Sniffer dogs show their skill
As part of an ongoing drugs awareness programme, a team of sniffer dogs and their handlers from the Metropolitan Police visited the College on Tuesday to demonstrate their skill in seeking out illicit substances.
Led by Senior Dog Handler, PC Andy Weaver, the demonstration started in Sports Hall 1. Following a presentation about the training of police dogs, their role in the force and how they assist in tackling crime, M4 volunteers had packages of Class A drugs planted on them by the handlers.
The entire M4 year group then watched as the team of canine detectives, which included springer and cocker spaniels and labradors, searched the pupils to sniff out the planted drugs.
The dogs – specially trained in drug detection – quickly singled out the “culprits” and alerted their handlers to the individuals carrying the drugs by passive indication.
Following the demonstration, pupils were able to ask questions and get up close with the dogs.
The dogs were then split into two teams of three and searched two Houses where illicit drugs had also been secreted. Pupils and staff were able to watch the dogs in a “real life” situation as they searched every nook and cranny in boys’ boarding House, Fayrer, and girls’ boarding House, White, and successfully located the hidden packages.
The College operates a zero tolerance policy on drugs and the visit was designed to show parents and pupils that it is doing everything possible to keep illegal substances out of school
“We were very fortunate to have been offered this service by one of the Met Police’s most senior dog handlers and look forward to welcoming the team back for a return visit next year,” said Deputy Headmaster, Paul Williams.
Huge turnout for prep school music festival
Graeme Lodge, the College’s Director of Music, hosted the 25th Annual Preparatory Schools’ Music Festival on Tuesday with 260 children in attendance.
The pupils and their teachers from 11 prep schools gathered at the College for a day of musical enjoyment, which culminated in a superb informal concert held in Big School.
The pupils from Years 3 to 6 spent the morning practising a number of well known songs around this year’s theme, Heroes & Villains, and performing together in a large group. Following lunch, it was the turn of Epsom College musicians to showcase their talent with performances by a number of the winning Houses at last week’s Choral Competition, as well as solos by 6th formers.
After tea in Main Hall, some 200 parents and their guests gathered in Big School to see their children take to the stage. Led by Graeme Lodge and accompanied by music teacher, Ian Holiday, on piano and visiting percussion tutor, Mike Osborn, on drums, the delighted audience heard them sing such favourite songs as The Saga of Hakon the Good, The Highwayman, Wimmoweh, When the Saints Go Marching In, Oliver Cromwell and Three Lions.
Schools attending the Festival this year included Aberdour, Belmont, Downsend, Feltonfleet, Handcross Park, Kingswood House, Milbourne Lodge, Priory, St Andrews, Thomas’s Clapham and Tower House