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The Old School Henstead

The Old School Henstead

The Old School Henstead is an independent prep school in Suffolk, Henstead, for boys and girls aged 2 to 11 years old. Sign up for our next open day today.

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  • About Us
    • Welcome to the Old School Henstead
    • Why Choose Us
    • Our Aims
    • Our People
    • Inspection Reports
    • Senior School Entry & Scholarships
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    • Assemblies
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    • After School Clubs
    • Uniform
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    • Curriculum Overview
    • English
    • Mathematics
    • Science
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    • Music
    • Languages
    • Drama
    • Outdoor Education
    • Sport
    • School Trips
  • Pastoral
    • Houses
    • School Council
  • Early Years
    • Early Years Department
    • Nursery
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    • Our Details
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  • News & Events
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By: Admin 30 April 202530 April 2025
School Journal

21st March 2025

You can view all our previous newsletters here.

School Newsletter spring term 21st March 2025
I always thoroughly enjoy the final week or two of each term because it's filled
with wonderful events that bring us all together - children, staff and parents. This term is no exception, with poetry, drama, swimathons, parades, bingo, and of course, celebrating mums! Henstead is all about the children, and we truly value the opportunity to come together with you to celebrate them.
Their learning and
happiness are at the heart of everything we do, and as a teacher once remarked to me, our role goes beyond providing a great education; we want to create wonderful memories that they’ll look back on with deep affection, for the rest of their lives.
- Mrs Sonn
Key Dates: Tuesday 25th March - Sponsored Swimathon Wednesday 26th March - LAMDA Performances (8.45am in the hall - parents welcome) Wednesday 26th March - Spring Disco - 4.10pm - 5pm Thursday 27th March - Easter Service at St Mary’s Church, Henstead (8.50am - parents welcome) Monday 31st March - House and individual poetry competition (8.45am in the hall - parents welcome) Monday 31st March - EYFS Mothers Day Afternoon Tea - 3pm - 4pm Wednesday 2nd April - Trip to the Food Museum (Years 3 - 6) Thursday 3rd April - House Cross-country & Colour Run Friday 4th April - Easter Bonnet Parade in the orchard or hall, dependent on weather (8.45am - parents welcome) Friday 4th April - Easter Bingo 4pm - 6pm (Families welcome) Friday 4th April - Last day of term Full details regarding each of these events will be provided nearer the time and more dates will be added weekly.
School Events
Concerts
We have lots of wonderful events to look forward to in the coming weeks ahead.
Our Swimathon will take place on Tuesday 25th March. If you would like to sponsor Team Student or Team
Teacher, please click here
The Easter Bonnet Parade is on Friday 4th April at 9am in the orchard. There will be prizes for the most detailed, most creative and the tallest!
Our PTFA Easter Bingo will take place on Friday 4th April at 4pm - 6pm. Tickets will include your bingo book and dabber!
Tickets can be purchased here
Easter Service
You are all warmly invited to our Easter Service at St Mary’s Church, Henstead on Thursday 27th March. Please could your child/ren arrive at the church for 8.45am. If you are unable to attend and would like us to transport your child via our minibus, please email the office - office@theoldschoolhenstead.co.uk
 
EYFS Mothers Day Afternoon Tea
Calling all nursery mums and grandmas. Come and be spoiled at an afternoon tea just for you! If you would like to
attend or require more
information, please speak to
the nursery team.
  
Spring Disco
Spring Disco tickets are on sale now at Β£3 from the office. Please ensure children bring a change of clothes to school. A tuck shop will be available, so feel free to send them with some small change to spend!
Summer Show
Our summer show this year will be a musical medley tied together with an original story. This will give children from all year groups a chance to shine. We are holding soloist auditions for everyone in KS1 and KS2 and they will be held on the afternoon of 4th of April.
If your child would
like to audition,
please can they
prepare a short song
to perform.
Selections will be
announced in the first week after the Easter Holidays.
I can't wait to hear all of your wonderful voices! - Mrs Braidwood
Nursery
Concerts
The nursery children thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with herbal teabags, observing as the water changed colour. They were excited to explore using real-life resources such as china cups, saucers, bowls and jugs, which sparked conversations about home life while encouraging turn-taking and sharing.
The variety of teabags provided a sensory experience, as they eagerly smelled the different aromas, deepening their exploration. This activity also offered a great opportunity to incorporate mathematical skills, as they counted the teabags and measured the liquid.
- Miss Hammond
Year One and Two
British Science week with a theme of ’Change and Adapt’ was a great opportunity to test the children’s understanding of animal adaptations. We had a fun quiz where the children had to draw what animal was being described from a set of three clues that ranged from clue one being the hardest to clue three being the easiest. Some great answers and drawings!
- Mrs Dakin
Year One and Two
In French we have continued with our food theme, looking at Le petite dèjeuner. We used our knowledge on vowels to help fill the missing gaps to complete the spellings of some popular breakfast items. The children are looking forward to a French breakfast next week!
- Mrs Dakin
year one and two students in French class
Concerts
The children in years three and four have been exploring poetry this term. We have been looking at the work of Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris who wrote 'The Lost Words' and 'The Lost Spells' which are poetry anthologies based around the natural words, which have been sadly lost from the dictionary. This week, the children have written their own β€˜verb poems' based on an animal they found in the glossary of words, to bring that creature back to the world. They then created a detailed watercolour
  painting of their chosen animal inspired by the illustrations that they found in the books.
- Mrs Braidwood
Year three and four students with their verb poems
Year Three and Four
Concerts
   On the Friday of science week I set the children a challenge. We discussed how some animals have adapted to be able to camouflage themselves against predators.
Each child had to hide a paper butterfly somewhere in the room and blend it into its surroundings. On Monday, my task was to see how many I could find. The person who camouflaged the butterfly the best
would win. Look at the amazing places the children hid them!
- Mrs Braidwood
Spotlight on...
End-of-term assessments are underway in the prep school, and pupils are putting their knowledge to the test. I’m always impressed by their attitude and conduct during these exams, as they approach them with a calm maturity and quiet determination to do their best. They understand that these evaluations are not just about results but about celebrating their successes and identifying any gaps in their learning, helping them reach their full academic potential.
It’s important to remember that a child’s education is not defined by exams alone, but by a rich and stimulating learning experience throughout the year. This not only enhances academic achievement but also fosters social and emotional development, confidence, problem-solving skills, andβ€”arguably most importantlyβ€”resilience, a skill that will serve them well in the years beyond Henstead.
- Mrs Sonn
Year Five and Six - Food Tech Lesson
Science Week
Crochet Club
Concerts
Crochet Club pupils most recent creation: beautiful coasters, perfect for resting drinks on.
  
Achievements
A huge well done to Izaak and Sophia, who performed their LAMDA duo piece at the Norfolk County Music Festival.
Langley School Senior Show
Concerts
 A great time was had by all at the Langley School Senior Show β€˜Bound for Broadway’.
All of the children were exceptionally well behaved and did the school proud.
Mascots
This half-term our school values are adventurer and analyser.
Last week’s mascot winners were:
Year 1/2 - Amy for settling in so well and trying her hardest in all her lessons.
Year 3/4 - Anna for great progress across all subjects - particularly English and maths.
Year 5/6 - Monty for exceeding expectations in science and applying critical thinking skills to his work.
House Competition (Golds)
Each week the children are awarded golds for good work and behaviour. These golds are individual awards and feed into the running total points for their
house.
Last week’s winners were:
Waveney - Ottilie M 
Deben - Lexi 
Orwell - James 
Yare - Hazel
This week’s winners are:
Waveney - Margot 
Deben - Monty 
Orwell - Ottilie 
Yare - Emma
TTRS Champions
TTRS highest complete sets of tables all correct.
Year 1/2 - Florrie Year 3/4 - Margot Year 5/6 - Hazel
  
Premier Education Holiday Camp
Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond our control, the Premier Education Easter Holiday Camp has been cancelled.
Red Nose Day celebrations
Red Nose Day celebrations continued
Lunch Menu - w/c 24th March
Thank you for your feedback on school lunches. We’ve updated our menu with some new dishes which we are confident the pupils will enjoy. If children do not like the lunch on a specific day, a personal choice of sandwich is provided along with accompaniments.
MONDAY - Jacket potato with cheese, beans or tuna
TUESDAY -Chicken with rice and peas
WEDNESDAY - Tomato pasta with sweetcorn and garlic bread
THURSDAY - Beef burger or sausages with potato wedges and corn on the cob
Nursery: Sausage, mashed potato and carrots
FRIDAY - Fish and chips with garden peas
Daily - Soup of the Day Carrot/Cucumber/ Pepper Sticks
Piece of Fruit, Yoghurt, Raisins and Biscuit Alternatives for vegetarian, vegan and food intolerances.
Lunch Menu - w/c 31st March
Concerts
MONDAY - Jacket potato with cheese, beans or tuna
TUESDAY - Chicken in pitta bread with salad and mozzarella sticks
WEDNESDAY - Macaroni cheese with broccoli
THURSDAY - Beef burger or sausages with potato wedges and peas
FRIDAY - Pizza and carrot sticks
Daily - Soup of the Day Carrot/Cucumber/Pepper Sticks Piece of Fruit, Yoghurt, Raisins and Biscuit
Alternatives for vegetarian, vegan and food intolerances.

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⏳✨ Less than a week to go! ✨⏳ Our amazing ⏳✨ Less than a week to go! ✨⏳

Our amazing pupils are almost ready to take to the stage at the Seagull Theatre for A Journey to the Past πŸŒπŸ¦–πŸ°

Join us for a magical musical journey back in time and support our talented cast as they bring history to life through music, drama and dance.

🎟️ Tickets:
https://www.ticketsource.com/seagulltheatre/henstead-primary-school-present-a-journey-to-the-past/e-arxvek

We can't wait to see you there! πŸ’™

#TheMagicOfHenstead #JourneyToThePast #PrepSchool #PrepSchoolLife #IndependentSchool #SchoolProduction #SeagullTheatre #MusicalTheatre #CurtainUp
βœ¨πŸ“– Handmade with imagination... and a lot of βœ¨πŸ“– Handmade with imagination... and a lot of patience! πŸ§΅πŸ’œ

Our Craft Club pupils have spent the past few weeks designing, sewing and decorating their own felt books, and the results are simply amazing! 🌟 Every page is unique, packed with interactive features and full of personality.

From the first stitch to the final ribbon, they've shown fantastic creativity and attention to detail and each book is as unique as its creator. πŸ’™

#TheMagicOfHenstead #CraftClub #Handmade #CreativeKids #LearningThroughCreativity #IndependentSchool ✨πŸͺ‘
πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Mini Marathon 2026 πŸƒ πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Mini Marathon 2026 πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

This morning, in the relative coolness before the hottest part of the day, pupils, parents and staff took to the field for our annual Mini Marathon – the final challenge in this year's 'thon' series following the Swimathon and Bikeathon.

Our pupils were outstanding, showing real determination as they completed lap after lap of the field and encouraged one another all the way round. It was wonderful to see such resilience and team spirit on display.

The morning concluded with teacher Mr Hunter getting a well-earned (and very refreshing!) soaking from the pupils. 

A big well done to all the parents who joined in, and to Millie, former Head of School, who returned to Henstead this week for work experience and was keen to take part too.

Now for the big question... who has won the overall 'thon' championship? πŸ† The combined results from all three events will be announced at Speech Day next week!

#MagicOfHenstead #HensteadSchool #MiniMarathon #TeamHenstead #SchoolSport #Resilience #Determination #SpeechDay
πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Mini Marathon 2026 πŸƒ πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Mini Marathon 2026 πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

This morning, in the relative coolness before the hottest part of the day, pupils, parents and staff took to the field for our annual Mini Marathon – the final challenge in this year's 'thon' series following the Swimathon and Bikeathon.

Our pupils were outstanding, showing real determination as they completed lap after lap of the field and encouraged one another all the way round. It was wonderful to see such resilience and team spirit on display.

The morning concluded with teacher Mr Hunter getting a well-earned (and very refreshing!) soaking from the pupils.

A big well done and thank you to all the parents who joined in, and to Millie, former Head of School, who returned to Henstead this week for work experience and was keen to take part too.

Now for the big question... who has won the overall 'thon' championship? πŸ† The combined results from all three events will be announced at Speech Day next week!

#MagicOfHenstead #HensteadSchool #MiniMarathon #TeamHenstead #SchoolSport #Resilience #Determination #SpeechDay
More Sports Day Fun - The Famous Henstead 'Slip 'n More Sports Day Fun - The Famous Henstead 'Slip 'n' Slide' race!
πŸ†β˜€οΈ Henstead Sports Day β˜€οΈπŸ† Last we πŸ†β˜€οΈ Henstead Sports Day β˜€οΈπŸ†

Last week's Sports Day had a bit of everything. The morning was packed with field events, including long jump, high jump, ball throw and tug of war, with pupils earning valuable points for their houses throughout. πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ

In the afternoon, attention turned to the track for the athletics events, before the much-anticipated mums' and dads' races. We also had the annual pupils and staff versus parents tug of war, which was as competitive as ever! πŸ’ͺ

Of course, no Sports Day would be complete without the traditional water-slide race πŸ’¦ and the equally traditional soaking of the House Leaders at the end of the day! πŸ˜‚

Congratulations to Deben, who were deserving winners after a fantastic team effort across all the events. πŸ†πŸ’š

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support the children, and to all those who stayed on to enjoy the Summer Fair afterwards. πŸŽͺ🍦

A brilliant way to round off another memorable Sports Day and a perfect example of the magic of Henstead – children, families and staff coming together to enjoy a day full of fun, friendship and community spirit. ✨

#SportsDay #TeamSpirit #SchoolCommunity #SummerFair #HouseCompetition #SchoolLife #ActiveSchools #Deben #MagicOfHenstead #MakingMemories
🎭✨ Confidence in Action ✨🎭 Last week, o 🎭✨ Confidence in Action ✨🎭

Last week, our LAMDA pupils took to the stage in front of the school and their families, showcasing their fantastic speaking and performance skills.

We couldn't be prouder of their confidence and hard work. 🌟

Congratulations to all those who have recently achieved Distinctions in their LAMDA exams, and good luck to those sitting theirs next month!

#LAMDA #StudentSuccess #ConfidenceBuilding #HensteadSchool #MagicOfHenstead #ProudSchool
🎭 A Glimpse Behind the Curtain 🎭 Rehearsals 🎭 A Glimpse Behind the Curtain 🎭

Rehearsals for Journey to the Past are in full swing.  See you in July!🎭✨
✨⏳ Rehearsals are in full swing! ⏳✨ The c ✨⏳ Rehearsals are in full swing! ⏳✨

The cast of A Journey to the Past have been busy learning songs, perfecting choreography, and bringing this exciting musical adventure to life.

Week by week, the show is taking shape, and we're especially excited that this summer our cast will be performing at The Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft – a fantastic opportunity to take to a real theatre stage and showcase all their hard work.

🎭 A Journey to the Past
πŸ“ The Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft
πŸ“… 1st & 2nd July
🎟️ Tickets £10
πŸšͺ Doors 6:30pm
🎭 Show 7pm

Who's ready to travel through time with us? ✨⏳

#AJourneyToThePast #HensteadPresents #MagicOfHenstead #SeagullTheatre #Lowestoft #SummerShow2025 #MusicalTheatre #CommunityTheatre #TheatreLife #BehindTheScenes #LivePerformance
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Β© The Old School Henstead Educational Trust Limited, Toad Row, Henstead, Nr Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7LG. Tel. +44 (0)1502 741150. Company No. 01459291. Charity No. 279265
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