HPS Headlines

A huge thank you to the Homefield Association and all their supporters for a wonderful fireworks display last Friday. After a day at Verulamium with Year 6, it was great to return to a playground bubbling with activity and anticipation for what proved to be a fantastic display. Thank you to all who came, supported, manned stalls and made the event such a great success. We sold more tickets than in any recent year and welcomed our highest number of parent volunteers too, with every year group represented!

It has been a pleasure to welcome some parents in to have lunch with their sons this week to sample the food on offer and see “lunch in action”. The remainder of this term is busy with plenty of events, so please keep your eye on the calendar for updates. You may have noticed that we have moved this term’s 'Book Looks' to the afternoon in an attempt to spread parental morning commitments in the final week; we will be reverting to mornings for the remainder of the academic year.

Kind regards

Gemma Anderson (Mrs)

Headteacher

Thank you for ensuring your son arrives promptly for the start of the school day at 8:20am.

To help pupils in Years 1-6 reach their form rooms more quickly, from now on the school gate will be locked at 8:25am, rather than 8:30am. Any boys arriving after this time will enter via the main reception, which provides a quicker route to their form room and helps them arrive before registration closes at 8:30am.

Please note that our registration and late-arrival times are not changing. This adjustment relates only to the entrance pupils should use after 8:25am.

Our Nursery boys have had a fantastic start to the second half of the Autumn term! We began by exploring the celebrations of Diwali and Bonfire Night, enjoying lots of exciting activities along the way. The boys had great fun making delicious coconut balls for Diwali and exploring our different tough trays, which were filled with plenty of glitter, colour and excitement!

A big thank you to all the parents who joined us last week to explore your sons' learning environment. It was lovely to see the department so busy and full of excitement.

This week, we have started our new topic all about 'Our Senses', focusing particularly on hearing and sight. We have also introduced our new phonics sound, 't'. The boys have been busy creating their very own tigers to help reinforce their recognition and learning of this sound.

We have also begun learning the songs for our upcoming Nativity, Baarmy Bethlehem. The boys are already enjoying getting into the Christmas spirit and we are looking forward to sharing their special performance with you!

Since returning to school, we have had a very busy and exciting couple of weeks in Reception! The boys have enjoyed learning all about Bonfire Night, discussing the importance of firework safety and exploring the different colours, shapes and patterns that fireworks create. They particularly enjoyed experimenting with mark-making in glitter and creating their very own sparkly firework pictures!

We have also spent time celebrating and learning about Diwali, the Festival of Light. The boys explored the meaning and traditions behind the festival, creating their own beautiful diyas, colourful rangoli patterns and mehndi designs. It was lovely to see them embracing the different traditions and developing an appreciation of the special message behind the celebration.

As we marked Remembrance Day, the boys took time to think about the importance of remembering those who have served and sacrificed for others. They created their own poppy wreaths as a way of recognising and showing respect for this important occasion.

A big thank you to all the parents who joined us for our recent Open Classroom event. The boys were so proud to welcome you into their learning environment and show off all the wonderful things they have been getting up to. We hope you enjoyed seeing a little glimpse into their busy days in Reception!

It has been a fantastic start to the new half term, with lots of exciting learning, creativity and new experiences. We are looking forward to the coming weeks as we begin the magical build-up to the festive season!

Bring younger siblings to our fun Stay & Play sessions, and please spread the word to friends and family considering Homefield for their boys!

https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/stay--and-play

English

This week, we enjoyed our very first comprehension lesson! The boys were asked to answer questions about our story, Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. They did a fantastic job of writing their answers in their workbooks, and we were so impressed with the thoughtful responses they came up with. Well done, boys!

We have also been incredibly impressed with the effort the boys have put into learning their very first set of spellings! They took part in their first spelling test and did so well! It was lovely to see how hard they had worked and how confidently they approached the test. Well done, everyone!

History

In History, we have moved on to our exciting new topic, 'The History of London'. The boys have loved sharing everything they already know about London and have really enjoyed learning about how the city has changed over time. It has been wonderful to hear their ideas and see their enthusiasm as we discover more about London's fascinating history!

The boys have had another fantastic couple of weeks in Year 2, showing great enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards their learning! In English, they have begun reading our new core text, The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl. They have really enjoyed making predictions about the story, thinking about which superpower they would choose and justifying their ideas, as well as developing their understanding of characters and their personalities.

In maths, the boys have continued to develop their addition and subtraction skills, exploring a range of different methods and strategies to solve calculations, while also working hard to develop their understanding of worded problems.

In TPR, they have been learning about stewardship and what it means to be a steward of our world, thinking about how we can all take responsibility for looking after our planet.

In geography, the boys have been exploring the human and physical features of South America, making comparisons between our own lives and those of people living in the rainforest.

The boys have also enjoyed taking part in a range of fun and creative activities to celebrate Bonfire Night and Diwali, learning about the different traditions and celebrations associated with these special occasions.

Alongside all of this, preparations for our Christmas production are well underway! The boys have begun rehearsing and have already impressed staff with their enthusiasm, energy and willingness to get involved. We are so proud of all their hard work and the positive attitude they have shown over the last two weeks. Well done, Year 2!

It was wonderful welcoming our Year 1 and 2 parents this week for our first in a series of 'Lunch with Your Son' events.

It was a great opportunity for families to join their sons and sample our school catering.

Year 6 have officially finished building their Bagatelle boards in DT. It’s all about the test runs now!

The craftsmanship on display has been brilliant. Because every single board is unique, it's so much fun hearing where the boys got their ideas from. Well done to everyone for some wonderfully creative ideas.

Year 3 have been letting their imaginations shine in the art room this week! The boys have enjoyed exploring ideas and expressing their creativity, bringing their own individual touches to their artwork. It has been lovely to see their enthusiasm and pride in their creations.

Anti-Bullying Week: Boys Standing Together

Anti-Bullying Week is an important opportunity to remind boys that being strong means being kind, respectful and standing up for others. Bullying can affect anyone, and no boy should feel pressured to hide his emotions, act tough or suffer in silence. Every boy deserves to feel safe, accepted and valued for who he is. Together, we can challenge stereotypes, build positive friendships and create an environment where everyone feels supported.

· Be kind: Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their appearance, interests or background.

· Speak up: If you see someone being bullied, safely stand up for them or tell a trusted adult.

· Show respect: Understand that words and actions can hurt, even when someone says it is “just a joke.”

· Support each other: Check in on your friends and remind them that it is okay to talk about their feelings.

· Be yourself: You do not have to act tough or hide your emotions to prove you are strong.

· Think before you post: Never use social media or group chats to embarrass, threaten or hurt someone.

· Choose kindness over popularity: Being a good friend is more important than fitting in with the crowd.

Remember: Real strength is not about putting others down; it is about lifting them up. Be a mate, not a bully.

Music is a vibrant and highly valued part of life at Homefield, with individual tuition giving our boys the chance to build confidence and shine in our many concerts throughout the year.

If your son feels inspired to try an instrument, feel free to visit the Music page on our website to see what is on offer.

Individual instrumental lessons provide boys with the opportunity to develop their musical skills under the guidance of experienced specialist teachers, whether they are beginners or already progressing with an instrument.

Beyond the enjoyment of learning music, there is a growing body of evidence highlighting the wider academic benefits of instrumental tuition. Regular one-to-one lessons support the development of concentration, memory, and discipline—skills that transfer directly into the classroom. Music study also strengthens mathematical understanding through rhythm and pattern, enhances language processing, and encourages perseverance and self-confidence.

At Homefield, we value the important role music plays in a well-rounded education. Peripatetic lessons not only nurture creativity and self-expression but also contribute meaningfully to academic progress and personal development.

If you would like to find out more or secure a place, please visit: https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/music-and-drama

Our U10 footballers enjoyed an excellent afternoon of football against Tower House, in what was the first time the two schools had met on the football pitch. There was plenty to celebrate across all four teams, with some fantastic goals, determined defending and great teamwork on show throughout.

A Team – Game 1: Won 2–1

The ‘A’ team got off to a flying start with a well-deserved 2–1 victory. Leo opened the scoring with a superb free kick, before Ares added another excellent goal straight from a corner. Andrew was outstanding at the back, putting in a fantastic defensive performance to help secure the win.

A Team – Game 2: Drew 2–2

The second ‘A’ team fixture was another entertaining contest, finishing 2–2. Freddie produced a moment of real quality with an amazing strike from distance, while Leo also found the back of the net with another well-taken goal. Patrick deserves special mention for his excellent defending and determination throughout.

B Team – Won 1–0

The ‘B’ team continued the positive results with a hard-fought 1–0 victory. Noah scored the all-important goal, while Kai and Yuri both impressed with some excellent play and teamwork. It was a great team performance, with everyone contributing to a well-earned win.

C Team – Drew 4–4

The ‘C’ team were involved in a thrilling eight-goal encounter, eventually sharing the points in a 4–4 draw. Lavann got himself on the scoresheet before Alan stole the show with a fantastic hat-trick. There was plenty of attacking intent and some excellent football on display in what was an entertaining match for the spectators.

D Team – Drew 0–0

The ‘D’ team rounded off the afternoon with a determined performance in a goalless draw. Aarib was deservedly named Man of the Match for his outstanding defensive work, showing great commitment, discipline and determination to keep a clean sheet.

Overall

A very positive afternoon for the U10s, with two wins and three draws across the four teams. It was particularly pleasing to see the boys demonstrating such enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship against new opposition. There were some wonderful individual moments, from spectacular goals to excellent defensive displays, but most importantly, the boys represented the school brilliantly.

A fantastic effort from everyone involved – well done, U10s!

On Friday 16th October, the Year 5 and 6 cross country teams travelled to Epsom College to compete in the Epsom College Cross Country Championships. The weather was fantastic and all the boys did Homefield proud. In the Year 5 team, Sami top scored, finishing 26th out of 200 competitors, a super effort. Freddie W - 62nd, Ares – 105th, Leo- 132nd, Zaid -141st and William H came143rd in a very strong group of runners from over thirty schools.

In the Year 6 team Homefield’s highest position went to Alex -91st and then Zavi -129th, Ryan- 141st, Ivaan 157th and Mikael 165th.

Well done, boys!

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/. 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.

Reception: Jeona for fantastic listening, participation and attention to detail when learning about Bonfire Night. Well done! Freddie for brilliant effort and dedication with your letter formation and early writing skills. Well done!

1H: Rufus for his increasing resilience when completing tasks independently and Myren for endeavour in our English lessons and trying really hard to write his sentences independently.

1S: Dev for demonstrating independence and resilience across all areas of school life and Caleb for excellent endeavour with his spellings.

2H: Austin for settling into Homefield life really well and doing his best to follow our Homefield values and Riyaan for exemplifying our value of kindness and being super helpful during lunchtime to help a younger boy.

2S: Oviyan for working hard in lessons and doing great listening and Adam for making excellent contributions in history lessons.

3H:-Arib for excellent participation and enthusiasm in geography lessons and Philo for excellent effort in geography.

3S: Tarin for showing kindness when helping boys in the younger years with their football skills at lunch time and Theo for excellent effort in sports lessons.

4H: Tian for displaying excellent endeavour in lessons and working hard to achieve goals and Fawaz for showing effort and resilience in maths.

4S: Yangming for making an excellent return in Autumn 2 particularly in maths and games and Rishaan for showing great focus and effort in English lessons

5H: William P for demonstrating endeavour by contributing and kindness by helping out around the classroom and Leo for demonstrating endeavour and resilience in many subjects.

5S: Tise for demonstrating kindness by looking after his peers and William for demonstrating endeavour in English by challenging himself to write in more detail.

6H: Yohaan for demonstrating endeavour by consistently contributing to maths discussions and Ryan for demonstrating endeavour by striving to achieve more in each maths lesson.

6S: Advik for demonstrating endeavour by seeking feedback on an assessment completed over the half term break and Arish for demonstrating integrity and kindness by being polite and helpful around the school.

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: https://debatechamber.com/calendar-by-subject/

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

We know that for many families, the morning and afternoon school run is also an ideal opportunity to give their much-loved four-legged member of the family their daily walk. However, we would be grateful if parents could please help us by not bringing dogs onto the school premises during morning drop-off or afternoon dismissal. This includes dogs that can be carried.

Even the friendliest and most well-behaved dog can be unsettling for a child who is nervous around animals, and some members of our school community may have allergies. Drop-off and dismissal are busy times, with large numbers of children and adults moving around the site and keeping the school grounds dog-free at this busy time helps us to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.

If you do bring your dog with you on the school run, please keep them securely on a lead on the public pathways outside the school. We would also ask that dogs are not tied up or left unattended close to the school gates, where a large number of children pass by.

Naturally, assistance dogs are an exception, and any parent or visitor who needs to bring an assistance dog onto the premises is very welcome to contact the School in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

We know that dogs are very much part of the family, and this rule is not intended to be unfriendly, but is a small measure which helps us to look after everyone in the Homefield community.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

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.

Looking for a fun and active way for your child to spend their Wednesday after school? To celebrate the start of the new academic year, Playball is offering a FREE trial to any Homefield Prep child who has never attended a Playball club before! Children can enjoy a fun, energetic after school session while developing their sports skills, coordination, confidence and teamwork through their progressive multi-sport activities.

FREE TRIAL — NO OBLIGATION TO BOOK!

If your child has never tried Playball before, why not give it a go?

To book your FREE trial, simply email Ben at manager@playballpurley.com with:

FREE TRIAL – [Child's Name] – [School & Year Group]

They will then get back to you to confirm their place. 👍

📅 Wednesday after school

Ben Holgate (Coach Holgy)

Owner

Playball Purley, Wallington & Coulsdon LTD

www.playballkids.com

Please ensure that the school office has an up‑to‑date record of all adults who have permission to collect your son from school.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and smooth collection process.

To view details of our weekly menus and the weekly music timetable, please visit:

https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/information-for-parents

Western Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TE

+44 020 8642 0965

administration@homefieldprep.school