HPS Headlines

This term seems to have flown by, filled with events, fixtures, trips and plenty of excitement inside and outside of the classroom. It was only this week that the darkness of the mornings really struck me and my assembly this week was a useful reminder to celebrate the Winter Solstice and not just see it as a relief that it had passed by and the days were getting longer again.

So often, we whizz through the days and weeks not taking the time to notice the little things – how much the boys have grown in confidence, their improved scores or their willingness to try new things.

As we come to the end of this term, I encourage you to take some time to ask your son what his intention was for this term, what has gone well and what would be even better if. Then encourage him to be the pilot for the term ahead when we look forward to seeing all the exciting things to come!

Kind regards

Mrs Gemma Anderson

Headteacher

What a wonderfully busy and joyful half term it has been in Early Years! The boys have thrown themselves into every activity with great enthusiasm, and we’ve loved seeing their curiosity and confidence grow. We rounded off the term with some truly festive fun, from seasonal crafts and celebrations to a very special visit from Santa himself!

Thank you to all our Early Years families for your support throughout the term. We wish you a very merry Christmas and a restful, happy holiday season.

Nursery and Reception Spread Christmas Cheer

Our Nursery and Reception boys truly stole the show on Monday with their delightful Christmas performance for parents. The boys were remarkable, performing with confidence, enthusiasm and huge smiles that captured the very essence of the Christmas spirit.

The audience was absolutely delighted by how well the boys did. Their singing, actions and joyful expressions brought festive cheer to everyone watching, and it was clear how much effort they had put into rehearsals. For many of our youngest boys, this was a wonderful achievement and a proud moment to share with family and friends.

We are incredibly proud of how the boys embraced the occasion with such warmth and excitement. A huge well done to all the boys!

Our Year 1 and Year 2 boys lit up the stage this week with their wonderful Christmas production of Beep, Beep Bethlehem. From the very first song to the final bow, the boys performed with confidence, charm and wholehearted enthusiasm, capturing the spirit of the festive season beautifully.

Their storytelling, singing and acting were a joy to watch, with each boy playing his part to perfection—whether guiding the audience on a lively journey to Bethlehem or delivering lines with humour and heart. The colourful costumes, catchy music and expressive performances created a truly memorable show that was warmly received by families and staff alike.

A huge well done to all the boys for their hard work and dedication during rehearsals. It was a delightful reminder of the magic of Christmas and the wonderful talent within our younger years.

Our Upper School Year 3-8 boys gathered in Trinity Church, Sutton, for our annual Homefield Carol Concert on Wednesday evening and the performance was filled with joy and festive spirit from start to finish. The boys sang beautifully and there was an impressive array of instrumental items demonstrating the high standards of both vocal and instrumental work at Homefield.

Here are some reflections from boys:

Year 3:

Nufail - I liked the 'Hallelujah' song and wanted to hear it again and again.

Alexander - All of the songs were so good that they got stuck in my head!

Michael - I liked the chorus of 'Love Shone Down' as it felt like the whole song lifted up.

Ryan T - My Mum practiced singing every day and I was proud of her.

Year 4:

Adam - Singing the songs made me feel mature.

Ryan - Playing in Chamber Orchestra was fantastic.

Tise - I really liked it when Years 5 and 6 sang the high notes at the end of 'O come all ye faithful'.

Philip E - I really like performing 'Rudolf' on the trumpet, especially when we took turns.

Aarib - I thought the 'Hallelujah' singing was amazing.

The boys in Early Years and Year 1 have been busy crafting throughout the Autumn Term, producing a wonderful collection of artistic works. Their fabulous creations showcase imagination, care and a real sense of pride in what they have made, and it is clear that we have some budding artists in our midst.

Many thanks to Mrs Hebben and Mrs Fisher for their inspiration, encouragement and guidance, which have helped nurture the boys’ creativity and bring their ideas to life.

Our Year 1 boys enjoyed an exciting and immersive day out at Brooklands Museum, diving into the fascinating world of transport through the ages. From the moment they arrived, the boys were captivated by the incredible collection on display, from beautifully preserved vintage vehicles to cutting-edge racing and super cars.

The visit offered a wonderful opportunity for the boys to see the evolution of engineering up close. They were able to compare early motorcars with today’s high-tech machines. The hands-on exhibits and knowledgeable museum guides helped bring history to life, sparking curiosity and plenty of thoughtful questions.

The boys returned to school buzzing with enthusiasm, inspired by the ingenuity, creativity and innovation that have shaped transport over time. It was a memorable trip that blended learning with genuine excitement, fueling both their imaginations and their understanding of how technology continues to move us forward.

Did your son share some Homefield boys’ stories from 60 years ago last Wednesday evening?

On the 3rd December, we were honoured to welcome back ten Homefield Old Boys’ from the 'Class of 1965'. They enjoyed a full tour of the school, sang carols, and took part in a lively Q and A session with the boys. Everyone was hugely impressed by the confidence, curiosity and wide range of opportunities our boys enjoy today.

The Old Boys' were pleased to see that “House loyalty is as strong as ever”, with huge cheers and jeers every time a House was mentioned, and it was deeply moving to see friendships still going strong after six decades.

Homefield is delighted to welcome PAPAYA (Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adults) for an important and engaging parent talk, during the Spring term.

This workshop, “Let’s Talk About Our Kids & Their Tech,” is particularly relevant for parents of children in Year 5 upwards.

PAPAYA Talks offers a safe, non-judgmental space for parents to explore the challenges of screen time, smartphones, and social media. The session provides:

• Clear, research-backed insights on children’s mental health and digital habits
• Practical strategies for managing tech use at home
• Guidance on setting healthy digital boundaries
• Open and honest discussion (adults only)

PAPAYA works closely with the national Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, a growing movement uniting families, schools and communities who want to give children more space to grow, learn and thrive free from addictive algorithms.

Booking: Please click https://shorturl.at/UrSbb to book your place online.

We have just received confirmation of how Homefield boys have fared in the 'Bebras Challenge'.

The 'Bebras Challenge' introduces computational thinking to students worldwide. This exciting contest takes place in schools, under the supervision of teachers, over a two-week period every November. Last year, over 3 million students from more than 80 countries participated!

In the UK, the challenge is open to all young people aged 6 to 19. Each participant has 45 minutes to tackle a series of interactive tasks, designed to encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate for their age group. The challenge is conducted online, and tasks are marked automatically by our competition system.

The tasks are designed to allow every student the opportunity to showcase their potential, whether they excel in maths or computing, or not.

We can announce that Jaka N (6S) has won a gold award, along with Aidan A (5H) who was also ranked as ‘Best in School’. Nine boys received Distinctions: Jason H (5H), Haroon E (5H), Dhruv A (5H), Zaviaan K (5H), Lucas C (6S) Charles P (6S), Yusuf B (6S), Ethan B(6S), Ralph S (6S). The following boys received Merits: Alex B (5H), Viyan B (5H), Harin T (5H), Remo R (5H) and Rahul D (5H).

Certificates will be awarded to all participants in the New Year. Well done, boys!

Cubs: Rishan for following our Homefield values and being a great member of Cubs.

Lions: Gregory for showing resilience and determination to communicate in English, working really hard to extend his English vocabulary.

Tigers: Zayan T for consistently demonstrating the Homefield values, particularly kindness and respect.

Our Homefield ‘Hero of the Term’ is Finn for consistently demonstrating all of our Homefield values, especially kindness and endeavour.

1H: Aidan H for phenomenal effort and focus in science when learning about the life cycle of a frog and Aari for demonstrating the Homefield values consistently all term.

2H: Theo for exemplifying our values of respect and kindness in his words and actions and Ali for demonstrating the Homefield values consistently all term.

2S: Adam for demonstrating the Homefield values consistently all term.

Year 1 and Year 2: whole class Homefield Heroes for the boys' fantastic performance in ‘Beep, Beep Bethlehem’.

3H: Dylan for demonstrating excellent manners and respect.

3S: Eashaan for working hard across all lessons.

4H: Abhinav for hard work and focus in English.

4S: Angus for his kind manners and friendliness to all teachers.

The following boys have been commended for consistently demonstrating the Homefield values throughout the Autumn term. They have been excellent role models to their classmates and therefore are 'Homefield Heroes of the Term': Freddie (3H), Daniel (3S), Qisen (4H) and Rohan (4S).

5H: Remo for dedication in the carol concert rehearsals and Dhruv is the ‘Hero of the Term’ for consistently demonstrating all Homefield values.

5S: Kiran for effort in TPR and Roshan for engagement in maths lessons. Ryan is the ‘Hero of the Term’ for exemplifying endeavour every week.

6H: Aun for quality writing in English, Ansh for showing endeavour in geography and English and Jai for excellent writing in English. Matthew is the ‘Hero of the Term’ for exemplifying integrity throughout the second half term.

6S: Ralph for commitment in reasoning and Ethan is the ‘Hero of the Term’ for remaining focused throughout all lessons and consistently trying his best.

8MMC: Justinus T for consistent effort across a variety of subjects and Rudy G for consistent great effort. Rudy is also our ‘Hero of the Term’ for his contributions to the school community.

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

Children's Mental Health Week 2026 runs from February 9th to February 15th and we would like to know if you, or someone you know could run a workshop/talk/ assembly for our boys. The theme this year is 'This Is My Place'.

If you:

• are a doctor or work in the health profession
• are a musician or play in a band
• are a yoga or mindfulness instructor
• are someone who has made a career from doing what you love
• are anything else you feel fits the theme...we would love to hear from you!

Year 5 have been enthusiastically putting the finishing touches to their magnification project, exploring the concept of magnification and using it as a source of creative inspiration. By closely observing their subjects, the boys produced detailed close-up drawings, effectively “magnifying by eye” to capture texture, pattern and fine detail.

The project culminated in the creation of beautifully framed artworks, with several pieces featuring a festive theme. The results are striking and showcase both the boys’ developing artistic skills and their imaginative approach to the task.

What a fantastic way to finish the season! The boys showed brilliant spirit, teamwork and determination across all fixtures, and it was a pleasure to see how far they have come.

Red Team – 2 : 2

The Red Team produced a thrilling performance, finishing with a well-earned 2–2 draw. Two outstanding goals from Bertie lit up the match, both taken with confidence and real attacking flair. Freddie was deservedly named ‘Player of the Match’ for his tireless work rate, clever distribution and calm leadership throughout. Special mentions also go to Shaan and Ethan from Year 2, who stepped up brilliantly and made a real impact against older opposition.

Blue Team – 8 : 4

What a second half! After going in level at half-time, the Blue Team exploded into action, pulling away with a superb attacking display. A fantastic hat-trick from Oliver, another brilliant hat-trick from Shahmeer, and two well-taken goals from Reuben secured a dominant 8–4 victory. Joshua was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his composure, awareness and excellent all-round play.

Yellow Team – 0 : 2

The Yellow Team battled hard in a tight contest but were edged out 0–2. Despite the scoreline, there was plenty to admire. Rishaan worked tirelessly from start to finish, showing real determination, and Ariz M fully earned his ‘Player of the Match’ accolade with some superb defensive work.

Green Team – 1 : 2

A narrow defeat for the Greens, who showed great passion and spirit throughout. Daniel scored a wonderful goal to keep the team in contention. Nufail, our ‘Player of the Match’, demonstrated great emotional maturity and commitment, leading by example and giving everything for his team.

A Brilliant End to the Season. Well done to all the Year 3 boys for a superb final set of fixtures. The growth in teamwork, confidence and skill over the year has been outstanding.

Patrick N (Year 4) recently had the exciting opportunity to take part in his very first stage performance, appearing in a production entitled 'Zoom' — a modern and imaginative adaptation of the classic tale 'The Hare and the Tortoise'.

Patrick rose to the challenge with confidence and enthusiasm, embracing the experience of performing in front of an audience and bringing the story to life on stage. The production offered a fresh and energetic take on the well-known fable, and Patrick’s involvement marked a fantastic personal achievement and a memorable milestone in his performing journey.

We are delighted to celebrate Patrick’s success and look forward to seeing him continue to grow in confidence and creativity both on and off the stage.

Homefield hosted girls from Sutton High School for a friendly game of chess last Friday afternoon.

The following boys represented Homefield I the main match play:

William P (Year 4), Surya B (Year 5), Lavann S (Year 4), Jaka N (Year 6), Alex B (Year 5), Abhinav S (Year 4), Ishaan P (Year 3), Alan T (Year 4) and Elijah F (Year 5).

With further assistance in ‘friendly games’ from the following boys:

Andrey D (Year 4), Louis K (Year 5), Shivam R (Year 4) and Idris B (Year 3).

Final Match score was Homefield 4 - 5 SHS.

The match could not have been closer as it went down to the final move of the final game! Homefield had held the advantage and it looked like we would squeeze out a 5 – 4 victory, but the resilient Sutton HS team pipped us to the post.

As we approach the final sprint to the end of term (coffee in hand, mince pie crumbs everywhere), we thought you might enjoy a small dose of festive cheer from all of us at Homefield.

We’ve put together a Christmas e-card — a short, merry moment of seasonal sparkle which can be viewed via: https://youtu.be/7toz6mbKa2g

Wishing all the Homefield family a joyful festive break and a bright New Year filled with opportunity.

Western Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TE

+44 020 8642 0965

administration@homefieldprep.school