There is a wealth of opportunities for students to get involved in our busy Drama Department outside of the classroom.
We produce three school plays every year: the Senior Play (Years 11-13); the Year 9 & 10 play; and the School House play (Years 7 & 8). Every other year, one of these will be a musical. Open auditions are held for all productions and we try to accommodate as large a cast as possible. In addition to the on-stage cast, we have a student crew for each production allowing students to hone their technical theatre skills under the guidance of our Theatre Manager and Wardrobe Mistress. The plays are directed by members of the Drama Department and rehearsals take place during Activity time and lunch hours. These productions attract enthusiastic sell-out audiences rewarding the students’ hard work with rapturous applause!
In addition to the performances, we run various clubs during after-school Activities including Theatre Technology, props and costume making and School House Drama club.
A large number of students take extra-curricular Speech & Drama lessons and we have enjoyed a huge amount of success with the exams that the students take. We have a 100% pass rate and over 95% of students are awarded Distinctions. The higher grades carry UCAS points are a valuable addition to students' Personal Statements and CVs.
We ensure that students have access to the work of theatre industry professionals either through regular visits to watch live theatre or by inviting professional practitioners in to the school to run workshops. Any student interested in pursuing an acting profession or joining the National Youth Theatre will be given coaching to prepare for audition by experienced Drama Department staff. We also maintain contacts with national casting agencies who have visited the school to hold auditions for TV and film work.
On Thursday the 23rd of January, we were delighted to welcome the internationally acclaimed composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange to Blundell’s for an afternoon of workshops with the Senior and Prep School choirs. This year’s Spring Concert, The Seasons, includes the world premiere of A Season to Sing, a piece co-commissioned by Blundell’s.
We are delighted to share that Blundell's School has been ranked 244th in The Times' Parent Power list, a prestigious ranking based on GCSE and A-Level results.
Our position reflects the strong academic achievements of our pupils, particularly given the highly selective nature of many of the schools ranked alongside us.
The Department for Education has released its rankings for A Level progress following the final ratification of summer 2024 examination results.
We are delighted to announce that Blundell’s has secured 2nd place in Devon, narrowly being pipped to top spot by Exeter Maths School.
Blundell’s is proud to be among the top 5% of schools nationwide, earning the highest rating of “Well above average” from the Department for Education. These rankings are based on a comparison of A Level results, measuring students’ progress against peers across England who began with similar GCSE outcomes at the end of Year 11.
Chris Filbey, the new Second Master to take over from Matt Radley in September 2025. Chris is currently an Assistant Head at Epsom College where he was previously a Housemaster. Before that he was Head of Modern Languages at Haileybury. I look forward to working with Chris and we will introduce him to the wider Blundell’s community in due course.
Head Coach Kenny Murray has named a 34-player Scotland U20 squad to compete in the 2025 U20 Six Nations.
The group consists of 19 forwards and 15 backs, and will get their championship underway at home to Italy U20 on Friday 31 January at Hive Stadium.
Johnny Ventisei will captain the squad, having led the side against Wales U20 in a friendly in December.
Freddy Douglas, who won a first Scotland senior cap against Portugal in November last year, is selected as he nears a return from injury.
Blundell’s is thrilled to announce our investment in The Wellbeing Hub by Teen Tips, a comprehensive resource dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our Senior School community. With expert-led, evidence-based tools, The Wellbeing Hub will empower pupils, parents, and staff with guidance and resources to support students’ social, emotional, and educational needs. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
During this Autumn Term, our Drama Scholars delivered an impressive Autumn Showcase featuring their examination pieces. The performances spanned Restoration Comedy, Comedy of Manners, Musical Theatre, contemporary works, and original material.
The evening highlighted the scholars’ talent, creativity, and dedication, showcasing the high standard of drama at Blundell’s. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing their continued growth.
House Music was a highlight of the term, with standout performances from Reuben (Old House) winning the Solo Performance Trophy and Nico (Westlake) earning Best Individual Contribution. North Close won the Ensemble Trophy, and Old House claimed both the House Song and overall titles. Pupils were praised for their energy and effort throughout the event.
An incredible experience for our pupils to sing in one of the world’s most famous churches