New Founders Garden receives plannning permission New Founders Garden, will you be there?The College is delighted to announce that we have received planning permission to completely redevelop one of the most used walkways in the school and we are asking you, the Prior Park community, to help bring it to life. The journey to get to where we are now had many obstacles, some of which were wholly unimaginable when we first came up with the plan in 2018. Now, we need your help to bring it to life.The area will be known as New Founders Garden and will sit outside the Heath and Wellbeing and Chaplaincy Centres, making the entire area conducive to our basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, as we deal with our world’s increasing complexity and uncertainty. A tranquil and sensorially engaging space, right at the heart of the school, can create a space for quiet reflection or a welcomed distraction and maybe even affect resilient responses to what, in our pupils' minds, might appear to be unanswerable problems.By being part of this appeal, you will also help us provide opportunities for our pupils' development through a range of activities and facilities. You will help us widen access to the school and help our young people embrace change, prepare for exciting career opportunities and plan for a fulfilled life. Please join us and help make a difference by clicking here.
Girls' day out at Prior Park CollegeThanks to our alumni, students, staff, parents and friends for making our Be Inspired, girl empowerment day, such a success. Working with Bath Team Netball and St Johns’ Foundation, Prior Park College hosted a day for the primary school girls of the seven local schools who are being helped by St John’s Foundation Fund. The aim of this initiative is to level the playing field across Bath and North East Somerset and help provide all children with the same chances to live happy, healthy lives. The girls really enjoyed their day and were mesmerised by the view and the fact that a big house like our mansion can be a school. Oh, and they loved the food. One girl asked if the food is like this every day or was this put on especially for them. It was our everyday food. Please watch the short video below to see what your school was doing over half-term.
Come and see us
Alumni return to inpsire the Sixth Form.Matthew Tobin (PPA 1991), Matthew Mortimer (PPA 2014) and Kate O'Hara (PPA 2009) came back to speak at our Inspire Day, where pupils from St Gregory's joined our Sixth Form for a TED Talk inspired day. BBC Points West's Alex Lovell hosted the day, encouraging the students to engage and hosting Q&A segments after each speaker. Read more...
Alumni Choir to remember Fergus Lyons (PPA 1949) on Sunday 4th December, 2022It’s that time of year again, when our former pupils return to our College Chapel, creating a medley of PPC choirs from days gone by, for the sheer enjoyment of it.
A happy celebration of friendship, community and of course, the choral distinction and brilliance synonymous with our school. We will also be celebrating the life of Fergus Lyons (PPA 1949), a great servant to the College and the PPA. To book your place, please click here...
Tom Dunn, Bath and England Rugby player, pays a visit.
Tom Dunn, Bath and England Rugby player, visited the College to give a guest coaching session.
Tom worked with boys from the 1st and 2nd XV on line-out and scrum skills. The boys had a great time, picking up lots of great strategy and skill. We're very grateful to Tom for giving up his time and look forward to seeing the boys show us everything they've learned on the pitch next weekend.
Dr Graham Smith retiresAt the end of last term, we were treated to a wonderful Assembly from Dr Smith, who retired from Prior Park College at the end of the previous academic year after 24 years of service. Dr Smith gave the students six reasons that he is thankful for having worked at Prior, all of them relatable, cheerful, and interesting. It takes a long time for a teacher to ascend to the heights of ‘legend’ status, and reaching it is managed by a combination of prowess in the classroom, tact, and good judgement with the students, and (usually) a healthy dose of good humour. Dr Smith has all of this and more, and I am confident that there’s not a student who has been taught Chemistry by him or been in Clifford House for his long tenure, that wouldn’t accord him the epithet ‘legend’. The sustained applause he received from the assembled masses speaks to the way the school feels about him. We will all miss him, and we wish him all the best.
Luke Price (PPA 1989) delivers vocal masterclass
Last term, Luke Price (PPA 1989) Royal Opera Company singer, came and visit the College.
Our student vocalists joined Luke for a Musical Masterclass. After all joining in a warm up, students aged 12-17 performed for Luke gaining personal feedback to develop their technique. Well done to all the students who performed so well. After some refreshments there was then a careers talk about entering the Music Industry which students and parents were welcome to attend. We are grateful to Luke for hosting such an insightful afternoon.
Museum of East Asian Art TalkThe College was delighted to host Celia Dominguez and Anne Perng from the Museum of East Asian Art to talk about an upcoming exhibition "Revolution, Propaganda and Art: Printmaking in Modern China". This exclusive talk ahead of the exhibition opening was a wonderful event enjoyed by parents, staff and students across the year groups. It is a further step in our ongoing collaboration between the Museum and the Mandarin department, which already introduces Chinese culture through the museum's collection for The Paragon and College. In the collaboration's third year we are hoping to work more closely with the museum and to visit them in person for Chinese New Year. We look forward to welcoming them back in future years.
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