A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Staff and pupils from Years 3 to 8 gathered in St. Martin’s Church today, for a special service to mark Remembrance Day.
Reverend B Hicks welcomed children with a reading from John 14.27, before everyone stood to sing Make me a Channel of Your Peace.
A wreath was laid by Heads of School Sidney and Martha, then Bea played The Last Post before we all observed a two-minute silence.
During a heartfelt address, our guest speaker Major (Retd) Victor McWilliams spoke about his time in the army, and what Remembrance Day means to him and his family. He also explained what thankful villages are, pointing out that there 14 ‘doubly thankful’ villages in England and Wales which means they lost no service personnel during World Wars One and Two: Stocklinch in South Somerset being one of these.
The Senior Choir performed The Last to Leave, a beautiful piece of music composed by our Head of Classics Mrs Besterman, to support a poem written by Leon Gellert.
Prayers were led by the Headmaster and Prefects Alexia and Amir, before the second and final hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.
Congratulations to Bea in Year 5 who has earned a place on trumpet in the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra following a rigorous selection process.
Throughout 2026, Bea will attend orchestral weekends in the Midlands, rehearsing and performing alongside some of the finest young musicians from across the country.
Commenting on her success, Mr Shortman Director of Music at Perrott Hill said, “This is a tremendous achievement and a wonderful reflection of Bea’s talent and hard work.”
Last week, pupils from Year 7 travelled to Maison Claire Fontaine in Burgundy to support their classroom studies.
During their stay, they were fully immersed in the language, with tailored French lessons and activities in the morning followed by visits to Vézelay, Avallon and Flavigny in the afternoon.
The children also enjoyed French-themed competitions and team work tasks.
“This is always a great opportunity for our children to practice their speaking and listening skills,” said Trip Leader Madame Brooks, “and I was delighted to see their confidence grow as the week went on.
“Their behaviour was commendable. They were a credit to Perrott Hill.”
The phrase ‘manners maketh man’ is often attributed to William Horman (1440–1535), a distinguished Headmaster of both Eton and Winchester.
At Perrott Hill, we carry this principle forward by having staff sit alongside the children at mealtimes—not only to guide and reinforce good table manners, but also to nurture the art of thoughtful conversation.
These are two qualities we regard as essential, shaping character as much as they shape community.
“Our book groups provide a valuable opportunity for pupils to extend their reading and to hear other viewpoints,” explains Mrs Byrne Head of English.
“The first meeting of the new school year focused on Skellig by David Almond, which prompted lively discussion and thoughtful reflection.”
“These informal sessions not only broaden literary horizons but they also foster social interaction, critical thinking, and empathy. All skills which enrich both academic learning and personal growth.”
The Junior Book Group (for Years 3, 4 and 5) will meet on Friday 10th October to discuss Matilda by Roald Dahl, and again on Friday 5th December to discuss The Tower at the End of Time by Amy Sparkes. All welcome!
Tickets for this fantastic, family event always sell out fast so please do get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Pre-Prep gathered in St. Martin’s Church to celebrate the Harvest Festival with songs, poems and prayers.
In her address, Reverend Julia Hicks thanked the children for their generous donations and spoke about the wonderful work of the Lord’s Larder in Yeovil who supported around 9,000 people last year – many of whom were children.
Her words reminded everyone how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others.
A huge well done to everyone for making last week’s Charity Morning such a success.
The children raised a fantastic £657.23 for the World Wide Fund for Nature – a charity they themselves chose.
The range of stalls stalls included those selling second hand toys and books; food stalls; and plenty of opportunities for the children to get creative. The biggest queue (as always) was for the sponge-the-teacher stall, and for that we thank all the staff members who gamely stepped forward.
Events like this are a brilliant reminder of what makes our school so special: teamwork, kindness and a real sense of purpose.
It was great to welcome back Barney Maunder-Taylor from the House of Maths who certainly got our children’s mathematical minds thinking.
He shared his passion, tricks and insights into the hidden maths of our everyday lives with children from Nursery through to Year 8.
hey couldn’t wait to get stuck into the fun, educational activities which involved patterns, numbers and shapes.
Our Year 8 pupils enjoyed a geography and team-building trip to the Pendine Outdoor Education Centre in Carmarthenshire. The programme combined adventure with challenge as pupils tackled climbing, abseiling, and zip wires, and explored caves and rock pools. All activities designed to build teamwork, self-confidence, and resilience.
The trip also had a strong academic focus. In Tenby, they undertook a geography project on the impact of tourism, examining both its positive and negative effects. This fieldwork involved designing questionnaires, interviewing people, measuring footfall, and carrying out environmental quality surveys. The data they gathered will be developed into a 1,000-word report, worth 20% of their Common Entrance geography mark—an excellent opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world enquiry.
Alongside structured activities, the group also had valuable time for independent learning – an essential skill as they begin to prepare for the transition to Senior School.
Head of Geography Mr Coverdale praised the pupils, noting how well they collaborated on tasks and supported one another throughout.
