The afternoon began against TIFS. Logan won the toss and elected to bowl, trusting in his side’s discipline. It was a masterstroke. Joshua opened the attack with some super spin alongside the explosive Jenson, and with Harry keeping things airtight behind the stumps, the opposition found themselves struggling to get runs on the board. Being forced to run as boundaries were hard to come by, Carisbrooke were able to pounce in the field and take multiple run-outs which came off the back of Joshua's bowling and Logan, Jenson, Jake and Joshua all took one each. Jake then put the finishing touches on a dominant defensive display with a final run-out to close the innings. Oscar ensured his side of the pitch was not leaking any runs whilst ensuring the team energy was kept up as he supported Jenson with constant waves of noise to encourage the side.  Harry was just glad he had his helmet on the whole time to block out the noise.

The chase was a showcase of composure. Logan and Jake established a superb opening partnership, with the Captain contributing a brisk 11. Jake, living up to his reputation as "The Calm Before the Storm," remained unbeaten on 25. His highlight was a "big boy" six that nearly cleared the arena, leaving the crowd in awe. Joshua joined him to see the run chase through, reaching the target of 58 with 15 balls to spare.

With the title within touching distance, Carisbrooke faced The Bay. Logan again won the toss and chose to hunt in the field. This time, the team’s athleticism reached a fever pitch. Jenson was everywhere, forcing multiple run-outs and later claiming a stunning one-handed catch off his own bowling that brought the bench to its feet. 

Joshua, just prior to this, took a high-quality caught-and-bowled to keep the momentum firmly in Carisbrooke's favour.

As Oscar applied the mid-innings squeeze and Harry and Jake patrolled the pitch with tireless energy, Logan provided the knockout blow, taking two wickets in two consecutive balls to restrict the opposition to 35 runs.

The final chase began with a bang. Jenson looked set to finish the game single-handedly after a monstrous six and a lightning four, but a sharp piece of wicket-keeping saw him dismissed. When Oscar fell shortly after while looking to go big, the pressure mounted. However, Jake stepped back into the fray to steady the ship alongside Joshua as they showed veteran-like patience, picked their spots and chased down the runs.

The championship was sealed with five overs left. It was a performance defined by unity; every player had their moment, every player did their bit, and as a result, Carisbrooke College are the 2026 Indoor Champions. Cue Oscar and his favourite song, "A Thousand Miles".

Highlights:

Jake: 38 runs without losing his wicket.

Harry: Man on a mission behind the stumps.

Oscar: Keeping on top of any stray balls in the field and, of course, the singing.

Jenson: Power hitting and amazing catching.

Joshua: 17 runs and multiple wickets.

Logan: Clinical batting and a captain's performance with the ball in hand.

A special mention to both The Bay and TIFS for putting on a great afternoon of cricket and doing so with the right attitude and sportsmanship throughout.  Thank you to Mr Bricknell at The Bay for hosting and organising.

We enjoyed impressive performances from Joseph in Year 7, who performed a Grade 1 jazz piano piece; Gilbert in Year 8, who delivered a confident vocal performance of Elvis’s ‘Suspicious Minds’; and our Year 9 band, The Band With No Name, who ended the assembly with a flashy rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis’s ‘Great Balls of Fire’. We also heard from several other bands made up of students from across the year groups performing Muse’s ‘Ruled by Secrecy’, Green Day’s ‘Last Night on Earth’, and ‘Perfect Pair’ by Beabadoobee. Each performance highlighted the students’ commitment, musicality, and growing confidence.

All the students performed fantastically and spoke with assurance about the pieces they had chosen, making this a truly memorable and inspiring week of music across the school. 

Don’t miss our next musical event, ‘Battle of the Bands’, on Wednesday 20th May, when we are inviting our school community, family and friends to come along and enjoy more music from our amazing students – details on the poster attached.

Ryan’s weekly dedication has truly paid off — a fantastic achievement. Well done!

Well done, girls, your dedication, hard work and team work really paid off!

What followed were five fantastic days on the slopes, packed with skiing, snowboarding, learning new skills, attempting (and landing!) tricks and jumps, and making the most of the brilliant conditions. Off the slopes, there was just as much fun to be had, from snowball fights to relaxing in the sunshine and earning the inevitable “ski tan.”

The group were outstanding throughout; supportive of one another, enthusiastic, and a real credit to the schools. The snow conditions were excellent all week, and remarkably, there were no injuries (despite a few close calls and some determined attempts!).

All in all, this was an incredible trip, full of laughter, challenge, and unforgettable memories. It was, quite possibly, the best fun ever had on a school trip!

Despite a couple of last-minute injuries leaving the squad a little short-handed, a big shout-out goes to Warrick and Cooper for stepping up and making sure the team was ready to compete.

The tournament got off to a strong start with a solid 2-0 victory over Ryde School. It was a tight contest, but Shai proved to be the difference-maker, scoring the game’s only basket and getting Carisbrooke off the mark in style.

Next up was a tough challenge against eventual tournament winners, Priory. Carisbrooke battled hard throughout, showing great fighting spirit and teamwork. Contributions from Oscar, Liam, Daniel, Cooper, and Warrick kept the energy high, while Shai continued his impressive scoring form. Daniel also got himself on the scoresheet with a well-earned basket, but despite their efforts, the team narrowly lost 5–8.

The third game against CTK proved to be a difficult one. CTK’s consistent shooting made it hard for Carisbrooke to find their rhythm, resulting in a 0–12 loss. However, the team didn’t let this setback define them.

In true Carisbrooke fashion, they bounced back brilliantly in their final game against The Bay. In a tense and closely fought match, the team held their nerve. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, Shai calmly stepped up to sink a free throw, securing a thrilling 3–2 victory and ending the tournament on a high, which resulted in them coming a respectable 3rd overall.

Throughout the tournament, the team showed fantastic resilience, teamwork, and determination. With players stepping up when it mattered most, it was a performance full of positives and memorable moments for the lads to always look back on.

Well done to everyone involved!

Overall, the trip was a great opportunity to learn outside the classroom, and hopefully it has inspired many students to take a greater interest in science and technology.

And while the scoreboard didn’t always tell a fairy-tale story, the effort, resilience, and flashes of brilliance would’ve made even Larry Bird nod in approval.

Game 1 vs TIFS – “Defensive Maestro's”

A 2–0 win might not sound like a highlight-reel explosion, but this was all about discipline and control. Think less “slam dunk contest,” more “we’re not letting you score… at all.”

Job done. Statement made.

Game 2 vs The Priory – “Heartbreak at the Buzzer”

This one hurt. At 2–0 with seconds to go, Carisbrooke looked set to grind out a solid result until The Priory hit two late baskets in the final 30 seconds. A 4–2 loss that felt more like a cruel plot twist than a fair ending. Even Michael Jordan lost games like that… occasionally. Probably.

Game 3 vs The Bay – “The Heavyweights”

Every tournament has that team, the one built like they’ve accidentally entered from a higher age group.

The Bay brought size, strength, and athleticism, and despite Carisbrooke battling throughout, it ended 0–7. A tough one, but sometimes you just tip your hat and move on.

Game 4 vs Cowes – “Tournament Champions!”

Here’s where things get interesting. Carisbrooke produced a dominant 8–0 win over Cowes, the same Cowes who went on to win the entire tournament. Which raises an important question: should we just go ahead and call Carisbrooke the unofficial champions?

Game 5 vs CTK – “Grit Over Glamour”

A tight, physical game that needed composure and determination. Carisbrooke delivered both, grinding out a 4–2 win. Not flashy, not easy, but exactly the kind of result great teams build on.

Game 6 vs Ryde School – “Finishing in Style”

By this point, the team had found their rhythm and Ryde School felt the full force of it. An emphatic 8–0 win to close out the day. Confident, composed, and clinical, just how you want to finish.

Player Spotlight – The Year 8 Dream Squad

• Ellis – "The Heart and Soul" Simply incredible from start to finish. The heartbeat of the team all day with consistency, effort, and quality in every game.

• Mason – “The Speed Demon” Blink, and he’s gone. Covering ground faster than a fast break led by Muggsy Bogues, Mason brought electric pace that kept defences permanently on edge.

• Nell – “The Ultimate Team Player" The kind of player every great side needs. Unselfish, reliable, and always making the right decision.

• Lincoln – “The Arrow" Straight, accurate, and unstoppable, especially when he launched the longest shot of the entire day. Somewhere, Stephen Curry probably felt a disturbance.

• Archie – “The Juggernaut” Once he got going, there was no stopping him. Strong, direct, and relentless, defenders were basically left making business decisions.

• Jimmy – “The Smooth Operator” Effortless control and composure. Everything looked easy, like he had all the time in the world, cool under pressure and always in command.

• McKinley – “The Glider” Floating across the court with style, making movement look effortless. One minute he’s here, the next he’s scoring, smooth as you like.

• Logan – “The Missing Link” The connector. The one who brings everything together, linking defence to attack and making the team tick as a unit.

• Ruben – “The Silent Assassin” You don’t see him… until it’s too late. Popping up out of nowhere to make big plays when it matters most.

• Archie D – “The Rock” Solid, dependable, and not going anywhere. In defence, he was the foundation, nothing getting past without a serious fight.

• William – “The Quarterback (Wrong Sport, Right Skills)” Vision, distribution, and control. If basketball had touchdowns, he’d be leading the league. Running the game like he accidentally showed up from the NFL.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t just about wins and losses, it was about resilience, teamwork, and showing glimpses of something special. A narrow last-second loss. A clash with the tournament’s “giants.” A dominant win over the eventual champions. Sounds less like a random set of results… and more like the origin story of a team that’s building towards something big. The United States men's Olympic basketball team had to start somewhere too. And if this is anything to go by, Carisbrooke Year 8s are well on their way. 

On Tuesday 17th March, our Year 7 “freshmen” stepped onto the tournament stage for the first time this season. Undefeated up to this point, the pressure was on. Would they crumble under the spotlight… or channel their inner Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson?  Would they be able to deal with the added pressure due to losing Oscar through injury at the last moment.

Spoiler alert: they chose the latter.

Game 1 vs Ryde School – “The Warm-Up Act”

Like any great team, Carisbrooke decided to add a bit of drama early on, falling 6–0 behind. A bold strategy, very Hollywood. But once the shots started dropping, Joshua, Jenson, and Albie got things rolling faster than a fast break in Barcelona ‘92.

With Sullivan and Jack joining the scoring party, and some slick link-up play between Joshua and Albie (think Jordan and Pippen… just slightly shorter), the Cougars roared back to a 16–6 win.

Game 2 vs Lift Ryde – “Defence Wins Championships”

Lift Ryde clearly hadn’t read the script and came out fighting. Credit to them, they tightened things up and made life difficult. But great teams always find a way. Joshua, Jake, and Albie dominated the boards like rebounding machines, grabbing second and third chances as if they were on a loyalty scheme. Eventually, Carisbrooke pulled away for a 13–4 win.

Game 3 vs Cowes – “Respect the Opposition”

Despite a previous 42–0 loss to Carisbrooke earlier in the season, Cowes showed huge improvement and made this one a proper contest. Jake led the charge, with Thomas, Reuben, and Jenson throwing themselves around the court like it was the Olympic final. Final score: 11–2 but much tougher than it looks.

Game 4 vs CTK – “Now We’re Talking”

By this point, the Cougars were in full flow, less “new team” and more “global basketball icons.”

Albie, Joshua, and Jack turned up the defensive pressure early, while Seb, Sullivan, and Reuben came off the bench to keep the intensity sky-high. With Thomas and Jake doing the unseen work and Jenson pushing the pace, Carisbrooke delivered their best performance yet: an 18–4 win.

The Dream Team comparisons? Now fully justified.

Final Game vs The Bay – “The Championship Showdown”

Winner takes all. No pressure. Much like the gold medal game in Barcelona, this was the big one. Both teams started cautiously, trading moments without many points. Then boom, Carisbrooke shifted gears.

Jenson drove the tempo, Joshua started raining jump shots, and Albie applied relentless pressure. Jack added his shooting touch, while Reuben and Jake disrupted everything in sight like defensive masterminds.

A 10–2 lead opened up, but The Bay fought back. Still, when Seb calmly dropped the final basket, the result was sealed: 12–6.

Champions.

Cue gold medals, imaginary slow-motion celebrations, and probably a highlight reel set to dramatic music.

Player Highlights – The Carisbrooke Dream Team

• Albie – The engine. Non-stop energy, team-first mentality. Basically the glue holding this “Dream Team 2.0” together.

• Jenson – The spark plug. When energy dipped, he turned it back on, scoring when it mattered most.

• Jake – Rebounding machine. If the ball went up, he assumed it belonged to him.

• Thomas – The unsung hero. Does all the little things; morale, positioning, effort. Every great team has one.

• Joshua – Offensive powerhouse. Boards, assists, scoring, he did it all with style.

• Jack – The sharpshooter. Always ready, always dangerous. Blink and he’s already scored.

• Reuben – Grit and composure. Fights for everything but keeps his cool, true competitor.

• Seb – Safe hands and controls the game and delivers when needed.

• Sullivan – The surprise package. Somehow grabs rebounds that physics says he shouldn’t and chips in with key baskets. The energizer bunny. 

• Oscar - Move over Adam Sandler (Waterboy), bring in The Non Stop Commentator and Team Speaker.

Season Record

Played: 10
Won: 10

Undefeated.

Not quite Barcelona 1992… but honestly, it’s getting there.

If this is the beginning, the rest of the basketball world might want to start paying attention.

In ink painting, traditional Chinese brushes are used with ink to typically produce black and white paintings and are very different in appearance to western paintings, which often use many more colours. These pieces create a particular feeling or mood by leaving lots of empty space on the paper, something which symbolises the mist, the clouds, the rivers and other natural elements of the country.

Miss Yan said: "During last week's session we looked at the differences between western art and Chinese art and learnt about some of these particular characteristics. The students that attended were amazing and, after only a short time with minimal instruction, they learnt how to paint bamboo images and used their very special brushes and ink to produce some truly wonderful pieces of art. Bamboo is often used in winter cooking and to us represents strength and resilience as it can not easily be broken by the wind. Learning about cultural beliefs such as this encourages our students to view the world in different ways while also learning new vocabulary in the process."

China Club, run by Miss Yan and Mr Briscoe, takes place every Tuesday after school and is a great place for KS3 students to get help with their homework or just have fun with Chinese! It is also a great provision for GCSE students to do extra revision and practice before their exams this summer.

Next week we welcome back professional playwright Stewart Melton who will be running his final workshop. We are all very much looking forward to it.

The tournament began with an exhilarating match against Medina. Carisbrooke emerged victorious with a 5-3 win. The goal scorers were Caleb (2), Reuben (2) and Albie (1).

In the second game, Carisbrooke College maintained their momentum with another high-scoring performance, defeating Christ the King College (CTK) 5-2. Reuben led the scoring with a hat-trick, and Albie added a brace.

The third game saw a narrow defeat for the Carisbrooke side against The Bay, with a final score of 4-3. The goals for Carisbrooke were scored by Reuben, Caleb and Albie.

The final match was a tight contest against Lift Ryde. Carisbrooke secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory, thanks to a superb hat-trick from Reuben.

Notable mentions go to several players for their exceptional contributions:

• Jenson was a rock in defence, playing every minute of every game with outstanding consistency.
• Sullivan, Kenan and Harry put in committed and tenacious performances in the midfield.
• Jack was excellent in goal, pulling off some outstanding saves that were crucial to the team's success.

Overall, it was a fantastic display of talent and teamwork from the Carisbrooke Year 7 boys, who can be proud of their efforts in the tournament.