gap ST u DENTS
Miss Heath
Over the past year, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to spend my GAP year at Winterfold, working across both Pre-Prep and Prep. I have truly embraced every minute of this experience, especially as I prepare to begin my education training at university next year.
Every day at Winterfold has been different, while it’s started with waving on the crossing at each car, sometimes it’s been spent in Prep or Pre-Prep, helping with games or going on memorable trips. I’ve never been bored spending a day at Winterfold and will treasure every moment and memory for the rest of my life.
I’ve loved being part of so many memorable moments - from Sports Day and Bonfire Night to the amazing music events that bring the whole community together. These experiences have helped me connect with students, staff, and parents, and have made Winterfold feel like a second home.
This year has taught me so much about working in a school and the realities of teaching. Getting to know the students has been one of the biggest highlights; each child’s talents and unique personality has brightened my days. Whether it was helping with prep, playing football at break, or building Lego during aftercare, every moment has been rewarding and genuinely fun.
I’ve also learnt a great deal from the teaching staff and have built relationships that I know I can rely on for advice in the future. Their support has been invaluable and has made me feel confident and comfortable throughout my time here.
It feels almost unbelievable that the year has come to an end. What I’ll remember most are the little things: waving to everyone at the crossing, helping a student solve a maths problem, weekly fixtures, chatting with parents at the end of the day.
Although it’s hard to say goodbye, I am incredibly grateful to everyone for making this year so special. Thank you all for an amazing experience and the best year of my life.
Mr Kerr
My time at Winterfold has simply been unforgettable. The hospitality Olivia and I received from the teachers and parents the moment we stepped foot into the School grounds at the start of the year really foreshadowed what our experience at Winterfold would be from start to end. Coming in, I was incredibly nervous to be surrounded by a new environment and completely new faces. I was worried about judgement, if I couldn’t fit in, or if I couldn’t do my job to the best of my abilities. But these thoughts quickly dissipated as we settled into our work and hit the ground running. Before I knew it, I had every student’s name memorised and started growing genuine connections with the kids. Whether it be through the classroom or break times, I was lucky enough to see the laughter and joy that being at Winterfold brings to the kids. Our connections with all bodies of the School has made it truly difficult to say
goodbye, especially as I think about the memories throughout the year.
Helping Mrs Stark with The Wizard of Oz Musical and being able to see the effort the kids put in throughout the year. Taking Year 6 Rugby with Mr Bates and watching them every Wednesday try their hearts out (pun intended). But I think most of my memories will be from the mundane, everyday activities that I will surely miss and treasure. Waving goodbye from the crossing at four o’clock every day, seeing both parents and children smile and wave back. Heading up to morning care every day and where the little ones would gift me their Monet level artworks. And going down to the adventure playground during the summer while the kids incessantly ask me to push them on the swing. Looking back at this year, I’ll be forever grateful for the experiences that the teachers, kids and parents at Winterfold have given me. It’s been a complete blast.
a C a DEMIC NEWS
academic Scholars and Scholarship pathway
This has been an exciting and successful first term for the new Academic Pathway students. In October, they competed in the EnglishSpeaking Union Mace Debating Championships at the University of Law in Birmingham. Opposing the motion, ‘This House believes that short-haul flights should be banned where a viable transport alternative exists’ our team spoke with great confidence and clarity, answering challenging questions from the other teams and raising their own points of interest. In a competition where all of the other schools were represented by Sixth-Form students, our team were
delighted when they were announced as one of only two winning teams on the night and chosen to advance to the next stage of the competition.
In December, students from both the Winterfold Pathway and Bromsgrove Prep School Pathway came together to tackle the annual GCHQ Christmas Code-Breaking Quiz. They very much enjoyed working together in mixed teams to successfully solve the puzzles before enjoying a well-earned mince-pie and hot chocolate. At the start of the Christmas Holidays, both pathways came together again for the annual University of Birmingham Christmas lectures. The themes this year were: Biosciences - (Genetic Therapy for our crops to) “Feed the World” and Santa vs Sneaky Germs: How our Immune System Saves Christmas.
OWLS
In OWLs this term, we have welcomed a number of new members from Year 6. This year, we have reverted to having both a Mathematics and Science focused group, and an English and Social Science group which allows us to explore different topics and tasks, or to tackle the same activities but with a slightly different slant.
Our first activity this term was to prepare for, and take part in a debate entitled, ‘AI will be good for humanity.’
The OWLs explored a number of different aspects of this, including AI’s impact on medicine, the employment market, education, warfare and the existential risk to humanity itself.
Sticking with the AI theme, the Mathematics and Science Group have also started to look at and review
various AI tools that can be used in education settings with the aim of creating a user’s guide. The English and Social Science Group have started an infographics project in which they will be creating an infographic on a topic chosen from a list, including subjects as diverse as McDonalds, Fast Fashion, Fungi and The Olympics. We have finished the term with a ‘Big Fat OWL Christmas Quiz’ including a range of festive brain teasers, puzzles and general knowledge.
Next term, we will be starting on our ‘Dragon’s Den’ innovations project in which the children will work in teams to envisage, design and build a business plan for an invention that meets this year’s theme.
academic Explorers (Years 3 to 5)
This term, we launched the Academic Explorers Club for pupils in Years 3 to 5. The club’s first activity was the Royal Geographical Society’s Young Geographer of the Year competition. The Explorers created wonderful and informative posters under the theme of ‘Exploring Islands’, two of which were then chosen to be entered into the National Competition. In November, the club members practised for the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. Next term we are excited to be taking part in the Pi in the Sky Challenge to send a message to the International Space Station.
Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
This year, twenty-seven children from our Academic Explorers, OWLS and Academic Pathway groups took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge. This annual competition, set by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, saw over four-million pupils world-wide, including almost one-million in the UK, trying to solve a series of fiendishly difficult logical reasoning puzzles. Congratulations to all of the Winterfold children who took part; they all did extremely well, ranking inside the top 50% in the country. Twelve students ranked inside the top 25% and five students were recognised with a Gold Award by raking inside the national top 10%. We must, however, acknowledge
the outstanding performance of one of our students, Ethan, who managed to answer all of the puzzles correctly in the time allowed, thereby achieving 100% on the quiz and ranking Number One in the UK for his age group; a truly remarkable achievement.
English
The Year 3 children enjoyed studying ‘War Game’ by Michael Foreman. Through Drama, they travelled back to Christmas 1914 and created their very own soldier diaries, using emotive language. Year 5 and 6 were enthralled by a wonderful interactive workshop and performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Young Shakespeare Company. The actors brought the family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues to life, introducing the famous characters of Romeo and Juliet and their tragic love story. At times the children were brought into the performance themselves, playing roles and making predictions about how the story would evolve.
The Young Shakespeare Company also delivered an interactive performance of Macbeth for pupils in Years 7 and 8. These complex themes and characters were brought to life with the children required to assume some of the parts and act out sections of the play themselves. By interacting with the professional actors, they created a truly absorbing performance.
At the very end of the term, the Scholastic Book Fair was a great success and helped to fund new books for the library and the form rooms.
Mathematics
This term has been an exceptionally positive and productive one for Mathematics, with notable progress across all year groups and a strong culture of curiosity. Year 8 pupils, in particular, have shown admirable focus as they prepare for Senior School, developing confidence with pre-algebra and GCSE-style reasoning and applying these skills effectively to real-life problem-solving. Younger pupils have also enjoyed the Primary Maths Challenge, where many achieved highly on a demanding paper. Strong gains in number fluency, written methods and mental strategies have helped pupils become more assured when approaching multi-step word problems. Enrichment remains central to our provision, from the enthusiasm generated by the Primary Maths Challenge to the strategic thinking nurtured in Chess Club. A number of gifted younger pupils are now exploring GCSE-level ideas, and we look ahead with excitement to next term’s Pack Maths Competition and the launch of Top Sum: Mathematics.
Science
This term has been an exciting one in the laboratory. The Year 5’s have enjoyed learning how to use apparatus and got to grips with toasting marshmallows on the Bunsen burners. The Year 6 project work on Darwin and Wallace was outstanding showing super research skills. Year 7 have developed their investigative skills making full use of the opportunities for practical work. The Year 8 cohort have gone into depth with their work on photosynthesis and produced fascinating projects on energy resources of the future.
Modern Foreign Languages
Our youngest pupils in Years 2 and 3 have delighted in welcoming Christophe le Croissant into their lessons, with the coveted title of ‘Linguist of the Week’ sparking motivation and joy. In Years 4 and 5, the focus has been on mastering phonics and building a strong foundation in essential verbs such as avoir and être. Meanwhile, the Senior pupils have embraced the challenge of advancing their French and Spanish skills, with the introduction of iPads enabling more targeted vocabulary acquisition and interactive learning. It has been a vibrant and productive term, and we look forward to continuing this momentum into the new year.
History
Year 8 students have been refining their analytical skills and exploring the English Civil War, whilst Year 7 pupils have been getting to grips with early Tudors. Year 6 have plunged into English Medieval History and Year 5 have been exploring all things Victorian. Year 4 studies of ancient Egyptians culminated in a fantastic exhibition of their brilliant project work. The Penryn Foyer was awash with mummies, pyramids, sphinx, canopic jars and sarcophagi. A highlight of Year 3 study of the Stone Age was learning about weapons, hunting, early agriculture and pre-historic culture.
Finally, our new batch of Harvington Hall Explorers from Years 5 to 8 have been visiting the hall on a Monday evening to learn about the social history of the Elizabethans, getting to grips with Tudor table manners, hiding in priest holes and learning about Tudor Christmas traditions.
geography
Armed with ranging poles, clinometers and flow meters, our Year 7 Geographers spent an exciting morning investigating changes along the course of the River Ashbrooke at the beautiful Carding Mill Valley. After a quick lunch and well-earned ice-cream, we moved to the Medieval town of Ludlow to investigate the origins of settlements. Other highlights this term have included entering the Young Geographer of the Year Competition on the theme of ‘Exploring Islands’ and using GIS applications to visit and monitor hazards including earthquakes and volcanoes with Year 8. Year 3 have been monitoring the weather, whilst Year 4 have created a new coat of arms for their hometown or village.
Computing
Highlights from the IT Department this term have included some exciting and creative CAD projects from Year 5, including imaginative designs for
cabins, schools and whole winter wonderlands. Year 6 have spent this term gaming by using Scratch programming applications, they have designed, coded and enjoyed sharing their own computer games. Children in all year groups have enjoyed using Microsoft Teams to facilitate a collaborative approach to learning and to submit their projects.
Latin and Classics
Year 5 have experienced their first taste of Latin and Classics this term under the watchful gaze of Minimus – the mouse who made Latin cool. They have begun to translate short sentences from Latin into English and have also enjoyed writing acrostic poetry based on the myth of Perseus and Medusa and learning about the morality behind the story of Daedalus and Icarus. The Cambridge Latin Course has continued to be the focus of study in Latin for the Senior pupils. Year 8, who have now completed the first book in the series, have recently experienced the shock twist of the last
chapter of the course – no spoilers here though. In Classics, Year 6 have enjoyed studying the origins of Rome, looking at newspaper reports and different versions of the myth of Romulus and Remus in order to create their own storyboard. Year 7 have been researching the Greek gods and exploring the stories of Jason, Theseus and Perseus. This resulted in a lively debate about who was the greatest Greek hero of them all. Year 8 have embarked on their study of Homer’s Odyssey. Pupils completed
various written tasks based on the epic journey of Odysseus’ return from Ithaca to his homeland.
art
The Art Department has had a vibrant and productive term, with each year group exploring a different artist and medium. Year 3 created mixed-media jungle paintings inspired by Henri Rousseau, while Year 4 developed perspective landscapes in the style of David Hockney. Year 5 produced
striking collages influenced by Yayoi Kusama, and Year 6 focused on expressive oil pastel coral compositions. Year 7 experimented with lino printmaking, and Year 8 completed hyper-realistic animal portraits using Prismacolors. Beyond lessons, Art Scholarship Pathway pupils took part in a clay workshop led by The Great Pottery Throwdown ceramicist Stephen Parkes, and every pupil contributed a Christmas card design to raise funds for CAFOD.
pa STOR a L
as we close the doors on 2025, we look back on a term that has truly embodied the Winterfold spirit.
From the golden days of September to the festive sparkle of December, the Autumn Term has been defined by a huge variety of lovely events, community gatherings, and a sense of togetherness that truly showcases life at Winterfold.
The term began with a warm welcome to our new families and the launch of our further improved Pupil Voice offering. Many new groups have been created, giving more opportunity for children throughout the school to make a tangible impact on the wider community. Each child throughout the Prep School has been involved in an assembly. This spirit was beautifully demonstrated during our Harvest Mass and our subsequent support of the Basement Project.
Our Clubs and Activities Programme saw a successful relaunch in September. It has been wonderful to see pupils diving into new passions from Mini Greenfingers and Yoga for our younger children to Pickleball, Rock and Pop Golf, and Knitting for the older years. For our older pupils, we also introduced an adaptation to the School day to allow for more dedicated time with their Form Tutors. We have already seen an incredibly positive impact on wellbeing and support during these sessions, resulting in fulfilled and happy pupils.
Penryn Hall has continued to prove its worth as a hub of creativity. A series of productions graced the stage, including Year 5’s adaptation of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,
which captured the hearts of the audience with its beauty. Additionally, Years 5 and 6 enjoyed an immersive Romeo and Juliet workshop with the Young Shakespeare Company, while Years 7 and 8 entered the world of Macbeth. The term culminated in our Carol Service, a shining centrepiece of the season that brought staff, families, and the community together in the full spirit of Christmas.
In Sport, we launched the Primary Schools’ Partnership, proudly hosting local schools for the U9 Hockey and U10 Tag Rugby festivals, celebrating teamwork and healthy competition. Our Harvington Hall team continued their wonderful partnership, while Year 1 historians travelled back in time at Tamworth Castle to explore medieval
life and dungeons. Our Forest School adventures have been a hive of seasonal activity, from autumn leaf art to themed adventures in the Willow Village.
The pastoral impact of these events on the children and wider community has been truly beautiful to witness, epitomising what it means to be part of the Winterfold Family.
A huge thank you to the Friends of Winterfold for organising two of
the term’s standout highlights. The Fireworks Display in November was a spectacular evening, blessed with mild weather compared to the rest of the week. The festive season was then officially kicked off with the Hollyberry Fayre and Breakfast with Santa, bringing Christmas cheer to us all.
This term has been a testament to the feeling that makes Winterfold so special. Whether through the quiet focus of an award, the roar of
applause at a play, or the shared silence of a prayer, our children have shown resilience, kindness, and joy.
Throughout all our initiatives and programmes, the safety, welfare, and emotional well-being of every child remain central to our approach. It has been an inspiring and impactful term at Winterfold, full of spirit and song, and we look forward to continuing these efforts into the New Year.
CH ap EL
as the autumn term draws to a close, the Chapel has once again stood at the heart of life at Winterfold - a place of prayer, community, and compassion.
The past few months have been filled with moments that beautifully reflect our Catholic faith in action.
The term began with a joyful Mass in our Chapel, now dedicated to St Philip Neri. We were honoured to welcome Brother Zachariah Herirage from the Birmingham Oratory, who shared insights into the Saint’s timeless message: “When will you start to do good?” His words challenged us all to bring goodness into everyday life. During the service, Daisy H was proudly presented with her Head Spiritual Leader badge — a reminder of the pupil leadership that supports our faith community.
Throughout the term, our charitable spirit has shone brightly. The Warm Comforts Appeal and Shoe Share Scheme provided practical help for HELP Wyre Forest, Home Start Kidderminster, and the Community Café in Stourport, while the Friends of Winterfold Macmillan Coffee Morning raised an outstanding £1,801 for Macmillan Cancer Support. These initiatives embody the kindness and generosity that lie at the heart of our School community.
In early October, the Feast of St Francis was marked by our much-loved Pets’ Blessing. Under golden autumn leaves, Fr Lamb offered blessings to a joyful congregation of children
and animals — from dogs and cats to rabbits, ferrets, and even a horse. The service’s prayers and singing of All Things Bright and Beautiful celebrated the wonder of creation and our duty to care for it.
At Harvest time, our Spiritual Leaders guided the whole School in a joyful Harvest Mass, giving thanks for God’s blessings. The generosity shown in support of The Basement Project was overwhelming. Pupils visited the charity to deliver donations, learning about its mission to help local families and reflecting on the message that “each of us is a vital piece in the jigsaw of community.” During assembly, our newly formed Catholic
Life Team shared a moving prayer they had written themselves — a fitting conclusion to a half-term filled with faith, gratitude, and service.
Remembrance Mass at Winterfold is always a special occasion and this year was no exception. All pupils behaved in a befitting manner throughout; their singing was heartfelt and their reverence during the two minute’s silence showed the deep respect that they had for the occasion. A special mention must go to those involved in orchestra, reading and
serving, all of whom did a sterling job of honouring the memory of members of the Winterfold community who bravely fought for our freedom.
Spiritual Leaders were all involved in the annual event of wreath-making, under the kind guidance of Mrs Page. They all had a go at layering the different greenery filling in the gaps with shorter branches and sprigs topped off with other embellishments such as dried orange pieces and baubles.
The Carol Service is a huge event, both in terms of the religious and the musical life of the School. It involves every single pupil in the Prep School in some capacity and all of the children performed with reverence and pride during the service. Year 8 read from the Scriptures whilst Year 3 performed the Nativity tableau, bringing the story of Jesus’ birth to life. The whole congregation sang with hearty enthusiasm and it ignited the Christmas spirit in one and all.
There’s something magical about the start of a new year, and this term has been no exception.
Our music department has been buzzing with energy as we reorganised our ensembles to make sure every child has the chance to play in one or two groups each week without feeling overwhelmed. The result has been a wonderful variety of musical experiences. From the bright notes of the flute group and the lively rhythms of the percussion team to the rich harmonies of the saxophone ensemble and the elegance of our
string players, music has filled every corner of Winterfold. Junior Band has given our trainee brass and wind players a chance to shine, while Senior Brass has been preparing for those big, memorable moments like Remembrance and Christmas carols. The orchestra continues to lead the way at whole-school Masses and is already looking forward to the Summer Concert. Adding a modern twist, our new pop band, Off Beats, has brought
together singers, brass, and groovy rhythms, while a chamber group of six cellists has been exploring beautiful arrangements each week. And, of course, The Groove Diggers remain as strong as ever, performing in Penryn and gearing up for an exciting year ahead.
Singing has been just as vibrant. Infinite Voices, our new harmony and gospel group, has added a soulful dimension to the programme, while
the Festival Choir continues to set the bar high with its competitive edge and busy schedule. Senior Choir meets twice a year to prepare for major concerts, ensuring every pupil has the chance to raise their voice. Junior Choir for Years 3 and 4, along with Pre-Prep Choir and Music Makers, introduces younger children to the joy of singing. At Christmas, we were joined by a wonderful team of staff and parents who sang SATB carols and anthems, adding a truly special touch to the season. It’s fair to say that music at Winterfold is thriving - and the week is joyfully full.
Christmas itself was a celebration of sound and spirit. The Twelve Days of Winterfold Christmas showed just how magical this time of year can be. One of the highlights was the Christmas Ensemble Concert, where nearly all our groups took to the stage to perform two pieces each, filling the hall with festive cheer and showcasing the incredible talent of our pupils. The Pre-Prep delighted us with two nativity performances, full of wonderful costumes and smiles, while the Christmas Market sparkled with music from three singing groups
drawn from Years 3 to 8. The Festival Choir was especially busy, bringing joy to Carols Around the Tree, Hartlebury Community Café, and Bewdley Museum, where they sang to large and appreciative crowds. We even enjoyed a lively Percussion Christmas MiniMe before everything came together for the Carol Service - a beautiful celebration of carols, readings, and anthems featuring all the School choirs. It was a term filled with music, laughter, and festive warmth - a true reminder of the joy that music brings to our community.
S p ORT
We teach Winterfold pupils to have the right skills to take them forward in the game as they get older, and it is great to see the boys develop as they progress from Year 3 all the way up to Year 8.
Hockey
Overall, the girls have had a successful term of Hockey. Each team has worked hard each week to develop their hockey skills and develop their understanding of the game. The girls have had a full calendar of fixtures this term, allowing plenty of opportunity for them to practise their skills in pressured situations as well as continuing to learn how to work as part of a team. The U8 girls have enjoyed their first term of competitive fixtures, participating in a number
of festivals. It has been great to see their perseverance throughout the term, which has truly paid off with the fantastic development of their skills. Each team, as always, has participated in true Winterfold spirit each week; showing a great deal of sportsmanship and determination no matter the score.
Football
Alongside Hockey, the U11 girls participated in the first girls’ football tournament for Winterfold. They enjoyed an afternoon of highly
competitive matches against a number of schools. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to participate in another tournament. Girls’ football at Winterfold is continuing to grow, with more and more fixtures taking place each year.
Mr Terry and Mr Brewstew from Bromsgrove have continued to lead the girls’ sessions on a Monday afternoon. As always, these session have been of great value, enabling them to develop their skills further.
Rugby
The boys have done very well overall with their rugby and have made excellent progress over the course of the season. The 1st team showed a lot of courage during the season and really developed their skills in the contact area. At times they put together some excellent passages of play and showed great teamwork. The 2nd team also had a very positive season, and their tackling and ball handling skills improved a great deal. The U11 and U10 teams had a very full fixture list and have kicked on from
last season. The U11 and U10 A teams had superb seasons and played an excellent brand of Winterfold rugby. They showed bravery and technique in the contact areas and displayed excellent handling skills to score some fantastic tries. The B teams of both age groups had very positive seasons and developed their skills significantly. Allowing players to progress at the best rate for them is fundamental to enjoying the game of rugby and they had a very positive season. The Year 4 U9 team did well this season with the A team having an exceptional season and showing genuine promise for
the future whilst the B team worked very hard to improve their catching and passing. Year 3 boys thoroughly enjoyed the tag rugby and worked consistently to improve their catchpass skills and support running.
All in all, a very busy term of sport for everyone at Winterfold. Thank you to the children who have taken part, to our superb coaches for their help and expertise, to our grounds staff who prepare and maintain our pitches, to our kitchen staff for providing such great match teas and to all the parents who have supported the teams so positively so far this year.
DR a M a
all students have enjoyed a wide range of theatre visits this term.
We were into the Christmas spirit early when select pupils from Years 6 to 8 enjoyed an evening at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre to see Elf the Musical, in November. This was an interactive and high-energy performance which our children were thoroughly engaged in from the beginning.
In December, our youngest pupils in Kindergarten enjoyed searching for Santa when the Shooting Stars Theatre Company visited us with their short play Search for Santa Our two and three year olds loved taking part in the search by joining in with many nursery rhymes and action songs. Our Pre-Prep children enjoyed Sleeping Beauty at the
Swan Theatre in Worcester. This was particularly special because one of our LAMDA teachers was playing the fairy. Years 3 and 4 went to Cheltenham to watch a lively version of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, complete with snow. To finish off our festive theatre trips, Years 5 to 8 went to the Birmingham Rep theatre to watch the festive, comedy detective tale, Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas. Set in Victorian London, the story followed a string of West End performers who met an untimely demise in the middle of their performances. It was a very entertaining piece, and the colourful set was a perfect antidote to the wintry weather outside.
At the beginning of December, Year 5 performed a musical adaption of the well-loved book - The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse, to parents. During their Drama lessons, this term, pupils have developed their storytelling skills, and they used them to great effect to create a gentle yet powerful piece. The audience were visibly moved at times as the cast taught us, through the play, that kindness is the most important thing of all.
During the last days of term, Year 3 showcased their hard work in Drama lessons, when they took on the mantle of the Nativity tableaux. This is performed annually as part of the School’s Carol Service. It is a long held Winterfold tradition, that all Year 3
pupils play their part in the Nativity. It’s so heartwarming when Year 8 readers and Year 3 performers come together to rehearse and Year 8 share their memories of being in the Nativity when they were in Year 3. There were many focused and committed performers who are already showing a real talent for Drama at a very early age.
In September, we launched the newly created Drama Scholarship Pathway. Nine Years 7 and 8 pupils applied and were accepted on to the pathway which aims to build their experience and knowledge of Drama and the Performing Arts. It is hoped that these students will successfully apply for Drama scholarships, at their Senior Schools, in due course. During one
of our weekly sessions our pathway pupils met with Lara Lewis who was, at the time, performing in the national tour of Calamity Jane. She shared her experiences of working in the Performing Arts industry, from training in Actor Musicianship at Drama School to auditioning for roles. The children were thoroughly inspired by meeting Lara and had many questions for her. The highlight of the meeting was when she led them in some exercises and games that the cast of Calamity Jane used when warming up. Drama Pathway students also took part in the first round of the ESU’s Performing Shakespeare competition this term. All pupils had to learn a Shakespearean monologue or duologue along with
a two-minute oracy element to show understanding of the play and their performance. Two children have been selected to be taken through to the next round, which will be held at a school in the West Midlands next term.
For those who have not yet completed their annual performances, there is still lots to do. Years 7 and 8 are well underway with rehearsals, for the Senior production of Shrek Jnr. Year 4 are preparing an afternoon of poetry and performance for their parents and Year 6 are thoroughly enjoying bringing the musical Hip, Hip Horatio to life. As ever, the Drama department is alive with the sounds of children rehearsing and challenging themselves to work outside of their comfort zone.
p RE- p RE p
This term has been an exciting and productive start to the year for Key Stage 1.
The children returned from their summer holidays full of enthusiasm and quickly settled into new classes and routines with confidence and maturity. They have particularly enjoyed taking part in our teacher-led clubs, which this term has included Pilates, Yoga, Drawing Club, and Homework Club.
In English, Year 2 children have been studying The Tiger Who Came to Tea. They had great fun creating imaginative animal menus inspired by the story and thinking creatively about what their animal guests might enjoy.
Year 1 have been exploring traditional fairy tales and discovering how some of these well-known tales could have alternative endings - their ideas have been both thoughtful and entertaining.
In Mathematics, both year groups have continued to focus on developing strong number and place value skills. Year 2 pupils have also enjoyed using the Times Table Rockstars programme to build their confidence and speed with times tables.
History has once again been a highlight this term. Year 1 have been learning about homes through the ages, looking closely at how materials and architecture have changed over time. Meanwhile, Year 2 have been studying The Great Fire of London, finding out how the event unfolded and what changes it brought about in our capital city. Instead of separate trips this term, both year groups took part in an engaging Discovery History workshop about Guy Fawkes and the
Gunpowder Plot - a perfect tie-in to our Friends of Winterfold firework display.
The children represented the school beautifully at both the Harvest Mass and the Remembrance Mass this term, showing respect and reverence throughout. Excitement built as rehearsals were underway for our Pre-Prep Nativity performance of Born in a Barn. As a special celebration after the Nativity, Mrs Stark arranged a festive treat - a trip to the theatre to see Sleeping Beauty
It has been a wonderful term filled with learning, laughter, and creativity. We are so proud of everything the children have achieved and look forward to seeing what the new year will bring.
E a RLY YE a RS
as the leaves began to turn and the School gates opened for a new academic year, we welcomed our youngest pupils into the warm, vibrant world of Early Years at Winterfold.
For the children who began their journey in September, this term has already been filled with curiosity, creativity and community.
Starting school is a milestone for both children and parents, and our nurturing Early Years team ensures every pupil feels safe, settled and excited for the adventures ahead. In Kindergarten 1, 2 and Reception, classrooms have been buzzing with imaginative play, early markmaking, outdoor exploration and new friendships forming in every corner.
A particular highlight has been the Pupil Voice visits, where older pupils visited Kindergarten 1 and 2 to talk to the children and share stories, listen to their thoughts and gather ideas about what makes school special. These interactions delight the children while also fostering confidence and communication skills, giving them a
sense that their views genuinely shape life at Winterfold.
Another memorable moment this term was the Year 7 RE activity morning. The older pupils spent time with Reception children exploring themes of kindness, community and empathy through stories, crafts and simple shared activities. It was a heartwarming example of the School’s commitment to developing leadership and compassion from the very start of a child’s school journey.
As December approached, excitement grew for one of Winterfold’s most cherished traditions: the nativity performance. Early Years pupils stepped confidently into Penryn Hall, delighting families with enthusiastic singing, endearing acting and plenty of festive sparkle. For many children, it was their very first performance and they rose beautifully to the occasion.
Alongside rehearsals and classroom festivities, the Reception children also enjoyed a very special outing. A magical trip to see Sleeping Beauty at the Swan Theatre in Worcester filled the morning with music, colour and wide-eyed wonder, offering a perfect introduction to live theatre. And of course, no festive season would be complete without a Search for Santa.
The Kindergarten 1 and 2 children immersed themselves in storytelling and seasonal surprises as they followed clues in the hope of finding Father Christmas.
From their first mornings in the classroom to their first steps on stage, Early Years pupils at Winterfold House School have embraced a term full of joy and discovery. Through creative learning, supportive friendships and unforgettable experiences, they are already growing in confidence and curiosity.
FRIENDS OF WINTERFOLD
This term has been a hugely successful and enjoyable one for Friends of Winterfold, with a fantastic range of events supported so generously by our School community.
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a great success, raising a significant amount of money for this wonderful charity. It was lovely to see so many parents offering their support through cake donations, raffle prizes and by attending on the day. The children also enjoyed sampling the cakes at break time, which was a real highlight.
The Fireworks Evening and Pumpkin Carving Competition were both extremely well supported by our families, and it was wonderful to be able to welcome the Page House
boarders from Bromsgrove as well. The fireworks display was amazing, and the evening was enhanced by fabulous food from the School kitchens.
Breakfast with Santa proved to be incredibly popular, selling out within forty-eight hours. Families enjoyed a delicious brunch, festive craft activities, and a truly magical visit to Santa in the drawing room.
Our first-ever Hollyberry Fayre was a fantastic addition to the calendar, with lots of fabulous stalls and delicious
catering from Paisley Flour and Savva Bars. The beautiful singing from the School choirs created a lovely atmosphere, and the ever-popular tombola was, once again, a big hit.
A huge thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to help run these events, and to all the families who supported Friends of Winterfold by attending. Your enthusiasm and generosity are very much appreciated and help make these occasions so special for our School community.
g REENFIN g ERS
We are now in the third year of our greenfingers enterprise.
This year, a younger group of Pre-Prep children launched Mini Greenfingers, working alongside Mr Devereux and Mrs Hall to develop their growing and sales skills.
Our growing team has learned which plants sell best, and total sales of over £4,000 across four plant sales highlights just how successful both they and the marketing team have been. The profits have allowed the business to purchase a much-needed tool shed, expand the raised beds in the vegetable garden, and buy a fruit press. Children have also enjoyed tasting fruit from our orchard, and as the trees mature, we hope to run a juice stall next autumn.
Our marketing team is currently carrying out an exciting rebrand of the Greenfingers business. They are designing a new logo and developing a consistent design, font, and colour scheme for all marketing materials moving forward. As part of this, pupils
are learning about elevator pitcheshow to describe and sell our enterprise to visitors within just thirty seconds.
Our polytunnel is now in full use all year round, enabling us to grow surplus plants and vegetables for the community. We have donated trees to The Listening Herd charity and supplied Greener Stourport (a local community garden), a cancer charity plant sale in Stourbridge, and Chadsgrove Special School with bedding plants, perennials, and vegetable plug plants. We also now routinely supply the School’s Grounds Team with bedding plants to brighten planters around the site.
Our hanging baskets have become famous across the School community and once again sold out this summer. Thanks to the warm autumn weather, they were still blooming right up until October half term.
This year, our vegetable garden had a Mexican theme. We grew Mexican varieties of tomatoes, chillies, beans, and other vegetables wherever possible. At harvest time, Year 5 enjoyed a Mexican Cooking Day, learning about key ingredients and flavours of Mexican cuisine.
We have also twinned our garden with a partner project in Africa through The Ripple Effect Charity. Linked to this, next year we plan to grow Amaranth, Okra, Sweet Potato, Maize, and African Eggplants, alongside more traditional vegetables. These crops will allow us to cook Ghanaian Jollof Rice, Sukuma Wiki, and Githeri - traditional African dishes - during a themed cooking day.
Our Autumn Sale broke all previous records, boosted by the new Mini Greenfingers initiative. Children in Kindergarten and Pre-Prep grew and planted tins of pansies, which made wonderful gifts for delighted parents and grandparents.
p E a COCK LOD g E
Throughout the term, peacock Lodge and Forest School have provided a rich and inspiring setting for outdoor learning across Early Years.
From the first rainy days of September to crisp December mornings, children have immersed themselves in the natural world, developing curiosity, creativity, and confidence through hands-on, seasonal experiences.
At the start of term, Reception children eagerly continued their All About Me topic. Indoors, they used pebbles and natural materials to create family portraits and number collages, while outdoors they explored the changing environment, noticing cracked ground and dried ponds left by the summer heat. Kindergarten groups settled into their new classrooms and ventured on exploratory walks, observing fallen apples, sorting the good from the rotten, and learning new vocabulary such as “shrivelled” and “squishy.”
These early experiences nurtured observation skills and encouraged curiosity about weather, growth, and decay.
As the weeks progressed, seasonal stories inspired imaginative play and creativity. Tales like Just Right for Two, Helpful Hedgehog, The Leaf Thief, and Squirrel’s Autumn Search linked literacy and nature beautifully. Reception children made collages of friends using natural items, created log faces with clay and leaves, and designed puppet people from recycled spoons. Kindergarten children met “Hedgy the Hedgehog” and his brother “Spiky,” weaving leaves, creating pinecone hedgehogs, and learning about hibernation and nocturnal animals.
Physical development and teamwork were central themes. Children transported soil in wheelbarrows, balanced on planks, played skittles, and explored sensory water play. At Forest School, they rolled conkers, dug for minibeasts, and built animal homes, strengthening both gross and fine motor skills. Rainy sessions became joyful adventures as children embraced muddy play, demonstrating resilience and delight in all weathers.
As Autumn deepened, learning burst with colour and creativity. Children collected acorns, conkers, and sycamore seeds on wellie walks, compared textures and shapes, and experimented with mixing colours to make orange. In the mud kitchen, they mashed apples and invented imaginative “Autumn recipes.”
Reception pupils worked toward their Autumn Challenge Badge, practising early maths through sorting leaves and conkers, threading conker necklaces, and making intricate leaf rubbings.
Harvest time introduced themes of gratitude and growth. After hearing The Scarecrows’ Wedding, Reception built their own willow scarecrows, while Kindergarten explored pumpkins - lifting, hammering, and investigating their textures. Inspired by Apple Cake: A Gratitude, Kindergarten 2 reflected on thankfulness, planted apple pips, and explored the life cycle of an apple tree. Forest School sessions were full of storytelling and problem-solving,
from delivering letters in a Postman Bear adventure to finding hidden clues among the trees.
WOW Toddler sessions added to the joy, with younger visitors enjoying Gruffalo-themed play, senosry exploration, and muddy kitchen fun.
In November, the focus turned to Bonfire Night and Remembrance. Children painted fireworks with spray bottles, crafted wool and clay poppies, and built a bonfire from logs and leaves. Pumpkins were recycled into bird feeders, supporting sustainability and ecological awareness. Even wet and windy days became opportunities
for creativity and connection, with children dancing through leaves and making music under the shelter of Peacock Lodge.
This term’s blend of story-led exploration, sensory play, and connection with nature has created a powerful learning journey. The children have developed language, problem-solving, motor skills, and empathy - all rooted in the changing rhythms of the natural world. Autumn at Peacock Lodge has truly celebrated the joy, wonder, and shared discovery that outdoor learning brings to early childhood education.
