ℯNEWS February, 13 2026
As we approach the half term break next week, the children have enjoyed an especially full few days, with plenty of activity and achievement across the school.
Form Six Maths Competitions- Monday 9th
On Monday, the quartet of Atia, Elena (captain), Kira and Rafeeq, took part in the opening round of the National Quiz Club Maths competition. They were up against sixty teams in an online event where thirty quickfire questions had to be answered against the clock. The questions ranged from the speed of cumulus clouds to the combined weight of parcels being delivered by a freight company.
Due to their speedy calculations and excellent team work, the team scored 1130 points, coming in a very respectable eleventh place. This ensured they made it through to the semi finals where the competition will be even tougher.
Later in the morning, Elena and Atia completed the Primary Maths Challenge bonus round. This honour is bestowed upon those students who scored highly in the opening round of the challenge last term.
The girls faced twenty five questions in an intense 45 minutes. The questions stretched their Maths knowledge, comprising problems which are more widely taught in Key Stage Three and Four.
Congratulations to both girls who scored highly; achieving 18 and a remarkable 21 correct answers.
Safer Internet Day -Tuesday 10th February
The theme of Safer Internet Day this year was ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’.
Junior One talked about voice assistants such as Alexa. They discussed how humans can do different things to voice assistants and what to do if they are ever made to feel uncomfortable about the information shared from the technology. They all knew to speak to a trusted adult such as their parents or a teacher. In the afternoon, they were enthralled with an interactive session on Internet Safety sharing good practice with many other schools who joined the online forum.
Form One & Two logged onto Natter hub to explore a few topics based on the theme for the day. Form One considered the role of AI and smart speakers in everyday life. Whilst Form Two had a conversation on the topic; “Is communication better online or in person?” They then looked at the pros and cons and discussed when it is safe to communicate online, for example, in an emergency situation.
Form Three and Four took part in the BBC live lesson on the safe use of AI; exploring how chatbots work and how to use them responsibly. They looked at what things are ‘Okay’ or ‘Not Okay’ when using AI. Everyone got stuck in - even Jino and Jerry Cat joined the fun!
Form Five participated in a live online lesson on how AI harvests data and generates information. The children engaged in the questions about AI collection of data and suggested ways to check the reliability of the information generated. It was fun to see their responses appear live on the shared lesson.
Form Six spent the morning researching the costs and benefits of AI using the Natterhub platform. They came to the conclusion that there are an equal amount of advantages alongside disadvantages.
A variety of posters were displayed for parents' evening which gave tips for managing online life for children and emphasised the importance of maintaining an open dialogue with children about what they are doing online.
Poetry Competition - Wednesday 11th February
Mrs Hampton was joined by two guests to judge the annual Poetry Competition. Reverend Alex Norris from St John’s church, Hyde Park, was our guest judge for the Junior classes and Mr Robert Garvey, Headmaster of Wetherby Senior School adjudicated Forms Three to Six.
Every pupil had prepared a wonderful poem or rhyme for the day and we would like to thank all parents and carers for helping the children learn their lines in preparation for the competition.
Junior One pupils learned a rhyme to recite and Kamilla and George were chosen by Rev. Alex for their wonderful performances.
Form One and Form Two wrote their own poems based on the title ‘One Day’ given by the Independent Schools Association’s National Poetry Competition,
From Form One: Alma and Leonardo and from Form Two: Daralaye and Raphi were all commended for particularly impressive performances on the day.
In Forms Three to Six, many of the pupils had set themselves a challenge to learn quite lengthy verses.
In Form Three, Alberto and Clara and in Form Four, Klara, Clara and Ari were chosen by Mr Garvey (Wetherby Head)
Chosen in Form Five was Alexander and Rosa and in Form Six, Mariam and Atia were stand out performers on the day.
Mrs Hampton’s, Principal’s Choice winners were Bruno and Oliver in Form Four, they will both join the performers at the Poetry Recital to showcase why they were her choices for this award.
We look forward to our annual Poetry Recital on Friday, 6th March, where the children chosen by our guest judges will have the opportunity to perform once again, as well as to see all of our children performing their class poems. It will be held at the Carisbrooke Hall and all parents are invited. However, as we gather together to celebrate the children’s achievements, this is not a suitable event for younger brothers and sisters who may distract our young performers on the day.
Carnival Day - Friday 13th February.
The children came dressed for the slopes today as our annual Carnival Day got underway. There were some famous athletes and very inventive costumes. The children were inspired by photos of Mrs Hampton’s former life as a skater alongside her skates and pin collection.
The children tested their reactions with ‘catch a snowball’ and ‘table top ice cube hockey.’ They made some wonderful snowmen and worked out how to free the animals from the icy pond. They had a go at designing, making and testing a Bobsleigh for CHS’s own version of the Cresta Run. There was the CHS biathlon (cardboard skis and velcro target practice)
11+ Results Day
For our pupils in Form Six who sat their 11+ senior school competitive entry assessments this year, today has been an important date in their diaries, as it was results day.
We are extremely pleased to share that all of our pupils achieved very positive outcomes, receiving offers, including scholarship awards in academic, music and art, from a wide range of leading London day schools and well-regarded boarding schools.
We are immensely proud of all that they have accomplished. They now have some exciting decisions to make over the half-term break and we look forward to sharing their choices with the wider school community next month - bravo, Form Six!
World Book Day
Our school celebration of World Book Day will take place on Monday 2nd March. The children are invited to come in dressed up as their favourite book character as well as bring the book their character comes from. Homemade costumes are encouraged as well as swapping costumes with classmates prior to the day to help make the event sustainable.
House Points
Clifton = 1114 Sussex = 1085
Parents Fundraising Committee
Trivia Night
The Parents Fundraising Committee have arranged a CHS parents' Trivia night, taking place on Wednesday 25th February. Please find attached a save the date for the trivia night. For further information, please contact your class reps.
Artwork of the week
Mimi in Junior One, for a beautiful painting of a rainbow. Excellent colour mixing and brush control, well done Mimi!
Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
February
Monday 16th - Friday 20th Half term inclusive
March
Monday 2nd Book Day dress up
Friday 6th POETRY RECITAL (1pm - 2.15pm followed by a preloved book sale at 2.15pm - 2.45pm) - (Parent event and no after school clubs)
Monday 9th F4, F5 and F6 trip to the British Library
Wednesday 18th Form One Open Dance - (Parent event)
Wednesday 18th and 19th Easter Egg collection for St John’s Hospice
Friday 27th OPEN DAY - Parent in school event in the morning (no school in the afternoon)
