20th October 2021 — As world leaders prepare to gather in Glasgow for the 26th United Nations Annual Climate Change Conference, last week Moreton Hall pupils played their part in tackling a global priority, climate change, the greatest risk facing both theirs and future generations. With COP26 already topping the news agenda, over 200 Moreton Hall pupils across Year 9 to Year 13 came together to put forward their views to avert the crisis and to secure a brighter future.

Moreton Hall’s COP26 Climate Change conference commenced with a presentation from Old Moretonian Flavia Paterson, who worked as a political Lobbyist for the Woodland Trust SSE and spent 3 years as Director of Communications covering Scotland in the Government. Flavia will be in Glasgow for COP 26 and was able to share her unique insights. Flavia was joined by Smart Energy expert Rupert Pigot and together they set the COP26 agenda for our pupil delegates and issued the challenge to the younger generation to take the lead in saving the planet.

Taking up Flavia’s challenge, each year group focused on a specific issue on the table at the Glasgow conference. Following the UN model, they divided into member countries including the UK, the USA, Brazil, Russia, Bangladesh and China to consider their issue from the perspective of that country. Renewable energy, deforestation, sustainable transport and waste reduction were all researched and discussed as the student delegates developed their understanding from the perspective of their country. In the lively debates which followed, the vested interests of their country were paramount in trying to find a compromise on the resolutions on the table: input from representatives lobbying from business and NGOs added fuel to the discussions.

Moreton’s COP 26 live blog created by the student press team; Holly, Nell, Kate, Hedy, Sophie and Florence ensured the wider school community was kept up to date with developments, with their live feed shared on social media outlets; twitter and facebook, using the written word, video and audio.

Year 11 pupil Holly commented: ”It was really interesting to find out the views of different countries. Here in the UK we have our own opinions but we don’t always think about how those views differ or affect other countries.”

Nell added: “It’s important to understand different countries’ opinions and why they hold them. That will help us understand why agreement at COP 26 is such a challenge”

Reflecting on the day, Hannah Peel, head of the school’s Eco Team and one of the staff behind the day commented: “This was a great day. I was with year 10 who were debating commitments to increase renewables and reduce fossil fuels. After an amendment to reduce the target was rejected by a narrow margin, the motion of committing to 75% renewables by 2040 with the added clause that HICs would commit a percentage of GDP to help LICs develop new technologies to achieve this was passed. We had some strong debates from China and Kenya, with excellent contributions from India, Brazil and Bangladesh in particular. Everyone worked hard and hopefully was able to see this important climate issue from the perspective of other countries. We all hope that the real COP26 is pursued with the same enthusiasm and commitment to Global change!"

15th October 2021 — This summer, Moreton Hall’s Sixth Form student Ellie Jones proved her status as one of the nation’s most formidable Enduro mountain bike racers. Ellie secured her place amongst the very best female mountain bikers in the country by placing 1st at the Ard Rock Enduro and 4th in the National Championships, among other impressive wins. At 17, she is competing against women in the under 30 category.

Ellie came late to the sport at the age of 12, inspired by her father who is an avid mountain biker. She was immediately hooked and shortly after her father surprised her with her first bike. After trying downhill and some cross country, Ellie settled on Enduro which combines the technical and endurance elements of both. Enduro racers bike uphill and then go extremely fast down hand-cut, off-piste trails. “It’s the less lazy version of downhill,” Ellie succinctly summarised. Many races have six stages, but the National Championships had thirteen stages over two days. While it can take an hour to get up the hill, the downhill portion can be as fast as two to six minutes.

The trails used in competitions are enough to make a hiker with two feet firmly planted on the ground nervous: steep, full of ruts, rocks, roots and precarious drops, made even trickier when wet or too dry. Ellie and her competitors hurl themselves down the trail to get the fastest speed. Like downhill skiing, their differences can be measured in fractions of a second. “It is so fun,” said Ellie. “Racing is an escape from everything else.”

The sport can be as dangerous as it sounds. Ellie says it’s not a question of if a racer will crash, but when and how often. She goes through phases when she crashes more often, and phases when she doesn’t crash for a good while. “You get up, get back on your bike and off you go,” she explained. After one particularly bad fall when she and her bike flew separately through the air and landed with a brutal thud, the peak of her helmet broke off, her helmet was dented and she thought she had broken her shoulder. After a few minutes, she was back on her bike, in pain, but with no broken bones. “If it’s not broken, you get back on your bike,” she said.

The mental aspect of the race and her competitors, not broken bones, are what makes Ellie nervous pre-race. “Staying on the bike is very difficult,” she explained. “Keeping on your line and not getting distracted by the other racers is hard.” Following her father’s advice, she has learned to not worry about what the others are doing, but instead to race the clock and focus on her own performance. Clearly, it is working well for her.

The UK has a strong race scene and is very competitive internationally, producing many of the world's top mountain bikers. Ellie has seen a huge growth in the sport in the five years since she started racing. Both the number of female racers and the level of performance have improved dramatically. “The level of competition is insane,” she said. “The level of riding is getting better and better.”

Ellie followed a very successful season before COVID with this summer of wins. She plans to continue to push herself to see where the sport will take her: more National Championships, or perhaps qualifying for the World Enduro, for starters. Ellie still has another month to rack up wins in this season, which ends in October. At the end of the school year, she faces A Levels, university choices, and a new season of Enduro.

The biggest riding challenge for Ellie, which also applies to life in general: “Knowing what you can and can’t do. How to push yourself, but also knowing your boundaries.”

15th October 2021 — For our Upper Five pupils, and external families considering Moreton Hall for their A Level programme, Moreton Sixth Form Information Evening was a one stop shop experience, introducing pupils and their families to Moreton’s bespoke Sixth Form programme. With the Halsall-Williams Library playing host to the A Level subjects and activities fair, there were a wealth of opportunities to talk to teaching staff and current students about A Level choices, as well as activities such as Spoken English, CCF, MUN and the many Sixth Form societies.

In the Introduction to Moreton Sixth briefing, parents and pupils, both in The Holroyd Community Theatre and joining us on the live stream, heard from staff and students about the step up to Sixth Form and about the exceptional academic, co-curricular and pastoral provision highlighted by the school’s position as Tes Boarding School of the Year. According to Moreton Sixth Registrar, Caroline Lang, the evening marks the first step in a year-long programme of preparation for Sixth Form life. Reflecting on this first event with the Class of 2022-24 she commented: “Each year, Moreton Sixth is shaped by the students, some who will have been with us since Moreton Prep, others who will join next September. This always feels a very special moment as a new cohort begins to come together to experience our unique brand of ambitious, joyous and nurturing Sixth Form life”.

An Upper Five parent added: The Sixth Form Information Evening was an invaluable insight into the transition from Upper Five into Sixth Form. It really highlighted not only the amazing breadth and flexibility of academic subjects and extracurricular options that are available to students, but also the level of care and attention that each and every staff member gives to all pupils to ensure that their Moreton Sixth experience is successful in every way, both academically and pastorally. It was a timely reminder of how lucky pupils are at Moreton to have such highly-specialised and caring teachers to guide them through such an important time in their lives. As a parent it really puts your mind at rest to know that your child is in such safe hands!

For current Upper Five pupil, Evie “being able to visit any stand I wanted was very useful because it opened my mind to subjects that I had never thought about before like Classic Civilization and Psychology”. Reflecting on the event, Principal George Budd said: “This evening is part of our four-year journey through the GCSE and A-level years. It provides our pupils with the opportunity to look beyond the intensity of the GCSE years towards the green pastures of Sixth Form study, with increased freedom and independence and where they have selected those subjects they enjoy and are successful in, and which keep doors firmly open for their futures. Moreton Hall’s Sixth Form provides an inspiring environment that ensures every Moretonian leaves able to tackle challenges head-on and with the resilience to stand on their own two feet”.

To register for our Scholarship and Admissions Day please visit

www.moretonhall.org/admissions-scholarships-day-booking

Welcome (part 1):

https://facebook.com/moretonhall/videos/605996267422507/

Welcome (part 2):

https://facebook.com/moretonhall/videos/4393736240679964/

25th May 2021 — Senior school pupils at Moreton Hall were thrilled to hear that they had been selected to perform alongside the critically acclaimed Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra this summer.

Pupils were welcomed into the school’s amphitheatre, the venue for the event, ‘A Night at the Musicals’ to receive news following their recent auditions.

Andrew Hopkins, West End musical director and conductor of the Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra had the difficult task of selecting the successful audition candidates.

Speaking after making his selection, Andrew said: "The standard of the auditions was simply brilliant. Pupils performed some challenging material and told a story through their use of voice and superb acting skill.

"I was so impressed with the nine performances that I had to adjust the programme to ensure that each auditionee had a moment to shine.

"There was an air of confidence in each of the performers that made me feel excited to work with them."

The nine pupils will join a cast of West End professionals in singing hits from the musicals.

The pupils will also be joined by the school’s Show Choir, who will perform the vocal ensemble, in a unique socially distanced way.

Teacher of Drama, Mr Jenkins said: "Announcing the casting in the amphitheatre was a fitting way to celebrate the pupils' success.

"The sun was beaming through, highlighting the momentous amount of work that has gone into making the place look spectacular.

"A Night at the Musicals is going to be one of those truly Moreton performances that we look forward to, and later back on, with huge fondness."

4th May 2021 — Moreton Hall has been awarded Boarding School of the Year by the prestigious Tes Independent School Awards 2021. It proved to be an excellent day for the school with Mrs Sylvia Grace, former Head of Moreton Prep and current teacher and Housemistress, also awarded the Tes Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant contributions to education and teaching excellence. The awards were announced on Friday night, 30th April.

After a tumultuous school year, Moreton Hall was chosen from more than 400 entries across the country as an exemplary example of traditional boarding school excellence for its breadth and depth of activities and dedication to its pupils and local community.

The Tes judges said: “Moreton Hall wowed judges with its commitment to its students and the wider community, exemplifying the best of the boarding sector and managing the difficulties of the pandemic with aplomb.”

Josh Dixey, Chair of the Board of Governors, Moreton Hall, said: "I thank the Tes judges for recognizing what we who know Moreton Hall well witness every day. Moreton Hall is a joy-filled school led by the creativity, expertise and unwavering commitment of its staff. The school community was undeterred by the challenges presented during the past year, finding creative solutions while exhibiting their resilience and kindness. I salute Mr Budd and his staff and the pupils of Moreton for their many accomplishments and this well-deserved award."

George Budd, Principal, Moreton Hall, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with this award, especially after such a year of upheaval and uncertainty. It’s all down to the staff - they have been truly amazing.

We are often told that we have a ‘start-up’ company ethos here at Moreton, where there is constant innovation. We simply try to enable pupils to have a willingness to try new things and it is wonderful that this has been recognised with this award”.

In the past year, despite the pandemic and national lockdowns, Moreton Hall continued its standard of excellence and to innovate on behalf of its pupils.

The year began with the opening of a school farm that provides hands-on learning, quiet sanctuary and comic relief with free range chickens exploring classrooms and emailing about their adventures.

Student-led Moreton Enterprises, a cornerstone of the school’s entrepreneurial education, opened an online tuck and created and manage Courtyard Cafe, which opened this week. Moreton Enterprises also hosted a business conference which included workshops and talks from professionals for both our pupils and invited local students.

When exams were abruptly cancelled before Easter Break last year, House and Academic staff created an entirely bespoke six week programme of activities to keep Years 11 and 13 productively engaged during the Summer Term, folding in life and wellbeing skills, A level taster sessions and enlisting Old Moretorians to discuss careers and university life.

Moreton’s academic societies moved online offering masterclasses by leading professionals in the arts, science and music, as did its weekly drama school, Face2Face, and the North Shropshire Orchestra, with more than 90 local pupils participating free of charge.

When the new community theatre on the school’s grounds was forced to shut, Moreton championed the local arts community by providing a virtual weekly venue for performers and their audiences. Over 14 weeks, Moreton gathered local talent and streamed 25 hours of poetry, music, drama and dance performances for anyone to watch safely from home. Compilation DVDs were provided to local nursing homes.

Topping it off, Moreton ranked in the top 35 independent schools for sport. The school also enhanced its strong sports offering by opening the ACE Sports Performance Hub, which allows it to provide the community for sport what it already offers across the performing arts.

The school also redeveloped our nine-hole golf course, opened the Halsall-Williams Library, created an archives room to display our heritage and an event, Floreat Moretonia, to celebrate it. We appointed a Head of Adventure Education to extend our outdoor activities, with kayaking lessons on the canal that runs along its 100 acres of parkland, with paddle boarding and rock climbing to follow.

Lead TES judge Gwen Byrom said: “Not only did Moreton commit to providing an outstanding experience to its students, through a range of well-planned initiatives, but its commitment to supporting the wider community in the most challenging of years should be congratulated.”

At the heart of these efforts are Moretonians, who have pivoted, innovated and not only weathered the past year with grace, but flourished.

George Budd, Principal, Moreton Hall, said: "Moretonians, like children across the globe, have been tested as a pandemic reached into their homes and classrooms. While others worry over what has been lost in education over the past year, I see an incredibly bright future with resilient, passionate and kind young leaders ready to make a positive impact. This award is for them."

Moreton Hall is one of the UK’s leading independent boarding and day schools and Tes Boarding School of the Year 2021. Located in beautiful north Shropshire, Moreton educates girls from 3-18 and boys from 3-13 in a high-achieving and nurturing, family environment.

4th May 2021 — Moreton Hall is proud to announce that Mrs Sylvia Grace has been awarded with the prestigious Tes Lifetime Achievement Award for her significant contributions to education and teaching excellence. The awards were announced in a virtual ceremony on Friday, which proved to be an exceptional day for Moreton Hall, as the school was also named Tes Boarding School of the Year 2021.

Mrs Grace has a remarkable career in education that spans nearly seven decades. In addition to being an inspiring, caring and dedicated teacher, Mrs Grace served as Head of Moreton Prep, as well as Deputy Head at several schools. Mrs Grace also founded the Arden School in North Wales and grew it into a thriving, academically rigorous and nurturing, close-knit community.

“Sylvia’s lifetime of achievement in education truly is extraordinary,” said George Budd, Principal at Moreton Hall. “She exemplifies teaching excellence by setting a high standard and enabling everyone to reach it. She is revered by generations of pupils, parents and staff and is the champion of every young person in her care. This award is richly deserved.”

Mrs Grace has tried to retire at least four times, but was lured back to continue her distinguished career. Most recently, she served as Acting Head of Moreton Prep, stepping down from the role in April with the appointment of John Bond. Through one of education’s most turbulent periods she has been at school seven days a week, determined that the children of key workers receive the very best education. Undaunted that her age places her in a high-risk category, she insisted on working all the overnight duties herself at 82 years of age. Mrs Grace still has not retired. Since winning the award, Sylvia continues to teach and has moved to become Acting Housemistress.

“In her incredible career, Sylvia has had the ability to discover a talent in every child she has taught,” said Carolyn Tilley, Vice Principal at Moreton Hall. “Her patience and kindness to both pupils and staff is something that we can all learn from and aspire to.”

The award was presented during the Tes Independent School Awards, which were held online for the second year due to the pandemic. The honour was a surprise to Mrs Grace, who learned of her award as she gathered with colleagues to celebrate Moreton Hall being shortlisted as Boarding School of the Year and for the Creativity Award.

“It is unbelievable,” said Mrs Grace, Tes Lifetime Achievement 2021 recipient of her honour. Asked why she keeps teaching, she said, “I enjoy being with the children.” And her secret to success? “A lot of it is just common sense.” she humbly replied.

Testimonials from former pupils and parents of Mrs Grace speak of her impact on their lives and her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to help children, including driving them to school, tutoring them out of hours, and making breakfast.

“Sylvia Grace is without question the most wonderful, understanding, kind, generous-hearted and downright excellent teacher I’ve ever come across,” said Sherri Bankes, parent of four of Mrs Grace’s former pupils.

“My friend was going through a teenage phase and refusing to get out of bed to revise, so his parents called Mrs Grace,” said Aeneas Dennison, former Moreton Prep pupil. “She got him up, made him breakfast and got him working! That’s what she is - a warm, brilliant and inspiring teacher.”

Moreton Hall is one of the UK’s leading independent boarding and day schools and Tes Boarding School of the Year 2021. Located in beautiful north Shropshire, Moreton educates girls from 3-18 and boys from 3-13 in a high-achieving and nurturing, family environment.