Row of bright red backpacks hanging on a store shelf, with school logo visible on the front pockets

School Newsletter – 5th June 2026

Key Dates

Monday 8th June – Open Morning – Tours with the Head

Tuesday 9th June – Learning Support Coffee Morning (8:15 to 9:00 at main school)

Tuesday 9th June – Whole School Music/Break the Rules Day

Friday 12th June – Whole School Sports Day

Dear Parents,

I had the pleasure of leading this morning’s assembly, which focused on water safety and how to stay safe around open water (particularly important during the recent spell of warm weather!). We also took the opportunity to recognise World Oceans Day and reflect on the vital role that oceans and waterways play in our lives. The children enjoyed sharing their knowledge about the importance of water, while also discussing the potential dangers associated with open water and the practical steps they can take to keep themselves safe. It was encouraging to see such thoughtful participation and understanding across the school.

On Monday Years 5 and 6 pupils took part in an exciting AI workshop, exploring the rapid advances in artificial intelligence and the impact it is having on our everyday lives. They also discussed some of the challenges and dangers associated with AI, recognising the importance of using this developing technology responsibly. To consolidate their learning, the children worked in collaborative groups to design their own conceptual AI tools, identifying both the system’s function and the specific training data it would require. They came up with some incredibly creative concepts, including an automated pet-feeder for holidays, an ingredient-matching recipe generator, and a digital wardrobe assistant to help select outfits! A huge thank you to Abby for supporting the school and inspiring our pupils with this innovative and fascinating topic.

On Wednesday some of our Year 5s and 6s attended the ISA Athletics competition. Over 1000 children took part across both primary and secondary schools. The children had a wonderful day and special mention must go to Mia who placed 3rd in her 600m race and Lexi who placed 3rd in the vortex – what an achievement! All the results will be posted on our sports notice board.

On Thursday our younger years had a visit from Zoo Lab. The children enjoyed an unforgettable hands-on experience, meeting a giant African land snail, tarantula, cockroach, millipede and snake. They listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and showed great confidence and curiosity while learning about habitats, adaptations and animal care. It was a fantastic opportunity to inspire wonder and respect for the natural world, creating memories that will last for a long time.

This week, we also waved off Year 4 on their first residential trip to Dorset at the New Barn Field Centre. Their adventure began with a nature walk on Brownsea Island following a rather choppy ferry crossing. Thursday was packed with exciting activities, including climbing, problem-solving challenges, orienteering, and a memorable sing-along around the campfire. On their way home today, the children enjoyed fossil hunting on Charmouth Beach, bringing a fantastic few days of learning (despite the weather!) and adventure to a close. Thank you to all the staff who made their first residential such a success.

Next Week

On Tuesday, our School Council and Charity & Fundraising Committee have organised a “Break the Rules and Music Day”. It promises to be a fun-filled day for the children while also raising money for a good cause. Please see the letter sent via ParentMail for full details.

On Tuesday morning Mrs Louise will also be hosting a Learning Support Coffee Morning in main school from 8:15. Hoping to see lots of you there.

On Friday, we are very excited to celebrate Sports Day with the whole school at our new venue, Wimbledon Athletics Track. A huge thank you to Mr Tyrone and the Sports Department for all their hard work in organising what promises to be a fantastic day. Sports Day is always one of the highlights of the school year, bringing together pupils, staff and families to celebrate participation, teamwork, determination and school spirit. While there will undoubtedly be some impressive performances on the track and field, what makes the day so special is seeing every child challenge themselves, support one another and take pride in representing their house.

FORS

Please buy your tickets and tokens for the school fair and tickets for the parent/teacher summer party on 26/06 – both on Classlist.

Please also consider whether you can contribute any donations:
– old children books
– ⁠Lower School brings Ring a Thing prizes
– ⁠Upper School brings prizes for Tombola (these need to be new)

Bags are now at the gate for deposit.

We have also set up an Amazon wish list to order the items for Ring a Thing and Tombola: https://www.amazon.co.uk/registries/gl/guest-view/382WCBGV1Q84B?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_2DJMQE8M67VNC141MEBR

This is a really special event for children and parents and we hope you will help us make this year’s fair a success!

AOB

Congratulations to all the children who participated in cricket this week. You showed excellent skill and sportsmanship against Parsons Green School, winning all 4 of your matches.

We are delighted to announce that seven of our outstanding Year 6 mathematicians have qualified for the next stages of the UKMT Challenge. Five pupils have progressed to the Junior Kangaroo, where they will compete against students up to Year 8, while two have reached Olympiad level – an exceptional achievement that places them among the top 1,000 young mathematicians in the country. We wish them all the very best of luck in the next rounds this week!

Finally, it is with sadness that we announce at the end of this academic year, we will be saying goodbye to our wonderful Miss Maria as she retires from her weekly netball coaching at The Roche. Maria has made an extraordinary contribution to the school over many years, inspiring generations of pupils and playing a pivotal role in the tremendous success of our netball programme. Her dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment to our girls have left a lasting legacy. Thankfully, Maria has assured us that she will never be too far away and is keen to continue supporting our teams at major tournaments. We are also delighted that Miss Susie and Miss Alisha will continue to deliver the high-quality netball coaching that our pupils enjoy, building on the strong foundations that Maria has helped to create.

We are incredibly grateful for everything Maria has done for The Roche and wish her a very happy retirement, with plenty of well-deserved time to enjoy with her family.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Charlotte and Jonny

Great News!

Wow! Over a third of our incredible Year 6 cohort have won Academic scholarships at 11plus. What a result!

Open Morning Wednesday 1st July 9am-10am

Open Morning Friday 18th September 9am-10am

Open Morning Saturday 10th October