Three boys in school uniforms stand smiling in front of a display board about invasive species, each holding informative leaflets. The board features posters, images of animals, and a large Invasive Species sign.

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From Competition to Collaboration: A Remarkable End of Term

It has been a week of competition and collaboration in equal measure. The heatwave last week pushed even more end of year events into this week and although the children were somewhat bamboozled by the soaring heats, they mustered and delivered.

On Monday, we held our annual Key Stage 2 Sports Day. This year, Miss Le Blancq, Director of Sport (Prep), introduced a range of activities to stretch the children and ensure there were opportunities for all to shine. Previously the day had focused on track events, which still continued, alongside the zenith event – tug o’ war. The added field events included throwing challenges, jumps and a range of relays including our newly found love of skipping.

A group of young girls in colourful sports kit sprint off the starting line in a race on a red running track, with spectators and other participants in the background.

Four girls are running on a red track during a school sports event, each wearing differently coloured shirts and blue shorts. Spectators and tents are visible in the background.

A group of boys in colourful shirts and shorts start a race on a red running track during a school sports day, with spectators and tents visible in the background.

Two boys in sports kits, one in orange and one in blue, race side by side on a running track, with groups of children in colourful kits cheering in the background.

Six young girls run on a red outdoor track during a race, each wearing different coloured shirts. Spectators and a blue marquee are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Six young children are sprinting on a red running track during a race on a sunny day, with people and tents in the background near trees and buildings.

Children in colourful shirts stand by cones on a grassy field, some holding batons. An adult in blue supervises. A barn and red tractor are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Two girls are jumping together with a skipping rope on a grassy sports field. One girl wears an orange shirt and the other wears red; both are in motion and appear to be enjoying the activity on a sunny day.

Children in colourful shirts race on a red running track during a relay event, whilst other kids and adults watch and cheer from the sidelines under sunny skies.

A group of children in purple shirts enthusiastically play tug-of-war on a red running track, with a crowd of people wearing blue shirts cheering in the background. Trees and outdoor sports equipment are visible.

The day was a feast of physical feats, complete with trophies awarded and of course… a House declared as Sports Day winner.

This year… Tasker were crowned victorious but with all Houses having much to be proud of.

Two girls in purple sports kits hold a trophy with colourful ribbons, smiling. Two women stand beside them, also smiling. A marquee with Brentwood School text is visible in the background on a sunny day.

Two girls in purple shirts and caps hold up a trophy with colourful ribbons, smiling joyfully. People in the background clap and celebrate outdoors on a sunny day, likely at a school sports event.

A group of children in matching purple sports kits cheer and celebrate beside a long jump pit at an athletics track, while a few others in green kits sit on the grass nearby.

Moving from competition to collaboration, we saw the culmination of Year 6’s deep dive inquiry projects. Undertaken in pairs and threes, the children chose one topic to research.

The question choices were themed around the effect of celebrity endorsement, of invasive species and of migration.

The projects were then split into What? So What? And Now What?

What?
The children undertake a range of research techniques to understand the current situation for their chosen topic. This includes engaging with literature, interviewing key individuals and conducting surveys.

So What?
This is where the children have to justify why this topic is important, illustrating the consequences of continuing on our current trajectory.

Now What?
Built into our curriculum is the understanding that our learning should lead to action, whether that is personal action or on a larger scale. The children have to be solution focused whilst recognising challenges of creating change.

We chose to host The Exhibition in the Wessex Auditorium in the Senior School, giving the children a sense of the elevated nature of the event. Parents and special guests were invited and quickly there was an excited buzz across the room. The Exhibition was broken up every twenty minutes with a pupil led presentation, in which the children openly reflected on their learning journey.

Two girls in striped school uniforms stand smiling in front of a display board about celebrity endorsement, featuring posters, text, and images related to marketing and advertising.

Two boys stand in front of a school display about migration. One wears a suit and tie; the other wears glasses and a white shirt. Colourful posters and maps with migration information are visible behind them.

Two schoolgirls in striped uniforms smile in front of a display board covered with posters and pupils' work. A banner with cut-out letters hangs above them.

Two boys stand in front of a science fair project display board titled Rarity and Its Effect on Price, featuring charts, graphs, and text on orange-bordered papers. Both are wearing school uniforms.

Two girls stand smiling in front of a school project display titled “Stereotyping.” One wears a striped shirt and the other a maroon blazer and glasses. The display includes colourful banners, text, and printed materials.

Three schoolchildren stand by a display board with colourful posters and written projects. The board features artwork, written reports, and photos. A table in front holds shoes and other small items. They are in a large, bright room.

Three schoolgirls in striped uniforms stand in front of a colourful display board titled First Impressions, featuring posters, drawings, and a mannequin dressed in a school top and skirt, inside a classroom setting.

Three boys in school uniforms stand in front of a presentation board titled Celebrity Endorsement. The board displays various images and information about celebrities and advertising.

The Exhibition was a great precursor to the Year 6 Celebration of Achievement Evening, our Prep graduation ceremony. This rounds off the excellent Prep careers of the class of 2026. The next step on their journey is about to begin and we wish them all the best.

More photos from our recent events will be available soon.

One last Year 6 achievement to celebrate was Annabel D and her Head of Prep Award for her exceptional work during the Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition.

Throughout her team’s inquiry project, Annabel demonstrated great determination as both an inquirer and a caring learner. Her group focused on the “protect the planet” message, specifically researching the harm human actions can have on our environment.

Taking her findings a step further, Annabel wrote to our local MP, Alex Burghart. He was so compelled by the content of her letter that he sent a personal response. It is brilliant to see a pupil channeling the true spirit of the Exhibition by following through on her research with real-world action. She is certainly a future activist in the making!

A girl in a school uniform sits on a colourful chair, holding an award certificate and smiling, with two women in glasses and patterned shirts sitting on either side of her.