At The Purbeck School, our ethos of Kindness, Aspiration, and Perseverance guides everything we do. In the spirit of kindness and community support, we are delighted to announce that Friday 12th December will be a non-uniform day.

In return for wearing their own appropriate clothing, we kindly ask students to bring in donations for our local foodbank in Wareham. Suggested items include non-perishable goods such as tins, packets, and other essential items.

Last year, thanks to your incredible generosity, we collected over 1,000 items for the Hope for Food during our Christmas appeal. This year, we aspire to match or even exceed that achievement, showing the perseverance and commitment that make our school community so special.

All items must be brought into school on Friday 12th December, and the foodbank will collect them on Monday 15th December.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us make a positive difference to local families in need.

Celebrating Success: Will Douglas Shines in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge

A Remarkable Achievement

We are delighted to share the outstanding success of our sixth former, Will Douglas, who has achieved remarkable recognition in the prestigious UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge. This national competition, organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT), attracts thousands of entries from students across the country, testing their problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical creativity.

Will’s dedication and talent have truly paid off. He was awarded a Gold certificate, placing him in the top 7% of entrants nationwide. This is an extraordinary accomplishment, reflecting not only his mathematical ability but also his perseverance and commitment to excellence.

Progression to the Kangaroo Competition

Following his success in the Senior Challenge, Will qualified for the Kangaroo competition, an invitation-only round designed for the highest achievers. This stage is known for its challenging and thought-provoking problems, requiring students to apply their mathematical knowledge in innovative ways.

In this competition, Will earned a Bronze certificate, further demonstrating his skill and determination. To achieve recognition at both stages is a testament to his hard work and intellectual curiosity.

The Importance of the UKMT Challenge

The UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge is more than just a competition—it is an opportunity for students to:

• Develop advanced problem-solving skills that go beyond the classroom.
• Gain national recognition for their mathematical talent.
• Build confidence in tackling complex and unfamiliar problems.
• Inspire future academic pursuits in mathematics, science, and engineering.

Will’s success highlights the value of these competitions in nurturing the next generation of thinkers and innovators.

A Role Model for Others

Will’s achievement serves as an inspiration to his peers and younger students. His journey shows that with dedication, curiosity, and resilience, it is possible to excel at the highest levels. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing how he continues to apply his talents in the future.

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From January 2026

J Shearer continues to impress in his outstanding start to the season with the Bath U16 Academy. Most recently, he represented the Academy in their fixture against Saracens at the StoneX Stadium in North London, contributing to an emphatic 53–10 victory. Earlier in the season, TJ also played a pivotal role as co-captain in the win over Sale Sharks, leading from the front in a hard-fought 26–12 result.

The match at StoneX marked a significant milestone, as TJ scored his first competitive try for the Academy. Peeling off the back of a rolling maul from a lineout, he powered over the line to finish an excellently executed team move, surpassing even his memorable try at the Rec at the end of last season. Footage and photos from the fixture have been shared, highlighting this achievement.

TJ’s dedication to his development has been exceptional. His commitment to training, both within and beyond formal rugby environments, has driven remarkable progress. Having first picked up a rugby ball when he joined Purbeck in Year 7, TJ has gone from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the Academy’s most promising young players. Transitioning from centre to the front row, he is now specialising as a hooker, demonstrating a strong work ethic, adaptability, and an eagerness to learn from every piece of feedback.

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported TJ on his journey so far: his family, his teachers, his coaches at Swanage & Wareham RFC, and the coaching team at the Bath Academy. A special thank you goes to Jason Helas (JDT) for his ongoing sponsorship.

The future looks exceptionally bright for TJ, and we look forward to following his continued success both on and off the field.