HPS Headlines
Friday 20th March 2026
Last week, boys across the school engaged in special activities to celebrate Science Week. The theme of the week was "Curiosity, what's your question?", and each year group had a series of activities to complete ranging from testing Murphy's Law to making and testing model sundials.
Year 2 and 6 had the task of making locomotives, Year 2 developed an automatic braking mechanism and Year 6 experimented with gears.
Year 4 and 6 also participated in a Sustainability Day where they examined different ways of generating electricity and had the opportunity to try their hand at coding some model wind turbines. In addition, 2 teams from Homefield represented the school in the Year 5 and 6 Quiz Club heats - well done to Team 1 who have qualified for the semi's in April .
The nursery boys have been having a wonderful time exploring the signs of spring over the past few weeks. They’ve been noticing changes in the world around them and having great discussions about how spring is different from winter. From talking about the weather and longer days to spotting flowers beginning to bloom, the boys have shown fantastic curiosity and observation skills.
We’ve also been learning about animals and their babies. The boys enjoyed matching mother animals to their young and sharing what they already knew. This sparked lots of conversation and excitement as they discovered new animal names and sounds together.
To build early writing skills, the boys have been practicing writing animal names using different types of media, developing both their fine motor control and confidence with letters and sounds. It’s been lovely to see their creativity and focus during these activities.
We’re so proud of their enthusiasm and teamwork as they learn through play every day!
The Reception boys have also been busy enjoying lots of wonderful springtime learning.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, the boys carefully planted seeds that will grow into beautiful flowers to take home as special gifts. They showed great care and responsibility while filling pots with soil, planting their seeds, and watering them. We talked about what plants need to grow and the boys are excited to watch the changes over the coming weeks.
Our learning has also focused on the signs of spring. The boys have been spotting changes in the weather, noticing longer and brighter days, and observing flowers beginning to bloom.
In class, we explored the fascinating life cycle of a butterfly. The boys learned how a caterpillar transforms through different stages before becoming a butterfly. They loved sequencing the stages and talking about how living things grow and change over time.
It’s been a joyful and busy time filled with curiosity, care, and hands-on learning.
Peri Prom 2026: Celebrating Performance Across the School
We are delighted to announce the return of our much-loved Peri Prom Concerts for 2026.
These concerts provide a wonderful opportunity for boys across the school to showcase their talents in the performing arts. Whether performing on a musical instrument or taking to the stage through drama, the Peri Proms celebrate the creativity, confidence and dedication of our pupils.
Open to boys of all ages and abilities, the concerts are designed to encourage participation and give every performer the chance to shine in a supportive and appreciative environment. From those taking their first steps in performance to more experienced musicians and actors, each event promises to highlight the breadth of talent within our school community.
We warmly welcome parents to come along and support – your presence makes all the difference. There is nothing quite like performing to a friendly audience, and these events are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the boys’ creativity, courage and progress.
PERI PROMS - All at 4.00pm in the Performance Hall
Friday 20th March
- Guitar, Cello, Chamber Orchestra & Piano 1 (Mr Legg, Mr Aslangul and Mrs Michino Woolmer)
Monday 23rd March
- Love Theatre Arts (Mrs Ryecraft)
Tuesday 24th March
- Woodwind and Brass (Miss Andrews and Mr Marshall)
Wednesday 25th March
- Violin & Piano 2 (Mrs Martindale and Mr Christopher Woolmer)
Thursday 26th March
- Percussion (Ms Allardyce)
If your son is over 5 years old and you would like him to receive milk at school, please register with Cool Milk via https://coolmilk.com/parents/. Fund your son’s account before 5.00pm on Tuesday to start receiving milk the following week.
Cool Milk is the UK's leading school milk supplier, partnering with schools, nurseries and local authorities to delivery fresh, chilled semi-skimmed milk directly to schools. They manage the entire administrative process, providing free milk for children under five and subsidised milk for children aged five or older.
Homefield 4.5 - Robin Hood 0.5
A team of William P, Surya, Jaka, Alex B and Abhinav, triumphed by a large margin in a home fixture on Friday 13th March. The final score was not a fair representation of Robin Hood, who looked at one stage as though they might even win 3-2.
We began with a couple of opening traps, and soon Alex, then William, converted advantages to go 2-0 ahead but the remaining 3 games may have all favoured Robin Hood, even though there was still a lot of chess to play.
The room then reached an intense level of concentration and all that could be heard was the silent ticking of the digital chess clocks! One game ended in a fluke stalemate but credit to Surya for fighting on. Abhinav had a complicated struggle but eventually he turned the game around and delivered checkmate. That left Jaka, who was faster at moving but the position was not so clear until much later in the game and with very few pieces on the board, his ending technique was reminiscent of one of Magnus Carlsen's games!
There followed some friendly games which weren't recorded, but these games were interesting and the boys still learned from them. Well played to all our boys who displayed an excellent level of sportsmanship.
Well done to the following boys:
Tigers: Gabriel for using his phonics knowledge to progress his writing and Kian for making great improvements in his behaviour choices, increasingly demonstrating the values of Kindness and Respect.
Lions: Gregory: for incredible progress in his writing and phonics, now able to write sentences all on his own.
1H: Jesse for superb understanding of magnetism in science and providing excellent explanations and Alex for excellent effort and participation in maths when learning about different forms of measure.
2S: Ethan Y for a brilliant character description in our English learning this week and Adam S for an his outstanding use of punctuation and presentation.
2H: Ethan E for fantastic contributions to all class discussions and for working hard when learning about equivalent fractions and Azai for showing resilience in his maths lessons and working hard when learning about equivalent fractions.
3H: Ethan for his commitment to the Junior Duke First Aid module - knowing the recovery position off by heart(!) and Nufail for being a wonderful role model, following the Homefield values in every lesson!
3S: Bertie for excellent resilience in science recently by working extra hard to complete all his work and Eashaan for showing an excellent attitude towards learning and fantastic endeavour.
4H: Andrew for consistent effort and enthusiasm in French lessons and Logan for excellent effort in both history and geography. His growing confidence when answering questions has been fantastic to see.
4S: Judah has settled in wonderfully at Homefield and has become a fantastic role model in his class.
5H: Damin for being an excellent role model in English and Rahul for demonstrating endeavour in science lessons.
5S: Arish for demonstrating resilience and endeavour in swimming lessons.
6H: Christopher has shown a great attitude in his maths lessons, working hard to achieve excellent results.
6S: Henry for demonstrating resilience in maths and always trying to understand complex ideas.
8MMC: Nitin for commendable effort in a variety of subjects throughout the week.
When worries get stuck
Some worries need reassurance, but others need space to pass. Encouraging strategies such as:
- calm breathing,
- drawing worries or,
- talking about "what helps when worries show up" can be more effective than repeated reassurance.
Small tolls used often can make a big difference!
For further support on guidance on the topic of worry, please click this link: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/anxiety/
Summer Schools 2026
Find Your Academic Adventure this Summer
We are pleased to share that the The Debate Chamber has opened registration for their 2026 Summer Schools, offering an excellent range of academic enrichment courses for students aged 11+.
The Debate Chamber provides engaging, discussion-based programmes led by specialist tutors in subjects such as Law, Medicine, Maths, Philosophy, Diplomacy, Debating and Creative Writing. These small-group courses delivered online and in person are designed to stretch able and curious learners, helping them develop confidence, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Parents can find full details and book directly via the Debate Chamber website.
Summer Schools for 11-14s | Debate Chamber
SIGN UP for the open evening at 7.30pm on Sunday 1st March 2026, for further details on what courses are available.
Badminton
Homefield U13s Historic Return to Badminton in Spirited Mixed Fixture
There was a sense of occasion and excitement as Homefield’s Under-13 boys took to the court alongside Sutton High School girls in a mixed badminton fixture, the school’s first in over 20 years.
The long-awaited return to competitive badminton proved to be a memorable one, defined not just by rallies and results, but by outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm from all involved.
From the very first serve, both sides demonstrated impressive skill and determination. Despite many players being relatively new to competitive play, the standard was high, with fast-paced exchanges, clever shot placement, and growing confidence evident throughout the matches.
What stood out most, however, was the spirit in which the fixture was played. The mixed format encouraged collaboration and communication, and it was clear that players relished the opportunity to compete together. Encouragement from teammates and respect for opponents created a positive atmosphere that reflected the very best of school sport.
For Homefield, the event marked more than just a series of matches, it represented the revival of badminton as a competitive sport within the school. After a 20-year absence, this fixture signals an exciting new chapter, with plenty of promise for the future.
Coaches and spectators alike were delighted with the effort and attitude shown by all players. If this opening fixture is anything to go by, badminton is well and truly back at Homefield - and here to stay.
The Junior Duke boys should be aiming to complete as many of their challenges as possible over the Easter holidays.
To date, their enthusiasm and commitment to the programme has been fantastic to see. Recently, they completed a First Aid session with Mr. Smith, and their knowledge and engagement was excellent. The boys asked thoughtful questions and showed great understanding of the skills they learned.
We are very proud of their progress so far. After the holidays, we are looking forward to their upcoming art challenge, which Miss Leong will be leading. It promises to be a creative and exciting activity for the boys as they continue their Junior Duke journey.
This week, the boys have been learning about spring. They explored how flowers grow from seeds and showed real curiosity as they noticed changes in the world around them. They have particularly enjoyed spending time outdoors in the sunshine.
Being outside has given them the chance to connect with nature, spot signs of the new season, and take part in active play with their friends. They have enjoyed exploring their surroundings and joining in activities that help develop their understanding of the world.
The warmer weather has also brought excitement at the prospect of having some ice cream. Inspired by this, the boys used their imagination during club time to create their own ice cream parlour, taking turns to serve and choose flavours. This role play encouraged creativity, communication, and lots of laughter.
It has been a joyful and engaging week, full of fresh air, discovery, and excitement for the season ahead.
In arts and crafts, the boys have been busy making spring suncatchers.
It's been a busy week as we've been working behind the scenes getting things organised for the 'Little Orchard Nursery'. Lots of exciting times ahead! Should you wish to learn more about 'Little Orchard', please contact:
Phone: 020 8212 7312 Option 8
Email: info@littleorchardnursery.co.uk
Website: www.orchardchildcare.co.uk
Keeping Our Boys Safe at Drop-Off and Collection
At Homefield, the safety of our boys is, and always will be, our highest priority. The start and end of the school day are particularly busy times, especially during afternoon dismissal when boys are boarding minibuses for their journeys home while families are leaving the site on foot. This naturally creates a high level of activity on the drive and surrounding roads.
To ensure that dismissal remains calm, orderly and safe for all, we are unable to facilitate vehicle pick-up within the school drive at the end of the day. Keeping this area clear significantly reduces risk and allows boys to depart safely.
We are fortunate to have free, unrestricted parking available in the surrounding side roads, just a short walk from the school. We kindly ask all parents to make use of these spaces and to allow a few extra minutes at collection time. In addition, please be mindful of our neighbours by not blocking dropped kerbs or parking in private, resident-only spaces. Parking wardens regularly operate in the area at the beginning and end of the school day, so we encourage families to park legally and, where possible, to park a little further away and walk.
Thank you, as always, for your continued understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain positive relationships within our community and, most importantly, in keeping every Homefield boy safe.
To view details of our weekly menus and the weekly music timetable, please visit:
Western Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TE
+44 020 8642 0965