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Lent Term Highlights
St Michael’s presents Oliver! - can we have some more?
St Michael’s Prep served up a bowlful of talent in a production of Oliver! last week that left the audience hoping the production will ‘be back soon’.
Performed by pupils in Years 5 to 8, the musical production took place across four evenings following many months of hard work, rehearsals and behind the scenes preparation from a cast of 64, a crew of 30 and a 10-piece band conducted by St Michael’s Director of Music, Gordon Baird.
From the opening number of Food Glorious Food to the curtain call, audience members were amazed by the vocal talent of principal characters, as well as the projection and harmonies from the ensemble cast in numbers such as Consider Yourself and Who Will Buy?.
For pupils such as Tristan H, who played Fagin, having the opportunity to play such iconic roles and sing some musical theatre classics was a pleasure. Tristan commented: "When I saw my name next to Fagin on the cast list, I couldn’t believe I’d been given the part. I was so nervous to take on such a big character but I’m so glad I did it. I loved performing the show and felt such a buzz at the end of each performance.”
Along with the many musical numbers arranged by St Michael’s Director of Music, Gordon Baird, the children told the charming Dickens' story in such a sincere and captivating way. The children were led under the direction of St Michael’s Head of Drama, Alan Powell, who took his final bow with this production after 10 years at St Michael’s before he relocates to Scotland in the summer.
Director of St Michael's Oliver! and Head of Drama, Mr Powell, said: “It’s been a wonderful finale to directing at St Michael’s and I’m extremely proud of, and grateful to, all the children, musicians and staff who have worked so tirelessly to bring the show to life. I hope they will all remember this experience forever - what a spectacular show!”
Jess, Isabelle and Isla, who played the Sowerberry family, commented on what an inspiration Mr Powell has been to them: “Mr Powell is the best Director – he really gets stuck in with showing us how to be the best performers that we can be, always joining us on stage during rehearsals to demonstrate exactly how we should deliver our lines. He is such an inspiration to us and makes being in the school productions such a special experience.”
Oliver! tells the story of a young orphan who is sold to a funeral parlour from a workhouse after he asks for a second serving of a meal. After running away from Mr and Mrs Sowerberry to London, he meets the Artful Dodger who introduces him to the criminal lives of Fagin and his gang which brings further trouble to him. After taking part in a peer-pressured theft, Oliver eventually finds his fortune in London when he meets Mr Brownlow, who turns out to be his grandfather.
To guide the audience through the story, St Michael's Jude Caswall sourced and created eye-catching and detailed costumes which were very accurate for the Victorian era. Combined with the sets and scene changes of the workhouse, funeral parlour and streets of London, the audience were immersed in the world of Dickens.
An audience member commented: “What an absolutely breathtaking production! Every element—from the performances to the costumes—was flawless and the cast’s talent is truly extraordinary. It’s amazing to see such skill and passion in young performers.”
The story of Oliver! includes a variety of roles including the complex character of Nancy and the cheeky Artful Dodger. Clara H and Arthur S, who played these roles respectively, both portrayed their characters with charm and professionalism. Both actors thoroughly enjoyed developing their skills throughout the production process.
Commenting on what ‘Nancy’ meant to her, Clara said: “Playing the role of Nancy was an amazing experience. I have always taken part in drama opportunities at St Michael’s so it was really rewarding to play this big part in my final year here. I enjoyed using a cockney accent and improving my acting skills further with some challenging scenes.”
Arthur added: “Dodger was such a fun part to play! I loved my time performing in the show and the community that it brought together. My favourite scenes were Consider Yourself and the final section of the show. The last performance of the run – when everyone gave their absolute all – will always be a great memory for me.”
Commenting on the high standard of production, an audience member said: “We honestly could have been in the West End - the directorship, music, props, acting and singing was out of this world! A top class performance!”
Along with the tough issues of the Victorian period which Oliver! demonstrates, the comedic elements where parts of the story rely on clever timings, synchronisation and teamwork, were all executed flawlessly by the cast.
Jess, Izzy and Isla who had to work well as a trio to perform their scene, commented on how important coordination was in the production.
They said: "Performing as a trio was so fun, requiring a lot of synchronisation for our song. Although our characters were serious, we had a lot of comedic moments like squeezing Oliver into the coffin and throwing water over each other. The first time we performed in costume during the dress rehearsal, we felt we could really bring our characters to life.”
Sharing her praise, Councillor Diana Esler of Sevenoaks District Council also added: “Last night’s production was just wonderful. In fact, totally flawless with perfect timing and synchronisation. A delightful evening which we loved as always. It’s a huge credit to you all as to what you can achieve with Prep pupils.”
Finally, Teddy G, who played the titular role of Oliver, really brought an element of nostalgia to the role for people who are familiar to Mark Lester’s portrayal in the movie. With a sweet voice and an endearing performance, Teddy commented on how much he enjoyed performing the iconic song Where is Love?.
He said: “I loved playing the role of Oliver and especially performing my solo Where is Love?. I entered the dress rehearsal feeling nervous but the audience’s amazing reaction and reviews gave me so much confidence for the performances.”
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Oliver! for an outstanding production.
Review by Chloe Randall, Marketing Officer
A St Michael's Prep Production by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh. Lionel Bart's OLIVER!. Book, Music and Lyrics by LIONEL BART freely adapted from 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk.
'Hat-tastic' Day for Community Foodbank
Colourful caps, hats and bonnets could be seen across St Michael's on Monday as the whole school came together to raise money for Nourish Community Foodbank.
Having already begun fundraising for the important cause as part of this year's production of Oliver!, we were pleased to continue our support of the charity with a 'Hat-tastic' Charity Day challenging pupils and staff to wear an 'outrageous' hat or Easter-inspired headwear.
In Pre-Prep, the children showcased hours of creativity in their Easter hat parade where eggs, chicks and bunnies were amongst the vibrant decorations on display. Meanwhile, in Prep sombreros, western hats and animal-inspired heads brought humour to our day.
Thank you so much for your generous donations to our Oliver! and Charity Day collections which raised a total of £1,224.49 for Nourish Community Foodbank.
Nourish supports people in need by delivering emergency food and supplies across the Tunbridge Wells borough, south Tonbridge and surrounding areas.
Working as a lifeline for people who are experiencing tough times, the vast majority of people who receive an emergency supply of food from Nourish are working people who are experiencing a temporary financial hardship due to a change in circumstances, such as domestic violence, sickness or an unexpected bill.
For more information about the charity, please click here.
A visit from the Easter Bunny
Pre-Prep were delighted to welcome the Easter Bunny to St Michael's on Wednesday!
Visiting Nursery to Year 2, the children took it in turns to experience the Easter Bunny's magic including special gifts and cuddles.
Thank you to the P & F for their generous contributions to this experience.
A musical celebration of Easter
We could not be prouder of the children who took part in our Easter Concert yesterday. It was a joyful celebration of talent, hard work and collaboration. From the confident performances to the thoughtful teamwork behind the scenes, every child brought something special to the stage.
Their enthusiasm and musicianship shone through in every moment, creating a truly memorable event for all. It was a pleasure to witness their growth and see them share their music with such joy and courage.
Congratulations to all of our young performers for making the concert such a wonderful celebration of the season.
Ceri Crane, Pre-Prep Music Teacher
An inspiring Saturday of sport!
St Michael’s Prep was buzzing with excitement as we welcomed Hornsby House Prep School for a fantastic morning of unforgettable sporting experiences last Saturday. Our U11 boys took to the rugby pitch while our U11 girls enjoyed a hockey session; both groups enjoyed a brilliant morning of competition and camaraderie.
The girls from St Michael's, Hornsby House and HC Knole Park enjoyed a skills and gameplay session led by professional coach, Laura Myers from former-GB goalkeeper Maddie Hinch's MH1 Coaching. The girls were put through their paces under Myers' watchful eye, with Mrs Bingham and the Hornsby staff supporting, before participating in some evenly contested matches which were played with energy and enthusiasm. It was a lovely day out in the sun and the hockey goodies, including new shin pads provided by MH1 at the end of the session, were much appreciated. It was great to see the girls enjoying each other's company and making new connections as they played. A huge thank you to Hornsby House for taking part and to Myers for providing a unique and interesting session for the girls.
The boys were treated to a masterclass led by former Scottish international Rory Lawson. With 31 caps for Scotland and experience of captaining his country three times, including a famous win over South Africa, Rory brought world‑class insight, energy and inspiration to every minute of the session.
He guided the players through a series of high‑level skills, from crisp passing drills to the art of the box kick, and even shared what goes into leading a captain’s run. The boys were in awe, soaking up knowledge from someone who has performed at the very top of the game. It was one of those magical sporting mornings that will stay with them for a long time.
Just as importantly, the pupils from St Michael’s and Hornsby House bonded brilliantly: laughing, learning and bonding over their shared love of rugby. The spirit of teamwork and respect was clear to see.
A huge thank you to Rory Lawson for his time, enthusiasm and patience in answering the boys’ endless questions.
Steve Brightman, Director of Sport
Hot Off the Press
Year 2 Matball Tournament!
Last Friday, Year 2 pupils enjoyed an afternoon of Matball, our adapted version of Netball, with proud parents and supporters watching on from the Sports Hall gallery.
The children demonstrated some brilliant skills and game awareness, whilst displaying positive teamwork attributes including fair play, turn-taking and support for one another.
All teams managed to play three games each, in a two group, round-robin format. The Blue Lions were victorious in their group and the Blue Eagles won their group’s competition; both teams went through the tournament unbeaten.
Congratulations to everyone who took part. It was wonderful to see how much the children have learnt over the past term.
Craig Davies, Pre-Prep PE Teacher
Year 4 blend up nutritious smoothies!
Fruity flavours have been enjoyed in our Design Technology room this week as Year 4 have worked in pairs to design and make the perfect smoothie. Combining ingredients from an exotic selection of berries, apricots and lychee as well as juice and seeds, pupils brought their unique recipes to life using their slicing and blending skills.
The children then had the opportunity to try their smoothies, rating them on different qualities including smell and flavour, before comparing them to their peers' drinks.
Safer Internet Day 2026
Safer Internet Day 2026 has been recognised across St Michael's this week as a range of activities and assemblies have sparked important and topical discussions.
The theme this year was ‘Responsible use of AI’, prompting useful conversations and a wider understanding of AI including its benefits but also its potential consequences.
Younger children considered some positive uses of AI, from preventing illegal logging in to Amazon to creating instant sign language to accompany audio books for deaf children. They also examined how AI should be used responsibly - what could the consequences be for using it to complete homework or to create pictures which could hurt people’s feelings?
Older children looked in more depth at a range of issues including plagiarism, misuse of image generators (or deepfakes), reliance on chatbots for potentially mispleading advice and the effect of AI data centres on climate.
AI is certainly part of our children’s lives whether they are aware of it or not, from smart speakers to Netflix recommendations to summarised search results. At St Michael’s, we believe it is vital that children are aware of the ethics of AI to allow them to navigate this new technology and make responsible choices as to how they use it.
Kath Robertson, Head of Computing and Online Safety Lead
Click here to read more about Safer Internet Day
Rocks Day - the finale!
On Wednesday 3D had an exciting day investigating Rocks, Soils and Fossils as part of our Science topic. We have found out just how amazing our planet is and some ways we can look after it. From using microscopes to making our own volcanic explosions, Rock Man brought the topic alive for us. What a great day!
Sue Davies, Year 3 Teacher
Year 6 Coding Competition winners!
In Computing this term Year 6 have designed, drawn and coded a working prototype of a new electronic toy for 1-3 year olds with some sort of educational benefit (e.g. learning to talk or walk).
Following a detailed planning process, they demonstrated their toy in a Dragon’s Den-style presentation to the class and a judge.
The judges picked three winners and one honourable mention from each class, based on difficulty of coding, presentation style and originality of design.
Winning projects included an interactive dolls house with different activities in each room, an animal puzzle that sensed if the puzzle piece was in the correct place and pets that learn your name and speak to you, amongst many impressive creations!
Congratulations to the winners from each class who were awarded a Head's Star!
Click here to see the winning codes
Kath Robertson, Head of Computing
Modelling the Circulatory System!
Year 6 have been working hard on their innovative models of the Circulatory System as part of their Science learning this term!
Tasked with replicating the system visually, the pupils produced creative replicas incorporating knitting, working syringes and even board games!
The children spent part of their Science lesson looking at each other's projects, giving feedback and interacting with the games.
Great work, Year 6!
Pupils impress at Chichester Music Festival!
On Saturday 31st January, five St Michael’s Prep guitar pupils took part in the Chichester Music Festival. They were all highly commended by adjudicator Amanda Cook for their playing and the practice they had put in to perform at such a high level.
Performers from all over the South East took part in the classes. Standards were high and each class had around 10 performers.
Our pupils’ results were as follows:
Daniel W came 1st in the Solo Novice Age 10 & Under Class and was awarded with a trophy for the second year running.
Bruno S played in the same class and it was his first time at the festival. He played like someone who had many more years of experience under their belt and was highly commended.
Balint N and Jacob F came joint 2nd in the Solo Grade IV and Under Class and both were awarded a silver medal.
Espen A was highly praised in the same class for his lovely left-hand control and dexterity. He came away with a very high mark and was unlucky to miss out on a place.
Well done to you all.
Chris Sweatman, Guitar Teacher
Pirate Day memories to treasure!
Adorned with eye patches and skull and cross bones, Year 1 had a fantastic day experiencing life as a pirate on the last day before half term.
After performing their pirate songs in assembly, the children were tasked with making their own parrots, completing pirate puzzles in French and using their agility skills to sink the opposing team's ships in PE!
To complete the day, we followed clues around Pre-Prep which led us to a chest, filled with treasure, before returning to our classrooms to find that pirates had found our messages in a bottle and replied!
Charlotte Grove, Year 1 Teacher
St Michael's runners tackle IAPS cross country course!
On Tuesday 24th February a brave squad of Years 3 to 8 children headed to Somerhill School for the IAPS Cross Country event. The course offered everything a runner dreams of, hills, more hills, and enough mud to swallow a shoe or two. In fact, several of our runners heroically crossed the finish line wearing just one trainer, proving that nothing, not even disappearing footwear, could slow them down.
Every pupil ran with grit, determination and a fantastic team spirit. Willow C stormed to victory in the U9 girls’ race with a gutsy performance, while Hugo M earned an impressive bronze medal in his U13 race, competing a year under his age. Team results were equally strong: the U9 girls placed 3rd overall, the U9 boys secured 2nd and the U11 boys finished 3rd.
A huge well done to all of our runners for outstanding achievements in truly challenging conditions; we are extremely proud of them all.
The Sports Department
Teams:
U9- Anika B, Daphne S, Gabrielle A, Freya E, Harriette R, Willow C, Arthur G, Lucas T, Ruben S, Jude S, Reis N, Rafferty R, Elliott M and Raphael O
U11- Evie T, Nzu O, Olivia D, Saskia E, Sophia E, Miranda H, Ellie S, Grace L, Jacob F, Oliver A, Benji S, Albie C, Ben C, Samuel S, Cian C and Zach R-B
U13- Isla J, Scarlett M, Lana C, Kalya F, Grace P, Viggo W, Ruaridh O, Finlay S, Thomas G, Thomas D and Hugo M
Year 6 create shadow puppets!
As part of their Science topic on Light, Year 6 designed and made their own shadow puppets. This involved lots of intricate cutting out and many of the puppets had moveable parts. Well done Year 6 - it was great to see so much creativity applied to this task.
Esther Neylan, Head of Science
An introduction to Brass!
This week we were delighted to welcome Mr Maslin, our wonderful Brass Teacher from Prep, into Year 1’s Music lessons. He introduced the children to two exciting brass instruments: the trumpet and the P-bone and demonstrated how they work, from producing a clear buzz to mastering a steady airflow.
Every child had the chance to try both instruments and it was inspiring to see how quickly they took to the challenge. With great concentration and a few very determined facial expressions, the children explored how to control their breath and produce those all-important first notes.
Mr Maslin was hugely impressed by their effort and willingness to learn and I couldn’t agree more. We may have some future brass players in the making!
This is particularly pleasing as Brass lessons will be available to Pre-Prep children from September - a very exciting development in the Music Department!
A big thank you to Mr Maslin for such an engaging and uplifting workshop. Year 1 approached it with enthusiasm, curiosity and wonderful musical flair.
Ceri Crane, Pre-Prep Music Teacher
Loaves of fun in Food Technology!
Year 5 have been chopping, measuring and kneading their way to delicious focaccia bread in Food Technology.
Choosing from a range of fillings including sundried tomatoes, olives, apricots, cheese and herbs, the pupils carefully followed a recipe and Ms Gilbrook's demonstration to make their unique sweet or savoury dough.
Once they had oiled the dough, the children then took it home to bake with their families.
Celebrating our love of reading for World Book Day!
We've had an inspiring week celebrating all things books and reading as World Book Day celebrations have brought our favourite stories and characters to life.
In Prep, pupils have been celebrating World Book Day all week. During morning breaktimes, the children have listened to story times led by Prep staff in the Library and on beanbags in the sunshine.
Additionally, they have enjoyed an interactive World Book Day assembly led by 4M, mixed year group paired reading sessions and lunch time activities including short story writing, designing book covers, 'book speed dating', creating bookmarks and crafting dens for book characters. It has been wonderful to see engagement in these activities which have sparked imaginations and conversations all week.
Our talented team from Accent Catering also added a touch of story time magic to our World Book Day themed lunch menu on Thursday!
Meanwhile, innovative costumes helped Pre-Prep celebrate World Book Day on Thursday alongside reading buddy sessions with Year 2 and Pre-School, book toast decorating and a World Book Day House Competition which Dover were the winners of this year.
We have been pleased to see a number of entries for this year's World Book Day Competitions which we look forward to sharing the results of in next week's newsletter.
St Michael's presents World Book Day 2026:
'Always have a book with you, you never know when you might need one!'
A delightful Breakfast Concert!
The Chapel was filled with spring sunshine, smiling faces and beautiful music as we welcomed parents for our first Breakfast Concert of the Lent Term on Monday, celebrating the progress of our musicians, from beginners up to around Grade 2 standard.
Guests were welcomed with a selection of fruit, tea, coffee, juice and a sausage sandwich, whilst our young performers tuned up their instruments and had a final run through. The audience were treated to a wonderful variety of solo performances including voice, accordion, piano, guitar, drums, violin, recorder, flute and saxophone, as well as a particularly charming trio of clarinets that brought plenty of smiles to close the concert!
For many of our young performers, this was their first time playing in a concert, a milestone moment that they should be proud of. The poise and confidence they showed was a testament to the hours of dedicated practice put in with their Peripatetic Music Teachers in the weeks leading up to this point.
Mr Pears congratulated the children, praising not only their performances on the day but recognising the hard work done quietly behind the scenes to become concert ready. A special thank you to Mrs Mumford whose piano accompaniment supported so many of the children and helped them to shine.
We are incredibly proud of every single performer and they have all earned a Silver Star. What a wonderful way to start the day!
Click here to see a full gallery of photos from the concert.
Gordon Baird, Director of Music
National Prep School Cross Country Championships
St Michael’s boys made the most of a brilliant day out at the National Prep School Cross Country Championships last Sunday, taking on one of the toughest courses in the Prep School calendar at Malvern College in Worcestershire.
The sun was out and although the boys arrived with a few nerves, they were buzzing for the challenge ahead. After walking the hilly, leg‑testing route, loading up on carbs and getting a solid warm‑up in, they were ready to go.
In the U11 race which was 2.8km and had 204 runners competing, Cían C and Zach R-B both ran with real grit and smart pacing, finishing 51st and 106th a fantastic effort in such a strong national field.
In the U13 race, Hugo M and Thomas D were up against boys a year older but they rose to the occasion brilliantly. Hugo stormed around the 3.2km course in 11:55, earning an outstanding 12th place, while Thomas dug deep to finish 109th in 13:40 over a very demanding route.
Everyone at St Michael’s is incredibly proud of the boys, not just for their performances on the day but for the hard work and commitment they’ve shown over the past few years. They’ve set a great example and no doubt they will inspire plenty more St Michael’s runners in the future.
Well done, boys.
Steve Brightman, Director of Sport
An owl-standing experience with Exotic Explorers!
Reception were visited by the Exotic Explorers this week. They were wowed by the beautiful owls and their silent flying! They met three different types of owls: Barn Owls, Little Owls and White-faced Owls. Each owl had different coloured eyes which indicated whether they were nocturnal, diurnal or crepuscular. The children loved finding out lots of facts about the birds and sat extremely quietly during the whole session. Exotic Explorers can come again!
Kirsty Playell, Head of Reception
St Michael's swimmers compete in IAPS Qualifier
On Monday 2nd January, St Michael's swimmers from Years 5 to 8 travelled to Walthamstow Hall to compete in the IAPS Qualifier.
The children swam fantastically well and their behaviour throughout the gala was a real credit to the school.
A special mention to Charlotte P and Ethan M from Year 4, who swam up an age group and bravely took on the challenging 50m Butterfly - a gruelling event that no Years 5 or 6 swimmers were willing to enter. Their determination and courage were truly impressive.
The U10 boys won both of their relay heats and the U11 boys and U12 girls also delivered very strong performances. Congratulations to Miranda H, Kayla F, Frédérique M and Chloe S who each won their 50m individual events; a fantastic achievement.
The swimmers were not only competing against those at Walthamstow Hall, but their times will now be ranked against schools from across the country. The top 20 swimmers nationally will be invited to compete in the IAPS Finals at the prestigious London Aquatics Centre (Olympic pool) on Saturday 6th June 2026. The list of successful finalists is usually released in May.
We are incredibly proud of all of our swimmers for their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Well done!
Rosalind Fornasier, Swim School Manager
Musicians impress at Musical Soirée
The Chapel was filled with warmth and a gentle glow as families, staff and friends gathered for our Lent Term Musical Soirée on Tuesday evening. The event showcased the talents of 19 solo performers, each presenting music at around Grade 3 level and above, spanning an impressive range of styles and periods.
The programme featured our Music Scholars and lots of talented and dedicated musicians from across the entire age-range in Prep. Performances highlighted not only increasing technical skill but also a growing musical maturity and confidence that reflected the considerable progress made in recent months. From expressive vocal items to poised instrumental solos, each pupil brought something genuinely individual to the stage and the Chapel provided a beautiful and intimate setting for the evening.
The audience enjoyed a varied and engaging programme that reflected the breadth of musical life within the school. For many performers, the evening represented an important milestone in their musical journey. For others, it offered a valuable opportunity to refine exam repertoire or share pieces explored in lessons and ensembles.
The evening concluded with heartfelt applause and congratulatory words from Mrs Leech in recognition of the hard work, progress, courage and enthusiasm demonstrated by every performer. We extend our warm thanks to the entire Music Team for their dedicated support and preparation. We are also grateful to our musicians' families for their continued encouragement and support.
Congratulations to all who took part in a truly uplifting Musical Soirée.
Gordon Baird, Director of Music
St Michael's win Sevenoaks School Football Tournament!
St Michael’s U11A girls' team took part in the annual Sevenoaks School Football Tournament on Wednesday and what a fantastic afternoon of football it turned out to be! The girls have been working hard in lessons to sharpen their skills and develop their game understanding and they arrived excited to finally put it all into practice as a team.
The girls began brilliantly, moving the ball around confidently and supporting each other across the pitch. Their teamwork paid off straight away with a 4-0 win against Walthamstow Hall School thanks to goals from Ayla A, Ellie S and two from Elodie B.
In the second match against Hilden Oaks School, the team kept their momentum going. There was some excellent defending from Louisa R, Beatrice B, Sophia E and Ella D, helping to secure a 2-0 victory with goals again from Elodie B and Ayla A.
Next came a tougher challenge against Croydon High School. It was a tight and competitive game but the girls showed real determination and worked hard for each other to earn a well‑deserved draw. This result was enough to send St Michael’s through to the Final.
The Final against Holmewood House School was tense from start to finish, with both teams creating chances but neither able to find the breakthrough. After a 0-0 draw, it all came down to the dreaded penalty shoot‑out.
The girls linked arms, encouraged each other and showed brilliant composure. Thanks to two outstanding saves from Abigail L, St Michael’s won the shoot‑out 3-1, securing the tournament victory.
It was a brilliant team effort. Every player contributed and the girls should be incredibly proud of the way they played and supported each other.
Team: Sophia E, Ellie S, Elodie B, Ella D, Beatrice B, Ayla A, Louisa R and Abigail L
Steve Brightman, Director of Sport
U11s score 27 goals in IAPS Regional Netball Tournament!
Our U11A team represented St Michael's at the IAPS Regional Netball Tournament on Thursday 5th March. Set to play 3 group games across the event, the girls arrived raring to go - the sun helping to boost their spirits as they prepared to play their best netball.
There were 4 groups in the competition with 4 teams in each group. St Michael's first game was against Downsend School. Following a slow start, the girls found their feet, displaying some super netball and winning this difficult game 5-4.
Their next game was against Rose Hill School who the girls had faced before at the St Michael's Tournament. They played confidently with all girls making an excellent contribution to their 7-2 win. The final group game was against Marlborough House Vinehall School - an unknown team for the girls but they played exceptionally well to win 11-0.
As winners of their group, the girls then progressed to the Quarter-Finals of the Cup Competition, facing Cumnor House School who they had also played at St Michael's previously. This was a fiercely fought and even game with the goals going with the centre passes. Unfortunately, despite a superb effort, the girls lost 4-7, meaning they did not progress any further. It was an excellent morning of netball - well done to the girls and thank you to the parents who were able to come along to support.
Team: Krisha P, Elodie B, Bea B, Ayla A, Sophie E, Ella D, Louisa R and Ellie S
Cal Wade, Games Coach, and Nicky Denton, Head of Girls' Games
Hot off the Press!
Science Week 2026!
This year’s British Science Week theme, 'Curiosity – What’s Your Question?', was the focus of our Science Week here in Prep. Scientists are good at asking questions and searching for answers and our children are experts at that too!
There are so many ways to do Science and encourage children to be curious and ask questions about the world around them. It doesn’t have to be complicated and you don’t need anything special to get started.
For our children in Years 4 to 6, it was four different types of paper towel - tissue, kitchen roll, serviette and hand towel. Using just a range of simple equipment, they were asked to come up with their own scientific question to investigate. We were blown away by their creativity and engagement in the task.
- "Which paper towel will absorb the most water?"
- "Which paper towel is the strongest?"
- "How many marbles can different paper towels hold when dry and when wet?"
- "How quickly can water get to the different corners of each towel?"
Year 3 were equally curious in their ‘Fizzy Bags’ activity and there was plenty of excitement when the bags inflated and sometimes popped! "Why did the bags blow up? Why did some bags pop and not others? How could we make the bags pop more quickly?"
Year 2 also joined us in the Labs for some red cabbage chemistry! The enjoyment on the children’s faces as the solutions changed colour and fizzed was a delight to see. Why did one liquid turn pink and the other one turquoise? What will happen if we mix the two different coloured liquids together? What made the liquid bubble and fizz?
Well done to all our budding young scientists - keep asking questions and let your curiosity lead the way!
The Science Department
Football masterclass with London City Lionesses!
We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming the London City Lionesses to St Michael's last Friday, much to the excitement of pupils and staff alike. Members of the professional women’s football club, who compete in the Women’s Super League (the top tier of English women’s football) gave up a morning of training to educate, coach and inspire our pupils.
The whole of Prep enjoyed an energetic and inspiring assembly led by London City’s Managing Director, Sarah Batters, Youth Team Coach and Scout, Sasha Crooknorth, and Academy Safeguarding and Welfare Officer, Emily Reece. Their enthusiasm filled the Sports Hall and our pupils were gripped.
Afterwards, our Years 5 and 6 girls took part in a professional coaching session led by Sasha. The girls were eager to show off their skills, learn new ones and generally prove that St Michael’s might just be harbouring the next generation of football stars.
The session was packed with fun drills and game play, all designed to build confidence and technique. Sasha focused on the fundamentals: developing a great first touch, using both feet, maintaining balance and mastering body shape when controlling and passing the ball. The girls rose to the challenge brilliantly, showing determination and strong teamwork.
A huge thank you to the London City Lionesses for giving their time, energy and passion to inspire our pupils. Their visit has left our girls buzzing with excitement and possibly planning their future football careers already. We are incredibly grateful and hope to welcome them back soon.
The Sports Department
Free tickets to London City Lionesses vs Chelsea next weekend!
Following their visit, the Lionesses would like to offer the St Michael’s community free tickets to their upcoming game against Chelsea, taking place at The Den, Millwall on Saturday 21st March. This game is being held at a different venue to usual and will be a big occasion in the club’s history!
Free ticket code: STMCHE
Teams: London City Lionesses v Chelsea
Date and time: Saturday 21st March, 12pm kick off
Venue: The Den, Millwall
Reception celebrate their mummies for Mother's Day
Reception performed amazingly in their Mother's Day Assembly this week. Since their Nativity, many children have grown in confidence and it was wonderful to see this come to light on stage. The children captured their mummies' hearts with their gorgeous paintings and what they said about them. The singing and actions were wonderful and full of enthusiasm. There were lots of chuckles from the audience when they sang Have a day off Mum because they had made up their own lyrics. "Have a nice latte" and "go for a nap with your warm duvet" were firm favourites.
Well done Reception, we are very proud of you!
Kirsty Playell, Head of Reception
St Michael's mathematicians tackle Maths Race!
On Monday 9th March our Years 4 and 5 pupils took part in the Maths Race at Somerhill School. The event involved 30 minutes of challenging problem‑solving questions designed to test reasoning skills under pressure. Following the completion of each question, competitors had to take their answer to the judges’ table for checking before moving on to the next task.
Our Year 4 team completed 8 questions and our Year 5 team completed 7 within the time limit. Although this wasn’t enough to challenge the medal positions, both groups worked with great focus and represented the school very well. It was a valuable experience and everyone involved enjoyed taking part.
Toby Fuller, Maths Teacher
World Book Day Competition winners!
This year's World Book Day Competitions in Pre-Prep and Prep attracted some superbly creative and amusing entries. In the Hat Competition, we saw hats inspired by The Secret Garden, Pride and Prejudice and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, amongst many others.
The Extreme Reading Competition inspired children to read while at the theatre, hanging from monkey bars, cooking, in a guinea pig's cage and even in front of the Empire State Building! Thank you to everyone who entered; don't forget to collect your Silver Star.
Congratulations to our winners:
Pre-Prep
Paper Plate Competition:
Arin K (Reception)
Isla D (Year 1)
Ralph P (Year 2)
Extreme Reading Competition:
Ben C (Year 1)
Sasha Z (Year 1)
Prep
Hat Competition:
Hattie R (Year 4)
Extreme Reading Competition:
Daphne S (Years 3 and 4)
Noah L (Years 5 and 6)
Lottie E (Years 7 and 8)
Laura Andrade, Head of English
U13 boys compete in IAPS Hockey Tournament
Last Tuesday, St Michael's U13A team travelled to Brambletye School to compete in the Under 13 IAPS Hockey Tournament for the first time in the school's history. After last year’s success, when the U11 boys reached the National Finals, we were excited to see how the team would perform.
We began with a narrow loss to Heath Mount School, despite creating several chances. A strong Edgeborough School side then beat us after we had initially taken the lead. The boys produced an excellent performance against the hosts Brambletye, going two goals ahead before the game ended in a draw.
In the final group game, a play-off for the Cup Competition, the boys stepped up superbly against Wellesley Prep School, with goals from Finley S and Hugo M helping to secure a 3-2 win.
Finishing fourth in the group set up a Quarter-Final against Highfield School. We competed well early on but they proved too strong in the second half.
It was a fantastic experience and a valuable introduction to the step up from U11 to U13 hockey. The boys will no doubt be keen to return next year and go even further. Well done to all involved.
Joel Thomas, Head of Boys' Games
Science Quiz success!
On Friday 6th March, two St Michael’s Prep teams participated in the Science ‘Quiz Club’ Area Heat. This was a live online heat, and our teams put their ‘Science Trivia’ heads together to compete against 136 other teams from across the country.
Team 1, which was made up of Miranda H, Isaac O, Thomas S and Teddy T, came in 28th place and will go straight through to the nationwide Semi-Final next term. Team 2, which was made up of Ivy J, Oliver A, Olivia B and Edward H achieved a very respectable 71st place against some strong competition.
Congratulations to all the children involved and well done to them for their regular attendance at our practice sessions. Special mention also goes out to Herbert W – our team reserve - for showing great commitment to attending practice sessions too.
Louise Medd, Science Teacher
U11s become Plate Champions at IAPS Hockey Qualifiers
On Monday 2nd March, St Michael's U11 boys’ hockey team travelled to Eastbourne College to compete in the IAPS Hockey Qualifiers.
Our first match was against York House: the boys got off to a fantastic start when Oliver A scored from a well-worked short corner. Unfortunately, a sloppy goal put us on the back foot and we lost the game 3-1.
Next, we faced a very strong St Andrew’s School team. Despite creating numerous chances and having much of the play, a missed opportunity at one end led to us conceding at the other and we narrowly lost the game 1-0.
In our final group match we came up against Amesbury School. A strong performance saw us win 2-1; we qualified for the Plate Competition.
In the Plate Quarter-Final we came out of the blocks flying against Brambletye School, winning the game 4-0 with two goals from Ted H and two from Oliver A.
In the Semi-Final, despite dominating the game and creating numerous chances, the match finished 1-1 and went to shuffles. Oliver and Albie C both calmly scored their shuffles and some excellent goalkeeping from Fadil A ensured that we progressed to the Final.
In the Final we faced Westbourne House School. Another great goal from Ted H and one from Oliver A, combined with some excellent team play, saw us win the game 2-0 and be crowned Champions of the Plate Competition.
The boys finished the day strongly and should be very proud of their achievement.
Team: Oliver A, Albie C, Isaac O, Ted H, Arthur N, Arthur S, Fadil A, Espen A and Edgar B
Joel Thomas, Head of Boys' Games
Years 7 and 8 Sports Tour to Madrid!
Last week our Years 7 and 8 pupils enjoyed an unforgettable Sports Tour to Madrid!
Throughout the week, pupils took part in both hockey and football coaching sessions, followed by evening fixtures where they represented the school brilliantly. The standout moment for many was our visit to Real Madrid’s world‑class training facility, La Fábrica. To say we were in awe would be an understatement; the pitches were immaculate and the surroundings were stunning.
The excitement didn’t stop there. We enjoyed a tour of the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, glided through Madrid’s parks on Segways in glorious sunshine and took in the city’s beauty from the top deck of an open‑top bus. It was a week packed with sport, culture, laughter and the occasional teacher trying to look cooler on a Segway than they actually were!
It truly was an incredible experience for everyone involved and we are certain the pupils enjoyed it every bit as much as we did.
Most importantly, every single child was a joy to be with, enthusiastic, polite, great company and an absolute credit to their families. It was wonderful to see the pupils grow in confidence, resilience and maturity throughout the trip.
Steve Brightman, Nicky Denton, Sandy Godoy and Rosalind Fornasier
The Sports Department
A fascinating Pre-Prep STEM Week!
Our Pre-Prep children have had a fantastic time celebrating STEM Week which has been filled with excitement, curiosity and creativity.
The children took part in a range of hands-on science workshops, from making slime and launching rockets to being amazed by a spectacular bubble show.
We were also delighted to be supported by students from Tonbridge School and Sevenoaks School who helped to inspire and guide our young learners.
Throughout the week, pupils experienced a variety of investigations and experiments, as well as designing, building and refining their own vehicles. The week concluded with great enthusiasm as everyone enjoyed a thrilling soapbox race, showcasing their teamwork and ingenuity.
Hannah Powell, Year 2 Teacher
St Michael's teams win Rosehill Football Tournament!
U8B
St Michael's U8B team delivered a fantastic afternoon of football at the annual Rosehill Tournament, playing with confidence, determination and real joy throughout. From the very first whistle, the girls impressed with their sharp attacking play, strong defensive organisation and brilliant teamwork.
Across matches against schools including Dulwich Prep, Derwent Lodge, Holmewood House, St Ronan’s, Cumnor House and Hilden Grange, the team produced some outstanding football. They drew two games and won the rest, scoring an impressive 15 goals and conceding only one all afternoon - a testament to both their attacking flair and defensive resilience.
Every single player gave everything on the pitch, showing tireless effort, great skill and superb team spirit. Their hard work was rewarded as St Michael’s were crowned tournament winners, a result that reflects just how brilliantly they played.
A huge well done to Jessica C, Isabella S, Sophia P, Angelica H, Camilla W, Faith A, Lila P and Savannah S.
U9B
St Michael's U9B squad delivered a fantastic performance at the annual Rosehill Football Tournament, showcasing determination, teamwork and real sporting spirit throughout the afternoon. After a tentative opening match against St Ronan’s School, which ended in a 0-0 draw, the team found their rhythm and never looked back.
From that moment on, St Michael’s were simply unstoppable. Match after match, the girls demonstrated outstanding skill, relentless effort and superb defensive discipline. Thanks to exceptional goalkeeping from Isla E and Zoey Y, the team did not concede a single goal for the remainder of the tournament.
St Michael’s went on to secure impressive victories over schools including Dulwich Prep, Holmewood House, Derwent Lodge, Cumnor House and Hilden Grange, each win fuelled by tireless running, sharp passing and unwavering team spirit.
Every player contributed brilliantly to this achievement: Aliénor D, Isla E, Charlotte P, Zoey Y, Mia D and Harriette R all played their part in a truly memorable team performance.
Their hard work and determination were rewarded as St Michael’s were crowned tournament winners. We could not be prouder of each and every girl.
U11B
St Michael's U11B girls took part in the annual Rosehill U11B Football Tournament on Wednesday, arriving with a perfect mix of excitement, nerves and team spirit.
They certainly didn’t disappoint. The girls opened with a solid 0-0 draw against St Ronan’s School in a match they felt they really should have won. If anything, that only fired them up. They bounced back in style with a fantastic 3-0 win over Hilden Grange School, thanks to goals from Ayla A and Isla B.
Their good form continued as they edged past Cumnor House 1-0, with Ayla A once again finding the back of the net. These results meant they topped their group and secured a place in the Final against Holmewood House School.
The Final was a tense, tight affair with very few chances for either side, finishing 0-0 and heading to the dreaded penalties. However, our girls held their nerve brilliantly. A superb penalty save from Abigail L, followed by composed finishes from Ayla A and Louisa R, sealed the victory and crowned the girls as Champions.
We are incredibly proud of their effort, teamwork and determination. A huge well done to every single one of them, unbeaten, no goals conceded and a trophy to take home. Congratulations girls.
Team: Ayla A, Darcey B, Marney B, Isla B, Grace L, Abigail L and Louisa R
Nicky Denton and Steve Brightman, The Sports Department
Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival success!
Many St Michael’s children participated in the Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival over the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March at Kent College, Pembury. A full table of all children who took part is set out at the end of this report.
A recently formed recorder quartet (Ellie S, Amelia I, Zihao G and Jessica C) in the Trio/Quartet Class and the Recorder Consort in the Recorder Ensemble Class (Martha S, Alexandra O, Jessica C, Zihao G, Amelia I and Ellie S) both won well-deserved first place.
There were also some great individual results with the following children winning trophies; Juliet E (Mini Musician), Emma U (Novice Piano Duet with Teacher Year 3 & Under), Martha S (Wind/Brass Solo Grade 2-3), Ellie S (Wind/Brass Solo Grade 2-3) and Hattie R (Dramatic Solo Yr 3-4).
We are especially proud of our youngest representatives from Pre-Prep; Emma U, Theo A and Juliet E. Juliet performed on her recorder with some vocals. Her recorder playing was confident and assured and she went on to win the Woodwind Mini Musician Class (Yr 2 & under) where she received an Easter egg and medal. She then went on to win the overall Mini Musician Cup, gaining the highest mark out of the Piano, Wind, Strings & Vocal classes.
Emma and Theo were both in the Novice Piano Duet with Teacher Year 3 and Under class. This class was split into two halves due to the number of entries. Emma won her class and Theo came 2nd in his class. Emma got the highest mark out of both classes so won the cup.
We are also very proud of Theia H who won the Junior Vocal Recital Cup and was chosen to sing at the GEMS Prize Winners’ Concert held at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells last Sunday 15th March. She sang Popular from the musical Wicked. It was wonderful to see her confidence and talent as she took to the stage to perform.
We are delighted to announce that Martha S was presented with a special festival award: The Robert Goulden-Stace Cup for the most promising Recorder Player.
At the GEMS Concert last Sunday, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells presented Martha and Theia with their trophies, whilst Martha S and Alexandra O also received the Recorder Quartet & Recorder Ensemble's trophies on behalf of the rest of the groups. All other cups will be presented to the children in their final assemblies this term.
The full list of cup winners is as follows:
|
Festival Cup/Award |
Name |
|
Robert Goulden-Stace Cup for the Best Recorder Player |
Martha S |
|
Junior Vocal Recital Cup |
Theia H |
|
Dramatic Solo Year 3-4 |
Harriett R |
|
Novice Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 1 |
Emma U |
|
Mini Musician Year 2 & Under Award |
Juliet E |
|
Woodwind & Brass Grades 2-3 |
Martha S |
|
Woodwind & Brass Grades 4-5 |
Ellie S |
|
Woodwind or Brass Trio or Quartet |
Ellie S, Amelia I, Zihao G and Jessica C |
|
Junior Recorder Ensemble |
Ellie S, Amelia I, Zihao G, Martha S, Jessica C and Alexandra O |
The full list of entries:
|
Class |
Name |
Place |
|
Piano |
||
|
Piano Solo Year 2 & Under |
Emma U |
|
|
Piano Solo Beginners Year 3 & Under |
Emma U |
|
|
Piano Solo Grade 1 |
Ella F |
2nd |
|
Piano Solo Grade 1 |
Florrie B |
|
|
Piano Solo Grade 2 |
Amelia I |
|
|
Piano Solo Grade 3 |
Saskia E |
|
|
Novice Piano Duet with Teacher Year 3 & Under |
Emma U |
1st |
|
Novice Piano Duet with Teacher Year 3 & Under |
Theo A |
2nd |
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 1 |
Florrie B |
2nd |
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 1 |
Harriett R |
|
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 1 |
Elise A |
|
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 1 |
Ella F |
|
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 2-3 |
Amelia I |
|
|
Piano Duet with Teacher Grade 4-5 |
Gwyneth H |
|
|
Piano Duet or Trio |
Ellie S and Danny S |
2nd |
|
Vocal |
|
|
|
Musical Theatre Year 4 & Under |
Martha S |
|
|
Musical Theatre Year 6 |
Theia H |
2nd |
|
Junior Vocal Recital Year 6 & Under |
Theia H |
1st |
|
Junior Versatility |
Theia H |
|
|
Woodwind/Brass |
|
|
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Beginners |
Juliet E |
|
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Grade 1 |
Gabriella A |
|
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Grade 2-3 |
Martha S |
1st |
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Grade 2-3 |
Saskia E |
|
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Grade 4-5 |
Ellie S |
1st |
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Year 2 & Under |
Juliet E |
1st |
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Year 3-4 |
Martha S |
|
|
Woodwind & Brass Solo Year 5-6 |
Ellie S |
|
|
Woodwind or Brass Duet |
Martha S and Ellie S |
1st |
|
Woodwind or Brass Elementary Trio or Quartet |
Ellie S, Amelia I, Zihao G, Jessica C |
1st |
|
Woodwind or Brass Ensemble |
St Michael's Prep Recorder Consort |
1st |
|
Strings |
|
|
|
Strings Solo Beginners |
Lucie L |
|
|
Strings Solo Year 5-6 |
Alvie G |
|
|
Strings Solo Grades 2-3 |
Lincoln L |
|
|
Drama and Verse Speaking |
|
|
|
Verse Speaking Year 3-4 |
Hattie R |
|
Debbie Mumford, Peripatetic Music Teacher
U8As triumph at Holmewood House Tournament!
On Thursday, St Michael’s U8A girls’ football team took part in their very first football tournament together. They arrived buzzing with excitement, determination and just a tiny bit of nervous energy.
They got off to a flying start against Hilden Grange School, quickly settling into their rhythm with confident passing, fearless dribbling and the sort of teamwork that makes coaches beam. A superb 3-0 win followed with goals from Annabella N and Lottie B.
Next up was Dulwich Prep School, a tougher test but the St Michael’s girls stuck to the task brilliantly. After plenty of pressure, they finally broke the deadlock to win 1-0, with Annabella N once again on the score sheet.
Then came St Ronan’s School: this is where the girls really hit their stride. Everyone contributed to a fantastic team performance and the goals flowed as they secured a brilliant 6-0 victory.
Their final group game was against the unbeaten Mead School. Despite going behind early, the girls showed real character, regrouping quickly and battling back to win 2-1. This sealed their place in the Final against another unbeaten side, Holmewood House.
The girls were absolutely raring to go. On what felt like an enormous pitch, they ran, chased, tackled and passed as if they’d been playing tournaments for years. Goals from Lottie B and Annabella N secured a well‑deserved 2-0 win and with it, the title of Tournament Champions.
A huge thank you to all of the parents who came along to cheer, encourage and help create such a wonderful afternoon.
Congratulations girls, you were all brilliant.
Team: Gabriella A, Lottie B, Poppy F, Iona H, Annabella N, Nieve P, Martha S and Erin S
Steve Brightman, Director of Sport
U9Cs win silver at Somerhill Football Tournament!
St Michael's U9C girls' football team enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of football at the annual Somerhill Tournament, playing with confidence, intelligence and superb teamwork from start to finish. Their positional play was excellent throughout and the girls worked tirelessly for one another in every match.
St Michael’s opened the tournament in style with a 3-0 win over Holmewood House School, followed by another dominant 3-0 victory against Derwent Lodge School. Their momentum continued as they secured a 2-0 win over Cumnor House School, completing the group stage unbeaten and without conceding a single goal.
These outstanding performances earned the team a well‑deserved place in the Final where they faced a strong St Ronan’s School side. The girls battled brilliantly and created chances of their own but were narrowly defeated by an unfortunate goal. Despite the result, their determination and spirit shone through.
Across the afternoon, the team scored eight goals and conceded only one; a remarkable achievement that reflects both their attacking quality and defensive discipline. As tournament runners‑up, the girls should feel incredibly proud of what they accomplished.
A huge well done to Daphne S, Rosanna C, Aaliyah S, Florence J and Serena G for representing the school so brilliantly. It was a fabulous afternoon for everyone involved.
Nicky Denton, Head of Girls' Games
Ivan and Lucas ace Sevenoaks Tennis Tournament!
Ivan and Lucas competed in the Sevenoaks Red Ball Doubles Tournament last Saturday. The boys progressed into the Semi-Finals after finishing second in their group.
In their match against Chevening School, they came second, meaning they didn’t progress any further in the competition.
A fantastic effort from both boys - well done to Ivan and Lucas!