HPS Headlines

Dear Parents

It is with great sadness that I’m writing to tell you that Mrs Lisa Colgate, the previous Assistant Head Academic, passed away at the end of March. Mrs Colgate was the Head of English for several years before assuming the role of Assistant Head. As Head of English, she ensured World Book Day was a highlight of the school’s calendar, always wearing wonderful costumes such as Violet Beauregarde, which will forever live in people’s memories.

Her son Oli was a pupil here from 2011-2021 and the family were a huge part of the community. Whilst I never worked with her personally, I feel as if I knew her from the endless kind words and huge respect staff had for her. She left a lasting imprint on the school and was responsible for great innovations in the school’s teaching and learning before she had to take early retirement last academic year. In her honour, we will be awarding the Colgate Cup for Endeavour in English at this year’s Prize Giving.

Form tutors have shared the sad news with boys in Year 8 and we told them we would be telling parents also. Please do use the weekend to check in with your son and let us know if they would benefit from some emotional support at school.

To commemorate Mrs Colgate, we will be inaugurating a cup in her honour to be awarded at prize-giving – The Colgate Cup for Endeavour in English’.

Kind regards

Gemma Anderson (Mrs)

Headteacher

Do please click on the following link to join Mrs Anderson and members of the SLT at coffee mornings for your son’s year group.

Please submit any questions or talking points you would like to raise, in advance, on the RSVP form. We look forward to welcoming you to the school.

https://shorturl.at/2kch3

Nursery have had a wonderful time exploring their new topic ‘All About the Farm’. The boys have been learning about the different animals that live on a farm and enjoyed talking about their favourites.

They have also been practising their counting skills by counting animals in stories, helping to build their confidence with numbers in a fun and engaging way. As part of their learning, the boys focused on the story of ‘The Three Little Pigs’, where they explored the different materials used to build the pigs’ houses and discussed which might be the strongest. The boys particularly loved using the small world tray to act out the story showing great imagination and enthusiasm in their play.

We have also had a very special experience in Nursery, as the boys have been helping to look after our seven chicks. They have shown such care and responsibility, handling them very gently and taking a keen interest in watching them grow.

In Reception, our topic 'Big Wide World” has been all about exploring the world around us. The boys have been learning about different countries, environments, and animals, developing their understanding of the wider world through discussions, stories, and activities.

In maths, we have focused on positional language and directions. The boys have been using tools such as the Marty Robot and remote-control cars to practice giving and following directions, helping them build confidence in understanding concepts like forwards, backwards, left, and right in a fun and practical way.

On Saturday 25th April, fifteen boys from Homefield had the privilege of representing the school at the London Mini Marathon, an event that continues to inspire young athletes from across the capital. Blessed with a glorious sunny day, the conditions were ideal, and the atmosphere was nothing short of electric.

Our team comprised Yusuf, Ethan, Jai, Finnlay, Lucas, Benji, Alex, Zaviaan, Ethan, Ivaan, Ryan, Freddie, Sami, Bertie and Freddie F. Each boy approached the occasion with enthusiasm, determination, and a strong sense of camaraderie.

From the moment they arrived, it was clear they were ready to embrace both the challenge and the excitement of the day. The course, lined with enthusiastic supporters, provided a constant source of encouragement, and the cheers from the crowd undoubtedly spurred the boys on to give their very best efforts.

Each runner demonstrated resilience and commitment, embodying the values we strive to instill through sport at Homefield. While individual performances were commendable, it was the collective spirit of the team that stood out most. The boys supported one another throughout, celebrating each other’s achievements and fully embracing the experience.

Events like the London Mini Marathon are about far more than just competition; they are about participation, enjoyment, and personal growth. It was particularly pleasing to see how much the boys relished the occasion, crossing the finish line with smiles on their faces and a genuine sense of accomplishment.

I would like to congratulate all fifteen boys on their efforts and exemplary conduct. They were outstanding ambassadors for Homefield, and we are immensely proud of their achievements. My thanks also go to the staff and parents whose support helped make the day such a memorable and enjoyable experience for all involved.

Mr D Matthews - Director of Sport

Over the past two terms, the boys at Homefield have been putting in outstanding effort to fundraise for a charity very close to my heart. On the 10th May, I will be participating in the Marsden March in memory of my dad. I am so incredibly proud of all of the boys who raised money to help the Royal Marsden continue to provide care for those battling cancer.

In such a short span of time, 24 boys have managed to raise around £4000 for such a wonderful cause. From Year 1 all the way up to Year 8 we have had fantastic contributions, and it has been so wonderful and heartwarming to know what a brilliant community we have here at Homefield.

I wanted to give a shout out to all the boys who have demonstrated resilience and kindness when raising money. I hope they all feel incredibly proud of the work they have done:

Year 1: Laurence and Aryan

Year 2: Shrey, Kabir, Azai and Oliver

Year 3: Alex, Ariz, Aarush, Bertie, Freddie and Ali

Year 4: Lavann, Subir, and William S

Year 5: Alex

Year 6: Agastya, Yahya, James, Keshav, Finnlay and Charles

Year 8: Nitin and Justinus

Amazingly, this is not all that has been done to raise money! Two groups of boys, completely of their own volition, have decided to take part in the Marsden March, and have raised an astounding amount of money, bringing the total of all groups associated with the school to over £7000!

A big thank you to both the Homefield Musketeers and Heroic Homefield Hikers for their contributions and resilience! I am wishing all of you the best of luck on the 10th May and cannot wait to see pictures and hear about how it went!

Homefield Musketeers:

· Stephen

· Aari

· Rana

· Riyaan

Heroic Homefield Hikers:

· Kylesh

· Freddie

· Andrew

· Patrick

· Tise

· Philip P

· Philip E

· Noah

· Alex (from Yr 1)

· William P

I would like to say a sincere thank you. At Homefield, we promote resilience as a core value, and the support of such a wonderful community truly inspires me as I approach the 10th May. While not everyone was able to fundraise, the respect and kindness shown by the boys over the past two terms, whether in assemblies or lessons, has been remarkable, and a real reflection that being a Homefield boy is about far more than academics or sport.

https://march.royalmarsden.org/fundraisers/jessicalane/marsden-march-2026

Hopefully I have managed to thank everyone and share my thoughts on all those who have taken part - if you have been fundraising and do not see your name - please do drop me an email as I would love to speak to you as well. There really are no words to truly express my gratitude, but thank you,

Miss J Lane

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.

Well done to the Science Quiz Club team comprising Jaka, Kenon, Aiden and Kiyaan who competed in the semi-finals of the Years 5 and 6 Quiz Club competition.

They came a very respectable 4th out of 48 teams and so qualify for the finals taking place in Oxford, in June. Well done, boys.

Tigers: Jaziel for excellent independent writing in our new topic ‘Big Wide World’ and Oswald, for great endeavour in a writing task this week, producing a super piece of work!

Reception: Emil: for using his phonic knowledge in his sentence writing and Jacob, for his resilience when faced with challenges and endeavour towards the extension tasks.

1H: Jesse for phenomenal effort, focus and contributions when learning about apostrophes for contractions in English and Kian, for settling into Homefield so well and trying your best with everything you do.

2H: David for his endeavour in English: he has performed a selection of poems expressively and demonstrated a strong grasp of figurative language, patterns of imagery and a range of poetic devices. Congratulations to Shaan for his fantastic poem on cheetahs, using rhyme and patterns of imagery and Azai, for achieving 100% in a recent maths assessment and achieving ‘working beyond’ in statistics.

2S: Renshan for fantastic contributions to class discussions and for sharing your ideas so willingly and Robbie, for a fantastic effort with all your reading, both at school and at home.

3H: Harry for showing great determination and resilience in his learning. Well done to Arjun, for his dedication and impressive progress in Ancient Greek transliteration and well done to Krishna, who has received Homefield Hero recognition for a very positive start at Homefield - settling in well and showing great effort across all lessons.

3S: Michael for always being thoughtful, friendly and kind to everyone. Well done to YangMing and Fawaz, who have received Homefield Hero recognition for a very positive start at Homefield - settling in well and showing great effort across all lessons.

4H: Hugo for being resilient, staying focused and trying his best and Ali, for working hard to share his understanding during maths lessons and having a very positive attitude towards the subject.

4S: Zaid for demonstrating great effort and determination in his learning and Subir, for fantastic effort in Games: always focused, applying his learning, and earning a place in this week’s ‘A’ team.

5H: Elijah for a brilliant first week back and Jason, for excellent engagement and contribution in geography.

5S: Ryan for demonstrating resilience in maths and Aaron, for always being helpful and polite around the school.

6H: Jai for excellent engagement in maths and Matthew, for demonstrating resilience and endeavour in the Year 6 production rehearsal.

6S: Kenzo for excellent engagement in maths and Yahya, for excellent contribution to the Year 6 production rehearsal.

8MMC: Zohad for effort and contributions during the trip to Battle and Nitin, for well-organised and competent work in Classics.

Screens aren't all bad, but balance is important. Boys often benefit from a clear wind-down routine before bed. Something like movement then quiet play or reading can help their bodies and minds to settle.

Predictability supports emotional regulation.

You can find advice and guidance, around balancing screen time, via the link below:

https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/screen-time/

Screen time advice hub for parents | Internet Matters

Get advice about screen time, its effects and how to create balanced screen time for children to keep them healthy, safe and happy online: www.internetmatters.org

A limited number of places remain available for peripatetic music tuition at Homefield.

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

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.

It’s an exciting time for cricket at Homefield!

Our new cricket nets are currently in progress and we’re looking forward to seeing even more boys enjoying the game this term.

To keep the momentum going, we’re also running a May Half-Term Cricket and Multi-Sports Camp for Homefield boys, please the poster below for full details.

Very limited places are available, so please sign up to ensure your son’s place!

We are really pleased to share the positive impact Dolly, our visiting therapy dog, has already had on the boys taking part in our ‘Education Assistance Dog’ sessions.

The boys are growing in confidence after spending time with her, helping them feel calmer, settled and ready to learn.

We are very encouraged by these early results and look forward to sharing some exciting news soon about a new addition to further develop our Education Assistance Dog provision.

Welcome back after the Easter break!

We’ve had a fantastic start to the term, packed with fun and a few surprises along the way. The boys thoroughly enjoyed opening real oysters—some struck lucky and discovered pearls, while others… not quite this time! We hear a few pearls may already be on their way to becoming earrings, so there could be some very lucky parents indeed. The smell didn’t win many fans, but it certainly made for a memorable (and very entertaining) experience!

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been busy getting our Little Orchard Nursery ready, and it’s looking absolutely wonderful. Do pop in and have a look—we’d love to show you around. Our recent Stay & Play sessions have been full of smiles, and it’s been a joy watching the children dive into the new toys and activities with such enthusiasm.

Looking ahead, this term’s adventures include multi-sports, time travellers, and plenty of wonderfully messy play, so expect lots of energy, imagination, and maybe the odd splash or two!

As always, we love hearing your ideas, so do feel free to share any suggestions.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Carla, Amy and Lea

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

Please check out our website for the summer newsletter from our catering company, Lodestone House, which includes a feature on our new Head Chef, Alan Fielding.

https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/catering

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.

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