Colour PDF File with images

March 20th 2015
TRIPLE TRIUMPH
A WONDERFUL Spring
Term at Taunton School has
seen our students record
another series of outstanding
successes.
In this end-of-term Courier,
we report on three more ...
u Our Drama department
are celebrating their best ever
results, setting a fantastic
record of 100% A grades at AS
and A2. See page three.
u Our netball 1st team
(below left) have completed a
magnificent unbeaten season
... as have the 4ths. See page
13.
u No fewer than five of
our students (below right)
were in the Somerset team,
who became National Cross
Country Champions at the
weekend. See page 16.
Well done to them and to
all of our students on a great
term. Have a good break!
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Fantastic end
to Spring Term
n DRAMA students
are pictured with
Mrs Jane Harris
and Mrs Carla
St Louis.
2
CAR PARKING NOTICE - Easter holiday work
OVER the Easter holiday, work will be carried out on the Shale car park. Please can anyone thinking of
leaving a vehicle on site over Easter firstly ensure that the vehicle is registered with Site Services and,
secondly, that the vehicle is not parked on the Shale car park.
Saturday, March 21st
10am-10pm Somerset County
Drama Festival Ilminster
1pm 6th Form Ski Trip departs
1pm-11pm Year 10 and 11 Trip
to Cardiff - Holst The Planets
St David’s Hall
1.30pm Boys’ House Tennis
1.30pm-3pm Athletics Pre-Season Training
2pm Cricket v BGS (H) 14A 14B (A) 2 3 15A 15B
2.30pm Girls’ Tennis v West Buckland (A) 1 2 U15 U14 (depart
1pm)
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Sunday, March 22nd
10am-10pm Somerset County Drama Festival Ilminster
Sunday, April 12th
2pm Girls’ Cricket Trip to Cornwall departs
Tuesday, April 14th
Gold DofE Training Groups return
10am-4pm Girls’ Junior (Years 9 and 10) Pre-Season Tennis
Training
10.15 am Staff Meeting Old Library
5pm Girls’ Cricket Trip to Cornwall returns
Wednesday, April 15th
Boarders’ return (6.30-7pm Boarders’ Supper)
8.45am House Staff Meeting M4
10am-4pm Senior Girls’ and Senior Boys’ Pre-Season Tennis
2pm Cricket v Taunton CC (H) 1
2pm-4.30pm Pre-Season Swimming - All Year Groups TPS Pool
3pm-5pm Boys’ Pre-Season Cricket Training U14 U15 Seniors
Thursday, April 16th
Term Starts
8.20 am Chapel - The Chaplain ‘The Big Issue’
9.10 am Chapel - The Chaplain ‘The Big Issue’
1.30pm Cricket v XL Club (H) 1
Friday, April 17th
6pm-8pm Dance Show Centenary Hall
Saturday, April 18th
Weekend House: Woodyer
8am-9am TPS Year 8 taster session Centenary Hall
11.30 am Cricket v BGS (H) 1
1pm Ten Tors Training Groups depart
Hanging Hooke
TAKE the Space in
association with
Guildford’s Yvonne
Arnaud Theatre and
Eastbourne Theatres
present Hanging Hook
at Taunton School on
April 28th.
Hanging Hooke, a
solo play, has played
numerous theatres
in the UK including
The Minerva at
Chichester Festival
Theatre, The Rose in
Kingston and Allan
Ayckbourn’s Stephen
Joseph Theatre in
Scarborough.
It has also played many
science festivals including the
Royal Society itself for the One
Culture Festival.
Robert Hooke was an early
scientist, an extraordinary
polymath and a passionate
rival of Isaac Newton. He was
very much a man of Charles II’s
restoration and was appointed
Tennis for parents
THE PTA will again be organising a tennis club for
parents in the Summer Term.
Tim Drew will be on hand to offer coaching and
to keep us in order. The evenings will start on April
15th and run to July 1st on Wednesday evenings
between 6pm and 8pm. Price for the whole term is
£35 per person.
If you would like to join in please email pta@tauntonschool.co.uk
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
first curator of the Royal
Society in 1662.
Tickets for the performance
are priced at £10.50 (children
free).
Before the show, there will
be a lecture on ‘What it’s like
to work in theatre and film.’
To book for both events, go to
www.tauntonboxoffice.co.uk
Sainsburys Active
Kids Vouchers
We are now collecting Sainsburys
Active Kids Vouchers for Schools.
A collection box is available in
reception.
3
HEADS UP ON ...
THE SPRING TERM
WOW! Where did that term go?
It has certainly been a whirlwind and
such a short second half of term means
that the Easter break is suddenly upon
us.
It has been an exciting few weeks with
the appointment of two new deputies
and various other teaching appointments
who will join an already vibrant and
energetic team of staff.
Lots of schools talk about the
difficulties they face recruiting teachers
in certain subjects
but we have not
been faced with such
problems with high
calibre fields for all
jobs advertised.
We are in a strong
position and there is
more news to come.
As ever, the pupils
never cease to amaze
me with their exploits
and energy levels.
Watching drama
n WE have been delighted to welcome the outgoing MP for
Taunton Deane, Mr Jeremy Browne, to the school today (Friday) assessments, sports
to talk to students about his career and the forthcoming General matches and concerts
Election.
is always energising
but when put
alongside the
context of
lessons, prep
and revision
schedules then
they truly are
getting the most
out of the opportunities on offer.
However, I would say that some need
more guidance as they are missing out
and I will be setting out this challenge to
some of our pupils in the near future.
I have enjoyed my first term as
Headmaster.
It has been a little too “office based”
for my liking and so I hope to be out and
about more next term.
Many thanks to colleagues, parents
and pupils across the school for all of
their support. It is always appreciated.
Mr Lee Glaser (Headmaster)
Triumphant drama
Magnificent, mesmerising and macabre!
OUR Drama Department are
celebrating their best ever
results, setting a fantastic
record of 100% A grades at AS
and A2.
At AS level, Heidi Parsons,
Florence McCormick, Harry
Acton and Joby Craven were
inspired by Antonin Artaud’s
Theatre of Cruelty to bring
to life Sarah Kane’s dark
and deeply disturbing “4.48
Psychosis”.
The two A2 groups, Dea
Gagoshidze, Rex Cole, Daisy
Tucker, Meg Watkinson, Fran
Biddle, Gemma Bown, Laurie
Thomas and Juliet Watson
explored the inner torment of
two notorious criminals, John
Christie and Ariel Castro, and
their victims.
Using Berkoff’s physical
theatre techniques to create
two galvanising pieces which
both enthralled and terrified
in equal measure, they
demonstrated that theatre
should be challenging for
both actor and audience.
These pieces certainly did
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
not disappoint!
My enormous thanks and
congratulations go out to
these talented and hardworking students who fully
deserved the high grades
achieved.
Special mention must also
be made to Mrs St Louis, Mr
Waller, Umu, Egor and Tom
without whose dedicated
support and creativity we
could not achieve such
results.
Jane Harris
Head of Drama
and Theatre Studies
4
ECLIPSED!
Stunning shots from our Science Department
OUR Science Department were out this
morning (Friday) to witness the Solar
Eclipse and were joined by many of our
students.
n We have circled a
sunspot on this shot.
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Mr Ian Piper writes: The day started dull
but the cloud thinned enough for us to
be able to observe the eclipse from the
early stages through the maximum at
about 9.28am right to the end
over an hour later.
To do this safely we projected
the image of the sun into a box
and this gave those viewing an
easy way to get a good view.
The observation was
supervised by Dr Penny (below)
who was also able to take a
whole series of photos to record
the event ... some of which are
featured in sequence here.
5
Rousing end to term
Vocal
Vocal Recital
Recital in
in the
the Chapel
Chapel showcases
showcases talent
talent
THERE was a marvellous finale to the
Spring Term last night (Thursday) with a
Vocal Recital in the Chapel showcasing
choirs and soloists from the senior school.
The 45-minute performance featured
soloists Charlotte Penny, Donald Otim,
Tesni Collins, Tom Dunn and Sophie
Gamble alongside the Choral Society,
Chapel Choir, AVE and the Once Upon a
Time Show choir.
The event included repertoire from
both popular and classical traditions
including TS Choral Society performing
the two piano and percussion ‘O Fortuna’
from Carmina Burana.
n We have two clips from the recital for
you to enjoy.
CLICK HERE for clip one
CLICK HERE for clip two
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
6
Final few places left on
GCSE revision courses
TIME is running out to book
places on this year’s GCSE
Easter revision courses from
Tuesday, April 7th, to Friday,
April 10th.
Please note that only one or
two places are still available
on the different subjects.
Fees
1 subject: £350 (4 half days)
2 subjects: £599 (4 full days)
intensive GCSE revision
tuition from fully qualified
specialist subject teachers.
Each day will run from
08.30am - 17.30pm.
All course fees include
lunch and snacks throughout
the day.
The programmes are nonresidential but we can arrange
homestay options for those
that require accommodation.
What is included in the
course fee?
The students receive
Course Description
Focused, intensive GCSE
revision programme tailor
made to suit your own
individual revision needs and
requirements.
Class sizes are strictly a
maximum of six students
per class, meaning that each
student will receive intensive
personal tuition from subject
specialist Taunton School
teachers.
The revision courses will
also include the following:
n Revision tips & structured
study plans
n Exam techniques
n Stress management and
relaxation techniques
n Motivation boosters
Course content will
be aimed towards the
examination boards taught at
Taunton School - please check
for further details.
How to Apply
To book a place on the Easter
GCSE Revision Course, contact
our Summer School and Short
Course Director, Mrs Lisa
Palmer, on revisioncourses@
tauntonschool.co.uk or 01823
703287.
Universities confirmed include
North American
University Fair
Taunton School
6th May 2015
2:30 – 5:30 pm
Hawaii Pacific
University of Missouri
MIT
University of New Brunswick
New York Film Academy
NYU
Suffolk
Syracuse University
For further information: 01823 703606 or
careers@tauntonschool.co.uk
Register for free tickets: https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/15875260331/
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Taunton School, Staplegrove Road, Taunton, TA2 6AD
Talks
University of British Columbia
2:45 US
Florida State University
3:45 Canada
Harvard
4:45 Sports Scholarships
7
Brigadier visits CCF
THE Year 11 Army section
complete their Advanced
Special to Arm training
programme last Friday.
To mark the occasion,
Brigadier Mitch Mitchell
MBE kindly gave up his time
(and his St Paul’s Afghanistan
Remembrance invitation) to
find out what the cadets had
been up to over the past two
terms. Brigadier Mitchell is
a REME officer and recently
commanded a brigade in
Afghanistan
First up were the REME
(Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers) cadets
who were completing their
practical exams.
We are very pleased to have
the use of Somerset College’s
excellent facilities as well as
their outstanding teachers
every Friday for the past two
terms. This has made the
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
REME section an interesting
and popular choice within
the CCF. Brigadier Mitchell
was very impressed with the
level of proficiency the cadets
had reached as well as the
facilities.
Next, Brigadier Mitchell
gave an inspirational talk
to the whole of the Year 11
Army Section.
The talk touched on many
themes but the key driver
of leadership and
selflessness as keys
to success in future
life were well put and
clearly understood by
all those present.
Finally as this was
the last CCF afternoon
for Year 11, prizes
were given for each
section as well as the prize for
best overall cadet.
RESULTS: Section 1 Best
Cadet (Infantry) – Edward
White (top left);
Section 2 Best Cadet
(Infantry) – Thomas Willis
(top centre);
Section 3 Best Cadet (Royal
Signals) – Ummu Dasuki;
Section 4 Best Cadet
(REME) – Hunter Hailes;
Best Overall Cadet – Jamie
Price (top right).
Many thanks to my NCOs
– Ruaridh Jameson, Hannah
Jolley, James Cowling, Patrick
Morshead, Mathew Morgan
and Jamie Miles – for the
excellent work they have
done over the past two
terms.
Mr Tony Workman
8
more flexibility
Have you ever thought of flexible boarding?
Contact us to find out more
and check availability
Contact: 01823 703703
seniorflexiboarding@tauntonschool.co.uk
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
9
Prestigious award for Freddie
TAUNTON School Music
student Freddie Cooney
has been awarded a
prestigious award from
Durham University.
The Vice Chancellor’s
Scholarship is worth
£2,000 per annum and is a
highly competitive process
to go through.
Freddie has been an
oboist in the school
orchestra and tenor in the
Chapel Choir and Choral
n FREDDIE
spent the
recent halfterm on work
experience
in Segovia
(Spain) and
you can read
his account by
CLICKING HERE
Society since Year 10,
making great progress as a
musician during this time.
He is also studying for
A2 music currently.
He will be taking an
active role in participating
and promoting Durham
University’s music
department and is
thrilled at the prospect of
getting as involved there
as he has been at TS.
You can hear Freddie
performing, along with
many of our other
talented U6 musicians
in our Concerto Concert
on May 1st at 7pm in the
school’s beautiful chapel.
Mr Mark Cracknell
Mars comes to Devon
MR Ian Piper took
four students - Edward
Shattock, Frederico
Weiser, Kit Nebbett
and Henry Shelton - to
Plymouth University
yesterday (Thursday) to
hear a talk on exploration
of the red planet (Mars!)
This was part of the
Universities Science Week
programme and, while
there, the students were
able to see a number of
excellent demonstrations
and exhibits around
science, engineering and
medicine.
The sight
of Freddy
strapped
securely into
a modern
emergency
stretcher
and being
turned
upside down
on it was
probably a
high point
for all but
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Freddy!
The main talk by
Natasha Stephen about
Mars and the part the
University is playing in
analysis of martian rocks
was very well received by
the students – actually
being able to hold – albeit
in tightly sealed boxes fragments of rock expelled
by volcanoes on Mars
hundreds of thousands of
years ago made the topic
seem that much more
real.
Frozen in French
ON Monday evening, the Languages
Department showed La Reine
des Neiges (the French version of
the highly popular film Frozen).
We provided masks of the main
characters and the students enjoyed
pancakes and drinks. Students
from all years attended but our
Sixth Form students were the
most enthusiastic and certainly
outnumbered the other year
groups. Mrs Paul and Mr Clark
busily
churned
out
endless
pancakes.
Next term
we hope
to show St
Trinians in
German.
Mrs Kate
Stent
10
Spanish play
Showing enterprise
THIS year, a truly talented and
motivated group of students from the
Lower Sixth have been taking part in the
Young Enterprise scheme.
Had a smashing time at the middle
school socials and the boarder’s disco?
ON Tuesday we enjoyed a second
production this term from the
Onatti theatre company.
This time it was a Spanish play so
our students in Years 9 and 10 were
swept away to the world of Raquel
and Oscar, two argumentative
teenagers.
The play ¡Fuera! was highly
entertaining and for a full hour
the students were able to follow
everything in Spanish, thanks to the
funny story, sympathetic characters
and fantastic acting.
Cameron Pinn, Cameron Beck
and Tia Hawkins found themselves
swept onto the stage as they played
important extra parts in the play.
We all had a wonderful afternoon
and I was delighted that the
students managed to follow every
detail of the play.
Mrs Kate Stent
All thanks to them!
Wearing a stylish Genuine branded
T-shirt? Apart from looking devilishly
attractive and almost downright
irresistible, you’re supporting a worthy
cause.
The team has decided to collaborate
with a charity from Kenya called Dream’s
Children Home, with a percentage of our
profits utilised in being genuinely socially
responsible - a tagline we live by.
Every purchase of Genuine T-shirt
provides a child’s milk supply for an
entire day. That’s right. An entire day.
The difference your help makes is
ineffable, and we’d like to thank you for
your support.
You can read more about the mission
you’re supporting by visiting the BBC’s
website.
We’d thoroughly recommend it - an
incredibly moving read ... CLICK HERE
Liam Travers - Lower Sixth
Busy term for our TS dancers
THE Dance GCSE students
and Taunton School
Dance Company have
been very busy over the
last few months.
Activities have included
attending the ‘Move It’
event in London, where
they took professional
dance classes in Street
Dance and Samba, also
watching professional
performances and Dance
battles.
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
The dancers then
travelled to the Octagon
Theatre where they
took part in the exciting
‘Spring Forward’ event,
performing in front of
over 350 people.
The girls have
continuously
developed and
are working
extremely hard
preparing and
rehearsing
for the ‘Let’s
Dance’
performance at
Taunton School
in April.
Emma
Mannings
11
More success
at arts festival
DESPITE having a number of
children poorly and having to do
some last minute rearrangements
and line learning to cover those
missing, we had an amazing last day
finishing this year’s Taunton Festival
of the Arts in real style!
We started with second place for
Simon Wheeler in the Year 10/11
Prepared Reading. Next up Mabel
Pyne and Ruby Cooney won the
Year 8/9 Duo Verse.
This was quickly followed by
Sophie Brett winning the Year 8/9
Performance Poetry. Harry Bond
and Rex Rhodes then went on to
win the 8/9 Duo Acting before
teaming up with Alex Male to win
the Year 8/9 Group Acting.
Edward Dancey and George Baker
won the Year 5 Duo Verse with
Daria Bogdanska and Daisy Vann
finishing second.
Our amazing voice choir from
Year 2 won the Timpsons Trophy for
Group Speaking and Georgia-Bella
Kingswell and Ailani Braine Clarke
won the Year 5 Group Speaking.
The day finished with Emma
Stembridge and Marnie Cairns
winning the Year 5 Group Acting.
A fantastic haul of medals, cups
and certificates has now returned to
school.
It was a fantastic week and a real
privilege to enjoy the performances
of every one of our talented
competitors.
All the children lived up to the
school motto and represented their
teachers, schools and families with
great determination and fantastic
attitudes.
A huge thank you to The
Headmaster and all the staff for
their support ‘back at base’ and
to all those parents and relatives
who transported and supported
the youngsters. Most importantly a
huge thank you to the children for
taking part. We are very proud of
each and every one of you.
Darren Riggs and Matthew Kirby
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Lessons by SKYPE
DESPITE one of their cohort currently
being in Australia as part of the TS
Australian Exchange, the show must go
on and LAMDA lessons continue.
To avoid losing a few valuable weeks
of exam preparation, the students
and their teacher came up with the
novel idea of using SKYPE to enable a
transcontinental lesson to take place.
As the normal UK lesson slot was
7.40am the time difference also worked
perfectly.
After exchanging the usual SKYPE
pleasantries with student Hannah
Hitchens, it was straight on with the
script as the girls continued their work
on Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers.
“It was an unusual lesson but very
productive and enabled the girls to keep
to their exam schedule. It was also lovely
to see Hannah enjoying her Australian
Experience,” said Darren Riggs.
“We are, after all, Taunton School;
Offering More – Worldwide!”
n PICTURED are students Gracie Andrew
and Bethan Collier with teacher Darren
Riggs in the UK and, thanks to the iMiracle,
student Hannah Hitchens in Australia.
COACH project appeal
HEAD of Maths, Mr Ian Payne,
COACH is a Charity, run by a
(right) is chairing a community
board of Trustess and are actively
group trying to build a
looking for new Trustees willing to
community hub in French Weir
work on this exciting project.
Park.
They are particularly looking for
The project has recently
Trustees with legal, financial and
received planning permission
operational experience.
and currently has £810,000 to build the
If you would like to be a part of the
Centre. It is hoped that builiding will start
vision, please contact Mr Payne by email:
in April, opening in November to the
ian.payne@tauntonschool.co.uk
community.
The centre will
provide activities,
sports, youth and
family clubs and
educational courses
Invigilators
across a wide range.
(temporary role)
Taunton Deane
Council, Sport
We are looking for Invigilators for the Summer Exam period
England, Canoe
from 5th May for approximately 6 weeks to work in both the
England, Bishop
Senior School and Taunton School International. The hours
Fox’s Trust Fund and
are flexible and no previous experience is required.
Clarks Foundation
For further details and an application form, please contact
are financial
the
HR
Department
on
01823
703123,
supporters of
HR@tauntonschool.co.uk
COACH ... watch this
Taunton School follows safer recruitment guidelines.
space for more!
12
International entertainment
AN appreciative audience was treated
to a varied musical programme at the
annual TSI/TSIMS Teatime Concert on
Tuesday.
Drum and saxophone lessons have
become increasingly popular up at TSIMS
this academic year as evidenced by
the brave students stepping forward to
showcase their young talents.
The TSI students entertained the
audience with a range of pieces and
genres incorporating a demanding violin
solo, a beautiful string quartet as well as
more saxophone and drum solos.
The concert was rounded off by the
TSI/TSIMS Film Project Choir performing
a moving rendition of Ed Sheeran’s song
‘Into The Fire’.
Thank you to all those who played and
those who came along to support our
musicians.
We’re looking forward to our next
concert in Kingston St Mary church on
Friday, June 5th.
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics Department
Information evening for students and parents on
Thursday 23rd April 5.30pm,
Old Library
Contact Mrs White for further details!
annabel.white@tauntonschool.co.uk
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
13
SPORT
STARTS
HERE ...
Wonderful netball
IT has been an excellent
season for Taunton School
Netball, resulting in the 1st
VII and the 4th VII team being
unbeaten and a 77% win rate
across all the teams.
The first team proved
to be too dominant for our
local schools beating King’s
College, Queen’s College,
Wellington and Millfield
along with five other schools
including Canford.
The second team were
unlucky towards the end
of the season to lose two
matches, due to player injury,
illness and promotion to the
Team
1st
2nds 3rds
4ths
U15A
U15B
U15C
U14A
U14B
U14C
Player of the Season
Ashton Caddick
Lucy Badcock
Jen Tester
Sophie Gamble
Mary Sloman
Josie Taylor
Aluel Ayok-Loewenberg
Megan Conabeare
Maddie Taylor
Cassie Grace
1st VII. They still recorded
excellent wins over Millfield,
Canford, Bristol
Grammar School,
Blundells, Wellington
and Queen’s College.
Not to be
outdone the 3rd
and 4th VIIs also
had some excellent
victories
with the
4thVII going
unbeaten
and scoring
125 goals
with only 46
against.
The future
of netball looks secure
with the junior teams
also dominating the
local circuit.
The U15A team
were runners up
in the County Cup
competition drawing
with the eventual
winners King’s Bruton.
However, revenge
was sweet when they then
went on to beat them in the
inter-school match 30-23.
Hot on their heels were
the U14A VII whose only loss
of the season was to Millfield.
An outstanding season of
netball!
Lisa Manley
Most Improved Player
Gemma Bown
Cally Tapp
Francisca Parades-Tarazona
Ornella Bourgeois
Annie Crawford
Tessa Lewis
Alice Thurston
Jasmine Walker
Willow Oatley
Caitlin Goldman
RESULTS v Wellington 17/02/15-19/03/15
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
U15A
U15B
U14A
U14B
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
Result
W 39-9
W 36-7
W12-8
W 30-7
W 23-11
W 24-7
W 25-7
Player of the Match
Ashton Caddick
Abi McHardy
Francisca Parades-Tarazona
Mary Sloman/ Millie Tyler
Josie Taylor
Ellie-May Vohra/ Jasmine Walker
Hannah Eke /Maddie Taylor
14
Hockey and netball award winners
For latest sport information ...
Senior School Sports Latest
http://senior.tauntonschoolsports.co.uk
Team Sheets
Use the password GoTauntonGo
Sports fixtures, Match details, Team
Sheets, Results, Follow your team,
Calendar integration & More!
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
15
Build your speed this Easter
CALLING all of our young sport stars ...
Do you want to improve your speed in
your chosen sport?
We have just the answer with a
programme of special courses being
organised by our Head of Rugby, Mr Nic
Sestaret, over the Easter holidays.
“Speed and agility are key to success in
any sport as all children know,” he said.
“Children want to excel with their
sport but they are do not know enough
about about what training they should
be doing.
“Young athletes under-train their
speed and under achievement between
ten to 18 years can never be fully
overcome. Athletes will never reach full
genetic potential if they don’t develop
their speed.”
The courses, are for boys and girls,
aged ten-18, who compete in any sport.
Sisters star
in Triathlons
ANNA and Sophie Bray traveled to
Milton Keynes for the GB National
Pony Club Triathlons Championship
(Shoot, Run and Swim, leading to
Modern Pentathlon) where they
both did very well.
Anna and Sophie both put in
very strong shoots of 980 (second
overall) and 920 (eighth overall)
points respectively.
That was followed by outstanding
runs with Anna second best on the
day and Sophie third best on the
day.
This then put them in the
outstanding position of Anna in
1st place overall and Sophie 2nd
place overall - quite an amazing
achievement.
Notwithstanding swimming as
their least strong disciplines, their
overall positions still saw Anna
finishing tenth overall and Sophie
18th overall in the Junior Girls
class.
Fantastic achievements by both.
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
All of the days are taking place at the
school this holiday.
The courses will focus on:
n Biomechanics
n Speed
n Acceleration
n Plyometric
n Core
n Efficiency
n Evasion
n Changing direction
n Reaction
n Co ordination
n Competition
Course One
Tuesday 7th and Friday 10th April
9.30am to 12pm for 10-13 years
2pm to 4.30pm for 14-18 years
Course Two
Monday 13th and Wednesday 15th April
9.30am to 12pm for 10-13 years
2pm to 4.30pm for 14-18 years
The cost of each course is £20 per day
and places are limited so book early to
avoid disappointment.
n To book your place, email
sportsclub@tauntonschool.co.uk or
call 01823 703110.
More golden glory
for our swimmers
WEEKEND two and three of the
Somerset County Championships 2015
resulted in more golden glory and county
champions titles for both TPS and TS
pupils.
Gabby Youngs swam to gold, and
her age group county title, in the 100
Breaststroke, 400 Individual Medley
(with a 24sec PB), 200 Freestyle and,
with an impressive 1min 28secs PB, the
800 Freestyle, which is always a tough
race especially remembering to complete
all 32 lengths!
Macey Barrett also achieved her first
age group county title with gold in the
200 Breaststroke and silver in the 50
breaststroke.
There was also silver for George Tester
in the 50 and 100 breaststroke. Olly
Heard also swam to silver in the 200
Back and 200 Free and bronze in the 100
Breast and 400 Individual Medley
Sophia Wilson, who only started
swim training at the morning sessions
just before Christmas, swam her first
race and achieved a 6sec PB in the 100
Breaststroke. Also achieving personal
best times were Poppy Hutchins, Mimi
Lecompte and Harrison Barrett.
TS pupil Alicia Gallagher finished
the weekend with a silver in the 100
Breaststroke and bronze in the 50
Breaststroke.
Robyn Edwards swam an exceptional
200 freestyle to finish with a bronze in
the Open Championship.
Both Emily Yap and Robyn also
represented the club in the Open relay
championship races. Emily and TS Sports
Club lifeguard Sam Young were part
of the freestyle relay team who beat
Millfield School to the county title with a
new county record.
Both Emily and Robyn were part of the
medley relay team who swam to a silver
medal.
All of these swimmers will be back in
the pool again this weekend for the final
time with the potential for more medals,
PBs and championship titles.
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Athletes are national champs
LAST weekend Sophie Bray
(Junior Girls), George Tester
(Junior Boys), Anna Bray and
Lydia Lavallin (Inter Girls) and
Grace Smalley (Senior Girls)
all competed for Somerset at
the English Schools' National
Cross Country Championships
at Witton Country Park,
Blackburn.
They, and all their Somerset
team mates, walked away as
National Team Champions,
with both boys’ and girls’
teams winning the C group
County Team Championships
(counties are split into A, B or
C groups based on their size).
Sophie ran an excellent race
to finish 50th overall (out of
345), and third counter for
the team.
George, with a year in hand
in his age group, ran hard
for 151st (of 341) and fourth
team counter.
In the Inter Girls’ race Anna
and Lydia were an admirable
163rd and 190th respectively,
out of 339 finishers.
Grace, in the Senior Girls,
finished 197th of 300 to
cap a really successful and
enjoyable weekend.
Congratulations go to all
of them for their dedication,
discipline and general hard
work this season.
Frank
Tickner
Basketball’s
winning end
Sherborne 63, Taunton School 73
OUR basketball team rounded off their
season with a traditionally tough fixture
away at Sherborne.
The side started well and quickly
opened up a ten-point gap but could
never quite manage to break away to
build a decisive lead.
Although they were never behind, the
gap was narrowed to just three points
halfway through the final quarter and the
boys did well to hold their nerve as the
pressure built.
As Sherborne were forced to chase the
game in the closing minutes, gaps opened
up in their defence and the final margin
perhaps makes the victory look more
comfortable than it actually was.
This has been another tremendously
successful season with 11 victories in 12
matches.
Mike Cook
n OUR Rugby 7s team just fell short of
a place in the Bryanston 7s Shield final
after losing in the semi-final against
Millfield (24pts-12).
Taunton School scored 82 points in the
competition and conceded 129.
The highlight of the day was our win
against a strong Abingdon team.
Our desire to win was great to watch
and particularly pleasing was the great
Football - end of season round-up
1st Team: Played 20 games - winning ten, losing six and drawing four with
notable wins over Huish, Canford, King’s and Clifton. Finished second in the
ISCA league on goal difference (by one goal). Stepan Neronski played for
Somerset Schools three times.
2nd team: Played 14 - winning seven, losing four and drawing three. In the
inaugural ICSCA league for second teams we finished first by a distance!
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
commitment shown by our defence.
It was our last 7s tournament this year
and I would like to take the opportunity
to thank all players the who are leaving
this year.
I wish them health and success in the
future and I am proud to have been
your coach.
Nic Sestaret
n Player of the day: Charlie Smith
THE 27th Soroptimist Swimathon was
held at Taunton School during the
weekend of February 21st-22nd. The
event was very successful with 317
swimmers plus non-swimming team
captains in 55 teams taking part. The
total amount pledged at the end of
the weekend was £12,544.
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Show jumping successes
TAUNTON School hosted
its annual NSEA (National
Schools Equestrian
Association) show jumping
qualifier at Stockland Lovell
Equestrian Centre on Sunday
Once again, we held the
Somerset County Challenge
Qualifier to find the school
teams and individuals, who
will represent Somerset at the
championships later in the
year.
The riders representing TS
were Jasmine Walker, Asha
Smith, Ashton Caddick and
Matti Mercer (TPS).
As always, our own riders
represented the school
beautifully, jumping some
lovely rounds in great style.
Class 1 – Matti Mercer
rode a very good round as
an individual, but sadly took
one pole down and so was
out of the running of a very
competitive class.
Class 2 – Matti joined
Jasmine, Ashton and Asha
to ride as a team. They
finished on just four faults
and missed a place by two
course with her
usual style and
skill to win it.
For the first
time in four
years, we had
no rain at all! It
was, however, a
very chilly day,
but at least we
all got home dry.
seconds! However, Jasmine
and Ashton rode lovely
clear rounds and were
placed fifth and second
respectively, as individuals.
Ashton missed first place by
less than half a second!
Class 3 – Asha, Ashton and
Jasmine rode beautifully
and came second as a team.
With only three of them in
the team, all their scores
counted, so this was a great
achievement. They missed
out on the top qualifying
spot by just 20 seconds.
Class 4 – this was a nonqualifying 1m class, with
few entries, but Asha Smith
rode round the daunting
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We could not have held this
event without our loyal band
of stewards - staff, parents
and friends of TS, who are
too many to mention here.
Many thanks to you all, riders,
parents and helpers alike,
for all your support and hard
work during the day.
Charlotte Marshall and
Kate Walters
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Let’s Dance
AN EVENING OF DANCE FROM T.S. AND T.P.S. STUDENTS
“Dance is
the poetry
of the foot”
John Dryden
Friday 17th April
6.30pm
Centenary Hall
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
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RLSS UK
National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
(NPLQ)
Taunton School,
Staplegrove Road,
Taunton,
Somerset,
TA2 6AD
01823 703110
Laura.Goodier@tauntonschool.co.uk
Course Dates:- 7th-12th April 2015
8.30am – 5.30pm
Cost-£225
Candidates must bring:
 Pen and Paper
 Lunch, Drinks and Snacks
 Swimming Kit
 Shorts and T-shirt to wear in the water
 Whistle
NPLQ Overview
The RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
(NPLQ) is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in
the United Kingdom and Ireland that complies with
the industry guidance contained within the HSE
publication 'Managing Health and Safety in Swimming
Pools' Generally, the NPLQ is a recruitment
requirement for a number of jobs from Pool Lifeguard
to Centre Manager. On successful completion of the
course you will be fully qualified to work as a Pool
Lifeguard.
The RLSS UK NPLQ is not just a qualification it can be
a stepping stone into a career within the leisure
industry.
The NPLQ and associated courses are administered by
IQL UK Ltd, a trading subsidiary of the Royal Life
Saving Society.
The NPLQ course duration is 36 hours.
The course comprises of physical training and
theoretical classroom work, followed by a practical
in-water and out-of-water assessment on pool
rescue, first aid, CPR and lifesaving skills.
For more information please click here
www.tauntonschool.co.uk
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