It is quite extraordinary how quickly the first half of this term went - I don't think I am the only one to feel this. We will all have to take a big breath as we start on the second half with so much going on.

Personal Achievements

A Distinction in the Rock & Pop Drums music exam, David Maloney is going from strength to strength – a splendid result David!

Charlie Turner, who is in the III Form, raised £400 for the British Heart Foundation by abstaining from chocolate for a month. Well done Charlie, a wonderful amount to raise for such a good cause!

Charity Recital

On Thursday 27th April some of our very talented musicians gave a short concert in the Assembly Room in aid of The Chestnut Tree Hospice and raised nearly £100 for this worthy cause. The concert was of a very high standard and very much appreciated by all who attended. Annette Williamson

Birling Gap

Year 6 visited Birling Gap for an Art and Science study day. Students went rock pooling and caught different types of crabs and sea snails. After a wonderful picnic lunch, everybody worked hard to make a large piece of beach art, inspired by the crabs we caught in the morning. Sarah Strachan

Battle and Herstmonceux

Year 4 first went to Pevensey Castle (close to the site where the Normans landed) and then made a tour of the battlefield learning about how the day’s battle proceeded (useful for those doing CE in Year 7&8!). The aim of the visit is to provide a useful stimulus to future work in English and History lessons. In the afternoon the class visited Herstmonceux Science Centre 2 where the class had an enjoyable time that included a guided tour of the telescopes. Thank you Mrs Phillips for helping with transport and providing pleasant company. David Buckingham

Tilgate Nature Reserve

Year 3 had the chance to get up close and personal with a wide variety of inhabitants at Tilgate Nature Centre. The children had the chance to meet and hold hissing cockroaches (much pleasanter than expected), millipedes and a boa constrictor. They also had the honour of being the first class to meet Pickwick the baby owl. They were all both well informed and impeccably behaved, thoroughly enjoying the day out and cementing Sompting Abbotts’ reputation at the centre as a school for budding naturalists. Rachel Kelly

Chorister Afternoon

On Tuesday 9th May ten singers attended the Chorister Afternoon at Lancing College and joined 50 other children from 5 other Prep Schools in an afternoon of choral singing culminating in a beautiful Evensong in the Crypt. Quite magical! Annette Williamson

Pizza Express

Years 3 and 4 were treated to a morning of cooking, eating and learning at Pizza Express Worthing earlier on this term. In Geography we have been learning about 'Our Connections with the world' this term, finding out about other countries and cultures, so all the pupils were keen to know where pizzas originated and where Pizza Express source all their various ingredients from. The pupils then made their own pizzas, and even got to eat them! The trip was a great success, the pupils behaved excellently at all times, showing how polite and appreciative Sompting Abbotts pupils are. Kathryn McKinnon

French Fun Afternoon

On Thursday 25th May PP4 and Year 5 joined in an afternoon of French games, treasure hunt with chocolate brioche and sirop to finish. Many thanks to Monsieur Cauley for organising this lovely annual event. Great fun was had by all! Annette Williamson

Practical Maths

As we speak I am trying to make links with Shoreham airport/helicopter to see if we can arrange a 'maths' trip - the organiser of the tours is going to find out if any of them is an ex pilot or the likes to be able to integrate some maths concepts. There's so much maths involved in flying from the engineering to the aviation / navigation perspectives I thought it could be an 'interesting and inspiring' trip ... however only in the talking stages! Angela Farley

Lego Club

On a Tuesday first break we have introduced a 'Lego Club'. This has been organised by Tom Coward (Year 7) as he is a 'Master Builder' and it is a wonderful opportunity for others to share in his talents and expertise. Currently it is only for the Year 3s to attend as we are in the 'pilot stage' of development. None-the-less I (as I supervise) have been very impressed with the creativity of the girls and boys and indeed their ability to follow complex instructions. If anyone has any old Lego, or similar, that they would be happy to donate to the club we could hopefully look to develop this idea next year as we are aware there are other Master Builders in the school who are also keen to be involved. Angela Farley

Sport

The first team have played two matches this term, a narrow loss against Great Ballard and a comfortable win against a Windlesham House side (not their first team!). The game against Dorset House was abandoned. All have played well but Max Garrard is looking to be a bit of a star! Thanks go to Mr Anderson our trusty chauffeur.

The U13 rounders team had two matches against Lancing College Worthing, winning both – 10.5 – 12, 10 – 21. The Great Ballard fixture was cancelled. David Buckingham

Pre Prep

On Thursday 18th May, the Pre Prep children boarded the coach with great excitement. They arrived at the Weald and Downland Museum and enjoyed touring some of the amazing old homes and buildings; the school house was particularly interesting. Some of the activities included playing with the large, outdoor skittles and looking at various cooking techniques from the past. A particular highlight was watching the piglets escape from their pen! PP3 and PP4 explored where building materials came from and investigated the best formation of bricks for building a sturdy wall. PP1 and PP2 enjoyed finding out about farms and animals. The weather just about stayed dry for everyone to enjoy their picnic lunch outside. The staff at the museum and the coach driver all commented on how polite and beautifully behaved the children were- well done to all. Kate O`Neill

Cornwall Trip

The Main School has returned from half term to exams, and later this week Year 6 camp and the Year 8 Cornwall trip.

We are all very much looking forward to the School Fayre on Saturday and do hope we will see you all there. Mrs Kerry Thomson bravely took on the responsibility of the Fayre at the eleventh hour, worked hard and now needs our support.

Still to come: Sports Day, the play - Grease Junior and the Summer Concert will lead us to the conclusion of another action packed academic year.

Patricia Sinclair, Principal

Our Environmental Ethos: Outdoor Classrooms and Woodland Coronations

At Sompting Abbotts, we adopt a school-wide ethos that embodies our commitment to the environment. Its principles – 'Embrace Nature; Embrace Learning; Embrace Childhood' – are threaded through our teaching, influencing every child's journey from Pre-Prep to Upper Prep. Our 30-acre grounds and woodland in the South Downs National Park are at its roots.

Lab detectives: owl pellet dissection and analysis

Pupils have been working as dissection detectives in the science lab at Sompting Abbotts Prep School. They have been investigating Barn Owl pellets found in the school grounds.

Conkers and golden moments: an autumnal tradition at Sompting Abbotts

What child doesn’t love to collect handfuls of glossy brown conkers? At Sompting Abbotts, they don't just fill their pockets — even socks become makeshift pouches. And so, at this time of the year, we send the children out into our school grounds to look for shiny conkers (not that they need any persuading).

Sompting Abbotts named finalist in Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Environmental Achievement Award

Following our earlier announcement in July of the shortlisted entries for the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 awards, we're delighted Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School has been selected as a Finalist in the Independent School of the Year for Environmental Achievement category.

New Beginnings at Sompting Abbotts: Introducing Our New Headmaster

Sompting Abbotts warmly welcomes Mr Chris Gunn as Headmaster, taking the mantle from Mr Stuart Douch who served from 2013-2023. We're grateful that Mr Douch will continue to enrich our community as Head of English and History. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for his excellent past leadership.

Sompting Abbotts launches annual Speech Cup of Poetry and Performance

Sompting Abbotts’ annual Speech Cup of Poetry and Performance saw every child from Years 3 - 8 learn and recite a poem by heart! The best performances were chosen at a special competition in front of an audience of their peers and their parents. It was judged by an external expert adjudicator.