Month: March 2024

ISA Easter Egg Competition Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of the ISA Easter Egg Competition, and congratulations are in order for Year 2 for their exceptional achievement in clinching the “Best Group” title.

Their creations shone as they crafted a stunning array of clay eggs, each designed with an animal theme. From rabbits to sharks, the pupils’ imaginative interpretations impressed the judges.

Well done to Year 2 for their outstanding creations and thank you to Mrs Naylor-Davis for your hard work and support that made this possible.

Lower School Fundraising Afternoon for Maddy’s Mark

Lower School pupils and teachers at Alton School organised a fundraising event aimed at supporting Maddy’s Mark Charity. Maddy’s Mark was established to remember Maddy Lawrence and raise funds in her name to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women, through the sport of rugby.

The event featured a diverse array of activities including face painting, glitter tattoos, sweet stalls, name the stuffed toy, penalty kicks, obstacle courses, air hockey, and table football. The afternoon was a resounding success, with enthusiastic participation from both pupils and teachers. Among the attendees were Mr and Mrs Lawrence, the parents of Maddy, in whose memory the charity was established.

They raised just over £510 for Maddy’s Mark Charity which they presented to Mrs Lawrence.

Year 8 go to France

“We had a great time on the Year 8 French trip to Chateau du Broutel.  On Saturday morning, the pupils enjoyed going to a French market in the local town and stocked up on delicious items from the chocolaterie and boulangerie. Our guides gave us a tour of the town, pointing out many places of interest. That afternoon, we visited an organic goat farm where the pupils fed, held and even named baby goats. We also learned all about the production of fromage de chèvre and enjoyed doing a taste test! 

On Sunday morning the pupils took part in bivouac and orienteering activities with the centre’s lovely instructors. In the afternoon, we went to Nausicaa and saw a sea lion show with live commentary in French. After dinner pupils enjoyed a range of games outside and one evening they had a cosy campfire.

The food at the chateau was popular and many brave children tried cuisses de grenouille and escargots. Our coach driver, Dave, stayed with us for the whole weekend and kept us safe on the roads. 

We now look forward to reading their diaries of the trip, which are due in after Easter and should prove to be a lovely memoir of this visit.”

– Mrs Schofield

Milestones Adventure 2024

As a part of their ‘Old Toys’ topic, Reception and Year 1 went on a trip to Milestones Living History Museum in Basingstoke. They had a fantastic time visiting the old fashioned shops and looking at the old vehicles. They particularly enjoyed going into the toy and teddy bear shop. They played an old and new toy sorting game and handled some old toys which was great fun! The children also loved playing on the penny arcade on the seaside pier and choosing some sweets in the old fashioned sweetie shop. Everyone went home tired but having had a lovely day!

Year 9 to the Battlefields

This Term our Year 9s had the opportunity to visit the World War I Battlefields of Belgium and France. We spent a busy few days travelling down the Western Front from the town of Ieper to the Somme in France taking in the key locations and stories while learning about the sacrifices of past generations. Our students took the chance to lay a Poppy Wreath on behalf of the school community at the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony and walk through the preserved trenches of The Somme. Chocolate shopping was also on the agenda and we hope some of it made it home for Mother’s Day. We sadly said goodbye to our long-term guide Mr Robert Watson who was retiring after many years of escorting our school on this special and poignant trip.

World Book Week 2024

This week, our Lower School embraced the magic of literature during World Book Week with a lineup of engaging activities:

Dress-Up Day: Students donned costumes of their favorite book characters, parading to music on the playground for parents to enjoy.

House Book Quiz: Houses competed in a lively quiz, showcasing their literary knowledge and fighting for victory.

Book Boxes: Pupils showcased their creativity by crafting book-themed scenes in show boxes as homework projects.

Author Workshops: A visiting author led workshops, exploring the intersection of rap poetry and literature, inspiring young minds with creative storytelling techniques.

Theatre Workshops: The Openbox Theatre Company captivated Lower School students with interactive workshops, immersing them in the worlds of magical toys, Roald Dahl, and Egyptian history. The day concluded with a delightful show, leaving students from Pre-school to Year 6 giggling with joy.

Fascinating HPQ Presentations

Over the past 18 months, our students have been pursuing their independent inquiry through the GCSE Higher Project Qualification. Their projects, ranging from building a working drift bike trike to investigating material properties for Latin-ballroom shirts, exemplify their creativity and ingenuity.

These endeavours have not only allowed students to explore their interests but have also equipped them with essential skills for advanced study. Through projects like creating rock songs online and analysing the future of electric and hydrogen-powered cars, students have delved into real-world issues with depth and insight.

By documenting changes in growth and health in enclosed ecosystems, students have demonstrated their ability to conduct scientific inquiry and analysis. These projects culminated in presentations to Years 11-13, providing valuable opportunities for reflection and learning.

As our students continue to develop independence, time management, and critical thinking skills, they are well-prepared for the challenges of A levels and university-level study. We commend their dedication and commendable achievements in their pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence.

Senior School Equestrian

Alton Equestrian team were out in force at the Farlington School Show Jumping Qualifer at Merrist Wood on Sunday. Laura Bilham came 1st and 2nd in the 90cm and 1m class to qualify individually for the NSEA National Championships at Addington in October. Amelia Mitchell came a competitive 8th in the 80cm to qualify individually for the Plate NSEA National championships also held at Addington in the Autumn. Emily Bilham finished in 10th place in the 70cm with her pony Teddy. Well done to all involved; we are looking forward to a busy season ahead.

U18 Netball Tournament Winners

On Saturday the U18 netball team headed to LWC for their annual tournament where 14 colleges were taking part. They were lucky and the early morning rain cleared away to leave a chilly but thankfully dry day. Our U18 team comprises of 5 Year 11s, 3 Year 10s and only one true U18 so they knew it was going to be a challenging day but excellent preparation for the ISA Nationals next week.

The start they had was superb and the team showed composure and skill by winning the first two games. This settled any nerves they may have had and allowed them to believe they were fully competitive at this level. From then on the afternoon just got better and better with the tough games coming thick and fast but they were winning all of them! Good possessional play from defence down to attack and then a superb shooting percentage from Mia and Lucy allowed them to gain advantage over precious turnovers that they had.

Their only game that caused them real trouble was against Shiplake college. Although they worked hard to gain their turnover, they were not able to convert from it so they kept an advantage resulting in their only loss of 7-8.

After that they then continued to pick up their winning ways and with three games left to play started to realise we were in with a great chance of winning!

Their final game was with Charterhouse and it was full of nerves. Both teams had a couple of dropped balls or wayward passes but then they made a crucial interception which gave them the turnover. From then they needed to keep their heads and keep possession which they did brilliantly allowing them their 9th win of the day. 

They then had the wait for the presentation, not knowing who had won or lost against anyone else so they knew they had gained second but there was always that hope they may have actually won…….it was soon revealed, they had!

Alton’s team were the most consistent there all afternoon, beating all of the colleges…what an accolade to them as a team who could not have played better. They were a real credit to themselves and a huge credit to Alton School.

Good luck at the Nationals girls, you deserve to do really well!

UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge Success

We’re thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our students in the Intermediate Maths Challenge. Out of 46 participants from years 9, 10, and 11, we’ve secured an impressive tally: 2 Gold, 6 Silver, and 7 Bronze certificates.

Special mention goes to Ijoba for earning Gold, showcasing exceptional talent.

Congratulations to Owen (Year 9), Millie (Year 10), and Ijoba (Year 11) for being the top performers in their respective year groups. Millie and Ijoba will face the challenge of the Grey and Pink Kangaroo rounds, respectively, demonstrating their mathematical excellence.

We extend our appreciation to all participants and their families for their dedication and enthusiasm. We’ll be celebrating these achievements in our upcoming Celebration Assembly. Well done to everyone!