A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Our pupils loved creating pictures of hope and thanks for NHS staff and their patients towards the end of last term, and it’s such a pleasure to see them in situ! Thank you to everyone at the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for this lovely picture, and for everything you do. You are our heroes.
We are proud of our status as a small, family-oriented and award-winning prep school and are delighted to announce two dates for our Virtual Open Mornings taking place this term. While we know that a virtual Open Morning can never replace the real thing, we think we’ve got a compelling package to show you. This includes interviews with our pupils and staff and exclusive footage from our recent IAPS and ITN filming, where we were selected as one of only a handful of prep schools across the country to showcase the very best of what a prep school education can offer. Plus you’ll be given the opportunity to have a phone or video call with our Headmaster, Alex McCullough, if you’d like to take things further. We are holding two Virtual Open Mornings on Saturday 2nd and Saturday 9th May. For further information and to register your interest, please contact our Admissions Registrar, Camilla Bracher, on admissions@perrotthill.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
We are delighted to share our new Perrott Hill Guide to Remote Learning ahead of the start of term. “We are looking forward to embracing this new way of working together,” says Headmaster Mr McCullough. “Though we know it presents many challenges, we believe it presents many opportunities, too. The children will not miss out during this period; on the contrary, they will be learning new skills and lessons that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We hope you will join us in our optimism for a term well spent, no matter how long or little is in or out of school.” Read the guide here.
The first week of remote learning is sailing by, and we are bowled over by the energy and enthusiasm our pupils (and staff!) have put into this new way of working. From setting up their own Forest Schools and art studios to getting stuck into sport, music and a whole range of extra-curricular activities, we are so proud of you all. Keep it up!
As we close the doors on Perrott Hill for the foreseeable future, we are reminded of what a caring and compassionate community we are part of, and how very proud we are of our school. Last week, parents and staff rallied to help each other and pupils were busy writing letters to the residents of the West Abbey Care Home in Yeovil, as well as painting pictures for their walls. “I know you are probably sad because your family can’t see you,” wrote Zac. “I really hope this will all blow away soon so they can come and visit.” “If you need any help, please do not hesitate to get in touch,” wrote Sebastian. What kind and thoughtful words from our pupils. Stay safe, everyone; we’ll be back before you know it.
Congratulations to our brilliant Year 6 children, who acted their hearts out in the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s war novel, ‘Private Peaceful’, last night. It was incredible! A big thank you to the Year 5s for their superb musical accompaniment, to Melanie Stamp, Taunton School’s Head of Drama, for lending her expertise with the rehearsals last week, and to Mr Shortman and all the many staff involved behind the scenes. Finally, a special thank you to the show’s director and the driving force behind it all, Mr Silk. Well done, everyone.
Congratulations to Year 6 pupil, Lily, who was this week crowned the winner of the St Mary’s Shaftesbury ‘Born to Write’ creative writing competition (Junior Category) – and to Harry, Katya and Ollie, who were each awarded Highly Commended in their categories. “I was astounded by the level of entries we had this year,” says St Mary’s Librarian, Min Edmonds, who is also a judge for the Radio 2 500 Words competition. “The clever interpretations of this year’s theme, ‘Earth’, were truly impressive and showed such wonderful imagination. The prize winners should be very proud of their achievement.” Many thanks to Mrs Byrne and Mr Silk for their encouragement and guidance in the run up, to author and Achievement for All ambassador, Joffre White, who had the pleasure of judging this year’s competition, and to all at St Mary’s Shaftesbury for a brilliant and hugely inspiring event.
Many congratulations to Alistair, who has been awarded an Academic Scholarship to King’s College, Taunton. Alistair is something of a trail blazer as last year he became our first finalist in the St Mary’s, Shaftesbury ‘Born to Write’ competition – which this year featured not one but four Perrott Hill pupils as finalists. Very well done on your scholarship success, Alistair; it is thoroughly deserved.
We are delighted to share the news that Perrott Hill has been shortlisted for the Branding Impact Award at the upcoming AMCIS Awards 2020. Not only does AMCIS (the UK body for Admissions, Marketing and Communications in Independent Schools) have over 500 member schools across the country, but its Board of Directors is made up of senior staff at some of the top schools in the country – so this is high praise, indeed (and we must say a huge thank you to our friends at Coastline, who we formed a partnership with in 2017; they are an excellent local design agency by the sea who are doing incredible things). Once again, we are the only standalone prep school in the category and are up against our friends from Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls, as well as Burgess Hill Girls, Cardiff Sixth Form College, Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and Wolverhampton Grammar School. What excellent company to be in! Proud to be Perrott.
Children and staff from Nursery to Year 5 dressed up in their finest literary attire to celebrate World Book Day this week – and we had everything from the BFG and Charlie Bucket to Harry Potter and Snow White. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in activities across the school, with Mrs Layfield’s shadow puppets in the science lab being a particular hit. A brilliant day celebrating the joy and wonder of books!
