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:
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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: Geography Field 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 Alevel, 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