Finally, some sunlight and some warmer weather. It has felt like a long and gloomy winter. I have included a photo taken by one of our students because it feels like it represents the beginning of light in all its forms.
This light has been very obvious in school with so many sparkling activities and performances from our young people.
I have to start with the Spring Music concert which was a superb example of what HB does so well. A particular thank you to our wonderful Year 11’s for whom this was their last performance for the school. They have set the standard high for those who follow them and what wonderful ambassadors they are for our school. Here is just one of the many comments we have received:
‘As a parent I love seeing how involved each person is and how much they enjoy the experience, and as a music lover I love the wide range of music on display. [Our] family came home bubbling, My Dad (an ex Teacher of Music) loved it, my parents in law thought it was amazing, (although I think the drums upset his hearing aid, not that he minded) and my son came home picked up the Ukulele and started twanging away. He now wants to play guitar.’
The professional standards in the school’s music department are so high. Our Year 11 students have been telling me that this is one of the reasons they chose the school, and our Spring Concert is proof that their choice was a great one!
Whilst I am on the subject of school choices, I am looking forward to welcoming our new and returning families with students who are starting in Year 7 at HB in September. We have a large number of students joining us from the Andover area and Basingstoke and we are so pleased that they are joining our growing community of students from these areas.
The school has also welcomed a number of families into other year groups this term and it has been a pleasure to have your children join our thriving school.
And thriving we most definitely are! I hope you have been seeing this through our social media accounts as we make sure you are being kept up to date with all the activities and events that we offer to our young people. They in turn repay us over and over again with their enthusiasm and determination to get the most out of their education.
This makes us a very busy school so a quick reminder that from the start of the summer term there will be a three working days turn around to respond to communication from parents. This does not apply to urgent or safeguarding concerns.
When we return there are only a few weeks before Year 11 begin their written GCSE exams and before this there are language orals and art and photography NEA exams. Well done to all the students who are taking GCSE food technology, having completed their practical, 3 dishes in 3 hours [goodness me!] earlier this term.
I wish all of Year 11 the very best of luck but as any Headteacher would write, luck needs to be balanced with revision! There are a wide range of on line revision sessions taking place over the Easter break, please make sure your Year 11 child takes part in these, they make such a difference to keeping the knowledge and skills for each subject fresh in their minds. Their proper holiday begins at the end of June for a good two and half months. A huge thank you too to my colleagues who are giving their time in the holidays to run these revision sessions.
Thank you too for your support this term. The positive emails and comments to my colleagues are always appreciated. They work incredibly hard to give the very best education and enrichment opportunities to our school community. I feel very lucky to count them as colleagues.
Enjoy the newsletter and I look forward to working with you next term.
Kind regards,
Miss S Hearle,
Headteacher
Image credit: Joey S (Field Image)
News from around the School
Spring Concert 2025
The Henry Beaufort School’s Spring Concert was a sold out night of incredible live music on March 18th. Held in the HB Sports Hall, the event showcased the talent and dedication of students across various performances, including orchestra, choir, drum ensembles, rock bands, and solos.
Highlights included a stunning orchestral take on Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Pirates of the Caribbean, a powerful Taiko drum performance by GCSE students, and heartfelt solos like Easy on Me by Adele. The Resonate Choir, now 100 voices strong, moved the audience with I’ll Be There, while Year 7 and 8’s Arctic Apes rocked the stage with Seven Nation Army.
A truly unforgettable night of music and passion.
Miss Colebourn, Assistant Headteacher, said:
“I am incredibly proud of every student who performed. Their dedication and passion for music was seen in every note played, every song sung and each performance. It was a joy to watch them shine on stage, and the atmosphere in the hall was simply fantastic. A big thank you to the Music department – Mrs. Seddon and Mrs. Saunders for organising such a great evening and fostering the love of music in many of our students.”
A big thank you to all those who attended this amazing night.
If you would like to read more, simply click here.
Get into Teaching
Alumni Success
We are incredibly proud of our former student, Georgia Davies, and her band, The Last Dinner Party, for winning Best New Artist at this year’s Brit Awards!
Georgia studied her GCSEs at The Henry Beaufort School before following her musical passion, and we are honoured to have been part of her journey. Seeing her achieve such incredible success in the industry is truly inspiring.
Are you one of our Alumni? We’d love to hear from you. Visit our Alumni page to reconnect with us today.
Image credit: Brits/ Hampshire Chronicle.
National Careers Week 2025
Held from 3rd to 8th March, we had an inspiring and busy National Careers Week, helping students explore their future pathways.
Year 9 and 10 researched careers linked to GCSE Computer Science, created PowerPoint presentations, and shared their findings with the class. We were also delighted to welcome former students Holly and Saba, who spoke about their career journeys. Meanwhile, Year 7 and 8 focused on career exploration, engaging in lessons that encouraged them to think about their futures.
Students also took part in career based listening activities, sparking valuable discussions and new ideas. It was a truly inspiring week, leaving students motivated and excited about their future possibilities.
New Parents Information Evening
Thank you to everyone who attended our New Parents Information Evening. It was wonderful to welcome new parents and share our vision for the journey ahead.
At The Henry Beaufort School, we are committed to inspiring, challenging, and supporting every student to reach their full potential.
London Marathon
On the 27th April, one of our staff members, Mr Webber, a Science teacher, will be completing the London Marathon.
Mr Webber adds:
"I am raising money for Rowans Hospice and Macmillan Cancer support in memory of my Dad.
I managed to get through via the ballot, so I have no threshold to reach. With that in mind, if you would like to donate to either of these worthy causes, I would be incredibly grateful."
So far, Mr Webber has raised an amazing:
£211 for Macmillan Cancer Support
£155 for Rowans Hospice
Well done to Mr. Webber for his fantastic efforts and to everyone who has supported him so far. Let’s keep it going.
We were delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Beaufort Book Awards, celebrating a love of reading and great storytelling. After weeks of voting, the results were in, and the winners were:
Year 7 – 8 Winner: Running on Empty by S.E. Durrant
Year 9 – 11 Winner: Read Between The Lies by Malcolm Duffy
Students gathered in the library, proudly holding their books, alongside Miss Hearle, our Head Teacher, to mark the occasion. The event was made even more special by a video message from Malcolm Duffy, who thanked everyone for their support and participation.
A huge congratulations to the winning authors and to all our students for their enthusiasm and engagement. We look forward to next year’s awards. Happy reading.
Bistro
We’re thrilled to announce that our on-site Bistro has been awarded the highest possible Food Hygiene rating, 5 stars. This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and high standards maintained by incredible catering team.
A huge well done to everyone involved in keeping our Bistro a safe, clean, and welcoming place for students and staff to enjoy delicious meals every day.
Trips Update
Geography Trip
On Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th March, 155 Year 11 Geography students visited Southampton for their Human Geography fieldwork days.
They investigated quality of life in two regenerated areas, Centenary Quay in Woolston and Ocean Village. Applying their geographical knowledge to real-world locations.
Fieldwork remains an essential part of Geography, allowing students to test their understanding outside the classroom. Their experiences will support them in answering fieldwork-based questions in their upcoming exams.
Both days were highly successful, with students fully engaged in their research, helped by some welcome early March sunshine.
Year 10 Students Attend Oxford University Roadshow
15 of our highest attaining Year 10 students attended the Oxford University Roadshow in Alton, an event hosted by St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. The Oxford University Roadshow provided valuable insights into university applications, A-Level choices, and life at Oxford. Students also had the privilege of listening to a fascinating talk from an Oxford professor, gaining a deeper understanding of academic study at a top university.
At The Henry Beaufort School, we are committed to nurturing ambition and motivation by offering experiences like this, helping students to broaden their horizons and aspire to academic excellence.
Year 8 Students Explore Army Flying Museum
Two Year 8 maths classes recently enjoyed a fantastic day at the Army Flying Museum, exploring over 35 aircraft and learning about 100 years of British Army aviation.
Students took part in STEM activities, including marshalling signals and engine building, to understand how aircraft work. Some were even lucky enough to see Chinook and Apache helicopters fly overhead!
It was an inspiring day, giving students hands-on experience with the engineering of flight and the exciting world of aviation.
During lessons, this term, our Top Set Year 9 Mathematicians were given an opportunity to enter the first round of the Edge Hill University Mathematics Challenge, an annual competition that provides the opportunity to tackle engaging mathematical activities while developing teamwork and communication skills. Well done to the following students for taking part and submitting their entries: Team ‘Pi-Thagorans’: Noah, Jonah, Pan, Will and Tommy. Team ‘Syntax Error’: Kit, Ben and Finley. Team (AGI)2 : Alice, Gemma and Iris. Finally, Team ‘Algebros’: Hannah, Laura, Minty and Jessica. We wish them all the best of luck!
World Book Day
The Henry Beaufort School was filled with excitement as students took part in a range of reading themed activities. They solved a Cluedo mystery, followed clues around the school, entered the Library prize draw, voted in the Beaufort Book Award, and put their knowledge to the test in the Dingbats Quiz.
The celebrations were made even more special by the success of the recent Book Fair. A huge thank you to everyone who supported it, your contributions help fund our school library. Even our Head Teacher, Miss Hearle, joined in the fun, sharing a story and celebrating the joy of reading with students.
It was a fantastic event, and we hope it has inspired everyone to keep reading.
Personal Development Day
On Tuesday 25th March, The Henry Beaufort School held a Personal Development Day, giving students a valuable opportunity to develop essential skills and confidence for both school and life beyond. These dedicated days focus on well-being, personal growth, and future preparation, ensuring students are equipped to navigate the challenges ahead.
Year 7 took part in an exciting Business Speed Networking event, where they had the chance to explore different career paths and gain insights into various industries. Year 8 focused on personal safety, learning important life skills to help them stay safe in different situations. Year 9 explored the theme of healthy relationships, discussing respect, communication, and emotional well-being.
Year 10 attended a thought provoking assembly led by The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation, which highlighted the importance of making informed decisions and staying safe. Meanwhile, Year 11 dedicated their time to exam preparation, refining their revision techniques as they prepare for their upcoming GCSEs.
A huge thank you to our external speakers and staff for delivering such a meaningful and engaging day. These events play a key role in supporting our students' personal development and future success.
Resource Base Introduction from our Students
Welcome to The Henry Beaufort Resource Provision. We are very fortunate students as we have access to lots of things in the Resource Base. For example, we have Curriculum Support sessions where we look at our subjects in depth, if we are struggling, we can ask questions to the Resource Base Staff. We have a Teacher of the Deaf called Miss Sandford, Miss Holmes a Communication Support Worker, and Miss Reid who is a Learning Support Practitioner. They all support us in and outside of lessons. We have access to a Deaf Instructor that comes from Hampshire Council called, Beth Whitely who comes in once a fortnight, and we talk about Deaf News – this is where we talk about local news in our deaf community. We are very lucky as we have access to Roger systems that we connect our hearing equipment to, so that we can hear the teachers in the classroom.
The Resource Base helps us be more confident to participate in all school activities. By being at Henry Beaufort, we get used to being with students with different abilities. This prepares us for life outside of school, where we will meet and work with people who have different strengths.
This term, The Henry Beaufort School celebrated Sign Language Week.
Students and staff participated in our 'Sign of the Day' activities, learning and practising British Sign Language together. From everyday greetings to powerful words like "bravery," it was a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills. Well done to everyone who took part.
To view our video, visit our Instagram account here.
Science Block - Phase Two
Phase Two of our Science Block project is officially underway, marking another significant step toward enhancing our facilities at The Henry Beaufort School.
New steel supports have been delivered and are being installed, forming the foundation of a state-of-the-art learning environment. Once complete, the modernised Science Block will provide high-quality, well-equipped spaces where students can engage in hands-on experiments, innovative research, and inspiring science lessons.
With completion set for June 2025, we are excited to see this project take shape and look forward to the incredible opportunities it will offer our students.
Science Club Update
Our Science Club has had an exciting opportunity to be involved in a project run by the Mammal Society, in partnership with the Barn Owl Trust. The study named “Searching for Shrews”, aims to determine the distribution of an invasive species, the Greater white-toothed shrew. The aim is to discover what impact, if any, they are having on other wildlife.
For this study we received a collection of owl pellets for us to dissect. The students learnt that owl pellets contain the undigested fur and bones of the small mammals which the owls have swallowed whole. These pellets are coughed up by the owls and mammalogists can study the contents to discover which mammals are in the area where the pellets were collected.
With the assistance of the wonderful Mr Macleod and Science Technicians, the students set about dissecting their pellets, sorted through the contents and trying to identify any bones that they had found. The data that we collected will now be sent on to the Mammal Society. We will also be returning a suspected Greater white-toothed shrew skull that we discovered so they can confirm our identification.
The students found the project fascinating. It’s also provided a great insight into science in the real world and some careers that are out there for our budding young scientists to consider.
The MFL Team Update
Year 11 GCSE Oral Exams
We wish our Year 11 students the best of luck in their GCSE oral exams which will start straight after the Easter holidays. Students have been working hard in preparation for these exams and we are sure that they will do their very best! Not only do we have students sitting exams in French, German and Spanish, but we also have a number of students taking these exams in their home language, including Polish, Persian, Arabic and Russian!
MFL Tip of the Term
Using the Look, Cover, Write, Check method of learning new words is a great way to practise writing and remembering them. We recommend learning new words in small, manageable chunks and testing yourself regularly.
Year 9 Enrichment Week Trip to Berlin
We are all very excited about our trip to Berlin during Enrichment Week. We will be holding an information meeting for parents and students on Tuesday 1st July at 5pm in the concert hall.
Hire Facilities
Did you know that The Henry Beaufort School offers a variety of fantastic facilities available for hire? Whether you're looking for a Concert Hall for performances, a Dance Studio for rehearsals, or Music Practice Rooms for private sessions, we have versatile spaces to suit a range of needs.
Our facilities are perfect for community groups, sports clubs, performing arts rehearsals, and private events. With well maintained spaces and a convenient location, The Henry Beaufort School provides the ideal setting for your activities.
“This half-term, Prague launched the “Poetry Escape” competition. We are delighted to announce the winners: Y7 – Eliza Owen; Y8 – Soffiyah Musa; Y9 – Riley Mattock; Y10 – Ella Ackers; Y11 – Blessing Kamuriwo. All of our entries have also been entered into the national Young Writers competition, and some of our students have an opportunity for publication on the horizon! We are incredibly proud of our young writers, and are looking forwards to the wonderful words they craft next.”
Parent Link - Useful Information
For information about recent news, click the link below for our Safeguarding Newsletter:
We have already started to think about September 2026 and have organised a number of open events. This is the perfect opportunity for students to see what we do and to get involved; open mornings offer parents and students an insight into our culture and ethos. If you would like to visit the school, we are now taking bookings for the following dates:
Finally, some sunlight and some warmer weather. It has felt like a long and gloomy winter. I have included a photo taken by one of our students because it feels like it represents the beginning of light in all its forms.
incredible live music on March 18th. Held in the HB Sports Hall, the event showcased the talent and dedication of students across various performances, including orchestra, choir, drum ensembles, rock bands, and solos.
Held from 3rd to 8th March, we had an inspiring and busy National Careers Week, helping students explore their future pathways.
Students also took part in career based listening activities, sparking valuable discussions and new ideas. It was a truly inspiring week, leaving students motivated and excited about their future possibilities.
We were delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Beaufort Book Awards, celebrating a love of reading and great storytelling. After weeks of voting, the results were in, and the winners were:
Students gathered in the library, proudly holding their books, alongside Miss Hearle, our Head Teacher, to mark the occasion. The event was made even more special by a video message from Malcolm Duffy, who thanked everyone for their support and participation.
Year 10 Students Attend Oxford University Roadshow
The Henry Beaufort School was filled with excitement as students took part in a range of reading themed activities. They solved a Cluedo mystery, followed clues around the school, entered the Library prize draw, voted in the Beaufort Book Award, and put their knowledge to the test in the Dingbats Quiz.
The celebrations were made even more special by the success of the recent Book Fair. A huge thank you to everyone who supported it, your contributions help fund our school library. Even our Head Teacher, Miss Hearle, joined in the fun, sharing a story and celebrating the joy of reading with students.
Our Science Club has had an exciting opportunity to be involved in a project run by the Mammal Society, in partnership with the Barn Owl Trust. The study named “Searching for Shrews”, aims to determine the distribution of an invasive species, the Greater white-toothed shrew. The aim is to discover what impact, if any, they are having on other wildlife. 
