29 Sep 2026

Explorer Benedict Allen Visits Churcher’s College Junior School

What do piranhas, Arctic blizzards, giant snakes and a shipwreck have in common? They all featured in the extraordinary stories shared by world-renowned explorer Benedict Allen when he visited Churcher’s College Junior School last week.

Benedict spent time with pupils across different year groups, sharing photographs and stories from his expeditions to some of the world’s most remote environments. From travelling by dog sled and canoe to hunting with indigenous communities, his adventures have taken him to places few people have ever experienced – and sometimes put him in very real danger.

His tales of survival had pupils captivated. They heard about encounters with wildlife, extreme environments and the many occasions when things went seriously wrong, illustrated by some remarkable photographs – including Benedict eating piranhas and wrestling giant snakes!

Benedict’s visit also introduced pupils to his new children’s book, Nine Ways I Nearly Died, aimed at readers aged eight and above. The book brings together nine true stories from his expeditions and pupils were very excited to have their copies signed by the author, at the end of his talk.

But his message went beyond survival stories. Benedict encouraged pupils to be curious, courageous and willing to step outside their comfort zones. He explained that he decided he wanted to become an explorer when he was just 10 years old and encouraged pupils to find their own ways to explore the world around them.

We may not have followed his example by wrestling giant snakes, but Benedict certainly left pupils with plenty to think about – and perhaps a little inspiration for their own adventures.

News from Attain | Terms and Privacy

29 Sep 2026

Welcoming Will Scott to Churcher’s College

We are delighted to welcome Will Scott as the new Headmaster of Churcher’s College.

Will joined us in September and has already been busy getting to know pupils, staff and parents across the school. He has received a very warm welcome and is enjoying getting to know the Churcher’s community.

“I’ve been very impressed by the warmth of the welcome and by the enthusiasm and energy across the school".

“It’s great to be here and I’ve really enjoyed my first few weeks at Churcher’s,” says Will. “I’ve been very impressed by the warmth of the welcome and by the enthusiasm and energy across the school. Churcher’s is clearly a very happy and successful place and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and the school even better.”

Will joins Churcher’s from Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he was Principal. His career has taken him through some very different areas before moving into education. Born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Will was educated in Dublin and Edinburgh before studying Economics at the University of St Andrews. He spent six years in the Royal Navy, including serving on HMS Broadsword and HMS Ark Royal, before moving into international financial markets. He later moved into teaching and education, with roles at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle, Clifton College Bristol and St Lawrence College Kent, before becoming Principal of Dame Allan’s.

"I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and to becoming part of the Churcher’s community".

Will says he is enjoying settling into life at Churcher’s and getting to know the school. “I’ve been spending a lot of time visiting different parts of the school and talking to pupils and staff. There is a lot going on and it’s been lovely to see the school in action. I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and to becoming part of the Churcher’s community.”

Will and his family are also settling into the area and are looking forward to getting to know the local community. We look forward to introducing Will to more of our parents and pupils over the coming months.

News from Attain | Terms and Privacy

29 Sep 2026

World Challenge Trip to Borneo

‘It’s a jungle out there’ has appeared on the T-shirts of World Challengers for decades, but this year the team stepped into a world of orangutans, giant insects and many, many curious critters as we ventured into Borneo.

We touched down in steamy Kuching, Sarawak region’s oldest city, and discovered that the humidity was something to be reckoned with. Acclimatisation needed to be achieved quickly as we were soon plunged into the rainforests of Baku National Park. Our trekking was accompanied by the calling of macaques, the grunting of wild boar and some amazing close encounters with the big-nosed proboscis monkeys, which are unique to Borneo.

Back on the mainland, we visited Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where we were warned that, as it was fruit season, we’d be lucky to see an orangutan, as food was plentiful. Five minutes later, we found ourselves within touching distance of an absolutely ginormous male who decided to hang about and observe us for half an hour. Memories are made of this.

Hopping on a flight across the country to the Sabah region and the capital Kota Kinabalu, or KK for short, we were immersed in city life and spent time experiencing the night markets, local dishes and general hustle and bustle.

But the urban jungle was no substitute for the real thing. Our official jungle trek phase out of our base camp at Kiulu saw the team sleeping in hammocks between the trees. By day, lush, dense forests contrasted with the open paddy fields. Dripping in sweat, the team embraced the experience and fell asleep looking at the stars… through mozzie nets, of course! We spent time visiting the local community in a traditional village and embraced a chance to try the infamous durian fruit. Reviews were varied!

Our community initiative this year was one of the best we have ever experienced. Surrounded by jungle on one side and the sea on the other, Kudat is a town on the very tip of Borneo. We were welcomed in like long-lost relatives and then spent five days living alongside our new family, contributing to a sustainable project that aims to preserve local traditions and methods of food production. We worked in the paddy fields and experienced the entire process: from paddy to plate. So amazed were we at the amount of time and effort it took to produce a bowl of rice that we vowed never to throw food away again.

The peak of our journey, both figuratively and literally, was summiting Mount Kinabalu – the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the island of New Guinea. The two-day mini-adventure saw us stop at Laban Rata Rest House at 3,273m after a long day of climbing. Then it was up at around 2am, finally needing our warm clothing, and armed with headtorches, for the summit push to Low’s Peak at 4,095m. Having pulled ourselves up the final granite stretch, we drank in the morning sun and prayed that our trillions of photos of the panoramic views would do it justice.

What an amazing country! I keep being asked my thoughts on the trip and, overwhelmingly, my response is always what wonderful people we met and what incredible wildlife we saw. But man alive! It was HOT!

News from Attain | Terms and Privacy