to deny Heath Mount on multiple occasions. Despite a narrow 0–1 loss, Edge Grove showed real determination and growth as a team. Overall, the progression from the first game to the second was very noticeable, with the team adapting, communicating better, and demonstrating strong team spirit throughout. Well done to all the players for their effort and resilience across both matches.

Colts C 1-5 Beechwood Park 

The Colts C team travelled to Beechwood Park for what proved to be an excellent afternoon of football played in great spirit. From the opening whistle, Edge Grove started brightly, showing real intent and teamwork during the early exchanges.

Garv was outstanding in goal, producing a string of impressive saves that kept the team in contention and lifted the confidence of those around him. At the back, Tippy delivered a commanding performance, brave in the challenge and consistently clearing the danger with composure and determination.

Despite strong defensive work and some promising attacking play, Edge Grove found themselves 3–0 down at half-time. However, the boys refused to let their heads drop, responding with resilience and a well-earned goal just before the break. Wolf impressed in the centre of the pitch, linking play superbly and driving the team forward with great energy.

In the second half, Edge Grove continued to create opportunities, with a particularly exciting moment when Luke came agonisingly close to scoring, his shot brushing past the top corner by mere centimetres after an excellent counter-attack.

Although the result didn’t go Edge Grove’s way, the performance was full of positives. The boys demonstrated teamwork, effort, and fantastic sportsmanship throughout. With a few small improvements and continued focus in training, there’s no doubt this team will bounce back stronger in their next fixture.

Colts D 

Edge Grove 1 -3 Beechwood Park 

We started this game with a bang with Kwabena showing great strength to dribble through the opposition and score within the first minute. Beechwood Park then equalised and for the remainder of the half it was very even. We conceded two fairly soft goals to start the second half but came back strongly to push for a goal of our own but to no avail with Aarin hitting the post with a cracking shot. The team should be very proud of their efforts, Kevin was fantastic in goal and Lucy, Aarin and Daniel very solid in defence. Hamza, Sami and Itai linked up well in midfield with Kwabena to create a number of opportunities.

Colts E 

Game 1: Edge Grove Colts E 1 – 5 Beechwood Park

Game 2: Edge Grove Colts E 1 – 5 Heath Mount

It was a challenging week for the Colts E team, who faced two strong opponents in Beechwood Park and Heath Mount.

In the first match against Beechwood Park, Edge Grove found it difficult to contain a strong attacking side during the first half. However, the second half was a complete turnaround, with Edge Grove piling on the pressure. Joshua managed to score a fantastic goal, assisted brilliantly by Rayan. Pranay was outstanding in goal, making a number of key saves and communicating effectively with his teammates throughout.

The second match against Heath Mount proved just as testing. Aman worked tirelessly to clear the ball from the defensive end, while Nico impressed with his determination and pressure on the opposition attackers. Hridhaan managed to sneak in a well-taken goal, earning himself a well-deserved place on the scoresheet.

It was a strong effort from all players, showing great teamwork and resilience. There are lots of positives to take away and valuable lessons to carry forward into the next game.

Edge Grove U9 vs Chesham Prep

Mrs Emms Team

Edge Grove 3-9 Chesham
It was a slow start to the afternoon after a fantastic warm-up. Alessandra was excellent on the wing, consistently positioning herself in the D and ready to receive any passes and take a shot. Although our defence had a slightly off day and a few balls made it through, we also produced some great clearances and moments of solid defensive play.
We’ve made fantastic progress this term, but playing on the larger pitch seemed to throw us off our stride a little. Nonetheless, the teamwork and effort were clear throughout. Let’s carry that positivity forward and build on it in the next game!

Mrs Warnes’ Team

This week, the U9 team enjoyed an indoor hockey match, which linked perfectly with their current PE lessons where they have been developing their indoor hockey skills. The match was played in a 4 v 4 format, with each group of four taking part in two exciting quarters.

Miny showed great awareness in defence, supported strongly by Shreyas. Savanna and Shreya made excellent use of their wing position and dribbling the ball along the line. The game was closely contested throughout, with Chesham taking a 3–2 lead in the third quarter. The final goal of the match came from Eli, who executed a superb reverse drag and sweep into the goal, securing a well-deserved 3–3 draw.

It was a fantastic display of teamwork and skill, with some outstanding individual performances from all players.

Edge Grove U8 Vs Chesham Prep

Miss Evans team 1

Edge Grove 5-6 Chesham 

What an outstanding game of hockey from the U8 Miss Evans team against Chesham Prep! This was a much-improved performance compared to our first meeting earlier in the season, showing just how far the team has come.

Edge Grove had a slightly slow start, struggling to stay in their positions, which allowed Chesham to take an early lead. However, the team quickly found their rhythm and began to play with great structure and determination. The first half was an exciting, end-to-end contest, with Edge Grove taking a 3–2 lead thanks to three superb goals from Lara.

In defence, Darcy was outstanding, repeatedly stopping Chesham from entering the D with some brave and well-timed tackles. One of the highlights of the match was a fantastic team goal, a beautiful pass from Tomasz into the D, perfectly set up for Lara to slot home.

Lara went on to score two more excellent goals in the second half, showing great composure and skill in front of goal. Despite Edge Grove’s spirited play and strong teamwork, Chesham managed to edge ahead right at the end, and the game finished with Edge Grove narrowly losing by just one goal.

It was a fantastic effort from all the players, full of teamwork, determination, and real progress. Well done, Edge Grove!

Miss Evans team 2

Edge Grove 7-2 Chesham 

It was another fantastic performance from Miss Evans’ U8 team, showing just how much progress has been made since the start of the term. The girls demonstrated outstanding teamwork, determination, and skill throughout the match.

A slightly slow start allowed Chesham to score two early goals, but Edge Grove quickly settled into their game and began to dominate play. Excellent teamwork and communication saw Orlaith, Alisha, and Isabella each find the back of the net in the first half, turning the momentum firmly in Edge Grove’s favour.

In defence, Willow and Nyla were exceptional, standing strong and ensuring Chesham were unable to enter the D even once in the second half. Their composure at the back gave the rest of the team the confidence to push forward in attack.

This solid defensive work set the stage for some outstanding attacking play, with further goals coming from Isabella, Nyla, and Orla. The girls held their positions brilliantly, supported each other across the pitch, and displayed real understanding of the game.

Overall, it was a wonderful performance full of energy, teamwork, and clear progress, well done, girls!

Mr Mikas Team 

Edge Grove 7-1 Chesham

It was a fantastic all-round team effort. Narjes and Anaisha were rock-solid in defence, making sure no one got close to the Edge Grove D! Their composure and teamwork kept the opposition out throughout the match.

Up front, Daisy, Luna, and Aira formed an amazing attacking trio. They showed great skill and determination, winning strong tackles and taking command of the attacking third. Their link-up play and energy kept the pressure on and created plenty of scoring opportunities.

Mr Rose Team 

Edge Grove 2-0 Chesham 

It was a wonderful afternoon of hockey as Edge Grove claimed a well-deserved 2–0 victory over Chesham. Goals from Amelia and Clara secured the win, but it was truly a full team performance that made the difference. Every player contributed with determination and teamwork, ensuring Chesham were kept from finding the bacUnder 8A Triangular at Kingshott School

U8A Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

The Edge Grove Under 8A team enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of football at Kingshott, showing superb teamwork, energy, and sportsmanship throughout both fixtures.

Game 1: Edge Grove 3 – 0 Kingshott

Edge Grove started strongly, linking up play with confidence and composure. Freddie opened the scoring with a powerful strike from outside the area, finding the top left corner in style. The team continued to press and control possession, with excellent distribution from Cillian and Isaac in midfield and solid defending across the back line. Nathaniel was outstanding in goal, making crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.

Game 2: Edge Grove 5 – 1 Beechwood Park

Building on their momentum, the boys produced another impressive performance. Max stole the show with four well-taken goals, demonstrating sharp finishing and great positioning. The team continued to pass fluently and support one another, with every player contributing to the overall success.

A brilliant afternoon of football from start to finish — excellent effort, teamwork, and attitude from all involved.k of the net. A great display of skill, spirit, and teamwork from Edge Grove!

U8B Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

Match One: Edge Grove  4 – 1 Kingshott

Match Two: Edge Grove 4 – 1 Beechwood Park 

Our boys were absolutely spectacular in their triangular fixture against Kingshott and Beechwood this week! 

If you missed it, you missed a masterclass in teamwork and clinical finishing.

• Game 1 (vs. Kingshott): A decisive victory, highlighted by a brilliant hat-trick from Oscar. The team’s spacing and team play were top-notch, keeping the opposition quiet. We conceded only once.
• Game 2 (vs. Beechwood): More of the same! Another win, featuring a superb hat-trick from Danyal. Special shout-out to Zakaria for a fantastic, goal-saving block. Again, we only conceded a single goal.

Two games, two wins, two hat-tricks, and teamwork that was simply commendable.

U8C Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

Edge Grove 1 – Kingshott 1
Edge Grove 4 – Kingshott 0

U8D Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

Edge Grove 1 – Kingshott 0
Edge Grove 3 – Kingshott 1

U9A Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

Match One: v Beechwood Park – EG 3 – 1 Beechwood Park (Win)

Match Two: v Kingshott – EG 2 – 0 Kingshott (Win)

The U9A Boys demonstrated discipline, resilience, and exceptional quality across two thrilling fixtures at Beechwood Park, securing two well-deserved victories against strong local rivals. The team displayed impressive composure and attacking flair, showcasing a deep bench of individual talent.

The tournament began with a challenging start against a strong and well-organised Beechwood Park side, who managed to seize an early goal. However, the U9A boys responded immediately, establishing control and dominating the midfield battle.

Danny was the engine room, providing a cool head under pressure while controlling the midfield and defence. His exceptional scanning ability allowed him to find early, defence-splitting passes, complemented by a great dribbling ability to hold off and bypass defenders with ease. In defence, Arjun was electric, combining discipline, speed, and strength to nullify threats and also performing well in goal.

When Beechwood pressed, Tobi’s lightning speed and reflexes were used to brilliant effect, warding off any further goal threats. Tobi demonstrated his whole-pitch threat by showcasing his electric pace from defence to dribble the length of the field before unleashing a bullet of a shot into the roof of the net. Noah was prolific upfront, continuing to prove himself a real goal poacher. His combination of control, speed on the dribble, and incredible deception made him a constant attacking threat, backed up with clinical finishing, helping the team secure a decisive 3-1 victory in the first match.

Carrying this momentum, the U9A side delivered an equally mature performance against Kingshott to secure a clean sheet and a 2-0 victory in the second fixture. James worked tirelessly throughout the pitch with the ball seemingly on a string at his feet. His excellent ability to decrease his speed on the dribble and then re-accelerate kept the opposition guessing. Crucially, James was also diligent in tracking back to defence, nullifying several counter-attacks. On the wing, Ray was excellent, holding his position well and, when in possession, calmly linking play into the midfield with accurate and well-weighted passes. His great sharp turn was also evident in tight areas.

A superb team effort resulted in two great performances with lots of quality on show, demonstrating a highly promising start to the season for the U9A Boys.

U9B Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park

The Edge Grove U9B team faced a challenging day in a triangular tournament against strong opposition from Kingshott and Beechwood Park. While the results didn’t go their way in the end, the boys demonstrated impressive passion, resilience, and an ability to work together against tough competition.

In Match One, Edge Grove fell 0-4 to Kingshott. 

Match Two saw a similar challenge, with Beechwood Park winning 5-0. 

Despite the scorelines, the team’s commitment never wavered, and they showed great fighting spirit throughout both games.

Several individuals delivered notable performances that highlighted the team’s potential:

Max was electric up front, showing excellent pace. He was incredibly unfortunate when the crossbar denied him a truly stunning goal, showcasing his attacking threat and skill.

In the midfield, Viraj played strongly and kept his composure under pressure, distributing the ball effectively with decisive passes.

Matthew proved tough to beat at the back, using his pace and strength to great effect to shut down attacks.

Riyan was a determined presence, showing his strength on the ball and providing dangerous crosses into the box.

Neevan was excellent in goal, proving to be a formidable last line of defense. He pulled off an incredible double save against Beechwood Park, showing lightning reflexes to make the follow-up save while still on his knees, preventing a certain goal.

The matches, while difficult, provided clear points for development. The team is encouraged to work harder on two key aspects: scanning the field and tracking back defensively. A lack of game awareness in these areas led to too many opportunities for the opposition. By focusing on improving awareness and defensive discipline, the boys can turn their impressive resilience into better results.

Overall, the boys put in a strong run, fighting hard in every moment, and showing great heart, even when the results didn’t reflect their effort.

U9C and D Boys Football v Kingshott & Beechwood Park (Venue Beechwood Park)

The Edge Grove Year 4 C and D teams travelled to Beechwood Park this week to take part in a football festival. Both teams showed excellent effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the afternoon. Although the teams came away with just one win, their determination right through to the final whistle was outstanding. Every player should be proud of their effort and attitude. Special mentions go to Harrison C and Aran S, who both played superbly in goal for the D team, making some excellent saves and showing great composure. Aiden K deserves praise for his tireless attacking play and constant pressure on the opposition’s defence. For the C team, Keshav S stood out with his intelligent reading of the game from the back and his calmness under pressure. Musa N also worked well trying to control the defence from the goal and made some outstanding saves. Well done to all the boys for representing Edge Grove so positively. Keep up the hard work in training, we’ll continue to focus on improving our defensive marking, staying switched on throughout matches, and developing our simple passing and movement in attack.

Resilient children are those equipped to meet life’s challenges head-on, recover from setbacks and find their place in the world.

As parents, there is so much we can do to help establish self-confidence in our children, along with a strong feeling that they’re valued.

At Tooled Up, we believe that resilience is a key life skill, one that allows children to navigate difficulties with strength and perseverance. It’s not about avoiding challenges, but about learning to bounce back from them and keep moving forward.

What is resilience? In this video, we break down the 10 key components of resilience, offering practical strategies for boosting each one. Some tips may feel familiar, while others might spark new ideas for strengthening your child’s resilience in everyday life. Watch here: The 10 Rs of Resilience

A child’s resilience is built through their experiences with relationships, social interactions and emotional awareness. In this worksheet activity for younger children, ask your child to reflect on their social world, relationships and how they handle their feelings. It’s a simple but powerful way to start important conversations and uncover new insights: Raising a Resilient Child

As they grow into teenagers and then young adults, children will find their resilience and self-confidence is tested like never before as they navigate the world of friendships, attraction, peer pressure and academic expectations. In this guide to promoting resilience in your teenager you can find practical advice for supporting young people during these tricky years, and links to a wealth of Tooled Up resources offering more guidance: Raising a Resilient Teen