A Trip to Addenbrooke’s Hospital

Always a favourite fixture in the Upper Prep Enrichment timetable and this year was no exception. Upper Prep’s teddies had been feeling very unwell recently. They had cataracts, broken arms and legs, bumped heads and even heart attacks! Thankfully after a trip to The Teddy Bear Hospital, run by the clinical school at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, they were weighed and measured, x-rays were looked at and operations successfully completed, and all our teddies are now fully recovered!’

A Trip to Normandy

During the Easter holidays 20 pupils from Years 7 and 8 spent 6 days staying at a charming chateau in Normandy. The children stayed in dormitories and enjoyed exploring the beautiful grounds. There were horses and llamas to see and rabbits to stroke. I advised the staff to count the rabbits on our departure! I was delighted to find the resident peacocks outside my bedroom window when I opened the shutter one morning. We were blessed with sunny, if cold weather.

The children collapsed into bed each night after a full day’s activities which included fencing, an assault course, climbing, archery, a treasure hunt, and aeroballe – a team game which consisted of trampolining at the same time as trying to throw a ball into a net. This proved very popular. The children had the chance to try out new activities and were learning French at the same time, as all of the activities were carried out in French. Before each event the relevant vocabulary was introduced and pupils, had tasks to complete in their workbooks. At mealtimes pupils also practised the vocabulary for food and cutlery and I am sure they all now know how to ask for some more bread. Some intrepid children even tried snails!

Normandy is famous for its dairy products and so one afternoon we visited a goat farm. The farmer was very good with the children and I’m sure he was happy with all the cheese they bought at the end of their visit. They had a chance to hold and brush the goats. Some children tasted the milk directly from the udder of one goat – they said it was very sweet, but I wasn’t brave enough to have a go!

The highlight of the trip for most children was the day we spent visiting the area. We started at a delightful market with live animals and artisans and the children put a lot of thought into buying presents to bring back. We then travelled on to Mont St. Michel – the second most visited tourist sight in France. We walked around the ramparts and were told some stories about those who had lived there and had fought off the English. We rounded off the day by having dinner in a creperie.

On our way home we stopped off to visit the Bayeux Tapestry – with more stories of how the Normans beat the English! The ferry journey took seven hours, but the children spent their time playing with their Rubicscubes or watching a film crew at work. Fortunately, everyone had remembered to take some travel sickness pills.

I particularly enjoyed the trip as I had taught many of the children French in Lower Prep through to Year 3. It was lovely to see how they have matured and to see how their French had progressed. By the end of the week I could see how much they had benefited from the trip – both socially and linguistically.

Annette Smith
French Teacher

A Celebration of Spring!

The Heritage Spring Concert started with a bang as the Year 8 Samba Band took to the stage with their rousing drumming. We heard fantastic singing from all the Juniors and Seniors in their massed choirs, and also some excellent class work from Year 3 glockenspiels, Year 4 recorders, Year 5 ocarinas, Year 6 ukuleles, with Year 7 finishing the concert with an exciting djembe drum finale. We also heard some beautiful solos, on the piano, violin, the clarinet and the harp and enjoyed many of the other ensembles that rehearse regularly at Heritage including the orchestra, string and wind groups. A hugely enjoyable evening was had by parents, staff and pupils alike.  Bravo to Mrs Zurcher for her amazing work developing the music at Heritage over the past 2 years, and for bringing such life and enthusiasm to the department.  We wish her well as she starts her Maternity Leave and we welcome Mr Kwan as he joins us in the Summer Term.

A Fantastic Performance of ‘Twelfth Night’

Last week, Panton Hall was packed out for the fantastic Year 8 performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. The play is one of his classic comedies – filled with mistaken identities, love at first sight, practical jokes and a barrel of laughs. Many commented on how the whole class’ performance showed their impressive understanding of the plot and language – not an easy task! Every student took an onstage part, and each made great progress in their confidence.
Catherine R. took the central role of Viola who dresses up as the boy Cesario, and shone in her performance. Hallam B. also took up the challenging role of Malvolio, who needs to be both comic in his yellow-stockings and tragic as he is ‘notoriously abused’ at the conclusion of the play. Special mention should also go to Mara P. who confidently controlled the lighting of the whole show, having learnt how to do this for the first time!
Thanks again to all the parents who supported the production, by helping students learn lines, providing costumes and coming to enjoy the show. It couldn’t have happened without you.  Enjoy the photos from the production on the Parent Portal, and thanks to Colin Hulett for taking them!
Mrs Strachan

Planning for the Future

13 March 2019

Dear Parents,

I am writing today to tell you about an opportunity for us to secure the work of Heritage School on our current site. Our landlords informed us recently that they have decided to sell 17-19 Brookside. It could be put on the market in mid to late April. We will continue to operate under the terms of our current lease, meaning we can remain on our site for at least another two and a half years.

We are working hard to pull together a strong purchase offer (Plan A). We acted immediately to begin organising finance. We have spoken to banks, friendly investors, potential donors and charitable trusts who share our vision, both in the UK and also in the US. The response has been encouraging. We commissioned Bidwells to undertake a valuation for us and to act on our behalf in negotiations.

Another option would be to enter into a long-term lease with a new landlord (Plan B). We are in conversation with supporters who are actively considering this as a long-term investment. Signing a new long-term lease with us could be appealing to other prospective buyers as well.

If a new owner did not want us to remain on site we might need to move to alternative premises by August 2021, i.e. after two more academic years. Against that unlikely possibility, we are also investigating alternative sites (Plan C) with support from Bidwells. There are some excellent options under consideration which could open up new opportunities for us.

We understand how important it is to clarify where the school will be operating in the future, so you can plan for your child(ren) accordingly. We would encourage you to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach. During the Summer Term we expect to have considerably more information about the long-term outlook and we will keep you regularly informed of significant developments. For more information please refer in the first instance to the accompanying document Brookside Sale: Questions and Answers.

In addition, I would be very happy to meet with you individually if you would find that helpful. Please contact Carrie Baker in the School Office to make an appointment with me, or alternatively with Tom Amies, our Chair of Trustees. Catriona Buchanan, our Bursar, is also available should you wish to meet with her (c.buchanan@heritageschool.org.uk), as is Cecilia Amies, who handles our communications (c.amies@heritageschool.org.uk).

We have come a long way since the school was founded in 2007 and are very positive about the possibilities before us. Please be assured that we are more committed than ever to this important work with your children.

Thank you for your support.

Yours faithfully,

J W Fletcher

Headmaster