What's on - Autumn 2023 by Taunton School

WHAT’S ON SUMMER 2024

Welcome

Introduction

Welcome to the Summer Edition of our ‘What’s On’ Brochure, sharing an exciting selection of our calendar highlights as we near the end of this academic year.

We are thrilled to be sharing such an extensive variety of events from across our Pre-Prep, Prep, and Senior Schools. From Drama Productions, Musicals, Recitals, and Contemporary Music Evenings, to Debates, Sports Days, and Art, Photography and D&T Exhibitions; we very much hope that you will join us to support and celebrate the outstanding commitment and dedication of students, staff, and Taunton School community.

This ‘What’s On’ Brochure highlights some but not all of our school events and sport fixtures; please continue to use our main school calendar to stay fully up-todate with everything on offer – this can be accessed at: calendar.tauntonschool.co.uk

We really are delighted to invite our community to this excitng series of events and look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful campus soon.

Key

Academic Enrichment

Dance

Drama Music

School Sport

Open to the Taunton School Community and Public

April Overview

Friday 19th IBDP Core Celebration Evening

Saturday 20th Senior School Virtual Open Morning

Wednesday 24th Went Memorial Reading Competition

TS Teatime Concert

Friday 26th Parents’ Association AGM

Saturday 27th Whole School Open Morning

Monday 29th Year 7 Visiting Artist Days

Tuesday 30th Year 7 Visiting Artist Days

Reception and Year 1

Performing Arts Café

Academic Drama

Assessment - Year 13

Individual

April

Senior School Virtual Open Morning

Join us at our next Virtual Open Day, learning more about Taunton School life and the opportunities on offer. The event features live talks from our Headmaster and school leadership teams, and video presentations from our students and parents. You will also have the opportunity to speak with key members of staff in an informal Q&A session. To book your place visit: www.tauntonschool.co.uk/open-mornings.

20 April / 10:00am / Online

IBDP Core Celebration Evening

An opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the the September 2022 to May 2024 IBDP cohort in the core element of the Diploma: CAS, TOK, and the EE.

19 April / 6:15pm / Old Library

TS TS

Went Memorial Reading Competition

This prize is awarded annually for the public reading of scripture. The senior prize was given by Mr R D Went who was a well-loved Head of English in the early part of the 20th century and the first Housemaster of Wills East from 1912-30. After Mr Went’s sudden death in office in 1930 his widow donated funds for a separate junior prize; the winners will read at the school’s Commemoration Service.

24 April / 4:00pm / Chapel

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of year groups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

24 April / 5:05pm / GWR

TPS/TPPS

Parents’ Association AGM

An opportunity for parents to get together to talk about fundraising ideas and chat through the events happening this term. This will also be an AGM so that parents can be elected into roles on the PA.

26 April / 8:30am / TPS Boarders’ Lounge

Whole School Open Morning

Join our Headmaster, James Johnson, and the Taunton Pre-Prep, Taunton Prep, and Taunton School communities at our Summer Term Open Morning. This is the best way for prospective families to experience Taunton School with the opportunity to meet current students, members of staff, tour the state-of-the-art facilities and ask questions. The event will give you the chance to come and experience life at Taunton School and Taunton Prep School. To book your place visit: www.tauntonschool.co.uk/open-mornings

27 April / 9:00am / Online

Year 7 Visiting Artist Days

Following a fantastic 3D workshop where year 5 pupils made masks, Darrell Wakeham, Dorset based sculptor will be returning to TPS to work with year 7 pupils. All year 7 pupils will have the opportunity to spend half a day working with Darrell to produce a collaborative outcome based on food! Large scale sculpture created using recycled materials will be the focus of the day. Pupils will explore a variety of techniques working as part of a team to develop their communication and critical thinking skills.

29 - 30 April / All Day / Prep School

TS/TPS TPS

Academic Drama Assessment - Year 13 Individual

The students have chosen from a wide variety of written stimuli, including plays, poems, film and TV scripts, as well as music lyrics, as sources of inspiration to their individual performances. Students will then weave each of the source materials into their monologue, linked together through their own creative writing.

30 April / 6:15pm / Theatre

Reception and Year 1 Performing Arts Café

Celebrating the music, dance and drama talent in our Year 1 and Reception cohort.

Parents welcome. Refreshments from 4.15pm, performance at 4.30pm.

30 April / 4:30pm / Centenary Hall

TPPS TS

May Overview

Wednesday 1st TS Teatime Concert

Friday 3rd TPS Charity Day in aid of Barnaby Webber Foundation, The Brain Tumour Charity & Alzheimers Research UK

Staff Mighty Marathon TS Summer Concert

Saturday 4th Staff Mighty Marathon

Tuesday 7th TPS Performing Arts Café

Wednesday 8th TS Teatime Concert

Thursday 9th Cricket - 1st XI vs MCC

Friday 10th Ten Tors Main Event

The Meade King Cup

The Naked Truth Parent Talk

Burke Debate

National Gallery Workshops

Saturday 11th Ten Tors Main Event

Year 5 Parent Event

Sunday 12th Ten Tors Main Event

Somerset Song Prize Masterclass

Monday 13th TS Evening Recital

Tuesday 14th TPS Summer Music Concert

Wednesday 15th TS Teatime Concert

Thursday 16th Brontë - TS Pathway Production

TPS, TPPS Parents’ Association Summer Fair

Friday 17th Brontë - TS Pathway Production

TPS National Gallery Workshops

Tuesday 21st Pre-Prep and Nursery

“When I Grow Up” Careers Day

Wednesday 22nd TS Teatime Concert

Thursday 23rd Whole School Colour Run

TS Taunton Sessions

Friday 24th Grandparents Visit PrePrep Classrooms

TPS Sports Day Headmaster’s Reception

BTEC Business Presents: An Evening with Great Britain’s 2004 Athens Men’s Relay Team

May

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of year groups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

1 May / 5:05pm / GWR

TPS Charity Day in aid of Barnaby Webber Foundation, The Brain Tumour Charity & Alzheimers Research UK

Charity Day including a Cake Sale in aid of the above charities.

3 May / All Day / Whole School

Staff Mighty Marathon

The Taunton Preparatory School (TPS) community is gearing up for an exhilarating challenge - the Mighty Marathon! Taking place over a 24-hour period during the May exeat, this event will see staff, pupils, and parents alike pushing their limits by running on treadmills for an hour at a time, paired with a cycle ride to Wiveliscombe pool where staff and pupils are participating in an overnight pool based replication of an English Channel 21 mile relay swim.

Please visit:

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mightymarathontps?utm_term=ZqxMBdmDW to make a donation and join us in making the TPS Mighty Marathon a resounding success!

3 - 4 May / 1:00pm Start / TS Fitness Suite TS

TPS TPS

TS Summer Concert

A celebration of ensemble music-making at Taunton School, featuring choirs, bands and orchestras performing a variety of repertoire.

3 May / 7:00pm / Chapel

TPS Performing Arts Café

Informal Music, Dance and Drama pupil performances, refreshments for parents and friends served in the foyer from 4.15pm.

7 May / 4:30pm / Centenary Hall

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of year groups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

8 May / 5:05pm / GWR TPS

Ten Tors Main Event

The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) over the Northern half of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors / check points in under two days. Teams must be selfsufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.

10-12 May / Dartmoor

Cricket - 1st XI vs MCC

One of our most prestigious fixtures in the season, Taunton School’s 1st XI are proud to host the MCC. An all-day declaration match on The Front, the MCC team features highlevel club players who are members at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

9 May / 11:30am / The Front

The Naked TruthParent Talk

A workshop designed to equip parents with the information to better understand the digital landscape and confidently guide your children through it. Parent talk is a follow-up to talks to pupils in Years 7 and 8 during the day.

10 May / 6:30pm / Centenary Hall

TS/TPS TS

The Meade King Cup

Renowned as the oldest swimming competition globally, the event is a four-school event between King’s College, Queen’s College, Wellington School and Taunton School and is governed by rigorous regulations that persist to the present day. These rules include a meticulously defined race itinerary and restrictions on the number of events in which participants may engage.

10 May / 3:00pm / TPS Pool

Burke Debate

The Burke Debate Society, the school’s oldest society, remains a beacon of intellectual exploration. With its rich legacy, the Burke offers students a unique platform to delve into current affairs and thought-provoking discussions. It also offers the chance to hone debating skills in a public setting. Join the Burke for an enriching journey through compelling ideas and insightful discourse.

10 May / 6:45pm / Theatre

National Gallery Workshops

This session is designed to build confidence and encourage students to develop the skills to record, review and reflect in a meaningful, creative way using sketchbooks.

Suitable for KS3, KS4, KS5 / 1 Hour

10 May / All Day / Various Classrooms

TS TPS

Year 5 Parent Event

An opportunity for Year 5 parents to come and have an informal chat with members of TPS Leadership and Year 5 tutors whilst enjoying a coffee and a pastry.

11 May / 9:00am / Densham Suite

Evening Recital

An evening of stylish solo performances presented by some of the school’s most accomplished musicians, The programme will feature a range of instrumentalists and singers performing in the beautiful acoustic of the chapel.

Somerset Song Prize Masterclass

Masterclass for singers and pianists aged 1826, with internationally-renowned soprano, Elizabeth Watts. Affiliated to the Taunton Festival of Arts, this masterclass features some of the entrants from Saturday’s semi-finals in what will be a stunning display of classical vocal performance.

12 May / 10:00am / GWR

13 May / 6:45pm / Chapel TPS TS TS

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of year groups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

15 May / 5:05pm / GWR

TPS Summer Music Concert

An evening of music celebrating the talent of all TPS music ensembles and choirs across all ages. Parents welcome. Refreshments from 5.45pm, performance at 6.00pm.

14 May / 6:00pm / Chapel

Brontë - TS Pathway Production

Taunton School Drama Department presents our first ever “ TS Pathway” production- Brontë by Polly Teale. The Pathway programme allows students who are aiming for a career in the theatre industry the opportunity to undergo a full audition process and rehearse a production in the same way that they would working as a theatre professional. Tickets available from Taunton School’s TicketSource page - available free of charge.

16 - 17 May / 7:00pm / Theatre Scan For Tickets

TPS

Parents’ Association Summer Fair

Join us for our annual Summer Fair with fun for the whole family including stalls, games, bouncy castles, raffles, food stalls, ice cream, Pimms and so much more.

If any parents are happy to help out, please do get in touch.

16 May / 3:45pm / Greenham & TPS Playground

Pre-Prep & Nursery

“When I Grow Up” Careers Day

A fun filled day giving children the opportunity to dress up as what they might like to do when they grow up and take part in role play and workshops exploring different careers.

21 May / All Day / Pre-Prep

National Gallery Workshops

Explore colour, light and shape. Students will be introduced to Bridget Riley’s wall painting, Messengers, and connected works, experimenting with different ways of looking, drawing and using colour.

Suitable for KS3, KS4, KS5 / 1 Hour

17 May / All Day / Various Classrooms

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of yeargroups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

22 May / 5:05pm / GWR

Grandparents Visit

Pre-Prep Classrooms

An opportunity for all Grandparents to join their Grandchildren in Pre-Prep.

24 May / 08:00am / Pre-Prep

TPS/TPPS TPPS TS TPPS TPS

Whole School Colour Run

One of the biggest charity fundraisers of the year, all students at school are invited to participate in a run that will see them covered in brightly covered powder paint as they complete the course.

23 May / 3:30pm / Greenham

TS TS/TPS/TPPS

Taunton Sessions

Following the Colour Run, all are invited to join our contemporary musicians as they present their own choice of songs, and newly composed items, with BBQ and refreshments provided.

23 May / 5:00pm / Densham Green

Headmaster’s Reception

Parents are invited to hear an update from the Headmaster about the new school strategy as well as its approach to VAT on fees. For bookings please use this form:

https://forms.office.com/e/WUvfBuKtvu

24 May / 5:00pm / Theatre

TS/TPS

TPS

TPS Sports Day

Are you ready to cheer and celebrate? Look no further! The TPS Sports Day promises an unfortgettable experience for pupils, teachers and parents alike. Mark your calendars and lace up those sneakers becqause this event is all about team spirit, friendly rivalry and pure enjoyment. Which house will be triumphant after a day of track and field?

24 May / 09:00am / Uppers

June Overview

Wednesday 5th TS Teatime Concert

Friday 7th Year 8 Prodution - High School Musical

Saturday 8th Year 8 Prodution - High School Musical

Tuesday 11th Year 8 Performing Arts Café

Strictly Studio 2024

Wednesday 12th TS Teatime Concert

TS Contemporary Music Concert

Thursday 13th TS Creative Arts Awards Evening

Friday 14th TS Junior Inter-House Debating Competition

Saturday 15th TS Futures Symposium

TPS Enrichment Performance

Monday 17th Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award

CCF Annual Camp

Tuesday 18th TPS Performing Arts Café

Thursday 20th TS Community Choir Summer Soiree

Friday 21st Pre-Prep Celebration Morning

Pre-Prep Sports Afternoon

Saturday 22nd TPS Parents’ Day

Sunday 23rd Taunton School Triathlon

Monday 24th Year 11 Prom

Nursery 4 Celebration Day

Tuesday 25th Senior School - Sports Day 1

TS Summer Exhibition

Thursday 27th Senior School - Sports Day 2

Year 13 Leavers’ Service

Friday 28th Senior School Commemoration Day Service

Senior School Prize Giving Service

Taunton School Leavers’ Ball

June

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of yeargroups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

5 June / 5:05pm / GWR

Year 8 ProductionHigh School Musical

Get ready to be dazzled as Year 8 takes centre stage in their electryfiying rendition of “High School Musical.” This iconic musical extravaganza promises to transport you straight into the halls of East High, where dreams are as big as the basketball court and melodies soar higher than Troy Bolton’s jump shots. Ticket information will be sent to parents via email.

Please contact the TPS School Office if you have any further enquiries.

7 June / 7:00pm / Theatre

8 June / 2:00pm / Theatre

TPS

Year 8 Performing Arts Café

Informal Music, Dance and Drama pupil performances by our Year 8 pupils. Refreshments for parents and friends served in the foyer from 4.15pm.

11 June / 4:30pm / Centenary Hall

Strictly Studio 2024

A Drama competition where student directed groups devise a short play to entertain and wow the judges! These are a showcase of the talent of our student directors across the school, featuring plays from TPS and TS.

11 June / 6:45pm / Theatre

TS/TPS TPS

Teatime Concert

A relaxed opportunity for musicians from a range of year groups to showcase their performing skills. Tea and cake provided!

12 June / 5:05pm / GWR

Creative Arts Awards Evening

A celebration of the Creative Arts at Taunton School, with student-nominated awards presented to deserving winners from across Dance, Drama, and Music.

13 June / 7:00pm / Densham Suite

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award

The aim of the Bronze Expedition is to inspire young people to develop initiative and a spirit of adventure and discovery by planning, training for and completing an adventurous selfsufficient journey as part of a team. Our Bronze participants will complete their expedition over 2 days and 1 night, with a minimum of 6 hours of planned activity each day.

17 June - 21 June / Quantock Hills

Contemporary Music Concert

An innovative insight into 20th and 21st Century music, featuring experimental modernism and serene minimalism, as a counterpoint to academic exams. Including music for choir, strings, percussion and piano.

12 June / 6:45pm / Chapel

Junior Inter-House Debating Competition

The evening starts with the smaller debates, with heats taking place on the M corridor. The evening concludes with the Junior Inter-House Debating Final in the presitigous surroundings of our Taunton School Theatre.

14 June / 5:15pm / M Corridor - Theatre

TS TS TS TS

TPS Enrichment Performance

TPS Enrichment present an outdoor immersive Festival-style performance of singing, dancing, drama and physical theatre.

15 June / 11:30am / Densham Green

Futures Symposium

The Careers Department are delighted to welcome the return of the Futures Symposium this June. We will be showcasing a wide range of different professions to our Year 12 students through talks and presentations from business owners and our wonderful alumni.

15 June / 08:30am / Theatre & TS Classrooms

TS

CCF Annual Camp

The CCF Camp provides our Year 12 and Year 10 Royal Navy and Army Cadets the opportunity to engage in a 5-day residential camp where they will experience a variety of adventurous training and service specific activities.

17 June / Various

TS TPS

TPS Performing Arts Café

Informal Music, Dance and Drama pupil performances, refreshments for parents and friends erved in the foyer from 4.15pm.

18 June / 4:30pm / Centenary Hall

Pre-Prep Celebration Morning

TPPS End of Year Production of, “There’s a sunflower in my supper!”, refreshments for parents and friends served in the marquee from 10.30am. Followed by Year 2 end of Pre-prep Presentation and family picnics on the lawn.

21 June / 8:00am / Marquee, The Front

Community Choir Summer Soirée

Open to all in the school community, the choir includes parents, grandparents, staff and friends of the school who enjoy singing. Join us for a relaxing soirée of short songs and arrangements, with Prosecco and nibbles provided.

20 June / 7:30pm / GWR

Pre-Prep Sports Afternoon

An oppotunity to celebrate and see your children competing as a team in various sporting events to win points for their houses.

21 June / 1:30pm / Greenham

Year 11 Prom

We invite Year 11 students to celebrate the end of their GCSE examinations in the beautiful location of Hestercombe. Families are welcome on site to take photographs at the beginning of the Prom.

24 June / 7:00pm / Hestercombe House

TPS

TPS TS TS TPPS TPPS

Taunton School Triathlon

INToTRI is a Southwest based triathlon company that seeks to remove barriers for getting involved in Triathlon. They are hosting the first Taunton School triathlon this coming June. The event is designed to be a first-time triathlon for all levels and all ages from year 4 to 13. (ages 8 – 18). The entire course will be on school site, so no need to worry about traffic or roads.

23 June / TPS Pool, The Front & Greenham

Nursery 4 Celebration Day

Nursery Four Celebration Day is a chance to recognise the children’s achievements throughout their time in Nursery with their summer show ‘Commotion in the Ocean’. Refreshments will be available for parents and friends from 8:30am in the marquee, show to begin at 9:00am.

24 June / 9:00am / Marquee, The Front

TPS Parents’ Day

Join us for a delightful day of celebration where our vibrant community of parents, pupils and staff come together to share in the childrens success for the academic year. TPS Parents Day promises an unforgetable experience filled with laughter, learning and shared memories. The morning event is held in our Marquee and after the formal proceedings, enjoy your picnic lunches in the grounds of TPS followed by an afternoon of exhibits and entertainment.

22 June / 11:00am / Marquee, Front, Greenham

TPPS TS TPS

Senior School - Sports Day

One & Two

House sports day is the largest and is the final house competition of the academic year. It is a traditional track and field event where students compete across a range of athletics events within their age groups. Day 1 consists of heats with some field events. Day 2 is finals day, with the remainder of the field events, concluding with our epic house relays. With all students and staff in support, what better way to finish the term.

Day 1 - 25 June / 2:00pm / Uppers

Day 2 - 27 June / 2:00pm / Uppers

TS Summer Exhibition

Please come along and help us celebrate the fantastic work produced by this year’s Fine Art, Photography and D&T students.

25 June / 5:00pm / Loveday Building

Year 13 Leavers’ Service

Our 2024 Leavers and their parents are invited to join this special service in our Chapel. Organised and led by our student leaders, please join us as we celebrate our Year 13s before their final day at Taunton School.

27 June / 4:15pm / Chapel

TS TS TS

Commemoration Day Service

Our final Chapel Service of 2024 academic year takes place in our Commemoration Marquee on the green in front of the Clocktower. Our Went Memorial Prizewinners do the readings and the Chaplain gets to speak to the entire gathered community to mark this moment of completion and celebration. We lift every voice and sing together. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to experience a taste of what happens inside our regular weely chapel services.

28 June / 9:15am / Front

Senior School Prize Giving Service

All Taunton School parents are invited to join the entire school community in celebrating the achievements of TS students from the 2023/2024 academic year. This service will feature many prestigious academic, cocurricular, and house prizes alongside a variety of student performances. The prize giving service will be followed by lunch and drinks on The Front.

28 June / 10:45am / Front

Taunton School Leavers’ Ball

Our Leavers’ Ball Committee invite parents of Year 13 students to join our Leavers as we celebrate their time at Taunton School in the fantastic surroundings of the Somerset County Cricket Ground. With drinks on arrival, a three-course meal, live band, casino, photo booth, and bar, what better way to say farewell to our 2024 leavers. The Dress Code is Black Tie and Evening or Cocktail Dress. Full details, including how to purchase tickets, available on the Parent Portal.

28 June / 6:45pm

Somerset County Cricket Club

TS TS TS

FIXTURES

Summer Term 2024 Fixtures

20th Apr

27th Apr

4th May

11th May

18th May

8th June

15th June

22nd June

Blundell’s School

Sherborne Boys

Bristol Grammar School

Clifton College and Millfield

Wellington School, Sherborne Girls and Exeter School

Millfield

Blundell’s School

King’s College

20th Apr

27th Apr

4th May

11th May

18th May

8th June

15th June 22nd June 29th June

Castle School Meet

Blundell’s and Yeovil Multi-event

Kings Bruton and Wellington School

Castle School Meet

Millfield Competition

Somerset School Champs

Somerset Schools Champs and Millfield Open

South West Regional Open Water Swimming Competition South West Regional Open Water Swimming Competition CRICKET TENNIS ATHLETICS SWIMMING ROWING TRIATHLON

22nd June 23rd June

Canford

Blundell’s and Dean Close

Clifton and Queen’s College

King’s College

Millfield and West Buckland

Wellington School

Wells Cathedral and Millfield

Blundell’s School

Sherborne Girls

Exeter School Gala (29th April)

King’s School Bruton Gala (2nd May)

Meade-King Cup (10th May)

Blundell’s Gala

Wimbleball Regatta INToTRI - Taunton Triathlon

17. Greenham 18. Greenham House 19. Grounds Team 20. Guardians UK 29. Maintenance 30. Marshall Day House 31. Music School 32. New Pavilion 38. School Shop 39. Science Department 40. The Lodge, Senior Deputy Head and DSL 46. Nursery and Pre-Prep 47. International School (TSI) 48. Greenham Tennis and Netball Courts 52. Locker Room 53. TPS Sports Hall 54. Sports Hall (TS) 55. Weirfield Boarding House Woodyer Boarding House 62. Sunningdale 63. Foxcombe 64. Lowers 75. Uppers Pavillion 76. Griffins Shop 77. Brigue, Site Services 78. 171 Greenway Road 1 2 3 5 6 4 11 10 9 8 7 16 15 14 12 13 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 Main Entrance Main Reception

for

MAP

Parking

Foxcombe/Lowers/ Jowett/Uppers