Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
Dear Parents,
In The Know
Edition 2
There have been many successes and joyful events this term, and we end the term in a very positive way. The pupils now have 18 days of holiday before they return on Wednesday 7th January, and I hope they are able to have some rest and relaxation in that time. There should be plenty of opportunity for this, even though some year groups will return to exams. Our school production this year was, as you know, Beauty and the Beast, and the story, so wonderfully acted by our pupils, really resonated with me. It is a story about not fitting in and feeling different, and the effect this has on Belle, the girl who loves books in a time when girls were not expected to be educated or aim for anything other than marriage, and on the Beast, who looks different and hides away in a remote castle. The ending, of course, is a happy one as Belle falls in love with the Beast despite his appearance and continues to treasure her library and her books. The meaning is that who you are matters far more than what you look like or what you like. This message is important in our school. We should celebrate differences and have an anti bullying culture where all children feel safe, valued, and that they belong. This is my aim, and I know parents also feel strongly about it. You want your child to achieve and do as well as they can academically, but you also want them to be happy and look forward to coming to school because they matter as part of our community. It is to our throughout work that every child Thank you for allcentral your support this first half term of the school year. It has been a real pleasure meeting feels known, understood, supported eachoccasions. day, so many of you at parents’and events and other I am also very thankful for the values you instil in your and that and theirthe experience school themeach growmorning in perfect uniform, ready to learn. I hope you feel that children way you of send themhelps to school in andto character as well as in their weconfidence listen carefully your feedback and respond promptly to any concerns. learning. Next half term is filled with events and important milestones, particularly for Years 11 and 13, who will be sitting Itheir lookmock forward very much to begin next for term. hope examinations. These YearI 11 immediately after the break, and I know the half term holiday will students, parents, and staffAlongside all have a good break. involve plenty of revision. exams, we have our Sixth Form Open Evening, the Year 11 Parents’ Evening, Best wishes, our first Parents’ Day, and of course, our school production of ’Beauty and the Beast’. I have always regarded the first term of the academic year as the most important. It lays the foundations for everything that follows and sets the standards we expect. Our rules are rigorous, and we maintain high expectations
Dear Parents & Carers,
Dame Sally Coates
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Thank you for attending this year’s school production of Beauty and the Beast. It was a true box office success, and we are incredibly proud of what our students achieved. Thank you for supporting such an ambitious musical. We look forward to celebrating our students’ remarkable talent through the photographs from the production. Here are a few highlights to take you into the Winter Break, and thank you again for your continued support.
Ms A Chapman
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Photographs by Ms O Tukacevska. Please contact Ms Tukacevska if you would like a specific photograph from the production.
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
This year’s Art Aptitude Winter Exhibition brings together a striking collection of student work inspired by fish and the ancient tradition of fish printing, Gyotaku. Drawing on historical methods rooted in observation, repetition, and mark-making, pupils explored how a single natural form can be studied, translated, and reinterpreted through print. Working from fish imagery, students focused on pattern, texture, and tone, using layered prints and varied inking to capture subtle differences between each impression. The repeated forms reflect both the discipline of the tradition and the individuality of each student’s approach. No two prints are the same. The exhibition celebrates careful looking, technical control, and curiosity about how artists across time have recorded the natural world, while offering insight into how young artists develop their own visual language. A big thank you to the Art Team for presenting the work so beautifully in the exhibition space.
Ms O Tukacevska
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
HOUSE LEGO BRIDGE COMPETITION: ENGINEERING IN ACTION On Wednesday 17th December 2025, our school hosted its very first House Lego Bridge Competition, bringing together creativity, teamwork and engineering skill. House Teams were challenged to design and construct a Lego bridge capable of spanning a 30cm gap, using as little material as possible while still supporting a significant load. The winning team would be the one with the highest strength-to-weight ratio. The competition began with an intense five-minute planning and design phase, where teams carefully discussed structure, balance and load distribution. This was followed by 30 minutes of focused construction, with students working collaboratively to bring their designs to life. Once the building phase ended, it was time for the moment of truth. Each bridge was tested in turn as weight was gradually added. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as bridges were pushed to their limits, with cheers and gasps as they finally collapsed under the increasing load. After all bridges had been tested, the results were calculated. Argyll House emerged as the overall winners, achieving the highest strength-to-weight ratio. Wycombe House secured an impressive second place, closely followed by Holly House in third. The event was a fantastic success, showcasing students’ problem-solving skills, teamwork and resilience, and we look forward to making the Lego Bridge Competition a regular feature of the school calendar.
Ms J Daley
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
These photographs capture moments from the FBB mentoring programme, where our students work alongside mentors to build confidence, reflect on their aspirations, and develop valuable life skills. The sessions provide a supportive space for discussion, guidance, and positive role modelling, helping students to think carefully about their next steps and future pathways. We are grateful to the FBB mentors for their time, commitment, and thoughtful support of our students.
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
LAUNCH EVENING We recently marked yet another successful launch of the First Story Anthology 2024-2025, titled Two Hundred and Forty Years of Experience, with a warm and vibrant celebration. Students, families and friends gathered to enjoy an evening of creativity, complete with plenty of food and drinks! We were especially proud to host live readings from all participating students, each sharing their own original work with confidence and heart. Their voices filled the room with authenticity, humour and imagination - a remarkable reminder of the talent here at Holland Park. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our students for sharing their writing so openly, and to the First Story writers for their support, enthusiasm and guidance throughout. Their dedication played a huge part in making the launch such a memorable occasion.
Ms A Benfellahi
On behalf of all staff I would like to thank the PTA and parents for their very generous donations to the end of term Christmas lunch. Much merriment was had by all and the canteen looked splendid -truly magical. Thank you also to the PTA for giving up their time at a very busy time for parents! The staff's delight at the transformation of the canteen was only matched by the students whose Christmas spirit could not be dampened by the torrential rain outside and this was all down to the generosity of parents who provided the crackers, decorations and then the bubbles for staff... We all feel so lucky to have such wonderfully supportive parents and from all at HPS we wish every family a wonderful holiday and we look forward to seeing you all in 2026!
Ms A Pugh
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
A cosy afternoon in the art rooms saw a group of students enjoying chocolate milk, cupcakes, and decorating baubles for our winter tree. It was a relaxed and festive session, with plenty of creativity on display. A special thank you to Ms Bott, Ms Mulholland, and Ms Tukacevska for organising the event, and to Ms Fitton for capturing the photographs.
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
As part of Biodiversity Club, students took part in a supervised frog dissection to deepen their understanding of anatomy, adaptation, and comparative biology. The session encouraged careful observation and respectful scientific practice, allowing students to explore internal structures and consider how form supports function in living organisms. It was a valuable hands-on learning experience that supported classroom study and sparked thoughtful discussion about ecosystems, biodiversity, and ethical approaches to scientific investigation.
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Fun was had by all at our Christmas student lunch and Christmas jumper day on the final Thursday of term. The PTA, alongside Ms Pugh, did a fantastic job transforming the canteen into a truly festive space. We were even gifted a beautiful archway by B&Q. A big thank you to the PTA for making the day feel so special.
Edition 2
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
England vs Argentina at Twickenham In November, a group of students who attend our extra-curricular rugby club were awarded tickets to watch England vs Argentina at Twickenham. For many, this was their first experience of seeing a live rugby match and one they thoroughly enjoyed. The match was high quality, with plenty of tries, and England emerged victorious in a close contest. We hope to organise further sports trips for students who regularly attend our wide-ranging extra-curricular sports programme. Year 11 Boys Football The Year 11 boys have had a challenging start to the season following last year’s success as QPR Plate champions. Their campaign began in the National Cup against Haydon in a closely fought match played on a difficult surface. The team were defeated 3 - 1, with the highlight being a superb goal from Sufyan scored from the halfway line. Following this, the team competed in the Inner London Cup against Sacred Heart. After a 1–1 draw in normal time, the match was decided on penalties, with Sufyan again scoring an excellent goal. The team will be looking to return strongly after the winter break as their QPR League fixtures begin. Year 8 Boys Football The Year 8 boys have experienced a mixed start to their season and will be aiming for improved results after the winter break. A heavy defeat in the National Cup against Elthorne Park was followed by qualification for the third round of the Inner London Cup. Their QPR League campaign began positively with a 3 - 1 victory against Phoenix, with Henrijs delivering a standout performance. Year 9 Boys Football The Year 9 team have faced a demanding start to the season, competing against strong opposition in both the London and National Cup competitions. Their first fixture was against Forest Hill School, resulting in an 8–2 defeat, with goals from Kobi and an own goal. The second cup match against Hurlingham School was much closer, with Holland Park performing strongly throughout before conceding two late goals to lose 3 - 1. The goal was scored by Jaysuma. Despite the results, there has been a clear improvement in performance since Year 8, and the attitude and commitment shown by the students has been excellent. Year 10 Boys Football The Year 10 team have made a very promising start to the season. Both their London Cup and National Cup matches were closely contested, with narrow 3 - 1 defeats in each. The goals were scored by Ryan and Elyes. The scorelines do not fully reflect the quality of the performances, which were consistently strong. A special mention goes to Haris in goal, as well as Henry and Duuren in central defence, for their composed and mature performances. This form carried into the first QPR League match, where Holland Park drew 1–1 against St Thomas More School. For context, this fixture ended in a 6–1 defeat last season. Holland Park created the better chances throughout, with Lev scoring the equaliser. Year 7 & 8 Girls Football On 15 December, the Year 7/8 girls looked to extend their impressive run in the QPR League against St Thomas More School. The match was a real test of grit and determination, with the team doing everything right except finding the net in the early stages. After sustained high pressing and relentless work to regain possession, Eva broke the deadlock with a dramatic sliding finish. She quickly added a second, before Trixie sealed the result with a powerful strike. The match ended in a convincing 3–0 win for the Year 7/8 girls, continuing an excellent run of form. Year 9 & 10 Girls Football On 16 December, the Year 9/10 girls began their QPR League campaign with an away fixture against Phoenix School. The team made a strong start, scoring two early goals through Linda. Despite conceding, the girls showed great resilience and continued to push forward, adding a third and then a fourth goal to secure a well-deserved victory. Linda completed her hat-trick, while Maram scored an excellent volley, assisted by Tasnim. The match finished with a 4–2 win for Holland Park.
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Many memories and a lot achieved but so much more to come! Trips are educational sessions outside of the school and students tend to remember them long into adulthood. Below are pictures from our trip to the Department of Business and Trade where we were educated about the Civil Service, what they do and how to access it; the visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital where students engaged with the various professions within the world renowned hospital; the Chelsea F.C. Foundation sessions where students presented their work very impressively having very little or no previous presentation experience; the Oriel College, Oxford trip, the Longford Trust evening where we were the Host School and the visit to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium where we go far to frequently because of our now close ties with them - far too close for a Liverpool supporter like me but where students love going because they get brilliant experiences there; the Lloyds Bank of England HQ trip and there were so many more trips this term. We also had speakers in to address students -16 but probably more. Different colleges coming in to talk about the different pathways going forward, Aim Apprenticeships to inform about the now real and to be seriously considered option of apprenticeships, guest speakers at clubs especially the medical club, the RAF, WiseUp Financial, Ms. Bertie's speakers for RE and the musician AJ Tracey who went down a storm. The council also came in and spoke brilliantly and informatively about the very important topic of Knife Crime. And the Speakers programme is only supposed to take off in the Spring term...There has been external stakeholders like the council and Chelsea coming in doing workshops which have focused on students chosen because it was felt they would both enjoy and benefit most for the sessions. More workshops are planned for the Spring Term with TheatreBox staring off in the second week. I have endeavoured to see all the Year 11 students for their 1-2-1's and met a full booking of parents for the Year 11 parents evening. I appreciate there was a long waiting list and have been working through this list expecting to complete it early in the New Year. I have enjoyed the SEND monthly coffee morning and look forward to addressing the meeting in January with my talk on 'Expectations and Reality - your hopes, our duty and the mutual goal'. I continue to see parents that want meetings with me and enjoy these very much because we always end up with a clearer focus for the child's future. All Year 13's have been ably guided through their UCAS applications by Ms. Hart. A task which she doesn't get enough credit for because it is a huge undertaking. I have sat in on mock Oxbridge interviews and have been impressed by the standard of support they are getting externally but also by our students abilities in the interviews. Many now have an anxious wait to hear if they have been successful in their real interviews but my confidence is high so good luck to them. This has been the hardest term in the three years that I have been here but it has also been the most rewarding and the most productive.
Mr R Mc Carthy
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
Some lucky Year 10 students enjoyed a memorable trip to The Old Vic to see A Christmas Carol, a perfect complement to their current GCSE study of the text. The production’s atmospheric set, live music, and powerful performances helped bring Dickens’ words to life in a vivid and accessible way. Students were particularly struck by the emotional transformation of Scrooge and the show’s festive energy. It was a valuable cultural experience that deepened their understanding of both the story and its themes.
Ms A Bott
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
We are proud to share our thanks from The Salvation Army Notting Hill, following our recent donation in support of their Christmas Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of our school community, The Salvation Army has been able to support over 350 families, individuals, and social workers so far, with numbers continuing to grow. Our contribution has helped provide practical support and care to those who have faced significant financial challenges this year, particularly during the Christmas period. We are grateful for the opportunity to support such important work in our local community and thank all pupils, families, and staff who contributed so thoughtfully.
EXTERNAL GCSE REVISION OPPORTUNITY (THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER) – FEBRUARY HALF TERM During the February half term, we will be welcoming Renewed Learning into school to deliver GCSE revision sessions in Maths and Science. Renewed Learning is a tutoring organisation made up of expert tutors from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, with a strong focus on high-quality academic support. They are offering Holland Park School students a 20% discount on their revision classes. At their request, we are sharing their brochure with parents and carers who may be interested in booking a place for their child. Further information found by clicking here
SUPPORTING WWF THROUGH THE LONDON MARATHON Mr Douglas will be running the 2026 TCS London Marathon in support of WWF, helping to tackle the climate crisis and protect the natural world our pupils are growing up in. As a Geography teacher, he sees first-hand how rapidly our planet is changing and how this affects the places young people explore, enjoy, and learn from. WWF works to restore habitats, protect wildlife, and safeguard the future for the next generation. To denote, click the link here
The PTA was incredibly busy on Parent Day, making hundreds of hot chocolates! A huge thank you to everyone who supported the PTA refreshment stand. We were there from 8am-5pm and raised a phenomenal £600. A special thank you to all the parent volunteers who gave their time and helped make the day such a success.
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP Please note that the second-hand uniform shop will be open for the first time in 2026 on Tuesday 13 January from 2.30 3.30pm. We are always in need of stock! If you have any uniform items in good condition that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the school reception or bring them directly to the uniform shop on Tuesdays. Students are always welcome to pop in, and our lovely volunteers will be happy to assist with sizing and let them know when specific items are available.
PTA FUNDRAISING We are pleased to share our full school funding request, outlining the items the PTA hopes to provide for our school this year. Please click the link to take a look. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we already have £12,000 available, and we look forward to updating you on which items will be funded first. There are many ways to help make more of this funding request a reality. Supporting PTA events is always appreciated, but one of the most effective ways is through a taxefficient donation to the HPS PTA via the Charities Aid Foundation. With Gift Aid, every £100 donated becomes £125 of support for our students and staff, and for higher-rate taxpayers the net cost is just £75. Click here to donate
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
RECRUITING EXAM INVIGILATORS
We are looking to recruit reliable and responsible Exam Invigilators to support the smooth running of school examinations throughout the year. Exam invigilators play a vital role in ensuring exams are conducted in a calm, fair and well-organised environment. This role would suit parents, carers or members of the local community who are organised, punctual and able to follow clear instructions. Key details: • Work is offered on a casual, as-needed basis during exam periods • Sessions may be in the morning and/or afternoon • Full training and guidance will be provided • Payment will be at an hourly rate All applicants will be required to undertake the appropriate safeguarding and background checks. If you are interested or would like more information, visit Work with us
BRITISH COUNCIL LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS Once again, we are very fortunate to welcome a French and a Spanish assistant from the British Council, who are supporting our students across the school. They are currently working one-to-one and in small groups with Years 11, 12, and 13, and we look forward to extending this support to other year groups. Their lived experience and subject knowledge bring real relevance and immediacy to language learning in the classroom. Isabel (Almería, Spain) Hi, my name is Isabel and I come from Almería, a city in the southeast of Spain. My love for languages began through learning English and grew into a strong interest in Spanish. I studied a double degree in English and Spanish, followed by a Master’s in Secondary Teaching. After teaching English as a foreign language, I discovered how rewarding it is to teach my own language. I now enjoy sharing Spanish language and culture with students at Holland Park School. Sarah (Brignoles, France) Bonjour! My name is Sarah and I come from Brignoles in the South of France. This year at HPS forms part of my French teaching Master’s degree. Volunteering at a local primary school confirmed my wish to teach in the UK. I enjoy leading weekly speaking lessons and adapting content to support student progress, and my time at the school so far has been a pleasure.
Autumn 2 2025
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
In The Know
Edition 2
We are delighted to invite parents and carers to the Annual HPS PTA Teachers vs Parents Quiz Night, taking place on Thursday 22 January 2026 from 6.30pm. This much-loved event promises an evening of friendly rivalry, laughter, great food, prizes, a raffle, and a licensed bar, all while raising vital funds for the HPS PTA Wishlist, which supports school trips, clubs, student projects, staff wellbeing initiatives, and families in need. Tickets are £10 for the quiz or £15 including a homemade curry, with tables organised by year group to help parents connect. Drinks will be served from 6.30–8.30pm, and every purchase helps support the school. Volunteers are essential to making the evening a success, and any support with food preparation, serving, or the bar would be greatly appreciated. Tickets and further details can be found via the PTA events page, and we look forward to welcoming you for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.
GET TING TO
Know…
Ms Chloe Wedlake
Head of Year 9 (Current) & Assistant Principal Head of Key Stage 3 & Admissions (From January) A half termly feature where we introduce a different member of staff! 1.What is your favourite food? I am definitely a “foodie” and 7. Tell me about a time you failed at something. love trying all different types of food. My favourite meal of I have failed at many, many things and have always found the year is always Christmas lunch – turkey, stuffing, parsnips that in the end every failure can be turned into a positive. The … It is also the happiest day of the year where family and biggest setback I had was when applying for university. I had friends come together which is so special. I would say never thought I would apply for Oxford or Cambridge but my however, my go-to comfort food would be a lasagne with a school encouraged me to apply. I received a scholarship to a well-dressed side salad. college but then did not secure an academic place after the interview and I was devastated! Fast-forward to results day 2. Where would you most like to visit? My happiest and I had been accepted to Royal Holloway to study music - I memories growing up were had the best 3 years of my life and met my best friends there. snowy days when everything is I am now able to look back and feel so happy that it didn’t sparkly and cold. I recently work out and I try to apply that to all failures I experience. visited Iceland with the aim of seeing some snow and the 8. What would your teachers have said about you when Northern Lights but sadly saw you were at school? neither, so the next country on My teachers would have definitely told you I was my list is Norway to try and see both of these things! disorganised, clumsy and giggly. My teachers would be surprised if I remembered my workbooks, my pencil cases or 3. What would your ideal superpower be? Definitely managed to get my homework done on time. I cut my lip teleportation. I grew up in the countryside in an area with no open with a tennis racket and burned my chin on a toaster public transport, no traffic and very little noise so I still find and was very giggly and silly. It took my year 9 tutor sitting public transport in London a lot to contend with. It would be me down, giving me a diary and having a long, supportive great to be able to snap my fingers and end up back at home conversation about organisation to make me realised what I after a day at work. needed to do to do well in school. I am very lucky that I enjoyed school so much but it definitely took me a while to 4. What was your favourite book as a teenager and why? settle down! I was (and still am!) into crime and murder-mystery books. My mum bought me as a birthday present a beautiful edition 9. Who is the most famous person you’ve met or bumped of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – I must into? I once made a cup of tea for Clare have read that cover to cover at least 5 times in my teenage Balding whilst working at the Badminton years. The protagonist Hercule Poirot is such a quirky and Horse Trials in a hospitality tent. She takes eccentric character, and the ending has an interesting twist… her tea with milk and two sugars and was very friendly! I also bumped into Jack 5. What skill do you wish you had? I have always been Whitehall at Atlanta Airport. We were both envious of people with mental arithmetic skills. I tried really flying to the same destination, however his hard to get better at this at school and my B grade at Maths flight was on time and mine was 6 hours GCSE was such a proud moment but sadly I have never delayed! mastered the art of mental maths… 10. What sport do you watch and which teams or players do you support? I am really into sport and spend lots of free 6. What did you want to be when you were growing up? time watching football, rugby, tennis, golf and most recently I am lucky in that I have known I have wanted to be a teacher Formula One. I used to work for Bristol City FC, serving food for a long time. Growing up though, every and drinks in the VIP boxes and sneaking into empty seats to Sunday would be an opportunity for me watch as much of the game as I could without being told off! to bake something for my family and I My whole family are huge Liverpool fans so naturally I definitely did want to open my own pretend to support each of their opponents to frustrate my bakery for a long time. I still love baking dad… But I am really a Liverpool fan at heart and last year and make sure every family member has a had the privilege of going to Anfield to watch them play homemade birthday cake every year! jjjjjjjjj Arsenal and it was such a great experience.
H O L L A N D PA R K S C H O O L
Artist of the Term
GRACE L | YEAR 11 | OIL PASTEL ON PAPER 2025