2025 Autumn Term 2 Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope that this Newsletter finds you all well, and looking forward to a lovely family Christmas together. Christmas is certainly a time for giving, and spending time with family and the ones which we love.

This term in school has been busy but, successful with all of our pupils engaging and enjoying their education and residential time. Pupils have experienced many different activities and lovely trips out as you see from this Newsletter. The Muntham Café has been a great success which has been well used during school breaktimes and lunchtimes. Our Post-16 pupils involved in running this Café have all been exceptional.

The Muntham House College has been brilliant for our pupils to receive specialist support and use state of the art facilities.

Thank you to all of the pupils involved in the end of term Christmas performance, this takes tremendous bravery and courage to be up on stage performing. I hope that you enjoy the show and the experience of seeing your child acting, singing or playing an instrument up on stage.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We look forward to pupils returning to school on Tuesday 6th January 2026.

Best wishes

Mr Anderson

Principal

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new, purpose-built construction room, a dedicated space designed to support pupils who are interested in pursuing a career in the construction industry. This specialised environment provides the tools, equipment and hands-on opportunities pupils need to develop fundamental, industry-relevant skills.

Across industry, education and government, there is growing recognition that construction training must play a central role in preparing young people for the world of work. Vocational construction pathways equip pupils with practical, in-demand skills and open the door to a wide range of skilled trades, including carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying and electrical work. These trades offer stable, long-term employment prospects and provide an alternative route for those who prefer practical learning over traditional academic study.

Unlike many academic routes, vocational training is built around doing, enabling learners to develop competence and confidence quickly. This rapid progress not only benefits pupils but also helps address the national shortage of skilled workers. Our goal is to reposition construction as a first-choice career option, not a last resort. Although construction has sometimes been viewed as a fallback for those not pursuing university, the reality is that it offers rewarding careers, excellent earning potential, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the workforce.

With our new construction room, we aim to provide a genuine, hands-on pathway into the industry. The space is ideal for pupils who thrive through practical experience, problem-solving, and learning by doing. From using tools and materials safely to understanding real-world processes, the room is designed to mirror authentic working environments.

By investing in this facility, we are also supporting our local economy. A well-trained, skilled workforce is essential for delivering housing, renovation and infrastructure projects, not only within our region, but far beyond it. Our pupils will be well-placed to contribute to these important sectors in the years ahead.

We are excited to welcome our first cohort of pupils into the new room. Over the coming months, we will run a wide variety of courses, ranging from essential trade skills to more advanced training. We also plan to work closely with local employers to ensure our curriculum remains aligned with industry needs, giving our pupils the strongest possible foundation for future employment, apprenticeships or even self-employment.

This new construction room represents an important step forward in how we prepare young people for meaningful, skilled and fulfilling careers. We can’t wait to see what our pupils will build next, both in the workshop and in their futures.

On Monday, 8th December, our Primary pupils were treated to a very special visit from the fantastic Shooting Star theatre company, who transformed our school hall into a lively stage for their hilarious pantomime performance of Robin Hood. From the moment the show began, pupils were giggling, cheering, and completely captivated by the colourful characters and playful storytelling.

The hall was filled with festive excitement as children settled comfortably onto bean bags, enjoying the magic of live theatre without even leaving the school grounds. For many, it was their first time experiencing pantomime—and judging by the number of pupils asking when Shooting Star would be returning, it certainly won’t be their last!

This joyful performance was a wonderful way to kick off our Christmas celebrations. We are delighted to provide opportunities that bring the arts directly to our pupils and create memorable shared experiences.

We look forward to welcoming more visiting groups and performers in the future who can continue to inspire, entertain, and spark imagination within our school community.

As part of our Friday Rewards programme, primary pupils have been rewarded with a visit to our new Cafe for a very special treat. The Primary pupils can enjoy delights such as a hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows or a delicious homemade cookie, or muffin. This initiative allows our primary pupils to experience the Cafe without the need to bring in money, ensuring everyone can take part in this exciting new project.

Our Post-16 pupils are already demonstrating just how successful the Cafe is, with it being well used at both breaktimes and lunchtimes as well as the addition of the primary pupils using it for their rewards on a Friday.

Pupils are delighted that the Cafe is open and enjoy having daily access to a range of homemade snacks each day, including healthy options alongside a few well-earned treats. The Cafe has quickly become a valued and enjoyable part of school life.

This half term our topic has been ice worlds! In Squirrels, we have had so much fun engaging in practical lessons as well as producing some great writing.

Our lessons ranged from ice painting, igloo den making to writing some descriptive sentences about Polar bears and the Arctic. We used our curious minds to think of questions we wanted to discover about polar bears and then researched the answer. One of our favourite lessons was creating a real-life size Polar bear paw, measuring it and writing about how it felt/looked.

This half term in English, Deer class looked at making our own set of instructions and how to use bossy verbs, chronological order and clear instructions.

We used the book called “The Disgusting Sandwich”, to understand how to use descriptive language and make our own disgusting sandwich. We then made our own disgusting sandwich using a range of items, not all edible so we did not eat the sandwich or serve it to anyone! We then wrote our own instructions, but they did come with a warning label to anyone who wishes to make their own.

Class 7A enjoyed a fantastic full-day trip packed with fun and teamwork. We began the day at Jump In Fun, where pupils bounced, climbed, and laughed together. Afterwards, everyone refuelled with pizza before heading to the Triangle, where we had exclusive use of the swimming pool.

The day was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to explore new friendships, build trust, and strengthen their sense of community. It was a brilliant team-building experience and a memorable start to the year.

Year 8 pupils have been testing their designing and problem skills and working as a team to make some go karts. They had to discuss their ideas and plan the project and then work together to build their designs. The boys really enjoyed this project and have worked well to link their science and mathematics links to the project . Several of the groups have used two engines to make the go-kart go faster and had to make a number of changes and modifications as the project progressed. We have some budding engineers !

Our Year 9 pupils in the Design Technology department have been hard at work this term on an exciting woodwork project: creating their very own wooden storage boxes. Using chisels, lap joints, and hinges, the boys have been introduced to traditional woodworking techniques that build a strong foundation for the skills they may develop further in the GCSE course.

Although the project has been challenging at times, the pupils have shown great determination and enthusiasm. They have gained confidence using new tools, improved their accuracy and problem-solving skills, and taken real pride in seeing their projects come together piece by piece.

The finished boxes are a fantastic achievement and a clear reflection of the boys’ growing abilities. We are delighted with their progress and look forward to seeing how these new skills support their future work in Design Technology.

Year 10 pupils have been extremely productive this half term, not only completing modules and getting the project bike ready for next year, but also helping to redesign the workshop in a more user friendly way.

We are currently in the process of building a shadow board for all our tools, which has turned out to be a much bigger task than anticipated. Lucky, pupils have been able to bring their art skills to the table while painting the "shadows" and designing the layout.

Our project bike is coming along nicely, although still has a lot of work to be done. Recent additions include new tyres for the sand, a new carburettor, and new sprockets to assist in acceleration by changing the gearing ratios. Pupils have done extremely well to get these modifications fitted in time for Christmas.

We look forward to continuing the hard work after Christmas, and finishing off the SRX ready for the big race in April/May!

As everyone at Muntham House knows, one pupil that knows about cars, and in particular, BMW’s, is …Vytautas!!

Charles at Stilwells is a family run business known for their excellent reputation and doing things the right way. All sorts of cars go there, including sports cars!

Vytautas already has some workshop and college experience which he put to good use at the garage. Vytautas was very impressive and got on well with everyone at the garage. He worked on lots of different car systems and even got a ride in a cool sports kit car.

I would like to thank all the wonderful staff at Charles at Stillwell, Mrs du Vergier for setting this up and Mrs Cox for bringing this to our attention.

Chris was the first year 10 to attend a work experience this school year. He went to the marketing / media company, PMW (Pictures – Music – Words)

Muntham have a great relationship with PMW and they always enjoy mentoring our pupils. Chris excelled in his work experience and is naturally gifted at graphic design. He worked very hard and got a glowing report.

I would like to thank PMW, Mrs Woods and Mrs du Vergier for helping to make this placement happen.

Thanks also to Chris’s Mum and Chris himself for being brilliant and being a credit to himself, his family and the school.

Year 9 pupils recently visited Southern Water’s high tech treatment centre in Peacehaven. They saw how water and waste in it is broken down to give clean water. They also had a practical session in the Southern Water classroom seeing which substances drain water the best. Careers and the environment were also talked about.

After their visit the pupils enjoyed time in the local skate park and showed their silky skills!

It was then off for lunch and a drive back to school. Everyone had a fantastic day, and the pupils were very engaged and once again a credit to our school.

I would like to thank Jackie and the team from Southern water, Mrs du Vergier for organising and coming on the trip and Miss Chouls for all of her support on the trip too.

This half term, on Monday 10th November, the Food Tech department took 9A to Jacob’s Bagels in Pulborough. As you can see from the photos, the pupils were fully engaged. Tino, the owner directed them in the processes that are required to make fresh bagels. The pupils were able to make 10 bagels each and to take them home with them. They were also greeted by a platter of pastries and were given filled bagels of their choice. It was a lovely informative day which all the pupils fully enjoyed.

Then on Tuesday 18th November the charity Prept came in to do some work with the Post-16 pupils, which would go towards their Btec Level 3. Ellie the chef taught them how to portion a whole chicken, and all pupils cut up their chickens with efficiency. They then made a green (salsa verde), which was used as an accompaniment to the chicken when cooked. After that the carcass of the chicken was used to make stock, which was then used as a base for a soup. The purpose of the lesson was to show sustainability and how meat can be cheaper the more you do for yourself and the less that you waste.

Animal therapy has been busy this term, and the boys have been getting to know all the animals while exploring different aspects of animal husbandry and animal behavioural science. This helps create positive experiences for both the boys and the animals — which is what it’s all about: calm, relaxed, and enjoyable interactions for everyone.

Noah has been getting to grips with goat hoof clipping and learning techniques that don’t rely solely on restraint. This helps ensure the goats have a calm experience during hoof care, and it shows the boys that gentle approaches — a calm human voice, soft touch, and a well-placed bowl of food — can make all the difference. Noah has also been helping with cleaning and learning correct hoof care for our lovely miniature donkeys.

Noah isn’t the only one getting involved in hoof care. David has also been learning alongside him, exploring the structure of hooves and how to spot early signs of infection and laminitis. The boys have been working on positive behaviour training too, learning the value of routine with the goats. Chase and Hugo have been doing brilliantly with our four pygmy goats — no leads needed now, just fun, engaging activities with our four-legged friends.

It’s incredible to see the positive influence the boys have on our animals. Teaching them to read the animals’ body language and understand their movements before, during, and after interactions helps the boys develop strong awareness skills and a deeper understanding of behaviour. These techniques benefit both the animals and the boys in lasting ways.

Animal therapy is not just about stroking animals. It’s about learning to be present, practising new husbandry techniques, slowing down our breathing, and truly noticing what’s around us. Slowing down can lead to wonderful discoveries — as Tristan Woods proved when he noticed signs of a badger, planned how to gather evidence, and captured a fantastic photo one cold morning.

What a term it has been. Our animal therapy sessions will continue to develop with new research techniques and practical skills for the boys to learn, apply, and share — not just during our sessions, but throughout their lives.

The second half of this term is when the garden rests, we cleared some of the dead annual flowers, chopping them up to go into the compost, all the boys had a go at chopping with secateurs, learning how to use the safely. We left some sunflowers for the birds to enjoy and have been rewarded with flocks of blue tits and gold finches eating the seeds. We have begun feeding the birds, this will encourage them into the garden, hopefully they will then eat some of the less welcome insects and improve productivity of our fruit and vegetables. Our bug hotel had some maintenance, we added stems from the cut plants for insects to hibernate in. We have some solitary bees hiding away in old bamboo canes.

Patrick, Stanley and Noah enjoyed a trip out to New Bridge Garden Centre, to buy some new tools and look at the layout of a nursery, we spent the morning exploring the plants and hand tools, deciding on a leaf rake, a garden rake, a pink Blueberry, some woven willow and a couple of bird feeders, there was also time for a hot chocolate and a cake to enjoy before our return to school.

We have started to plan for the spring by planting onion sets and garlic bulbs between the rain showers into one of the outside beds. The primary boys have planted daffodil bulbs in pots, we are looking forward to a bright cheery display in the spring.

We walked in the woods, looking at the different toadstools, counting and noting the differences between deciduous and Evergreen trees and shrubs.

The year has ended with the boys making beautiful table decorations, using Holly, Laural, Ivy and Fir they foraged in the school grounds. They all worked really hard to make these wonderful displays.

When you have finished with them, please feel free to return the plastic components for recycling.

We have had such a lovely term down in the Primary Forest School as there have been so many exciting days to celebrate!

We began with Bonfire Night, creating our very own bonfires using natural materials and enjoying eating edible sparklers. These were a real treat!

We then moved onto Remembrance Day and the boys took great care in creating poppies using red leaves in order to mark this special event. They also enjoyed a poppy hunt around Forest School, using this activity to to learn all about the points of a compass.

Next came Number Week with a fabulous number hunt and ordering activity in the area and some fabulous teamwork from all of the classes.

National Tree Week was naturally a huge event for us and we learned all about the different parts of a tree, when each part grows and thrives and all about different types of trees.

The term has come to a close with some wonderful Christmas activities including creating Christmas decorations and making melting snowmen on the campfire. This was certainly one of the most enjoyed activities ever! Merry Christmas!

This term, Mr Imbert and Miss Page worked with the pupils to continue to focus on safety and enjoyment in the outdoor environment. One extremely popular activity has been magnet fishing, even in the cold weather! The boys seem to love chucking on wellies and waterproofs and wading through streams searching for anything like nuts and bolts to old canisters. Our best find this term was a rusty old spanner, exciting times!

Classes also practiced a fire starting technique using a 9V battery and steel wool. The steel wool conducts the electricity, creating an exothermic reaction that produces embers to start a fire, and turns the steel wool into iron oxide. This little science cross-over was really engaging and allowed the boys to see another form of fire starting.

There was also some great outdoor cooking to finish the term, that included turkey burgers and cranberry sauce and some good old stick bread.

The autumn term always brings extremely muddy and wet conditions, so a lot of the activities have to cease unfortunately, but the pupils have still remained engaged. The Bronze Award pupils were learning the basics of map reading as well as orienteering, using maps to locate things around the school site, but also to wonder to smaller streams and bridges off site using Ordnance Survey maps.

In Silver, the pupils continued to explore the use of bikes as a way of taking as a way of working towards their physical section of their award, as well as talking about the idea of using it as a future expedition mode of travel. Silver pupils in Year 11 were just as enthusiastic with magnet fishing as those in the lower school. The pupils went off site to places like Loxwood to explore the canal, but also to magnet fish there.

Lastly, Gold pupils in the Muntham House College were using their weekly DofE sessions to go to the gym where it was a little bit warmer, but they could work towards their expedition fitness as well as finding ever as well as getting evidence to contribute to their DofE sections. Mr Imbert is also very proud to see Sky L, Dylan S, and Charlie S mentoring younger pupils once a week in PE, Art, and Food Technology, respectively, to work towards their Volunteering section.

To promote engagement and learning in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, an award scheme runs termly that rewards three outstanding students. There are three awards that consider all DofE participating students: the explorer award (a pupil who shows outstanding attitude to learning and pushes themselves to learn more); the captain award (a pupil who leads by example and takes on the roles given to them with conviction); and the sherpa award (a pupil who shows support of their fellow pupils either in lessons or on the expeditions).

Congratulations to the following pupils who have been awarded the titles for this term:

Zach W – Explorer Award

Seb M – Captain Award

Sam H – Sherpa Award

This term has been filled with celebrations and achievements for our Post 16 residential pupils

.

• Lewis’ 17th Birthday was marked with a trip to the Escape Rooms in Brighton. Pupils worked together brilliantly to solve clues and free Mr Barrett, who had been handcuffed to four of them in a small prison cell. We achieved the task with just over 7 minutes to spare, well done all.

• Matthew’s 18th Birthday was celebrated with a relaxed evening of takeaway pizza, chosen by Matthew himself. This was a lovely evening and all interacted well and wished Matthew a Happy 18th.
• Dylan’s 17th Birthday will be celebrated before Christmas, and we look forward to making this a special occasion.
• Oliver’s Football Success continues, with him officiating at numerous county matches as a linesman. His peers have shown great support by attending these games.
• Annual Christmas Meal brought everyone together at a Greek restaurant, where pupils enjoyed a festive evening and wonderful food.

It has been a thoroughly enjoyable term. We extend our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Key Stage 3 pupils have been working hard towards their Trampolining Proficiency Awards, progressing from Level 1 through to Level 6. They have developed a range of core skills, including seat drops, tuck jumps and straddle jumps, with many now beginning to master more advanced techniques such as front drops and back drops. Throughout the programme, pupils have shown impressive determination, enthusiasm and resilience, making excellent progress in both confidence and ability.

Pupils have been focusing on achieving their Trampolining Proficiency Awards, progressing through Levels 1–10 and developing increasingly advanced skills such as front drops, back drops and linking more complex movements together. Alongside this, our BTEC Sport pupils have been working towards their accreditation by researching a variety of sports, exploring key rules, regulations and the importance of fair play. Both groups have shown great commitment and enthusiasm in their learning.

Pupils have been working towards their Trampolining Proficiency Awards, with some achieving Level 10 and confidently performing front and back flips, as well as linking moves with twists and turns. Meanwhile, our BTEC Sport students have been progressing towards their Level 3 qualification by applying for a sports coaching role, preparing thoroughly for an interview and then taking part in mock interviews with one another. They will now evaluate their performances and complete a SWOT analysis to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

This half term in P.E, pupils have been developing their football skills through a series of drills and small-sided games. Our main focus has been on communication, positioning, and passing. The children have been encouraged to work together, using clear verbal and non-verbal communication to support each other as teammates during game play and match situations. We have also looked closely at positioning, helping pupils understand where to move on the pitch and how to create space effectively.

The progress across the group has been fantastic, and it’s been great to see pupils applying these skills in game situations with growing teamwork and enthusiasm.

Our Year 9 and 10 rugby team took on Buckswood Academy, a strong private school with a serious rugby pedigree, in a highly competitive fixture. After trailing 12–9 going into the final quarter, the team showed outstanding resilience and composure under pressure, battling back to secure a 13–12 victory. Their determination, teamwork and grit were evident throughout, making this an impressive and well-deserved win.

Our Year 9 and 10 rugby team delivered an excellent performance in their fixture against Dunottar School, securing a strong 12–4 win against a private school known for taking their rugby seriously. The team showed outstanding courage, moving the ball confidently across the pitch with impressive speed and handling. It was a fantastic display of teamwork and skill, highlighting the players’ continued development and determination.

Our Year 7 and 8 rugby team put in an excellent performance in their fixture against Dunottar School, narrowly losing 7–6 against a very strong side. With many pupils playing together for the first time, the team showed great determination and potential throughout the match. The wingers impressed with their speed, breaking through the defence to score well-earned tries. It was a promising display from a new team who continue to develop with every game.

Our fantastic start to our season at Muntham House School has continued with the Post-16's, U16's, U14's and U12's all thriving in the South London Special League this half term.

The Post-16 boys upheld their unbeaten streak with an amazing display of talent and teamwork and even better goals. Our U12's have taken huge leaps forward with their football putting on a great show in some really good and competitive fixtures resulting in superb goals and even better passages of play. They're really proving to be a team to watch moving forward. The U14s were superb during their matchday facing some really good footballing schools. Being stubborn defensively and swift on the counterattack, the boys showed that they are a really tough team to beat.

Finally, our U16's made no mistake in getting the job done in a ruthless run out at their South London Special League matchday. Fluidity and creativity an abundance meant there were plenty of goals in an exciting set of matches.

This term, 9 Upper Primary pupils attended the South London Special League football tournament for the day. The pupils represented the school exceptionally well and ended up winning two games. Our pupils demonstrated impressive sportsmanship and determination. Despite tough matchups, they approached each game with energy and a positive attitude, supporting one another on and off the field. Teachers on the trip significant improvements in communication, strategy, and confidence.

Our Football Academy has been focusing on maintaining possession and improving passing skills, with players then applying these techniques in realistic game scenarios. Sessions have also explored effective defensive strategies, emphasising the importance of staying disciplined and well-organised when out of possession. Throughout the programme, players demonstrated excellent teamwork, communication and leadership, making strong progress both individually and as a squad.

Please see below the dates for next half term. If you would like to register your child for Football Academy, please contact: sidneyadams@muntham.org.uk

The sessions run 4pm-5pm.

Football 4-5pm

The Rugby Academy has shown outstanding hard work and excellent behaviour this term, with pupils focusing on moving the ball effectively up and down the line to create space. Alternating between touch rugby and contact sessions, players have developed key skills: in contact, they have worked on safe falling techniques and strong, controlled rucking, while touch sessions have emphasised evasion and intelligent movement. Pupils have taken everything they’ve learned into recent fixtures, where their progress and teamwork have led to great success.

Please see below the dates for next half term. If you would like to register your child for Rugby Academy, please contact: sidneyadams@muntham.org.uk

The sessions run 3:30pm-4:30pm.

It's been a fantastic few weeks for Hever Floor, as the pupils continue to settle to life on Hever! Our young residents have been embracing the range of activities and experiences that our school has to offer, here are some of the highlights.

First off, our pupils welcomed our fish friends to our new tank on Hever floor! The excitement was palpable as they carefully selected their own individual fish and learned about the importance of caring for them from the wonderful staff at the water Gardens .Our Fish have been a huge hit for some of our boarders, who find them calming and therapeutic, we often find them just sitting and watching the fish quietly.

Our residents have been having a blast with some action-packed activities! Flip Out trampolining was a huge hit, with many pupils trying out new flips and tricks. We have also been to Jump in Inflatable Park, with this being the clear winner in the choice of the two, they've become bouncing, climbing experts! Bowling has also been a hit this term.

We have also wrapped up warm and played outside, zooming around on bikes and scooters. Our Christmas decorations have been put up by the boys and floor looks very Christmassy!

It's wonderful to see our Hever Floor community coming together, supporting each other, and making the most of every moment.

Hever Floor are looking forward to the Christmas holidays but before this we have our Christmas party and our Christmas trip to the panto to look forward to.

Merry Christmas from the staff and pupils on Hever Floor.

It has been another action-packed term on Bodiam with the boys kept busy indoors and out in the school grounds. Our baking sessions have been especially popular, with plenty of favourites such as flapjacks, chocolate cakes and banana bread. We also tried a few new delights this term, including chocolate orange muffins and ginger bread men and cookies.

Outdoors the boys have enjoyed games such as run-outs and hide and seek, as well as bike rides and scooter sessions, providing lots of fun and filling the afternoons.

We have had trips out to Flip-out swimming sessions and time spent at the golfing range. We went to the cinema to see Wicked. It was absolutely amazing, we ate out afterwards and the boys choose McDonalds.

The boys have loved cooking dinner for their peers, pasta being a firm favourite, we tried out some different recipes which were enjoyed by all.

Bonfire night was a lot of fun the fireworks were fantastic despite it pouring with rain, the boys didn’t mind and we all stayed till the end.

The boys went shopping at the Range and choose Christmas decorations for the lounge, we had a lovely hot chocolate before returning to school to decorate the tree.

We had 2 birthdays this term, Vinnie was 13 and Louis turned 14 both enjoyed their birthday cakes.

We have enjoyed a lovely party, with all floors joining together for an evening of fun we had a buffet and then enjoyed party games such as pass the parcel and musical chairs with of course lots of prizes to be won.

We ended the celebrations with an evening at Tulleys where the Christmas lights were spectacular. Afterwards, we finished the night with a delicious Christmas dinner at the Harvester.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to our boys and their families.

This half term has been truly terrific, filled with moments of personal growth and increasingly positive social interactions across the board. Each young person has taken meaningful steps forward—whether building confidence, developing new skills, or forming stronger, more supportive relationships with their peers. The atmosphere throughout the term has reflected a shared commitment to kindness, collaboration, and resilience, making it a rewarding and inspiring period for everyone involved.

This half of term has been filled with exciting activities and memorable experiences. One of the standout moments was an incredible day go-karting, where speed, teamwork, and friendly competition made the experience unforgettable. Everyone enjoyed pushing their limits on the track and celebrating each other’s progress and achievements. Of course, Mr Hind came out victorious!

Another highlight was an excellent evening spent on an F1 simulator for our Christmas party. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience the thrill of high-speed racing in a realistic and immersive setting with the latest CGI and telemetry. The session was both challenging and exhilarating, giving everyone a taste of what it feels like to be behind the wheel of a Formula 4 car racing around an exact replica of Brands Hatch. Charlie won the race with Mr Hind picking up the fastest lap.

Overall, it was a brilliant half term packed with adventure, learning, and fun. Thank you to all staff and pupils that have contributed to the positive atmosphere and outcomes on Arundel floor. Merry Christmas to one and all. See you in the new year where the good work continues in earnest.

Welcome to the Friends of Muntham Steering Group

At the heart of our school community is the Friends of Muntham Steering Group. A group of parents who come together once each term to support, shape, and improve school life for all children and families. We meet virtually via Microsoft Teams so everyone can take part, no matter where they are.

The Steering Group exists to give parents a voice. At each meeting, we share ideas, raise concerns, and suggest changes we believe would benefit the children and the wider school community. It’s a safe, supportive space where parents can meet, collaborate, and contribute to positive changes at the school.

The group recently met with our new chef, Frazer, to discuss whether a few of the meals could be changed to better support children with sensory needs. Frazer has now swapped out some dishes and tweaked recipes, adjustments that make a real difference for families whose children need them.

We also believe strongly in connecting parents beyond formal meetings. That’s why we’ve rolled out Classlist. Classlist is an online platform that lets families meet, chat, and share resources anytime. Through Classlist, you can find other parents, ask questions, swap ideas, organise playdates and keep up to date with school‑community news.

If you aren’t yet on Classlist, we encourage you to sign up. You’ll find it a friendly, private, and secure way to plug into the parent community. Classlist.com

If you’re a parent at Muntham and haven’t yet joined our Steering Group, we’d love to have you! Whether you have a big suggestion or just want to listen in, your perspective matters. And if you’re not on Classlist yet, signing up could be a small step that leads to bigger connections.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our next termly meeting and to continuing to make school life even better, together.

We celebrated Christmas Jumper Day by wearing our festive knits and raising money for Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. Chestnut Tree House provides vital care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across Sussex and South East Hampshire.

Thanks to everyone who took part, we raised a fantastic £93.50 to support their amazing work. A big thank you to all who donated and helped make a difference this Christmas.