View from the Abbey | Thursday 22 January 2026

Thursday 22 January 2026

Welcome From... Mr Lawes

The start of 2026 has been busy and positive, with students settling quickly back into school life and making the most of the many opportunities on offer at Milton Abbey Despite an especially wet January in Dorset, pupils have shown outstanding resilience, approaching both lessons and activities with enthusiasm and determination

Sport has enjoyed a strong start to the term, thanks in no small part to the dedication of our ground staff On Saturday 17 January alone, over 100 pupils represented the school across eight teams, reflecting our inclusive sporting culture Since September, 95% of pupils have taken part in 120 fixtures across 12 sports, winning 50% of them Highlights include excellent wins for the First XI football team against Winchester College, Millfield and Champion Academy Netball continues to thrive under Miss Pull’s leadership, with participation and progress at an all time high Our First XI hockey team have progressed from the Dorset County Cup and now look ahead to the regional tournament at Millfield on 12th February And a special congratulations must go to our golf team, who reached the national quarterfinals of the Independent Schools Golf Competition

Life inside the classroom has been equally busy Pupils returned to a demanding first week of assessments, which they approached with real determination With the academic cycle now in full flow, students are beginning to lift their work rate in preparation for the summer exams, which will be upon us sooner than we think After half term, we move into a full week of mock examinations which is an important milestone in their journey Weekends have been full of energy too, with House Weekend proving a particular highlight Quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, and a range of other activities gave pupils the chance to challenge themselves and enjoy time together. We are also looking forward to the school production of Private Peaceful, always a highlight of the school year And our newly formed dance squad have qualified for the Origins Dance Showcase which is a major achievement and a wonderful opportunity for them to perform on a bigger stage.

With spring just around the corner and brighter days ahead, this is the perfect moment for pupils to focus on their studies while continuing to embrace everything Milton Abbey has to offer It promises to be an exciting and rewarding term

Mr Lawes | Director of Sport

In The Classroom

ASIANCUISINE

Lower Sixth Hospitality students have been following on from their European unit, and are now studying Asian cuisine

Students have been researching the historical influences, commodities and equipment relating to China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, India and Japan After Exeat, they will all have a trip to Wagamama’s in Dorchester to understand how a restaurant chain operates, look at menu planning, and of course get to taste the delicious food

CREATIVEFILMING

Third Form Creative Media students explored the school grounds, filming from a variety of angles as students kicked a football for their video project

Taking turns both behind and in front of the camera, they showcased their skills while collaborating creatively on a beautiful sunny morning.

CHEMISTRYCOMBUSTION

As part of their Chemistry lessons, Fifth Form students have been learning about combustion reactions and enjoyed a practical session using different types of fire extinguishers

The hands-on training, led by Deputy Head of Operations Mr Barrow, introduced students to the correct equipment for a range of fire scenarios It’s not every day you get to use a fire extinguisher in your Chemistry lesson!

Milton Abbey offers a unique programme called Movement for Learning This programme addresses the body - brain connection and supports students to be able to self-regulate as they navigate the ups and downs of teenage development and the demands of learning and life

We combine our knowledge of retained reflexes and physical literacy into a personalised functional movement programme to increase strength, balance, coordination, focus and concentration levels This leads to a better understanding of self, positively impacting performance in lessons, on the sports pitch and in everyday life

A-LEVELENGLISH

The A-Level Middle Sixth English class have been continuing to work on their Coursework document This task involves a close analysis of George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs Warren's Profession" with an intertextual link to another source A significant degree of critical thinking and analysis is encouraged and required Lessons at this level often take the form of tutorials and much discussion is had in class time, with Teacher of English, Mr Crane.

As part of our Friday afternoon Round Square activities, we were delighted to welcome Elly Harvey, who led a hands-on silversmithing course where students designed and created their own jewellery, gaining practical experience and learning how to safely use specialist equipment, including a blowtorch, to create their own, beautiful rings

AT R

The Art Department have been bustling with creativity across disciplines.

Leila P, Middle Sixth, has been exploring alternative printing methods in her A-Level Photography, experimenting with acetate to extend her outcomes Ottilie G, Third Form, is finishing her landscape painting, carefully refining colour and composition

Art Scholar Tom B, Fifth Form, has been supporting his Photography peers by modelling for a photoshoot, while Cato B, also in Fifth Form, has been reviewing her 35mm prints, analysing the effects of light leaks on atmosphere and tone

Ben R, Middle Sixth, made a fantastic owl during his pottery workshop

POTTERY CLUB

The Pottery Club has been exploring new skills, beginning with the pinch pot technique to build both practical ability and creative confidence

They then got hands-on creating relief and impressed tiles inspired by a sea theme It’s fantastic to see such creativity across the school from all year groups.

MILLINERY WORKSHOP

Fashion students in Fourth and Sixth Form enjoyed a personal tutorial from Mrs Morrison-Adams, a professional milliner with a prestigious client list who we are fortunate to have as a current parent

Mrs Morris-Adams helped students through the complex materials, techniques and processes used in creating beautiful hats Mrs Morris-Adams was very generous with her time and resources and the results that the students have developed are exceptional and fit for any event

SPORTING NEWS!

FOOTBALL

The First Team were aiming to extend their excellent form and secure a fourth consecutive victory After a strong opening to the match, they unfortunately found themselves 1–0 down from a corner just before half-time, completely against the run of play

The interval came at an ideal moment, with MrMitchell reinforcing the importance of patience and maintaining control The response in the second half was outstanding, as the boys came out firing and put Millfield under sustained pressure. Three well taken goals from Euan J, Middle Sixth, Sihle M, Middle Sixth, and Zach A, Lower Sixth, turned the game decisively in our favour.

Man of the Match: Kobi C, Lower Sixth

The First Team now look ahead to a busy run of fixtures after exeat, which includes two knockout matches across the remaining competitions: the County Cup semi final against Poole Grammar and the Society of Heads first round tie against Clifton College

NETBALL

Congratulations to our 1st VII Netball Team for their first away fixture of the Lent Term against Bishop Wordsworth. It was fantastic to see such high school spirits, especially since some of the students had never played netball before

Special shout out to some of our Lower School students who stepped up bravely and rose to the challenge to play with the niors against a friendly match against Winchester College

POLO

HOCKEY

The junior boys' hockey team played Forres Sandal Manor in excellent spirit with both sides giving it their all

Forres Sandal Manor scored first, within the first minute of the game Milton Abbey replied with two goals; from Ted W, Third Form and Freddie S, Fourth Form showing great character from the home side, with an equaliser coming from the visitors late in the second half. The final score of 2-2 captured an energetic and thoroughly well-balanced fixture between our two schools.

Milton Abbey School has a new Polo Team, and the first session of the Lent Term was a lot of fun The coaching at Druid's Polo is outstanding and students returned to school feeling both challenge and well supported The group has many beginners and by the end of the lesson all could successfully move the ball up the arena at walk and trot Students can often be seen out on hacks around the school and surrounding countryside as part of their sports choice

Pablo J, Lower Sixth, Zach J, Fifth Form and Rocco T, represented the school in the Area Final of the ISGA Nat Matchplay Tournament against Canford School, following victory over Downside before Christmas

Rocco showed great resilience against Canford’s stron battling back from three holes down to contest the match hole, though Canford took the first point Pablo was tw halfway through his match before difficult conditions and a s wind shifted momentum, while Zach also fought hard but w secure a point Although the 3–0 score line suggests otherwise, the match was closely contested and played in excellent spirit

The 1st XI Boys' Hockey team travelled to Leweston School Milton Abbey lost 1-3, with our singular goal coming from the stick of Charlie H, Middle Sixth Both sides certainly had plenty of chances and the game was exciting, end-to-end, and played in an excellent spirit

They then competed in the County Cup against Gillingham and Poole Grammar, where we drew with both teams Ben B, and Rory S, Lower Sixth, played superbly, earning players of the match The team have now progressed to the regionals round at Millfield in a couple of weeks time -

Student Commendations

Luke B-G, Fifth Form has been awarded Pupil of Praise in Photography in recognition of his marked improvement over recent weeks He has shown a far more focused and committed approach to his studies, demonstrating growing independence and maturity in his working practice. In particular, Luke has proactively sought feedback, acted thoughtfully on advice given, and taken clear ownership of developing his work

Alize E-K, Lower Sixth, demonstrates consistent high standards across all areas of her learning; her independence is exceptional What makes Alize a truly excellent geographer is her ability to critically assess sources of information to ensure her work is factually accurate Additionally, her ethical approach to her studies means she is able to sensitively interpret data, and her strong morals make her a supportive peer in the classroom

Alfie C | Learning Development

Alfie C, Fourth Form, always comes to his Learning Development sessions ready to work and makes the most of his lesson by looking over assignments and editing where needed He has really increased his reading fluency and is understanding more about himself as a leaner and what tools work best Great going Alfie!

ACTIV WEEKEND

HOUSEWEEKEND

The first weekend of Lent Term was all about reconnecting, welcoming everyone back, and helping our new students feel at home, and our Houses certainly delivered

Damer enjoyed a relaxed and restorative weekend, including a trip to Wagamama’s, a refreshing walk, a gym session, baking, pamper time, and a cosy movie night Tregonwell started the weekend in style with an impressive charcuterie board on Saturday, before heading to Gorcombe Activities Centre on Sunday for an action-packed day of foot golf, quad biking, and clay pigeon shooting Hughie’s set off on an exciting visit to Longleat Safari Park, enjoying the drive-through animal enclosures and the spectacular lights display Hambro spent the afternoon at West Quay Shopping Centre, while Athelstan joined friends at Tregonwell for activities and rounded off the day with a well-deserved Domino’s pizza. Athelstan also made their way to Gorcombe for some high-speed quad biking around a wet and muddy track, while others tested their aim with clay pigeon shooting

VITIES!

SIXTHFORMDISCO

Sixth Form students enjoyed a relaxed disco social in the State Rooms, complete with dancing, lighting and a great mix of music that everyone could enjoy Thank you to Ben B, Lower Sixth, and Oli W, Middle Sixth, who did a fantastic job as school DJs and kept the dance floor going by taking and playing music requests throughout the evening

LOWERSCHOOLSOCIAL

Our Third and Fourth Form students enjoyed a relaxed pizza takeaway and disco social at Tregonwell House.

With a hired DJ, colourful lights, inflatables and refreshments, the evening offered something for everyone Students let their hair down on the dance floor, caught up with friends, or challenged each other to a friendly game of table tennis in a lively and sociable atmosphere

Life in Boarding

Life in boarding is always a busy one, with our evening and weekend activities.

With the start of a new year comes new, exciting activities for our students to get involved with

The Lent Term brings Craft Club, 5-a-side football, Model United Nations, indoor hockey, as well as our much loved classics

Lower Sixth students have been enjoying their ‘Sixth Form privileges’ of being able to use the Tuck Shop to buy coffees and snacks at break and after the school day They have also been teaching each other some new card games.

It’s been fantastic to see everyone bonding between Houses, showing the true Milton Abbey School community, that we cherish so much.

Damer recently added new students to its House map, highlighting the home countries of each student and celebrating the many journeys that come together to form one close-knit family.

Mr Crane took some students on a walk to the local farm shop

Q &

W I T H M S M A R I N

Q Who are you, what do you teach and how long have you been here?

My name is Ms Marin I am the Resident Tutor in Hughie’s House, and I teach Spanish and Italian I’m a new addition to the Milton Abbey School community, having joined in September 2025.

Q Favourite memory of Milton Abbey?

Even though I’ve only been here a short time, life at Milton Abbey is full and lively, and I’ve already gathered many sweet moments Our baking sessions in Hughie’s stand out: cooking brings me so much joy, and doing it together makes it even better! In the classroom, a highlight has been my Third Form’s Spanish song performance They brought wonderful energy to the last lesson of the Michaelmas Term I’m very much looking forward to collecting many more memories

Q Best and worst subjects when you were at school?

I grew up in Italy and absolutely loved studying languages I took English, Spanish, and German, and dreamed of becoming fluent in all three Let’s just say my German fluency didn’t quite blossom as planned, but I loved studying German Literature My worst subject was definitely Maths Letters and words are my comfort zone numbers, slightly less so!

Q What book, play or film would you recommend on every student’s bucket list?

I highly recommend "If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller" by the Italian author Italo Calvino It’s not very well-known in this country, but it’s a wonderfully inventive novel A mind bending story and a novel about the pleasure of reading in a sort of 'meta' universe so ahead of its time!

Q What don’t we know about you?

I absolutely love travelling I’ve been to India twice, a country that holds a very special place in my heart My second trip was to attend the wedding of a very close friend, where I had the honour of being the groom ’ s “soul sister” It was a magical, unforgettable experience

Q What advice do you give to our students?

Be curious In the classroom and in life Always ask why, and never afraid to dig deeper And don’t worry if you feel you don’t “fit” a particular mould: be unapologetically yourself

Hughie’s Resident Tutor and Teacher of Spanish and Italian

News & Updates

INTHENEWS

Keep up to date on school news by visiting our news page on the website

We’re proud to see Mr Ratcliffe, Director of Digital Learning, featured in Independent Schools Magazine for our fantastic Digital Leaders Programme

For over five years, we have proudly run a thriving Digital Leaders programme, offering our students unique opportunities to develop leadership skills while promoting online safety within the school community This initiative, based on a framework developed by the charity Childnet International, empowers young people to educate their peers about the digital world, a space that is as exciting as it is challenging

To read the full article in the Independent School’s Magazine, please scan the QR code here:

EQUESTRIANARENA

We are delighted with the progress made over the last week towards the construction of the school's new equestrian arena. This fantastic new facility will be an asset to the equine department, allowing lessons to continue throughout the year regardless of weather or ground conditions The fibre and sand surface will provide a high-quality, springy footing ideal for both jumping and dressage We very much look forward to seeing our riders making the most of their lessons in this new facility and we ' re also sure that their horses will enjoy exercising in the arena.

FOOTBALLANDSPORTSSCHOLARSHIPS

Children aged 12 to 16 are invited to trial for our Football Programme and Sports Scholarship Assessment day on Saturday 7 February, which is delivered in conjunction with Champion Football Academy Sport scholars are selected for exceptional skill, leadership and commitment in their chosen sport All scholars must contribute to the wider life of the school and are chosen because we believe they will benefit from our unique ethos

We’re looking for standout young players with skill, leadership and commitment, future sport scholars who’ll thrive in our school community and embrace our unique ethos

Where will our Elite Football Programme take you?

This year alone, a record six Milton Abbey boys were selected for ISFA U17 trials, proving the depth of talent our programme develops Four of our younger players earned North Dorset Schools U15s trial places, with two already securing squad positions and all four debuting for our U18s Children who do not live in the UK can be considered via online interview and video showcase if they contact us before the Assessment Day.

For more information and to register your interest, please see here our website, or scan the QR code here:

School Community

As

a small by choice school, we take time to make sure that every student is known, noticed and nurtured.

Following their busy and successful last term, the Gardening Club has continued to make a real difference to the school grounds, planting bulbs and preparing the soil for spring.

In particular, their activities have been focused on the area behind the Photography classroom

Since September, the ‘New Barn Theatre Company’ have been worshipping and in rehearsal for our next production, ‘Private Peaceful’ by Simon Reade The cast and crew have put in exceptional work to interpret the text, uncover its emotional depth, and bring its shifting perspectives vividly to life

Through rehearsal and experimentation, the company has embraced the challenge of imagining the play’s world with clarity and sensitivity, allowing the story to resonate powerfully. The unconventional staging has presented logistical and creative hurdles, but these have been met with ingenuity and creativity which, we hope, will result in an immersive and moving experience for you, our audience.

We are thrilled to be welcoming you back to the theatre on 5 and 6 March to share this work with you.

Since launching dance as part of our sport and co-curricular programme, it’s been wonderful to see student’s confidence and routine improve as they get familiar with performances We have regular sessions from professional coaches at Pavilion Dance South West. Dancing

DATES F YOUR

The Milton Abbey Story

diary

Mr Ratcliffe’s book is available to purchase on Amazon, the only illustrated book that tells the story of Milton Abbey, blending history with a light touch suitable for younger readers from age seven through to the history curious adult. Written and illustrated by James Ratcliffe, a teacher at Milton Abbey School, this book promises an engaging journey through history.

Saturday 31 January

Saturday 7 February

Thursday 12 February

Friday 13 February

Monday 16 February

Saturday 28 February

| Sixth Form Experience Day

| Football Trials and Sports Scholarships Assessment Day

| Fifth Form Parents’ Dinner

| Fifth Form Parent Consultations and Half Term from 12:30

| Dubai Drinks with Headmaster

Keep up to date with school news by following our social media channels

| Open Morning 10:00am www.miltonabbey.co.uk