GEMS Hampshire School
A dynamic school in the heart of London
Our vision To prepare children for tomorrow, without losing sight of the traditions and values of yesterday, ensuring they have the strength to cope and the tenderness to care.
We discover and nurture children’s individual talents, inspiring a love of learning and developing lifelong skills. Founded in 1928 and located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, GEMS Hampshire School provides the top class education you would expect from a traditional British preparatory school, combined with a caring approach and family feel. An independent, inter-denominational day school, we cater for boys and girls between the ages of three and thirteen. In line with our motto, Alte Spectemus (Aim High), we have an excellent
record of academic results and entry to leading senior schools. Although we are justifiably proud of this success, we aim to provide a balance of academic scholarship, physical development, artistic activity and pastoral care. Through personal attention from our dedicated staff and a stimulating curriculum, we ensure that learning is fun and that every child feels confident and valued. We place an emphasis on achievement and celebration of success in all areas of our school community, working in partnership
with parents to encourage children to be active learners, independent thinkers and caring individuals. We hope that this prospectus will give a flavour of life at GEMS Hampshire but we encourage you to arrange a visit to the school so that you can experience for yourself its vitality and ethos.
A clear sense of bubbly enthusiasm permeates the school, contributing to its ethos of kindness, consideration and enjoyment. Independent Schools Inspectorate
GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL INTRODUCTION
A high-quality education
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GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Little Gems
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First steps in learning Through imaginative play and interactive learning, we make children’s first experiences of school exciting and fun. In our Little Gems setting, children progress from Kindergarten (ages 3 and 4) to Reception (ages 4 and 5), following the curriculum of the Little Gems Foundation Stage. Located in a specially converted Victorian house in Wetherby Place, half a mile from the Main School, our Kindergarten and Reception provide a homely environment in which our youngest children feel secure and happy. Children are encouraged to develop their imagination, communication and social skills through a variety of
stimulating experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Basic letter and number work in Kindergarten leads into the literacy and mathematics schemes of Reception, where the children receive tuition in small classes at a pace suited to their needs. Use of computers allows the children to acquire impressive ICT skills. In this way, firm foundations are laid for the rest of their school career. Staff encourage creativity and expression, as well as active learning through exploration and investigation.
It has the nicest teachers in the world. I love the school. Pupil aged 5
The children also benefit from specialist teaching of physical education, part of GEMS’ innovative Fit for Learning programme, as well as dance and French. In all areas, progress is closely monitored and a home-school link book ensures that parents are informed of their child’s achievements. When the time comes to move to Year I the children’s growing confidence and visits to the Main School combine to ensure a smooth transition.
GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Little Gems
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GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Main School
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The positive learning atmosphere is palpable and pupils clearly enjoy their work. Independent Schools Inspectorate
An exciting curriculum and specialist teaching provide an environment in which children can flourish. The Main School, which comprises the Pre-Preparatory (ages 5 to 8) and Preparatory (ages 8 to 13) sections, is housed in a fully refurbished historic building, originally the Chelsea Library, in Manresa Road, SW3. Working to an enhanced National Curriculum, we provide a broad and balanced programme that enables children to fulfil their potential. Careful planning across the school ensures continuity, so that all children make good progress, whatever their abilities. A mix of traditional methods and modern techniques, combined with an increasing amount of specialist teaching as children progress, allows a child’s academic and problem-solving skills to be extended in a range of subjects. Children also enjoy a variety of project work, creative activities and physical challenges, as well as personal, social and health education.
Our excellent facilities include a galleried library, gymnasium, science laboratory, art and design studio, fully equipped stage, garden and state-of-the-art ICT suite. Interactive whiteboards in every teaching space in the Main School, along with computers in every classroom, allow ICT to be accessed in all aspects of learning. We also provide, within our fees, access to the Maths Whizz on-line system of individualised home tutoring for every child. Our experienced staff monitor each child’s progress closely and our Enrichment Department can provide additional challenge or extra support for any child who would benefit from it. We are proud of our process of parental consultation in choosing the right senior school for each child and we provide strong support for those taking entrance examinations. Communication between school and home continues via homework diaries, as well as through written reports every term, the parents’ intranet, regular newsletters, a termly magazine and e-mail contact between form teachers and families.
GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Main School
Developing independence
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GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Enrichment
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An ethos of care A well-rounded education features the provision of diverse opportunities within a supportive community. We believe learning should extend beyond the classroom to embrace a wide range of extra-curricular activities that develop talents, build self-esteem and provide enjoyment. As well as a wide choice of sports, we offer a varied programme of after-school clubs from cookery and poetry to fencing and drumming. The annual residential study visit to France for Years IV to VIII, included in the school’s fees, is a real highlight. Children in these years also participate in outdoor pursuit weekends, where activities such as windsurfing and abseiling enhance their resourcefulness and teamwork. Children in all years enjoy nature trips, art and craft events and visits to places of interest. The school also invites a range of organisations and individuals (including parents) to
come in and talk about their work, culture or interests. We foster links with local schools and other groups, such as the Chelsea Society. Children relish the opportunity to take part in the numerous performances, concerts and form assemblies that we stage, to which parents are invited. They participate in many inter-school and inter-house competitions and sporting fixtures, while those with musical talent can receive individual tuition from instrument specialists. Our house system and regular assemblies provide a sense of community, with every child being paired with a ‘buddy’ of a different age. House points and annual prizes inspire hard work, kindness and courtesy. Children are encouraged to take
extra responsibility as prefects, monitors or school council representatives. They show compassion for those less fortunate through their enthusiastic charity fundraising, supported by our active Parents’ Association. We provide a number of services to help working parents including an extended school day from 08.00 hours until 18.00 hours, a holiday club out of term time, a door-to-door daily transport service and a shuttle bus between our sites. In addition, provision of a nutritious lunch, freshly cooked on the premises, is included in our fees.
GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL Enrichment
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Pupils thrive at GEMS Hampshire because the school successfully encourages each individual to develop personal skills and feel valued in a warm and friendly environment. Independent Schools Inspectorate
GEMS HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL GEMS EDUCATION
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Excellence in education GEMS Education is the world’s largest private provider of nursery to Year 13 education, with a global network of high-performing schools. GEMS Education is an international education company that owns and operates high performing schools. It also offers consulting services to both the public and private sectors. For 50 years, GEMS Education has provided excellent education to hundreds of thousands of children around the world. GEMS has a global network of world class international schools, which provide quality holistic education to more than 100,000 students from 125 countries. It employs over 9,000 education professionals, specialists and staff. GEMS has a world class leadership team, that combines business and education expertise from around the globe. The GEMS Education school model is unique in the world. It offers a broad range of curricula with varying fee structures, making private education more accessible to the broader community. GEMS Education also supports Governments’ education reform agendas by working with Ministries of Education to lift school performance and improve the standards and expertise in government schools across the globe.
Our core values GEMS schools focus on academic performance and nurturing each pupils character, creativity and all-round capability. This commitment to developing compassionate, competent and lifelong learners is embedded in our core values, which permeate the life of our schools: World Citizenship Empowering students with a global and local perspective. Universal Values Accepting that we are all different, while recognising that we are all the same. Leadership Developing each student’s individuality and discovering his or her potential. Forward Thinking Developing skills for the future.
The Varkey GEMS Foundation is a not for profit education organisation. Our aim is to impact one hundred underprivileged children for every student enrolled at a GEMS school. The Foundation will benefit 10 million children globally.
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GEMS Hampshire School
Little Gems 5 Wetherby Place London SW7 4NX
Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory 15 Manresa Road London SW3 6NB
Tel: 020 7352 7077 Email: hampshire@indschool.org www.ths.westminster.sch.uk