A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 3-13 year olds
Upper Prep pupils delved into the world of neuroscience last week, courtesy of OPH Harvey Walsh. Harvey, who left Perrott Hill in 2010 and went onto King’s College Taunton before undertaking a BSc and MSc at the University of Birmingham, spoke to senior pupils about his fascinating research into the human brain. Harvey is now at home in Haselbury Plucknett until he can fly out to New Zealand, where he has secured funding to complete a PhD in Neurovascular Physiology at the University of Auckland. It was a highly engaging and motivating talk which sparked lots of great questions from the floor. Thank you, Harvey – we’d love to hear more soon!
Well done to our Year 5 pupils, who have garnered significant praise for their English work this term. Not only have they impressed Mr Silk with their writing of riddles, but Mrs Byrne reports that, over the Christmas holidays, they collectively passed more AR quizzes than any other year group in school. Special mention goes to Horatio with 9, Florence with 8 and Charlie with 6. Excellent work and a big thumbs up from Madame Brooks!
The first House Olympics challenge of the year was a corker, with pupils well and truly taking Mr McCullough’s advice to ‘be creative’ on board. The challenge, set by Mrs Layfield to spread some joy during this first week back, was to dress your pet or teddy in a funny costume – and we are howling at some of the hilarious entries (head to our Facebook page to see them all). It was a very close call but the winning entry goes to Rosie and Jessica, who dressed a very compliant George in their school uniform. Congratulations to you both, and to Mendips! There are House Points for everyone who submitted an entry so well done to you all and we’ll reveal the tally as term goes on…
We are delighted to invite interested families along to our Virtual Open Morning on Friday 29th January 2021. The event will feature a welcome and introduction from our Headmaster, followed by a virtual tour of the school at your own pace. You will hear from pupils, parents and staff members and will gain access to a series of videos showing what school life is like here at Perrott Hill. Following the tour, parents will be given the opportunity to have 1-1 calls with our Headmaster and senior staff. For further information and to register your interest, please email our Admissions Registrar, Camilla, on admissions@perrotthill.com or call 01460 72051.
Patience, resilience, flexibility… all essential skills for remote learning and ones that were brought to the fore this morning as we embarked on our new programme of live lessons and interactivity. The Headmaster’s Assembly was about light and dark – the summer and winter solstice – and the negative feelings we get as humans when there is less light in our lives. Mr McCullough explained to pupils that it’s perfectly normal to feel miserable, angry and helpless at the moment, but that we can all take steps to lighten the load, such as listening to uplifting music, making connections with family and friends, being creative and getting active in the fresh air. He ended on this bible quote from John 8:12, and challenged all pupils – Christians and those of other or no faith – to think about what it might mean to them: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Welcome back everyone, and here’s to the light shining through soon. If you’d like a copy of our revised Perrott Hill Guide to Remote Learning, please email Camilla on admissions@perrotthill.com.
Our Virtual Carol Service is now available to view on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPgfLz8iG6I – and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat. Filmed in the beautiful St Martin’s Church in North Perrott and featuring carols and readings by pupils, parents, staff and governors, the service marks the end of a busy and successful term. The biggest round of applause to our entire school community but especially to our very own musical maestro and the mastermind behind it all, Mr Shortman, and to cameraman and editor, Mr Andrews. We are especially pleased to be sharing this year’s service with care homes across Somerset, Dorset and Devon as well as with OPHs and families around the world. Merry Christmas, everyone; proud to be Perrott.
Friday’s internal prize giving ceremony was a fine celebration of the many endeavours and achievements of pupils here at school and a fitting way to mark the last day of term; very well done to all our children and staff for supporting one another this year. One of the more poignant – but no less celebratory – stories this morning was about a set of books given to Perrott Hill in celebration of Olivia King, a Perrott Hillian who tragically died of brain cancer in 1999, aged just nine. The bookcase in Mrs Byrne’s classroom was donated by Olivia’s family and, this Christmas, they have very generously given the school another £500 for books so that all pupils – Pre-Prep and Prep – may share in her enthusiasm for reading. “I have wonderful memories of Olivia as a pupil here at Perrott Hill,” said Miss White. “She was bright, bubbly, sporty, always cheerful and so brave about her illness. She loved animals which is why so many of the books chosen for the selection have an animal theme, and she was very close to her big sister Charlotte, who was also at Perrott; lots of the books reflect this closeness to family too. She would have loved the books if she were here, so we really hope that you all enjoy them on her behalf.” Our sincerest thanks to the King family for this wonderful addition to the Olivia King selection, and to Olivia, whose memory and love for literature lives on at Perrott Hill.
Years 3-6 enjoyed an amazing Christmas activity weekend on Saturday and Sunday, complete with a festive feast, a present hunt around the school and a surprise appearance from… Mr Penguin! The biggest thanks to our Christmas elves who brought the fun and laughter by the bucketload and to the senior boarders who were on hand to help look after the younger ones. Now that’s what we call an activity weekend!
Years 3-5 met in the Loft last week for Book Club with Mr Silk and Mrs Byrne. Under the microscope this time was ‘Beetle Boy’ by M. G. Leonard, a funny and poignant story about Darkus Cuttle, a young boy who is forced to move in with his eccentric uncle after his father goes missing from the Natural History Museum. Pupils enjoyed lively conversations about characterisation and friendships with nature, amongst other things, and are now getting stuck into book two!
Hats off to our Pre-Prep children who sparkled in this year’s nativity, ‘The Late Angel’. Let’s just say what they lacked in live audience members they more than made up for in enthusiasm and excitement, with some stellar performances throughout! Very well done to the children (who loved attending their very own premiere this afternoon) and to all the Pre-Prep staff who have worked tirelessly with the children in order to make this year’s performance one for them to remember. Three cheers for the show’s director, Mr Edgar, and special thanks to Mr Shortman and to cameraman/editor extraordinaire, Mr Andrews. What a superb team effort; well done, everyone.
