HISTORY MAKER
Triple Olympic gold-medallist swimmer James Guy attended Millfield in Somerset on a scholarship. He tells Elizabeth Ivens about balancing academia with training, boarding and how the school propelled him to success
One of Team GB’s most decorated Olympians James Guy is a giant even by the standards of Millfield School, world-famous for its roll call of sporting stars.
The renowned swimmer, who specialises in freestyle and butterfly, is not only one of the most successful swimmers in Team GB’s aquatic squad but also the most experienced.
He made history this summer at Paris 2024 as part of Team GB’s first-ever 4x200m freestyle relay squad to successfully defend its Olympic title. It was James’ third Olympic Gold, alongside his three silver medals.
It also placed him among an elite group of Millfield athletes who won so many medals that they’d have come 12th in the medal table if they were a country.
Prodigiously talented in the pool from an early age, the Bury swimmer applied and was awarded a sports scholarship to Millfield at the age of 12.
“I came to Millfield because of its sporting reputation, as I knew it had created so many legends. It was the place to go.”
He has gone on to become one of those legends, representing Great Britain in the Olympics, European and World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
And despite his stellar success in the pool, impressive medal tally and world records, he’s quick to attribute his path to Olympic glory to the Somerset school.
Already a well-known swimmer on the European circuit, he was looking for the right environment to develop his talent and ultimately fulfil his burning desire to make it to the Olympics when he joined Millfield in 2008.
“Before I came to Millfield, I was already quite established in my age group nationally and was ranked quite high. I’d always had Olympic ambitions, but they definitely became more real when I became part of Millfield’s ethos.”
I’d always had Olympic ambitions, but they definitely became more real when I became part of Millfield
OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: Team GB’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay swimming team – James Guy, Duncan Scott, Matthew Richards and Tom Dean –won its second consecutive Gold at Paris LEFT: James’ powerful freestyle in action in Paris BELOW: James at the Swimming Pool Complex during his time at Millfield
BOARDING SCHOOL
WINNER
Worth School
At Worth it’s abundantly clear that a boarding school should be seen as a home-from-home; only when students are content and emotionally secure can they be 100 per cent ready to learn, embrace opportunities with confidence and make lifelong, meaningful friendships.
The friendly, inclusive atmosphere is seen in the seamless blending of the boarding and day houses. Day and boarding pupils enjoy a long, structured day from 8.30am-5.30pm – which is, crucially, completely phone-free, which students surprise themselves by actually preferring! These hours include cocurricular and prep time, so most of the school day is spent altogether having fun, caring for and learning from one another.
The school’s idyllic location, set in 500 acres of glorious Sussex countryside, provides the best of both worlds for its 665 students; close to Gatwick and Heathrow airports, halfway between London and Brighton, with beautiful grounds made for roaming, enjoying and outdoor activities.
One of the many recent developments for boarders has been the promotion of weekend activities to all students (day pupils as well as boarders). This means the weekends remain buzzing
and sociable occasions for all, further cementing friendships. The extensive programme of activities and excursions range from games night on campus to kayaking in Ardingly or days out further afield, for example, to Cambridge.
In this fast-paced, competitive and increasingly online world, students are taught patience and gratitude, how to work hard and how to focus. A key part of this is Wednesday Worship; the whole school comes together on a Wednesday afternoon in the on-site abbey church. The students hear from inspirational speakers and take time to contemplate, think or pray – away from distraction and devices.
The school motto ‘education with heart and soul’ sums up what makes Worth so special; the students, who come from across the globe, leave Worth academically enriched with spiritual roots, entering the world as young people who are kind, reflective and self-assured in a peaceful, grounded sense.
This attitude of gratitude means making the most of every opportunity, which plays out broadly from academic achievement – students go on to Oxbridge, UCL, Durham, or a wide range of international universities, such as Bocconi in Milan – to spiritual development and care for others. worthschool.org.uk
Academic achievement is a given. What makes Worth a special place to learn and live is the ethos expressed by the school’s wide-reaching values. It’s an honour to see the school’s character, its ‘education with heart and soul’, recognised in this way. Thank you!
Stuart McPherson, Headmaster
The Downs Malvern
Nestled amid the picturesque Malvern Hills, the school provides a robust and inspiring education for children aged six months to 13 years in one of the most beautiful regions of the country
As the Prep School to the esteemed Malvern College, The Downs Malvern strives to exceed the boundaries of the National Curriculum, providing an inspiring learning environment that recently earned it the title of Small Independent School of the Year 2024 in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.
The school is widely recognised for its commitment to sustainability and eco-initiatives, with a pupil-led Eco Team, a market garden, and an ever-expanding smallholding with pigs, sheep, chickens, quails, and guineafowl. These unique features deepen pupils’ understanding of the natural world and help foster a strong sense of responsibility.
The Downs Malvern has an enviable record of helping pupils secure 13+ scholarships across a range of disciplines, with more than half of year-eight pupils regularly achieving places at respected independent senior schools, including Malvern College, through these awards. In years seven and eight, the focus extends beyond scholarship and Common Entrance prep through the TDM Baccalaureate, a bespoke two-year course blending a rigorous academic curriculum with essential skills, equipping pupils for future studies and lifelong learning. The school’s curriculum also embraces a wide spectrum
of co-curricular activities, including sports, art, music, and drama, alongside an expanding programme of extracurricular pursuits. Pupils enjoy opportunities ranging from farming and horse riding to yoga and even mechanical engineering, utilising the school’s historic Downs Light Railway. Introduced nearly a century ago, this miniature railway, one of the oldest in the world, winds around the campus, adding both charm and signi cant STEM value.
In addition to a large proportion of day pupils, The Downs Malvern is also home to a vibrant boarding community, welcoming children from the UK and abroad, with full, weekly, and exi-boarding options available. This year, the school’s dedication to providing a high-quality and supportive boarding experience earned it the accolade of Highly Commended in the Brilliant Boarding School category of the Muddy Stilettos Best School Awards.
The school boasts superb facilities, including a 300-seat concert hall, dedicated music and art buildings, well-equipped science laboratories, and a new design and technology suite. Additional resources include an indoor sports complex, an all-weather games pitch, three netball/tennis courts, and extensive grounds for sports, Forest School sessions, and outdoor relaxation.
thedownsmalvern.org.uk
SMALL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL WINNER
We’re thrilled that the judges have recognised the community spirit and collaborative ethos that define The Downs. This recognition stands as a true testament to what makes our school such a unique and special place for growth and discovery
Andy Nuttall, Headmaster
King’s Ely
King’s Ely is elated to be the winner of the Sporting Achievement category in this year’s Independent Schools of the Year awards
a sense of belonging and involvement in the school’s sports programme, and thirdly, to increase its sports provision through the inclusion of alternative sports and ways of keeping active.
King’s Ely is a leading independent day and boarding school for pupils aged two to 18 years, located in the beautiful cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire. Sport is an integral part of the curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular experience at the school, from pre-prep right the way through to sixth form.
All major sports are offered, including rugby, football, hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, and cricket. So many other sports and activities are available too – rowing, athletics, basketball, golf, volleyball, badminton, equestrian, archery, rifle shooting –the choices are endless.
However, this hasn’t always been the case. A review of our sports provision in 2022-23 highlighted several issues. Some sport options were limiting for certain year groups, meaning pupils were participating in sports that they didn’t really enjoy. It also revealed that too much emphasis was being placed on main team sports, which didn’t appeal to all, especially our international students. As a result, the Off Games classrooms were fuller than they should have been. At its peak, more than 80 students were not participating fully in some sort of regular physical activity.
Something had to be done; something to provide an inclusive sporting experience that improves participation, increases enjoyment, and develops a lifelong passion for sport and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. A new campaign was launched –
InclusivEly King’s!
The school achieved its aims in 2023-24 by segmenting the sports programme into three distinct areas of interest and
opportunity – performance sports, participation sports, and recreational sports. The new programme is uniquely crafted with more than 50 different sporting options for students in years five to 13, including body conditioning, Zumba, table tennis, orienteering, kayaking and bouldering. Those who want to play competitive rugby can, but those who’d rather do Zumba or Pilates, can be active too. Off Games numbers have decreased significantly since the new programme’s introduction, and overseas pupils’ involvement in sports teams has increased by more than 30 per cent, based on the introduction of competitive opportunities in badminton, basketball, and girls’ football.
While the focus isn’t on filling the trophy cabinet, King’s Ely students, energised with greater confidence and focus, have been on quite a sporting roll! Just days before the school submitted its awards entry, three prep pupils won medals at the prestigious IAPS National Swimming Finals, while another prep student achieved a place to compete in the National Prep Schools Athletics Championships Finals in July.
Other sporting highlights this year include one year three pupil being signed for Norwich City FC Academy; prep pupil, Lucy, and her horse, Frigowny Fairqueen, winning at the British Showjumping Winter Pony Finals; senior rowers winning gold and silver medals at the Junior Sculling Regatta; and the golf team securing a place at the Independent Schools Golf Association National Finals for the first time in the school’s history. The U12A rugby team also ended its year unbeaten for the third season running.
Mr and Mrs Thompson, whose three children attend King’s Ely, said: “The variety of sports on offer is commendable, both at prep and senior level, and we’re noticing a remarkable improvement in skill development opportunities for the pupils and an increased focus within this department over the last year. This has had a hugely positive impact on all of our children and their own enthusiasm, commitment, and drive. Sport is the reason that our children want to get to school early and the reason that they want to stay late!” kingsely.org
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT WINNER
Winning this award means so much to so many members of our school community
Alex Meddle, Director of Sport
FUNDRAISING ACHIEVEMENT
From impressive charity events and activities to consistent bursaryfund sourcing, this award marks outstanding outreach successes
Fundraising is a fundamental aspect of independentschool life, from ensuring that fee-assistance coffers remain full to instilling students with a philanthropic spirit. Nominees in this category have raised astounding sums but in this instance, Felsted School in Essex took the award for its powerful quest to fulfil transformative bursary needs through a concentrated campaign. Igniting community-wide conversations about philanthropy and the power of education, the school turned raising money “into a team sport”. With renewed ambition and support from the Head and governing body, Felsted’s new development team put the motto ‘giving back’ at the heart of the campaign, with the belief that transformative bursaries are a demonstration of the school’s values in action. Bringing the whole school together to assist the engagement activity around the fundraising, student-led social media was hugely influential, sharing powerful real-life narratives and match-fund challenges. This resulted in 340 donations – 86 per cent of which were first-time donors – trebling Felsted’s donor base in 36 hours. It all culminated in the school’s first-ever Giving Day, raising a total of £117,000 – enough to offer a fully-funded sixth-form place to a young person from partner school Royal Docks Academy within a week of the campaign’s conclusion.
This school was the winner in this category for its focus on embedding a culture of giving back
LEFT: Felsted students led the fundraising social media campaign BELOW: Finalist Dame Allan’s Schools held its first Giving Day in May this year