A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Peppy has smashed through all previous reading records as he prepares to hit “30 million words read” since he joined us in Year 3. That’s 558 books read over the last five and a half years – an average of 100 books a year!!
“This is an incredible feat” explains Head of English Mrs Byrne.
“If we look at Peppy’s reading record, he has read a wide variety of genres, both children’s and young adult fiction, which ranges from Harry Potter (the complete set) and the Divergent series, to classics such as Swallows and Amazons, Hound of the Baskervilles and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
“His passion for reading and literature is also reflected in the quality of his creative writing, and fantastic use of vocabulary.
“He has certainly set the bar high for anyone coming though who wants to break the record, although younger brother Oli is hot on his heels!”
Encouraging children to read extensively and write with confidence is a core aim here at Perrott Hill, not least because reading is the thread that ties all academic learning together. We run Book Groups throughout the year; in-house creative writing events; enter numerous written word competitions and regularly invite authors to school.
In addition to our own marking, monitoring and assessments we are also supported by the ‘Accelerated Reader’ (AR) programme. This technology assesses reading abilities and levels, makes book recommendations and tests comprehension with fun, interactive quizzes.
“We have seen reading standards soar – across the board – since the introduction of AR,” said Mrs Byrne.
“Most importantly, every child here has a book on the go at all times, which they dip in to during their daily ‘reading rest’ sessions.”
So, while Peppy may be our headline-grabbing record-breaker, at Perrott Hill every pupil is on their own reading adventure. Whether it’s 30 million words or just the first chapter, we’re proud to see our pupils diving into books, growing in confidence, and discovering the joy of reading – one page at a time.
The sun’s out and the stage is set… it’s almost time for tonight’s Perrott Promenade!
Before we get going, we wanted to give a huge shout-out to two of our brilliant pupils, Joe and Tessa, who have composed and arranged music especially for this evening’s performance – no mean feat.
Tessa in Year 5 has composed a piece for La Carotte Quartet to perform, with the appropriate title, ‘A Bunch of Carrots’. Tessa is a budding violin and piano player who had success in the Grade 3-4 group of the Bryanston Strings Competition in March.
After successfully arranging ‘633 Squadron’ for the Brass Ensemble last year, Joe in Year 8 has arranged the finale for this year’s Promenade, the classic 80s hit ‘Our House’ by Madness. This has involved arranging the piece for full orchestra and choir! In addition, Joe has recently attained Grade 7 trumpet with distinction and was promoted, above his age, to become a member of the National Childrens’ Main Orchestra this year.
We are exceptionally proud of both of them.
ProCoaching are running Sports Camps at Perrott Hill over the summer for 5 to 14 year-olds.
The camps are open to all abilities:
Cricket: 28th – 30th July and 26th & 27th August
Tennis: 31st July and 1st August
Football: 28th and 29th August
Click here for more details and to book.
Insects play an incredibly important role in our natural world and it is important that we teach our children about them.
So, we invited Bugfest (and a selection of mini-beasts) to school to explain how insects support the wider environment. They play a key role in our ecosystem as they pollinate plants and crops; break down waste into fertilised soil and provide a source of food for animals and humans.
The children of course, found the insects fascinating and loved seeing them up close and personal.
“We want the children to build a connection with and respect for the natural world”, said Reception Teacher Mrs McCullough.
“This starts at an early age, by helping them to understand the role every creature plays in the world around us.”
Perrott Hill is an exceptionally happy school where children spend lots of time outside, and have plenty of opportunity to play and enjoy what we believe constitutes a ‘proper childhood’.
It is also an academic school where children are stretched and challenged so they make good progress and achieve their full potential.
As Headmaster Mr McCullough says, “I cannot overstate the importance of play, and ensuring children are happy while they are at school.”
“Children start learning to read, write and understand numeracy through play and we believe this enjoyment should continue throughout their Prep School years.
“This is why we have designed a curriculum that includes singing, dancing and performing; adventuring and exploring; creating and imagining; reading and playing – because these are all tools we actively use to make learning fun and memorable.
“In addition, our teachers work hard to make their lessons engaging and highly interactive, because if we can spark curiosity and instil a love of learning at this age, we are building positive foundations that can last a lifetime.
“So, we’ll continue to sprinkle that bit of Perrott Hill magic on all we do because we know, as experienced educators, that if we focus on the joy … success and achievement will naturally follow.”
Book a private tour to see how a Perrott Hill education could benefit your child.
Year 4 took to the stage, ably supported by a fantastic Year 3 choir, to perform ‘First Kids in Space’ to the whole school this week. They then prepared themselves for another evening show for family and friends.
With great gusto and enthusiasm, the children told the story of a group of cadets sent to space to help the resident androids. They experience a bumpy ride, but discover it’s about to get worse when the androids wreck the spacecraft, leaving the cadets wondering if they’ll ever get home again …
“Not only was this a great display of acting and singing talent,” said Headmaster Mr McCullough, “it was wonderful to hear how disciplined the children have been in learning their lines and songs.
“It is this focus and enthusiasm which has allowed the children to shine bright and really showcase their talents.
“Well done to everyone involved.”
On a glorious Monday evening, the U13 Tennis Squad enjoyed a superb 5-1 victory over Sherborne Prep, playing on both hard and astro courts.
It was a dominant display, with excellent tennis showcased throughout.
Congratulations to the team – Sholto, James, Jesse, Will, Luca, Reggie, Daisy, Willoughby, Saba and Evie – on a fantastic performance.
What does good leadership look like?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
What are your natural skills and abilities?
These are all questions Chris Wheeler, Principal at Monkton Combe School, addressed as he led an energetic leadership session for all pupils in Years 6 to 8.
Mr Wheeler used the DISC human behaviour model to outline four key personality types, encouraging the children to consider which one they most identified with.
“Understanding yourself can provide an important foundation for personal growth and help you forge successful working relationships,” Mr Wheeler explained.
“Of course, all traits are equally valuable, and any good team will have people with different skill sets and perspectives.”
Mr Wheeler is about to start a new role as Headmaster at Canford, so met Will and James who will also join the school in Year 9 in September.
An inspiring start to the week.
The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day provided the perfect opportunity for us to explore what life was like in Britain during the war, especially for women and children, and how people celebrated when World War II ended in Europe.
Congratulations to Esme whose artwork has made the finals of a major, global competition.
The ‘Global Canvas’ children’s art competition is an annual event run by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, to encourage creativity from young people.
Well done Esme!
You can view artwork from the 2025 finalists and winners here.
