Welcome to our weekly update, where we celebrate the breadth of school life at Westonbirt. Each edition offers a snapshot of the learning, achievements and wider opportunities that define our community. We hope you enjoy reading this week’s highlights.
This week, as part of Science Week, Year 7 students put their problem-solving skills to the test with a hands-on Rube Goldberg machine challenge! Inspired by the whimsical cartoons of Rube Goldberg, pupils worked in groups to design and build machines that could pass a ball into a container through a chain of cause-and-effect reactions.
Using everyday items such as dominoes, marbles, ramps, toy cars, and string, each group carefully planned their sequence, working backward from their goal to create clever – and often delightfully complicated – solutions. Every design was unique, showcasing creativity, collaboration, and logical thinking – a brilliant example of science in action!
To celebrate Science Week, we are shining a spotlight on one of our co-curricular clubs: Physics of Music. This club explores two passions, a love of music and a curiosity about the science behind the sounds instruments make.
This week the club explored a Ruben’s tube experiment, where sound waves are visualised as standing waves of real fire. As music plays into the tube, the flames dance and rise in patterns that precisely mirror the sound’s frequency, making the invisible visible.
The experiment is a wonderful reminder that physics is not confined to textbooks. Watching flames pulse and peak in perfect time with a musical note is one of those rare moments where science truly takes your breath away. If your child has ever wondered why a violin sounds different to a flute, or how a speaker actually moves air, Physics of Music is the perfect place to discover the answers.
This week we launched into Science Week, with our Science Department curating a special programme of activities to celebrate the wonders of science. Pupils enjoyed a wide range of hands-on experiences across Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Agriculture, including spending time with newly hatched chicks, investigating explosive metals and exploring harmony experiments. They also attended industry lectures in Agriculture and a neuroscience talk delivered by alumna Angelina Ayche.
Chemistry took on a forensic twist, with pupils examining blood splatter patterns to evaluate which weapon may have been used. They also explored crystal gardens and precipitation, creating crystals from individual salts. Linking chemistry to real-world forensic science, pupils learned how substances found at a crime scene, such as powders, can be identified using techniques like flame testing, where different salts produce distinctive colours when heated.
It was wonderful to witness the teamwork, problem-solving and creativity our pupils displayed throughout this exciting week of discovery.
Forget Heaven is a Place on Earth. On Friday night, Westonbirt was the place on earth! The Great Hall was transformed into a vibrant 80s party for a spectacular Night of 80s renditions. Neon lights set the scene as guests arrived sporting legwarmers, perms and shoulder pads.
The evening opened with the school choir delivering performances full of energy and joy. Their rendition of Livin’ on a Prayer had the audience clapping along from the very first note, followed by a spirited Eye of the Tiger and a heartfelt Time After Time that brought a quieter magic to the room. The band then kept spirits high with a set of unforgettable hits from classic 80s movies, sending waves of nostalgia through the hall. A highlight for many was an exciting tribute to Michael Jackson, celebrating the legendary King of Pop.
Later in the evening, the Westonbirt Community Choir took to the stage with classics by Cher and the Eurythmics. It was a night full of music and colour, a joyful celebration of the sounds and style that defined a decade.
Performing Arts pupils have had a busy and successful week at the Mid-Somerset Festival! Our Westonbirt pupils are achieving fantastic results, winning medals and trophies across a variety of categories, particularly in Shakespeare, where we have winners in every year group.
Congratulations to the latest pupils who have placed first:
• Isabelle H – Sight Reading
• Natalie L – Public Speaking
• Lulu S – Shakespeare
A full list of successes will be announced next week. Well done to all pupils involved!
This week we were thrilled to welcome the IAPS Kenya Netball Tour 2026 to Westonbirt!
During their visit, the pupils experienced life in our boarding houses, enjoying cosy evenings watching Seven Dials (which featured Westonbirt House) and swimming sessions at our Leisure Centre. They spent their days on the netball courts training and playing matches alongside our Westonbirt staff, and even found time to visit Bath to enjoy the sights of the city.
It was a real pleasure hosting the group, and we wish them every success for the rest of their tour!
Last weekend, Westonbirt teams made their way to the National Schools Lacrosse Championships. Head of Lacrosse, Mr Wilson, reflects on the tournament:
“It was a proud moment for the school to have our Senior 1st, U15 and U13 squads all competing at the National Schools Lacrosse Championships last weekend. Across the four days, the girls brought fantastic energy and represented the school with grit, determination and outstanding sportsmanship. Both our Senior 1st and U13 squads finished in the Championship Division, placing them amongst the top 16 schools in the country, whilst our U15 team secured an excellent silver medal in Division 1, narrowly missing out in a thrilling golden-goal-overtime.
I was incredibly proud to see the hard work the girls have put in throughout the year culminate in such a fantastic experience. I would also like to extend my thanks to Mr Sestaret, Miss Sherwood & Miss Muccilli for their invaluable support and help across the tournament, and to the parents for their tremendous support from the sidelines.”
It’s been another action-packed week in sport at Westonbirt, with fixtures across a range of teams. You can view the full set of fixtures and results here.
What a week for our boarders! Pupils enjoyed a magical trip to Harry Potter World, spotting the Hogwarts Express, Gringotts Bank and sampling their first butterbeer (reviews to be confirmed).
Back at school, there have been Beaufort board game and hot dog nights, as well as activity sessions at the Leisure Centre, where pupils tried their hand at zorbing. Padel sessions, intense chess matches, and Easter crafts and Mother’s Day cards have also been on the agenda.
We’re looking forward to another weekend full of activities!
We always love to hear about achievements and moments of teamwork or collaboration. If you would like to share something, please email marketing@westonbirtschool.uk.
