Foundation

Apple

In English, we’ve been hard at work writing our own stories. The children have enjoyed creating imaginative characters, planning exciting events, and beginning to bring their ideas to life on the page.

In Maths, we have been exploring number lines. The children have been practising how to find, place, and compare numbers, and they’ve become much more confident using number lines to solve problems.

   

In Science, we have been watching our classroom grow – literally! We’ve been growing plants, learning what they need to survive, and carefully observing the changes as they sprout and develop. The children have shown wonderful curiosity and care.

In Topic, we’ve been focusing on our topic of ‘Guess Who?’ as part of our learning about the past. We have explored timelines of ourselves growing up and looked at how we have changed over time. We also explored a variety of objects from the past, including old-fashioned toys, and discussed how they are similar to or different from what we play with today. The children have loved this journey through time.

Cherry

This term, Cherry Class have been learning all about celebrations and the many special ways people mark important moments. We began with Diwali, the Festival of Light, where the children explored diya lamps, bright colours and sparkling patterns. They created their own clay or playdough diya lamps and used a range of materials to decorate them. We also talked about fireworks, using photos, sensory trays and simple vocabulary to help describe what we could see, hear and feel.

Next, we explored birthdays. The children enjoyed looking at photographs of their own birthdays and talking about their favourite parts of celebrating. We explored birthday objects in our tuff tray and used these to build vocabulary such as cake, candles, balloons and party. The children created wrapping paper, designed and wrote birthday cards for our class toy ‘Cat’, iced cakes, and held a little birthday party with plenty of music and dancing.

We then learnt about weddings, using the story The Scarecrows’ Wedding as our inspiration. The children enjoyed dressing up as scarecrows, exploring special clothes and props linked to the story. They loved taking part in the imaginative play and talking about what happens at a celebration where two people come together with their family and friends.

   

Finally, we have been getting ready for Christmas. The children enjoyed festive stories, sensory trays, nativity songs, decorating the classroom and exploring the themes of lights, giving, and spending time with family. In Communication & Language sessions, we have also been practising describing Christmas objects using simple sentences, developing vocabulary through shared stories and supported discussion.

Across all these celebrations, the children have taken part in rich, hands-on learning across the curriculum – building communication skills, understanding of the world, early literacy and social interaction. It has been a joyful, busy term full of sparkle, imagination and shared experiences, and we are incredibly proud of how well Cherry Class have engaged with each new celebration.

Primary

Pine

Pine class have had a busy term learning all about Florence Nightingale. The children have been really enthusiastic, exploring sources such as pictures and investigating what Florence did to make hospitals better. The students had a very interesting workshop from the National Army Museum, where they showed off all their learning about Florence! They have also been learning about how to stay safe and practised this on their trip to Longacres. Pine class worked hard to remember how to keep themselves safe in public. They had a great time and did an amazing job at ordering their own drinks,

Willow

This term, Willow visited Rushall Farm as part of the science topic, animals including humans. Students had lots of fun, beginning the day with a trailer ride before stroking lambs, feeding chickens, making butter and corn, and learning how bees produce honey. They returned to school very tired, but had a wonderful time! Willow have now reflected on their experiences at Rushall Farm to develop their understanding of animal growth and where food comes from.

Elm

This term, Elm Class have been learning about the Romans. They began by exploring a timeline of key events, helping the children understand how the Roman period fits into history. The pupils also examined a range of important Roman artefacts and used their inference skills to work out what each object might have been used for.

    

The children showed great curiosity and enthusiasm throughout, asking thoughtful questions and sharing their ideas with confidence. It has been a fascinating topic that has really brought history to life.

Beech

Beech class learnt about the life of Roald Dahl on their exciting trip to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden. They really enjoyed the whole experience, which included dressing up and using interactive resources.  Students took part in activities that helped them gain an understanding of how Roald Dahl drafted and edited his work.  Everyone came away inspired, with many students eager to try their hand at creating imaginative stories of their own.

Oak

In Maths, Oak students were learning about ordinal numbers.  They took their learning outside and had a race on the cycle track. The students were given a rosette in the place that they finished and then had to put themselves in the correct order.

​ ​   

Secondary

Earth

As part of their ASDAN work, Sebby, Swaroop, Georgie, Paru and Sammy, visited Pizza Express and wrote their own newsletter entry An Update from Earth Class!.

Earth class have been learning about balanced diets in their ASDAN lessons with Raf. The students planned and made healthy meals, including a breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They selected and purchased their ingredients, created their own recipes, and successfully prepared a variety of nutritious foods.

      

English

Mars have been delving into Wonder by R.J. Palacio, exploring themes of kindness, resilience, and the importance of perspective. Students have engaged in thoughtful discussions about the characters’ experiences and have produced some impressive analytical and creative responses. The unit has encouraged them to reflect on empathy in their own lives while strengthening their reading and writing skills.

Mercury have recently completed their work on Once by Morris Gleitzman, where they examined themes of bravery, hope, and survival through the eyes of a young protagonist. They are now turning their attention to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, beginning to explore Victorian London, the novella’s enduring moral messages, and the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge. Students are already demonstrating great engagement as they move into this classic text.

Both Saturn and Neptune have been studying war poetry this term, focusing on how poets convey the realities of conflict through language, structure, and imagery. Students have explored a range of powerful poems and have developed their ability to interpret deeper meanings and emotions within the texts. Through class discussions and written analysis, they have shown maturity and sensitivity while building strong analytical skills.

Our GCSE students have been working through Section A of the AQA Language Paper 1, using a range of dystopian fiction extracts to sharpen their reading and analytical skills. Through exploring unsettling settings, tense openings and compelling narrative voices, students have been developing their ability to infer, analyse writers’ methods, and evaluate impact — all vital skills for the upcoming assessments. Their focus and growing confidence are clear, and they are making strong progress as they tackle increasingly challenging texts.

Maths

See our news from the Maths department article for an insight into what our secondary students have been working on this term.

Science

In Science, Secondary students have been expanding their learning on a whole range of topics, from how to use Bunsen burners safely to the intricate workings of the human body.  Do read our Secondary Science news article to learn more and view some pictures.

Computer Science

Well Done to Mars group for settling into Key Stage 3 Computing lessons and engaging with the year 7 Computing curriculum.  This term the students have learnt programming concepts and techniques using Python.  In the program code they have included instructions from the Turtle library to develop program code to draw colourful shapes. Developing programs that generate interesting drawings helps them to develop an interest in programming which is a key topic in GCSE Computer Science.

    

History

This term, Year 9 students have been diving into a powerful and inspiring chapter of British history: the Suffragettes. Through engaging lessons, they are discovering how brave women – and supportive men – challenged the expectations of their time and campaigned for the right to vote. Students have been learning about key figures such as Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women’s Social and Political Union, exploring the tactics used in the struggle for equality, and reflecting on how these actions helped shape the democratic society we live in today.

We’re excited to see our students thinking critically about justice, equality, and the impact individuals can have on history. Keep an eye out for upcoming activities and projects showcasing their learning!

Geography

Mars Class have been developing their confidence and curiosity in Geography by exploring essential map skills. They have been learning how to read and interpret Ordnance Survey maps, including using symbols, grid references, scale and contour lines to understand different landscapes. Students have enjoyed putting their skills into practice through interactive map challenges and collaborative tasks. It’s been fantastic to see them navigate their way through new knowledge with enthusiasm - true geographers in the making!

Drama

Students have been hard at work in drama this term.  As well as putting on three amazing Christmas performances, they have done lots of other things too, which you can read all about in our Drama news article. 

Music

This term in music, Primary have been working hard on their Christmas play, Penguin Pete. They had seven songs to learn, with some quite challenging lyrics.  Lots of actions were added to help them learn the words, and they did an amazing job. The students' learning was focused on breathing and listening.  In order to sing in a group, you have to listen to the other singers around you and try to make all the voices sing at the same pitch. They worked hard to master this and are developing some lovely sounding voices. Penguin Pete was a great success, we are so proud of the way they sang.

In Secondary, congratulations go to Lily and Isla who sang an amazing duet in the Christmas play. They have been learning to sing in harmony and also to have more confidence when performing in front of people. They had to learn to listen to each other, but not be distracted by what the other one was singing. Lots of different techniques were tried to master this and the final result was amazing.

Sammy did a great job singing his first solo and I'm sure this is not the last time we'll hear him sing on the school stage. Well done Sammy!

Foundation have been preparing for Christmas by learning two Christmas songs. They have sung the first verse of Away in a Manger and then added hand bells to accompany the second verse. We are so pleased with the way they played with the pulse of the music. For their second song, they learnt how to sign We Wish You A Merry Christmas whilst also singing the song. They were brilliant!

Art

It has been another very busy term in Art. You can read all about what students have learnt in our Art in Term 2 news article and see lots of examples of their artwork in the photo Gallery.

​PE

This term, students in Primary and Foundation have been busy developing their coordination and problem-solving skills through a wide range of games and activities. A particular favourite for the Foundation class was Shark Island – a game that brought out some impressive “shark” abilities and lots of laughter. Primary students have also been developing their coordination skills through various activities, including a new student favourite Human Battleships. Engagement has been exceptional across all groups, with students demonstrating enthusiasm, teamwork, and plenty of fun along the way.

In Key Stage 3 – Key Stage 4, the focus this term has been on Handball and Table Tennis. Handball has quickly become one of the most popular sports at Heathermount, with students showing significant improvement in all aspects of the game.

  

We were also thrilled to attend our first trip to the Fulham FC Tournament, which included a number of schools from across West London. Our students represented the school brilliantly – Key Stage 4 finished 2nd in their group, and we were fortunate to take two teams to the Key Stage 3 tournament, where both teams also secured solid 2nd-place finishes. This league will continue until the summer, and we look forward to returning for future fixtures.

PSHE

In PSHE, Primary have been looking at how to keep themselves safe. They have learnt about basic first aid, online safety, staying safe by the roads, railways and open water as well as how to report an emergency.

In Secondary, they have been looking at what to do when you feel unwell, if you see harmful content online and overall online safety. They have also been learning about how to keep themselves safe when it comes to consent, pornography,  grooming, coercion and harassment and the laws surrounding these topics.

Business Admin

Students have been busy this term completing various business admin tasks, such as teaching each other how to raise school purchase orders, creating Young Enterprise folders and restocking paper to the stationery cupboard. Completing these BA assessments helps develop students' administrative skills as part of their NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise students from Pluto class have completed a big T-shirt order and given the client her 20 T-shirts.

Catering

In Catering, Beech class have been practising their hob skills. They made omelettes with cheese and onion. They used the hobs safely and correctly following all procedures. This is part of their life skills, so later in life they can use the cooker to cook their own meals.  They also used chefs' knives to finely dice the onion and a grater to grate the cheese - all part of essential life skills and part of the curriculum supporting independence.

Construction

Construction students have been hard at work as they aim to complete their tables by the end of the year. They’ve been learning about different finishing products and putting these skills into practice on their projects. The group also enjoyed attending the annual SATRO Constructionfest, where they gained valuable insight into the construction industry. Overall, students are progressing well and staying focused as they move toward completing the carpentry unit.

Horticulture

This term in Horticulture, students have been busy planting hedgerows, leaf-blowing, and raking to help maintain our outdoor spaces. They have also been developing their propagation skills by learning how to take cuttings from a variety of plants.

Forest School

In Forest School, students have been learning how to construct shelters using a range of natural and man-made materials. They’ve enjoyed working together, problem-solving, and building their confidence in outdoor skills.

Duke of Edinburgh

Session 2 of the Duke of Edinburgh programme was a great success. Students demonstrated excellent teamwork as they planned their route and navigated confidently throughout the activity. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, with rain making conditions a little challenging, spirits remained high and everyone showed fantastic resilience and determination.

Girls Club

The girls created a landscape scene board and then made characters with air-dry clay to go on it. All the girls did really well and Lauren created an outstanding piece with no help from staff. She paid attention to detail, listened to instructions and understood. Well done Lauren!