A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 3-13 year olds
What a week! We are over the moon to have been named as one of the three finalists in the Supporting Junior Boarders category at this year’s BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association) Awards, taking place on Wednesday 23rd September. The talented boarding team at Perrott work tirelessly to maintain and strengthen the school’s excellent boarding provision and we are all extremely proud of the initiatives in place to encourage and support our junior boarders. We’re keeping everything crossed for the 23rd!
From Forest School to the Front Terrace, pupils across the school have been making the most of our glorious outdoor space this week. It’s been great to see everyone getting stuck into our activities programme too, with golf, ceramics, music technology and carpentry among the options.
We are delighted to announce that Perrott Hill has been named as one of the seven finalists in the Prep School of the Year category at this year’s Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2020. “The judges were very impressed by your story, which so ably contributes colour and depth to our annual celebration of all that’s great about the independent school sector in the UK,” said the ISOTY team, ahead of next month’s virtual ceremony. We are so proud to be flying the flag for small but mighty country prep schools!
A very warm welcome back to all our staff today! In the run up to the start of term next week, we are delighted to share our latest review in the Tatler Schools Guide 2021, which is hot off the press. It begins: “It’s love at first sight for prospective families visiting Perrott Hill, wowed by its ‘majestic’ setting in pastoral Somerset as well as the ‘enthusiastic, engaging, funny and polite’ pupils who show them around – ‘they were everything I wanted my child to become,’ one parent remarked. PH pupils enjoy ‘a proper childhood’ with plenty of outdoor learning, sport for all, a designated drop-in ‘Tinker’ lab for creative experimentation, and a club for every interest imaginable (pinhole photograph, anyone?).” Many thanks to all at Tatler for conveying the spirit of Perrott Hill so eloquently, and we look forward to welcoming our pupils back to school next week. Let’s do this!
In honour of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, and in celebration of our music making during lockdown, we are thrilled to share this magnificent virtual arrangement of ‘Ode to Joy’, recorded by 78 Perrott pupils and staff during lockdown. Hats off to our extraordinary Director of Music, Mr Shortman, along with our entire music department and talented team of staff – and a special mention to technical genius, Mr Andrews, for his work on the video. What an incredible achievement and something that will stay with our pupils for many years to come!
Earlier this year, Perrott Hill was selected as one of only a handful of prep schools across the country to appear in a new IAPS and ITN Productions collaboration, ‘Prepping for the Future’. Designed to showcase the very best of what a prep school education can offer in today’s ever-changing world, the film crew spent a day with us to find out what makes Perrott Hill – as a small and family-oriented prep school with a breadth of excellence across all areas – so special. We are delighted to share the footage with you and can’t wait for the launch. Proud to be Perrott.
Very well done to our wonderful Year 2 children, who impressed Ms Williams, Miss Fussell and Ms Skiverton so much this term (and across the year) that they were ALL awarded the Head of Pre-Prep Cup at their end-of-term Prize Giving ceremony! We are very proud of you, Year 2, and know you’ll make the most of all the Prep has to offer in September.
Years 5, 6 and 7 took part in our annual Latin Play Competition at the end of term, presided over by the brilliant Mrs Cashmore, Head of Classics at King’s College Taunton. Mr Patrick was delighted with the quality of the performances, with special mention going to our newest pupils who threw themselves into the challenge with gusto. After a run-down of her highlights, Mrs Cashmore awarded first prizes to ‘Lost Athena’ (Year 5), ‘The Battle of Marathon’ (Year 6), and ‘The Mystery of the Stolen Amphora’ (Year 7). Benfacti, omnes – and well done.
Year 8 started their final week with a spot of ‘day camping’ at school, with prizes for the fastest and best tents; very well done to winners Elvie and Amy-Charlotte. Mrs Layfield and Mrs Palmer’s group packed an all-important camera with them so were able to share these lovely pics on their return – that’s what we call planning! On Wednesday, both groups took part in a challenging and thought-provoking workshop with Alice Sims from Amnesty International. Alice did an amazing interactive presentation on human rights before discussing the loss of identity you feel when you become a refugee. She then challenged the groups to think about which three items they would grab if they had to flee from their homes; she said most refugees choose their house keys as they assume they will be able to go back, although the majority do not. Finally, she talked to the children about how we can welcome refugees into our society. Thank you, Alice, and all at Amnesty for the important work you do.
Congratulations to Year 5 pupil, Rosie, for her success in the Canford Creative Writing Competition. Rosie’s story, ‘Hidden Hero’, was awarded Highly Commended in an extremely strong field, with the judges praising the imaginative and ambitious entries across the board. Many thanks to all at Canford for an exciting programme of competitions and workshops this term and very well done to Rosie and all the children who took part.
