Dear Parents
It has been a wonderfully busy week here at Dumpton, showcasing the incredible range of opportunities available to our children and the many ways they continue to ‘aim high.’
From the 27 members of the IAPS Swim Squad preparing for the Regionals, to the Senior Choir rehearsing Handel’s Messiah at Canford ahead of their concert at Christchurch Priory on Tuesday evening, to Year 2 exploring world cuisine with Mrs. Brown, to our U13 Girls reaching the Quarter Finals of the IAPS Netball, to the stunning artistic creations submitted for the Pre-Prep Art Competition, and the joyful rehearsals for next week’s House Singing Competition—it has been fantastic to see our children excelling across so many fields and collaborating across year groups in such meaningful ways. Next week promises to be even busier, with Performing Arts Week and World Book Day – and I do hope all parents are excited about the Spring Spectacular on Monday where well over 300 children will be performing in the Sports Hall. Please do ensure you have read the appropriate emails and filled in the necessary forms!
A huge thank you also to every parent who supported Dumpton Talks Week. With around 150 attendees and a fantastic range of speakers covering diverse topics, it has been a truly enriching week. Alongside fascinating theory and research, the talks were packed with practical advice—and, perhaps most importantly, a reassuring reminder that none of us have all the answers! What inspired me most was the conversations these talks sparked and the genuine sense of community amongst you as parents.
Ultimately, our goal with the Dumpton Talks is simple: to create space for honest conversations about parenting, to share what we learn along the way, and to support one another. If these talks have helped even one parent feel a little more confident, a little less alone, and a little better equipped to be the best parent they can be, then every moment has been worthwhile.
Smart Phones and Social Media - ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’
It’s clear from the discussions during and after Wednesday’s talk on this topic, that many of you are keen to delay your children’s exposure to smartphones for a little longer. As I shared in my talk, the research on the impact of smartphones on children is certainly worrying – I have attached my slides for anyone who didn’t make it along.
For those interested, I am sharing the link to Smartphone Free Childhood. This initiative allows you to anonymously sign a pact with other parents who share the same goal of delaying introducing smartphones into their children’s lives. It looks like since Wednesday there’s been a significant number of Dumpton parents making the decision to sign up – someone told me that Dumpton is now ranked 2nd out of all the school communities in Dorset! Whether you choose to sign up or not is very much a personal choice; I am just delighted that we are all talking about this important issue and raising awareness.
More Scholarship Success
A big well done to Alicia B and Abby W who have both been awarded Sports Scholarships to Bryanston. Both girls are very talented and hardworking young sportswomen, and we’re sure they will go from strength to strength at Bryanston next year. That’s 11 scholarships already this year from our super Y8s. We still await more news in the coming weeks.
Townsend-Warner History Competition – from Mr Tridgell
On Monday, Ivory J and Flynn B took part in Round 2 of the Townsend-Warner History Competition. These 2 wonderful ambassadors, made the top 20% of entrants nationally (from over 1,300 entries) and their reward was a 2 hour marathon test of historical knowledge and writing. Both Ivory and Flynn should be exceptionally proud of themselves in how they attempted Round 2, their positivity in the face of a huge challenge, and because they volunteered to have a go. Very well done. I look forward to next year and any willing Seniors that would like to enter!
Musical Success – From Ms Oakes
Huge congratulations to Evie X in Year 3, for winning first place in the first round of the Grade 7 class of the European Piano Teachers Association UK National competition. We are so very proud of her and wish her all the best for her upcoming performance in the national final in Bristol next month.
Jess G has been selected following her Lighthouse Show last May to perform as part of an ensemble, some of the scenes from the show in the West End at the end of April. She is very excited to be performing at the Sadlers Wells Theatre. Very well done Jess!
World Book Day Dress Up (Pre-Prep dress up only) - Thursday 6th March
We are very much looking forward to seeing all the Pre-Prep children in their costumes for World Book Day (the Prep School do this every other year to avoid fatigue!). The Pre-Prep staff have taken the theme of fairy tales, and costumes are already being stitched and ironed! The children are very welcome to join us in this theme, but we appreciate that dressing up can be something children feel very strongly about, so please know that we will be happy to see your child in any book or reading-related costume that makes them happy.
Book Week events are running all next week. Detailed information was in the letter sent home on the 7th February but just as a heads up, the Guess the Book competition entries can be brought in through the week, to be judged on Friday (7 March), and the Book Fair runs on the Tuesday and Wednesday (see the letter for more info) so please could pupils bring in their money if they would like to buy a book.
British Science Week is coming up: 7th - 16th March – From Mrs Catton
We will be exploring the 2025 theme of 'change and adapt' in lessons, through practical and research tasks from the British Science Association, and Year 3 and 4 will take part in live lessons with the NFU. This year’s poster competition is split into two age-related options:
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Nursery to Year 6 children are invited to enter our usual poster competition, linked to this year’s British Science Week theme of ‘Change and adapt’. Pupils could create a poster showing how plants and animals adapt to changing seasons or surroundings, or how humans have adapted to changing technology. They could look at climate change and how we can adapt our behaviours to protect the environment, or their favourite science experiment and how it shows change. The more creative the interpretation of the theme, the better!
Pupils will be allocated some of their usual prep time alongside any additional time they wish to spend on posters, and they may work together in groups. Entries to be submitted to Mrs Catton by Friday 28th March (end of term) and a maximum of five entries in total for Dumpton pupils will be submitted. You can find full details of the 'change and adapt' poster competitions here
House Art Competition – From Mr Loe
Whilst the pre-prep deadline has now past, there is one last opportunity for any Prep School children to enter the House Art competition, so do get any entries finished off over the weekend!
Lunch with the Headmaster
We continue to work hard to ensure our school food is of the best possible quality, and we are very keen that our parents have the opportunity to see and taste the wonderful lunches that Steph and her team cook for the children on a daily basis. We would like to invite parents, to join the me for lunch on Tuesday 11 March (Pre-Prep parents) or Thursday 13 March (Prep parents). As I am sure you will understand we have had to set a limit on numbers, so it will be a strictly first come, first served basis. Please complete this form
With best wishes,
Christian Saenger
Headmaster
Key Events W/B 3.3.25
WEEK B
Week 8: Theme of the Week: Performing Arts Week
Monday 3 March
14.00-15.00 Spring Spectacular Pre-Prep Concert (Nursery to Y2), no hobbies, after school club as normal
15.15-16.15 Spring Spectacular (Y3-Y8)
Tuesday 4 March
14.15-16.15 Sports Fixtures (Y3-Y4) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
16.30-18.30 5P Parents’ Evening – all subjects (in person)
19.00-21.30 Joint Concert with Canford School (Senior Choir)
Wednesday 5 March
14.15-16.15 Sports Fixtures (Y5-Y8) - please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
15.00-15.30 Pre-Prep Class Assembly (RM) followed by RM parent Drop In
Thursday 6 March
All Day World Book Day (Pre-Prep only are dressing up this year)
All Day IAPS Swimming at Clayesmore – please see Dumpton Sports Site for full details
16.30-18.30 5T Parents’ Evening – all subjects (in person)
20.00 Dumpton Friends Online Committee Meeting (teams link to the meeting will be on a Classlist post)
Friday 7 March
All Morning Prep School House Music Festival – individual children participating for their house through the morning
15.15-16.10 Prep School House Singing Competition (pupils only)