19th March 2021 — To mark British Science Week, one ambitious Repton Prep year 7 pupil and STEM enthusiast, Ferial Amin, has designed and built her very own Mars Rover.

Inspired by the NASA Perseverance Mission, Ferial reached for the stars when she set about designing a fully working Mars Rover complete with solar panels.

"I have designed the Rover to include night vision equipment so that it could identify any possible signs of life," she said.

"Being the fourth planet away from the sun, Mars has about 44% of the light that we see here in Earth, so as I have equipped the Rover with large solar panels in relation to its size to ensure it can remain active throughout the mission. "

"A camera is set into the Rover to communicate evidence back to Nasa."

Repton Prep provides STEM opportunities for all the girls and boys and this week has had an exciting programme of events to mark British Science Week, including hands-on practical activities and lessons revolving around the NASA Perseverance Mars Rover expedition which is carrying out vital health checks since landing on Mars.

Mrs Claire Waldock, Head of Science at Repton Prep said: "Women are still underrepresented in STEM subjects, so it has never been more important to highlight the possibilities to all our pupils across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

"British Science Week coinciding with the NASA mission to Mars offered a perfect chance for Ferial to undertake her own experimental work based on the curriculum knowledge she has learnt during this term, as well as taking risks with her learning, which is actively encouraged here at Repton Prep."

Headmaster Rob Relton is immensely proud of Ferial and how she has proactively embraced the STEM opportunities available to her at Repton Prep: "It is our priority to provide STEM subjects that offer a breadth of knowledge and opportunity.

"Scientists and engineers have the capacity to solve many of humanity's most urgent challenges, including global warming, and right now they are the sharp end of the pandemic.

"We encourage all our pupils to constantly interrogate the status quo, push the boundaries and question social norms from an early age."

4th June 2019 — A nine-year old violist has been awarded a place in the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) of Great Britain in which he will play viola, as well as a place in the NCO’s Easterlies regional orchestra in Cambridge in which he will play the violin.

Arun Mattu was encouraged to audition for places in the orchestras by his school, Foremarke Hall, in Milton, Derbyshire, where he has been a pupil for the past four years. Students from Foremarke have won prestigious NCO places in the past, but Arun is one of the youngest to have done so.

Places in the NCO are awarded following demanding auditions. As well as receiving orchestral training from leading professional musicians and tutors, members of the orchestra benefit from additional activities designed to improve playing and boost confidence.

Director of Music at Foremarke Hall, Susan Bloor, says: “Arun has an outstanding talent and he deserves congratulations for being accepted into the country’s top organisations for young musicians. His successes are testament to his dedication and hard work, as well as to our outstanding tutors and the excellent facilities we have in The Charles Jennens Music School at Foremarke.”

As well as his outstanding abilities on stringed instruments, Arun is also a keen pianist and is working towards his Grade 4.

Foremarke Hall’s music department boasts a 100 square metre performance area that opens out onto an outdoor performance space, several professionally designed individual rooms for visiting music staff, and two ensemble rooms, used for practice and lesson sessions. All are sound-proofed.

3rd June 2019 — Audience members were dancing in the aisles when pupils from a Derbyshire school performed in the historic setting of Lichfield Cathedral alongside a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer and his folk ensemble made up of dozens of students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Foremarke Hall, Repton’s Prep School, had welcomed Joe Broughton and his Conservatoire Folk Ensemble into school in the morning of concert day.

The 50 Conservatoire students set up in the Theatre in preparation for performances to Upper School, Pre-Prep and Lower School. With an emphasis on performance and communication, the energetic ensemble captivated all children with their spirited folk music of driving rhythms and up-beat melodic lines.

The Ensemble was then joined by our 60-plus musicians who were going to perform in the evening concert in Lichfield Cathedral, in aid of the Cathedral and ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’. Foremarke’s musicians were quick to pick up improvised riffs and enthusiastically played along with the students.

After lunch it was off to Lichfield. The Folk Ensemble opened the evening programme with Foremarke’s Concert Band, Chamber Choir, Wind Band and Orchestra playing a part, performing works which had been prepared for this occasion and other summer concerts.

The highlight came with the Birmingham students and Foremarke children, joining forces at the end to perform together. This got the audience on their feet and dancing enthusiastically as the musicians, led by Joe Boughton, played.

Joe Broughton has his own internationally renowned band The Urban Folk Quartet and has also played with everyone from Joss Stone to Fairport Convention. His compositions have been performed at The Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican Centre in London and his workshops in performance and ensemble playing are legendary within the teaching community.

Following the concert, Sue Bloor, Director of Music at Foremarke, said: “The Joe Broughton Conservatoire Ensemble are a most energetic and truly inspirational group.

“This was a great concert for all ages and one that has given our younger children ideas about which instrument they would like to try and for others it provided a little more insight into what can be achieved on the instrument they already play.”

The £2,000 raised by the concert will be split between When You Wish Upon A Star and the upkeep of Lichfield Cathedral. When You Wish Upon a Star works to grant the wishes of children living with a life-threatening illness. Since 1990 it has granted over 17,500 wishes across the UK, as well as organising days out and treats for the children including to Lapland to see Santa Claus.

1st April 2019 — The tale of Greek hero Orpheus, legend of the Ancient World, has been translated into a modern day setting for an ambitious and hilarious school play.

Best known as an operetta, Orpheus in the Underworld has been entirely rewritten for pupils in Years 7 and 8 at Foremarke Hall.

For the Foremarke performance, the underworld into which Orpheus travels in pursuit of his love Eurydice conveniently sits beneath The Underworld, a 1970s-style disco club!

The result is a performance packed with drama and humour, as well as plenty of flares, sequins and other typical 1970s glam outfits, accompanied by a thumping disco soundtrack.

A cast and crew of 52 pupils have spent months rehearsing the Upper School play before performing it for fellow pupils, parents, staff and friends of the school, over three days, commencing with a matinee followed by two consecutive evenings.

As with every Foremarke production, all backstage work as well as lighting and sound for Orpheus is done by the pupils themselves under the watchful eye of a Year 8 Stage Manager.

Commenting, Headmaster Robert Relton said: “Congratulations Upper School on a wonderful performance! The hard work that has gone into this production was clear to see, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.”

1st April 2019 — Pupils from a Derbyshire school are to perform in the historic setting of Lichfield Cathedral alongside a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer and his folk ensemble made up of dozens of students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Foremarke Hall, Repton’s Prep School, will welcome Joe Broughton and his Conservatoire Folk Ensemble into school on Thursday, May 9. During the day the Ensemble will perform for pupils from throughout the school, including Reception and Upper School.

They will also run a workshop for those participating in the concert and have rehearsals for the evening concert together.

Joe Broughton has his own internationally renowned band The Urban Folk Quartet and has also played with everyone from Joss Stone to Fairport Convention. His compositions have been performed at The Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican Centre in London and his workshops in performance and ensemble playing are legendary within the teaching community.

Having spent the day at Foremarke Joe, 49 Conservatoire students and 60 Foremarke pupils will travel to Lichfield for the gala concert.

The performance is going to feature Foremarke’s Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Band and String Orchestra.

Susan Bloor, Director of Music at Foremarke, says: “The Joe Broughton Conservatoire Ensemble will play a major part in the programme – they are a most energetic and truly inspirational group.

“This will be a great concert for all ages and one to either give our younger children ideas about which instrument they would like to try or give them a little more insight into what can be achieved on the instrument they already play.”

Funds raised by the concert will be split between When You Wish Upon A Star and the upkeep of Lichfield Cathedral. When You Wish Upon a Star works to grant the wishes of children living with a life-threatening illness. Since 1990 it has granted over 17,500 wishes across the UK, as well as organising days out and treats for the children including to Lapland to see Santa Claus.

Doors for the concert, which starts at 7pm, will open at 6.30pm. A champagne reception with canapés will take place at 8pm.

Tickets are priced at £25 per adult to include the champagne and canapés. They are available from Foremarke Hall, Tel 01283 707100, email office@foremarke.org.uk or Lichfield Cathedral, Tel 01543 306121, email development@lichfield-cathedral.org.

28th November 2018 — A striking new dining hall designed to fit perfectly into both the historic built environment and natural rural setting is now in use at Foremarke Hall, Repton’s preparatory school.

The first users were the boarders, who enjoyed breakfast in the new facility on the first day back after October half term; following that it has been in daily use by all pupils and staff.

In November the boarders enjoyed a three-course Sunday dinner with special guests including the Governors and the Chairman. Ahead of the meal the dining room was blessed by Father Neil Roberts.

November also saw parents invited in for soup and cheese scones following the annual bonfire and fireworks event, and the Friends of Foremarke plan to use it for their Christmas Fair.

Robert Relton, Headmaster of Foremarke Hall, says: “Everyone who has seen the new dining room has been astounded at how such a modern building fits so well. It is at the heart of the school’s campus and is a welcome enhancement of our dining facilities. With its stunning views of the Foremarke estate, it offers an amazing venue for our events.”

The brief for the building outlined a desire for an inside, outside connectivity with large opening doors and a relationship with the natural environment, while at the same time improving the dining experience for the pupils and the efficiency of the lunch time routine for the school. The building needed to be able to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 500 pupils and staff whilst having the capability to host functions and events, day or night.

These needs have been met by an innovative glass pavilion style dining hall accessed off a large central corridor where dual queuing halves serving time. The whole building has been positioned so that the main approach views to the historic Foremarke Hall building remain uninterrupted, and at the same time the 4.5m high glazing allows panoramic views of the grounds and woods for the 180 diners looking out.

The building is topped by a floating extended roof canopy supported by tree-like steels, used to reflect the trees immediately outside the windows and further connecting the building to the landscape. As well as creating a relationship between the building and its natural environment, Foremarke was keen to make sure the new hall had its own identity but would also integrate with existing adjacent buildings, some of which date back to the 18th century.

The new dining hall is a complete replacement of previous dining and kitchen facilities which have been demolished. The new building has more dining space and it opens the kitchen to the main dining hall, so pupils can see how their food is being prepared and kitchen staff are aware of how meal times are progressing. Previously the kitchen and servery were in different buildings from the dining area.

Describing the building he has created, Architect Daniel Evans, of Matthew Montague Architects said: “The brief was complex, but I think we have designed a contemporary building that achieves the same quality and richness that we see in the adjacent hall and stunning surroundings. It continues the quality architecture at Foremarke.”

Mr Relton concluded: “We thank and congratulate everyone involved in the project and know everyone at Foremarke will enjoy using it.”