Cundall Manor School announces new appointment of Headmaster
The Governors are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Simon Weale as Headmaster of Cundall Manor School from the start of the Lent Term, 7 January 2025. Mr Weale is an experienced independent school Headmaster with a demonstrable and impressive track record in whole school leadership. He is currently the Director of Bishop Cotton School, a position to which he was appointed to in 2020. Founded on British traditions, Bishop Cotton is one of the leading independent boarding schools in India and is accredited by the Cambridge International examination board. Previously, Mr Weale was Headmaster of Shebbear College in Devon for six years; a co-educational independent day and boarding school for children aged two through to eighteen and is very similar in ethos and size to Cundall. Mr Weale took his degree in Modern History from Keble College, Oxford before embarking on an extensive and impressive teaching career. He has held posts at the Judd School in Tonbridge, Latymer Upper School and Reigate Grammar School, where he was Head of Sixth Form, before being appointed Deputy Head Master at Brentwood School. He is married to Rebecca, a communications specialist, and they have two daughters and a son. Their youngest daughter is currently at boarding school in Suffolk and is excited at the prospect of joining Cundall in the near future. On learning of his appointment, Mr Weale said, ‘Rebecca and I are thrilled to be joining Cundall and we are looking forward to meeting you all. I believe strongly in the warm-hearted and holistic education offered by the school. Our children thrived in a similar rural co-educational setting where they were known as individuals and encouraged by teachers with genuine ambition for them. This helped them to develop their self-confidence and emotional intelligence and gave them a desire to grasp the opportunities that life has given them. Cundall pupils are privileged to grow up in such inspirational, healthy and supportive surroundings which allow them to enjoy their childhood and prepare for life beyond school. I am determined to build on the fantastic work already being done at the school, and from my own experiences both in the UK and internationally, to ensure an ambitious and truly world class offer that rewards the investment by families and ensures our pupils become successful, principled and proactive global citizens’. Mr Weale is a keen sportsman who gained three Blues for cricket at Oxford and twice won the cricket National Club Championship with Teddington CC. He played representative hockey and junior club rugby. He is also a keen nature lover and historian and writes published articles regularly on his interests including his educational philosophy and experiences. During his time as a teacher of History, he has had extensive experience of outdoor education, coached cricket and rugby teams, and led school trips across the world including to North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and South East Asia. He has also developed pupil exchanges between the UK and schools in Australia, South Africa, India and a rugby exchange in south-west France. The Governors are delighted to have appointed an experienced and accomplished Headmaster in the form of Mr Weale, who is fully aligned with the values of our school. “During our search, we were adamant that the next Headmaster hold significant experience of whole school leadership and the Governors have been impressed by his immediate recognition of the opportunities that Cundall has to offer. We are confident that he will lead our school into the future with diligence, energy and enthusiasm and we are pleased that the timing of our search coincided his plans for a return to the UK.I know that Mr Weale is very much looking forward to meeting you and your children and there will be opportunities to do so later this term, when he will visit school and be involved with preparations for his arrival in January.”Chair of Governors, Rachel Powell. Meanwhile it is very much Cundall as usual as we embark upon another enriching and successful term ahead.
Cundall Manor School celebrates fantastic GCSE results
Cundall Manor School is celebrating an impressive set of GCSE results from its first cohort of 39 pupils to sit exams that returned to pre-pandemic benchmarks. There were plenty of smiles as pupils surpassed expectations, with many pupils achieving top grades, including 8s and 9s across 10 GCSEs, including further maths. An impressive 87% of all GCSEs were awarded at grade 4 and above, significantly surpassing the national average of 67.4%. 85% of pupils achieved 5 of more GCSEs at Grades 9-4. 30% of all GCSEs at Cundall Manor were graded 7 or above (the equivalent of A*- A grades) compared to the national average of 21.7%. The school is particularly proud of a remarkable 50% increase in Grade 9s this year, with many notable performances of pupils achieving 8’s and 9s in over half of their papers. “Our strong results are particularly pleasing as this is the first cohort since the pandemic to have been examined in the full syllabus of every subject,” said Ian Swannell, Head of Upper School. “In preparation for this, all pupils were offered over 500 hours of extra revision tuition throughout the year ensuring every pupil was supported to do their very best. Over a third of our pupils achieved a value-added score of over one grade per subject.” Beyond the results, many pupils have secured places at some of the country’s leading sixth form providers such as St Peters and Ripon Grammar, as well as notable scholarships to Rugby School and Ampleforth. Others are pursuing their passions at specialist Drama and Agricultural colleges. The Head Boy has already taken up his place at Pearson College in Vancouver, part of the highly selective United World Colleges network, which focuses on academic excellence and making a positive impact on the world. “We are thrilled with everyone’s achievements and extend our congratulations to each pupil for their hard work and dedication. We wish them every success in their Sixth Form studies and future endeavours,” added Chair of Governors, Rachel Powell. Cundall Manor School is a broadly non-selective school where every child is supported to reach their full potential. The school remains immensely proud of its pupils and looks forward to their continued success as they embark on the next stages of their educational journeys.
24-hour Badminton Marathon
The spirit of charity and camaraderie was on full display as the Thornton Prefects at Cundall Manor School, embarked on an epic 24-hour Badminton Marathon. This incredible feat of endurance was undertaken to mark the end of an era before their GCSE season commenced. Beginning at 4 pm on Friday 1stMarch, the prefects tirelessly battled through the night, rotating between teams of four, with girls taking on boys in intense matches. Undeterred by fatigue, they persevered, fuelled by the knowledge that their efforts were in support of worthy causes. As the night progressed, with the clock ticking and exhaustion setting in, it became a true test of mind over matter. Yet, with sheer determination and unwavering resolve, the Thornton Prefects emerged not only as champions of the badminton court but also, as shining examples of resilience and dedication. The event was not just confined to the school grounds; it was broadcast live to an audience of supportive teachers and parents, who cheered on the participants every step of the way. Their unwavering encouragement undoubtedly added to the Prefects’. motivation to push through their challenges as their fundraising target of £1k quickly doubled. In an incredible display of generosity and community spirit, the Thornton Prefects managed to raise an astounding £2,500 in just 24 hours. The funds will be distributed among their chosen charities, including the Oddballs Foundation, Save Our Seas, British Red Cross, and Cancer Research UK. Headmaster Chris James Roll expressed his pride and admiration for the Prefects, highlighting their exemplary leadership and commitment to making a positive impact. “This remarkable achievement epitomizes the values of Cundall Manor – compassion, resilience, and service. Our students continue to inspire us all with their selflessness and dedication to making a difference in the world.” This extraordinary event not only showcased the talents and determination of the Thornton Prefects also reinforced the school’s ethos of fostering well-rounded individuals who are compassionate and socially conscious.
Thornton Celebrate Outstanding GCSE Results
Pupils, parents and staff are celebrating a fantastic set of GCSE results. This is the school’s first cohort of pupils to sit exams since the pandemic. The school recorded another wonderful set of GCSE results including 100% of the students obtaining a 4-9 in Maths and English. Pupils also secured an incredible 51% of all passes being graded at 7-9, compared to the national average of 26.3% With these fantastic set of results all of the pupils have got into their first-choice school or career. Mrs Kirby added “Thornton collected a wonderful set of GCSE results on Thursday; the first-year group to sit exams since 2019. 100% of our pupils gained a 4-9 in both Maths and English; a wonderful reflection of their efforts.” She added” We are incredibly proud of them and the mature way that they have coped with every change to education that the pandemic brought. They leave Cundall with their sights set on new targets and their aspirations high. We wish them every success as they move on to Sixth Forms, Colleges and Apprenticeships.” The school is opening its doors to prospective parents and pupils on Friday 14thOctober. Interested parents are encouraged to contact the school to register as soon as possible, as places are extremely limited. To book your place call 01423 360 200.
Race for Life ’22
Pupils raise £3,500 for Cancer Research UK Generous pupils from a school near Ripon raise £3,500 for Cancer Research after completing laps of the school’s grounds. Earlier this term pupils from Cundall Manor School, between Ripon and Thirsk, gathered to take part in a charitable dash for cash in aid of Cancer Research. Pupils as young as FOUR and as old as 13 put on their fancy dress and prepared to take on Cancer by walking, jogging or running around the school grounds in aid of Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving scheme. While completing laps of the field pupils had to overcome numerous obstacles set out by the school’s ever adventurous Games department. Louise Bessey, Assistant Head and the organiser the of the event said that “I am so proud of all the children for raising such a large sum of money for such a fantastic cause. Nearly all of us know someone who has been affected by cancer and we all have our reasons as to why we want to help this charity.” Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is fantastic initiative which is inspires many children and adults to raise millions of pounds to aid vital research. Cundall Manor’s Headmistress, Amanda Kirby added: “We are all aware of the fantastic work that charities like Cancer Research do. As a school we pride ourselves on being able to organise many charitable initiatives across the school year and even in these challenging times we are always looking at different ways to support these charities.”
School Pupils now Equipped with Lifesaving Skill
Pupils from one of the north’s leading independent schools learnt the importance of CPR while partaking in Restart a Heart Day. Cundall, joined schools from across the country to take part in restart a heart day. This programme equips pupils with life-saving CPR training. Pupils from Year 5 to Year 11 joined in the training which endeavors to teach members of the public how to help restart the heart of someone who has suffered cardiac arrest Pupils were joined by instructors from The Yorkshire Ambulance Service. They taught the pupils CPR using an interactive DVD and practical performed a demonstration with inflatable manikins. School nurse Mrs Lee organised the event for the school. She said: “Events like really help awareness and equip our pupils with a real-life saving skill that could prevent someone dying. A massive thank you to the volunteer instructors from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service who took the time to deliver an invaluable skill to our pupils. It is a brilliant opportunity to be able to equip over 220 pupils from Year 5 upwards with lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation training” added Vicky For more information on Restart a Heart visithttps://restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk/website.
Go-Kart Race returns after Hiatus
Dozens of daredevil pupils from Cundall provided some high-octane entertainment as the annual Go-Kart Race returned following a forced hiatus due to covid-19. The break did not dampen spirits with the homemade Go-Karts providing speed, theatre and some spectacular but safe crashes at Cundall Manor School last Friday (28 May). This year saw Noah claim the top spot on the podium following a morning of fun and heart-stoppingly mad-cap racing. The event has been held for well over a decade and this year saw a range of innovative entries from its pupils including a modified rocking horse to several smoke expelling entries. Head, Amanda Kirby, said: “The race is part of the school’s history. We always look forward to the event and it is a great way to bring a busy half-term to a close and have some fun.” Pupils and staff cheered on the competitors as they descended the hill with a varying degree of success. Business Manager, Paul Swalwell, added: “The event always attracts some fabulous designs, and this year was no exception. Many of our pupils and their parents have been working on this for two years and although it was such a shame to have to postpone last year’s race, it is wonderful to see their hard work pay off with such a fun event.” After the fun of the race, pupils embarked on another school tradition, the annual charity walk to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. To date the event has raised a total of over £1,250 with gift-aid. Paul added: “A huge thank to all our pupils and parents who helped make the day so entertaining and special and a special thank you to everyone who has helped raise funds for such a wonderful charity.” Visit the school’s virgin money giving page to find out more about how you can help support YAA. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CundallManorSchool
United Education Holiday Camps
We are excited to announce that we have partnered with the fabulous team at United Education to provide a range of exciting holiday camps throughout the year. The Adventure Camps cover ages 4-14 and offer a variety of activities throughout the school holidays. Sam Fox from United Education said: “Every day at United Adventure Camps is packed with adventure. We create safe environments for children to learn, grow and prosper through a host of multi-activity programmes, excursions and theme days. Our programmes engage and excite, our staff inspire and guide, our standards are high and we always put the children first in everything we do.” The unique holiday day camps give children an exciting multi-activity experience with the chance to enjoy lots of activities like team sports, craft, archery, games, drama and bushcraft to name a few. To find out more detail or to book today, please visit the United Education website: Find out more
Let’s go fly a kite
Pupils celebrated the end of a unique term by crafting and flying their own kites. Pupils took to the challenge set by Headmistress, Amanda Kirby, with real gusto and the weather conditions certainly helped support the event. The inspiration for the festival was taken from a popular Easter tradition in Barbados, where kite flying is regularly incorporated into the annual festivities. Mrs Kirby said: “This event was a wonderful, fun celebration for all our pupils and staff to enjoy, after what has been a testing term for everyone. Seeing all our pupils get the opportunity to build and fly their own creations and enjoy the simple pleasure of flying a kite was a great way to mark the last day of term.” She added: “Throughout the week, pupils had been building and testing their kites to varying degrees of success. There was much laughter as each year group took to the field trying their hardest to launch their kites. On Friday the weather certainly gave the event the support it needed to get those kites flying high.” We regularly hold an Easter event with pupils alternating between being invited to build a trebuchet to launch eggs as far as they can and other Easter or egg-based fun. Paul Swalwell, Business Manager at Cundall Manor, added: “We were delighted to be able to take inspiration from further afield and to enjoy a new tradition at this time of year. The blustery conditions certainly lent themselves well to the festival and I was pleased to see the rain held off for long enough so that all our pupils could get a good amount of time flying their fabulous creations.”
Race for Life ’21
The Cundall Manor Race for Life was a fantastic occasion. Resilience, enthusiasm, and a never give in attitude in very challenging conditions was all on display throughout. An amazing effort from all and a great way to raise money for a wonderful charity. To see more pictures from the event, please follow the link:https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=CundallManor&set=a.1631961216988182 Follow the link to donate:https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/cundall-manor-2?fbclid=IwAR2H78c9qi-4j7mFBcVsTZoUg1v-t4-gGMb2HVkCcJ5xTZkaxW5E4k-oaEA