Three St Andrew’s Prep pupils have maintained their places in the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

Daisy Noton and Spike Gleave, both Year 7 pupils, have won places into the Under 13 National Children’s Orchestra playing the flute and percussion respectively and Juliette Zeilmaker, Year 5, has a place in the Under 11 National Children’s Regional Orchestra playing the violin. Daisy was also awarded a Leverhulme Scholarship for Outstanding Performance at Audition and will accept her award at the Royal College of Music next February.

Entry into the orchestras is extremely competitive and requires the children to play two pieces of their choosing to a panel of adjudicators and for them to be highly proficient in sight-reading.

The NCO provides children with a world-class foundation for orchestral performance and musicianship and brings together the very best young talent from across the country to receive training from top professional musicians. The children will play in some of the finest concert venues in the country.

St Andrew’s Prep Director of Music, Ali Wicks said, “It is an amazing achievement for these children to venture onto the national stage at such a young age. Their contribution to the Music Department at St Andrew’s Prep is valued greatly and I am delighted that others will have the opportunity to appreciate their talents when they play at music venues across the country.”

Simon Severino, Headmaster concurred: “The National Children’s Orchestra has an outstanding international reputation. The maturity and ability of its musicians belies their ages. We’re thrilled by the achievements of three of our music scholars and hope very much that they continue to enjoy all that the NCO offers.”

St Andrew’s Prep introduced a Community Chapel Evensong to its calendar last Friday which was warmly received by the many local residents, parents and friends of the school who attended.

The formal, candlelit service was led by Deputy Headmaster, Gordon Ferguson, who spoke about the importance of community which allows us to interact with each other, share experiences, develop valued relationships and work towards a common goal.

In front of a large congregation in the 120 year old chapel, Director of Music, Ali Wicks, conducted the choir who sang two beautiful anthems; Jesus Christ the Apple Tree arranged by Bullard and Candlelight Carol by Rutter and a stunning Irish Blessing by Bart.

Mr Ferguson commented, “With the end of term upon us and Christmas fast approaching, this special service provided us with a great opportunity for the children to engage with and feel part of the local community.” One local resident commented, “What a lovely service. I thought the choir sang beautifully. Please ask me again next year!“

St Andrew’s Prep claimed victory over twelve local schools in a Pantomime Technology Challenge at the Congress Theatre this week.

The challenge was based on the theatre’s forthcoming pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. Each team was instructed to use K’Nex Lego to build a vehicle that needed to transport Beauty from a castle across different terrain; perhaps fly or cross water. The inclusion of a mirror for Beauty to gaze into was also a key requisite of the challenge.

Initially, the teams were asked to put their design ideas onto paper after which they made their vehicles and presented them to the four judges.

Many congratulations to the St Andrew’s Prep representatives.

St Andrew’s Prep took to the Eastbourne Royal Hippodrome stage with the rat pack of opera ‘Tenors Unlimited’ last week. As winners of the Rotary 1066 Choir Competition 2013, the 39-strong choir sang ‘Close to You’ and ‘Believe’ and were joined by St John’s Meads C of E Primary School to accompany the tenors in ‘You Raise Me Up’, ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ and one of the best known tenor arias of all time, ‘Nessun Dorma.’

Eleven primary/prep school choirs from East Sussex battled for the opportunity to appear with the trio who have performed alongside acts including Sting, Lionel Ritchie, Simply Red, Beyonce and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mrs Wicks, Director of Music at St Andrew’s Prep commented, “The children performed the different genres of music beautifully; with real musicality and focus. They are all to be congratulated.”

St Andrew’s Prep celebrated St Andrew’s Day in inimitable but traditional fashion on Friday when the school went off-timetable to join together and enjoy special events to celebrate the school’s namesake.

The day started with a parade by the Pre-Prep children who sported intricately crafted homemade hats with themes including Tower Bridge, flower arrangements, Lego, marmite, minions, lemon curd, gingerbread houses and St Andrew’s!

Headmaster, Simon Severino, led a formal service for the Prep School which included the presentation of a liveried St Andrew’s Prep chair, kindly donated to the school by Mr and Mrs Venables of Barley Sugar. After the service, the Year 8 pupils hosted an eclectic mix of stalls and entertainment for the younger prep school children including pillow-fighting, running the gauntlet, archery, a bouncy castle, nail painting and hair curling, sumo wrestling and dancing.

Nursery children spent the morning constructing their own St Andrew’s Day hats which they wore proudly to a special lunch which was also attended by a number of former staff, parents and OAs.

In the afternoon, everyone gathered together in the school gym for the St Andrew’s Day show which was produced and directed by the school gap students and comprised songs, music, film and dance from pupils and the gap students themselves. A most enjoyable day for all.

The Governors of the Eastbourne College Charity are delighted to announce that Gareth Jones has been appointed Headmaster of St Andrew’s Prep from September 2015 to succeed Simon Severino (who takes up the mantle of Headship of Alleyn’s Junior School).

Gareth is currently a boarding housemaster at the Dragon School, Oxford and has over 15 years’ experience of working in prep schools. He has a degree in English with History from Bath Spa University and is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.

St Andrew’s and Eastbourne College communities very much look forward to welcoming Gareth, his wife Jemma and their three young children, to Eastbourne.

 The Friends of St Andrew’s Prep Advent fair has been hailed a huge success. The event was staged in the beautifully decorated Durlacher Gym which was filled with an array of stalls from local and independent businesses including ceramics and glassware, jewellery, beauty products, bags and baskets, bath time luxuries and toys. Year 7’s entrepreneurial stalls were extremely popular and included Spot the Ball, Guess the Name of the Teddy, Lucky Dip, Hairstyling and Loom Bands. The Middles ran the ever popular Jolly Jam Jar raffle and the Juniors set up a groaning table full of chocolate for their tombola. The craft stall on the stage was jostling with activity as the younger children got to grips with painting and sticking decorations and spooning bags full of reindeer food. To encourage shoppers to get into the festive mood, the Senior Chamber Choir entertained them with Christmas Carols and songs.

The newly introduced wreath-making demo enticed a large audience and Food File Live was very popular and encouraged children and adults alike to make sausages and pasta. Staying with the food theme, the Christmas café was packed as families enjoyed a vast and delicious selection of homemade cakes and snacks including croissants, soup and focaccia, all washed down with warm mulled apple juice, hot chocolate or a Winter Pimms.

Father and Mrs Christmas were very busy as a steady stream of youngsters made their way to the specially-crafted twinkling Grotto for a friendly chat about expectations and Christmas lists.

Headmaster, Simon Severino said, “I have never seen the school look so beautiful. The Friends of St Andrew’s Prep are to be congratulated on staging such a wonderfully popular event and for transforming so many areas of the school. Father Christmas was very much at home. The Friends have raised a large amount for Children in Need and the school and we are enormously grateful to them, our staff and our pupils who gave their time and creativity so generously and willingly.” 

St Andrew’s Prep gathered together this morning to join the nation to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in conflicts and wars.

A Remembrance Service was held for staff, pupils and their families in the School Chapel and then, at 11am, the time the armistice was signed at the end of the First World War, the school gathered outside for a two minute silence.

In chapel, Deputy Headmaster, Gordon Ferguson and Head Girl Annabelle Neal told the story of Kirianne, the wife of one of the fallen servicemen in Afghanistan and the Brownies explained the significance of the poppy. Children from Years 6 to 8 gave a moving performance of In Flanders Field by John McCrae and the Monday and Senior Choirs performed We Will Remember Them by Peter Thompson and Blessing by Katie Bart. Wreaths were laid by the Head Boy and Head Girl and The Last Post and Reveille were played by brass players from Eastbourne College. Many memorials in the chapel mark the 91 boys and staff who lost their lives in the First World War and the 69 Old Androvians and teachers who were killed in the Second World War.

At 11am exactly, with the school gathered together outside, Music teacher Michelle Eldridge played The Last Post and Reveille either side of a period of silent reflection. The music drifted poignantly across the St Andrew’s Prep fields and on to the headland which would have been one of the last sights many airmen would have seen as they flew out over East Sussex.

Hundreds of children, staff and friends of the school community flocked to St Andrew’s Prep for a spectacular bonfire and fireworks display last Friday. Weather conditions were not ideal but the wind and rain failed to quash the cheers, oohs and aahs of the spectators as the 15-minute loud and colourful display, arranged by Event FX, lit up the night sky to accompanying music.

Early arrivals took the opportunity to visit the school gym which was bustling with stalls selling glo-novelties, sweets, popcorn and hot and cold drinks. The bar was also well supported and ticket holders tucked in to tasty burgers and hot dogs.

A new parent to the school commented, “This is the first time we have brought our children to a firework display and they absolutely loved it. Our youngest was simply awestruck..”

Headmaster, Simon Severino said, “Despite the weather conditions, the evening was a tremendous success. I would like to thank the Friends of St Andrew’s Prep for laying on such a well-organised, enjoyable and sparkling event.”