Weekly Bulletin 12th December 2025

There is a plethora of wonderful traditions at TPS and we’ve witnessed several this week in the lead up to the holidays. Along with our twin Christmas trees in Prep and Pre-Prep, the latter decorated each year by the senior girls, the special red post-box has been chock-full of cards and regularly visited by some helpful ‘elves’ to ensure regular deliveries across the school. Monday saw us host a special visiting pantomime version of ‘Snow White’, a yearly fix, with Reception to Year 5 reporting it was the best Christmas show yet. Our final Games afternoons this term have featured special festive themed tournaments in football and netball, with the players finishing the afternoon with a well-earned hot chocolate and Christmas cookie! Continuing the food theme, the whole school were all extremely lucky to enjoy full Christmas lunch on Thursday, treated by our incredibly talented catering team:  Miss Cassiano, Mrs De Bortoli, Mr Oo, Mrs Khatib and Mrs Tavares. Bravo!

The assemblies this week have focused on this theme of tradition and how across the world there are so many different ways in which people celebrate Christmas. The children explored practices in countries such as Italy, Australia, Sweden, Finland and Mexico, focusing on families sharing food, seeing their relatives and giving thanks. Did you know that Swedes eat delicious saffron buns on St Lucia Day in mid-December and that Mexicans display lanterns called luminarias at the festival of Las Posadas? It’s amazing to think that we are connected across the world in celebration through tradition and shared joy.

There was certainly a sense of joy on Tuesday evening, when our Senior Prep boys delivered a spellbinding performance of ‘The Misplaced Millionaire’ on stage to an enraptured audience, a play written and directed by Mr Howorth, based on the enigmatic genius of Sherlock Holmes. The standard this year was the highest I can recall, and with the added bonus of seeing several of the boys reveal extraordinary talent for treading the boards. I think the West End beckons!

Finally, I would like to offer a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who joined us at St Mary’s Church at our spirit-filled Carol Service this morning. The readers, singers and instrumentalists made it such a spirit-filled occasion, requiring us all take time to reflect on what is truly important as we reach the end of such a busy and action-packed term.

Wishing all our TPS families a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oliver Barrett, Headmaster

On behalf of the Governors, and as this term has now reached its crescendo, I’d like to wish you all a very enjoyable and relaxing Christmas break. However, judging by the levels of excitement amongst the children I’m not sure how peaceful a break you’ll get – but I hope you get some relaxation!!

I sincerely hope that all the children and families who joined TPS at the start of this year have settled in well and now feel fully part of our school community.

This term is such a busy one with so much going on in every area of the school. Academically it’s an important term to get the children engaged for the year ahead, and particularly for those children who have sat, or are sitting, entrance exams to their destination senior schools – I wish them much success. That said, the children seem to take the academic work and lessons in their stride, and their school highlights are the many events that take place throughout the term. Every school week has a combination of trips, external visitors, House competitions, musical recitals, or sports fixtures taking place. In addition there are a number of Parents’ Committee fundraising initiatives run by the TPSC, such as cake sales, second-hand uniform sales and, of course, the amazing Fireworks evening; I’m very thankful that our parents have always been an active part of our school community and would like to thank the TPSC team and the Class Reps for ensuring this remains the case.

During the Autumn Term there are several marvelous whole school events which include the Harvest Festival service and Remembrance Day as well as those marking Christmas time such as the Pre-Prep Nativity, the whole school Christmas lunch and the Carol Service. Yesterday’s Christmas lunch was an absolute delight to behold! The children were so excited in their wide array of Christmas jumpers, the Dining Room and Hall were opened up so that all the children could sit and eat together. The tables were laid out with place settings and all the staff helped to serve the children and join in with the fun – I can personally confirm that the Christmas meal tasted incredible!!

My sincere thanks to every one of the TPS staff who put so much time and effort into each school day to make every one of them successful and enjoyable for the children – they really do deserve a rest over the Christmas break!!

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and send best wishes to everyone for the coming New Year.

Harry Bates, Chair of Governors

Dec

All up to date events information can be found on MSP

My School Portal is a great school-to-parent communication system.
Here you will find the latest events, which can be synced with your electronic calendar, weekly menus and copies of all letters sent home.

Below are important notices from two key departments which are updated weekly:

Pre-Prep — messages from Mrs Barnes including club collection
Click Here

Safeguarding & Wellbeing messages from our Designated Safeguarding Team
Click Here

School Meals week commencing: 5th January Menu Week 1