Prep School News & Events Prep increases in size, stature and success
Prep increases in size, stature and success
Parents at the Prep School Prize Giving day have heard how the school has increased in size, stature and success once again this year. Head of Prep, Richard Geffen was able to report that, against the harsh backdrop of recession, the school had retained its firm foothold at the beginning the year with 10 more pupils than last year. Currently only four beds remain in the boarding house and the Pre-Prep, with over 40 children, is the largest it has been for a few years.
Increases and developments across all sectors of the school was the main theme of Richard Geffen’s speech and he paid tribute to the staff and the outstanding bunch of year 8 leavers who had contributed so widely and sucessfully throughout the school. Parents learnt about the increase in A grades at Common Entrance, the increase in those who have taken the higher tiered mathematics papers and the numbers of sporting fixtures – with 489 school matches featuring an un-beaten first XI cricket team; the rugby team doubling their number of victories; the netball team and the swimming squad becoming North Dorset Champions and the year 8 girls hockey conceding only one match this year as just some of the highlights. They heard about even more opportunities for the Pre-Prep with an outdoor education enclosure and the introduction of Forest Schools qualifications for staff. There has been more national recognition for the school’s musicians and singers too, who have gained places on the National Children’s Orchestra and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain.
A feature of Prep School life are the countless curriculum based trips and excursions as well as the outward bound and outdoor pursuits adventure holidays. These have been well subscribed once again and all have provided the children with wonderful opportunities to develop their skills and talents.
Richard Geffen finished his speech by quoting the words of Andy Ripley who was the No 8 for England and a man who had such great enthusiasm for life. Andy Ripley died recently but he is remembered as perhaps the last great amateur sports man who won the BBC Superstars. He was a great 400m runner, qualified canoe instructor and fantastic basketball and tennis player as well as a water skier. He wrote: ‘Dare we hope? We dare. Can we hope? We can. Should we hope? We must because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts so freely given to all of us.’ ‘This is surely what Clayesmore is all about,’ said Richard Geffen: ‘the use of the gifts and talents that every one of us has.