Pupil Voice
The lower school had an assembly this week explaining the exciting changes the School Council instigated last year. Voting for this year’s Reps will be happening in classrooms next week!
Read More
Opening of the new OB
Last Thursday was the official opening of the new OB! Over the summer, the reception area and classrooms were completely refurbished into new, modern spaces. We were delighted to welcome Aatif Hassan, chairman of Dukes Education, to cut the ribbon, confidently supported by his reception helpers in front of our parent reps!
Read More
Year 6 Fashion Week
In line with Paris (!) Year 6 had their own Fashion week, on 26th February, as part of the post 11+programme. On Monday they were very fortunate to have a ‘Fashion panel Q and A’ with variety of experts from within the industry. They came up with some interesting questions to ask the panel such as ‘Why did you get into fashion? What did you have to do to achieve your goals? How do you deal with rejection of your ideas? What is the most exciting/challenging thing about your job?’ There were some interesting insights as well as a strong message across the panel: don’t be afraid to make mistakes, be kind and just keep going!
On Tuesday the children visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Natural History Museum to take part in a workshop at each museum, as well as gather research sketches for the ‘biomorphic garments’ they would be making later in the week. At the V and A they became designers and made machettes in small groups. Their problem to solve: sustainability within the clothing industry. There were some fantastic inventions and ideas: extendible fabric which grows as you grow, a t-shirt which features solar panels on the fabric so you can charge your phone whilst you wear it, or selling parts of garments which are detachable so that your clothes are constantly changing depending on which collar/sleeve/cuff you decide!
On Wednesday the children were extremely lucky to have an assembly session with Sarah Burton. It was incredibly inspiring for the children to be able to touch garments she had made as well as be talked through her mood boards, inspiration and references for each of the piece. Sarah highlighted to the children the importance of the process and working with a team which set them up very well for the design project for the rest of the week.
On Friday in the Serbian Hall, the children exhibited their own processes and displayed the garments that they had designed and made in small groups from recycled materials. There was some exceptional examples where groups had reflected and evaluated to develop their pieces from research to design to final piece. All teams collaborated brilliantly and we were very impressed with their creativity to produce biomorphic garments from such unnatural materials such as plastic and bottle tops! One staff member commented that celebrities such as Bjork would love all of these outfits for her music videos, a Year 6 replied that they see them more on Billie Eilish! Thank you to all those who collected and donated their recycling. Well done Year 6… Paris would be lucky!
Read More
World Book Day 2024
A glorious World Book Day was had on Thursday at NHP. The day was filled with reading and writing activities across the school, inspired by the array of wonderful animal-themed books we have in the library. From political anthropomorphism in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and NoViolet Bulawayo’s Glory, to unlikely friendships in Julia Donaldson’s The Snail and the Whale, pupils explored, created, and enjoyed all sorts of exciting literature. 6OS started our day on the right note with an assembly about the magic and power of reading. Throughout the day, pupils shared literary video messages across all buildings: re-enactments, rhymes, quizzes and recommendations were shared between our youngest and oldest pupils. Competitive spirits were ignited over lunch with a book-themed quiz which delighted all. Teachers carefully wove the magic of reading into their lessons and celebrated the spell of reading that all have fallen under at NHP.
NHP was also delighted to welcome the much-loved author, Helen Peters. Helen engaged with all the children, sharing stories from her beloved books and introducing some exciting new ones. Helen thrilled the OB children with tales of life on the farm, surrounded by animals. She discussed the inspiration behind each of her Jasmine Green stories, weaving in real-life anecdotes and captivating images. We met the real pig, sheep, otter and many more, all of whom you can find in her wonderful animal series.
The JCB group also delved into farm life. Helen’s father, a brilliant farmer who couldn’t brew a cup of tea, took centre stage. Her brother, now a farmer himself, even “farmed” the house using his toy tractor, inspiring ideas for The Secret Hen House. She also revealed that it took many marvellous mistakes and lots of persistence and perseverance to write this book (12 years in fact!).
A mysterious and intriguing tale transported the PGB children back to World War II. They solved clues and learned about an extraordinary woman with a passion for fast cars who was the inspiration for her book Friends and Traitors. The children hung on to her every word, posing excellent questions. Helen was impressed by their focus and creativity. She also marvelled at the “kaleidoscope of creatures” she encountered. A truly wonderful author visit that we hope will inspire the authors of tomorrow.
Thank you to Susie Comish and the PA volunteers who decorated the JCB and PGB, and to NHP’s teachers who worked so hard to bring World Book Day to life.
Year 1’s History Projects
In Humanities this term, Year 1 have been learning about ‘Women in History.’ In preparation for this topic, the children were tasked with carrying out research about an inspirational woman in their lives. The result was a collection of informative and exciting projects, including posters showcasing the remarkable lives and journeys of their aunties, grandmas, and mothers! Well done, Year 1!
Teddy Bears Picnic
Each year, NHP hosts a special Teddy Bears Picnic for our brand new Reception starters and their parents…
Read More