12
April 2015
Abingdon
Preparatory School
Six boys from the Middle Section took part in the Prep Schools Business Challenge held
at the Senior School. Their task was to design a healthy snack that would thrive in the
competitive snack food market. The boys suggested how their product should be marketed
and gave a three-minute presentation to judges. The product that they designed was the
‘Snack Circle’ a combination of six separate healthy snacks in a circular package.
Young Entrepreneurs
Outstanding Scholarship Success
It is a truly outstanding year for our Year 8 boys who between them have earned an
extraordinary total of 19 awards, 13 scholarships and 6 exhibitions. These include 8
academic scholarships and 1 academic exhibition to Abingdon School. It is the fourth
consecutive year that an Abingdon Prep pupil has won the most prestigious scholarship,
The Mercers’ Company Award. In addition there have been 2 music scholarships
and 4 music exhibitions, 2 sports scholarships and 1 drama exhibition. Very many
congratulations to the boys, their families and the staff.
Botanical Painting
During the bleak January days senior boys
anticipated the onset of spring and the
variety of colours and textures that would
be found in fresh food. The boys discussed
manipulating media from adding salt,
drawing with candles and using masking
fluids. After a series of experiments everyone
chose their stimulus based on its colour
or texture and began creating an accurate
recording from observation.
Sulgrave Manor brought to life Year 4’s
classroom work. The boys were met by
Master John and Mistress Amy and they
put on their Tudor clothes; breeches,
doublet and ruff. After a quick visit to the
‘jakes’ and a tour of the large, impressive
gardens the boys went to Meg’s kitchen to
warm up. Boys turned the spit, collected
bread from the ovens and attempted to
start a fire with flint and kindle. After lunch
the boys helped to build a large Tudor
galleon. With sail attached, oars, an anchor
and barrels of ale the boys set off on a
voyage of discovery.
Step Back in Time
We were delighted to have some exciting
visitors last term. A squirrel monkey,
ring-tailed lemur and two penguins came
to meet the boys who loved letting the
monkeys jump onto their shoulders,
stroking the lemur’s tail and feeding fish to
the penguins. The children learnt about
each animal from the entertaining and highly
experienced keepers from the Heythrop
Zoological Gardens who rear and train the
animals to take part in films and television
productions.
Abingdon Prep boys won the top
prize in the under 11 age group of the
small schools category of the National
Preparatory Schools’ Cross Country
Championships. Against the stunning
backdrop of the Malvern Hills, the five
boys ran 2.6km and their cumulative
score won them the prestigious trophy.
70 prep schools took part in the
competition.
National Champions
Amazing Animals!
