Pipers Post | Summer 2023

SHREK: THE MUSICAL JR

AT OUR ANNUAL SPEECH DAY 2023

Saturday 8 July marked the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, and we did so in our customary way, by welcoming more than 1,500 members of the School community including students, staff, governors, parents and extended family to our flagship event, Speech Day.

Celebrating the outstanding achievements of our students, the School community welcomed Zoologist, Wildlife TV Presenter and Pipers’ special guest Megan McCubbin who gave a memorable speech to inspire our students. She spoke of her battle with dyslexia and how this doesn’t define her as a person or indeed her career, as an author of three books (whilst still under the age of 30) whilst also regaling those present with a charming anecdote involving an interaction in her downstairs WC with a barn owl by the name of Marmite.

In addition to the prize-giving ceremony, guests and students were also treated to showcases from much-loved musicals and performances from throughout the year, including ‘CHICAGO’, ‘Shrek: The Musical Jr’ and ‘Endangered Animals’ the latter by some of our youngest students.

The Celebration marked the end of the Year and indeed the Pipers’ experience for our special Year 13 students, and the Student Leadership Team handed over the reins to their successors. The Headmistress announced the new team to lead the School for the next academic year under the guidance of new Head Girl, Emma, and her deputies Chloe, Maddie and Evie. We look forward to welcoming the 2023-2024 Prefect Team to help lead the School in what will no doubt be another successful year at Pipers.

EXCELLENT IN ALL AREAS - INDEPENDENT SCHOOL INSPECTORATE 2023

Followingthe School’s Focused Compliance and Educational Quality Inspection carried out by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in March, we were delighted to share the outcome with the School community in the Summer Term.

The School was judged to be fully compliant with all the required standards according to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. In the Educational Quality Inspection – We are extremely proud indeed to share that the School has been awarded the highest possible grade of ‘Excellent’ both for pupils’ academic and other achievements and for their personal development.

We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of this report and the comments within it as it reflects the values and dedication which lie at the very heart of our community and which are shared by students, staff, Governors and parents alike. As always, our students proved themselves to be exceptional ambassadors for the School during the inspection: confident and forthright in their views and engaged and independent in their learning.

PIPERS BECOMES FIRST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD TO WIN GREEN WORLD AWARD

Following an application put together by the students last year detailing the environmental efforts made within the School, Pipers has become the first School globally to win a Green World Award for Conservation and Biodiversity.

After successfully winning a staggering three Gold Green Apple Awards towards the end of 2022, being the first school in the UK to do so, Pipers was invited to represent UK not just in the education category, but across the whole sector including Business, Industry and Governments at the Green World Awards in Florida, USA on 24 April 2023. The School was delighted to receive news of the win from the CEO of the Green Organisation for the all-school environmental programme entitled ‘Creating Tomorrow, Today’, which includes comprehensive outreach to the community, involving local primary schools and churches.

This award means that Pipers has become the first School anywhere in the world to win any sort of recognition in these campaigns.

“They are to be congratulated, not only for winning the trophy, but also for leading the way in showing what can be achieved by a team committed to helping the environment. This is particularly important in schools as it is that generation that will have to correct the environmental errors made by all who have gone before.”

- CEO and Founder of the Green Organisation, Roger Wolens

PIPERS SHORTLISTED FOR MULTIPLE AWARDS

We were delighted to be selected as a finalist in the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards for Best Eco Initiative and the Independent School of the Year for Environmental Achievement.

These nominations are every bit about the commitment, aspirations and passion of our incredible students and how much they care about our planet.

The whole School enjoyed a wonderful afternoon celebrating the coronation of King Charles III. Not only was a special Barbeque lunch served, the Terrace Lawn was covered in inflatables to allow our hard-working students a pre-bank holiday refresh.

INFORMAL MUSIC CONCERT

To mark the final week of the School year, we hosted the last Informal Music Concert with a special performance from the staff and student ensemble Sinfonia. Thank you to everyone who has performed this year and all the families who have come to watch.

PIPERS ALUMNAE UNDERTAKING ‘WORLD TOUGHEST ROW’

Good luck to alumnae Louise who will be rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge with her team the Tidewaves.

The team are aiming to be the fastest female trio to race across the Atlantic in 2023 and they hope to use this campaign to raise money for charities Access Sports and London Youth Rowing.

If you would like to support the team in their awe-inspiring adventure, then please visit their website here: https://www. the-tidewaves.com/

ART, TEXTILES AND DESIGN EXHIBITION

We were pleased to welcome family and friends who came to see the breadth of creativity on display which included fashion design, print-making, sculpture, graphic design, contemporary and fine art, at the GCSE and A Level, Art, Textiles and Design Exhibition.

The wonderful chatter of enjoyment was heard across each of the venues, which proudly housed the myriad displays of colour and texture from our talented students. We look forward to sharing with you detail of the work on display once it has been submitted for examinations.

ROCK ZONE CONCERT SHOWCASES GREAT TALENT

Our Music Department hosted a Rock Concert showcase to an audience of parents and staff all eager to see the musical talents of students from Years 5 to 12.

An incredible array of musical skills was on display including an electrical drum solo, Years 5 and 9 Rock Band debuts, stirring Senior and Sixth Form power-ballad solos and an exploration of the Rock genre from past to present day accompanied by guitar, cello, keyboard and even an orchestra ensemble of students and staff.

A huge well done to everyone who took to the stage to share their passion for music.

Towards the end of April, students and staff alike made efforts in our every-day lives to make an impact on reducing energy consumption for Green Week.

On the Wednesday, we observed ‘No Lights’ across classrooms and offices, relying where possible on natural light in a bid to highlight that we don’t always need to “switch on”. Thursday was ‘No Printing’ day, which compliments the work already being done by our HOPE Team in pioneering the reduction in paper usage across the School. The week culminated in the coming together of students to make their personal pledges to the environment in an interactive session lead by the HOPE team.

The over-consumption of energy has a significantly damaging impact on the environment and whilst days of recognition are vitally important to raise awareness, it’s actionable change on a day-to-day basis that will continue to have a positive impact on our fight against climate change.

PIPERS WELLBEING ROOM PRESENTATION GIVEN IN USA CONFERENCE

Positive wellbeing is the foundation of personal growth and achieving academic success for students, so we are proud that our Wellbeing Room was the focus of a special presentation delivered by our Head of Wellbeing at an International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) conference in the USA on 27 June 2023.

The ICGS is a leading advocate for girls’ schools. They work to educate and inspire students internationally by connecting and collaborating worldwide with various individuals, schools and many more dedicated to educating and empowering girls, the changemakers of the future.

In our Head of Wellbeing’s presentation Mrs Wilde spoke about how to bring about this approach in schools and why it is an essential inclusion within an educational environment.

We are extremely proud that this Pipers initiative has been shared internationally for the benefit of students around the world.

A CELEBRATION OF 42 YEARS AT PIPERS

Over the Summer Term, we not only celebrated Grounds Assistant Andrew turning 60, but also his 42 years of working for Pipers.

We couldn’t be more grateful to Andrew for dedicating so many years of service to the School. Thank you Andrew.

SPOTLIGHT ON CAREERS EDUCATION

We believe that offering advice insight and inspiration about the world of work alongside academic study and extracurricular activity is vital to ensuring our students are prepared for their future when they leave school, so we endeavour to provide them with appropriate information, skills awareness and guidance to make the right choices to match their aspiration.

Dedicated programmes of careers-related activity support key transition stages, such as, choosing Options, providing guidance and advice about a range of pathways after GCSEs, A Levels, university, apprenticeships, direct routes to the workplace and gap years.

Careers Education is timetabled as part of the Tutor Programme for all students in Years 7-11, with some introductory work for Year 6 as part of our celebration of National Careers Week in March. Sixth Form students have careers guidance integrated into their structured enrichment programme, which includes UCAS and Apprenticeship guidance, and alumnae workshops around work-based preparation including writing CVs, understanding the UK labour market and interview practice.

While we enjoy some flexibility allowing us to ensure we are tailoring information appropriately to support the aspirations of our student cohort, we aim to follow the Gatsby framework of Good Career Guidance (a comprehensive toolkit identified by the government to deliver best-practice careers guidance to UK students), this is reflected in a commitment to support aspiration and an awareness of a broad range of pathways (both academic and more practical learning).

Where possible we strive to link learning to careers so that students are aware of professional directions where what they are learning could lead them in the future and we celebrate the achievements of our former students by regularly inviting alumnae back into school to inspire our current student body.

In School we have a dedicated Careers Adviser (located in the corridor alongside Humanities) who works to support students on a one-to-one basis during Years 10 and 11 and into the Sixth Form, but students and parents at any stage are invited to make an appointment. Students are also encouraged to consider and plan their own futures using information resources located in the Library and tools the School has invested in to support their explorations - including Morrisby and Indigo Careers, along with additional free online resources.

Students also benefit from a bi-termly Careers newsletter, Future Forward, packed with inspiration and industry information, inspiring awareness of workplace skills, different professional pathways, and offering inspiration linking academic subjects to future jobs and roles. The students also host a regular a Careers podcast, Pipers9to5, where they interview former students about jobs and industries they are interested in going into to gain valuable insight and advice.

“Ultimately, our intention is for Pipers students to have the right information to make the right choices as individuals; to not only succeed while they are with us but to go on to achieve future success in education, training or employment.”

INTERVIEW WITH HEAD OF CAREERS, MRS ROGERS

Tell us about Careers at Pipers

I believe it is really important to be able to connect what students are learning in school to the world of work that awaits - it gives them motivation to keep working up the academic pathways, and inspiration about jobs and careers they may not even be aware of. We try and host regular speaker talks for students to hear first-hand from the world of work, and we are lucky to have inspirational alumnae and parents who volunteer their time to come in and share knowledge and advice. Meanwhile we encourage students to identify their skills, strengths and individual purpose to help them work out what kind of work they might like to do in the future. We are no longer in a world where people hold a job for life, and we aim to develop programmes of activity to ensure that our students are prepared for life after school, whatever their future pathway might be.

What experience led you to your role of Head of Careers?

I worked in PR and Marketing in London for 20 years, using words and language to bring to life consumer brands. During that time I became increasingly passionate about people development - helping them self-identify their skills and motivations in order to get the best out of them. Family life brings different logistical working requirements, but working in a school allows me to use my knowledge of the world of work to inspire and inform young people about what exciting futures they can aspire to, and what skills they will need to succeed.

What is the most rewarding part of the role?

Being able to excite students about jobs and careers they didn’t even know existed, perhaps in areas of personal interest they did not know they could access, and all the different pathways to get there. Guiding students through applications and interviews and then hearing about their subsequent success is always incredibly rewarding, as is seeing students thrive in the career they have gone on to after leaving. School is just the beginning!

How do you like to relax?

I love walking and being in nature - we are so incredibly lucky to have such amazing countryside around us here! I also read a lot, listen to music, go to exhibitions and try to keep up my own art practice.

Who inspires you in life?

I am regularly blown away by the students I work with here, inspired by their desire to do good, and their dedication and commitment inside and outside of school. Meanwhile in the wider world, anyone who sees the world differently and inspires us all to challenge accepted norms in a more positive and fair way, e.g. Emmeline Pankhurst (suffragette), Grayson Perry (Artist) and David Attenborough (Naturalist).

Tell us something we might not know about you

I mentioned I like walking; a few years back I walked the Camino de Santiago from the French Pyrenees all the way to Santiago in Northern Spain. It was a life-changing experience that I treasure, and I definitely intend to walk it again someday.

What are you currently reading?

I’ve just started ‘Trespasses’ by Louise Kennedy about everyday lives affected by conflict in 1970s Northern Ireland. I’m also dipping into ‘Super-infinite’ - a brilliant biography about John Donne (my favourite poet) by the wonderful children/adult writer, Katherine Rundell.

CAREERS EVENING

This year, we gave our students an opportunity to hear from alumnae and guest speakers about careers relating to the study of English, History, Politics and Religious Studies in a Careers Events.

The creative and adaptable nature of many of the subjects that were discussed highlighted the importance of interests outside of those that you study, which can ultimately help to signpost your overall career destination.

It was brilliant for our students to hear directly from professionals and gain insight and advice first hand, so thank you to our wonderful guest speakers for taking the time to inspire the next generation.

SENIOR AND SIXTH FORM SKI TRIP

In the Easter Holidays, 48 students from Years 7-13 took part in a week of ski instruction, team building and fun in the Val Di Sole Ski Resort in Italy.

The students enthusiatically took part in five hours of skiing each day, with evenings taken up with paddle ball, mini golf in the games room and sampling delicious Italian food. The team were even treated to

a special trip to Madonna Di Campiglio for some souvenir shopping. By the end of the week, beginners showed incredible courage in tackling more challenging runs and more seasoned skiers showed wonderful kindness and consideration. A hugely deserved break for our hard-working Senior and Sixth Form students.

YOUNG ENTERPRISE TEAM TAKE RUNNER-UP SPOT IN COMPANY OF THE YEAR NATIONAL FINAL

We are absolutely delighted to announce that the Year 12 Young Enterprise team ‘Seedlings’ were announced Runners-Up in the Young Enterprise National Final, ‘Company of the Year’ Competition which took place on 6 June.

This outstanding achievement, coming second out of 900 teams from all over the UK, would not have been possible without considerable hard work and creativity on the part of the students throughout the year and amidst studying for AS examinations!

In addition to the Company of the Year competition, they won the National Award for Innovation and Technology, due in no small part to the amazing website they created and their ability to adapt and evolve throughout the entire process, always moving forward and wanting to explore more sales and marketing opportunities. The positivity and passion of the ‘Seedlings’ students - whether they have been standing in a windy Eden Centre, on stage at the University of Buckinghamshire or strategising and planning in the School Library, has been a constant delight to witness. As a School, we could not be more proud of them - or more excited about having them all at the top of the School next year. Congratulations to them all.

WORKSHOP

In today’s competitive world, good first impressions are priceless. Whether it’s an interview or a presentation, it is important to create a positive impression to stand out from the crowd, which isn’t always easy – self-doubt or negative thoughts can be unwelcomed intruders. Sixth Form students were recently given a body language and confidence workshop from Head of Prep Drama Ms Bevan, that aimed to teach them the importance of first impressions and how to create a positive one. The workshop focused on preparation, breathing techniques, voice-work, body language, positive attitude and interview questions.

With mental and physical preparation being of equal importance, students learned how to control breathing and maintain a positive attitude, even when the situation is stressful. Using a combination of deep breathing and positive affirmations they honed the techniques needed to visualise success and boost their confidence, with lots of laughter along the way!

With the benefit of Ms Bevan’s extensive expertise in Performance Art, the students practised how to speak clearly and confidently, working on voice projection and tone. To complement this, body language was studied to understand its impact on engagement and confidence. They were taught how to make eye contact, how to use gestures to emphasise important points and how posture plays an important role in perceived self-confidence, often resulting in genuine self-confidence.

The workshop concluded with a practical application of the techniques they were learning. Using interview questions the students were really delighted to see how well equipped they could be with the toolkit of strategies under their belt.

YEARS 7 AND 8 ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN YOUNG WRITERS COMPETITION

QUIZ AND CHIPS NIGHT

Great excitement was abound in the English department this term as they received a hard copy of the published works of some of our incredibly talented Years 7 and 8 students. ‘Integer’ is an anthology of poetry and prose written by School students from up and down the country who entered and won the Young Writers ‘Integer’ competition.

We are incredibly proud of everyone at the School who entered and for those who subsequently won, seeing their writing brought to life in a real, physical book leads us to have a wonderfully motivated group of aspiring young writers in our midst.

Run by Year 12 students, over 100 parents, friends and staff took part in a night to remember for our Quiz and Chips event. Our guests were treated to a bespoke quiz, a light supper of fish and chips, a generous bar and childcare run by student volunteers, providing the latest hollywood blockbuster in our Arts Centre Theatre. It was wonderful to see so many parents from year groups throughout the School come together to socialise and have fun. We look forward to hosting another one in the next academic year.

FANTASTIC RESEARCH WORK IN

EPQ MARKETPLACE EVENT

To highlight the great work put together by our Year 12 students, an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Marketplace event was held in the Sixth Form Centre to encourage students to discuss their chosen topic with the Pipers Community.

Using their display boards extremely effectively, the students took the time to get creative with their layouts and communicate their chosen topic to students and staff. Topics were chosen within subjects they were passionate about, including Textiles, Literature, History and Mythology.

To aid in their University applications and to gain further UCAS marks, the students only had a couple of months to complete their project, including choosing their topic and title, putting together activity logs and diaries to monitor their progress, put together conclusions on their time management on a weekly basis and finally complete a dissertation or an ‘artefact’ final creative piece (which they make from scratch). The timeframe was also an important factor they had to weigh up in order to complete their project.

Having an EPQ is valuable for students in a number of ways. Universities value an EPQ highly due to students learning how to plan, research and manage their time, as well as how to reference where they got their sources from and evaluate them. Students are also encouraged to draw their own conclusions based on existing research, or draw conclusions based on their own. Some universities, having an EPQ can also lower the entry requirements for a course. We are incredibly proud of Year 12 for their dedication to their project.

YEAR 12 NEXT STEPS DAY

OurYear 12 students participated in an enriching event called Next Steps Day, aimed at providing them with essential skills and knowledge to navigate their future career paths. The day was filled with insightful sessions on interview techniques, networking tips and utilising LinkedIn, followed by an Army briefing and team-building activities. To cool down in the heat and after an incredibly jam-packed day of activities and concentration, students were rewarded with a visit from an ice cream van.

We look forward to repeating this event next year as a valuable addition to our student’s preparations for further education and career endeavours.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD AWARDS

Avery proud moment this term as alumnae who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition went to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh was in attendance at the Palace and the list of guest speakers was quite exceptional. Miss Easterbrook joined her wonderful students on this prestigious day. A huge well done to Elizabeth, Annelise and Arwen on this fantastic achievement.

PIPERS STUDENTS JOIN BIG HELP OUT CAMPAIGN IN HONOUR OF KING CHARLES III

Alongside

thousands of organisations across the country, our Prep students put their plans in action to volunteer locally in the BIG HELP OUT to mark the recent coronation of King Charles III.

Between 31 March and 12 May, each Student received advice and instructions on providing an act of service to show kindness by sparing some time to lend a hand, which could be towards family, friends, neighbours, the environment or others in their local community.

Encouraged, students were proud to take part in a huge variety of activities, including: cleaning cars, volunteering for local organisations, picking up litter to name just a few.

In celebration of the amazing kindness and charitable work done, all shared pictures and words supplied by the students were shared as part of a special display in assembly.

The Big Help Out is an initiative run by volunteers supported by volunteer organisations, including the Scouts and the Royal Voluntary Service. Their objective is to provide opportunities for people who want to make a difference in their communities and to raise awareness of volunteering throughout the UK.

YEAR 5 ENJOY OUTDOOR LEARNING AT BLACKLANDS FARM

Year 5 enjoyed their week at Blacklands Farm. Nestled in the unspoiled Sussex Countryside, Blacklands Farm is a 120-acre site where our students have been enjoying a programme of outdoor learning and importantly fun, with a wide range of self and instructor-led activities ranging from Bushcraft to Bungee Trampolining!

RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS IN ENGLISH SPEAKING BOARD ASSESSMENTS

It is with great pleasure that we announce our students’ outstanding achievement in the English Speaking Board (ESB) Assessments. Students in Years 4 and 6 have received recordbreaking results this year, with 100% receiving Distinction or Merit Plus. The results are testament to their hard work, talent and dedication throughout the process which required considerable 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

GETTING CREATIVE ON PREP ART DAY

Throughout the day on Wednesday 17 May, students in Years 3 to 6 embarked on an exciting day of creativity, sampling different artistic mediums for their Prep Art Day.

Inspired by the work of Gustav Klimt, Years 3 and 4 came together in the Prep Hall to work with pattern in putting together block patterns, making leaves with peculiar textures and spinal wool collages. In other areas of the School, Year 6 replicated famous paintings on silk and used artist Tony Cragg as an inspiration for colourful instalments, collages and clay miniature sculptures. Year 5 used the inspiration of contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama to create interesting dot patterns and vibrant colour on paper.

The annual Prep Art Day is a flagship event for Art in the Prep Department and they thoroughly enjoyed getting to grips with different kinds of media and finding inspiration from classic and modern art.

YEAR 3 FOREST SCHOOL SLEEPOVER

There was a burst of excitement for Year 3 as our students spent a warm summer’s night on our grounds for their Forest School sleepover.

After the students put up their tents, they cooked a sumptuous pasta dinner over the fire. Before bed the group played on the zip wire, made bracelets and then retired to their tents after a tasty hot chocolate and a fascinating night vision exercise. After a good night’s sleep, croissants were baked over the fire for breakfast before a final Forest School activity where students used knives to wittle magical wands.

A wonderful evening and morning was had by all.

YEAR 2 WRITE LETTERS TO

PERU

Year 2 have been making friends on the other side of the world by writing letters to pen friends at Picaflor House in Peru.

Students in Years 10 and 11 will hand deliver the letters during their 20-day volunteering trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cusco. The students can’t wait to receive their replies.

CORONATION CELEBRATION

Students from Years 3 to 6 performed their annual Spring Concert to a full Arts Centre Theatre of delightfully proud friends and family. The theme allowed for a joyous display of musical talent in celebration of the Kings Coronation and the British Monarchy through the ages.

A variety of musical genres featured, from Classical to Rock and Pop with some wonderfully brave solo and small group performances. Let’s not forget that these students are performing on a professional stage with professional lighting to a full audience – quite a feat for anyone!

The Prep Ensemble have been working together for a number of weeks to perfect not only their musical talent but their stage presence and expression, which all formed a part in the successful production.

Our incredible Music Teachers and Prep Form Tutors dedicated a lot of time to ensure that every student had a chance to shine, working with our Costume Designer and Theatre Tech Team to successfully evoke the spirit of the very British street party.

AN EVENING OF JOY IN THE PREP CHAMPION CHALLENGE

As part of an annual tradition, our Year 6 Prep students took the initiative to put together a joyful evening to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Armed with great enthusiasm and determination to make it an event to remember, the students put together their own invitations for their families, arranged activities including bingo (with a twist), allocated roles for themselves, provided musical performances and made their own food to serve to their guests.

The students took the time to write beautiful letters to various companies, to let them know about their plans to run an auction and ask for potential donations towards it. The students received heartfelt responses from the companies as well as a bountiful selection of gifts, including a scooter, a rare James Bond poster, a vacuum cleaner, an Apple watch as well as many more.

Year 6 raised in excess of £2,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

The evening was filled with laughter, joy, music and fun and we are in awe of the great teamwork our Year 6s showed in preparation and running of the event.

Year 5 alongside our Environmentalist-in-Residence Mr Williams, hosted their annual Eco-Conference, welcoming a number of fellow Year 5 students from local schools, to discuss and contribute to this years’ environmental theme “Action Speaks Louder”.

Mr Williams gave an impassioned opening to the conference with a speech about how our actions today will impact on all our futures. He quickly opened the floor to the audience of students to have an open discussion on sustainability, the climate crisis and what respecting our planet really involves.

A roving mic (provided by Year 12 members of HOPE) gave students from each school the opportunity to offer their opinions as to why the Rainforests are so important, how and why we waste food, where the impact of single-use plastic is felt the most, how pollution is accelerating the climate crisis and importantly how can we change attitudes to respect our planet. Empowering the students to contribute their ideas was a real highlight of the conference, with Mr Williams even asking some to come up on stage and present their ideas to the audience.

A series of workshops followed, where small groups looked at impactful actions for change, wrote poems and stories and enjoyed crafting sessions to honour the mighty Bee! They even had time to enjoy a walk in our glorious grounds following the Wellbeing Trail to the Wildflower Meadow to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature that is all around us.

The conference concluded with an open-mic session where students could share the stories and poems they had written, in a plea to each and every one of us to take action against waste and pollution. A brilliantly creative rap even featured!

The conference was an incredible opportunity for Pipers students and students from the local community to unite in their concern for the future of their planet and to work together for change. We were delighted to welcome and thank Little Kingshill Combined School, Widmer End Combined School, Holmer Green Junior School, Hughenden Primary and Stokenchurch Primary for joining us and sharing your wonderful knowledge and ideas.

PREP HOUSE CHARITY EVENTS

In support of their chosen charity for this term; Make-A-Wish UK, our Prep students arranged an exciting array of lunchtime events within their Houses for the Prep House Fair.

As part of the many games and activities on offer, the students organised lucky dips, ‘Doughnut on a string’, ‘Decorate a cake’ events and ‘Guess how many sweets in a jar’. A particular favourite this year was ‘Sponge the Teacher’, where we saw Mr Spargo and Mrs Blake get soaked on (thankfully for them) a lovely hot day. The different year groups worked hard together supported by the Prep House Captains, as well as encouraging some healthy competition between the Houses.

Congratulations to our Prep students who raised in excess of £2,000.

The arrival of the youngest cohort in Pre-Prep; a delightful batch of ducklings has captured the hearts and imaginations of our students. From the moment the incubation process began, anticipation grew the moment finally arrived for the children to hold these adorable, fluffy creatures.

The journey began weeks ago when the Pre-Prep team carefully set up an incubator to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the duck eggs. Under the watchful eyes of teachers and eager students, the eggs were meticulously tended to, as the children learned about the development stages of the ducklings.

As the ducklings gradually made their debut, their soft downy feathers and curious expressions melted the hearts of everyone. A very warm welcome to, Fluffy, Fluffball, Bubbles, Bubblegum and Snowdrop – Names given to them by our Pre-Prep students.

The experience of witnessing the hatching process has been a wonderful opportunity for Pre-Prep students to learn about the marvels of nature and the importance of caring for living creatures. Through first-hand observation, they have gained a deep appreciation for the delicate balance of life and the nurturing required to ensure its growth.

SPORTS ROUND UP

WINNERS ‘ALL-ROUND‘ FOR U13, U14 AND U15 ROUNDERS TEAMS

Perhapsconsidered one of the most quintessentially British summer sports our students have really excelled this term.

Our U13 team took their age group District Rounders title, and it was Pipers v Pipers in the U15 Tournament seeing both our U14 and U15 teams make the final. The U14’s narrowly took the win. Well done to each of our teams.

SUCCESS IN THREE RACES FOR MADDIE

Amazing achievement by Maddie (Year 12) who came fifth in her age group at British Triathlon Super Series in Lochore Meadows, Fife, Scotland. She competed in three aquathlon races, which involves both swimming and running.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS ROWING REGATTA CHAMPION

Hettie O (Year 11) and her U16 rowing team took part in the National Schools Rowing Regatta. On a beautifully sunny day, the Coxed-Fours crew took the title with ease, due in no small part to Hettie’s passion and commitment to training every day at Marlow Rowing Club. A significant achievement for both her and her team – gold medals well-deserved –congratulations to them all.

TEAM

PIPERS REIGN

SUPREME IN NSEA CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Saturday 27 May, Ava, Lilli, Ella and Ellie took part in the 100cm Eventers Challenge Championship and with only two teams managing to complete the course without any faults, Team Pipers finished the challenging course in sixth place. A very impressive achievement at this level.

On the Sunday 28 May, we saw Ellie finish second in the individual section of the 100cm SJ Championship and seventh in the competition overall. On the Bank Holiday Monday, Ava, Phoebe, Imogen and Ella competed with 30 other strong steams to win the 80cm SJ County Championship. The team not only rode faultless rounds but also completed the course in the fastest times and secured the win with a 10-second lead over the team who finished in second place.

After hard-work and dedication, the weekend was hugely rewarding for our equestrian team and their success is very well-deserved.

PIPERS LIFT SHIELD TROPHY IN GSA FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

An enormous well done to our Year 7 Football Team who took part in the inaugural Girls School Association Football Festival in partnership with the Independent School Football Association. It was a wonderful event hosted by Kings High, Warwick, with amazing talent on display - the beautiful weather was a welcome bonus!

Pipers Students met Merchant Taylor’s Girls’ School in the Shield Competition Final. It was an enjoyably competitive game – both teams displayed fantastic skill with good sportsmanship on show from both sides. Pipers returned victorious and lifted the trophy as Shield Competition Winners. Congratulations!

MULTIPLE AWARD WINS IN SWIMMING

Congratulations to Sienna (Year 7) for her success in the South East regional swimming competition. We are so proud of her for getting in the top 10 for 10 of her races, an incredible achievement.

A huge well-done also to Mollie (Year 6) for securing second place in the Backstroke in the U11 IAPS National Final. A personal best and a brilliant performance.