This week, Copthorne’s newly formed Chapel Choir visited Rochester Cathedral to hear the Chamber Choir from Caterham School perform a wonderful concert of reflective music. They explored the cathedral, met members of the choir and were able to ask Mr Hall, who was playing the organ, lots of questions about this beautiful instrument! They particularly enjoyed seeing some Copthorne Prep alumni singing, and following the music that they had learnt with Mr Assen (Director of Music) last week!

Year 3 have been busy cracking the number system of the Ancient Egyptians this week, ready for Egyptian Day on Friday.

The children found that Egyptian scribes had only a handful of symbols to work with, so writing large numbers could take a very long time. The number 199, for example, needs one coil, nine heel bones and nine strokes. We decided the scribes must have had very sore arms! The children enjoyed cracking the code and comparing the Egyptian system with the one we use today.

On 11 November, Armistice Day, our school community gathered for our annual Remembrance Service. Together, we paused to reflect on the courage, sacrifice and service of those who have given so much for others.

Inspired by this year’s theme, Service and Sacrifice, we considered not only those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also those who continue to serve others each and every day.

The weather may not have been on our side, but the children were absolutely superb. Despite the rain, our pupils demonstrated remarkable maturity, respect and understanding throughout the service. From our youngest children to our oldest pupils, they stood patiently, listened thoughtfully and observed the two-minute silence with great dignity. Looking out across a sea of umbrellas and coats, I felt incredibly proud of the thoughtful young people they have become and the way they embraced the significance of the occasion. 

Childhood should, of course, be filled with joy, laughter and adventure, but it should also include moments that encourage reflection, gratitude and perspective. Whilst standing in the rain was undoubtedly a little uncomfortable, it felt entirely fitting that our children experienced a small measure of inconvenience as they reflected on the sacrifices made by others. These are often the moments that stay with us, helping to build empathy, resilience and character.

At Copthorne, we often talk about the values of the Copthorne Compass, and this week our children brought those values to life. They demonstrated Respect through their thoughtful participation, Resilience in the face of the weather, and Kindness and Compassion as they reflected on the experiences of others. Most importantly, they recognised that remembrance is not simply about looking back, but about considering how we can contribute positively to our communities today. 

I was also incredibly proud of our Year 6 pupils, whose Remembrance Assembly earlier this week was both moving and thought-provoking. The maturity, empathy and understanding they demonstrated were exceptional. Listening to them speak so thoughtfully about service, sacrifice and remembrance was a powerful reminder that education is about far more than what children know; it is about who they become. The assembly showcased not only the remarkable young people we have at Copthorne today, but also the values, understanding and sense of responsibility that we hope they will carry with them long after they leave us.

As we remembered those who served before us, we were reminded that each of us has the opportunity to make a difference through our own actions, however small. The service was a powerful example of our children living the values of the Copthorne Compass, and they represented both themselves and our community beautifully.

As we now move from a week of reflection towards a season filled with light, warmth and celebration, I hope our children carry with them the lessons of remembrance: gratitude for those who came before us, kindness towards those around us, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world. These values sit at the heart of the Copthorne Compass and, this week, our children embodied them beautifully.

Mrs McGregor, Head of School

Hot on the heels of completing our successful launch year of Caterham Summer School, we’re very happy to have opened sign-ups for Caterham Summer School 2027! Our new course line up features Edge and Oracy, Finance Futures, Medical Innovation, English as an Additional Language and our brand-new Elite Football Coaching course in conjunction with the Palace for Life Foundation. Our courses reflect Caterham School’s commitment to innovative learning and personal development, combining academic input with creative activities and opportunities to develop confidence and independence. With residential and day student options available, our bookings platform is now live here. Follow along through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and check out our website here. We’re looking forward to Summer School 2027 already!

Our weekly Street Dance and Ballet classes are officially underway, and the energy in the studio has been incredible! Pupils from Reception all the way to Year 4, both boys and girls, have been giving it their all. Even our nursery pupils have joined in the fun, trying out their very first street dance moves!

​This week, the children started learning their official routines for our upcoming show. Moving to hits ranging from Taylor Swift and Descendants to Woody’s Round Up, every dancer left the studio beaming with pride. Mrs Curran and I have absolutely loved teaching at Copthorne; every single dancer shone bright this week!

​Key Dates for the Calendar:

​Saturday 16 January: Show Dress Rehearsal

​Sunday 17 January: The Big Show at The Leatherhead Theatre!

It’s not too late to get involved! If your child would love to build confidence, learn exciting routines, and take to the stage in January, please contact the school office to book their place.

Year 1 have been busy exploring the fascinating world of dinosaurs through a range of creative art activities. Using a slider mechanism, the children designed and made their own pop-up dinosaurs, carefully creating tissue paper collage eggs, colouring their dinosaurs, and neatly cutting out the different elements before assembling them. It was wonderful to see their hard work rewarded as their dinosaurs successfully popped out of their eggs!

The children also closely observed and sketched ammonite fossils, developing their observational drawing skills by looking carefully at shape and pattern. They explored different textures by creating rubbings and enjoyed imagining what a dinosaur’s skin might have felt like. This hands-on project allowed the children to combine creativity with careful observation while developing their cutting, colouring and drawing skills.

What a fantastic afternoon for our Year 5 and 6 House Football matches! With glorious weather, beautiful pitches and plenty of excitement, Snowdon, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Slieve Donard took to the field ready to battle it out for house glory.

There was some excellent football on display, with well-timed tackles, some cracking goals and a few missed opportunities that may still be talked about tomorrow! A couple of tackles were perhaps a little more enthusiastic than technically perfect, but that is all part of the learning curve!

The team spirit throughout the afternoon was brilliant, with players encouraging one another and giving everything for their houses. The touchlines were equally lively, particularly thanks to our Year 3 and 4 pupils, who came out to support the matches. Their enthusiasm was fantastic, and no doubt some were already imagining themselves as next year’s football stars!

Every house won at least one match, so it was a close contest with plenty to cheer about. The final standings were:

1st place: Scafell Pike
Joint 2nd place: Snowdon and Slieve Donard
3rd place: Ben Nevis

Congratulations to Scafell Pike on their victory and well done to all four houses for their effort, sportsmanship and fantastic team spirit. A brilliant afternoon of football, with plenty of smiles, red faces, some memorable moments and hopefully only a few grass stains to show for it!

Art Club has got off to a fantastic start, with the children enjoying the relaxed and creative atmosphere. The club give pupils the opportunity to develop their artistic skills while exploring their own interests and ideas.

So far, pupils have been exploring colour through exciting drip painting techniques, experimenting with a range of colour combinations and effects. They have also been drawing back into their paintings, adding detail, pattern and imagery to create unique and expressive artworks.

It has been wonderful to see the enjoyment, enthusiasm and creativity on display, and we look forward to seeing how the pupils’ ideas and artistic skills continue to develop throughout the term.