Mowden Hall School
Weekly News Week Beginning: 7 September 2026
The Mowden Difference shining through And, just like that, we have reached the end of Week 2! Last week, I wrote about how wonderful it was to have Mowden buzzing with life again. This week, as routines have settled and the children have become fully immersed in school life, I have particularly enjoyed seeing our Mowden values coming to life in the everyday moments around school. I have seen honesty in classrooms, as children have had the confidence to put their hands up and admit, “I don’t know” – recognising that not knowing something is very often the starting point for learning. There has been plenty of resilience on the sports fields as tired legs and lungs have remembered the fitness levels required for a busy Mowden day! In Pre-Prep, kindness has been evident in the simplest but most important of ways; children sharing toys, including one another and learning how to play happily together. I smiled when I saw independent thinking in action as a Year 7 boy stopped, pulled his timetable from his pocket and worked out for himself where he needed to be next. A small moment, perhaps, but exactly the sort of growing independence we want to encourage. And then there has been communication. Lots of communication. The children have certainly found their voices when it comes to catering! I have been reliably informed of the considerable hardship caused by ONLY FRUIT being available at
break, the absence of soup at lunch, and – perhaps most shocking of all – the Year 8s discovering that they may not always enjoy the absolute privilege of having BOTH hot and cold options at lunchtime. Parents, please don’t worry; we are feeding them extremely well! We are also listening to the children and making some positive changes to ensure that our catering continues to keep both them, and their stomachs, happy. Perhaps my favourite example this week, though, was one of community. Two Year 7 girls independently wrote to Mrs Knight to offer their services reading with some of our younger children. Nobody asked them to do it. They simply saw an opportunity to contribute and decided to act. That, for me, says an enormous amount about the sort of young people we want Mowden children to become. Daisy H, Harriet S, take a bow! And did I mention that Mowden has been named as a finalist in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards. To feature amongst the best independent schools across the UK for two years in a row is a remarkable achievement. Have a wonderful exeat weekend,
Mr. Phil Sturt Head
Mowden Hall School - Weekly News
Pre-Prep: Working together as a community Thank you to all the parents who joined us for our Class Discovery Mornings this week. It was lovely to welcome you into school and share a little more about what your children will be learning and experiencing this year. Strong links between home and school make a real difference. When children know that the adults around them are working together, they feel secure, confident and ready to learn. This partnership helps us to develop the whole child – academically, socially and emotionally – and reflects our values of Communication and Community particularly well. Democracy has also been in action across Pre-Prep this week as we elected our new School Council representatives. Every child from Reception to Year 2 had the opportunity to vote for two friends to represent their class. Our new councillors will listen to their classmates’ ideas and suggest ways to make our school even better. It was a lovely opportunity to see Independent Thinking, Communication and Community in action. Year 2 has certainly embraced being the oldest children in Pre-Prep. They have enjoyed venturing further into Prep this week, using the Art Room and our wonderful new Music Rooms. Just as importantly, they are taking their new responsibilities very seriously! From guiding our Treetops children back from the Dining Room to taking charge of the snack trolley and helping with registration, they are discovering that being at the top of Pre-Prep is about helping others as well as enjoying a few extra privileges. It has been lovely to see them approach these responsibilities with such a positive attitude and to watch our Mowden values becoming part of everyday life. Year 1 has had lots of fun exploring their new workspace and settling into school life. They are getting to grips with a more structured day and taking new challenges in their stride. t has been wonderful to see the children developing their speaking and listening skills as they share their holiday scrapbooks.
We have enjoyed getting to know one another through lots of fun class games, strengthening our sense of community and belonging, and, of course, welcoming our two new pupils. We are so proud of how well the children have settled in and can’t wait to see all that the year ahead will bring! What a super week in Reception! The children have been enjoying so many exciting ‘firsts’ as they take this next step in their school journey. From phonics and Drawing Club to becoming School Council representatives and earning Castle Points, they are growing in confidence each day. I have been especially proud to see their kindness towards one another, their developing communication skills and the wonderful independent thinking they are showing as they explore, make choices and share their ideas. It has been lovely to see them embracing every opportunity with enthusiasm! It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces in Treetops! Whether the children have returned to a familiar classroom with a new teacher or everything is completely brand new to them, they have all settled into school brilliantly. We have continued to learn the school routines, and the children have already enjoyed some exciting firsts, including PE in the Music Centre and swimming with Mrs Belton. It has been lovely to see their confidence growing as they explore new experiences and become more familiar with their surroundings. We have also been delighted to see our older children supporting the younger ones, helping them to understand what they need to do and making them feel welcome. They have been wonderful role models and are demonstrating our Character Values of Kindness, Communication and Community beautifully.
Mrs. Kirsten Knight Head of Pre-Prep
PRE-PREP OWL CELEBRATION FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 2.00PM - 3.00PM Head along to the woods prepared for some outdoor fun with your children, as you experience an OWL session together!
Mowden Hall School - Weekly News
Boarding The Boarding House is getting ready for another termly Dorm Decs competition, and this term our boarders have chosen Farming and Harvest as their theme. Pupils from all year groups voted democratically to decide the theme, which has particular relevance to our school community, with many of our families involved in farming. It is a great opportunity for us to show our support for British farmers while celebrating the importance of farming and the countryside. The competition has only just begun, with dorms now starting to work together on decorating their rooms and doors. Over the coming weeks, we look forward to seeing the different ideas and interpretations of the theme develop.
There is also a little extra incentive for the boarders. Mr Shaw-Kew has announced that extra points will be awarded if his favourite tractor brand is featured – although, for now, that particular brand remains a closely guarded secret. The winners will be announced later in the term. Good luck to all the dorms! Upcoming Dates Big Boarding Weekend I Saturday 10 - Sunday 11 October Big Boarding Weekend II Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 December Details and booking forms will be sent out soon. Mr. Sam Shaw-Kew Deputy Head Co-Curricular & Boarding
MOWDEN HALL SCHOOL AGES 2-13
DISCOVER THE PREP SCHOOL FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 1.00PM - 2.00PM MEET AT ENTRANCE TO PRE-PREP
All Pre-Prep parents are invited to meet staff and pupils to find out how wonderful Year 3 and beyond is at Mowden Hall!
Mowden Hall School - Weekly News
Fixtures for the Week Ahead - Week 3 We aim to keep fixture information posted on the SOCS portal as up to date as possible. In order to access the team sheets on SOCS you need the school set password, which is Mowdensport (all one word, with a capital M). There is no need to create an account. If you have difficulty accessing any of this information, please contact Mr Hardy - Head of Sport - in the first instance. You can do this by email at thardy@mowdenhall.org.uk. To access the Sports Portal, please click the link within the Top navigation bar of the Mowden Hall website. Please bear in mind that return times are estimated, and we will do our best to update (via email or text message) should we be considerably early or later than advertised. As a reminder, if you are planning to collect your child from an away match, we ask that you inform the school (ideally the day before the match). Your child should stay for any presentation/match tea that the host school offers. If you need to make an alternative arrangement, please let us know prior to the event. t
Monday 14 September 4.00pm - U13A Boys Rugby v Dame Allan's - Senior Site Fowberry Crescent, NE4 9YJ Boys in Year 8 will compete in training and Rugby matches with Dame Allan's at their senior site. Dame Allan's will be mixing their teams for the fixture playing a variety of their squads as part of their training and developmental Rugby. Pupils will then head back into school to get changed and ready for 5.45pm approximately. Spectators are welcome but please be advised Dame Allans have asked that parents use Wingrove Road where possible and park back from the bottom entrance.
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Wednesday 16 September 2.00pm - U9A & U9B Boys Rugby v RGS, Mowden Hall Parkfield Boys in Year 4 will compete in training and Rugby matches with RGS on our Parkfield pitches. RGS will bring extra teams and undertake training and play development games, with no scorekeeping, just developmental Rugby. Pupils will then head back into school to get changed and ready for 4.00pm sign-out. Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be available from the Pavillion from 2.00pm 2.00pm - U9A & U9B Girls Hockey v RGS, Mowden Hall Astroturf Pitch Girls in Year 4 will compete in training and Hockey matches with RGS on our astroturf pitch. RGS will bring extra players and undertake training and play development games, with no scorekeeping, just developmental Hockey. Pupils will then head back into school to get changed and ready for 4pm sign-out. Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be available from the Astroturf from 2.00pm.
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Thursday 17 September 2026 2:00pm - U13A Girls Hockey @ NHSG, (Away) Central Venue Matches NE2 3BA Girls in Year 8, with some selected Year 7s, will play in some training matches, with games against RGS, Dame Allan’s and Newcastle High School for Girls. These games are opportunities for players to play competitively and develop Hockey skills. The girls matches will start from 2.00pm and be concluded by 4.00pm, with pupils returning to Mowden for approximately 5.15pm. Spectators are welcome but please note that parking is limited around the site. There is no pitch parking and please be mindful of parking restrictions and paid bays near the pitch.
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Saturday 19 September 2026 2.00pm - U13A & U13B Girls Hockey v Sedbergh (Away) at Sedbergh Casterton, LA6 2SG Girls in Years 7 & 8 will travel via mini-bus to and then compete in Hockey matches with Sedbergh with push back from 2.00pm. Following the conclusion of these matches, pupils will have refreshments before returning back to Mowden at approximately 5.30pm. 2.00pm - U9A & U9B Girls Hockey v Sedbergh (Home) Mowden Astroturf Pitch Girls in Year 4 will have developmental matches of Hockey with Sedbergh on our Astroturf with pushback at 2.00pm. Following these games, pupils will have match tea/refreshments before changing and signing out. Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be available for parents from the astro-shed. 2.45pm U11A & U10A Girls Hockey v Sedbergh (Home) Mowden Astroturf Pitch Girls in Year 5 & 6 will have developmental matches of Hockey with Sedbergh on our Astroturf with pushback at 2.45pm. Following these games, pupils will have match tea/refreshments before changing and signing out. Spectators are welcome and refreshments will be available for parents from the astro-shed.
Mowden Hall School - Weekly News
Notices Medical Notices Illness Reminder Just a gentle reminder that if your child has been unwell with vomiting or diarrhoea,they need to stay at home until 48 hours after their last episode. Thank you for your understanding and support in helping to keep the spread of bugs to a minimum. Head Lice Checks We would also really appreciate parents taking a few minutes to check their child’s hair regularly for head lice and nits, treating if required. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact nurse Laura.
Head’s Supper Wednesday 16 September All children in Year 8 are invited to join Mr Sturt for supper between 6.00pm - 8.00pm. The dress code for this Under the Sea experience is water-related fancy dress. Collection for day pupils will be at 8.00pm.
Prep School Open Morning Saturday 10 October Our Prep School Open Morning on Saturday 10 October, from 9.00am–11.00am, is the perfect opportunity for prospective families to experience Mowden for themselves – meeting our teachers, exploring our beautiful school and seeing our pupils in action. Do you have friends, neighbours or family members who are considering their child’s next school and might be curious to discover what makes Mowden so special? Please share the details with anyone you think would love Mowden as much as you do, and encourage them to come along and see what we have to offer. They can register their attendance by calling 01661 842147 or emailing admissions@mowdenhall.org.uk.
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Pre-Prep: Discover the Prep School! All Pre-Prep parents are invited to join Mr Sturt and key Prep staff in the Harrison Theatre on Friday 18 September 2026 to discover the magic of the Prep School. Join us at 1.00pm at the front of the Pre-Prep building. On route to the theatre, parents will be shown the new music pods and ensemble room. We will answer your questions, bust any myths and tell you about how wonderful Year 3 and beyond is at Mowden Hall!
MOWDEN HALL SCHOOL
Mowden Hall School, Newton, Stocksfield NE43 7TP
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