The House Arts Festival is a true celebration of the Arts, where students from Prep to Sixth Form work together to showcase poetry readings, photography, artwork, dance, music composition and performance, ensuring that everyone has a role to play – whether front and centre or behind-the-scenes.
Each year has a specific theme that the students’ performances and portfolio needs to represent - this year it is ‘Space’, and performance and portfolio work is judged by a cross-section of staff who attend live music performances, view recorded recitals and review submitted artwork compositions.
The students use their weekly House Assembly time as an opportunity to collaborate and rehearse before coming together to showcase what they have produced. House Arts Festival is just one of the ways that the Houses in School play a significant role in the enrichment opportunities for our Students.
This annual showcase demonstrates the incredible leadership role our Prefects undertake, bringing together students from Year 3 upwards, engendering a culture of participation in House events. After much deliberation from the judges, the winner was Milton! Congratulations!
We were delighted to welcome Musical Theatre star, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay to Pipers in the last week before half-term. Michael is a recipient of the prestigious Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Scholarship and a distinguished member of the National Youth Theatre. He was also the RCS Nominee for the Stephen Sondheim Student Performer of the Year Award in 2020. His stage credentials include productions such as Newsies and Legally Blonde and he recently concluded his role in Choir Boy at Bristol Old Vic.
Michael gave his time generously to our students throughout the day leading a dedicated skills workshop for Performing Arts students from Year 7 upwards. Michael gave the students invaluable feedback and advise, whilst also supporting them in honing their own skills and seeing close-up how a Musical Theatre star conducts himself on stage.
Michael was taught by our very own Miss Spencer, Director of Drama when they were both at Wellington College, and through the Q&A hosted by his former teacher, alongside Emma H – our Head Girl, we were able to learn from Michael about his journey from Medical student to taking a lead role (as he announced to us live on the evening) in Cabaret alongside Hollywood glitterata Cara Delevingne. In leading the evening entitled ‘The Magic of Musical Theatre’, Michael performed some of his favourite songs, from some of the most well-known musicals, but not to be outdone, our own students showcased their own incredible talents in front of a completely sold-out Theatre audience.
The big finale, saw Michael and all of our student performers take to the stage together to perform one last time. It was a very special evening, one we will never forget. It further reinforces our own appetite and commitment to deliver more of these incredible opportunities for our students and the wider-School community.
Following their excellent assembly celebrating World Wildlife Day, the HOPE students, together with the staff leaders, invited students to join them for their meeting to seed a wildflower strip close to the Bee Mural, to attract pollinators later in the summer.
Over 30 students from Years 7 to 11 joined in the event, planting some summer favourites, including sunflowers, and then scattered handfuls of wild flower seeds, supported by our Grounds team. Over the coming weeks and months, we will look forward to seeing the seeds grow and we hope there will soon be even more of a buzz in this part of the School as the bees and butterflies move in and do their great work.
The HOPE team have lots of other exciting events planned over the next term and they are looking forward to even more members of the School community doing their bit to support the environment.
To inspire inclusion means to celebrate diversity and empowerment on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 and beyond.
IWD is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done.
In 2024, the campaign theme Inspire Inclusion emphasises the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society.
The campaign calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognise the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalised communities.
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Pipers have released another single! This time our wonderful Senior and Sixth Form cast have released the title track from Six the Musical - Teen edition.
The Pipers set list now includes ‘Best of You’ by the Foo Fighters, brilliant performed by our students.
You can listen to both singles on all major streaming sites, including Spotify. Well done to all those involved.
Well done to all our Senior and Sixth Form musicians for their wonderful Spring Concert this term. A great evening of classics, favourites and delightful renditions of the greatest hits from Barbie.
Tell us about being a Prefect at Pipers
It’s a role that has lots of opportunities. You act as a role model to younger students who really look up to you, but you are also able to impact change within the School by leading on new initiatives. You take advantage of the opportunities to take the lead, either as a Head of House or a member of the Head Girl’s Team. Our responsibilities can include organisation of Year Group events, Leadership and charity events, keeping schedules for tours for prospective families, organising and running House meetings and developing team-building activities. As Student Heads, we also have to make sure we dress and act appropriately to be affective ambassadors of the School.
What experience led you to your role as a Prefect?
As we moved up through the School we always found the Prefects inspiring. We had a lot of respect for them for making positive impacts and it makes you feel empowered to do the same thing! We wanted to be leaders even back in Year 7, so we put ourselves out there and took part in the unique opportunities available at the School.
What is the most rewarding part of being a Prefect?
When you put all your work into something, for example an event and it all goes smoothly and better than we imagined, it’s so rewarding. The School is filled with teachers and students who respect each other, but the amount of trust and responsibilities that Prefects receive and for teachers to know they can depend on us is a wonderful feeling. The students also approach us if they need help or want specific advice. We pride ourselves on being approachable. We really do inspire and motivate each other as well. Even with simple day-to-day stuff that comes with the role, we also make sure we’re all taken care of and give other a boost when we need it.
What are the challenges of being a Prefect?
When we first started our roles, it was hard to keep on top of the workload that comes with being a Prefect or a Head of House, it can be especially hard around the exam period. What’s nice is that we all work well together, so we rely on and help each other during these periods. We’re always happy and open to share responsibilities with each other even if our role dictates otherwise.
Did you receive any advice from the previous Prefect team?
The previous Head Girl and members of the team were wonderful in sharing their ideas with us. A part of our responsibilities is organising tours, so they gave us useful information on co-ordinating timetables and schedules. Previous Heads of House gave us details on how best to tackle certain situations, so that was extremely beneficial for us. We all had feedback to help us develop our roles.
What advice would you give students who want to be a Prefect?
Get out there and throw yourself into everything around the School. Be a helpful member of the community and strive to do it not for the role, but for yourself. You should be willing to get involved, have respect for each and every one of your classmates and listen to the opinions of others. You are all equals in your year, so wearing the robe does not mean you are more important than anyone else.
You must also be prepared for the responsibilities that come with the role. The amount of extra work that come on top of your A Levels is significant and shouldn’t be underestimated, but it is great preparation for the future beyond School.
It must be something you want, so make your mark, help your classmates and also help the current Prefects, that’s something we always appreciate, and you will get valuable experience.
What a whirlwind my first full term was – is all I can say! I feel like I’ve been swimming against the tide albeit, a lovely swim and one I will forever hold close to my heart.
The term has been full of exciting new experiences, however I will focus on what I believe has already created a positive impact. My prefect team and I met at the beginning of the School year and almost immediately agreed that our initiative should be primarily focused on the idea that, “We are Unstoppable”. We delved into the barriers that are placed upon young people within our generation, acknowledging how pressured we all are to conform. We can lose sight of ourselves and the opportunities to create positive personal changes to ourselves and others. The team felt that this was something that could and needed to be addressed. We wanted everyone to understand how important each one of us is to the world we live in. Immediately, there was a ‘buzz’ surrounding the prefects and there was almost a light bulb moment – when we realised that one of the main barriers to us feeling unstoppable is when there is a lack of kindness surrounding us. So, what could we do? Young people aren’t often seen as helping or supporting each other. With this in mind, the Head Girl Team decided to create the ‘Bee Kind Award’. In doing so, we wanted to acknowledge any act of kindness noticed around the School.
I do feel it is important to recognise that it is not just about winning the award as much as it is about all of us understanding the value of being kind. Having only fully launched this award in the Spring Term, the team and I feel inspired to continue to drive our mission in highlighting the kindness around us. I hope that we will be creating a legacy of kindness within the School that will remain long after we are no longer at Pipers.
We are excited to announce that Pipers Corner School has launched a partnership with The Social Institute (TSI), a leader in curriculum designed to equip students to navigate the complex intersection of well-being, social media and technology. Already working with over 500 schools and educational districts in the US, we are delighted to be the first school in the UK to introduce their innovative curriculum to our community.
Time spent on digital devices is at al all-time high and cyberbullying and reputation damaging posts run rampant, TSI equips students to make positive, healthy and high-character choices that fuel their health, happiness and future success. Through our Life-Skills lessons, we has already started TSI’s comprehensive program, called #WinAtSocial, which promotes character, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking and other important life skills.
After weeks of preparation, our team of students had a very successful day at the Young Citizens UK Independent Schools’ Mock Trial Competition - winning the regional heat held at Stowe School. The competition has given them an unparalleled insight into the judicial system and the work of senior legal professionals and this is the first time that Pipers have achieved this level of success in the competition.
Our competition included Edgbaston High School for Girls, Cardiff Sixth Form, Oxford International School, Princethorpe College, St Johns College, and Stowe School - most of whom fielded teams made entirely from Sixth Form students - so it was even more impressive that our mixed team of Years 10-13 students were victorious.
Our team was made up of four Barristers, a Court Clerk, an Usher, Jurors, Court Artist and Court Reporter.
Having won the regional heat last week, this superb team of Pipers Senior and Sixth Form Students are now through to the National Final which will take place at the Old Bailey in June. We cannot wait to see how they get on.
Four of our Sixth Form students got a taste for fine-dining hospitality recently when they spent the day cooking in the kitchen and experiencing all aspects of a professional ‘service’ at The Greyhound in Beaconsfield.
Year 12 students are preparing for their Level Three Food Science and Nutrition qualification assessment and were invited to spend the day helping the chefs in the kitchen prepare and serve dishes during a busy lunch service.
The students helped to prepare Smoked Trout Rillette, Smoked Potato with Milk Loaf and Chive Butter and Pink Fir Potatoes with Truffle.
This invaluable experience was part of The Greyhound’s Hospitality Programme. Launched by co-owner Daniel Crump, the team at the restaurant have been visiting local schools as well as inviting students in to give them a feel for operations in a commercial kitchen and inspire the younger generation to pursue a career in the hospitality sector.
Each student that does work experience at the restaurant can take part in a tailored schedule of activities depending on their interests, with opportunities to shadow chefs and other kitchen staff, as well as the front of house team. We are grateful to Daniel and his team at The Greyhound.
As part of a selection of workshops made available to our Senior School and Sixth Form this year, students were keen to take part in a special Mixed Media Painting session, to inspire our team of artists to develop even larger pieces using a different variety of materials.
In this session, students were encouraged to work with wood, newspaper and corrugated cardboard, to see what kind of different textured effects they can get in their preparatory work for their chosen examination theme. Year 9 students also worked to further develop their ‘Art from Art homage to Impressionism’ project.
Further workshops available throughout the rest of the year include Mono-printing, Experimental Photography and Drypoint Printmaking. These sessions are on top of the weekly Art Clubs at lunchtimes and after school, helping each student achieve their full artistic potential.
In a fascinating workshop, Year 8 had a visit from a Barber Surgeon and learnt about medicine in the Middle Ages. This included how the roles of the Apothecary, Physician and the varied expertise of a Barber Surgeon has influenced modern day techniques.
I
n an annual tradition, both Staff and Sixth Form teams put on an excellent show of determination in our Charity Staff vs Sixth Form Netball tournament to raise money for the charity YoungMinds.
With great play from both sides, the match ended in a welldeserved draw of 16-16. Well done everyone!
Ahuge well done to Young Enterprise team Starseekers who competed against four other teams at the Eden Centre Trade Fair selling event to win ‘Best Trade Stall’. They received a cash prize which will help them grow their company and take them further in their Young Enterprise Journey.
They also won at the Milton Keynes Trade Fair, where they were up against 20 other schools to win ‘Runner Up’ of the whole competition.
The team will find out at the Area Finals on the 26 April if they have won any more prizes. We look forward to seeing how they progress in the Summer Term.
We were delighted to invite Mel Simpson to lead a Dance Workshop with our Dance Troupe ‘Quartet’ and even give the Sixth Form dancers their theme for their next A Level examination and performance. Mel Simpson is a UK-based Dance Artist, Choreographer and Education Specialist with over sixteen years of experience.
Mel gave our students her chosen idea (inspired by current events and news) for this full-day workshop, keeping the students on their toes and enabling them to embody their given characters for the performance piece. Characters were given to each student based on individual dance styles, which made a unique piece of choreography and a great learning experience for our performers.
In an Egg-cellent show of Historical knowledge, our Senior School students took part in a Historical Egg Heads competition and the results are quite superb. From Margaret Thatcher to Florence Nightingale (and many weird and wonderful inbetween) we are astounded at the level of creativity on show.
A huge congratulations to Charlotte D for her winning entry of Elizabeth I.
In a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother, Lower Sixth student Ruby H organised a number of fundraising activities in aid Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Ruby’s grandmother tragically lost her battle with MND in 2020, inspiring Ruby to take action and raise awareness and funds for this debilitating condition.
Ruby spearheaded an Orange colour-themed MND mufti day at School, rallying her fellow students and teachers to participate. Determined to make an ever-greater impact, she also completed the ‘Run Dorney Lake’ 5km raising over £2,000 in the process. Not usually a runner, Ruby now says that she has ‘caught the bug’ and is looking forward to taking on more challenges for charity in the future.
In response to her superb contribution to the MND charity, their spokesperson said “All the funds Ruby has raised will help make a real difference to the lives of people affected by MND, this amount could fund detailed analysis of the DNA of someone with MND to help us better understand the causes of the disease.”
After 20+ auditions and a supportive audience to boot, the Senior Talent Show was a wonderful celebration of creativity of the 12 finalists, where students were able to showcase their skills and passions, whilst raising around £200 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
This year’s show captivated our audience with an impressive array of performances. Musical Theatre and Adele were popular hits among performers, with students also entertaining the audience with their comedy show.
In such an engaging and diverse show, we are incredibly proud of everyone for taking part. Our overall winner was Grace P and Lucy B for their beautiful dance, with Anjika G coming a close second with her performance of ‘Skyfall‘. Joint third place was awarded to singer Sophia W and the vocal trio Emma B, Ava N and Mia M. A huge thank you to Year 8ED3 for their help in the organisation of the event.
Thank you to all those who supported the Quiz and Chips event. The Upper Foyer was buzzing with laughter and conversation and the Sixth Form students really helped to make it a successful evening with their careful planning, presentation skills and childcare offering.
With over 180 parents as well as staff participating in the quiz, a large number of families made use of the childcare provided by our Year 12’s, which included a screening of Disney’s ‘Wish’ in the Arts Centre Theatre.
This year, Quizzers played for a chosen charity and we are really pleased to say that the winning team “Pipers Crisps” (made up of Pipers’ teachers) have raised £100 for MND, whilst joint second and third place raised £50 each for Crisis and Hearing Dogs.
Year 6 started their New Year in style - experiencing the wonders of a residential ski trip to the stunning Val di Fiemme in Northern Italy. Nestled within the Dolomite Superski area, this destination proved to be a winter wonderland for skiers of all abilities, offering a delightful mixture of exciting activities and picturesque landscapes.
With an extensive range of pistes catering for all skill levels, the beauty of this location provides inclusive and memorable experience for all. Beyond the slopes, the valley offered an abundance of après-ski activities including Karaoke and crafts, delicious food and plenty of time to relax and reflect on their achievements on the slope.
Throughout the day, students in Years 3 to 6 embarked on an exciting day of creativity, sampling different artistic mediums on Prep Art Day.
Inspired by the theme of Nature, Years 3 and 4 students came together in the Prep Hall to work with mixed media producing drawings with oils, large format painting, collage, 3D modelling and clay work. In other areas of the School, Year 6 replicated flower paintings on silk and Year 5 used the inspiration of Van Gogh to create landscapes in felt.
The annual Prep Art Day is a flagship event for Prep students and they thoroughly enjoyed getting to grips with different kinds of media and finding inspiration from classic and modern art.
Pre-Prep and Prep celebrated with literary-inspired costumes raising money for their chosen charity; Children with Cancer, while further up the School the Library team created a full-week schedule of storytelling, a “murdle mystery”, a book review competition, literary quiz and a charity book-swap.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this initiative and our wonderful Library staff who continue to inspire a love of reading amongst our Students all year round.
In a hands-on history project, Year 2 students crafted paper net reproduction houses resembling those from Pudding Lane during the Great Fire of London in 1666. The aim was to help students understand the historical event by visually recreating the fire’s progression.
During their Forest School session, they placed the recreation in the firepit and watched as a controlled burn provided a simple yet effective way for the students to witnesss the historical events unfolding. The rapid spread of the flames gave a simple yet tangible experience for them – they even got to be the “fire brigade” and try to put the flames out.
The project offered a practical and memorable approach to history, allowing students to connect with the past in a hands-on manner. Our Forest School provision provides so many opportunities to enrich our students’ learning journeys.
In anticipation of the Big Garden Bird Watch organised by the RSPB, last week PrePrep students prepared their own bird feeders in their Forest School sessions to place around the School grounds.
With the hope that their hand-made creations would entice more birds, contributing to the rich bio-diversity of the area that had previously revealed over 30 species of birds in a specially commissioned wildlife review conducted in 2022, the students ventured out with binoculars and clip-boards to participate in this national survey.
It is with great pleasure that we announce our students’ outstanding achievement in the English Speaking Board (ESB) Assessments. Our Years 4 and 6 students have received recordbreaking results this year, with every single Student receiving a Distinction, many at 100%! The results are testament to their hard work, talent and dedication throughout the process which required immense commitment outside of School as well as within lessons.
They should all be incredibly proud of themselves and we would like to take the opportunity to also thank the parents and guardians who supported them through the process.
Since the start of the Spring Term, Pre-Prep Students have been busy collecting donations of toys, books and games as part of their charity fundraising goals for community endeavours. They wanted to contribute to the essential work of Rennie Grove Hospice Care who have a community Hub in Holmer Green.
Rennie Grove is a vital organisation providing at-home support for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. To make a positive impact and support this wonderful charity, the Pre-Prep students delivered their donations this week to a very happy team of volunteers in Holmer Green. Thank you to all the families who donated.
Ahuge congratuations to our U15A Netball team: Darcy, Josie, Tilly, Olivia, Izzy, Nico, Pippa and Ellie, who have done us all so proud in the Sisters n Sport National Final 4 Plate. They took second place in the whole competition, a first for Pipers, and we are confident it won’t be the last.
Well done to our Year 10 GCSE climbers who picked up new skills very quickly and showed great resilience and determination in completing their five week course.
An incredible achievement for Maddie R who competed in the U20 British Inter-counties Championship representing Buckinghamshire.
She came fourth out of 300 athletes. An amazing achievement especially after a week of mocks.
