2023 Summer Term 1

Our pupils had a roaring good time attending The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End. The pupils had an exciting trip up and enjoyed walking past Buckingham Palace and having a relaxed lunch in St James Park. We also walked past much of the preparations for the Coronation, and it was a real eye-opener for the pupils to see the level of security and planning put into such an event.

From the very first beat of the African drums, pupils and staff were completely enthralled - the music was powerful and the costumes vibrant. Most of us were speechless throughout and absolutely captivated. The range of 'animals' and how they were portrayed through body language and stance, lighting and puppetry really expanded our understanding of how broad and varied theatre can be, and how many different skills just one production requires. It was a real eye-opener for each pupil  considering future careers in the industry and how they could one day be part of a production either on or off the stage.

On the journey home, the train carriage was full of chatter from each of our pupils about what they had seen and experienced. Huge thanks to all those who helped, and here's to many more trips to the West End in the future. 

At the beginning of the summer term, the GCSE Art and Design pupils visited the Saatchi Gallery in London to see the street art exhibition.  The fifteen rooms were excellent and jam-packed full of colourful and inspirational pieces. 

Following a picnic lunch on the steps outside the gallery, the pupils were encouraged to go back in to complete some sketching in their favourite rooms. Year 11 pupils took inspiration from the artwork on display and used some of the ideas they had seen in their art exam final pieces. A great day out for all involved, with impeccable behaviour throughout.  

The entire primary unit recently came together to celebrate a momentous occasion - the King's Coronation - by enjoying a special Coronation Lunch. This event brought pupils and staff members together in a festive and communal atmosphere, providing a unique and memorable experience for all involved.

It fostered a spirit of togetherness and pride in their school community. The event allowed them to witness and actively participate in an historic moment, deepening their understanding and appreciation of their country's heritage and traditions.

Moreover, the Coronation Lunch was significant as it provided an opportunity for the pupils to engage in cross-curricular learning. In the lead-up to the event, pupils explored various aspects of the monarchy, British history, and ceremonial traditions. They learned about the significance of coronations and the royal family's role.

The event also promoted cultural awareness and respect for different traditions and ceremonies. It encouraged discussions about diversity, history, and the importance of national events. The pupils were very proud of their hard work that went into decorating the hall ready for the coronation, and it was a joy to watch them enjoy each other's company and share in the community spirit.  

On Wednesday 3^rd May, Post-16 pupils took part in the whole school residential Muntham Bake-Off. We started our preparations the afternoon before by popping to Horsham to shop for all things Regal and Coronation-y.

Two pupils proposed an afternoon tea, further explaining the need for cucumber sandwiches for this particular stereotypical event!  We made a list and added and crossed off a few things - the pressure of wanting a Paul Hollywood/Mr Clayton handshake was clearly getting to us….

We nipped to Tesco’s to buy ingredients, finding a few niche items along the way, including the King's Finest pork pie, which we couldn’t resist. We decided on cream cheese and cucumber, and ham and mustard finger sandwiches, which we felt complimented our cakes and cheesecake. The flavour of cheesecake was up for discussion and whilst Biscoff is a firm favourite of ours in Post-16, we felt that a more traditional vanilla was best, especially as it was being decorated with blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Mrs Reno and I set to work on making some cupcakes whilst Kieran and Callum decorated them and topped the cheesecake with fruit in a union jack shape.

Mr Clayton and Mrs Luff came over and it felt very much like we were on Channel 4 on the real Great British Bake Off…..we waited with bated breath whilst all the food was tasted. The anticipation was almost too much, but we were told that the cheesecake was one of the best they had tried and that the cakes were moist and flavoursome. We were pleased with our feedback and felt that we could be in the running to win, however, we were pipped to the post by Lewis on Arundel floor who made a beautiful Victoria sponge. We were gracious in defeat knowing that our efforts weren’t in vain as we all tucked into the afternoon tea afterwards and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Year eleven GCSE Resistant Materials pupils have completed their coursework projects this term, working towards their GCSE final grades.

The pupils had a choice of projects, with some of them making furniture in the workshop and learning various new skills. They all enjoyed the practical elements.

Other projects included designing a folding workbench, a resin-cast table and an elephant-shaped chair. The coursework project required them not just to design and develop an idea, but also to manufacture a practical piece for assessment. This year the pupils embraced the CAD work helping them achieve higher marks. There really were some truly magnificent final products, some of which wouldn't look out of place being sold in a department store!

Well done to all our GCSE students. We look forward to seeing the pupils' results in the summer.

Year 7

We have had a busy half-term in Year 7. Firstly, I would like to congratulate all the Year 7s for successfully raising enough funds to adopt both an Organtuan and a Snow Leopard as part of their climate change unit.

We also we went on our first Humanities trip to Bignor Roman Villa. Here we learnt about the Romans who would have lived only 30 minutes away from Muntham, and saw some of their amazing mosaics. It must have taken huge skill and attention-to-detail to create such stunning work.

Year 8

We have started to study the Qing Dynasty, looking at the importance of learning about different cultures around the world. We have also been working on our social skills within lessons and aiming for continuous positive engagement as we move forward onto our next topic – the Tudors! 

Year 9 & 10 

We are continuing our GCSE module study by looking at 'Britain: Power and the People c1170 to Present Day'. Many of the pupils have taken to this module naturally and are interested in government development within Britain. So far, we have looked at the Magna Carta and the English Civil Wars and will be going on to look at how more recent historical events have shaped those in power.  

Year 11 

The Humanities department would like to thank and congratulate our Year 11s for how hard they have been revising for all their exams, and are so far doing their absolute best. They only have one history paper left, just after half term, and they are preparing for it vigorously. Keep it up!  

As ever, a studious and fun time has been had in our science lessons this term.

The year 7s may look as though they are drinking something terrifying but they are in fact, making acid with their breath!

The year 8s have been learning all about macronutrients and how to eat a healthy and balanced diet, most of which they have really taken on board.

The year 9s have continued to be one year ahead of the curriculum by working on GCSE topics which they have thrived at.

Most commendable are the year 11s who have continued to amaze 'team science' with their hard work, diligence, and dedication to their science GCSE revision, using revision guides and other materials sent home and asking for extra work and lessons when needed. We look forward to celebrating their success next term. 

This term, PSHE lessons are all about Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Year 7 are learning about romance and friendships, and their own self-worth. Year 8 are beginning to understand relationship values and the terms associated with gender identity and sexual orientation. Year 9 lessons build upon this knowledge, with lessons on intimate relationships, learning about contraception, consent, and the risk of STIs. Year 10 are focusing on healthy relationships, learning about expectations, challenges, and the impact of the media and pornography. Year 11 have been learning about different families and parental responsibilities, marriage, and changing relationships. MHC pupils have been following a scheme of work designed to further consider healthy, intimate relationships.

Each class has signed, or verbally agreed to, an RSE contract where we set up a list of rules and agree to use appropriate language and be respectful, along with agreeing to not share stories of anyone else, accepting that we all have differing levels of experience in areas of relationships. The first point on each contract is confidentiality. This means what we say in PSHE, stays in PSHE. The content delivered in each year group is age appropriate and therefore not suitable for younger years in the playground. It’s also important for each pupil to feel safe and know that the information they may wish to share will not then be spoken about outside of the PSHE room. If your child says they are unable to tell you what they’re learning because of the contract, you can explain that they are allowed to discuss the content that I’m teaching, just not the comments shared by their peers. However, our pupils may feel awkward having these discussions with you at home. If you would like further clarification about the information shared in the letters sent home earlier this term, please feel free to contact me (Miss Green).

Donkeys

The animals have been enjoying the warmer and drier weather. It has meant that they have been able to spend longer periods of time out on sessions with the pupils.

The donkeys have been walked around the Muntham Mile and frequent the village shop during their sessions. This has given the pupils a greater opportunity to feel at ease with Buzz and Woody, and to learn how to control them while out walking past dog walkers and traffic. Walking with the donkeys allows the pupils to relax in a different environment and switch off from their day for a while.

Pigs

The pigs have literally been longing for the warmer weather; they are now on dry land and enjoying basking in the sunshine. Bangers and Mash have been spruced up with plenty of pig washing and grooming, only to then lie in their wallow getting muddy again - a good excuse to groom them so regularly! The two pigs love the attention they receive from most of the pupils and will happily roll over for a tummy tickle. Spending time with the pigs - a totally different animal perhaps to their normal pets - gives them a space to be themselves and enjoy.

Goats

Now that the Estates Manager has completed the new goat activity steps with the help of some of the pupils, the goats have plenty of places to jump and climb and have been gently introduced to their new slide. The goats have also received a lot of attention with their grooming, and Wallace even had a summer haircut to shed him of his matted winter coat. They still enjoy spending time walking with the pupils and being treated to all the vegetation growing on the grounds, and it gives the pupils an opportunity to unwind whilst out in the fresh air with the pygmy goats.

Chickens

The chickens have been enjoying their new-found freedom since the Bird Flu restrictions were lifted, which has also meant that they receive a lot more visits from the pupils now too. 

They are happy to be picked up and handled by the pupils and enjoy the treats that they know they will receive. It's lovely to see the pupils gaining confidence in handling the hens and being more comfortable with an animal that they were previously a little nervous about.

The warm, sunny weather has brought about some new adventures in Canine. Have you ever seen a skateboarding dog? We are determined to have our Canines skateboarding in time for the Summer Show (2024, we’re not magicians!). We thought Buzz would be the expert, but our gentle Labrador Omah has found her new venture in life.

With the aim of expanding our Canine tribe, we have had a visit from Doug Shambrook (first child of our Assistant Head, Dan, and Head of Maths, Daisy). Doug is a beautiful Cocker Spaniel, bred by our Head of Estates, Gavin. Buzz and Doug are becoming firm friends, and we look forward to welcoming this young playful pup soon.

Mental stimulation is so important for our four-legged friends. Science tells us that  10 minutes of sniffing equates to 1 hour of walking. Teaching our canines new tricks or commands engages their brain in a way that walking can’t. Not only that, but teaching an old dog a new trick is extremely frustrating: it goes wrong; they get tired; you get tired… the cons are endless. Indeed, what’s a more perfect activity to teach our pupils the art of patience (other than one of Mr Barnes’ Norfolk rants)?

Pupils have to lower their energy through deep breathing to engage the dogs, and they have to repeat the activity with regular breaks, which increases persistence and patience. They also learn that sometimes things go wrong, and trying again means we get a little bit better each time.

We are hoping this weather stays - there is nothing better than opening the canine doors and allowing the sun and breeze in.

The warmer weather has meant the plants have started to grow very quickly so the pupils have been planting out cabbages, kale, pumpkins, sweetcorn, runner beans, french beans, cauliflower, and many more. They are continuing to sow seeds so that there is a succession of plants to fill the gaps when crops have been harvested for Chef to use in the kitchen. Our root vegetables are growing well - carrots, beetroot, and radishes are just some of the favourites.

Some of the primary pupils have enjoyed eating the first strawberries from the polytunnel.

We had lots of blossoms on our fruit trees and although it was chilly and wet, they appear to have tiny fruits, so the bees and insects have done a great job in pollination. The grape vines have many small bunches of grapes growing gently and enjoying the heat of the polytunnel.

We are going to have a bumper crop of raspberries which I know most of the pupils will enjoy eating.

We are continuing to encourage wildlife into the area and have now completed a small pond; this has 3 fish living in it.  We have seen dragonflies laying their eggs on the plants and bees drinking from the edge.

The robin and wren still feed at the bird table and a blackbird visits often for slugs and beetles. Our cutting patch is growing well so there will be lots to encourage the bees in.

We have had a great start to the summer term, and we are looking forward to harvesting lots more delicious vegetables.

This half term has seen a drastic change in weather, but now for the better! Whilst the weather was windy and unpleasant, pupils were in the forest school huts making kites. In order to do this, pupils gathered the correct materials, preparing them, using maths to work out proportions, and following instructions step-by-step. To make the kites, pupils have had to employ both fine and gross motor skills. 

When the weather started to improve, pupils engaged in map reading. This  complements what the pupils are learning in their regular geography and science lessons. Map reading can be a complicated exercise, so pupils have just been looking at the basic features of a compass and how to orientate the compass, the basic features of a map, what a four-figure grid reference is, and how to apply that to a real-world map.

For a creative exercise, one of the primary groups made their own paintbrushes using natural materials. It was an enlightening experiment to find out what would and would not work. Once made, the pupils then collected natural materials to decorate the edges of a piece of paper and then used their paint brushes to paint a picture.

Superheros have arrived at Muntham House School!

After struggling to engage some of the pupils in year 7, I sat down and had a good discussion with them; we came up with the idea of reading fact books about superheroes and their superpowers. The pupils selected Superhero books of their own choice. This was a great task for them, leading to lengthy conversations about which books they would like.

These pupils think superheroes are truly amazing, whether super-powered humans or incredible aliens. They get involved in their adventures and missions to protect the world.

You may be thinking that this isn’t helping them with their reading, but you would be wrong. Tapping into the pupils' interests really helps them to engage.

These sessions were an amazing way to engage the pupils to read for pleasure and not because they had to. All pupils have made progress in one way or another through:

• Opportunities for pupils to listen carefully to one another about superheroes and talk in detail about what happens in stories and their capabilities. 

• Try out hot-seating, where an adult or child pretends to be a particular superhero and invites the other children to ask questions to try and work out which superhero they are pretending to be. 

• Encourage children to read to one another about superheroes using their developing reading knowledge. 

• Play Top Trumps 'Who’s the hero?' and Marvel Trivia literacy games promoting reading, listening, discussion and turn-taking.

The focus for this half of the summer term was to cook chicken in different ways. This has included deep frying, air frying, grilling, and baking. As it is also the barbecue season, pupils have experimented with different herbs and spices to make different BBQ sauces: Southern BBQ sauce, Chinese BBQ sauce, sticky BBQ sauce and oven-baked BBQ sauce.

Steaming puddings was another skill that needed to be practised and some staff were delighted to sample steamed lemon sponge puddings and steak pudding!

At Easter, we purchased two 'Ninja Foodies', which enabled the boys to experiment further, and some of the college pupils made cheesecakes and apple pies in them. This has also enabled our pupils to make cinnamon bread twists.

There are many different kinds of pastry, so rather than make shortcrust again, pupils have attempted a French recipe for Pate Brisee. This had varying results as it is very delicate.  Aaron made an excellent effort with a strawberry and rhubarb lattice pie.

When the Coronation came around, pupils celebrated by making Coronation chicken, Scones and Queen of Puddings - not Kingly, but very royal recipes!

Primary has also had the opportunity to cook - they have made lots of yummy chocolate chip muffins.

To promote healthy eating, we have also made recipes for a healthy drink each week to help boost the immune system. There has been a citrus drink, a 'pink mint booster', ginger beet juice and green juice.

Lastly, cooking rewards have been as popular as ever, and on Friday afternoons there is much fun to be had in the Food Tech room with pizzas, popcorn, smoothies, crispy cakes and Millionaire Shortbread created and consumed.

Wishing you all a happy half-term break with your family and friends.

We had our first trip of the year to the beach involving lots of play and running around, topped off with fish and chips! We also have been to the cinema which pupils enjoyed and talked about for hours afterwards.

Throughout the run-up to the Coronation, we have been doing various themed activities and celebrated the Coronation with style by having a tea party and taking part in the Coronation bake-off; the pupils made a wonderful Victoria sponge decorated with fresh cream and strawberries. I am pleased to say that Hever won a trip out for dinner to Smith and Western for their efforts, and this was enjoyed immensely!

Our dinner out was also our last trip with Miss Randall, who is now on maternity leave for a while. The pupils bid Miss Randall goodbye with a tea party and even gave her flowers they each chose individually.

We wish Miss Randall all the best and look forward to seeing her back on Hever soon.

This term on Bodiam floor, resident pupils have had much fun - the weather has been better and we have been able to go off-site for some fantastic activities. We have been able to go to the park where pupils played hide and seek, and played on the swings, climbing frame and slides. One trip out was so successful that the boys have been a further three times. We went to the Roller disco, and what started out as extremely difficult for some, became very easy. Our pupils never gave up despite falling over several times and were soon skating without an aid which was amazing to see.

For the Coronation, the pupils choose to bake a cheesecake which had three layers coloured red white and blue, and smothered in white chocolate and fresh strawberries.

We have had Switch tournaments up on floor, and pupils had fun setting this up in the common room, making time to sort out the teams and to make sure they were fair, taking into account everyone’s playing ability.

The best trip out was to Swanbourne Lake in Arundel - pupils were amazing and took the time to make sure that they all had fun climbing up the hills, being supportive of each other, including and supporting those who were struggling. We took a picnic and sat by the lake and enjoyed the sunshine - some relaxed whilst others fed the ducks. The afternoon was finished off sitting on the jetty chatting with each other.

It has been a thoroughly enjoyable half term, and we wish all our residents a happy and restful half-term break.

Another productive six weeks on the floor for the pupils on Arundel. They continue to enjoy the after-school activities of the Rugby and Football Academy.

On floor, the pupils have also started to earn certificates towards life skills challenges. This is to help them build up a portfolio of achievements to run alongside their educational grades. The pupils have mainly been working towards culinary achievements so far, independently making pizzas, toasties and cooking for a group of people. They have taken it very seriously and produced some amazing food for the staff on floor.

We also took part in a Coronation bake-off between the floors. It was a tightly contested affair, with Arundel coming out on top with their sumptuous Victoria sponge decorated with berries in the form of a Union Jack.

We look forward to receiving our prizes from the Judges!

Other news; we are looking forward to the warmer weather and already planning for the beach for some crabbing, paddling, and general fun in the sun (only for those wearing sun cream!)

KS3

This term in P.E., pupils have been focusing on developing speed, enhancing confidence in sport and enhancing Kinaesthetic awareness. We have been exploring some different striking and fielding games such as softball, rounders, cricket and some adapted striking and fielding games. The pupils have been developing their speed while batting and fielding in these games. We have been enhancing our confidence when batting and fielding and enhancing our kinaesthetic awareness by strategically making decisions about whether to run, wait or stop when batting. The pupils have shown great communication when working in a team, for example when running to stops, shouting to their partner whether they should stop or stay. Pupils have also shown great communication when formulating tactics to gain an advantage over their opponents.   

KS4

KS5 

BTEC pupils have continued to attend the gym weekly, and following their personal fitness plans which they have designed - they have really enjoyed this, and are starting to see the benefits in both body and mind. Pupils have now moved on to how the mind can influence sporting performance, looking at different psychological theorists. Mental health and well-being are such important topics in line with current affairs in the wider world. All BTEC pupils have worked incredibly hard and are close to completing their qualifications.  

Rugby Academy 

Within our sessions this half term, we have been focusing on running with the ball  whilst escaping and avoiding opponents. Pupils have completed a variety of different isolated and conditioned practices to encourage running forwards with the ball. It is clear to see that these skills have been transferred and implemented into our games at the end of each session. Having the posts up now has also allowed the pupils to start learning different types of kicking. It's safe to say we have an array of kicking talent here at Muntham! Most importantly the communication, respect, and teamwork this half term has been to such a high stand it is commendable to all pupils!  

Football Academy 

It has been another great term for all those attending Football Academy where the pupils are making great progress. The team has been immersed in adapted games that test their communication and teamwork. The pupils have shown this amazingly well - they have also had to communicate and formulate strategies during the games to gain an advantage. We have also focused on taking minimal touches on the ball, trying to control the ball, and then passing it to a teammate. We have also worked on enabling players who do not have the ball being able to move into space where they can receive it, thus giving an option to the person on the ball. All pupils should be proud of what they have achieved this term. They are training hard for upcoming football tournaments. 

SLSL  

U16s – On Wednesday 26th April, the Under 16 footballers made their way to London for the final South London Special League (SLSL) of the year. There was a good atmosphere amongst pupils on the journey up and all players were excited to get playing. Throughout the entire day, all students were a credit to the school and displayed some of the best sportsmanship and team play I have seen this school year - very well done to all who played. On the day, we played 4 games and came away with the win each time with Alfie G, usually in goal but playing on the pitch this time around, even finishing as the top scorer for the day! This meant the team won the group on the day but even better, won the league for the whole season! A fantastic achievement for all who have played this school year.  

U14s – On Wednesday 3rd May, it was the Under 14's turn to visit South London. It has been a very competitive age group this year, and this day proved no different with 3 close but hard-fought matches. All games were drawn, 0-0, and the team was able to reflect and discuss the results with some positive and negative but constructive criticism. There was some brilliant teamwork in display as well, with the normal U14 formation incomplete - three students who normally wouldn’t play in goal stepped out of their comfort zone to do a sterling job for the team. Well done!  

U12s & Primary – To finish off the term, an U12 and Primary team made the visit to South London. The team has had a very good year during football fixtures, overall finishing 2nd in the league for the season. This was a great achievement for all who played. There were some tough fixtures on the day, with the team winning 1, drawing 1, and losing 2. A special mention must go to Freddie, who was a standout pupil on the day for his excellent attitude and teamwork. Well done Freddie.  

Parallel Youth Games  

On 17th May, nineteen Muntham House pupils participated at the Parallel Youth Games. All pupils represented the school to the highest standard. Pupils competed in street soccer, golf, tennis, and bouldering. It was fantastic to see all pupils playing with pupils from different schools and showing respect, good sportsmanship, and confidence in performing their respective sports. Pupils achieved a gold medal in the tennis competition, silver in the golf competition, and bronze in the street soccer competition. Bouldering was a non-competitive event in which our pupils excelled. We look forward to taking even more pupils next year!  

Whilst the other classes from Year 9 to MHC have been preparing for their upcoming expeditions, Year 10s were the first to kick the expedition season off. On Wednesday and Thursday of the last week of the half term, all Year 10 pupils went on an expedition through the beautiful Ashdown Forest. The pupils were required to carry out the trip self-sufficiently, meaning they had to carry things to eat, to cook with, to sleep in, and to wear for the two days. This resulted in some pretty heavy packs (weighing 10-13kg) which were a tough challenge in the early summer heat! But the pupils were absolutely fantastic at grinding through the physical challenges that the expedition presented. 

Billy C was exceptional at motivating his teammates along and sharing out resources and carrying other people’s bags when they got tired - a true team player. 

At the end of day one, the pupils had a scout campsite all to themselves, which meant there was lots of room to play football and frisbee, have a fire and cook their dinner. Ms Green even brought her iPad along to stream the Brighton v Man City game.  

Not only did the Year 10 pupils take on the expedition (12km hike on the first day) on Wednesday, but after camping overnight they got up and did another 10km in the heat! Special mention to George A who was incredibly helpful and thoughtful to the staff team on day 2, helping to move staff kit and even purchasing them a chocolate bar at the end of the day! 

Mr Imbert had a debriefing session with the group at the end where the pupils talked about the highs and lows of the hike, and some of the comments from them were exactly what the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions are aiming to achieve: 

“I enjoyed talking and looking at the scenery.” 

 “I laughed the whole time.” 

 “The hills were tough but I’m proud we did them.” 

 “I’ve enjoyed the whole aura. Everybody got along.” 

Mr Imbert and the rest of the staff accompanying the trip could not have been prouder of all of the pupils who will all be receiving their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze by the end of the year. 

A big 'well done’ to all our Eco-committee members for their efforts. They have come up with some superb ways to help the school become more sustainable and have been busy preparing and distributing many recycling bins for most classrooms across the whole school. 

We have also begun to promote the fantastic scheme, Terracycling, 'Recycle the unrecyclable'. This is a great way to make sure plastic items that can not go into the normal recycling bins are sent away to be used to make things such as play equipment, picnic benches, and car parks amongst other facilities for the community (for more information, see the link below). The greatest eco-champ has to be Patrick E who regularly gives up his break to go around the school and collect and empty the recycling bins to ensure they go in the correct collection bin. Great work, Patrick.

https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/

Please note that pupils return from their half-term break on

Tuesday 6th June 2022*

Term dates are on the school website, and available by clicking the link below.

Term Dates 2022 - 23

FOR INFORMATION, THE INSET DAYS UNTIL END OF SUMMER TERM ARE: