VIEW FROM The Abbey
Welcome From... Senior Deputy Head
The summer term always brings with it a buzz of anticipation and excitement, and this term has been no different! It has been wonderful to see the purposeful and positive approach so far from those in exam years or completing assessments. The positivity of students and staff has, of course, been supported by the beautiful sunshine we ’ ve enjoyed over the past few weeks Students have made full use of our lovely grounds, with the grass tennis courts and golf course proving very popular options during recreational time. Our grounds team have once again excelled themselves in producing outstanding pitches, and the cricket teams, as well as our first ever girls’ football team have enjoyed some fantastic fixtures to date.
From bake sales to the CCF climbing mountains in Wales, the first half of term has been packed with students embodying the true Miltonian spirit, getting stuck into all that is on offer The second half of term promises much of the same, with Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and a Lower Sixth surf trip among the highlights of the packed calendar to come
Over this half-term break, we look forward to welcoming over a hundred students from Round Square schools around the globe to enjoy an adventure, leadership and teamwork week and we ’ re very pleased that a number of our students will be joining them to share our lovely environment and be fantastic hosts
We wish all our Miltonian families a wonderful, restful half-term.
Mr Barnes | Senior Deputy Head
In The Classroom
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Our Middle Sixth Design and Technology students have created some exceptional final pieces in response to the theme ‘Incongruous’
This challenging unit encourages students to apply the full range of creative and technical skills they’ve developed over the past two years, working independently to produce unique and thought provoking outcomes
Lachlan B crafted a striking barbed wire table and lamp, hand-twisting each element of wire himself Emmanuel J designed a bold and visually arresting “dangerous” flower box Julia VM drew inspiration from her love of anime to produce a stunning stained glass artwork Meanwhile, Atticus C-B delivered a clever play on words with his imaginative piece titled ‘Bunch of Daffakills’, which was executed brilliantly
GEOGRAPHY FIELDTRIP
Lower Sixth A-Level Geographers have started writing their NEAs (coursework in layman's terms) They have thrived with freedom to plain their own fieldwork to locations on the Isle of Purbeck and The Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.
Firstly, they chose Studland beach, where they collected data to evidence changes in biodiversity and the impacts of human intervention at this stunning beach location. The popular beach resort of Lyme Regis was their second destination, famous for its fossils and rapidly retreating cliffs Students found evidence of the coastal processes responsible for this and explored how coastal defences make this a town which thrives economically
On return, Milton Abbey geographers have been crunching their data and have made an exceptional start to their all important A-Level NEA, making their Geography teacher, Ms Cavallaro, burst with pride!
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Third Form Duke of Edinburgh students set off from Milton Abbey School to walk to Antsy for their practice expedition They made great time and arrived at the campsite, where they enjoyed a fun game of cricket. Afterward, they had pasta for supper, getting ready for more outdoor adventures ahead!
PHOTOGRAPHY
As part of their Personal Investigation, Lower Sixth photography students took the initiative to contact photographers they admire and have been researching, seeking to go beyond traditional research and gain insight into professional practice
A huge thank you to Mark Power (Magnum Photos) and Conrad Tracey (Photographer and Course Leader on BA Hons Commercial Photography at AUB), who generously gave up their time to respond to questions from Euan J and Conor B.
Their thoughtful, in-depth replies gave our students a rare and valuable window into the world of contemporary photography, from the creative process to career advice and beyond This project is a great example of Milton Abbey’s ethos in action encouraging ambition, creativity, and meaningful real-world connections
HOSPITATLITY
Lower Sixth had a fantastic afternoon at Smiths, located at the local Langhams Wine Estate.
This visit was a key part of their Contemporary World Food unit, which will culminate in the students designing, preparing, and serving a high-end afternoon tea to invited guests
The students were treated to a delightful afternoon tea, thoughtfully prepared by the team at Smiths This provided invaluable insight and inspiration for their research Having studied specialist food commodities, the students were able to sample an array of sandwiches, scones, and pastries, all made using locally sourced ingredients The weather was perfect, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience outside in the sunshine
It was a pleasure to support Mel and her talented team at Smiths, as well as the Langhams Wine Estate, who offered a fascinating introduction to their award-winning winery and a tour of their stunning event space
MENTAL HEATH AWARENESS WEEK
We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week by wearing green and coming together for a walk around the Abbey and school grounds
This year, the Mental Health Foundation's theme is "community " At Milton Abbey School, community is at the heart of everything we do As a full boarding school, our close-knit and small by choice community, ensures that every individual is seen, valued, and nurtured It creates an environment where everyone can thrive and support one another, making the most of their time here.
Our incredible Health Centre team hosted a well loved tea and cake break to wrap up a busy week of exams and Mental Health Awareness events. It was a wonderful opportunity for the school community to come together, relax, and enjoy the beautiful Health Centre patio and gardens
A special thanks to Senior Nurse Manager Ms Garrett for organising this fantastic gathering for all to enjoy! Ms Garrett has received a great deal of positive feedback from the students and staff, so we plan to offer this more frequently in the future
OLD MILTONIAN CAREERS TALK
We were thrilled to welcome back Will Zouche (OM) for an inspiring careers talk. Will, Founder of Rebase Property Group, shared his remarkable journey, from his days at school to working in China and London, and launching his own successful property business
With a compelling blend of honesty, humour, and insight, Will offered students practical advice for creating their own career paths His key messages included:
Embrace Work Experience
Identify and nurture relationships with mentors for work, and life
Be brave, tenacious and determined; don't be afraid to fail
Network, network, network
And most important of all: Pick up the phone, and connect to people
CCF
Third and Fourth Form CCF Cadets had an exciting adventure in Wales, where they took on the challenge of conquering the three iconic Welsh Peaks: Cader Idris, Snowdon, and Pen y Fan
Everyone joining Milton Abbey tries the CCF for their first few weeks, with many continuing as a Cadet into the Sixth Form, where they have the opportunity to become junior instructors and gain professionally-recognised leadership qualifications such as Navigation, Marksman, NCO Leadership and Canoeing
SPORTING NEWS!
GIRLS FOOTBALL!
We are super proud of our first ever girls' football match in the school history! The team was phenomenal against Wool and Winfrith
Though the result didn't go our way, this incredible experience will shape the team for the future and a huge shoutout to Lissy A, Fourth Form, for scoring our first ever goal!
The girls have seen faced Forres Sandle Manor. Despite the heat, they showed incredible determination and effort throughout the game Although the final score was a 3-1 loss, the match was closely contested and could had gone either way
EQUESTRIAN
Congratulations to Puddle H, Middle Sixth, on an outstanding performance in her recent Showjumping competition!
Puddle took first place in both the 90cm and 100cm classes, riding her horse, Bronson. In the lead up to the event, Puddle trained with Bronson at the School stables, supported by the guidance of Ms Ruckley and Ms Da Silva
Their combined efforts clearly paid off, well done, Puddle!
GOLF
Zach J, Fourth Form, competed in the Broadstone Golf Club
Junior Open and finished in Second place! He has been selected to represent Dorset in the under 18s County Competition in Devon at the end of this month
We are incredibly proud of Zach’s dedication and hard work, especially considering he remains a key member of the under16s team as well!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Jago B, Third Form, has been selected to compete at the English National Surfing Championships!
This contest is the highest level surfing competition in England, with athletes able to earn places in the Team England squad
We are confident Jago will put his all into the competition and we hope the swell and conditions are in his favour!
TENNIS
Milton Abbey’s seniors mixed tennis team faced off against Dorchester Tennis Club in the inaugural Dorchester Abbey Cup. It was a brilliant evening of tennis played on grass courts, with many thrilling sets going right down to the wire in tie-breaks.
Shoutout to Hannibal VC, Lower Sixth, and Evie H, Middle Sixth, who earned two well-fought points for the school We’re looking forward to next year ’ s rematch and the chance to bring the trophy home!
SAILING
The Milton Abbey Sailing Team competed at Spinnaker Lake in challenging, shifty winds Drawing on their skill and teamwork, the team secured two victories out of four races, ending the match in a well earned draw
A special mention goes to Freddy H, Fourth Form, who not only played a key role in one of the team’s wins but also stood out for his sportsmanship Freddy took the time during the regatta to help a Bryanston School beginner learn the basics of sailing
Hornets
Student Commendations
DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT
Lily F, Middle Sixth, has impressed Mr Webb and Ms Cooper during the lead up to her Classical Civilisation exams Lily has clearly been putting a lot of work and effort in and seems to really be on track for fulfilling her potential
DEDICATION TO HOUSE
FANTASTIC A-LEVEL WORK
Jamie T, Middle Sixth, has demonstrated exceptional dedication and conviction throughout his A-level art journey, working diligently up until the final moment He is an exemplary student who consistently invests both time a
Mazarine M, Lower Sixth, has been praised for her dedicatio and hard work in caring for the Damer House garden Lexi Middle Sixth and currently the Head of House is gradual passing the responsibility to Mazarine, ensuring that she w continue maintaining the flower beds after Lexi leaves
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES!
SUMMER VIBES SOCIAL
The Sixth Form Summer Ball was a great success! Students enjoyed a glorious evening in the sunshine, followed by dancing in the King’s Room and the all important photobooth. Mr Fraser was grateful for the help of the student leadership team who worked hard all day to prepare for the event
See the full gallery here
CONFIRMATION SERVICE
Thankyou to everyone who joined us for our Confirmation Service, led by the Bishop of Sherborne, Karen Gorham.
It was a truly special occasion, and we ’ re grateful for your presence and support.
View the full gallery here
GARDENING
Neo T and Will P, Lower Sixth, and George D, Middle Sixth, spent their Sunday morning tending to their House gardens, cutting hedges back, mowing the grass and weeding the flower beds.
Tregonwell now looks beautiful for the students to enjoy!
TRIP TO WEYMOUTH
Sundays are often reserved for a relaxing excursion, giving students the opportunity to unwind with some shopping or a meal at a restaurant of their choice Recently, some of our students enjoyed a trip to Weymouth Harbour!
FOURTH AND FIFTH FORM BLACK TIE
Fourth and Fifth Form students enjoyed a Black Tie Social over the weekend, dressing up for an evening of music, dancing, and celebration.
Hughie’s embraced the opportunity to get dressed up, capturing some great photos together before heading off to enjoy the festivities. Page - 13
Athelstan celebrated Toby A, Lower Sixth, 18th birthday after a weekend of mountain biking and go karting
Mr Anderson is taking on a bold challenge: completing his first Triathlon to raise both funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer UK To support, please visit his JustGiving page here
Congratulations to MAA Manager, Mr Mieville, who has been appointed the new Mayor of Blandford Forum!
H O T O G A L L E R Y
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Our CCF Cadets led the VE Day ceremony in Milton Abbas village, sending a dedicated detachment to represent the contingent
Third Form enjoyed a trip to Monkey World and
Conor B, Lower Sixth rescued a hedgehog trapped in a tennis net!
Dates For your Diary
Saturday 7 June
Saturday 14 June
Friday 23 May - 1 June
Friday 20-22 June
Saturday 28 June
Thursday 3 July
MAA Day and Archives Day
Parents’ Sports Day, Creative Showcase and Headmaster’s Summer Drinks
Half Term
Exeat
Black and Gold Day
Speech Day
