Thomson House School

As some of our families are moving out of London over the summer, places across all year groups, including reception, in our wonderful outstanding school have become available starting September 2024.

If you know any friends or relations who might be interested in their child moving to THS, do please share the love by sharing this message.

Those interested in booking a tour or simply finding out more can just give us a call on 020 3608 2080.

We’re excited to be a part of the 15th celebration of . In partnership with it's the UK's largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge. It aims to inspire hundreds of thousands of pupils to get active on the school run.

Mr Groves writes: As part of a packed programme of events to mark World Book Day on Thursday, year 4 travelled back in time to year 1 to read together! Each Year 4 student carefully selected a book from home that they wanted to read to a Year 1 student. We even asked the Year 1 children to share the graphic novel they wrote in English with the older children to amaze them with their stories and drawings.

Miss Jackson writes: This term, year 3 gave been learning about Explorers and Adventurers so, on Thursday, we headed off to Greenwich. We started our day by becoming Victorian sailors in a workshop aboard the Cutty Sark before heading to the National Maritime Museum to immerse ourselves in the expeditions of some of the explorers we've been learning about, including Matthew Henson, Walter Raleigh, Robert Scott, James Cook and Ernest Shackleton. We tried on their expedition gear, found out what they would have eaten and drunk, charted their route on a giant map and even tried out a modern day ship simulator!

On Tuesday, as part of their 'India' topic, Year 1 took part in an Indian Dance workshop with Mrs. Agarwal. The teachers simply couldn't believe how well everyone picked up all of the moves! Every Tadpole and Caterpillar did their absolute best to learn the dance and they should be very proud of themselves.

Reception kicked off the new term and a new topic with the ever popular ‘fairytale Friday’. A plethora of princesses, handsome princes, knights, pirates, crocodiles and dragons (and not forgetting one magnificent gingerbread man) landed at Sheen Lane for a day filled with enchanted castles, magical mazes, mystery characters and storybook designing. ‘Into the Woods’ will involve the children exploring the world that surrounds them, contrasts between natural and built environment, story settings aswell as goodies and baddies! Looking forward to it already.

AND it’s a wrap! All of us wish all of you the merriest of greetings for the holiday season, a well-earned rest and the happiest and healthiest 2024, when it comes.

As part of our school-wide learning about the festival of Diwali, Year 4 travelled across London to the Barbican to watch the London Symphony Orchestra perform music specially curated to link in with the retelling of the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Compositions from Handel to A.R. Rahman were on the programme and traditional Indian instruments like the tabla, dhol drum and sitar were also being performed. It was wonderfully interactive concert where the children got to sing a version of Jai Ho with the instrumental performers.

Thanks again to the teachers who research and organise these trips, the admin team who make sure they run smoothly and the grown ups who give up their time to accompany the trip!

Hard to believe that a year has passed since families and staff donned their costumes to pay homage to icons at Ball in the Hall 2022. Well, as inevitable as a cabinet reshuffle, the highlight of the THS social calendar, BITH 2023, returned with a vengeance on Friday night and what a night it was! Pink ruled for many, with Barbies from all corners of the globe and career paths proving that ‘you can be anything’ even if it’s just for one night. One or two brave Alans pitched up but it was the night for Kens to show they were more than ‘just’. Huge round of applause and thanks to Danni and her indefatigable FOTH team who really know how to put the fun into fundraising and everyone who entered into the spirit of the evening (gin, in case anyone was wondering).

If you haven’t been to a FOTH event yet, not only is it a fantastic way to make new friends but you are raising much-needed funds for the school while you are enjoying yourself. Keep an eye out for details of future dates in the weekly newsletter.

We’d love to see your photos of the night in the comments, as long as you’ve got permission from everyone else in the picture, of course!

What was that delicious smell emanating from the year three classrooms this morning? Chocolate! That's what! As part of their term-long chocolate topic, sparrows and robins took part in a chocolate making workshop, learning how delicious confections are made and creating their very own decorated lollies - and they made them for all of the teachers too! Yum.

Thanks a bunch to all of you who contribute to the enrichment fund, making these wonderful opportunities possible.😍

Happy Birthday to… Darcey! We love an excuse for a celebration at THS, and what better way to mark a momentous milestone than with a book? (Apart from cake, presents and singing, of course). Rather than bringing in sweets or cake -which not everyone can have -we are delighted when our birthday boys and girls donate a favourite story to their class library. Darcey’s story? The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson. Thank you so much for sharing your love of reading with your friends, Darcey. We hope you had a brilliant birthday.

A book: the gift that keeps on giving.

Sport at school plays an important part in developing a wide range of skills that our children will be able to use in later life: team playing, strategy, rule following and effective communication are just a few. Our head of sport, Mrs Cheetham makes sure as many children as possible have the opportunity to take part in inter-school events to experience the challenge and fun that these matches present. From a recent occasion, Mrs Cheetham writes: 'Another great evening of Rugby for our Y3/4 team. They played with such confidence and willingness to ‘get stuck in’. I think we all loved watching them work as a team and play well. Thank you to all the parents who have supported the Twilight sessions and for making them enjoyable, relaxed events.'

Thomson House is hiring!

We have a vacancy for an Assistant Teacher: details below

Part – time, Start date: December 2023

We are seeking an Assistant Teacher to work five mornings per week (8.00am – 1.15pm), during term time. The applicant will support the class teacher in curriculum delivery, the children with academic work and socially at break times. They will be also expected to attend Inset days (5 per year).

Our school is committed to inclusion and equal opportunities. Our school population is diverse and we are dedicated to ensuring our school is a place where everyone feels welcome and all our children can feel like they belong. Our inclusive teaching practices ensure that Thomson House is a school where children can achieve their best.

The successful candidate will:

Be part of a teaching team which delivers challenging and creative lessons and provides an outstanding learning environment;

Support pupils to learn effectively as directed by the classroom teacher and senior leaders;

Be aware of best practices in safeguarding and pastoral care of pupils;

Lead games activities for pupils at playtime;

Take some responsibility for individual pupils and groups of pupils;

Participate in all aspects of school life.

Our ideal candidate will:

Be a dedicated and reliable professional committed to our ethos and keen to get involved in all aspects of school life;

Have the energy, resourcefulness and initiative to be part of a dedicated team;

Have some experience of children of primary school age;

Be a role model, showing positive relations with children;

Have a minimum of 5 GCSEs (English & Maths grade B or above) or equivalent.

In exchange, we offer a competitive salary, excellent professional development and the unique opportunity to be part of a passionate and dedicated team with an ethos of high standards and community spirit.

You need to complete the application form and include a supporting letter of not more than one side outlining your motivation and relevant experience. Please email your letter and completed application form to: [email protected]

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 1st November 2023 at 12 noon.

Interviews will take place during Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd November 2023.

THS is committed to safe recruitment practices and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Year one really are leading the charge with trips this year. Building on their locality exploration last week, the children ventured to Kew Gardens for an art-focused visit to examine colour, line, texture, seasonality and trees! Generating a range of describing words and creating their own art, the children had a, thankfully rain-free, fun and enriching time out of class. A successful school trip is a team effort; the teachers who dream up the idea, book, plan, check out and risk assess; the admin team who sort out transport and make sure all the boxes are ticked; the kitchen staff who come in early to make up the packed lunches and the brave parents who give up their time to ensure that all children benefit from the opportunity. Thanks to you all!

Learning at THS isn't just for the children! We are committed to improving knowledge and skills across our community and that includes the teachers. Yesterday morning, Mrs Coltman opened up her classroom to other members of the teaching team, for them to see what maths teaching looks like in year 6. Sharing expertise and strategies is an invaluable way of ensuring consistency of approach across the school, supporting less experienced teachers as they develop their careers and promoting the best outcomes for our students. Thank you Mrs Coltman!

National Poetry Day was celebrated in style at THS on Friday. Poet Jo inspired every class to create their own unique poem on the theme of ‘refuge’. The value of language, the spoken word and oracy cannot be underestimated and it was joyous to witness the enthusiasm and participation from our very youngest to our most senior students. Huge thanks to Mr Fitzgerald who organised, and reorganized, the event and to all of the lovely families who contribute to the enrichment fund which makes these wonderful opportunities possible.

A key component of primary geography is learning about the area in which we live. Understanding an environment that is familiar gives children the skills on which to build as they start to investigate physical and human geography further afield and higher up the school. Year 1 kicked off their annual trip schedule (thank you fabulous parent volunteers!) with a Mortlake area walk, identifying and describing natural and man made geographical landmarks. A highly successful first trip of the year!

The newest members of our Thomson House family have been busy getting to grips with school life over the past few weeks. In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines, our reception children spend a lot of time learning through play, exploring and investigating, thinking critically and problem solving. Where better to do all of these things than in the outdoor learning area?

We love our Daily Mile! Thomson House is once again ahead of the curve in supporting our pupils to reach their ideal 60 minutes of physical activity every day. You may have seen a recent TV campaign highlighting the cognitive and emotional benefits to children of 15 minutes self-paced exercise... well, we've been promoting it since the very beginning. To find out more about The Daily Mile, the research behind it and just how many schools in the UK and abroad are now doing what we do, here's the link: https://thedailymile.co.uk/

Democracy in Action at Thomson House! Every year, in early autumn, election week rolls around. Leadership roles (year 6 prefects and captains) and representative positions (school council, green team, digital leaders, librarians) are up for grabs, giving pupils from year 1-6 the opportunity to be part of the voting process. We want our students to leave Thomson House with an understanding of how important it is to participate, realise that they have a voice, have the courage to put themselves out there and be gracious in defeat if it doesn’t work out. Here is where good citizenship begins.

Happy Birthday to Us! Can you believe that Thomson House School is ten years old? When we started out all those years ago, with half a dozen members of staff and 48 children, it was hard to envisage the thriving and energetic school community that we have become. And what better way to celebrate than with a party! Staff, families and friends of Thomson House (past and present) gathered together to raise a glass to our first fabulous decade. Here's to the next ten years.

Breakfast time before heading out into the woods again. For the full story check out our Facebook Story: https://www.facebook.com/stories/1505560876176363/UzpfSVNDOjI3ODM1NTczNDQ3OTAxOA==/?view_single=1&source=shared_permalink

Year 4 are all set up! Amazing activities this afternoon in the wonderful woodland - building and powering barrel cars, bush cooking, orienteering and shelter building. Spiders have been evicted from tents and now all lined up ready to eat!

Thomson House Choir are rockin' out at the O2, having an amazing rehearsal! The conductor was impressed with our Muppet Medley moves!

Last week, things went lunar at Thomson House. Our science guru Mr Shipp managed to get hold of some real moon rocks for us all to investigate! Year 6 explored what might happen when meteorites crash into the moon surface and used their science skills to make predictions, use keys to work out what rocks they were looking at and write up their results. Fantastic working scientifically year 6.

Two unexpected star appearances from Bugsy Malone that you may not have noticed...

What a show! Year 6 acted, sang and danced their hearts out (with fantastic support from the year 5 choir). Thank you Owl families for entering into the spirit of 1920s New York by dressing up, showing up and laughing at all of the jokes. Eagle families...tonight is your night.