2025 Autumn Term 2 Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

This term has certainly challenged us with difficult weather conditions; however, even the continuous rain has not stopped our pupils from having fun and enjoying playing outside. I think we are now looking forward to better weather after half-term.

As always, there have been lots of exciting things happening across the school, which you can read about in this newsletter.

Our year 11 cohort of pupils have successfully completed their Mock Exams in preparation for their real GCSE exams in May and June. All pupils certainly applied themselves and tried their best. The last few months of revision and examination practice will make all the difference.

The school had another successful Social Care Ofsted inspection in January, we are still awaiting our official grading from Ofsted. A massive thank you to all those parents and carers who supported through Parent View questionnaires.

I hope that you all enjoy a lovely break over half term and some good quality family time together. We look forward to all pupils returning to school on Monday 23rd February.

Best wishes

Mr Anderson

Principal

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding refereeing journey of one of our pupils, who has achieved remarkable success since qualifying in 2023.

Starting with U7s, he quickly moved through the age groups and, on turning 16, stepped up to officiate his first adult match — delivering an exceptional performance.

He now regularly referee's in the Hampshire Women’s League, Aldershot & Camberley Sunday League, and Aldershot & District League, as well as taking on Assistant Referee roles in semi‑professional Step 5 & 6 fixtures and the FA Women’s National League.

His hard work has been recognised with selection for Hampshire CoRE and a promotion to Level 6 at just 16 years old — an incredible achievement!

He has also been invited to major international tournaments, including the IberCup in Portugal and the world‑famous Gothia Cup, and have even officiated matches featuring well‑known names such as Jeremy Lynch, Danny Dyer, Callum Best and Marc Albrighton.

From Plough Lane to the EBB Stadium and several Premier League training grounds, his refereeing career is going from strength to strength — and he is now pushing for Level 5.

A huge well done — we’re excited to see what comes next!

In January, I attended a meeting with the government at the House of Commons to discuss our Therapy Hubs Outreach project. Our school Head of Therapy, Shona Puttick, and I attended Westminster to meet with MP Adam Shockat, who is part of the government SEN focus group. It was wonderful to share the successes of the Therapy Hubs project, which has now been running for 5 years, supporting pupils and families in crisis from local mainstream secondary and primary schools.

MP Adam Shockat was very interested in the Therapy Hubs project and the great work of the school itself.

Therapy Hubs has been positive for all pupils taking part in the project, it has been life-changing for some participants, providing the much-needed therapy and counselling sessions which they would not have otherwise received. The project has helped the school to build partnerships with all of the primary and secondary schools taking part.

Therapy Hubs also generated the following positive outcomes:

• Helped to maintain placements of pupils in mainstream schools
• Feelings of stress and anxiety have been reduced
• Increased self-esteem and well-being
• Attainment has improved
• CAMHS referrals have been reduced
• Primary schools reported that staff attending improved their inclusive practice
• 100% of parents felt supported themselves, with improvement in home life

We are pleased to share an exciting development within our school cafe. Pupils and staff can now make purchases using electronic payment devices, offering a quicker and more efficient service throughout the day. This improvement has already proven highly successful and has been well‑received by the school community.

The cafe continues to be fully utilised during break and lunch times, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all who use it. A particular highlight of the cafe’s success is the exceptional contribution of our POST‑16 pupils, who are responsible for running and managing the service. Their professionalism, dedication, and teamwork ensure the cafe operates smoothly and maintains high standards at all times.

We would like to commend the POST‑16 team for their continued hard work and the positive example they set across the school.

On Wednesday 4th February, pupils from Primary went to visit The Amex Stadium, home of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. They were fully immersed into what goes on behind the scenes and participated in team games that focused on communication and overcoming challenges that require team work.

From visiting the changing rooms to practicing their post-match press conferences, the pupils enjoyed every part of their day, some of them even came back and said they now support Brighton!

This half term, we have started up two lunch time clubs, run by Mr Jenner, that the Upper Primary pupils have been requesting. Lego club on a Monday and Pokémon club on a Wednesday are both very popular with the children and they are enjoying the opportunity to work in groups, share their interests and develop their communication skills with one another. It will continue into next half term and in the Summer Term we will look to run some outside clubs to make the most of the warm weather

Deer and Rabbits class have been taking part in swimming lessons this half term at Billingshurst Leisure Centre. We have been looking to develop our: safety skills around water, how comfortable we are around water, swimming technique.

This has been a series of six lessons. After half term, Foxes and Badgers will be participating in swimming lessons and Deer and Rabbits will be taking part in PE lessons on the playground.

In our English lessons, we have been studying Stop Motion Movies. We have been researching movies that use stop motion, and how the quality of this has developed over time. Then we had a practice run at using the iPads and creating our own mini movies.

Working in small groups, we created our own story board with a plan, and then it was time. The scenes were built from Lego, characters given their roles, directors and voice actors. Once the filming was complete we edited our final movie, ready to be shared on the big screen with our class.

the class loved it and it gave everyone an opportunity to gain an insight into creating movies, working as a team and how English lessons can be about spoken language, not just writing!

Muntham House pupils were lucky to spend time with PC Carthy and learn about all the possibilities of making a Career in the police service.

The Careers room was full of pupils from years 8 to year 13 interested in learning about options in the police service. It was a very interesting talk where everyone learnt a lot from listening to PC Carthy about his training, experience and love of helping the local community.

We would like to thank PC Carthy for giving his own time up to visit us and for his enthusiasm. If anyone would like to ask him any questions, please contact the Careers team, who will contact PC Carthy. We would also like to thank Mrs Carthy for helping to organise this fantastic opportunity for the pupils.

Pupils in Year 8 have recently completed an exciting acrylic lamp project, where they developed a range of practical skills. During the project, they learned how to work with and form plastics, as well as how to build simple electrical circuits and safely use soldering equipment. The pupils showed great enthusiasm throughout and thoroughly enjoyed seeing their ideas come to life. To top it off, they were able to take their finished lamps home, giving them a real sense of pride in their work.

Year 10 pupils have been developing their metalworking skills through a hands-on project using sheet aluminium. They have been learning key techniques such as marking out, drilling, folding, and fabricating accurate designs. The project began with pupils making a metal dice as a focused practical task to build confidence and precision. They are now moving on to a larger challenge—designing and manufacturing a metal toolbox—where they will continue to apply and refine their skills. The pupils have shown excellent focus and creativity throughout the project.

After pulling the engine from the project bike and stripping the cylinder head, pupils found the exhaust valve bent, which explains the poor running. This meant valve replacements and valve seat grinding to get the engine back into shape before it could be refitted. With that done, pupils refitted the engine to the bike and are now tuning it to run properly with a new carburettor.

Everyone participating in this project so far has done a fantastic job considering the massive undertaking. They have all shown great resilience and amazing problem-solving skills, and continue to impress with their knowledge and eagerness to learn. Hopefully, good progress will continue, and pupils will have the bike ready for the race in May.

It's been another positive half term in PSHE. The weather might be grim and grey outside, but it's been bright and happy inside. This half term, Year 7 pupils have been working on their All About Me booklets, identifying not only the positive things in their lives, but also the things that are a challenge. There's been some great answers and I look forward to giving these back when the pupils are in Year 11! Year 8 have demonstrated a good understanding of discrimination and the impact of visible differences. Ask your young person what #Imnotyour villain means to them. We've also looked at children's rights across the world and identified which rights may have broken in different scenarios. Year 9 have been learning about the different relationships we have throughout our life, gaining a deeper understanding of platonic relationships, including short-term and long-term. We also been thinking about the roles in families and debating why there's no one meaning of family in today's society. Year 10 have engaged in mature discussions around immigration, fact checking myths about migration, and learning about extremism and consequences.

Next half term, we will be focusing on Health and Wellbeing schemes of work before the big summer term of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). You will all receive a letter towards the end of next half term, outlining what each year group will be learning about in RSE and we're looking at a parent/carer morning where you'll have the chance to discuss the content and ask any questions. Enjoy your week with your young people.

Gone is the idea of the library being a space that demands, ‘Silence, please,’ as Muntham has a secret that’s got out:

The library is more than a space for mastering reading or borrowing a book; our pupils spend their breaks or lunchtimes here.

Why? Has the school suddenly become overrun with bookworms?

Here in the library, as across Muntham House School, we know the importance of giving our boys a safe place to chill and play so we frequently welcome visitors who come to build Lego models, indulge in a little story-crafting (Yes! There are pupils who seek more time to do creative writing.), play Uno, or have their packed lunch in peace.

The library has an open-door policy during lunch and break periods, and it’s wonderful to welcome the pupils (and staff) who want just a few quiet minutes. You are all welcome.

On Monday 13th January Prept foundation visited us again. This time the focus for the MHC pupils was ‘How to plate like a chef. They made ‘Lemon & herb marinated & roasted chicken thighs, Jerusalem artichoke and beetroot puree, Steamed Winter greens, King oyster mushrooms, fondant potato and red wine jus’. They all created a punchy, earthy dish. Full of the comfort of the seasons. They used the stock they made from the roasted carcasses remaining from the previous class and reduced them with red wine (unmarked) to a jus. They used different cooking techniques: marinade, roast, baste, puree, confit. They created all elements of the dish and plated it together, they presented and garnished their dishes, making sure their mis-en-place was on point and ultimately plated it up like a pro chef, as you can see from the marvellous photos.

The café has continued to grow from strength to strength, boosted by us providing a card machine for payments. The Café menu itself has been varied this term, with the additions of Cornish pasties, Curry pasties, Lemon bars, Rocky road and really tasty bacon or sausage baps. So if you haven’t had breakfast it’s waiting for you.

Today were excited to share the launch of our brand-new blog, written especially for you by our pupils in animal therapy,

This space gives our boys the chance to tell their own stories-sharing their journey, their experiences, and what they get up to each month with our animals and the wonderful wildlife that surrounds our beautiful school.

Each post will be brought to life with fabulous photography thoughtfully documented and creatively designed, capturing the joy, growth and connection that happens here every day.

Our pupils who attend animal therapy each day work incredibly hard, this opportunity to celebrate their dedication, their growth, and strong relationships they build here, through their connections with our animals and surroundings, they develop confidence, trust, and a deep sense of belonging.

So, we do hope you’ll take the time to join us in animal therapy-to read listen. And interact with our brand- new pupil-led blog.

Hello my name is Oliver.

I have started to have an interest in animal photography since I started doing animal therapy, and going on wildlife walks in the woods and along some of the back fields just off school grounds.

On our walks we started to notice all the small birds and wildlife around us while we walked.

one day as we walked, we came across a heard of deer, we spent 10,15 minutes, watching them and it was just so relaxing, amazing to see when we got back, we looked up what type of deer they were, they were fallow deer and I’ve been hooked since, when we go out, I like to look and see what animals or birds we can see here are a few.

I have downloaded some pictures of the birds but these one I didn’t take shoots of

the names of the birds are tree creeper, (the tree mouse) nuthatch, goldcrest.

I wanted to take pictures of the birds but we don’t have a camera, but I have one at home,

so, on our days I started to learn about cameras and photography; by asking quotations and finding out about the camera I have at home so here is an experience that I have really enjoyed.

The other day I went down to knepp estate and did a couple walks on my final walk 2 white storks landed less then 100ft away from me behind some trees I went up to the trees and got my camera in the right position then got my shot. Camera Sony leans 30x zoom, 1/200 of a second. Here are some of the pictures.

White stork, captured at kneep , picture taken by Oliver AF. White stork are large birds with long legs migratory birds that were formally native to this region, reintroduction in the uk after disappearing from Britain in the 15th century.

Last breeding success in 2020 this is due to the white stork project beginning in 2016 at knepp estate in west Sussex, white storks have had success in hatching chicks in the uk for the first time in over 600 years.

The population at the Knepp Estate has grown to 20 pairs (Appearance) white plumage with black flight feather long red legs and a long red bill (Diet) earth worms, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and small fish. (Nesting) large stick nest which they often build on chimneys, trees or platforms. If you see a stork, this is cultural significance as they are known to symbolize Good luck, birth,

I also got a picture of their red deer, which was amazing to see

My next goal this year

We have also heard that there is leucistic some time mistaken for (white badger) and I wanted to see if we could find it and take a picture and of course you don’t often see them walking around, after a little bit of research we found out that badgers tend to stay about 500mm from their main set , so to find the set we printed a satellite map of the area and we , plotted our search area and we have been going over the area to see if we can find the main set , so we know where to stand for a picture.

This is the best way to look for them as they only tend to come out at night but it may take some time but to get a picture is worth the hard work and studying.

This is our search site. The yellow dot is our starting point, this is where we see the most snuffle marks signs of badgers looking for earthworms and insects. Our thought are if we look 500meters in each direction from this point we have a good chance of finding the main set.

Once we find the set we can then try and get a picture with my camera at set time during the evening in spring or summer as that’s when there more likely to be seen leaving there set without having to worry about light. Wish me luck.

There can be up to 6 badgers per set and the record is 35 in one set, we haven’t found it yet but we hopeful we will and we will keep searching.

Thank you for taking the time to read my tail if you have any quotations, please let us know and we will try and answer them for you

Thank you, Oliver AF

Miss Bishop is a qualified Swim Teacher, and we have recently been able to offer 1:1 or 1:2 swimming lessons for the pupils. We recognised the need for pupils who have lost confidence or are unable to swim.

We provide fun, playful, and skilful swimming practices to engage pupils, and so far, these have been very successful. We look forward to offering this to more pupils throughout the year.

So this half term it has been WET!! We have mud everywhere and not much is growing; however, Noah set up a stall selling the last remaining onions and carrots, a few pots of sweet peas sown in the autumn, and some saved mixed flower seeds for staff, raising £18. This will go towards a Lemon tree. This is something all the pupils who visit the garden have asked us to grow, so we will try.

We have begun sowing some Peas, an early variety that will hopefully produce a large crop in the poly tunnel well before the outside beds are productive.

We are experimenting with lots of different flower seeds. Patrick and Stanley, who are working towards an ASDAN qualification in gardening, want to grow and sell and gift Jam Jars of flowers later in the year.

The wet, cold weather has encouraged the birds into the garden, and all the pupils made fat balls during a cold week in January, messy but great fun.

We all observed the birds visiting the bird table and feeding station. The pupils recorded their sightings for the RSPB bird watch and were delighted to see Nuthatches, Robins, Blackbirds, and a Spotted woodpecker enjoying a feast.

We have all worked hard to achieve the Level 4 RHS schools award. We showed how we support wildlife in the garden, how gardening supports the wider curriculum, and how we share our produce with others.

I am really proud of how we all worked together to make this happen. Happy Gardening!

Well, it has been rather wet down in the Primary Forest School during this half-term to say the least! However, this hasn’t stopped us having a fabulous time, full of smiles and laughter.

We began the term recalling what we know about our red, orange and green dragons and our dragon’s sneeze to help keep us safe around our new campfire area.

We then joined in with the RSPB Birdwatch event by building our very own bird’s nests around Forest School and learning the names of some birds we just might spot.

Next came Red Squirrel Appreciation Day where we learned lots of interesting facts about these adorable animals including why they are so few in number.

We really enjoyed a wonderful game in which we had to find a missing red squirrel using our orienteering skills.

Then we celebrated a brand new Chinese Year - The Year of the Horse - by writing our favourite numbers in Chinese on stones and whittling our very own chopsticks.

The half-term finished with a lovely cooking activity for Valentine’s Day in which we cooked heart-shaped toast and added chocolate spread or strawberry jam. Another 6 weeks packed full to the brim!

If the Autumn term brought the cold, then the Spring term has brought the wet! It has rained non-stop for the last four weeks it seems, which has meant the Forest School area and any places for off-site trips have been incredibly boggy. Nevertheless, the boys have still shown a keenness to engage with the outdoors – with the necessary waterproofs and PPE on, of course.

There a heavy focus on respect during the half term’s work, inspired by the NOLA framework that Mr Imbert and Miss Page get the students to reflect on at the end of the term’s work (see below). The students created games together, respecting input on fairness and listening to ideas of rule changes, and explored nature through scavenger hunts where they further learnt to respect new aspects of the outdoors.

Year 10s DofE lessons are half the amount this year, due to a one day college placements taking place every week. Therefore, it’s nice to revisit some old, more bushcraft type activities! A highlight was having shelter building competitions. 10A had the luxury of doing this in some more tolerable weather outside, whereas 10B adapted and moved inside on a yellow weather warning.

The Year 9s have been building up their expedition skills, from practicing using the Trangia stoves to prepare simple meals, to heading out on short practice hikes to develop their compass and map skills and navigate themselves back to school after being dropped in random locations.

During Key Stage 3 P.E. this term, pupils focused on developing the Hands, Heart and Head through a range of engaging and alternative activities. Agility and flexibility were enhanced through fast-paced movement and dynamic gameplay, while communication under pressure was a key focus during competitive team situations. Pupils took part in alternative team games such as Danish Longball and Nerf-based activities, which required quick decision-making, clear communication and cooperation. Throughout these sessions, pupils demonstrated excellent teamwork, strong communication skills and improved focus and concentration, particularly when adapting to new rules and challenges.

During Key Stage 4 P.E., pupils completing the BTEC Level 1 Award focused on developing the Heart, Head and Hands through practical and leadership-based activities. Determination and resilience were a key focus, with pupils encouraged to transfer these qualities from sport into their day-to-day lives. Through analysing and adapting strategies in pressured sporting situations, pupils developed strong decision-making and problem-solving skills. As part of their assessment, pupils designed and delivered their own warm-up games to other pupils, demonstrating effective leadership, creativity and flexibility. These sessions highlighted their growing confidence and ability to lead others successfully.

Key Stage 5 pupils completing the Level 3 Diploma in Sport have begun a new module on Leadership in Sport. As part of this unit, pupils are researching and writing a report on different leadership styles, including democratic and autocratic, and analysing how various roles and jobs within sport use different approaches, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Pupils have demonstrated strong analytical and research skills, alongside a high standard of written work, showing a clear understanding of how leadership impacts performance and decision-making in sport.

We recently took two teams, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, to Buckswood School for a touch rugby fixture, and both groups represented the school brilliantly. Our KS4 team showed excellent leadership and determination throughout a tightly contested match, narrowly losing 9–6. Their passing along the line and ability to gain yardage improved noticeably as the game progressed. The KS3 team also put in a committed performance, falling 6–0 but featuring several new players experiencing competitive touch rugby for the first time. They gained valuable insight into the game and demonstrated great potential for future fixtures.

Muntham House School recently took a Year 8 team to a regional Dodgeball competition in West London, hosted by British Dodgeball, please see further details: https://britishdodgeball.org/year-7/8-secondary-schools-championships-pathway/ where winners qualify for the national event. The team fought tirelessly throughout the day, winning several sets and gaining valuable competitive experience. Although they faced some well-drilled private and mainstream schools who ultimately won the games, our pupils showed excellent teamwork and resilience in a series of tough matches. They successfully learned and followed the official British Dodgeball rules and gave their all in every game, demonstrating determination, sportsmanship and a never-give-up attitude. We will be starting Dodgeball Academy running Wednesday lunch times for Key stage 3 and 4 pupils. Muntham House are competing in the Key Stage 4 national competition in May so we will be training a team to compete. Year 9&10 Secondary Schools Championships - British Dodgeball

Our football teams have had a brilliant showing in the South London Special League this term. The Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Post-16 squads all put in strong performances, winning games and climbing up their respective league tables. The commitment, teamwork and determination on display has been fantastic to see. With more fixtures coming up next term, we’re hopeful that some of our teams can go all the way and secure their annual league titles.

The Football Academy has seen excellent attendance from pupils, with sessions focused on developing key technical skills such as passing and close control. Players have been immersed in a range of game scenarios designed to test their creativity in attacking situations and their discipline in defence. Pupils have responded positively to these challenges and have successfully transferred what they have learned in the Football Academy into competitive fixtures in the South London Special League, showing clear progress and confidence in match play.

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

Our Rugby Academy continues to go from strength to strength, with pupils showing fantastic commitment, teamwork, and resilience throughout the term. Training sessions have focused on developing core skills, game understanding, and physical conditioning, and it’s been brilliant to see players of all abilities making real progress. Match performances have reflected this hard work, with squads demonstrating discipline, creativity, and a growing confidence on the ball. Well done to all involved—keep pushing, keep learning, and keep enjoying your rugby! Next term there won’t be Rugby Academy, Wednesdays will now be Basketball Academy!

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

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

This half term has gone by remarkably quickly, and it has been a busy and enjoyable start to the year for the boys.

We returned after the Christmas break to a genuine surprise — our fish had babies. Two tiny fish were discovered hiding among the plants in the tank, which caused a lot of excitement. The pupils were keen to make sure they were kept safe, so we set up a nursery area, and everyone has enjoyed checking in and watching them grow over the past few weeks.

The weather has been fairly challenging, so we have adapted plans where needed and made good use of indoor activities. We have made lots of use of our pool table and fuse ball table, bowling and swimming trips have also been popular and have given everyone a chance to stay active despite the conditions.

One highlight was our “Boys’ Curry Night,” where Mr Johnson and the boys worked together to cook a curry from scratch. It was a successful evening and the finished dish was thoroughly enjoyed.

With outdoor time limited by the weather, both staff and pupils have been inventive in finding new ways to stay engaged. The latest creation has been a game called “Wall Ball,” developed by Mr Johnson and Jacob, which has quickly become a favourite and the cause of much laughter.

Overall, it has been a full and positive half term, with plenty of memorable moments along the way.

We were delighted to welcome the boys back after the school holidays. It was lovely to see them again and to hear all about the gifts they received for Christmas and the quality time they spent with their families.

Despite the bad weather, we have kept the boys busy with a wide range of activities, both on trips out and during time spent on floor. Our indoor sessions included baking, where the boys made chocolate chip cookies shortbread, muffins and a Victoria sponge. The highlight was our first freshly baked loaf of bread-Louis did and amazing job, and it tasted delicious. We also introduced a variety of games to support leaning, making it a fun and engaging experience for everyone.

We have enjoyed several trips out this half term. The boys had great fun at the skate park on their scooters, and swimming was a firm favourite especially riding the flumes and relaxing in the whirlpool. A trip to the cinema to see Zootopia 2 was also a big hit, with everyone thoroughly enjoying the film.

To round of half term, we visited Jump in. All of the boys took part, and Caiden particularly impressed us on the assault course-his Parkour sessions have clearly paid off. We went to McDonalds afterwards which was a treat for all.

We are now looking forward to the second half of term and, hopefully some better weather so we can spend more time outdoors.

This half term has certainly kept us on our toes, with the wet weather doing its best to dampen our plans. Despite the constant drizzle, spirits have remained high, and we’ve been making the most of our indoor spaces. The new pool table has quickly become a favourite, revealing a few budding cueists who are already showing impressive skill and friendly competitiveness.

Our culinary adventures have also taken centre stage. Pupils have been cooking and baking a range of treats, producing some genuine culinary masterpieces that everyone has enjoyed sampling. These shared activities continue to strengthen our sense of community, helping young people develop their social skills, build confidence, and deepen their understanding of one another.

It hasn’t all been indoor fun, though. Whenever the weather has allowed, we’ve been out exercising and keeping active. Boxing lessons and circuit training have been a brilliant outlet for energy and a great way for some of our pupils to build fitness and resilience.

With GCSEs fast approaching, our Year 11 pupils have been working particularly hard. Their dedication is already paying off, as reflected in their strong contributions and achievements during the recent mock exams. Their focus and determination have been impressive, and we’re proud of the progress they’re making.

So, it’s been a busy and productive half term, with plenty achieved and plenty more still to come. We’re all looking forward to seeing the sun make a return soon bringing with it the chance to get outdoors, have fun, make memories, and finally dry out our clothes.