Monktonian 2024

Welcome

As I turn to write my introduction to the Monktonian, I am struck, as I always am, by the huge variety of experiences our pupils have. This is not only in terms of what they get up to but of who they are. Monktonians are thoughtful and reflective but equally they are doers and makers. We have pupils achieving great things and others who take a more supporting role, preferring to encourage those around them rather than to take the limelight for themselves.

Over nearly ten years at Monkton, it has become increasingly clear to me that although our staff and governors are talented and dedicated, it is the young people we are blessed with as pupils who have the most impact on one another and on who Monkton is. The inspiration our pupils give one another as they aspire to do better is hard to capture but there are glimpses in the stories that unfold in these pages; the compassion and care that is added to that inspiration is what marks Monktonians out in the world beyond our gates.

As Georgie and I began here, I observed that we would seek to strike the living waters from the rocks along our way. With Covid, the cost of living and now the additional financial pressures of VAT, there have certainly been rocks during our tenure. It has been a pleasure, however, to sail those waters with my fellow voyagers determined to help Monkton be the best it can be, to seize every opportunity in our paths, to overcome challenges as we face them and to do so together.

In CS Lewis’ wonderful novel, ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’, Lewis writes, ‘Most of us, I suppose, have a secret country but for most of us it is only an imaginary country’. For Monktonians it is not imaginary; a glimpse of it is found in this extraordinary valley just outside Bath. And unlike Narnia, even when we have left it behind, it is always there and we can always return. Or put in Aslan’s words, ‘knowing me here a little, you may know me better there’.

I hope you find a little of Aslan’s words in every page of this magazine.

Chris Wheeler Principal

“We have pupils achieving great things and others who take a more supporting role, preferring to encourage those around them rather than to take the limelight for themselves.”

HEAD GIRL

Theresia

‘If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another. And by the end of the day that one task will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.’ This is something I have always been told by my parents but to be honest, the only reason my bed was made when I came back to my dorm after school was because of the amazing cleaners who probably felt bad about the state of my room. Therefore I’m not sure what I’m more sad about, the fact that I’m leaving a whole chapter of my life behind me with the end of my time at Monkton, or that I’ll soon have to make my bed myself!

Whether it is all the people I’ve met, the opportunities I received, or my bed, I am more than grateful for Monkton and how it has become my second home in the past few years. When I arrived in Year 10 to not only a new school, but also a new country, I didn’t realise that four years later I would be part of such an amazing year group, house and school community, and friends with people who I would almost call family now. Not only has it been an honour to see so many people grow as individuals and find out who they are, but I also hope that I can be a part of the rest of their lives and that our journey together doesn’t end here.

Just like making your bed, it is the little things that matter so yes, I do care about the new friends you make at university, the countries you get to discover on your gap year, or the job that you have wanted to do since you were a child. But I also hope to stay part of Monkton, and can move on knowing that I spent the best four years of my life here, filled with highlights from House Music to being part of an amazing sports team. Our future journeys might all be different, but that is what makes us all perfect, so I hope every single one of you will go into this world and make it a brighter place with the joy we got to experience every day.

I don’t think I could’ve mastered my time at Monkton without my amazing parents, who had to try and comfort me over the phone when I was homesick for the fifth time that week or help me make some of the biggest decisions of my life. But also the teachers and houseparents who always believed in me and taught me to never give up, allowing me to be the confident and optimistic person I am today. Thank you to all of you for guiding us through these rough but incredible 18 years, and I hope that you know that the people we have looked up to and loved the most throughout are you.

HEAD BOY

Owen

I have come to the end of my journey at this wonderful place and what a journey it’s been. Everyone who is lucky enough to walk through the doors of our gorgeous chapel on their first day starts a journey. In my eyes that is what this school is all about. It’s about the journey. On arrival at the Senior School, I was met with the most incredible pastoral team; like everyone I was given a tutor, a houseparent, a Year 13 mentor and subject teachers, all trying to make my journey as fulfilling as possible. I have had huge ups and downs and the staff and pupils here have been with me through it all.

I would like to illustrate some of the qualities of this school by sharing a short example from my experience. Ever since I was four years old I’ve wanted to be a rugby player. That was my dream, my goal, my passion. And I got the opportunity to take this further in Year 8 by being put forward for the Bath Rugby pathway. Three years and five failed trials later, I was eventually accepted onto the pathway. I got huge amounts of advice and support through these years. My tutor had vast conversations with me about my goals, and also challenged my character and helped to shape me into a more rounded person. My rugby coach in particular gave me so many bits of advice as well as a conditioning programme. Older pupils were a great source of comfort as the links we have across year groups here are so strong and all of this was just what I needed to keep persevering. I’d love to tell you that I’ve been successful ever since but after a year in the pathway, waking up at 5:30am three times a week to train and giving it my all, I was completely dropped from the Bath system. The advice and care I received around this helped me go through the painful process of letting go of my lifelong dream. I still enjoy my rugby, it’s just not going to be my livelihood. During Sixth Form, the careers advice has been just what I needed and has allowed me to find what I want to do in my own time. I haven’t been pushed along a conveyor belt in the same direction as everyone else. I am very excited for the next chapter of my journey starting in September. We have all been on so many different journeys and I hope you have loved yours as much as I have loved mine.

I cannot express enough how lucky I feel to have been here for 10 years. I can truly say it’s been the best 10 years of my life. Every one of us is hugely privileged to have this amount of support around us every single day. So please make the most of it. The wealth of knowledge and experiences in the staff body is magnificent, they are all utterly brilliant and they genuinely want to help you, all you have to do is ask.

In one final word I would love to say thank you. Thank you on behalf of my whole year group and all the leavers this year; Monkton has been an amazing place for us to grow and thrive and we are all so grateful. I am sure this won’t be the end of my journey with Monkton but for now, thank you and goodbye.

From the Chaplaincy: Rev Hutch

12 months gone in a flash and what a year it has been. Lighthouse, Illuminate, Bible studies, former convicts, hot chocolate, CUs, Where’s Tiny-Toby games, social experiments, Big Escape and so much more. Some highlights from the year:

Lighthouse was a three day event in the Michaelmas term that gave the opportunity for pupils to examine and look at the Christian faith. Each evening instead of pupils heading to the dining hall for tea, they came to the Chapel where food was laid on along with an inspirational talk from one of the team from the Oxford Christian Centre of Apologetics. There was much intrigue and grappling with what the speakers shared that led to some great discussion in houses afterwards. As well as the team from OCCA, it was great to have a team from Lymington Rushmore here in support, along with some OMs who hosted the week.

Just before the Christmas break we were privileged to have former convict John Lawson speak in chapel and at CU. John has an incredible life story, he was a violent criminal, bouncer, biker and bodyguard who became a Christian whilst in prison and then became an international speaker. He spoke powerfully about the significance of knowing the hope found in the Christian faith which was even more poignant, and with and his own life situation at the time he spoke.

One of the main highlights of the year was being in the Abbey for our Whole School Carol Service. This is the one time in the year we gather as a whole school community and it was a special service indeed. The choirs were superb and the Rev’d Rico Tice, a longtime friend of the school, was hugely engaging.

Each year we have a number of Crossfires for Years 11-13. Crossfire is where pupils look at an issue where faith and the world meet. This year, Warren Furman (former Gladiator Ace) shared his life story, we grappled with the gender debate, how to read Genesis 1 & 2 with modern understandings of the world and James & Olivia Shone being interviewed about “where is God when life goes wrong”.

As ever, we are hugely grateful to the team who support all the chaplaincy work at Monkton; Miss Page and Miss Sanderson, the GTAs, all the staff who have helped lead Year Group Bible Studies this year and especially the Sidders as they move on to Repton this summer.

I wonder how you are feeling as we head into next year? Arguably, Abraham was one of the greatest and most significant people in the Bible. But when God called him in Genesis 11, Abraham did not know what lay in store but he trusted and obeyed. At times the future can feel unknown but at those moments it is important to look at the “known” - that God is good, faithful and trustworthy.

Clarendon House

Clarendon started the year with a bang, loving House Music and celebrating the individual and collective talents of the house - special shout out to our four amazing singers, Katie, Pippa, Evie and Libby who brought the house down with the small ensemble.

The big thing we wanted to do this year was build deep relationships across the house, boarders, day, any year group, and the girls really threw themselves into this, the older years going out of their way to look out for the younger girls, and people finding friendships across the years. A highlight has been to see girls from every year caring for everyone, and friendships being forged along the way.

House Dinner saw us Living in a Fairytale, and it was great to invite parents to get a glimpse into the slightly insane fun that characterises Clarendon!

We have thrown ourselves into House Competitions this year, with enthusiasm, win or lose and also great red tutus! It was great to finish on a high with a closely fought win at Sports Day, with every person’s contribution making the difference, but we have loved all of them.

Clarendon has been our home this year, a place to be accepted for who we are, giving us the courage to push ourselves because we know we are loved.

Izzy F

Eddystone House

House Music. Fun. Colours. Skirts. Trophies…Moana. We began the new school year with a bang, bringing home a trophy in recognition of winning the most important award at House Music; the house song. We were nervous and had an unusual song choice of ‘You’re Welcome’ from Moana, inspired by Mr Robinson’s love for the film. Despite the nerves and a few rocky rehearsals in the early weeks, we soon began working like a well-oiled machine, nailing every dance move and verse. We aimed to enjoy ourselves on stage, not take ourselves too seriously, and put on a good show, which I am confident in saying that we did.

The passion and excitement from the weeks of house music carried on throughout the year, as almost every member of the house took part in many other house events. For example, house rugby, ergos, hockey and cross-country. In each of these events, and others, everyone, whether they were competing or not, showed up to support the house. As usual, another highlight of the year is the informal dinner, which the house prefects decided to make an Ancient Rome theme. Again, this allowed everyone to not take themselves too seriously by performing various acts throughout the night whilst dressing in our finest togas and gladiator costumes.

Every week I look forward to Tuesday evening, where we gather for in-house and do an activity together, such as football, karaoke, spotlight, hide and seek, slip ‘n’ slide, and many more. I can tell by the energy and excitement of everyone around me that others in the house enjoy this time as much as I do and it’s such a good time to get together and do something active with the whole house. With the help of Mr & Mrs Robinson, we tried to make every in-house available for everyone by having multiple activities happening at once, often some indoors and some outdoors.

Nearing the end of the year, we all enjoyed our Eddy meal out to Giraffe, where Johnny led us in a game of bingo, in which, of course, the prize was a high five. This was a special time for everyone as it is one of the last times when the whole house was together in a small environment.

The encouragement and support that Mr Robinson offers, mixed with the kindness and passion of Mrs Robinson has made this an outstanding year for me and from what I’ve seen I am able to talk on the behalf of the boys. I am also lucky to have been joined by not only three great Deputy Heads of House, but the whole house prefect team working together to form the best outcome in every situation. Finally, I would like to congratulate Malachi for being awarded the Head of House position in my place and I wish him and his prefect team the best of luck for next year. I am happy to say that I’m leaving the house in good hands.

Callum K

Farm House

What a year it has been. Within the first few weeks, Farm had scored a great victory in House Music, with ‘Ruby’ and ‘Parklife’ really stealing the show! There have been other glories at house ergos and cross country, but far more importantly, participation in events has been high. From rugby and hockey, to chess and philosothon, the Farm boys have been willing to volunteer and to give it a go.

Highlights of every week include our ‘in-house nights’ where we gather together on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our whole house nights on Tuesday have ranged from quizzes to volleyball, water balloon fights to ‘spotlight’ and have been great for building ‘family’ amongst the boys. On Thursdays, it has been great to get together a year group at a time, be it making pizzas or crepes or playing ‘Chameleon’ or ‘Empires’, these are a great deal of fun and give the boys and houseparents a chance to get to know eachother better.

Each week is concluded by the awarding of chocolate bars to recognise the FARM values of Family, Ambition, Resilience and Modesty. It has been great to recognise where house staff, colleagues, and most importantly, the Farm boys have seen each other displaying these in their lives around the school and the house.

Rico K

Grange House

We started this year with a bang during House Music, which set the tone for Grange to have an amazing year. The girls absolutely smashed their performance of ‘I Need a Hero’ in the Forum, with a highlight being the cancan kicks that were only really pulled off successfully during the final performance! It’s safe to say this theme of fun and unity has continued throughout this year.

In-houses are something everyone looks forward to each week and have provided ample opportunity to bond as a House. Whether it’s a giant ‘slipn-slide’, campfires and smores, or a silly game, Grange House has done it all, including our own version of ‘The Traitors’!

Grange prides itself in being a closeknit community, and the care and support everyone has for one another is truly evident; not only with their close friends, but across all the year groups. This is highlighted through the endless giggles and laughter that can be heard echoing through the corridors, and our ‘have a go’ spirit at the House competitions. Although victory may have eluded us at the majority of competitions this year, we have competed equipped with energy, smiles, yellow face paint and signs, and always cheering each other on.

A clear highlight of the year was the Grange House formal dinner. We spent the evening in the beautifully decorated dining hall, filled with good food and entertainment. Of course, we had to end the evening with a pitchy rendition of our House Music song, complete with the dance moves!

I would like to say a huge thank you to the house tutor team and Mr and Mrs Blair whose hard work has made this year very memorable.

Annabel B

Nutfield House

It has been another incredible, eventful, emotional and amazing year in Nutfield. One of my proudest moments was during House Cross Country and Netball where all the girls came together to support one another and all got involved. They worked as a team and everyone was there to cheer each other on.

One of my funniest memories must be from the sardines in houses. On one occasion, we managed to fit about 15 girls in one of the bathrooms. I will most certainly miss the family feeling that Nutfield has and the constant support the girls give each other, not just with your friends within your year, but with girls between the different years. House Music will always stick out for me. Seeing the girls give House Music their all to produce the best performance they can, whilst also making new friends and welcoming the new girls into the house. I also loved the formal dinner we had during the summer term. Seeing all the girls dressed up and enjoying such a fun evening was so lovely.

As many of us say goodbye to Monkton and Nutfield, my advice to those next year is to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way, it’s all over way too fast!

Fleur W

School House

This year in School House has been one full of joy and success in multiple different aspects. From the sports pitch to the stage, the boys have represented School House with positivity, courage and support for one another through every point. It has been an honour to witness the growth of every individual in the house as well as seeing the house coming together as brothers.

We started the year off, as usual, with our picnic. It’s a great way to integrate the house as the new Year 9s and new pupils finish their first week off with the whole of the house. Next was the biggest event of the year, House Music. After some stellar performances from our small and large ensemble, our house song was up. We nailed ‘Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car’ by Billy Ocean with some brilliant choreography. However, the judges didn’t like it so maybe next year. As we drew closer to Christmas, School started to get into the spirit with our Christmas party topping the end of a very successful term where we had eight boys making appearances for the First XV rugby and Owen G captaining the rugby sevens team to a successful day at Rosslyn Park.

Lent term went in a flash as we saw eight more of the boys making consistent appearances for the First XI hockey including Rhys G in Year 10 playing three years up. The hockey team found great success making the West of England Championship Final, but sadly losing on penalties.

As for summer term, we have had multiple boys as First XI regulars for the cricket team, with a stand out match against Downside where we won by 133 runs. We have had tennis players regularly being selected for the 1sts such as Will D and George H being the first pair on multiple occasions. To top it off, rowing has been a huge success for School House with our very own Izaak L captaining the squad to becoming the first ever Monkton Boys quad to make the A finals at the National Schools Regatta. Further successes have been their trip to Nantes and their attitude towards morning ergs.

Through this year, the house has been more united which is a huge success in my eyes. But what has been most inspiring is how people have reflected on the culture and the long lasting impact my cohort has left on School House. With my time at Monkton coming to an end, I would like to remind all the boys how time at Monkton is much shorter than you think and enjoy it as much as possible while grasping new opportunities as they come. I wish you all the best next year under the leadership of Tom B and his deputies and I hope you all treat him with the love and respect you showed me to help make his Year 13 as special as mine.

Paddy B

Art Year 10

Ivan A

Francesca R

Rosie E

Lauren E

Molly M

Charlie W

Art Year 11

Kinna C-H

Meg N Rosa J

Anna B Jacob S Finn M

Art Year 12

Greta S

Libby Y Henry M

Eva Y Gordon N

Ruby B

Art Year 13

Thomas G Esme H

Ethan D Jenna H

Becca V Hope L

Design Year 10

Joseph H

Rufus B

Eliza H

Ruslan K

Design Year 11

Michael B Eliza S

Ernest W

Anna H

Toby J

Oliver W

Design Year 12

Max W Leila M

Jonathan G Esther R

Horatio C-A

Design Year 13

Caspar E

Edward C-M

Risa K

Hanyi J

Joseph M

Thomas G

Photography

Year 10

Year 13

Year 11

Year 12

Xxxx

Ollie W

Oakley W

Elizabeth S Parnian N

Isabel W

Johnny W

Ogheneruonano U

Textiles

Year 12

Year 13

Abi M

Alex O

Rhiann J-A

Esme H Honey H

Alice in Blunderland

A huge congratulations to all of the cast and crew of this year’s senior production, Alice in Blunderland. The radio show highlighted the considerable vocal acting skills of our pupils, and it was wonderful to see new acting ‘stars’ being born! It was also fantastic to literally see the skills of our backstage and technical crew onstage, as they worked their magic into the audience’s headphones. Well done to all!

EAST Trip

In March, the Expressive Arts scholars took on London to discover more about the worlds of Theatre, Music, ballet, and everything in between.Their journey began at Somerset House, meeting representatives of Askonas Holt, one of the world’s leading arts management companies. Following this, our pupils enjoyed a backstage tour at the iconic Royal Opera House, seeing the orchestra pit, and learning about costume and set design, as well as seeing some of the ballet studios. Overall, an incredible trip that left our scholars rather inspired and excited!

LAMDA Live! Evenings

We were treated to two fabulous LAMDA Live! evenings in the Michaelmas and Lent terms, with a wide variety of acts, from Shakespeare to self-penned works to musical theatre. As ever, many thanks to Miss Hobbs and Mrs Toghill for all of their work, supporting and encouraging our actors, singers and public speakers in their brilliant dramatic work.

Pride and Prejudice

Congratulations to the cast of Pride and Prejudice for two incredible performances in March. The Assembly Hall was transformed into a beautiful ballroom that saw over 30 brilliant young actors tell the story with a great sense of humour and maturity. Thank you to all the staff who made it such a success, and every student who worked backstage with the hair and makeup, props, lighting and the camera team. Everyone involved should feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment as it truly was a spectacular production - congratulations!

A Level Devised/Scripted

Our four A Level Drama pupils produced two fantastic theatre pieces for their external examinations. As well as first-class acting performances from Jess N and Eve T, Caspar E was examined on his lighting design, and Florence S on her set design. The ambition of the pupils to bring their devised work to life was superb - they worked on two separate stages, one of which had a live 2-camera2-screen setup!

Pieces of Nine

In June, it was the turn of Year 9 to take to the stage, as the whole year participated in the joint Music/Drama project, Pieces of Nine. For the whole of this term, pupils have learned lines, composed incidental music, recorded sound effects, sourced props and costumes and designed lighting in preparation for our first whole-year series of drama evenings. It was such a treat to see so many pupils putting in so much effort into telling stories, creating great theatre.

Corner at the Cafe Gig

Early in the Summer term, Kambua H and Julia R organised the first of hopefully many Corner at the Cafe gigs, a chance for pupils and staff to perform in the intimate and informal setting of the cafe. To start the series, 5 members of staff entertained the audience with their theatrical and musical skills!

Year 10 Scripts Come To Life

One of the most exciting new initiatives in our faculty this year has been the weekly scriptwriting group which has met in our new Radio Studio 2. Miss Smallbone, our Year 10 writers, Rose, Rebekah and Arina, have produced amazingly imaginative and inspiring work. As in the professional world, they have ‘hired’ actors from our pool of student talent, and recorded their scripts and short stories as audio drama and audiobook excerpts, assisted by Mr Pilgrim. The results are spectacular!

Wild Shakespeare – The Tempest

A beautiful summer’s evening in June saw the return of our Wild Shakespeare performance. This year, guests enjoyed their picnics whilst our Year 12 cast performed a dramatic retelling of The Tempest on the Nutfield Lawn. Congratulations to all of our performers and behind-thescenes team on a wonderful performance!

The Open

To end the year, 30 performers from Year 9 to 13 took to the stage at the Open. Some groups, some individuals and some duologues; all excellent. Parents, pupils and staff all celebrated our pupils as they put in some fabulous performances from poetry to musical theatre, from tragedy to comedy and everything in between.

Salisbury Cathedral Evensong

On Tuesday 17th October the Monkton Chapel Choir travelled to Salisbury to sing a service of Choral Evensong in the Cathedral. The 35-strong choir, made up of pupils from Year 9 to Year 13 sang a range of pieces in what was a fantastic way to start the term.

Christmas at Rode

In December, Monkton Music Scholars returned to the Rode Over-Sixties Club, where our connection goes back over 40 years! The musicians treated the audience to a wonderful selection of Christmas musical performances, from solo vocal items to string quartet and brass arrangements of traditional carols.

Gospel Choir at Bath Abbey

At the start of December, Monkton’s Gospel Choir were honoured to perform for a special Christmas Service hosted by the Ripple Effect charity, who work alongside farmers in rural Africa. Our Gospel Choir, led by Year 13 student Ogheneruonano, along with Issac F on the bass, sang a magnificent gospel arrangement of ‘Mary Did you Know.’

Senior House Music 2023

House Music 2023 was a particularly joyous one for Monkton. All houses worked so hard to put on a spectacular show, with more ambitious approaches to film-making, arranging, choreography and prop design than ever before. It was great to see the houses really thinking about how to provide a sense of inclusivity and, in turn, it was wonderful to witness the confidence with which the new members of the houses responded. Our pupils have learned so much about themselves and about one another through their rehearsals and preparations. Congratulations to all of you and we’ll see you for the next one!

Scholars Concert

What an amazing night of superb music making! From Beethoven and Bach, through ‘How To Train a Dragon’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’, to brand new compositions and live electronic sampling, the Scholars’ Concert was a feast of first-class performances. It was wonderful to welcome both new scholars and our more seasoned performers. But perhaps rightly, the night belonged to our leaving scholars, who wowed the audience: Alex B (violin), Lucy C (oboe), Owen G (trombone), George H (piano) and Evie M (violin).

St Paul’s Cathedral Evensong

In March, the Chapel Choir set off to London to perform at St Paul’s Cathedral Evensong. The opportunity to sing at such a prestigious venue was incredible and a testament to all the effort which has been put into the choir. Our choir led the service by singing responses, canticles, hymns, and Psalms. The acoustics were sensational and being watched by 200 supporters including friends and family made the momentous occasion even more exceptional.

Band Night

In February, the Bowerman Hall rocked to a vast array of acts for our annual ‘Band Night.’ Nearly 60 performers took part, and it was particularly heartening to have the evening open and close with our Year 9 bands playing with real confidence.

Space Concert

At the end of March, the Assembly Hall was transformed into an amazing spacethemed venue for the Music Department’s end-of-term concert. A quarter of the school participated in the event, which featured everything from the Chapel Choir’s ‘Magnificat’ to Jazz@Monkton’s ‘Equinox’, from Wall of Sound’s ‘Starman’ to the Orchestra’s rousing finale from ‘Star Wars’.

Christmas Lollipop Concert

Our Christmas Lollipop Concert returned as another wonderful, tinsel-strewn, Christmasjumperified showcase for all of Monkton’s major musical ensembles, with around a quarter of the school participating! There were performances from the Orchestra, Gospel Choir and Jazz@Monkton, along with some new ensembles ‘Mr Scott’s Wall of Sound’, and Mr Wilson–Lambert’s ‘Quartets.’

Christmas Carol Services

In a busy end to the term, our Chapel Choir led the OM & Community Carol Service in the Chapel, before singing at our Whole School Carol Service in Bath Abbey. Under the direction of Mr Gooddy and Mr WilsonLambert, the choir had a superb term.

Burns Night

Monkton’s very own ceilidh band, the Scottish Boarders, performed magnificently for our Burns Night Ceilidh at the end of January. Scottish reels and jigs are both physically and musically challenging, but posed no problems at all for our talented musicians! The band played a range of wonderful tunes and it was wonderful to end the evening with a solo vocal version of Auld Lang Syne from Anna H.

Party in the City

Jazz@Monkton had the great privilege of kicking off proceedings at Bath’s Guildhall on the first day of this year’s ‘Party in the City,’ an opportunity for artists and bands from across the city to perform live music. We played a 30 minute set of classic jazz funk and bebop; the audience loved it and we were grateful to receive some very appreciative comments from the general public. We’ll be back next year!

EMART Awards

One of the highlights of the year for Music, Drama and Media Studies pupils was the EMART Awards as we celebrated some amazing achievements from the year. There were some special performances from our pupils, and everyone was wowed by the guest-of-honour, session drummer Rob Brian. Though there were 17 winners across a range of categories, the evening’s main purpose was to highlight the incredibly creative work which happens throughout the year.

Studio 1@1

This year saw a host of fantastic performances at our Studio 1@1 concerts. It was wonderful to see so many pupils make their debut, along with a number of more seasoned performers. Our final concert of the year was a special Songwriters’ Edition, with four members of our Music Tech/Songwriting activity presenting pieces of music they have been working on over the last few months. Congratulations to all our performers over the year!

Longmead Music Festival

Longmead 2024 was a particularly special one; the brilliant weather brought our largest ever crowd to the field to enjoy almost three hours of eclectic music provided by the entire family of schools. The event kicked off with a 15 minute medley from ‘Les Miserables,’ featuring Monkton Parents, Monkton Prep and Senior Soloists. The combined Orchestra played a selection of popular classics which included a spellbinding arrangement featuring Year 12 soloist, Libby Y. We also saw performances from Jazz@Monkton, the Gospel Choir, Monkton Wall of Sound, The Jazz-Os, and of course the Staff Band ft the Monkton Massive!

Scott & Lynn Rhythm Thing

One of our most innovative musical events returned at the start of the Summer term. With two livestreams and two studio venues, all of Monkton’s guitarists and drummers entertained the crowds for the second ever ‘Scott and Lynn Rhythm Thing’. As ever, we’re grateful for Mr Scott and Mr Lynn’s boundless energy and enthusiasm in bringing the gig together, and encouraging all of Monkton’s drummers and guitarists to perform - well done all!

Once again we are proud to present to you the Magpie magazine. The Magpie began way back in 1898 - originally running as a club at Monkton Combe Junior School, as it was then known. The first Junior School Magazine was produced in November 1899 and the title has stuck with the magazine ever since! Like previous editions, this one contains all the exciting and memorable moments from the last academic year.

As ever, we have seen pupils throw themselves into School life, be that through the wider cocurricular programme, the various residential trips, life in the boarding house or the exciting academic opportunities that have been on offer. We are immensely proud of all that has been achieved. A big thank you to the whole school community for the contributions that have been made by each and everyone, and the ongoing enthusiasm, determination and tenacity that is seen day to day on the Prep site!

Congratulations to all for another wonderful Monkton Prep School year. Enjoy browsing through the pages and reflecting.

With best wishes

Nursery

It has been so rewarding for us to see how our little Robins have grown in confidence and made such strong friendships with each other over the year. In September, we enjoyed sharing your family photos which were displayed in the nursery after creating a family tree display. Little Robins were curious in exploring Autumn fruit and vegetables, learning new words and investigating the different seeds inside as we cut them open! We had so much fun exploring outdoors, rising to the challenge of finding different coloured leaves to create their Autumn crowns.

The Christmas Nativity was a highlight of the year, with the children working so hard together with Kindergarten and Reception to learn new songs and actions with such enthusiasm and creativity. World Book Day was an opportunity to dress up as a favourite book character and for us to join in a parade to show our costumes to the rest of the school and enjoy more stories! We celebrated Mothers Day and shared how we could show our affection and appreciation in different loving ways. We hope you liked the daffodils we had planted and cared for since the Autumn as a gift. Another highlight was Kris from the Tropical Discovery Workshop visiting the Nursery with a variety of bugs and reptiles including a tarantula, snake, millipede, bearded dragon and a cockroach and we were able to handle them and learn facts about them all too!

We wish the children all happiness in their pathway ahead next year, as we are confident they are ready to fly from our nest into their new nest and enjoy more exciting and enriching activities and challenges.

Kindergarten

What a fantastic year we have had in Owl Class full of learning, exploration and fun! We started the year thinking about what makes us all special and unique and spent lots of time talking about our families and what we enjoy doing. Our curious Owls quickly settled into their new class and set to work playing and exploring. They had lots of fun building with giant boxes and playing in them with new friends. We thought about our class name and learnt all about owls, finding out where they live, what they eat and making our own owls in a variety of different ways. As the new term began we started to think about festivals and celebrations such as Diwali, Bonfire Night and Christmas. We explored light, shape and colour and the part they have to play in these magical festivals. We took to the stage to perform our nativity and had lots of Christmas fun in our very own post office and sleigh.

As the new year arrived we began to explore the wintery weather and became scientists experimenting to find out about how the weather is made. We celebrated Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. As Spring arrived we immersed ourselves in a world of fairytales and celebrated Easter with lots of fun Easter egg hunts. In the summer term we went creepy crawly crazy and loved having Kris the bug man in to give us some hands on experience with lots of amazing creatures. Our final topic for the year, Ocean Treasures led to lots of undersea exploration and Pirate fun including a treasure hunt in the woods and an Under Sea party. To complete a fabulous year we took part in Sports Day and our KIndergarten Graduation where we said goodbye and good luck to all of our amazing children as they start their new journey at school.

Reception

The Blackbirds went on quite the dinosaur journey during Michaelmas. We’ve got to grips with scale as we’ve measured how large an actual Stegosaurus footprint was and discovered that the spikes on the end of its tail were as tall as a member of our class. Before looking closely at dinosaur skeletons, we spent some time learning about human skeletons! We collaborated to paint a big Stegosaurus for our classroom and filled the outdoor area with various dinosaur footprints.

The first day of Lent term saw the Blackbirds flying to Canberra, Australia. The classroom became a check in desk and an aeroplane. We really enjoyed the take off! The experience influenced our creative play in the afternoon. Since the beginning of Lent term the Blackbirds have voted for which Australian animal they’d like to become. We’ve had lots of fun creating the animals from a variety of mediums, learning some interesting facts and even tackling close observational drawings.

Our topic, Close to Home, allowed us to explore the flora and fauna all around us. We discovered a goldcrest is 9cm long, but what does that mean? We learnt how to use a ruler to measure, and found items around us that were also 9cm, it did prove tricky! We found lots of items that were taller, shorter or nearly 9cm. We completed our topic with a trip to Avon Valley. To complete our busy year the SS Great Britain became our inspiration for all things nautical, architectural and Victorian.

Year 1

There was a distinctive sound of marching coming along the Yellow Brick Road. What could it be? Well it turns out, it was Roman Legion XX otherwise known as Kingfishers Class! It looked like Year One was going to be full of adventures and this was certainly the case. We started the year looking at life in Bath in AD44, and discovered what life was like for the Romans. We discovered that clothes worn by the rich in Rome were togas, and so it only seemed right that we set up our own toga shop! We looked at maps, discovering where the Romans invaded England and the creation of Hadrian’s Wall.

Our Innovate Curriculum and its opportunities for researching, reflecting and creating often involve lots of building and making, and Kingfishers class looked specifically at architecture in our topic ‘Our House’. We looked at houses from around the world, researching the most effective shapes and sizes, as well as how houses are constructed.

We travelled millions of miles into the stratosphere to the Milky Way to visit all the planets in the solar system. We looked to the past to the astronomers Caroline and William Herschel and used some of the equipment they would have used to study the stars and the planets. We were very lucky to visit the Senior School to their purpose built Observatory where we were able to look at the huge telescopes. We built rockets and created solar systems, as well as creating our own moondust.

A new term and time to see where we would find ourselves this time! We jumped aboard Monkon Airlines on Flight MA242 to Delhi, and so began an incredible journey around a most wonderful country. Clothing was a must, so we created saris and beautiful jewellery, as well as adorning our hands with henna paint. We discovered the Taj Mahal and danced the night away to Jai Ho! On our return we were whisked back to 1718, the year of Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Teach and lots of pirate adventures!

Year 2

Year 2 started by reflecting on how lucky we are to be at Monkton and how wonderful our surroundings are. We gathered on the balcony with clipboards and pencils at the ready and wrote what we saw out of our ‘Monkton Window.’ Our first Innovate topic was The Human Body, so it was only right that we studied a real (non-human) brain. Some of us were even brave enough to touch it! Collaboration and teamwork were some of the skills that we were working on in Adventure Education at the start of the year. Activities varied from working together to put different coloured balls in the basket in the quickest time, building a massive stick pyramid, as well as putting their orienteering skills to good use.

The Lent term was jam packed with lots of exciting activities. World Book Day was as brilliant as ever with the children transported to a dark and spooky wonderland where they could make their own stories using StopAnimation or their own magical potions! All whilst they were dressed up as their favourite book characters! The first Innovate topic of the term was Toy Stories; the areas explored ranged from the toys that were played with during Victorian times to building a toy car to designing and making a board game.

The Summer term consisted of Expedition Day to Bowood House, Sports Day, Books at Bedtimes as well as non-fiction fact file writing. Maths involved measuring volume, culminating in a perfect excuse for an end of year water fight!

Year 3

To start the year, we collaborated on a class charter which created an inclusive, happy and hardworking space to learn and play in. We discussed the value of believing in ourselves in Year 3 and approaching each school day ready to learn, live and lead. Chocolate was at the forefront of our minds for the first half term. We found the history of chocolate fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed investigating how it is farmed, packaged and marketed. A particular highlight was engineering our own moulds and filling them with chocolate.

On the English front, we penned poems for a Poetry Slam and letters to our Pen-Pals in Seattle and enjoyed a trip to the Bath Forum to meet Rob Biddulph. The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Phillip Pullman was a superb read. The story of a talented female firework maker inspired us to persevere through challenges and embrace friendship. We were incredibly proud of our independent pieces of writing, including diary entries and newspaper reports.

Our confidence blossomed in Maths as we shared our thinking and mastered many new methods in all four operations. Flashback cards, daily 10 challenges and manipulatives become regular features in lessons.

Next up, we dived into our ocean topic. Wonderfully detailed sketchnotes, clay models, maps, Popplets, posters, podcasts and diagrams were produced to display our understanding of ocean exploration and conservation. Watch this space…future engineers, coral gardeners and marine biologists have been inspired!

Year 4

Year 4 started gloriously as we delved into our first topic and became Vikings. We raided on ‘longboats’ in the swimming pool to the shouts of “To Valhalla!”. In English, we were inspired by the trickster god Loki to write some excellent stories. We finished the term with a fantastic performance of Jack and the Beanstalk.

We started the new year full of energy and excitement! We loved learning about Maori legends and retold the story of how Maui created the islands of New Zealand. In Adventure Ed, we focused on developing our teamwork and communication skills by tackling a number of tough challenges. This culminated in building bridges across a stream in the Monkton valley. As ever, Book Week was a highlight of the year and we thoroughly enjoyed dressing up as our favourite characters. We also had our first experience of Saturday school where we created props and recreated the battle of Agincourt.

When the Summer term rolled around, Year 4 were ready for their next big challenge; their first residential trip to Mill on the Brue. What an amazing experience it was! From camping out with friends to flying down the zip wire, the Year 4s had a wonderful time. As one Year 4 pupil said: “it was really, really fun!” On our return to school, we focused on our final two topics of the year: the Tudors and All Creatures Great and Small. We loved learning about Tudor medicine, especially reenacting our doctors surgeries. From the gruesome events of the Tudors we switched our attention to the care of our world today. Our trip to The Bristol Zoo Project helped inspire our learning and was an excellent way to round off what has been an amazing year together.

Year 5

Year 5 began the year with a fantastic trip to CYE. The sun shone as the children enjoyed a range of activities including sailing, raft-building, tunnelling and tackling the assault course. They demonstrated brilliant team work, courage and confidence as many tried activities they had never done before.

The Lent term saw Year 5 become secret agents in English as they enjoyed reading Alex Rider - Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. This inspired the children to invent their own spectacular spy gadgets, characters and villains, helping them write some brilliant spy stories, transitioning from spies to munchkins, jitterbugs, and flying monkeys! The children performed amazingly in the Year 5 and 6 play - The Wizard of Oz

In History, Year 5 travelled back in time to learn about the Victorians, the Maya and the Space Race. Taking inspiration from the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, they worked in groups to construct their own brilliant bridges. Great excitement ensued as the children then tested the strength of their bridges by adding weights to see how much their bridge could hold before collapse! Year 5s creativity also shone through as they painted and decorated Maya masks and constructed their own space rockets and moon landers.

In Science, the children have loved working in the labs to conduct their own experiments as well as earning their bunsen burner licences! Embracing Saturday school was new for Year 5 this year and they have enjoyed reenacting the battle of Agincourt, cooking apple crumble over fires in the woods and testing fizz pop rockets. A highlight of the Summer term was cooking amazing meals for Miss Wood and Mr Moore over fires and the results were very tasty - especially the barbeque ribs!

The summer term also brought sunshine, lots of cricket, and a trip to Salisbury Cathedral, Old Sarum and Wilton House which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. It has been a fantastic year, full of fun and laughter, many adventures and lots of learning!

The Art department has been a hive of creativity at Monkton Prep this year. Pupils have worked on individual and group projects, creating some incredible pieces of work. Rangoli inspired pieces and the art of Batik have been joined with learning new sewing skills and creating beautiful cushions. Well done everyone on your hard work, your efforts have produced so many stunning pieces.

DRAMA REVIEWS THE MAGPIE Nativity Shows a Great Success

For our Early Years Nativity, Kindergarten leapt onto stage to sing about the Little Donkey, followed by Nursery’s sparkling rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, whilst Reception worked hard to remember their all important lines - all putting together a wonderful show!

Year 1 and 2 performed their magical and sparkling show Wriggly Nativity: where the

children showed the audience how to wriggle and sing in style! They worked extremely hard and really brought the magic and joy of Christmas to life.

The Year 3 and 4s production of Jack and the Beanstalk was a great success from start to finish. The pupils showed great comedic timing and had all the audience laughing, clapping and singing along!

Star Appearance in The Wizard of Oz

The Year 5 and 6s did a fantastic performance of The Wizard of Oz in our Lent term. The pupils had their first experience of performing in the round and having their characters interact with the audience. The auditorium was filled with music, dancing and energy from start to finish! We even had a star appearance from Reggie the dog.

Nursery, Kindergarten and Reception bring the joy of Christmas

Year 3 and 4s in Jack and the Beanstalk

Reggie the dog appears in The Wizard of Oz

Year 1 and 2s Wriggly Nativity

Year 7 brings Peter Pan to life

Peter Pan is Pure Magic!

Year 7 staged a magnificent retelling of the Peter Pan story - complete with flying, sea shanties, colourful costumes and pure magic! The Year 7s stepped out of their comfort zone, using physical theatre and musical transitions to bring the story to life.

High School Musical Wows Everyone!

The Year 8s wowed us all with their performance of High School Musical to finish their time at the Prep School! The pupils transported us to 2006 with their brilliant early 00’s outfits and accessories. The Year 8s worked hard amidst their exams, sports and other activities to create this brilliant performance.

Year 8 transport the audience to 2006

Design Technology

This year in Design and Technology, Monkton Prep pupils showcased their creativity and craftsmanship through a series of exciting projects. They designed and built bird boxes, combining technical skills with environmental awareness to provide habitats for local wildlife. The lamp project allowed pupils to explore aesthetics and functionality, resulting in unique, personalised lighting solutions. Additionally, the Block Bot project challenged their understanding of robotics. These hands-on experiences not only enhanced their practical skills but also fostered problem-solving, making this a memorable and productive year in DT.

English

The English Department was a hive of creative activity this year, with pupils developing their skills throughout the year groups. We saw Books at Bedtime introduced to the Upper School Library for Year 2. After enjoying their first supper at school, Year 2 settled down in the library for some wonderful stories, a mug of hot chocolate and the chance to ask the librarian, Mrs Culwick lots of questions. World Book Day welcomed so many fantastic costumes from pupils and staff, and everyone got excited about the joy that reading can provide.

Geography

The Geography Department introduced a number of new initiatives this year. Mrs Woodcraft covered a topic on the Philippines with Year 5, a country she is particularly inspired by which has enabled her to pass on her knowledge about this fascinating country. In Year 8, we introduced a topic on Mobile Phones to bring the subject up to date and relevant for our Year 8s.

Year 7 covered the topics of Coasts, Economic Activities and Maps, which we were able to bring to life through a trip to the coast during the French trip. They also took a trip to the Big Pit to see how coal mining has declined in South Wales, forcing the area to diversify.

Year 6 have been out and about on the school site looking for signs of weathering. They also learned how the beautiful Midford Valley was created, as well as setting up a quick camp in the woods.

History, RS & Classics

Year 6s theme for the year was ‘Big Stuff’ and we learned about ships and castles. We discussed tactics for laying siege to a castle at great length and found out how a dozen pigs helped end the siege of Rochester Castle in 1215. We found out what life was like on board sailing vessels, from small Tudor caravelles to the Titanic. The children made ship’s biscuits to get a taste of what sailors and third class passengers would have eaten.

Year 7 studied the relationship between science and human societies. We looked closely at a wide variety of historical sources this year including tombstones, 17th century texts, archaeology and architecture. We encountered personal stories such as the tale of Henry Hall, who was killed after ingesting molten lead during a fire, and looked at museum records including the object records for the solidified lead that was removed from Hall’s stomach.

Year 8 examined revolutions this year, looking first at the Russian Revolution. Here we considered Marxism, the social and political situation before the Revolution and the roles and actions of various groups in the lead up and aftermath of the Revolution. We learned the ‘just dance’ moves to ‘Rasputin’ as a way to stretch our legs at the end of our lessons! Later, we studied the French and Haitian Revolutions and looked at the English Civil War.

MUSIC NEWS THE MAGPIE

A Fantastic Afternoon of Prep House Music!

We ended the first half of the Lent term on a high with House Music! Our children in Years 3-8 put on an incredible show, with fantastic solo, ensemble and house performances. Their hard work paid off and all the pupils, parents and staff had a fantastic afternoon. A huge well done to all of the children who performed!

Here are the results:

l Year 3 & 4 Soloists: Winner - Jack (Kearns)

l Year 5 & 6 Soloists: Winner - Hughie (Howard)

l Year 7 & 8 Soloists: Winner - Bethany (Kearns)

l Ensemble: Winner - Easterfield; Highly Commended - Jameson

l House Song: 1st - Jameson; 2nd - Kearns

l Overall: 1st - Kearns; 2nd - Easterfield & Jameson

Prep School Talent Shines Throughout Stage@6 Evenings

Our Stage@6 evenings throughout the year saw a wealth of talent from across the Prep School, with solo and ensemble performances from pupils in Year 1 through to Year 8. Whilst many of our pupils are accomplished performers, for our younger pupils these were their first solo concerts. Along with the Junior Orchestra, we saw ensemble performances from our guitar and percussion players, and had some spectacular solo and duo LAMDA and music performances.

Parent Community Choir Concert Raises Funds for Church

On a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon the Parent Community Choir put on a fundraising concert at St Nicholas Church, Winsley. They performed a selection of songs ranging from soul to popular and some more traditional sacred pieces. They were also joined by a few of our Prep pupils who performed as soloists. It was a joyous afternoon followed by tea and cake and we raised £590 for the church.

FESTIVE ROUND-UP

Advent Service is Truly Magical

The Prep School Advent service was a truly magical start to the Christmas season. The Year 8 Handbell ensemble opened the service with Glorioso, followed by performances of Just Another Star by the Junior Choir and Make Me a Light by Monkton Voices. There was a beautiful rendition of Silent Night by members of the Expressive Arts Excellence programme, and the service culminated in a performance of Stopford’s A Christmas Blessing sung by the Upper School choirs and the Parent Community Choir.

Music and Dance on Show at Christmas Concert

The Michaelmas Term ended on a high with a fantastic celebration of musical talent. All Upper School Ensembles performed, as well as appearances from the Staff Choir and the Parent Community Choir. The Expressive Arts Club created a particularly moving performance incorporating narration, dance and music.

THE MAGPIE

MUSIC NEWS

Celebrations@6

Summer Festival Rounds off the Year in Style!

The Expressive Arts Summer Festival rounded off the year in style. Celebration@6 saw not only performances from the Rock Band, Acoustic Guitars and the percussion ensemble, but also many of our Year 8 leavers took to the stage for their final time. We were treated to many accomplished performances and it was a delight to see how far they have come on their musical journey whilst at the Prep School.

The Year 3 & 4 Celebration Afternoon featured some of our youngest solo performers, whom for many it was their first time performing. Class Orchestra featured new players on cello, violin, oboe, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpets and even a tuba! The Junior Choir sang and art work was beautifully displayed in the Law foyer.

The Junior Orchestra put on a lunchtime concert for Kindergarten and Reception and we also learnt the names of the instruments in French led by Madame Mistretta.

Friday evening brought with it the sunshine and our annual Longmead Festival. Over 150 pupils from the Prep School took to the stage alongside the Staff Choir and the Parent Community Choir for a joyous ‘Les Miserable’ medley featuring soloists from Year 13 and a beautiful dance by Hari & Pené Pené. The Junior Choir joined with All Hallows, and all of our Year 6 created a Samba Band alongside Year 11 pupils. A massed Joint Orchestra of orchestral classics rounded off the Prep School contribution to the evening.

Junior Orchestra

Years 3 & 4 Celebration Afternoon

Longmead Festival

Stunning Results at Mid Somerset Festival

A large number of our pupils had a busy Lent term participating as both ensembles and soloists at the Mid Somerset Festival. We had some stunning results with our first ever ‘Outstanding’ which was awarded to our Excellence Programme Vocal Group. Our Excellence Programme Chamber Musicians also achieved a first with their own arrangement for saxophone, clarinet, violin & electric guitar.

All Year 5 & 6 were awarded a Distinction and First Place at the Primary Music day with their superb performance of the Jitterbug Scene from the Wizard of Oz. The Expressive Arts Club performed a fantastic piece of mime, also taking the top spot. Many of our pupils were rewarded for all their hard work and brilliant solo performances, placing in their individual categories. Well done to all!

Final Placed Results

Ensembles & Duets - Music

l Chamber Music: Zach, Aurora, Elizabeth & Charlotte - First Place - Merit

l Class Music Presentation: Year 5 & 6 Wizard of Oz ‘Jitterbug scene’ - First Place - Distinction

l Rounds: Monkton Voices - Second Place - Commended

l Sacred & Secular Song: Monkton Voices - Second Place - Commended

l Vocal Ensemble: Bethany, Mollie, Cameron, Natalia & Lucia - First Place - Outstanding

l Wind Duet: Elizabeth & Charlotte- First Place - Commended

Ensembles & Duets - Drama

l Duo Acting - Year 4: Flora & Ottlie - First Place - Commended

l Duo Mime - Year 8 & Under: Esmee & Emily; Joe & Hattie

- Joint First Place - Commended

l Group Mime: Expressive Arts Club - First Place - Commended

Solo Music

l My Favourite Song: Lizzie - First Place - Distinction

l String Solo, Intermediate: Lizzie - Third Place - Commended

l Woodwind Solo Transitional: Elizabeth - First Place - Commended

Solo Drama

l Solo Acting, Year 7: Molly - Second Place - Commended; Austin - Third Place - Commended

l Solo Mime, Year 7-9: Molly - Third Place - Commended

l Television News Reading: Frances - First Place - Commended; Gabriella - Third Place - Commended

Years 1 & 2

Take to the Stage

In February, Year 1 & 2 took to the stage for their Celebration Afternoon. Year 1 played a pentatonic tune on metallophones and xylophones, and Year 2 showed the chords they have learnt on ukulele and sang some songs. A demonstration of one of their favourite drama activities ‘Buzzi Bees’ followed, before we were treated to several solo performances on violin, cello and piano. Well done to all who performed!

Year 6 Making Compounds

Year 7 Testing Acids and Alkalis with Indicators

Year 6 Measuring Forces

Science

This year, Science at Monkton Prep School was packed with exciting discoveries and hands-on learning! Year 8 explored the wonders of photosynthesis, investigated the role of starch in leaves, and conducted experiments with metal reactions. Year 7 delved into the fascinating world of acids and alkalis, learning about their properties and reactions. Meanwhile, Year 6 had fun exploring forces and the basics of making compounds, gaining a solid foundation in chemistry and physics. Each year group demonstrated curiosity and creativity, making it a year of remarkable scientific progress and memorable experiments at Monkton!

Year 8

Year 7 How Much Energy is in a Crisp?

Investigating the Rate of reaction

Year 8 How Fast is Photosynthesis Happening?

Chaplaincy

FilmClubs, Explore, Excite, Ichthus, Lighthouse, The Hub, Chester, Fruit of the Spirit, Haribo, and Day of Prayer have been just some of the highlights at the Prep School this year with the Chaplaincy!

Chester has been up to his usual tricks in assemblies, particularly helping the younger children think about the importance of knowing God’s love and care for them. The Year 8s have run brilliant Ichthus - assemblies for Reception to Year 7 pupils. This year they have taken real ownership of the assemblies, not only deciding what Bible story to teach, but also in creating their own dramas and games. This has led to many laughs, excitement from the younger years, and some excellent messages for the children to ponder.

Miss Page set up the Chaplaincy Film Club activity, which involved popcorn, a film clip and then a discussion about some of the themes, and proved very popular amongst the children

Another new initiative for this year was a Lent Day of Prayer, with being thankful one of the key themes. Miss Page organised a number of different prayer stations in the Ogilvie Room for pupils to engage with. It provided a wonderful opportunity for either prayer or time to stop and think.

Xcite and Xplore have been highlights of Monday and Tuesday break times, and Miss Page and Rev Hutch enjoyed seeing lots of children coming along throughout the year. There was lots of food, questions asked, and some thought provoking discussions on what Jesus might say to the celebrity being looked at that week. Explore Club has had another fantastic year of Bible story acting, game playing and cookie eating! We’ve had lots of fun discussing how God’s word applies to our lives today.

Boarding

Our time at Hatton House this year has been amazing, and we’ve made memories that we’ll never forget as we move on to Senior School. Each of us has had special experiences that made our time here unforgettable.

Imogen (Head of Hatton): For me, evening activities and playing tag were always the highlights of my week. One of my favourite memories was playing a game of scratch in Law with Year 8. I’ve learned so much here, and I’m so grateful to all the staff and boarding team for their support.

Ryan (Head of Hatton): Hatton has been like a second home for me over the past three years. Even though I sometimes felt homesick, my friends were always there to lift my spirits. My best memories are from our trip to The Wave, and playing football with juniors and seniors. I will always cherish the great times with the boarding team. Josh (Deputy Head): I have had a fantastic three years at Hatton. The journey has been full of exciting times with my friends. My favourite memory is the big football match we played against All Hallows. Whenever I felt homesick, the Houseparents and boarding staff were always there to help. I’ll miss this place a lot.

Together, we’ve had so many fun moments, from pillow fights in the dorms, Mr Sharp’s funny laugh and teleportation skills, and firepit nights with Mr and Mrs Winfield. As Year 8s, we’re thankful for everyone who supported us and made this year the best. We’ll cherish our time at Hatton House and make the most of what’s left at Monkton. Thank you, everyone!

Hatton Year 8 Leavers

Activities & Enrichment

Great Big Dance Off

In May, 21 pupils represented Monkton for the very first time at The Great Big Dance Off. The group from Years 4, 5 and 6 worked extremely hard, over two terms, to prepare for the regional heat and competed against 34 other entries. The group’s performance told a story based on the theme ‘the good old days’, and, dressed as granny’s and grandads, they took to the stage to perform a beautiful, funny and sentimental number. It was a fantastic event and has inspired our dancers to enter again next year!

Another year of amazing activities has drawn to a close at Monkton Prep. Almost certainly the best offering of any school in Bath, thanks to a diverse, dedicated and creative staff team who offer such delights as Wild Cooking, Origami, Great Big Dance Off, Laser Pistol Shooting, Judo, Comic Book Club, Tennis Lessons, Warhammer, Running Club and many, many more. What will your child choose next year?!

Sewing & Knit-n-Natter

Our pupils got creative whilst learning new skills in Sewing Club and Knit-n-Natter this year. Our sewers first learned to use the sewing machines before putting this into practise to make beautiful seaside applique pieces, and stockings and decorations at Christmas. Knitting also proved a popular activity, with complete beginners joining more advanced knitters to create squares which were put together to complete a giant cushion!

Wild Monkton Night

This year, we added an exciting twist to our Wild Monkton Day by introducing our first Wild Monkton Night. Pupils from Year 5 to Year 7 joined us for a massive campout on the main field. The evening featured a fabulous BBQ prepared by our outstanding catering team, followed by toasting marshmallows, enjoying candy floss, and spending quality time with friends. Despite some sleepy faces the next day, everyone rose to the occasion brilliantly and it was wonderful to see everyone having such a fantastic time outdoors!

Magpies vs Swifts

Once again, as happens at the end of every year, the entirety of Years 3-8 took to the front field to battle it out in our annual school game, Magpies vs Swifts. It was a wonderful afternoon of sun, strategy and speed with every pupil giving it all for their team. In the end, strategy won out over athleticism. Kearns and Jameson fell short to Easterfield and Howard who employed impressive tactics to take the win by over 600 points!

Sport Athletics

Cricket

Cricket is in a healthy place at Monkton Prep! It has been amazing to see so many of our pupils learning the game, growing and having a great time with their friends!

The highlights were:

l Boys and Girls Senior A teams competing in Cup Competitions and doing very well!

l So many tip ‘n run games being played in training sessions and break times.

l Home matches being played on both Prep and Senior School sites, including on Longmead.

l Hosting Cornwall Hill from South Africa in what proved to be an incredibly close match.

l More pupils learned how to play hard ball Cricket and loved it!

Athletics has continued to thrive at Monkton and it has been wonderful to see pupils enjoying both track and field events as part of Physical Education lessons and the activities programme. With opportunity in abundance, all pupils have competed in some form of Athletics throughout the year whether it be Bath Schools, Sports Day, BaNES or regional pathways. We have witnessed history as an amazing 14 records broken in official Athletics events this year. Special mention to our record breakers: Amelie, Max, Tia, Jaden, Zac, Katherine, Noah, Hari, Josiah, Chloe, Faye and Jaqueline. We are so proud of all that our pupils have achieved! Some of our top performers enjoyed the challenge of competing in area, district and regional events.

BaNES Athletics, the ESAA Cup, Avon Schools Athletics Championships, the South West Prep School Championships and for the qualifiers, the National Prep Schools Association Championships. In all events, we had record breaking numbers of qualifiers and podium finishers, which is testament to pupils’ hard work and dedication. Season highlights included BaNES Athletics relay wins for Junior and Minor Boys and Girls teams. 19 Pupils represented at the Avon Schools Athletics Championships. 33 medalists at the South West Prep Schools Championships at Millfield School. Monkton Prep Also achieved a whopping 19 Qualifiers for the National Prep Schools Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

The final highlight of the year was watching Zac become the National Prep Schools Athletics Champion in the 1500m, successfully defending his title for the second time and beating his own school record by 13 seconds Congratulations to all Monkton Athletics participants, what exciting times we have ahead for Athletics!

Cross Country

The Cross Country season at Monkton Prep was one of determination, growth, and teamwork. Our runners showed remarkable resilience, pushing their limits with each race and training session. This year, the team welcomed several new members who quickly contributed fresh energy and enthusiasm.Throughout the season, the athletes demonstrated impressive improvement, with many achieving personal bests on challenging courses. The team’s commitment to practices and relentless effort in every race paid off, as they consistently placed well in competitions. Highlights included a strong team performance from our runners representing BaNES in the Avon Schools Cross Country, as well as the annual BaNES event at Kingswood Upper Playing Fields.

Hockey

Hockey is in a great place at Monkton Prep School, thanks largely to four years of dedication from Chris Hibbert, who returned home to South Africa at Christmas. He oversaw a really successful final girls’ season in the Michaelmas term, with the U9s, U11A, U12B and U13A teams being particular stand outs. Indeed the U11A team went on to be County Champions, West of England Champions and Monkton Prep’s Team Of The Year. The boys’ season was a similar success story, with the Year 3 and 4 teams being very strong, the U10s playing fast and free hockey and the U11A and U12A both faring superbly at the IAPS National Finals, at Cheltenham and Hurstpierpoint respectively. The U12s also went to the West Finals, having been runners-up in the County.

Netball was again the winner over the course of the Lent term this year. Each and every player across the Prep School worked incredibly hard to develop their individual skill as well as their ability to work with their peers, and challenge each other to improve.It was a tricky season for the U13s who came up against some really strong opposition, seemingly every fixture. Despite the difficulties, the girls remained positive and worked hard throughout the season, which was definitely one of resilience and progress for the whole year group. Towards the end of the term, the results started to come and the performances got better and better, including a strong outing at IAPS for the A team where they possibly had their strongest performances of them all.

The U12s put in a fantastic term of performances and grew each week in both confidence and skill. The entire year group worked hard in training and gave their all to every fixture or tournament they played, pushed by some very good opposition to improve their level at every opportunity. The U11 group as a whole were a delight to work with throughout the term, and were a highly talented bunch of girls which made selecting teams a nice headache to have every week. The A team had a particularly successful term which saw them win the KES Tournament, following some spectacular netball; finish second in the Roland Jones Tournament, missing out on first by one goal after a golden goal period to finish the final; and put in a good showing at the IAPS competition. The Lower years worked incredibly hard to improve their basic skills such as catching and passing, netball-specific movement and understanding of the rules. Each pupil was keen to throw themselves into competitive situations and show themselves and their opposition what they could achieve, doing so with a brilliant attitude and friendly demeanour.

We had so many pupils enjoying the opportunity to play Rugby this year! The boys kicked us off in the Michaelmas term, playing block fixtures against traditional opposition and a few new opponents. This was followed by Senior boys and girls 7s teams training and taking part in competitions throughout the Lent Term.

The highlights of the year were:

l The Year 8 boys sevens squad made the final of the Sibford Competition, eventually ending as runners-up.

l The Year 8 boys then qualified to play in the Northampton Saints Finals Day, representing the school exceptionally at Franklin’s Gardens.

l Year 7 and 8 girls’ teams took part in the Sibford sevens competition and played incredibly well!

l Players across the school enjoyed the variations in games, from contact, to modified contact and touch.

l Use of a Veo camera for players to analyse their matches and create clips of themselves.

Rugby

Sports Day

N-Y3

There are few greater sporting joys than seeing the youngest pupils in our school run, jump, throw and compete with sheer delight on their faces, wonderfully supported by their friends, staff and families. This year was once again blessed with sunshine and a fantastic atmosphere, with all of the children rising to the occasion and wowing their parents with their athletic ability. Congratulations to Luke B and Natalie J, who won the Y3 Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum respectively.

Y4-8

Surely it can’t be sunny again? Surely there can’t be even more school records this year? Surely Jameson won’t come last for another year? All three questions were thoroughly refuted at this amazing event, with enough warmth to keep the athletes in top condition, masses of enthusiasm, endeavour and energy from pupils, parents and staff alike, and a Jameson win, which hasn’t happened in more than a decade. It was a phenomenal day of athletics, with eight records and countless PBs, with every child contributing to their house.

Swimming

Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run Championships

In October, Callum LR travelled to Bali for the World Biathle Championships, representing Great Britain. His ‘run, swim, run’ event was held on the beach and was both energy-sapping and exhilarating. He came 7th overall, and was part of the GB team that won silver. Callum LR and William S were selected to be part of Team GB at the European Championships in Madeira between the 2nd and 8th July, in these Pentathlon-based events. Callum competed in the Biathle and Laser Run (shoot, run, shoot, run) and was the first GB athlete home in Biathle - he also had success in the mixed and gender relays, taking home 5x medals in total (2 Gold, 3 Silver). William competed in Triathle (shoot, swim, run, shoot, swim, run) and Laser Run and was the first GB athlete over the line in both of his individual events - he earned 4x medals (3 Silver, 1 Bronze). It was a truly wonderful experience for them both and a great kick start for Monkton as a newly-formed Pentathlon club.

This year, Monkton Prep’s swimming team has truly made a splash! With training and unwavering dedication, our swimmers have shown remarkable progress, both in individual events and team relays. From early morning practices to weekend meets, the commitment of our athletes has been outstanding. Our swim team participated in several regional competitions, consistently achieving personal bests. Highlights of the season include impressive performances at the County Championships, where our swimmers secured podium finishes. Whether cheering from the poolside or pushing each other to improve in practice, the team spirit has been inspiring. We are already looking forward to what next year holds for our talented swimmers!

IAPS Triathlon

As ever, the monumental team effort to put on this event on behalf of IAPS was rewarded with a monumentally successful day. With nearly 300 athletes registered to compete and close to 50 volunteers and officials, it is a huge day in the Monkton sporting calendar. The competition was of a high level, with GB pathway athletes on the start list, as well as the best Monkton has to offer. Indeed, medals for Rosabella B (Gold) and Jaden G (Bronze) capped off a great day for all involved, perhaps with an extra special memory this year in addition to the swimming, cycling and running. It has been confirmed that Monkton will again host this event in 2025 - fabulous news and a great honour for the school!

Monkton Triathlon

Monkton is a special sporting place, and perhaps on no other day is that more true than the whole-school triathlon. Which other school would be so bold as to make every pupil from Nursery to Year 8 a triathlete on one thrilling day? Indeed, the gusto, grit and grins with which our children approach something so new for so many of them is a true embodiment of the Monkton spirit, all helped by the most encouraging of staff and spectators. Every child could do it in their own way and they all walked away with a huge sense of achievement. Well done and thanks to all who made it happen and who took part so enthusiastically.

Trips

Year 6 Wye Valley

Year 6 had a wonderful (if invigoratingly damp) time on our residential trip to the Wye Valley. Pupils showed exceptional resilience in adverse conditions during the first 24 hours, enjoying the variety of adventure activities on offer. They experienced orienteering, crag climbing, slacklining, bushcraft, teambuilding and archery, as well as sleeping two nights under canvas or in a bunkhouse. When the sun emerged, the damp kit could dry out and the children were able to enjoy some drier activities in the sunshine. Tough conditions often make trips more memorable, and Year 6 experienced both. A fantastic time!

Year 8 Dartmoor

Year 8 had a fantastic time on their week-long Dartmoor camping trip to celebrate the end of exams and the end of their time at the Prep school!

They undertook a range of activities including: abseiling, climbing, weaseling, caving, river swimming, mountain biking and camping on a working farm! We are so impressed with how our Year 8 pupils faced each of the challenges, and stepped outside of their comfort zone across the week. A real highlight was the ‘Dartmoor’s Got Talent’ on the final night. A whole year rendition of the ‘mango mango mango’ song, as well as a good dose of teacher impressions, left us all laughing and rounded off the trip perfectly.

Year 7 France

In May, our Year 7 pupils set off on the ferry to the Château de la Baudonnière in France for a week jam-packed with activities, food, and fun.

Making the most of the fabulous weather, the pupils have got stuck in (literally!) to a variety of outdoor activities, including assault courses with lots of mud! Taking a break from the Château, the group headed to Arromanches, visiting the American WW2 Memorial and the 360 Cinema on the D-Day landings, before beach Geography with Mrs Martindale. They have also been enjoying a variety of French cuisine, from croissants for breakfast to the slightly more adventurous snails at dinner! Running club also made its way out to France, with a few brave pupils taking on a morning run led by Mrs Mason and Mr Diamond.

It was a brilliant trip with lots of fantastic memories along the way!

Community

The House Captains led a number of events at the start of the year. The first event was the Harvest Festival. We collected money to support Glenburnie Butega School in Uganda. We had a fantastic response, raising £572!

Children In Need was the next event, and the children decided to hold a Crazy Hair Day. We had some amazing hair dos, and again had a fantastic response, with £433 collected to go to the many good causes that this charity supports.

Just before Christmas, we held a collection for the Food Bank and held a Christmas Jumper Day which raised even more money! Year 4 and 6 made Christmas Cards and wrote letters to Old Monktonians which were duly sent off to reach the OMs in time for Christmas. They created some excellent designs and wrote some heartfelt messages to go inside their cards. Year 6 hosted a coffee morning, for which they also made mince pies, for some Senior Members of Holy Trinity Combe Down. They also enjoyed putting on a small concert for them, which was thoroughly enjoyed by our visitors.

Year 4 were keen to do more, and in the Summer hosted some OMs from our local community of Combe Down for an afternoon tea and entertainment.

Each House headed up a Giving Day, another chance to give time to others and Year 8 organised an excellent Charity Day which was enjoyed by the whole school. The children have also worked tirelessly during their own time to complete their Magpie Awards and enjoyed helping out around their homes and Communities.

LOWER SCHOOL

Prize Giving and Celebrations!

UPPER SCHOOL

That’s all from The Magpie, back to the Monktonian!

Rugby

The Monkton Rugby 2023-2024 season was one for the history books, with the 1st XV delivering an outstanding performance, marking the best season in recent times. Callum K’s selection to represent Bath U18 in the Academy League Final highlighted our commitment to nurturing talent, alongside several players participating in Bath’s development pathway.

In a monumental first, Monkton produced a Girls Rugby team, which made an impressive debut by winning two out of three matches at the Rosslyn Park 7s. Additionally, our U16A Boys showcased their skills on the main pitch at Rosslyn Park 7s, with their match being live-streamed, further cementing Monkton’s growing rugby legacy.

Girls’ Hockey

What a tremendously successful and enjoyable year it was for Hockey at Monkton Senior School. Although we were all sad to lose the brilliant involvement of Mr Hibbert, who departed as Head of Hockey in January 2024, both Girls and Boys had a wonderful time progressing their Hockey skills and understanding throughout a typically packed year.

The Girls’ 1st XI was the first group to step into competitive action, attending the BGS pre-season festival (where they won all of their matches apart from against their hosts) and then travelling to Cardiff Met for their tournament. A win and a draw were well deserved on day one, but the girls were wilting by the end of a hectic few days of Hockey and succumbed to a couple of defeats on Sunday. However, losing to Teddington Hockey Club, who had come with a large and talented squad, in one of these fixtures was definitely no disgrace. Regardless of results, pre-season had achieved its goal of bonding the group and preparing them for the challenges to come in the term.

The wider school club got started with a strong set of results against Downside and then Warminster, but the local circuit is tough and there were a number of intense weekends during the term with all teams being challenged on more than one occasion by the quality of the opposition. Our girls were brilliant! They faced every challenge with great courage, effort and teamwork and made wonderful progress as a result. The U15A team were probably the most successful in terms of results achieved, and the 1st XI also put together one of the strongest seasons ever, but every team had plenty to be proud of and a collection of stories to share with teammates for years to come.

Outdoors, we won the U16 Avon Tier 3 Tournament (defeating Kingswood on penalties in the final) and reached the Quarter-Final of the Tier 2 West region of the U18 England Hockey Cup. (Our 1st XI were so disappointed to finally be knocked out only on penalty shuffles after the teams couldn’t be separated in a thrilling draw with King’s Gloucester.) Lots of girls continue to take the opportunity to progress their development further by playing club Hockey and Bath Buccs have several Monkton players involved in various age-group teams but it’s also worth noting achievements at home too where Samantha W became the first Monkton girl to play 50 times for the 1st XI.

In addition to the large number of outdoor fixtures, we also entered teams in the National Indoor Tournaments. Our U18s and our U16s were both successful in progressing to the Regional Tournament where they gave a great account of themselves considering how little preparation we include on top of the outdoor training that is the focus of the term.

These girls have been so amazing this year that they then turned up in large numbers at the end of the Lent term to play fixtures against the OM’s and then one more pair of fixtures with touring teams visiting the Bath Hockey Festival, before finally taking a well-earned break.

Boys’ Hockey

The boys began their season in the Michaelmas term with indoor tournaments for the U18s and U16s, despite most of the players also being heavily involved in Rugby. The U16s progressed to the Regional Finals and both groups of boys found the process incredibly useful in making sure they were ready to hit the ground running at the start of the Outdoor season in the New Year. In Mr Hibbert’s absence, we were very lucky indeed to have the talents of Mr Cordwell back at Monkton. Now in charge of Team Bath Buccs Hockey, the quality of specialist knowledge that he brought to support Mr Hardisty and Mr McElroy was instrumental in helping our boys to one of their most successful seasons ever which resulted in the 1st XI being crowned Team of the Year at the annual end of year Sports Awards Dinner.

The 1st XI boys’ New Year trip to Cardiff Met pre-season tournament was equally useful in preparing for the term ahead before the whole club swung into action quickly in the early days of January. Boys of all ages took advantage of some insightful coaching and tight knit friendship groups to develop their performances throughout the season. There were some strong club days against Collegiate and Downside in the middle of the term and the boys were delighted that their clear progress resulted in some great victories in the final block of the term against King’s School Gloucester.

Our U16 and U14 boys were unable to progress beyond the County rounds of their tournament opportunities. Meanwhile however, the 1st XI were quietly putting together a run of results for the ages in the U18 Tier 2 Plate Competition. Victories against Daunsteys, KES Bath and Clifton College were all achieved without too much drama before the boys needed penalty shuffles to advance past Exeter school and reach the Regional final (National Quarter-Final). Drawn at home, and playing at this stage of the competition for the first time ever, it was a hugely memorable occasion as the whole school was given permission to come out to watch and support the team. Cheered on by a wonderful home crowd, the game swung both ways but ended in a draw and the need for penalty shuffles again. This time, the result went the wrong way for Monkton but all involved, and all those who had the fortune to be present at the game, were proud of our performances both in getting us to this stage and on the day.

As with the girls, a number of boys were playing outside of school developing their Hockey with strong clubs both within junior and adult teams, and we had pathway trialists aspiring to higher selection within the England Hockey system.

Netball

The Netball Club went from strength to strength this year, with the seniors regularly showcasing four teams, plus a fifth for a few fixtures. All teams had fantastic seasons and made incredible progress over the course of the term. In a mix up to normal training sessions, there were positional workshops and opportunities to work with different coaches.

The 1st and 2nd teams were also able to experience some cross-sport coaching with Mr Ashton delivering some handling skills and Mrs Mason bringing her knowledge of strength and conditioning.

The juniors had a record year of participation so we were able to put out A, B and C teams at both U14 and U15 age groups. The U15s had a very successful year, scoring an abundance of goals without conceding too many, resulting in fantastic results. The U14s had a more difficult year in terms of results, but they made heaps of progress throughout the term and finished strong.

There was also the annual Staff v 1st Team match that is always highly anticipated and well-contested. Once again, the 1st team managed to get the better of the staff after starting strong, but not before the staff made a comeback towards the end of the game.

The term was rounded-off with House Netball, which saw some competitive but friendly games and some great netball on show. Nutfield were eventual winners in both Senior and Junior competitions.

Nat

Tennis

The tennis season started back in November for the Girls and Boys Senior 1sts with entry into the LTA Year 11-13 competition for the first time. Both squads put out some good performances but unfortunately, didn’t progress forwards. These teams also entered the Aberdare Cup (Girls) and Glanville Cup (Boys), both knockout competitions, where they were drawn against strong Talbot Heath and QEH teams respectively.

In terms of the regular season, the senior teams had great seasons, with the girls 1sts remaining unbeaten in the first half, and the boys putting on some fantastic performances for great results and competitive tennis.

The junior boys and girls were entered into the Year 9 and 10 LTA competitions where the girls finished 2nd of four and the boys 3rd of five. In their regular season, both boys and girls groups at U14 and U15 made great progress over the term and produced some fantastic performances, and it was great to see the boys included in the Saturday fixture programme properly for the first time and the aim is to increase this further next year.

Individual and small group lessons have been going from strength to strength with our three external coaches. Close to 60 pupils have been receiving weekly coaching sessions during all three terms this year which just goes to show how popular they are. We will continue to look to run these next year.

Rowing

It has been a strong year for rowing at Monkton Combe School. Our first national event was The Schools Head of the River Race, which allowed our 1st and 2nd VII to experience the boat race course where they finished 9th in the 1st 8 category and 19th in 2nd VIIs. Two days later, 18 pupils jetted off to France for our annual training camp in Nantes. With everyone working hard, this camp gave us an opportunity to really find some speed for the regatta season. Special thanks to the Bluefriars for their support with the camp.

After the Easter holidays, the J16 boys teamed up with Monmouth School forming the WAGs team 8+ at The Junior Inter Regional Regatta, where they finished 6th in a strong field. Monkton also had Jemima C represent the WAGs team in the WJ16 8+ where they finished 10th, a great result for a scratch crew.

On May the 24th, Monkton took five crews to The National School Regatta, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious rowing events in Europe. It was a great weekend with everyone qualifying for a final. Special mention must go to the Championship coxed four of Thomas G, Ed B, Izaak L, Toby J and Evie M who had a fantastic race qualifying for the A final where they finished 6th. This is the first time a boys crew from Monkton has made the A Final in a championship event.

Athletics

This year, Athletics has featured as a Games option for Years 9 to 10 as well as Years 11 to 13 for the very first time. It’s been amazing to see the potential and desire for personal improvement shown in our Individual Sports. With an array of events to practise, pupils have enjoyed the variation of improving their speed, fitness and technical elements on both the track and field.

All pupils who have opted for Athletics have enjoyed participating in competitions at Kingswood Nitro-Athletics meet, Dauntseys Athletics meet and Quadrathlon plus pathway events such as the Bath and North East Somerset Championships at Bath University. For those who qualified from BaNES, they progressed further to the Avon Schools Championships.

This year was the first year since the pandemic that the Avon Schools Championships has happened, as it was amazing that Monkton took a total of 19 Athletes to Yate for this occasion, eight of which were from the Senior School. The Year 10 team were part of the BaNES team who won the team event, beating Bristol, North East Somerset and South Gloucester. Well done to stand out performers: Sophie W L (1st 75m Hurdles), Francesca R (2nd in Long Jump), Henry D (2nd in LJ), Eliza H (3rd in Javelin) and Jayden S (3rd in 800m). The final event of the day ended in an exciting 2nd place relay for the Monkton girls 4x100m relay team: Francesca R, Lowen Y, Saga L and Bethel O. We look forward to the growth of Athletics next year, as we hope even more pupils will discover Athletics.

Cricket

Cricket is growing at Monkton! We have seen so much action across the year, starting with an extensive Winter Nets programme before competitive fixtures came in the Summer term. The 1st XI showcased their talent by competing in the National Cup Tier 2 Competition, demonstrating their commitment and skill on a national stage.

A historic moment occurred when the Senior Girls XI took on Sherborne Girls on Longmead, with league umpires officiating for the first time ever, marking a significant step forward for girls’ cricket at Monkton. Our Junior teams, both boys and girls, saw growing numbers and impressive development as the term progressed. Overall, the club enjoyed a fantastic set of results, with improved performances across the board, highlighting the strength and potential of Monkton Cricket.

Table Tennis

The past year for Table Tennis was marked by enthusiasm, skill development, and notable achievements among pupils. Participation levels were high, with pupils from various age groups showing keen interest in the sport. The term kickedoff with a series of training sessions focused on building foundational skills such as footwork, grip techniques, and basic strokes. Coaches emphasised the importance of consistency and precision, which were pivotal in the pupils’ progress.

Competitive events were a highlight of the term, with inter-games tournaments fostering a spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition. The school team performed admirably in these events, with several different players reaching top positions. The standout performer was Chris L, who showcased exceptional talent and resilience.

In addition to tournaments during games sessions, intra-school matches were held regularly, providing all players with consistent match practice and the opportunity to apply their training in competitive scenarios. These matches were instrumental in helping pupils develop strategic thinking and mental toughness.

A notable aspect of the term was the help of Mr. Cheng’s coaching expertees. With the integration of individual drills in the training regimen, the pupils improved significantly. Overall, the school Table Tennis term was a success, marked by strong participation, skill development, and competitive achievements. The progress made sets a promising foundation for future endeavours, ensuring continued growth and success in the sport.

Swimming

Badminton

This year we kicked off Senior Badminton with a renewed focus of getting more pupils playing and starting to compete in more fixtures with other schools. We achieved both aims with 30 pupils regularly attending games training sessions, all of which also played in at least one fixture for the school.

Overall, we played the most Badminton fixtures the school has ever done and managed to put out two teams consistently. Our fixtures included Prior Park, Sherborne Boys School, KES, Royal High and Downside. We also had some stand out performers who managed to beat strong competition from other schools. A word must go to Eunice H, who managed to compete against some of the counties top girls and boys and who showed huge improvement during the term.

The group worked very hard in training and wanted to get better. I believe the enthusiasm for Badminton at Monkton has grown and we are now in a position to develop the program further next year with continued fixtures and now more competition for team places. Next year I hope we can continue our success and we are also looking to run the first Badminton trip at Monkton to watch the All England International Tournament in Birmingham, where we will get the opportunity to watch the world’s best players.

Cross Country

This year has been an exhilarating one for Monkton’s Cross Country team, marked by exploration, growth, and remarkable achievements. In our training sessions, we ventured beyond the usual routes to explore various off-site paths, rivers, and tunnels. These excursions were not only a great way for the students to enjoy the outdoors but also helped them develop resilience and an appreciation for nature. The students relished the opportunity to train in diverse environments, which added an element of adventure to our routine.

Our team expanded significantly this year, welcoming many new members who brought fresh energy and enthusiasm. Throughout the season, all students demonstrated a commendable “can do” attitude and adapted impressively to all conditions, including some particularly muddy courses. The range of abilities within the team was diverse, but every student showed noticeable improvement over the term. This was evident in their performance during our various fixtures. Among the highlights was the Bryanston Relays, where our senior teams exhibited outstanding teamwork and determination.

A special mention goes to Hannah, who had an exceptional season. She not only qualified for the English Schools Cross Country Championships but also delivered a stellar performance in the Bath Half Marathon, showcasing her dedication and skill. Overall, it has been a rewarding year for Monkton’s Cross Country team. Each member has shown growth and tenacity, making it a memorable season for everyone involved. We look forward to continuing this momentum and achieving even greater heights in the future

Senior Sports Day

Monkton’s Sports Day was held at Bath University this year! It was a remarkable event, highlighted by numerous record-breaking performances in track and field. The day showcased the athletic strength of Monkton students, with several new records set across various events. The competition was intense, with participants displaying exceptional speed, strength, and determination. The atmosphere was electric, as both athletes and spectators celebrated the achievements. The event not only underscored the talent within the Monkton community but also reinforced the school’s commitment to fostering a spirit of healthy competition, with a fantastic spirit of Monkton relay to end the day.

International Committee of Monkton

In a school with such a wonderful and diverse community, the work of the International Committee of Monkton (ICOM) is always busy! This year’s committee has worked hard to put on a range of both small and whole-school events, which have been more popular than ever!

In Michaelmas, we started the year with an introduction to Rugby and Hockey, led by our Year 13 Sports Prefects, followed soon after by an International Welcome Tea. After half term we then organised a whole-school international supper complete with music, flags and a quiz.

In Lent term, we started off with a hotpot night to celebrate Chinese New Year, which saw the greatest number of pupils attending in ICOM’s history! Year 13 student Ogheneruonano then led Monkton’s first afro-caribbean dinner, complete with ox-tail stew, plantain, puff puff and jollof rice.

We also had another first; a Cultural Diversity Day - again, led by Sixth Form pupils - which featured not only more food, but also interviews of staff and pupils in which they shared what their culture means to them.

Philosophy Society

There have been so many highlights this year! Alongside a number of firepit philosophy and picnic debates, we have enjoyed visits from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics as part of the Lighthouse week, from Genesis Trust representative Hilary Long, and from our own D Clark speaking about her work as a Bath City Pastor.

There have also been some good trips this year. We enjoyed a Sixth Form trip to Worcester where pupils met current Philosopher and author, Peter Vardy, and were treated to a wide range of talks. We took a Year 10 and 11 trip to Bath Mosque where we were graciously hosted by Imam Mohammed.

Summer term features our International Leavers’ BBQ - an opportunity to say goodbye to our fantastic international pupils, and reflect on their time at Monkton.

As we look ahead to next year, the new committee is excited to introduce new events, initiatives and celebrations, so watch this space!

Year 12 began the academic year with an exploration of instrumental and intrinsic value when it comes to the natural world as part of their environmental ethics course. Finally, Year 10 experienced a mini-pilgrimage, exploring the idea of ‘thin places’ in the beautiful Monkton Valley and ending with a tour of St Michael’s Church.

Following a successful Inter-House Philosothon in November, we took a team of finalists to the Bath Schools Philosothon (founded by Monkton a few years ago) at Ralph Allen School and participated in some challenging collaborative debates, competing at a very high level and really stretching both skills and knowledge.

Field Day Michaelmas

This year’s Michaelmas Field Day was our wettest yet, so the pupils were given the choice to go and get dry or stay outside, and a large number did stay out, as the catering team supplied hot chocolate on tap and kept the Dining Hall mopped! The pupils’ energy, morale, engagement and positive attitude was inspiring as we saw them take risks, try new things and support each other. The whole day was supported by WOLT outdoors.

Our pupils took part in adventure-based activities from a climbing wall to frisbee golf, archery to axe throwing and even low ropes. Falconry UK joined us once again with their incredible set of birds, which our pupils enjoyed getting up close to! As an antidote to the adventure activities there were a selection of calmer ones offering a more mindful approach; this year we carved pumpkins, made autumn wreaths, played giant outdoor chess, and made Swift boxes for our resident colony.

Year 12 had the opportunity to test their golfing prowess at Cumberwell Golf Course, starting on the driving range before moving onto putting. They also took part in dynamic personal safety and self defence workshops with Libby and Silpa from Soar with Us. This is part of the program for preparing pupils for life after school when many go on to live in some of our larger cities and take gap years.

Field Day Lent

For our Lent Field Day, many pupils went off-site to experience a whole host of exciting activities. A group of pupils set off for the amazing Calshot Activity Centre, which offers a velodrome, ski slope, climbing wall, abseiling, high ropes and high team games. The pupils took part in four of the activities, with the velodrome and climbing being key favourites! Another group headed to the Brecon Hills, where they alternated between indoor rock climbing and horse riding. A third group ventured out onto the rapids at the Cardiff International White Water Centre, which was an incredible experience.

An intrepid group of 45 pupils scaled Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons; the group consisted of complete novices and the keen and experienced, but all made it to the summit despite the un-optimistic weather forecast! Meanwhile, our Year 11 Geography pupils travelled to Chesil Beach in Dorset for their coastal environments fieldwork expedition. Equipped with callipers, clinometers and ranging poles, the pupils set out to collect data and explore Chesil Beach’s unique features.

Those who stayed at school did a great job tidying up the house gardens and planting new flower beds around the site. Between the heavy downpours and rare bursts of sunshine, this was interlaced with outdoor games and a walk to make the most of an opportunity to spend the day outside, recognising the importance of this to wellbeing and educational attainment.

Enrichment and Activities

Monkton offered an array of activities in enrichment, designed to engage and develop pupils’ skills across a broad spectrum of interests. With options ranging from sports like football, basketball and squash, to other activities like outdoor education. Pupils looking to explore creativity and practical skills had the chance to participate in culinary school, where they learned the art of cooking and baking.

Pupils also showcased their talents in the T-Shirt Design Competition and running a STEAM project for a local primary school. The varied offerings ensured that every student could find activities suited to their interests, promoting personal growth, collaboration, and a well-rounded educational experience.

Giving Committee

Giving Committee this year has been busy as always! Highlights include some fantastic House giving fortnights, with Year 12 reps organising creative challenges in support of some really important charities.

This year our Houses have sponsored Black Minds Matter, a charity providing free, one-to-one, culturally relevant therapy for black people in the UK; Charmaghz; a charity supporting children in Afghanistan through library buses and reading; the Generous campaign giving practical support to children in schools in Kenya; Incourage

UK, a men’s mental health charity founded by an Old Monktonian; Hope into Action, a Christian charity providing transitional homes and support for the homeless in our community; and finally Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire, supporting people with dementia and their families in Wiltshire.

In addition to this, we have continued our hands-on support for the Fox Hill Community Christmas Lunch, collecting hampers to donate, singing carols and helping to serve and clear food. And also for Genesis Trust in Bath, volunteering at two Bath Half

Marathons this year by providing helpers for the baggage tent, as well as fielding some outstanding runners from both staff and pupil teams, and also running our annual sponsored swim to raise valuable funds.

Thank you so much to all those who have worked hard on the committee, but also to the many pupils, parents and staff who have donated food, given financial support or volunteered their time and skills over this year to be part of the many ways we engage with our community and the wider world.

Partnerships

Monkton continues to work closely with our local community. This year we have again hosted some fantastic events and offered the use of our resources and staff time for many of our local schools and communities.

We have provided first aid training to schools and village groups, lent out our minibuses to provide travel to sports fixtures and events, helped a local school with SEN provision, and promoted Music, English, Drama and STEM subjects at key events held throughout the year.

Our partnership with Winsley Primary School has grown throughout the year, as our Year 12 pupils designed and built an outdoor learning space, making benches from sleepers and constructing raised beds.

We are proud of this partnership that is beneficial both to Monkton pupils, who develop their service, a sense of satisfaction, project management, practical skills, team-work and communication, and to Winsley pupils, who will benefit from being able to learn outside and the wealth of opportunities this brings. We hope that this will be an ongoing partnership between the two schools.

Most recently we saw the return of Wild Shakespeare Day, with our English and Drama departments coming together to give 50 local primary Key Stage 2 pupils the opportunity to explore Shakespeare in a new, fun and innovative manner. The hands-on sessions built confidence with understanding

Shakespeare’s language, before the pupils were treated to an outdoor production of The Tempest performed by Monkton Senior pupils. With some wonderful feedback from the schools that attended, it was a brilliant event to end the year, which demonstrates the strength of local partnerships.

Next year we have exciting plans to develop our partnership work as all Year 12 pupils will spend half a term volunteering at a local primary school - developing learning spaces, coaching sport, helping with music lessons, and more. All serving to build even stronger links with our local community and help Monkton pupils understand the social responsibility they have as they grow up.

Combined Cadet Force

The CCF has seen a wide array of activities, whether that be capture the flag, live shooting, coordinated drill, sleeping in the woods, studying flight procedures, or public speaking practice. In CCF, we aim to develop more than just the ability to shoot and march in formation; cadets develop teamwork skills and their ability to lead, adapt and overcome challenges. In the Navy section, the cadets undertook various tasks which involved creative thinking, effective collaboration across the group and coherent leadership to achieve the given goal. Cadets were also given tasks to develop their public speaking skills and ability to lead their group under pressure.

The Army section have had many opportunities such as playing capture the flag on millbrick, heading to a live range to practise their shooting, learning how to assemble, load and unblock rifles or even sleeping in the woods during the end of year trip. The RAF have had a productive year. At first during drill exercises the younger cadets were unsure of themselves, but adapted quickly to work together as one unit. Their confidence continued to grow as they learnt to shoot and handle rifles, radio signalling as well as lessons on flight procedures. All members of the RAF have made great progress across the year and will hopefully be able to experience in-air flight next year.

REME this year have studied the interior of engines and suspensions of a car, and have enjoyed learning about necessary changes to move to electric vehicles. A highlight was the visit to Haynes Museum where they saw an amazing array of automobiles and enjoyed gokart racing.

Arthur C, current Y12

Remembrance Day

Field Day

RAF

CCF Summer Camp

During my time at the annual Monkton CCF Camp this year, I faced new decisions and challenges: building bashers to sleep under, early starts, water sports, rock climbing and much more! Not only testing myself physically, but as a person as well. However, though I faced many challenges, I always looked forward to the good food and comfortable bed I would come back to every day. The staff were: caring, fun, knowledgeable and considerate in all we did over the five days.

The group dynamics were brilliant, with all of us helping each other out with different needs, whether helping with climbing, or encouraging words when jumping off the cliffs during our coasteering sessions. The Weymouth outdoor staff were also a huge help in all our needs and were fundamental to my happiness on the trip. I would definitely recommend this trip to others and would happily do it all again!

Charlie W, current Y10

Duke of Edinburgh

Our Year 9s have really thrown themselves into the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award this year, starting with a walk from Monkton, cooking their own lunch on a camping stove, and then choosing whether to sign up. 53 pupils went on to pass the expedition section, with glowing comments from their assessors, really taking on the challenge of hiking for 6 hours each day, carrying everything they needed, having to discover this old fashioned thing called a map (no blue line to follow!) and learning to work as a team.

Alongside that they have pursued the other three sections: Physical, Skill and Volunteering, giving up an hour a week for each to stretch themselves, whether helping out at a local stables, discovering how hard it is to manage a group of pupils through volunteering at the Prep after-school activities, learning to cook, taking up a sport, or a host of other activities. Record numbers completed all four sections and received their award within the year, and another significant group had one section left to finish the following term. This award stretches everyone, which is what makes it such a worthwhile goal to pursue and our Year 9s have more than risen to the challenge!

Over the Lent half term, the TPE department embarked on an exciting visit to Athens, learning history with Mr Bray, philosophical richness with Mrs Youlten, and theological insights from Miss Page and Mrs Lewis.

We soon got over the early flight from Gatwick as we sat in glorious sunshine enjoying Greek salad, pitta bread, and olives. We then headed off to the Panathenaic Stadium before walking up Lycabettus Hill to watch the sunset.

Over the next few days, we visited many stunning locations including the Acropolis and Corinth Canal. We explored sites including the Lyceum, where philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato held philosophical discussions. The wonderful Mr Bray taught us about Ancient Greece, and we got to stand where Paul stood when preaching the Gospel to the

Corinthians, reciting some of his letters, which was such a cool experience! We also had time to explore modern day Athens, haggle with shop vendors, try Greek cuisine and stop for street performers.

One of my highlights (Samuel) of the trip was joining some locals for a game of football. It showed how a language barrier wasn’t a barrier to enjoying a sports match when meeting new people and friends.

A highlight of the trip (Un and Dami) was Miss Page’s ‘in-houses’ in the hotel. After daily competitions, these brought everyone together in the evenings. We are so grateful for this trip. We left with a better understanding of the philosophers we study in lessons, and the city of wisdom.

Dami, Samuel & Un

Canada

36 pupils embarked on a ski trip to Mont Saint Anne, Canada, experiencing snow-covered mountains and exciting cultural activities. The adventure began with skiing and a thrilling ice hockey game in Quebec, where pupils appeared on the Jumbotron. Throughout the week, groups of various skill levels took on challenging mountain runs, including moguls and a top Canadian piste.

A highlight was skiing through an enchanted forest with jumps and tight turns. Pupils also enjoyed a unique husky ride, gym, and pool time. The final skiing day saw one group playing rugby on the slopes, while another created a ski train, showcasing their improved skills in a full-group descent. The trip concluded with visits to Montmorency Falls and Quebec City, where pupils enjoyed lunch and shopped for maple syrup.

Prize Giving

Prize Giving marked a memorable end to a remarkable year, celebrating pupils’ achievements. The morning started with a service featuring beautiful singing from the School Choir, and a poignant message from Rev Hutch.

House drinks and speeches were a wonderful opportunity to celebrate some more individual awards, as well as send our Year 13 Leavers out into the world. It was certainly emotional! After House Events, things began to heat up (!) with an inter-house game-show-themed Prize Giving. We were able to celebrate the high points of the year across the co-curricular, academic, and pastoral sides of school life, and pupils from each house wowed the crowd with their Mastermind-level knowledge of black holes, Lego, space travel, jellyfish, country dancing, and the theory of relativity.

Nutfield were crowned champions of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and we finished just in time to grab some water, the aftersun, and get the Year 9s off to France! Thank you so much to everyone who joined us, helping to make our series of celebration events so spectacular!

2023-24