The Shebbearian 2024-25

2023-2024

Welcome to The Shebbearian Magazine!

We hope you enjoy this overview of the 2023-24 academic year here at Shebbear College and all the exciting things that have happened over the last twelve months.

Any feedback or enquiries about this publication should be sent to Joanna Conway, Head of Marketing & Admissions: marketing@shebbearcollege.co.uk.

You can keep up with all the latest news from the school via our social media channels: @shebbearcollege

For alumni enquiries or to share news and achievements with us, please contact Amy Bernstone, Development and Alumni Coordinator: abernstone@shebbearcollege.co.uk.

Shebbear College is part of the ILG family of schools.

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Registered Address: Georgian House, Park Lane, Stanmore, HA7 3HD, UK

Correspondence Address: Shebbear College, Shebbear, EX21 5HJ, UK

a message from the Head

Now that we have returned to our traditional Speech Day event, held at the end of the academic year, this year’s magazine entry is Mr Jenkins’ 2024 Speech.

‘Special guests, parents, grandparents, friends and family - welcome to Speech Day 2024. Some of you may have noted that I have relented on the name of today. Having opted for Celebration Day last year following the name we gave to the events held during COVID, it became quickly apparent that either old habits die hard, or Celebration simply has too many syllables in it for it to stick and so we have reverted to the traditional name of Speech Day for today’s awards ceremony. It will however be a celebration of the success of our pupils and the hard work and support of our teaching staff, as well as the determination, the fun and the excitement that goes into making an academic year at Shebbear so fulfilling.

On the academic front, the college enjoyed some strong value added scores following last year’s GCSE, A-level and BTEC results. Value added is the measure of the progress our pupils make from the point they join us to sitting their public exams and we performed well above the expected national levels. The advent of digital devices for all has been an evolution

this year and I would like to thank Robin Giles for his patient leadership of the staff and pupils in this area. I would also like to thank those of my colleagues for whom working with electronic devices does not come naturally – you have all shown determination to learn new things, however frustrating this may be at times.

Our new Head of Sport and Personal Development, Paul Nicholls, joined us in September and had the task of not only taking on the juggernaut of Shebbear Sport but also the new 360@Sheb activities programme. We have seen a significant increase in the number of fixtures played across all sports and year groups with notable successes from the U13 girls netball and the U16 boys rugby both reaching national finals, two ISA national athletics champions and two reaching national swimming finals. Our equestrian team (under the expert guidance of Marie Webber) is going from strength to strength on the reginal and national stage. Whilst these successes, are of course, very exciting, the real pleasure for me comes in seeing the participation rates increasing across such a range of sports from rugby and golf to swimming, cross country and basketball with the vast majority of our Shebbear pupils taking part in some form of competitive sport and benefitting from all that it teaches us about ourselves and others.

Those of you who came to see either Les Misérables, The Lion King or the Wheal of Fortune will know that Shebbear really can put on a show! With a strong team within the Creative and Performing Arts Faculty (and with some very welcome support from parent and actor, Carol Shephard-Blandy) the pupils are able to shine and put on some top-class performances. This goes a long way to building confidence and stretching young people outside of their comfort zone. Our guest speaker today is Old Shebbearian Cameron Mills and I know that he credits his time at Shebbear and his involvement in the performing arts with his own burgeoning career.

Last year, I said in my speech that I hoped we would have three Ten Tors teams competing in 2024. We did one better than that and entered four teams! Shebbear really does punch above its weight in this most gruelling of competitions and provides those who take part with an unrivalled opportunity to show grit, determination, teamwork and stamina. The Duke of Edinburgh’s award remains strong with all of Form 3 taking part in their assessed expedition this week. Chris Deakes takes genuine pleasure from seeing young people develop their character in the outdoors and I would like to thank him and the team involved in making this such a strong part of what we do here at Shebbear.

I mentioned earlier the 360@Sheb programme which we launched in September. I have to confess that I was slightly anxious during the planning stages whether or not this initiative would throw up significant unforeseen challenges. As it is, I

needn’t have worried and we have 80-90 pupils stretching out across the Devon countryside on Fridays taking part in surfing, horse riding, golf, swimming, tennis and watersports. This is coupled with focused sessions on Performing Arts and sport throughout the week and a wide range of on-site activities. I look forward to seeing the evolution of 360 over the coming year and beyond as it really does make the most of our geographical location and embodies a lot of what makes Shebbear so special.

continued overleaf...

a message from the Head

As always at this time of the academic year, I have to say goodbye to a number of colleagues. I will say a few words about each now in order of their length of service:

Emma Southern joined Shebbear in 2022 as Deputy Head Academic and has made strong inroads into developing the strength of the academic offering at the college. I have valued her straight talking approach as a member of the senior leadership team and our pupils have benefitted hugely from the high standards she sets in the classroom. Emma moves to the north of England to be closer to her family, having worked internationally before joining Shebbear and I wish her all the very best in her next senior leadership role.

Rev Donna Leigh joined Shebbear in the same year as me, 2020 and we were faced with the challenges brought on by the COVID pandemic. Rev Leigh’s task was a hard one – to engage an audience of over 200 teenagers online for 20 minutes each week! Her support for all of our community over the past four years has been unwavering and she has provided pastoral support for many in our community in a quietly effective way. We wish her all the best as she and her husband, our former governor Rev Simon Leigh, move to Exeter to lead their own Methodist circuits. I thank them both for their service

to Shebbear and wish Donna all the best having Simon as her new boss (although she has made it clear to me who will be in charge!).

Gemma May is our school accountant and she starts her maternity leave today and has decided she will not be returning to work. Gemma joined us in early 2020 and has run a very, very tight ship as many teachers who have failed to check their budgets or put in late time sheets have found out! We wish her all the best as her second baby joins the family.

Six years ago Andrew Quance joined Shebbear as a maths and science teacher. Shebbear was familiar territory as he had been here not only as a pupil himself but also as a parent in more recent times. Mr Quance has been a stalwart supporter of so much that we do at Shebbear and he is always the first to volunteer and go the extra mile when needed. We wish him well as he steps back from teaching and towards a role supporting those in the farming industry.

Mrs Shamsolahi has been a popular teacher at Shebbear since joining seven years ago. She has a natural ability to get pupils to focus in her lessons and makes learning English fun – she has a game for everything! Ruddle House will miss having her at the helm and we wish her all the best.

I spoke yesterday at the Prep School Celebration Day about Matthew Foale and the contribution he has made to the leadership of the Prep School for the past seven years. Matthew is a totally unflappable character and has brought a cool, calm and always humorous perspective to the Senior Leadership Team. I will certainly miss his wise counsel and ability to provide perspective to any situation. We wish Mr Foale well as he takes a step back from teaching – I will be very jealous of him when September comes around!

Eight years ago Mike Douglas joined the staff as our groundsman and he has done a superb job at making our estate look so exceptional. Mike has worked hand in hand with the sports department to ensure our pitches are of the highest quality and ready for whatever our Shebbearians can throw at them. He moves to Dorset with his family over the summer and we wish him, Lindsey (a former Head of Geography here at Shebbear) and Tyler well with their next chapter.

Finally, Di Jones. Many people in this room will have passed through the incredibly caring and capable hands of Mrs Jones during their time at Shebbear. After 16 years she is slowing the pace a little as she takes on tutoring of children diagnosed with special educational needs. Mrs Jones’s contribution to Shebbear is hard to measure and she will be sorely missed by all of us and remembered as a teacher who always had the best interest of the chidren in her care at heart.

Leaving Shebbear is something that will happen to all of us at some point, whether staff or pupils. It was hugely encouraging to see over 100 Old Shebbearians (many of them in their 20s and 30s) attending the OSA dinner in London in February this year and their passion for their old school is palpable. This was also evident when so many came to support our careers fair back in March. We have created a new role within the college this year and Amy Bernstone who many of you will know as our highly capable school receptionist (who is often able to find the solution to many of our problems) has also taken on the role of Development and Alumni Coordinator as we seek to forge stronger relationships with our old Shebbearians.

I talked last year about the constant change within the educational sector and (with a general election taking place today) there is a substantial chance of significant change both in curriculum development from the department for education and also the prospect of VAT being added to independent school fees. There will be significant change within the independent sector and we are well placed to face any challenges which come our way within the family of ILG schools. I would like to thank all of those who offered their support during the transition from MIST to ILG earlier this term. There is plenty of work being undertaken on our next school development plan which I will share with the whole community during the next academic year as we continue to strive to ensure that Shebbear offers the best possible education for its pupils.’

Charlie Jenkins Head

Chaplain’s REPORT

It’s not until you look back over the school year that you realise how busy life at Shebbear College has been!

MICHAELMAS 2024

The Michaelmas term kicked off straight away with the Methodist Synod held at the school at the beginning of term. In sweltering heat, the school hosted around 200 Methodists, with a Communion service held in Lake Chapel followed by the main Synod. We enjoyed a wonderful tea with cake, admired the beauty of the Shebbear grounds and enjoyed our time together. The school Events, Catering and Maintenance depts were amazing and without their support the Synod would not have occurred, so a big thankyou to everyone who helped on the day.

Later that month, myself and Mr Jenkins attended the annual MIST school Thanksgiving service at St Catherine’s House in London. This was a service dedicated to Chaplains and Headteachers in all the MIST schools, led by The Methodist President.

Throughout the year, we hold a number of school services in Lake Chapel, the first of these being the Harvest Festivals in October, where once again, donations were considerable and gratefully received at Little Harbour, a food bank in Bideford. Thank you to all of our families who donated so generously.

Remembrance was a moving service as always with the chapel filled with photographs of old Shebberians who gave their lives in the 1st and 2nd World Wars.

This brings us on to December, and the return of the Shebbear College Carol Service as we know it – finally able to be held in the Chapel after remote services and alternative venues in previous years. Lake was transformed into a mesmerizing creation of lights, greenery and a twinkling Christmas Tree which took center stage. The evening service was amazing, the chapel full to capacity, the Choir sang their hearts out and so did the congregation. In the main grounds of the school a light show was in full colour, arranged by Sixth Former Toby, and it was brilliant! We also hosted Shebbear Primary School for their Carol Service after our end of term.

LENT 2024

Rain, rain, rain! Named storms and Dipper Mill flooded time and again! What a start to the Lent Term! However, at Shebbear we are quite used to battling with the elements and we all push on!

A shorter term, but incredibly busy. Rehearsals for the School Production, revision for the school assessments and Chapel Services and assemblies concentrating on the theme of Lent and Easter. We looked at Baptism, Holy Communion and The Lord’s Prayer. All equally important to the life of a Methodist but probably new and a bit mysterious to many pupils. The Chapel was decorated for our Easter Services, with spring flowers and Easter Eggs in abundance.

Not Chapel related, but I must mention ‘Les Misérables’, which delighted all who attended. The gifts of singing and acting by our super talented students were a sheer joy to behold; well done to all taking part and the staff involved . The chapel was decorated for Easter , spring flowers and Easter eggs in abundance.

TRINITY 2024

We are now bringing to a close the season of sunnier weather, exams, Sports Days, Cricket and Athletics fixtures, the end of term production of the Lion King and Speech Day.

We say goodbye to those students that are leaving us at the end of A-levels or GCSEs and wish them well for the start of a new chapter. We hope and pray that their time at Shebbear will stand them in good stead.

I see the role of all school departments, including Chaplaincy, to surround all children with Shebbearian values which will serve them well and provide a solid foundation of Christian teachings and love for all, and I know at Shebbear this is happening in droves.

As Chaplain there have been many challenges and topical issues to face and respond to over the school year: The ongoing economic and cost of living crisis, the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East and initiatives such as Black History Month and Mental Health Awareness Week have all been reflected in our Chapel services and assemblies, alongside the usual themes throughout the year surrounding Advent, All Souls, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Addressing the themes of war and grief is not easy, especially in the Prep school assemblies, but is necessary in a Christian based school as we think and pray for all involved.

Revd. Donna Leigh Chaplain

It’s been another year of fantastic fundraising at Shebbear, with our chosen charity for this year being Jay’s Aim – a southwest based charity aiming to reduce the rate of sudden cardiac death in young people.

We started the year with the target to raise £1,500 for this charity and we are delighted that we managed to achieve this through two Bag 2 School collections, a mufti day, the Spring Fair (more on this later) and a silent auction at the end of the Trinity term.

We chose to support Jay’s Aim as we want to install a new defibrillator on the outside of our main building so that it is available to the local community as well as the college. We already have a defibrillator on site, but it is not accessible to the public and we would like to move this to be closer to the sports pitches.

Jay’s Aim can help us with this and provide training for anyone at college or locally who would like it. Miss Kaur and some of her art pupils made a fantastic totaliser so we could keep track of how much had been raised throughout the year!

In addition to this, we have also, as always, supported a number of other charities. The year kicked off with the ever-popular Macmillan Cancer Support cake sale as the first event of the Michaelmas term, raising £304. Children in Need was marked with a mufti day and stalls in the Quad run by each tutor group raising a total of £684.74. Odd Socks Day was observed on the second Monday in November to raise awareness amongst pupils and staff that it’s ok to be different and to stand up against bullying and discrimination. We were able to send a donation of £52.02 to the Anti-bullying Alliance.

In November we had a month of events to raise awareness of men’s health issues with Movember. Three brave members of staff (Mr Nicholls, Mr Fay and Mr Mackinnon) and Toby in Upper Sixth agreed to be shaved by pupils on the first day of November. The growth of their ‘Mos’ (moustaches) was documented throughout the month. We also had a photoshoot for pupils with fake moustaches which was really popular. Entries to the ballot to win the chance to shave a member of staff and sponsorship of the ‘Mos’ raised £177 for this fantastic cause.

In December, the Senior School Performing Arts Showcase raised £191.35 for the homeless charity Centrepoint, and the atmospheric candle lit Christmas carol service in Lake Chapel raised an amazing £508 for The Salvation Army. Christmas Jumper Day raised £102.90 for Save the Children with some fabulously festive jumpers being sported on the last day of the Michaelmas term.

During the Lent Term we had a mufti day and cake sale for Comic Relief which enabled us to donate £462.00.

Wear a Hat Day before the end of term brought in donations of £98.02 and some unusual headwear in aid of Brain Tumour Research.

The Trinity Term saw the Senior School Performance Showcase raise £202.60 for FMA UK, the UK’s national charity for Fibromyalgia.

The Spring Fair this year took place on a Saturday for the first time and involved all the usual fantastic pupil run stalls and games alongside external caterers The Split Bean and the Waffle Wagon. We also had a number of external stall holders this year including a stained-glass artist and our very own Mrs Mukherjee-Jones selling her incredible chutneys. A bouncy castle and inflatable football from Sporty Stars added to the fun. The Spring Fair would not be complete without the dog show, this year kindly judged by Mark Banks MRCVS from Penbode Vets.

It really has been a fantastic year for fundraising and increasing awareness. Obviously, we couldn’t do anything without the support of our fantastic pupils and their families so thank you very much! We hope to be able to do even more next year!

SCHOOL HOUSES

Some pictures taken at the Pollard, Ruddle, Way and Thorne House Dinners...

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting pupils outside of the classroom is a very important focus for all at Shebbear College.

This year, pupils have enjoyed fundraising charity events such as Comic Relief, Children in Need, Wear a Hat Day, Movember and many more. These events bring a strong sense of community to the school, and are always full of laughter and fun. They also raise awareness of a range of charities for the pupils.

Our Health and Wellbeing Centre (HAWC) has continued to be a busy place and is always available for pupil support where needed.

We have welcomed a new Matron this year, Mrs Furse, who has settled in well with the HAWC team.

With Smoothwall Pulse being introduced this year, this has opened up another avenue for pupil voice. Pulse is an online platform where pupils can ‘check in’ weekly, and also reach out to any member of staff for support whenever they need it. The information gained from Pulse has helped us to make tutor sessions and house assemblies more meaningful for pupils.

Once again this year, our Sixth Form Mental Health Champions have been fantastic in supporting younger pupils in the school, as well as discussing what could be improved next year for supporting pupil mental health. We would like to thank them for all that they have done this year.

Always Expanding

Although we thought that Beckly Library was fully completed this time last year, I could not resist the idea of creating two new sections. We now have “transition shelves” in the centre of the library, offering books to pupils from Prep 4 to Form 2, and allowing a progressive transition towards more challenging books. Another corner of the library is home to our “shelfhelp” with many books on issues of personal health and personal development.

All pupils from Prep 5 onwards now have their own login credentials to access the library online, and recommended reading lists are available for each year group, both on our library website (readingcloud.net), and on their English online classrooms. The parents of pupils in KS2 and KS3 have been invited to share their children’s login details to support them with their browsing and reading.

I was able to appoint a second team of motivated assistant librarians to continue to offer much appreciated help in the weekly running of the library.

Sixth Form Provision

Studying for A-levels is both rewarding and challenging. The library seeks to offer a place to study as well as useful resources. This year, Sixth Form pupils and their teachers were invited to use the Hodder Magazines resources. The magazines cover most A-level subjects and offer a range of study and revision materials. Every student has their own login credentials, and can study independently from home.

Author Visits

Working with the Appledore Literary Festival, we welcomed young adults’ author Patrice Lawrence in September. Forms 3 and 4 enjoyed hearing from Patrice about the inspiration behind her writing. Patrice writes about teenage issues and gave us a thought-provoking insight into the difficulties encountered by writers of colour.

Following on from last year’s success, we also invited an author to talk to Prep 3,4 and 5 pupils. We spent a very special hour with Claire Barker, creator of the famous ghost dog Knitbone Pepper. Under Claire’s guidance, the children learnt how to create a character and let their imagination run wild.

Carnegie Medal shadowing programme

The school has a long tradition of shadowing the Carnegie Medal, one of the awards dedicated to children and young adults’ literature. We travelled to Bideford last June to join groups from other local schools in a literary event where we met author Chris Vick. A selection of Form 2 pupils did a presentation, amongst fierce competition from the other schools, of The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffon Ros, who went on to win the award. In June, a group of pupils in Forms 2 - 4 attended the Carnegie literary event in Crediton, joining students from six other North Devon schools. They met author, Candy Gourlay and their presentation of the book, ‘Away With Words’ by Sophie Cameron won the competition - a fantastic achievement!

Christine Fanet Librarian

PREP SCHOOL

OVERVIEW

Throughout the year, the commitment and endeavour shown by all the children in the Prep, from the youngest in Reception to our Prep 6 children, has been very impressive. There is a quiet determination to do well in all areas of school life, as well as a ‘family feel’ and a strong sense of community and peer support. This ambition and energy are a direct reflection of the commitment and enthusiasm of the Prep and Senior School staff, who consistently go above and beyond in providing as many opportunities as possible for the children.

It has been good to see so many trips, extra enrichment activities and workshops take place for all our children, who have undoubtedly benefited from these opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. These have included mini-medics, Performing Arts with Cameron Mills, Circus Skills, Scooter workshops, Spacelab Planetarium, Crealy, The Milky Way, PGL Beam House, Plymouth Argyle, Cornwall at War Museum, Rosemoor and Tiverton Museum to name a few.

This year we started working with Briony Cole from Cognition Learning, who has delivered fortnightly Lego Robotics workshops to the Prep School children, developing key skills in coding, designing and programming Lego robots to respond to instructions - including playing music, dancing and responding to colours - great fun and a popular addition to the curriculum.

Environmental Education has also been introduced to the curriculum this year. Similar to our Outdoor Education lessons but linking more closely to other subjects including science and geography, we have enjoyed walking down to the newly used field behind Pyke to explore!

The Shebbear values and ethos (our Six Cs) have been shown in action throughout this year in so many ways, including our assembly programme, greatly assisted by our Chaplain Revd Donna Leigh, sports fixtures and House competitions which have all taken place with vigour. We wish Revd Leigh every success and happiness as she moves on from Shebbear; we have very much enjoyed her Prep School assemblies every Wednesday. Whole school events, such as the Spring Fair, Christmas events, Harvest, fundraising activities and our Easter Service were all very well supported.

Mrs Appleton-Wahl has continued to get the very best out of our Prep artists, and the work they produced has been quite exceptional, resulting in their work being shown at the Burton Gallery Exhibition for Schools. Woodwork, with Mr Quance, has been an important addition over the last few years, with Prep 6 producing some tremendous creations.

Drama continues to be loved by the children, and this year, Prep 3-6 joined with Forms 1 and 2 in the Senior School to put on a quite magnificent performance of The Lion King, under the expert guidance of Mrs Sadler-Smith and Mrs Parker. It really was a superb production, bringing out the very best of the children involved.

World Book Day proved to be ever popular with our children and staff dressing up as their favourite book characters. From Joey in War Horse to Elsa, and from Harry Potter to Wally, we just about had them all. It was a very clear indication of our children’s engagement and enthusiasm. There has been a strong link with our library and Mrs Fanet, who has welcomed Prep classes and children in at every opportunity.

Congratulations to Pollard for winning the House Cup in the Michaelmas and Lent terms. The Trinity term has also seen more events being able to take place, including our cycle race, drama production, inter-House swimming gala, Sports Day and Celebration Afternoon, as well as several additional trips and enrichment days. Our Prep 6 leavers enjoyed a particularly busy final week, with their trip to Crealy, a Circus Skills workshop, their cricket match against staff and parents, as well as their Celebration Afternoon. This is a fantastic group of children, led by our Heads of School Marah and Arthur. They certainly have an exciting future ahead of them and I wish them every success.

A special note of thanks must go to Mrs Jones, as she leaves Shebbear to focus on her 1:1 tutoring. Over the last 16 years, Mrs Jones has contributed a huge amount to school life and to the progress and nurturing of so many children. Her drama productions will live long in the memories of so many people, as will her eye for detail and care of the children in her classes. We wish Mrs Jones every happiness, and the Prep School will certainly miss her!

The Prep School now looks forward to 2024-25 and an exciting new chapter. This group of children and staff have shown that they are full of hard work, creativity, enthusiasm, good humour, encouragement and commitment, resulting in a wide array of fine achievements across all aspects of school life.

I sign out as well this term and I will look back on many highlights with much fondness. I will miss the fantastic community spirit at Shebbear and the passion and ambition shown by the children and staff alike. There are many highlights to choose from, but the April Fools’ jokes about a new school uniform and the government requirement to have Covid catch-up sessions in the holidays were particular favourites!

A huge thank you and well done to everyone and the very best of luck for the year ahead and beyond.

Matthew Foale Head of Prep

Prep School Artwork

Sport and physical activity continue to play an enormous part in Prep School life, with an emphasis on inclusion, participation, support and enjoyment, together with competitive levels of performance. Skill development, progression and opportunity are all central to the pupils’ sports provision.

Timetabled lessons include a wide range of sports: rugby, netball, football, hockey, tennis, cricket, athletics, badminton, basketball, handball, Health-Related Fitness, swimming and general ball skills. In addition, opportunities have included cross country events, a cycle race and swimming lessons and galas.

We have enjoyed a full set of school fixtures played in each term. Following national and regional trends, our girls’ football and cricket really continued to grow. It has been excellent to see the children and staff really embrace the sport and fixtures with enormous enthusiasm. A special mention must go to our Under 11 rugby team, as they went through their season undefeated for the second season in a row. Arthur, Max, Charlie and Charlie also trained and played with the Under 12 squad which they really enjoyed. The Bremco North Devon Cross-Country League was a firm fixture in the calendar of a small number of our runners, and it was good to branch out more in the ISA tournaments and competitions, including football, netball, athletics and mixed cricket.

There have been numerous inter-House competitions throughout the year, including all the major sports, as well as several sports-based challenges and competitions. The House crosscountry again showed wonderful support and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Hayden, Amelia, Atticus, Leia, Mawgan, Nixie, Emerson, Lottie, Kit, Violet, la, Oliver, Arthur and Millie who all won their respective races. Pollard was the winning House.

Swimming has continued to play an important part in our sports curriculum, with all age-groups having a block of lessons during the year. Our inter-House gala is always an enjoyable event, showcasing the children’s talents, with this year’s being no exception. Thorne came out as this year’s winners.

A special mention must go to some individuals. Violet (600m), Zola (150m) and Arthur (600m) all qualified for the ISA National Athletics Finals in Birmingham in June, after their outstanding performances in the regionals at Exeter Arena. Charlie H represented the Shebbear Golf team in the Devon Schools Golf Championships. The team finished in third place and Charlie was the individual winner, beating students aged up to 18 years. Zola, together with her trusty steed Biscuit, qualified to compete at the NSEA Finals at Hickstead in Arena Eventing and Showjumping. Arthur and Max were awarded Sports Scholarships to the Senior School. These, together with many more, are outstanding achievements.

Our cycle race and Sports Day towards the end of the academic year, again proved to be very successful events, showcasing the children’s enthusiasm, talent, teamwork and support for their peers. Congratulations to our Tour de Shebbear medallists: Amelia, Hayden, Benjamin, Julia, Poppy, George, Mawgan, Emerson, Lottie, Jack, Violet, Kit, Alfie, Bella, Arthur and Maeva.

Sport also plays a large role in our Prep School activities programme, for all ages. From rugby to cricket, from fitness to netball and from Tri-Golf to athletics, the children have really enjoyed these activities. A small number of Prep 5 and 6 children have also joined the Senior School for their 360@ Sheb programme on Fridays. The surfing, golf and tennis options were particularly popular.

My thanks to the children and staff for their remarkable enthusiasm, commitment and resilience, in what has been an incredibly busy and productive year.

Matthew Foale Head of Prep

Competition was fierce and there were many wonderful performances from the children. In addition, their enthusiasm, sportsmanship and commitment to encouraging their peers was outstanding. A good indication of their enthusiasm was the number of children of all ages who stepped forward to take part in the distance races, including the 1000m for Prep 5 and 6.

Thanks go to the staff for their hard work, to parents for their wonderful support (and competitive racing in the egg and spoon race!), and of course, to the children who made the day such a success. And finally, well done to Way for winning the House competition.

Boarding

Another busy year in Boarding!

Boarding life has been busy as always! We had numerous trips and events take place including surfing, watersports, escape rooms, ice skating, shopping trips, karting, fitness, board games, cooking and baking, cycling, music, film nights, drama, pottery, a Eurovision party, mosaics, swimming and even flying (on a zip wire at the Eden project)!

Of course many birthdays have been celebrated, with every one meaning a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to you’. However I really do think that we need some vocal coaching as very few of us are in the choir, for very good reason.

Big thanks to all of the house, support and teaching staff without whom boarding just wouldn’t operate, let alone be able to offer these young people so many varied opportunities in such a welcoming, caring environment.

SENIOR SCHOOL

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

2023/24

saw some very exciting academic developments!

Subject wise, we saw the introduction of Environmental Education, led by Miss Taylor and Mr Deakes, which has included everything from wellies in the river to rewilding land and planting trees. It has been lovely to watch our students make the best use of our school campus and enjoy being outdoors in the countryside, whatever the weather! We also introduced Psychology and Music Technology to the A-level curriculum under the enthusiastic wing of Mr McKinninon and Mrs Sadler-Smith respectively. These are two very popular subjects which we hope will continue to grow in the next few years.

Our Scholarship Masterclasses also hit the ground running this year. These are workshops, trips and seminars offered to all our scholars as part of our scholarship package. Pupils have attended sessions in their field of expertise, with our Academic Scholars visiting the National Marine Aquarium to see behind the scenes in the feeding and autopsy rooms and welcoming the Royal Navy for a leadership seminar. Meanwhile, our Music Scholars had workshops with composers and professional musicians to share what adventures a life pursuing music might bring. Art Scholars enjoyed creative classes with local artists and ceramicists, as well a workshop with one of the animators at the famous Aardman Animations Ltd and Tony Rea from The Great British Sewing Bee! Drama and Performing Arts Scholars enjoyed a stage fighting session and theatre trips to both The Plough in Torrrington and The Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple whilst the Sports Scholars had a range of masterclasses with sportsmen and women, including Clara Nielson, Lesley Bryant and Amy Costello, who spoke about nutrition and elite sportsperson psychology. All our scholars ended the year with a fabulous Scholars’ Dinner at The Falcon Hotel in Bude as a celebration of their achievements.

Assessment weeks for Form 1 to Upper Sixth continue to be a regular part of our calendar and I am pleased to acknowledge the very dedicated approach that our Shebbearians have demonstrated in striving to understand which revision strategies work for them. Mock examinations were dotted through the year from Form 4, 5 and Sixth Form and revealed some excellent perseverance and investment from our students. These assessment week and mock exams continue to serve as mental preparation for public exams and, each time, we see a reduction in stress and a quiet confidence entering the examination hall. Knowledge Organisers remain an important part of revision and our move to Microsoft has seen these stored on subject ‘teams’.

Well done to everyone for working so hard this year, and good luck to our Form 5 and Upper Sixth in their GCSEs and A-levels.

Emma Southern Deputy Head (Academic)

SCHOLARS’ MASTERCLASSES

Model United Nations

The delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) from Shebbear College represented Venezuela at the annual Bristol Grammar School MUN (BGSMUN) on Sunday 28th January 2024, joining over 200 other pupils from more than 40 different schools to debate topics as diverse as Women’s Rights, Refugee Crises, and Global Population and Migration. The schools came from locations as far away as Cambridge and Cardiff, although the majority were from the South-West region.

The afternoon session saw all delegations joining together in a General Assembly to debate the crisis situation: in an all too believable scenario, two opposing Presidential candidates in the USA accuse one another of electoral fraud, and dissolve the entire USA along party lines to form a Dis-United States of America (“DUSA”) led by Kamala Harris, and a “Patriotic States of America” (“PSA”) led by Donald Trump. The Model United Nations General Assembly now debated the issues involved in order to prevent mass global starvation as supply chains around the world destabilise, a rising tide of Civilian Militias begin to lead looting and pillaging, and the ultimate threat of a nuclear WWIII becomes imminent.

Things are never trivial, and never boring at MUN. This is an exciting, relevant and powerful way to learn how the world functions, and to develop your confidence and speaking skills. Think on your feet, respond to live questions, and be ready to defend the indefensible. MUN: the birthplace of future leaders.

SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

It has been another busy year in the Science department and a special celebration week as British Science Week took over the calendar once again.

Form 1 enjoyed making and testing different recipes for slime under the direction of Miss Messenger and Mr Mackinnon. The winning slime was able to stretch from one side of the Science building to other and multiple times around the lab!

Meanwhile, Form 2 had an afternoon to run a project with a given budget to build a boat. The design which could carry the most mass across the ‘river’ and was most cost-effective was the winner on the day. The group then enjoyed a brilliant dry ice showcase from Mr Clewley.

SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Form 3 had a half day studying sports science and the different components of fitness needed for different sports. After a session testing their own power, agility, flexibility and strength they applied the data to a case study and presented their results in the afternoon session.

Also during the week, Mrs Kingsland delivered a Chapel service on the theme of Life which saw the school learning about the huge timescales of life evolution on Earth, and the week was topped off by a dissection workshop for our academic scholars with a brain dissection led by Mr Mackinnon and a Chemistry showcase for Form 4 by Miss Messenger.

The science department have increased the number of trips out this year. Form 1 enjoyed a day at Paignton Zoo learning about sustainable food sources as well as taking photos of the animals, while Form 2 have been to the Eden

Project with Mr Clewley and Mrs Webber and some of our enthusiastic Form 4 have been up to Bristol to hear some inspiring Science lectures from professional scientists.

The year has been finished off with a Form 4 field studies trip to Roadford lake to complete their core practical work on transects and quadrats and a Lower 6 Biology field trip.

Our Environmental Education programme has been enhanced by the addition of a fenced of section of a field and we have worked in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust to plant 100 native species of tree this year. There are exciting plans for this resource over the next couple of years, so watch this space!

ROBOTICS

This academic year, we started working with Bude-based Cognition Learning, owned by Old Shebbearian Briony Cole, who have been providing Lego robotics sessions to pupils in the Prep School and Forms 1-3 in the Senior School.

As a result, Lego Robotics has grown hugely in the last year and is now a key part of the curriculum. As well as the Prep School children enjoying fortnightly sessions, pupils in Forms 1-3 have taken part in a series of regular one-day and half-day workshops throughout the year, learning key skills in designing, building and programming. They have worked in teams to build Lego robots and programmed them to respond to instructions, with lots of testing and problem solving going on in the classroom before some practical competitions at the end of each workshop!

In addition to these regular sessions, we have also taken part in several external competitions and challenges. In January, our Form 2 students had the fantastic opportunity to take part in the IET Education Faraday Challenge, a national STEM competition with a real-life challenge, aimed at developing practical and employability skills such as team-working, creative thinking and problem solving.

With the help of Cognition Learning and two GCHQ staff ambassadors, Form 2 worked in teams, racing against the clock to solve a real-life engineering problem. They researched, designed and made prototype solutions for a brief presented to them at the start of the session with a Dragon’s Den style presentation at the end of the day.

Our Lego League Team, who meet weekly in one of our 360@Sheb co-curricular activities sessions, competed at the North Cornwall & North Devon Regional Heats of the FIRST Lego League, one of the biggest international STEM events in the world! They did brilliantly and won the Rising All Stars category!

Meanwhile, in May a group of our Form 1 girls were invited to attend the TECgirls CyberSecurity Jam at the STEM and Health Skills Centre in Bodmin, joining 70 other students from schools across Devon and Cornwall. They had a fantastic day, taking part in workshops to increase their skills in coding and logic, cybersecurity, networks and cryptography, run by GCHQ, CyberFirst and Cynam as well as being able to speak to female role models from local tech/digital and engineering companies about their jobs.

In addition, during the Easter holidays, we hosted the Cognition Learning and LEGO Education Creative Camp, welcoming over 40 children from all over North Cornwall and North Devon to Shebbear College for 4 free days of creativity and STEM learning! A fantastic event that we hope to be able to host again in the future.

Beyond the Classroom

Our New Co-Curricular Programme

Launched in September 2023, our 360@Sheb programme has been extremely successful, offering pupils a wide range of co-curricular activities - both on and off campus. Aimed at building confidence, endurance, skill and enjoyment, the programme includes:

• The opportunity for off-site activities once a week

• A wide range of on-site clubs

• A sport-focused activities session for each year group

• A specialised Performing Arts activities session

• Environmental education sessions each week for Forms 1 & 2

Instead of being bolted on to the end of the day, activities sessions now take place in the school day as part of the timetable, with the main 2 hour session taking place on a Friday, when the off-campus activities take place, and additional co-curricular sessions also going on throughout the week for different year groups.

Activities change each term and this year we have seen our off-campus activities include surfing with the North Devon Surf School at Westward Ho!, Watersports at Roadford Lake, Horse Riding at Woollaton Equestrian Centre, Indoor Tennis at Atlantic Racquet Centre in Bideford, swimming at a local pool, golf at Bude Golf Club and gym sessions at Chantal Law Fitness in Bideford. On-campus activities have included sports teams, music ensembles, performing arts, Lego League, cookery, textiles, Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh, forensics and a long list of others!

This year in the Sixth Form has been busy and vibrant, with equal measures of fun and hard work. The students make the Sixth Form building a real hub of positive energy, applying themselves both academically and socially, supporting each other and creating unforgettable memories together.

September 2023 welcomed our new cohort of Lower Sixth students, including some fantastic short-term boarders and four superb Australian exchange students, who all settled into Sixth Form life very quickly.

With so much energy and excitement in the Sixth Form, it was great to kick the term off with the Ceilidh, which was, as always, a roaring success – no one wanted to stop dancing! The social events kept coming, with the Quiz and Pizza night bringing out the competitive side of everyone – well done to the Upper 6th for taking the top spot, and the Christmas meal being a lovely way to finish the term. The Lent Term kicked off with the House Dinners, which were again a fantastic success and a chance for the Sixth Formers to meet the other pupils in their house, followed by Laser Tag vs Form 5!

The main event, however, is always the Rounsefell Dinner, which was held at Buckland House again this year. The Sixth Formers had the chance to dress up, enjoy a three-course formal meal and dance the night away! It was great to welcome the new president of the OSA, Jamie Sanders, and the students were pleased to see him as many were taught by him when they were younger.

We have also enjoyed several curriculum trips during the year, including Geography and Biology field trips, the UCAS fair, the Marjon Open Day and a visit to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon to watch Macbeth, all of which have helped to bring A-Level studies to life. Sixth Formers have also taken part in the Model United Nations, our new Scholars’ Masterclasses and had the opportunity to travel to Poland during February half term.

The Performing Arts have continued to be a focus this year, with so much talent within our Sixth Form. Toby in Upper Sixth gained a place studying Orchestral Percussion at the Royal College of Music Junior Department last year and has continued to travel to London weekly to take part in this amazing opportunity. Meanwhile Sebastian in Lower Sixth made it to the final of the ISA Young musician of the Year 2024, performing at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. We saw some fantastic performances at our Performing Arts Showcases , concerts and Gig Night during the year, but it was our school production of Les Misérables that really was the highlight of the year for the Performing Arts, starring Sixth Formers Toby, Jon-Christopher, William, Harriet, Lily, Beth and Darcey as some of the principal characters. While we are saying goodbye to Toby this year, it is exciting to see the talent coming up through the school and into the Sixth Form next year!

On the sports field we have again seen our Sixth Formers get involved in the main sports of rugby, netball, football, hockey, cricket and athletics - including some fantastic cricket matches against the Old Shebbearian Association (OSA) and the Old Luctonian Association. Lily, Darcey and Felix were also part of our 45B Ten Tors team in May.

We say goodbye to our outgoing Upper Sixth and wish them the best of luck in all that they do in the future. We hope that their time at Shebbear has given them the best head start in their lives and I hope that they will keep in touch with news of where their lives take them.

Finally, a big thank you to this year’s Sanctuary Team: George, Alex, Ferdie, Toby, Amelia and Issy for being fantastic role models and getting involved with life across the school. We welcome our new team for 2024-25. Lily and Sebastian are our Heads of School, assisted by our Heads of House, Archie (Ruddle), Emilia (Pollard), Sav (Thorne) and Darcey (Way). Congratulations to them all and I know that they will be a credit to Shebbear College.

Mrs Burges Head of Sixth Form

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2023

Cardiff University Human Geography

Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) Medicine

UCL Applied Medical Sciences

University of Nottingham Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence

Coventry University Automotive Engineering

University of Winchester Physiotherapy

King’s College London English Language and Linguistics

King’s College London Physics

Every year our Sixth Form pupils achieve excellent academic results, going on to study a wide range of degree courses at prestigious universities. In 2023 our leavers went on to pursue a huge range of subjects at degree level – from Medicine, Physics and Engineering to English, Geography and Law at Russell Group and other top Universities. 95% of pupils gained a place at their first choice of university.

University of Winchester Law

Oxford Brookes University Business and Finance

Oxford Brookes University English and Journalism

Royal Agricultural University Real Estate

University of Plymouth Mechanical Engineering

University of South Wales Theatre and Drama

Cardiff University Journalism, Media and English Literature

University of Bristol Vetinerary Science

AMELIA from Kindergarten to Upper Sixth!

As we say goodbye to our Upper Sixth Class of 2024, we had to give a special mention to Amelia, who has been at Shebbear College since she joined the Kindergarten in 2009 and has just left Upper Sixth!

At GCSE our students achieve highly each year. In 2023, a year where the proportion of candidates receiving the highest grades has fallen nationally, students gained outstanding results across all subjects, opening up exciting opportunities for the future.

STAR STUDENT ALICE gained an outstanding twelve grade 9s at GCSE, one of only 125 students nationally to achieve eleven or more grade 9s.

Duke of Edinburgh

We have once again had a fantastic level of enrolment for the Duke of Edinburgh award this year with all of Form 3 embarking on their bronze awards and a number of pupils in Form 4 undertaking their silver awards.

It is clear our pupils have big aspirations and broad horizons while examining the range of activities undertaken by our small school. Pupils are engaged in everything from assisting with global science projects to litter picking in their

local towns for their volunteering sections, animal care to coding in their skills sections and hill walking to taekwondo in their physical sections. It is great to see pupils taking on so many opportunities in school and beyond. The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme is the perfect way to recognise and celebrate these endeavors.

For many pupils, the highlight of the award is the expedition section. Our silver participants embarked on a journey through Exmoor National Park whilst our bronze teams cut their teeth trekking along some stunning sections of the North Cornwall coast path and surrounding areas gaining the skills to access the higher award levels and the Ten Tors challenge.

A huge well done to all those who have completed their awards this year!

Huge congratulations to our Ten Tors teams who all completed Ten Tors 2024 and are an inspiration to us all!

This year we had a record number of four teams taking part:

35A team - Kaia, Abi, Will, Seth, Bodie and Dylan

35B team - Dylan, Neve, Tichy, Harry, Will and Jack

45A team - Leo, Joe, Albert, Alfie, Ben and Ed

45B team - Lily, Darcey, Robyn, Henry, Felix and Dylan

The teams took part in six months of training, including 11 days of weekend training, 3 overnight camps and many hours of route planning, kit packing and emergency training. They all showed tremendous progress during the training and we are really proud of every single one of them!

The teams covered their respective routes in some excellent times, leaving on Saturday morning at 0700 and finishing between 11.30am (Team 35A in record time!) and 5pm on Sunday. We look forward to seeing some of them continue into the 45 mile and maybe even 55 mile challenges next year!

Congratulations also go to Thomas in Form 3, who completed the 35 mile route with the South West Area Sea Cadets.

CAMP CAMBODIA

During the summer holidays 2024, as this magazine is being printed, Leo, Henry and Felix (Form 5 and Lower Sixth) had the once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Cambodia with Camps International, to take part in an amazing four week expedition, living and working alongside local people and getting involved in a range of sustainable projects, from community development to environmental conservation. A wonderful opportunity and they certainly got a lot out of it.

France

October 2023

Over 40 of our Form 2 - 4 students travelled to France during October half term for an action-packed four days in Colombiers-sur-Seulles, Normandy. Once they’d recovered from the 2am coach trip to the ferry, they had a brilliant time with cultural visits and interesting trips including Baueux Market and Tapestry, Honfleur, the market at Courseulles-surMer, the Arromanches 360 cinema, the American cemetery and a Goat’s Cheese Farm. There were also some fantastic tasting sessions - which some enjoyed more than others!

A wonderful time had by all!

Paris

Activities Week 2024

We had an action-packed activities week this year, with the main highlight being a trip to Paris for Form 1 and 2! Organised by Mrs Webber, with Ms Vetch and Mr Grey also attending, this three-day trip really was a highlight for everyone! After an overnight bus to catch the early Ferry, the group headed straight up the Eiffel Tower as soon as they arrived, a fantastic experience with many having never visited before. The rest of the day was spent visiting the city’s other landmarks including Le Louvre and L’Arc de Triumph. After a crepe making workshop and an early night, the next day they set off to Disneyland Paris for a day of fun on the rides! This was followed up by a swim in the outdoor pool at their accommodation that evening. More exploring in Paris took place the next morning before they set off for home.

For those Form 1 and 2 pupils that didn’t want to go abroad, a residential at PGL Beam House provided the perfect alternative, with the pupils taking part in trapeze, climbing, problem solving, a sensory trail, abseiling, archery and disc golf! For others, they had the option of staying on site and going on local days out to Clovelly and The Beach School at Bude, as well as taking part in a mosaics workshop and creating some beautiful designs.

Meanwhile, Form 3 spent the three days hiking on the Devon and Cornwall coastline for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition and Form 4 took part in UCAS workshops and a session with Young Driver, giving them their first taste of driving a car around Tower car park, followed up by a trip to Thorpe Park!

Poland

Form 5 and Sixth Form students travelled to Krakow, Poland during February Half Term for a cultural trip hosted by former Shebbear staff member, Mark Charman and Polish company Impakt and led by Mrs Aliberti. There were many memorable moments, including visiting Auschwitz, the historic Old Town of Krakow and the Wieliczka Salt Mines; meeting a Holocaust survivor, performing in the Chopin Concert Hall where the composer himself actually performed, not to mention several shopping trips, dancing and delicious food! A detailed journal of the trip is below:

Day 1 - Wednesday

After a very early start our group were met at Kraków Airport by Mark along with Piotr Pisiewicz of Impakt Association. Once settled in to their hotel, and after a brief welcome meeting, they enjoyed a guided tour of the historic Old Town, including the magnificent 13th century Main Square, bustling with cafes and restaurants, music and street performers. The impressive Cloth Hall stands proudly in the centre of the square and is full of individual gift stalls, many offering amber from the Baltic Sea. St. Mary’s Basilica dominates the square, and the stunning interior of this gothic church is difficult to describe with words. A key scene in the movie ‘Schindler’s List’ was filmed inside this iconic church. The group also visited the historic Wawel Royal Palace.

Exploring the huge Galeria Krakowska shopping mall, along with dinner, brought us to the end of a very long and tiring day.

Day 2 - Thursday

Everyone enjoyed a big buffet breakfast with a surprise. Today is ‘Fat Thursday’ in Poland, a special day ahead of Lent when Polish people eat millions of freshly baked donuts. So, everyone received a fresh donuts from the local bakery with their breakfast, ahead of a very serious day.

Our visit to Auschwitz was very moving, and the things we experienced are impossible to put into words. We walked silently through prisoner barracks, gas chambers and past crematorium ovens. Perhaps most moving were the personal belongings of murdered prisoners, from spectacles, cosmetics and shoes to children’s clothing. Most challenging and heartbreaking was walking past the hair of 40,000 women and young girls. Most of the group shed a tear or two and had personal moments of reflection. At the memorial in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, Mr. Fey said a few words, then we observed a one minute silence before Alice, Rowan, Sebastian and Albert placed two red roses and two candles on the memorial. We did this on behalf of Shebbear College and in memory and respect for the more than one million who were murdered.

All of our students conducted themselves with the utmost dignity and respect. Their parents, and Shebbear College, should be very proud of them.

Day 3 - Friday

Today started with a visit to a school where our students had the opportunity to integrate with Polish students. They joined various classes and even learned how to dance the Polonaise. We are sure some new friendships were made today.

Next came a visit to one of Europe’s oldest seats of education, The Jagiellonian University, dating back to the 13th century. Our students walked through study rooms once used by Pope John Paul II and Nicolaus Copernicus, to name just two alumni.

Later came a guided tour of the Kazimierz Jewish district of the city, learning about Jewish history and culture, along with a visit to a synagogue.

To finish the day, a three course Polish meal in Morskie Oko Restaurant, accompanied by traditional folk music and lots of dancing!

Day 4 - Saturday

In the Galicja Jewish Museum in Krakow we met Holocaust survivor Monika Goldwasser. We listened silently as she told her heartbreaking life story, but she left us all with some positive, thought-provoking words, and wished all of our students a long, happy and peaceful life. We gave her some chocolates and flowers as a token of our respect and appreciation.

Then we visited the The Princes Czartoryski Museum where, among many impressive exhibits, we saw Fryderyk Chopin’s death mask, Rembrandt’s ‘Landscape with the Good Samaritan’ and best of all, Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Lady with an Ermine’.

Next was a live traditional Jewish Klezmer concert, followed by free time and dinner at Galeria Krakowska. As an optional bonus, Piotr arranged a live Chopin recital for any students who wished to attend. The concert was performed in the Chopin Concert Hall where the composer himself actually performed. After the concert, and to the audience’s delight, Seb was invited to give a short performance.

Day 5 - Sunday

After another big breakfast we headed off to the UNESCO World Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mines. Deep underground, we walked through the labyrinth of tunnels and chambers carved out of salt, once one of Poland’s main commodities. We learned about old mining tools and the methods of salt extraction and transport in the past.

Most surprising are the stunning statues and chapels carved out of the salt by miners in the past, based on Polish history and legends. The tour culminates at the stunning St. Kinga’s Chapel. This huge underground cathedral is adorned with frescoes and statues depicting Biblical scenes. Even the enormous chandeliers are carved from salt.

After some free time to explore the historic Wieliczka town centre we all enjoyed pizzas together in a restaurant. Then, at Krakow Airport we said goodbye to our hosts and headed off to catch our flight home.

PROM 2024

A fantastic evening for Form 5 at the Falcon Hotel in Bude, celebrating the end of their GCSEs and the start of the summer!

As always, we saw some stylish arrivals - including Mr Jenkins hitching a lift on Leo’s tractor - but Albert and Alfie’s lawnmowers have to win the title of most creative mode of transport this year!

Before their exams started, our Sixth Formers had the opportunity to dress up in black tie for the formal Rounsefell Dinner, this year held at Buckland House.

They enjoyed a three-course meal followed by music from Torquaybased band The Waves Collective and lots of dancing!

It was the perfect setting for such a prestigious event, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Careers Fair

Our Careers Fair returned on Friday 8th March, and this time it was open to all our Senior School and Sixth Form pupils, from Form 1 (Year 7) through to Sixth Form.

We had a number of businesses, higher education establishments and individuals attending to share information about a wide range of careers and routes into different fields of work.

Pupils had the chance to visit exhibitors in the Assembly Hall, as well as attending smaller classroom sessions with professionals which included a talk about their area of expertise and a Q&A session.

Exhibitors in the main hall included: Penbode Vets, NHS (Mental Health), Torrington Dental Practice, Police, Royal Navy, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Falmouth University, Peter Peter and Wright Solicitors, Maynard Johns Chartered Accountants, Fearnley-Lott Architects, Princess Yachts (Naval Architecture, Engineering, Design, Carpentry) and Rundle & Co.

Individual speakers covered the following areas: Police, NHS - Oncology, Forensic Psychology, Law, Accountancy, Engineering, Information Technology, Teaching, Interpretation, Human Resources, Recruitment and Customer Success, Music, Media and Talent, Land Management, Sport and Design.

Thank you to everyone that spoke or exhibited, our pupils really valued the opportunity to find out more about what’s out there - and it was fantastic to welcome so many successful Old Shebbearians back to the College!

THE PERFORMING ARTS

2023-2024 OVERVIEW

‘Music is not to hear, it is to feel’ CONCERTS

We dare not count how many opportunities our musicians and actors get to perform in front of an audience these days! This is what we do so well at Shebbear in the Creative and Performing Arts; pupils can perform pieces in Chapel, informal concerts and our more formal concerts, giving them plenty of opportunities to suit their standard.

Both the Prep School and the Senior School have had two informal concerts this academic year, which have been held in the Assembly Hall and the Music School’s very own Recital Hall. Pupils took these events extremely seriously and they have given our children an opportunity to play and perform a range of pieces that are either progressing them in their skills or helping them to prepare for examinations.

In the Music School, our choral singing has really gone from strength to strength, and so we are now turning our attention more towards orchestral instruments. In 2023 we were extremely lucky to have purchased a new set of stringed instruments to teach the children on.

In addition to this, we have also offered all Prep 6 pupils small group lessons on the cello in a ploy to improve the amount of orchestral instruments that are taught at the College. In 2024 and beyond, we are now looking at broadening our horizons to include brass and woodwind instruments, too. Learning orchestral instruments in the working world is truly something that can make a pupil stand out above others and is a huge contribution to a good holistic education.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

In the Michaelmas Term, we saw the most fantastic performances in our Michaelmas Performing Arts Showcase, including a stand-out performance by pianist Sebastian in Lower 6th. Sebastian, who is currently working towards his diploma in Piano Performance with his teacher Ruth Cornish, was selected as a finalist in the ISA Young Musician of the Year, which took place at the University of Oxford in early 2024.

To end our Michaelmas Term, we were able to put on the first Carol Service for a good couple of years now. Since the disruption of the Covid pandemic, we have been unable to hold our Carol Service in Lake Chapel since 2019, so this was a very special service indeed. We came back to choral singing with a “bang” and the introduction of our massed choir was something extremely spectacular to behold. With just under 80 singers, the massed choir sang both “The Holly and the Ivy” (Gardiner) and “Carol of the Bells” (Leontovich), which really wowed the congregation and put everybody in a Christmassy mood. With the richness of the Senior and Staff voices, as well as the lightness of the angelic Prep School voices, this massed choir really was something special. The Senior and Staff Choir has really upped its standard and their performance of “In The Bleak Midwinter” (Holst) was absolutely stunning, along with the beautiful processional “Alleluia Gracia Deo”. With standing room only, we joked that this may have been the first Carol Service in Shebbear’s history where the congregation were positively de-robing! The connection between Shebbear College and Lake Chapel is exceedingly important to the Music Department and we are already busy organising the service in December 2024. It is such a musical highlight!

Of course, our school productions of Les Misérables (March 2024) and The Lion King Jr (June 2024)were huge highlights with a huge cast and crew for both shows working together both on and off stage. More on these later!

Our second Performing Arts Showcase Concert in the Trinity Term was fantastic, and some wonderful solos, as well as some lovely ensembles like our newly-formed Flute Choir. Verse and prose was in full force as well, with some fantastic solo performances. We were treated to a fantastic performance of “The Whole World’s A Stage” (Shakespeare) featuring our Sixth Form drama group which was really polished. Leaver Toby performed one of his A-level Drama performance pieces which really kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

At the end of the Trinity Term, our Open Air Theatre returned with a group of students from Form 4 – Upper Sixth performing a play written by none other than Mr Pomroy himself! ‘The Wheal of Fortune’ was meant to be performed in 2020 but then Covid hit, and it was put on hold - until now! A fantastic evening with some rare sunshine - well done to the cast, which included pupils from Form 3 to Upper Sixth.

To finish off the academic year, some of our musicians performed in our annual Speech Day in June. The final performance by our massed choir was “Goin’ Up A Yonder” (Hawkins) which was truly special. The lyrics refer to one’s faith being extremely strong, and the sentiment of singing this at Speech Day was very much to wish our leavers of 2024 all the very best as they “fly the nest” into the wider world.

EXAMINATIONS IN SPEECH AND DRAMA AND MUSIC

FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024

Michaelmas Term

Lent Term

Name Form

Bethany Tibble L6 7 Voice –

Mott Musical Theatre

Xanthe Manners Prep 3 Introductory Speech &

Tracey Ray Stage 2 Drama solo

Lottie Dolton Prep 3 Introductory Speech &

Tracey Ray Stage 2 Drama solo

Athelia Stacey Prep 1 Introductory Speech &

Ray Stage 1 Drama solo

Darcey Grey L6 7 Flute

Dolly Brookes Form 3 6 Flute

Lily Down L6 6 Flute

Eli Haines Prep 4 Introductory Speech &

Ray Stage 3 Drama solo

Arabella Conway Prep 5 Entry Level Verse & Prose

Charlie Dolton Prep 6 Grade 1

Emilia Piddington Prep 6

Esther Emmerson Form 1

Lucy Hunkin Form 1

1

2

3

Ashton Saltmarsh Form 2 Grade 3

Anaya Stoneman Form 1

Summer Lewis Form 3

Evelyn Highet Form 3

George Dolton Form 3

Alexander Todd Form 3

Kayleigh Simpson L6

Annabelle Lim Form 1

Ethan Lim Form 3

Alice Hunkin L6

& Prose

& Prose

& Prose

& Prose

4

& Prose

3

4

3

4

Trinity Term

Tom Sherrod Form 2 3

Arabella Conway Prep 5 1

Harriet Allin L6 5

Darcey Grey L6 6

Joseph Pennington Form 5 7

Lucy Hunkin Form 1 2

‘I

have to be honest, it surpassed all my expectations - like watching a West End Show!

All the cast are so talented.’

‘Blown away with tonight’s performance. Some up and coming West End Stars! Well done to all the cast.’

SENIOR SCHOOL PRODUCTION 2024

‘Wow what a show. Totally blown away by our incredible school and every single person involved on and off stage. I want to see it again!’

‘Wow what a performance! I had to keep reminding myself, these are school kids! It was tantamount to a professional theatre show.’

Above are just a few examples of the comments we have received from the audience at our 2024 Senior School production of Les Misérables, and those of you that were lucky enough to have got tickets will know what they mean - what an outstanding show!

The amazing voices and stage presence of our soloists - Toby as Jean Valjean, Jon-Christopher as Javert, Beth as Fantine, Albert as Marius, Lily and Elsie as Cosette, Darcey as Eponine, Will and Harriet as Thenardier and Madame Thenardier, Alfie as the Bishop and Alex as Enjolras - not forgetting our youngest soloist, Barney (in Form 1) as Gavroche - totally captivated the audience, supported by a brilliant cast of 70 students and directed by Mrs Sadler-Smith, Mrs Parker, Mr Pomroy and Consultant Director Carol Carey. The show received standing ovations every night, with a FULL standing ovation on the closing night, which was thoroughly deserved.

When it was first announced that we would be doing Les Mis for our school production, there was a real buzz about the college. It’s a difficult and ambitious show to put on as the whole piece is sung - would they be able to pull it off? But the directors knew that this was the year that they could, indeed, pull it off - and that they did, with the audience absolutely blown away every night!

Head of Creative and Performing Arts, Mrs Sadler-Smith, said ‘Wow! We never thought this moment would happen! We had always said that there might perhaps only be one opportunity in a Performing Arts teacher’s life where you feel ready to plant the seed of imagination in your team and say the crazy words... “How about doing Les Mis next year?”... and well, here we are! The quality of singers here at Shebbear College have gone from strength to strength, and that, together with the phenomenal “team spirit” that our Performing Arts students hone themselves, it just felt like it was time.’

‘What the audience saw this week is a cast filled with fantastic children who just love the Performing Arts’ she continued, ‘and they enjoy performing, on stage, with their friends. We could not wish for anything more than that, and it has made our jobs an absolute pleasure.’

A huge thank you needs to go to Carol Carey, our Consultant Director. A Shebbear parent and an actor herself, Carol attended rehearsals to get everything blocked and ready for show week, but she has also played a big part in our creative vision. She has led the creative team in making our Memorial Hall our very own French Barricade, brought to life by our Maintenance team who created our wonderfully atmospheric stage! Also an enormous thank you to Robin Shephard-Blandy from Illuminate Design for creating the most wonderfully lit and beautifully sounding stage that there ever was! The technical side of things was supported by Toby in Upper Sixth, who, not content with playing the lead role, was also heavily involved in the set and lighting design!

Congratulations to each and every member of the Shebbear College Les Misérables Company - a show that will be remembered forever!

Gig Night returned on Thursday 8th February and it was bigger and better than ever with our rock, pop, indie and jazz musicians leaving the audience wowed and in high spirits!

We enjoyed some absolutely outstanding vocal, drum, guitar and piano covers of songs by Oasis, Bruce Springsteen, Radiohead and Greenday among many others. Henry, River, Sean, Zeb and Joe gave a brilliant performance of ‘Find the Light’, written by Henry; and Charlie and George also performed their own composition of ‘Bamboo’ using looper pedals.

Toby and Jon-Christopher’s Drum Off against each other was a definite highlight, as was Henry’s version of Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen, not to mention all our other musicians who really put their all into their performances - you could see they really enjoyed being up on the stage having the opportunity to perform in their own style - and Harriet who was an excellent compere.

Toby in U6, along with Mr Shephard-Blandy, one of our parents and the Director of Illuminate Design, a specialist lighting, sound, staging and AV products, provided all of the sound and lighting for the event – which really transformed the Assembly Hall!

Henry B in Form 5 was the official photographer for the event, and you can see some of his shots in the album overleaf.

Thanks to everyone who came along to support the event and our musicians, we hope you had a fantastic evening!

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION 2024

The Lion King Jr was our first Middle School production at Shebbear College, including pupils from Prep 3 through to Form 2, giving our younger children the chance to be a part of a show with a real theatre experience. The children were absolutely outstanding with 7 and 8 year olds working with our Senior School pupils on this really well known musical.

We had some truly fantastic performances. Young Simba (Sebastian - prep 6) and Young Nala (Maeva - prep 6) performed excellently and with true conviction. They then passed the “baton” onto Simba (Barney - form 1) and Nala (Annabelle L - form 1) who were absolutely fantastic. Zazu (Louis - form 2) was brilliantly witty and Mufasa (Tyler - form 1) was exceedingly convincing as Simba’s father and in fact reduced many of the audience to tears in his death scene! The antagonist, Scar (Tom - form 2) performed “Be Prepared” exceptionally well and brought a really chilling evilness to the role. The three lead hyenas were truly fantastic, and demonstrated how well pupils at Sheb work so well across year groups. Shenzi (Ashton - form 2), Banzai (Marley - prep 5) and Ed (Charlie - form 2) worked magnificently together and performed with real pride. Some true heros of the week were our Timone (Harry - form 1) and Pumbaa (Rohan - form 1) who took “comedy timing” to another level and had us crying with laughter. The chorus of Prep 3 and 4 children were truly enthusiastic in their performing and singing, and the lioness and grasslands ensembles were graceful and poised in their fantastic dances.

Mrs Sadler-Smith, said “I have been absolutely blown away with the commitment of these youngsters. Right from the offset with their rendition of “The Circle of Life” led by our impeccable Rafiki (Hattie), the children made a fantastic sound which soared through the whole school. It truly was immense!”

This really was a feel-good show! Here’s to next year!

RUGBY

This year saw the appointment of Mr Bryant who has led the rugby provision with the unwavering support and coaching expertise of Ms Vetch and Mr Law. This coaching team provide an excellent atmosphere for the players to learn and develop which has resulted in some outstanding performances this season. Highlights include our talented U16 boys who were runners up at the Colchester ISA National 7s and then went on to represent the College at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National 7s tournament. As we bid farewell to many of this squad, we wish them well in their future sporting endeavours and thank them for their part in the history of rugby at Shebbear.

Despite the challenges faced by being a smaller year group in terms of numbers, the U15s have really gelled as a group and demonstrate togetherness and support in abundance which has been a major contributing factor in their performances this year.

Our U13 team have gone from strength to strength this year and the future looks promising for this group if they continue with their positive attitude towards improving and developing their game. In particular a 3rd placed finish at the Stover tournament against strong opposition is an indication of their potential.

Girls’ rugby at Shebbear was also introduced this year and this is something that we are committed to developing in the coming years.

HOCKEY

Our U12 & U13 teams enjoyed an impressive term of hockey this year. Their desire to learn and improve was first class and the development on the pitch was outstanding. Achieving excellent results against strong opposition indicates a bright future for the sport at Shebbear.

The U15 team played strong opposition this year including Truro School which was excellent for their development. As the term progressed, they began to play with more shape and structure which then allowed them to develop a clearer understanding of their role and responsibilities within the team. As the girls move into the 1st XI squad, this experience will stand them in good stead.

1st XI produced some good performances this year and showed a clear playing structure along with a secure understanding of how to press when out of possession, which is something that Mr Fay deserves great credit for instilling in the team last season.

We were also delighted to play some mixed hockey at Shebbear this year at U18 and U13 age groups. The enthusiasm, collaboration and camaraderie on display by our U18 team in particular was great to see.

FOOTBALL

2024 was a really positive year at Shebbear for the footballers. At First XI level, it was clear that a strong squad was emerging from the early part of the season. There was a really good mix of experience and youth throughout the group, led by captain Ferdie, who was ably supported by fellow U6 formers Cam, George and Peter. Add to this the talent of 5th Form players such as Alfie Sealey, Billy Finch, Henry Hassell and Mitch Sibley, and the squad looked well equipped for the season. The season began with an encouraging result, coming from 2-0 to claim a creditable 2-2 draw against Exeter School. Add to this victories against Plymouth College, Stover School and Budehaven Community College and all in all it was a very good season.

The boys junior age groups experienced largely positive seasons this year. Our U15s made some real progress over the course of the term. Encouraging performances from Archie, Will and Ben helped to build a strong team ethos within our U15 age group, whilst the U13s developed well and achieved some success in their fixtures against our traditional local rivals.

A really positive element of this season was the emergence of girls football at Shebbear, with a higher number of girls fixtures than ever before. The talent on show across all of our age groups was outstanding, with a number of girls stepping up to participate in boys fixtures, where they made significant contributions. Lionesses of the future to keep an eye out for include Natasha, Honey and Zia.

Overall, football continues to be one of our strongest sports here at Shebbear, with real signs of growth over this year which promises much for the next few seasons.

NETBALL

Yet again another busy season in a very short Lent term this year. There was a lot to fit in!

The INSC kicked the Netball season off again last year in September. Some very tough opposition but it was worth it to get the teams back in Netball mode again.

This year we entered an U13 team into the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Netball tournament in Teignmouth in January. We ended up coming 4th, gaining a place in the National competition in March in Warwick. We came 3rd in our group, returning home with a medal. The team learnt a lot and developed through the season leading to the national competition. It was a fantastic tournament that we plan on entering next year again, in hopefully some more age ranges if possible.

Last season we had some great wins across all teams and age ranges. All teams achieved better results than the previous year, in our first and very tough 1st fixture of the season against West Buckland and Truro. We are looking forward to developing these results again next season.

Overall, the results this season were very good across all year groups. We had some fantastic wins but were also challenged by other schools, giving us areas in which we know we need to improve. The quality and talent within the girls in Netball is great. They have a lot of potential, which we hope to build on with some ideas for next year in the pipeline.

CRICKET

Despite the challenging weather we have enjoyed a good cricket season in terms of numbers of fixtures and success, helped in no small part by Caribbean cricketers Jon-Christopher and Charles. Their contributions to cricket at Shebbear have been immeasurable and we are very grateful for their commitment and efforts.

We were pleased to welcome two club sides to Shebbear: Braunton CC in the U12 Graham Harris Cup and Bideford and Westward Ho! in an U15 friendly. It was great for both sides to play different opposition and the match teas from Thomas Franks were very well-received by all, as usual.

We were also pleased to be able to host a Cricket Festival for over 100 local primary school pupils. The event was led by our superb 6th form pupils and they created an excellent environment for the children to enjoy the game and we hope to make this an annual event.

The U13 team produced some strong performances, notably in the County Cup where our run came to an end against a very strong side from Torquay Boys Grammar with an exceptional bowling attack. Also the team gave a very good account of themselves at the Mount Kelly Sixes, playing some excellent cricket.

Our U15s also progressed in the County Cup but went out to South Dartmoor College and a very strong bowling attack. Pleasingly over 25 pupils represented this team which reflects the enthusiasm for the sport at Shebbear.

As is tradition, our 1st XI took on the OSA at the Summer Fair with the OSA taking the spoils on this occasion. We were also delighted to once again host the Devon Dumplings in a very competitive match with visitors taking the win. The match Vs the Old Luctonians Association was a real highlight of the cricket calendar as some of our 1st XI players enjoyed the opportunity to play alongside more experienced members of our OSA in a thrilling match that ended in a draw.

Our girls’ cricket provision has developed well this year and we are very excited about the future as more girls become involved in the sport and progress to playing hardball. Our U15 girls led the way in hardball this year with their positive attitude which saw them attend the Mount Kelly festival and then play host to Stover the following week. Aimee, Esther, Billie and Cherrie also gained some valuable hardball experience and next year we hope to play more hardball fixtures to develop the girls’ game further.

ATHLETICS

The athletics season has been a huge success this year. Alongside huge levels of participation at the different meetings, we were delighted to have 9 athletes selected to represent the South-West at the ISA National Finals, once again held at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. At the event, James (Form 1) and Sophia (Form 4) were crowned National Discus Champions!

As a result of their individual performances, Nicola (Form 1), Max and James (both Form 4) were selected to join the North Devon team in the Devon Athletics Championships which is a tremendous achievement and testament to their efforts in their events.

We were also pleased to take part in the North Devon League which provides our pupils with the opportunity to compete against other ND schools. From this our Form 1 boys, Form 3 boys and Form 4 girls qualified for the Finals which was a strong achievement and our Form 3 boys stole the show with a 3rd placed finish on the night.

Alongside a successful sports day with many records being broken, the future of athletics at Shebbear looks very promising indeed.

EQUESTRIAN

Our equestrian achievements have gone from strength-to-strength in the last academic year, from the horse-riding activity offered as part of our 360 Co-curricular programme to our Equestrian Team competing at the Hickstead Championships in May, it has been a busy and exciting year for our riders.

As part of 360@Sheb, students have been visiting Woollaton Equestrian Centre during the Friday activity slot, embracing all things riding and horse care. Some have experienced the thrill of sitting on a horse for the very first time, while others have honed their advanced riding skills. The indoor riding arena has been invaluable, allowing students to continue their progress through the dark winter months, and the strides they have made have been remarkable. Watching each rider’s journey unfold, gaining confidence and skill both in the saddle and in handling horses, has been a true delight.

Our Equestrian Team members had an equally eventful Michaelmas Term, travelling to various venues across the southwest to compete in qualifying events for the Hickstead National Championships. They celebrated significant success, with every team member qualifying in multiple classes and an impressive eight overall wins. A standout moment was when our 90 eventing

team won the South West Schools ODE at Pontispool, hosted by Blundell’s School, a prestigious event that brings together schools’ eventing teams from across the southwest. This was a fantastic achievement for our small school.

Maintaining our horses’ competition fitness throughout a busy winter is a testament to the team’s dedication and hard work. This winter, our older team members doubled their efforts by completing modules towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, caring for, exercising, and maintaining their horses’ health.

In May, the team embarked on the long journey to Hickstead to compete in the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Championships. Each member demonstrated bravery and skill, tackling challenging courses with determination. We are incredibly proud that every Shebbear College student returned with a top 10 placement, earning recognition for their efforts and achievements at the championship level.

As we complete our school year, and look to heading into a new academic year, we carry forward a wealth of experience and look forward to seeing what our talented human and equine combinations will achieve next. Here’s to another exciting year of equestrian success!

GOLF

In a first for Shebbear, this year golf has its own write up in the magazine, after our golf team of of Billy, Alfie, Woody and Charlie competed at the Devon Schools Golf Championship at Bigbury Golf Club in April, being placed 3rd against 50 teams, an incredible achievement!

11 year old Charlie, who was the youngest golfer in the team, then went on to win the individual competition! Up against students up to the age of 18, Charlie was drawing with another golfer at 45 points and it was his back nine that ended up winning the competition, right at the end of the day!

We look forward to seeing golf continuing to feature next year!

Firstly a huge thank you to all who helped ensure a successful Sports Day this year; from maintenance to marketing, grounds to catering and teachers, pupils and parents for their support. It was, despite the inclement weather, an excellent day culminating in no less than 9 athletics records being beaten!

The PE staff have worked incredibly hard this term to ensure that the pupils have had an array of athletic opportunities open to them. This hard work has clearly paid off as in the field, we saw James in Form 1 add to his ISA National Discus Championship win with an impressive throw of 23.78m, comfortably beating the previous school record. Following suit, fellow ISA National Champion Sophia in Form 4 beat her own school discus record with a throw of 16.88m. Meanwhile, Max in Form 4 capped off an impressive Discus season with an impressive record throw of 25.90m and in

Form 2 Esther saved her best Javelin throw of the season for sports day with a record distance of 19.61m while Amilia capped off a successful day by setting a new Shot putt record with a distance of 7.39m.

On the track we were also treated to some impressive performances with Neve (Form 3) setting the tone with a new 1500m record of 6:00:24 mins along with Gabrielle - one of our short-term borders and very competent athlete - setting a new 800m record time of 2:44:68 mins. Following these, Charlie (Form 2) stepped in for Thorne at the last minute and proceeded to set a new 300m record of 53:93s. This then led us on to the relays and congratulations to the Way House U15 Female 4x100m runners who set a new school record of 1:03:72 mins.

Well done to our Victor and Victrix Lodorum in each age group:

Form 1 and 2: Amilia and Alfie

Form 3 and 4: Honey and Bodie

GCSE and A-Level

ARTWORK

OLD SHEBBEARIANS’ ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the OSA section of The Shebbearian!

2024 is an important year for Shebbear College alumni, as the War Memorial Fund celebrates its 100th year and alumni engagement takes its place officially within the day-to-day life of the College, with the creation of my role of Development and Alumni Coordinator and a renewed focus on the OSA.

To borrow a phrase from one of my favourite Old Shebbearians, our alumni network ‘is a sleeping giant’and one that I am very excited to wake up.

I was fortunate to be introduced to the Old Shebbearians’ Association Committee not long after I started as Receptionist at Shebbear and ‘fell into’ helping with the admin side of the committee. What struck me most was, although now geographically far from Shebbear it remains close to their hearts. Always keen to know what is happening and the first people I go to for help and advice on what Old Shebbearians want from their old school.

The following year I found myself as a guest at the Annual Reunion Dinner, among the sea of OS ties (nothing makes me happier than seeing a Shebbearian tie!). Older, younger, local, international, all effortlessly chatting. Whether they were in the same year at school or didn’t even attend in the same decade, conversation doesn’t falter. There will be plenty more events, sporting and social, to come but I hope that the London dinner, a tradition since 1908, will continue long into the future. Reading through early Shebbearian Magazines these dinners were attended by over 100 OS, and we managed to hit triple digits again this year! Those who know me will know that it is a personal goal of mine to keep attendee numbers rising with each year!

It is fantastic to be in this newly created role, whilst also remaining as the College Receptionist which enables me to truly be at the heart of school life. I am so looking forward to building on the relationships I already have with many Old Shebbearians and making lots of new ones. The door to Reception is always open!

Amy Bernstone Development and Alumni Coordinator

OLD SHEBBEARIANS’ ASSOCIATION

A word from the OSA President

Jamie

Sanders

I am delighted to be able to write and comment on some of the latest updates and achievements from the Shebbearian community over this last year.

My time in office started in January ‘24, and I would like to thank the past president Oliver Sinden and the OSA committee for their outstanding work to keep us all connected and continue to offer support the college and its pupils.

This year has been filled with success, support, and exciting developments that continue to strengthen our bonds, through which we can celebrate our shared history.

As we reflect on our rich heritage, it is appropriate to acknowledge the War Memorial Fund which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. This milestone is significant, and the fund continues to support individual students within the college. In addition to this fund, others give generously to support our wider student body and certain initiatives within the school development plan. Your contributions, whether through donations, mentorship, or volunteering, have made a significant impact on the lives of Shebbearians. A recent example of this type of generosity is that the college welcomed another exciting young cricketing talent from Barbados in 2024. This was made possible by donations from OSA members. All support is invaluable, and we are truly grateful for your continued commitment to the whole school community.

In addition to the milestones and achievements mentioned earlier, we have seen remarkable progress and exciting developments within our community. From the outstanding sporting achievements of our students (one of which – a clip of Alfie at the Rosslyn Park Sevens - received over 60,000 likes on SportBible, TikTok and Instagram!) to the success of cultural performances like the school production of Les Misérables, the spirit of excellence and camaraderie continues to thrive at Shebbear College.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Sixth Form Rounsefell Dinner at the start of the year for this year’s U6 leavers. The college has once again shaped an outstanding group of young individuals, armed with character and confidence and who seem ready to take on the world. I wish them all the best in their endeavours and look forward to hearing about their next steps at one of our local OSA events or seeing them dressed in gowns and OSA ties (or one of the new OSA bow ties!) at the next dinner in London.

One of the highlights of the OSA calendar is the well-attended reunion dinner held at the prestigious RAF club in London. It was a delightful evening filled with laughter, shared memories and the rekindling of old friendships. The event was a testament to the strong bond that exists among our alumni and the enduring connections forged during our time at Shebbear College. Much loved Prep School Art Teacher, Dixie Appleton-Wahl was the invited staff guest in 2024, and Dixie was thanked for her outstanding commitment to the pupils she has taught. We would like to encourage other members of staff, past or present, who wish to attend to please get in touch. We are very grateful to the all the staff (including many OSA staff) who work tirelessly for the college. As we look to the future with optimism and excitement, the OSA remains committed to fostering strong connections, supporting our college, and inspiring the next generation of Shebbearians. Whether your support is through many of the social or sporting events, by visiting the college to speak to the students, or by making donations to pupil focused college initiatives, together, we can continue to uphold the values and traditions that define us as Shebbearians.

There is no doubt that Inspired Learning Group’s acquisition of the college will bring new opportunities and innovations that will shape a bright future for Shebbear College, providing a commitment to a world-class education and ensuring the success and well-being of our students. As OSA, we look forward to continuing to work together with ILG for the college, students, staff and the wider community.

Finally, I am delighted to see that membership of the OSA is growing exponentially as more and more people are wanting to maintain contact with the school. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey and for your continued support to all those involved with Shebbear College.

Warm regards,

Jamie Sanders President, Old Shebbearians’ Association

If anyone would like to find out more about the work of the OSA or to get involved with anything that has been mentioned, please do so by contacting abernstone@shebbearcollege.co.uk or by following links on social media.

Old Shebbearian Michael Footitt

Class of 2008 2003-2008

Thorne

Old Shebbearian and Airline Pilot, Michael Footitt, spoke to us about his memories of school and what he’s been up to since.

How was your time at Shebbear College?

My time at Shebbear was great, I loved everything! Of course, I had my various ups and downs with school life and after leaving I felt a sense of lack of routine, it was my whole life at the time and I needed to find something better to replace it. Even today, I look back and reminisce!

What memories do you have from school?

My best memory is when I became Headmaster for the day towards the end of my time at Shebbear - I had a great day with Mr Barnes, Head at the time. I won the opportunity at a charity auction for children in need back in 2008. The feeling that for 1 day only the tables were turned, the teachers had to listen to me, what could possibly go wrong!

What did you go on to do after leaving Shebbear?

After leaving I started working for myself, then becoming the youngest elected district Councilor in the country at Torridge District Council and doing various jobs until the time was right to start my career. Back in 2008/2009 the economic downturn changed my current industry so I had to go out and work before starting training.

What are you doing now?

Currently, I’m a First Officer / Airline Pilot at Jet2, having previously worked for another Airline. I am flying all over Europe. It’s been my dream job since being in school and I love being at work, in fact I don’t really count it as work! Who knew I would be paid to look out the window!

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I own a flight school. Helping to train people with no experience to be an Airline Pilot like myself. I pride myself on offering this at the cheapest cost in the UKso for anyone interested in some free Aviation career advice as a fellow Shebbearian they are more than welcome to get in contact and I’ll give them free unbiased advice on how to enter the industry! My website is www.flyfair.co.uk

Any future plans?

For now my future plans involve growing the flight school, becoming a captain and living a peaceful and drama-free life, I can imagine some of my old teachers will laugh at this thought, but life is too short!

What advice would you give to current Shebbearians?

When you leave Shebbear the world is your oyster, find what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life! Life will throw you lots of ups and downs, and the experiences you have experienced at Shebbear will help you greatly but there’s always more to learn. Knowledge is power!

Old Shebbearian Eloise Maxa

Eloise has coached at Hatherleigh Cricket Club since their All Stars programme started five years ago, having taken her Foundation I and Core Coach qualifications during this time and has also helped to run one of the ‘Wicketz’ hubs in Plymouth.

Class of 2017

Old Shebbearian Eloise Maxa, Class of 2017, has had a successful year, having been awarded both the ECB Young Coach of the Year award 2023, and The National ECB award for one of 23 Inspirational Women in Cricket in January 2024.

She also took part in coaching Youth Development Cricket (YDC), to both boys and girls, which led to her being the coach for the YDC Under 11 Girls at Hatherleigh. In addition she has delivered the club’s Secondary School Girl’s Summer Coaching Programme for the past two years, running a six-week programme of cricket aimed at girls who had little or no knowledge of the game and often in some challenging schools, as well as coaching in the pathway programme.

These incredible achievements have led to Eloise being awarded the Young Coach of the Year for 2023, which was followed in January 2024 with another award, when she was recognised in the Women in Cricket Employee Network’s (WCEN) Inspirational Women of 2023.

Class of ’74 – The 50th Anniversary

On Saturday 27th April, the class of 1974 met at Shebbear to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our venturing our into the big wide world. Listening to the stories from those distant days as we walked around the school grounds, I could not help but think of L P Hartley’s famous quote:

‘The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there’.

It was a real pleasure to share the memories of that foreign country with some of the characters who shared them - who made them. It was real pleasure too, to be guided around the college by our wonderful hosts, the Headmaster, Charlie Jenkins and the Development and Alumni Coordinator, Amy Bernstone.

There were only a few of us from that class of ’74 who could make the assigned date and we were joined by some of the class above and below us. Once we had got through the embarrassing moments of trying to recognise the faces in front of us – I hadn’t seen Al Rushmore for all of those 50 years - we put aside the grudges born in those rugby House matches and the dormitories of old and stood in awe in the magnificent new buildings that have risen up over those 50 years. Actually, the grudges are still there but mainly because the Ruddle and Thorne boys’ memories have faded quite badly and they seemed unable to remember the superiority of Pollard House in that era.

The day began for us down at the Devil’s Stone Inn. Memories of the old village came flooding back including a shared interest, if I can call it that, of one or two of the

local village girls. After a lovely lunch at the pub, it was quite a shock, as we entered the school grounds, to find that there were actually girls on the school grounds. We used to have to travel into Bideford to get a sight of such things. We did wonder how the boys today manage to concentrate on their studies. Perhaps it’s different today.

So many memories then, as we walked the grounds and explored the buildings, old and new. For me, this was my home as well as my school and I could wander for hours and stand beside a tree I once climbed, in the empty space where the old gym once stood or beside the Sports Hall that I helped Stacey’s Builders to build. For others, there were some helpful boards on the wall to remind us of those bygone days - We had two former School Captains in our ensemble; Nick Smale and Ian Bowes.

A special ‘thank you’ to Nick and to Geoff Holder, who have done so much to keep the class of 74 connected over the years and who organised this great occasion.

We discussed life in the dormitories, getting in trouble with the teachers and other stories as we walked and then shared tea and biscuits in the dining room – on the same table and benches that we sat on half a century ago! The memories may be different for each of us –with both highs and lows - but what was clear, was that we had all been shaped and coloured by the Shebbear experience. There was, even after 50 years, a sense of belonging, of shared experience and camaraderie.

The day finished as it began, in a local pub as the group headed off to the Half Moon in Sheepwash for an evening meal.

Ad Gloriam per Spinas. To Glory Through Thorns – and all those who have shaped this special school in the heart of the beautiful North Devon countryside. Long may it prosper and deliver a special education to those who follow in our footsteps.

Attendees:

Mike Searle

Viv Steer

Ian Bowes

Al Rushmoor

Paul Wilby

Geoff Holder

Pete Danby

Pete Southcott

Herb Medland

Brian Adams

Graham Yeo

Charlie Down

Sy Wakatama

Nick Smale

Old Shebbearian Cameron Burnett

Class of 2014

Cameron Burnett has been awarded a PhD in Immunology and Immunotherapy from Birmingham University. He is now a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Immunity and Cancer Lab at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

CRICKET

OSA v OLA

SUNDAY 9th JUNE 2024

On Sunday 9th June, a mix of Old Shebbearians and current pupils hosted the Old Luctonians Association for a cricket match! The game was played in the best of spirits by all and ended in a draw with both sides scoring 137 from their 25 overs. It was great to see current pupils playing alongside members of our OSA.

“Thank you for your kind hospitality last Sunday, when us Old Luctonians rocked up to your beautiful School to play cricket. Not only were we treated to a lovely lunch but shared in an exciting game, a privilege for our team to play on such an elegant ground. The teams were evenly matched and balanced allowing the younger players on both side to excel. It was the highlight of our weekend - thank you!’

John Russell OLA Secretary

CRICKET

OSA XI v College 1st XI

SATURDAY

20th APRIL 2024

After planning to hold the annual cricket match on the astro following a long run of wet weather in Shebbear, the decision was made on Friday that it would be possible to prepare a wicket on Beckly Field and, thanks to Michael the groundsman, the 25-over match went ahead on grass.

The College put the OSA in to bat first on what was understandably a slow, damp wicket and so it was surprising to all to see Edd Jones(52) and Dave Watkins(40) put on over 100 before the first wicket fell. Several more followed quite quickly and the College did well to restrict the OSA to a final total of 147-6.

Unfortunately, the College lost last year’s man of the match Alfie Sealey earlier than they would have liked and despite excellent innings from Bajan opener Charlie Wood (47) (playing his first game in English conditions) and skipper Toby Shepherd-Blandy (28), the College were bowled out in the last over for 120. Jack Horwell took 4-7 in his five overs but man of the match went to Edd Jones for his 50 and 2-13.

It was a well contested match played in a great spirit and quite remarkable sunny conditions and we look forward to another close encounter next year.

Andy Bryan OSA Secretary

2024 OSA REUNION DINNER

More than 100 Old Shebbearians and guests attended the Annual Dinner at the RAF Club on Saturday 3rd February and a thoroughly enjoyable occasion it was for all who were there.

After enjoying their meal, everyone listened to some lively and, at times, amusing speeches from President, Oliver Sinden, the Head, Charlie Jenkins, Head Boy and Head of Ruddle, George and Toby and then finally, Ted Trott who responded on behalf of the OSA.

Before everyone retired to the bar to continue catching up with school friends, an auction, run by Lester Bird, and offering lots which included tickets to an Exeter Chiefs match, a signed shirt from Bath Rugby Club, a 4-night stay at a holiday chalet, a one night stay including dinner at The Devil’s Stone Inn, as well as two bottles of quality alcohol – all very kindly donated by Old Shebbearians, parents and local businesses - raised an incredible £1500 which will go into the fund to support young cricketers coming to Shebbear from Barbados.

Everyone is already looking forward to next year’s event to be held on Saturday 8th February 2025.

2024 REUNION DINNER ATTENDEES

Peter Gartrell 1957-1962

Philip Daniel 1958-1966

Christopher Head 1958-1965

Mike Tucker 1959-1967

James Hancock 1962-1967

Chris Blencowe 1961-1968

Paul Sanders 1964-1970

Ian Bowes 1967-1973

Simon Birks 1968-1975

Michael Down 1968-1973

Richard Woolf 1973-1978

Lester Bird 1975-1980

Chris Heard 1978-1983

Sam Rossiter-Stead 1980-1985

Robert Priest 1982-1987

Paul Lockyer 1988-1995

Peter Hughes 1988-1995

Edward Lott 1987-1994

Becky Hayden 1991-1993

Kirsty Ellson 1991-1995

Rob Edmondson 1990-1997

Russell Buley (Headmaster) 1983-1997

Timothy Ley 1992-1999

Joanna Conway 1996-1998

Chris Hale 1994 -2002

Edd Jones 1995-2002

Dale Snowdon 1995-2002

Kieron Bryan 1995-2002

Benjamin Welby 1995-2002

Dexter Barnes 1995-2002

Jamie Sanders 1996-2001

Oliver Wickett 1996-2003

Penny Wallace 1996-2003

Kathy Jeffery 1996-2003

Shelley Snowdon 1996-2003

Kate Giles 1996-2003

Rebecca Sadler-Smith 1997-2005

Cameron Burnett 2000-2014

Tristan Medlicott 2002-2011

Hannah Welby 2001-2010

Sarah Kneebone 2003-2010

Jackie Curtis 2003-2010

Portia Light 2002-2010

Matthew Prowse 2004-2013

Catherine Kortarski 2010-2014

Saskia Weale 2012-2014

Francesca Traxton 2012-2014

Ailis Prowse 2008-2015

Sam Westlake 2010-2015

Katie Harris 2009 -2016

Eva Knoche 2016-2016

Annie Westlake 2013-2016

Riou Thomas 2012-2016

William Murch 20 -2016

Ellie Bird 2010-2017

Lucy Taylor 2008-2017

Ru Mills 2008-2017

Madeleine Traxton 2012-2018

Ted Trott 2015-2018

Jabez Weale 2013-2018

Oliver Arden 2013-2018

Ben Parker 2004-2016

Helen Dalton 2007-2018

Angus Cunningham 2011-2018

Stanley Hill 2011-2018

Spencer Quance 2011-2018

Guests

Charlie Jenkins - Head

Dixie Appleton-Wahl

George Heard - Head of School

Toby Shephard-Blandy - Head of Ruddle House

President Oliver Sinden

Secretaries

Andy Bryan

Amy Bernstone

Will Balkwill-Western 2011-2018

Robert Temple 2011-2018

Elizabeth Patrick 2016-2018

Patrick Faulkner 2005-2018

Sophie Gillies 2010-2018

Kitty Scambler 2007-2019

Holly Nancekivell 2012-2019

Lachlan Young 2011-2019

Merryn Alderson 2012-2019

Toby Trott 2015-2019

Eloise Saggers 2013-2020

Eddie Hill 2013-2020

Anna Walter 2013-2020

Jess Biggs 2013-2020

Amy Taylor 2008-2020

Olivia Rolls 2006-2020

Harriet Allin 2013-2020

Sophie Temple 2015-2020

Timothy Parker 2007-2020

Archie Boycott 2009-2021

Samuel Odlin 2014-2021

Fin Irish 2014-2021

Harrison Mitchell 2013-2022

Michael Ritzen 2015-2022

Bella Richards 2016-2022

Mitzi Irish 2016-2023

Niamh Shaw 2015-2023

Charlotte Odlin 2016-2023

Roy Poon 2016-2023

Erin Grey 2021-2023

Jack Hancock 2021-2023

Yasmin Bunker 2021-2023

2024 OSA REUNION DINNER

OBITUARIES OBITUARIES Remembering Roy Knapman

The funeral of Roy Knapman was followed by a service of thanksgiving at All Saints Church, Castle Cary, Somerset, on Wednesday 3rd April 2024. Over 180 people attended the service, to celebrate Roy’s life as a teacher and friend to so many.

Roy was born in Okehampton on 16th May 1929, the son of local butcher and abattoir owner, Albany, and his wife Eva. Roy had a brother, Seth and two sisters, Margaret and Audrey, along with numerous cousins and other family members in the Methodist farming community around Okehampton and the surrounding villages.

Roy was a pupil at the College during the Second World War and recalled hearing his headmaster reading in Chapel the names of pupils killed in action. He travelled to College by train, and had a clear memory of those journeys, including throwing light bulbs from the moving train over the local viaduct! He was not a born academic, but he was encouraged by his tutors to read voraciously throughout his school years. Roy excelled at sport, including playing for the 1st XV rugby, and this built into a passion for coaching, benefitting many generations of his pupils and keeping him fit well into his 90’s. He was also a talented musician and sang in numerous choirs, including with the Royal Choral Society under Sir Malcolm Sargent.

Although too young to serve in the war, Roy completed National Service, and on returning to Devon was encouraged by his cousin Guy Wright, himself teaching at the College at the time, to consider returning in a junior teaching role. Roy once more immersed himself in College life, and the teaching experience he gained was the key to a long and successful career. After a year at College, Roy trained as a Physical Education teacher at St Luke’s in Exeter, followed by the prestigious Carnegie College in Leeds. He went on to teach in Berkhamsted (where he met his wife of 66 years, Shirley), Birmingham, and finally for 28 years as a housemaster at Sexey’s School in Bruton, Somerset.

Roy never lost his love for the Devon countryside and for his roots in Okehampton and the area, and he would return to his Devon dialect with minimal encouragement. Shebbear made a lasting impact, and despite the scourge of Alzheimer’s in his latter years, he would happily sing the College song, in Latin, to the end.