10 December 2010
Dear Parents
We ended the term with a fabulous performance of the Pre-Prep nativity play ‘The Donkeys’ Story’. The singing
and delivery of lines was excellent and the humour within the script coupled with the children’s enjoyment made
for a very entertaining time. A week earlier we had been treated to the Nursery nativity which was suitably heartwarming with everyone performing brilliantly. As I mentioned at the time, they are occasions that make you feel
all is right with the world. Very well done to the children and the staff.
Sandwiched between these our Carol Service was another highlight of the end of term. The atmosphere was
perfect as we retold the familiar story enhanced by excellent musical contributions from both the Chapel and
Pyrland Choirs. This capped another busy term for the music department. The Chapel Choir took part in the
annual Prep School Choir Day in October held at Sherborne Abbey and came back enthused about being part of
such a huge ensemble. We had a fantastic response to the Taunton Music & Drama Festival with several
winners in various categories for both music and drama. The Autumn Concert was well received and featured
the innovation of The King’s Hall Blues Band and, so far, results from the music exams have seen a 100% pass
rate with many merits and distinctions. Finally, in response to the Woodard Musician of the Year Competition,
which forms part of the 2011 bicentennial celebrations, we have sent off an excellent 38 tracks: results are
known at the end of February to see who might go forward to the live final in May.
The art department have been working hard on many different projects this term, producing some lovely work,
from stained glass bells, hand felted Christmas decorations, marbled baubles, all working towards the 'Time'
whole school project. We have entered several pupils’ work into the Saatchi Gallery national competition. Some
were entered into the sculpture category and others into the painting and drawing section. We are very proud
that these appear on their website - if you Google ‘King’s Hall Saatchi’ you will see some but there are several
more from the gallery homepage. Members of the Specialist Art Group enjoyed the opportunity to visit the
National Museum Cardiff where they were able to view many exciting pieces of art first hand.
On the games field our senior boys won 80% of their rugby matches this term and I have seen plenty of energy,
enthusiasm and effort from all levels. Five boys were selected to represent Somerset and three boys were
chosen to represent the Prep School Barbarians: an excellent achievement. The girls have also been
successful on the hockey pitch and I have enjoyed watching their development and I gave a large number of hattrick awards at the end of term demonstrating their propensity to score. We also have children reaching very
high standards in the fields of golf, sailing, equestrianism, trampolining and tennis to name a few: a talented
bunch.
As I have mentioned before, the boarding house is a terrific place to spend some time. It is very good news that
one in three children in the prep school have stayed in the boarding house this term and I hope that many of you
will consider not only casual boarding but the possibility of allowing your children to board full time. The
traditional Boarders’ Feast and subsequent entertainment was once again a memorable and very special
occasion with which to end the Michaelmas term in the House.
We said goodbye to Daphne Morris, Libby Tidswell, Sarah-Jane Cross and our GAPs, Jessica French, Hamish
Wall, Jessica Paisley and Alex Presgrave. All have made valuable contributions to our community and have
received our thanks along the way and at some emotional farewells. We wish them all the very best as they
move on to a wide range of different challenges.
Clare Luckhurst returns from maternity leave in Year 1 and Harriet Hills has already been with us this term
learning the ropes as the maths specialist in the Learning Support Department. We will welcome Paula Altridge
as maternity cover for Karen Foster and Lisa Tustian as our singing teacher. Our four GAPs for 2011 will be
Dugald Stranger, Kate Robertson, Charles Psaltis and Eliza Roche.
Another ‘staffing’ change that is worthy of mention is within the Pelican Swimming Club. Karen Tattersall has
been running this Saturday morning activity and it has thrived under her guidance. She has provided a steady,
efficient and reassuring lead to all involved and I am very grateful to her for looking after the Club so well. I am
delighted that Jackie Louw will be taking on the role and those of you involved will be contacted in the usual way.
You will notice from the diary that our email domain name has changed to @kingshalltaunton.co.uk . This is part
of the upgrading of our ICT provision as we now have our own email server and, as you should have noticed,
hence have the ability to communicate with you far more efficiently. In general, staff can be contacted using
their first initial and surname before the @. Please could you update your email contacts for us as per the diary
details. We are still in a period of transition and, in order to ensure we do not have any important messages
disappear into the ether, old email addresses that have rmplc in them will still work for another 9 months or so. I
am pleased that so many of you have welcomed this advance.
The next item is currently very appropriate with the cold weather: the School Shop will be stocking navy blue
base layers or ‘skins’ that the children may wear under their sports kit. Also, due to popular demand and
common sense, as previously alluded to in regard to the girls’ games top a contemporary short sleeve top will be
in the shop from Easter. Whilst this will obviously help with the heat (hopefully) in the summer, it is intended that
this will be worn all year round with a ‘skin’ underneath if needed. (Tracksuits obviously provide warmth during
training.) And finally for now, matching skorts will be available for girls at a similar time as a further
modernisation. We currently expect Year 3 to have these skorts as uniform and we very much hope that those in
the years above will welcome the move, particularly those who have regular school matches.
Amongst other qualities, at King’s Hall we value integrity, compassion, empathy, kindness, courtesy,
determination and friendship and I am delighted that once again we are able to reward these virtues in the
appointment of Morgan Tottle as Head Girl, Sam Sprague as Head Boy, Louella Storer as Deputy Head Girl and
Henry Jeans as Deputy Head Boy: congratulations to them all and we wish them well in post for the Lent Term.
Next term’s diary is full of information but I hope those of you in the Prep will be able to set aside the evening of
Thursday 27 January to come and join us for a Social Evening here. We will have a Pre-Prep evening in the
Summer Term as usual.
It really has been a tremendous term. We started in balmy conditions and have ended in another time zone with
arctic weather and in between so much has been achieved by all involved: it is certainly time for a good rest.
I end by thanking you all for your time and effort spent in support of both your children and the school as positive
engagement with us can only benefit your children.
I wish you and your families the very happiest of Christmas holidays!
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely
Justin Chippendale
Headmaster