Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Joins Space Day 20th March 2026 Academic Community Science Uncategorised This week, we were honoured to welcome the amazing Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, renowned space scientist, television presenter, and passionate science advocate, for a special Space Day. Dressed to impress, our curious Pre-Prep children watched Maggie star in her own episode of The Clangers and learnt how the children’s TV series had ignited her interest in space. They then thoroughly quizzed real-life Maggie about black holes, white holes, aliens and black flips in space. Dr Maggie also stopped by StarLab, the space observatory, here on site at Copthorne Prep and run by members of the Crawley Astronomical Society to check out the big night sky telescope along with the new solar scope that offers fascinating views of solar flares and sun spotswith pupils from Years 3 and 4. Our Years 5 and 6 pupils welcomed Maggie to the senior science lab where they were investigating food in space and how being in space affects our senses. Maggie was thrilled to see our facilities and shared some wonderful insights into creating and adapting your own observational equipment. An amazing day ended with a heartful talk to a packed hall of families and friends. Maggie has spent her career helping others understand the wonders of space, from her work on the James Webb Space Telescope to presenting The Sky at Night. Yet what resonated most with everyone was not just her incredible achievements, but her personal journey. She spoke openly about attending 13 different schools, navigating dyslexia, and discovering that her diagnosis was not a barrier, but a superpower that shaped her creativity and determination. Her message – that resilience, curiosity, and dreaming boldly can take you anywhere – left our children absolutely captivated. She even shared stories of how her love of The Clangers and Star Trek inspired her early fascination with the universe and pushed her toward a life in science. Her warmth, humour, and honesty lit up the room, and paired perfectly with our space‑themed day, where pupils immersed themselves in scientific questions, models, and cosmic wonder. At the end of the talk, Maggie spent time chatting with families and signed copies of two of the many books she has written. As part of her visit, Maggie also visited the new satellite school, Moon Hall Copthorne, opening in September 2026. Maggie shared her own journey with dyslexia and was thrilled to learn about the partnership between Copthorne Prep and Moon Hall School and the wonderful opportunities it will bring for all pupils. You can find out more about Moon Hall Copthorne. Huge thanks to Maggie for spending a magnificent afternoon with us, we are your biggest fans! Our thanks also go to Crawley Astronomical Society, who helped bring the universe even closer.
Year 6 Head to London for Creative Arts Enrichment 20th March 2026 Co-curricular Creative Arts Global Last week, our Year 6 pupils enjoyed a truly memorable day in London as they explored some of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Our first stop was the Globe Theatre, where the children were taken on an extremely informative and engaging tour. They learned all about the theatre’s rich history, from its Elizabethan origins to its reconstruction, gaining a real sense of what theatre‑going was like in Shakespeare’s time. A particular highlight was the rare opportunity to sit inside the auditorium and watch part of a live rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet. The pupils were fascinated to see the actors at work, gaining a behind‑the‑scenes insight into how a performance comes together. After the tour, the group took part in an energetic drama workshop based on Macbeth. Through a series of drama games, they explored characters, themes, and key moments from the play, bringing Shakespeare’s work to life in a fun and physical way. To round off the day, we visited the Tate Modern, where we explored exhibits linked to our learning on Materials. There was plenty to discover, but a firm favourite was the wonderfully tactile wall of carpet, which sparked lots of curiosity and discussion. Our Year 6s returned full of excitement, new knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for Shakespeare and the arts. A fantastic day of learning and creativity!
Creative Research Challenge Marks International Women’s Day 13th March 2026 Academic This week in assemblies, the children learned about International Women’s Day and explored stories of women who have shaped history, driven change, and inspired others across the world. To build on this learning, pupils have been set a creative research challenge. This is aimed at children in Years 3 to 6 but children in Pre-Prep are welcome to make a poster on a similar theme if they would like to take part. Over the next week, they are invited to create a short presentation about a woman they find significant or inspiring. This could be a historical figure, a modern trailblazer, or even someone from their own community. The focus is on celebrating women who have made a positive impact through courage, creativity, leadership or resilience. Pupils have been given clear guidance on what to include, such as: who their chosen woman is and what she is known for the challenges she overcame how she has influenced others or changed the world what they personally admire about her This project also links closely to our English curriculum expectations. Pupils are expected to present research in their own words, use accurate spelling and punctuation, and structure their slides clearly and thoughtfully. To recognise excellence, we are using our new Academic Excellence Rewards: ⭐ Merit Certificate (10 stars) for excellent work 🌟 Head’s Distinction (25 stars) for exceptional work, originality and independence We can’t wait to see the variety of women pupils choose to celebrate, and the high‑quality work they produce. Thank you for supporting your child by encouraging good research habits and helping them take pride in their final presentation. We look forward to seeing the excellent work the children produce!
Macbeth Live: Year 6 News Reports from the Castle 13th March 2026 Academic Performing Arts In Year 6 English, the children have been exploring the drama and suspense of Macbeth through Act 2 Scene 2 – the death of King Duncan. Inspired by the classic “Kermit the Frog News Flash” segments from Sesame Street, pupils planned and performed their own short news reports on this pivotal moment in the play. They had great fun scripting and filming their broadcasts, live from Inverness Castle, skillfully weaving in features such as emotive language, alliteration, and powerful vocabulary to bring the scene to life. Their creativity and enthusiasm shone through in every report.
Year 5’s Botantical Journey at Wonderful Wisley 6th March 2026 Co-curricular Global Although the skies were overcast and grey for our visit to RHS Garden Wisley, the conditions inside the Glasshouse were warm and tropical for our first activity. Year 5 pupils stepped into the indoor rainforest to discover spectacular Amazonian climbers, opulent orchids and a variety of exotic plants, as well as a beautiful waterfall hidden within. Our next stop was the Old Laboratory, where the children learnt about Wisley’s fascinating history, including the important role it played in saving the daffodil from possible extinction. Despite the cold and very wet winter, we could see that spring was very much in evidence across the gardens, with stunning swathes of crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils bringing colour to the landscape. During the Plant for the Planet workshop, pupils learnt how to take cuttings from certain plants and discovered how to plant and care for pea shoot seeds, which they were able to sow themselves. As one Year 5 pupil put it: “It was incredible and I loved it because I learnt so many things about plants.”
Year 4 Time Travellers at Amberley Museum 6th March 2026 Co-curricular Global Year 4 enjoyed a brilliant sunny trip to Amberley Museum! The children explored how communication has evolved over the last 100 years and were fascinated by the collection of vintage telephones. They had the opportunity to write and send telegrams, communicate using Morse code, and even signal messages with flags—activities that brought history to life and sparked their curiosity. It was an exciting way to see how people stayed connected before modern technology.
From Page to Stage at Young Writers Workshop 6th March 2026 Academic Creative Arts Our Year 6 trip to Hurstpierpoint College for the Hurst Book Awards Workshops this week was an inspiring and creativity‑filled experience. We were thrilled to meet horror author Jack Mackay, who spoke to us about his debut novel Gloam, one of the five books we’ve been asked to read before May. Hearing about his journey as a writer—especially at just 22 years old—was incredibly motivating. We also took part in an engaging workshop with Mr Parkin, an English teacher at Hurst, who helped us develop ideas for the collaborative book we are writing alongside the other participating schools. Our story is based around the charming teacher, Miss Lent, who is certainly not as she seems! To round off the morning, Bright Torches led us in a lively drama workshop, where we learned lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and deepened our understanding of the play through performance activities. Overall, it was a wonderful morning in which our creativity blossomed and our ideas truly came to life.
Checkmate! Fantastic Tournament Performance 27th February 2026 Academic Co-curricular The annual Cottesmore Chess Congress once again lived up to its reputation as one of the South East’s most prestigious junior chess events. This year’s tournament brought together 50 of the strongest players in the region, all competing across a full day of high‑quality, fiercely contested chess. Representing Copthorne with great pride and determination were our top three players: Nikolas, Narayan, and Rishik. Throughout the day, all three boys demonstrated exceptional focus, resilience, and strategic creativity, taking on some of the toughest competitors currently active on the junior circuit. Their performances were a testament not only to their individual talent but also to the countless hours of dedication they have invested in training and competitive play. A special mention goes to Nikolas, who delivered one of the standout performances of the entire event. With calm precision and outstanding tactical play, he secured an impressive 2nd place finish in an exceptionally strong field. This result couldn’t have come at a better time. With the England trials fast approaching, Nikolas now heads into the next stage of his chess journey filled with confidence and momentum. His success serves as an inspiration to all aspiring players at Copthorne. Narayan and Rishik also played superbly, showing excellent sportsmanship and pushing their opponents in every round. Their commitment and positive spirit contributed to an enjoyable and memorable day for the entire Copthorne team. We are incredibly proud of all three players. Congratulations on representing Copthorne so brilliantly at one of the region’s top Chess events! Well done to our team for their determination and effort. We look forward to cheering them on in their next challenge: the second round of the Primary Cup next month, taking place here at Copthorne Prep when they will play Lancing, Blackboys and Ardingly College! Good luck!
A Genuine Love of Mathematical Thinking 27th February 2026 Academic At Copthorne Prep, our ambitious approach to mathematics is alive in every classroom, where high academic expectations meet a genuine love of thinking. Through thoughtful planning, our teachers create lessons that spark curiosity and push pupils to explore, reason and persevere. This spirit is perfectly captured by Rishik in Year 5—one of our top mathematicians—who was recently pictured engrossed in Murderous Maths: Algebra, the Phantom. He recommends it because it “gets his brain ticking” and makes him want to dive deeper into algebra. That excitement for challenge is exactly what we nurture: a growth mindset for all, where every child is encouraged to exceed expectations, tackle rich problems and develop the joyful resilience that great mathematicians share. At Copthorne Prep, maths isn’t about getting answers—it’s about thinking.
The Power of Conversation with Books at the Heart 13th February 2026 Academic “Reading really is a superpower … Music and books are both about finding your voice. We are all made of stories – they define who we are.” This quote from Stormzy was featured in last week’s edition of ‘Positive News’ – a publication we share weekly with our staff – and it beautifully captures our perspective on the power of reading. At Copthorne, we want every child to do more than simply read the words on a page – we want them to step into stories, understand ideas deeply, and talk about what they discover. It is through these experiences that children make sense of themselves, others and the wider world around them. As a part of our staff meetings this term, we have been exploring what research tells us really helps children develop strong reading comprehension, and we thought you might like a glimpse into what that looks like in the classroom. One of the most important things we do is build children’s knowledge of the world. The more they know – about vocabulary, people, places, history, science, and story structures – the more they can draw on when reading. That’s why reading widely is so important. Another powerful part of comprehension is talk. You’ll often hear teachers ‘thinking aloud’ as they read, modelling the kinds of questions and connections strong readers make naturally. Children join in with this ‘book talk’ too – wondering, predicting, puzzling over words and questioning or explaining what they think is happening. These conversations are where so much understanding takes shape. We also teach strategies like predicting, summarising and clarifying, but these are tools rather than the heart of comprehension. What really matters is giving children plenty of meaningful reading experiences: whole‑class texts, shared stories, independent reading time and lots of opportunities to talk about books. So how can you help with this at home? The good news is that supporting your child’s understanding doesn’t involve worksheets or formal tasks – just conversations with books at the heart of them. When you read together, or talk about what they’re reading, try asking things like: “Why do you think that happened?” “How do you think the character is feeling?” “What do you think might happen next?” Share your own thoughts too – “I wonder…”, “This reminds me of…”, “I didn’t expect that…”. These little moments help children build language, confidence and curiosity. Modelling your own enjoyment of reading and of language more generally is an incredibly powerful thing. And, of course, keep reading lots of different books! The more widely children read, the more they understand – about stories, about the world, and about themselves as readers. Books really are the most marvellous magic!