magazine template_2020

Vinehall Magazine

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Contents

From the Head 3 THE ARTS 60
Farewells 4 Art
Prize Winners 8
Carpentry and Design Technology 62
PRE-PREP AND NURSERY 10
Nursery and Kindergarten 12 Computer Science 64
Reception 18
Years 1 and 2 22 Drama - Beauty and the Beast 66
Christmas 28
Drama - Narnia 68
BOARDING 30
Drama - Rock Bottom 72
ACADEMICS 36
Classics 38 Music 74
English 40
EAL 42 SPORT 80
French 44 Football 84
Geography 46 Rugby 88
History 48 Boys’ Hockey 92
Life Skills 50 Netball 98
Maths 52 Girls’ Hockey 104
Science 54 Gymnastics 106
STEM 56 Virtual Sports Day

REMOTE LEARNING 110
FRIENDS OF VINEHALL 116
YEAR 8 DINNER DANCE 120
YEAR 8 LEAVERS’ PROGRAMME 124
YEAR 8 DESTINATIONS 128
POST LOCKDOWN 134



Finding Inspiration

Pablo Picasso once said that ‘Inspiration exists, but it has to find us

working!’ We encourage all at Vinehall to strive diligently in pursuit
of such inspiration, to nurture the passion and to celebrate the
fulfilment brought about through success in hard work.

Before the pandemic changed life so dramatically, our children
were enjoying another carefree Vinehall year, rich with
concerts, productions, educational outings and an exciting
and innovative curriculum. The delights of the Harvest Festival
and Grandparents’ Day; a moving Remembrance Service; two
outstanding C S Lewis plays and some wonderful Pre-Prep
performances; the always beautiful Carol Service at Salehurst
Church; an unbeaten season in 1st XI Football and the staggering
triumph of the 1st Netball team who qualified for the National Finals,
are just a few of the many highlights. Huge successes in swimming,
gymnastics, equestrian and the Hastings Music Festival were honoured
as a source of great inspiration to aspiring pupils.

When the guidance came to close the school in March and life changed beyond recognition, I was greatly inspired
by the staff’s willingness to sacrifice much of their Easter break in order to prepare so effectively for on-line
teaching. They embraced new technology, realised previously untapped skills and were inspired and inventive in
their provision. We have seen an on-line concert; a Year 8 film of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, with combined snippets
of footage from pupils all over the world; a socially distanced Sports Day; an hilarious girls’ cricket match from
their own back gardens; as well as a plentiful timetable of first-class interactive lessons and activities.

In June we were allowed to return, in part, and our dedicated support staff rallied admirably to prepare the site for
the children’s return. A highly enjoyable and desperately needed last few weeks of the summer term was achieved,
with a rotation of activities across our grounds enabling much longed-for social contact in bubbles. I am very proud
of the community’s ability to cope so courageously and effectively through such challenging times. Our parent
body’s response to the return to school and their clear trust in our care for their children was deeply inspiring.

Beyond our Vinehall bubble, the nation has been inspired by the heroes of the NHS, the key workers in transport,
retail and public services; we have delighted in the selflessness and charity of heart-warming characters such as
Captain Tom and those who have found ways to raise spirits in the community. Our children will have watched
these many role models and so it is our hope that their characters will have been shaped by such resilience,
dedication and charity.

Finally, and most importantly, it is of course our children that inspire us the most. As we celebrate the Vinehall
careers of our departing Year 8s, we look back over considerable academic success, sporting ability, musicianship,
dramatic prowess and artistry, and most recently, their resilience and strength of character. Whilst being robbed
of their Leavers’ rights of passage, they have shown incredible fortitude, cheerfulness and enthusiasm which I
know will support them through their senior schools and beyond into successful futures. They are truly inspiring
young people, upholding the school motto, ‘To do our best for the benefit of others’.

This year has seen an incredible clutch of scholarships to an enormous range of senior schools – Battle Abbey,
Bede’s, Benenden, Eastbourne, Harrow, King’s, Sedbergh and Tonbridge – in academics, drama, music and sport.
We congratulate our scholars and celebrate the success of all pupils in their remote exams achieving a place at
their chosen school. We hope they will continue to inspire us by keeping us informed through our vibrant Vines
community. Audrey Hepburn once noted that ‘Nothing is impossible; the word itself says “I’m possible”!’ I know
that this impressive cohort are capable of achieving great and inspirational things and I send them my very best
wishes for the future.
Joff Powis

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Farewells Nick Butcher

Nick joined the staff at Vinehall in September 1982 as a general subject teacher for a Year 5 class

and coach for boys’ sport. He had a passion for running and brought some youthful vigour and
routine into school running, with weekly Friday runs and competition entries, beating all the local
schools and coming second in the Prep Schools XC National Competition. With wingman Jon
Newman (known as Andy Runswell in event reports), Nick (aka Ivor Stitch) organised a Frostbite XC
competition and hosted the regional and southern round of the English Schools XC cup.
In 1984 Nick became Head of Sport; in 1985 he took control of the Geography Department and he
was appointed to the leadership team in 2002 as Senior Master. Nick described this role as being
extensive in its brief – he did what no one else wanted to do and the list was long!

After eight extremely busy years, Nick retreated to the relative
calm of the Geography department, with sustained input
in sports. He continued to promote cross country and
athletics and Vinehall rose to some dizzy heights, with
National success on a regular basis.
Three years ago, Nick reduced his hours and
input into sport, focusing on match days and
concentrating on his beloved Geography. Nick’s
38 years of dedicated service to Vinehall have been
phenomenal and he will be greatly missed by staff,
pupils and parents.
We know he will enjoy a hugely busy and active
‘retirement’, mostly whizzing round Sussex and
beyond on one of his many trusty bikes.

Sally King

Sally has found it hard to stay away from Vinehall

for too long! She was a teacher in Year 2, left,
came back into Reception, left and came back
for a year’s contract in Year 2.
Hugely popular with staff and pupils, Sally
is enormously creative and inspiring and the
children have blossomed in her class ready for
the big step to the Prep school.
She is off to exciting new pastures in Southern
France, but we hope to see her back again in
the future.

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Jon Newman

During a glittering 31-year career at Vinehall Jon has

had his fingers in lots of pies! Prep School teacher,
sports coach, Joint Head of Cross Country and
Athletics with his dear friend Nick Butcher, cover
teacher across the school, sports day organiser,
even cleaner and minibus driver!
He reports teaching in excess of 3000 lessons in
every subject and to each age group.
Jon’s highlights have included 17 Year 8 trips to
the Lake District; the rugby tour in Ireland with our
much-missed colleague Ryan Mitchell; unbeaten
football teams in 2016 and 2010; enormous success
and a clutch of medals at the National Athletics
competitions; and reaching the English Schools Cross-
Country finals.
Jon hopes that his legacy will be to have inspired many children
along the way and we are confident he will be remembered as a very
caring, loyal, versatile and steadfast member of staff by the entire community. We wish him a very happy
retirement, though he maintains contact with the community on his minibus route

Louise Payne

Lou joined Vinehall as a Music Teacher in 2012,with
great talent, wonderful enthusiasm and boundless
energy. She was soon promoted to Head of PSHE,
devising the excellent Life Skills curriculum and
sharing her expertise across the school. Lou’s
dedication to the wellbeing of Vinehall’s pupils
was boundless and she worked tirelessly to
support each and every child, introducing
various committees to give pupils a louder
voice in their own development.
As Assistant Head Pastoral and Designated
Safeguarding Lead, Lou’s knowledge of
Safeguarding procedures was immense and the
school’s policies are second to none. She also
assumed responsibility for Juniors, establishing
excellent transition procedures and pastoral care.
Not confining herself to pupils, Lou focused also on staff care,
implementing many new measures to support her colleagues. Hugely
involved in all areas of the school, Lou will be greatly missed but we wish her every success in her new
career supporting schools across Sussex and Kent.

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Farewells Emily Bidwell

Rarely has there been a member of staff with such
a long and close association with Vinehall. Emily
enrolled as a pupil in January 1990 in 2nd year
(Year 4). Then, after a year on the Isle of Barra,
in 1991 she returned to Vinehall and spent two
years in Mr Whitehead’s class. She describes
getting full colours in Netball as one of the
proudest moments of her life and maintains
contact with many of her peers!
Both her parents were employed at the
school - her father as groundsman and sports
coach and her mother as a TA – and no less
than eight siblings or cousins were pupils over
time. As a pupil her favourite memories include
Jazz with Carina Everist, all the theatre productions,
camp building in the woods, music lessons and the
Carol Service, field trips, midnight feasts and swimming
in the river.
Emily returned to Vinehall as a Year 2 teacher in Pre-Prep, also working alongside the brilliant
Debbie Gearey in Year 4 for a year with the current leavers. She reports still possessing a ‘Book
of Excuses’ made by Mary KB for assistance in getting out of all the things she didn’t want to do!
Returning to Pre-Prep she enjoyed wonderfully memorable and innovative topic projects and was
an inspirational and enormously creative teacher. So much so that she was promoted to Head of
Pre-Prep in 2015; sadly ill health meant a period of absence and a return to the classroom and she
has enjoyed working in Nursery.
Emily has been a model pupil, dedicated Vine, wonderful colleague and truly dynamic and much-
loved teacher. She leaves to take up the headship of a small primary school on the Island of Muck;
the next exciting adventure in a glittering career in which she has always held Vinehall close to her
heart. We will miss her greatly, but look forward to tales of her Scottish experience and frequent visits.

Kornel Kossuth

Kornel Kossuth took over the reins of our thriving English
Department in April 2019.
He has been instrumental in reviving Vinehall’s bee-
keeping and introduced Fencing as an optional activity.
His love of literature has been infectious and he
has assisted pupils with debating, poetry and public
speaking initiatives.
Kornel has taken this opportunity to return to the state
sector and we wish him every success and happiness.

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Alice Roberts

We said farewell to Alice at the end of her contract last
year and were so pleased that we were able to retain
her services for a little longer.
Alice has been a much-loved member of the
Junior team, teaching a range of subjects with
characteristic calm and serenity; she has decided
to pursue various interests in counselling, private
tuition and alternative therapies.
We look forward to hearing great things

Harriet Parkin

With three lovely children working their way through the
school, Harriet has been hugely involved at Vinehall for
some years, first as a Pre-Prep class volunteer.
She has been an invaluable parent costume mistress,
supporting many productions with great flair,
astounding organisation and creativity.
Vinehall was then fortunate to secure her services
on a short-term contract to take responsibility for
one of our Reception classes.
Her pupils very much enjoyed a wealth of exciting
topics and made excellent progress in her very capable
hands. We are delighted that she will continue to offer

supply cover when needed.

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Prize Winners PRIZE WINNER
Junior Bingham Growth Mindset Max E

Bingham Growth Mindset Willow A

Classics Thomas S
EAL Sofiia R

English Azillis DLT
Geography Gryff W
Religious Studies Isabelle S
Bodart Cup for Computing Dexter B
Chivers Cup for History Curtis Y
Simon Ireland Poetry Shield Francis C
Lewis Cup for Mathematics William C
Moynagh Trophy for Carpentry James W
Norman Cup for Science James W
Salt Cup for French Kawin W
Technology Cup James W
West Cup for Neat Handwriting Kawin W
Frances Marsden Art Prize
Campbell Cup for Middle School Art Constance M
Wales Art Award Isabelle S
Head Boy Prize Elizabeth H
Head Girl Prize Margot F
George S
Isabelle S

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PRIZE NAME
Cup for Junior Boarders Iciar MRR
Cup for Senior Boarders Isabela S

Best Actor Billy M
Fox Choral Plate Isak SD
Fraser Cup for Best Character Actor Noah G
Basil S
Hunt Trophy Lucy P
Junior Music Prize Thomas S
Madewell Music Trophy Mary KB
Leo A
Ostle Music Prize Joe P
Performing Arts Prize Zuriel N
Dexter B
Shepherd Trophy Zuriel N
Speech and Drama Cup Gryff W
Weekes Senior Music Prize Zuriel N
Alexander Cup for All Round Sports Isabelle S
Freda H
Alexander Cup for All Round Sports Mary KB

Anniversary Cup Boudewijn I
(for outstanding character)
Oliver B
Buchanan Cup
(for an outstanding contribution for Joe P

the school community)
Prevost Cup

(for outstanding character)
Stuart Menteath Cup

(for outstanding character)

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Pre-Prep
& Nursery

A jewel in
Vinehall’s crown...”

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Nursery & Kindergarten We welcomed our Little Vines’ children in Chinese New Year
This was celebrated by joining together with the
September in glorious sunshine and, as we prepare Reception classes. We worked just like Billie Bee
to move on, we leave Little Vines in beautiful to create some amazing Chinese Dragons and
sunshine! off to the woods we marched to re-enact ‘The
Our youngest members of the school always Great Race.’
amaze and inspire me in the way they adapt Pirate Day
and accept most things and this year they have ‘Look out ship mates, ship ahoy!’ The children were
certainly done that! We are all very proud of each so brave just like Maisie Monkey as we headed off
and every one of them; they have great resilience, on our Pirate Adventures.’ Through rough seas
just like our Pre-Prep Pal Terry Tortoise! and over undiscovered islands to find the ‘X marks
Autumn Term the spot’! The treasure delighted us all, golden
The autumn term started with us all having ‘green shortbread biscuits!
fingers’ and harvesting the wonderful crop of Bake off
tomatoes which had ripened over the summer. Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day are traditionally
We baked bread and whizzed up some tomato celebrated at Vinehall with a disco and races. This
soup with Chef Bear and the children thought year the whole of the Pre-Prep joined together
it was just ‘yummy!’ We celebrated Divali by with a ‘Bake Off.’ The children created their own
making Diva Lamps and cooking sweet potato and Billie Bees out of marzipan and the finished cake
spinach dahl. looked amazing!
Bear Hunt Battle Fire Crew
This year we have really embraced our ‘Woodland We welcomed the Battle Fire Crew who were
Adventures.’ The children have discovered that you just brilliant with our little ones. They gently
can do and be anything you want, from cooking encouraged the children to explore the engine
‘chocolate pies’ in the mud kitchen to hunting and of course the highlight was to squirt the water
for bears whilst on a ‘Bear Hunt.’ The outdoor from the enormous hose all over the fields!
environment offers so many learning opportunities Lockdown
and challenges, as well as spending time out The beginning of this summer term was one I
in the fresh air. The winter months arrived with hope we will never see again. Having said that,
the winter weather and we spent time exploring with challenging times there is always a positive
and investigating outside. We discovered what outcome. Our community has come together to
happens to ice when it gets warm, as well as support each other and you as parents/carers
making bird feeders for all the wonderful species have done an amazing job ‘home educating’ your
of birds that live in the grounds. children. Each day, it has been a joy to receive
Nativity all the pictures, photos and video clips and you
The highlight for me every year is our Christmas should all be very proud!
Nativity and this year it was an absolute delight! We arrived back on 1st June. The children settled
The children never cease to amaze me as I never back into class just like it was yesterday. They are
quite know what will happen on the day! All I ever so inspiring! For me, and I know I can speak for the
say is that the children bring us all such joy, laughter rest of the Little Vines Team, returning to school
and happiness. The ‘Secrets Room,’ another event and being ‘united’ with our Little Vines children
that our parents make so magical for the children, was the best thing ever!
was just brilliant. Off the children went with their Each and every one of them are special and unique
shopping lists and they had such a difficult time individuals. Here at Little Vines we are privileged
choosing which gifts as there were so many from to be part of their initial journey at Vinehall school;
which to choose. Our Christmas celebrations did to observe, support and teach them on their
not stop there and in line with Vinehall tradition ongoing journey is the most rewarding job ever!
we had ‘Dress as an Elf’ day! Sarah Wolford
PE
We returned in January to welcome Mr McKinnon
to teach our gym classes every Wednesday; the
children and staff really looked forward to our
weekly keep fit session! He certainly kept us on
our toes!

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Reception

It was all go from the start of our Reception year. We spent the first part of the term getting to know each other

and what made each of us ‘Super Me’. We found out a lot about each other and all the people in the school
who are super too.
Super Sister Kate
A visit to Super Sister Kate was very informative, even if all the Reception children took away from it is that if
you are ill Super Sister Kate has magic biscuits to make you feel better again! We found out about our Super
Parents and thought about what our special super hero powers were. Then Supertato came on the scene and
with him came Evil Pea who caused lots of problems in our classes which the children all had to work like Billy
Bee together to solve. We worked together to make a giant Superworm which stretched all the way down the
corridor.
Christmas
We were very lucky to welcome parents who talked about how they celebrate Christmas in different countries.
The children were especially interested to hear all about Saint Nicholas who came and filled their boots with
lots of sweets and satsumas on the 6th December. We had an elf-tastic run up to Christmas with the obligatory
‘elf on the twelfth’ celebrated in style and the first chance for our children to perform in the school nativity, ‘A
Special kind of Present’.

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New Year
The New Year brought more dress up days with a Nursery Rhyme adventure party. We all dressed up as a nursery
rhyme character to kick off our ‘Once upon a Time’ topic. We had our first school trip to Hastings Library, where
we listened to lots of fairy tales and had the excitement of catching a train, albeit on a rather dreary rainy day.
Once again, we had to work together to solve the mystery of who pushed Humpty off the Wall. We also visited
Red Riding Hood’s Granny and made currant buns. We performed our Billy Goats Gruff to the Year 6 children
who were also studying Fairytales and got a big round of applause.
Lockdown
Then the school closed, but Reception didn’t! We worked remotely watching videos of Mrs Parkin on a cardboard
bus going to the plant shop and Mrs Garwood in her tutu being an exotic minibeast. We kept in touch with all
our friends and became Teams experts. We were all so happy to be allowed back to school. We have dived
into our dinosaur topic and become palaeontologists, unearthing bones and fossils from the mud. We are so
fortunate to be back together again.
Jackie Garwood and Harriet Parkin

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Reception

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Year 1 & 2 The children danced their way into Year 1 with Year 2 started the year by exploring the
Rainforest; although they were not able to visit
‘Kitchen Disco’ as our topic. The children re-told it in real-life, they did their best to recreate
their own stories of them coming down stairs in the the rainforest in 3D environment boxes. They
middle of the night to a food party in the Kitchen. thought about the layers of the wildlife and how
Year 1 enjoyed exploring food from around the the plants contribute to the eco-system.
world and were drawn towards Puerto Rico. The The children discovered where cocoa comes
children were investigating noise but soon the from and had a fantastic time on their trip to
children used the different materials to make Temper Temper Chocolate. All of the children
maracas. They watched a school in Brazil do a found out how chocolate is made and got to taste
maraca dance and then tried for themselves, Year many different kinds. To finish the Michaelmas
1 then showed the rest of Pre-Prep their dance term the children made their own books.
during assembly. The children found a magic surprise when they
The children explored fairy tales during our went for a woodland walk in the forest - a dragon
‘Light in the Dark topic’, and they wrote their egg with a note from Zog asking the children to
own adaptations of the ‘Three Little Pigs’. The look after the precious egg. Year 2 discovered
children explored the different types of expression more about dragons and used clay to create
and intonation they can use in their voice when their own fiery friends.
speaking. They then chose appropriate voices The Year 2 classroom turned into a hospital as
for their puppet characters, and performed their the children learnt about Mary Seacole and
stories as fabulous shadow puppet shows to the Florence Nightingale. The children discussed
rest of Pre-Prep. the role of nurses in the Crimean war and some
Ahoy Mateys! ‘Pirates’ is always a fabulous topic of the medical techniques that are still used
for all of the children to enjoy. Captain Jill Sparrow today. Year 3 invited the children to come and
visited us in the first week and told us about her lost play magnet games for the morning, as they had
treasure. The children decided to write Captain Jill created a range of games exploring magnets.
letters and send her maps to find the treasure. Year Year 2 enjoyed finding out about magnets and
1 built boats out of recycled materials and tested tried a few investigations when they returned
them on the big pond; we had a few ships sink to class; they had lots of curious questions just
but the children were able to rebuild and improve. like Cassie Cat.
Year 1’s self-chosen topic was ‘Safari’ and their The Summer term was not quite as Mrs King
enthusiasm and effort did not dwindle despite had planned but the children all approached
completing the term through remote learning. remote learning with fantastic energy and
During form time each day the children were effort. The children took part in some wonderful
keen to share the work they had completed and activities over the weeks they were at home, such
talk about their day. The sense of community as making superhero stories and films based
through Pre-Prep was brilliant and the children on Traction Man, creating woodland art and
all benefitted from being able to communicate jumping into the world of Fantastic Mr Fox.
and engage with their friends. The end of the year allowed the children back
Although social distancing had a big impact on and it was lovely to see the Year 2s come back
all of the children when we returned to school, and finish their Pre-Prep journey in school.
Year 1 adapted to the changes and thrived in Louisa Bennett and Sally King
our last topic of the year, ‘Outdoor Adventure’.
All the children embodied Maisie Monkey, from
climbing trees to feeding chickens. They showed
fantastic team work during our den-building and
supported each other through this unusual term.
On the last morning of term, we had our yearly
campfire breakfast and were joined at a distance
by Kindergarten. Roasting marshmallows and
singing songs was the perfect way to end such
an unusual year.

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Year 1

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Year 2

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A Merry Vinehall

Christmas

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Boarding

...it makes you feel at
home outside of
a home.”

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Boarding

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We started the school year in September with 20 In January we not only welcomed three new children,
Chen, Simon and Sandro, but also four new gappers
boarders and welcomed some new faces into our from Australia: Mr Brimson (brother of Pat 2017) Mr
family – namely Poppy, Eleanore, Marina, Isabela, Collins, Miss Melluish and Miss Couper.
Changi, David, Gustave, Umi, Iciar and Jemina. Again we were blessed with good weather at the
The sun continued to shine and the children were beginning of the term and the children played on
able to enjoy our wonderful grounds and use the the astro much of the first weekend. Whenever we
bikes. asked the children what they’d like to do there’d be
Our first outing of the year was to Rye Watersports a chorus ‘astrooooo’! This term, again chosen by
– windsurfing, sailing, and paddle boarding with the children, we had a full list of outings with many
a BBQ lunch. The outings continued throughout favourites re-appearing: roller blading in Eastbourne,
the term, mostly being chosen by the children; they Urban Jump, cinema and shopping in Bluewater.
ranged from Battlezone, bowling, cinema, shopping Our in house activities included model making, arts
in Bluewater, Urban Jump, Aqua challenge and of and crafts, rounders, dodgeball, bubble boys.
course our traditional Christmas Panto – ‘Jack and As the term went on no one needs reminding how all
the Bean Stalk’. Many of the children’s favourite our lives suddenly changed and how I had a feeling
eateries were also visited such as All-you-can-eat of panic when I realised I had to send my boarders
Chinese, McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Express. home to their families as quickly as possible. There
We all enjoyed some home-based fun with the was such a huge feeling of uncertainty and confusion
biennial pet show, where Woody the boarding as our new normal evolved.
Retriever won the fancy dress with the help of Azilis With this in mind there will be a whole term of
and Izzie. Our annual Halloween Roller disco was boarding life missing from this magazine, arguably
a huge success with 66 children boarding leaving the best term in the school year. I was so sad on
no empty beds! We kept to our good British Prep the day the boarders were due to return for the
school traditions of letter writing, shoe cleaning, tuck summer term; instead of coming together as a family
shop and games of Dracula (murder in the dark!). once again we all stayed at home. We all missed out
Mr Powis took us conker collecting and showed the on the long lazy days on the lawn, playing outside
children how to string up their conkers and battle until bedtime, tennis, bicycles, water slides and ice
against their friends. creams on the beach.
We rounded the term off with a Christmas party and I was particularly sad for our Year 8 boarders, one
disco which took place after our wonderful whole of the loveliest bunch of children we’ve had - Izzie,
school carol service. Zuriel, Daniel, Poppy, Marina, Isa, Nono, Curtis,
Sadly we said good bye to another group of Sandro and Azilis. They were such good company
wonderful gappers: Miss Buckley, Miss Grundy, Mr and fun to be around and I wish them lots of love
Ryan and Mr Daley. and luck for their futures.
Quelli Coles

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Boarding

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Academics

...we hope
to enable
our children
to become

creative
and critical
thinkers, able
to flourish
and excel as
modern global
citizens in the
21st Century

world.”

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Classics In one sense Kipling is right to refer to triumphs and

disasters as imposters: not too much store should be
set by them because they are of the here and now
and guarantee nothing. In another sense, though,
I take issue: those who did well in their Common
Entrance and Scholarship exams worked hard and
deserved to do so - they were not awarded A*s
accidentally! And the converse is sadly true, too:
endeavour comes before success in the dictionary
as in life.
Of course, there were no fun Classics days out at
other schools: Covid Classics has a way of limiting
things. In the past Vinehall has been hosted by
Hurstpierpoint at their Prep Schools Classics Day;
Worth Abbey’s Classics Day for Year 5 included
recreating an erupting Mount Vesuvius, handling
artefacts and enjoying genuine Roman snacks such
as honey biscuits, sesame shortbread and bay-
leaf buns. The hugely popular Battle Abbey Latin
Tournament had to be abandoned, too. However,
these jaunts have all been tried and tested and will
all be engaged with again...
Although stuffed dormice were off the menu,
enthusiasm and effort was not. The individualised,
bespoke nature of Classics Club meant that those
who really wanted to could get the most out of their
Classical education. When Covid hit, those best
placed were the ones who signed in and got on
with it; we shall see how the gaps will need to be
closed next year.
Ed Gilsenan

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English There are moments and times when you can’t debating skills in two friendly tournaments
against Holmewood House and Marlborough
help but believe that fate or some higher power House.
is taking some time out and making a little
detour just to prove you wrong and put you in In the Lenten Term, which came to such an
your place. Last year I wrote here that English abrupt and unexpected end, we still managed
would now find itself in calmer waters and it to cram in many fun activities. As part of the
would be plain sailing from now on. Well … exciting ‘Fairy Tales’ scheme of work some of the
Year 6s created 3D scenes, including miniature
But rather than dwell on what could have been, worlds in shoe boxes or other diaromas, one
and all the places we would have, could have being an enormous Rapunzel tower, complete
gone, I want to use the limited space I have here with plait dangling out of a lofty window. They
to celebrate what we did do. shared fairy tales with Reception after watching
their performance of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Year 3 used different stories to inspire their own Years 7 and 8 had another chance to hone their
writing. They used Michael Foreman’s short story public speaking skills in our biennial Vinehall
‘I’ll Take You to Mrs Cole’ to invent their own Speaks. The quality of the talks was exceedingly
anantopodotonal bogeymen, one memorable high and the range of topics vast. For World
story using Mrs Everist as the threat – as if! A Book Day, to celebrate their love of books, all
trip to Bateman’s, Rudyard Kipling’s beautiful classes and pupils decorated the doors of their
estate in Burwash, complemented their work on English classrooms with their favourite scenes
‘Just So Stories’ (and just so you know, they each from books they have read. It is fantastic to see
wrote one, too). Adventure stories, explanation these and to now have the feeling that entering
posters and poems were part of the mix, and a an English classroom is like walking into another
debate about whether the railways were a good world full of potential and possibilities.
invention or not saw the apearance of Robert
Stephenson himself, defending his Rocket (Mrs The Summer Term was strange, but we as a
Alderson in another costume!). department were all struck with the enthusiasm
that most pupils maintained and the quality of
Moving up, Year 4 have delved into some well- work that was returned. It is strange, almost
loved classics, both for children and beyond. ironic, that some of Year 7 read Asimov’s short
They looked at Beowulf and were introduced story called ‘The Fun They Had’ about robot
to Anglo-Saxon which linked to work on ‘How teachers before the lockdown and pupils hotly
To Train Your Dragon’. A similar unlikely (if not debated whether robot or human teachers would
anti-) hero was Horrid Henry. For the brighter be superior. I think we all now know the answer.
weather, and as the sun blessed all of creation,
they turned to the animals around us and read Beyond these highlights, our daily work at the
‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web’. Not grammar grindstone has continued. The pupils
only did the pupils cook up some wonderful read diverse books, from Shakespeare, ‘Jekyll
stories based on their reading, they also learnt and Hyde’ and ‘Wolf Brother’ to ‘Friend or Foe’,
how to write recipes and tried out their new ‘The Time Machine’, ‘Grinny’, ‘Boy’ and many
skills writing Christmas recipes. I’m sure that all others. Most pupils held at least one power-
went down well! point-supported talk this year, many one a
term (even remotely!), further underlining the
In the Prep school, highlights have been: importance of the spoken word. They have
In the Michaelmas Term we had a hugely looked at how to write persuasively and poetry
successful book fair that was organised by local analyses, how to deal with comprehension
bookseller Rosie Hill, who was able to give the exercises and write discursive essays, how to
children excellent book recommendations from write creatively and descriptively. In fact – the
her wide range of books. We also celebrated whole range of what the English language offer.
National Poetry day with the finals of our hotly
contested ‘Poetry by Heart’ competition. Year Despite all, it has been another great year, but I
8 set 3 sallied out to the Kino in Hawkhurst to refuse to make any prophecies about the future
watch Matthew Bourne’s mesmerising ballet this time! And I wrote all that without once using
version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, a text they had the word ‘unprecedented’, though it would have
studied in class. Pupils from Years 7 and 8 took fitted well in many places.
their first tentative steps on the international
diplomatic parquet at the Benenden Model Kornel Kossuth
United Nations Conference and honed their

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EAL At the beginning of the school year, we welcomed new and returning overseas students from many

places in Asia and Europe. Most started with a good knowledge of English, but for some it was a totally
new experience which is very difficult as the Year 8s are set straight to work on their Cambridge PET
exam syllabus. Luckily, there is now an option to have extra EAL classes to help reinforce any grammar
issues or indeed to help with difficult vocabulary from other subjects.
Sadly, most of the students did not have the opportunity to take the exam, as they suddenly had to
get flights home before the borders closed. Luckily for Curtis Y and Sofiia R, both of whom are living in
England, the exam centre reopened in June and they both sat the exam in a new place in Wimbledon. I
was so proud of their passes at Grade A and Grade B. I know that the others would have done just as well.
Unfortunately, the only EAL trip we managed this year was to The Tower of London, but we had such a
great day thanks to Mrs Payne and a gapper. The children’s good behaviour was an absolute credit to
the school.
As ever, it has been lovely to have the close connection with the boarding house and for the children to
know they have the EAL classroom as a safe haven.
Annabel Newcomb

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Memories from our EAL pupils:

“I arrived at Vinehall School at the end of Year 6. When I arrived, I did not know how to speak English and
it was the first time I had to try. This school has one class for people that are from different countries and
it is called EAL. The first moment I remember was that the teacher called Miss Newcomb was so nice to
me. She found the language with each one of the students as well as understanding what they were trying
to say.” — Sofiia R
“Dad, this school has changed my life certainly! This is what I said when I had my first half term with my
family. There are several reasons as to how my English got better. I think one big reason is I always had to
use English instead of my own language”. — Alex K
“Many of the students who are new to Vinehall find EAL the most enjoyable. The reasons range from the
few number of people per class to the fact that everyone else is inexperienced in English. It is one of the
best places for international students to make friends at the beginning of their time at Vinehall.” — Curtis Y
“I first arrived at Vinehall School about three years ago at the start of Year 6. The first person I met was
Enrui who was already unpacking and doing his bed. I was very shy and did not talk much but that changed
in Year 7.” — Nono W

...Dad, this
school has
changed my
life, certainly...”

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French What an unusual end to the academic year! Year 5 worked on how to introduce themselves
and their family and pets and where they live:
“Le confinement” and “télétravail” dominated “fiche d’identité” and “où on habite”, producing
the last few months as we all got used to working some excellent power points with French
“chez nous” and “en ligne”. All credit to the explanations.
pupils who valiantly embraced this new way Years 3 and 4 were in the capable hands of
of learning, who became very familiar with Madame Hawtin and learned more colours,
websites and apps such as “linguascope”, numbers, dates, festivals and how to describe
“languagesonline” and “Duolingo” and who themselves and members of their family through
ploughed on with grammar drills and home action songs and authentic video scenes from
working packs. places and schools in northern France, listening
The Year 8s sat their reading and writing parts of to pupils speaking in French.
CE at home with remote supervision – unheard of In the Pre-Prep I introduced the Reception
before now – and were not put through the stress classes to the French language with action
of having a French speaking exam recorded and songs, flash cards and my “sac magique”
sent off to their senior schools. “Félicitations” containing a myriad of plastic fruits, picture
to them for their results. The online Post CE books and other objects. They listened to the
programme offered them all a chance to learn traditional tales in French of “Les Trois Boucs
a little German as a taster of a second foreign Bourrus” and “Le Petit Chaperon Rouge” in the
language for when they move into Year 9. same weeks that they acted them out in class.
The Year 7s missed their eagerly anticipated Years 1 and 2 built on their previous learning ,
residential visit to Normandy this year because adding more action songs to their repertoire,
all international travel was halted. However, including, impressively “Il y a dans la machine à
they too worked hard throughout the year and laver” for clothes and colours and “Promenons
finished by creating some “bandes desinées” nous dans les bois, pendant que le loup n’y est
about their “temps libre” and hobbies. pas!” This latter song contains the conditional
Year 6 were back in school after half term and tense and three important questions “Où es-tu?
were kept on their toes learning the topics of Que fais-tu? et Entends-tu?” which the children
“en ville”, including how to ask their way about sing with gusto. Let’s hope they remember these
town, and “la mode”, describing what they wear as they progress up the school speaking and
for different occasions. understanding French more confidently!
Jane Austen

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Geography

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This will certainly be a year to remember! With In the Michaelmas Term we were treated to the
Geography Game Show – an interactive talk about
ourfinal fling at Common Entrance this year the world locations which was enjoyed by all including
Year 8 pupils conducted a fieldwork enquiry into the four visiting schools.
pattern of stones on Bexhill Beach and submitted The Year 8 trip to London had a false start due to
this as 20% of their final CE mark. I am pleased to bad weather but when we eventually went we made
say that final results were high, with many As and the most of it by visiting the O2, Emirates Cable Car
A*s in recognition of the hard work the pupils put in. and Aviation Experience (including a turn on a flight
Year 7 pupils only had one term of Geography but simulator) and the Thames Barrier via the Greenwich
worked well on the topic of Planet Earth, with a visit Millennium Village. One of my favourite trips helped
to the river in the gulley being a highlight for them to go smoothly by my trusty team of Mr Smith, Ms
as well as visiting the floods in Robertsbridge. Newcomb and Mrs Platt.
Year 6 had a full year studying coastal processes, Plans for summer term trips and outings were inevitably
weather and climate and settlements. This last topic cancelled as remote learning took over. That said, we
being done via Teams during lockdown. did have a virtual field trip to the Dorset Coast thanks
Year 5 enjoyed their investigations into the to the online resources available through Curriculum
processes of denudation and did some excellent Visions.
display work for our topic about the Amazon My last year at the helm of the Geography department
Rainforest. Their global location knowledge was has certainly been an eventful one. I pass on to
plumped up during our remote learning with some everyone, past and present, my best wishes and I hope
quite outstanding efforts on the various tasks. that in some small way I have, over the years, inspired
The juniors followed their Learning Journey topics you to look at, and look after, and be inspired by our
increasing their basic skills and knowledge. A full wonderful world.
and energetic year’s worth of solid Geography. Nick Butcher

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History September 2019 saw the introduction of a thematic Following a term learning about Planet Earth in
Geography lessons, the Year 7s returned to History
curriculum for the Year 7s. To launch the theme of in the Summer Term, albeit remotely, with the
Conflict, we took the children to Portsmouth Historic theme of Equality and Rights. The children began
Dockyard, where we began by exploring the decks the term in 1215 with the sealing of Magna Carta
of HMS Victory, undoubtedly the Navy’s most famous at Runnymede. Over the weeks that followed they
warship having served as Nelson’s flagship at the learnt about Simon de Montfort’s Parliament of
Battle of Trafalgar. After lunch, we made our way to 1265, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (which might
our second ship of the day, HMS M33. This small ship, not have been so glorious after all), the abolition
armed only with a pair of 6-inch guns, compared to movement in the late eighteenth and early
the 104 guns of HMS Victory, saw action during the nineteenth centuries, and the one-hundred year
Dardenelles Campaign of 1915-1916. As the children campaign for women’s suffrage, before finishing
discovered, these two ships illustrate starkly the impact the term with the civil rights movement in the
that technological developments can have on warfare United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Events in the
and the experience of the sailors on board. In little wider world meant that the theme of Equality and
more than one hundred years, Britain went from Rights had particular resonance, and discussions
fighting naval battles with wooden ships powered broadened to encompass the death of George
by the wind to fighting them with steel ships no longer Floyd and the subsequent protests, as well as the
reliant on the weather to get them across the oceans. toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol.
The aim of the thematic curriculum is for the The Juniors enjoyed a busy and productive year
children’s understanding of contemporary issues learning History, with trips to Batemans and Bexhill
to be informed by a coherent chronological narrative, Museum, and visits from Sally Chaplin and the ever-
so to begin the theme of Conflict we returned to popular Ken Brooks. In the Summer Term, the Year
1066 and the Norman Conquest, giving us another 3s learnt about evolution, finding out about Charles
opportunity to get out of the classroom and visit Darwin and creating their own Tree of Life, having
the site of the Battle of Hastings. Working their listened to Sir David Attenborough.
way forwards through time, the Year 7s went on to In Years 5 and 6, the children began to develop
examine the impact that conflict has on society by their source analysis skills, whilst covering topics
learning about the Crusades, Elizabeth I’s wars and including the English Civil War, the Great Plague
The Seven Years War, before reaching the nineteenth and the Fire of London, the Industrial Revolution
century and the Napoleonic Wars, the Great Game and the Victorians, the Black Death and the
and Crimean War and the Boer Wars.

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