Spring 2026 Highlights
The Spring Term is always a wonderfully distinctive chapter in the school year, carrying us from the fresh excitement of January into the thoughtful, hopefilled weeks that lead towards Easter. This term has once again swept by in a vibrant flurry of learning, creativity and community spirit, filled with joyful moments and memorable experiences that have brought warmth and energy to every corner of the school.
We were delighted to begin the year with national recognition: LPW was shortlisted and awarded a commendation for Small Independent School of the Year and recognised by Talk Education as one of the top Independent Schools in the country, an achievement that reflects the dedication of our staff, the warmth of our families and our pupils’ remarkable love of learning.
Our Year 8 cohort then added to the celebrations with something truly exceptional; from a small group of just twelve pupils, an extraordinary twelve awards were earned across a wide and impressive range of disciplines, including Drama Scholarships, Academic Scholarships—among them the prestigious Melsome Scholarship (the second highest academic award) and the Jack Robson-Carter Award (the third highest academic award), Academic Exhibitions, a Ken Shearwood All-Rounder Scholarship, a Sports Exhibition, a Music Exhibition and an Art Exhibition. As prefects, every single pupil in Year 8 has embodied our school motto to love learning with sincerity and purpose, and we are deeply proud of them all.
Intellectual curiosity has continued to sit at the heart of school life, with enthusiastic participation in national academic competitions such as the historic TownsendWarner History Challenge, which pupils approached with maturity, enthusiasm and the characteristic LPW blend of diligence and joy. House spirit has been palpable throughout the term as creative arts, sports, teambuilding challenges, the muchloved Pancake Race and an expanding programme of interhouse competitions brought camaraderie, healthy competition and plenty of laughter to our corridors and playing fields. One of the standout community moments was the return of LPW’s Got Talent; children from across the school took to the stage to share poetry and puppetry, dance and comedy, music and song, gymnastics and more, with nearly every pupil stepping forward and the audience of peers proving once again to be wonderfully supportive.
Our cultural calendar was rich and varied. Chinese New Year arrived with a visiting speaker, a beautifully decorated dining hall and a delicious celebratory meal, with pupils leaving happily clutching traditional keepsakes and Burns Night brought storytelling, kilts and spirited performances as children explored the life and works of Robert Burns. Beyond the classroom walls, outdoor learning continued to flourish; Forest School remains a cornerstone of our Early Years and PrePrep experience, where children crafted bird feeders, designed fairy gardens and explored the wonders of the woodland with imagination, teamwork and delight.
Sport has been equally vibrant this term, with pupils enthusiastically taking part in netball, gymnastics, football, rugby, basketball, table tennis, swimming, NFL Flag Football, dance, kung fu, crosscountry and more. A particular highlight was the opportunity for pupils to try the increasingly popular game of padel, which brought excitement, teamwork and plenty of lively competition to their PE sessions.
Music continued to inspire and uplift; our Spring Soirée offered a breathtaking display of talent as pupils performed everything from classical masterpieces to contemporary favourites with confidence, musicality and heart. Our Chamber Choir went from strength to strength, singing both at school and in the beautiful setting of Lancing College Chapel, while our youngest children welcomed families for a joyful singalong that radiated pride and community. Alongside these musical highlights, rehearsals for our wholeschool production of Newsies have gathered wonderful momentum, with pupils across the year groups embracing the choreography, songs and storytelling with infectious energy and commitment. The excitement is already building for what promises to be an unforgettable performance later in the year.
World Book Day brought its own magic, as the school embraced a theme of fantasies and fairytales and transformed into a world of wonder with creative costumes, story sessions, themed assemblies and imaginative classroom activities. A wholeschool book swap encouraged sustainability and ensured that every child went home with a “newtothem” story to enjoy, and the dining room became a whimsical fairytale tea party with themed décor and a delicious afternoon tea complete with the everpopular chocolate fountain, turning lunch into a memory the children will long cherish.
We were also thrilled to welcome two visiting authors earlier in the term, Josh Lacey and Jim Beckett, whose lively workshops and storytelling sessions sparked imagination, encouraged creativity and inspired pupils across the Prep School to see themselves as writers too.
Just some of this term’s outings have included a joyful visit to Tilgate Zoo, a captivating journey through the stars at the Chichester Planetarium, and a handson afternoon of scientific discovery at the Herstmonceux Science Observatory. Pupils were swept up in the magic of filmmaking at the Harry Potter Studios, and a lively trip to London to see Hercules the Musical filled them with excitement and wideeyed wonder.
We closed the term in a spirit of reflection and joy, gathering as a community for our Easter celebrations where orchestras and the Chamber Choir performed with beauty and poise and pupils offered thoughtful poems and readings. As we look ahead to the Summer Term, we do so with deep pride in all that has been achieved and with great excitement for the opportunities and adventures yet to come; our pupils continue to inspire us with their curiosity, kindness, resilience and love of learning—everything that makes Lancing Prep Worthing such a special place.