What is going on in the Science Department? Well, apart from learning about the standard Biology, Chemistry and Physics, there is a drive to improve the thinking and problem solving skills of the children. You may recognise this as a large part of the scientific approach in any case, with the need to develop a hypothesis, design and carry out an experiment and conclude on the findings. However we have been trying to widen the children’s experience to help their thinking, and to stimulate their interest in Science.

As educators we have the job of trying to prepare children for their future life, but it is very difficult to know exactly what their lives will look like. With the pace of change and the current uncertainty about the political landscape, who knows? It is likely that a high proportion of these children will end up working in jobs that are unfamiliar to us today; indeed, they may not even exist currently. It is therefore very important that we provide them with opportunities to improve their ability to think things through and help them to be able to tackle problems that they have not come across before.

Science aims to stimulate our curiosity in finding out why things happen and it teaches methods of enquiry and investigation to stimulate our critical and creative thought. These will be valuable skills for the future.

The British Science Week gave Form Four and Five the chance to carry out some new and interesting activities. On Friday 15 September we spent all day working on a wide range of different STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

We investigated the sneeze zone- how far a sneeze can travel and how we can prevent others from getting ill. We were able to learn about the spread of microbes and their potential to infect people.

The ability to be able to come up with new ways to tackle infection is a critical area in medicine today. 

We investigated the problem of microfibres in fleece material and were horrified to discover that these microfibres get into our own food chain. This issue links with the need to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment. As the WWF advertisement says”we are the first generation that knows we are destroying the world and could be the last that could do anything about it”. Mr. Stephen ran a Dragons’ Den style activity which invited groups of children to design a possible solution to the problem of plastic waste, and pitch for the investment required to take their idea forward. 

We also explored static electricity and discovered that is used to help reduce pollution from smoke stacks and in other challenging environments. We looked at a photo on an electrostatic precipator but probably preferred the twelve different stations where we were able to experiment with static electrify! 

Engineering came to the fore when we were challenged to build the best paper airplanes and also the highest possible tower using only spaghetti and marshmallows and, of course, our knowledge of the triangle as a very stable building base. 

It was a very successful day, enjoyed by all the children. Perhaps the best moment for me was when a young girl said to me that she had never thought that she could be an engineer. Well, why not?

In the Summer Term we will be building a simulated neuron network to help us understand how when we learn something new, neurons in our brains make new connections. This links with research into Alzheimer’s disease, which is forecast to grow rapidly. One million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025 and this will increase to two million by 2050. (Alzheimer’s Research UK)

Form Five Maths plan to carry out a Waste Audit, identifying the waste that is sent to landfill. They will also carry out a Plastic Waste Audit. Both sets of data will be reviewed later in the year and we hope that we will see an improvement.

Science and Maths are very useful in helping the children learn how to investigate problems and how to use a structured method to do so. Ensuring that they are able to be creative is also part of this process. It is quite likely that some of the children at Cargilfield will go on to make a significant contribution to the problems of the future. Hopefully we can help give them some of the skills to do so.

Fiona MacKerron

What is going on in the Science Department? Well, apart from learning about the standard Biology, Chemistry and Physics, there is a drive to improve the thinking and problem solving skills of the children. You may recognise this as a large part of the scientific approach in any case, with the need to develop a hypothesis, design and carry out an experiment and conclude on the findings. However we have been trying to widen the children’s experience to help their thinking, and to stimulate their interest in Science.

As educators we have the job of trying to prepare children for their future life, but it is very difficult to know exactly what their lives will look like. With the pace of change and the current uncertainty about the political landscape, who knows? It is likely that a high proportion of these children will end up working in jobs that are unfamiliar to us today; indeed, they may not even exist currently. It is therefore very important that we provide them with opportunities to improve their ability to think things through and help them to be able to tackle problems that they have not come across before.

Science aims to stimulate our curiosity in finding out why things happen and it teaches methods of enquiry and investigation to stimulate our critical and creative thought. These will be valuable skills for the future.

The British Science Week gave Form Four and Five the chance to carry out some new and interesting activities. On Friday 15 September we spent all day working on a wide range of different STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

We investigated the sneeze zone- how far a sneeze can travel and how we can prevent others from getting ill. We were able to learn about the spread of microbes and their potential to infect people.

The ability to be able to come up with new ways to tackle infection is a critical area in medicine today. 

We investigated the problem of microfibres in fleece material and were horrified to discover that these microfibres get into our own food chain. This issue links with the need to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment. As the WWF advertisement says”we are the first generation that knows we are destroying the world and could be the last that could do anything about it”. Mr. Stephen ran a Dragons’ Den style activity which invited groups of children to design a possible solution to the problem of plastic waste, and pitch for the investment required to take their idea forward. 

We also explored static electricity and discovered that is used to help reduce pollution from smoke stacks and in other challenging environments. We looked at a photo on an electrostatic precipator but probably preferred the twelve different stations where we were able to experiment with static electrify! 

Engineering came to the fore when we were challenged to build the best paper airplanes and also the highest possible tower using only spaghetti and marshmallows and, of course, our knowledge of the triangle as a very stable building base. 

It was a very successful day, enjoyed by all the children. Perhaps the best moment for me was when a young girl said to me that she had never thought that she could be an engineer. Well, why not?

In the Summer Term we will be building a simulated neuron network to help us understand how when we learn something new, neurons in our brains make new connections. This links with research into Alzheimer’s disease, which is forecast to grow rapidly. One million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025 and this will increase to two million by 2050. (Alzheimer’s Research UK)

Form Five Maths plan to carry out a Waste Audit, identifying the waste that is sent to landfill. They will also carry out a Plastic Waste Audit. Both sets of data will be reviewed later in the year and we hope that we will see an improvement.

Science and Maths are very useful in helping the children learn how to investigate problems and how to use a structured method to do so. Ensuring that they are able to be creative is also part of this process. It is quite likely that some of the children at Cargilfield will go on to make a significant contribution to the problems of the future. Hopefully we can help give them some of the skills to do so.

Fiona MacKerron

On the final morning of term, we had our end of term prize giving with lots of awards rewarding children’s effort over the course of the term. As well as subject effort prizes, children received awards for music, fencing, skiing, sport and also for doing well in national Maths competitions. 

A wonderful way to end the term and very well done to all those who won prizes. 

On the final morning of term, we had our end of term prize giving with lots of awards rewarding children’s effort over the course of the term. As well as subject effort prizes, children received awards for music, fencing, skiing, sport and also for doing well in national Maths competitions. 

A wonderful way to end the term and very well done to all those who won prizes. 

75 years ago today Alastair ‘Sandy’ Gunn, old boy of Cargilfield, took part in The Great Escape when 76 officers escaped from Stalag Luft III having been shot down over Surnada in Norway.

Nursery & School Guides Edinburgh
Scottish Council of Independent Schools
Spitfire AA810 - Restoring Sandy's Spitfire

The Great Escape remembered 75 years on https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wor...

75 years ago today Alastair ‘Sandy’ Gunn, old boy of Cargilfield, took part in The Great Escape when 76 officers escaped from Stalag Luft III having been shot down over Surnada in Norway.

Nursery & School Guides Edinburgh
Scottish Council of Independent Schools
Spitfire AA810 - Restoring Sandy's Spitfire

The Great Escape remembered 75 years on https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wor...

The ski party had an early start on a Saturday morning as they headed out to Les Menuires in France for a week’s skiing. There is lots of snow and the weather is set fair! Have a great time!

The ski party had an early start on a Saturday morning as they headed out to Les Menuires in France for a week’s skiing. There is lots of snow and the weather is set fair! Have a great time!

Fergus was placed 12th in this year’s Townsend Warner History Prize and won a £25 book token whilst Joshua was 51st. Over 1000 entries from some of the top Prep Schools in the UK and just 251 qualified for the final round! Well done!

Fergus was placed 12th in this year’s Townsend Warner History Prize and won a £25 book token whilst Joshua was 51st. Over 1000 entries from some of the top Prep Schools in the UK and just 251 qualified for the final round! Well done!

Growing Cress and Making Egg Cress Sandwiches - Some of the children in nursery have been growing cress over the last week or so. The children then decided that they wanted to make egg and cress sandwiches for snack which they made for their friends in nursery today.

Growing Cress and Making Egg Cress Sandwiches - Some of the children in nursery have been growing cress over the last week or so. The children then decided that they wanted to make egg and cress sandwiches for snack which they made for their friends in nursery today.

A wonderful Easter Service in Chapel, led by the Very Rev Dr Russell Barr, brought what has been a very busy and successful Spring Term to an end. We wish all Cargilfield families a very happ Easter when it comes. 

A wonderful Easter Service in Chapel, led by the Very Rev Dr Russell Barr, brought what has been a very busy and successful Spring Term to an end. We wish all Cargilfield families a very happ Easter when it comes. 

Well done to Catherine and James who made it to Bonus Round of the Primary Maths Challenge . 70000 children take part and just 2375 make it to the Bonus Round!

Matthew won a Bronze medal so was in the top 2% of all entries!

Well done to Catherine and James who made it to Bonus Round of the Primary Maths Challenge . 70000 children take part and just 2375 make it to the Bonus Round!

Matthew won a Bronze medal so was in the top 2% of all entries!

It has been a wonderful few days for the U11 girls on their Netball tour to York. Our first day involved a mini tournament against Ampleforth College and St Pius A & B. We played in a variety of positions and showcased our great movement on the court. Lots of goals from our shooters meant we came 1st!

The next day we headed to Queen Margaret's School York, feeling on a high after our win. We played some super netball in the pool matches with particularly efficient marking and so moved into the finals. The girls fought hard and narrowly lost one match which meant we were runners up out of the 20 teams.

I am so proud of the girls and how much they have progressed this term. To only lose one match on the whole tour iwas a tremendous effort but most importantly they played as a team. They were an absolute pleasure to take away and thank you to the band of Mums who came down to support us!

It has been a wonderful few days for the U11 girls on their Netball tour to York. Our first day involved a mini tournament against Ampleforth College and St Pius A & B. We played in a variety of positions and showcased our great movement on the court. Lots of goals from our shooters meant we came 1st!

The next day we headed to Queen Margaret's School York, feeling on a high after our win. We played some super netball in the pool matches with particularly efficient marking and so moved into the finals. The girls fought hard and narrowly lost one match which meant we were runners up out of the 20 teams.

I am so proud of the girls and how much they have progressed this term. To only lose one match on the whole tour iwas a tremendous effort but most importantly they played as a team. They were an absolute pleasure to take away and thank you to the band of Mums who came down to support us!

The Pre Prep enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt on the last day of term all dressed up in their Easter Bonnets! What a lovely way to bring the term to an end!

The Pre Prep enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt on the last day of term all dressed up in their Easter Bonnets! What a lovely way to bring the term to an end!

After doing symmetry last week we had fun today making our own symmetrical patterns. Some groups even tried to make an Easter picture. Can you spot the bunny rabbits?

After doing symmetry last week we had fun today making our own symmetrical patterns. Some groups even tried to make an Easter picture. Can you spot the bunny rabbits?

7L have been reading Terence Rattigan’s play ‘The Winslow Boy’ this term and looking at the impact of the Suffragettes on society before World War 1. They produced a child friendly factsheet and shared their knowledge with an enthusiastic P3C this morning! Miss Combe enjoyed meeting some of her former pupils again too!

Click here for more photographs.

7L have been reading Terence Rattigan’s play ‘The Winslow Boy’ this term and looking at the impact of the Suffragettes on society before World War 1. They produced a child friendly factsheet and shared their knowledge with an enthusiastic P3C this morning! Miss Combe enjoyed meeting some of her former pupils again too!

Click here for more photographs.

Many congratulations to Katie on being awarded a Thring All Rounder Scholarship to Uppingham School. A wonderful achievement and richly deserved!

Many congratulations to Katie on being awarded a Thring All Rounder Scholarship to Uppingham School. A wonderful achievement and richly deserved!

Many congratulations to Amelia on being awarded a Sports Scholarship to Uppingham School. A wonderful achievement and richly deserved!

Many congratulations to Amelia on being awarded a Sports Scholarship to Uppingham School. A wonderful achievement and richly deserved!

‪Well done to our Maths team who won the UK Mathematics Trust team regional qualifying completion at Falkirk and so have made it through to the National Finals down in London in June. A fantastic achievement indeed!  They were  up against some very large Senior/Grammar schools from all over Scotland and this is the 7th year in a row that we have qualified for the National Finals in London!

‪Well done to our Maths team who won the UK Mathematics Trust team regional qualifying completion at Falkirk and so have made it through to the National Finals down in London in June. A fantastic achievement indeed!  They were  up against some very large Senior/Grammar schools from all over Scotland and this is the 7th year in a row that we have qualified for the National Finals in London!

P1P made the most of the beautiful Spring sunshine this afternoon by going out into the grounds and drawing some of the lovely Spring time flowers we found.  We looked at how the flowers were a range of colours. We had to look extremely carefully at each plant to draw it accurately.  We counted the numbers of petals and looked at how the shapes of the petals and leaves were different on each type of plant.

P1P made the most of the beautiful Spring sunshine this afternoon by going out into the grounds and drawing some of the lovely Spring time flowers we found.  We looked at how the flowers were a range of colours. We had to look extremely carefully at each plant to draw it accurately.  We counted the numbers of petals and looked at how the shapes of the petals and leaves were different on each type of plant.

Under 13C Hockey v Loretto

In their fifth competitive encounter of the term versus Loretto, having won the previous four, the boys faced a strengthened opposition. In the first half the boys did not pass enough and sought to take on too much as individuals. This meant that despite the valiant efforts of Alex and Alex in defence, the Loretto team led by two goals going into the last quarter of the match. During the second half the Cargilfield boys had begun to pass more and communicate more effectively and slowly the pressure began to reverse and finally with five minutes to spare they managed to work the ball around the D until Jaime tapped the ball into the goal. The boys maintained the pressure and made a few more chances but the shots missed narrowly each time. Although the the match ended with their first loss of the season, 1-2, the boys can be commended for their determination and resolve to keep fighting.

Under 13C Hockey v Loretto

In their fifth competitive encounter of the term versus Loretto, having won the previous four, the boys faced a strengthened opposition. In the first half the boys did not pass enough and sought to take on too much as individuals. This meant that despite the valiant efforts of Alex and Alex in defence, the Loretto team led by two goals going into the last quarter of the match. During the second half the Cargilfield boys had begun to pass more and communicate more effectively and slowly the pressure began to reverse and finally with five minutes to spare they managed to work the ball around the D until Jaime tapped the ball into the goal. The boys maintained the pressure and made a few more chances but the shots missed narrowly each time. Although the the match ended with their first loss of the season, 1-2, the boys can be commended for their determination and resolve to keep fighting.

U9A

The under 9A’s had a fantastic end to the season with a lovely game of netball against Belhaven. The match looked very close to begin with but thanks to our amazing passing and accurate shooting we won 9-0. It was a good team effort but a particular mention to Savannah who was new to goal shooter and scored some lovely goals. Great fun was had by all.

U9B

The under 9Bs has an extremely close game against Belhaven which unbelievably ended in no goals. With good movement on the court the Cargilfield girls did have more opportunities to shoot but weren’t successful. The team has put a lot of effort in and have showed great improvement this term.

U9A

The under 9A’s had a fantastic end to the season with a lovely game of netball against Belhaven. The match looked very close to begin with but thanks to our amazing passing and accurate shooting we won 9-0. It was a good team effort but a particular mention to Savannah who was new to goal shooter and scored some lovely goals. Great fun was had by all.

U9B

The under 9Bs has an extremely close game against Belhaven which unbelievably ended in no goals. With good movement on the court the Cargilfield girls did have more opportunities to shoot but weren’t successful. The team has put a lot of effort in and have showed great improvement this term.

U11A Netball vs. Belhaven

The girls have had a great start the tour by winning 21-11 against Belhaven. It was a well fought match with Belhaven doing some good interceptions. We had excellent movement when on the attack and ultimately that got us the win. Josephine was our captain and player of the match.

U11A Netball vs. Belhaven

The girls have had a great start the tour by winning 21-11 against Belhaven. It was a well fought match with Belhaven doing some good interceptions. We had excellent movement when on the attack and ultimately that got us the win. Josephine was our captain and player of the match.

_{U11B Netball vs Belhaven}

_{Win 16-1}

_{The girls played well and enjoyed a nice sunny day playing on the astro. They were great at both defense and attack. Francesca was captain and the girls rotated positions each quarter. Amenah, Georgia, Iona and Anna scored goals for their team. They used the space well. In the future the girls will need to work on their footwork and marking.}

_{Overall it was a good game and the girls can be proud of themselves for their last match.}

_{Player of the game: Amenah.}

_{U11B Netball vs Belhaven}

_{Win 16-1}

_{The girls played well and enjoyed a nice sunny day playing on the astro. They were great at both defense and attack. Francesca was captain and the girls rotated positions each quarter. Amenah, Georgia, Iona and Anna scored goals for their team. They used the space well. In the future the girls will need to work on their footwork and marking.}

_{Overall it was a good game and the girls can be proud of themselves for their last match.}

_{Player of the game: Amenah.}

1^st Netball v Belhaven – Drew 16-16

The girls finished off their season in fine form this afternoon with an exciting match against Belhaven. As predicted, the match swung from end to end and there was never more than a couple of goals in the score line.

We started well and Amelia had her shooting hands on from early on. The play was tight and the girls from both teams marked closely. We found ourselves 6-4 up after the first quarter but we knew that Belhaven would be keen to get back ahead. And so they did! Frustratingly, we worked hard however as soon as we worked the ball up court, we made a silly pass and Belhaven pounced and turned the play around and scored. We let the game slip a bit and entered half time 10-7 down.

The third quarter saw the girls re-focus and much more composed. They clawed their way back in to the game; Sophie in particular worked her socks off and really did not stop moving all quarter. Katie made some great interceptions and kept us in the game. With the score at 11-14 to Belhaven entering the last quarter, it was going to be tight, and tight and exciting it certainly was! We upped the pace and Ellie made some fantastic long passes in to the circle which let Amy and Amelia claw us back in to the game. With the minutes counting down we turned the play around and Amy scored a fantastic goal to level the game 16-16. The clock simply counted down too fast as we had possession of the ball and were looking the stronger team by the end however a draw is probably a fair reflection of an exciting and fast game with our friends from Belhaven.

1^st Netball v Belhaven – Drew 16-16

The girls finished off their season in fine form this afternoon with an exciting match against Belhaven. As predicted, the match swung from end to end and there was never more than a couple of goals in the score line.

We started well and Amelia had her shooting hands on from early on. The play was tight and the girls from both teams marked closely. We found ourselves 6-4 up after the first quarter but we knew that Belhaven would be keen to get back ahead. And so they did! Frustratingly, we worked hard however as soon as we worked the ball up court, we made a silly pass and Belhaven pounced and turned the play around and scored. We let the game slip a bit and entered half time 10-7 down.

The third quarter saw the girls re-focus and much more composed. They clawed their way back in to the game; Sophie in particular worked her socks off and really did not stop moving all quarter. Katie made some great interceptions and kept us in the game. With the score at 11-14 to Belhaven entering the last quarter, it was going to be tight, and tight and exciting it certainly was! We upped the pace and Ellie made some fantastic long passes in to the circle which let Amy and Amelia claw us back in to the game. With the minutes counting down we turned the play around and Amy scored a fantastic goal to level the game 16-16. The clock simply counted down too fast as we had possession of the ball and were looking the stronger team by the end however a draw is probably a fair reflection of an exciting and fast game with our friends from Belhaven.

It’s been a great term in P1 super sports club. The children have practised their football, hockey and rugby skills and have really progressed over the term. It was great to see their fantastic dribbling and tackling on the hockey field this afternoon.

It’s been a great term in P1 super sports club. The children have practised their football, hockey and rugby skills and have really progressed over the term. It was great to see their fantastic dribbling and tackling on the hockey field this afternoon.

What a wonderful concert of music and poetry we enjoyed at Rosslyn Chapel this evening! In the haunting surroundings made famous in Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code, the Chapel choir performed some lovely anthems interspersed with poetry written by the children inspired by our visits earlier in the term as well as some poems by Wordsworth, Keats and Shakespeare.

A truely memorable evening of music and special thanks to Dr Allsop, Mrs Alder and Mr Parker for all their hard work.

Rosslyn Chapel concert

35 members of the Chapel Choir and 4 members of the Drama Scholar’s Group gave a wonderful evening recital at Rosslyn Chapel on the theme of ‘Roses at Rosslyn’ on 19th March. The choir sang 8 pieces all from memory with real conviction and focus and we absolutely revelled in the wonderful acoustic. These were interspersed by readings, including pieces of creative writing written by members of F7 after their visits to Rosslyn earlier in the term. Meanwhile F6 had created a display of artwork inspired by their visits which we enjoyed in the Chapel at our ‘dress rehearsal’ on Monday night. What a memorable occasion and well done to all the children who have been involved in this project.

Click here for more photographs. 

What a wonderful concert of music and poetry we enjoyed at Rosslyn Chapel this evening! In the haunting surroundings made famous in Dan Brown’s book The Da Vinci Code, the Chapel choir performed some lovely anthems interspersed with poetry written by the children inspired by our visits earlier in the term as well as some poems by Wordsworth, Keats and Shakespeare.

A truely memorable evening of music and special thanks to Dr Allsop, Mrs Alder and Mr Parker for all their hard work.

Rosslyn Chapel concert

35 members of the Chapel Choir and 4 members of the Drama Scholar’s Group gave a wonderful evening recital at Rosslyn Chapel on the theme of ‘Roses at Rosslyn’ on 19th March. The choir sang 8 pieces all from memory with real conviction and focus and we absolutely revelled in the wonderful acoustic. These were interspersed by readings, including pieces of creative writing written by members of F7 after their visits to Rosslyn earlier in the term. Meanwhile F6 had created a display of artwork inspired by their visits which we enjoyed in the Chapel at our ‘dress rehearsal’ on Monday night. What a memorable occasion and well done to all the children who have been involved in this project.

Click here for more photographs. 

“Sooper fox is zooming doun in her jet pouwerd boot.”

“The see animls have been capcherd by the rued soap tub.”

“Traction man flies on to the cooshuns with his majic caip.”

“Youch screemed the eevl wien glases loudly and off they ran.”

“Sooper gerl saivd us screemd the see animils.”

“Laizer ies cratee cicks the eevl chears and of thai dug away.”

P1 have been story writing this term, a mere 6 months after learning how to write their very first sounds. Some examples of sentences from their story writing are above.

Learning to write is no easy task. The English language may have 26 letters but our language is made up of 44 phonemes, or sounds. It is these 44 sounds that children need to know how to write.

Some, like s, are pretty simple. In the P1 classrooms we learn a song, an action and play games and practise writing the sound and these can be picked up quickly. Some are trickier, like ai, where two letters join together to make one sound.

As we know as adults however, it doesn’t stop there. Although there are 44 phonemes in the English language, most of these phonemes can be spelled in more than one way. Take the long ‘ee’ sound for example. This can be spelled:

e as in be, ee as in bee, ea as in meat, y as in lady, ey as in key, oe as in phoenix , ie as in grief, i as in ski, ei as in deceive, eo as in people, ay as in quay

Tricky indeed! In the teaching of phonics and writing in the pre-prep these sounds and rules are introduced to the children slowly. We start with the ‘ee’ sound and teach only this sound, although the children are aware there are other ways of writing this. You can see above the children writing the word ‘see’ when it should be ‘sea’. Once this is secure, we introduce the ‘y’ at the end of the word, like in the word ‘happy’. This is a useful and easy to understand rule for them.

This slow, step by step approach works and importantly the children have belief in their ability to write from the very beginning. The children in P1 are writing stories, letters, poetry and much more thanks to this relaxed and step by step approach. They know they don’t know all the spelling rules yet but that doesn’t stop them.

“Sooper fox is zooming doun in her jet pouwerd boot.”

“The see animls have been capcherd by the rued soap tub.”

“Traction man flies on to the cooshuns with his majic caip.”

“Youch screemed the eevl wien glases loudly and off they ran.”

“Sooper gerl saivd us screemd the see animils.”

“Laizer ies cratee cicks the eevl chears and of thai dug away.”

P1 have been story writing this term, a mere 6 months after learning how to write their very first sounds. Some examples of sentences from their story writing are above.

Learning to write is no easy task. The English language may have 26 letters but our language is made up of 44 phonemes, or sounds. It is these 44 sounds that children need to know how to write.

Some, like s, are pretty simple. In the P1 classrooms we learn a song, an action and play games and practise writing the sound and these can be picked up quickly. Some are trickier, like ai, where two letters join together to make one sound.

As we know as adults however, it doesn’t stop there. Although there are 44 phonemes in the English language, most of these phonemes can be spelled in more than one way. Take the long ‘ee’ sound for example. This can be spelled:

e as in be, ee as in bee, ea as in meat, y as in lady, ey as in key, oe as in phoenix , ie as in grief, i as in ski, ei as in deceive, eo as in people, ay as in quay

Tricky indeed! In the teaching of phonics and writing in the pre-prep these sounds and rules are introduced to the children slowly. We start with the ‘ee’ sound and teach only this sound, although the children are aware there are other ways of writing this. You can see above the children writing the word ‘see’ when it should be ‘sea’. Once this is secure, we introduce the ‘y’ at the end of the word, like in the word ‘happy’. This is a useful and easy to understand rule for them.

This slow, step by step approach works and importantly the children have belief in their ability to write from the very beginning. The children in P1 are writing stories, letters, poetry and much more thanks to this relaxed and step by step approach. They know they don’t know all the spelling rules yet but that doesn’t stop them.

Having won the Scottish qualifying tournament in February, the U13s travelled down to Millfield School to play in the National IAPS Finals. 

They beat Gresham’s School 3-0 in the opening game of the group before drawing their next three matches which meant they ended up 3rd in the group, qualifying for the Plate. It was ironic that Gresham’s topped the group but a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal meant we did not progress in to the Cup competition. 

In the plate quarter final we played our friends from Belhaven and in a nail biting all Scottish contest it was 0-0 at full time and after golden goal extra time. Sadly, we lost the penalty shoot out and were eliminated. 

We ended up 13th out of 20 teams without losing a game in normal time, but it was a case of so near yet so far!