What a busy week for our Pre-Reception class! They have been immersed in the tale of ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,’ getting creative by making their own adorable little mice and even building homes for them!
To celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, they also made beautiful lamps. Plus, they have been busy little mathematicians, practising their sorting skills by grouping different objects. Well done, everyone!
FINE MOTOR SKILLSOur Pre-Reception class has been busy sharpening their fine motor skills! They have been having so much fun picking up pom-poms with pegs and taking lunch orders in our role-play area.
CREATING HOMES & GARDENSOur Pre-Reception class has had a wonderful term of learning and creativity! They have been busy chatting with friends about their favourite homes, which inspired them to get hands-on and create their very own homes and gardens! We also snuck in some great learning with a fun colour sorting activity. It has been amazing to see their ideas come to life.
Spotting Signs of Autumn with ReceptionReception children have been learning all about autumn. The children enjoyed exploring the grounds to find signs of autumn and sharing their findings back in the classroom.
self portraits in receptionThis term, Reception created self-portraits! The children explored what makes them unique by looking closely at their features using mirrors. They discussed their differences and celebrated how special they are. As artists, they thought carefully about the colours they chose, experimenting with different materials and brush sizes to bring their portraits to life.
YEAR 1 FUN CLUBWhat a great start to the week for our Year 1 pupils! It was a super flexible session at lunchtime Fun Club today as the children got to try out some gymnastics exercises. They did an amazing job! A huge shout-out to our fantastic Year 6 Sports Captains for leading the activities and inspiring the younger pupils every Monday! It is brilliant to see the different skills they try each week.
Year 1 Gets CreativeOur fantastic Year 1 artists have had a brilliant time in their art lessons! They created wonderful self-portraits and then took on the challenge of re-creating Picasso’s masterpieces using iPads. Great work everyone!
Year 2 Channels Andy GoldsworthyYear 2 have been studying the artist Andy Goldsworthy. They have loved looking at his work and experimenting with making their own artwork using natural materials. Last week they painted their own Andy Goldsworthy inspired creations based on his rock spiral picture.
Hands-On History: Year 3 Masters the Stone AgeA huge thank you to Marvellous History for a brilliant Stone Age workshop with Year 3! The children loved getting hands-on, learning about shelters, tools and the lives of early humans. It was amazing to see history come to life!
Bringing History to Life: Year 4’s Anglo-Saxon WorkshopYear 4 were visited by Freshwater Theatre for an Anglo Saxons workshop on 10th October. The children learned about Anglo Saxon place names and how to build Anglo Saxon houses. The enjoyed acting out the story of Beowulf and Grendel, which we then continued to study in class. Heidi made an excellent Anglo-Saxon queen and Kelechi played a terrifying Grendel!
Year 4 Imagines Life Without ElectricityYear 4 have been learning about electricity and for a fun and imaginative task, they were asked to write a diary entry detailing what a typical day would be like if they had no electricity at all. From trying to cook breakfast without an oven to doing homework by candlelight, their entries were brilliant, creative and really made them think about how much we rely on power every single day. Great work Year 4!
Electrifying Science lesson in Year 4Year 4 have been exploring circuits this term, experimenting to find out what it takes to make a bulb shine bright. Nothing beats that lightbulb moment!
YEAR 5 AFTERNOON TEAYear 5 had a delightful afternoon tea party with the Head this term! It was a fantastic way to connect and enjoy some delicious treats.
LUCEAT IN YEAR 6This term, Year 6 made indicators using red cabbage to test regular household items (baking powder, mouthwash, lemon juice, antibacterial hand gel and lemonade) to determine if substances were acid or alkalis.
NEW SCHOOL COUNCILOur amazing Year 6 pupils have been busy casting their votes for the new School Council.
We are so proud of them for taking their role as young citizens seriously and making their voices heard. Stay tuned to find out who made it onto the council!
NEW ROBOTICS LESSONSYear 6 have been loving their computing lessons this term! They have started a new unit on Lego Robotics and Engineering and had a fantastic time setting up the kits and building their first light show. We can’t wait to see what they create next!
Year 5 & 6 Boys Perfecting Passing DrillsA big shout out to our Year 5 and 6 boys! This term, they’ve been putting in so much effort during PE, really perfecting their passing drills. Their dedication and teamwork have been great to watch.
Introducing the Charity Book-NookWe are so proud of our Deputy Head Pupil, Mia! She has launched a wonderful initiative for our younger pupils: the Charity Book-Nook just outside Prep Reception. Pupils can swap outgrown books for new reads for a £1 donation. All of the money donated will go to a charity selected in conjunction with Mia and the School Council. A fantastic way to encourage reading and giving back!
new parent repsIt was great to welcome our brand new Prep School Parent Reps at their first meeting with Mr O’Keeffe. Exciting times ahead as we collaborate.
early years blogWe are excited to launch a new blog dedicated to exploring the wonderful world of early childhood development and our first posts are packed with valuable insights and fun ideas.
In our latest blog posts, we delve into:
HEAD PUPILS IN THE PREP SCHOOLGet to know our Head Boy, Chris and Head Girl, Niamh, along with our fantastic Deputy Heads, Fred and Mia, in the video below. We cannot wait to see what they achieve.
PREP SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATEThis term was packed with fantastic sporting action from the Prep School! On 29th September, selected pupils from Years 5 and 6 hosted a competitive Swimming Gala against Babington House right here in the Farringtons pool. It was an incredibly close event, with no clear winner until the very last relays, where we were just pipped to the finish line. We saw some brilliant individual performances from our team and are already looking forward to future competitions to build on this success. A huge well done to all the swimmers who took part!
Our U11 Boys Football Team put on a spectacular performance to win the ISPA Kent and Sussex Regional Tournament this term! They clinched the final with an impressive 4-0 victory, which means they have now qualified for the prestigious ISFA National Final later this year at St George’s Park, the home of the English FA. Congratulations, boys, we are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement!
GCSE RESULTSIt was great to see a good number of Year 11 pupils collecting their GCSE results and, like their Year 13 peers, they had plenty to celebrate. Whilst the pass rate nationally fell again this year to 67.4%, we were delighted that our percentage of 9-4 grades (92.5%) saw an improvement on last year, with a record number of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grade 4 or above. Just as pleasingly, the percentage of 9-7 grades (38.7%) and 9-6 grades (60%) were both 13% higher than in 2024. No fewer than sixteen pupils gained seven or more GCSEs at grade 7 and above, with one pupil securing grade 9s across the board and several others coming very close. For a wide ability school, these results are really pleasing. We are, of course, thrilled that the pupils’ hard work and commitment has resulted in such fantastic outcomes; indeed, they deserve huge credit, as do their teachers for all their support and guidance. As a cohort, they can now move forward into the Sixth Form with real confidence and we wish them all the very best for their future studies. Well done Year 11 – we are incredibly proud of you!
a level resultsAs ever, it was great to see a good number of our Year 13 leavers coming into school to collect their A Level and BTEC results and to see them celebrating their successes. As a year group they applied themselves extremely well and we are delighted that their hard work has resulted in some excellent outcomes. Statistically, improvements were seen across the board, the percentage of A*/A grades (37% – up 13% on last year and 9% above the national average) as well as a 100% overall pass rate being particular highlights. This upward trend in terms of academic attainment over the past few years, underpinned by a culture of aspiration, has been really pleasing and is reflective, not only of the pupils’ dedication and commitment, but also of the outstanding individualised support provided by their teachers. As a consequence, our students are now hugely excited about heading off to study an impressive range of subjects at a variety of very highly regarded universities across the UK, including: King’s College London, Durham, UCL, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leeds, Exeter, Southampton, Glasgow, Queen Mary’s, Loughborough and Bath among others. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish them all the very best for the next chapter, secure in the knowledge that they are well prepared for life after school in every sense.
CAREER ADVISOR INTERVIEWSOur Year 13 students have been busy this term with one-to-one career advisor appointments! They have had the fantastic opportunity to meet with an external careers advisor to discuss their future paths. We hope these sessions have given them valuable insights and guidance as they plan their next steps.
New Home for PhotographyThe Photography Suite has officially moved into the Creative Arts block this term! This fantastic new space gives pupils so much more room to explore their passion.
It features a dedicated dark room and is fully equipped with all the latest photography equipment right at their fingertips! It’s an incredible environment to study and get creative. We cannot wait to see the amazing photos they capture!
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR AWARDWe are so excited to announce that Farringtons School was shortlisted for the Rising Star of the Year Award at the Independent Schools of the Year 2025!
BIO BAKE CAKE COMPETITIONLearning does not get much sweeter than this! Our Senior School pupils combined their love for science and baking in the amazing Bio Bake Cake Competition this term. From neural networks to vital organs, their human body biology designs are absolutely spectacular! Well done to all our talented bakers!
afternoon teaWe loved giving a warm Farringtons welcome to all our new Senior School pupils and families with a special afternoon tea! It was wonderful to see so many new faces joining our community.
RIVER SHUTTLE TRIPOur Year 11 Geography pupils had a fantastic field trip to the River Shuttle this term! What a great way to bring their classroom learning to life.
AUTHOR WORKSHOPThis term, we welcomed the children’s author Lucy Strange back to deliver some talks and workshops across the Senior School. There were creative writing workshops followed by an interview with the author and selected pupils. Then, our Prep School pupils in Year 6 joined with Year 7 in Chapel for a talk from Lucy. The day finished with a gothic writing workshop for Year 8. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed Lucy’s visit and gave some fantastic positive feedback on the session.
AS STEER CHAMPIONWe are thrilled to announce that we have been recognised as an AS STEER School Champion! This award celebrates our outstanding implementation and impact of this fantastic online resource, which was designed by psychologists. While our staff are passionately committed to supporting our young people through all of life’s issues, AS STEER is a powerful enhancement and safety net. It allows us to discreetly and accurately identify pupils who may be struggling and ensure they get the right support. The impact on our pupils has been remarkable! We are so proud to continue delivering exceptional pastoral care.
THEATRE TRIPThis term, Miss Warburton took a group of A Level Drama and Year 7 Performing Arts’ scholars to see “Murder She Didn’t Write”, a completely improvised play. On arrival, the audience were invited to suggest ideas for how the play was going to pan out and our pupils’ ideas of a toilet roll as a murder weapon was considered, but unfortunately was overshadowed by a Titanic shaped cake. All had a wonderful evening.
The day started with an early 6:45am meeting at school. All 15 of us triple Science pupils waited eagerly during the hour-and-fifteen-minute drive to the Cavendish Laboratories in Cambridge.
When we arrived, we were welcomed into one of their newest buildings, filled with models of pulsars, electrons, DNA structures, and many other creations and discoveries contributed by the thirty-one Nobel Laureates who had studied or worked at Cambridge.
Our first session was led by two PhD students in mathematics and physics, who introduced us to nanophotonics. They demonstrated this by mixing isopropyl alcohol with a piece of gold in a flask. After shaking it for a few minutes, the solution turned purple instead of yellow. They explained that this was due to plasmon resonance — when gold nanoparticles are so small that their electrons oscillate and interact with specific wavelengths of light, creating the purple colour.
One of my favourite experiments, that I got to do, was when we cut a grape in half, leaving a thin strip of skin between the two halves, and placed it in a microwave. After heating it for a short while, the strip burned, separating the halves completely. We learned that this happens because microwaves concentrate energy on the thin connection and because grapes have a high-water concentration which allowed this — though we were warned not to try it at home!
Afterwards, we met an engineer from the National Space Academy who demonstrated an ultraviolet camera that detects invisible radiation by placing a black bag over Jack and revealing faint glows on the screen. He also brought a Soviet space suit and a Chinese helmet, showing how important it was to have the right equipment in space and to not get harmed by IR radiation.
We then met a theoretical physicist who explained what it takes to enter the field and what their work involves. I found it quite confusing, but Kaya was fascinated, asking endless questions about topics like quantum mechanics and string theory.
Later, astrophysicists spoke about how telescopes have evolved, from Galileo’s early lenses to modern observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope. Orbiting far beyond Earth’s atmosphere, it captures sharp images that allow scientists to explore deeper into space than ever before.
Our final session, with the National Physical Laboratory, focused on precision in measurement and how our brains perceive weight and size. They showed how our minds can be tricked by objects that look the same but weigh differently and even asked us to think of all the ways we could measure a cat.
Before leaving, we explored the museum within the laboratory, filled with historic instruments, experiment models, and notes from past scientists. It was fascinating to see how early discoveries still shape the science we study today.
On behalf of the class, I’d like to thank Mrs Daws for arranging and accompanying us on this amazing and memorable trip!
Sanu – Year 11
SAPIENTIAM TALKOur Senior School pupils had a fascinating Sapientiam Talk this term on The Power of Seaweed. Mr Essex, our Head of Sustainability, inspired us with an insightful look at how seaweed can make a real difference for our planet. The best part? Pupils even had the chance to taste it for themselves!
BUNSEN BURNERSYear 7 had fun in Science this term, learning how to safely use Bunsen burners! Great to see them mastering new skills and getting hands-on with their experiments.
YEAR 11 STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPA productive day for Year 11 at their Elevate Education study skills workshop! They walked away with key techniques to help them study smarter, not just harder.
SEARCHING FOR WORK EXPERIENCE IN YEAR 10Year 10 have been using their Unifrog accounts to begin the search for work experience placements in 2026! Once they have shortlisted their choices and contacted employers, pupils will be making their applications.
Psychology and biology trip to London ZooYear 13 Biology and Psychology pupils had a fantastic trip to London Zoo this term. They spent the day in workshops with a zoologist; exploring what makes animals intelligent and understanding the psychology used to train different species. In the afternoon, the pupils conducted their own observational study into a species of their choice. Using the zoo technology and software, pupils recorded the animal behaviour before presenting their findings to the group. It was amazing to see all of the different animals and to speak to the knowledgeable zoo keepers about the important conservation work going on.
FARRINGTONS FEATURESListen to our latest podcast with Imogen and Iris who discuss their experience of the Duke of Edinburgh award.
wyvern house revealWe have enjoyed welcoming our Wyvern House boarders back! Our new facilities are looking great, with a cosy new snug, new showers and a fantastic common room.
TREAT NIGHT AT NANDOSOur boarding students had a fantastic trip to Nando’s this week for a delicious dinner out!
ORIENTEERING in LONDONFirst weekend trip of the term for our boarders! They started the day by navigating their way through London with some orienteering, then finished it off with a visit to Madame Tussauds. What a great way to kick off the new term!
WEEKEND FUN IN WYVERN HOUSEWhat a fantastic weekend for our boarding students! They got creative and built their very own crazy golf course right in the corridor. There were also plenty of treats, from toasting marshmallows by the firepit to a delicious takeaway from RiceDrop.
SHERLOCK HOLMES ESCAPE ROOMOur boarding students cracked the case! They had an absolutely brilliant time putting their wits to the test at the Sherlock Holmes Escape Room in London. A great way to build teamwork and challenge their problem-solving skills! What a fantastic trip.
NEW GAMES ROOM IN WYVERN HOUSEWhat an amazing surprise for the boarders of Wyvern House! Last night, we officially unveiled their incredible new games room! It is fully equipped and ready for action, offering a fantastic space for them to unwind, challenge their friends and enjoy some well-deserved downtime.
WEEKEND FUN AT BLUEWATEROur boarding students had a fantastic Saturday night out at Bluewater Shopping Centre! Dinner at TGI Fridays, a little retail therapy and a movie to cap it all off.
HARVEST FESTIVALA huge thank you to everyone who generously donated food. Your kindness will make a real difference and all the collected items will be donated to the Bromley Food Bank. Thank you for helping us support our community!
firewoRKS NIGHT – Friday 7th NovemberGates open at 6pm
Firework display at 7.30pm
£10 per person / Family ticket (for 4) £35 / (under 3s free)
Join us for a fun-filled evening of fireworks, funfair rides, tasty food, sweet treats and a licensed bar for the grown-ups.
THEMED LUNCHThis term for our first theme day menu our Catering Team took inspiration from the Pot Luck Cookbook 1964 which is a culmination of recipes provided by the girls of Farringtons School. For the second theme day pupils enjoyed a menu featuring Caribbean and Jamaican favourites!
CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITIONOur school cross country competition was a brilliant opportunity for pupils in Year 6 – 13 to represent their House, earn valuable House points and take part in a fun and competitive event that truly celebrated team spirit, resilience and determination. Congratulations to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers, the overall House trophy will be presented to the House with the highest combined score across all races — meaning every single runner’s finishing position counts towards the final result!
CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITIONWow! We were absolutely blown away by the incredible number of entries for this year’s annual Christmas Card Competition! The creativity is truly inspiring.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a design. It is going to be a tough choice!
