In brief

STUDENT SUCCESSES • FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES • EXTRACURRICULAR EXCELLENCE • NEW HEADS

Bear Grylls spent time chatting to Ludgrove students about their studies

Open for adventure

Ludgrove School, Berkshire

When it came to unveiling the school’s brand-new Exploration Centre, who better to call on than adventurer and Old Ludgrovian Bear Grylls? The TV personality returned to his alma mater to o cially open the £2.5m state-of-the-art facility which houses science, coding, art, CDT and ceramics classrooms. But before Mr Grylls did the ribbon-cutting honours, the whole school gathered in the theatre to hear him speak about his journey and share the three things he believes really matter in life: “we are all explorers in life and will face di cult things,” he explained. “These three things are what really matter: have courage, be kind and have a never-give-up attitude.” The Exploration Centre marks the beginning of a new era of future-led learning for the school. s

Finely tuned

Bilton Grange, West Midlands

The Rugby Group school is set to introduce an enhanced musical o ering across all year groups. From September 2022, the Music Every Day initiative will include daily singing, year two pupils learning string instruments and year threes learning brass instruments, as well as its independent chorister programme for teams of boys and girls – the very first of its kind at prep level.

Superstar coach

Cottesmore School, West Sussex

The school welcomed the nation’s favourite PE teacher, Joe Wicks as part of his school tour for his new children’s book, The Burpee Bears. Pupils enjoyed an energetic workout, followed by a story animatedly read by Joe, who then took some very creative questions from the children!

Piste artistes

Brentwood School, Essex

Two young ski stars made school history as not only the first pupils to compete in the National Schools Race League Finals, but also finish in the top 10. Henry Pratt, 11, and his sister, Scarlett, eight, put in determined performances in the Junior competition held in South Derbyshire.

To a tee

Rydal Penrhos, Wales

Year 12 pupil and talented golfer Charley Simpson has won the Welsh U16 Boys and Overall Open Championship, emerging victorious by three strokes. Charley left a fine impression on the national stage, earning another call-up to the Welsh U16 team for a fixture against England. BEST OF THE REST

• Play ball

King Edward’s School, West Midlands

The KES food bank raised more than £4,700 by playing the longest-ever indoor football match. More than 200 pupils from years seven to 13 played five-a-side indoor football for 36 hours and 30 minutes.

• Ready to enrol

Highfield & Brookham Schools, Hampshire

The co-ed prep has seen a rise in admissions this term, welcoming 81 new nursery, pre-prep and prep pupils – the highest new starts figure in six years. The upward curve is a huge vote of confidence for the South Downs National Park-based school.

• New beginnings

St Mary’s Cambridge

The girls’ school opened its doors to its new pre-school this term, with pupils as young as three enrolling for the first time in the school’s 123-year history. Pupils will enjoy exploring the outdoor area, complete with sandpit and open-air theatre.

• East meets west

Reigate School, Surrey

At an official ceremony in London last month hosted by the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, the school established a new educational partnership with the country, which includes The International School of Vietnam in Hanoi being renamed Reigate Grammar School Vietnam.

• Start right

She eld High School for Girls, South Yorkshire

The school is the first in Yorkshire to join the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate. The programme will be delivered to students in years seven and eight this year, following on from the junior school’s Fusion curriculum.

TRIPLE TREAT

With fi nalist spots in three Independent Schools of the Year award categories, Northwood Schools o er an exceptional education

Broomwood Hall Lower School instils confi dence and curiosity in its young pupils

Pupils at Northcote Lodge

Broomwood Hall Lower School, Broomwood Hall Upper School and Northcote Lodge have secured nalist places in the highly prestigious and industry-leading Independent Schools of the Year 2021 Awards. e Wandsworth-based schools are part of the Northwood family, which also includes Northwood Senior, a co-ed school for pupils aged 11 to 16. For three out of four schools to be shortlisted as nalists is a testament to the group’s educational o ering.

The very best start

A nalist in the Pre-Prep School of the Year category for its non-selective, family-oriented o ering, Broomwood Hall Lower School provides a innovative education in a traditional setting. e co-ed pre-prep for ages four to eight aims to stimulate a child’s natural desire to learn, supporting and stretching them in equal measure, while equipping them with the skills needed for the future. Its ve learning powers: con dence, curiosity, independence, resilience and communication are instilled in all that they do: from computing and coding to specialist art, music and sport. As one parent enthused: “It’s simply the best start to school life!”

Girl power

Broomwood Hall Upper School for girls aged eight to 13 is a nalist in the Student Wellbeing category. Personal meetings with tutors – spontaneous or timetabled – are an opportunity for sta to check in with girls: these one-onones are for talking about worries, triumphs, or, in fact, anything at all.

Small class sizes ensure every girl gets noticed. Picking up on early signs is the best way to prevent bigger problems later on, and the school counsellor and Listening Lady are always on hand. Supporting children is a team e ort and

Broomwood Hall Upper School has class sizes of 16 or less tutors and senior sta work with parents to keep girls feeling loved and valued.

Golden boys

Northcote Lodge is one of just ve Prep School of the Year nalists. For boys aged eight to 13, the school extols traditional values. It has high academic standards: digital testing helps exam preparation, and there’s a focus on critical thinking and reading. Crucial so er skills are instilled – teamwork, manners, compassion, communication, creativity, independence and resilience – through the Northcote Way: the school’s life mantra. Teaching is tailored to boys’ learning style. In the words of one parent, “Northcote Lodge really understands boys.”

For enquiries, visit northwoodschools.com

CRUCIAL SOFTER SKILLS ARE INSTILLED – teamwork, manners, compassion, communication, creativity, independence and resilience – ACROSS THE GROUP

HEADS ON THE MOVE

It’s all change for these schools

Graeme Booth

is the new headteacher at Forest Prep in Timperley, Cheshire.

Gavin Taylor

has taken up the helm as Head of Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire.

Heidi Pedlar is the new Head of Badminton Junior School in Bristol.

Giles Tollit is the new Head of

Arnold House

School in north London.

Lynne Kyle

is the new Headteacher of

Bolton School

Girls’ Division in Manchester.

Making a splash

Taunton Prep School, Somerset

Two students have been selected to attend the first phase of the Swim England National Development Programme. Pupils Evie Linden and Ronan Hill will now take part in a series of online and in-person training camps which will help prepare them for national-level competitions. The national programme identifies talented athletes for the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games of the future.

Lessons for landlubbers

Forres Sandle Manor School, Surrey

Nursery and pre-prep pupils had a lot of fun on their Talk Like a Pirate day. The children made pirate hats and wanted posters, and learned about words starting with a ‘P’ sound. Pirates need to eat too, so pupils discussed healthy eating (unlike real pirates) to ensure they keep scurvy at bay. Of course, they wrapped up the day, with sea shanties before heading home.

Strong foundations

Tonbridge School, Kent

The boys’ school has received a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award for its “brilliant” Barton Science Centre. Judges found that the cutting-edge three-storey facility – which features three libraries, a bee hive and interactive periodic table – “delivers the very best teaching spaces on every level”.