Twelve year 6 pupils entered the Lancing Science Challenge. One skilful scientist was awarded the Physics Prize by Giles Preston, Head of Science at Lancing College.

Our pupils were split up and put into teams with children from other schools then assigned tasks. Here we see the Chemists working out how much of each chemical to add in order to make the reaction change colour in a certain time.

The physics challenges involved building a newspaper tower to hold 100g mass and making educated estimations to calculate a variety of things such as the time it would take an ant to do the London Marathon and the mass of the chapel at Lancing.

The Biologists had to build a nest, identify birds, label features of cells and flowers and construct a human skeleton

The challenges were followed by a presentation about the likelihood of there being aliens living somewhere in the universe by Dr Sadie Jones, eminent astrophysicist researching super sized black holes (she was nothing like Sheldon!) Then the prize winners were anounced

The Brambletye team had a great afternoon, this event reinforced that they are all mad about science.

BBC News clip showing Michael McKechnie, our school Bursar accompanying his 90 year old mother in jumping out of an aeroplane.

At the end there was a speech by Valerie Seddon, the chairman of the Sussex Snowdrop Trust and a raffle that generated over £200 for the charity.

Mr Holden completed the London Marathon in an excellent 3:45:41. The Year 8 Scholars have calculated his average speed as 3.13 m/s. See H's results.

He would like to say a huge 'thank you' to all of the Brambletye parents for their kind support. He ran in aid of two charities, Whizz-Kidz and The Sussex Snowdrop Trust raising a massive £2,600. This money will be divided between the two charities. The Sussex Snowdrop Trust is the charity that Brambletye is supporting this year.

Year 6 pupils recently enjoyed their stop motion animation workshop delivered by Animate and Create. Pupils learned about the process of animation through planning and creating a storyboard, making the plasticine models and filming movement one frame at a time. This video represents the combined results of the Slug Olympic team events!

To find out more about the race click here.

If you wish to donate please click here.

Note: the school takes no responsibility for the content of web pages outside our domain

Brambletye Sports Department is collecting Active Kids vouchers from Sainsburys. To find out more, see the Sainsburys Active Kids website.

Please could any vouchers collected during the Easter Holidays be brought to the Sports Department.

As part of the school’s charity drive this year, we would like each child to do their bit for others. Over the holiday they should look out for opportunities to be helpful and do jobs for, or with, you, grandparents, neighbours etc in return for a suitable payment. In essence just like the Scouts’ ‘Bob-a-job week’ for those of us who remember it!

More details can be found in the Parent Zone 
(NOTE: you will need to be logged in)

The U13 girls won the Copthorne U13 Netball Tournament this week , beating Cumnor, Great Walstead, Ardingly, Copthorne and Hurst.

On Monday 19th March Year Two visited Preston Manor in Brighton. Dressed in Victorian costume, they were taken in by the Butler of the house to carry out chores such as cleaning carpets, washing clothes and polishing shoes. They even had time to prepare some lemonade, churn butter and bake apples. A marvelous time was had by all!

Brambletye had four prize winners in this year's David Shepherd Global Canvas Awards: 

• joint 2nd in the 13 year olds category; 
• joint 2nd 11-13 year olds; 
• joint 2nd 10 year olds;
• one 'Highly Commended'. 

Brambletye hosted a ‘triumph’ of an event, “An Afghan Evening” on Saturday 3rd March in aid of 1st The Queens’s Dragoon Guards deployed at present in Afghanistan . A full house of over 260 adults together with older boys and girls from the school, who also provided back up for raffle, parking, catering and lighting in a very professional and enthusiastic fashion, enjoyed an inspirational evening with a trio of speakers.

The evening began with Andrew Callender, the Deputy Headmaster, saying a few words about the two old boys Patrick Bond and Justin Stenhouse who are Squadron leaders with the QDG. He then handed over to Edward Stenhouse, father of Justin, to introduce the speakers.

Sandy Gall was the first to lead us into this fascinating country telling us of his time travelling with ITN News in the 1980’s when the Russians were the invading force. The audience was totally enthralled with his slides of mountain passes and tracks barely feet wide – the cruelty of the country with fallen horses overloaded with equipment being left to die on the trackside and finally he showed us the dust and devastation resulting from the bombing by the Russians. It was his conclusion that this Russian invasion had radicalised the people.

He was followed by General Simon Mayall late QDG and now Middle East adviser to the government. He began his talk with a potted history of the Regiment from 1685 to present times and then gave us his take on the present situation and what is supposed to happen going forward.

The third speaker Major Alex Turner, Irish Guards gave a mind blowing account of life on the front line making the hairs on the back on one’s neck stand up with sound effects of real live battles to give the audience some idea of the fear factor which affects everyone.

The evening raised over £9,800 and was considered an overwhelming success finishing with a splendid reception hosted by the School.

Written by Edward Stenhouse

This year, he aims to raise over £3,000 which will be split between Whizz Kidz and The Snowdrop Trust, the school charity. If you would like to sponsor him, please contact Lucy Cocke at school.

'H' in Action

We had a little time to look around the gallery on our own and then a lady met us and took us to look at 4 paintings. She taught us how to look at the painting and find all the information. We looked at a painting of Bacchus the Greek God by Titian and then a self portrait of a female painter. Then we looked at a painting of a Scientific Experiment, where a bird was trapped in a jar. The last painting she showed us was a landscape of London.

After lunch, we were able to walk around and choose a painting in the gallery ourselves to draw and write about.

We visited the gift shop before making our return journey to school.

Written by RW in Y4

Our Year 7 choristers had a fantastic day at Wellington College on Thursday 1st March, combining with ten other prep school to participate in a series of workshops and activities throughout the day. The rehearsals culminated in a concert, consisting of pieces the pupils had learnt in just that one day, which they performed from memory to a full audience in the Chapel.

The children of the Pre-Prep held their Musical Extravaganza. Children from Nursery to Year Two took part in a medley of recorder playing, singing in rounds and xylophone ensembles. Some of the children showed off their skills on the piano, guitar and violin. Well done, everyone!

A Y2 Pupil at Brambletye is 'in the Spotlight' in Local Rider magazine which covers the whole of the South East of England. She appeared this year at the Royal International Horse Show and is 'an ambitious young rider destined for further success'.

At the International Horse of the Year Show riding Jobex Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Born Free Foundation Talk: Saturday 28th January 2012

The Born Free talk was a very inspiring talk for all who could come. We thought it was a very interesting talk and that all the people who work on these projects are very kind and thoughtful to do such good things to help the wild animals. The talk itself was about the work The Born Free Foundation does for wild animals all over the world. We thought it was a brilliant talk by Mr Simon Allen, Operations Director of the charity. There were lots of wonderful pictures to give us a guide to the animals they help and what is done for them.

Written by two Y7 Pupils

To find out more about the Born Free Foundation, visit their website

Tim Davenport, a former pupil of Brambletye, announced his discovery of a new species of Horned Viper in Tanzania this week. He has named the snake after his daughter, Matilda. 

To find out more click here or here or here or here or here or here or here

NOTE: Brambletye takes no responsibility for the content of external web pages.

Our Rugby Masterclass, due to have been held on Friday 27th January, has been postponed to a later date. 

Benedict Cumberbatch, star of the hit BBC television series Sherlock, started his acting career on the Brambletye theatre stage many moons ago. His rise to fame has been meteoric as he has made the part of the eccentric detective in the modernised version of Sherlock Holmes his own and, at the same time, appearing as Major Stuart in Spielberg's realisation of the Morpurgo novel War Horse. 

The Sun recently wrote a short Bio on Benedict - Read it.

NOTE: Brambletye does not accept responsibility for the content of external websites.

Year 8 have been working on the ecology of owls. This has included looking at owl pellets to see what they have eaten. A visit from the owls of The British Wildlife Centre has given year 8 a first hand encounter with five of the British species of owls

Safi the Barn Owl

Scrappy the Little Owl

Archie the Long Eared Owl

Ethel the European Eagle Owl

Movie of Florence the Tawny Owl flying in the Theatre

Rugby Coaching masterclass visits Brambletye!!

On Friday 13th January 2012, Fraser Waters (ex London Wasps and Treviso) and Joe Worsley (ex London Wasps, England, British and Irish Lions) visited Brambletye to pass on their knowledge and skills to the Colts and Senior rugby squads.

Before the coaching sessions, the boys and girls were given an opportunity to ask our visitors some searching questions in Walnut, and it was pleasing to hear so many insightful and well thought through questions.

Up on Top Field, the boys were put through their paces and had some first hand experience of the strength and power required to reach the top level. Both Fraser and Joe were brilliant with the boys and really helped to improve their skills; Mr Lloyd-Edwards could hardly contain his excitement all day and could be seen mingling within the drills!

The Senior squad are now enjoying the ‘King of the Ring’ drill, which is great for developing tenacity and aggression in rucks and mauls; hopefully this will be shown in the results for the remainder of the term!

My thanks go to Fraser and Joe for giving up their time and coming down to coach the boys; it was great to speak with them and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. It is hoped that similar sessions will become a regular feature at Brambletye from now on.

Visit the Photo Gallery and see some of the photographs that were taken during the coaching sessions.

Mr Strong