Head’s Welcome
Giles Entwisle
Why Durston?
Why Durston?Autumn Term 2023
Term Begins: Wednesday 6 September
Half Term: Monday 23 October – Sunday 5 November
Term Ends: Friday 15 December; 12:30pm finish.
Discover Durston
Where pupils
Flourish
laugh
care
Durston Stories
Oppidan Education: 1 Year Transition Journey (Year 6) and Leadership Training (Year 8)
Partners since 2022, over the next week Oppidan Education will be mentoring both our year 6 and Year 8 pupils. The Year 6 interview day forms part of their 1 Year Transition Journey whereas the Year 8 day is focused on developing leadership skills. Who are Oppidan? Oppidan is… Read More
Trips Week 2023!
All pupils from Years 4 – 8 attend a residential trip, spending at least two nights away from home. Trips, inspired by the curriculum, help pupils discover much about themselves, their friends and the world around them, experiences that can go on to form some of the happiest school memories. Read More
“Carpe Diem…Seize the day!”
At Durston House, we seek every possible opportunity to reward pupils and to recognise their successes throughout the academic year. The final week of the summer term saw various events take place including Vertical House Picnics, Prize Giving and Final Assembly. An occasion for pupils, parents and staff to gather… Read More
Sports Day 2023 Roundup!
Throughout the last two weeks of June, Durston House hosted their three annual Sports Days. The Pre-Prep Sports Day went ahead in a similar fashion to previous years. In the morning, pupils took part in an ‘Octathalon’ event, which included Running, Jumping and Throwing activities. Having competed in these Field… Read More
Year 8 Charity Fair
Last Friday, Year 8 boys prepared and ran a Charity Fair in aid of raising money for the School’s two chosen charities – Water Aid and Ealing Soup Kitchen. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed visiting and getting involved in what the Year 8 pupils… Read More
Rocket Balloon Cars
The Junior School pupils recently embarked on an exciting STEM project, building a rocket balloon car. Their enthusiasm and curiosity drove them to explore the realms of aerodynamics, physics, and engineering. With meticulous attention to detail, they designed and assembled a car that utilized the power of a rocket balloon… Read More
Year 1 & Year 2 visit Legoland!
To celebrate the engineering component of STEM, Year 1 and 2 visited Legoland last Friday. The children’s excitement was palpable as the coach drove through the entrance. The life-size Lego pieces bought so much joy and added to the excitement for the day ahead. The children spent the day exploring… Read More
STEM Week 2023
The Durston STEM Week 2023 was launched with a full school assembly with an exciting Science show designed to entertain a whole school from Reception to Year 8 pupils with spectacular science demonstrations and discussions to inspire pupils’ curiosity and imagination. With audience participation and exciting demonstrations, our visitor demonstrated… Read More
Durston House Parents Association Fun Day Spectacular 2023!
On Saturday the Durston House Parents Association (DHPA) hosted their Annual Fun Day Spectacular! It was lovely to see so many of our current pupils, their families and lots of children who will be joining Durston House in September! Huge thank-you to the DHPA and all the volunteers who worked… Read More
Pre-Prep Year Group Assemblies
The Pre-Prep classes have recently been working hard preparing to present their Year Group Assemblies to parents. Year 2 performed a short musical play about the Great Fire of London (their favourite topic of the year), Year 1 told us all about their favourite moments from Year 1 and what… Read More
Ranger Stu visits Pre-Prep
Reception were thrilled to have Ranger Stu visit today who introduced us to a few of his friends. Each child was given the opportunity to touch an animal! Our topic this term is ‘Minibeasts’ so we enjoyed meeting Coconut the Tarantula and Mrs Stingy the Scorpion. We also… Read More
Year 3 visit London Zoo
After their exciting visit to the London Zoo, the Year 3 pupils are bursting with tales of the cute penguins, roaring lions, and cheeky monkeys. Their curious minds are filled with newfound knowledge about reptiles and exotic birds. The experience has deepened their love for animals… Read More
Junior School Art Fair 2023
One recent sunny June afternoon, the pupils in Years 3 and 4 were delighted to have the chance to share their artistic successes from this year with their friends and families. Highlights from Year 4 children included their stunning colourful prints inspired by the designs of William Morris, a Hammersmith… Read More
Y1 visit Windsor Castle
Year 1 visited Windsor Castle as an extension of their Topic ‘Knights and Castles’. It was a beautiful sunny day to be exploring the castle. The pupils loved searching for the special features of castles that we had been discussing in class. They identified arrow slits, crenulations, cannons, an old… Read More
Junior School Science Morning
Whilst Middle & Upper School were away on Trips Week, Junior School visited the Science Department at Main School. Throughout the morning pupils learnt about acids and alkali’s, getting hands on with a fun practical!… Read More
Year 8 Pupils Shine in Spectacular Production of ‘Aladdin Jr.’
In an extraordinary display of talent and dedication, the Year 8 pupils delivered a captivating rendition of the classic musical ‘Aladdin Jr.’ The much-anticipated production, which took place last week, left the audience spellbound with its stunning performances and impressive stagecraft. Weeks of meticulous planning and preparation preceded the grand… Read More
Year 5 Interview Practice with Oppidan
The interview practice day in Year 5 was a resounding success. The enthusiasm and commitment exhibited by our pupils were commendable, and it was truly heartening to see their determination as they approached the task of talking to someone they hadn’t met before. The nerves and anxieties from the beginning… Read More
Y5 – Y8 Art Exhibition 2023
In early June, Durston House hosted it’s annual Young Artist Summer Exhibition. We were thrilled to showcase the incredible talent and creativity of our Middle and Upper School pupils through a captivating display of their artistic endeavours. This exhibition was a testament to the passion and dedication our pupils have… Read More
Y2 Outing to Amersham Field Studies Council
Year 2 visited Amersham Field Studies Council to compliment the children’s recent Science topic, Plants, Animals and Habitats. They had the chance to use science equipment to go on a minibeast hunt and try pond dipping. Can you spot them using the nets, magnifying glasses and collection pots? They… Read More
Year 6 – Year 8 Cross Country
This year, the House Cross-Country run was postponed for some year groups. Pupils in Reception – Year 5 completed the course in the Spring Term, however, years 6 to 8 could not. This was due to some very torrential rain and hail which meant the Cross Country was rescheduled to… Read More
John Lyon v Durston House Cricket Match
On Wednesday 17 May Year 7 and Year 8 first and second Cricket teams, were invited to John Lyon School to play cricket. Spirits were high as the sun was out after a few weeks of dreadful weather. We are a dominant bowling side, so when we won the toss,… Read More
Year 1 Outing to Kew Gardens
Our day out at Kew Gardens was a huge success. Children loved exploring the different flowers and plants throughout the garden. During the workshop with Michelle we learnt key features about a variety of plants. We learnt that the weeping beech tree has incredibly long roots… Read More
Year 4 Outing to Epping Forest Field Study Centre
We were expecting heavy downpours but, in the end, they never materialised and a light drizzle was not enough to dampen the spirits of the Year 4s as they traversed Epping Forest in search of the source and tributaries to Debden Brook. They were investigating how the depth and width… Read More
Y3-Y5 Future Schools’ Fair 2023
On Thursday 18 May, we welcomed parents of children in Year 3 – Year 5 from both Durston House and Harvington Prep School to our Future Schools’ Fair for the second year running! It was a pleasure to welcome the following leading Independent Senior Schools from across London and beyond:… Read More
Pre-Prep’s budding artists!
During the first few weeks of the Summer Term, Pre-Prep’s budding artists have been hard at work! We started the term in celebration mode, decorating our classrooms with bunting, making Union Jack flags and crowns, and collaging King Charles III’s profile in preparation for the King’s Coronation. Following this, children… Read More
PSHME – Spring Term Round Up!
Junior School The Year 3’s started their Spring Term with Economic Wellbeing, looking into different aspects of money. They spent time analysing the value of money, why we spend, the importance of saving and what constitutes needs and wants. The latter part of the term was dedicated to understanding what… Read More
Year 4 Outing to Neasden Temple
The year 4 children spent a lovely morning at the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden. They learnt that almost 5,00 tonnes of Italian and Bulgarian marble was shipped to India to be hand carved by over 1,500 skilled artisans, to make the Mandir. The children visited the… Read More
Merchant Taylors’ School Science Challenge 2023
We were invited to The Merchant Taylors’ School Science Challenge 2023 for pupils in Year 5 hosted this year by the Physics, Chemistry and Biology departments on Friday 28 April 2023. A team of four Year 5 pupils from Durston House completed experiments in three different Science challenges. The aim… Read More
Reception & Transition Outing to Hounslow Urban Farm
The first half of the summer term, our topic is ‘Animals’ in Reception. During the topic we learn about different animal’s habitats and diets, as well as endangered animals and what makes a suitable pet. To support our learning, this week, Reception joined Harvington’s Pre-Schools, Transition class for a… Read More
Year 5 French Outing to Cezanne Exhibition
In the Spring Term in Year 5, the focus in the French curriculum is on learning how to produce accurate descriptions. In the first half-term, pupils learnt how to use a wide variety of adjectives to describe animals. This included describing their size, colour and characteristics. A bit of mental… Read More
Durston House hosts its very first Wellbeing Week!
This year, Durston House hosted its very first Wellbeing Week. The week kicked off with an assembly that introduced what wellbeing actually was! Many pupils shared that they didn’t really know what ‘wellbeing’ meant, even if they had heard the word a lot! The week centred around the 5 Pillars… Read More
Junior School Production of ‘Hagbanes’ Doom
As the stage lights went up on Wednesday 22 March, the boys sang with Gusto and performed with an Oscar worthy style. For over an hour, the Junior School boys graced us with humour, songs and dancing; showing their hard-work from the term had paid off! There were stand out… Read More
U13 Rugby Tournament 2023
On a wet Saturday morning six teams arrived at Swyncombe Playing Fields eager to play our rugby tournament. Spectators lined up pitch side excited to see the action. It started off well for Durston as spirits were high and tries were being scored but after only a few minutes one… Read More
Y2 Outing to Headstone Manor
On Wednesday 1 March the Year 2 boys took part in a workshop about the Great Fire of London at Headstone Manor. The boys were encouraged to become history detectives and investigate how and why fires started easily in buildings made from wood, using Headstone Manor as the example. They… Read More
Exploring Topics in Reception – Spring Term
This term we have explored the topics of ‘Ourselves’ and ‘Transport’. For the topic of ‘Ourselves’ we labelled parts of the body, and in PSHME, learnt about what our body needs to stay healthy; a healthy diet, mental wellbeing, exercise, sleep and rest, and good oral health. During the frosty… Read More
Cross Country 2023
On Friday 24 March, our annual Cross Country took place. Unfortunately, the event was cut short, meaning Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 couldn’t race as the weather was extremely wet, windy and soft underfoot. Nevertheless a huge congratulations to all of the runners and to Harvington Prep School… Read More
Growing Great Science Minds in Y5-Y8
It has been another busy year in the Science Department for Years 5-8. Back in September, our Year 5 boys were introduced to the department, learning about safety aspects in the lab and how to take various scientific measurements. They were delighted to use Bunsen Burners… Read More
U11A Durston House Rugby Tournament 2023
On Saturday 4 March, Durston House hosted the annual U11A Rugby Tournament. The day started cold and wet but that didn’t stop the teams and their supporters all turning up enthusiastically to participate. Durston had not won this since 2015 but hopes were high. The Durston team were up against… Read More
Year 6 Investigate Pop Art
Year 6 boys have enjoyed investigating the Pop Art movement which is characterised by the deconstruction of images seen in popular and commercial culture between the 1950-60s in Britain and America. The boys created two self-portraiture studies during this topic. The first explored printmaking and the second included pointillism, a… Read More
Preparing Pupils’ for Senior School Success with Oppidan Education
Yesterday, Thursday 16 March, Year 6 pupils embarked on a half day camp delivered by Oppidan Education, which focused on supporting pupils’ leadership and collaboration skills, preparing them for success in the group interview phase that a number of Senior Schools now include as part of… Read More
Pre-Prep Thinking & Working as Scientists!
Pre-Prep have been very busy since the beginning of the term. In Science, Year One and Two children covered ‘Materials’ as a part of the chemistry units. Both year groups had the opportunity to get hands on and carry out experiments in class. Teachers have been encouraging the boys to… Read More
Y3 Outing to Pitzhanger Manor
Year 3 boys took the short walk from Longfield Road to the handsome, beautifully restored Pitzhanger Manor Art Gallery, setting for Matt Dixon’s ingenious and moving “A Sense of Wonder” exhibition. The art is based on robots – but these sweetly whimsical creations were not faceless, inhuman machines. Instead they… Read More
Theology, Philosophy & Religion – Autumn Term Round Up
The Autumn Term started off as a busy time for some of the Year 8 boys. Candidates for Merchant Taylors’ School were doing their final preparations for the Setting Examinations. This examination will determine which sets the boys would be in when they arrive at Merchant Taylors’ and the TPR… Read More
Maths in Junior School – Spring Term 2023
Times tables are a key foundation for boys entering Junior School. We encourage boys to be able to recall mentally the multiplication and division facts up to 12, as this will aid their Mathematics skills in all areas. This enables a secure understanding covering many topics within the Mathematics curriculum. Read More
Year 6 Medieval Life Workshop
Year 6 recently had the opportunity to experience life as medieval lords, ladies, servants, priests and peasants, taking part in a hands-on medieval life workshop. The year group were split into four households, tasked with completing a range of challenges to score the most points. Amongst the fun of each… Read More
Y6 Amersham Field Centre Outing
This was one of the best trips ever! At the start we got to school and headed onto the coach. It was an exciting 45 minute drive there and the coach was filled with loud chatter about how much they wanted to get to Amersham and what challenges awaited us. … Read More
Junior School French Workshop
Junior School boys delighted in a whole hour of French story telling last week. What’s more, the boys from Years 3 and 4 followed every word, engaged by the expert delivery of Rachel from the Freshwater Theatre Company. The two tales – Boucles D’Or et les Trois Ours (Goldilocks and… Read More
Year 3 outing to St Peter’s Church
In November, Year 3 had the opportunity to visit St Peter’s Church as part of their T.P.R. (Theology, Philosophy & Religion) topic on Christianity. We were met at the church by Father David and Father Adam who welcomed us in and guided us towards the pews. The boys are familiar… Read More
Christmas Jumper Day & Christmas Bazaars 2022
On Friday 9 December, we kicked off our festive, charity fundraising by holding a Mufti-Day. Staff and pupils wore their best festive jumpers, raising money for our two chosen charities; Water Aid and Ealing Soup Kitchen! Following the success of previous Christmas… Read More
Music, Autumn Term 2022 Round Up
Pre-Prep (Reception – Year 2) In Pre-Prep, children learnt a number of carols and songs for their Christmas Production of ‘The Magical Christmas Tree’, they enjoyed singing with their full heart and happy smiles during performances. They also performed in the Harvest Assembly, with gusto and a great diction!… Read More
Year 3 outing to The British Museum
Year 3 have been learning about the Ancient Egyptians this term and so visiting the British Museum recently was an excellent opportunity for all the boys to put their learning into context and of course, learn more about this fascinating civilization. The boys took part in an Ancient Egyptian artefact… Read More
Junior School Festive Learning Walk
Last Tuesday, Junior School opened its doors to parents for a learning walk, with an appropriate festive twist of mince pies being served! This was the perfect opportunity for parents to see all the wonderful work their children have been working on since the start of Autumn Term! Children were… Read More
PSHME, Autumn Term 2022 Round Up
Junior School PSHME The Year 3 boys started their term exploring Emotional Wellbeing. They learnt about different feelings and emotions people experience; ways of expressing feelings and emotions; the impact of different life changes and strategies for dealing with grief and getting help, advice and support. The 2nd half of… Read More
PE & Games, Autumn Term 2022 Round Up
It has been an extremely busy term for the PE and Games department, with boys competing in various competitions and matches with other schools, and internally. Durston House has been involved in Football, Cross Country, Indoor Athletics and even some Rugby in preparation for the Spring Term. Throughout the Autumn… Read More
Pre-Prep Production of ‘The Magical Christmas Tree’
Merry Christmas! This year Pre-Prep were able to perform to full audiences once again for the first time since 2019. Their performances of ‘The Magical Christmas Tree’ were a resounding success. Reception were our very own magical elves, and they stole the show with their cute costumes and cheeky smiles!… Read More
Durston House celebrates Anti-Bullying Week 2022 – Reach Out
Here at Durston House we believe that every individual counts. Being our true authentic selves and appreciating the differences within each and every one of us lies at the heart of everything we do. We’re a diverse community of families and staff, where all are welcomed, a placed where people… Read More
Exploring Topics in Reception – Autumn Term!
In Reception, we cover 6 topics. These develop learning in Humanities (Geography and History), Science, Art and Religious Studies, as well as giving opportunities for reading and writing. We kicked off the first half term of Autumn exploring the topic ‘People who help us’. We talked about people who help… Read More
Art in Junior School
Year 4 has been learning about the life and work of American artist, Jackson Pollock. Boys were mesmerised by his Abstract Expressionist pieces created in his unique style of Action Painting. Pollock’s work is non-representational, meaning it didn’t look like anything. Instead, he tried to show emotions, like happiness or anger,… Read More
A sneak peek of Maths in Pre-Prep
The boys in Reception have made steady progress throughout their first term of Mathematics at Durston House. During the first half of the Autumn Term they focused on numbers to 5. This half term they have progressed to working with numbers to 10. They have just been introduced to the… Read More
Year 1 Aboriginal Workshop
It was a very exciting experience for the Year 1 Durston Boys this year as it is the first time they shared a workshop with the Year 1 girls from Harvington Prep. The boys and girls both had a wonderful time together delving into the interesting, ancient and unknown culture… Read More
Junior School Science, Autumn Term 2022
At Durston House Junior School, the boys cover various topics in their curriculum. The Year 4 Autumn 1 term sees the boys learning about ‘Sound’ and the Year 3 Autumn 1 term covers ‘Health Eating’. Over the Autumn term, many experiments took place which allowed boys to use their investigative… Read More
Year 4 Outing to Ealing Synagogue
As part of their T.P.R. topic (Theology, Philosophy & Religion) on Judaism, Year 4 visited Ealing Synagogue to find out more about the religion and study the layout and features of this important place of worship. Rabbi Vogel met us at the synagogue and was our… Read More
Football and Rugby Tour to Salou, Spain
During the October half term, Durston House took 30 Year 7 and 8 boys to Salou in Spain for our bi-annual Football and Rugby Tour. It was an amazing week, filled with sightseeing, theme park rides, swimming, going to the beach and, of course, Football and Rugby. The boys had… Read More
Remembrance Day at Durston House
Yesterday, Thursday 10 November we held our Remembrance Day Assembly and paid our respects to those that have sacrificed so much for our country. Mr Stock, Head of Co-Curricular discussed with pupils the importance of Remembrance Day, its origin and the significance of Poppies, as well as reflecting that it’s… Read More
Bringing Mexican History & culture to life with Mexicolore!
Today ‘Mexicolore’ visited Durston House, where Year Two boys were lucky to have an amazing workshop and to be joined by their counterparts from Harvington Prep School. In the last half term the boys covered the Aztecs. You may be wondering who the Aztecs were? The Aztecs were a… Read More
Exploring Black History Month through Literature at Durston House
Our School Librarian Mr White has actively sourced a range of literature to support and promote Black History Month across the Pre-Prep, Junior School and Middle & Upper School. A combination of books were purchased that highlight the events and people who shape recent and more distant black history. Mr… Read More
A look at Maths in Year 5…
Working in small groups the year 5 boys put their determination and problem solving skills to the test by solving four problems. Each problem requiring the boys to draw from different skills and areas in mathematics. The first problem tested the boys knowledge on number facts. Using ten cards numbered… Read More
Y5 Battle Abbey Outing
As part of their History Norman Conquest topic, Year 5 had the opportunity to visit Battle Abbey, near Hastings. This is the site of the Battle of Hastings and the boys were able to get a feel for the environment that the Normans and Saxons would have experienced while battling… Read More
Welcome Back to Durston House!
I hope you had a wonderful, restful summer break. The welcome back to school after the long summer holidays was overshadowed by the sad announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her reign was lived out in a life of selfless service and duty. Our thoughts and sincerest prayers… Read More
Queen Elizabeth II
The Durston community mourns most deeply the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Her reign was lived out in a life of selfless service and duty. Our thoughts and sincerest prayers are with the Royal Family in their time of profound loss. May she rest in peace. Read More
Y7 Trip to Lake District – Trips Week 2022!
The Year 7 boys spent their trips week in at FSC Castlehead in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. Whilst away the boys reinforced and expanded their knowledge of the geography we had been studying in class. They developed their fieldwork skills, team building and tested themselves against Mother Nature. Monday: We arrived at… Read More
Year 8 Leavers’ Celebrations 2022
This year’s Leavers’ celebrations fell on a blue skied, bright sunny day; one brimming with bitter sweet celebration for our Year 8 boys and all that they have achieved here at Durston House, whilst the simmering emotion of a final farewell is fully felt. It was a chance for the… Read More
Final Assembly, Summer Term 2022
“Work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen.”Conan O’ Brien Today, our Final Assembly took place at Haven Green Church. Led by Mr Stock, pupils, parents and staff came together to honour each other’s achievements this year, from the STEM Week Science Fair winners, to announcing that… Read More
Prize Day 2022 Round-up!
At Durston House, we seek every possible opportunity to reward pupils and to recognise their successes throughout the academic year. This week our annual prize giving ceremonies took place, which were the perfect end to a busy term. An occasion for pupils, parents and staff to gather & celebrate the… Read More
Middle & Upper School Sports Day 2022!
On Thursday 29 June at Perivale Athletics Track, the Durston House Middle and Upper Schools competed in their annual House Sports Day Competition. Boys from Years 5-8 competed in both Track and Field events, during which each boy took part in a short distance race, a… Read More
Pre-Prep Sports Day Spectacular 2022!
Pre-Prep Sports Day took place on Thursday 23 June at Castlebar playing fields. The boys spent the first part of the afternoon completing a variety of Track and Field events in their Houses. These events consisted of High Jump, Hurdles, Javelin and Long Jump. The boys took turns at completing… Read More
STEM Week 2022!
Boys threw themselves whole-heartedly into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Week. Throughout the week, boys across the school had the opportunity to learn about the engineering world. We welcomed a variety of current parents to our Career Talks; where they delivered workshops surrounding their field of work; from forensic… Read More
Year 8 Production of The Wind in the Willows
A cast of 29 boys took the stage for our Year 8 production of The Wind in the Willows to a packed audience. Every boy sang, danced and acted skilfully in this tale of friendship, adventure and fun! Boys did a remarkably good job of learning their lines over… Read More
Durston House Staff Victorious in Parents’ vs Staff Cricket Match!
Last Friday saw the annual Staff vs Parents’ cricket match take place at Swyncombe Playing Field, on what was a typically beautiful summer’s evening. This is always a fun, competitive and relaxed family event with our DHPA providing wonderful food and drink throughout the evening. It was great… Read More
Pre-Prep Maths Day!
Mathematics Day in Pre-Prep was packed full of fun! The Reception boys used skittles, watermelon and fresh fruit smoothies to investigate statistics and measurement. Chocolate crackles, Multiplication Station and the Blooket App gave the Year 1’s a chance to put all of the Mathematical skills and strategies they have learnt… Read More
Junior School Science – Summer Term 20222
At Durston House Junior School, the boys cover various topics in their curriculum. The Year 4 Summer term sees the boys learning about ‘Habitats’ and the Year 3 Summer term covers ‘Light and Shadows’. Over the Summer term, many experiments took place which allowed boys to use their investigative skills… Read More
Junior School Sports Day 2022!
Last Monday Junior School pupils enjoyed a fun and activity filled afternoon! The day consisted of track events where boys competed to qualify for the afternoon track finals. All track events were timed, with the fastest six making it into the final. Boys then had a choice between a short… Read More
Year 3 Outing to Southall Gurdwara
As part of their T.P.R. Sikhism topic, Year 3 have an opportunity to visit the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Southall. This is a beautiful, purpose-built Gurdwara in the heart of the Sikh community in west London. We are fortunate enough to live local to this landmark building, enabling… Read More
TPR in Junior School, Summer Term
This term, Y4 study the Hindu religion as part of the T.P.R. topic. We are fortunate that our boys come from a diverse and multicultural heritage, which they are more than happy to share during T.P.R. studies. The boys learn about the importance of worship: at home, in the… Read More
Y8 Trip to Devon- Trips Week 2022!
After an early start, Year 8 set off from Castlebar Field for their final trip at Durston. They were off to the Ultimate Adventure Centre in Bideford, North Devon. Following a 5-hour trip, the boys arrived and were swiftly onto their first set of activities before dinner: Mountain Boarding, Archery… Read More
Year 3 Visit to London Zoo!
On a bright sunny day, all the Y3 boys had their rucksack filled with snacks, lunch, drinks and of course, sunblock. They were ready to embark on an adventure around the London Zoo. Upon arrival, boys were split into two groups which explored the zoo from either end. Each group… Read More
Y6 Trip to France – Trips Week 2022!
Le voyage scolaire en France lundi On Monday 13 June, we left school at 06:30 to be driven by Paul, our coach driver to Folkstone where we boarded the Eurostar. We got our passports checked and finished our film. When the coach drove into the station I saw the Eurostar,… Read More
Y4 visit to PGL – Trips Week 2022!
Rolling suitcases and chatty children down Longfield Walk indicated that it was finally the day of the Year 4 PGL trip! The bright sunshine and buoyant mood was palpable, with all boys brimming with excitement to wave goodbye to parents and head to Marchants Hill PGL. ‘Challenge by choice,’ is… Read More
Y5 History Trip to York – Trips Week 2022!
Year 5 spent their Trips Week exploring the ancient city of York and the surrounding area, deepening their knowledge and understanding of the history they are studying in the classroom. Whilst in York, the boys enjoyed stepping back to the time of the Norman Conquest with a visit to Clifford’s… Read More
Year 1 outing to Windsor Castle
Last Friday Year One took a trip to Windsor Castle to consolidate their learning on Castles and Knights. Pupils visited the beautiful grounds and state rooms where they were wowed by the amazing detail. After an action packed day, we embarked on our journey home feeling very excited –… Read More
Pre-Prep African Dance & Drumming Workshop
“YEAH! YEAH! HEY! HEY! AFRICA! ME AND YOU ARE FRIENDS!” Today Pre-prep attended an ‘African Drumming’ assembly and workshop thanks to the West-African dancing, singing and drumming duo of Gaspard (from the Ivory Coast) and Nii (from Ghana). The boys embraced dancing in barefoot and learning… Read More
Ranger Stu visits Reception!
Today in Reception Ranger Stu came to visit from Cedars Nature Centre, and with him came Coconut the Tarantula, Reggie the Boa Constrictor, Rambo the Bearded Dragon, Dobbie the Armadillo, Cinnamon the Tenrec and Leko Owl. The boys were all very brave to hold or gently stroke… Read More
Junior School Summer Arts Fair
Year 4, under the expert and encouraging eye of Mrs Hryschuk (Head of Art), showed off their striking creations using print and collage; their water colour interpretations of Monet’s bridge at Giverny formed an uplifting backdrop to our talented musicians. Year 3 boys highlighted the mood of summer and nature… Read More
Year 4 visit to London Wetlands Centre
The Y4 boys ventured to the London Wetlands Centre in Barnes which is a protected nature reserve. This trip forms part of Durston’s Summer Term on Habitats. Boys were split into two groups covering most of the wetlands from East to West. Upon walking, there was… Read More
Pre-Prep save the world in their Eco Workshop!
Today Pre-Prep attended an ‘Eco Workshop’ thanks to Perform. They became superheroes for the session with a mission to save Earth from global warming. Bad Bopper, the villain, was ruining the earth by destroying the plants and leaving rubbish everywhere. Armed with the 3 Rs (reduce,… Read More
Year 5 – Year 8 Art Exhibition
Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of hosting our first annual Durston House Art Exhibition which celebrated creations of Middle School and Upper School boys. Families and local schools were invited to take in a variety of 2D and 3D pieces whilst enjoying a glass of wine and nibbles. Read More
English in Pre-Prep at Durston House
In Pre-Prep, we start learning to read and write in our phonics lessons from the first day of school! In Reception, we have lots of opportunities to share stories and other books together, and to discuss our thoughts and ideas about what happens, and what might happen next. We learn… Read More
Future Schools’ Fair
On Wednesday 11 May we hosted our inaugural annual Future Schools’ Fair. It was a pleasure to welcome a vast number of leading Independent Senior Schools including; City of London School, Hampton School, Harrodian School, John Lyon, Lady Eleanor Holles, Merchant Taylors’ School, North London Collegiate School, Notting Hill &… Read More
Reception Trip to Odds Farm
Reception had a lovely trip to Odds Farm in the sunshine today! The boys enjoyed feeding the animals, petting the rabbits, riding the tractors and having fun in the adventure playground. Mrs Stiglingh – Head of Reception… Read More
PSHME in Middle & Upper School – Spring Term
Planning and teaching an effective PSHME curriculum is a unique journey. It helps children and young people to be safe, healthy and prepared for life’s opportunities. Year 5: The focus this term was on the benefits of a balanced lifestyle and its effects on wellbeing. It included aspects such as… Read More
Rugby at Durston House
During the Spring Term, Durston House competed in a number of Rugby fixtures and competitions against other schools. These took place both at Swyncombe and away at various sports grounds, including a tournament held at the StoneX Stadium, home of Saracens Rugby. Some of our fixtures/events this term include: Rugby… Read More
Junior School Production of Robin Hood
A special production of Robin Hood was brought to life by the Junior School boys at the end of Spring term. In this classic struggle of good versus evil, Robin is – of course – the hero of the hour, as he fights for good against the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham and… Read More
What Science looks like in Pre-Prep…
Last term, Science in the Pre-Prep was filled with many exciting opportunities for the boys to explore and develop their enthusiasm for Science. At the end of last term, many boys in the Pre-Prep entered the British Science Week Poster Competition with the theme of Growth. Read More
Junior School Maths, Summer Term
Swiftly moving into the Summer Term, Mathematics in Junior School is sizzling. Year 3 continue to acquire skills for mastering decimals, which develops knowledge and understanding to aid the concepts of pounds and pence when learning about money and 12-hour/24-hour digital clock too. They have used decimal sliding lines to… Read More
Junior School Art, Spring Term
Last term, the Year 4 boys immensely enjoyed investigating printmaking, an artistic process that involves transferring images from a matrix onto another surface, such as paper or textile. Traditional printmaking techniques include woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography, while modern artists have expanded available techniques to include screen-printing. The boys began… Read More
French in Junior School, Spring Term
Last term, the Year 3 and 4 boys explored different ways of cultivating their knowledge of French language and culture. Spoken French was given a dramatic twist at the beginning of term, with a wonderful live performance of Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood ) and Jacques et… Read More
Durston House and Harvington Prep to merge
We are delighted to announce that Durston House and Harvington Preparatory School in Ealing are to merge, creating a new and exceptional co-educational offer for West London families. As close neighbours, the schools already share deep roots within the local community, and have in common a time-honoured commitment to delivering… Read More
Reception outing to Bekonscot Model Village & Railway
On Friday 18 March, Reception had a wonderful sunny day at Bekonscot Model Village & Railway as part of their topic ‘Transport’. The boys had a workshop on transport in the past, explored the model village, went on a train ride and played in the adventure… Read More
Computer Science in Middle & Upper School
Pupils in Middle and Upper Schools are greeted with a diverse and eclectic curriculum throughout their time at Durston House, preparing them for the next step of their academic journey. Year 5 After a successful half term on Online Safety, ranging from managing online information, to fake news, to… Read More
Y2 Outing to Headstone Manor
On Friday 4 March, Year 2 visited Headstone Manor to complement their study of the Great Fire of London. Whilst there pupils participated in a Fire and Flames workshop and also got to make a clay fire plaque. Want to learn more about our Curriculum in… Read More
Lit Fest 2022
Lit Fest is an annual event at Durston House which celebrates literature and the spoken word. The theme of this year’s Lit Fest was ‘Around the World in Eighty Books’. This theme is clearly inspired by the adventure novel, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne, published in… Read More
Maths in Pre-Prep
How helpful, purposeful and important the use of practical materials is in helping the boys understand and master new mathematical concepts was evident throughout Mathematics lessons in Pre-Prep this week. The use of equipment such as counters, blocks, tens frames, part-whole models, number lines etc allow the boys to physically… Read More
Year 6 Outing to Amersham Field Studies Centre
Last Friday forty-six Year 6 boys set off to Amersham Field Studies Centre to investigate the microclimates of the area and collect data for their fieldwork project as part of the work in Geography. The day started in the classroom where methods and equipment were discussed, along with where… Read More
Computer Science at Durston House Pre-Prep
2022 has only just begun, and we are already back in full swing during our Computer Science lessons at Durston House Pre-Prep. All the form teachers are putting a lot of hard work into getting the pupils acquainted with new technologies every week. Throughout a boys time at… Read More
Science Round Up – Autumn Term 2021
Science Round Up – Autumn Term 2021 It has been another busy term in the Sciences Middle and Upper School. Back in September, Year 5 were introduced to the Science labs with an introductory course on Safety as part of the Science curriculum. This… Read More
Welcome to our new website!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new website here at Durston House School. We hope you agree that it reflects the essence of what we are about – our impressive academic pedigree as well as the wonderfully diverse, innovative, welcoming and happy school, which was reflected… Read More
Anti-Bullying Week 2021
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying is a… Read More
Pre-Prep are immersed in ancient Aztec and Aboriginal Australian culture
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying… Read More
Reception and People who help us
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying is a… Read More
Sports Update
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying is a… Read More
English Storytelling
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying is a… Read More
Bonjour à toutes et à tous!
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying is a… Read More
Computer Science @ Junior School
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying… Read More
Headmasters Blog – Diversity at Durston
Diversity is a theme that I promised the boys that I would come back to this summer term, and the first assembly back provided me with the perfect opportunity. We first considered the critically important need for diversity in nature and the environment. It is a good starting point to… Read More
Maths Department – First Week Back
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. The isolation of the last year has underlined how little acts of consideration can break down barriers and brighten the lives of the people around us. ‘One Kind Word’ was the chosen theme for Anti-Bullying Week. Whilst anti-bullying… Read More