Life at Somerhill Magazine

Life at Somerhill Trinity term | July 2025

Welcome to Life at Somerhill Every time we sit down to pull this together, we are amazed by just how much goes on in a single term at Somerhill, and this last half-term was no exception as it was bursting at the seams with activity! We have cheered at our prep and pre-prep sports days, tapped our toes at the brilliant senior and junior concerts, been swept away by the pre-prep’s magical performance of Mary Poppins, and clapped proudly at our junior and senior prize giving ceremonies. It has been a whirlwind of fun, laughter, learning and celebration, and we hope you enjoy flicking through all the highlights in this edition of Life at Somerhill. Now it is time to swap school shoes for flip flops… wishing all our families a wonderful, sunny, and adventure-filled summer holiday! Click the image below to view our 2023/24 Somerhill Review...

Somerhill shortlisted for Independent Prep

School of the Year!

As we reach the end of another academic year at Somerhill, we would like to take a moment to reflect with pride and gratitude on all that we have accomplished together as a school community. To that end, we are thrilled to share that Somerhill has been shortlisted for Independent Prep School of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025!

Fire engine is a big hit with pre-prep pupils! On the first day back, pupils in our pre-prep were visited by the East Kent Fire and Rescue Service to help launch their 'People Who Help Us' topic. The visit helped teach the children about safety awareness, how to recognise emergency helpers, and expanded their vocabulary through hands-on experiences with real equipment. The fire crew dressed some of the children in uniform, demonstrated the powerful fan used to clear smoke, and even let them hold a working fire hose! What a fantastic way to spend the first morning back at Somerhill!

Year 8 sign off with a celebration of music On Monday 2 June, we hosted our Year 8 Celebration of Music. nd

The performers presented a diverse range of musical styles and instruments, reflecting the breadth of their knowledge and interests. The boys performed with great confidence and put on an excellent show.

Parents and families clearly appreciated the effort and musicality on display, with many commenting on the maturity and progress shown by all. It was a fitting way to mark the end of their musical journey at Somerhill!

We are delighted to have four thriving beehives once again for our beekeeping club. This hands-on opportunity allows pupils to connect with the natural world around them and develop a deeper understanding of ecology and sustainability. Keep an eye out – more Somerhill honey could be coming soon! The bees are back at Somerhill!

Pupils in Reception marked the start of the term and their new Creative Curriculum topic with a medieval banquet! The children created crowns fit for medieval kings and queens, learnt about the food eaten by the rich and poor, and prepared a medieval banquet complete with music and dancing. What a fantastic start to the term and their topic, 'Medieval Castles'! Reception children enjoy a medieval banquet!

Year 5 visited by award-winning filmmaker

Pupils in Year 5 were lucky enough to benefit from the expert guidance of multi award-winning filmmaker, senior journalist for the BBC and Somerhill parent, Ben Moore. They learnt many tips in preparation for their first videography unit in their digital literacy lessons. Our budding filmmakers were left inspired and raring to get going with their film production!

Year 8 boys mark their last home match with a win!

This term, our Year 8 boys played their final home cricket match of the season at Somerhill. They delivered a fantastic team performance, alongside their Year 7 teammates, finishing with a 10-wicket win against The Hawthorns School.

Well done, Somerhill!

Somerhill Saplings

Over the past few weeks, our Somerhill Saplings have been on a magical, nature-filled journey of creativity, discovery and imagination. They explored the elder tree in bloom, tasting elderflower pancakes and cordial, crafting elder beads into beautiful jewellery, and even sketching with handmade elder pencils.

They learned fire skills, made charcloth, and cooked over open flames with care and excitement. When the fairies arrived in the woods, the children brought their stories to life with peg fairies, miniature woodland furniture, and cosy fairy houses. Most recently, they explored emotions through art, designing expressive clay faces using natural materials, making silly faces in mirrors, and listening to The Colour Monster. From fire-building to fairy tales, it has been a truly magical time for our youngest adventurers.

Congratulations to our Somerhill swimmers, who performed incredibly well at the IAPS National Finals on Saturday 7 June, at the London Aquatics Centre. th : Somerhill swimmers impress at National Finals

U10 Boys Freestyle Relay: 12th (PB 1:06.97) U12 Boys Medley Relay: 15th (PB 1:11.87) U11 Girls Freestyle Relay: 7th (PB 1:01.01) U11 Girls Medley Relay: 9th (PB 1:09.16) : Kieran - U12 50m Breaststroke: 4th (PB of 38.29) Amelia - U11 50m Backstroke: 13th (PB of 38.00) Matilda - U11 50m Freestyle: 3rd (PB of 31.11)

Thank you to our swim teachers, Mrs Marples and Mrs Whitlock, for their coaching and guidance throughout the year. A special thanks to Mrs Whitlock for taking the pupils all day on a Saturday!

Even the rain cannot stop the party at Somerhill!

On Saturday 7 June, we hosted our Somerhill Parents’ Association Summer Party! th

Despite the weather moving us indoors from the Formal Lawns, a fantastic time was had by all. Our Mansion Hall was transformed into a stylish speakeasy, while our beautiful Grand Salon became a garden room complete with a champagne reception and live string quartet.

Delicious pizza was served courtesy of Odori & Sapori by Romeo, alongside a fantastic dessert buffet, as guests danced the night away. A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who made this magical evening possible for our Somerhill community!

Wimbledon fever at Somerhill! Our U11 and U13 tennis teams have enjoyed fixtures against Saint Ronan’s and Dulwich Cranbrook this half term. Saint Ronan’s proved to be a challenging but enjoyable test, with some mixed results. Whilst against Dulwich, we saw some excellent doubles results. Well done to everybody who took part!

Our marquee was beautifully decorated with French flags, bunting, and gingham tablecloths, as our Year 6 pupils took on a variety of roles, from waiting staff to food preparation, practising their French language skills as they served croissants, pains au chocolat, baguettes, brioches, and more, all generously donated by our wonderful Year 6 parents. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to showcase their learning in a fun, real-world setting, and the staff thoroughly enjoyed the warm and welcoming service they received. As ever, this was a charity event, raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières. Very well done, Year 6! French cafés back by popular demand!

Engineering in Year 3 ⚖

This year, our Year 3 pupils at Somerhill have taken their first steps into the world of engineering through a series of hands on, creative STEM projects. They began by designing and building box canvas frames, learning key structural engineering concepts such as measurement, cutting, stability, and artistic design. They then moved into the digital realm with scratch programming, creating interactive games that combined music, movement, and logic, all while honing their coding, debugging, and user experience skills.

To round off the year, pupils embraced the challenges of paper engineering, taking on tasks like building rollercoasters, designing pop-up cards, testing kites, and crafting no-tape boxes. These activities encouraged problem-solving, creativity, and precision while introducing concepts like aerodynamics, gravity, and structural design. It has been an exciting year of exploration, experimentation, and engineering fun!

Dr Hambly supports parents

On Friday 13th June, following our final parent forum of the academic year, we were joined by Dr Ellie Hambly, a Clinical Psychologist and mother of two at Somerhill. Ellie delivered an engaging and insightful talk on 'supporting your child's emotional regulation' to parents and staff. Thank you to Ellie and everybody who attended and contributed to a fantastic session.

You can watch Dr Hambly’s full presentation here

Our Somerhill prep library club celebrated World Ocean Day this half term, by creating a display of relevant books and resources. The display featured sculptures of marine life created in art lessons and was designed to draw attention to the wonder of our oceans and the current threats facing this environment, including rising sea temperatures and plastic pollution. This year, World Ocean Day (Sunday 8th June) coincided with celebrations for broadcaster and conservationist Sir David Attenborough's 99th birthday! Somerhill librarians mark World Ocean Day!

Problem-solving with pre-prep

Recently, our pre-prep pupils ventured into our Somerhill woodland for some exciting problem-solving sessions! While the challenges were rooted in mathematics, they also encouraged the development of vital life skills.

The children showed fantastic leadership, teamwork, and communication as they tackled each task with enthusiasm. Well done, pre-prep!

Year 8 take their science outside! On a sunny Friday afternoon, some of our Year 8 pupils took their science lesson outdoors into our Somerhill parkland. Surrounded by nature, they explored the structure and adaptations of flowers using pocket digital microscopes. What a wonderful way to bring science to life in our beautiful grounds!

Somerhill athletics medal haul Our pupils excelled on the track and in the field at the IAPS Kent Athletics Championships on Friday 13 June, achieving numerous personal bests and an impressive medal haul: th Six gold medals Toby (800m), Guy (1500m & high jump), Year 7 boys (4x100m), Josh (shot put), Freddie (javelin). Eight silver medals Dougie (800m & long jump), Josh (1500m), Max (300m), Charlie (long jump & high jump), George (high jump), Cody (discus). Two bronze medals Alex (800m), Sophie (1500m). A special mention to Freddie (javelin), Hudson (800m), Raffy (200m), Charlie (200m) and Milo B (discus), our 4th-place finishers who narrowly missed the podium.

Pre-prep are ‘practically perfect in every way!’

On Wednesday 18 and Friday 20 June, children from Reception to Year 2 took to the stage for their performance of Mary Poppins, delighting parents and family members with their wonderful singing, acting, and dancing – not to mention all those lines! th th Photos and videos are now available in the Parent Portal and can be viewed here!

U9A cricket team win at St Michael’s! Our U9A cricket team ended the season in style, bringing home silverware in the searing heat on Thursday 19 June. th The team remained unbeaten at the St Michael’s U9 tournament. After a steady start in their opening match, they quickly found their rhythm with powerful boundary hitting, consistent bowling, and superb fielding, including diving catches and direct hit run-outs!

Oscar and Harrison climb for gold!

Huge congratulations to Oscar (U11) and Harrison (U9), who both recently won gold in the BSCA National Schools Hill Climb Championships! Well done to both of you!

House Art Competition

This term, prep pupils submitted entries for our House Art Competition, ‘The Power of Blue’.

Our judge, Martin Thompson, Head of Art at Sutton Valence School, said: “ ℎ ℎ , ℎ , , , . ℎ ℎ ℎ ℎ , ℎ ℎ .”

A huge well done to everybody who took part. Our winners for each year group are: Year 3: Arya and Rupert Year 4: Bea and Alex Year 5: Annabel and Leon

Year 6: Clementine and Freddie Year 7: Oliver and Barnaby Year 8: Stanley Congratulations to all our year group winners!

Trips week at Somerhill! Our prep trips week, held from Monday 16th to Friday 20th June, was an action-packed celebration of learning beyond the classroom. From Roman crafts and music afternoons to residential adventures with The Bushcraft Company, pupils from across the prep school embraced a wide variety of experiences. Year groups travelled far and wide, visiting Knockhatch, Bedgebury, Bewl Water, Dorset, and even France, while others stayed closer to home for themed days, cricket matches, art workshops, outdoor explorations and camp nights! It was a fantastic week of discovery, creativity, and connection for the entire Somerhill community.

Read on to discover just some of the adventures our pupils experienced during this year’s trips week...

The Bushcraft Company with Year 5! An excited group of Year 5 pupils set off for Penshurst Woods to spend three adventurous days with The Bushcraft Company. Camping in tents with their friends, they embraced life away from home comforts while learning valuable woodland survival skills. Activities included shelter building, fire starting, camouflage and concealment, first aid, trap making, and nature walks. A standout moment was a mock ‘crash’ scenario, where pupils put their first aid training into action to ‘rescue’ staff members. Of course, no bushcraft experience would be complete without campfire songs, s’mores, and plenty of fun. It was a fantastic opportunity to build resilience, teamwork, and friendships—creating memories that will last a lifetime. As Sebastian put it, “My favourite day was Tuesday because we got to cook our own pizzas and play camouflage games in the woods!”

Year 6 head down to Dorset!

What an unforgettable week our Year 6 pupils had on their residential trip to Dorset! From the thrill of coasteering and jumbo paddle boarding to the splash-filled fun at Dorset Waterpark, the children embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and smiles. While on dry land, they enjoyed a morning of bushcraft, learning how to light fires and honing their aim with archery. It was a week full of laughter, learning, and adventure. A huge thank you to all the children for their impeccable behaviour, boundless energy, and team spirit throughout the trip.

Year 7 cross boarders to France!

During trips week, the Year 7 boys enjoyed a wonderful time in Normandy. They visited a boulangerie and a farm, where they milked goats and baked homemade bread. At a bee farm, they learned about beehives and sampled different types of honey, and they explored an orchard to discover traditional methods of making apple juice. Having recently finished their exams, they let off some steam at the Bagatelle theme park, enjoying the rides and some well-earned fun. The boys also visited the market in Le Touquet, where they put their French to the test by ordering ice creams.

Year 7 boys debate at Sevenoaks Tom, Marcus and Ollie, in Year 7, delivered an impressive performance at the Sevenoaks School debating competition, competing against local prep schools including The New Beacon, Holmewood House, and Solefields. They won two out of three debates, showcasing their ability to think on their feet, present well-reasoned arguments, and persuade the judges. Demonstrating a range of PSB skills, they were a credit to Somerhill, and we would not be surprised to see them debating in Parliament one day!

Meet and greet with Rhian Thornton

On the evening on Monday 23 June, we were delighted to host our Meet and Greet with Rhian Thornton, Head Elect of Somerhill. rd Parents and staff gathered on the Formal Lawns for drinks and canapés, enjoying the opportunity to meet Rhian and her husband, Marcus. Thank you to everyone who joined us for another wonderful evening at Somerhill.

Nursery and Kindergarten kick off sports day season at Somerhill! On Monday 23 June, we hosted our Pre-School Sports Day! Parents gathered on the Formal Lawns to cheer on our youngest pupils from Nursery and Kindergarten as they took part in a series of fun activities and races, all planned and prepared by our Pre-Prep Sports Teacher, Mr Carter. rd

Well done to all our pre-school pupils – you were brilliant!

On Tuesday 24 June, our Year 6 pupils ventured out into the grounds to explore how Somerhill has evolved over its rich 400-year history. th Armed with old photographs and facts, our historians searched for clues and evidence of the many changes and stories that have shaped Somerhill through the centuries. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such fascinating history and so many stories waiting to be discovered! Year 6 explore Somerhill’s history

Reception’s magical day at Leeds Castle!

On Wednesday 25 June, Reception pupils had a magical day out at Leeds Castle! The children participated in a Swan Lake workshop, dressing up and acting out the story, and took a tour of the castle, impressing the guides with their knowledge of the structure, particularly the portcullis. th Other highlights included exploring the adventure playground, riding the land train, and enjoying a well-earned ice lolly in the sunshine. A wonderful day of learning and fun!

A year of music at Somerhill! It has been another exceptionally busy and rewarding year in the music department. While the carol services, spring concerts, and both summer concerts remain our flagship events, pupils have taken part in nearly fifty musical performances throughout the year. These have included teatime concerts, lunchtime recitals, and collaborative events with other departments and schools. A total of 120 ABRSM exams were taken, with a 100% pass rate and a high proportion of merits and distinctions. Many pupils also sat Trinity and MTB performance exams, and we were delighted that six music scholarships were awarded to pupils moving on to their next schools. The co-curricular programme continues to be a vital part of musical life at Somerhill. 60 pupils currently play in the symphony orchestra, alongside the chamber orchestra, chamber choir, four other choirs, and twelve additional music groups. These ensembles rehearse weekly and perform regularly, giving pupils valuable opportunities to develop their musicianship and enjoy the rewards of ensemble playing. We are incredibly grateful to all the pupils, staff, and families who support the work of our music department. Their commitment and enthusiasm is essential to ensuring that music continues to thrive at Somerhill.

Watch our Junior Summer Concert here

Watch our Senior Summer Concert here

Year 4 missions are out of this world!

Year 4 pupils have been busy coding robots, with their sights set on Mars! After learning how to program their bots, pupils then applied their skills to tackle challenges linked to the colonisation of Mars, from establishing communications and rescuing the Mars rover to collecting rock samples and launching the colonists' rocket.

Year 8 family cricket and BBQ

On Friday 27th June, we hosted our annual Year 8 leavers' family cricket and BBQ. Families gathered on the lower terraces for an evening of (mostly) friendly cricket and plenty of delicious food, all expertly cooked by our Head of Year 7 and 8, Mr Caldwell. Just one of the many fantastic ways we celebrate the end of the Somerhill journey together!

Sports day action from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2!

On Friday 27 June, it was the turn of our Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 pupils to take part in our Pre-Prep Sports Day! th It was a beautiful morning packed with fun and excitement. The children participated in a variety of events, including relay and sprint races, long jump, bouncing races, tug of war, and even a Mary Poppins-themed obstacle course. It was wonderful to see so many parents and family members cheering on our young athletes - thank you for your support!

This year, Year 3 pupils at Somerhill have enjoyed a range of exciting, hands on learning experiences across the curriculum. In History, they explored the Roman invasion of Britain by designing and crafting their own Roman shields before heading into ‘battle’ to practise traditional Roman formations, including the popular tortoise formation. In Maths, pupils ventured into the woods to investigate different types of lines and angles, using natural materials to create polygons and identify geometric features. In Science, they became budding botanists, studying flowers and plants around the school grounds and producing detailed botanical illustrations as part of their learning about plant structures. Year 3 round off a great first year in prep!

Year 5 create ‘green man’ faces in the woods!

This term, Year 5 pupils decamped to the cool shade of the trees during the hot days to create ‘green man’ faces among the woodland. The children listened to the folk story of the ‘green man’, a mythical figure who quietly protects the forest, its creatures, and the children who wander through it. Pupils sculpted faces from clay, placing them in hidden spots on tree bark and decorating them with twigs, leaves, and cones to represent the green man’s wild hair and beard. Echoing the natural cycle of life and renewal, the clay creations will gradually break down and return to the earth from which they came.

Year 7 create a play in two days! This half term, our Year 7 boys took part in an exciting ‘Play in Two Days’ workshop. Over the course of two days, Andrew Cleaver from Konflux Theatre worked with our budding actors to write, rehearse, and perform Treasure Island, all in just 48 hours! The boys performed for parents and families on the final evening, and it was packed with fun, laughter, and some fantastic performances! Well done to everyone who took part and performed!

Year 2 study J.M.W. Turner Pupils in Year 2 have been learning about the local area and recently studied J.M.W. Turner’s famous painting of Somerhill. Inspired by the artist’s love of working ‘en plein air’, they headed outside one sunny afternoon to find the perfect spot to sit and sketch Somerhill for themselves.

Success for Inaayah at Tigers International!

A huge congratulations to Year 5 pupil, Inaayah, on her incredible success at the Tigers International Acro Cup! Over three days, Inaayah and her team wowed the judges with three fantastic routines, securing 1st place overall and proudly bringing home a gold medal! They also impressed in the showdown performance, earning a brilliant silver medal to top off a weekend of achievement. Well done, Inaayah - we are so proud of you!

Year 6 leavers’ festivities!

On Tuesday 1 July, we hosted our Year 6 leavers’ celebration of music, followed by a family BBQ. st Our talented performers took to the stage one final time, entertaining proud parents, family members and staff. The BBQ that followed was a joyful celebration of the Somerhill journey, and a chance to reflect on many happy years of learning, memorable experiences and life-long friendships. A huge thank you, as always, to our fantastic in-house catering team for the delicious BBQ!

Guy leaves Somerhill as National Champion!

A huge congratulations to Year 8 pupil Guy, who was crowned the U13 1500m National Champion at the 2025 IAPS Athletics National Finals, with an outstanding time of 4:32.47. We are all so proud of you, Guy – what an incredible achievement! There were some fantastic achievements across the board for Somerhill pupils: Guy (U13): 4th - high jump

Toby (U11) 12th - 800m Jake, Charlie, Raffy and Freddie (U12) 12th - 4x100m relay Max (U13) 13th - 300m Josh (U11) 13th - shot put Charlie (U11) 14th - long jump

George (U11): 7th - high jump Charlie (U12): 9th - high jump Freddie (U11) 9th - javelin Josh (U11) 9th - 1500m Cody (U11) 10th - discus

Year 2 visit The Woodgate Library

As part of their exciting transition to prep at Somerhill, Year 2 children visited our impressive 400-year-old Woodgate Library. They were so captivated by the thousands of books on display that they eagerly compiled a list of titles to borrow in September, and are now full of enthusiasm for the Summer Reading Challenge. A highlight of the visit was a fun-filled scavenger hunt, thoughtfully arranged by our Librarian, Mrs Bell, which sparked even more excitement for future library adventures!

Prep Sports Day is a day to remember!

DL overall winners: 1 – Coniston 243 points st 2 – Windermere 239 points nd 3 – Grasmere 225 points rd 4 – Ullswater 176 points th YC overall winners: 1 – Ashmore 464 points st 2 – Marques 441 points nd 3 – Nicolson 403 points rd 4 – Hudson 395 points th

VL Awards: Year 3 – Poppy Rayner & Rex Palmer Year 4 – Olive Oldridge & Zac Eshun Year 5 – Willa Raymond & Freddie Ford/Lewis Roxburgh Year 6 – Matilda Palmer & Charlie Imison Year 7 – Jake Wilkinson Year 8 – Guy Bowers/Milo Bowers

‘Penfriends’ from France! We are delighted to have established a new connection with a primary school in France, providing our pupils with the opportunity to exchange letters and broaden their linguistic and cultural knowledge. Pupils in Year 4 and 5 were thrilled to receive their first letters from their French penfriends and are already looking forward to writing back and sharing their summer holiday adventures in September!

No escape for Year 8 pupils! Our Year 8 pupils have been busy designing their very own immersive escape rooms this half term! From crafting characters and storylines to creating challenging puzzles, they have put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test, with some lucky staff members invited to try and escape! Thankfully, everyone made it out, and no one has been reported missing... yet!

Prize-giving at Somerhill Our prize-giving ceremonies were a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the achievements of our pupils. Our Junior Prize-giving took place on Thursday 3rd July, with special guest Rhian Thornton, Head Elect of Somerhill, joining us to mark the occasion. Our Senior Prize-giving followed on Wednesday 9th July, where we were honoured to welcome Darren Coxon, founder of Coxon AI and a leading voice in AI education, as our Guest of Honour. Both events were a fitting tribute to the hard work, talent and growth shown by our pupils throughout the year.

Watch our Junior Prize giving ceremony here

Watch our Senior Prize giving ceremony here

Life at Somerhill | Trinity Term | July 2025