Mark Tottman

💚✨ A five-star opening night! ✨💚 Last night’s opening of Shrek the Musical was a triumphant celebration of everything that makes Dunottar special. From the moment the curtain rose, the audience was transported into a world of humour, heart and happily-ever-afters (with just the right amount of swamp). The energy, commitment and talent shown by our pupils — on stage, backstage and in the band — was nothing short of magical. This whole-school production is a reminder that when we come together, we can create something extraordinary. To everyone involved — bravo!

Congratulations to our sports teams for demonstrating skill, determination, and teamwork on both the national and regional stage!🏉Champions! A huge well done to our U18 rugby team, who put in a phenomenal performance to win the Emerging Cup at the Howden U18 Surrey Sevens tournament! A fantastic achievement-what a way to represent Dunottar! 💪🏆🏐 Our Year 10 netballers have had the incredible opportunity to be coached by current @LDNMavericks and former @EnglandNetball player, George Fisher. Their commitment and progress have seen them reach the semi-finals of the @sistersnsport Cup-a fantastic accomplishment!⚽Our U13 girls’ football team have continued to impress, reaching the semi-final of the @schoolsfootball Small Schools National Cup for the second consecutive year! Meanwhile, our U15 girls made their mark by reaching the semi-finals of the @isfafootball National Trophy-a true testament to their dedication and skill.

🎭✨ Dunottar’s much-anticipated production of Shrek the Musical is almost here and it’s set to be the hottest ticket in town! On 27th, 28th and 29th March, our talented pupils will bring this much-loved story to life in a spectacular show!🌟Behind the scenes, creativity has been in full swing, with Backstage Award and Performing Arts Scholars mastering theatre makeup—transforming an ogre, a donkey and three little pigs before our eyes! 🧌🐴🐷🎨 Don’t miss out—book your tickets now! 🎟️👇 Thursday 27th March bit.ly/41DWvoQ Friday 28th March bit.ly/4keH4el Saturday 29th March bit.ly/41o7q4M

Wishing all our Upper School pupils heading off on the ski trip tomorrow an incredible time on the slopes! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures and see you put your Warrior Learning skills into action - whether that’s mastering new techniques, demonstrating resilience, or supporting your friends along the way. A special mention to Sixth Formers heading to Pennyhill Park during half term to watch @EnglandRugby train. What an inspiring opportunity to see elite athletes in action and learn from the best!

I am thrilled to announce that Charlotte has been cast in the highly anticipated Warner Bros. Picture's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by the brilliant Emerald Fennell! Charlotte will be playing the childhood version of Margot Robbie's Catherine Earnshaw. She will also star alongside Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in this bold new take on Emily Brontë’s classic novel. This is an extraordinary achievement for Charlotte, whose talent, dedication and passion for acting have led her to a role in a major Hollywood production. The film is set to be released worldwide in February 2026, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

On Friday, we were thrilled to welcome @TheCricketerMag for their annual bat testing day! Our pupils had an unforgettable experience, learning from the very best, ex-@englandcricket Test player and current @Middlesex_CCC batsman, @mark23stone and pro cricketer for @englandcricket and @surreycricket captain @BrySmith97, who delivered an incredible batting masterclass. The enthusiasm and talent on display were outstanding and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to step into the nets myself! A fantastic day of sport, skill and inspiration for our budding cricketers.

✨ On Thursday, 16th January, Dunottar School hosted a regional heat of the prestigious @RoySocChem Top of the Bench competition! This national event challenges pupils to showcase their practical chemistry skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities, pushing their knowledge well beyond the classroom curriculum. Six schools participated, with talented teams of Year 9, 10, and 11 pupils tackling a complex practical activity and a thought-provoking multiple-choice quiz. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome these young scientists to Dunottar. Congratulations to all the participants for their enthusiasm and brilliant efforts!

At Dunottar, we believe that adaptive teaching is key to ensuring every pupil thrives. Through tailored approaches which meet individual needs, our teachers: ✅Recognise students' unique learning styles and provide targeted support ✅Use strategies like scaffolding, questioning and modelling to enhance understanding ✅Address barriers, such as working memory challenges and skill gaps with innovative approaches. With the help of technology, collaborative learning and constant evaluation, our classrooms are inclusive, dynamic spaces where all students can succeed. We are proud to foster a learning environment that adapts to each pupil’s needs and unlocks their full potential! #WarriorLearning

This term, the Dunottar Swim Squads have shown incredible determination and dedication. 💥 27 PBs smashed over 2 district galas! 🥇 Lower Junior Boys: 1st place 🏅 Congratulations to Elani, Leo, Isaac & Henry for winning individual races. I am very proud of our swimmers' achievements - all their hard work and discipline has truly paid off. Well done! #WarriorLearning

Exciting news from our Beekeeping Club! Our dedicated young beekeepers have been hard at work and the moment we've all been waiting for has arrived - they've extracted the honey from our hives! Through collaboration, patience and care, our Beekeeping Club has nurtured the school's buzzing residents. The process has been fascinating, providing pupils with hands-on learning about sustainability, ecology and the vital role bees play in our environment. 🐝🌎

Last night’s Autumn Concert was a celebration of musical excellence and creativity! Guided by our Sixth Form compère, Millie Longman, the evening showcased the incredible talents of Dunottar's soloists. I was particularly impressed by the number of pupils who are now playing two musical instruments. This is testament to their dedication and versatility. A huge thank you to all the performers, staff and families who made this uplifting and inspiring evening possible.

Last night, our Year 7 pupils had the incredible experience of watching Joey shine as Bruce in Matilda in the West End! 🌟 Joey is the third Dunottar pupil to star in this iconic show and I could not be prouder of our talented students!🎭👏

Today, we were delighted to welcome back Year 6 pupils for their academic assessments. It was wonderful to see familiar faces from October’s Warrior Learning Assessment Day, where these pupils demonstrated their tenacity, teamwork and curiosity. Well done to all prospective pupils for today - it's always a pleasure to see so much enthusiasm for learning at Dunottar. #WarriorLearning

Today, we were delighted to host @UnitedLearning's Group Education Forum (GEF) at Dunottar. This meeting brought together leaders from across the UL group to share insights, discuss innovative practices and strengthen our collective commitment to providing a first class education.

🎭 Broadway and Beyond: A Night to Remember! 🎶 On Tuesday, our talented Performing Arts and Music Scholars - from Year 7 to Sixth Form - took us on a spectacular musical journey with Broadway and Beyond. From timeless classics to iconic film scores, our pupils lit up the stage with their outstanding performances. 🌟The Castle Theatre was beautifully transformed into an intimate cabaret setting, adding a special atmosphere to this showcase of talent and creativity.🎼I could not be prouder of our pupils for delivering such a captivating evening of entertainment. Bravo to all involved and thank you to everyone who came to support!

Today, we are thrilled to welcome pupils from 40 local schools for our Warrior Learner Assessment Day - a one-of-a-kind experience, only at Dunottar! This unique day is designed to encourage pupils to think critically, collaborate effectively and problem solve. It truly reflects our belief that in addition to academic success, education should nurture resilience, creativity and leadership. If you would like to learn more about our approach to education and what makes Dunottar stand out, I invite you to watch my @TEDx talk here: youtube.com/watch?v=Lr_8ec…

🎉 Languages Week 2024: A Huge Success! 🎉 Thank you to our wonderful Modern Foreign Languages Department for delivering an outstanding Languages Week! 🙌Students embraced a wide range of enriching activities, from an inspiring sign language assembly and workshop 🤟, to a captivating performance of Les Trois Mousquetaires by @FreshwaterTheatre 🎭. We also had the privilege of hearing from David Binns, Director of UK Operations @Sanako, who spoke about the transformative power of language learning. 🌍📚The fun didn't stop there! A vibrant Cuban salsa session, taught entirely in Spanish💃, added a dash of rhythm and we wrapped up the week with a delicious bake sale 🍰 in support of @MacmillanCancer.

🏅 Congratulations to all the runners at this year’s ⁦@RunReigate⁩! We're proud to be part of this amazing community event. 👏 A special shout-out to our incredible @DunottarSchool students and staff who volunteered their time to help make the day such a success! 💙 Together, we make a difference. #Reigate #Community

This week, I was thrilled to welcome so many current and prospective parents to our Sixth Form Evening and Open Morning. It was inspiring to see such a fantastic turnout and the overwhelming enthusiasm for Dunottar and our #WarriorLearning ethos. A huge thank you to our Sixth Form ambassadors and Year 8 tour guides, for showcasing so brilliantly how Dunottar is a school where every child is known, supported and nurtured to exceed expectations.