Little London Schools Guide Autumn 2016

YOUR PARENTING

schools HANDBOOK

N U R SERY • PR E-PR EP • PR EP

PLAN YOUR FUTURE

Find the right school to suit your child and understand how to secure that place

THE LONDON SQUEEZE We help you navigate the system

BOARDING OPTIONS

Part-time or full-time? How to make the best choice for you and your child

FASHION EDIT

Start the new school year in style

FOREST SCHOOLS

Country learning comes to the city

GET APPY!

AUTUMN 2016

The best educational games

“EXCEPTIONAL” 2014 School Inspection

“THE FEEL OF AN

“A TRULY ROUNDED,

OXBRIDGE COLLEGE”

HIGH-OCTANE EDUCATION”

Good Schools Guide

Good Schools Guide

“BOTH COUNTRY & URBAN: A DAY SCHOOL WITH THE AIR OF A BOARDING SCHOOL” Tatler

Open Morning

24th September 2016 10.00 – 12.30

Coaches: St John’s Wood/Ealing/Hampstead & Highgate Tel. +44 (0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Email. admissions@mtsn.org.uk Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT

Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561

Moor Park (Bond Street 40 minutes)

www.mtsn.org.uk

For boys 3 - 18

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EDITORʼS LETTER A very warm welcome to our autumn edition of the Little London Schools Guide!

Nothing signals a fresh start like the beginning of a new academic year, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring you an issue packed with education advice to help you navigate the school system and make the best choices for your child.

Large grosgrain hair clip £5, olivierbaby.com

Investing in your children’s education – whether you are devoting your time, energy or financial resources – is undoubtedly the best investment you can make in their future.

One of the big decisions for many parents, including myself, is whether to stay put in London or to look beyond the city when it comes to school options. With an increase in the number of applications for independent schools in the city, getting a place really can be an art form in itself. But above all, I think the sentiment in our feature about The London Squeeze (p.17) to let children be themselves in the admissions process is the best way to ensure they get a place at a school that is right for them.

With new trends in schooling hitting the headlines recently, we’ve been investigating the exciting influx of forest schools and looking at how a model that has been so successful in rural Scandanavia can be applied to urban schools in London (p.11).

Another interesting trend is the concept of ‘all-through’ schools, where children from nursery level right up to 18 are catered for on the same campus (p.14). Some children love the challenge of adapting to a new school but for others the familiarity of sticking to one school is reassuring, and for parents with children of different ages, the lack of complex logistics is certainly a big factor!

Duffle coat £39, jojomamanbebe.co.uk

At times, the thought of sending my daughters off to boarding school seems completely absurd, but then I remember how I begged my parents to let me board.

My brothers both boarded from a young age but it wasn’t until sixth form that I was finally allowed to try it. I adored the experience and made friends for life, and so it’s intriguing that there are now so many boarding options on offer. We go behind the scenes at three schools offering flexi, weekly and full boarding (p.49) and have tips for parents on what to look out for, questions to ask and the levels of pastoral care now part and parcel of the boarding school system.

L/Uniform X Bonpoint monogrammed satchel £296, bonpoint.com

In addition to all the invaluable education advice, we also have a fresh take on the classic school uniform look in our fashion shoot (p.40), a round-up of the most engaging educational apps (p.35) and some great accessories to start the school year in style (p.46). Whether you’re looking ahead to plan your children’s educational future, or moving from one stage to the next, here’s to an organised, successful and exciting school year ahead!

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KATE FINNEY, EDITOR

RUNNING HEAD

CONTENTS 7

Editor Kate Finney Managing Editor Rebecca Moore Features Editor Danielle Wilkins Editorial Assistant Annie Quinton Creative Director Chloë Collyer Designer Natalie Dourado

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Publisher Caroline Scott Finance Director Vicki Gavin Digital Media Manager James Dobson Brand Managers Chatty Dobson, Ginny Maclean

14

Sales Manager Amy Thacker Sales Executives Hannah Inwood, Harriet Cottrell, Helena Murphy

17

Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross

PHOTOGRAPHY: HELEN MARSDEN

Little London Guides are published by The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Web: littlelondonmagazine.co.uk Tel: 020 7349 3700 | Fax: 020 7349 3701 Email: editor@littlelondonmagazine.co.uk

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Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd. 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT Tel: 020 7429 4000 Fax: 020 7429 4001 | Production All Points Media. Printed in England by William Gibbons ©The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2016 All rights reserved.

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31 COVER IMAGE: HELEN MARSDEN MODEL: ANJOLIE

NEWS The latest from the classroom and beyond FOREST FOLK Why modern teachers are moving education outside SEEING IT THROUGH What are the benefits of all-through schools for our little ones?

THE LONDON SQUEEZE Preparing your child for entry into schools in the centre of the capital BRAIN TIME Rhiane Kirkby reports on the debate to put qualified teachers in nurseries NEW BEGINNINGS Advice on easing the pressure for your child’s first day or first day back ASK THE EXPERTS Four Heads answer your burning questions ASSESSMENTS EXPLAINED What to expect when it comes to making those first impressions

35 O N THE DOWNLOAD The best educational apps to enhance your child’s learning 37 TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PREP SCHOOL Advice on finding the right setting for your child 40 MAKING THE GRADE This season, fashion is their playground with our twist on classic classroom attire 46 BACK IN STYLE Essentials that will have them packing for school in a flash 49 FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS All you need to know about each one 55 FINDING THE PERFECT MATCH Making the best secondary school choice for your child 59 DIRECTORY/OPEN DAYS All the dates and school details you’ll need 62 MY SCHOOL LIFE Jazz musician Elliot Galvin takes a nostalgic look back at his school days

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 5

WEEKLY BOARDING FROM SEPTEMBER 2017

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NEWS

school

NEWS

TH E L ATE ST FROM TH E CL ASSROOM AN D BEYON D Teach them the basics of mindfulness with the new kids’ platform from Headspace

LEARNING FOR ALL Oaka Books, which provides curriculumbased resources for special educational needs pupils, has just gained endorsement from the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB). Its revision packs cover more than 50 topics for KS1, KS2 and KS3 pupils, packed with vibrant imagery.

From £7.97, oakabooks.co.uk

THEIR HAPPY PLACE BILINGUAL BABY

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

Teach your child a new language through play with Lingumi. The London-based start-up has launched Learning Cubes; a set of squishy cubes that interact with an app.

Suitable for children aged two to six, there are five dialects available, including French, Spanish and Mandarin. £34.99, lingumi.com

Everyone’s favourite meditation app, Headspace, has launched a platform especially for little ones.

Designed for kids and parents to enjoy together, the app features five themes – calm, kindness, focus, sleep and waking up – with different activities and content for three age groups, including five and under, six to eight and nine to 12 years. Two-year subscription from £3.74 a month, headspace.com

MOUNT KELLY BOARDING SCHOOL IN DEVON IS OPENING ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL BRANCH IN HONG KONG. THE SCHOOL OPENS ITS DOORS THIS SEPTEMBER, AND WILL BE THE FIRST STAND-ALONE PREP SCHOOL IN THE AREA OFFERING THE COMMON ENTRANCE CURRICULUM. THE NEW PREMISES HAVE BEEN BUILT FROM SCRATCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDUREACH, A LEADING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT. MOUNTKELLY.COM

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 7

at little

london

Sunday 23 October

Join us for an exclusive morning of extraordinary adventure. Little London will be at Hamleys from ��am to ��pm for an unforgettable private party!

Event includes • Red carpet entrance • Hamleys Ragdoll and Toy Soldier • Face painting with celebrity artist Annie Newman • Puppet show • Treasure hunt • Balloon modelling • 10% discount* on the day • VIP goody bag not to be missed

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8 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

Nursery to Sixth Form

It’s all

about

the best years of your life Open Days - Saturday 1st October and Tuesday 8th November 9 – 11am

www.notredame.co.uk

Notre Dame School, Cobham 01932 869990 An inclusive Catholic foundation, educating girls for over 400 years A Foundation of the Company of Mary Our Lady

London’s diamond-structure school with single-sex teaching in a coeducational environment for girls and boys aged 4-18. We are a city school with 30 acres of grounds where north east London meets Epping Forest. Open Day will be held on Saturday 24 September 2016 from 8.30am-1.30pm.

Forest School London www.forest.org.uk admissions@forest.org.uk 020 8520 1744

NURSERY

forest folk Becky Dickinson LOOKS AT WHY WE’R E MOVING EDUCATION OUT OF TH E CL ASSROOM AN D INTO TH E TR EE S

magine a nursery where the walls were made up of trees, or a school where the roof was nothing more than the sky above, where play happened amongst woodland, rather than inside a classroom, and where children were encouraged to get muddy and take risks.

Now imagine that school or nursery, not in some rural idyll, but in our very own London. Incongruous as it sounds, increasing numbers of children are benefitting from an outdoor education right inside the capital.

It’s all thanks to the Forest School Association: a Scandinavian approach to

I

education that involves learning in an outdoor environment, regardless of the weather.

The philosophy was introduced to Britain in the early Nineties, when students from Somerset visited some Danish nurseries. Inspired by the outdoor-focused, play-based approach to learning, they employed the same techniques back home and were amazed at how much the children’s confidence and creativity soared.

The idea caught on, and schools and nurseries across the UK began incorporating Forest School principles into their own curriculums. At first, it

Outdoor pl ay nurtures children’s fitness, agili ty and coor dination

was often in rural areas, where space was more readily available. Yet in urban areas, where children have less opportunity to explore the outdoors, parents are increasingly seeking out this kind of nursery provision.

One of the early Forest School pioneers in London was Carol Evelegh.

She is the owner of The Kindergartens, a group of 12 privately run nursery schools.

Every week, children spend one whole day at a local common. Carol says the results are overwhelming.

“The natural environment has a marked effect on the children, it brings a calmness to them. They discuss new

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 11

NURSERY

WHAT SOME MAY SEE AS BAD WEATHER, WE SEE AS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND OUR PLAY things, they problem solve, they work in teams, interact, and they are free to take risks. They enter a magical, ever-changing world and their focus and confidence as a result is amazing.”

In 2014, London’s first full-time outdoor nursery, Little Forest Folk, was established by husband and wife team Leanna and James Barret. The couple have three children of their own – Ella, four, Jack, three, and baby Indie. It was only when they started looking at nursery places for Ella that they realised the lack of opportunity for children in the city to connect with nature.

Leanna says, “We were horrified that the best nurseries we found only offered one or two hours of play outdoors in a whole day, and those hours were generally spent in a sterile outdoor environment. We wanted Ella to experience the joy of free play outdoors, to enjoy a world we don’t believe it’s possible to experience when you are stuck inside a room playing with plastic toys. When we researched Scandinavian forest schools and realised how well young children learn outdoors, we decided it was time for a change in the early-years education system here in London.”

The first Little Forest Folk nursery was set up in Wimbledon, but demand for places has been so high that a second is about to open in Chiswick, followed by another in Wandsworth.

For Leanna, it’s about increasing the connection between children and nature – regardless of location.

“We don’t feel the need to have acres and acres of land to explore. It’s more about the quality of the teaching we provide and the activities, along with our holistic ethos. Any small green space in London can be used for a forest school, providing you have high-quality practitioners and creativity.”

The Wimbledon site is set in a secure nature reserve with a dome for shelter.

The fully fenced area consists of open grassland, woods and marshes, with wild

12 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

This more holistic approach to learning promotes creativity and lifelong positive attitudes towards nature

Children ar e encourag ed to explore the wild surrou ndings

Little Forest Folk pupils looking for bugs

rabbits, moles, squirrels, frogs, insects and birds.

Leanna adheres to the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. Children are provided with high-quality waterproofs, so play is never suspended.

“What some may see as bad weather, we see as opportunities to extend our play,” says Leanna. “On windy days we make kites. On rainy days we use tarpaulins to collect rainwater and guttering to experiment with floating natural objects downhill. The day it snowed was one of our most fabulous days ever. Most other local nurseries closed, but we had an absolute blast.”

For parents, it’s about giving children

Little ones are able to engage with nature in a safe and secure setting

the physical space to explore, the freedom to be children. And with that comes learning. Katie Marshall, whose son attends Little Forest Folk, says it’s the best decision she ever made.

“His ability to think independently, his creativity and imagination, along with his speech has developed immensely and he is so happy running around outside, getting muddy and exploring,” she says.

Come rain or shine, Forest School principles are catching on across London.

The advice to parents is sign up early. L

THE WHITE HOUSE P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L & THE WOODENTOPS NURSERIES Open Day: Saturday, 26th November 9.30 – 11.30am THE WOODENTOPS NURSERIES Babies from 6 months SW3 | SW12

THE WHITE HOUSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 2.5-11 years Co-Educational SW12

www.woodentopsnurseries.com

www.whitehouseschool.com

RUNNING HEAD

Seeing it through ALL-TH ROUGH SCHOOL S AR E GROWING IN POPU L ARIT Y, BUT WHAT AR E TH E BEN EFITS FOR OU R CHILDR EN? 14 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

raditionally, the British education system has advocated moving children to a different school at various points in their academic life – an approach that’s much less popular in other parts of the world.

However, the popularity of all-through schools, which provide both primary and secondary education, has soared over the last few years. Many believe that an all-through school system allows pupils to be given specialist subject tuition, such as science or languages, in the early stages of their education, as well as addressing the traditional dip in pupil enthusiasm and performance between primary and secondary level, when children can often struggle to adapt to

T

PLANNING Reddam House in Berkshire is a leading example of an all-through school in the M4 corridor

THERE IS A LARGE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A CHILD WHICH MOVES WITH THEM

a new environment. Younger pupils also benefit from using secondary school facilities, such as sports halls, music rooms and drama studios, which primary schools might not have.

“I’ve seen first-hand the positive results that can be achieved through all-through schooling,” says Toby Mullins, senior school headmaster of Reddam House in Berkshire, itself a co-ed, all-through school, educating children from three months to 18 years across three divisions.

“Each division of Reddam House is housed in a different part of the school’s estate, giving the children a feeling of separation from the other, while ensuring they feel a pronounced sense of progression as they move

up. The school’s approach has been tailored to gradually introduce students to new teachers and methods of learning, ensuring pupils feel excited and supported as they progress,” he adds.

Supporters also agree that having all ages on site enables older pupils to act as mentors for younger children, with opportunities to read with them or run after-school clubs and activities.

Every all-through school manages itself differently, although usually has a wide leadership team. One of the main advantages is that by the time a child reaches the secondary division, they are known and understood, and that knowledge can be passed on to their new teachers.

“Consistency of approach is also very important,” says Tammy Howard, early learning and junior school headmistress at Reddam House. “Within an all-through school there is a large body of knowledge about a child which moves with them, meaning strengths can continuously be built upon and areas for development do not languish for six months or so, as a school familiarises itself with the child.

“It is important to the future success

of students that Early Learning education is carefully considered in conjunction with the senior school approach.

It is these delicate years that hone confidence and a partiality for particular subjects,” she adds.

And what are the benefits for secondary school pupils of an all-through school? “While the junior years are integral to building the confidence and aptitude of a child, too much emphasis is often placed by secondary schools on the exam years,” reveals Toby. “When children move to a new secondary school, teachers are rarely given more than 18 to 24 months to make an impact.

In many schools, the best teachers and resources are put into the last few months of GCSE; the emphasis falls on getting 16 year olds over the finishing line rather than the bigger picture.

“All-through schools, like Reddam House, concentrate on nurturing a cohort of independent thinkers and learners. They are pupils who are ready partners in the learning process and this continuum, particularly from Year 4 to Year 9, is one of the biggest advantages of an all-through school,” he adds. L

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 15

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*Please reserve your place, as spaces are limited. For further details or to arrange a private visit, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Alison Jones.

Email: admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk Situated in the beautiful Harestone Valley, Caterham School is on the edge of the North Downs with easy access from London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Tel: 01883 335058 Email: admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk

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ADMISSIONS

the

LONDON

squeeze

Dr Zoe Dunn, H E ADMISTR E SS OF UC S PR E-PR EP, OFFER S H ER ADVICE TO PAR ENTS ON PR EPARING FOR ENTRY

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 17

ADMISSIONS

Allowing your child to be themselves during the process is key to helping them find the right school for them

f you’re in the midst of preparing for entry then you’ll know all too well the pressure attached to getting into a good school. Independent schools in London have seen a boom in applications for admissions over the last five years, which means gaining admission into the top schools has become an art form in itself.

Stories of pregnant women putting their unborn child on waiting lists or ringing schools from the delivery room now seem all too real as parents do anything to ‘get ahead’. One hears that children must have been at a particular nursery or be able to write their name before entry. Some parents hire consultants to try to get a head start on obtaining the school place for their child.

These, however, are simply urban myths. Most schools will only accept a registration after a child is born, and would much prefer the parents to submit the application than an agent. All admissions processes differ, so the most practical thing parents can do as they engage in the battle for a school place is arm themselves with knowledge.

The reality is, there are a vast number of applications for a fixed number of places, and so inevitably there will be some families that will be disappointed.

Maintain positivity and relationships with schools to ensure you secure the place that is right for your child. Here are my steps for the admissions process:

I

RESEARCH SCHOOLS

Do not rely on hearsay. Find out if they have sibling polices and what their criterion for assessment entails. The school’s website will be the most reliable source. Admission policies change annually and many schools update the process in line with school needs, and will try to keep it simple. If in doubt though, always ask the school to clarify.

�

REGISTER YOUR CHILD

Registration is one of the most important things parents can do to ensure they have the greatest chance of success. If they are not registered for a school, your child will not be able to attend assessment mornings or sit entrance exams. Register at the schools you are most interested in, but do your homework first.

18 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

VISIT SCHOOLS

You can gain a lot from websites and word of mouth, but the best test is to visit. Schools often organise open days or more personalised group tours. Ensure that you have seen the schools you are most interested in. Schools are all unique communities, offering pupils and parents completely different experiences.

be themselves will ensure they secure the place that is right for them.

6

BE ON TIME

KEEP TRYING

�

KEEP CALM

When calling or emailing about information, remain polite and calm at all times. The school admissions teams are very knowledgeable and experienced, and are often the best people to ask.

Sometimes the pressure over the school admissions system can be overwhelming, especially if deadlines have been missed, but the system has to be fair to all.

Be mindful of when the deadlines for registration are. Some close when they reach a certain number on the list, others a year before the point of entry.

Ensure that you register your child at schools in advance of the deadline. If you are visiting a school, be punctual, and if you cannot attend, ring to notify the school. Tours and visits often run on tight timetables so visitors can see the children working or playing to gauge a flavour of the school in action.

�

ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE THEMSELVES

�

Remember, there is no one route to successful entry, as such a thing would rival the elixir of life. In reality, schools often have a range of feeder nurseries and not just one selective preference. In fact, some children may not even have attended a nursery prior to entry at 3+ and 4+. Most schools are simply looking for the potential in a child, and they want to see their personality when they meet them. Schools are selecting children who will suit its academic and social environment. Allowing your child to

Not being offered a school place can feel devastating but it is often not a reflection on the children. London has an amazing number of outstanding independent schools with multiple entry points. If your child is not successful at 3+, 4+ or 7+, there are other options and life beyond that one school. If you are committed to just one school, but are not successful first time, ask to remain on its waiting list – occasional places do become available year on year. L

ucs.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

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Hyde Park School offers your child a unique, well-rounded education in a friendly & caring environment, with all the benefits of central London right on our doorstep.

Nursery and Pre-Preparatory School, W2 - ages 2 - 6 Preparatory School, SW7 - ages 6 - 11

Open Mornings Wednesday 12th October ~ Wednesday 1st March Contact us today to arrange a visit to our exceptional school! ~ www.hydeparkschool.co.uk

Hyde Park School, Queen’s Gate 24 Elvaston Place London SW7 5NL registrar@hydeparkschool.co.uk 020 7225 3131

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Hyde Park School, Marble Arch The Long Garden, St George’s Fields Albion Street, London W2 2AX admissions@hydeparkschool.co.uk 020 7262 1190

12/11/2015 12:38

EARLY YEARS

BRAIN TIME

urrently, 130,000 children a year – that’s six in every reception class – are struggling with language skills and, as a consequence, falling behind. Save the Children believes this can easily be prevented.

In its report, ‘Lighting Up Young Brains’, written in conjunction with the Institute of Child Health at University College London, it highlights the preschool years as a ‘lightbulb moment’ for brain development, especially when it comes to key skills such as speech and language.

“It is precisely this period when most of the connections in the brain are formed,” explains Professor Baldeweg from UCL. “We know that if they are not formed, the child will suffer long-term consequences to their development.”

But despite this scientific evidence, it seems many parents don’t realise the importance of the preschool years.

A recent poll found that 61% think the school years are the most important for learning, while 47% say they would expect their child to know 100 words by their third birthday – only half as many as the government recommends. It’s

C

20 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

also true that many parents think turning playtime into brain-time is wrong. Mumof-three Laura says, “Children should be playing – it’s their work,” adding that starting formal education at such a young age is “unnecessary and detrimental.”

Lisa, a mother-of-one, agrees, “At the age of three, children learn through play – a parent or nursery keyworker could do just as good a job as a qualified teacher.”

Jane Roller, a practicing educational psychologist, admits that children do learn from play but argues that in her experience “it’s very noticeable when children are in a setting with a trained early years teacher.” She goes on to explain, “there’s a big difference between simply letting children play and having a skilled person who can tune into that play and extend it by providing the scaffolding for dialogue and interaction.”

For Jane, “language is at the heart of child development” and trained teachers know the “words to use and the questions to ask to help children be curious and inquisitive. It’s not about sitting them down and teaching them how to write their name, as doing this at an early age can be detrimental – instead, it’s about creating a fun environment so children can learn without knowing it.”

Interestingly, while there is a great deal of support for Save the Children’s recommendations, many of its critics say we should instead look to follow the Swedish system, where children don’t start formal education until around the age of seven. However, a crucial point

is being overlooked, and that is that there are trained teachers, like Anna Skilberg Hall, working in all preschool establishments in Sweden. “We work with children from the age of one and train for four years – the same as school teachers,” she explains. Swedish mum, Therese Bassler adds, “We have a preschool year from the age of six but before this it’s nursery, where the focus is on creative learning. Children are outdoors for at least two hours a day in any weather. They learn the alphabet and how to count, but all learning is done in an informal way.”

And informal learning is precisely what early years teachers in the UK are trained to do and so by having one in every nursery we would, in fact, be following the Swedish model. But in an age where the recruitment of teachers often makes headlines, how realistic is it to think that this is possible? Jane Roller believes it’s entirely possible, as “there’s still lots of job satisfaction in early years education, compared to the upper end of primary school.” The government is also keen to point out that it’s “making significant investment and working closely with the profession to help improve its status, resulting in an increase in salaries, qualified staff and graduates.”

With today’s children spending, on average, 17 hours a week in nurseries and formal childcare, it seems this investment is crucial. Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, says, “Without the funding to pay graduatelevel wages, this ambition to have an early years teacher in every nursery, while admirable, will be impossible in practice.”

And that, says Save the Children, is simply unthinkable, meaning “thousands more children would start school struggling to catch up with their peers because a golden opportunity to stimulate their brains had been missed.” L

Save the Children wants to see qualified early years teachers in all nursery settings

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

Rhiane Kirkby R EPORTS ON SAVE TH E CHILDR EN ’S CALL TO PUT A QUALIFIED E AR LY YE AR S TE ACH ER IN EVERY N U R SERY IN ENGL AN D

A UNIQUE PREPARATION FOR THE BEST PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 2 - 7 YEARS

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Cheam Newbury,Berkshire, Berkshire,RG19 RG198LD 8LD Cheam School, School, Headley, Headley, Newbury, Telephone: 01635 268381 268381 Fax: Fax:01635 01635269345 269345 Telephone: 01635 Email: registrar@cheamschool.co.uk Email: registrar@cheamschool.co.uk Cheam School,Web: Headley, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 8LD www.cheamschool.com www.cheamschool.com Telephone: 01635 268381 Fax: 01635 269345 Email: registrar@cheamschool.co.uk Web: www.cheamschool.com

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Thursday 13th October at 10am

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Open Mornings - Tuesday 13th September & Tuesday 4th October - Book in online

Contact us to visit today! - www.lyceumschool.co.uk ĹœČą Šž•ȹ Â?›ŽŽÂ?Ç°Čą Â’Â?Â˘ČąÂ˜Â?Čą ˜—Â?Â˜Â—Ç°Čą ˜—Â?Â˜Â—Čą Ĺ˜ ȹŚ

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BACK TO SCHOOL

New beginnings Naomi Bar tholomew, H E ADMISTR E SS AT ST CATH ERIN E’S PR EPAR ATORY SCHOOL, ON E ASING TH E PR E SSU R E FOR THAT FIR ST TER M OR FIR ST DAY BACK he start of the new academic year is always an exciting one, and one that brings targets for the coming term and a great deal of anticipation. Rather like the build-up to a birthday, the children will have been playing out in their minds what their new class, teachers and classmates will be like ahead of the term starting.

Beginning at nursery or Reception can be a tiring time as the children learn to settle, negotiate new relationships and

T

understand new routines. It may also be a tiring time for you as parents, too, possibly trying to figure out a new route for the school run, dropping siblings off elsewhere, understanding new routines yourself and perhaps even returning to work now that your child has settled into a certain age or stage.

As a rule, preparation is key, so help your child to be organised for school the night before so that drop-off can be swift – signing forms and looking over

homework in the car in the mornings can put your child on the back foot.

Most importantly, keep communicating with your child, and let teachers or nursery staff know if you have any concerns or questions as your little one settles into the new academic year. Here, I have included some tips which might help you as the term beds in and your child adjusts. stcatherines.info

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 23

BACK TO SCHOOL

STUDENT HANDBOOK Help prepare your child for the new school year NEW STARTERS

THE RETURNERS

For parents of children starting at nursery or Reception classes this September:

For those older siblings starting in other year groups or at a new school, forming and re-establishing friendships can be at the forefront of their mind as the new term approaches. Share this advice with your child to encourage a positive start to the year:

Talk positively about going to school. This can be an anxious time for parents, and children can sense this, so be as calm as possible. Get your son or daughter excited about their new adventure and avoid mentioning that you are missing them during the day.

Encourage good habits and help them feel comfortable by arriving in good time at the start of each school day.

Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep every night, and expect her to be tired. Even if she has been used to full week of activities, starting at nursery or Reception is different.

Let your child tell you about their day in their own time. You are likely to want to hear the ins and outs, but avoid putting too much pressure on your child to tell you. They will tell you in their own way and staff will be trained to share any concerns they may have with you.

24 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

Be proud of your hobbies and interests and you will no doubt find others who enjoy them, too.

Take this new part of the term to get to know other people and let them get to know you – having a wide circle of friends is important.

Don’t be afraid to start a conversation. Just a small comment, such as, “Hi, how are you today?” can create the impression of friendliness, even if you are feeling really nervous inside!

Remember, the other children around you will be feeling just like you, so don’t be afraid to talk to others and share how you are feeling.

Talk to your teachers if you feel uncertain or unsure about anything going on in class or on the playground. L

“A Taste of Greenfield” An open event showcasing all that Greenfield School has to offer you and your child.

Thursday 3rd November 2016 from 6pm to 8.30pm

Take a journey through the life of a Greenfield pupil and learn why ISI graded us “Excellent” in every area.

Meet the people who will inspire your children and equip them with the skills they will need to thrive.

Meet current parents and learn how your family can be a part of our thriving Greenfield community.

Book your place at: greenfield.iaps.uk or call 01483 772525 Did you know we are within walking distance of Woking Station?

Greenfield School

Brooklyn Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7TP T: 01483 77 25 25 I E: registrar@greenfield.surrey.sch.uk

www.greenfield.iaps.uk Little Londons Schools' Guide.indd 1

27/07/2016 10:05

Day, full & weekly boarding | GSA School 900 girls 4-18 years | Founded 1885

ST CATHERINE’S PREP, BRAMLEY

OPEN MORNINGS

Bramley, Surrey GU5 0DF 01483 899665 StCatherine’s prepadmissions@stcatherines.info Bramley www.stcatherinines.info

Wednesday 14th September Thursday 6th October Friday 4th November

littlelondon01 July 2016.indd 1

04/07/2016 10:38:45

Farleigh School is a leading Catholic co-educational prep school in Hampshire for boarders and day pupils aged 3-13

Sparkling WITH

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1157842

POSSIBILITIES...

Open Morning Saturday 24th September Register at: opendays@farleighschool.com

www.farleighschool.com

@FarleighSchool

ADVICE

ASK THE EXPERTS The world of education provokes a plethora of questions. Here, we put some of yours to the test…

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE INCLUSION OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION? The recent revelation that today’s generation of children spend less time outdoors than prisoners shows it is clear that outdoor education needs to form a fundamental part of the school day.

And with good reason, too – the benefits of outdoor education are endless. From increased enthusiasm and engagement, to higher levels of concentration and the development of interpersonal skills, getting out of the classroom and into the field is a brilliant way to stimulate learning for children.

Ditching the chalkboard and text books is also a lot easier than you might think. There are lots of simple ways schools can start to implement outdoor activity, both as part of the academic timetable and through extracurricular clubs. Examples include walking buses to and from school; taking relevant lessons like science, art and drama outside; to adopting class pets and starting a school vegetable patch.

At The Lyceum – as with many central London schools – we lack our own, private outdoor space so instead, we take advantage of our location and the endless amount of facilities around us.

One day we might be exploring the nature in Bunhill Fields, another doing sports in the Honourable Artillery Ground. We offer tennis and swimming at the Barbican and even go ice skating in the winter at Broadgate. All these activities are within 10 minutes of the school and ensure our children get the best possible outdoor education, despite our building’s limitations. Whatever method you choose, make sure you take advantage of the wealth of opportunities on your doorstep and embrace the Great British outdoors.

Vanessa Bingham, The Lyceum School

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 27

ADVICE HOW DO YOU HELP DEVELOP A LOVE OF LEARNING IN THE EARLY YEARS? Learning to love school during the formative years is incredibly important, and at The White House this remains at the forefront of our approach to teaching. Children thrive, learn and grow within a school community which values every individual, and we support this by teaching in small classes where our children can fully explore their talents and find their strengths. Pupils feel valued, and know they have a special part to play in the everyday life of the school, which in turn builds confidence and a positive attitude towards learning.

We find out what really excites the children and then help them to excel, and the dynamic nature of a small school means we can be flexible to their emerging interests. We offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, offering clubs until 5pm, including football, IT, car club, golf, karate, netball, swimming, choir, ballet, chess, cooking and fashion, and we also give our children a variety of opportunities to take their learning outside the classroom as we find it encourages a greater interest and understanding of the subject. Whether stepping back in time at Kentwell Hall, where children and staff alike dress up as Tudors for the day, or, for the Year 6 class, an annual trip to Europe to fully immerse themselves in the local culture of the language they are learning about, we believe a love of learning does not begin and end in the classroom.

Daniel Cummings, The White House Preparatory School

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CO-EDUCATION? I have seen the pros and cons of both single sex and co-ed schools. The dynamics of a co-ed school means we recognise that boys and girls are different but they also complement each other. A mixed school teaches children to benefit from one another. Socially, they learn tolerance, respect and appreciation, necessary for healthy interaction.

Children relish opportunities for new experiences which they might not otherwise come across and it’s striking how often they enjoy the activities which would not traditionally fit their gender stereotype. Mixed preps enable us to challenge gender bias at a critical age.

It is recognised that girls tend to mature faster during the prep years than boys.

Girls can have a positive influence in the classroom, bringing focus and energy which may help motivate the boys. And the girls benefit from shared sports.

William Brooks, Brambletye School

MEET THE EXPERTS

Vanessa Bingham Headmistress, The Lyceum School

Georgina Hood Daniel Cummings Principal, Paint Pots Headmaster, The White House School Montessori Schools

28 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

William Brooks Headmaster, Brambletye School

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MIXED AGE GROUP IN A MONTESSORI CLASSROOM? One of the main features of a Montessori environment is the mixed age groups, with children from three to six years in the same classroom. Dr. Montessori believed that it was like creating a family group, similar to the way siblings learn from each other.

In this natural setting, the children benefit academically by gaining new skills and also practising skills previously learnt.

From a social point of view, the younger children become more aware of social norms and build a bond with the older children. They subconsciously realise that they, too, will reach that stage and learn by example, looking up to the older child for guidance.

The older children have the opportunity to practise their skills by working alongside the younger children and imparting their knowledge, before they move on to the next stage of development. They also gain confidence by having the time to reinforce these skills. Through educating children within a mixed age group they all gain respect, patience and compassion for each other.

Georgina Hood, Paint Pots Montessori Schools & Creative Classes

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EATON SQUARE SCHOOL

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‘Every child, every single child has the capacity to excel.’ ŠÂ?Â˜Â—Čą šžŠ›Žȹ ÂŒÂ‘Â˜Â˜Â•ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂŠÂ—ČąÂ’Â—Â?Ž™Ž—Â?Ž—Â?Ç°ČąÂŒÂ˜ÂŽÂ?žŒŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÂŠÂ•Čą ÂžÂ›ÂœÂŽÂ›Â˘ČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą ÂŒÂ‘Â˜Â˜Â•ČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?‘Žȹ‘ŽŠ›Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂŒÂŽÂ—Â?›Š•ȹ ˜—Â?Â˜Â—Ç°Čą ÂŽÂ?žŒŠÂ?’—Â?ČąÂŒÂ‘Â’Â•Â?›Ž—ȹÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Â?‘ŽȹŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąĹ˜ČąĆ™ČąÂ?Â˜ČąĹ—Ĺ™ČąÂ˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČąÂ˜Â•Â?ÇŻ Open Mornings Monday 3rd October ~ Monday 27th February

Please contact us today for more information or to book a visit. Ĺ?Ĺ&#x;Čą ŒŒ•ŽœÂ?Â˜Â—Čą šžŠ›Žǰȹ ˜—Â?Â˜Â—Čą Ĺ— ȹŗ ȹȹȹȹȹȹ ÇąČąĹ–Ĺ˜Ĺ–ČąĹ?Ĺ&#x;řŗȹĹ&#x;ĹšĹœĹ&#x;ȹȹȹ ǹȹ›ŽÂ?Â’ÂœÂ?›Š›ȓŽŠÂ?Â˜Â—ÂœÂšÂžÂŠÂ›ÂŽÂœÂŒÂ‘Â˜Â˜Â•ÇŻÂŒÂ˜Â–

www.eatonsquareschool.com INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AGED 4 -13 YEARS

OPEN EVENTS Come and see The Mall School, meet the team and tour our state of the art facilities.

Let our boys welcome you and show you the school through their eyes.

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 9.00AM – 11.30AM

To book your place please email: admissions@themallschool.org.uk or call: 020 8614 1082

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER 9.30AM – 12.00PM

www.themallschool.org.uk

FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER 9.00AM – 11.30AM Open Morning for entry into Year 3 (7+) September 2017 MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 9.00AM – 11.30AM

185 Hampton Road, Twickenham TW2 5NQ

Bringing out the best in every boy

BRAMBLETYE

15

October 2016

Open Day

Leading Co-Educa�onal Pre�Prep and Prep School for Children aged 2��� �o 13 Introducing a Weekly London Shuttle Service 2016/17

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For more informaƟŽŶ please contact registrar@brambletye.com

www.brambletye.co.uk t:+44 (0) 1342 321004 Est. 1919

ASSESSMENTS

ASSESSMENTS explained Janie Richardson FROM YELLOWBIR D EDUCATION AN D Elvire Hairy OF CH EL SE A MAR KE TING CON SU LTANT ON HOW TO NAVIGATE TH E GAU NTLE T OF ENTR AN CE TE STS he assessment list in British independent schools has become almost endless, leaving many parents confused and anxious.

Places are highly limited, competition is fierce, few will succeed, and a considerable amount of work is needed to prepare for these exams.

T

4+ Three- and four-year-old boys and girls take the 4+ for competitive, prestigious independent schools in January before their September Reception entry. Expect an interview of brainteasers, social interaction, interest in the world and general knowledge. Can your child walk through the door on their own? Are they independent and willing to learn? Do they display initiative? Early registration is essential in some schools.

7+ AND 8+

SCHOOLS Girls: Falkner House, Kensington Prep, Glendower, Francis Holland, Putney High, Queen’s Gate, Wimbledon High School.

Boys: Wetherby School, The Hall School, Herewood House, UCS Pre-Prep School.

Co-ed: Thomas’s, Newton Prep, Garden House School, Eaton Square School.

Northcote Lodge

Eaton Square School

These are sat in November and January proceeding September entry, mainly for boys who wish to enter competitive prep schools at Years 3 and 4. Expect exams in maths and English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and dictation. Interviews often involve small group activities to show leadership, teamwork and initiative.

Selective prep schools are looking for happy, ethusiastic and confident learners.

The difference between the 7 and 8+ is purely the level of content: boys can sit both if needed, while some schools only offer an 8+ entry point.

SCHOOLS Girls: City of London, Bute House.

Boys: King’s College Wimbledon, Westminster Under, St Paul’s School Colet Court, St Philip’s, Northcote Lodge, Shrewsbury House, Sussex House.

Co-ed: Latymer Under.

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 31

ASSESSMENTS

SURVIVAL TIPS • Register early for up to four or five schools.

• Visit the school, ask useful questions and meet the Head.

11+

SCHOOLS Girls: Godolphin & Latymer School, Putney High, City of London School for Girls, St Paul’s Girls’, Francis Holland.

Boys: King’s College Wimbledon, City of London School, UCS, Dulwich College.

Co-ed: Latymer Upper, Emanuel School, Highgate School, Ibstock Place, The Harrodian School.

PRE-TESTS AND 13+ Mostly for boys and aimed at London day schools and boarding places, the Pre-test takes place between November and January of Year 6 with English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. The Head’s report counts for 50%. Once passed, boys and girls are called back for a challenging interview, which requires preparation, knowledge and a high sense of adaptation. Additional tests in maths and English are often also required.

An acceptance of offers is made on the condition of passing common entrance (each school requires a given percentage), which children sit near the end of Year 8.

• Make the head of admissions your best friend, but don’t annoy!

• Be prepared to support your child emotionally: it is a long and challenging process.

• Avoid last-minute preparation, it will be too much stress for everyone.

• Sit exams only if your child has been well-prepared, and be realistic about your expectations.

SCHOOLS Girls: Occasional places.

Boys: St Paul’s School, Westminster, Eton, Harrow, Winchester College, Radley College, Charterhouse.

Co-ed: Brighton College, Wellington College, Marlborough, Stowe.

Remember, be prepared and try to put the whole experience into perspective – it is usually more stressful for you than your child! By knowing what is involved, you can give your child every opportunity to succeed. At the end, every child will gain a place in a school that is right for them at that time. L

32 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

• Understand the process, be careful not to miss the deadlines or reply letters.

• Understand that your child will need to maintain academic momentum to flourish at the school of your choice.

• Make sure your child is happy and challenged as a priority.

• Don’t over-test your child at the very last moment with mock exams.

• Don’t lose sight of what is important: your child’s happiness and their love of learning is the most important aspect of your their childhood and your family life. They may thrive in other areas at a later date.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

In January of Year 6, boys and girls sit these academically challenging exams (that need to be carefully prepared for) for London day schools, secondary schools and girls’ boarding schools.

Exams consist of English and maths, sometimes verbal and non-verbal reasoning, while interviews aim at philosophical thinking, mental Maths and interpretation of pictures. London’s highest academic schools look for enthusiastic and mature candidates, displaying logical thinking skills.

®

Sydenham High School GDST

15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL T: 020 8557 7000 E: info@syd.gdst.net W: www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net Head Teacher: Mrs Kathryn Pullen MA Head of Junior School: Ms Claire Boyd BA Admissions: admissions@syd.gdst.net Key facts Gender / Ages: girls 4-18 Total pupils: 600 including 220 in Junior School Type: Day school Fees: Pre-Prep – £4,116 per term. Prep: £4,116 per term Entrance procedure: Junior School is usually at Reception (4+) or Year 3 (7+) in the September after a girl’s fourth or seventh birthday. Offers of a place are made on the basis of an assessment conducted in the November or January before her year of entry. You can register your daughter by submitting an application form and registration fee (see website for full details).

School Philosophy: We’re here to find the potential within each girl, discover and stimulate passions and interests and lay the foundations for a lifetime of learning. Our Junior School nurtures girls through their formative years, encouraging enquiring minds, fostering a love of learning and establishing the values, disciplines and attitudes that are central to their success as well-rounded learners. We also prepare girls for the academic curriculum of the Senior School in a creative and innovative way that suits young minds. Our girls are fun, ambitious, realistic, inspiring and so much more as you will see when you come to visit us.

Academic Record: For 130 years Sydenham High has been

educating girls from across London and the South East to outstandingly high standards with excellent GCSE and A level results. Our Sixth Formers regularly gain places on the courses of their choice, be that at Oxbridge, medical school or a Russell Group university. Please see our website for the most recent results.

Extra-Curricular: Our innovative Flourish and Fly programme is designed to embolden and inspire pupils as well as stretch ability with half termly programmes of experiences and challenges. There are also many opportunities for organised educational and cultural visits and trips – our proximity to London’s museums, galleries and visitor attractions is something we readily take advantage of. Meanwhile school visitors regularly give workshops and masterclasses on a whole range of topics and activities which both educate and entertain – from turning Reception into a Rain Forest to Year 6 exploring the work of forensic scientists.

Notable Achievements and Alumni: As well as being proud of our strong academic record we are equally proud of our award-winning choir, our actors, musicians, artists (praised by the MD of Conran) and our athletes, many of whom achieve national success. Our alumnae include: Lily Waring (artist); Kathleen Halpin (feminist); Clemence Dane (writer and actor); Margaret Lockwood (actor); Winifred Gérin (biographer); Professor Elizabeth Anscombe (philosopher); Kathleen Shackleton (portrait artist, sister of Ernest Shackleton); Diana Harris (Olympic swimmer); Claire Bennett (GB fencer, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust althete co-ordinator and sports commentator); Sandy Powell (costume designer); Dr Philippa Darbre (scientist); Rachel Joyce (actor and writer); Emily Joyce (actor); Sophie Mckenzie (writer); Evie Wyld (writer); Bianca Miller (entrepreneur, Apprentice 2014 finalist) Open Days on Saturday 24 September 10am-1pm, Wednesday 5 October 9.30-11am and Wednesday 2 November 9.30-11am.

Please see website for full details including Taster Days.

What makes us different is the difference we make

Open Day for 2017 entry Pre-Prep and Prep Saturday 24 September

10am - 1pm

Please go to our website to pre-register and for details of more Autumn open events and taster days 15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

020 8557 7003

TECHNOLOGY

ON THE DOWNLOAD We round up the best educational apps to enhance your child’s learning

2-4 YEARS

5-7 YEARS

8-10 YEARS Create your own personalised story and send to friends as an ebook!

METAMORPHABET

YATATOY LOOPIMAL

MR GLUE STORIES

A beautiful and visually captivating app where letters magically morph and transform, reinforcing letter recognition, sounds and shapes for little learners. £2.99, metamorphabet.com

Loopimal is a creative app where there is no right or wrong. Your child is free to compose musical sequences and learn beginner skills for programming.

Free, yatatoy.com

An incredible app that allows children to personalise and illustrate stories. Each literary masterpiece can be emailed, or printed out and bound as an actual book!

Free, mrgluestories.com

DUCKIE DECK

ZOOPER ABC ANIMALS

AVOKIDDO DNA PLAY

An adorable age-appropriate app that is highly interactive, allowing your child to develop their emotional skills, curiosity and creativity through role-play activities. £2.29, duckiedeck.com

A simple app focused on phonetically recognising and writing each letter of the alphabet through animation, rhymes and games, all with an element of humour. £2.29, zooperdooper.com

DNA Play is an app that introduces children to the concept of genetics using interlocking puzzle pairs to create your own delightful monsters. £2.29, avokiddo.com

GREEK GODS

THIS IS MY FOOD

CRAPOKS: MATHS & MEMO

Discover the wonder of the Greek Gods with fun characters that really come to life! Petita Demas presents a witty new educational game. £1.49, petitademas.com

This Is My Food is a fun and interactive health resource, providing little ones with a platform to explore food, where food comes from and healthy eating habits. £2.29, urbnpockets.com

Maths & Memo is a fast-paced app for improving children’s maths and memory skills. The humorous animations and games keep children engaged. £1.49, pinpinteam.com

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 35

N PE O Y DA

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Hawkesdown House School

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

For boys aged 3 to 8 years

10.00am – 11.30am

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 10.00am – 12.00 noon

MONTESSORI NURSERY

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

Endeavour Courage Truth

9.30am – 11.00am

Preparatory School 59 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ Montessori Nursery 196 Munster Road, London SW6 6AU T 020 7736 9182 E info@sinclairhouseschool.co.uk www.sinclairhouseschool.co.uk

27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN Telephone: 0207 727 9090 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

S I NC L A I R HO U S E S C HOOL FOR BOYS & GIRLS AGED 2-13

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PREP

TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING

A PREP SCHOOL Chloë Moakes, H E AD OF ADMISSION S AT SIN CL AIR HOUSE SCHOOL, SHAR E S H ER ADVICE

hoosing a preparatory school can be an overwhelming experience for many parents.

I often speak to families who feel lost wading through glossy prospectuses, websites and lengthy school guides, and feel burdened by the weight of the decision. When finalising this important choice, it can be helpful to isolate specific factors to identify what is most important to you and your family, and select a learning environment that offers the best fit for your child.

A smaller school with capped class sizes and personalised teaching may be a better fit for your child

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REGISTER EARLY AND CHECK ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS In London’s competitive educational sector, it is critical to confirm interest early, registering your child as soon as possible to secure entrance onto a waiting list. Check the admissions and selection procedure carefully. Even ‘non-selective’ schools tend to have an assessment process of sorts but not

all have formal testing requirements.

Parents and pupils are often concerned about written papers, but remember that many schools also look at emotional development and social interaction.

Unless the school is highly academically selective, the assessment process will usually take a variety of factors into account, so test results are not necessarily the be-all and end-all.

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 37

PREP

PUTTING FAMILY FIRST If you have other children and having them all at the same school is a priority, ensure you check each school’s sibling policy. This has obvious benefits for cost-savings, streamlining family logistics, admin, uniforms and parents’ evenings – but also has implications for individuality.

For example, a particularly athletic child may be best suited to a school with exceptional sporting credentials and facilities, while an ‘all-rounder’ sibling may be best matched to a more holistic environment. If your children exhibit very different strengths, and educating them together is important, look for a school with a broad and balanced curriculum that is able to nurture individual talents across a range of abilities.

The school you choose should allow your child to flourish both academically and emotionally

THINK ABOUT SCHOOL SIZE This is a key contributory factor to the overall school culture and has a big

THE PREDOMINANT QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF IS, CAN YOU SEE YOUR CHILD HAPPY THERE? impact on the ‘feel’ of a school. Large schools are often more established with extensive facilities and a longer history.

However, smaller schools may be able to offer capped class sizes and pupil-toteacher ratios which favour personalised teaching and attention to individual strengths and weaknesses, which may be a better fit for your child and their particular character and learning needs.

LOOK COMPREHENSIVELY AT THE SCHOOL’S OFFERING For some parents, the variety of a school’s extra-curricular activities is an essential part of selection. Others specifically seek an established academic record, or view evidence of a strong pastoral system as non-negotiable.

Identify how different schools encourage academic progress, but also how they support creative, artistic and sporting talents and nurture social and psychological competencies. The school you select should be the one that will allow your child to flourish educationally, but also develop emotionally.

38 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL ETHOS & VALUES An ethos can help to gauge the shared values across the school community.

When reading through the plethora of literature, pay close attention to the key words that are highlighted. Often specific words and phrases have resonance or are aligned with specific aspirations for a learning environment. Isolate those which ‘speak’ to you as a parent and promote a learning culture you identify with or a classroom context you think would suit your child and inspire them.

VISIT IN PERSON, AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS The prospectus and website give a superficial impression; to truly experience what life is like in the classroom it is imperative that you meet with staff and pupils and sense the atmosphere internally. Make a shortlist of open days, or enquire about booking an individual tour of the school where possible. I always encourage parents and children to ask as many questions as they feel

necessary, as well as to observe teaching and talk to staff and current pupils to gauge a sense of what we are about. It is important to start with an open dialogue about your expectations, as well as what the school expects from its students.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS The predominant question to ask yourself when leaving a tour of a school is whether you can see your child happy there. Trying to find somewhere that will be right can be confusing when no one can predict in which area exactly their talents will develop or how their personality might change from age four to 13. Ultimately though, happy, confident children learn best, so try to find a learning environment in which you can see your child settled, content and secure, and trust your intuition. L sinclairhouseschool.co.uk

‘ Enjoying childhood and realising our imagination.’

Challenge your preconceptions about Education.

Give your child time to develop a love of learning and enjoy the academic successes that it brings.

Dallington is a family-run co-educational independent school, with a nursery, in the heart of London.

Personal tours each day of the week, except Wednesday.

Autumn Open Evening Wednesday 28th September 2016.

Reserve your place now registration.dallingtonschool.co.uk/openevening.php

Email: hercules@dallingtonschool.co.uk Phone: 020 7251 2284

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www.dallingtonschool.co.uk

Eaton Square Upper School, Mayfair Opening September 2017 In September 2017 we are very excited to be opening a new independent senior school in Mayfair. We will now be able to provide a seamless progression for our families from the age of two in the nursery into senior school. In a superb location, 106 Piccadilly is a beautiful Grade I listed building, opposite Green Park, right in the heart of London.

Eaton Square Upper School, Mayfair will be co-educational and academically non-selective, with the same familyfocused ethos all our schools pride themselves on.

Ultimately we aim to create a nurturing environment in ^OPJO ^LSS YV\UKLK JVUZPKLYH[L JVUÄKLU[ HUK YLZPSPLU[ JOPSKYLU ^PSS WYVZWLY M\SÄSSPUN [OLPY ILZ[ WV[LU[PHS WLYZVUHSS` and academically.

Registration forms are being accepted now - apply today.

www.eatonsquareupper.school

THIS PAGE Benny wears coat, £109, and sweater, £69, both Rachel Riley. Trousers, £30, Carrément Beau at House of Fraser. Shoes, £59, Step2wo. Sicily wears dress, £92.50, Hucklebones. Socks, £8, Country Kids at Childrensalon. Shoes, £50, Dr Martens. Hair bows (part of a set), £5, Marks & Spencer.

RIGHT PAGE Anjolie wears dress, from £126, and shoes, from £108, both Paul Smith Junior. Socks, £8, Country Kids at Childrensalon.

Hair bows (part of a set), £5, Marks & Spencer.

MAKING TH E G R ADE Ensure top marks in the fashion stakes this season, in and out of the classroom PHOTOGR APH ER : H ELEN MAR SDEN ST YLIST: Y VADN EY DAVIS

FROM LEFT Leon wears coat, £185, Caramel. Shirt, £32, Rachel Riley. Trousers, £50, Little Eleven Paris. Boots, from £67, Young Soles.

Alex wears jacket, £485, and shirt, £165, both Gucci at Harrods. Trousers, £55, Rachel Riley. Shoes, £50, Dr Martens. Hannah wears blouse, £28, Elfie London. Skirt, £40, Outside The Lines. Tights, £30, Bonpoint. Shoes, from £49.50, Step2wo. Hair bows (part of a set), £5, Marks & Spencer. Molly wears dress, £83, Caramel. Cardigan, £38, Outside The Lines. Tights, £48, Bonpoint. Shoes, from £68, Young Soles. Hair bow (part of a set), £5, Marks & Spencer. Backpack, £128, Bonpoint.

THIS PAGE Leon wears top, £44, No Added Sugar. Trousers, £55, Rachel Riley. Shoes, £46, Start-rite. Alex wears blazer, £140, and trousers, £66, both Hugo Boss at House of Fraser. Shirt, £165, Gucci at Harrods. Boots, from £68, Step2wo. Beret, £67, Bonpoint.

Tie, £49.95, Harrods.

RIGHT PAGE Sicily wears coat, from £89, Carrément Beau at House of Fraser. Dress, £69, Rachel Riley. Socks, £8, Country Kids at Childrensalon. Shoes, £26, Clarks. Hat, £22, Jigsaw.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: MODELS: ALEX, ANJOLIE, BENNY, HANNAH, LEON, MOLLY, SICILY

‘Pinocchio’ wooden pencil sharpener £14, hedgehogshop.co.uk

BACK IN STYLE

Coat, check. Pencils, check. Bag, check. These stylish essentials will get them excited about going back to school Peach Ribbons hair clip £4, childrensalon.com

Leather brogues £73, youngsoles.co.uk

Herschel school bag £46.02, en.smallable.com

Cotton and wool-blend coat from £59.50, boden.co.uk

Quilted jacket from £59.95, joules.com

‘Dinah’ Liberty-print shirt £38, olivierbaby.com

Meri Meri alphabet stickers £9, eenymeenykids.co.uk Pocket notepads (set of three) £3, hedgehogshop.co.uk Pencil case £5.95, tyrrellkatz.co.uk

Leather shoes £38.95, meenys.co.uk

Ruler pencils £2.50 each, hedgehogshop.co.uk

46 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

The School by Dick Bruna £4.99, abacus-kids.co.uk

We are pleased to announce the

OPENING OF YEAR 3

SEPTEMBER 2017 School Tour Dates Monday, 26 September (9:00am) Monday, 10 October (9:00am) Monday, 21 November (9:00am) Saturday Open Morning 12 November (10:00 – 12:00)

Co-educational Prep ∙ Senior ∙ Sixth Form

Untitled-14 1

020 7307 8700 admin@portland-place.co.uk www.portland-place.co.uk

27/07/2016 09:21

PREP

Flexi-boarding

Richard Cullum, H E AD OF BOAR DING AT WALHAM P TON SCH OOL, ON WHY BOAR DING AT LEISU R E COU LD WOR K FOR YOU R CHILD ost boarding schools now offer a plethora of boarding options, but one option in particular is becoming increasingly popular with parents. In the world of prep schools, flexi-boarding is seen as a bridge between the world of a day child and that of a weekly or full-boarder.

This responsive reaction to provision for boarding now gives parents another option when choosing a school. Of course, making the decision as to which school to send your child to is an important one and never taken lightly.

There are so many deciding factors to weigh up, evaluate and balance with what is best for your child and family life.

When starting from scratch, purely day schools or full boarding schools may be quickly ruled out for many reasons, then the choice is made slightly easier as it narrows the field. Many other schools now offer day and boarding options but with increased flexibility on the duration and frequency of boarding. This adaptation by schools is quickly evolving as a very attractive option for parents. It also has many benefits for the child.

Just how flexible flexi-boarding can be will vary from school to school.

Some are flexible in the sense that children can board during the week and go home at weekends; some offer an additional bonus that you can visit mid-week and take your child out for tea or supper, thus making the week seem even shorter for the boarding child. Parents are increasingly able to vary their own commitments and tie in a dinner or visit in conjunction with a school play, sports fixture or music concert. It is also a way to break into the field of weekly boarding and can be easily aligned with exeats. Parents also feel in control of the boarding journey they are taking themselves and for their child. Some parents also see the

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benefits of not letting their child ‘go’ completely. With modern family logistics becoming increasingly stretched, the flexibility some schools offer with their boarding provision is another helping hand, and eliminates the complex web of babysitters, nannies or help from family.

So there are easily identifiable benefits for parents, but what about for the child?

Flexi-boarding offers children a ‘taster’ experience of what boarding is really like.

It gives the child a chance to get a feel for what they can expect if they make the move from prep to senior school boarding or from senior school to college or university. There is a huge sense of achievement for some children who may not have spent time away from their parents before. A taste of independence and experiencing the adventures of their full or weekly boarding friends is often the start. One night’s boarding may have been coupled with a special evening activity or advanced study night.

Flexi-boarding provides a safe, familiar and monitored environment from which they may choose to cross the bridge to weekly or full boarding. With an insight into boarding life, it is very often the child who initiates the next step, asking to commit to one night regularly and more as they evolve.

However, for some children termly or weekly boarding does not fit with their character, personality or levels of emotional resilience but now and then some ad hoc boarding is a superb way of introducing boarding.

If your child is not keen on being a boarder, listen to them and let them

explain why. Sleepovers with friends may be an easy go-between before looking at flexi-boarding. Sow the seed of boarding early and ensure the child feels as though you are on this adventure together.

Sharing the excitement and anxiety with them is a step in the right direction, but remember to lead by example. Working parents often have limited choice but if boarding is seen by the child as an option and the adult has guilt about sending them to board, the child, in some cases, will battle back. Speak carefully with the school and visit where they will stay.

Meet the adults in charge and ask about their philosophy of boarding. What values are instilled in the boarders? What positive contribution do the boarders give back to the school? Ultimately, boarding is an option which is going from strength to strength and flexi-boarding is the vehicle for change. walhampton.com

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 49

Walhampton The Little London School Guide ad.pdf

QUESTIONING

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07/07/2016

08:59

UNDERSTANDING

OPEN MORNING 14th October 2016 INTERPRETING

EXPLORING

CHALLENGING

INSPIRING

Independent co-educational preparatory day, flexi and full-time boarding school, ages 3-13. Lymington, Hampshire SO41 5ZG. Please contact the School Registrar on 01590 613 303 or email registrar@walhampton.com

www.walhampton.com

Ludgrove • Full boarding boys’ prep school set in spectacular grounds in rural Berkshire.

• Family run school with a homely atmosphere and outstanding pastoral care.

• Small classes and excellent academic record.

• Extensive extracurricular programme supported by new and modern facilities.

“The outstanding care …. towards the boys maintains the family ethos of the school, enabling the boys to be valued as individuals and grow and develop in a happy caring community.” ISI Inspection

Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berks RG40 3AB · 0118 978 9881 · registrar@ludgroveschool.co.uk · www.ludgrove.net Ludgrove Little London Ad 190x135 v1.indd 1

05/11/2015 15:03

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Weekly boarding Chris Liston, DIR EC TOR OF BOAR DING AT ASH FOR D SCHOOL, E XPLOR E S TH E BEN EFITS OF STAYING MON DAY TO FRIDAY irvana has arrived! It’s an end to the daily grind of combining our busy working lives with getting the kids to school and activities across London, and the battle of homework. Is this really possible?

‘Tuck and movie night’, fun on the sports field after school, playing with friends and, yes, the odd dorm raid. And that’s just a small selection from the list reeled off by my friend’s 10-year-old son when I asked him why he chooses to live at school during the week.

Weekly boarding is rising in popularity, in particular with busy London parents wanting to protect their child from the rat race. And it’s easy to see why. The shortage of school places in the capital heightens competition and consequently the pressure that is placed on the child to win that all-important place. Often, the schools being competed for will offer an outstanding education, with academic potential being the highest priority. What is harder to find is a school with space, where your child can grow in a safe environment, where expectations are high and the adventure is there to be enjoyed. All these benefits and more are available to the weekly boarder.

Increasingly, parents are waking up to the opportunities provided by the excellent train links into London and the schools, such as Ashford School, which provide accompanied travel to and from school. It offers a breath of fresh air for pressured London parents who are discovering the benefits of space, time, adventure and all-round success for their children in an outstanding school so near – yet so far – from town.

But how do you know if your child would thrive in such an environment? It goes without saying that every child is different but, speaking from experience, the vast majority will quickly adapt to the weekly boarding experience.

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FIVE TIPS FOR CHOOSING A WEEKLY BOARDING SCHOOL

The week is short enough for younger children to feel secure in the knowledge that it isn’t long until they see their parents (and vice versa), and also short enough to pass incredibly quickly with a long list of activities, staff on hand to help with prep and the freedom to enjoy time with their friends. All their needs are catered for and contact with you is typically available whenever you want it.

Children who will find weekly boarding a richly rewarding experience are those who are ambitious and open-minded.

Our boarders learn to live with people from many cultures and countries, making great friendships along the way.

They learn to take considered risks and grasp opportunities thrown their way.

In our case, weekly boarders are housed in a beautiful listed building, in twin or triple rooms with individual bathrooms. Many schools will offer a taster night or two for your child to get used to the house and school. All will provide medical cover and close liaison with you over your child’s progress, particularly in the early weeks. ashfordschool.co.uk

• The school should meet your needs in terms of values and philosophy – don’t try to fit your child into a school that isn’t right just because it has a ‘name’. Outside the M25 there are dozens of excellent schools achieving outstanding results. Look widely and visit a few different ones.

• Most boarders live within 60 minutes of home these days so check out how your child will travel.

Ideally, you may want them to be independent travellers as they grow up, so see if this is possible. How flexible is the school about arrival and departure times, for instance?

• Check out the people who will care for your child in boarding. Visit and observe their relationships with the other boarders in the house.

• Talk with boarders and parents of boarders to get a full and honest picture of life at the school – most schools will make this possible. No school is perfect. There will always be relationships problems when teens live together, but how are these addressed when they arise?

• Look at the balance of people in the house. Typically, there will be a good proportion of children from overseas.

Well-managed, this can be highly advantageous as it opens all sorts of opportunities to your child.

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 51

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Full boarding Tom Rogerson, H E ADMASTER OF COT TE SMOR E SCHOOL, DISCUSSE S TH E R E ALIT Y OF BOAR DING FU LL TIM E

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WEEKEND LIVING

This is often one of the trickiest questions to answer. Most boys and girls are ready from a young age, but it’s often not the children who are the concern! Whenever you feel your child has outgrown the physical confines of London, or their day school, that is the moment to look into boarding education. For some, this could be 13, for others it could be much younger. You know your child is ready when they are showing a yearning for independence.

It is key for parents, when choosing a school, to make the distinction between a school that is culturally ‘day’ and culturally ‘full boarding’, like Cottesmore. All proper full-boarding schools have lessons in the morning and matches in the afternoon on a Saturday.

At Cottesmore, ‘popcorn movie night’ happens after matches and supper.

On Sundays, the school wakes up to the smell of freshly baked croissants, albeit an hour later than usual. Thank-you letters are written after breakfast and then it’s time for ‘fun swim’ and gentle morning activities. After the Sunday roast and Sunday Sweet Shop (sugar haters, look away) it’s time for the Sunday trip – perhaps ice skating or go-karting.

Alongside this, the tennis courts, fishing lake, golf course, bowling alley and all of the other facilities are also in full use.

The teachers and matrons live on the estate, which makes it easy to maintain the perpetual motion. We wrap things up with chapel in the evening when a public school head might come and talk, and the boys and girls will host a drinks party in the Drawing Room afterwards.

PREPARING TO BE A BOARDER

PASTORAL CARE

Although it seems like a good idea, if you definitely want to choose full boarding for your child, I would not recommend a slow introduction via flexi or weekly boarding. The frequent change can be unsettling, and the girls and boys need stability. The step needs to be taken in one leap, and heartily supported by the family. Twice a week, sports fixtures are a great time to visit and catch up with staff.

The phones, Skype and email are on tap 24/7; exeat weekends come around frequently and the odd Sunday lunch is always an option on occasion. It’s not like it used to be, that’s for sure.

Childhood mental health is a hot topic and, indeed, pastoral care in full boarding schools has professionalised itself. Even in the last three years, the pastoral systems at Cottesmore School, for example, have strengthened hugely. Children now have a ‘shadow’ (a buddy), form tutor, pastoral

WHAT AGE SHOULD THEY START?

tutor, peer mentor and this is just the official safety net. There are also nurses, matrons, heads of houses and, of course, regular teachers. Bullying is something we all worry about, but at schools like Cottesmore it is an open topic of conversation. Excellent schools shouldn’t be afraid of talking about it regularly.

With so many arenas for communication available, the opportunity for such behaviour is eradicated.

PARENTAL UPDATES Skype, Twitter, Instagram, texting and email newsletters are now standard fullboarding school communication tools.

The advent of the Parent Portal is also a welcome addition, where information, letters and menus are posted and updated every day. On this platform, academic updates happen four times a term and important personal updates flow freely every day.

My one piece of insider advice would be to befriend the loyal and all-knowing school secretaries – the oil in the engine. They will prove to be an invaluable resource! L cottesmoreschool.com

52 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

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he speed of technological development makes it impossible to predict what our children will be doing in the workplace in 10, or even five years’ time. The best we can do is prepare our children to be dynamic, flexible and adaptable. We want our children to be robust and strong – to stride toward their futures with confidence, but not arrogance. We want them to understand others and to be able to navigate this complex world with agility and sure-footedness. Full boarding education ticks all of these boxes with 100% conviction.

Ashford School

East Hill, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8PB T: 01233 625171 E: registrar@ashfordschool.co.uk W: www.ashfordschool.co.uk Head Teacher: Mr Mike Buchanan Admissions: Mrs Rachael Cox Key facts Gender / Ages: boys and girls, 0-18 years Total pupils: 1053, boys 536, girls 517 Type: Day, Flexi, Weekly, Full Boarding Fees: Nursery – Day from £640, weekly from £2,975 per term.

Pre Prep – Day from £3,100, Prep – Day from £4,600.

Senior – Day from £5,600 per term Entrance procedure: Please see our website for details

School Philosophy: Everything we do is focused on making learning and development Adventurous – hence our USP of Adventurous Learning. Adventurous Learning is a challenge to our adults and children to take each other beyond the comfortable and familiar, to enjoy success and embrace failure. We see Adventurous Learning in many school activities and events such as the Arts Festival, sports and music tours and drama productions but our every-day focus is on the individual and how they are changed by the challenge of Adventurous Learning. We know we have succeeded when we say farewell to confident, versatile and capable young adults who have a good understanding of themselves and others.

Academic Record: 2015 saw an admirable 20% of grades at A*, 50% A*-A, and 74% at A*-B. This made two-thirds of students eligible for the elite universities. Other headlines include: The number of points gained per student at A2 was the equivalent of A, A, A. Nearly one third of all students achieved at least three A*/A grades. Nearly half all students achieved at least two A*/A grades. Nearly three quarters of all students achieved at least one A*/A grade. Typically, about one fifth gain places at a World top ten university (Oxbridge, Imperial and UCL) and two fifths at a UK top ten university.

Extra-Curricular: We have nearly 100 activities on offer to

students, from extension academic activities, such as medics club, to challenges such as Lego robotics, from creative clubs such as jewellery making, to pre-season sports training. All senior pupils (Years 7-11) must take an activity every day as part of their curriculum.

Notable Achievements and Alumni: This year we’ve won a TES award, been listed in the top 50 UK Boarding Schools and our Head is Chair of the HMC. Notable alumni include: Anna Turley –former Shadow Minister for Charities. Patsy Byrne – RSC and TV Actress. Louise Burfitt-Dons (née Byres) Writer, Humanitarian, Founder of Act against Bullying.

Jackie Brock-Doyle OBE – Director of Communications for London 2012. Wendy Cope – Poet. Diana Rigg – Journalist and radio 2 presenter. Katrina Bradley – TV producer. Lucy Cooke – Zoologist, Sloth expert and TV presenter. Diana Speed – Radio 4 newsreader.

Open Days: Friday 16 Sept, Wednesday 28 Sept, Thursday 13 Oct, Tuesday 8 Nov, Wednesday 23 Nov, Monday 5 Dec

Cottesmore School

Pease Pottage, West Sussex, RH11 9AU T: 01293 520648 E: office@cottesmoreschool.com W: www.cottesmoreschool.com Head Teacher: Tom Rogerson Admissions: Lottie Rogerson COTTESMORE SCHOOL 12X2_TATLER_0816.indd 1 E: rogersonc@cottesmoreschool.com Key facts

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Gender / Ages: boys and girls, 4-13 years Total pupils: 150, boys 100, girls 50 Type: Day, Boarding Fees: Pre Prep: Day from £3,048-4,065, Prep: Day from £5,708, Full Boarding from £7,802.

Entrance procedure: Interview, previous school reports and maths and English assessment

School Philosophy: Cottesmore is a country boarding prep school for boys and girls in West Sussex, less than an hour from London.

We provide a train service to London Victoria Station, which is popular with London ‘S.W.’ families. Cottesmore has been preparing children for major public schools since 1894 and continues to provide excellent preparation for senior boarding schools who share Cottesmore’s belief in nurturing a rounded, dynamic individual.

Academic Record: 100% success rate at Common Entrance 2016 to

schools such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington. “Quisque pro ingenio” is Cottesmore’s unofficial motto: “Everyone has a talent”.

Cottesmore will find and nurture each child’s talent and help the individual grow strong in the light of his or her own success.

Cottesmore is a school where children are taught to have faith in their own ability in a caring, confidence-inspiring environment.

Cottesmore pupils are typically bright-eyed, confident without being arrogant, and academically driven. ‘They are happy, confident children,’ says the head of a famous senior school.

Extra-Curricular: Cottesmore excels at ‘modern’ boarding. Its huge range of sports (33 at last count), hobbies and activities supplement a diverse academic curriculum. The drama, music and arts programmes are equally purposeful and vibrant.

Notable Achievements and Alumni: 100% success rate at Common Entrance 2016 to schools such as Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington.

Unbeaten 1st football season 2015.

Unbeaten Colts A football and cricket season 2015/16.

Unbeaten U11 netball season 2015/16.

Open Days: 1st October 2016 10am to 12pm

Stroud School Romsey

Independent Education for boys and girls aged 3 - 18

What could your child be in the future?

Honesty • Respect • Happiness Stroud School, Highwood House, Highwood Lane, Romsey • Email: secretary@stroud-kes.org.uk • Tel: 01794 513231

Claremont Fan Court School An independent co-educational school for pupils aged 2½ to 18 years

Pre-Preparatory and Nursery School Children join the Pre-Nursery class in the term they turn three.

Please come and visit us.

To arrange an appointment telephone 01372 463695 or email preprepschool@claremont.surrey.sch.uk

www.claremont-school.co.uk

Claremont Fan Court School Claremont Drive Esher Surrey KT10 9LY

RUNNING HEAD

Finding the

PERFECT MATCH Jo Heywood, H E AD OF H E ATH FIELD SCH OOL, DISCUSSE S HOW TO MAKE TH E BE ST SECON DARY SCHOOL CHOICE hoosing a secondary school for your child is without doubt one of the biggest challenges a parent will face, often made all the more difficult by the fact decisions increasingly need to be made when children are even younger – in Years 4 and 5 or earlier – because of the competition for places.

Especially in London, the education market has become increasingly overheated, so parents will often struggle to get their child into the school of their choice. This makes it more important than ever to take a step back and consider what might be the best kind of school for your child.

Trends always tend to play a part in parents’ choice of school – whether they

C

opt for a London day school, look at boarding options or prefer a single-sex or mixed school for their child. Some parents also look at combining state and independent educations.

However, trends in education are not all bad because they have really opened up options for parents in the last couple of decades. Not only have state schools experienced huge changes, with many converting to academies, but we have also seen a sea change in the independent sector. Firstly, we saw a tremendous culture change in many of the top boys’ schools in this country when they started opening up their doors to small numbers of girls in sixth form. Now, we find that many of those

schools have gone co-ed all the way through at secondary level with very few all-boys secondary schools left.

This has also, of course, opened up options for girls – they are now able to consider being a pupil at a school which was once traditionally male, while having all the single-sex options still open – both the Girls’ Schools’ Association and the Girls’ Day School Trust still have thriving memberships of successful girls’ boarding and day schools across the UK. These two organisations might be a good starting point for parents considering an all-girls school. The Boarding Schools Association (BSA) also gives valuable information on boarding schools nationwide on its website.

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 55

RUNNING HEAD Girls are now able to attend schools that were once male-dominated

SCHOOLS WHICH VALUE PASTORAL CARE CAN BE MORE CONDUCIVE TO SUCCESS More recently, many boarding schools have opened up to day pupils, in and out of London, and many also offer weekly and flexi-boarding, with or without full boarding options. This often suits working parents who know their child will have the advantage of an on-site academic and co-curricular timetable during the week but time with family at the weekends. Just think of weekly or flexi-boarding as saving many hours in the car driving your child to those afterschool activities!

Think about what might suit your child. Are they currently in a large or small school – does that suit them? Do you think your child would thrive in a small, nurturing school environment at secondary level or would they rather suit being in a larger school?

Different schools have very different atmospheres and it goes without saying that one child might thrive, for example, in an academic hothouse – a term which describes a school where academic pressure can be high, as can the drive for results – and another child might not.

56 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

Significantly, this is irrespective of the academic level of your child.

Be aware that schools which value pastoral care as highly as academic success can also provide a healthier environment for a child and be more conducive to long-term success. The view that pastoral care is as important – if not more so – than the academic focus of a school has rapidly been gaining ground in the last few years, with an increased focus on wellbeing, mindfulness and long-term happiness.

Do your research on schools – look at their websites, read reviews and try to hone your choices to a shortlist of three or four schools which you should then visit, ideally with your child. Ask your child’s current teacher or Head what sort of school they think would suit your child and why.

Most schools hold termly open days where you are often shown around by current pupils and get the opportunity to see the school in motion. You will also get a sense of the ethos of the school without being in a high-pressure,

Heathfield Sch

ool, A scot

one-on-one situation. Once you decide on a shortlist, and perhaps have visited each of the schools for an open day, don’t be afraid to make an appointment to see the school privately and meet the Head.

Take your child with you and see how they interact with what is going on around them and whether you could see them at that school.

It is possible to register for several schools and pay a refundable deposit so they know you are interested in a place.

At some point, you will also be invited to bring your child in for assessment, and perhaps entrance exams, where a good school should assess not only your child’s suitability for the school but the school’s suitability for the child. Last but not least, remember to try not to listen to what everyone else is doing or where their children are going – concentrate on finding the best fit for your child. L heathfieldschool.net

St Hilary’s Preparatory School

“Full Marks for Pastoral Care” Good Schools Guide

Holloway Hill, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1RZ T: 01483 416551 E: registrar@sthilarysschool.com W: www.sthilarysschool.com Head Teacher: Mrs Jane Whittingham (B.Ed Cert., Prof.

Prac. SpLD) Admissions: Mrs Dickenson Key facts

“A First-Rate Education” ISI Report 2014

Gender / Ages: boys 2-7 years and girls 2-11 years Total pupils: 275, boys 65, girls 211 Type: Day Fees: Day from £3,125 per term Entrance procedure: We are a non-selective school but children are invited to attend a Taster Day to ensure we are the right school for them

School Philosophy: At St Hilary’s, each pupil’s individual talents and strengths are recognised and utilised ensuring all reach their full potential in a vibrant, busy yet nurturing environment. Our aim is to educate the whole child by providing unequalled opportunities, support and encouragement for their ongoing development.

Academic Record: 24 scholarships in 2016 including Guildford High

School, Prior’s Field, Farnborough Hill, King Edward’s, St Edmund’s, Frensham Heights, Farlington and St Teresa’s.

Extra-Curricular: We offer a broad, balanced curriculum with a supportive extra-curricular programme. Clubs include Chess, Gardening, Golf, Judo, Orchestra and Wildlife Club. This gives individuals the chance to develop talents and receive a wellrounded education for life. Our sports ethos is participation for all.

We hope to foster a positive attitude towards physical activity, an increase in self-confidence and a sense of achievement. Music and drama play an important role in everyday life at the school and the standard is high.

Notable Achievements and Alumni: “A thriving, buzzy place with a warm and happy atmosphere and very impressive academic achievements for a non-selective school.” The Good Schools Guide 2011. “The quality of pupils’ learning and achievement is excellent. Pupils of all abilities achieve highly in all aspects of their learning.” Independent Schools Inspectorate 2010. Godalming’s only independent prep school and nursery. Famous alumni include - Jenny Seagrove, actress; Victoria Hamilton, actress; Lucy Parham, concert pianist; Andrew Haveron, concert violinist and Lucy Moorby, actress.

“Staggeringly Beautiful Grounds” Tatler Schools Guide

For more information call Mrs Caroline Lukic Tel: 01428 728000 www.highfieldschool.org.uk | Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ

Little London Handbook 1.indd 1

11/11/2015 12:34:15

Open Days: Friday 7th October 10.30am – 12pm Saturday 8th October 10am – 12.30pm Thursday 17th November 10.30am – 12pm

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Register your interest and book a visit now!

Call Roxane on 0208 742 0011 Chiswick Nursery and Pre-School 4 Marlborough Road, Chiswick, W44ET

Call us on 01784 438 713 Katherine House, 85 High Street, Egham, TW20 9HS

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egham.busybees.com

DIRECTORY

OPEN DAYS IT’S TIM E TO PL AN AH E AD. H ER E YOU ’LL FIN D THOSE IM PORTANT DATE S FOR TH E DIARY AN D SCH OOL DE TAIL S

BRAESIDE SCHOOL 130 High Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5SD

020 8504 1133 braesideschool.co.uk WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER

BRAMBLETYE SCHOOL Lewes Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3PD

01342 321 004 brambletye.co.uk SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER

BUSY BEES CHISWICK 4 Marlborough Road, Chiswick, London W4 4ET

020 8742 0011 busybeeschildcare.co.uk

CHANNING SCHOOL The Bank, Highgate, London N6 5HF

020 8340 2328 channing.co.uk

CHEAM SCHOOL Headley, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 8LD

01635 268 242 cheamschool.com

CLAREMONT FAN COURT SCHOOL Claremont Drive, Esher, Surrey KT10 9LY

01372 467 841 claremont-school.co.uk SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER & SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

COOPERSALE HALL SCHOOL Flux’s Lane, Epping, Essex CM16 7PE

01992 577 133 coopersalehallschool.co.uk TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER

COTTESMORE SCHOOL Buchan Hill, Pease Pottage, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9AU

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK

01293 614 784 cottesmoreschool.com SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

EDGEBOROUGH SCHOOL Frensham, Surrey GU10 3AH

01252 792 495

LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016 | 59

DIRECTORY

edgeborough.co.uk

HIGHFIELD & BROOKHAM

Berkshire RG41 5BG

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

Highfield Lane, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ

0118 974 8300 reddamhouse.org.uk

DALLINGTON SCHOOL

01428 728 000 highfieldschool.org.uk

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

8 Dallington Street, London EC1V 0BW

01482 416 551 sthilarysschool.com FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER, SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER & THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER

REIGATE ST MARY’S

020 7251 2284 dallingtonschool.co.uk

HOEBRIDGE SCHOOL

Chart Lane, Reigate RH2 7RN

ST JOHN’S WOOD PRE-PREP

Hoe Place, Old Woking Road, Surrey GU22 8JE

01737 244 880 reigatestmarys.org

FARLEIGH SCHOOL

01483 760 018 hoebridgeschool.co.uk

St John’s Hall, Lord’s Roundabout, London NW8 7NE

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL

020 7722 7149 stjohnswoodprep.org.uk

Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW

01264 710 766 farleighschool.com

TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER

2 St Paul’s Road, Cambridge CB1 2EZ

HYDE PARK SCHOOL

01223 471 703 sanctonwood.co.uk

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

24 Elvaston Place, London SW7 5NL

FOREST SCHOOL

020 7225 3131 hydeparkschool.co.uk

SINCLAIR HOUSE MONTESSORI NURSERY

KING’S HOUSE SCHOOL

196 Munster Road, Fulham, London SW6 6AU

Snaresbrook, London E17 3PY

020 8520 1744 forest.org.uk SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

GLENESK SCHOOL Ockham Road North, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 6NS

01483 282 329 gleneskschool.co.uk

68 Kings Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6ES

020 8940 1878 kingshouseschool.org

NOTRE DAME SCHOOL

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Burwood House, Convent Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1HA

GREENFIELD SCHOOL

01932 869 990 notredame.co.uk

Brooklyn Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7TP

SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER & TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER

01483 772 525 greenfield.surrey.sch.uk

OAKLANDS SCHOOL 6-8 Albion Hill, Loughton, Essex IG10 4RA

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGIATE

020 8508 3517 oaklandsschool.co.uk

01794 512 206 hampshirecs.org.uk SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER & THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

SINCLAIR HOUSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 59 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER

PAINT POTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL

15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL

020 8557 7070 sydenhamhighschool.co.uk SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

THE LYCEUM SCHOOL 6 Paul Street, City of London, London EC2A 4JH

020 7247 1588 lyceumschool.co.uk

020 7736 9182 sinclairhouseschool.co.uk

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER, TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER & TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER & SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER

THE MALL SCHOOL

54 Eaton Rise, Ealing, London W5 2ES

185 Hampton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 5NQ

020 8862 2000 stbenedicts.org.uk

020 8614 1082 themallschool.org.uk

NURSERY: 1 & 6 OCTOBER, 3 & 24 NOVEMBER. JUNIOR: 15 SEPTEMBER, 1 OCTOBER & 8 NOVEMBER. SENIOR: 13 SEPTEMBER, 1 & 13 OCTOBER & 14 NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER & FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER

ST CATHERINE’S, BRAMLEY

ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL

THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Embley Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6ZA

020 7736 9182 sinclairhouseschool.co.uk

SYDENHAM HIGH JUNIOR SCHOOL

THE WHITE HOUSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

HAWKESDOWN HOUSE

St Stephens Church, Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QT

27 Edge Street, London W8 7PN

07527 100 534 paint-pots.co.uk

Station Road, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey GU5 0DF

24 Thornton Road, Clapham Park, London SW12 0LF

020 7727 9090 hawkesdown.co.uk

PARKSIDE SCHOOL

01483 899 665 stcatherines.info

020 8674 9514 whitehouseschool.com

HAWLEY PLACE SCHOOL

The Manor, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3PX

PREP: 14 SEPTEMBER, 6 OCTOBER & 4 NOVEMBER. SENIOR: 16 SEPTEMBER, 5 OCTOBER & 8 NOVEMBER

WALHAMPTON PREP SCHOOL

Fernhill Road, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey GU17 9HU

01932 862 749 parkside-school.co.uk FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER

ST HILARY’S SCHOOL

01276 32028 hawleyplace.com

REDDAM HOUSE

SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER

Bearwood Road, Wokingham

60 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

Holloway Hill, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1RZ

Lymington, Hampshire SO41 5ZG

01590 613 300 walhampton.com FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

INTERVIEW

MY SCHOOL LIFE Elliot Galvin

TH E LON DON-BASED JA Z Z MUSICIAN TELL S US HOW HIS TIM E AT TRINIT Y L ABAN CON SERVATOIR E SHAPED HIS MUSIC CAR EER Did you enjoy school?

I did! I’ve always liked learning new things and I had some good friends. There were jazz band rehearsals on Tuesdays, which I very much enjoyed.

A small group of us got really into playing jazz – a few of them ended up becoming professional musicians, too.

How did you end up attending Junior Trinity?

My parents saw it advertised and said I should go for it.

I thought it would be fun, so went along to the audition and was accepted.

What was your most memorable moment at the school?

I have lots of great memories, but if I had to pick one, it would be hearing a piece I wrote for the choir being performed for the first time.

I had never had another ensemble play my music before and I was very nervous! But they sang it beautifully, and it was really amazing to hear someone else interpret something I had written for the first time.

How did your musical interests begin?

From a very young age there was always a lot of music around the house. Neither of my parents played an instrument, but they had a great record collection! My next door neighbour had an upright piano and I used to go round and play on it, improvising and making things up. I became kind of obsessed with playing the piano – I even drew out a little keyboard once and pretended to play it like the real thing!

Eventually we got one of our own and it went on from there.

So, did you always want to become a musician?

When I was about 10 I wanted to be an actor, but I decided to take the piano a bit more seriously at around 12. I guess from that age I decided I wanted to be a professional musician when I grew up.

If you hadn’t made it in music, what would you be doing now?

I really don’t know, maybe acting or something in the arts that involves performance. I always liked the idea of being a director – maybe that’s the control freak in me!

62 | LITTLE LONDON GUIDES | AUTUMN 2016

What’s the greatest lesson music has taught you?

That everything is music; the trick is to hear it that way.

The Elliot Galvin Trio includes bass player Tom McCredie an d drummer Simon Roth

You’ve just released your latest album, Punch. Where does your inspiration Punch come from?

I listen to a lot of music, read a lot and go to see art when I can. I think creativity is a bit like a muscle – if you exercise it, it’s easier to use. I’m lucky to be surrounded by a lot of great musicians and artists my own age, and I find that my peers give me a lot of inspiration. L To fi nd out more about Junior Trinity, visit trinitylaban.ac.uk/junior-trinity.

Punch from the Elliot Galvin Trio is available to buy and download now.

Elliot credits his parents and after-school jazz rehearsals for developing his love of music

OPEN MORNINGS Nursery & Junior School

College & Sixth Form

30 September & 1 October 2016

1 October 2016

Call 01932 839437 Book now at www.stgeorgesweybridge.com Leading independent co-educational Roman Catholic day schools in Surrey offering a values-led education for 3 to 18 year olds.

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