A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
There were some seriously spooky goings on in school on Monday, as our boarders gathered in the gruesome Grundy Hall for a Halloween feast and party games. Big thanks to our amazing catering and boarding teams for a frightful night of fun!
Many thanks to Canford for hosting a fantastic science workshop for Year 6 pupils before half term. Running as part of their annual ‘Festival of Ideas’, the stand-up science show by Ian B Dunne featured a range of experiments (including sparks, bangs and levitating objects!) and was great fun.
Our EYFS Celebration of Work took place in the Theatre and was on the topic of ‘all about ourselves’. The children talked about all the lovely things they’d learnt so far in class and sang some wonderful songs. They also showed off their mixed media self-portraits and their ‘what makes me special’ rainbows. Well done, Nursery and Reception; Miss Becky, Miss Jo and Mrs McCullough are very proud.
The first debate of the academic year took place recently, with Year 8 pupils debating the motion ‘This House believes that digital devices should replace paper and books in school’. Following some fervid arguments from both sides and questions from the floor, the motion was defeated by 49 votes to 40 – a surprise result and one which left Mr Silk and Mrs Byrne breathing a sigh of relief! We were particularly pleased to have Years 3 and 4 with us and hope it inspired them to get involved when their time comes. Very well done to the speakers (Ellie, Ruby, Oliver, Daisy, Alice and Kai), chair (Harry) and timekeeper (Rose).
Perrott Hill was named as one of only six finalists for Small Independent School of the Year at last night’s Independent Schools Awards in London. We didn’t win (congratulations to St Ives School Haslemere) but it was an honour to be up there with some of the biggest and best schools in the country. Very well done to all the winners and finalists!
The Perrott Young Farmers paid a visit to Old Perrott Hillian Edward Bowditch’s dairy herd at Knowle Farm near Beaminster last Thursday. A brilliant tour of the milking parlour, the calf pens and the silage clamp was crowned with a delicious home-baked sponge cake! Thank you to everyone involved.
Years 6-8 Book Clubbers arrived to Thursday’s meeting to find the the Loft converted into a forest glade courtesy of Mrs Byrnes’ foraging skills! Her box of pine cones and leaves helped to set the scene for an animated discussion on Katya Balen’s Carnegie Medal winning book, ‘October, October’. The children were left to wonder what lies in store on Thursday 24th November when Helen Rutter’s ‘The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh’ will be under the spotlight…
Friday’s Harvest Festival was led by Reverend Prebendary Mike Vockins OBE, and served as a wonderful reminder of the power of ‘cheerful giving’. Our junior and senior choirs sang beautifully and with such spirit (a special mention must go to Gabriel and George for their very impressive solos), while Head Girl, Alice, and Prefects, Ellie and Henry, led the prayers and readings. Many thanks to Mr Shortman and our brilliant orchestra and, of course, to all our parents and pupils for donating so many boxes of food to our local food bank, The Lord’s Larder in Yeovil. We know they will be extremely grateful.
Our Pre-Prep Harvest Festival took place in St Martin’s Church on Wednesday, with pupils donating boxes of food and giving thanks for all that they have. Very well done to all the children who sang and recited beautifully: 1L read a poem and 1E led the prayers, while Year 2 recited a poem they’d written. Nursery and Reception sang ‘Mr Scarecrow’ while Years 1 and 2 sang ‘Merci beaucoup pour les haricots vert’ and ‘In the earth the small seed is hidden’. Many thanks to Reverend CJ Davis and everyone involved in a wonderful service of thanks.
Year 8 have been adapting ‘Theseus and the Minotaur’ into a film in classical civilisation with Dr Longley-Cook. Last week, they created film boards to show their knowledge and understanding of the myth and today they presented their ideas to a panel of critics and took questions. Well done to Euan whose adaptation was chosen as the winner and congratulations to all the presenters – audaces Fortuna iuvat!
