Independent School Parent Spring Prep 2019

C E L E B R AT I N G T H E V E R Y B E S T I N E D U C AT I O N

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F R E E | P R E P E D I T I O N | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 | i n d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l p a re n t .co m

Creative spaces

at Kensington Prep

Let’s go outside Off to forest, farm and beach school

EXPERT ADVICE

Managing a busy school life

TRUE GRIT Lessons in character and tenacity

WIN!

A HOLIDAY IN ANDALUCIA

BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS

How to apply for help with school fees

MoreMore than just a school

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a community a where community individuals matter

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A co-educationalA countryco-educational countr y Funding for military EYFS Outstanding in prep school taking prep children school taking children families available All Areas ISI (May 2016) from 3 months from - 13 years in 3 months - 13 years in 34 Awards from 39 a beautiful setting, a beautiful combining setting, combining New Performing Arts Centre children to academic senior outstanding academic outstanding and and Open Sept 2018 schools in 2017/18 success, with extra-curricular extra-curricular success, with a culture of kindness a culture of kindness Brand New Early Years Scholarship applications founded on Catholic founded on Catholic facility with wrap around now being taken for Sept principles. principles. care open Sept 2017 2019

Moor Park, Richards Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire, Moor SY8 4DZ 01584 876 061

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head@moorpark.org.uk www.moorpark.org.uk 01584

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INSIDE

WELCOME

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT • PREP EDITION • SPRING 2019

7 12 14 16

Running fever Sedbergh’s most popular race

Face of the future We talk to rising star, Maria Paduroiu

The classics Studying Latin and classical civilisation

The law of averages Encourage children to do their best

38

Striking a chord

41

Peer friends

44

Bursaries & scholarships

52

Getting creative

59 63 64

Creating an eco-friendly campus Promoting orchestral instrument uptake The importance of pastoral care A case-study special Creative curriculums transform learning

Going local RGS’s outreach programme

Taking big steps Alderley Edge’s Leap of Faith week

Ask the experts Adjusting to a busy school life

School hero The life of a legendary music teacher

In 10 pictures...

Kensington Prep

66

Ones to watch

70

Swiss bliss

72 76 82

CLAUDIA DUDMAN, EDITOR

Balancing screen and family time

Saving the planet

56

Follow us @ISParent.Mag

Overcoming failure fosters resilience

36

54

Like us at @Independent SchoolParent

The outside world The benefits of outdoor learning

26

34

Tweet us @ISParent

ISOTY awards How the judges came to their decisions

Facebook vs. facetime

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All the education figures you need

Trial and error

30

ast summer, we launched our inaugural awards campaign to highlight and celebrate the quality of the independentschool experience. And we were thrilled with the level of response: transformative, inspirational and innovative programmes are underway in schools from Scotland to Cornwall. It’s apparent that from Pre-Preps to Seniors, the independent sector is truly thriving!

This issue is dedicated to some of the winners and the highly commended picks. Schools are communities made up of hundreds of teachers, support staff, parents and pupils, all with a story to tell. Our awards were their chance to do just that, whether it’s ambitious plans to promote social mobility – read Latymer School’s story on page 44 – or Rising Star award winner, Maria Paduroiu, a Roedean alumnae who’d never been to the UK until she won a scholarship to study here (page 30).

A winners’ supplement will be out in March, but until then, check out the winners’ list by heading to independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk.

Nominations for our 2019 awards open in the spring, so keep an eye out for our magazines and on our website for entry details…

School stats

25 28

Saint Ronan’s School, Kent offers a multitude of outdoor learning opportunities

In brief A round-up of the latest school news

The all-star alumni Self-care in the Swiss Alps

Win a luxury mini-break Win a three-night stay in Andalusia

Family life Holidays and diary dates

School memories The City of London’s Lord Mayor, Peter Estlin

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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An all-through education for your whole family Boys and Girls 2-18 years old To book a tour of any of our Nursery, Preparatory or Upper Schools visit:

www.eatonsquareschool.com Belgravia

Kensington

Knightsbridge

Pimlico

Mayfair

WHO’S WHO

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ Tel (020) 7349 3700 Fax (020) 7349 3701 Email editor@independentschoolparent.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Meet the experts sharing their years of invaluable educational experience

DAVID MONCRIEFF A publisher specialising in education and heritage, he previously worked for more than 12 years as Director of Marketing Services at the British Tourist Authority.

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Maxine Briggs Editor Claudia Dudman Online Editor Jennifer Read-Dominguez Sub Editors Laura Sutherland, Natalie Keeler Editorial Assistant Annie Quinton

COLIN BELL is CEO of COBIS which works with and supports students, teachers, leaders, support staff and governors from high quality British international schools in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Creative Director Chloë Collyer Senior Designer Natalie Dourado PUBLISHING Managing Director Paul Dobson Deputy Managing Director Steve Ross Chief Financial Officer Vicki Gavin Publishing Director Paul Rayner Director of Media James Dobson Production www.allpointsmedia.co.uk Printed in England by William Gibbons Head of Circulation Daniel Webb 020 7349 3710 ADVERTISING Head of Market Julie Price Advertising Manager Harriet Cottrell Senior Sales Executives Andrew Mackenzie, Henry Barton

DR HELEN WRIGHT

is a former President of the GSA and Vice-Chair of ISC. Since 2014 she has worked in international education advising, recruiting and coaching senior leaders in schools across the world. She’s also the chair judge of our inaugural awards campaign.

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 2019.

All rights reserved

SUE WOODROOFE has been a headteacher for 12 years, at The British School of Brussels and now at The Grammar School at Leeds.

SIR ANTHONY SELDON is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham. He was 13th Master of Wellington College in Berkshire from 2006 to 2015.

PETER YOUNG is an independent school governor and Chairman of the Business Marketing Awards.

DISTRIBUTION Independent School Parent is for parents of children in Prep and Senior independent schools. The Independent School Parent magazine in Prep and Senior issues is published termly. Parents can subscribe for a free issue at: independentschoolparent. com/register © The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2019. All rights reserved. Text and pictures are copyright restricted and must not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The information contained in The Guide to Independent Schools has been published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. All liability for loss, negligence or damage caused by reliance on the information contained within this publication is hereby excluded.

TORY GILLINGHAM is the Managing Director for AMCIS, Admissions, Marketing & Communications in Independent Schools, which now has more than 500 schools in membership. She has more than 25 years’ experience of the independent schools sector.

AILEEN KANE is the Boarding Schools Association’s Director of Operations, which oversees all media, marketing, sponsorship, finance and HR facilities. Aileen is also a member of BSA’s senior leadership team.

ANDREW FLECK

is Principal of Sedbergh School, Cumbria, having been Headmaster since 2002. He relinquished that position in order to take up this new role, which encompasses strategic oversight and operational direction.

Independent School Parent also publishes The Guide to Independent Schools biannually to help you choose the right school.

RACHEL KERR has worked with independent schools since 2000.

She’s currently Communications Manager at the Girls’ Schools Association.

MARK STRETTON joined HMC as Communications Manager last year bringing with him more than 15 years’ experience and expertise in education sector communications.

COVER: ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL, EALING

IAN MASON After working in local authority communications teams across London, Ian became the Head of Media and Communications for the Independent Schools Council in 2017.

JULIAN THOMAS is Master of Wellington College and Chief Executive of the Wellington College Group of Academies and Schools.

ALISON FLEMING

has been Headmistress at Newton Prep, Battersea since September 2013. She began her teaching career learning her ‘craft’ in state schools.

BEN VESSEY joined Canford in 2013 as Headmaster from Christ’s Hospital, where he was Senior Deputy Head. He’s currently Vice Chair of the HMC Professional Development sub-committee.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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SCHOOL NEWS

IN BRIEF

STUDENT SUCCESSES • LANDMARK CELEBRATIONS • FUNDRAISING FEATS • NEW HEADTEACHERS Beaudesert Park’s cast of Bugsy Malone get into character with a dress rehearsal

Looking the part Beaudesert Park, Gloucestershire

Year Eight looted dressing-up boxes for a production of Bugsy Malone. To dress the cast of gangsters and molls, 150 costumes were required – and a teacher even loaned a vintage Austin car as a prop! Staged in the school’s high-spec performing arts centre, the show was accompanied by the Speakeasy Band – a tuneful mix of music teachers and Year Seven pupils.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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SCHOOL NEWS

IN BRIEF

That’s ace

Cothill House, Oxford

10-year-old Ignas Grusnius, added to his trophy cabinet last term after winning a coveted award at the Tennis Oxfordshire Junior Awards 2018. The Year Six pupil won the prize for the Most Improved County Player Under 12. Having had a phenomenal year on the LTA circuit, Ignas won the LTA Summer National Tour 10 & Under Finals in straight sets to become 2018’s champion.

Headmaster Duncan Bailey said: “After an outstanding year, Ignas has done exceptionally well to win this impressive award. He has worked hard on his game and thoroughly deserves this recognition. We’re all incredibly proud of his success.”

• WE HEART ART Abingdon School, Oxford

Will Gompertz, Arts Editor at the BBC, was the guest of honour at the official opening of Beech Court, which houses the school’s new Sixth Form centre, library and art department.

• LEST WE FORGET Strathallan, Perthshire

A Great War memorial sculpture was unveiled in honour of the fallen Strathallians and three school captains from 1914-18, followed by a commemorative dinner.

Ignas has his sights set on a future on the Grand Slam circuit

Kingswood House, Surrey

New senior teaching accommodation has been opened. The Peter Brooks building’s launch ceremony was conducted by the Rt Hon Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom & Ewell.

Beachy clean

Youth in the frame

Garden state

Rydal Penrhos, Wales

London

Nationwide

The Early Years group joined a beach clean up organised by the Marine Conservation Society. Children picked up litter on the Colwyn Bay shore as part of the Coastal School scheme, which gives pupils an opportunity to learn more about their surroundings on a weekly basis.

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen, along with Tate Britain, Artangel and A New Direction, have announced one of the most ambitious contemporary art projects: a portrait of an entire age group of Londoners, capturing tens of thousands of Year Three schoolchildren. #Year3Project

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has launched a brand new, free digital learning platform for primary and secondary education funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the £15.6m grant towards the Temperate House Project. To find out more, kew. org/endeavour

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

• WHAT’S PUP? Bickley Park, Bromley

A head teacher’s pet has taken on the role of ‘pupil whisperer’, now acting as a therapist for pupils. Selkie, the 4-yearold labrador, is now an honorary member of staff.

PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN RUSSO

Cleaning up Colwyn Bay

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• OPEN ALL HOURS

g i B m a e r D

HANDCROSS PARK

BE TR EWE

HANDCROSS PARK A

B R I G H T O N

C O L L E G E

S C H O O L

‘Simply magical – an enchanting place for your children to grow.’

(Tatler Schools Guide 2019)

WEEKLY BOARDING AVAILABLE NO SATURDAY SCHOOL BUS SERVICE TO AND FROM LONDON

WWW.HANDCROSSPARKSCHOOL.CO.UK Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6HF

An independent co-educational school for children 3 - 13 years

One of Chelsea's best kept secrets Early Years | Pre-Prep | Prep

OPEN MORNINGS

Thursday 21 March | Wednesday 15 May 09.00 - 11.15 am To book a place, please visit www.thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk/open-day Pre-Prep and Prep School: 15 Manresa Road, London, SW3 6NB | Early Years: 5 Wetherby Place, London, SW7 4NX

0207 352 7077

admissions@thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk

SCHOOL NEWS

HEADS ON THE MOVE It’s all change for these schools

Alastair Land is the new Headmaster of Harrow School from April.

Jo Duncan is the new Head of Wycombe Abbey, Bucks.

Tyrone Howe takes up the reins at Shiplake College in Henley on Thames in the autumn.

Sue Baillie is the new Head of Queen Margaret’s, York.

Dan Harrison has started as the new Head of Sedbergh School, Cumbria

Merchiston passes go!

Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

The school has announced that it’ll be in Edinburgh’s latest version of Monopoly. The Edinburgh game has been popular for 20 years, and the new version was released in November 2018. With the city having so many choices of educational institutions to include, the school is thrilled to be on the board alongside Edinburgh University and George Watson’s College.

It’s available at Ryman, Waitrose, Waterstones and Amazon.

Fast Freddie had success on the track

Vegas vroom!

Baking by the book

Bromsgrove Prep, Worcestershire

Cranmore School, Surrey

10-year-old pupil Freddie Slater travelled to Las Vegas to compete in an international go-kart race. After becoming Vice World Champion in Le Mans, he took part in Superkarts USA’s 22nd Supernationals Grand Final. Going head to head with 50 others from around the world, Freddie placing sixth in the qualifying heat and 11th in the final!

Annual Book Week got off to a delicious start with a Bake a Cake based on a Book competition. The sugar rush when all of the showstoppers went on display in the library was palpable, and the high baking standards made the judging process extremely difficult. The winners from each year group received book tokens to use in the Book Fair.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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SCHOOLS

91% of all pupils at ISC schools go on to higher education

6.5% OF UK SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED IN THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SECTOR

1,054 SCHOOL STATS Have the facts and figures

WITHIN THE ISC:

636

ARE JUNIOR SCHOOLS

Within the ISC

at your fingertips

There are

529,164 pupils educated in the independent sector

130,683 pupils are from a minority ethnic background

1,020 SCHOOLS HAVE SPORTS PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE SCHOOLS

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL BRINGS TOGETHER SEVEN ASSOCIATIONS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, THEIR HEADS, GOVERNORS AND BURSARS. THEY REPRESENT:

171,488 PUPILS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING SCHOOL FEES

1,326 33% SCHOOLS IN THE UK

THERE ARE 58,573 FULLTIME EQUIVALENT TEACHERS EMPLOYED AT ISC SCHOOLS.

of candidates at ISC schools gained 40+ points in the International Baccalaureate diploma

And what are the costs?

*

£90,111: TOTAL JUNIOR SCHOOL DAY FEES FROM 4-11 £140,193: TOTAL JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL FEES FROM 8-13 £103,062: TOTAL SENIOR DAY SCHOOL FEES FROM 11-18 £169,935: TOTAL SENIOR BOARDING SCHOOL FEES FROM 13-18

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

*JUNIOR SCHOOLS WHERE ALL PUPILS ARE IN YEAR EIGHT AND BELOW, AND SENIOR SCHOOLS WHERE PUPILS ARE IN YEAR SEVEN AND ABOVE. **ALL FACTS, FIGURES AND FEES ARE TAKEN FROM THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL CENSUS 2018. SCHOOL FEES ARE BASED ON AN AVERAGE TERM’S FEE OF £4,291 AT JUNIOR DAY SCHOOL, £8,243 PER TERM AT JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL + TWO YEARS’ SENIOR BOARDING FEES FOR YEARS SEVEN-EIGHT. SENIOR DAY SCHOOL AVERAGE TERM’S FEE £4,862, SENIOR BOARDING SCHOOL AVERAGE TERM’S FEE £11,001. SIXTH FORM BOARDING AVERAGE TERM’S FEE £11,821. SIXTH FORM DAY AVERAGE TERM’S FEE £5,022. BOARDING FEE OF £11,001, SIXTH FORM DAY SCHOOL FEE OF £5,022 AND SIXTH FORM BOARDING FEES OF £11,881

schools are co-educational

244

ARE SENIOR SCHOOLS*

ar ou nd M th ovin ec g or ju ne st rSe pt

We are Confident, Creative and Kind 2019 will be an exciting year for the Lyceum as we move around the corner into our new five story building on Worship Street.

Please join us at our special

Open Morning Tuesday 26th February to hear all about our future plans and get a sneak preview of the new building Book your place online today!

www.lyceumschool.co.uk

‘19

AWARDS

Dr Helen Wright, the chair of our inaugural Independent Schools of the Year awards explains how she and the panel of judges reached their decision when selecting the 2018 winners in of each of the 18 categories…

I

t was an enormous pleasure and privilege to be the chair of the judging panel for this year’s Independent Schools of the Year Awards!

The panel brought together highly experienced leaders in the world of independent education, representing a number of the prominent organisations in the sector, and included judges who were also parents and governors. Between them, the judges possessed an arguably unrivalled combined wealth of wisdom and insight into how great schools operate, and they had a particularly hard task, as there were more than 200 entries from every corner of the UK; the winners were real stars in their field.

The focus of these awards was resolutely on student experience, and this shines through in the stories you’ll read in this edition of Independent School Parent. As parents, you know that above all, you want your child to be happy at school, and the quality of the experience they have during their time at the school is crucial to this. For

Wellington College, Berkshire Below, pupils from KAA Academy

ABOVE ALL, you want your child to be happy at school, AND THE QUALITY OF THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE DURING THEIR TIME AT THE SCHOOL IS CRUCIAL TO THIS children to become confident and self-assured, they need to feel fulfi lled and valued, and they need to have access to opportunities that match their interests and strengths, as well as to be supported in areas which aren’t perhaps their natural forte. This is what parents are – quite rightly – looking for in schools.

Great schools – and you will read about many of them in the next few pages – really believe in children and in their ability to grow and develop, becoming the best of themselves, and as judges it was uplift ing to see and feel the energy and excitement in the sector. These schools are vibrant, exciting places, which are constantly developing, as they respond to the individual needs of their students.

There’s indeed a school for every child, and the pupils of today really are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful breadth of choice.

The process of sift ing and judging the awards was extremely thorough … and extremely difficult! So many of the entries were outstanding that it was in some cases very hard to choose a winner. The stories were captivating, and a real testament to the efforts of the teachers and school leaders who work so hard to provide for the children in their care.

So – enjoy reading these stories of some of the Independent Schools of the Year, and join us in celebrating these positive experiences in schools across the country.

To find out more about the awards, log on at:

independentschoolsoftheyear.co.uk 14

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Open Mind. Open Door.

Open Future.

Prep School

Senior School

Sixth Form

Open Days 2019 Thursday 13th June 9.30am - 12 Noon Please contact Admissions to book your personal tour.

Saturday 21st September 9.30am - 12.30pm No need to book, please just come along.

2 mins walk from Northwood Tube

An Independent Day School for Girls aged 3 – 18

Celebrating 120 years of St Helen’s www.sthelens.london

Admissions 01923 843230

PREP SCHOOL

Saint Ronan’s, Kent

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

PREP SCHOOL

The outside

world

Whether children are at the beach learning about tides or out on the farm caring for pigs, chickens and sheep, the great outdoors teaches as much as the classroom

I

s

ndependent schools offer a rounded education in and outside of the classroom. Forest School, Beach School and Farm School are usually held weekly for Pre-Prep pupils, to help develop a child’s sense of wellbeing through regular activities in their local environment.

They encourage a child’s desire to be active; and makes them confident, engaged and develop communication skills when sharing their new discoveries with others. Learning about the great outdoors is vital when our lives are becoming ever more remote from it, with consequences for our understanding of plants and wildlife and for the value that’s placed on them. Educating children about the natural world is intrinsic to its survival and deepens their relationship with it for years to come.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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PREP SCHOOL

SAINT RONAN’S, KENT (Outdoor School)

Outdoor learning is integral to the curriculum

s

Beyond a cherished valley known as the Gulch, lies the mysterious Dinosaur Bowl, home to Snor. Here, beside the Hobbit Hut, Radagast guards magical Tongswood: it’s a beautiful ancient woodland adored by both kids and teachers. Opportunities and challenges are provided; the desire to discover and explore is palpable when rambling through the woods and across the grounds – a truly enriching experience for staff and children alike.

Our Top 20 Things to do in the Pre-Prep include going down a mud slide, building a den and creating natural art. Among other skills, children are taught how to use flint to start a fire, a skill that relies not only on perseverance, at times, but bravery and determination too.

Outdoor learning is integral to the Nursery and Pre-Prep curriculum; alongside the outdoor forest there’s also Paradise Farm. At the farm, the children collect and count eggs, muck out pig arcs and hold the animals.

By the end of their time in the Pre-Prep the children will have had a go at completing the 20 challenges. Curiosity, imagination and empathy, some of Saint Ronan’s core values, go hand in hand with the challenges.

CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT HOW TO USE FLINT TO START A FIRE, a skill that relies not only on perseverance, AT TIMES, BUT BRAVERY AND DETERMINATION TOO

SCHOOL STATS HEADTEACHER:

William TrelawnyVernon NUMBER OF PUPILS :

430 YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

1883

MOTTO AND TRANSLATION (IF IN LATIN) :

Floreat Saint Ronan’s or Let Saint Ronan’s Flourish!

EXAM RESULTS (COMMON ENTRANCE):

Children muck out the pigs

100% pass at Common Entrance, 29 Scholarships, including 7 Academic, 11 Sport, 4 Music, 3 Drama, 1 D&T, 1 All Rounder and 2 Art. Champions of the Southern UK Prep School Cricket, National Finalists.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent, Piers De Lazlo, Artist, Airey Neave, MP, Mark Shand, Conservationist, Charles SaumarezSmith CEO, the Royal Academy of Arts LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS:

Eton, Harrow, King’s Canterbury, Eastbourne College, Benenden, Sevenoaks, Hurst, Lancing and the Purcell.

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Alpha Plus Group 17 Individual Schools - 3 Individual Colleges

HAPPINESS

Chepstow House School is part of the Alpha Plus Group.

Learn more: www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk

Tel: 020 7487 6000 Twitter: @Alpha_PlusGroup

www.alphaplusgroup.co.uk

St Augustine’s Priory’s grounds are perfect for a Farm School

ST AUGUSTINE’S PRIORY, LONDON (Farm School)

At the Priory, the grounds provide food for thought, mental space and ways of living sympathetically with the environment.

On the farm, girls care for the animals – chickens, micro-pigs and an endangered variety of sheep. And parents are involved too: one mum came in at 10pm each night during the summer to train chicks to stay on their perch! Whether gathering apples from the orchard for the pigs, or selling eggs to buy chicken feed, these are lifelong habits.

The head of science has led this farm organically, and in doing so has taught girls life lessons. When a neighbour complained about the cockerel crowing, he built a shed using physics to muffle the sound. Solar panels on the chicken coop power the electric door which keeps the chicks safe from foxes.

The orchard has trees which are more than 100 years old, most of which are native species, including historic varieties like the wild service tree with autumn fruits. The girls press apples for delicious juice. The nuns who lived on this site originally were self-sufficient, and now the produce is grown by St Augustine’s girls.

THE ORCHARD HAS TREES WHICH ARE MORE THAN 100

years old, most of which are native species, INCLUDING HISTORIC VARIETIES LIKE WILD SERVICE

SCHOOL STATS HEADTEACHER:

Mrs Sarah Raffray NUMBER OF PUPILS:

481

NOTABLE ALUMNAE:

Phoebe WallerBridge, George Sand, Jacqueline Stuyt-Simpson (one of the co-founders of CAFOD), Hannah Kendall (composer) and Valerie Hobson (actor 1930s–1950s).

MOTTO:

Veritas meaning Truth.

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

Girls care for the animals

Its history dates back to 1631 when Lettice Mary Tredway, an English nun at the convent of Notre Dame de Beaulieu at Douai and Father Thomas Carre, conceived the idea of founding an order in France for English women who wished to pursue a religious vocation but were prevented from doing so in England due to religious persecution.

PREBENDAL, WEST SUSSEX (Beach School)

Beach School is loved by all and appreciated every season: from blustery autumn mornings to fresh spring visits and sumptuous summer days, its dunes never fail to delight.

The essence of outdoor learning is captured in every moment. Exciting discoveries, learning about tides and weather, all while breathing in fresh sea air, it’s a perfect way of engaging pupils away from the classroom.

“After all, they’re only children once,” says Headmistress Louise Salmond Smith.

Beach School promotes life skills such as social communication, problem solving and cooperation while understanding the rhythms of nature help promote health and wellbeing.

“Of course,” the Head adds, “there’s a huge amount of fun and enjoyment going on too!”

Alongside Beach School, Prebendal takes every opportunity to broaden horizons, and its location in the heart of Chichester means Learning outdoors is confidence building independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

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JAMES ALLEN’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL, LONDON (Forest School) Pre-Prep pupils have been visiting a half-acre area of woodland called The Copse for several years. It was first planted nearly 200 years ago, and it’s now a mature piece of woodland boasting a wide variety of trees. Using the traditional Forest School approach to learning, pupils gain extensive knowledge of the natural environment through regular sessions which develop their emotional intelligence, selfawareness and communication skills.

The Copse has a large grass area and clearing with a circle of logs where the girls sit. It provides an ideal, safe environment for Forest School sessions (waterproof clothing is provided as sessions continue in most weathers!) Some of the activities include mud painting, den making, creating art using natural materials, imaginative play, nature trails, finding insects and worms, bark rubbing, flora and fauna identification and making dreys for squirrels.

SCHOOL STATS HEAD OF PRE-PREP:

Elizabeth Channon FOUNDED:

JAGS was established more than 270 years, making it London’s oldest independent girls’ school.

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

110 pupils ALUMNI:

Anita Brookner, Dharshini David, Sally Hawkins, Charlotte Ritchie Catherine Shepherd.

FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND:

The newest pastoral team members are Reverend Cécile Schnyder and her friend Lina, the rather popular Chaplaincy basset hound.

JAGS takes a traditional approach to Forest School

MUSICAL HISTORY:

SCHOOL STATS HEADTEACHER:

Louise Salmond Smith NUMBER OF PUPILS:

160

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

Prebendal is the oldest school in Sussex, dating back to the foundation of Chichester Cathedral.

MOTTO & TRANSLATION:

Fons Sapientiae Verbum Dei means The Word of God is the Fountain of Wisdom.

LEAVERS

Year Eight pupils consistently win scholarships and awards to leading Senior schools. In 2018, these included Academic, AllRounder, Art, Drama and Music.

pupils can walk to all manner of attractions right on their doorstep. The school has also invested in an outdoor classroom and amphitheatre so alfresco learning on school grounds is easily accessible for all year groups.

Being outdoors contributes positively to child development, as the freedom to explore and learn has a profound effect on self-esteem and confidence. As one Year Two pupil wrote in the school magazine: “I loved Beach School.

One time, we made a huge pyramid and covered it in stones and I found a big piece of sea glass to put at the top as the capstone. The tide came in, so I made a secret chamber at the bottom so that the seawater would go inside it.”

s

The girls love The Copse

Composer Vaughan Williams came to JAGS as Director of Music in 1904, before introducing his friend Gustav Holst to the school. Holst went on to teach music at JAGS for more than 15 years.

Children can make exciting discoveries at Beach School

NOTABLE ALUMNI:

William Juxon 15821663 (Archbishop of Canterbury 166063), John Selden 1584-1654 (jurist, philosopher and parliamentarian).

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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PREP SCHOOL

MOULSFORD, OXFORDSHIRE

The boys learn to manage their own risks in the outdoor enviroment

(Forest School)

At Moulsford, one of the boys’ favourite activities is Forest School, with all pupils having the opportunity to explore and learn outdoors (including an overnight camp for the Year Eight boys) during their time here. PrePrep boys visit Forest School weekly.

The woods at the two Forest School sites are about more than just fun. It’s an incredibly important and valued part of Pre-Prep life and the space, time and surroundings enable the boys to immerse themselves in openended learning opportunities. Lighting fires, roasting marshmallows, den building, knot tying, wood cutting, whittling, making bows and arrows and drinking hot chocolate are all delights they’ll enjoy. Or just kicking back and enjoying the view with Bosun the Forest School dog. The boys learn to climb trees safely and manage their own risk on the rope swing or rope bridge.

At Forest School, pupils build their skills in cooperation, communication, problem solving, assessed risk taking and leadership. The activities they pursue foster self-confidence, resilience and perseverance. They’re able to see the awe and wonder of the changing seasons and thrive in a safe, well-organised outdoor space, without the constraints of time.

LIGHTING FIRES, ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS, DEN BUILDING, knot tying,

wood cutting, whittling, making bows and arrows and drinking hot chocolate ARE ALL DELIGHTS THE BOYS ENJOY.

SCHOOL STATS HEAD OF PRE-PREP:

Nikki Hartley

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

367 boys

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

1961

LEAVERS DESTINATIONS:

Moulsford has two Forest School sites

In 2018 Moulsford sent 43 boys to 13 different senior schools at 13+.

These are: Abingdon, Radley, Eton, Magdalen College School, Wellington, Marlborough, St Edwards, Stowe, Bradfield, Cokethorpe, Pangbourne, Shiplake and Milton Abbey. Boys won 4 Academic, 2 All Rounder, 1 Music and 3 Sports Scholarships.

ALL ABOUT THE SCHOOL:

Moulsford is set in picturesque grounds on the banks of the River Thames, surrounded by the rolling hills of South Oxfordshire.

The Swallows and Amazons riverside setting provides a different dimension to life with kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and sailing dinghies all put to good use.

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

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COMMENT

HEADS UP

TRIAL AND ERROR Trying again after failure is an essential exercise in emotional resilience, says JENNIE PHILLIPS, Head of Agincourt Pre-Prep and Nursery, Monmouth The innate resilience of Agincourt’s intake varies from child to child

F Jennie Phillips is Head of Agincourt Pre-Prep and Nursery

ollowing a comprehensive audit of our provision three years ago, we introduced a whole new skills-based curriculum, designed to foster our four ‘R’s – Resilience, Resourcefulness, Respect and Reflection.

When measuring resilience, we should consider not just what individuals can do for themselves, but also the impact their environment has on them. The importance of schools in developing resilience cannot be overstated and in Pre-Prep terms, the children are buying in to our school motto: ‘we never give up!’

Building physical resilience has, in many ways, been the more straightforward part of the process. We’ve introduced Forest School and army cadet training, taken a good proportion of our learning outdoors and encouraged the children to challenge themselves to take physical risks. They’ve thrown themselves down a mud slide, hefted sandbags into place when recreating a World War One bunker and used hammers, saws and drills with confidence.

Our aim to also build intellectual and emotional resilience among our children has been the greater challenge. The innate resilience of our young intake varies dramatically from pupil to pupil, depending on personal characteristics, life experiences and external influences.

Some children come to us lacking the confidence to embrace new experiences, and it’s here where the ethos of the school, support from staff and older peers can play an important role. Seven-year-old peer mentors (buddies), prefects and school councillors all assist in helping new children adopt our ‘give it a go’ philosophy.

In our Pre-Prep and Nursery, the children learn very early on that failure isn’t something to fear but rather a ‘first attempt in learning’ and an appreciation of both the highs and lows of the learning process is fostered from the moment the children join us.

The School’s Confidence for Life programme covers all of the elements that you might expect to find in a standard PHSE curriculum, but has been extended to promote active discussion around wellbeing or concerns that the children raise. We’re avid supporters of the Action for Happiness campaign, of which the Dalai Lama is the patron, and the children learn about their 10 keys for a happier life. These keys are simple strategies designed to nurture a more positive state of mind, compassion and social trust. Children throughout the school benefit from regular opportunities to discuss their emotions and use the happy and sad scales to demonstrate how they’re feeling.

It’s not easy to provide evidence of the efficacy of our measures to increase levels of resilience within our children. However, we’re confident that putting emotional resilience and wellbeing at the heart of our provision, taking a good proportion of our learning outdoors and making time for independent and task-driven exploration have made our curriculum more accessible, more relevant and more deeply embedded within our children.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

25

COMMENT

FACEBOOK VS. FACETIME Social media isn’t all bad, writes broadcaster Afua Hirsch. The key is to find a balance so that screen time doesn’t take precedence over quality family time

new report by the non-profit Common Sense, for example, which has a reputation for media research on children and parenting in the US and has just made its first foray in the issues facing British parents, is largely optimistic about the role digital technology plays, and the ability of families to find the right balance.

To the extent we’re getting it wrong, it’s far from only children to blame. Parents were more worried about their own addiction to their smartphones than children were about theirs. A common complaint from teenagers is that they’d like their parents to disconnect more and spend more real facetime with them.

Online, offline

Unlike many of us, children live in a world that seamlessly blends on and offline, a world which – whether we like it or not – is here to

Easy access

Almost all of this is down to the fact that they have unparalleled access to information, of a kind I could only have dreamed of. And it seems to me they’re using it for good. They have enormous opportunities to develop their interests – whether it’s social justice, entrepreneurialism or baking – and join the communities where those interests thrive.

Through the people they choose to follow and like on social media, they’re curating a universe of like-minded and inspirational people that once they would never have even had access to.

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Do as I say, not as I do

This is, of course, not the side to teenage use of social media that we’re used to hearing about.

Instead, we’re anxious about their anxiety – as we watch levels of mental health problems, addiction and exposure to inappropriate sexual material rise. It’s hard not to notice how many of the parents who have founded or work at senior levels in social media and online companies themselves ban their own children from screen time – a telling indicator of how harmful they believe it can be.

We’re right to be concerned. But we tend to simplify the dynamic. Suggestions that the availability of online porn are directly linked to sexual assaults among children, for example, are among the most alarming, but also among the least proven.

Not all doom and gloom

That’s partly because more research is needed.

But some of the research currently being done confounds our doom and gloom attitudes. A

stay. There are undeniably children at risk from their online behaviour, but the evidence suggests these are the same children who were already at risk offline too.

Bad things do happen

I’m no stranger to the perils of life online – I’m told the amount of trolling I’ve come to expect from my TV commentary and writing contributions, is particularly vicious. The effects can be disarming at best, and seriously threatening at worst. We need to educate the next generation, and unfortunately prepare them too, for the fact that people will behave terribly towards them online.

But the trolls are a minority. Most of the people I follow are useful, interesting and often reaffirming. And the majority of children are experiencing their online lives as a mix of opportunity and challenge, in exactly the same way as that offline. As parents we need to help guide them through this, just as we would any other part of their journey.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

I

t’s hard to avoid comparing ourselves to our children’s generation. When I talk to teenagers at my daughter’s school – I can’t help at having a sense of awe at just how connected they are.

They’re literate in struggles of body positivity, feminism and economic inequality, even though, in the latter case, for example, many come from privileged backgrounds themselves.

They have heard of, and engage with, thinkers and writers whose lives and environments are radically different from their own.

THEY HAVE HEARD OF, AND ENGAGE WITH thinkers and writers whose lives and environments ARE RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN

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In pursuit of happiness ADRIAN DOW, headteacher of Greenwich Steiner School, outlines the importance of cherishing childhood

PHOTOGRAPHY: ADAM DICKENS

A

s a headteacher and a parent, I am constantly questioning what matters in education.

Having worked in a number of mainstream schools as a head of year, behaviour manager and teacher of mathematics, it is a joy to be leading a school where bullying is minimal, pastoral care is of a high standard, and children are happy and supportive of each other.

At Greenwich Steiner School, we follow a curriculum that’s based on developing the head, hands and heart. Our rigorous approach to education means we can integrate the arts in all academic disciplines for children aged three to 14, and we’re also currently in the exciting stage of developing our 14 to 18 provision.

Computers are non-existent here, and instead our teachers focus on delivering immersive, ‘doing’ activities, such as preparing, serving and eating food together, and engaging with toys, songs and stories.

There is a focus on emotional and social growth, and pupils are taught healthy life habits before moving into the Lower School (aged seven to 14), where their academic journey begins.

When you visit our school, you will see children who love living in the moment, who are free to explore nature and go wherever their wide-eyed sense of wonder takes them. In a world where pushing children to ‘hurry up or fall behind’ has become the norm, Steiner education believes childhood is something to be savoured. By developing at their own pace, Steiner-educated children enjoy full and rich childhoods, gaining the experience they need to become healthy, self-actualised individuals.

At our school, learning is an experiential activity. It’s not a matter of doing without certain experiences, but allowing children to enjoy those experiences at the right age.

When it’s time to teach the merits and uses of technology, our teachers do so, but the skills pupils develop through hands-on inquiry is

WHEN YOU VISIT OUR SCHOOL, you will

see children who love living in the moment,

WHO ARE FREE TO EXPLORE NATURE of far greater value than anything that can be picked up by staring at a screen.

The benefits of block learning have also long been recognised in Steiner education. In their daily morning, our students will spend up to two hours concentrating on one subject, which rotates every three to four weeks. Pupils have the chance to study each subject thoroughly and from a number of vantage points, which contributes to their enjoyment and understanding of the subject matter.

From discovering the alphabet to learning about anatomy, algebra and history, Steiner students take part in the learning process by creating their own textbooks, which they fill with stories, essays, poems, maps, illustrations, lab descriptions and maths equations. Rather than relying on pre-digested material in

conventional textbooks, the act of creating these books allows them to take control of their own learning.

All students study maths, science and foreign languages, they all play instruments and sing in the chorus, they all do homework and perform in plays, just as any child would.

Our goal, however, is to expose them to a wider range of experiences where they can develop many interests and talents.

At Greenwich Steiner School, education is not measured by competition and test scores, but viewed as a life-long journey. It’s our belief that with an educational approach that responds to a child’s natural interests, they cannot help but develop an intrinsic desire to find out more. greenwichsteinerschool.org.uk SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

27

SPORT

AT 2PM, JON RICHARDSON FIRES THE STARTING GUN. Nimble athletes quickly draw clear of the colourful mass of runners. INTERNATIONAL RUGBY PROP FORWARDS TRUNDLE JUBILANTLY DOWN THE STARTING SLOPE

The Morgan Run is all about great fun and participation

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

SPORT

Running fever Dan Harrison, Head of Sedbergh School, Cumbria – the winner of our Outstanding Sporting Achievement award – writes about the The Morgan Run, which the whole school takes part in each year

S

edbergh School is known for its spectacular location and sport. An amazing 12 pupils have represented their countries in the past year, yet inside the Houses of this full boarding school, 560 boys and girls are discussing only one thing, “Who will win the Wilson Run?” Established in 1881, this race has been run over the same course for the past 137 years. In 1899, Charles Pumphrey set a record which would stand until Charles Sykes broke it in 1993. Now, the record belongs to John Campbell, set in 2016.

Running fever consumes the school from Christmas to March, but while the Wilson Run is the school’s most famous race, the Morgan Run is the real jewel of our running season.

It’s a family affair

It’s a special moment in the year. The whole school runs it, and pupils are joined by staff teams, parents, Old Sedberghians and the fell-running elite. More than a race, it’s a celebration of spirit, landscape and great fun!

Runners start to assemble an hour before the start, as Jon Richardson distributes numbers and advice.

An elite runner, Richardson has coached the school’s teams to national success. This race is his favourite, “It’s growing in popularity – every year we have more parents and guests competing,” he says, “It’s a like a giant park run in better surroundings and on a more interesting course. At the front, the competition is among the best in the country, giving pupils the opportunity to run on equal terms with international athletes. It’s all about fun and participation.

The rivalry between friends, boarding houses and staff is the best bit. There’s a party afterwards, but no prizes.”

And they’re off..

At 2pm, Richardson fires the starting gun. Nimble athletes quickly draw clear of the colourful mass of runners.

International rugby prop forwards trundle jubilantly down the starting slope alongside musicians, out for their first run of the season; girls and boys compete with their parents, and the staff team is out to prove a point. The race thins out 400 metres in, as runners are faced with the first climb on the school cross-country course, which is swift ly left behind as they pour out of town and on to the fells. Now the running is getting serious, cheerful chatter is replaced by laboured breathing as the course ascends Frostrow Fell; a stream of fluorescent runners navigating the heather-clad slopes and streams. Marshalls shout encouragement and the school’s photographer, Steve Cooling, tracks the race on his mountain bike. “I’ve covered this race so many times, in sunshine, snow and driving rain; I know every angle.” he says, “Every race is different and it’s the pupils’ personalities which make it so enjoyable. Some give me a smile and a wave, others are so consumed by their personal race that they never see me.”

Slipping and sliding

Runners slip and slide off the fell at Africa. The farm is a landmark, but no-one knows how it got its name. For some, this is where the race begins, as the remaining two miles are on faster running surfaces along roads and across fields. 26 minutes after the start, Sam Fisher takes line honours from professional athlete, Ben Mounsey and English International, Ted Mason. For the next 90 minutes, mud-spattered runners stream joyfully over the finish line, each one congratulated by the enthusiastic Richardson. The finishing field fi lls up as runners stay to swap stories and applaud those who run in behind them.

An hour after the last runner finishes, pupils, parents, staff and guest runners – now showered – gather for tea, drinks and a light-hearted race commentary by Richardson who has gathered the stories from the day. No one’s counting calories.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

29

COMMENT

PUPIL VOICE

FACE OF THE FUTURE MARIA PADUROIU, 18, the winner of our Rising Star award, first came to the UK from Romania after winning a scholarship to Roedean, West Sussex Can you tell us a little about how you got in to Roedean?

I loved my school back home.

I’d been enrolled for six years before I left. I was studying on a maths and computer science programme in a class with some of the best students I’ve ever met. However, the political system in our country was deteriorating by the day, and my parents and I knew that I didn’t want to stay. So with the help of one of our closest friends, Marlen, who was advertising the HMC scholarships, I applied.

Did you have any reservations about attending a UK school?

I knew nothing about boarding schools and I had never heard of one that was just for girls before. As someone who grew up with two brothers and in a co-ed school, the fact that I was going to be surrounded just by girls scared me a bit.

All I could think about before I got there were movies like Wild Child, so I expected the same thing. I’m happy to say that it was so different.

I knew it’d be a challenge to move to a school that has such an impressive history, but I was so excited to be a part of this legacy that it didn’t matter how nervous I was.

Maria found it easy to fit in at Roedean, making friends that she’ll have for life

Are you going to try to qualify for Tokyo 2020?

I still practise karate when I go back to Romania and participate in some competitions, but the training I do isn’t enough for Tokyo.

everybody was extremely smart and talented, so I felt a bit out of place for a while. That was until I joined all my extracurricular clubs and got to know the girls in the boarding house. Once I started enjoying new things, such as badminton or the cookery classes and I saw how welcoming and understanding my teachers were in class, I understood that there’s no need for me to try and be like everybody else.

Was it hard to fit in at school?

I was the only Romanian girl, and

30

with a good trainer, a place to train and the appropriate equipment as well.

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Did you make friends and did it take time?

When you live with someone and you have to share a bathroom or a

kitchen, it’s impossible not to talk. I’m known for talking a lot, so it wasn’t hard for me to start the conversation!

I’m really happy to say that the friends I made there will always be part of my life.

Roedean is like a big family, you know you can always come back “home”.

You’re a seven-time world karate champion. How did you keep up your training?

My coach, Romeo Costica, has been my trainer back in Romania since I was seven. He taught me to be independent and never say no to a challenge, so I joined the karate club at Roedean. The school provided me

Can you tell us a little about your role as Charity Prefect?

As the Charity Prefect, you have regular meetings with charity representatives from each year group and together we choose charities that we think are in need of help. After choosing local and world charities, we plan events on how to raise money for them.

What do you like most about living in Britain?

Definitely the people.

Everyone’s so kind and I’m still not used to it. I’ve met so many selfless people that would do anything to help someone else.

I also love the scenery.

Brighton is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, in my opinion.

Where are you at university?

I chose Lancaster University as my home for the next three years. I think I stayed in the south for long enough, so I want to give the north of England a chance!

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SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

31

CURRICULUM

CLASSROOM

THE CLASSICS

ANDREW CHRISTIE, Assistant Head at Streatham & Clapham High School explains the relevance of subjects rooted in the ancient world

L

atin is a language, Dead as dead can be, First it killed the Romans, Now it’s killing me.

This little rhyme is often used to question the relevance of Latin in today’s society. Does Latin continue to meet the needs of pupils who are being prepared for jobs that haven’t even been created yet? What role does classics have in developing 21stcentury skills to equip our young people for their future careers? At our school, we believe Latin, Ancient Greek and classical civilisation continue to have much to offer our pupils, who all study Latin from Year Seven to Nine.

As Latin underpins much of English vocabulary, the positive impact of learning Latin on developing literacy skills has long been recognised. When learning an ancient language, pupils acquire new vocabulary by understanding the roots of words. English is brought to life when a pupil suddenly realises that there’s a connection between words like ‘dormitory’ and the Latin verb dormire (to sleep) or that the words ‘scribe’, ‘scribble’ and ‘description’ all relate to scribere (to write).

The structured nature of the language also helps provide an understanding of the mechanics of language, both of English and other languages. As Latin and Ancient Greek are not linear languages, like English, it’s like cracking a code. As pupils have to consider the function of every word in a sentence before

HOW IT’S RELEVANT FOR TODAY’S PUPILS

coming up with a suitable translation, they have to think logically, critically and creatively.

The benefits of learning Latin should be open to everyone, so we send teachers into two local primary schools. Our teachers convey their love of the subject through songs, games and even puppetry. It’s a joy to watch classes perform tres porci parvi (Three little pigs)!

By studying ancient texts and literature, even in translation, we’re given privileged access to a world of ideas that form the foundation of modern philosophical, cultural and political thought. Classical influences and allusions are everywhere, from Shakespeare to soap operas, so classics can lead to a richer appreciation of the world we live in.

Inspired by the Advocating Classics Education campaign, which wants to give all UK secondary school pupils access to classical civilisation studies, our school has welcomed 34 pupils from five local schools to take a GCSE in the subject, granting as many young pupils as possible access to its rich cultural legacy.

IT’S NOT HARD TO ENTHUSE YOUNG PEOPLE when the

similarities and differences between the cultures ARE SO APPARENT 32

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

• Latin and Ancient Greek increase aptitude in reading and communication through vocabulary acquisition.

• Ancient languages help us understand the mechanics and structure of language, from modern languages to computer code.

• Translating Latin and Ancient Greek improves problem-solving skills, as it requires pupils to develop flexible and logical thinking.

• Classics develops transferable skills and provides access to a wide variety of careers.

• Classics provides access to some of the greatest literature and art ever produced.

• Classics gives us a historical perspective which can inform our view of today’s world.

• Classics improves cultural literacy through an understanding of allusions in art, literature, film, politics etc.

• The cultures of the Greeks and the Romans are interesting.

• Classics is fun!

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33

PSHE

THE LAW OF AVERAGES Even if your child doesn’t show a distinct talent, there’s no excuse for not encouraging them to be the best they can be, learns CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS Foot off the pedal

Instead, we could start to take things easy, give the family – and pets – a break and just smell the roses. Have a duvet day. Have a few.

That was my approach. Unfortunately, says Matthew Adshead, Headmaster of Old Vicarage School in Derby, it was wrong.

There’s no excuse to allow children to sink into marshmallowy mediocrity, he says.

Let them thrive

Failure is inevitable and children need plenty of opportunities to equip themselves with some of the sterling qualities that they’ll need if they’re to make something of themselves.

“Kids who sit around all day long, not doing stuff because mum and dad want to spoil them, that’s useless parenting,” he says. “Get up at 8am on a weekend and get them out to clubs.”

Talented vs. mediocrity

The problem, says Dave Watkin, Assistant Head at Culford School, is that it’s all too easy to end up with a very blinkered view of what talent actually is. “I think schools, in trying to provide points of distinction, are providing a yardstick against which we measure a child,”

34

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

he says. “Too often we pigeonhole a child, while also limiting what we define as talent.”

As somebody whose own school reports were so reliably average that you could have set your IQ by them (and my teachers probably did), this talent-scouting message has come as a surprise, particularly as my children followed in the family tradition, such average-sized chips off the old block that, until my partner objected, I planned to name the first two Mean and Mode.

The joy of having demonstrably average children surely meant that you could pretty much take your foot off the aspirations accelerator. You could wave an ecstatic farewell to all those activities, like the so-called “fun” extra maths and English homework; the riding (when you’ve seen one pony attempting to roll with your child still in the saddle you’ve seen them all) and the music lessons (we’re still wondering if it was the cat who left the damp patch in the violin case after a particularly distressing D major scale).

The school labours diligently on behalf of its pupils. One child who didn’t quite gel with sports is on the way to becoming a medalwinning rower. Shy children find themselves speaking in assembly. But teachers are not looking for buried talent. Instead, they’re encouraging pupils to be the best they can.

Getting them ahead in life

For starters, says Dave Watkin, children may excel in ways that don’t appear in league tables but may get them just as far in life. “How often do we celebrate their moments of kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness? Those qualities could make them multimilllionaires – as well as someone I’d want at a dinner party.

If we’re going to prepare kids properly, we need to give them the tools to deal with whatever life throws at them.”

It’s too late for Mean and Mode, who are now out in the big wide world. I’d do it differently if I had my time again. Well, I’d have hidden that violin case, at the very least.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

T

he school and parenting websites make it sound so easy. “We aim to find the spark that enthuses every student to become the best they can be,” says one. “Every child has a hidden talent just waiting to be realised…” enthuses another. The message is unmissable. Not only is every child gifted in one way or another, but it’s the job of a good school to excavate that gift, no matter how deeply buried.

Not everyone is convinced. “It sounds like a marketing tool,” says one parent. “Other schools may have thought your child was a bit of a div, but we will find that special talent.”

Teachers, too, are cautious. “It’s not for us to ‘discover’ a spark in all pupils; it’s our job to ignite in them a spark so that they’re curious and interested,” says Caroline Spencer, Head of Francis Holland Junior School.

“HOW OFTEN DO WE CELEBRATE THEIR MOMENTS OF kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness? THOSE QUALITIES COULD MAKE THEM MULTIMILLIONAIRES”

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35

PEDOGOGY

SAVING THE PLANET

Trinity School, Croydon takes its science and geography teaching to a whole new level by ensuring the campus benefits the environment both inside and out, says Andrew Corstorphine, Director of Teaching

W

ith its modern design and modular exterior, Trinity doesn’t look like your average independent school.

However, our building’s design has facilitated the instalment of a significant system that benefits the environment.

In December 2017, more than 860 solar panels were installed on the school’s roof: it’s the largest fully monitored solar photovoltaic system at any school in Europe.

Installing LED lights, thermally efficient double glazing, air-source heat pumps for the pavilion and new music school, and Power Voltage Optimisation equipment is all part of a programme of energy conservation projects undertaken to help the school reduce its carbon footprint.

So far the panels have generated over 236 MWh of electricity – enough to power 60 homes for 12 months!

Students will soon be able to view a permanent display that will show the total electrical power consumed on site.

The solar panels also bring with them benefits to learning.

First Year geographers begin to discuss the issue of climate change, and what the impact is on the planet in relation to glaciers. At GCSE, pupils debate generating different types of energy, including renewables, within the context of a modern world with increasing energy demands. “Having the solar panels on site and accessible to students brings the

36

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

FIRST YEAR GEOGRAPHERS BEGIN TO DISCUSS the issue of climate change, AND WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON THE PLANET IN RELATION TO GLACIERS issue alive,” says Chris Ruck, Head of geography.

In the Third Form, pupils study renewable energy.

They’re able to study the output of our solar panels against the school’s overall energy usage, and consider how the school is faring against the national situation. Green Power Projects, which carried out the installation, have also donated an extra panel to the physics department for students to test in lessons.

The installation was also welcomed by Trinity’s Green Council, a group of 30 students across all years that campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues across the school. With the ambition of helping make Trinity a zero-plastic school, the council meets each half term and uses form time, assemblies and charity days to raise awareness of its initiatives, which include implementing a recycling suite. In the summer term, the council will be joining Clean Air Day, a nationwide campaign that raises awareness of what we can do to tackle air pollution. The installation of the solar panels was positive for this active group, which could see that the school listened to their concerns and shared their ambitions to take meaningful steps for a positive impact on the environment.

Bromsgrove School Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU

Head Teacher: Mr Peter Clague BA, MBA Admissions: Ms Rachel Scannell admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk 01527 579679 boys and girls, 7-18 years 1,467, boys 812, girls 655 TYPE: Day, Weekly, Full Boarding FEES: Prep: Day from £3,880 - £5,035, Weekly Boarding from £5,895 - £7,130, Full Boarding from £8,080 - £9,965 per term Senior: Day £5,550, Weekly Boarding £8,240, Full Boarding £12,430 per term TYPICAL CLASS SIZE: Prep – 20, Senior – 16, Sixth Form – 2-12 FAITH: Anglican MOTTO: Deo Regi Vicino (God, King and Neighbour) ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance Test and Interview GENDER/AGES: TOTAL PUPILS:

School Philosophy: Bromsgrove’s scope is staggering: from A level to the

International Baccalaureate, day to boarding, the arts to sport, pupils can soar.

Utterly dedicated to the individual pupil, despite its size, Bromsgrove shuns public school drones and instead looks to produce creative citizens with a strong moral compass and a dash of pizzazz to boot. The Good Schools Guide says; “The pupils we met were delightful and genuine. They were articulate and thoughtful and all quite different from each other, which was refreshing.

The situation of the school is an asset – it is in a good central England location, easy to reach from all corners of the country”, while the Tatler’s Good School Guide called us a “Great school with a fantastically global perspective”. Friendly, engaging and – despite its ranking - not driven by league tables, Bromsgrove is a local, national and international centre of learning.

Academic Record: Bromsgrove achieves outstanding results at both A level and IB Diploma. Over 98% of Sixth Form leavers continue to world class universities with the majority going to the Russell Group of Research universities.

Extra-curricular: The Extra-curricular life of the School is hugely important with activities sessions every afternoon and on Saturday mornings. Pupils are encouraged to reach their highest possible level at sport, music, drama, debating, CCF and in numerous other areas.

Notable Achievements and Alumni: Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, A E Housman, Poet. Lucilla Wright England Hockey team Olympics and Commonwealth games. Olivia Safe Opera singer. Andy Goode England Rugby.

Ben Foden England Rugby.

Open Mornings: Individual visits welcome, please contact Admissions www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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MUSIC

STRIKE A CHORD Many children are shunning the take-up of traditional musical instruments, threatening the very survival of our orchestras. ELIZABETH IVENS finds out how independent schools are bucking the trend

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ire warnings have been sounded about the future of orchestral music in schools, with the popularity of some instruments reportedly plummeting and a feared knock-on effect in the nation’s orchestras.

While numbers playing instruments like the ukulele are soaring, a recent survey revealed instruments such as the French horn, double bass and trombone were being taken up less and less by children.

The future is at stake

The Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, James Williams, was so concerned that he called on schools to do more to encourage children to play a range of instruments, warning that the future composition of orchestras was at stake.

Music has traditionally been strong in the independent sector, but schools aren’t complacent, recognising the need to encourage kids to try unusual instruments.

Many offer demonstrations of those instruments, free workshops and lessons for children to try out a variety of instruments and other initiatives to encourage uptake including regular performance opportunities and schemes to promote less popular instruments.

University College School in Hampstead has even developed an Endangered Musical Instrument Scheme to encourage boys to play instruments like the bassoon and oboe. The scheme familiarises

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them with the instruments and offers free lessons.

Director of Music Christopher Dawe said hearing instruments can often be key: ‘‘The serpentine sound of the oboe, the sheer mechanics of taking apart a bassoon and the humour and power of the trombone have all been cited by pupils as reasons for taking up these instruments.”

He added: “We find through our instrument demonstrations that once our young musicians are exposed to them, this piques their interest enough for them to take up the offer of free lessons.”

Pangbourne College near Reading is making headway by using starter instruments like the pBuzz and pBones.

Igniting a passion

Andrew Thornhill, Head of Instrumental Music, said he

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

believes they’ve helped pupils “unlock any potential musical talent that they may not have known existed!”

He explains, “they provide a simple, fun introduction to brass instruments. As a result, many students request lessons, which subsequently supplies a steady intake of new recruits for our many musical ensembles.”

Pangbourne College also helps to spread the word by hosting Brass Fun Days and Orchestral Fun Days for local schools. Brass Fun Days invite complete novices to try the starter instruments, culminating in a performance in the school’s chapel.

At Shiplake in Henley, there’s a free tuition scheme for Years Seven and Eight.

Securing its future

Deputy Head Academic Paul Shiplake offers a free tuition scheme for Years Seven and Eight

Jones said: “We’re mindful of the need to ‘grow our own’ musicians in order to support our senior ensembles and to safeguard our co-curricular programme.

Similarly, we use this scheme to promote and safeguard some of the more endangered instruments such as the oboe, trombone and French horn.”

Successful initiatives also include those at Notre Dame School in Cobham, where it’s clear a dedicated effort to promote instrumental playing is paying off handsomely, with around half of pupils offered free and subsidised lessons in certain instruments.

Head of Music (Prep) and Director of Orchestral Studies Julie Shaw explained that the school has used a multi-faceted approach, including developing a music profile for each girl from a young age.

She explains, “the key to beginning an increase in music popularity is to first know what your baseline is. Each girl is asked about her musical activities, whether she learns an instrument in or out of school, and records are kept of her exam successes and her participation in music ensembles or clubs. If a girl doesn’t learn an instrument or isn’t involved in a club she’s invited to take one up.”

She added, “Over the eight years we’ve seen an increase of take-up of instruments, from the national average of 33 per cent to 80 per cent of children in the Prep school in 2016, and an increase in the number of musical ensembles and clubs from five to around 25.”

MUSIC

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SCHOOL IN HAMPSTEAD HAS EVEN developed

an Endangered Musical Instrument Scheme TO

ENCOURAGE BOYS TO PLAY INSTRUMENTS LIKE THE BASSOON AND OBOE

UCS Hampstead runs an Endangerd Musical Instrument Scheme

UCS Hampstead aims to pique students with instrument demonstrations Pangbourne hosts Brass Fun Days

Pangbourne uses starter instruments to unlock potential

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

39

Beachborough

Independent Prep School for Ages 2½ to 13

Feeling Adventurous?

Come and explore today Next Open Morning Saturday 2nd March | 10am–12 midday

registrar@beachborough.com 01280 700071 Westbury, Nr Brackley, Buckinghamshire, NN13 5LB www.beachborough.com

St. Nicholas Preparatory School an outstanding education for boys and girls up to Year 6

020 7225 1277 www.stnicholasprep.co.uk 23 Prince’s Gate | South Kensington | SW7 1PT

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B0993 StNP 129x202mmL.indd 1 independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

17/12/2018 11:55

WELLBEING

PEER FRIENDS

CAROLINE BOND, Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Pangbourne College, discusses the boarding school’s all-encompassing approach to pastoral care

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n the age of iPhones and Instagram, our children are coming under an everincreasing level of social scrutiny. The way that we create comfortable, open and enlightened communities in our schools, and how we promote pastoral care within them, is crucial to pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.

Increasing awareness and promoting personal and social development is key to this. Any school’s Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programme is essential in taking the opportunity to address complex issues which haven’t always been brought to the forefront of school life.

Students in Pangbourne College’s Junior House (Years Seven and Eight) are engaged in a regular selection of talks from expert guest speakers as an important part of the PSHCE curriculum. These focus on formative issues for children growing up in a society which is constantly shifting around them.

Increased access to the internet can provide a host of answers to questions from inquisitive children, many of which can do more harm than good. We therefore ensure they’re given the correct information, in an age-appropriate, sensitive manner. A wide range of topics are integrated into the PSCHE curriculum, including e-safety, drugs and substance abuse, sex and relationships, and an introduction to the criminal justice system and British values.

Some topics have greater focus now due to recent government legislation, including the 2014 drive on promoting British values or the more recent move for sex and relationships education becoming compulsory across all schools in England. The manner in which we approach these makes all the difference. They’re all sensitive issues, but also unavoidable for children growing up in an era of unprecedented access, and they require discussion and education from a younger age than ever before. The external speaker programme allows for genuine exchange of ideas rather than simply teaching.

Every school is a unique and sometimes complex community, which can be confusing and intimidating for young pupils. Not only will they face these issues, but they might be uncomfortable in discussing them with staff,

Lower Sixth students at Pangbourne are training to be Peer Mentors to younger pupils in the school

THE DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY IS SOMETHING WHICH influences our

children to a far greater degree now,

COMPARED WITH 10 YEARS AGO. ONLINE TRENDS CAN BE HUGELY INFLUENTIAL which is where an older Sixth Form student can be a vital ‘go-between’. They may well have had similar experiences when they first joined the school and they’ll also be at greater ease with the teaching staff – especially those who deal with pastoral issues.

We have two programmes which bridge the gap between younger pupils and teachers, and also provide leadership opportunities for older pupils. The first involves acting as role models, communicating with and caring for the younger pupils. In 2018, over 50 of our Lower Sixth students were trained as designated Peer Mentors, and in their final year they’ll support the younger years in all aspects of college life.

The digital development of society is something which influences our children to a far greater degree now, compared with even 10 years ago. Online trends can be hugely influential, and clearly not always in a positive

way. To keep us ahead of the digital curve in terms of any negative trends, we’ve built on the success of our Peer Mentoring scheme by giving the students the option to train as Digital Champions. This provides us with an extra layer of pastoral support for younger students, as well as keeping teachers and parents abreast of the latest digital innovations.

Encouraging pupils to engage with these issues in their Junior years allows them to make informed decisions as they progress through Senior school, vital in a boarding environment. Boarding school can, at times, be insular, and our role includes preparing them for life, both in school and the wider world.

Finally, we must also remember that it’s the individual which matters. The more we can educate all members of our community on the subject, the greater the positive impact on each individual student will be.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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ADVERTORIAL

BALANCE IS KEY

Adopting a mantra of moderation is the best way of tackling your child’s use of social media, writes Claire Boyd Head of Sydenham High Prep School

I

t’s inevitable that, as each new year arrives, so does a flurry of emotive proclamations about the perils of modern living in the media. It seems this creep of attentiongrabbing articles on the urgent need for us to overhaul our routines with radical new year resolutions is now extending to our children.

Before we even have the time to pack away the decorations and sweep up the pine needles, 2019 started with the release of a report from the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH).

Its research found there to be no good evidence that time in front of a screen – be that television, phone or tablet – is toxic to the health of children and young people. While the report drew some connections between prolonged screen time and an increase in instances of obesity and depression, the College resisted calls to publish recommended screen times for children of different ages and at different stages of development.

Choosing pragmatism over definitives, its advice focused on encouraging families and schools to consider the nature of the relationship a child has with screens, the way they connect with social media and the impact this relationship has on the quality of their sleep and physical exercise.

Responses to this report have been polarised and, in many cases, resulted in a blurring of the messages put out to parents and educators

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AS LEADER OF A PREP SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, I’M PARTICULARLY PERTURBED

with this tendency towards emotional hyperbole when dealing with issues that affect THE WOMEN OF TOMORROW of young people. Calls for screens to be purged from the lives of our children for fears it stifles creativity and promotes anxiety and depression sit at odds with opposing calls to embrace the opportunities offered by the digital revolution. Those responsible for educating and raising children can be excused for not knowing what action to take when the messages are so mixed. Take Athena Chavarria for example, who worked as an executive assistant at Facebook and is now at Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropic arm, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, who was

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

recently quoted in The New York Times as saying: “I’m convinced the devil lives in our phones and is wreaking havoc on our children,” and contrast it with views expressed by Amy Orben in The Guardian on the same matter: “The common comparison between screen-time and drugs, like alcohol indicates a misconception many politicians and journalists share. Screen-time isn’t a chemical that, when ingested, causes concrete physiological changes that can cause longterm dependency.”

As leader of a Prep school for girls, I’m particularly

perturbed with this tendency towards emotional hyperbole when dealing with issues that affect the women of tomorrow. Our growing understanding that girls are twice as likely to show signs of depressive symptoms linked to social media use at age 14, compared with boys, should be treated sensitively. Girls deserve us to respond with the integrity and measure to allow the best course of action to be discerned rationally.

As RCPCH president, Dr Russell Viner puts it, “screens are part of modern life. The genie’s out of the bottle – we can’t put it back”.

Open Morning dates: thursday 14th february Wednesday 22nd May (Doors open 9.30)

Independent Day School for Girls 4-18 years registrar@tormeadschool.org.uk www.tormeadschool.org.uk

@Tormead_JS

Tormead School, Cranley Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2JD

LYNDHURST HOUSE Preparatory and Pre-Preparatory School 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London NW3 5NW Telephone: 0207 435 4936 Email: office@lyndhursthouse.co.uk www.lyndhursthouse.co.uk

Registered Charity No: 312057

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

43

FOCUS

Latymer Upper School, London

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independentschoolparent.com | AUTUMN 2018

FOCUS

BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS SPECIAL David Goodhew, Head of Latymer Upper School in London – the winner of our Contribution to Social Mobility award – explains how the school’s bursary campaign aims to give children a life-changing education regardless of their financial circumstances

T

Improving social mobility

As parents will be aware, it’s an ambition shared by many Heads of independent schools. Along with schools such as Christ’s Hospital, Manchester Grammar, Bolton School and JAGS, Latymer Upper prides itself on being one of Britain’s leading bursary schools and I was thrilled that we’ve won this magazine’s Contribution to Social Mobility award. The majority of means-tested bursary pupils studying at Latymer are on a completely free place and my plan is to go further; we want to offer a life-changing education to even more children who show ability and potential, regardless of their financial circumstances. I feel passionately that independent schools can and should be engines of, rather than obstacles to, social mobility. It’s an aspiration that our parent community shares and indeed is often a reason, along with academic excellence, for Latymer becoming parents’ school of choice.

The need to improve social mobility within our country is one of the few issues on which all of our political parties appear to agree. Current research points to a two-year attainment gap in education between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and wealthier children, while evidence shows that independent schools give their pupils a two-year advantage, not to mention the soft skills learned along the way as well as access to high quality music, drama

▲

he choice of good independent senior schools is remarkable; the majority offer a worldclass education with excellent teaching and outstanding pastoral care. Parents will find this both reassuring and perplexing: which criteria should they consider when contemplating the next step in their child’s educational journey?

One aspect that prospective parents may take into account is a school’s ethos. When I’m asked how best to define Latymer Upper School, the description that comes to mind is ‘a lifechanging education that is both rounded and grounded’ – an apt phrase for our school’s ethos, and one that also resonates with me on a deep, personal level. My education was indeed life-changing. I was privileged enough to read Classics at Oxford – a wonderful experience, made all the more special by the fact that I was the first person in my family to go university. I was also one of a very few boys from the comprehensive school I attended in west London to gain entry to Oxbridge. My life thereafter has been shaped by the opportunities education gave me and it’s my ambition that a Latymer education should be available to all bright children, regardless of their financial background.

AUTUMN 2018 | independentschoolparent.com

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FOCUS

CASE STUDY: 1

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS

BARBARA LANGFORD, Director of Studies, Westbourne House School, Sussex explains the application process for an academic scholarship

T

he 13+ academic scholarship process to most Senior schools is a complex cycle of events, so the first step must be a conversation with your child’s Prep school.

Pupils applying for an academic scholarship have to sit papers in all subjects, so pupils can’t be excellent in just one subject, they must excel across the board. The scholarship papers require students not only to know the facts but also to be able to manipulate them in different and new scenarios.

The main reason for taking an academic scholarship should be that your child loves to be challenged academically. We use the following description of The Scholar: ‘They take a genuine delight in being academically challenged.

The willingness to take intellectual risks and evidence of independent learning. A love of the esoteric and, of course, all this on top of doing the basic

things really well.’

We start to look at this at the end of Year Six and stream about a quarter of our pupils in Year Seven. This stream covers the normal Common Entrance syllabus, but tries to get pupils to delve deeper into the curriculum. We encourage the pupils to take intellectual risks, to make mistakes and learn from them. We work on the metacognition; getting pupils to think about how they think, what strategies to use and helping them to reflect on the progress they have made. We try to encourage the view that the answer is less important than the question and thought process.

At the end of Year Seven we reassess the suitability of the pupils, both on temperament and ability. We then select a handful of pupils to enter our Year Eight scholarship group.

The parents approach the Senior school and register that they wish their child to

Abi enjoyed that the scholarship programme wasn’t too easy!

Westbourne House pupils are encouraged to take intellectual risks

SHOULD YOU TUTOR YOUR CHILD to get an

academic scholarship? MY

ANSWER WOULD BE NO. be considered. This normally happens in around October. The Prep school provides references and the pupil goes to the Senior school to sit the exams, most often in February or May. Should you tutor your child to get a scholarship? My answer

would be no. Many very bright children aren’t ready for the scholarship process and they’re much better off getting great grades at Common Entrance and going to their next school on a high, than getting mediocre scholarship grades.

Abi Cooper, 13, was awarded the Nock Scholarship at Portsmouth Grammar.

Here, she explains how her scholarship has helped ease into her Senior school life The learning process in the scholarship set was different from the other sets because our focus was much more on applying knowledge when given a new piece of information rather than just acquiring the basics.

I enjoyed the process because it wasn’t easy! I was with others who also had the same intellectual curiosity as I do, and that meant I could be comfortable in being interested in my work.

In such a small group we really got to know each other and felt like a team. We all had entrance exams at different times in the year, but those of us who had finished our exams early continued to work with those who hadn’t. When we all received scholarships or exhibitions, it was incredible because we had achieved it together.

We’d covered most of the Year Nine syllabus by the end of Westbourne. Having moved to secondary school now, I can see that there’s a clear transition from learning facts in Prep school to applying knowledge in a more independent way, and we were encouraged to make this move in the scholarship set. So changing schools has been easier since I have been able to concentrate on the challenges of settling into a very different system without having academic worries.

My time in the scholarship set was a great way to prepare me for my next school. s

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Maria Montessori School Authentic Montessori education for children aged 2 - 12 Our school nurtures independence and creativity, allowing children to follow their interests wherever their passion leads; giving them strong academics, leadership and a lifelong love of learning.

Upcoming Children’s House Open Days (age 2-6)

Bayswater: 11th February Hornsey Rise: 11th February West Hampstead: 4th March Notting Hill: 6th March Hampstead: 14th February Upcoming Elementary Open Days

Bayswater Elementary: 13th February Hampstead Elementary: 7th March Register now: www.mariamontessori.org/schools

Durston House

A LeADInG LonDon PreP sCHooL

CHARACTER | CURIOSITY | CAPABILITY

Durston House, in Ealing, is a leading London prep school, for boys aged 4-13 years, which has a fine record of preparing boys for future success. Founded in 1886, Durston House continues to enjoy a strong reputation for academic, sporting and cultural excellence. A boy is shaped by the development of his character, his curiosity to learn and discover more, and his expanding capability. These three concepts, Character, Curiosity and Capability are the cornerstones of his success at Durston House and his success in life.

Find out more by visiting our website, attending an Open Day or touring the school.

Call 020 8991 6530 Email info@durstonhouse.org www.durstonhouse.org

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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Independent Day School for Girls aged 4 -18

HIS FUTURE’S BRIGHTER AT BEDFORD

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TO FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR FAMILY’S PLACE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM ON 01234 362216 OR VISIT bedfordschool.org.uk BOARDING & DAY FOR BOYS AGED 7-18 A-LEVEL & IB AT SIXTH FORM

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www.channing.co.uk 48

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019 SCHOOL_HOUSE JS Open Days Ad-2.indd 1

07/12/2018 15:55

FOCUS

OUR AMBITION IS TO OFFER 350 LOCAL CHILDREN from and sport. This attainment gap can, therefore, be closed by providing bursaries to independent schools for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, making a real difference to their future opportunities.

Bursary initiative

SOCIALLY DIVERSE SCHOOL ARE FELT BY ALL PUPILS, BE THEY FEE-PAYING OR ON A BURSARY alongside classmates from diverse backgrounds, who have different perspectives on life, offers the most enriched intellectual environment in which to learn. As is often the case with social mobility, there’s also a ripple effect. The first person in a family to benefit is unlikely to become the last. The impact is felt by the next generation with the children and grandchildren of many of the Latymerians who were first in their families to become professionals, also attending higher education.

More to be done

Much has already been achieved but I’m continually asking myself, what more can be done? We have 176 pupils currently at the school on means-tested bursaries – with 18 per cent of our Year Seven intake being bursary pupils. My vision is for a school where the main requirement for entry is intellectual ambition, not wealth. Latymer is all about excellence and inclusion – along with many parents, I feel strongly that the two concepts should not be mutually exclusive.

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

s

Latymer’s Inspiring Minds campaign is our most ambitious bursary initiative to date. We still offer music, academic, drama and sport scholarships but the majority of our fee assistance is for means-tested bursaries, which give bright children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds either a free place, or a reduction in fees. We offer between 25 per cent to 100 per cent fee remissions, depending on a family’s circumstances. Parents considering a bursary should check a school’s website for details of how to apply, or call the admissions team, who will advise how to proceed with an application. The good news as far as Latymer is concerned is that, as a result of the Inspiring Minds campaign, we’ll increasingly have more bursaries to offer. Our aim is to raise £40m so that we are able to offer one in four pupils a means-tested bursary to Latymer by 2024 – our governing foundation’s 400th anniversary.

I believe campaigns like ours are the most effective way in which our sector can encourage social mobility. Our ambition is to offer 350 local children from backgrounds as modest as mine access to a transformative education. The benefits of a socially diverse school are felt by all pupils, be they fee paying or on a bursary. As an educationalist, I’m convinced that a school in which children study

backgrounds as modest as mine access to a transformative education. THE BENEFITS OF A

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FOCUS

CASE STUDY: 2

HOW I DID IT

LUKE WHEELER, 21, alumnus of Reed’s School, Cobham, explains how he applied for a Foundation bursary When did you apply for your bursary at Reed’s School?

My mother was told about the Reed’s Foundation by my then hockey coach at Teddington HC. He worked at Reed’s School and, being aware of my family difficulties, knew I’d need extra pastoral support during my senior schooling. My state secondary school then supported my 13+ bursary application when I was in Year Nine.

Can you give me an indication of the bursary application process?

Because I met all the criteria for a Reed’s Foundation place (ie; I had lost the support of my father due to his mental illness, my home life was unsettled due to my brother’s brain cancer and there were financial burdens as a result), the application process was very sensitively managed by the staff at Reed’s. I was unaware of all the checks going on.

The focus was on making sure that I was comfortable coming to a boarding school

What checks did the school make to ensure that you/your family met the Foundation’s criteria?

As part of the application process, Foundation staff from Reed’s met my mother for an initial meeting at our family home. This took place after they’d guided her through completing a Foundation application form, in which she had to provide details about our family life and the impact on me (verified by specialists) as well as financial information. I made a visit to the school for a tour to Luke was awarded a Reed’s meet some of the Foundation bursary for the senior members entirety of his time at the school of staff and sat

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independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

every other year?

The Foundation bursary I received was for the full five years of my education with mini-reviews held each year; in fact, because of the difficulties at home and the effect on me, the Foundation funded me to retake my Lower Sixth year in order to achieve better A-Level results, so I ended up being at Reed’s for six years.

Did you apply for a bursary at another school?

No, as my mother felt that Reed’s was the ideal place for me which has certainly turned out to be true!

How much did you know about the bursaries on offer at Reed’s?

I knew very little, but my hockey club coach and state school were aware of the Reed’s Foundation and how it provided lifechanging education and care to children who had experienced trauma and disadvantage in their formative years.

Which members of staff knew that you were a bursary student and did the other pupils know?

It’s not school policy to make too many people aware of which pupils are Foundation pupils; it’s very much on a ‘need to know only’ basis.

However, my Housemasters were instrumental in supporting me and acted as conduits to others as and when it was necessary.

As I got older and became more aware of how much the Foundation had helped me get ahead, I was prepared to share my background and bursary status with a wider audience, including my peers. I’m now very proud to be a Reed’s Foundation Ambassador.

Did you have the bursary provision for the entirety of your school life? Is it reassessed each year or

Luke is now an undergraduate at Loughborough University and is hoping to become Student Union President next year.

the necessary entrance test. My case was then put forward to the Reed’s Foundation Funding panel for consideration and the subsequent approval of my bursary award.

FOCUS

FULFILLING POTENTIAL The Bursary Foundation is working with primary school pupils in Manchester to help secure independent school bursaries, says founder Jenny Hopkinson

I

’ll never forget teaching Caitlin. Her innate capacity for learning and genuinely insightful questions would at times amaze me. She had a command of language and an attitude that were well beyond her years. Musically, she was truly gifted. I was frankly slightly surprised at just how talented she was.

I was surprised because my classroom was in a portacabin on a disused carpark on the wrong side of East Manchester, an area of high unemployment, poor housing and low aspiration. But there was Caitlin, full to the brim with energy, intelligence and potential.

At parents’ evening, I chatted through the idea of Caitlin applying for a place at Withington Girls’ School, assuming that her family would be aware of the fantastic value that could be added by attending a school like that, which, as a former pupil myself, I understood first hand. With that much raw talent, given the right opportunity and exposure, she could do brilliantly well.

It soon became apparent that Caitlin’s family weren’t familiar with the school, or indeed Manchester’s other independent schools. Nor were they aware of bursaries that could cover 100 per cent of the fees. Again, I was surprised, and I asked myself why. The answer was straightforward: nobody had told Caitlin’s family about independent school bursaries, so why should they know about them?

I took Caitlin and her family along to the school’s open day and from that one hour alone they were able to understand what a great opportunity it was. With some coaching and a little guidance, she sat her exams and was offered a full bursary at the school.

I set out on a mission to help more children like Caitlin, and in doing so it struck me that every primary school headteacher I spoke with knew, without prompting, who were the brightest pupils in each class. They were eager to find ways to stretch and nurture their brightest few.

In the north west we’re particularly poor at meeting the needs of our disadvantaged high-achieving pupils and 30 per cent of Manchester schools are performing below the

The Bursary Foundation aims to connect the most able pupils with the best opportunities

Government’s floor standard. That’s compared to say 0 per cent in Kensington and Chelsea or five per cent in Trafford.

The headteachers I work with are frustrated by the postcode lottery that still dictates how well their pupils will achieve and it’s the same families, year after year who not only miss out on bursaries, but also have no choice but to send their children to failing schools. These families despair at the soaring cost of private tutoring that’s now out of the reach of most, never mind the most disadvantaged.

The Bursary Foundation is now a registered charity and our pilot project launched in autumn 2018 with 20 pupils across five inner-city Manchester primary schools. Together with Oxford University Press, which has kindly provided our participants with a free subscription to Bond Online, we help prepare pupils for entrance exams at our partner schools, The Manchester Grammar School and Withington Girls’ School. We demystify the world of private education and help families apply for bursaries. Our mission is to connect the most able pupils with the best opportunities and we can only achieve this through increased bursary provision and committed outreach work. If the modus operandi of private schools is to seek out and nurture the very best of our nation’s talent with their wealth of expertise and resources, then we’ll have genuinely diverse institutions that drive social mobility. But this isn’t about schools, this is about children like Caitlin.

Children who really could change the world. www.thebursaryfoundation.com

THE BURSARY FOUNDATION IS NOW A REGISTERED CHARITY AND OUR

pilot project launched in autumn 2018

WITH 20 PUPILS ACROSS INNER-CITY MANCHESTER SCHOOLS

*NAMES ANONYMISED

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COMMENT

HEADS UP

GETTING CREATIVE DR TREVOR RICHARDS, Head of All Hallows Prep School, Somerset explains how a creative curriculum can transform pupil’s learning To innovate in the future, children need to be able to express their creative sides

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Dr Trevor Richards is Head of All Hallows Prep School, Somerset

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s an educationalist and a child psychologist, I’ve long endorsed the opinion of politician Sir Ken Robinson that “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” Children need to be allowed to explore their creative side to enable them to go beyond straightforward regurgitation of rote learning and let them develop the confidence to produce their own ideas and solutions by thinking critically and using an innovative approach.

Creativity is also about being able to look at a problem, research ideas, and develop solutions either as an individual or as part of a collaborative process. Daily life is full of opportunities to problem-solve, but too often we might opt for the quick and easy solution instead to save time.

A creative cross-curricular approach to a child’s education can have a genuine impact on their childhood; as the writer Maya Angelou beautifully, stated: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have”. At All Hallows, creativity is championed and celebrated from the moment our children arrive in the bustling courtyard wearing their cherry red jumpers. Our Creative Centre was recently opened to encourage children to take a creative approach to all that they do. We

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

aim to cultivate diversity, critical thinking, imaginative insights and fresh ideas through ensuring children are in touch with things that inspire and excite them.

Typically, young people are natural risk takers, problem solvers, and uninhibited visionaries, but this can be suppressed by our education system if we’re not vigilant. It’s therefore our responsibility and privilege as teachers to work with parents to encourage their imagination and self-expression.

Some of the ways in which teachers promote creativity at All Hallows include promoting curiosity; ensuring time and space within the curriculum for original thought; allowing children to embrace mistakes as part of their learning and development; being role models and permitting children to get messy. Projects are collaborative, innovative, cross-curricular, child led, teacher inspired and community focused.

Further craft, design and technology facilities encourage pupils to immerse themselves in a technological world; a flexible learning scheme helps develop knowledge, understanding and skills, while embracing opportunities to work with outside artists and organisations.

At All Hallows I hope that, in addition to the quality of academic results, parents and teachers are also working together to promote many other beneficial outcomes of schooling, such as long-term wellbeing, a sense of self and a moral compass.

If our children have a desire to question, to be alert to their senses, to wonder and be delighted by the world around them, we will reveal a child’s true human spirit and instinctive curiosity. Creativity is a truly powerful tool.

A place with a palpable buzz and vibrancy that gets the balance between giving children the freedom to be themselves, whilst maintaining a focus on traditional values The Good Schools Guide Review 2018

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OUTREACH

GOING LOCAL Reigate Grammar School, winner of our Community Outreach award has a varied programme of initiatives that benefits all, says CAROLINE LAWSON, Assistant Head Outreach and Partnerships

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tate and independent schools have a shared mission with a moral purpose – providing excellent education for all children who can then, together, make the world a better place. With over 1,000 local state school children benefiting from Reigate Grammar School’s (RGS) community programmes, outreach is a key part of our core purpose.

RGS supports dozens of school partnership projects, such as crime-scene forensic science and MFL Mastermind, in academic areas such as science, humanities and the arts. The school runs workshops in music, theatre, art, sport and languages for local schools and perform regularly to local schools including, for example a puppet show tour.

The school shares its sports grounds, swimming pool, minibuses and more. One of

the key events that Reigate Grammar School hosts is the annual district sports competition each summer for more than 500 pupils from an array of local primary schools. The event, organised by the Redhill and Reigate Primary Schools Sports Association (RRPSSA) and supported by RGS, is now in its eighth year at the school’s magnificent 32-acre Hartswood Sports Ground, which boasts a Hockey Centre with two all-weather pitches, seven rugby and football pitches, three cricket pitches, two sports pavilions and an outstanding suite of athletics track and field facilities. In addition to hosting the event, the school supports in a number of other ways; Crawley Luxury, the school’s transport provider, provides free of charge transport for the pupils from the 13

local state schools to get to Hartswood and back after the event, the RGS marketing department put together the event brochure for participants and their parents, the RGS PFA (Parents & Friend Association) hosts refreshments throughout the day and winners from the 57 events are awarded with sprint and speed masterclasses run by RGS students, coaches and sports’ performance directors.

This gives the pupils from local schools further insight into sport at RGS and the opportunity to be coached by ex-international sports stars.

Local Senior schools are also included in many of the school’s partnership strands, including attending a recent RGS lecture by Sir Malcolm Rifk ind, former cabinet minister; a seminar on poetry by Joe Nutt, TES columnist;

WITH OVER 1,000 LOCAL STATE SCHOOLS benefiting from RGS’s community programmes, OUTREACH IS A KEY PART OF OUR CORE PURPOSE

More than 500 pupils from local schools take part in the district sports competition hosted by Reigate Grammar School

the RGS Higher Education evening, employment talks, careers conventions and Oxbridge preparation programmes.

RGS Sport host a range of sports camps in hockey, cricket, rugby, netball, swimming and more during school holidays for local children.

RGS students engaged in over 5,000 hours of volunteering just last year, helping care homes, charities, environmental projects, community groups for the elderly, a residential home for children with brain injury, foodbanks and primary schools. The school’s now extending its wellbeing programme, offering mindfulness to students from local state schools. Sixth Form students volunteer in the community as a requirement of the Henry Smith Diploma, named after Reigate Grammar School’s founder who remains a role model for philanthropy and civic engagement.

As well as the community, Reigate’s outreach programme benefits students, developing responsibility and moral purpose, so they can be conscientious, committed individuals.

OPEN MORNINGS Cranleigh Preparatory School, Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH www.cranprep.org

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Open Days Spring 2019 Open Days Spring 2019 rd Saturday 23 Saturday 23rdMarch March th Friday Friday29 29thMarch March

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Girls faced their fears by handling snakes

BEHIND THE SCENES

TAKING BIG STEPS

The Leap of Faith week encourages girls to step out of their comfort zone and to try something new, writes HELEN JEYS, Head of Alderley Edge School for Girls, Cheshire

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ou often hear about the importance of teaching young people characteristics like perseverance and resilience. Children need to be able to bounce back from setbacks but this is difficult. Many children would be happier remaining in their comfort zone so that they don’t fail; life’s easier that way. However, as a school, I believe we have an obligation to encourage children to persevere, be resilient and develop characteristics that will enable them to flourish in their future lives. I want the girls to leave school with self-esteem and self-confidence; two characteristics that are essential if they’re to succeed and flourish in the professional workplace. Instead of responding to questions about their future with such sentiments as ‘do you think I can do that?’, I want them to think, ‘well, why not?’

I believe that we have a responsibility to encourage girls to know that nothing need stand in the way of their success and we approach issues like these in a very proactive way.

Therefore, earlier this term, we spent a school week focusing precisely on that message.

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Pupils were encouraged to scale the full height of the climbing wall

Leap into the unknown

Our Leap of Faith week focused on encouraging girls to step outside of their comfort zone, to try new things and realise that, if something doesn’t quite work out, then it doesn’t matter; they can always try again. It’s this positive mindset and attitude which epitomises our approach to education at Alderley Edge School for Girls – and we had a great time delivering this message. Although our assemblies and associated Thought for the Week, which adorns every corridor, reflected this message, the girls enjoyed a day off timetables, during which they were faced with a variety of activities which stretched and challenged them.

From bootcamp to rock-climbing

From science experiments to mindfulness, handling reptiles to attempting to climb the full height of the climbing wall, the girls tried new things and were encouraged to really

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Students also exercised mindfulness with some colouring in

Some of the girls took part in a squid dissection Older pupils were able to take part in an army bootcamp session

SCHOOL STATS NAME

Alderley Edge School for Girls LOCATION

Cheshire

AGE RANGE

Two-18

NO. OF PUPILS

501

HEADTEACHER

Helen Jeys MOTTO

Forward with Faith

have a go – no matter whether they succeeded or not. The older girls also enjoyed a bootcamp session with the army; something that they wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to try. We also welcomed Mina Leslie-Wujastyk into school; a climber who outlined how determination and resilience were crucial to her being able to attempt a rock climb at Malham Tarn; a task that a woman has yet to complete from start to finish. Her final comment to the girls: “Don’t fear failure…. look at what drives you… you’re capable of more than you know” epitomised the theme of the week and reiterated to the girls the importance of pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and of learning from setbacks and the role of risk-taking in all aspects of their lives; both socially and academically.

Plans A, B, C and D

The week not only highlighted these important characteristics to the pupils in a way that was engaging and fun. Both the girls and us, now, have a brilliant reference

point; whether they’re finding a list of vocabulary difficult to learn or are struggling with an equation in mathematics, the week has helped us to teach the girls to have a go; if they don’t succeed first time – it doesn’t matter. Every experience is one from which to learn and, as Serena Williams states, “If Plan A isn’t working, I have Plan B, Plan C and even Plan D.” What a great attitude to take through life!

It was wonderful to receive comments from pupils about how much Leap of Faith week meant to them and how much encouragement and confidence the girls gained from participation. Feedback from our pupils included “I handled a snake, despite not liking them” and “I spoke in assembly in front of the whole school”.

Parents also took the time to get in touch; “My daughter had a fantastic day and loved everything she did. For her, the highlights were the climbing wall and the squid dissection. The thing that impressed me was that having had no experience in hockey, at the end of Leap of Faith week she decided to take a chance and join in with hockey training. She gave it her best and thoroughly enjoyed herself”.

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Co-educational boarding and day 3–13 Years

Cheam School, Headley, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 8LD registrar@cheamschool.co.uk +44 (0)1635 268242 www.cheamschool.com @cheamschool

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE MORE MORE EXPERIENCE MORE Open Morning Open Morning Saturday 28 September 2019 28 September 2019 Saturday

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ADVICE

ASK THE EXPERTS

How can you help your child make the best of a busy school life?

Our headteachers give their advice

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Open Mornings 5 March & 1 October 2019 A happy, caring environment for girls & boys in Woking aged 3 - 13 & just 25 minutes from London

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ADVICE

Many children want to try lots of activities

Simon Severino, Alleyn’s Prep School, Dulwich Remember that your son or daughter is a child so they’ll often want to do it all, yet they don’t have the life experience, wisdom and bigger picture of their parents. Many of our children live in a world of endless opportunities in and out of school and this is wonderful, but they do need to be guided by the adults around them so that they learn the necessary skills that go with spinning life’s plates.

Even as adults we can’t do it all and children should recognise that knowing one’s limits is a healthy attribute. Encourage involvement and commitment to pursuits over the long term and encourage trying new activities without constantly flitting between them. Have a proper discussion and agree upon what is to be pursued, how compromises may be needed to manage homework, less time for play on certain days and what will be gained over time.

Chris Townsend, Felsted Prep School, Essex Just as in adult life, it’s not always possible to do everything at once, and quality of experience should always win over quantity of activities. Balancing activities with academic learning and sporting commitments, can be an excellent lesson in time management for children, while parents can be on hand to steer their children towards a balanced lifestyle. Rest and relaxation are crucial in this mix. Reading, listening to music and spending time with friends all give young people the breathing space to process and consolidate what they’ve learned throughout a busy day. Quiet reflection is also hugely beneficial and we teach our children mindfulness techniques to help to reduce any stresses.

Teachers, as well as parents, can encourage conversations with children about what they feel they’ve done well and why.

In this way, young people learn about their strengths and their passions, and begin to develop an understanding of the importance of themselves as individuals.

Robert Lilley, The Grammar School at Leeds At The Grammar School at Leeds’ Junior School we recommend that our children do no more than two after-school clubs per week, focusing on activities they’re really keen to do. While we realise these clubs are a boon for working parents, pupils already have a busy week with a full school timetable, varied lunchtime activities, reading, homework and perhaps music practice in the evening.

We suggest that children are allowed to be bored from time to time. It’s only when the mind’s free that imagination takes over.

Encourage them to read, draw, play board games, invent things and play with traditional toys; and parents, please join in these simple things with them. Time together will mean more to your child than staying late at school for an activity that’s perhaps not of their choosing, and will have a lasting, positive impact on you both.

Joe Smith, The Oratory, Surrey There’ll be plenty of time for specialising at Senior school and beyond, so my advice is to give your child as many opportunities as possible to try new things, even if it’s only once. There is huge value in having a go at,

say archery, fencing or sailing at a young age: if your child decides they don’t enjoy it, that’s a valuable learning experience in itself.

And if they get the bug then it may take off and become a lifelong passion. Obviously it’s important to prepare for pre-tests and examinations, but the wisest parents know that education is a marathon, not a sprint, and that slow, regular and steady learning is much more effective than cramming.

Most education happens outside the classroom. We can educate – in the broadest sense – our children by reading to them, talking to them about what they’re reading, asking their opinion about things (and listening to their answers). It’s crucial too that children are given time on their own to play, think, read or just be.

OUR EXPERTS

Simon Severino

ALLEYN’S PREP SCHOOL

Chris Townsend

FELSTED PREP SCHOOL

Robert Lilley GSAL

Joe Smith

THE ORATORY

Tony Lewis

THE WHITE HOUSE

Tony Lewis, The White House Prep School, London My most important advice to parents is “Don’t let your worries become their worries”! Children will feel the pressure of entry exams regardless of anything a parent may do and while adrenaline can be a positive force, anxiety can reduce the child’s ability to show their true aptitude, so the challenge is to find a happy balance for every child. Wellplaced confidence is vital, which is a result of thorough exam prep.

Trust the school because they have the experience to help your child do their best. Children need time to relax, time away from study, time do something very different; they’ll return to studying much fresher. Let them do what they enjoy, keep to their routine as far as possible, don’t stop doing something they enjoy to spend more time in front of books. Build on positives, don’t dwell on negatives. Don’t overanalyse an exam just completed; from what your child tells you pick up the good bits, perhaps offer a learning point that they might apply to their next effort – help them feel and believe that they can be the best that they can be.

Whatever the results, they’re wonderful, special people and you love them!

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An independent, coeducational school for 3 to 18 year olds

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He has excelled because of the attention the teachers gave him.

He did outstandingly well at GCSE because he was so happy – it’s like a family there.

A John Lyon parent

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SCHO OL HERO

VINCENT SHAW Lockers Park, Hertfordshire has a maestro of a music teacher

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you walk along the corridors. A string orchestra, brass ensemble and chapel choir are just some of the musical opportunities available to pupils, and music permeates through everyday life at the school, whether it’s coming together for chapel or participating in the many informal concerts we hold.

I find more children are interested in music than ever before, but that there’s a tendency for them to opt for the obvious instruments such as piano, drums and guitar, when they might taste greater success trying something different. That’s why I try to introduce pupils to a wide variety of instruments, so they can really discover their musical mojo.

laying piano was my first passion and it remains my favourite instrument to this day.

My parents were completely supportive of my love of music. However, with no musical tradition on either side of the family, they didn’t always know how to help me progress, and it was really left to me to work that out for myself.

Best intentions

As a pupil at school I was a little bit lazy, but always had the best intentions – if you’d have told me back then that I would end up teaching, I really wouldn’t have believed you!

I went to Liverpool University and then on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

It was at the Guildhall where I really came into my own. It was so exciting to be part of a vibrant community and having the opportunity to experiment and reflect on all aspects of music.

Vincent Shaw likes to introduce pupils to a wide range of musical instruments

musical instrument is a beautiful thing. The best part about my job is inspiring children to perform or produce music. Music can play a key part of a pupil’s The joy of learning development, if he or she enjoys I wanted to work with children what they’re doing. Music can very early on after university; and help form our characters, build it’s a career that I’ve found to be our confidence, self-esteem and hugely rewarding. All children resilience, as well as teaching us are musical – they love to sing how to communicate with others. and dance and play music. To The earlier a child finds happiness see children happily learning a making music, the Chapel choir is one of the more all these things many musical activities will happen. on offer at Lockers Park When I started teaching, I vowed to perform Allegri’s Miserere one day with the school’s choir.

It’s the choral piece that inspired Mozart, he allegedly wrote it

Technological breakthroughs down from memory after hearing it being sung in the Sistine Chapel.

The problem was that it needed a treble soloist who could sing the phenomenally difficult solo soaring up to a top C, without strain and still sound musical. A few years ago, that student arrived and did it amazingly, making me immensely happy.

Expanding pupils’ musical horizons

In my professional role, I feel happy and proud for the children when things go well for them. I’ve taught at Lockers Park for over 30 years now, and the talent of some of the pupils never fails to amaze me! Over 95 per cent of pupils learn a musical instrument with many learning two or three, and you can always hear music as

The development of music technology with opportunities to make music digitally and utilising apps completely fascinates me. In fact, I’ve just helped launch a new music studio at the school with high-tech sequencing software.

We wanted to offer an outlet for pupils’ creativity and learn new skills used in the music industry.

At home I like to listen to 90 per cent classical music, nine per cent jazz and one per cent other! J S Bach is my favourite composer and David Bowie is one of my heroes because of his amazing charisma and knowledge of music.

I’ve amassed a vast collection of LP’s CD’s and digital media that I enjoy listening to, and I make sure I’m up to speed on the latest advances in hi-fi equipment and sound reproduction. Music is an integral part of who I am and always has been.

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IN 10 PICTURES…

Kensington Prep This all-girls’ school and the winner of our Prep School of the Year award delights in its innovative teaching methods and facilities

The innovative Explore Floor sparks children’s curiosity. It’s a wonderful immersive space with multi-screens, a floor projector and colourful lighting The Explore Floor was turned into a cosmic space when Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut, visited the school

The imaginative design of the Explore Floor gives pupils the chance to work in small groups and be more independent in their learning

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Multi-screens on the Explore Floor mean that the girls can be much more creative in their research, thinking and learning

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Classrooms have been redesigned, creating flexible learning spaces with moveable furniture, write-on walls and seating

Write-on walls encourage children to brainstorm and problem solve together

Relaxed new cosy classroom corners encourage reading for pleasure Pupils can experience more independent learning and small-group work in the spacious breakout spaces, complementing their learning in classroom and specialist rooms

In the multi-media studio, pupils create podcasts and record interviews with VIP guests.

There’s a green screen for movie-making too

The new eco greenhouse is the perfect space to learn about nature in both science and art

DID YOU KNOW?

The independent day school for four-11 year-old girls in Fulham encourages independence. The £2.7m new facilities, entititled Creating Spaces for Growing Minds have been designed to promote critical thinking, curiosity and collaborative learning – essential ingredients to equip girls for success in a constantly-developing 21st-century world.

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STAR PUPILS

ONES TO WATCH Independent school has instilled excellence, drive and determination in these talented alumni

Jonno Davies, 26 Actor, Bedford School, Bedfordshire

I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to study when I left school. At first I went to Imperial College London, where I studied mechanical engineering, but I felt it wasn’t right for me. I took a year out and went on to study law at Durham. It was a great lesson in not being afraid to try new things, trusting your intuition and studying something that you enjoy. After university, I ran marketing for an electronics company in Oxford. From there, I moved to London to work for Hearst UK, before managing global marketing programmes at The Financial Times. I then founded my own agency. It’s been an amazing experience so far and if you have the drive to run your own business, I recommend you go for it!

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Harry Simmons, 20 Rugby Union player at Leicester Tigers, Gresham’s School, Norfolk After his A-Levels, Harry studied sports science and management at Loughborough University.

He showed potential from an early age, and at 14 was selected to take part in the Development Player Programme at the Leicester Tigers Academy. The scrum half continued his professional career with the club and has represented the U17 and U18 England squads.

While at Gresham’s, he played for the 1st XV as well as playing for Norfolk, Eastern Counties and London and South East at age-group level.

He scored his first two tries for the Senior Leicester Tigers team in the Anglo-Welsh Cup game against Wasps, where he was named Young Player of the Year. He has made 11 first-team appearances for Leicester, seven in the Premiership Division, and has enjoyed playing with alumni Tom and Ben Youngs.

Emily Mitchell, 29 Barrister, Oundle School, Peterborough After leaving Oundle School, I spent three years at Oxford studying English. I had a brief flirtation with the world of advertising, before rather unimaginatively opting for a career in law. I’m now a qualified barrister at 7 Bedford Row in London, where I completed my Pupillage in 2016, and spend my time ensuring the Midlands’ criminal underworld remains healthy! My other two areas of practice are Family Law and Clinical Negligence.

This work’s usually claimantorientated and involves representing people who allege that they’ve received substandard medical care.

My work is varied and takes me all over the country. No two days are the same, and each new day brings another person’s fascinating life story.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISSY CROKER

Charles Wyn-Davies, 28 Entrepreneur, Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire

Jonno was a regular on the stage at Bedford School and right from his earliest appearances in the Prep school he wowed with his assured performances.

Jonno credits his drama teacher, Mrs Swidenbank, for opening his eyes to the idea of a career in drama and helping him to realise his potential.

She also famously rejected his first UCAS statement to encourage him to follow his dreams, declaring: “You know you want to be an actor.”

Since then Jonno hasn’t looked back, with numerous stage, screen and theatre credits to his name including the role of Alex DeLarge in the critically acclaimed New York production of A Clockwork Orange, multiple appearances in Casualty as well as the movie Kingsman. Exciting times lie ahead for the actor who’s now filming his first US feature film. He also has a film, King of Crime, which includes fellow Old Bedfordian Richard Calvert coming out, and an appearance in Silent Witness set to air this year.

STAR PUPILS

Eccie Newton, 27 Entrepreneur, Queen’s Gate School, London

Eccie Edmund Newton, and his right, co-founder with her sister and co-founder Flore de Taisne Gini

I run two companies, both with my sister Gini. Karma Cans is a lunch-delivery company, while Karma Kitchens builds ‘dark’ kitchens for catering companies.

Karma Cans delivers around 1,000 units a day to offices such as Nike, Microsoft and Uber. We’ve been operating for four and a half years. With no outside investment, we started with £5 and grew from there. We’ve built two kitchens ourselves, literally plumbing, wiring and screwing the business together. From there we thought, ‘if we’ve built our kitchens, let’s do it for other businesses.’ Karma Kitchens is a network of perfectlydesigned satellite kitchens.

We started Karma Cans while I was at LSE and Gini was at Bristol, studying sociology. I’ve never worked in an office; I don’t like sitting down and I’m constantly talking. When we started Karma Cans, we had a group of friends we met through the food industry, who we use to meet up with regularly. They were going through a similar journey and were very inspiring. For me, my education taught me how to carry an idea through from conception to execution. One thing we both understand is that an idea is meaningless, the part that counts is execution.

The power to follow through on the commitments you make, to your team, investors and yourself, is something that’s been instilled in me.

Higher education develops your ability to push yourself through the hurdles that a project presents: research, presentations and working in a linear, evidentially-supported way. My education taught me to communicate effectively and push through difficulty.

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PLACES AVAILABLE FOR 2019 ENTRY

EDUCATION THE GREATEST GIFT

WELCOMING CHILDREN FROM 9 MONTHS Top quality boarding provision with superb pastoral care Rated ‘excellent’ in all areas of the latest Inspection Report Over 80 co-curricular activities available Reputation for sport and links with professional clubs Inspirational music, drama and creative arts

BOOK A VISIT AND SEE OUR PREP SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION CENTRE T. 01225 734460 E. kps-admissions@kingswood.bath.sch.uk

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk/prep An Independent Co-educational Boarding & Day School for pupils aged 9 months - 18 years

Open Morning Saturday 2 March 2019 9.30 -12.00 Learn about our creative and nurturing ethos Meet our dedicated and passionate staff Explore our two wonderful sites Wilberforce House, Camp Road SW19 4UN 020 8947 6969

www.thestudyprep.co.uk

Registered Charity No. 271012

We welcome enquires about our scheme of assistance with fees for girls aged 7+.

New bursary available for entry into Year 1 or Year 2 in September 2019.

Preparatory School for girls aged four to eleven

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TIME TOGETHER

ENJOY THE SEASON

FAMILY LIFE Our round up of wellness trips, spring shows and afternoon teas

There’s nothing like a new dress to herald the arrival of spring!

Classically cut in tactile fabrics with a contemporary twist, these pretty pastel pieces are from the SS19 collection at owayurika.com

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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HOLIDAYS

Swiss bliss

With fresh alpine air, breathtaking panoramas and lots of wholesome outdoor fun to be had, Interlaken is a perfect destination for families who like to rest and play.

CLAUDIA DUDMAN discovers its restorative powers

T

here’s no better way to prepare yourself for the magnificence of the Swiss Alps than by taking a train journey through them: humbling, pristine and with views that take your breath away, the beauty of the peaks in all seasons never cease to thrill and awe, no matter how many times one visits.

Just a few hours earlier we’d taken off from a rain-sodden Luton airport, and landed in the medieval town of Basel, north Switzerland.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, we were bathed in rays of crisp April sunshine: exactly the kind of welcome you yearn for on a weekend away, and especially when so-called spring at home still looks and feels distinctly like winter.

From Basel and via Bern, the Swiss capital, our train wound its way south through the sweeping mountain landscapes, which for the most part had shed their snowy deposits to reveal the lush greenery of dense forests, alpine

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meadows and traditional wooden chalets so typical of Switzerland.

If you look at a map of the country, our destination, the resort town of Interlaken is just west of being right smack in the middle of it. Interlaken cleverly established itself as a tourist destination and main gateway to the mountains and transport links of that region in the mid-1800s. Located in the Bernese Highlands, it sits in a narrow stretch of valley between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, both of which are fed by the River Aare. With the lakes and mountains at your disposal, there are hundreds of outdoor activities for you and your family to indulge in, including hiking, cycling, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, yoga, Nordic walking, sailing – and all while surrounded by the most stunning mountain scenery. Even in the throes of summer, skiing

The Nescens spa

is possible. Interlaken promotes itself as a wellness destination and it’s not difficult to see why: from the beautiful views, mountain air and natural surroundings on its doorstep, to an itinerary full to bursting with “stuff to do”, (if that’s what you want).

We were staying in the five star 224room Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.

Claudia enjoyed watching paragliders from the comfort of her suite

HOLIDAYS

INTERLAKEN CLEVERLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS a tourist destination and main

gateway to the mountains and transport links OF THAT REGION IN THE MID-1800S

AND FOR KIDS...

While there’s plenty to keep mum and dad occupied here, there’s also plenty of fun activities for younger family members. A visit to the Habkern swimming pool in the heart of the mountains is a must and the St Beautus caves by Lake Thun are well worth exploring. For a taste of the exotic, llama trekking promises a whole new perspective on the Jungfrau region. Perhaps they might like to visit a cheese dairy or even learn how to milk a cow? And back at the hotel, children can try their hand at chocolate making.

Established during the Belle Epoque era, intellectuals, artists, authors and royals from around the world flocked to this luxury retreat to contemplate and rejuvenate. It’s an imposing establishment exuding the atmosphere of the pioneering days of alpine tourism.

The hotel’s rich 150-year history combined with the tasteful and luxurious décor of the rooms, blends both old and new with aplomb.

Its most recent pièce de la résistance is the Nescens spa: the Swiss cosmeceutical brand which was founded 15 years ago by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in the development of the biology of ageing and anti-ageing medicine.

At 5,500sqm, it’s big: with a majestic indoor pool in which you can notch up some serious lengths, two jacuzzis, steam baths and a sauna complex, while outside you can sit and enjoy the scenery in a brine bath. Located on the ground floor of a separate building, it’s some way from the bustle of the main hotel, which really enables you to indulge in self-care and immerse yourself in all of the restorative facilities that the spa has to offer.

The Nescens concept is geared towards better ageing, through its programmes, which aim to help you lose weight, lower your stress levels and gain renewed vitality. Also on hand

are chefs who work with the team at the spa to ensure the food that you eat is tasty while maintaining the right balance of nutrition.

During my two-day stay at the hotel, I tried to spread my time between being outside and enjoying all that Interlaken had to offer, and putting myself in the capable hands of the spa’s experts, who first took a detailed medical history from me followed by an analysis of my body composition. I stepped on to some scales while an electric pulse measured everything from my BMI to my body-fat mass. I was then given a bespoke programme based on this analysis and which told me how many calories I needed to eat a day and the type of exercise I needed to do to optimise my health – weight bearing – ironically, the only kind of exercise that I truly loathe!

I stayed in one of the sumptuous suites above the spa – called the Bel-Air – where at the end of the day I could kick back, relax and watch in blissful serenity as the paragliders gently swooped down from the mountains’ snowy peaks across the horizon.

To stay at the Junior Bel-Air Suite, Victoria Jungfrau Hotel is CHF 700 (approx. £556) per night including breakfast and direct access to Spa Nescens, victoria-jungfrau.ch SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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COMPETITION

WIN a three-day break to Andalucia, Spain

The Barceló Hotel Group is offering one lucky reader a three-night stay at the five-star La Bobadilla, a Royal Hideaway Hotel in the heart of Andalucia.

S

et within 1,000 acres of private grounds, dotted with olive groves and ancient oaks, La Bobadilla, a Royal Hideaway Hotel is a relaxing retreat away from it all.

The hotel is also a pioneer of sustainable practices and deeply committed to the environment. It’s inspired by its natural surroundings of protected oaks and acres of olive groves and provides the ideal country retreat for eco-conscious guests also looking for a stylish break. One of the hotel’s most original and successful ecoinitiatives has been to create olive-stone generated power, using olives collected from its own trees. It’s the first luxury hotel in Spain to do this and consequently has reduced its CO2 emissions by 80 per cent.

The orchard is home to over 300 native fruit trees and the hotel has an agreement with local beekeepers for sustainability of bee colonies.

Home to 70 rooms and suites, all carefully decorated, blending warm Mediterranean tones, wood panelling, rustic brickwork and white marble finishes. Spacious in size, each has its own garden, terrace and/or balcony. Most rooms have a separate living room, with traditional fireplaces in some suites and a jacuzzi overlooking the scenic views.

Active families can enjoy a wide range of activities including hiking, tennis, cycling and horse riding* (*offered by an external provider). The palm treeframed swimming pool is the perfect place for sunbathing, while for deeper relaxation the modern spa offers a range of pampering treatments which take inspiration from the hotel’s surroundings.

Food-lovers can enjoy a range of local delicacies at the outdoor El Cortijo restaurant or sample fine dining at La Finca, the region’s only five fork-rated restaurant. La Finca also serves the only organically farmed caviar in Spain, located 15km from the estate.

The prize includes an idyllic three-night stay for a family of four, with breakfast and one half-board dinner for the family at El Cortijo Restaurant.

For more infomation, www.barcelolabobadilla.com

HOW TO ENTER Answer the following question

How many fruit trees are in the hotel’s orchard? Is it a) 70 b) 300 c) 1,000

independentschoolparent.com/win COMPETITION CLOSES 23.59PM ON 25TH FEBRUARY 2019.

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Terms & Conditions The winner will be the first correct entry drawn after the closing date of February 25th 2019. The winner must be aged 18 years or over. The prize is non-transferrable and there is no cash alternative. Travel is subject to limited availability. The prize is valid for travel until 15 November 2019 excluding Easter, July & August and May Bank Holiday. The prize is a three-night stay for a family of four on a B&B basis, complimentary access to the spa water circuit and one HB dinner for four, including one bottle of house wine selected by the sommelier. For The Chelsea Magazine Company’s terms and conditions, please visit www.chelseamagazines.com/the-chelsea-magazine-company-terms-and-conditions/

H WORTE MORN THA 0 £1,00

The Katie Jayne Advantage

Open Day

Flexible, tailored, hourly home tutoring for 4 –18 year olds.

Saturday 23rd March 2019 10:30am - 1pm

1:1 personal tutoring by qualified teachers

Give your child the Katie Jayne advantage TODAY

Independent Day School for boys & girls aged 4-18 years

www.katiejayne.co.uk 07725 901 933 katiejaynetutoring@gmail.com

01604 880306 registrar@pitsfordschool.com to book a place www.pitsfordschool.com

Alleyn’s Junior School Independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 3-18 years

We - lleyn's

V

Meet our new Principal Mr Silas Edmonds when you visit our Open Events

OPEN EVENTS

Thursday 7th March 9am-10.30am Senior School only Tuesday 30th April 9am-10.30am www.ewellcastle.co.uk

Co-educational excellence

Co-educational excellence in a caring community for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. www.alleyns.org.uk @AlleynsJunior 020 8557 1519

SCHOOLS GUIDE 2019 TOP 10 INDEPENDENT PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Townley Road, Dulwich SE22 8SU

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

73

Hawkesdown House School

For Boys & Girls aged 3 to 11 years

Our inspiration

OPEN MORNING Thursday 14th February 2019 9.15 am or 10.15 am.

Every is unique, with their owncharacter, character,passions passions and and Every girl girl is unique, with their own idiosyncrasies.

That’s what makeslife lifeatatMalvern Malvern St St James so idiosyncrasies.

That’s what makes so enjoyable and rewarding.

We areinspired constantly by our andenjoyable rewarding.

We are constantly byinspired our pupils andpupils we support them to have thetoconfidence to excel, to to excel, love life, stand and we support them have the confidence to love life,up for all that they believe in they and shape stand up for all that believeainwonderful and shapefuture. a wonderful future.

Be anything, achieve everything

Please telephone the School to register for a place.

FORTHCOMING OPEN MORNINGS SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2019 WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2019

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

“excellent”

36%

September 2018

senior school scholarships in 2018

A leading independent day and boarding school in Somerset, offering excellence in education to rising 3-13 year olds

O P E N M O RNI NGS Fri 8 March 9-11.00 Visit our beautiful 25-acre day and flexi-boarding school, where boys and girls aged 3-13 thrive on personalised learning.

Fri 3 May

9-11.00

OPEN

Mornings

Contact Jackie Williams on 01932 862 264, at admissions@feltonfleet.co.uk or visit www.feltonfleet.co.uk

Friday 25th January and Friday 10th May

www.perrotthill.com @perrotthill

Means-tested bursaries are available.

COBHAM SURREY KT11 1DR

W H E R E I N D I V I D U A L S R E A L LY M AT T E R

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/perrotthillschool

“A supportive community of pupils and teachers...in an area of outstanding natural beauty.”

The Good Schools Guide

Open Days 15th June and 5th October 2019 Boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 11 to 18 Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 6TH

T: 01608 658999 or E: registrar@kinghamhill.org to request a prospectus or arrange a visit

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DIARY DATES

CALENDAR Our roundup of fun and inspiring things to do this spring

A barrel of laughs

Blast off

Nationwide [ONGOING]

Tate Liverpool, Liverpool [ONGOING]

Whether you want to see comedy suitable for the whole family, or your little one fancies giving the mic a go, you must check out Comedy Club 4 Kids. Its nationwide workshops teach children how to write and perform comedy by mining their experiences for material. Find upcoming dates near you on the website. comedyclub4kids.co.uk

Explore Tate Liverpool’s Constellations: Highlights from the Nation’s Collection of Modern Art, with a little help from the rocket backpack. Wander the exhibition and learn as you go with arty activities, including complimentary prompt cards, view finders and torches. Ideal for creative and inquisitive young minds. tate.org.uk

Just a spoonful of sugar Aqua Shard, London UNTIL 18TH APRIL

If your children loved Mary Poppins Returns, treat them to a supercalifragilistic afternoon tea at Aqua in The Shard. Enjoy deliciously nostalgic nibbles high above the city. Adults can even sample some ‘medicine’ (fizz and liqueur). aquashard.co.uk

Take in some art, culture and serious views at Tate Liverpool

Burst your bubble Ropetackle Arts Centre, West Sussex 23RD FEBRUARY

Watch on as Louis Pearl, aka The Amazing Bubble Man, captivates children with the magic of bubbles, combining comedy, music and artistry with audience participation and plenty of spellbinding bubble tricks set to truly mesmerise. ropetacklecentre.co.uk

No cheese, please Cheddar Gorge, Somerset 6TH – 22ND APRIL

s

For an Easter egg hunt with a difference, head to Cheddar Gorge for an underground adventure. Explore the mysterious chambers of Gough’s Cave and find what the Easter Bunny has left behind – there’s sure to be a tasty reward! cheddargorge.co.uk

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Inspiring intellectually brave, morally sound and confident young people

Register at admissions@altonschool.co.uk

Open Day - Friday 8th March 9.30am - 12noon Co-educational Catholic school with Nursery, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form.

Alton School, Anstey Lane, Alton, Hants, GU34 2NG.

Tel. 01420 82070

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ORWELL PARK SCHOOL

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TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM ON ADMISSIONS@ORWELLPARK.CO.UK WWW.ORWELLPARK.CO.UK T: 01473 653224

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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DIARY DATES

More than words

Counting sheep

Venues across Birmingham 14TH – 24TH MARCH

St Fagans Museum of History, Cardiff 1ST – 25TH MARCH

Birmingham’s only dedicated children’s book festival, Bournville Book Fest allows you to meet favourite authors, discover new books and enjoy interactive storytelling at venues throughout the city.

Imaginative workshops include modelmaking and storytelling aboard a canal boat. bournvillebookfest.com

Where better to ring in spring than Wales, home to the UK’s largest sheep population? Head to a lambing session at Llwyn yr Eos Farm at St Fagans Museum, where you can meet some of the fluffy new arrivals. And if you’re keen to follow up on the flock’s progress, tune into the online lambcam. museum.wales

Enjoy interactive fun and eye-catching prints at Eureka’s Patternarium

Lighten up

Past times

Eureka, West Yorkshire UNTIL 1ST JUNE

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury 10TH – 14TH APRIL

Have your mind blown at immersive new exhibition, Patternarium. Find out how digital technology and mechanical machines interact with a number of interactive attractions, from pedal bikes that generate vivid patterns, to torches that create enormous light ‘paintings. eureka.org.uk

The live Horrible Histories shows are a must-see for any kid that’s mad about the past. Choose between two performances – Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians – where historical figures come alive on stage thanks to a cast of brilliant actors and 3D special effects. As educating as it is enjoyable. theatresevern.co.uk

Puss on pointes Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds 2ND – 5TH APRIL

s

Much-loved fairytale, Puss In Boots, has been refreshed with a new ballet adaptation that’s perfect for children. No ordinary cat, Puss befriends everyone he meets but seems to bring his master Jack bad luck. Performed by the Northern Ballet, join Puss and Jack as they meet a flurry of lovable characters. theatreleeds.com

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n pe nd O Day y 2 0:15 a 1 rd t tu ch a a S ar M

Worcester, WR6 6DD T: 01299 896275 Worcester, WR6 6DD abberleyhall.co.uk T: 01299 896275 abberleyhall.co.uk Worcester, WR6 6DD T: 01299 896275 abberleyhall.co.uk

Where learning Where learning goes hand in hand Where learning goes hand in hand with discovery goes hand in hand with discovery with discovery Co-education Boarding & Day Prep School for 2-13 year olds, based in 90 acres of Worcestershire Co-education Boarding & Dayfrom PrepLondon, School for countryside.

Two hours 2-13 year olds, in 90 and acres of Worcestershire an hour from thebased Cotswolds Birmingham Airport. countryside.

Two hours Co-education Boarding & Dayfrom PrepLondon, School for an hour from the Cotswolds and Birmingham Airport.

2-13 year olds, based in 90 acres of Worcestershire countryside. Two hours from London, an hour from the Cotswolds and Birmingham Airport.

Leading HMC Co-educational Boarding and Day School for children aged 11 – 18 Next Open Morning 27 April 2019, 09.00am – 12.00pm Please contact Jane Herold, the Registrar, on 0118 976 7415 or email admissions@pangbourne.com Pangbourne College Pangbourne Reading Berkshire RG8 8LA Tel: 0118 984 2101 pangbourne.com

South American Animal Adventure

Adventure Under 4’s go FREE Braziliant value: Admission still at 2014 prices!!

Explore the Amazona in Cromer

uk

OPEN

DAYS

South American Animal Adventure

amazonazoo.co.uk

Friday 8

th Febr uary and Friday 1 7th Ma y

Amazona Zoo Rainforest logo

stay with us at cromercamping.com check website for opening times

Getting the Best out of Boys To attend an Open Day please contact

outdoor play

Hall Road, Cromer NR27 9JG Tel. 01263 510741 Facebook.com/AmazonaZoo

@AmazonaZoo

amazonazoo.co.uk

pa.registrar@moulsford.com

• 01491 651438

Moulsford Preparatory School, Moulsford-on-Thames, Oxon, OX10 9HR Independent day and boarding school for boys aged 4-13

• www.moulsford.com

SPRING 2019 | independentschoolparent.com

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Our long held school values, ‘The Cumnor Way’ underpin the ethos and curriculum at Cumnor House School.

Our children strive to achieve their academic potential by expanding their sense of curiosity, understanding the importance of perseverance, critical thinking, objectivity and reflection.

I N D EPEN D EN T DAY S C H O O L FO R G I R L S AG ED 4 TO 1 8

Queen’s Gate offers girls a warm, supportive environment where individuality is nurtured, academic standards are high and a broad-based curriculum ensures a well-rounded education.

To find out more visit www.cumnorhouse.com / 0208 645 2614 admissions@cumnorhouse.com

Junior School At-home Receptions 2019 Tuesday 12th March and Friday 22nd March

Open Mornings 2019 Girls School 5th Feb 19th Mar 30th Apr

Boys School 6th Feb 20th Mar 1st May

To book, please visit queensgate.org.uk/admissions/jsopenevents/

Reception 5th Feb 19th Mar 30th Apr

Queen’s Gate Junior School, 125–126 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LJ registrar@queensgate.org.uk · 020 7594 4982

“The quality of pupils’ academic achievements is excellent” ISI 2018

Independent Day School for girls 4-16 years Day Nursery & Pre-School for girls & boys from 6 months

Est. 1987

Every step of the way...

Nursery

Discover Mornings

n

25 Jan

6 March

n

n

Prep

Senior

29 March

For more than 30 years Abercorn School has proudly offered children from the age of 2 ½ to 13 the perfect balance of a rigorous academic curriculum, delivered in a warm and nurturing environment in central London.

Visit the website to reserve your place at a Discover Morning, or contact us to arrange a personal tour of our buildings.

28 Abercorn Place, NW8 9XP

n

020 7286 4785

Discover Abercorn, discover their future.

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admissions@abercornschool.com abercornschool.com

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

Abbot’s Hill is a happy and thriving community in which pupils are encouraged to aim high, to grasp opportunities, enjoy learning and make lasting friendships.

Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 8RP 01442 240333 | registrar@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk | www.abbotshill.herts.sch.uk

DIARY DATES

Global reach

PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK DOUET; BRIAN SLATER; KATE GREEN; GEM HALL

Stay in tune Royal Albert Hall, London 27TH APRIL

Classical For Kids is a fine way to introduce your brood to classical music. Musicians will perform a repertoire that’s been chosen to entertain children, covering composers from Brubeck to Strauss. Best of all, there’s no expectation to stay still or be quiet, allowing the kids to enjoy themselves. royalalberthall.com

Eden Project, Cornwall 16TH – 24TH FEB

Visit the Eden Project this February half term and explore five continents in one day with its Passport To The World event. Explore an Arctic winterscape, go totally tropical with a journey through the clouds on the wobbly rainforest bridge, strictly get dancing with flamenco workshops and hone your jungle survival skills by learning to shoot a blow pipe. edenproject.com

A classic tale Enjoy breathtaking aerial displays during Giffords’ Xanadu

Arts Depot, London 16TH – 21ST FEBRUARY

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, the wildly popular picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, has been adapted for the stage, and comes fresh from the West End for a brand new tour.

Set to a lively score, the tale features a musical dog, catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of surprises along the way. It’s sure to delight every member of the family. artsdepot.co.uk

Roll up, roll up!

Nationwide 3RD MAY – 29TH SEPTEMBER

Venture to the circus for Giffords’ latest spectacular performance. Touring throughout the country until early autumn, Xanadu promises a plethora of new acts, from a swinging trapeze artist to a talented juggler, as well as much-loved regulars that includes Tweedy the Clown. Plus, the 70s-inspired music and art references are sure to please more mature family members. giffordscircus.com

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MEMORY LANE

SCH OO

L M E MOR I E

S

PETER ESTLIN The Lord Mayor of the City of London recounts his time at King Edward’s Witley, where he learned the importance of understanding and tolerance How did you end up attending King Edward’s?

My father was in the Royal Navy and my mother in the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

Sadly, due to illness my mother spent a few years in hospital. Because my father was at sea, this meant that my sister and I were both sent to boarding school. At the age of 11, I joined King Edward’s.

Everyone has their own set of circumstances. There were children who had no parents or whose parents worked abroad, children whose home life had been marred by alcohol abuse etc.

I began to gain an awareness of what real life is all about; opening yourself up to others; understanding one another and developing tolerance.

What are your early recollections?

It was very much a homefrom-home, providing me with the stability that I needed to deal with my mother’s illness, and later, her death. It was while there that I developed a really important life skill – resilience. I became aware of the fact that there were plenty of other pupils who were suffering similar losses and we all learned the importance of it in the face of adversity.

How does boarding school help prepare a child for life?

Access to a wonderful education and learning opportunities outside of the core curriculum; shaping your identity and developing resilience and of course, becoming truly independent, these are all the obvious attributes of a

What was your favourite time at school?

I loved my years in the Sixth Form, and it was during this period that I enjoyed a trip to the Lord Mayor’s Show and had the opportunity to meet the late Sir Kenneth Russell Cork GBE, who was to become a real source of inspiration. He fuelled my interest in pursuing a career in accountancy.

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THERE WERE PLENTY OF OTHER pupils who were suffering similar losses AND WE ALL LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY Did you always aspire to become Head Boy? No; I was a bit of a maverick in my early years at King Edward’s! But my mother’s death was a definite wakeup call. I was motivated to persevere in my studies and to achieve success in her memory.

And what did you learn from being Head Boy? I was exposed to public

independentschoolparent.com | SPRING 2019

speaking for the first time and I also learned how to reconcile being a leader with maintaining peer friendships, while forging strong links with staff and those in authority.

What life skills do you think you learned at school?

It taught me that life is about human interaction.

boarding school education.

Less known are the benefits associated with situations where the family unit is not conducive to offering a stable environment, when a boarding school can offer opportunities for academic growth, personal development and access to a protective community.

GORDON’S SCHOOL BOARDING IN SURREY

Ranked in the top 1% of all schools in England and Wales over the past 3 years at A Level.

Years 7, 9 and 12 boarding places available from £5,378 per term.

www.gordons.school

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