Putney students have once again demonstrated their creativity and flair for writing, enjoying remarkable success in a range of prestigious poetry and prose competitions this term. A particular highlight came in the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers' Competition, which invited entries on the theme of 'The Light'. Competing against other talented young writers, Olivia L (Year 7), Brooke H (Year 10) and Florence A (Year 10) were all awarded Distinctions for their outstanding work

The summer term concluded with some fun responses to studied texts for students in Years 7, 8 and 9. Year 8 responded creatively to our reading of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice by scripting and acting out a 'missing scene'. Lively responses included those from 8FM (above left), where Portia (Zoë S) vented her frustration on Bassanio (Yaoyang D) for having given away the ring he swore to treasure forever, while Aimee J doubled as both Nerissa and some Belmont architectu

by Ms Nylinder, the Librarian While reading is often a solitary experience, the thoughts and ideas sparked by a book take on a life far beyond its pages. As demonstrated in the Library during the summer term, books have a wonderful way of bringing people together. Illustration Collaboration Putney's shadowing group of Year 6 and Year 8 students for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration (pictured below) has cast its vote. They read, discussed and assessed the shortlisted books b

by Ms Nylinder, the Librarian It has been a busy Spring term in the Library, marked by the return of old favourites alongside an exciting new addition to our collection. Global reading Year 8 students embarked on their Reading Passport journey, travelling around the globe through books. Their aim has been to explore as many continents as possible, collecting stamps along the way. This annual reading and writing project continues to be rewarding in so many ways: students di

Clare Pollard (esteemed poet, playwright and author) returned to Putney High School, having judged the annual Poetry Festival, to run a series of poetry workshops, very generously supported by parent fundraising via FOPHS. She worked with every year group, seeing nearly 500 students! Clare, whose poetry-writing career began when she was not much older than some of our students, winning her first award at just 19, explored the skill of creating a convincing voice in monologues

Anyone who has sat in the Performing Arts Centre, listening to our poets from Year 7 to Year 13 perform their poems, has felt the magic of the Putney High School Poetry Festival. From over 500 entries, the English Department selected 48 overall finalists who had the chance to deliver their poem before an external adjudicator – this year's judge was esteemed poet, writer and playwright, Clare Pollard. See her winners below! Why does the Poetry Festival capture the school's a

Just as "Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea," so too did the minds and hearts of Putney students (and staff) who embraced World Book Day this year with creativity and joy! Year 7 and 8 along with our A Level Literature students dressed up as book characters to mark this day of celebration. Nostalgia was in the air with lots of students opting for classic c

After 14 unforgettable years at our school, the brilliant Ms Jeffrey is hanging up her red pen and heading off into a very well-deserved...

Putney stepped back in time on the final Tuesday of term to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with Regency-themed...

Creative Writing 2025 has officially been released before the sun sets on the academic year. Traditionally an autumnal treat, this...

Honourable mentions, merits and prize-giving events: it has been a successful term for students entering prestigious competitions for...

There is now a wide range of co-curricular activities on offer to any student wishing to write, read and explore various, exciting...

by Ms Nylinder, Librarian Reading for pleasure has many benefits. While the obvious ones include promoting literacy and the ability to...

Marking the end of a busy half-term, on Tuesday 11 February parents, teachers and other special guests were wowed by the 58 finalists in...

A favourite in the school calendar, World Book Day 2025 did not disappoint! It was a chance to celebrate the joy of reading and our...

by Ms Nylinder, the Librarian Putney High students are challenged to read a wide range of excellent books throughout the year. For the...

by Charlotte S, Year 12 At the beginning of the autumn term, a new ASIP ( A Study in Purple ) team inherited the school magazine and...

by Clemmie P, Year 12 In Creative Writing Society, we’ve been busy exploring creative ways to write poetry using magazines! We’ve...

A highlight of the autumn term is the publication of a new Creative Writing Anthology, pulling together the best of the best from the...

by Ms Nylinder, the Librarian The summer term has seen a range of initiatives involving the exploration of themes through fiction....