We’re delighted to welcome local families to a varied programme of school events throughout the year, open to the wider community.
Whether you already know us well or are visiting for the first time, we hope you’ll feel warmly welcomed and leave with a real sense of what makes the Abbot’s Hill community so special.
Think, Make, Discover – Saturday 7 March, 2.30 – 4.00pm
For pupils aged 8 to 11 and their parents / carers
A family afternoon of Science, Art, Maths and Outdoor Adventure!
Join us for an inspiring hands-on event designed for curious minds and creative spirits. Think, Make, Discover is a family-friendly afternoon where children in Years 4, 5 and 6 (and their parents!) are invited to roll up their sleeves and explore, experiment and create together.
Across the afternoon, families will experience exciting sessions, led by our specialist teachers and hosted in the spaces where our pupils learn every day:
🔬 Investigative Science in our Science Labs
In our Science sessions, you won’t just learn about amazing discoveries — you’ll see them happen right in front of you. Imagine pulling real, squishy DNA out of fruit with your own hands and watching the tiny white strands appear like something from a secret laboratory. It’s the invisible made visible — and you’re the scientist making it happen! Then, prepare to create your very own dazzling Density Rainbow! You’ll carefully pour bright, colourful liquids to build a stunning rainbow tower in a test tube. But this isn’t just about making something beautiful — you’ll uncover the secret of why the colours stay stacked instead of mixing. It’s science you can see, touch, and experiment with! These hands-on adventures are packed with discovery, excitement, and “WOW!” moments. You’ll experiment, explore, and think like a real scientist — building skills, confidence, and curiosity along the way.
Science isn’t just something you read about… it’s something you do. Are you ready to discover what you can create?
🌿 Survival Skills and Shelter Building in our spectacular grounds
Step into the woods at Abbot’s Hill and take on the ultimate outdoor challenge! Working in teams of four or five, you’ll race against the clock to design and build your very own leaf shelter — using only the natural materials you can find around you. Twigs, branches, leaves… it’s up to you to turn them into a hideout strong enough to survive the wild! You’ll be amazed at how quickly your team can create a real forest shelter in just 30 minutes. It’s hands-on, muddy, exciting fun — and a brilliant chance to swap screens for fresh air, teamwork, and adventure. But there’s more…A prize awaits the team whose shelter is judged the toughest, cleverest, and most weather-proof — ready to handle whatever nature throws at it! So gather your team, unleash your creativity, and prove you’ve got what it takes to survive in the wild!️
🎨 Laser Cutting, Collage, Stone Painting in our Art & Design Studio
Session 1
Snip, twist, and create! In this fun, hands-on workshop, you will turn simple paper and wire into a colourful bouquet of handmade flowers. You will learn easy shaping techniques, explore your creativity, and design a unique bunch of blooms to take home. No gardening needed, just imagination!
Session 2
Join us for a colourful stone painting workshop where you will use dotting techniques to create your own imaginary bug and insect creations. With bright paints and simple tools, you will transform ordinary stones into playful, patterned creatures full of personality. It’s a fun way to explore creativity, experiment with colour and pattern, and take home a one-of-a-kind rock critter!
Whether your child is a budding scientist, an artist in the making, or happiest outside, this is a brilliant opportunity to discover new interests, try something different, and enjoy a memorable afternoon together.
Maths
Join forces with your team for an exciting mathematical quest across the main house and beautiful grounds of Abbot’s Hill! Tackle a series of fast-paced challenges that will test your skills in angles, symmetry, pattern, ratio, and estimation. Each problem you solve will unlock a new clue, guiding you closer to cracking the final code. Think strategically, collaborate effectively, and race against the clock as you explore, calculate, and decode your way to victory!
Spaces are limited — we’d love you to join us!
Hilltop Explorers – every Friday in term time.
What to Expect
Our sessions are carefully planned by our experienced Early Years team to support your child’s natural curiosity and development.
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Play-based activities that encourage creativity, movement, and exploration
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Songs, stories, and sensory play tailored for pre school aged children
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Time to socialise with other parents and carers
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A chance to meet our staff and ask questions in an informal setting
Most importantly, your child can explore at their own pace — with you right by their side.
Step into the woods for a joyfully muddy morning of story-led adventure filled with discovery, wonder, and woodland magic.
Based around familiar children’s stories, our weekly Hilltop Explorers sessions run every Friday from 9.30 to 10.30am. Focussing on nature play, they are a great opportunity for your child to explore the great outdoors whilst building their curiosity and confidence.
Sessions will take place on the following dates:
- Friday 20 February NO SESSION (February Half Term)
- Friday 27 February – The Tiger Who Came To Tea
- Friday 6 March – Paddington Bear
- Friday 13 March – Peppa Pig- A Muddy Puddle Adventure
- Friday 20 March – The Gruffalo
Garden Explorers Spring Garden Party – Saturday 7 March, 2.30 – 4.00pm
NOW FULLY BOOKED
For children aged 2 to 7 and their parents / carers
Celebrate the season at our Garden Explorers session at Abbot’s Hill School, where pre-school children and their parents are invited to explore the signs of spring in our beautiful grounds.
Little gardeners will discover colours and textures in nature, learn how plants change through the seasons, and enjoy hands-on activities including digging in soil trays, watering flowers, and planting sunflower or bean seeds in decorated pots to take home.
There will also be an opportunity to explore some of Abbot’s Hill’s 76 acre parkland site on a nature-themed scavenger hunt.
The fun continues with spring-themed stories – Jack and the Beanstalk and The Tiny Seed – with members of our Early Years and Prep School teaching team.
Refreshments for children and their accompanying adults provided.
A joyful, sensory-filled morning of learning and play for children and parents alike.

Hilltop Explorers – every Friday in term time.
Garden Explorers Spring Garden Party – Saturday 7 March, 2.30 – 4.00pm
Year 7 Places - September 2026