Prior's Field Achieving Magazine issue 1 (2017)

contents

From the Head

Inspirational Visitors

Teaching by example

Taste of success

healthy competition

on stage

Just another lunchtime

beyond the classroom

caring for Others

New Face of Boarding

comings and goings

what next?

FROM THE HEAD

Welcome to our new magazine which aims to capture good at and truly understands how many different forms the essence of Prior’s Field and celebrate some of the ’Achievement’ can take. Whether it is fashioning electric achievements of the last year. guitars over lunchtime or a knock-out performance at debating, scaling glaciers on a geography trip or There is something truly unique and wonderful about championing the English department’s word of the week Prior’s Field. It is the intangible something that first drew competition, raising funds for those less fortunate or me here and drew many of our current parents to choose taking the lead as a prefect, new pupil buddy or simply as this school, rather than another perfectly good school. It is a good friend in her form - our girls achieve every day. the sense of family and community. It is in the warmth of the welcome that newcomers receive. But also in the way Our aim is to offer a distinctive route to high achievement that girls and staff throw themselves into everything with for each individual and I hope as you read through the energy and with true affection. following pages that you get a glimpse of what has always been, and remains to this day, an extraordinary learning It is in the way that our girls support and care for each environment for young women. other and it is the way in which we help each girl to find a passion within her and to fuel it. To ensure that Tracy Kirnig - Head every single girl has something that she knows that she is

Well-known for her long service as the BBC’s Chief News Correspondent, Kate Adie OBE delivered The Julia Huxley Lecture this year at Prior’s Field, on the theme of ‘A Correspondent’s Life’. To an audience of over 600, she talked with humour and humility about despatching reports from danger zones around the world.

INSPIRATIONAL VISITORS

Actress and alumna Victoria Hamilton – with her father Tim Sharp, a founding trustee of charity The Prostate Project – returned to Prior’s Field to launch a ’Buy a Brick’ appeal. Recently seen playing Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in Netflix’ ’The Crown’, Ms Hamilton signed a brick, with First Form Drama scholars looking on, the campaign aims to deliver a worldclass Urology Centre at The Royal Surrey County Hospital. Ms Hamilton returned again on Speech Day and delivered a truly inspiring talk about self-belief.

Author Marcus Sedgwick spent time in First and Third Form English lessons explaining the writing process, how he researches the varied themes of his fiction and what inspires him.

Dr Guy Sutton, Honorary Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Medical School and Director of Consultancy Medical Biology Interactive, tutored Sixth Form Biology and Psychology students in Neuroscience ’Brain Day’. Later Dr Sutton delivered a lecture on “Mind and Brain in the 21st Century” to a fascinated audience.

Girls attending this year’s Sports Dinner heard an inspirational talk, about her journey from beginner to Olympian, by Olympic bronze medal winner and open water swimmer Cassie Patten.

Tabula Rosa - Mr Di Mario

TEACHING BY EXAMPLE

Fantastic role models, our staff frequently share with pupils their own achievements and endeavours outside school. In recent months, we have congratulated:

Art Technician, Sophie Allsopp, who illustrated the latest copy of L M Montgomery’s classic ‘Anne of Green Gables’, published by Usborne;

Head of History, Dr Goldsmith, who took gold in the women’s eight at the World Masters Rowing Championships in Copenhagen;

Mr Hepworth, Head of ICT, who scales mountains in his spare time and inspires girls to do the same;

Head of Art, Mr Kinder, who had work selected by the Royal Institute of Oil Painters for its London show;

Mr di Mario, teacher of Art and Photography, who exhibited a selection of new paintings at Barham Park Open Studios, London;

Miss Parsons, a member of Prior’s Field’s PE Department, selected for Surrey Storm’s netball superleague.

SUCCESS COMES EARLY TO STUDENTS IGCSE 100% A*-B Our Fifth Formers celebrated strong IGCSE Mathematics results in March, having taken the examination five months early; 47% of grades were A*, 87% A*-A and 100% A*-B. Head of Mathematics, Amanda Rusholme, commented: “The girls aimed high and remained focused. These excellent results reflect their ability, but also their consistently positive approach; I look forward to teaching a large number of them at A level”.

First rate entries, Huxley Essay 2017 Mr Butler reports, “This year’s Huxley Essay prize attracted our biggest entry yet, from all years of the school. It can be quite daunting to judge, not because of the volume, but because of the quality of writing and the knowledge that the girls have put so much effort and time – so much of themselves – into producing their entries. The range of interpretations of the subject matter Movement was diverse, imaginative and impressive, and showed conclusively that non-fiction, discursive, exploratory and argumentative writing is also creative. Choosing a shortlist was hard, and then choosing the best was even more difficult. It was such a privilege to read them – well done to all the entries, winners, commended and runners-up. I genuinely can’t wait for next year! Thank you.”

Record numbers tackling the EPQ In 2016, Prior’s Field pupils taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), highly attractive to universities, all gained an A* or A. This year, a record 22 girls are pursuing the qualification which requires intensive research linked to the student’s intended degree and equates to half an A level. Chosen topics include: ’If malfunctioning proteins are established as a major cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, what are the future implications for treatment?’; ’Can mental health be portrayed through the medium of textiles and fashion?’; ’Why has the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution – the right to keep and bear arms – not been revoked?’; ’Is Society too accepting of obesity?’.

Lower Sixth focus – “Who am I?” Once mocks are completed and students armed with their predicated grades, the push for the Lower Sixth is to develop their skills and experience for future employability.

With the significant and tailored support of a dedicated Sixth Form staff, girls consider how to maximise their business online and social media presence and benefit from a Prior’s Field higher education conference on the ability to deal with people and leadership.

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS Our Upper Sixth are holding offers this year from 21 universities, including two University of Oxford Colleges, one American university and The Ruskin School of Art. Popular destinations this year include Manchester and Leeds, with courses reflecting the diversity of students’ interests and ambitions including: Biomedical Sciences; Classics and English; Criminology and Sociology; Economics; Fine Art; History of Art; Philosophy, Religious Studies and Ethics; Photography and Film Making; Zoology.

OXBRIDGE VISITS Fifth Formers planning to study Mathematics and Science degrees recently travelled to the Mathematical Institute of Oxford University to hear talks on Statistics, Computer Science, Earth Science, Philosophy, Materials, Biomedical Science, Engineering and Biochemistry. They also found out more about student life when they visited Jesus College and returned to school with sights set high.

FLYING HIGH OUR PF ALUMNAE Lydia Wratten, (right) First Officer of the Boeing 777 fleet at Cathay Pacific Airways; one of around 100 women in a team of over 3,000 pilots. “Flying had always appealed to me, but it took a huge leap of faith to actually go for it.”

Layla Hariry, (left) Saudi American novelist. “Prior’s Field anchored my academic English, and immersed me in the ideals of Mrs Julia Huxley, toiling as a mother and scholar with Aldous in tow.”

HEALTHY COMPETITION

AUSTEN, FRANK & PANKHURST

Named after Jane Austen, Anne Frank and Emmeline Pankhurst, Prior’s Field’s three Houses have once again vied for victory in arenas ranging from Art to Drama and more…

• Intrepid pupils were seen tackling the 1,500m House Cross Country Competition course – this year with an ’underwater’ theme – in fins, mermaid tails and diverse other aquatic outfits; even PE dog Ruby donned a shark’s costume for the run!

• After some 150 entries in the first round of the House Music Competition, and the hotly contested Choirs round, the final saw 15 girls from each House perform in front of adjudicator and alumna Clare Aldrich, who left Prior’s Field in 2012 to study Music at the University of York. Congratulations to all those girls awarded certificates for particularly memorable performances, to runners-up and to overall winning House – for the sixth consecutive year – Frank.

• February saw some serious showcasing of one of our greatest authors, Roald Dahl, when the battle of House Drama took place. Among the foxes, talking insects, giant peach and couple of twits, our judges witnessed outstanding performances from Lower School girls, expertly directed by Upper School students. Pankhurst wiped the stage with a total of six awards, including Overall Best Performance; Frank picked up Best Costume and Props and the Best Newcomer award, while Austen collected Prior’s Field Oscars for Technical and Best Programme. Thanks to our judges, actor Bob Cryer, alumna Hannah Copson and the Drama Department’s Ms Hedley.

• Congratulations to every girl who exercised her creative juices, entering this year’s Inter-house Art Competition; entries were categorised into Art, Photography and Textiles and, as ever, were of an extraordinary standard. Thanks to our external judges: alumnae Helena Traill (studying BA Graphic Design at Central St Martins) and Sung Hee Park (also at Central St Martins, studying BA Fine Art); London-based artist and specialist printmaker Sophie Layton and Art teacher and fine artist Rosie Marshall Taylor. In addition to the formal judging and winners, pupils and staff separately voted for their favourite works; Upper Sixth Former Georgie won the Sixth Form category with a 3D, multi-media art piece of a boy on a construction site – inspired by her trip last summer to Costa Rica (see page 17).

ON THE STAGE Accolades poured in after each and every performance of the whole school production of ’Oliver!’. Much praised were the girls’ professionalism, splendid performances and quality of singing. Such was the extraordinary calibre and commitment of musicians, from First to Sixth Form, that it was possible to work with a genuine West End arrangement and it was wonderful to watch girls of all ages come together to deliver such a phenomenal show.

19 students, from the Second to Fifth Form, experienced RADA acclaim in February, all passing the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Shakespeare Award, Messenger Level, twelve girls gaining a Distinction. The students performed two speeches from Shakespeare in front of a RADA examiner who commented, ‘I was really impressed with the girls’ energy and flexibility. They were very unselfconscious, free and willing to try things which is great!

I enjoyed working with them.’

Mr Pratt, Head of Music reports, “The Rotary Club of Guildford District invited us back for a second year, performing alongside two other schools at G Live, Guildford. This time we had the honour of designing the programme cover, providing girls to experience the technical work of a theatre, directing the finale with all schools and being interviewed live by BBC Radio Surrey. Our rich and varied programme showed our strengths and provided the 600-strong audience with variety. Should we be asked back for a third year, we’ll be there.”

Mrs Horton encapsulated all the hilarity, pace and nostalgia of the Lower School’s Production, ’A Right Royal Affair: “Over 80 of our exuberant and enthusiastic Lower School girls took to the stage for a nostalgic journey that travelled through the ever-changing decades overseen by Queen Elizabeth II. The energy and commitment drove the pace of the performance.

We rock an’ rolled through the ’50s, freaked out through the ’60s and platformed our way into the flares and flower power of the ’70s, culminating in a highly animated and entertaining celebration of our very own Fourth Form Village People who took the roof off with YMCA. Granny (cast member) caught her breath alongside a few more gin and tonics before the cast set off again, flicking their way through the ’80s, raving into the ’90s and finally texting, tweeting and hash tagging into the ’00s!

What was incredibly apparent was the impressive range of both talent and confidence on stage, as girls tackled challenging texts and iconic comedy such as the Frost Report sketch on ’Class’. Margaret Thatcher dominated the ’80s, looking a little

more raunchy than many remembered, and there was a poignant reminder of the pace of change as we moved from the innocence of ’50s childhood to the online bullying that is so prevalent and devastating for our children today.

The girls went on their own educational journey through the rehearsal process and it was touching to see their evident respect as they turned to see a presentation of private and public photos of the Queen, from her birth to the present day whilst singing one of her favourite songs ’Sing’ by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

We hope her Majesty approves when we send her the stunning card, designed by the Art Department’s Miss Holder, with thoughtful and heartfelt messages of thanks and support from our whole school community.

Well done girls! One feels that you smashed it!”

PRIOR’S FIELD TENNIS ACADEMY GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH! Just back from camp in Madrid our Tennis Academy girls are still celebrating a year of wonderful success which was rounded off with the news that they had become the Surrey Under 15 Champions.

Individual success came to our most senior member of the Academy, Daisy, who ended her 16U age group ranked top 44 in the UK, was awarded with the Endeavour Cup from the LTA (Surrey) and put in an amazing performance in the G2 British Women’s Tournament.

The Academy is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to be welcoming two new members in September; Sophie and Romana, who is already a rising star in the Tennis world and is currently ranked 12th in the UK.

JUST ANOTHER LUNCHTIME Design Technology has been abuzz during recent lunchtimes with electric guitar making. Fifth Former Kezia was the first to take up the offer and trialled the activity for other pupils. When finished, students will be the proud possessors of a mahogany/ash electric guitar. Stages in the process include: joining the material together and cutting the outline; routing the space for electrical components; sanding; varnishing and making final assembly.

This followed hot on the heels of Mr Rood’s Design Technology reindeer workshops, immensely popular with students from all year groups who opted to spend their lunchtimes creating wooden Rudolph look-alikes!

Sixth Form English students took up the opportunity of a series of lunchtime pre-university seminars, led by English Department staff, on themes including Milton’s ’Paradise Lost’; Gothic Literature; Modern American Literature and Seamus Heaney.

COOKING UP A STORM Masterchef heats ran throughout the Spring Term, with winners from each year cooking to a specific brief to earn a coveted place in June’s final. Winning dishes included a meringue wreath, decorated with whipped cream and forest berries served with a berry coulis, and a plaited loaf made with dates brought back from Abu Dhabi, served with a selection of cheeses. Outstanding work!

Workshops and drop in sessions

Beyond the Classroom Prior’s Field’s founder, Julia Huxley, believed in the importance of exploring cultural life, allowing pupils a freedom which was exceptional for the period and taking them out of the classroom to galleries, lectures and plays. Her spirit of adventure lives on and trips remain a key component of our pupils’ education to this day.

Last summer, Head Girl Georgina travelled to Costa Rica to volunteer with the charity ’Homes of Hope’; here she reports on how the visit changed lives, including her own: “As many of you are aware, over the summer Becca and I went to Costa Rica to volunteer with the charity ’Homes of Hope’. Here we spent the most incredible and rewarding week, building a house for a family in desperate need of a new home. From constructing the framework and putting up the first wall, to assembling the roof, and finally painting the exterior and interior, we felt a huge sense of accomplishment when the house was complete. We had the privilege of being joined by the family and their relatives, along with friends and local people, all working side by side – it really was a team effort. There was a humbling sense of community, which we were honoured to be a part of for even a short time. One of our most memorable moments was the paint fight we had with the seven-year-old boy Fraser, where we spent hours chasing each other around the favela with our hands covered in paint. It amazed us how he was entertained by the simplest of things, with no electronic devices or even toys to assist him. We were also fortunate enough to be able to take the family on a shopping trip where, with just US $250, we were able to supply basic food that will keep them going for months, along with toiletries and sanitation products. When we

got to the check out, the mother named Lady burst into tears and told us that she had ’never shopped like this’ and had ’never before felt so secure about providing for her family’, which bought a tear to our eyes. We were also able to gift them with a fridge and washing machine, which they were overjoyed about. When asked what they wanted for themselves, Fraser chose a Nerf Gun and spent the following afternoon chasing around his two bullets, and Lady brought a pair of flip flops, always considering practicality. This was an overwhelming experience, one that has taught us to never again complain about there being no food in the fridge! On handover day, our team stood in a circle and passed around the key, thanking the family for allowing them this experience, and wishing them luck in their new home and for the future. This was an extremely emotional day seeing the look of relief, gratitude and hope on the faces of this family. Our trip to Costa Rica was a life changing experience, and we cannot put into words all the emotions felt while there. One of the many things we learnt was to appreciate everything we have, but also how your time and effort can make such a difference to the lives of others, setting them up for a better future.

Finally, we want to thank you for all your support and donations, which meant that we were able to take out US $1000, which is going to go towards building a playground for the young people in the local community.”

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Caring for others Pupils have continued to help those in the local community, and further afield, in practical ways this year, fundraising and giving of their time and talents.

First Form volunteers visited neighbouring residents at Robertson Nursing Home in January, taking a selection of homemade baked treats and Happy New Year cards.

Pupils cheerfully serenaded everyone with various musical arrangements that they had carefully chosen themselves. The girls also enjoyed chatting to the people there, swapping stories of snow, favourite past times and memories of school days.

Arusha Region of Tanzania. The First Form organised a bake sale, Fifth Formers ran an egg and spoon race competition and the Sixth Form masterminded an auction evening in May.

’Humbling, eye-opening and at times completely overwhelming’ was how Head Girl Georgie described a visit, with Deputies Grace and Kay, to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). The Sixth Formers presented a cheque for £1,800 to the charity, representing the majority of funds raised from a Raising and Giving (RAG) day. The additional £400 raised by the ’Alice Lower School Music Scholars, aged 11 to 14, made in Neverland’ themed day is being donated to Tinga history at the start of the year – giving the largest Tinga school. recital in the history of the Guildford Institute’s Tuesday evening concerts, in terms of number Led by the Sixth Form, Prior’s Field was a of players and size of audience. sea of red in March as girls enjoyed a Red Bake Sale and Malteser Through a variety of enterprises pupils have raised funds games for Comic Relief and for Tinga Tinga, teachers succumbed our partner 400 to being custardpupil primary pied, all in the school in name of the charity.

Head of Sociology Mrs Haddock recounts an unexpected chance to help, when travelling:

’For it is in giving that we receive’ Imagine a country where life or death depends on 180ml of blood. That country is Sierra Leone and the place is a small hospital called Magbenteh in Makeni, which I visited during the Easter holidays to spend time with my daughter, Genevieve, one of the two doctors who work there.

On the morning of our arrival she took us around the hospital to introduce us to her other ’family’ and it was on this tour of the children’s ward that we came across three very sick babies, all suffering from severe malaria along with other complications. The mothers had already resigned themselves to the inevitable death of their children as in a country as poor as Sierra Leone, and with so few medical resources, they had little to hope for.

It was then that I was given the gift of saving a life. One of the babies, a 14-week old boy, was severely anaemic and likely to die without a blood transfusion within the next 12 hours. Genevieve had exhausted all available blood donors in the hospital and, without any refrigeration facilities, there was no store of blood. Within half an hour, just 180ml of my blood was transfused into the baby and, after 24 hours, the little boy made a rapid and full recovery with minimal complications.

This is what working in Magbenteh hospital is like. Every day Genevieve sees babies like this whose conditions are often far worse because of the distance to travel to get the life-saving treatment; deaths are common. Magbenteh is run by a small charitable trust, the Swiss-Sierra Leone Development Foundation, but the hospital is in financial crisis and so basic resources are scarce and the number of children they can currently fund has dropped from 50 to 20. However, around 150 mothers and children continue to turn up to queue from 4.00am every day in the hope of receiving treatment. The cost of providing full hospital care for a child is only US$50 but this is far beyond what Sierra Leoneans can afford. I know this situation is replicated in other hospitals throughout much of Sierra Leone as a result of both the Civil War and Ebola disaster. There are fewer than 200 doctors for the whole country and only seven surgeons.

There is no bitterness in the Sierra Leoneans and their generosity, despite the poverty and hardship, and their delight in meeting ’foreigners’ is genuine. To work as a doctor in an African hospital was my daughter’s childhood dream and she has opted to extend her stay to a year even though the conditions are challenging and the patient mortality overwhelming at times. Her strength comes from the care and unconditional love that her new community gives to her.

This extends, of course, to finding her a husband!

If you feel you would like to donate to help the charity, please go to the following website: https://assl-ch.org/don/’

THE ARNOLD BUILDING New centre opens We were delighted in March to receive final handover of our new Science, Music and Technology centre – one of the largest Prior’s Field projects ever completed.

It was with equal pleasure that we welcomed back previous Head Julie Roseblade at the end of April, formally to open the centre which has been named the Arnold Building, in celebration of our founder Julia Huxley (nee Arnold) and in acknowledgement of the Arnold family’s considerable literary, educational and philanthropic heritage.

The centre provides wonderful additional space and facilities for our pupils and staff: for Science, eight additional laboratories and two prep rooms, fitted to the highest standards; for Music, an 80-seat recital hall, recording studios, generous dedicated classrooms and practice rooms, all furnished to deliver optimum acoustics; for Food Technology, a purpose-built suite of rooms complete with a blast chiller. In addition, five general classrooms have been created to benefit the whole school.

11+ taster Our new centre was ready in time to be used for this year’s 11+ taster day, allowing us to hold Maths, Music, Science and Art workshops – and interview individual children – all in the same building. We welcomed large numbers of prospective pupils again this year, mostly from the Surrey area but also full and weekly boarders from further afield.

The New face of boarding Fiona Jones - Head of Junior Boarding Mrs Fiona Jones joined Prior’s Field earlier this year and lives on-site with her family and Springer Spaniel puppy, Digby.

“Hello, I’m Fiona Jones, Head of Junior Boarding at Prior’s Field. I took up my post in January 2017, having been in Malaysia with my family, as Head of PE at Taylor’s International School, for the previous two years. My main role in school is to run the Junior Boarding house, but I am also lucky enough to get outside and teach the girls my other love of Sport and PE. This enables me to see the girls both at home, chilled in PJs, but also in their academic arena. Having both sides of the story for many girls allows me to understand them fully and really enhances my ability to look after them pastorally. I have a Batchelor of Education degree in Physical Education and Geography from Exeter University and have taught in a variety of schools for the past 18 years.”

What is it like in Junior Boarding?

“The Junior Boarding House is situated in the main body of school. Each year group has its own separate area of dorms within the house and many girls have the luxury of a single room. Each girl decorates their dorm to their taste and this allows them to show their character. We are a noisy house with a very well-used Boarding office, where you will find the majority of girls chatting, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the company of other boarders and staff in the evening. Each year group has their own pantry too, so if the office is too noisy and girls want a quiet space, they can make toast and a warm drink in their own kitchens. We are lucky to have boarding tutors in-house, so it is not only myself and Miss Pretty who look after the girls, but academic staff also come in during the week to help look after and put them all to bed.

As the girls mature they move towards the Fifth Form area that is slightly separated from the younger members. This allows them a little more independence and peace and quiet for GCSE study and sets them up well for the move into the Sixth Form House in their A level years. I am very proud of the House, its tidiness and friendly, welcoming feel. We all enjoy time here, with House dogs being cuddled and walked on a regular basis. This added element helps settle girls when they join us and keeps them fit, with regular walks in the school grounds at weekends.’

In the last term alone, Junior Boarders have been treated to a gamut of full and half-day outings on weekday evenings and weekends. They have shot each other at Laser Quest, bounced at Gravity Force, been amazed by the Magic Lantern Festival in Chiswick, watched Joseph donning his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at GLive, made chocolates, zorbed, participated in regular Zumba and gym classes, an Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt and more. They have also been key in helping at various school events, including Open Days.”

Emma Brailey - Head of Sixth Form Boarding Miss Emma Brailey was appointed Head of Sixth Form Boarding in January 2017, having been Assistant Housemistress of the Junior Boarding House for the previous two years. Here she tells us about her role: “I work both within Boarding, but also as a teacher of Science, mainly Biology, and absolutely love my job as I get to stretch the girls’ (and my!) minds academically in lessons, but come back to the house in the evenings and weekends to spend time with the students in a completely different way. Outside study time, we might do some baking, sit and eat dinner together, have a chat over tea or watch a film.

For me it’s the perfect mix and what being a whole, rounded educator is all about. I have a degree in Zoology from Durham University and, after graduating, I worked in Brighton in an International School doing marketing and admissions, before going back to university to do my PGCE. Prior’s Field was my first teaching position and, strangely, I knew on the day of my interview that I had picked this school just as much as they had picked me for the job; I remember feeling like I had found home.”

Rolo

What is it like in Sixth Form Boarding?

“Sixth Form Boarding is slightly separate to the rest of the school; it is in its own purpose-built Sixth Form House and, as such, is slightly different to the rest of Prior’s Field – still the same warm, welcoming atmosphere when you enter, but you can tell that the young women here are independent and learning to get things done for themselves. Girls have their own rooms, some their own ensuites, they do their own laundry, can cook for themselves at weekends and are responsible for keeping the kitchens and common spaces tidy. I am so proud of the young women I work with; when I walk around the house, I see them studying hard, looking after one another or just having fun and it makes me think that they are becoming ready for the next step in their lives after school.

The house and the girls must try to get a good balance between work and relaxation; my role is to ensure that they get that balance right.”

Digby

Fond Farewells

Farewell Mrs Barnes and Mr Jones Ann Barnes joined us in September 2004:‘Looking back to the year I came to Prior’s Field as a Textile teacher, the last 13 years have flashed past. Being part of a busy, vibrant and forwardlooking school, has been so exciting. I have enjoyed every minute, especially the teaching; it has been a privilege to teach such lovely girls whose constant enthusiasm and creative ideas have made my job so enjoyable.

I will miss the school and some of the more unusual events the school has showcased, such as fashion shows and celebration of the girls’ work in exhibitions and at other key events.

I look forward to several gap years where travel is at the top of my list. I also intend to concentrate on developing my own textile work and to use my time to engage with voluntary activities in my community, to inspire creative thinking and the preservation of traditional crafts.’

Geoff Jones joined us as Head of Physics in September 2002: ‘Back in those days the labs were quite cramped and outdated. We moved into our brand new Science building in 2006 when I became Head of Science and this year the building has doubled and been completely re-fitted. It has been an exciting journey and the fabulous state of the art facilities that we now enjoy are a statement to the school’s commitment to promoting Science and investing in the future.

and I wish them well in their exams this year and their future studies.

Memorable moments that I take with me are losing a rocket in the tree in [former Head] Mrs Roseblade’s garden and winning the Surrey Schools Problem Solving Competition at Charterhouse. It has been a pleasure to work in such a lovely school over the years, and with a dedicated and professional team of Science staff who work so hard to ensure the girls achieve the best possible outcomes. I I have decided to take early retirement look forward to visiting regularly and and am proud to be able to hand over to keeping in touch with friends and the Department at such an exciting colleagues.’ stage in its development. I am planning a move to the Dorset coast and Mr Hepworth’s (top right) next looking forward to spending more adventure will be as Deputy Head for time with my family and to exploring Ewell Castle School a new part of the country. Of course Mrs Lyon (bottom left) will be returning I will greatly miss all the friends I have to her first love of a creative writing made over the years and the girls career who have been a pleasure to teach. Miss Gordon (bottom right) will be The girls here have a fantastic sense opting to work closer to home as of fun but they always try their best Director of Sport at Wimbledon High

and Welcomes

We welcome a new Deputy Head - Mr Andrew Taylor Andrew is a graduate of the University of Exeter with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught science, biology and chemistry at Caterham School and Woodcote High School and he is looking forward to teaching in the brand new science laboratories at Prior’s Field School. In addition, Andrew is an experienced Head of Year and has held pastoral positions in both key stage three and four.

Outside of school, Andrew is a keen long distance runner and has participated in full and half marathons in the UK and in Europe. The London Marathon is his favourite event and he has been lucky enough to take part six times.

Andrew is looking forward to joining a local running club and exploring the cross country routes found across the Surrey countryside.

He has two grown up daughters. His eldest has graduated with a degree in Equine Management and is now working in marketing and his youngest is in her second year at Reading University, studying Business and Management.

Andrew is very much looking forward to joining Prior’s Field School as Deputy Head and getting to know you all, over the coming weeks.

We also welcome Mrs Stylianou Mary Stylianou joined Prior’s Field in March 2017: ‘I am very happy to have joined Prior’s Field as School Secretary, coming from a front office position at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, where I held several different roles over the last nine years. Everyone has been extremely welcoming at Prior’s Field and I am sure I will enjoy working here; it will also be interesting being in an all girls’ school, having worked for so many years in a boys’ school. I started out in secretarial roles in Central London in the hotel industry and then moved to the travel industry, where I spent a few years in a busy office of a holiday company in Corfu. Here in the UK, I love a good TV series, cooking, going to the theatre and reviewing London’s afternoon teas!’

Les Misérables Prior’s Field will be filled with the wonderful music from Les Misérables next term. We are thrilled that this is our Upper School, (with a few Lower School girls added to boost our numbers of beggars), Production for 2017. With a cast of around 85, a student-only band and a team of technical and backstage girls, we are extremely fortunate and honoured to have the opportunity to present this ground-breaking show. Working in close liaison with Cameron Mackintosh’s production company, a representative from there will be attending a few rehearsals as well as one of the performances to see how well our girls manage to play all the parts with their usual professionalism and empathy. On the basis of our success we hope that the Cameron Mackintosh organisation will feel able to make a significant announcement. Far more will be revealed next term! In the meantime make a note of our performance dates: November 21 - 23. We are absolutely confident there will be no empty chairs at empty tables; this will be the sell-out our girls will deserve.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE

The scientist and broadcaster referred to as the BBC’s ‘face of space’. She is the presenter of the astronomical institution The Sky at Night, has fronted a number of space documentaries, and regularly appears on science and non-science programmes.

Tuesday 20 February 2018

PF ALIVE!

Once upon a time there was PF CATWALK (three in fact). Then there was the PF BIG EVENT (two). Both types of entertainments were opportunities for scores of girls, and staff, to walk the catwalk, strut their stuff and learn dance routines. Well, it’s BACK! After a few years’ break, it’s returning, albeit with a slightly different format and name, as PF ALIVE! Make a note of the date now: April 28 2018. As well as the fabulous show, the 300 plus strong audience will also enjoy a two-course dinner, served by some of our girls who will follow a brief but intensive training on waitressing beforehand.

Girls will be able to sign up to take part in this exciting show next term, though rehearsals will not start until February 2018 and, unlike past events, the rehearsal time will be far less time-consuming. The choreographer is booked, the 90s music selected, the catering discussed and almost finalised, the technical set-up designed and ordered: all we need now is the girls and staff to commit, as well as sourcing some wonderful costumes. This will be an opportunity for music, drama, gymnastics, dance, textiles and art to come together. Yes, PF is very much ALIVE and we are already looking forward to this exciting addition to the school calendar next year.

A DISTINCTIVE ROUTE TO HIGH ACHIEVEMENT FOR YOUR DAUGHTER

Priorsfield Road, Godalming Surrey, GU7 2RH 01483 810551 www.priorsfieldschool.com Prior’s Field School

@priors_field Registered Charity No. 312038