Abingdon Prep News September 2025 • No. 42 A ROARING SUCCESS!
2 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 Every year the terms seem to fly past even more quickly than before, and it is hard to believe that as I write this, after all the children have left school for the summer holidays, we have completed another academic year. One of my favourite things to do at this time of year is watch The Term in Pictures* that I share with all the pupils and Year 8 parents at Prizegiving, as it never ceases to amaze me just how much has been accomplished in the past 10 weeks. So many trips, both residential and day, exams, matches, musicals, concerts to name but a few activities. Perhaps most importantly though, time spent with friends making memories that will last a lifetime. We said goodbye to our Year 8s today as they start the next stage of their educational journey, moving to their senior schools and hopefully feeling more than ready to make the most of the opportunities presented to them. Some of them have been with us at APS for the past 9 years and some for just a couple of years, but it was lovely to see them together celebrating all their achievements as we said our farewells. Best wishes Craig * available on the school’s website. FROM THE HEAD The Head, Craig Williams, reviews the summer term at Abingdon Prep. NEWS SCHOOL COUNCIL The School Council met twice this term, working hard on new ideas to try and make Abingdon Prep an even better place. Top of the agenda in May was a review of the food at school. Class reps were tasked by Richard to chair a discussion during the form periods that week to get feedback and ideas from their peers. Children love talking about food, and the meeting was a lively discussion during which some really good ideas and thoughts were suggested. In June, the School Council reflected on all the changes they had made to the school in the past 12 months. Richard thanked everyone for their contributions, and gave particular thanks to Solon for his contribution over the last 3 years before he moves on to pastures new. He has set a new record for career School Council meeting appearances! The final meeting was used to set the agenda for the coming school year and ranged from colours and cups, food and playground activities. HOUSE MERIT CUP With over 12,000 points, this year’s House Merit Cup was won by... PHOENIX HOUSE CAPTAIN ELECTIONS There was a real buzz of anticipation at the elections for next term’s House Captains and Vice Captain as the Year 7 candidates pressed their claims for the prime leadership positions. It was wonderful to see so many of the pupils prepare speeches of such irmpressive quality. Many of the houses had closely fought competitions, and congratulations to all the pupils who took part. The results for House Captains and Vice-captains were: Dragon: William Br, Theo Griffin: Charlie, James Ch Phoenix: Will, James Co Unicorn: Trystan, Teddy Saying farewell to our outgoing Chair of Governors, Professor Michael Stevens, at Prizegiving.
abingdon.org.uk/prep 3 NEWS SCHOOL BARBECUE The last full day of school was our annual barbecue. Pupils had the choice of yummy griddled burgers, hot dogs, or vegetarian versions with all the trimmings, and ice-cream for afters. The playground was full of happy munchers, marshalled by Charles in his cricket hat! NICKY BLACK NAMED AS NEW HEAD OF ABINGDON PREP SCHOOL Nicky Black has been named as the new Head of Abingdon Prep School. Educated at Tadcaster Grammar School and Durham University, she began her teaching career in London. Having previously led Dulwich College Kindergarten and Pre-Prep, she joins Abingdon Prep School from the coeducational Cokethorpe Prep, where she has been Head for the past seven years. An advocate of high academic standards and outdoor education, she is a perfect fit for the Abingdon ethos which prizes academia in equal measure to co-curricular pursuits. Nicky says: “I am delighted to be joining the Abingdon Prep family. It is a school I have always admired – both in terms of its academic offering as well as its enviable Other Half co-curricular provision. I am looking forward to working with staff, parents and pupils to continue to build upon the existing strength and success of Abingdon Prep as it continues its move towards full co-education.” Mike Windsor, Head of the Abingdon Foundation, adds: “My colleagues and I are very much looking forward to welcoming Nicky as Head of Abingdon Prep. I am confident her expertise and experience will add to the existing strength of our superb offering. She inherits a strong and cohesive team from her predecessor, Craig Williams, for whose This term, Abingdon Prep played in their first competitive combined chess and strategy games (Abalone and Quoridor) fixture against MCS. The team made a brilliant account of themselves and particular credit should go to Ricky in Year 6 who won both of his chess games. The team consisted of Wilson (Year 4), Ricky, Clarence, Alex M, Hector and Paddy (Year 6) with Alex S and Zac in Year 7. Great effort and golds for all. STRATEGY GAMES MEET HOUSE GAMES Our May House meetings took place outdoors in the late spring sunshine. The four houses took part in a large variety of games, including rounders, French cricket, skipping and boules. It was a genuinely fun event in perfect weather and the pupils absolutely loved it. Everyone was involved and all the year groups were mixed in together. In many respects it was a great shame that the bell went for the start of first lesson, as we could have happily continued for the rest of the day! contribution to our Foundation over the past eight years I am extremely grateful.”
4 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 Year 7 pupils enjoyed an unforgettable five-day trip to Normandy, full of adventure, learning and fun. After an activity-filled ferry journey, they arrived at Château du Baffy and settled in. Highlights included visiting a goat’s cheese farm and tasting freshly pressed apple juice, exploring the stunning Mont Saint-Michel, and relaxing with campfire games in the evening. They also experienced the 360° cinema at Arromanches, visited the American War Cemetery, viewed the Bayeux Tapestry, and enjoyed an evening of bowling. On the final day, they explored La Cité de la Mer before heading home. TRIPS YEAR 7 NORMANDY YEAR 5 VISIT NELSON’S FLAGSHIP
abingdon.org.uk/prep 5 TRIPS YEAR 6 BUSHCRAFT The Year 4 campout was a fantastic experience and a delightful way to wrap up the year! The pupils had a wonderful time engaging in a variety of activities including flag making, orienteering, creative clay art projects and forest school adventures. After enjoying hot dogs for dinner, the evening was filled with excitement as they partied and played games, followed by a lovely nighttime walk on the back fields. The next day, they were greeted with a delicious breakfast of pastries, fruit, yoghurt, and refreshing drinks. As the sun shone brightly, they took down the tents, marking the end of a memorable two days. It was the perfect finale to a brilliant year! YEAR 4 CAMPOUT Year 6 had a wonderful time in Badminton Woods on their two-night residential Bushcraft trip. Building shelters, making fires, camouflage facepaints and plenty of fresh air, made for a brilliant time for all. YEAR 6 ART TRIP TO OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN Year 6 travelled to the glorious Oxford Botanic Garden for a day of botanical art sketching from first hand observation. They explored the glasshouses, carnivorous plants and the vast array of shapes, textures and colours in the botanical world around them.
6 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 Year 8R became journalists in English lessons to report on their experiences. A ‘Serve-icient’ Season By Kit Kelleher - Tennis reporter We started our tennis campaign this spring competing in the annual Magdalen tournament - always a challenging fixture. We faced tough opposition in classic British rainfall, eventually coming 4th out of 6 teams. Later in the term, on a roasting afternoon at the Radley tournament, agonisingly, we came last, Summerfields winning for the fifth time in a row. The day after Radley, we played Moulsford again on our own turf, winning 7 games out of 9. Our match against New College was a game full of quality shots on an unusual grass surface, a close battle played in a civil rivalry, where we narrowly came out on top. In our final match of the season we played against Abingdon: in oppressive heat we sadly lost but Ben and I were able to beat Abingdon’s number 2 pair with more victories across the board. To celebrate our wonderful season we decided to mix the APS and AS teams in a friendly and fun game which was an enjoyable way to socialise with our future peers at Abingdon. CREST Awards THE 8R TIMES THE 8R TIMES By Aubrey & Toprak, Science reporters In our final term at APS, 8R worked in small groups on the British Science Association’s Bronze CREST Award in which we chose, tested and presented a topic of interest. By George, lighting and theatre correspondent; Elliot, acting connoisseur; and Aaron, musical theatre maestro On June 12th, Years 7 & 8 performed The Lion King Jnr to an overflowing Amey Theatre. The show received expert support from directors, Julia Howson and Mike Stinton, and producer, Emma Penfold. It was excellently cast, performed and sung by the pupils with a whole ensemble of supporting characters. Key roles included Alex Thrilling Theatre Our group researched the change in the pigment of the yolk of a chicken’s egg when different substances such as corn and paprika were added to their diet, as well as normal chicken feed composed of wheat with added protein, fats, vitamins and mineral supplements. Another group studied tardigrades, microscopic creatures living in the ground. They were most interested in their ability to survive any environment when living conditions are inadequate for their survival by going into a state of cryptobiosis in which they dry up and shrink in size making them nearly indestructible to all damage, reanimating when conditions improve. Other projects included the quest for cleaner energy, making a more ergonomic games controller and discovering in which sport balls are hit the fastest. The APS Other Half By Montgomery George Mackenzie-Reilly – Other Half Reporter Our school offers over 80 ‘Other Half’ activities, ranging from Countdown Club to football, and over the years I have had an enjoyable experience of a few of these. One of my favourites has been Dungeons & Dragons (or DnD), a social role-playing game in which all members have to work together. This is one of the clubs which I have enjoyed with my friends since the beginning of the year. It gives a great way for pupils to socialise with one another, and is an engaging club outside of academics or sports, and still and Trystan as Simba, Reuben and Bear as Nala, Jasper and Kit as Timon and Pumbaa, Elliot as Scar and Aaron as Rafiki. The stage was filled with dynamic props and the main cast wore stunning masks and headdresses, all made at school in DT and Art, complemented by colourful costumes and exquisite make-up. The performance was augmented by the brilliant work of the pupil Tech Crew, George, Ayaan and Chris, who controlled lighting, sound and the microphones which all the speaking and singing parts wore. It’s fair to say that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show, audience and performers alike. In fact, it was a ‘roaring’ success!
abingdon.org.uk/prep 7 TRIPS encourages creativity. Strategy Games is similar, although it is more challenging to the brain, hence the ‘strategy’. Warhammer club is open to Years 3-8, another social and creative game, allowing students to construct model kits, paint them, and then use them as pieces in tabletop games. Pupils enjoy this as a fun way to relax from a day of lessons. In the Debating Society, students try to prove their points using evidence and persuasive language to win the audience vote. For each session, the two pupils taking part the following week, prepare their speech on the topic, and on the day will also get the chance to put forward a rebuttal against the opposing argument. I have found this particularly engaging, as it allows you to understand other views and develops skills in areas such as essay writing and public speaking. Overall, Abingdon Prep has a wide range of activities outside of lessons, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences, and I hope others will as well. A Super Cricket Season By Hector and Rohan, Cricket reporters In an exciting first match of the season we played Sunningdale in the U13 IAPS cup. We started strongly with an early win by 35 runs, and a brilliant half century from Ollie, ending his innings on 57 runs. The following week saw a challenging game against Cheam. It was a friendly, but still a very tough game. There was a spectacular performance by Will who scored 22 runs off just 7 balls and bowled a maiden over. The game ended in a draw. Later in the season we played Millfield, one of the best cricketing schools in the country, in an U13 IAPS match, a tough game with a great innings from Leo who scored 50. We may be rivals, however, we still enjoyed a game with the senior school which created some memorable moments showing the partnership between us, and cementing the cricketing relationship across the Abingdon Foundation. In two close games, we lost one by one run, winning the other by 26 runs thanks to Jed hitting a notable 43 before sadly being caught. This win made a satisfactory close to an excellent season. Later in the term, Year 3 enjoyed an enlightening morning at the Ashmolean Museum, delving into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt. They transformed into detectives, seeking out clues that revealed insights into the daily lives of people from that era. The students had the unique opportunity to handle genuine ancient Egyptian artefacts, although the mummies arguably captured their interest the most! Year 3 pupils had a very busy day learning how to become WWII spies! They discovered what it was like to be a member of the Auxiliary Unit, training at Coleshill base. They explored an underground bunker, completed dead letter drops and experienced camouflage and stealth training, as well as trying some code breaking techniques. YEAR 3 TRIPS YEAR 8 RESIDENTIAL A week of outdoor activities including canoeing, raft-building, archery, abseiling, and all kinds of teambuilding tasks made for a happy Year 8 on their leavers’ trip to Rockley at Dorset. Their favourite activity, however, was paddleboarding!
8 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 The quality and range of recitals in this year’s Year 3-6 Poetry Recital Competition was of a notably high standard. This was a credit to all of the competitors who made it through to the final. All pupils had the opportunity to learn and recite their poems in front of their peers, giving them the chance to learn valuable life skills in speaking or performing in front of others and, we hope, to enjoy reading poetry in the future. Michael Rosen was the most popular choice of poet. Poems selected dealt with serious matters, including climate change, to advice, such as on how to get on with your siblings or eat potatoes or tomatoes. One poem was recited in Mandarin, showing that poetry is universal. The reactions of the audience complimented the choices made by both poets and recitalists. In the end, in a highly competitive field, our adjudicator, Mr Coolin, Head of English at Abingdon School, chose the following winners: Year 3 – Peter – Witches extract from ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare Year 4 – Ollie – ‘Ugh’ by Jenny Joseph Year 5 – Toby – ‘Dad and the Cat and the Tree’ by Kit Wright Year 6 – Alex – ‘The Outing’ by Michael Rosen AROUND SCHOOL This year’s Balloon Debate gave pupils in Year 6 an opportunity to research an individual they believe led a great life. The research was turned into a speech and the speeches formed the basis of the competition. Pupils in years 3 to 5 were invited to listen to the finalists and to vote for their favourite. The 2025 competition was won by Clarence who promoted the great life of King Charles III; his delivery was full of energy and charisma. Harry was voted as runner up for his interesting speech about a crowd favourite, Steve Backshall. Alex (Sir Isaac Newton) received the Judges’ award for his excellent oratory skills and highly polished delivery. This was a super opportunity for all of the pupils to practise public speaking and a brilliant way to celebrate the work of all the finalists. YEAR 6 BALLOON DEBATE SCIENCE BIG THINK Summer Term’s Big Think sessions had the Science theme ‘What makes me me?’ The whole school took part year by year to draw, write, just contemplate, or join in a lively discussion with Becky about that central question. In May during Swimming Club, Year 5 and 6 pupils tackled an important life skill: water safety. Donning pyjamas, they bravely practised essential survival techniques, including treading water, floating, and even performing rescues. What a fantastic and potentially life-saving experience! YEARS 3-6 POETRY RECITAL WATER SAFETY
abingdon.org.uk/prep 9 AROUND SCHOOL PARENT CAREERS AFTERNOON Parents of our pupils gathered at APS to talk about their careers to the Year 8 pupils. It was a great event, and we are enormously grateful to all the parents for giving up their time in their very busy lives to come and talk and present to our pupils. A wide range of careers was represented, which gave the pupils a real insight into the world of work and some perspective and understanding of the variety of careers that exist. CREST AWARDS The British Science Association Bronze CREST Award is aimed at 11+ years. Participants devise a project, which they research, experiment, write-up and present to attain their award, typically spending 10 hours on the work. 8R take part after their exams and as the culmination of their projects, the pupils put on an exhibition of their work, to which parents were invited, who asked them some suitably tricky questions! Assessing the fastest sports projectile We were delighted to welcome PCSO Susan Haynes for a fantastic and educational visit to Years 1 and 3 classrooms. Year 3 took part in a thought-provoking session exploring individuality and diversity. Using Venn diagrams, they identified similarities and differences among themselves and looked at what makes each person unique. The class also engaged in meaningful discussions about kindness and strategies for dealing with unkind behaviour, helping to build their social awareness and resilience. It was a highly informative and engaging morning for the children! PCSO TALK In June, a group of enthusiastic and talented Abingdon School linguists visited to lead a lively session with Year 4, introducing them to a range of traditional French playground games. The children threw themselves into playing canard, canard, oie (duck, duck, goose), un-deux-trois-soleil (the French equivalent of granny’s footsteps), and l’épervier – a fastpaced, tactical game of tag that quickly became a firm favourite. It was wonderful to see the Sixth Form students sharing their passion for French language and culture so confidently and joyfully with our children. The session was not only a fantastic collaborative effort between the two French departments, but also a brilliant example of language learning brought to life. Bravo to all involved – and à l’année prochaine! JEUX DE COUR DE RÉCRÉATION FRANÇAIS Exploring tardigrades and their world Making a more ergonomic games controller Year 7 pupils have been finishing off their Geography topic on earthquakes with a group project to design and make their own earthquake resistant structures.
10 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 SUMMER IN DT ART & DESIGN THE TERM IN DT It has been another busy and creative term in DT with pupils working incredibly hard in lessons and in clubs too. We were particularly proud to showcase makes from the whole school in the annual Art & Design Exhibition in May. • Year 3 children have been producing products with a seaside theme, including boats, fish and beach huts. • Year 4 pupils made model replicas of the school bridge. • Year 5 used their excellent textiles skills making ‘Puglies’ and their culinary talents making pizzas! • Year 6 made pencil holders, using the laser cutter for the first time. • Year 7 made coat hooks and noticeboards. • Year 8 took part in a STEM challenge making motorised boats and racing them across the school pool, and also helped to make props and the brilliant masks and headdresses for the Lion King production. Year 3 Seaside Projects Year 7 Coat Hooks Year 5 Puglies Year 8 Painting masks for the Lion King Year 4 Puzzles Year 7 Noticeboards Year 4 Bridges Year 5 Pizzas Year 6 Pencil Holders
abingdon.org.uk/prep 11 ART & DESIGN One May evening, the School was a hive of creative activity as we welcomed families and the public to our annual Art & Design Exhibition in aid of Oxfordshire Artweeks. Over 160 visitors toured the school to celebrate the creativity of pupils from Reception to Year 8. A host of media on show from product design, clay cakes, abstract installations, etchings and wooden automation. Particular thanks to Year 6 pupil Daniel for the wonderful music, and congratulations to our Art, Design and Drama Arts award pupils for showcasing their fantastic portfolios. ART AND DESIGN EXHIBITION Year 7 kicked off the final stage of their portraiture unit with creativity and flair. First researching the street art of Shepard Fairey, famous for his celebrated portrait of Barack Obama. They then selected their own celebrity to render in Fairey’s iconic quadratic painting style (below right). ART HIGHLIGHTS Toby the Spaniel visited Year 2 Year 7 Portraiture SKATEBOARD WORKSHOP On a Saturday in June, Year 7 and 8 artists attended a skateboard design workshop, using a variety of methods to apply paint to their skateboard designs. Their themes ranged from cartoon characters, to howling wolves, and even Hokusai’s The Great Wave made an appearance. A fantastic array of creativity, well done senior artists. Year 3-4 Art Club use ovals to draw Jeff Koons-style dogs
12 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 PERFORMING ARTS Years 7 and 8 gave a spectacular performance of the Lion King Jnr at the Amey Theatre for their Senior production in June, ably directed by APS newcomer, professional actress Julia Howson, and under the baton of Acting Director of Music Mike Stinton. The children had been rehearsing songs all term, finally having the chance to put it together on stage in their ‘play in a week’ rehearsals. Everyone rose to the occasion on the night, with some truly memorable performances, and supported by fantastic animal masks, make up and costumes to help the telling of this famous story really come alive. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this show a roaring success! THE LION KING JNR
abingdon.org.uk/prep 13 PRE-PREP TRIPS Reception and Year 1 had a wonderful day out at Cotswold Wildlife Park! The children loved exploring the park and were amazed to see so many incredible animals, including rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and lions. We enjoyed a lovely picnic together in the sunshine before hopping on the train for a scenic ride around the whole park. To top off an already exciting day, everyone enjoyed a refreshing ice lolly before heading back to school. FOREST SCHOOL TRIP In June, Year 2 had a fantastic Forest School trip to Wittenham Clumps. Despite the hot weather, the children enjoyed the cool shade of the forest as they embarked on a day of adventure, with water always on hand for their thirsty pursuits. They spent their time exploring, building shelters, and even RECEPTION AND YEAR 1 VISIT THE COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK made bows and arrows and practised shooting at tree targets! After a wellearned lunch, the children heard the story of The Green Man, a custodian of the woodland plants and animals. Many of them realised that they too are now custodians of the natural world. The time whizzed by, and soon they were heading back to school for a well-earned rest after an amazing trip!
14 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 PRE-PREP The Pre-Prep Summer Concert was a fantastic celebration! From the confident singing of our Reception Lions to the colourful performance of Year 1 Parrots in their handmade tie-dyed shirts and the lively routines of Year 2 Monkeys, every class shone on stage. Special congratulations to our Year 2 soloists, who performed brilliantly and wowed the audience with their confidence and skill. After the concert, families and friends gathered for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the glorious sunshine—a perfect, joyful end to the day. PRE-PREP SUMMER CONCERT Reception are ready for their move up to Year 1 next term, and they didn’t need much encouragement to don their lion T-shirts and ears for a super group photo. Year 1’s butterflies could be set free. In Science lessons, the children had watched them grow from tiny caterpillars into gorgeous Painted Lady butterflies.
abingdon.org.uk/prep 15 PRE-PREP SPORTS DAY PRE-PREP WHEELS DAY Under a clear blue sky and a blazing summer sun, the youngest of our pupils took centre stage for a fun-filled Sports Day, bursting with energy and eagerness. Events included running races, a throwing competition, long jumping, mini hurdles and an exciting obstacle course race. Despite the heat, the pupils gave their all while cheering on their classmates with infectious enthusiasm boosted by the many supporters, making the day a celebration of both effort and community. With sun hats slightly askew and faces flushed with pride, the pupils wrapped up the event with an ice lolly, plenty of smiles, and a well-deserved rest! Reception and Year 1 had an exciting Wheels Day filled with fun, learning, and lots of movement! The children brought in their own bikes and scooters and had a brilliant time riding them around the playground. As well as enjoying the freedom of being on wheels, we also learnt about the importance of bike safety. The children designed their own brightly coloured helmets to help them be seen on the road and stay safe. It was a fantastic day combining active play with important learning!
16 Abingdon School • September 2025 ABINGDON NEWS NATIONAL SCHOOLS REGATTA - CHAMPIONS! SAX MASTERCLASS Congratulations to the J14 A quad who became national champions at the National Schools Regatta. Finn, Ethan, Rafiq, Joe and James (coached by Jonny) led the quad racing all year and won gold in this prestigious event. Three out of four J14 (Third Year) crews won their finals on a successful day for ASBC. We welcomed OA, Tom Richards back to school in May to give a saxophone masterclass. Students heard Tom perform and learned about his varied and interesting career, in which he has worked extensively with Jamie Cullum, as well as picking up tips from him on improvisatory techniques. ENGINEERING WITH THEIR PEERS On 29 April, three budding Lower Sixth engineers attended an All Party Parliamentary Engineering Group lunch discussion on 3D printing at the House of Lords. Students heard from two industry experts about the current advances and challenges with 3D printing and AI in engineering applications; and talked to other students, teachers, engineers and MPs. The day finished with a Q&A session. Third and Fourth Year Mandarin students enjoyed a captivating Peking Opera session in May, exploring the art form’s key elements. They learned about different character roles, and tried their hand at traditional movements and singing. The workshop culminated in a lively mini-drama performance. PEKING OPERA
abingdon.org.uk 17 ABINGDON NEWS “I joined Abingdon in 2023 from a state school just outside Oxford. I loved my school and was really happy there - I had great friends, got on well with the teachers and joined a few clubs. It would have been really easy for me to have stayed there for Sixth Form, but at the back of my mind, I wanted to try something a bit more ‘out there’, something a little different. Life is about taking new chances and opportunities, and I realised that sometimes the best opportunities are in places which can seem scary, or intimidating. “What initially drew me to Abingdon is probably the same as what attracts anyone who might be looking to change schools for Sixth Form - amazing teaching, the calibre of the sports provision, fantastic exam results, the breadth and quality of the artistic and creative departments - things like that. To be honest, those are the things which should draw you in if you are going ‘Sixth Form shopping’ as I was, and I think most people would struggle to find another school that excels in so many different areas, as Abingdon does. “What may be surprising is that it was a fear that I might not fit in which nearly stopped me from applying and, today, I am really relieved I took the plunge and didn’t let that get in the way. “Because, when I arrived, I found that Abingdon, as a place, was really quite diverse - definitely not something I had associated with a school that dates back to the reign of King Henry III! One of the things that makes it so diverse is all the things that are going on - all the activities and clubs which are part of the timetable. That gave me a way in and made me feel like I belonged. That’s because, for each activity that exists, there is a group of students who are equally passionate about it. “Thinking back on what those first few days were like, I remember all the opportunities that were thrown at me - Abingdon knew it would be scary for me to move to a new school (because it is scary moving) and they made it easy to find some of those facilities and services that at other schools you might have to hunt around for. That meant I could focus on two things - what I wanted to do, and on making friends. “At Abingdon, I found I was surrounded by people who love to be themselves and do their own thing - it wasn’t just about rugby and symphony orchestra, because those aren’t the only things students who come to Abingdon are interested in. This is part of what made it so easy for me, and others like me, to join Sixth Form from another school. Take Sze long, for Joining Abingdon Sixth Form is all about new opportunities by Adam Readman, former Head Student, Abingdon School Everyone knows how big a step it can be moving to a new school. In this article, we hear from former Head Student, Adam, who talks openly about his own journey in joining the School’s Sixth Form. example. He’s in my Tutor group, produces beautiful pieces of creative writing, and also edits the English publication. Even though English is his second language, he’s just got a place at Oxford to read Literature! Or there’s Sasha, one of my best mates, who jointly edits the biology magazine, but he also does the silversmithing club and plays dreadfully for the fifth football team. Then, there’s Maelo - one of the school’s best mathematicians - he is breathtakingly talented and smashes all the competitions and olympiads. All these people who joined the Sixth Form with me arrived at Abingdon and simply did what they loved to do. For me, that’s what Abingdon means. That’s not to say that only extraordinary people will flourish here but that, at Abingdon, there is this diversity of opportunity and of thought - if you join, you’ll take what you’re passionate about to heart, you’ll find your tribe and you’ll get stuck into activities. And that is the best way to make friends. “So, if you’re wondering ‘am I going to fit in?’, I’d ask ‘are you looking for new opportunities?’. If the answer is: yes, I want the opportunity to join a new music club, or try out a new sport, experience an amazing education, make new friends, and do new things that push me out of my comfort zone, then yes, I think you will fit in. In fact, I know you’ll fit in because that’s what I was looking for, and that’s what those friends who joined at the same time as me were looking for. It was all about new opportunities and experiences for us. I know Abingdon will welcome you and be the right place for you, not because of how exciting, diverse, and full of opportunity it is but because of who you probably are: someone else who is looking for opportunity - just like I was.
18 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 SPORT A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this summer term one full of sporting opportunities and experiences for the pupils. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the football pitches this autumn. As the academic year draws to a close, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on what has been an action packed summer of sport at APS. Children from all year groups have shown a growing love for cricket, tennis and athletics, and demonstrated tremendous progress, development, and the thrill of competition. THE TENNIS programme continued to thrive, with increased participation across all year groups. Players of all levels have benefitted from expert coaching from Martin Butler and a number of tournaments against the likes of New College, St Hugh’s, Moulsford, MCS, Cranford House and Summerfields. ATHLETICS: This year’s athletics season has been defined by energy, enthusiasm, and excellence. From the first meet of the term Across all disciplines from sprinting and middledistance running to high jump and shot put students pushed themselves to SUMMER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS IAPS Triathlon U9s vs Chandlings - Spot the ball! new personal bests. We enjoyed team success at local and regional meets, and a special mention goes to year 8 pupil Arthur S, who represented APS and the Mercia Area at the National Final, held at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham. He ran superbly well to finish 6th in the 1500m final, and also achieved 3rd place in the U13 IAPS Triathlon this term. CRICKET has flourished this season, with children enjoying competitive fixtures, skill development, and exciting finishes. The strong body of cricket knowledge among staff has helped players refine their technique and match awareness. The 1st XI delivered several impressive performances against tough opposition, coming away with victories after some close finishes. House competitions were conducted in a brilliant fashion at the end of term, showcasing the vibrant cricketing culture at APS. In summary this has been a year defined by progress and pride. We are immensely proud of every student who has trained, competed, and supported their peers throughout the season. We look ahead to next year with great excitement and enthusiasm. ESAA Athletics Team - Round 1 Mercia Athletics Championship ESAA County Round Regional Athletics Team U12s at St Hughs Watching the cricket at Cox’s Field
abingdon.org.uk/prep 19 SPORTS DAY SPORTS DAY Record numbers were not limited to the weather last week as pupils from Years 3 to 8 rose to the occasion during an exhilarating APS Sports Day held at the outstanding facilities of Tilsley Park. Despite the challenging heat, the energy and enthusiasm of the young competitors never wavered. Across a full schedule of sprints, relays, long jumps, throwing events and more, the children gave everything for their house teams, cheered on by parents, friends, and staff. The spirit of sportsmanship was evident throughout, with pupils encouraging teammates, congratulating opponents, and celebrating each other’s efforts across the board, and ten school records were broken too! A huge thank you goes to all who came along for their fantastic support. A special thank you is due to staff and volunteers who helped officiate and ensure the day ran like clockwork. (Photos by Corinne Amos Photography.)
20 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 SPORTS SPORTS AWARDS The following awards were made at the School Prize Giving and the Cups and Colours Assembly: Prior Cup for Sportsplayer of the Year: Orlando Anderson Cup for Cricket: Oliver G APS Athletics Award: Arthur APS Basketball Award: Jed APS Cross-Country Award: Max H APS Football Award: Becket APS Golf Award: Jasper APS Hockey Award: Yash APS Squash Award: Toby APS Swimming Award: Kit APS Table Tennis Award: Rohan and Alex S APS Tennis Award: Ben T Belvedere Shield for Rugby: Alex S Cricket All-Rounder Cup: Leo Young Blades Fencing Award: Horace Junior Sportsplayer of the Year: Paddy and Jack G Chess Award: Rishi Full and half junior and senior colours and individual awards were presented for summer term sports. In cricket, awards were made to each year for ‘Most Improved Player’, ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Clubperson of the Year’. Awards were also given for junior and senior tennis and junior and senior ‘Athlete of the Year’.
abingdon.org.uk/prep 21 Destinations: Abingdon School (33) Harrow (1) Magdalen College (1) PRIZE GIVING AND FAREWELLS YEAR 8 SPECIAL AWARDS AND SUBJECT PRIZES Special Awards: The Governors’ Prize - for Cooperation and Kindness: Jed The Savin Cup - for academic achievement in the AP+ exams: Christopher The Abingdon Award - for most outstanding academic results: Adam Peer Cup - chosen by Y8: Ayaan Vaux Cup for personal progress: Daud and Benji APS All Rounder Award: Yash Subject Prizes and Awards: The Music Award: Horace The Drama Award: Elliot Strategy Games Award: Monty Geeeral Knowledge Award: Kit Art: George Computing: Adam and Ayaan DT: Alex H-H, Aaron, Reuben, Zephaniah English: Hector, Lucas, Dexter, Max S-M French: George, Arthur, Ben T Geography: Hector, Becket, Sasha History: Max H, Wesley, Dexter, George Latin: Horace, Christopher, Monty Maths: Adam, Christopher, Eden, Harry Music: Rohan, Zephaniah, Ben PSHCE: Aubrey, Max S-M, Jasper RE: Jed and Wesley Science: Ollie, Toprak, Jack, Toby YEAR 8 LEAVERS Destinations: Abingdon; Radley (1); Millfield (1)
22 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 PEOPLE - FOND FAREWELLS ROGER OWEN After 11 years at APS Roger will leave a very large hole in our community. Roger came to Abingdon Prep from Kingham Hill where he was Director of Sport. As a talented sportsman he became a popular Year 5 form teacher, continuing his passion for everything sport related while also being able to return more formally to the classroom. He soon became Head of History and the Gifted and Talented programme. A restructure then allowed him to become form teacher to 8R, the scholarship class, for 7 years, plus Head of Senior Section for 5. Roger has shared his passion for learning school wide, not just with the classes he formally teaches, but also popping into many younger groups, usually dressed up (we will never forget all his World Book Day costumes either), to share stories. He has a beautiful way of bringing the classroom to life, and I know firsthand from my own child’s experience, that his teaching is simply mesmerising. As a final remark, Roger spoke to us about continuing to ‘be bothered’ about our pupils, their experiences and, indeed, our own continuing development. We know that Roger will always remain ‘bothered’ to be the best teacher he can be and enhance the learning environment TOBY KING APS has been really lucky this year to secure the services of Mike Stinton, recently retired as Head of Music at Abingdon School after 36 years, to help in the APS music department in Emma’s absence. Despite the quick realization that there is a huge difference in teaching 4 year olds to teenagers, Mike has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in, winning everyone around with his ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to really become part of the APS community. He has directed and conducted a number of very successful and well received performances during his time with us, and his talent for farmyard noises will remain legendary for some years to come! Emma Penfold MIKE STINTON Toby has been an excellent Gap student at APS this year. He has made a huge contribution to all aspects of school life and has been a real asset to the staff room. No doubt you will have seen him refereeing a football, rugby or hockey match at some stage this year and this term he has been regularly umpiring cricket matches. He has a good sense of humour and has been a very popular member of the school community. We wish him all the very best on his travels to Kenya and Europe this year, and University thereafter. Richard Sutton for everyone in his presence. We wish him all the best at Radley - he will be missed enormously. Rebecca Schwarz Visiting Reception as the Troll WBD 2023 - Miss Trunchbull
abingdon.org.uk/prep 23 LAURA FORMAN DANIELLE CAMPBELL We were all sad to say adieu to Danielle as she begins her maternity leave (or as we have called it, a ‘baby sabbatical’). Danielle began her role at APS four years ago as a Year 4 Form Teacher, moving to Year 5 for the past two years. Her fantastic teaching, high standards, unstoppable energy and creative flair, and not forgetting her baking, will certainly be missed and we wish her and her husband all the best, enjoying time with baby Campbell. Kirsty Hughes Laura has been with us on a year’s contract as a Junior Section TA, confidently turning herself to any task which is asked of her. She has run groups for Maths and English, she has taught Phonics, handwiriting and times tables. Laura is sensitive, thoughtful and intuitive, calm and organised, and always on time for her countless playground duties! Laura has been an outstanding TA this year, and we’re very sorry to say goodbye. We are extremely grateful to the families of our departing Year 8 pupils for their generous leavers’ gift. The two tree benches have been installed on Joscas Field and will be enjoyed by many children in years to come. THANK YOU! YEAR 8 LEAVERS’ GIFT FROM RECEPTION TO YEAR 8 After Prize Giving, Year 8 parents joined governors and staff for farewell drinks, while Y8 pupils did the now-traditional shirt signing, while Alex played guitar. Farewell also to our volunteer librarian, Julia. FROM RECEPTION ALL THE WAY TO YEAR 8
24 Abingdon Prep • September 2025 AbingdonPrep News is the newsletter of Abingdon Preparatory School, Josca’s House, Kingston Road, Oxford OX13 5NX Tel: 01865 391570 www.abingdon.org.uk/prep Editor: Annabel Gaskell Abingdon School is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales Company No. 3625063. Registered Office: Abingdon School, Park Road, Abingdon, OX14 1DE Registered Charity No. 1071298 CHARITIES At the end of the summer half term, we held a sponsored swim at Abingdon’s pool in aid of our whole-school charity, Down’s Syndrom Oxford (DSO). We were delighted with the turnout and the general buzz the event created amongst children, parents and staff alike. SPONSORED SWIM On a scorching hot day in Frilford, where temperatures reached 33C on the hottest day of the year, Dragon House staged their “Splat the Teacher” charity event in aid of the Woodland Trust. The event was great fun and well supported by all the pupils. Many staff volunteered to be splatted and were all duly pelted. Pre-Prep really enjoyed The icing on the cake had to be our guest swimmer, Hannah, who joined us from DSO, with her mum Sally. Hannah has represented Great Britain at various national Down Syndrome Swimming events, winning an array of medals from Bronze to Gold! She was inspired by our event to join in and couldn’t believe how many children were in the pool raising money for such a good cause. A total of 1660 lengths were swum, with five swimmers achieving 100 or more. All children that took part received a certificate, awarded to them in a special assembly, a few weeks later attended by Hannah’s mum Sally. themselves, targetting Liam in particular! Having been on the receiving end of a few sponges, it was a perfect occasion as it allowed everyone involved to cool down! At 3 sponges for a pound, over £180 was raised for the Woodland Trust during the morning break. This was a fantastic effort, and thanks to the ‘splatees’ and Dragon House for staging the event. SPLAT THE TEACHER! Phoenix House ran a brilliant ice cream sale on the then hottest day of the year at the end of the school day, allowing all those picking up children the opportunity to buy an ice cream in support of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust Charity. It was a perfect end to a summer’s day, and thank you so much to all of the parents who supported the event by buying ice creams for the children. Thank you also to all the pupils who managed to eat them all before getting on the bus! PHOENIX ICE CREAM SALE This event alone raised a whopping £4,527.81 and in total, over the course of the year we have raised a staggering £7,309.05 for this wonderful charity. Thank you to everyone that has contributed and supported either this event or one of the others over the course of the year, your generosity will make a huge difference.
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