Week in Pictures
Dear Parents and Pupils,
From the Headmaster’s Study
We have just completed a truly wonderful Activities Week, with pupils across the school enjoying a wide range of visits, residential trips and work experience opportunities.
From on -site pool parties and Ballardbury (the Ballard spin on Glastonbury), to local visits to Paultons Park, Moors Valley and Hurst Castle, and residential experiences in Bude, Chichester, Osmington Bay, Normandy and Valencia, pupils have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and energy. At the same time, our Year 10 pupils have gained valuable insights through placements across a variety of professions in the local community. One of my highlights was the Pre -Prep Show, where children showcased their talents with great confidence and joy.
The week has provided pupils with opportunities to step beyond their usual routines and embrace new challenges in supportive and carefully guided environments. Whether navigating unfamiliar situations, developing greater independence on residential trips, or formi ng new friendships by working alongside different groups of pupils, these experiences help young people grow in confidence and resil ience. Outdoor learning , in particular, offers powerful opportunities for personal development, encouraging curiosity, teamwork and problem -solving while fostering a deeper connection with the world around them. Some of the most valuable learning takes place when pupils are stre tched beyond their comfort zones, supported by trusted adults and encouraged to discover what they are capable of achieving.
As we approach the end of another successful year, we have also been delighted to receive external recognition for the school 's achievements. Ballard has recently been named Global 100's Best Education Management Business of the Year 2026 (UK) and has been commended in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026 in the Regional Independent School of the Year: South category, marking our sixth consecutive year of recognition in these prestigious awards.
My sincere thanks go to all our pupils, staff and families for their part in creating experiences that will leave lasting mem ories. It has been a week that truly demonstrates the richness of school life and the exceptional community of which we are all a part.
After a weekend of rest, we can look forward to the final week of the school year, which includes the rearranged Senior Sport s D ay, celebration assemblies and Speech Day.
With best wishes,
Mr Turner Headmaster
Global Award
We are delighted to announce that Ballard is the winner of Global 100’s Best Education Management Business of the Year 2026 (UK). The awards team said: "Ballard School stands out for its values -led approach, academic strength and broad co-curricular opportunities. Set between the New Forest and the Solent, the school continues to earn recognition for helping pupils thrive in and beyond the classroom. Congratulations to the entire Ballard School community on this outstanding achievement.”
ISOTY commendation
We are delighted to inform you that Ballard School has also been commended in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards (ISOTY) 2026 in the Regional Independent School of the Year: South category, marking our sixth consecutive year of ISOTY recognition following national finalist places in 2022 (for Performing Arts) and 2023 (for Sport) and our Co -educational Independent School of the Year win in 2024.
Trips Week
Wow, what a week of fun for our pupils. More photos and reports next week.
Pre-Prep Showcase
What a treat for our Pre -Prep parents on Thursday, when pupils from Nursery to Year 2 danced, sang, played musical instruments and showcased their gymnastic talents in the PAC. More next week.
Year 10 Work Experience
Our Year 10 pupils completed work experience placements across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and London, gaining valuable insight into a wide range of careers and industries. From local businesses in the New Forest and surrounding areas to placements further afield, each opportunity helped pupils build confidence, develop workplace skills and explore future career pathways. We are incredibly grateful to all the employers who supported our students and helped make their work experience such a valuable and inspiring part of their education.
Art Trail
We are delighted to share some exciting news from the Art Department. A selection of work created by our Class of 2025 GCSE Art and Textiles pupils will feature in New Milton's first -ever Art Trail, taking place from 1–15 August 2026.
The event has been organised by the Friends of New Milton Station, with the support of local volunteers, including our own Mrs Perry, who, alongside our Head of Art, Mrs Hitchins, will be exhibiting at the event.
In total, 76 artists will showcase their work across a variety of venues throughout New Milton, creating an exciting cultural trail for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Visitors will be able to explore the trail using maps, which will highlight all participating venues and artists, including Mrs Hitchins, whose work will be displayed at New Milton Railway Station and Jem Fabrics, and Mrs Perry, whose work will be exhibited at New Milton Railway Station and Bradbeers Furniture Store. The Ballard pupils involved will also have an image of their work featured on a poster at the train station alongside artwork from other local schools.
The Art Trail will also feature a programme of activities for the community, including New Milton's Landscape Artist of the Year competition on the afternoon of Saturday 8 August. The competition is free to enter and will include both children's and adults' categories, with prizes and awards available for winners. We are thrilled that Ballard pupils will be part of this landmark community event and wish all participating artists every success. If you are in the area during August, we encourage you to explore the trail and support this wonderful celebration of local creativity.
Move Up Day
It was wonderful to welcome so many new pupils to Move Up Day last Friday. With 90 new pupils joining us in September, it was lovely to see so many new friendships forming throughout the day.
It was wonderful to welcome so many families to our Open Event, celebrating 30 years of Ballard.
The school was buzzing with activity as pupils, parents, staff and alumni came together to celebrate this special milestone. Stalls and exhibits showcased every aspect of school life, from sport, science and languages to history, drama and the arts. Visitors enjoyed live performances on both our music and drama stages, tried their hand at pickleball, football and carnival games, sampled treats from the French Café and Lower Prep Bake Off, and supported charity through pizza sales.
There was plenty of nostalgia too, with a 1990s -themed photo booth, a popular ‘Guess the Teacher’ competition featuring photographs from 30 years ago, Victorian parlour games, heritage displays, historical hardware demonstrations and the Ballard 30 Exhibition. Families also explored innovative projects focused on climate change and solar-powered device charging, admired the striking Ballard 30 glass installation, experienced special effects demonstrations and tested their knowledge with the Countdown 30 game. Thank you to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered and helped make the event such a memorable celebration of Ballard’s past, present and future. More next week.
Ballard Blast
Our latest Ballard Blast podcast is now available. In this episode, Mr Turner shines a spotlight on the wealth of cocurricular opportunities available at Ballard School. From sport and performing arts to clubs, leadership and outdoor learning, discover how these experiences help our pupils explore their interests, develop new skills and make the most of life beyond the classroom.
You can listen to this episode here.
Or on Spotify here.
STEM @ Ballard
Cylinders
Pupils in Year 9 have been learning how to create cylinders using flexible plywood. This high -end skill enables them to make themed lamps featuring 3D -printed elements on the top.
Arts @ Ballard
Variety Show
“Around 150 pupils from Years 3 –11 took part in our al fresco Variety Show, set against the beautiful backdrop of our Victorian Water Garden.
True to its name, the evening offered a wonderfully varied programme, with audiences enjoying everything from Musical Theatre favourites and contemporary dance to physical theatre, harp performances, handbells and even a murder mystery written and directed by Year 7 pupils.
We were incredibly proud of how the pupils embraced the move outdoors and rose to the challenge of performing during the heatwave. They brought energy, enthusiasm and sensitivity to every performance, creating an evening filled with memorable moments. Many pupils showcased their versatility by appearing in multiple pieces across different genres, while their strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie shone through throughout the event.”
Mrs Gray (Deputy Head - Co -Curricular and Operations) You may watch a short video here.
Cyanotype Photography Project
“As an Art Department, we have been exploring new technologies and unusual creative processes, and this term we took the opportunity to combine Art and Science through the fascinating process of cyanotype photography. Cyanotypes are one of the earliest forms of photography, creating striking Prussian blue images using light -sensitive chemicals and ultraviolet light.
Year 8 pupils created photographic -negative self-portraits, which were then transformed into cyanotype prints using sunlight. Many pupils developed their work further by adding symbolic backgrounds and decorative borders, resulting in highly personal and imaginative final pieces. The recent sunny weather provided perfect conditions for developing the photographs in just five minutes (while pupils sensibly waited in the shade!), and the outcomes have been stunning.
We have been incredibly impressed by the creativity, enthusiasm and technical skill shown throughout this exciting cross-curricular project.” Mrs Hitchins (Head of Art)
Outdoor Music Class
“Year 6 kept cool in music class with a short outdoor session of clapping and steady -beat games. Music can happen anywhere!” Mrs Wilcox (Junior Music Teacher)
Sport @ Ballard
Swimming Gala
On Wednesday, our Year 3 and 4 pupils took part in their annual swimming gala, proudly representing their houses. All pupils worked extremely hard, showcasing the progress they have made throughout the term in front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke, with some pupils even breaking school records.
The encouragement they showed one another, alongside the support from spectators, was wonderful to see. For a full set of results and details of our record -breakers, please see the Fixtures section in the main bulletin.
Overall House Results: 1st – Setthorns, 2nd – Wilverley, 3rd – Broadley, 4th – Holmsley
Nursery & Kindergarten and Year 3 to 6 Sports Days
We have created a folder of photographs for you to enjoy for both events – please see the main section of the bulletin for the links. We have also created a short video for you all to enjoy here. (N&KG) and here (Years 3-6).
Life @ Ballard
Ballardbury
“Trips Week started for Years 3 –5 with their annual Ballardbury Day. Pupils enjoyed playing in tents during the morning, followed by a BBQ lunch. To round off the day, they headed to the Terrace to enjoy performances of songs and music by the children, with special guests headlined by our Head Girl, Nina.” Mr Elliott (Lower Prep Teacher). Look out for our video and more photos next week.
Upper Prep Team Building
Our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils were fantastic during Trips Week, showing great teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm in their team-building activities. They worked together brilliantly to overcome challenges, support one another and build confidence along the way. Well done to you all.
Police Visit
“It was wonderful to welcome back Sgt Wood and PC Ainsworth, who brought along their police traffic car and drone for the children in Pre -Prep to explore. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the children to meet police officers in uniform and see first -hand how approachable and friendly they are. The children also learned about the important role police officers play in keeping our communities safe.
One of the highlights of the visit was watching the police drone in action. The children were fascinated to see it fly and enjoyed learning about the many ways it can be used to support police work. There was also a chance for the children to dress up as police officers, which proved to be a very popular activity. It is always a pleasure to welcome Sgt Wood and PC Ainsworth to our school, and we are very grateful for the time they spent with the children.” Mrs Hunt (Head of Pre -Prep)
Reception Father's Day Crowns
“Reception cut out and decorated crowns to give to their dads on Father's Day. Each of them claimed they had the best daddy ever!” Mrs Edwards (Pre -Prep Teacher)
Year 2 Thank You Cards
“Years 1 and 2 wrote and painted thank-you cards for our amazing catering team to show their appreciation for the delicious lunches that we all look forward to. We have lots of favourites, including meatballs, pesto pasta, chicken katsu, rocky road, pavlova and chocolate cheesecake brownies!” Mrs Bellion (Pre -Prep Teacher)
