We reach the end of another academic year and what a superb year it has been for our students and the school.
There has been so much for our young people to become involved in, and I am so pleased that so many of our students have joined new activities and continued with ones they began last year. This shows their commitment to opportunities beyond the classroom, something that colleges, universities and employers always look for when they are looking for people to join their place of learning or the workplace.
I have particularly enjoyed talking to our young people as I walk around the site and in lessons, as well as through student voice meetings.
As always, they teach me about our school and what we can make better. These ideas and reflections will be used in our School Improvement Plan for next year and I am also looking forward to welcoming members of the Whole School Student Council to a number of senior leadership meetings next year to work with the senior leadership team on projects for our school.
In the autumn, we welcome our new Year 7 wearing the new school uniform, chosen by our students. This new uniform is only compulsory for Year 7. Students are welcome to wear the uniform they already have. We do not want you to have any additional expense beyond what will need replacing as your child progresses through school.
I am also pleased to announce that a new catering company, Caterlink, will be working with the school from September. Our wonderful catering team will still be with us, but they are looking forward to presenting a new and expanded range of meals to the students.
We say farewell to a few colleagues at the end of term.
Mrs Coombs, although I'm delighted to write, will be back in school a day a week supporting the maths team.
We thank Mr May for his work in English. He will be moving on to a new school as Miss Gist returns from maternity leave.
Mr Constantine, our Cover Manager, has been inspired to train as a teacher, and we wish him well as he begins his training in September.
Mr Sim takes up a post at a new school in September having filled a temporary vacancy in the Humanities team. Thank you.
Thank you too to Miss Pellow, Mr Workman, and Mr Johnston in the SEND team as they move onto new opportunities. You will be missed.
Mrs Williams, my wonderful PA, will also be retiring at the end of this term after 8 years’ service to the school.
She has been an incredible Personal Assistant, and I truly could not do my job without her support and help. She is such a professional, giving many more hours than she is contracted to do. She has given freely of her time supporting concerts and evening events. I will miss her immensely, but I know she is looking forward to having more time for herself and her family.
She will be returning briefly on a part-time basis until a new PA starts at the school.
I want to thank you for sharing another year with The Henry Beaufort School. We are so proud of the achievements of all of our students.
They are a remarkable group of people who are carving out very bright futures. Their enthusiasm and their desire to embrace new opportunities is joyous.
None of this would be possible without the tireless work of our teaching and support staff. They are amazing.
We all look forward to seeing and working with you and our students in the Autumn, when “being ambitious' will be at the heart of all that we do.
With my warmest wishes,
Miss Hearle
News from around the School
Farewell to Year 11's
Every journey has a destination. Some journeys are circular and end where they started with the comfort of the familiar. Others take you to new places where you are pushed beyond your comfort zone.
Your start at HB was a little like this, removed from the familiarity of your primary school into an environment that you had only seen online and through the eyes of Mr Janes as he toured the school on your behalf behind the lens of a camera.
It wasn't the start we wanted for you, meeting teachers behind face masks and visors, making it more difficult for you to adjust, and whilst I don't want to dwell on those times, I do want to acknowledge how hard that must have made it for you.
But you have more than made up for that bumpy start on your journey to Year 11. As you spend your final few hours in our school uniform, I would like you to reflect on your own personal journey. For some, that journey may have been more difficult than for others, but I hope that all of you found friends to support you on the way.
But all of you here have stayed on the journey, working to give yourself the very best opportunities for success, and success comes in many forms, not just in GCSE certificates.
Your contribution to sports, expressive arts, to leadership has been immense and, in these contributions, you leave a lasting legacy for your school.
I am so proud of the young adults you have become. I have had the privilege of working with many of you, as student hosts and leaders, in student voice discussions, accompanying you on school trips and in class as your teacher.
I have seen you at your best, sometimes when the worst is happening.
What all those occasions have in common is your resilience, your compassion, your sense of humour, even your undeniable insistence that you were right, and I was wrong!
All of these times are bound together in the history you have created as the Leavers of 2025.
Your journey has been 5 years in the making, and it won't be circular, ending where you started and nor should it be. Because the biggest adventure is about to start. You and only you can determine where it goes next. Your teachers have done their job, they have given you so much more than a bank of knowledge and subject skills, they have given you the confidence and self-assertiveness to take the next step, I know you have and will thank them.
I know that they are a remarkable group of people, so if you haven't yet had time to acknowledge that with those who taught you, supported you, stood by you, please find the time to do so.
Some of you are no doubt looking forward to leaving behind the school rules.
There will be rules wherever you go, some will make sense, some will seem completely stupid. Most of them are there for good reasons.
And the ones that aren't?
Well, that's where your next journey begins.
And I am certain that it will be a great one.
Thank you, good luck and make yourself proud of what you do.
I already am so very proud of all that you have achieved.
The class of 2025.
Miss Hearle
We’re Guinness World Records™ holders for the largest cookery lesson
WOW — what a fantastic achievement! Together, we smashed the Guinness World Records™ title for the largest cookery lesson (in multiple venues) — and we are part of the record-breakers!
Drumroll, please. The final numbers are in…
10,515 cooks, across 6 continents and 42 countries helped smash the record!
All the participants made fresh pasta and a sauce during the time allowed under the supervision of Mrs Golding. All of our students were wonderful and, whilst learning this skill, they helped achieve the World Record.
Jekyll and Hyde Workshop
In June, 120 of our Year 10 students were treated to an outstanding performance workshop delivered by the Guildford Shakespeare Company! The session was engaging, educational, and full of energy, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who attended. Through a mix of powerful performances, and a thoughtful Q and A session at the end, students gained valuable insights into Jekyll and Hyde, which will help them as they progress into Year 11.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Guildford Shakespeare Company for sharing their expertise and passion. It was a fantastic experience that brought learning to life in a truly memorable way!
Summer Concert
A huge well done to all our students for their incredible performances, from classical and rock to J-pop and musical theatre, with both covers and original compositions. Students from Years 7 to 11, your talent and hard work shone through every moment on stage.
"Who’d have thought I'd get goosebumps on the hottest day of the year! I could not be prouder to be a Governor at such a creative school that continues to nurture more and more talent every year. Great job everyone!" – Susie Davidson, Parent Governor
Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thanks to all those behind the scenes who helped make the evening such a success.
Rock to the Beat
Recently, parents were invited to watch our Rock to the Beat bands perform. All the students played brilliantly and have shown incredible progress this year! Well done everyone.
The Henry Beaufort School Jazz Band Visits the Grange Festival
The Henry Beaufort School Jazz Band had the incredible opportunity to attend the Grange Festival to experience a live performance by the world-renowned Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, one of Europe’s most celebrated jazz ensembles. The orchestra was joined by Dutch jazz superstar Fay Claassen, whose captivating voice and dynamic stage presence left a lasting impression on our students. One student described her as “inspirational and incredible.”
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Hampshire countryside, the Grange Festival is known for its world-class performances and inspiring atmosphere. For our young musicians, this was far more than just a concert—it was a chance to witness jazz at its finest, performed by a group known for its electrifying energy, technical brilliance, and deep-rooted swing tradition.
The experience left a strong impact on the students, deepening their appreciation for jazz and live performance. One student shared, “They were incredible, and I really enjoyed their arrangements.” Observing the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in action offered invaluable insights into improvisation, ensemble dynamics, and the sheer joy that jazz music brings to both performers and audiences.
A huge thank you to The Grange, Alresford, for making this unforgettable experience possible and thank you to Mrs Seddon for organising the trip. The students loved every moment!
Money Ready
On Friday 20th June, The Henry Beaufort School welcomed 'Money Ready', a financial charity that aims to 'bring the language of finance to life so that everyone can navigate their money with confidence, no matter where they start’.
A team of financial advisors led interactive sessions where the students had the opportunity to talk about the impact of earnings, tax and question financial advisors. The aim of the session was to explore and learn about some real-world financial maths.
Year 10 had the opportunity to think about their future career pathways, the impact that money has on decisions and the ins-and-outs of the UK financial system. Thank you Money Ready for a brilliant session, and for all our students who engaged and took part!
Award-winning rap and hip-hop performance poet Karl Nova visits Henry Beaufort
We were delighted to welcome the multi-talented, award-winning rap and hip-hop performance poet Karl Nova to The Henry Beaufort School at the start of July. Our Year 8 and 9 students were captivated by Karl's dramatic yet humorous account of his childhood - beginning in North London and continuing in Nigeria with his wealthy father.
It was fascinating to hear how rap music and hip-hop inspired Karl to become a poet. He treated us to live performances of his work, which sparked inspiration across the year groups. Some of our students were lucky enough to attend a workshop with Karl, creating their own poems using repetition as a central technique.
Karl's energy, creativity, and passion for poetry were infectious, and it was a joy to see our students confidently perform their newly written poems with pride and excitement.
“Inspiring STEM” event at The Oceanography Centre in Southampton
On 25th June, 10 Henry Beaufort students attended the “Inspiring STEM” event at The Oceanography Centre in Southampton. This event allowed our young people to take part in engaging STEM activities with businesses from across Hampshire.
It was an exciting, fun and interactive event that showcased the multiple career opportunities in STEM industries. Students were given the chance to participate in multiple STEM-inspired activities that blended cutting-edge technology with real-world industry experiences.
It was an excellent day and all the students embraced all the different challenges! Thank you to the Winchester Rotary club for sponsoring our students to attend this event.
University of Southampton Scholars Programme
Over the past 5 years, The Henry Beaufort School has partnered with the University of Southampton to deliver their Brilliant Club Scholars Programme and this year saw a group of year 8 students attend their Graduation Ceremony.
The Scholars Programme gives students the opportunity to explore higher education and build key skills to help them succeed in the next stages of their education. Since Christmas, our Year 8 students have taken part in a series of seven university style tutorials; delivered in-school by a PhD tutor. The tutorials were based on the tutor’s area of research expertise.
Students had the opportunity to explore an inspiring, supra-curricular topic whilst developing key academic skills that support their attainment across the curriculum. Our focus this year was literary theory. Students were tasked with researching different literacy theories, including Marxist, Feminism, Eco-critical and Post-Colonial, and learnt how to analyse text through the lens of these different literary theories. They then had to write a final assignment of 1,500-2000 words. In writing their assignments, students demonstrated their subject knowledge and research skills alongside the written communication and critical thinking skills developed throughout the programme.
The feedback on the assignments, from the PhD tutor, reflected the success of the programme and the exceptionally high standards attained by our students. Comments included:
“Arguments are carefully and astutely articulated throughout the essay” “this is high-level thinking that you pull off with flair” “some of your observations are very sophisticated and insightful”
At the graduation event, students were presented with their certificates. They also had the opportunity to hear about university life and had a tour of the impressive University of Southampton campus. It was a great day, and the students should be very proud of their achievements! Well done.
HB 's Miss Sheehan selected for England Hockey Team
We were thrilled to hear that our very own Miss Sheehan was selected for the O35 England Hockey team. Miss Sheehan took off with the England Team to Valencia on 19th June to play in the European Cup tournament.
This has been reported in the Daily Echo and the Hockey Paper.
They therefore came home with a silver medal. Miss Sheehan was also named top goalscorer of the tournament as well, scoring 8 goals in 7 games.
Miss Sheehan said: "We did so well over the course of the tournament, and it was such an incredible experience. The group of girls I have been playing with and the staff we had were fantastic. It was such a supportive environment and wonderful to have had this opportunity.
Playing 7 games in 10 days at 34 degrees has been tough on both the body and mind."
House of Maths
During Cultural Capital Day on Friday 20th June, all of Year 7 were treated to the fun ‘House of Maths’, a unique and fun show combining original and fascinating mathematics with stunning props and a touch of good humour – and covering all aspects of maths.
Afterwards, a small group of students were invited to a hands-on workshop which incorporated pre-GCSE concepts as well as exploring enrichment concepts. The students were inspired by maths, which is relevant and fascinating, with many finding the show ‘a fun way to learn all about maths’.
Get Caught Reading
Mrs Chalke recently ran a ‘Get Caught Reading’ competition which was aimed at encouraging students and staff to have a photograph taken of themselves reading a book in funny and unique places. There were many entries. However, there can only be one winner, so congratulations to Caitlin in Year 11 for her brilliant and inspiring photo. A £10 Amazon voucher is making its way to you.
The Magical World of Harry Potter
Year 8 have continued to look at the Magical world of Harry Potter this term by designing their own magical creatures. This, again, is looking at the possible careers within the art industry and film industry. The process of designing their own creatures is what the creators of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them would have gone through. Using their artistic skills and literary techniques, they have all written elaborate descriptions of their creatures’ powers, environments and dislikes.
Stretch and Challenge Day – Thursday 26th June
On Thursday 26th June, we were delighted to welcome 25 Year 5 students from South Wonston, Itchen Abbas, Micheldever, Harestock, and Kings Worthy to take part in our ‘Stretch and Challenge’ Day.
The aim of the day was to provide all students with access to enriching activities designed to broaden their horizons, develop new skills, and create memorable experiences.
The day began with an engaging art session, where students learnt about watercolour techniques and painted their own fish. This was followed by a series of Maths challenges, including a Times Table Rock Stars competition and code-breaking activities. Next, students visited the Technology department, where they worked collaboratively in teams to design and build marble runs. In Science, they had the opportunity to use Bunsen burners and explore how different elements produce different flame colours. We ended the day with a lively game of bench ball, bringing everyone together for some energetic fun.
It was a fantastic day, giving students a valuable insight into life at secondary school. Well done to all the students who took part!
Year 8 Holocaust Talk
On Friday, 20th June, Year 8 students took part in a powerful and thought-provoking Cultural Capital Day focused on the Holocaust. The highlight of the day was a visit from Rob, a representative of the Holocaust Educational Trust, who shared the moving story of his mother, a Holocaust survivor.
His talk gave students a deeply personal insight into the human impact of the Holocaust and the students were able to ask thought-provoking questions. Students then reflected on this and designed a Holocaust memorial for the school. A special well done to the following Year 8 students who received a Headteachers award for their excellent design.
Fenton
Harry
George
Bonnie
Anhelina
Chloe
Izzy
We are incredibly grateful to Rob and the Holocaust Educational Trust for their time and for helping to bring history to life in such a meaningful way.
Legoland
This July, our Year 7 students enjoyed an unforgettable trip to LEGOLAND™ Windsor as part of their Cultural Capital programme, with a focus on STEM.
From thrilling rides like The Dragon to splashing fun on Viking River Splash, our students explored the park and even earned their own LEGOLAND™ driving licences. A highlight of the day was the LEGO™ Education Workshop, where our students built and programmed robots and created roller coasters. A great opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a fun and interactive environment.
A big thank you to all the staff who made the day such a success. A fantastic mix of learning, laughter, and LEGO™.
Primary Festival of Sport
A big thank you once again to all our sponsors, as well as the students and staff from our local Primary Cluster Schools.
A big thank you to all the Year 5 students and staff from our local Primary Cluster Schools, who joined us yesterday for The Primary Festival of Sport 2025.
It was fantastic to welcome students from all schools, and to see so many young people taking part in a wide range of sporting events and challenges. The day was filled with fun, teamwork, and fantastic energy from start to finish.
We were also thrilled to have Integr8 Dance leading exciting street dance and cheerleading workshops; a highlight of the day.
Thank you to our sponsors, whose generous support helped bring this event to life. A special thank you to our headline sponsor, i-Transport, as well as our other supporting sponsors,
We loved seeing everyone in action and hoped everyone had as much fun as we did.
National school attendance award
We are thrilled to share that The Henry Beaufort School has received a National School Attendance Award.
This award is based on data collected by Fischer Family Trust (FFT), which gathers daily attendance data from around 8,000 schools. Thanks to the dedication of our students and staff, we are proud to be in the top 25% of all secondary schools in England for attendance.
Well done to all our students whose regular attendance and commitment to their studies has resulted in this award.
Let’s continue to aim high and show what it means to be part of The Henry Beaufort School Community.
Hampshire County Council have asked us to circulate information regarding holiday clubs over the summer.
These fully funded fun and educational activity sessions are to support low-income families. Children eligible for benefit-related free school meals (FSM) can register, book and attend sessions for free. Places are also available for unfunded families. These clubs are not managed by the school therefore, please follow the instructions in the link to register, or contact the provider for more information.
Applications will be dealt with on return to the new academic year in September.
Get into Teaching
Why not try one of the primary school experience days being run. If you are interested in signing up for one of these, please complete the following form:
We’re incredibly grateful to the Guildford Shakespeare Company for sharing their expertise and passion. It was a fantastic experience that brought learning to life in a truly memorable way!
