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Heritage Infants Collaborate to Produce Winning Stories

Demonstrating teamwork and creativity, our youngest classes recently created their own original tales as part of the ISA Young Storytellers Competition. Each of the Infant classes joined together with their classmates to create a time-travel themed story, with two of the classes emerging victorious in their respective categories.

‘The Wolf and His Time Travelling Adventure’ by Lower Prep: The tale of a curious wolf who discovers a time machine in a castle. Pressing buttons randomly, he finds himself amidst dinosaurs. After a narrow escape, he resets the machine and returns home just in time for tea with the King and Queen.

‘Adventures in the Time Machine’ by Year 2: Herbert and Rosie encounter a time machine in their kitchen, which sends them to ancient Britain. There, they meet Boadicea and join her in a battle against a group of Romans. Anticipating defeat, the trio escape to the present just in time.

Congratulations to Lower Prep and Year 2 for their well-earned triumphs, and well done to all of the children for their brilliant efforts; a reminder of the creative potential that resides within every young mind.

The winning stories can be found on the ISA website.

Year 11 Pupils Stand Out in British Physics Olympiad Challenge

In an impressive display of scientific acumen and determination, nine of our Year 11 physics pupils participated in this year’s British Physics Olympiad challenge, displaying their mastery of the subject. The results were nothing short of outstanding, with the group securing two Gold awards, one Silver award, five Bronze awards, and one commendation.

Such collective achievement is truly commendable, especially considering the rarity of Gold and Silver awards, even among top sets in larger and more selective schools. Special congratulations are in order for Isabella and Silas (who each earned a Gold award), and Scyld (who received a Silver award) for their exceptional performances.

The challenge, known for its notoriously difficult paper, emphasizes problem-solving over mere knowledge, ensuring fairness for students from diverse educational backgrounds. Most pupils cited the rapid calculations under extreme time pressure as the toughest aspect of the challenge.

Curious minds can put their own skills to the test by attempting the paper for themselves, armed with a calculator and one hour to spare.

Heritage Pupils Excel in Shakespeare Competition

During the Spring term, several pupils auditioned to participate in the ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition; another example of the school’s commitment to Shakespearean excellence. Dr Andrew Zurcher, who adjudicated the Heritage auditions, praised the pupils for their brilliant understanding of complex texts, sensitivity to meter and voicing, and courageous theatrical choices. Selected to represent Heritage across different age groups were Charlotta (Y3), Hanna (Y6), Jane (Y6), Isabel (Y8), Honor (Y8), Kitty (Y8), Joshua (Y10), Maxim (Y10), and Toni (Y11).

Despite an unprecedented number of entries and an extremely high quality of the submissions, we are delighted that Honor and Isabel were both highly commended in the final results, with Isabel coming third in her category. Judge Charlotte Scott, from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, praised Honor’s ‘wonderful, impassioned and powerful Lady Macbeth’ and Isabel for ‘a powerful Caliban which makes a beautiful transition from his freedom to punishment and is carefully modulated through the mixed emotions of bitterness, affection and revenge.’

Ms Scott applauded each of the entries, saying that ‘The focus on the delivery of the spoken word, the children’s individual personalities in relation to those choices and the imaginative and inspiring ways in which they have reimagined or represented them has been a joy to watch. Every single entry had its own merit, and every single performance was delivered with energy, imagination, intent and skill. There are only very few awards I am able to make, but every school that takes part and delivers such exceptional teaching of Shakespeare is a credit to the arts and humanities.’

Spring Concert: A Melodic Celebration of Talent and Community

This year’s Spring Concert was another spectacular display of musical ability and community spirit

Year 7 Shine in Performance of Julius Caesar

This term, Year 7 pupils delivered a tense and thrilling performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The play, set in 44 BC, explores the political upheaval triggered by Caesar’s declaration as ‘dictator perpetuo,’ sparking fear among Roman senators.

The production opened with a contemporary twist – a rap performance titled ‘Late Republic Paradise,’ set to the soundtrack of “Gangsta’s Paradise.” This creative introduction laid the foundation for a captivating whole-class rendition of Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy. Each pupil skilfully delivered their lines with a confidence that not only demonstrated their understanding of the dialogue, but also illuminated their grasp of the broader narrative. All of this took place against the dramatic backdrop of stage scenery that transported the audience to ancient Rome.

Mrs Burden, who directed the play, commended the pupils for the extraordinary achievement of performing so powerfully such a great measure of pure first folio Shakespeare–a rarity even for older classes. She also praised the children for their leadership potential, noting that the play was chosen especially to match their charisma and energy. ‘This school play is not just a little add-on to their academic learning,’ she said. ‘This play teaches them the rhetorical skills they need to appeal to people’s hearts and minds. And this will equip them, I pray, to be the leaders that we need in this world in the future.’

The acknowledgments extended to the behind-the-scenes contributors, including Mrs Lowe for her musical accompaniment, Mr Campbell for staging and lighting, and Mrs Watkins on the lighting desk. The collective efforts of each individual resulted in a truly extraordinary production.

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