A leading independent prep school in Somerset, offering excellence in education for 2-13 year olds
Many thanks to Jack Howden, Director of Rugby Coaching at Sherborne School, who ran a top coaching session for our senior boys recently. The session was based on moving the ball quickly, with the boys being challenged to look for players in support and work as a team. Jack, who previously worked for Bath Rugby, also refereed our Feltonfleet match last week in the extreme rain. Our biggest thanks to you, Jack, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Our Nursery and Reception children enjoyed a hugely entertaining and informative trip to Waitrose in Crewkerne this week, to consolidate this term’s learning about food. As well as going behind the scenes and seeing the lorry turntable, they looked at how the food is sourced, stored and distributed. They also got to fill up their trolley and put it through the checkout, before sampling a variety of foods including guacamole, different cheeses and raisin bread. Many thanks to Graham, Natalie, Marie and all the staff at Waitrose for being so wonderful with the children (they even sang happy birthday to Nathan and gave him a cake!). And, of course, to Mrs McCullough, Miss Becky, Miss Sarah and Mrs Bracher for leading such a brilliant morning of hands-on learning.
Many thanks to Mr Eriksson from King’s Bruton for a fantastic indoor hockey training session earlier in the term. The senior girls worked on developing their skills and playing in a new environment, alongside their friends from All Hallows’ School. A top afternoon of hockey.
Year 6 and 7 pupils enjoyed a captivating trip to the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on Wednesday, to watch the final performance of The Nutcracker. It was an inspirational evening of theatre and ballet, featuring a live orchestra with over 30 musicians! Our thanks to Mr Shortman, Mr McCullough and Mr Silk for masterminding and accompanying the trip.
As part of our renowned Lecture Programme for Years 3 to 8, Perrott parent Simon Cox gave a fascinating insight into rowing at elite level. Simon, who is currently Consultant Performance Director for the Czech national team and is helping them prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, talked through the different roles and responsibilities in a rowing team and the range of techniques used in training. The children particularly enjoyed watching Mr Sheldon being put through his paces on the ergo! Many thanks for a brilliant lecture, Simon.
Former Exeter Chiefs winger Nic Sestaret gave a terrific coaching session on Top Field last week. Nic, who is now Director of Rugby at Taunton School, worked on contact skills and ball presentation as well as setting the back line effectively to give options close and on the flanks. Many thanks for a top afternoon of training, Nic.
Many thanks to local gardener and self-confessed ‘spud fanatic’ Keith Mayes for his informative and entertaining talk about potatoes on Thursday. For the past fortnight, the Grundy Hall has played host to a fascinating exhibition of 100 types of potatoes, representing a very small selection of the varieties Keith grows on his allotment nearby (there are 620 different types in total!).
This weekend, we welcomed our friends from Feltonfleet Prep School to play an annual remembrance fixture that dates back to the earliest days of our inception. In 1940, during the Second World War, the children and staff from Feltonfleet were evacuated to North Perrott Manor, where they stayed for the duration of the war. Upon their return to Surrey, Mr and Mrs Grundy decided to stay at the manor and Perrott Hill was born. Alongside the annual rugby and hockey fixtures, the children competed in the second running of The Haddock Cup, a cross country race inaugurated in 2017 and named after the late John Haddock. John, who arrived at Perrott Hill in 1940 and remained very much a part of the family up until his death last year, won a half blue for cross country running at Oxford University, competing in the same team as Sir Roger Bannister, future Olympian Sir Chris Chataway and Artic expedition leader Chris Brasher CBE. We were honoured to have his son, Chris, at the start line on Friday.
The Prep School came together for a moving Remembrance Service in St Martin’s Church in North Perrott on Monday, with a superb address by Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner KCB, CBE. Sir Barney spoke to the children about the importance of remembering through actions, rather than just words; of honouring the fallen by making the most of every opportunity and living the lives they never got to live. It was an indelible message, which will be heeded for many years to come. Many thanks to our Heads of School for their readings, to our Senior Choir and musicians for their poignant rendition of In Flanders Fields (wonderfully arranged by Mr Shortman) and to Reverend Jonathan Morris for leading the service. Lest we forget.
Many thanks to our amazing Friends of Perrott Hill for a gloriously gruesome Halloween Disco before half term. Years 5-8 had a great time dancing the evening away in the Grundy Hall! Very well done to Emma, Scarlet, Lily, Tilly and Evie for scooping the best dressed award – and to Levi, Sam and Alistair for their winning dance moves.
