Eighteen pupils, all 13-years-old have successfully completed three relay swims of the English Channel, a stretch of water known as the ‘Everest’ of swimming.
The children completed their separate relay swims in August and September 2026 to raise money for Taunton charity Compass Disability. This followed two years of training led by Taunton Prep School’s Headmaster, Ed Burnett, and the School’s Head of Long Distance Swimming, Hamish McCarthy. Pupils have so far raised more than £13,500 for Compass Wellbeing with donations still coming in.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the first English Channel swim completed by Taunton Prep Schools pupils. Since then, over 80 pupils, plus 11 staff members, have completed the swim, raising more than £100,000 for various charities. 
Pupils were split into three teams to complete the 21-mile swim, with the Red Team completing their swim in 15 hours and 28 minutes, the Pink Team finishing in 14 hours and 43 minutes and the Blue Team, the last to go on September 22nd, in 12 hours 45 minutes. The students individually swam an hour at a time with all swimming twice and some swimming three times.
Ed Burnett, Head of Taunton Prep School, said: “The English Channel is known as the ‘Everest of swimming’ and the mindset, ambition and teamwork needed to complete it requires something special.
“As our 13-year-old pupils have shown over the last two years, hard work and commitment builds the courage to succeed. I am very proud of them for the work they have put in and I am delighted that they have completed their Everest.”
The group, known as Channel Titans VI, began training for this momentous feat when they were just 10 and 11-years-old in Year 6 and have spent a vast amount of time in the School pool, Wiveliscombe outdoor pool, Clevedon Marine Lake and in the sea on the south Dorset and Devon coasts, honing their skills with swims during day and nighttime.
Many members of the group started the journey as complete beginners and have admirably built themselves up to the level required to complete one of the toughest swims in the world, despite record blooms of jellyfish due to this year’s warm weather and inquisitive dolphins.
The pupils regularly take part in swimming competitions around the UK with the School’s Long Distance Swimming Club and have recently completed the infamous Gwineas swim, the Plymouth Breakwater and the St Michael’s Mount swim amongst others – an activity they are looking forward to continuing throughout their time at Taunton School and beyond.
Two students who completed the same swim last year, Susy and Izzy, have recently completed a relay swim of the Bristol Channel, the second highest tidal range in the world, in the provisionally record-breaking time of 10 hours and 4 minutes. They then followed this up with solo swims of the Bristol Channel where they became the youngest people ever to do so at age 14. These incredible achievements were undertaken as part of the wider Big Swim initiative aiming to raise awareness of sewage pollution.
Compass Wellbeing supports people with additional needs and those who are recovering from a physical injury through a range of services and facilities and has helped numerous members of the Taunton School community over the years. It is currently fundraising to help with ongoing costs of running the centre and maintaining its facilities.
Supporters can visit the fundraising page to find out more and help support the Taunton Prep School Channel Titans and Compass Wellbeing.
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