We were delighted to welcome four pupils from Beijing and Shanghai to Cundall as part of a two-week immersion programme in partnership with Global Alliance.

During their time with us, the pupils embraced every aspect of school life. Supported by their Cundall buddies, they quickly settled in and became part of the community from day one, participating fully in lessons and experiencing the rhythm of daily school life.

Beyond the classroom, our visitors enjoyed exploring some of the UK’s most iconic destinations, including Manchester, York and the Harry Potter Studios, as well as visits to both Cambridge and Oxford before returning home.

Boarding life was equally full, with a varied evening programme that included The Traitors, a trip to see We Will Rock You in Northallerton — featuring Cundall pupils in the cast — pizza making, a challenge evening, movie nights, craft sessions and games night. They also joined us for our Winter Concert, experiencing another important part of school life.

It was a pleasure to share the Cundall experience with them and to celebrate Chinese New Year together across all year groups. We wish them safe travels as they return home with many happy memories of their time here.

Cundall U14 Girls delivered an outstanding performance at the Area Round of the National Indoor Schools Cricket Competition, winning all of their matches to secure qualification for the County Round. The team then went on to finish an incredible third overall — a remarkable achievement, particularly as they were playing against teams from older age groups.

With most of the squad eligible to compete again next year, the future looks incredibly promising, and they will no doubt return stronger.

The U13 team also impressed, winning two of their three matches and narrowly losing the third. Their strong performances ensured they too progressed to the next stage of the competition.

Special congratulations go to Esme and Sophie, who stepped up to compete a year above their age group. Representing the U13 side as U12 players, they demonstrated great confidence, maturity and skill throughout.

Cundall U14 Girls delivered an outstanding performance at the Area Round of the National Indoor Schools Cricket Competition, winning all of their matches to secure qualification for the County Round. The team then went on to finish an incredible third overall — a remarkable achievement, particularly as they were playing against teams from older age groups.

With most of the squad eligible to compete again next year, the future looks incredibly promising, and they will no doubt return stronger.

The U13 team also impressed, winning two of their three matches and narrowly losing the third. Their strong performances ensured they too progressed to the next stage of the competition.

Special congratulations go to Esme and Sophie, who stepped up to compete a year above their age group. Representing the U13 side as U12 players, they demonstrated great confidence, maturity and skill throughout.

Esme has been reunited with her ceramic sculpture after achieving national recognition by winning First Prize at the ISA National Art Finals last term. Alongside Esme, four other pupils were highly commended at the National Finals, highlighting the breadth and quality of artistic talent within the school.

Esme’s autobiographical three-dimensional ceramic piece was constructed using a traditional coiling technique with white earthenware. The surface was enhanced with a blowing-bubble underglaze effect before being decorated with Sharpie pen illustrations, inspired by the work of Grayson Perry, to express her passion for sport. The award places Esme among the most accomplished young artists in the country, and we are very proud of her achievement.

Creativity lies at the heart of our holistic education, and the Art Department continues to provide a dynamic environment in which students are encouraged to explore ideas, develop technical skills, and bring ambitious creative projects to life.

Congratulations to our U11 Boys’ Hockey team who proudly represented Cundall Manor at the ISA U11 National Hockey Tournament, held at the magnificent Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London’s Olympic Park.

Competing against leading schools from across the country, the boys demonstrated determination, teamwork and impressive developing skill across a full day of competitive matches. Playing at such a prestigious venue — home to national and international fixtures — was a fantastic experience and a real highlight of the season.

The squad showed tremendous spirit in every game, building confidence and resilience as they tested themselves at a high level. Finishing as silver medallists, just behind last year’s winners Copthill, is a superb achievement.

We are incredibly proud of their performance and the way they represented the school.

Over the New Year break, Cundall pupils travelled to Serre Chevalier (2,830m) in the French Alps for the annual school ski trip.

With clear blue skies throughout the week, conditions on the slopes were excellent. Pupils took on a range of ski challenges, developing their technique on the pistes and testing themselves in ski parks featuring jumps and obstacles that pushed both balance and confidence.

Afternoons and evenings were filled with a busy programme of après-ski activities, giving everyone the chance to unwind after a full day on the mountain.

Throughout the trip, pupils showed resilience during the more demanding moments and consistently looked out for one another. Hotel staff described them as “one of the most polite groups” they could remember — a proud reflection of Cundall.

Many thanks to Mrs Reece for organising the trip, with support from Mr Reece and the Weales. It was encouraging to see pupils working together, supporting their peers and making the most of the opportunity.

Well done to all involved.

Congratulations to Max and James, who have both been awarded scholarships to Shrewsbury School for Sixth Form. Following a rigorous series of physical assessments, Max achieved the Headmaster’s Award for Rowing, recognising his exceptional commitment and performance. James was awarded an Academic Scholarship, reflecting his outstanding academic achievement.

Huge congratulations to both pupils on these well-deserved successes.

Cundall Manor is delighted to celebrate Minnie’s selection for the Junior World Cup with the U21 Women’s Hockey Team.

Minnie joined Cundall in Year 5 already playing club hockey for Thirsk Hockey Club, and it didn’t take long for her passion for the sport to flourish during Games at school. She soon began representing Cundall across multiple disciplines — swimming at the ISA Finals at the Olympic Pool, and competing in (and winning) both the Loretto Hockey Tournament and the ISA Hockey National Championships twice in succession in 2015 and 2016, finishing with a clean sheet across all six games.

She went on to reach the National Finals at Loughborough, where her team narrowly missed out on victory after a tense penalty shootout. In her final year at Cundall, Minnie and her teammates secured second place in the National U16 Finals — an outstanding achievement made even more impressive as they were an U15 side. Although her school hockey career was cut short by the pandemic, Minnie had already made a lasting impact.

During her time at Cundall, Minnie’s talent and determination propelled her rapidly through the England Hockey performance pathway. Alongside her club hockey for Thirsk, she earned selection for the County team, the Talent Academy, and ultimately the England U13 Lions and England U16 National Age Group Squads — all by the age of just 14. Her journey has since been echoed by current Cundall pupil Alistair Broadwith, now part of the England U16 set-up, along with two other pupils, Imogen and Molly, who are currently playing in the Sheffield Talent Academy squad.

After completing her A Levels at Repton School, Minnie continued her hockey journey across the Atlantic, joining the University of Virginia and representing the Virginia Cavaliers Field Hockey Team. She has since returned to the UK, studying International Media and Communications at the University of Nottingham while continuing to compete at an elite level.

Now, as Minnie prepares to take to the world stage in Chile for the Junior World Cup, the entire Cundall community celebrates her remarkable journey. Her dedication, resilience and passion for sport continue to inspire the next generation of Cundall pupils to follow their dreams — both on and off the field.

We look forward to welcoming her back to hear all about her World Cup experience, and we wish her every success as she proudly represents her country.