We have therefore been able to buy a large quantity of books for the school library. All pupils in the school, from Year 7 to Sixth Form, have been given the opportunity to put in requests for the books they would like to see purchased, and we have new titles on diverse topics - crochet to football, Greek Myth to farm machinery, Star Wars to fishing, and much much more! We have also been able to purchase plenty of fiction, including manga and graphic novels that have been requested over time.

Pupils are thoroughly enjoying seeing these books begin to come into circulation in the school library, and lots of the books already have long waiting lists. The even better news is that the funding is not yet all spent, so if any pupils have any further requests, they only have to ask!

Purbeck’s Year 11 boys’ basketball team made an excellent start to their season with an impressive 45–28 victory over local rivals Corfe Hills in their first fixture of the year, played at Purbeck.

From the opening tip-off, the team showed great enthusiasm and commitment, with every player applying themselves brilliantly throughout the game. The boys worked exceptionally hard both in and out of possession, combining strong defensive effort with some lovely basketball going forward.

Lucas led the way in the early stages, taking control of the scoring and helping Purbeck establish themselves in the contest. As the game progressed, the scoring was shared around the team, with Zion Lambert, Bertie Warren and Jack Lowry making important contributions and ensuring that Purbeck continued to put points on the board.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the performance was the contribution from the entire squad, with every player managing to score at least one basket. This reflected the team's unselfish approach, willingness to work for one another and ability to create opportunities through good teamwork.

As the game wore on, the contest remained competitive, with Corfe Hills working hard to stay in touch. However, Purbeck maintained their focus and continued to play with real purpose at both ends of the court. Zion was particularly influential as the game entered its closing stages, finishing as Purbeck’s leading points scorer with a tally of more than ten points and helping the team pull away from their opponents.

Purbeck’s hard work and composure ultimately paid off, as they finished the game strongly to turn a close contest into a convincing 45–28 victory, winning by a margin of 17 points.

Overall, this was an extremely pleasing start to the season for the Year 11 boys. The work rate, teamwork and willingness to contribute across the squad were all excellent, while the fact that every player got on the scoresheet was a real highlight.

A fantastic team performance and a well-deserved first win of the season. The boys can take plenty of confidence from this result as they look ahead to their next fixture.

Congratulations to all the players involved on an excellent start to the season!

The fixture marked this teams first appearance in the County cup together,following their first friendly fixture just last week. Despite their limited experience together, the team produced an outstanding all-round performance, demonstrating plenty of quality, determination and a real willingness to put into practice the principles they have been working on.

From the outset, Purbeck showed exactly what they are capable of when they stick to two simple instructions: work exceptionally hard out of possession and, when on the ball, keep things simple by moving it quickly and efficiently. The players embraced both challenges, pressing with energy and purpose while also showing some excellent passages of passing football.

Purbeck made the perfect start, taking an early lead through a quite outstanding free kick from Theo Spetch. It was a strike of the highest quality, bending beautifully into the net and one that David Beckham himself would have been proud of!

Colfox responded well and soon drew level, capitalising on some indecisive defending that allowed their right winger to sneak in at the back post for a simple finish. However, Purbeck did not take long to restore their advantage. Tyler Green collected the ball on the left-hand side before unleashing an outstanding strike that flew into the far top corner, giving the goalkeeper little chance.

The remainder of the first half saw Purbeck continue to create opportunities, playing some excellent football and causing Colfox plenty of problems. The only frustration was that they failed to convert several further chances that could have put the game beyond reach before the interval. As a result, the score remained 2–1 at half-time, leaving the contest delicately poised and the next goal potentially decisive.

Thankfully, that goal went Purbeck’s way early in the second half. Theo Spetch’s delivery from set pieces had been a constant threat throughout the afternoon, and another dangerous corner caused problems in the Colfox penalty area. When the goalkeeper fumbled the ball, Freddie Rideout reacted quickest to pounce on the loose ball and finish from close range, extending Purbeck’s lead to 3–1.

From that point onwards, Purbeck really took control of the game. The team continued to move the ball well, work hard for one another and create a succession of chances. Tyler Green added his second goal of the afternoon following a lovely team move, finished off after a well-worked ball across the penalty area from Rueben Jackson.

Freddie Rideout then rounded off an excellent afternoon of his own by completing his hat-trick with two more classic poacher’s finishes, showing great awareness to be in the right place at the right time and calmly turn home from close range on both occasions.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory and a hugely pleasing performance from a group of players who are only just beginning their journey together as a school team. The quality of the goals was particularly impressive, but just as encouraging was the team’s work rate, discipline and willingness to keep the game simple and play for one another. With their first friendly only last week, there are plenty of positives to take forward, and this performance provides an excellent platform on which to build.

Final score: Purbeck 6–1 Sir John Colfox School

1. Queue-jump for themselves and one friend for all break times and lunch times throughout the week.
2. An invitation for a Friday hot chocolate with the Headteacher and House Leaders.

A second-place finish for the Year 7 and 8 boys and third place for the Year 9 and 10 team

The Purbeck School enjoyed an excellent afternoon of cross-country running at the Poole and East Dorset District Cross Country event, held at Ferndown Upper School on Thursday 8 October. With hundreds of students from schools across the district in attendance, the event provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to test themselves against some of the strongest runners in the area.

Twelve Purbeck students competed in the Year 7 and 8 boys’ race, producing a series of impressive individual performances and securing an outstanding second-place finish in the overall team competition.

Leading the way was Alex Belviso, who crossed the finish line in an excellent eighth place, closely followed by Zachai Burnett, who finished twelfth. There were further strong performances from Ben Smith, who came 25th, and Alfred Docherty, who finished 26th. These results, alongside the efforts of the rest of the team, ensured Purbeck secured a well-deserved second place overall.

In the Year 7 girls’ race, Purbeck were unable to field a full four-runner team on this occasion. However, Megan Titley produced a particularly encouraging performance, finishing in 21st place against a strong field of competitors. Well done to Megan for representing the school so positively.

The success continued in the Year 9 and 10 boys’ race, where Purbeck secured an impressive third place in the overall team competition. Jacob Warren led the team home in ninth place, with Alfie Fooks finishing twelfth. Milo Jubber followed in 16th place, while Ethan Rolls completed the scoring quartet with an excellent 24th-place finish.

The results reflect the commitment, determination and hard work of the students involved. Cross-country running requires considerable physical resilience, particularly when competing against such large fields, and all our runners deserve enormous credit for their efforts.

A huge well done to everyone who competed and represented Purbeck School so well. Whether finishing near the front of the field or working hard to achieve a personal goal, every runner played an important part in another positive afternoon for the school.

This was the second Poole and East Dorset District Cross Country event of the season, and there is plenty to look forward to as the competition continues. We hope to build on these excellent team results when we return for the third event in the coming weeks.

5th October | Dorset County Cup

The Year 9 boys welcomed Ferndown Upper School to The Purbeck School on Monday for their Round 1  Dorset County Cup fixture, facing a strong Ferndown side containing a mixture of technically gifted players and some very impressive physical athletes.

The Purbeck boys went into the game knowing that they would face a significant challenge. In previous fixtures, this group has often been able to impose themselves on opponents through both their physicality and their ability to play good football. Unfortunately, on this occasion, they were unable to reach the levels that they know they are capable of producing.

The first half was a relatively even contest, with both sides competing well and neither team managing to establish complete control of the game. Purbeck worked hard to stay in the contest, but their usual sharpness and confidence in possession were not quite there.

The only goal of the first half came later in the period when Ferndown were awarded a corner. Purbeck were unable to deal with the delivery, allowing a Ferndown player a free header which was directed into the net.

Despite going into the interval 1–0 down, the game was still very much within reach. Purbeck knew that a better second-half performance could potentially turn the game around.

Unfortunately, Ferndown struck again early in the second half to extend their advantage to 2–0. From there, Purbeck found it increasingly difficult to impose themselves on the match and were unable to produce the attacking football that they have shown in previous fixtures.

Ferndown continued to pose a threat, particularly through their combination of technical ability and physical strength. Purbeck battled hard, but the boys struggled to find the consistency and intensity required to get themselves back into the contest.

Two further goals arrived late in the game. The third came from the penalty spot before Ferndown added a fourth through their left midfielder, completing a 4–0 victory.

It was, ultimately, a below-par performance from the Purbeck boys, and the players themselves were understandably disappointed at the final whistle. They know that they are capable of performing considerably better than they did on this occasion.

However, one of the most important qualities in sport is the ability to respond to disappointment. The boys have an immediate opportunity to do exactly that, with St Edward's visiting The Purbeck School on Wednesday for a friendly fixture.

The challenge now is to take the lessons from this game, put the disappointment behind them and show the qualities that this group has demonstrated so often in the past.

The boys know they can play better — and Wednesday provides them with the perfect opportunity to prove it.

Final score: The Purbeck School 0–4 Ferndown Upper School

Tuesday 29th September | First Round | Dorset County Cup

The Year 10 boys from The Purbeck School made an excellent start to their Dorset County Cup campaign on Tuesday, producing an impressive 8–2 victory away at Milton Abbey School.

Played on an outstanding playing surface at Milton Abbey, the match provided the perfect setting for an entertaining afternoon of school football. From the opening whistle, Purbeck looked determined to take control of the contest and made a blistering start, racing into a 3–0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

The early goals gave Purbeck confidence and, importantly, allowed the boys to settle into their style of play. Throughout the game, they showed excellent composure in possession, moving the ball intelligently and making good use of the space available to them. There were some excellent passages of football, with the team demonstrating a real willingness to play through the thirds rather than simply relying on direct football.

One of the major highlights of the match came with Purbeck's third goal. It was a superb team move which began with the goalkeeper playing calmly through the lines. The ball was worked down the right-hand side before a dangerous cross was delivered into the box. Alfie Hunt then produced a moment of real individual quality, finishing the move with an acrobatic scissor/bicycle kick that flew into the net.

It was the sort of goal that summed up the confidence and quality Purbeck were showing, combining patient build-up play with an excellent final product.

Purbeck continued to control large periods of the match and created numerous opportunities through their movement and passing. The boys were excellent in possession, constantly looking to support the player on the ball and move the opposition around the pitch.

Although Milton Abbey managed to score twice, Purbeck remained focused and continued to play their football. The final score of 8–2 reflected an excellent attacking performance, but perhaps more importantly, the match demonstrated the team's ability to work together, move the ball effectively and maintain their standards throughout the game.

There were plenty of positives to take from the fixture, not only from the result but from the manner in which it was achieved. The boys showed confidence, creativity and a real desire to play attractive football.

With the victory, Purbeck progress through to the second round of the Dorset County Cup, where they will face either Ferndown School or Avonbourne.

Final score: Milton Abbey 2–8 The Purbeck School

Purbeck goals: Alfie Smith, Alfie Hunt (2), Fabio Streams, Ollie Connor, Kellan Roberts, Szymon Nowosad, and Tom Barstow.

The Purbeck School made an excellent start to this year's Poole and East Dorset District Cross Country events on Thursday, with a group of 12 students representing the school at the first of four district competitions taking place over the coming months.

The event was held at Canford School, with the competitors enjoying a beautiful afternoon in stunning surroundings and ideal conditions for running. For several of the students, it was an opportunity to experience district-level competition for the first time, with the group including five new Year 7 students who represented the school brilliantly.

All 12 students equipped themselves extremely well throughout the afternoon. There was a fantastic attitude from the group, with everyone giving their best effort and supporting one another throughout the event. Their behaviour and conduct were also excellent, ensuring that The Purbeck School was represented in an incredibly positive manner.

There were some particularly notable individual performances. Alex Belviso produced an excellent run in the Under-13 Boys race, finishing in an impressive 9th place. This was a fantastic achievement in a competitive field and a great result for Alex.

In the Under-15 Boys event, Jacob Warren also performed exceptionally well, securing an excellent 14th-place finish. Jacob's performance was another highlight of what was a very positive afternoon for the Purbeck team.

The students showed determination, resilience and a willingness to challenge themselves, while also demonstrating excellent sportsmanship and team spirit. These are all qualities that will stand them in good stead as the district competition progresses.

With four district events taking place over the coming months, there will be plenty more opportunities for the students to develop their running, improve their performances and compete against other schools from across the area.

A huge well done to all 12 students who took part. They should be extremely proud of the way they represented The Purbeck School, both on the course and off it.

We look forward to seeing the group build on this excellent start at the next district event in the coming weeks.

Runners: Alex Belviso, Jacob Warren, Ben Smith, Annasophia Streams, Megan Titley, Arianna Harrison, Lola Hope, Harriett Crew, Alex Halford, Jacob King, Milo Jubber, Ethan Rolls                      

The Purbeck School's new Sixth Form football team made their first appearance in the Dorset School League on Wednesday, travelling to face a strong Budmouth School side in what proved to be a highly competitive and entertaining game of football.

As a newly formed team, it was always going to take the boys a little time to settle into playing with one another. The opening stages were a valuable learning experience as the players began to understand each other's movements, build their relationships on the pitch and find their rhythm as a team. Budmouth took advantage of a couple of opportunities in the first half, taking a 2–0 lead into the interval. The first came following a defensive error, while the second was the result of an excellent corner that was very well taken.

Despite finding themselves behind, Purbeck showed encouraging signs as the half progressed. The team began to grow into the game, moving the ball with greater confidence and creating a number of chances towards the end of the first half. There was a growing belief that, with a little more composure in the final third, there was certainly a way back into the contest.

Early in the second half, however, Budmouth extended their advantage to 3–0 with an opportunistic long-range effort. At that point, it would have been very easy for a new team to lose confidence and allow the game to drift away from them.

Instead, Purbeck responded brilliantly. The reaction to going three goals behind was arguably the most pleasing aspect of the afternoon. The boys immediately lifted their performance, showed excellent character and began to dominate possession and territory.

They got themselves back into the game almost straight away through Mikey Andrews, following an excellent long ball from Aiden Macey into the right-hand channel. Mikey showed great composure to latch onto the pass before producing an excellent finish, lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.

The goal sparked an excellent spell of pressure from Purbeck. For the remaining half an hour, the visitors completely dominated the game, moving the ball well and creating several further opportunities. The boys showed much greater confidence in possession and began to look increasingly comfortable playing together.

Despite their efforts, a second goal proved elusive. However, Purbeck continued to push forward right until the final whistle, and on the balance of the second half, they could feel extremely unfortunate not to have taken more from the game.

While the result ultimately went in Budmouth's favour, there were plenty of positives for Purbeck to take from their first outing as a new Sixth Form team.  The team can take great encouragement from their first competitive fixture and will now look ahead to the remaining Dorset School League games, where they will have further opportunities to develop as a team and hopefully turn their strong performances into positive results.

Final score: Budmouth School 3–1 The Purbeck School

Purbeck goals: Mikey Andrews
Assist: Aiden Macey

1. Queue-jump for themselves and one friend for all break times and lunch times throughout the week.
2. An invitation for a Friday hot chocolate with the Headteacher and House Leaders.

Head of Sixth Form Simon Holmes said, ‘This leadership programme, run in conjunction with The National Trust and Dorset Heaths Partnership, is such a valuable part of the sixth form’s enrichment programme. Being able to offer such a variety of activities (including the Drama LAMDA qualification, the EPQ, a food hygiene certificate, sport, yoga, art and more) very much allows our students to develop their experiential qualities in addition to their academic skills. And who doesn’t love a pig?!’

William, a Dorset County Golf Union U14 County Champion, has achieved an impressive collection of successes over recent months, demonstrating not only his talent but also his dedication, consistency and determination on the course.

His highlights this season include:

• 🏆 Dorset County U14 Scratch County Champion 2026, shooting an outstanding gross score of 71 (-1).
• 🏆 Member of the Dorset County Inter Club Team Champions 2026.
• 🏆 Dorset County U14 Jack Roberts West Region Memorial League Champions 2026, where William was the top points scorer, playing at No. 1 for the Dorset U14 first team.
• ⛳ Called up to represent the Dorset U18 First Team, despite being just U14. William won his match 1 up at The Isle of Purbeck, finishing in spectacular style with three consecutive birdies.
• 🏆 Dorset County Order of Merit Crane Valley Junior Open Scratch U18 Champion 2026.
• ⭐ Dorset County Order of Merit Top 8 Qualifier 2026, finishing 6th out of more than 100 U18 players. William was the only U14 player to qualify for the Matchplay Finals, which take place at the end of October.
• 🏆 Dorset Golf & Country Club Junior Club Champion 2026, recording gross scores of 73 and 75 to win the championship by an impressive 10 shots.
• 🏆 Dorset Golf & Country Club Juniors Season-Long Medal Winners Champion 2026.
• 🏆 Dorset Golf & Country Club Juniors Winter Order of Merit Champion 2026.
• 🏆 Dorset Golf & Country Club Jubilee Open 4BBB Champion 2026, competing in a field of 128 players (64 pairs).

Perhaps most remarkable is William's improvement over the past 18 months. His Handicap Index has fallen from 35.6 on 1 January 2025 to just 3.6 as of 17 September 2026 — an improvement of 32 shots.

This remarkable progress has seen William recognised as the most improved junior golfer within the Dorset County Golf Union Squads in 2026.

William's achievements are a fantastic reflection of the hard work, commitment and passion he has shown for his golf. We are incredibly proud of his success and look forward to following his continued progress, particularly at the Dorset County Order of Merit Matchplay Finals in October.

Congratulations, William, on an outstanding season!

Kaleb has been a valued member of our school community since joining in Year 7 and has represented the school with distinction throughout his time here. Under the guidance of Mr Hunt and Mr Keegan, he has been an integral part of several school teams, competing in numerous County Cup competitions and consistently demonstrating commitment, resilience and a strong work ethic.

Alongside his school football, Kaleb has also enjoyed considerable success with Dorchester Town FC, progressing through the club's age groups while competing in Division 1 of the Dorset Youth League. His development as a player has been driven by his determination to improve, his positive attitude and his passion for the game.

Receiving a scholarship to Milton Abbey School is a tremendous accomplishment and a fitting reward for Kaleb's hard work both on and off the pitch. We are incredibly proud of his achievements and wish him every success as he continues his footballing journey and takes advantage of the exciting opportunities ahead.

Congratulations, Kaleb, on this fantastic achievement. You are an excellent role model for younger students and a credit to both your school and local football community.

There have been some fantastic achievements across the year group, reflecting the hard work and commitment our students have shown throughout their GCSE studies. 👏🎓

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces this morning, and we wish every student the very best as they take their next steps – whether that’s continuing with us in the sixth form, heading to college, starting an apprenticeship or another path.

Well done, everyone!

There have been some fantastic individual achievements too.

Students are heading off to universities and apprenticeships across the country including Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Winchester, Bath Spa and University of the Arts London.

We’re also celebrating our first cohort to complete the LAMDA Drama qualification, alongside students who achieved the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

Headteacher Adam Darley said: “We are incredibly proud of our sixth form students. Not only have they achieved excellent academic results, but they have also played their part in creating the unique and supportive community that characterises life in the Purbeck Sixth Form.”

A huge well done to all of our students, and thank you to the staff and families who have supported them along the way.

The aims of the Trust are to:

• Promote female participation in STEM subjects.
• Support disadvantaged students in establishing careers in STEM.
• Offer financial support to students who may face challenges in continuing their sixth-form studies.
• Support qualifying students from The Purbeck School and help the school maintain its reputation as a centre of excellence for STEM education. 

The trust was set up last year, and these are the first Girls in STEM Awards, recognising students who have demonstrated enthusiasm, talent, determination and engagement in their chosen STEM subjects.

Awards were presented to students from Years 7–10 across all curriculum areas, including English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Languages, the Arts, PE, Computing and Technology. A special congratulations goes to our STEM award winners, who were recognised for their outstanding achievements in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Design Technology.

Among this year's award recipients were;

Year 7

Luke Gould (Maths), Sam Caudell (Geography), Beatrix Notley (Design Technology), Elias Barnes (PRE), Iona Hannant (French), Alexander Belviso (Spanish), Maya Haworth (Art), Jacob King and Maisie Biles (PE), Freya Matthew and Seren Morris (Science), Freya Matthew (History), Stanley Butt (Computing), Madison Russell (English), Oscar Sherlock (Drama), Stanley Butt (Music), Beatrix Notley (Music), Mia Lovell, Fia Davison, Cienna Powell, Thea Hewitt and Beatrix Notley (STEM).

Year 8

Felicity Schubert (Maths), Lucas Spiller (Geography), Neveah Lee (Design Technology), Ava Gray (PRE), Orla Anderson (French), Cobie Savage (Spanish), Darcy Blu Bryden (Art), Daniel Norman and Eva Gadenne (PE), Thorne Beesley (Science), Elijah Pike (History), Isabelle Allen (Computing), Oscar House (English), Isabelle Allen (Drama), Benjamin Brewster (Music), Sophie Starr (Library), Amelia Suttle, Ella Webster, Felicity Schubert, Daisy Margetts and Hannah Kent (STEM) and Lorelei (Swift House Leader Award).

Year 9

Aida Schulte (Maths), Aidan Bugler (Geography), Oliver Croucher (Design Technology), Oliver Croucher (PRE), Isla Whincop (French), Sophia Cooke (Spanish), Romany Harris (Art), Sonny Dutton-Davies and Hettie Poole (PE), James Hardy (Science), Isla Whincop (History), Liam Bulpitt (Computing), Hannah Budden (English), Alfie Hunt (Drama), Toby Debenham (Music), Evie Woolford, Hettie Poole, Aida Schulte, Hannah Budden and Isabella Deas (STEM).

Year 10

Grace Woolford (Maths), James Oakley (Geography), Ryan Knott (Product Design), Isaac Coppack (Food Technology), Maizie Pratten (Health & Social Care), George Ralls (PRE), Ana Smith-Morris (French), Alfie Joyce (Spanish), Ellie-Mae Baggs (Phoography), Thomas Warren (Art), Vincent Nickless and Seren Roberts (PE), Alayna Carter-Hobbs (Geology), Marcus Evans (Physics). Joe Bohane (Chemistry), James Oakley (Biology), Seren Roberts (Combined Science), Ezra Orgee (History), George Whitaker (Computing), Theo Burnett (Business Studies), Daniel England (English), Jacob Bissett (Drama), Rosie Kent (Music), Nola Downs (Media), Rosie Kent, Izzie Cutler, Nola Downs, Ana Smith-Morris and Maisie Kearley (STEM), Thomas Warren (Skylark House Leader Award), William Nix (Kingfisher House Leader Award), Jack Jervis (Kestrel House Leader Award) and Bertie Warren (Headteacher Award).

Their achievements reflect the hard work and determination shown by all students recognised during the evening.

The Purbeck School would like to congratulate every award winner and thank families, staff and governors who joined us to celebrate these successes. We are incredibly proud of our students and look forward to seeing their continued achievements in the year ahead.

This year was the fourth year taking students from The Purbeck School to an amazing work experience week at Lancia Consult Bristol office through an initiative set up by The Gateway Project.

The Gateway Project is dedicated to breaking down barriers to professional careers and improving social mobility, through offering opportunities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Lancia Consult staff were so welcoming and amazing role models to the students throughout the week. Our time spent with them was so much fun and inspirational, all wrapped in one. The students developed confidence, strengthened employability skills and were able to create impactful and everlasting memories. 

Michelle Scott

Careers Adviser & UCAS Co-ordinator

The Purbeck School

Thorpe Park

What an amazing day at Thorpe Park for our 263 Year 9 and Year 10 students! Glorious (although slightly too hot!) sunshine and soaring temperatures, students made the most of every moment, enjoying the park's thrilling rides, attractions, and fantastic atmosphere. From adrenaline-filled roller-coasters to spending time with friends, it was an epic day filled with excitement, laughter, and unforgettable memories. The students represented the school brilliantly throughout the trip, and despite the heat, their energy and enthusiasm never wavered. A truly amazing day!

• Pupils will be expected in school as usual at normal times
• Pupils will wear either their adapted summer uniform or school P.E kit.
• Pupils will need to bring their equipment and Yondr pouch. They will be expected to pouch up their phones like they do on any other day.
• Pupils can bring packed lunches if they normally bring one but the canteen will also be open for pupils.
• Pupils will be assigned a computer room and will be asked to complete all outstanding homework and then will be given project work to do.

Please see the pdf upload below

The group made an initial stop at Woolbridge Manor, the setting for key scenes in the novel, before visiting the Hardy statue and Dorset Museum in Dorchester, where we were given a highly informative presentation by Alban O’Brien. After having some free time to explore the Hardy exhibition and other areas of the museum, we headed to Hardy’s birthplace in Higher Bockhampton, learning about his origins and family whilst standing in beautiful surroundings. After a pit stop at McHardy’s restaurant, the group headed to our final location, which was Max Gate, a grand and unusual house which Hardy had built as a space to work, surrounded by trees, a druid stone, and his pet cemetery.

The Purbeck School Ghana 26 Team has been active in classrooms already, teaching a range of subjects and experiencing life in Anloga Miss Acott reports, ‘We've been to the beach, went to church, went to the lighthouse had our ewe lesson and been to our partner school. It has been amazing and the students have been fully embracing the opportunity. To see some of them interacting with the children and having the confidence to get up and teach even on the first day was incredible!’.

Last week we were fortunate enough to take a selection of children over to Hethfelton House near Monkey World. This is a charity that has been providing enrichment days for schools/colleges to go and learn about the Primates in regard to many respects.

We were lucky enough to have a couple of talks by Cat Talbot which looked at being a Primate Keeper and all the jobs they have to do throughout the day. It would seem it involves a lot of cleaning and food preparation with monkeys being fed up to 8 times a day. The second talk was about the different types of communication primates use. There were a surprising number of different types of calls. Some of them were rather interesting and some very comical. It certainly kept the students interested and many went home and talked extensively about it to their parents. So a thoroughly worthwhile experience. 

Interspersed throughout the day, we were also fortunate enough to make some enrichment toys for the Primates. These ranged from preparing piñatas and then filling ones that a previous group had made with tasty snacks. We also had the opportunity to make willow snack baskets for Capuchin monkeys and Gibbons. Finally, we put together a multitude of lush boxes and cable tied these together once filled with treats for the Chimps and other primates.  

A huge thank you to Cat and the team at Hethfelton house. The students had a fabulous day, as did the staff. We hope the Primates enjoyed the toys, and we hope to see you again soon.

Thanks

 Miss Hamblin

With women currently making up less than 20% of the engineering sector, this RNLI event aimed to inspire students from the local area to make a difference in the world by pursuing a career in engineering.

Pupils had the opportunity to meet and quiz female engineers from the RNLI, who discussed the different roles they play in saving lives at sea. Alongside these RNLI engineers students were given many innovation engineering challenges and taken on a tour of the All-weather Lifeboat Centre where the RNLI builds and maintains its state-of-the-art 25 knot all-weather lifeboats.

We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our pupils in the UKMT Junior Kangaroo competition, following their strong performances in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge.

Three of our pupils qualified to take part in this prestigious follow-on round — an excellent accomplishment in itself. We are especially pleased to highlight the success of Thorne Beesley in Year 8, who was awarded a Bronze certificate, a superb result at this level.

We are incredibly proud of all the pupils who took part. Their commitment, resilience, and enthusiasm for mathematics continue to shine through, and they are a credit to the school.

Mrs G Pike

Mathematics Teacher

The Purbeck School

Next week is expected to be exceptionally hot, with temperatures forecast to be around 30°C for the majority of the week. With this in mind, we have decided that students will be permitted to adapt their uniform to ensure they remain comfortable in these conditions. We will implement this change for at least one week and will keep the situation under review.

Students may adapt their uniform in the following ways:

1. Standard Uniform (Adapted):

• Students may continue to wear the normal school uniform; however, they will not be expected to wear a tie or blazer, nor are they required to bring these items into school.

2. PE Kit Option:

Students may choose to wear their school PE kit instead. This includes:

• The Purbeck School logo T-shirt (black with red trim)
• Black shorts, or black leggings, or black tracksuit bottoms, or black skorts
• (Please ensure all items are appropriate in length and fit. If clothing is deemed unsuitable, students will be required to change back into school uniform.)
• Trainers

We hope that these adjustments will help provide a more comfortable learning environment for all students during the period of hot weather.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Darley

The Purbeck School

The boys started the day meeting with World Champion Boxer Chris Billam-Smith who spoke about his life as a boxer and what it means to be a man today. Chris is known as “The Gentleman” on the boxing circuit and instils respect and dignity in and out of the ring, throughout all aspect’s of his life. The boys then participated in public speaking workshops facilitated by The Speakers Trust.

They openly discussed topics about their likes, school life, social media today and their proudest moments. They participated in games and gave speeches where their confidence and voices grew throughout the day.

On Friday, she took questions from Year 10 historians and some of our Year 12 students. These included: ‘How do you feel about billionaire funding of political parties?’; ‘What is your opinion about the current arrangements for post-18 student funding?’; ‘How can politicians reach out to young people to balance the views of Reform?’ and various others related to political leadership, immigration and politics in general. It was wonderful, once more, to gain an insight into the world of politics, with Purbeck students demonstrating a genuine interest in, and sense of responsibility, for both our local and national communities.

One of our geographers, James, writes: “We went around Bournemouth, taking data from a range of tests we did. We learnt about the land use of Bournemouth and how it influences tourists and locals of the area. We ended the day at the pier where we asked members of the public about the area and if it caters for locals or tourists. It was an amazing day that gave us a wide understanding of the area.”

At Hengistbury Head, the students completed methods such as beach profiles, sediment analysis, longshore drift measurements and recorded wave conditions. We were lucky to have a sunny day and a lunch stop near the expensive beach huts.

Both days the geographers showed excellent effort and collaborative teamwork to complete all methods. We were pleased to be informed by members of the public how well the students presented themselves and represented the school in Bournemouth. Well done all the geographers!

Mrs Yenney, Geography Teacher.

The new Sixth Form Leadership Team met officially for the first time yesterday to discuss their plans for next half term and the academic year ahead. Their roles include Year Captains, Welfare, Wellbeing and Charity roles, as well as responsibilities for Student Voice, Publicity and Literacy. We will keep you up to date with their work over the coming months. The Purbeck Sixth Form offers many opportunities to develop leadership skills in addition to the chance to extend soft skills through our full, exciting, enrichment programme.

The group also extended their investigations into the wider Purbeck area, comparing rural and urban environments and deepening their understanding of spatial contrasts within the landscape. It was an excellent day all round, with students engaging enthusiastically and making the most of the hands-on learning opportunities.

A massive congratulations to Anna Talbot (yr8), Cara Thomas (yr8), Thorne Beesley (yr8), and Nia Morris (yr7) for qualifying for the next round called the Junior Kangeroo, which will take place later in the year.

This year, our pupils achieved 14 Silver awards and 29 Bronze awards — a testament to their commitment, effort and excellent mathematical thinking. 110 pupils were entered. We are delighted to celebrate their hard work, enthusiasm and impressive performance in such a demanding national competition.

As we approach the GCSE examination period that starts next week, we are pleased to offer GCSE Breakfast Revision Sessions to support students on the mornings of their exams.

These sessions will run from 08:00 to 08:30 on the day of each GCSE exam – see schedule and rooming above. They are designed to provide students with a calm, focused start to the day, including light, targeted revision and the opportunity to ask last‑minute questions in a supportive environment.

To help students feel settled and energised, the school canteen will be providing free tea and toast (or a suitable alternative) to all students who attend.

If you are unable to drop your child off before this time, then please don’t worry. Students using school transport should still join the sessions and will still benefit from the revision and refreshments available.

We strongly encourage students sitting GCSE examinations to take advantage of these sessions, as they can help boost confidence and readiness before exams begin.

If you have any questions about your child’s GCSE exams, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Morris

Deputy Headteacher

The Purbeck School