A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Former Exeter Chiefs winger Nic Sestaret gave a terrific coaching session on Top Field last week. Nic, who is now Director of Rugby at Taunton School, worked on contact skills and ball presentation as well as setting the back line effectively to give options close and on the flanks. Many thanks for a top afternoon of training, Nic.
Many thanks to local gardener and self-confessed ‘spud fanatic’ Keith Mayes for his informative and entertaining talk about potatoes on Thursday. For the past fortnight, the Grundy Hall has played host to a fascinating exhibition of 100 types of potatoes, representing a very small selection of the varieties Keith grows on his allotment nearby (there are 620 different types in total!).
This weekend, we welcomed our friends from Feltonfleet Prep School to play an annual remembrance fixture that dates back to the earliest days of our inception. In 1940, during the Second World War, the children and staff from Feltonfleet were evacuated to North Perrott Manor, where they stayed for the duration of the war. Upon their return to Surrey, Mr and Mrs Grundy decided to stay at the manor and Perrott Hill was born. Alongside the annual rugby and hockey fixtures, the children competed in the second running of The Haddock Cup, a cross country race inaugurated in 2017 and named after the late John Haddock. John, who arrived at Perrott Hill in 1940 and remained very much a part of the family up until his death last year, won a half blue for cross country running at Oxford University, competing in the same team as Sir Roger Bannister, future Olympian Sir Chris Chataway and Artic expedition leader Chris Brasher CBE. We were honoured to have his son, Chris, at the start line on Friday.
The Prep School came together for a moving Remembrance Service in St Martin’s Church in North Perrott on Monday, with a superb address by Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner KCB, CBE. Sir Barney spoke to the children about the importance of remembering through actions, rather than just words; of honouring the fallen by making the most of every opportunity and living the lives they never got to live. It was an indelible message, which will be heeded for many years to come. Many thanks to our Heads of School for their readings, to our Senior Choir and musicians for their poignant rendition of In Flanders Fields (wonderfully arranged by Mr Shortman) and to Reverend Jonathan Morris for leading the service. Lest we forget.
Many thanks to our amazing Friends of Perrott Hill for a gloriously gruesome Halloween Disco before half term. Years 5-8 had a great time dancing the evening away in the Grundy Hall! Very well done to Emma, Scarlet, Lily, Tilly and Evie for scooping the best dressed award – and to Levi, Sam and Alistair for their winning dance moves.
It was the Year 8 girls’ turn for their Loft Night in the dorms recently, complete with face masks, popcorn and a film. Huge thanks to Mrs Layfield and Miss Hand for a brilliant evening! Next up, it’s the Year 5 and 6 girls – and we hear they’re very excited…
Local landscape weaver, Tony Smith, made a return visit to Perrott before half term to give a super workshop to our artists. The children saw how raw wool is carded and spun into yarn before having a go at weaving themselves. Thank you for a top afternoon, Tony.
Many thanks to Rev Jonathan Morris for leading not one but two Harvest Festivals last week. The Pre-Prep service was held in the beautiful surroundings of St Martin’s Church in North Perrott where the children recited poetry and sang songs, including a superb rendition of ‘Merci Beaucoup pour les Haricots Verts’. Later in the week, the Prep service took place in the Theatre and we were delighted to be joined by so many of our families and friends. Many thanks to the children for their many donations of food which are on their way to the Lord’s Larder in Yeovil.
Very well done to our Year 7 pupils for an excellent debate last week. Following some pertinent and persuasive arguments from both sides, the motion to re-introduce National Service was carried by 27 votes to 18. Bravo, team. After half term we look forward to the Year 8 debate on whether or not prisons should place punishment before rehabilitation.
We are so proud to announce that Perrott Hill was officially crowned Pre-Prep of the Year at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards in London last night. Many thanks to our outstanding staff, our wonderful children and to the judges and everyone at Independent School Parent for recognising the innovative and varied programme we offer. We are over the moon! We were also the only standalone prep school in the entire country to be shortlisted (and then selected as a finalist) for the Marketing Award for Brand Communication. What an honour! It was a pleasure to spend the evening in such esteemed company.
