The Phoenix Magazine 2025

Layla Wakefield

Foreword

There are some years in Prior Park’s history which will undoubtedly loom large when the next history of the College comes to be written. I rather suspect that this past academic year will come to be seen as of significant import. The year has been one filled with momentous events. A new Labour government has contributed to arguably the most hostile environment for independent schools since the mid-1960s. The imposition of Europe’s only tax on education from January 2025 was strong evidence of this new environment. Fortunately, after several years of careful financial stewardship, we are in a strong position to weather these storms whilst other private schools struggle, with many closing over the past few months. We are certainly living in interesting times.

One of the ways that the College has responded to the increasingly challenging landscape for independent schools has been to change our faith designation. The College’s Trustees took the view that, given the nature of the demographic changes sweeping through

independent education, that the College would become a Christian School in the Catholic tradition. For a school founded shortly after Catholic emancipation in 1829, this seismic shift was a courageous change. From the College’s perspective, our move away from Diocesan oversight has freed up our academic curriculum and released us from restrictions on what we could teach. This has certainly made us a more attractive prospect in an ever more competitive marketplace. It has allowed a greater degree of alignment with The Paragon, our Trust’s Christian primary school. It has led to our reconsidering our approach to faith and spirituality, with a more open and inclusive attitude towards such matters.

At the same time though, it has been a sad change. The history of this school is a Catholic history. Thousands of young people have either come to their faith here or grown in their faith here. Many thousands more developed a deep and abiding love for the values, rites, and practices of the Catholic faith. Nearly two centuries of good work has been done

on behalf of the faith. We are fortunate though that such good work continues, as we continue to enjoy good relations with the Diocese of Clifton and several local parishes. Catholic Mass has continued to be celebrated in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows. The Leavers of 2025 will, undoubtedly, remember their joyous Leavers’ Mass on 5 July with real fondness. They worshipped and sang in their Chapel for one last time before going into the world to make a genuine difference. It is always interesting though to see that, even when huge changes happen, there are rhythms to life which never change. The warp and weft of a student’s life remain and in the pages of this wonderful publication you will get a real sense of the many aspects that make up the tapestry of a Prior year. I have every confidence that the tapestry of life at Prior will go on for many centuries more, because of the energy and enthusiasm of the students, their families and the wonderful staff that make up this extraordinary community.

Ben Horan, Headmaster

U6 Appointments

Heads of School

Henry Butters

Gigi Ifil

Deputy Heads of School

Alexander Mould

Angel Wong

Head of Allen

George CampbellJones

Head of Arundell

Tammi-Renee Lockey

Head of Burton

Henry Nash

Head of Clifford Alexander Fox

Head of English

Alex Moir

Head of Fielding

Amelie Lucas

Head of Roche

William Goymer

Captains of Sport

Boys’ Rugby

William Goymer & Josh Wake

Girls’ Hockey

Olivia Finn

Boys’ Hockey

George Campbell-Jones

Netball

Chloe Stoddart & Alex Moir

Heads of Baines

Theo Ares & Isla Reed

Heads of Brownlow

Leo Brayton & Beatrice Howells

Head of International Students

Jamie Lam & Luna Lui

Head of Mission & Service

Alice Carr

Head of Eco Prior

Charlotte Pawson

Head of Charities

Jaidee Charoensuk

Head of Peer Support

Sofiyyah Karimu

Head of Student Socials

Martha Dutton & Madeleine Llewellyn

Girls’ Tennis

Gigi Ifil

Boys’ Tennis

Dominic Morley

Cricket

Leo Brayton & William Goymer

The Sixth Form

As has become tradition in recent years, our Upper Sixth leavers enjoyed a magical night at the Roman Baths at the start of their study leave in May. It was a memorable evening of bubbles and canapés with friends. We heard two lovely speeches from our Deputy Heads of School - Angel Wong and Alex Mould. I also had my chance to bid a final farewell to the class of 2025 - my last as Head of Sixth Form as I step down from the role after 11 years. The theme of my speech was gratitude. As I reflect on the past two years spent with this outgoing Sixth Form class, I find myself filled with gratitude—for all that we shared, accomplished, and became together. I’m grateful for the New York trip, where we shared the awe of the Statue of Liberty and all it represents, and stood quietly at Ground Zero's reflection pools. I’m thankful for the Model United Nations trips and House Debating, where the students impressed with their diplomacy, critical thinking, and eloquence. It was a privilege to watch them discover their voice and sharpen their worldview. I’m grateful for the Sixth Form Social, a moment to celebrate, to come together, and to recognise just how far they’ve come—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. I especially

enjoyed the experiences we shared during the Duke of Edinburgh Award—broken boots (and spirits?) and sore feet. The students persevered when things got tough and supported each other. They embodied the best of teamwork, independence, and quiet leadership. Gratitude is what gives meaning to moments like these.

Alongside all of this, we welcomed almost forty new students into the Lower Sixth and, as always, they very quickly became part of the fabric of Prior. This amazing group of students breathed new life into our volunteer programme - getting out to schools, dementia homes and hospitals, and sharing their joie de vivre with everyone they came across. As the final UCAS form was submitted by the Upper Sixth in December, the cycle started again with our Lower Sixth and they have embraced the process with their customary enthusiasm and sense of fun.

So, I thank the Sixth Form - and the outgoing Upper Sixth in particular - for their energy, ambition and spirit. They have left their mark on Prior, and I wish them the best of luck and remind them to always be grateful.

Mrs Colquhoun

Class of 2025

Dr Seuss once said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory,” and this certainly holds true when reflecting on the Class of 2025. What a journey we have had together.

From first walking into Baines House seven years ago, we have grown tremendously in both knowledge and connection. We have laughed together, danced together, sung together, and our time at school has been packed full of many wonderful memories. The Fisher, Sports Day, House Music and House outings, these moments have allowed us to build friendships and become a close-knit community, one we feel incredibly fortunate to be involved with.

Our final year has certainly lived up to expectations - the Sixth Form Christmas Social, Roman Baths and of course the Leavers’ Awards Ceremony and Ball have allowed us to celebrate our time at Prior

and further understand what makes this school such a special place. The community, of which everyone within Prior Park plays an important role, has given us an almost inexhaustible supply of stories and strong friendships, which hopefully we will have for many years to come.

We have been supported every single step of the way, through our Houses and latterly our Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Colquhoun, who is stepping down from the role at the end of this year. Our thanks go to all who have helped us on our journey.

We leave knowing that Prior Park has prepared us well – not just for exams, but for life. I’m sure we will all miss Prior dearly, but we will look back fondly on our time here, knowing it is filled with so many wonderful memories.

Gigi Ifil and Henry Butters, Heads of School

Inspire! Conference

This year’s ‘Inspire!’ conference had a remarkable line-up of guests for our Sixth Form students. British television presenter, radio presenter and author, Philippa Forrester, hosted the day and also talked about ‘public speaking’.

The opening guest speaker was Leah Chowdhry, who was the first British Asian woman to swim the English Channel (in 14 hours, 44 minutes) at the age of 26 for charity. Leah explained the importance of having a positive mindset and self-belief. Next to speak was alumna, Maria Mays, who discussed her career in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and as a Government

General Studies speakers

Our Sixth Form students listen to a wide variety of speakers throughout the year and had a hard-hitting introduction in September as they heard from Shaun Attwood, who recounted his move to the US after university, and how he became a millionaire stockbroker, and Ecstasy drug dealer, before ending up in an Arizona prison. His subsequent book, Hard Time, detailing his experiences there, “makes the Shawshank Redemption look like a holiday camp”. Shaun was eventually released having negotiated

his sentence down from 200 years to 9½ and serving almost 6. His personal experience demonstrates the real consequences of a high-risk, “glamorous” lifestyle and the corrosive effect on not just his life, but also on those closest to him.

Other speakers during the year included Rochelle Ng’onga who spoke about racism; Tommy Pollock (PPA 2019) and Toby Ingham-Thomas, co-founders of Lost Track of Time Ltd, who shared their experiences of starting an

Relations businesswoman.

Jim Holmes, a Humanitarian Aid Worker and Documentary Photographer, spoke about his experiences, and  what he has seen during his travels around the world. The day concluded with legendary magician, The Great Baldini! It was an incredibly fun magic hour with many students involved in his show. It was a brilliant day, full of opportunities and stories for all the students to learn from, as well as a reminder to embrace new experiences and explore unknown possibilities!

Emily Li (U6)

entertainment brand and creating interactive events; the Avon Fire & Rescue team, who delivered an important message on road safety, providing our young drivers with some vital knowledge for safer driving; and Kathleen Van Nest Pierce, Global President of Dyson Beauty, who discussed her experiences as a woman in business, the value of networking, navigating career development, and advice for those uncertain about their future.

Wera Hobhouse MP visits L6

In May, Lower Sixth students met Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath and North East Somerset, for an engaging and insightful political discussion.

Topics included knife crime and its impact on young people, the effectiveness of the prison system, the importance of accessible mental health services, and the challenges surrounding taxation and pensions.

Wera also spoke about her role in opposition, shedding

light on the challenges of influencing policy from outside government, and discussed the complexities and compromises involved in political decision-making across all parties.

The session also highlighted the importance of political awareness, as Wera encouraged students to continue to engage with local and national issues.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations (MUN) has grown at Prior Park over the last few years, and this past year has been one of the most exciting so far with multiple conferences and a whole host of new members.

We spent much of the first part of the year learning how to construct arguments, amendments, and even the occasional resolution, and we were able to put this to the test at Queen’s Conference in Taunton, where we gave a good account of

ourselves, even winning one or two prizes. After that we worked further to develop our debating skills ahead of conferences at Kingswood and Marlborough. The Kingswood conference saw three major delegations from South Korea, Angola, and Myanmar, each tasked with representing their assigned countries in a variety of topics ranging from global security concerns to environmental issues. For example, Eliza from L6 represented

South Korea on the Security Council, engaging in riveting discussions and debates. The event was a great success, with one of our students, Josh, being awarded the Commended Delegate Award.

I’m pleased to say that MUN seems to be thriving at Prior, with plenty of talented debaters who might just have a future at the UN itself!

Alex Mould (U6)

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place in May, and this year the theme was ‘community.’ People who are more socially connected to family, friends or their community are happier, physically healthier and live longer. Prior Park, being very much a community, embraced this theme, arranging a series of activities throughout the week.

Houses took the lead, with many activities organised during tutor times. English House enjoyed a relaxed ‘Walk and Talk’ session with fresh pastries to help fuel them and Burton

House also stepped out for a peaceful walk to the Palladian Bridge, whilst unwinding and checking in with each other in beautiful surroundings. Getting outside, staying active, and talking openly are fantastic ways of helping to look after your mental health.

The week culminated in a mufti day, with everyone invited to ‘wear it green’ – the official colour of Mental Health Awareness Week. It a great way to help raise awareness and show care for those who may be struggling with mental health challenges.

Baines Photo Competition

Students explored the powerful theme of Nature and Mental Health for this photography competition. The entries were thoughtful and creative, making it difficult to judge!

Healthy Eating Week

Healthy Eating Week takes place in January, and school caterers, Thomas Franks, gave nutrition education talks to students in L3 and F3.

The theme this year was ‘Give it a go!’ and it focused on five key ways to make positive changes for a healthier diet and lifestyle: Get at least 5 a day

Stay hydrated

• Move more Focus on fibre

• Reduce food waste

There was an extra reward for participating in the talks - students could help themselves to some yoghurt and a range of healthy toppings!

Transformational Speaking Coach

In March, Nick Elston, an award-winning transformational speaking coach, visited Sixth Form students to lead two dynamic and interactive sessions on communication and personal development.

The first session, ‘Find Your VoiceSpeaking and Communication Coaching’, was designed to help students develop confidence in speaking, communication, and self-expression. Through a series of practical exercises, students learned how to develop clarity and impact in their communication by using

storytelling techniques to captivate their audience an understanding of the importance of body language and tone.

The second session, ‘How to Forge Ahead - Building Resilience and Self Belief’, provided essential strategies for managing stress, overcoming self-doubt, and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth. Students learned how to navigate setbacks and uncertainty with confidence, creating a mindset for success both in their academic journey and beyond.

Situational Awareness Day

In December, Prior Park College hosted a Situational Awareness Day, delivered by the expert team from Assist Security. The day was specifically designed to equip our students with real-world skills in personal safety and threat awareness through a mix of practical and theoretical sessions tailored to suit each year group.

We were also incredibly lucky to have former England rugby captain Dylan Hartley, who is part of the Assist Security team, join us for the day. Dylan took the time to meet with students and share his experience of managing risk and maintaining awareness both on and off the rugby pitch.

The day began with an introduction to essential concepts such as:

• Baseline Awareness: Understanding what is normal in an environment and recognising the absence of the normal or the presence of the abnormal.

Threat Detection: Using observational

skills to analyse body language (kinesics), spatial awareness (proxemics), and environmental factors (atmospherics).

Situational Strategies: Employing the S.A.F.E.R. model to assess and respond appropriately to potential threats. Students then participated in hands-on, scenario-based activities and controlled situations, which included a spot of role-playing from our intimidating Sixth Form ‘thugs’.

All activities were designed to show students how to remain calm and think clearly under pressure. Assist Security also gave tips on what to do after any incidenthow to communicate, report, and make sure the right support is in place.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many students feeling more prepared and confident about handling any future challenging situations.

Mr Bond

Retreats

Retreats give students the opportunity to enjoy some peaceful reflection and contemplation outside of school. They offer space for introspection and time to explore the nature of faith.

In November, L3 enjoyed a day at Ammerdown whilst some Sixth Form students

Ash Wednesday

Our Ash Wednesday service was a deeply reflective occasion. The service began with the hymn ‘He Who Would Valiant Be’, before the Lower School Choir performed ‘Simple Gifts.’ A reading from the Gospel of Matthew followed, which taught us the importance of giving, even when we may not always receive recognition for doing so. The service’s reflection, read by Mr Maxwell, highlighted Pope

Conclave

During the Easter break, we mourned the passing of Pope Francis, a man of humility, compassion and love, who inspired not only Catholics and Christians, but millions across all faiths with his message of hope and humanity.

Our Easter Mass, led by Father Richard Finn, offered both a celebration of Christ’s resurrection and an opportunity to reflect on

spent the day at Prinknash in Gloucester. In February, a group of students from L5 journeyed to Brownshill, Stroud. All who attended these retreats benefitted from the time spent with their friends, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, listening to each other discuss thoughts about faith and prayer.

Francis’ message for Lent: “Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience.”

Mr Maxwell also reminded us that Lent is a time for helping others, and called upon us to continue working hard to support our school charities this term.

the life and work of Pope Francis.

During the Bidding Prayers, Headmaster Mr Horan invited the congregation to remember Pope Francis: ‘May his legacy of mercy, and his care for the poor and the planet, continue to inspire the Church across the world—and all of us gathered here today.’

On 8 May, Pope Leo XIV was appointed, and Mr Horan wrote the following prayer:

Dear Lord,

This evening, we saw the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel and we heard the words ‘Habemus papam; we have a pope. We listened as your new shepherd on earth said that he wants ‘a church that builds bridges and dialogue and is always open to receive’. His first words to his flock and to the

world were ‘peace be with all of you’. We pray that Pope Leo XIV can bring about the peace of the Risen Christ across our world by bringing the greeting of peace into the hearts of all of us. We pray for him, and we pray for his mission.

Amen

Feast of Saints Peter & Paul

The College celebrated the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in June, a day that honours the lives and martyrdom of two of the Church’s founding apostles. The service took place on the Mansion steps and included readings from Timothy 4:6–8 and 17–18, where Paul reflects on his faithful witness, and Matthew

16:13–19, in which Jesus declares Peter to be the rock upon which the Church will be built. Mr Maxwell shared his scriptural reflection and encouraged students to reflect on the example of Saints Peter and Paul.

Charities

The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance was our school charity for this year. Members of the Charities Club were fortunate to meet Paul from W&BAA to find out more about how the Air Ambulance operates.

Every Thursday, our charity team would meet to enjoy some sweet treats, (we particularly liked the donuts brought by Mel), and discuss the various fundraising events we were planning.

The Christmas Fayre raised over £1000 through Houses' having various stalls in the Mansion selling art, crafts, games, hot food, and drinks.  Throughout the year, we also had lots of bake sales, which never disappoints - everything is usually sold out by the end of break. When it came to the month of love, we sold our Valentine roses, over 900 this year! The St Mary’s boarding girls helped this year writing all the notes for the roses.

Charities week is our favourite week, and it was so nice to see all the Houses helping to raise money for our school charity. The Arundell staff karaoke always brings the

giggles and laughter; Allen pillow fight; staff waterbombing, which is always very popular particularly when the lineup includes Mr. Horan; Burton House car wash, which was very successful, especially as the W&BAA mascot came in to give them more support. English House ran a tuck shop during the Fisher Relay and their House Concert was also great fun. This year, Fielding held an Afternoon Tea Party on the Portico, a stunning location to sip your tea whilst looking out to the Palladian Bridge; and Clifford House raised a huge amount with their incredible raffle – top prize a holiday in Spain!

Charities week was very eventful and filled with laughter and generosity. It was a real pleasure and very special to see everyone raising money for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance. In total, we raised over £12,500, enough to cover the costs of running the service for a full 24 hours.

Jaidee Charoensuk (U6)

Fundraising for Sarcoma UK

14 of us from Burton House ran the Bath Half Marathon to raise almost £6,000 for Sarcoma UK, a charity close to our hearts in Burton. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue, and Sarcoma

UK funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected and campaigns for better treatments.

Mrs Bonney

Community support

In April, Clifford’s U6 tutor group set off to tidy the grounds around Ditteridge village church. This trip has become an annual pilgrimage, which began when Mr Bond was HSM. The

boys cleared guttering and removed ivy from the church walls and were duly rewarded with lunch in the local pub!

Park Life magazine

Our student magazine, Park Life was entered into the annual Shine Media Awards and in June, Martha (magazine designer) and I attended the Awards ceremony at the prestigious Stationers’ Company in London.

During the morning, we participated in some exciting workshops - a cartoon masterclass led by Stephen Marchant, an insight into journalism led by Dr Glenda Cooper, a guideline on how to set up our own podcast, the art of book-binding, and an extremely informative discussion with key writers and

Eco Prior

The Eco Prior club is dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging action, and fostering discussions, and we investigate global and local environmental initiatives to better understand the issues shaping our planet’s future.

We have explored a diverse range of topics—from COP29 and Bristol’s Green Investment Scheme, to the struggles of Indigenous South American tribes grappling with climate change. To share what we’ve learned more widely, we created Eco-Echo, our newsletter. Our goal is to spark conversations, encourage students to reflect on sustainability, and inspire them to act, whether that means advocating for change, reducing waste, or simply learning more. It also serves as a space to highlight the nature and biodiversity that can be seen around PPC through seasonal updates from the

publishers of the notable Hearst Magazine. A delicious lunch was followed by the awards ceremony. I had been shortlisted for ‘Editor of the Year’, and it was a pleasant surprise to be awarded ‘Highly Commended’. I also received a prize of a day’s work experience at PrintWeek Magazine. Thank you so much to the entire Park Life team who allowed us to share our work with the country, and Mrs Williams for being an incredible help throughout.

Gigi Ifil (U6)

gardening team and from our own observations. Additionally, we foster community engagement by conducting interviews with Prior staff who are passionate about conservation (notably Mr Lord and Ms Bailey) and have hosted photography competitions, allowing students to capture and celebrate nature while reflecting on its fragility.

Eco Prior also involves students and staff in various initiatives, such as the implementation and management of our recycling rota. We all have a role to play in tackling climate change, whether by making small, everyday adjustments or pushing for larger, collective action. Our environmental responsibility not only benefits us – it is an act of stewardship for the planet and the generations to come.

Natalia Gonzalez Villard (L6)

Academic

This year has been a whirlwind of academic activity. From national competitions to fieldwork on the Welsh coast, our students have once again shown that academic life here is soaring.

The sheer number of students shaking my hand in assembly to collect certificates and awards is testament to the energy and excellence that continues to define our academic community.

Let’s begin with some of the standout achievements in national competitions. Our Physics department continues to impress, with students excelling in the British Physics Olympiad’s Senior Physics Challenge. This year, four students earned much-coveted Silver awards, and nine more achieved

Bronze — a remarkable result in a competition designed to stretch the most able physicists in the country. The Challenge tests problem-solving skills and deep conceptual understanding, often going well beyond the A Level syllabus. That so many of our students performed so strongly is a credit to their curiosity and courage to throw themselves into such a competitive event.

In Maths, too, the accolades came thick and fast. In the Senior Maths Challenge, we celebrated six Silver and nineteen Bronze

awards, with Sam Peters earning the prestigious Best in School title. The Intermediate Maths Challenge saw three Gold, fourteen Silver, and thirteen Bronze awards, with Jerome Hwang leading the way. Lower down the school, our junior mathematicians also shone brightly, bringing home three Gold, nine Silver, and ten Bronze awards. These competitions, of course, are not just about numbers — they reward creative thinking, elegant problem-solving, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Meanwhile, in Design Technology, we were thrilled to celebrate William Mould’s achievement in being named an Arkwright Scholar — one of the most prestigious accolades for aspiring engineers and designers

in the UK. The Arkwright Scholarship recognises exceptional talent, creativity and potential in engineering, and William’s success places him among a very select group of future innovators indeed.

Biology has had a rich and varied year. In June, our L5 Triple Science students attended a screening of David Attenborough’s new documentary Ocean. The film was a powerful blend of beauty and urgency — from the graceful dance of dolphins to the stark reality of bottom trawling and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems. Students were deeply moved by the imagery and message, and the documentary tied in perfectly with their classroom studies on biodiversity and food webs. It

was a vivid reminder of how interconnected life is — and how fragile those connections can be.

Over the Christmas break, a joint initiative between Biology and Computer Science saw L6 students take part in a cross-disciplinary book review project. Students chose from a shortlist of titles nominated for the Royal Society’s Science Book of the Year, including Why We Die by Venki Ramakrishnan and Eve by Cat Bohannon. After reading the first half, students joined seminar discussions led by teachers, then completed the books and created presentations and posters exploring their insights, favourite quotes, and connections to their studies. It was a fantastic way to encourage deeper thinking and cross-curricular

dialogue — and the presentations were as thoughtful as they were creative.

Our L6 Biologists also took part in a five-day residential field trip to Pembrokeshire, Wales — a highlight of the academic calendar. Staying just steps from the beach, students engaged in hands-on ecological investigations, from transect sampling on rocky shores to population estimation using mark-and-release techniques (including tagging over 70 shore crabs in one day!). A visit to Skomer Island offered unforgettable encounters with puffins and other protected species, bringing coastal biodiversity vividly to life. The trip also included studies of salt marsh succes-

sion, freshwater stream sampling, and even a short lecture on the life cycle of eels. Beyond the science, students bonded over beach games, plastic-picking competitions, and shared meals with sea views — a perfect blend of academic rigour and personal growth.

In February, a team of Prior Park students joined six other schools at Hayesfield School to take part in the Bath Area Regional Philosothon Competition. Teams were given excerpts from books such as The Life of Pi and would then debate questions about the prose. Our students performed brilliantly, with Eliza, Felix and Sophie, all in Sixth

Form, awarded certificates in three categories.

Our academic outreach programme continued to flourish this year, with departments hosting events that brought learning to life for the wider community. Our annual STEM Days welcomed hundreds of local primary school children to Prior Park for two days of scientific exploration. This year, the morning sessions featured a brand-new forensic science challenge titled “Who Stole the Science Sept Cake?” — a hands-on detective activity where pupils used scientific techniques to identify the culprit. After analysing fingerprints, testing substances, and examining clues, the mystery was solved: the

cake thief was none other than our Head of Chemistry, Dr Archer! The afternoons concluded with our now-famous Science Show, featuring hovercraft races, fruit flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and the traditional dustbin explosion on the cricket pitch — a dramatic finale delivered by one brave Deputy Head.

At the start of 2025, our U6 students received their EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) results, with 82% graded A*-C. The qualification carries UCAS tariff points and is equivalent to 50% of an A Level. Project titles this year ranged from:

British media on Sub-Saharan Africa’s representation: does the BBC’s coverage

present the region impartially? to What has been the most important factor for the development of Women’s Cricket since 2017? The breadth of titles highlights the unique curiosity of our students.

In addition, of course, our tremendous A Level and GCSE results once again reflected the hard work and dedication of students and staff alike, further details can be found in the next article.

Finally, we took an important step toward even greater academic fulfilment this year, as our Form 4 students became our first cohort to ‘build their own’ GCSE curricula for next year. With the exception of English and Maths, every

subject has been selected by the students themselves — a significant shift from the traditional model. This new approach allows pupils to play to their strengths, pursue their passions, and take real ownership of their learning, and we’re so excited to see how this pioneering group thrives over the next two years.

As ever, I could fill the entire magazine with more stories of academic brilliance, but my word count is up. It’s been another year of challenge, creativity, and celebration at Prior Park — and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Mr Gamble

Exam results

A Level results day started with a rainbow over Prior Park, a good indication of what was to follow!

In terms of the overall outcomes:

• Over 15% of all our entries were awarded an A* Grade.

• The A*/A percentage was 36%

• The A*-C percentage was 85%.

There were some impressive performances in individual subjects, with 46% of all Mathematics grades at A*/A, and 40% of History, Chemistry, and Theology grades at

A*/A. Creative subjects did incredibly well with 63% of our Art students achieving an A* or A grade.

Fast forward a week and what a joy it was to witness our GCSE students arrive to collect their exam results. With 52% of entries achieving grades 9-7, and 15% receiving a grade 9, there was much to celebrate.

Students excelled in the core Maths, English and Science subjects, and the majority of Geography, Latin, History, Music, Drama, Fine Art and D&T students were awarded grade 7 and

above. In D&T, over a third of students achieved a grade 9. With such a broad range of talents, we can’t wait to see how these students progress as they continue their journey into Sixth Form.

Congratulations to all! Whilst we are of course delighted for our many A* students, we are equally thrilled for those who have exceeded their own predictions, whatever the grade. All tell a story of the hard work, commitment and resilience of our students and, indeed, our teachers.

U5 Burns Night social

Upper Fifth enjoyed a Burns Night themed social on 24 January, the night before the official date for celebrating the life and legacy of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns.

After arriving and having their photographs taken, students wholeheartedly embraced Scottish culture. Mr Sackett ‘Addressed the Haggis’ before supper commenced – the taster of neeps and haggis went down well before the main meal of pizza and chips!

With the help of a live band, students also took part in a ceilidh, a traditional Scottish dance, to celebrate in style. This proved very popular, with everyone joining in, from seasoned dancers to complete novices.

Filled with a lot of laughter, the evening was a huge success and gave our students time to socialise before turning their attention to the upcoming GCSE exams.

Trips

F3 Georgraphy, Durdle Door

Music, SymphonyBournemouth Orchestra

L6 Biology Field Trip

Chalke Valley History Festival

L5 Classics and Latin, London Museums

L6 Visual Arts, London Galleries

China

Over the Easter break, 24 students had the pleasure of going to China for twelve days to experience its rich and diverse culture; whilst Mandarin students had a chance to use their knowledge to connect with local people.

We flew into Beijing, and our first day was spent walking along an unusually remote section of The Great Wall of China, where the wall dips into a river and back out. Learning about the complex history of China’s various dynasties while soaking in the unimaginable views was an experience none of us are likely to forget. The next visit was to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden city, where the architecture remains nearly identical to when it was constructed 400 years ago. It was another remarkable day.

The following day was spent in a local school. For those of us studying Mandarin, speaking to local students was half exciting, half fear-inducing. However, being able to use some of the knowledge we've gained in class impressed the local students and is why learning a second language is so valuable. The whole day was lovely, with all the students being incredibly welcoming.

Our final day in Beijing began with a Tai Chi class in a local park, where we learnt the basic moves. The peace and serenity of the mindfulness, coupled with the warm weather was a lovely interlude. Whilst leaving the park, we got side-tracked when we met a group of pensioners in the local gym who were able to do incredible calisthenics, including, doing the splits upside down on a climbing frame, endless muscle-ups, and inverting themselves just holding a pole! None of us were able to replicate what they could do.

We took a high-speed train to the historic city of Xi’an, which has existed for over 3000 years and was the capital for 13 dynasties. In Xi’an we marvelled at the 2200-year-old Terracotta Army. Unofficially named the 8th Wonder of the World, it was a spectacle to behold. The guides taught us about the

history of each of the three pits and what each group of statues represents. It was incredible to see and was only made more impressive by our attempt to sculpt a 2ft version of a warrior at an amazing workshop afterwards. Our replicas had names, backstories, and a lot more personality than the real-world equivalent! The workshop was certainly a highlight and gave us a sense of the pressure the artists worked under over 2000 years ago.

The following day we volunteered at a community farm. It was another peaceful activity to break up the packed days. We planted crops, helped cultivate the fields and even fed the rabbits. Later in the day we summitted the Great Wild Goose Pagoda which has stood for over 1000 years.

Our final day in Xi’an began with a calligraphy class. It was so interesting to see how the characters originated and took the forms we identify today, and we were able to recognise some of these in traditional paintings we saw in museums during the trip. Taking advantage of the lovely weather, we then hired bikes to explore the ancient city walls before eating a memorable and delicious hot pot, whilst some of the more daring students tried cow intestines and duck’s blood!

Our penultimate city visit was to Nanjing, where we toured the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. The museum highlighted the atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese army and left a lasting impact on us all. Finally, we travelled to Shanghai where we took a gorgeous boat tour of The Bund, saw the spectacular city skyline at night, climbed the tallest building in China, witnessed the bustling financial district, and watched a nail-biting acrobatics show - a fitting end to such an exciting trip.

Cassius Wagstaffe (L6)

Ski

The end of February and at 03:30 one morning, 54 students and 5 members of staff arrived at the sports hall. We travelled together out of Bristol, only slightly late for the final call. We disembarked in Milan with military efficiency only to realise someone had left their bag on the plane, so we had to wait for it to be retrieved.

During our transfer, we enjoyed views of the Italian countryside, mountains, and the idyllic Lake Como, and stopped at a lovely service station where we enjoyed our first margherita pizzas. On arrival in Bormio, we fitted our ski boots.

The beginner group mastered the travelator and nursery slopes, the intermediate groups enjoyed the amazing reds of Bormio, and the advanced group went to the top of the mountain with our ski tracker apps and enjoyed the blacks at <100km/h.

After the initial fun on the blacks from 3000, our instructor helped us with our jumping, backwards skiing, and 180 airs, style and carving. By the second day we were getting confident, and our instructor Filipo had us skiing backwards on a nice wide red; this is when Ossy, who was going first, didn’t see the edge of the slope in time and skied backwards into the icy side of the slope, leaving him with a broken collar bone.

That afternoon we did the jump park, AKA the jungle, where we grew in confidence in the air. The jungle claimed a broken arm.

In the evenings, we enjoyed a delicious all you can eat pizza, a spa night, karaoke night and equally enjoyable free time in the medieval town of Bormio, shopping and enjoying the cobbled high streets and playground.

On the penultimate day we had the ski school race; injury free and fun for everyone; a great opportunity to see how friends in other ski groups were improving.

On the last day the beginner group impressively got all the way to 3000, the top of the resort, and made it to the bottom, some even doing parallel turns. The intermediate groups were now effortlessly skiing the mountain with some style, and the advanced group were still trying to find the best snow on the mountain and get as much speed/ carving / jumps/ tricks in as possible. We decided our favourite run was a slower black with a sharp left turn at the bottom called Ferrari, that we straight lined, all reaching speeds of 90+km/h.

We then had a lovely presentation evening (livestreamed) and tasty meal before leaving the following day to fly home.

New York

During the October half term, U6 students had an incredible five-day adventure in the heart of New York City. Known for its energy and diversity, the city captivated us as we explored iconic sites and experienced all it had to offer.

After landing at JFK, we faced our first fun challenge: our booked coach was nowhere to be found. So, all 77 of us hopped on the subway for our first New York City ride to the hostel—what a way to kick off the trip!

Day two started with a classic NY breakfast of French toast and pancakes at the Metro Diner. We visited the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Museum, where we learned about this American icon and its significance in immigration history. We then strolled from Battery Park to Wall Street and tried to get a picture with the famous charging bull, which is said to bring good luck. Due to the crowds, we decided to go to Times Square instead. Surrounded by flashing billboards, we wrapped up the day with a hearty dinner at Tony’s di Napoli, enjoying generous portions of Italian food.

Day three had a more reflective start at the 9/11 Memorial, which left many of us deeply moved. We then walked over the Brooklyn Bridge, taking in the stunning views. After lunch at Time Out Market in Dumbo, we went shopping on 5th Avenue, the ultimate shopping destination, before heading to the Empire State Building, where we were treated to a breathtaking night view of New York.

The following day began with a lovely morning walk in Central Park.  Although we accidentally split into two groups and got a bit lost, we did manage to regroup at St Patrick’s Cathedral, just in time for Sunday Mass. Afterwards, we visited Summit One, a mirrored observation deck that provided a mesmerising experience. One of the highlights of the trip was catching the Brooklyn Nets vs. Bucks NBA game at the Barclays Center, where we cheered on the Nets to a thrilling 115-102 victory.

On our last day, we had breakfast at the iconic Grand Central Station, which has the famous Whispering Gallery. We explored Madison Square Garden and got a peek at the VIP area before heading to Chelsea Market for lunch. The evening was filled with fun at the Ellen Stardust Diner, where the staff entertained us with live singing. Mr Ewins even joined in with a sing-along of “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. We ended the day with an unforgettable Broadway show, Back to the Future, complete with a flying car! A bit more shopping and sightseeing in Manhattan, and then it was time to start heading home - and this time, our coach was right where it needed to be! This trip was much more than just a getaway - it opened our eyes to new cultures, histories and experiences, and left us with unforgettable memories.

Emily Li (U6)

Kenya

This summer, 17 students from Prior Park set off on an unforgettable journey to Kenya, partnering with the Africa and Asia Venture Foundation to support a vital aid project. Their mission: to help renovate and develop Madago Primary School, located in the coastal town of Diani, on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

In preparation for the trip, the students collectively raised over £6,000 through a range of creative fundraising activities. This funding went directly towards purchasing essential building materials and covering labour costs. Even before the group arrived, the funds had enabled the fitting of new roofs and windows to two classrooms, the construction of furniture for the pre-school, and the purchase of a generous supply of blue and white exterior paint.

After a long journey, the group settled into the picturesque Diani Beachalets resort. There, they were warmly welcomed by their local mentors, Grace and Charles, and treated to a delicious Swahili lunch by Hassan and his son Omari. Mealtimes quickly became a daily highlight—served on the verandah and often enjoyed under the curious gaze of the local cats and monkeys. Afternoons were spent cooling off in the Indian Ocean, with body surfing and wave jumping quickly becoming post-work rituals.

The real work began at Madago Primary School, where the students were welcomed with a vibrant ceremony of songs, dance, and poetry performed by the pupils. Divided into teams, the group tackled several renovation tasks. One team stripped away layers of old paint, while another cleared and levelled areas in the school’s vegetable garden. Others hauled sand, cement, and hardcore into the new classrooms, mixing materials to repair damaged walls and floors.

Once all external walls were prepared, the teams combined efforts to repaint the entire school. Over four intense days, they applied

undercoat and two topcoats to every building’s exterior. They also painted floors with red oxide, refreshed all classroom blackboards, and even restored the main signage throughout the school grounds.

It was an enormous undertaking, but the impact was clear. As Headteacher Mme Mwanaidi Kheri put it: “Prior Park has given us a new school, and we will be forever grateful.”

Before leaving Madago, the students celebrated with the local community—playing a spirited football match, teaching basic Mandarin, and singing and dancing with the children. Though physically demanding, the project was incredibly rewarding, and the group left with a deep sense of pride in their achievements.

With the work complete, the group had the opportunity to explore more of Kenya’s natural beauty. They flew to Nairobi, spent a night at the Wildebeest Eco Camp, and journeyed along the Great Rift Valley to Fisherman’s Camp on Lake Naivasha. Surrounded by exotic birds, warthogs, monkeys, and even hippos, the group enjoyed boat safaris and close encounters with giraffes, kingfishers, and fish eagles.

One of the trip’s most memorable challenges was climbing Mount Longonot, a steep, extinct volcano in Hell’s Gate National Park. Their final night in Naivasha was marked with a well-earned pizza feast and a campfire under the stars. The group then returned to Nairobi, making stops at the Giraffe Centre and the Maasai Market for some last-minute souvenirs, before wrapping up their adventure with a final night at the Wildebeest Camp and a refreshing swim.

A huge thank you goes to Mrs CrowfootRiggs for her exceptional organisation of the trip, and to Mrs Cox and Mr Faulkner for giving up their holidays to support our students every step of the way.

Mr Burt

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Summer term is definitely my favourite as I get to see the hard work put in by the students and supporting staff come to fruition through the practices and expeditions.

Gold

The Gold Award is the most prestigious and requires the most input from the candidates. I quickly realised that Sixth Form students have a lot going on, not only within school but also externally. This means a real effort is required to attend all the weekly training sessions, which are so important. Gold award is also where staff try to distance

themselves and allow the students to become totally self-reliant.

Mr Lord spent a lot of time developing some challenging routes in Wales for the practice,

and in the Lake District for the actual expedition. Students began to plan their exact movements across the tough terrains using route cards. We deployed to Wales and were blessed with glorious sunshine for the time we were there, which helped with navigation as all the main features could be seen from a distance. There were a few minor errors, but all groups were able to recover and get back on track. The practice culminated with a trek across the Pen y Fan which was absolutely glorious. Returning to a

fantastic camp site every night allowed some good down time and the appearance of the ubiquitous PPC rugby ball. By late June we were ready for our deployment to the Lake District. I think it started raining just after Liverpool and it really didn’t stop until our last day. Day one’s ascent was done in some really challenging wind and rain and two teams were assisted by Mountain Rescue. It transpired that both these teams were able to descend on their own but difficult communications and

potential risk meant I called in the rescue team to ensure complete safety of our students. It also made the BBC news which the students found hilarious. The remainder of our time in the Lakes was spent at a lower height due to the weather, but the distance was increased allowing us to concentrate and fine tune our navigation. This flew by and although some students are too cool to admit it, they absolutely loved Gold.

Silver

We had a really strong Silver cohort this year, the attendance and enthusiasm for the training really showed the Award’s ‘Reliance’ value. This group worked hard at menu planning and a palpable air of competitiveness was apparent when we deployed to the Quantocks for our training practice.

A sunny first day saw the normal navigational errors and the 16km route became more arduous as groups realised they had made an error and needed to backtrack. Regular checkpoints provided reassurance and teaching moments, as well as the opportunity to replenish water bottles.

Throughout the weekend, staff ensure our amateur chefs are actually producing edible food and this was by far the most adventurous group with smashed avocado pasta being the most exotic. That night the group moved to a viewpoint to watch the sunset, with students informing, ‘Sir, sometimes it’s good to watch a sunset and chill’.

Fast forward to June, when we set off for Exmoor. This terrain, with hikes up to ‘Dunkery beacon’, saw groups really bond. It was a late finish for some, especially when the offer of transport was made and then refused by students

as they wanted to complete their planned routes on foot. Day two saw the groups off on even longer and more challenging routes, but again they absolutely surpassed expectations in their performance; a few very minor nav and bearing errors saw them complete at exactly the right time under the watchful eye of our Silver assessor. A return to camp and the dreaded tent drying and cooker cleaning commenced. It really was a super weekend and a huge thanks to Mr Coughlin, Mrs Colquhoun and Mrs Nugent Willis for their unfaltering support.

Bronze

The end of April saw the Bronze Award blessed with perfect weather for our first practice run around Cheddar Gorge. We set off on an easy but long route, giving students the chance to test new boots and maybe wish they hadn’t packed three of everything. This was also a good time to practise the navigation training they had done under the watchful eyes of Miss Maine, Mr Elliot and (led by) Mr Francis. 14kms later we returned to the camp site for one of my ‘army style’ drinking parades. Dinner that night consisted of a mix between ‘boil in the bag’ rations and the ever-present pesto pasta which took the phrase ‘al dente’ to another level. There was much excitement as, for some, it was their first night under canvas. Staff patrols increased as we became the noise police, and the last chatter ended around midnight.

Next day saw the six teams leave completely unaccompanied on their day two routes. Mr Francis had them hiking up steep inclines and through woods, leaving the students wishing they had paid attention during the ‘compass bearings’ lesson. They performed brilliantly and

made it to the finish in great time, with one minor injury 400 metres from the finish being quickly forgotten as we loaded the vans and headed home.

The Expedition saw us move to the glorious Wye Valley. On arriving, the admin goddess, Mrs Jones was there to meet us. Next day started with some fierce competition between the groups, despite assurances that it was not a race. The routes were amazing, handrailing the River Wye and taking in some magnificent scenery. All teams finished in good time. Our second camp, Biblins was next to the river; its tranquillity only broken by the sound of undercooked pasta being chewed. We woke to a perfect day which saw us navigating approximately 18kms along riverbanks and incorporating some steep climbs. By now blisters and fatigue had started to appear, however my repeated singing of ‘can you feel the love’ appeared to keep them moving. A few wrong turns and a few more blisters and, before they knew, it was all over and back to Prior Park.

Mr Brady

CCF

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) provides students with a rich and varied experience, and, throughout the year, cadets engage in activities that build confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

A highlight of the CCF calendar is the Survival Weekend, where cadets learn vital outdoor skills such as fire starting, shelter building, navigation, and basic first aid. The weekend promotes teamwork and problem-solving as cadets work together to overcome various challenges, which helps strengthen their camaraderie and self-reliance.

Our training this year has focused on core skills such as weapon handling, first aid, and navigation, and we are gradually progressing through the syllabus, building a solid foundation for our cadets.

In May, the entire CCF was inspected by Colonel John Cummins. The cadets stood at attention, ready for inspection, before taking part in various displays of their skills, showcasing activities such as paddleboarding, shooting, and conducting CPR. Colonel Cummins had the opportunity to speak with many cadets and

remarked on their politeness, enthusiasm and engagement.

As this academic year drew to a close, the Army CCF was fortunate to attend a summer camp. I took seven brave cadets to Okehampton Camp on Dartmoor, where we joined 250 cadets from different schools across the country. We had an incredible experience, with activities on the first day including clay pigeon shooting, laser tag, paintballing, and air rifle shooting. The subsequent days involved range work and outdoor exercises, including spending a night under bashas on Dartmoor. The week culminated in a competition, where Prior Park was awarded a bronze medal, and Cadet Grace Knight was awarded the Best Endeavour Trophy - beating 250 other cadets! It was a challenging week for both cadets and staff but a real testament to their resilience.

I look forward to continuing to develop the skills and confidence of our cadets in the future.

Mr Brady

Navy Section

This year saw the CCF Navy section take a huge step forward in its sailing at national level. In October we entered three teams into the National CCF Navy sailing regatta held in Southport, and all put in some great performances. Following this success, we were invited to compete in the Open National 12hr race, a new experience for our team of six sailors. They started at 8am and had to sail a fixed course for 12hrs non-stop. A race not for the faint hearted, it requires a huge amount of skill and concentration. For their first attempt they competed very well and finished 11th overall and 3rd in their class sailing in an Argo.

At the end of the year, we took delivery of two new dinghies to add to our fleet. These are specific racing boats in the form of RS200’s. There are very fast boats which our

cadets are very excited about sailing. Watch this space!

It has been great to see growth in our ranks and even more cadets attending national camps and courses around the country. From Competent Crew in yachting, to Powerboat Level 2, as well as a plethora of RYA dingy sailing qualifications, the cadets have been advancing their skills in all areas.

In addition to our annual trips to Britannia Royal Naval College for our basic training and HMS Raleigh for our Alcott weekend, we also ran mountain biking and climbing activities in another action-packed and memorable year.

Mr Faulkner

Clubs

Astronomy

Fishing

Axe Throwing

St Mary’s

This academic year was filled with personal growth, achievements and friendships.

At the start of September, we welcomed forty new ladies to our home, bringing a mix of nerves and excitement. They were warmly received by the House Team and our wonderful Head of St Mary’s, Charlotte. It did not take long for friendships to be made with our returning boarders. As the Michaelmas term kicked off, rooms were personalised, routines established, and, very quickly, the house began to feel like a second home.

As always, the office was the place where “tea” was spilled, nails painted, songs sung, and we were treated to music from our incredible Feli on her violin.

Baking was VERY popular, and we were lucky to be able to taste the delicious baked goods courtesy of Carla and Franzi.

We had many incredible on-site activities this year. Laser tag was great fun, with Jule channelling James Bond. The rain stayed away for our outdoor cinema night, and Niamh’s weekly craft club was a huge success.  Autumn’s highlights were a silent disco, karaoke nights, pizzas on the portico during Bonfire Night

fireworks, and the inaugural Boarding Christmas Party with DJ Chloe! The girls all looked fabulous in their Christmas sparkles, and we partied hard and danced even harder with our boarding brothers from St Paul’s. The girls decorated the house beautifully with Christmas decorations which enhanced the festive spirit. St Nicholas even stopped by in early December to leave some delicious treats in a variety of shoes. Some ladies thought the more shoes they put out, the more treats they would receive - the outside of Luna’s room looked like a shoe shop! Christmas cookies, Mars bar slice, and chocolate advent calendars made December even sweeter.

The Lent term brings renewed energy after the Christmas break. Multicultural Week allowed our international students to shine, and the boarding house was the fortunate recipient of some truly spectacular culinary delights!

With sports fixtures, music recitals, drama productions and House

dinners, every girl found opportunities to shine.

February saw the introduction of our ‘glimmer wall’ where the girls shared moments that brought them joy, happiness, peace or gratitude during the day. This has now become a permanent fixture in the house.

By summer, the house was buzzing with lighter evenings and warm, sunny weekends spent in our beautiful garden. In June, we had our inaugural Summer Tea Party in the garden with delicious treats provided by the House team and the girls. Tessa and Emy provided delicious banana loaf and brownies, and Friday evenings were so much better with Feli’s homemade tiramisu.

As the academic year comes to an end, we have to say a sad but fond farewell to some of our wonderful St Mary’s ladies. St Mary’s may be a small chapter in the lives of our girls, but they are forever a part of the story of St Mary’s.

Mel Gittins

St Paul’s

The academic year began with a warm and lively tradition: the annual opening BBQ. This event not only marked the start of a new term but also provided a wonderful opportunity to welcome our new students into the St Paul’s boarding community. Returning boarders reconnected with friends and staff over delicious food and good conversation, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.

As with every year, we also saw some significant changes in staff. We bid a heartfelt farewell to two long-serving and much respected members of our boarding team: Mr Holmes and Mr Lovat. Both men devoted many years to the wellbeing and growth of St Paul’s boarders, leaving a lasting legacy through their unwavering commitment and care. Their departure marks the end of an era, and they will be deeply missed by students and staff alike. In turn, we welcomed Mr Mosley in January and Mr Marshall, who will be joining us in September. We are excited for the fresh energy and new perspectives they will bring to our community.

Throughout the year, students enjoyed a wide variety of extracurricular activities and boarding events that made life at St Paul’s vibrant and engaging. A favourite for many was the spirited touch rugby sessions led by Mr Timbrell, which not only built physical skills but also promoted teamwork and camarade-

rie. Culinary creativity was also on full display during cooking sessions with Tanja, when students had the chance to learn new recipes and share their creations. Monday evenings became a weekly highlight thanks to Mr Mosler’s Asian cuisine nights—his flavourful dishes brought a true sense of comfort and home to the boarding house.

One of the most memorable events of the year was the Christmas Dinner and Dance. It was a spectacular evening filled with joy, laughter, and celebration. Boarders came together in their finest attire to enjoy a festive meal followed by dancing and singing that lit up the night. The sense of community and togetherness was truly special and will be remembered fondly by all who attended.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that John-Henry Moore has been appointed as Head of House for the upcoming year. He will be joined by a newly selected team of prefects, whose appointments will be finalised in September. We are confident that under John-Henry’s leadership, the boarding house will continue to flourish.

As we close another successful year at St Paul’s, we reflect with pride on the memories made and look forward to the future with excitement and optimism.

Mr Andrews

Multicultural Week

At Prior Park College, Multicultural Week isn’t just a celebration, it’s a statement that our diverse student body is not only respected but truly celebrated.

This year, led by the EAL Department and us, the week was a joyful and colourful tribute to the many cultures that make up our vibrant community. Kicking off the festivities was the much-anticipated MasterChef competition, where students brought their culinary heritage to the table by cooking dishes representing Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia, the Caribbean, Britain, and so on. The aromas were as rich as the stories behind each dish, with Yasmin ultimately winning for her delicious and creative matcha Tiramisu.

Throughout the week, the school embraced its multicultural spirit in every corner, with House assemblies, themed tutor sessions, and proudly displayed flags from across the globe, representing every single student at Prior. Brownlow and Burton Houses tied for best House decorations.

Students then took to the stage in the Multicultural Talent Show, where music, dance, poetry, and magic performances reflected the diverse traditions within our school. Juliet captured first place with her heartfelt performance of “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”

As the week came to a close, the Traditional Dress Show brought colour and elegance to the Chapel. Students proudly showcased their cultural attire, with Mandy from Mongolia winning for her stunning traditional wear.

Beyond the events, Multicultural Week reminded us to look beyond labels and to see each other through the shared languages of food, music, and culture. At Prior Park, individuality is celebrated, and with a large international student body, this week holds deep significance in recognising the beauty and strength of multiculturalism. Events like these don’t just bring joy, but encourage empathy, break down barriers, and highlight the values of respect and inclusion that lie at the heart of our school. As Heads of International Students, we are proud of all that has been achieved, and look forward to building on this spirit for years to come, as we pass the torch to next year’s Heads.

Luna Lui and Jamie Lam, Heads of International Students

EAL Speaking Competitions

The annual EAL Speaking Competitions took place in October, with impressive performances from Form 4 students. The winner was Maria, who spoke about ‘Why teenagers shouldn’t drink alcohol’. Second place went to Timothy asking ‘Should the school ban homework?’ and third place to Emma, ‘Saving the environment’. Then it was time for our L5 students. There were some very interesting topics, such as ‘Pink

Tax’, ‘Marie Curie’ and ‘To Join the Fishing Club or Not’, but first place and our congratulations go to Aitana, Gaspard, and Simon for their speeches on, ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Which is better, football or rugby?’

Our judges were thoroughly impressed by these confident and entertaining speeches!

Emily Li (U6)

International Student Voice

This year’s International Student Voice competition was hosted at Stonar School. Students from five local independent schools gave short speeches in their second language (English). The standard was extremely high, as always, and many speakers drew inspiration directly from their school experiences, with topics such as ‘Is there any value in homework?’, ‘The quirks of the English language’, ‘How to survive as an international student’, and ‘Language & identity’. We also had recommendations of places to visit, such as the Cotswolds and France, and thought-provoking titles, including ‘The principles of ikigai’, and ‘Why do women

change their name when they get married?’

Our very own Astin Fung (L6 Allen) spoke about ‘Crowds and individuals’, challenging the audience not to bow to peer pressure. However, it was our two most idiosyncratic speakers who brought home prizes. Brenden Chan (L5 Allen) won second prize in the junior competition for his passionate call for everybody to join a fishing club. Plaudits also went to Helena von Hardenberg (U5 Fielding) whose quirky yet compelling talk ‘Why hippos are better than elephants’ won her first place in the senior competition.

Mr Stroud

Global Citizen Award

Completing the Global Citizen Award has been an insightful and transformative experience for me at Prior.

It allowed me to broaden my horizons by having a deeper understanding of different cultures, and it really helped me feel more confident in a new environment.

Joining a new school in a completely new country wasn’t easy. It was absolutely challenging for me to approach local students in the first year. I didn’t know how to start conversations, and sometimes I was afraid to say something wrong. I was quickly introduced to the Global Citizen Award when I joined the school, and that made things easier. It gave me a way to talk to other students without having to start awkward conversations.

Tasks like interviews helped me understand different cultures and lifestyles. Doing a short introduction of myself in another language also allowed me to approach students from another country more easily. As soon as I started the award, I made lots of new friends. They were all so helpful and approachable. For example, they slowed down when speaking so I had time to type, and some helped me with pronunciation

or understanding new words.

After completing my GCA and becoming one of the ambassadors of the award, I realised it wasn’t just international students who benefitted. Listening to feedback from local students, I learned that they also reflected on their assumptions and stereotypes towards students from different countries. They became more open-minded and started to understand different cultural elements like values and social norms.

For example, one student told me that in Spanish culture, people sometimes make a wish when they see the same numbers in a moment in time, like 11:11. It was interesting, and something I didn’t know before.

Now, I feel more confident talking to people from different backgrounds. The GCA helped me to grow, not just in language, but also in understanding people better. It makes our school community more inclusive and respectful.

Natalie Hung (L6)

Fisher Road Relay

Senior Houses

Girls - 1st place Arundell, 2nd Fielding, 3rd English

New girls’ record: Amelie Sinclair (L6 Fielding),  3:58, the first girl to run sub 4 minutes.

Boys - 1st place Burton, 2nd Clifford, joint 3rd

Allen and Roche

Fastest Boy: James Trevethick, 3:16 (U6 Roche)

Junior Houses

Baines results - 1st Alexander, 2nd Garrick, 3rd Ward, 4th Francis

Brownlow - 1st Alexander, 2nd Ward, 3rd Francis, 4th Garrick

Fastest Girl - Neve Townend (4:16)

Fastest Boy - Rain Yang (4:31)

Senior House Music

Solo Performance

Finn Gilmour (Roche House) and Ella King (Arundell House)

Group Song

Allen House

Girls House Song

Fielding House

Boys House Song

Burton House

Best overall performance

Allen House

Sports Day

Baines House

Alexander

Brownlow House

Ward

Senior Girls

Arundell House

Senior Boys

Burton House

Inter-House Girls’ Rugby

Our first ever Inter-House Girls’ Rugby Tournament was full of energy, teamwork, and fierce competition! Arundell came out on top with wins over Fielding (5-1) and English (3-2), while Fielding edged a close match against English (4-3). Well done to all the players for a memorable event, and, in particular, Meadhbh in L6, who did a fantastic job getting all the Houses engaged.

Inter-House Football

The boys competition was played with its usual passion, from players and spectators! After some tight matches, the final was contested between Allen and title holder, Burton. A closely fought match, but it was Allen who came away with the victory. Roche beat Clifford in the play off for third place.

Arundell retained the Girls Inter-House Football cup.

Baines House Debating

The exciting finale of the Baines House Debating series took place in May, with Francis and Alexander teams competing for the win. As always, the motion was not only topical but also mirrored the Senior Debating final: “This house believes that under 16s should not have access to social media.”

Alexander was crowned winners, but all the Baines teams demonstrated impressive preparation, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. Well done to all involved – we look forward to seeing them contest for the Senior title in a few years’ time.

Senior Debating

My favourite moment of this year’s competition was when the Head was challenging the English team about the addictive nature of social media, and how it is so much harder to put down a phone than, say, a book. Olivia Finn, with the most withering of looks, said “Wow! – there have been many times when I haven’t been able to put my book down.” This composure, presence of mind and quick wittedness was completely indictive of the fantastic English House Team comprising, Olivia, Martha Dutton and Lydia Gillman, who all gave

exceptional performances across the rounds and were this year’s very worthy runners up.

Burton House was crowned 2025 Champions, successfully arguing that ‘social media should be banned for under 16s’. Their team, Billy Clark, Jude Brayton and Henry Nash, consistently gave thoughtful and persuasive rhetoric - there was a moment in Billy’s opening speech when you could literally have heard a pin drop, everyone was so drawn in.

As always, I would like to give my thanks to fellow

judges Mrs Colquhoun and Mr Bond; Alex Mould, who helped judge the final; those who sat in the chair, Angel Wong, George Cambell-Jones and Alex Fox; and the other participating teams - there wasn’t a single round that was easy to judge. They might not all have won but the experience and skills they developed through researching, speech making and thinking on their feet whilst under huge pressure, will hold them in great stead for the future.

Mr Chard

Junior House Music

Baines Solo

Raphaella Blaikley (Alexander)

Brownlow Solo

Lottie Morton (Francis)

Baines Small Group

Garrick

Brownlow Small Group

Francis

House Song Ward

Baines House

It’s been a fantastic year in Baines House , full of fun, friendship, and growth. Our students have embraced the challenges of secondary school life, and, through a wide range of activities and shared experiences, have become a tight-knit, resilient group. As they prepare to move on to Brownlow, they do so with confidence, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community.

We began the year with an unforgettable team-building day at Campwell Farm near Winsley, guided by our brilliant Sixth Form wellbeing volunteers. Working in tutor groups, the children built dens, herded some very confused sheep, wanged wellies, and roasted marshmallows around the campfire. It was immediately clear we had an energetic, adventurous cohort on our hands!

The Michaelmas term was packed with enriching excursions. We journeyed back in time on a history trip to Chepstow Castle, explored big questions on a Theology retreat at the serene Ammerdown House, and ended the term in festive style with a celebratory visit to Lane 7 in Bath for bowling and table tennis.

Closer to home, our Monday Open House sessions became a much-loved tradition. Whether we were toasting crumpets, brewing endless pots of tea, exploring Rainbow Woods, or enjoying impromptu games of cricket, rounders, and football, these relaxed afternoons were a highlight of the week. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect informally, and for me to get to know each of them a little better.

House assemblies revealed some impressive budding orators. During the Lent term, we held four lively debates on thought-provoking topics such as whether social media

should be banned for under-16s, if computers are better than books, whether British students should learn a foreign language, and if everyone should choose to be vegetarian. Each tutor group researched their positions, selected speakers, and honed their public speaking skills. Huge thanks to our Sixth Form judging panel for their thoughtful feedback and encouragement — they helped make these events both educational and inspiring.

The Lent term also brought musical magic with the House Music competition. Tutor groups teamed up with their Year 8 shadows to take to the Slade Theatre stage, performing creative renditions of classic hits like “You’re the One That I Want,” “Wannabe,” “Somewhere Only We Know,” and “Footloose.” It was a joyful celebration of teamwork and talent.

We rounded off the year with a post-exam residential adventure at Llangorse Lake near Brecon. Camping in tipis under the stars, students took on challenges like high ropes, abseiling, caving, and archery. Their love for the outdoors really shone through, and the stunning, unspoiled surroundings offered the perfect setting to relax, bond, and celebrate a successful year.

To all the Baines students: thank you for your energy, kindness, and curiosity this year. I look forward to seeing you around the College next year — and hope you’ll return to Baines from time to time to share your wisdom and help welcome the next generation of Year 7s.

Mr Burt

Brownlow House

Another year in Brownlow has flown by, filled with fun, friendship and friendly inter-tutor group rivalry, all fuelled by copious pieces of toast and Biscoff spread and many, many Freddos! I hope the F3s will take away memories of the lovely times we have had together as a House, including our Christmas bowling outing, games and pizza at the end of the summer term, Smoothie Tuesday tutor breakfasts, and of course the ever-popular trip to Paultons Park Theme Park.

This year’s crop has been a loud and lovely bunch, enjoying the open spaces

around Brownlow to the fullest and filling the House with chatter and laughter. Many a duty lunchtime has found the tutors watching impromptu games of football, rounders, cricket, giant Jenga and spikeball. The new beanbag chairs, with grateful thanks to POP for their generosity, have also been a great hit for those enjoying a more sedate and calm break time quietly chatting around Brownlow.

The students also proved to be a very talented bunch, with Ronan and Max representing the 1st XI in cricket week, Lottie, Abi, Georgia and Izzy playing

in the U14 netball County Tournament, and numerous students displaying their musical talents in the College orchestra and ensembles, Junior Choir and the school musical. House Music showcased some incredible talent, with Ward Tutor group winning the overall House song with a fabulous version of ‘Unwritten’, an incredible solo performance by Lottie taking the solo prize, and a superb group performance by Lottie, Darcey, Theo and Gus winning the small group prize for Francis.

Sporting competition was also fierce in Brownlow this year. The Fisher Relay teams

were hampered by a series of injuries and a contingent of boys competing at Rosslyn Park 7s on the same day, but the remaining students rallied together to put out their best mixed teams and it was a strong Alexander team that eventually came out on top.

Sports Day was a fantastic event, and it was heartwarming to see and hear the support given to each other. It was an incredibly close competition, with some tight photo finishes in the boys’ sprint races, but the competition was eventually won by Ward after a tied first place between Garrick and Ward in the Boys 4x100 relay race.

The competition that everyone wanted to win, however, was Inter-Tutor Group Rounders! Mrs Holbrook’s introduction of this competition to Brownlow last year was a great hit, and so it was that over four gloriously sunny mornings, tutor groups went head-tohead to win the coveted title of ‘Rounders Team of the Year’. The games were tight, sometimes with only ½ a rounder between them. The competition for 1st place was between Alexander and Ward, and after a hot and exciting game, Alexander took the win by 1.5 rounders.

As always, it was bitter-

sweet saying goodbye to this year’s cohort on the last day of term. As a pastoral team, we get to know them so well over the year they are with us, and it is a privilege to watch them grow and develop into the fine young people who we then pass on to their Senior Houses. They leave more confident, more self-aware, more self-assured, and in many cases a lot taller! So, we say ‘Farewell’, but not goodbye, to this year’s Brownlow crop and wish them every success in their next steps at Prior Park.

Mrs Goodman

Allen House

On the sun-drenched bank overlooking the mansion and, behind that, the summery city of Bath, Ollie Campbell was presented with the Unprecedented Shield. The unofficial motto of Allen has long been that we win, but not always on the scoreboard. Winning this shield has been the result of a change of attitude brought about, most significantly, by the teamwork of George Campbell-Jones, Cass Maurice, and Joe Brickell, who, as the student leadership team, created a legacy and a self-belief that Allen House win AND we can sometimes do it on the scoreboard as well.

It is tough at the top, and Allen is a house that is sometimes misunderstood. The usual nonsense of flags, DJs, tuck shops, kazoos, wolves, capes, cardboard cut-outs of the royal family, and Instagram are there to reflect a fun and colourful community that takes very seriously the ability not to take these fleeting formative teenage years too seriously. Learning is supposed to be fun. It has been that attitude,

and taking on and learning from new experiences with a smile, that has defined this year – perhaps even more than unexpectedly winning everything. In House Music, it has often been the parting shot of HsMs to remind participants about to take the stage: “don’t forget to smile”. I haven’t needed to do that this year. It has been a year of genuine smiles and laughter, despite our individual and collective challenges. I wish everyone could have seen it.

There are too many highlights to describe in full. Music, Fisher, Sports Day (especially field events), Football, Pillow Fighting, General Knowledge, Debating, Maths, International Day, staff/student tennis, House Dinner, paddle boarding, tutor outings... Allen boys smiling and laughing whilst learning..

Mr Lovat

The howler prize (music and the arts)

Freddie Hargreaves, Astin Fung, Cormac Page, Gabriel Spencer-Jones

Gentleman award (acts of kindness)

Henry Warner, Ollie Spizzirri, Oscar Campbell

Spirit of the pack (strength of character)

Stan Shaw, Aiden Wang, Miguel Ruiz-Esquivel

Akela Academic Achievement Award (AAAA)

Arthur Bridges, Felix Terry, Harry Chu

White fang award (Physical endeavour)

Jack Brown, John Henry-Moore, Harry Durnford

'Dog'gedness (effort)

Oscar Skeates, George Whinney, Jude Harrison-Ekers

Spirit of Prior Awards

Euan Redwood and Robbie Distl

Arundell House

'Once an Arundell girl, always an Arundell girl.'

2025 has been another fantastic year. As a group of 70, it has been an absolute joy to watch the girls embrace our House ethos of being kind and getting fully involved in the myriad of opportunities available at this wonderful school. They have run, jumped, sung, danced, acted, played, debated, raised funds, and pretty much everything in between. They have done it with smiles on their faces and very much for each other. The spirit within the House has been

exceptional, and the Class of 2025 leave us having made a significant mark, and not just on the snug wall with their handprints. Tammi, Lucy and Sofiyyah have led with energy and enthusiasm and with Gigi and Angel at the top of the tree, have set a high bar. These U6 girls, along with Charlotte, Ava, Ella, Isla, Victoria, Mandy, Charlotte, Emily, and Maddie, have all contributed a huge amount in their time in Arundell, and the younger girls have felt their care and warmth. They

leave a great legacy and will be fondly remembered for years to come. Thank you one and all.

Highlights of the year include Ella jointly winning the solo at House Music with her outstanding drumming; the Staff Charity Karaoke event; retaining the Fisher Road Relay; and Inter-House Football titles; reclaiming the Sports Day Crown; winning the inaugural Girls’ Rugby competition; and, another first for us, gaining the Multicultural Trophy. A

superb array of silverware and most importantly, even more fun was had during the preparation and performing stages with the atmosphere being electric. The girls truly do know how to win with grace but equally as vital, on occasion, to lose with grace.

Over the school year, the ‘star of the week award’ has been won by all members of the House. This award, given out on a Friday, has been for an achievement, a kindness or an area of positive impact, and it has been always hotly fought and well deserved.

Next year, the highly capable and inspiring Miss Rheanne Lee takes over the helm. I wish her all the very best and I am delighted to pass the HSM baton on, in true Fisher Relay style. I finish with my final heartfelt thank you, and that is to all the hundreds of Arundell girls that have come and gone over the last twelve years. When the House was opened in 2013, we had only 21 girls in two small year groups. How we have blossomed. It has been my favourite role at Prior

Park, and I feel really blessed to have walked beside these lovely girls as they've found their voice and place in the world. I wish them all great happiness and contentment, and I very much hope that they each find the courage and energy to chase their dreams. There is nothing you cannot do with a little Arundell spirit. Much love always, Mrs T xx

Mrs Trott

Burton House

It’s been another superb year for us in Burton House. Through the highs and lows, the boys have supported, encouraged and championed each other. It has been a joy and a privilege to witness.

We’ve had an incredibly sociable year, kicking off with a barbeque, football and rounders evening when the boys teamed up in their family groups. This was closely followed by one of my favourite times of the year, House Music and, in true Burton spirit, we gave it everything! With Billy Clarke and Leo Brayton at the helm, we were in capable hands, and it was great to see the boys choreograph a fab performance of ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’, an ABBA classic. The costumes were particularly impressive this year, with spray painting, confetti cannons and pompoms all part of the final show. Joshua Frere’s solo was incredible, performing a song he wrote himself. Our talented band — Josh Frere, Beckett Pierce, Adrian Woods, Milo Crawley, Alfie Parkin, Jude Brayton and Reuben Ward — were also fantastic, performing ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackson 5.

Our Christmas Social saw us head into Bath for some trampolining, bowling, and Puttify golf, followed by dinner at Giraffe. Our House Dinner took place earlier than usual this year, in February. With the help of the Upper Sixth, the Mansion and the dining room looked spectacular decorated with a Valentine's theme. Music at our drinks reception was provided by Beckett, Milo, Alfie and Mr Ewins.

In the sporting competitions, we took victory this year in both the Fisher Road Relay and Sports Day. Our U6 Fisher team (Will Hardwick-Adams, Henry Butters, Henry Nash

and Josh Wake) were once again impressive, winning the overall race. Everyone competed in one event or another during Sports Day, and we broke several records — Milo Crawley in the 800m, Harry Warhurst in the 300m, and both our F4 and L6 relay teams! Our final House social of the year took place the same afternoon, finishing the year on a high with Bubble Football and pizza in the sunshine.

Our performances in the academic competitions were also very strong. Our team, Henry Nash, Billy Clarke and Jude Brayton, won the Inter-House Debating and were noted by the judges for their unique style. Our Inter-House Maths team of Ronald Lau, Frank Jaegar, Rory Gao and Steven Zhang finished in 3rd place— they did us proud! We also narrowly missed out on the hymn-singing this year, losing to Allen House.

Our biggest success this year was our charity fundraising, raising approximately £7,000 for charities including Sarcoma UK and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. I am incredibly proud of our efforts. We ran bake sales, tuck shops, ‘splat the rat’ games, ice cream sales, held our traditional Burton Car Wash, and our big event — 14 of us ran the Bath Half Marathon.

Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Upper Sixth for their leadership and enthusiasm this year, with Henry Nash leading by example every step of the way as Head of House. He was ably supported by Josh Wake, Noah Dyson and Leo Brayton as deputies. To all the amazing young men of Burton House: thank you for making the world a better place!

Mrs Bonney

Clifford House

Alex: This year it has been my privilege to be Head of Clifford House. I am immensely proud of the effort that the boys have put in, especially when it came to charitable events. The Upper 6th raffle, popcorn sales, and the samosa sale were huge successes, all led by the men of Clifford House.

Sam: On top of our charitable efforts, the talents of our musicians this year has really shone through. Though not winning the House Music competition in October, the show put on by our Clifford band was nothing short of spectacular. The boys were given an ambitious goal for the whole House performance, and it was inspiring to see each of them commit so fully to bringing it together in time to go on stage.

At the time of writing, our performance in school Sports Day was a far cry from the year prior. Nevertheless, the boys gave it their all and refused to let the loss taint their spirits. As Head of House for the coming year, I have every confidence we can improve on our efforts and reclaim our title.

Sports Day isn’t the only opportunity for the boys to demonstrate their athletic prowess, though. The annual Fisher Road Relay rolled around, and we had some strong teams on our side. Two of the school’s strongest runners, Josh Knight and Archie Enstone, rallied and inspired the boys in the days leading up to the event, and we scored a blisteringly close second place in a nail-biting finish.

Alex: Clifford House started this year with a big change. The House was completely refurbished, with new furniture, new changing areas, a kitchen and the all-important addition of FIFA to the House, something which has proved to be immensely popular with the boys, (when we are sparingly allowed to use it!) We also got a House rebrand, updating our logo and House colours to hark back to the original colours of Clifford.

Debating has been a point of pride in Clifford since I joined the House, and the Inter-House Debating competition remains a highly anticipated event in the Clifford calendar. Hoping to bring the trophy back to Clifford, our debating team went up against Burton House in round one. The boys debated well, and feedback from the judges was looking good, but sadly Burton (who would go on to win the whole tournament), would be the ones to come out top. We were, however, declared best runners up, allowing us to go into a debate with Allen House. Tensions were higher than ever before, and, in one of our closest debates, the Men of Clifford performed admirably, but after the judges’ deliberation, it was Allen who won, through grit, determination and some controversial interpretations of the rules. I have loved being your Head of House, and I wish Sam, and all of you, the very best of luck!

Alex F (outgoing Head of House) & Sam P (incoming Head of House)

English House

Another wonderful year in English House, my first full year as HsM, which is hard to believe!.  This year we have had even more events (if that is possible), but the one constant is that the girls of English have stood up, got involved and given their all, always dazzling in bright pink.

In September we welcomed many wonderful new students to English, and preparations started for House Music, with the U6 leading the whole group song (Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5). Many an hour was given to perfecting dance moves, learning lyrics and introducing harmonies. The house really came together during our tech rehearsal, where the girls enjoyed some well-deserved pizza and traditional house games.

December saw preparations for the Christmas Market, with the whole of English House painting a candle to be sold on our stall. Not only did the girls enjoy the crafting aspect, but we also raised £165 for our school charity. We brightened up the dark days of the Lent term by planning and prepping for our Galentine’s themed House Dinner. The mansion looked resplendent in pink, with students, staff and guests looking beautiful in black, white, silver, gold, pink and red. The photobooth was a huge success, with many special memories captured. We enjoyed a delicious three course meal in the dining hall, which was transformed beyond recognition by the U6 students (shout out to Bea T and Martha for gorgeous flower arrangements). After speeches and awards, the whole House ended the night with some karaoke. Each

tutor group took to the mic, as well as the English Tutor team.

March saw the annual House Debating Competition, with an exceptionally strong team of Martha, Liv, Lydia and Carina.

The girls presented outstandingly clear arguments, dealt with points of information with ease, and earned a place in the final. English narrowly missed out to Burton House (with even Mr Chard wondering if he had made the right decision).

Easter break saw many school trips. Isla, Kitty, Chloe and Mrs Redman had a lifeenhancing trip to China, while Melia, Agnes, Eve, Amber, Tara, Molly, Hannah T, Carina, Lexie, Natalie, and Jasmine had lots of fun on the slopes of Bormio.

The summer term was even busier than normal, with our annual House Charity Concert taking place on 2 May. The start of U6 and U5 study leave was celebrated with a breakfast in House and good luck charms gifted to each student. Mr Nicholls chaired the brand new College Challenge, which saw English’ determination pay off, earning a respectable 3rd place. The girls of English also demonstrated superb mathematical ability in the Maths Challenge, securing an impressive 2nd place, higher than any girls house ever!. The year ended with a wonderful old school sports day and pizza van.

I look forward to working with Emily (Head of House) and Charlotte (Deputy) to make English the very best it can be! ‘Cor unum’

Mrs Nugent-Willis

Fielding House

As the new year began, we were excited to see what Mr. Lord, our new Housemaster, had in store for us. We also welcomed a new set of Form 4s and many starters into the Sixth Form. This brought a spark to the House as we got to know all the faces and characters.

The first House event in the Michaelmas term was the infamous House Music - a personal highlight of mine. The Upper Sixth tutor group chose Waka Waka by Shakira and devised an energetic, powerful dance to go with it. We had a House innings to practise the dance and singing - fuelled by Domino’s - which helped to further integrate and bond us. On the day, the House spirit was electric. The girls gave everything during the performance, helping us win the Girls House Song trophy.

Moza Rajabu performed our solo to Skyfall by Adele, putting the audience in awe of her incredible voice, a talent she continued to show in many Chapel performances throughout the year. Our group song was a beautifully performed rendition of Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, sung by Moza Rajabu, Layla Wakefield, Freya Downey, Sophie Gendle, and Hannah Hart.

Another Michaelmas highlight was Inter-House Football, with competitive matches against Arundell and English. Our team ranged from complete beginners to experienced players, and everyone was so supportive and encouraging, it was a true example of Fielding spirit!

At the start of the Lent term, we held our annual House Dinner with a ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme. The night was beautifully decorated with blue and silver decor and there was a photo booth, speeches from Mr. Lord and me, and a variety of awards presented by Tilly Lewis (Deputy Head of House) and me. The evening concluded with dancing in the Mansion.

In the Inter-House Debating Competition, our team—Sophie Gendle, Anoushka Campbell Jones, Amelie Sinclair, and Flora Hylton—gave compelling arguments backed by a strong research team and made it to the semi-final.

Another of the biggest highlights for me was the Fisher Relay. The Fielding girls gave incredible performances, the standout being from Amelie Sinclair, who broke the girls' record and ran under four minutes. These efforts helped us place second overall- a huge achievement!

We also raised money for the school charity by hosting a high tea on the Mansion Portico, and competed in a new event, Girls Inter-House Rugby, where Fielding finished second.

As the Upper Sixth say goodbye, we’re so thankful to Mr. Lord and Miss Bloomfield for making our final year at Prior so special. We look ahead to exciting new beginnings with Cesca Butterworth as Head of House, Amelie Sinclair as Head of School, and Sophie Gendle as her Deputy.

Amelie Lucas, Head of House

Roche House

The boys of Roche House set the tone right from the start of this year. The common room buzzed with laughter and excitement as we helped the new boys settle into the House with our ice-breaker activities. A nail-biter finale to a Rock, Paper, Scissors showdown saw Form 4’s Will W and Josh R square off, concurrently trading facts about each other during each rapid-fire round. To be victorious, each had to recall the key information about their opponent. Will clinched the win. It proved a great way to settle in some of the new faces and help discover more about each other.

Not long after, the infectious energy of House Music took over. Under the spirited direction of Will - our Head of House - and the musical expertise of Fin G, boys of every year

mastered the choreography and harmonies of ‘Kung Fu Fighting.’ Watching the Upper Sixth mentor their younger peers was a real highlight.

Tutor-Time breakfasts returned with a delicious treat and fun games to further help mix the year groups, with each year paired up with the Upper Sixth ‘big brothers’. These gentle little moments of connection help to nurture friendships, ease anxieties and make newcomers feel instantly at home.

Then came Roche Charities Week, a whirlwind of goodwill and good humour. Whether selling Christmas cards, orchestrating a raffle, dispatching far too many Krispy Kreme doughnuts or launching soggy sponges at willing (and occasionally squealing) targets, every boy dug

in to benefit the school charity. By the end of the week, we celebrated not only a generous haul, but the enduring spirit of giving that defines Roche.

Our pool table became the epicentre of fierce but friendly rivalry. After epic upsets and last-gasp shots, Barnaby (U5) and newcomer Will W battled in a final that had everyone on the edge of their seats—Barnaby’s calm composure ultimately won him the title.

In December, we swapped pool cues for ice skates at Bath on Ice, wobbling and whirling in the heart of the city. The boys have always enjoyed this annual event. Later we warmed our hands around hot chocolates before heading back to the House for a Secret Santa where each boy presented a thoughtful, sometimes

hilarious gift to a fellow housemate.

Across the sports calendar, Roche boys represented us with pride, but special applause this year goes to Sam Q, whose exceptional form earned him a debut - and then a regular spot - in the 1st XI hockey squad. Another mention goes to Jake S, who made his 1st XI cricket debut, taking 5 wickets in the match.

Multicultural Week turned our celebration of diversity into a feast - literally. Assemblies showcased the rich tapestry of cultures within Roche, and our MasterChef kitchen was alive with the aroma of home cooked dishes. Lucas’s inventive ‘Strawberry

Chicken’ wowed judges. When our annual House Dinner arrived, a James Bond theme, the boys were full of excitement.

Alumni videos provided some fun memories of times gone by, heads and tails games helped to build the atmosphere; hilarious awards and speeches, great food and brilliant companyit was a wonderful evening. Easter brought bittersweet farewells. We sent Mr. Watkinson-Trim off with cheers and well wishes after five phenomenal years guiding Roche boys. His energy and dedication leave an indelible mark. Not long after, we watched Upper Fifth and Upper Sixth venture off to exam halls

and beyond. Celebratory meals gave us one last chance to swap stories, laughter and fond memories of their time in both House and school.

As summer dawned, we greeted the new Form 3 cohort with games and introductions orchestrated by our incoming Heads of House. The Lower Sixth already have grand plans bubbling, and if this year is anything to go by, Roche House in 2025–26 will be brimming with fresh ideas, fierce competitions and that same unwavering spirit of unity.

Mr Holmes

Exhibitions

Visual Arts had a busy year of exhibitions with five key events in the calendar.

Firstly, we were delighted to participate in the event Tomorrow to be Brave- a collaboration between The Bath Commonwealth Society and 44AD Gallery. This exhibition celebrated prominent women who had made major contributions during war and conflict in the Twentieth Century. Prior Park’s piece was a collaborative installation piece featuring prints and a vintage military stretcher found in the CCF store.

The next exhibition was our - now annual - collaboration with other Secondary schools in Bath at the YBA (Young Bath Artists) exhibition at Burdall’s Yard. Seeing

the students' work amongst other schools has become a regular celebration of emerging creatives within the city.

This year U5 GCSE Art and Textiles students were given their own exhibition, which showcased the fabulous outcomes of their two years of creative study.

The Private View just before the May half term provided a pleasant oasis away from exams and revision.

In June, Form 4 excelled themselves with their exhibition Spaces and Places, inspired by locations which were of personal interest and significance. With subjects ranging from

beaches and mountains to sushi bars, the variety of work on display provided a wonderful taste of the talent coming through to GCSE and beyond.

The year concluded with the U6 Leavers Visual Arts exhibition, offering a fascinating range of accomplished pieces across the forms of paintings, garments, digital media, installation, 35mm photography, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.

Ms Seville

Visual Arts GCSE

Visual Arts A Level

Rufus Ismond

GCSE D&T

A Level 3D Design

The Watsons

What happens when the writer loses the plot?

Sadly, Jane Austen’s novel The Watsons was never finished; however, playwright Laura Wade decided to investigate the question of what characters can do when their author abandons them and her sparklingly witty play The Watsons, was the result.

This joyous and sophisticated comedy was brought to life by a talented ensemble cast last November in the Julian Slade Theatre and there were many stand out performances onstage. Tammi-Renee Lockey was a terrific Emma- witty and determined, with Leo Brayton splendid as her hapless suitor – awkward Lord Osborne. Felix Terry was suitably and relentlessly flirtatious as Tom Musgrave, and Izzy Downey was commanding as the redoubtable Lady Osborne. Dolly Taylor, Juliet Stanbridge, Molly Padwick and Marcus Fox were delightful as the rest of the eccentric Watson clan, and Lucy Moore shone as Laura the writer, who becomes increasingly frustrated as her characters run

away with the plot! Plenty of humour– and a touch of philosophical debate - was provided by the rest of the fabulous cast: Alfie Parkin as Mr Howard the somewhat straightlaced local clergyman, with Gabriel Spencer-Jones as Charles, his ward; Carina Chicco as the Watsons’ no-nonsense, and surprisingly erudite, nanny; Mei Mei Puncher as feisty Miss Osborne; Cormac Page as Emma’s romantic fling, Bertie; Will Stirzaker as old Mr Watson, and Henry Coxall as taciturn Mr Edwards.

The show had a simple but effective set which was realised and lit beautifully by M Hall, and F Bardsley directed, ably assisted by A Hanson and a brilliant backstage and technical crew: Sophia Dewhurst, Reuben Frere, Alfie Parsons, Charlotte Brook and Maea Schoeman.

Mrs Bardsley

GCSE and A Level Drama performances

The Drama department had a busy year on the exam front, with a number of different practical exams taking place throughout the year. The Lent term saw both the U6 and U5 perform their Component 2 scripted pieces in front of an audience – and their examiners. The U6 group piece was an excerpt from April de Angelis’ moving and witty play about the first English actresses, Playhouse Creatures, and the student's also performed a variety of other pieces – mostly monologues. The GCSE performances allowed the students to choose excerpts from a variety of very different plays; the student's chose to perform in groups of 2 or 3, or as solo performers, and this year we also had a few costume designers at GCSE.

The L6 and L5 performed their Component 1 devised pieces in the second part of the Summer term. The L5 based their performances on a number of different stimuli based around the theme of flight, and the L6 used the play text A Monster Calls as their stimulus. They also had to devise in the light of a practitioner of their own choosing. Their final piece, Thumbelina, was a riot of colour, music and physicality - not least because of the beautiful costumes designed by one of our students, Bonamy Purcell.

Mrs Bardsley

The Addams Family

When you’re an Addams, you have no choice but to have an evening full of entertainment, laughter, poignancy, and tunes that will stick in your head for weeks after.

The production of The Addams Family at the College was the epitome of all that is good about musical theatre.

Fin Gilmour led the way with an outstanding performance as Gomez. His stage presence entranced as he acted and sang his way through the show with the audience giggling along at one moment [Trapped, Full Disclosure] and wiping away the tears the next [Happy/Sad]

Hattie Coxall was a perfect Morticia. A twinkle in the eye as she let us know that Death is Just Around the Corner and a perfect foil for the chaos Gomez created on set. One particular highlight was their dance duet in the Tango de Amor – a true tour de force.

Wednesday (Evie Spizzirri) has fallen in love with Lucas Beinike (Reuben Ward) who arrives in the ‘Normal’ Addams family home with his parents Alice and Mal (Moza Rajabu and Jude Brayton). Little brother Pugsley (Hannah Hart) isn’t impressed so steals some potion from Grandma (Sophie Gendle) all under the watchful eye of Lurch (Henry Coxall), the uncommunicative family butler. All ok so far, but Uncle Fester (Josh Frere), who is incidentally in love with the moon

(of course), wants to stir things up and enlists all the dead ancestors from the Addams clan to help him spread his mischief. What follows is a series of events that threaten to undermine the family’s unshakable solidarity but, in the end, leads to everyone, Addams and Binekes alike, learning much more about themselves – and the ancestors being allowed back into their crypt for another year at least.

Mention must also be made of the band, made up of students and teachers, provided a truly professional accompaniment.

Strings from Feli Graefe and Astin Fung, keys from Eve Fauset, and bassoon from Carson Wong were all underpinned by a formidable rhythm section from Sam Burton, guitar, Maada Komeh, bass, and Ella King on drums.

The stage crew and tech team also played a huge part in the overall production with slick changes, great sound and perfect lighting.

This musical was the first collaboration for Dave Sackett (veteran) and Fi Bardsley (newbie). And what fun we had! A tremendous cast and crew and a wonderful show all round.

Mr Sackett

L3 Singers perform in Bath Abbey

Mid-Somerset Festival success

Vocal Masterclass with Alexandra Burstow

Zimbe!

In November, our music ensembles filled the Chapel with sounds of jazzy African music full of joy and celebration.

The evening began with our talented College Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s dramatic and achingly beautiful, ‘Romeo & Juliet’, directed by Mr Sackett.

It followed with ‘Zimbe! Come, sing the songs of Africa!’, composed by Alexander L’Estrange. Zimbe! is a choral and jazz fusion of traditional African songs, which includes

playground and wedding, funeral, drinking, protest, worship songs and lullabies. They were brought to life by our Senior Chapel Choir, Lower School Choir, and Community Choir, combined with The Paragon. All were accompanied by a fantastic, high calibre band that included three of our teaching staff as well as saxophone soloist, Josh Attrill.

The evening was joyous and uplifting, a wonderful celebration of singing and the power of music.

Carol Service

This year’s Carol Service included a new Christmas Carol commissioned by Prior from local renowned composer, Francis Faux.

Mr Nicholls and Francis agreed on the text of the 15th Century Carol, ‘There Is No Rose’, which tells of the extraordinary nature of Christ’s birth and its profound impact on humanity.

Mr Nicholls explains: This is an exciting project for Prior to have supported. It shows our students the importance of contemporary composition and of how patronage of the arts works. Our carol received its world premiere on December 5, 2024. It was performed in Bath Abbey by our Senior

Chapel Choir as part of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Carol Service. We are delighted that Banks Publishing has chosen to commercially publish our carol, with a dedication to Prior. I am confident that this work will enter the canon of Christmas choral music. It is a beautiful composition, with graceful word setting and a lyrical melody. It feels timeless and we hope it will be.

Our Lower School Choir, Senior Chapel Choir, Brass Group, percussionists Ella King and Mr Sackett, and all the readers made this an evening that brought to life the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Soirée

Mid December, and following the Christmas Fayre in the Mansion, visitors made their way to the BSR for an evening of fabulous music in a relaxed atmosphere. Performances from our Junior Choir, jazz and folk groups, Senior

House Music stars, brass ensemble, and the newly formed school barbershop quartet made it an evening to remember and helped get everyone into the festive spirit.

Summer Concert

The Summer Concert is a wonderful way of bringing the whole Prior Park community together, as the chorus, soloists, and a significant number of the orchestra include current students, staff, parents, alumni and friends.

This year’s programme was inspired by the vibrant energy of the Italian Baroque, with standout performances of Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, and ‘Summer’ from ‘The Four Seasons.’

It is the solo performances by our students that make the occasion so memorable.

However, students don't just perform. A special moment of the night was the performance of a composed piece by Anoushka (U5). Written as part of her GCSE coursework, the vocal trio and piano composition was originally inspired by the idea of a wedding ceremony and featured beautiful harmonies and celebratory choral fanfare.

The concert was a fitting celebration of all that makes music at Prior Park so special.

Music Results

Michaelmass 2024

Lent 2024

Summer 2023

Band Night

Rugby

It is a privilege to reflect on what has been a challenging yet rewarding season. Despite the hurdles we’ve faced - whether it’s dealing with injuries, adapting to fixture changes, or grappling with the ever evolving demands of the game - we’ve seen the true spirit of rugby shine through.

I don’t like to focus too much on scores or how many wins we achieve, but I must mention our U5 team who had a remarkable 9 wins from 9 games this season. What’s even more impressive is the manner in which they played. To quote Mr Bazell, “Their teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship were a joy to watch.”

Another highlight of the season was taking four teams to the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s. The 1st VII particularly stood out—only missing out by one score on day 2. It was a brilliant showcase of the talent and depth we’ve developed here, and a proud moment for everyone involved.

In March, Prior hosted an U16s 7s tournament. We welcomed sixteen top schools from across the southwest. The standard of play was exceptional throughout the day, with Clifton College narrowly defeating Millfield in a thrilling final. Our own Prior Park team performed admirably, reaching the Plate Final after a series of strong performances. Standout players included Jordan Ifil, Alex Farmanbar and Oliver Balzewicz, who were instrumental in the team’s success, bringing energy, composure, and class to every game. It was a proud day for the school.

The F3 team had a season full of twists and tests. Early on, they were hit hard by injuries to two of their standout players - Max Horn and Charlie Craigwaller - who were both forced to the sidelines far too soon. These were big losses, but what followed was a brilliant example of the strength and spirit within the squad. Finn Slemen and Henry

McNamara stepped up in a big way. Finn brought calm leadership and maturity to the back line, while Henry’s energy, physicality, and determination became a real driving force for the team. Their efforts helped rally the group and give the team a renewed focus.

A highlight of their term came at the Clayesmore 7s, where the squad played some outstanding rugby - winning four out of six matches and turning heads with the quality of their play. They combined flair with physicality, and their teamwork and attacking structure were a joy to watch. Considering the adversity they had faced earlier in the season, their performance at Clayesmore was nothing short of brilliant.

There have also been some remarkable individual achievements this season: Ellis Woodman, Jordan Ifil, Will Taylor, Ted Evans, James Way, Alex Corry, Jake Slemen and Tom Jackson have been excelling in the Bath Academy, showing that their hard work and talent are being recognised at the highest levels.

To all the players, I hope you all feel a sense of pride in what we’ve achieved together. Rugby is a game of passion, perseverance, and partnership, and each of you has played a part in making this season memorable.

Mr Baxter

Half Colours

Henry Butters, Noah Dyson, Cav Bramwell.

Full Colours

William Abercrombie, William Goymer, William Hardwick Adams, Oscar Anderton, Joe Brickell, Josh Wake.

Hockey

It has been an exceptional year for our school’s hockey programme. From national championship finals to over 100 matches played throughout the academic year, hockey has continued to thrive both in terms of participation and performance.

One of the most significant achievements came from our U16 Girls team, who produced a fantastic campaign to finish as National Runners-Up. Expertly led and captained by Georgia Doel, their journey to the final was marked by grit, determination, and a growing sense of unity that became stronger with every match. The final was fiercely contested, and while the team narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing second in the country is a remarkable accomplishment and testament to their talent and hard work. Special mentions go to Ruby Walsh, Imogen Davies, and Lexie Weber, who all played an exceptional role throughout the tournament to achieve this success.

Equally impressive were the performances from our Boys U16 and U18 teams, who both went on to participate at the National Championships. These victories represent a milestone for the school, and reflect the high standard of hockey being played. The U16 Boys showed remarkable composure and tactical maturity beyond their years, while the U18 Boys demonstrated leadership, consistency, and an unrelenting desire to win throughout their championship run. Their success has raised the profile of boys’ hockey at the school and inspired younger pupils to strive for similar achievements. Special mentions go to Luke Stringer and Josh Knight, who performed admirably, and the boys were captained well by George Campbell-Jones.

It’s not just at the elite level where we’ve seen progress this year. One of the most encouraging signs has been the sheer number of pupils involved in hockey throughout the school. Whether it’s a Year 7 fixture on a rainy weekday or a thrilling senior

cup match under the lights, we’ve seen an incredible level of energy, enthusiasm and commitment from players, coaches and supporters alike. Sportsmanship, perseverance, and teamwork have been at the heart of every training session and every match.

A special mention must go to Georgia Doel on her recent selection to the England U16 National squad. She will play in the Europeans in Holland later this year. Congratulations also to the following students on their selections into performance squads this year: Lexie Weber, Immy Davies, Henry White, Sam Quinton, Jacob Faulkner, Josh Knight and Luke Stringer.

Looking ahead, the future of school hockey is bright. With so many talented young players coming through and a strong foundation now firmly in place, we are excited about what next season will bring.

Mr Milne

Half Colours

Chloe Stoddart, Bea Howells, Tilly Lucas, Emily Midwinter, Isla Reed, Hattie Coxall, Cress Bond, Emily Johnston, Violet Goymer, Tessa Dixon, Isla Townend, Ruby Walsh, Delilah Nahoome-Gooden, Georgia Doel Cass Wagstaffe, Jack Hardgreave, Sam Crawford, Leo Brayton, Myles Chu, George Whinney, Theo Ares, Carson Wong, Jerry O’Sullivan, James Trevick, Theo Newport, Monty Weber, Dan Hallam, Jonty Mitchell, Ed Marden.

Full Colours

Liv Finn, Martha Dutton, Bea Troman, Gigi Ifil, Ava Sullivan, Alex Moir, Ella King, George Campbell-Jones, Henry Butters, Felix Pulsford, Billy Clarke, Alex Mould, William Goymer, Josh Wake, Luke Stringer, Josh Knight.

Netball

With a record 175 students representing Prior in over 200 matches, this has been a truly standout season. Weekdays and weekends were packed with competition, teamwork, and energy.

Netball has seen year-round commitment, with a growing number of girls attending trials for local clubs and academies, further developing their skills beyond school fixtures.

The 1st Team, captained by Chloe Stoddart and Alex Moir, enjoyed a fantastic season, built on intense training and competitive fixtures. Gigi Ifil was unstoppable in defence, whilst Amelie Sinclair was a powerhouse at centre, linking with Bea Howells at wing attack to feed Chloe’s sharp shooting. Debutants Isla Townend and Isla Reed added extra speed and versatility to the lineup. A highlight came in a thrilling one-goal win over Warminster, a testament to the squad’s development and resilience. Reflecting on the season, Chloe said: “An awesome season with a great team who never failed to bring the energy to the court— couldn’t have asked for a better team for my last year at PPC!”

A young side represented Prior at the Collegiate 7s Festival, with players including Ava Goodman, Ruby Walsh, Heather Borthen, Jess Seymour-Cogley, Dilys Evans, Tessa Dixon, Meadhbh Kerrigan, Indie Murray and Amelie Sinclair rising to the occasion.

The 2nd Team also excelled, dominating fixtures against St Mary’s Calne, Beechen Cliff, Stonar, and Clifton High, thanks to the balance of experience—Isabella Downey, Ella King, Jaidee Charoensuk, Amelie Lucas, and Isla Reed—with emerging talents, Molly Little and Sienna Randall.

The 3rd Team, affectionately known as Mr Bond’s Troublemakers, will miss both their coach and his legendary warmup as many move on from U6. The excellent Sixth Form attendance allowed for senior 4th and 5th teams, with strong leadership from Franziska Rapp, Khue Tran, and Jamie Lam, many from St

Mary’s Boarding House, contributing fantastic team spirit.

The U15As, coached by Mrs Redman and organised by Jess Bond, improved steadily throughout the season and are already eyeing a rematch with Kingswood next year after a 1 goal loss. The U14s impressed with big wins and brilliant shooting from Sophia Brown, Amelie Gittins, Mollie Jefferson, Amber Hawkins, Olivia Smith, Freya Downey, and Delly Whitaker.

The U13As made headlines with a one-goal win over Kingswood and regularly stepped up to play in older year groups, gaining experience in more physical, tactical games. The U12s showed tremendous potential, beating Dauntsey’s and enjoying their first taste of competitive school netball.

One of the year’s most memorable moments was our first ever mixed netball match against Kingswood. Sparked by Jamie Lam’s enthusiasm in Games lessons since year 10, and joined by Isaac Kuan, Edward Ward, and Max Ngan, the fixture gave our senior boys a new respect for the pace and athleticism of the sport.

To all our netballers—thank you for your passion, teamwork, and joy this season.

Miss Lee

Half Colours

Jamie Lam, Jaidee Charoensuk, Isabella Downey, Lucy Moore, Olivia Finn, Amelie Lucas, Mimi Patton, Meadhbh Kerrigan, Amelie Sinclair, Jess Seymour-Cogley, Dilys Evans, Cress Bond, Heather Borthen, Khue Tran, Franziska Rapp, Isla Townend.

Full Colours

Chloe Stoddart, Alex Moir, Gigi Ifill, Bea Howells, Isla Reed.

Cricket

This brilliant season wasn’t just about statistics, but more about team spirit. A big thanks to the Upper 6th, who have played for Prior Park since they joined. We can’t wait to play again next year!’

It was great to see the energy, passion, commitment, skill and smiling faces throughout the cricket season. It’s equally amazing to see so many boys and girls participating in cricket here at Prior, at any age and level, and my thanks and admiration go to them all in equal measure.

The younger year groups recorded some impressive wins, and they have drive and determination to train and improve. Highlights have included; Jack W hitting 101* for the 14a team; the 15a team recording a string of victories in the second half of the season; Max H and Ronan M in Year 8 making their 1st XI debuts; and the development of the U12 and U13 teams.

Jonty Knight and Josh Mitchell would like to say a few words about the 1st XI: The 1st XI cricket season at Prior Park College was definitely one to remember! It was packed full of thrilling moments, emerging talent, and standout performances.

The pre-season game against Collegiate ended in a close draw which set the stage for the competitive games to follow. The 1st XI faced a challenging fixture list, which included QEH, Kingswood, Warminster, Clayesmore, Monkton Combe, and Clifton College. Each match brought its fair share of highs and ways we could improve.

The Sixth Form leadership pulled their weight throughout the season, with our opening batsman, Josh B, leading from the front, hitting 92 runs against KES including four sixes in a row! He finished the season

top run scorer with 280 runs. Luke S was also a vital part of our batting attack, scoring an impressive 76 not out against Kingswood, and contributing a valuable 59 against the XL Club.

With the ball, Will G opened the bowling attack and got the most wickets for the season. His highlight came against Clifton College, making an immediate breakthrough by taking 2 wickets in the first two balls of their innings! Will co-captained the team with Leo B and together they brought high standards and fierce competitiveness.

One of the most exciting aspects of the season was the emergence of younger players, who stepped up confidently for their first games for the 1st XI. Jake S got 5 wickets against Kingswood and had the best economy rate against the XL Club, and Max H (F3), claimed 4 wickets in the same match, proving his place in the 1st XI.

Cricket Week provided a thrilling end to the season. Against the XL Club, the 1st XI triumphed by keeping them to only 150 runs off 43 overs, due to the impressive bowling attack led by Josh K, who took 2 wickets and bowled 4 maidens. He was excellently supported by Jacob F, Henry M, Max H and Jake S, which resulted in a win by 5 wickets for Prior. The final match against the MCC was shortened to a T20 due to weather, with the MCC setting a challenging 199. Despite a strong start from Josh B and Billy C, Prior fell 18 runs short.

Mr Pandya

Tennis

The girls’ and boys’ tennis teams hit the ground running on the first Saturday of the season with a strong performance and overall win against Monkton. This was followed by impressive victories over Warminster, Wells, and King’s Bruton. Tough defeats came against our long-time rivals, Dauntsey’s and Deanclose. Despite these losses, the teams showed noticeable improvements from last year.

Year 7 had an action-packed term of tennis enjoying training, fixtures and festivals. For some pupils, it was their first experience of playing tennis and they embraced it with enthusiasm and hard work. Prizes for Most Improved Player were awarded to Alice Mould and Amirah Karimu. The Coach’s Player award went to Iris Lay, Verity Pay and Maggie Catlow.

The U13 and U14 teams enjoyed hard earned wins against Monkton, Kings Bruton, and Warminster. Prizes were awarded in the U13 age group to Lottie Moreton (Most Improved) and Sian Stringer and Elisabeth Lawson (Coach’s Player). In the U14 age group, Eve Faulkner and Nova Li received the Most Improved award, and Amelie Gittins and Isla Pellow received the Coach’s Player award.

Meanwhile, the U15s enjoyed an exceptional season. The boys team remained undefeated, including a nail-biting 10-8 win over a strong touring Wellington College side. The U15 girls brought both depth and consistency to the courts and had fantastic wins against Wells, Warminster, Clifton and Kings Bruton.

Prior Park also competed in the U15 ISTA Tennis Championships, with James Way, Max Lankester, Jack Wheeler, Will Wotton, Amalie Johnston and Daisy Napp representing the school. The boys competed hard, playing 18 matches over a scorching two-day period, finishing in first and second place in the plate boxes. The girls had some impressive performances reaching the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winners, Surbiton.

Finally, our senior teams have won and lost over the course of the season, but they have

been consistently reliable, giving 100%. It’s been a real pleasure to watch so many of them step up and make their first team debuts this season. A special thank you to our tennis captains, Dom Morley and Gigi Ifill who will be greatly missed. Dom began his tennis journey at Prior in Year 7, taking lessons here at school. This year, he has led the team to impressive wins - most notably against Monkton on their grass courts. Gigi also joined us in Year 7 and has represented the school in both local and national events. One standout moment was the key role she played in helping the school achieve 3rd place at the National Finals - an incredible achievement.

Mrs Scollo

Junior Half Colours

Juliette Puncher, Isla Bowles, Neve Townend, Abi Stirzaker, Willow Thomas, Georgia Davies, Charlotte Hogg, Sophie Kupa.

Junior Full Colours

Daisy Napp, Elisabeth Lawson, Sian Stringer, Isabelle Gabb, Lottie Moreton.

Half Colours

Sophia Tanner, Heather Borthen, Tessa Hart, Amelie Sinclair, Emmy Ker Muir, Matti Whitworth, Cress Bond, Mimi Pattern, Rose Shore, Charlotte Brook, Nate Murray, Nathan McGarvey.

Full Colours

Olivia Fiin, Alex Moir, Elinor Hart, Ella King, Gigi Ifill, Joe Brickell, Huxley Suenson-Luke, Dom Morely.

Elective sports

At

Prior, we have an array of sporting talent who can play the sports they love in a fun and inclusive environment, and this year has seen a multitude of fantastic skill, teamwork and togetherness.

We have seen a real growth in the number of students participating in a variety of sports throughout the year, such as basketball, badminton, volleyball, girls football and fives, which was introduced to the games programme this summer. In basketball, students from years 10 to 13 represented Prior Park College brilliantly, with some thrilling individual and team performances, notably the U16 matches, followed by the U18 matches against Cheltenham College and Wycliffe College, where our students performed superbly. The array of basketball skill and togetherness shown by all was outstanding.

During the summer term, we hosted our first girls' football match against Royal High School. The girls were incredibly excited about the fixture, which was amongst

the gossip for most of the week. To the girl’s credit, they played superbly and showcased some excellent footballing skill throughout the match, all with humility and a smile on their faces. Going forward, we are planning to organise more football fixtures for both girls and boys.

This summer, we launched our first double-header volleyball fixture against Downside School. A fantastic occasion, where students from U5-U6 competed superbly.

Badminton has been a popular sport for our students this year. Those in Years 12 and 13 competed in mixed doubles against Monkton School, which proved to be an excellent contest, played in the right spirit.

We have also seen a surge in students performing very well in athletics, notably at the District Athletics, where

50+ students represented Prior Park College against schools in BANES in both track and field events. Students also competed brilliantly in the Avon Schools Cross Country Championships. Congratulations to Neve, Archie and James who qualified for the South West Schools Championships!

A special mention, too, for Euan (L6), who is succeeding on the international para-athletics stage! Competing for England in the 100m Para Male Senior Final for the U20 GB team, he smashed his personal best, completing the race in just 11.91 seconds, and coming away with a silver medal. He also competed at the Paris World Para Athletics Grand Prix in May.

Mr Bazell

Academic Staff List

Mrs N Andrews Humanities

Dr R Archer Head of Chemistry

Mrs F Bardsley Director of Drama

Mr T Barrat Head of MFL

Miss R Bates Mathematics

Mr M Baxter PE, Head of Rugby

Mr G Bazell PE, Head of Games

Mrs J Bendry Head of LDP

Mr M Bishop History, Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning)

Mr M Blaikley Mathematics

Mr D Bloomer Physics

Miss S Bloomfield Classics, Deputy Head of Sixth Form

Mr M Bond PE, Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)

Mrs A Bonney PE, Head of Burton House

Mr G Braham Design and Technology

Mrs L Bryant Head of History, Head of EPQ

Mr S Burt Geography, Head of Baines

Mrs I Burton English, Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Mrs C Carson EAL

Mr K Chard Chemistry, Assistant Head (Director of Studies)

Mrs O Clark MFL

Mrs A Colquhoun Theology, Assistant Head (Sixth Form)

Ms N Cordon Geography, Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning)

Mr M Coughlin Human Sciences

Ms R Coward Mathematics

Ms H Cox Assistant SENDco

Mrs J Crawley SEND Practitioner

Mrs M CrowfootRiggs Head of Geography

Mr J Despontin Computer Science

Mr R Dishington Music

Miss T Duffy Biology Mr J Elliott Mathematics

Ms C Ellis-James Physics

Ms F Evans Head of Human Sciences

Mr M Ewins Mathematics

Mr R Faulkner Head of D&T

Mr R Firmin History

Mr J Fitzpatrick Economics & Business

Mr R Francis Mathematics

Mrs L GalacheBrown Language Teaching Assistant

Mr C Gamble Physics, Deputy Head (Academic)

Mr J Gibbons Head of Computer Science

Mrs H Goodman Theology, Head of Brownlow

Mr A Hanson Economics & Business Studies

Mrs S Hearn Head of Classics

Mrs S Holbrook EAL

Mrs S Holder Design and Technology, Head of Boarding

Mr D Holmes Design and Technology, Head of Roche House

Mrs K Hoodless Visual Arts

Mr B Horan History, Headmaster

Mrs J Jones Head of Mathematics

Ms L Justine MFL

Mr M Kerr Head of Economics and Business

Miss R Lee PE, Mathematics

Mrs R Lennon Head of Physics

Mr X Lord Chemistry, Head of Fielding House

Mr A Lovat Biology, Head of Allen House

Ms B Main Head of Eurasian Studies, Head of PSHE

Mrs A Mallon MFL

Mr T Maxwell Head of Theology

Miss D Mills Biology

Mr C Milne Head of Hockey

Mr M Nicholls Director of Music

Mrs N Nugent-Willis Chemistry, Head of English House

Miss A Oliver Visual Arts

Mr R Pandya PE, Head of Cricket, Head of Clifford House

Mrs S Peacock Drama

Mrs A Pope LAMDA

Mr G Price Head of Science, Head of Biology

Mrs H Prynne English, Classics

Mrs L Redman Head of Academic PE

Mr D Sackett Music, Assistant Head (Wellbeing)

Mrs S Scollo Head of Tennis

Ms S Seville Head of Visual Arts

Mrs A Singer SEND Practitioner

Mrs L Staves Human Sciences

Mr P Stroud Head of EAL

Ms L Sutherland English, Assistant Head (Progress & Tracking)

Mr A Taker Economics and Business

Miss S Tennant English

Mr J Timbrell MFL, Economics & Business

Mrs K Trott Biology, Head of Arundell House

Mrs N Warner SEND Practitioner

Mrs E West Art

Mrs L Williams Head of English

Mrs R WilsonBrown MFL

Celebrations

Farewells

Kate Trott

Kate started at Prior Park 37 years ago. She married Rob whilst at Prior Park, had her triplets here, and raised them in the boarding house

Births

Jack and Daphne Lennon, born 21 August 2025

Marriages

Jim and Toni Rosser, married 24 July 2025

when Rob was Roche HsM. Apart from taking four years out to bring up the girls, she has been a Prior Park teacher continuously, racking up 33 years of service. It is the only job she has ever had!

Kate is probably most famous for teaching Biology. Mr Price describes Kate as “the ultimate teacher with an ever youthful mindset. She is a brilliant Biology enthusiast and must have led hundreds of students to

degrees and professions connected with Biology.”

She has taken many students on biology trips or DofE expeditions. Everywhere from windswept coastlines to bustling cities, Kate would keep spirits high, even when things went wrong or it chucked it down with rain.

Kate also loves her sport and has taught the students far more than just how to play hockey. She showed them what it means to

work together, to be part of a team, and to always give their best, win or lose.

And then, of course, there’s Arundell. It’s hard to think that she’s only been running the house for nine years – a relatively small part of her career, but one where she has arguably had the biggest impact. Kate has always been the calm in the storm, the steady hand, the listening ear. She is also their inspiration, energy and motivation, and the girls adore her. Her legacy in the House is not just in the many traditions she has started, but in the countless lives that she has quietly and profoundly touched.

Kate, you represent an extraordinary chapter in the life of Prior Park. You leave behind not just memories, but a standard of excellence, kindness, and integrity that will remain. We wish you a long a happy retirement.

Mr Stroud

Tom Maxwell

Tom Maxwell has many, many qualities. He is:

A provider of coffee, milk, biscuits, cakes, or a bowl of apples for the Theology department. A fixer who

will attempt to carefully fix any item with his trusty screwdriver and save it from the scrap heap. Caring and steadfast and is always there to help however he can: covering a lesson, marking exams, a wise ear when there is a problem. Unflappable and with a positive outlook and make-do attitude which has been a huge source of support to everyone over the years. Faithful - I am in awe of Tom’s faith, and am sure many students and colleagues over the years have taken comfort in the steadfast and reverent way that Tom has conducted himself in the Chapel for mass, reconciliation services and retreats.

Versatile – over his 26 years here, Tom has tutored in nearly every area of the school, from L3-U6, and every class and tutor group he has spent time with has benefitted from his care and kindness, his patience, his wisdom, and his calm nature. Tom also ran chess club, oversaw cross country and organised the Fisher Relay for many years.

There are several other words I could use to describe Tom: funny, inspiring, determined. His caring, kind, calm and steadfast nature is the glue that has bonded the Theology department. However, there are no words that can fully explain the genuine goodness that is Tom, or how much he will be missed by staff and students alike. Thank you, and we wish you every joy in the years ahead with Alice and your family,

and in whatever you choose to do after Prior.

Mrs Goodman

Anne Mallon

After 19 years of devoted service, we say farewell to Anne Mallon, an exceptional French and Spanish teacher whose passion, warmth, and commitment have left a lasting legacy here at Prior Park. Anne’s lessons brought languages to life, inspiring curiosity and confidence in her students. She has always taken the time to support each individual, putting the children in her care first and ensuring every student felt valued and empowered to succeed. For many years, Anne was Housemistress of Fielding, where she was the steady, compassionate heart of the community. Under her leadership, Fielding became a place where every pupil could thrive—encouraged, supported, and celebrated. Her kindness, integrity, and dedication created a culture of belonging that has lived on after she left the role two years ago.

Anne’s legacy is one of excellence, care, and inspiration. She will be

deeply missed by both staff and students.

Mr Barrat

Hanna Prynne

Hanna is an excellent teacher, a respected colleague, an articulate communicator, and a genuinely great person. Her students adore her and have benefitted hugely from her generosity, her profound patience, and her deep expertise. From Oxbridge hopefuls to L3, Hanna has shown huge care, compassion and creativity in her teaching and has enthused so many young people.

All who have had the privilege of working closely with Hanna know that she is, quite simply, fantastic: smart, principled, practical and highly dedicated. We have been extremely lucky to have Hanna with us in the Classics Department for so long, and we’ve all appreciated her kindness, patience, and intelligence.  I know that her expertise and great rapport with the students have been highly valued by the English Department too in recent years.

I hope that Hanna realis -

es how very grateful we are for all she has done in her 13 years here, and how very much she will be missed.  Hanna, whatever your next step is, may it be a joyful and fulfilling one. Thank you for all you have done, shared and given.  It has genuinely been an honour to know and work with you.

Mrs Hearn

knowledge, Boarders were touched by her kindness when they arrived in the Textiles room with a clothing predicament! We are extremely grateful for her twelve years of service, and we wish her well for her next adventure.

Ms Seville

Polly Buxton

Polly Buxton was a much-valued Technician in the area of Textiles. A highly skilled practitioner with a previous career in industry and retail, Polly was a seamstress of the highest calibre. Polly used her vast technical experience to help realise the wild and wonderful designs of hundreds of students. She assisted, adapted, pinned, tucked, threaded, unthreaded and rethreaded ad infinitum, equipping students with skills of a standard to set them above their peers on entering design degree courses. Generous with her time, Polly willingly supported students beyond expectations. While those who studied Textiles valued her for her subject

Andrew Watkinson-Trim

This summer, we said goodbye to the incomparable Mr Andrew Watkinson- Trim, who leaves Prior Park College to join Sexey’s School in Somerset. A true polymath, Andrew quickly became an integral part of our Theology department. His deep passion for all world religions - especially the Christian New Testament - was infectious, and his extraordinary storytelling brought lessons to life. His uncanny knack for finding the perfect song and accompanying video made every class memorable. A teacher of high expectations, Andrew inspired his students to meet, and exceed, those standards, securing excellent results at both GCSE and A Level. Outside the classroom, his contribution to College life was

unparalleled. Andrew revived our Fives courts, led the thriving Socrates Club, ran the chess and astronomy clubs and was prominent in building the observatory. He was also a proud member of Roche House.

We thank Andrew for everything he brought to our community. He will be sorely missed.

Mrs Colquhoun

Rory Firmin

During the dark Covid times, Rory left a career in London, as a management consultant with PWC, and entered teaching with an excitement and idealism that never dimmed. Rory threw himself into school life, joining Allen House on a walk from Marshfield to the College before he'd even taught his first lesson and demonstrating just how determined he was to build relationships with the boys in House. Students speak very fondly of being in his history lessons, but having observed Rory as a tutor, I know him as a hugely caring professional who looks at the students holistically and seeks to understand and nurture their passions. Rory invest -

ed so much time, energy and good humour into his time at Prior Park. The history department and Allen House will miss him very much.

Mr Lovat

Mike Baxter

Mike Baxter has been Head of Rugby for the past three years, during which time he has transformed the rugby programme with passion, precision, and just the right amount of sideline shouting. He also served as Head of the Games Department for a year and has been a steadfast tutor in Allen House. Mike’s rugby philosophy is to enjoy and develop. He has encouraged experienced players to adopt a dynamic, free-flowing style, while nurturing those new to the game with patience and care. Among his proudest achievements are the growth of Girls’ Rugby, getting several victories against bigger, stronger schools who probably should have won on paper, and taking the U16s to day two at Rosslyn Park.

Mr Bond

Hanna Miki