Sport

U18 Girls (top right) were National Tier 3 Plate runners-up

U16 Girls (below) reached the National Tier 1 Cup semi-finals

U14 Girls were County champions and East runners-up

U13 Girls were County champions

U12 Girls were County champions and East champions

U14 Boys (bottom right) were County champions, East champions and fourth at the National Finals

U13 Boys were County champions

U12 Boys were County champions and East runners-up

Elliott Kirkpatrick (Year 10) was selected for the initial assessment stage for the England U16 boys’ squad, which will take place in autumn 2022, following his performance in the England Hockey U15 Performance Centre Challenge (PCC) Cup.

Fellow Perse pupils Jude Nathan, Theo Hofer, Millie Ely (all Year 10), Ethan Smythe, Henry Denny-Gouldson, Rosabel Clarke and Verity Valentine (all Year 9) also featured in the U15 PCC Cup.

Jack Moffat, Marc Rocca, James Goodricke, Laurie SimpsonBiles, Xanthe Farman, May Busher and Charlotte Rye (all Year 11) played in the U17 PCC Cup. Jack Moffat, Laurie Simpson-Biles (both Year 11), Theo Hofer, Elliott Kirkpatrick (both Year 10), Henry Denny-Gouldson, Ethan Smythe (both Year 9) and Thomas Goldsmith (Year 8) all earned places in England Hockey boys’ regional performance centre squads.

Holly Smith, May Busher, Charlotte Rye (all Year 11), Jean MacDonald, Isabelle Whichello and Millie Ely (all Year 10) all earned places in England Hockey girls’ regional performance centre squads.

U16 Boys (left) were County champions, East champions and seventh at the National Finals

U18 Boys were County champions

U16 Girls were County champions

U18 Girls were County champions

U16 team (right) were County runners-up, East runners-up and reached the National Finals. They also won the Team of the Year honour at the Cambridgeshire County Netball Association annual awards, having also enjoyed an unbeaten regular season outside of championship competition.

U14 team were County runners-up and reached the East finals.

Madeleine Brooking (Upper Sixth) was selected for Vitality Superleague side Saracens Mavericks’ U19 squad and represented them in the National Performance League.

Emily Hiscock (Lower Sixth), Izzy Rumsby (Year 11) and Isabel Smith (Year 10) were selected for the Mavericks’ Cambridgeshire Futures Academy.

Bella Howarth (Lower Sixth) was selected for the Futures Academy of Superleague club London Pulse.

Madeleine Brooking (left) and Bella Howarth

Sasha, who represented the Roses from 2007 to 2018, provided an inspiring training session for the 1st VII and U16 A squads during her visit to The Perse.

Perse netball coach Millie Diss arranged the session, having previously worked alongside Sasha while coaching with Vitality Superleague side Saracens Mavericks, and felt her “charisma and personality” would give the players a pre-season boost.

The Mavericks captain worked on basic ball handling skills to get the girls back in the swing of things before moving on to developing their defensive and team communication techniques.

She continued the theme of working as a unit with team drills aimed at getting the ball through the court, as well as tactical set plays for centre passes, before watching them put everything together in matches.

Sasha rounded off her visit with some inspirational words for the players about her own netball journey before posing for photos and signing autographs.

Miss Diss said: “All in all, it was an incredible experience for everyone involved and one we would love to repeat should the opportunity ever arise again.”

1st XI Boys drew their annual fixture with the MCC. Elliott Kirkpatrick (Year 10) scored 90 as The Perse scored 189 for 9 in reply to the MCC’s total of 218.

U15 Girls (above left) reached the School Sport T20 Cup national quarter-finals and were County champions in the Lady Taverners indoor competition.

U13 Girls (above right) were County champions in the Lady Taverners indoor competition.

Bella Howarth (Lower Sixth) was selected for elite women’s side Lightning’s Academy squad. She also played for Essex women’s 1st XI.

Lulu Harding (Year 10) was selected for the Emerging Players programme with Eastern Sunrisers, the ECB Eastern Regional Development Centre for Girls. Aditya Datta (Year 10) was selected for the Cambridgeshire Emerging Players programme.

Centuries were scored this year by Freddie Doel (Year 11) and Elliott Kirkpatrick (Year 10).

Fifties were scored this year by Benjamin Floto (Upper Sixth), Alex Cross, Sachin Nagadev, Bella Howarth (all Lower Sixth), May Busher (Year 11), Thomas Graham, Isabelle Whichello (both Year 10), Teddie Clifton (Year 9), Jonny Rumsby, Christopher Smith and Alexi Demetriou-Foale (all Year 8).

Pushan Chakraborty (Lower Sixth) took a five-wicket haul for the 1st XI against Durham School at the Merchant Taylors’ School Festival.

U15 team reached the National Schools Plate semi-finals.

1st XV reached the fifth round of the National Schools Vase.

Yujian Zou (Upper Sixth) and Harry Purvis (Year 11) made their debuts for Northampton Saints U18 and U16 Academy teams respectively. Harry also captained the U16 team in a match against Harlequins Academy.

1st XV captain Charlie Underwood (Upper Sixth) made his debut for IQ (Irish Qualified) Rugby U18 team in a 10-7 win over the Lambs – the England Independent Schools representative team.

Harry Purvis (left) and Yujian Zou

Jonny Cross (Year 10) won the U14 boys’ doubles and was runner-up in the U14 boys’ singles at the Tennis Europe Liverpool Junior International.

U18 Boys (right) reached the regional final of the Glanville Cup (national U18 team competition).

Gabriella Zailer-Fletcher (Year 11) was selected for the Cambridgeshire ladies’ team.

Laura Burton (Upper Sixth, left) was called up to the Great Britain U19 squad following a successful trial.

She made her GB debut at the Munich International Regatta, where she won Silver with her crew in the women’s quadruple sculls in a time of 7min 09.88sec and won the B final in the women’s single sculls in a time of 8.29:39, almost eight seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

Laura went on to win Bronze in the women’s quad event as part of the GB crew (below) at the World U19 Championships in Varese, Italy, finishing in a time of 6min 33.54 sec.

Lauren Caley (Lower Sixth) represented The Perse in the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) National InterCounty Show Jumping Championships at Hickstead.

She made it to the finals on board her pony Comeytrowe Dione after being the highest-placed Cambridgeshire rider at the Tri-County qualifying competition.

Jasmine Christmas (Year 7, above) won Gold in the U12 girls’ 1,500m in a time of 4min 55.18sec

Noah Karat (Year 8, top right) won Bronze in the U14 boys’ 100m in a time of 12.16sec

Elodie Bowen-Sanders (Year 8) qualified for the National Finals in the U14 girls’ shot put

Isaac Rothwell (Lower Sixth, right) won Bronze in the boys’ 1,500m at the 2021 National Finals

The Intermediate Boys, Intermediate Girls, Junior Boys and Junior Girls teams all reached the East Anglia finals.

Tom Meadows (Year 10) – Intermediate Boys, 42 points (25 in hurdles)

Noah Karat (Year 8) – Junior Boys, 40 points (26 in 100m)

Samay Sanglikar (Year 8) – Junior Boys, 40 points

Verity Valentine (Year 9) – Intermediate Girls, 30 points in 1,500m

Jasmine Christmas (Year 7) – Junior Girls, 30 points in 1,500m

The Perse team, featuring pupils from Years 7 to 10, won the overall event in the local schools competition.

Toby Carroll (Year 10) won Gold in boys’ U17 hammer and Silver in high jump and discus

Maya Vandermark (Lower Sixth) won Gold in women’s U20 shot put and Silver in 400m

Ianthe Carr (Year 9) won Silver in girls’ U15 shot put and javelin and Bronze in 75m hurdles

George Christmas (Year 10) won Silver in boys’ U17 1,500m

Sophie Higgins (Year 9) won Silver in girls’ U15 long jump

Marcus Wentzell (Year 10) won Bronze in boys’ U17 long jump

Edward Taylor (Year 9) won Bronze in boys’ U15 javelin

Zara Osei (Year 9) won Bronze in girls’ U15 100m

Holly Webb (Lower Sixth) qualified to represent Great Britain in the women’s U19 sprint triathlon event at the European Triathlon Championships in Munich.

She also finished runner-up in the junior female category at the Long Course Weekend in Tenby with a time of 4hr 00min 44sec. The competition featured a 2km sea swim, 65km bike ride and 10km run, with Holly winning the swimming section in her category in a time of 35min 46sec.

Junior Girls (U13, above) were County champions, East Central champions and came 12th in the National Finals

Verity Valentine (Year 9, above left) was Cambridge & District champion, Cambridgeshire champion and Anglian junior girls’ champion

Jasmine Christmas (Year 7, above right) was Cambridge & District champion, Cambridgeshire champion and Anglian minor girls’ champion

Isaac Rothwell (Lower Sixth) came third in the senior boys’ category at the Anglian finals

Isaac Rothwell, Rebecca West (both Lower Sixth), George Christmas (Year 10) and Verity Valentine (Year 9) were selected to represent Cambridgeshire in the National Finals

Intermediate Girls (U15) were County champions and came seventh in the East Central finals

Senior Girls (U17) were County champions and came sixth in the East Central finals

Isaac Rothwell (Lower Sixth) helped his Cambridge & Coleridge team to Gold in the U17 boys’ event at the National Finals

Senior Boys (U17) were County champions and came fourth in the East Central finals

Intermediate Boys (U15) were County runners-up and seventh in the East Central finals

Daniel Zailer-Fletcher (Lower Sixth) was runner-up in the men’s U20 category in the 2021 edition and third in the 2022 event, the latter with a personal best of 1hr 17min 25sec

The Year 10 boys’ team of Marcus Wentzell, James Roskilly and Jamie Kruppa (Year 9) won Silver in their year group category at the British Schools Orienteering Championships. The Year 9 girls’ team of Hebe Darwin and Isabelle Hunter won Silver in their year group section at the British Schools Orienteering Championships. Hebe also won individual Bronze.

Edward Shelley (Upper Sixth), Alysha Djamarani and Alexandra Mackie (both Year 9) were presented with their first-degree black belts after successfully completing a rigorous four-hour exam in which they had to demonstrate every kick, pattern and technique from the lowest white belt level upwards. The assessment also tested their sparring, self-defence and leadership skills as well as their knowledge of the theory and terminology of the Korean martial art.

The Perse team of Will McKernan (Lower Sixth), Maya Mahadeva (Year 10) and Harry Howell (Year 9) reached the ISGA (Independent Schools Golf Association) National Plate Finals.

The Perse team (below) of Will McKernan (Lower Sixth), Harry Howell and Alexander Mills (both Year 9) were runners-up in the team event at the ISGA HG Trophy strokeplay competition. Will was fourth overall in the individual standings, while Harry won his age group.

Will McKernan (Lower Sixth, above) qualified for the Junior European Open in Cadiz, Spain, and finished 29th out of a field of almost 100 golfers. He was also part of the Cambridgeshire team that won the Midlands Championships and qualified for the English Championships. Will also finished eighth in the individual placings.

Harry Howell (Year 9) was runner-up in the boys’ U14 category at the US Kids Golf European Championships in Scotland.

Charlotte Hipperson (Year 11) took part in the British Fencing Youth Championships girls’ U16 foil finals after qualifying in fifth place from the East finals.

Will Bacon (Upper Sixth) and Liliana French (Lower Sixth) were senior pairs champions, with Eleanor Brinsden (Lower Sixth) and Fleur Christmas (Upper Sixth), and Ewan Smith (Upper Sixth) and Cara Hollis (Lower Sixth) coming fourth and eighth respectively.

Will Bacon and Eleanor Brinsden were third and ninth respectively in the individual event, while Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa (Year 9) was runner-up in her age group category.

Will Bacon, Eleanor Brinsden, Liliana French and Fleur Christmas were third in the fours event.

The Perse team of Will Bacon, Fleur Christmas, Ewan Smith (all Upper Sixth), Liliana French, Eleanor Brinsden, Cara Hollis, Eos Liao and William Smith (all Lower sixth) were runners-up in the eights competition.

Will Bacon, Liliana French, Eleanor Brinsden and Fleur Christmas were third in the fours event.

Will Bacon came eighth in the individual event and was third in his age group category. Fleur Christmas was third in her age group section, while Carla Campos Zanotti Gerosa and Maia Polonius (both Year 9) were runner-up and third respectively in their age group.

Will Bacon and Liliana French came eighth in the senior pairs competition.

Liliana French (Lower Sixth) and Will Bacon (Upper Sixth) were named in the England A team for the British Schools Small-bore Rifle Association National Match.

Cara Hollis (Lower Sixth) was selected for England B, while Eleanor Brinsden (Lower Sixth) and Fleur Christmas (Upper Sixth) were picked for England C and Eos Liao and Miles Cobley (both Lower Sixth) for England D.

Lynden Long (Year 7) led Norwich City’s U12 team to glory against some of the biggest clubs in football at a major endof-season tournament.

As well as captaining the Canaries to the YSE Champions Cup title, Lynden was top scorer for his side with six goals in the six-a-side competition in London, which featured age group teams from top European clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus and Marseille.

Lynden helped Norwich knock out Barcelona, who have one of the world’s leading youth academies, in the quarterfinals before eventually going on to beat Birmingham City in the final.

Danna Wang (Year 7) displayed plenty of style on the slopes during a successful skiing season.

Aged 12, she often came up against older and more experienced skiers in the U14 girls’ category of indoor and dry slope competitions.

Despite this, she won the British Independent Schools indoor title and came third in the NSSA (National Schools Snowsports Association) Indoor Championships.

Danna also came fourth in the British Schools Indoor Open and 10th in the NSSA UK Outdoor Open on the dry slope at Swadlincote.

Lina Opel (Year 7) slid her way to success on the curling rink this year.

Lina partnered her father Michael – an England senior international - as they won Bronze in the mixed doubles event at the English Championships. She also claimed Silver in the English Junior Championships with her team, featuring skip Helena Kiggell, Anna MacDougall and Marianna Ward, by winning two of their four matches.

This was a particularly notable feat as her colleagues live all over the country, so they often only get to practise as a full team during school holidays.

Beyond our local community, we have continued to build on the success of the Perse Coding Team Challenge, in which teams of pupils undertake several rounds of coding challenges to try to win the Braben Cup. We have welcomed teams from over 70 state schools from across the UK and internationally. The competition is now recognised as part of the UKCT challenges pathway.

The school also continued to develop the Aristotelian Award for Research, which was open to pupils in Year 9 nationally and aimed to inspire pupils across the UK to develop their research skills.

Our design and technology enrichment programme saw a group of students from The Galfrid School in Cambridge coming to The Perse to be mentored by our Sixth Form students.

One of the projects that students took part in was the design and production of their own keychain. Galfrid pupils came up with their own ideas for a design, and Perse students used the laser cutter to turn the design into reality. Children chose to design characters from video games as well as Christmas decorations.

Louise Short, Teaching Assistant at The Galfrid School, said: “They’ve learned team-working skills and creativity, and they have enjoyed learning from older Perse students and teachers. It’s been really beneficial for their academic and personal development.”

At Jeavons Wood Primary School in Cambourne, Sixth Form students worked alongside gifted and talented Year 6 maths pupils. Children enjoyed a wide range of maths problems to solve including code-breaker challenges and quizzes.

Perse teacher Dr Lilian Blaxill, who manages the maths programme, said: “We hope that the primary school children really enjoy the sessions which are designed to be fun and interactive as we build on the excellent work of the school, taking the children beyond the curriculum.”

William Emery, Assistant Head Key Stage Two at Jeavons Wood, said: “There are huge benefits of having the partnership with The Perse. The children really do enjoy the opportunities the sessions give them, as they provide a further challenge to their learning.”

Jeavons Wood Pupil

The bat, known as a barbastelle, is a protected species and has never before been spotted in the city.

The elusive bat was discovered by a group of pupils while it was hanging in the entrance to the North Building on the Upper School site in Hills Road.

The pupils were pleased to discover that it was alive, even though it was very dehydrated. Volunteers from Cambridgeshire Bat Group collected the bat and nursed it back to full health. Group member Chris Percival said: “It was a very special day when I discovered that the bat was one of the rare barbastelle species. My volunteer friend and Chair of our group, Barbara York, spent time nursing it and helping it to rehydrate.

“It was such a surprise because barbastelle bats are usually found in ancient woodland and very mature trees. They’ve been seen in Hertfordshire, but we have not seen one in Cambridgeshire before now.”

Almost £300,000 raised for the school’s charitable purposes

More than 550 donors made a gift to The Perse

85 Old Perseans and Friends of the School volunteered their time 73 pupils received a means-tested bursary

With Covid-19 gradually abating, in-person reunions and speaker events returned to The Perse this year. We welcomed back Old Perseans from the 1980s and from the Classes of 2005-10, and over 100 guests returned for the Half Century Club Lunch. It was also fantastic to see the return of the OP v 1st XI cricket fixture, with a narrow victory for the OP XI after plenty of big hitting throughout the match.

Thursday 21 April saw the launch of our first Perse Giving Day. This 36-hour online fundraising event brought the entire Perse community together to raise money for bursaries and community outreach programmes. Over £114,000 was raised from parents, Old Perseans and Friends of The Perse, which is an amazing total – thank you!

Perse pupils also collected over 2,800 food items for Cambridge City Foodbank, which unlocked an additional £10,000 for the campaign. These donations provided three days’ emergency food to 47 families in Cambridge.

229 members of the Perse community made a gift...

Support came from nine different countries

…of whom 145 were new donors The money raised will be used to support the development of the outreach programme, and to fund bursary places for future Perseans. Thank you to everybody who donated to Giving Day. Your extraordinary generosity means that more young people will experience the life-changing opportunities of a Perse education.

We are grateful to all those who donate their time, skills and expertise to The Perse. This year, 85 OPs and Friends of The Perse gave their time to deliver talks, mentor pupils, help with university applications and support the Perse Exploration Society. Thank you so much!

Chris Dodsworth (2016) gave a 42 Society lecture on his career in the Civil Service