Autumn 2025
Arts Week This term’s Arts Week saw every student, from Nursery to Year 6, immersed in the culture and beauty of Venice, drawing inspiration from Canaletto's 1740 masterpiece, ‘Regatta on the Grand Canal’. The week kicked off with a detailed study of Canaletto's painting, prompting children to collaborate on a large-scale recreation of the work. This ambitious whole-school canvas, which captures the bustling energy of the Venetian regatta, is currently being assembled and will soon be on display! Further hands-on artistic exploration saw the pupils design and decorate elaborate Venetian masks, complete with feathers, colour, and sparkle. Many children participated in silk painting workshops led by local artist, Sharon Hurst, mastering new techniques to create expressive pieces reflecting Venice’s architecture and canals. A delicious Italian-themed lunch provided the perfect finale to a week of creative celebration.
2 • FOCUS
Junior
Beyond visual arts, Drama sessions introduced students to Italy’s Commedia dell’arte. Children explored the four famous masked characters—Magnifico, Pantalone, Il Dottore, and Zanni—learning how to convey character through posture, movement, and voice in sessions filled with laughter and confidence-building. Across the year groups, creativity flourished. Nursery children made beautiful masks to contribute to the whole-school artwork, and Reception used Google Earth to virtually explore Venice and built gondolas using collage. Year 1 designed their own colourful gondolas, while Year 2 painted gondola scenes using watercolours. Older students engaged in more complex projects: Year 4 combined silk painting with studies of the 18th-century ‘Grand Tour,’ and Year 5 tackled a STEM challenge, designing Venetian-style bridges. Year 6 channelled their inspiration into poetry, writing sonnets and haiku, before creating their own silk paintings. Arts Week successfully used Canaletto’s vision to spark curiosity and joy, with every student producing work that brilliantly captured the spirit of Venice. Bravo!
FOCUS • 3
Nursery
Welcome Aboard! A Home For Our Toys These girls worked so creatively, collaboratively, and logically as they created a beautiful house with separate rooms for their cuddly toys to live in. It really built up their strength and co-ordination too as the pieces can be really quite heavy!
Welcome aboard Churcher’s Airlines! The Nursery children set off on an adventure to Africa to meet Handa from the story, ‘Handa’s Surprise’, and to taste the delicious fruits from the story.
Superheroes The Nursery children were showing a real interest in Superheroes, so we used the book ‘Ten Little Superheroes’ as our story of the week. The week proceeded with so many superhero activities, including making these capes and inventing our own superpowers!
Creative Play Cooling Off! The children in the Nursery are experts at cooling off in the sunshine!
The Nursery boys created their own system of gates and levels when playing in the Nursery Garden with the plastic tubes. They worked collaboratively, with one child releasing some balls down the hill and the others operating the gates!
Cooking Up a Feast! We love cooking in the Nursery kitchen! The children have been using their skills to mix, knead, roll, and decorate a variety of delicious treats.
Off on Our Holidays!
4 • FOCUS
Junior
Reception
Kindness and Sharing Reception children have been learning all about kindness and sharing through our Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) curriculum, with the help of our special characters, Jigsaw Jeanie and Jerry the Cat. The children have enjoyed listening to stories, role-playing real-life scenarios, and taking part in group activities that help them understand how to be a good friend. They’ve been practising using kind words, taking turns, and helping each other—both in the classroom and during play. We are so proud of how they are putting these important lessons into action every day!
Growing Potatoes During the Summer Term, the children explored the journey ‘from farm to plate’. They planted and nurtured their own potatoes, carefully observing their growth over time. Once harvested, they examined the different parts of the plant to deepen their understanding. The highlight came when the potatoes were cooked - they were absolutely delicious!
Going on Our Very Own Bear Hunt The children absolutely loved diving into the story of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', when it was Book of the Week! They acted it out with great enthusiasm, using their imaginations to swish through grass, squelch across mud, and tiptoe into the cave. We even went on our very own real-life bear hunts around the school grounds, which were a big hit with everyone!
Pedal Power! This term, we kicked off our ‘Balanceability’ sessions, helping children learn to ride and control their bikes. It has been brilliant to see their progress grow, from wobbly starts to confident steering. They are learning balance, road awareness, and, most importantly, having fun.
Fun on the Obstacle Course
FOCUS • 5
Year 1 Wind Streamers In the Summer Term, as part of our learning on weather patterns in the UK, the children made their own wind streamers. They learnt about the Beaufort scale and wind direction. It was lots of fun heading outside and measuring the wind each day.
Fun with Pumpkins Year 1 have been reading and exploring the story, ‘Pattan’s Pumpkin’ - a wonderful Indian flood myth. They loved making their own ‘story pumpkins’, which included scooping, hollowing, counting seeds, drawing characters, and floating.
Taste Test Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed tasting and categorising different foods. We learnt all about taste buds and how different parts of the tongue help us detect sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavours. The tasting session was a big hit; chocolate was a clear favourite, but many, surprisingly, enjoyed the sourness of lemon too!
Abstract Art Checking the Rain Gauge As part of a year-long topic on ‘The seasons’, the children have been looking out for seasonal changes in the weather. They quickly realised that it can be very variable in Autumn, with sunshine one day and stormy weather the next! Using a rain gauge constructed out of a plastic bottle, the children closely monitored rainfall for a week. Every morning, they were excited to discover whether there was any rain to measure and record on their weather charts.
We're Not Afraid of Spiders! In the Summer Term, Year 1 explored spiders through Louise Bourgeois’, ‘Maman’, studying their anatomy before collaboratively creating a giant papier-mâché spider. Every pupil helped to shape and assemble the sculpture, learning about form and structure. They then painted it in layered browns, highlighted with bronze and gold to mimic Bourgeois’ metallic finish, transforming their creation into a lifelike, bronze-like masterpiece, inspired by contemporary art.
6 • FOCUS
In Art lessons, Year 1 children have enjoyed learning about Brazilian artist, Beatriz Milhazes. The children were inspired by her love of using circles and bright colours when creating their own pieces of striking abstract art.
Junior
Year 2 A Day at the Beach As part of their ‘Seaside’ topic, Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful trip to Hayling Island. Inspired by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy, the children worked together to create beautiful natural sculptures using shells, pebbles, and seaweed found along the shore. After their artistic activities, the class took a fun and scenic train ride, enjoying the fresh sea air and the views of the coastline. To finish the day, everyone savoured a delicious ice-cream treat, which was the perfect way to cool off and relax after their busy adventures.
Our Rich Habitat Year 2 used the local habitat of the pond and our outdoor classroom to do a mini beast tally! The amazing toadstools looked like something out of a fairy tale!
A Baptism Bug Hunting in the Woods Year 2 had a wonderful autumnal walk in the woods. There were lots of signs of teamwork whilst looking at local habitats - finding minibeasts under logs and building some habitats of our own! In science this week, we looked at one of our own local habitats - the school pond. We spent some time sketching what we observed. Well done, Year 2, keep bug hunting!
In Year 2 we have been exploring the meaning and importance of baptism. To conclude this topic, the children took part in a special classroom role-play of the Baptism ceremony. Everyone had a part to play—some acted as parents and godparents, while others took on the roles of the congregation. The class carefully followed each step of the ceremony, using symbolic items such as water, candles, and a white garment to represent purification, light, and new life.
Mapping Our Way As part of their ‘Mapping’ topic in Geography, Year 2 walked into our local town of Liphook. Children identified key features on an OS map beforehand, and we used our mapping skills to navigate the route.
FOCUS • 7
Music & Drama Oliver Twist Reimagined The Summer Term concluded with Year 6 pulling off one of the nation’s favourite musicals with their fabulous performance of ‘Oliver: Twisted!’. The children sang, danced, and performed to an extraordinary standard and delighted their audience. Well done to every performer!
Teatime Concerts
Our series of termly year group Teatime Concerts continues, and we have enjoyed performances from pupils in Years 3 and 4. The concerts provide a friendly, pressure-free platform for performance, supported by an audience of family, friends, teachers, and fellow pupils. It is lovely to see the confidence with which our pupils approach musical performance—for many, it is their first experience of playing to an audience.
8 • FOCUS
Junior
Building Confidence Drama isn’t just about shows, lights, costumes, and make up—it's about the weekly lessons, building on the drama skills of voice, body, face, and space, and, ultimately, building confidence. We have enjoyed creating and performing ‘loop dialogue’ scripts, doing physical theatre in our Daredevil unit, taking risks, and thinking quickly in improvisational activities such as IMPROV circle and Park Bench!
Introduction To The Orchestra
An Impromptu Sing-a-long! A few Year 6 boys decided to start entertaining their peers at break time by playing guitar classics by Oasis and Myles Smith. The tunes were very well received by all. Keep it up boys!
One of the first assemblies of the year was dedicated to music, with a few of our visiting music teachers played to Years 3-6. We heard familiar tunes on the clarinet, saxophone, cello, oboe, and several brass instruments, as well as pieces for combined forces. Pupils were then fortunate to have hands-on sessions on all the instruments they heard; whilst the sounds emitting from the studio and music room were quite extraordinary it certainly sparked an interest, with pupils signing up for trial lessons with a view to learning one of the instruments they tried! We look forward to following their progress and having them play in our own orchestra before long.
LAMDA Success
Mrs Roberts is delighted to report that we have scored a home run again with the LAMDA results, with all 27 children in Year 3 and 4 gaining a Distinction. Well done to everyone!
FOCUS • 9
Year 3 Wonderful Dragon Art
Team Building As the shine on our new school shoes began to fade, Year 3 embarked on their fabulous Team Building afternoon, bringing to an end the first week. This was a great opportunity for the whole year group to mix and enjoy working as a team. From problem solving to climbing on our ‘low ropes’ course, all the pupils had a really fun afternoon getting to know each other at this early stage in the term.
End of Year Talent Show Summer Term came to an end with our very own Talent Show, where children performed a true variety of talents to one another. We were extremely impressed by the skill and practice the performers had put into their acts, which included singing, dancing, mind reading, gymnastics, comedy, acting, and music!
Recycling Year 3 have been learning about how to care for the environment. At the start of the term, we did a massive litter hunt in the school grounds where we focused on removing as much litter as possible. It was amazing how much we found - mainly plastic from snacks and lunches that had blown along the edge of the field. Well done, Year 3, for being such amazing litter pickers.
Testing Ourselves at Barfield It may seem like a long time ago to most of us, but Year 3 finished the last school year off with an adventurous trip to the Three Peaks Outdoor Pursuits Centre, in Barfield. It was all about challenging yourself to be the best you can be. Wow, some of these children really took this to heart as they swung, balanced, and shot their way through the day. Archery, quad biking, and team challenges, to name but a few, kept us well and truly occupied for the whole day.
French Games In June, Year 3 spent a sunny afternoon playing Palets Bretons, Boules, and Chou-fleur—a perfect blend of fun and French culture. Measuring Leg Length to See How Far We Can Jump
10 • FOCUS
Year 4
Junior
Biscuit Henge Year 4 really enjoyed learning about Stonehenge—the most incredible monument to Bronze Age engineering. The children tried very hard to make some models of their own, using a building material of biscuits; hence, we have produced “Biscuit Henge”. It was great fun and quite a hard challenge too.
Getting to Know Each Other At the beginning of the year, we wanted to get to know everyone a little more. We created some epic self-portraits with sunglasses. We also did some fun teambuilding, which included taking out the huge parachute.
Science Workshop In the Summer Term, Year 4 took a trip to Gilbert White’s House for a science workshop.
Redesigning the Quad In Science, we have been learning about habitats. During the lessons, we have thought about the human impact we are having on our local habitats and some ways in which we can help our wildlife, including creating hedgehog highways. We also thought carefully about our land use at school and how we maximise its use to create better habitats for wildlife. For this purpose, Year 4 looked specifically at the quad, by the drama studio, coming up with some elegant solutions to make it a hub for wildlife. sharing our work with each other, taking time to celebrate our efforts.
Experimenting with Climate Change
Day of Languages For September’s Day of Languages, Year 4 matched languages to countries in a fast-paced dominoes game!
Year 4 investigated climate change by mimicking a greenhouse with a glass bottle and tracking temperature changes throughout the day. They learned how rising greenhouse emissions warm the Earth and affect plants and wildlife. The striking temperature difference inside the bottle highlighted the powerful impact of trapped heat.
FOCUS • 11
Sport
A Memorable Sports Day Elite Swim Squad Challenge Our elite swim squad took on their first-ever swim-run challenge—a demanding test of stamina, resilience, and internal motivation. After completing eight lengths of the pool followed by four laps on foot, there were plenty of puffed-out swimmers and empty gas tanks at the finish line! It was fantastic to see each child push through fatigue and give their absolute best. A brilliant display of determination and grit—well done to all who took part!
This year’s Sports Day was a joyful celebration of fitness, teamwork, and school spirit, with fantastic parent support and plenty of laughter during the infant family race. Reception to Year 2 took part in a dynamic rotation of events developing jumping, running, throwing, coordination, and balance, giving every child a chance to shine. The Junior School Sports Day ran smoothly despite the heat, with pupils showing resilience and achieving many personal bests. Excitement peaked during the relays, where slick changeovers and great teamwork stood out. It was inspiring to see so many children step proudly onto the podium to celebrate their efforts, both individually and for their houses. In a close House Cup, Rother placed fourth, Arun third, Hamble second, and Meon triumphed overall. Congratulations to all our Year 5 and 6 champions!
Inter-House Cross-Country On a bright, sunny Wednesday afternoon, the entire Upper Junior School took to the field for the eagerly anticipated House CrossCountry event, with pupils all running with an impressive average of 4.67km in 30 minutes—equivalent to around 8.5 laps of the 525m course! The race combined competition with camaraderie, as pupils cheered one another on, pushed through stitches and red faces, and showed real determination from start to finish. The atmosphere was buzzing with house spirit and smiles all round as every child contributed to their team’s total. In a closely contested competition, the final standings saw Meon in fourth, followed by Hamble, Rother, and overall winners Arun—a fantastic afternoon of fitness, fun, and teamwork for all. In Years 3-4, Rother emerged jubilant, as their team ran an impressive average of 9 laps of the field (4.5km) per runner.
12 • FOCUS
Junior
IAPs Hockey The U11 hockey team produced a superb display of skill, determination, and teamwork to claim the bronze medal at the prestigious IAPS U11 tournament, at Wellington College. Drawn in a tough group, Churcher’s battled to a 1-0 win over Amesbury, a thrilling 1-1 draw with hosts Wellington, and a narrow loss to Castle Court to progress to the Cup competition. A tense knockout against Twickenham saw heroic goalkeeping from Jess secure a semi-final spot, where Churcher’s fell to eventual champions Surbiton. In the bronze medal match, the team dominated play before a dramatic penalty shuffle victory— sealed by Violet’s composed finish and Jess’s outstanding saves—earned Churcher’s a richly deserved third place.
Iron Hill Fun Run Our Years 3, 4, and 6 children took part in the ‘Iron Hill Fun Run’ this term. All those attending the Orienteering Club completed a 3km run at an impressive pace, with a few taking on extra hills for some bonus training. Well done to everyone who participated and finished with smiles on their faces.
Seaford Cross-Country In September, 34 pupils took part in a cross-country competition, held at Seaford College, competing against schools from the surrounding area in what turned out to be a fast-paced and tactical race. With each team needing the first five runners’ finishing positions, Churcher’s proved to be a school not to be underestimated when it comes to running! We were extremely proud when results were calculated and U10 girls were awarded 1st place, the U11 boys 2nd place, and the U11 boys 3rd place. What an afternoon for Churcher's!
Gymnastics Competition Nine of our gymnasts took to the floor and vault this term, competing with five other local schools for a place on the podium. Conquering their nerves, we had a clean sweep of performances from all our children, and even succeeded in winning five medals.
U9 Netball Festivals The entire squad represented Churcher's at two different festivals—at Greenfields and Cranleigh—on the same afternoon, converting loads of shots into points and applying strength and consistency in defense as the games progressed.
FOCUS • 13
Year 5 Experimenting with Sound In science, Year 5 have been busy exploring how sound ‘works’. How does it travel, and how can we amplify and reduce volume using materials to do so? These experiments provided opportunities to be practical and to try and solve the age-old problem of how to save the ear drums of a teacher!
Activities Galore at Cobnor The residential trip to Cobnor Activity Centre was a fantastic, actionpacked trip, which gave the children the chance to do some amazing land and water-based activities. Sailing and paddling even involved jumping in! Chilly, but the weather was kind, and we had three warm, dry days. On land, archery, tree climbing, and high ropes pushed many out of their comfort zones, and we were so impressed with everyone's bravery, teamwork, and encouragement of others. An epic trip!
Inspiring Assemblies Year 5 rounded off the year with two fantastic assemblies. 5H delivered a brilliant and very funny ‘Race Across the World’ performance, taking everyone on a tour of Africa and linking perfectly to their summer topic. 5S followed with a lively highlights showcase of their Year 5 journey, from the Tudors to the Cobnor Residential, complete with King Henry VIII and his six wives.
14 • FOCUS
Combat Workshop Just after half term, Year 5’s action-packed movie dreams came true when they were treated to a fabulous theatre stage-combat workshop, led by our fencing coach, Derren. The children absolutely loved the opportunity to learn how to very safely ‘slap’ and ‘punch’ one another—what a great learning experience, and lots of fun.
Junior
Year 5 Swimming Gala The Year 5 swimming gala was a fantastic spectacle, with 150 enthusiastic supporters packing the venue to the rafters to witness 32 thrilling races. The diving was truly spectacular, and the finish lines were nail-bitingly close, making for an electric atmosphere throughout. The event saw a flurry of personal bests as pupils pushed themselves to new heights, alongside an excellent display of competitive butterfly that impressed all in attendance. In a closely fought contest, it was Arun who emerged victorious, clinching the win by just 4 points to cap off an unforgettable morning of swimming and school spirit.
French Café Bring the va va voom—Year 5 were invited to a special Senior School experience in the Summer Term, complete with a delightful French café where pupils had the chance to practise their French in a real-life setting as well as enjoy some tasty treats!
A Shakespearean Afternoon The Young Shakespeare Company provided a wonderful afternoon of drama as the children were swept along in a world of castles, moorland, witches, and intrigue through the magnificent story of Macbeth. With much audience participation, the children were buzzing with excitement by home time.
Tournament Champions! In November, our U10A footballers emerged victorious in a thrilling contest, hosted by Oakwood School. After four enthralling encounters against Ditchman Park, PGS, Oakwood, and Boundary Oak, the boys were crowned the well-deserved winners!
Geography Meets Science at Selbourne The whole year group had an inspiring day where Geography met Science. Mapping skills were learnt and practiced and flowers dissected and examined—a wonderfully varied and fruitful school trip.
FOCUS • 15
Year 6
£5 Challenge
Isle of Wight Residential
The £5 Young Enterprise Challenge culminated in the children selling their products at the Summer Fair. The children have enjoyed the process of working in a team to manage the finances, advertising, purchases, sales, and accounting of their projects.
Year 6 ventured to PGL, Little Canada, on the Isle of Wight for their residential trip this term. After an early start and a smooth crossing of the Solent the children were thrown into their first activities, choosing from the zip wire, archery, climbing, the big swing, and laser quest. After dinner on the first evening, they competed in a night game, ‘Find the Flag’, and on the second evening, they enjoyed a song and marshmallows around the campfire. A final morning of activities was followed by some time at Osborne House to supplement their study of the Victorians in history. They took part in a workshop where they assumed the characters of servants and were put through their paces by an indomitable Mrs Smith. There was enough time to tour the house and the gardens after the workshop. Year 6 really enjoyed their adventurous activities and night games, sleeping in cabins with their friends, and spending time together at mealtimes. Well done, all!
A Science Whodunnit Year 6 investigated a whodunnit, using the length of shadows as a clue to determine who stole the laptop from the classroom. Known shadow lengths were compared to scale models of the suspects heights to identify the culprit!
16 • FOCUS
Practical Maths In mathematics, Year 6 have been measuring their arm span, height, head span, and more, to work out if they are like Leonardo da Vinci's perfectly symmetrical Vitruvian Man or Woman.
Junior
U11 Football Tournaments Earlier this term, our U11 team took part in the ISFA Regional Football Tournament, hosted at Bedales School. It was a brilliant afternoon of football, with the boys giving an excellent performance and representing the school with great sportsmanship. They gave a strong account of themselves and upheld a high standard throughout the tournament. Later in October, we hosted our annual U11 Football Tournament. With 22 teams across A, B, and C tournaments, there was a brilliant atmosphere and a buzz in the air all around the field. All four of our teams worked hard throughout the afternoon, showcasing great teamwork and a determined approach to the football. We had a B and C team finish third in their competitions, and a massive ‘Well done’ to all of our footballers who took part.
Escape Room Fun During Maths Day, Year 6 welcomed Senior School maths teachers, Mr Seaton and Mr Wilson, who hosted escape rooms in the Year 6 classrooms. Thankfully, all pupils managed to escape!
Hockey Tournament Our Year 6 girls enjoyed their first hockey tournament of the year, at Cranleigh, where nine players represented the school with great spirit and determination over five matches against local schools. Highlights included Jess being named ‘Players’ Player’, for her excellent goalkeeping, making several key stops including a memorable hat-trick save in the final match against Hurst. ‘Coaches’ Players’ were awarded to Amelie, Phil, and Izzy, who all showed fantastic effort and contributed to a strong performance—Izzy even finding the back of the net in the Hurst game. The team finished in a commendable 5th place, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.
Netball Tournament With every child playing competitive netball for 60 minutes, the annual netball tournament was fast and furious. Testing strength, versatility, and endurance, two pools played 7-aside matches, comprising a total of 140 children! The B team came second in their pool and the A team finished in joint first position during their round robin matches. Some excellent displays of shooting, tight defense, and cutting and recycling in mid-court reflected the seasons' learning.
FOCUS • 17
Celebrating the Joy of Books
An Introduction to Philip Pullman We Love Reading... Anywhere! We love reading in Nursery. Inside or out, and in all areas of the Nursery setting. The reading shed in our garden is a real favourite.
18 • FOCUS
This term, Year 5 have embarked on a wonderful adventure of literature through the multi-themed ‘Clockwork’, by Philip Pullman. The text provided many opportunities for deep-thinking as well as some hotly contested debates! Everyone was gripped by the twists and turns of this superb story and after exploring the many themes, the children were tasked with channelling their ideas into discussion texts—a challenging new genre that was tackled with enthusiasm and growing confidence. sharing our work with each other, taking time to celebrate our efforts.
Junior
We Enjoy Sharing Our Work!
Windrush Poetry Brightstorm Year 6 concluded their study of Vashti Hardy’s ‘Brightstorm’, by creating colourful, eye-catching reviews of the engaging novel.
During Black History Month, Year 4 focused on ‘Windrush Child’, by John Agard. Everyone was moved to learn about these amazing people who suffered so much hardship after being invited to come to the UK. It inspired many of the children to go and do some wider reading about the topic and learn more about the amazing people of colour who have helped to transform our country for the better. We always enjoy sharing our work with each other, taking time to celebrate our efforts.
FOCUS • 19
Remembrance Events
A Special Fixture Petersfield Parade
Three hundred CCF cadets and officers paraded for the annual Petersfield Town Remembrance service on Sunday 9 November. Led by the colours and corps of drums, the contingent marched from Swan Street car park to the town square for the service in front of St Peter’s Church, and then on to the war memorial for the act of remembrance. Dom Hardie, OC, sounded the Last Post at 1100. Recently appointed First Sea Lord’s Cadet, Eleanor P, accompanied the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Petersfield Mayor’s Cadet, Fred T, escorted the mayor. Other members of the CCF had additional roles laying wreaths and reciting the names of the fallen. The Senior Wind Band accompanied the CCF and the hundreds of residents in the town square for this service.
20 • FOCUS
On Saturday 8 November, Churcher’s played a special rugby fixture against Emanuel School, marking both Remembrance weekend and the historic bond between the two schools. During the Second World War, Emanuel was evacuated to Churcher’s from 1939 to 1945, sharing lessons, facilities, and an intense sporting rivalry. Rugby, cricket, athletics, and even ice hockey kept school life vibrant, with both communities training and competing together despite wartime challenges. To honour this shared history, Emanuel commissioned two new awards: the ‘Gurling McMichael Memorial Cup’, named after the schools’ 1930s rugby captains, and the ‘Robert Fielder and Bernard Lister Man of the Match Awards’, commemorating former pupils who lost their lives in the war. This year’s closely fought 1st XV match ended 17–15 to Emanuel—a fitting tribute to 80 years of friendship, remembrance, and sporting tradition.
Senior
Remembering the Fallen On Tuesday 11 November, the school marked the Armistice with a whole school remembrance assembly, led by the Captains of College. Senior CCF NCOs escorted the colours and laid wreaths. Georgie S-B sounded the Last Post. Following the service, CCF cadets lined the path from Sports Hall to the school memorial arch, for the whole school to pass through. An honour guard presented arms at the memorial. This element was conducted in respectful silence, with the Senior Wind Band providing an acoustic backdrop of martial music.
Music for Remembrance
Remembrance is always a significant time for the Music Department, marked by performances at a range of events. On Sunday 9 November, the Senior Wind Band led the Remembrance service in Petersfield. Churcher’s then observed the 11th of the 11th with a moving whole-school assembly, featuring five trumpeters playing the Last Post (Charlie B, Tishie N, Georgie S–B, Thomas B, and Henry C) and the Senior String Quartet (Clement S, Caspar M, Tahlia H, and Finlay T) performing Albinoni’s ‘Adagio’. The following day, more than a hundred musicians took part in the annual Remembrance concert at St Peter’s Church. This outstanding event opened with the Orchestra playing Bizet’s ‘Farandole’ and the first movement of Dvořák’s ‘New World Symphony’, followed by impressive performances from the Junior Chamber Choir, Barbershop, Senior Chamber Choir, SSA, and a finale consisting of the Senior Choir singing Mozart’s ‘Lacrimosa’.
FOCUS • 21
Adventurous Activities OSCA
Summer Residential During the Summer Term, 130 OSCAneers set off for an unforgettable week in the Purbecks, camping under the Dorset skies. The trip was packed with adventure, including activities such as climbing, abseiling, coasteering, ringo, fishing, and the mud run! Every student rose to the challenge, pushing their limits and embracing new experiences with enthusiasm. The week was filled with laughter and teamwork - a fantastic opportunity to build confidence and make lasting memories with friends.
Welsh 3000s Challenge At the end of the Summer Term, six determined Lower Sixth students took on the Welsh 3000s Challenge, aiming to summit all 15 Welsh peaks over 3000 feet in under 24 hours. After a rainy ascent of Snowdon and the Crib Goch ridge, they refuelled before tackling the Glyders, Tryfan and Pen yr Ole Wen as night fell. Battling rain, fatigue and darkness, they completed the remaining peaks by dawn, finishing in a believed Churcher’s record of 19 hours 38 minutes. Including the first climb and final descent, the team covered nearly 34 miles and over 4000m of ascent in 23 hours 22 minutes.
22 • FOCUS
Autumn Update This term’s evening activities kicked off with the chariots. The new cohort threw themselves into it, working as effective teams and learning new knots. The other evening sessions so far have included: tsunami’s, climbing, knife work, route planning, orienteering, and catapults. As well as all the evening activities, the OSCAneers have taken on the Rother Valley expedition. The students walked and navigated in teams during the day and camped out overnight. At the campsite, the teams cooked over open fires, roasted s’mores, and played games with their friends.
Senior
A Trip of a Lifetime! This summer, 40 students embarked on an unforgettable First Challenge expedition to Montenegro. After flying to Dubrovnik and travelling on to Podgorica, they explored the capital before heading into Durmitor National Park for three demanding hikes and exhilarating white-water rafting. The trip ended in the coastal towns of Kotor and Budva, where students enjoyed spectacular views and time to reflect. Throughout the journey, everyone took turns as team leader, building confidence, leadership, and teamwork. The expedition pushed students beyond their comfort zones and left them proud of all they had achieved.
Gold DofE Silver DofE Completed! This year’s Silver DofE teams completed their practice expedition in hot Dorset weather, persevering through two days of walking and camping while gaining valuable insights for their assessed trip. In August, they headed to Exmoor, starting with a sunny and relaxed first day—one group even ate lunch beside some cows. Day two brought heavy rain and high winds, but the teams showed outstanding resilience and teamwork. By the final day, spirits were high and the finish line was close, marking a successful and memorable expedition experience.
Another successful practice expedition in Snowdonia!
Senior Adventure Club Early in the Autumn Term, 22 Lower Sixth students travelled to Snowdonia for the first Senior Adventure Club trip, designed to showcase the outdoors without heavy DofE packs. The three-day trip included scrambling on Tryfan and exploring local river canyons, but constant rain made the rocks slippery and limited summit attempts. When the sun finally appeared, rivers were too high, so students spent the day coasteering off the Anglesey coast instead. With hearty evening meals in a local hostelry and plenty of laughter, the group made lasting memories despite the weather.
DW... The Journey Begins! This year’s DW team have officially begun their training! They kicked things off with a taster session at the Southampton Canoe Club, where they learned how the boats work and had a chance to try out single-person kayaks. The session was a great success, with everyone thoroughly enjoying the experience and returning for a second taster session. For their next challenge, the team headed to Odiham to try their hand at K2s (two-person boats). While there were a few swims along the way, the group have already shown impressive progress, teamwork, and resilience. Over the coming weeks, the paddlers will be building up to their first race, the Charles Hicks Race, which they will complete as a relay, with each pair kayaking eight miles.
FOCUS • 23
Drama & Dance
The Tempest What an absolute delight it was at the end of the Summer Term to watch such a talented group of young performers bring Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ to life in a captivating outdoor setting. The production was nothing short of impressive - ¬¬from the confident and energetic delivery of lines to the excellent timing and polish, it felt remarkably professional throughout. Visually, the performance was stunning; surrounded by beautiful trees, the clever use of the natural environment as part of the stage design added real magic to the atmosphere. The costumes were equally impressive - vibrant, imaginative, and perfectly suited to the characters - making it a real treat for the eyes. Particularly memorable were the ensemble spirits, whose movements were beautifully choreographed. Their presence added a powerful layer to the storytelling, especially when paired with the hauntingly effective music, which truly enhanced the overall mood of the play. This was clearly a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. A brilliant experience for cast, crew, and audience alike - well done to all!
Shakers Churcher’s hit the West End again this summer; ‘Shakers Re-Stirred’ at the Phoenix Arts Club was a vibrant, sharply delivered revival brought to life by four gifted Sixth Form performers: Iona, Freya, Cecily, and Frankie. The intimate bar setting perfectly complemented the play’s fast-paced humour and candid look at the lives of overworked cocktail waitresses. The ensemble’s chemistry was electric as they shifted effortlessly between characters, capturing both the chaos and camaraderie of bar work. Iona offered a nuanced portrayal of hidden longing, while Freya’s sparkling comedic timing kept the audience laughing. Cecily combined humour with touching vulnerability, and Frankie added depth and authenticity throughout. Immersive sound design enhanced the lively atmosphere, making the performance both engaging and heartfelt. This energetic, polished production was a remarkable achievement, and their September reprise in the College’s Assembly Hall proved equally delightful!
24 • FOCUS
Senior
LAMDA and Dance Showcase On 24 June, Dance and LAMDA joined together for a showcase evening to show off what both sets of students have been doing during the Spring and Summer Terms. The gymnastics group also joined the stage to show off their hard work.
Supporting Our Friends! On 5 September, Dance Squad went to the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth, to see two Churcher’s students performing in Sleeping Beauty with the English Youth Ballet. Well done, Sofia James and Georgia Christmas!
A Dance Masterclass Dance Squad also attended a Musical Theatre Workshop with West End professional, Annabel Roberts, in October. The group learnt original choreography from the touring production of Chichester Festival Theatre’s ‘South Pacific’, focusing on excerpts from ‘I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of my Hair’. They look forward to performing the finished piece at the Christmas Dance Showcase.
FOCUS • 25
Languages & Humanitities Hampton Court in the Sunshine Despite a very hot day and a delayed start this summer, 150 pupils and staff thoroughly enjoyed a day out at Hampton Court. We were given excellent workshops on ‘Tudor global influences’ and ‘Power and politics in the Tudor court’, which acted both as consolidation of what had been learnt in class, as well as extension ideas. Pupils managed not to get lost in the maze, enjoyed a tour around the magnificent Tudor kitchens, and saw the state apartments. Relaxing in the kitchen garden and cooling down in the ‘magic garden’ also proved to be very popular!
Geography Investigations
Closer to Home! Last term, the air buzzed with the kind of energy that only a school trip can bring. For half a day, every First Year pupil set out to explore the world just beyond the classroom walls—our local environment transformed into a living laboratory. Clipboards in hand and curiosity in full charge, we roamed the streets around Churcher’s and Penn’s Place, searching for hidden connections between land use, environmental quality, and the mysterious sway these places hold over our moods. Each of us became a young explorer, measuring, observing, and trying to turn the chaos of the everyday world into data, and perhaps, into discovery.
Milford-on-Sea In mid-June, 78 Fourth Year geographers travelled to Milford-on-Sea to survey Hurst Spit, gathering data on how its size, shape, and composition change from landward to seaward end. Morning groups worked through relentless heavy rain, salvaging only partly legible data booklets. However, as they ate lunch outside Hurst Castle, the weather transformed—rain stopped, sunshine broke through, and afternoon conditions were ideal. By the time the group returned to the coach, clothes had dried, spirits had lifted, and the ice-cream stand was doing a brisk trade!
26 • FOCUS
Portsmouth Harbour After battling a biblical downpour during June’s fieldwork on Hurst Spit, our Fifth Year geographers again faced wet weather in October. Seventy-eight pupils and eight staff gathered human-geography data across three contrasting wards around Portsmouth Harbour, completing RICEPOTS land-use surveys, environmental quality assessments, and pedestrian counts. A welcome lunch break at Gunwharf Quays offered a dry refuge and diverse food options. Thankfully, unlike in summer, most booklets survived, enabling pupils to use their findings in later lessons to explore the area’s notable urban contrasts.data collection booklets survived intact. Pupils were therefore able to use their observations to answer questions about the particular urban contrasts found in this part of the city in subsequent lessons.
Senior
History ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES
Re-appraising the case for appeasement:
Neville Chamberlain 1937-1940 Francis Chamberlain
Turrets and Trains Second Year historians spent the day at Arundel Castle and Amberley Industrial Museum. At Arundel, they revisited Medieval realms by exploring the Motte and Bailey, defensive features like the portcullis, and the eerie oubliette, before a workshop with heavy chain mail that revealed a knight’s challenges. At Amberley, pupils were captivated by the electricity display, rode the train, learned how lime is produced from coal and chalk, and enjoyed the café and exhibitions throughout the visit, which they found inspiring.
Petersfield Museum
Thursday 9 October 2025 Chamberlain's Grandson Visits
In June, all our First Years enjoyed escaping their class-based history lessons for the week and heading to Petersfield museum for some local history. They enjoyed learning about the local police system (and trialling lying in cells!), the role of cricket in the town, the fact it was a rotten borough for over 150 years, how the road to London was highly dangerous and full of highwaymen etc… They had fun dressing up and having an excellent recap from the education department about all the information they had gleaned.
WeRefreshments were privileged from 4pm to welcome Neville Chamberlain's grandson, Francis Chamberlain, to Lecture Theatre give a fascinating talk to our 64 A Level historians. Hearing so many personal recollections added a deeper understanding of the incredible man he was. Francis focused on the years leading up to the Second World War and delineated the context of a country desperately not wanting to go to war, alongside the aggressive Nazi war machine. He gave evidence that Chamberlain actively sought to rearm Britain from 1936, and was fully aware of Hitler's designs. He also focused on the gift of hindsight that historians can employ, but was, of course, not available to Chamberlain.
4.25pm
Languages Poetry & Performance Evening Our Poetry & Performance evening was very much the cherry on the cake during our September week of language celebration. Amongst several Spanish and French poems, we had the pleasure of listening to Ukrainian, Thai, and Russian poetry, Italian and German opera, and Spanish and Brazilian songs, to name but a few. There was time for audience participation in German, a Japanese Haiku, a Chinese poem, and a beautiful ballet. With many students involved, it all combined to create a buzzing atmosphere with many different accents and intonations—the beating heart of this very special evening! Standing in front of an audience whilst reciting a poem is no mean feat, doing this in a different language is very special indeed. Bravo to all our participants!
Translation & Spelling Bees Five Second and Third Year pupils competed in the South Regional Translation Bee at Bath University in June, facing strong opposition from schools across the region. They represented Churcher’s superbly: congratulations to Ralph D (French), Ariana K and Emelia B (German), and Lara A and Sophie M (Spanish). First Year Joey K also excelled at the National Modern Languages Spelling Bee Final at Cambridge, placing among the top 96 of 17,420 entrants. His achievement reflects outstanding dedication and linguistic talent throughout the demanding competition overall.
FOCUS • 27
English A Visit to Stratford
Our Own Whodunnit
Upper Sixth A Level English students kicked off the school year in style with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon—Shakespeare’s birthplace—to watch a performance of their set text, ‘Measure for Measure’. Students loved seeing a text brought ‘to life’ that, by now, they know so well, and they also enjoyed a little wander around this beautiful little town, just bursting with literary history!
The English Department ran their annual murder mystery event at the end of the Summer Term, as part of the Second Year Detective Fiction unit. Students channelled their inner Sherlocks, and set to work, reading, synthesising, and analysing information to try to eliminate suspects… and had some visits from some very suspicious characters along the way!
Eliza's Poetry Win Fifth Year pupil Eliza has won the Hampshire Young Poets’ Competition 2025, with her wonderful poem, ‘Night Stalker’! The theme for this competition was ‘friendship’, and Eliza’s poem did something a bit different by exploring the idea of false friendship through a Gothic lens. Eliza was invited to a prestigious awards ceremony in Winchester at the start of October, where she received her award, and also won some book tokens for the school, which she has kindly donated to our creative writing club, ‘Plot Twist’, and ‘Book Club’.
28 • FOCUS
Lord of the Flies As part of their dystopian unit, a group of Lower Sixth students headed to Chichester Festival Theatre in October to watch a performance of ‘Lord of the Flies’, a tale about a group of boys who find themselves stranded on a desert island, and whose demise raises questions about rules, civilisation, and the nature of humanity. Students and teachers alike loved this performance (and some of the parents even came along too!), which was incredibly powerful theatre.
Hamlet Brought to Life At the start of the Autumn Term, a group of Upper Sixth students went to Chichester for a ‘Hamlet’ day out with their teachers, as part of their A Level English Literature course! Firstly, students took part in a ‘Hamlet’ workshop, which explored theatrical stagecraft and offered a fascinating insight into the play in terms of performance. Then, following a trip out for a pizza lunch, students returned to the theatre to watch the show; after all, ‘The play’s the thing!’
Senior
Maths & Science
STEAM Day As part of our STEAM initiative, Third Years enjoyed a day of hands-on bridge-themed activities linking academic study to real-world applications. Across Science, Art, Design & Technology and Maths, pupils tackled creative, technical, and team challenges, alongside a selfdefence session. The Art Department saw striking conceptual bridge models, with Tom S, Thomas B, and Luca P-W’s design named best overall. In Design & Technology, Poppy D, Lilybet M, and Aurelia B’s wooden bridge supported an impressive 17.5 kg to win first place. Mathematics explored bridge-network theory, while Science examined the physics of resonance. The day culminated in assembling a 9 m cable-stayed bridge, provided by the University of Sheffield—built “over” perilous imaginary waters. Outstanding teamwork secured a narrow victory for a team from Rodney House.
House Maths Competition Our Second Year pupils took part in an exciting House Maths Competition, working in teams to tackle a range of challenging puzzles and problemsolving activities. The event encouraged collaboration, creativity, and quick thinking, giving pupils the chance to engage with maths in a lively, handson way rather than the usual classroom setting. It was a hugely successful event and a great celebration of teamwork and mathematical thinking.
Brain Day For the third year running, our Lower Sixth students attended an engaging university-style neuroscience lecture, led by Dr Guy Sutton. The session explored brain development and what happens when it does not follow typical patterns, giving students insight into brain differences in individuals with schizophrenia and introducing them to findings from very recent research. A highlight of the day was a live brain dissection, where students donned gloves and handled different brain regions as Dr Sutton explained their functions—an unforgettable, hands-on experience. The lecture not only deepened students’ understanding of neuroscience but also inspired some to consider related university courses, blending cutting-edge research with practical, interactive learning.
FOCUS • 29
CCF
Navy Field Day October’s Navy field day trip to the historic dockyard offered cadets an engaging look at both historic and modern naval operations. The visit began with a tour of HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship, where cadets explored the ship’s structure, living quarters, and artefacts, gaining insight into life and warfare in the 18th century. They then visited the Mary Rose, whose preserved remains and recovered items illustrated Tudor shipbuilding and the daily routines of its crew. A harbour trip rounded off the day, giving cadets close-up views of contemporary Royal Navy vessels and key maritime sites. The experience successfully blended historical learning with real-world naval observation.
Inskip Summer Camp The RAF returned to Inskip summer camp this July, and spent a week engaging with RAF cadets from around the country in activities including: shooting, abseiling, raft building on a lake, and low rope assault courses. It was also an opportunity to get our hands on some of the latest military tech, including top-of-the-range VR sets that allowed them to explore the International Space Station.
30 • FOCUS
Trafalgar Night In mid-October, the Royal Naval Section of our CCF held its annual Trafalgar Dinner, where 95 guests enjoyed a roast beef meal, toasts, speeches, chocolate galleons, and energetic sea shanties. The event recognised the service of 46 Sixth Form NCOs and 24 CFAVs, and welcomed Senior School leaders, local dignitaries, parents, Cadet Training Team representatives, and former staff and OCs. Guest speaker, Commander Tom Trent, RN (retired), delivered an engaging address on the value of followership alongside leadership, highlighting Admiral Collingwood and noting that Trafalgar was ultimately won by the followers after their leader fell.
Senior
Army
Exercise Night Owl
Summer Camp Sixteen cadets attended the HQSE CTT summer camp, at Longmoor, over the holidays. They began with two days of fieldcraft, covering ambushes, TIBUA, survival skills, traps, CQB, intelligence gathering, first aid, and axe throwing, with an overnight in the field. On Day 3, cadets went to the ETR and clay ranges, earning several marksman badges; Cdt Maltby completed his WHT in two hours and achieved a Marksman badge. They also explored weapon and vehicle stands and took part in an observation activity. Day 4 was a hot but exciting AT day at Hawley Lake, with climbing, archery, mountain biking, raft building, and paddleboarding, and Day 5 rounded off an exhilarating week with competition day.
In June, the Third Year Army Cadets completed Exercise Night Owl on Longmoor, marking the end of their Basic syllabus and testing their independence and reconnaissance skills. After arriving and establishing defended harbour areas, they refreshed key fieldcraft techniques before running nighttime observation posts and witnessing a simulated enemy firefight. At first light, each platoon delivered intelligence debriefs, then rotated through activities, including Skill at Arms with the L98A2 rifle, air rifle marksmanship, and a demanding command task. The cadets showed impressive discipline, adaptability, and initiative as they prepare to begin their 1 Star syllabus.
Hands On with a Helicopter! Third Year RAF cadets enjoyed an exciting and informative visit to the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop. They explored historic exhibits, climbed into helicopters and gained first-hand insight into the evolution of military aviation. A highlight of the day was watching an Apache helicopter take off, bringing their learning vividly to life.
RAF Weapon Handling For the first time in recent history, the Fourth and Fifth Year RAF cadets have completed weapons handling training. This term included an introduction to the CCF Scorpion Cadet air rifles, with all those assessed passing their WHT with flying colours.
FOCUS • 31
Sixth Form
Captains of College Captains of College, Moritz F and Freya W, were invited to the ’86 Group conference at Lord Wandsworth College, as well as the annual Heads of School conference at Wellington College, both of which were in quick succession at the start of October. Both events focused on building rapport with other heads of school. They were packed-out days featuring talks from fascinating intellectuals, such as Scott Galloway, author of ‘The Algebra of Happiness’, along with discussions with other school leaders from the surrounding area. All in all, both days were highly informative, giving some well-rounded insights into how heads of school lead and delegate, as well as highlighting areas in which they can improve as representatives for the school.
Transform Society Competition
Mexican Lunch Moritz and Freya, with the support of the Vice-Captains, served up a real treat for this year’s Captains’ Themed Lunch in September. The annual tradition marks a warm welcome to the Lower Sixth as they join the Churcher’s Sixth Form community. This year’s theme brought a taste of Mexico, with a delicious meal full of colour and flavour, followed by much-appreciated ice lollies to cool off in the late-summer sunshine. With the weather on their side, students then enjoyed a lively game of bench ball, complete with plenty of laughter and friendly competition. The afternoon was rounded off with beautiful singing in Ramshill, adding the perfect note to a day filled with great food, fun, and community spirit.
32 • FOCUS
In September, Lower Sixth students took part in the Transform Society Community Challenge, which focussed on the issue of homelessness in the local area. The day was led by James Darley, with Sophia Rapley, from Chichester-based charity, Stonepillow, also coming to speak. Students were tasked with presenting an action plan about how they would seek to solve the issue. There were some creative responses to the brief, but the winning group, pictured with James Darley, produced the best presentation overall and spoke most passionately about their ideas. As part of their preparation, they showed great initiative by phoning a local estate agent to see if a vacant premises on the local industrial estate, identified on Rightmove, could be repurposed. A collection of food and other essential items was delivered to Stonepillow as a thank you for their contribution.
Senior
Celebrating Artistic Excellence! We are thrilled to congratulate Jasmine T on achieving the highest possible grade in A Level Art - an extraordinary 100%. Her submission was praised by the exam board for its exceptional quality, marking her as one of the most accomplished young artists in the country. Jasmine’s project explored the visual representation of heat through bold experimentation, from paint stripper and heat guns to a final charcoal piece created with charred wood and candle smoke. Her intense, layered composition conveyed powerful emotion and technical skill. Jasmine joins recent top scorers, Louisa M and Monty Z, reflecting the Art Department’s creative excellence. She now continues her artistic journey on the Foundation Diploma at Kingston University.
British Library Workshop Lower Sixth students recently visited the British Library to attend a ‘Develop Your Writing’ workshop, aimed at enhancing their academic writing skills. The engaging session provided valuable techniques for structuring essays and developing arguments effectively, equipping students for writing up their EPQ and for future study beyond Churcher's. In addition to the workshop, they enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of the Library, where they explored its rich collections and saw historical treasures, including the Magna Carta. A particular highlight was the opportunity to meet Rebecca Lawrence, the CEO of the British Library, who shared insights into the institution’s work and its importance in preserving knowledge. The visit was both inspiring and informative, offering a unique glimpse into one of the world’s greatest cultural institutions.
FOCUS • 33
Sixth Form Girls Visit Google Four Lower Sixth girls enjoyed an inspiring visit to Google London, hosted by Women of the Future Ambassador, Srishti Warman. After a warm welcome, they heard rapid-fire talks from women across Google, each sharing career journeys and valuable “Things I wish I’d known” advice. The visit highlighted Google’s global culture, with speakers from countries such as Ireland, India, Italy, Greece, and Australia. Themes of the day included embracing uncertainty, building networks, recognising personal strengths, and remembering that career paths aren’t always linear. The girls left motivated, full of insights, and fuelled by pizza, which had been enjoyed beside Google’s iconic indoor bus. They also had the chance to meet WoF founder, Pinky Lilani.
Enterprising Minds Gala Dinner After visiting Google with Women of the Future (WOF), we were thrilled to be invited to the WOF Awards gala dinner at the Hilton Bankside, in London. Four Sixth Form girls enjoyed a wonderful evening inspired by exceptional nominees and winners. As WOF describes, these women demonstrate remarkable leadership, innovation, resilience, and a commitment to making a difference across business, social initiatives, and academia. We were not only amazed by their achievements and talent, but also deeply moved by the inclusivity, support, and kindness at the heart of the WOF community.
34 • FOCUS
In November, 14 Lower Sixth students attended the ‘Enterprising Minds’ conference at Benenden School, themed ‘Creating Impact in a Fast-Changing World’. Following a welcome from the Headmistress, students heard from six inspiring speakers. Highlights included: Sophy Norris, founder of The Alligator Pi Agency, discussing podcasting and professional presentation; sustainability expert, Benet Northcote, on making meaningful impact; and Alexandra Van Houtte, founder of Tagwalk, on starting a business. The conference offered valuable insight into entrepreneurship, communication, and global responsibility.
Oxbridge Programme November saw our Oxbridge mock interview week. Sixteen of our Upper Sixth students had a total of 33 interviews with a team of our academic staff, plus two Oxbridge graduate parent-volunteers and one Old Churcherian, Oxford History graduate, Megan Hassanali (21). Students applying to subjects including PPE, Engineering, Maths, History, Computer Science, Law, English, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, and Natural Sciences had the chance to practice the tutorial-style interviews ready for the Oxbridge interviews, which fall from very late November until mid-December. The mock interviews are the final stage of our Oxbridge Programme, which runs from January of the Lower Sixth to November on the Upper Sixth, supporting out Oxbridge applicants.
Senior Aspiring Medics & Dentists
Interview Practice Our Upper Sixth Medical Programme students, including aspiring doctors and a dentist, took part in a mock Multiple Mini Interview with Luminis Careers, supported by a team of six visiting doctors. After a pre-brief, they completed a 90-minute MMI with feedback, followed by a pizza-fuelled debrief. The event showcased their preparation and growing confidence. This term, students have also completed a one-day interview course and are undertaking online mock interviews with Old Churcherian medics, current parents, and OC parents. Thank you to everyone involved, and well done to the students for their outstanding effort.
OC Shares Experiences of Med School We were delighted to welcome Old Churcherian (2024), Mia, back to the Sixth Form to talk to our current Medical Programme students about making a successful application to study medicine. Over a buffet lunch, Mia was able to answer lots of questions and offer her insights and reflection about making an application and her experiences as a 1st Year medical student, at Aston University. It was wonderful to catch up with her and hugely appreciated by our aspiring medical and dental students.
Breakfast Networking Events This term we were delighted to host two breakfast networking events in the Pavilion, giving pupils from Fourth Year to Upper Sixth a valuable opportunity to build confidence and practise real-world networking. In October, more than 20 parent volunteers created a warm, supportive atmosphere as pupils engaged in lively conversations over coffee and a continental breakfast. Our second event in November saw even greater numbers, with over 30 volunteers braving dark, rainy weather to share their experience. We were especially grateful to the Degree Apprentices from BAE Systems, who offered insight into pathways in cyber, engineering, project management, and software. Both mornings were energetic, inspiring, and hugely beneficial—all before 9am!
FOCUS • 35
Music
Lunchtime Concert This term’s lunchtime concert saw students from First Year right up to the Upper Sixth performing to a large audience at St. Peter’s Church, on 6 October. The concert got off to a swinging start with a Brass Ensemble performance of ‘Hallelujah Drive’. With vocal solos ranging from musical theatre classics, ‘I’d Do Anything’ from Oliver and ‘Memory’ from Cats, to classical favourites ‘Apres un Reve’ by Faure’ and ‘Linden Lea’ by Vaughan Williams, there was some excellent singing on display, rounded off with an enthusiastic rendition of Take That’s ‘Rule the World’, by the Junior Chamber Choir. With a mixture of experienced music scholars and some students giving their first performance at Churcher’s, the concert was enjoyed by all!
Senior Recital The Senior Recital was a stunning conclusion to the first half of the Autumn Term, with some truly outstanding solo performances, including Clement S playing the first movement from the mighty Mendelssohn violin concerto from memory! The audience clearly appreciated the skill involved in playing a piece of this nature as for the first time in my memory at a Senior Recital, the audience was lifted to their feet in a standing ovation! The concert also included ten ensemble performances, from the 45-strong Senior Wind Band playing ‘Pixar Movie Magic’, to the smaller chamber ensembles, including the Fourth Year String Quartet, Barney’s Brass ensemble, Sax group, Flute group, Senior Jazz Quintet, Blues Group, Upper Sixth Brass Group, and the SSA Choir. The evening finished with the Jazz Band taking centre stage, firstly with Nicole P’s powerful singing of ‘A Natural Woman’ and ending with the lively Theme from ‘Family Guy’.
Rock School at Butser Hill Once more, with a stormy forecast on the afternoon of the Butser Hill Challenge, the Rock School musicians kept the sun shining all morning with some classic rock and pop tunes entertaining the masses. With only two Saturdays to rehearse, the musicians did an absolutely incredible job and had a setlist of great songs to perform in between the races. The fact that all of the performers were there at 9am on a Sunday is testament to their passion for music. Well done, all!
36 • FOCUS
Senior Nursing Home Visit Our Fourth Year GCSE musicians went to Downs Nursing Home in Sheet to perform to the residents. They played two lovely ensembles - 'Winter’ from ‘The Seasons’ and the ‘Sound of Silence’) - together with a number of solos, which were all warmly received. Some residents even sang along with the pieces!
Theatre Outing In September, students from Second Year to Sixth Form, who regularly participate in our ensembles, enjoyed a trip to London to see ‘Les Miserables’ at the Sondheim Theatre. ‘Les Mis’ is one of the world’s most renowned musicals and has been playing to full houses in the West End since 1985. We were blown away by the amazing quality of the singing, the extravagant set changes, and the moving storyline. With the Senior Choir having just performed a ‘Les Mis’ medley in last year’s Summer Concert, many students were able to sing along and get into the spirit of the musical. Despite the late-night return to school, the students were definitely inspired by the professional performers, and many came to school the next morning still singing the memorable tunes!
Enrichment
Scholars' Concert Our first evening concert of the academic year was a chance for some of our music scholars to take centre stage. We were treated to some really outstanding performances from pupils in the First Year (Anna P, Cuoyu L, and Pollyanna H), giving their very first performance, through to some of our experienced Upper Sixth performers (Clement S and Jaya P), demonstrating a high standard of musicianship and skill for their piano and vocal solos. In a change to our normal line–up, the Junior Choir were a welcome addition to the concert, with some 124 singers who lifted the roof with their strong sound in three well–known pieces: ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ from the Lion King, ‘Viva la Vida’, and ‘Rather Be’. The Junior Chamber Choir ended the concert with some beautiful harmonies and a polished performance of ‘Rule the World’, by Take That.
The Music Department began the term with an inspiring trip for A Level musicians to hear the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Portsmouth Guildhall. The programme, titled ‘Energy Unleashed’, opened with Mendelssohn’s evocative ‘Hebrides Overture’, followed by Clare Hammond’s elegant performance of ‘Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21’. After the interval, the orchestra delivered a spirited and energised rendition of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, greatly enjoyed by students and staff. The following week offered further enrichment, when distinguished piano teacher, Valentina Sefarinova, led a Performance Masterclass in the Donald Brooks Auditorium. After captivating the audience with Debussy works, she guided each student with insightful advice on interpretation and confident public performance.
FOCUS • 37
Sport
Cross-Country For the first time, we were able to enter senior teams into the ESAA Cross-Country Cup, meaning six teams travelled to Winchester for the first round. Needing top three finishes to progress to the next round, four first, a second, and a third place meant that all six teams are travelling to The Judd School in Kent for the regional final. Of the 47 schools in the south east of England that will be represented, Churcher’s is the only school or college to have a team in each final. Well done to all, and good luck attempting to qualify for the national final!
Hosting Emmanuel School While our 1st XV played the commemorative Remembrance fixture away, Churcher’s welcomed their U16s for a very close and competitive match against Emanuel School. From the first whistle, both teams displayed determination and impressive game awareness, making for a highly competitive and entertaining fixture. The match remained closely contested throughout, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage for long and the game concluded with a well-deserved 14–14 draw.
Tennis
Hampshire Cup Finalists A particular highlight of the Summer Term’s tennis season was our competitive success, with strong Saturday results against major schools such as St John’s, U15 boys crowned Hampshire Champions, U13 boys finishing runners-up in the Hampshire County Finals, and standout performances at the regional stages of the Play Your Way to Wimbledon competition.
Parent Pupil Competition This year’s Parent-Pupil Competition on Open Day saw more than 180 participants, with players ranging from First Year to Lower Sixth joining their parents on the courts. Divided into two age categories, the event showcased exciting and competitive matches, with winners decided by the total points scored throughout the games. Congratulations to Bertie C and his dad for claiming the Junior title, and to Cam J-K and his dad for securing the Senior championship title.
38 • FOCUS
Play Your Way To Wimbledon Competition Churcher’s hosted the nationwide ‘Play Your Way to Wimbledon’ competition, welcoming over 120 enthusiastic pupils across all age groups. The event showcased impressive skill and sportsmanship, as players vied for places in the June County and Area Finals. In U18 boys’ doubles, Third Years, Tobias and George, won, later placing 2nd in the regional Plate Competition, with Sixth Formers, Casper and Ollie, as runners-up. Holly and Zola triumphed in the U18 girls’ doubles. In U14 singles, Tobias and Mary Jane secured victories, with Will and Kate finishing as runners-up.
Senior
Swimming & Water Polo
Cross Channel Success After two years of focused training, Churcher’s swimmers achieved a historic milestone this summer with two successful English Channel relay crossings. Aboard ‘Gallivant’, under skipper, Mike Oram, and CSA observation, both six-person teams overcame last year’s weather setback to take on the challenge. Team One completed their night crossing on 30 July in 11 hours 37 minutes, battling jellyfish and fatigue. Team Two waited patiently for suitable weather before finishing in 13 hours 47 minutes. These achievements reflect remarkable endurance, resilience, and teamwork, showcasing the true spirit of Churcher’s.
Super Swim League Our first appearance in the Super Swimming League saw us compete against Brighton College, Cardinal Newman, St John’s, Seaford College, and Christ’s Hospital. It was a fantastic meet, with standout performances across the board. A special mention goes to Misha, who now holds the super league records in both the 50m freestyle (23.75) and 50m butterfly (25.99).
Water Polo v Charterhouse The U18 team played their first match of the year against Charterhouse this term, controlling the game for three quarters and winning 11–8. It was a brilliant defensive team performance, with fast breaks led by Charlie S.
Hampshire Relays Two Churcher’s teams, comprising twelve students, trained hard all summer with the anticipation of cross the English Channel in September. Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions the students missed their window. Although disappointed, this is simply another obstacle along their journey. The students are enjoying time out of the water ready to start training again in March, looking to once again attempt the crossing in the summer.
House Galas Two House Galas showed strong enthusiasm. Second Years set three records: Drake broke the boys’ and girls’ 4×25m freestyle marks, and Rodney the girls’ 4×25m medley. George S and Charlotte J were swimmers of the day, with Nelson winning overall. The Senior gala saw Drake dominant and setting a girls’ 4×25m medley record. Charlie S broke the 100m IM record, and Nicole P won both events in strong performances across the programme, highlighting the depth of talent shown throughout both competitions this term and beyond.
Hockey
The U18A and U16A teams have both progressed to the third round of the England Hockey Tier 2 National Cup, where they will face Canford and Bradfield respectively. Our U15A, U14A, and U13A squads have also enjoyed strong success, each qualifying for the South Central Regional Finals at Reading Hockey Club this half term, where they will compete against top schools from Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. Meanwhile, the U12A team narrowly missed out on regional qualification by just one place, following an outstanding Hampshire County Cup performance in which they scored twelve goals and conceded only three.
FOCUS • 39
Trips Discovering Gaudi Our half term trip to Barcelona gave 35 enthusiastic Third Year students a memorable blend of culture, history, and fun. Highlights included La Sagrada Familia—now the tallest Catholic church in the world, Park Güell, and Casa Milà, where pupils explored Gaudí’s extraordinary architecture and deepened their understanding of Spanish art and history. At the lively Boquería Market, students sampled local produce, while traditional tapas meals offered an authentic taste of Spanish cuisine. Barcelona’s vibrant streets, including La Rambla, provided plenty of sightseeing before the excitement peaked at PortAventura, where the roller coasters had students screaming louder than the teachers! A fantastic trip filled with colour, flavour, and unforgettable experiences.
Art on our Doorstep At the end of the Summer Term, First Year students, who had been studying colour and line through everyday objects as part of their current art project, were fortunate to visit Petersfield Museum, where Michael Craig-Martin’s work was on display. Thanks to Mrs. Roff’s organisation, students were able to visit during their lessons to extend their research and understanding, experiencing contemporary artwork in a live context. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic local museum showcasing significant national artists, right on our doorstep.
40 • FOCUS
Exploring Hydrogen Innovation at ZeroAvia On 14 June, 30 Lower Sixth Chemistry students visited ZeroAvia, a company pioneering hydrogen-powered aviation. With their upcoming topic on electrochemical and hydrogen fuel cells, the trip offered an inspiring look at theory in action. Students toured hydrogen fuel cell laboratories and prototype aircraft, gaining insight into the complex, multidisciplinary teamwork behind each test flight. They also tackled a hands-on engineering challenge to design the lightest possible fuel cell, applying problem-solving and teamwork under time pressure. The visit concluded with a panel Q&A featuring engineers and test pilots, who shared career advice on curiosity, adaptability, and pursuing passions.
Classics Crew Conquer Naples In October half term, the Classics Department enjoyed five glorious days in Sorrento with 23 Classical Civilisation, Latin, and Ancient History students. Tours around Pompeii, Herculaneum, and two suburban villas on the slopes of Vesuvius gave us a fascinating insight into the lives of the people. The magnificently preserved houses, streets, theatres, and shops gave us a vivid impression of life in Roman times. Particularly poignant were the casts of the people and animals who had been trapped by the volcano along with their personal possessions. Luckily, the clouds above Vesuvius lifted just as we climbed the volcano. There was also time for an ice-cream-making lesson from our local gelateria, who taught us how to make the perfect lemon sorbet!
Senior
A Visit to the Tate At the end of September, Fourth Year and Lower Sixth students visited Tate Britain to experience major artworks first-hand and deepen their understanding of contemporary and historical art. Highlights included pieces by Henry Moore, J.M.W. Turner, Barbara Hepworth, Bridget Riley, and Chris Ofili, allowing students to trace the development of British art from the 18th century to the present day. Seeing how artists use material, scale, composition, and theme gave pupils valuable insight for their own creative projects. The visit strengthened their visual awareness, encouraged them to consider the social and cultural context of art, and helped build confidence in making thoughtful, ambitious artistic decisions.
FOCUS • 41
Success Outside School Charlie Swims to Victory Celebrations are in order for Sixth Former, Charlie S, who bolstered his swimming credentials with a standout performance at the 2025 GoCardless Swim England National Summer Meet, in the summer. Competing in the Open 16yrs 100m Freestyle, Charlie clinched gold with a time of 53.56 seconds, edging out the field and marking a career highlight so far. His success reflects both commitment and talent, balancing rigorous training with academic responsibilities. We’re proud to see one of our own excelling on a national stage and look forward to following Charlie’s journey as he continues to make waves, both in the pool and at school.
Austen Takes Festival by Storm! Sixth Former and rising artist, Austen, kicked off the Main Stage at The Compton Festival in September, with a dynamic and confident three-track set that immediately drew in the crowd. A highlight was the live debut of his new single, ‘Out of Here,’ now available on Apple Music and Spotify. Its emotional lyrics and powerful sound resonated strongly with festival-goers, signalling an exciting new phase in his music career. With a rapidly growing fanbase and a new release already gaining traction, Austen’s momentum is unmistakable!
Ms Barton Swaps Molecules for Mauls Petersfield's newly launched women's rugby team is bolstered by an inspiring player, whose expertise stretches from the lab to the pitch: our very own Lucy Barton. Ms Barton has traded beakers for boots, bringing her dedication and skill to the forward pack. Cited for her relentless tackling in a recent 22-0 victory, she is helping to spearhead the revival of women's rugby at Penns Place, with Churcher’s as her proud sponsor, underscoring the strong bond between the school and the local club and showcasing a fantastic role model for pupils and a formidable presence for the team.
42 • FOCUS
OC Classroom Assistants Take on the Great South Run A huge well done to our Junior School classroom assistants, Archie and Georgia, who ran the Great South Run in torrential rain to raise money for the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association. This incredible charity has supported Archie's brother and family, helping him learn Makaton, access specialist speech and language groups, and take part in social events and family days out. Congratulations on raising more than £1,500!
Senior
Georgia Takes to the Stage First Year, Georgia, auditioned for the English Youth Ballet in spring 2025 and was delighted to earn a coveted place in their production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Kings Theatre, Southsea. Performing alongside professional principal dancers, she joined a talented cast of young performers aged 8 to18 from across the country. Despite fierce competition and three weeks of intensive rehearsals—on top of a busy start to term—Georgia shone in two group dances with the Lilac Fairy and as one of the Russian dancers. The cast performed brilliantly and have now been invited to return for ‘Giselle’ in Fareham next spring—hopefully not clashing with the French trip!
Hockey Triumph! A massive congratulations to Third Year pupil, Isabelle, for winning a gold medal in the UK Lions Trophy tournament. A brilliant effort built on their excellent defensive performance, only conceding two goals over the whole day!
Half Marathon Successes Earlier this term, two inspiring Sixth Form students successfully completed challenging half marathons. Toby B-P ran the London Half Marathon to raise vital funds for the Air Ambulance, a cause deeply personal to him. Five years ago, the service saved his life by transporting him to St George’s, Tooting, in a crucial 12 minutes. Toby completed the race feeling "excited and proud" to support the incredible charity. Kian N also finished the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Both students demonstrated immense dedication and commitment in their training and fundraising efforts.
FOCUS • 43
Clubs News Gymnastics With the arrival of new roll-out floor mats at the end of the Summer Term, the Gymnastics Club put them straight to good use by participating in the annual Dance and LAMDA showcase. The First Years put on a great show, performing a group routine featuring dance, individual skills, and pair balances. To celebrate the hard work of the group over the year, they also enjoyed a trip to Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre to practise their skills in a purpose-built facility, and to have some well-deserved fun! In October, we welcomed 100 pupils from 8 different schools to take part in our first ever gymnastics competition. Ranging from Years 4 to 8, gymnasts competed on floor and vault across three different level: beginners, improvers, and advanced. It was fantastic to see so many girls and boys taking part, and for many, enjoying their first experience of a competition. The gymnastics-themed cupcakes given out at the end of the competition were a big hit, too!
Sailing In June, our students had an incredible time competing in the prestigious Itchenor Schools Week. We proudly entered six boats in the RS Feva class, open to pupils from Years 7 to 10, and three boats in the Firefly class, open to Years 11 to 13. Our teams demonstrated outstanding skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the event. We’re thrilled to share that one of our RS Feva crews, Freddie J and Freddy W, secured an impressive 5th place finish— an exceptional achievement in a highly competitive fleet! Well done to all our sailors for representing the school so brilliantly on the water.
44 • FOCUS
Our Equestrians Triumph! Over the past few months, Churcher’s equestrian riders have enjoyed an exceptional run of success. In June, Anastasia S, Aneka W, and Jocelyn H performed brilliantly at the Hurst College National School Show Jumping Championships, at Hickstead. They finished just outside the top ten, with Anastasia earning a clear round and the chance to ride in the prestigious International Arena. The new season began strongly with the 70/75cm team placing second at Felbridge, qualifying Willow B, Willa M, and Alessa V S for the National Championships, in October. Jocelyn’s superb 2nd place in the 90cm RPL Championships led to her selection for England in the 90cm Nations Cup at the National Schools Championships at Addington, where they recorded the three fastest times, earning themselves the titles of NSEA Nations Cup champions!
Senior
In Other News
Taking on Butser Hill With more than 30 participants in the Junior races alone, Churcher's put in a fantastic performance at the annual Butser Hill Challenge, achieving an impressive ten podium finishes across Years 3–6. The grueling 1 km and 2 km fell runs tested runners from across the county in this wonderful community event, which raises funds for The New Blendworth Centre. A huge ‘Well done’ to all our runners for their determination and success on the day.
Community Action In June, students took part in the next stage of our path building, mulching and restoration project, transforming an area that had been almost impassable for most of the year. The effort involved over 120 pupils, including members of the Green Team, Third Years, and the Lower Sixth. Working together, they cleared, mulched, and restored the path, improving access and supporting the health of nearby trees. The day ended with a heartfelt round of applause for Will, our VIP guest, who closed the event. The project not only enhanced the environment but also gave students a lasting connection to nature.
House News
Grenville for Gaza 2G spent their break times shaking buckets outside tuck shop to collect ‘Change for Gaza’. In just three weeks they raised a grand total of £164.26, which has been sent to UNICEF to help the starving children in Gaza.
New Forest Team Building New First Years enjoyed a lively team-building day in the New Forest, taking part in challenges designed to spark friendships and build confidence. From problem-solving tasks to outdoor adventures, pupils worked together with enthusiasm, quickly getting to know one another in a fun, supportive setting that set a positive tone for the year ahead.
Grenville Hot Chocolate Sale 1G’s annual hot chocolate sale was a huge success earlier in the term as students gathered outside Old College for a welcome morning warming hot chocolate, with all the trimmings, raising money for the House Charity, SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy).
FOCUS • 45
Dates for your Diary
The Grand Summer Celebration An open-air spectacular evening of music and entertainment
Saturday 4 July 2026 Tickets: Summer.ChurchersCollege.com
46 • FOCUS
Senior
FOCUS • 47
9 - 12 February 2026 Petersfield Festival Hall at 7pm Book: ChurchersCollege.com/WhatsOn Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Music by Special Arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing Adapted for the Stage by Jeremy Sams Based on the MGM Motion Picture, Licensed Script Adapted by Ray Roderick
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk