Headmaster’s Update
This year sees the ‘moveable feast’ that is Easter celebrated late in April. This week we collectively explored its importance in our whole school assembly, charting the events of the period of Lent and Holy Week, along with the likely origins of the word from the Germanic goddess, ‘Eostre’, who is associated with spring and the dawn. Hopefully, the children will be able to reflect on Jesus’ gift to mankind when consuming chocolate eggs in the coming weeks!
Pre-Prep have enjoyed exploring the natural world this week, with Reception heading to Bocketts Farm Park, to see a wide variety of farmyard animals close up, including a rare opportunity to see some baby piglets and even taking a tractor ride. Mrs Barnes’ Pre-Prep assembly took the children much further afield, exploring the lives of polar bears in the Arctic, how they keep themselves warm, what they hunt and sharing the amazing fact that their fur is transparent, rather than actually white. Year 2 also enjoyed a superb trip this week, heading to Gunnersbury Park as part of their studies on the Great Fire of London and Florence Nightingale on Wednesday, thanks to Mrs Melvin and Mrs Robertson.
Following the brilliant efforts of Years 3 and 4 at the House Cross-Country last week, this Wednesday saw our senior runners compete in the Years 5-8 House Cross-Country in green (Apollo), blue (Concorde), red (Firebird) and yellow (Harrier), taking on both A and B races at our home sports ground, Kempton CC. The standard of running continues to improve each year and we witnessed many fantastic times with our fastest runners completing the 2.1km course in well under 8 minutes. I must make special mention of Tabitha (Year 5) and Alex (Year 7) for setting the fastest times of the day. Many congratulations also to Harrier for winning overall in the Junior event and to Apollo for their success this week in the Senior competition. My sincere thanks go to the Sports Department, Mr Jervis and Miss Burton in particular, for organising these events and achieving such a positive and celebratory feel. The sunshine certainly helped too!
It’s always a treat to see how talented and adaptable the boys and girls are at TPS, and last night’s triumphant production of ‘Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies’ was a case in point, being a perfect way to finish the term on a high. Years 5 and 6 put on a truly remarkable spectacle, with the acting, singing and dancing being of the highest order, meriting top billing in the West End! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our headline show, especially Mrs Freeman, Mrs Lintin, Miss Burton and Mrs Hill, helping the children to be at their very best.
Today sees TPS reach a final crescendo, with our non-uniform day raising monies for the Shooting Star Hospice in Hampton, our local partnership charity and the children parading their very fancy Easter hats, headgear and bonnets. This morning also sees the departure of our annual Sports Tour for Year 5 & 6 girls and Year 7 & 8 boys. This year we are heading off to train with elite coaches at Manchester Thunder (netball) and Manchester City (football), so wish us luck with the weather in the north-west!
It just remains for me to wish all of our TPS families a very happy and holy Easter break.
Oliver Barrett, Headmaster
Key Dates
April
| Day: | Date: | Event: |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 21 | Bank Holiday |
| Tue | 22 | INSET DAY – school closed |
| Wed | 23 | Pupils Start |
| Wed | 23 | Year 3 PGL Residential final trip meeting for parents (in-person at TPS) |
| Thu | 24 | Year 3-Year 8 Online Safety Presentation for parents (in-person at TPS) |
| Fri | 25 | Class 3EW Pottery Workshop with Juliette Whiterod (in lesson) |
| Sat | 26 | Discovery Day 9.30am-10.30am |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Sports Fixtures
April
| Day: | Date: | Sport Event: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | 26 | U11 A Girls Cricket Tournament | Kempton CC |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Kempton Easter Camp 2025
Productions – Photo Orders & Video Downloads
We are delighted that renowned photographer and videographer, Simon Whitehead, came in to TPS and professionally filmed both the Years 3&4 and the Years 5&6 Productions this term. The Productions will of course be available as a downloads for parents to purchase.
Simon Whitehead also took some individual portrait style photographs of the Year 4 and the Year 6 main casts in full make-up ahead of the performances for parents to purchase and enjoy as a unique memento of your Year 4 or Year 6 child in their Productions this year.
All orders of the Year 3&4 Production video download and the Year 4 individual portraits can be placed directly with Simon via his website: https://events.simonwhitehead.photo/
The access code for the Year 3&4 Production of ‘Porridge’ have been emailed to parents
All orders of the Year 5&6 Production video download and the Year 6 individual portraits can be placed directly with Simon via his website below: https://events.simonwhitehead.photo/
The access code for all orders of ‘Robin & the Sherwood Hoodies’ have been emailed to parents
My School Portal
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: 21st April Menu Week 1
