12 year old Brandeston Hall School pupil Will Donsworth continued Brandeston Hall’s excellent start to the cricket season with a fine unbeaten century for the Brandeston Hall 1st XI v Barnardiston Hall from Haverhill. Will, who plays club cricket for Easton CC and hockey and cricket for Suffolk Under 13s scored an outstanding 102 not out. His innings included 11 fours and 5 sixes.

Tuesday 30^th April saw Brandeston Plus host the Year 3 & 4 boarding taster night.  Having felt the excitement grow during the day it was clear that they were all going to have an excellent evening in the house.  At the end of the school day, having got changed and having completed their prep  it was time to get outside to enjoy the sunshine. After a  game of cricket and a clamber on the adventure trail thay all headed inside for an amazing tea of homemade chicken nuggets and  chips with Refresher ice lollies for dessert.  After tea they again made the most of the beautiful evening outside. A little while later it was time to make their way into the school library. Here Malcolm Busby, the storyteller, was waiting to take them on journeys and adventures with his stories of kings, queens and lemurs, whilst they all sipped hot chocolate.  Having enjoyed the stories it was time to head upstairs and get ready for bed.  The excitement continued as they settled into bed with their books and comics for a short period of reading.  They all rose early in the morning and were once again full of enthusiasm. For the boys there was time for one last game of table football and for some of the girls there was just time to have their hair plaited by the Gappie before breakfast.   After breakfast it was clear that the evening had been a success as they reluctantly carried their overnight bags down the stairs.  Everyone agreed all of the children would be more than welcome to come back at any time, and the boarding house now seems somewhat quiet without them.

Week 3 was a particularly exciting and busy week in Brandeston +. On Monday we played ‘Deal Or No Deal’ complete with Mr Gregory playing the roles of Noel Edmunds and ‘The Banker’. All of the boarders took part and had to decide whether to open, swap or sell their boxes. There were a variety of prizes on offer and a good time was had by all.  

Tuesday saw Brandeston + host the year 3 and 4 ‘Taster Night’. The enthusiasm and energy that the younger years brought to the evening was almost palpable.  They enjoyed an ‘amazing’ tea, before a storyteller took them on a range of adventures.  On Wednesday it was arranged for the local ice cream van to stop off at school, so all of the boarders (and staff) could be treated to an ice cream of their choice whilst they took a break from playing outside.  The week was rounded off with a sale of homemade lemonade and cookies with all funds raised going towards equipment for the new Girls’ Common Room (which also serves as the Year 7 and 8 Common Room during the day).  It has been a busy term so far in Brandeston + and the remainder of the term promises to be full of more exciting activities whilst we enjoy the long summer evenings.

On Saturday 11th May the IAPS National swimming finals take place at the K2 Leisure centre in Crawley. Brandeston will be represented for the very first time in three individual events and a team relay by Freddie Heldreich, Lottie Summers, Els Cogdell, Liberty Salsby, and Rose Winter.

Left to Right: Jack Hobbs, Theo Underwood, Jolyon Summers (Captain), Charlie Kilham, Kit McCausland, William Donsworth, Archie Winter,  Josh Butler, William Simpson

Friday 10^th May saw the culmination of an outstanding season for the U13 boys hockey squad. Following an unbeaten school fixture season and having achieved 3^rd place at the U13 IAPS National finals at Milfield, the boys were crowned In2Hockey National Schools Champions at Cannock in Staffordshire.

Having qualified for the finals by winning the Regional round at Redbridge in February, the boys have continued to play and train with the finals in mind. Following a short, but focused training schedule, including games against members of the Framlingham College Girls’ first team, the boys were able to be fully prepared for what was going to be their biggest challenge to date.

The boys travelled to Cannock on Thursday, the day before the tournament. This enabled them to be fresh, relaxed and focused for the job in hand, as well as being able to fit in a last minute training session on the pitches being used in the tournament.  Following the familiarisation session the boys were able to relax and enjoy a hearty dinner as a team, before heading off to bed for a good night’s sleep.

Arriving at the tournament the squad, parents and coaches felt confident, but had a mixture of expectations. The format of the day would see two pools of 5 teams playing a round robin with the top team in each group playing off in the final.

In Brandeston’s first game they met Princethorpe College, the second place qualifier from the Midlands. Although they started a little nervously, they took an early lead only to be pulled back level. But the Brandeston boys steadily grew in confidence and ran out eventual winners 2-1. Next up for the boys would be the first place qualifying from the West-Kingswood School. This was going to be a huge game, although we all knew no game would be easy. In a tight game where both teams had numerous chances, and where the goalkeepers from both teams stood out, Brandeston came through winners [1-0].

With two wins under their belt the boys went into the lunch break full of confidence and in a very strong position. After the break Brandeston continued on their way with a game against Magdalen College from the South. Again this game proved to be a real challenge, but playing with confidence, determination and great skill they came out on top as winners [2-1]. Going into the last game against North qualifiers Egglescliff, Brandeston knew a win would guarantee them top spot in their group and a place in the final.  Dominating the game from start to finish, Brandeston were able to use their entire squad and rest some players with the final in mind. The game finished with a 9-0 win, with hat tricks from Jack Hobbs and Archie Winter, and a place in the final against Whitgift, who had also been unbeaten through their pool.

Going into the final the boys were confident, despite knowing they were the underdog to Whitgift-a much larger school. During the final team briefing the boys were fully focussed and determined, as Mr Kingstone talked through how to approach this difficult game. Following the instructions to the letter, the boys took an early lead and from that point they never looked back. Despite being challenged in defence, the Brandeston team looked in complete control of the final and ran out eventual winners 3-0. The enormity of the achievement slowly sunk in, but the boys remained true to their sporting spirit, with subdued celebrations.

After collecting their medals and trophy, captain Jolyon Summers thanked the organisers and umpires for the tournament before the team faced a barrage of photographs from proud parents.

It was unsurprising to hear there were cheers when those back at school were told of the final result, demonstrating the support and sense of pride from the whole school with regards to the boys’ achievement. Winning at the National Finals was last achieved in 2002 and now this ranks alongside that. This achievement will certainly go down in Brandeston Hall history, which will hopefully enthuse and inspire the next generation of hockey players.

It is often said that no one person is bigger than the squad, and in this case it is true, but two boys deserve a special mention. Jolyon Summers, who has captained the team brilliantly, has led from the front and has been the real heartbeat of the team all season long. Alongside him, Archie Winter has  also had a standout season scoring a phenomenal 72 goals in 36 matches, including 12 hat tricks. Every boy has, however, played their part in the success of this team this season and we are all incredibly proud of them. We also need to thank the coaches Mr Gregory and Mr Kingstone, who have worked hard with these boys, throughout the season, but who have genuinely thoroughly enjoyed coaching these boys. Finally, a huge thank you has to go to the parents of these boys, who have travelled and supported them all season. It has not always been easy watching, but victory at the National final was just the reward they deserved.

On Saturday 4th May, Brandeston Hall hosted another spectacular ball which rivalled and arguably surpassed those that have passed before it. The Headmasters’ wife, Helen Myers-Allen has organised many similar events for parents at the school, but also to raise money for good causes. The recent Marrakech Ball was a wonderful evening where nearly 200 parents, staff and friends were treated to good company, good food, good wine and good music.

The Rowley Hall was transformed and guests would be forgiven for believing that they had just stepped out of the bustling, colourful, busy souks and medinas of downtown Marrakech into the flamboyant, opulence and luxury of a Royal Kasbah. Carriages arrived after midnight and departing guests were buzzing with anticipation for the date of the next ball and what Mrs Myers-Allen would conjure up as the next exciting theme. Whatever it proves to be it is certainly going to be a highlight in any discerning person’s social calendar and, as usual, a proportion of the funds it raised will be sent off to support a local charity, and in this case towards a Paediatric Monitor at the Ipswich Hospital’s Childrens Ward.

Please let the School Office know if granny and grandpa plan to join us for Grandparents’ Afternoon at Brandeston next week. It is a delightful, informal and fun afternoon. The children particularly enjoy this event as it gives them to opportunity to ‘show off’ their school and their hard work! The afternoon starts with a warm welcome, a cup of tea and a browse at the Children’s Art Exhibition in the Rowley Hall. Grandparents are then able to join their grandchild’s class and enjoy a couple of lessons, the afternoon is then rounded off by a relaxing afternoon tea. Parking will be at the front of the school and all are very welcome.

On Saturday 11th May, five swimmers represented us at Crawley Leisure Centre for our very first IAPS swimming final in which we competed against 121 other schools. Swimmers who represented us in individual events were Freddie Heldriech (25m Butterfly), Eleanor Cogdell (50m Freestyle) and Lottie Summers (50m Backstroke). All three swimmers were outstanding, with Eleanor and Lottie achieving personal best times in their races. Eleanor achieved 6th place overall, with Freddie in 16th and Lottie in 12th. Sadly, our relay team consisting of Rose Winter, Liberty Salsby, Eleanor Cogdell and Lottie Summers, did not have the opportunity to compete due to an unfortunate decision over a slight technical fault. These girls fully deserved their place in the finals and we look forward to them representing us in this event next year!

Finally, we would like to thank all the competitors and parents for their loyalty and commitment in preparation for this event. I am looking forward to working in partnership with Niel Wrigglesworth (Assistant Swimming Coach) in preparation for the 2014 IAPS.

The topic for the Foundation Stage this half term has been ‘Wind, Wheels and Water’. As the name suggests we have been exploring movement, sources of power and friction. As part of this topic the children have written a poem about the wind, designed and tested kites and made windmills. Not only have they investigated wind power, they have also learnt about 2D and 3D shapes through our design projects. The photograph shows the children finding out if their windmill would turn in the wind. The children were all thrilled to discover that the windmills moved beautifully!

Today Nursery and Pre-prep had a visit from Katie Rothwell from Pure Breed Poultry who came in to give a talk on chickens and egg development. She brought with her two very friendly Bantam hens as well as a selection of gorgeous chicks of various breeds and some fertilised eggs for us to hatch out at school. The fertilised eggs will start the incubation process tomorrow and in 21 days [on the Tuesday of Science week] we will hopefully have some chicks hatch out. The eggs/chicks will be located in the Hobbies Room along with a display on chicken development. Please feel free to have a look if you are passing.

On Saturday 18th May the Brandeston Bombers Equestrian team competed in a National Schools Equestrian Association Inter-school Showjumping Competition at the Jays in Bury St Edmunds. The children competed in individual classes at 60cm and 80cm where they all achieved sashes for being placed in the top 6 in these events.

They also competed as a team in the Under 14 years 70cm competition and were victorius here. The team consisting of Lottie Fairs, Josephine Gleeson, Emily Lewis and Rose Winter all had clear rounds and came 1st overall. Josephine was also placed first in the 70 cm individual event.  

My congratulations go to all of the girls as they rode beautifully, and thanks also for the wonderful support shown by their parents at this event.

As part of the topic we have been exploring the Foundation Stage, Nursery and Reception Class looked at and talked about the painting “Red Balloon” by Paul Klee. This is a geometric abstract and we encouraged the children to talk about what they imagined the painting was about. All the children mentioned the balloon, one child thought the balloon was a lollipop, another thought the shapes looked like a church and another thought it was a church. The children then created their own version of the picture using 2D shapes and rich colours. As well as being given an opportunity to express their ideas through language, this activity also promoted mathematical learning and creative development.

This year we decided to use our annual Sponsored walk/run to raise money for both Book Aid (as part of our Book Week) and for the Guide Dogs for the Blind, Support Dogs assisting disabled people and Hearing Dogs for the deaf.

On Friday 24^th May 2013 all the Brandeston pupils from year 1 upwards participated in the run whilst wear fancy dress on the theme of ‘Animals from literature’. The weather was unfortunatly rather cold and a little wet but this did not dampen the childrens spirits. A fantastic cake and squash sale with a vast array of cakes donated by Brandeston parents finished off the afternoon.

Over £300 has already been raised for the various charities from the cake sale alone. We are now looking forward to hearing what the grand total is once the sponsorship money for the Fun Run is collected in after half term.

Last Tuesday four of our year 7 pupils took a trip to the University of East Anglia to compete against 20 other schools from the Anglian region in the Salters Festival of Chemistry. The girls has a fantastic time undertaking a variety of exciting chemical reaction tasks and managing, at the end of the day, to achieve a very pleasing 3rd place.

My congratulations go to Florence Cornwall, Evie Hall, Lottie Summers and Ella Sunderland for their achievements on the day and my thanks to Mr Mike Clifton and Miss Zoe McMaster who accompanied the pupils to on the day.

Certificates were awarded to students that participated in the Regional rounds that were held in March at The Bishop Stortford College in Hertfordshire where 3 individual students and a relay team went on to represent us in the finals that were held on Saturday 11th May at the Crawley Leisure Centre in Surrey. This was an outstanding achievement as our swimmers were competing against 120 prep schools nationally. The swim team was formed in September 2012 in preparation for our first swimming IAPS event. We were represented mostly by girls with the exception of Freddie Heldriech and Robert Monoghan. Freddie represented us in the 25m Butterfly finals and came 16th, whilst Eleanor Cogdell swam in the 50m Freestyle with a personal best swimming time and was placed  6th overall. Lottie Summers swam in the 50m Backstroke came a very respectable 12th position.

Congratulations to all of our swimmers that participated in this event. We are very proud of all of you and are looking forward to training you in preparation for 2014!

If there are any boys who enjoy swimming and are in years 4-8 then you are invited to attend a swimming trial. These will be taking place on Monday 10th (5.45pm) Wednesday 12th (5.00pm) and Thursday 13th (4.15pm) June. All sessions will last for 1 hour.

Training has already commenced in preparation for next years event! Training sessions take place on Mon, Wed, Thurs with an additional opportunities to swim on Sat & Sun. For more information: ATovey@FramCollege.co.uk

Brandeston swimmers in our existing community programme please get your application forms in for our swimming championships that are taking place on Saturday 6th July at 3.00pm. This is an opportunity for you to compete for medals. Closing date for applications are 8th June.

Following the trials in Reading on Sunday 3^rd June Robin Sampson has been selected for the England over 55s Hockey squad that are taking part in the Home Internationals and European Championships this summer. This is indeed a great honour for him and thoroughly well-deserved too. When you see him around the place do give a ‘pat on the back’ because this is a splendid achievement.

On Tuesday Year 6 pupils visited the Norwich Islamic Centre and Norwich Cathedral as they have studied both Islam and Christianity this year. The two buildings could not have in greater contrast; the Islamic Centre is newly opened on the site of a Victorian public house and Norwich Cathedral has watched over the city for 900 years and is on the site of a former monastery. Whilst the buildings differed, the welcome we received at both places of worship was very warm. In the Islamic Centre the children learnt about the importance of prayer, the five pillars of Islam and the prophets.  After an insightful couple of hours we said our goodbyes and left for Norwich Cathedral.  Our guide Peter told the children about the history of the Cathedral and explained about symbolism. He also took them through the stories behind the stained glass windows and the bosses on the ceilings. Our guides were most impressed by the children’s knowledge and by the range of thoughtful and insightful questions that they asked.

Last week, we were delighted to welcome Old Framlinghamian Will Owen to Brandeston Hall. Will is about to start his third year as a member of the Leicester Tigers Academy and is also a current member of the England U18 team. He spoke to members of the 1st XV about his time at Brandeston and Framlingham, playing club rugby for Diss and the challenges and thrills of playing for the Tigers and for England. Will also presented the school with one of his England Rugby shirts and in return 1st XV Captain Will Donsworth gave Will a Brandeston 1st XV top. It was wonderful to see such a modest and inspiring young man and we look forward to hearing how his career continues to develop.