School House - Autumn/Winter 2022 by Country & Town House Magazine

AUTUMN/WINTER 2022

GOING FOR GREEN

Meet School House’s Green Champion 2022

PAST PERFECT Careers for future historians

SAFETY FIRST Social media lessons

STARS WITH STRIPES US schools in the UK

IT ALL ADDS UP

Maths gets a makeover

I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

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In a bingewatching, video streaming world, there are still those excited by a return to the ballet Trusted for generations

johndwood.co.uk

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Homes and schooling go hand in hand Living near excellent schools is the perfect reason to want to invest in a property when you have children who are about to start, or who are already in education. Arguably, homes close to independent schools typically hold their value more steadily than the average property in the UK, and there will always be a need for education hubs where children can learn and grow. Unlike state schools, there are no catchment areas, which can often be a critical factor impacting neighbouring house prices. However, there is a strong correlation between the desirability of an area and the existence of good independent schools. Central London, The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, South and South West London are all popular areas for independent schools, with Surrey and the Home Counties performing well too. An often important factor for many families looking to move, is knowing that when children become old enough to transport themselves to school, they can make their own way, without a long daily commute. At John D Wood & Co., we have 150 years’ experience in selling and letting property. You will find our 30 offices located across London and the South of England, where our agents have an in-depth knowledge of their local area, and are fully adept to help you move close to your desired school. Indeed, our 150 years of property expertise is testament to our reputation in the industry, evolving from the heady days in 1872 when our first office opened in central London. We provide a discreet, bespoke service for all clients, with a strategic approach to marketing property. When you choose John D Wood & Co. to sell or let, we will guide you and your family along the route most suited to your future, and we will ensure to consider your all-important schooling needs. Please get in touch with any of our branches, found on johndwood.co.uk, email hq@johndwood.co.uk or contact our Head Office for advice on 020 3369 1687. John D Wood & Co.

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Tailored

not uniform

When it comes to a good education, one size does not necessarily fit all. At MPW, one of the UK’s best known names in fifth and sixth-form education, we offer a distinctive alternative to traditional schools. A levels and GCSEs in over 45 subjects Retakes, revision courses and Year 12 transfers Personal tutors providing individual academic and pastoral support Oxbridge-style tutorial groups with nine students or fewer Excellent results and progression to top tier universities Best in class inspection reports from the ISI and Ofsted

Discover MPW for yourself Visit www.mpw.ac.uk or call us to book your visit.

London 020 7835 1355

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Birmingham 0121 454 9637

Cambridge 01223 350 158

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Students make rapid progress from their various starting points, in small-sized classes, due to highly effective specialist teaching and closely focused pastoral support. MPW London Independent Schools Inspectorate Report February 2022

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30 years g n i t a lebr e C

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4-11 year olds | West London

2-11 year olds | Kew, Richmond

11-18 year olds | West London

11-18 year olds | North West London

The Gardener Schools Group is committed to providing independent co-education of the highest quality that meets each individual child’s .

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EXCELLENT ISI inspection

Every Heathfield girl has an irrepressible spirit. Uniquely hers, it drives her passion, voice and character. As well as providing an excellent academic education and top-class pastoral care, Heathfield identifies your daughter’s distinctive strengths and encourages her to live her ambitions, embrace her spirit and talent so that she develops as the best possible version of herself. Live life like a Heathfield girl.

WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING

SIXTH FROM OPEN EVENING

Saturday 8 October

Wednesday 28 September

9.45 to 12 noon

6 to 8pm

To book your place or to attend one of our Meet The Head events, please email admissions@heathfieldschool.net

Day, Weekly and Full Boarding for Girls 11-18

heathfieldschool.net | +44 (0) 1344 898343

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“

Being at Lancing has allowed me to be my best.

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Be inspired Be brilliant Be you 15/07/2022 10:24

CONTENTS AUTUMN WINTER 2022

78 SCHOOL’S OUT 108

47 52

55 59

63 66

96 UPFRONT 21 22 24 27 29 31

36 40 47

HEAD OF SCHOOL Downe House PREP NEWS SENIOR NEWS LEADER COLUMN Adrian Rainbow, Hampton Court House PREP HEAD VIEW Nicola Lovell, Burlington House School SENIOR HEAD VIEW Alice Philips, St Catherine’s Bramley

69 72 77

82 84

FEATURES

SCHOOL HOUSE GREEN AWARD School House Green Champion shortlist and winner GREEN DREAMS Eco news SOCIAL SKILLS How schools are teaching online safety THE NEW INFLUENCERS Alice Smellie on different digital career options

96 99

112

VIEW FROM ABROAD The benefits of international boarding by Lisa Chuma ECO PREPS Schools with sustainability at their hearts FAMILY TIES Meet the multigenerational Old Cranleighans DIGGING IT All about archaeology with Thea Jourdan PAST JUST PERFECT Eleanor Doughty meets author Dr Daisy Dunn TEAM USA Across the pond education - here in the UK SORTED! The return of the house system by Sally Jones MARMITE MATHS How schools are revolutionising maths teaching

114

REGULARS

140

EXTRA TIME Annabel Heseltine explores childhood happiness MAKING A CHANGE Helen Sundaram on caring for your community and beyond MANNERS MAKETH MAN Instilling strong values with Alexander Thomas ON A ROLE Teachers influence the whole school, says Shona Calaco INSIDERS’ GUIDE Schools where art is as important as academics by Eleanor Doughty MATCH FIT Rowing HEALTH AND WELLBEING Mind: Happiness at Claremont Fancourt Body: Riding at Mayfield Spirit: Optimism at Falcons Prep Richmond

120 122

THE CULTURE KIT What to see, read and do GET IN GEAR Our teen reviewers check out Goodwood’s Driving Experiences IN THE PINK Victoria Lambert enjoys family time in Languedoc, France COASTING ALONG Best beachside homes for sale CELEBRITY SCHOOL REPORT Children’s author Cressida Cowell shares her memories

NURSERIES 126 129 133

135

NURSERY NEWS IN GOOD TASTE Hearty healthy meals are on nursery menus HAPPY EATERS Mini Black Forest cherry cakes from Charlotte Stirling Reed’s new cookbook STAR PERFORMERS Music, movement and drama lead the way, finds Thea Jourdan DOUBLE STRENGTH Victoria Lambert profiles bilingual nurseries

DIRECTORY 151 LONDON SCHOOLS 189 COUNTRY SCHOOLS 240 DIRECTORY

ON THE COVER: Hazlegrove Prep School, Somerset. Photograph by Hester Marriott

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NURSERY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 2½–11

C O N T R I B U TO R S CRESSIDA COWELL MBE FRSL

Cressida Cowell, University of Oxford alumna, was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2019-2022). She is the author and illustrator of the bestselling The Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon series. The latter of which has sold over 11 million books worldwide in 38 languages and is a major DreamWorks Animation film franchise.

ADRIAN RAINBOW DOUBLE

" t n e  e c "Ex

ISI Inspection Report March 2022

a k o o B r u o T l a n o s Per www.redcliff

Godolphin and Latymer Redcliffe Gardens School 47 Redcliffe Gardens London SW10 9JH

m egardens.co

Small School

Big Family

@redcliffeschool

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Former head of Hampton Court House, Adrian Rainbow, is passionate about education, particularly critical pedagogy. Prior to his career in education and alongside his numerous degrees, Adrian played professional American Football in Canada and Germany. Outside of work, he loves reading, cooking, hiking and spending time with his wife, Miriam, and sons, Finley and Osian.

LISA CHUMA

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Lisa Chuma moved to the UK when she was 16 and has been in Switzerland for the past 11 years. She has three children, two of whom are boarders at a British school. She is keen to share her experiences as a boarding school mum and shed some light on the many boarding school misconceptions. She is a passionate copywriter and marketing strategist.

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‘Leading the way in educational initiatives is instinctive for this

DYNAMIC Oxford school.’ tatler schools guide

‘A HAPPY, FIZZING SCHOOL plumb in the middle of an inspiring city’ the good schools guide School coach from London via Beaconsfield every weekend. New service from Dulwich via Clapham, Putney and Chiswick launching soon.

weekly & full boarding | day | a level & ib | co-educational | 13 – 18

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C O N T R I B U TO R S ALICE SMELLIE

Predominantly focusing on health and consumer features, Alice Smellie has written for a number of national newspapers and magazines over the years, including The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Times and Marie Claire. Most recently, she co-wrote Cracking the Menopause with presenter Mariella Frostrup and co-founded the Menopause Mandate campaign group.

ALEXANDER THOMAS

Alexander Thomas has been headmaster of St Philip’s School in South Kensington, London, since January 2016 and is very proud to be part of an exceptional school. Before joining St Philip’s, he was deputy head at Westminster Cathedral Choir School following a career in political risk management in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

ANNA TYZACK

Country & Town House’s property editor is found either at her desk in London or at a farmhouse in the Blackdown Hills, on the Devon-Somerset border. In her busy schedule, Anna regularly writes and edits for The Daily Telegraph and set up Mumfidential, a support platform and resource for mothers, new and old. At home, she is married to a barrister and has four lovely children and a whippet. 14 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2022

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“ONE WORD: EXCEPTIONAL”

“MOST FORWARD THINKING SCHOOL”

“THERE’S A RICH VEIN OF KINDNESS”

TATLER

THE WEEK

TATLER

BRIGHTON COLLEGE

WISH YOU WERE HERE United Kingdom School of the Decade THE SUNDAY TIMES

JOIN US AT AN OPEN MORNING BOOK YOUR PLACE 01273 704200 | BRIGHTONCOLLEGE.ORG.UK BC School House Ad 225x298BCO 6598.indd 1 Brighton College.indd 1

08/06/2022 15:35 09:04 08/06/2022

www.schoolhousemagazine.co.uk VICTORIA LAMBERT EDITOR

CAMILLA VAN PRAAGH PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LUCY CLELAND MANAGING EDITOR AMY WAKEHAM SUB EDITOR & FEATURES ASSISTANT TESSA DUNTHORNE EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT RUBY FEATHERSTONE CONTRIBUTING EDITORS ELEANOR DOUGHTY, ANNA TURNS, SALLY JONES, EMMA REED CREATIVE & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR PARM BHAMRA ONLINE CONTENT DIRECTOR REBECCA COX JUNIOR ONLINE EDITOR ELLIE SMITH ONLINE WRITERS CHARLOTTE RICKARDS, CHARLIE COLVILLE, OLIVIA EMILY SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE ZOEY PHOON DIGITAL ASSISTANT NAOMI GRANT ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE MELISSA CAMPBELL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ELLIE RIX ACCOUNT DIRECTORS PANDORA LEWIS, SERENA KNIGHT ACCOUNT MANAGER SABRINA RAVEN DIGITAL MANAGER ADAM DEAN BRAND PARTNERSHIP MANAGER CHRIS HOLT ADVERTISING OPERATIONS MANAGER JESSICA DAVEY SALES SUPPORT & OFFICE MANAGER XA RODGER TECHNICAL MANAGER LUIGI BOLOGNA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR MARK PEARSON

Having launched the School House Green Champion Award, School House will be creating more awards for brilliant initiatives in Sustainability, Pastoral Care and other Compassionate Areas of school communities

FINANCE DIRECTOR JILL NEWEY FINANCE CONTROLLER LAUREN HARTLEY FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR RIA HARRISON HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT ZOE JONES PROPERTY & MARKETING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND B CORP PROJECT MANAGER GEMMA COWLEY CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER TIA GRAHAM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JAMES THROWER MANAGING DIRECTOR JEREMY ISAAC EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES victorialambert@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES camilla@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk

SCHOOL HOUSE is a biannual magazine published with Country & Town House magazine and distributed to AB homes in Barnes, Battersea, Bayswater, Belgravia, Brook Green, Chelsea, Chiswick, Clapham, Coombe, Fulham, Hampstead, Highgate, Holland Park, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Pimlico, Putney, Richmond, South Kensington, St John’s Wood, Wandsworth and Wimbledon. It is also on sale at selected WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, M&S, and Waitrose stores and independent newsagents nationwide. School House is published by Country & Town House Ltd, Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL (tel: 020 7384 9011). Registered number 576850 England and Wales. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd, West Midlands. Paper supplied by Gerald Judd. Distribution by Letterbox. Copyright © 2022 School House. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Materials are accepted on the understanding that no liability is incurred for safe custody. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. All prices are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change. Whilst every care is taken to ensure all information is correct at the time of going to press, it is subject to change, and School House takes no responsibility for omissions or errors.

WHAT TO DO WITH SCHOOL HOUSE WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED READING IT...

WATCH TH I S S PACE

schoolhousemagazine.co.uk Email camilla@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk for more information

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Ideally, we’d love you to pass it on to a friend or a community place which might enjoy it (doctor or dentist surgery, community centre etc), but you can also rest assured that your issue can be recycled. The magazine (including cover) can be disposed of in your paper waste recycling bin. The outer plastic wrapping is made entirely from 100 per cent compostable material sourced from potato starch. It can be disposed of in a compost heap, your garden waste bin or your food waste bin (why not use it as a liner?), but please do not put this wrapping in your recycling.

PEFC/16-33-97 This product is from sustainably managed forests, recycled and controlled sources. www.pefc.org

Country & Town House is a member of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)

Please recycle

16/08/2022 14:52

MOR N ING

is all we think you’ll need to be inspired. Join us at one of our open mornings

charterhouse.org.uk

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22/06/2022 14:46

Editor’s LETTER

Hampton Court House

cross the country, schools are coming to life after a well-earned summer hiatus. Students are arriving to the familiar smells of fresh paint and newly-waxed floors, the sound of assembly bells and the rattle-and-crash as lunch preparation gets underway in shiny canteen kitchens. Crisp blazers are being shrugged on, most a little oversized, of course. Football boots still sport white laces, leather shoes are unscuffed, bags hold clean pencil cases (not yet ink-stained). And outside the main entrance, by newly mown lawns and whitestriped pitches, the principal’s dog barks with excitement, tail wagging in delight at the sight of so many old and new friends… The school year has started once again and with it, the potential for a host of adventures. But even as pupils bed into their new environment, they and their parents may be wondering just how sustainable it all is. That’s why earlier this year we invited schools to submit details of their eco projects and practice so that we could award the first ever School House Green Champion Award 2022. Turn to page 34 for the winner and runners-up. Continuing our green theme, we’re also looking at those prep schools for whom being eco-friendly is a way of life (p55). You’ll also find a deep dive into social media, too: how are schools teaching safety online (p40) – as well as promoting its potential – not least, how to make a career in the brave new world of influencers and apps (p47). And don’t miss our Insiders’ Guide on what school to choose for an arty child (p90), our feature on American schools in the UK (p69) and advice on picking a bilingual nursery (p140). Lastly, historian Daisy Dunn gives career advice (p66) and there is an evocative recall of school days past from novelist Cressida Cowell (p123).

Fine Arts College

Pool with a view at Château Capitoul, France

Catering team at Gardens Daycare and Nursery

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w w w.r u g b y s c h o o l.co.u k

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RUGBY SCHOOL

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SC H A OL RA AR N SH G E IPS O F D AV IS AIL CI PL ABL IN E ES IN .

All

that they can be.

A SPRINGBOARD TO A LIFE OF PURPOSE A leading Catholic co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3-18 years, set in 1000 acres of beautiful countryside. Only two hours from London & one hour from regional international airports.

2022 | Open days

Sixth Form Open Evening | 22nd September Prep School Open Day | 8th October College Open Day | 15th October

Scholarship sittings start in November 2022 DISCOVER MORE AT: WWW.STONYHURST.AC.UK

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SCHOOL HOUSE AUTUMN/WINTER 2022

Lucy Barrie, 18, Head Senior at Downe House Lucy Barrie, 18, is Head Senior at Downe House, an independent boarding school for girls aged 11-18, with a Christian ethos. A keen lacrosse player, Lucy is passionate about her school, which she first visited as a young girl to watch her older sister (and alumna) Laura play matches. After joining at 11, Lucy – whose twin brother Joss is at Eton College – has flourished in its friendly environment. Her lower school years bring memories of den-making in the school’s woods and movie nights in the boarding house. Now, her role as Head Senior means the chance to make the next generation of girls feel secure. ‘I’m involved with weekly school councils and leading assemblies but it’s also my job to be a happy, friendly face.’ She adds: ‘I was shy when I first joined, but being in such a positive environment and surrounded by fabulous teachers, my confidence grew which was reflected in my academic work too.’ Looking to the future, Lucy hopes her maths, biology and chemistry A-levels will secure a place at a British or Dutch university to read neuroscience or a psychology-based degree. Her sights are set on a career in functional medicine – but, having lost time to the pandemic, she is in no hurry to make decisions. ‘It’s important to find a work-play balance. Downe House helped me understand that. Ultimately, what sets Downe apart,’ she says, ‘is not just the incredible education you receive but the strong friendships you build.’

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PREP SCHOOLS Sport, new schools and new starters

FOOTBALL FIENDS

Falcons School for Girls sponsors the return of local club, Barnes FC who are set to make their comeback to the football scene at neighbouring Rosslyn Park, this 2022/23 season. The school is committed to pupil wellbeing and to helping drive gender equality through education, with sport being a key platform for change.

Out on the football pitch

BYE BYE CARBON Forfar Education has kicked off plans to realise its firm commitment to become the first fully carbon neutral schools’ group in the UK. Over the past two years, the group has invested almost half a million pounds in sourcing and providing greener solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of its expanding group of nine outstanding schools and nurseries, striving to ensure that each and every school will be carbon neutral within five years of joining the Forfar family of schools.

Horris Hill

IT’S A GIRLS’ AFFAIR

Horris Hill is set to open its doors to girls this September, as a new chapter for the school begins. From September 2022, for the first time in 134 years, girls, as well as boys aged two upwards, will be welcomed into the state-of-the-art and custom-built new 50-week nursery and Forest School, as well as into reception and lower school classes. Girls will be able to progress all the way through the Newbury school until the age of 13 before going to senior school.

JUNIOR JOURNALIST CHAPTER CHARITY

Unicorn School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is celebrating its 30th anniversary and has been chosen by Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford as their Chapter Charity of the year. This honour will allow The Unicorn School to host a Carol Concert in the Cathedral on 17 Dec 2022. Previous Chapter charities include national charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support and Sarcoma UK.

Marlie Jay

A young journalist at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst in Hampshire, has been selected as The Day’s Interviewer of the Year in the inaugural Global Young Journalist Awards. As a winner, Marlie Jay’s article will be published on The Day’s website and she will be given the chance to connect with role models from the world of media and current affairs.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Inside Christ Church Cathedral

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NEWS

THE LIFE OF PI

King Edward’s School Bath’s team

A team of Year 5 creative computing pupils from King Edward’s Junior School, Bath win the Years 4-6 category of the PA Raspberry Pi Competition. The seven Year 5 children worked to develop and code a system which helps to educate pupils about environmental and sustainability issues. Part of the team’s initiative is a recycling station which tells pupils which bin they need to put their recycling in and rewards them with extra house points when they recycle rubbish.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

CHANGING FACES Heads on the move

Felsted School has appointed Miranda Norris as head of Felsted Prep from Sept 2022. Miranda brings over 18 years of senior leadership experience across state, independent and international settings with her. Mark Howe joins Forres Sandle Manor from his current position as headmaster of Ipswich High School, where he has overseen significant growth on roll and successfully led key strategic developments in boarding and co-education. James Allen’s Girls’ School, Dulwich, has appointed Victoria Goodson to be the next head of its Junior School from Sept 2022. She will replace Finola Stack who has been headteacher of the Junior School since 2007.

Kneller Hall’s impressive facade

North Devon’s West Buckland School announces the appointment of Sarah Atkinson as the next head of West Buckland Prep School. Sarah is currently the head at RGS Dodderhill, part of the RGS Worcester family of schools, and will succeed Nick Robinson in April 2023. Sarah has four children, the youngest of whom takes A-levels in 2023 before flying the nest. Sasha Davies will join headteacher at Kew Green Preparatory School following Jem Peck’s retirement. Formerly headteacher at Sinclair House Prep, her appointment as head coincides with Kew Green Nursery opening in Sept 2022.

REVAMPING KNELLER HALL

Kneller Hall, part of Dukes Education, is to become the new site of Radnor House Upper School from September 2023. Kneller Hall is a Grade II-listed building in Twickenham, built in the early 1700s and home of the Royal Military Music School since the mid-1850s.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE London Park School will be opening in September 2023 as part of Dukes Education with Suzie Longstaff at its helm. The school will eventually become a new centre of excellence across a number of central London sites north and south of the river, with a London Park Sixth Form planned in Belgravia.

The opening of the new Pre-School

PRE-PREP PARTY

Oxford-based Moulsford Prep School’s new state-of-theart Pre-Prep opens its doors to pupils in September 2022 and will be home to pre-schoolers, Reception, Years 1 and 2. The building has eco-friendly systems such as solar panels and air source heat pumps to provide underfloor heating, with natural ventilation through roof turrets.

Parsons Green Prep announces that Dr Pamela Edmonds will be joining the London-based school in September 2022 as the new headteacher. She moves there from being the head of The Hampshire School Chelsea. Hilary Wyatt will join St James Preparatory School in Sept 2022. She has been teaching for 30 years with 17 years’ experience in senior leadership roles. She is currently head at The Lyceum School in the City of London. Nick Baker has joined The Beacon School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, as the new Headmaster, effective from July 2022. He brings a wealth of educational experience to the school having worked in both state and independent education for the past twenty years, to recently leading one of the most sought-after prep schools in Central London. Fairstead House School and Nursery in Suffolk, has appointed Michael Radford as head. He had been acting head since Summer Term 2021. He has been appointed with immediate effect following a competitive recruitment process.

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SENIOR SCHOOLS Sport, new schools and new starters

Josh Wisbey with the Sword of Honour

HMS VICTORY FOR CADET

Trinity School Croydon’s U18 Boys 1st XV team celebrating

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Trinity School Croydon’s U18 Boys 1st XV rugby team returned victorious from Twickenham Stadium, winners of the 2022 National Cup. Sussex-based Bede’s School’s football team has become U18 ESFA National Champions for the second time, beating Thomas Telford School to claim the trophy. Brentwood School chess team qualified for the National Under 19 School Chess Championship Final and came 4th overall. In another success for the Essex-based school, Charlotte Cooke was longlisted for the GB Pony European Championship team.

William Waters at Sherborne School in Dorset has been made one of the First Sea Lord’s Cadets for 2022. This is a prestigious appointment and the first in Sherborne’s history of running the Combined Cadet Force. This position is awarded to the very best cadets from their respective organisations and play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Corps. Essex-based Felsted School’s former Head Boy, Josh Wisbey, passed out of Sandhurst with the Sword of Honour, an impressive award given to the British Army Officer Cadet considered to be the best of the Regular Commissioning Course.

GIRLS INTO SCHOOL: LEAK-FREE FOR YOU AND ME

Kingswood School, Bath students were awarded first prize in the Big Bang Competition for their project ‘Girls into School: Leak-free for you and me – reusable sanitary pads’. The students created reusable sanitary products for those living in poor conditions and without access to period care. Their project aims to close the gap of inequality between men and women, and to help girls move out of poverty and into higher education, especially in third world countries.

NEW ARTS CENTRES Downsend School in Leatherhead launched its brand new £5m Creative Arts Centre. The building was officially opened by Game of Thrones star, Iain Glen, with the event attended by MP Chris Grayling and a number of local councillors. King Edward’s School, Bath has a new Creative Media Suite, developed in partnership with Lenovo and Microsoft comprising 26 new Lenovo Legion T5 desktop systems, along with full peripherals. The new Media Suite will also be home to the school’s flourishing co-curricular esports programme.

SAFETY FIRST

GCSE Design and Technology pupil, Scarlett, from St Peter’s School, York took first prize at this year’s Technology Design and Innovation Competition at the Yamazaki Mazak facility. Her project, a Pool Safety Laser Trip Alarm, seeks to prevent as many deaths poolside as possible.

SWIMMING SUPERSTARS Swimmers aged 14 to 16 from Beech Hall School in Cheshire have completed a 21-mile relay swim of the English Channel, raising £42,000 and counting for Mencap, the UK’s learning disability charity. Pupils at Taunton School in Somerset are also attempting the crossing, to become the youngest ever relay team to swim the Channel. They have been training in the school pool and the sea around Dorset, Somerset and Devon.

MARK OF EXCELLENCE

St Catherine’s Bramley Sixth Form facility, in Surrey, which opened in the spring of 2021, has been awarded a ‘Supporting Excellence Award’ by the Boarding Schools Association.

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NEWS

GREEN CORNER Three students at Christ College Brecon in Wales, have launched a brandnew mobile catering trike which they debuted at the school Sports Day. Lower Sixth pupils Lottie Cross, Fern Cumine and Fran Lauenburg have all been trained in Food Hygiene and the business venture will count towards the volunteering aspect of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Heathfield School, Berkshire, has been part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative for the Platinum Jubilee. Ascot Racecourse and the Crown Estate planted 70 oak trees adjacent to the Royal Procession route in Windsor Great Park. The Girls’ Day School Trust has celebrated Earth Day 2022 as a CarbonNeutral® organisation for the first time in its history. The Trust has achieved this by reducing its emissions internally and supporting four emission reduction projects around the world, to offset its carbon footprint.

Pupils at All Hallows Prep School

CHANGING FACES Heads on the move

Will Goldsmith is Bedales School’s headmaster having been Acting Head since September 2021. Will started teaching English in the state sector, following his MA studies in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

EXPANDING SCHOOLS

King’s Ely in Cambridgeshire and Fairstead House in Suffolk will be launching a strategic partnership between the two schools through the merger of their respective charities. This decision will see Fairstead House – a leading independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school for children aged zero to 11 based in Newmarket – join forces with King’s Ely – a thriving independent allthrough school for children aged two to 18 based in Ely. Monkton Combe School, near Bath, and All Hallows Prep School have announced a merger. Founded in 1868, Monkton Combe offers education for nearly 700 pupils across prep and senior schools. While All Hallows, near Frome, is a leading co-ed day and boarding prep school for aged three to 13 and currently has 275 pupils. DLD College London is opening its doors to Year 9 students from September 2023, consolidating the school’s unique space in the education sector.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

One of Benenden’s new Centenary buildings

Worth School’s new Spencer Building

Badminton School, near Bristol, is in the process of building The Hub, a modern project at the heart of the 15-acre campus. The Hub will provide an aspiring space for pupils to learn in new and innovative ways. It will also be a social space not only to learn together, but also for interacting as a school community and with the local community. Benenden School, Kent, has launched its brand new, state-of-the-art Centenary buildings. The Centenary Hall has beautiful design and outstanding acoustics, and it didn’t take long for the bright Jat Atrium and the Seniors’ Courtyard to become the go-to hangouts for Sixth Formers. A new-build facility, the Spencer building, has opened at Worth School in Sussex. The building offers a new school library, Sixth Form Centre with classrooms and offices for staff as well as a student common room, and a large multi-purpose space. The building was funded by a gift from alumnus Baron Spencer of Alresford. Oundle School in Northamptonshire will be expanding its provision with the construction of a new girls’ boarding house, opening in 2026 alongside rolling refurbishment throughout the school.

Annabel Davies joins Croydon High School in September following the departure of current head, Emma Pattison, at the end of summer tern 2022. She is currently Principal Deputy Head (Curricular) at Harrow International School, Hong Kong. Karl Guest will be taking over headship of St Columba’s College. He will take up his duties at the coeducational independent Catholic school on 1 September 2023 but will be visiting and staying in touch throughout the next academic year. The King’s School, Canterbury has appointed Jude Lowson as its first female Head. She has exceptional credentials, having worked in some of the UK’s top performing schools. She is currently the acting Head of King’s College School, Wimbledon. Mark Wilson has taken up headship of ACS Egham. With over two decades of leadership experience, Mark has come to the school from his position as Head of School at the British International School Houston, Texas. Richard Jones is now Bryanston School’s headmaster having joined the school in 2020. He has a wealth of experience as a housemaster and, before joining Bryanston, tought at Canford School and St John’s School, Leatherhead. The Maynard School in Exeter has appointed Liz Gregory as the new head from September 2022. Liz is currently a Senior Deputy Head Academic at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools as well as holding many other responsibilities. Harrogate Ladies’ College has appointed a new Academic Deputy Head to enrich the school’s teaching and learning. John Hamilton has moved to Yorkshire from Scotland to take up the post at the school this summer. Sydenham High School announces Antonia Geldeard as new Head from September 2022. She has extensive academic and pastoral experience, holding responsibility for Sixth Form, enrichment, EPQ, school admissions and marketing. The Stephen Perse Foundation, a family of leading independent schools in Cambridge and Saffron Walden, has announced the appointment of James McCaughran as the next head of Dame Bradbury’s in Saffron Walden.

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Radnor House Independent Senior School for girls and boys is relocating to the magnificent Kneller Hall for September 2023

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18/08/2022 10:43

LEADER COLUMN FIRST WOR D

WHY CHOOSE ONE SCHOOL FOR LIFE? An all-through education – join in nursery and stay until sixth form – allows teachers to invest fully in students, says Dr Adrian Rainbow, head of Hampton Court House

ast week, we had a fire alarm practice. The school assembled in the sunshine according to age with sixth-form students at one end – and at the other, the toddlers who are in our pre-nursery. There were 300 children of all ages, all behaving patiently; I even found myself called on to hold a baby. It was a perfect reminder of how special this school is: a place where parents trust us with their children from start to end, a place where we can build an education, block by block, investing in each student with pride, knowing we will see their hard work come to fruition. The idea of an all-through education such as the one we offer is not new, but it seems to me that it has never been more appealing. While some parents assume they must keep shopping around for different schools to match different life stages, we try to offer a one-stop alternative. Come to us, for our immersion French and high academic standards, but you also get a way of learning that supports the individual in a genuinely transformative way. No other system offers a child the chance to be individually assessed throughout their entire school life by teachers who really know them and care for them. That means better grades, on the one hand, but also – crucially – a secure environment where most Adrian Rainbow children cannot help but thrive. This is not something that happens by accident. Schools like ours have to work hard to ensure our students draw the full benefits. For example, we have just finished an entire curriculum review, looking at what we teach all the way through the school. We have had to make sure that our plans are consistent, with each year’s learning forming a solid bedrock for the next. We also use our own benchmarking, as well as referencing national standards, to check pupils’ progress. So that means worrying less about whether children hit the targets mandated by the government in Key Stages. Instead, we look at each child and ask whether they are hitting the

right target for them. Our teachers know their strengths and weaknesses – and, of course, can then intervene early so that missed learning can be made up before it becomes an issue. School life is not just about academics; the pandemic has reminded us that pastoral care is essential too. An all-through education experience is an advantage as staff see students grow up while keeping in close contact with their families. We think of it as a triangulation between staff, parents and children. Mental health concerns, friendship issues, problems with behaviour – these can all be picked up earlier and dealt with when a child is utterly known in their school. I particularly like the way year groups mix without hierarchy. If I see a football game going on at lunch, the players may be drawn from four different year groups. And the older students enjoy modelling good behaviour for the younger students while taking up mentoring opportunities. Year 12 can volunteer to read with Years 2, 3 and 4. It’s good for their UCAS form and the younger ones are thrilled. Next year, we hope to get older students mentoring in French, science and maths. One of the advantages for many families is that there is no need to worry about the 11+ or 13+, where children become stressed – and parents spend fortunes on tutors. We’ve dropped both exams; new students take our own entrance tests. And I am more interested in what they bring to the school in terms of personality – will they fit in? will they be thoughtful? – than simply having academic aptitude. This matters as the school is a family. Our students get the results they deserve and which we know they have worked for their whole school career. It’s an immense privilege to be part of that journey.

Parents trust us with their children from start to end. So we can build an education, block by block, investing in each student with pride, and see their hard work come to fruition

Since writing this, it has been announced that Dr Adrian Rainbow is moving to be head of Eaton Square Senior School. Kate Vintiner will continue as Principal at Hampton Court House Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 27

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PREP HEAD VIEW

A LEARNING CURVE The right approach can motivate and support any child, says Nicola Lovell, head of Prep at Burlington House School

rom an early point in my teaching career, I realised that not every child learns in the same way or at the same time. Just how popcorn kernels don’t all ‘pop’ at the same time, there are those children whom require a different approach to learning. Whether there is a specific learning difference or not, all children can benefit from a learning environment where their strengths are encouraged and celebrated and their challenges are supported. Having taught in mainstream and independent primary schools as well as internationally and more recently in a specialist setting, I have witnessed the importance of a nurturing environment where a child feels understood and ready to learn. Self-belief, confidence, the ability to reflect on mistakes, resilience and having a growth mindset are just some of the foundations of a child’s learning. I believe that such foundations need to be firmly in place so that a child can engage and for them to be in a safe, happy environment so that they are motivated to learn. This month, I am starting as head of Prep (Years 3-7) at Burlington House School, the preparatory school for Burlington House Senior (formerly known as The Moat School) in Bishop’s Park, Fulham. It is ‘mainstream in structure but specialist in nature’ and provides a unique, supportive learning environment where pupils with a specific learning difference can progress and flourish. Every child is respected as an individual with their own valuable strengths and talents alongside learning challenges. Children with specific learning difficulties often have an incredible sense of creativity, beyond average expressionism and an aptitude for many school subjects, but they may also face difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, numeracy as well as organisational skills or speed of processing. I envisage every child to be on a journey at Burlington House School; not every child

will reach the same destination at the same time but we will help them to discover their unique strengths at their own pace. We recognise our pupils may need additional support to help bridge the gap between their performance and their potential. Therefore, every aspect of the education provided at Burlington House School is designed to support pupils while they meet the challenge of bridging this gap. Onsite provision for speech and language and occupational therapy is integrated within the curriculum and the small class sizes guarantee high levels of attention from empathetic staff. Each child is provided with a laptop on which to organise their work as well as becoming proficient with using technology. While I believe that handwriting continues to be an important part of a child’s early development, our Burlington House pupils will be 21st-century citizens and they will be technologically able. For some children, delays to literacy or numeracy development can lead to frustration, anger or a reluctance to learn and this can lead to a false belief in their ability, which, down the line, will likely affect them socially and emotionally. Once a false belief is ‘set’, it can be difficult to reverse the process and that is why early intervention is key for an individual and why I am proud to be heading up Burlington House Prep. As the late educationalist Ken Robinson stated: ‘Education needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardise education, but to personalise it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.’ At Burlington House School, we will always champion the individual.

Self belief, confidence, the ability to reflect on mistakes, resilience and having a growth mindset are just some of the foundations of a child’s learning. I believe such foundations need to be firmly in place so a child can engage, so that they are motivated to learn

Nicola Lovell is head of Prep at Burlington House School Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 29

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Join us at our Open Events Book your place dulwich.org.uk/admissions 200 pupils at Dulwich have free or subsidised places

Pupils are encouraged to be and do everything

Entry into Years 3-6 (ages 7-10) Mrs Polly Twisk, Junior School Admissions 020 8299 8432 junioradmissions@dulwich.org.uk

Entry into Year 7 and Year 9 (ages 11 and 13) Mrs Sarah Betts and Mrs Alison Williams 020 8299 9263 the.registrar@dulwich.org.uk

Bursaries of up to 100% and Academic Scholarships of up to one third of full fees are available. Find out more and how to apply by scanning the QR code.

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SENIOR HEAD VIEW

EASY DOES IT

Teaching students how to find pockets of peace in everyday life is crucial, says Alice Phillips, head of St Catherine’s School, Bramley

e have a problem with perfectionism at the moment. Students have become increasingly focused on achieving the run of 9s at GCSE and A*s at A-level. They feel their futures will be blighted prematurely if they don’t hit every bullseye in sight. Music exams must be achieved with distinction. The Duke of Edinburgh Awards must be gold. No wonder our teenagers are so stressed. For me, I trace the genesis of this ideal back to the 1970s and the emergence of Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci who scored the first 10.0 in gymnastics at the Olympics. Before Comaneci stepped onto the floor or took to the beam, the idea of a perfect score was considered impossible. Surely there was always room for improvement? Yet, Comaneci was so flawless in her technique and met every requirement of the judges so precisely that she couldn’t be marked down. Inevitably, others began to follow, and standards became even more exacting. In 2006, the scoring system had to be changed to allow gymnasts to score more than 10; they were too good for the marks on offer. Something similar happened with academic exams recently; we moved to a system of numbers not letters for GCSE – 1–9 – creating more space for students to excel. For a lucky few, much like the most elite gymnasts, this is an opportunity to showcase their natural ability and intelligence. Unfortunately for the overwhelming majority of students, this raising of the potential of the bar is having a different effect. It’s creating a climate of pressure where to do well is no longer enough. Remember, a 7 is the equivalent of an A. Yet, talk to many ambitious young people now and they find it hard to take pride in 7s, when they feel they should be getting the ‘top mark’, whatever that is. An A grade is no longer aspirational for them. At the other end of the scale, we have the students who are less

able now walking out with 4s and 5s at GCSE, which is horribly dispiriting for them after 12 years in education. As teachers, we have a responsibility to get our students their best marks, but I think we also have to see the wider picture. In a world of exam inflation, the need to counter that stress is greater than ever. At St Catherine’s, that means we put a lot of emphasis on extracurricular activities, especially those which demand utter absorption: playing lacrosse, working on an art or textiles project, chess, sewing. That chance to lose yourself in something physical or creative is one of the most powerful ways to recharge your brain and reduce anxiety. Girls here are encouraged to give as much time as possible to these kinds of activities, not least as they also offer the chance to meet one’s soulmates, to learn about work-life balance and to prepare for the workplace of the future, where soft skills such as teamwork are more valuable than recalling facts in an exam scenario. Parents can play their part in this too. Choose your child’s school carefully, and have realistic conversations about their ability and future. Don’t demand 9s when 7s or 6s would be an achievement. Encourage non-academic skills and hobbies, and then have confidence in their teachers to offer solid guidance and support when it comes to the big decisions. Few can achieve a perfect score in any discipline; the Comanecis of the world are outliers, not the norm. We can enjoy such brilliance and take motivation from it, but accepting the difference between reasonable aspirations and over-pressured expectations is key to producing happy, confident and successful young people, able to handle the world at large.

We put a lot of emphasis on extracurricular activities, especially those that demand utter absorption such as art or sewing. The chance to lose yourself in something physical or creative is one of the most powerful ways to recharge your brain and reduce anxiety

Alice Phillips is head of St Catherine’s School, Bramley, Surrey Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 31

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FEATURES

Heathfield School

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Cottesmore School, our winners

SCHOOL HOUSE GREEN AWARD

ith more than 40 impressive entries from around the UK, a lot of thought went into the judging of School House’s first School House Green Champion Award 2022. Many schools already have active eco committees and take part in the Eco Schools scheme – hopefully that will all be the baseline for every setting in the future. But in the face of the twin crises of both climate change and loss of biodiversity, education, and wider society in fact, require a massive step change. Our school children need to learn how to be more resilient than ever before. They need to know how to adapt, learn to deal with unpredictability, and channel their frustration into motivation to demand more positive change. The best tools we can equip children with now are critical thinking, the ability to problem solve and collaborate in a creative way. They don’t need to memorise facts, they need to develop their sense of agency through experiences that are fun, not fear-based. That innate ability to ask ‘why?’

and question the norm is the most powerful gift that needs nurturing. Many brilliant schools are doing this through a child-led approach whereby young people have the freedom to experiment with ideas and find their voice within a peer-to-peer learning environment. It’s also fundamentally important that young people see the significant adults in their lives walking the walk, not just talking the talk. That’s why we looked for schools with staff communities taking proactive steps to quantify the tangible changes they were making, while presenting sustainability as the foundation for education rather than an add on or afterthought. Imagination was a common theme. Year 9 students at Wychwood School in Oxford have been using a 3D printer to print blocks that represent temperature changes throughout the decades. In association with the Royal Meteorological Society, they used data from the Central England temperature record, the longest continually-measured record of its kind in the world, to print decadal blocks representing average monthly temperature data from January 1659 right up to December 2018. These

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PHOTOS: PATRICK HART

Environmental journalist Anna Turns showcases the diversity of entries and announces the winner of the new School House Green Champion Award 2022

GREEN CHAMPION AWARD red weather blocks, each with small upright towers for each of the 120 months within each decade, can be slotted together and played with, making an abstract concept more hands-on and relatable. The project was on display to the public at last year’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. At London’s Village Prep School all pupils were involved in organising an eco-conscious fashion show that highlighted the many ways that fast fashion damages the planet, from pollution to deforestation. Some pupils showcased sustainable fashion innovations and made their own clothes by upcycling everything from the cardboard from loo rolls to old CDs, and next time they put on a play they’re going to use existing costumes or make them rather than buying new ones. In Sussex, Bede’s eco-schools committee produced a video to inspire classmates to lower their carbon footprints by using public transport and switching to vegetarian meals once a week. Food waste is also weighed and monitored. An environmental writing competition inspired pupils to think about their own nature connection, with entries drawing on learnings from both science and English. The inaugural competition was judged by author and founder of the Knepp Estate’s rewilding programme, Isabella Tree. Another inspiring school visitor attended Shrewsbury School in Shropshire. Professor Dave Goulson, an insect expert at the University of Sussex opened the new pollinators’ garden, with two small orchards and native flowers planted by students. So, to the winner! Three schools stood out to me and fellow judges, editor Victoria Lambert, and editorial director Lucy Cleland, who says: ‘I’m loving what some schools are doing to embed our environmental and climate challenges not just into peripheral subjects but into the mainstream – if our children aren’t educated about what’s really going on in a way to empower and inspire them, I really fear for the future.’ The first of two honourable mentions goes to University College School, Hampstead for efforts in becoming the first UK school to achieve gold recognition in every step of UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative which is reducing the school’s carbon footprint while educating pupils. ‘We have placed

PHOTOS: PATRICK HART

UCS Hampstead with their Eco Schools Green Flag

Dulwich College’s impressive façade

significant emphasis on environmental sustainability recently,’ says UCS Foundation Environmental Impact Coordinator James Firth. ‘We are excited about the progress, outcomes and our pupils’ role in this work.’ Specific targets, carbon accounting and quantifiable action make change more achievable. The second honourable mention goes to Dulwich College, London, for its holistic approach to reducing waste, transport emissions, water and energy usage. Measures include installing 18 electric car charging points for staff, more bicycle racks to encourage active transport, the reuse or repurposing of school furniture and fittings, plus getting electricity from certified renewable sources. However, this year’s winner is a school that tackles the syllabus head on and goes the extra mile to better integrate climate literacy into the teaching timetable. At Cottesmore School in west Sussex, the teaching team, led by Ross Borthwick, set about writing a new syllabus incorporating elements of the pioneering GCSE in Natural History which has recently been approved by Parliament. New units cover everything from rewilding and habitat conservation to resource management, as well as hands-on projects. For example, pupils design their own sustainable menu following market research, apply maths to cost it and grow some of the ingredients to serve up their carefully sourced dishes. Congratulations to Cottesmore School and its head Tom Rogerson, and well done to all of the educators and eco-councillors involved. Hopefully, more teachers, parents and the next generation of eco-conscious students will be inspired to introduce more solutionsfocused approaches in their school communities that demonstrate integrity and legacy. Each project goes some way to moving away from overconsumption towards stewardship and citizenship. Maybe this younger generation can teach us a thing or two. Finally, don’t forget to enter the School House awards next summer! schoolhousemagazine.co.uk/awards This year’s winner will receive a selection of books on environmental themes for its library, courtesy of DK. Anna Turns is author of Go Toxic Free: Easy and Sustainable Ways to Reduce Chemical Pollution (Michael O’Mara, £14.99)

POWER TO THE PUPILS Lots of schemes, resources and action plans already exist that will encourage climate literacy and environmental awareness across all age groups. EDUCCATE GLOBAL is training teachers around the world to deliver climate change education: educcateglobal.org ECO SCHOOLS run a seven-stage framework that enables pupils to drive environmental change within their school and work towards Green Flag accreditation eco-schools.org.uk PLASTIC CLEVER SCHOOLS is an initiative run by teenage sisters Ella and Amy Meek founders of charity Kids Against Plastic, with more than 1,300 schools signed up plasticcleverschools.co.uk TARGET 4 GREEN is run by consultant Peter Milne, who specialises in developing engaging educational programmes focused on environmental awareness and outdoor education target4green.com PLASTIC FREE SCHOOLS is a Surfers Against Sewage programme with more than 3,000 schools working towards accreditation that encourages empowerment and for students to campaign for better regulations plasticfreeschools.org.uk LET’S GO ZERO is working with the Department for Education on setting targets that support schools in the transition to becoming zero carbon by 2030. Seven proposed government policy actions include eco-friendly building specs and sustainability-related careers advice letsgozero.org

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GREEN DREAMS

Following the search for eco-initiatives at schools, Ruby Featherstone lays out a few more great ideas

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM Eco-committees are getting up to all sorts of fantastic things, from tree planting to competitions on food waste and more Bede’s School on a beach clean

STOPPING FOOD WASTE

The eco council at Pennthorpe in West Sussex set up a House-based competition to measure and track food waste at school, which saw the children weighing food waste to identify how much is being thrown away, encouraging each individual to reflect on how to reduce their personal food wastage, and ultimately the waste of the entire school. All food waste is now fed to the three school pigs, Pinky, Perky and Puck.

WRITING FOR THE FUTURE

Getting stuck in at Pennthorpe School

COMPOSTING

Shrewsbury House, Surbiton, is aiming to compost 100 per cent of its food waste by 2023. It is almost impossible to completely stop food waste but repurposing that food into compost is most definitely a step in the right direction.

LITTER PICK LEGENDS

Northcote Lodge’s green team has implemented numerous initiatives this year. The London-based school now has various litter-pick luchtimes where pupils walk through the community in streets and parks to clear up after heedless members of the public.

RIVAL HOUSES Benenden School, Kent, has planned to re-introduce House competitions on energy and water usage, making reducing its carbon footprint more fun, competitive and rewarding. The knock-on impacts of this increased awareness will spread through the whole school community and beyond.

PHOTOS: THEO WOODS; GETTY IMAGES

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY One of Eltham College’s core aims is to promote a ‘Strong Community’ which they do by supporting their community with an environmentallyconscious mindset. It works closely with local groups in southeast London including Mottingham Residents and Chislehurst Society to organise drops of food and essential supplies to local care homes.

Tackling environmental issues is a topic that is prominent in every department at Bede’s School, West Sussex. Within the Languages department, an eco-writing competition ran across the various different schools in its Trust, to inspire pupils across all years to think about ecology and their relationship with the natural world.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACTIVISM

Brighton College deep in thought

Brighton College, West Sussex, gets involved with climate change both inside of school and outside. The Green Team has a representative in each house from which several pupils have been elected to the city-wide Environmental Education Committee. In 2019, it encouraged our pupils to be involved in the global Youth Strike for Climate – a part of the international climate movement. With parental permission, pupils were allowed to attend demonstrations and shared their experiences with the whole school as a part of Green Week.

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NEWS

OUTSIDE AT SCHOOL Connecting with nature and looking after it so it thrives is vital, these schools are getting active outside to make a difference In Old Park Woods near Caterham School

SAVING THE TREES

Old Park Woods contains areas of ancient woodland and was under threat of residential development for decades until the Caterham School stepped in and purchased the woods in 2015. The school community has put heart and soul into preserving the stunning woodland and ensuring its health for pupils 10, 20 and 30 years plus into the future. In school holidays local children can attend Forest School camps and Caterham welcomes local primary school pupils to the woods throughout the year as part of its broad East Surrey Learning Partnerships programme. Local scout groups also use Old Park Woods to learn about the environment and conservation.

PHOTOS: THEO WOODS; GETTY IMAGES

BUGS AND BEETLES

Knightsbridge School has come on leaps and bounds having developed and nurtured its delightful sensory garden, cared for its many plants, and introduced two insect hotels to boost the biodiversity and postive impact of the school.

Knightsbridge on an Earth Day climate march

Bedales pupils in the Kitchen Garden

BEES BEES BEES Shrewsbury School’s eco committee has worked with Third Form pupils and the Beekeeping society to create an area – called the Pollinators’ Garden – with two small orchards and a copse of silver birch trees, plus a range of native flowers providing nectar or pollen for many species of insects.

REVIVING TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

Hedgelaying is a traditional country craft that Bedales in Hampshire has fully embraced. A well-managed hedgerow will not only provide a barrier to large farm animals it will also provide an essential refuge for wildlife, a source of food and a safe route to travel. The extra light which comes from managing the hedgerows encourages new growth and a new life cycle for the hedge and the surrounding area.

ECO AMBASSADOR As a school first, Sherborne Girls has appointed an Ecology, Conservation and Sustainability Ambassador in Residence, Alana Thorburn. Alana, who is a Global Environmental Law and Governance Graduate, will be building on the School’s strong track record in sustainability, moving forward with its Let’s Go Zero commitments together with the school eco prefects, and developing the pioneering educational and rewilding collaboration.

SWEET SAPLINGS

Abberley Hall in Worcestershire recently took delivery of 400 saplings from the Woodland Trust. The trust is providing trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme to mark her Platinum Jubilee this year. The saplings have led to the eco-committee creating a project called the Jubilee Wood. This wood has been planted with many wonderful species of trees including hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, elder and dog rose. They are ideal to attract foraging wildlife and other all-important pollinators.

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Planting trees at St George’s Ascot

CREATIVE INNOVATION

Beside Chepstow House’s raised beds

Experts in the fields of food waste, sustainable fashion and plastic pollution came together at a virtual event recently hosted by ACS International School Hillingdon, Uxbridge. The aim was to encourage young people to think creatively and tenaciously and re-design a future where there is no waste, during ‘The world needs… Creative Innovators’. Guest speakers ranged from Dianna Cohen, an artist who uses plastics to make her climate point, to sustainable fashion designer and social enterprise founder, Vanessa Nsona who joined from Malawi, Africa.

GROWING GREEN

After studying the impact of food miles, pupils at Chepstow House in London held a gardening competition. Each class grew vegetables in raised beds and cooked a dish from the produce. There were three prizes awarded for the most attentive gardeners, the best harvest, and the most creative dish. At Hanford School in Dorset pupils keep and tend to their own plots and learn how to grow the food they eat. They also grows apples and make Hanford Apple Juice in the Orchard which houses three bee hives to help with pollination.

Learning about recycling and renewable energy

St George’s Ascot is now entirely powered by renewable energy sources, and developments, such as the installation of PIR light sensors and LED lighting, are making small differences that contribute to the bigger whole. One hundred solar panels have been added to the existing solar array to increase its solar power generation. James Allen’s Girls School, south London, has set itself the target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Its initiatives to achieve this include: installing a Ridan composter to compost their plate waste (which they hope to extend to other forms of waste should the trial phase be successful). It has changed the school uniform jumpers to be a 50:50 cotton to acrylic blend instead of 100 per cent acrylic and has installed bike pumps and a tool station so cyclists can fix their own bikes to encourage less driving.

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PHOTOS: THEO WOODS; GETTY IMAGES

FOCUS ON RENEWABLES

NEWS

FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY

After the closure of an Ascot High Street clothing bank, Papplewick School set up a scheme for uniform and sport kit donations, then expanded to books and home clothes, from the school and its wider community. They donated them to Ugandan outreach programmes and orphanages in Senegal. Students at St George’s School Windsor Castle have made blankets for the homeless out of used crisp packets which were donated in May to Bracknell-based charity Pilgrim Hearts Trust for use by local homeless people. Not only have the blankets helped two people to stay warm and dry, but also prevented over 200 crisp packets from ending up in a landfill. At Alleyn’s School in London, pupils made beeswax wraps to wrap food and sandwiches in instead of plastic to sell for charity on Founder’s Day. They have managed to raise around £250 for The Bee Friendly Trust. A Year 10 pupil, Joe, at Kingsley School Bideford in Devon, went on an environmental research challenge in the Caribbean. He and his family worked with Caribbean Reef Buddy, a non-profit organisation aiming to protect a healthy, diverse and sustainable marine ecosystem. Projects include reef surveys, coral planting and lionfish containment.

Among wildlife at a coral reefs

Essential donation box

Making beeswax wraps at Alleyn’s

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

White House School’s new building

GREENER SWIMMING This year will see Marlborough College’s swimming pool roof covered with solar panels to create approximately 130 kWh of power which will be used to support heating the swimming pool. A new pool cover inside will greatly help with heat loss, again reducing energy usage and saving costs.

PHOTOS: THEO WOODS; GETTY IMAGES

HIGH SPEC

The White House Prep School has launched its new building, increasing its classrooms and expanding its facilities to include a large hall, an improved Art Studio and Science Room and a beautiful sensory garden. When it started planning for the new building with award-winning architect vPPR, it wanted the building to adhere to the highest environmental specifications possible.

LIVING ROOF Homefield Prep School’s recent redevelopment project has given the pupils a fantastic new building with the highest level of sustainability standards. These include a low-energy passive heating and ventilation system, photovoltaic cells and a green roof.

Eaton House Schools pupils

SOLAR STARS

Eaton House Schools has invested heavily in their green infrastructure, leading to 70 per cent of their power being produced by solar panels on the roof of their Clapham Site. Alongside better insulation, energy-saving bulbs, reduced water-usage and moving work online, Eaton House Schools are taking big steps in their climate action. Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 39

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Inside Rochester Independent College’s digital media space

SOCIAL SKILLS

In the fast-moving online world, schools are working quickly to find innovative ways to teach safety and good practice, finds Victoria Lambert

or our Neo-digital Natives – also known as Generation Z, those young people born between 1995 and 2012 – connecting to the outside world inevitably happens via social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey in the US of nearly 750 13 to 17-year-olds, 45 per cent are online almost constantly and 97 per cent use a social media platform, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. Parents can fret about overuse and online safety but we know for ourselves that navigating love, friendship, work and entertainment without apps and digital connections is already impossible. Yet, the dangers are also highly visible. A 2019 study of more than 12,000 English 13 to 16-year-olds found that using social media more

than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens. Other studies link greater social media use to higher levels of anxiety, depression and poor sleep. At this year’s Hay Festival, Dame Jacqueline Wilson warned that sites like TikTok were affecting children’s attention span, too. ‘I think children are so used to watching things they like to watch,’ said Wilson, ‘and if they’re at all bored they will flick to something else. I am a firm believer that you’ve got to develop reading stamina and sometimes reading isn’t just instant gratification.’ So what are schools doing to improve awareness of what is good and bad about social media to their students? At Rochester Independent College (RIC) in Kent, education

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about social media is delivered through PSHE lessons to all year groups as well as talks and workshops from visiting speakers on everything from staying safe when playing online games to the dangers of misinformation and fake news. The school also takes part in the annual Safer Internet Day – co-ordinated by the UK Safer Internet Centre. Principal Alistair Brownlow says the key is engagement and ownership: ‘We ensure all of our Year 7s are engaged in good social media practice by training them up as Childnet Digital Leaders,’ says Brownlow, ‘so they are able to feel more confident as well as have the skills to produce assemblies, short films, etc about online safety for the rest of school as well as parents. ‘Our students themselves are playing a key role in embedding a comprehensive approach to online safety in the community.’ At St Dunstan’s College in London, teaching about social media and other online risks is woven throughout the curriculum, says Jade McLellan, Deputy Head Pastoral, such that any pertinent issues such as kindness/unkindness are addressed from an IRL (in real life) and an online perspective. ‘This occurs particularly through our innovative Stuart curriculum,’ says McLellan, ‘which offers timetabled lessons to all ages on critical thinking/rhetoric, sex and relationships and skills for the future. Pupils may be looking at fake news and social media influence over voting patterns in

critical thinking or the risks of being coerced to send nudes in sex and relationships. We also bring in external experts who are senior figures in this area and are up to date with the latest developments both nationally and internationally.’ Both schools demonstrate the need to handle different ages in different ways. ‘RIC’s youngest students are 11, our oldest are sixth formers – sometimes as old as 19 or 20,’ says Brownlow. ‘Clearly the social media climate and the dangers are different for those starting secondary school to young adults leaving for university or careers. ‘As an international school, we have students from 30 different countries in residence so we also have to be alert to the different social media trends our global community may be exposed to.’ McLellan agrees: ‘We design a spiral curriculum so that children are introduced to online risks in an age-appropriate way. We have noticed over the years that an increased number of our younger pupils are given access to social media so we often teach about risks at an age far lower than the age rating for social media platforms.’ In a rapidly changing scene, it is teachers who need to be educated too, if they are not to get left behind. At St Mary’s Calne, an online safety group is chaired by the deputy head pastoral and its members attend conferences and disseminate relevant resources. ‘As a school we subscribe to National Online Safety,’ says Tim Waldron, head of personal development, ‘as we find that the available resources are

St Mary’s Calne pupils with their teacher

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ABOVE & BELOW: Felsted pupils in between classes; Performing at Felsted

timely and relevant. Teachers discuss a selection of resources in year group meetings which can help to generate conversations in weekly one-to-one tutorials with the pupils. We also place a selection of relevant materials on our parent portal to help inform parents of current issues in social media.’ Staff at Felsted School, Essex, are also encouraged to attend in-person and virtual conferences as part of their professional development. The school runs internal boot-camps with Georgina Dean, the director of digital strategy and makes available self-paced courses, such as Google Certified Educator Courses, for all staff to take up. Dean adds: ‘We have a communications plan for staff briefings which includes a regular set of creative resources for digital development and staff are encouraged to network with other schools to share best practice for HyFlex Learning (a combination of remote and in-person teaching and learning).’ RIC has a dedicated and trained teacher – Mark Young, as CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) Education Ambassador at the College, who is ‘essential to keep abreast of the potential dangers of online life’, says Brownlow. ‘Of course our students are in some ways our greatest resource,’ he adds. ‘Keeping dialogue open and trust levels high mean that we can respond quickly if something is troubling them.’ One of his own worries is the popularisation of social media as a primary source of news. ‘What is posted on TikTok, Instagram and other sites,’ Brownlow warns, ‘is shaping young people’s views of politics and world affairs. Social media can be a wild west of misinformation with a dangerous amount of fake news circulating in the virtual ether among the dancing cat memes.’ Following the invasion of Ukraine, the school invited Dr Jon

Roozenbeek, a fellow at Cambridge University, who has published widely on the use of misinformation and propaganda on social media in Ukraine and Russia to speak. ‘Our students were really engaged by his explanation of how information warfare is working right now and how social media is being weaponised in the region, providing a hotbed of unverified information. ‘Issues like these are perhaps just as crucial for schools to address and educate about as things like staying safe on the internet. We have a responsibility to help students learn how to be critically sceptical consumers of the news and information served by their social feeds and distinguish fact from fiction online.’ At Sidcot School in Somerset, there is a similar attitude: Director of Development Sarah Simms explains that, ‘a key concern is to ensure that students come to their social media use with a certain amount of scepticism, and understand the possibility that any persona that they encounter (whether in pictures, or in chat) may not be what is presented to them.’

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Welcome to Knightsbridge School. A Co-ed day school for children aged 3-16 years located in the heart of central London. Tours available each week by appointment Please contact our Registrar on registrar@knightsbridge.com or 020 7590 9000 to book.

www.knightsbridgeschool.com

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FEATURES

Working hard at Sidcot School

Jade McLellan warns that looming ahead is the introduction of the metaverse which, although in its infancy, is already becoming a ‘vector’ for abusive behaviour. And to that, adds: ‘The number of children across the UK receiving unsolicited explicit images is entirely unacceptable and is a form of child-on-child abuse that seems to be flying below the radar in terms of political response.’ That is something that concerns Tim Waldron at St Mary’s Calne, too. ‘Our concerns are mostly around platforms that have unregulated forms of communication such as chat roulette sites that incorporate video calls. The open and often anonymous nature of these sites means that students can involuntarily be exposed to inappropriate material or communication from other users. ‘This can also come through platforms that stream content which is not sufficiently monitored by the platform, therefore exposing students to extreme or harmful content.’ Overall, however, Waldron is positive: ‘As a school we are able to talk openly about these platforms and encourage students to provide their own evaluation of the risks or benefits. Encouraging students to self-reflect and provide their own analysis means that they are more likely to act on the suggestions that are made.’ McLellan says St Dunstan’s biggest success is ‘that we respond to our pupils based on where they are with their knowledge, rather than where we might wish them to be. This can lead to some challenging conversations; for example speaking to Year 5 (and their parents) about TikTok or working with Year 12 on violent portrayals of sex online and how this should not be reflective of their own fledgling relationships. ‘You need to be willing to have no-holds-barred conversations with teenagers to build trust and this has required significant upskilling of

our own teaching team so they feel confident to hold these discussions.’ At Sidcot, staff are happy that they have engaged parents around some of the key issues to ensure they are aware and involved. Meanwhile, Alistair Brownlow is pleased that RIC’s students show a well-rounded confidence around social media and the skills to react when things go wrong. ‘It’s important the messaging around it isn’t completely dystopian and apocalyptic and that we utilise some of the exciting possibilities afforded by new technologies.’ Can we rely on internet companies themselves to step up? ‘The tech giants do have an obligation to society,’ says Sarah Simm, ‘not least because of the amount of data they hold on our lives. The most pressing area of responsibility is in ensuring that the AI algorithms do not promote radicalisation or exacerbate serious mental health issues. There have been promising movements towards this in monitoring fake accounts, but of course there is more to be done. Waldron agrees: ‘The companies that create and provide access to different platforms must ensure that they have regulations and safeguards in place to ensure privacy and safety. An area of concern is how there is often little transparency or clarity about how users can manage their usage and improve their privacy. These strategies should be directly taught as an introduction to the platform as part of becoming a user. It is vital that the Online Safety Bill addresses the need for tech companies to take responsibility and forces them to make online safety their number one priority.’ Perhaps the most important lesson is one we can all learn, courtesy of Georgina Dean at Felsted. Dean suggests exploring questions such as ‘How do we be kind online?’, ‘How do we protect ourselves?’ and – crucially, for parent, student or teacher – ‘How do you maintain a positive digital footprint?’

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Open Mornings in May and September Scholarships and bursaries available

Tel. +44 (0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Email. admissions@mtsn.org.uk Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT

Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561

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LEARN DIFFERENTLY

In a changing world, it's time to learn differently Our unparalleled range of traditional and vocational courses, and our genuinely different approach to learning, set every learner on the path to success, whatever their starting point. We give every pupil “a chance to shine, inside and outside the classroom” (Good Schools Guide). Challenge us to build your ideal study programme. From Music to Mathematics, History to Hospitality, Physics to Fashion Design, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship to English Literature, Digital Content Production to Design & Technology, Psychology to Sport, and Agriculture to Art. With limited spaces available for Third Form and Sixth Form entry this year, now is the time to focus on your future. Visit an Open Day or speak to us now: admissions@miltonabbey.co.uk or 01258 881804.

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FEATURES Working together at Godolphin and Latymer

THE NEW INFLUENCERS Career paths have changed, finds Alice Smellie – so will your child find their future on TikTok?

an our children be influencers when they grow up? There’s no question that career options aren’t what they used to be. However much we parents embrace Instagram and Twitter, the idea of making a living from the ever-changing world of social media may still seem incomprehensible. But a 2019 study polling more than 2,000 parents revealed that almost a fifth of British children aged 11-16 wanted to be social media influencers when they grow up (second only to doctor in the most popular careers list, and only just above YouTuber, which ranked number three). With social media already such a large part of our children’s lives, it’s hardly surprising that many hope it might also comprise their future. So how are our schools approaching the idea of social media as a way of earning a crust? Fortunately, it appears that they are rising to the challenge admirably, recognising the shifting job market and updating their careers advice without compromising on academic learning. ‘As part of our Future Pathways and Current Affairs programme,’ says Andrew Bray, Head of Future Pathways at Bryanston School, ‘we arrange talks for the pupils from industry experts and Old Bryanstonians to broaden their understanding of current and new careers. ‘With regard to influencers and online careers as part of our academic

programme, our teachers tie in careers with the academic subject.’ Bray adds: ‘Whatever career path our pupils follow, they will need to understand the importance of social media and influencers and the positive and/or negative impact they can have on a brand.’ So what kind of future careers does he envisage? The answers are astonishing: UX design, influencers, drone pilots, esports professionals and renewable energy consultants all get a mention. ‘It will open up opportunities for the next generation to run their own businesses.’ The approach is quite realistic, says Dr Sarah Watson, vice-Principal academic at DLD College, London. ‘At DLD, we take an in-depth academic approach in guiding our students to look at ‘influencing’ as a potential career choice,’ Dr Watson says, ‘should this spark their curiosity.’ She continues: ‘Essentially, it comes down to this. If you want to successfully influence people over the long term, you need to have a passion for something, you need to develop your skills and knowledge to become an expert within that field, and you need to understand your own motivations for wanting to pass on this knowledge to others. No small feat!’ There is general agreement that a sound knowledge base and such qualities as persistence and resilience are necessary. Social media is not touted as an easy career option – a relief to those of us who still think that Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 47

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influencing comes down to choosing the right phone filter. Dr Watson says that many students looking at traditional careers also wish to use online platforms, as well as there being increasing amounts of students wishing to enter careers requiring ‘unprecedented’ amounts of digital and technical skills. John Carroll, who leads the Godolphin and Latymer Futures Programme, recommends a practical focus to help students better understand the world of social media. ‘Our students use social media a lot,’ Carroll explains, ‘but they don’t necessarily understand how it works. Recently, 20 girls from the Lower Sixth took part in an entrepreneurship internship around understanding social media. We worked with a music platform called Keakie, exploring such elements as how to create brand values and what makes a good media page.’ The girls then had to come up with a strategy for Keakie to engage with more users. ‘This gave them a deeper understanding of many aspects of social media and how it might work as a career.’ Next year, the girls are doing a project focusing on the psychology of the social media influencer. Carroll points out that creativity and the ability to collaborate are among the World Economic Forum’s top 10 skills. ‘That’s part of our core focus.’ Some subjects are particularly useful, says Andrew Bray. ‘Computer

science, business, art, film, and DT are some of the A-levels Bryanston offers which investigate how entrepreneurs and influencers use new technology to develop and grow a business.’ Godolphin and Latymer offer A-levels and the IB, says John Carroll. ‘Either pathway means students have to absorb a lot of knowledge, and then apply and analyse it.’ He adds: ‘I see it as our job to create the bridges for our courses beyond the curriculum.’ To this end, Godolphin ran a sustainability project with Year 8 pupils on how to help a family reduce their carbon footprint. ‘This included a full-day workshop on nudge theory – which is to say how to change someone’s behaviour using a ‘nudge’ such as, ‘it’s cheaper’ or ‘it’s better for you.’ He says that when students subsequently talked about careers they had a much better understanding of marketing. DLD offers multiple relevant courses, says Dr Watson, ticking off, ‘media, esports, computer science, digital literacy, financial technologies, business enterprise and graphical and photographical art. Even our forthcoming Year 9 curriculum contains a course called Digital Futures. ‘Having the choice to combine innovative courses with more traditional ones means we allow our students to build a bespoke educational journey that caters to the careers of today and tomorrow.’ She also points out that the world of BTEC is becoming a hotbed of creativity and talent for young people wanting to experience a hands-on approach to learning. ‘We have recognised the growth of prestige in this pathway.’ In higher education, Andrew Bray says that there is a broad range of universities and further education schools that offer courses linked to entrepreneurship and creativity, including Warwick Business School, Newcastle Business School and the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Reading, Manchester and Edinburgh. This focus on all-round skills with an up-to-date twist means that students have a good understanding of the realities of social media. They’re being encouraged to pursue their dreams, while ensuring that they have the foundations to embrace other jobs. And – thankfully – schools are successfully managing the concept that the road to social media success isn’t necessarily a fast track road that is paved with gold.

PHOTOS: MATT AUSTIN (LEFT)

ABOVE: Students at DLD College LEFT: Discussions in class at Bryanston

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LONDON PARK SCHOOL Clapham

Opening September 2023 Applications now open www.londonparkschools.com London Park School.indd 1

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

THE BRITISH PREP SCHOOL WHERE HALF THE LESSONS ARE TAUGHT IN CHINESE Kensington Wade is a first for UK education

o an outsider, Kensington Wade School is not unlike other London preps. Early years pupils play gleefully with wooden blocks in the sun on the rooftop playground, scaling bridges and designing state-of-the-art buildings similar to that of their school. The girls wear Liberty printstyle dresses and the boys, a traditional shirt and sweater. Ofsted has rated the school outstanding in all areas. Yet open the doors and you begin to understand why Sir Anthony Seldon, former headmaster of Wellington College, has called it ‘the most exciting school in the country.’ Though the concept is becoming common in America, very few schools in Europe offer a comparable education, which combines a traditional English prep school curriculum with immersion in Mandarin Chinese. Look closely and you’ll find half the classrooms plastered in Chinese art and literature. Pupils spend half of the school day here, learning in Chinese, and half their day learning in English. In practice this means that they know the map of the UK as well as one of China and produce plays from both cultures, all while learning to speak,

read and write fluently in both languages. Most pupils join the school in nursery or reception with no Chinese knowledge. By year one, they are able to happily chat in Chinese. This is solely down to the school’s dedication to its immersive language programme; parents are not required to continue the practice at home. Taking the best aspects of a Chinese education, such as the Asian-style mastery approach to mathematics

based on the premise that all can succeed, Kensington Wade supercharges a traditional British schooling. Moving to a new site in Kensington Olympia in 2023, Kensington Wade pupils will be a force to be reckoned with when competing for senior school places. As Patrick Derham, headmaster of Westminster School, has commented, ‘top schools will do anything to get their hands on pupils who have had an education like this.’ Not only will pupils take the next step in their stride, their bilingual minds and global education will give them a leg up in their careers too.

FIND OUT MORE Kensington Wade Bilingual Prep School with English & Chinese Location: Hammersmith, West London School Type: Independent Co-ed Prep School Age: 3 to 11 years For more information visit kensingtonwade.com or email admissions@kensingtonwade.com

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Developing remarkable people Nursery ❘ Pre-Prep ❘ Prep ❘ Girls ❘ Boys ❘ Sixth

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A close bond: Lisa and Timothy Chuma with their three children

VIEW FROM ABROAD

Sending children to boarding school in another country is an adventure for all, says mother-of-three Lisa Chuma

isa Chuma, 38, lives in Zug, Switzerland, with her husband, Timothy, 43, and their three children. The older two, Tawana, 16, and Thabiso, 13, both board at Felsted School in Essex and Thato, eight, will go in two years. Here, she explains why choosing to send her children to board from abroad was such a good idea, and gives advice to others contemplating the same move. Lisa says: ‘Dropping off my oldest son, Tawana, at school at the age of ten wasn’t easy for either of us. It was the first time I’d ever left him anywhere, and I still have a picture in my head of him sitting on his bed in the shared dorm, clearly thinking, ‘Is this it?’. But he had already spent Reception and Year One at Felsted – a beautiful co-ed boarding school in Essex, so he wasn’t in entirely unfamiliar surroundings. ‘Besides, as well as him returning for taster days, we’d spent the previous year building up to this moment. Timothy and I had talked to him about

how much fun boarding was going to be, while letting him know that he wasn’t being sent away from us, and that if he wasn’t happy, he didn’t have to stay. Two hours after we left, he phoned us up. ‘I’ve tried it,’ he said. ‘It’s not working.’ Six years later, Tawana feels that he has two homes in two countries, between which he moves confidently and happily. ‘I think that there are misconceptions about children boarding from abroad. From our point of view, it was a carefully considered choice for our children. We believed that we were giving them the gift of independence and the chance to become global citizens who would be comfortable with different countries and cultures. ‘As a family, we moved to Switzerland in 2011 – my husband works for a medical technology company in Neuchatel, and I work for a pharmaceutical company in Zug. We absolutely wanted to embrace living abroad, so the children were enrolled in local schools in order to learn German and

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FEATURES make friends. I think it’s important that they have a good social circle at home. Ultimately, we knew we wanted them to be educated in England, and felt that boarding in Year 5 was a good time to settle in before any of the pressures of Common Entrance and senior school. ‘It was easier because many English boarding schools are so excellent. I recommend looking at least two or three years beforehand and keeping an eye on the school over the years. Consider your child’s needs; what are the facilities like throughout the school? Do they have good pastoral care and learning support? Will the learning environment suit them? And does the approach to building friendships correlate with what you think? ‘We fell in love with Felsted the first time we saw it. It’s in the middle of the countryside, with a long and fascinating history, and all the facilities you’d expect, including three squash courts, a professionally managed gym, a state of the art music school and partnerships with such great teams as Saracens & Northampton Rugby. ‘Of course, it’s not been entirely seamless – the transition from Year 7 or 8 to 9 was a tricky phase for both Tawana and our daughter, Thabiso, because they were growing up and were prep school seniors, but abiding by younger prep school rules. We didn’t ever question our decision, but they found that time hard. I’ve since learned that those years are frequently tricky as children become teenagers. ‘Boarding has allowed them to make their own decisions – both in sports and academic subjects – in a safe place and a supportive environment without us influencing them and them wondering what our expectations were. My oldest son was always looking out for the younger ones at home. This has given him space and freedom. ‘They have learned to respect and appreciate different cultures. Our family originally comes from Zimbabwe and the children live in Switzerland and go to school in England. They are exposed to different languages and different mentalities. Building a network of friends from different countries will be beneficial whatever they decide to do in the future. ‘Being in a boarding house means they have role models among their peers. Their friendships are incredibly precious to them, and I think they have to navigate quite adult relationships because they spend so much time with friends. They’re all very sociable, but also very loyal. ‘A friend said to me the other day that we have a good relationship with our kids because they don’t live at home the whole time. Some people think you might lose contact with your kids if they live in a different country. We believe it’s brought us closer together as a family. From the very first day, Tawana called us daily with an update – I rather wish those happy, chatty days were still with us now he’s 16 and I’m lucky to get a call a week! ‘We see them every two or three weeks, and when they are at home, we have all the important conversations – about relationships, sex and alcohol. When they’re at home, time is so precious, and we drop everything

to spend time with them and make the most of it; travelling as a family and enjoying meals together. My daughter is an excellent baker, and my son cooks well – so we don’t have to make meals. It’s lovely! ‘A few weeks ago, my son was invited to a party. As parents, we had initially agreed that he could go, but in the end, it was the school’s decision that full boarders couldn’t attend. I had a conversation with them, during which they expressed some concerns relating to the safety of pupils. I fully agreed with their decision and was extremely pleased that their pastoral care was so strong, in that they continued to take an interest in events taking place outside school at the weekend. It provided us with additional reassurance. ‘Communication with the school is vitally important, and we’ve learned that it’s as much or as little as you wish. But you have to trust that they know what they’re doing. ‘Ultimately, I feel that the children are far more prepared for university and adult life. During Covid, I wasn’t able to travel with them, and they had to negotiate public transport and airports by themselves. ‘Last week, my son was playing in the local rugby team final in Zug. He got a flight over, played the game, won, celebrated, got himself back to school by Sunday afternoon and was doing his prep by 6 pm. He is completely self-reliant, and it’s a joy to watch. ‘My daughter has had to learn how to manage her money without us on hand to indulge every whim (or be persuaded!). It took some time, but now she has a monthly allowance, and that’s the end of it! ‘We see boarding abroad as a huge privilege. Neither of us come from wealthy backgrounds, and we had our children very young – but we have worked incredibly hard and made sacrifices in order to give them what we believe is the very best start in life and a stepping stone to the future. ‘It’s borne out by our three very happy and well-balanced children who love their school and home. My daughter was only two when we left England, and Felsted was just a dream for her. Now the younger one can’t wait to go himself.’ As told to Alice Smellie

RIGHT: Tawana Chuma, 16, with his Felsted housemates BELOW: Felsted School

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S P A C E T O B O N D Set in 200 acres of beautiful countryside and just four miles from the breathtaking North Norfolk coast, a Gresham’s education gives your child all the time and space they need to develop into a confident, well-rounded individual.

G R E S H A M S . C O M An independent boarding and day school for children aged 2-18.

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ECO PREPS

When it comes to protecting the planet, schools are embracing positive change, says Emma Reed

Belhaven Hill cleaning up local Forthshore Beach

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Old Buckenham Hall students learning about plants

ne of the striking features of many prep schools is their location. Often in spectacular settings, housed in grand buildings, beauty is all around. It’s no wonder there’s a daily reminder that such beauty is worth preserving. If you work hard to safeguard your immediate surroundings, there will be a ripple effect that can impact matters of global importance. As John Forsyth, founder and CEO of Forfar Education states, ‘Our role is to nurture and instil confidence in the next generation, and just as importantly, we need to ensure there is a world for that generation to enter into. ‘We need to help the next generation to live in an environmentally responsible way to develop a sustainable mindset enabling the power and beauty of nature to be admired and understood for generations to come.’ Many prep schools are doing just that. David Griffiths, headmaster of Old Buckenham Hall (OBH), describes the location of his school, set in 80 acres of Suffolk countryside as an ‘environmental idyll’, with deer and pheasant often running through the school grounds. Its rural setting lends itself to pupils having an interest in the environment. As a result, the school has a very vibrant Eco Committee and Griffiths is keen on giving pupils a platform. ‘At the moment I have a boy who is petitioning the school for meat-free Monday, and I recently had a visit from a Year 5 girl who brought a whole host of initiatives, one of which was for every teacher to have a plant in their classroom which she discussed with the staff.’ Pupils have proposed having an allotment for each of the four Houses at the school. There’s also a thriving Chicken Club where the children are responsible for many rescue chickens whose eggs are used in the school kitchen. Griffiths acknowledges the challenges that come with making a Grade II-listed 400-year-old building environmentally friendly, but it’s something they are working on. ‘We have an environmental improvement plan, so when the governing body or senior management team makes decisions, we are always referring back to that.’ A theme of trees and bees emerges. At OBH, an oak tree is planted for

every child who joins Reception, and they join the local village in apple pressing from their orchard. Pupils have been involved with building beehives and looking after the bees, with the honey produced being used in the kitchens. Walhampton School in Hampshire is involved in beekeeping and making their own honey, as well. At Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar, Headmaster Olly Langton describes how they are preparing to be involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme which encourages tree planting in the Jubilee year. ‘My aim is to have a tree per child starting in the autumn: a dwarf apple tree which would reach maturity in five years. The idea is that they uproot the tree when they leave to replant wherever they go.’ Swithun Sewell, a teacher at St Peter’s School, York, who coordinates their Eco Club, regards planting trees as ‘an act of hope for the future’. At Easter, they received a gift of 10 apple trees from the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers who are running a ‘Treebilee’ project as part of the Green Canopy initiative. Within Highfield and Brookham School, Hampshire, and the wider estate, 1,500 trees and shrubs have been planted in the past three years. Pupil engagement is key, as illustrated by Belhaven’s inaugural COPPS1 event (Community of Prep and Primary Schools in Scotland) in March. Pupils from several schools attended and gave presentations on environmental issues to a panel of judges. ‘The quality of the presentations from all the schools was extraordinary,’ says Langton. Attendees were given a bird box to put up at their school. Langton is hoping COPPS becomes a regular feature of their circuit to foster community engagement. Given Belhaven’s coastal setting, pupils heard from Surfers Against Sewage. ‘Their encouragement to think global and act local is really powerful,’ notes Langton. Acting locally involves pupils doing beach cleans, and a rewilding project is part of their future plans. Langton is keen to ensure environmental issues are part of the curriculum. ‘If there’s an overarching ambition, it’s to make sure that it’s more important for them than it was for our generation. We’re in the process of producing a sustainability policy and we’ve achieved the status of becoming a plastics-free school.

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‘We’re a Green Flag school in Scotland as well which you have to go through rigorous checklists to achieve.’ He acknowledges the challenges involved particularly for a school that’s going to be celebrating its centenary next year. Becoming carbon neutral is not going to happen any time soon in a rigid time frame, but they are constantly working to improve. While Walhampton School has an ambitious goal of working towards being carbon neutral by 2030, Head Jonny Timms asserts that it’s the journey towards that goal and the progress made that’s important. ‘It’s a huge challenge and change takes time,’ he says. They’ve set up a Carbon Zero Committee with pupil representatives holding various events such as a ‘great green marketplace’ showcasing eco produce. Many things are happening from a school perspective and Timms remarks that the children already have a sense of stewardship given their location with the New Forest on one side and the Solent on the other. However, he adds, ‘we’re trying to get the children to really think much more widely than the school. I talk to the children about being disruptive in a positive way. The ability to use their voice is really important.’ Walhampton achieved Green Flag status in 2018 working on a range of themes including food waste, protecting the marine environment, using energy wisely and biodiversity. They set up recycling bins and installed a biomass boiler. They are being as creative as they can while respecting their old buildings, looking at things like solar installation. Although St Peter’s is in the centre of York, they have lots of green space where wildlife can thrive. Proximity to the river naturally lends itself to an awareness of climate change and flooding. The Environment Agency gave a talk to a geography class showing aerial pictures of flood defences and their role in protecting the city. The school is also looking into a park and ride scheme for older pupils to alleviate congestion and they have three electric vehicles of their own on-site. The school has been involved with The Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, and has been litter-picking on the North Yorkshire coast. ‘It’s trying to engage with as many local community initiatives as possible,’ says Catherine Hodgson, a spokesperson for St Peter’s. ‘We have a master plan of what we want the campus to look like for the next 10 years. Sustainability will be a deciding factor in any decisions.’ The school has been improving its energy efficiency, implementing

In the kitchen garden at Horris Hill

a replacement programme of old boilers and has been working with TerraCycle who take away items that are hard to recycle. Its Eco Club has made a wormery and bug hotel, and plants and harvests its own vegetables. The range of initiatives adopted by some preps are impressive. Bede’s in Sussex held an Eco and Environment Writing Competition and pupils did investigations into traffic congestion and air pollution in Eastbourne following a talk from the environmental campaign group, Sustrans. During Energy Awareness Week, they undertook a whole school blackout! Ravenscourt Park Prep in London is Green Flag accredited with its own dedicated eco twitter and Instagram pages (@RPPS_Eco). The children helping to support and create the school’s environmental policy are called Eco Warriors. They have implemented two Switch Off Fortnights tracking energy reduction, recycling, and a Walk to School week. The Forfar Education group, which includes Cameron Vale and Horris Hill, has committed to becoming the first carbon zero schools’ group in the UK in the next five years, using 100 per cent renewable energy. All of their schools will be carbon mapped to understand their carbon footprint, as well as banning single-use plastics and introducing a rewilding scheme. Highfield and Brookham School in Hampshire has implemented a raft of measures, with ambitious plans for the future. Its estate manager Guy Baber says: ‘Our objective is to be one of the leading schools and estates in the country in terms of improving our carbon footprint, with the aim of being Climate Positive within the next five years.’ Current schemes include the installation of owl boxes, solar panels, electric vehicles for the grounds team, biomass boilers and increasing the number of green corridors to encourage wildlife, to name but a few. Future plans include a possible wind power turbine and a solar field with battery storage, a bat hibernacula in the old bomb shelters in the Upper Brookham Valley and the creation of new paths to improve walking access. It’s clear the right kind of energy is being poured into environmental matters among the preps. As Sewell of St Peter’s notes: ‘Taking part in all these activities helps children love the world we live in and help take care of it.’ Fittingly, the last word goes to Year 8 Izzy Hendricks at Highfield and Brookham. ‘It’s important children are involved in sustainability. Brookham Nursery pupils There is still more we can do.’ With this attitude, looking for small wildlife the earth is in safer hands. Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 57

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Fulham School is an independent & co-educational school, providing a rich and diverse curriculum for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. New Nursery School opening in September 2022

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FEATURES Cranleigh pupils between classes

FAMILY TIES

Who still sends their children to the school they attended? Quite a few of us, finds Thea Jourdan Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 59

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On campus at Cranleigh

eet the Harrison family, who, for three generations, have attended Cranleigh school set in 280 acres in the heart of the Surrey Hills. Today, it’s Henry, 16, and his sister Felicity, 14, (and hopefully little sister, Aggie, six, who is down to join Cranleigh prep in September 2023) who keep up the family tradition as they gain an education in the stately Victorian buildings designed by the school’s original architect, Henry Woodyear. Back in the 1980s, it was their father, Mark Harrison, who played on the school’s lovely cricket pitch and beyond that, in the late 1950s, their grandfather, Jonathan Harrison, was the very first member of the family to enrol, when it was a boys-only boarding school with scary prefects (they are much nicer now). The Harrisons are just one of a small but dedicated number of families who keep their education very much in the family – multiple cousins and uncles are also Cranleighans. According to the deputy headmaster, Simon Bird, there are more than a dozen legacy families going back two generations or more, who currently have children attending the school – which was founded in 1865 for the sons of local farmers. ‘When I did a quick survey of the house masters and mistresses, we came up with 12 in about five minutes,’ Bird says. ‘It’s something we are proud of: that so many people want to send their own children back to the school that they attended as children.’ And schools do take pride in their ‘legacy’ families. Harrow School even has its own Harrow Families archive, a remarkable and unique historical record of more than 800 families who have sent their sons to the Hill for several generations and, in some cases, since as far back as the middle of the 17th century. For the parents who always opt for the same education destination, it is a winning formula. The agonising faced by many parents is not for them as their children reach school age and beyond – where to send them to be educated? As long as there is financial wherewithal (and sometimes they qualify for means tested bursaries), the answer is straightforward – they choose the school they attended themselves.

‘As human beings, we like the familiar things that we know,’ says Lucy Cawkwell, managing director and founder of Osborne Cawkwell Tuition, a curated group of expert private tutors founded in 2000. ‘It feels safe and reassuring to attend the same school that your father, grandfather or mother went to. It can contribute to a feeling of being part of a greater whole but one where your identity is valued and preserved.’ Cawkwell adds: ‘Having several generations attend a particular school possibly creates a sense of community and reinforces a particular ethos.’ Both Henry and Felicity also attended Cranleigh prep school which is over the road and always expected to go on to the senior school – in fact they only took the exam for Cranleigh. Felicity appreciates the fact that she is the first female to attend since prep, ‘especially as girls weren’t in the school with my grandfather and only in the sixth form with my dad.’ Their father, who attended Cranleigh from 1988 to 1991, says that he wanted his own children to benefit as he had done. ‘Having had my father wanting me to attend Cranleigh and have similar school day experiences to himself, I was very keen for my children to attend the same school where I had had so much fun and a great experience,’ says Mark Harrison. Jonathan Harrison, who started at Cranleigh in 1959, says that watching generations of his family attending the same school has instilled a sense of belonging as well as a ‘reciprocal feeling of loyalty’ between him and the school. And while he is grateful that many things are still familiar, he is also happy that plenty has changed since his day. ‘Yes – enormously! The non-academic side of the school was run by prefects (which was bad for all concerned!) Today it is much friendlier. Better sports facilities have also been developed.’ Seeing your family members literally inscribed in the fabric of your school is one of the perks of being a second or third generation pupil. Oliver Backhouse, who now teaches at Highfield Prep School in Liphook in Hampshire attended the school himself between 2003 and 2008, regularly spots reminders of his forebears. He explains: ‘My granny opened the squash court and there’s a plaque there with

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her name on it. My dad, uncles, brother and I all have chairs with our names on in the dining room.’ When the time comes, he too would like to send his children to Highfield which has been coeducational since 1978. As a teacher, he already feels he is giving back. ‘I enjoy teaching at Highfield as I enjoyed my time here, so I came back. All the teachers are supportive and there is a good atmosphere around the place. I also get to contribute to the children at the school now and hopefully get them to have as good an experience as I did when I was here as a child.’ Highfield is not academically selective, although it feeds many of the top public schools and has a reputation, under Headmaster Phillip Evitt who has just retired after 23 years, of being academically rigorous. Evitt has always been delighted by the attraction the school holds to different generations of so many families and sees this as a ringing endorsement of all that the school has to offer. ‘What is always central to their decision to send their own children here is exactly what you would hope to hear from former pupils; their warm memories of the friends they made, the teachers who cared for them, and the beauty of the grounds where they played so happily.’ During the application process for Cranleigh, when pupils are selected after a process of examination and interview, there is space for parents to indicate if their child has a family connection to the school, which will be part of the discussion process when that application is considered. ‘It’s not definitive because we aim to ensure that all children at Cranleigh will fit into the school, but family ties are taken into account,’ says Bird. This is a similar approach taken by Wellington College, the co-ed boarding school founded by Wellington for the children of officers, in Berkshire. Applications from families with strong connections to Wellington College (e.g. Old Wellingtonian parents or grandparents, ex-members of staff) are warmly encouraged to apply. As with siblings, community connections do not guarantee the offer of a place, but they do form part of school’s decision-making process and, at 13+, a child with a family link will be prioritised over a candidate who does not have a similar connection to the College (although they would not be prioritised over a sibling). Many of the old public schools still maintain an element of this,

On the Wellington College golf course

including Eton, Winchester, Harrow and Radley – for example. However, times have changed, not always favourably to the sons and daughters of alumni. ‘Schools are much more meritocratic now,’ Lucy Cawkwell adds: ‘Unless your child passes the academic tests and interviews, they won’t get in.’ And surprisingly, some less traditional schools increasingly encourage a family tradition. At Bedales, there is a bursary (founded by Old Bedalian family-man Sir Peter Hall) that is awarded specifically to children of OBs. Generations of Bedalians are starting to take advantage of this. And Harrow itself, despite its Harrow Families index, is making huge strides to open the school to new parents starting the tradition for themselves. One parent recently admitted that she asked her child ‘where are all the posh people’ when he first joined Harrow. Testament, perhaps, to the fact that they are doing a very good job of integrating boys from all backgrounds, whether humble, professional or ‘old money’ to the point of class being irrelevant (at least inside school gates). Simon Bird says that new families are just as important in the school community as those who come from a long line of Cranleighans, pointing out that most parents are first-time boarding families. ‘We aren’t an old school club. We want everyone to feel at home here, with a sense of tradition and permanence sitting comfortably alongside innovation and change. ‘It’s lovely that families come back to Cranleigh generation after generation but it’s like stepping back into a river. You never step into the same river twice because different water is flowing around you all the time. Over the past 20 years, since I have been at the school, there have been many changes and dynamic educational advances all the time.’ And families need to be flexible enough to look elsewhere if the fit isn’t right. ‘Sometimes parents may overlook the fact that a school is not right for a child and try and shoehorn them into the wrong academic setting,’ says Lucy Cawkwell. ‘Sometimes, a tutor does need to gently point out that a child may thrive somewhere else. Each child needs to be looked as an individual – that should be the focus if you Children at Highfield and Brookham really want your child to flourish.’ Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 61

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DIGGING IT

A fascination for the past is a foundation for many modern careers, reports Thea Jourdan

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

reasures of the past captivate adults and children alike. And archaeology, the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of physical remains and artefacts, is enjoying huge popularity, riding on the success of TV hits like Time Team and Channel 4’s The Great British Dig. Two years of lockdown, coupled with exciting finds from Britain’s biggest ever archaeological dig along the whole length of the proposed HS2, has further fuelled interest, with more than 1,000 archaeologists working on at least 60 separate sites, finding exquisite Roman sculptures as well as vast Roman settlements. Independent schools up and down the length of Britain are well placed to foster this interest among their pupils, not least because many of them are historically important themselves, have world-beating museums or occupy sites where prehistoric people lived and built their monuments. And despite the fact that

Stonyhurst College from above

archaeology is no longer offered as a standalone subject at GCSE or A-level, a wide range of subjects can build the foundation for an archaeology degree at university. History and archaeology can help a child develop skills like critical thinking, increasing awareness of time, the world around us, and enabling students to develop perspective, not to mention forensic, writing, and analytical skills. So which schools can offer a solid start for children keen to develop their interest in history and archaeology? Stonyhurst College, a Catholic co-ed boarding and day school based in Lancashire for children aged between 3 and 18, has one of the finest collections of sacred medieval artefacts in the country, many saved from destruction during the Reformation. Pupils at the Grade 1-listed school, founded in 1593, get to walk past a priceless 15th-century cope that was taken by Henry VIII to the Field of the Cloth of Gold, when he was vying to outdo the pomp and splendour of the French monarch. Soon, it will Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 63

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ABOVE: Pupils on the move at Mill Hill School LEFT: In discussion at King Edward’s School, Birmingham

feature prominently in an upcoming exhibition at the Met in New York. But for now, children at Stonyhurst can admire its sumptuous red and gold threads on their way to the lunch hall. Maria Gorringe, whose youngest daughter Felina, 16, attends the school and is studying for her GCSEs, says that the entire school is ‘living, breathing history. ‘I would say that Felina has to pinch herself each day that she is at school,’ says Maria. ‘It’s just amazing that she walks in the footsteps of so many illustrious people who came before her at the school and is surrounded by all that history dating back hundreds of years.’ The school also cares for one of Mary Queen of Scots’ most prized possessions, a supposed thorn from the crown that Jesus wore on the cross, surrounded by pearls. It also has more modern treasures – there are three desks inscribed with the names Watson and Conan Doyle – who both attended the school in the 1860s and 1870s. According to Jan Graffius, the school curator, the younger children all receive training in handling precious historical objects as part of their Junior Curators Programme. ‘It’s to open children up to a completely different way of looking at things,’ explains Jan. ‘We look at the science of acidity in sweat and how it affects metals and textiles. We also look at how fossils can give off radon gas, which is dangerous in high doses, so handling them for extended periods of time is not good for you.’ Palaeontologists in fact are advised not to handle fossils directly for more than 30 minutes per week. Older children in the school, from Years 9 to 13, are taught by the

school’s archive manager Joseph Reed, supporting the curriculum on a wide variety of topics. ‘For example, we recently had a great time looking into the historical taxonomy of mental illness, to support the psychology department,’ he explains. ‘We looked back at original Medieval and early modern manuscripts in our collection to gain an understanding of how they attempted to define depression for example.’ Many of the objects in the Collections bear witness to its unique place in English Catholic history, while others show how pupils and staff have made their mark on the world as scientists, travellers, archaeologists, antiquarians, soldiers, civil servants and missionaries all over the globe. King Edward’s School in Birmingham, an independent day school for boys aged 11–18 founded in 1552, recently stopped its own historical enactment society in 2018 but it still takes a ‘hands on’ approach to lessons with demonstrations of both civilian and military aspects of the late Medieval and Tudor periods of English history – around the period in which the school itself was founded. Winchester House School, Northamptonshire, is known for staff burying artefacts to be found by children with metal detectors to inspire them when they are learning about ancient Romans in Britain. Much further south, Mill Hill School, a mixed independent day and boarding school founded in 1807, is situated on The Ridgeway, an ancient trackway used and adapted during the past 2,000 years by various settlers including the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. As part of Mill Hill’s conservation area, it is a site of considerable archaeological significance, according to Barnet Council Character Appraisal Statement 2008. Artefacts, including a prehistoric hand axe, have been found in the beautiful grounds of the school which reveal its ancient past. Bronze Age barbed arrowheads have also been pulled from the ground in nearby Lawrence Street. Few schools can boast of the ancient lineage of St Albans School in Hertfordshire, which has one of the oldest, regularly used classrooms in the world – in the 12th-century Gateway. This school, founded in the 10th century, has Royal sponsors including Queen Elizabeth I and King Charles I, who visited it in 1626. His Royal Crest is still in situ on the fireplace built in his honour.

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Not surprisingly, the school counts notable historians and archaeologists among its alumni, including Professor Lord Colin Renfrew, an archaeological historian and former Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, Professor Malcolm Schofield of St John’s College, Cambridge, and more recently Justin Pollard, a TV historian. Sue Gregory, Archivist at St Albans School, says: ‘The boys and girls at St Albans School can access its rich history from the 10th century through to the present day, gaining knowledge of social mobility, cultural collaborations, feuds, wars and those who have fallen and how the school’s alumni through time have impacted the arts, sciences and technology, either locally or internationally.’ Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, is an independent day school for boys aged between three and 13 and girls aged three to five. According to the Headmaster, Richard Murray, the pupils are encouraged to study their immediate surroundings in historic Oxford, as well as going further afield. ‘There are regular trips for pupils to visit local museums, like the Ashmolean, to learn more about archaeological artefacts and UK sites. Although we do not have a dedicated Archaeology Club, we do encourage them to partake in our Architecture Club – this requires pupils to study Oxford buildings and identify their different architectural styles,’ he says. Before the pandemic, pupils in Years 6 to 8 visited ancient Roman remains in Provence, and the school is now hoping to host a similar Classics trip to Rome soon. Budding directors have even produced a short film of the history of the school which was founded in 1546 and is one of three choral foundation schools in the city and educates choristers of Christ Church Cathedral, and the Chapels of Worcester College and Pembroke College. So what is the next step for a budding archaeologist? According to UCAS, the requirement for certain subjects is relatively loose and many universities don’t require you to have taken certain subjects to get a place on their degree course. ‘Those that do will often mention history, to show passion and grounding in the subject,’ UCAS suggests, ‘and a science, to show your analytical and laboratory skills.’ Schools can increasingly lean on a range of virtual teaching tools to help their children develop an interest and understanding of archaeology. Over lockdown, the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) in collaboration with the University of Lincoln created Dig School, a programme of lively

extra-curricular in-school and homeschool-based workshops themed around archaeology. There are 20 workshops available online which come with teacher guidance documents, a workbook and an introductory video from Professor Carenza Lewis, as well as additional support material and activities where appropriate. Dig School covers topics such as excavating your own test-pit, osteoarchaeology (exploring human remains) and burial archaeology as well as aerial photography which can reveal tell-tale marks of buried structures in the ground. Older children can be inspired by the CBA’s Home Front Legacy, which is a 12-session course based around archaeology and the First World War and supports the national curriculum. Sessions are suitable for youth groups, families, and schools, and work to develop a number of skills, such as researching, recording, and writing. The Young Archaeologists’ Club (or YAC) which was established in 1972 and currently has more than 2000 active members between age eight and 16, is also expanding and plans to encourage more schools to open clubs under its umbrella. YAC is the only UK-wide project dedicated to working with young people with an interest in archaeology and provides opportunities for collaboration between schools, museums and universities. So, far from being stuck in the past, it’s reassuring to see so many plans to keep archaeology – and potential diggers – firmly in the future of education.

ABOVE: Impressive architecture at St Albans School LEFT: Winchester House School in the sunshine

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PAST JUST PERFECT An inspiring Latin teacher and Greek summer camp led author Dr Daisy Dunn to study classics, Eleanor Doughty discovers

r Daisy Dunn, 35, grew up in Wimbledon, and was educated at Ibstock Place School in Roehampton, before attending Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton for sixth form. After reading classics at the University of Oxford, she completed a master’s in history of art at the Courtauld Institute, and achieved a PhD in classics and art history from University College London. She is the author of six books; her latest, Not Far from Brideshead: Oxford between the Wars, is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

School over the summer holidays, which was two weeks of intense Greek lessons three times a day. Why did you choose to go to Oxford? I chose Oxford partly because of the classics course, and partly because of the place itself – I fell in love with Oxford from the moment I saw it. Plus, it was a four-year course, and Dr Daisy Dunn I fancied having the extra year. Which college did you attend?

St Hilda’s, which was all-female until my final year when they introduced boys for the first time. I voted against this as I felt it was important that women had their own safe haven. I loved Oxford, but there were certain quarters that felt very male-dominated.

Did you enjoy school? Yes, I did –

there wasn’t anything I didn’t like except PE. I had really fantastic teachers, particularly in Latin and history. What was your favourite subject?

Why is Classics a subject worth studying? It touches

At 15 or 16, I’d have probably said either Latin or history, as at that stage I hadn’t heard of classics as a degree. I loved French and art too, so I didn’t fall into any one category and was a bit of everything.

on so many different disciplines, and that’s really useful out in the wider world. It’s also incredibly interesting – you’re studying the great civilisations of the past which continue to thrive today.

What did you want to be when you grew up? At one

stage I wanted to be an architect, and did work experience in an architectural firm. I was disappointed to realise that in architectural practices today you use computers, rather than doing fine draftsmanship like in Sir Christopher Wren’s day. How did you find out about classics? Greek wasn’t on the curriculum at Ibstock Place, so I took Greek GCSE alongside my Latin A-level, taught by my Latin teacher on a Friday night after school. She knew a lot about classics courses, and encouraged me to attend Greek camp [the JACT Greek Summer School] at Bryanston

Classics is really useful out in the wider world. It’s also incredibly interesting – you are studying the great civilisations of the past which continue to thrive today

Would your teenage self have been surprised by what you’ve done in your career? I

worked so hard as a teenager that I think I’d have been disappointed if I hadn’t made a mark in my chosen area by now. I knew that I had it in me to do something.

Which time period do you wish you could enjoy Oxford in, even more than your own time? In 1920, women were able to get

degrees for the first time, but in 1927 they put a quota on the number of women allowed to study at Oxford. That would have made me cross, so I’d have liked to have been there between 1920 and 1927.

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

A LEAGUE ABOVE Victoria Deadman Gatt, director of marketing, admissions and engagement at Royal Russell school tells us about their Under 18s football programme

love of sports and wellbeing for all pupils is Royal Russell’s aim – with a holistic sport, health and fitness programme embedded into both curriculum and pastoral activities in every year group. For pupils who have ambitions to play elite-level sports, their time at school can often feel like a play-off between their commitments to training and to education. Factor in the logistics of transport to training and fixtures for

parents and it becomes a mammoth juggling act for young athletes’ families. Royal Russell School have a huge international reputation when it comes to football, having won the ISFA National Cup, the ESFA Cup and competed at the highest levels in the Isthmian Youth League and the HUDL National League. The school provides an outstanding all-round education in a supportive environment for those seeking a career in professional

football and the programme is scaffolded around the pupils to enable the Sports Department to focus on all players and create tailored development programmes. Taking on board feedback from parents and carers, the team designed an Under 18s programme which provides access to non-league football through a partnership with a local football club, with training, nutrition and logistics factored in around their full-time educational needs while studying for A-levels and BTECs. The result is a balanced programme which meets their academic needs, allows them to play fixtures for Royal Russell and gives them exposure to the next level in National Leagues and prestigious competitions such as the FA Youth Cup. The programme continues to reap rewards with the 1st IX playing under our partner club, Sutton Common Rovers, crowned The Isthmian Football League Champion of Champions Cup winners for 2021/22 – a fantastic achievement.

FIND OUT MORE Royal Russell School is different by design. We provide boys and girls aged 3–18 with an outstanding range of exciting learning opportunities in a day and boarding environment. You are invited to our Open Day on Sat 24 Sept, 08:30 – 13:00 (final tours at 12:00). For more information, email admissions@royalrussell.co.uk

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FEATURES Busy reading and learning

TEAM USA

For an international education with strong British roots, UK-based, US-led schools are dandy, says Emma Reed

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hen we think of independent education in this country, it can be hard to get away from the stereotypes of the quintessentially British school encapsulated in books and film. Indeed, some international families who choose to educate their children here seek precisely that. Often though, these families are transitory, moving locations along with jobs. This can make it harder for children to settle in, leave, and possibly return to a school where the rest of the student body is fairly static. But there is another way: to join an American school in the UK, or an International School that also offers an American program. If you’re looking for a truly hybrid school that offers both the UK independent school experience along with the option to study an American program, then Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire is uniquely placed to offer that. ‘We’re a traditional British boarding school with an American program,’ says Nanci Austin, Director of External Relations. Kingham is accredited to offer a US High School diploma by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and is recognised by the US Department of Education. It’s possible to come to the UK and not glean all the benefits of a crosscultural experience, notes Jonathan Furst, Director of the American Studies Program at Kingham, explaining, ‘Because the American Program is embedded in an English independent school, pupils can benefit from the strengths of an English education while earning a fully-accredited American diploma.’ Out of 350 pupils, this year, 42 are

on the American Program. Children often come from military and embassy families, but there are now a lot of families owing to corporate relocations. Kingham works hard to ease integration, celebrating events like Thanksgiving, and the option to board also helps. Austin has direct experience of the benefits of the blended learning on offer at Kingham. Her son has sat GCSE exams and has also obtained his American High School diploma. The school is an approved centre for SAT exams, the admissions tests for US universities. Under the American system, students have what is known as a ‘transcript,’ a record of academic performance following through their school lives. Before an American student joins them, they can look at the transcript and assess what courses they need to take to get them through their diploma. Those on the American program can opt to attend the GCSE courses, but don’t have to take the exams. Instead, they will be graded for that academic journey. It’s this focus on the individual student and their needs that is a huge draw. Pupils get the preparation and support they need to go on to both US and UK universities. For the American program curriculum, lower sixth involves the study of American literature, US Government, US history, precalculus and economics. Each year, a science and language class are offered, tailored to the needs of that particular cohort. In upper sixth, pupils study English literature and calculus along with a variety of electives, some drawn from the US curriculum and others being A-level classes. An American high school graduation ceremony marks the end of the program. TASIS (The American School in England) in Surrey offers both the Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 69

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ABOVE: In the art room at Kingham Hill School LEFT: Out on the football pitch at TASIS

American diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB). Within the American diploma is the option to take what is known as Advanced Placement (AP). These exams are created by the US College Board. It offers a college-level curriculum and taking these exams can earn pupils college credits and placement for high scores. British Universities see them as comparable to an A-level. The AP is done in one year. ‘It’s incredibly intense,’ says Nellie Bailey, Senior Associate Director of Admissions. However, it can give pupils who are heading to US universities an edge. Courses there are generally four years as opposed to three here. ‘Often our students end up not having to do that first year because they’ve met the credits already. You get a little bit ahead of your peer group.’ At TASIS, out of 650 pupils there are more than 60 nationalities within the community. About 40 per cent hold an American passport but many have never lived in the US. The school has an appeal to international families, including British ones, who have lived abroad and may not feel that they fit into the British system. ‘They’ve had a much broader academic

experience and want to stay with a broader curriculum, particularly in those later years, as opposed to getting too narrow and focused,’ says Bailey. She emphasises the significance of the broader nature of the American system, where subjects are not dropped as readily as they are in the British system. ‘If you want to be a medical researcher, you still need to read and analyse books and to write essays. You have to have those other skills as well.’ Usually about 40 per cent of pupils from TASIS go to US universities, 40 per cent to UK universities and 20 per cent internationally. That journey starts as early as 14 years old when their university counselling program starts. ‘We’re getting to know who they are, where their interests and passions lie. We do a lot of work prepping them for what’s to come,’ says Bailey. ‘They’re learning basic interviewing skills and other soft skills. We keep our classes very small, about 12 to 15 in each class all the way through. It means we can create bespoke programs.’ This tailored nature also appeals to those intent on pursuing athletic careers who need the flexibility to train at a high level, but who also want to study a breadth of subjects that makes them academically marketable. TASIS are used to a transient community, and studying for an American diploma or the IB provides an element of continuity when travelling around. This is something echoed by Southbank International School who offer the IB, appealing to American families owing to its similarity to their diploma system. Feedback from university admissions teams and employers is that IB students make good employees as they are used to a curriculum that encourages critical thinking. Life at Southbank equips those wishing to go to US universities (about 20 per cent) with the broader demands of the US system where universities want to see evidence of a well-rounded person, not purely grades. To this end, they do Community Action Service (CAS). Neil Herrington, Head of International Student Recruitment for Cognita Schools in Europe states: ‘We place a high level of importance on charity and community service, all of which are beneficial to US college applications.’ They also offer one scholarship per year: The Milton Toubkin Diploma Scholarship. Maria Litras, Marketing and Communications Manager notes that many local families come to Southbank because they are increasingly

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disillusioned with the constant testing and associated pressure in the British system. ‘One of the most common things they’ll say is how much they’ve seen that their child loves learning again.’ ACS International Schools, with sites in Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon, all co-educational, offer the IB, US High School Diploma and the AP. Egham is the only school in the UK to offer all four IB programmes. You’ll not find GCSEs or A-levels here. The list of universities that pupils go on to attend is impressive, covering the UK, US and the rest of the world. Bursaries are offered, and ACS currently has 40 students from local families who have a bursary from one of its three UK schools. If you’re looking for a purely American style program, then ASL (The American School in London) offers that. Students graduate with a High School Diploma and can take the AP exams. Despite its American heritage (founded in 1951 by American journalist and former teacher Stephen L. Eckhard with 13 students taught in his Knightsbridge flat), ASL is strongly international, representing 66 nationalities with 57 languages spoken. The majority of students attend universities in the US, but this is shifting: the class of 2022 has applied to universities in eight different countries. ASL does have UK pupils who have opted to follow the American system. Often, they have already attended American or international schools and, upon their return, find ASL is a good fit for them. Each year, 13 per cent of ASL’s students receive some level of financial assistance. ‘An ASL education encapsulates the best of American education in a UK setting. London is an extension of our classrooms. With its international student body, innovation and individuality are celebrated, just as outstanding academic success is applauded,’ says a spokesperson.

Attending one of these schools not only enables students to go on to UK universities, but naturally they have an edge if they are considering applying to a US university in terms of knowledge of the system, approach and preparation. It’s a question of weighing up whether you want a full-on UK experience, which places like Kingham offer. However, the international nature of these schools gives pupils a global outlook. They are used to making friends from different countries leading to a global network years down the line. They are resilient, often used to changing schools or bidding farewell to friends who might only be with them for a couple of years before moving on. The breadth of the curriculum, encouraging independent thinking, and the emphasis on becoming well-rounded individuals with interests outside of a grade band, gives them a passport to a successful and fulfilled life equipped for our global age.

ABOVE: Musical talents on show at Southbank International School LEFT: ACS Egham science in action

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Stanley House’s team in the pushcart race at Rugby School

SORTED!

Thanks to Harry Potter and that hat, everyone wants to belong to a House again, says Sally Jones 72 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2022

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he house system is on a high in independent schools – and one reason, according to insiders, is the popularity of Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School Sorting Hat. Houses, day and boarding, once seemed mainly an administrative tool to divide pupils into smaller, more manageable units. Over the past decade, however, the system has become a powerful driver for numerous offbeat and imaginative opportunities. We shouldn’t be surprised by the connection: who can forget the sense of excitement they experienced on reading the Harry Potter books, as the omniscient Sorting Hat allotted each newbie the right house for them, in impeccable rhyming couplets? The selection seemed based mostly on personality, skills and family tradition: Gryffindor for the brave and public-spirited (‘Hooray!’), Slytherin for the cunning, devious and anyone called Malfoy (‘Boo, hiss!’). No wonder, thousands of us Potter fanatics, well beyond school age, love taking the online test to determine which house we would have entered, had we boarded the Hogwarts Express. In reality, at some schools, the house system died out, as competitive fixtures and the hierarchies of house captains fell out of favour. Elsewhere, pupils’ jam-packed schedules thanks to the growing demands of the curriculum made meaningful house activities virtually unworkable. At King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham, the system was abandoned about 30 years ago as irrelevant and outdated. Now however, their original four houses, Tudor, Seymour, Bordeaux and Beaufort, all names linked to female members of Edward VI’s dynasty, are back with a bang, reintroduced to universal acclaim by principal Kirsty von Malaisé. ‘One reason we’re bringing back houses is to unify the community, postCovid,’ says Andy Duncombe, KEHS’s Assistant Head (Community), who is overseeing the launch of the updated system. ‘We’ve planted four new cherry trees for the four houses, as part of the ‘Green Canopy’ element of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations and even made a Harry Potter-style video, revealing our heads of houses plus our house captains and vice-captains. ‘Siblings go into the same houses, and daughters of Old Edwardians usually go into their mother’s old house. Our teachers and support staff are allocated houses, too, and it’s been a roaring success with lots of new activities, like benchball, an invasion game played in the sports hall. It’s mayhem and a real school obsession.’ Duncombe adds: ‘We’re having House Bakeoffs, an Ultimate Frisbee

competition and a Monologue Slam contest – everyone loves the sense of friendly competition and inclusivity. Our girls are often highly competitive, which to an extent manifests itself in the academic side of the school, so the fun of the house activities really helps to lighten those pressures.’ Pupils endorse the move. ‘I was absolutely buzzing when I heard they were bringing back houses,’ said upper sixth-former Muntaha Chowdhury, 18, the inaugural Seymour House Captain, who hopes to read medicine at Cambridge University. ‘The new songwriting competition has been terrific.’ Students had a month or so to write and record a song and this helped several shy girls discover their voices. She adds: ‘The classics department is running a ‘Make Your Own Language’ contest, which the younger girls love. We have a rowdy game invented at KEHS called Danders, like an explosive version of indoor rounders so ‘House Danders’ is hugely popular. Being house captain has really added an extra dimension to my final year at KEHS – it’s magic!’ For my son, Roly Grant, an Old Edwardian from KES, Birmingham, KEHS’s brother school, and now a senior strategist in the Civil Service, house activities had a huge impact on his future career. ‘KES has eight houses named after old headmasters,’ Grant says. ‘I was in Prince Lee and it really built my self-belief, getting involved in choir,

RIGHT: Laying the plaque for King Edward’s High School for Girls’ Bordeaux House BELOW: Heathfield School’s house netball

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Harrow School on the move

inter-house cricket, tennis, athletics, squash – you name it. It fostered a sense of teamwork, and gave me a taste of leadership on a relatively small stage so if things went wrong, it didn’t matter – and if you did a good job, it boosted your confidence. My team at work includes a lot of senior people but my school experience taught me to be encouraging and treat everyone equally.’ Rugby School lays proud claim to have invented the whole idea of houses in public schools thanks to its iconic headmaster Dr Thomas Arnold, as part of his revolutionary praeposter (prefect) system. And house loyalty remains as strong as ever: Rugby’s 870 students, a combination of full boarders and day pupils, are spread across 15 houses, including two day houses, and house competitions in everything from football to debating generate much friendly rivalry. There have been unexpected benefits: 16-year-old Omar Sultanli from Azerbaijan, recently appointed head of Cotton House, said the system was crucial in helping him settle into the school. ‘I came to England and found the completely new environment very stressful,’ Sultanli explains. ‘I felt homesick and knew no one else in school but the lower sixth-form boys in my house were really supportive and kind to us. There was very little hierarchy and I loved the atmosphere at once – I really wanted to be head of house one day and my parents are incredibly proud that I’ve achieved it. The best moment? When I directed and acted in our House Drama play. I’d never done drama before and we created a play from scratch. It didn’t win but it was brilliant. I was nervous but we worked as a team and I learned so much about myself and the cast, it was an amazing feeling.’ Sultanli can see potential benefits, too: ‘One day I may want to go into politics – I love arguing and debating. I wasn’t specially confident or good at public speaking before but the house system has given me plenty of opportunities and now it feels natural and straightforward.’ Biologist Liz Sale is house mistress of Bradley, all-male until 1991 but now a house of 52 girls aged 13 to 18. ‘Dining at Rugby is all in-house,’ Sale says. ‘I eat with the girls three times a day, often joined by teachers from

around the school. This builds softer skills; looking after guests and good conversation. The girls welcome visitors and enjoy finding out about them. Prospective parents will come to lunch and say afterwards, ‘That’s what I want my daughter to be like.’ She adds: ‘I nurture girls through the house system and we get them to do a skit or play an instrument, just in front of their house and a few parents. ‘One recent new girl was shy but admitted she played the violin. She got up and we almost fell off our seats, she was so good. It gave the girl a real confidence boost and sense of belonging.’ Another girl has Aspergers. ‘She was up-front about it and wanted her housemates to know. From that moment everyone took the view ‘She’s our girl – we’re all going to look out for her.’ Now she’s discovered a gift for leadership through the CCF and she’ll probably go into the Army.’ When new girls join Bradley, Sale tells them, ‘These girls will come to your wedding and hold your babies and you’ll always be part of each other’s lives. It’s like reading: when you start a book, you don’t always know if you’ll like it but when you get to the end you don’t want it to finish, I feel we’re writing a really lovely story.’ Harrow’s 12 houses help to perpetuate its long story with numerous traditions, like the famous Harrow Songs including ‘Forty Years On’ and ‘The Silver Arrow’, great favourites of Old Harrovian Winston Churchill. Sung in the houses each term, these have been a unifying force since the then Head of Music John Farmer wrote the first in 1864. In the inter-house singing contest, groups from each house perform a close-harmony a capella song, in ‘The Glees’ then a unison arrangement with piano accompaniment, ‘The Twelves’. At sporting powerhouse Millfield, the 19 boarding houses are the focal point of student life. Its 970 full boarders are highly supportive of each other and go to sports matches, concerts or plays where friends are performing. The houses also offer an oasis of rest in the busy environment. ‘Weekends at Millfield are busy,’ said sixth form boarder Réshma Rao. ‘We have lessons on Saturday and I’ll sometimes have a girls’ football fixture in the afternoon. In the evenings, it’s great to relax and spend time with friends. We usually watch a film or cook fajitas or pizzas with our housemistress. I also love Sunday brunch in the Dining Hall.’ Inspirational women are the choice of house name at Heathfield School, Ascot; each of its 225 girls joins either Austen, Seacole, de Valois or Somerville. House events bond newcomers and their peers with sport competitions, talent shows, quizzes and fundraising for local and national charities, plus merits for good work – and demerits for bad behaviour. ‘The house system embodies our whole community and unites the different age groups, helping the school to flourish,’ says one sixth-former. ‘It gives the older girls unique opportunities to develop their leadership skills and enables the younger ones to showcase their talents and make lifelong friendships among their housemates. The most offbeat house event that we hold is the four-way tug o’ war. This is a rope with four tails and each year group breaks into houses to take part. It’s an absolute riot.’ ‘The students are fiercely competitive and loyal to their house,’ adds Wendy Reynolds, director of co-curricular. ‘At the final Assembly of term, before the winning house is announced there’s great anticipation demonstrated by the traditional loud drum roll of feet! To celebrate, the winners can choose an evening out for the whole house the following term.’ As Cotton House captain, Rugbeian Omar Sultanli admits, he is also highly competitive – but says life within the house is all about ‘we’, not ‘I’. ‘Our housemaster has a slogan: #beagoodbloke,’ he explains, ‘encouraging us to help and look after others at the same time as realising our own potential. That’s one of the lessons I’ll take away from here.’

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Each day, discovery

Eltham College is a co-educational day school which welcomes girls and boys for entry in Years 3, 7 and Sixth Form. Come and visit us at our Whole School Open Day on Saturday 17 September or Junior School Open Morning on Saturday 12 November 2022 (both from 10am - 1pm). Book here: www.elthamcollege.london/opendays

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FEATURES Maths class at Belhaven Hill

MARMITE MATHS M

It used to be the subject we loved or hated, says Emma Reed – but new approaches are adding up to renewed interest

aths can be one of those subjects that provokes a strong reaction: people either love it or hate it. That feeling often continues well into adulthood. Many of us can recall learning by rote and wondering how the more abstract concepts had any application to real life (guess which camp I was in?). However, teaching methods have moved on and these, along with advances in technology, mean that pupils are not only gaining confidence in maths, they are excelling. It’s not just a question of being able to use algebra to solve a problem or correctly interpret a graph. Children can achieve excellent maths grades in GCSE or A-level, but many leave school with a poor level of financial literacy, unable to apply maths to financial contexts in the real world. While financial education was introduced into the national curriculum in 2014 in secondary schools, its application has been sporadic. Abigail Foster, an ACA qualified accountant runs Elent, a financial education platform. She provides workshops in schools currently aimed at

Years 10 to 13 including schools such as Putney High School, Walhampton Hall and the TVLP (the Thames Valley Learning Partnership of state and independent schools). Foster covers pensions, savings, student loans and payslips, and says: ‘I think it’s shocking that often the first time we ever see a payslip is when we receive our own.’ Instead, she believes that with the right financial education comes empowerment, which she sees as particularly significant when it comes to transparency and the gender pay gap. Foster is conscious, too, of the need to pick up the conversation on matters such as cryptocurrency. It’s all about equipping young people with the financial life skills they need. Back in the classroom, Alex Miller, head of maths at Merchant Taylors’ School, highlights the big shift that has evolved in teaching his subject. ‘One of the biggest features from the past 10 years of education,’ says Miller, ‘is the move away from the focus of just being able to regurgitate the skills they’ve learned to a more problem-solving approach. Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 77

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‘I think that’s vitally important, not just for qualifications, but for their futures as well. We want to develop the problem solvers and leaders of the future.’ One of the challenges Miller sees is persuading the boys of the importance of writing things down. ‘The nature of primary school maths is based a lot around mental arithmetic, so they think success in maths is to be able to do calculations mentally and quickly. They can often hit a low point in maths around the middle years as the nature of maths changes and they’re not used to writing their working down.’ The other big shift Miller notes is the use of technology in maths, something he was keen on prior to the pandemic making it a necessity. The use of the touchscreen and the stylus has revolutionised the ability to do maths efficiently on a screen. Applications such as OneNote ensure that all resources and worksheets are easily available for everyone to access and progress. Where technology really comes into its own, he says, is being able to demonstrate maths in motion, whether it’s a graph being drawn or an algebraic equation. This view is echoed by Katie Gale, head of maths at Belhaven Hill School. ‘We’ve had interactive whiteboards and we’ve moved across to Apple TVs now. When you can demonstrate things visually such as reflections, pupils can find that invaluable. We’ve got iPads in school and the children can use the Apps to practice times tables.’ Gale also comments on the importance of problem-solving skills, and to this end, she finds that lessons are much more discursive.‘We do a lot of talking where pupils learn to explain why they think their answer is right. I try to lead by investigation and relate things to the world outside. We’ll go outside, find circular shapes and work on area and circumference.’ Nell Bond, head of Key Stage 2 maths at King’s Ely also highlights that there’s been a shift in the subject to emphasise an understanding of why methods make sense. ‘Unpicking the abstract to make it concrete,’ says Bond, ‘ensures our learners feel more confident and better equipped to understand the application.’ There’s an emphasis on fun. Lessons start with ‘warm-ups.’ ‘We can all get quick wins at the start of a lesson. We award merits for people who outperform prior work, so goals are tailored to individuals Working hard in Tonbridge library

Smiley pupils at King’s Ely

rather than setting general standard goals.’ There’s even a competition for ‘favourite mistakes.’ ‘Students view a variety of mistakes, work out what the misconception was and then vote for their favourite.’ Clubs seem to be integral in fostering enthusiasm and a level of excellence at some schools. ‘If we can grab the boys when they’re young and interested in maths, then they will follow through with those clubs,’ says Miller. ‘We want it to be a social, relaxed, enjoyable space for them to come and enjoy some problem-solving puzzles.’ Recently, they had a boy who did a presentation on the mathematics behind surviving Squid Game! Tonbridge School entered nine teams in the Trinity Maths Competition this year who all performed well with one coming top. Head of Maths James Ashton explains that Tonbridge has a very active maths club (Arcana) where pupils are motivated and keen to push themselves. He’s a big believer in pupils taking responsibility for their learning, taking advantage of boarding time to sit down with each other to work out and explain maths problems they are working on. Director of Admissions Richard Burnett remarks that the calibre of maths teachers they have engenders a healthy spirit of inquiry and competition. This was the draw for one of their Year 9 pupils, described as a ‘once in a generation’ mathematician. However, it’s easier to enthuse the naturally gifted. The key is enthusing everyone. Linked to maths, Belhaven Hill recently won the Years 7-9 category of the PA Raspberry Pi Competition with their Project Polar Bear, a waste management system. ‘My firm belief is that children are far more motivated when there’s a real-world application to what they’re doing,’ says William Pook, head of computing. ‘They understand why we’re doing maths, science and the like because we had to apply all of these on this project. It’s very empowering for them and it encourages others. ‘It doesn’t matter if they don’t succeed. It’s about the process. That is where the learning comes from.’ Many of us might wish we had had the maths teachers included here. It’s a much more collaborative process now, with teachers adapting to change and learning as much as the pupils. As Nell Bond from King’s Ely, says: ‘Maths is not a spectator sport, so we all get stuck in!’

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

GROWING WITH TORMEAD Tormead School’s newly appointed head girls, Charlotte and Ellie, tell us about their journey through the Surrey-based school.

ver the past decade, Tormead has allowed us to flourish not only academically but also as individuals. Its warm, nurturing environment supports students no matter their interests. Whether it be achieving four national champion titles in gymnastics, debating against other schools or solving murder mysteries in forensics club. We believe Tormead focuses on the individual and their journey rather than just the outcome.

Tormead has been a journey of discovery for us over the last ten years that has allowed us to delve into many different ventures, pursuing our academic interests or enjoying varied co-curricular activities. Perhaps most importantly, Tormead is a community of great people that go the extra mile to provide opportunities that will benefit you not just in the present but also the future. The best aspect of the Tormead community is that support comes from both the students and from the network

of welcoming, inspiring teachers that have made our experience invaluable. We feel that Tormead excels at providing the opportunity for selfdiscovery and embeds the tenets of determination and resilience into each and every pupil. One of our proudest moments along this journey has been recording a podcast with IAMTHECODE, a charity organisation focusing on gender equality that has allowed us to develop our understanding of the wider world. We are encouraged to embrace curiosity as the key to our learning. The biology department offers a forensics club, genetics society, MEDSEMs, enrichment and conservation club – all of which we have greatly benefited from. Alternatively, the drama department is renowned for its plays that evoke both smiles and tears! Tormead has allowed us to grow into positive, confident and outgoing individuals ready for bright futures.

FIND OUT MORE tormeadschool.org.uk admissions@tormeadschool.org.uk 01483 796040 Open days: Sept 2023 start, Senior, 23 Sept, 1 Oct. Prep, 1 Oct, 14 Oct. Sept 2024 start; Senior, 4 May, 21 June. Prep, 3 March, 6 May

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UCS Hampstead

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Broomwood Hall Lower School pupils

EXTRA TIME

Helping children to thrive is an essential part of parenting, says Annabel Heseltine

hat you are only as unhappy as your unhappiest child is a wonderful truism when said child is bouncing happily through life, but hell, when they are failing and miserable. With the numbers of children suffering from mental health issues increasing from one in nine in 2017 to one in six in 2021 according to an NHS digital survey, many parents will be asking themselves when and how they can help. ‘Parents know their children better than anyone,’ says psychotherapist Alicia Drummond, author of Why Every Child Needs a Parrot. ‘You know when they are not thriving; when there is a change in behaviour; a lethargy and lack of interest. Maybe they stop doing the things they have always enjoyed or don’t want to play with their friends, or are very reactive, explosively angry or sad. Any signs of self-harming must not be ignored.’ However, there is a chasm between the parent who is reluctant to step in and the parent who steps in too much; neither of which is good for the child. ‘You don’t want to be trigger-happy but often parents don’t act quickly enough. I advise parents to weigh up the situation and it’s always helpful to chat to the schools,’ says Drummond, founder of TeenTips which has 180 schools from Devon to Glasgow with 90,000 children and parents signed up to its Wellbeing Hub offering specialist advice. ‘Being a loving and protective parent is linked to positive child outcomes throughout development but controlling their every move should come with a warning label,’ says Adele Monsef, a registered

Smiley toddler at Queen’s College Highgrove Nursery

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psychologist at The Child and Adolescent Development Centre in London who worries about the parents who micro-manage or ‘helicopter’ their children. ‘When parental involvement is not developmentally appropriate and intrusive, it can be problematic for a child’s adjustment and wellbeing.’ Helicoptering can include parents fighting their children’s battles or over-schooling them to ensure they win loads of competitions. ‘Managing their Off for a ride at Abberley Hall School children’s friendship circles undermines them, taking away their ability to feel competent in life so that they develop poor coping environment and our experiences. An amazing teacher can help and problem-solving skills, have a poor sense of self, doubt themselves the child who hasn’t learnt to trust by creating a safe space at school.’ and their capabilities, be nervous about making decisions, less open to Drummond loves Montessori for its focus on messy creativity. ‘Cognitive new ideas and develop a strong fear of failure,’ adds Monsef. development can rewire throughout life.’ ‘Parents don’t want their children to grow up too quickly but they She recommends schools as a good place to start looking for help. need independence to help them develop into resilient and competent ‘There isn’t much they haven’t seen. They can direct parents in the adults ready to take on life’s challenges,’ she says. ‘Helicoptering parents direction of organisations and charities. Your GP is an option but CAHMS might be trying to protect their children from pain, but they are also quite (the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) are overwhelmed.’ And for the child who is resistant to talking therapies, she reminds possibly reacting to pressure from other parents, overcompensating for parents to think laterally and question why they are resistant. For the what they missed when growing up or over-worrying.’ child with an obsessive-compulsive disorder the idea of giving up the ‘The most important thing parents can do is to have an understanding of their child’s emotional needs,’ says Drummond. ‘How parents should behaviour might be terrifying. ‘I had a 13-year-old girl who found talking react to an unhappy toddler is very different to an adolescent teenager really hard but she loved horses, so I found her an equine therapist. There are music and art therapies, too.’ struggling with friendships. So in a neat 360 degrees, we come back to the ‘Children who feel safe with their parents will feel parent. Ill-educated as they might be in the skills of secure going out into the world,’ she says, breaking parenting, they have two important strings in their the developmental process down into five stages bow; instinct and will. They know their child better from tiny babies creating safe bonds and a secure emotional attachment to parents, through the than anyone and they love and want the best for messy creative phase, to learning to be inquisitive, them. They can learn the third. The voice. Learning Teen Tips asking questions and taking initiative. Between how to speak to your child is all. When things are Their wellbeing hub offers seven and 11, children want to be industrious and going wrong any good parent should start with a 24 hour support for parents, feel successful. Adolescence is when children should gentle conversation. ‘You don’t seem happy, I am staff and pupils. £7.99 for parents. £5 for schools. Each be encouraged to be independent, while knowing wondering why?’ independent school can ‘gift’ ‘Ask. Don’t tell.’ is the mantra: otherwise you are that there are firm and secure boundaries in place. to a maintained school. always on their case. Talk to them like they are your ‘The trick,’ says Drummond ‘is to lay down the first www.teentips.co.uk best friend,’ advises Drummond. ‘We don’t tell our coin securely. If you don’t, then the other pennies Happy Confident Company might slide off later.’ best friend to pull themselves together or offer advice Kids journals, educational Drummond, a mother of two young adults, is quick unless asked for.’ Don’t rush in and fix things, the games and courses for happier, more confident most powerful thing is to sit there and listen. to reassure parents. ‘We are good enough and that’s children and teenagers. all you have to be as a parent. It is not helpful to beat ‘Be gentle,’ says Drummond, who doesn’t believe www.happyconfident.com ourselves up. That makes it all about us and is not in attention seeking. ‘If children are looking for what they need.’ Adding that mental health issues attention there is something wrong.’ And finally use Calm and Headspace apps www.calm.com are not just caused by bad parenting; it is nature as humour. It can work when all else fails. www.headspace.com Monsef describes a moment she witnessed in much as nurture, the environment, the school or a park when a mother helped her son manage a their own genetics. She also offers some hope for Maudsley Charity UCL/Kings research created difficult situation. The boy was upset and angry parents who know they have made mistakes at one an animated series for parents point or another; either because of their own interthat he hadn’t scored a goal. His mother looked at to help children and for generational ‘stuff’ or because life got in the way. him and in a calm voice said, ‘When you took your adolescents to learn tools to ‘It can be repaired,’ she says. ‘Nothing is static, first ever step, you fell over. I am so happy that you help themselves www.maudsleycharity.org/ nothing is stuck. Therapy can find the developmental decided to get up and try again!’ The boy looked familiesunderpressure at his mother and laughed. gaps and our brain changes according to our

ADVICE

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MAKING A CHANGE

’ve always been a stickler for justice, exhibited as a child in outbursts of ‘it’s not fair!’, with much foot stamping. Of course, at that age I was focused on my own little world, and had no idea about real injustice. Over time – with the inevitable challenges of life – my drive for fairness and equality have deepened. Whether through experiences at work or digesting global news, the realisation that unfortunately the world can be unkind and unfair, is no less palatable to me now as it was then. Last year, I decided to take a stand. Resigning from my job and supported by family and friends, I made it my mission to do all I could to inspire a kinder, more equitable world. And so, The Kindness Bank was born, a social enterprise aiming to nurture our future kind and responsible citizens and leaders. In partnership with University College London, the Bank delivers workshops to pupils across all key stages encouraging them to think about their actions and the consequences which follow. Right now, it feels like kindness and humanity is never more needed. We are in a climate crisis and a fuel crisis, impacting people around the world and on our doorstep. Fifty per cent of the world’s population lives in poverty and the gap between rich and poor is vast and growing. Global warming, pollution, poverty and war are forcing people to migrate, to try to find safety and stability. So, how does kindness fit into that? Is it about being nice or is there more to it? The dictionary definition of kindness is ‘the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate’. So yes, there’s more to it than just being pleasant. As we explain to pupils in the workshops, kindness is about looking outward, it’s about considering our impact on others, being generous with our time, energy and focus, and trying to help. And kindness is something of a wonder drug – it makes us happy! We all know that good feeling when someone is kind to us, and similarly when we’re kind to others, so kindness is important for our mental health.

After all, one of the things that makes us civilised as human beings is our capacity to be kind to anyone, whether we know them or not. This really is the crux of it, the reason why kindness is so powerful, important and such a growing movement. Because believe it or not, kindness helps us solve difficult problems like climate change and global warming. When we adopt a kind outlook, we can see things from another’s perspective, consider our impact and try to help. We live in a world where we can satisfy our every need instantly, we tire of things quickly, we waste, pollute, deplete precious resources without a second thought, without knowing, without realising, because we’re not taught otherwise. And just when we need our children to look outward, they are immersed in a culture of selfpromotion, celebrity, status, drawing them into an ever inward-focused world of perfectionism, inauthenticity, FOMO, consumerism and the need for external validation. And the impact of all this on mental health is well known. Yet these children are inheriting this world. As our future citizens and leaders, we will call upon them to fix it, so keeping them in the dark seems a great injustice. We can educate from a young age on kindness and sustainability, responsible consumption, the UN Global Goals, problem solving, diverse teamwork, finding purpose and the part they play in the solutions. If we encourage creativity, problem Helen Sundaram solving, ideas generation and confidence, empower children to be brave, take action, share, influence and inspire others, what a sea change of good we will create! As the future custodians of our planet, we surely owe our children the greatest kindness by teaching them how to nurture and protect it for future generations. Helen Sundaram is Founder of The Kindness Bank, thekindnessbank.co.uk

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Nurturing our future citizens and leaders starts with lessons in how to be kind, says Helen Sundaram

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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Caring about people nearby and in far-flung places through caring about the climate

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

WIMBLEDON TO THE WORLD Hall School Wimbledon is an all-through co-educational school with exceptional facilities in the heart of Wimbledon.

all School Wimbledon (HSW), is the only co-educational all-through school in Wimbledon. We are an inclusive, non-selective school for five to 18 year olds and our cherished pupils make up a lively community of budding scientists, artists, dancers, authors, carers, musicians and athletes, all sharing a spirit of adventure and a thirst for knowledge. Our new Headmaster, Mr Andrew Hammond, would be delighted to show you around our school and our nine-acre outdoor site. As a non-selective school, HSW still maintains a strong emphasis on academia as well as sports and the arts. We are proud that our examination results continue to grow year on year and are significantly above the national average. Our small class sizes allow teachers and pupils to develop excellent working relationships. As a school who is always looking towards the future, we have the ability to adapt our curriculum to enable more opportunities for our young

people, based on the demands of a developing world. Every child at HSW is treated as an individual and is celebrated for who they are. Our intimate campus fosters a relaxed, family atmosphere where each member of the community is known. Pastoral care

is central to what we do and we believe in taking time to care for the whole child, aiming to nurture their emotional wellbeing and encourage life skills alongside academic development. All HSW children are encouraged to participate and to enjoy the fun of sport. Pupils benefit from our exceptional facilities at Oberon Fields, our nine-acre site less than a mile away from the school. We enable outstanding futures through academic success, exciting opportunities and ensuring children know they are valued, happy and feel a deep sense of positive wellbeing. When pupils leave HSW, it is as confident, empowered and globally-minded young people, who are equipped to lead and contribute fully to society. Come and visit us and see for yourself everything Hall School Wimbledon has to offer!

FIND OUT MORE www.hsw.co.uk admissions@hsw.co.uk +44 (0)20 8394 6144

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GOOD MANNERS NEVER GO OUT OF FASHION

Encouraging children to hold strong values is as important as ever, says Alexander Thomas, headmaster of St Philip’s School

ne Monday last year, a Year 6 boy arrived for school at St Philip’s clutching a parcel containing a fresh whole trout. He had caught it the previous day and wrapped it in the weekend papers, and was delivering it to me – knowing that I enjoyed fishing and cooking – because he thought I might ‘appreciate it’. In that moment, the problems lurking in my in-tray suddenly became easier to tackle. The day and week was off to a flying start. Where did this boy’s kindness come from? Aside from a naturally pleasant disposition, it came from home, of course, and the values instilled in him by his parents. It is no coincidence that schools emphasise their values so clearly – they understand their importance to parents. At St Philip’s, for example, we encourage the boys to act ‘with joyfulness and kindness’ every day in every situation.We urge them to make the most of their talents and take responsibility for their words and actions, and we seek to create a culture of kindness by living according to those values every day, modelling and promoting them consistently. Developing this culture takes time and patience but is important work, and not only is this more authentic than any red-letter awareness day, it is also more effective. Children notice kindness and appreciate it, and if they benefit from it they are more likely to treat others in a similar way. They are grateful to receive hand-written notes, for example, and are likely to write thank you cards in later life if they receive them in childhood. St Philip Neri is the patron of St Philip’s – and, appropriately, the patron saint of laughter and joy – and he is our model here. ‘In dealing with our neighbour,’ he

said, ‘we must assume as much pleasantness of manner as we can, and by this affability will win him to the way of virtue.’ After prep schools like St Philip’s, children move on to senior schools to progress to the next stage of their development. They are certain to be confronted with all manner of challenging situations in those senior school years. This is normal. It is the fate for all children as their bodies and minds develop with great speed – and quite often not in a conveniently parallel way – in the ageless transition from childhood to adulthood via adolescence. If they are to navigate these wondrous but challenging years with any degree of success, they will need to call on their values and make wise choices along the way; they will need to take responsibility for their actions and the effect that they have on others, and this will need to be second nature. It is interesting that the solutions to modern problems were being discussed by men like St Philip in the 1500s. This is because the values he promoted – such as kindness, tolerance and respect for others’ views – are timeless classics and the base upon which healthy personal relationships are made. It is not overstating things to say that they are the foundation on which healthy civilisations are built, and they must be preserved. Marcus Aurelius was more efficient with his words than St Philip but was delivering the same message 1,500 years earlier. ‘Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be.’ he said. ‘Be one.’ Alexander Thomas is headmaster of St Philip’s School, London Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 87

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ON A ROLE

When teachers demonstrate shared values, the whole school community benefits, says Shona Colaco, head of Knightsbridge School

hen many of us were at school, the hope was that our education would send us out into the world as individuals ready to slot into a role in the workplace. There were clear routes into professions and trades, and the criteria for success was based on knowledge and skills that were readily measurable. Careers for life were commonplace. The challenge for contemporary educators is that the careers our pupils may graduate to are evolving at a rate that is gathering momentum. Some of the most useful skills and aptitudes for workplace success are not measurable by national qualification and many of the jobs the children may go on to don’t yet exist in the 2022 workplace. Increased globalisation necessitates greater levels of cultural awareness and for us to move meaningfully towards a fairer society with greater levels of respect, altruism and compassion. To thrive in such a dynamic environment will require our young people to have mental agility, problem-solving skills, fortitude or grit, optimism, a commitment to continuous learning and an understanding and acceptance of their social and individual responsibilities. At Knightsbridge School (KS), we don’t have rules as such, rather a set of shared values that are at the heart of all we do. They have been enshrined into ‘The KS Code’ – a set of values which remain central to the way we operate every day. The KS Code is a shared language and ethos that we all live by. Words matter and we use consistent language around our values systems; adults and pupils alike use the same words which builds confidence, community and an aptitude to learn. Key to the success of inculcating the values we wish to see is having appropriate role models; staff who can demonstrate a real commitment to nurturing the children they guide through their school years with care and kindness. It is important to note that being kind should not in this instance

be equated with being nice, although it is a basic element of kindness. Kindness is about humanity, a willingness to help and support and to act with generosity of spirit and time. By treating our pupils and one another with respect and courtesy these values permeate the whole organisation and bind the community together. In addition to teaching our academic and engaging formal curriculum, we encourage our pupils to embrace diversity in all its manifestations and gain insight into what they need to succeed in all their endeavours. Each week there is an area of focus such as honesty, loyalty, determination or gratitude. Assemblies and reflection time give space for consideration and discussion of each value which is linked back to the KS Code and woven through interactions that week. Through these, over time the children develop the vocabulary and tools to be good friends, to build trusting relationships, to become caring and thoughtful contributors to the school and community, and exercise the self-care needed to work sustainably. Study and organisational skills are delivered via the Life Skills curriculum. Through this, pupils are equipped with an understanding of their own learning preferences and what they need to maximise their learning and other opportunities on offer. Through practical application of these skills, pupils embed good work habits and develop and practice the learning dispositions to achieve well. Anyone who walks through the doors at KS will feel a Principal Magoo Giles and buzz, a palpable and positive Headmistress Shona Calaco energy that flows within our walls. This energy results from the hard work we do to create a real community, one that is based on kindness and sharing the same values. It is a fantastic energy that buoys our pupils up to work hard and achieve their full potential. Our approach isn’t just about preparing children for the next stage of their education, it’s about more than that – it is about committing collectively to be responsible, positive and humane leaders of others and oneself.

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EXPERIENCE.

AN OAKHAM EDUCATION. Discover more about our high-achieving, co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 10-18. At Oakham, we are proud to offer pupils the ideal environment to learn, grow and thrive in the heart of rural England.

"A genuinely co-ed, forward thinking, well run school” The Good Schools Guide

To arrange your visit contact our Admissions Team: 01572 758758

admissions@oakham.rutland.sch.uk oakham.rutland.sch.uk

@OakhamSchool @OakhamSch

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INSIDERS’ GUIDE

Our experts give advice on choosing the best school for a budding artist. By Eleanor Doughty

Life drawing at Fine Arts College

f your child has a distinctly artistic side, it can be stressful finding a school that will really help them explore that. Should you be governed by facilities or does a core department philosophy matter more? And who will offer the best advice for moving on to degree work – and beyond. Our experts are on hand to put parents in the picture.

THE PANEL: Candida Cave, Principal, Fine Arts College, Hampstead Kimberley Pallot, Director of Art, St Mary’s Calne Daniel Preece, Head of Art, Bedales Douglas Knight, Head of Art, Bryanston

Why should I send my child to a school that specialises in art?

We specialise in arts but we also specialise in the academic subjects as well. Here, we suggest that students start with four A-levels, of which two would be academic and two creative – for example, Latin and art history alongside fashion and textiles, and art. That way you’re not narrowing your choices for university, but you are expanding your choices based on your desire to focus [on something] which may result in a career in that area. Candida Cave

What standard would you expect to see for a scholarship? For junior

scholarships, we’re looking for girls to come to us with a GCSE equivalent level of skill, so we have high

expectations. The standard isn’t necessarily just about skill – it’s about the creativity, thinking, and the passion, too. We’re looking for people who have the potential to be a good role model for others, as we are a small community and are all about bringing each other on. Kimberley Pallot

What would an art scholarship mean? Art scholars become part of the

art department community, and receive a small amount of money which they can use to spend on anything art-related – a camera, or a trip to Venice to see the Biennale, for example. Within the department, the expectation is that they will be a role model for the other students, support people that we get in to visit, and come to lectures. Our art scholars are ambassadors, mainly through what they do and what they make, and how that is then transposed into the younger years, with the idea that it might give aspiration to other students. Daniel Preece

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A Bryanston pupil hard at work

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Senior School Open Morning Saturday 17 September 9.30am to noon Boys and girls 13 to 18 (Entry at 13 and 16) HMC – Boarding and day

Boys and girls 3 months to 13 years IAPS – Boarding and day

To register or to arrange a personal visit, please contact: admissions@bedes.org T 01323 356609

Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker East Sussex BN27 3QH

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Prep, Pre-Prep and Nursery School Open Morning Saturday 8 October 9.30am to noon

To register or to arrange a personal visit, please contact: prep.admissions@bedes.org T 01323 356939

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Does A-level art cover the same ground as a foundation year? In essence, yes – we try to

model ourselves on the carousel and variety that a good art foundation would cover. Getting a good A-level grade and getting into art college are not mutually exclusive, they are one and the same. We run workshops so that students can find their strengths, just as you would at art college, and we try and mirror the engagement with high-level thinking. Douglas Knight

Are school exhibitions important? Yes, incredibly so.

There is no creative limit as to what the girls can do and achieve. Our artist-in-residence does a lot of exhibitions, and works with the students during enrichment activities. We exhibit in the Big Draw international

drawing festival, and we have entered girls’ work in the Royal Academy Young Artists’ Summer Show. Every three years, we do an exhibition in London where we take students’ work, and that of our alumni, parents and staff. Kimberley Pallot

Should arts teachers also be practising/selling artists?

All of ours are. We take the view that the best art teaching is given by people who are also practising artists. In all our departments, the tutors are practising, have exhibitions, and write about their work. It lets students see that what they do at A-level doesn’t stop at A-level. Our head of art’s work is in the V&A – it’s really great for students to see where they can end up. It also means that our tutors stay with us for many years, having found the correct balance in terms of their work and their creativity. Candida Cave

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In St Mary’s Calne’s art room

What facilities should I look for? There is a lot to be said for

good quality art teaching, and that has to be the main focus. We have purpose-built studios including a sculpture studio, a glazing area with kilns, a textiles room, and a darkroom. Having the facilities allows the students the breadth of ambition. Douglas Knight Is collaboration across subjects encouraged?

Absolutely. A wonderful example for us is English and art: we collaborate across all year groups to create a piece of poetry and artwork too. Art is taken seriously, and people are realising that if you want to be a CEO these days, visual literacy, problem-solving and creative thinking are assets that you need to exercise. Access to arts and culture is fundamental for our wellbeing. Kimberley Pallot

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9 10

Do boarders get enough after-school time to work on art projects? Yes – our art

department is open every evening until 9pm, so they can join an activity or work on a project. We have a large multifunctional space, and as long as they’re in the department doing something creative, I’m happy. Daniel Preece What other subjects does art complement?

There are four different art A-levels: fine art, graphics, photography, and fashion and textiles, and any one of those can complement English, art history, film studies, languages, history, and maths. Fine art involves historical research, essay writing, as well as the development of technical and imaginative individual skills. Candida Cave

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Sculpture at Bedales

Will I have to pay extra for specialist art supplies? Normally, no –

we’re very well stocked with everything students might need for their work. Douglas Knight Do schools have visiting practitioners?

We do, because I think it’s really important that the students see where their art studies might lead. We’re lucky because a lot of our students’ parents are involved in the arts in different ways, and we have some quite successful artists and theatre designers among them. I am keen to develop a programme where they all come in and talk about what they do so the students see a context to the things that they do and make. Daniel Preece

TIPS FROM THE HEAD OF ART Consider how a school will inspire, challenge, and support your child when choosing a school. Look for those aspects of an art department, and whether that is the best fit for your young person, and look too at the pastoral system. Kimberley Pallot What we are trying to do at Bedales is teach skills, and encourage making and doing because that’s how pupils learn, through the experience. We try to give them a wide range of skills, and hope that as they develop they will become more confident in following their own lines of enquiry. Daniel Preece People often ask me whether they are good enough to do art, but what we are looking for is potential, not the finished article. Drawing, for example, is purely part of the curriculum – it doesn’t have to be a main focus. We’ve got students doing film, photography, textiles and painting. There are so many areas in which people can find their skills. Douglas Knight

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A St Edward’s Oxford Eight at Henley

MATCH FIT N

It’s good for mind, body, and even your social life, says Sally Jones. No wonder rowing is a sport increasing in popularity. So how and where to get started?

ational Schools Regatta, Dorney Lake, 2017: the eight crews took to water for the final of the prestigious Championship Eights. With little between the crews in the opening stages, the ‘usual suspects’ Eton, past winners, plus St Paul’s School, Hammersmith, looking for their first victory in the championship, gradually edged ahead of their rivals. In the middle of the course, it was neck-and-neck between the two leaders, but then the spectators watched, mesmerised, as St Paul’s inexorably inched into a narrow lead and glided to the title after one of the greatest displays of youth rowing, with Eton

second and Shiplake College just holding off Winchester and Radley for third place. St Paul’s winning ways continued with a hat trick of National Schools victories in consecutive years plus a coveted victory in 2018 at the Henley Royal Regatta, the blue riband event of schoolboy rowing, where they became the fastest schools crew in history. This run of success underlined their strength in the sport so often dominated by the big traditional boarding schools like Radley, Shrewsbury and Eton. These days several girls’ and co-ed schools are also producing outstanding results, among them Headington School, Surbiton High and

Shiplake College. Punching above its weight is St Edward’s, Oxford, which recently became the first co-ed school to get both its boys’ and girls’ crews into the semi-finals at Henley. It is no coincidence that St Paul’s Director of Rowing, Bobby Thatcher, and Adam Moffatt, Head of Rowing at St Edward’s, are each highly experienced coaches and former internationals. Both believe in smart rather than exhaustive training; their 1st VIIIs do half the weekly mileage of most of their main rivals, but with the emphasis on technique, tactical nous and enjoyment, and seem the stronger for it. Rowing has always possessed undeniable

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social cachet: think balmy days of Pimms and summer frocks at Henley, and Eton’s flowerdecked oarsmen at the Fourth of June Procession of Boats. The sport carries tangible benefits, too. The all-round physical workout, mental discipline and stamina required make it an effective training for mind and body. Adam Moffatt also believes the teamwork required can transform newcomers’ school experience. ‘We row a lovely stretch of river at Godstow, watched by cows and horses,’ Moffatt explains. ‘The beautiful countryside is stunning for our rowers’ minds – a special, calming place, separate from school life. One un-sporty student was shy, quiet and finding it difficult to fit in. She joined the rowing club, trained hard and made the 1st VIII – but she also made friends for life and loved the training. It’s been the making of her.’ He adds: ‘It’s vital for our pupils to balance being a teenager with being an athlete. Rowing can provide an added focus but primarily they must enjoy being a teenager and a student first – and a happy rower is more likely to go fast!’ Ryan Demaine, Performance Director and Head of Rowing says team mentality is crucial. ‘There’s no magic silver bullet. You need a supportive network of teachers, pastoral team and coaches who believe in you and you need to surround yourself with like-minded people who are not afraid of hard work, grit and determination. Perhaps most importantly, the rowers themselves must be well-organised.’ St Paul’s crews are mostly ‘bright, impressive boys with an excellent work ethic’, says Bobby Thatcher, whose coaching partnership with the legendary veteran Donald Leggett – coach to numerous Cambridge Boat Race crews – has

THE RESOURCES SCULLING COURSES Lots of schools encourage their youngsters to learn sculling in a single or double scull as a fast-track way of improving their overall skills and competitiveness. (Sculling involves rowing with two oars, in narrower, more precarious craft, than a quad or an eight.) ‘You learn far more about rowing in a short time through sculling than you do through years in Eights,’ explains Moffatt. ‘It shows your individual impact and gives you quick feedback on your technique and power.’ Find a course via www.britishrowing.org

A St Paul’s crew on their way to the water

proved successful. ‘They study to a high level and have to be very organised, good at getting things done and with phenomenal time management.’ Rowing excellence translates into opportunities. Four of St Paul’s 2018 crew went to Harvard, two to Princeton and another, Ollie Parish, is currently stroking the Cambridge Blue Boat. ‘The Ivy League universities don’t offer scholarships, but provide needs-based financial aid,’ explains Thatcher. ‘Being a high-level sportsman or woman can get bright youngsters recruited, though.’ Moffatt adds: ‘Financial support can be worth tens of thousands a year. These opportunities can set you up for life.’

MICROPORE TAPE AND NAPPY RASH CREAM Many young rowers are prone to blisters on their hands from the repetitive action of the strokes, so micropore tape is widely used to protect the skin and enable blisters to heal. Thatcher also swears by an unexpected remedy. ‘One friend recommended a German nappy rash cream, Penaten,’ he explains, ‘and it really works. Rubbing it on your palms before you row stops the friction between your hands and the oars and it helps even newcomers avoid blisters and infections which can be really painful, particularly when you’re training in the cold and wet.’

INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS ON ROWING A MOST BEAUTIFUL THING by Arshay Cooper The moving true story of a group of young men from troubled backgrounds, growing up in the 1990’s on Chicago’s West side who form America’s first all-black high school rowing team. Their exploits radically alter the sport – and transform their lives. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown An account of the 1936 University of Washington Eight and their quest for Olympic gold. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers and farmers, they defeated US Ivy League and British universities and finally Hitler’s elite German crew at the Berlin Olympics.

ONES TO WATCH

Surbiton High out on the water

ST PAUL’S SCHOOL: Alp Karadogan, 15, a 6.9ft prodigy who rowed for the St Paul’s 1st XIII aged 14, is stronger than many senior male internationals. ‘His raw power and change of pace are astounding,’ says Bobby Thatcher. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ Other Paulines predicted to excel are: Felix Peerless, 15, Philip Wolfensberger, 16, and Captain of Boats Sebastian Marsoner, 18. ST EDWARD’S, OXFORD: Josh Brangan, 18, a GB U19 international is off to Harvard on a rowing scholarship. His five crewmates trialling for GB junior squads are: U6th-former Max Ebner, Scott Bain, Isaac Hillicks, William White and Rory McDonnell, (all L6th). In the girls’ squad are Hermione Brewster and Roxy Welford, both 17, with excellent technical ability.

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Courage | Confidence | Character An independent school for boys aged 4-13 years, with co-educational nursery. Set in 45 acres of beautiful countryside with school bus routes including to SW London.

Individual tours are recommended To register your interest,

please e-mail admissions@parkside-school.co.uk or call 01932 862749

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HEALTH & WELLBEING: MIND

FUTURE FAMILY FOCUS

Claremont pupils make lemonade

Vertical tutor families can improve pupil wellbeing, says William Brierly, headmaster at Claremont Fan Court School

t Claremont Fan Court School, the pastoral heartbeat has always been about teachers knowing pupils as individuals, and students having the security to seek support where needed. However, as many teachers and pupils will relate, form time with a full class of children the same age tends to have an administrative focus. This September, Claremont is excited to be moving to a structure with vertical tutor families, containing a small number of pupils from all year groups, led by a tutor and supported by the head of house. Vertical tutor groups provide many benefits, the mainstay of which is stronger bonding between tutor and pupil. These heterogeneous groups progress together through the school from the point of joining to entering the sixth form, giving the tutor time to really get to know and understand each individual, offer a higher level of personalised support when needed, and a greater ability to build a close relationship with each child’s parent or carer. Additionally, this central role of the tutor to the lives of the pupils and families of one particular group simplifies communications between home and school. The set up also allows tutors to become something of an ally and champion for the pupils in their group, looking out for them as well as providing important context for staff who know the pupils less well. Tutors are not only responsible for pastoral wellbeing but also academic progress and co-curricular activity, and it is this holistic approach that ensures

each pupil is being encouraged, guided and supported in all areas of school life. But it’s not just the tutor who is important. The effectiveness of a pastoral group depends upon each of its members looking out for the wellbeing of others. With this in mind, the new structure enables a family dinner-style of interaction between pupils of different years. That is not to suggest pupils all through the school will chat together as never before, but the very nature of tutor group discussion and breaking down boundaries enables pupils to put themselves in the minds of others and to hear different viewpoints, supporting both the nervous Year 7 child while developing the empathy and mentoring experience of a Year 10 or 11 pupil. Claremont has always encouraged its older pupils to mentor the younger ones. This might be more experienced children coaching others in sport, setting an example in the school play or simply scooping up a more junior pupil if they look like they have had a tough day. Indeed, in a world of social media, it is easy to assume every child is surrounded by a glut of friends in their classes, but in reality there are many examples where pupils find common ground with people who are a year younger or older. The new structure will solidify this with smaller pastoral groups, careful allocation of tutor time, greater chances for parents to know their child’s tutor and a championing of the importance of consistency in pastoral support. To those who say a shift to a vertical structure is just about slicing a cake differently, forget how the cake is cut – this is about the quality of the gastronomic experience around the school’s family dinner table. William Brierly is head at Claremont Fan Court

Willam Brierly

Pupils relax outside Claremont Fan Court School

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HEALTH & WELLBEING: BODY

GALLOPING TO FITNESS

Horse riding is a great way to encourage a lifelong interest in staying healthy, says Jill Barker of Mayfield School

here has been a long tradition of excellence in horse riding at Mayfield School, which is set in 75 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside. One of the first schools to set up an Equestrian Centre in the early 1990s, Mayfield’s purpose-built facility includes stables for up to 30 horses and an indoor and outdoor sand school. As director of riding, it’s my responsibility to organise our equestrian offering. Even though the girls’ academic studies come first, I believe horse riding offers the opportunity for them to follow their interests and learn new skills along the way. At Mayfield, approximately 10 per cent of pupils ride, ranging from beginners and those who ride for fun to those who wish to compete at school and national level. So, what makes a good rider? Much of it comes down to commitment. The best riders are those who are open to learning new skills, who want to progress, to push themselves. A mediocre rider can become a very good rider by working hard. The proof of that comes through competition. Mayfield has been extremely successful and currently holds three National NSEA titles: National Team Dressage Champions; Inter-County Team Dressage

Champions; and Inter-County Open Team Showjumping Champions. You can start to access the competition scene after about two or three years, depending on your horse. It often goes unseen, but horse riding is very much a partnership between horse and rider. Getting the best out of the horse is the crucial skill. The benefits of learning to ride at school are not just confined to markers of success, like rosettes. Riding also offers opportunities

to learn how to cope when, inevitably, things do not go to plan. For example, girls who are academically strong have found that riding has enabled them to cope with unexpected challenges. They often don’t experience failure in their academic life and so riding teaches them valuable life lessons as it helps them to develop coping mechanisms and be more resilient when things go wrong. Commitment is also important; practice, as we know, makes perfect. Riders learn that the more you put in to improving your own technique, the more successful you will be – this is a great life lesson. And riding also helps girls learn responsibility as they are responsible for their horse – feeding it, looking after it – learning that the more care you take, the more the horse thrives, and the better it will perform for you. The benefits last long after school. Interestingly, research from Sport England shows that a greater proportion of children who ride continue to do so into adulthood, compared to traditional sports, and that riding is especially popular among women. Riding is a lifelong activity. You’re always progressing and learning because you ride different types of horses and they each present different challenges. There is a reason why we take part in sporting activities. It has to be about having fun. For some, that pleasure will come from being intensely competitive, for others simply being outside in mother nature, letting off steam and relaxing after a stressful day, or being part of a team and spending time with people with a similar interest. The joy of horse riding is that there is something in it for everyone. Jill Barker is the director of riding at Mayfield School, East Sussex

ABOVE & BELOW: Mayfield girls in action and at the stables

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

WEBRADIO FOR EDUCATION EIFA International School tells us all about its webradio which started in the Senior School and now benefits the entire school

t EIFA, we are firm believers in the importance of openness to innovation, problem-solving skills, and adaptability. These key elements form part of the core of our curriculum, which was designed to instil in our pupils. the foundations of creativity, self-regulation, emotional intelligence and initiative, as well the capacity to connect and collaborate. Such attributes are not only sought after by employers and higher education establishments but have now become essential criteria in selection processes. With that in mind, EIFA implemented various activities and initiatives, combining academic learning with technology and modern media. The webradio is one such activity, which was launched in early 2020. Pupils gain valuable experience running their own web-based radio shows, working as part of a team to produce and broadcast programs. It allows them to use and develop their oral and written expression skills and engage in creative activities, while learning to master the production and broadcasting techniques, and equipment of radio programmes over the internet. Both exciting and innovative, the initiative has given our pupils a voice as well as the opportunity to enhance and

deepen their sense of community and, more importantly, to build their self-confidence. Originally launched in the Senior School, the webradio has now been extended to the Junior School, and teachers in both schools have undergone the necessary training. Children as early as Reception, are now learning to use the equipment, with great enthusiasm. Programmes vary according to the

age group and can be based on current affairs or specific topics. Some broadcasts focus on special events within the school, such as the recent Year 6 studies for Poetry Day. The webradio unites staff and pupils in their passion for innovation and creative freedom, while building something truly remarkable as a community. It also opens doors to our pupils, creating links with local and international organisations. In recognition of the quality of its webradio initiative, EIFA was invited to participate in International School Webradio Day at the annual conference organised by the Mission Laïque Française (MLF) in Rabat, Morocco. EIFA was one of only seven schools chosen out of 80 worldwide applicants. For this third edition of the conference, two EIFA Year 10 pupils were part of a young team that interviewed keynote speakers on societal and school issues throughout the proceedings and produced podcasts for the MLF website. This event was a great opportunity for our pupils to meet with peers from all over the world and delve into real life problems.

ABOUT EIFA EIFA is a premium international and bilingual independent co-educational day school based in Central London, with 300 children from Nursery to Year 13. Classes are taught in small groups to ensure that pupils receive individual support and are able to develop their full potential. School visits are available all year round. So, come and visit us and arrange for your child to enjoy a day of immersion. Please book your visit by contacting our Registrar at registrar@eifaschool.com

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HEALTH & WELLBEING: SPIRIT

Reading together

OPTIMISM WINS

Learning to adopt a positive attitude is invaluable, says Olivia Buchanan, headmistress at Falcons Prep Richmond

hen we look back on our past two years it may not be as we expected, in fact, I can be certain that none of us predicted any of what was going to happen! However, we can choose to reflect and remember in one of two ways. We can look back with disappointment and frustration, focusing on all the things we couldn’t or didn’t do, the people we didn’t see, the obstructions and suffering, or – and my personal choice – we can identify the positives, the opportunities still given to us, the strength we found and the skills we developed not just as individuals but as a community. The past few years have been unrelenting for children, they have experienced a childhood unlike any others before them. They have been told, and learnt, how to be resilient, dig deep and adapt, and for the most time, they have done so with an ease us adults can but admire! We know that the decisions adults and education leaders make today will have a lasting impact on the health, wellbeing and happiness of our future generations. How we decide to respond is key to providing the right learning opportunities, to focusing on the importance of a positive mindset, of optimism! UNICEF’s recently published The Changing Childhood Project highlighted that optimism peaks in late youth and diminishes rapidly throughout the rest of our lives. But why is that so? Does our fading optimism come naturally from life experiences? Do the challenges we face overpower the optimism of youth? Or is

it because optimism is a practice, a skill, that some people hone and choose to maintain? In times of difficulty or change (and remember, change is not synonymous with negativity), it is our strength of character and our resilience which determines our success. Einstein once said, ‘In the midst of every crisis is great opportunity.’ We are all in control of our choices, our reactions and what we decide to do with what is put in front of us. Of course, there will always be things we can’t control, that is life, and wouldn’t it be boring if we could control everything?! However, how we react is in our control, it is our choice to make. Instead of focusing solely on resilience and the need to ‘dig deep’ as an isolated

approach, we should be supporting our children to understand and appreciate the power of optimism. Here at Falcons Prep Richmond, we often talk about innovation, the power of mistakes and the importance of a positive mindset, about the five learning habits of curiosity, creativity, independence, risk taking and resilience. We speak about these attributes and traits as skills that can be honed, something that we develop and all have the ability to achieve. So how can we better support and teach the skill of optimism? We believe that it comes down to the culture of your school or community. It is about what you choose to celebrate, is it the outcome or the journey? At Falcons, learning is an adventure and we embed skills such as reframing, taking action, showing gratitude and being mindful into our curriculum. The best educational experiences not only build skillsets but they develop a mindset that promotes optimism, innovation and self-belief. A curriculum that encourages pupils to work harder, have a go, to not be afraid of making mistakes and to always try again. But what about the staff? Covid-19 gave the teachers the opportunity to demonstrate and develop our own learning habits. It highlighted the importance of having a community, the need to connect, collaborate and learn with others. Very quickly as a school, we decided to accept what was dealt to us and use it as a chance for further reflection and growth. Going back to ‘normal’ won’t work. The world has changed. Our children have changed and the possibilities for learning have changed. Rather than pressing ‘pause’ and then ‘start’, we decided to press ‘reset’: recognising what we do well and what we want to keep, while being open to change and continued improvement. When struck with the inevitable challenges we have two choices; to focus on the negativity or look forwards and create new opportunities. We choose the latter. We choose optimism. Olivia Buchanan is head at Falcons Prep Richmond

Time for sport

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#GIVEUS2HOURS

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GIVE US 2 HOURS TO SHOW YOU THE FUTURE

plan your childʼs future Saturday 12 November Sunday 13 November Battersea Evolution, SW8 4NW

Meet over 250 London schools, boarding schools, specialist schools, schools within commuting distance. Find out how to: find the right school, prepare for entry tests, start boarding, transfer from a state school, see if you qualify for fee assistance. Register now at SchoolsShow.co.uk

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Soneva Fushi, Maldives

Tailor-made holidays from our family to yours Water babies • Animal lovers • Adventure seekers

0207 147 7087 www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk

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SCHOOL’S OUT

An August villa in Chamonix in the summer months

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THE CULTURE KIT

Roll up, roll up for your culture fix throughout the autumn and into winter. By Ruby Featherstone

WHAT TO SEE ON THE STAGE

ELF the Musical at the Dominion Theatre A firm family favourite at Christmas time, Elf, starring Will Ferrell, has been reimagined for the stage. Not just that, but it is now a fullblown, all singing, all dancing musical. Not one to miss out on. elflondon.com

Antigone at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Running for just a short time in September, the classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles, Antigone, has been reimagined by Inua Ellams for the delightful open-air theatre set among the boskiness of London’s Regent’s Park. The play tells the story of Antigone’s battle-torn family life after civil war has already led to both her brothers’ deaths. openairtheatre.com

BRITISH BEAUTY SPOTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS Hexham, Northumberland Make your way up to the historic market town in Northumberland of Hexham. Just south of Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage site, Hexham has countless activities to get involved in like the Spook Night on 29 Oct. A great hotel to check into for your stay is Battlesteads which has fantastic sustainability credentials, with a carbon footprint that is just one-fifth of the industry average. A lovely trip away without the climate guilt. battlesteads.com Beach clean – anywhere! A fantastic reason to get outside and smell the sea air, even on a slightly wet and windy day. Whether you already live near the sea or are planning a holiday, how about taking a bin bag and gloves to the beach and picking up all the litter you can carry? A great activity to get kids learning to be considerate of their environment in a novel way before a well-deserved hot chocolate in a cafe or pub afterwards, knowing you’ve done a bit to help British sea life. Bath Christmas Markets Bath in Somerset is well-known for its Christmas markets which celebrate their 20th anniversary from 24 Nov to 11 Dec 2022. A lovely way to support small businesses this Christmas. Make sure to take the train to reduce the trip’s carbon footprint. bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

ON THE BIG SCREEN Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Following the original Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman’s death in 2020, Marvel fans were unsure if the iconic characters would still grace our screens. Trailers of Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira came out to celebration. Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever follows the Wakandans as they deal with intervening global powers, all while they mourn the death of Boseman’s King T’Challa. 11 Nov Avatar: The Way of Water The long-awaited sequel to 2009’s Avatar comes to our screens in December. Fans have been waiting for over 13 years to dive back into the world of the Na’vi. The story follows Jake Sully and Ney’tiri with their family as they navigate new threats to their beloved home Pandora. Avatar was a stark critique on human destruction of natural resources so we await what James Cameron’s visual work-of-art can teach us in our current climate situation. 16 Dec Amsterdam A mystery in terms of plot, historical drama Amsterdam is stacked full of A-list actors. The cast includes Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Christian Bale, Chris Rock and many more. The David O. Russell film follows three friends – a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney – who become the prime suspects in a murder in the 1930s. That is all we know. 4 Nov

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre Imagine a murder mystery, performed on stage by an impressive theatre company, but things start going wrong… literally, everything that could possibly go wrong – with the actors, the stage and its management – goes wrong. The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre is a fantastically funny play that will get you rolling in your seat as the accidentprone actors take slapstick to another level. Just take a look at the award-winning play’s image gallery for a taster of what chaos is in store for the audience and cast members alike. theplaythatgoeswrong.com

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SCHOOL’S OUT

WHAT TO READ TASTE: MY LIFE THROUGH FOOD, By Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci has become a familiar face on our screens, known for his roles in films like The Hunger Games and The Devil Wears Prada. His memoir-turned-recipe book draws you through his childhood in his Italian-American household, his early acting career and into the heady highlights and tough lowlights of his later life. This is all through the medium of food. The reader is dealt a dose of love, family, pain and grief with every turn of the page. There is no doubt, with his Italian roots, that he was always likely to have a passion for food but the way it comes across in his writing is any foodie’s dream. Each recipe has you drooling for a chance to cook it while the lead-in anecdotes give each dish a character of its own. I found myself getting out sticky notes and marking the recipes I had to try, although they never quite tasted as good as how Tucci describes them. Tucci’s story is certainly not all fun and games. He recounts the impact that the cancer battle and subsequent death of his first wife, Kate, had on both their children and himself. This was followed by the horrible full-circle moment of his own diagnosis and treatment for mouth cancer. The delicate way he writes about times of extreme pain, fear and grief creates a heartrending but still somehow positive atmosphere, all the while falling back on his ultimate comfort – food. This novel is also great in audiobook form as Tucci narrates, his voice like caramel. Fig Tree, £9.99

KIDS’ CORNER AGE 10+

Resist: One Girl’s Fight Back Against the Nazis Did you know Audrey Hepburn helped the Dutch resistance to the Nazis in World War II? Tom Palmer’s new book is inspired by Hepburn’s childhood in Holland. Teenage heroine, Edda, does all she can to help fight back against her people’s oppressors. Barrington Stoke, £7.99 AGES 8-11

My First Smythson Luxury stationery brand, Smythson, has launched its firstever children’s diary inspired by National Literacy Trust research which suggests children who write regularly feel happier and more creative. It features prompts and illustrations to help guide children when writing in their Panama leather-bound diaries. Smythson, £175

SCHOOL HOUSE LIBRARY

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

ROALD DAHL: TELLER OF THE UNEXPECTED

Matthew Dennison has drawn up the life of Roald Dahl in his unofficial biography on one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Everyone knows the BFG, Matilda and James with his peach, but how well do they know the man behind them? Dennison recasts the narrative of the daredevil pilot and spy-turnedauthor as a rule-breaker, romantic and ultimately a child’s friend. Head of Zeus, £20

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN: FOLIO SOCIETY

The first illustrated edition of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s world-renowned Half of a Yellow Sun has been published by The Folio Society, with a series of stunning watercolours by artist Unyime Edet. Nigeria’s civil war between 1967 and 1970 is the backdrop for Ngozi Adichie’s novel as its characters are drawn together as their country disintegrates around them. Folio Society, £49.95

LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG DREAMS: MARCUS RASHFORD Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara’s Little People, Big Dreams series has followed people like Frida Kahlo and David Attenborough, whose incredible lives began with their childhood dreams. Marcus Rashford, England footballer and child poverty campaigner, is the latest on her roster. It follows Marcus in his childhood journey to become passionate about children not going hungry. Quarto, £9.99

AGE 5+

The Boy Who Lost His Spark Bestselling author of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell, brings us her second children’s book, illustrated by Daniela Terrazzini. Jem and his family move to a small town and he finds it difficult to settle into their new life. Slowly, Jem learns to deal with his loneliness and emotions through the magical mayhem that unfolds under the shadow of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Walker Books, £14.99

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SCHOOL’S OUT

WHAT TO DO Atsuko’s Kitchen Ever wondered how to make gyozas, sushi or bento? Atsuko’s Kitchen in Shoreditch can entertain you and your children with the art of Japanese cooking, from a whole day beginner’s Japanese cuisine class based on Atsuko’s second cookbook Atsuko’s Japanese Kitchen to a practical sushi-making class. The classes are recommended for 14 years and older so it is an ideal bonding activity to do with your teenagers in half term, at exeat or even on a normal weekend. atsukoskitchen.com The Snow Centre It can be nerve-wracking thinking about an upcoming ski holiday. Why not enrol for a Snow Centre Ski Lesson or two? From beginners to those wanting simply to improve their technique on skis or a snowboard, the Hemel Hempstead-based ski centre has something for everyone. You can choose a private or family lesson for more one-to-one coaching or get a Lift Pass and enjoy the slope unsupervised. This is not just a dry slope, the Snow Centre uses real snow to give a great experience without the hassle of doing lots of travelling. thesnowcentre.com

River Action Country & Town House’s charity partner for the year, River Action, has some fantastic initiatives to apply pressure on industrial and agricultural producers whose supply chains directly and negatively impact the UK’s rivers. You can help them make a difference by signing their petitions, donating to their cause and even getting actively involved with bank clean-ups. We can make small impacts while River Action pressurises the big players in river pollution to do better. riveractionuk.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

August Collection If you are interested in going on holiday to your own second homes but at a fraction of what it would cost for a single house, head over to August Collection’s website to see how you could part-own five properties across Europe. August’s clients spend a joyous average of 12 weeks in their holiday homes every year. The brand manages the properties for you and your co-owners so there is very little to worry about. Twelve weeks a year in homes across Europe – you are spoilt for choice! augustcollection.co.uk

Perform With a Perform holiday course, the October half term can take on a whole new meaning. From 24 to 26 Oct, children at Perform courses across the country will be climbing aboard Aladdin’s magic carpet and diving into a musical performance. Teaching young people to have confidence in themselves, to project their voices and coordinate with others, the course for four to 10-year-olds promises to be a whirlwind of performing fun. At the end of the course, the children will perform in front of family and friends, draped in colourful costumes and singing original songs. What fun! perform.org.uk

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

JOINED UP MENTAL HEALTH When pupils, parents, schools and practitioners work together

INTERIOR DESIGN BY COVET & NOIR (COVETNOIR.COM). PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARAN WILKHU (TARANWILKHU.COM)

hen we launched The Soke – a private mental health centre – in October of 2020, we did so with a single child and adolescent practitioner. Today, our Child & Adolescent team of one has grown to 15 (two thirds of our clinical team), and we continue to recruit almost monthly in our efforts to keep up with the demand. At the start of this year, and responding to the needs of schools, we launched Soke Education, a service dedicated exclusively to the mental health needs of pupils, teachers and parents. Today, we’re working with some

of the leading independent schools in London equipping and training them to confidently respond to the range of issues that pupils are presenting with, and in the process helping them to develop a better understanding of what exactly is going on in their school. This enables them to make strategic plans to mitigate the problems that appear to be rife among not just their student population, but a vast number of children and adolescents today. While it’s not true to suggest that the pandemic is the only reason that the mental fitness of children and adolescents has deteriorated, it’s clear that as our education system has attempted to normalise to its pre-pandemic status, there hasn’t been a corresponding return to the old levels of psychological need. Teachers and other staff are now having to cope with much higher school refusal, disruption in class and health absence – all the while having to contend with the psychological fallout of their own Covid experience and no time to recover from the impact of lockdown on our education system as a whole. Alongside this, we’ve seen a mirrored rise in adult mental health needs, leaving a significant population of children living with parents that have degraded wellness, often precipitating their own mental health degradation, or at least leaving them with reduced learning capacity. What is encouraging, amid what

appears to be gloom, is that our culture has taken a dramatic turn towards realising the impact of mental health on our overall wellbeing and towards understanding the importance of starting psychological education early. We can begin to hope that future generations will feel more resilient to circumstantial challenges, know how to mitigate setbacks, and continue to build on their strengths without the need to turn a blind eye to their vulnerabilities. The Soke is at 241 Fulham Road, London SW3 6HY. 020 7139 5051 reception@thesoke.uk www.thesoke.uk SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 111

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Comprehensive revision resources for entrance exam success PRETESTS

11+ 13+

Plus, new 13+ revision books for the new 13+ exams from November 2022 galorepark.co.uk/schoolhouse School GP Advert 10622.indd 1 HodderHouse Education.indd

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TEEN REVIEW

GET IN GEAR Rowena le Poer Trench and Kit Mackay try driving lessons at Goodwood Motor Circuit, west Sussex

PHOTOS: GOODWOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT

’ve been dying to start driving so I was really happy to have a go without even needing my provisional license. Goodwood offers three driver experiences as a course, each one hour long and designed to build your skills and confidence. When you have completed all three, you can graduate from the programme and can drive a full lap of the 2.4-mile historic Goodwood Motor Circuit. Arriving at Goodwood is exciting; there are glamorous cars everywhere and the constant noise of engines roaring round the track. We were given cute Minis to learn in, away from the main stands; we each had a patient and qualified teacher waiting inside. With only three learners in the driving zone at any one time, there was no worry about bumping into each other although the cones which had been placed for us to weave around were not as lucky. My instructor, Steve, settled my nerves before we started and ran through the controls. The Mini is a manual so there was lots to get right. Then we started actual driving. I was tentative to start but my confidence came on in leaps and bounds; he had to tell me to slow down at one point. We practiced changing gears and cornering, learning to handle the car – and of course carry out an emergency stop. The hour went far too quickly. Both of us could have carried on all day. But we had one treat left: a Hot Lap (£49 for 50 minutes). This was three circuits around the race track in a high powered BMW with a professional driver. It was really thrilling and a good reminder of what we could aspire to, if we finished learning and took our actual tests. Rowena

he Goodwood driving ex p er ience was absolutely amazing. On arrival we were escorted to a paddock of very cool Minis in red, white and blue (perhaps for the Jubilee!). Rowena and I were then introduced to our individual instructors. My driving instructor, Jamie, was extremely considerate of my limited skills and was very calm and collected. I understood the basics surprisingly quickly, and by the end of the hour, I had mastered driving in many facets. I could reverse, park between bollards and whizz between parking cones. Another three lessons from Jamie... and a couple from a local driving school and I think that would be another skill mastered. That was not all Goodwood had in store for me. It was time for Hot Laps! We then went to meet Aiden, who is a racing car driver, who sped me around the immense and impressive race track at the speed of light in his very souped-up BMW. I absolutely loved the day at Goodwood and urge anyone my age to go to explore driving as a whole. Kit

TEEN VERDICT:

‘Absolutely amazing.’ PARENT VERDICT: ‘A safe and fun way to find out what it’s like behind the wheel.’

Kit and Rowena at the driving experience

The Goodwood Young Driver Experience, £119 for one hour-long session. The course is open to under 17s, who must be 1.5m tall or over. The Goodwood Estate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0PX. 01243 755055; www.goodwood.com/experiences/driving/young-driver/learner-experience/ Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 113

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IN THE PINK

A French getaway that parents and teens will love? Victoria Lambert gives Narbonne the thumbs up

Relaxing beside the pool overlooking the fantastic French landscape

hey warn you about the extraordinary lagoon at Le Salin l’ile Saint Martin de Gruissan in Languedoc long before you get there. But nothing can really prepare one for the sight of a bright pink lake stretching off towards the horizon, dotted around the edges with colourful wooden boats and shacks on stilts. It’s so otherworldly, so unusual, it’s hard to remember you are in the south of France – and not on a corner of Mars. Sometimes, the fuchsia-tinted waters also play host to – what else? – pink flamingos, but in early June when we visited, the young birds are yet to develop their full colour. And anyway they were keeping clear of the small flock of human Instagrammers who thronged the wooden jetties, jostling for the perfect selfies, like ducks gathering for bread at an English pond. It would be a miserable parent indeed who stopped their 17-year-old daughter and her friend (Rowena and Maddie) from joining in the photoshoot for a moment or two, but we had come to the lagoon – its rose tint prosaically due to salt-loving algae called dunaliella salina which love its shallow depths – for more active pleasures. Specifically, lunch at the seafood restaurant; the catch is so local, the distance from ‘field to

fork’ is about 10 metres. Then, we had an hour’s guided e-scooter tour of the lagoons and marshes, as far as the wide sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, just out of view. This is an eco-friendly dream of an activity, a chance to whizz along wide paths, sometimes sandy, occasionally stony, with the wild beauty of the regional national park La Clape Massif to the east and the long lazy slopes of the Pyrenees in the west. The area is home to more than just flamingos and prawns; the diverse landscape harbours bats, woodlarks, Dartford warblers, Bonelli’s eagles, and ocellated lizards. But before you can enjoy flora and fauna, learning to ride the e-scooter – la trottinette – takes up all your concentration. Don’t expect the scooters you find to hire in some cities – or the ones an avocado-munching Millennial might ride to work. These are sturdy beasts, with a wider foot plate and fat wheels that have more in common with a Segway than a child’s toy. There are five gears, two brakes and an accelerator switch to master as well as how to balance and learning to put one foot almost down on a tight bend as though in a motorbike race. You also have to wear a helmet and carry the battery in a backpack; solid but you adjust fast to its weight.

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TRAVEL Then with local guide Philippe, our party of 10 comprising several French families with highly competitive dads, plus the three of us, set off. The first 15 minutes were hairy; wobbling along next to a narrow canal is not great for the nerves but I think the teens gave up worrying about me after a while. And then we progressed into wider pathways, shared with cyclists and walkers, and occasional horse riders. The key – as you gain confidence with the speed – is to watch for loose stones with one eye while absorbing the landscape with the other. After 30 minutes or so, Philippe stopped us to explain how the lagoon was so naturally saline that deposits formed and could be harvested as the water evaporated in the local micro-climate of hot sun and strong winds. Much of the salt goes for construction but Gruissan is noted for its production of fleur de sel – flower of salt – which is very delicate salt, harvested in a traditional method annually, using rakes and shovels. A renewable resource indeed. Not long after as we reached the edge of the marsh where it met the sea, we found our baby flamingos – white as promised – and then headed inland towards a fishing hut and several wooden lodges on stilts, gradually abandoned as the lagoon levels have sunk over time. By this point confidence was high, so in the last stage of the hour-long journey, we all hit the top speed of 25km/h. It was surprisingly exhilarating. We reluctantly handed back our trottinettes, and visited the salt museum and shop where you can choose flavoured and coloured versions of salt to eat and to bathe in. If you should become truly fascinated, there is a selection of tools used formerly to gather the salt, plus an educational video. What made the afternoon so special was how well it suited me – a 50-something parent – as well as two 17-year-old girls. This is the hardest age to manage a family holiday; kids clubs are all very well when you’re travelling with under 10s or you just get a villa with a pool and resign yourself to a week of wet towels. Skiing works – but that’s one or two weeks accounted for. So what to do for the other holiday you still want to share as a family? How can you avoid them mooching and moping, while working on your own tan and catching up on novels? This conundrum was what had brought us to Languedoc in the first place. Here, in the south-westernmost corner of France, I’d been told of a chateau where you could manage the impossible: a holiday for all generations which suited everyone equally.

This Holy Grail is the brainchild of hoteliers Karl and Anita O’Hanlon of Domaine and Demeure, who were inspired to create just such a project in 2007 – luxe hotels that could offer more than just a room and a pool – as their own children got older. Now, with two converted châteaux under their belt, the third – Chateau Capitoul – has just opened tucked into the centre of a 120-hectare estate which is home to the vineyards of celebrated winemaker Bonfils. Barely eight kilometres outside the Roman city of Narbonne – and within striking distance of the airports at Beziers, Montpellier and Toulouse – Capitoul offers a sophisticated range of accommodation from eight glamorous rooms in the main building to 44 luxury villas nestled into the hillside, many with their own pools or hot tubs. These are independently owned and then managed and rented through Domaine and Demeure to families like us. Our villa – Les Vignes – had two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a stunning living room with double height ceiling plus open plan kitchen below. A master bedroom and bathroom to one side completes the accommodation. The kitchen is perfectly equipped, including Nespresso machine, an easy-to-use bluetooth sound system, and through the huge picture windows, a large heated pool with electronically operated cover and an instant barbecue. And beyond that, well, the views again, of course. So what can the generations get up to? On the first day, we had lunch at the hotel’s infinity pool which is served by an excellent cafe-bar. Thoughtfully placed olive trees have been grown among the paving to provide natural shade for the large comfortable sun loungers. It was almost a wrench to leave for our own pool after a couple of hours. Then I tried the hotel spa with its Parisian Cinq Monde products and

RIGHT: Chateau Capitoul in all its glory BELOW: Flamingos flying above the marsh

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TRAVEL

ABOVE: Rowena and Maddie on e-scooters BELOW: Among the luscious vineyards

therapies. Based in the cellars of the hotel, the spa features steam and sauna, hot tub and pool. From an interesting menu of treatments, I chose a Moroccan Hamman ritual comprising steam, scrub, detox wrap and massage (80 mins; €130). But younger holidaymakers (over-16s only) might enjoy mani-pedis or a facial. Through the spa, you can also book a place at a morning yoga class. That evening, we had cocktails on the hotel terrace that sits outside its main restaurant and bar, Asado. The food is excellent and attracts plenty of local French families too, always a good sign. We ate monkfish, octopus and salad, and crunched long slivers of toasted sourdough sprinkled with olive oil and salt. Thanks to that vineyard location – the Languedoc Roussillon was the first French region to be introduced to vine-growing and wine-making by the Romans and the chateau produces 250,000 bottles a year – you can organise formal tasting in the chateau’s official Cave. But the Asado’s waiters are all very knowledgeable and happy to recommend wines by the glass in the A seven night stay at Château restaurant. The staff, it must be said, are magnificent Capitoul in a two bedroom villa with pool (sleeping all round: as polished as the most Parisian sommelier four) costs from €6,440 yet with a modern warmth that encourages you to in July/August. linger and talk. For further information, The following evening, we dressed up to try visit the website www. Méditerranéo, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, chateaucapitoul.com or call +33 (0) 448 22 07 where chef Valère Diochet delivers a confident cuisine 24 (UK). For the other with a distinct pan-Mediterranean accent. This was two chateaux: www. a showstopper of a meal. Five courses with mise domainedemeure.com en bouche at every turn, our plates were carefully A two hour eScooting session explained before we ate, with delicate flavours of local with Trott Up is €40 per herbs enhancing every mouthful. Savouries included person and can be arranged every Tuesday throughout monkfish tartare and red mullet with artichokes. the summer season (with Puddings featured roasted apricot with rosemary, a wine tasting included at the end): Balades nature with almond and hazelnut cream, and oat ice cream. et randonnées sportives I couldn’t fault the girls for wanting to photograph TROTTUP à Gruissan the food; it was exquisite in every sense. A two-hour guided eBike Our last day was planned around an excursion tour and wine tasting with to the Roman city of Narbonne but we could have Languedoc VTT Evasion stayed at the chateau for tennis lessons or a game of is from €50 with Hugo Blanquier as your guide: boules; there is also the chance to book mountain + 33 (0) 6 74 89 75 98; www. biking, hikes up the Massif, and windsurfing back at languedoc-vtt-evasion.com the beach. Although you could also just find a sunny

BOOK IT

corner overlooking the vineyard and enjoy a book. However, Narbonne is not to be missed. Our trip coincided with a public holiday which means the Narbo Via – a new museum of Roman antiquities designed by architect Norman Foster – was closed, as were the vintage clothes shops we had hoped to tour. Instead, after a wander through the Halles to look at the mountains of goats cheese and local pastries, we had lunch at Le 89 – which serves Poke bowls and Mexican food as well as steak frites – beside the historic Pont de Marchand bridge and Canal de la Robine. Then continuing our eco transport theme, we rented one of the e-boats to self-drive up the canal. At 18 euros for 30 minutes it was great value and good fun. Even though my steering was at times dangerously but comically erratic. And then there was time for large ice-creams in the town’s sunny square and a last trip back to the chateau to re-energise by the pool before an early flight home the next morning. If the mission was a holiday for all ages, then it was achieved with added bonding to boot. The owners say that they often get three generations together at the chateau: the parents book, the grandparents pay, and the young ones? Well, they make the most of every inch. Which is all we can ask anyway.

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An August villa in the South of France

HOME COMFORTS ACROSS EUROPE Want to make the most of school holidays in your own holiday home? August responds, why own one when you can own five?

icture this: you and your family rock up to your fabulous holiday home, to a perfectly manicured garden, clean pool, homely feel and not a thing out of place thanks to its sensitive renovation. Not only are there no chores to do for its upkeep, as the properties are fully managed for you and your co-owners, but you can slot right back into the community as if you live there full time. That carefree holiday experience is what August offers its clients as Europe’s first, and broadest, holiday home co-ownership collection. With the opportunity to co-own five properties across Europe at a fraction of what it would cost for a single house, August’s clients spend a joyous average of 12 weeks mixing and matching between their holiday homes every year. Twelve weeks a year in homes across Europe – you are spoilt

for choice! You can even gift weeks to your friends and family when you aren’t using them. What is more, the luxury of creating memories in the same location year after year is that you know exactly what you are getting and that the standard will be high. August has different collection styles, depending on what you and your family are looking for in a holiday home: the Pied à Terre Collection for dream getaways for up to four guests; the Signature Collection has a range of locations for up to eight guests, in both urban and rural areas; and the Premium Collection is ideal for those needing more space for up to ten guests at a time. August arms you with the ability to create the ultimate school holidays a reality. Now, let us take you on a journey of what an August family’s year looks like.

Overlooking the pool in Tuscany

EASTER HOLIDAYS Delve into wine tasting, ride Vespas through the countryside, splash about in the sea or enjoy poolside views of undulating vineyards. August can set your family up in a Tuscan haven, with rustic-chic interiors and charm oozing from the eaves. Famed for its historical and artistic legacy, a family home in Tuscany might be just what the cultural doctor ordered. Maybe your child will develop a passion for art, discover classical languages and history, or be inspired by the glorious food culture the Italians are famous for.

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

Picture-perfect family lunch spot in the South of France

SUMMER HOLIDAYS As Europe heats up, take a trip to the sunny, rural regions of the South of France, like Valbonne in the French Riviera, and discover delicious French cuisine and blissful relaxation. The location is also an ideal trust exercise with your teen when they are ready to escape on their own. They can explore the French towns and countryside they already know during a fun-filled, post-exam week with their friends. You could choose to co-own a town-based property in France. Film lovers will be enchanted by the prospect of spending the early summer holidays in the heart of the Cannes Film Festival as part of the local community. Inspire your children to improve their French and explore Cannes, all while having a comfy, private space to enjoy in downtime after a busy summer term.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS A picturesque Cotswold cottage can be yours to co-own

OCTOBER HALF TERM Some might say the ultimate staycation would be going to your own homefrom-home in the Cotswolds. Switching off can be difficult, especially if you’re staying in Britain and are never too far from a screen or holiday homework. But imagine the long autumnal walks in the British countryside with your family and pets, plus the new exciting places you could never have dreamed of discovering without August, and the new community you can dive right into alongside your fellow co-owners. The Cotswolds makes an ideal spot for older family members to enjoy, Easter revision crash courses or a birthday celebration for a hardworking teenager, (of course, not forgetting the equally hardworking adults!).

Chamonix in the summer months

With your share in an apartment or chalet in Chamonix, France, you and your family and friends can indulge in all the fantastic outdoor opportunities the Alps can offer. Send the children off on their first ski school sessions and watch them grow year on year into accomplished skiers or snowboarders. Or visit in the summer and revel in the mountain air on family hikes, bouldering or even paragliding if you feel like throwing yourself, somewhat safely, off a cliff! Quality time together, at its finest. Christmas holidays can take on a new meaning when surrounded by snow and filling everyone’s boots in mountain restaurants. You might even have a full-circle moment when you take your grandchildren to their first ski school. Collections from ¤280,000 for four luxury apartments in Europe. augustcollection.co.uk; +44 (0)20 3973 9120; info@augustcollection.co.uk

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Children in their happy place on the beach

COASTING ALONG

very Friday evening, a stream of London families makes for the seaside village of West Wittering in Sussex. Here the beach has a Blue Flag for cleanliness, the water is shallow for children to paddle in and the pubs sell wine from local vineyards and fresh crab sandwiches. There are riding stables, sailing and water sports clubs and golf – and celebrities including Keith Richards and Kate Winslet wander undisturbed along the beach. ‘People say it is the Hamptons of Britain but it’s known locally as Mindfulness Peninsula as stressed urbanites come here to unwind and reconnect with nature,’ explains local buying

agent, Jennie Hancock (propertyaquisitions. com). Jessica Hickes Bolton, who works in fashion, will vouch for the fact that the Sussex coast provides unrivalled therapy after a busy week in London. She comes here almost every weekend with her husband and two daughters. ‘By 7pm, I’ll have jogged through the sand dunes, swum in the sea and will be feeling totally zen,’ she says. ‘My husband and I barely stop all week but here we have peace, fresh air and space to catch up with each other, our children and ourselves.’ The Hickes Boltons, who live in Fulham, are one of many city-based families who bought a

coastal home during the pandemic. They had been experimenting with a dual city-coastal existence for a while, renting a weekend cottage near Chichester and when the right house came up, they signed the contract as quickly as they could. ‘There’s no dithering around here: you have to be proactive and keen or the house will go to someone else,’ Jessica explains. ‘We wince when we think how much money we paid for what is actually quite a modest-looking house but it’s the best thing we’ve ever bought: the children love it, we spend most of the holidays here and we go three weekends each month. It’s our happy place.’

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Anna Tyzack introduces the best beachside locations to go house-hunting

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PROPERTY Lyme Regis at sunset

The price for coastal homes is rising in every part of the country. Hancock believes this is due to our post-lockdown desire to escape the city, coupled with a yearning to live more healthily at weekends. ‘People feel safe by the sea – life is simple, you get outside and you get on the water. Plus, if you have the imagination, you can transform a tired bungalow into an epic beach house, which is a rewarding project.’ According to Steve Isaacs, of Luxury & Prestige Properties in Canford Cliffs, Dorset, changing working patterns with many now working from home for two or three days a week, has also driven demand for coastal homes. Buyers used to want a coastal holiday home but now they want a place for work and play for a large proportion of the year, he says. Tessa Mckintosh from Barnes, who with her husband bought a flat in Lyme Regis in Dorset earlier this year, agrees that the coast offers the change of pace that they were craving. They envisaged renting out the flat as another revenue stream but have found themselves visiting almost every weekend with their baby son – despite the journey to and from London being almost three hours. ‘Even if it’s foul weather and the sea is too rough for paddling, we are happy to be there,’ she says. ‘I honestly think it has made us live more healthily. We eat well when we’re there, we go to bed early and we see the world for the beautiful place it is.’ A decade ago, Lyme Regis wasn’t on the radar with London buyers but now it has a Mark Hix restaurant, trendy shops and cafés and appears on lists of the top 10 most expensive seaside towns in Britain, along with villages such as Burnham Overy in Norfolk, Aldeburgh in Suffolk, West Wittering and Itchenor in Sussex, Rock and Polzeath in Cornwall, and Salcombe in Devon. According to Emma Schwartz, who runs lifestyle and wellness venue, The Barn Little London (thebarnlittlelondon.com), the surge of London buyers has given rise to new lifestyle

businesses all along the British coast, offering everything from yoga and Pilates to raw juices, beauty treatments and life coaching. As well as being a grocery and deli, her business offers hampers for beach picnics and readymade meals using locally sourced ingredients. Prices are rising fastest in Canford Cliffs in Dorset, which saw gains of nearly 25 per cent in the year to April 2022 but asking prices in coastal towns across the UK are up across the board: 13.9 per cent on average compared to 2021, outrunning the national average of 9.9 per cent. According to Savills, the price gap between coastal and non-coastal homes is only widening: property located within 100m of the coast costs 23 per cent more than that located 1km further inland, an increase of 17.3 per cent in the past year. In West Wittering, where the average house price is now more than £1 million, the Hickes Boltons were advised by their buying agent to offer 15 to 20 per cent over the asking price to secure the purchase. The house was built in the Thirties and hasn’t been updated since the Nineties but it is located in a quiet area only 100 metres or so from the beach. ‘We were terrified of being gazumped. The house was being sold

off market but word still gets out,’ Jessica says. Buyers who can’t afford such premiums must look to less fashionable outlying seaside villages or for a coastal home – although Jennie warns that prices in these areas will fall faster in a recession. ‘It’s less risky to buy a smaller property in the most prime spot you can afford,’ she says. Buying up old bungalows in order to build a new house on the scratch also makes less financial sense than it did a couple of years ago. If it’s the choice between a newly renovated property and a project, Jessica urges going for the former. ‘Our house needs a tonne of work but the builders have only just started, despite signing the contract three months ago,’ she explains. ‘If I’d known about the delays and the spiralling costs of materials, I’d have waited.’ Once the building work is finished, the house will have a home office and infinity pool looking out over the sea but even in its unreconstructed state, it’s a joy. ‘For the same money we could have bought a villa in Ibiza but we’ll use this far more often,’ Jessica says. ‘There’s nothing like the British seaside – the thrill of the cold water, the sound of the gulls, children playing on the sand as the sun sets over the water. It’s magic.’

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

THREE OF THE BEST BEACH HOUSES

WEST WITTERING, SUSSEX A four-bedroom former forge overlooking fields in West Wittering. The living accommodation is cheerful and spacious with a separate study, dining room and garage and there’s easy access to the beach. £1.35m, hawkinsandsmith.co.uk

ROCK, CORNWALL In mature grounds of three-quarters of an acre in the centre of Rock, Iona is a Georgian house approached by a long drive. It has large reception rooms with period features, an open plan kitchen and five bedrooms. £3.45m, johnbray.co.uk

SIDMOUTH, DEVON Clifton Cottage, a Grade II-listed house in a splendid cliff-top location, has views from all five bedrooms. It is a large house, with elegant reception rooms, ample parking and a garden with a summer house and terrace. £2.75m, knightfrank.com

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CELEBRITY

MY SCHOOL REPORT Educated at St Paul’s Girls’ School and Marlborough College, best-selling and award-winning author Cressida Cowell was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2019-22

What school did you go to and when? In 1979, after primary

school, I went to St Paul’s Girls’ School in London. At 16, I went to Marlborough College in Wiltshire for A-levels. Boarder or day? I was a day girl at St Paul’s and a boarder at Marlborough. Your A-level choices? English, history, art and history of art. I moved to Marlborough for A-level because I wanted to take four subjects – and at the time St Paul’s didn’t want me to do art. They said I was an academic child and advised me to do Latin instead. There’s still a problem with art not being taken sufficiently seriously. As a writer and illustrator, I use art in my job every day and the creative industries make over £100 billion a year but there is a worrying decline in the take-up of art at GCSE in schools.

special books that she didn’t correct. This was joyful and liberating and inspired my Free Writing Friday campaign, which launched in 2018. The campaign encourages teachers to use a short period of time on Fridays to allow children to free write in a notebook that’s off limits to parents, teachers and the dreaded, demoralising red correction pen. At St Paul’s, I had a wonderful history teacher called Miss McDonald, who set homework such as ‘Write a story about a child living in a village on the west coast of Scotland, who sees a Viking sail on the horizon…’ At Marlborough, a third of my year studied art at A-level, which was very unusual. The art school was next to the dining hall and at the heart of everything, largely thanks to Robin Child, the head of art, who was very inspiring. What do you remember about school food? I remember it

vividly for being less than yummy. The pink wobbly puddings… The bacon with funny bits in it, the pie. Not great.

What were your passions at school? I was in trouble a lot at

PHOTOS: DEBRA HURFORD BROWN

school because I was very forgetful and extremely disorganised – I think today it might be called something like attention deficit disorder. But I was really engaged intellectually especially in English, history and art. I’ve always loved making up stories and drawing. As a child I spent a lot of my time on an uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland, in a house lit by candle-light with no telephone Cressida with the final installment of or television. In the evening, her How to Train my father told us tales of the Your Dragon series Vikings who invaded this island Archipelago twelve hundred years before, of the quarrelsome Tribes who fought and tricked each other, and of the legends of dragons who were supposed to live in the caves in the cliffs. That was when I first started writing stories about dragons and Vikings, way back when I was nine or ten years old. Did you have a memorable teacher? Miss Mellows in Year 3, who gave me free rein to write whatever I liked – my own stories in these

Can you recall the smell (and if so what is that)? Yes, smell is

one of your strongest senses. I went back to my primary school recently and recognised it instantly. Any regrets? I regret not telling the teachers who inspired me how much it meant to me. There were teachers who affected the rest of my life. Have you been back since? Yes, I went back to my primary school to plant a tree, and back to Marlborough, too. If there was one perfect day at school you could relive, what would it be? I’d go back to the

Marlborough art department, or performing Oh What a Lovely War. Cressida Cowell’s brand new series, WHICH WAY TO ANYWHERE (Hodder Children’s, HB £12.99) launches on 15 September 2022. Cressida is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust

QUICKFIRE ROUND MATHS OR ENGLISH? English HOCKEY OR TENNIS? Neither UNIFORM OR MUFTI? Mufti PIANO OR GUITAR? Neither HEAD GIRL OR CHEEKY REBEL? More of an accidental cheeky rebel Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 123

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

BALANCE AND BRILLIANCE The Village Prep School in Belsize Park provides an outstanding education for girls, with exceptional facilities including an outdoor classroom, adventure playground and theatre

t The Village Prep School, we offer our two to 11-year-old girls meaningful and exciting learning experiences that go well beyond the curriculum and take advantage of our fantastic outdoor space. Village Prep girls achieve superb results and 2022 saw excellent Year 6 results – including 10 scholarships to an impressive range of leading Day Schools. Our new head, Morven MacDonald, who joined the school in September 2021 after seven years at Garden House in Chelsea, would be delighted to welcome you to the school and give you a tour of our spacious Edwardian building and our half-acre of outdoor space. This includes a fullsized floodlit netball court, a large grassy area, an adventure playground, an outdoor classroom and fruit trees and herb gardens, next to our wellequipped theatre. Beyond reading, we do not regularly set homework for girls to complete at home. Instead, the girls from Year 3 upwards are given independent study homework slots

during the school day. Girls therefore leave school at 4:30pm having completed their homework and attended an extra-curricular club, so home time is for family discussions, reading and play!

Sport is an important part of life at The Village Prep, and as a partner school of Saracens Rugby Club and associate school of Saracens Mavericks Netball Club, our girls have the opportunity to see top class sport and to gain coaching tips from experienced professionals. As the girls reach their last year at The Village Prep, we make every moment count through enrichment and responsibility as well as exam preparation. We have a bespoke approach to the 11+ and in their final year, girls complete weekly practise examinations tailored to their individual needs, as well as art appreciation lessons which teach them how to form and share ideas. To find out more about The Village Prep, come and visit our wonderful school or listen to Morven MacDonald’s podcast It Takes a Village via the school website and Spotify.

FIND OUT MORE thevillageprepschool.com admin@thevillageprepschool.com 020 7485 4673

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NURSERIES

ACS Cobham Nursery

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NURSERY SCHOOLS Expansions, accolades and excellence

OUTSTANDING OFSTED

Queen’s College Highgrove Nursery in Taunton has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report in all areas. Highgrove nursery operates daily from 7:45 am until 6 pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three years and employs 15 members of staff working directly with the children.

FLUTTERING TO NEW HEIGHTS

The Butterfly Patch has been listed in the top 20 nursery groups in the UK for a second year running. This means it is considered one of the best nursery and daycare facilities in the UK and is proud to represent South London and Surrey. The Butterfly Patch was established in 2016 and it has quickly become one of the most popular nursery groups in the area. It has nurseries based in Cobham, Croydon, Hampton Court, Morden, South Norwood and Sutton.

BREAKING OUT OF THE SEAMS

A new open-plan nursery extension is soon being built at Highfield and Brookham Schools. The nursery expansion is because of continuing strong demand for Early Years places over the last few years. The existing nursery space had been bulging at the seams, and the short-term fixes the school has made to house the extra children were not sustainable in the long term. The nursery forms part of the early years provision at Brookham and takes children from the age of two before they move up into Reception. 126 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2022

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NEWS HEADING TO PUTNEY

Mandarin Ducklings, which already operates from two locations in the Richmond borough of London, has launched a new nursery in Putney Bridge, catering for children aged one to five. Based on a unique combination of Montessori principles of education, bilingual English and Chinese Mandarin teaching, and with a strong emphasis on the importance of outdoor learning using Forest School techniques, the new nursery will offer a fresh approach to nursery education for families in the Putney Bridge area. The new nursery offers a perfect mix of inside and outdoor space for the children. As part of the transformation of the space, Mandarin Ducklings engaged with an early years play specialist to design a natural and interactive play area including a natural tree trunk climbing frame, a textured mud kitchen and a dry river bed water play course.

NEW KENSINGTON BRANCH

In the heart of Kensington, right next to St Mary Abbots gardens, Tadpoles Nursery School is bringing its ever-evolving teaching practices to the children and families of the local community as its new nursery this month (September). With direct access to the gardens and within walking distance of both Kensington Gardens and Holland Park, it is the perfect environment for allowing the children’s play to bring out their imagination and creative flow leading naturally to discovery and problem solving. This underpins the very foundations of both the children in their care and the Tadpoles ethos.

EXTENDING PROVISIONS

Horris Hill now welcomes pre-schoolaged children for the first time ever into a purpose-built nursery facility offering wrap-around care. The 65-acre countryside site will become home to a new cohort of boys and girls, aged two years and above. The design and layout of the new nursery have been meticulously planned so the youngsters will thrive in a safe, stimulating, and spacious environment. Every last detail, from the vibrant colour scheme to the use of natural light and the partitioning of rooms to provide quiet relaxation areas, has been carefully considered. Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 127

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10/03/2021 10:18

NURSERIES

IN GOOD TASTE

PHOTO: UNSPLASH

A healthy – and delicious – revolution in nursery food is underway, says Emma Reed

A balanced, healthy meal

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ABOVE & BELOW: The catering team at Gardens Nursery and Daycare along with their menu board

ursery food. We often use the phrase pejoratively, to conjure up an image of colourless, bland purée. However, this image is becoming redundant; and in some nursery settings, it couldn’t be further from the truth. From dedicated chefs and herbologists, to international cuisine and organic suppliers, the most coveted nurseries are investing heavily in the palette of their young charges, taking them on a culinary journey that is enough to make adults envious. Food offered in educational settings in the UK still lags way behind countries such as Finland and France, but change is afoot. While there is more cost and effort involved in focusing on improving nutritional provision, nurseries are seeing benefits that extend way beyond that of an attractive-looking plate of food. The Gardens Nursery in southwest London works closely with small organic suppliers to ensure food is of the best quality. Fish is sourced from Cornwall, cheese from a family run dairy based on a farm in West Sussex, and meat from animals reared on an organic farm in Devon. Perhaps the key ingredient to the tasty offerings at The Gardens is their chef, Raoul, along with his assistant, Lewis. The menu is seasonal and includes meat-free Mondays and fish Thursdays. Hearty breakfasts offer fresh porridge or scrambled eggs on toast, and snacks comprise fruit platters or crudités. ‘When we say homemade, we really do mean it,’ says The Gardens deputy manager, Daniela Riccio. ‘Oatcakes, breadsticks, biscuits and bread are all made in-house. We don’t buy them. Even with fish and chips we have homemade tomato ketchup.’ The Gardens has a policy of not using refined sugars or salt. ‘We do have sweet things on the menu,’ says Riccio, ‘but it’s sweetened with dried fruit instead of sugar. We also include savoury options such as muffins.’ The only time sugar is permitted is for birthdays. A child is allowed to choose

a theme and Lewis will make a beautiful birthday cake. This approach of realism and moderation is also echoed by Claire Dimpfl, head of Tadpoles Nursery School in Chelsea. While they have a policy of not even allowing raisins or dried fruit, reflecting a push by Ofsted to increase teaching and awareness about oral health, Dimpfl acknowledges that you can’t really have a pile of fruit with a candle on it for a birthday. ‘Children are going to meet sugar and cake in their life and it’s about being reasonable.’ As a result, such treats are enjoyed with relish and savoured. Having a herbologist on board may sound like something straight out of Harry Potter, but that’s what Paint Pots Montessori Nursery can boast at The Grove, Notting Hill. Maya Thomas has a diploma in Herbology from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, trained at the prestigious Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, and has worked as a chef at Rushmore Primary School in Hackney as part of the ‘chefs in schools’ initiative. She also worked as a grower for Soho Farmhouse and her ancestors include Owen Thomas, head gardener at Windsor Castle in the 1890s and HH Thomas, a well-known writer on gardens. She has inherited knowledge about Ayurvedic medicine from her Sri-Lankan mother who was also a chef with a passion for gardening, serving as a huge inspiration to Thomas. With this pedigree and passion, it’s no wonder the children of Paint Pots have embarked on quite the culinary odyssey. Thomas agrees that seasonality is key. One of the suppliers she uses is Fern Verrow, a biodynamic farm in Herefordshire. She’s keen that children make the connection between recognising food as it comes out of the ground and the end product. When vegetables arrive from the supplier, she puts a bowl of them out, fresh from the ground, covered in soil, so the children can make use of their natural curiosity and examine it. ‘They like to look at it, particularly

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with something like a cabbage, seeing the veins on it in different colours,’ she says. How does Thomas tackle expanding young palettes, then? She finds that bringing the same meals back around every couple of weeks gets the children used to particular flavours, which can then be built upon. One thing Thomas feels is lacking in the UK diet is bitter flavours found in certain vegetables, herbs and spices. ‘It’s important for good digestion and feeding the microbiome. There is no way to mimic what bitters do physiologically. You can’t take a capsule.’ As a result, she often puts out bowls of different salad leaves for the children to try. Even if they don’t take to a certain leaf first time around, they will still try it when it comes out next time. She takes a gentle approach to introducing new foods. One week, herbs and Swiss Chard are added to a frittata, for example. Thomas also recognises the important role of foods with slow-release energy to sustain children through their active days. Porridge is popular, often served with stewed rhubarb or quince and ginger. Meat and fish are on the menu, but Thomas is conscious that introducing children to a more plant-based diet at this age not only does wonders for their health but serves to broaden their palette. It’s giving them the confidence to try new foods in innovative ways. Thomas recalls the time she presented the children with beetroot pesto pasta. One girl was adamant she wasn’t going to eat it until she discovered a star-shaped piece of pasta. ‘Twenty minutes after everyone had left the table, she was still there eating every last bit, with purple all over her face.’ Despite their central London location, Tadpoles Nursery works hard to teach children about ‘field to fork,’ and make use of their garden where they have apple and pear trees and grow herbs and vegetables which they use for supplementing their catered meals from Chilli Bees Catering Company. Children also get involved with the planting. Dimpfl notes that a crop of

Paint Pots Montessori

ABOVE & LEFT: Butternut squash risotto, an example of Chef Kam’s food

tomatoes might be used to make a tomato sauce for pizza while potatoes can be baked on their fire pits. ‘We have a lovely herb bed the children can visit. It’s good to do a lot of sensory stuff. We’re not only tasting, we’re smelling and seeing how flavours change.’ Tadpoles holds Bronze and Silver Healthy Eating Awards and are working towards their Gold. Dimpfl is also conscious that in providing healthy, balanced organic meals, it reduces the pressure on busy parents. There is so much more to food than its consumption, and these nurseries set great store in using food as both an educational and a social tool, enjoying the rituals and conversations around it. Rozzy Hyslop, Principal of Marmalade Schools, describes the ritual they have for trying new foods. ‘You kiss the food, poke it and try and have a little bite.’ Conversations take place around the table about the food they are eating; it becomes a special time. Hyslop says that parents have commented how much easier it is taking their children out to restaurants and it’s also essential preparation for the transition to Reception. She also notes how children learn to become more adventurous by watching their peers. The emphasis is on making food fun. Behaviourally, Hyslop states that, because the children are eating nutritious lunches, they are much more settled in the afternoon and more receptive to learning to play nicely as they aren’t hungry and are devoid of the sugar spikes that come with some foods. Riccio of The Gardens agrees. The older children learn how to serve themselves and they are taught how to use cutlery properly. They learn about other food cultures, celebrating Chinese New Year, eating homemade burgers for Independence Day along with sampling sushi and Vietnamese rolls. Thomas at Paint Pots also remarks how children will happily stay sitting, enjoying their food and chatting for prolonged periods of time,. At Tadpoles, children will cook a pudding for another class, helping with the weighing and stirring, or they might learn some science by making a jelly. Similarly at The Gardens, children are involved in cooking activities, mainly focused on savoury foods but with one sweet cooking activity a month. It’s worth bearing in mind that these nurseries need to balance gastronomic endeavours along with catering for different allergies and special diets, which is no mean feat. One thing is certain: while these young children are learning about food, the range and quality of food they are being offered is giving them the very best start in their education by helping them, in turn, to learn. Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 131

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NURSERIES

HAPPY EATERS

An inspirational recipe to nourish your toddler at home

e can all benefit from some fresh ideas when it comes to meal times. So thank goodness for nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed’s new book How to Feed Your Toddler: Everything You Need to Know To Raise Happy, Independent Little Eaters (Ebury Press, £16.99), which is published this month. The book is full of evidencebased advice, nurturing support, practical problem-solving, and delicious recipes to give parents the confidence to help their toddlers develop a positive relationship with food. Exclusively for School House, here is a recipe from her book – perfect to encourage little ones to try a variety of flavours and textures, while also being suitable for the whole family, and versatile for different dietary requirements and lifestyles.

MINI BLACK FOREST CHERRY CAKES

This is one of my favourite recipes from this book and always goes down a treat with my family; the chocolate and cherry combo is a firm winner. These cakes don’t have a lot of sugar in them – just the jam, which is combined with the cherries, making them a really great option for a party or even as a snack.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 200˚C/180˚C fan. Line a mini cupcake or muffin tin with 18 cases. Add most of the cherries and jam to a food processor and blitz until blended to a purée. In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder with the boiling water and stir until it forms a paste. Add the butter or spread, egg and cocoa powder paste to the food processor and blitz until combined with the cherry purée. Then add the almonds, flour and baking powder and give it a pulse to mix together. Divide the mixture between the cases and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through and fluffy looking. Use a skewer to check the middle – it should come out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely. Top with a teaspoon of crème fraîche, the reserved finely chopped cherries, a drizzle of the reserved juice and a sprinkle of dark chocolate to finish. You can store these in the fridge and enjoy for up to 2 days.

INGREDIENTS Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Makes: 18 mini cakes — 200g frozen cherries, defrosted, plus a handful for decorating, finely chopped (reserve the cherry juice from the defrosted fruit for later) — 2 tbsp cherry jam (or another fruit jam) — 2 tbsp cocoa powder — 2 tbsp boiling water — 80g unsalted butter, at room temperature, or dairy-free spread — 1 large free-range egg, beaten, or 1 flaxseed egg — 50g ground almonds — 100g self-raising flour — 1 tsp baking powder TO DECORATE — 100g crème fraîche or dairy-free alternative — a few chunks of dark chocolate, grated

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Photo: Holly Morrison

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NURSERIES

STAR

PERFORMERS

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Encouragement to explore their talents breeds confident children, says Thea Jourdan

Lights, camera...

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Eaton Square Nursery School in drama class

ursery schools have always been places where children can transform themselves into performers with the help of overstuffed dressing-up boxes and inspiring teachers. But there are some early years settings that stand out when it comes to producing star quality in pre-schoolers. Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep and Nursery in Esher, Surrey make performance a part of everyday life. Recent memorable events include a special machine- and robot-themed assembly presentation to the whole school, and in front of 70 parents. ‘The 38 nursery children were all lined up on the stage,’ explains Headmaster Jon Akhurst, ‘feeding the robot letters and words they had been practising, and explaining what machines meant to them.’ Akhurst adds: ‘The high point was when they all sang a special song about various machines, composed by Director of Music Louise Forbes, though there were lots of memorable moments. It was a great way for the children to express themselves in front of an enthusiastic audience.’ When they are not receiving accolades on the stage, children at Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep and Nursery follow a curriculum that includes some form of music every day, as well as drama and dance. ‘I strongly believe that opportunities to perform help to develop self-confidence and social skills as well as balance and coordination,’ says Akhurst, ‘it’s really gratifying to see how much joy the children get from performance in front of their peers and the wider school community.’ And the children’s talents are not just confined to school grounds. Shrewsbury’s own school choir, which takes children aged four upwards, performed at the opening of the Claygate Christmas lights in recent years and headlined at the Mayor’s charity lunch attended by 50 elderly clients of the local charity in Elmbridge. Lucy Hustler, head of Ringrose Kindergarten in Chelsea, London, agrees that performing and taking part is key to all children’s development. ‘At Ringrose we feel very strongly about how our daily songs and rhymes play an important part in children’s early literacy and language development,’ says Hustler. ‘Our weekly ballet lessons help develop their

imagination and core development and we love putting on an end of year performance.’. Singing is an integral part of the daily routine for the 40 boys and girls aged between two and five-years-old. ‘Through reciting phrases and nursery rhymes,’ she says, ‘the children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and fluency by talking and listening and by hearing and responding to songs and rhymes. Repetition of songs, rhymes and poems establishes the basics of language in children’s minds and reinforces learning.’ She adds that the children often adopt vocabulary from songs and rhymes in their play and develop respect for each other and understand that their voice is valued. In addition, the children join in with and respond to music with a wide range of resources and percussion instruments to express their individual responses to music and rhythm. All children participate in a weekly ballet lesson with the Chelsea Ballet School and Ringrose holds performances and parades throughout the year where the children have the opportunity to learn about customs and traditions such as Italian ‘Carnevale’ and ‘Holi’ – the ancient Hindu festival of colours, which is held in early Spring. Performing is a skill that really matters, says Leonor Diaz Alcantara, the CEO of the Montessori Group. ‘Creativity and performance are so important to allowing children to reach their full potential, build independence and develop skills like critical thinking,’ Diaz Alcantara says. ‘We believe that every child has a particular talent and can contribute something so we encourage them to do the best they can, whether that is showing their painting to a group or singing.’ The Montessori Group help provide training and accreditation to 800 nursery schools in the UK, many of which are attached to prep schools. Drama can also have a positive impact on a child’s language and memory skills. Whether they’re learning their line in a play or remembering where they need to stand on stage, both skills come into use. Performing a play can help children learn to follow instructions, work as a team with other children and improve concentration skills. There’s also the extra

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benefit of building spatial awareness – avoiding clashes with three other blossoming ballet dancers as you pirouette on stage is no mean feat – and there’s the valuable craft of letting others take turns. At the Willow on the Farm nursery in Oxfordshire, listening is one of the most important skills that a child should learn when they first arrive at nursery aged two to five-years-old. ‘During group discussions we pass around a ‘talking object’ such as a pebble,’ says Alice Clark, who grew up on Nill Farm in Oxfordshire where the nursery is based. ‘The children very quickly learn that when they are holding the pebble, it is their turn to talk. If somebody else is holding the object and talking, then they must be respectful and listen. Every child has a voice and everyone gets a turn to have their say.’ Children have creative craft, singing and dance lessons once a week, but music is a big part of the school day in one form or another. Uniquely, being based on an arable farm which has cows, ponies and ducks, the children get to meet the animals that star in their nursery rhymes. ‘The children spend a lot of their time out on the farm whether it be in Forest School, our weekly Tractor Trailer Adventure or our Farm Walks,’ explains Clark, who set up the much loved Willow Nursery in Clapham and remains its titular Head. ‘If we spot a cow on the farm or it starts to rain, the children burst into singing a song they have learnt in the nursery. ‘We really tap into the outdoors and the varying seasons, so we explore the weather and the sound the rain makes when it lands on paper or the sound of rushing water when it runs down the drainpipes or when wading through a stream. We use natural materials to make music.’ Highlights of their outdoor music-making include the annual Forest School Spring Frolic, when the children, dressed in trademark blue boiler suits, dance, sing and perform in the woods, disguised behind their own frog masks and banging pots and pans. Every day after lunch, the children at Willow at the Farm nursery enjoy a short Rest Your Mind session listening to calm music and then doing some breathing exercises. Breathing techniques can help with voice control and control nerves when public speaking or in an exam or interview situation in their later school life. ‘We start off sitting in a circle and just being quiet. We encourage them to listen to the world around them and encourage them to really focus on the way they breathe from the diaphragm,’ explains Clark who says she sees the transformation in children within weeks but points out the effect is life-long. ‘The children

Willow on the Farm’s Easter bonnet parade for parents

grow into unique individuals who are confident, independent, resilient and joyful at the end of their individual two-year learning journey.’ Many go on to private schools locally including the Dragon School, Kitebrook, Summer Fields and Great Tew School where they often make their mark in drama and the performing arts. Trish Watt, Headmistress of Eaton Square Prep and Nursery Schools based in London’s Belgravia, gets to see for herself how performance and drama in the Nursery Schools positively impacts the children who go on up through the school until they leave at the end of Year 6. The three nursery classes under the Eaton Square umbrella have now relocated into the main Prep building on Eccleston Square, allowing much more collaboration between the age groups. ‘Parents and senior school headteachers do remark on how self-assured and confident our Year 6 leavers are,’ says Watt. That process is underway right from the beginning, in the nursery.’ Forty-eight boys and girls aged two-and-a-half to four occupy purposebuilt spaces designed to create a calm yet stimulating environment which brings light and elements of the natural world into their learning. ‘Drama and performance start from the moment they enter the door in the morning, when they greet each other with song, to home-time when music is a call to action for tidy-up time,’ explains Watt. ‘We loosely follow the Montessori method, which puts the child at the centre of their learning, encouraging them to develop through their own interests with the teachers’ gentle guidance keeping their bodies and minds agile.’ Children are encouraged to talk to their peers about their interests and do more formal presentations, which helps them to communicate more effectively. By Year 5 and 6, they are giving professional TEDx Talks – the licensed version of the worldwide online talks which showcase speakers presenting incredible ideas in under 18 minutes. ‘We had to present lots of evidence about our work around public speaking and presentation in our application to become a TEDx centre, but we secured accreditation and can now run these online talks as another effective debating tool,’ explains Watt. ‘These sessions have seen a great deal of success, with over five million views. Mrs Baxter, mum of Helen, 4, who is currently in the Beehive Nursery at Eaton Square, says that opportunities for performance have helped develop her daughter’s creativity and voice. ‘The teachers are very thoughtful about the range of activities they organise and Helen enjoys them all. She joined the Beehive Nursery as a quiet child and, thanks to the nurturing teaching team, she has blossomed to delight in performing. We are grateful to Eaton Square for the thoughtful, rigorous, personal Shrewsbury House pupils with their ukuleles approach they take to developing each child.’ Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 137

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

MISS DAISY’S ON A ROLL Miss Daisy’s nursery schools are well known and highly regarded in the Kensington and Chelsea areas – having grown by word of mouth and recommendation to a group of five beautiful village-style settings

ondly described as country nursery schools in the heart of London, Miss Daisy’s offers a strong sense of community and a place where lasting friendships are formed, fun is shared, and curiosity celebrated. The family of nursery schools says hello to a beautiful new setting in Belgravia this September, as the popular nursery at Ebury Square relocates to a brand-new location – 28 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9PY. This compliments existing nursery schools in Chelsea, Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Brook Green. The new nursery, designed by renowned designers and architects, House of Kin, builds on the Miss Daisy’s ethos of a connection with nature and a focus on sustainability. This can be seen in the use of natural materials, an organic colour palette, high-quality equipment and resources that encourage mindfulness and a love of the natural world. The immersive early years experiences that will be created here will be a first for the local community, featuring spaces that inspire a love of learning and creativity. The indoor woodland area further blurs the lines between city and

countryside, and provides opportunities for learning and play in all weathers. Design cues are inspired by the notion of a nursery that’s been transformed into a secret garden, enveloped by nature, transforming it into a magical wilderness. An internal courtyard, underground vault (complete with mud kitchen and plant filled corridors) and an indoor eco forest area will be truly awe inspiring. Vertical and inverted conical kiln shapes provide a multi-level play zone which develops the children’s gross and fine motor skills and encourages independence and risk taking in a safe and secure environment. A true play-based learning environment to encourage and develop each and every child’s imagination. Supported by a grand opening on 8th September 2022, the team at Miss Daisy’s Belgravia invite you and your little ones to join them, either on the day or at a time to suit throughout September to discover the new setting and see the amazing environments for yourself. More details can be found at www.missdaisysnursery.com or by emailing registrar@wwwmissdaisysnursery.com

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DOUBLE STRENGTH E

ncouraging a child to grow up multilingual, in our everconnecting world, is not just practical parenting. Studies show that learning a second language at a young age helps the brain by improving attention and helping to build focus and confidence. And there is no better time to start than nursery: two Cornell Language Acquisition Lab (CLAL) researchers noted that the earlier a child learns a second language, the more likely they will quickly attain native-level language proficiency. No wonder parents are increasingly looking for nurseries that can offer an immersive second language experience. The first Hatching Dragons (bilingual Mandarin-English) was launched in 2015, during what was then described as the ‘Golden Age’ of UK-China relations under the Cameron-Osborne administration. Founder Cennydd John explains that at the time, the Government had announced their Mandarin Excellence Programme – a goal to reach what they defined as 10,000 fluent speakers of Chinese by 2025 – and had pushed Mandarin within the curricula frameworks of schools. Since then, John says, Hatching Dragons has educated more than

650 families, with over 80 per cent of families placing its language and educational programme as the principal reason for joining the school. John puts that enthusiasm down to a number of reasons. ‘Firstly, perhaps a tacit acceptance of China’s emerging importance on the global stage and the critical importance for the next generation to develop a greater level of understanding of the country as a whole. And, secondly, because of the growing appreciation of the importance of language immersion in the early years and what it can do for developing minds.’ In south-west London, Mandarin Ducklings also offers a bilingual Mandarin-English setting, with Montessori principles and an emphasis on outdoor learning, too. Founder Liya Rickards says parents are attracted to the blend of all three elements and there is no need to have a Mandarin speaker at home for learning to be successful. Indeed, if a third language is spoken at home – such as French or Russian – that can even make the experience easier. ‘Children who speak two or more languages at home,’ says Rickards, ‘generally are better with their listening skill, and quicker to grasp the pronunciation

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Bilingual nurseries are in high demand, as parents look to encourage learning new languages at an early age, finds Victoria Lambert

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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

of the new language compared to the children from monolingual family background.’ At Phileas Fox Nursery School, children learn English, and then a choice of French, Mandarin or Russian. ‘Some parents choose two,’ says Founder Evgenia Lazareva. ‘But children hear all languages, they sing songs together and celebrate important cultural events.’ Caroline Negre of the French-English Raphael Nursery School points out that for many parents – regardless of their native country – the idea of a plurilingual setting is part of the attraction. ‘They like the idea of their sons and daughters evolving in a setting where more than one language is spoken.’ Especially perhaps if it does not include that spoken at home; Raphael parents have included Italians, Greeks, Russians and Romanians. Hatching Dragons attracts a mix of nationalies and says that about 50 per cent of its families identify with no Chinese cultural heritage at all. John agrees that the presence of a third language helps. ‘Most of our bilingual children rapidly acquire Chinese (or English) if they have more than one language spoken at home, principally because they are already cognitively primed to code switch in the way second or tertiary languages require. It is the monolingual child (who comes from a monolingual household) that needs to commit the most time and start the earliest, in our experience.’ He recommends those children start at six months (pre-verbal) to allow staff to familiarise the child with the sound and interaction in the second language. One of Hatching Dragons’ earliest intake was a girl with a FrenchAlgerian father, an American-born Chinese mother and a Portuguese nanny who had cared for her from birth. Having already attended an English nursery school, the girl could speak Mandarin to her mother, Portuguese to her nanny, French and Arabic to her dad (albeit jumping between the two) and English to John. ‘When I told her how amazing it was that she could speak four languages, she asked me what a language was. The secret was consistency – dad

The Oval Montessori’s tomato plants

never spoke English to her, neither did Mum nor the nanny. If they’re reading this, I’m still blown away.’ At Oval Nursery in London, Louise Norwood has cared for children who come to her to be immersed in English, which gives her a fascinating insight into how fast a different tongue can be picked up. She recently offered to host Ukrainian refugee children – and now has three in her classroom, supported by a young woman who also fled the country. While Norwood is grateful to have found some bilingual story books in English/Ukrainian, good bilingual learning needs to be threaded throughout the day and the curriculum. At Mandarin Ducklings, daily language activities are conducted in an age-appropriate, fun and interactive way with both English and Mandarin spoken in the environment by different staff. ‘Children need consistent exposure to the languages through fun interaction with people they trust and enjoy spending time with,’ explains Rickards. The secret she says is social interaction: ‘Children are able to learn any language as long as it is exposed in their environment consistently. The bond with the teachers is also an important factor.’ Hatching Dragons offers a similar model – what John describes as 50:50; the alternative is 90:10, in terms of the balance of time and exposure to primary and secondary languages. ‘The 90:10 is a bit ‘shock and awe’,’ says John, ‘and is intended to maximise exposure to the second language so that the child has no choice but to adapt. ‘But for us, we choose 50:50, meaning that the children get equal exposure to both Chinese and English over the course of their 10-hour day with us.’ Children are assigned a primary and secondary key worker teacher, one English and one Mandarin-speaking; those two teachers only ever speak their native tongue to the children throughout the course of their day. John adds: ‘To embed long-term application of language, you need to apply it to context, and for children (and adults) that is something we enjoy doing. So we use language to communicate and interact during arts. We do so during sports class, or story time, or cookery club, or music and rhyme, or dance club and we use flash cards and media to scaffold language. There are other techniques – makaton and baby sign help us develop a uniform symbology that underlines the commonality of meaning of a particular word (said in Chinese or in English) – if the sign is the same and the children grasp that, then we can use it as a useful tool to structure their language learning.’ There’s no one way to learn, Norwood says. ‘Some children simply jump in and start experimenting with the new language. Unsurprisingly, it is rarely helpful to intervene directly to correct a child’s grammar or pronunciation at this stage of early exploration; surrounded by rich models of the target language, they will soon develop in fluency as well as accuracy. ‘Other children however adopt a different approach, listening and absorbing without speaking much (if at all), Looking at the globe sometimes for weeks or even at Phileas Fox Nursery months.’ As long as the child Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 141

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is content and attentive to their environment this is nothing to be concerned about, she points out; ‘They are absorbing language all the time and will speak when they are ready, sometimes going from beginner level to producing full sentences in one leap. As ever, the best approach is to follow the child.’ How do British nursery children communicate with those for whom English is not the first language? ‘They just talk and use gestures,’ she says. ‘Such as smiling, eye rolling, crying, head shaking, shoulder shrugging, frowning, death staring, thumbs up, thumbs down. Each of these nonverbal gestures speaks volumes!’ And what do they find hardest? John says: ‘Every child faces their own developmental hurdles and challenges, with no two little ones the same. Individual differences do account for many of the struggles they face, as they would in a monolingual environment. Similarly, they each excel and exceed at their own pace. What is true across the board though, is that our children graduate from our nursery, with fluency in both languages, and are ready and prepared to take on primary school with ease!’ Evgenia Lazareva agrees: ‘Absolutely all children can do it. They are sponges at this age – you have those who are the loudest singers and answer all the questions, and others who are more shy, still quietly participating and enjoying it in their own way.’ Choice comes into it too, says Caroline Negre. ‘Some concentrate on their home language and English, and ignore what they don’t want to learn. If they find a situation difficult, they will use the words from the language that is easiest at that point.’ She points out that children are eminently adaptable. ‘Between themselves, they use lots of different languages – not just verbal but in terms of showing or bringing items to each other. It’s not always

about words.’ Most important, Negre says, is the relationship between child and teacher; ‘Personality matters more than the language.’ It’s noteworthy that bilingual nurseries are often Montessori based, too. Norwood explains: ‘Correct terminology is used as a matter of course in the Montessori classroom, it is naturally rich in vocabulary.’ She says: ‘A trademark of Montessori education is the threeperiod lesson. It is a method all Montessori teachers use to present new vocabulary and concepts to a child that involves three key steps: naming, recognition, and recall. It is an ideal way to introduce new words to non-native speakers as it takes them in a focussed way from passive knowledge (stage 2, where the child demonstrates understanding but does not actually produce the new word/s) to active knowledge (stage 3, where the child produces the new vocabulary). With children with English as an additional language, we will find out their interests and focus on vocabulary in those areas so that the child is more readily engaged.’ As Montessori materials tend to be concrete objects, Norwood points out, children learn through action: new language can be readily absorbed using this multi-sensory approach because the child is activating many of their senses as they engage with the materials. Whether they are primarily auditory, kinaesthetic, or visual learners, by engaging their senses and using their hands to manipulate objects, children’s experiences naturally become committed to memory, along with the language that is used to describe them. Cennydd John adds: ‘For us and for many of our families, there is something more than just the transaction of developing language skills: it is about developing adaptability, linguistic and cultural, and the benefits that come with it, from an early age. There is magic in that, I think.’

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

NURSERIES

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NURSERIES

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NURSERIES

Anglo Spanish Nursery – Clapham, London We are an 86 place day nursery and Pre-School nurturing children from 2 months to 5 years. We are situated in the heart of Clapham, London, minutes away from Clapham High Street and conveniently located between Clapham North and Clapham Common tube stations. We are open for 51 weeks of the year apart from a week at Christmas and all Bank Holidays. Our opening times are from 7:30am to 6:00pm.

www.anglospanishnurseryschool.co.uk

New Nursery for Boys and Girls aged 3+ Enrolling boys for Reception, 7+ and 11+. Occasional places may also be available School rated EXCELLENT in ISI Inspection – Jan 2022 Inspirational Specialist Teachers & Early Years practitioners Large Outdoor Spaces: Astro court, Football & Rugby fields, Woodland area

where education comes with adventure

Book a private tour today registrar@falconsprep.co.uk 020 8948 9490 https://bit.ly/3PXv4hZ

“From the EYFS, pupils thrive through a learning approach which encourages them to develop initiative and independence.” ~ ISI quote https://www.falconsprep.co.uk/prep-school/school-tours-open-

mornings?utm_source=School-House-mag-halfpg-ad&utm_medium=newspapers-magazines-print&utm_campaign=summer-2022

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NURSERIES

MARMALADE SCHOOLS An outstanding nursery group across London “Children are highly motivated, independent, and confident.” Ofsted

The Marmalade Hedgehog, Fulham New in January 2022

Morning places available Enquiries to the school office: 0208 265 5224 marmaladeschools@gmail.com marmaladeschools.co.uk

FREE TO BE ME

I am smart, funny, brave, kind, curious, unique, creative, energetic, honest, fearless, caring, surprising, determined, playful, musical and a loyal friend. ay. just tod ’s t a h t d An I’m free to be won derfully and wholehearte dly me.

Visit www.bansteadprep.com for information on our open days and personal tours. instagram.com/bansteadprep

facebook.com/bansteadprep

twitter.com/BansteadPrep

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NURSERIES

The Oval Montessori Nursery established in 1989, provides a happy, nurturing environment for 20 children from two and a half years to five years in a truly unique and magical park location. We want you to feel confident that at The Oval Montessori Nursery, in Vauxhall Park we deliver the most stimulating and flexible learning programme where each child’s needs are planned and provided for. Call 020 7735 4816 for the perfect start to your child’s education or email enquiries@theovalmontessori.co.uk

Outstanding

Bilingual Nurseries In London The Barbican

Westminster

Book a Tour

Hatching Dragons E d u c a t i o n

f o r

n e w

Canada Water

w o r l d

Mandarin Bilingual Nursery 6 months to 4 years

Scan the QR to register

Find Us On Google Hatching Dragons

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NURSERIES

Hurlingham Nursery

ADDRESS: The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Avenue, London SW15 6EH WEBSITE: www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 100 AGES: 2-5 FEES: £3,335 (Nursery 5 sessions) £5,275 (Nursery 5 full days). We offer the 15 or 30 hours Universal Funding to those who are eligible. HEAD TEACHER: Daisy Robertson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth. CONTACT: Anna Williams, Nursery School Administrator, 020 8874 7186 EMAIL: nursery.office@hurlinghamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment. THE CURRICULUM: Hurlingham School’s Nursery offers outstanding provision for girls and boys aged two to five in a cutting-edge setting on Gwendolen Avenue in west Putney. The final year emphasises all aspects of school readiness to give children a flying start to their formal education. It includes a one day per week Forest School option. GAMES & THE ARTS: Music, drama and sport are all co-ordinated by specialist staff. The children enjoy regular music, movement, yoga, karate and outdoor learning, including Forest School. PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pupils are exceptionally well cared for. The school has excellent arrangements in place to ensure that pupils are safe at all times. The school is a kind place where adults are extremely caring and pupils are considerate towards others. A pupil summed this up by commenting: ‘children are kind and we share what we have with one another’.’ Ofsted, February 2018. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Exit Schools: Hurlingham Nursery provides an excellent foundation for all children with a particular teaching and learning focus to prepare pupils for learning on the school’s main site on the Putney Bridge Road. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Nursery provision at Hurlingham fosters and develops children’s interest in the world around them through initiating a life-long love of learning and academia. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An idyllic, small school with large classrooms and lots of scope for self-expression in a nurturing, academic setting. In addition to the three terms in the academic year an additional 16 weeks of holiday club are offered to allow parents to opt in for specific weeks required, without having to financially commit to a full 50 weeks a year. (This excludes a 2-week period over Christmas and Bank holidays outside).

The Gardens Daycare & Nursery School

ADDRESS: 62 Standen Road, London SW18 5TG WEBSITE: www.gardenschildcare.co.uk FOUNDED: 1987 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 95 AGES: 9 Months to 5 Years FEES: From £986 per month. 15/30 Hours Universal Funding available. HEAD TEACHER: Sarah Bokaie N.N.E.B RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from pregnancy CONTACT: Leila Bokaie, Admissions Manager EMAIL: leila@gardenschildcare.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: By appointment

THE CURRICULUM: The Gardens offers flexible day care, within a structured, safe and exciting environment, where children have fun, make friends and enjoy learning through play. Children over 2 benefit from a nursery school routine during term time and more informal, fun sessions during the holidays. By means of developmentally appropriate play activities and a high level of individual adult input, we offer a curriculum tailored to each child, enabling them to progress through the Early Years Foundation Stage and preparing them for the National Curriculum at ‘Big School’. GAMES & THE ARTS: Throughout the year we introduce different themes incorporating colour, shape, number and letter recognition. We offer a variety of activities including Mandarin, French, ballet, music, singing, cooking, sports, arts & crafts, and lots of messy play. We visit the local park and go on farms visits, Safari Club and fruit picking. Weekly, the pre-school children bring a packed lunch as part of ‘Big School’ preparations. These sessions are more work based and include the Jolly Phonic writing and reading system. PASTORAL CARE: As one parent put it so brilliantly, ‘Nourish & Flourish’ (the name on the old baby food factory opposite the nursery) is at the heart of our business. We only recruit who we believe to be high quality staff who are calm, kind and caring, and genuinely love working with children. Our pastoral care extends to our brilliant team – we offer our staff a range of wellbeing supports, alongside training and social activities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We have an eco-friendly ethos at The Gardens, only using organic food and ethically sourced products, supporting good animal welfare. Our nappies, wipes, cotton wool and lotion that we use provides a clean, healthy and nurturing environment for your child. Our menu is organic, free range and homemade daily from scratch, even the ketchup - as well as being sugar, salt and nut free (except birthday cakes!). OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Our family-run nursery resides in a large and innovative building, where founder Mrs B and her team offer children, including her own grandchildren, a nurturing space to enjoy learning through play. Our bright airy classrooms are filled with an abundance of exciting and educational toys, and our Magical Faraway Tree on our roof garden is a very special place, accessed by a grassy bridge where our children enjoy listening to stories under the leafy canopy.

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NURSERIES

Happy, Confident, Independent. Children develop a sense of belonging, respect and autonomy of voice through a varied and well-directed early education.

Ringrose Kindergarten Chelsea is a traditional English nursery school situated in the heart of Chelsea for boys and girls aged between 2 to 5 years. We aim to provide a happy and enriching environment and a gentle introduction to pre-school life. We offer a broad range of experiences to the children to stimulate their interest, facilitate meaningful communication and promote purposeful, interactive play St. Luke’s Church Hall, St. Luke’s Street, London SW3 3RP

020 7352 8784 www.ringrosechelsea.co.uk

Beautiful nurseries in Twickenham. Call 020 3475 0455 or visit riversidenurseryschools.com

Our settings provide:

Beautiful environments and outdoor spaces. A bespoke EYFS and Montessori-inpsired curriculum. Extracurricular activities that vary each term. Freshly prepared food included in our day care settings. Access to the Dukes Club family platform.

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NURSERIES

St Hilary’s Preparatory School Godalming

Boys & Girls Ages 2—11

The Willow Nursery

_ _

_ _ _ _

Open Mornings

30th September and 1st October Personal Tours by Arrangement

“Happy, charming and academically successful” The Good Schools Guide

sthilarysschool co Tel: 01483 416551 • @StHilarysSchool ail: re istrar@sthilarysschool co

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NURSERIES

Noah’s Ark Nursery Schools (Dolphin School Trust)

TAKE A LOOK AT

OUR WEBSITE

ADDRESS: Dolphin School Nursery, London SW11 6QW | West Side Church, London SW18 2ED WEBSITE: www.noahsarknurseryschools.org.uk FOUNDED: 1986 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 63 AGES: 2–5 FEES: (termly) £2,200 HEAD TEACHER: Sam Gosden RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit, then offers for siblings first, then in order of date of registration. CONTACT: Vivienne Benson. Admissions Registrar. EMAIL: admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visits by appointment with the Admissions Registrar

THE CURRICULUM: We follow the new 2022 EYFS Development Matters alongside the Birth to 5 curriculum. We use ‘in-the-moment planning’ which responds to children’s interests, stretching those who need greater challenges and supporting those who need to embed basic skills. We use visual aids, songs, rhymes, picture books, including Bible stories and prepare children for primary/prep school. GAMES & THE ARTS: We have a weekly PE lesson with a specialised PE teacher. We also have weekly Rhythm and Movement sessions, responding to songs with voice, instruments and movement. Art materials are plentiful and aim to develop creative flair.

www.schoolhousemagazine.co.uk

PASTORAL CARE: ‘Wonderful nursery that genuinely cares about bringing out the best in each and every child. The staff are incredibly kind and nurturing and the smaller class size means each child gets the support they need.’ We know each child well and they know they are loved and cared for by all staff. Noah’s Ark provides a great framework for character development. Excellent behaviour is modelled at every turn, kindness that supports each other is communicated with grace and confidence. Positive interaction with peers and adults is key to the nursery. PRIMARY EXIT SCHOOLS: Broomwood Hall, Dolphin School, Eaton House Schools, Finton House, Hornsby House, Parkgate School, The Roche, Thomas’s Schools, local state schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our approach is around the individual and supporting each child to foster a love for learning. We have a unique community of staff, parents and children which encourages the children to have a real sense of independence in themselves, their minds and their learning. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Loving, kind, relational, listening, nurturing and skilled teachers. Child-centred learning. Children are allowed to be themselves, finding joy in the activities that interest them and their successes and discovering a deep love of learning. They are encouraged to be independent, aspirational and positive in overcoming challenges. Kindness is at the heart of the nursery community. The children skip in and leave with big smiles on their faces and in their hearts – they love their teachers and friends.

For the best in education

EV ERY DAY

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LONDON SCHOOLS

Trinity School

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Cameron Vale School, Chelsea Nestled in the heart of Chelsea, we are one of the top independent prep schools in central London, and with the addition of The Chelsea Nursery, we provide outstanding education for children aged 2-11.

Open Mornings We look forward to welcoming you to one of our upcoming open mornings:

14th September 5th October 17th November Or contact us to arrange a private tour. Visit our website for details: www.cameronvaleschool.com

4 The Vale, London, SW3 6AH I info@cameronvaleschool.com +44(0)207 352 4040 I www.cameronvaleschool.com

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Bassett House School

ADDRESS: 60 Bassett Road, W10 6JP WEBSITE: www.bassetths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,386 – £7,053 HEAD TEACHER: Kelly Gray RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in early years. Priority placement to siblings of current students and children of alumnae. Taster and assessment morning required for pupils in Year 1 and above. CONTACT: Head of Admissions and Marketing or the School Office EMAIL: info@bassetths.org.uk or registrar@bassetths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Stay & Play sessions for Nursery and Reception take place regularly. Personal tours are offered. Annual summer open day. THE CURRICULUM: We boast a bespoke, future-focused Bassett Baccalaureate curriculum, taught by specialists for the best outcomes, where much-loved traditions meet innovation – a curriculum crammed with creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our specialist PE and sports teachers encourage pupils to try a host of activities and games from gymnastics to team sport fixtures. Music, drama and art are also taught by specialist teachers and allow for pupils to express themselves with confidence across a spectrum of media. PASTORAL CARE: Bassett House has a homely feel – where parents say their child is more nurtured, known and seen. We consider it a privilege to educate children in our academic school with small class sizes and expert staff committed to making learning memorable. Happy children learn. When pupils join Bassett in our pre-school, they receive their very own Pastoral Plan from our Pastoral Lead. Communication Station supports pupils who need a boost. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Over half of pupils offered scholarships to London’s best, including St. Pauls. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: No matter where you go to school, you need somebody to catch you – to notice you and to catch you. Every child at Bassett sees the Head in their classroom at least once every single day, with Hot Chocolate Fridays a highlight. We take children’s talents and inquisitiveness and nurture them. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Tucked away in a thriving London village, we boast state of the art technology, performing arts studio, gym, stage and library. Our bespoke Early Years comprise of multi structure play spaces developed with House of Kin, which clearly say, ‘You Matter’! Not to mention the popular annual staff panto… In summer 2022, riding was introduced to the curriculum for all year groups. Children learn not only to ride but also biology, animal care and much more through the pioneering partnership with Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre.

Chepstow House School & Little Chepstow Nursery

ADDRESS: 108a Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QS WEBSITE: www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 2010 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 390 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) £3,520 (Nursery – we do not offer different arrangements for half or full days); £7,785 (School) HEAD TEACHER: Angela Barr RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth for nursery and reception intake. Informal assessment for 7+, 8+, 11+ entry. CONTACT: Rose O’Grady, School Administrator, 0207 243 0243 EMAIL: info@chepstowhouseschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Tours available on request.

THE CURRICULUM: A rigorous curriculum prepares children for 11+ Entrance. However, we encourage boys and girls to strive in all areas through providing a broad and balanced learning experience. GAMES & THE ARTS: Music recitals, whole school productions and art specialist weeks are highlights throughout the key stages. PE lessons enhance physical skills and knowledge of the sports the children play and a strong emphasis is placed on competitive sporting activities through weekly fixtures. The children attend a wide range of clubs, take part in fixtures and enjoy residential trips to explore the world and network with guest speakers. PASTORAL CARE: At the core of Chepstow House is an unflinching belief in the transformative power of education. Staff encourage pupils to apply themselves diligently to tasks and develop positive attitudes both in their work and in their personal relationships. The house system creates a strong community within the school and the extremely successful links with both local and international charities promotes a sense of wider social interaction and responsibility. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: All our children are welcomed into some of the best schools in the country. Children follow on to a variety of schools including St Paul’s, City of London, The Harrodian and Wetherby. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Chepstow House is a happy and purposeful family environment, where every member of the school community is important and all are valued as individuals. We aim to discover the best in every child and challenge them to go beyond their expectations. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Chepstow House School is built on values, such as sincerity, integrity, humility, respect and professionalism. The highly nurturing and welcoming ethos and environment. By the end of Year 3, the majority of pupils achieve well above expected levels of attainment in reading, writing, speaking and mathematics. ‘They develop excellent creative and aesthetic skills in art, drama, music and cookery. Their physical development is excellent.’ (most recent Ofsted report)

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Broomwood Hall Lower School

Broomwood Hall Upper School

ADDRESS: Reception & Year 1: The Vicarage, 192 Ramsden Road, London SW12 8RQ | Years 2&3: 50 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8TE WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1984 NUMBER OF PUPILS: c. 300 AGES: Co-ed, 4-8 FEES: Day, £6,140 (22/23). Fees are inclusive of all tuition, lunch, compulsory school trips and most schoolbooks and equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Jo Townsend RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: C of E – but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register, visit and random ballot. CONTACT: The Admissions Team, 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: 7 Oct 2022. Friday morning showarounds. Private tours. Booking essential.

ADDRESS: 68-74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1984 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 220 AGES: Girls – 8–13 FEES: Day, £7,535 (22/23). Fees inclusive of all tuition, lunch, compulsory school trips and most schoolbooks & equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Louisa McCafferty RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Main entry at eight; additional places at 11. Automatic entry from pre-prep (Broomwood Hall Lower School, if it’s right for them). External candidates via digital testing & Head’s interview. Priority entry for children from other Dukes Education settings. CONTACT: The Admissions Team – 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning 7 Oct 2022. Friday morning showarounds. Private tours. Booking essential.

THE CURRICULUM: Broad, modern, and innovative – designed to provide mastery of the building blocks of education in an inclusive, exciting, and enjoyable way. Specialist teaching in arts, sport, music, and French from the off.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad and stimulating mastery approach, with technology used at every level fosters a love of learning and bolsters selfconfidence, creativity, and critical thinking, helping girls to maximise their potential. We support and stretch in equal measure.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Emphasis on building confidence, skills, and enjoyment: PE and games five periods per week; competitive matches from Year 3. Weekly art, drama, and music. A multitude of clubs from Year 1 onwards include karate, coding, art, and cookery. Winners of prestigious Gold Artsmark Award.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Wide variety of sports: netball, hockey, tennis, football, rugby, cricket, cross-country, athletics, and swimming. Exceptionally strong music, art & DT, and drama departments. New art and DT block. Winners of prestigious Artsmark Gold Award. On-site Leiths cookery school.

PASTORAL CARE: We are proud to offer outstanding pastoral care. The school is split between two buildings, a short walk from each other. Each site is small and intimate enough for all children to be well-known by all staff. We have a strong pastoral team which includes learning support, a full-time school nurse and a qualified school counsellor. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Automatic entry to Northwood Schools’ prep schools – Northcote Lodge (boys) or Broomwood Hall Upper School (girls) (providing they are right for the child). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Modern, innovative teaching in a traditional setting delivers an outstanding education that excites, stimulates, and nurtures the whole child. Our five learning powers: curiosity, communication, confidence, independence, and resilience; combined with our mastery approach and emphasis on a growth mindset, equip children with the problem solving and analytical skills they need to succeed in the future. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Recent ISI inspection rated the school Excellent on all counts. An excellent and rounded education that recognises that achievement and success come in many forms and at different stages with happy children who love learning and can move on to the prep stage brimming with confidence. 2021 Finalist, Pre-Prep School of the Year. Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages 4 to 13, which in turn, is part of the wider Dukes Education family.

PASTORAL CARE: We know that happy children thrive academically. With small class sizes, an excellent tutor system and mindfulness and wellbeing programmes built into the curriculum, we pride ourselves on nurturing the whole child and developing individual strengths, so that when girls leave us at 11 or 13, they are happy, well-rounded individuals, academically and socially prepared to tackle the future with confidence. 2021 Finalist - ‘School of the Year for Student Well-being’ RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: c. 25 per cent of leavers win awards across all areas. 2022 leavers won 16 Scholarships and awards: academic (11), sport (one), drama (two). Art (two). Exit at 11 or 13 to mix of London day (e.g., Emanuel, JAGS, Streatham & Clapham High, Woldingham) and out of town boarding (e.g., Marlborough, Charterhouse, Benenden, Wellington, Bradfield). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We prepare for life, not just the next school. Girls are stimulated, supported, and stretched in equal measure and helped to develop the essential skills of creativity, critical thinking, resilience, independence, and confidence that are so important for future success. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Recent ISI inspection rated the school excellent on all counts. The only all-girls’ prep school preparing for both 11+ and 13+ in SW London. Our combination of innovative teaching, coupled with an exciting enrichment programme, stimulates both breadth and depth of learning. Broomwood girls are happy, confident, rounded individuals who are well prepared for future success. Strong collaboration with sibling prep school, Northcote Lodge. Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages four to 16, which in turn, is part of the wider Dukes Education family.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Northcote Lodge

ADDRESS: 26 Bolingbroke Grove, London SW11 6EL WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 AGES: Boys – 8–13 FEES: Day, £7,535 (22/23). Fees inclusive of all tuition, lunch, compulsory school trips and most schoolbooks & equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Clive Smith-Langridge RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Main entry at eight; additional places at 11. Automatic entry from pre-prep (Broomwood Hall Lower School, if it’s right for them). External candidates via digital testing & Head’s interview. Priority entry for children from other Dukes Education settings. CONTACT: The Admissions Team – 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning 7 Oct 2022. Friday morning showarounds. Private tours. Booking essential. THE CURRICULUM: Boys thrive in our busy, friendly environment with outstanding teaching that stimulates, stretches, nurtures and develops ‘the whole child’ for entry to top secondary schools at 11 and 13 – both in and out of London. GAMES & THE ARTS: All boys play matches in the major sports. Teams are very competitive even against much bigger schools. Wide-ranging clubs programme includes karate, coding, and spy club. Thriving and vibrant music, drama and art departments with ambitious projects, multiple ensembles, and exciting performances. PASTORAL CARE: Our tutor system ensures that each boy has someone looking out for him over and above the care he receives from every staff member. The small and friendly community enables staff and boys to get to know each other well. Parent partnership is actively encouraged, and the headmaster’s door is always open.

Pre-Prep and Prep Schools

OPEN MORNINGS Friday 7 October 2022 Academically ambitious

Pastorally kind Upper School Girls 8-13 years

68-74 NIGHTINGALE LANE, SW12 8NR

Shortlisted for SIX Independent School of the Year Awards for 2022: Pre-Prep of theYear Prep of theYear Outstanding New Initiative StudentWell-Being (x2) Unsung Hero of theYear

FINALIST School of the Year 2021 for Student Well-Being

Rated

EXCELLENT

in the recent ISI inspection for all three schools (May 22)

Lower School Co-educational 4-8 years

THE VICARAGE - 192 RAMSDEN RD, SW12 8RQ 50 NIGHTINGALE LANE, SW12 8TE

FINALIST Pre-Prep School of the Year 2021

Regular small group Friday tours

Private tours available

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 2022 Leavers won 14 Scholarships: academic (eight), sport (two), drama (three). Music (one). Exit at 11 or 13 to mix of London day (e.g., Emanuel, Dulwich, Whitgift, Alleyn’s) and out of town boarding (e.g., Harrow, Charterhouse, Eton, Wellington, Bradfield, Marlborough, Brighton). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘The whole child is the whole point’: academic rigour, a focus on manners, outstanding extracurricular opportunities, holistic pastoral care and most importantly, a school that puts boys’ happiness centre stage to enable them to fulfil their academic potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Recent ISI inspection rated the school excellent on all counts. Northcote Lodge really understands how to get the very best out of boys, giving them an outstanding all-round education in a stimulating, yet nurturing, learning environment. Strong collaboration with sibling prep school, Broomwood Hall Upper School. 2021 Finalist, Prep School of the Year. Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages four to 13, which in turn, is part of the wider Dukes Education family.

Boys 8-13 years

26 BOLINGBROKE GROVE, SW11 6EL

FINALIST Prep School of the Year 2021

Admissions@northwoodschools.com: Tel 020 8682 8830 www.northwoodschools.com

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Dolphin School

Inc Noah’s Ark Nursery School

Dulwich Prep London

ADDRESS: 106 Northcote Road, London SW11 6QW WEBSITE: www.dolphinschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1986 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 166 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) Nursery, £2,200; Reception, Years 1 and 2, £4,465; Years 3–6, £4,890 HEAD TEACHER: Sam Gosden RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Reception class, early registration recommended. Non-selective for Reception; For Year 1–6, assessment day and past school reports. CONTACT: Vivienne Benson; 020 7924 3472 EMAIL: admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Admissions Registrar

ADDRESS: 42 Alleyn Park (Years 1 – 8), 8 Gallery Road (Early Years), Dulwich, London SE21 WEBSITE: www.dulwichpreplondon.org FOUNDED: 1885 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 843 AGES: Boys 3–13, Girls 3–4 FEES: Early Years – Nursery & Reception, £5,000; Pre-Prep – Years 1 & 2, £5,760; Lower School – Years 3 & 4, £6,535; Middle & Upper School – Years 5 to 8, £7,315 HEAD TEACHER: Louise Davidson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective, main entry points are Nursery (3+), Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+) and Year 7 (11+). CONTACT: Viki Cryer, Registrar; 020 8766 5525 EMAIL: admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org SCHOOL VISITS: Tours available in term time; visit website to book.

THE CURRICULUM: Our small class sizes enable us to get to know your child extremely well so that we can not only set specific individualised academic targets, but also discover how they learn best. We prioritise English and maths, however, we do offer a holistic programme including science, geography, history, Spanish, computer coding, gardening and a vast array of extracurricular activities, clubs and outings.

THE CURRICULUM: An innovative and challenging curriculum that seeks to foster a growth mindset in all pupils. At Dulwich Prep London, we believe there is no limit to a child’s potential.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We train pupils in the arts (drama, music, painting, drawing, clay and design and technology) with specialist teaching and many performing and exhibiting opportunities. We also coach children in a range of sports (football, tag rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, dance, athletics and crosscountry running) through dynamic teaching and a superb fixture list. PASTORAL CARE: We are committed to giving both time and care to grow your child’s character on their journey from nursery to Year 6. Our Christian ethos leads us to believe that personal growth ultimately matters more than lists of achievements. So we are thrilled both by children’s awards and accolades and equally excited about who they are. Dolphin children are known to be caring, compassionate, supportive, funny, ambitious, ‘give-it-a-go’ people who value integrity and truth and who go the extra mile to inspire others to achieve. SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Alleyn’s, Box Hill, Caterham, Christ’s Hospital, Dulwich College, Eaton Square Senior, Emanuel, Epsom College, Farnborough Hill, Francis Holland, Frensham Heights, Ibstock Place, James Allen’s Girls’ School, Kew House, King’s College Wimbledon, Northwood Senior, Priors Field, Royal Russell, St John’s Leatherhead, Streatham and Clapham High, Thomas’s Battersea Square, Trinity, Whitgift, Woldingham. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: If we want children to be the best they can be, academically, artistically, in sport or as people, we must start by valuing them for who they are and to appreciate that they have different intelligences which need opportunities to be developed.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport, music, drama, art, and DT all play a fundamental part in daily life at Dulwich Prep London. We champion the ability to play sport or be creative with intelligence and passion, and we recognise the benefits of both. PASTORAL CARE: At Dulwich Prep London, pastoral care is the start and endpoint of all we do; we recognise its importance, underpinning every element of a child’s education. Our years of experience working with boys up to 13 years old allows us to understand the unique physical, emotional, and developmental challenges they face. We treat every child as an individual, nurturing necessary skills and providing support to equip them for their future. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Between 2020 and 2022, over 200 scholarships have been awarded to top senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Miss Davidson is passionate about boys learning holistically, building good character, and developing meaningful skills for their future. She effectively strikes a balance between the school’s long-standing heritage and traditions with the need to be at the forefront of what is new and best in education. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: For the boys at Dulwich Prep London, their time is about more than preparation for exams; it is about preparation for life. We believe an education rooted in teaching character is what sets our boys apart. We uphold eight values (Love, Courage, Gratitude, Humility, Justice, Service, Self-discipline and Honest) which underpin a holistic education; these values allow our boys to flourish.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: With a combination of nurture and dynamism and the passionate, compassionate commitment of the highly skilled staff Dolphin School provides a fantastic all-round education – allowing children to be known, heard and to have joy in finding their interests and gifts.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Alleyn’s Junior School

OPEN MORNING Saturday 8th October 2022, 10.00–12.00pm

We - lleyn's

Alleyn's Junior School offers co-educational excellence in a caring community for children aged 4-11.

Open Events will take place in September, October and November 2022 for 4+, 7+ and 9+ entry in September 2023. www.alleyns.org.uk 020 8557 1519 | Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU

Email: registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk Tel: 020 8869 7600 South Hill Avenue, Harrow, HA1 3NU @orleyfarm

#whywelovehornsby

#Sparking Imaginations

To visit our school, call 020 8673 7573 or visit www.hornsbyhouse.org.uk Hearnville Road, SW12 8RS Telephone 020 8673 7573 school@hornsbyhouse.org.uk

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Eaton House The Manor & Eaton House Belgravia Nursery Schools

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU & 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 & 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 64 in total AGES: 2–4.5 FEES: (termly) from £640 for one afternoon to £3,665 for five mornings. Costs vary with time slots. HEAD TEACHER: Roosha Sue (EHTM); Graeme McKirdy (EHB) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk

Eaton House The Manor Boys’ School

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 417 (Pre-Prep & Prep) AGES: 4–13 FEES: (termly) £6,300 (Pre-Prep); £7,560 (Prep) HEAD TEACHER: Sarah Segrave (Prep); David Wingfield (Pre-Prep) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at 4+; English and Maths assessment for other year groups; selective 8+ entry CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours (live tours) online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via Admissions

THE CURRICULUM: Our nurseries are a constant hive of activity where children are happy, busy and curious to learn. Every child is challenged at their own level in a kind and caring atmosphere and the sky is the limit. Individual and small group work allows both nurseries to constantly assess each pupil’s individual strengths. There are many activities on offer, from sports and swimming to IT, drama and design in our brand new state-of-the art nurseries.

THE CURRICULUM: The Good Schools Guide (2022): ‘This is a school with excellent academic outcomes, good value added… and consequently one of really high expectations.’ We strive to nurture every boy to achieve his chosen senior school. Offering a curriculum adjusted to fit boys’ developmental stages, interests and strengths, we create the best start for each boy. This begins in the Pre-Prep where learning is active, academic and exploratory.

GAMES & THE ARTS: At the Manor, large wooden blocks and sand and water develop fine and gross motor skills, with free flow out into the playground that allows children to play in an inviting space. At Belgravia, children enjoy a dedicated, educative environment in a wonderful mansion house nursery. All children take part in our annual Nativity and we also have smaller performances throughout the year.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an integral part of life at school, whether boys are representing the school or their House. Specialist sports staff nurture a love of sport and nearly 75 per cent of our boys play a musical instrument. Every boy has weekly drama lessons and can get involved in many plays and musical events in the school – all to a high standard.

PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pastoral care is extremely strong, 100 per cent rated it excellent or good’ – Cappco. Each child is supported and encouraged, gaining independence and confidence. When children leave our nurseries they are fully prepared for school at 4+. This allows them an easy transition to Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep and Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Roosha Sue (The Manor Nursery): ‘My philosophy for our nursery is for every child to settle in, be happy and treated as unique. Our pastoral care is second to none. We hope that all of our Cubs and Bears are excited and curious to learn through being exposed to a variety of experiences, from cooking, yoga and pottery to languages. Our children leave school-ready, confident and eager to continue their learning journey.’ Graeme McKirdy (Belgravia Nursery) says, ‘I believe that nursery should be a ‘happy place’ where children have the freedom to explore and discover. They should be encouraged to take risks to achieve their full potential.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Easy transition to Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep for the boys and Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School for the girls. At Belgravia, boys are well prepared for Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep and girls for Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School. We empower children to be happy, independent and curious learners, and we aim to have your child completely ‘school ready’ when they leave us. Children are unique and so is their learning journey. Eaton House Belgravia Nursery and Eaton House The Manor Nurseries are part of Eaton House Schools, and Dukes Education.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is intrinsic in all we do, the fundamental cornerstone of the school. Our form tutors and house system provide the structure for pastoral care. Our buddy system helps integrate boys into the school from the beginning and our Head of Wellbeing supports all parents. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: An impressive number of scholarships in 2021, including 13 Scholarships and Awards and an Academic Exhibition at Westminster and the Cowdrey Sports Scholarship at Tonbridge. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2022) comments that Mrs Segrave ‘lives and breathes Eaton House.’ She feels that: ‘A school is a place where children grow, guided by teachers who are determined that they succeed and are happy.’ Eaton House The Pre-Prep’s Cambridge-educated Headmaster, Mr David Wingfield, joined the school in September 2020. A mathematics specialist, he has been hailed as one of ‘the most motivated teachers’ that the Tatler Schools Guide (2021) has ever met. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Academically outstanding. ‘Everyone is so happy and so encouraging’ (Zach, Year 8). Many generations of boys go on from the Prep School to Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s, Dulwich, Tonbridge, Harrow, King’s College Wimbledon, Winchester, and all pupils receive offers to an excellent range of schools. EHTM is one of the top four feeder schools for Westminster and the only one of these that is non-selective at 4+ entry. Eaton House Belgravia is part of Eaton House Schools, and the Dukes Education family.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory

ADDRESS: 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1897 and 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 (Pre-Prep and Prep) AGES: 4–11 FEES: (termly) £7,235 (Pre-Prep); £8,015 (Prep) HEAD TEACHER: Huw May RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non–selective at age 4, older children may be subject to assessment. Co-educational Nursery 2-4. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is designed to offer our boys a breadth of experience and prepare them for examinations to the highest academic standards, with each receiving an individual learning plan. Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep prepares boys for 7+ and 8+ examinations. The Prep takes boys at age eight and prepares them for the 11+ examination. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport and arts are central to our philosophy, as we want the boys to feel creative and fulfilled. PE lessons, offsite games and swimming sessions help develop key sports skills. Drama and music are popular, and there are many after-school clubs and extra-curricular trips. PASTORAL CARE: This is a happy school, full of energy, fun and laughter. Wellbeing is central to the school’s philosophy and the ‘nurturing staff know their boys and care for them.’ Good Schools Guide (2022). Our buddy system integrates new boys, together with the House system. Form teachers ensure the boys’ emotional development is supported. Parents are encouraged to talk to teachers when they pick up their sons. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: EHB Pre-Prep School is a Westminster and St Paul’s feeder, with an impressive number of 7+ and 8+ boys receiving offers each year. Boys regularly receive offers to other top schools, including Westminster Cathedral Choir School, King’s College Junior School, Eaton House Belgravia Prep, The Dragon School and Summer Fields. Prep exit schools at 11+ have included Westminster Under, Dulwich College and Merchant Taylor’s School. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2022) says Mr May is ‘ambitious for his school, shows vision and is full of enthusiasm for developing each boy’s all-round potential, emotionally as well as academically.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We achieve some of the most outstanding 7+ and 8+ pre-prep results in London, with an impressive number of 7+ and 8+ boys receiving Westminster and St Paul’s offers. There is also the option for boys to enter the Prep and sit the 11+. We offer a blend of traditional values with a forward-thinking education. An ‘open door’ policy means parents are fully involved. Part of Eaton House Schools, and the Dukes Education family.

Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 2008 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 260 AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £6,300 (Kindergarten to Year 3); £7,360 (Year 4 – Year 6) HEAD TEACHER: Claire Fildes RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4; English & Maths assessment for older girls. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk

THE CURRICULUM: ‘Teaching is highly effective in promoting pupils’ excellent progress and attainment.’ (ISI Report). A relaxed but highly stimulating classroom environment promotes intellectual curiosity. Academic exploration and risk-taking are two essential ingredients in Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School teaching. Girls leave for a range of schools including St Paul’s Girls’ School, JAGS, Alleyns and Wycombe Abbey. GAMES & THE ARTS: Being regularly active enhances the girls’ physical and emotional health. They have access to excellent facilities both indoors and outdoors. We teach our girls how to generate original and meaningful ideas for themselves, and actively encourage a fresh, imaginative response. Music is strong and varied in the School. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is about understanding and supporting each individual child. The house system, excellent form teachers and visible senior management team combine to ensure that each girl feels supported in her learning. A Head of Wellbeing supports all parents. The new head says, ‘One of the most important things for me is the strong pastoral care at Eaton House, as I am passionate about mental health and wellbeing.’ RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2022, the girls received an outstanding 30 Scholarships and Awards to JAGS, Streatham & Clapham High School, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Francis Holland, Woldingham, Sherborne Girls’ School, Emanuel, St Catherine’s School, More House and Roedean. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2022) comments on the School’s leadership ‘vision.’ Mrs Fildes, who joins the school as Headmistress from Bute House in September 2022, says: ‘I want the girls to achieve their full academic potential whilst allowing them the space to become confident and kind, ready to take the next steps on their journey as strong, impressive and independent-minded young women.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: There is a ‘sky is the limit’ approach to learning – anything is possible. Each girl is treated as a confident individual so that she can blossom academically, socially and behaviourally, ready to take on the world. Eaton House Belgravia is part of Eaton House Schools, and the Dukes Education family.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Cumnor House School for Boys

Cumnor House School for Girls

ADDRESS: 168 Pampisford Road, South Croydon CR2 6DA WEBSITE: www.cumnorhouse.com FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 335 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) from £4,395 – £5,325 HEAD TEACHER: Emma Edwards RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Multi-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective but with high academic standards. Pupils spend a morning taking part in lessons and we observe and talk to the child to see if they will thrive in our environment CONTACT: Emma Rose; 020 8660 3445 EMAIL: admissions@cumnorhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings and Private Tours

ADDRESS: 1 Woodcote Ln, Purley CR8 3HB WEBSITE: www.cumnorhouse.com FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) from £4,395 – £5,325 HEAD TEACHER: Amanda McShane RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Multi-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective but with high academic standards. Pupils spend a morning taking part in lessons and we observe and talk to the child to see if they will thrive in our environment CONTACT: Emma Rose; 020 8660 3445 EMAIL: admissions@cumnorhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings and Private Tours

THE CURRICULUM: We follow the National Curriculum Plus, where our pupils work ahead of the age related expectations and are taught by specialist teachers in music, Spanish, games and swimming at a young age. As they reach the Upper School we introduce more specialist teachers in all subjects.

THE CURRICULUM: Our academics are outstanding but we believe that we are educating a whole person so we offer a broad curriculum and place emphasis on developing character and skills for the future.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The annual school production casts over 70 pupils and is performed at a local theatre. We also have an annual art exhibition and our games teams have won regional and national competitions. We are a top 50 school for cricket in the country. PASTORAL CARE: This is the place where children learn to be empathetic, have self-belief, be brave, do their utmost with earnestness and build strong moral principles. Our guiding values of compassion, belief, courage, endeavour and integrity are embedded through the school from Kindergarten to Year 8. Our teachers pride themselves in putting the wellbeing of the child first. With outstanding class and form teachers and pupils are happy and excited to come into school. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 50 scholarships were secured this year to independent senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: My philosophy is closely aligned to our school values and is one of compassion and kindness. All pupils need to know that they are valued and that we care by supporting their pastoral and academic needs and by creating an exciting and inspiring environment in which they will thrive. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We have a long tradition of excellent Sport and Music. With our excellent facilities including the sports ground our pupils excel in football, rugby and cricket. In the swimming pool – Cumnor House have been Croydon Schools’ Winners 11 years running. Other facitilies include a DT workshop, art room, science lab, Music House.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Cumnor girls love their sport, developing skills and competing. Music and Drama play a key part of our curriculum with opportunities to shine on stage. Pupils’ beautiful artwork is displayed around the school inspiring others. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is embedded in all that we do at Cumnor, every teacher knows every child whether they teach them or not. Teachers take the time to know each child as an individual, whether that is in form time, in the playground or over lunch. As a result, our girls are happy, confident and feel valued, safe and secure. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 50 scholarships were secured this year to independent senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: First and foremost, I want my pupils to be happy. It is about educating the whole child, equipping them with life skills – this includes self-assuredness, skills of oracy and self-reflection. I want my girls to be unafraid to think creatively and to be bold enough to share that thinking. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Happy, confident learners with outstanding academics and results. A true family and community ethos with a breadth of opportunity both in and out of the classroom. We are a forward thinking and innovative preparatory school with traditional values where each pupil is recognised for who they are.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Eaton Square Prep School

A small traditional Pre-School, Pre-Prep and Prep School providing outstanding education.

ADDRESS: 55-57 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PH WEBSITE: www.eatonsquareschools.com FOUNDED: 1981 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 300 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) from £7,665 HEAD TEACHER: Trish Watt (Headmistress) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: For Reception entry, an informal assessment takes place in the November of the prior-planned entry year. Occasional places for other year groups are available. CONTACT: Registrar; 020 7225 3131 EMAIL: registrar@eatonsquareschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Regular Open Mornings. Private tours or meetings with the Headmistress and/or Principal can be arranged. THE CURRICULUM: Eaton Square is renowned for its stimulating, rigorous and tailored academic programme, enabling pupils to fulfil their potential in all areas of the curriculum. Based on the National Curriculum, consistently exceptional 11+ and 13+ Common Entrance results are achieved. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is impressively strong and wide-ranging at Eaton Square. National success is a routine part of school life: last year’s accolades included IAPS Football winners, ISA Nationals Swim champions and an RYA Sailing Gold Medallist. Creative self-expression is a valued, integral part of the curriculum, be it through art, music, drama, debating or public speaking.

NEW Year-round Pre-School The Hampshire School Chelsea is extending its existing outstanding Pre-School (Nursery and Reception) term-time provision. Families with children in Nursery and Reception will now have the opportunity to enrol their children all-year round, or for periods throughout the school holidays to suit their individual needs.

PASTORAL CARE: The wellbeing of every pupil is a fundamental priority at Eaton Square. Pastoral support rated ‘Excellent’ by all recent ISI inspections. The school offers a unique ‘The Listening Space’ programme for all pupils, plus ‘worry post boxes’ for children to post any concerns in confidence. The school is in Top 3 ISA Schools 2021 for its commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 37 scholarships offered 2021 – 2022. School offers included: Radley, Winchester, Cheltenham Ladies College, JAGS, Francis Holland, Alleyn’s, Dulwich, Queen’s Gate and more. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We ignite a passion for learning in our pupils, exposing them to a broad curriculum, dynamic classrooms and opportunities to discover who they are and what place they wish to take in the world. Our nurturing ‘home from home’ environment is underpinned by our ‘POISE’ values: perseverance, ownership, integrity, service and empathy. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Unrivalled academic achievement with no ‘hot-house’ culture, and proven by the outstanding senior school destinations of Year 6 pupils. School also champions confidence and communication skills: as an accredited Tedx Centre, pupils audition, rehearse and perform on Tedx’s global platform – achieving 5 million+ views to date. A certified ‘Eco-School’ with pupil-driven Eco Committee.

y to toda ore Call ut m o d ion fin t a rm info

www.thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk /extendedpreschool admissions@thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk 020 7352 7077

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Hurlingham School

Heathside School Hampstead

ADDRESS: 122 Putney Bridge Road, Putney, London SW15 2NQ WEBSITE: www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 330 AGES: 4-11 FEES: Lower School (Reception to Form II) £6,210, Upper School (From III to Form VI) £6,425 HEAD TEACHER: Simon Gould RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. CONTACT: Fiona Driver, Admissions Registrar, 020 8874 7186 EMAIL: admissions@hurlinghamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

ADDRESS: 84a Heath Street, Hampstead NW3 1DN WEBSITE: www.heathsideschoolhampstead.com FOUNDED: 1995 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 230 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) £5,881 to £6,658 HEAD TEACHER: Katherine Vintiner RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-academically selective. Children invited for a taster day and school requests last two school reports CONTACT: Admissions Department; 020 3058 4011 EMAIL: admissions@heathsideschoolhampstead.com SCHOOL VISITS: School tours are held weekly during term time for all year groups and open days held termly. Ad hoc tours can be arranged by appointment

THE CURRICULUM: Hurlingham School’s exciting curriculum is designed to spark academic curiosity, identify talents and nurture passions within a psychologically safe environment that enables every child to flourish. It values childhood and places learning at the heart of every experience and opportunity. GAMES & THE ARTS: Children enjoy a range of sports including football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, ballet and karate. These are all taught by specialists both on-site and in Wandsworth Park and Rocks Lane. Music, including four choirs and an orchestra, is a particular strength of the school. Creative art is dynamic and original. PASTORAL CARE: Happiness is central to everything that goes on at Hurlingham. Our pupils’ successes result from their confidence, enjoyment of school life and ever-increasing appetite for new learning and discovery. Our focus on the individual affords us the opportunity to tailor our pastoral care to each child. We know a happy child is more open to learning, open to challenge and can perform at their best. We care deeply about their emotional wellbeing and make pastoral care our absolute priority. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Emanuel, Surbiton High, King’s College School, Wimbledon High School, Kingston Grammar School, Hampton, Cranleigh, Woldingham, Epsom College, Whitgift. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Children at Hurlingham will be educated in the broadest sense of the word. Academic excellence is vitally important but let’s prepare them for life not just an A grade. An education that teaches them to be kind, compassionate, and to build agency on how they can have a positive impact on the world around them. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Fantastic children, wonderful, dedicated staff, purpose-built learning environment for the 21st century. Rated ‘excellent’ in all areas of recent inspection (Feb 2022 – available on website).

THE CURRICULUM: Heathside is non-academically selective, and students are supported to become confident, independent learners achieving high academic standards. Small class sizes ensure teaching is tailored so every child gets the best from each lesson. GAMES & THE ARTS: Clubs include capoeira, chess, choir, coding, debating, drama, fencing and science. Specialist sport teachers coach a range of team sports and arrange fixtures with schools in the area. All children take part in two performances each year and music groups play regular concerts. PASTORAL CARE: The wellbeing of all pupils at Heathside is of paramount importance and pupils are supported to develop healthy and happy friendships with their classmates and peers. A team of student Wellbeing Champions works with school leaders to help promote wellbeing throughout the school. If a class teacher has any concerns about any pupil’s wellbeing, they can call on the school’s Place2Be counsellor to provide support. Mindfulness is taught using specialist curriculum, Dots. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Westminster, Haberdashers’, South Hampstead High School, Channing, Francis Holland, Aldenham, Emanuel. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Heathside is friendly, inclusive and academic. Children and young people are really happy at Heathside. The atmosphere is relaxed, but academic standards are high. What makes Heathside special is the focus on each individual student, giving them the confidence to feel they can succeed and go on to the next step of their learning. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A village school with a global community, Heathside welcomes families from across the world. Heathside parents are hugely supportive and play a key role in shaping the future of the school. It is set in the historic centre of Hampstead, a few minutes’ walk from Hampstead Heath, where the children play at lunchtimes.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Ibstock Place Prep School

ADDRESS: Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY WEBSITE: www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 140 boys, 140 girls AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £6,200 – £6,380 HEAD TEACHER: Lee Faith RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Registration in the academic year preceding entry, followed by assessment. CONTACT: C Voysey, The Registrar; 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning: 17 Sept 2022, 9am-12noon.

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is forward-looking, challenging and dynamic. Small class sizes and the skilful deployment of specialist teaching allows our pupils to make rapid progress against their peers. The superb and beautiful facilities of the School add lustre to our provision, as does the extensive programme of co-curricular provision. GAMES & THE ARTS: The expressive arts feature prominently and art, drama, music and dance are handsomely provided for, but so too is sport. We want our pupils to draw from the widest possible pool of experience. PASTORAL CARE: Our pastoral care is second-to-none. Our pupils feel safe and secure, never lost nor left behind. We value the home-school link and invest real time in getting to know our families. When we work in concert, we can be truly transformative. Together, we can create a joyful childhood which will last a lifetime. SENIOR SCHOOL PROGRESSION: External applicants for 7+ (Prep 3) entry and upwards who are offered a place for September 2023 following successful completion of the assessment procedure, will be granted an automatic right of progression to the Senior School at 11+. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our Prep Department shares its aims with the Senior School: foremost is a desire to unlock that which is most special within each of our pupils. We want our young people to develop the knowledge, skills and, most importantly, the character which they shall need to flourish. Ibstonians aspire to curiosity, independence and ambition. They are self-disciplined but creative, confident yet compassionate. More than anything, they enjoy the extraordinary opportunities which we can provide for them and they turn their experiences to good use. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A nurturing start in stunning greenery with delightful play spaces. The Senior School’s extensive facilities – Refectory, swimming pool, sports pitches – are all on the doorstep.

Kew Green Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green TW9 3AF WEBSITE: www.kgps.co.uk FOUNDED: 2004 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 280 (140 boys, 140 girls) AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) £6,632, all ages HEAD TEACHER: Sasha Davies RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: There are three main points of entry to the school: Nursery (2+), Pre-Prep (3+) and Reception (4+). Please visit www.kgps.co.uk/admissions for more information. CONTACT: Michelle Wadsley, 020 8948 5999 EMAIL: admissions@kgps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: By appointment or Open Mornings: www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings THE CURRICULUM: Kew Green Preparatory School (KGPS) delivers a curriculum that far exceeds the national curriculum in both breadth and depth. Purposeful, ambitious and inspiring lessons are delivered to nurture creativity and collaboration, instil resilience and determination whilst also developing a strong sense of self-confidence in every child. We embrace technology in our educational approach, recognising the need for digital skills, literacy and creativity to be embedded in all subjects which invariably better prepares pupils for future successes. In its 2015 ISI inspection report, KGPS was judged Excellent in all categories. GAMES & THE ARTS: We have outstanding art, music, drama and sports departments as any visitor would realise immediately. All our children compete, perform and enjoy the exceptional standards we achieve in these areas. PASTORAL CARE: We operate a genuine ‘Open Door’ policy where parents play a very active role in school life. Every adult in school knows every child. Relationships are strong, children are happy, motivated and confident to ask questions, make mistakes and give opinions. They are valued and listened to. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Hampton, Tiffins, Francis Holland, Notting Hill and Ealing, Putney High, Surbiton High, Wimbledon High, Aldenham, Emanuel and Radnor House. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Children thrive in an environment where they feel safe, respected, challenged and inspired to achieve. Excellent education must reach beyond a prescribed knowledge-based curriculum and recognise a child’s full potential in terms of physical, emotional, social, creative and intellectual development. Focusing on who the child is becoming while they succeed and achieve academically. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Situated in a peaceful corner of Kew Green and surrounded by nature and outdoor space, KGPS is in a unique setting for a competitive London school. Kew Green Nursery will open in September 2022, located at a new site close to the main school. Nursery children will benefit from use of the Prep school’s facilities and specialist teaching. They will also have an automatic place in Reception. Consequently, children can attend KGPS from ages 2-11, and, if desired, ages 2-18 in the Gardener Schools Group.

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FOGG 2

L ’Ecole des Petits

L ’Ecole de Battersea

French-British Bilingual Pre-Primary & Primary Schools for 3-11 years old French-British Bilingual Pre-Primary & Primary Schools for 3-11 years old

What we believe in, we pass on to our pupils

RESPECT | ACHIEVEMENT | FRIENDSHIP | CURIOSITY |RESILIENCE L’Ecole des Petits (3-6 years old)

SW6 2ND, Fulham www.lecoledespetits.co.uk

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L’Ecole de Battersea (3-11 years old)

SW11 3DS, Battersea www.lecoledebattersea.co.uk

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Kew College

Open Morning

Friday 23rd September 2022 9am - Arrival and Coffee | 9.30am - Head’s Welcome Talk 10am - School Tours Book your place at: www.milbourneloge.co.uk/admissions

Year 3 Entrance Assessment (for September 2023 entry)

Saturday 19th November 2022 Register now for Reception Entry in September 2023 Milbourne Lodge offers a traditional, very personalised education for energetic, bright pupils in pursuit of excellence. The school motto says it all really – “ad optima petenda”, in other words, “strive for excellence”‘Outstanding in All Areas’ -

ADDRESS: Kew College, 24-26 Cumberland Road, Kew, Surrey TW9 3HQ WEBSITE: www.kewcollege.com FOUNDED: 1927 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 284 AGES: 3–11 FEES: (Termly) Nursery, £2,690; Kindergarten to Year 6, £4,725 HEAD TEACHER: Jane Bond BSc MA (Ed) PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children must be registered as soon as possible after birth CONTACT: Michelle Warburton, 020 8940 2039 EMAIL: registrar@kewcollege.com SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the registrar to arrange a visit or to attend an Open Morning THE CURRICULUM: The importance of English, maths and science is emphasised at the school, but within a broad curriculum. This includes art, drama, French, history, geography, technology, PSHEE, philosophy, music and sport. GAMES & THE ARTS: Netball, hockey, rounders, rugby, football, swimming and athletics. Inter-school matches. Drama and music are encouraged, there are summer plays, Christmas and Spring concerts, as well as several school choirs, an orchestra, string and wind groups and music technology. PASTORAL CARE: The welfare and happiness of the children is of primary importance to us. This was highlighted in the ISI Inspection report of October 2019 which concluded that ‘the quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent.’ The school holds regular wellbeing days for its pupils. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Year 6 pupils this year were awarded 16 scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Kew College, we ensure that each child is provided with a tailored learning programme, helping them to unlock their full potential. Our children feel listened to and valued and they enjoy an education that meets their personal needs. They progress with confidence to a senior school that is aligned to their aspirations and capabilities.

www.milbournelodge.co.uk

Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9EG T: 01372 462737 E: registrar@milbournelodge.co.uk

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Kew College is an outstanding prep school achieving high academic standards and a consistent record of scholarships to West London secondary schools. ISI Inspection report of October 2019 rated the personal development of the pupils as ‘excellent’. In the ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection of November 2016 the school was deemed to have met all of the ISI standards, with no action points. Well-resourced ICT facilities. Residential week in France for Year 6 pupils. Excellent teaching with a creative flair. Forest school in Autumn term for Kindergarten.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Orchard House School

Prospect House School

ADDRESS: 16 Newton Grove, London, W4 1LB WEBSITE: www.orchardhs.org.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 269 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,386 – £7,053 HEAD TEACHER: Kit Thompson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in the Early Years with priority placement given to siblings of current students. Places offered from Form 1 upwards after a taster morning and academic assessment. CONTACT: Director of Admissions and Marketing EMAIL: registrar@orchardhs.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual and group tours available weekly. Several open mornings held every year. Contact the registrar to arrange visits.

ADDRESS: 75 Putney Hill, London, SW15 3NT WEBSITE: www.prospecths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 310 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,318 – £6,914 HEAD TEACHER: Michael Hodge RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in early years. Places offered from Year 1 after taster morning and assessment in Maths and English. CONTACT: School Office or Head of Admissions EMAIL: registrar@prospecths.org.uk/info@prospecths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Personal tours are held ad hoc during the week. Two open mornings a year. Contact Head of Admissions to book on registrar@prospecths.org.uk.

THE CURRICULUM: Tailor-made specialist teaching opens up young minds to endless possibilities, encouraging them to think creatively and form their own ideas. In addition to guiding pupils to high academic achievement, our programme of learning celebrates personal strengths and builds confidence from an early age. GAMES & THE ARTS: Orchard House offers a wide spectrum of activities which encourage self-expression and the development of talents outside the classroom, including sports, music and drama. OHS recently won the prestigious TES award for sport. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care comes first. Children blossom when they feel secure, happy, and valued. OHS puts huge store on pastoral care to ensure every pupil gains the confidence to achieve their best. Each child has a Pupil Pastoral Plan where they can note any private worries so teachers may monitor their happiness and wellbeing. Our buddy system helps newcomers through their early days, and we encourage older children to mentor younger pupils. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Destination Schools include Godolphin & Latymer, St Paul’s, Westminster, Frances Holland, Putney High, King’s College HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: I hold a deep belief that children are at their best when they feel safe, happy and are inspired to try their very best every day. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An impressive seven-figure redevelopment of Orchard House is currently underway. The new school will include: full refurbishment of all classrooms and learning spaces; brand-new STEAM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths); student wellbeing space; sports facilities at the Old Actonians Sports Ground and Rocks Lane featuring football, cricket, rugby and hockey pitches, netball courts, all weather pitches for lacsrosse and a sports field; three natural, ergonomic outside spaces with extra playground areas.

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum at Prospect House SChool is designed to be challenging and engaging, as well as highly motivating and inspiring. We aim to instil in pupils a real sense of enjoyment and passion for learning. GAMES & THE ARTS: A fully inclusive ‘sports for all’ ethos with an emphasis on teamwork and technique. Leading to numerous sports scholarships awarded every year. Drama and Music is at the heart of Prospect House and everyone is given the chance to perform. PASTORAL CARE: The pastoral care and wellbeing of the children is our highest priority. A warm and nurturing environment along with the excellent relationships between the children and the staff means that no child has any doubt their teachers will lend a safe and sympathetic ear whenever they may need it. Every child is given a voice and the opportunity to talk to an adult, including 1:1 with an in-house Level 2 counsellor. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Hampton, Epsom, Emanuel, King’s Wimbledon, KGS. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Prospect House is a unique and happy place where children and staff alike want to be. When you walk through the door you feel a sense of belonging; I believe that this is what makes us stand out and so special. An outstanding educational experience encompasses not only the academic curriculum, but also includes wellbeing, developing confidence, self esteem and happiness. At Prospect House we value these elements equally. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We are a non-selective coeducational independent prep with a village feel. We are all about happy childhoods this is why we do what we do and why our families choose us. Excellent results with a focus on individuality. All achievements are celebrated. High expectations. Transparency and warmth.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Discover our Junior School - Whole School Open Day Saturday 24 September 2022 To find out more, visit www.stdunstans.org.uk or email admissions@stdunstans.org.uk 020 8516 7200 - London, SE6 4TY

EXCELLENT! HAS BEEN RATED EXCELLENT IN ALL AREAS OF OUR 2022 ISI INSPECTION OUR NEXT OPEN DAY IS ON SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2022 AND WE OFFER INDIVIDUAL TOURS EACH WEEK

www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk | 1 Fulham Park Road London SW6 4LJ | T: 020 7610 8085 168 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2022

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“No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess ” S IR

IS A A C

N E W

T N

BOOK A TOUR TODAY

V isit u s to discov er what makes an excellent education. Be b old . We are u nashamedly ambitious for our pupils and lay important foundations for a love of life and learning.

Battersea Park

Queenstown Road

Battersea Power Station

newtonprep.co.uk | admissions@newtonprep.co.uk | 020 7720 4091

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

North Bridge House Junior

ADDRESS: Nursery & Pre-Prep, 85-87 Fordwych Road, NW2 3TL | Nursery, 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, NW3 5JY | Pre-Prep, 8 Netherhall Gardens, NW3 5RR | Prep, 1 Gloucester Ave, NW1 7AB WEBSITE: www.northbridgehouse.com FOUNDED: 1939 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Nursery & Pre-Prep: 315; Prep: 400 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (yearly) £8,676 – £21,855 HEAD TEACHER: Eilish Sleator, Nishi Kapoor, Michelle Blaber, Tom Le Tissier RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Families meet with the head teacher. For 7+ entry and above, there is also a maths and English assessment. CONTACT: admissions office; 020 7428 1520 EMAIL: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open events held year round, check the website THE CURRICULUM: Sensory, practical and social experiences inspire a lifelong love of learning in the nursery. The EYFS Reception curriculum includes specialist teaching in French, Italian, music, dance and PE, while Philosophy and Forest School aid academic and personal development. At KS1, refined subject fields introduce real-life issues such as BLM, while attainment levels far exceed the national average. The knowledge-rich Prep School curriculum extends as far as Politics, Economics and Art History, and students are prepared for senior school entrance exams. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is essential to pupil wellbeing and growth. Disciplines range from traditional track and field to more alternative fencing and street dance. The Nursery & Pre-Prep have large garden playgrounds and at Prep, Regent’s Park is the playground and home of sport. The arts are key to the curricular and extra-curricular offering, and contribute exhibitions, plays and concerts to the school calendar. NBH has multiple choirs, an orchestra and several brass bands, and pupils achieve highly in LAMDA. PASTORAL CARE: With an embedded wellbeing programme and dedicated pastoral leads, the school promotes children’s personal and emotional growth. Staff are committed to cultivating character and nurturing confidence. There is a strong sense of community in the small tutor groups and wider school. Happy children learn best and at NBH, the results speak for themselves. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Pupils are placed at leading senior schools with academic, art, music and sports scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We pride ourselves on really getting to know each individual child on their journey to the next school milestone and beyond. It is through truly knowing the individual, cultivating their character and promoting their wellbeing, that we can help each child to achieve their full potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: All NBH pupils can transition from nursery to sixth form without entrance examination pressure. EYFS and KS1 results in English and maths exceed the national average by over 20 per cent. NBH Prep works closely with families to choose the right senior school for each child, and celebrates many scholarship offers.

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School

ADDRESS: 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL WEBSITE: www.rpps.co.uk FOUNDED: 1991 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 (210 boys, 210 girls) AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £6,632 for all ages HEAD TEACHER: Carl Howes MA (Cantab) PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth. Entry by ballot; priority given to siblings. Thereafter, candidates are invited to meet with the Headteacher. CONTACT: Charlie Hayden, 020 8846 9153 EMAIL: secretary@rpps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open events: 13 Sept 2022, 13 Oct 2022, 15 Nov 2022 THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum far exceeds the national average in both breadth and depth and has been carefully crafted to enable each child to fulfil their individual potential. As a non-selective and inclusive school, we take pride in motivating and developing every child, bringing out individual talent, realising abilities to the full and instilling a lifelong love of learning. In its 2021 ISI Inspection report, RPPS was judged ‘Excellent’ in both key outcomes. GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer a plethora of opportunities for our pupils to immerse themselves in music, the arts and sport. Our pupils participate in competitive sporting fixtures, perform in regular concerts and events, or learn an instrument. Pupils frequently take part in external competitions. PASTORAL CARE: The pastoral care and well-being of our children is paramount. Our ‘Open Door’ policy reflects a genuine partnership between teachers and parents – the family atmosphere is noticeable when you visit. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Francis Holland, Notting Hill & Ealing, Hampton, Latymer, University College School, Ibstock Place, City of London, Queen’s Gate, St Benedict’s. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At RPPS, laughter and learning go hand-in-hand and we ensure that the years with us are happy, successful and fulfilling for each and every child. Our pupils engage in the excitement of learning and develop the confidence to question, analyse and express their opinions. They leave at the end of Year 6 ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead of them, both at their senior school and in later life. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: RPPS is a thriving school, situated on Ravenscourt Park. We pride ourselves on our excellent pastoral care and believe that learning should be limitless. All our children from Year 3 to Year 6 take part in residential weeks which help to develop teamwork, resilience and perseverance. This is in line with our belief that children should develop a ‘growth mindset’ approach to their learning where taking on challenges and learning from mistakes is encouraged.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

St James Preparatory and Nursery School

ADDRESS: Earsby Street, Kensington Olympia, London W14 8SH WEBSITE: www.stjamesprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1974 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 204 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) £6,440 – includes lunch HEAD TEACHER: Hilary Wyatt, NPQH, MA, PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Multireligious ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children can join the nursery (opened September 2019) the term they turn three. Nursery children and sibling priority for Reception places. All children are invited to a taster morning and are assessed from Year 3 upwards in English and maths CONTACT: Ashleigh Bagnall, Registrar, 020 7348 1793 EMAIL: admissions@stjamesprep.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly tours with the Head THE CURRICULUM: St James believes the true value of education lies in working out which doors you want to open in life. It offers a stimulating, creative curriculum that gives children the confidence to open doors for themselves in the future. The curriculum balances academic, pastoral, sporting, creative and spiritual elements to create a vibrant learning community. GAMES & THE ARTS: Strong in sports, with over 18 different sports taught including handball, cross-country running and squash, alongside team sports. Girls are taught football, rugby and cricket and both genders compete regionally and nationally – Year 6 girls recently won the ISA Regional Netball Championships. Specialist teaching in all arts, with many performances including a Shakespeare Festival. Great art and design department with onsite kiln, trips to London galleries and different techniques and mediums. PASTORAL CARE: Staff are strongly supported in their pastoral role. All pupils are valued and valuable members of the community and are encouraged to speak about their worries – no matter how small. St James offers chances for every child to succeed and celebrates when they do which boosts selfassurance and the ability for pupils to care for themselves and others. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Heads of art, drama, music and sport support scholarship applications and can advise on portfolios and evidence of success. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: New Head, Hilary Wyatt, who has taught for over 30 years and has 17 years’ experience in senior leadership roles, is enthusiastic about the fully co-educational structure of the school. An oasis of calm in bustling Kensington, the school has enviable outside space, a forest school, teaching kitchen, science labs and a new ICT Suite. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school develops pupils’ academic results and their characters. Lessons start and end with a mindfulness moment, ‘The Pause’. A love of learning is encouraged so pupils get great results for the right reasons, without a hothouse atmosphere. Pupils can progress to the senior girls’ or boys’ schools; entry is automatic. It has an 11+ programme with leavers moving to schools like St Paul’s Girls’ and Latymer Upper.

St Philip’s School

ADDRESS: 6 Wetherby Place, London SW7 4NE WEBSITE: www.stpschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1934 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Approx. 100 boys AGES: 7-13 FEES: (termly) £6,475 HEAD TEACHER: Alexander Thomas RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, welcomes all faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth, entry by assessment CONTACT: Fiona Kaye, Registrar 020 7373 3944 EMAIL: f.kaye@stpschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Registrar to arrange a tour or to attend one of our open days

THE CURRICULUM: A broad and liberal curriculum which prepares pupils well for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, Common Entrance and scholarships while giving them a broad introduction the great civilisations and achievements of world history. GAMES & THE ARTS: The school makes full use of its 30 acres of facilities at Barn Elms where the boys take part in a variety of sports two afternoons a week including: cricket, rugby, hockey, athletics and cross-country. Music is an intrinsic part of school life, and there is a strong choral tradition. Plenty of extra-curricular activities are available, with a wide variety of clubs on offer from cricket and fencing to ornithology and astronomy. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is particularly strong with excellent individualised support in a caring environment with a strong Catholic ethos. Parents often say that the school feels like an extended family to them and their children. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton, Harrow, City of London, Charterhouse, Worth and Ampleforth. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are a Catholic school and our patron, Saint Philip, is the patron saint of happiness, joy and humour. Whether it be in the classroom, at our vast games fields by the side of the Thames, or in our wonderful garden back at base, we put fun at the heart of everything we do. Our boys work hard too, and are well-taught within a bespoke and broad liberal curriculum. They leave Saint Philip’s aged 13 ready for the next stage of their education at some of the leading schools in the country. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Inspirational teaching in a warm and nurturing environment that delivers exceptional results. Leavers go on to: City of London, Dulwich, Eton, Harrow, KCS Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Westminster, Winchester.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

White House School

ADDRESS: 24 Thornton Road, London SW12 0LF WEBSITE: www.whitehouseschool.com FOUNDED: 1985 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 175 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (Termly) Reception – Year 2, £5,300; Year 3 – Year 6, £5,750 HEAD TEACHER: Tony Lewis RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Early registration essential, places allocated in order of registration. Settling-in day for children age 1 – 6. CONTACT: Admissions, 020 8674 9514 EMAIL: admissions@whitehouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly showrounds available by appointment only. Please contact Admissions to arrange

THE CURRICULUM: The White House Prep School offers an excellent education, as recently confirmed by the ISI. It delivers strong literacy, maths, extra-curricular lessons and activities. Children relish challenges, enjoy working together to solve problems, have an excexllent attitude to learning and are both enthusiastic and eager to participate. GAMES & THE ARTS: Physical education is an integral part of the curriculum at the White House and all pupils are given the opportunity to develop personal fitness and participate in team activities. The annual drama production and art exhibition are highlights in the school’s calendar and illustrates their commitment to performing and creative arts and the involvement of all children in these activities. PASTORAL CARE: The school provides an outstanding education which is shown through excellent 11+ results and achievements from pupils throughout the year. More importantly, the children are happy. They are encouraged to develop emotionally as well as intellectually and the ISI commented that both pupils’ personal and moral development was excellent. Dedicated and experienced staff work closely with parents to enable all children to excel as people with confidence. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Over 50 per cent of pupils receive academic, music, sports and all round scholarships to top London day schools and boarding schools when they leave at 11+. Future schools include Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, JAGS, Emmanuel, Whitgift, Woldingham and Radley. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A culture of supporting one another combined with a safe, inspiring, engaging and fun learning environment that sets high expectations and ensures children have an empowering educational experience. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A vibrant, forward thinking school with purposefully small class sizes which encourages and supports independent thinking. The school feels like one big family; this develops strong self-esteem in pupils who are confident but without arrogance.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

St Anthony’s School for Boys

ADDRESS: Junior School: Reception – Year 3, London NW3 6NP; Senior School: Year 4 – Year 8, London NW3 6AA WEBSITE: www.stanthonysprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 285 AGES: 4-13 FEES: (termly) Nursery £4,800 (full days) or £2,800 (half days); Junior House £7, 055; Senior House £7,285 HEAD TEACHER: Richard Berlie, MA (Cantab) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically selective including interviews and tests. CONTACT: Adriana Fritz, 020 7431 1066 EMAIL: PAHead@stanthonysprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Registrar who will arrange a tour

St Anthony’s School for Girls and St Anthony’s Nursery

ADDRESS: Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, London NW11 7SX WEBSITE: www.stanthonysgirls.co.uk FOUNDED: 2016 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 80+ AGES: 2.5–4 (boys and girls), 4–11 (girls) FEES: (termly) Nursery: half days, £2,925; full days, £5,015. St. Anthony’s Girls: £6,600 HEAD TEACHER: Donal Brennan RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic, all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. The school has an inclusive policy and all girls’ needs are assessed on entry CONTACT: Margaret Vaughan, School Secretary EMAIL: admissions@stanthonysgirls.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Private school tours can be arranged upon request

THE CURRICULUM: Boys study a range of subjects and lessons are designed to foster intellectual inquiry and a love of learning. Boys are encouraged to think deeply and question and challenge ideas. There has been great success at integrating digital literacy into classroom learning.

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum offers pupils a greater depth of experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education in a happy, secure and stimulating environment.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school has thriving sport, music and arts departments. Fixtures with other leading prep schools played in rugby, cricket, football, athletics, swimming hocky among others. Individual instrumental tuition, as well as ensembles, choirs, art and drama clubs are also on offer.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The sporting activities available include athletics, swimming, gymnastics, dance and team games. Individual musical tuition is offered in violin, drumming, piano and singing. LAMDA lessons are available to 7+ pupils.

PASTORAL CARE: St Anthony’s is a nurturing and caring school. Pastoral care of the boys is at the heart of everything we do and is promoted in particular through the form teacher who is the key link between home and school. The deputy head, pastoral produces a wellbeing magazine for parents each month and the school has recently employed a counsellor who works from a dedicated wellbeing room.

PASTORAL CARE: The school prides itself on the high-quality pastoral care on offer. Pupils feel safe, secure and valued as part of the St Anthony’s family. They are taught the importance of caring for their emotional wellbeing and work in an environment where they can freely express concerns or anxieties. The curriculum provides valuable learning experiences which promote practical life skills in independence and resilience.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic Scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic scholarships and means tested bursaries are available.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The philosophy that underpins teaching, learning and co-curricular activities is ‘Teach Up’. Boys are encouraged to question things and present solutions to problems. Intrinsic to each boy’s wellbeing is that they are appropriately stretched and challenged which we do within a supportive environment. Academic, pastoral and co-curricular spheres interweave in forming the education of the whole person. Such coherence means our boys achieve excellent outcomes at school and later in life.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘The social, moral, cultural and spiritual development of children is the most integral part of my role as Headmaster of St Anthony’s School for Girls. I deem it my duty to help shape young minds into morally and ethically responsible individuals and to inspire children to seek the opportunities in life that will lead them to become valued members of their society.’ – Donal Brennan, Headmaster.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Educating the whole person. Happy and hard-working boys. Excellent senior school offers. Fostering creativity and critical thinking. Love of learning beyond the classroom. A school defined by service and leadership.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Rated Ofsted Outstanding in all areas, St Anthony’s School for Girls provides a safe, nurturing environment for young girls to thrive academically, socially and spiritually. The small class sizes and individualised curriculum enable the teachers to tailor learning to the needs of each child, therefore enabling success in all curriculum areas: academic, sporting and creative. A wide range of extra-curricular activities are held before, during and after school hours.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Alleyn’s School

Alleyn’s offers co-educational excellence in a caring community for children aged 11-18. We offer a range of scholarships and means-tested bursaries. For more details, and to learn about life at Alleyn’s and our next Open Event dates, please visit our website.

www.alleyns.org.uk 020 8557 1500 | Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU

Located in the heart of the city, we offer an outward-looking, forward-thinking education that prepares our pupils for life. Bursaries are available to pupils joining CLS, assisting parents of academically bright boys who would otherwise not consider private education.

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cityoflondonschool.org.uk

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

DLD College London

ADDRESS: 199 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7FX WEBSITE: www.dldcollege.co.uk FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 AGES: 14-19 FEES: Domestic day students: £25,000 HEAD TEACHER: Irfan Latif RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All religions welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective based on assessment and interview. CONTACT: Admissions EMAIL: dld-admissions@dld.org SCHOOL VISITS: Private tours welcomed by appointment, termly open evenings. Details at dldcollege.co.uk

Ibstock Place School

ADDRESS: Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY WEBSITE: www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 325 boys, 325 girls AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) £7,940 HEAD TEACHER: Christopher J Wolsey RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11 and 16 via entrance examination and other assessment; occasional places at 12, 13, 14 CONTACT: C Voysey, The Registrar; 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings: 17 Sept 2022, 9am-1pm; 5 Oct, 8.45am-10.45am

THE CURRICULUM: Innovative offering delivers a hybrid of the best of traditional and modern: interdisciplinary learning for our new Year 9, GCSEs offered with BTEC Awards options, A-levels or BTEC Diplomas.

THE CURRICULUM: Committed to a liberal and humane education, we also recognise the primacy of traditional academic subjects as essential devices through which our pupils can build an understanding of the world.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We excel at creativity and have many opportunities across art, design, graphics, photography, media, film and drama. Weekly PE lessons use the on-site gym or local outdoor sports area. Clubs include basketball, boxing, football, yoga, circuit training and badminton.

GAMES & THE ARTS: A wealth of opportunity for co-curricular participation: A purpose-built sports hall; playing fields; swimming pool; all-weather pitch; stunning 300-seat theatre. IPS Singers tour internationally; Berkeley Ensemble is ensemble-in-residence. IPS artists exhibited by Royal College of Art.

PASTORAL CARE: Student wellbeing is at the centre of our philosophy with a dedicated wellbeing centre in the heart of the school. Judged Excellent at inspection and the first UK school to receive the Gold Standard Boarding School Mental Health Award, we are STEER accredited and a beacon school, able to demonstrate proactive, targeted, evidence based pastoral care. Also winners of recent ISA and BSA Awards in the Wellbeing category.

PASTORAL CARE: Central to our exceptional pastoral care are our four Houses and their vertical tutor groups, which allow pupils of different ages to support each other. An in-school counselling service offers valuable support to our experienced and sensitive pastoral staff, while a thriving pupil mentoring scheme also contributes to the outstanding provision which we make for our pupils’ wellbeing.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, and art and music colleges in the UK and USA with applications supported by specialist university tutors. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘I believe education is about more than grades. It is an awareness of the world, independent thought and values, the benefits of team sport, of culture, of academic ambition and learning with enthusiasm; of growing up in a safe and caring community where all are passionate about what they do. That is what we aspire to and, I am confident, deliver.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A distinctive, multi-award winning boarding and day school with ultra-modern educational facilities in an iconic location on the South Bank, overlooking the Houses of Parliament. Described by the Good Schools Guide as ‘one of the most unique and exciting schools in Britain’ and recommended by Tatler as ‘pioneering a modern alternative to traditional boarding schools’. DLD offers an innovative curriculum and courses, future-proofing students and creating unique learning opportunities. Year 9 will open in September 2023.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Imperial, UCL, LSE, Warwick, Exeter, Bath, Bristol, York, UCLA, Notre Dame. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: No young person should grow up in a bubble. Above all, an IPS education is all about making connections; intellectual ones most certainly, but social and cultural ones as well. We seek an open and diverse community, one in which everyone can grow and feel heard. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Co-educational London day school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in beautiful grounds adjacent to Richmond Park. Challenging and inspirational curriculum extends and stretches. Pupils renowned for creativity, resilience and empathy. Enthusiastic and ambitious staff. Stunning new Refectory opened 2020. Rated ‘Excellent’ in every area of last ISI inspection.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Leading Independent School for Girls aged 4 -18

Open Events 2022 Junior School

Monday 19th September Tuesday 1st November

Senior Open Evening

Wednesday 12th October

Senior Open Mornings

Thursday 15th September Friday 23rd September Friday 4th November

Sixth Form Open Evening

Tuesday 20th September

To book 4+, 11+ and 16+ open events, please scan here:

registrar@fhs-sw1.org.uk | 020 7730 2971 | www.fhs-sw1.org.uk |

Leading Independent School for Girls aged 11-18

Open Events 2022 Senior Virtual Open Evening with Live Q&A

Tuesday 13th September

Senior Open Evening

Tuesday 11th October

Sixth Form Open Evening

Wednesday 21st September

To book 11+ and 16+ open events, please scan here:

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Kew House School

A Passion for Life and Learning since 1741

ADDRESS: 6 Capital Interchange Way, London TW8 0EX WEBSITE: www.kewhouseschool.com FOUNDED: 2013 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 550 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) £8,073 HEAD TEACHER: Will Williams RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All Faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and relaxed interview CONTACT: Dawn Hassett EMAIL: admissions@kewhouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: By appointment or Open Event: www.kewhouseschool.com/openevents

James Allen’s Girls’ School Autumn Open Events Find out more about JAGS including our free and subsidised places.

THE CURRICULUM: Our aim is to provide a rich, broad education to all pupils whatever their specialism, pursuing excellence in all areas, examinable or not. The daily timetable is six taught hours plus the extracurricular programme involving academic, non-academic and sports-based clubs. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our pupils are highly creative, with a reputation for excellence in music and the performing and visual arts. Our dynamic PE department ensures success at both regional and national level across rowing, athletics, tennis, table tennis, cross country and netball. Inclusivity, opportunity and choice ensure participation is maximised at every ability. PASTORAL CARE: We aim for a family and social hub giving emotional support and security to all pupils and employees. Each pupil receives individual attention both educationally and pastorally. Our approach is holistic, as we believe that there can be no artificial barriers between a pupil’s intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth. A number of staff are involved in the life of each pupil, but in particular, the personal tutor who meets their tutee on a daily basis. Pupils have the same tutor throughout their seven years with us.

BOOK ONLINE

jags.org.uk

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Pupils apply to courses suited to their strengths and aspirations. In 2022, 85 per cent achieved their first choice pathway, including university at home and abroad, flight school and the military. 33 per cent went to Russell Group universities, including two to the University of Oxford. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We recognise and enhance the individual abilities of each child, welcoming pupils with varying academic profiles and placing emphasis on confidence, self-esteem and creativity. By operating a true ‘Open Door’ policy, welcoming parents and wider community members to be a part of school life, Kew House has developed the feeling of a family and social hub providing emotional support and security for all. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2017, a new sixth-form centre opened with a beautifully designed Independent Learning Centre. This building reflects the fact sixth-form students are approaching adulthood and encourages independent study. Facilities include a café, library, roof terrace, audio-visual suite and seminar rooms. Following an ISI inspection in Feb 2018, Kew House was delighted to learn from the lead inspector that the results of the pupil and parent questionnaires were the most positive they had ever seen.

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Hampton Court House An award-winning independent day school for ages 2 - 18

Scan to register your place or visit hamptoncourthouse.co.uk

A head start to higher education Whole School Open Day 13th October 2022

#AchievementWithHeart

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Maida Vale School

ADDRESS: 18 Saltram Crescent, London W9 3HR WEBSITE: www.maidavaleschool.com FOUNDED: 2020 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Maximum 600 students AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) £8,073 HEAD TEACHER: Steven Winter RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and relaxed interview CONTACT: 020 4511 6000 EMAIL: admissions@maidavaleschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: By appointment or open event: www.maidavaleschool.com/openevents

THE CURRICULUM: Maida Vale School takes a fresh approach to all areas of school life and is not bound by current conventions and practices. While retaining core traditional values, we have a broad curriculum, a vast enrichment programme and an extended school day, providing variety and flexibility to develop individual talent and fulfil pupils’ potential. GAMES & THE ARTS: Although academic rigour is at the centre of our school, sports and the arts form an important part of school life at Maida Vale. The school houses spacious studio facilities for dance, yoga and fitness classes. We have access to a number of nearby sports grounds and facilities allowing our dynamic PE department to thrive, while our theatre and art studios provide a wide variety of drama, musical and artistic opportunities. PASTORAL CARE: Every member of staff, no matter who they are, has a responsibility for the pastoral care of every pupil. Each pupil receives individual attention both educationally and pastorally. Children and young adults flourish when their self-esteem and confidence is bolstered. Our Personal Tutor Group system contributes greatly to this with each tutor meeting their tutee daily and remaining the same member of staff throughout the pupil’s seven years with us. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We seek to recruit intelligent pupils with a confident sense of identity and an original approach to learning, problem solving and creativity. We operate an ‘Open Door’ policy welcoming parents into school life, developing the feeling of a family and social hub that provides emotional support and security for all students and employees. Maida Vale School is an energising and nurturing place to be. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Maida Vale School is a beautiful Victorian building that was once a former college. The Victorians believed in light-filled classrooms with high ceilings and large windows, something from which Maida Vale School certainly benefits. We have, however, taken the school into the 21st century and Maida Vale is fitted with cutting edge facilities and equipment.

North Bridge House Snr

ADDRESS: Senior School Hampstead, 65 Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 5UD | Senior & Sixth Form Canonbury, 6-9 Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ WEBSITE: www.northbridgehouse.com FOUNDED: 1939 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Hampstead – 440 | Canonbury – 230 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (annually) 21,855 – £23,148 HEAD TEACHER: Christopher Jones, Charlotte Tassell-Dent RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessments and interview. CONTACT: Admissions office; 020 7428 1520 EMAIL: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open events are held year-round. Please check the website. THE CURRICULUM: Highly qualified teachers deliver broad academic and creative curriculums, tailored to challenge and stimulate pupils according to individual needs. The curriculum is designed to educate each child, promoting resilience and adaptability while ensuring real-life issues, such as BLM, are brought to the forefront. Students prepare for 16+ and university with one-toone mentoring, careers fairs and the Inspiring Futures Programme. GAMES & THE ARTS: The broad-ranging games curriculum is designed to promote pupils’ physical and emotional wellbeing and provide a sport for everyone. Students frequent world-class facilities for outdoor adventure and water sports, compete in national fixtures, and exercise the body and mind in yoga and martial arts. From photography and ceramics to LAMDA and NBH Rock School, the arts are key to the curricular and extra-curricular offering. Plays and concerts are regularly staged, art exhibitions are an annual event and pupils relish the opportunity to perform in the local area. PASTORAL CARE: Pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything. The school day is tailored around the teenage body clock to provide a later midweek start, and an onsite counsellor enables free communication in an environment where pupils feel seen and heard. All staff are committed to nurturing character and wellbeing within the small tutor groups and warm community, so that every pupil thrives on a strong sense of belonging and security. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Students receive offers from a range of universities, typically accepting places at Oxbridge and Russell Group institutions. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We pride ourselves on really getting to know each individual child on their journey to the next school milestone and beyond. It is through truly knowing the individual, cultivating their character and promoting their wellbeing, that we can help each child to achieve their full potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Students benefit from a later start on Wednesdays in line with leading research into the teenage brain – namely, sleeping patterns. Oxbridge preparation and ‘World of Work’ guest speaker events best inform students for successful futures, while staff work with UCL’s Institute of Education on the latest research-informed teaching methods.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Kensington Park School

Excite

Challenge

ADDRESS: Lower School, 40-44 Bark Place, London W2 4AT. Sixth Form, 59 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JP. WEBSITE: www.kps.co.uk FOUNDED: 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 245 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (annually) Tuition: £26,300 – £27,350; Boarding: £19,000 – £30,000. HEAD TEACHER: Stephen Mellor RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Lower School: age-appropriate entrance assessment, reference, and interview. Sixth Form: predicted GCSEs or equivalent, and interview. Scholarships available at 11+, 13+ and 16+. CONTACT: Head of Admissions, +44 (0)20 7616 4402 EMAIL: admissions@kps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: See website for upcoming open days. Individual tours welcomed by appointment. THE CURRICULUM: An academically purposeful school, our 21st century curriculum prepares our students for the changing world around them. Small class sizes ensure that each student is nurtured, challenged, and inspired to achieve their full potential, while our timetable provides flexibility for students to pursue their individual academic interests as they move through the school. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our extensive co-curricular programme, sonamed because of the vital role it plays in complementing the academic curriculum, is at the heart of life at KPS. We utilise a number of local facilities for our sport and Games provision, including the Porchester Centre, Will To Win, and the Old Football Pitches in Hyde Park, and our state-of-the art theatre and creative suite offer exceptional facilities for music, drama and the arts.

Inspire An independent, co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18 on the borders of Hyde Park. Register now for our Autumn Term open evenings. admissions@kps.co.uk +44 (0)20 7616 4402 www.kps.co.uk

PASTORAL CARE: We firmly believe that young people learn best when they feel happy, safe and respected, and the School has an attentive and discerning system of pastoral care. Small tutor groups, coupled with our house system, foster a strong sense of community, and ensure all students at KPS are individually known and valued. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Every year, KPS students’ progress to leading UK and international universities, including Oxbridge and many in the Russell Group, for a broad range of courses. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Kensington Park School, our ethos and values are based on the fundamental belief that we are a warm and welcoming community in which every student is empowered to enjoy learning, and to develop as a happy and healthy individual who will make a positive contribution to society: learning together to achieve excellence. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Neighbouring the tranquil spaces of Hyde Park, KPS offers an exceptionally well-rounded education in the heart of cosmopolitan central London. With a dedicated Sixth Form on Queen’s Gate and boarding available from Year 9, transition through KPS is not simply ‘more of the same’, but presents students with exciting new opportunities and responsibilities which enable them to develop the confidence to succeed at each stage.

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Unashamedly academic

Inspiring students to become global thinkers, enquirers and risk-takers Interested? Visit www.nlcs.org.uk

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

3-18

Confident, capable and connected.

Old Palace of John Whitgift Pre School and Preparatory Melville Avenue South Croydon CR2 7YN

Come and take a closer look

Old Palace of John Whitgift Senior and Sixth Form Old Palace Road Croydon CR0 1AX

Senior School Open Morning Saturday 1 October 2022 9:00am – 11:00am

Please book in advance at: www.oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk/bookings 020 8688 2027

Pre School & Preparatory Open Morning Thursday 22 September 2022 9:00am – 10:30am

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Happy girlsgirls Happy are successful girls are successful girls Excellent academic value added 72% A*–B five-year average at A-Level

Door-to-door transport Flexi, weekly and full boarding ‘Pastoral care uniformly “phenomenal”’ – Good Schools Guide

Open for 2022 OpenEvents morning

Saturday 17 September Wednesday 12 October March, September and |November Sixth Form Event: Tuesday 4 October

Charity number 311060

ueenswood

BOOK NOW

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A LEADING INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11-18

Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire AL9 6NS | 01707 602500

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Whole School Open Day Saturday 24 September 2022

Sixth Form Open Evening Tuesday 4 October 2022

To find out more, visit www.stdunstans.org.uk or email admissions@stdunstans.org.uk 020 8516 7200 - London, SE6 4TY

Prep School | Senior School | Sixth Form

Brave thinkers. True colours.

The UK’s only Top 10 shortlist for T4’s World Best School Prize for Innovation

Open Day Saturday 24 September 2022 9.30am - 12.30pm Book now to explore what makes St Helen’s such a warm and exciting place to learn.

www.sthelens.london

admissions@sthelens.london | 01923 843230 Eastbury Road, Northwood, HA6 3AS

An Independent Day School for Girls aged 3 - 18

2 mins walk from Northwood Tube | 30 mins from Baker Street (Metropolitan Line)

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Excellent in all areas

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report 2019

Open Days 2022 Saturday 24th September

Wednesday 5th October

To book: 020 7348 1748

Thursday 29th September

Thursday 3rd November

admissions@sjsg.org.uk

Open Morning Open Evening

Sixth Form Open Evening

www.stjamesgirls.co.uk

School in Action open morning

Speak the Truth

Live Generously

Aim for the Best

Earsby Street | London W14 8SH

Registered Charity No. 270156

NURSERY I PREP I SENIOR I SIXTH

Whole School Open Day Saturday 24th September

*ISI rated 'Excellent' in all categories Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 185

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Portland Place School

ADDRESS: 56-58 Portland Pl, London W1B 1NJ WEBSITE: www.portland-place.co.uk FOUNDED: 1996 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 215 AGES: 10-16 FEES: (termly) Day School: £7,845, Hybrid School: £4,000 HEAD TEACHER: David Bradbury RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Attend interview, provide a reference and complete a baseline assessment CONTACT: Registrar, 020 7307 8700 EMAIL: admissions@portland-place.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open events & tours are in the autumn term. Private tours are available year-round.

THE CURRICULUM: Portland Place School was founded as an alternative to the intense, large, examination focused independent day schools of which there are many in London. At Portland Place, our creative approach to academic study nurtures the spirit of discovery with a learning programme that will inspire and stretch horizons. The result? Our students achieve personally, socially and academically. GAMES & THE ARTS: Arts, music and drama are very popular at Portland Place, and our students benefit from visits to the wealth of art and performances on offer in London. Symphonfree is offered to all Year 7 pupils, supplying them with a free musical instrument and lessons for a year. Competitive and recreational sport has always had a special place in Portland Place. While some pupils have gone on to represent their county and country, we also take pride in stating that most of our pupils have represented Portland Place in an inter-school fixture, because we recognise that sport develops self-confidence and leadership. PASTORAL CARE: We believe that the happier your child is, the more likely it is that they’ll be receptive to new ideas and in the right state of mind to learn. At Portland Place, your child won’t be tested left, right and centre, but will have the time and space to discover how they like to learn. We are small by design, which allows us to understand the individual child, support them, and unlock their potential. Pastoral care is proactive rather than reactive. Staff are focussed on using positive psychology to support students. Wellbeing and coaching is included within the curriculum and the school has two counsellors to support students. The atmosphere is relaxed so our students are more relaxed. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Here at Portland Place we believe that exceptional teaching, combined with a modern curriculum inside and outside the classroom, provides the best stimulus for children to become inquisitive and creative learners and achieve beyond exams. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Good Schools Guide describes us as ‘small, nurturing and refreshingly relaxed. A haven of creativity in the pushy, academically competitive world of London day schools. Portland Place also offers a unique Hybrid School for Years 6-11, combining four days of online teaching with the option to attend the school in person one day a week.

Wetherby Senior School

ADDRESS: 100 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QU WEBSITE: www.wetherbysenior.co.uk FOUNDED: 2015 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 415 AGES: 11–18 FEES: (termly) £9,060 HEAD TEACHER: Joe Silvester RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically selective. Entry points at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) or Year 12 (16+). CONTACT: Kathryn Easthope, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@wetherbysenior.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: An October Open Day, plus Visitor Mornings held throughout the year. Booking is required.

THE CURRICULUM: We remain academically ambitious for our pupils. Our rigorous and rewarding curriculum, taught by dynamic and experienced staff, guides boys towards the highest levels of attainment and future success. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport timetabled for all, with on-site facilities (gym, spin and boxercise studios) and use of Ealing Trailfinders. Year 7 taught a brass instrument, with tuition for other instruments, plus music ensembles, and a choir. The drama department produces three productions annually. PASTORAL CARE: Wellbeing underpins all we do and, with just over 400 pupils, we are proud to know each boy as an individual. Our outstanding pastoral system is overseen by experienced staff, and includes a dedicated wellbeing team and a popular house system to support the academic, social and moral growth of our boys. UNIVERSITY PLACES: 84 per cent of pupils achieve their first choice university (2021 results). Recent destinations include Russell Group universities in the UK, and top institutions in continental Europe, like Bocconi and IE Madrid, and universities in North America like NYU, UPenn, Northeastern, Notre Dame, and Toronto. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: In our relatively short history, Wetherby Senior has built a strong reputation as a forward-thinking, caring and successful community. Our boys are encouraged – academically and socially – to realise their full potential, which is reflected in the places our alumni hold at world-leading universities in the UK and overseas. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An extraordinary London school, a springboard to the world. Since our foundation, we have grown to over 400 boys, with alumni at top universities across the UK, Europe and North America. We now occupy two beautiful buildings in W1, with state-of-the-art facilities for science, art, music, drama, sport and more.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS a

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ST BENEDICT’S Outstanding SCHOOL Catholic Independent School for bo a

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Outstanding Catholic Independent School for boys & girls aged 3 -18

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Outstanding Catholic Independent School for boys & girls aged 3 - 18

ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL a

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OPEN MORNINGS NURSERY AND JUNIOR SCHOOL Tuesday 20th September SENIOR SCHOOL Thursday 15th September WHOLE SCHOOL

OPEN MORNINGS

Saturday 8th October OPEN MORNINGS

NURSERY JUNIOR SCHOOL - Tuesda w NURSERY AND JUNIOR SCHOOL - Tuesday 20thAND September

SENIOR SCHOOL - Thursday 15 S SENIOR SCHOOL - Thursday 15th September Please register here: WHOLE SCHOOL - Saturday 8th O WHOLE SCHOOL - Saturday 8th October www.stbenedicts.org.uk th

Please Register Here:

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Please Register Here:

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135 years of empowering girls to forge their own path. Visit us this autumn for an open day, taster session or tour to discover more:

sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Transforming boys’ lives through education… Whitg if t is one of B ritain’ s f inest independent day and b oarding schools f or b oys ag ed 10 to 18 . Set in 4 5 acres of park land, we of f er pathways f or I B and A L ev els. T o f ind ou t more ab ou t ou r School, please v isit ou r web s i te.

I N D EP EN D EN T BO YS’ SC H O O L O F TH E YEA R

admissions@whitgift.co.uk | Telephone: +44 (0)20 8633 9935 |

2020

www.whitgift.co.uk

Whitgift School | Haling Park | South Croydon | CR2 6YT

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Badminton School

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The Ideal Home From Home Saturday night leave now available at Benenden Details at www.benenden.school/boarding 190 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2022

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Babington House School Independent Day School from 3 to 18 years Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES Headmaster: Mr T Lello, MA, FRSA, NPQH, PGCE

Inspiring Teachers, Inspiring Children

Hundreds of individuals. One community.

A leading independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6LR. Open Morning -

Achieving amazing results from Nursery to Sixth Form Virtual Open Morning available now: www.babingtonhouse.com

INDEPENDENT PREP SCHOOL FOR BOYS AGED 3-13

Saturday 8 October 2022, 9.00am -1.30pm Please book visa our website www.farringtons.org.uk/admissions/ open-mornings-school-visits #OneFarringtons

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OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER With Messy Play Sessions for Early Years Boys Pre-booked Appointments Required

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Banstead Prep

ADDRESS: Sutton Lane, Banstead, Surrey SM7 3RA WEBSITE: www.bansteadprep.com FOUNDED: 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 235 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) £3,940 – £5,065 HEAD TEACHER: Jonathan Chesworth BEd. (Hons.) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. Nursery visit term before entry. Reception entry via assessment events. Years 1 – 5 taster day. CONTACT: Adrienne Forster, Head of Admissions & Marketing EMAIL: admissions@bansteadprep.com SCHOOL VISITS: For event dates and Virtual Open Day visit bansteadprep.com/admissions

THE CURRICULUM: Tailored learning designed to ignite curiosity and encourage a willingness to try. Banstead Prep inspires children to aim high and dream big. Emphasis on developing skills for life and delivering a modern education that prepares our children for an exciting future. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our impressive facilities, sport for all approach and specialist art, drama and music teaching spaces enable us to offer and to actively provide a broad, rich curriculum and co-curricular programme to a high standard. PASTORAL CARE: At Banstead Prep we challenge, develop and nurture every child. We want every child to be free to be themselves. Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing is critical to our success as a school and wider community. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2020, Banstead gained seven academic, art and sport scholarships. Then in 2021, eight academic, art, drama and music scholarships and in 2022, two academic scholarships and one drama scholarship. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: School should be fun. Offering an exceptionally broad curriculum and co-curricular programme creates opportunities for children to be excited by and truly engaged with their learning and leads naturally to academic progress. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Banstead Prep School has been rated Excellent in all areas in an ISI Inspection in September 2021. The school provides wraparound care from 07:30 – 18:00 and an in-house holiday club. Sports facilities include an on-site swimming pool, allweather pitch, netball court and full-size sports hall. Children of all ages benefit from subject specialist teaching and use of dedicated teaching spaces for art, drama, food technology, music and science. Forest school for children in nursery to Year 2 and life skills lessons for children in Years 3 – 6 encourage the development of independent learning and creative problem solving skills.

Bedales School

ADDRESS: Church Road, Steep, Petersfield GU32 2DG WEBSITE: www.bedales.org.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Dunannie: 96; Dunhurst: 202; Senior: 468 AGES: 3-8 (Dunannie); 8-13 (Dunhurst); 13-18 (Bedales) FEES: (termly) Nursery: £482-£668; Dunannie: £3,680-£4,855; Dunhurst: Day £6,245-£6,920; Boarding £8,190-£9,195; Bedales: Day £10,515; Boarding £13,380 HEAD TEACHER: Will Goldsmith RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry points at 3+, 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+. Selection by assessment/residential assessment and interview CONTACT: Senior, 01730 711733; Dunhurst/Dunannie, 01730 711558 EMAIL: admissions@bedales.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings: Bedales: 17 Sept, 1 Oct, 26 Nov, 4 Feb. Dunhurst: 8 Oct. Dunannie: 27 Sept, 9 Dec. Contact for taster days. THE CURRICULUM: From the very youngest, pupils ‘learn through doing’ with a curriculum that has breadth and depth. In the senior school, students take a combination of iGCSEs and our own Bedales Assessed Courses (recognised by UCAS) in Global Awareness and Digital Game Design, for example. Sixth formers take enrichment courses in addition to A-levels. GAMES & THE ARTS: Bedales competes in many sports including football, hockey, tennis, cricket and netball. Excellent facilities include floodlit astroturf hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and an indoor swimming pool. The school is acclaimed for its drama, theatre, art and music with opportunities for participation in performances and concerts, including overseas tours. PASTORAL CARE: Every student is assigned to a house parent with whom they build a close relationship, and a tutor who monitors and guides their academic progress, tailoring support to the individual. Tutor groups and dormitories are mixed age, to encourage communication and shared experience across the years. There is a separate 6.2 (upper sixth) house. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are available from 10+ for music and academic, 13+ for art, and 16+ for drama, sport and design. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Bedales was founded as an alternative to the mainstream 19th-century British ‘public school’ and, while much has changed since 1893, we still strive to educate the young people in our care with the same questioning approach to learning and living. The school’s motto – ‘work of each for weal of all’ – emphasises our attention to nurturing the individual and coming together in a collective endeavour. Today, our approach draws on our innovative traditions with Bedales Assessed Courses taught alongside five core GCSEs, project-based learning as a key part of our Block 3 (Year 9) curriculum and approaches to boarding, pastoral care and interpersonal relationships that break down unnecessary barriers. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Shared progressive ethos and vision across the three Bedales schools with impressive university destinations including Oxbridge, music conservatoires, art college and overseas institutions such as Cornell and Columbia. Innovation in the curriculum with high expectations. 120-acre estate in the South Downs National Park, complete with working farm which has plenty of opportunities for pupil involvement.

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OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER HMC Independent Day, Weekly & Full Boarding School for boys & girls aged 4 to 18 years

For more information contact admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk

Academically, Caterham is up there with the big guns... all achieved without any undue stress. If Caterham isn’t on your list already, it most certainly should be.’ TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE

caterhamschool.co.uk

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INSPIRING EDUCATION FOR LIFE

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Cottesmore School

ADDRESS: Pease Pottage, West Sussex RH11 9AU WEBSITE: www.cottesmoreschool.com FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 4-13 FEES: (termly) prep boarding, £9,932; day boarding, £6,542; pre-prep, £3,494 – £4,659 HEAD TEACHER: Tom Rogerson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview with Head, previous term’s report and an English and Maths assessment if necessary CONTACT: Lottie Rogerson EMAIL: admissions@cottesmoreschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings: 10am, 24 Sept and 3 Dec 2022 Virtual 1:1 coffee breaks available with the Headmaster THE CURRICULUM: Cottesmore achieves excellent academic results. The strength of Cottesmore’s academic programme lies within its breadth. There are 21 different curriculum subjects taught. Through this rich variety of intellectual experience, each girl and boy finds their particular strength and this in turn lifts their academic potential. GAMES & THE ARTS: Cottesmorians are equally likely to be found on the stage, the games field or in the art and design studios. A dizzying array of activities and hobbies give each individual pupil confidence, making strong academic results more achievable. PASTORAL CARE: Every new boy or girl is given a ‘shadow’ or buddy who looks after them when they first arrive. Every pupil is matched with, and becomes, a peer mentor or ‘listening ear’. Each pupil has a form tutor (daily logistics), a pastoral tutor (wellbeing), a matron (domestic) and a house master or mistress. Every adult at Cottesmore contributes to the wellbeing of every child. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton College, Downe House, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Radley College, Benenden, Winchester College, Wellington College, Marlborough College, Charterhouse, St Edward’s and other top schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Everyone has a talent. Whatever creative or academic outlet makes a child tick, Cottesmore finds and nurtures it. Endeavour and fun are the most important elements of intellectual life at Cottesmore. Success follows an explosion of discovery and purposefulness. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Cottesmore is an award-winning academic boarding prep school for boys and girls in West Sussex, less than an hour from London. Cottesmore provides a coach service to SW London, which is popular with London families. Cottesmore has been preparing children for major public schools since 1894 and continues to provide excellent preparation for senior boarding schools who share Cottesmore’s belief in nurturing a rounded, dynamic individual.

Dorset House School

ADDRESS: The Manor, Church Lane, Bury, West Sussex, RH20 1PB WEBSITE: www.dorsethouseschool.com FOUNDED: 1784 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Circa 150 AGES: 4–13 FEES: (termly) £3,355 (Reception) to £6,760 (Year 8). Boarding fees vary. HEAD TEACHER: Matt Thomas M.Ed BA Ed (Hons) (Exeter) FRGS RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-Selective – offers based on ‘taster days’ and school reports CONTACT: Sarah O’Brien, Admissions Registrar EMAIL: sobrien@dorsethouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Prospective parents are always welcome to make an appointment to visit and meet the Headmaster THE CURRICULUM: Academic rigour with focus on ‘skills for life’. Plenty of ‘micro opportunities’ which build children’s confidence. Bespoke Year 7 and 8 curriculum ensures preparation for senior school and life beyond. GAMES & THE ARTS: Games taught by specialised staff throughout. Competitive matches weekly for all children. Ambitious staff encourage participation and improvement. Music taught by inspirational Kodaly specialist. 90+ per cent of children have individual instrument lessons. Art and DT department produce impressive, high quality work. PASTORAL CARE: This really is a family school where children thrive in an inclusive ‘high challenge/low threat’ atmosphere. Staff know all the children. At weekly staff meetings, any issues affecting children, however small, are discussed. Our boarders grow in confidence within our homely setting. Our leadership programme ensures that children ‘have a go’ and do not fear failure and our Independent Listener is available to help with any bumps in the road. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 40 per cent of leavers over the past six years have gained scholarships or awards. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: His philosophy is reflected in that of the school, in that you only have one childhood and it is to be cherished. It is vital to give children opportunities to succeed and not to underestimate what they can achieve if given the right support and encouragement. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Dorset House is a traditional yet forward thinking, high challenge/low threat environment with a palpable family ethos. Set in a stunning rural location, it offers plenty of opportunities for all pupils. Enthusiastic and committed staff. Excellent number of scholarships and awards to senior schools. Focus on preparation for senior school and life beyond. Ambitious for all children, while identifying and fostering each child’s strengths.

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Cranleigh Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH WEBSITE: www.cranprep.org FOUNDED: 1913 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 340 AGES: 7-13 FEES: (annually) boarding, £27,150; day (Years 5–8), £22,485; day (Years 3 and 4), £17,325 HEAD TEACHER: Neil Brooks RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Age appropriate assessments and report from the head of the pupil’s current school. CONTACT: CJ Staples, Head of Admissions EMAIL: cjs@cranleigh.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact Admissions to book a school visit: www.cranprep.org/admissions THE CURRICULUM: A stimulating academic programme, leading to Common Entrance or scholarship exams at 13+. Latin from NC Year 6. Food tech, music, drama, art and DT are part of the balanced curriculum. GAMES & THE ARTS: An outstanding reputation for sport, with individual pupils and teams regularly playing at county and national level. The arts are an integral part of the school, with excellent plays and concerts throughout the year and a brilliant, inspirational art department. PASTORAL CARE: A warm and welcoming atmosphere is present from a child’s first day. There is a remarkable sense of community, and of pupils and staff working together. Form tutors are a constant source of encouragement, praise and advice, supported by a strong pastoral team within this very happy school.

Cranleigh School

ADDRESS: Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ WEBSITE: www.cranleigh.org FOUNDED: 1865 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 boys, 279 girls AGES: 13–18 FEES: (annually) boarding, £42,720; day, £35,175 HEAD TEACHER: Martin Reader MA (Oxon), MPhil, MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: To learn about the admissions process for both 13+ and 16+ entry, please contact our admissions team directly. CONTACT: Alex Forsdike, 01483 276377 EMAIL: admissions@cranleigh.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please e-mail admissions@cranleigh.org if you wish to book a visit. Visit www.cranleigh.org/admissions/virtual-open-day/ to view our virtual open day THE CURRICULUM: A broad fourth-form curriculum leads into an options system allowing between nine and ten GCSEs. At sixth-form pupils take A-levels with the option of adding EPQ and Pre-U. Classes are a good size (approx. ten in sixth-form), and extra support is readily available. GAMES & THE ARTS: Outstanding facilities include a huge sports centre, indoor pool, equestrian centre, 31 pitches and a golf course. The music school features a wide range of ensembles and top-class practice/ performance facilities; drama has its own modern theatre, while Duke of Edinburgh, CCF and canoeing are popular. The Woodyer Art Studios provide some of the best art facilities in the country, with specialist provision for painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ceramics. The Design Engineering department has three design studios and workshops, including 3D printing facilities.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 28 scholarships in 2021, 227 scholarships over the last five years to some of the country’s best schools, including Brighton College, Cranleigh School, Charterhouse, Eton College, KCS Wimbledon, Marlborough College, RGS Guildford, Tonbridge, Wellington College and Winchester College.

PASTORAL CARE: Cranleigh’s philosophy is to nurture pupils as individuals, ensuring happy and fulfilling school years while preparing them for the wider world. The housemasters/mistresses, matrons and personal tutors who closely follow their tutees’ progress, Deputy Heads and Chaplain all play a key part in the pupils’ pastoral care.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We focus on enabling each child to fulfil their intellectual potential, while encouraging them to find enjoyment, and to seek success from their participation, at whatever level in the many artistic, cultural and sporting opportunities available. We believe that children should grow up with an understanding of the importance of personal responsibility, respect and teamwork.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: 99 per cent go on to higher education, with around 80 per cent getting into their first-choice university (including Oxbridge, Bristol, Durham, LSE, UCL) in recent years.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The School is set in 40 acres of stunning Surrey countryside, less than 50 minutes from London with first class sports and music facilities and an exceptional art department. Unique pastoral care in a wonderfully relaxed, inspirational environment leads to outstanding academic results.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Family values feature strongly at this ‘local boarding school’. A highly regarded school/home partnership enables pupils to remain close to family while participating fully in school life. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The 280-acre setting and outstanding facilities offer an enviable environment in which to develop in both academic and co-curricular spheres. Cranleigh believes feeling valued within various spheres impacts positively on grades, and results in confident, open-minded individuals who leave with lifelong friends.

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“

Once we had seen Highfield and Brookham no other schools compared

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175 acres of freedom outside every door of the school

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Nursery, Pre-prep & Prep •2-13 years Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ • highfieldandbrookham.co.uk • 01428 728000

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Dunottar School

Edgeborough

ADDRESS: Dunottar School, High Trees Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EL WEBSITE: www.dunottarschool.com FOUNDED: 1926 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 460 AGES: 11–18 FEES: £6,127 for Direct Debit payments and £6,207 for other methods HEAD TEACHER: Mark Tottman RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England (welcomes all faiths) ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment, interview and group activities. CONTACT: Romey Tottman, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@dunottarschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open events are held throughout the year. Please visit the school website for details.

ADDRESS: 84 Frensham Road, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3AH WEBSITE: www.edgeborough.co.uk FOUNDED: 1906 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 370 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (Termly) £3,857 – £6,263 HEAD TEACHER: Daniel Cox RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. Tour with Admissions Registrar followed by taster day. Reports requested from current school. CONTACT: Deborah Tully EMAIL: admissions@edgeborough.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Check the website for open days

THE CURRICULUM: A well-balanced curriculum is the foundation for innovative teaching where technology is used creatively to enhance learning. Pupils are encouraged to be determined, inquisitive and actively engaged in their learning.

THE CURRICULUM: Alongside Common Entrance in maths, English and science, the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) is taught, offering a broad-based, ambitious academic and creative extra-curricular programme that allows children to excel and find their talents and areas they are passionate about.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is competitive, enjoyable and inclusive. Rugby and football are the main boys’ sports, with netball and lacrosse for girls and cricket, swimming and athletics for all. The arts flourish with choirs and ensembles, dramatic productions and excellent creative facilities.

GAMES & THE ARTS: With 50 acres of countryside, sport is key to daily life at Edgeborough. The school delivers a hugely varied programme of competitive team sports as well as swimming, athletics, tennis, cross country and climbing. Performing arts are integral to the curriculum with an extensive variety on offer in music, dance, drama, art, DT and design.

PASTORAL CARE: The atmosphere at Dunottar is truly special. Pastoral wellbeing is vital to children’s development and Dunottar recognises that pupils need to feel safe, fulfilled and happy in order to thrive. The school strives to allow every pupil to be themselves, with their own unique needs, strengths and potential. This exceptional standard of care ensures that each student has the confidence to contribute and succeed.

PASTORAL CARE: Children’s wellbeing, self-esteem and happiness are the centre of the school’s ethos. The school provides an intimate learning environment and exceptional pastoral care embedding a sense of independence, self-reliance and confidence where mutual trust and respect between pupils and staff are the fundamental guiding principles, and above all, encourage good citizenship.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Tailored support ensures success in UK and international institutions. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: My philosophy on education is that it is all about learning to improve. I love being able to inspire pupils to achieve more than they thought possible. We create a vibrant, supportive community where pupils grow in confidence, responding well to setbacks and seeking out new challenges for themselves. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The stunning Palladian mansion is set in 15 acres of beautiful grounds and the excellent facilities include a swimming pool, large sports hall with four-lane cricket net system, a state-of-the-art sixth-form centre with study space, cafeteria and recreation room and a £4.5m Performing Arts Centre with 500-seat theatre, drama studio and music rooms.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Lord Wandsworth College, Wellington College, RGS Guildford and Bedales. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our determination to protect childhood coexists with our ambition for pupils to grow academically, socially and emotionally. The Edgeborough community inspires its pupils, promoting self-discovery; encouraging expression of individual beliefs and values, while at the same time, building strong relationships with everyone they encounter. Kindness and respect towards others, ourselves and the world around us is at the heart of the school. We endeavour to be forward thinking and progressive, enabling our children to recognise the importance of giving back to others. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Excellent teaching staff with high academic standards and a broad-based curriculum. Strong emphasis on the cross-curricular. Outdoor learning is a large part of everyday life. Children are encouraged to try new interests and take risks in a safe, supportive environment, building resilience for future challenges. All individual pupil achievements are celebrated and everyone is taught to celebrate others. Pupils leave well prepared academically and socially for a smooth transition into later life. ‘Inclusive, ambitious and a huge amount of fun’ The Good Schools Guide.

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Farleigh School

ADDRESS: Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW WEBSITE: www.farleighschool.com FOUNDED: 1982 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 460 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) KG: £2,070; pre-prep, £4,155; Year 3 day to Year 8 boarding, £7,145-£10,025 HEAD TEACHER: Fr Simon Everson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, welcoming all faiths, or none ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non–selective. CONTACT: Sarah O’Rorke, Registrar, 01264 712838 EMAIL: admissions@farleighschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits as well as Open Mornings (Saturday 8 Oct 2022)

Homefield Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Western Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TE WEBSITE: www.homefieldprep.school FOUNDED: 1870 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 330 AGES: Independent day school for boys aged 4-13 FEES: (termly) from £3,550 to £5,150 HEAD TEACHER: John Towers, B.A. (Hons.), M.A., P.G.C.E., N.P.Q.H., F.R.S.A. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically Selective CONTACT: Sue Evans, Head of Admissions and Marketing, 020 8642 0965 EMAIL: registrar@homefieldprep.school SCHOOL VISITS: Prospective parents are warmly welcomed to attend a private tour or visit an Open Morning

THE CURRICULUM: The stimulating curriculum is broad and tailored to individual needs. Our multi-sensory approach encompasses every type of learner; specialist teachers and imaginative teaching methods ensure all children thrive.

THE CURRICULUM: An exciting and broad curriculum specifically designed for boys allows for the integration of academic, physical and social skills to develop independence, both in learning and overall school life.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport, art, DT, music and drama are pupil-centred and all-inclusive with countless opportunities to develop interests and discover talents.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Our impressive facilities, extensive playing fields, specialist art and DT studio, new performance hall, along with our dedicated music teaching spaces enable us to provide a broad, rich curriculum alongside an outstanding extra-curricular activities programme.

PASTORAL CARE: Our Catholic ethos values every individual and we go to great lengths to ensure the fulfilment and happiness of every child, preparing them not only for senior school but for fulfilling and rewarding lives in the years to come. Boarders and day pupils alike benefit from the exceptional pastoral care, which is inextricably linked to the structural organisation of the school, through the quality of teaching and learning, the home-from-home environment in the boarding houses, the exceptional relationships between staff and pupils, and between the pupils themselves. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic (Canford, Rugby, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne), Art (Benenden, Rugby, Sherborne, St Mary’s Calne), All Rounder (Dauntsey’s, Downe House), Drama (Marlborough, Sherborne Girls), Music (Godolphin, Marlborough) and Sport (Canford, Dauntsey’s, Radley, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Farleigh is a place of energy and spirited enquiry. Boys and girls of all abilities thrive in the warm and safe environment which values every individual and prepares them for senior school and beyond. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Outstanding boarding provision, value-added academic and social development for children of all abilities with successful transition to senior schools due to excellent, individualised preparation. A stunning 70-acre site with exceptional facilities that enhance pupils’ learning: a new music school, floodlit all-weather pitch and tennis courts, theatre, indoor swimming pool, Forest School, huge variety of after school activities and wrap around care.

PASTORAL CARE: We ensure that our boys are provided with the structure to be confident and self-motivated, with a keen emotional intelligence and sense of moral and civic responsibility. There is a strong and supportive system of pastoral care, anchored by wellestablished tutorial and House systems. Boys have significant and high quality contact with pastoral teachers and thrive on very clear structure, routines, expectations and reward. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Hampton, King’s College, Eton, Royal Grammar School, Trinity, Whitgift, Westminster. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: As well as academics, personal interests and passions are cultivated at Homefield; whether they are artistic, linguistic, sporting or social. We challenge our boys and are very ambitious for every one of them. We encourage a young ‘renaissance man’, an enlightened individual who ‘can do all things if he will’. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Exceptional academic success (grammar school offers and scholarships). Depth of specialist teaching. Happy, well rounded and polite boys. The school was founded 150 years ago and is one of the oldest boys’ prep schools in England. Recent £8 million investment in school redevelopment has provided the highest facilities for our boys in an eco-friendly way.

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Mayﬁeld

AN INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11 TO 18, SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE JUST AN HOUR FROM LONDON OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT STATE OF THE ART EQUESTRIAN CENTRE FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS

Open Mornings SATURDAY 24 TH SEPTEMBER 2022 TUESDAY 18 TH OCTOBER 2022 TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

WWW.MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

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King Edward’s Witley

ADDRESS: Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5SG WEBSITE: www.kesw.org FOUNDED: 1553 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 440 AGES: 11-18 FEES: Lower school boarding: £11,790; day £5,960. Forms 3–5 boarding £11,790; day £7,185. (Pre-) sixth form boarding £12,250; day £7,555 HEAD TEACHER: Joanna Wright BA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11, 13 and 16 via entrance examination and interview. CONTACT: Justin Benson, Registrar, 01428 686735 EMAIL: admissions@kesw.org SCHOOL VISITS: Prospective pupils are welcome at Open Mornings or individual visits. Year 9 open morning: 10am 6 Oct. Year 7 open morning: 10am 1st Oct. Please arrange visits through Admissions. THE CURRICULUM: A King Edward’s education is a rounded education. All academic staff are subject specialists, GCSE/IGCSE in Year 11 followed by a choice of A-levels or the IB Diploma programme in the Sixth Form. Young people discover new skills, talents and enthusiasms and are encouraged to set their sights high. Our rich co-curricular programme broadens their horizons. GAMES & THE ARTS: King Edward’s is a wonderfully safe place for youthful adventure and curiosity. On our 100-acre site in the Surrey Hills we have space for many sports, drama, music, hobbies, and intellectual pursuits. Our sports programme is built on the latest research with activities that blend breadth with specific development, offering a vast array of Physical Education programmes. Music flourishes in and out of the classroom, with twenty choirs, orchestras and specialist instrumental ensembles from chamber to rock music. PASTORAL CARE: All pupils benefit from small class sizes and our House system with its supportive pastoral networks at the heart of school life. Each House is committed to strong connections with a single team of boarders and day pupils. Diversity has been a strength since our founding in 1553. Most of our 440 pupils are local but we attract students from more than 30 countries, teaching us what it means to be part of the wider human family. UNIVERSITY PLACES: The vast majority of pupils proceed to university, including Oxbridge.

Discover the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, a state boarding school for boys and girls aged 7-18 Visit our next Open Morning Saturday 17th September 2022 Saturday 8th October 2022

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We encourage pupils to be the best versions of themselves – individual achievement and personal growth count more than league tables. Our unique heritage and place among British co-ed independent schools means we can provide the best preparation for adult life to a wider range of young people than almost any other institution. We aim to inspire a love of independent learning, lasting friendships, Christian values and hopeful vision. King Edward’s is an extraordinary, distinctive, forward-thinking and global minded community. It is a wonderful place to be.

Situated in 260 acres of parkland near Reigate, Surrey, within 20 minutes from Gatwick Airport and 40 minutes from Heathrow Airport.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2022, 77 per cent of IB students got A*-B A-level equivalent. 97 per cent of GCSE grades at A*-C in all subjects. Weekly and occasional boarding and a flexible day. Easy rail links – 51 minutes from London Waterloo.

admissions@gatton-park.org.uk Tel: 01737 649000 www.raa-school.co.uk @RAASchoolGatton

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Visit us...

www.reigategrammar.org 01737 222 231 ReigateGrammarSchool reigategrammar

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Pennthorpe

ADDRESS: Church Street, Rudgwick, West Sussex, RH12 3HJ WEBSITE: www.pennthorpe.com FOUNDED: By the Braby brothers in 1930 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 270 children AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) £3,100 – £5,780 HEAD TEACHER: Lydia Waller RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Catherine Pinder, Head of Admissions and Communications EMAIL: admissions@pennthorpe.com SCHOOL VISITS: At least one Open Morning each term and Private Tours available

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum is diverse at Pennthorpe with children encouraged to involve themselves in every opportunity. Children are urged to harness the power of reflection at each step, understanding the different things that help them to learn. Pennthorpe’s curriculum requires each child to be authentic, an independent learner, to trust their instincts and to be bold. GAMES & THE ARTS: Pennthorpe is committed to the arts. All pupils enjoy weekly art, drama, DT and music sessions with specialist staff, in addition to LAMDA, using our state of the art facilities on-site. Furthermore, four sport sessions per week are available to each child. PASTORAL CARE: The happiness and wellbeing of all pupils is our top priority. Pennthorpe has a multifaceted approach to wellbeing, with numerous systems and support mechanisms in place. The pastoral staff are well trained and qualified in supporting the wellbeing of young people and act as Tutors, Champions and Mentors. The pastoral programme enables staff to hold regular emotional temperature checks, one-to-one sessions and small group discussions. Our ‘Wellbeing Guardian’, whose sole purpose at the school is to support the emotional wellbeing of pupils through counselling, is on hand each day. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Recent scholarships include multiple academic scholars, music, art, drama, sport, chess and equestrian. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Pennthorpe champions all children; everyone matters and everyone is known. Pennthorpe is a dynamic school built on authentic, personal relationships with a genuine sense of togetherness. Kindness, integrity and generosity are paramount, here. The girls and boys are encouraged to be ‘unforgettably you’, to work hard and embrace the opportunities a school like Pennthorpe provides. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Whether it’s academic achievement, consideration and kindness towards others, or an energetic and positive attitude – excellence underpins all that we do at Pennthorpe, and all that we strive to be together. A tight-knit community, each child is treated as an individual and embodies the ‘Pennthorpe Purpose’ with our motto ‘Born not for ourselves alone’ woven into everything we do.

The Pilgrims’ School

ADDRESS: 3 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LT WEBSITE: www.thepilgrims-school.co.uk FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 258 AGES: 4-13 FEES: (termly) £4,070 to £9,036 HEAD TEACHER: Alistair Duncan (interim) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Taster day at school that incorporates academic assessment plus reference from current school CONTACT: Emma Short, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@pilgrims-school.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visitors very welcome. Open mornings and events published on website. School tours by arrangement with Registrar.

THE CURRICULUM: School is exciting, learning is exciting. Pilgrims’ is a place of outstanding personalised learning and teaching. We take great care to ensure that the interests and specific talents of each boy are valued and developed across our broad curriculum, co-curriculum, and extra-curriculum. GAMES & THE ARTS: A progressive approach to games; traditional sports are played daily. Winter games are football, rugby and hockey. In the summer, pupils can enjoy cricket and athletics. Art, drama and design & technology are much loved subjects. Music is an exceptional strength. PASTORAL CARE: Our pastoral care is exemplary. Not only do we have a deputy head pastoral, a director of wellbeing and a lay chaplain, we also have heads of year, form teachers and vertical tutor groups looking after not just the academic but also the pastoral life of the boys. In addition, we have a team of boarding house parents, nurses and matrons working together to provide excellent care. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Winchester College, Eton, Radley, Canford, Sherborne, Bedales, Tonbridge, Marlborough, Magdalen College School: academic, music, art, sport. SCHOOL’S PHILOSOPHY: The Pilgrims’ School is the perfect place for boys from reception to Year 8 to learn and grow up – to find their passions and nurture them. All boys move onto their senior schools with confidence having made excellent progress academically and pastorally. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Pilgrims’ is a day and boarding school for boys age 4–13. It is a double choir school which produces outstanding academic results and provides pupils with exceptional pastoral care to keep them happy and healthy. It feeds top independent schools in the country, such as Winchester College, Eton, Tonbridge, Bradfield, Canford, Charterhouse and Sherborne. It’s unique position between Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College means it is steeped in its local history. Delicious food is cooked on-site using fresh and local ingredients.

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Radnor House Sevenoaks

Rowan Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Combe Bank Drive, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 6AE WEBSITE: www.radnor-sevenoaks.org FOUNDED: 2016 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 525 boys and girls AGES: 2-18 FEES: (termly) from £4,110 to £7,250 HEAD TEACHER: Fraser Halliwell RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Prep pupils attend a taster day. Written assessment and interview for Year 5 upwards. Previous school reports are requested. Sixth Form offers based on GCSEs. CONTACT: Katie James, Admissions Registrar; 01959 567166 EMAIL: admissions@radnor-sevenoaks.org SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly private tours, small group tours can be booked on the website. Open Days: Prep in March or Senior in Oct.

ADDRESS: 6 Fitzalan Road, Claygate, Esher, Surrey KT10 0LX WEBSITE: rowanprepschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1936 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 327 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) from Reception: £4,055 – £5,382 HEAD TEACHER: Susan Clarke, BEd, NPQH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry into Preschool, Reception and Year 3. Occasional places in other year groups. CONTACT: Philippa Edwards, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@rowanprepschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings are held each term with individual tours of the school also available. Contact our Head of Admissions to find out more and to register.

THE CURRICULUM: As a forward-thinking through school and member of Round Square, our full and exciting curriculum includes creativity in all its forms; genuine intellectual challenges, physical development, teamwork and leadership skills, moral, social, cultural and spiritual development, service to the community and to the world at large. Students study a broad range of subjects at GCSE and A-level.

THE CURRICULUM: Learning at Rowan gives all girls the chance to investigate, be challenged, take risks and be curious about the world around them. Academics are developed through experiences, adventurous learning and a specialist teaching model.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is for all, with football, cricket, hockey and swimming for both boys and girls. Weekly fixtures take place from Year 3 as well as inter-house competitions. There is a large number of co-curricular clubs each week including swim squads, outdoor education and performing arts clubs. Every pupil has the opportunity to take part in a drama production whether on stage or behind the scenes. PASTORAL CARE: Our priority is to create a secure, happy and active learning environment where everyone is accepted for who they are, celebrated for what they are good at, challenged and supported to grow in areas of weakness. Our small class sizes, wide ranging co-curricular opportunities, and values-based ethos support our outstanding pastoral care provision. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Recently, pupils have gone on to a range of courses at universities including University of Oxford and Russell Group universities. In 2021, all students’ gained entry to their first choice university and course. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We firmly believe that all pupils are capable of great things if effectively taught, motivated, and inspired by their school environment. Fostering intellectual curiosity and a thirst for learning in every individual is at the heart of what we do through a varied and engaging curriculum with personalised support in class, the sports arena, creative arts programmes and our wide-ranging co-curricular experiences. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Our school values of Excellence, Perseverence, Courage and Respect underpin every aspect of life at Radnor House from Nursery to Sixth Form. In celebrating every individual through our small class sizes and personalised approach, we do so much more than ensure that our pupils are well qualified. Pupils develop an intellectual, moral, social, physical, and spiritual robustness that allows them to become active and responsible young adults equipped to thrive in the world of tomorrow.

GAMES & THE ARTS: ‘Sport for All’ is our mantra. All girls enjoy regular games, swimming and PE lessons and our excellent facilities support those competing at regional and national levels. Drama and music form a key part of the curriculum with over 95 per cent of girls learning an instrument, performing in musical theatre and choirs. PASTORAL CARE: Over their time at Rowan, the girls develop a toolkit of strategies to manage the small bumps in the road which they will inevitably face in life. Social and emotional skills are cultivated in many ways, from dedicated SEW (Social and Emotional Wellbeing) lessons on their timetables to a highly personalised pastoral programme which keep the individual needs of every girl at the heart of what we do. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Epsom College, Guildford High, Lady Eleanor Holles, Surbiton High School, St Catherine’s Bramley, St John’s Leatherhead, SWPS, Tormead School and Wycombe Abbey. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: It is my belief that when a school balances academics, with nurture, support and opportunity to learn about yourself and from others, that you are creating an environment which will inspire and nourish every girl. We do this every day at Rowan, ensuring girls are happy, confident and enabled individuals. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: 100 per cent success rate at 11+ with 38 scholarships awarded in 2022. Access to over 20 acres of woodland for adventurous, outdoor learning. Exceptional specialist training in Science & Engineering with a focus on robotics. Strings initiative for all Year 1s to learn the cello or violin. Sport for all approach with a mix of traditional games and extensive co-curricular offerings. Outstanding facilities including specialist spaces for engineering & technology, music, science, library, art and computing.

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St Catherine’s Bramley

ARe yOU REady FOR AN adVENTuRE?

You can start your Sherfield journey at any age from 3 months to 18 years! Based in Hook, Hampshire, we are a co-educational independent school that offers full, weekly and flexi-boarding options as well as a day school. Book a tour today to discover what makes Sherfield special

www.sherfieldschool.co.uk

ADDRESS: Station Road, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey GU5 0DF WEBSITE: www.stcatherines.info FOUNDED: 1885 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 900 girls (of which 260 in the prep school) AGES: 4-18 FEES: (termly) day £6,585; boarding £10,955 HEAD TEACHER: Alice Philips M.A. Cantab RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: By St Catherine’s own entrance examination at 11+ CONTACT: Clare Woogates EMAIL: admissions@stcatherines.info SCHOOL VISITS: Tuesday 27 Sept; Thursday 20 Oct; Thursday 30 Nov.

THE CURRICULUM: In the first three years of the senior school, girls follow a broad academic programme which allows them to experience a variety of subjects from which they then select options to study at iGCSE/ GCSE. St Catherine’s offers 27 A-level subjects, providing girls with a perfect platform for higher education. Thinking Skills, a PPPE programme, a vibrant and relevant careers programme plus regular lecture slots complement the curriculum. All pupils have iPads. GAMES & THE ARTS: Exceptional facilities include a sports hall, fully equipped fitness suite, dance studio and indoor pool. In addition, there is a large assembly/performance hall with superb acoustics for music and drama productions. We promote an ethos of ‘sport for all’, encouraging every girl, whether she is an elite player or playing for the sheer fun of it. St Catherine’s opened its new Art and MakerSpace facility in Autumn 2021 which brings all of the creative arts under one roof. PASTORAL CARE: Girls are welcome to join our dynamic and successful school as day pupils, or as full or weekly boarders. Six school houses underpin the pastoral provision where girls feel valued and supported. ‘House spirit’ is strong as is a huge sense of fun and loyalty to the school and each other. A brand-new sixth form boarding house, The 6, opened in Spring 2021. UNIVERSITY PLACES: 93 per cent of our pupils secure their first choice university place, with around 11 per cent securing places at Oxbridge, 64 per cent attending a Russell Group University and a further seven per cent attending overseas institutions including the Ivy League. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Mrs Phillips believes that girls thrive best, both academically and pastorally, in a single-sex environment where happiness is the key to successful learning. St Catherine’s girls go out into the world confident that there is nothing that a woman cannot do. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: St Catherine’s pupils’ attitudes to learning are exemplary and they enjoy a strong rapport with their teachers and peers. Staff create an ambience of encouragement where learning thrives. By the time girls leave St Catherine’s, they are able to think critically, have high aspirations and the self-belief that there are few things they cannot achieve.

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Sevenoaks Prep School

Westbourne House

ADDRESS: Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0JU WEBSITE: www.theprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1919 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 AGES: 2-13 FEES: Nursery and kindergarten from £416 per session per term or £820 for a full day. Annual fees: Reception, £12,144; Years 1-2 £13,854; Years 3-8 £16,785 HEAD TEACHER: Luke Harrison RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but accept all faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: TJ Richards EMAIL: admissions@theprep.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: The school is open to visits and tours any day during term time

ADDRESS: Coach Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 2BH WEBSITE: www.westbournehouse.org/shm FOUNDED: 1907 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 388 AGES: 2.5–13 FEES: £4,030 (Reception), £6,915 (Day pupil Year 5), £8,565 (Weekly Boarder), £9,275 (Full Boarder) HEAD TEACHER: Martin Barker BA (Ed) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Aline Pilcher, Admissions; 01243 782739 EMAIL: admissions@westbournehouse.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 1 Oct 2022 or contact admissions for a private tour and chat with our headmaster.

THE CURRICULUM: Our children feel challenged within a happy, diverse community of learners. They are stretched at a time appropriate to them, producing their individual best without unwarranted pressure. The academic curriculum is enhanced by activities including forest school, coding, debating and critical thinking.

THE CURRICULUM: Designed to be holistic and stimulating, the curriculum at Westbourne House is an unforgettable journey of discovery: science experiments, leadership, languages, coding, field trips, charity work, performances, poetry, ceramics, concerts, mindfulness, kayaking and more. Encouraging our children to have a go and persevere is a key part of the ethos. It gives children the opportunity to learn about themselves, developing selfknowledge, humility and an adventurous attitude that is often remarked upon by heads of senior schools.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Creativity and energetic self-expression are encouraged throughout the school. Drama and music afford many opportunities from orchestras, choirs, rock bands, house plays to school productions – both on stage and behind the scenes. We enjoy excellent facilities on our 25-acre site and believe that sport is for all. From Year 3, all children have opportunities to represent the school competitively in a range of sports. PASTORAL CARE: Our ethos is one of nurturing each child and supporting parents and children alike. We understand that children are individuals who mature at different times and in different ways. The children are encouraged to work and play according to our Way of Life which encourages pupils to be responsible, kind and empathetic. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2022, all Year 8 leavers were awarded places in their senior schools of choice, some with academic, sport, drama and music scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Prep is a family school that values every member of its community. The school achieves tremendous academic success and encourages its pupils, among other things, to tread the boards, play for sports teams, perform in music concerts and participate in after-school clubs. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We place great value on giving pupils the opportunity to flourish in all areas of school life. They achieve excellent academic results in 11+ and 13+ examinations and scholarships. Underpinning the success of the school is our ethos and core values referred to as our Way of Life and this was reflected in our recent ISI inspection which graded us excellent in all areas.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is played daily and the excellent coaches build a love of being active. All pupils represent the school in matches. The Performing Arts Centre is a hive of music and drama with West End-style shows, all-inclusive productions, ensembles, bands and world music. Art, textiles, food tech, resistant materials and ceramics are much-loved by pupils. PASTORAL CARE: Great importance is placed on kindness and how pupils treat and encourage one another, which creates a deeply-felt sense of family. Westbourne House offers the benefits of being a small, friendly school, where staff know every child well and play active roles in their wellbeing. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic, 10; music, 3; sport, 12; all-round ability, 3. Exit schools: Bede’s, Benenden, Brighton College, Charterhouse, Canford, Churcher’s, Eton, Hurstpierpoint, Lancing, Millfield, Marlborough, Portsmouth Grammar, Roedean, Winchester College and Whitgift. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A happy, healthy education is one that lights up young minds, explores the world around them, develops new interests and presents wonderful opportunities. All these elements are at the heart of a Westbourne House education. My exceptional staff encourage all our pupils to make the most of every opportunity and be the best that they can be. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: It’s an incredibly kind and happy place to grow up. Each child is valued for who they are and their unique contributions to the community. The school builds children’s skills for the future with leadership, teamwork and peer mentoring opportunities. Friendly boarding experience from Year 4. Children love the daily opportunities for independence and adventure in 100 acres of parkland.

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FROM CHARING CROSS

TO CROSS COUNTRY

Trains from Charing Cross to Tonbridge run very frequently. The trip takes only 40 minutes and is followed by a quick walk down Tonbridge High Street to the School. Once there, you will see some of the finest school buildings and facilities in the land and you may even spot our boys romping home from The CRAS – our annual inter-house cross country run. Even more importantly, you will come face to face with some of the most accomplished teaching talent in the country.

Arrange a visit: admissions@tonbridge-school.org tonbridge-school.co.uk

I am Walhampton

Discover the Walhampton difference and visit us to find out about our scholarships in: Academic, Sport, Equine, Music, Art and Drama. Situated in a beautiful location on the south coast and close to the New Forest, we are an independent co-educational preparatory day, flexi and full-time boarding school for ages 2-13 years.

Open Mornings 23rd September - Pre Prep | 7th October - Prep Contact our School Registrar on: 01590 613303 or registrar@walhampton.com WALHAMPTON SCHOOL, LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE SO41 5ZG

www.walhampton.com

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Walthamstow Hall Junior School

ADDRESS: Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LD WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 135 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) Nursery, £340 per session; Reception to Year 2, £4,210; Year 3 – Year 6, £5,390 HEAD TEACHER: Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (London), PGCE (Surrey) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: All girls attend a taster day where they are assessed, this includes test papers from Years 3 – 6. CONTACT: Alex Knight, Registrar; 01732 468703 EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: To book a visit please contact the Registrar Mrs Knight.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad and well-balanced curriculum is taught by committed teachers. Learning outside the classroom, including Forest School onsite, and half-termly whole school theme days, e.g. Courage Day, Environment Day, Community Day are cornerstones to a creative curriculum. GAMES & THE ARTS: An extensive extra-curricular programme encourages the exploration of a diverse range of sporting and artistic interests. Pupils are taught by dedicated sports, art, music and drama specialists. PASTORAL CARE: A caring and nurturing school where effort is celebrated and where learning is fun. The kind of school that girls run into every morning and leave ‘as the best version of themselves – not someone else’s version of what they should be,’ as one parent puts it.’ – The Good Schools Guide 2019 RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Leavers gain scholarships each year, mainly to Walthamstow Hall Senior or Sevenoaks School. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For over 180 years, we have been true to our founding aim to provide an education for girls which is full of opportunity, challenge and possibility. At Walthamstow Hall, pupils discover that learning is an active process which enables them to get personally involved, it is not one which just passively happens to them. Pupils recognise that learning is a consequence of thinking. They do not merely pass through a door but are set on a voyage of discovery. We are not promising a polished product, but a profound process. We are not about growing grass which will wither once it faces the real world but cultivating patterns and disciplines of learning that will last a lifetime. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Specialised teaching facilities for young pupils include a science lab, art and DT room, music block and EYFS classrooms. Use of Walthamstow Hall Senior School facilities. Includes weekly swimming and use of School Theatre – for plays and concerts. A ‘Creative Curriculum’, that is enquiry-led and topic-based, runs across the Early Years stage.

Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks

ADDRESS: Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UL WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) Senior School & Sixth Form, £7,355 HEAD TEACHER: Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (Lond), PGCE (Surrey) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: ISEB Pre-Test for Year 7 and Year 9 Deferred Entry. Sixth Form offers based on GCSE grades. Interviews at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Separate academic scholarship papers offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+ CONTACT: Alex Knight, Registrar; 01732 468703 EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning, 1 Oct 2022. Book at www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk THE CURRICULUM: Offers unusual breadth, choice and flexibility. Lively teaching from highly qualified, enthusiastic specialists to optimum-sized groups of around 20. Students study GCSE and A-level. GAMES & THE ARTS: All pupils are encouraged to get involved. There are many opportunities to participate in a rich panoply of artistic, musical, dramatic and sporting activities. Students compete strongly at national and county level in sport and gain places at the National Youth Theatre and Orchestra. National titles currently held in badminton, netball and swimming. PASTORAL CARE: A supportive and harmonious community where all individuals are respected and contribute. Belief that strong pastoral systems underpin academic progress and that emotional, personal and intellectual development go hand in hand. The personal development of pupils is excellent. They are confident and articulate young people, with a welldeveloped sense of right and wrong and a high degree of emotional maturity. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Typically over 95 per cent of students go to university and over 90 per cent to their first choice and over 75 per cent to Russell Group. Higher level apprenticeships also taken up at Deloitte and IBM. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For over 180 years, we have been true to our founding aim to provide an education which is full of opportunity, challenge and possibility. At Walthamstow Hall, pupils discover that learning is an active process which enables them to get personally involved, not one which just passively happens to them. Students recognise that learning is a consequence of thinking. They do not merely pass through a door, but are set on a voyage of discovery. We are not promising a polished product, but a profound process. We are not about growing grass which will wither once it faces the real world, but cultivating patterns and disciplines of learning that will last a lifetime. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Inspiring teaching, wonderful facilities, close partnerships between parents, staff and pupils and a shared sense of pride in our history and achievements lie at the heart of our success.

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Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford

“An outstanding school - bright children and dedicated staff” Good Schools Guide

High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0RF 0208 505 4821 www.bancrofts.org

Cheam Community

ADDRESS: 3 Brewer Street, Oxford OX1 1QW WEBSITE: www.cccs.org.uk FOUNDED: 1546 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 150 AGES: 2-13 years FEES: (termly) From £1,640 for Nursery; £4,285 for Pre-Prep; £6,385 for Prep; £4,025 for Cathedral Choristers HEAD TEACHER: Richard Murray RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in Nursery and Pre-Prep, subject to a satisfactory taster session; selective in Prep CONTACT: Laura Kemp, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@cccs.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Forthcoming Open Mornings will be published on the website THE CURRICULUM: We aim to instil a love of learning in all our pupils. Our curriculum prepares boys for Common Entrance and scholarships to senior schools. French is taught from Nursery; from Form 5, English and Maths are taught in smaller sets. Reading is central to the life of the School. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our playing fields, surrounded by Christ Church and Merton Colleges, are among the most beautiful in the world. All boys participate in Rugby, Football, Cricket and Athletics. Real Tennis, Golf, Squash and Swimming are also on offer. Being a small school, all boys have the opportunity to play in sport matches. Music permeates the School, which provides choristers for three choirs in Oxford: the Cathedral, Worcester College and Pembroke College. We have a large number of instrumentalists who achieve high grades. School productions are written by our Head of Classics. PASTORAL CARE: All boys are looked after by a Form Tutor; they know their pupils well and are able to help with their daily school work, any concerns they may have and monitor their academic and social development. Our school’s approach is one of compassion, within the context of an environment, where people know there are proper boundaries. Every pupil and member of staff plays a vital part in the creation of a culture of kindness. Every week, pupils’ welfare is discussed by the entire staff. No pupil is ever ‘lost’. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Stonyhurst College, Wells Cathedral College, Shrewsbury School, Bryanston School, Magdalen College, Radley College, Abingdon School and St Edward’s School.

EXPLORE CHEAM

OPEN MORNING Friday 14 October | 10.00am to 12.30pm

3 - 13 years | Co-Educational | Day, Flexi and Weekly Boarding

www.cheamschool.com

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We have high expectations of our pupils; to take any other approach is an insult to those in our care. Our teachers are exceptional, and it is their inspiration which sows the seeds of a love of learning. Good manners are seen as the outward sign of a civilised life, of kindness, thoughtfulness and proper self-confidence. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We are a small school, set in 11 acres, in the heart of Oxford. Three outstanding choirs, one of which is world famous, are at the heart of our community. Our children are intellectually vibrant, charming and self-motivated. Our school dogs, Oney and Thistle, help the children feel at home.

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We are free thinkers. We are courageous. We are kind. An extraordinary Pre-Prep and Prep School in Oxford where children discover and develop their talents inside the classroom and beyond. To get a feel for the spirit of the Dragon, book onto one of our termly open days on our website, or through our Admissions team admissions@dragonschool.org / 01865 315 405.

www.dragonschool.org

Rise to the Challenge 90.9 % of Greene’s A level retakes improve by at least two grades.

Discuss your retake: enquiries@greenes.org.uk +44 (0)1865 664400

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d’Overbroeck’s

Queen Anne’s School, Caversham

• • • • • •

• • ADDRESS: 333 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7PL WEBSITE: www.doverbroecks.com FOUNDED: 1977 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Years 7-11: 200; Sixth Form: 400 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) Year 7-11 day, £6,650; Sixth Form day, £8,730; Sixth Form boarding, £14,130–£16,930 (full-time); £13,480 (weekly) HEAD TEACHER: Jonathan Cuff RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Year 7-9: application, taster day, references, entrance exams. Sixth Form: application, interview, references. CONTACT: Admissions, 01865 688600 EMAIL: registrar@doverbroecks.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits by appointment. Virtual and inperson open events throughout the year – register via the website.

ADDRESS: Henley Road, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 6DX WEBSITE: www.qas.org.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 450 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) day £8,535; flexi-boarding £12,740 – £13,435; full boarding £14,135 HEAD TEACHER: Elaine Purves BA PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, accepting girls of no or all faith/s. ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment day and Common Entrance CONTACT: Admissions; 01189 187 300 EMAIL: admissions@qas.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visit the website to book termly open events. Sixth Form open evening in Sept 2022. Contact admissions for individual visits.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad curriculum in Years 7-11 and a varied range of 35 A-level subjects in Sixth Form. Subject choices are available in any combination; there are no option blocks. Broad range of academic enrichment options including the Extended Project Qualification.

THE CURRICULUM: Queen Anne’s is known for its outstanding ‘value added’ – students gain 1.5 grades better than expected at GCSE and A-level in every subject, thanks to the excellent teaching and learning.

GAMES & THE ARTS: A busy co-curricular programme of over 50 sports and activities across the school. A Tennis Academy is available to develop exceptional tennis players. Strong art, drama and music departments. New Sixth Form facilities include a dedicated Arts Centre for Art, Photography and Textiles. PASTORAL CARE: Outstanding pastoral care regularly praised by students and parents. Major strength is support and encouragement for students. d’Overbroeck’s is very much a ‘people place’ where each individual thrives. First-name terms highlight a sense of working together, underpinned by a high level of mutual respect. Years 7-11 is for day pupils only and they are taught in small classes. At the Sixth Form, each student has a Director of Studies who meets with them individually to discuss progress. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Years 7-11: academic, art, drama and music. Sixth Form: academic, art, drama, music, media, sport and Tennis Academy. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: d’Overbroeck’s is built on personal relationships, a lack of stuffiness and a strong belief that every individual lies at the heart of the school. Students are creative, think for themselves, relish stretching the boundaries of their knowledge and do very well academically. It’s a forward-thinking school full of energy, laughter and achievement. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An inclusive, collaborative approach with a strong focus on learning being enjoyable as well as successful. Students’ views are valued, while teaching is interactive and motivating in small classes. Students gain confidence expressing themselves, questioning and being independent thinkers. Large direct entry into Sixth Form (day, weekly and full-time boarding options). Outstanding value added: 34 per cent A* at A-level in 2021 and 43 per cent grades 9-8 at GCSE.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Known for its performing and creative arts offering, the school boasts an extensive co-curricular programme. Sports such as lacrosse, tennis, dance, and swimming feature highly both in academic and co-curricular PE, with football, badminton and cricket recent growing additions. PASTORAL CARE: Queen Anne’s School has an outstanding reputation for pastoral care and a community-minded spirit. A robust and trusted pastoral care network made up of Heads of Year, House Parents and academic teachers are on hand to support students through their academic and personal highs and lows. Success is enjoyed while having fun and building strong relationships in an environment which encourages girls to find their own path. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Top universities in UK and overseas including Oxbridge, Russell Groups and US rowing scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Elaine Purves joined Queen Anne’s in January 2022; she has brought a wealth of experience along with a passion for student wellbeing and excellence in all areas. Ms Purves believes in providing an environment where girls can thrive academically and holistically to provide a brilliant launchpad for life. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: From the Sixth Form centre that could be mistaken for Google offices, to the careful support of the wellbeing programme, the school is breaking down barriers and revolutionising the way teenagers are taught. The school’s pioneering education prepares girls for the challenges of the modern world; inspiring girls to explore their individuality, free from gender stereotypes.

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A term at our School in France A term at our School in France Family-friendly boarding Family-friendly boarding Our beautiful 110 acre woodland Our beautiful 110 acre woodland campus in Berkshire campus in Berkshire an hour from London • Only • Only an hour from London • • • • • •

“We “We found found friends friends for for life.” life.” -- Dhyaana & Georgia Dhyaana & Georgia

Find Find your your future future Find Find your your Downe Downe House House Open Open Days Days and and individual individual registrar@downehouse.net registrar@downehouse.net

tours tours available available || 01635 01635 204701 204701

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An outstanding independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18 years An outstanding independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18 years 89% 89% Grades 9-7 Grades 9-7 GCSE GCSE Find House - School House 5 Your HomeDowne Counties North.indd 213 resize 298mmx225mm.indd 1 Find Your Downe House - School House resize 298mmx225mm.indd 1

98% 98% Grades A*-B Grades A*-B A Level A Level

94% 94% First-Choice First-Choice University University

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Boarding at Felsted Leading all-round education with pupil wellbeing at its heart. Give your child the space to thrive with our variety of modern boarding options. Based on a safe rural campus just one hour from London.

Find out more and book your visit at felsted.org/opendays

Developing character, making a difference. Co-educational, ages 4-18, boarding & day. #FelstedFamily

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Moulsford Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Moulsford-on-Thames, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9HR WEBSITE: www.moulsford.com FOUNDED: 1961 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 370 AGES: 3–13 FEES: (termly) Pre-School, £3,750; Pre-Prep, £4,405; Prep, £6,580; Boarding, £8,235 HEAD TEACHER: Ben Beardmore-Gray RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Pre-School and Reception: non-selective: entry is first-come-first-served. Year 3+: formal entrance assessment. CONTACT: Jill Morrin, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@moulsford.com SCHOOL VISITS: Three open days in Sept, Feb and May. Visits may be arranged privately throughout the year.

Ludgrove

ADDRESS: Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AB WEBSITE: www.ludgrove.net FOUNDED: 1892 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 186 all boys AGES: 8–13 FEES: (termly) £10,300 HEAD TEACHER: Simon Barber RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England predominantly ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in Year 4, with assessment in subsequent years CONTACT: Rebecca Philpott, Registrar; 01189 789881 EMAIL: registrar@ludgroveschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open days in May and Sept, two years prior to entry for registered boys. Individual visits by appointment with the registrar

THE CURRICULUM: Moulsford’s academic curriculum has moved away from the full set of Common Entrance exams. It is modern and forward thinking, promotes creativity, collaboration, and cross-curricular connections and as well as preparing boys for senior schools, it develops skills for life.

THE CURRICULUM: Our main focus is to build firm academic foundations and encourage a love of learning. We aim to realise the highest academic expectations for all the boys with first class teaching and small classes.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Within an atmosphere of fun, enjoyment and achievement, we strive to promote and develop the natural creative skills and abilities of all boys with great success in music, drama, art and DT. Sport is a vital part of life at Moulsford, and teamwork, the development of self-esteem and social skills, the healthy exercise, as well as the fun, are all equally valuable. Boys in A to F teams regularly represent the school.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer a vibrant extracurricular programme with exposure to music, drama, the creative arts in a 350-seat theatre, and many sports, making the most of playing fields, cricket nets, squash and Fives courts, astroturf and a 20m indoor swimming pool.

PASTORAL CARE: Exceptional pastoral care permeates every aspect of life within the school. Our core values of respect, compassion and independence are at the heart of all that we do. Expectations are high, in terms of manners, discipline and general behaviour, and there is a strong rapport between staff and boys. Mental wellbeing for both staff and pupils is taken very seriously. Above all, we want boys to be happy and enjoy coming to school.

PASTORAL CARE: We have an outstanding body of staff who get to know the boys incredibly well, thereby understanding what makes each individual tick. Sophie Barber, the Headmaster’s wife, oversees the pastoral care and together with the resident matrons, school nurse, boarding house parents and all other staff, is committed to ensuring that every child’s confidence and character are nurtured at every opportunity. Only if the boys are healthy and happy will they flourish inside and outside the classroom.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Moulsford prides itself on sending boys to a wide variety of top independent senior schools, many with scholarships and awards. In 2022, 52 boys are progressing to 12 senior schools.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton College – King’s Scholarship and Music Exhibition. Other scholarships include: Sherborne – Sports; Stowe – Drama; Marlborough College – DT.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We want Moulsford boys to receive the broadest possible education, while remembering that they will learn best when happy and settled. Our down-to-earth, family-focussed approach embraces the fact that boys of this age should be having fun at the same time as learning.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are unashamedly ambitious for every boy and are proud of our strong academic record. Most importantly, we aim to develop the boys’ confidence in a caring supportive environment, where each boy is valued as an individual, makes friends for life and can flourish and realise their potential.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Located on the banks of the River Thames, boys have the opportunity to kayak, sail and paddleboard. Flexi boarding gives boys the opportunity to try out boarding before senior school. A new state-of-the-art Pre-Prep building is opening in September 2022. As well as an all-boys Pre-Prep, it will also have a co-ed Pre-School for boys and girls aged three. An outstanding extra-curricular programme is on offer for all boys from Pre-Prep to Year 8. Boys in the Pre-Prep visit a Forest School site weekly. No Saturday school. In March 2022 the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated Moulsford ‘Excellent’ in all areas.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Outstanding academic results, with over 70 per cent leaving to go to Eton, Harrow, Radley and Winchester. Set in 130 acres of spectacular grounds, just 45 minutes from London. The school opened a £2.5m Exploration Centre in 2021, which provides one of the finest facilities for Science, Coding, Art, CDT and Ceramics in a prep school anywhere in the country. Exceptional pastoral care. 100 per cent full boarding with fortnightly exeats. Delicious food cooked on-site using fresh local ingredients.

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A life-shaping education Haileybury offers a holistic education with personalised curriculum pathways for A levels and the IB Diploma Programme. Established in 1862, Haileybury is a top co-educational boarding and day school for 11–18 year olds on a historic 500 acre campus in Hertfordshire, just 20 miles north of London. For more information or to attend an upcoming Open Day, visit haileybury.com

St Columba's College An education of the head and heart Co-ed 4-18 independent Catholic school in St Albans

stcolumbascollege.org

Rated 'Excellent' in all areas by the ISI, May 2022

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A community where you can flourish

DISCOVER PA N G B O U R N E

View our visit options at: pangbourne.com/visit Contact the Admissions Team: pangbourne.com | admissions@pangbourne.com | 0118 976 7415

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Papplewick

ADDRESS: Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LH WEBSITE: www.papplewick.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 210 AGES: 6-13 FEES: Boarding, £11,255; International (Child Student Visa), £12,580. Day, Year 2, £6,225; Years 3 and 4, £8,155; Years 5 and 6, £8,645. HEAD TEACHER: Tom Bunbury BA, P.G.C.E RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit and meeting with Headmaster Bunbury – all boys assessed but no entrance exam. CONTACT: Rebecca Lindley, 01344 621488 EMAIL: registrar@papplewick.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Next Open Morning on Sat 5 Nov 2022 from 9am – 11:30am

St Andrew’s School

ADDRESS: St Andrew’s School, Pangbourne, Berkshire, RG8 8QA WEBSITE: www.standrewsberkshire.co.uk FOUNDED: 1934 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 310 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) Full time nursery is £3,990 (half days available); Reception to Y2 £3,990–£4,344; Y3–Y8 £6,200–£6,845. Boarding can be booked ad hoc at £37 nightly or four nights a week termly at £1,320. HEAD TEACHER: Ed Graham RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective, taster day and last reports. CONTACT: Jane Taylor, Director of Admissions, Marketing & Communications EMAIL: taylorj@standrewsberkshire.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Book with Jane Taylor

THE CURRICULUM: Outstanding record academically at both CE and scholarship level to major public schools. We aim to challenge and excite boys through inspirational teaching. The school maintains a broad but challenging curriculum with small class sizes.

THE CURRICULUM: Excellent reputation for stimulating, challenging lessons delivered by inspiring teachers. The classroom is a joyful place where pupils engage fully and take pride in their work. A renewed focus on stretch, not stress, that helps each child reach their potential.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Rugby, football, cricket (12 teams), athletics, hockey, tennis, squash, golf, fencing, shooting, karate, scuba, polo. Covered swimming pool. Art and drama flourish. Papplewick has a Cathedral standard choir and three quarters of the school learn one or more musical instruments.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Rugby, hockey, netball, lacrosse, football, girls and boys cricket, athletics, tennis, golf, taekwondo, dance. Impressive sports centre with 25m indoor pool. Three choirs, over 200 music lessons per week. Drama productions throughout the year. New performing arts centre planned.

PASTORAL CARE: A school which celebrates individuality and where boys can still be boys. The tutor/houseparent system ensures outstanding pastoral care. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Papplewick maintains its high academic record gaining no less than 41 scholarships to top UK Senior schools in the past three years, including two coveted King’s Scholarships to Eton College. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The excellence our boys achieve is worth little unless they are happy – thus, our most coveted prize is for greatest enthusiasm for life, contribution to the community and kindness to others. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Tatler Good Schools Guide award: Prep School of the Year 2018-19. Exceptional scholarship record. Outstanding preparation for top public schools. Best known for happy, confident and well-mannered boys. Three daily London transport services run from Brook Green, Hammersmith, and Gloucester Road area. Comprehensive daily activities programme (30 activities including 100-strong snake club). Daily chapel. Modern and family-friendly approach to boarding.

PASTORAL CARE: Holistic approach to pastoral care with the view that a happy child returning home each day is vital. The Form Tutors are the backbone of the pastoral system, offering support, encouragement and a listening ear, alongside innovative programmes like The Lobby (a place for quiet discussions with pastoral team) and Bother Boxes. Children’s voices are heard through the School Council, Charity, RIDE (Respect, Inclusion, Diversity & Equality) and Eco Committees. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic, art, sports and music scholarships awarded by Bradfield College, St Edward’s Oxford, Pangbourne College, Marlborough, Abingdon, Downe House, and Radley. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To create a happy and secure childhood environment, filled with an engaging curriculum, delivered by teachers who are passionate about their subjects. We are ambitious for our children and support them to fulfil their potential and move on to top day and boarding schools. All of this is done with a sense of proportion; St Andrew’s pupils are stretched, not stressed; they enjoy learning and become considerate, cheerful and well-rounded citizens. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Beautiful grounds, impressive sports centre and pitches, stand-alone music centre, high-level of pastoral care and academic prowess, as well as wrap-around care and extensive cocurricular calendar. Outstanding preparation in life skills for senior schools and beyond. Exceptional Forest School and Nursery Woodland. Renowned for outgoing, grounded children who thrive in this home-from-home environment. Monday to Thursday boarding, daily bus routes.

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Yes, we teach pupils how to excel in exams, but we also teach them how to collaborate, how to solve problems and how to think critically.

We are Change Makers

We equip our pupils with the skills, resilience and ideas they need to adapt and thrive in a world that’s changing faster than ever before.

Stowe, Swanbourne House and Winchester House Schools are educating a generation of Change Makers ready to transform the world.

stowe.co.uk

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Train to #ADifferentBeat

Outstanding day and boarding school in the heart of Oxford for girls aged 11-18 Sport and Rowing Scholarships available at 11+, 13+ and 16+

Open Morning Saturday 1st October 2022 Book your visit at www.headington.org/visit

Independent day & boarding school for girls and boys aged 3 – 18.

Discover the St Chris difference for yourself.

Open Days Junior School & Nursery Tuesday 13 September 2022 Tuesday 18 October 2022 Wednesday 26 April 2023

Senior School & Sixth Form

Where enjoyment creates achievement

Tuesday 27 September 2022 Wednesday 12 October 2022 Wednesday 26 April 2023 Book online at stchris.co.uk

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St. Francis’ College LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY

Opening minds fulfilling hearts For Open Days... www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk For individual visits year round... admissions@st-francis.herts.sch.uk PREPARATORY - SENIOR - SIXTH FORM

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ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL WINDSOR CASTLE

School reimagined Join us at our open event on Saturday 1 October Discover an education that will make your child real-world ready at our leading independent preparatory day and boarding school for ages 3-13.

St George’s School Windsor Castle Windsor SL4 1QF

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enquiries@stgwindsor.org 01753 865553 Follow us @stgwindsor www.stgwindsor.org

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HOME COUNTIES NORTH SCHOOLS

Co-Educational Day and Boarding School for Pupils aged 2 -18 BOOK A TOUR TODAY

E: admissions@smbushey.org T: 020 8416 4400 W: www.stmargarets-school.org.uk Merry Hill Road, Bushey, Herts, WD23 1DT

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Connect with us:

/YorkHouseSch

York House

Adventure Awaits... at York House, a Leading Prep School for Girls & Boys, from 3 to 13 years.

www.york-house.com 01923 772395 York House School, Sarratt Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 4LW

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

DISCOVER ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES Open Mornings - All Years

1 October 2022, 4 March and 13 May 2023

Sixth Form Open Morning 8 October 2022

11+, 13+ and 16+ Scholarship Applications now open for 2023 entry Find out more and reserve your place: admissions@downside.co.uk | +44 (0)1761 235103 www.downside.co.uk CO-EDUCATIONAL BOARDING & DAY SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 11-18

“Downside has helped me to build up my confidence. The teachers are helping me to use my skills and to realise that, if I work to the best of my ability, I can achieve my future goals. Downside has given me a passport to a whole new world.” Current Pupil 2022 - Year 9

Sixth Form Open Evening

Wednesday 28 September - Register now

Senior School Open Morning Saturday 1 October - Register now

Renowned for our warm and welcoming community, Kingswood offers an exceptional education of depth and breadth. Visit us to find out more.

A co-educational independent school for nine months – 18 years in Bath

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk

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HANFORD A BOARDING AND DAY PREP SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 7-13

THIRD COMES FIRST AT HANFORD

Inspiring a lifelong love of learning begins in our IIIrd Form, years 3 and 4. To find out why visit www.hanfordschool.co.uk or call Karen on 01258 860219

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

Badminton School

ADDRESS: Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3BA WEBSITE: www.badmintonschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1858 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 550 AGES: 3–18 FEES: (termly) Day, £3, 640 – £6,100; Boarding, £8,300 – £14,180. Nursery sessional fees, £30 per session HEAD TEACHER: Interim Head from Sept 2022: Stuart Dalley RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exams, online adaptive test and interview by a senior staff member CONTACT: Katherine Stewart, Admissions Manager; 01179 055 271 EMAIL: admissions@badmintonschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits welcome. Whole School Open Day: 1 Oct. Contact Admissions for further information or register online. THE CURRICULUM: The emphasis at Badminton is on a holistic education, not narrowly academic. Both the curriculum and the timetable are constructed to create a balance between academic achievement, personal development, life skills and other enterprising activity. GAMES & THE ARTS: The Creative Arts Centre provides girls with the inspiration and facilities to excel in the various mediums of art. Music is a large part of school life with countless opportunities to perform and develop. Sports and wellbeing are an important part of the School day. The Sports Centre, opened in 2018, provides top of the range facilities on site. With activities ranging from sporting performance pathways through to community and relaxation events, girls can really get involved. PASTORAL CARE: The campus and community at Badminton gives off a homely, vibrant feel. Coupled with excellent pastoral care, the school lends itself to strong mutually supportive relationships between the girls and the staff. We wish every girl to feel happy and confident about her school life. Working to ensure a well ordered and supportive environment, we ask the girls to take responsibility for themselves and others. This gives them opportunities to face challenges and build resilience. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Awards and scholarships, which carry remission on fees, are available and awarded to girls with particular talents which could be in academia, sport, art, STEM, music or in a variety of areas. Scholarships are available for entry to Years 5, 6, 7, 9 and Lower Sixth. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Badminton, our focus continues to be on nurturing girls’ natural curiosity and fuelling their passion for learning. We believe in practically engaging with the subjects and really getting under the skin of them. The enduring excellence that Badminton girls achieve stems from the positive atmosphere and holistic approach to education. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: While Badminton retains a nationally outstanding academic record, the community gives girls a chance to develop an understanding of the viewpoints of others and to think about contributing to the world around them. Girls leave Badminton ready to face the wider world and, when they do, they take with them a strong network of lifelong friends developed through a wealth of shared experiences.

Bryanston School

ADDRESS: Blandford, Dorset DT11 0PX WEBSITE: www.bryanston.co.uk FOUNDED: 1928 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 402 boys, 412 girls AGES: 3–18 FEES: (termly) Prep Boarding: from £7,176; Day: from £4,017. Senior Boarding: £14,450; Day: £11,850 HEAD TEACHER: Richard Jones (MEd, BA) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: For prep, assessment depends entry year. 13+, assessments and interviews. 16+, entrance tests and interview. CONTACT: Rebecca Williams, Customer Engagement Director; 01258 484 664 EMAIL: admissions@bryanston.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Group, individual and virtual visits during term time. To arrange a visit contact admissions. THE CURRICULUM: Alongside high academic standards and expectations, we provide an emotionally and intellectually supportive environment, allowing pupils to develop independent, creative, and unbounded thinking. We encourage innovation in all areas of the curriculum, passionately believing that it is not what you learn, it is how you learn. GAMES & THE ARTS: Bryanston is committed to breadth and stretch within the academic and beyond. Set in 400 acres of Dorset countryside and world-class facilities, we offer more than 100 ECAs and provide multiple opportunities for pupils to find their passions. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care sits at the heart of everything we do, and the Pastoral and the Academic integrate through the jewel in our crown, our one-to-one tutorial system. One-to-one tutoring starts in Year 6 at Bryanston Prep. The tutor guides each pupil in becoming responsible for their own learning and discusses their wellbeing and progress. At all times, they act as each pupil’s champion and advocate. Our boarding, both in senior and prep, is firmly rooted in a home-from-home approach, offering full, day and flexi options. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Pupils apply to courses best suited to their strengths and aspirations, at a range of universities, prestigious music conservatoires and art foundation courses, as well as universities overseas. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Support one another, be kind to yourself and those around you. Looking beyond grades, we promise to set expectations for each individual pupil and walk alongside them to push and extend themselves. Our whole culture is based on creativity and unbounded thinking. Be curious and ambitious; be creative and intelligently challenge convention. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Together with Bryanston Prep, our shared philosophy ‘The Bryanston Method,’ matches each pupil carefully to a tutor, enabling the development of purposeful, curious, and well-rounded individuals. Bryanston is a place where children learn to love their minds, free their spirits, and find their mission.

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

Canford School

Hazlegrove

ADDRESS: Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AD WEBSITE: www.canford.com FOUNDED: 1923 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 360 boys, 287 girls AGES: 13-18 FEES: (termly) boarding, £14,049; day, £10,695 HEAD TEACHER: Ben Vessey MA MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: 13+: pre-assessment in Year 6 or 7, leading to Common Entrance, scholarship or our own entry tests in Year 8. Sixth Form: scholarship or our own entry tests in the autumn of Year 11. CONTACT: Susan Hogan, Director of Admissions; 01202 847207 EMAIL: admissions@ canford.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open days: 8 Oct 2022 and 6 May 2023. Personal visits also welcome – please contact the Admissions office to arrange.

ADDRESS: Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JA WEBSITE: www.hazlegrove.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 204 boys, 167 girls AGES: 2-13 FEES: Pre-prep, £3,199; prep day, £5,086 – £6,486; prep boarding, £7,524 – £9,600 HEAD TEACHER: Mark White MA (Hons) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Informal interview and assessment. CONTACT: Ali Rogers, admissions, 01963 442606 EMAIL: admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visitors always welcome by appointment, please contact the school for further details.

THE CURRICULUM: The academic curriculum offers GCSEs, iGCSEs, A-levels and Pre-U qualifications. Canford has a fine reputation for academic rigour and high achievement in external exams, and there is an extensive academic enrichment programme across all year groups which develops minds way beyond the confines of any syllabus. GAMES & THE ARTS: Over 30 different sports and activities for every level. Sports scholars receive additional specialist coaching, with regular England and GB representation. Art, music and drama thrive and are integral to school life, with co curricular opportunities as well as academic choices. The school’s extensive Community Service programme promotes social responsibility, teamwork, resilience and leadership. Over 8,000 hours of Community Action were given by pupils to projects last year. PASTORAL CARE: Ofsted rated the school ‘outstanding’ in its last inspection. ISI found the quality of pastoral care to be ‘excellent’ – the highest category – and a major strength of the school. Heads of Wellbeing lead an extensive programme to promote positive mental and physical health. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 95 per cent of leavers move on to university, with around 80% of all university offers for Russell Group/ Sunday Times Top 12 institutions each year. Over 100 places at Medical Schools in the past decade. Recent degree apprenticeships with PwC, Accenture and Goldman Sachs. An international SAT testing centre with regular scholarships to US universities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are ambitious for our pupils and strive to ensure they recognise the coherence across and connections between their learning in all contexts. A key to our success is creating an expectation of personal achievement and ensuring the support is there to fulfil our vision for all to ‘Explore, Express and Excel’. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Finalist in TES Awards for 4 consecutive years, Tatler Public School of the Year 2019, Boarding School of the Year 2018 (Independent School Parent), one of only seven independent schools to fully sponsor an Academy – The Bourne Academy. Global links with schools in Rajasthan and Princeton, USA, outreach in India, Cambodia and Ghana alongside 30+ community projects in the UK.

THE CURRICULUM: The breadth and balance in the curriculum give pupils an opportunity to get excited about the lessons they have each day. The development of a creative and innovative curriculum sits alongside outdoor learning and sustainability. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is a clear strength and significant success is achieved by pupils in team and individual sports. Drama and music are part of our DNA with choirs, ensemble groups and theatre productions filling in any gaps. Every pupil performing in a major drama production every year means the stage should hold no fears. PASTORAL CARE: There is a distinctive sense of community and wellbeing at Hazlegrove. The happiness of every child is a priority, especially for the 100 or so boarders. ‘The pastoral care of the pupils is exemplary,’ ISI. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Over the last four years an impressive 121 scholarships and awards have been gained to 28 different schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We delight in children being children and are committed to actively celebrating childhood, protecting those in our care whilst fully preparing them for when they leave the school at the age of 13. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Good Schools’ Guide writes: ‘Try as we might, we could not find anything to fault about this super one-off school.’ Pupils are able to lay down firm foundations in all areas of the curriculum, on which they can build in future years. Academic rigour sits alongside creative ambition, teamwork and a longterm love of learning. Hazlegrove encourages individuality and values determination and perseverance, as well as qualities such as compassion and kindness. For the boarders there is a genuine sense of belonging to the Hazlegrove family.

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

Where potential meets opportunity An exceptional coeducational, full boarding education for 13-18 year olds

For details of admissions, scholarships and bursaries:

+44 (0)1672 892300 email: admissions@marlboroughcollege.org or visit: www.marlboroughcollege.org 5138 Country and Town House 129.5x195_[2].indd 1

DISCOVER BRILLIANCE

10/01/2022 14:40

O BO M A AG R D E 7 ING YE AR S

millfieldschool.com/open-days

NEXT OPEN DAY 1 OCTOBER 2022

#DISCOVER BRILLIANCE

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

Salisbury Cathedral School

START YOUR ADVENTURE HERE

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER SENIOR, JUNIOR & PRE-PREP OPEN MORNINGSATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER For Ages 3-18. Please register at kesbath.com or call 01225 820 399

Talbot Heath School has been named as one of the most innovative and influential independent schools in the country. (i25 Excellence in Education Awards 2019)

ADDRESS: 1 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EQ WEBSITE: www.salisburycathedralschool.com FOUNDED: 1091 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 227 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) From £3,075 to £5,540. Boarding supplement, £2,600 HEAD TEACHER: Clive Marriott, MA, BEd (Hons) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Jojo Orange; 01722 555300 EMAIL: admissions@salisburycathedralschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: We host three open days each year and welcome visitors with a prior appointment

THE CURRICULUM: Through our wide-ranging and creative curriculum, we aim to give children opportunity to discover themselves and develop a life-long love of learning. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our approach to music, sports and the arts is to encourage enjoyment, participation and progress, and the results speak for themselves. Around 80 per cent of leavers annually win scholarships awards in different disciplines including: academic, music, sport, DT, STEM, art and drama.

TENNIS & SWIMMING ACADEMIES WITH BOARDING

THINK BIG Talbot Heath

Independent School for Girls aged 3-18

Ground breaking curriculum for the future taught from age 3, key content areas are DESIGN THINKING Modelling, Engineering, Architecture, Urban Design, Sustainability, Product Design ETHICS Links to AI, Philosophy, Sustainability, Technological Advances DIGITAL DESIGN Coding, Robotics, Animation, Electronics, Film-making MATERIAL SCIENCE Key skills within all subjects will include critiquing work, problem solving and project management.

PASTORAL CARE: High quality pastoral care is a priority at Salisbury Cathedral School and we take a multi-faceted approach. We proactively promote a continued sense of school community to bolster everyone’s mental health. Regular form times are an open environment for children to raise any practical or emotional issues they face. Year group and whole school assemblies address pastoral themes and often feature our school chaplain to lead thought and prayer. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 2022 examples: Monkton, Sport; Sherborne, Music; Warminster, Academic and STEM; Lancing College, Music; Dauntsey’s, Music and Sport; Kingswood, DT. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Here at Salisbury Cathedral School, we are dedicated to the happiness and enrichment of every child in our care. We focus on building confidence, without arrogance, by celebrating each pupil’s individual talents and ensuring they know their own importance within our community. We hold your child in our hearts. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Housed in a Bishop’s Palace with a 900-year educational history. An incomparable 27-acre setting beneath the famous spire of Salisbury Cathedral. Exceptional music at every level of the school. Impressive academics taught by specialist staff. Extensive outdoor learning opportunities. A welcoming school community inspired by our Head Master’s caring ethos.

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES, CLERGY & MILITARY DISCOUNTS.

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

St Mary’s Calne

Wells Cathedral School

ADDRESS: Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0DF WEBSITE: www.stmaryscalne.org FOUNDED: 1873 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 360 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) boarding £14,420; day £10,760 HEAD TEACHER: Felicia Kirk BA (University of Maryland), MA (Brown University), PhD (Brown University) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Common Entrance, own entrance papers and interviews. CONTACT: Sally Dickens, Registrar, 01249 857341 EMAIL: admissions@stmaryscalne.org SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits throughout the term. Open days: 8 Oct and 5 Nov 2022. Pre-booking essential.

ADDRESS: The Liberty, Wells, Somerset BA5 2ST WEBSITE: www.wells.cathedral.school FOUNDED: 909 AD NUMBER OF PUPILS: Nursery 54, junior school 212, senior school 554 AGES: 2-18 FEES: (termly) junior school from £2,936 day, £9,012 boarding; senior school from £6,822 day, £11,382 boarding HEAD TEACHER: Alastair Tighe RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian. All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective. Informal interview, Cognitive Ability Test, previous term reports and report from their current Head. Scholarship Day each January. Auditions for specialist music scheme. CONTACT: Jo Prestidge, Registrar; 01749 834441 EMAIL: admissions@wells.cathedral.school SCHOOL VISITS: Families welcome all year, contact admissions for appointments. Open days are held in March, May and Oct

THE CURRICULUM: Our focus is ‘connected teaching and learning,’ encouraging girls to think broadly and deeply. We challenge girls to grow and develop personally, academically and socially, empowering them to be independent learners.

THE CURRICULUM: We provide an innovative and bold curriculum with an Integrated Arts Programme, Modern Foreign Languages, STEM, a Specialist Music Scheme and a Specialist Maths Scheme. We offer over 25 subjects at GCSE and A level and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Around one quarter of senior school pupils are specialist musicians.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is key to school life and success is achieved at local, national and international level. The arts are very strong, with world premieres in music, London theatre transfers and art exhibitions. St Mary’s offers a unique course with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in the sixth form. PASTORAL CARE: Praised as consistently outstanding, St Mary’s has a close and caring atmosphere, with a vibrant, warm community. Every girl is known and cared for as an individual. Girls can approach anyone for support, with tutors fulfilling a vital role. They support and guide the girls through every aspect of school life; from organisational skills and subject choices through to university application. UNIVERSITY PLACES: The majority of the girls gain places at their first-choice university, including Russell Group universities and leading universities around the globe. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: St Mary’s Calne offers a transformative and empowering education in a relaxed environment where girls love learning and aspire to be their best selves. In a successful, happy school such as St Mary’s the pupils feel good about themselves; their talents and gifts are spotted and nourished. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We provide an enriching, personalised curriculum, inspirational teaching and outstanding exam results. The school experience is enhanced by superb facilities as well as trips, outings and over 70 co-curricular clubs. We are ranked 2nd independent secondary school in the South West (The Sunday Times Schools’ Guide, Parent Power 2022).

GAMES & THE ARTS: We believe sport is an integral part of school life and encourage all pupils to take part. Good representation at County level and above. We offer over 15 sport options and are proud to have the best cricket grounds in Somerset. Drama has a reputation for ambitious productions such as Les Misérables which was attended by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Art flourishes with regular exhibitions in our dedicated performance centre, Cedars Hall. PASTORAL CARE: At Wells we aim to provide all pupils with a family environment within a kind and caring community where they can be happy, healthy and, most importantly, who they are. With the mixed day and boarding houses situated in the heart of the school, this warm atmosphere extends into the day-to-day life of every pupil making Wells not just a school but a home. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 60 per cent to Russell Group, 5 per cent to Oxbridge, 25 per cent to one of the world’s leading music conservatoires (we have a 100 per cent success rate for musicians applying to conservatoires). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our motto esto quod es – ‘Be what you are’ – powerfully represents our school’s belief in the individuality of each pupil, who grow and become the very best version of themselves. We encourage every Wellensian to be curious and open-minded, to develop their character in a positive way, and to nurture existing passions and discover new ones. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Wells has been described by the Good Schools Guide and the Daily Telegraph as being the loveliest place of learning in the UK. The school’s buildings include medieval halls, and a state-of-the-art concert hall. Wells is one of just four specialist music schools in England, and is utterly unique as the only specialist music school in the world in the context of an all-round school.

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Every story needs a great beginning

To find out more, please contact admissions@sherborne.com

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Girls 11-18 • Boarding and day

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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS

Disc vering

Girls 3 - 18 | Boys 3 - 13

the world is on our curriculum.

Visit us - www.moretonhall.org At Abberley Hall, we let children be children. And with over 90 acres of classroom, they become lifelong learners. Join our Open Day on Saturday 8th October. Find out more at www.abberleyhall.co.uk.

TES Boarding School of the Year 2021 Moreton Hall, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 3EW 01691 773671 | admissions@moretonhall.com

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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS

Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

ADDRESS: Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP WEBSITE: www.cheltladiescollege.org FOUNDED: 1853 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 892 girls AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) Boarding, £13,950; day, £9,340. New sixth-form entrants: boarding, £15,650; day, £10,650 HEAD TEACHER: Eve Jardine-Young MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian – all faiths welcome. ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: 11+, 13+ and 16+: CLC’s own exams. Sixth Form: exams in chosen subjects for A-level or IB CONTACT: Charlotte Coull BA, Admissions Director; 01242 707070 EMAIL: admissions@cheltladiescollege.org SCHOOL VISITS: See the website for details.

ADDRESS: Thorpe Underwood Hall, Thorpe Underwood Estate, York, North Yorkshire YO26 9SS WEBSITE: www.qe.org FOUNDED: 1912 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 1400 AGES: Three months–19 FEES: (termly) Day: £2,305 – £6,565; boarding: £10,490 – £11,950 HEAD TEACHER: Daniel Machin RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview, test, previous school report CONTACT: Sue McKee, Admissions Manager; 01423 333330 EMAIL: admissions@qe.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact us to arrange a convenient time for an individual tour, or join us for our next open day on 1 Oct 2022.

THE CURRICULUM: Students are taught in small classes by teachers with a deep enthusiasm for their subjects. We are committed to providing high-quality teaching, developing intellectually curious, self-motivated, enthusiastic young women with an enduring love of learning.

THE CURRICULUM: An excellent rated (ISI 2019) group of independent day and boarding schools, for boys and girls aged between three months and 19 years. Pupils are supported through four schools – Chapter House (three months to Year 5), King’s Magna (Year 6 to 9), The College and Faculty (both Year 10 to 13) – to become resilient, confident and independent young adults who are prepared for their future. We offer a rich variety of GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs and consistently rank in the top ten schools in the UK for exam performance, with leavers going to the most prestigious UK and international universities. The College was ranked number one performing independent secondary school in the north of England (Sunday Times Schools Guide 2020).

GAMES & THE ARTS: We understand that every student is an individual, appreciating the talent and potential of every pupil. CLC offers over 140 co-curricular opportunities, including over 30 different sports and multiple drama performances and music concerts throughout the year. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care isn’t something that happens when things go wrong; it’s a constant support system for each girl’s time in College. Our academic staff, tutors, house system, chaplain and medical centre create a pastoral network to support every student, from the reserved to the extrovert. Pupils also undertake a wide range of activities as part of a whole-school Wellbeing Programme. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our dedicated Professional Guidance Centre offers a wealth of insight and opportunities to help encourage, guide, support and embolden students as they find their path. The Centre runs comprehensive programmes for applications to higher education, both in the UK and abroad, including specialist provision for US and Oxbridge applications. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A 21st-century education needs to inspire and prepare young people to sustain a lifetime of independently sought learning, and give them the flexibility and resourcefulness to flourish in our rapidly changing world. Academic excellence is the basis of College life, but girls also embrace the co-curricular programme, develop a global outlook, and enrich the communities to which they belong. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Academic achievements go hand-in-hand with co-curricular activities that interest and challenge our pupils, a community that supports them, and opportunities to pursue their passions and learn from their failures. By nurturing well-rounded and selfconfident girls, we help them to develop the skills they need to manage the choices and opportunities ahead of them, leaving College as inspirational and empowered young women. CLC was named South West Independent Secondary School of the Decade by The Sunday Times Parent Power 2021.

GAMES & THE ARTS: All QE students follow a sports programme designed to stimulate the values of fair play, honesty, determination and application, through a wide variety of pursuits. Our Performance Sports Programme is available for students from Year 7. We have an outstanding and growing creative and performing arts provision, with a full-scale professional theatre on site. Small class sizes and one-to-one support outside normal lessons enable us to nurture young talent and achieve excellent results. PASTORAL CARE: Care is the most important element within the QE community; every member of the collegiate, staff and student, is responsible for the pastoral care and happiness of the site. Students across all years have access to our dedicated programme of activities and support – THRIVE@QE – aimed at supporting their mental health and well-being. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: We offer academic, sport, music and drama scholarships in Years 7 to 13. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To be the best I can with the gifts I have. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: QE is set in more than 220 acres of North Yorkshire countryside, between Harrogate and York. It can be reached from London in under two hours by train. A renowned, extensive co-curricular programme of trips and enrichment activities for all students. A dedicated Sports Village, with professional coaching and over 30 acres of professionally maintained sports pitches and elite level facilities. State-of-the-art boarding facilities, which support students’ development and provide the safe and productive environment for them to thrive.

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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS

Be yourself, become yourself. This is boarding at St Peter’s.

Excellent academics. Outstanding sporting and cultural opportunities. The beneﬁts of boarding last a lifetime. Visit our website: www.stpetersyork.org.uk/boarding Autumn/Winter 2022 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 235

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EASTERN SCHOOLS

Independent School | Girls and Boys, ages 2-18 | Day and Boarding

Open Events 2022/23 Book your place at ww w.kingsely.org

U niq uely K ing ’s

We are thrilled that we made the decision to send our children to King’s – our only regret is that we didn’t do it earlier. K I N G ’ S E LY P A R E N T S

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EASTERN SCHOOLS

Open Morning Saturday 8th October

Brettenham Park

www.obh.co.uk

Brettenham

Ipswich

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Suffolk

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Open Days

Book Your Place Visit our family of independent co-educational schools from nursery to sixth form in Cambridge and Saffron Walden. We have open days in September and October. To find out more and book your place please visit stephenperse.com

Richard Girvan, Principal

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ING I G AT N AV

S U CC

ESS

NAVIGATING SUCCESS DISCOVER YOUR PATHWAY

An ambitious and supportive boarding education based on the stunning Suffolk coast.

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN MORNING OR TASTER DAY Scholarships and Bursaries available ROYALHOSPITALSCHOOL.ORG Independent / Co-educational / Boarding & Day / Ages 11-18

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IRELAND & SCOTLAND SCHOOLS

S C H O O L H O U S E M AG A Z I N E

The next issue of SCHOOL HOUSE MAGAZINE is out in Spring 2023

To advertise in the next issue of School House Magazine, or on our website www.schoolhousemagazine.co.uk, please contact Camilla van Praagh on 020 7384 9023 or alternatively, email her on camilla@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk

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