LOWER SCHOOL
It is hard to believe that we are now entering the final week of the academic year. Having nearly completed its fourth year, the Lower School continues to grow, evolve and establish its own traditions within the life of the College. This year also marked a special moment for the Lower School as the first students to join us completed Fifth Form. Seeing those original students, who arrived as our very first Year 8 cohort, now preparing to move into the Sixth Form has been a timely reminder of just how far both they and the Lower School have come. What began as a new venture is now a thriving and distinctive part of the Senior School.
House life remains central to the Lower School and continues to provide many of the most memorable moments of the year. The House Song Competition once again showcased the creativity and enthusiasm of students, with Hamilton securing victory through a memorable performance of Waka Waka (This Time for Africa). The House Debating Final saw Thorne emerge victorious for a second year running following a closely contested debate on the motion, "This House believes we should bring back National Service."
House Chess was introduced for the first time this year and for a quiet, almost silent sport there was a lot of excitement. Shaw finished as overall champions after a series of closely fought matches. The Year 7 and Year 8 Spelling Bees also proved hotly contested, with Hamilton and Shaw sharing victory in the Year 7 competition after a debate over an incorrect judging decision from the Head of English, whilst Thorne successfully retained the Year 8 title.
House sport once again provided some of the highlights of the year. Drake enjoyed an outstanding year, claiming victory in both the boys' and girls' hockey competitions as well as House Futsal, whilst Thorne were crowned House Netball champions. Steepo remained a particular highlight, with Hamilton winning the girls' competition, Drake taking the boys' title and Thorne securing overall House victory. House Dodgeball was, as ever, loud, energetic and slightly chaotic, with Hamilton eventually coming out on top. Events such as these continue to showcase the enthusiasm, resilience and House spirit of our Lower School students. The only remaining mystery is what exactly happened to Shaw's trophy cabinet this year?
One of the things we are most proud of in the Lower School is the sense of community that continues to grow each year. House Dinners once again brought together students, staff and parents for evenings of celebration and entertainment, whilst our first Lower School Movie Night - Halloween themed - provided another opportunity for day students and boarders to spend time together outside the classroom, albeit with lots of screaming and hiding behind cushions as we enjoyed (maybe) the Woman In Black!
This year also saw the introduction of the Diamond House Point Certificate, extending the House Point reward system beyond Platinum for the first time. The first recipients of this new accolade set a new benchmark and students are already discussing that maybe we need an Emerald certificate too!
Academic enrichment continued to play a central role in Lower School life. Students achieved excellent results in national competitions, including the Junior and Intermediate Maths Challenges, with several progressing to the Junior Olympiad. Lower School students also represented the College at the Southern Schools Book Awards, having spent the year reading, discussing and debating the shortlisted titles, whilst others competed at the Cottesmore Chess Congress, gaining valuable experience against some of the country's strongest young players.
One of our key aims this year has been to create more opportunities for families to engage with students' academic work. Whilst concerts, productions and performances have always provided a natural opportunity for parents to come into school, we have increasingly sought to extend this into academic life. The Year 8 History Exhibition, Maths Exhibition and our most recent Drama performances all enabled students to showcase their work to parents and discuss their learning with confidence and enthusiasm. These events were warmly received, and we look forward to creating even more opportunities for families to engage with and celebrate academic achievement in the years ahead.
Drama and Dance enjoyed another exceptional year. The Lower School production of Guys and Dolls was an ambitious undertaking and a triumph for all involved. From the quality of the performances to the professionalism of the backstage crew, students demonstrated remarkable commitment, talent and teamwork in bringing such a complex production to life and all on a rotating stage! The Lost in Motion dance show provided another highlight, featuring outstanding performances from Lower School students.
Sport continues to be one of the great strengths of the Lower School and this year has seen a further expansion in the number of competitive opportunities available to students across a growing range of sports, including tennis, basketball and table tennis, alongside our more established programmes.
Among the many highlights was the Under 13 boys' hockey team becoming ISA National Champions at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre, home of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Not only was this a remarkable achievement, but it also represented the first major national team title won by a Lower School cohort. The Under 13 girls also enjoyed an outstanding season, winning the UKSA Tournament and establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams in their age group.
Our cross-country runners achieved national success at the Prep School National Championships in Malvern, swimmers enjoyed a hugely successful year with numerous medals and national qualifiers, and athletics continued to thrive, with Ardingly athletes qualifying for the National Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Football, Cricket, Tennis and Swimming all continue to flourish in the Lower School. Our U13A footballers made it to the quarter final of the County Cup and our Lower School A team swimmers won the Junior category at the Southern Schools Super League Final, helping the College win the overall title for the very first time!
One of the most exciting developments this year has been the College's acquisition of the Activity Centre on Ardingly Reservoir. Having a water sports centre quite literally on our doorstep has transformed how easily we can make use of it. Whether for sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking, outdoor education or simply celebrating the end of the year on the water, the reservoir is already becoming a natural extension of school life. Our Lower School students thoroughly enjoyed spending a day there following their assessments and, of course, the ice-creams afterwards!
The year also saw the completion of the new Hamilton House space, further strengthening House identity and providing students with an enhanced environment in which to work and socialise. The transformation has been warmly received and has quickly become an important part of daily Lower School life.
As the academic year draws to a close, we also say farewell to our Year 8 students as they prepare to move into Middle School. They have been a truly wonderful year group and have played an important role in shaping the character of the Lower School. Their enthusiasm, kindness and willingness to embrace every opportunity have left a lasting mark and we wish them every success as they begin the next stage of their Ardingly journey. They will be greatly missed by staff and students alike.
Mrs Jade Rowley-Terry and Mr Ben Appleby Heads of Lower School