Newsletter

Last night I introduced a special evening event for King's College Doha. There were about 400 people present to see first hand and hear about our direct links between Doha and the UK, but mainly to find out about the terrific plans for the next evolution of the school. From September they will occupy a brand new build for Years 3 - 13 with simply stunning facilities. The existing site will become a spacious and incredible Pre-Prep venue.  There was a great buzz around the event and I expect there to be much positive chatter about the exciting plans in the weeks ahead. 

An early start today following the event meant this afternoon I just about made it into school before the end of the week.

It has been a hugely rewarding week across which I was in the presence of over 1000 King's children, as happy as those here in the UK, wearing the same uniforms, existing in positive communities full of age and stage relevant endeavour.  Amongst many other meetings, presentations, visits to Ministries, I’ve been climbed on in Nursery, took an assembly for over 700, met the prefects in Year 10 and chatted a great deal with the staff in both schools. It was terrific to have the knowledge and experience of Simon Worthy and then Jonty Lawford in Riyadh and Doha respectively. 

18 months in, the early stages of the school in Riyadh reminded me so much of the Doha school 6 years ago and the Doha school has become a very impressive place from a similar position.

On tangible liaisons between the schools, across a variety of age groups, we are linking Heads of Departments and pastoral leaders, offering university application and interview guidance to pupils as well as hoping to have some KCD pupils come on a visit to us - Year 9 in June is a possibility? We also want to grow the global network our leavers have access to through shared alumni links. More directly, we hope to create opportunities for King's UK leavers to head over as GAPs. 

These rapidly emerging benefits of an increasingly mature and now thoroughly robust school have come on the back of hard work, encouragement, tough love and nurture from a growing school family over the years - I found myself reflecting on the obvious parallels of the individual child development within the schools. 

It'll be back to a more usual week after a good rest this weekend. I hope it is a peaceful one for all.

I mentioned a couple of editions ago that our assemblies this half-term are shining a spotlight on diversity and inclusion in our world.  This week we thought about what makes a ‘family’ and the children’s responses, once again, confirmed the fact that they uphold the values of tolerance and respect without hesitation.  

If you require day prep provision for your child next week please book them in using the link below. The booking form will close at 9.15 am on Monday; if you need to make a late booking or make any changes after this time please let us know by emailing SchoolOffice@kingshalltaunton.co.uk.   

If your child uses School transport and you need to make any changes next week please email Transport@kingshalltaunton.co.uk to let us know.

Hello, my name is Leon. I am Deputy Head Boy this term. 

This term is hockey season, and it is the best sport with rugby. Every boy really likes hockey. It is my first year, and the sporting spirit in hockey is great. I am French and I am finding this completely different to French schools. Boarding is also fun. This weekend we went to Clip'n Climb. It was amazing!  

The mock exams are coming up, but we are still having lots of fun at break and at lunchtimes. The weekend is coming, it is a long weekend, and I am so excited because my parents are coming to England.  

It is also the Chinese New Year. This year is the water rabbit year or black rabbit. I hope that my Chinese friends will have a Happy New Year. 

I wish everybody luck for their exams.

Hello from 6N, 

What a frosty time we have been having! 6N remain in good spirits though. Many of them pushing on with great enthusiasm by running the chilly King’s loop on Tuesday lunchtimes and trying to better their times whilst having some fun. They have also been settling into lessons now they are in their third week back after the Christmas break. There are lots of fun topics being explored in the Year 6 curriculum at the moment, so here are a few specific moments the tutees have enjoyed so far: 

Pippa is enjoying Art because they are studying Still Life. 

Viphy is enjoying Science because they have recently dissected a rat!  

Channah is loving History because they re-enacted Thomas Becket’s gruesome death and she loves drama. 

Maddie is enjoying DT because she is making her own cookbook and we are all secretly hoping for some yummy treats coming our way soon!   

Laszlo is really enjoying Geography because they have been able to decorate their books with single use plastic as a reminder to be more environmentally aware! 

The tutor group is also very busy rehearsing for the upcoming Year 6 production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The tutor group is brimming with the buzz of Oompa Loompas, Golden tickets, Witches and Twits… and they cannot wait to bring the theatre alive with their dramatic interpretations of these much-loved characters.  

Have a wonderful Lent term everyone and stay safe out there in these chilly conditions! 

The Lent Term is always one full of musical excitement – the Taunton Music Festival, the Lent Term Concert and, of course, the House Music Competition to name but a few.

In class, pupils are also enjoying music in a myriad of ways:

Year 3s are learning that Evil Goblins Breathe Deadly Fire while they investigate which notes go with which lines in the treble clef.

Year 4s are dipping their toes into the world of graphic scores – creating musical soundscapes using lines and drawings instead of traditional musical notation.

Year 5s have been creating their own versions of the Minimalist masterpiece Riley in C. Short, repeated ‘cells’ of music all building up in layers to create a much more complicated-sounding whole piece.

Year 6s are in the midst of a series of keyboard practicals in which music-reading is being developed alongside a little pianistic technique. Upcoming repertoire will even include some Dance Monkey!

Year 7s are studying music written in the Impressionist style and are developing their aural analysis skills while learning a little more about instrumental timbre.

Year 8s are practising playing the twelve bar blues on keyboards and, by the end of term, should hopefully have mastered the chords, bass line and the tricky blues scale.

The cold, icy weather did not stop 8S heading off to the Quantocks on Tuesday to study a river from its source near Dead Woman’s Ditch to the mouth at Kilve beach. We did not fancy venturing up Crowcombe hill, so instead we stayed low with the minibus parking in Holford and set off up the hill to find the source on foot. The brisk walk was just what was needed to warm us all up before stopping to sketch and measure the river. We were treated to some beautiful sunshine and stunning scenery – it truly did look beautiful and we had a great day. The water was icy cold, but the children didn’t complain (too much) about getting their hands wet in order to get the necessary measurements they needed to prove if the river gets deeper and wider in the lower course. They also timed a rubber duck to see how the velocity changes downstream and in the middle course they took measurements to find out if the water is actually deeper and faster on the outside of a meander. We enjoyed a bit of free time at Kilve beach and it was lovely to have the sun on our backs as the children explored the rock pools and looked for fossils. It is always great to get the children outdoors seeing Geography in action, as well as putting all the theory they learn in the classroom into practice. The rest of Year 8 will get to go on this trip at a later date. 

Please click below to see this week's sporting updates via our King's Hall Sport Twitter feed.

For ages 10-14

10:00am - 3:00pm

Run at King's College, the Flourish hockey camps are for those hockey players who want to take their hockey to the next level and have a focused attitude towards doing so. 

The course will be led by England Hockey Level 4 and Great Britain Advanced Coach Programme qualified coaches with a wealth of experience in the talent pathway. All staff have an enhanced DBS check and hold first aid qualifications. The camp will focus on each individual player. They will be supported through various sessions focusing on pitch-based technical and tactical scenarios. 

Players will be encouraged to develop their own action plan going forward. You will need to bring your own packed lunch, snacks and plenty to drink. You will also need to bring appropriate clothing for the weather: indoor shoes, your own sticks, shin pads and gum shields (compulsory). Goalkeepers will also need to bring their own kit.