Skip to content ↓

The Henry
Beaufort
School

Latest News

The latest new from The Henry Beaufort School

Page 1

  • Maths Inspiration

    Published 06/12/24

    On Tuesday 5th November, the Maths Department were able to take 15 Top Set Year 10 Mathematicians to the Maths Inspiration Show held at the Theatre Royal in Portsmouth.  The show was the chance for the students see real life applications of maths and participate in some fun, interactive audience quizzes.  They heard from some of the most inspiring and creative speakers who have a love of communicating maths in exciting and original ways.  

    Three guest speakers gave talks about:

    Statistics and Misleading Data, how this can lead to some advertisers and newspapers using statistical data in dishonest ways.

    The World of Computer Game Designers and the issues around the use of maps for gamers.

    And finally, we heard about getting things wrong in maths and the ‘Theory of Intuition’ which can often lead us to make incorrect assumptions about the answer to simple mathematical problems.

    The students all said the show was a great success with many talking about their theories to what they had learnt on the journey home.

    All of the students were outstanding and a credit to The Henry Beaufort School.

     

     

    Read More
  • Train to Teach

    Published 05/12/24

    Are you (or someone you know) thinking about routes into teacher training but are not sure where to begin?

    Our Teacher Training Team would be happy to arrange an online chat to talk you through the teacher training options with HISP and the application process.  Or you could attend one of our upcoming ‘Get Into Teaching’ events.

    Just click on this link to find out more, and we will be in touch.

    Alternatively, please browse the website to find out how to begin your exciting new career in teaching or to find out more about training at The Henry Beaufort School, please contact

    andy.applin@staff.beaufort.hants.sch.uk

     

     

    Read More
  • The Battlefields Trip

    Published 27/11/24

    During the first four days of the October half-term, 46 Year 10 students embarked on a WW1 Battlefields tour, visiting sites on the Somme in France and the Ypres Salient area of Belgium.

    Day one saw a super early start with a departure time of 4.30 am from The Henry Beaufort School. After crossing the Channel, we ventured to Lijssenthoek Military Hospital Cemetery. As we walked through the gates, our students were struck by the enormity of where they were and what they were seeing. Approximately 10,000 men are buried here and one woman, Staff Nurse Nellie Spindler. Not only is Nellie the only woman buried here, she is one of only two women to have died as a result of the fighting in the Ypres Sailient during WW1. From here, we visited the death cells and execution pole at Popperinghe where many deserters were shot at dawn. Here we heard the story of Private John Bennett, from the Hampshire Regiment, who was executed for cowardice despite clearly suffering from shell shock. Our last stop of the day before retiring to our accommodation was the Essex Farm Cemetery. Once a casualty clearing station and the inspiration behind John McRae’s famous ‘In Flanders Fields’ poem, now home to 1,200 soldiers. One of these is Valentine Strudwick. At the same age as many of the students on the trip, Valentine lied about his age to fight for King and Country and died in action at the age of 15.

    Day two began with a stark reminder of the loss suffered as we ventured through the gates of Tyne Cot. With 12,000 neat, white headstones on the once battlefield and the names of 34,000 missing soldiers inscribed on the walls; Tyne Cot is the largest British and Commonwealth Military Cemetery in the world. Each row is decorated with flowers from the soldiers' home country, giving a quaint English country garden feel. From here we visited one of four German cemeteries in the Ypres Sailent, Langemark. Far from the country garden feel of Tyne Cot, Langemark was one of our most shocking stops. Not only is the cemetery dark and bare, but it is home to 40,000 German soldiers with 25,000 of them being buried in a mass grave. Unlike the British cemeteries, the Germans who were lucky enough not to be in the mass gave still had to share their plot with seven others.

    After lunch, we visited the Passchendale Memorial Museum and Sanctuary Wood, where we were able to walk in the original British trenches. From there, we went back to the hotel for a game of football before an early dinner. We spent the evening at the incredibly emotional Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, which is a memorial to 54,000 missing soldiers in the Ypres Sailent. During the ceremony, two of our students laid a poppy wreath on behalf of staff and students at The Henry Beaufort School.

    Sunday was another early start as we drove to France to visit Vimy Ridge, Thiepval and the Lochnagar Crater. At Vimy Ridge we went deep underground on a guided tour of the tunnels used by the Canadians, French and British as they fought the Germans here to gain control of the ridge. After lunch, we visited Thiepval, the largest memorial to the missing in The Somme with the names of 74,000 soldiers commemorated here. Our final stop of the day was Lochnagar Crater – the largest crater made by man in anger at 30 metres deep and 100 metres wide. Now a memorial for those who died there, it is dedicated to Peace, Fellowship and Reconciliation.

    Throughout the trip, the students were superb and their polite and respectful behaviour was commented on by members of the public on five separate occasions! They were both a credit to themselves and to the school – well done to all those that attended!

    Read More
  • Creative Writing

    Published 22/11/24

    Greetings to both new and returning writers, The Henry Beaufort Creative Writing Club has thrown itself into a new, exciting year. After our fantastic successes of 2023/2024, with writing competitions and the launch of our first anthology, we are looking forward to seeing where this year takes us.

    This year, we are planning more self-publication of individual student stories, as well as competitions, workshops, anthologies, and more!
    We meet after school on Wednesdays in P1, and all kinds of writers from all 5-year groups are welcome.

    Read More
  • Wellbeing Ambassadors

    Published 04/11/24

    The Winchester Mental Health Support Team came in to give our new Year 8 and 9 Wellbeing Ambassadors some training and explore ideas about their role in school. Our Wellbeing Ambassadors' role is to be non-judgemental, to be knowledgeable about signs and symptoms of poor mental health, to support and signpost other students to mental health organisations or safeguarding staff, to destigmatise Mental Health by presenting on important topics such as World Mental Health Day in tutor and assemblies and to be positive role models.

     

    Read More
  • The Beaufort Book Society

    Published 23/10/24

    The Beaufort Book Society stands ready to ignite a passion for literature and stand as a beacon for young readers, seeking to immerse themselves in their imaginations. Our book club is designed, not only to ignite enthusiasm for literature, but also to enhance critical thinking and communication skills.

    Our young people enjoy a variety of genres and have some fantastic recommendations to share:

    1. "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
      A contemporary paragon of social justice literature, this novel tackles important themes of race, identity, and activism, encouraging readers to engage with current societal issues.
    2. "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern - This enchanting tale of competition within a mysterious circus transports readers to a world where the impossible becomes reality. The vibrant imagery will ignite your child's imagination.
    3. "A Darker Shade of Magic" by V.E. Schwab - This gripping novel propels readers through parallel Londons, exhilarating their senses while encouraging a love for reading as a means of escapism and discovery.

    We meet weekly, where spirited discussions abound, and insights are shared amidst the company of passionate readers. We incorporate games with literary themes, such as charades, murder mysteries and heads-up. We would welcome more young people to join us at Beaufort Book Society, where reading becomes an extraordinary adventure.  

    Read More
  • Freshers’ Fair 2024

    Published 20/09/24

     

    On Friday, 13th September, the Sports Hall was transformed into a Freshers’ Fair, featuring over 40 stalls. This event was designed to showcase the wide array of clubs and after-school activities available to all students.

    Enthusiastic existing club members were on hand to explain their clubs and sign up new members. Now that we have completed the first week of extra-curricular clubs, we are hopeful that every student has attended at least one club. It is not too late to join a club – please feel free to attend and turn up on the night.

    There have been some additions to the extra-curricular timetable since it was initially published, so please have a look at the updated version. 

    https://www.beaufort.hants.sch.uk/extra-curricular

    Read More
  • The Henry Beaufort School Wins £5000 Tesco grant for Outdoor Learning Centre

    Published 13/09/24

    The Henry Beaufort School were pleased to welcome Richard, the Manager and Lucy, Community Officer from Tesco in Winnall, and their colleague Elizabeth from Groundworks, to celebrate and hand over a cheque for £5000 which was won as part of the Tesco Stronger Starts Programme. Staff at The Henry Beaufort School have been working with students to design and build the Outdoor Learning Centre, which will give them a much-needed break out space with outdoor learning facilities. As part of this project, students will build and plant raised beds for flowers and vegetables, which is part of a bigger project to provide 5 different zones for students with neurodiverse challenges to access areas of the curriculum which they would otherwise find difficult.

    The £5000 grant is only the start, and we look forward to working with Groundworks and colleagues at Tesco Winnall to build on this amazing opportunity. The project relies on the school accessing further grants and community donations to achieve our goal of developing the five main areas: the Growing Area, a Serenity Garden, an Outdoor Deck, a Breakout Space and an Indoor/outdoor Classroom. If you would like more information about the project or would like to offer support please contact Jonathan Pounsett, Senior Site Manager at the Henry Beaufort School.

    Read More
  • Summer Concert 2024

    Published 13/09/24

    On Tuesday 2nd July we had our Music Department Summer Concert at Henry Beaufort, and what a wonderful evening it was! The concert got off to a fabulous start with a very entertaining performance of The Acrobat by J. A Greenwood performed by David on Trombone and accompanied by Bernice on Piano. The audience were then treated to a very dramatic and aptly humorous rendition of Meet The Plastics from Mean Girls the Musical performed by Maddie, Caitlin, Lucas & Isabella. We also had a range of fantastic solos from some of our very brave and accomplished “rising stars”, including Primrose on Trumpet, Harry on Saxophone, Riley and Julia on vocals, Bernice on piano and Freya on flute. These performances ranged from classical to jazz, to rock and pop, and the standard was extremely high in every single one. Year 10 students Roseanna & Lucy sang a beautiful duet, Vienna, by Billy Joel, and Year 8 students Henry & Megan showcased their strong stylish voices in Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse. A newly formed rock band starring Amelia, Teddy, Henri & David performed a lovely version of Have you Ever Seen the Rain by Creedance Clearwater Revival, and Mrs Seddon’s Woodwind ensemble played a toe-tapping version of The Pink Panther. We were delighted to welcome the Resonate Choir to the stage to perform Rumour Has It by Adele, and Read All About It by Emeli Sande. With over 50 members in the choir, they really made a beautiful, strong and expressive sound. It has become a custom for our concerts to end with our fabulous Jazz Band. And they did not disappoint! They wowed our audience with their very professional and highly polished performances of Chameleon by Herbie Hancock, The Bump by The Haggis Horns and Cold Duck Time by Eddie Harris. Each piece was played with fantastic energy and pazazz! We are so very proud of all the students who took part – their incredible talent, their confidence and their support for each other really shone through.

    Mrs Saunders and Mrs Seddon

     

     

     

    Photo of Jazz Band (from Left to right) Ellis, David, William, Matthew, Tim, Harry, Jacob, Louis, and Harper.

    Read More
  • Winchester College Maths Challenge 2024

    Published 13/09/24

    Henry Beaufort students were invited to a team maths competition at Winchester College. Each of 8 schools were required to enter two teams of 4 in a series of mathematical challenges that ranged from relays to cross numbers. Through these challenges, our students had to not only demonstrate their mathematical knowledge but also, they had to work well as a team and use good tactics.

    Each of the 4 rounds contributed points to give each team a total score and, excitingly, our team of Hugo, Katie, Bernice and Douglas achieved second place. We are very proud of all our students who entered, and we look forward to entering more competitions in the future.

    Read More
  • Deaf Role Models

    Published 13/09/24

    n June, the Resource Base team took our deaf and/or hard of hearing students along to a ‘Deaf Role Model’ day organised by the Specialist Teacher Advisory Service (STAS) for Hampshire. This event was hosted at a primary school with a Resource Base for deaf children and was attended by children from similar primary and secondary settings.

    Our students had the opportunity to meet different deaf role models so they could learn about them and their specific job roles, their interests, and experiences growing up. Throughout the day, students mixed with peers from all settings as they met each individual role model. These included a deaf DJ, a hairdresser, a sailor and a tennis player. Interpreters supported some of the deaf role models as they shared their individual journey to their chosen job role and demonstrated their talent. Their resilience and determination to succeed, empowered our students as each demonstration reminded them that anything is possible.

     

    Highlights of the event were our students demonstrating their talent as they practised tennis skills and stepping into the shoes of a DJ; experiencing a ‘WOOJER’ vest that enabled the vibrations of the music beat to be felt as the tunes played - each one of our students was literally ‘blown away’. The sailors demonstrated various knots and our students learnt how to tie a ‘sailors knot’. They also looked at maps to determine how to get from one destination to another. As they watched a hairdressing demonstration with the deaf role model talking about their own secondary school and college experience, this encouraged the students to think about the type of job they might like to do one day and sparked conversation around goals, dreams and aspirations for the future.  

    To finish the day, the deaf DJ Jeffo played the ‘Cha Cha Slide’ whilst all the students (and adults) joined in!

    On the way back to school, our students were buzzing with excitement as they recalled the best parts of their day. One student summed the day up perfectly: ‘best day ever!’

    Read More
  • French Penpal Visit

    Published 13/09/24

    On Thursday 23rd May, 50 students and members of staff visited The Henry Beaufort School from the Pierre Mendes Collège in Soyaux near Poitiers, FRANCE.  Students learning French at The Henry Beaufort School have been writing letters and cards to students from this school over the past four years since Lockdown, and it was finally a chance to meet each other!

    The French students from ‘quatrième’ (Year 9)  ‘troisième’ (Year 10) students of English were offered an opportunity to stay with host families in Newbury. During their visit to England they visited London, Windsor and Winchester. Students were immersed in the English culture and language and were given a guided tour around The Henry Beaufort school by their penpals.

    Students and staff from the Pierre Mendes Collège wish to thank all students and staff for being so accommodating and allowing students to see lessons and, in some cases, experience lessons in English.   A special thanks go to Leilo H (Year 9) who excelled at his job of being the official translator and Mr Donaldson and Mr Donnelly who facilitated a game of rounders/French cricket in true Olympian style.

    When I asked some of the French students how their school compares with Henry Beaufort, they were truly impressed and complimentary about our school. They thought Henry Beaufort was huge compared with their school, with many more subjects on offer, such as Drama, Photography, Food Technology, Hair and Beauty and Mandarin Chinese. They thought both students and staff were friendly and loved the smell of delicious food coming from the Bistro! What an amazing cultural experience for both the French and our students. It was a day filled with such pride, such happiness and such ambition!

    Madame HALLETT

    Read More