Up Front

Music For Ukraine

Taunton School music scholar Anthony Knight raising funds for refugees.

See page 16

New Head

Maida Vale School (MVS) has a new Head Teacher from April, when Magnus Bashaarat takes over at the London co-ed Senior. A former Head of Milton Abbey and Bedales, Bashaarat also held leadership roles at Stowe and Eton. He read English at Edinburgh and was a journalist before moving into teaching. He is a governor of Winchester University and a keen sportsman.

Music fundraiser

Taunton School music scholar Anthony Knight, 16, received a county award from the High Sheriff of Somerset Jennifer Duke a er raising over £6,000 for the Ukraine Appeal by playing violin recitals at 27 churches. He says: “It has been a wonderful experience travelling around Somerset and meeting lots of interesting people. Everyone has been so generous”.

School merger

St Dunstan’s College and Rosemead Prep have merged. St Dunstan’s Head Nick Hewlett says: “The merger will be a wonderful opportunity for our two schools, one set in the heart of Catford and the second in the heart of Dulwich, to work closer together, learning from one another and enhancing our students’ educational journeys”.

Fashion Forward

Heathfi eld School has agreed a collaboration with Parsons Paris. “This exciting collaboration will benefit art and design students in a variety of ways, including the creation of extra-curricular and scholarship opportunities,” says the Ascot school’s Headmistress Sarah Wilson.

Suffolk Arrival

James Large becomes Head of Old Buckenham Hall School, Suffolk from September. Large grew up in the county and joins OBH from Norwich School, where he has spent the past 13 years. “I am excited to begin a new chapter at Brettenham Park with my wife, Harriet, and our son, Albie,” he says.

Bromley's big birthday

Bromley High School

GDST celebrated its 140th birthday in January. Junior School pupils dressed up as notable females, and other celebrations so far have included a House A ernoon Tea party and a gala concert at the Royal Academy of Music. All pupils have pledged 140 minutes of their time volunteering in the local community.

Farming folk

Pupils at The Downs Malvern are welcoming a new cohort, thanks to Headteacher Andy Nuttall’s initiative. The prep will soon be home to rare breed pigs and will ‘babysit’ sheep from a neighbouring farm. There are also plans to add geese and guinea fowl to the existing fl ock.

Dance Off

Some 200 pupils took to the stage for Dauntsey’s Lower School Dance Show, around the theme of ‘Legends’. The performances showcased genres including classical, street and contemporary. Highlights included an upbeat dance to ‘Another one bites the dust’, a playful tribute to the Royal Family and a slickly choreographed performance to ‘Beat It’.

Game On

Professor Bobbie Fletcher, Academic Director at the College of Esports, was guest of honour at the opening of DLD College London’s Esports suite, The Dragons Den . The suite is for the school’s BTEC Esport – a world fi rst and developed in partnership with the British Esports Association and industry employers.

Cricket Vision

Merchant Taylors has begun construction of its Julian Hill Cricket Centre, named in memory of an old boy. The facility will be for the school and wider community, including Middlesex CCC and Sunrisers, and will include bowling lanes, a fi elding area, video analysis equipment and event spaces.

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ROCKIN’ THE BOAT

Francis Holland School pupils performed two sell-out performances of Guys and Dolls at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith at the end of January. Featuring a cast of over 80 girls from Years 7-13, the fresh take on the classic Broadway musical received standing ovations and applause that lasted long a er the cast had taken their bows.

Top table

Tonbridge has been named as among the best schools in the country in a new set of ‘Parent Power’ league tables published by The Sunday Times . The tables are based on A-level and GCSE results from 2022, with Tonbridge ranked eighth in the national rankings for independent senior schools, and third top overall in the south-east.

Conservatoire Place

King’s Ely student Lauren Peck has been awarded a scholarship at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A gi ed saxophonist, she also plays clarinet, fl ute and piano. She joined King’s Ely at Sixth Form and is Joint Head of Concert Band, a member of Saxophone Quartet, Jazz Band, Orchestra and three choirs. She is also involved with Aldeburgh Young Musicians.

Local Fundraiser

Students at St Columba’s College have raised £1,000 for Youth Talk, which provides counselling in the St Albans area. CEO David Barker attended a Mass service at the school to receive the cheque. The funds raised will provide more free and confi dential sessions for people aged 13-25.

New role

Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools

(Habs) has appointed Gus Lock as Executive Principal across its two schools. As Head of Habs Boys since 2018, he has helped lead its ten-year plan focused on opportunities afforded by the schools’ proximity. Head of Habs Girls Rose Hardy takes up a new role at the John Lyon School in September.

Top Story

Online school

Charterhouse Online is offering A levels in one year. It is aimed at students who might want to make better use of time – for instance for a gap year – and those who decide to change direction or gather extra qualifi cations. The one-year approach is to blend daily live lessons, subject clinics and tutorials. charterhouseonline.co.uk

Natural Pathway

Eastbourne College has announced it will offer Natural History GCSE from 2025. As a member of the OCR Natural History advisory board, Eastbourne is among the fi rst schools in the country to set out its plans. “We hope this GCSE will enable pupils to gain a richer understanding of wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems,” says Headmaster Tom Lawson.

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Online Move

Mark Edwards, Deputy Head (Academic) at Dragon School will join Minerva in August. Chief Executive Hugh Viney says this is a landmark moment for the school, which has pupils from 35 countries. “I’ve been steadfast in our commitment to bringing the best talent to Minerva’s Virtual Academy. Mark’s appointment is another sign of this intent.”

Garden heroes

The RHS has launched its school gardening competition, with the charity hoping to uncover the nation’s green-fingered heroes. Schools can nominate the RHS Gardening Team and Gardening Champion of the Year. Judges include George Hassall, RHS Young Ambassador and a former Young School Gardener of the Year. schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

Family show

Maths Fun

Kew Green Prep held its annual Maths Week recently, with Lower and Upper School Countdown Competitions at the end of the week where pupils answered maths questions in front of peers. Fun activities included 3D pyramid building and hunting for secret treasure in Smart Town. There were also problem-solving trails and times table challenges.

Happy Dance

The International School of London held a celebration of the Chinese New Year, marking the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. Students watched a performance of traditional Chinese singing and dancing, culminating in a Chinese lion dance. They were handed red envelopes symbolising good wishes and happiness.

It was showtime at St Benedict’s School’s with a triumphant three-night run of The Addams Family in early February. The ghoulish Beineke family and even weirder ancestors were brilliantly brought to life by the cast and backstage team. The show was produced by Head of Drama Mark Randall, and with musical direction by Assistant Director of Music Amy John.

Tennis Stars

Two Year 11 pupils at The Leys, Cambridge have joined the U16 Top 100 Tennis Players rankings. Marton H and Jack S are placed 30th and 93rd respectively. Each boy has played around 200 games, travelling around the country most weekends. Both pupils aspire to head on to US universities in order to turn pro.

Sky Fall

Hanford pupils were avid watchers of the only children’s team in this year’s national Indoor Skydiving Championships, as their Year 7 classmate Rachel was a member of the four-strong Mini Jets. The flying foursome performed brilliantly and have made it through to the International Championships in Slovakia. Rachel’s next goal is to learn to skydive upside down.

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