Bedales Prep, Dunhurst's end of term celebrations
Pupils at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst closed the academic year in style with a series of events celebrating achievements in music, drama and sport as they bade farewell to Block 2 (Year 8) pupils moving on to senior school in September.
The Dunhurst Rock Show returned for two performances on 9-10 June, with pupils from all year groups performing in the Olivier Theatre. Both performances were attended by parents and livestreamed to enable family and friends to share in the pupils’ achievement at home. Watch the 9 June performance here and the 10 June performance here.
From 20 June, pupils celebrated National School Sport Week with five days packed with a variety of activities suitable for all sporting abilities. The week started with the Dunhurst Dash, an annual and much-loved fixture which sees pupils have fun navigating and racing through a giant inflatable obstacle course – multiple times! The school was buzzing with excitement the following day as the tennis finals were played out on Dunhurst’s courts, with fantastic performances in both singles and doubles matches. On Wednesday, pupils took part in a whole school triathlon, demonstrating impressive effort and enthusiasm despite the heat, with medals for individual competitors and teams. The Quadkids Athletics event saw Dunhurst welcomed pupils from Ditcham Park, St Swithuns and Meoncross to compete in four events – 75m sprint, 600m run, nerf throw and standing long jump – with Dunhurst’s teams finishing in first and third place respectively. Rugby player and Olympian Heather Fisher also visited Dunhurst to deliver sports sessions and speak to all pupils at a special sports-themed JAW.
National School Sport Week festivities drew to a close with Sports Day on 25 June, which also saw the return of normal service for Parents’ Day. Families were invited into school to see pupils’ work, take part in fun activities and enjoy music and refreshments in the sunshine on Cobbs Field before Sports Day got underway on the Mem Pitch.
The end of the academic year also signalled the end of Block 2 (Year 8) pupils’ time at Dunhurst. The vast majority are preparing to move on to Bedales Senior in the Autumn term, with scholarships awarded to a number of Dunhurst pupils: Thea Rose (Academic), Robin Blofield (Academic and Art), Ruairidh Chassels (Art), Tommy Hornsby (Music) and Eliot Santos (Music). To mark their departure from Dunhurst, Block 2 pupils were treated to a trip to West Wittering beach, a mini expedition to Butser Hill and a Leavers’ Dinner and Disco. As a token of their appreciation to the school, the pupils and their families presented the school with two outdoor table tennis tables.
Head of Dunhurst Colin Baty said: “After another exceptional year, I’m proud of each and every Dunhurst pupil and everything they have achieved. The end of the year means it is time for us to say goodbye to Block 2, a wonderful group of individuals whose kindness, thoughtfulness and role modelling has been much appreciated at Dunhurst. After fantastic farewell celebrations, I will enjoy keeping in touch and seeing them develop at Bedales Senior.”
View photos from Parents' Day and Sports Day here.
