Spring Term Highlights
Introduction
With ten trips, five workshops, World Book Day Week, Science Week, Comic Relief and Pop Icons Day, the Spring Term was packed with colour, creativity and unforgettable moments.
From exciting adventures beyond the classroom to inspiring activities at school, every week brought new opportunities for learning.
This photobook captures just a snapshot of the energy, curiosity and enthusiasm that filled the term at Ballard School.
By the time you read this, our Headmaster Elect, Mr Stuart Turner, featured in February, will have taken up his post as Headmaster. We look ahead with great anticipation to an even more inspiring Summer Term for our whole school community.
January 2026
New York & Washington
We welcomed back our Year 11 pupils from their Christmas visit to New York and Washington. They had an amazing time. “I wished I could relive every single moment - the sightseeing, slipping on the ice, the laughter… This trip was pure magic.” (Pupil). You may watch the video here.
Geography Field Trip
Meanwhile, our Year 10 Geography pupils stayed closer to home for their fieldwork trip to Southampton. They completed environmental quality audits in areas of the inner city and inner suburbs to compare the quality of life for local inhabitants.
Art Visit to St Barbe Museum and Gallery
Year 7 explored the Life of the Fields exhibition at St Barbe’s in Lymington. Applying their recent landscape studies to real artwork, pupils impressed staff with their behaviour and enthusiasm during the workshop and gallery talk.
Young Voices
“Year 5 and 6 pupils joined a choir of nearly 9,000 schoolchildren as part of Young Voices at the O2. A vibrant, colourful and fun -filled performance was enjoyed by all, with highlights including the Disco Fever medley, joining the audience in an energetic dance-off, and experiencing the breathtaking performances of the guest artists and Urban Strides dancers. It was an event that will stay in the pupils’ memories for a long time.” Mrs Gray
GCSE Presentation Evening
We welcomed back last year's Year 11 pupils and their parents for this celebratory event, highlighting yet another year of exceptional results. Special congratulations go to William and Betsy for achieving straight 9s, and to Ollie and Spencer for their highest ‘value added’ scores.
DT GCSE Work
Our Class of 25’s DT projects were on display, showcasing the creativity, skill, and hard work that has gone into their designs. There were some truly fantastic outcomes, with all pupils passing their GCSE and an impressive 57% gaining top grades (9–7). A brilliant achievement.
GCSE Art
Our Class of 25’s exceptional Art & Textiles projects were on display on Friday. All our pupils passed their GCSEs in these subjects, with two pupils achieving an outstanding 100% and an impressive 67% gaining the top grades in Art and Textiles. A remarkable set of results.
GCSE Mock Results
Year 11 pupils collected their mock results in the same room and format they will experience in August. There were lots of happy faces.
Stonehenge Trip
Year 3 pupils had great fun at Stonehenge as part of their Stone Age topic.
Artist Workshop
Our Year 10 artists were inspired by artist Shelley Perry, who ran a workshop exploring advanced colour -mixing and the effects of warm and cool tones. Working only with primary colours and painting entirely with their fingers, pupils experimented boldly with representing natural forms through colour. The session boosted their confidence and creativity, giving them skills they can now apply to their GCSE coursework.
DT Prototypes
Year 10 GCSE pupils learnt some valuable lessons testing their design ideas and creating prototypes. Lots of problem-solving and creative thinking were involved as they refined and developed their designs.
Portraits
“Inspired by the bold, graphic style of artist Shepard Fairey, our Year 8 pupils explored how colour, contrast and composition can transform a simple portrait into a striking piece of artwork. Throughout the project, they developed strong practical skills, including controlled brushwork, confident application of acrylic paint and an introduction to digital design through vectorising their own images using Photoshop, a professional graphics software widely used in the creative industry. The combination of traditional and digital techniques has resulted in a fantastic range of expressive and contemporary portraits, showcasing both their creativity and growing technical ability.” Mrs Hitchens
Antarctic Talk
“Year 6 has been learning about Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 –16 expedition to Antarctica in English. Mr Bellars gave a talk about his father's visit to Antarctica as a veterinary surgeon back in the 1960s to help us understand more about what it might have been like for Shackleton and his crew.
Early Years Communication & Language Workshop
Parents in for a practical workshop to promote the development of communication and language for their children, a fundamental building block for all other learning, social interaction and emotional development. The children loved taking part in the various exciting activities with their parents.
February 2026
Grease
“Pure unadulterated joy.”Audience member.
What a show! Well done to everyone involved in this incredible production.
You can see our photobook here.
Our Headmaster Elect – Mr Stuart Turner
We were delighted to welcome our Headmaster Elect, Mr Stuart Turner, to Ballard. After meeting our staff and some of our parents and pupils, Mr Turner commented on the warm welcome he received and was amazed by our pupils’ performance of Grease.
Pre-Prep Maths
As part of our multiplication and division topic, our Year 2 pupils made equal groups and then worked through some calculations with concrete materials and got a friend to check their workings. With each new topic we begin with concrete materials before moving onto pictorial and then abstract calculations.
Padel
“This term, pupils in Years 9 –11 had the opportunity to take part in padel taster sessions at Advantage Padel in Mudeford, and the enthusiasm was fantastic from start to finish. For many, it was their first experience of this fast-growing sport, and they embraced the challenge with real positivity and energy.” Mr Wood
Wattle and Daub
“Pupils in 4JEL built fantastic Anglo -Saxon inspired wattle and daub model walls using flour, hay and lolly sticks. Pupils weaved the hay, trimmed the hay and then layered the thick, sticky flour mixture onto the wall structure.” Mr Winch
Well done to our U14s Hockey Squad who took part in the annual Hampshire Cup Tournament and played brilliantly making it into the regional finals.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour - Harry Potter
“Our Year 7 pupils enjoyed a fantastic visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter. Pupils were taken on an immersive studio tour where they saw hundreds of original costumes, sets, and props from the Harry Potter films. A highlight for many was the green screen experience, where pupils had the chance to “play” Quidditch - posing on broomsticks and reaching out for the Golden Snitch.
They also took part in a one -hour Art and Design workshop focused on Theatre Crafts, exploring how costume designers help tell stories on screen. Pupils learned about the processes behind creating and “breaking down” costumes to add weathering or battle damage, before having a go at distressing their own sample of fabric.
The day concluded with a very excited visit to the gift shop, where pupils picked up everything from chocolate frogs to wands and house pins. It was an enjoyable, inspiring day for all involved, with exemplary behaviour throughout.” Mrs Hitchens. You may view our photobook here.
Valentine’s Cards
“Reception has made their own beautiful Valentine cards for their parents by making hearts out of Hama beads. Some of them made different coloured patterns, and they all loved finishing their hearts.” Mrs Edwards
Nursery & Kindergarten
March 2026
Hockey Success
A huge well done to our U14 Hockey team on a fantastic 4th place finish at the South Central Area Schools Under 14 Regional Finals Tournament.
World Book Day
At Ballard, we don’t just celebrate World Book Day, we celebrate World Book Day Week!
With four Booky Breakfasts, three guest authors, multiple catwalks and an array of amazing costumes, you may view our photo book here.
ISA National Cross Country Success
“Congratulations to our outstanding pupils who took on the ISA National Cross -Country. Five dedicated runners proudly represented Ballard and the London West region, lining up against 70 other competitors from as far north as Newcastle and as far south as Cornwall. They rose to the challenge with remarkable resilience and determination, conquering relentless inclines and rapid descents with true Ballard spirit. Their commitment, courage, and teamwork shone throughout the event in supporting one another, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.” Mr Wood
British Science Week
Wow, what a wonderful Science Week we have had. Well done to all our amazing Science teachers for their hard work putting this event on. With plenty of experiments, trips, workshops and talks, there was something for everyone. Please view our photo book here and watch our Curiosity Project video here.
New Water Feature Brings Science Week to Life
Our Nursery and Kindergarten pupils have been enjoying a brand -new water feature, designed and built by our talented Estates Team in time for Science Week. The installation is a hands -on exploration wall with scoops, tubes, wheels and containers that allow pupils to experiment with the movement and flow of water. Pupils enjoyed investigating how water travels through the different channels and mechanisms, encouraging them to test ideas, observe cause and effect, and collaborate as they explore principles such as gravity, motion and volume through play.
The project has already become a popular part of outdoor learning and is a wonderful example of Science Week in action. Thank you to our Estates Team for creating such an engaging and educational addition to our early years area.
Magnetism
“As part of Science Week the Reception class has been exploring with magnets. We can now use the words repel and attract to describe the movements of the magnets, and we can predict how something might move by looking at the colours of the magnets. We also had fun making cars, castles and ice cream, as well as a pull -along snake!” Mrs Edwards. You may watch the video here.
Floating Challenge
“Year 5 was set the challenge of building a boat that could float and hold as much weight as possible. They had to use their knowledge of water resistance and upthrust to help them. The only things they were allowed to use were two paper straws, an aluminium foil rectangle and 20 cm of Sellotape. They then had great fun testing their creations in a small aquarium. The winning one held over 500 g. and little did they know the straws and Sellotape were just red herrings!” Mrs Greaves
New Milton Civic Celebration
Congratulations to Elsie (Year 9), Izzy (Year 11) and Ben (Year 10), who were awarded a Mayor’s Commendation at the New Milton Civic Celebration this week for their outstanding charity work.
Elsie was recognised for her recent ‘Brave the Shave’ in support of Macmillan Cancer Support, which has already raised an impressive £2,562. Ben received his commendation for his sustained commitment to charitable causes. His most recent achievement was an abseil in September down the tallest permanent abseil tower in the world, the National Lift Tower, which raised £1,125 for the PWSA UK charity.
Izzy was nominated by Hale Gardens Tennis Club in recognition of her fundraising for a commemorative bench and for her sporting success. She has won the ladies singles trophy at the club championships for two consecutive years, despite being the youngest competitor.
Well done to Elsie, Ben and Izzy for their remarkable contributions to their community.
ISA Young Musician of the Year Final
Well done to Isaac (Year 8) for reaching the KS3 finals of the ISA Young Musician of the Year.
Isaac is an exceptionally accomplished young musician: a Grade 8 flautist, Grade 7 singer and Grade 7 pianist and was up against an incredibly strong field of older pupils, so this is an incredible achievement. Isaac was accompanied by one of our piano teachers, Mr Doug Gould, and performed the 3rd movement of the Hindemith Flute Sonata (Sehr Lebhaft and Marsch).
Reaching the national final is a tremendous achievement and reflects Isaac’s dedication and talent. We are immensely proud of his accomplishments.
Gameathon - Young Lives with Cancer
“Finlay's friends worked hard on Tuesday to raise money in his memory. Andrew, Arthur, George and Harrison officially started gaming at 7 am with the support of staff
Throughout the day pupils from Year 8 took it in turns to keep the gaming going. Staff were also keen to show off their Mario Kart skills.
The room was full of laughter and fun all day. The gaming finally wrapped up after 12 hours at 7 pm. Ten very happy and proud boys stayed to the end to finish the challenge. Harrison said afterwards, ‘I think it was a very nice way to remember Finlay.’
Thank you to all those who have supported the event by donating to Young Lives vs Cancer.” Mrs Jones.
You can still support this amazing fundraiser here.
U13 Boys Hampshire Hockey 7s Festival
“The team were outstanding throughout the group stages, winning all five games without conceding a single goal, which saw the m progress confidently into the final. Their discipline, teamwork and work rate were evident in every match. In the final, the boys started brightly and took the lead through Euan, making it 1 –0. Despite creating chances, they were unable to capitalise further , and sustained pressure from Beadles eventually told. A superb reverse hit into the top corner levelled the game, and from that po int the momentum shifted, with Beadles going on to win the final 2 –1. While the final result did not quite go our way, the boys showed g reat spirit, sportsmanship and togetherness throughout the tournament. They represented the school superbly, truly demonstrating t he Ballard way, and should be very proud of their achievement.” Mr Steadman.
Perry Dalziell Cross Country
“On a lovely sunny, but cold in the shade afternoon, we took 24 athletes to take part in Walhampton's annual cross-country event. With over 400 runners taking part, approximately 70 runners in each race, the Ballard pupils did the school proud with some t op 10 finishes from the following pupils: Year 3 – Alex (10th); Year 4 – Emilia (8th); Year 5 – Austin (7th), Oran (8th) and Evie (10t h).
We had to wait until the last race to cheer on Josh (Year 6) who took first place and a well -deserved gold medal! In addition, t he Year 5 group managed a 3rd place in the mixed team category which is an outstanding achievement! Well done to all the runners who to ok part and a huge thank you to all the parents for their unwavering support, it really makes a difference!” Miss Romain.
Pre-Prep Forest School
“Reception enjoyed using the slack line this week. With a rope to help them balance when moving along the line, they enjoyed developing their sense of balance while strengthening and improving their gross motor skills.
Using a slack line in Forest School enhances children’s physical and mental development by improving balance, core strength and spatial awareness, while boosting confidence. This engaging activity builds focus, encourages persistence and fosters a deep connection to nature. It acts as a fun, low -risk way to develop coordination and social skills.” Mrs Verdon.
See what our Reception pupils say about Forest School here.
Red Nose Day
It was lovely to see so many pupils embracing their inner comic today and wearing something red to raise money for this important cause. You may view our Red Nose Day photo book here.
DT Rotary Festival
“Twenty-four DT pupils from Years 8 to 11 took part in the DT Rotary Tournament last week, competing against several local schools. Their challenge was to design and build a motor -powered vehicle capable of pushing rubble through a PVC pipe. Students in Years 10 and 11 faced an additional task: engineering their vehicle to reverse back down the pipe once the rubble was cleared.
This was a demanding brief that required creativity, problem solving and teamwork, and our students rose to the occasion brilliantly. Four of our teams earned second and third place medals within their age categories, an achievement they should be incredibly proud of.
It was a fun, inspiring and action -packed day, showcasing the talent and determination of our DT pupils.” Mrs Skelton
Deciphering
“Year 10 Computer Science pupils enjoyed their trip to the Royal Signals Museum at Blandford Forum Army Camp. Pupils engaged in a Q&A with someone who worked within the MOD's Cyber Division, deciphered an encrypted message sent from John F. Kennedy using the Playfair cipher, and investigated how robots could be used within warfare by programming a wheeled robot to complete a maze. We then spent some time looking around the museum at the various exhibits encompassing the history of military communication from the earliest days through to the wars in Afghanistan and the Gulf, and on to modern cyber warfare. Lots of interactive exhibits allowed pupils to practise Morse code, to learn about radio waves and communication networks, as well as the role of the SOE in the Second World War.” Mr McNeice
Anglo Saxons
“Year 4 went back in time to Anglo -Saxon Winchester as part of their Spring Humanities lessons. Visiting the Great Hall, the children were greeted by an Anglo -Saxon lady who set them three tasks. They had to find runes that helped them understand the kings of the era, barter in the local shop with the shopkeeper, and write a riddle based on Anglo -Saxon artefacts.
In the afternoon, they visited the Winchester City Museum, where they had the opportunity to play some board games from the era. The whole day really enhanced their understanding that history is all around us.” Mr Elliott
Music Making
“The Year 4s made their own string orchestra using violins and cellos to rehearse Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King. One brave pupil even volunteered to be the conductor!” Ms Wilcox
Music - Spring Recital Series
“Over the course of two weeks, the Music Department presented a remarkable series of four recitals, each one a celebration of dedication, musical growth, and the joy of performance. The PAC was filled at every event, with a wonderfully supportive audience of parents, friends, family members, and grandparents, whose enthusiasm added real warmth to the occasion.
Across the series, there were an impressive eighty -three performances, showcasing a wide range of ages from Years 1 to 11, instruments, and musical styles. Every pupil approached their performance with professionalism, musicality, and admirable composure. Whether they were stepping onto the concert platform for the very first time or building on previous recital experience, each performer contributed to an atmosphere of encouragement, achievement, and a genuine love for music making.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated Visiting Music Teachers, whose careful preparation, commitment, and support were evident in every performance. Their presence at the recitals and their ongoing encouragement play a vital role in nurturing the Ballard pupils’ confidence and musical development.
Holding this programme of recitals in the Spring Term remains an important part of musical life at Ballard. Not only does it provide valuable preparation for ABRSM exams at the end of term, but it also offers pupils the essential experience of performing a solo in the PAC in a supportive environment where they can practise and refine the skills that reach far beyond music itself. Confidence, organisation, presentation, teamwork, preparation, and consistent practice all come to life on the concert platform, helping Ballard’s young musicians grow into poised, capable individuals. Congratulations to every performer on a wonderful fortnight of music making!” Mr P.
You may watch some of the performances on our music page.
Floral Display
With lots of folding, cutting, scrunching and rolling, alongside listening and following instructions, our Reception pupils created this colourful display of spring flowers.
Chocolatey Egg Nests!
Reception learnt so much while making their delicious Easter treats: science – changes of properties (melting and solidifying); maths – measuring ingredients; fine motor skills – mixing and spooning the mixture into cases; and most importantly – enjoying the yummy cakes! Our younger pupils made some too.
Happy Easter
We love these Easter cards made by our youngest pupils.
