“It has been a real pleasure to see the whole school community well and truly back into the swing of things as we approach the end of our first full week.
The New Pupils’ Tea Party just before the first day of term was a very happy way to welcome our new pupils into the Prep School. Many visitors comment upon the open, genuine and friendly feel of our school, and this has much to do with the partnership that exists between staff and parents as we instil in our young people the ability to communicate positively, with respect and with kindness.
It was lovely to see so many parents at the ‘Meet the Tutor Evening’ on Tuesday. It was a relaxed occasion for parents to socialise with each other, to meet staff, and to ask any questions which may have cropped up since the start of term. On Wednesday, the pupils in Years 5 to 8 took to the pitches for the first matches of the season. I very much enjoyed watching them from the sidelines, along with all of the loyal parent supporters! We enjoyed a very successful afternoon and it was particularly good to see our new boys and girls taking part in their first ever hockey or rugby match for TPS with such determination.
To continue with sport, in Assembly this week we celebrated the fantastic achievement of our Under 11 cricket team in July. Having qualified for the National Finals (last eight), the boys played tremendously well to finish overall fourth in the whole Country. Many congratulations to all of the players, staff and parents who gave the team such wonderful support up in Leicestershire!
Well done also to our pupils who represented the school (and the whole of the South-West) at the IAPS National Athletics championships in July. They all performed to a high standard and were a credit to the school. Meanwhile, in the sea, our Open Water swimmers have been showing amazing resilience, persistence, stamina and courage. In August our intrepid swimmers took on the challenge of swimming around St Michael’s Mount, and this was followed at the start of September by 28 pupils (aged 12-16) and staff swimming all the way from Lyme Regis to Charmouth (more than three kilometres)! Mr McCarthy and his staff have looked after these swimmers superbly well over the holidays, and it is fully deserved that Mr McCarthy has been shortlisted for a Somerset Activity & Sport Award because of his outstanding contribution to school sport.
Finally, the Enrichment programme for Years 3 to 6 got off to a superb start last Saturday. If your child is attending and has a friend who does not attend TPS, but who would like to come along on Saturday mornings, he or she will be very welcome. The charge for non-TPS children is £100 per term and parents just need to contact Miss Page on tpssaturdayenrichment@tauntonschool.co.uk”
Mr Andrew Edwards,
Headmaster TPS
