Some of Falmouth School’s keenest basketball players travelled to Plymouth on the final day of last term, to watch the Plymouth Raiders.

The Raiders are the nearest professional basketball outfit, so for many it was a first ever experience getting to see it live. Arriving well before the start of the match, the Falmouth students had the chance to test out their skills with a training session taken by some of the Raiders’ players as they were put through their paces.

The group then got the chance to meet more of the players, including Australian Rhys Carter who answered questions posed by the students.

As the start of the match approached, students took in the slightly different surroundings to the perhaps more familiar sights of a football or rugby ground, with the indoor arena showcasing a cheerleading routine with lights and music for an authentic American feel.

The students got to see a great game too as the Raiders took on the Cheshire Phoenix. Despite a tense early start, the home team ended up with a comfortable 96-81 victory with Carter starring to send the Falmouth contingent home happy.

PE teacher at Falmouth School, Tommy Matthews, said: “None of the students had ever watched a professional basketball match before and they loved every minute of it. Our students were a credit to their school and we must thank the Raiders for their superb hospitality."

It was another busy term for students in years seven and eight, who spent a great deal of time reading their favourite books in a bid to accumulate points for the termly Accelerated Reader Awards.

Awards are split into three categories: highest words count (both termly and overall); quizzes passed (a pass is 85 per cent correct or above), and points.

Students who had made the most progress overall would take home the main prize of a brand new Kindle. It was another outstanding term for both year groups, with a high number of students in each year passing 100 per cent of the quizzes they had taken part in and some students reading close to a staggering five million words.

In year seven, Harvey Thompson was recognised for reading the most words, with Sophie Rule amassing the most points and Lyla Reade passing the most quizzes. Summer Blackford picked up the award for most points in year eight, with William McGarry passing the most quizzes. There was also a big well done to Ruby Woodiwiss who amassed the most words read overall, with a stunning total of 4,665,965. All winners received an Amazon voucher for £10.

The final awards were for students who had made the most progress, the winners taking home a brand new Kindle. In year seven, Ruby Amar-Herring was the winner with an incredible 5.1 levels progress, and Josh Koopmans in year eight with an equally impressive 4.5 levels progress. Students have the chance to win these prizes again in the summer term.

Falmouth School showcased its rapidly growing pool of musical talent at the recent Sounds of Spring music concert.

School concerts are usually reserved for just Christmas and summer, but such was the quality of performers available the school added an extra date this year. There was a slightly different setting for the concert too, as performers moved from their regular spot in the main hall to the library, for what was a more intimate and relaxed atmosphere. The audience were also in good spirits as they arrived to hot drinks and cakes baked by students and staff, with donations for refreshments and ticket sales going towards Comic Relief.

The evening began with an acoustic number from Abiah Wyatt and Anna Freeman, before a solo and duet clarinet piece from Will Daniell, latterly accompanied by Gwen Willets, who also performed a solo piece later in the evening. The guitar group turned the volume up a notch next, with their versions of Seven Nation Army and Sunshine of Your Love, before Marcia Hammond brought things back down again with a gentle rendition of Ed Sheeran’s Supermarket Flowers.

The relaxed vibe continued, with a saxophone duet from Josh Talbot and Ryan Lillie, before two solo flute pieces from Rebecca Pearce and Ruby Peters. The pop choir raised the tempo with covers of In the Name of Love and Search for the Hero, before a superb cover of The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love by Abiah Wyatt. There were consecutive acoustic duets next, with Josh Talbot and Tadhg Cullen covering Tenerife Sea by Ed Sheeran, with Jordan Lanyon and Anna Freeman performing Hippo Campuses, South.

The evening was rounded off with a cover of Gorillaz' Feel Good Inc by the school band, which included students from year nine and college students in year 12.

Head of music and concert organiser, Matt Fox, said: “It’s the first time we have done a concert at this time of year, but with the talent we have at Falmouth School, we could have had two concerts. It was great to see the event so well supported and hopefully the audience enjoyed all the fantastic performances from our students.”

After the long 30 hour drive travelling to Italy by coach, students launched onto the slopes of Ponte Di Legno and Passo Tonale on the 2017 school ski trip.

The spring conditions in the resort were challenging but the Presena glacier provided some great conditions for all skiers throughout the trip. The weather was fantastic with clear skies, sun and clear visibility, which were perfect for learning or for just pure enjoyment.

The three beginner groups started off on the nursery slopes while the more advanced group were assessed before going off to tackle more challenging runs. By the third day everyone had progressed enough to be skiing on the more challenging slopes of the glacier and despite a few falls, all students (and staff) survived the experience and are now competent skiers.

There were some great après ski activities, including an entertaining boarding session, rock climbing, and a pizza night finishing with an epic mannequin challenge, masterminded by the Brown twins, Lucy Murray, Bella King, Keita Watson and Adam Campbell.

PE Teacher and trip leader, Dan Stirling, said: “I’m very proud of the students and staff who helped make this such a successful trip and to see how many students looked out for each other. It was wonderful to see expressions of joy each day as new skills and achievements were accomplished.

“The students were fantastic and a credit to the school. They all had so much fun, as did the staff who helped make this such a safe and successful trip. A huge thank you to must go to Elemental UK for coordinating the trip."