15th July 2013

Dear Parents,

It is to be hoped that you enjoyed Speech Day. For many parents it will be the first time they will have experienced the occasion in the sun, something that makes an enormous difference. I am sure you will agree that the children provided us with a memorable day.

September Camps

Once again I am pleased to announce that each of the year groups in the Prep School will enjoy residential camps in late September. This new initiative was a huge success last year and we will be building on this early next term. The programme has been carefully designed to progressively introduce the children to some important life skills that will undoubtedly enhance their social development, independence and self-esteem. As importantly I am sure the camps will also prove be very good fun!

I have attached much more detail about each of the camps but the following is a brief summary:

  • Year 4: Multi Activity Camp with PGL, 25/27 September, Beam House Devon, £225
  • Year 5: Wildlife Saver Camp, Bush Craft Co, 26/27 September, Cornbury Park Oxford, £135,
  • Year 6 Wildlife Cooking Camp, Bush Craft Co, 26/27 September, Cornbury Park, Oxford, £135
  • Year 7: Leadership skills, in house with Ardvaark, 26/27th September, The Downs, £75
  • Year 8: GeographyField Trip, in house, 26/27 September, River Tawe, Brecon Beacons, £75

Each camp will take place at the same time in the last week of September in order to minimize the disruption to the academic timetable. The pupils will return by 4.00pm on Friday 27th September suitably exhausted and so they will have the exeat weekend to recover. Although the Year 4, 5, and 6 camps are run by external organizations the children will be accompanied by my Prep School colleagues.

There are charges for each camp but you can be assured that we have tried to keep these as low as possible. I am also pleased to relate that once again we will not be charging for the Year 8 Leavers’ Camp, an excellent way for pupils to relax and celebrate their time at the school.

Staff

A number of new staff will be joining us next term. I was unable to make reference to them during Prize Giving and so I provide some details below. I am mindful that in some cases I have repeated myself but for the sake of the overall picture I feel it appropriate. I am delighted that we have been able to recruit teachers of such quality and I have no hesitation in stating that they will each make a considerable contribution towards the success of the school in the near future.

Mr Ben Bazzard – Head of Maths

Mr Ben Blazzard will be joining us as the Head of Maths. A pupil of Norman Court Prep School and thereafter King’s Bruton, Ben is entirely familiar with the culture of a school like The Downs. After school Ben spent a year teaching in Australia before attending Exeter University. Before completing his Maths Degree however, he joined the army as an Officer Cadet at RMA Sandhurst. Sadly he was discharged after 18 months on account of a leg injury and so he returned to university where he completed a degree in Maths with Teaching. During recent years he has taught at Ripley Court Prep School, Surrey. Mr Bazzard is a keen sportsman, a skilled horseman and an enthusiastic skier. He has a young family and he is very much looking forward to re-locating to the South West.

Mr John Gracey – Head of Languages

Miss Brinster will remain at school until November when she goes on maternity leave, in the meantime Mr John Gracey will join us in September. Educated at Eton College John moved on to Trinity College Dublin where he graduated with a degree in French and Philosophy. He then spent 16 years in Chamonix working in various management roles in the leisure trade. He returned to England in 2011 to undertake a PGCE at Oxford University. John is genuinely trilingual (Spanish and French). He has experience teaching A-level, GCSE and Common Entrance and he is entirely familiar with the culture of a school like The Downs. He has skied for England and he is a very competent musician.

Miss Katherine Jenkins – Reception Teacher

The new Reception Teacher will be Miss Katherine Jenkins. We were fortunate to interview an extremely strong field of applicants for the role and Katherine proved to be outstanding. She was educated at the Royal School Armagh from where she went on to Stirling University. Having gained a degree in English she then worked as a Teaching Assistant for a year before deciding to qualify as a Primary School Teacher specialising in the Foundation Stage (Reception Year). For the last two years she has been teaching the Reception Year in a Primary school in London (Barnes). She quickly proved excellent and indeed she has recently joined the Senior Management Team. Katherine is a confident, bubbly, dynamic professional who is passionate about sport and music and is hugely excited about the prospect of joining us.

Mr Robert Ayres – Teacher of Humanities

Mr Robert Ayres will be teaching Humanities in the Prep School. Originally from Falmouth, Robert studied History at Stirling University - I wonder of his thoughts on Bannockburn - before training to be a teacher at Exeter University. He harbours a strong interest in humanities and particularly History which he often teaches through the medium of drama. He will undoubtedly quickly become involved in drama at The Downs as he has sung and danced in various musical productions but his talent on the rugby field should not be underestimated. Robert is well travelled but he has already moved to Bristol in order to prepare for his time at The Downs.

Conclusion

We could not have wished for better weather in which to start the summer holidays. It is to be hoped that during the next few weeks England win the Ashes and more importantly you all enjoy a wonderful break with your families.

I thank you for your excellent support over the year.

Best wishes,

Marcus Gunn