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14
January 2016
Abingdon
Preparatory School
Music
This term we welcomed Deborah Rose as our new Head of Music. Music is very much
a part of daily life at Abingdon Prep with the majority of boys taking up an instrument by
Year 2 and music everywhere whether it’s hymns at assembly, choirs, orchestra, drum
and beat or Jazz Band. Our regular concert platforms give boys experience of playing to
an audience, which comes in very useful for the big occasions such as this term’s Carol
Service, which marked the start of Christmas in the beautiful setting of St Helen’s Church
in Abingdon.
Art Workshop
Art is extremely popular at Abingdon
Prep and our Saturday workshops give
the opportunity to study a particular
medium or theme in more detail. This
term’s etching workshop saw boys
learning about copperplate printing
and creating their own prints.
Having Fun with Science
Year 6 enjoyed a day of science when
Science Oxford visited school. The theme
was forces and boys had fun being pulled
along on a skateboard, making parachutes
for eggs and lying on a bed of nails.
A very productive term for all year groups in CDT culminated in a fierce competition for
the Year 8 boat race prize. Using a battery pack, dowel, elastic bands, water bottles
and floats, the boys’ challenge was to design a boat and then race it across the School’s
swimming pool. Crispin awarded prizes for the fastest vessel and the sleekest design -
much fun was had by all!
Sporting Highlights
Sport this term has seen success in the Abingdon Vale Biathlon with 7 of the 15 boys
competing finishing in the top three for their age group. Fencers picked up a good medal
haul at the Bucks, Berks and Oxon County Age Group Foil competition and in cross-
country there were excellent performances at the St Hugh’s relays. The outstanding
performance of the term was from one of our Year 8 swimmers whose 50m backstroke
personal best time of 31.64 seconds ranks him number 1 for his age in Great Britain.
Rugby saw mixed results this term against tough opposition. The boys very much enjoy
representing their school and there were some excellent matches.
Winning the Boat Race